Once the beat of “The Outside” by Red kicks in, the curtains are pulled open and Jensen Banks steps out, nodding his head, wearing his black hoodie over his head. As he bobs his head to his music, Jensen slowly makes his way down to the ring, even mouthing the words to his theme. He slaps hands with some of the fans before reaching ringside, where he slowly removes his hood from over his head and unzips his hoodie.
Melanie Sierra: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest, scheduled for one fall, is your MAIN EVENT! Introducing first, from Brooklyn, New York! Weighing in at 211 pounds… JENSEN BANKS!
Jensen tosses his hoodie to the side and quickly slides into the ring before going over to the nearest corner and climbing to the middle turnbuckle. Flashing a small grin, Jensen points to himself before dropping down and leaning in his designate corner, waiting for the match to start.
Geoff Penzer: It is main event time here on Pride as Jensen Banks takes of the self-proclaimed Pride of LDFC, Terrence Tillman! Banks and Emily Carter were eliminated in the semifinals of the APEX Tag Team Title Tournament. But while one door closed, another opened. Banks now finds himself not only embroiled in a feud with Skylar Cloud, but he’ll be facing the Skylar at “At All Costs” for the Old North Championship. Skylar has had a tight grip on the title since winning it at “3rd Strike” last November. Now with The Systemic in tow, it’ll be even harder to get the championship off of her. But that’s what Banks is determined to do in two weeks at “At All Costs.”
“Forever” hits and out comes Terrific Terry Tillman sporting a windbreaker jacket and shades. Behind him is his brother Maurice Graham rocking a suit. Tillman stops at the top of the ramp way and looks out over the fans before shaking his head in disgust. Graham stands at his side talking in his ear while pointing towards the ring. As the two head down to the ring Tillman ignores the majority of the fans while Graham continues to give him instructions.
Melanie Sierra: Introducing his opponent, from Orlando, Florida! Weighing in at 230 pounds… he is “Terrific” TERRENCE TILLMAN!
As they arrive to the ring Tillman faces Graham who begins to pump Tillman up, slapping him in the face and shouting “Handle this!” Triple T rolls under the ropes, jumps up on the nearest corner and again looks out over the crowd before raising his fist in the air with an arrogant smile.
Geoff Penzer: As I said at the top of tonight’s program, Terrence Tillman’s attitude as of late hasn’t been doing him any favors. In fact, it’s been making him enemies left and right. Most notably, Mercy Williams, whom he’ll be squaring off with in two weeks at “At All Costs.” But he’s got to forget about Mercy for tonight and stay focused on the always dangerous Banks. One slip up by Tillman is all Banks needs to send him straight to Bank Shot City.
The match starts with Tillman and Banks immediately getting in each others faces, which riles up the hot crowd. After some shoving back and forth, Tillman nails Banks with a right hand. But Banks comes right back with a punch of his own. Tillman nails Banks with another right hand. But Banks comes back with another punch of his own. Tillman throws out another right hand, but Banks ducks and counters with a punch of his own. Tillman throws out another punch. But Banks blocks it and counters with another punch of his own. He nails Tillman with four more punches before whipping him into the ropes. When Tillman comes back, Jensen grabs him by the neck, runs and tosses him over the top rope…
… but Tillman lands on the apron. Banks runs over to attack. But Tillman doubles him other with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. Tillman then hits a sunset flip. But Banks rolls through it, gets to his feet and turns Tillman over into a Gorilla Clutch. The crowd cheers as Banks applies the submission. But Tillman is right near the ropes. So he easily reaches out and grabs the bottom rope. But Banks doesn’t break the hold. So the ref gives him until the count of five…
Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…
Banks reluctantly breaks the hold. He then reaches down, picks up Tillman and whips him into the ropes. When Tillman comes back, Banks throws out a clothesline. But Tillman ducks and runs into the ropes. When Tillman comes back, Banks brings him down with an arm drag. Tillman gets back up, but Banks throws him back down with another arm drag. When Tillman returns to his feet, Banks throws him down with an overflow arm drag. Tillman then quickly rolls to the outside, which garbers boos from the crowd.
Geoff Penzer: This match wasn’t going in Triple T’s favor, so he quickly slammed on the brakes and to it the floor...
Banks can be seen motioning for Tillman to bring it. But Tillman is in no rush to get back in. So Banks goes over, sits down on the bottom rope and holds the top rope up for Tillman. But Tillman shouts something at him before circling the ring.
