The show opening starts as the Vanguard theme for Season 5, “Destroy Me” by PRESIDENT, starts to play. It’s quickly followed by the Season 5 Logo for Vanguard.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5sdqwzp1kSHHqTFsyfhrZW?si=4fd5d3247b6446db

The patented CWF Drone flyby opening starts as the drones fly through the crowd, with an overhead view of the entire crowd of the CFG Bank Arena. The arena is about three-quarters full, not full as it can be, but a sign that the audience is starting to trust the CWF security to keep them safe. 

A quick view to the rafters shows the Warhammer Corporate Shocktroopers with Gideon Rogers keeping guard on the rafters so that no black rain falls. 

The Screens show the opening for Vanguard, interspaced with scenes of the CWF talent in various places around the Baltimore area. 

The drones all come to the stage and hover as Marcela Sancho comes out to a huge pop from the crowd.

Marcela Sancho - Ladies and gentlemen, good evening Baltimore! For those of you joining us at home, we are at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland! We have a great show for you tonight! As we have encountered a need of late, there is still Warhammer guards in the rafters, keeping the show safe for you to be able to come to and not get hit by Black Rain! We will go ahead and turn you over to Jessica Carr and Victoria Hill at ringside! 

At ringside, drones and camera turn to the pair at the commentary table. Jessica Carr and Victoria HIll sit with the rest of the ringside crew not too far away from them. 

Jessica Carr - Thank you, Marcela! Yes, we have a most exciting night planned out for you tonight. More exciting than some I would imagine since another match was added onto the show since the card first came out. 

Victoria Hill - And that match is first. The debuting…returning? Duke Kosloff takes on Mysterion to kick things off.

Jessica Carr - Duke is returning to wrestling, but new to us. He’s way bigger than Mysterion, but the masked one has turned up an upset before. 

Victoria Hill - Yeah, but that was way long ago. He can’t do that now days. 

Jessica Carr - Yeah, I guess that is true. Then, we will move onto Anthony Khalil Savage taking on Alex Nelson. It’ll be the first sight of Tony as he takes on someone of significance in the ring. 

Victoria Hill - Alex is significant? You are dreaming there, Jess. 

Jessica Carr - I might be, but he can score a win here and there. After that we will get to a Falls Count Anywhere match as Sadie Graves takes on Zolothach. This is an insane amount of danger that Sadie is putting herself in as we both know what Zolothach is capable of in these matches. 

Victoria Hill - And it will be great for the ratings, you know? How much blood with Zolothach spill and will Sadie show that she is built for hardcore?

Jessica Carr - That leads us to the fourth match of the night as Kronin Reinhardt and Viktor Kriegson go at it once again. Viktor was Kronin’s last match, did you know? Now, he’s back again and Kronin gets a second chance to defeat Viktor. 

Victoria Hill - Or a second chance at getting splattered by Viktor. 

Jessica Carr - Either or, should be good for ratings! See? I can play cold, hard bitch too! 

Victoria HIll - Yeah, but you’re not as good as it as I am. 

Jessica Carr - And finally, we get to the main event of the night as Steve Murdock takes on Rayven Reinhardt in her second Valor defense. I mean, she should walk out with the win, but if she goes into this match thinking that Steve is just going to roll over for her then he’s very much confused. 

Victoria HIll - Steve will knock her on her ass in that case. No doubt about it. 

Jessica Carr - Let’s get down to the ring where Marcela Sancho is waiting to announce the first match of the night!

Victoria Hill - Hooo wee! 

Jessica Carr - What?

Victoria Hill - I was just trying out a redneck call. Sounded bad in my ears too. 

Jessica Carr - Thank goodness you agree. 

Victoria Hill - You know it! 

 

Marcela Sancho - The following contest has been scheduled for one fall! Entering the ring first, hailing from Moscow, Russia…he is “the Russian Godfather” Duke Kosloff!

The theme music for the Duke begins playing https://youtu.be/EuBtRqCXwxw?si=N52P6MBQtfp0PuC8 as he walks out from the back, his massive frame cowing the audience into silence as he stands with his fists on his hips and regards the crowd. He begins to walk down to the ring, stepping over the ropes. He stretches a bit before standing in his corner to await the start of the match. 

Jessica Carr - That man is big. How big is he on your quiver meter?

Victoria Hill - My quiver meter? Oh! Oh gosh…he’s…over. Is it bad that I am frightened and turned on at the same time?

Jessica Carr - I think it’s the saddest thing I have heard all night.

Victoria Hill - The night has just begun! 

Marcela Sancho - And his opponent, hailing from parts unknown…he is Mysterion! 

The houselights lower and a spotlight falls on the stage, highlighting the entrance from the back. Everything slowly falls silent until an electronically distorted voice sounds over the PA;

“WHO… IS… MYSTERION?!”

“Basket Case” by Offspring kicks off at a deafening volume and strobe lights suddenly start flashing crazily, as though controlled by a kid with ADHD on a sugar rush. Fireworks tear off into the rafters, flooding the empty upper stadium in light. The excitement levels of the crowd grows.. Surely an entrance such as this alludes a someone.. a BIG someone! Suddenly that distorted voice sounds again as it once more asks;

“WHO… IS… MYSTERION?!”

A spray of sparks erupt either side of the stage and a man burst’s through onto the stage, the voice sticks to a loop, repeating the words;

“HE… IS… MYSTERION… HE… IS… MYSTERION… HE… IS… MYSTERION…”

The spotlight refocuses on the animated, excited wrestler to reveal…

Mysterion runs down the ramp, clapping the outstretched hands of all the fans excited by this week's impressive outfit. He yells boo at a few kids and happily frightened girls before entering the ring. Here, he is immediately attacked by Duke Kosloff before the bell even rings. Clubbing blows to the back and the back of the head send Mysterion to the mat onto his hands and knees. 

