MAIN EVENT
Sean Sands vs. Johnny Cannon
A yellow spotlight suddenly shines down across the black curtain of the entrance way, whilst the house lights begin to dim down. Slowly, almost in unison with the change in lightning does "Voodoo Child" (Jimi Hendrix" Cover) by Brick + Mortar begins to play. A small ebb of yellow smoke ascends from the ventilators to grace the ramp. The Brit's silhouette emerges behind the curtain, only backed by another daintier image.
"well i stand up next to a mountain
well i stand up next to a mountain
well i pick up all the pieces
maybe even make
maybe make a little sense"
Finally, bursting through the curtain emerges "The British Mamba", Johnny Cannon. The Englishman stands before the live audience in all his strapping glory; as per usual, his cocksure, megalomaniacal grin is etched on his face as he pauses on the ramp, his head raised high and snobbishly to the sky above as he surveys the masses. Standing just behind him is none other than Quinn Goodrich, who edges on the crowd to incite their scorn. Wearing yellow and black MMA style trunks, with matching boots and a black knee brace (on his left knee), the Brit appears ready for action - not due to his attire, but due to the belligerent look in his eyes which is only revealed as he removes his Aviator Sunglasses. His eyes are those of a cold, and calculating individual. Johnny places his shades in his black track jacket with numerous insignias sewn on it, and begins his haughty strut to the ring.
"well i stand up next to a mountain
and i chop it down with the edge of my hand
well i stand up next to a mountain
and i struck it down with the edge of my hand
cause I'm a voodoo child"
J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! And it is your main event of the evening! Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Quinn Goodrich! from London, England! Weighing in at 245 pounds! He is “The British Mamba”, JOHNNY CANNON!
Cannon struts to the ring, marching with an undeniable swagger, whilst Quinn continues to taunt the audience, by swinging his arms up, and shouting whatever obscene remarks he can think of. Johnny ignores the audience on either side of him, showing complete indifference towards their opinions. He spurts forward toward the ring, and slides in under the bottom rope, before launching himself to his feet and suddenly spinning to the center of the ring in a very Shawn Michaels-esque fashion, before positioning himself carefully in the middle. He unzips his track jacket, lowering it down his hands and to the canvas below him like a male stripper, before throwing up the offensive, British, two finger salute, eliciting tremendous heat from the crowd.
"lord knows im a voodoo child
cause im a voodoo child"
From there, Johnny slowly backs into the ropes, hooking his arms back on them before bouncing several times, beginning his mental preparations and prerequisites as Quinn looks on from ringside; Cannon nods his head several times, as his eyes flicker with a hundred different ideas and strategies to carry out in the match.
Kris Cruise: Johnny Cannon’s still on his quest to become Pride Champion. But tonight, he faces Sean Sands in the main event. The British Mamba hasn’t been shy about sharing his opinions on Sands. He seems to hold the opinion that a lot of people have about Sands.
Stephy Auger: Well I happen to disagree on the opinion that people like Cannon and Chandler and Tony have about Sands. If you want to get made at something, get mad that people like Chris Q and Jimmy Page are still roaming the halls. Get mad that someone like Dom Harter, after everything he’s done here, is still given chances to compete for championships. Sands has never been detrimental to this company. He’s been a great ambassador for FGA and when it comes to in-ring performance, Sands has proven on many occasions that he can still go with the best of them. Cannon will find that out first-hand tonight.
"Burn Brighter" by Landsdowne plays as Sean Sands steps out from behind the curtain, a smile on his face. He points out at the audience as they cheer for him and nods his head before beginning his walk down the ramp towards the ring. Halfway down the ramp, Sean begins slapping hands with some of the fans and even signs an autograph or two. When he reaches ringside, Sean nods his head as he stares out at the audience again, before heading over towards the steel steps and quickly scaling them until he reaches the apron.
J.A. Aldridge: And his opponent, from Cincinnati, Ohio! Weighing in at 220 pounds… SEAN SANDS!
