Jimmy Page & Chris Bond vs. Bristow & Barnes
“Run This Town” by Jay-Z feat. Kanye West & Rihanna starts to play. Strobes begin surveying the building as darkness has taken over the arena.
Feel it comin' in the air
And the screams from everywhere
I'm addicted to the thrill
It's a dangerous love affair
Can't be scared when it goes down
Got a problem, tell me now
Only thing that's on my mind
Is who's gonna run this town tonight
Is who's gonna run this town tonight
We gonna run this town
Bright lights shine on the entranceway nearly drowning the entire scene in white as Tully Barnes and Nate Bristow emerge from the backstage area. The two tag partners stand at the top of the entranceway with smug smirks on their faces and their eyes focused on the ring in front of them. The lights quickly dim again and the arena is filled with green and yellow laser lights as Bristow & Barnes start toward the ring.
Melanie Sierra: The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 495 pounds… BRISTOW & BARNES!!!
We are, yeah I said it, we are,
This is Roc Nation, pledge your allegiance
Get ya'll black tees on, all black everything
Black cards, black cars, all black everything
And our girls are blackbirds, ridin' with they Dillingers
I'd get more in depth, if you boys really real enough
This is la familia, I'll explain later
But for now let me get back to this paper, I'm a couple bands down
And I'm tryin' to get back
I gave the other grip, I lost a flip for five stacks
Yeah I'm talkin' five comma's, six zeros, dot zeroes here it go,
Back to runnin' circles 'round n*ggas, now we squared up, hold up
As Bristow & Barnes reach the ring, they turn toward one another and hit their forearms together. They head for opposite sides of the ring, leaping up to the apron and propping themselves up on one knee. They stare out into the crowd as they pop up to both feet with their backs against the ropes and their arms outstretched.
Life's a game but it's not fair
I break the rules so I don't care
So I keep doin' my own thing
Walkin' tall against the rain
Victory's within the mile,
Almost there, don't give up now
Only thing that's on my mind
Is who's gon' run this town tonight
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, heyy
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, heyy,
Is who’s gon' run this town tonight?
Now inside the ring, they cross paths and perch up on the ropes on the opposite of the ring, one foot on the bottom rope and one foot on the middle, taunting the fans as they await their opponents.
Geoff Penzer: Bristow & Barnes have a fight on their hands against the Elysian Empire at Patriot Games. But it looks like those two are going to collide sometime here tonight! I know they want to get themselves some of the Empire and vice versa. But they’ve got to worry about their opponents here tonight!
"If you take a life, do you know what you'll give...
Odds are, you won't like what it is...
When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me...
By the merciless eyes I've deceived...
I've seen angels fall from blinding heights...
But you yourself are nothing so divine...
Just next in line..."The house lights dim in the smaller facility, and multi-colored lights soon flicker throughout the filled-to-the-brim center. The crowd jumps to it's feet, blowing the roof off from the much smaller arena as Chris Bond makes his way out from behind the curtains. As he emerges from behind the curtain, there is a small burst of excitement from the crowd. With a spotlight lighting his way, Bond makes his way down the aisle and towards the ring, even slapping a few hands on the way down.
Melanie Sierra: And their opponents! Introducing first, now residing out of Greensboro, North Carolina! Weighing in at 242 pounds! He is “The Battle-Hardened Veteran” CHRIIIIIIIIIIS BOOOOOOND!!!
Soon enough he jogs up the stairs, and walks along the ring apron before wiping his feet. Chris Bond steps over the second rope and into the ring. The self-proclaimed legend of the wrestling world walks to the center of the ring and stands there for a moment, as flashes go off throughout the waves of fans. He circles the ring, arms outstretched, as the fans cheer loudly once again. Bond enjoys this, as his trademark smirk re-emerges on his face. Heading to his corner, Bond does a few stretches as he waits for the match to begin.
Geoff Penzer: Dom Harter mocking asked Jimmy Page, “you and what army?” Well, Jimmy Page doesn’t have an army that rivals the size of The New Murder. But what he does have is some backup in the form of Chris Bond. Bond has gone against Harter in the past. He’s gone against some of the toughest men in all of wrestling. If anyone is going to have your back, then what better choice could you have than a “Battle-Hardened Veteran” like Bond?
A song crashes into the P.A. system that sounds of static and a guitar. The lights begin to flash a violent red frantically. As the song "Murdered Out" by Kim Gordon really kicks in, the lights continue to flash red. A silhouette appears at the entrance. With a controlled stagger, Jimmy Page comes from the back, head down and arms out from his sides. Page swaggers down to the ring in at a methodical pace. The camera gets a close up of his hair covered face as he makes his way down the aisle. He stops at the top of the ramp, flinging his hair from his eyes and glaring around, chewing on a piece of gum. Through the static red, a spotlight follows Page as he makes his way to the front of the ring.