Mysterion tries to get up, but Duke stomps him in the center of the back to send him face-first to the mat! He aims a few kicks at the ribcage of the delightfully disguised wrestler before Mysterion can roll away to get to his feet. 
Mysterion aims a punch at Duke’s head, but the fist is caught. Duke gives him a grim look before knife-edge chopping him in the side of the neck hard enough that it would have sent him straight to the mat had he not been holding onto the fist to keep him up. Another blow to the side of the neck rocks Mysterion’s smaller frame. Duke just lifts him up by the arm and aims punches with his other hand to Mysterion’s midsection like he was a punching bag. 

Jessica Carr - Sweet Jesus! Duke certainly can send a message. 

Victoria Hill - It’s so scary and yummy at the same time. What do you think he could do to me?

Jessica Carr - I’m not sure that there’s a real man inside those dead eyes. 

Victoria Hill - Right. So…what do you think?

Jessica Carr - You’re impossible!

Victoria Hill - I know. 

Duke lets Mysterion down and grabs his shoulders before he can fall so he can inflict several knee lifts to the midsection before getting him up high in the air with an overhead suplex, sending them both down to the mat with a crash. Duke gets up with a slow, cruel smile as he stands up and stomps on Mysterion’s midsection to drive the air from his lungs. 

Duke pulls Mysterion to his feet and waits for a moment for something. Mysterion takes advantage of the moment and punches him in a move that only turns Duke’s head a little. Duke turns his head back against the resistance of Mysterion’s fist with a wide, cruel grin. 

Duke Kosloff - Thank you. 

He grabs Mysterion by the shoulders and delivers a series of brutal headbutts! The mask cracks, blood seeping through the crack. Duke holds him by the front of his outfit, but it’s clear that Mysterion is out, as he goes slack with his head lolling back. 

Duke Kosloff - Just one thing left to do…

Jessica Carr - Just one more thing? The man is probably concussed now! He just needs to pin him! 

Victoria Hill - Oh my. I think fear has won out between fear and desire…

Duke gets Mysterion up into a fireman’s carry, turns toward the center of the ring and brings him up high into the air before performing a brutal sit out power bomb that he calls the Last Czar! He remains in place for the cover on the twitching Mysterion. 

….one

……two

……..three! 

Marcela Sancho - Winner of the match via pinfall…”the Russian Godfather” Duke Kosloff! 

Duke heads to the back, ignoring the booing fans and the EMTs as they rush to help Daniel Corgan (the ringside doctor), as he checks on Mysterion in the ring. 

Jessica Carr - That is one scary man. 

Victoria Hill - Yeah, he is. I almost feel sorry for the other wrestlers in the company. 

Jessica Carr - Almost?

Victoria Hill - Yeah, almost. I think there are good matches brewing. 

Jessica Carr - After these messages, we will get to Anthony Khalil Savage back in the ring against Alex Nelson. Should be a good bout. 

Victoria Hill - Should be. Poor Alex needs a break. Maybe he gets it tonight. 

Jessica Carr - That would be interesting. 

Victoria Hill - I mean, Anthony prolly going to win, but we see. 

 

 

Marcela Sancho - The following contest has been scheduled for one fall! Featuring first the challenger, hailing from London, United Kingdom…he is Anthony Khalil Savage! 

The lights in the area dim to straight darkness. As “So Be It” by Clipse plays, the entryway lights back up with every step Tony takes. Nothing fancy, just a focused march to the ring. He slides inside the ring, takes off his warm-up hoodie, and tosses it into the stands.

Jessica Carr - Anthony here to make some noise! He went through Mysterion last week with relative ease. He’s hoping to do the same here with Alex Nelson and put the entire roster on notice that he is here to make an impression! 

Victoria Hill - I mean. He can certainly do it. He’s a skilled wrestler and decorated at that. A lot of different title reigns in his history.

Jessica Carr - I mean. Yeah, he’s skilled, but can he really get past Alex Nelson?

Victoria Hill - Most defo can. Alex doesn’t even think that he will win the match so…

Marcela Sancho - And his opponent, hailing from Dallas, Texas…he is Alex Nelson!

The opening guitar licks of “The End” play and the lights in the arena strobe off and one as Alex Nelson walks down from the entry way to the ring, shadow boxing along the way, rolling in from the bottom rope, he poses with his hands in the air in the middle of the ring and then goes to his corner, waiting…

Jessica Carr - I think that Alex might be depressed with his recent run of losses. 

Victoria Hill - I mean, who wouldn’t be. 

Jessica Carr - I know that I would be, but you have to think like a winner to become a winner. Think he can do that tonight?

Victoria Hill - It might be too late for tonight, but maybe next time he can do better. 
f
As the bell sounds to start the match, the two meet in the center of the ring. They stare each other down for a moment before they lock up. Anthony pushes Alex back a few steps before breaking the lockup and transitioning into a side headlock. Alex pushes Anthony off of him and grabs him again to whip him into the ropes. On the rebound, Anthony levels Alex with a forearm shot! 

Alex gets back up quickly, but is hip-tossed back to the mat! Alex rolls through it and gets back to his feet. Anthony moves in to attack him, but Alex pelts him with a superkick that sends him crashing to the mat! Alex drops for the cover with referee Erica Costa-Alvarez getting into position to make the count. 

….one

……tw-Anthony kicks out! 

Jessica Carr - Tony ain’t gonna be put away that quick.

Victoria Hill - No, I would suppose some more softening up will be required. 

Alex Nelson stands up and greets the rising Anthony with a few forearm smashes before whipping him into the ropes. Alex follows with the hopes of hitting a clothesline at the ropes, but Anthony grabs the top rope and goes over! He swings over the top rope and back into the ring to kick Alex in the gut with both feet! 

