Aired - August 15, 2026
PART 1
0. SHOW RUNDOWN
1. SHOW OPENING
2. CROWD SHOT AND WELCOMING
2.5 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
3. MATCH 1
4. THE COACH
5. MATCH 2
6. MATCH 3
7. SANTA’S FURY
8. MATCH 4
9. MATCH 5
PART 2
10. THE NIGHT BELONGS TO THE MASTER 11. MAIN EVENT 12. CLOSING DEMONIC CIVIL WAR INTERLUDE - “Brotherly Love” “The Old Coach”
(Black screen. A low arctic wind rolls in. Ice groans beneath unseen pressure. A faint heartbeat joins the wind, slower this time. Heavier.)
Voice-over (deep, controlled):
“From the top of the world…”
“Where winter doesn’t forgive—”
“…it decides who survives.”
(Northern Lights flare across the darkness. Snow lashes the screen. The sound of a crowd begins to rise beneath the storm. The POLAR POWER branding forms in frost, steel, and cracking ice.)
Voice-over:
“This is the flagship.”
“This is the proving ground.”
“This… is POLAR POWER.”
SIGNATURE MONTAGE
1) Santa Claus
Santa Claus plants his feet in the center of the ring, absorbing a heavy shot without going down. A hard cut shows him powering an opponent up and driving them into the mat with veteran authority. He rises slowly, battered but unbroken, the North Pole Championship held tight as the crowd roars around him like a blizzard.
2) Infernus Rex
Flames flicker across the screen before the cold swallows them. Infernus Rex steps through the smoke, massive and merciless. A brutal impact shot follows — Infernus Rex crushing an opponent with raw force, then standing over the wreckage as the light behind him turns blood-red and black.
3) Jack Mason
A door swings open backstage. Jack Mason steps through with no hesitation, no warmth, no wasted motion. Hard cut: Jack Mason levels an opponent with a lariat that turns the body inside out. He doesn’t pose. He doesn’t shout. He just stares into the camera like the fight is already over.
4) The Sisters of the Hood
A flash of deep crimson cuts through the snowstorm. Ruby Howl, Scarlet Howl, and Crimson Vane step into frame together — not imitators, not followers, but the dangerous progeny of Red Riding Hood. The montage snaps between them in violent rhythm: Ruby Howl striking with fierce precision, Scarlet Howl cutting off an escape with cold intensity, and Crimson Vane finishing the sequence with sudden, ruthless impact. The final shot catches all three standing shoulder to shoulder, eyes forward, united by bloodline, legacy, and the warning that the woods still belong to them.
5) Polly Mason
The noise drops for one clean heartbeat. Polly Mason steps into frame, calm but burning underneath. A quick burst shows her fighting from underneath, refusing to stay down, then snapping back with a precise counter that changes the match in an instant. She rises first, breathing hard, eyes locked ahead.
6) Grondar the Revenant
The lights dim colder. Grondar the Revenant emerges through blue-white fog, slow and inevitable. He drags an opponent up with terrifying control, then drives them down like a sentence being carried out. The camera catches him looming in silence, unmoved by the panic around him.
7) Yeti
Snow explodes across the screen. Yeti charges forward with monstrous force, smashing through an opponent like an avalanche breaking through timber. Another cut shows Yeti roaring in the ring, shoulders rising, fists clenched, the entire arena reacting to the sheer weight of him.
8) Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend
A sharp growl cuts through the wind. Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend snaps into motion — wild eyes, sudden speed, vicious impact. He attacks in bursts: strike, takedown, mauling pressure. The final shot catches Terrorfang crouched over a fallen opponent, head tilted, daring anyone to get closer.
(Drums hit — slow, heavy, warlike. The crowd rises. Wide shot of the North Pole Arena under bright white lights, frost-blue spotlights sweeping across the building.)
Voice-over:
“No myths.”
“No shortcuts.”
“No mercy from the cold.”
(The POLAR POWER logo slams onto the screen. Ice cracks outward from the impact.)
Voice-over (final):
“Only the fight…”
“Only the North…”
“Only POLAR POWER.”
The broadcast cuts live inside North Pole Arena.
Blue-white spotlights sweep across a packed building as the crowd rises beneath the glowing POLAR POWER logo. Signs are held high throughout the lower bowl, and the camera races along the barricades before pulling back to a wide shot of the ring beneath the arena lights.
The shot settles at the commentary desk with Johnny “The Mic” Michaels and Eddie Ellington.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Welcome live to North Pole Arena! I am Johnny “The Mic” Michaels, alongside Eddie Ellington, and we are only eight days away from Fallout!
Eddie Ellington: Eight days, Johnny. Just enough time for everyone on this roster to make one more terrible decision before the pay-per-view.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Last week certainly gave us plenty to discuss. The Master of the Night made his in-ring debut alongside the Crimson Maulers, battling Mr. Mason, Negropolis, and Santa Claus to a thirty-minute time-limit draw. Afterward, the image of Edie Mason appeared on the screen, and The Master of the Night made his intentions toward the Mason family painfully clear.
Eddie Ellington: And Mr. Mason responded by challenging him to a No Disqualification Match at Fallout. Apparently when someone has already invaded your life, the sensible response is to remove the rules protecting you.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We also learned the complete Fallout card, including that enormous Fatal Four-Way for the North Pole Championship, and last week's main event saw Jack Lumber retain the Convergent Championship against Yeti after Bigfoot stopped Marcus the Beastmaster from using a chain during the closing moments.
Eddie Ellington: That is Johnny's version. My version is that Bigfoot chokeslammed the challenger, Jack Lumber picked up the pieces, and now somehow all four men are being placed in the same match tonight. Brilliant planning.
The camera begins another sweep through the audience.
It stops several rows back from ringside.
A professionally dressed man sits quietly with his attention fixed on the ring, occasionally making notes.
A graphic identifies him as Adam Jameson — HCW Scout.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We have some very interesting visitors inside North Pole Arena tonight. That is Adam Jameson, a talent scout for HCW.
Eddie Ellington: A scout does not buy a ticket because he enjoys arena nachos, Johnny. Adam Jameson is watching somebody.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: With the relationship between HCW and NPCW represented by the Convergent Championship, you have to wonder whether Jameson is here looking for new talent for HCW.
Eddie Ellington: If he is smart, he brought extra paper. I can give him a list of people worth calling and another list of people whose phone numbers should be destroyed immediately.
The camera moves across the arena and finds another recognizable figure.
Damian Black sits among the crowd, dressed casually but impossible to overlook. The GCW Global Champion acknowledges the camera with a small nod before turning his attention toward the entrance stage.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And there is another champion in attendance. Damian Black, the reigning GCW Global Champion, is here tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Now that is someone who understands how to make an entrance without even leaving his seat.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There may be a very personal reason for his visit. His sister, Emberlyn Black, makes her Polar Power debut tonight against Penny Coppersnap.
The crowd reacts at the mention of the debut.
Eddie Ellington: So the family inspection committee is in session. Imagine debuting with the GCW Global Champion sitting in the audience grading your work.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Or perhaps Damian Black is simply here to support his sister on an important night.
Eddie Ellington: Families support you before the match. Champions tell you what you did wrong afterward.
The camera moves toward the front row.
An older man sits calmly behind the barricade, studying the ring with the unmistakable concentration of someone accustomed to watching matches from much closer than the average spectator.
A graphic identifies him as Calvin “Cal” Mercer — Retired Wrestling Coach.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And look at who has a front-row seat tonight. Calvin “Cal” Mercer. A retired coach, a longtime wrestling teacher, and the former owner of his own wrestling school.
Eddie Ellington: Now that one interests me.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Why particularly?
Eddie Ellington: Because coaches never really stop coaching. They sit there quietly, watch everyone's footwork, notice every mistake, and somehow make you feel guilty without saying a word.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We have not been told why Cal Mercer is here tonight, but there are certainly plenty of competitors worth watching.
The camera returns to the commentary desk as the six-match card begins rotating across the arena screen.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And what a lineup he will see. Emberlyn Black makes her debut against Penny Coppersnap. Mr. Mason goes one-on-one with Vereyk Nightclaw. Lilith and Velora Synn collide with Crimson Vane and Scarlett Howl.
Eddie Ellington: Three matches already, and not one person involved appears interested in having a peaceful Saturday evening.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Infernus Rex battles Jasper Fang. Jack Frost and Krampus meet Abaddon and Marax the Deceiver. And in our main event, Bigfoot teams with Convergent Champion Jack Lumber against Yeti and Marcus the Beastmaster.
Eddie Ellington: After what happened last week, putting those four men into one ring is less a main event and more an experiment in structural engineering.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Six major matches are still ahead tonight, but before the opening bell, we have just received word that there is an important announcement coming from NPCW management.
The main arena screen abruptly changes.
The Polar Power logo disappears, replaced by a simple graphic:
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
The crowd begins to murmur.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We were not given any advance details about this.
Eddie Ellington: That is always reassuring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Stay with us. The special announcement is next.
The camera pulls back over North Pole Arena as the broadcast prepares to transition into the Special Announcement.
The broadcast returns to North Pole Arena.
The graphic reading SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT remains across the main screen as the camera sweeps toward the ring.
Two figures are already standing inside.
At the centre of the ring is Kristine Kringle, President and CEO of NPCW. She is dressed in professional business attire, composed beneath the bright arena lighting, with a microphone in one hand.
Beside her stands Elias Coldmere.
Unlike his usual appearances as the Polar Division General Manager, there is no clipboard or folder in his hands tonight. Elias Coldmere stands quietly beside Kristine Kringle, his expression restrained as the crowd waits for an explanation.
At ringside, Johnny “The Mic” Michaels and Eddie Ellington watch from the commentary desk.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We were told only moments ago that NPCW management had an important announcement to make. The presence of Kristine Kringle herself tells you this is considerably more than a routine scheduling update.
Eddie Ellington: Whenever the President and CEO comes to the ring during a wrestling show, Johnny, somebody has either been promoted, fired, fined, suspended, or discovered that their office now belongs to somebody else.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Elias Coldmere is standing beside her, and considering his responsibilities here in the Polar Division, I suspect this announcement may directly affect this program.
Eddie Ellington: Then I hope he checked the locks on his office before coming out here.
The crowd settles.
Kristine Kringle raises the microphone.
Kristine Kringle: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you.
The audience responds warmly.
Kristine Kringle: Over the past several months, NPCW has continued to grow. That growth brings opportunity, but it also brings responsibility. As our divisions expand and our events become larger, the leadership structure of this company must be capable of growing with them.
She turns slightly toward Elias Coldmere before continuing.
Kristine Kringle: Earlier this week, NPCW completed several changes to its executive and divisional leadership structure. Tonight, I want to formally announce those changes to all of you.
The crowd quiets further.
Kristine Kringle: Effective immediately, former Mythic Division General Manager Alton Bell has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President of NPCW.
A reaction rises through the arena.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is a significant promotion for Alton Bell.
Eddie Ellington: Executive Vice President. Very impressive title. Better parking spot, larger office, and probably fewer people blaming you when somebody puts another wrestler through a table.
Kristine Kringle: Alton Bell has demonstrated leadership, judgment, and an ability to manage one of NPCW's most demanding divisions. In his new position, those responsibilities will extend across the entire company.
She pauses.
Kristine Kringle: That promotion leaves an important position to be filled within the Mythic Division.
Kristine Kringle looks toward Elias Coldmere.
Kristine Kringle: Effective immediately, Elias Coldmere has been appointed Commissioner of the Mythic Division.
The camera closes in on Elias Coldmere as another reaction moves through the crowd.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Commissioner.
Eddie Ellington: I heard her.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Not General Manager. Commissioner.
Eddie Ellington: Johnny, that is semantics. Give a man a different title, change the nameplate on the door, and he still has wrestlers standing in his office demanding matches.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Perhaps, but the terminology is interesting.
Eddie Ellington: You find organizational charts interesting. That is why I worry about you.
A faint smile passes across Kristine Kringle's face before she continues.
Kristine Kringle: I also recognize that Elias Coldmere currently carries considerable responsibility here on Polar Power, particularly with Fallout only eight days away.
The mention of Fallout draws a loud reaction.
Kristine Kringle: For that reason, this will not be an immediate departure from the Polar Division.
She turns toward Elias Coldmere.
Kristine Kringle: Until a permanent replacement is selected, Elias Coldmere will remain responsible for the Polar Division on an interim basis while beginning his new duties as Commissioner of the Mythic Division.
The crowd murmurs at the announcement.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: So Elias Coldmere will temporarily oversee both divisions.
Eddie Ellington: That sounds less like a promotion and more like somebody lost an argument at a meeting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It certainly places a great deal on his shoulders.
Eddie Ellington: And apparently leaves a vacancy here.
There is a brief pause.
Eddie Ellington: I should get my résumé together.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You?
Eddie Ellington: Why not? I understand talent. I understand negotiations. I understand when referees are wrong, which is frequently. Most importantly, I already know everybody's weaknesses.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Your first act would probably be giving every rulebreaker a championship opportunity.
Eddie Ellington: That is called rewarding initiative.
Inside the ring, Kristine Kringle extends the microphone toward Elias Coldmere.
Elias Coldmere accepts it.
He takes a moment before speaking.
Elias Coldmere: First, I want to thank Kristine Kringle and NPCW leadership for the confidence they have placed in me.
The audience applauds.
Elias Coldmere: The Mythic Division has a proud identity, an extraordinary roster, and a standard established through the work of Alton Bell. I intend to respect what he built while ensuring that division continues moving forward.
He shifts his attention toward the Polar Power crowd.
Elias Coldmere: But I also want to make something absolutely clear to everyone here tonight.
His voice becomes firmer.
Elias Coldmere: My responsibility to the Polar Division has not ended.
The crowd cheers.
Elias Coldmere: A transition of this importance cannot be rushed simply because a title has changed.
Elias Coldmere: Until my successor is selected, I will continue overseeing the Polar Division. I will work with our wrestlers, our officials, and our production staff to make certain that transition is orderly, professional, and does not compromise the competition taking place here.
He pauses as the Fallout logo appears on the screen behind him.
Elias Coldmere: And above everything else, we have Fallout eight days from tonight.
The crowd grows louder.
Elias Coldmere: Championships will be decided. Rivalries that have consumed this division will reach their breaking point. Some of the most important matches of the year will take place on that card.
His expression hardens slightly.
Elias Coldmere: My commitment is simple.
Elias Coldmere: I will do everything within my authority to ensure that Fallout is the best event it can possibly be.
The crowd applauds.
Elias Coldmere: Every competitor who enters that event will receive the opportunity they were promised. Every championship will be treated with the respect it deserves. And every match will be given the chance to reach the conclusion the competitors earn inside the ring.
Eddie Ellington: That last part sounds optimistic considering half the people on the card would bring accomplices to breakfast.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Elias Coldmere is making it clear that despite this change in responsibilities, his immediate focus remains on delivering Fallout.
Elias Coldmere: Once Fallout is complete, we will continue the process of determining who should permanently lead this division.
A few fans begin shouting suggestions from the crowd.
Elias Coldmere looks briefly toward them.
Elias Coldmere: I heard several of those names.
A small smile crosses his face.
Elias Coldmere: Some of you should be grateful that hiring decisions are not made by applause.
The crowd laughs.
At the commentary desk, Eddie Ellington straightens his jacket.
Eddie Ellington: That sounded unnecessarily personal.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You have not even submitted an application.
Eddie Ellington: He knows talent when he hears it.
Inside the ring, Kristine Kringle takes the microphone back.
Kristine Kringle: Elias Coldmere has given a great deal to this division, and I know he intends to leave it in the strongest possible position when that transition occurs.
She offers Elias Coldmere her hand.
He accepts.
The crowd applauds as the two stand together in the centre of the ring.
Kristine Kringle: Congratulations to Alton Bell on becoming Executive Vice President of NPCW.
Another cheer.
Kristine Kringle: Congratulations to Elias Coldmere, Commissioner of the Mythic Division.
She turns toward him.
Kristine Kringle: And for a little while longer, the man responsible for keeping Polar Power moving forward.
Elias Coldmere gives a small nod toward the audience.
His music begins as Kristine Kringle and Elias Coldmere move toward the ropes.
The broadcast returns to the commentary desk.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: A major change in NPCW leadership. Alton Bell is now Executive Vice President, while Elias Coldmere becomes Commissioner of the Mythic Division and remains in charge here on an interim basis.
Eddie Ellington: Again, Commissioner, General Manager, Supreme Administrator of Snow and Wrestling. Put whatever you want on the business card. Somebody still has to deal with this roster every Saturday.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I still find that choice of title interesting. Commissioner rather than General Manager suggests this may be more than a simple replacement of one divisional head with another.
Eddie Ellington: Or somebody found a thesaurus during the executive meeting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Either way, Elias Coldmere has promised a smooth transition and has made Fallout his immediate priority.
Eddie Ellington: And Polar Power needs a permanent replacement.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Do not start.
Eddie Ellington: Too late. I am updating the résumé during Match One.
The camera follows Kristine Kringle and Elias Coldmere up the entrance ramp before fading toward the first match graphic of the evening.
The camera returns to the arena bowl as the reaction to the executive announcement begins to settle.
At ringside, Johnny “The Mic” Michaels and Eddie Ellington turn their attention toward the entrance stage.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We begin tonight with a debut that has already attracted considerable attention. Emberlyn Black competes for the first time on Polar Power, and as we showed you earlier, her brother, reigning GCW Global Champion Damian Black, is sitting in the audience.
Eddie Ellington: That tells me the Black family understands important occasions. Emberlyn Black has an opportunity to introduce herself to the entire Polar Division tonight, and if she inherited even half of her brother's instincts, Penny Coppersnap has a miserable evening ahead of her.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You have already decided where your allegiance lies.
Eddie Ellington: I prefer the word judgment. Allegiance sounds emotional.
A bright chiming rhythm begins.
Copper, white, and pale green lights scatter across the entrance stage as images of turning clockwork gears and tiny sparks appear across the main screen.
Penny Coppersnap steps through the curtain.
The energetic competitor pauses beneath the lights, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet before raising both arms toward the crowd.
She wears her familiar brightly accented ring attire and carries none of the apprehension one might expect from someone facing an unknown opponent.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Penny Coppersnap has an unusual assignment tonight. There is very little competitive footage available on Emberlyn Black in this environment, so Penny will have to make adjustments in real time.
Eddie Ellington: Then perhaps she should have spent less time smiling on the stage and more time worrying. Facing a debuting wrestler is dangerous because you do not know what is coming.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Penny Coppersnap has speed, creativity, and tremendous resilience. She may be an excellent test for the newcomer.
Eddie Ellington: Or an excellent first victim.
Penny Coppersnap skips down the ramp, slapping several hands along the barricade before sliding beneath the bottom rope.
She immediately moves toward the ropes and climbs onto the middle turnbuckle, raising one fist as the audience cheers.
Penny Coppersnap jumps back to the canvas and begins stretching against the ropes.
Her music fades.
The arena darkens.
The main screen turns completely black.
A single ember appears at its centre.
It glows brighter.
Ash begins drifting across the screen as a slow, heavy guitar rhythm builds beneath an almost whispered vocal track.
Black and deep orange lights spread across the entrance stage.
Grinch Heyman walks through the curtain first.
He wears a dark suit beneath a heavy winter coat, his expression already carrying the smug satisfaction of a man convinced everyone is about to witness something important.
Eddie Ellington: There is an intelligent man.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You said that before he even did anything.
Eddie Ellington: Intelligence recognizes intelligence, Johnny.
Grinch Heyman turns toward the curtain and raises one hand.
Another burst of orange light strikes the stage.
Emberlyn Black emerges.
The Polar Power crowd reacts loudly to its first look at the newcomer.
Emberlyn Black wears dark ring attire accented by ash-grey and burning orange details. Her posture is confident without being hurried. She stops beside Grinch Heyman, surveying the arena before beginning her walk toward the ring.
Halfway down the ramp, Emberlyn Black slows.
Her attention shifts toward the audience.
The camera follows her gaze.
Damian Black has risen from his seat.
The GCW Global Champion looks directly toward his sister.
For the first time since stepping through the curtain, the expression of Emberlyn Black softens.
She gives Damian Black a small nod.
Damian Black answers with one of his own.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There it is. Emberlyn Black acknowledging her brother on the way to the ring. Whatever pressure comes with making your Polar Power debut, she knows Damian Black came here to support her.
Eddie Ellington: And notice what she did not do. No running into the crowd. No emotional family reunion. One nod. Back to business. I like that.
The camera changes angles.
Behind Emberlyn Black, Grinch Heyman has stopped walking.
His eyes are fixed upon Damian Black.
The smug expression is gone.
His jaw tightens.
Grinch Heyman clearly does not appear pleased by the champion's presence.
Damian Black notices.
The two men stare across the barricade.
Damian Black does not smile.
He simply glowers at Grinch Heyman until the manager finally turns away and follows Emberlyn Black toward the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That was interesting.
Eddie Ellington: What was interesting?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grinch Heyman did not seem particularly pleased to see Damian Black here.
Eddie Ellington: Maybe he does not appreciate surprise visitors. A manager prepares for everything surrounding his client.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Damian Black certainly noticed the reaction.
Eddie Ellington: Champions glare at people. It is practically in the job description.
Emberlyn Black reaches ringside.
She removes her entrance jacket and hands it to Grinch Heyman.
Before entering, she looks once more toward her brother.
Damian Black has returned to his seat, but his attention remains entirely on the ring.
