Aired - August 22, 2026
(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 returns from the Polar Power opening montage to a sweeping live shot of the North Pole Arena.
Blue-white spotlights race across the capacity crowd as artificial snow drifts from the lighting rigs above the entrance stage. The ring sits beneath brilliant white light while the Polar Power logo glows across the enormous production screen.
The audience is already on its feet.
Several signs rise above the crowd.
FALLOUT IS TOMORROW
RUDOLPH RIDES AGAIN
THE NORTH STILL BELIEVES
GRONDAR HAS THREE PROBLEMS
Another sign near the aisle simply reads:
YETI — EXPLAIN YOURSELF
The camera moves toward ringside, where Johnny “The Mic” Michaels and Eddie Ellington sit behind the illuminated commentary desk.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome live to the North Pole Arena! I am Johnny “The Mic” Michaels, joined as always by Eddie Ellington, and this is the final edition of Polar Power before Fallout tomorrow night!
The crowd erupts at the mention of the Super Card.
Eddie Ellington: Which means this is the last opportunity for everyone competing tomorrow to make a sensible decision.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Such as?
Eddie Ellington: Staying home tonight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is not how competitors prepare for one of the biggest nights of the year.
Eddie Ellington: That is why I am sitting safely behind this desk and they are repeatedly being dropped on their heads.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Fallout arrives tomorrow night, and after everything that has happened throughout the Polar Division over the past several weeks, there may not be another roster in NPCW carrying more unfinished business into that event.
The production screen changes to footage from last week's Polar Power.
Krampus and Jack Frost are shown battling Abaddon and Marax the Deceiver.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Last Saturday, Krampus and Jack Frost survived a twenty-five-minute fight against Abaddon and Marax the Deceiver and came away with the victory.
The replay shows the four competitors exchanging heavy offense as control repeatedly shifts.
Eddie Ellington: Survived is the proper word. Nobody walked out of that one looking refreshed. Krampus, Abaddon, and Marax the Deceiver have been trying to settle arguments that stopped being arguments a long time ago.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And tomorrow night, the conflict continues when Krampus meets Marax the Deceiver one-on-one at Fallout.
Eddie Ellington: Wonderful. Remove the partners, remove whatever little restraint existed, and let two men who despise each other solve the problem personally. What could possibly go wrong?
The footage changes.
Lilith and Velora Synn stand across the ring from Crimson Vane and Scarlett Howl.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith also gained critical momentum last week when she and Velora Synn defeated Queen of the North Champion Crimson Vane and Scarlett Howl.
The replay shows the physical closing stretch.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow, Lilith challenges Crimson Vane for the Queen of the North Championship in a two-out-of-three falls match.
Eddie Ellington: And Lilith just spent last Saturday proving she can win while staring directly across the ring at the champion. You can call that momentum. I call it evidence.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tonight, however, Lilith has another challenge entirely.
The replay transitions to Emberlyn Black standing over Penny Coppersnap after her Polar Power debut.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black made an immediate impression in her first Polar Power match, defeating Penny Coppersnap with the Black Cinder Kick.
Eddie Ellington: Nine minutes, one victory, and suddenly everyone wants to know how good Emberlyn Black really is.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We may find out tonight because Emberlyn Black goes one-on-one with Lilith.
Eddie Ellington: There is a considerable difference between debuting successfully against Penny Coppersnap and standing across from Lilith the night before Lilith fights for a championship.
The footage changes again.
Bigfoot and Convergent Champion Jack Lumber battle Yeti and Marcus the Beastmaster.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And in last week's main event, Bigfoot and Jack Lumber defeated Yeti and Marcus the Beastmaster.
The replay slows on the tense post-match confrontation.
Yeti stands in one corner.
Bigfoot remains near the opposite side.
Jack Lumber positions himself between them with the Convergent Championship raised.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But the match ending did nothing to settle the issue between Bigfoot and Yeti.
Eddie Ellington: Settle it? Yeti looked like he wanted to climb through Jack Lumber just to reach Bigfoot.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tonight, we will hear directly from Yeti.
Eddie Ellington: Good. Perhaps someone can finally ask him whether losing made him less angry.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I suspect we already know that answer.
The footage shifts once more to Infernus Rex and Jasper Fang.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Infernus Rex also defeated Jasper Fang last week, continuing an extraordinary run of form as he approaches tomorrow night's championship opportunity.
Eddie Ellington: Infernus Rex has been one of the most dangerous competitors in this entire promotion. Tomorrow he does not need to beat three men. He only needs to be the man who gets the deciding fall.
The highlight package ends.
The camera returns to the commentary desk.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And that brings us to tonight because the four men who will fight for the championship tomorrow at Fallout will all be under the same roof.
The screen fills with four images.
Grondar the Revenant. Infernus Rex. Santa Claus. Rudolph.
The crowd becomes noticeably louder.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Later tonight, all four participants in tomorrow night's Fatal Four Way will be brought together for a special four-way interview.
Eddie Ellington: An interview?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Yes.
Eddie Ellington: With Grondar the Revenant, Infernus Rex, Santa Claus, and Rudolph sitting together?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is the plan.
Eddie Ellington: Then the interviewer deserves hazard pay.
The crowd begins chanting.
RU-DOLPH! RU-DOLPH! RU-DOLPH!
The camera finds several fans wearing reindeer antlers.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And listen to this reaction because tonight marks something the people here have waited weeks to see. Rudolph returns to official competition for the first time since the injuries that left him with a broken antler and significant damage around the eye.
Footage briefly shows Rudolph during his recovery, followed by the protective equipment used as he prepared for his return. His previous medical update had made clear that he was aiming for an August comeback after reinjuring the eye.
Eddie Ellington: I remember telling everyone to let the doctors clear him properly. Nobody listened because apparently medical advice becomes less interesting when the crowd starts chanting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph has done the work. He has gone through the rehabilitation. Tonight, he steps back into the ring.
The opening match graphic fills the screen.
SANTA CLAUS AND RUDOLPH VS. THE FROST GIANTS
The crowd roars.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And he does not return alone! In our opening contest, Rudolph teams with Santa Claus against the Frost Giants!
Eddie Ellington: Brilliant. First match back from injury and somebody books him against giants.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph asked to compete.
Eddie Ellington: Of course he did. Athletes always say they are ready. If you ask a wrestler whether he can continue while carrying his own detached arm, he will ask you which corner he should stand in.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It is a major test for Rudolph, but also an important opportunity for both Rudolph and Santa Claus to sharpen themselves before tomorrow night's Fatal Four Way.
The graphic changes.
POLLY MASON VS. LUPINA REDCLAW
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Then Polly Mason faces Lupina Redclaw.
Eddie Ellington: That is going to be physical. Polly Mason never backs away from a fight, and Lupina Redclaw sees backing away as a sign that she should chase you faster.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason will also compete tomorrow night at Fallout against Dr. Violetta Voss in a Last Woman Standing match. Tonight's contest against Lupina Redclaw may be her final chance to build momentum before that brutal encounter.
Eddie Ellington: Or her final chance to collect another injury. You keep forgetting the second possibility.
The next match graphic appears.
JASPER FANG AND TOM SAWYER VS. WILBER “TERRORFANG” TOWNSEND AND ABADDON
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tag team competition will bring Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer together against Northern Lights Champion Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend and Abaddon.
Eddie Ellington: Now that is an interesting partnership. Terrorfang and Abaddon are not men I would describe as friendly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They do not need friendship tonight. They need cooperation.
Eddie Ellington: Spoken like someone who has never tried telling Abaddon he needs anything.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang comes into this match looking to rebound from last week's defeat against Infernus Rex, while Tom Sawyer has repeatedly shown that the River Reapers can thrive when a match becomes unpredictable.
Eddie Ellington: Against Terrorfang and Abaddon, unpredictable may be the safest part.
The graphic changes.
THE MIRROR SAINTS VS. BLITZEN AND DONNER
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Mirror Saints meet two members of the Reindeer Coalition, Blitzen and Donner.
Eddie Ellington: That is a fascinating contrast. Blitzen and Donner know each other instinctively. The Mirror Saints are disciplined, precise, and very uncomfortable to prepare for.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: A significant tag team opportunity for both sides.
The next graphic appears.
LILITH VS. EMBERLYN BLACK
The arena reacts immediately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Then the match we discussed moments ago. Lilith meets Emberlyn Black.
Eddie Ellington: If Emberlyn Black wants people to stop calling her impressive for a newcomer and start calling her dangerous, this is how she does it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But Lilith enters tonight knowing she is less than twenty-four hours away from challenging Crimson Vane for the Queen of the North Championship.
Eddie Ellington: Which means Emberlyn Black gets Lilith when Lilith has everything to lose. That can make someone cautious.
A smile crosses Eddie Ellington's face.
Eddie Ellington: Or vicious.
The final match graphic fills the screen.
HUCK FINN VS. CHAMPION GRONDAR THE REVENANT
NORTH POLE TITLE MATCH - REMAINING TELEVISION TIME LIMIT
The crowd rises.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And our main event could change everything! Huck Finn challenges Grondar the Revenant, and that match will have whatever television time remains!
Eddie Ellington: Huck Finn has courage. I will give him that. Unfortunately, courage weighs considerably less than Grondar the Revenant.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Do not forget that Huck Finn has beaten Grondar the Revenant before. Back on April 11, Huck Finn earned a victory when Grondar was disqualified.
Eddie Ellington: Thank you for making my argument. Huck Finn did not pin him. He did not submit him. He survived until Grondar got himself disqualified.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: A win is still a win, and Huck Finn knows he can frustrate Grondar the Revenant.
Eddie Ellington: Frustrating Grondar is not a strategy I recommend for maintaining a normal skeletal arrangement.
The graphic fades.
The Polar Power logo returns, surrounded by images of the night's featured competitors.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Six matches tonight. Rudolph returns to the ring. We hear from Yeti. The four participants in tomorrow night's Fatal Four Way come together for a special interview. We will see a special vignette featuring Krampus on the eve of his collision with Marax the Deceiver. And before this night is finished, Huck Finn steps into the biggest opportunity of his Polar Power career against Grondar the Revenant.
Eddie Ellington: And tomorrow all of these people have to wake up and do it again at Fallout.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is what this weekend demands. Tonight is the final test. Tomorrow comes the consequence.
The crowd rises again as the arena lights begin shifting toward the entrance stage.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The final Polar Power before Fallout is underway, and we start with a return this North Pole Arena has waited weeks to see!
The opening match graphic reappears.
SANTA CLAUS AND RUDOLPH VS. THE FROST GIANTS
The crowd erupts into another chant.
RU-DOLPH! RU-DOLPH! RU-DOLPH!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph is back!
Eddie Ellington: I hope the giants know.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They are about to find out!
The camera returns to ringside as the North Pole Arena remains alive with anticipation. The ring has been cleared, referee “Honest” Abe stands near the ropes, and the crowd is already beginning another chant.
RU-DOLPH! RU-DOLPH! RU-DOLPH!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We told you at the top of the broadcast that this would be a special night, and now the moment has arrived. For the first time since suffering the injuries that forced him out of competition, Rudolph is about to wrestle again.
Eddie Ellington: Against the Frost Giants.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Yes.
Eddie Ellington: That sounds less like a comeback and more like an insurance investigation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph has been medically cleared. He asked for this opportunity, and tonight he will have Santa Claus beside him.
Eddie Ellington: There is your first problem.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What problem?
Eddie Ellington: Tomorrow night they are opponents in that Fatal Four Way for the North Pole Championship. Tonight they are supposed to trust each other completely. You really think neither one of them is thinking about tomorrow?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I think Santa Claus and Rudolph have been through enough together that they know how to separate tonight's responsibility from tomorrow's competition.
Eddie Ellington: That is very inspirational. It is also exactly what people say before they start arguing.
The arena lights soften.
A familiar burst of festive music fills the North Pole Arena.
The reaction rises immediately as Santa Claus steps through the entrance curtain.
The red-and-white figure of the Polar Division icon pauses beneath the bright entrance lights, looking from one side of the arena to the other. Santa Claus raises a hand toward the crowd before starting down the aisle with his usual deliberate stride.
Fans reach across the barricades as he passes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow night, Santa Claus has the opportunity to regain the North Pole Championship in a Fatal Four Way against Grondar the Revenant, Infernus Rex, and the man who will be his partner tonight, Rudolph.
Eddie Ellington: Which means Santa Claus has two jobs tonight. Beat the Frost Giants and make sure Rudolph does not learn anything useful before tomorrow.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is ridiculous.
Eddie Ellington: You would be terrible at championship strategy.
Santa Claus reaches ringside, climbs the steps, and enters through the ropes. He briefly acknowledges “Honest” Abe before turning toward the entrance.
The music stops.
For a moment, the arena waits.
Then the opening notes of Rudolph’s entrance music hit.
The North Pole Arena erupts.
Red light washes across the entrance stage as Rudolph emerges.
He stops immediately beneath the lights.
There is no hurried movement.
No exaggerated celebration.
Rudolph simply takes in the reaction.
The crowd rises throughout the building.
RU-DOLPH! RU-DOLPH! RU-DOLPH!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Listen to this place!
Rudolph looks toward the ring, then touches the area near the eye that had kept him out of competition. He nods once before beginning the walk down the aisle.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Weeks of recovery. Weeks of rehabilitation. Weeks of wondering when he would be allowed to do this again. Tonight, Rudolph is back.
Eddie Ellington: And everybody is celebrating before he has been hit.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Must you?
Eddie Ellington: Somebody has to say it. Rehabilitation rooms do not hit back. The Frost Giants do.
Rudolph reaches ringside.
He looks into the ring at Santa Claus.
Santa Claus gives him a nod.
Rudolph returns it.
He steps onto the apron and enters.
Santa Claus approaches and extends his hand.
Rudolph accepts it.
The crowd cheers again.
Eddie Ellington: Look at that handshake.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What about it?
Eddie Ellington: Measuring grip strength.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Oh, stop.
Eddie Ellington: Tomorrow night matters, Johnny.
The festive atmosphere disappears when heavy, deliberate music begins pounding through the arena.
The lighting turns cold.
Magnus Blackwell appears first.
Dressed immaculately, he stops at the center of the entrance stage and adjusts one cuff before looking toward the ring.
Behind him emerge the Frost Giants.
The two enormous competitors stand shoulder to shoulder, almost completely obscuring the entrance behind them.
There is no acknowledgement of the crowd.
No wasted motion.
At a small gesture from Magnus Blackwell, the Frost Giants begin moving toward the ring.
Eddie Ellington: Now there is a proper team.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: A proper team?
Eddie Ellington: Same objective. Same mentality. No championship match against each other tomorrow. No sentimental reunion story. The Frost Giants came here to hurt somebody and win a wrestling match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You sound remarkably enthusiastic about that.
Eddie Ellington: I appreciate professionalism.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You call this professionalism because Magnus Blackwell is standing beside them.
Eddie Ellington: Good management is part of professional success.
The Frost Giants reach ringside.
Magnus Blackwell stops at floor level while both giants climb onto the apron.
Inside the ring, Santa Claus steps slightly in front of Rudolph.
Eddie Ellington: Did you see that?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: See what?
Eddie Ellington: Santa Claus stepped in front of Rudolph.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He is looking across the ring at two enormous opponents.
Eddie Ellington: Or he does not think Rudolph is ready.
The Frost Giants step over the ropes and enter.
Rudolph immediately moves alongside Santa Claus.
The four competitors stare across the ring.
Magnus Blackwell watches from the floor with a faint smile.
Celeste Orion steps into the center of the ring.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall!
The crowd cheers.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, the team of Santa Claus and, making his return to active competition tonight, Rudolph!
Another enormous ovation rolls through the building.
Rudolph raises one arm while Santa Claus applauds his partner.
Eddie Ellington: Look at Santa applauding him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He is welcoming his longtime partner back.
Eddie Ellington: Or making sure everybody notices how supportive he is before he tries to pin him tomorrow.
Celeste Orion: And their opponents, accompanied to the ring by Magnus Blackwell... the Frost Giants!
The reaction changes immediately.
Both members of the Frost Giants step toward the center of the ring.
Magnus Blackwell gives a short approving nod from ringside.
Celeste Orion exits.
“Honest” Abe checks both corners.
Rudolph speaks briefly with Santa Claus, then steps through the ropes and insists on starting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph wants the opening bell.
Eddie Ellington: Of course he does. First night back, all that adrenaline, thousands of people chanting his name.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You criticize Santa Claus when he protects him, and now you criticize Rudolph for wanting to compete.
Eddie Ellington: I am examining every possibility. That is why I am so valuable.
The bell rings.
Minute 1
Rudolph immediately circles Frost Giant 1, testing his movement before accelerating off the ropes. Frost Giant 1 swings an elbow as Rudolph approaches, but Rudolph launches first and drives both boots into the giant with a flying dropkick.
The impact forces Frost Giant 1 backward, but the giant does not fall.
Frost Giant 1 answers by rebounding from the ropes and smashing an elbow across Rudolph’s upper body.
Rudolph stumbles but stays upright.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is the first major contact of Rudolph’s return, and he answered immediately! Excellent elevation on the dropkick, but Frost Giant 1 reminded him just how much force these men carry.
Eddie Ellington: And that is why I like the Frost Giants. No ceremony. No sympathy. Rudolph came back to wrestle, so they are treating him like a wrestler. Welcome back. Here is an elbow.
Frost Giant 1 studies Rudolph for another moment before tagging Frost Giant 2.
Minute 2
Frost Giant 2 enters and tries to cut Rudolph off immediately, but Rudolph reaches his corner.
Santa Claus tags in only long enough for both partners to attack together.
Rudolph drives a headbutt into Frost Giant 2’s midsection. As the giant folds forward, Santa Claus catches him around the body and powers him down with the Jingle Bell Buster spinebuster.
Frost Giant 2 still manages to fire a knee upward into Rudolph before “Honest” Abe orders the extra competitors back to their corners.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is the familiarity we were talking about! Rudolph creates the opening and Santa Claus immediately knows where to be.
Eddie Ellington: Interesting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What is interesting?
Eddie Ellington: Rudolph does the headbutt, Santa gets the big spinebuster, and everybody cheers Santa.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They are a team!
Eddie Ellington: Tonight.
Minute 3
With Rudolph still legal, Frost Giant 2 tries to muscle him up for a backbreaker.
Rudolph shifts his weight before the giant can secure him, slips free, and lands on his feet.
The crowd roars as Rudolph turns toward the audience and breaks into his familiar Dashing Through Snow strut.
Frost Giant 2 lunges at him, but Rudolph darts away and gestures for the giant to come again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is some confidence! Rudolph escapes the backbreaker and tells Frost Giant 2 that the old movement is still there.
Eddie Ellington: He should worry less about strutting and more about tagging.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He just escaped cleanly.
Eddie Ellington: And every extra second he spends proving he is healthy is another second Santa Claus gets to stand safely on the apron before tomorrow night's championship match.
Rudolph backs into his corner and tags Santa Claus.
Minute 4
Santa Claus enters at speed.
Frost Giant 2 braces himself, but Santa Claus drives through him with a Reindeer Charge running shoulder block.
The giant is knocked backward into the ropes.
Santa Claus stays on him, forcing Frost Giant 2 toward the neutral corner before “Honest” Abe demands separation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tremendous shoulder block from Santa Claus! He caught Frost Giant 2 squarely and moved a man who is not easily moved.
Eddie Ellington: And suddenly Santa looks fresh and powerful after Rudolph absorbed the opening contact.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph tagged him.
Eddie Ellington: Very trusting of him.
Santa Claus turns and tags Rudolph back into the contest.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There. Satisfied?
Eddie Ellington: Now I wonder why Santa is sending the recently injured man back in so quickly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are impossible.
Minute 5
Rudolph enters and immediately attacks.
He catches Frost Giant 2 near the ropes and drives him through the opening to the arena floor.
Frost Giant 2 lands heavily beside Magnus Blackwell.
“Honest” Abe begins counting.
One. Two.
Frost Giant 2 climbs back onto the apron and reenters before the count progresses any further.
As Rudolph approaches, Frost Giant 2 catches him in a side headlock and leans his considerable weight across Rudolph’s neck and shoulder.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Smart response by Frost Giant 2. Rudolph forced him outside, but the giant returned quickly and immediately slowed the pace with that headlock.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. The Frost Giants are not panicking because the returning hero threw one of them outside. Magnus Blackwell has them prepared.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph is still fighting his way free.
Eddie Ellington: While Santa Claus watches. Just remember that part.
Rudolph forces enough separation to reach his corner and tags Santa Claus.
At nearly the same moment, Frost Giant 2 tags Frost Giant 1.
Minute 6
Santa Claus steps through the ropes, but the Frost Giants immediately exploit the tag.
Frost Giant 1 traps Santa Claus near their corner and grinds his boot across him while Frost Giant 2 steps through the ropes long enough to drive a knee into Santa’s body.
“Honest” Abe orders Frost Giant 2 out.
As the giant withdraws, Santa Claus surges forward and lifts Frost Giant 1, planting him with the Sleigh Ride Slam.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Frost Giants used that corner effectively, but Santa Claus absorbed the attack and answered with the Sleigh Ride Slam!
Eddie Ellington: Used the corner effectively? That was beautiful tag wrestling. Cut the ring in half, use every legal second, make the other team suffer.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You seemed considerably less impressed when Santa and Rudolph worked together.
Eddie Ellington: They have complications. The Frost Giants have management.
At ringside, Magnus Blackwell calmly gestures for Frost Giant 1 to keep pressing.
Minute 7
Frost Giant 1 regains his footing before Santa Claus can follow up.
The giant charges off the ropes and drives a heavy elbow across Santa’s chest.
Santa Claus tries to brace against it but is knocked backward.
Frost Giant 1 follows and forces Santa Claus into the corner with his body weight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Frost Giant 1 is starting to establish his size advantage. Santa Claus saw that elbow coming and still could not absorb all of it.
Eddie Ellington: And notice something else. Rudolph has both hands on the top rope asking for a tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is what a partner does.
Eddie Ellington: Or perhaps Rudolph thinks Santa Claus is struggling.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are inventing conversations they have not had.
Eddie Ellington: Yet.
