MAIN EVENT
CAREER VS. CAREER!
Chivalry is DEAD
Chris Bond vs. Malcolm Drake
J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for ONE fall and is a Chivalry is Dead Match!
A roar of cheers and applause can be heard from the crowd.
J.A. Aldridge: There are no disqualification! No countouts! The only way to win is by pinfall or submission!
Kris Cruise: Here we go, Stephy! Tonight’s main event is about to get underway. Chivalry is Dead. Both the careers of Malcolm Drake and Chris Bond are on the line here tonight. This is for everything, Stephy.
Stephy Auger: It is, Cruise. I think it was either you or Geoff that said that a match like this was going to be the only way that this rivalry would end. But now it’s going to end with one of these two no longer having a career after tonight.
The lights go out in the arena as Alice In Chain's “Man In The Box” starts playing over the speaker system. The strobe lights begin flickering on the entrance curtain in pace with the drum and base line until they reach a crescendo at the chorus and Malcolm Drake bursts through the curtain wearing the IGNITE 24/7 Extreme Championship belt around his waist. Drake stops beyond the curtain, casting wary sideways glances at the fans along ringside.
J.A. Aldridge: Introducing first, from Boston, Massachusetts! Weighing in at 190 pounds! He is “The Godkiller” MALCOLM DRAKE!
He recoils from those fans that attempt to touch him, screaming at them along the way to the ring. Drake slides under the bottom rope on his stomach and crawls to the nearest turnbuckle corner, where he slumps his arms over the middle rope, staring out at the crowd. He turns back towards the ring, slouching in the corner; his hair draped over his face.
Kris Cruise: Malcolm Drake made his shocking return to FGA earlier this year as he was revealed to be the fifth and final member of Team Page in the leadup to Steel Mayhem. After Page’s team was victorious over The New Murder, Drake was going to say goodbye. He was going to leave until Chris Bond attacked him from behind. That action kicked off a chain of events that lead us here tonight. When this feud started, Chris Bond was the one that was hated. Malcolm Drake was the one that was in the unfamiliar role of the fan favorite. But tonight, here at Final Frontier, that alignment has turned on its head. Drake revealed himself to be who we all thought he was over the course of these last several months. He showed himself to be the same man that brought the likes of Dom Harter and Bob Pooler to FGA to create The Murder in the first place.
Stephy Auger: I don’t place any blame on Malcolm Drake. Chris Bond is to blame for this match even taking place. Bond is to blame for things getting to this point. You just said it yourself. Drake was going to leave. He settled the score and took care of unfinished business with Dom Harter. He was going to leave wrestling behind him. But Bond wouldn’t let him leave. Bond was so blood thirsty for revenge that he wasn’t going to allow Drake to leave under his own control. In a poetic twist, Bond may be forced to leave wrestling behind because he lost control.
Odds are, you won't like what it is...
When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me...
By the merciless eyes I've deceived...
I've seen angels fall from blinding heights...
But you yourself are nothing so divine...
Just next in line..."The house lights dim in the facility, and multi-colored lights soon flicker throughout the filled-to-the-brim center. The crowd jumps to it's feet, blowing the roof off from the arena as Chris Bond makes his way out from behind the curtains. As he emerges from behind the curtain, there is a large burst of excitement from the crowd. With a spotlight lighting his way, Bond makes his way down the aisle and towards the ring, even slapping a few hands on the way down. Soon enough he jogs up the stairs, and walks along the ring apron before wiping his feet. Chris Bond steps over the second rope and into the ring.
J.A. Aldridge: And his opponent, currently residing out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! Weighing in at 242 pounds… CHRIS BOND!
The self-proclaimed legend of the wrestling world walks to the center of the ring and stands there for a moment, as flashes go off throughout the waves of fans. He circles the ring, arms outstretched, as the fans cheer loudly once again. Bond enjoys this, as his trademark smirk re-emerges on his face. Heading to his corner, Bond does a few stretches as he waits for the match to begin.
