International Incident: 4/15/19-4/29/19

Camera cuts back to the locker room where HBK is alone sitting on a steel chair taping his wrists up and getting his gear on.



HBK: You know for years people have tried to take my spot. For years people have tried to claim they are better than me, claim they are the showstopper, the main event, the icon, and that I am a broken down old man with nothing to give anymore and every time I prove them wrong. Yes I may lose but just because I lose it doesn’t mean what they say is right. Every time I step into that ring magic happens. I make people step up their game, to be better, to get to another level that they thought was impossible and when it’s all said and done whether I win or lose my opponent whether they admit it or not always come out after thinking damn maybe I shouldn’t have challenged him, he was right he is one of the best. Now once again some young punk has decided to step up to the challenge.


HBK:  Seth Rollins you are a great wrestler there is no doubt about it. I even see some of me in you kid but just like the others who have taken me for granted, who have thought this will be an easy ride, you are highly mistaken. Did you see the match I had with our intercontinental champion two weeks ago ? Did you see what it took for him to beat me ? It took every ounce he had to get the win over me in one of the tightest bouts I’ve ever had here in XWL and he earned my respect massively after that match. Do you think you can reach those heights against me ? Take me to the same limits that he took me ? I think not Seth and what you did after the match just proves to me that you know it as well. You know deep down in your soul you can’t beat me pin fall or submission. So you decide to lock yourself in a cage with me but that won’t help you either.


HBK: Do you know what happens when you lock yourself in a cage with a lion ? The lion eats you alive, tears you apart and that’s what I am going to do to you Seth. I sent Leo Kruger packing in my last cage match. Go ask him what happens when you cage in Shawn Michaels. It isn’t pretty not one bit. You have sealed your fate, contributed to your own downfall because of your cockiness Seth. When we are inside that cage and that steel door is locked you are mine. I will bounce you off the steel structure, grate your face against the steel until your blood is dripping down your face and when I am done with you I will leave you lying in a pool of your own blood and then you will lye there thinking why did I do it, why did I poke the lion and as I stand there victorious I will take pleasure in seeing your broken down body lying on the canvas as I survey my territory and I will prove I deserve to be back in the title hunt, in those qualifying matches and then onto the chamber to win the world title and why ?


Shawn Michaels stands up and slams the chair away and looks angrily down the camera.


HBK: Because I am the showstopper! I am the main event! I am the Icon! I’m Shawn Fricken Michaels and when the night is done I will BURN IT DOWN!


Michaels is then seen looking into the camera looking furiously down it until a smile reapers.



HBK: : So I hope you are ready and well if you aren’t down with that I have 2 words for you SUCK IT !


Camera then fades to another segment on the show.

Following the introduction to tonight's "International Incident" live in Scotland on Pay-Per-View for the first time in XWL History...and a very determined message from Shawn Michaels in a classic "cold open" we officially go live inside The Hydro Arena where the audience has been starved for XWL programming for many years, and now are able to make their voices be HEARD. Shouting at the top of their lungs, screaming in excitement, signs held in nearly every hand for support of many of XWL's most popular Superstars. This is the day Glasgow and all of Scotland have been clamoring for and it is now here. Pyrotechnics blast off at the top of the "X" designed stage following the theme of all the promotional advertisements heading into the arena as a nod to Scotland's flag.



[Mauro Ranallo]
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are LIVE in Glasgow Scotland within the magnificent Hydro Arena as we prepare ourselves for an INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT!

[Renee Young]
Would you just listen to this crowd, they're probably more ready for tonight than our Superstars back there.

[Corey Graves]
I'd wager part of this is due to the fact that one of Scotland's own will be competing in The Main-Event when Drew McIntyre has a chance to become World Heavyweight Champion in his native land.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Normally not a favorite, but tonight he is their hero they hope will conquer and bring forth our first Scottish born World Champion!

[Renee Young]
It's a clash between the remains of The Cabinet, which will get more into later. But can we just talk about Shawn Michaels' heartfelt address? Seth Rollins better be prepared for quite the fight in their Steel Cage Match.

[Corey Graves]
Very focused and determined, eyeing the opportunity that's been hanging over the heads of every Male Superstar back there for the past month.

[Mauro Ranallo]
We'll be hearing from many Superstars over the course of this evening as Mr. McMahon will be making his decision regarding the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches before the night is up. At stake at our next Pay-Per-View Downpour is a World Championship Match inside Satan's Structure and it's fair to say every Superstar wants to be in the running.

[Renee Young]
Some aren't booked so their voices will need to be clear and loud, others have matches that could make or break their chances, either way the stage is set. You want it? As Mr. McMahon said? Shout it to the rooftops and make your voice HEARD.

[Corey Graves]
One Superstar that's really set his sights high as he reaches for that boyhood dream is Velveteen Dream who has been really looking to make a name for himself, ironically as we talked about Shawn Michaels Velveteen picked up a big time victory over The Showstopper at Final Stand. He'll be facing Chris Jericho a former World Champion multi times over. A win could certainly make that dream more of a reality.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Of course there's Finn Balor who defeated Jericho at the showcase of the immortals as The Demon didn't come to play only SLAY! Balor has been very determined since that victory to seize the opportunity announced by Mr. McMahon but tonight he faces a man who has been making an impact of his own in Aleister Black. A member of The Stygian Revelation who looks to make Balor's hopes fade to black and perhaps shine that light over himself instead.

[Renee Young]
Then there's Brian Pillman Jr. and Eli Drake who have been going at it ever since Eli's very drastic shift in character at Final Stand when after defeating Brian he kicked him below the belt and the night after? He ripped everyone a new one with words that still are hard to forget. But despite that Pillman Jr. has been fighting harder than ever, defeating every opponent in his way not content with letting Eli walk all over him and get away with that disrespect. They face in a Last Man Standing Match and you wonder with their ultimate goal to be in The Elimination Chamber, if that last man standing might be the recipient of a qualifying match.

[Corey Graves]
Can we spend the next hour talk about The Golden Goddesses' OPEN CHALLENGE MATCH? How gracious is God's Greatest Champion to bestow upon one of the lucky Women an opportunity to be beaten by her on a night like tonight?

[Renee Young]
Not this again...she was HANDED THE TITLE COREY!

[Corey Graves]
AFTER WINNING A NUMBER ONE CONTENDERS MATCH, THAT PRACTICALLY MADE HER CHAMPION!

[Mauro Ranallo]
Alright you two, that's enough. In other Women's news the foundation of the entire division was shaken last month at Final Stand when the incredible reign of Natalya was finally brought to an end by Tessa Blanchard in an unbelievable match that truly unlocked her potential. While tonight won't be a rematch due to the untimely assault that befell Natalya the night after...we will instead see The Number One Contender who successfully beat Rosemary to earn this opportunity face The Undeniable One for the gold.

[Renee Young]
These two have been going at it for months, and while they're "favorites" they're not exactly "friends" Tensions have been boiling over, and it's fair to say someone might go through our announce table in this match given that's literally happened in their past two encounters.

[Corey Graves]
The entire card is stacked full of exciting matches like The Man versus The Empress in an explosive rematch from Final Stand when they may take to the streets of Glasgow themselves for a can't miss Street Fight.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Who can forget The Tag Team Championship Match between the longest reigning Champions TCSI as they face perhaps their most threatening challenge to date, Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman who hope to bring home the gold to The Stygian Revelation.

[Renee Young]
It's a tall order, no pun intended...but TCSI have proven the impossible is possible from their whirlwind rivalry to their solidified friendship now. They truly are a remarkable team and it's going to take more than a size difference to bring about their end.

[Corey Graves]
I mean you're right but considering Braun Strowman is practically two Chad Gables put together...it certainly doesn't help TCSI's chances.

[Mauro Ranallo]
All of this will culminate to our Main-Event when John Bradshaw Layfield defends The World Heavyweight Championship in a Triple Threat Match against former Champion Aiden English and former "Chosen One" Drew McIntyre.

[Renee Young]
When you think of the word "explosive" that is the epitome of this rivalry. Aiden English was blindsided as we all were by JBL laying him out the night after Breakthrough in his first night as World Champion following his successful cash-in on both Co-World Champions Johnny Gargano AND Chris Jericho. But then what happened at Final Stand? JBL literally tried to kill Aiden in their I Quit Match to win the title. And that's not some over-dramatized statement, that is literally what he did.

[Corey Graves]
Anything goes in an I Quit Match and ultimately Aiden felt he had no choice but to utter those two words, surrendering his reign as Champion.

[Renee Young]
I'm pretty sure the only thing he "felt" in that moment was the air being crushed out of his lungs as he gasped for air.

[Mauro Ranallo]
But as that moment ended and The Wrestling God attained The World Heavyweight Championship...Drew McIntyre would come out of nowhere laying him out, and laying his intentions out as well. He wanted what he now had, and he wasn't going to be ignored.

[Corey Graves]
The question is, who wins in a battle between three Men that once fought together? The Creator? The Apprentice? Or The Muscle?

[Renee Young]
We are as we said earlier in Scotland, which is Drew's homeland. What factor will that play into things?

