★★★ 8-Man Tag Team Match ★★★
Emily Carter, Jensen Banks, Mercy Williams, Echo Rigby
vs.
Prince MacRear, Keegan Hightower, Terrence Tillman, Shintaro Majima
As the opening of "There's A Storm Coming" filters through the PA system a combination of gold and reddish-orange lights flicker in the entranceway in sync with the keyboards - until the intro is interrupted by a combination of brooding synths and haunting, almost ethereal vocals that greet Shintaro Majima as he walks through the curtain into the arena, and without a second's hesitation he begins to walk down the ramp towards the ring
Melanie Sierra: The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is an 8-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH! Introducing first, from Gifu, Japan… SHINTARO MAJIMA!
Once he reaches ringside Majima climbs the ring steps and steps into the ring, loosening his robe and removing his sunglasses before he walks towards the corner he has decided is his, at which point he removes his robe and places it and his sunglasses in the corner as he wipes the back of each hand in the palm of the other in preparation
“Forever” hits and out comes Terrific Terry Tillman sporting a windbreaker jacket and shades. Tillman stops at the top of the ramp way and looks out over the fans before shaking his head in disgust. He walks down to the ring but stops halfway there. He looks at the fans booing him, smiles and begins to hop up and down shaking his arms and hands loose. Suddenly Triple T sprints the rest of the way to the ring sliding under the bottom rope. Triple T jumps up on the nearest corner and again looks out over the crowd before pointing at them. HE then points to himself with one hand, the ring with the other shouting "Greatness has arrived!" Soaking in the jeers from the fans Triple T raises his fist in the air with an arrogant smile.
Melanie Sierra: His partner, from orlando, Florida… TERRENCE TILLMAN!
"Let The Bridges Burn" plays and Keegan comes out he has sunglasses on bedazzled of course. He walks down to the ring without looking at the fans he slides into the ring and takes his sunglasses off and hands them to the stage hand and tests the ropes.
Melanie Sierra: Their partner, from Providence, Rhode Island… KEEGAN HIGHTOWER!
"I'M BRINGING SEXY BAAAACK."
As soon as the beat of “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake hits, smoke smoothly pours up from the entrance ramp, masking the actual entrance impossible to see. Prince MacRear emerges from the smoke mid-sequence, a smug grin on his demeanor while he jerks his hips. With a look on his face that can only mean he’s clearly enthused with himself, he does a twirl before continuing down to the ring, his phone his hand to take a quick selfie. MacRear takes turns shouting at the sky, yelling at fans, and twerking his backside at every chance he gets while taking selfies with his iPhone.
Melanie Sierra: And their partner, From HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA… PRINCE MACREAR!
As he reaches the ring, MacRear sprawls across the apron and poses, almost model like, soaking the attention from the crowd. MacRear waves the fans off and rolls toward the middle of the ring. He takes one more selfie, sets his phone down on the canvas, and in a swift, exaggerated manner, takes off his zebra print jacket with the Valcone mask stitched on the back.
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: Now introducing their opponents! First, from Tucson, Arizona… 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.
The slow electronic beats echo through the arena kicking into the chorus of "Don't Hurt Me" by DJ Mustard. Mercy Williams struts on to the stage with a sly smirk upon her face soaking in the reaction from the audience. Mercy walks down the walkway emphasizing hips to the movements of the beat of the music . Mercy climbs up to the apron and spins around on her right knee down and her left leg bent and and gets her feet blowing a kiss to the fans. Mercy ducks under the top rope to climb into the ring and poses with her arms spread with swagger.
Melanie Sierra: Her partner, from Sydney, Australia… MERCY WILLIAMS!
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: Their partner, from Brooklyn, New York… 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.
As the drums start at the beginning of "Don't Die Digging", the audience turns their attention to the entrance way. When the guitar kick in, Emily Carter steps through the curtain to a positive reaction from the crowd. Carter smiles before pointing to various fans in the crowd. She then makes her way down to the ring, slapping hands with the fans along the way.
Melanie Sierra: And their partner, from Westwood, Massachusetts… EMILY CARTER!
She then hops onto the apron before entering the ring. When the chorus hits, Carter climbs up onto the ropes and holds her index finger in the air. She hops down, marches across the ring, climbs up onto the ropes and thrusts her index finger in the air. Carter smiles, nodding her head in approval as the crowd continues to cheer her on.
Geoff Penzer: This match will put two teams of former LDFC students against each other. There’s been a lot of talk by some of the participants in this match that they should be the ones in tonight’s main event. But it’s one thing to say it. It’s another thing to do and it and you can bet these two teams will try to do just that as soon as the opening bell sounds.