Kris Cruise: You say that Chris Bond lost control, Stephy. If anything, Bond was the one that regained control. In the end, it was Drake that was thirsty for revenge after their series of draws. It was Drake that desperately wanted to end the career of Chris Bond. The Battle-Hardened Veteran accepted this match without hesitation. Bond has been in wars for twenty years, Stephy. Bond knows exactly what he’s getting himself into. He is finishing this business tonight, once and for all, on his terms!
The bell sounds as Bond and Drake charge out of their respective corners at each other. Drake strikes first as he mauls Bond to the mat with a Lou Thesz Press! Boos follow as Drake pummels Bond with right hands to the face. The boos quickly turn to cheers when Bond rolls over, gets on top of Drake and rains down right hands of his own! Drake turns the tide as he rolls over on top of Bond before pummeling him with more right hands! The boos then turn right back to cheers when Bond rolls over on top of Drake and rains down a flurry of right hands! Bond grabs Drake by the hair and pulls him back to his feet. Drake swats Bond’s hands from off of him before socking him with a right hand. Bond responds with a right hand of his own. Drake socks Bond with another punch to the face. Bond answers back with a punch of his own. Both grapplers then grab each other by the backs of their necks with their left hands before unleashing a flurry of right hands!
Kris Cruise: Look at ‘em go, Stephy!
The crowd continues to cheer while Bond and Drake continue to trade fists.
Stephy Auger: They aren’t holding anything back!
Both competitors continue to exchange blows at a frantic rate.
Kris Cruise: I can hear those punches over this capacity crowd!
Stephy Auger: I’m surprised they’re still standing!
The flurry of punches starts to slow down. Drake nails Bond with a punch to the face. Bond comes back with a punch of his own. Drake socks Bond with another punch.
BOO!
Bond socks Drake with a punch of his own.
YES!
Drake socks Bond with another punch.
BOO!
Bond socks Drake with a punch of his own.
YES!
Drake socks Bond with another punch.
BOO!
Bond socks Drake with a punch of his own.
YES!
Drake socks Bond with another pun-NO! Bond blocks and counters with a punch of his own.
YES!
Bond socks Drake with another punch!
YES!
… and another!
YES!
… and another!
YES!
… and another!
YES!
While Drake is rocked, Bond turns and runs into the far ropes. When he comes back, Drake ducks and dumps him over the top rope and to the floor! The crowd boos as Bond crashes to the outside. While The Battle-Hardened Veteran starts to pick himself up, Drake turns and runs into the far ropes. When Drake comes back, the crowd cheers when Bond rolls back inside and turns Drake inside out with a running lariat!
Kris Cruise: Drake way eyeing a dive to the outside! But Bond had other plans!
Stephy Auger: These two know each other well.
Bond picks up Drake, marches into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. He turns Drake around before lighting up his chest with knife edge chops. He then takes Drake, scoops him up from the side, brings him out of the corner and delivers a jumping backbreaker. Bond begins to circle Drake before delivering a stomp to the right shoulder, right forearm and right hand! He continues by delivering a stomp to the right knee, right shin and right ankle. The Battle-Hardened Veteran turns and delivers a stomp to the left knee, left thigh and left wrist! The cheers intensity when Bond follows up with repeated stomps to the face! He reaches down, pulls Drake and tosses him out onto the apron. The crowd cheers as Bond reaches out, places Drake in a front facelock and pulls him across the top rope to set up the Rejection (rope hung DDT). But before Bond can hit the move, Drake frees himself, lifts up Bond and rops him throat-first across the top rope with a Hotshot! While Bond holds his throat, Drake turns and runs into the far ropes. When Drake comes back, the crowd gasps when he hurls himself at Bond with a clothesline, sending them both flipping over the top rope and crashing hard on the floor!
Kris Cruise: Drake and Bond take a hard tumble to the floor after that wild clothesline from Drake.
Stephy Auger: I don’t even think Drake cares if he hurt himself. As soon as Bond is hurting more...