[Mauro Ranallo]
It could either be the thing McIntyre needs to dig deep since he's not just fighting for himself. Or it could be the thing that sinks him. The pressure could be too much for him.

[Corey Graves]
Listen, I never forget who used to sign my checks. I think we're overlooking JBL. Yes a match like this doesn't favor him, but did ANYONE think an I Quit Match favored him? When does a crowd "favorite" ever lose a match like that? Yet he won, in The Main-Event of the biggest show of the year. He's been preparing for a night like this for a very long time and I think he's going to be smart. He's going to let Aiden and Drew slug it out, and then? Prove why he's a brilliant businessman when he comes in to close.

[Renee Young]
One things for certain, this is going to be a very brutal match, and with every factor in play? It's anyone's match to win, the question is who will be the one left standing at the end of it all as World Heavyweight Champion, and be the one that has to defend that title inside The Elimination Chamber next month?

Just as we’re about to transition away from the commentary desk, all three commentators begin to receive a message in their earpieces. The reactions of them shows that the news they’re receiving is something they were expecting, though maybe a little later in the show.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Speaking of the World Championship match, ladies and gentlemen, last week we see an edition of A Moment of Bliss featuring the three men competing tonight for the World Heavyweight Championship.

[Corey Graves]
And while this interview shed light on the feelings and issues between these three men, unfortunately tensions between the men lead to the interview turning south rather quickly, as it became an avenue for the men to jab at each other more than answer the questions.

[Renee Young]
However, following the end of Anarchy, XWL was contacted by former commentator Michael Cole, who detailed his plan for an in-depth, tell-all, 1 on 1 interview with Aiden English about his career in XWL. The interview took place earlier this week, and the video was sent to us this week, please take a look.

Renee transitions us from the commentary desk to a pre-recorded video, as the XWL logo flashes across the screen. One we’ve completely transitioned, we see Michael Cole sitting backstage, which elicits a loud positive reaction from the fans. Unfortunately, since the video is pre-recorded, Cole can’t hear it, but it’s clear he anticipated it, as he smiles at the camera like most would do live upon hearing the reaction.

[Michael Cole]
Hello everyone, former XWL commentator Michael Cole here. Now, while I’d obviously love to be out there in front of all of you to hear and feel your reactions, a prior commitment unfortunately makes appearing in Scotland with only a weeks’ notice impossible. However, I hope my interview here will help make up for it. Joining me now is one of the two men who will challenge for the title in Scotland, Aiden English. Aiden, how are you?

{Aiden English}
I’m doing well Michael, thanks for giving me this opportunity. I was a huge fan of you in XWL.

[Michael Cole]
Thanks for the kind words. So let’s just jump right into things here. I actually would like to start with a question that not many have addressed but I’ve been curious about, a bit of a soft ball I guess. It’s no secret that throughout your time in XWL you have definitely had an, eccentric side to you. And while obviously parts of this may be attributed to your experience in the Cabinet, which we will get to in a bit, it’s worth noting that in your two appearance prior to joining the Cabinet, you were already a rather interesting character, appearing on a stage enacting a play, and delivering a bizarre interview in which you changed emotions seemingly from out of nowhere frequently. So my question is, what were you doing before XWL, and how did that influence these early appearances, as well as how does it influence you now, if at all?

{Aiden English}
Well it may not be much of a surprise given how I’ve behaved during my time in XWL, especially early on, but prior to XWL I had actually been a theater actor for some time. Now granted, obviously I was not particularly well-known considering you having to ask about my background, however I did have small roles in a few major productions. And so I think clearly there was a major influence on my early days in XWL, as I mainly just, ya know, transitioning my behavior on stage and in the business of theater into XWL. As far if it still influences me, yes, I’d say it definitely does. I don’t know how exactly how to describe it, but it’s helped give me a….. a drive that I think is rather unique to me within the XWL roster. The theater world is one full of rejection and heartache, so in terms of the emotional toll that being an XWL superstar takes, I feel that debuting I already had a nerve to deal with it that many don’t. The only extra part to deal with was the physical pain, which, granted, certainly wasn’t fun.

Cole and Aiden both give a mild chuckle at the joke before Aiden continues.

{Aiden English}
But other than that, I feel it obviously helped in terms of my ability to capture the XWL audience. The “it factor” if you will. You see tons of guys that are, you know, these physical specimens, modern day Goliaths, but they just don’t have the ability to get the audience eating out of the palm of their hand. And I, coming in with a theater background, knew how to do it almost immediately. Whether it was boos or cheers, I’ve always gotten some sort of reaction from the XWL Universe, and it’s always been a pretty strong one. And I definitely contribute a lot of that to my background.

[Michael Cole]
I see, I can definitely see how that would help out with that. Charisma's practically half of this business alone, so your background definitely gives a unique advantage that not many have. But continuing with your background, I guess my next question would be what inspired you to become an XWL superstar? We’ve certainly see our fair share of people from all walks of life here, but the decision to transition from acting in plays to an industry, which while certainly relying heavily on charisma and emotion, also involves you competing against some of the highest caliber of athletes in the world seems like a strange way. What were the factors exactly that led you to make that decision?

{Aiden English}
Heh, you know, it’s actually an interesting story. So, back in my theater days, let’s just say I had a bit of an ego. I mean, I also had that same ego through a good portion of my time here in XWL so I guess you know what I’m talking about. But the theater life is one that makes it rather easy to surround yourself people to boost your ego, because sometimes it’s needed, you know? Like I said, there’s a lot of rejection and heartbreak so sometimes everyone needs a good ego boost or two from the people they surround themselves with, it’s healthy. Well I may have gone a bit too far with that and really surrounded myself with some yes men. So I was training for a part in a very major production as one of the leads. I can’t say which because while I didn’t end up getting the part I’m actually still under an NDA, that should give some sort of an idea of the size of this production. So, it was for a character that was rather well-built you know, real muscular fellow. And I wasn’t necessarily out of shape at the time, but there were certainly other people trying out for this part that fit the physique described much better than I did, so I embarked on a rather intense training regiment, or at least one that was intense for theater. Looking back it really was nothing compared to just the normal training I do now as an XWL superstar. And as I’m finishing up the training, I’ve definitely improved, I’m in much better shape, but with my ego I thought I was in much better shape than I actually was, so I turn to one of my aides at the time and this is seriously, this is actually what I said. I said to him, “Look at me, look at how I good I look. I bet I could go join some professional wrestling company and kick everyone’s ass”. That’s seriously what I said, and it’s seriously what I thought! And you see, a sane human being, or at least one I wasn’t basically paying to boost my ego, would tell me to shut up and that I was ridiculously wrong. But that’s not what he said, he told me I was right. So of course, in my mind, that’s proof right there. I need to find myself the biggest wrestling company and sign myself right up. I didn’t even know what companies there were, what it took, nothing like that. I literally went home and Googled “pro wrestling”, and XWL was the top result, so that’s what I set my mind to.

[Michael Cole]
Wow, that’s uh, something.

Both Cole and English are laughing at this point over how naive and full of himself Aiden was in the venture that ultimately brought him to where he is now.

{Aiden English}
Right? Telling the story now it’s ridiculous, but at the time I was deathly serious. So I’m looking into it, and I discover there’s an upcoming XWL try-out. There’s one problem though. It’s on the same day as when I was scheduled to audition for the play I was talking about earlier. Well, give my final audition, it’s a whole complicated process that I doubt anyone really cares about. But the fact of the matter is, my choice was to either try my luck with XWL, or go to this audition in which I was already one of the frontrunners for the part. And I’d love to say I chose the XWL try-out out of some desire to prove myself to everyone, or some inner fire, but really it’s because I found out being an XWL superstar would pay more than this play.

[Michael Cole]
You’re kidding.

{Aiden English}
I’m really not, that’s the sad part! Actually the sad part is that the salary I found for XWL superstars was what the top guys in the company who had been there for years were making, and I thought I would be making it right off the bat. But anyway, I go to the try-out, and I actually do fairly well for myself. Not fantastic mind you, but I actually won a few of the matches I had with the other tryouts there. I did pretty well for someone who was just doing it for the first time. And so I think it was Christian actually who they had there during training that day, he just happened to be in the area. And he really took a notice of how I was doing, and pulled me over and asked me to cut a promo on one of the other trainees. Now, I had no idea what he was talking about so I actually asked the question “What’s a promo?”, and at first he didn’t believe that I didn’t know. I think he was actually getting annoyed at me, like I was trying to play a prank on a legend or something. But eventually I explained my background and how I was very new to this, so he explained to me what a promo was, and I started to cut this promo. And I was talking, I just see his eyes start to light up, and when I’m done I realize that the trainers and even some of the other trainees have gathered around me. And none of them are saying anything at first, but Christian walks off with the trainers, and they have this ten minute long conversation. And in the meantime, the other trainees are just continuing to do their thing, mainly in silence. So here I am, completely unsure of what’s happening, no clue about how any of this works, not knowing if I did good or not. Eventually one of the trainers comes back to me, ushers me into this little room, and offers me a main roster contract on the spot.