Emberlyn Black steps onto the apron and passes slowly between the ropes.
She walks directly toward the centre.
Penny Coppersnap comes forward to meet her.
Honest Abe immediately moves between the competitors and directs both women toward separate corners.
Celeste Orion enters with the microphone.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall!
The crowd cheers.
Celeste Orion turns toward the first corner.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, Penny Coppersnap!
Penny Coppersnap steps forward and raises both arms as the audience responds warmly.
Celeste Orion turns toward the opposite side.
Celeste Orion: Her opponent, accompanied by Grinch Heyman, making her Polar Power in-ring debut tonight, Emberlyn Black!
Emberlyn Black moves one step out of the corner.
She does not raise her arms.
She simply stares across the ring at Penny Coppersnap.
At ringside, Grinch Heyman applauds loudly.
Celeste Orion exits.
Honest Abe checks both competitors and then looks toward Grinch Heyman, giving the manager an explicit warning to remain away from the ropes.
Grinch Heyman places one hand against his chest with exaggerated innocence.
Eddie Ellington: Already harassing the man before the match starts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Honest Abe knows exactly who he is dealing with.
The referee signals for the bell.
Minute 1
Emberlyn Black moves forward immediately and reaches for Penny Coppersnap, turning sharply in an attempt to snap her down with Ashfall Nocturne.
Penny Coppersnap recognizes the neckbreaker before Emberlyn Black can complete the rotation.
She plants her feet, catches Emberlyn Black around the waist, and prevents the newcomer from falling backward.
Penny Coppersnap shoves her away and immediately retreats several steps, forcing the two women to reset.
Emberlyn Black gives a small smile.
Penny Coppersnap answers by motioning for her to come forward again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Good defensive awareness from Penny Coppersnap. Emberlyn Black attempted Ashfall Nocturne almost immediately, but Penny recognized the rotation and stopped it before the neckbreaker could develop.
Eddie Ellington: And now Emberlyn Black knows Penny Coppersnap came prepared. That is useful information. A debut is not about winning the first exchange. It is about discovering what your opponent knows before you show her everything else.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You have managed to turn a successful defence by Penny Coppersnap into a strategic victory for Emberlyn Black.
Eddie Ellington: You are learning.
Minute 2
Penny Coppersnap closes the distance first.
She catches Emberlyn Black around the upper body, turns quickly, and launches her across the ring with the Snapsnare Suplex.
Emberlyn Black attempts to shift her weight during the throw but cannot prevent the impact.
She lands across her shoulders and rolls toward the ropes.
Penny Coppersnap follows immediately, preventing the newcomer from creating distance.
Emberlyn Black reaches the bottom strand and forces Honest Abe to order Penny Coppersnap backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent Snapsnare Suplex from Penny Coppersnap. Two minutes into this debut, it is the established Polar competitor controlling the early exchanges.
Eddie Ellington: For the moment. Emberlyn Black tried to adjust in midair, and although she could not escape the throw, she made certain she landed close enough to the ropes to stop Penny Coppersnap from chaining another attack behind it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Still giving the newcomer credit.
Eddie Ellington: I recognize sophistication.
Minute 3
Emberlyn Black rises near the ropes.
Penny Coppersnap advances.
At ringside, Grinch Heyman suddenly climbs onto the apron behind Penny Coppersnap.
Honest Abe turns toward him and immediately orders him down.
As the referee moves between Grinch Heyman and the action, the manager reaches over the top rope and slaps Penny Coppersnap sharply across the side of the face.
Penny Coppersnap spins around in disbelief.
Grinch Heyman drops immediately to the floor.
The audience erupts in boos.
Penny Coppersnap turns back toward the ring just as Emberlyn Black advances.
She reacts instinctively and launches herself forward with the Pixie Kick Pop.
The dropkick catches Emberlyn Black squarely across the chest and sends her backward onto the canvas.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grinch Heyman just slapped Penny Coppersnap from the apron! There was nothing subtle about that!
Eddie Ellington: Perhaps Penny Coppersnap said something insulting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: She had her back turned!
Eddie Ellington: Then she should be more careful about what she says when facing the other direction.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: To her credit, Penny Coppersnap immediately recovered and landed that dropkick on Emberlyn Black.
Eddie Ellington: Which tells you how composed Emberlyn Black is. She took the Pixie Kick Pop, rolled with the impact, and did not panic. Debut nerves have not appeared yet.
The camera briefly cuts toward Damian Black.
He is no longer watching his sister.
His eyes are locked on Grinch Heyman.
Minute 4
Penny Coppersnap moves toward Emberlyn Black as the newcomer rises.
The two women engage in a brief hand fight near the centre of the ring, neither gaining clean control.
Emberlyn Black suddenly changes tactics.
She hooks one hand behind Penny Coppersnap's head and rakes her fingers across the eyes with the Veil of Ashes.
Penny Coppersnap recoils immediately, covering her face.
Honest Abe warns Emberlyn Black about the illegal attack.
She releases before the referee can begin a full count and drives Penny Coppersnap backward toward the ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Veil of Ashes from Emberlyn Black, and that was a blatant eye gouge.
Eddie Ellington: It was brief.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Duration does not make it legal.
Eddie Ellington: That is why Emberlyn Black released before five. She understands the rules perfectly. More importantly, she understands that Penny Coppersnap cannot attack what she cannot see.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That may be the most Eddie Ellington interpretation imaginable.
Minute 5
Both women circle cautiously.
Penny Coppersnap blinks repeatedly, still trying to clear her vision.
Emberlyn Black reaches for her twice but cannot establish control.
Penny Coppersnap finally creates space and charges.
She jumps forward for another Pixie Kick Pop.
This time, Emberlyn Black is ready.
She catches both legs before the dropkick can fully extend and throws them aside.
Penny Coppersnap crashes onto her back.
Emberlyn Black takes a step toward her but does not rush the follow-up, forcing Penny Coppersnap to rise without knowing which direction the next attack will come from.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black saw the Pixie Kick Pop coming this time and neutralized it completely.
Eddie Ellington: That is what I have been telling you. Emberlyn Black is collecting information. The first dropkick connected. The second one did not even get started.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Penny Coppersnap needs to vary the attack now.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. Because Emberlyn Black is learning faster than she is repeating.
Minute 6
Emberlyn Black catches Penny Coppersnap by the hair as she rises.
Before Honest Abe can intervene, Emberlyn Black turns sharply and throws her across the canvas with the Whip Hair Mare.
Penny Coppersnap rolls through the landing and comes back to her feet furious.
She charges.
Emberlyn Black attempts to catch her again, but Penny Coppersnap slips underneath the arms, hooks the body, and explodes through her hips with the Glimmerbomb Toss.
The exploder suplex sends Emberlyn Black across the ring.
Both women rise almost simultaneously.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black used the hair to send Penny Coppersnap across the ring, but Penny answered immediately with the Glimmerbomb Toss!
Eddie Ellington: That tells me Penny Coppersnap is getting angry, and anger makes people easier to manipulate.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It also gave her enough aggression to launch Emberlyn Black halfway across the ring.
Eddie Ellington: Temporary enthusiasm. Emberlyn Black was already getting back to her feet.
Minute 7
Emberlyn Black steps toward Penny Coppersnap and reaches for the head again.
Before Penny Coppersnap can protect herself, Emberlyn Black drives her fingers across the eyes with another Veil of Ashes.
Penny Coppersnap staggers backward.
She swings blindly, catches Emberlyn Black around the torso on the second attempt, and throws her with another Glimmerbomb Toss.
The crowd rallies behind Penny Coppersnap.
Instead of immediately following the attack, however, she turns toward ringside.
Grinch Heyman is shouting at her.
Penny Coppersnap walks directly toward the ropes.
She reaches through them and attempts to grab Grinch Heyman by the coat.
The manager jerks backward just beyond her reach.
Penny Coppersnap swings toward him again but misses as Grinch Heyman retreats around the ring post.
Honest Abe orders Penny Coppersnap back toward the centre.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Penny Coppersnap had Emberlyn Black down after another Glimmerbomb Toss, but she allowed Grinch Heyman to pull her attention away from the match!
Eddie Ellington: That was entirely Penny Coppersnap's decision. Grinch Heyman was standing on the floor exercising his constitutional right to offer observations.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He slapped her earlier!
Eddie Ellington: Then she should have filed a complaint after the match instead of trying to assault management during it.
The camera cuts toward Damian Black.
The GCW champion is leaning forward in his seat.
His glare follows Grinch Heyman around ringside.
Minute 8
Penny Coppersnap turns away from Grinch Heyman and moves back toward Emberlyn Black.
The newcomer catches her immediately.
Emberlyn Black rolls forward and pulls Penny Coppersnap down into a small package.
Honest Abe drops into position.
One.
Two.
Penny Coppersnap kicks free before three.
Both women scramble back to their feet.
Penny Coppersnap looks startled by how quickly the pin developed.
Emberlyn Black smiles and motions with two fingers to remind her how close the count became.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black nearly stole the match with the small package after Penny Coppersnap allowed herself to become distracted.
Eddie Ellington: Stole? That was excellent wrestling. Emberlyn Black saw the opening, captured both shoulders, controlled the hips, and came within a heartbeat of winning.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The opening existed because of Grinch Heyman.
Eddie Ellington: The opening existed because Penny Coppersnap stopped paying attention to the woman she was wrestling. Personal responsibility, Johnny.
Minute 9
Penny Coppersnap charges before Emberlyn Black can reset.
Emberlyn Black steps aside.
As Penny Coppersnap turns, Emberlyn Black spins through and catches her across the jaw with the Black Cinder Kick.
The spinning heel kick drops Penny Coppersnap immediately.
Emberlyn Black falls across her and hooks the leg.
Honest Abe counts one.
At two, Penny Coppersnap twists her hips and reverses the position, rolling Emberlyn Black's shoulders onto the canvas.
Honest Abe immediately changes sides.
One.
Two.
Emberlyn Black reverses again.
She traps both legs beneath her and forces Penny Coppersnap's shoulders flat.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rings.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What a sequence! The Black Cinder Kick connected, Penny Coppersnap reversed the first cover, Emberlyn Black reversed the reversal, and the newcomer has won her Polar Power debut!
Eddie Ellington: Beautiful! Strength, awareness, composure, and the presence of mind to turn a desperate reversal by Penny Coppersnap into the winning cover. That is how you introduce yourself.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Penny Coppersnap pushed her throughout these nine minutes and created several difficult moments, but the Black Cinder Kick changed everything. Emberlyn Black stayed with the scramble and secured the decisive three-count.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. No panic. No hesitation. First night on Polar Power, first victory. Remember the name.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There are certainly questions surrounding the involvement of Grinch Heyman, but the official record will show a successful debut for Emberlyn Black.
EMBERLYN BLACK DEFEATS PENNY COPPERSNAP VIA PINFALL AT THE 9:00 MINUTE MARK.
Honest Abe raises the arm of Emberlyn Black.
She pulls it away after only a moment and looks toward the crowd.
Grinch Heyman enters the ring applauding, immediately positioning himself beside his victorious client.
Penny Coppersnap sits against the bottom rope, holding one side of her jaw after the Black Cinder Kick.
She looks toward Grinch Heyman with considerably more anger than she directs toward the woman who pinned her.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: An impressive debut for Emberlyn Black, although Penny Coppersnap will understandably have plenty to say about the conduct of Grinch Heyman.
Eddie Ellington: Winners receive congratulations. Losers receive explanations. Penny Coppersnap can choose hers on the way back to the locker room.
Emberlyn Black turns toward the section where her brother had been sitting.
Her expression changes.
The seat is empty.
The camera moves closer.
Damian Black is gone.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Interesting. Damian Black was sitting right there throughout his sister's match.
Eddie Ellington: Perhaps the GCW Global Champion has seen everything he needed to see. His sister won.
The camera searches the nearby aisle.
There is no sign of Damian Black.
Another shot catches Grinch Heyman noticing the empty seat.
For just an instant, the manager's celebration stops.
His eyes move toward the backstage entrance.
Emberlyn Black does not appear concerned.
She steps onto the middle turnbuckle and raises one arm as the crowd gives the successful newcomer a strong reaction.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black begins her Polar Power career with a victory. But Damian Black has disappeared from the audience, and after the looks exchanged between him and Grinch Heyman earlier tonight, I cannot help wondering whether the GCW Global Champion has gone backstage.
Eddie Ellington: Or perhaps he went looking for better refreshments. You turn everything into a conspiracy.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Whatever the reason, Emberlyn Black has made her first statement in the Polar Division.
The camera remains on Emberlyn Black and Grinch Heyman as they leave the ring, while one final shot shows the conspicuously empty seat formerly occupied by Damian Black.
The broadcast cuts backstage to the Polar Power interview area.
The familiar blue-and-white backdrop glows beneath the overhead lighting. On a monitor beside the set, the graphic for tonight’s main event rotates slowly: Bigfoot and Convergent Champion Jack Lumber against Yeti and Marcus the Beastmaster.
Smooth Samantha Satin stands at the centre of a considerably crowded interview area.
Beside her are the Misfits of Mayhem.
Mr. Mason stands nearest the microphone in his burgundy sweater and ring gear, already prepared for his upcoming match.
Behind him is Negropolis, his white skull mask fixed toward the camera and his dark coat hanging heavily from his shoulders.
Bigfoot occupies almost the entire opposite side of the frame. The enormous competitor stands with his arms folded, staring at the main-event graphic without any attempt to disguise how badly he wants another confrontation with Yeti.
Ace MacDougal remains slightly behind Mr. Mason, dressed for ringside and watching everyone around him with the constant awareness of a man accustomed to managing several problems simultaneously.
At his feet, Flippers stands proudly in a miniature burgundy scarf, occasionally turning his head toward whichever person happens to be speaking.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Gentlemen, there is a great deal happening around the Misfits of Mayhem tonight, so I want to begin with our main event.
She turns toward Bigfoot.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Bigfoot, last week you became directly involved in the closing moments of the Convergent Championship match between Jack Lumber and Yeti after Marcus the Beastmaster attempted to introduce a chain.
Bigfoot unfolds his arms.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Tonight, you team with Jack Lumber against both Yeti and Marcus the Beastmaster. Considering the confrontation between you and Yeti after last week's match, is tonight about helping Jack Lumber, or is it about settling something between two giants?
Bigfoot stares at the match graphic for several seconds.
Bigfoot: Both.
His voice is low and deliberate.
Bigfoot: Jack Lumber did not ask me to save his championship.
Bigfoot: I saw Marcus pick up the chain.
His eyes narrow.
Bigfoot: So I stopped him.
Smooth Samantha Satin: With a chokeslam.
Bigfoot: He stopped.
A faint smile appears on the face of Mr. Mason.
Even Negropolis tilts his head slightly.
Smooth Samantha Satin: And Yeti?
The smile disappears from Bigfoot.
Bigfoot: Yeti looked at me after the match.
Bigfoot: Not the championship.
Bigfoot: Not Jack Lumber.
Bigfoot: Me.
He takes one step toward the monitor.
Bigfoot: I know that look.
Bigfoot: He wanted to know which one of us was bigger.
Bigfoot: Stronger.
Bigfoot: Meaner when someone stands in the way.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Do you have an answer?
Bigfoot finally looks toward her.
Bigfoot: Ask him after the main event.
At the commentary desk, the broadcast briefly cuts to Johnny “The Mic” Michaels and Eddie Ellington watching the interview.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There has been tension between Bigfoot and Yeti from the moment those two men stood across from one another last week.
Eddie Ellington: Of course there has. Put two creatures that size in the same building and eventually one wants to know who gets the bigger cave.
The camera returns backstage.
Smooth Samantha Satin shifts toward Mr. Mason.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Before we reach tonight's main event, Mr. Mason, you have a considerably more immediate concern.
The monitor changes.
The image of Vereyk Nightclaw replaces the tag-team graphic.
Smooth Samantha Satin: In only a few moments, you face Vereyk Nightclaw, one half of the Crimson Maulers.
The expression of Mr. Mason changes immediately.
The humour disappears.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Last week, you spent thirty minutes in the ring with Vereyk Nightclaw, Brakk Bloodmaw, and The Master of the Night. Tonight there are no partners once the bell rings.
Mr. Mason: Good.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Good?
Mr. Mason: Very good.
He looks toward the image of Vereyk Nightclaw.
Mr. Mason: Last week there were six men in the ring, one referee trying to maintain control, Count Daculescu wandering around outside, and enough unfinished business to fill the rest of the year.
He gestures toward the monitor.
Mr. Mason: Tonight is simpler.
Mr. Mason: Vereyk Nightclaw stands on one side.
Mr. Mason: I stand on the other.
Mr. Mason: Bell rings.
A crooked smile appears.
Mr. Mason: Neighbours settle a disagreement.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Vereyk Nightclaw is not simply another opponent. He has been directly involved in the actions of The Master of the Night against you and your family.
The smile remains, but there is no warmth behind it now.
Mr. Mason: I remember.
Mr. Mason: I remember every one of them.
Mr. Mason: Brakk Bloodmaw.
Mr. Mason: Vereyk Nightclaw.
Mr. Mason: Count Daculescu.
His eyes move toward the camera.
Mr. Mason: And especially their master.
Ace MacDougal steps a little closer.
Ace MacDougal: Which is exactly why tonight needs to remain tonight.
Mr. Mason glances toward him.
Ace MacDougal: One opponent at a time, lad.
Ace MacDougal: You start wrestling next Sunday's match tonight and Vereyk Nightclaw will put you through the floor before you get there.
Mr. Mason: I know.
Ace MacDougal: Knowing and doing are cousins. They are not twins.
Flippers lets out a sharp chirp.
Mr. Mason looks down at him.
Mr. Mason: Apparently I am being outnumbered in my own interview.
Negropolis: You usually require several voices before one survives the journey to your brain.
Mr. Mason looks toward him.
Mr. Mason: That sounded almost supportive.
Negropolis: Do not become accustomed to it.
Smooth Samantha Satin allows the moment to settle before continuing.
Smooth Samantha Satin: That brings us to Fallout.
The monitor changes again.
A stark match graphic fills the screen.
MR. MASON VS. THE MASTER OF THE NIGHT
NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH
FALLOUT — AUGUST 23, 2026
The atmosphere around the interview area changes instantly.
Bigfoot stops watching the main-event monitor.
Ace MacDougal folds his arms.
Even Flippers becomes still.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Last week, after your match, everyone inside North Pole Arena saw the image of Edie Mason.
Mr. Mason's jaw tightens.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Later that evening, you challenged The Master of the Night to face you at Fallout without disqualifications.
She pauses.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Eight days from now, there will be no traditional rules preventing either of you from taking that fight wherever it leads.
Mr. Mason: That was the idea.
Smooth Samantha Satin: You have repeatedly said your priority is bringing Edie home safely.
Mr. Mason: It is.
There is no hesitation in the answer.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Then how do you balance that priority against entering perhaps the most dangerous match available to you?
For several seconds, Mr. Mason says nothing.
When he speaks again, his voice is quieter.
Mr. Mason: I do not balance them.
Smooth Samantha Satin waits.
Mr. Mason: They are the same thing.
He looks directly into the camera.
Mr. Mason: Everything I have done since this started has been about one thing.
Mr. Mason: Bringing my wife home safe.
Mr. Mason: Not revenge.
A beat.
Mr. Mason: Revenge can wait.
Mr. Mason: Anger can wait.
Mr. Mason: My pride can wait.
He takes a slow breath.
Mr. Mason: Edie comes home.
His expression hardens.
Mr. Mason: Safe.
Mr. Mason: After that, everybody involved gets to decide how neighbourly they would like me to be.
Eddie Ellington: That last sentence does not sound remotely neighbourly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason has been remarkably consistent. Everything begins and ends with getting Edie Mason home.
Backstage, Smooth Samantha Satin continues.
Smooth Samantha Satin: The Master of the Night has demonstrated extraordinary composure throughout this situation. Last week, even with you standing only feet away, he appeared convinced that he remained in control.
Mr. Mason: People like him usually do.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Does that concern you?
Mr. Mason: No.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Why not?
The crooked smile returns.
Mr. Mason: Because people who believe they control everything eventually make the same mistake.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Which is?
Mr. Mason: They stop checking the doors.
Negropolis slowly turns his skull mask toward Mr. Mason.
Ace MacDougal's expression remains completely neutral.
Nothing else is said.
Smooth Samantha Satin: At Fallout, you will have the match you demanded.
Mr. Mason: I know.
Smooth Samantha Satin: No disqualifications.
Mr. Mason: I know.
Smooth Samantha Satin: And potentially no one able to protect either of you from the consequences.
Mr. Mason looks straight into the lens.
Mr. Mason: That is why I asked for it.
A loud reaction can be heard from the arena.
Smooth Samantha Satin lowers the microphone slightly.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Before Fallout, however, there is still tonight.
Ace MacDougal checks the time.
Ace MacDougal: And tonight is about to become now.
Mr. Mason: Story of my life.
Flippers begins waddling toward the corridor leading to the entrance area.
Mr. Mason: See? Even the penguin knows my call time.
Ace MacDougal: The penguin has considerably better time management.
Mr. Mason: Again, this interview has become hostile.
Smooth Samantha Satin smiles.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Mr. Mason faces Vereyk Nightclaw next.
Mr. Mason, Ace MacDougal, and Flippers begin moving away from the interview set.
Then Mr. Mason stops.
Only for a second.
A production monitor mounted against the opposite wall is showing the live arena feed.
The camera has returned to the audience during the transition.
Front row.