Drake stirs on the floor before turning over onto a knee. Once he picks himself back up, he rolls back inside. When Bond starts to get up on the outside, Drake turns and runs back into the floor far. When he comes back, he runs forward, leans through the ropes and knocks Bond down with a suicide dive! The boos intensify as he mounts himself on top of Bond before raining down another flurry of right hands to the face.
Drake picks up Bond, scoops him up and drops him throat-first across the guardrail! He then takes Bond and rolls him back inside. After Drake rolls himself back in, he picks up Bond, places him in a headlock and rakes his eyes across the top rope. After Drake lets go, Bond staggers into a nearby corner. Drake comes up from behind and delivers a back rake. He then turns Bond around and blasts him with a knife edge chop. After brutal chop echoes throughout the arena. Drake follows up with a thunderous chop that doubles Bond over. Drake slowly lifts up Bond’s chin before whacking him across the face with an open hand slap. Drake follows up with multiple stomps that send Bond slumping down in the corner. Drake then applies a foot choke. The crowd boos Drake while he taunts the referee. The official wants to step in and give Drake a five count. But he knows that he can’t since there are no disqualification. Drake continues to choke Bond while he pulls down on the top rope. After about fifteen seconds, Drake finally lets go. He then delivers repeated facewashes before turning and running into the adjacent set of ropes. When Drake returns he delivers a running facewash! He drags Bond from out of the corner before making the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Bond kicks out.
Kris Cruise: Drake with the first pinfall of this main event. We’ve seen Chivalry is Dead end a lot of rivalries. Tonight, it’s going to end a career.
Stephy Auger: With the level of hatred these two have for each other, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up taking both of their careers, regardless of who wins.
Drake pulls up Bond before nailing him with a forearm smash. A second forearm smash from Drake knocks Bond back a few steps. He then goes over, grabs Bond and whips him into the ropes. When Bond returns, the crowd cheers when Bond catches Drake’s foot after a yakuza kick attempt. He then swings the leg away from him, grabs Drake from behind and goes for a belly to back suplex. But Drake rolls over Bond’s shoulder, lands on his feet and knocks Bond down from behind with a lariat to the back of the neck! When Bond pushes himself up on all fours, Drake runs over and nails him with a punt kick to the ribs. The kick sends Bond rolling across the ring. After Bond pushes himself up on all fours, Drake runs over and knocks him over with another punt kick to the ribs! Bond rolls over onto his back near the ropes. Drake heads over, grabs a hold of the top rope with both hands and proceeds to stomp away at Bond’s midsection! He then reaches down, grabs Bond by the legs and wraps his arms around them. After getting Bond in position, Drake leans back and catapults Bond face-first against the bottom rope. The crowd boos as Bond clutches his face!
Kris Cruise: We’ve seen people get catapulted throat-first into those ropes before. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone get catapulted face-first into them.
Stephy Auger: That might actually be worse. Remember, those are steel ropes underneath that tape.
Drake continues to circle the ring as he eyes the crowd. When he turns his attention back to Bond, he sees The Battle-Hardened Veteran trying to pull himself up using the ropes. So Drake turns and runs into the far ropes. When Drake comes back, he throws out a roaring elbow. The crowd cheers when Bond ducks and dumps Drake over the top rope. Instead of crashing to the floor, Drake lands safely on the apron. When Bond turns around, the crowd boos when Drake rakes him across the eyes. He then takes Bond and goes for a vertical suplex to the floor! But Bond is able to block the move. The crowd gasps when Drake tries to muscle Bond up for another suplex off the apron and to the floor. But again, Bond blocks. The crowd cheers when Bond lifts Drake up, takes a few steps back and then throws him down with a front suplex across the top rope. Drake bounces off the rope before slipping back down onto the apron. After grabbing the top rope with both hands, Bond pulls the top rope back, then thrusts forward. The crowd cheers when Drake flies off the apron and crashes against the guardrail!
Kris Cruise: Did you heard the sound of Drake’s body crashing violently against that steel guardrail! That’ll take something out of you, Stephy. I don’t care how tough you are!