Minute 8
Frost Giant 1 knocks Santa Claus down and comes off the ropes.
The giant jumps and crashes a leg across Santa’s upper chest.
Santa Claus rolls onto one shoulder, drawing a concerned look from Rudolph.
Frost Giant 1 rises slowly and looks toward Rudolph before turning back to Santa.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another heavy shot from Frost Giant 1, this time the leg drop, and this is the first sustained stretch of control we have seen from the Frost Giants.
Eddie Ellington: The right team is taking over.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is no right team from our position.
Eddie Ellington: Maybe from yours. I appreciate efficiency, and right now Frost Giant 1 is making Santa Claus carry every ounce of his weight.
Rudolph calls for Santa Claus to move toward the corner.
Eddie Ellington: There he goes again. Rudolph wants in.
Minute 9
Santa Claus fights back to his feet.
When Frost Giant 1 closes in, Santa Claus gets underneath him and powers the enormous competitor off his feet with another Sleigh Ride Slam.
The ring shakes from the landing.
Frost Giant 1 rolls toward his corner and tags Frost Giant 2.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Remarkable strength from Santa Claus! He stopped the momentum of Frost Giant 1 and forced the tag.
Eddie Ellington: Forced nothing. Smart teams rotate fresh bodies.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph is available in the opposite corner.
Eddie Ellington: Yes, and Santa did not tag him.
A brief pause follows.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Here we go.
Eddie Ellington: I am only observing.
Minute 10
Frost Giant 2 enters.
Santa Claus catches him immediately and launches him overhead with the Tinsel Toss belly-to-belly suplex.
As Santa Claus rises, Magnus Blackwell steps closer to the apron and calls something toward the ring.
Santa Claus turns his head toward Blackwell.
That momentary distraction gives Frost Giant 2 time to crawl toward his corner and tag Frost Giant 1.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tremendous Tinsel Toss, but Magnus Blackwell immediately tried to pull Santa’s attention away from the ring.
Eddie Ellington: Tried? He succeeded.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That does not make it acceptable.
Eddie Ellington: Magnus Blackwell spoke. Santa Claus chose to listen. Personal responsibility, Johnny.
Rudolph again extends his hand from the corner.
Eddie Ellington: And once again Rudolph wants the tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Santa Claus has control.
Eddie Ellington: Then why bring Rudolph back at all?
Minute 11
Frost Giant 1 explodes forward before Santa Claus can reset.
The giant muscles Santa high into the air and drives him hard into the canvas with a powerbomb.
Frost Giant 1 immediately folds Santa Claus into a cover.
“Honest” Abe drops into position.
Before the count can develop, Santa Claus shifts his body, hooks Frost Giant 1, and turns the pinning attempt over into a cover of his own.
One! Two!
Frost Giant 1 kicks out.
Both men separate.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What a counter by Santa Claus! Frost Giant 1 thought the powerbomb had ended it, but Santa reversed the cover and nearly stole the fall himself!
Eddie Ellington: Nearly. What actually happened is Frost Giant 1 powerbombed him into the ring and then kicked out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You cannot ignore the reversal.
Eddie Ellington: I am not. I am also noticing that Rudolph never got the chance to break up the original cover because Santa handled it himself.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And somehow you will make that a problem.
Eddie Ellington: A man learns things when he stands on the apron.
Minute 12
Frost Giant 1 recovers first.
He charges off the ropes and drives another elbow into Santa Claus.
This time Santa cannot stop it.
He drops to one knee as Frost Giant 1 continues leaning on him.
Rudolph reaches farther across the top rope, calling his partner toward the corner.
Instead, Frost Giant 1 drags Santa Claus away and then tags Frost Giant 2.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Frost Giants are doing exactly what a heavyweight tag team should do. They are keeping Santa Claus away from Rudolph and forcing him to work from underneath.
Eddie Ellington: Finally, you admit they are excellent.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I said they are executing well.
Eddie Ellington: Same thing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Rudolph has been ready for several minutes.
Eddie Ellington: Perhaps Santa Claus does not trust the eye yet.
Minute 13
Santa Claus and Frost Giant 2 initially circle without committing, each looking for an opening.
They tie up, break apart, and reset.
On the next engagement, Santa Claus charges and throws his weight forward with Down the Chimney, crashing across Frost Giant 2.
The giant absorbs the impact, rolls with it, and as both men rise Frost Giant 2 catches Santa Claus across his body and drives him down with a backbreaker.
Both competitors remain on the canvas momentarily.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huge exchange! Santa Claus scores with Down the Chimney, but Frost Giant 2 comes right back with the backbreaker!
Eddie Ellington: This is what I mean. The Frost Giants do not get discouraged. You hit one, he gets up and hits you harder.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Santa Claus is taking an enormous amount of punishment.
Eddie Ellington: And Rudolph is still waiting.
Frost Giant 2 reaches his corner first and tags Frost Giant 1.
Minute 14
Frost Giant 1 enters cautiously.
Santa Claus gets back to his feet and lunges forward.
He lifts Frost Giant 1 for the Sleigh Ride Slam and drives the giant into the mat.
But as Santa Claus rises, Frost Giant 1 catches him from the side and answers with a bulldog.
Both men hit hard.
Frost Giant 1 rolls toward his corner and tags Frost Giant 2 back in.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Back and forth again! Santa Claus gets the Slam, Frost Giant 1 answers with the bulldog, and the Frost Giants continue using those rapid tags.
Eddie Ellington: Because they understand tag team wrestling. You do not prove toughness by staying in there forever when you have a fresh partner.
There is a deliberate pause.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I know exactly what you are doing.
Eddie Ellington: I have no idea what you mean.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are talking about Santa Claus.
Eddie Ellington: You said it, not me.
Minute 15
Frost Giant 2 enters and immediately waves Frost Giant 1 back through the ropes before “Honest” Abe can fully establish control.
The two giants overwhelm Santa Claus.
Frost Giant 2 catches Santa and drives him down with a Cobra Clutch Slam.
Before Santa Claus can rise, Frost Giant 1 lifts him again and plants him with a powerbomb.
“Honest” Abe forces Frost Giant 1 back toward the apron.
Somehow Santa Claus gets to his feet.
As Frost Giant 2 turns back toward him, Santa Claus launches himself forward with another Down the Chimney splash and flattens the giant.
The crowd erupts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: How is Santa Claus still fighting? A Cobra Clutch Slam, a powerbomb, and he comes straight back with Down the Chimney!
Eddie Ellington: I will give him credit for durability, but I will give the Frost Giants more credit for making him need it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph is desperate for the tag now.
Eddie Ellington: I wonder whether desperate is the word Santa wants to see from his partner the night before they compete against each other.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Stop trying to manufacture a problem between them!
Eddie Ellington: I manufacture nothing. I merely recognize inventory.
Minute 16
Santa Claus catches Frost Giant 2 before the giant can escape.
He wraps both arms around the giant's torso and cinches in the Candy Cane Crush bearhug.
Frost Giant 2 responds by hammering repeated forearms into Santa’s head and shoulders.
Santa Claus tightens the hold.
Frost Giant 2 refuses to submit.
The giant eventually works close enough to his corner to make the tag to Frost Giant 1.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Santa Claus had the Candy Cane Crush locked in, but Frost Giant 2 would not surrender! Tremendous toughness from the giant.
Eddie Ellington: There. You see? You can compliment them.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I always acknowledge excellent competition.
Eddie Ellington: And that was excellent. Frost Giant 2 took one of Santa’s strongest holds, fought through it, and found his partner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Something Santa Claus has not been able to do with Rudolph.
Eddie Ellington: Now who is sowing dissent?
Minute 17
Frost Giant 1 enters and tries to intercept Santa Claus before he can move.
Santa Claus wins the leverage battle.
He lifts Frost Giant 1 and drives him down with another Sleigh Ride Slam despite the giant trying to brace against it.
Frost Giant 1 rolls toward his corner almost immediately and tags Frost Giant 2.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another Sleigh Ride Slam! Santa Claus is finding reserves of strength deep into this match.
Eddie Ellington: And the Frost Giants refuse to let one man become isolated. That is why Magnus Blackwell is smiling.
The camera catches Magnus Blackwell watching from ringside.
Eddie Ellington: Every time one giant starts slowing down, the other one takes over. Meanwhile, Rudolph could have completed his taxes on that apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Santa Claus is fighting for his team.
Eddie Ellington: Maybe Rudolph would like to fight for it too.
Minute 18
Frost Giant 2 steps through the ropes.
Santa Claus meets him immediately.
He catches the giant around the waist and drives him down with the Jingle Bell Buster spinebuster.
Frost Giant 2 hits flat and rolls onto his side.
Santa Claus kneels for a moment, breathing heavily.
Rudolph again calls for the tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jingle Bell Buster! Santa Claus has him down!
Eddie Ellington: And now tag Rudolph.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I suspect he may.
Eddie Ellington: He had better, because if I am Rudolph, I am starting to wonder whether my partner believes I can handle this.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph knows exactly what Santa Claus thinks of him.
Eddie Ellington: Tomorrow they both want the same championship. People think differently when gold is involved.
Minute 19
Before Santa Claus can reach the corner, Frost Giant 2 grabs him and pulls him toward the Frost Giants’ side.
Frost Giant 1 reaches through the ropes and clamps a headlock around Santa Claus while Frost Giant 2 tries to keep him trapped.
“Honest” Abe moves in to break up the extra involvement.
Santa Claus tears himself free.
He charges forward and blasts Frost Giant 2 with the Reindeer Charge shoulder block.
Frost Giant 2 crashes backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Santa Claus breaks out of that corner and levels Frost Giant 2!
Eddie Ellington: The Frost Giants had the right idea. Keep him away from his partner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They have done that for most of this match.
Eddie Ellington: Which means if Rudolph eventually gets in and loses, whose fault is it?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Nobody has lost anything!
Eddie Ellington: I am planning ahead.
Minute 20
Both legal men hesitate after the prolonged exchange.
Santa Claus straightens and lets out his familiar Yuletide Yell toward Frost Giant 2.
The giant refuses to be intimidated and rushes forward.
Frost Giant 2 catches Santa Claus and attempts another backbreaker.
Santa shifts his body and slips free.
Before Frost Giant 2 can turn around, Santa Claus launches himself with Down the Chimney and crashes across him.
Santa Claus hooks the leg.
One! Two!
Frost Giant 1 storms through the ropes and breaks the pin.
The audience boos as “Honest” Abe orders Frost Giant 1 back outside.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Frost Giant 1 saves the match! Santa Claus had Frost Giant 2 beaten after Down the Chimney!
Eddie Ellington: That is called having a partner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I know what a partner does.
Eddie Ellington: Does Santa Claus?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Enough.
Eddie Ellington: Rudolph has spent nearly this entire stretch watching while the Frost Giants repeatedly save each other. I am simply asking whether he notices.
Minute 21
Santa Claus catches Frost Giant 2 again and locks the Candy Cane Crush around the giant's body.
Frost Giant 2 fights desperately, driving his hands against Santa’s shoulders and refusing to submit.
Santa Claus continues squeezing.
The giant still will not quit.
Finally, Santa releases and stumbles backward toward his own corner.
Rudolph extends his hand.
This time Santa Claus slaps it.
The crowd explodes.
Rudolph enters.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is the tag! Here comes Rudolph!
Eddie Ellington: Finally.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And listen to this arena!
Eddie Ellington: I am listening. Now we find out whether waiting that long made Rudolph fresher or colder.
Minute 22
Rudolph charges across the ring.
Frost Giant 2 tries to brace himself, but Rudolph lowers his head and drives directly into the giant's abdomen with the Head Ram to Gut.
Frost Giant 2 folds and crashes backward.
Rudolph hooks a leg.
One!
Frost Giant 2 powers a shoulder off the mat.
Rudolph immediately gets back up.
The crowd remains firmly behind him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph nearly folded Frost Giant 2 in half! That is the explosiveness we remember!
Eddie Ellington: One-count.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It was his first cover since returning!
Eddie Ellington: And Frost Giant 2 threw him off before two. Welcome back.
Rudolph looks toward Santa Claus.
Santa reaches out.
Rudolph tags him.
At the same time, Frost Giant 2 reaches Frost Giant 1.
Eddie Ellington: Wait. Rudolph finally gets in and tags back out after one minute?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is smart teamwork.
Eddie Ellington: Or perhaps Santa Claus wanted the finish for himself.
Minute 23
Santa Claus and Frost Giant 1 enter simultaneously.
Rudolph remains momentarily inside as Santa Claus drives forward with a Reindeer Charge.
The shoulder block rocks Frost Giant 1.
Rudolph follows immediately with another Head Ram to Gut.
The combined attack leaves Frost Giant 1 staggered.
Before Rudolph can exit, Frost Giant 1 catches Santa Claus against the ropes and uses the top strand to choke him.
“Honest” Abe immediately intervenes.
Rudolph returns to the apron as Frost Giant 1 is forced away.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Beautiful combination from Santa Claus and Rudolph! Reindeer Charge into the Head Ram, and suddenly Frost Giant 1 is in serious trouble.
Eddie Ellington: That was good.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Was that difficult?
Eddie Ellington: I am fair. I am also wondering why they waited twenty-three minutes to work together like that.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Because the Frost Giants spent much of the match cutting the ring in half!
Eddie Ellington: Excuses already. Tomorrow those two are opponents. Tonight may have been their last chance to prove they can still function as partners.
Minute 24
Frost Giant 1 comes away from the ropes and charges.
Santa Claus catches him.
With a tremendous effort, Santa Claus lifts the giant off his feet.
The crowd rises.
Santa Claus turns and drives Frost Giant 1 into the canvas with the Sleigh Ride Slam.
Rudolph immediately steps through the ropes and positions himself between Frost Giant 2 and the pin, daring the other giant to attempt another save.
Santa Claus covers Frost Giant 1.
“Honest” Abe drops beside them.
One! Two! Three!
The bell rings.
The North Pole Arena erupts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They did it! Santa Claus and Rudolph win it! Twenty-four hard-fought minutes against the Frost Giants, and on the night of Rudolph’s return, he and Santa Claus stand together victorious!
Eddie Ellington: Santa Claus got the pin.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Of course that is your first observation.
Eddie Ellington: It is an accurate observation. Rudolph comes back, wrestles only a portion of the match, and tomorrow night they compete for the same championship. You think he is not going to replay this in his head?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What Rudolph should replay is that when the final pin came, he prevented Frost Giant 2 from making the save. That victory belonged to both men.
Inside the ring, Rudolph turns toward Santa Claus.
For a moment, Eddie Ellington goes quiet.
Santa Claus approaches Rudolph and offers his hand.
Rudolph looks at it.
Then he takes it.
The crowd cheers.
Santa Claus raises Rudolph’s arm.
The response grows even louder.
At ringside, Magnus Blackwell says something quietly to the Frost Giants and begins leading them toward the aisle.
Eddie Ellington: Very touching.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You cannot stand it, can you?
Eddie Ellington: I think it is beautiful. I just wonder whether Santa Claus raises that same arm tomorrow if Rudolph is holding the North Pole Championship.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow is tomorrow. Tonight, Rudolph returned to competition, survived twenty-four minutes against one of the most physically imposing teams in the Polar Division, and helped his team earn a victory.
Eddie Ellington: And Santa Claus proved he can still carry the bulk of a fight against two giants.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There you go again.
Eddie Ellington: I am complimenting him!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Both men leave this match with something important. Santa Claus showed tremendous endurance. Rudolph showed that after everything he has endured, he can step back inside this ring and compete at this level.
The camera focuses on Rudolph standing on the middle rope as the North Pole Arena applauds his return.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow night, partnership disappears. Santa Claus and Rudolph join Infernus Rex in challenging Grondar the Revenant for the North Pole Championship. But tonight, one of the North's most enduring partnerships delivered again.
Eddie Ellington: Enjoy the handshake tonight. Tomorrow somebody is going for a championship.
SANTA CLAUS AND RUDOLPH DEFEAT THE FROST GIANTS VIA PINFALL AT THE 24:00 MINUTE MARK.
The broadcast cuts backstage to the Polar Power interview area.
The blue-white Polar Division backdrop stands behind Smooth Samantha Satin, who is dressed tonight in a conservative charcoal business suit over a white blouse. Her usual composed expression remains intact, but the atmosphere around her is anything but calm.
Standing beside her is Marcus the Beastmaster.
And towering over both of them is Yeti.
The Alpha Beast is already pacing before the interview begins.
His enormous shoulders rise and fall with every breath. His fists repeatedly clench at his sides. Every few seconds, Yeti glances toward the camera as though the lens itself has personally offended him.
Marcus the Beastmaster remains close but does not attempt to restrain him.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Ladies and gentlemen, I am here with Marcus the Beastmaster and Yeti. Last week, Yeti and Marcus were defeated by Bigfoot and Convergent Champion Jack Lumber. Yeti, after what happened both during that match and in the weeks leading into it, you requested this time tonight.
Yeti immediately steps toward the microphone.
Yeti: Requested?
He bares his teeth.
Yeti: I did not request anything.
Smooth Samantha Satin holds her ground.
Yeti: I demanded that somebody put a camera in front of me.
His voice rises.
Yeti: Because apparently nobody around here is listening!
Marcus the Beastmaster: Easy.
Yeti turns toward him.
Yeti: No.
He looks directly into the camera.
Yeti: I beat men down. I climb through everyone they put in front of me. I earn my opportunity at the Convergent Championship.
A heavy hand strikes his own chest.
Yeti: And when I finally get Jack Lumber in that ring, what happens?
He points furiously off camera.
Yeti: Bigfoot happens!
Smooth Samantha Satin: You believe Bigfoot cost you the championship.
Yeti: Believe?
Yeti steps closer.
Yeti: I know it!
Marcus the Beastmaster nods behind him.
Yeti: Every time I got close to finishing Jack Lumber, there was Bigfoot. Watching. Distracting. Interfering. Sticking his nose where it did not belong.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Jack Lumber still defeated you in the championship match.
The expression on Yeti’s face changes instantly.
Marcus the Beastmaster: Samantha—
Yeti: Because of Bigfoot!
The roar echoes through the interview area.
Crew members farther down the corridor visibly turn toward the commotion.
Yeti lowers his head until his eyes are level with Smooth Samantha Satin.
Yeti: That championship should be mine.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Then what exactly are you demanding tonight?
There is no hesitation.
Yeti: A rematch.
He pounds one fist into the opposite palm.
Yeti: Jack Lumber.
Yeti: Me.
Yeti: Convergent Championship.
Yeti: No Bigfoot.
Yeti: No excuses.
Marcus the Beastmaster: That is all we have asked for.
Yeti: Asked?
Yeti turns toward Marcus.
Yeti: I am finished asking.
He turns back toward the camera.
Yeti: If NPCW will not give me what I earned, I will tear through NPCW until somebody does.
His voice becomes louder with every word.
Yeti: If HCW wants to protect Jack Lumber, I will tear through HCW too.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Yeti—
Yeti: Locker room by locker room.
He takes another step toward the camera.
Yeti: Wrestler by wrestler.
Yeti: Building by building.
Yeti: Until there is nobody left standing between me and that championship!
A new voice cuts through the interview area.
Kristine Kringle: Are you finished?
Everything stops.
Yeti slowly turns.
NPCW President and CEO Kristine Kringle walks into frame.
She wears a dark executive suit and carries no security with her.
Marcus the Beastmaster looks toward her.
Smooth Samantha Satin lowers the microphone slightly.
Yeti turns his entire body toward Kristine Kringle.
The size difference is dramatic.
Yeti towers over her.
Kristine Kringle does not move backward.
She walks directly up to him and stops face-to-face with the Alpha Beast.
For several seconds neither speaks.
Yeti glares down at her.
Kristine Kringle looks straight back up at him.
Kristine Kringle: I have listened to you complain about Bigfoot.
Yeti’s jaw tightens.
Kristine Kringle: I have listened to you complain about Jack Lumber.
She takes another small step forward.
Kristine Kringle: I have listened to you complain about NPCW.
Yeti: I—
Kristine Kringle: No.
That single word stops him.
Kristine Kringle: Now you are going to listen to me.
Marcus the Beastmaster watches carefully from behind Yeti.
Kristine Kringle: I am tired of the whining.
A low growl comes from Yeti.
Kristine Kringle: You can growl at me all you want.
She points toward his chest.
Kristine Kringle: You had a championship opportunity against Jack Lumber.
Kristine Kringle: You lost.
Yeti: Because—
Kristine Kringle: I know.
She cuts him off again.
Kristine Kringle: Because of Bigfoot.
Kristine Kringle: You have made that point very clear.
The anger in Yeti’s face remains, but he finally stops trying to interrupt.
Kristine Kringle: So I decided to eliminate the argument.
Yeti narrows his eyes.
Marcus the Beastmaster: What does that mean?
Kristine Kringle: It means earlier this week I contacted HCW General Manager Max McGillicutty.
That gets Yeti’s attention immediately.
Kristine Kringle: I asked him to authorize another Convergent Championship match.
A slight change crosses Yeti’s expression.
The anger remains.
But now he is listening.
Kristine Kringle: Jack Lumber versus Yeti.
Kristine Kringle: August 30.
She pauses.
Kristine Kringle: HCW Reign of Champions.
Marcus the Beastmaster slowly smiles.
Yeti remains completely still.
Smooth Samantha Satin: You have requested that HCW sanction the rematch?
Kristine Kringle: More than that.
She looks directly at Yeti.
Kristine Kringle: I requested one additional contractual condition.
Yeti: What condition?
Kristine Kringle: Bigfoot is barred from the arena.
That finally breaks through the Alpha Beast's fury.
Yeti’s shoulders lower slightly.
Marcus the Beastmaster: Completely barred?
Kristine Kringle: From the building.
Kristine Kringle: Not ringside.
Kristine Kringle: Not backstage.
Kristine Kringle: Not somewhere behind a curtain.
Kristine Kringle: Bigfoot will not be permitted inside the arena.
Marcus the Beastmaster looks toward Yeti.
Marcus the Beastmaster: There it is.
Kristine Kringle: If the match happens, there will be no Bigfoot for you to blame.
That last sentence brings some of the anger back.
Yeti: If?