Calvin “Cal” Mercer sits behind the barricade.
Watching.
The expression of Mr. Mason changes.
The crooked smile disappears.
His shoulders straighten almost imperceptibly.
There is recognition in his eyes.
Something older.
Something considerably more complicated than surprise.
Then it is gone.
Mr. Mason looks away from the monitor.
Ace MacDougal has already started down the corridor with Flippers and does not appear to notice.
Bigfoot remains focused upon his own main event later tonight.
But Negropolis notices.
The skull mask slowly turns from the monitor toward Mr. Mason.
Neither man says anything.
For one brief second, they simply look at one another.
Negropolis then glances back toward Cal Mercer on the screen.
Mr. Mason: Come on, Ace.
He starts walking again.
Ace MacDougal: I have been waiting on you.
Mr. Mason: Everybody's a critic tonight.
Flippers chirps loudly from farther down the corridor.
Mr. Mason: Et tu, penguin?
Mr. Mason, Ace MacDougal, and Flippers disappear toward the entrance area.
The camera remains behind.
Smooth Samantha Satin watches them leave.
Bigfoot turns back toward the main-event graphic.
Negropolis does not.
His attention remains fixed on the monitor.
On Calvin “Cal” Mercer.
The coach sits quietly in the front row, watching the ring.
Negropolis tilts his head once.
The broadcast cuts away.
The broadcast returns to North Pole Arena.
The camera briefly finds the front row.
Calvin “Cal” Mercer remains in the same seat he occupied earlier tonight. The retired coach sits with his arms folded across his chest, watching the ring with a considerably more analytical expression than the fans surrounding him.
The shot holds for only a moment before returning to the commentary desk.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Earlier tonight, we saw a very unusual reaction from Mr. Mason when he noticed Cal Mercer sitting in the front row. Negropolis noticed it as well, but nobody offered an explanation.
Eddie Ellington: Maybe Mr. Mason owes him money.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is your immediate conclusion?
Eddie Ellington: Johnny, when somebody sees an old wrestling coach and suddenly stops smiling, there are only three possibilities. He owes him money, he failed one of his classes, or the coach remembers something embarrassing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Whatever the history may be, Mr. Mason has a much more immediate concern. One week after that thirty-minute battle involving The Master of the Night and the Crimson Maulers, he goes one-on-one tonight with Vereyk Nightclaw.
Eddie Ellington: Which is why staring into the audience would be a dreadful idea. Vereyk Nightclaw is not Brakk Bloodmaw. He does not need to run through you. He waits for you to make one mistake and then starts removing pieces.
The arena lights shift to burgundy and white.
A school bell rings once.
The crowd rises immediately.
The familiar entrance music begins.
Mr. Mason steps through the curtain in his burgundy sweater over his ring attire.
Ace MacDougal follows close behind.
Then comes Flippers.
The penguin marches through the entrance with determined little steps and immediately receives one of the largest reactions of the entrance.
Mr. Mason stops at the top of the ramp.
He looks toward the ring.
Then, almost involuntarily, his eyes move toward the front row.
The camera cuts to Cal Mercer.
The retired coach is already looking back at him.
No wave.
No smile.
Just observation.
The crooked grin of Mr. Mason fades for half a second.
Ace MacDougal says something beside him.
Mr. Mason turns back toward the ring.
The smile returns.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There it is again.
Eddie Ellington: Stop staring at the man, Mason! You have a six-foot-plus member of the Crimson Maulers waiting to rearrange your posture.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Whatever connection exists between Mr. Mason and Cal Mercer, it clearly means something.
Eddie Ellington: Wonderful. They can discuss it over coffee after Vereyk Nightclaw finishes tonight’s chiropractic adjustment.
Mr. Mason, Ace MacDougal, and Flippers start down the ramp.
Mr. Mason reaches toward several fans but remains more restrained than usual.
At ringside, he kneels briefly beside Flippers.
Mr. Mason: Keep an eye on the suspicious-looking fellow.
Flippers turns toward the front row.
Mr. Mason: No. Not Eddie. The other one.
At the commentary desk, Eddie Ellington removes his headset from one ear.
Eddie Ellington: I heard that!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I believe he intended you to.
Ace MacDougal shakes his head and directs Mr. Mason toward the ring.
Mr. Mason slides beneath the bottom rope and rises in the centre.
His music fades.
Every video screen turns black.
A deep crimson light illuminates the entrance stage.
A low growl moves beneath a slow orchestral rhythm.
The image of two enormous claw marks tears across the main screen.
Count Daculescu emerges first.
He is dressed in immaculate dark formal wear with crimson detailing along the collar. He walks to the centre of the entrance stage and stops.
Behind him, another crimson spotlight ignites.
Vereyk Nightclaw steps through the curtain.
The more calculating half of the Crimson Maulers pauses beside Count Daculescu.
Where Brakk Bloodmaw carries the appearance of overwhelming violence, Vereyk Nightclaw seems almost unnervingly composed.
His eyes immediately find Mr. Mason.
He flexes his hands once.
Eddie Ellington: There. Look at Vereyk Nightclaw. No distractions. No jokes. No conversations with penguins. He knows exactly why he is here.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Vereyk Nightclaw was part of everything Mr. Mason endured last week. He also represents the forces surrounding the man Mr. Mason will face at Fallout.
Eddie Ellington: Do not reduce Vereyk Nightclaw to somebody else's representative. He is one half of the Crimson Maulers, and last week he came within a fraction of a second of pinning Santa Claus before the time limit expired.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is certainly true.
Eddie Ellington: Of course it is. I remember accomplishments.
Vereyk Nightclaw and Count Daculescu begin their walk toward the ring.
At ringside, Count Daculescu looks briefly toward Ace MacDougal.
Ace MacDougal responds with an exaggerated smile.
Flippers spreads both wings.
Count Daculescu looks down at the penguin.
Ace MacDougal: I would keep walking.
Count Daculescu does.
Vereyk Nightclaw climbs onto the apron and steps between the ropes.
He moves directly toward Mr. Mason.
Honest Abe intercepts them and sends both competitors toward opposite corners.
Celeste Orion enters the ring.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit!
The crowd cheers.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, accompanied by Ace MacDougal and Flippers, representing the Misfits of Mayhem, Mr. Mason!
Mr. Mason raises one arm.
A loud chant rolls through the building.
Celeste Orion turns toward the opposite corner.
Celeste Orion: His opponent, accompanied by Count Daculescu, representing the Crimson Maulers, Vereyk Nightclaw!
Vereyk Nightclaw steps forward slowly and spreads both arms.
The crowd responds with heavy boos.
Eddie Ellington: Completely disrespectful reception for an exceptional wrestler.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He has done plenty to earn it.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. Excellence creates jealousy.
Celeste Orion exits.
Honest Abe checks both competitors.
He then turns toward Count Daculescu and issues a clear warning about becoming involved.
Count Daculescu responds with a courteous nod.
Eddie Ellington: See? Gentleman.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We have seen what his courteous nods are worth.
The referee calls for the bell. The match data for the contest establishes the full twenty-nine-minute sequence and finish.
Minute 1
Mr. Mason wastes no time.
He steps directly through the first attempted lockup, kicks Vereyk Nightclaw in the abdomen, catches the head, and drops immediately with the Neighborly Reminder.
The Stunner snaps Vereyk Nightclaw backward.
Mr. Mason rises with a crooked grin.
Mr. Mason: Welcome to the neighbourhood.
The advantage lasts only seconds.
Vereyk Nightclaw surges back to his feet, catches Mr. Mason beneath one arm, and launches him violently across the ring with the Talon Biel Throw.
Mr. Mason lands near the ropes and rolls onto his knees.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Explosive opening! The Neighborly Reminder connected immediately, but Vereyk Nightclaw answered with tremendous strength on that Talon Biel Throw.
Eddie Ellington: That is why I like Vereyk Nightclaw. Most people get hit with a Stunner and spend the next minute trying to remember their address. Nightclaw got up and threw the neighbour across his own lawn.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Neither man intends to establish this match slowly.
Eddie Ellington: Good. Slow favours Mr. Mason. It gives him time to think of jokes.
Minute 2
Mr. Mason catches Vereyk Nightclaw rising and drives him back to the canvas.
He leaps and drives the point of his elbow into the chest with Little Encouragement.
Vereyk Nightclaw rolls onto one knee.
When Mr. Mason reaches for him again, Vereyk Nightclaw suddenly wraps both arms around his torso.
The Wing Crusher is locked in.
Vereyk Nightclaw squeezes tightly and lifts Mr. Mason partially from the canvas.
Honest Abe checks for the submission.
Mr. Mason shakes his head.
Mr. Mason: You are going to need a better hug than that.
Vereyk Nightclaw tightens the bearhug.
The joke disappears from Mr. Mason's face.
He drives repeated forearms into the side of Vereyk Nightclaw's head until the hold loosens enough for him to drop back to the canvas.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Wing Crusher applied very early, and Mr. Mason refused to submit.
Eddie Ellington: He also stopped making jokes once Vereyk Nightclaw started squeezing. That tells you considerably more than the refusal.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason found the correct escape.
Eddie Ellington: After discovering several ribs he may not have realized he owned.
Minute 3
Mr. Mason creates enough separation to knock Vereyk Nightclaw down again.
Another Little Encouragement crashes into the chest.
Mr. Mason rises quickly and reaches for his opponent.
Vereyk Nightclaw catches him around the waist.
He lifts Mr. Mason, turns him across one knee, and drives his spine down with the Nightclaw Backbreaker.
Mr. Mason immediately arches off the impact.
Vereyk Nightclaw pushes him away and watches him struggle toward the ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That Nightclaw Backbreaker landed directly across the lower spine. Vereyk Nightclaw has found an area he can return to throughout this match.
Eddie Ellington: Precisely. That is intelligent violence. Do not merely hurt a man. Give yourself somewhere convenient to hurt him again later.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You make that sound disturbingly clinical.
Eddie Ellington: Excellence often is.
Minute 4
Mr. Mason fights upright and catches Vereyk Nightclaw advancing.
He drives him down and delivers another pointed Little Encouragement.
As Mr. Mason turns away, Vereyk Nightclaw rolls onto his feet.
He leaps forward and drives both boots down across Mr. Mason's upper body with jumping stomps.
Mr. Mason collapses flat onto the canvas.
Vereyk Nightclaw remains standing over him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another Little Encouragement from Mr. Mason, but those jumping stomps stopped his momentum immediately.
Eddie Ellington: Nightclaw is letting him have moments. That is different from giving him control.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I doubt Vereyk Nightclaw is voluntarily allowing himself to be hit with pointed elbows.
Eddie Ellington: Champions of strategy sometimes make sacrifices.
Minute 5
Mr. Mason rises before Vereyk Nightclaw can maintain pressure.
He traps him against the turnbuckles.
Then comes Sharing Time.
One punch.
Another.
Then another.
The crowd begins counting as Mr. Mason unloads repeated punches to the head and body.
Vereyk Nightclaw attempts to cover up but cannot prevent the sustained attack.
Honest Abe reaches four before Mr. Mason finally steps away.
Mr. Mason: Sharing is important.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason has changed the pace completely with Sharing Time!
Eddie Ellington: He is punching a man trapped in a corner and turning it into a childhood lesson.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You frequently celebrate considerably worse behaviour.
Eddie Ellington: Yes, but without the educational theme.
As Mr. Mason backs away, his eyes drift briefly beyond the ropes.
Toward the front row.
Toward Cal Mercer.
The coach does not react.
Ace MacDougal immediately pounds the apron.
Ace MacDougal: Eyes forward, lad!
Mr. Mason turns back.
Minute 6
Mr. Mason knocks Vereyk Nightclaw down and drives another Little Encouragement into his chest.
As Honest Abe checks Vereyk Nightclaw, Mr. Mason rises near the ropes.
Count Daculescu moves.
Something metallic appears briefly in his hand.
He reaches through the ropes and drives the concealed object into the ribs of Mr. Mason.
Mr. Mason folds forward.
The object disappears immediately inside the coat of Count Daculescu.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Count Daculescu just struck Mr. Mason with something!
Eddie Ellington: Something? Excellent identification, detective.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There was clearly an object in his hand!
Eddie Ellington: Perhaps he was checking whether Mr. Mason had misplaced anything.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: By driving it into his ribs?
Eddie Ellington: Thorough man.
Vereyk Nightclaw watches Mr. Mason clutch his side.
A faint smile appears.
Minute 7
Mr. Mason reaches for the ropes.
Count Daculescu circles the corner.
As Honest Abe checks the positioning of Vereyk Nightclaw, the manager reaches through again and catches Mr. Mason with a sharp cheap shot across the side of the head.
Mr. Mason cannot defend himself in time.
He drops to one knee.
Vereyk Nightclaw closes immediately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Again! Count Daculescu has struck Mr. Mason for the second consecutive minute!
Eddie Ellington: I noticed Mr. Mason standing unusually close to the ropes for someone who knows Count Daculescu is outside.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: So now being assaulted is a positioning error?
Eddie Ellington: In wrestling, many things are.
At ringside, Ace MacDougal moves toward Count Daculescu.
Flippers waddles with him.
Count Daculescu takes two cautious steps backward.
Eddie Ellington: Somebody control that penguin.
Minute 8
Vereyk Nightclaw reaches down for Mr. Mason.
Mr. Mason looks up.
A crooked smile returns.
He drives his arm sharply upward.
A Lesson They'll Remember lands below the belt.
Vereyk Nightclaw freezes.
Then slowly collapses forward.
Honest Abe was positioned behind them and does not see the point of impact.
Mr. Mason leans close.
Mr. Mason: Consider it continuing education.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That was unquestionably low!
Eddie Ellington: Disqualify him!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Now you demand strict enforcement?
Eddie Ellington: Vereyk Nightclaw is a victim of a flagrant assault!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We just watched Count Daculescu attack Mr. Mason twice.
Eddie Ellington: Allegedly. This one had excellent camera coverage.
Minute 9
Vereyk Nightclaw attempts to recover and jumps forward with another set of stomps.
Mr. Mason rolls sharply aside.
The boots strike empty canvas.
Mr. Mason rises behind him and drives Vereyk Nightclaw into the corner.
Sharing Time begins again.
Repeated punches rain across the head and body.
Vereyk Nightclaw attempts to cover but cannot stop the barrage.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason reversed the jumping stomps and immediately went back to Sharing Time!
Eddie Ellington: The man's entire offensive philosophy appears to have been developed during detention.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It is working.
Eddie Ellington: So does pulling the fire alarm. That does not make it sophisticated.
Mr. Mason backs away at the referee's count.
Again, his eyes move toward Cal Mercer.
This time Cal Mercer remains completely still.
No applause.
No encouragement.
Just watching.
Mr. Mason's grin tightens.
Minute 10
Mr. Mason turns his attention back to the match.
He knocks Vereyk Nightclaw down and lands another Little Encouragement.
As Mr. Mason rises, Vereyk Nightclaw surges from the canvas.
He catches Mr. Mason across the torso, lifts him, and sends him sailing across the ring with the Moonfall Slam.
Mr. Mason lands heavily near the opposite ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Moonfall Slam from Vereyk Nightclaw! Tremendous power.
Eddie Ellington: There is your difference. Mr. Mason drops elbows. Vereyk Nightclaw throws grown men through the atmosphere.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason has taken considerable punishment through ten minutes.
Eddie Ellington: And Nightclaw still looks composed. Exactly as expected.
Minute 11
Vereyk Nightclaw stalks Mr. Mason toward the ropes.
Before Mr. Mason can regain his feet, Vereyk Nightclaw leaps and drives another series of jumping stomps into his chest and shoulder.
Mr. Mason tries to turn away but cannot protect himself completely.
He rolls toward the corner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Those stomps connected cleanly this time, and Mr. Mason could not escape them.
Eddie Ellington: Notice the target. Ribs, shoulders, torso. Vereyk Nightclaw is taking away the explosive movement Mr. Mason needs for those sudden attacks.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Very focused offence from the Crimson Mauler.
Eddie Ellington: Thank you. I knew you would eventually recognize greatness.
Minute 12
Vereyk Nightclaw advances.
Mr. Mason suddenly explodes from the corner.
He tackles Vereyk Nightclaw to the canvas with the Rude Awakening.
The Lou Thesz Press sends both men crashing down.
Mr. Mason unloads several strikes before rising.
Vereyk Nightclaw catches him almost immediately.
Moonfall Slam.
Mr. Mason hits hard but rolls through the impact and catches Vereyk Nightclaw before he can stand completely.
He hooks the leg.
One.
Vereyk Nightclaw kicks out emphatically.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason tried to steal a quick fall after that tremendous exchange, but Vereyk Nightclaw escaped at one.
Eddie Ellington: At one. Emphasize that part. Mr. Mason threw everything together and Nightclaw responded as though somebody had interrupted his nap.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It still forced a cover.
Eddie Ellington: So does optimism.
Minute 13
Mr. Mason reacts immediately to the kickout.
He pulls Vereyk Nightclaw upright and drives him into the corner.
Sharing Time resumes.
Repeated punches hammer Vereyk Nightclaw against the turnbuckles.
This time the Crimson Mauler begins visibly slowing beneath the barrage.
Mr. Mason: Apparently we need remedial lessons.
Honest Abe orders the break.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason is refusing to allow that early kickout to discourage him.
Eddie Ellington: He should be discouraged. Vereyk Nightclaw is very generously trying to teach him humility.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: At the moment Nightclaw is being punched repeatedly.
Eddie Ellington: Education occasionally requires patience.
Minute 14
Mr. Mason catches Vereyk Nightclaw near the centre and knocks him down.
Another Little Encouragement drives into the chest.
Mr. Mason begins to rise.
Behind Honest Abe, Count Daculescu reaches through the ropes.
His fingers rake violently across the eyes of Mr. Mason.
Mr. Mason jerks backward.
His hands immediately cover his face.
Count Daculescu steps away before the referee turns.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Count Daculescu gouged the eyes of Mr. Mason!
Eddie Ellington: He may have been removing something.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: From both eyes?
Eddie Ellington: Dust is everywhere in this arena.
Mr. Mason staggers blindly toward the ropes.
Ace MacDougal shouts instructions from the opposite side.
Minute 15
Unable to see clearly, Mr. Mason turns directly into Vereyk Nightclaw.
The Crimson Mauler clubs him repeatedly across the shoulders and back with clawing forearm strikes.
Mr. Mason attempts to cover up.
The attack continues.
A final clubbing forearm drives him onto both knees.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Vereyk Nightclaw is exploiting the damage to the eyes immediately.
Eddie Ellington: That is called recognizing opportunity.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Opportunity created by Count Daculescu.
Eddie Ellington: You insist on assigning credit everywhere except where it belongs.
Vereyk Nightclaw grabs Mr. Mason by the head and forces him to look upward.
Minute 16
Mr. Mason tries to regain his footing.
Vereyk Nightclaw knocks him down again.
Another set of jumping stomps crashes into the upper body.
Mr. Mason rolls onto his side.
His vision remains visibly compromised.
Ace MacDougal pounds the apron and calls for him to move toward their side of the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason has now been trapped on defence for several minutes. The eye gouge completely changed the direction of this contest.
Eddie Ellington: Or Vereyk Nightclaw changed it because he is the superior wrestler.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You cannot remove Count Daculescu from the equation.
Eddie Ellington: I can. Watch.
Minute 17
Vereyk Nightclaw drags Mr. Mason upright.
Both arms close around the torso.
The Wing Crusher is locked in again.
This time Mr. Mason cannot prevent the lift.
His boots leave the canvas as Vereyk Nightclaw compresses his ribs and lower back.
Honest Abe asks for the submission.
Mr. Mason shakes his head.
Vereyk Nightclaw squeezes harder.
Mr. Mason: Still... not much of a hug.
The crowd rallies behind him.
Vereyk Nightclaw jerks the hold tighter.
Mr. Mason's smile vanishes, but he still refuses to submit.
He finally drives enough short elbows into the head to force separation.
Both men stagger apart.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason survives the Wing Crusher for the second time!
Eddie Ellington: Survives. Correct word. Vereyk Nightclaw has spent the last several minutes dismantling him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But he could not make Mr. Mason submit.
Eddie Ellington: Yet.
Minute 18
Mr. Mason suddenly changes direction as Vereyk Nightclaw advances.
He hooks the head.
Welcome Home.
The snap suplex sends Vereyk Nightclaw hard onto his back.
Mr. Mason remains on the canvas for a moment after completing it, breathing heavily.
Then he rolls onto one knee.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Welcome Home! Mr. Mason finally breaks the sustained control of Vereyk Nightclaw.
Eddie Ellington: He needed it desperately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And after everything he has absorbed, he still had the speed to execute that snap suplex.
Eddie Ellington: Adrenaline is wonderful. It also sends the bill eventually.
As Mr. Mason rises, he looks again toward the front row.
Cal Mercer is watching.
Still no response.
Ace MacDougal: Jack!
The name snaps Mr. Mason back toward the ring.
Ace MacDougal: Finish the minute you're in!
Mr. Mason nods once.
Minute 19
Ace MacDougal begins shouting toward Mr. Mason.
He points toward the left side of Vereyk Nightclaw's stance.
Ace MacDougal: He is loading the hip before he turns! Watch the left side!
Mr. Mason adjusts.
Vereyk Nightclaw charges.
Mr. Mason anticipates the movement and catches him, pulling him into position for another attack.
But Vereyk Nightclaw powers through and launches Mr. Mason with another Moonfall Slam.