Sean slowly walks on the apron, looking at the audience still, before finally turning his attention to everyone in the ring. He quickly pulls on the top rope and hops over them before landing on his feet. Sean quickly climbs to the nearest corner on the middle turnbuckle before pointing out at the fans holding signs in support for him. Once he hops off, Sands heads to his corner and gets ready for his match.
Kris Cruise: Sean Sands has it out for Chris Q after The Big Bad took out Cordy Stevenson back at Above & Beyond IV. Sands is looking to get some level of revenge for Cordy. But his history with Chris Q goes back farther than a few weeks ago.
Stephy Auger: In fact, it goes back to a time when you and I weren’t even with the company. Sands has a deep-rooted hatred for Chris Q after everything he did to him in the Fall of 2013. But what Chris Q did to Cordy a little over a month ago? That’s what really set Sands off and now he’s gunning for Chris Q. He wants another match with Chris Q more than anything, including another crack at the World Championship. But Sands has to keep his anger in check and his mind focused on Johnny Cannon. Cannon has proven over the last several months that he’s not just an exceptional technical wrestler, but he’s arguably the best striker in this company. If Sands isn’t focused, Cannon will be more than happy to make him pay by knocking his head off.
The bell sounds as Cannon and Sands circle the ring before locking up. After jockeying for position, Cannon begins to move Sands across the ring. But Sands puts on the brakes. He then begins to move Cannon back in the opposite direction. But then Cannon puts on the brakes. After a back and forth struggle, Cannon places Sands in a side headlock. Sands tries to shove Cannon off of him. But Cannon keeps the hold applied. So Sands moves Cannon into the ropes. He then takes Cannon and tries to shove him off. But Cannon just drops down to one knee while keeping the hold applied. After battling his way back up to his feet, Sands is able to slip out and reverse into a hammerlock. But Cannon is quick to lean forward and reverse into a hammerlock of his own. Sands then reaches back with his free hand and elbows Cannon in the face. He then places Cannon in a side headlock. But Cannon is quick to shove Sands off of him and into the ropes. When Sands comes back, Cannon knocks him down with a shoulder block. He then takes off into the ropes as Sands gets back to his feet. When Cannon comes back, Sands leap frogs over him. Cannon then runs into the far ropes. When Cannon comes back, Sands goes for a hip toss. But Cannon blocks it. So Sands tries to muscle up Cannon but again, the move is blocked. So Sands punches Cannon in the midsection, doubling him over. He then drapes his leg across the back of Cannon’s neck and performs a backflip. But after Sands lands on his feet, Cannon nearly knocks the wind out of him with a burning lariat. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Sands kicks out.
Kris Cruise: This is yet another Vertigo main event for The British Mamba. Do you think there’s any nerves? Do you think he’s intimidated at all by the man he’s wrestling?
Stephy Auger: I don’t think so. A guy like Cannon’s been in the main event countless times, either inside the squared circle or inside a cage. At this point, Cannon is beyond battle tested. The bright lights don’t phase him. Cannon knows what to do and that’s execute his gameplan. He’s got respect for what Sands used to be. He’s got respect for the accomplishments that Sands achieved. But nervous? No, I don’t think Cannon is nervous in there at all.
Cannon picks up Sands, moves him into the corner and unleashes a series of knife edge chops that echo throughout the arena. But Sands is quick to fire right back, delivering a series of knife edge chops of his own. After a kick to the midsection, he takes Cannon and goes for an irish whip. But Cannon reverses, sending Sands into the ropes. When Sands comes back, Cannon goes for a back body drop. But Sands slips down from behind. He then applies a waist lock on Cannon. But Cannon elbows him in the face, breaking the hold. After a performing a standing switch, Cannon applies a waist lock of his own. He then moves Sands into the ropes. After Sands bounces off the ropes, Cannon goes for a waist lock backward roll into a German Suplex. But Sands is able to flip over Cannon and land on his feet. The crowd claps at that display of athleticism from Sands. After Cannon scrambles back to his feet, Sands throws out a roundhouse kick. But Cannon ducks. Cannon then throws out a reverse roundhouse kick. But Sands rolls underneath it. When both men turn around, they stop in their tracks with their fists raised. They then step back from each other as the crowd responds with cheers and applause.