After he laps the ring, Tillman hops up onto the canvas. He then wipes his feet off before stepping back in through the ropes. The two then circle the ring before motioning for a lock up. But Tillman opts for a kick to the midsection, which gets him boos from the crowd. He then takes Banks, grabs him by the wrist and delivers an arm wrench. He delivers a slap across the back of the head to add insult. But Banks then rolls forward, leans back, kips up and reverses into an arm wrench of his own. He then gives Tillman a taste of his own medicine by delivering a slap across the back of the head. Tillman then rolls forward, leans back, kips up, reverses into an arm wrench and follows up with a kick to the midsection. While Banks is doubled over, Tillman bounces into the ropes. When he comes back, he throws out the Terrific Kick. But Banks moves out of the way and quickly applies a sleeper from behind. But before Banks can fully get it cinched in, Tillman drops to his knees and throws Banks off his back. After Banks flips over Tillman, both competitors get back to their feet. But Tillman beats Banks to the punch and knocks him down with a dropkick. Banks gets back up, but Tillman knocks him down with another dropkick. When Banks gets back up, Tillman grabs him and whips him into the ropes. Tillman goes for a dropsault. But Banks sees it, so he hangs onto the ropes. However, Tillman is able to flip and land on his feet. When Banks runs over towards him, Tillman knocks him down with a dropsault. The crowd boos as Tillman gets up and spreads his arms out. He then drops down and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Banks kicks out.
Geoff Penzer: Great feat of athleticism there by Tillman. There’s no doubt that he’s one of the most athletic, if not THE most athletic here in LDFC. But those seconds that he took to taunt might have cost him the match.
Tillman picks up Banks, moves him into the corner and unleashes a blistering knife edge chop. He then pulls his arm back before blasting Banks with another chop. He then takes Banks and whips him into the opposite corner. Tillman runs across the ring. But he runs right into a back elbow from Banks. Banks then takes Tillman, tosses him into the corner and unleashes a series of knife edge chops that echo throughout the venue. He then takes Tillman and whips him back into the previous corner. Banks runs across the ring, connects with a clothesline and goes to follow up with a bulldog from out of the corner. But Tillman shoves Banks off of him and into the ropes. When Banks comes back, Tillman knocks him down with the Chin Checka. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Banks kicks out.
Tillman picks up Banks and applies a side headlock. The ref asks him if Banks wants to give up. But he quickly refuses. So Tillman begins to really cinch in the hold. Banks then shoves Tillman off of him and into the ropes. When Tillman comes back, Banks knocks him down with a standing shoulder block. But Tillman kips up and gets right in Banks’ face. So Banks runs into another set of ropes. When he comes back, he knocks Tillman down with a running shoulder block. But Tillman kips right back up. Banks then points to the ropes, daring Tillman to knock him down. Tillman happily obliges. He smirks at Banks before running into the ropes. When Tillman comes back, the crowd cheers as Banks knocks him down with a jumping calf kick. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Tillman kicks out.
Geoff Penzer: Banks suckered him right into that one, but it only gets two.
Banks picks up Tillman and places him in a side headlock. Tillman tries to shove him off. But Banks won't budge. So Tillman wraps his arms around him and brings him back into the ropes. With a running start, Tillman tries to shove Banks off of him. But Banks drops down to one knee while keeping the hold applied. Tillman then battles his way back to his feet. But Banks throws him down to the canvas with a side headlock takeover. Tillman slaps the canvas out of frustration. He then slowly reaches up and grabs a handful of hair. After pulling Banks’ head back, he quickly reverses into a headscissors. The ref kneels down and asks Banks if he wants to give up. But Banks refuses. He then tries to escape with a kip up. But Tillman blocks it. After a few, Banks tries for another kip up. But again, Tillman blocks it. After shifting around on the canvas, Banks turns over onto his knees. After pressing down on Tillman’s legs and slowly slipping his head out, Banks dives over and places Tillman in a side headlock. He then follows up with a series of punches to the face before firmly reapplying the headlock.
The ref asks Tillman if he wants to give up. But Tillman refuses. He then battles his way back to his feet before moving Banks into the ropes. Tillman then reaches over and grabs the bottom rope, thus forcing the ref to make Banks break the hold.
Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…
As soon as Banks breaks the hold, Tillman nails him with a barrage of shoulder thrusts to the midsection. He then takes Banks and whips him into the ropes. When Banks comes back, Tillman throws out a clothesline. But Banks ducks and runs into the ropes. When Banks comes back, he throws out a clothesline. But Tillman ducks, sending both men into opposite sets of ropes. When they come back, Tillman knocks him down with a spinning heel kick. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Banks gets his shoulder up.
Tillman picks up Banks and knocks him into the ropes with a right hand. He then goes over, grabs Banks and goes for an irish whip. But Banks reverses, sending Tillman into the ropes. When Tillman comes back, Banks sets up for a back body drop. But Tillman hurdles over him before running into the far ropes. When Tillman comes back, Banks knocks him down with a high knee. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Tillman gets his shoulder up.
Geoff Penzer: This match continues to go back and forth!
Banks picks up Tillman and knees him in the midsection, doubling him over. He then hooks his arms for a double underhook sitout facebuster. But Tillman immediately sandbags by dropping down to a knee. So Banks lets go of his arms before blasting him in the face with a knee lift, knocking him down. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Tillman gets his shoulder up.
Banks picks up Tillman and goes for a vertical suplex, but Tillman blocks it. After a punch to the ribs, Banks goes for another vertical suplex. But again, Tillman blocks it. So Banks punches him in the ribs three times. He goes for another vertical suplex. This time, Tillman slips down from behind and counters with a school boy.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Banks kicks out.
After both competitors scramble to get back to their feet, Tillman rocks him with a roundhouse kick. He then takes Banks and whips him into the corner. Tillman runs, jumps from the middle of the ring and connects with a Corner Splash. He then takes Banks and whips him into the opposite corner. Tillman runs, jumps and connects with another Corner Splash. After moving Banks out of the way, Tillman hoists himself up onto the middle ropes. He then grabs Banks and goes for a Tornado DDT. But Banks blocks it. So Tillman tries for another Tornado DDT. But again, Banks blocks it. So Tillman lets go, stands up on the middle ropes and goes to strike Banks. But Banks blocks and counters with a punch to the midsection. He then socks Tillman with a punch that knocks him over the top rope and onto the apron. After Tillman picks himself up using the ropes, Banks doubles him over with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. He then grabs onto the top ropes before painting Tillman on the apron with a slingshot DDT. The crowd cheers as Tillman bounces off the aporn before falling to the floor.
Geoff Penzer: Huge DDT by Jensen Banks! He just spiked Tillman head-first on the hardest part of the ring! If he gets him back in the ring and makes the cover, that could be it!
While Tillman is sprawled out on the floor, Banks rolls back into the ring. He crouches down and begins to wave up Tillman.
Geoff Penzer: What’s Jensen looking for here!?
Tillman begins to slowly sit up and shake out the cobwebs.
Geoff Penzer: Tillmans starting to come to, but he’s not quite there...
Once Tillman is back to his feet, Banks takes off into the far ropes. When Tillman turns him down, the crowd cheers as Banks flattens him with an elbow suicida.
Geoff Penzer: Banks caught all of that one! Suicide elbow right to the face of Tillman!
Banks picks up Tillman, rolls him back into the ring, slides back in and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Tillman gets his foot on the bottom rope.
Banks picks up Tillman and applies a sleeper hold. But Tillman is quickly to reach back, grab Banks and counter with a sitout jawbreaker. While Banks is dazed, Tillman gets up and heads into the ropes. When he comes back, Banks kicks him in the midsection, hooks his arms, hoists him up and throws him down with a double underhook sitout facebuster. The crowd cheers as he turns Tillman over and hooks the leg.
ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!
Tillman gets his shoulder up.
Banks picks up Tillman and goes for a vertical suplex. But Tillman quickly counters into a small package.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Banks kicks out.
After both men scramble to get back to their feet, Tillman throws out a kick to the midsection. Banks catches his foot. But Tillman counters with a Dragonwhip. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!
Banks gets his shoulder up.
Geoff Penzer: These two young men continue to go blow for blow. That dragonwhip kick nearly knocked Banks into next week. But Banks had the wherewithal to get his shoulder up.
Tillman picks up Banks and whips him into the corner. He then runs across the ring, connects with a running back elbow and follows up with a CCS Enzuigiri. While Banks is dazed, Tillman gets up, moves him out of the way and hoists himself up onto the middle ropes. After grabbing Banks, Tillman plants him with a Tornado DDT. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!