[Michael Cole]
Wow, that’s certainly impressive, as well as incredibly rare. Are you telling me you didn’t spend any time in developmental?

{Aiden English}
I did not. At the time there were a lot of people shocked at what had happened, and I didn’t really understand why, but looking back at it now, I got incredible lucky that Christian was there and he saw something in me. And that’s the story of how I came to XWL.

[Michael Cole]
Well that’s certainly a different story from most superstars, that’s for sure. But now that we know how you came to XWL, what exactly was it like for you at first, and tell me a little about your experience when it came to the announcement of your debut.

{Aiden English}
To be honest, the time around my debut I think is one of the few rare occurrences where my attitude and ego actually helped me out. You see, the main difference between theater and wrestling, besides, well, everything, but in terms of the philosophy and attitude, is how everyone behaves toward each other. When you’re doing a theater show, you’re part of a team. You’re all working together to make sure this one thing goes off without a hitch, and then you have to do it over and over again. So you really have to become part of the community and get to know everyone really well to really have that connection. Meanwhile in wrestling, it’s a totally different world. It’s everyone for themself out there. There are friends and teams obviously, but it’s not one big group like it is when you’re putting on a theater show. And that realization did two things for me. For one, it helped me realize just how real everything is. And the second thing it did…

[Michael Cole]
I, I’m sorry, how “real” everything is? Could you elaborate on that?

{Aiden English}
Oh god, this is embarrassing. Uh….. okay. So when I first decided to become an XWL superstar, the idea I had in my head was something more similar to amateur wrestling. You know, everything very official, no real emotion or anything, just pure athletic competition. And then Christian is telling me about promos, and I watch some of it on television, and while the competition isn’t what I expected, it’s clear these men are still going out there and risking their bodies to try and earn the victory. But as for the promos, and the drama, and the emotion? Coming from the setting I did, it was easy for me to look at that and assume that it was scripted, or at the very least planned ahead of time. To help drum up interest in matches, something like that.

[Michael Cole]
So, let me get this straight. You thought that when the superstars were coming out here and tearing into each other, challenging each other to matches, it was just for show? That it was fake?

{Aiden English}
Well it sounds silly now that you’re saying it out loud, but yes, that’s what I thought. But actually being there, being a part of the roster, really helped me realize that all that emotion, all that energy, it all just comes naturally with the environment everyone’s in. The vibe of the backstage area, of the superstars, well it’s not something anyone at home could ever really fully understand. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?

[Michael Cole]
I do, yes. It probably sounds strange to those watching but what you’re saying is definitely true. I’m sorry, continue.

{Aiden English}
Oh yes, so that was the first thing actually being in XWL helped me realize. The second thing it did, and this relates back to what I was saying about my ego being an advantage, was that I definitely felt I worked better as a solo star than as part of a group. When you have a self-image like I had, well, let’s just say you don’t take very kindly to what you see as others trying to pull you down. And so in XWL I felt like I was really free to finally be myself, be a real star on my own.

[Michael Cole]
So you say that you felt at the time you worked better solo, not well with a team, all of that. And yet, the first time we actually saw you compete in an XWL ring, immediately after the match you aligned yourself with JBL and became part of the Cabinet, a group you would continue to be in for almost your entire XWL career up to this point.

{Aiden English}
Well, you know, if there’s thing an ego loves more than itself, it’s success. And when I looked at JBL, that’s what I saw. The days before the Anarchy where I debuted, I went and I marathoned about two months’ worth of XWL, and you know what he seemed like? Me, but more successful. He had the Cabinet, which was basically a group of people telling him how great he was, he had money, he had fame, he had power. He also didn’t care if the audience booed him, which in the theater world would be unthinkable. You either get a standing applause or you’re nothing. But here was this guy who got everyone to boo him out of the building and he just didn’t care. Or, at least, I thought he didn’t care.

[Michael Cole]
You “thought” he didn’t care?

{Aiden English}
Well, I mean, I discovered rather quickly that he kind of hates being booed. I wouldn’t call it an insecurity or anything, I don’t want to say something that isn’t true. I guess the best word would be to use is that it was a bother to him? An annoyance? I don’t know what’d you call it really. But there was more than one occasion where it became quite clear that he would much rather have the crowd be cheering him than booing him. The problem there being that he just thinks so lowly of other people that he literally can’t stop himself from insulting the audience. It’s almost like an addition that he can’t kick in a way.

[Michael Cole]
See, now this is what I’m interested in. When describing your thought process at the time of joining the Cabinet, it’s clear that you admired JBL and even apparently looked up to him. And yet all we’ve heard for these past months is how much you despise JBL with every fiber of your being. So when did this shift begin to take place? Was it early on in your time with the Cabinet?

Aiden leans back in his chair, clearly not having an immediate answer to the question. When did his shift in attitude toward JBL first start? Was it early on? Near the end? Somewhere in the middle? Does he even know? Eventually he seems to form some sort of answer and leans forward again to answer.

{Aiden English}
The one thing I can definitively is that it wasn’t early on. My early experiences with JBL were actually very pleasant for the most part. I’m guessing it was so I could become complacent with the Cabinet before he really began being, well, terrible. As for when the shift really began, I’m really not sure, honestly. The thing about JBL is that he is excellent at making you think that you don’t think something, if that makes any sense. So there were always little things, here and there. I would wonder why I was the only one who had been a member of the Cabinet for any real significant amount of time. Why everyone else who joined seemed so worn out so quickly by it. Why Virgil was maybe the least happy human being I’ve ever met. But whenever I brought any of those things, he was very quick to downplay all of it, and to remind me of all of the “opportunities” he was providing me. And unfortunately, that usually worked and I would get right back in line. I don’t think I realized it at the time, but there was some serious damage done during that time that definitely reared its head harshly later on. To actually answer your question though, I’d probably say the big shift in both my opinion toward JBL and his attitude toward me was after I won Money in the Bank.

[Michael Cole]
Well now that you’ve brought it up, let’s talk about Money in the Bank. I have a couple of questions, you can answer them in any order you’d like What exactly lead to the circumstances behind your placement in the Money in the Bank match? How did it feel to win Money in the Bank? And also, why do you say Money in the Bank was when this shift in opinion took place?

{Aiden English}
Well, I guess I’ll answer the questions in the order you asked them starting with the one about me being placed in the match. Although I’ll admit, there’s not a whole lot to say. It was a scheme that Dinero and I made together, that we then presented to JBL fairly shortly before the match to be honest. And while at first he didn’t seem like he wanted anything to do with the two guys who lost earlier that night, when we actually described the pln, he seemed elated. I think in his mind the idea was that I was going basically act as his bodyguard against Cena and Michaels while he just focused on winning the thing. And I guess at first that’s what I was doing, but that kind of feel apart and things became a frenzy. But all I knew is that eventually I had my chance to climb up there and grab the briefcase, and I took it without second guessing myself.

{Aiden English}
As for how it felt? Well in the moment, it felt amazing of course. A guaranteed world championship match, any time, any place. Who wouldn’t be ecstatic? Obviously there was controversy due to how I became involved in the match, but at the time I really didn’t think anything of it. Why should it matter how I got involved in the match as long as I won? But then came the meeting with JBL.

[Michael Cole]
The meeting?

{Aiden English}
Yes, the meeting. If I’m being exact, I’d say this is when I first began to think negatively about JBL. Later that night he called me to his office and sat me down for what he described as a “chat”. I feel it would be more accurate to say he berated me for about a half an hour straight. About how ungrateful I was, how I was only in that match because of him, which as I established is quite literally not the truth. But the point he hammered home the most was that I wasn’t supposed to win, it was “his” briefcase, and that I somehow embarrassed him by not helping him to victory. And from there was then the abuse and insults really ramped up, and I’d say they became the most frequent way he spoke to me at that point. But you know, in my mind he was still this figure I looked up to, so I just thought it was because working for me on top of already being an XWL superstar was stressing me out to much. So I considered asking for time off, which was an idea I rather quickly dismissed. But then Rusev approached me and asked for my assistance against the Hardys, and eventually I got JBL to approve me to go spend time with him and take a sabbatical from the Cabinet.

[Michael Cole]
Let’s talk about Rusev. You’ve called him your good friend on multiple occasions, and went to him to help clear your mind in the midst of becoming stressed out by JBL. Yet it’s never been made clear how you two know each other. When did you meet, and where did your friendship come from?

{Aiden English}
Well actually, I’ve known Rusev since before joining XWL. I was performing in a play, not even in a particularly important role, and he approached me after the show to say that he really enjoyed my performance. Now, this was relatively early on in my career, so I was absolutely thrilled to have someone come up and compliment me on my work. I gave him my contact information, and lo and behold he ended up being in the crowd at the next play I performed at as well. So afterward we had a conversation, and for the first time I really noticed his size and physique, so I asked him what he did for a living. He told me he was a professional wrestler, and invited him to participate in a training session. And you know, I was like, sure, I can keep up with this guy. So we go to the training session, and I’m just wiped out immediately. It was bad. And like I said, this was real early on in my career, so when I had finished that nothing regiment I mentioned earlier last year, I think I had misremembered how that session with Rusev was, and so in my head I had just finished a regiment on par with a professional wrestler, which is probably why I said what I said about how I could kick their asses. But anyway, back to Rusev, after that training sessions we just clicked, and we continued to hang out. I don’t know how to explain why our friendship came from, we just, became friends.

