DDT3 SEMIFINALS
Upper Echelon vs. Shootcamp
J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is a semifinal match in the Dynamic Duos Three tournament!
As the scene fades back at ringside, the lighting goes pitch black as “Upper Echelon” by. Travis Scott feat. T.I. & 2 Chainz fades in. On the titantron a series of animal faces flash on the screen. As the horn sounds the lights being to flash like strobe lights until the actual song hits.
Pull out the zip, pull out the ride (roll out)
We so high, upper echelon (Straight up)
We so fuckin' high, upper echelon
J.A. Aldridge: Introducing first…
The camera pans down at the stage and there stood the duo of thee Upper Echelon, Emilio Vialpando & Jinzai! In the middle of them was their manager Tony Capone.
Pull out the zip, pull out the ride (roll out)
We so high, upper echelon (Straight up)
We so fuckin' high, upper echelon
The three men looked out to the crowd listening to their mixtures of cheers and boos. Emilio and Jinzai look at one another nodding symbolizing they was ready. The two speed demon duo sprints down the ramp and slide into the ring while Capone calmly walks down the ramp ignoring the fans on his way down.
J.A. Aldridge: On their way to the ring… At an combined weight of three hundred and ninety-five pounds and both standing at 6 feet tall...The Snake & The Dragon…...Emilio Vialpando & Jinzai…UPPPPPPERRR ECHEELLOOONNNN!
Both Emilio and Jinzai sprint over corner turnbuckles across from one another taunting the fans. They hop back down and move to the next turnbuckles doing the same. As Capone reaches the ring he applauds the two men. After they hop down from the turnbuckles they head over to their corner and talk with Capone until their music fades.
J.A. Aldridge: And their opponents…
The marching beat in the intro plays throughout the arena as immediately the crowd in attendance clap along to the beat, the front row smack the guardrail along to the beat as well. As soon as the song kicks in at about 15 seconds, Ace Watson and "Indestructible" Owen Gonsalves burst out from behind the curtain. Both men immediately go to opposite ends of the stage and engage with the crowd, hyped for their upcoming match. The crowd wait in anticipation and as the first line of the song hits, they chant it out along with Owen and Ace:
"I'M NOT FUCKING AROUND"The hype behind the chanting of the first lyric in the song connects with Shootcamp as they shake hands like true gentlemen before making their way down to the ring, singing along with the song.
J.A. Aldridge: At a combined weight of four hundred and twenty-seven pounds, Owen Gonsalves and Ace Watson… SHOOOOOOOOTCAMP!
They both climb onto the apron before bursting up onto the turnbuckles to another ovation from the crowd before the hop into the ring. They meet in the middle as Owen falls into a cross legged seated position and does a gun gesture with his hand as Ace stands behind him and does a shotgun gesture. The song fades out as they move to a corner to discuss their match tactics, looking across the ring at Jinzai and Emilio.
Kris Cruise: On one side, we have Shootcamp. And on the other, we have, who many consider to be tournament favorites, Upper Echelon. The winner moves onto the finals--
Stephy Auger: AKA Upper Echelon moves onto the finals!
Kris Cruise: --and the winner will be one step away from victory. What a tournament this has been, Stephy, and with one team already confirmed, we’re about to narrow the field down to two. It looks like it starts with Gonsalves and Vialpando.
Emilio starts things off for his team while Owen Gonsalves does the same on his side. The bell sounds-- and Owen charges across the ring at Emilio without hesitation!
Kris Cruise: Owen with a head of steam--
Emilio counters, smashing into Gonsalves with a high knee strike, sending a shot howling through the arena!
Stephy Auger: And Emilio just cooled him off!
Owen immediately staggers back at the high knee strike and Emilio rushes forward for a second one to the temple, earning a roar from the crowd! Owen loses his balance, hitting the middle rope, but rebounds back to his feet as Emilio shoots the ropes-- and Owen charges after him, nailing a European Uppercut as soon as Emilio rebounds! Emilio falls against the middle rope now and both men collide, each one fighting for control over the other’s neck!
Kris Cruise: Now both men are fighting for the upper hand here. What an explosive start!