Anthony gets back to his feet quickly and pulls Alex up to drop him with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex! He goes for the quick pinfall, Erica getting into position. 

….one

……two

……..thre-Alex kicks out! 

Jessica Carr - Alex a little longer in kicking out. He could be getting weaker. 

Victoria Hill - Yeah, but he could also be milking the three-count for that crucial bit of rest.

Jessica Carr - Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.

Victoria Hill - That’s why they pay me the big bucks. 

Anthony gets up and pulls Alex to his feet, but Alex sends him toward the ropes and follows again. Anthony leaps at the ropes so he can springboard into a knee strike to the rushing Alex, flipping him over from the impact! 

Jessica Carr - Jesus, what an impact!

Victoria Hill - That was quite solid wrestling right there! 

Anthony watches as Alex slowly gets back to his feet and grabs him up into a fireman’s carry before shifting him into a headlock, then into a double-arm underhook ddt! He pulls Alex back up and starts drilling him with lefts and rights as he takes on a quick boxing stance. Alex tries to defend himself, but doesn’t have the quickness down. Anthony stuns Alex with a hard right hand and lifts him up onto his shoulders before hitting the one winged angel that he calls “Dead to Rights”! He goes for the pinfall with Erica Costa-Alvarez getting into position to make the count.

….one

……two

……..three!

Marcela Sancho - Winner of the match via pinfall…Anthony Khalil Savage! 

Jessica Carr - What’s next for Tony, I wonder?

Victoria Hill - I mean he’s here to eventually settle into the Conquest title picture. So, I would say the next thing he would want to do is get the Valor championship. Five defenses, and he can get his shot at the Conquest title. 

Jessica Carr - That’s true. Well, next up, we open the entire arena up as Sadie Graves takes on Zolothach in a falls-count-anywhere match after these messages, of course. 

Victoria Hill - Can Zolothach pull off another win? We shall see! 

 

 

Marcela Sancho - The following contest is a falls-count-anywhere match scheduled for one fall! Featuring first, hailing from the Last House on the Left…she is “the Final Girl” Sadie Graves! 

The ConquestTron lights up to show Sadie Graves walking down the hallway toward the staging area with a barbed-wire-covered kendo stick and a backpack slung over one shoulder. 

Jessica Carr - Looks like Sadie was running a little late. 

Victoria Hill - Being fashionably late is all a part of the game. Last date I went on, I made him wait in the living room for three hours while I “finished getting ready”. 

Jessica Carr - That’s outlandish? Where did you go out to?

Victoria Hill - Nowhere. I rewarded him for his wait by coming out naked. 

Just before she gets to the staging area to walk out onto the entrance stage, the drywall next to Sadie explodes outward, and Tabitha Osborne hits Sadie Graves with a spear, taking her through the wall on the opposite side of the hallway! 

In the office room that they have burst into, Tabitha is mounted on top of Sadie, who has dropped her belongings in the room. She wails on Sadie with hard right hands while holding onto Sadie’s throat with her other hand. Referee Troy Reynolds runs from the ring to get backstage to be able to ref the match. 

Tabitha pulls Sadie up and slams her into a fresh wall, leaving a dent in the drywall. Tabitha follows up with a dropkick, sending Sadie through the wall and back into the hallway! Tabitha uses the door to walk out into the hallway, where Sadie is already up, and bashes her across the chest with the barbed-wire kendo stick! The barbs tear across flesh and clothing, drawing blood. Far from retreating, Tabitha leans into the strike, catching Sadie with a right-hand hard enough to drop her. 

Tabitha kicks away the kendo stick and stomps Sadie in the midsection, who rolls to the opposite wall and gets up. She gets her backpack off of her shoulder and whips Tabitha across the face with it to back her up and give Sadie the time to open the back. She pulls out a splintered piece of wood with rusty nails on it that she uses to strike Tabitha in the side of the face! The rusty nail opens up a rip in the skin that begins to bleed right away. Tabitha responds with a kick to the midsection, causing her to drop the wood and the backpack before pulling her up into a press slam position and slamming her face first into the wall. She goes into the wall, but strikes a stud and does not go through! Sadie falls to the floor, where she flings her hand up to her own forehead, where a nail in the stud tears her forehead open. The wound bleeds heavily. 

Jessica Carr - These women waste no time in making the other bleed. 

Victoria Hill - You would think that they would have allowed the match to get to the ring to begin.

Jessica Carr - Why waste the space? Everyone goes to the ring; they are backstage! 

Victoria Hill - I guess so. 

Tabitha pulls Sadie off the floor and sends her through the door and back into the office. The door once again says “Valora Salinas” on the front of the door with a temporary bronze plate. Tabitha picks up a laptop, folds it back up, and slams it across Sadie’s face! She then grabs the charging cord and wraps it around Sadie’s neck to choke her out with it. Sadie fights to get the wire off of her, but cannot do it easily. So, she grabs a stapler, pops it open, and begins to slam staples into Tabitha’s right arm and shoulder. She gets in five staples before Tabitha finally acknowledges the pain and releases her. 

Sadie drops to the floor, grabbing her backpack again so she can pull out a wooden cross with a sharpened end to it. She brings it up overhead and then swings down with it as if to stab Tabitha with it, but she sidesteps and drop toe holds Sadie’s face onto the desk. The solid oak desk surface repels Sadie’s face as if it were oil and water. The glass that lies across the top of the desk shatters from the impact, cutting Sadie up even more. 

Tabitha grabs a lamp from the desk and rips the cord away from it, plunging the room into darkness, except for the light streaming in through the holes of the wall. She pulls the two wires apart and touches the copper insides to create an arc of electricity from one wire to the other before touching the wires to Sadie’s form! Sadie’s scream can almost be heard to the audience from the back without the camera’s mic catching it. 