[Michael Cole]
And are you two still friends after his exit from XWL?

{Aiden English}
Yes we are. In fact, he was one of the first people to call me after Final Stand to make sure I was okay. We’ve talked a bit about him coming back to XWL, and while he’s never said anything for sure, I will say the idea of the two of us going after the tag titles has been floated around a bit. But you didn’t hear that from me.

[Michael Cole]
Now, you’ve already told the story of how JBL reacted when you returned to the Cabinet multiple times, as well as us having seen some of it on Anarchy, so I won’t press too hard on that subject. What I want to ask if about the ensuing month or two in which you very rarely appeared on Anarchy, and when you did it was often giving bizarre interviews to Renee Young. What was going on behind the scenes during that time, with you, with JBL, in general?

{Aiden English}
I mean……. mentally and emotionally I definitely wasn’t doing very well at the time, I feel like that’s clear if you look at those interviews, if you look at my interactions backstage with JBL. And I don’t quite know if that’s because his treatment of me was particularly worse than it was before i took the break, or if it’s because I was no longer used to it, but it was definitely the period of time where I was feeling the negative effects of his abuse the strongest. And yet, despite all that, I still felt that loyalty, I still felt that admiration. If nothing else, you can’t say he isn’t a convincing person. He most definitely is.

[Michael Cole]
And did that influence your decision of when to cash in Money in the Bank at all? Was that even your decision?

{Aiden English}
Yes, cashing in the briefcase when I did was my decision. Again, it’s a situation where the plan was one thing and at the last second I decided to just so something, because to be honest, the original plan that me and JBL had talked about was for me to cash in after the main event of Final Stand, so he could have his Final Stand moment.

[Michael Cole]
But instead you cashed in at Breakthrough.

{Aiden English}
Right. I just, I saw Gargano and Jericho both laid out, and i figured I had to act right then and there, completely disregarding the plan. And at the time it seemed strange, though in hindsight it all makes sense, JBL was very supportive of that decision. In fact, from the moment I cashed in all the way to the end of Anarchy the next night, JBL as possibly the kindest to me he had been than when I first joined the Cabinet.

[Michael Cole]
Well I’m sure you saw this coming but now I’m going to ask you about the end of the next night’s Anarchy, when JBL powerbombed you through a table and announced he would be challenging for your championship at Final Stand. What was your first response to that, what were you thinking in the week leading up to the next episode of Anarchy?

{Aiden English}
To be honest, I really didn’t know what to think. I felt a lot of emotions at that time. In fact that one week is almost a blur to me, because I was barely even myself, I don’t even know what was happening. But most of all, honestly, I remember two feelings, relief and fear. Relief because in that moment, when I was powerbombed, suddenly everything that had happened that past year made sense. Suddenly I actually understood what JBL had been putting me through, how terrible I had been treated. All the little things finally added up and I could see the big picture. But there was also this sense of fear, almost fear of the unknown, you know? Because my whole career up to this point has just been me working for this man, and suddenly I’m not? What do I do? And i really thought that my best option was just go back to what I was doing originally, the theater stuff. You can see it when I come out the next week, when I first start talking it’s like the same person I was back during that little skit we did for my debut. But I realized right then and there I couldn’t go back to that. I had to just own up to what had happened and speak my mind honestly. And what came out of my mouth after this point shocked even me to be honest.

[Michael Cole]
And this honesty put you in the good graces of the fan for the first time since your debut, how did that feel?

{Aiden English}
I’ll be honest, it felt really good. I felt this joy, this happiness, that I hadn’t really felt since I had debuted. Sure, hearing a sea of boos is a reaction, and there’s definitely a joy in that. But hearing people cheer for you, chant your name? It’s just, it’s something else. But to be honest I couldn’t fully enjoy it, because in my head the only thing that really mattered was beating JBL at Final Stand.

[Michael Cole]
Speaking of which, well, you didn’t. In the main event of Final Stand, JBL almost hanged you, got you to say “I Quit”, and won the World Heavyweight Championship. How were you feeling after that, after promising to the fans that you would win, and having a parade of superstars past and present turn up prior to the match wishing you luck.

{Aiden English}
Ah, there’s the golden question right there. How did I feel after I blew it. Well, if I was feelings bad in the month leading up to my cash-in, well.

Aiden pauses for a moment and looks down, unsure of what to say next. Eventually he picks his head back up and sighs.

{Aiden English}
Well, I’ll leave it at this. I’ve been through many hard moments in my life. I am no stranger to feeling hopeless, like there’s nothing left. And that night, up until Anarchy the next day, might be the lowest I’ve ever felt. I mean, how do you come back from that? From letting everyone down? Your friends? Your co-workers? Yourself? I’d love to say something here like “I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of killing me”, but I was just afraid to die. Plain and simple. Which is ironic because the only thing on my mind for the rest of the day is that I should have let him kill me.

Aiden stops talking, awaiting Cole’s next question, but there’s a deafening silence in the room at what Aiden has just said. Aiden anticipates the question from Cole, but the look on his face shows he understands the hesitation. The XWL Universe is also barely audible, clearly in shock as well. Eventually Cole composes himself, as he still has an interview to finish.

[Michael Cole]
A common criticism of you Aiden, is that you’re not genuine. That you try and fake all these different personalities to try and hide the real you. And that seems to have only grown as of recent, as week to week you seem to change from a sympathetic injured man who can barely walk, to the audience’s triumphant hero, to someone who’s smiling and laughing on a talk show. We’ve also seen you be a lackey, a theater star, desperate to prove yourself as the “future”, among many others. So my question to you is, who is the real Aiden English?

{Aiden English}
We’re gonna do the “not genuine” question right after that? Alright.

[Michael Cole]
Listen, I-

{Aiden English}
Don’t worry Michael, I’m just teasing you. It’s not a question I’ve heard directly asked a lot, but it’s definitely a sentiment I do hear quite often. I do have a tendency to change myself up quite often, I’ll admit. But to answer your questions, I’d say all of them are the real Aiden English. All the ones you said, and any other ones people want to bring up too while they’re at it. There’s a lot going on in the old noggin, and I don’t always understand it. But the truth is, some weeks I’m feeling like joking around, others I feel like being triumphant and a rebel. That’s just how it is.

[Michael Cole]
So far in this interview we haven’t even touched on the other man challenging for the title, Drew Mcintyre. Any more thoughts to add on Drew heading into this match.

The Scotland crowd goes loud for the mention of their hometown hero.

{Aiden English}
You know Cole, I’m uh, I’m gonna be careful here. Because I know they’re playing this on the titantron and I bet the crowd just went crazy for him. And I’m also sure they did not like what I had to say on A Moment of Bliss one bit. And to be honest, looking back, perhaps I was overly harsh. Drew is a fine competitor, one that deserves to be in the world title picture. He’s certainly better than JBL, that’s for sure. But the fact of the matter is, I just think I want it more than him. I have a drive that he doesn’t. And at the end of the day, I think that’s why I’m going to win at International Incident.

[Michael Cole]
So that actually leads perfectly into the final question of this interview. So you just said you’ll win at International Incident, and on a Moment of Bliss you gave your reasoning for the same thing. But my final question is, what happens if you lose?

{Aiden English}
I can’t lose.

Aiden’s sudden answer right at the end of his question catches Cole off guard, but the answer is to be expected from any XWL superstar to be fair. Who’s going to say they’ll lose? But Cole’s not a respected journalist for nothing, he’s going to dig.

[Michael Cole]
Aiden, I of course understand that you would never think about yourself losing in the match, but you have to think about it. There’s three men in the match, and you don’t even have to be pinned to lose. There is a fairly good chance you could walk out of Scotland with nothing.

{Aiden English}
I can’t lose Michael.

[Michael Cole]
Aiden, it’s just a hypothetical. Why won’t you answer it?

{Aiden English}
Because I can’t. I can’t lose.

[Michael Cole]
Why not?

{Aiden English}
Because if I do…..

[Michael Cole]
Then what?

Aiden doesn’t talk for some time, looking unsure of himself. Not because he doesn’t have an answer, but likely because he doesn’t want to say it. After around thirty seconds of silence has passed, Aiden sighs and finally decides to give his answer.

{Aiden English}
…. then he’s right. I’m nothing without him.

{Aiden English}
I’m sorry, is that it, are we done?

[Michael Cole]
Yes, that was the last question.

Aiden rather quickly stands up from his chair and removes the microphone attached to him, handing it back to Cole. The two shake hands, but Aiden seems to do so more out of necessity than anything else before quickly leaving the area, leaving nothing but Michael Cole behind, not entirely sure of what just happened. Once again however, he’s a professional, so he knows how to handle himself regardless.

[Michael Cole]
Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you enjoyed my interview with Aiden English here tonight, and that you enjoy International Incident.

