Pride S06E03

[FGA Office]

The psychedelic blues rock of "End of the Line" by Frijid Pink begins to play, and out walks Echo in her sleeveless bell bottom jumpsuit, floppy hat and sunglasses. She flashes peace signs and laid back smiles to the crowd as she saunters down to the ring, climbs on the apron and walk down the edge of it blowing kisses to the crowd.

Melanie Sierra: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is your main event of the evening! Introducing first, from Tucson, Arizona! Weighing in at 131 pounds! She is the “Peacemaker”... ECHO RIGBY!

She takes off her hat and flings it into the crowd like a frisbee. She removes her glasses and jewelry, climbing into the ring and ready for the match.

Geoff Penzer: Here we are! It is main event time and Echo Rigby is standing by in the ring. This is the chance of a lifetime for the “Peacemaker”. A win over Nest would put her in championship contention.

The opening to Deftones' "Cherry Waves" plays as a small screen of smoke cover the ground of the stage. As the first rift blasts through the venue, Nest walks through the curtain breathing heavily. Keeping his head down he looks out to the crowd briefly before eyeing the ring ahead, making his way down the ramp with an alarming sense of urgency.

Melanie Sierra: And her opponent, from Rocky Mount, North Carolina! Weighing in at 287 pounds! He is the reigning APEX Champion… NEST!

Nest stops right before he gets to the apron, holding out both of his arms with pitchfork hand signs along with a scream. He rolls in the ring and starts cracking his knuckles as the music dies down.

Geoff Penzer: We’ve seen hints of an attitude change in Nest over the last few months. But it was on full display two weeks ago with the disrespect that he showed to both Emily Carter and Jessie Pederson. It was that very same disrespect that he showed with his words towards Echo in the leadup to this contest.

The match begins with Nest marching across the ring towards Echo. Echo goes to her right, but Nest cuts her off. She then motions to her left but again, Nest cuts her off. Echo then goes forward and throws out a kick to the midsection. But Nest swats it down before popping her with a right cross, which sends her stumbling into the ropes. The crowd boos as Nest marches over, turns Echo around and doubles her over with a knee thrust to the midsection. He leans Echo back up against the ropes before delivering another knee thrust to the midsection. The champion takes Echo and whips her into the far ropes. When Echo comes back, Nest goes for a running clothesline. But Echo ducks before running into the ropes. When she returns, Nest knocks her down with a leaping clothesline. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Echo kicks out.

Nest picks up Echo, marches into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. After turning her around, Nest delivers a series of shoulder thrusts, followed by a series of knee strikes, followed by a series of back elbow strikes. He then takes Echo and whips her into the opposite corner. Nest runs across the ring, connects with a corner high knee and follows up with a running bulldog from out of the corner. He turns Echo over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Echo gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Thus far, this match has been all Nest. But this contest could easily switch on a dime.

Nest picks up Echo, moves her into another corner and nails her with a hard knife echo chop. The thud from the chop reverberates throughout the venue. Nest then pulls his arm back before blasting Echo across the chest with another chop. He then takes Echo and whips her into the opposite corner. Nest then runs across the ring and goes for a corner yakuza kick. But Echo rolls out of the way. After Nest unhooks his leg from over the top rope and turns around, Echo delivers a series of knife edge chops. She then takes Nest and goes for an irish whip. But Nest uses his free hand to hang onto the top rope. So she goes for another irish whip. But again, Nest blocks it. He then lets go of the top rope, grabs Echo and tosses her back into the corner. From there, he goes for a shoulder thrust. But Echo counters with a knee lift to the face, which sends Nest stumbling back. Echo then runs out of the corner and connects with a clothesline. It has little effect of Nest, so she turns and runs into the ropes. When Echo comes back, she connects with a dropkick. The kick knocks Nest back a few steps. Echo runs back into the ropes. When she returns, she connects with another dropkick. Again, the champ is knocked back a few steps. Echo then runs back into the ropes. When she returns, Nest throws out a clothesline. But Echo ducks and runs into the far ropes. When she returns, she goes for a cross body. But Nest catches her in mid air before flinging her across the ring with a fallaway slam. The crowd boos as Echo arches her back.

