Action Wrestling Hardcore Title CJ PHOENIX vs JOHNNY BACCHUS (c)
Taylor Swift: The following is scheduled for ONE FALL, and it is for the AW Hardcore Championship!!
Nate Nytro: The air is electric and I'm excited as HELL, this bout brought to you by... MONSTER ENERGY! Or maybe I'm just hoping they make me a spokesman, I dunno!
Taylor Swift: Introducing first, weighing in at 201 lbs... CJ PHOENIX!!!
"Break My Baby" Echoes through the stadium as the camera rotates around. Seconds later, CJ Phoenix walks out and stops at the middle of the ramp, stretching his arms out while lowering his head.
As the chorus begins, he raises up his head and lifts his hands above high in the air. Then, he slowly lowers his arm and looks around at the arena. A sinister smile grows on his face as he walks to the ring. Once inside, he hops on the turnbuckle and holds his title in the air once more. Finally, he hops down, looks into the camera lens, and covers one side of his face with his hand for a second while mouthing the word "despair".
Nate Nytro: You know CJ wants that Hardcore Title back in a big way after being blown to Kingdom Come at Evolution!
Taylor Swift: And his opponent... weighing in at 196 lbs... he is the AW Hardcore Champion... "OBNOXIOUS" JOHNNY BACCHUS!!
Nate Nytro: CHIMP MODE! CHAMP MODE! THE CHIMP IS HERE!!
"Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger hits the P.A. as the lights flash red and the Actiontron is lit up with the fresh Chimp in a Suit with a Handgun.jpeg. The background is vaguely psychedelic with shifting fractal overlays. The curtain parts, and out steps Johnny Bacchus. The Hardcore Title is around his waist, and his American flag-print bandana is pulled over his nose and mouth. He rips the bandana off and whips it into the crowd before pointing down the aisle with a double-barrel finger gun, letting off a shot, and pantomiming blowing smoke off the barrel to the roar of the audience.
Johnny takes a moment to pace to one side of the stage, and he pulls out something we've never seen before... a colorfully painted Louisville Slugger, which sources say Johnny has nicknamed "Casual Encounters" Johnny has the bat in his right hand as he makes his way to the ring.
Nate Nytro: Johnny Bacchus tells my sources he uses that bat to swat pop flies at the batting cage, and then he also told my sources "to stop talking to me, nerd", whatever that means!
On his way down the ramp, he slaps hands ad takes a moment to take some pictures β Yung Toon Summoned Skull is for the children, after all. When the couple reach the floor, Johnnyβs expression takes a less goofy and more determined look as he regards his opponent. The Champ slides into the ring then pulls himself onto the turnbuckle and tears the Hardcore Title off his waist to raise above his head, pulling himself up onto the middle ropes to the roar of the crowd. As his music fades, he proceeds to his corner, first removing the jacket and then giving the Hardcore Title a kiss before folding it up and setting it aside.
Nate Nytro: These two men are going to war tonight! I love it! Bacchus/Phoenix PART TWO BAYBEEEE! RING THE BELL!
The referee takes the Hardcore title and CJ Phoenix is eyeing it greedily as suddenly, literally as soon as the first ring of the bell echoes out, Bacchus explodes into action by jabbing the end of Casual Encounters into his gut! Phoenix is doubled over in pain, and Bacchus throws a big soccer kick to the domepiece, knocking Phoenix onto his back. Phoenix, coughing and winded, blinks and shakes his head, stunned.
Nate Nytro: Bacchus starting out with a BANG!
Phoenix hits the mat but he bounces back up only to eat a second shot from the bat! Bacchus rears back, but Phoenix skitters under the rope to the apron, and the bat hits the taut ring rope and bounces off. Bacchus flips his hands a little as they're red and shaking from the vibrations, letting Casual Encounters go. This gives Phoenix time to get to his feet, coming aggressively behind Bacchus. Bacchus apparently hears Phoenix and he spins around just as Phoenix closes in for an attack. Bacchus hits Phoenix with a kick to the midsection before laying a barrage of punches that backs Phoenix into the ropes. He shoots his opponent across the ring before landing a beautiful dropkick that nearly decapitates Phoenix! Phoenix rolls back to his feet, but Bacchus doubles him over with a knee to the midsection before bouncing off the ropes before chopping Phoenix down a scissors kick!