The cameras fade away from the interview area and from Cole, as get ready to watch the rest of International Incident!

The night was finally upon us, the night the woman known simply as The Pirate Princess would challenge the reigning Women's Champion in Tessa Blanchard for that very Championship she won at Final Stand the previous month. While Tessa walks into her first ever defense as Women's Champion, and what a first defense it's turning out to be, this would be Kairi's second opportunity at Championship Gold, the first being at November's Roulette Pay-Per-View late last year in a Fatal 4 Way Match to crown the first ever North American Champion, a match she was unsuccessful in despite not being involved in the decision when the dust cleared. This time she doesn't need to keep eyes on the back of her head as three other women try to be the one to emerge victorious, no, this will be her first ever singles match for any Championship, much less the most sought after prize in the Women's Division, a Championship that until recently was in the possession of the nigh unstoppable Natalya, that is until Tessa Blanchard did the impossible and ended her reign without a single shred of doubt from her fellow women.

While Tessa's Final Stand was quite the feat, Kairi's wasn't exactly a walk in the park, standing side by side with her adversary turned ally and best friend in Alexa Bliss against the ever vile Ruby Riott and Bliss' former best friend in Nia Jax as the duo waged war against their rivals in the second ever Last Team Standing Match, a successful effort by the once thought to be unlikely pair. The night after the biggest Pay-Per-View of the year, Kairi would go on to face Rosemary, where the victor would be the first challenger to Tessa's Women's Championship, a match Kairi would manage to win despite what she put herself through the previous night. After that victory, the match was set but this wouldn't be the first time these two women had faced. Prior to Final Stand, they would find themselves in a singles match, a prelude of sorts to the encounter they would soon have once more in the future, a match that ended in a double countout when Tessa decided to use Kairi to send a message, driving her head first into the announcers table and breaking it into pieces immediately after their bodies collided with the table.

Some weeks later, the pair would meet once more in the ring, this time in a tag team match, a match that would yield a similar result but would have a proper winner this time around. Tessa would find herself on the receiving end of her own maneuver, the very same maneuver that she used on Kairi during their previous encounter, turnabout clearly being fair play. The retaliation wasn't over there, after Alexa Bliss would deliver her deadly Curb Stomp on Tessa, she would tag in the still recovering Kairi Sane, who would climb up onto the top rope and would put the exclamation point on the match with an InSane Elbow for the victory. Now we find ourselves at the Contract Signing six days ago between both Champion and Challenger, with Alexa officiating the event.

Words lined with conviction would be exchanged between both women before either would sign the contract without hesitation and have a “Promotional” stare down ahead of tonight's Pay-Per-View. This is where things took a turn for the Champion, after reaching for her Championship, Kairi would do the same, causing a tug of war between them, which caused Tessa to pull a bit harder than she may have anticipated and forced her to inadvertently run back first into Alexa Bliss, who was exiting the ring at this time. This would lead to Bliss getting knocked off the apron and onto the thinly layered padding on the outside. Kairi, seeing this as an act of war, would dole out her version of justice by taking Tessa's head and planting it into the canvas with a Somersault Reverse DDT, nearly putting this match in jeopardy before it even began. Following this act of justice, Kairi leaves the ring to check on Alexa, helping her up to her feet before she raises the Women's Championship high into the air, perhaps a premonition of things to come here tonight?

With her treasure now within reach, we cut towards a room in the backstage area where we see a punching bag hanging from the ceiling in the far corner of said room, various noticeable dents are parallel with one another up and down the bag are quite visible from our vantage point. The camera slowly pans to show the room in its entirety until it stops on Kairi, who is stretching near the center of the room, mouthing words under her breath in what could only be Japanese, perhaps she's trying to hype herself up before her rapidly impending encounter later tonight? A few more moments of this happen before she rises up off the floor and pulls her foot over onto the nearby bench, continuing her stretching as the door is heard opening behind her.

In steps none other than Kairi's best friend, Little Miss Bliss herself. Wearing a similar attire she'd wear when hosting A Moment Of Bliss because despite traveling all the way to Scotland she's not here as a competitor, she's here for moral support for her Pirate pal's big night. As she steps in her face is glowing with a smile, not letting the fact she's sitting tonight out deter her excitement for Kairi. She starts to walk forward, Kairi not yet noticing her presence and decides to "surprise" her. She inches forward, then slowly extends her hands in a friendly start to a classic "guess who" game. But as her hands are nearly in range to block Kairi's sights...The Pirate Princess suddenly grabs her arm firmly, not knowing it was Alexa and starts to try and flip her over her. "WHOA KAIRI, IT'S ME!" Alexa in a panic shouts, prompting The Number One Contender to turn her head, and immediately free Alexa from her grasp.

It's expected that she'd be on edge tonight, after all...there is STILL a mystery attacker that took out Natalya, which opened the door for this opportunity she now has tonight. What if they tried to do the same to her and take her place in this match? Alexa's eyes start to return inside her head after momentarily bulging out from how quickly that almost went so very wrong. While Kairi immediately shows signs of remorse for nearly throwing her best friend over her head for a very unceremonious landing.

[Alexa Bliss]
You know, in hindsight...not one of my greatest ideas. I'm sorry Kairi, I didn't mean to startle you. I know how big tonight is, and understandably so you're a little....on edge. I just wanted to stop by and see how you're doing? Did you eat? Because I'm not exactly an expert in winning Championships but I imagine you don't win them on an empty stomach.

Kairi Sane
Guess that makes two of us, doesn't it? The last time I had a Championship match was when a wheel landed on my name and made me the fourth woman in a Fatal 4 Way match. I was given no time to prepare and after the match we had earlier that night, the last thing I wanted to do was have another match, but I went out there anyways and tried to become North American Champion. That was over five months ago. And while that's not as long as you've been waiting, it's still a long time. The difference between now and then is that this time, I'm prepared for Tessa Blanchard. This time, I'm ready to become Women's Champion. This time, I'm ready to claim my treasure.

Kairi's focus wavers for a second, taking notice of Alexa's outfit, a quizzical expression appearing on her face.

Kairi Sane
Why aren't you in your ring gear? Did no one tell you?

Alexa seems a bit caught off guard by Kairi's question. Why would she need to be in her ring gear? She'd loved to be competing tonight but unfortunately after her big victory on the grandest stage one month ago...she's merely a bystander while everyone else gets to perform. Sure she could have been Liv's partner but Kairi is the only tag-team partner she wants. She could have accepted Mandy's Open Challenge...but she was denied.

[Alexa Bliss]
Tell me what? Why would I bring my gear? Did they wanna do some photo shoot? I don't really feel like posing, I wanna be competing.

Kairi Sane
You have a match tonight.

Alexa does a double take, rubbing the lobe of her ear as she tries to confirm she heard that correctly. "I have a match?" runs through her mind as she tries to process what Kairi's telling her. But what is the match? There isn't exactly something she was promoted to be in, in fact the only match tonight that had an empty slot was...AND THEN IT HITS HER. Her jaw hangs open as her eyes begin to sparkle and she excitedly squeals hugging Kairi.

[Alexa Bliss]
OH MY GOD, KAIRI! YOU GOT ME IN THE MATCH? I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DID IT BUT I LOVE YOU FOR IT! BESTIE CHAMPIONS HERE WE COME!

Kairi Sane
That's not what I-

Kairi's response falls on deaf ears, and not due to Alexa's screams of excitement at her alleged Championship match later tonight, drowned out by the sounds of Bliss finally getting what she has had coming to her for months. She begins to jump in place with glee, her hands still wrapped around The Pirate Princess, jerking her around against her will but she doesn't have the heart to ruin this preemptive celebration, not yet at least. The sounds decrease in volume as she now stands firm, bringing her arms together in front of her face as the planning begins.

[Alexa Bliss]
This is gonna be so great, this is exactly what I've been working toward. WE'RE GONNA BECOME CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CAREERS, ON THE SAME NIGHT!!

Kairi Sane
Alexa...

[Alexa Bliss]
I just...I can't believe it! I was so heartbroken when Mr. McMahon flat out shot me down last week, but whatever plank you threatened to make him walk I just can't thank you enough. I can see it now, A MOMENT OF BLISS...A DUAL CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION! It could be a saga, we open the show, we have a mid segment where maybe we take audience questions about our hopes and aspirations for our reigns, then we can close the show with one final address. It'll be...BLISSTASTIC!!

Kairi Sane
Alexa!

As if removed from her temporary plane of existence, Bliss looks towards her Pirate pal with genuine happiness in her eyes, emphasized by the largest smile she has ever had etched on her face. She knows she has to pull the band-aid off now without hesitation before she gets her hopes too high at her perceived Championship match, although, it seems it may be too late for that.

Kairi Sane
You... don't have a match against Mandy Rose.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand SPLAT! Alexa's over the moon excitement dissipates in an instant as she's brought down from her joy over her title match she thought she had...and now realizes she doesn't.