Melanie Sierra: And his partner, from Flint, Michigan! Weighing in at 237 pounds… JIMMYYYYY PAAAAAAGE!!!
He takes a running start, sliding on top of the apron. He stands, gets in the ring, then climbs on top of the turnbuckle. Page spits his gum outside of the ring, into the crowd. Jimmy leaps down from the turnbuckle, and begins to slither down into a seat on the lower turnbuckle; Placing his head against the middle turnbuckle, knocking the back of it against the corner gently as he awaits the bell.
Geoff Penzer: Never in a million years did I think we’d ever seen the likes of Jimmy Page and Chris Bond teaming up. But they are here tonight to give us a glimpse of the united front that will stand against The New Murder.
The bell sounds as Bond and Bristow start things off. The two head to the center of the ring and engage in a lock up. After jockeying for position, Bristow shoves Bond back a few steps. Bond then makes his way back over towards Bristow and engages in another lockup. After jockeying for position, Bristow places Bond in a side headlock. But Bond is able to shove Bristow off of him and into the ropes. When Bristow returns, he knocks Bond down with a running shoulder block. He drops down and makes the cover.
ONE!
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Bond kicks out.
Bristow picks up Bond and places him in another side headlock. He then performs a standing switch and transitions into a hammerlock from behind. But Bond is able to lean forward, reverse into a hammerlock of his own and transition into an arm wrench. The crowd cheers while Bristow winces in pain. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. But Bristow refuses. So Bond goes to wrench the arm again. When he spins back around, he’s met with a boot to the midsection. The boos continue as Bristow nails Bond with a punch to the face before sending him into the ropes. When Bond comes back, Bristow drops down to the canvas. So Bond hops over him before running into the ropes. When Bond comes back, Bristow leapfrogs over him before Bond runs into the ropes. When Bond returns, the crowd cheers when he tackles down Bristow with a Thesz Press and fires off a series of right hands to the face.
Geoff Penzer: Look at Bond firing off with those Piston-like right hands!
Bond picks up Bristow, marches into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. After a series of chops in the corner, he brings Bristow out of the corner and shoots him into the far ropes. When Bristow returns, Bond sets up for a back body drop. So Bristow hops over him before running into the ropes. When Bristow comes back, Bond knocks him down with a dropkick. After another dropkick, Bond delivers an inverted atomic drop before knocking him off his feet with a clothesline. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Bristow kicks out.
Bond picks up Barnes, wrenches the arm heads into the corner and tags in Jimmy Page.
Geoff Penzer: Here comes Page!
The crowd cheers as Page gets in and nails Bond with a boot to the midsection. After delivering an arm wrench, he takes Bristow and whips him into the far ropes. When Bristow returns, Page scoops him up from the side and delivers a pendulum backbreaker. He then heads into the corner as he waits for Bristow to get into position. As soon as Bristow gets up on one knee, Page rushes over to throw out Trauma Symphony (boma ye). But Bristow rolls to the outside, resulting in boos from the crowd.
Geoff Penzer: Bristow saw his life flash before his eyes and got the heck out of dodge!
On the outside, Bristow makes his way around the ring and heads over towards Tully Barnes, who jumps down off the apron. After the two talk strategy, Bristow walks back up the steps and gets back in the ring. The two grapplers then circle the ring before motioning for a lock up. At the last second, Bristow nails Page with a boot to the midsection. He then wraps his arms around Page’s waist, moves him into the corner and lets Barnes tag himself in by slapping him on the back. While Bristow has Page held against the turnbuckles, Barnes comes in and nails Page with a punch right to the eye. While Bristow heads out onto the apron, Barnes places Page in a front facelock and rakes his face along the top tope. After turning Page around in the corner, Barnes nails him with another right hand before sending him slumping down in the corner with mudhole stomps. Barnes follows up with a foot choke.
Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…
Barnes lets go. He then reaches down, pulls up Page and slaps him across the face before whipping him into the opposite corner. Barnes runs across the ring to attack, but Page knocks him back with a back elbow to the face. After shaking off the blow, Barnes runs back into the corner. This time, Page knocks him back with a boot to the face. He then runs from out of the corner and knocks Barnes down with a big boot. Barnes gets back to his feet and is quickly met with a double chop to the throat. While Barnes is doubled over, Page grabs a hold of him, turns and delivers The Paralyzing (neckbreaker across the knee). He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Barnes kicks out.