Bond rolls to the outside and proceeds to put the boots to Drake. After pulling Drake up, Bond chokes him across the top of the guardrail by pressing down on the back of his neck. The cheers continue while Drake flails his arm. After about ten seconds, Bond lets go. He doubles Drake over before putting him in a headlock. Bond points down towards the steel steps. The crowd cheers as Bond runs down ringside, jumps up and delivers a bulldog across the steel steps! Bond reaches over, grabs the handle for the top half of the steel steps and pull the steps out, causing Drake to drop down onto the bottom half of the steps. Bond then steps up onto the bottom half of the steps before pulling Drake into a standing headscissors. The crowd cheers while Bond scans the crowd and nods. He reaches down, lifts Drake up and plants him with a cradle piledriver on the bottom half of the steel steps!
Kris Cruise: Bond plants Drake right onto those steel steps. Did you hear that thud!?
Stephy Auger: How could I not!?
Bond picks up Drake and grabs him around the waist. The crowd cheers when Bond hoists him up and throws him down with a gutwrench powerbomb across the edge of the apron! Drake bounces off the apron before crumbling to the mat. Drake is seen writhing in pain. But Bond shows no remorse. He crouches down next to Drake and shakes his head at him. He then snatches up Drake from off the canvas. The crowd explodes with cheers when Bond hoists him up and throws him down across the top of the guardrail with another gutwrench powerbomb!
Stephy Auger: Bond’s trying to break him in half!
Drake falls to the mat. He howls in pain as he holds his lower back. Bond picks up Drake and rolls him back inside. The Battle-Hardened Veteran rolls himself back in. He slowly pulls up Drake by the hair before delivering a clubbing strike across the back. Drake arches his back before collapsing to the mat. Bond smirks as he looks down at his enemy. Bond slowly reaches down, peels Drake up from off the canvas… then quickly lifts him up and delivers a belly to back suplex. Drake groans while he arches his back on the mat. While Drake continues to howl in agony, Bond heads over into the corner and starts to undo the middle turnbuckle. Once he has untied the rope, Bond yanks off the turnbuckle pad, exposing the steel turnbuckle. The cheers continue as Bond tosses the turnbuckle pad to the outside.
Kris Cruise: This isn’t good for Malcolm Drake.
Stephy Auger: You think!?
Bond heads over and pulls Drake up to his feet. He then takes Drake and whips him hard into the corner. As Drake staggers back over towards Bond, he takes Drake and whips him over into the opposite corner. The crowd cheers when Drake’s lower back collides with the exposed middle turnbuckle! Drake immediately collapses to the mat. Bond heads over, picks up Drake and whips him into the far ropes. When Drake returns, the crowd cheers when Bond lifts Drake up, turns him and throws him down with authority using a spinebuster! The Battle-Hardened Veteran rolls across Drake and hooks the near leg for the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
T-NO!
The crowd boos when Drake gets his shoulder up.
Bond pulls Drake up onto his knees. The Battle-Hardened Veteran begins to scan the capacity crowd. When Bond turns his attention back to Drake, the crowd boos when Drake headbutts him below the belt.
Kris Cruise: Oh come on!
Stephy Auger: What? There are no disqualifications in this match! Drake can hit him low all he wants!
Drake slowly returns to his feet. He then lifts up Bond’s chin before latching onto his throat with Bond hands. The erupts with boos while Drake chokes Bond
Kris Cruise: Malcolm Drake is trying to choke the life out of Chris Bond right here!
Bond cringes while Drake continues to try and choke him out. The boos then turn to cheers when Bond reaches over and grabs onto Drake’s throat with both hands. Drake’s eyes widen as Bond applies a choke of his own. The cheers continue as both competitors try to choke each other out.
Stephy Auger: This is shades of Glory Road, Cruise!
Kris Cruise: Yeah, but there isn’t a dog collar in sight this time! No steel chain! They’re just using their bare hands!
Drake and Bond continue to struggle to gain the upper hand in this exchange. Suddenly, Drake’s grip of Bond’s neck starts to slip. The cheers intensify when Bond gains the upper hand. The Battle-Hardened Veteran continues to choke Drake out… until Drake kicks him below the belt! The crowd erupts with boos as Bond doubles over. Drake then grabs Bond, runs and tosses him through the ropes and onto the apron. The boos intensify when Drake reaches out, places Bond in a front facelock and drags him across the middle rope. Drake continues to mock Bond before planting him with the Rejection DDT!