[Alexa Bliss]
Ugh, I SWEAR! Of course I don't, because she knows if I had another match with her I'd beat her, and this whole charade of her would be ended faster than her celebration, both of them...LIKE, IT'S AN OPEN CHALLENGE...I WAS LITERALLY THE FIRST PERSON OUTSIDE MR. MCMAHON'S OFFICE...HOW CAN I BE TOLD NO? IT'S OPEN, THAT MEANS I SHOULD BE HER OPPONENT! I've been busting my butt for years in this company, and I'm finally in a good place, I'm finally ready to take that next step, and I'm forced to sit back while someone is practically thrown onto that pedestal?

She looks like she could go off on her anti-Mandy tangent for a good hour, but suddenly she stops as she goes back to Kairi's initial statement.

[Alexa Bliss]
Wait, I thought you said I had a match? If not Mandy...then, who?

Kairi Sane
An old friend of mine was recently signed to the developmental system and since you've been supportive of me leading to this match, I figured that you deserve more than to just sit out International Incident after your impressive showing at Final Stand. So I talked to Vince and while I couldn't make you the Number One Contender to the North American Championship, the next best thing was to have you face her. This way, you get to actually participate in a match and she gets some exposure, it's win win.

Alexa's still noticeably a tad letdown, she really let herself believe for a moment that she might finally get a title match...but after a few seconds to recollect herself she smiles.

[Alexa Bliss]
Thank you, Kairi. It's not a title match, but now because of you I get to go out there and remind everyone that I may be the host the the hottest rising talk show in XWL history...but I am a competitor first and foremost.

As she starts to display a determined look...she quickly notices there's a bit of an issue as her sights return to her attire, which isn't exactly ring ready.

[Alexa Bliss]
Wait, I can't go out there like this. I didn't bring my gear, I mean I could try to wrestle in heels...but knowing your friends they're probably not exactly a pushover.

Before her worry can extend any further, Kairi smiles and reaches for a small bag inside of her suitcase and extends it to Alexa.

Kairi Sane
I thought you might say that so I came prepared.

[Alexa Bliss]
Oh my god, Kairi you're just full of surprises tonight aren't you? Well, I know you need to get ready, and I need to get changed...but I've got a surprise of my own for you. Now that you're a big time contender in The Women's Title scene, and fingers crossed will be taking home the "treasure" tonight. I thought it would be appropriate to finally name that somersault reverse DDT you've been so successful with as of late. The Insane Elbow is fantastic, but this move scored you your big win to become Number One Contender...so I think it's time it gets a stable place in your arsenal in the same conversation as your elbow. So I was thinking, what's a crucial piece of a "Pirate?" Their ship first, but second? The way they DEFEND that ship. Every Pirate needs a weapon and yours? Is The Cutlass. Just like they drive theirs into the hearts of any scurvy soul that dares to oppose them, you drive your opponent into the mat! I know you love it, right? Anyways I better go get changed, I'll be waiting behind the curtain for you after your title match, good luck!

She quickly darts out of the room before Kairi can even respond, clearly excited that she now gets to be apart of the show tonight officially in a surprise contest with one of Kairi's old friends. She's so excited she didn't even bother asking who it's with but the “who” doesn't seem to concern her as much as the “where,” going from having a supporting role to having the spotlight shining bright on her and her mystery opponent for the evening. With that Blissful meeting between friends now reaching it's climax, Kairi's expression returns to its former glory as she returns back to finishing her stretches, more than ready to focus at the task at hand now that her best friend has been taken care of. The question now remains: Will she be able to dethrone XWL's Undeniable Diamond and claim her treasure or will Tessa prove that diamonds are in fact forever?

The fans "pop!" as the theme belonging to Little Miss Bliss sounds throughout the arena, and she quickly steps out onto the stage with a huge smile on her face, decked out in her best pirate attire, the exact attire she wore when she faced Kairi Sane in their trading places match, the match that really set the stage for the friendship they would develop thereafter. She's especially cheerful tonight more than usual because she was originally supposed to sit tonight out, to watch everyone else compete because despite her huge victory at Final Stand last month, she somehow was not going to be apart of International Incident. But thanks to her friend calling in a favor, and supplying her the attire to wear for said favor, she's now here ready to show The Women's Division why all Five Feet of her is a force to be reckoned with.

[Corey Graves]
What on Earth is she wearing?

[Renee Young]
I think she looks quite cute, besides it's the best she could do on such short notice, she obviously didn't travel to Scotland with her gear because she was merely here as moral support for Kairi Sane as she challenges for The Women's Championship tonight.

[Mauro Ranallo]
But thanks to The Pirate Princess arranging this match with one of her old friends to give them and Alexa a platform to showcase their talents...that is no longer the case. Alexa is about to compete, and do so in the very attire she wore before when she faced her now best friend in a trading places match back at Roulette.

[Corey Graves]
I mean I get that, but she just looks like she's trying to leech off the success of her best friend, success she herself isn't exactly attaining. I mean first she has to win The Last Team Standing Match with Kari's elbow, now she's competing in her attire? Not exactly standing on her own merits is she?

[Renee Young]
You know I wonder if your high criticism of Alexa has anything to do with her very outspoken remarks in reference to The North American Champion Mandy Rose.

[Corey Graves]
That is ridiculous, just because I'm very appreciate of The Golden Goddess' talent, look, accomplishments, and very existence doesn't mean I go attacking anyone who besmirches her celestial name.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Well who can argue with an explanation like that?

Alexa raises the backs of her hands to the camera, before clenching her fists and flashing a bit of a smirk. It's been a tumultuous period in Alexa's career ever since ironically the last night she wore this attire. But tonight she wears it not only as a new Woman but a Woman who knows what she wants and is going to give it her all to get there. Her dream has been to become a Champion, to get the opportunity to prove she belongs in that conversation, and while she was "forbidden" from accepting Mandy Rose's so called "Open Challenge" thanks to her best friend she's now able to be out here and make her case for why she's deserving of that spot. She starts to descend down the ramp eyeing the ring as no doubt she begins to wonder who her opponent will be.

[Renee Young]
The question as I believe we're all asking right now, is who is Alexa competing against?

[Mauro Ranallo]
Kairi cited that they were an old friend of hers, someone who had recently been signed to our developmental system, which as we all know it's hard to truly keep track of all the talent that continually comes through those doors in hopes of becoming a talent here on Anarchy.

[Corey Graves]
I think it's pretty obvious that whoever it is probably just learned how to run the ropes last week given Alexa's not exactly the most "seasoned" competitor and throwing her in there with someone Kairi knew from her days in Japan or before XWL? Is just setting her friend up to be even more of an embarrassment than she already is as of late.

Alexa reaches the bottom of the ramp then quickly turns the corner, seeing outstretched hands over the barricade that she without hesitation touches and shows her appreciation for their support. Once she's made her rounds she steps up onto the apron turning to face the crowd with her elbow stretched out in a pose as a nod to her best friend who made this moment possible. Then her arms reach behind her, grabbing the middle rope that she soon backs through with a bit of a spin adding a "blissful flare" to her entry into the ring. Clearly ready to go she takes a deep breath and backs herself into the corner to stretch for the upcoming match ahead.

[Corey Graves]
I wouldn't be surprised if the guys in the truck are scrambling to find a generic theme fitting Alexa's suprise “opponent” here tonight.

[Mauro Ranallo]
What is this vendetta you have against Alexa Bliss? Mandy Rose gets handed the North American Championship by Mr. McMahon and you sing her praises, Alexa has a match she didn't know she was having nor was she prepared for until the past half hour and somehow, she's in the wrong?

[Corey Graves]
Listen here, Mauro-





Cheers emanate from the portion of the live audience in attendance that recognize the theme and who it belongs to while the remainder of the crowd looks around, unsure of what's happening and what caused the sudden boost in audio from their nearby fellow XWL Universe members.



[Mauro Ranallo]
You were saying, Corey.

[Corey Graves]
I take it all back, Kairi is trying to humiliate her “best” friend. Why else would she bring in The Genius of the Sky to face an unprepared Alexa Bliss?

[Mauro Ranallo]
How do you always find a way to twist things?

[Corey Graves]
It's a talent, Mauro.

[Renee Young]
The Genius of the Sky? I'm afraid I don't know who this is.

[Corey Graves]
That's because you're bad at your job. That's Io Shirai, the hottest female free agent on the market and now she's going to continue honing her craft in our developmental system. The future is looking bright, Mauro

[Mauro Ranallo]
I didn't believe the rumors but this confirms them as fact and what a match we have in store for us momentarily. For the first time ever, Alexa Bliss will face Io Shirai and I couldn't think of a better debut for The Genius of the Sky.



A woman emerges from behind the curtain and stands on the stage, wearing a mask covering her face. She remains in the center of the stage, scanning the mostly positive crowd that's littered with people that still don't understand what's going on around them, a subtle nod following before she extends her arms outwards, bringing them to the back of her mask. A few moments of unzipping the mask from behind ensue before she pulls it off, revealing to in fact be Io Shirai, the Titantron above with her name on it proving true.

[Corey Graves]
I could: Mandy Rose vs Io Shirai. This is a wasted debut and we all know it.