Emilio manages to wrench Owen in a cravat! Owen Gonsalves fights out of it with stiff shots to the ribcage, earning a warning from the referee, but it manages to get Emilio to loosen his hold! Owen slips his head free and pulls Emilio in close for a European Uppercut, followed by a second and a third that knock him to the ropes! Owen grabs his wrist and goes for an Irish Whip, but Emilio reverses, sending him into the ropes. Owen cries out and goes for a running European Uppercut-- but Emilio slides between his legs, rolls through and seamlessly locks in the Single Leg Crab!
Stephy Auger: Perfect counter! Upper Echelon with the submission win, minutes into this thing, Cruise!
Kris Cruise: That quickly, Shootcamp is in trouble!
Ace Watson looks dismayed at his partner’s predicament, but Owen immediately covers ground, using his forearms to crawl across toward his partner-- toward the outstretched hand of Ace Watson… and Ace manages to make the tag!
Kris Cruise: And that quickly, Watson gets tagged in!
Stephy Auger: Gah…
Jinzai shoots a warning at Emilio, who releases the hold and backpedals into the corner, catching the incoming Ace Watson with a back elbow to the jaw! Emilio rushes back at the rising Owen Gonsalves-- but gets caught and hoisted upside-down in the scoop position! Still holding his jaw, Watson climbs into the ring and charges at his partner, hitting Emilio with a Dropkick to the back-- knocking Owen to his rear to finish Emilio off with a Michinoku Driver! Owen rolls backwards out of the ring while Watson makes the cover!
ONE
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TWO
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TH-!
Emilio throws the shoulder up as Jinzai contemplates climbing into the ring. He shouts something at his partner that the cameras don’t quite pick up, but Watson is already pounding away with elbows to the back and base of the neck.
Kris Cruise: The point of those elbows just catching Emilio Vialpando in some crucial spots here!
Ace Watson drags Emilio back toward his corner, allowing Owen Gonsalves to tag himself in on his back.
Kris Cruise: What’s Shootcamp thinking here?
Ace nails a sharp elbow to the jaw, turning Emilio around. Ace hooks him for a rear waistlock and turns around while Owen ascends to the top rope. Ace pivots just as Owen leaps off, nailing a Sky Uppercut to the defenseless Emilio! The momentum knocks Ace back, allowing him to hit a rough German Suplex on Emilio! He bridges, allowing Watson to float over for the jackknife cover on Vialpando! The ref drops for the count!
ONE
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TWO
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Jinzai flies into the ring with a Slingshot Senton Atomico! Watson cries out, clutching his ribs as he sits upright. He moves to his feet and swings at Jinzai-- but Jinzai ducks beneath him, setting Watson up for the Electric Chair despite the referee’s warnings! Emilio uses the ropes to pull himself up, looking back as Jinzai falls back-- and meets Watson on the way down with a Neckbreaker to a roar from the divided crowd! Owen Gonsalves looks on with his mouth agape from the apron!
Stephy Auger: Aha! Afterlife Paradise! At least the best one the team could muster under the circumstances…
The ref counts Jinzai out inside the ring, warning to disqualify Upper Echelon, but Jinzai steps out to the apron at the count of three. Emilio meanwhile rolls into the cover, hooking the near leg while the audience counts along!
ONE
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TWO
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Ace Watson rolls his shoulder off of the canvas and Owen clutches the tag rope, stomping on the apron. Many in the audience rally behind him, clapping and stomping along to will Ace Watson to his corner. Emilio Vialpando is already up to his knees, making the short crawl to Jinzai to tag in his partner!
Kris Cruise: And now Jinzai is legal for the first time in this match! He’s wasting no time!
Stephy Auger: Nor should he, damnit. Both of these teams have everything to lose! We’re at the semifinals, Cruise!
Jinzai sprints past Watson, swinging at Owen Gonsalves! Owen drops down from the apron and Jinzai turns back to the rising Watson, blasting him with a shoot kick to the ribcage, knocking him to a knee-- and another shoot kick to the chest, staggering him! Watson cries out and rises up, smashing into Jinzai with an unrelenting European Uppercut to a pop from the crowd, but he staggers back to a knee as Jinzai bounces off the ropes and rebounds, nailing a stiff double-palm to the sternum-- followed by a snap kick to the jaw, knocking Watson to his back!