Kristine Kringle: Yes.
The room becomes quiet again.
Kristine Kringle: Max McGillicutty agreed to take the contract to Jack Lumber.
Yeti: Take it to him?
Kristine Kringle: Jack Lumber has already defeated you.
She does not soften the statement.
Kristine Kringle: He is the champion. He is not obligated to give you another match simply because you have spent several weeks roaring about the first one.
Yeti moves closer again.
Kristine Kringle remains where she is.
Kristine Kringle: But Max agreed that under these conditions the match is worth presenting to him.
Kristine Kringle: The contract is going to Jack Lumber.
Kristine Kringle: He decides whether he signs it.
A long silence follows.
Yeti looks away for the first time.
He breathes deeply.
Once. Twice.
The rage that filled the interview area has not disappeared, but the possibility of another championship opportunity has brought it under partial control.
Marcus the Beastmaster moves alongside him.
Marcus the Beastmaster: No Bigfoot.
Yeti nods once.
Marcus the Beastmaster: Just you and Jack Lumber.
Another nod.
Then Yeti looks back at Kristine Kringle.
Yeti: August 30.
Kristine Kringle: If Jack Lumber signs.
The growl returns.
Yeti: He will.
Kristine Kringle: That is between you and him.
Yeti: No.
Yeti steps closer until only inches separate them.
Yeti: Tell Max McGillicutty something for me.
Kristine Kringle: Tell him yourself if you want to.
Yeti: Tell him to make sure Timberfang understands what happens if he refuses.
Smooth Samantha Satin watches carefully.
Yeti: If Jack Lumber signs that contract, I go to Reign of Champions, I destroy him, and I take the Convergent Championship.
His voice drops lower.
Yeti: But if he refuses...
Marcus the Beastmaster does not interrupt.
Yeti: Then I stop asking for him.
Yeti looks directly into the camera.
Yeti: I start coming for him.
He points toward the lens.
Yeti: And if I have to go through every wrestler in NPCW to reach him, I will.
Another step.
Yeti: If I have to go through every wrestler in HCW to reach him, I will.
His fist closes.
Yeti: If Timberfang thinks a piece of paper can save him by staying unsigned...
A cold smile finally crosses Yeti’s face.
Yeti: I will bring both rosters down around him until there is nowhere left to hide.
Kristine Kringle does not react to the threat.
Kristine Kringle: Then I suggest you hope he signs.
Yeti stares at her.
Kristine Kringle: Because until then, you are not tearing down either one of my locker rooms.
She steps even closer despite the enormous figure in front of her.
Kristine Kringle: Am I clear?
For several seconds, the only sound is Yeti’s breathing.
Then Marcus the Beastmaster places one hand against Yeti’s shoulder.
Marcus the Beastmaster: We got what we came for.
Yeti continues staring at Kristine Kringle.
Finally, he gives a single reluctant nod.
Yeti: For now.
Kristine Kringle: That is good enough for tonight.
Yeti turns away.
Marcus the Beastmaster follows him down the corridor.
After several steps, Yeti suddenly stops.
He looks back over his shoulder toward the camera.
Yeti: Sign it, Timberfang.
A vicious grin appears.
Yeti: Or I come looking.
Yeti and Marcus the Beastmaster disappear around the corner.
The camera returns to Smooth Samantha Satin and Kristine Kringle.
Smooth Samantha Satin: President Kringle, assuming Jack Lumber accepts, that would make it official. Yeti challenging for the Convergent Championship at HCW Reign of Champions on August 30, with Bigfoot barred from the arena.
Kristine Kringle: Assuming the champion signs the contract, yes.
She looks in the direction Yeti departed.
Kristine Kringle: And if he does, Yeti gets exactly what he claims he wants.
A slight edge enters her voice.
Kristine Kringle: No interference.
Kristine Kringle: No excuses.
Kristine Kringle: Just the champion and the challenger.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Thank you, Kristine.
Kristine Kringle gives a short nod and exits.
Smooth Samantha Satin turns toward the camera.
Smooth Samantha Satin: The contract now goes to Convergent Champion Jack Lumber. If he signs, Yeti gets his rematch at HCW Reign of Champions on August 30 with Bigfoot barred from the building.
The broadcast cuts away from the interview area.
The broadcast returns to ringside.
The camera sweeps across the North Pole Arena before settling on the ring, where referee “Honest” Abe has remained for the next contest.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Welcome back to Polar Power, and our next match features a woman with one of the most dangerous assignments of Fallout waiting for her tomorrow night.
Eddie Ellington: Which is exactly why I question why Polly Mason is wrestling tonight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason faces Dr. Violetta Voss tomorrow night in a Last Woman Standing match.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. So why volunteer to get kicked, dropped, stretched, and possibly concussed twenty-four hours before you fight a woman whose entire objective is to leave you unable to stand?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Because competitors compete.
Eddie Ellington: Competitors also occasionally make terrible decisions.
The arena lights shift.
The entrance music of Polly Mason hits.
The crowd responds immediately as Polly Mason steps through the curtain.
She pauses at the top of the entrance ramp with Ace MacDougal beside her and Flippers following several steps behind.
Polly Mason looks focused rather than celebratory.
She rolls one shoulder, looks toward the ring, and begins walking down the aisle.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is Polly Mason, and there is no hesitation in her tonight. Tomorrow she walks into one of the most punishing match types in professional wrestling against Dr. Violetta Voss.
Eddie Ellington: Which means tonight should consist of a warm bath and eight hours of sleep.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is not how Polly Mason prepares.
Eddie Ellington: Yes. I am noticing the flaw in that plan right now.
Ace MacDougal speaks quietly to Polly Mason as they reach ringside.
She nods once.
Flippers moves toward the corner as Polly Mason climbs the ring steps.
She enters through the ropes and immediately begins stretching against the top strand.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ace MacDougal has been an important voice for Polly Mason, and I suspect tonight he will be reminding her not to get dragged into unnecessary punishment.
Eddie Ellington: Then he should have reminded her before she signed the match contract.
The music changes.
A howl echoes through the arena.
The reaction turns hostile as Lupina Redclaw appears on the entrance stage.
The Wolf Pack emerges around her.
Lupina Redclaw stands in the center of the group, staring directly at the ring.
Then she smiles.
The Wolf Pack begins moving down the aisle together.
Eddie Ellington: Now this is a woman who understands tonight perfectly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Meaning?
Eddie Ellington: Lupina Redclaw has nothing to lose tomorrow. Polly Mason does. That means every minute this match continues favors Lupina.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Provided she can beat Polly Mason.
Eddie Ellington: Or soften her up enough that tomorrow becomes somebody else’s problem.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That sounds like you are suggesting Lupina Redclaw should concern herself with Dr. Violetta Voss’s match.
Eddie Ellington: I am suggesting she should win her own match however the opportunity presents itself.
Lupina Redclaw reaches ringside.
The Wolf Pack spreads along the floor near her corner.
Inside the ring, Polly Mason watches every one of them.
Ace MacDougal moves to the opposite side of the ring.
Flippers remains nearby.
Lupina Redclaw climbs onto the apron and steps through the ropes.
She moves immediately toward the center of the ring.
Polly Mason walks forward to meet her.
The two women stand almost nose to nose.
“Honest” Abe steps between them.
Celeste Orion moves to the center 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, accompanied by Ace MacDougal and Flippers... Polly Mason!
Polly Mason raises one arm.
Ace MacDougal applauds from ringside.
Celeste Orion: And her opponent, accompanied by the Wolf Pack... Lupina Redclaw!
Lupina Redclaw throws her arms outward as the Wolf Pack reacts approvingly from the floor.
Eddie Ellington: Look at that confidence.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lupina Redclaw always carries confidence.
Eddie Ellington: Tonight she should. She is fighting a woman whose attention is already divided between tonight and Fallout.
Celeste Orion exits the ring.
“Honest” Abe checks both competitors and signals for the bell.
Minute 1
The match begins at an immediate sprint.
Polly Mason catches Lupina Redclaw rushing forward and rotates through with a Tornado DDT.
Lupina Redclaw rolls through the impact and rises quickly enough to catch Polly Mason from behind with a reverse neckbreaker.
Both women hit the canvas hard within seconds of each other.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: No feeling-out process at all! Polly Mason gets the Tornado DDT, and Lupina Redclaw answers immediately with the reverse neckbreaker!
Eddie Ellington: This is exactly what Polly Mason should not be doing. One minute into the match and she has already landed on her head and neck.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lupina took the DDT too.
Eddie Ellington: Lupina does not have a Last Woman Standing match tomorrow.
Minute 2
Lupina Redclaw gets behind Polly Mason before she can fully rise.
She hooks the head and arm and pulls Polly Mason backward into a Dragon Sleeper.
Polly Mason reaches upward, trying to break the grip.
Lupina Redclaw leans back and increases the pressure.
“Honest” Abe asks Polly Mason if she wants to submit.
Polly Mason refuses.
She twists her hips and eventually works enough room to roll toward the ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Dragon Sleeper locked in early, but Polly Mason refuses to surrender!
Eddie Ellington: That is not the point. Every second Lupina Redclaw keeps that hold applied is another second of strain on the neck Dr. Violetta Voss can target tomorrow.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason knows what is waiting for her.
Eddie Ellington: Knowing and thinking are different things.
Minute 3
The two women reset.
Polly Mason attacks first and catches Lupina Redclaw with another Tornado DDT.
Once again, Lupina Redclaw responds quickly.
She catches Polly Mason as she rises and drops her with another reverse neckbreaker.
Both women roll apart.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They are matching each other almost move for move.
Eddie Ellington: Which favors Lupina.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: How does an even exchange automatically favor Lupina Redclaw?
Eddie Ellington: Because tomorrow morning Lupina wakes up with soreness. Polly Mason wakes up knowing Dr. Violetta Voss gets to continue the job.
Minute 4
Ace MacDougal calls toward Polly Mason from ringside.
He points toward Lupina Redclaw’s stance and motions for Polly to watch the lead leg.
Polly Mason adjusts her position.
Lupina Redclaw suddenly explodes forward and catches Polly on the side of the head with an enzuigiri.
Polly Mason drops to one knee.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ace MacDougal saw something and tried to warn Polly Mason, but Lupina Redclaw changed the attack and landed the enzuigiri.
Eddie Ellington: Smart woman. Lupina saw the coaching and adapted before Polly could.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That was excellent awareness.
Eddie Ellington: You say awareness. I say another kick to Polly Mason’s head before tomorrow.
Minute 5
Lupina Redclaw grabs Polly Mason and attempts to lift her into a powerslam.
Polly Mason shifts her weight.
She drops behind Lupina, wraps around the waist, and prevents the slam entirely.
The two women separate.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent defense from Polly Mason! She felt the powerslam coming and neutralized it before Lupina Redclaw could complete the move.
Eddie Ellington: Good. She finally remembered self-preservation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You say that like she has done nothing but absorb punishment.
Eddie Ellington: She is wrestling the night before a Last Woman Standing match. The entire match is unnecessary punishment.
Minute 6
Polly Mason attacks before Lupina Redclaw can reset.
She catches Lupina around the upper body and rotates through sharply with the Final Dose swinging reverse STO.
Lupina Redclaw hits hard and rolls onto her back.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Final Dose! That could change the complexion of this match quickly!
Eddie Ellington: Lupina needs to regroup, but that is why I like her. She does not panic.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: She was just driven into the canvas.
Eddie Ellington: Temporary inconvenience.
Minute 7
Polly Mason stays on offense.
She runs toward the corner, springs into position, and drives Lupina Redclaw into the mat with another Tornado DDT.
This time Polly Mason hooks the leg.
One! Two!
Lupina Redclaw kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Two-count! Polly Mason nearly ended this one!
Eddie Ellington: Nearly does not get you home earlier.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That was a very close fall.
Eddie Ellington: And now Polly knows she has to keep wrestling.
Minute 8
Polly Mason pulls Lupina Redclaw upright and drops her with a neckbreaker.
Lupina rolls toward the ropes, gets to her feet, and catches Polly Mason coming forward with a Tornado DDT of her own.
Polly Mason lands near center ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lupina Redclaw returns the favor with a Tornado DDT!
Eddie Ellington: Beautiful.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You enjoyed that considerably.
Eddie Ellington: Excellent technique should be appreciated.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Only when Lupina does it?
Eddie Ellington: Especially then.
Minute 9
Lupina Redclaw climbs to the middle rope and looks for a double axehandle to the back.
Polly Mason senses the attack.
She turns before Lupina lands and catches the incoming arm, stopping the strike completely.
Lupina Redclaw pulls away before Polly can counter.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Great defensive awareness from Polly Mason again!
Eddie Ellington: She needed it. Lupina Redclaw was looking to drive that shot directly between the shoulder blades.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You almost sound disappointed.
Eddie Ellington: I admire commitment.
Minute 10
Polly Mason catches Lupina Redclaw with another Tornado DDT.
Lupina fights back to her feet.
As Polly Mason approaches, Lupina Redclaw explodes forward with the Regal Execution knee strike directly to the jaw.
Polly Mason collapses.
Lupina Redclaw covers.
One!
Polly Mason kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Regal Execution! Lupina Redclaw caught her flush!
Eddie Ellington: And that is exactly what I have been talking about! Tomorrow Dr. Violetta Voss does not care that Polly Mason kicked out tonight. She cares that Polly just took a knee directly to the jaw.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason is still competing.
Eddie Ellington: Tonight.
Minute 11
As Polly Mason gets back to her feet, movement at ringside catches her attention.
One member of the Wolf Pack slips an object toward another member near the apron.
Polly Mason turns toward the commotion.
“Honest” Abe also moves closer to investigate.
The moment costs Polly her focus.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Wolf Pack is getting involved at ringside!
Eddie Ellington: They are standing outside the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They just tried to pass something toward the apron.
Eddie Ellington: Did Lupina Redclaw use it?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is not the point.
Eddie Ellington: Then apparently there is no point.
Ace MacDougal begins shouting across the ring toward the Wolf Pack.
Minute 12
While attention remains divided, Lupina Redclaw charges.
She throws herself into Polly Mason with a running crossbody.
Polly hits the canvas underneath her.
Lupina rises first and stalks around her opponent.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Running crossbody from Lupina Redclaw, and the ringside distraction absolutely contributed to that opening.
Eddie Ellington: Or perhaps Polly Mason should watch the woman she is wrestling.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are defending everything the Wolf Pack does tonight.
Eddie Ellington: I am defending situational awareness.
Minute 13
Polly Mason gets back to her feet and catches Lupina Redclaw with a neckbreaker.
But Lupina refuses to stay down.
She comes back up behind Polly Mason, hooks her immediately, and pulls her into another Dragon Sleeper.
Polly Mason struggles in the hold.
“Honest” Abe checks again.
Polly refuses to submit.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Second Dragon Sleeper of the match, and Lupina Redclaw is going back after the neck!
Eddie Ellington: Which is exactly what she should do. Polly Mason’s neck has already absorbed DDTs, neckbreakers, a knee strike, and one Dragon Sleeper.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That sounded disturbingly like a shopping list.
Eddie Ellington: I call it scouting.
Minute 14
Polly Mason escapes and spins back toward Lupina Redclaw.
She catches her and drives her down with the Final Crescendo spinning reverse DDT.
Before Polly can follow up cleanly, Lupina Redclaw rises and catches her again with an enzuigiri.
Both women collapse.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Final Crescendo from Polly Mason, but Lupina Redclaw answers with another enzuigiri! Neither woman is giving the other any room.
Eddie Ellington: And once again, every exchange benefits Lupina long-term tonight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are going to say that for the entire match, aren't you?
Eddie Ellington: Until someone explains why I am wrong.
Minute 15
The women rise together.
Polly Mason strikes first with a neckbreaker.
Lupina Redclaw rolls through the landing, comes back up, and answers with a reverse neckbreaker.
Both women remain down briefly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another mirror-image exchange!
Eddie Ellington: Lupina Redclaw is making Polly Mason work for absolutely everything.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason is doing the same to her.
Eddie Ellington: Tomorrow Lupina gets a recovery day. Polly gets Dr. Violetta Voss.
Minute 16
Polly Mason gains her footing first and catches Lupina Redclaw with another Tornado DDT.
As Polly rises, the Wolf Pack begins shouting from ringside.
One member climbs onto the apron.
Another moves around the corner.
Polly Mason turns toward them.
Lupina Redclaw uses the distraction to recover.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Again! The Wolf Pack is deliberately taking Polly Mason’s attention away from the ring!
Eddie Ellington: And again Polly Mason is allowing it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There are several people moving around ringside!
Eddie Ellington: Then bring several sets of eyes.
Ace MacDougal moves toward the apron and orders the Wolf Pack member down.
Minute 17
Polly Mason turns back toward the match.
She quickly hooks Lupina Redclaw and sends her overhead with a Northern Lights suplex.
Lupina rolls to her knees.
As Polly Mason approaches, Lupina Redclaw fires another enzuigiri into the side of her head.
Polly falls backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Northern Lights suplex from Polly Mason, and Lupina Redclaw answers with yet another enzuigiri!
Eddie Ellington: That kick has been there for her all night.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason needs to start protecting the side of her head.
Eddie Ellington: Now you are beginning to understand why tomorrow worries me.
Minute 18
Polly Mason changes tactics.
She gets behind Lupina Redclaw and locks in a sleeper.
Lupina immediately begins fighting the grip.
She reaches backward and repeatedly hammers double axehandles into Polly Mason’s upper back.
The strikes eventually loosen the hold.
Lupina Redclaw refuses to submit.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason tried to slow this match down with the sleeper, but Lupina Redclaw battered her way free.
Eddie Ellington: That is toughness.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I agree.
Eddie Ellington: Be careful. People may think you are coming around.
Minute 19
Polly Mason catches Lupina Redclaw and drives her down with another Final Crescendo.
She covers.
One!
Lupina Redclaw kicks out quickly.
Polly Mason sits up, clearly frustrated.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another Final Crescendo, but Lupina Redclaw refuses to stay down!
Eddie Ellington: Excellent kickout.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason is starting to wonder what it will take.
Eddie Ellington: She should wonder how much she is willing to spend tonight when she has an even more dangerous bill coming due tomorrow.
Minute 20
Polly Mason pulls Lupina Redclaw upright and sends her over with a suplex.
Lupina rolls toward the ropes and springs back up.
She catches Polly Mason with another enzuigiri.
Both women stumble in opposite directions.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another evenly matched exchange.
Eddie Ellington: Except Lupina Redclaw keeps finding Polly Mason’s head.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are correct about that.
Eddie Ellington: I usually am. It simply takes you longer.
Minute 21
Polly Mason charges.
She connects with another Tornado DDT.
Lupina Redclaw somehow gets back to her feet and drives another Regal Execution knee into Polly Mason’s jaw.
Polly Mason falls backward into the ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Regal Execution again! Polly Mason may be in real trouble now!
Eddie Ellington: This is becoming reckless.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: From Polly Mason?
Eddie Ellington: Absolutely. At what point does Ace MacDougal consider tomorrow and tell her enough is enough?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason would never accept that.
Eddie Ellington: That does not make it intelligent.
Minute 22
Polly Mason shakes off the impact and grabs Lupina Redclaw around the waist.
She sends her over with another suplex.
Lupina rolls up immediately and throws herself forward with a running crossbody.
Polly Mason goes down beneath her again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Neither woman can string together sustained control!
Eddie Ellington: That is what makes this dangerous for Polly. She is not getting an easy win. Lupina Redclaw is forcing her to wrestle every single minute.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Polly Mason is still answering.
Eddie Ellington: For now.
Minute 23
Lupina Redclaw moves behind Polly Mason and attempts another reverse neckbreaker.
This time Polly catches the arm.
She turns through the attempt and blocks the maneuver entirely.
Lupina Redclaw pulls free before Polly can capitalize.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent counter by Polly Mason! She recognized the reverse neckbreaker and stopped it before Lupina could complete the rotation.
Eddie Ellington: Good defense.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You can compliment Polly too.
Eddie Ellington: I am unbiased when facts demand it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That may be the most questionable statement you have made tonight.
Minute 24
Polly Mason catches Lupina Redclaw with a neckbreaker.
Lupina rises quickly and responds with another enzuigiri.
Polly Mason staggers into the ropes but remains standing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another enzuigiri! Lupina Redclaw has found that strike repeatedly tonight.
Eddie Ellington: If I am Dr. Violetta Voss, I am watching this match with a notebook.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You can be certain Voss is paying attention.
Eddie Ellington: Every kick to the head, every neckbreaker, every submission attempt. Polly Mason is giving tomorrow’s opponent free research.
Minute 25
Polly Mason attacks again with a Tornado DDT.
She gets back to her feet and turns toward Lupina Redclaw.
The Wolf Pack begins shouting from the floor once more.
One member slaps the apron.
Another points toward Polly.
Polly Mason turns her head.
Lupina Redclaw uses the extra second to recover.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Wolf Pack is becoming a constant factor.
Eddie Ellington: Then perhaps Polly Mason should stop reacting to them.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is easier said than done when several people are surrounding the ring.
Eddie Ellington: Lupina Redclaw brought backup. Polly brought backup. Everybody knew the arrangement.
Minute 26
Both women hesitate, exhausted from the pace.
Ace MacDougal slaps the mat from ringside.
He calls directly to Polly Mason, urging her to stay focused and keep moving.
Polly Mason looks toward him and nods.
At the opposite side, the Wolf Pack suddenly moves together.
Two members reach toward Polly Mason from different directions as “Honest” Abe turns toward the commotion.
Polly Mason is forced backward trying to avoid them.
Lupina Redclaw charges into the opening and crashes into Polly Mason.
She immediately covers.
One!
Polly Mason kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason survives, but the Wolf Pack created that entire opening!
Eddie Ellington: The referee did not see anything illegal.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You cannot possibly defend that.
Eddie Ellington: I am explaining what happened. Polly Mason looked outside the ring. Lupina Redclaw looked at Polly Mason. Which woman made the better decision?
Ace MacDougal is furious at ringside.
He points toward the Wolf Pack and continues arguing with “Honest” Abe.
Minute 27
Polly Mason rises with renewed urgency.