Nate Nytro: The champion is taking control here in the early going! He's showing a vicious side to himself, but he's gotta be careful not to lose the forest for the trees here!
For now, his anger seems to be working in his favor. Bacchus pulls Phoenix to his feet and grabs him by his ears before hurling him towards a set of turnbuckles! Bacchus smashes his opponent with some forearm smashes before backing up and picking up a steel chair. Bacchus busts Phoenix right across the head! Then, Bacchus does it again! Phoenix is wobbly, and he falls on his ass, seated against the turnbuckles. Bacchus wedges the chair between the bottom and middle ropes so that it rests in front of Phoenix' face. Bacchus backs up across the ring and takes off towards Phoenix before landing a running low dropkick into the chair which smashes over Phoenix' face!
Nate Nytro: The champ has just put a dent in CJ Phoenix' face!
Phoenix drops down and rolls out onto the floor where he hopes to catch his breath after taking that devastating hit. Bacchus doesn't let him breathe. Bacchus grabs hold of the top rope and uses it to catapult himself onto Phoenix with a cross body! Bacchus flattens Phoenix out on the floor and drives his knee into his chest before grabbing his head and hammers him with a barrage of closed fist punches!
Nate Nytro: Bacchus is relentless! CJ knew he was in for a fight, but he was determined to show Johnny "DESPAIR"... but I think right now the only think Johnny feels is adrenaline!
The referee waves Johnny off, and starts telling him to back up and let CJ get some breathing room. Bacchus stares up at the referee. Bacchus gives up on reasoning with the ref. Bacchus turns his attention back to Phoenix who has wearily risen up. When Bacchus closes in, Phoenix grabs him by the waist band of his jeans and pulls him forward, catapulting him into the barricade! Bacchus yells and clenches his shoulder!
Nate Nytro: Phoenix just drove the champion shoulder first into that barricade, and hard! I thought I heard a pop.
Phoenix yanks Bacchus up by the arm attached to his injured shoulder and he slings Johnny shoulder first into the steel ring post before rolling him back into the ring. Then, CJ walks around the corner of the ring and sees that the showrunners of XIII have left out LOTS of hardcore goodies, including shopping carts full of weapons that are over by the timekeepers table! Phoenix has a grin on his face.
Nate Nytro: That's right, we came all the way to Norway for this, you thought we would cheap out on the arsenal? Tonight is about PAIN, BABY!!
CJ starts hucking random hardcore items into the ring, including crutches, cheese graters and a monkey wrench (Get it, cause Chimp Mode... don't worry, you'll get on board) before his eyes fall on Bacchus Casual Encounters bat. A cheeky, evil grin spreads over the face of Phoenix and he grips a metal trash can that was also sitting on top of the shopping cart of hardcore. Phoenix gets in the ring, and Phoenix stuffs the trash can over Bacchus's head and shoulders. Phoenix grabs the bat from the mat, and takes a couple practice swings.
Nate Nytro: Batter up!
Phoenix swings at the trash can in the area of Bacchus's shoulder! Bacchus yells, which sounds muffled within the metal confines of the trashcan, but when Phoenix raises the bat up, he brings it down with a crash of metal meeting metal. Phoenix laughs wickedly. The trash can is dented more and more as Phoenix continues to smash that bat against Bacchus's shoulder, and the resounding crashing sounds like a thrash concert. Phoenix laughs, and he seems satisfied. He turns to the crowd, and the Nordic fans let out a chorus of boo's as Phoenix taunts them with Bacchus bat. Bacchus frantically manages to squeeze the trash can off of his body, dragging himself across the ring using his one good arm. Bacchus holds his other arm close to his body, clearly favoring his left shoulder. Phoenix looks on with a sick, twisted smile on his face. Phoenix stalks Bacchus as Bacchus bravely tries to pull himself up using the ropes, but Phoenix grabs his ankles and tries to pull him back to the center of the ring. Bacchus fights him off by holding onto the rope with his one good arm. Phoenix loses his grip on his ankles, and when he goes back to grab them, Bacchus kicks him in the groin. Phoenix freezes with an expression of pain before slowly tilting over like a slow-falling tree in the forest! Bacchus pulls himself back up. Phoenix also manages to work his way back to his feet. Phoenix closes in on Bacchus who fends him off with a few kicks to the midsection, backing him up to the center of the ring. Bacchus comes forward, using his right arm to throw some forearm smashes to the side of Phoenix head. He takes off against the ropes and bounces back where Phoenix throws a clothesline. Bacchus ducks underneath and puts on the brakes, they spin around to meet each other, and Bacchus kicks him in the gut before going for the Sweet Sixteen with his good left hand. Phoenix ducks it. Phoenix locks in a rear waistlock and drives Bacchus into the ropes before dropping down and rolling the champion up with a fistful of tights!