Jessica Carr - That really lit up Sadie’s life! 

Victoria Hill - Yeah, and shortened her life by a few years, I’m sure. 

Tabitha picks Sadie up into a bodyslam position, climbs up onto the chair in front of the desk, and leaps into a powerslam onto the desk that supports both of their weights and the impact without breaking! 

Tabitha picks up the sharpened cross from the floor and examines it with the light streaming into the room from the hallway. She turns it over in her hand in an admiring fashion. 

Tabitha Osborne - Religious type, eh? Where is your God now? Is He watching this fate come to you? 

Tabitha lifts the cross overhead as Sadie lies on her back on the desk. Sadie rolls to the side as Tabitha brings the cross down, breaking it on the desk surface! Sadie gets to her feet and opens a random drawer, pulling out a bottle of tequila. She pops the top off and takes a swig, spraying the booze into Tabitha’s face! Tabitha backs up to the door frame while trying to wipe at her burning eyes. Sadie takes a couple of swigs of the tequila and tosses the open bottle at Tabitha, where it shatters against her face! 

Jessica Carr - Valora is not going to be happy that her office is being ransacked again.

Victoria Hill - And her stash of booze is being wasted. Criminal. 

Tabitha slips out through the door with Sadie in hot pursuit, but Tabitha slams the door in Sadie’s face, knocking her back into the room with a thud! Tabitha begins staggering down the hallway while trying to clear her eyes from the booze being sprayed into them. Troy Reynolds keeps up and keeps his distance in case of pinfall or submission. 

Sadie Graves gets up and out of Valora’s office, looking in the hallway for where Tabitha could have gone. She sees the retreating back of the mad wrestler and gives chase to the still-blinded Tabitha. She grabs Tabitha around the head for a side headlock, which she quickly transitions into a running bulldog onto the cold floor! The move splatters blood from Tabitha’s various wounds onto the floor. 

Sadie walks over to her barbed wire kendo stick, picking it up. She walks over to the downed Tabitha and brings the kendo stick down across Tabitha’s back! She does it again! And again! She breaks the kendo stick on the fourth smash and tosses the remains of the weapon to the side. The back of Tabitha’s singlet is torn, and her back is covered with welts and cuts. Sadie stands over Tabitha and rolls her over to go for the pinfall, but as she is dropping down, Tabitha’s eyes flit open. 

Tabitha Osborne - Incendium Vastissimum!

A fiery explosion erupts from Tabitha’s location, sending Sadie straight up through the drop ceiling, where she collides with the real ceiling several feet above that and falls to the floor to land next to Tabitha.

Jessica Carr - What the heck?

Victoria Hill - Someone might be finding themselves in trouble again. I don’t think Troy had caught up with them, or otherwise this match might be over now. 

Jessica Carr - Oh yeah?

Victoria Hill - Yeah. 

Tabitha rolls Sadie over and goes for the quick cover, with Troy Reynolds finally catching up to count the pinfall. He looks at the burn marks everywhere curiously before dropping down to make the count. 

….one

……two

…….thr-Sadie kicks out! 

Tabitha kneels up and gives Troy a savage look, who is sure to show him two fingers to say that it was only a two-count. Tabitha shakes her head and stands up, walking down the hallway. She enters the backstage interview area where wrestlers would stand by the interviewer to give their spiel about their upcoming match. Tabitha stops to hold onto the mic stand for dear life, blood from her wounds leaving a trail behind her that Sadie can easily follow. 

Tabitha hears the footsteps behind her and lifts up the mic stand. She turns with it and thrusts the bottom of the stand, but Sadie sidesteps the blow and grabs the stand. She rips it out of Tabitha’s hot little hands and slams it into the side of her head! She then drops the mic stand and drop-kicks Tabitha against the backdrop, knocking it down! 

Tabitha gets up, and Sadie meets her with a kick to the side of the knee, followed up with a superkick to the jaw in a combo that she calls the Double Tap! Tabitha tumbles back to the floor, where Sadie follows up with a standing knee drop to the gut and goes for the cover! 

Jessica Carr - This could be it! 

Victoria Hill - I would be surprised if it was.

Troy Reynolds gets into position for the count! 

….one

……two

……..thre-Tabitha kicks out! 

Sadie gets up to her feet, looking frustrated, but doesn’t let Troy know.  She pulls Tabitha up and begins the motion as if for a package piledriver, but Tabitha lifts Sadie upside down onto her back and drops to land Sadie on the top of her head. Tabitha stands up and begins to stagger down the hallway, finds her way through a door, and into where the fans would be if they were not watching this match from the edge of their seats. 

She begins climbing a stairway when she hears Sadie hot on her heels. She staggers up to the top of the stairs and walks to the nearest merch stand to grab a shirt. She waits for Sadie to get to the top of the stairs and throws the shirt at her, meaning to blind her before hitting a dropkick, but Sadie dodges the tossed shirt. 

Sadie clotheslines Tabitha to the floor and kicks her in the midsection a few times before Tabitha can roll away back to her feet. Tabitha catches a charging Sadie with a kick to the gut and a snap suplex to the floor. She gets Sadie up again and leaps onto the merch table and off again to hit a corkscrew cutter from the table in a move that she vaguely calls the Twist of Fate! 

Jessica Carr - That was a heck of a move!

Victoria Hill - She should go for the cover now! 

Tabitha goes for the cover, Troy getting into position for the count. 

….one

……two

……..thr-Sadie kicks out! 

Tabitha kneels up, looking angry. 

Tabitha Osborne - Stay down! 