Stephy Auger: Metsu Hadokken!
Kris Cruise: Cover on Watson!
ONE
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TWO
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THR--!
The Nation’s Capital pops as Watson throws his shoulder off of the apron again. Once more, the rhythmic stomping and clapping of the audience picks up while Jinzai begins to stalk the rising Ace Watson.
Kris Cruise: Not sure if I agree with Jinzai’s tactics at this juncture. He had Ace Watson in a vulnerable position and could regret not following up-- OH!
Jinzai hits a Rolling Elbow to the base of Watson’s neck, sending the larger half of Shootcamp face-first to the canvas! The audience groans at the shot and Jinzai smirks, walking toward Owen Gonsalves, pointing a finger toward him-- but Gonsalves leaps the top rope and nails a Slingshot DDT to a massive roar from the audience!
Stephy Auger: ...okay, so you’re not gonna say anything about THAT?!
Kris Cruise: Haha, I don’t agree with it… but like you said, we’re at the semifinals! Shootcamp is taking no chances here against Upper Echelon, not even on the apron!
The referee gets in Owen’s face, reprimanding him for the move as a shocked Jinzai stares up at the lights. Owen steps back out to the apron, grabbing the tag rope, yelling for Watson to crawl! An
”OWEN!” chant breaks out inside the Capital One Arena and the FGA Grappler bounces on the apron, arm outstretched, anxious look in his eyes. Emilio paces on the opposite side of the ring and Capone leans on the apron, saying something to Jinzai that the cameras can’t quite pick up, but Jinzai seems to be completely out of it! Watson crawls toward his corner… and leaps up, making the tag!
Kris Cruise: Tag to Owen Gonsalves!
Owen yells for Watson to get up and pulls Jinzai up to his feet in a front facelock before switching to the wristlock position. He looks to be about to Irish Whip him-- and with a last gasp of energy, Watson hits Jinzai with a Bicycle Kick! Owen completes the maneuver, pulling Jinzai into the Darkest Lariat to complete “Dark Zero”! Jinzai corkscrews to the canvas and Owen drops to the mat, hooking both legs, leaning into a deep cover!
ONE
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TWO
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THHRRRRE-!
Jinzai pops out of the cover, flipping all the way onto his stomach! The audience erupts into a mixed reaction but Owen wastes no time pulling Jinzai up by the hair and nailing him with a European Uppercut that knocks him into the corner while Ace recovers, lying on the apron. Owen runs to the center of the ring before pivoting and racing back, hitting Jinzai with a second European Uppercut! He throws him to the mat out of the corner, causing Jinzai to roll onto his back. Owen leaps to the second turnbuckle-- and leaps off with a Double Knee Moonsault!
Kris Cruise: Malicious Moonsault!
Stephy Auger: Yeah, with a little extra salt on it.
The audience roars for the added touch on the maneuver! Emilio Vialpando screams at Jinzai in Spanish and Owen Gonsalves hooks the far leg, leaning back for another deep cover!
ONE
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TWO
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THHRR--!
Again, Jinzai throws a shoulder off of the canvas, this time to more of a groan from the D.C. audience. Owen looks at the referee, dejected. He shakes his head a little, moving into a neutral corner to catch his breath and gather his thoughts. A
”D-D-T!” chant echoes throughout the arena, fans showing appreciation for the tournament. Owen slowly begins to pull himself up as Jinzai moves up to a knee. Jinzai staggers upright and Owen charges ahead for a jumping knee strike-- but Jinzai side-steps it and sends Owen toward UE’s corner! Emilio leaps up, hitting a modified Pele Kick on the apron, catching Owen across the temple with a shot that echoes throughout the arena! Emilio manages to flip to his feet, landing on the floor below!
Kris Cruise: GOOD LORD!
Stephy Auger: Teamwork! This is why they’re going to the finals!