Both men scramble.
Mr. Mason catches Vereyk Nightclaw rolling through and turns him onto his shoulders.
One.
Two.
Vereyk Nightclaw kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tremendous awareness from Ace MacDougal! He spotted the weakness and Mr. Mason nearly converted it into a fall despite taking another Moonfall Slam.
Eddie Ellington: Nearly. There is that word people use when they did not win.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That was much closer than the first cover.
Eddie Ellington: And Vereyk Nightclaw still escaped.
Minute 20
Ace MacDougal immediately changes his instructions.
He motions for Mr. Mason to circle away from the side occupied by Count Daculescu.
Ace MacDougal: Keep him between you and the Count!
Mr. Mason follows the strategy, drawing Vereyk Nightclaw across the ring.
For several seconds, the positioning works perfectly.
Then Count Daculescu moves around the outside.
The moment Honest Abe turns toward Vereyk Nightclaw, Count Daculescu reaches through and gouges the eyes of Mr. Mason again.
Mr. Mason recoils.
He nevertheless manages to drag Vereyk Nightclaw into a quick cover.
One.
Vereyk Nightclaw kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ace MacDougal had the right strategy, but Count Daculescu simply changed his position and attacked again!
Eddie Ellington: Which proves Count Daculescu understands geometry.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is your defence?
Eddie Ellington: Excellent managers understand angles.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Mr. Mason is struggling to see again.
Minute 21
Mr. Mason turns blindly toward the centre.
Vereyk Nightclaw catches him immediately.
The Talon Biel Throw sends Mr. Mason sailing across the ring.
He lands hard near the neutral corner.
Vereyk Nightclaw stalks after him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another Talon Biel Throw, and Mr. Mason had no opportunity to defend against it.
Eddie Ellington: Because Vereyk Nightclaw has taken control again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: After another illegal attack.
Eddie Ellington: You have been repeating that sentence for twenty-one minutes. Perhaps the problem is no longer Count Daculescu. Perhaps Mr. Mason should learn where the ropes are.
Minute 22
Vereyk Nightclaw positions Mr. Mason against the ropes.
Honest Abe moves toward the opposite side to inspect the separation.
Count Daculescu strikes again.
A sharp cheap shot catches Mr. Mason across the head.
This time Mr. Mason sees part of it coming but cannot avoid the blow completely.
He slumps against the strands.
At ringside, Ace MacDougal has had enough.
He starts around the corner.
Count Daculescu calmly backs away.
Flippers follows Ace with both wings raised.
Eddie Ellington: Why is the penguin threatening a licensed manager?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Why has the licensed manager attacked Mr. Mason repeatedly?
Eddie Ellington: You cannot answer a question with another question.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I just did.
Minute 23
Vereyk Nightclaw pulls Mr. Mason away from the ropes.
For the third time, he closes both arms around his body.
Wing Crusher.
Mr. Mason is lifted completely from the canvas.
The pressure bends his back.
Honest Abe asks whether he submits.
Mr. Mason refuses.
His face tightens.
He attempts to pry the hands apart.
Nothing.
Vereyk Nightclaw squeezes harder.
Mr. Mason begins fading.
Ace MacDougal pounds the canvas.
Ace MacDougal: Stay with him, lad!
Flippers begins flapping both wings.
The crowd joins them.
Mr. Mason finally drives his forehead into the face of Vereyk Nightclaw.
The grip loosens.
He drops to the canvas.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Again Mr. Mason survives the Wing Crusher!
Eddie Ellington: Three applications. Look at the condition of his ribs and back. Submission or not, Vereyk Nightclaw is collecting damage every time.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is absolutely true.
Eddie Ellington: Write down the date. Johnny agreed with me.
Minute 24
Ace MacDougal urgently begins directing Mr. Mason away from the corner.
He points toward Vereyk Nightclaw's footing.
Ace MacDougal: Turn him! Make him chase!
Mr. Mason begins circling exactly as instructed.
He forces Vereyk Nightclaw to adjust.
The strategy creates a momentary opening.
Then Count Daculescu reaches from behind.
Another vicious eye gouge.
Mr. Mason grabs his face and staggers forward.
Honest Abe sees only the aftermath.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Again! How many times is Count Daculescu going to be allowed to do this?
Eddie Ellington: Until somebody proves it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We have several cameras proving it!
Eddie Ellington: Cameras do not officiate matches.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Convenient philosophy.
Eddie Ellington: Accurate philosophy.
Minute 25
Vereyk Nightclaw sees Mr. Mason compromised.
He moves directly behind him and attempts another Wing Crusher.
The arms begin closing.
This time Mr. Mason reacts immediately.
He drops his weight, turns sharply beneath one arm, and escapes before the bearhug can be secured.
Vereyk Nightclaw turns.
Kick to the abdomen.
Neighborly Reminder.
The Stunner drives Vereyk Nightclaw backward onto the canvas.
Mr. Mason collapses over him.
One.
Two.
Vereyk Nightclaw kicks out.
North Pole Arena erupts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Vereyk Nightclaw survived the Neighborly Reminder!
Eddie Ellington: Yes! That is toughness!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason reversed the Wing Crusher beautifully and came within a fraction of ending this match.
Eddie Ellington: But Vereyk Nightclaw kicked out. After twenty-five minutes, after everything Mr. Mason has thrown at him, he kicked out.
Mr. Mason sits beside Vereyk Nightclaw.
For a moment, disbelief crosses his face.
Then the crooked smile returns.
Mr. Mason: Okay.
He nods.
Mr. Mason: You're stubborn.
Minute 26
Mr. Mason tries to rise.
The accumulated damage slows him.
Vereyk Nightclaw reaches his feet first.
He catches Mr. Mason around the body and drives him across the knee with another Nightclaw Backbreaker.
Mr. Mason falls away clutching his spine.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another Nightclaw Backbreaker, directly onto the area Vereyk Nightclaw has punished throughout this match.
Eddie Ellington: This is why the kickout mattered. Mr. Mason believed the Neighborly Reminder was his escape route. Nightclaw survived it and immediately returned to the damaged back.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason is in serious difficulty now.
Eddie Ellington: Finally, something sensible from you.
Minute 27
Mr. Mason uses the ropes to pull himself upright.
Vereyk Nightclaw gives him no recovery time.
He catches Mr. Mason again.
Another Nightclaw Backbreaker.
The impact bends Mr. Mason across the knee before Vereyk Nightclaw throws him down.
Ace MacDougal watches with growing concern.
Flippers has stopped moving.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Consecutive Nightclaw Backbreakers. Mr. Mason can barely straighten himself.
Eddie Ellington: And now you see the plan. Vereyk Nightclaw has attacked the torso from the second minute onward. Wing Crushers, Moonfall Slams, backbreakers. This was not random violence.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Crimson Mauler has constructed an extraordinarily effective match.
Eddie Ellington: Constructed it on Mr. Mason's spine.
Minute 28
Vereyk Nightclaw looks toward the corner.
He begins climbing.
The crowd rises.
Mr. Mason remains flat near the centre of the ring.
Vereyk Nightclaw reaches the top rope.
He launches.
Nightclaw Pounce.
The flying splash crashes directly across Mr. Mason's torso.
Vereyk Nightclaw hooks the leg.
One.
Two.
Mr. Mason throws one shoulder from the canvas.
North Pole Arena explodes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason kicked out of the Nightclaw Pounce!
Eddie Ellington: That was three!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It was two!
Eddie Ellington: I saw three!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are sitting beside me.
Eddie Ellington: Then your angle is obviously defective.
Vereyk Nightclaw stares at Honest Abe.
The referee holds up two fingers.
At ringside, Count Daculescu remains perfectly calm.
Mr. Mason crawls toward the ropes.
He looks through them.
Directly toward Cal Mercer.
For the first time, something almost challenging enters the expression of Mr. Mason.
As though asking the coach whether that was enough.
Cal Mercer gives him nothing.
Minute 29
Mr. Mason forces himself upright.
Vereyk Nightclaw reaches for him.
Mr. Mason catches the head and snaps him down with Welcome Home.
The snap suplex drives Vereyk Nightclaw hard into the canvas.
Both men remain down.
Mr. Mason begins pushing himself upright.
At ringside, Ace MacDougal shouts for him to finish.
Count Daculescu moves.
Mr. Mason reaches the ropes.
The manager strikes.
A vicious cheap shot catches Mr. Mason from the blind side.
His head snaps backward.
He falls directly into the path of Vereyk Nightclaw.
The Crimson Mauler does not hesitate.
He drags Mr. Mason away from the ropes and covers.
Honest Abe drops into position.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rings.
The arena erupts in boos.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: No! Count Daculescu struck Mr. Mason again, and this time it directly decided the match!
Eddie Ellington: What I saw was Vereyk Nightclaw surviving twenty-nine minutes against one of the toughest men in NPCW and having the presence of mind to make the cover.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You saw exactly what I saw!
Eddie Ellington: I saw victory.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Mr. Mason endured the Wing Crusher three times, survived the Nightclaw Pounce, and continued fighting after repeated interference. But after that final cheap shot, Vereyk Nightclaw secured the three-count.
Eddie Ellington: And that is why Vereyk Nightclaw wins. Toughness matters. Endurance matters. But knowing when the opportunity has arrived matters more.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: With Fallout only eight days away, this is a bitter defeat for Mr. Mason, and The Master of the Night will certainly be paying attention to everything that happened tonight.
VEREYK NIGHTCLAW DEFEATS MR. MASON VIA PINFALL AT THE 29:00 MINUTE MARK.
Vereyk Nightclaw rises.
Honest Abe raises his arm.
Count Daculescu enters the ring and stands beside the victorious Crimson Mauler.
There is no celebration.
Vereyk Nightclaw simply looks down at Mr. Mason.
Then toward the camera.
The message requires no explanation.
At ringside, Ace MacDougal immediately slides into the ring.
Flippers follows beneath the bottom rope.
Count Daculescu gestures for Vereyk Nightclaw to leave.
The two retreat through the ropes.
Eddie Ellington: An excellent victory for Vereyk Nightclaw. Twenty-nine minutes, tremendous conditioning, disciplined offence, and he survived the Neighborly Reminder.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: With considerable assistance from Count Daculescu.
Eddie Ellington: Winning teams frequently contain more than one intelligent person.
Mr. Mason refuses Ace MacDougal's attempt to help him fully upright.
He pushes himself onto one knee.
Then to his feet.
His hand remains pressed against his lower back.
Ace MacDougal: Easy, lad.
Mr. Mason: I'm standing.
Ace MacDougal: I can see that.
Mr. Mason: Then we're making progress.
The joke earns a reaction from the crowd.
But Mr. Mason is no longer looking toward Vereyk Nightclaw.
He walks slowly toward the ropes.
He looks down.
Front row.
Cal Mercer is standing now.
For several seconds, wrestler and coach stare at one another.
Mr. Mason has spent nearly half an hour being thrown, crushed, stomped, gouged, and struck from outside the ring.
He is still standing.
The faintest version of his crooked smile returns.
Almost as though that should be enough.
Cal Mercer looks up at him.
Then slowly shakes his head.
Once.
Nothing theatrical.
Nothing angry.
Just no.
The smile disappears from Mr. Mason's face.
His jaw tightens.
He does not shout.
He does not ask why.
He simply stares down at Cal Mercer.
Behind him, Negropolis has appeared at the top of the entrance ramp.
The skull mask turns first toward Mr. Mason.
Then toward Cal Mercer.
Negropolis understands immediately that he is watching something considerably older than tonight's match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is Cal Mercer again. After everything Mr. Mason just endured, Mercer simply shook his head.
Eddie Ellington: I told you. Coaches are terrifying people. You can survive twenty-nine minutes against Vereyk Nightclaw, and one disappointed head shake makes you feel twelve years old.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Whatever history exists between those two men, that reaction meant something to Mr. Mason.
Eddie Ellington: Then perhaps Mr. Mason should stop worrying about satisfying the man in the front row. In eight days he has The Master of the Night, no disqualifications, and considerably larger problems.
Inside the ring, Ace MacDougal places a hand on the shoulder of Mr. Mason.
Flippers stands beside his boot.
Mr. Mason finally looks away from Cal Mercer.
The crooked smile returns, but only barely.
Mr. Mason: Well.
He looks toward Ace MacDougal.
Mr. Mason: Apparently parent-teacher night went badly.
Ace MacDougal studies him for a moment.
Ace MacDougal: Come on, Jack.
This time Mr. Mason does not argue.
He steps through the ropes with Ace MacDougal and Flippers.
As they begin walking toward the entrance, Mr. Mason glances once over his shoulder.
Cal Mercer has already sat back down.
Watching.
At the top of the ramp, Negropolis waits for the Misfits.
His attention remains fixed not on Vereyk Nightclaw or Count Daculescu—
but on Cal Mercer.
The broadcast cuts away.
The broadcast returns to North Pole Arena.
Before the camera reaches the ring, it finds another familiar face sitting near ringside.
Emberlyn Black has taken a seat only a few rows behind the barricade.
There is no Grinch Heyman beside her.
The woman who won her Polar Power debut earlier tonight sits alone, one leg crossed over the other, watching the ring with quiet concentration.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is Emberlyn Black. After defeating Penny Coppersnap earlier tonight, the newcomer has apparently decided to remain at ringside for our next contest.
Eddie Ellington: Smart woman. Successful wrestlers study other successful wrestlers, and there are several of them about to enter that ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I would be interested to know exactly who she intends to study.
Eddie Ellington: Perhaps all four. Unlike you, Johnny, some people can concentrate on more than one thing at a time.
The camera returns to the entrance stage.
A deep bell tolls once.
The arena lighting sinks into black and dark crimson.
The image of an enormous gothic archway forms across the main screen as a low organ note rolls through the building.
Count Vlad steps through the curtain first.
He wears his long black coat lined in crimson and pauses beneath the entrance arch before looking back toward the darkness.
A second bell tolls.
Lilith emerges.
She walks slowly onto the stage, her dark ring attire reflecting deep crimson beneath the lighting. There is no smile and no acknowledgement of the crowd. Her attention fixes almost immediately upon the ring.
Then Velora Synn appears beside her.
Where Lilith is deliberate, Velora Synn carries a restless physical energy. She rolls her shoulders, flexes her fingers, and looks directly toward the opposing entrance before the other team has even appeared.
Count Vlad stands between the two women for several seconds before directing them down the ramp.
Eddie Ellington: Now this is a formidable team. Lilith brings experience and a willingness to operate in places most people would rather avoid, and Velora Synn may be one of the most naturally vicious athletes in this division.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And remember what awaits Lilith at Fallout. She challenges Crimson Vane for the Queen of the North Championship in a two-out-of-three falls match involving regular rules, a chain match, and potentially a ladder match.
Eddie Ellington: Which is why tonight is valuable. Lilith gets to study the champion before August 23 without needing to reveal everything she intends to do at Fallout.
As the trio reaches ringside, Velora Synn notices Emberlyn Black.
Their eyes meet briefly.
Emberlyn Black offers no wave and no expression of support.
She simply continues watching.
Velora Synn hesitates for half a second before turning toward the ring.
From the opposite side, Count Vlad also notices the newcomer sitting in the audience.
His expression changes only slightly before he resumes his place beside his team.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora Synn certainly noticed Emberlyn Black sitting out here.
Eddie Ellington: Everybody noticed her. She won her debut nine minutes after walking through the curtain for the first time. People tend to notice competence.
Lilith climbs the steps and passes between the ropes.
Velora Synn springs onto the apron and enters beside her.
The lighting changes.
A wolf howl tears through the arena.
Deep crimson illumination rolls over the entrance stage as the image of a moonlit forest appears across the main screen.
Scarlett Howl steps through the curtain first.
Her eyes immediately find Velora Synn.
Then another howl sounds.
The Queen of the North Championship appears across the screen.
Crimson Vane emerges carrying the championship over one shoulder.
North Pole Arena erupts.
The champion stops beside Scarlett Howl, lifts the title from her shoulder, and raises it above her head.
Across the ring, Lilith watches without moving.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is the woman Lilith will have to defeat at Fallout. Crimson Vane has repeatedly demanded the strongest possible challengers, and she may be facing her most complicated championship defence yet.
Eddie Ellington: That championship looks temporary to me.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You have already chosen Lilith at Fallout?
Eddie Ellington: I have eyes. Put Crimson Vane on a chain with Lilith and eventually something unpleasant is going to happen to the champion.
Crimson Vane and Scarlett Howl make their way toward the ring together.
The champion hands the Queen of the North Championship to the timekeeper before climbing the steps.
Scarlett Howl enters first.
Crimson Vane follows.
The two teams immediately move toward the centre.
Honest Abe steps between them before contact can be made.
Count Vlad takes his position on the floor.
The camera briefly finds Emberlyn Black again.
She has leaned forward slightly.
Celeste Orion enters the ring with the microphone.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit!
The crowd cheers.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, accompanied by Count Vlad, the team of Lilith and Velora Synn!
Velora Synn steps forward.
Lilith remains behind her, staring across the ring at the Queen of the North Champion.
Celeste Orion turns toward the opposite corner.
Celeste Orion: Their opponents, representing the Sisters of the Hood, first Scarlett Howl!
Scarlett Howl raises one fist.
Celeste Orion: And her partner, the reigning Queen of the North Champion, Crimson Vane!
The crowd rises as Crimson Vane steps forward.
Her eyes never leave Lilith.
Celeste Orion exits.
Honest Abe orders one woman from each team onto the apron.
Scarlett Howl starts to leave for her corner.
Across the ring, Lilith remains inside.
Velora Synn moves onto the apron.
Crimson Vane changes her mind and remains legal for her team.
The champion and challenger at Fallout will begin the match.
Eddie Ellington: Excellent. No waiting. Let Lilith find out exactly what the champion has tonight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And let Crimson Vane do the same.
Honest Abe signals for the bell.
Minute 1
Crimson Vane moves quickly before Lilith can establish her preferred distance.
The champion catches one arm, twists underneath it, and pulls Lilith down.
She traps the arm against the body and immediately transitions into the Snare of Silence.
The arm-trap crossface is locked in tightly.
Lilith reaches with her free hand but finds herself several feet from the ropes.
Honest Abe asks for the submission.
Lilith refuses.
She shifts her hips, turns enough of her body to relieve some pressure, and drags herself toward the bottom strand.
Crimson Vane keeps the hold until Lilith finally reaches the rope.
The champion releases cleanly.
Instead of continuing, Crimson Vane returns to her corner and tags Scarlett Howl.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Very strong opening from the Queen of the North Champion. Crimson Vane put Lilith directly into the Snare of Silence and forced her to spend energy escaping almost immediately.
Eddie Ellington: Or Lilith just received eight days' worth of useful information. She knows how quickly Crimson Vane looks for that crossface and exactly where the champion places her weight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are treating every successful attack against Lilith as research.
Eddie Ellington: Knowledge is expensive. Lilith can afford it.
Minute 2
Scarlett Howl enters quickly and attempts to catch Lilith before she has fully recovered.
Lilith turns beneath her grasp.
She hooks Scarlett Howl from behind and drives her down with the Abyssal Slam.
The sitout rear mat slam leaves Scarlett Howl sprawled near the centre.
Rather than remain in the match, Lilith immediately reaches toward her own corner.
Velora Synn accepts the tag.
Lilith steps through the ropes and onto the apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Powerful Abyssal Slam from Lilith, and interestingly she has chosen to tag out immediately after gaining the advantage.
Eddie Ellington: Why wouldn't she? Velora Synn is fresh, aggressive, and ready. Good teams use their resources.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Only two minutes have passed.
Eddie Ellington: Which proves Lilith is thinking ahead.
Minute 3
Velora Synn enters at speed.
Scarlett Howl meets her near the centre.
Within seconds, the exchange spills out of control.
Crimson Vane enters from one corner as Lilith steps through the ropes from the other.
All four women collide.
Velora Synn catches Scarlett Howl, snaps her over with a snapmare, and drives a sharp kick into her back.
Lilith grabs Crimson Vane and drives her face-first into the canvas with the Demonic Crunch.
Scarlett Howl recovers quickly enough to catch Velora Synn by the leg and pull her down into the Wolf's Snare.
At the same time, Crimson Vane rises behind Lilith and drives the Widow's Howl axe kick down across her upper body.
Honest Abe moves frantically between all four competitors, ordering the illegal partners toward the apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Everyone is involved! Four different attacks almost simultaneously, and Honest Abe is trying desperately to restore order.
Eddie Ellington: Lilith and Velora Synn looked excellent in that chaos. No hesitation, no confusion. They recognized targets and attacked.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Crimson Vane and Scarlett Howl answered every bit of it.
Eddie Ellington: Details.
The referee finally sends Lilith and Crimson Vane back to their corners.
Velora Synn and Scarlett Howl remain legal.
Minute 4
Velora Synn advances.
Scarlett Howl catches her before she can establish a grip.
She hooks both arms.
Basket Buster.
The Pedigree drives Velora Synn face-first into the canvas.
Scarlett Howl rolls her onto her back but chooses to keep control rather than cover.
Velora Synn reaches toward her corner.
Lilith remains on the apron.
Her hand does not immediately extend.
Velora Synn instead pushes herself upright.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Basket Buster from Scarlett Howl, and that stopped Velora Synn completely.
Eddie Ellington: Briefly. Velora is already moving.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I also noticed something at the corner. Velora Synn looked toward Lilith, but Lilith did not appear particularly eager for a tag.