Tabitha stands up and pulls Sadie to her feet, grabbing her by the shoulders and delivering several stunning headbutts before whipping Sadie toward the outer glass windows. Sadie reverses the move, sending Tabitha into the glass. She turns and slams her shoulder into the glass, sending out a spider web of cracks from the impact point. Tabitha turns to get into a fighting stance, but is startled when she hears a banshee scream from Sadie who is charging her. Sadie hits a spear, taking the two of them THROUGH the glass window and down a floor to land on the roof of a limo waiting by the building in a move that shatters several of the windows in the limo! 

Jessica Carr - Oh my god!

Victoria Hill - That was insane! 

Right on the roof of the car, Sadie goes for the cover, but Troy Reynolds is a floor up and inside the building! 

Troy makes his way down the stairs and out through the door to make the count! 

….one

……two

……..thre-Tabitha kicks out! 

Jessica Carr - How on Earth did she manage to kick out of that?

Victoria Hill - That, I don’t know. Seems like a pretty foolish thing to do. Both women covered in cuts and embedded with small shards of glass. They impacted the roof of the limo from a floor up. If none of this stops either of them, I don’t know what will!

Sadie gets up first, slipping to the ground on her feet. Tabitha gets up next, sitting up on the roof and looking dazed. She slips down to the ground where Sadie cracks her in the jaw with a hard right hand that slams her against the side of the limo. Tabitha recovers quickly and extends her right hand at Sadie. 

Tabitha Osborne - Vitrum eice!

All of the glass shards embedded in Tabitha’s body rip themselves out of her body to go flying at Sadie, who leaps to the side to avoid the attack. Troy, who was behind Sadie, looks with wide-open eyes as he also dives to the ground to avoid the flying glass. 

Jessica Carr - If this is illegal, why hasn’t the match been stopped yet?

Victoria Hill - I honestly don’t know why. 

Sadie gets back to her feet, looking over at Tabitha, who is leaning against the limo. Her glass wounds are bleeding heavily since he had torn out all of the glass keeping them from bleeding freely. 

Sadie Graves - You need to give up, Zolothach! You’re bleeding too fast! 

Tabitha Osborne - NEVER! 

Tabitha charges Sadie, going for the spear, but Sadie holds her ground against the weak attack and instead hits her package piledriver that she calls Grave Digger! She quickly goes for the pinfall with Troy getting into position. 

….one

……two

……..three! 

Troy Reynolds gets up and signals for the EMTs to come outside. The ambulance pulls up from around the building to load up Tabitha and call a second one for Sadie, who needs glass pulled out and stitches. 

Jessica Carr - That was super violent. When we come back from these messages, we will see if Kronin Reinhardt versus Viktor Kriegson will be just as violent.

Victoria Hill - I really doubt that anything can top what just happened here tonight, Jess. 

Jessica Carr - Right. This was a bit over the top. 

Victoria Hill - They’re going to need so much blood. 

 

 

Marcela Sancho - Ladies and Gentlemen, the next match is set for one fall and is set for a 20 minute time limit!  Introducing first, hailing from Dresden, Germany.  He stands 6 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs in at 275lbs.  He is a member of Bad Company, the German Suplex Machine, Kronin Reinhardt!!

Silence falls over the arena as the lights dim and ‘Sonne’ by Rammstein plays over the PA. Kronin walks out from the back and pauses at the top of the entryway, giving the crowd time to notice who it is and react as he surveys the crowd briefly before his gaze falls on the ring and he nods once before making his way to the ring with a measured, deliberate pace as he easily steps up onto the ring apron and over the ropes with minimum effort

Jessica Carr - This is a rarity.  Seeing Kronin on Vanguard.  And in a match that could be a match of the night candidate.

Victoria Hill - He’s still active?!  I thought he had retired.

The lights dim. A low, guttural howl echoes through the arena as smoke begins to billow out across the stage and entrance ramp, enunciating the thick, gnarled trees on the screens at the stage's rear. A sickly-green spotlight cuts through the haze, revealing a towering silhouette just as the opening chords of his entrance music hit. The crowd rumbles—not in excitement, but in unease. They know who this is.

A string introduction of Avenged Sevenfold's "Afterlife" plays as a singular spotlight finds its way to the entrance ramp, bringing a tall, imposing figure into view. Flames explode on each side of him, matched only by the flames of anger flicker in his eyes as he looks around the crowd from the stage, his fists clenching and unclenching as they do.

The Ring Announcer pipes up as the flames die down behind the imposing figure: 

Marcela Sancho - Entering the ring, weighing in at 300lbs, hailing from Arawn's Court, representing The Hound of Arawn, the Eternal Grove's Executioner, Viktor Krieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeegson!

The heavily distorted guitars of his theme kick in, joined by perfectly timed columns of fire exploding on each side of Viktor. He prowls down the ramp and towards his hunting grounds, brow furrowing with a rage-filled focus, each step perfectly in time with the music.

Moving up the ring steps and onto the apron, his hand grasps onto the top rope, a deep scowl crossing his face as his eyes look over the crowd once more. Wiping his boots on the floor, Viktor enters the ring through the top and middle ropes, before making his way over to an opposite corner, climbing to the middle rope as his hands meet behind his back, surveying the crowd with his now focused scowl. After a longer than comfortable moment, he steps back down, before preparing himself for the bout ahead.

Jessica Carr - The last match Kronin fought was also against Viktor Kriegson and every single member of Bad Company has made it clear they do not like the Eternal Grove and are no longer willing to tolerate their ‘Age of Monsters’

Victoria Hill - And why should the Eternal Grove care about that?

Jessica Carr - Because Bad Company booted the Von Krauss duo.  Rayven is the current Valor Champion.  They have two former Conquest Champions in Greg Salazar and Kronin and Kara has been destroying everyone put up against her lately.  That, to me, might be a cause for concern if I found myself in their crosshairs.