In this contest, you’ve got the final APEX Champion and a former Carolina Cup holder in Emily Carter. You’ve got the last Old North Champion in Jensen Banks. You’ve got perennial APEX Title challenger in Terrence Tillman. You’ve got another perennial APEX Title challenger, as well as the last Carolina Cup holder in Prince MacRear. You’ve got Keegan Hightower, who was one half of the last APEX Tag Team Champions. You’ve also got Shintaro Majima, who was set to challenge Banks for the Old North Championship before the promotion was bought. But we found out earlier tonight that Majima and Banks will be fighting for the vacant 15 Championship. That match is set to main event the next episode of Thursday Night Challenge, coming in two weeks.
The match begins with the lead villains attacking our heroes to start things off.
The team of MacRear, Hightower, Tillman and Majima are wasting little time!
The crowd boos as MacRear takes Carter, places her in a side headlock and rakes her face along the top rope. Tillman can be seen clubbing away on the back of Banks. Majima moves Rigby into the corner and unleashes machinegun chops to the chest. Hightower takes Williams and doubles her over with punches to the midsection. On cue, MacRear and Hightower go to irish whip Carter and Williams into each other. But the women reverse, sending Hightower and MacRear crashing into each other in the middle of the ring. As both men stumble back, Carter runs up from behind and delivers a dropkick to the back, which sends MacRear stumbling across the ring, through the ropes and to the floor. Meanwhile, Williams runs over and clotheslines Hightower over the top rope and to the floor.
Back in the ring, Tillman & Majima go to irish whip Rigby and Banks into each other. But Rigby reverses, sending Majima over towards Banks, who knocks him down with a jumping calf kick. Tillman then runs over towards Rigby, but she knocks him down with a Busaiku Knee Kick. When Tillman gets back up, Williams runs over and knocks him down with a Bicycle Kick. Once Tillman gets up and stumbles back, Banks & Carter run over and deliver a double clothesline that sends him over the top rope and to the floor.
Geoff Penzer: This hot crowd is going wild as Banks, Carter, Rigby and Williams have just cleared the ring after being jumped.
Banks takes off into the far ropes. When he returns, the crowd cheers as he runs across the ring, leaps through the ropes and knocks Majima down with an elbow suicida. Rigby then takes off into the far ropes. When she returns, the crowd cheers as she knocks Hightower down with a springboard crossbody to the outside. Back in the ring, Carter runs into the ropes. When she returns, the crowd cheers as she runs across the ring, hurls herself over the top rope and knocks MacRear down with a somersault plancha.
Geoff Penzer: Banks, Rigby and Carter with a succession of dives to the floor!
Williams turns to deliver a dive to the outside. But she’s cut off by Hightower, who slides back into the ring and knocks her down with a jumping kick. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Williams kicks out.
Geoff Penzer: Williams was about to join in on the fun, by Hightower had other plans with that hellacious clothesline.
Hightower picks up Williams, marches into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. After turning Williams around, Hightower unleashes a series of knife edge chops. He then goes and whips her into the opposite corner. But Williams ricochets out of the corner and knocks down the oncoming Hightower with a clothesline. Hightower gets back up, but Williams sends him down with another clothesline. When Hightower returns to his feet, Williams returns him to the mat with a dropkick. As Hightower gets back up, Williams grabs him and whips him into the ropes. When Hightower returns, Williams throws him down with an overhead arm drag. When Hightower gets back to his feet, Williams brings him down with another overhead arm drag. After Hightower gets back up, Williams takes him and whips him back into the ropes. When Hightower returns, Williams lifts him up and delivers a flapjack. After Hightower bounces off the mat and turns over onto his back, Williams makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Hightower gets his shoulder up.
Williams picks up Hightower, wrenches his arm and tags in Banks.
Geoff Penzer: And the crowd goes wild for Banks, who may just become our first-ever 15 Champion in two weeks.
Once Banks gets in, he doubles Hightower over with a punch to the midsection. He then sends Hightower stumbling back into the ropes after a knife edge chop. He then goes over, takes Hightower and whips him into the far ropes. When Hightower returns, Banks throws him down with an arm drag and transitions into an arm bar. The ref asks Hightower if he wants to give up. But Hightower refuses. After battling his way back to his feet, Hightower takes his free hand, pulls back on Banks’ hair and moves him back into his team’s corner while the crowd boos. After Tillman tags himself in on Hightower’s back, Tillman enters through the ropes and doubles Banks over with a boot to the midsection. He begins clubbing away across Banks’ back before bringing him out of the corner. He takes Banks and whips him into the far ropes. When Banks returns, Tillman throws out the Chin Checka. But Banks is able to capture his foot. He then wags his finger at Tillman before swinging Tilman’s leg away from him. But Tillman uses the momentum to knock Banks down with a dragonwhip kick. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Banks kicks out.