Eddie Ellington: That is nonsense. She was allowing her partner to recover independently.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is one interpretation.
Minute 5
Velora Synn rises and catches Scarlett Howl with another snapmare.
A hard penalty kick follows across the upper back.
Scarlett Howl absorbs the strike and comes back immediately.
She catches Velora Synn around the torso, lifts her high, and drives her down with a full nelson slam.
Both women remain on the canvas for several seconds.
Velora Synn again turns toward her corner.
Lilith watches.
She does not reach far through the ropes.
Velora Synn decides against the tag and gets back to her feet.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Two substantial impacts there. Velora Synn landed the kick, but Scarlett Howl answered with tremendous force.
Eddie Ellington: Velora Synn is enjoying this. Look at her. She does not want out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Perhaps. But Lilith is certainly not demanding to enter either.
Eddie Ellington: Strategic restraint, Johnny. Try it sometime.
Minute 6
Velora Synn catches Scarlett Howl across the jaw with a pump kick.
The impact staggers her backward.
Velora Synn charges.
Scarlett Howl catches her in motion, lifts her onto her shoulders, and drives her face-first into the canvas with an electric chair facebuster.
Velora Synn rolls onto her stomach.
Scarlett Howl drags her away from the corner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent counter from Scarlett Howl. Velora Synn had momentum after that pump kick, but the electric chair facebuster turned the entire exchange around.
Eddie Ellington: And Velora is still the one dictating how physical this match becomes. Scarlett Howl is having to answer her every minute.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: She has answered successfully several times.
Eddie Ellington: I never said it was easy being impressive.
At ringside, Emberlyn Black watches Velora Synn intently.
Minute 7
Scarlett Howl forces Velora Synn toward the Sisters' corner.
Crimson Vane tags herself into the exchange.
For several seconds both members of the Sisters of the Hood remain inside.
Scarlett Howl pulls Velora Synn toward the turnbuckles and climbs.
She brings Velora Synn down from the ropes with a superplex.
Before Velora Synn can recover, Crimson Vane drives the Widow's Howl axe kick into her.
Velora Synn somehow pushes herself upright again.
She catches Scarlett Howl during the attempted retreat, twists around her body, and traps her momentarily in the Velvet Descent octopus stretch.
Honest Abe struggles to determine the legal pairing while ordering Scarlett Howl back outside.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tremendous tandem sequence from the Sisters of the Hood, but Velora Synn still found enough control to trap Scarlett Howl in the Velvet Descent.
Eddie Ellington: That is why Velora Synn impresses me. Two women attack her, she gets superplexed, she takes an axe kick, and she still starts twisting somebody into a submission hold.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora has already carried a substantial workload in this match.
Eddie Ellington: Some people are capable of work, Johnny.
Minute 8
Crimson Vane remains legal and catches Velora Synn while Scarlett Howl is still clearing the ring.
The champion pulls one arm behind the body and drops into another Snare of Silence.
Velora Synn is trapped in the arm-trap crossface.
Rather than submit, she rotates sharply beneath Crimson Vane, catches the champion's head and arm between her legs, and converts the scramble into a triangle choke.
For several seconds both women are tangled together, each trying to maintain her submission while neutralizing the other.
Honest Abe checks both competitors.
Neither submits.
They finally separate.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent technical exchange. Crimson Vane found the Snare of Silence, but Velora Synn converted the position into that triangle choke.
Eddie Ellington: And that should tell Crimson Vane something before Fallout. Lilith's partner just found an answer to one of the champion's strongest submissions.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith herself has spent most of this match on the apron.
Eddie Ellington: Watching. Learning. Beautiful arrangement.
Minute 9
Scarlett Howl returns as the legal competitor following a quick exchange at the corner.
Velora Synn catches her immediately.
She hooks both arms and drives Scarlett Howl down with a Pedigree.
Scarlett Howl rolls through the impact, rises behind Velora Synn, catches her around the waist, and sends her face-first into the canvas with a belly-to-back pendulum facebuster.
Both women land hard.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Neither woman willing to surrender momentum. Velora Synn lands the Pedigree and Scarlett Howl immediately responds with that pendulum facebuster.
Eddie Ellington: Velora has been the legal competitor for almost the entire match since minute three and she is still attacking first.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is exactly what I am watching.
Eddie Ellington: Then appreciate it properly.
Minute 10
Velora Synn catches Scarlett Howl turning away and pulls her down with a reverse bulldog.
Scarlett Howl bounces off the canvas.
As Velora Synn approaches again, Scarlett Howl rises suddenly and drives her forehead directly into Velora's face.
The headbutt forces Velora Synn backward.
She remains standing.
The two women stare at one another.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Reverse bulldog from Velora Synn, answered by a direct headbutt from Scarlett Howl. This has become increasingly physical.
Eddie Ellington: Good. Velora Synn looks considerably more comfortable when the match becomes unpleasant.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And still no tag from Lilith.
Eddie Ellington: Why interrupt excellence?
Minute 11
Velora Synn snaps Scarlett Howl over again.
Another penalty kick cracks across the back.
Scarlett Howl rises through the pain, hooks Velora Synn, and sends her over with a vertical suplex.
Velora Synn lands near the ropes.
Scarlett Howl immediately reaches toward her corner.
Crimson Vane receives the tag.
On the opposite side, Velora Synn looks toward Lilith.
For a moment, Lilith meets her eyes.
Then Lilith looks past her toward Crimson Vane.
Her hand remains near her own chest rather than extended through the ropes.
Velora Synn turns back toward the champion.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Crimson Vane is fresh, and Velora Synn has now worked almost nine consecutive minutes without a legal tag.
Eddie Ellington: She can handle it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I am not questioning whether she can. I am questioning why Lilith does not appear interested in relieving her.
Eddie Ellington: Because Lilith has a championship match against Crimson Vane in eight days. Why give the champion additional information tonight when Velora Synn is perfectly capable of handling the workload?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: So you admit she is staying out deliberately.
Eddie Ellington: I said she is brilliant.
Minute 12
Crimson Vane and Velora Synn circle cautiously.
Scarlett Howl remains close to the corner.
The champion moves first.
She catches Velora Synn and throws her with the Hunter's Backbreaker Suplex.
As Velora rises, Scarlett Howl re-enters long enough to add a vertical suplex of her own.
Honest Abe immediately orders her back.
Velora Synn catches Crimson Vane charging after the tandem sequence.
She jumps, brings both knees upward, and drives the champion down with a Codebreaker.
All three women are momentarily down or retreating.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora Synn absorbed two consecutive suplexes and still answered the champion with a Codebreaker.
Eddie Ellington: Incredible toughness. This is exactly why Count Vlad values her.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Meanwhile Lilith remains stationed on the apron.
Eddie Ellington: You are becoming obsessed.
At ringside, Emberlyn Black has not taken her eyes from Velora Synn.
Minute 13
Crimson Vane closes in again.
She catches Velora Synn with the Banshee Claw European uppercut.
The strike snaps Velora's head backward.
Velora Synn stumbles but turns through the impact, catches the champion from behind, and pulls her down with another reverse bulldog.
Scarlett Howl reaches through the ropes but cannot contribute before Honest Abe orders her back.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Crimson Vane landed flush with the Banshee Claw, but Velora Synn continues finding answers.
Eddie Ellington: She has fought both members of the Sisters of the Hood for most of this match and she is still standing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Which makes Lilith's limited participation increasingly conspicuous.
Eddie Ellington: Or increasingly intelligent.
Minute 14
Crimson Vane catches Velora Synn's arm.
She twists it behind her body and drops into Vane's Vice.
The Fujiwara armbar forces Velora Synn onto her stomach.
Before she can escape, Scarlett Howl enters from the side.
She lifts Velora Synn from the compromised position and drives her down with another electric chair facebuster.
Honest Abe angrily orders Scarlett Howl back to the apron.
Velora Synn remains down.
Her arm is tucked against her body.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That was a brutal combination. Vane's Vice damaged the arm, and Scarlett Howl followed with the electric chair facebuster.
Eddie Ellington: I will give the Sisters credit. They finally found a way to slow Velora Synn down.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: This would seem like an ideal time for Lilith to enter.
The camera shows Lilith watching from the corner.
She grips the top rope.
She still does not reach for the tag.
Eddie Ellington: Or Velora Synn can demonstrate why she does not need rescuing.
Minute 15
Velora Synn tries to push herself upright.
Crimson Vane catches her before she can straighten completely.
Another Banshee Claw uppercut lands cleanly.
Velora Synn falls backward into the ropes.
She looks toward her corner again.
Lilith remains there.
Velora Synn's expression hardens.
She turns away from her partner and faces the champion herself.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another Banshee Claw, and I cannot ignore what we are seeing anymore. Velora Synn has been taking the overwhelming majority of this match for her team.
Eddie Ellington: She is doing magnificently.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is not the point. Lilith does not look injured. She has been involved in brief tandem exchanges, but whenever there is an opportunity to become the legal competitor, she has appeared hesitant.
Eddie Ellington: You call it hesitation. I call it resource management.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora Synn may have a different phrase for it after this match.
Minute 16
Velora Synn finally reaches her own corner.
Rather than making a conventional tag and leaving, she grabs Lilith's wrist and pulls her into the ring.
The two women attack together.
Velora Synn catches Crimson Vane, lifts her, and drives her down with a sitout powerbomb.
As the champion rises, Lilith steps forward and blasts her across the jaw with the Dread Kick.
The superkick sends Crimson Vane into the ropes.
The champion rebounds and catches Velora Synn with another Banshee Claw before Honest Abe can restore order.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is Lilith finally becoming physically involved again, and that Dread Kick landed cleanly on the woman she will challenge at Fallout.
Eddie Ellington: Perfect timing. Lilith waited until the exact moment her attack would matter most.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But Velora Synn is still the legal competitor.
Eddie Ellington: Why ruin a good system?
Minute 17
Lilith remains inside temporarily.
Crimson Vane rises.
Lilith catches her with another Dread Kick.
The champion staggers sideways but refuses to fall.
She catches Velora Synn by the arm and drops her into Vane's Vice.
Velora Synn struggles against the Fujiwara armbar while Lilith stands nearby.
For one moment, Lilith appears ready to intervene.
Instead, she watches Velora Synn attempt the escape herself until Honest Abe orders Lilith toward the corner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another Dread Kick from Lilith, but notice what happened afterward. Crimson Vane trapped Velora Synn in Vane's Vice and Lilith did not immediately break the hold.
Eddie Ellington: Because Velora was not submitting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is an unusually detached approach to tag-team competition.
Eddie Ellington: Or confidence in your partner.
Minute 18
Before Honest Abe can completely restore the proper pairing, Velora Synn escapes and rises.
She drives a pump kick directly into Crimson Vane.
Lilith circles behind the champion and wraps her legs around the torso.
The Infernal Embrace bodyscissors traps Crimson Vane around the midsection.
Velora Synn adds pressure from the front while Lilith squeezes from behind.
The champion fights desperately to create space.
Honest Abe finally forces the double-team to end.
Lilith releases and returns to the apron.
Velora Synn remains inside.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The combined attack worked, but again Lilith returns immediately to the apron while Velora Synn remains legal.
Eddie Ellington: And again it works. You keep presenting success like evidence of failure.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I am simply asking why one member of the team has carried almost everything.
Eddie Ellington: Because Velora Synn is very good at it.
Minute 19
Velora Synn catches Crimson Vane and snaps her over.
Another penalty kick lands across the champion's upper back.
Crimson Vane gets up quickly.
She turns as Velora Synn approaches and catches her across the head with the Moonfang Kick.
The Pele kick drops Velora Synn onto her side.
Crimson Vane immediately reaches the corner.
Scarlett Howl receives the tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Moonfang Kick from the Queen of the North Champion, and Crimson Vane wisely brings in the fresher Scarlett Howl.
Eddie Ellington: Fresh only because Velora Synn has spent twenty minutes beating on both of them.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith has also had nearly this entire stretch to recover.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. Brilliant planning.
Minute 20
Scarlett Howl approaches cautiously.
Both women initially struggle for control without a clean advantage.
Velora Synn suddenly catches one arm, threads her body underneath, and twists Scarlett Howl into the Velvet Descent.
The octopus stretch pulls Scarlett Howl's shoulder backward while bending her torso.
Honest Abe asks for the submission.
Scarlett Howl refuses.
She takes several steps toward the ropes but cannot reach them.
Velora Synn increases the pressure.
Finally, Scarlett Howl turns enough to loosen the hold.
Velora Synn releases.
For the first time since minute two, she turns to the corner and emphatically extends her hand toward Lilith.
There is a brief pause.
Then Lilith accepts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Finally, after nearly eighteen consecutive minutes as the legal competitor, Velora Synn tags Lilith back into this match.
Eddie Ellington: And look how fresh Lilith is. That is excellent team management.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I suspect Velora Synn might have appreciated some of that freshness considerably earlier.
Minute 21
Lilith enters.
She immediately catches Scarlett Howl in motion and spins through a Dark Whirlwind.
The tilt-a-whirl headscissors sends Scarlett Howl across the ring.
Scarlett Howl recovers quickly and catches Lilith as she approaches.
She lifts her straight upward and brings her down with a vertical suplex.
Both women rise almost together.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith is certainly moving with considerably more energy than her partner, and there is an obvious reason for that.
Eddie Ellington: Preparation. Rest. Strategy. All good words.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Or because Velora Synn wrestled most of the first twenty minutes.
Eddie Ellington: You continue saying that as though Velora did not enjoy herself.
Minute 22
Lilith catches Scarlett Howl around the upper body.
She twists behind her and locks in the Demon's Embrace.
The Code of Silence submission compresses the neck and shoulder.
Scarlett Howl refuses to submit.
She shifts her weight, turns beneath Lilith, and breaks enough of the hold to rise.
Before Lilith can secure it again, Scarlett Howl catches her from behind and drives her down with another belly-to-back pendulum facebuster.
Scarlett Howl immediately reaches toward the corner.
Crimson Vane receives the tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith nearly trapped Scarlett Howl there, but Scarlett escaped and answered with that pendulum facebuster before reaching her partner.
Eddie Ellington: Now we get what everyone wanted. Lilith and Crimson Vane again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And this time Lilith has nearly twenty minutes of rest behind her.
Minute 23
Lilith steps forward before the champion can completely enter.
She catches Crimson Vane, turns her, and drives the Atomic Drop to Hell upward.
Crimson Vane recoils.
Lilith advances.
The champion suddenly scoops her across the shoulders.
Witchwood Drop.
The Death Valley Driver plants Lilith heavily onto the canvas.
Crimson Vane sits beside her for a moment before rising.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Witchwood Drop from the champion! Lilith attacked first, but Crimson Vane answered with one of the strongest attacks of the match.
Eddie Ellington: And Lilith now knows exactly how it feels before Fallout.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That does not seem like information anybody would volunteer to collect.
Eddie Ellington: You lack dedication.
Minute 24
Both women rise cautiously.
Lilith reaches for the champion.
Crimson Vane catches the arm first.
She drags Lilith to the canvas and traps her in the Snare of Silence for the second time tonight.
Lilith attempts to turn before the hold is fully secured but cannot escape.
Honest Abe asks whether she submits.
Lilith refuses.
She crawls slowly toward the ropes.
The champion keeps the crossface tight.
Finally Lilith reaches the bottom strand.
Crimson Vane releases.
Instead of continuing, the champion tags Scarlett Howl.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Twice tonight Crimson Vane has trapped Lilith in the Snare of Silence, and twice Lilith has survived.
Eddie Ellington: That is important. The champion now knows the hold may not be enough at Fallout.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It also means Lilith has been forced to endure it twice.
Eddie Ellington: Details again.
Minute 25
Scarlett Howl enters as Lilith rises.
Lilith reaches from behind and attempts another Abyssal Slam.
Scarlett Howl feels the grip.
She shifts her weight, reverses the position, and throws Lilith overhead with a vertical suplex.
Lilith lands hard.
Scarlett Howl immediately hooks the leg.
One.
Lilith kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent reversal from Scarlett Howl. She recognized the Abyssal Slam and turned it into a vertical suplex.
Eddie Ellington: And only a one-count. After spending most of the evening rested and prepared, Lilith has plenty left.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That may be the first time tonight your description of her workload has been completely accurate.
Eddie Ellington: Finally.
Minute 26
Lilith gets back to her feet.
This time the Abyssal Slam connects.
Scarlett Howl is driven hard into the canvas.
Lilith rises but takes a headbutt as Scarlett Howl surges back toward her.
The impact staggers both women.
Lilith turns toward her corner.
Velora Synn is already reaching through the ropes.
The tag is made.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith lands the Abyssal Slam and now, after only six minutes as the legal competitor, she returns the match to Velora Synn.
Eddie Ellington: Fresh rotation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora Synn is anything but fresh.
Eddie Ellington: She is motivated.
The camera cuts toward Emberlyn Black.
She sits forward again as Velora Synn enters.
Minute 27
Velora Synn explodes through the ropes.
Scarlett Howl attempts to meet her in the centre.
Velora Synn fires first.
A pump kick crashes directly into Scarlett Howl's chest and sends her backward.
Velora Synn follows.
Scarlett Howl attempts to cover up but cannot create enough space to prevent Velora from maintaining pressure.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: After everything she has already endured, Velora Synn comes back into this match with another tremendous pump kick.
Eddie Ellington: That is why she has handled the workload. She can.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I will give her enormous credit. Velora Synn has been exceptional tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Careful. That sounded suspiciously like good judgment.
Minute 28
Velora Synn closes in.
Scarlett Howl catches her from behind.
She lifts Velora and drives her face-first into the canvas with the belly-to-back pendulum facebuster.
Velora Synn rolls onto her side.
Scarlett Howl rises and turns toward her corner.
Crimson Vane begins stepping through the ropes, trying to prevent Count Vlad from moving closer to the action.
Honest Abe turns toward the champion and orders her back onto the apron.
That moment is enough.
Count Vlad reaches beneath his coat.
The Transylvania Spike appears in his hand.
Scarlett Howl turns.
Count Vlad drives the object sharply into her ribs through the ropes.
Scarlett Howl folds forward.
The object disappears immediately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Count Vlad struck Scarlett Howl with the Transylvania Spike! Honest Abe was dealing with Crimson Vane and never saw it!
Eddie Ellington: I saw Scarlett Howl turn awkwardly near the ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We have seen that object before!
Eddie Ellington: Then you should know better than to make assumptions.
Scarlett Howl staggers backward.
Velora Synn sees her.
She lunges forward and pulls Scarlett Howl down.
Honest Abe turns.
Velora Synn hooks both legs.
One.
Crimson Vane tries to enter.
Lilith steps through the ropes and cuts her off.
Two.
Crimson Vane breaks away from Lilith.
Too late.
Three.
The bell rings.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Three! Velora Synn has pinned Scarlett Howl, but Count Vlad's interference directly created the finish!
Eddie Ellington: Velora Synn just wrestled the overwhelming majority of a twenty-eight-minute match and still had enough awareness to make the decisive cover. Give the woman the credit she deserves.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: She absolutely deserves credit for an extraordinary physical performance, but the Transylvania Spike cannot be ignored.
Eddie Ellington: Apparently it can. Honest Abe just did.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Crimson Vane and Scarlett Howl pushed their opponents throughout this contest, but tonight the victory belongs to Lilith and Velora Synn.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly where it belongs.
LILITH AND VELORA SYNN DEFEAT CRIMSON VANE AND SCARLETT HOWL VIA PINFALL AT THE 28:00 MINUTE MARK.
Velora Synn releases the cover and rolls onto her back.
For several seconds she simply lies there, exhausted.
Lilith enters the ring.
Honest Abe raises her hand first.
Then he reaches for Velora Synn.
Velora pulls herself upright and allows the referee to raise hers.
Count Vlad enters beside them.
Across the ring, Crimson Vane immediately checks on Scarlett Howl.
The champion looks toward Count Vlad.
She knows exactly what happened.
Count Vlad responds with a small smile.
Lilith steps between them.
Her eyes fall upon the Queen of the North Championship resting at ringside.
She points toward it.
Then toward Crimson Vane.
No words are necessary.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith now turns her attention toward Crimson Vane and Fallout, but I keep coming back to something else we witnessed tonight.
The replay screen begins showing several moments from the match.
Again and again, Velora Synn is the legal competitor.
The superplex.
The Codebreaker.
The submission exchanges.
The pump kicks.
The extended periods trapped against both members of the Sisters of the Hood.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Look at this. Velora Synn entered legally in the third minute and remained the primary competitor for her team until minute twenty. Even when Lilith became involved in tandem attacks, she repeatedly returned to the apron rather than taking over the match.
Eddie Ellington: And they won.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They did. But Lilith appeared almost hesitant to become the legal competitor for long stretches of this contest.
Eddie Ellington: Or she was preserving herself for Fallout while trusting Velora Synn to do exactly what she did tonight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Perhaps. But Velora Synn carried the overwhelming majority of the physical burden for this team.
Inside the ring, Velora Synn looks toward Lilith.
For a brief moment, there is something difficult to read in her expression.
Lilith does not appear to notice.
She remains focused entirely on Crimson Vane and the Queen of the North Championship.
The camera shifts toward ringside.
Emberlyn Black is standing now.
She is not looking at Lilith.
She is looking directly at Velora Synn.
Eddie Ellington: Whatever you think of how the work was divided, Velora Synn just delivered one of the strongest tag-team performances we have seen in weeks. If Emberlyn Black came out here looking for someone worth studying, she found her.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And I remain curious why Emberlyn Black chose this match in particular to watch from ringside.