As Echo pulls herself up using the ropes, Nest runs over to clothesline her to the outside. But Echo pulls down on the top rope, sending Nets tumbling to the floor.

Geoff Penzer: The champ just took a hard fall to the floor. How much it took out of him remains to be seen.

As Nest slowly pulls himself up off the floor, Echo runs into the far ropes. When she returns, the crowd cheers as she knocks Nest down with a somersault plancha.

Geoff Penzer: Beautifully executed plancha by Echo takes out Nest on the floor!

Echo slowly picks up Nest and leans him against the side of the ring. She then slowly lifts him up onto the apron before pushing him back into the ring. After Echo slides back in, she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Nest places his arm underneath the bottom rope, breaking the pin.

Echo picks up Nest, heads into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. She then brings Nest from out of the corner before going for an irish whip. But Nest reverses, sending her into the ropes. When Echo returns, Nest sets up for a back body drop. But Echo counters with a sunset flip. The crowd cheers as Echo tries to pull Nest down. Nest can be seen swinging his arms wildly to regain his balance. Once he does, he goes for a jumping seated senton on Echo. But Echo rolls out of the way.

Geoff Penzer: Oh, nobody home! That one’s gotta hurt!

While Nest sits cringing in pain, Echo gets back to her feet and connects with a dropkick to the side of the head. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Nest kicks out.

Echo picks up Nest and doubles him over with a kick to the midsection. She then takes Nest and whips him into the ropes. When Nest returns, Echo goes for an STO. But Nest stuffs it and shoves her down to the canvas. After Echo rolls back up to her feet, Nest runs over and throws out a clothesline. But Echo ducks and runs into the far ropes. When she returns, she executes a tilt-a-whirl headscissors armbar.

Geoff Penzer: There it is! She’s got the submission locked on!

The ref asks Nest if he wants to give up. But Nest refuses to quit. So Echo pulls back on the arm.

Geoff Penzer: Echo’s really applying pressure to that arm. The last thing that Nest needs going into a championship match is an injured arm.

The APEX Champion can be seen cringing in pain while Echo keeps the hold applied. The ref checks back in with Nest and asks him if he wants to give up. But he doesn’t get an answer from Nest. Instead, Nest drops down to one knee.

Crowd: TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!

Geoff Penzer: This crowd is solidly behind Echo! They want to see him submit. They want to see a huge upset!

The ref kneels down and asks Nest if he wants to give but. But Nest refuses by shaking his head. He then slowly rises back up to a vertical base. The crowd boos as he makes his way over to the ropes and hooks his free arm around the top rope, forcing the ref to start a five count.

ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Echo breaks the hold. She then brings Nest away from the ropes and performs an arm wrench. But Nets is quick to counter the arm wrench and follow up with a hook kick that knocks her down. While Echo holds her face, Nest walks around the ring trying to shake off the pain in his arms. Once he feels that he’s recovered enough, he marches back over towards Echo before putting the boots to her. He then reaches down, yanks up Echo and whips her into tho the corner. The champ then charges into the corner and nearly takes her head off with a corner yakuza kick. While Echo slowly slumps down in the corner, Nest steps back just past the center from the ring. He then charges back into the corner before squashing Echo with a cannonball senton. The crowd boos as Nest drags Echo from out of the corner before making the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THR-NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers as Echo gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Nets thought he knocked the wind out of Echo. But she was still able to get her shoulder up.

Nest picks up Echo and whips her back into the corner. This time, Nest goes to follow up with a corner splash. But Echo moves out of the way. After Nest crashes into the turnbuckles and stumbles back, Echo hops onto his shoulders and spikes him with an inverted frankensteiner. The crowd cheers as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!