Geoff Penzer: Tillman is just so athletic. He can come at you from all angles, as you just saw right there. He made Banks pay right there with that kick.
Tillman picks up Banks, moves him into the corner and lights up his chest with a series of chops. But Banks is able to take Tillman, toss him into the corner and answer back with chops of his own. He then takes Tillman, whips him across the ring and follows him into the corner. But Tillman is able to run up to the top turnbuckle, backflip off and land of his feet. He then turns and takes off into the far ropes. When Banks comes out of the corner, the crowd boos as Tillman knocks him down with a spinning heel kick. He makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Banks kicks out.
Tillman picks up Banks and doubles him over with an inverted atomic drop. He then steps back and throws out another Chin Checka. But again, Banks catches his foot. This time, he swings Tillman’s leg away from him, quickly grabs Tillman from behind, lifts him up, spins and throws him down with a Blue Thunder Bomb.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Tillman gets his shoulder up.
Banks picks up Tillman and whips him into the ropes. When Tillman returns, Banks knocks him down with a high knee. He makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Tillman gets his shoulder up.
Banks picks up Tillman and goes for an irish whip. But Tillman reverses, sending Banks into the ropes (where MacRear knees him in the back).
Geoff Penzer: Cheap shot right there by MacRear!
Banks stumbles away from the ropes… before turning around and going after MacRear. But MacRear quickly drops off the apron. So Banks settles for socking Hightower with a right hand. Then Majima. But when he turns around, Tillman finally flattens him with the Chin Checka. He makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Banks gets his shoulder up.
Tillman returns to his feet and tags in Majima.
Geoff Penzer: Here comes “The Strong Style Savior”! This man was on a hot streak towards the end of LDFC. Majima’s looking to carry that momentum over to 3GW, especially now that he’ll be challenging for the 15 Championship in two weeks.
Once Majima gets in, he picks up Banks and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. He then steps back before unleashing a series of shoot kicks to the chest. He then brings Banks from out of the corner and whips him into the ropes. When Banks returns, Majima sets up for a back body drop. Banks sees it coming, so he counters with a back body drop. But Majima rolls through it, returns to his feet and follows up with a soccer kick to the chest. He makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Banks gets his shoulder up.
Geoff Penzer: Good follow up there by Majima.
Majima picks up Banks and goes for a vertical suplex. But Banks slips down from behind. After Banks applies a waist lock from behind, Majima runs towards the ropes. He then hooks his arms under the top rope and jerks back, sending Banks off his back and down to the canvas. After Banks rolls back to his feet, Majima turns and goes to take his head off with the Kurimuzon Kasai (lariat). But Banks ducks. When Majima turns around, he turns into a rolling kesagiri chop from Banks. While Majima is dazed, the crowd cheers as Banks follows up with a standing shiranui. He makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Majima gets his shoulder up.
Banks goes over and tags in Rigby, who scales up to the top turnbuckle. Once Majima gets back to his feet and turns around, the crowd explodes with cheers as Rigby flips off the top rope and executes a dragonrana.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!
The crowd boos as MacRear dives over and pushes Rigby.
Geoff Penzer: Once again, MacRear is inserting himself into the match when he’s not the legal man!
Once Rigby returns to her feet, she picks up Majima and delivers a knife edge chop. Majima answer back with a chop of his own. Rigby fires back with another chop. Majima then doubles her over with Mongolian chops. He then takes Rigby and whips her into the corner. Majima then rushes into the corner, but Rigby nails him with an elbow to the face. As Majima stumbles back, Rigby hoists herself up onto the middle ropes, jumps off and knocks him down with a leg lariat. She then heads back over towards the ropes and delivers a double jump moonsault.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Majima gets his shoulder up.
Geoff Penzer: “The Peacemaker” Echo Rigby is just bouncing all around that ring today. But that double jump moonsault was not enough to get the three for her team.
Rigby picks up Majima and goes for an irish whip. But Majima reverses, sending her into the ropes. But instead of bouncing back, Rigby hangs onto the ropes. So Majima runs over to attack. But Rigby counters with a drop toe hold onto the middle ropes. She then takes off into the far ropes. When Rigby returns, she swings through the ropes and connects with a tiger feint kick. She then steps through the ropes, scales up to the top rope and flips off for a 450 Splash. But Majima rolls out of the way. Thankfully for her, she lands on her feet. After her momentum sends her rolling forward, she turns, rolls forward, dives and tags in Carter.