Emberlyn Black and Velora Synn meet eyes once more.
Neither woman says anything.
Count Vlad notices.
His expression hardens.
The shot holds for a moment before the broadcast cuts away.
The broadcast cuts backstage to the Polar Power interview area.
The blue-and-white backdrop glows beneath the overhead lighting, with the Fallout logo prominently displayed on a monitor beside the set.
Smooth Samantha Satin stands with a microphone in hand. Tonight she is wearing a fitted white dress with sheer detailing, a low neckline, and a short hemline beneath the cold studio lighting. Her expression remains composed and professional as the camera settles.
Beside her stands Santa Claus.
The former North Pole Champion is not wearing his usual warm expression. He stands in red-and-white ring attire beneath a heavy entrance coat, his arms folded across his chest as the graphic for the North Pole Championship Fatal Four-Way Match appears on the monitor.
At the centre is reigning champion Grondar the Revenant.
Surrounding him are Santa Claus, Rudolph, and Infernus Rex.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Santa, at Fallout on August 23, you receive your opportunity to regain the North Pole Championship you lost to Grondar the Revenant at Polar Meltdown.
She turns slightly toward the monitor.
Smooth Samantha Satin: But what began as your championship rematch has become considerably more complicated. Instead of facing Grondar one-on-one, you will enter a Fatal Four-Way Match against the champion, Rudolph, and Infernus Rex.
Santa Claus appears ready to answer.
Then he stops.
His eyes move toward Smooth Samantha Satin.
He looks at her dress.
Then back at her face.
A small smile develops beneath his beard.
Santa Claus: Before we discuss championships, Samantha...
Smooth Samantha Satin raises an eyebrow.
Santa Claus: I have noticed something lately.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Something about the championship picture?
Santa Claus: Not exactly.
There is a brief pause.
Santa Claus: You have been getting a little naughty with some of these dresses lately.
For perhaps the first time all evening, Smooth Samantha Satin completely loses her professional rhythm.
Her eyes widen.
She glances down at herself and then immediately back at Santa Claus.
A flush reaches her cheeks.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Santa!
From inside the arena, the crowd can be heard reacting loudly to the exchange.
Santa Claus raises both hands innocently.
Santa Claus: I keep a list.
Smooth Samantha Satin: I am interviewing you.
Santa Claus: And doing a very fine job.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Can we please discuss the North Pole Championship?
Santa Claus: Certainly.
He gives her one last amused look.
Santa Claus: Very professional.
Smooth Samantha Satin closes her eyes for half a second.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Thank you.
Her expression says the opposite.
The broadcast briefly cuts to the commentary desk.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I do not believe I have ever seen Smooth Samantha Satin caught that far off guard.
Eddie Ellington: That is because nobody else in this company has access to the official naughty list.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We are going to leave that exactly where it is.
Eddie Ellington: Coward.
The camera returns backstage.
Smooth Samantha Satin has regained her composure.
Mostly.
Smooth Samantha Satin: As I was saying, Santa, this was originally your opportunity to regain the championship from Grondar the Revenant. Do you believe the Fatal Four-Way is fair?
The amusement immediately leaves Santa Claus.
Santa Claus: No.
The answer comes without hesitation.
Santa Claus: And I want to be very careful about why.
He gestures toward the image of Rudolph.
Santa Claus: I respect Rudolph.
Santa Claus: I know what he has endured.
His expression tightens.
Santa Claus: The Infernal Legion tried to take him out of the championship picture altogether. They damaged his eye. They broke his antler. They left him wondering whether the doctors would even allow him back inside a ring.
Santa Claus: And he kept fighting.
Smooth Samantha Satin: He has been medically cleared to return on August 20.
Santa Claus: Three days before Fallout.
He nods.
Santa Claus: And if Rudolph wants to prove he is ready, I will never tell that young man to stop believing in himself.
A beat.
Santa Claus: But belief and proper matchmaking are two different things.
He points toward Grondar the Revenant on the graphic.
Santa Claus: I lost the North Pole Championship to Grondar.
Santa Claus: My rematch should have been with Grondar.
Santa Claus: One-on-one.
His finger shifts toward Rudolph and Infernus Rex.
Santa Claus: And if this is about what happened between Rudolph and Infernus Rex, then let them settle that.
Santa Claus: One-on-one.
Smooth Samantha Satin: So your objection is specifically to combining those two conflicts into one championship match?
Santa Claus: Exactly.
Santa Claus: Four-way matches do not determine who is better than the champion.
His voice becomes firmer.
Santa Claus: They determine who happens to be standing in the right place when somebody else falls down.
Santa Claus: Grondar could lose that championship without being pinned.
Santa Claus: I could lose my rematch without being pinned.
Santa Claus: Rudolph could spend the entire match trying to settle his score with Infernus Rex, and somebody else could take advantage.
Santa Claus: That is not how I wanted to regain the North Pole Championship.
Smooth Samantha Satin: But you still intend to compete.
Santa Claus: Of course.
Santa Claus: The match has been sanctioned.
Santa Claus: I will respect the decision.
Then his eyes narrow.
Santa Claus: Respecting a decision does not require pretending I agree with it.
A slow round of applause comes from somewhere beyond the interview set.
Neither Smooth Samantha Satin nor Santa Claus looks surprised for long.
A polished voice follows.
Count Vlad: Magnificent.
The camera widens.
Count Vlad walks into the interview area.
His long dark coat hangs perfectly from his shoulders, crimson lining visible whenever he moves. There is a pleasant smile on his face that seems constructed specifically to make everyone around him less comfortable.
Behind him comes Infernus Rex.
The immense representative of the Infernal Legion nearly fills the remaining space.
He does not smile.
He stares directly at Santa Claus.
Count Vlad looks first toward Smooth Samantha Satin.
Count Vlad: Samantha. Always a pleasure.
His eyes flick briefly toward Santa Claus.
Count Vlad: Although apparently tonight I arrived after the fashion commentary.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Count Vlad, this is a scheduled interview.
Count Vlad: Of course.
He gives her a gracious nod.
Count Vlad: We would never dream of interrupting.
A beat.
Count Vlad: We merely heard Santa Claus explaining why the North Pole Championship match should contain fewer dangerous people.
The smile widens slightly.
Count Vlad: Naturally, we became curious.
Santa Claus: You heard me explaining why two separate problems should have two separate matches.
Count Vlad: Yes.
He nods thoughtfully.
Count Vlad: It was a very elegant explanation.
Count Vlad: Responsible.
Count Vlad: Reasonable.
His eyes sharpen.
Count Vlad: Almost convincing.
Infernus Rex steps forward.
Smooth Samantha Satin instinctively gives the two enormous men more room.
Infernus Rex: You are afraid.
The interview area falls quiet.
Santa Claus looks directly at him.
Infernus Rex: That is all this is.
His voice is low and heavy.
Infernus Rex: You lost your championship.
Infernus Rex: You were promised another opportunity.
Infernus Rex: Then you learned I would be standing in the ring.
He takes another step forward.
Infernus Rex: And suddenly the great Santa Claus has discovered principles.
Santa Claus: Careful.
Infernus Rex: You would rather face the dead man alone.
The expression of Santa Claus hardens at the reference to Grondar the Revenant.
Infernus Rex: You would rather send Rudolph against me.
Infernus Rex: Because somewhere beneath that red coat, you understand something.
Infernus Rex leans closer.
Infernus Rex: You cannot defeat me.
Count Vlad smiles as though he has just heard the closing argument in a very profitable negotiation.
Count Vlad: Such an unpleasant way to phrase it.
He glances toward Santa Claus.
Count Vlad: But not necessarily inaccurate.
Santa Claus removes his coat.
Slowly.
He hands it to Smooth Samantha Satin without taking his eyes from Infernus Rex.
She looks down at the unexpected coat in her hands, then wisely takes another step away.
Santa Claus: Afraid of you?
Infernus Rex: Yes.
Santa Claus: No.
The answer is calm.
That seems to irritate Infernus Rex considerably more than shouting would have.
Santa Claus: I have faced men bigger than you.
Santa Claus: Meaner than you.
He pauses.
Santa Claus: Some of them even had better managers.
The crowd inside the arena erupts.
The smile disappears from Count Vlad for the briefest instant.
Then it returns.
Count Vlad: Very good.
Santa Claus: If you want me one-on-one, Rex, I am not difficult to find.
Santa Claus: You want to find out whether Santa Claus is afraid of you?
He steps forward until almost no space remains between them.
Santa Claus: Ask.
Santa Claus: I will say yes to the match before Elias Coldmere finishes printing the contract.
Infernus Rex: Then why wait?
Santa Claus: Because you already have somebody waiting for you.
The expression of Infernus Rex changes.
Santa Claus: Rudolph.
The crowd reacts loudly from the arena.
Santa Claus: You broke his antler.
Santa Claus: You damaged his eye.
Santa Claus: You tried to remove him from your path.
Santa Claus: And somehow you were foolish enough to leave him standing.
Infernus Rex's fists close.
Santa Claus: He gets cleared on August 20.
Santa Claus: Three days later, he is going to walk into Fallout looking for you.
Santa's voice lowers.
Santa Claus: So before you worry about whether I am scared of you...
He points directly at the chest of Infernus Rex.
Santa Claus: You should concentrate on surviving Rudolph.
The crowd response grows even louder.
Infernus Rex moves forward.
Count Vlad raises one hand.
Nothing else.
Infernus Rex stops.
The subtle command is unmistakable.
Count Vlad steps between them with the easy confidence of a man walking between two dangerous animals because he believes he owns at least one of them.
Count Vlad: There.
He smiles.
Count Vlad: Now we have something useful.
He looks toward Santa Claus.
Count Vlad: You are not frightened.
Count Vlad: Excellent.
Count Vlad: Fear makes competitors unpredictable.
His smile becomes thinner.
Count Vlad: Confidence makes them manageable.
Santa Claus: And arrogance makes them stupid.
Count Vlad: Sometimes.
A small shrug.
Count Vlad: But only when the arrogant man is wrong.
He turns toward the monitor.
The Fatal Four-Way graphic remains displayed.
Count Vlad: You see chaos.
Count Vlad: I see opportunity.
He points toward Grondar the Revenant.
Count Vlad: A champion who does not need to lose the fall.
Toward Rudolph.
Count Vlad: An injured challenger more interested in vengeance than positioning.
Toward Santa Claus.
Count Vlad: A former champion obsessed with proving that his rematch remains morally pure.
Finally toward Infernus Rex.
The smile broadens.
Count Vlad: And one man perfectly willing to exploit all three circumstances.
Smooth Samantha Satin: You make it sound as though the outcome has already been decided.
Count Vlad turns toward her.
Count Vlad: Samantha, I would never insult the integrity of competition by suggesting such a thing.
A beat.
Count Vlad: I merely appreciate probabilities.
Santa Claus: Here is one for you.
Count Vlad looks back.
Santa Claus: There are four men in that match.
Santa Claus: And every one of them can be beaten.
His eyes shift toward Infernus Rex.
Santa Claus: Including him.
Infernus Rex: Try.
Santa Claus: Gladly.
Santa Claus: But when that bell rings at Fallout, do not expect me to save you from Rudolph.
Infernus Rex: I require saving from no one.
Santa Claus: Good.
A humourless smile appears beneath the beard.
Santa Claus: Because I think he has been waiting a long time to hear that.
For several seconds, neither man moves.
Count Vlad finally places one hand lightly against the arm of Infernus Rex.
Count Vlad: Come.
He looks toward Santa Claus one final time.
Count Vlad: Let him enjoy his principles while they are still affordable.
Count Vlad turns and walks from the set.
Infernus Rex remains one moment longer.
Infernus Rex: At Fallout, there will be no North Pole left for you to reclaim.
Santa Claus: Then bring a shovel.
Santa Claus: We will dig it out after we put you down.
The crowd erupts again.
Infernus Rex glares at him before following Count Vlad down the corridor.
Silence returns to the interview area.
Smooth Samantha Satin is still holding Santa Claus's coat.
She looks at it.
Then at Santa Claus.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Are you going to take this back?
Santa Claus looks at the coat.
Santa Claus: Oh.
He accepts it.
Santa Claus: Thank you.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Anything else you would like to comment on before we finish?
She gives him a pointed look.
Santa Claus glances once at the white dress.
Then very deliberately looks straight into the camera.
Santa Claus: No.
A grin appears beneath his beard.
Santa Claus: I think I have already said enough tonight.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Much more than enough.
Santa Claus chuckles and walks from the interview area.
Smooth Samantha Satin waits until he is completely gone.
She looks directly into the camera.
Smooth Samantha Satin: The North Pole Championship Fatal Four-Way takes place at Fallout on August 23.
A beat.
Smooth Samantha Satin: And that is all I have to say.
The broadcast cuts immediately to Johnny “The Mic” Michaels and Eddie Ellington.
Eddie Ellington is visibly trying not to laugh.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Don't.
Eddie Ellington: I have not said anything.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Keep it that way.
Eddie Ellington: I merely think Santa Claus demonstrated excellent observational skills.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Regarding the match, Eddie.
Eddie Ellington: Fine. Santa Claus believes he deserved a one-on-one rematch with Grondar the Revenant, and frankly, there is logic to that argument. But he does not get to choose the match anymore. He gets Grondar, Rudolph, and Infernus Rex all at once.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Santa made one other point very clear. He is willing to face Infernus Rex whenever that challenge presents itself, but he believes Rex may be overlooking a very dangerous and very motivated Rudolph.
Eddie Ellington: That part I agree with. Rudolph has spent weeks recovering while thinking about exactly one man. If I were Infernus Rex, I would worry less about frightening Santa Claus and considerably more about what happens when the Guiding Light gets medically cleared.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Four men, four very different motivations, and one North Pole Championship. At Fallout, only one of them can leave with it.
The broadcast returns to North Pole Arena as the ring crew completes its final checks.
The camera settles on the commentary desk, where Johnny “The Mic” Michaels looks toward the entrance stage while Eddie Ellington adjusts his headset.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Moments ago, Santa Claus told Infernus Rex that before he worries about intimidating anyone else, he should worry about surviving Rudolph at Fallout. Now Infernus Rex has an opportunity to answer in the ring.
Eddie Ellington: And unfortunately for Jasper Fang, he has volunteered to become the answer. Santa Claus can make speeches. Rudolph can make threats. Infernus Rex gets to make examples.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Do not underestimate Jasper Fang. He has strength, speed, and enough versatility to challenge Infernus Rex in several different areas.
Eddie Ellington: I am not underestimating him. I am accurately estimating the enormous man he has to wrestle.
The arena lighting changes to silver and dark blue.
A sharp percussion rhythm begins while the image of a stylized fang cuts across the main screen.
Jasper Fang steps through the curtain.
He pauses beneath the entrance arch and rolls his shoulders before tightening the tape around one wrist.
There is no elaborate display.
Jasper Fang points toward the ring and begins walking.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang knows exactly what kind of opportunity this is. Defeating one of the four men competing for the North Pole Championship at Fallout would immediately elevate his standing.
Eddie Ellington: Assuming he leaves in one piece. That is a fairly important part of the plan.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang has never been intimidated by physical opposition.
Eddie Ellington: Plenty of brave people make terrible decisions.
Jasper Fang reaches ringside.
He steps onto the apron, wipes his boots against the edge, and passes between the ropes.
He moves directly to the centre of the ring and raises one fist toward the crowd before backing into his corner.
His music fades.
A deep impact rolls through the arena.
The lighting turns dark red and black.
Heavy percussion builds beneath a low industrial rhythm.
Count Vlad emerges first.
He walks onto the stage in his long black coat with crimson lining, wearing the pleasant expression of a man arriving at a business meeting he already believes he has won.
He stops beneath the entrance arch.
Then slowly extends one arm toward the curtain.
Infernus Rex appears.
The massive competitor steps onto the stage and immediately fixes his eyes on Jasper Fang.
There is no acknowledgment of the audience.
No reaction to the boos.
Count Vlad turns toward his client and says something quietly.
Infernus Rex responds with a single nod.
Eddie Ellington: There is focus. Santa Claus tried to provoke him. Rudolph wants revenge. Infernus Rex is still walking to the ring as though none of that matters until August 23.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That may be precisely what Count Vlad wants him to believe. Rudolph has made it very clear that when he is medically cleared, his first priority is Infernus Rex.
Eddie Ellington: And Infernus Rex has made it equally clear that he does not care.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That confidence could become dangerous.
Eddie Ellington: Confidence becomes dangerous when the confident man weighs about as much as a delivery truck.
Count Vlad and Infernus Rex begin walking down the ramp.
Halfway to ringside, Count Vlad looks toward the camera and smiles.
Count Vlad: Observe carefully.
He keeps walking.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is always something calculating about Count Vlad.
Eddie Ellington: That is called intelligence, Johnny. You should stop treating it like a medical condition.
Infernus Rex reaches the ring.
He climbs onto the apron and steps over the top rope.
Jasper Fang immediately comes forward.
The two men stand several feet apart.
Jasper Fang looks upward at his much larger opponent without yielding an inch.
Honest Abe moves between them before either can initiate contact.
Count Vlad takes his position at ringside.
Celeste Orion steps into the centre of the ring.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit!
The crowd cheers.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, Jasper Fang!
Jasper Fang raises one fist.
Celeste Orion turns toward the opposite corner.
Celeste Orion: His opponent, accompanied by Count Vlad, representing the Infernal Legion, Infernus Rex!
Infernus Rex steps forward.
His eyes remain on Jasper Fang.
Celeste Orion exits.
Honest Abe checks both competitors before turning toward Count Vlad.
The referee issues a clear warning to remain away from the apron and out of the match.
Count Vlad places one hand against his chest.
Count Vlad: I am wounded by the implication.
Eddie Ellington: Completely unnecessary accusation by the referee.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We watched Count Vlad use the Transylvania Spike earlier tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Allegedly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: On camera.
Eddie Ellington: Cameras misunderstand things every day.
Honest Abe signals for the bell.
Minute 1
Infernus Rex advances immediately and catches Jasper Fang near the centre of the ring.
The larger man pulls Jasper Fang backward and snaps him to the canvas with a reverse neckbreaker.
Jasper Fang rolls onto one knee before Infernus Rex can follow.
As Infernus Rex closes, Jasper Fang fires a stiff kick into the thigh.
A second kick lands against the ribs.
A third catches Infernus Rex across the upper chest.
The heavyweight takes one step backward.
Jasper Fang remains directly in front of him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Infernus Rex scored the first takedown with that reverse neckbreaker, but Jasper Fang answered immediately with a series of hard kicks.
Eddie Ellington: And look at the reaction of Infernus Rex. Three kicks and he moved one step. Jasper Fang may want to budget for considerably more kicking.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The important point is that Jasper Fang did not allow the size difference to dictate the opening minute.
Eddie Ellington: The size difference exists whether he allows it or not.
Minute 2
Jasper Fang attacks again with a forearm.
Infernus Rex absorbs it, hooks both arms, and drives Jasper Fang headfirst into the canvas with a Future Shock DDT.
Jasper Fang rolls away from the impact.
When Infernus Rex reaches for him, Jasper Fang hooks the waist.
With a tremendous burst of strength, Jasper Fang lifts the larger man and throws him with a gutwrench suplex.
The crowd reacts loudly as Infernus Rex lands heavily.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What strength from Jasper Fang! After taking the Future Shock DDT, he still managed to gutwrench Infernus Rex off the canvas.
Eddie Ellington: Impressive. Also expensive. Moving a man that large requires energy, and we are only two minutes into this match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It also proved that Jasper Fang can move him.
Eddie Ellington: Once. Let us see how enthusiastic his lower back feels about repeating the experiment.
Minute 3
Both competitors rise quickly.
Infernus Rex drives a knee into the abdomen.
He hooks Jasper Fang, lifts him vertically, and drives him down with a Falcon Arrow.
Jasper Fang rolls through the impact and forces himself upright.
When Infernus Rex advances again, Jasper Fang catches him across the body and drives him down with a sidewalk slam.
Both men remain on the canvas for several seconds.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tremendous exchange. Falcon Arrow from Infernus Rex, sidewalk slam from Jasper Fang, and neither man has established sustained control.
Eddie Ellington: Which benefits Infernus Rex. Jasper Fang is spending enormous amounts of strength matching him move for move.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He is also demonstrating that he belongs in the match.
Eddie Ellington: Participation has never been in question.
Minute 4
Infernus Rex reaches his feet first.
He catches Jasper Fang before the smaller man can fully stand.
Another Falcon Arrow drives Jasper Fang into the canvas.
This time Infernus Rex hooks the leg.
Honest Abe drops into position.
Before the referee can establish the count, Jasper Fang shifts his hips and rolls Infernus Rex onto his own shoulders.
Honest Abe changes position.
Infernus Rex immediately reverses the reversal.
The huge competitor folds Jasper Fang back onto the canvas.
One.
Jasper Fang kicks out.
Both men scramble upright.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent awareness from both competitors! Jasper Fang reversed the initial cover, Infernus Rex reversed him back, and even then Jasper Fang escaped at one.
Eddie Ellington: That was Infernus Rex telling him, very politely, that clever pinning combinations are not going to solve the problem.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I did not see anything polite about it.
Eddie Ellington: You lack appreciation for subtlety.
Minute 5
Jasper Fang ducks beneath a reaching arm.
He gets both hands around the waist of Infernus Rex and attempts another gutwrench suplex.
This time Infernus Rex recognizes the position.