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Bacchus tries to get to his feet as quickly as possible, but Phoenix pulls Bacchus into him by the waist of his pants and he smacks him in the small of the back with a downward elbow. Bacchus hollers in pain as Phoenix tosses the smaller champion in the corner like a rag doll. Phoenix scoops Bacchus up and seats him on the top turnbuckle before climbing up there himself. He hooks Bacchus for a superplex, but Bacchus blocks him.
Nate Nytro: Those two are jockeying for position on that top turnbuckle, and both stars are in a perilous position right now!
Phoenix finally reaches around and punches Bacchus in the kidney which causes Bacchus to lean to one side. Phoenix regains his position, going for the superplex, but out of nowhere Bacchus rakes the eyes and slings him off the top rope all the way through the announcer's table!!!
Nate Nytro: Holy shit! Phoenix just took a small flight all the way through my damn table here at ringside!
Bacchus collapses off the top turnbuckle, gently falling onto the ring apron and rolls off into the floor. Bacchus crawls over towards Phoenix as the ref slides to the outside as well. Bacchus drapes an arm over, and finally the ref gets into position.
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Phoenix pops his shoulder up. Bacchus rises to his feet and circles his arm around, trying to loosen up his shoulder a little bit. It's clear Bacchus's still hurting, but starting to regain some of the mobility in his arm. Bacchus walks around to the clatter of weapons at ringside and finds a roll of barbed wire, which Bacchus tosses into the ring before picking through the other stuff. While Bacchus's sifting through his choice of weapons, CJ is groaning and trying to turn himself over amid the wreckage of Nytro's table. He finally wakes up and reaches his feet. He spots Johnny with his back turned to him... and greedily, CJ sees an opportunity to hurt his opponent more. Phoenix takes off running. As he closes in, Bacchus swings around and smashes him in the face with a cookie sheet! Phoenix falls back.
Nate Nytro: I'm surprised the cookie sheet wasn't cartoonishly formed into an instant mold of CJ's face while birds spun around his head! Instead, that looked like it was prime for a concussion!!
Bacchus rolls Phoenix back into the ring before sliding in after him. Foalie follows. Bacchus picks up the trash can left in the ring and smashes Phoenix over the head with it before throwing it out of the ring. Phoenix falls to his knees as Bacchus pulls the barbed wire to the center of the ring. Bacchus turns back to Phoenix and proceeds to BITE HIM on the forehead!!By the time Bacchus releases, you can see the teeth marks in Phoenix' forehead! Phoenix groans in agony, rolling around in a circle and contorting. Bacchus gives a few stomps to the limbs, and then pulls Phoenix back to his feet. Bacchus glances back at the roll of barbed wire laying carelessly on the canvas. He makes sure to line Phoenix up properly before draping his arm over Bacchus head and hooking his tights. Bacchus lifts him up for a vertical suplex, but Phoenix' snakes a leg around his opponents, amazingly. Bacchus tries again but gets the same result. Suddenly, Phoenix finds some life, and he's the one who lifts Bacchus up in the air for a vertical suplex, only instead of falling back, he drops him forward on his stomach.....right on top of the roll of barbed wire! Bacchus SCREAMS in agony as he rolls off the wire and starts kicking and screaming. Phoenix grabs the roll of barbed wire and uncoils a good stretch of it before straddling Bacchus and using the barbed wire to choke the champion!
Nate Nytro: One of those sharp edges could puncture his jugular, and we're going to have some EMT's in here ASAP!
Phoenix finally releases the choke before wrapping the barbed wire around his fist! The wire breaks his skin and blood begins to pour down his arm before he goes to work on Bacchus, punching the champ, and opening him up as well!