The crowd lets out a disappointed sigh as Nest gets his shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Nest got his shoulder up just in the nick of time.

Echo picks up Nest and doubles him over with a knee to the midsection before running into the ropes. When she returns, she brings him down with a bulldog. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Nest gets his shoulder up.

Echo picks up Nest and goes for an irish whip. But Nest reverses, sending Echo into the corner. He then charges into the corner. But Echo counters with a back elbow to the face. While Nest stumbles back, Echo goes for a double jump moonsault. But Nest catches her in mid air, turns and throws her down with a running powerslam to boos from the crowd. While Echo’s down on the mat, Nest steps through the ropes before climbing to the top turnbuckle. He then leaps off for a diving leg drop. But Echo rolls out of the way, causing Nest to crash onto the canvas. The crowd cheers as Nest lays writhing in pain.

Geoff Penzer: He missed! Nest missed the big leg drop off the top!

Once Nest gets back up to his feet, Echo comes up from behind and locks him in Calf Slicer. The crowd cheers while Nest cringes in pain.

Geoff Penzer: Echo’s got him locked in another submission!

The ref asks Nest if he wants to give up. But he refuses to quit.

Crowd: TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!

Geoff Penzer: The crowd is still solidly behind Echo Rigby! They want to see the champion tap out here tonight!

The refs asks Nest again if he wants to give up. When he refuses to quit, Echo applies even more pressure to the hold.

Geoff Penzer: You can see the pain on Nest’s face. He’s trying to fight it off. But how much longer can he hold on for?

Nest reaches out to try and grab the bottom rope. But he’s not close.

Crowd: TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!

Geoff Penzer: Nest thought he was close, but he wasn’t. He’s still got a bit of a way to go. But Echo hasn’t let up on that hold at all.

The ref checks back in with Nest and asks him if he wants to give up. But he refuses to quit. He then begins to pull himself across the canvas. The crowd boos as Nest is able to reach out and latch onto the bottom rope.

ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Echo releases the hold. She then picks up Nest and nails him with three right hooks to the face. Echo then turns and runs into the ropes. When she returns, Nest goes for a back elbow. But Echo ducks and runs into the far ropes. When she comes back, she knocks Nest down with a Busaiku Knee Kick to an explosion of cheers.

Geoff Penzer: What a flying knee that was by Echo Rigby! She caught Nest right in the jaw!

Echo heads into the corner, hoists herself up onto the middle ropes and waits for Nest to get up. After Nest turns over and returns to his feet, she leaps off and brings him down with a diving neckbreaker.

Geoff Penzer: Echo connects with the high risk. But what is this? I think she wants to go for one more. One more just to be sure!

Echo returns to her feet and points to the top rope before heading out onto the apron. After she climbs up to the top turnbuckle, she goes for a somersault leg drop. But Nest rolls out of the way.

Geoff Penzer: Oh no! Nest just missed getting hit with that leg drop. Now Echo’s in the same pain that Nest was in.

As Echo slowly turns over and gets up on one knee, Nest heads over and knocks her down with a Shining Black.

Geoff Penzer: Nest with a boot right to the face of Echo Rigby!

Nest then picks up Echo and whips her into the ropes. When she returns, Nets turns her inside out with Tree Removal. The crowd continues to boo as Nest pulls Echo back up, lifts her up and spikes her with a piledriver. He turns over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

“Cherry Waves” blares throughout the venue as the crowd erupts with boos.

Melanie Sierra: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match, NEST!

Nest gets his arm raised while the crowd continues to boo.

Geoff Penzer: This wasn’t the pushover that many, or even Nest himself, thought it was going to be. I thought that Echo had the match won there a few times there. But somehow, someway, Nest was able to navigate his way out of trouble and secured yet another victory. Does this outcome lie in Emily Carter’s future? We’ll find out in one month’s time at Bound by Honor! But you don’t have to wait another month to see us. We’ll be back here in two weeks for another edition of Pride! Until next time, this is Geoff Penzer signing off!