Kris Cruise: Both men appear to be evenly matched thus far.
Stephy Auger: These two are accomplished both inside and outside the ring. We all know of Cannon’s technically ability. How can you not when he’s so quick to tell you about it whenever there’s a camera in his face. But I think people forget just how technically gifted Sands is. This is a guy that was a successful wrestler in high school and at the collegiate level. Then as a professional, he was able to hold championships in multiple companies.
Cannon and Sands continues to circle the ring until they begin inching towards the center of it. They go for a lock up. But Cannon ducks under and goes for another waist lock from behind. But Sands stomps on his foot, then follows up with an elbow to the face. After performing a standing switch and applying another waist lock of his own, Sands tries to hoist up Cannon for a german suplex. But Cannon blocks the move. He then reaches down, pulls Sands’ arms from around him and reverses into an arm wrench. Cannon then delivers another arm wrench… and another. Sands then responds by rolling forward, leaning back, kipping up and reversing into an arm wrench of his own. Cannon proceeds to circle the ring while Sands keeps a hold of his arm. When Cannon drops down to a knee, the ref asks him if he wants to give up. But Cannon refuses. After battling back to his feet, Cannon takes his free hand, presses it against the bottom of Sands’ chin and moves him back into the corner. From there, the ref gives both men until the count of five to break it up.
Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…
Both men appear to make a clean break… until Cannon nails Sands with a forearm strike. The crowd boos as he blasts Sands with another forearm strike… and another… and another. He then brings Sands from out of the corner and whips him into the ropes. When Sands comes back, Cannon hoists him in the air. On the way down, Cannon connects with the Cardiac Arrest, doubling him over. From there, Cannon quickly grabs Sands’ arm and delivers an arm wringer, sending Sands shoulder-first down to the mat. As Sands gets up on his knees, Cannon delivers multiple shoot kicks to the chest. He then sizes up Sands before throwing out a Roundhouse Kick to the head. But Sands ducks, quickly gets back to his feet and applies a waist lock. Sands moves Cannon into the ropes. But Cannon hooks his arms around the top rope and then jerks back, sending Sands down to the canvas. After Sands rolls up to his feet, Cannon runs over and throws out a lariat. But Sands ducks. When Cannon turns around, Sands goes for Face Meets Mat. But Cannon catches him in mid air, runs across the ring and rams him back-first into the corner. From there, Cannon delivers a series of shoulder thrusts to the midsection, followed by a series of european uppercuts that rock Sands. Cannon then takes Sands and whips him into the opposite corner. Cannon runs across the ring. But Sands nails him with a hard elbow to the face. While Cannon is stunned, Sands turns around and springboards to the middle rope for the Lip Buster. But before Sands can turn around, Cannon shoves him over the top rope and to the floor.
Kris Cruise: Sands took a hard fall to the floor and he may have further damaged the left arm that Cannon has previously worked on.
After Cannon rolls to the outside, he takes Sands, wraps his arm around the guardrail and kicks the arm, causing Sands to howl in pain. He then takes Sands and rolls him back into the ring. But instead of returning to the ring, Cannon reaches out, grabs Sands’ arm and throws it down hard against the edge of the ring. While Sands quickly clutches his arm, Cannon rolls back into the ring. Cannon picks up Sands, wrenches the arm and quickly follows up with a hammerlock northern lights suplex. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Sands kicks out.
Cannon picks up Sands, hammerlocks the arm and throws him into the corner. As Sands bounces back, Cannon delivers a hammerlock belly to back suplex. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Sands kicks out.