Page picks up Barnes, marches into the corner, slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle and tags Bond back in. The crowd cheers as Bond gets in, turns Barnes around and lights up his chest with knife edge chop. He then brings Barnes from out of the corner and goes for an irish whip. But Barnes reverses and sends him into the far ropes, where Bristow nails him with a knee to the back. The boos continue as Bond staggers over into a running back elbow from Barnes. He then reaches down, grabs Bond by the wrist and pulls him back to his feet before knocking him down with a short-arm clothesline. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Bond kicks out.
Barnes picks up Bond, rams him back-first into the corner and tags in Bristow. Once Bristow gets in, he and Barnes mudhole stomp Bond down in the corner. From there, Bristow nails him with right hands to the face while Barnes heads back out to the apron. Bristow reaches down, brings Bond back up and nails him with a European Uppercut before hitting a slingshot suplex. He turns over and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Bond gets his shoulder up.
Bristow goes over and tags in Barnes. Barnes climbs to the top turnbuckle while Bristow picks up Bond and places him in an abdominal stretch. Barnes jumps off the top turnbuckle and nails Bond with a diving fist drop to the midsection before planting him with a flowing DDT. Barnes turns over and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Bond gets his shoulder up.
Geoff Penzer: Bristow & Barnes are really rolling now. They’ve cut off the ring and have made frequent tags. This is tag team wrestling 101 and these two are executing it against two tough competitors in Bond and Page.
Barnes picks up Bristow and tags him back in. The tag team takes Bond and whips him into the ropes. When Bond comes back, they run him over with a running shoulder shoulder block. Barnes then hits an elbow drop, followed by a leg drop from Bristow. Bristow makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Bond gets his shoulder up.
After Bristow heads over and tags Barnes back in, the tag team picks up Bond, lifts him up and delivers an aided turnbuckle powerbomb. The crowd boos as Bond crumbles from out of the corner. Barnes then makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!
Bond gets his shoulder up.
Barnes picks up Bond and delivers a belly to back suplex. After dragging him into position, Barnes heads into the corner, hoists himself up onto the middle ropes and jumps off for a diving fist drop. But Bond raises his leg in the air, catching him on the way down with the sole of his foot. While Barnes covers his mouth with his hands, Bond turns over and begins dragging himself towards the corner.
Geoff Penzer: Barnes got caught on the way down! This is Bond’s opening right here!
Page can be seen with his arm held out. Bond, meanwhile, continues to drag himself across the canvas. He then gets up on all fours and starts crawling over.
Geoff Penzer: Bond’s almost there!
Bond is almost there when Barnes grabs him by the ankle. The boos continue as Bond is dragged back towards the center of the ring. After turning Bond over, Barnes goes for an inverted figure four. But Bond raises his free leg and kicks him right in the side of the head, knocking him down. After both grapplers get back to their feet, Bond doubles over Barnes with a boot to the midsection and sets him up for a piledriver. Barnes goes to counters with a back body drop. But Bond slips down from behind and shoves Barnes away from him. When Barnes turns around, Bond turns away from him, dives over into the corner and tags in Page.
Geoff Penzer: He made the tag!
Barnes rushes across the ring and gets knocked down by a lariat from Page. Barnes gets up, only to get knocked down by another lariat. Bristow then rushes over. But he gets hit with a running big boot. Page then turns around, rushes back over and knocks down Barnes with a running big boot. He then takes Bristow and whips him into the ropes. When Bristow returns, Page delivers a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. When he gets up and turns back to Barnes, he gets doubled over with a boot to the midsection before being brought down with a swinging neckbreaker. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Page kicks out.
Bristow & Barnes take Page and whip him into the ropes. When he returns, they set up for a double back body drop. But Page stops and kicks Barnes right in the face. When Bristow stands up, Page knocks him down with the Aneurysm (gamengiri). He then picks up Barnes and whips him into the ropes. When Barnes returns, Page knocks him down with Sole Destruction (rolling big boot).
Page picks up Barnes and whips him into the ropes to set up the Concussion (rolling elbow). But instead of Barnes coming back, he gets yanked down to the mat and dragged to the outside by Bristow. The crowd erupts with boos as Bristow waves off Page before the team makes their way up the aisle.
Geoff Penzer: Where are they going!? Are they just going to run away like they did against Elysian Empire?
By the time the ref’s count reaches “Ten”, Bristow & Barnes are long gone. The ref then calls for the bell.
Melanie Sierra: Here are your winners by countout, JIMMY PAGE and CHRIS BOND!
Geoff Penzer: This isn’t the way Page and Bond wanted to win this match. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
Jimmy Page and Chris Bond stand in the center of the ring as the music dies down; the two men look at one another, then towards the aisle as the lights in the arena dip down.