He widens his stance and drops his weight.
Jasper Fang attempts the lift again.
Nothing.
Infernus Rex breaks the grip and shoves Jasper Fang several feet backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Infernus Rex neutralized the gutwrench suplex completely. Jasper Fang caught him with it in the second minute, but he could not repeat it.
Eddie Ellington: Adjustments. That is what separates dangerous wrestlers from large objects. Infernus Rex learned.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang will have to find a different route.
Eddie Ellington: Preferably one leading toward the locker room.
Minute 6
Infernus Rex closes quickly.
He catches Jasper Fang by the head and drives him down with another reverse neckbreaker.
Jasper Fang rolls toward the corner.
Infernus Rex follows.
Jasper Fang suddenly catches him by the back of the head and drives Infernus Rex face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
The crowd counts with every impact.
Infernus Rex finally shoves him backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang answered another neckbreaker by driving Infernus Rex repeatedly into the turnbuckle. He is refusing to allow the larger man to establish rhythm.
Eddie Ellington: He is also making him angry.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That may be unavoidable.
Eddie Ellington: Then I recommend a written apology.
Minute 7
Infernus Rex turns out of the corner.
At ringside, Count Vlad takes one slow step closer.
He says nothing.
He simply fixes Jasper Fang with a hard, unblinking stare.
Jasper Fang notices.
For half a second, his attention shifts.
Infernus Rex advances.
Jasper Fang reacts in time and fires another series of stiff kicks into the legs and ribs.
The final kick catches Infernus Rex beneath the jaw.
Count Vlad smiles despite the failed intimidation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Count Vlad tried to occupy Jasper Fang's attention, but Jasper remained composed enough to land those kicks.
Eddie Ellington: He looked at Count Vlad.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And then hit Infernus Rex.
Eddie Ellington: Which means Count Vlad now knows precisely how long the distraction lasts. Information has value.
Minute 8
Jasper Fang follows Infernus Rex toward the ropes.
Count Vlad suddenly begins shouting toward Honest Abe.
He points toward the opposite side of the ring and claims Jasper Fang has tampered with the turnbuckle pad.
Honest Abe turns.
Jasper Fang looks toward the referee in confusion.
That is enough.
Infernus Rex attacks from behind, driving Jasper Fang chest-first into the ropes before clubbing him across the back.
Count Vlad calmly steps away.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That was a deliberate distraction by Count Vlad! Jasper Fang took his eyes off Infernus Rex for one second and paid for it.
Eddie Ellington: Count Vlad brought a legitimate safety concern to the referee.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There was nothing wrong with the turnbuckle.
Eddie Ellington: Then the inspection worked.
Minute 9
Jasper Fang tries to rise near the ropes.
Count Vlad begins speaking directly to him.
Count Vlad: That was the opening you wanted?
Jasper Fang turns.
Count Vlad: You moved him once. Congratulations.
The sarcasm gets the desired response.
Jasper Fang steps toward the ropes.
Infernus Rex catches him from behind and drives a heavy forearm across the shoulders.
A second body shot folds Jasper Fang forward.
A third drives him toward the corner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Count Vlad is antagonizing Jasper Fang now, and Infernus Rex is exploiting every moment of distraction.
Eddie Ellington: Then Jasper Fang should stop participating in the conversation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Count Vlad is deliberately trying to provoke him.
Eddie Ellington: And succeeding. That sounds like Jasper Fang's problem.
Minute 10
Infernus Rex pulls Jasper Fang away from the corner.
He lifts him high and drives him down with another Falcon Arrow.
Infernus Rex hooks the leg.
One.
Jasper Fang throws a shoulder up.
Infernus Rex sits beside him for a moment.
The early kickout does not frustrate him.
Instead, he grabs Jasper Fang by the wrist and slowly drags him back toward the centre.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another Falcon Arrow, but Jasper Fang escaped at one again.
Eddie Ellington: That may be pride rather than recovery. Infernus Rex is forcing him to expend energy every time he wants to prove something.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Kicking out is generally preferable to losing.
Eddie Ellington: Technically correct. Exhaustingly obvious.
Minute 11
Jasper Fang pushes himself upright.
Infernus Rex spins.
The Hellgate Lariat crashes across Jasper Fang's chest.
The torque from the discus lariat turns Jasper Fang completely around before sending him to the canvas.
Infernus Rex does not cover.
He stands over him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Hellgate Lariat landed flush. Jasper Fang had no defence for that one.
Eddie Ellington: That is what happens when Infernus Rex gets a man moving backward. There is nowhere safe to absorb that kind of impact.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang needs to stop this momentum immediately.
Eddie Ellington: He needed to stop it about three minutes ago.
Minute 12
Infernus Rex attempts another Hellgate Lariat.
This time Jasper Fang sees it developing.
He absorbs part of the strike but remains standing.
When Infernus Rex turns from the rotation, Jasper Fang catches him around the body.
With another tremendous display of strength, Jasper Fang throws Infernus Rex overhead with a belly-to-belly suplex.
The crowd erupts.
Infernus Rex lands heavily but begins rising almost immediately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang just threw Infernus Rex overhead! That may be his most impressive show of strength tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Very impressive.
A brief pause.
Eddie Ellington: Now look at Infernus Rex getting back up.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He certainly is.
Eddie Ellington: That is the discouraging part.
Minute 13
Jasper Fang moves toward the ropes to reposition.
Honest Abe circles around Infernus Rex to check his condition.
Behind the referee, Count Vlad reaches beneath his coat.
The Transylvania Spike appears.
Jasper Fang notices too late.
Count Vlad drives the object sharply into the ribs through the ropes.
Jasper Fang folds over.
The Spike disappears.
Infernus Rex advances and clubs Jasper Fang down before he can recover.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Transylvania Spike! Count Vlad struck Jasper Fang with it!
Eddie Ellington: You have become obsessed with that object.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Because he keeps hitting people with it!
Eddie Ellington: Supposition.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We watched it happen!
Eddie Ellington: You watched something happen. Interpretation is where responsible journalism begins.
Minute 14
Infernus Rex reaches for the damaged ribs.
Jasper Fang suddenly drops levels.
He shoots forward and catches both legs.
The double-leg dive takes Infernus Rex off his feet.
The crowd reacts loudly as Jasper Fang climbs over the larger man's body and begins throwing short forearms.
Infernus Rex covers up before pushing him away.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent response from Jasper Fang! After being struck by Count Vlad, he changed levels and took Infernus Rex down with the double-leg.
Eddie Ellington: Desperation can produce impressive athleticism.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That looked like preparation.
Eddie Ellington: Everything looks better when you approve of the person doing it.
Minute 15
Jasper Fang pulls Infernus Rex toward the centre.
He bends the larger man forward and attempts to lift him for the Bloodfang Bomb.
The sitout powerbomb never develops.
Infernus Rex drops his weight and locks his hands against Jasper Fang's grip.
Jasper Fang tries again.
Infernus Rex powers out and shoves him backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Infernus Rex neutralized the Bloodfang Bomb before Jasper Fang could complete the lift.
Eddie Ellington: Because trying to powerbomb Infernus Rex is less a wrestling strategy and more a disagreement with gravity.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang has successfully moved him several times tonight.
Eddie Ellington: And every successful lift makes the next one harder.
Minute 16
Infernus Rex attacks first.
He catches Jasper Fang and drives him down with another Future Shock DDT.
Jasper Fang rolls toward the corner.
When Infernus Rex follows, Jasper Fang catches him by the head again.
He drives Infernus Rex into the top turnbuckle repeatedly.
The big man stumbles backward.
Jasper Fang remains on his feet, breathing heavily.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Future Shock DDT again from Infernus Rex, but Jasper Fang continues finding that turnbuckle whenever Rex follows too aggressively.
Eddie Ellington: I would stop doing that if I were Infernus Rex.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Some analysis we can agree upon.
Eddie Ellington: Do not become comfortable.
Minute 17
Infernus Rex catches Jasper Fang leaving the corner.
Another reverse neckbreaker drives him down.
Jasper Fang rolls toward the ropes and drags himself upright.
When Infernus Rex approaches, Jasper Fang catches him by the skull again.
Once more, Infernus Rex is driven face-first into the turnbuckle.
Jasper Fang adds a second impact before the heavyweight pushes him away.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang refuses to disappear from this match. Another neckbreaker landed, and he still answered.
Eddie Ellington: I admire his resilience. I question his long-term planning.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Why?
Eddie Ellington: Eventually Infernus Rex is going to decide he has had enough of meeting that turnbuckle.
Minute 18
Infernus Rex steps forward.
Jasper Fang unleashes another barrage of stiff kicks.
One catches the thigh.
Another lands across the body.
The final kick strikes high against the shoulder and side of the head.
This time Infernus Rex gives ground.
Jasper Fang follows him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Those kicks are beginning to accumulate. Jasper Fang has repeatedly attacked the legs and body, and Infernus Rex is finally being forced backward.
Eddie Ellington: He is also still standing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You keep returning to that.
Eddie Ellington: Because it remains relevant.
Minute 19
Jasper Fang reaches for Infernus Rex's arm.
He twists behind and traps the heavyweight in a full hammerlock.
For several seconds, Infernus Rex cannot turn.
Count Vlad moves alongside the ropes.
As Honest Abe changes his angle to check the shoulder, Count Vlad produces the Transylvania Spike again.
He drives it into Jasper Fang's side.
The grip immediately loosens.
Infernus Rex turns through the release and drives Jasper Fang to the canvas.
He hooks the leg.
One.
Two.
Jasper Fang kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another strike with the Transylvania Spike, and this time it allowed Infernus Rex to escape the hammerlock and nearly win the match!
Eddie Ellington: Nearly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You were considerably less interested in that word earlier tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Context matters.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: So does interference.
Eddie Ellington: Alleged interference.
Minute 20
Infernus Rex pulls Jasper Fang upright.
He positions him for the Infernal Spine Splitter.
The release powerbomb begins to rise.
Jasper Fang shifts his weight before Infernus Rex can extend his arms.
He drops behind the heavyweight and shoves him forward.
The Infernal Spine Splitter is completely neutralized.
Infernus Rex turns sharply.
Jasper Fang backs away before the larger man can catch him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent escape! Jasper Fang recognized the Infernal Spine Splitter and prevented Infernus Rex from completing the release.
Eddie Ellington: That was important. If Infernus Rex gets him fully extended on that powerbomb, this match probably ends.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang understood exactly the same thing.
Eddie Ellington: Self-preservation occasionally produces wisdom.
Minute 21
Jasper Fang attempts to circle.
Infernus Rex catches him from the side.
He traps the head and drives Jasper Fang backward with another reverse neckbreaker.
This time Infernus Rex immediately covers.
One.
Two.
Jasper Fang escapes.
The crowd rallies loudly behind him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Two-count! Jasper Fang survives another reverse neckbreaker.
Eddie Ellington: But look how long it took him to get that shoulder up compared with the first several minutes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The accumulated punishment is clearly having an effect.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. Infernus Rex does not need one spectacular attack when twenty-six minutes of damage will accomplish the same result.
Minute 22
Infernus Rex attempts to pull Jasper Fang upright.
Jasper Fang suddenly turns under the arm.
He catches Infernus Rex across the body and drives him into the canvas with a sidewalk slam.
The impact shakes the ring.
Jasper Fang covers.
One.
Infernus Rex powers out emphatically.
Jasper Fang is thrown several feet away by the kickout.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Sidewalk slam from Jasper Fang, but Infernus Rex escaped at one!
Eddie Ellington: There. That is strength.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang still put him down.
Eddie Ellington: And Infernus Rex removed him from the cover like an inconvenient blanket.
Minute 23
Both men reach their feet.
Infernus Rex catches Jasper Fang first and snaps him down with another reverse neckbreaker.
Jasper Fang rolls through the landing and reaches the ropes.
Infernus Rex follows.
Jasper Fang catches the arm, sends Infernus Rex across the ring, and pulls him back into a short-arm clothesline.
The strike connects across the chest.
Infernus Rex staggers but does not fall.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang converted that exchange into a short-arm clothesline, but even after twenty-three minutes Infernus Rex remains extraordinarily difficult to take off his feet.
Eddie Ellington: He is built like an argument you cannot win.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang is still trying.
Eddie Ellington: Admirable. Exhausting. Possibly foolish.
Minute 24
The two men lock up near the centre.
For several seconds neither gains an advantage.
Infernus Rex finally drives a knee into the body.
He pulls Jasper Fang upward and attempts the Infernal Spine Splitter again.
Jasper Fang twists through the lift.
He lands beside Infernus Rex, captures the waist, and immediately throws him with a gutwrench suplex.
Infernus Rex lands heavily.
Jasper Fang hooks the leg.
One.
Two.
Infernus Rex kicks out.
North Pole Arena erupts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What a reversal! Jasper Fang escaped the Infernal Spine Splitter and turned it directly into the gutwrench suplex! He nearly pinned Infernus Rex!
Eddie Ellington: That was close.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Extremely close.
Eddie Ellington: Which means Infernus Rex should stop attempting that powerbomb unless he has complete control. Jasper Fang has found the escape twice.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Very important adjustment if this continues.
Minute 25
Both competitors rise slowly.
Jasper Fang reaches the corner first.
Infernus Rex charges.
Jasper Fang catches him by the head and drives him into the turnbuckle again.
Infernus Rex stumbles backward.
Jasper Fang turns.
The heavyweight surges forward and crashes a running forearm across the face with the Burning Hammer.
The impact sends Jasper Fang spinning down.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Burning Hammer! That running forearm caught Jasper Fang flush!
Eddie Ellington: And that is the adjustment. Jasper Fang kept using the turnbuckle, so Infernus Rex stopped waiting for him to follow and accelerated right through him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang is trying to get back to his feet, but that may have changed the closing direction of this match.
Eddie Ellington: May have? He looks like somebody moved the arena six feet to his left.
Minute 26
Jasper Fang forces himself upright.
Infernus Rex closes before he can fully reset.
He catches Jasper Fang around the waist.
Jasper Fang tries to widen his base.
This time there is no escape.
Infernus Rex arches backward and drives Jasper Fang into the canvas with a Northern Lights suplex.
Rather than releasing, Infernus Rex maintains the bridge.
Honest Abe drops into position.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rings.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Northern Lights suplex gets three! Infernus Rex has defeated Jasper Fang after twenty-six extremely physical minutes!
Eddie Ellington: That is what Santa Claus and Rudolph should be watching. Jasper Fang threw everything at him. Kicks, suplexes, slams, reversals. Infernus Rex absorbed it, adjusted, and finished the match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang deserves considerable credit. He repeatedly moved the larger man, twice escaped the Infernal Spine Splitter, and came within two counts of changing the result with that gutwrench suplex.
Eddie Ellington: Absolutely. Jasper Fang wrestled an excellent match.
A beat.
Eddie Ellington: And lost to the better man.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There will also be questions surrounding the repeated involvement of Count Vlad, particularly the Transylvania Spike.
Eddie Ellington: There are always questions when Count Vlad succeeds.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But the official result is clear. With Fallout eight days away, Infernus Rex has secured a significant victory and considerable momentum heading toward the North Pole Championship Fatal Four-Way.
INFERNUS REX DEFEATS JASPER FANG VIA PINFALL AT THE 26:00 MINUTE MARK.
Infernus Rex releases the bridge and rolls onto one knee.
Honest Abe raises his arm.
Count Vlad enters the ring.
He walks calmly past the referee and stops beside Infernus Rex.
There is no exuberant celebration.
Count Vlad simply adjusts one cuff and looks down at Jasper Fang.
Jasper Fang rolls toward the ropes and pulls himself onto one knee.
Count Vlad speaks loudly enough for the nearby camera to hear.
Count Vlad: Excellent effort.
He smiles.
Count Vlad: Truly.
Jasper Fang looks up at him.
Count Vlad: Unfortunately, effort has never been a championship currency.
Infernus Rex turns toward the main screen.
The North Pole Championship graphic appears.
Grondar the Revenant.
Santa Claus.
Rudolph.
Infernus Rex.
The four men surround the championship.
The crowd boos loudly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is the match awaiting Infernus Rex at Fallout.
Eddie Ellington: And after tonight, every other man in that graphic has another reason to take him seriously.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Santa Claus accused Infernus Rex of overlooking Rudolph earlier tonight. I do not know whether Rex is listening, but there can be no question that he looks ready for August 23.
Inside the ring, Count Vlad points toward the image of Rudolph.
Infernus Rex stares at it.
Then toward Santa Claus.
Finally toward Grondar the Revenant and the North Pole Championship.
Count Vlad leans close to his client.
Count Vlad: Three obstacles.
A small smile.
Count Vlad: One prize.
Infernus Rex raises one fist toward the championship graphic.
At the commentary desk, Eddie Ellington watches approvingly.
Eddie Ellington: Santa Claus told him to concentrate on surviving Rudolph.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He did.
Eddie Ellington: I suspect Infernus Rex has a different definition of survival.
The camera remains on Infernus Rex and Count Vlad beneath the Fallout graphic as the broadcast prepares to move on.
The broadcast returns to North Pole Arena as the main screen fills with a fractured image of fire and black ice.
On one side stand Krampus and Jack Frost.
Opposite them are Abaddon and Marax the Deceiver.
At the bottom of the graphic, the Fallout logo appears beside the singles match already scheduled for August 23:
KRAMPUS VS. MARAX THE DECEIVER
At the commentary desk, Johnny “The Mic” Michaels looks toward the entrance stage.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There may be four competitors in our next match, but much of the attention is going to fall upon two of them. At Fallout, Krampus finally gets Marax the Deceiver one-on-one after the betrayal that shattered their alliance.
Eddie Ellington: You call it betrayal. I call it career advancement. Marax the Deceiver recognized that following Krampus was leading nowhere productive and chose a superior arrangement.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: With Count Vlad and the Infernal Legion.
Eddie Ellington: Precisely. Better organization, better strategy, considerably fewer tantrums.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And tonight Marax has Abaddon beside him, while Krampus teams with Jack Frost.
Eddie Ellington: Which gives us an excellent opportunity to see what happens when actual teamwork meets two men whose partnership appears to be held together by hostility and Grinch Heyman's shouting.
The lights drop.
A sharp crack of ice echoes throughout the arena.
The main screen fills with a frozen landscape as pale blue and white light spreads across the stage.
Grinch Heyman appears first.
He walks through the curtain with a mobile phone in one hand, tapping the screen before slipping it inside his jacket.
He turns toward the entrance.
A blast of cold mist rolls across the stage.
Jack Frost emerges.
His dark blue and white ring attire catches the light as he spreads his arms and looks toward the ring.
He waits.
The music changes.
Heavy chains drag across metal.
The blue lighting is swallowed by black and deep red.
Krampus steps through the curtain.
Heavy chains hang across his shoulders and chest. His expression changes the instant the image of Marax the Deceiver appears on the main screen.
Grinch Heyman moves between his clients and begins speaking urgently to Krampus.
Krampus never looks at him.
His attention remains fixed on the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Look at Krampus. He knows Marax the Deceiver is waiting for him.
Eddie Ellington: And that is the problem. Krampus has become obsessed with Marax. Obsession makes you predictable.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Marax betrayed him at Polar Meltdown.
Eddie Ellington: Yes, Johnny. We have established that Krampus has feelings.
Jack Frost starts down the ramp.
Krampus follows.
Grinch Heyman walks several steps behind them, still offering instructions.
At ringside, Krampus stops and looks toward the opposite entrance.
He does not enter.
Jack Frost turns toward him and gestures toward the ring.
Only then does Krampus climb onto the apron.
The two men enter together.
Grinch Heyman takes his place near their corner.
Their music fades.
The arena darkens again.
A deep crimson glow begins beneath the entrance stage.
A measured orchestral rhythm replaces the pounding entrance music.
Count Vlad walks through the curtain.
He adjusts one cuff before turning toward the darkness behind him.
A burst of red light reveals Abaddon.
The massive demon steps forward slowly, rolling his shoulders as he surveys the ring.
Another figure emerges beside him.
Marax the Deceiver.
The reaction inside North Pole Arena becomes immediately hostile.
Marax does not acknowledge it.
He looks directly toward Krampus.
A faint smile appears.
Inside the ring, Krampus grips the top rope with both hands.
Eddie Ellington: Look at Marax. Completely calm.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Because he knows exactly what reaction that smile is creating.
Eddie Ellington: Of course he does. His name is Marax the Deceiver, not Marax the Socially Awkward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Abaddon may be the perfect partner for him tonight. Tremendous power, exceptional durability, and absolutely no concern about how violent this becomes.
Eddie Ellington: Now you are speaking sensibly. Abaddon and Marax are the better team.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We have not had the bell yet.
Eddie Ellington: I do not need a bell to recognize quality.
Count Vlad leads the pair down the ramp.
At ringside, he and Grinch Heyman stare at one another across the ring.
Neither looks particularly pleased.
Abaddon climbs onto the apron and steps between the ropes.
Marax the Deceiver follows.
Krampus immediately moves toward him.
Honest Abe rushes between the sides and forces Krampus backward before anything begins prematurely.
Marax laughs quietly.
Krampus points directly at him.
Krampus: Eight days.
The smile remains on Marax's face.
Celeste Orion enters the centre of the ring.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit!
The crowd cheers.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, accompanied by Grinch Heyman, the team of Jack Frost and Krampus!
Jack Frost raises one fist.
Krampus remains focused on Marax.
Celeste Orion turns toward the opposite corner.