The crowd sighs, then cheers as Banks gets his shoulder up.
Tillman sits up Banks and places him in a rear chinlock. The ref gets down and asks Banks if he wants to give up. But Banks refuses. So Tillman pulls back hard on the chin.
Geoff Penzer: Tillman’s looking to wear down Banks. But Banks is trying his best to fight it off.
Banks grimaces and groans while Tillman continues to keep the hold applied. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. But again, Banks refuses to quit. So Tillman begins to repeatedly yank on the chin.
Crowd: BANKSHOT CITY!!! *clap-clap, clap-clap-clap* BANKSHOT CITY!!! *clap-clap, clap-clap-clap* BANKSHOT CITY!!! *clap-clap, clap-clap-clap* BANKSHOT CITY!!! *clap-clap, clap-clap-clap*
Geoff Penzer: This Carolina crowd is firmly behind the Brooklyn native. But is it enough to will Banks back into this match?
Banks begins to slowly feed off the energy of the crowd. He slowly turns over onto his knee before getting back to his feet. He nails Tillman with four elbows to the midsection, breaking the hold. While Tillman’s doubled over, Banks takes off into the ropes. When he comes back, Tillman doubles him over with a knee to the midsection. While Banks is doubled over, Tillman takes off into the ropes. When he comes back, he throws out the Terrific Kick. But Banks moves out of the way, lifts up Tillman, spins and throws him down with a Blue Thunder Bomb. to an explosion of cheers…
ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!
The crowd gasps as Tillman gets his shoulder up.
Geoff Penzer: How much closer can you get!?
Banks lays back and places his hands over his face in disbelief.
Geoff Penzer: Banks can’t believe it! But he’s got to snap back into this and finish the job!
Banks picks up Tillman and sets him up for a Standing Shiranui. But Tillman outmuscles him and throws him down with a release Tiger Suplex.
Geoff Penzer: What a counter by Tillman!
While Banks is down, Tillman drags him into position before heading into the corner and hitting the Terry-sault. The crowd boos as he hooks the leg.
ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!
The crowd cheers as Banks gets his shoulder up.
Geoff Penzer: Tillman went for the Terry-sault and got it! But even that wasn’t enough to put down Banks!
Tillman picks up Banks and whips him into the ropes. When Banks comes back, Tillman throws out a discus elbow smash. But Banks ducks, hops onto his shoulders and spikes him with an inverted frankensteiner.
Geoff Penzer: Banks with a desperation maneuver right there!
Banks slowly returns to his feet. He goes over, picks up Tillman and whips him into the ropes. When Tillman returns, Banks goes for a back body drop. But Tillman flips in the air, lands on his feet and runs into the far ropes. When he comes back, Banks flattens him with a rolling kesagiri chop.
Geoff Penzer: Banks knocked him down with the chop...
Banks heads into the corner and begins calling for the Bank Shot as the crowd goes wild.
Geoff Penzer: …and now he’s calling his shot. If he hits this, it’s ov-
Banks is about to hit Tillman with the Bank Shot when Skylar II yanks him down to the canvas and drags him out of the ring. The bell sounds the the big man begins pounding on Banks with clubbing shots to the back.
Geoff Penzer: What the heck is this!?
Skylar II continues to hammers away on banks. But Banks comes back with elbows to the midsection. He then stands up and begins fighting back with right hands to the face. But Skylar III comes from out of nowhere and connects with a double axe handle to the back. The crowd boos as The Systemic begins to double team Banks on the outside.
Geoff Penzer: Would you like at this?
Out from the back walks Skylar Cloud, with the Old North Championship across her shoulder, to an eruption of boos. She smiles as she sees her Skylar putting the boots to Banks. The crowd is trying to rally behind Banks by chanting his name. But after the taxing match he was having with Tillman, the two on one assault become too much for him to overcome. Skylar III takes Banks and whips him over towards Skylar II, who takes Banks and delivers an overhead belly to back suplex against the ring post. Skylar can be seen shooing Penzer out of the way as The System drag Banks over towards the announce table. The Systemic then lift up Banks and deliver an assisted powerbomb through the table. The crowd erupts with boos as Banks lays flat out his back, out cold, amongst the debris. The System then point to the sky and look upwards as Skylar stands between them with her championship in the air...