Nate Nytro: Not many people in this world are willing to wrap barbed wire around their own fists! Johnny Bacchus is a bloody mess!
Phoenix finally stops as streams of blood pour down Bacchus's face. Phoenix unwraps the barbed wire from his fist. CJ smirks before walking over to the corner and untying the protective padding of the top turnbuckle, revealing the steel pin underneath. He then curls the barbed wire around the that steel pin, creating a makeshift turnbuckle made of barbed wire. When CJ is satisfied with his creation, he peels a bloody Bacchus off the mat. He drags Bacchus to the opposite side of the ring and places him, on his knees, his chest across the middle rope. Phoenix shoots across the ring, bounces off the ropes, and jumps up driving his knee right across Bacchus's back. Phoenix pulls Bacchus up and shoves him back into buckles straight across from the barbed wire buckle. He softens Johnny up with a couple blows to the head before launching Bacchus with an irish whip... but Bacchus reverses it and sends Phoenix across the ring. Phoenix' eyes open up wide as he's incoming into That corner, and he shoots his hands out to the ropes and his foot up to the pad to put on the brakes before running into that barbed wire, but Bacchus sees this and comes forward, landing a running dropkick to the back of Phoenix' head, sandwiching him onto the barbed wire! Phoenix yells, and painfully thrashes for a moment! Blood is dripping all over the corner from his bleeding chest.
Nate Nytro: Phoenix's own pet project bit the proverbial hand that feeds it, as pets sometimes do!
Bacchus quickly jumps to the ring apron as the ref checks on Phoenix, who comes out of the corner and falls to his knees. When Phoenix, cringing in pain, gets to his feet and turns around, Bacchus springboards off the top rope and comes off looking for a hurricanrana, but Phoenix holds him on his shoulders almost in a powerbomb position. Bacchus takes advantage by laying a few rapid-fire punches over Phoenix head. Phoenix stumbles forward to the ropes, where Bacchus finishes the hurricanrana over the ropes, sending the challenger all the way to the floor! Bacchus immediately shoots up to the top turnbuckle before landing a death-defying corkscrew senton all the way onto Phoenix on the ring floor!! The crowd cheers wildly!
Nate Nytro: Johnny Bacchus has the crowd in Norway on their feet here at XIII!!
Bacchus is too winded at the moment to go for a pin, as he and Phoenix are both laying side by side, bloody messes. The crowd, nonetheless, counts "ONE... TWO... THREE..." and finally, painfully, Bacchus pushes himself up on one arm to crawl over and drape over CJ.
The referee: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
Bacchus gets up, clearly exasperated. He digs around for some weapons, before grabbing two kendo sticks. Johnny grins widely now, despite the blood running down his face, and he turns to Phoenix. He sees the bare back of Phoenix and he slaps him with one kendo stick shot, stinging across the back, before he gives him another one to the legs. Bacchus peppers Phoenix with alternating left-right-left-right shots with a kendo stick in each hand, before waffling Phoenix with a particularly nasty shot right across the back of the head. Bacchus then takes one kendo stick and gives Phoenix a kendo-stick assisted Russian legsweep back into the guardrail, and Phoenix' head cracks hard against the guardrail, whiplashing. Both competitors are down, but Phoenix is groaning and holding the back of his head. Bacchus, gingerly, pushes Phoenix over with a kendo stick, and covers.
The referee: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
Bacchus throws his hands up in the air, frustrated by not putting CJ away. Bacchus looks around for Casual Encounters or another weapon, but he has to turn his attention back to Phoenix who is using the apron to pull himself up. Bacchus pulls him to his feet before kicking him in the gut, and backing up a few paces to go for King's Dead, only Phoenix snaps his head out of harm's way, locks in a rear waistlock, and flips Bacchus over the barricade with a release German suplex!
Nate Nytro: And the fight has now spilled out into the crowd!
Phoenix climbs over the barricade and joins Bacchus who is folded up on the ground. Phoenix faces a raucous crowd, he gets into a little argument with one of the fans, before slapping his beverage out of his hands. The fan talks shit to which Phoenix shoves him back before grabbing the fans steel chair seat, closing it up, and smacking Bacchus across the back with it. He picks Bacchus up by the hair and slings him back into the barricade before sending him back to ringside with a clothesline. Phoenix hops on top of the barricade and steadies himself before lacing Bacchus with a Fameasser, driving Bacchus ONTO the concrete!! He makes the cover.