Stephy Auger: Drake just gave Bond a taste of his own medicine! How embarrassing would it be for Drake to end Bond’s career with his own move?
Drake turns Bond over and makes the cover.
ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Bond gets his shoulder up.
Drake pulls up Bond, runs and tosses him back out onto the apron. The Godkiller steps back towards the far ropes. While Bond tries to pick himself up off the apron, Drake runs across the ring and nails him with a punt kick, knocking Bond off the apron and to the floor. The boos continue as Drake rolls to the outside. He goes over and peels back the protective matting to expose the concrete floor.
Kris Cruise: Oh boy
Stephy Auger: OH YEAH!
Drake goes over, pulls up Bond, places him in a three quarter facelock and drops him with an Ace Crusher onto the concrete floor!
Stephy Auger: Bond’s out! He’s gotta be out after that!
While Bond stays face down on the floor, Drake gets up and walks around the ring post before making his way over to J.A. Aldridge. The Godkiller motions for Aldridge to give up his seat. The ring announcer wisely gets up from his seat and gets the heck out of dodge. Drake snatches up the chair and closely it shut before heading back over towards Bond.
Kris Cruise: Evil intentions are running through that man’s mind...
Bond can be seen starting to pull himself up using the edge of the apron. After Drake makes his way around the ring post, he runs over and cracks Bond across the back with the chair! The crowd boos as Bond drops to the floor. Bond slowly pushes himself up on all fours. Before Bond can get back to a vertical base, Drake flattens him with another hard chair shot across the back! He then stands over Bond before repeatedly jabbing the chair across Bond’s back! He then quickly Bond over onto his back before choking Bond with the chair!
Drake picks up Bond and brings him over towards the ring post. After slamming Bond face-first against the ring post, Drake leans him against the post before turning to grab the steel chair.
Kris Cruise: Oh no. Please, not this!
Stephy Auger: Once Drake pics up the chair, he runs back cover and clobbers Bond with the chair. The crowd gasps, then boos as Bond crumbles to the mat.
Kris Cruise: Malcolm Drake just cracked Chris Bond across the head with the chair!
Stephy Auger: Dom Harter did the same thing to Bond during their First Blood match a few Final Frontiers back!
Drake mounts himself on top of Bond and rains down right hands to the face. He continues to unleash a flurry of punches that rips the laceration open even more!
Stephy Auger: Oh yeah, he’s busted wide open now!
Drake turns and spots The Crimson Baroness, Bond’s wife in the crowd. He then reaches down, grabs Bond and marches him over towards her.
Kris Cruise: What in the world is Drake doing now...
The Baroness begins seething with anger while Drake taunts her by holding Bond’s bloodied face in front of her. The crowd erupts with boos when Drake follows up by spitting right in her face.
Kris Cruise: OH COME ON! Enough’s enough! This was uncalled for! How much of a disgusting human being can you be!?!?
Stephy Auger: I believe this is the match that’s called Chivalry is Dead, Cruise.
The Baroness tries to leap the guardrail to go after Drake. But she’s quickly held back by security. Drake laughs while he places Bond in a headlock and drags him down ringside.
Kris Cruise: Where is he going now?
Stephy Auger: I think… Yes! He’s headed over here!
After the two round the ring post, Drake takes Bond and slams him face-first onto the announce table! He then reaches over and grabs the cable wire. The Godkiller pulls Bond’s head back before quickly wrapping the black cable wires around Bond’s neck and choking him with it! The boos intensity as Drake tries to choke the life out of Bond.
Stephy Auger: Drake is choking out Bond right in front of us! I think the only people who would enjoy this more than Drake would be Silk & Cyanide!
Kris Cruise: Stop it, Stephy!