She catches Lupina Redclaw’s leg, brings her down, and transitions into an ankle lock.
Lupina Redclaw immediately turns and reaches for the ropes.
Before Polly can fully secure the hold, Lupina scrambles up and catches her with another reverse neckbreaker.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason tried to attack the ankle, but Lupina Redclaw escaped and immediately went back to the neck!
Eddie Ellington: Smart wrestling. Lupina knows exactly where the accumulated damage is.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We are getting late in this thirty-minute time limit.
Eddie Ellington: Which means Polly Mason has now spent nearly half an hour doing exactly what I said she should not do.
Minute 28
Polly Mason grabs Lupina Redclaw and sends her over with another suplex.
Lupina Redclaw rolls through and gets to her feet.
She immediately catches Polly with a reverse neckbreaker.
Both women stay down.
The crowd begins applauding the effort from both competitors.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Twenty-eight minutes, and neither woman has been able to separate herself from the other!
Eddie Ellington: Lupina Redclaw should be proud of this performance.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: So should Polly Mason.
Eddie Ellington: Pride will be very useful tomorrow when she is trying to stand before a ten-count.
Minute 29
Both women slowly return to their feet.
For several seconds they circle cautiously, each waiting for the other to commit.
Neither does.
They reset again.
Ace MacDougal shouts that time is running out.
The announcement energizes Polly Mason.
She charges.
Lupina Redclaw tries to brace herself, but Polly catches her and drives her into the canvas with another Tornado DDT.
Lupina hits hard.
Polly Mason rolls onto her knees.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tornado DDT! Polly Mason may have found the opening she needs with barely any time remaining!
Eddie Ellington: Then cover her!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason is exhausted!
Eddie Ellington: So is the clock!
Minute 30
The crowd rises as the final minute begins.
Polly Mason and Lupina Redclaw both hesitate, trying to gather enough strength for one final attack.
They circle.
They engage.
They separate again.
The timekeeper calls out the remaining seconds.
Ace MacDougal urges Polly Mason forward.
The Wolf Pack shouts for Lupina Redclaw.
Polly Mason finally grabs Lupina and sends her overhead with a suplex.
Lupina Redclaw rolls up almost immediately and blasts Polly Mason with another enzuigiri.
Both women fall.
Ten seconds remain.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ten seconds!
Polly Mason crawls toward Lupina Redclaw.
Lupina reaches for the ropes and pulls herself upward.
Five seconds.
Both women stagger to their feet.
Four.
Three.
Polly Mason lunges.
Lupina Redclaw steps forward to meet her.
Two.
One.
The bell rings.
Both women stop.
For a moment neither seems to understand why.
Then “Honest” Abe steps between them and waves both arms.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The time limit has expired!
The crowd responds with a mixture of applause and disappointment.
Polly Mason bends forward with her hands on her knees.
Lupina Redclaw leans against the ropes.
Ace MacDougal climbs onto the apron and speaks to Polly.
Across the ring, the Wolf Pack applauds Lupina Redclaw.
Celeste Orion stands from ringside.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the thirty-minute time limit has expired. This match has been declared a draw!
The crowd applauds both competitors.
Eddie Ellington: That is a tremendous result for Lupina Redclaw.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: A tremendous result for both women. They fought evenly for thirty full minutes.
Eddie Ellington: No. Look at the calendar, Johnny. Lupina Redclaw fought thirty minutes tonight and earned a draw against Polly Mason. Polly Mason fought thirty minutes tonight and now has to survive Dr. Violetta Voss tomorrow.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is a fair concern. Polly Mason absorbed tremendous punishment tonight, particularly around the head and neck.
Eddie Ellington: Two Dragon Sleepers. Multiple neckbreakers. Multiple enzuigiris. Regal Execution twice. Thirty minutes. And tomorrow is Last Woman Standing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But there is another side to that. Polly Mason proved tonight that she can endure. She never submitted. She never stayed down. And even with the Wolf Pack constantly creating distractions at ringside, she fought until the final bell.
Eddie Ellington: Tomorrow endurance is not measured by whether you keep wrestling.
He pauses.
Eddie Ellington: It is measured by whether you can get back to your feet before ten.
Inside the ring, Lupina Redclaw walks toward the center.
Polly Mason straightens.
The two women stare at each other.
For several seconds neither moves.
Then Lupina Redclaw gives a slight nod.
Polly Mason returns it.
The respect lasts only a moment.
The Wolf Pack calls Lupina toward the ropes.
She turns and exits.
Ace MacDougal enters the ring and speaks quietly with Polly Mason.
Flippers joins them.
Polly shakes out her neck and looks toward the Fallout logo displayed above the entrance stage.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Polly Mason has no recovery week. She barely has a recovery day. Tomorrow night she faces Dr. Violetta Voss in a Last Woman Standing match at Fallout.
Eddie Ellington: Which is why I said before the bell that wrestling tonight was risky.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And after thirty minutes?
Eddie Ellington: I was right.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We will find out tomorrow. Tonight, Polly Mason and Lupina Redclaw have fought to the limit, and neither woman could defeat the other.
MATCH DECLARED A 30:00 TIME-LIMIT DRAW.
The broadcast returns to the North Pole Arena as the ring crew clears the last equipment from ringside.
Referee “Fast Count” Frank steps through the ropes and checks each corner while the camera moves toward the commentary desk.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We are ready for tag team competition, and there is an unusual mixture of styles and personalities involved in this one. Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer will join forces against Northern Lights Champion Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend and Abaddon.
Eddie Ellington: You called it unusual. I call it unfair.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: To whom?
Eddie Ellington: Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer. Look across the ring at what they are about to deal with. Terrorfang is the Northern Lights Champion, Abaddon is built like something somebody forgot to lock underground, and they have Count Vlad standing outside making sure everybody behaves intelligently.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I doubt Count Vlad’s presence will make Jasper Fang feel particularly comfortable.
Eddie Ellington: Comfort is overrated.
The arena lights change as Jasper Fang’s entrance music begins.
Jasper Fang appears through the curtain first.
His expression remains focused as he scans the arena and then looks directly toward the ring.
A moment later Tom Sawyer emerges beside him.
The River Reaper receives a strong reaction from the North Pole crowd and slaps several outstretched hands before catching up with his partner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang comes into tonight looking to rebound after facing Infernus Rex last week, and Tom Sawyer brings a completely different rhythm to this team. Sawyer can wrestle technically, he can strike, and he is exceptionally dangerous when a match becomes chaotic.
Eddie Ellington: Then he has selected the correct opponents.
Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer stop near ringside and exchange a few words.
Jasper Fang points toward the opposite entrance.
Tom Sawyer nods.
They climb onto the apron together and enter the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is no established full-time team here, but both men are experienced enough to understand the fundamentals. Quick tags, protect your corner, and do not get isolated against the power waiting on the other side.
Eddie Ellington: You forgot the most important instruction.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Which is?
Eddie Ellington: Do not make Abaddon angry.
The lights darken.
A low, ominous entrance theme begins.
Count Vlad steps onto the stage.
The reaction becomes immediately hostile.
He pauses beneath the entrance lights, composed and almost regal, before extending one hand toward the curtain.
Abaddon emerges.
His enormous frame fills the entranceway as he steps alongside Count Vlad.
Then the music shifts into the unmistakable entrance of the Northern Lights Champion.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend walks out carrying the Northern Lights Championship.
He raises the title briefly before placing it over his shoulder.
Eddie Ellington: There they are.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You sound delighted.
Eddie Ellington: Look at that side of the match. The Northern Lights Champion and Abaddon. There is power, there is aggression, and most importantly, there is no confusion about what either man wants to do.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They are certainly not a traditional tag team.
Eddie Ellington: Who cares? If both men agree that the objective is to flatten the other two, that is enough common ground for me.
Count Vlad walks several steps ahead as Abaddon and Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend descend the aisle.
Inside the ring, Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer do not retreat.
Wilber stops near the barricade and slowly lifts the Northern Lights Championship toward them.
Eddie Ellington: That is the man everyone in the Northern Lights division has to measure themselves against.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And tonight the title is not at stake.
Eddie Ellington: The title does not have to be at stake for the champion to remind people why he has it.
At ringside, Count Vlad moves to the floor near the corner.
Abaddon steps over the top rope.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend enters behind him and hands the Northern Lights Championship to the official.
Celeste Orion moves to the center 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, the team of Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer!
Tom Sawyer raises one arm while Jasper Fang keeps his attention on the opposite corner.
Celeste Orion: And their opponents, accompanied by Count Vlad... first, Abaddon!
Abaddon steps forward and stares across the ring.
Celeste Orion: And his partner, the reigning Northern Lights Champion... Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend!
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend raises the championship high.
Eddie Ellington: That is what a champion looks like.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You have selected your side very early tonight.
Eddie Ellington: I selected the better side.
Celeste Orion exits the ring.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend hands the championship to ringside personnel and steps onto the apron.
Abaddon remains inside.
Across from him, Jasper Fang elects to start.
“Fast Count” Frank signals for the bell.
Minute 1
Jasper Fang and Abaddon move toward each other immediately.
Before Jasper Fang can establish control, Abaddon drives him backward toward his own corner and brings Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend into the exchange.
Abaddon muscles Jasper Fang off his feet with a bodyslam.
As Jasper tries to rise, Wilber reaches in and clamps a rear chinlock across him during the brief double-team window.
Jasper Fang fights through the pressure, gets back to his feet, and turns the momentum by grabbing Abaddon and driving his head into the turnbuckle.
“Fast Count” Frank orders Wilber back onto the apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Immediate teamwork from Abaddon and Terrorfang, but Jasper Fang refuses to be overwhelmed and answers by introducing Abaddon to the turnbuckle.
Eddie Ellington: What I saw was Abaddon slam him, Terrorfang squeeze the air out of him, and Jasper Fang desperately grab the nearest solid object.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The turnbuckle was a deliberate counter.
Eddie Ellington: Desperation can still be deliberate.
Minute 2
Jasper Fang reaches his corner and brings Tom Sawyer into the exchange.
Jasper Fang twists Abaddon’s arm into a full hammerlock.
Tom Sawyer enters and fires a superkick toward Abaddon while Jasper maintains control.
The combined attack rocks the larger man.
But Abaddon tears himself free.
He catches Jasper Fang, powers him across his shoulders, and violently throws him down with Abaddon’s Fury.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer tried to combine the hammerlock and superkick, but Abaddon broke through and delivered Abaddon’s Fury!
Eddie Ellington: That is why I like this man. Two people attack him and he responds by throwing one of them across the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Sawyer’s superkick landed.
Eddie Ellington: Apparently Abaddon considered it a suggestion.
Minute 3
With Jasper Fang still legal, the two men collide again.
Jasper Fang gets underneath Abaddon and drives him down with a sidewalk slam.
Abaddon rises quickly enough to catch Jasper coming forward and blasts him with the Netherstrike knee lift.
Jasper Fang staggers backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tremendous strength from Jasper Fang on that sidewalk slam, but Abaddon immediately answers with the Netherstrike.
Eddie Ellington: Jasper Fang keeps hitting Abaddon with significant offense and then looking surprised when Abaddon gets back up.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I do not see surprise.
Eddie Ellington: Give it time.
Minute 4
Jasper Fang begins attacking the legs and body with a series of stiff kicks.
Abaddon absorbs several before catching one of the strikes.
He pulls Jasper inward, hoists him across his body, and drops him over the knee with the Hellbreaker backbreaker.
Jasper Fang arches across the canvas.
Abaddon turns toward his corner and tags Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend.
The crowd reacts as the Northern Lights Champion enters.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Hellbreaker from Abaddon, and now the Northern Lights Champion gets his first legal opportunity.
Eddie Ellington: Perfect timing. Abaddon softens the back and hands Jasper Fang to Terrorfang.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That sounded disturbingly clinical.
Eddie Ellington: Good tag wrestling often is.
Minute 5
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend wastes no time.
As Jasper Fang struggles upright, Wilber charges, leaves his feet, and crushes him beneath a running senton.
Jasper Fang takes the full impact.
Wilber sits up and looks toward Tom Sawyer on the opposite apron.
Eddie Ellington: Beautiful.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Full body weight across Jasper Fang’s chest.
Eddie Ellington: And look at the champion. No wasted movement. He entered, found the injured man, and flattened him.
Tom Sawyer reaches over the rope calling for Jasper.
Minute 6
Jasper Fang tries to move toward his corner.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend catches him first.
The Northern Lights Champion scoops Jasper off the mat, turns, and drives him down with a powerslam.
Jasper Fang tries to brace himself but cannot stop the impact.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Scoop powerslam from Terrorfang, and Jasper Fang is having difficulty escaping this side of the ring.
Eddie Ellington: As he should. Terrorfang and Abaddon are doing exactly what they need to do.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tom Sawyer has barely been able to participate since that second minute.
Eddie Ellington: Then he has an excellent seat.
Minute 7
Jasper Fang finally creates movement.
He catches Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend and drives the champion headfirst into the turnbuckle.
Wilber staggers away.
As Jasper follows, Wilber turns and catches him across the body.
The champion lifts Jasper Fang and plants him with a lifting sideslam.
Wilber hooks the leg.
One!
Jasper Fang kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: First cover of the match from Terrorfang, but Jasper Fang is out immediately after one!
Eddie Ellington: That is not failure. That makes Jasper spend energy.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You have an explanation for everything the champion does.
Eddie Ellington: Champions generally deserve explanations. That is why they become champions.
Minute 8
Jasper Fang fires back.
He catches Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend around the waist and launches him overhead with a belly-to-belly suplex.
Wilber lands hard but gets back toward his feet.
The two men spill toward the corner.
Wilber reverses position and drives Jasper Fang shoulder-first into the ringpost.
Jasper collapses beside the ropes.
Wilber pulls him back and covers.
One!
Jasper Fang kicks out again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another one-count! Jasper Fang is refusing to give Terrorfang anything easy.
Eddie Ellington: But look at Jasper’s shoulder after that ringpost. The champion is accumulating damage.
Jasper Fang rolls toward his corner.
This time he reaches Tom Sawyer.
The tag is made.
Minute 9
Tom Sawyer springs through the ropes.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend turns toward him and immediately eats a superkick.
The champion staggers backward into the ropes.
Tom Sawyer follows him across the ring, maintaining pressure.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is exactly what Tom Sawyer needed to do! Fresh man, immediate offense, and Terrorfang is rocked!
Eddie Ellington: He surprised him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He kicked him directly in the face.
Eddie Ellington: Surprise can be painful.
Minute 10
Tom Sawyer brings Jasper Fang back into the action for a quick combination.
Tom Sawyer catches Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend and drives him down with the Crucible Falson Arrow.
Jasper Fang follows with a double-leg dive that knocks the champion backward.
Wilber fights through both attacks.
As Tom Sawyer turns toward him, Wilber catches him, lifts him across the shoulders, and drives a knee into him with the Go to Sleep.
Tom Sawyer falls to the mat.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Sawyer and Fang combined beautifully, but somehow Terrorfang survived both attacks and answered with the Go to Sleep!
Eddie Ellington: Somehow?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Figure of speech.
Eddie Ellington: His name is Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend. That is how.
Minute 11
Tom Sawyer gets upright and fires another superkick.
The strike catches Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend cleanly.
But the champion remains close enough to grab Sawyer again.
Wilber pulls him onto his shoulders and connects with another Go to Sleep.
Both men stagger away from the impact of the exchange.
Tom Sawyer dives toward his corner and tags Jasper Fang.
At the same moment, Wilber reaches back and tags Abaddon.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another tremendous exchange! Superkick from Sawyer, Go to Sleep from Terrorfang, and now both teams bring in fresh men.
Eddie Ellington: Fresh is relative. Jasper Fang has already spent plenty of time getting rearranged.
Minute 12
Jasper Fang and Abaddon meet near center ring.
Jasper fires a series of stiff kicks into Abaddon’s legs and ribs.
Abaddon responds by grabbing Jasper Fang, lifting him vertically, and bringing him down with a suplex.
Abaddon immediately turns and tags Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend back into the match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Short appearance from Abaddon, but an effective one. He absorbs those kicks, delivers the vertical suplex, and brings the champion back.
Eddie Ellington: That is efficiency.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Earlier you mocked quick tags from Santa Claus and Rudolph.
Eddie Ellington: Completely different circumstances.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Naturally.
Minute 13
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend enters.
Jasper Fang peppers him with stiff kicks before the champion can establish his base.
Wilber absorbs the strikes, grabs Jasper’s arm, pulls him toward him, and levels him with a short-arm clothesline.
Jasper Fang crashes onto his back.
Eddie Ellington: That is a clothesline.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang landed several kicks first.
Eddie Ellington: And then Terrorfang reminded him that legs stop being useful when somebody knocks the rest of you flat.
Minute 14
Jasper Fang refuses to stay down.
He drives Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend into the turnbuckle headfirst again.
Wilber turns from the corner.
Jasper charges.
The champion catches him and drives him into the canvas with another scoop powerslam.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang keeps finding ways to score, but Terrorfang keeps answering.
Eddie Ellington: That is championship resilience. Jasper is making this competitive. Terrorfang is making it painful.
Minute 15
Both men slow briefly as the match reaches its halfway point.
Jasper Fang reaches toward his corner.
Tom Sawyer extends his hand.
The tag is made, but Jasper remains inside long enough to combine with his partner.
Jasper Fang charges and drives Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend backward with the Wolf’s Pounce.
Tom Sawyer immediately catches the champion and launches him with a three-quarter nelson suplex.
Wilber somehow gets back to his feet and swings a short-arm clothesline through the advancing Jasper Fang before “Fast Count” Frank begins forcing the extra man out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent sequence from Fang and Sawyer! Wolf’s Pounce into the three-quarter nelson suplex!
Eddie Ellington: And Terrorfang still knocked Jasper Fang down on the way out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You refuse to let him lose an exchange.
Eddie Ellington: I report what my eyes see.
Minute 16
The double-team window continues briefly.
Tom Sawyer pulls Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend down and tries to secure the Briscoe Crab.
Jasper Fang, still feeling the effects of the previous clothesline, cannot add anything before being sent back toward his corner.
Wilber twists out of the hold before Sawyer can fully settle his weight.
The champion catches Tom Sawyer and drags him down into a rear chinlock.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Sawyer tried to turn this into the Briscoe Crab, but Terrorfang escaped and now has the chinlock.
Eddie Ellington: That is why the man is champion. He did not panic when two men were attacking him. He waited until the legal situation settled and took control.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Sawyer is still fighting the grip.
Eddie Ellington: He should. Breathing is useful.
Minute 17
Tom Sawyer works his way free as Jasper Fang steps closer to the corner.
The situation quickly breaks down.
Jasper Fang enters to help his partner.
Abaddon immediately storms through the opposite ropes.
For several seconds, all four competitors are inside the ring.
Jasper Fang catches Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend in a full hammerlock.
Tom Sawyer drives the champion down with another Crucible Falson Arrow.
Wilber fights his way upright and hammers repeated blows into Jasper Fang’s back.
Nearby, Abaddon catches Tom Sawyer and launches him with a vertical suplex.
“Fast Count” Frank moves frantically between both pairs, ordering Abaddon and Jasper Fang back to their corners.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Everything has broken loose! Sawyer and Fang attack Terrorfang, Abaddon answers on Sawyer, and Fast Count Frank has lost any resemblance of order!
Eddie Ellington: I thought it looked excellent.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Naturally.
Eddie Ellington: Abaddon saw his partner in trouble and entered. That is loyalty.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: When Jasper Fang did the same thing, you called it desperation.
Eddie Ellington: Different motivations.
Minute 18
Order is restored with Jasper Fang and Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend legal.
Jasper dives at the champion’s legs and takes him down.
Wilber scrambles back up near the ropes.
He reverses their position and drives Jasper Fang hard into the ringpost.
Wilber pulls him away and covers.
One! Two!
Tom Sawyer dives through the ropes and breaks the pin.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tom Sawyer makes the save! That ringpost may have finished Jasper Fang without it!
Eddie Ellington: Terrorfang had him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is what a partner is there to prevent.
Eddie Ellington: I understand. I simply object when it inconveniences the champion.
Minute 19
Jasper Fang fights back immediately.
He gets underneath Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend and launches him overhead with another belly-to-belly suplex.
The champion rolls through the impact.
As Jasper moves forward, Wilber launches himself with another running senton and crushes him beneath his weight.
Wilber rolls toward his corner and tags Abaddon.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Both men landed heavily there, but Terrorfang gets the tag.
Eddie Ellington: Now Jasper Fang has another problem.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Abaddon.
Eddie Ellington: A very large problem.
Minute 20
Abaddon enters at speed.
Jasper Fang attempts to brace for him.
Abaddon drives a Netherstrike knee lift directly through Jasper’s defense.
Jasper Fang falls backward.
Rather than remain inside, Abaddon turns and tags Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend back into the match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Netherstrike from Abaddon, and another quick tag.
Eddie Ellington: Jasper Fang cannot establish any rhythm. He prepares for Abaddon, gets kneed in the body, and suddenly the Northern Lights Champion is back.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is good tag strategy.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. I have been explaining that all night.
Minute 21
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend enters and reaches for Jasper Fang.
Jasper catches the arm first.
He twists it behind the champion into a full hammerlock and drives Wilber toward the canvas.
Terrorfang struggles but cannot immediately escape.
Jasper Fang turns the control into a quick cover.
One!
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend kicks out.
Jasper Fang immediately tags Tom Sawyer.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang catches the champion and nearly surprises him!
Eddie Ellington: One-count.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You were impressed when Terrorfang did that earlier.
Eddie Ellington: That was strategic. This was optimistic.
Minute 22
Tom Sawyer enters and Jasper Fang remains long enough to attack with him.
Tom Sawyer drags Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend toward the mat and tries to apply the Briscoe Crab.
At the same time, Jasper Fang traps one of Wilber’s arms in another full hammerlock.
The champion refuses to stay trapped.
Wilber fights upward and begins hammering repeated blows across Tom Sawyer’s back.
The strikes break the hold.
“Fast Count” Frank sends Jasper Fang back to the apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Sawyer and Fang are increasingly targeting the limbs and trying to slow the champion down.
Eddie Ellington: And Terrorfang answered by pounding Sawyer across the back until he let go.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Effective response.