The groggy Gonsalves staggers forward and Jinzai nails a Flowing Snap DDT! Tony Capone applauds from the outside, a smug expression crossing his face as Jinzai rolls back to his corner as Emilio leaps onto the apron. Jinzai pushes himself up and Emilio extends a hand for the tag-- and Jinzai, while smirking back at the fallen Owen, slaps Emilio’s chest. There is an audible
”OOOOHH…” from the audience, though Jinzai seems to have done it intentionally. Emilio mutters something to Jinzai as they switch spots from the ring to the apron… but Emilio quickly shifts his attention to Owen. With a glance out toward the audience, Emilio runs across the ring and leaps onto the second rope, nailing a Lionsault across the ribs!
Kris Cruise: Running Asai Moonsault! And--oh! Again!
Emilio scrambles to his feet and hits a second Lionsault! He hooks both legs and the ref makes the count!
ONE
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TWO
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THRRR-!
Owen Gonsalves kicks out with authority! He sits upright, hands clenched into fists, redfaced to a roar from the crowd! Emilio rises to a knee with a look of concern. He begins to club away at the rising Owen, but Owen yells out and nails a stiff European Uppercut! Emilio fires back with a forearm, and Owen nails another European Uppercut! Emilio hits another forearm-- and Owen nails a third European Uppercut! The shot turns Emilio around-- but Emilio goes for another Pele Kick! Owen catches his leg however, turning, twisting him into the Single Leg Crab!
Kris Cruise: There’s a receipt from earlier with the Single Leg Crab! Emilio Vialpando is in the middle of the ring!
Emilio cries out in pain as Owen leans back in the hold! Tony Capone says something to Jinzai, who shakes his head at Emilio, but leans over the top rope, extending his arm!
Kris Cruise: Again, I’m noting some tension here between your favorites, Stephy.
Stephy Auger: Jinzai just wasn’t trying to waste any unnecessary energy until he was sure Emilio was within arms’ reach!
Emilio uses his fists to crawl across the ring, squinting from the pain as he reaches out for Jinzai, fingertips only inches away…
...and Owen Gonsalves pulls him back to the center of the ring to a pop from the crowd! Emilio places his hands on his head, digging his fingers into his hair in frustation-- but he manages to roll onto his back and kick at Owen! Owen falls as well, but maintains a grip on the leg, applying a grounded Leg Bar! Emilio howls out in agony and rolls onto his stomach! Owen immediately rises to his knees and pulls Emilio back, locking him up in the Surfboard Stretch, first onto his knees-- and then rolling onto his back, suspending Emilio above him in the hold! Emilio cries out in agony, but shakes his head when the referee asks if he wants to submit! Jinzai rolls his eyes, muttering to Capone as he kneels down on the apron.
Kris Cruise: Jinzai doesn’t look happy. He can feel the finals slipping away!
Stephy Auger: Watch your tongue…
Finally, Owen has no choice but to release the hold from exhaustion, but he rolls Emilio up into a La Magistral pin! The ref checks the shoulders, but one of Emilio’s shoulders is propped up off the canvas! Owen shifts his weight slightly and finally the ref makes the count!
ONE
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Kickout!Owen staggers to his feet and falls back into his corner-- where Ace Watson tags himself in! Owen gives Ace a nod and runs forward-- but Emilio catches Owen with a Back Body Drop! Owen hits the canvas hard, rolling out of the ring… but Watson blasts Emilio across the face with a Running Dropkick! Emilio flips onto his back from the momentum and Watson forces him over, stacking him up for a pin!
ONE
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TWO
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THR--!
Emilio throws the shoulder off the canvas!
Stephy Auger: The kickout!
Watson forces Emilio up to his feet… but Emilio fights back with a hard slap to the face! He goes to Irish Whip Ace Watson, but Watson reverses it-- and Emilio dives through the ropes to the outside, nailing the rising Owen Gonsalves with a Suicide Dive! The audience roars as Owen is driven into the barricade! Watson glares, making his way to the ropes… but Jinzai runs across the apron and nails a High Impact Palm Strike to Watson’s face!