As Cannon slowly picks up Sands, Sands begins to deliver punches to the midsection using his good arm. But Sands’ comeback is stopped with a european uppercut that knocks him down. As Cannon reaches down and slowly pulls up Sands, Sands begins to nail him with forearms to the face using his good arm. He then turns and takes off into the ropes. Sands goes for a handspring back elbow. But Cannon counters by bringing him down with a fujiawara armbar. The crowd boos.
Kris Cruise: Canon with the counter! He’s got the fujiwara armbar locked on!
Stephy Auger: Sands really need to get to the ropes quick because this may not last much longer!
The ref asks Sands if he wants to give up. But Sands refuses to quit. So Cannon bridges back, increasing the pressure of the hold.
Kris Cruise: Sands is down there gritting his teeth as he’s trying to block out the pain. But that’s proving to be easier said than done.
The ref checks back in with Sands and asks him if he wants to give up. But Sands still refuses to quit. So he begins to pull himself over towards the ropes. He’s not in position to reach the ropes with his free arm. However, he reaches over with his nearest leg… and puts his foot on the bottom rope, forcing the ref to break the hold.
Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…
Cannon breaks the hold. He then picks up Sands and goes for an irish whip. But Sands reverses. When Cannon comes back, Sands brings him down with a hurricanrana to cheers from the crowd.
Cannon gets back to his feet and marches over towards Sands. But Sands stops him with an elbow to the midsection. Cannon the raises his arms up, potentially going for a double ax handle. But again, Sands stops him with another elbow to the midsection. Sands then stands up straight and fires off a knife edge chop, followed by a jab. He then delivers another knife edge chop, followed by a jab. He then begins rattling off a series of snapping jabs before throwing out a roundhouse to the head. But Cannon ducks, grabs Sands from behind and brings him down with a half nelson suplex. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO
Sands gets his good shoulder up.
Cannon picks up Sands, snapmares him over and delivers a stiff kick to the back that sounds like it should’ve broken Sands’ spine in two. Sands lets out a wail as he falls over onto his side. Cannon then drops down, pulls Sands back over towards him and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Sands gets his good shoulder up.
Kris Cruise: Sands started to mount a comeback. But Cannon cut him off at the legs.
Cannon picks up Sands and whips him into the corner. He then runs across the ring at Sands. Sands goes to deliver an elbow to the face. But Cannon puts on the brakes, grabs Sands’ arm and tries to bring him down into another fujiwara armbar. But Sands is holding onto the top rope for dear life. He then breaks free of Cannon’s grip and socks him with a right hand, sending him stumbling back. Cannon comes back over towards Sands, but Sands socks him with another right hand. After stumbling around in a circle, Cannon comes back over towards Sands. Sands then delivers an inverted atomic drop, followed by a DDT. The crowd cheers as he turns over and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Cannon kicks out.
Sands picks up Cannon and goes for an irish whip. But Cannon reverses, sending Sands into the ropes. When Sands comes back, Cannon throws out a lariat. But Sands ducks and runs into the ropes. When Sands comes back, Cannon knocks him down with a running european uppercut. He drops down and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Sands gets his good shoulder up.
Cannon picks up Sands and goes for an irish whip. But Sands reverses, sending Cannon into the corner. Sands charges across the ring. But Cannon sends him stumbling back with a european uppercut. While Sands is dazed, Cannon hoists himself up onto the middle ropes and goes for a diving european uppercut. But Sands counters with a dropkick in mid air. The crowd cheers as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Cannon kicks out.
Sands picks up Cannon and goes for an irish whip. But Cannon reverses, sending Sands into the corner. Cannon charges into the corner, but Sands counters with an elbow using his good arm. As Cannon stumbles back, Sands turns around and delivers the Lip Buster. The crowd cheers as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Cannon gets his shoulder up.
Sands picks up Cannon and delivers a series of forearms using his good arm. He then takes Cannon and whips him into the ropes. When Cannon comes back, Sands knocks him down with a spinning heel kick. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Cannon gets his shoulder up.