Eddie Ellington: You are learning.
Minute 23
Tom Sawyer attempts the Briscoe Crab again.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend resists the turn.
He powers himself upright, grabs Tom Sawyer, lifts him from the mat, and drives him down with a lifting sideslam.
Wilber covers.
One! Two!
Jasper Fang dives in and breaks the pin.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another save by Jasper Fang!
Eddie Ellington: Twice now Terrorfang has had one of these men down for two and the other partner has interfered with destiny.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It is a tag team match.
Eddie Ellington: I know. I remain entitled to complain.
Minute 24
Tom Sawyer recovers as Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend pulls him upright.
Sawyer suddenly hooks both arms.
He lifts the champion and drives him headfirst into the canvas with the Sawyer Snap double-underhook piledriver.
The crowd erupts.
Wilber somehow rises to his knees and immediately begins hammering blows into Tom Sawyer’s back.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Sawyer Snap! Tom Sawyer planted the Northern Lights Champion!
Eddie Ellington: And Terrorfang is still fighting!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I will absolutely give him credit for that. Most competitors would not be moving after the Sawyer Snap.
Eddie Ellington: Northern Lights Champion.
He taps the desk.
Eddie Ellington: There is a reason.
Minute 25
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend attempts another series of hammering blows.
This time Tom Sawyer reads the attack.
He turns through the first strike and creates separation.
As Wilber comes forward again, Tom Sawyer fires a superkick directly into the champion’s jaw.
Wilber collapses.
Tom Sawyer covers.
One! Two!
Abaddon storms through the ropes and breaks the pin.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Abaddon makes the save! That superkick may have beaten the Northern Lights Champion!
Eddie Ellington: But it did not.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Because Abaddon saved him.
Eddie Ellington: Which proves Terrorfang selected an excellent partner.
Abaddon stares down at Tom Sawyer before “Fast Count” Frank forces him back toward the apron.
Minute 26
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend gets to his feet first.
He catches Tom Sawyer, lifts him high, and drives him down with another lifting sideslam.
Tom Sawyer cannot defend against the impact.
Wilber covers again.
One! Two!
Jasper Fang dives through the ropes and makes another save.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Jasper Fang saves the match again!
Eddie Ellington: How many times does Terrorfang have to beat somebody before the other man stops jumping into the ring?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Until there is a three-count.
Eddie Ellington: Technicalities.
Tom Sawyer crawls toward his corner.
He reaches Jasper Fang.
The tag is made.
Minute 27
Jasper Fang enters with urgency.
Tom Sawyer stays beside him long enough to launch another coordinated attack.
Jasper Fang traps Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend in the full hammerlock.
That allows Tom Sawyer to hook both arms and drive Wilber down with another Sawyer Snap.
The champion crashes into the canvas.
Tom Sawyer exits as Jasper Fang remains over Wilber.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Sawyer Snap again, this time with Jasper Fang controlling the champion’s arm beforehand! Terrorfang is in trouble!
Eddie Ellington: Get Abaddon in there.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The champion is legal.
Eddie Ellington: I am aware of the problem.
Minute 28
Jasper Fang keeps the pressure on before Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend can reach his corner.
He launches the champion overhead with a belly-to-belly suplex.
Tom Sawyer comes through during the continued combination and lifts Wilber into a double-underhook powerbomb.
The champion hits hard.
But as Jasper Fang moves toward him again, Wilber fires upward with a lifting forearm smash that catches him under the jaw.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Fang and Sawyer are throwing everything they have at Terrorfang!
Eddie Ellington: And he is still answering!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He may be surviving on instinct now.
Eddie Ellington: Championship instinct.
At ringside, Count Vlad watches without changing expression.
Abaddon grips the tag rope and calls toward his partner.
Minute 29
The clock begins approaching the thirty-minute limit.
Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer attack together one final time.
Jasper Fang charges through Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend with a clothesline.
Tom Sawyer immediately catches the champion and drives him down with another Crucible Falson Arrow.
Wilber tries to brace against the combination but cannot stop it.
He falls near the center of the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Terrorfang is down! Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer have finally overwhelmed the champion with that combination!
Eddie Ellington: There is less than a minute left. Survive.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Abaddon is reaching for the tag, but Wilber is nowhere near him!
Eddie Ellington: Then crawl!
Minute 30
Jasper Fang moves in looking for one final opportunity.
He catches Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend and twists the champion into another full hammerlock.
The timekeeper calls out the remaining seconds.
Wilber turns against the pressure.
He creates just enough space to break the angle of the hold and explodes upward with a lifting forearm smash.
The strike catches Jasper Fang flush.
Both men stagger.
Twenty seconds remain.
Tom Sawyer calls for the tag.
Abaddon does the same from the opposite corner.
Jasper Fang tries to pull Wilber back toward him.
Wilber grabs at Jasper’s arm.
Ten seconds.
Neither man can establish control.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ten seconds remaining!
Jasper Fang swings.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend blocks.
Five.
Wilber attempts another forearm.
Jasper Fang moves away.
Four.
Three.
Both men lunge toward each other.
Two.
One.
The bell rings.
The competitors stop.
“Fast Count” Frank immediately moves between them and waves his arms.
The crowd reacts as Jasper Fang looks toward the timekeeper.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend backs into his corner and rests against the ropes.
Celeste Orion rises from ringside.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the thirty-minute time limit has expired! This match has been declared a draw!
The audience applauds the sustained effort.
Tom Sawyer enters the ring and checks on Jasper Fang.
Across from them, Abaddon steps through the ropes.
Count Vlad climbs onto the apron but remains outside the ring.
Eddie Ellington: Thirty minutes, and Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer could not beat them.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Neither could Terrorfang and Abaddon beat Fang and Sawyer.
Eddie Ellington: You always have to ruin a perfectly good observation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is what a draw means, Eddie. Both teams had opportunities. Terrorfang had multiple covers broken by Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer. Sawyer nearly pinned the Northern Lights Champion after the superkick before Abaddon saved the match. And in the final minutes, Fang and Sawyer pushed the champion into one of the most difficult stretches he has faced tonight.
Eddie Ellington: And the champion survived all of it. Two Sawyer Snaps. Suplexes. Superkicks. Double teams. They threw practically the entire river at him and Terrorfang was still standing when the bell rang.
Inside the ring, Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend demands his Northern Lights Championship.
A ringside attendant passes it through the ropes.
Wilber takes the title and raises it above his head.
Eddie Ellington: There is your lasting image.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It was not a victory.
Eddie Ellington: He is still champion.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: His championship was never at stake.
Eddie Ellington: Details.
Abaddon stands beside Wilber.
Across the ring, Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer remain together.
Neither team approaches the other.
The tension remains evident.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I will say this about Abaddon as well. Every time Wilber Townsend appeared to be in genuine danger, Abaddon was there. He made a critical save at twenty-five minutes, and his power gave this team another dimension throughout the match.
Eddie Ellington: You finally understand why I picked them.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I understand why they were formidable. I also understand why they could not put away Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer.
Eddie Ellington: Thirty minutes with the Northern Lights Champion and Abaddon should be considered an achievement if you survive it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And thirty minutes against Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer should tell Terrorfang and Abaddon that neither man is going away easily.
Count Vlad steps through the ropes long enough to stand beside Abaddon.
He says something quietly to him.
Abaddon gives a small nod.
Wilber “Terrorfang” Townsend looks across the ring and raises the Northern Lights Championship toward Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer.
Tom Sawyer gestures toward the title.
Jasper Fang keeps his eyes on the champion.
Eddie Ellington: I would reconsider that gesture if I were Tom Sawyer.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Why?
Eddie Ellington: Because Terrorfang has a good memory.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Perhaps Sawyer wants him to remember.
The two teams finally begin leaving through opposite sides of the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Thirty minutes could not separate these four men. Jasper Fang and Tom Sawyer pushed the Northern Lights Champion and Abaddon to the limit, while Terrorfang and Abaddon repeatedly came within seconds of putting this match away.
Eddie Ellington: And if there had been another five minutes, my money would still be on Terrorfang and Abaddon.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Fortunately for everyone, you are not our official timekeeper.
Eddie Ellington: Another missed opportunity for this company.
MATCH DECLARED A 30:00 TIME-LIMIT DRAW.
The broadcast returns to the North Pole Arena.
The ring has been transformed into an interview setting, though there are no chairs and no table separating the people gathered inside it.
That decision suddenly seems wise.
Smooth Samantha Satin, still wearing the conservative charcoal suit from earlier in the evening, stands at the center of the ring with a microphone in hand.
Around her are the four men who will compete tomorrow night at Fallout for the North Pole Championship.
On one side stands former champion Santa Claus.
A few feet from him is Rudolph, competing again tonight for the first time since his injury and still carrying the physical signs of the twenty-four-minute battle with the Frost Giants earlier in the evening.
Across from them stands Infernus Rex.
Count Vlad remains slightly behind him, one hand resting against the head of his cane as he studies everyone else inside the ring.
And occupying the final side of the square is the reigning North Pole Champion, Grondar the Revenant.
The championship rests around Grondar’s waist.
Beside him stands Magnus Blackwell.
The champion says nothing.
He simply stares.
The crowd alternates between chants for Santa Claus and Rudolph, with loud jeers breaking through whenever the camera settles on Grondar or Magnus Blackwell.
At ringside, Johnny “The Mic” Michaels lowers his voice.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There it is. The North Pole Championship, and tomorrow night one of these four men leaves Fallout carrying it.
Eddie Ellington: Assuming the championship survives.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: This is supposed to be an interview.
Eddie Ellington: Look at who is standing in that ring. Smooth Samantha Satin deserves a medal just for staying between them.
Inside the ring, Smooth Samantha Satin waits until the crowd settles enough for her to begin.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Tomorrow night at Fallout, the North Pole Championship will be defended in a Fatal Four Way match.
She slowly turns so that she can address each participant.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Reigning champion Grondar the Revenant.
The crowd boos.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Former North Pole Champion Santa Claus.
A huge cheer.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Rudolph.
Another enormous reaction.
Smooth Samantha Satin: And Infernus Rex.
The crowd reacts with a mixture of hostility and respect.
Smooth Samantha Satin: There will be no partners tomorrow. No alliances are guaranteed. The first competitor to score the deciding fall becomes North Pole Champion.
She turns first toward Magnus Blackwell and Grondar the Revenant.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Magnus, your client enters tomorrow night with the greatest disadvantage a champion can have in a Fatal Four Way. Grondar does not have to be pinned or submitted to lose the North Pole Championship. How do you prepare for that?
Magnus Blackwell smiles.
He adjusts one cuff before taking the microphone Samantha offers him.
Magnus Blackwell: You begin with a false premise.
The crowd boos.
Magnus Blackwell: You describe tomorrow night as though Grondar the Revenant is trapped in a match with three challengers.
He looks toward Santa Claus.
Then Rudolph.
Then Infernus Rex.
Magnus Blackwell: He is not trapped with them.
A faint smile.
Magnus Blackwell: They are trapped with him.
Eddie Ellington: I like that.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I suspected you might.
Magnus Blackwell: Santa Claus knows precisely what Grondar can do. He lost this championship to him.
The crowd boos louder.
Santa Claus does not react.
Magnus Blackwell: Rudolph has spent weeks rehabilitating injuries and has only just returned to competition tonight.
Rudolph’s expression hardens.
Magnus Blackwell: And Infernus Rex...
Magnus Blackwell turns toward him.
Magnus Blackwell: You have been very impressive.
Count Vlad smiles faintly.
Magnus Blackwell: But impressive men have stood across from Grondar before.
He places one hand on the North Pole Championship.
Magnus Blackwell: They all eventually look the same from underneath him.
The audience jeers.
Smooth Samantha Satin retrieves the microphone.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Santa, Magnus Blackwell just reminded everyone that Grondar took the North Pole Championship from you. Tomorrow is your opportunity to reclaim it. Is this about the championship, or has what happened since Polar Meltdown made this personal?
Santa Claus takes the microphone.
He looks at Grondar for several seconds before answering.
Santa Claus: The championship is always personal.
The crowd quiets.
Santa Claus: Not because it belongs to me.
He points toward the North Pole Championship.
Santa Claus: Because of what that championship represents.
Santa Claus: The man who holds it represents this division.
Santa Claus: He represents everyone who walks through those doors believing that if they work hard enough, fight long enough, and stand back up enough times, they can become the best in the North.
He looks directly at Grondar.
Santa Claus: Grondar beat me.
There is no hesitation.
Santa Claus: I will never pretend otherwise.
Magnus Blackwell smiles.
Santa Claus: But tomorrow night I get another chance.
He steps closer to the champion.
Santa Claus: And I do not need excuses.
Santa Claus: I do not need promises.
Santa Claus: I need one opportunity.
The crowd begins cheering.
Santa Claus: One opening.
Santa Claus: One moment.
He looks down at the championship.
Santa Claus: And I know exactly what to do with it.
Magnus Blackwell: You had your moment.
Santa Claus looks toward him.
Magnus Blackwell: It ended with Grondar taking that championship away from you.
Santa Claus: Then tomorrow he gets the opportunity to prove he can keep it.
The crowd roars.
For the first time, Grondar the Revenant takes a step forward.
Santa Claus does the same.
Smooth Samantha Satin immediately positions herself slightly between them.
Neither man touches the other.
Eddie Ellington: Samantha might want to reconsider her location.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Nobody has thrown a punch.
Eddie Ellington: Yet.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Rudolph.
The reaction changes immediately.
Rudolph steps forward.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Earlier tonight, you returned to competition after weeks on the sidelines. You and Santa Claus defeated the Frost Giants.
She glances between the two longtime allies.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Tomorrow night, however, you may have to pin Santa Claus to become North Pole Champion.
Rudolph looks toward Santa.
The crowd begins murmuring.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Can you do that?
Rudolph takes the microphone.
He does not answer immediately.
Rudolph: Yes.
The arena reacts.
Santa Claus gives a slow nod.
Rudolph: And he knows that.
Rudolph turns toward Santa Claus.
Rudolph: Tonight we were partners.
Rudolph: Tomorrow we are not.
Rudolph: That does not erase everything we have been through together.
Rudolph: It does not change what he means to me.
He looks toward the North Pole Championship.
Rudolph: But I did not spend weeks recovering so I could come back and stand beside somebody else while they became champion.
A louder reaction rolls through the arena.
Rudolph: I came back because I still believe I can be the best.
He turns toward Grondar.
Rudolph: And if I have to pin Grondar, I will.
He turns toward Infernus Rex.
Rudolph: If I have to pin Infernus Rex, I will.
Finally, he looks back at Santa Claus.
Rudolph: And if the opportunity comes tomorrow night...
A pause.
Rudolph: I will pin Santa Claus too.
The crowd reacts loudly.
Eddie Ellington: There it is!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is what?
Eddie Ellington: I told you earlier tonight. Partners until the championship gets involved.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Rudolph is being honest.
Eddie Ellington: Honesty causes more arguments than lying ever could.
Inside the ring, Santa Claus steps toward Rudolph.
The two men stand face-to-face.
Santa Claus: Good.
That response catches Rudolph slightly by surprise.
Santa Claus: Because if you get that opportunity and you hesitate...
He shakes his head.
Santa Claus: Then you are not ready to be North Pole Champion.
The tension between them changes.
Rudolph gives a small smile.
Rudolph: I will not hesitate.
Santa Claus: Neither will I.
They remain face-to-face for another moment before Rudolph nods.
Eddie Ellington: Listen to them. They are politely telling each other they intend to take each other's heads off.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They are competitors, Eddie.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. I have been trying to tell you that all evening.
Smooth Samantha Satin turns toward Infernus Rex.
The atmosphere changes again.
Count Vlad watches her carefully.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Infernus Rex, unlike the others in this match, you have never held the North Pole Championship.
Infernus Rex steps forward.
Smooth Samantha Satin: But you have built considerable momentum heading into Fallout. Last week you defeated Jasper Fang, and tomorrow you have perhaps the biggest opportunity you have received since arriving in the Polar Division.
Infernus Rex takes the microphone.
He looks first at Grondar.
Infernus Rex: Opportunity?
His deep voice carries throughout the arena.
Infernus Rex: You speak as though someone has granted me something.
Count Vlad smiles behind him.
Infernus Rex: I was not granted tomorrow.
Infernus Rex: I took the road to it.
He looks at Santa Claus.
Infernus Rex: The former champion speaks of what the championship represents.
Then Rudolph.
Infernus Rex: The returning hero speaks of proving he belongs.
Finally, he turns toward Grondar.
Infernus Rex: And the silent champion allows another man to speak for him.
The crowd reacts.
Magnus Blackwell’s smile disappears.
Eddie Ellington: Oh, that was unnecessary.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: It certainly got Magnus Blackwell’s attention.
Infernus Rex takes one step closer to Grondar.
Infernus Rex: Tomorrow I do not care what any of you represent.
Infernus Rex: I do not care who used to hold the championship.
Infernus Rex: I do not care who returned from injury.
His eyes remain locked on Grondar.
Infernus Rex: And I do not care how large the champion is.
A low reaction moves through the crowd.
Infernus Rex: I care about one thing.
He points toward the championship.
Infernus Rex: Taking that.
Magnus Blackwell: You should care about how large the champion is.
The crowd reacts.
Magnus Blackwell steps forward.
Magnus Blackwell: Because tomorrow, when your ambitions meet physical reality, size becomes very important.
Count Vlad: Ambition?
Every head in the ring turns toward him.
Count Vlad slowly steps beside Infernus Rex.
Count Vlad: I assure you, Magnus, ambition is not the word I would use.
Magnus Blackwell: I am certain you have several theatrical alternatives.
Count Vlad smiles.
Count Vlad: And I am certain you mistake silence for control.
The crowd reacts again.
Magnus Blackwell looks at him sharply.
Count Vlad: You speak because Grondar does not.
He glances at the champion.
Count Vlad: You interpret because he does not explain.
Count Vlad: You promise because he does not promise.
His eyes return to Magnus.
Count Vlad: But tomorrow, when the bell rings, you cannot wrestle for him.
Magnus Blackwell: Neither can you wrestle for Infernus Rex.
Count Vlad: Precisely.
The two managers stare at one another.
Count Vlad: Which is why I am comfortable.
A loud reaction rises from the crowd.
Eddie Ellington: I do not trust either of these men when they start smiling.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: For once, we agree.
Smooth Samantha Satin moves back toward the center before the exchange can escalate.
Smooth Samantha Satin: There is one important point that has not been addressed.
She looks toward Grondar the Revenant.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Grondar does not have to lose tomorrow night to lose the championship.
She turns toward Magnus Blackwell.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Santa Claus could pin Rudolph.
She turns.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Rudolph could pin Infernus Rex.
Again.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Infernus Rex could pin Santa Claus.
Finally back to the champion.
Smooth Samantha Satin: And Grondar could never be involved in the deciding fall.
Magnus Blackwell: Which is precisely why tomorrow will demonstrate how superior Grondar the Revenant truly is.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Explain.
Magnus Blackwell: Everyone keeps describing the rules as the champion's disadvantage.
He points around the ring.
Magnus Blackwell: I see three liabilities.
He points toward Rudolph.
Magnus Blackwell: One man returning from injury.
Toward Santa Claus.
Magnus Blackwell: One former champion desperate to reclaim what he lost.
Toward Infernus Rex.
Magnus Blackwell: And one challenger so convinced of his own inevitability that he does not realize he has entered a match with three separate ways to fail.
Infernus Rex begins walking toward Magnus Blackwell.
Grondar immediately steps between them.
The crowd rises.
Infernus Rex stops.
He and Grondar are now face-to-face.
No one moves.
Smooth Samantha Satin stands nearby but does not interfere.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Look at this.
Eddie Ellington: There is an awful lot of humanity standing in very little ring right now.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Infernus Rex and Grondar the Revenant are nose-to-nose.
Eddie Ellington: And tomorrow nobody has to pull them apart.
Santa Claus steps closer.
Rudolph follows.
Now all four competitors occupy the center of the ring.
Magnus Blackwell and Count Vlad remain behind their respective men.
Smooth Samantha Satin raises the microphone.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Tomorrow night, there will be no need for another argument.
Nobody takes their eyes off anyone else.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Four men.
Smooth Samantha Satin: One fall.
Smooth Samantha Satin: One North Pole Champion.
The crowd begins chanting.
FALL-OUT! FALL-OUT! FALL-OUT!
Smooth Samantha Satin: Before we finish, I want one answer from each of you.
She looks at Santa Claus.
Smooth Samantha Satin: Why will you leave Fallout as North Pole Champion?
Santa Claus: Because I know what it takes to carry the North.
The crowd cheers.
Smooth Samantha Satin turns toward Rudolph.
Rudolph: Because tomorrow I stop proving that I came back.
He looks at the championship.
Rudolph: I prove what I came back for.
Another huge cheer.
Smooth Samantha Satin turns toward Infernus Rex.
Infernus Rex: Because none of them can stop me.
The reaction becomes louder.
Finally, Smooth Samantha Satin turns toward Magnus Blackwell.
Magnus Blackwell looks at the three challengers.
Then at Grondar.
He slowly places a hand against the North Pole Championship.
Magnus Blackwell: Because he already has it.
Boos pour through the arena.
Magnus Blackwell: And tomorrow...
A cold smile.
Magnus Blackwell: You have to take it from him.
Grondar the Revenant suddenly reaches down.
He removes the North Pole Championship from around his waist.
The crowd rises as Santa Claus, Rudolph, and Infernus Rex tense.
But Grondar does not swing the championship.
He raises it high over his head.
The four competitors stare at one another beneath it.
Santa Claus steps closer.
Rudolph joins him.
Infernus Rex refuses to give an inch.
For several long seconds, it appears that someone is going to strike.
No one does.
Smooth Samantha Satin slowly moves out of the center of the confrontation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Nobody is backing down.
Eddie Ellington: Nobody should. The first man who steps backward tonight spends all night wondering whether the others noticed.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow night, there will be no microphone between them. No interview. No reason to hold back.
Eddie Ellington: And most importantly, no friendship clause.
The camera circles the ring.
Grondar the Revenant holds the North Pole Championship overhead.
Infernus Rex stares directly at him.
Santa Claus looks at the championship he once held.