Kris Cruise: Hey! Gō no Ken from the illegal member of Upper Echelon, Jinzai!
Stephy Auger: I bet if Owen did it you wouldn’t complain.
Watson stumbles back away from the ropes, falling to a seated position in the center of the ring. Jinzai winks at Emilio, who shouts something at him in Spanish-- but quickly realizes his opportunity and climbs back onto the apron, ascending to the top turnbuckle. Emilio leaps from the top-- and smashes into the seated Watson with a knee strike!
Kris Cruise: Right to the side of the head!
Emilio kips up to his feet, yelling out into the audience which, for the moment, responds with a mixed reaction. He motions for Watson to climb upright… but Jinzai yells for the tag! Emilio looks back at Jinzai, clearly saying “I got it” but Jinzai insists on the tag. Emilio looks between Jinzai and the grounded Ace Watson before shaking his head at Jinzai and going back to pull Watson up…
...but Watson catches his slightly smaller opponent with an Inside Cradle! The ref, in perfect position, drops down!
ONE
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TWO
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THRE-!
Jinzai races into the ring and throws his shoulder into the side of his own partner, knocking him free from the hold! Emilio pushes himself up and Jinzai puts a finger in his face, saying something along the lines of “I told you so”, but Emilio waves him off. Jinzai rolls his head and turns around-- right into a stiff, Running European Uppercut from Owen Gonsalves!
Stephy Auger: WHAT! GONSALVES OUT OF NOWHERE!
The impact sends both Owen and Jinzai through the ropes! Jinzai crashes straight to the floor to a roar from the crowd while Owen lands on the apron! Emilio looks on in surprise, but he’s caught again, this time with a Schoolboy! The ref makes the count!
ONE
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Kickout!Emilio leaps out of the move, stumbling into the ropes-- but Gonsalves nails him with a European Uppercut from the apron! Spit flies from Emilio’s mouth and he falls back again, this time into a Full Nelson from Watson! The audience roars, but Emilio desperately fights out of it, wrenching an arm free and nailing one… two… three back elbows to the head of Ace Watson! Emilio shoots the ropes and comes back for a Clothesline, but Watson thinks the same! Both competitors collide, spiraling violently to the canvas! Owen reaches his corner again, stomping his foot to will Watson to his corner!
Kris Cruise: Emilio’s only a few inches from his corner, but Jinzai’s still down on the outside!
Emilio crawls into his corner, breathing heavily, holding his head in pain while Capone tries to urge Jinzai up on the outside. On the other side of the ring, Watson uses his knees and elbows to crawl. Jinzai finally uses the ring skirt to pull himself up, climbing onto the apron with a loud groan. He glares across the ring at Gonsalves and reaches down, slapping hands with Emilio to tag himself in. Jinzai steps into the ring-- but Watson suddenly bolts to his corner and tags in Gonsalves, who leaps over the top rope, glaring right back at Jinzai. The two meet in the center of the ring, jawing off to one another… and it’s Jinzai who strikes first with a quick, sharp kick to the thigh! Gonsalves staggers back, but cries out and hits a European Uppercut! He follows up with an Enzuigiri that reels Jinzai… but Jinzai nails a shoot kick to the jaw of the kneeling Gonsalves afterwards, knocking him flat on his back!
Jinzai stalks Owen to his feet! He yells for him to get up and Owen has to use the turnbuckles to assist himself. With a scowl, he turns back toward Jinzai-- who leaps into the air for a jumping Cutter!
Stephy Auger: Jinzai Cu-- nope!
Owen shoves Jinzai away in mid-air! Jinzai hits the ropes and rebounds as Owen rushes forward for a Bicycle Knee Strike! Jinzai shoulder-rolls out of harm’s way, but Owen shoots the ropes and comes back for a Handspring…
...and springs right into a Jumping Cutter from Jinzai, driving him into the canvas!
Kris Cruise: OWEN! Hit with a Cutter while looking for his own!
Stephy Auger: There is the Jinzai Cutter!
Jinzai shoves Owen Gonsalves onto his back and hooks the far leg, grapevining the near one with a cackle as the referee emphatically makes a count!