Geoff Penzer: The crowd erupts for LDFC’s last APEX Champion!
As Carter gets in, Majima tags in MacRear.
Geoff Penzer: Oh, here we go!
Once MacRear gets in, Carter runs over and knocks him down with a dropkick. After MacRear gets back to his feet, the crowd cheers as Carter knocks him down with a jumping calf kick. Once MacRear returns to his feet, Carter takes him and whips him into the corner. She then runs across the ring and connects with a corner yakuza kick. As MacRear slumps down in the corner, Carter runs into the opposite corner, comes back and connects with a corner hesitation dropkick to the chest. Carter returns to her feet, runs into the opposite corner, comes back and connects with Breeballin cannonball senton). She then drags MacRear away from the ropes before making the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
T-NO!
The crowd boos as MacRear gets his shoulder up.
Carter picks up MacRear and goes for an irish whip. But MacRear reverses, sending her into the ropes. When Carter returns, she slides through MacRear’s legs. When MacRear turns around, Carter gets back and and rocks him with a roundhouse kick. She then steps back and fires off a savate kick. While MacRear is dazed, she turns and runs into the ropes. When Carter comes back, she knocks MacRear down with a bicycle knee strike. She makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!
The crowd boos as MacRear gets his shoulder up.
Carter picks up MacRear and goes for an irish whip. But MacRear reverses, sending Carter into the corner. MacRear runs into the corner. But Carter nails him with a back elbow to the face. As she turns and springboards onto the middle ropes, MacRear lunges forward and shoves her off the ropes. The crowd boos as Carter is falls over the top rope and lands hard on to the floor. The crowd really lets MacRear’s team have it as Tillman and Hightower hop off the apron, rush over and puts the boots to Carter until Banks, Williams and Rigby all rush over to chase them off. While the ref orders both teammates to go back to their respective corners, Carter can be seen slowly pulling herself up using the edge of the apron. When she looks up, the crowd boos as MacRear knocks her down with a spiraling crossbody to the floor.
MacRear slowly picks Carter up off the floor… only to take her by the hair throw her down with a mat slam.
Geoff Penzer: Oh come on, Macrear!
The crowd boos as Carter can be seen clutching the back of her head with both hands. MacRear reaches down, slowly picks Carter back up… only to lift her up and deliver the Facial on the floor.
Geoff Penzer: The ref needs to bring this action back into the ring.
MacRear picks up Carter and rolls her back into the ring. He then slides back in and makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!
The crowd cheers as Carter gets her foot on the bottom rope.
MacRear gets up, drags Carter away from the ropes and makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
Carter gets her shoulder up.
MacRear picks up Carter, snapmares her over and follows up with a dropkick to the back of the head. He makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Carter gets her shoulder up.
MacRear picks up Carter and whips her into the ropes. When Carter returns, he throws her down with a pop-up powerbomb. He makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THR-NO!
The crowd gasps, then cheers as Carter gets her shoulder up. MacRear looks over at the ref and claps his hands three times.
Geoff Penzer: MacRear’s complaining about how that was three. But the only people in this building who beieve that are him and his teammates.
MacRear sits her up and applies a rear chinlock. The ref gets down and asks Carter if she wants to give up. But Carter refuses. So MacRear pulls back, increasing the pressure of the hold.
Geoff Penzer: All three of Carter’s teammates have their arms stretched out for the tag. They’re trying to will her on. This crowd is trying to will her on. Can she battles her way back into this match or will she succumb to this submission hold?
The ref asks her again if she wants to give up. But she refuses. Carter then begins to feed off the energy of the crowd. She slowly turns over onto her knees. As she slowly gets back to a vertical base, MacRear can be seen shaking his head in disbelief. She then nails him with four elbows to the midsection, breaking the hold. She then goes to run over towards her corner. But MacRear reaches out, grabs her by the tights, yanks him back over to her and locks her in a sleeper hold.
Geoff Penzer: “Not so fast” says MacRear!
MacRear tries to put Carter to sleep. But she counters with a kneeling jawbreaker, which garners cheers from the crowd. While MacRear is dazed, Carter gets back to her feet before knocking him down with a Pelé Kick. While both wrestlers are down, the ref starts his count.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
MacRear can be seen slowly rolling over towards his corner. Meanwhile, Carter gets up on all fours and slowly crawls over towards her corner.