Rudolph looks at all three men.
Behind them, Magnus Blackwell and Count Vlad exchange one final calculating glance.
The crowd continues chanting.
FALL-OUT! FALL-OUT! FALL-OUT!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow night at Fallout, one of these four men will leave as North Pole Champion.
Eddie Ellington: And tonight may be the last time they stand this close without somebody hitting somebody else.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grondar the Revenant. Infernus Rex. Santa Claus. Rudolph. Fatal Four Way for the North Pole Championship.
The camera tightens on the championship raised above all four competitors.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow, the talking ends.
The broadcast fades away from the ring without a single punch being thrown.
The broadcast returns to the North Pole Arena as the camera sweeps across the crowd and settles on the ring.
Referee “Slow-Count” Sam stands near the ropes, checking the corners as the next teams prepare to enter.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tag team action continues here on Polar Power, and this one presents a very interesting stylistic contrast. The Mirror Saints, Sorin Savax and Vael Thorne, with Elyra Moane, against two members of the Reindeer Coalition, Blitzen and Donner.
Eddie Ellington: I know which team I like.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You usually do before anyone has even entered.
Eddie Ellington: Preparation, Johnny. The Mirror Saints are precise. They do not waste motion, and with Elyra Moane watching every detail from ringside, they rarely waste opportunities either.
The arena lighting dims.
A cold wash of silver light spreads across the entrance stage.
Elyra Moane appears first.
She pauses beneath the lights, composed and unreadable.
Behind her emerge Sorin Savax and Vael Thorne.
The Mirror Saints stand side-by-side for several seconds before beginning their walk toward the ring.
Neither man acknowledges the crowd.
Elyra Moane walks several steps ahead of them, her attention fixed entirely on the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Mirror Saints have a very deliberate presence about them. Sorin Savax brings tremendous explosiveness and suplex offense. Vael Thorne combines power with a submission game that can end a match very quickly.
Eddie Ellington: And they listen.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: To Elyra Moane.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. That is an underrated quality. Too many wrestlers think managers are decorative. Elyra Moane studies what is happening and makes sure her team notices what everybody else misses.
The trio reaches ringside.
Elyra Moane stops on the floor while Sorin Savax and Vael Thorne climb onto the apron.
They enter together.
Sorin Savax moves toward one corner.
Vael Thorne stands near the center of the ring and looks toward the entrance.
The music changes.
The crowd reaction rises immediately.
Blitzen and Donner emerge onto the stage.
Both members of the Reindeer Coalition acknowledge the audience before turning their attention toward the ring.
Blitzen gestures toward the Mirror Saints.
Donner nods.
The two begin walking down the aisle.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Blitzen and Donner know one another extremely well. There is familiarity here that can become important in a tag team match.
Eddie Ellington: Familiarity is useful until somebody kicks you in the face.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is a very narrow view of teamwork.
Eddie Ellington: It is a realistic view of wrestling.
Blitzen and Donner reach the ring.
Both climb onto the apron and enter.
The two teams move toward the center.
“Slow-Count” Sam immediately steps between them.
Elyra Moane watches from the floor.
Celeste Orion enters the center of the ring with microphone in hand.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall!
The crowd cheers.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, accompanied by Elyra Moane... the team of Sorin Savax and Vael Thorne... the Mirror Saints!
Elyra Moane gives a small nod from ringside.
Sorin Savax and Vael Thorne remain expressionless.
Eddie Ellington: Look at them. No wasted energy.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: They certainly appear focused.
Celeste Orion: And their opponents... representing the Reindeer Coalition... Blitzen and Donner!
The audience responds strongly.
Blitzen raises one arm.
Donner gestures toward the crowd before turning back toward the Mirror Saints.
Celeste Orion exits.
Sorin Savax elects to start for the Mirror Saints.
Blitzen remains inside for the Reindeer Coalition.
“Slow-Count” Sam checks both competitors and signals for the bell.
Minute 1
Sorin Savax and Blitzen move aggressively toward each other.
Sorin Savax wins the first major exchange, catching Blitzen around the body and launching him backward with the Crown of Ashes Saito suplex.
Blitzen rolls through the landing, gets back toward his feet, and answers by driving a heavy Reindeer Clomp stomp down across Sorin Savax.
Both men separate.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Fast start! Crown of Ashes from Sorin Savax, but Blitzen answers immediately with the Reindeer Clomp!
Eddie Ellington: Sorin Savax still got the better move.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Of course you would say that.
Eddie Ellington: Saito suplex versus stomp. One man got launched through the air. I am simply observing physics.
Sorin Savax moves toward his corner and tags Vael Thorne.
Blitzen does the same.
Donner enters.
Minute 2
Vael Thorne and Donner initially remain cautious, neither wanting to give the other an opening.
The two circle.
They reset.
Then Vael Thorne suddenly accelerates.
He drives Donner through the ropes and onto the arena floor.
Before Donner can recover, Vael Thorne launches himself over the ropes with a moonsault plancha.
Both men crash to the floor.
The crowd reacts loudly.
“Slow-Count” Sam begins counting.
One. Two. Three. Four.
Donner begins pulling himself upright.
Five. Six.
Vael Thorne rolls back into the ring.
Seven. Eight.
Donner slides underneath the bottom rope and beats the count.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Donner barely makes it back before the count reaches nine! That moonsault plancha from Vael Thorne changed the entire minute.
Eddie Ellington: Beautiful timing from Vael Thorne. He did not wait for Donner to recover. He put him on the floor and followed him immediately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Donner still found a way back inside.
Eddie Ellington: Admirable. Also painful.
Donner reaches his corner and tags Blitzen.
Minute 3
Blitzen enters quickly.
Vael Thorne catches him coming forward and drives him straight down with a brainbuster.
Blitzen rolls toward the ropes and fights upright.
As Vael Thorne advances, Blitzen charges and drives his head into Vael’s body with the Reindeer Gorge running headbutt.
Vael Thorne stumbles backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Brainbuster from Vael Thorne, but Blitzen comes right back with the Reindeer Gorge!
Eddie Ellington: Blitzen is tough. I will give him that.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Generous of you.
Eddie Ellington: It is still not enough to make me pick him.
Blitzen reaches his corner and tags Donner back into the match.
Minute 4
Vael Thorne closes in and attempts to throw Donner backward with a Saito suplex.
Donner drops his weight before Vael can complete the lift.
He hooks the leg and shifts his hips, preventing the throw completely.
Vael Thorne is forced to release.
The two separate again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent defense from Donner. Vael Thorne tried to take him over with the Saito suplex, but Donner neutralized it.
Eddie Ellington: Good counter.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You sound disappointed.
Eddie Ellington: I appreciate the counter. I would have appreciated the suplex more.
Minute 5
Vael Thorne changes tactics.
He moves behind Donner and tries to pull him down into the Owari Death Clutch Dragon Sleeper.
Before Vael can fully secure the hold, Donner powers upward.
He catches Vael Thorne, lifts him, and attempts to drive him down with the Thunderclap powerbomb.
Vael shifts his body before the move can be completed cleanly.
The two competitors separate without either gaining full control.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Both men were looking for something decisive there. Vael Thorne wanted the Owari Death Clutch, and Donner answered by trying to turn it into the Thunderclap.
Eddie Ellington: That tells you something important.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Which is?
Eddie Ellington: Donner felt that submission coming and wanted absolutely no part of it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is called defending yourself.
Eddie Ellington: Precisely. He knows how dangerous Vael Thorne is.
Minute 6
Vael Thorne steps forward and drives a big boot into Donner.
Donner absorbs the strike and answers with a Reindeer Clomp stomp.
Both men stagger.
Donner looks toward his corner.
He reaches Blitzen and makes the tag.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Hard strike from Vael Thorne, hard response from Donner, and now Blitzen comes back in.
Eddie Ellington: The Reindeer Coalition has done a good job staying composed, but they have not been able to put the Mirror Saints on the defensive for long.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The match has been competitive from the opening bell.
Eddie Ellington: Competitive is what people say when they do not want to admit my team looks better.
Minute 7
Blitzen enters and Vael Thorne immediately reaches toward Sorin Savax.
The Mirror Saints try to create a quick double-team opportunity.
Vael Thorne moves behind Blitzen and attempts to launch him with a bridging German suplex while Sorin Savax steps through the ropes looking to add a series of palm strikes.
Blitzen reacts quickly.
He twists away from Vael Thorne’s grip and moves out of range before Sorin Savax can connect.
“Slow-Count” Sam orders Sorin back onto the apron.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Blitzen saw the double team coming and escaped before either man could complete the combination.
Eddie Ellington: Temporary setback.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That was very good awareness from Blitzen.
Eddie Ellington: Fine. Excellent awareness.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Was that painful?
Eddie Ellington: Slightly.
Minute 8
Vael Thorne moves toward Blitzen again.
Before they engage, Elyra Moane steps closer to the apron.
She says something quietly toward Blitzen.
Blitzen turns his head.
His expression changes.
For one crucial second, his attention shifts away from Vael Thorne.
Vael immediately attacks.
He drives Blitzen backward and overwhelms him before the Reindeer Coalition member can recover.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Elyra Moane distracted Blitzen!
Eddie Ellington: She spoke to him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And she knew exactly what she was doing.
Eddie Ellington: Then Blitzen should not have listened.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You said earlier that Elyra Moane makes sure her team notices what others miss.
Eddie Ellington: I am delighted you were paying attention.
Blitzen struggles back toward his corner and tags Donner.
Minute 9
Donner enters with urgency.
Vael Thorne immediately tries to position himself behind him.
Donner breaks free and creates separation.
He runs toward the ropes.
The crowd rises as Donner launches himself high into the air with a Shooting Star Press.
He crashes down across Vael Thorne.
But Vael rolls through the impact before Donner can capitalize.
As Donner tries to rise, Vael Thorne moves behind him.
He hooks the head.
He traps the arm.
Vael Thorne drops backward and cinches in the Owari Death Clutch Dragon Sleeper.
Donner’s body immediately tightens.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Owari Death Clutch! Vael Thorne has it locked in!
Eddie Ellington: That is it. He has him.
Donner reaches toward the ropes.
They are too far away.
Blitzen shouts from the apron.
Donner tries to roll.
Vael Thorne follows him and tightens the hold.
“Slow-Count” Sam kneels beside them.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Donner is trying to move, but Vael Thorne has complete control of the upper body!
Eddie Ellington: There is nowhere to go. Donner can fight pride or he can protect himself.
Donner reaches out one final time.
He cannot reach the ropes.
He taps the mat.
The bell rings immediately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Donner submits! The Mirror Saints have won it!
Vael Thorne releases the Owari Death Clutch and rises.
Blitzen steps through the ropes and immediately checks on Donner.
Across the ring, Sorin Savax enters and joins Vael Thorne.
Elyra Moane climbs onto the apron.
Celeste Orion rises at ringside.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, your winners by submission... the Mirror Saints!
Eddie Ellington: Correct result.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You never doubted them.
Eddie Ellington: Why would I? Vael Thorne took Donner’s best aerial attack, survived it, and immediately turned the match into exactly the kind of fight he wanted.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That final sequence was impressive. Donner landed the Shooting Star Press, but Vael Thorne recovered before he could follow up and locked in the Owari Death Clutch.
Inside the ring, Elyra Moane stands between Sorin Savax and Vael Thorne.
She speaks quietly to both.
Vael Thorne looks toward the opposite side of the ring, where Blitzen helps Donner back to his feet.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Credit to Blitzen and Donner as well. They had answers throughout this match. Blitzen neutralized one attempted double team, Donner escaped another suplex attempt, and that Shooting Star Press nearly created a major opening.
Eddie Ellington: Nearly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Yes, nearly.
Eddie Ellington: But the Mirror Saints had the answer when it mattered. That is the difference.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Elyra Moane’s involvement in the eighth minute certainly helped change the momentum.
Eddie Ellington: Management.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Distraction.
Eddie Ellington: Management can be distracting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Whatever terminology you prefer, the final decision came inside the ring. Vael Thorne forced Donner to submit, and the Mirror Saints leave Polar Power with an important tag team victory.
Eddie Ellington: As I predicted.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You predicted it before the entrances.
Eddie Ellington: Efficiency.
THE MIRROR SAINTS DEFEAT BLITZEN AND DONNER VIA SUBMISSION AT THE 9:00 MINUTE MARK.
The broadcast returns to the North Pole Arena as the crowd settles in for the final undercard match of the evening.
Referee “Honest” Abe stands inside the ring while the camera cuts briefly to the commentary desk.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We are approaching tomorrow night’s Fallout Super Card, and this next contest carries implications in two very different directions. Lilith is less than twenty-four hours away from challenging Crimson Vane for the Queen of the North Championship in a two-out-of-three falls match.
Eddie Ellington: Which means tonight should be about sending a message.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And standing across from her will be Emberlyn Black, who made an impressive Polar Power debut last week.
Eddie Ellington: Impressive debut, yes. But there is a considerable difference between looking good in your first match and stepping into the ring with Lilith the night before she fights for a championship.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are firmly with Lilith tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Of course I am. Experience matters. Pressure matters. Lilith understands exactly what championship-level competition feels like. Emberlyn Black is still discovering where she fits.
The arena lighting shifts.
A deep red glow spreads across the entrance stage.
Count Vlad appears first.
He stands motionless beneath the lights for several seconds before slowly turning toward the entrance curtain.
Lilith emerges behind him.
The challenger for tomorrow night’s Queen of the North Championship wears a focused expression and does not acknowledge the hostility coming from sections of the crowd.
She walks alongside Count Vlad, eyes fixed on the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow night, Lilith gets the opportunity she has pursued for weeks. Two-out-of-three falls against Queen of the North Champion Crimson Vane.
Eddie Ellington: And unlike a one-fall match, tomorrow she has to prove she can beat the champion repeatedly. That requires patience, conditioning, and the ability to adjust after the first fall.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Which makes this match with Emberlyn Black an interesting final test.
Eddie Ellington: Provided Lilith does not let tomorrow distract her from tonight.
Lilith reaches the ring.
Count Vlad remains at floor level as she climbs onto the apron and steps through the ropes.
She moves toward the center and stares directly toward the entrance.
Her music fades.
A darker, sharper theme begins.
The crowd reacts with curiosity as Grinch Heyman walks onto the stage.
He wears a smug expression and gestures dramatically toward the entrance behind him.
Emberlyn Black appears.
The newcomer stops beside Grinch Heyman and looks toward the ring.
There is no hesitation in her posture.
No visible concern.
Emberlyn Black begins walking toward Lilith.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: One week ago, Emberlyn Black made her first Polar Power appearance inside the ring and came away with a victory. Tonight the level of competition rises dramatically.
Eddie Ellington: Dramatically? It climbs a mountain.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You do not believe she can win?
Eddie Ellington: I believe she can surprise Lilith. That is different from believing she can control her for an entire match.
Grinch Heyman talks continuously as he walks beside Emberlyn Black, pointing toward Lilith and then toward the referee.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Whatever advice Grinch Heyman is giving her, Emberlyn Black certainly does not look intimidated.
Eddie Ellington: Confidence is wonderful until somebody applies a submission hold you cannot escape.
They reach ringside.
Grinch Heyman stops near one corner.
Emberlyn Black climbs the steps, enters the ring, and immediately walks toward the center.
Lilith steps forward.
The two women stare at each other from only a few feet away.
“Honest” Abe moves between them.
Celeste Orion enters with microphone in hand.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit!
The crowd responds.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, accompanied by Count Vlad... tomorrow night’s challenger for the Queen of the North Championship... Lilith!
Lilith slowly raises one arm.
Count Vlad watches from ringside.
Eddie Ellington: There is tomorrow night’s champion if she takes care of business.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Crimson Vane may have something to say about that.
Eddie Ellington: Tomorrow she can say it.
Celeste Orion: And her opponent, accompanied by Grinch Heyman... Emberlyn Black!
Emberlyn Black steps forward and raises her chin toward Lilith.
Celeste Orion exits.
“Honest” Abe checks both women.
The bell rings.
Minute 1
Lilith attacks first.
She catches Emberlyn Black around the upper body and attempts to rotate her through the Dark Whirlwind tilt-a-whirl headscissors.
Emberlyn Black anticipates the rotation.
She plants her feet, redirects Lilith’s momentum, and folds her immediately into a small package.
“Honest” Abe drops toward the mat, but Lilith kicks free before a serious count develops.
Both women scramble upright.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent counter by Emberlyn Black! Lilith wanted the Dark Whirlwind, but Emberlyn turned the entire maneuver into a small package.
Eddie Ellington: Good surprise. Now do it when Lilith knows what is coming.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You refuse to give Emberlyn Black full credit.
Eddie Ellington: I gave her credit. I said it was good. But now Lilith has seen it.
Minute 2
Lilith closes the distance more carefully.
She hooks Emberlyn Black’s upper body and twists her down into the Demon’s Embrace.
Emberlyn attempts to roll through before the hold can be fully secured.
Lilith adjusts and keeps control.
Emberlyn Black reaches toward the ropes and eventually forces enough separation to escape.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Demon’s Embrace from Lilith, and that is exactly the kind of control she will need tomorrow night over multiple falls.
Eddie Ellington: That is the difference I was talking about. Emberlyn Black had a clever opening counter. Lilith responds by putting her in a hold that forces her to work for freedom.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn did get out.
Eddie Ellington: After spending energy.
Minute 3
The women engage again.
Lilith catches Emberlyn Black and lifts her vertically before bringing her down with a suplex.
Emberlyn rolls through the impact and gets to her feet.
As Lilith turns, Emberlyn Black catches her around the head and drives her down with Ashfall Nocturne, the snap neckbreaker.
Both women remain down momentarily.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Strong exchange! Vertical suplex from Lilith, Ashfall Nocturne from Emberlyn Black!
Eddie Ellington: I will give the newcomer this much. She is answering quickly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: More than quickly. She is matching Lilith early.
Eddie Ellington: Early.
Suddenly the crowd begins reacting toward the entrance aisle.
The camera turns.
Velora Synn walks onto the stage.
She does not carry a microphone.
She does not approach aggressively.
She simply looks toward the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And look who has come out here.
Eddie Ellington: Velora Synn.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora has apparently decided to get a closer look at this match.
Velora Synn walks down the aisle and stops near ringside, several feet away from both Count Vlad and Grinch Heyman.
She folds her arms and watches.
Eddie Ellington: Nothing wrong with scouting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Provided she remains an observer.
Minute 4
Lilith pays only brief attention to Velora Synn’s arrival.
She turns back toward Emberlyn Black and hooks her once again for the Demon’s Embrace.
Emberlyn Black attempts another small package counter, but this time Lilith anticipates it.
She widens her base and prevents the roll-through.
Emberlyn is forced to scramble back toward the ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is the adjustment. Emberlyn Black tried to go back to the small package, and Lilith was ready for it.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly what I said after the first minute. A trick works once. Then an experienced wrestler makes you find something else.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora Synn watching very carefully from the floor.
Eddie Ellington: She should. There is a lot to learn from Lilith tonight.
Minute 5
Lilith catches Emberlyn Black moving across the ring and spins her over with the Dark Whirlwind headscissors.
Emberlyn rolls toward the ropes.
As Lilith approaches, Grinch Heyman moves around the corner behind the referee.
He reaches through the lower ropes with a length of cord and loops it briefly across Lilith’s throat.
Lilith grabs at the cord as Grinch Heyman pulls.
The moment “Honest” Abe turns, Grinch Heyman releases it and steps away.
Lilith turns furiously toward ringside.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grinch Heyman just choked Lilith from the floor!
Eddie Ellington: I did not see it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We have a camera pointed directly at him!
Eddie Ellington: I meant the referee did not see it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is not a defense.
Eddie Ellington: It is if you are trying to avoid disqualification.
Across the floor, Velora Synn looks directly at Grinch Heyman.
He spreads his arms innocently.
Minute 6
Lilith turns her anger back toward the match.
She charges and catches Emberlyn Black flush with the Dread Kick superkick.
Emberlyn Black staggers but stays close enough to grab Lilith’s hair.
She yanks Lilith forward and whips her violently down to the canvas with the Moolah Whip hair mare.
The crowd reacts sharply.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Dread Kick from Lilith, but Emberlyn Black drags her down by the hair!
Eddie Ellington: Ugly technique.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You do not approve?
Eddie Ellington: I approve of winning. I simply prefer Lilith’s offense.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: At least you admit the bias.
Eddie Ellington: I have never hidden excellence.
Minute 7
Lilith regains control.
She catches Emberlyn Black and brings her down once more into the Demon’s Embrace.
Emberlyn tries to counter with Ashfall Nocturne, but Lilith keeps her positioned and prevents the neckbreaker from developing.
The hold tightens.
“Honest” Abe asks Emberlyn Black if she submits.
Emberlyn shakes her head.
She struggles toward the ropes and finally reaches them.
Lilith releases at the referee’s instruction.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Demon’s Embrace again, and Emberlyn Black refuses to submit!
Eddie Ellington: But notice how often Lilith is getting her into these positions. That matters tomorrow. Two-out-of-three falls rewards someone who can go back to a proven weapon repeatedly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are already treating this as preparation for Crimson Vane.
Eddie Ellington: Because Lilith should be doing exactly that.
Minute 8
Lilith pulls Emberlyn Black back toward the center and lifts her into another vertical suplex.
Emberlyn hits the canvas.
As Lilith rises, Grinch Heyman moves around the ring again.
When “Honest” Abe looks toward Emberlyn, Grinch Heyman reaches through the ropes and slaps Lilith across the face.
The crowd erupts in boos.
Lilith spins toward him.
Grinch Heyman immediately backs away.
Velora Synn takes one step closer.
Grinch Heyman looks toward her and decides not to advance again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He slapped her!
Eddie Ellington: All right, that one I saw.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Thank you.
Eddie Ellington: Grinch Heyman may want to remember there are now three people at ringside who do not particularly like him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora Synn has still not interfered, but she clearly noticed that.
Minute 9
Emberlyn Black takes advantage of Lilith’s divided attention.
She grabs Lilith by the hair and throws her forcefully across the ring with another Moolah Whip hair mare.
Lilith hits hard and rolls onto her side.