Drake continues to choke away without the threat of being disqualified or even having the referee pull him off of Bond. When Drake is satisfied, he lets go and watches as Bond’s limp body falls forward onto the announce table. He then pushes Bond completely across the table before climbing up onto the apron. Drake judges the distance between himself and Bond on the table. Drake motions to jump off… then stops. He slowly turns and looks up at the top turnbuckle. The crowd gasps as they quickly put two and two together.
Stephy Auger: I think it might be time for us to move.
Kris Cruise: You’re absolutely right...
Drake heads over, rounds the ring post and begins to climb the turnbuckles.
Kris Cruise: Drake is going to the top...
Once Drake reaches the top turnbuckle, he gauges the distance between himself and Bond. Drake motions to leap off… before beginning to climb down.
Stephy Auger: Huh!?
Kris Cruise: Maybe he’s thought better of it. I don’t know what goes on in that man’s mind.
Drake hops down to the floor before kneeling down. He pulls up the ring skirt with one hand and starts looking for something. Once Drake has found what he was searching for, he reaches underneath the ring with both hands… and slowly pulls out a 16” ladder! The crowd gasps as Drake drags the ladder around ringside.
Kris Cruise: Oh… My… God...
Stephy Auger: Yep, it is most definitely time to leave...
Drake gets in front of the announce table. After opening the ladder, Drake stands it up. The crowd gasps as he begins to climb the ladder. The fans in attendance start to stand up row by row the higher Drake climbs. Once Drake gets one foot up on the last rung, he looks down at Bond, who hasn’t moved an inch. Drake then steps up onto the top cap of the ladder.
Kris Cruise: Drake lept off the top of the Steel Mayhem cage and hit a flying elbow on Harter through the table. Are we about to see a recreating of that right here!?
Stephy Auger: He didn’t pull that ladder out just for show.
A collective gasp is heard as Drake leaps off the ladder as he goes for the Mors Vincit (flying elbow drop)...
… followed by an explosion of cheers as Bond rolls out of the way, causing Drake to crash through the announce table!
Kris Cruise: OH MY GOD!
Stephy Auger: GAH
YES!
YES!!
YES!!!
YES!!!!
YES!!!!!
The capacity crowd is on their feet as Drake lays sprawled out amongst the debris.
Kris Cruise: MALCOLM DRAKE HAS CRASHED THROUGH OUR ANNOUNCE TABLE! CHRIS BOND ROLLED OUT OF THE WAY AT THE VERY LAST SECOND!
While Drake lays motionless on the floor, Bond begins to stir. He slowly turns over before pulling himself up using the guardrail. The Battle-Hardened Veteran slowly staggers back over towards the ring. He looks up and sees the ladder. Instead of climbing it, Bond closes it shut.
Kris Cruise: Thank God...
Drake begins to stir on the floor. He tries to rise from the debris, but he can’t. The Godkiller groans as he slowly turns over onto a knee. When he looks up, Bond tips over the ladder….
*CRACK!*
The crowd explodes with cheers when the ladder cracks Drake right in the face, splitting his forehead open!
Kris Cruise: Now Drake is donning the crimson mask!
Bond heads over and pulls the ladder off of Drake. He then reaches down, pulls up Drake and heads over towards the timekeeper. The cheers continue when Bond takes Drake…
*DING!*
… and slams him face-first onto the ring bell. Bond grabs Drake, pulls his head back and slams him face-first onto the ring bell again.
*DING!*
Bond pulls Drake’s head back before slamming him face-first onto the ring bell for a third time.
*DING!*
Bond grabs the ringbell out from under Drake’s face. Bond then presses the bell up against Drake’s ear for taking the small hammer and whacks the ringbell.
*DING!*
Drake howls as he staggers away from Bond before dropping down to a knee. Bond takes the bell and tosses it onto the apron. He then kneels down next to the ring before reaching under… and pulling out a steel chain.
Kris Cruise: The only thing missing is the dog collar attached to it!