Geoff Penzer: What’s going on here?
Suddenly, the opening chords of ‘Low Self Opinion’ start playing as The Tenacious Little Bastard appears at the top of the aisle with a single spotlight shining down on him; the crowd immediately begin to boo loudly as Harter stands there dressed in his leather jacket and bandana, with a microphone in one hand.
Dom Harter: Nicely done, boys!
The sarcastic jibe gets more boos from the crowd as both Page & Bond glare out at their rival. The mock applause may not be helping matters.
Dom Harter: Between fending off the attack last week, and now a count-out victory over an esteemed team such Bristow & Barnes – you’re probably feeling pretty good about yourselves right about now…
Neither man moves, however, eyeing Harter with suspicion as he moves slowly down the aisle. The crowd still booing him as he goes.
Dom Harter: But not as good as it’d feel to finally get to wrap your hands around my neck, right? For all the attacks, the snide comments, that humiliation Jimmy suffered at All Star Showdown. For everything we’ve put you through over the last few months…
Each comment draws a cheer from the crowd as they get the mental image of Dom Harter finally getting his comeuppance.
Dom Harter: Call me the bearer of good news, boys, because you’re finally going to get that chance–
Geoff Penzer: Is Dom Harter challenging Jimmy Page and Chris Bond to a match?!
Another cheer from the crowd!
Dom Harter: –just not tonight!
With that, the lights come back up to reveal Mercy Williams, Molly Reid, Fenrys, and Jaelynn Ramsey standing in the ring behind them. Bond goes down first; a chair shot from Fenrys knocking him out through the middle ropes as the remaining three members of The New Murder swarm around Page with chairs in hand.
Geoff Penzer: An ambush!? After they’ve just been through a match, Dom Harter and his cronies are ambushing Jimmy Page and Chris Bond!
Jaelynn goes first, but Page punches the chair back into her face as Molly catches him from behind with a chair shot to the back of the head. It’s enough to stagger Jimmy, but he swings around and lunges at Molly, pushing her back into the corner as Mercy and Fenrys take turns slamming their chairs down across his back!
On the outside, Bond is just getting back to his feet as Dom grabs him – only to be met by several hard right hands! Bond is fighting back, desperation kicking in as he nails The Tenacious Little Bastard with those hard rights, staggering him. Bond doubles him over with a boot to the gut before going for an Irish whip – NO! Harter reverses and Bond is slammed back first into the ring apron, before Dom knocks him ass over tea kettle with a stiff lariat!
Geoff Penzer: This is uncalled for! This is unnecessary! This is just heinous.
Harter slides into the ring as the chair shots finally manage to overwhelm Page. The former World champion is on his hands and knees as Molly and Mercy slam their chairs down across his back! But he’s not going down. Fenrys drops his chair down on the mat, right below Jimmy’s head as Dom charges in, dropping his arch-rival with a curb stomp down across the chair! The boos are deafening The New Murder stand tall, having swarmed around their opponents. Jae is helped back to her feet by Dom himself, before he starts to speak again.
Dom Harter: Now it’s obvious you can’t take us five-on-two, and there’s not three more people back there who are willing to side with you, Jimmy…
Harter chuckles as Fenrys, who had previously left the ring, reappears with a six pack of beers in hand. He hands them out to each member of The New Murder.
Dom Harter: So here’s what I’ll give you, Jimmy. In two weeks time, at Patriot Games, I’ll step into that ring with you–
The crowd cheer.
Dom Harter: –and Bond, in a tag team match! Against me and Mercy Williams. Whaddya say, Jimmy?
Mercy nods her head at the announcement, but the crowd’s cheers have turned to boos again as The New Murder raise their beers into the air.
Dom Harter: Here’s to finally finding a spine!
The mocking taunt is met by more boos as The New Murder raise a toast, before drinking their beers. But Harter only takes a small sip before turning his nose up in disgust. He stands over the unconscious Jimmy Page, a leg either side as the microphone just picks up Dom saying the beer “tastes like piss water”, as he lowers the bottle to crotch height, tilting it so the golden nectar spills out and down, splashing all across Jimmy’s chest and face.
Geoff Penzer: That’s just disgusting. Dom Harter and his fellow crows are just crossing the line of decency right now.
The beer finally runs out as the rest of The New Murder laugh at Dom’s antics. But ‘Low Self Opinion’ starts up again as they leave, with Dom holding the ropes down for his fellow crows to leave first, as he takes up the rear. The crowd booing louder than before as The New Murder leave their foes down in the ring, drenched in beer.
★★★ COMMERCIAL BREAK ★★★