Emberlyn stalks after her.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black capitalizes immediately. That is exactly why outside involvement changes matches.
Eddie Ellington: I agree.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You agree?
Eddie Ellington: I am biased toward Lilith, not blind. Grinch Heyman is giving his wrestler openings she should not need.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That may be the most reasonable thing you have said tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Do not get accustomed to it.
Minute 10
Lilith creates space and tries to trap Emberlyn Black with the Infernal Embrace bodyscissors.
Emberlyn sees the legs coming around her body and drops her weight immediately.
She turns through the attempt and prevents Lilith from locking the hold.
Both women separate.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Excellent defense from Emberlyn Black. Lilith wanted the Infernal Embrace, but Emberlyn neutralized it before it could be secured.
Eddie Ellington: That was good scouting.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Perhaps Grinch Heyman has been doing something besides interfering.
Eddie Ellington: Let us not get carried away.
Velora Synn remains motionless at ringside, watching every exchange.
Minute 11
Emberlyn Black keeps pressing.
She catches Lilith’s hair again and sends her across the canvas with another hard Moolah Whip hair mare.
Lilith lands awkwardly near the ropes.
Emberlyn walks toward her with increasing confidence.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black is building momentum now.
Eddie Ellington: She is, but I do not like how much she is relying on the same attack.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You praised Lilith for repeatedly returning to Demon’s Embrace.
Eddie Ellington: Because Demon’s Embrace is elegant.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There it is.
Eddie Ellington: I never claimed consistency.
Minute 12
Lilith fights back to her feet and catches Emberlyn Black with another Dread Kick.
The superkick snaps Emberlyn’s head backward.
As Lilith moves to follow up, Grinch Heyman reaches beneath the bottom rope and grabs one of Lilith’s possessions from near her corner.
He retreats with it before the referee notices.
Lilith sees him.
Her attention immediately shifts toward ringside.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grinch Heyman has taken something belonging to Lilith!
Eddie Ellington: Give it back.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You sound offended.
Eddie Ellington: There is strategy, and then there is irritating Lilith unnecessarily before Fallout.
Velora Synn takes another step toward Grinch Heyman.
He quickly moves around the opposite side of the ring, keeping distance between them.
Minute 13
The distraction gives Emberlyn Black another opening.
She catches Lilith by the hair and throws her down again with the Moolah Whip.
Lilith attempts to brace against the move but cannot stop it.
She rolls toward the corner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith is beginning to pay for allowing Grinch Heyman to occupy her attention.
Eddie Ellington: That is the one criticism I have of her tonight. Forget him. Tomorrow night Crimson Vane will exploit every moment of distraction.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And Emberlyn Black is exploiting it tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Which makes this useful preparation, provided Lilith learns from it.
Minute 14
Emberlyn Black stays aggressive.
She reaches down, grabs Lilith by the hair again, and sends her over with another Moolah Whip hair mare.
This time Lilith takes the full impact and remains on the canvas.
Emberlyn Black stands above her.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black has taken control of this match.
Eddie Ellington: For the moment.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is several consecutive minutes.
Eddie Ellington: And Lilith has survived every one of them. Control only matters if you turn it into victory.
At ringside, Count Vlad remains remarkably calm.
His eyes stay fixed on Lilith.
Minute 15
Emberlyn Black reaches for Lilith’s hair again.
This time Lilith grabs her wrist.
She twists sharply and stops the hair mare before Emberlyn can complete it.
Emberlyn Black tries to pull away.
Lilith shoves her backward and creates distance.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is the adjustment! Lilith finally anticipates the hair mare and neutralizes it.
Eddie Ellington: I told you. Experience.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: She took several before making the adjustment.
Eddie Ellington: She was gathering information.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Naturally.
Minute 16
Emberlyn Black changes tactics.
She moves behind Lilith and tries to lock in the Blackout Dragon Sleeper.
Lilith feels the arm coming around her neck.
She immediately drops her weight, turns toward Emberlyn, and prevents the hold from being secured.
The women separate again.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black wanted Blackout, but Lilith shuts it down before she can lock it in.
Eddie Ellington: Very important moment. Blackout is the kind of hold that can change a match immediately.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And now Lilith knows exactly how Emberlyn wants to apply it.
Eddie Ellington: See? You are learning from me.
Minute 17
Lilith attacks first.
She catches Emberlyn Black from behind and drives her down with the Abyssal Slam sitout rear mat slam.
Emberlyn absorbs the impact and rolls behind Lilith as she rises.
This time Emberlyn Black secures Blackout.
Her arm locks around Lilith’s head and neck.
She pulls backward.
Lilith drops to one knee.
“Honest” Abe asks if she submits.
Lilith shakes her head.
Emberlyn tightens the Dragon Sleeper.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Blackout is locked in! Lilith could not stop it this time!
Eddie Ellington: Fight the hands, Lilith. Do not waste energy trying to stand straight up.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are coaching now.
Eddie Ellington: Somebody has to.
Lilith works her way sideways and eventually forces enough separation to break the grip.
She rolls toward the ropes.
Minute 18
Lilith gets back to her feet and immediately attacks.
She catches Emberlyn Black and drives her downward with an Atomic Drop to Hell.
Emberlyn tries to block it but cannot.
She stumbles away holding her lower back.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith answers Blackout with the Atomic Drop to Hell!
Eddie Ellington: Exactly what she needed. Do not allow Emberlyn Black to believe that submission hold changed the balance of this match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora Synn continues to watch intently.
Eddie Ellington: She may be learning something too.
Minute 19
Lilith grabs Emberlyn Black and sends her over with another vertical suplex.
Emberlyn gets to her feet quickly and again catches Lilith by the hair.
She whips her down with another Moolah Whip.
Both women remain on the canvas briefly afterward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another exchange where both women land significant offense.
Eddie Ellington: This is becoming a much better test than I expected from Emberlyn Black.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That sounded like genuine respect.
Eddie Ellington: Do not misunderstand me. I still think Lilith wins if we keep going.
Minute 20
Lilith catches Emberlyn Black and spins her through another Dark Whirlwind headscissors.
Emberlyn rolls through the impact and suddenly grabs Lilith around the waist.
She lifts her high.
Emberlyn Black drives Lilith into the canvas with a powerbomb.
The crowd erupts.
Emberlyn covers.
One! Two!
Lilith kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Powerbomb! Two-count on Lilith!
Eddie Ellington: Too close.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Very close.
Eddie Ellington: I said Emberlyn Black could surprise her. That was nearly the surprise.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Lilith had to dig deep to escape that cover.
Eddie Ellington: And she did.
Minute 21
Both women take several seconds to recover.
They circle cautiously.
Lilith looks for an opening.
Emberlyn Black attacks first and grabs the hair again.
Before Lilith can fully defend herself, Emberlyn sends her across the ring with another Moolah Whip hair mare.
Lilith lands near the corner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black returns to the hair mare, and she continues finding success with it.
Eddie Ellington: I still hate looking at it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Because it is being used against Lilith.
Eddie Ellington: Obviously.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: At least we have established honesty.
Minute 22
Lilith gets upright and catches Emberlyn Black, bringing her down into another Demon’s Embrace.
Emberlyn immediately begins struggling in the hold.
As “Honest” Abe moves into position to check the submission, Emberlyn Black reaches toward the edge of the ring.
A concealed foreign object appears in her hand.
She uses it against Lilith while the referee’s view is obstructed.
Lilith reacts sharply and loosens the hold.
Emberlyn discards the object before “Honest” Abe can see it.
Lilith tries to reapply Demon’s Embrace.
Emberlyn Black refuses to submit.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black used something in that hold!
Eddie Ellington: I saw it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And?
Eddie Ellington: And I do not like it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Because it happened to Lilith.
Eddie Ellington: We covered this already.
At ringside, Velora Synn shakes her head.
Grinch Heyman shouts that nobody saw anything.
Minute 23
Lilith releases the hold and rises.
From ringside, Count Vlad steps closer to the apron.
He locks his eyes on Emberlyn Black.
He says nothing.
He simply stares.
Emberlyn notices.
The momentary hesitation is enough for Lilith to move.
But Emberlyn Black recovers and catches Lilith again in Blackout.
The Dragon Sleeper locks in.
Lilith struggles.
“Honest” Abe checks her.
Lilith refuses to submit.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Blackout again! Count Vlad distracted Emberlyn Black for a moment, but she still recovered quickly enough to secure the hold!
Eddie Ellington: Count Vlad did not touch anyone.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Neither did Velora Synn, and you called her presence scouting.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly. Managers and observers create pressure simply by existing.
Lilith continues fighting until she finally tears herself free.
Minute 24
Lilith explodes out of the escape.
She catches Emberlyn Black and drives her face-first into the canvas with the Demonic Crunch facebuster.
Emberlyn goes down hard.
At ringside, Grinch Heyman again reaches toward Lilith’s corner and takes another possession while attention is focused on the action.
Lilith sees him but refuses to turn away this time.
Instead, she covers Emberlyn Black.
One!
Emberlyn kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Demonic Crunch! Lilith gets a one-count, but notice the difference. She saw Grinch Heyman interfering again and did not take her eyes off Emberlyn Black.
Eddie Ellington: That is the lesson. Tomorrow night there will be distractions. Crimson Vane will create pressure. Lilith cannot chase every irritation.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You are giving Grinch Heyman far too much credit for helping her prepare.
Eddie Ellington: Entirely accidental coaching.
Minute 25
Emberlyn Black gets upright first.
She charges across the ring and drives a running knee into Lilith.
Lilith attempts to protect herself but takes most of the strike.
She falls backward into the ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Running knee from Emberlyn Black, and Lilith is in trouble again!
Eddie Ellington: Get off those ropes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn has pushed Lilith far deeper into this match than many expected.
Eddie Ellington: Including me.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There it is.
Eddie Ellington: I can acknowledge performance without changing sides.
Minute 26
Lilith struggles away from the ropes.
Emberlyn Black follows.
Once again, a foreign object appears in Emberlyn’s hand.
She strikes Lilith with it while “Honest” Abe is positioned on the wrong side of the exchange.
Lilith drops to one knee.
Emberlyn quickly disposes of the object.
The referee turns back and sees only Lilith struggling to stand.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Again! Emberlyn Black used a foreign object again!
Eddie Ellington: All right, now I am annoyed.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Now?
Eddie Ellington: Once is opportunistic. Twice tells me Emberlyn Black is not convinced she can finish Lilith without help.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is an interesting distinction.
Eddie Ellington: It is an accurate distinction.
Velora Synn looks toward Grinch Heyman.
He loudly insists he had nothing to do with it.
Minute 27
Emberlyn Black stays on offense.
She grabs Lilith by the hair and throws her across the canvas with another Moolah Whip hair mare.
Lilith tries to brace herself but cannot stop the maneuver.
She rolls onto her side.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black remains in control late.
Eddie Ellington: And the clock is becoming a factor.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: We are inside the final four minutes.
Eddie Ellington: Which means Lilith has to stop surviving and start finishing.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You believe she still has enough left?
Eddie Ellington: Absolutely.
Minute 28
Emberlyn Black reaches down and pulls Lilith upright.
She moves behind her.
Blackout locks in for the third time.
Lilith tries to turn immediately but cannot.
Emberlyn Black drags her backward and tightens the Dragon Sleeper.
Lilith’s arms reach outward.
The ropes are several feet away.
“Honest” Abe asks if she submits.
Lilith refuses.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Blackout again! Lilith has already spent significant time in this hold twice tonight!
Eddie Ellington: Do not quit.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black has this cinched in deeply.
Eddie Ellington: And tomorrow Lilith may need to survive exactly this kind of pressure across multiple falls.
Lilith slowly shifts her hips.
She rotates toward Emberlyn.
The grip finally breaks.
Lilith collapses forward but remains in the match.
Minute 29
Both women are exhausted.
Neither immediately advances.
The crowd begins applauding as they struggle back to their feet.
At ringside, Count Vlad steps closer.
He looks directly at Emberlyn Black and says something toward her.
The words cannot be heard clearly over the crowd.
Whatever he says, Emberlyn reacts.
She turns toward him and shouts back.
Lilith uses the moment to recover.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Count Vlad is antagonizing Emberlyn Black now, and she took the bait!
Eddie Ellington: That is experience at ringside.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Earlier you criticized distractions.
Eddie Ellington: I criticized them when they happened to Lilith.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: At least you remain consistent in your inconsistency.
Emberlyn Black turns back toward the ring.
Lilith is already waiting.
Minute 30
The timekeeper signals that the final minute has begun.
Lilith advances.
Emberlyn Black tries to defend.
Lilith creates just enough separation and launches the Dread Kick.
The superkick catches Emberlyn Black flush.
She falls backward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Dread Kick!
Eddie Ellington: Cover her!
Lilith drops to one knee.
She reaches toward Emberlyn.
The crowd rises.
Thirty seconds remain.
Lilith crawls forward.
Emberlyn Black rolls onto her side.
Twenty seconds.
Lilith reaches for her.
Grinch Heyman shouts desperately from ringside.
Count Vlad watches.
Velora Synn remains still, eyes locked on the ring.
Ten seconds.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ten seconds remaining!
Lilith pulls Emberlyn Black closer.
Five.
She tries to turn her onto her back.
Four. Three.
Emberlyn resists.
Two. One.
The bell rings.
“Honest” Abe immediately waves both arms.
Lilith stops.
She looks toward the timekeeper.
Emberlyn Black remains on the canvas.
The crowd reacts with a mixture of applause and frustration.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The thirty-minute time limit has expired!
Eddie Ellington: Ten more seconds.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You think Lilith had her?
Eddie Ellington: After that Dread Kick? Absolutely.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But she did not have ten more seconds.
Eddie Ellington: Details continue to ruin excellent arguments.
Celeste Orion rises at ringside.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the thirty-minute time limit has expired! This match has been declared a draw!
The audience applauds.
Inside the ring, Lilith stands slowly.
She looks frustrated.
Count Vlad climbs onto the apron but does not enter.
Across the ring, Grinch Heyman reaches through the ropes and helps Emberlyn Black toward the corner.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What a performance from Emberlyn Black. In only her second Polar Power match, she fought a Queen of the North Championship challenger for the full thirty-minute time limit.
Eddie Ellington: I will give her that. She earned some respect tonight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Some?
Eddie Ellington: She also had Grinch Heyman choking people, slapping people, taking things that did not belong to him, and we saw foreign objects enter this match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That may be the first time tonight you have sounded offended by questionable tactics.
Eddie Ellington: They were used against my pick.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Of course.
Lilith walks toward the ropes.
Before she exits, movement on the floor catches her attention.
Velora Synn steps closer.
The crowd begins reacting.
Lilith turns toward her.
For several seconds the two women stare at each other.
Velora Synn does not climb onto the apron.
She does not challenge Lilith.
She simply nods once.
Lilith looks at her for another moment.
Then she gives a small nod in return.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Interesting.
Eddie Ellington: Very.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Velora Synn came out here to watch, and despite everything that happened around this ring, she never became physically involved.
Eddie Ellington: She learned plenty.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And tomorrow night, Lilith has to turn around after thirty hard minutes tonight and face Crimson Vane in a two-out-of-three falls match for the Queen of the North Championship.
Eddie Ellington: That is the real story for me. Lilith survived three Blackout Dragon Sleepers. She fought through repeated interference. She took a powerbomb. She took knees. She took neckbreakers. And at thirty minutes, she was still the woman moving forward.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Emberlyn Black deserves equal credit for refusing to submit to Demon’s Embrace and surviving that final Dread Kick long enough for the clock to expire.
Eddie Ellington: Fine. The newcomer impressed me.
A pause.
Eddie Ellington: Do not make me say it twice.
Inside the ring, Emberlyn Black finally stands.
She looks across at Lilith.
Neither woman offers a handshake.
Neither backs away either.
Grinch Heyman continues talking from the apron.
Count Vlad watches him coldly from across the ring.
Velora Synn turns and begins walking toward the entrance aisle.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Thirty minutes could not separate Lilith and Emberlyn Black tonight. But there is no time-limit escape from the challenge awaiting Lilith tomorrow. Two-out-of-three falls. Crimson Vane. Queen of the North Championship.
Eddie Ellington: And after what I saw tonight, Crimson Vane had better be ready for a very stubborn challenger.
MATCH DECLARED A 30:00 TIME-LIMIT DRAW.
The screen cuts away from the live North Pole Arena feed.
There is no Polar Power music.
No commentary.
No arena noise.
Only the slow metallic rattle of chains.
The image fades in on the interior of Krampus’s lair.
Firelight flickers against walls of black stone. Heavy iron chains hang from the ceiling and disappear into the darkness above. Broken weapons, splintered shields, and old iron restraints line the chamber.
At the center of it all sits a massive throne constructed from bone, blackened wood, and lengths of rusted chain.
Upon it sits Krampus.
The Alpha Demon leans forward with both hands resting against the arms of the throne.
To his right stands Jack Frost.
Cold vapor curls faintly around him as he watches the chamber in silence.
To Krampus’s left stands Grinch Heyman.
Unlike his usual animated presence at ringside, Grinch Heyman is unusually still.
Emberlyn Black is nowhere to be seen.
The camera slowly moves closer.
Krampus raises his head.
He looks directly into the lens.
Krampus: I hear the whispers.
His voice reverberates through the stone chamber.
Krampus: I hear them in the halls of NPCW.
Krampus: I hear them from those who once stood beneath my banner.
His hands tighten around the throne.
Krampus: The Demonic Legion is finished.
A slow breath.
Krampus: The Infernal Legion now reigns.
Grinch Heyman watches him carefully.
Jack Frost remains expressionless.
Krampus: They speak the name of Infernus Rex as though one victory erased everything that came before it.
His eyes narrow.
Krampus: One loss.
He rises from the throne.
The chains beneath him scrape against bone and stone.
Krampus: One.
Krampus: Loss.
He steps down from the raised platform.
Krampus: Does not erase the battles I have won.
Another step.
Krampus: It does not erase the monsters I have broken.
Another.
Krampus: And it does not change what every demon in this world already knows.
Krampus stops directly in front of the camera.
Krampus: I am still the Alpha Demon.
Behind him, Jack Frost slowly looks toward Grinch Heyman.
Grinch Heyman nods approvingly.
Krampus: Infernus Rex may call himself whatever he wishes.
A faint, humorless smile crosses his face.
Krampus: King.
Krampus: Conqueror.
Krampus: Lord of his little Infernal Legion.
The smile disappears.
Krampus: But there is only one Alpha.
He pounds a fist against his chest.
Krampus: And tomorrow at Fallout, the first lesson will not be taught to Infernus Rex.
The camera closes tighter.
Krampus: It will be taught to the traitor.
His voice falls into a growl.
Krampus: Marax the Deceiver.
Jack Frost’s expression hardens.
Krampus: You stood beneath my banner.
Krampus: You fought beside us.
Krampus: You knew what loyalty demanded.
His fists clench.
Krampus: And you chose betrayal.
Grinch Heyman: A very poor career decision.
Krampus does not look at him.
His attention remains fixed on the camera.
Krampus: Tomorrow at Fallout, Marax, you will not receive a wrestling match.
He begins walking slowly back toward the throne.
Krampus: You will receive judgment.
Krampus: You will learn what happens when a demon forgets who—
CRASH!
The entire chamber shakes.
Grinch Heyman spins toward the sound.
Jack Frost immediately steps away from the throne.
A second crash tears through the lair.
One of the heavy wooden doors at the far end of the chamber explodes inward.
Wood splinters across the stone floor.
Metal fixtures tear free from the wall.
Through the wreckage steps Infernus Rex.
Behind him comes Abaddon.
Then Marax the Deceiver.
For one second, nobody moves.
Krampus stares across his destroyed lair at the three members of the Infernal Legion.
Infernus Rex looks around the chamber.
His eyes settle on the throne of bones and chains.
Infernus Rex: Alpha?
The word hangs in the room.
Infernus Rex looks back toward Krampus.
Infernus Rex: Then defend your kingdom.
Krampus roars.
The chamber erupts.
Infernus Rex grabs one of the hanging chains and tears it from its mounting.
A section of the wall fixture crashes onto the floor.
Abaddon overturns a heavy wooden table, sending iron objects and shattered stone across the chamber.
Marax the Deceiver drives his boot through one of the Demonic Legion standards hanging from the wall and tears it down.
Grinch Heyman: HEY! HEY! THAT IS PROPERTY!
Marax the Deceiver looks toward him.
Grinch Heyman immediately retreats behind the throne.
Jack Frost charges first.
He crashes into Abaddon with a forearm.
Abaddon staggers one step.
Jack Frost strikes again.
Then Marax the Deceiver attacks from the side.
The two men overwhelm Jack Frost.
Abaddon grabs him around the upper body while Marax drives repeated shots into his ribs.
Jack Frost fights back, throwing an elbow into Abaddon’s jaw.
Marax the Deceiver catches him from behind.
Jack Frost is driven hard into one of the stone pillars.
Across the chamber, Krampus charges directly at Infernus Rex.
The two massive demons collide.
The impact sends both men crashing through a collection of chains hanging beside the throne.
Krampus drives Infernus Rex backward.
Infernus Rex answers with a forearm across Krampus’s head.
Krampus swings back.
Neither man gives ground.
Grinch Heyman peers around the throne.
Grinch Heyman: This is not how civilized factions resolve contractual disagreements!
Abaddon turns his head toward him.
Grinch Heyman disappears behind the throne again.
Jack Frost drives Marax the Deceiver backward with a shoulder.
Before he can follow, Abaddon catches Jack Frost from behind.
Marax regains his footing.
The double-team resumes.
Abaddon holds Jack Frost while Marax drives a knee into his body.
Jack Frost drops to one knee.
Marax the Deceiver: Tomorrow was supposed to be my punishment?
He grabs Jack Frost by the head.
Marax the Deceiver: Consider this the warning.
Jack Frost spits back at him.
Jack Frost: You should have stayed gone.
Marax drives him into the wall.
Near the throne, Krampus and Infernus Rex continue exchanging heavy blows.
Krampus grabs Infernus Rex around the throat and drives him backward into the throne.
Bones and chains shift beneath the impact.
Krampus: THIS IS MY DOMAIN!
Infernus Rex grabs Krampus’s wrist.