The referee: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
Nate Nytro: Whoo, whee, that was close! There's no Exploding Barbed Wire to this, folks, no countdown to a finish, these two are going to go until the other one physically can't do it anymore!
Phoenix slams his palms against the ground, clearly aggravated that Bacchus's kicking out even despite the loss of blood. He looks around at the remaining weapons left nearby and he rolls the shopping cart out of the way back towards the ramp. Bacchus, by this point, is on his knees and has crawled to Phoenix. Phoenix turns around and stomps his fingers before booting him in the head. Phoenix grabs a stop sign and trails off, measuring Bacchus as he waits for him to stagger to his feet. When Bacchus slowly picks himself to his feet, back turned to Phoenix, the challenger charges forward with the stop sign in hand only Bacchus turns around at the last second.....
THWAAAAAACK!!
Nate Nytro: Holy crap! Bacchus just laid Phoenix OUT! Bacchus just used all his strength to swing that sledgehammer into the stop sign which smashed Phoenix' cranium!
Bacchus falls back down, clearly exhausted as Phoenix is laid out as well.
With both the champion and challenger laid out and barely moving, the crowd starts to rally behind the champ and a chant of βLet's Go Bacchus!β begins to drown out the airspace from the XIII goers.
Several long minutes pass as Johnny and CJ are both laid out with spent and broken weapons all around them. Bacchus blinks and tries to recover some energy, as Phoenix is taking big gasps of air. Bacchus and Phoenix both begin to rise at roughly the same time. When they both reach their feet, Phoenix comes forward with a sluggish right hand, but Bacchus throws up his forearm to block before smashing Phoenix with a stiff right hook! Phoenix backs up a few feet before stumbling back towards Bacchus where he throws another right hand. Bacchus again blocks before decking Phoenix with a second right hook, followed by a left, followed by another right! Bacchus's getting some momentum back as Phoenix fires a clothesline which Bacchus ducks under before kicking Phoenix in the gut before landing a KINGS DEAD! Bacchus can't even spare an erg of energy, before crawling....... slowly........ over and pushing Phoenix over for a pin.
The referee and the crowd: ONE...
TWO...
THR- Kickout!
Bacchus is beside himself as he rises to his feet. He picks himself up, grabbing Phoenix and landing a few punches before dragging him over and setting him in a seated position against the guardrail. He signals for a Coast 2 Coast, as Phoenix is still motionless, which draws a great cheer from the crowd! Bacchus wearily climbs the steel steps and paces on the ring apron. Bacchus steadies himself on the top rope, and Phoenix remains motionless. Bacchus pumps his fist into the air, but just as he goes to leap off, Phoenix chucks a trashcan lid through the air like Captain America's shield!! It smashes right into Bacchus' trapezius muscle and temple, knocking Bacchus off the flight path! Bacchus flies to the outside floor, colliding against the barricade a few feet away from Phoenix!
Nate Nytro: He's calling for the Great Leap Forward and GOOD GOD Y'ALL PHOENIX JUST HURLED THAT SHIT LIKE A DISCUS! HE CAUGHT BACCHUS! BACCHUS IS FALLING LIKE HE JUST FLEW INTO THE GOD DAMN SUN!!
The crowd unleashes a river of boo's to which Phoenix responds by slowly working his way to his feet, but he sways like a drunken monkey as he's clearly not all there. Meanwhile, Bacchus, exhausted as he may be, also works his way to his feet at the same time. The two stumble into each other where Phoenix rolls out a spinwheel kick that lays Bacchus right back onto her back. Frustrated and ready to be done with this, Phoenix quickly dislodges the steel steps and grips it over Bacchus before driving the steps repeatedly into the champ's chest! He discards it, leaning down to shout at Johnny "ARE YOU FEELING DESPAIR YET??"
Nate Nytro: I fear Bacchus's brave fight is almost over. Phoenix is looking to finish this...right now.
Phoenix picks Bacchus up by the hair and rams him head first into the steel ring post for added measure before picking Bacchus up with a scoop bodyslam, landing the champ inside the grocery store shopping cart sitting at the base of the ramp. Phoenix then pushes the cart with Bacchus inside up the ramp to the stage!