[Mauro Ranallo]
And I don't doubt Mandy Rose would be handed that as well. While this is a dream match about to become reality, let's not forget what happened the last time a Japanese Sensation made her debut against Alexa Bliss.

[Renee Young]
Kairi Sane, Tessa Blanchard's number one contender, beat Alexa in a minute. That was quite the memorable debut, let's see if Io Shirai can make lightning strike twice here tonight against Little Miss Bliss.

[Mauro Ranallo]
If memory serves me well, every female Japanese Superstar that has shown up in an XWL ring has won their debut match. Asuka winning the now defunct Divas Championship many years ago, Kairi Sane defeating Alexa Bliss as Renee mentioned. Could Io Shirai follow in their footsteps and keep that streak going?



Io places the mask in her right hand, looking at it with a smile on her face before turning towards the ring, locking eyes with her soon to be opponent for the evening in Alexa Bliss. She begins her descent down the entrance ramp, slapping the extended arms of the XWL Universe on either side of the ramp with her left hand while keeping a tight grip of her mask with her right. Upon reaching the bottom of the ramp, she takes a hard right, making her way around the ring and hopping onto the apron, looking out towards the XWL Universe with a smile on her face.

[Corey Graves]
I just don't understand why Kairi would do this to Alexa.

[Renee Young]
Do what? Give her friend a match so she can participate at this event like she deserves?

[Corey Graves]
Putting an unprepared Alexa Bliss against not only one of the greatest female talents the wrestling world has ever seen, but one that has had ample time to study and dissect Alexa's moveset and weaknesses. With “friends” like that, who needs enemies?



She quickly enters the ring and hops onto the middle rope of the nearest turnbuckle, once again raising her mask into the air and pointing her left hand's index finger towards it, a smile etched on her face. Io hops off the middle rope and lands firmly on the canvas below, looking towards her opponent, the two women with a mutual friend meeting for the first time. The Genius of the Sky takes a few steps towards Alexa, pulling her mask off her right hand before extending it towards the woman she will do battle with shortly. Alexa extends her own hand, the two interlocking between them as they exchange a handshake, the duo breaking apart moments later and make their way to opposite corners, a clear sign of respect between them despite never meeting prior to this moment.

[Renee Young]
I can just tell this is going to be good.

[Corey Graves]
For Io? Absolutely.

[Mauro Ranallo]
I think your admiration of Mandy has led you to be rather unfair to Alexa Bliss simply because she has a different view of The North American Champion.

[Corey Graves]
My admiration has nothing to do with the fact that Kairi Sane has literally set her "best friend" up for failure tonight. Besides, is it wrong to admire God's Greatest Creation? THAT'S WHAT HE INTENDED WHEN HE CREATED HER!

[Renee Young]
It's especially wrong when you do it.






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SPOILERS

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Alexa rises up after her hard fought victory with a smile across her face. The Genius Of The Sky definitely pushed Alexa Bliss to a new level, learning as she fought to combat offense she's never experienced before. But in the end, Alexa Bliss has been fighting for years to become a Champion, to be worthy of such, to be better in the ring, and tonight? As she stands "tall" over Io who is still feeling the effects of that Curb Stomp and Twisted Bliss combination she knows she's done exactly that. The official raises her hand as the cheers continue to echo throughout the audience who are both excited for her victory and the match they just witnessed.

[Renee Young]
What was it you were saying, Corey? Kairi Sane set this match up to humiliate Alexa? Because I think Little Miss Bliss just proved the opposite of that. She set this up to allow Alexa to show exactly what she's made of, and that is a Championship level contender.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Alexa's been in the background of The Women's Division for a while now, never getting the same opportunities as others, constantly having to prove herself and reaping little reward. But 2019 is certainly proving she's not the same competitor she once was. She's had the opportunity to go to war with the best of them. I mean look at her matches this past month.

[Renee Young]
While not victorious she certainly held her own against Becky Lynch, against The Women's Champion Tessa Blanchard. And that's not even factoring in her incredible victory in The Last Team Standing Match at Final Stand.

[Corey Graves]
Okay so I was wrong, she was able to compete with a top tier talent in Io Shirai...BUT to say that proves she's on the level of a Champion, let alone the level of THE GOLDEN GODDESS? Is just ridiculous.

[Mauro Ranallo]
We wouldn't know because Mandy's too busy ducking the possibility of facing her one on one.

[Corey Graves]
Why does she need to face her? Are you forgetting that Mandy beat Alexa to become contender in the first place?

[Renee Young]
Are you forgetting that Mandy had TWO title opportunities she failed to win the title in, and then scored a third that we still don't know how it would have ended because the champion was immediately stripped of their title, and that title was put immediately around the waist of Mandy Rose?

Alexa moves from the official who starts to tend to the fallen "Genius Of The Sky" and mounts the second rope raising her hands up clearly proud of herself. But rather than milking this moment, she immediately goes right to business, lowering her hands to her waist, motioning as if a title were around it. "MR. MCMAHON CAN'T PROTECT YOU FOREVER, MANDY!" That remark sparks a louder reaction from the fans who clearly find issue in the entire situation involving The New North American Champion and The General Manager, much like Alexa has repeatedly said herself.

[Corey Graves]
Oh sure, criticize the boss, that'll get you a title match.

[Renee Young]
It's not like she's exactly off base, Corey.

[Corey Graves]
How is he protecting her? He gave her the same opportunity as Alexa, an opportunity Mandy WON, and because The North American Champion wasn't up to par, he did something, and that just so happened to mean whoever became contender, became Champion.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Except that's not at all how it happened. Mandy became contender, and only then, after that champion had beaten her twice before, was the champion deemed unworthy of her title, and then it was handed to Mandy.

[Corey Graves]
You know I don't like the way you're ganging up on Mandy like this. You act like she doesn't have an Open Challenge later tonight where she's graciously taken it upon herself to defend her title.

[Renee Young]
Wow, how honored are we that a champion is going to defend their title? Alexa literally tried to accept that challenge and was denied, last week, and again tonight. So to go back to your earlier remark about Alexa's opponent tonight? I wouldn't be surprised if she fought someone that just learned how to run the ropes last week.

While things heat up amongst the bickering announce team, Alexa looks back over her shoulder to see Io struggling to get up which prompts Alexa to quickly dismount from the corner and slowly walk over to her. While they just became acquainted tonight, the match they had clearly gave both Women a newfound respect for one another. So Alexa extends her hand to Io, and while Alexa's track record with Japanese competitors isn't exactly "welcoming" Io of course knows Alexa is Kairi's best friend and so given the match they had, and that mutual friendship in mind...Io accepts her hand and is brought to her feet. The two once again exchange a show of respect, with Alexa going the extra mile and "bowing" to Io. With Io stabilized, Little Miss Bliss steps over to the ropes retrieving a microphone as Io clutches at her ribs from the Twisted Bliss that led to her defeat.

[Alexa Bliss]
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Genius Of The Sky, IO SHIRAI!

Alexa grabs Io by the wrist then raises her arm as the fans cheer this sweet sign of respect from a Woman that this time last year wasn't exactly known for possessing much less displaying respect.  

[Alexa Bliss]
I can't wait to do it again someday, hopefully after I become North American Champion.

She smiles in Io's direction as the crowd shows their delight in that possibility.

[Alexa Bliss]
You know, whenever Mr. McMahon's shiny new toy decides to fill her role as a Champion. Speaking of Mandy Rose...you can duck my challenges all you want, and hey by the time your Open Challenge is over tonight who even knows if you'll be Champion anymore. But next week on Anarchy? I've got an offer you really can't refuse. You seem like the type that loves to be put on a pedestal and admired...so, why not be my guest on A Moment Of Bliss? Consider this your formal invite, Mandy. All eyes will be on you, and I promise...I'll be my best behavior, because after all one of us has be a professional.

With one final dig thrown in to her invite to Mandy Rose, Alexa drops her mic and stares into the camera with an inviting gaze as she no doubt awaits an answer from The Golden Goddess herself. Will Mandy accept her invite to be a guest on A Moment Of Bliss next week? Only time will tell, and there's not a whole lot left of it.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Well, Mandy doesn't want to fight Alexa, but how about appear on her show?

[Corey Graves]
You're painting this unfavorable picture of Mandy. She has no problem facing a worthy challenger, it's just that Alexa clearly isn't that. But hey, Alexa's been on fire as a talk show host in recent months...I think it's only appropriate that her 7th installment have a heavenly guest like God's Greatest Creation.

[Renee Young]
But is she ready to answer the tough questions that no doubt will be coming her way? Such as defending the clear favoritism Mr. McMahon has shown her.

[Corey Graves]
IF Mandy graces Alexa with her presence and ups the quality of her show a million perfect...Alexa better treat her holiness well or else god himself might smite her down for speaking ill of his greatest creation.

[Renee Young]
I don't even have a response to that.

[Mauro Ranallo]
But, will Mandy have a response to Alexa?

Coming off of the commercial break, we find a black screen. A few flashes of camera phones light up in the stands to let us know that we’re not simply stuck on an ominous black screen.