Victoria Hill - That is.. Actually a solid point.

Marcela Sancho leaves the ring and Erica Costa-Alvarez goes over her last minute instructions with the two men, who both largely ignore her and are focused on each other.  Finally, Erica gives up and calls for the bell.

DING!! DING!!

Viktor comes at Kronin and takes a swing which Kronin ducks and avoids fairly easily.  Viktor seems surprised by the smooth and quick manner of Kronin’s dodge and tries again, meeting the same result.  Kronin meanwhile has a grin on face.

Kronin Reinhardt - Come on, Vicky boy.  You’re the executioner, right?

Viktor narrows his eyes and charges. Kronin dodges the attack and grabs him, planting him on the mat with a German suplex.  Kronin gets back to his feet and waits for Viktor to get up.  As Viktor gets to his feet and turns around, Kronin meets him with a straight punch to the face.  He then grabs Viktor and locks him in a side headlock, punching him in the head as Viktor counters with elbow shots to Kronin’s gut, before shrugging him off, Kronin rebounds off the ropes and Viktor charges after him, both men hitting each other with a shoulder block and coming to a stand still.

Jessica Carr - And these two are off and running.  So far pretty even though it seems as if Kronin is trying a different tactic

Victoria Hill - Well, to be fair, last time, Kronin lost.  A change of tactics is probably a good idea.

Kronin tries for a collar and elbow tie up but Viktor cuts him off with a boot to the gut and a clubbing forearm blow to the back.  He grabs Kronin and tries to whip him into the corner, but Kronin counters and tries to send Viktor into the corner instead only for Viktor to pull Kronin into a short arm clothesline.  He stalks Kronin while Kronin tries to get up and kicks him in the ribs.

Viktor Kriegson - You think studying me is going to work?  It didn’t last time!

Viktor punctuates his words with a stomp on Kronin’s back and pulls Kronin to his feet and hits him with a few punches until Kronin fights back with a boot to the gut, a European uppercut and tries for a belly to belly suplex but Viktor cuts him off with a thumb to the eyes, causing Erica Costa-Alvarez to step in and warn Viktor.

Jessica Carr - Viktor fighting back, though I can’t help but notice he refuses to wrestle Kronin.

Victoria Hill - Of course.  Would you try to outwrestle the best technical wrestler in the World?  Or someone who was at least in the top 3?  Of course not, You make him fight your fight.

Kronin throws a haymaker trying to keep Viktor at a distance but Viktor catches the punch and sends Kronin into the corner, charging in after him and hitting a body splash so powerful the ring seems to shake a bit,  Viktor measures Kronin and slams his knee into Kronin’s gut before running out of the Kronin and trying for a bulldog, planting Kronin on the mat.  Viktor gets to his feet and plays to the crowd, bringing a chorus of boos.

Viktor Kriegson - Time to end this, Kronin..

Jessica Carr - Viktor seems to think he can end this.

Victoria Hill - Again, Kronin has not been in active competition since the middle of summer.  He is likely rusty.  I would definitely try to finish him quickly.

Viktor pulls Kronin to his feet and then powers him up into a fireman’s carry.  Viktor takes his time, walking around the ring for a bit before running forward and planting Kronin in the middle of the ring with a running powerslam

Jessica Carr -The Last Hunt!  Has that brought Viktor another win over Kronin?!

Victoria Hill - I’m going to say… yes.

Viktor takes his time and, with a cocky smirk on his face, places his foot on Kronin and orders Erica Costa-Alvarez to count.  She gets into position and begins counting.

…One!

……Two!

Jessica Carr - Kronin kicks out!  He might have had a chance to get the pin if he hadn’t chosen such an arrogant cover!

Victoria Hill - He might be trying to get in Kronin’s head.  If I were facing someone like Kronin, someone who studies opponents and gameplans the whole match, my goal would be simple.  Mess up the plan.  Get him off balance and hope to turn that into a win.

Kronin gets to his feet and the two lock up but Viktor takes the opportunity to hammer Kronin’s midsection with knee strikes.  He also head butts Kronin and then hits a European uppercut of his own

Viktor Kriegson - I’ve beat you once.  Maybe age is catching up to you.  Maybe I’m just better than you.  Either way, you’re dragging Bad Company down.

Kronin ignores the taunts and grabs Viktor and hits a belly to belly suplex.

Kronin Reinhardt - You talk too much.

Jessica Carr - This continues to be a very even fight and these two are really making it clear they don’t like each other.

Victoria Hill - Well, Bad Company said they were going to war with the Eternal Grove.  Kronin versus Viktor Kriegson is the first match on that front here this cycle and both sides are certainly giving us a war.  I wonder what sort of precedent this will set for Kara versus Mick Brandon.  And while not a member of Bad Company, Akame will be defending her Skirmish title against Karlie Nash, so we’ll see if the Upstarts can back up their talk or if their mouths are writing checks their bodies can’t cash.

Kronin and Viktor both get to their feet and they take a few moments to stand toe to toe and go punch for punch with each other, neither man backing down, literally as neither man even backs up a step and matches each other blow for blow until Viktor hits 
Kronin with a boot to the gut and then follows that up with a series of punches, before knocking Kronin to the mat with a discus clothesline.  Viktor then backs up and watches as Kronin gets to his feet

Viktor Kriegson - You know, you should be careful.  Daughters have been going missing lately.  Rayven could be next.

Jessica Carr - D..Did he just threaten Kronin’s daughter?!

Victoria Hill - Okay, that’s over the line.

Kronin hears the threat and the effect is immediate.  Kronin grabs Viktor’s next punch and hammers Viktor with a massive punch to the face, pulling Viktor back into another punch and repeating this three times before Kronin lifts Viktor up and literally throws him over the ropes and out of the ring.