Nate Nytro: What the hell does Phoenix have in mind here?
Phoenix tilts the shopping cart over, dumping Bacchus onto the stage. Thanks to the hardcore setup, he is able to find stacks of tables. Phoenix grabs it and drags it up to the stage next to Bacchus who is starting to rise. Phoenix doesn't see him stirring, however, as he's busy locking the table legs and set the table up on the stage. Phoenix turns around to grab Bacchus, but he's not there. The crowd grows in anticipation as they see Bacchus on the other side of the shopping cart, waiting for Phoenix to turn around! When he finally does turn around, Bacchus runs full-speed and drives the shopping cart forward....Phoenix jumps out of the way at the last second, and the ferocious speed which Bacchus sent the shopping cart into the LED screen makes a shower of sparks onto the stage!! As the sparks fade, Phoenix is rolling around patting himself, making sure he's not on fire, and then, Bacchus slides something out of his boot. It's a little cannister that he holds outstretched like a gun, and Phoenix turns... and Bacchus sprays him RIGHT IN THE EYES! Phoenix immediately starts screaming and scrubbing at his eyes!
Nate Nytro: HOLY SHIT! BACCHUS JUST USED SOME OF THAT PROTEST MARCH STREET FIGHTING TO STRAIGHT UP MACE CJ!! CJ IS SCREAMING IN PAIN!!
Phoenix falls to his knees, holding his face and yelling. Bacchus turns to the table, and he shuts the legs. Now the table is just a wooden slab, and Bacchus, with manic, chaotic energy, hurls the god damn table at Phoenix, slamming him with it broadside! Phoenix, gasping, falls to his back. Bacchus grabs the table again. He quickly unsnaps the legs and sets it straight on the stage, before lifting a still blinded Phoenix up. He punches Phoenix a few times, and lays him on the table. Phoenix is laid out, and not moving as he's slumped on the table... and then... Bacchus begins climbing a support strut holding up the TRON! Bacchus keeps climbing the metal strut, getting above the entrance ramp, climbing Eight.... Ten... FIFTEEN FEET IN THE AIR, OVER THE ENTRANCE! OVER THE TABLE PHOENIX IS LAID OUT ON! Bacchus crosses himself like a Catholic schoolboy... and he lets go of the strut, falling off of it, coming down those fifteen feet with an elbow drop...
BUT PHOENIX ROLLS OFF THE TABLE!!
BACCHUS EATS NOTHING BUT TABLE AS HE FALLS, SMASHING THE TABLE TO PIECES!
Nate Nytro: OH MY GODDDDDD BACCHUS JUST CRASHED AND BURNED!!
The crowd is starting a "Holy shit" chant from the rafters, as Bacchus is contorting in agony amid pieces of the table, and Phoenix is laid out on his stomach, scrubbing at his eyes and groaning. Both competitors need to take a few minutes to recover from that one.
Nate Nytro: We didn't think they could do it, we didn't think Bacchus and Phoenix could top their war at Evolution, but these men have gone to HELL and back here tonight at XIII, as Taylor Swift is my witness, I don't know if there's gonna be anything left of whoever's the Hardcore champion after this!!
Bacchus, in a severe amount of pain now, his right arm even more damaged after the fall, can barely get to his feet, but he has that grit in his expression as he pushes himself up. He grimaces, looking around for Phoenix. Bacchus turns around to eat a kick to the gut. Phoenix puts his head between his legs before flipping the champ to his shoulders with a powerbomb like motion, before running Bacchus into those steel support struts. He lets Bacchus fall, and then, he grabs the shopping cart. He dumps Bacchus' destroyed body into it. Phoenix grips the handles of the shopping cart, sets himself at the beginning of the ramp, and gives Bacchus a mighty shove, sending Bacchus careening down the ramp at full speed. The shopping cart impacts the side of the ring, and overturns, spilling Bacchus painfully out into the ramp. Phoenix grins, and wipes blood out of his eye.
Nate Nytro: Phoenix is toying with Johnny now, the champ is in a bad, bad way after he missed that fall.