FIVE!
SIX!
Majima gets tagged in. After he steps back into the ring, he rushes across the ring to drag Carter away from her corner. But it’s too late as Carter dives over and tags Williams back in.
Geoff Penzer: Here we go!
Williams gets in and fires off right hands at the oncoming Majima. She then takes Majima and goes for an irish whip. But Majima reverses, sending Williams into the ropes. When Williams returns, she delivers a wheelbarrow stunner. The crowd cheers as she makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Majima gets his shoulder up.
Williams picks up Majima, lifts him up from behind and delivers an atomic drop. She then takes off into the far ropes. When Williams returns, Williams throws her down with a Uragaeshi. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Williams gets her shoulder up.
Majima picks up Williams and whips her into the far ropes before bouncing into the near ropes. When they come back, Majima turns her inside out with a running forearm smash. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!
The crowd cheers as Williams gets her shoulder up.
Majima picks up Williams and whips her into the ropes. When she returns, Majima scoops her up for the Kurimuzon Taki (emerald flowsion). But Williams slips down from behind and shoves him into the ropes. When Majima returns, Williams knocks him down with a bicycle kick to the face. The crowd cheers as she makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
T-NO!
The crowd boos as Hightower dives over and breaks up the pin.
Geoff Penzer: Hightower just saved Majima!
Hightower picks up Williams, runs into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. He then turns Williams around and puts the boots to her. But Rigby puts a stop to that when she spins him around and unleashes a flurry of right hands. She then brings Hightower from out of the corner and whips him into the ropes. But instead of coming back, Hightower hangs onto the ropes. So Rigby runs over to attack. But Hightower is able to counter with a back body drop to the floor…
… but Rugby lands on her feet! She then yanks Hightower down to the canvas before dragging him to the outside.
Back in the ring, Tillman gets in and attacks Williams. But Banks gets in and puts a stop to that. He then takes Tillman and whips him into the ropes. When Tillman returns, Banks connects with a Bank Shot that knocks Tillman back through the ropes and to the floor.
Geoff Penzer: Tillman just got sent to Bank Shot City!
When Banks turns around, the crowd erupts with boos when MacRear connects with the Slapnut Mangos.
Geoff Penzer: MacRear with a blatant kick right to the nu… right between the legs! There’s so much confusion going on, the ref didn’t even see it.
After Banks crumbles to the canvas after the low blow, Carter comes in and wails away on MacRear. She then takes MacRear and whips him into the ropes. But MacRear reverses, sending Carter into the ropes. But instead of bouncing back, Carter hangs onto the ropes. So MacRear runs over to attack. But Carter grabs the top rope and drops down, sending Macrear tumbling over the top rope and to the floor.
Geoff Penzer: Now it’s MacRear who takes the fall to the floor.
As MacRear gets back up on the outside, Carter slingshots herself out onto the apron. She then goes for a springboard maneuver to the floor. But MacRear latches onto her ankle.
Geoff Penzer: MacRear’s got his arms wrapped around her ankle for dear life!
Back in the ring, Williams hammers away with right hands on Majima. As she grabs him for an irish whip, Carter is able to wrestle her leg away from MacRear before kicking him in the face. Back in the ring, Majima reverses the irish whip, sending Williams into Carter, who flies off the apron and crashes into the guard rail.
Geoff Penzer: My goodness!
Williams stumbles back. When she turns around, the crowd boos as Majima turns her inside out with the Kurimuzon Kasai. He makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!
“There’s a Storm Coming” blares throughout the venue as the crowd boos.
Melanie Sierra: Here are your winners, PRINCE MACREAR, KEEGAN HIGHTOWER, TERRENCE TILLMAN and SHINTARO MAJIMA!
The crowd continues to boo as Majima, MacRear, Hightower and Tillman eventually make their way up the aisle. Down on the outside, Banks and Rigby are huddled up over Carter. After she reaches her arms up, Banks and Rigby help Carter back up to her feet. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Williams sits up and sees what’s going on on the outside.
Williams rolls to the outside as Rigby, Banks and Carter are still on the outside. Williams spins Carter around and asks her what happened. But Carter tells her she didn’t know what happened. Williams then yells at Carter for being in the way. Banks and Rigby try to calm things down. But Williams is still a little heated. Carter tries to calm things down. But Williams is having none of it and shoves Carter down to the floor. Boos trickle throughout the crowd as Williams turns and marches up the aisle. Banks and Rigby then offer to help up Carter. But she waves them off before slowly getting back to her feet.