Kronin Reinhardt - First off, I don’t think a single one of you douchebags could beat her.  Secondly, threaten my family again and I’ll end you!

Erica Costa-Alvrez begins counting…

…1!

…2!

Viktor slowly gets up, shaking his head and grinning as he’s finally found a way to get under Kronin’s skin.

Viktor Kriegson - Feel like testing that?  And what about your lovely wife? 

…3!

…4!

Viktor continues walking around.  Kronin charges forward but Erica grabs him and orders him to stay in the ring and Kronin growls but stays in the ring.

Viktor Kriegson - Honor is such a burden, isn’t it, Kronin?  One of these days you will free yourself from the chains it places on you.

…5!

…6!

Jessica Carr - I can’t believe Eternal Grove are now openly threatening to kidnap more people!

Victoria Hill - Why not?  They’ve paid no price for taking Annika.  If there are no consequences for bad behaviour, why not indulge in it  I’m sure is their thinking.

Viktor finally comes back into the ring and tries to charge Kronin but Kronin is ready and plants Viktor on the mat with his version of the black hole slam  getting three full rotations before planting Viktor on the mat.

Jessica Carr - Beautiful Disaster!!

Victoria Hill - That was pretty impressive

Kronin does not go for the cover but instead, immediately locks Viktor in the sharp shooter bringing the crowd to their feet as Kronin cinches in the hold and moves a few steps away to ensure Viktor can’t reach the ropes.

Jessica Carr -Dresden Deathlock!  Kronin went right from the Beautiful Disaster to his submission finisher!!

Victoria Hill - Normally, I would say that’s a bit of overkill but after Viktor’s provocations, I’ll say this might be a case of, as Americans say.  ‘FAFO’  And no, I’m not going to be vulgar enough to say it fully.

In the ring, Viktor struggle, gritting his teeth as he tries to get to the ropes when suddenly Mick Brandon slides into the ring and charges forward hitting Kronin with a clothesline that breaks the submission hold.  Erica Costa-Alvarez jumps to her feet and calls for the bell

DING!! DING!!

In the ring, Mick and Viktor both attack Kronin.  Kronin boots Viktor in the gut, punches Mick and picks him up and throws him out of the ring.  Viktor hits Kronin from behind with a chop block to the back of his knee.  Then the crowd cheers, coming to their feet as Kara, Greg and Rayven rush out from the back, forcing Viktor and Mick to run off.

Jessica Carr - Well, the rest of Bad Company out in force to make sure Kronin can’t be jumped by the Grove.  Maybe now we can get the ref’s decision.  I imagine it’s a DQ but we haven’t heard for sure.

Victoria Hill - Most likely.

Erica Costa-Alvarez relays her decision to Marcela who gets on the mic.

Marcela Sancho - Ladies and Gentlemen, Viktor Kriegson has been disqualified due to outside interference.  Thus the winner of this match, by DQ, is Kronin Reinhardt!!!

Jessica Carr - Not the way he wanted to win, I’m sure.  But as you always say, a win is a win.

Victoria Hill - That’s right.  And the Grove shows themselves weak by needing to ruin what had potential to be a great match.

Marcela Sancho - Ladies and Gentlemen, the next match is our main event of the evening and it is for the CWF Valor title and is set for one fall!  Introducing first, the challenger.  Hailing from Dallas, Texas.  He stands 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs in at 215lbs.  He is the Hardcore Icon, Steve Murdock!!!

The opening notes of “Walk” by Pantera play as Steve Murdock stands at the entry way as the wave of crowd sentiment of either boos or cheers reach a fever pitch. He then raises his barbed wire wrapped kendo stick in the air and jogs to the ring, rolling under the bottom rope and goes to each ring corner, hyping up the crowd.

Jessica Carr - This is definitely going to be Rayven’s toughest challenge to date as Steve Murdock is almost a foot taller than Rayven and outweighs her by 80 lbs.

Victoria Hill - Which is a huge size advantage.  If Steve Murdock can get a hold of her, he can toss her around like the proverbial ragdoll.

Marcela Sancho - And introducing his opponent.  Hailing from Targoviste, Romania!  She stands 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs in at 135lbs, she is a member of Bad Company and is the reigning and defending CWF Valor Champion, Rayven Reinhardt!

The lights dim in the arena as ‘No Fear’ by The Rasmus plays over the PA. Rayven makes her way out from the back, carrying the Valor title as she  pauses to pace back and forth at the top of the rampway, lifting the title up, looking down to the ring. She breaks the pacing by doing a couple of skips as she begins her path to the ring, pausing to interact with the fans and then makes her way to the ring, sliding under the bottom rope and coming to her feet and making her way to one of the top turnbuckles, climbing it and playing to the crowd before backflipping to the ring and landing on her feet, bowing to the crowd. After her flourish, she turns and begins to prepare for the upcoming match.

Jessica Carr - And here is the champ.  Once more, this is the first time Rayven is facing an opponent with a significant size advantage over her in a singles match.

Victoria Hill - And we might just see her title reign get derailed because of it.  What we have seen from her so far is offense designed around fighting someone about her size.  Bigger opponents might be able to absorb the damage she does.

In the ring, Ashley Beaton takes the Valor title and holds it up over her head before handing it to Marcela Sancho who takes the belt and leaves the ring.  Ashley Beaton calls for the bell

DING!!  DING!!