Celeste Orion: Their opponents, accompanied by Count Vlad, representing the Infernal Legion, Abaddon and Marax the Deceiver!
The arena fills with boos.
Marax gives a mocking bow.
Abaddon remains motionless.
Celeste Orion exits.
Honest Abe checks both corners.
Jack Frost elects to begin for his team.
Abaddon steps into the ring from the opposite side.
Marax moves onto the apron.
Krampus does the same.
The referee signals for the bell.
Minute 1
Jack Frost circles cautiously around Abaddon.
Before they can completely engage, Grinch Heyman moves along the apron.
Abaddon glances toward him.
Grinch Heyman reaches through the ropes and slaps Abaddon sharply across the side of the head.
The crowd reacts.
Abaddon turns slowly.
His expression does not change.
Jack Frost attempts to capitalize.
Abaddon catches him around the body and drives him across one knee with the Hellbreaker backbreaker.
Jack Frost immediately rolls toward his corner.
He reaches up.
Krampus accepts the tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grinch Heyman slapped Abaddon before this match had even developed, and Abaddon responded by driving Jack Frost down with the Hellbreaker.
Eddie Ellington: Brilliant strategy by Grinch Heyman. Infuriate Abaddon and then make somebody else wrestle him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jack Frost paid for it.
Eddie Ellington: Details.
Minute 2
Krampus enters aggressively.
Abaddon meets him in the centre.
Krampus attempts to force the larger man backward.
Abaddon absorbs the pressure and catches Krampus around the waist.
He lifts him across his body and drives him down with another Hellbreaker.
Krampus arches from the impact.
Abaddon stands over him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Two Hellbreakers in the opening two minutes, and now Krampus has felt exactly what Jack Frost experienced.
Eddie Ellington: That is what makes Abaddon so valuable. He does not care which man is legal. Everybody gets the same treatment.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus was unable to prevent the lift.
Eddie Ellington: Very few people can once Abaddon gets his hands around them.
Minute 3
Krampus forces himself upright and catches Abaddon approaching.
He spins and drives the Shadow Strike superkick into the jaw.
Abaddon staggers.
At ringside, Count Vlad moves.
As Honest Abe checks the separation, Count Vlad produces the Transylvania Spike and drives it sharply into the ribs of Krampus through the ropes.
Krampus folds forward.
Abaddon immediately attacks the injured side with a clubbing forearm.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Shadow Strike landed, but Count Vlad just drove the Transylvania Spike into Krampus!
Eddie Ellington: I thought we had exhausted your obsession with that object during the previous match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He keeps using it!
Eddie Ellington: Allegedly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You watched it happen.
Eddie Ellington: I watched Krampus suddenly become less enthusiastic. There may be many explanations.
Minute 4
Krampus recovers and drives Abaddon backward toward his corner.
Jack Frost tags himself into the exchange but remains inside alongside his partner.
Krampus unloads with Holiday Havoc, a rapid series of punches and kicks.
Jack Frost follows with the Icy Edge knife-edge chop.
The crack echoes throughout the arena.
Abaddon absorbs the entire combination without leaving his feet.
Honest Abe orders one man back toward the apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Strong double-team offence from Krampus and Jack Frost, but look at Abaddon. He absorbed every bit of it.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. They needed two men to annoy him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Those were clean strikes.
Eddie Ellington: And Abaddon still appears ready to ask whether they are finished.
Minute 5
Krampus and Jack Frost remain inside for several additional seconds.
Krampus charges for the Krampus Krush running powerslam while Jack Frost prepares the Arctic Blast punch from the side.
Abaddon recognizes the trap.
He drives an elbow into Krampus, shoves him into Jack Frost, and forces the two partners into one another.
The entire double-team attempt collapses.
Abaddon retreats several steps and resets.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent defence from Abaddon. He neutralized both attacks by forcing Krampus and Jack Frost into one another.
Eddie Ellington: That is what happens when you try to choreograph violence against a man who refuses to follow the choreography.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Abaddon has weathered almost everything thrown at him thus far.
Eddie Ellington: Almost? He looks bored.
Minute 6
Krampus regains control and drives the Fiendish Fist into Abaddon's chest.
Jack Frost follows with another Icy Edge chop.
Abaddon responds by thrusting his hand forward and striking Krampus across the throat with the Fiendish Strike.
Krampus collapses backward, clutching his neck.
Honest Abe finally forces Jack Frost out of the ring and restores the legal pairing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus and Jack Frost landed together again, but Abaddon still found the Fiendish Strike through the middle of that attack.
Eddie Ellington: Because Abaddon does not require space. Give him six inches and he finds something important to hit.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus is having difficulty breathing after that throat strike.
Eddie Ellington: Breathing is one of those luxuries Abaddon considers optional.
Minute 7
Krampus catches Abaddon during another approach.
He drives through him with the Krampus Krush.
The running powerslam finally brings Abaddon down decisively.
Krampus rises and reaches for him again.
Abaddon explodes upward.
He hooks Krampus and throws him overhead with a vertical suplex.
Both men land hard.
Abaddon crawls toward his corner.
Marax the Deceiver reaches through the ropes.
The tag is made.
The crowd immediately becomes louder.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Here we go. Marax the Deceiver is legal against Krampus.
Eddie Ellington: Finally. Let us see whether Krampus can control himself for more than ten seconds.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus has waited weeks for this confrontation.
Eddie Ellington: Which means Marax has had weeks to prepare for exactly how irrational Krampus would become.
Minute 8
Marax the Deceiver enters slowly.
Krampus rises and charges.
Marax steps directly into him and drives his forehead into Krampus's face with a hard headbutt.
Krampus staggers backward.
Marax follows without hesitation and forces him toward the ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Marax met that charge with the headbutt, and Krampus walked directly into it.
Eddie Ellington: Because anger makes you predictable. I mentioned that before the match, Johnny.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Marax clearly expected the charge.
Eddie Ellington: He knows Krampus. That makes him dangerous now and potentially even more dangerous at Fallout.
Minute 9
Krampus catches Marax with a body shot and begins unloading Holiday Havoc.
Punches and kicks force Marax backward.
The crowd rallies behind Krampus.
Marax suddenly ducks beneath one punch, hooks Krampus around the waist, and launches him with a Saito suplex.
Krampus lands across the shoulders.
Marax immediately reaches his corner.
Abaddon tags back into the match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus had the advantage with Holiday Havoc, but Marax abruptly changed the exchange with that Saito suplex.
Eddie Ellington: And then he tagged out instead of standing around admiring himself. Efficient wrestling.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You approve of everything Marax does.
Eddie Ellington: Excellence makes my job easy.
Minute 10
Abaddon enters.
Marax remains inside beside him.
They trap Krampus between them.
Abaddon catches him in the Demonic Grip and compresses the upper body.
Marax takes advantage of the trapped position, hooks the arms, and throws Krampus with a butterfly suplex.
Krampus rises through the punishment and drives the Fiendish Fist into Abaddon's chest before the two opponents can reset.
Honest Abe begins ordering Marax back to the apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Strong tandem offence from Abaddon and Marax, but Krampus still managed to land the Fiendish Fist.
Eddie Ellington: That is exactly what good teams do. One restrains him, the other throws him. Very civilized.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You have a curious definition of civilized.
Eddie Ellington: I adapt to the company I keep.
Minute 11
The double-team begins to collapse as Krampus forces his way between both men.
He catches Abaddon near the ropes and throws him over the top.
Abaddon crashes onto the arena floor.
Honest Abe immediately begins the count.
One.
Two.
Abaddon rises.
Three.
Four.
He walks toward the apron.
Five.
Six.
Count Vlad says something to him from several feet away.
Seven.
Abaddon slides back into the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus sent Abaddon to the floor, but the big man returned comfortably at seven.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. No panic. Abaddon used the count, recovered, and came back when he chose.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus still bought himself valuable recovery time.
Eddie Ellington: And Abaddon bought himself the same thing.
Minute 12
Abaddon returns aggressively.
He drives the Fiendish Strike into the throat of Krampus.
Krampus absorbs the blow and responds immediately with another burst of Holiday Havoc.
Punches and kicks force Abaddon toward the centre.
Marax watches from the apron but does not find an opening to interfere before Honest Abe restores complete order.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus continues fighting through those throat strikes and keeps returning to Holiday Havoc.
Eddie Ellington: Which is precisely why Abaddon should keep hitting him in the throat until that stops.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is a remarkably simple strategy.
Eddie Ellington: Simple works beautifully when you are built like Abaddon.
Minute 13
Krampus attacks first again.
Holiday Havoc forces Abaddon backward.
Abaddon suddenly catches him beneath both arms.
He lifts Krampus high.
One powerbomb.
Abaddon does not release.
He lifts Krampus again.
Second powerbomb.
Still no release.
A third lift.
A third powerbomb crashes Krampus into the canvas.
Hell's Fury.
The arena reacts loudly.
Abaddon immediately reaches his corner.
Marax the Deceiver receives the tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Hell's Fury! Three consecutive non-release powerbombs from Abaddon!
Eddie Ellington: Beautiful.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Beautiful?
Eddie Ellington: Efficient, devastating, aesthetically pleasing. Choose whatever adjective makes you comfortable.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And now Marax comes in against a badly damaged Krampus.
Eddie Ellington: Teamwork.
Minute 14
Marax pulls Krampus upright.
At ringside, Grinch Heyman circles behind him.
He grabs one of the ringside cords and loops it briefly across the throat of Marax from behind.
Marax jerks backward.
Honest Abe is blocked by Krampus and sees none of it.
Grinch Heyman releases before he can be caught.
Marax turns furiously.
Krampus tries to capitalize.
Marax catches him anyway and throws him with another butterfly suplex.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grinch Heyman just choked Marax the Deceiver with a cord!
Eddie Ellington: Disqualify them!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You have spent this entire evening defending Count Vlad.
Eddie Ellington: That was different.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: How?
Eddie Ellington: I like Count Vlad.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: At least we have finally reached the truth.
Minute 15
Krampus reaches his corner.
Jack Frost enters, but both partners remain inside long enough to attack Marax together.
Krampus unloads another series of Holiday Havoc strikes.
Jack Frost moves behind Marax and traps him in the Frostbite Clutch.
Before the cobra clutch can be completely secured, Marax shifts his weight.
He catches Krampus during the confusion and launches him with another butterfly suplex.
Honest Abe demands that Jack Frost become the legal competitor or return to the apron.
The referee eventually restores the pairing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus and Jack Frost attempted to overwhelm Marax, but Marax still found that butterfly suplex.
Eddie Ellington: He has tremendous positional awareness. Even with two men around him, Marax knows where his hips are, where the ropes are, and where the opening is.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is exactly the kind of technical awareness Krampus must prepare for at Fallout.
Eddie Ellington: Assuming preparation can fix obsession.
Minute 16
The tandem attack continues briefly before the referee can fully restore order.
Krampus catches Marax and drives him down with Nightmare's End.
The DDT plants Marax near the centre.
Jack Frost immediately drops beside him and applies Winter's Wrath.
The crossface pulls Marax's head backward.
Marax refuses to surrender.
He works himself upward, catches Krampus advancing from the side, and traps him momentarily in a standing guillotine choke.
Honest Abe finally forces the illegal competitors away and ends the extended double-team sequence.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tremendous exchange. Nightmare's End, Winter's Wrath, and Marax still found a standing guillotine in the middle of the chaos.
Eddie Ellington: That is exactly why I favour him against Krampus. Marax thinks while he fights.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus thinks.
Eddie Ellington: Not when Marax is standing in front of him.
Minute 17
Marax remains legal against Krampus as the ring settles.
At ringside, Count Vlad begins speaking toward Krampus.
Count Vlad: He left you because he understood what you were.
Krampus turns toward him.
Count Vlad: A dead end.
That is enough.
Krampus steps toward the ropes.
Marax closes from behind and drives a hard strike across his back.
Krampus attempts to recover but has already surrendered the initiative.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Count Vlad deliberately provoked Krampus, and Krampus took the bait.
Eddie Ellington: Then perhaps Count Vlad is correct.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: About what?
Eddie Ellington: Krampus cannot control himself whenever somebody mentions Marax.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is exactly what Marax and Count Vlad are exploiting.
Minute 18
At the opposite side, Grinch Heyman begins shouting toward Marax.
Grinch Heyman: Traitor!
Marax ignores him initially.
Grinch Heyman: You traded freedom for Vlad's leash!
That produces a reaction.
Marax turns sharply.
Grinch Heyman gives him an exaggerated smile.
Krampus approaches from behind, but Marax sees him at the last instant and retreats before a major attack can land.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Now Grinch Heyman is turning the same strategy back upon Marax.
Eddie Ellington: Cheap psychological manipulation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You praised it when Count Vlad did it sixty seconds ago.
Eddie Ellington: Again, context.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Your context appears entirely dependent upon who you like.
Eddie Ellington: You are catching on.
Minute 19
Krampus finally catches Marax against the ropes.
Holiday Havoc erupts again.
Punches to the body.
A kick to the thigh.
Another punch across the head.
Marax attempts to cover but cannot completely stop the barrage.
Krampus drives him toward a neutral corner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus has Marax trapped now, and Holiday Havoc is connecting repeatedly.
Eddie Ellington: Marax needs to stop standing directly in front of him and create an angle.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus is not giving him the opportunity.
Eddie Ellington: Temporary problem.
Minute 20
Marax attempts to escape the corner.
Krampus catches him again.
Another series of Holiday Havoc strikes connects.
A final kick sends Marax into the ropes.
Krampus turns toward his corner.
Jack Frost extends his hand.
The tag is made.
Marax uses the moment to retreat toward Abaddon, but he cannot reach him before Jack Frost enters.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus controlled consecutive minutes against Marax, and now he brings in a fresher Jack Frost.
Eddie Ellington: Which may actually help Marax. He no longer has to wrestle the man trying to turn the match into revenge therapy.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Marax has taken considerable punishment.
Eddie Ellington: And survived all of it.
Minute 21
Jack Frost enters.
Marax suddenly reaches his corner.
Abaddon steps through the ropes while Marax remains inside.
The pair immediately traps Jack Frost.
Marax locks in a crossface chickenwing from behind.
Jack Frost struggles against the hold.
That leaves him exposed.
Abaddon lifts him onto his shoulders.
Abaddon's Fury.
The F-5 sends Jack Frost violently into the canvas.
Marax releases just before impact.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What a combination! The crossface chickenwing left Jack Frost completely vulnerable to Abaddon's Fury!
Eddie Ellington: That is tag-team wrestling. Marax controls him, Abaddon destroys him. Simple, elegant, effective.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jack Frost had no opportunity to defend himself.
Eddie Ellington: That is generally the objective.
Minute 22
Jack Frost attempts to rise.
The opposing team remains inside.
Marax catches him first and throws him with another butterfly suplex.
As Jack Frost tries to roll away, Abaddon catches him and follows with a vertical suplex.
Jack Frost crashes back to the canvas.
Honest Abe finally forces Abaddon toward the apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Consecutive suplexes from Marax and Abaddon. Jack Frost has suddenly become completely isolated.
Eddie Ellington: This is what I expected from the beginning. Better organization, better teamwork, better decision-making.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus is reaching desperately for the tag.
Eddie Ellington: He should have remained legal if he wanted to control the situation.
Minute 23
Marax remains legal.
He catches Jack Frost's arm and attempts to pull him down into a Fujiwara armbar.
Jack Frost recognizes the transition.
He rolls through before the arm can be completely secured.
Marax attempts to maintain wrist control.
Jack Frost turns beneath him, moves behind, and locks in the Frostbite Clutch.
The cobra clutch is secured.
Marax refuses to submit.
He struggles toward the ropes.
Jack Frost maintains the hold long enough to force Marax to work desperately for the escape.
Finally Marax reaches the ropes.
Jack Frost releases and immediately turns toward his corner.
Krampus receives the tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent reversal from Jack Frost! He stopped the Fujiwara armbar and converted it directly into the Frostbite Clutch.
Eddie Ellington: And Marax did not submit.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He was forced to the ropes.
Eddie Ellington: Which are there for precisely that purpose.
Minute 24
Krampus enters immediately.
Jack Frost remains beside him for one final tandem attack.
Krampus fires the Shadow Strike superkick.
The kick catches Marax across the jaw.
Jack Frost follows with the Snowdrift Scissors.
The headscissors throws Marax across the ring.
Marax rolls through the landing and surges back toward Krampus.
He drives his forehead directly into Krampus's face with another headbutt.
Honest Abe finally orders Jack Frost back to the apron.
All three men involved in the sequence are visibly exhausted.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Shadow Strike, Snowdrift Scissors, and Marax still answered with that headbutt.
Eddie Ellington: Extraordinary toughness from Marax the Deceiver.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Krampus is still standing as well.
Eddie Ellington: Unfortunately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Your objectivity is overwhelming.
Eddie Ellington: I make no apologies for recognizing the superior team.
Minute 25
Marax and Krampus meet near the centre.
Neither has much left.
They exchange short strikes.
Marax catches Krampus across the jaw.
Krampus answers with a forearm.
Count Vlad shouts from one side.
Grinch Heyman moves along the other.
Marax turns his body toward Krampus and attempts to close again.
Behind him, Grinch Heyman climbs onto the apron.
He reaches into his jacket.
The mobile phone comes out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Watch Grinch Heyman!
Honest Abe is turned toward Count Vlad, who has climbed onto the opposite side of the apron to argue about Abaddon entering prematurely.
Marax turns.
Grinch Heyman swings.
The mobile phone smashes directly across the side of Marax's head.
The impact drops him immediately.
Grinch Heyman jumps from the apron and stuffs the damaged phone back into his coat.
Krampus looks down at Marax.
For one moment, even he appears surprised.
Then instinct takes over.
Krampus drops across Marax and hooks both legs.
Honest Abe turns.
One.
Abaddon attempts to enter.
Jack Frost rushes across the ring and blocks him.
Two.
Count Vlad realizes what has happened.
Too late.
Three.
The bell rings.
North Pole Arena erupts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Three! Krampus has pinned Marax the Deceiver, but Grinch Heyman struck Marax directly in the head with that mobile phone!
Eddie Ellington: Outrageous! Criminal! Where is the disqualification?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You defended Count Vlad using the Transylvania Spike repeatedly tonight!
Eddie Ellington: That is completely different!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It is exactly the same principle!
Eddie Ellington: No, because Marax had this match under control until an electronic communications device became a weapon!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grinch Heyman took advantage of Count Vlad distracting Honest Abe, and the interference directly created the winning pin.
Eddie Ellington: Marax the Deceiver has been robbed eight days before Fallout!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Whatever anyone thinks of the circumstances, Krampus has pinned the man he will meet one-on-one at Fallout. Psychologically, that is a significant result.
KRAMPUS AND JACK FROST DEFEAT ABADDON AND MARAX THE DECEIVER VIA PINFALL AT THE 25:00 MINUTE MARK.
Krampus rises slowly.
Honest Abe raises his arm.
Jack Frost joins him.
At ringside, Grinch Heyman produces the mobile phone again.
The screen is shattered.
He looks at it.
Then shrugs.
Eddie Ellington: Look at that vandal! He destroyed perfectly good technology just to steal a wrestling match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I notice your concern is currently with the telephone.
Eddie Ellington: Marax is moving. I am not certain the phone survived.
Inside the ring, Abaddon kneels beside Marax the Deceiver.
Count Vlad enters.
The pleasant expression normally carried by Count Vlad is gone.
He looks first toward Marax.
Then across the ring toward Grinch Heyman.
Grinch Heyman smiles.
He raises the broken phone.
Grinch Heyman: Call me.
The crowd reacts loudly.
Count Vlad's eyes narrow.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I do not believe Count Vlad appreciated that.
Eddie Ellington: Nobody with standards appreciated that.
Krampus does not celebrate.
He walks toward Marax.
Abaddon immediately rises between them.
Krampus stops.
The two enormous competitors stare at one another.
Behind Abaddon, Marax begins pulling himself upright with assistance from the ropes.
He touches the side of his head.
Then looks toward Krampus.
The expression on Marax's face changes.
The smile from the entrance is gone.
Krampus points directly at him.
Krampus: Eight days.
Marax steps around Abaddon.
Marax the Deceiver: Without him.
He points toward Grinch Heyman.
Marax the Deceiver: You cannot beat me without him.
Krampus looks briefly toward his manager.
Then back toward Marax.
Krampus: Then come to Fallout and find out.
Count Vlad places one hand against Marax's shoulder.
Not to comfort him.
To restrain him.
Count Vlad: Not tonight.
Marax keeps staring at Krampus.
Count Vlad: Let him enjoy the counterfeit.
A small smile finally returns to Count Vlad's face.
Count Vlad: The debt comes due in eight days.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. Tonight means nothing when Krampus has to face Marax without Jack Frost creating traffic and without Grinch Heyman turning his telephone into sporting equipment.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I doubt tonight means nothing to either man. Krampus finally pinned Marax the Deceiver. Whether he can do it without outside assistance at Fallout is now the question.
Eddie Ellington: I already have the answer.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Of course you do.
Eddie Ellington: Marax.
Inside the ring, Krampus and Marax the Deceiver continue staring across the distance separating them.
Jack Frost stands beside Krampus.
Abaddon stands beside Marax.
At ringside, Grinch Heyman and Count Vlad exchange smiles that contain absolutely no warmth.
The Fallout graphic fills the screen behind them.
KRAMPUS VS. MARAX THE DECEIVER
AUGUST 23
The broadcast cuts away.
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