The cheers continue as Bond takes Drake and rolls him back inside. The Battle-Hardened veteran rolls back in before gripping the chain and whacking Drake across the chest with it! Drake curls up. But this doesn’t stop Bond as he continues to whack away at Drake! Bond reaches down, pulls Drake back to his feet and whacks him across the back with the chain! After Drake drops to the mat, Bond picks him up, runs into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. After turning Drake around, Bond climbs up onto the middle ropes, wraps the chain around his fist and rains down a flurry of right hands to the face! Bond then takes the chain-wrapped fist and grinds it against Drake’s forehead!!! After Bond climbs down, he takes Drake and whips him hard into the corner with the exposed turnbuckle. Drake immediately collapses to the mat. The cheers continue as Bond stalks Drake from across the ring. The cheers then turn to boos as Drake rolls out onto the apron. This doesn’t stop Bond, though, as he reaches through the ropes, wraps the chain around Drake’s neck and chokes him! While Bond is trying to choke the life out of Drake, Drake reaches over and grabs a hold of the ringbell. After pulling it closer to him, Drake takes the bell with both hand and swings up, smacking Bond right in the face with it.
*DING!*
Bond stumbles back be collapsing to the mat. Drake, meanwhile, tries to recover on the apron.
Drake slips down to the floor. The Godkiller staggers around ringside before dropping to a knee. He lifts up the ring skirt before reaching for something else. This time, Drake pulls out a black pouch.
Kris Cruise: What in the world is in there?
Stephy Auger: You’re guess is as good as mine. Maybe he’s going to try and blind Bond with powder or something, I don’t know...
Drake slowly rolls back into the ring. After getting back to his feet, he unties the pouch before turning it upside down… and dumping thumbtacks in the ring. The crowd explodes with cheers at the sight of the tacks.
Kris Cruise: I should have known. I should have known!
Drake reaches down and scoops up a handful of the thumbtacks before making his way over to Bond.
Stephy Auger: Where is he going?
After The Battle-Hardened Veteran is pulled up onto his knees, the crowd gasps when Drake tilts his head back and stuffs the thumbtacks into his mouth.
Kris Cruise: WAIT WAIT WAIT! DRAKE! NOOOO!
Drake heads into the ropes, comes back and flattens Bond with a yakuza kick!!!
YOU SICK FUCK!
YOU SICK FUCK!!
YOU SICK FUCK!!!
Drake slowly pulls up Drake before grabbing him from behind. The crowd gasps when Drake rolls Bond out in front of him and throws out the Mors Omnibus (Rainmaker). But Bond ducks. When Drake turns around, Bond takes Drake, runs and tosses him through the ropes. He then reaches out, places Drake in a front facelock and drags him across the middle ropes. Bond scans the crowd and nods before planting him with the rejection DDT onto the thumbtacks!
Stephy Auger: GAH!
Kris Cruise: Drake goes face-first right into the thumbtacks! MY GOD! His face looks like a damn pincushion!
Bond picks up Drake and grabs him around the waist. He lifts Drake up for another gutwrench powerbomb. Once Drake is up on Bomb’s shoulders, Drake nails him with repeated elbows to the top of the head. Once Drake slips down and lands in front of Bond, he turns Bond around, grabs him from behind and knocks him down with the Mors Ombinus!!! The crowd erutps with boos. While Bond is sprawled out on the apron, Drake steps out onto the apron before climbing the turnbuckles.
Stephy Auger: Drake is going to put this away, once and for all! He’s going to end the world traveled career of Chris Bond inside the world’s most famous arena!
The boos continue as Drake climbs to the top turnbuckle. The crowd gasps when He then leaps off for the Mors Vincit...
… then cheers when Bond rolls out of the way, causing Drake to crash onto the canvas! Bond immediately scrambles to his feet and pulls Drake back to a vertical base.
Stephy Auger: WAIT WAIT WAIT…
The crowd gasps, then cheers when Bond brings Drake! down with the End of Days (Flatliner)! The Battle-Hardened Veteran pushes Drake over and makes the cover.
Kris Cruise: THERE IT IS! END OF DAYS AND POTENTIALLY THE END OF MALCOLM DRAKE’S CAREER! HE’S GOING FOR THE COVER...