ONE
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TWO
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THRE…!
Owen Gonsalves slides a foot beneath the bottom rope, just for a moment, but it prompts the referee to break the count! Jinzai slowly turns a glare toward the referee, rising to his feet with a look of annoyance. Emilio rolls his eyes on the ref, clapping his hands to get his partner to focus, but Jinzai admonishes the ref instead, saying something that the cameras can’t completely pick up. The ref warns Jinzai, not backing down, and Owen uses Jinzai’s arm to pull himself to his feet behind him…
...and Jinzai throws the leg back, nailing a stiff mule kick low blow! The audience groans as Owen slowly falls back to the canvas.
Kris Cruise: Jinzai was obscuring the official’s vision! The referee saw nothing there…
Jinzai abruptly turns away from the ref and winks at Emilio again, who grabs the tag rope and shakes his head at his partner. Watson yells obscenities, realizing what’s happened, but Jinzai pulls Owen up, hitting a European Uppercut for good measure, turning and grinning at Watson afterward, before turning back to Owen and throwing him into UE’s corner. He tags in Emilio and hoists Owen up for a Spinebuster-- right as Emilio slingshots himself into the ring and hits a Sit-Out Clothesline on Gonsalves! Owen clutches the back of his head in pain and Jinzai rolls out to the apron, but immediately tags himself back in on Emilio’s back! Emilio looks prepared to finally go off on his partner, but Jinzai points to the turnbuckles in a neutral corner, while he goes to the other one. Emilio sighs and obliges, stepping out to the apron and ascending to the top!
Kris Cruise: Owen’s in the center of the ring! He hasn’t been able to capitalize since that low blow from Jinzai! What are Upper Echelon thinking here?!
Both of them stand on the top turnbuckle while the referee begins a five-count… and both leap off for Frog Splashes at the same time!
Stephy Auger: Here we go!
Owen rolls backwards, briefly staggering to his feet as the Upper Echelon crash upon empty canvas to a roar from the crowd!
Kris Cruise: There they go…
Owen falls backwards, seated on the bottom rope as he catches his breath. He stumbles to his feet again and moves to his corner, tagging in Ace Watson! Ace enters the ring and watches as Emilio pushes himself to his hands and knees while Jinzai reaches his feet. Ace rushes across the ring, stepping up off Emilio’s back and delivers an Enzuigiri to Jinzai, knocking him to the canvas! Watson shoots the ropes and comes back at the rising Vialpando, smashing into him with a European Uppercut! He hooks the far leg for a cover, but the referee calls off the pin!
Kris Cruise: Jinzai is still the legal competitor! Watson is--!
Ace shoves Emilio away and turns back toward Jinzai, but Jinzai leaps into the air and delivers a Jinzai Cutter, spiking Ace Watson into the mat!
Stephy Auger: Another Jinzai Cutter! Goodnight, Watson!
Jinzai shakes the cobwebs out before slowly crawling over to his downed opponent, rolling across him and hooking the far leg for a cover!
ONE
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TWO
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THRE-!
Owen Gonsalves drags Jinzai out of the ring and begins to hammer away with European Uppercut after European Uppercut to a roar from the crowd! Jinzai’s head smashes back against the bottom rope each time until the count is up to six! He hits a thumb to Gonsalves’ eye, but falls to the ground in exhaustion himself.
”BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
The referee begins to administer his ten-count, but Jinzai rolls onto the apron, half of his body inside the ring. Ace Watson lies motionless in the center of the ring and Jinzai grins, pulling himself to his feet and slowly making his way to the turnbuckles. His eyes are glassy from the barrage of Uppercuts, but he ascends to the top-- and Ace Watson springs to his feet! Jinzai’s eyes widen along with Emilio’s! Watson rushes the turnbuckles and nails a chop to the chest of Jinzai! Jinzai kicks him away, but Watson rushes back, stepping up to the top turnbuckle and hooking him for a Superplex!
Kris Cruise: Precarious position here…
Stephy Auger: This isn’t even the finals!