The moment the bell rings, Steve Murdock charges Rayven who drops into the splits and then rolls forward, ducking the clothesline attempt and coming to her feet and rebounding off the ropes while Steve rebounds off the ropes on the opposite side and both charge each other and Rayven hits a dropkick to Steve Murdock’s knee.  She kips up to her feet and grabs Steve’s leg and lifts it up driving it knee first into the mat three times.  Steve gets to his feet and Rayven continues to target the injured leg hitting him on the knee, then the knee again.  Then on the side of the leg, hitting the sciatic nerve and bring a grunt of pain from Steve before she drops down and brings Steve back to the mat with a sweep kick.  Steve goes down, clutching his knee

Jessica Carr - Smart by Rayven to attack the vertical base of Steve Murdock.  It’s a good way to negate his size and strength advantage.

Victoria Hill - Indeed and she continues to be interesting as bubbly and easy going as she seems on social media, in the ring, she can be quite ruthless.

Rayven plays to the crowd, getting a cheer from them before turning to Steve and urging him to get up only to kick him in the knee a couple more times and she jumps and tries for a jumping spin kick but Murdock ducks and charges forward tackling the girl who he quickly takes a mounted position on and begins hammering her with punches.  He scores a few hits rocking Rayven and even drawing blood but Rayven eventually tries to lock in a triangle choke that forces Steve Murdock to break the hold and get back to his feet, walking with a limp.

Jessica Carr - One mistake and now the size difference comes into play

Victoria Hill - He’s already drawn blood.

Steve Murdock limps around the ring trying to walk off the injury, meanwhile Rayven gets to her feet and spits out some blood, shaking her head dazed a bit from the punches to her head.  Steve Murdock sees this and grabs her, hitting a headbutt and brings her to the mat with an exploder suplex, immediately moving over into a pin as Ashley Beaton slides in and makes the count…

…One!

……Two!

Jessica Carr - Rayven kicks out after 2!  She appeared to be a bit dazed by those shots to her head and Steve Murdock tried to take advantage of that but to no avail!

Victoria Hill - No avail this time.  But if Rayven can’t get back to her preferred offensive style, she will be in a lot of trouble.

Steve and Rayven both get to their feet as Rayven throws a couple more kicks to Steve’s knee and ducks a haymaker attempt from Steve, kicking him in the knee again, weaving to avoid another punch, catching him with an European uppercut before running to the ropes and rebounding off of them before coming back and hurdling over Steve Murdock as he tries for a backdrop, rebounding off of the ropes on the other side and comes at Murdock once more hitting him in the knee with another dropkick before getting up and springboarding off the ropes into a moonsault that hits Steve Murdock plush.

Jessica Carr - Rayven continues to work on that leg and manages to hit a moonsault

Victoria Hill - Have to give her credit.  I dig the ruthlessness of continuing to target one limb.

Rayven grabs Steve Murdock’s leg and turns around, locking him into a single Boston leg crab.  Steve slams his fist into the mat, gritting his teeth, reaching for the ropes but is just out of reach.  Eventually, he pushes up and uses his strong leg to very slowly stand up, forcing Rayven to stand up with him and eventually break the hold.  Rayven then responds with a couple kicks to the injured knee.  She then springboards off the ropes and hits Steve Murdock with a missile dropkick.  She then jumps up to her feet and runs in place pumping her fist and playing to the crowd.

Rayven Reinhardt - Come on, Baby!  I can do this all day!

Jessica Carr - You know, it really is remarkable how different from her father or Aunt Rayven is.

Victoria Hill - She clearly gets her personality from her mother.  But celebrating during a match is risky.

In the ring, Rayven grabs Steve’s legs and looks at the crowd as she grins and steps through the legs, setting him up and turning him over to lock in the Sharp shooter.  Steve Murdock tries to fight the hold off but eventually Rayven is able to roll him over and, despite his best efforts, he does let out a small cry of pain as Rayven locks the hold in.

Jessica Carr - Dragon Lock!  This is Rayven’s tribute to her father’s submission finisher!  With that damaged leg, this could be the end of the match!

Victoria Hill - Time for Steve Murdock to use his bigger size and get to the ropes.

Ashley Beaton slides to the mat and checks with Steve to see if he wants to tap but Steve shakes his head and begins crawling towards the ropes, making slow but steady progress as his bigger size makes it hard for Rayven to stop him.

Jessica Carr - Steve Murdock seems to be taking your advice, Vicky, making his way steadily towards the ropes.

Victoria Hill - Victoria.  My name is Victoria and of course he is.  He is a veteran fighter and knows how to break up a submission.

Steve eventually makes it to the ropes and Rayven, keeping with the rules of Valor title matches, immediately breaks the hold and turns to the crowd pumping her fist into the air once more, bringing the crowd to their feet.   She then waits and watches as Steve uses the ropes to pull himself up to his feet.  Rayven comes in and kicks Steve’s knee  But Steve is ready for the attack this time and grabs Rayven and pulls her in, punching her a few times and tries to lock in a dragon sleeper, but Rayven counters with a series of elbows to the gut and then grabs Steve’s head and runs up the ropes and springboards off, flipping over him and planting Steve Murdock on the mat with her variation of the Sliced Bread.

Jessica Carr - Bad Kharma!!  Rayven calls this move Bad Kharma and we could see the end of the match!

Victoria Hill - She might want to name one of her moves after the immense luck she seems to have.

As soon as she hits her finishing move, Rayven rolls him and Ashley Beaton slides in and makes the count…

…One!

……Two!

………Three!

DING!!  DING!!

Marcela Sancho - Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner of the match, by pinfall and still the CWF Valor Champion, Rayven Reinhardt!!!

Ashley Beaton hands the title belt to Rayven who slings it over her shoulder and turns to face Steve Murdock, holding out her hand.  Steve Murdock looks at her hand, then up to her and slaps her hand away, turning and limping towards the back.

Jessica Carr - Rayven picks up the win and has defended her Valor title twice now.  But Steve Murdock apparently wasn’t in the mood for sportsmanship.

Victoria Hill - This isn’t Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood.  There’s no rule saying people have to be friends.