ONE!...
TWO!...
TH-NO!
The crowd gasps, then boos when Drake gets his shoulder up.
Stephy Auger: He got his shoulder up? Drake got his shoulder up! The career of Malcolm Drake isn’t over!
Bond pulls Drake back up. He grabs a hold of Drake before bringing him back down with another End of Days. The cheers continue as Bond pulls him over before making the cover.
ONE!...
TWO!...
THRE-NO!
The crowd sighs when Drake barely gets his shoulder up in time.
Kris Cruise: How is Drake doing this!? Where is he getting this from!?
Stephy Auger: This has to be frustrating for Bond!
Bond drags a groggy Drake and pulls him back to his feet. He then pulls Drake into position before planting him with an emphatic End of Days!
Kris Cruise: THERE IT IS! A THIRD END OF DAYS! BOND STUCK HIM WITH THAT ONE! THAT’S GOTTA BE IT!!!
Bond sits up while Drake lays motionless while in the prone position. The capacity crowd is still buzzing as they sense Bond is seconds away from an inevitable victory. Bond goes to push Drake over… when he pauses. Bond continues to look down at his motionless rival. Just then, Bond begins to take everything all in. The stakes. The moment. The match. The crowd. The event. It’s as if everything is flashing before his very eyes. The crowd murmurs amongst themselves as Bond continues to stay on his knee instead of going for the cover.
Kris Cruise: What is going on here? Why isn’t he going for the cover? Chris, just cover him! It’s over!
A few gasps can be heard as Bond gets back over into a seated position. Bond scans the crowd before looking up at the heavens… before slowly reclining flat on the canvas. The Battle-Hardened Veteran reaches over… grabs Drake’s limp arm… and pulls it across his own chest to end his last battle inside of a wrestling ring.
Kris Cruise: ...
Stephy Auger: What is he doing? I don’t get it, Cruise.Kris Cruise: I’m just as lost as you are…The official has a look of bewilderment on his face. “NO!” is cried over from several pockets of the crowd.
NO!
NO!
NO!
NO!
The referee kneels down next to Bond and asks him if he’s serious. He wants to make sure that Bond know what he’s doing and what is at stake here. Bond just just gives him a knowing nod. The ref shakes his head in disbelief. He then drops down into his stance. He winces as he makes the following count.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
A collective gasp is heard throughout the arena.
J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout...MALCOLM DRAKE!
The crowd sits in stunned silence as Bond sits back up. He looks down at Drake, who is still out cold. He looks out to the crowd. The production truck cuts to various fans in the crowd. Some sit with mouths agape. Others stand with their hands on their heads. Others, in Chris Bond shirts, are wiping tears from the eyes when the realization of the result finally sets in. The cameras switch back to Bond. The Battle-Hardened Veteran sits in the ring as officials head down to the ring and roll Drake to the outside. Bond continues to sit alone. But not as a defeated man. Far from it. It was in that moment where Bond knew he had the match won that he finally had that epiphany. He realized that Drake - for all his flaws - was right about one thing: wins aren’t enough to be transcendent, to be remembered. He realized he had nothing left to prove - he proved it to himself, and damn everyone else. And most importantly he realized that winning gives Drake what he wanted: a way out. By “losing”, Bond defeats Drake in a more meaningful way: psychologically. He’s out-foxed the devil. Chris Bond, after twenty years of blood, sweat and tears, from the humble beginning of Simcoe, to his times with sVo and Hostility… to his stay here as The Battle-Hardened Veteran… Chris Bond… is finally free.
Bond slowly turns over onto a knee. He runs his hand over his head before wiping the blood from his face with his forearm. Row by row, the fans in attendance applaud the former two-time Pride Champion. Bond looks around the arena with his hands on his hips. His eyes well with tears at the thought of his famed career ending in the world’s most famous arena. But it was a career that ended on his terms. Bond slowly limps over towards the corner. He rests his head on the top turnbuckle for several seconds. The crowd then explodes with cheers when Bond climbs up onto the middle ropes and poses with his arm in front of them for the last time...