Jinzai hits sharp elbows to the back of the head and base of the neck! He turns to the side and pulls Ace onto the top rope in a precarious position, earning an
”...OOOOOOHHHHHH…” from the crowd. Both men balancing on the top, Jinzai hits three more stiff elbows to the back of Watson’s neck! He points to the apron and positions Watson for a Cutter while the audience roars, coming to their feet in unison, though Emilio and Capone scream for Jinzai not to do it!
Kris Cruise: What is he…?
Stephy Auger: OH GOD.
Jinzai leaps into the air for the Cutter-- and Watson grabs him in a Full Nelson in mid-air, leaping into the ring for the Replay, driving his own back to the mat to hit Jinzai with the high-impact Backstabber! Jinzai bounces high into the air off the knees of Watson and lands roughly on his back in the center of the ring! Watson throws one arm over to him… but collapses just an inch short of Jinzai!
”HOLY SHIT!”
”HOLY SHIT!”
”HOLY SHIT!
Owen, once again standing on the apron, nursing his left eye, looks on in shock, but yells for Watson to cover him! Watson groggily looks up and crawls toward Jinzai again…
...but Jinzai is pulled away as Emilio reaches in under the bottom rope and drags Jinzai out of Watson’s reach! Watson dives for Jinzai again-- but Emilio pulls Jinzai completely out of the ring, earning his first deafening chorus of boos from the D.C. audience. The ref, fed up, immediately begins his ten count.
”ONE!”
”TWO!”Kris Cruise: And now, at least temporarily, Emilio Vialpando, at the behest of Tony Capone, has managed to save his partner and spare him from-- oh my God!
From opposite sides of the rings, both Emilio and Owen round opposite corners, sprinting full-speed at Upper Echelon! Emilio throws himself onto the apron to avoid the collision, but Watson hits Jinzai from behind with a European Uppercut, only for Jinzai to catch a European Uppercut to the jaw from Owen a millisecond later, sending a sickening smack through the arena! Jinzai spirals through the air, hitting the floor.
Stephy Auger: EMILIO!
Emilio Vialpando runs across the apron, walking up the ropes like a staircase halfway up before springboarding off the top for a Senton Bomb, landing on both members of Shootcamp, with Gonsalves taking the brunt of the aerial assault!
Stephy Auger: I don’t even know what the hell that was!
Kris Cruise: Nor do I! Listen to this place!
The audience reaches a fever pitch and Emilio clutches his ribs, first rolling the stirring Ace Watson into the ring before rolling Jinzai into the ring in front of his own corner at the ref’s count of
”NINE!”! Clutching the tag rope, Emilio vaults onto the apron and reaches over the ropes, tagging himself in on Jinzai’s shoulder. He immediately ascends to the top rope, looking at the fallen Watson-- and leaps off with the Corkscrew Shooting Star Press!
Kris Cruise: Watson moved! But look, Emilio lands on his feet! He rolled through the Deseandro Astro!
Emilio staggers a bit, but turns and runs the ropes, going for a Lionsault instead! Again, Watson moves and again, Emilio lands on his feet. Watson reaches a knee and throws a hard strike into Emilio’s gut-- to which Emilio responds with a knee lift! Watson staggers back against the ropes and Emilio hits a high jumping knee strike to a pop from the audience, knocking Watson back into the ropes again-- and Watson responds with a stiff Running Bicycle Kick to the jaw! Emilio staggers back, but neither man goes down, instead, groggily meeting in the center of the ring. Both men look prepared to collapse… but both pivot and shoot the ropes at the same time, rebounding toward each other-- and Emilio dives onto the canvas, forcing Watson to leap over him! Watson stops short of the ropes and turns back to Vialpando, who races past him and leaps onto the middle rope and then steps onto the top, performing what looks to be a Springboard Moonsault, which Watson stoops down to avoid-- but Emilio catches him with a Reverse DDT on the way down, driving him to the mat! Emilio rolls away from the momentum but catches himself and begins to crawl back toward Watson…
...and Watson is dragged away! Emilio dives again, going to cover Watson, but Watson is dragged closer to Shootcamp’s corner as Owen Gonsalves pulls him by the boot! He hops back onto the apron, blood pouring from his ear thanks to the Senton Bomb-- and he gets the tag from Ace Watson!