Kris Cruise: Sand’s starting to mount a comeback. This match at one point was all Cannon, but not anymore. Sands has slowly taken back control of this contest.
Stephy Auger: As Sands picks up Cannon, Cannon shoves him away to create distance. After taking a few steps back, Sands marches back over towards Cannon. Cannon throws out a reverse roundhouse kick. But Sands catches his leg. He then turns Cannon away from him, grabs him from behind and goes for a german. But Cannon elbows him in the head on the way up. He then turns around, applies a waist of his own and, after bouncing Sands off the ropes, delivers a backward roll into a bridging german suplex.
ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!
Sands turns over to get his good shoulder up.
But Cannon never releases the hold and turns over with him. He then pulls Sands back up to his feet, hooks his arms and delivers a release dragon suplex. He then crawls over, turns over Sands and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!
Sands gets his good shoulder up.
Kris Cruise: How did Sands get his shoulder up after getting nearly dropped on the back of his neck?
Stephy Auger: I don’t know. But Cannon’s holding up three fingers at the ref.
Cannon picks up Sands, wrenches his arm and then brings him down with a flying cross armbar. Sands immediately locks his arms as he tries to prevent Cannon from hyperextending his arm.
Kris Cruise: Sands has to keep those hands of his locked together. The moment those hands are no longer locked, there’s a very good chance that your arm will get broken.
Cannon repeatedly jerks back as he tries to fully lock on the move. But Sands keeps his hands clasped together.
Kris Cruise: Stephy Auger: Sean’s trying to fight off the attack with all his might. But his grip isn’t looking as secure as it was before...
After continuing to struggle, Cannon lets out a loud grunt as he pulls back with all his might, breaking Sands’ hands apart and fully locking in the armbar. Sands can be seen kicking his legs as he howls in pain.
Kris Cruise: This could be it right here! Sands could tap out any any second!
Cannon pulls back and can be heard shouting at Sands to tap. But Sands won’t quit. Sands then turns over to his left, pinning Cannon’s shoulder sot the mat,
ONE!
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TWO!
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Cannon pushes Sands back with his legs, sending Sands back down to the canvas as he locks the armbar back on.
Kris Cruise: Sands thought he found a way out. But Cannon knocked him right back down.
Sands turns back over towards his left, pinning Cannon back down against the mat.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Cannon uses his leg to push Sands back down to the canvas and locks Sands in the armbar.
The ref asks Sands if he wants to give up. But Sands refuses to quit. After turning over towards his left, Sands gets up on one knee. He then gets up to both feet. Sands stays crouched down while Cannon tries to push him back down with his legs. After clasping his hands together, Sands lets out a loud grunt as he hoists Cannon up...
Stephy Auger: What’s Sands doing??!
...Sands then dives down, dropping Cannon on the back of his head and breaking the hold. Cannon quickly clutches the back of his head with his hands. Meanwhile, Sands rolls away from Cannon and heads over towards the ropes. Sands can be seen clutching his arm as he continues to cringe in pain.
Kris Cruise: Desperate times call for desperate measures and that right there might have just saved Sands’ arm.
After shaking out the cobwebs, Cannon looks around for Sands. He then turns around and sees Sands slowly pulling himself up using the ropes. Cannon then narrows his eyes before charging over at Sands. He motions for a lariat. But Sands ducks, dumping Cannon over the top rope and to the floor with a back body drop. Cannon immediately arches his back in pain after it collides with the floor. Back in the ring, Sands drops down to his knees, then falls on all fours.
Kris Cruise: Sands sends Cannon to the outside. But Sands may not have much left.
Stephy Auger: He’s got to keep pushing, though. He’s got to keep fighting...
Sands begins to slowly return to his feet. He looks around at the crowd, then at Cannon on the outside. Once Cannon returns to his feet, Sands takes off into the ropes. When Sands comes back, he goes for a suicide dive. But Cannon reaches up and nails him with a roaring elbow, knocking Sands back into the ring. The crowd boos as Cannon rolls back in, drags Sands away from the ropes and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!