Phoenix takes his time, recovering some energy as he makes his way to ringside. He walks down to throw Bacchus in the ring, and he gets on the apron, then goes through the ropes. He sets himself in the corner with a little bit of a weary slump, and he takes a deep breath. Bacchus, not even knowing where he is, starts pulling himself up using the ropes. Bacchus has a glazed look in his eyes as he turns around, and Phoenix storms across the ring and cuts him in half with a Javelin. Phoenix looks down at Johnny, who is holding his ribs and contorting. Phoenix' expression is one of exhaustion, weariness, and some grudging respect. He crawls over, going for a cover.
Nate Nytro: Phoenix hits the Javelin... and it has to be all over. It has to. I don't know what more Bacchus can do.
The referee and the crowd: ONE...
TWO...
THREE - KICKOUT!
Nate Nytro: WHAT??
Phoenix is also yelling "What??" as he holds his head in his hands, eyes agog. He stares up at the ref, pleading for him to tell him that was three, but the ref tells him Bacchus kicked out. Phoenix looks angry, and he snarls down at Bacchus, who is holding his ribs and contorting in pain on the mat. Bacchus rolls over to the apron, his hands grabbing purchase. Phoenix, mouthing choice words and swearing Bacchus is done now, "It's OVER, Johnny", stomps his feet. He tunes up the band, calling for the Talon Kick, and as Johnny rises, Phoenix swings for it... but Bacchus DUCKS! And when Phoenix turns around in a circle, he is blasted, full on by a devastating shot from the MONKEY WRENCH! (See, because it's Chimp Mode, and - ehh, you get it...) Bacchus falls to his knees, and lets the monkey wrench go, but Phoenix is rolling around, holding his face. Bacchus sees his opportunity, and he nips up to his feet. He eggs Phoenix to get up, and Phoenix does, gripping his now aching melon... and Bacchus runs, surging with a wave of adrenaline and wrapping his arms in a sloppy makeshift sleeper, brings Phoenix to the ground.
Nate Nytro: Bacchus with Fetch the Guillotine!!!
Bacchus, his energy draining, pushes Phoenix over...
The referee and crowd: ONE...
TWO...
THREE!!
Bacchus falls onto his back, spent!
The bell rings, and βFlagpole Sittaβ by Harvey Danger blares over the P.A. Bacchus stares up at the ceiling, bloody and exhausted, the Norwegian crowd going wild. s Nate Nytro: Twelve-and-oh! #ChampMode has done it again!
Taylor Swift: Hereβs your winner, and STILL Action Wrestling Hardcore Championβ¦ βObnoxiousβ Johnny Bacchus!
As the referee brings over the title belt, Johnny reaches up to accept it. Still laying on the mat, he clutches it to his chest, taking a moment to bring it weakly to his lips. The crowd roars, but the moment is abruptly halted as βDead Biteβ by Hollywood Undead hits the P.A.
Nate Nytro: Oh noβ¦
At the top of the ramp, Max Daemon enters as a hush falls over the crowd. He stares down at the ring, his face a blank, emotionless mask of intensity. He walks with purpose, his eyes never leaving the prone Hardcore Champion.
Nate Nytro: This isnβt good for Bacchus. These two are set to face off at Uprising, and Johnny just went through absolute hell. Daemon could pick his bones right now.
Max rolls casually into the ring, and Johnny raises his head to make eye contact with him. The Hardcore Champion reaches out for the handle of Casual Encounters, but before he can get ahold of it, Max has already strolled across the ring and proceeded to kick it to the outside. He stands over Johnny, his face still emotionless but his fists clenched tightly. Raising one foot, he places it on the faceplate of the belt and pins it down against Johnnyβs chest.
Nate Nytro: Dear god! Somebody get out there and donβt let this happen.
Johnnyβs face is defiant, but his struggles are weak and in vain. Max grinds his heel down, putting more pressure onto the pinned Championβs chest. And then the emotionlessness evaporates as a malicious smirk crosses Daemonβs lips. He takes a moment to savor the position of powerβ¦ then removes his foot and rolls out of the ring.
Nate Nytro: A brazen display by Daemon β a naked mind game with the champion. One thingβs for certain: when these two meet at Uprising, it WILL be personal.
At the top of the ramp, Max looks back one last time, seeing Bacchus use the ropes to pull himself up. His smirk remains as he leaves into the back.
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