Kris Cruise: Owen with one out of the Upper Echelon playbook!
Stephy Auger: Thief…
Emilio reaches his feet and goes to hit a hard right hand on Owen, but Owen ducks and runs to the UE corner, nailing Jinzai-- who’s finally reached his feet-- with a Running Dropkick to the ribcage, knocking him to the floor! He turns as Emilio runs forward for a high-knee, but Owen moves out of the way and sends Emilio into UE’s own corner! Emilio lands on the middle turnbuckle and Owen grabs his head, pulling it down quickly between his torso and the top turnbuckle, trapping his head! Owen steps back-- and rushes forward with a knee strike between Emilio’s legs perfectly nailing him in the head! Emilio flips onto his back from the impact and Owen sits on him in an inverted rana-style pin!
Kris Cruise: Tony Capone! What the hell is he doing?!
Capone has leapt onto the apron, commanding the referee’s attention right before Owen’s pin! He scream that Owen hit a “low blow!” but the referee motions to his eyes, indicating that he knows it wasn’t! The crowd counts to three for the ref and boos, but Owen stands up and nods to Ace Watson, hitting an Irish Whip on Emilio-- sending him into a European Uppercut from Ace! Emilio is turned around into a Running European Uppercut from Owen, and in turn knocked around into another one from Ace! Emilio staggers backwards into an knee strike from Owen Gonsalves, knocking Emilio back into the neutral corner. Ace Watson nails a Running Enzuigiri and lands on all-fours, while Owen promptly runs off of his back and hits one of his own! Capone is beside himself on the apron, finally hopping down!
Stephy Auger: Je-- REF!
Kris Cruise: Capone’s distraction backfired!
Watson rolls out to the apron as the ref turns around, and Owen hits the groggy Emilio with a Snap Release Suplex, driving him to the center of the ring.
Kris Cruise: What the hell is Jinzai doing here on the outside?
Stephy Auger: Looks like he’s about to open-hand slap our timekeeper.
As Watson goes to walk back to his corner, he’s struck from behind in the back with an object from Jinzai! Watson cries out in agony and falls to the mat while Jinzai hides the item at his side, half-walking, half-staggering back across the ring. Owen looks down at his fallen partner in confusion while the ref warns him about his time on the turnbuckles… and Jinzai tosses a bell hammer back to the upset-looking timekeeper.
”BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Kris Cruise: Jinzai just hit Watson with the hammer from that ring bell! Ace Watson is down! Owen Gonsalves is not though, look!
Owen looks back at the still-motionless Emilio Vialpando and turns, going for the Corkscrew 630 Senton-- the Corkscrew Crash!
...and Vialpando rolls out of the way, causing Owen to crash violently to the canvas! Emilio wastes no time forcing him up to his feet and into a front facelock before lifting him into the air-- and driving him to the mat with the Sit-Down Brainbuster, the Vipor Strike!
Kris Cruise: VIPOR STRIKE!
Emilio rolls onto Owen, hooking the far leg and grapevining the near one while many in the audience count along and many boo as Jinzai grins, celebrating prematurely on the middle rope.
ONE
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TWO
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THREE!
After some delay, the bell sounds and “Upper Echelon” hits the PA system.
J.A. Aldridge: Here are your winners, advancing to the finals of the Dynamic Duos tournament… UPPPEEERRR EEEECHELOOONNNNNNN!
The referee briefly raises the hands of both men before Tony Capone shoos him away and raises the arms of Jinzai and Emilio.
Stephy Auger: I told you! Look at that! Look at your Dynamic Duo, Kris! Look at your soon-to-be Tag Team Champions!
Kris Cruise: …
Owen rolls from the ring, checking on his partner. Ace is able to reach a knee, clutching his back, but he glares up at the two men in the ring. Jinzai celebrates on the turnbuckles, pointing his own finger-gun at every member of the audience while Emilio throws up “LA” with his fingers on the opposite side of the ring, looking back over his shoulder at his partner who continues to taunt the audience. We fade away from the ring.