Sands gets his shoulder up to cheers from the crowd.
After picking up Sands, Cannon delivers multiple open hand slaps, followed by an elbow strike to the head, followed by a discus forearm. While Sands is dazed, Cannon turns and heads into the ropes. When Cannon comes back, Sands turns knocks him down with a bicycle kick. Cannon gets back up, but Sands knocks him down with a bionic elbow. Cannon gets back up, but Sands sends him right back down with another bionic elbow. As Cannon gets back up, Sands grabs him and goes for an irish whip. But Cannon reverses, sending Sands into the ropes. When Sands comes back, Cannon bends over to set up a back body drop. But Sands kicks him square in the face, standing him upright. Sands then follows up by planting Cannon with Face Meets Mat. The crowd cheers as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!
Cannon gets his shoulder up. Goodrich can be seen on the outside with his hand over his heart. He then begins slapping on the apron while he shouts words of encouragement at Cannon.
Sands picks up Cannon and whips him into the corner. He then charges across the ring and knocks the air out of Cannon with double knees to the chest. Sands then steps back as he continues to wave on Cannon. As Cannon stumbles out of the air, Sands blasts him in the head with a roundhouse kick. Sands then hops through the ropes and begins scaling the ropes. When Cannon returns to his feet and turns around, Sands leaps off and connects with a diving crossbody…
… but Cannon rolls through it and hooks Sands’ legs for the cover…
ONE!
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TWO!
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Sands kicks out.
After both men scramble to get to their feet, Cannon kicks Sands in the midsection and plants him with the Cannon Diver II. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!
The crowd cheers as Sands gets his shoulder up.
Cannon picks up Sands and whips him into the corner. Cannon then charges into the corner and connects with a high knee strike to the chin. Cannon then slips down and pushes a groggy Sands from out of the corner before running into the far ropes. When Cannon comes back, he tries to blindside Sands with a lariat. But Sands ducks and runs into the ropes. When both grapplers head back towards the center of the ring, Sands turns Cannon inside out with the Sands Kick. The crowd cheers as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!
The crowd sighs as Cannon gets his shoulder up.
Sands picks up Cannon and nails him with a forearm strike. Cannon responds with a forearm of his own. Sands then nails Cannon with another forearm strike. Cannon responds right back with one of his own. Sands then nails Cannon with another forearm strike… and another.. and another… and another… and another. Sands then steps back and throws out a roundhouse kick. But Cannon ducks. When Cannon stands back up, though, he gets caught with a Pele Kick. While Cannon’s dazed, Sands gets back up and runs into the ropes. When Sands comes back, he connects with a bicycle kick to the chest, sending Cannon stumbling back and halfway through the ropes. But instead of falling to the floor, Cannon swings back up and turns Sands inside out with a rebound lariat. Cannon gets up on all fours and looks over at Sands, who is turning over onto his stomach. After both men rise to their feet, Cannon telegraphs the Roundhouse Kick. But Sands ducks and counters with the Sand Attack. The crowd explodes into cheers. Sands gets up and stumbles into the corner. He looks around and sees the crowd egging him to go to the top. Sands nods in agreement right before scaling the turnbuckles. After Sands gets to the top, he flips off and connects with the Sand Drop. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
“Burn Brighter” blasts over the PA as the crowd explodes into cheers.
J.A. Aldridge: Here is your winner, SEAN SANDS!
Sands gets his arm raised to cheers from the crowd.
Kris Cruise: Sean Sands has done it! He was able to best Johnny Cannon in what was a fantastic main event!
Stephy Auger: When you have two men like Sands and Cannon fighting each other, the bar is set pretty high. But these two exceeded expectations. This was, in my mind, one of the best matches in Vertigo’s short history.
Kris Cruise: Indeed it was. For Stephy Auger, this is Kris Cruise signing off. We’ll see you in two weeks for the next episode of Vertigo!