He slowly pulls the hand away from his throat.
Infernus Rex: Not anymore.
Infernus Rex drives his head forward.
The headbutt sends Krampus stumbling backward.
The Infernal leader reaches down and grabs one of the enormous bones forming the arm of the throne.
He tears it free.
Krampus sees what he is doing.
His expression changes from rage to fury beyond restraint.
Krampus: NO!
Infernus Rex throws the piece aside.
It shatters against the stone floor.
Krampus launches himself into Infernus Rex.
Both men crash out of frame.
The camera operator retreats as the battle spreads across the chamber.
Jack Frost manages to break free from Abaddon and Marax the Deceiver long enough to blast Marax backward.
Abaddon immediately drives into Jack Frost and crushes him against the wall again.
Marax recovers.
The two members of the Infernal Legion close in together.
Across the lair, Grinch Heyman grabs one of the fallen chains and tries to drag it away from the fighting.
Grinch Heyman: Do you people have any idea what rebuilding a demonic lair costs?!
A piece of broken furniture crashes beside him.
Grinch Heyman drops the chain.
Grinch Heyman: Forget I asked!
He scrambles behind another stone column.
Krampus and Infernus Rex come back into view.
Krampus hammers a forearm into Infernus Rex.
Infernus Rex answers.
Krampus strikes again.
Infernus Rex drives him back.
Neither man falls.
Neither man retreats.
The sounds of the fight become almost indistinguishable from the destruction around them.
Stone breaks.
Chains crash.
Wood splinters.
The throne itself begins to collapse.
Krampus sees it.
He roars with renewed fury and throws himself at Infernus Rex again.
Jack Frost continues fighting both Abaddon and Marax the Deceiver several yards away.
Even outnumbered, he refuses to stay down.
Abaddon knocks him backward.
Jack Frost rises.
Marax attacks.
Jack Frost answers.
The camera shakes violently as someone crashes into the wall beside it.
For a moment the image fills with static.
When it returns, Krampus has Infernus Rex backed against the remnants of the throne.
Infernus Rex grips Krampus around the upper body.
They struggle for position.
Krampus: TOMORROW I DESTROY YOUR TRAITOR!
Infernus Rex: Tomorrow...
He drives Krampus backward.
Infernus Rex: ...you learn which legion survived.
The camera pulls farther away.
The entire lair has become a battlefield.
Krampus and Infernus Rex trade blows beside the ruined throne.
Jack Frost battles desperately against Abaddon and Marax the Deceiver.
Grinch Heyman remains somewhere amid the wreckage, shouting unheard warnings over the chaos.
The Infernal Legion continues tearing apart every symbol of the Demonic Legion it can reach.
The camera image flickers again.
A heavy impact knocks it sideways.
The final image is tilted against the stone floor.
In the distance, Krampus rises again.
Infernus Rex advances toward him.
Neither stops.
The picture cuts to black.
The sounds continue.
Heavy blows.
Breaking stone.
Rattling chains.
A roar from Krampus.
A second roar answering from Infernus Rex.
Then silence.
The broadcast returns to the North Pole Arena.
The camera moves across a crowd that has already witnessed two separate thirty-minute time-limit draws tonight.
The North Pole Championship graphic fills the production screen above the entrance stage.
At ringside, Johnny “The Mic” Michaels adjusts his headset as referee “Honest” Abe enters the ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ladies and gentlemen, because of the two thirty-minute time-limit draws earlier tonight, we have considerably less television time remaining than originally anticipated.
Eddie Ellington: That is what happens when everybody decides tonight is the evening for endurance records.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Therefore, this North Pole Championship match will have a strict fifteen-minute time limit.
The crowd reacts.
Eddie Ellington: Advantage champion.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Already?
Eddie Ellington: Absolutely. Huck Finn has fifteen minutes to beat Grondar the Revenant. Grondar has fifteen minutes to make sure he does not.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Knowing Grondar, I seriously doubt he intends to spend fifteen minutes running out a clock.
Eddie Ellington: Of course not. He can spend fifteen minutes dismantling Huck Finn instead.
The arena lights change.
The entrance music of Huck Finn hits.
A strong reaction rises from the North Pole crowd as Huck Finn steps onto the entrance stage.
He stops beneath the lights and looks toward the North Pole Championship graphic.
Then toward the ring.
There is no hesitation.
Huck Finn starts down the aisle with a faster stride than usual.
Fans reach across the barricades and he acknowledges several of them without losing focus.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: This is an enormous opportunity for Huck Finn, but the circumstances are unusual. He knew he would have remaining television time tonight. He did not know that would mean only fifteen minutes.
Eddie Ellington: Then he should blame everybody who wrestled before him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck Finn has faced Grondar the Revenant before, and he knows he cannot afford to wrestle cautiously tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Which makes him easier to beat.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Explain that.
Eddie Ellington: If Huck Finn believes he has to hurry, he takes risks. If he takes risks against Grondar, Grondar catches him. If Grondar catches him, somebody should begin collecting Huck Finn’s personal belongings.
Huck Finn reaches ringside.
He climbs onto the apron, steps through the ropes, and immediately walks toward the center.
He looks toward the entrance and waits.
His music fades.
The arena grows darker.
A deep, heavy theme begins.
Magnus Blackwell appears at the entrance.
The crowd immediately boos.
He pauses, straightens his jacket, and then turns back toward the curtain.
North Pole Champion Grondar the Revenant emerges.
The championship is fastened around his waist.
The enormous champion stands motionless beneath the entrance lights while Magnus Blackwell gestures toward him.
Eddie Ellington: There is your North Pole Champion.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And tomorrow night at Fallout, Grondar faces an entirely different challenge. Santa Claus, Rudolph, and Infernus Rex in a Fatal Four Way.
Eddie Ellington: Which makes this even more impressive. He is defending the championship tonight when he could easily have demanded to protect himself before tomorrow.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He was scheduled to defend the championship.
Eddie Ellington: Do not ruin a compliment with administrative details.
Grondar the Revenant begins walking down the aisle.
Magnus Blackwell remains beside him.
The champion does not acknowledge the crowd.
He does not acknowledge the Fallout signs.
His eyes stay fixed on Huck Finn.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Fifteen minutes may sound short, but against Grondar the Revenant, fifteen minutes can be a very long time.
Eddie Ellington: For Huck Finn.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: That is certainly what Magnus Blackwell believes.
Eddie Ellington: That is what anybody with eyesight believes.
Grondar reaches ringside.
He climbs onto the apron and steps over the top rope.
Huck Finn does not move backward.
Grondar stops several feet away from him.
The champion removes the North Pole Championship.
He looks at it once.
Then raises it high over his head.
The crowd boos.
Celeste Orion moves to the center of the ring.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Polar Power main event! It is scheduled for one fall, it has a strict fifteen-minute time limit, and it is for the North Pole Championship!
The crowd erupts.
Celeste Orion: Introducing first, the challenger... Huck Finn!
Huck Finn raises one arm and looks toward the champion.
Celeste Orion: And his opponent, accompanied by Magnus Blackwell... he is the reigning North Pole Champion... Grondar the Revenant!
Grondar raises the title again.
Magnus Blackwell applauds from the corner.
Celeste Orion exits.
“Honest” Abe takes the North Pole Championship from Grondar.
He shows it to Huck Finn.
Then raises it above his head.
The championship is passed to ringside.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Fifteen minutes. Huck Finn has to make every one of them count.
Eddie Ellington: And Grondar only needs one.
The bell rings.
Minute 1
Huck Finn attacks immediately.
He gets underneath Grondar the Revenant and attempts to drive the champion down with a uranage.
Grondar plants his feet.
The champion reverses the attempt, tears himself free, and blasts Huck Finn with a clothesline.
Huck tries to brace against the impact but is driven hard onto his back.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck Finn wasted no time trying to move the champion, but Grondar stopped the uranage and answered with that enormous clothesline!
Eddie Ellington: There is the danger of rushing. Huck Finn tried to throw Grondar before he had him positioned properly. Grondar simply decided not to go.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck has no luxury of a long feeling-out process tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Then he picked an unfortunate opponent.
Minute 2
Grondar the Revenant pulls Huck Finn upright.
The champion muscles Huck into position, hoists him vertically, and drives him into the canvas with The Aftermath.
The ring shakes.
Huck Finn still manages to rise quickly enough to fire a sharp backhand chop across Grondar’s chest.
The champion barely moves.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Aftermath in only the second minute! Huck Finn somehow gets back up and fires that chop, but he has already taken one of Grondar’s most dangerous attacks.
Eddie Ellington: That is what I meant by one.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: One what?
Eddie Ellington: One opening. One mistake. One Aftermath. Against this champion, everything becomes difficult very quickly.
Minute 3
Grondar attempts a side kick.
This time Huck Finn is ready.
He catches the leg, redirects Grondar’s momentum, and gets underneath the champion.
With an enormous effort, Huck Finn lifts Grondar the Revenant and drives him down with a sitout powerbomb.
The crowd erupts.
Grondar absorbs the impact and rolls onto one shoulder.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Look at the power of Huck Finn! He countered the kick and powerbombed the North Pole Champion!
Eddie Ellington: Very impressive.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You sound surprised.
Eddie Ellington: I am. Moving Grondar is difficult. Powerbombing him is ridiculous.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And suddenly the challenger has created an opening.
Eddie Ellington: Then he had better use it before the large man gets angry.
Minute 4
Grondar the Revenant rises and swings a European uppercut.
Huck Finn catches the arm before the strike lands cleanly.
He redirects it and shoves the champion away.
Grondar turns back toward him.
Huck stays mobile rather than engaging directly.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Good defense by Huck Finn. He neutralized the uppercut and did not allow Grondar to turn it into another power exchange.
Eddie Ellington: Smartest thing he has done so far.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Because he avoided the champion?
Eddie Ellington: Because he remembered he weighs considerably less than the champion.
Minute 5
Grondar finally corners Huck Finn.
He grabs the challenger around the body and lifts him vertically.
Huck tries to shift his weight but cannot escape.
Grondar the Revenant brings him down with a heavy vertical suplex.
Huck Finn lands near center ring.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grondar gets his hands on Huck Finn again, and there is the consequence.
Eddie Ellington: This is what the champion needs to do. Do not chase Huck around. Cut him off. Grab him. Make him carry your weight.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Five minutes gone.
Eddie Ellington: Which means Huck Finn has already lost one-third of his opportunity.
Minute 6
Huck Finn gets back to his feet and changes angles.
He catches Grondar the Revenant from the side and uses the champion’s forward momentum to launch him backward with a Saito suplex.
Grondar lands heavily.
This time the champion takes several seconds before rising.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Saito suplex! Huck Finn moved Grondar again!
Eddie Ellington: I do not like that.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: At least you admit it.
Eddie Ellington: Grondar is allowing Huck Finn too many opportunities to use leverage. Make him fight straight ahead.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck may not give him that choice.
Minute 7
Huck Finn keeps the pressure on.
He steps forward and fires a heavy backhand chop into Grondar the Revenant’s chest.
The sound echoes through the arena.
Grondar takes the strike.
Huck lands another.
The champion remains upright.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck Finn is standing his ground now!
Eddie Ellington: That is courageous.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You mean reckless.
Eddie Ellington: I was trying to be polite.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck knows the clock is moving. He cannot spend five minutes looking for perfect opportunities.
Eddie Ellington: And Grondar knows every second that disappears belongs to him.
Minute 8
Huck Finn goes back to the uranage.
He hooks Grondar and tries to throw him.
Again, the champion blocks it.
Grondar the Revenant breaks the grip and explodes forward with another clothesline.
Huck Finn cannot defend against it.
He flips onto the canvas from the impact.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Second uranage attempt, second reversal! Grondar has that move completely scouted tonight.
Eddie Ellington: Stop trying it!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Advice for Huck Finn?
Eddie Ellington: Absolutely. I want the challenger healthy enough to recognize the champion when this ends.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Seven minutes remain.
Eddie Ellington: Seven minutes too many if Grondar keeps landing clotheslines like that.
Minute 9
Huck Finn tries to push himself upright.
Grondar the Revenant takes several steps backward.
The champion lowers his shoulder.
Huck turns.
Grondar charges and drives straight through him with a spear.
Huck Finn is folded nearly in half.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Spear by Grondar!
Eddie Ellington: That may have taken the urgency out of Huck Finn.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck has spent this match trying to create momentum, and Grondar just stopped him dead.
Eddie Ellington: This is why fifteen minutes favors the champion. Every time Huck gets knocked down, he loses more than stamina. He loses time.
Minute 10
Grondar the Revenant stalks Huck Finn as he rises.
The champion drives another clothesline across him.
Huck crashes down.
Grondar immediately covers.
“Honest” Abe drops into position.
One!
Two!
Huck Finn kicks out.
The crowd cheers.
Grondar sits up and looks toward the referee.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Two-count! Huck Finn survives!
Eddie Ellington: Barely.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Five minutes remain.
Eddie Ellington: And now Huck has another problem. He cannot merely survive Grondar. He has to find enough offense to beat him before time expires.
At ringside, Magnus Blackwell tells the champion to stay focused.
Minute 11
Grondar pulls Huck Finn back to his feet.
He lifts him.
The Aftermath connects again.
Huck Finn crashes into the canvas.
Somehow, as Grondar reaches down, Huck catches the champion and throws him sideways with a desperate uranage.
Both men hit the mat.
Grondar recovers first and covers.
One!
Huck Finn kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What resilience from Huck Finn! He takes The Aftermath, still finds a way to throw the champion with the uranage, and then kicks out!
Eddie Ellington: At one.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: After everything he has taken!
Eddie Ellington: I am not criticizing the courage. I am questioning how much of him is left.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Four minutes.
Eddie Ellington: And Grondar still has the championship advantage.
Minute 12
At ringside, Magnus Blackwell moves closer to the apron.
He locks eyes with Grondar the Revenant and shouts sharply toward him.
The champion straightens.
His posture changes.
Magnus Blackwell pounds one fist into his palm and tells Grondar to finish the challenger.
Huck Finn gets back to his feet and lands another backhand chop.
Grondar absorbs it.
The champion surges forward and drives Huck backward.
He forces him to the canvas and covers again.
One!
Huck Finn kicks out.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Another kickout by Huck Finn!
Eddie Ellington: Magnus Blackwell just reminded Grondar what is at stake. Stop letting Huck Finn believe he belongs in this match.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I think Huck Finn has already proven he belongs.
Eddie Ellington: Belonging does not win championships.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Three minutes remain!
Minute 13
Grondar the Revenant grabs Huck Finn before the challenger can recover.
He hooks him.
Lifts him.
The Aftermath connects for the third time.
Huck Finn hits the mat and lies still for several seconds.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: The Aftermath again! That may finally be enough!
Eddie Ellington: Cover him!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grondar is not covering immediately!
Eddie Ellington: He wants to make absolutely certain.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: With only two minutes left, that decision could matter!
Grondar stands over Huck Finn and looks down at him.
Magnus Blackwell shouts from ringside for the champion to stay on him.
Minute 14
Grondar the Revenant hauls Huck Finn up again.
He presses the challenger high overhead.
The crowd reacts as Grondar holds him there.
Then the champion drops Huck down into a crushing spinebuster.
Huck Finn somehow rolls through the impact.
He catches Grondar leaning over him and uses the champion’s momentum to throw him with another Saito suplex.
Both men collapse.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What an exchange! Grondar presses Huck Finn overhead and drives him down, and somehow Huck answers with another Saito suplex!
Eddie Ellington: One minute.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: One minute remains!
The crowd rises.
Huck Finn looks toward the timekeeper.
Grondar the Revenant pushes himself onto one knee.
Magnus Blackwell begins shouting instructions.
Eddie Ellington: This is exactly where the champion wants to be.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: On one knee?
Eddie Ellington: Sixty seconds from retaining the North Pole Championship.
Minute 15
The final minute begins.
Huck Finn forces himself upright.
He knows the clock is against him.
He moves toward Grondar the Revenant.
The champion gets there first.
Grondar catches Huck, lifts him vertically, and drives him into the canvas with The Aftermath for the fourth time.
Huck Finn crashes flat onto his back.
Grondar hooks the leg.
“Honest” Abe drops beside them.
One!
Huck Finn kicks out.
The arena erupts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He kicked out!
Eddie Ellington: How?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck Finn kicked out of The Aftermath again!
Eddie Ellington: The man has no regard for his own well-being!
Grondar the Revenant looks down at Huck Finn.
For the first time tonight, there is visible frustration on the champion’s face.
Thirty seconds remain.
Magnus Blackwell points toward the timekeeper.
Magnus Blackwell: CLOCK!
Grondar looks toward him.
Then toward the arena clock.
Twenty seconds.
Huck Finn begins pulling himself upward using Grondar’s leg.
The champion looks down at him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck Finn is still trying to stand!
Eddie Ellington: Stay down!
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Ten seconds!
The crowd counts with the clock.
TEN!
Huck Finn reaches one knee.
NINE!
Grondar grabs him.
EIGHT!
Huck fires a shot into the champion’s body.
SEVEN!
Grondar answers.
SIX!
Huck swings again.
FIVE!
Grondar reaches for him.
FOUR!
Huck Finn tries to create separation.
THREE!
Grondar steps forward.
TWO!
Huck lunges.
ONE!
The bell rings.
Both men stop.
“Honest” Abe immediately steps between them.
The audience erupts in a mixture of cheers, boos, and disbelief.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Time has expired!
Eddie Ellington: And still champion!
Huck Finn looks toward the timekeeper in frustration.
Grondar the Revenant stands across from him, breathing heavily.
Magnus Blackwell immediately reaches for the North Pole Championship at ringside.
Celeste Orion stands.
Celeste Orion: Ladies and gentlemen, the fifteen-minute time limit has expired! This match has been declared a draw!
The crowd reacts loudly.
Celeste Orion: Therefore, still North Pole Champion... Grondar the Revenant!
Boos pour through the arena.
Magnus Blackwell enters the ring and hands the championship to Grondar.
The champion raises it.
Eddie Ellington: Exactly what I said before the bell. Huck Finn had fifteen minutes to beat the champion. He could not do it.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But do not reduce what we just witnessed to the clock. Huck Finn survived four separate applications of The Aftermath tonight!
Eddie Ellington: Survived.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: He powerbombed Grondar. He hit multiple Saito suplexes. He forced the champion to work every one of those fifteen minutes.
Eddie Ellington: And who has the championship?
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Grondar the Revenant.
Eddie Ellington: Thank you.
Inside the ring, Huck Finn finally gets fully upright.
He looks toward Grondar.
The champion looks back.
There is no handshake.
Huck Finn points at the North Pole Championship.
Grondar raises it higher.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck Finn did not win the championship tonight, but he may have accomplished something almost as important for his future. He proved he can stand in this ring with the North Pole Champion and push him to the limit.
Eddie Ellington: He proved the timekeeper can save him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Save him? Huck Finn was moving forward when the bell rang!
Eddie Ellington: After four Aftermaths. If another five minutes existed, we might have needed a wheelbarrow.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: You do not know that.
Eddie Ellington: Neither does Huck Finn, and that is probably fortunate.
Magnus Blackwell steps beside Grondar the Revenant.
He says something quietly to the champion.
Then he points toward the Fallout logo above the entrance stage.
The crowd reacts.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And there is no rest for the North Pole Champion.
The camera tightens on Grondar.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow night, Grondar the Revenant walks into Fallout and defends that championship against Santa Claus, Rudolph, and Infernus Rex in a Fatal Four Way.
Eddie Ellington: And tonight he just went fifteen minutes with a challenger who refused to stay down.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Which means tomorrow's challengers have learned something too.
Eddie Ellington: Yes.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: What?
Eddie Ellington: It takes at least four Aftermaths to make Huck Finn reconsider his evening.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: I was referring to Grondar’s vulnerability.
Eddie Ellington: I was avoiding nonsense.
Huck Finn exits through the ropes.
He stops on the floor and looks back into the ring.
Grondar the Revenant remains standing in the center with the North Pole Championship raised over his head.
Magnus Blackwell stands beside him.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Huck Finn came within fifteen minutes of changing the direction of the entire North Pole Championship picture. The clock prevented a winner tonight, but there will be no such comfort for Grondar tomorrow.
Eddie Ellington: He does not need comfort. He needs the championship.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: And right now, he still has it.
The Fallout logo fills the arena screen behind the champion.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: But tomorrow night, three challengers come for it at once.
MATCH DECLARED A 15:00 TIME-LIMIT DRAW. GRONDAR THE REVENANT RETAINS THE NORTH POLE CHAMPIONSHIP.
The camera returns to ringside only briefly.
Behind Johnny “The Mic” Michaels and Eddie Ellington, the North Pole Arena crowd remains on its feet as the Fallout logo fills the giant screen above the entrance stage.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: There is no time left to look backward tonight. The road to Fallout is over.
Eddie Ellington: No more interviews. No more warnings. No more chances to change your mind.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow night, it is Fallout.
The broadcast immediately cuts to the full-screen event graphic.
NPCW FALLOUT — AUGUST 23, 2026
UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ghost of Christmas Past champion vs. Big Bad Wolf
UNIVERSAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Ultimate Beasts champions vs. Blitzen and Donner
NORTH STAR TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Blonde Bombshells champions vs. Candy Shoppe Twins
QUEEN OF THE NORTH CHAMPIONSHIP — TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS
Crimson Vane champion vs. Lilith
First Fall — Regular Match
Second Fall — Chain Match
Third Fall if necessary — Ladder Match
NORTH POLE CHAMPIONSHIP — FATAL FOUR WAY
Grondar the Revenant champion vs. Santa Claus vs. Rudolph vs. Infernus Rex
LAST WOMAN STANDING
Polly Mason vs. Dr. Violetta Voss
Krampus vs. Marax the Deceiver
NO DISQUALIFICATION
Jack Mason vs. The Master of the Night
The Fallout logo burns brightly behind the card.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Tomorrow night, every road reaches the same destination.
Eddie Ellington: Fallout.
Johnny “The Mic” Michaels: Good night from the North Pole Arena. We will see you tomorrow.
The Fallout graphic remains on screen for several final seconds.
The broadcast fades to black.
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