[Jojo Offerman]
Ladies and gentlemen, “Gorg-Elias…”

The lights remain totally off save for one, single spotlight that turns on and shines down on the center of the ring. Perched on a stool, we find a visually stunning Tyler Breeze, draped in the finest of imported furs.  There’s a microphone wired to his ear in the likeness of a true popstar. Resting on his lap is-... Well, it’s a bit hard to tell at first. Upon closer inspection as the program shifts to a closer camera angle, it is revealed to be Elias’s guitar! Only something is quite different this time around. The body of the guitar is now covered in pink fur to match the bottoms of his pants and his fur vest. With a single strum of the fluffy guitar while sporting his trademarked, smoldering squint, Breeze raises his eyes up to make contact with the camera.

[Tyler Breeze]
Is it my eyes, when you look at me?...
They are so gorgeous, they’ll set you free...
Could it be my walk? Or just my stare?
Either way, you must be relieved Uggo-lias isn’t here...

[Tyler Breeze]
Super good-looking, every hair in place...
While he’s sleeping on a piece of cardboard every night,
Elias dreams of having this gorgeous face...
He may desperately require my Beauty Shot,
But his greatest offense of them all is…
That he actually believes he’s hot.

[Tyler Breeze]
Part man, but all model.
I was born gorgeous, while Uggo-lias was sucking on his bottle.
Don’t try and fight it, you can’t deny…
You are an unsightly and mediocre musician, personified.


"Alright I'm just gonna stop you right there!" a voice says through the darkness. Another spotlight shines at the top of the stage revealing an appalled looking Elias. He has a guitar hanging over his shoulder and his headset mic is prepared as if he was about to give a live performance himself. With a shake of his head he begins his descent down the ramp

[Elias]
After you smashed me over the head last week I was prepared to come out here, sing a song that would lure you to this ring, and beat you up and down this ramp. But to my surprise you beat me here. Armed to steal my performance. I was red hot! Until i heard you sing...

Elias rubs his hand through his beard as if he can still hear Tyler's singing voice in his head

[Elias]
It was...bad

Tyler's eyes roll at the obvious cheapshot but Elias continues on before he interrupts

[Elias]
But! But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. You are an amateur that is true but one with potential. So tell you what. There will be no violence tonight. Instead, you and I will...

Elias steps between the ropes and stands next to Tyler who looks wary of him

[Elias]
...Play together!

Elias smiles a toothy grin while Breeze still looks hesitant. Sensing this Elias takes the lead

[Elias]
Alright I'll go and you just follow my lead right? Alright here we go... a one, two, one two three four!

[Elias]
When I heard you singing
I thought I was smoking pot man
Still listening to you sing
Is better than being stuck here in Scotland

The crowd jeer and try to drown Elias out just as he's begun but their hate seems to fuel him to keep going

[Elias]
You can boo me if you want
But I only speak the truth
Every match on this card sucks
No wonder this crowd seems so aloof

Breeze strums along with Elias, following his lead surprisingly well, but still a bit off tune in a couple of places.

[Tyler Breeze]
Now now, Elias, don't be so rude..!
Especially not to these repulsive Scottish sheep,
from which that unholy smell protrudes.

[Tyler Breeze]
I am known around the world as the King of Cuteville,
and I find that title quite tasteful.
Unfortunately for this odorous and unpretty dump of a nation
I am not the King of Scotland,
but for that I am truly grateful.

[Tyler Breeze]
Elias, you wanted to perform together,
but I have the best idea yet.
These Scottish sardines are not worthy of such a raw and authentic performance,
so my suggestion for you is: why not give them something that they deserve?
I say we give them a less original duet.

[Elias]
Give them what they deserve?
That I can always do
Insulting people is always fun
But I'd rather do it with you

[Elias]
We got all the time in the world
Cause neither of us is on the card
They might think they stopped us short
But our voices will ring far

[Elias]
I write all my songs
That much is true
But I can do covers everyone knows
And Breeze, I bet you do too

[Elias]
It isn't really my style
But this could be our first saga
So I'll take out so rock...
...And we'll go a little "Gaga"





Breeze clears his throat and lays his fluffy pink guitar down. He rises from his stool and makes his way over to a microphone stand while Elias begins to play the familiar tune. The Scottish fans become temporarily excited at the sound of the international hit song, but would surely remember who it is in the ring and turn on the two superstars once again in no time.

[Elias]
Tell me something, Breeze
Are you happy in this Scottish wasteland?
Or do you need more?
Is there somewhere less egregious that you're searchin' for?

[Elias]
I'm falling,
In all the good times I find myself longing, For change
And in this place I fear myself, Becoming deranged

Elias voice trails off, leaving the floor open for Breeze to come in

[Tyler Breeze]
Tell me somethin', ugg-

Breeze quickly clears his throat and jumps back onto his verse before it's too late.

[Tyler Breeze]
AHEM... Elias,
aren't you tired tryin' to please these unkempt neanderthals?
Or do you need more?
Ain't it hard having a card without Tyler Breeze, and fighting the urge to snore?

[Tyler Breeze]
I'm, falling.
In all the good times I find myself longing, for change.
And in the bad times I fear these Scottish cretins and their mange...

Prince Pretty puffs out his chest, taking a deep breath while he extends his spare hand out towards the spotlight in an almost John Travolta-esque pose.

[Tyler Breeze]
I'M OFF THE DEEEEP EEEEND, WATCH AS I BEAUTIFULLY DIVE IN,
I'LL NEVER NOT BE, GORRRGEOUSSSS!
CRASH THROUGH THE SURFACE, WHERE SCOTLAND CAN'T HURT US,
WE'RE FAR FROM THE UGGO, NOW!...

Breeze and Elias turn to face each other now as they perform, staring into each other's eyes. Elias, still strumming away on his guitar, while Breeze cradles his microphone stand.

[Elias & Tyler Breeze]
IN THE UGGOOO, UH-UGGO.
IN THE UGGO, UGGO, UG-UGGOOO..
IN THE UGGO, UG-UGGO,
WE'RE FAR FROM THE UGGO NOW...

With one final strum of Elias's guitar, the crowd shouts out a surprisingly mixed reaction at the coming together moment for these two budding rivals. Elias takes Breeze's right hand with his left and holds it high in the spotlight while the two bask in their unexpected celebration. Breeze places his left hand over his heart, looking as though he were so humble and undeserving of the applause, but lowkey eating up every last bit of it. The Definition of Delish, Tyler Breeze, then uses his left hand to gesture towards the other half of this magical duet. While Elias was busy nodding his head and holding his hand up to the fans, Breeze suddenly drops down onto his knees and spikes Elias with A CLOSED FIST RIGHT IN THE BALLS!

The crowd cannot believe it! They instantly turn on Breeze once again, booing him half out of the country as Elias drops down onto his knees, cradling his family jewels with that unmistakable expression of exquisite agony of his face. Meanwhile, Breeze stands to his feet, his lips puckered into an always gorgeous, particularly wrathful expression. With Elias compromised on his knees still, Breeze lines up and strikes Elias directly on the chin with THE SUPERMODEL KICK!

Elias drops to the ground, his concern over his black and blue balls finally fading as he is not out cold on his back in the ring. Breeze leans over the unconscious body of the drifter, Elias.

[Tyler Breeze]
IT'S JUST SHOW BUSINESS, UGGO-LIAS! I'M the Beyoncé, I don't need you!... And DON'T ever touch me again with those grotesque sausage fingers!





Breeze stands up and straightens his designer fur vest out, delicately tucking a few strands of his hair back into place that had fallen down into his face during the aftermath of the performance. He exits the ring and grabs his matching, pink, fluffy guitar from under the bottom rope. Breeze then tosses the guitar over his shoulder, holding it by the next as he walks back up the ramp, passed all of the booing Scottish fans. He couldn't seem any less bothered, however, keeping his signature puckered lips and squinting eyes on his face as he ignores them all and disappears backstage, leaving Elias as well as all of the carnage back in the ring while we cut to a commercial break.

As International Incident returns backstage, we see Chris Jericho standing at a monitor as he is approached by Charly Caruso. He slowly turns to face her with a scowl on his face, showing that he means strictly business tonight, no fun and games.

{Charly Caruso}
Listen Chris I know you are probably extremely focused for your match tonight with the up and coming Velveteen Dream, but I wanted to get your thoughts on the mind games he has been playing with you the last week or two. Last week on Anarchy he cost you your match by coming out onto the stage and distracting you, allowing you to be rolled up. How are you prepared for tonight?

{Chris Jericho}
How did I handle him making a mockery of my match last week? How have I prepared for him tonight? That’s a stupid question Chuck, I prepared for him the same way I do every other opponent. I look in the mirror and say “I’m the best in the world at what I do,” and then I walk out onto that stage, I walk down that ramp into that ring, and I make my opponent’s tapout.

{Charly Caruso}
Well Chris you actually haven’t made any opponent tapout in months, maybe even years so I’m not really sure where you are getting that from.

{Chris Jericho}
You… you don’t know where I’m getting that from? Well Chuck, Charles, Charly or whatever your name actually is. You know what happens when you question the greatness of Chris Jericho? Do you know what happens? When you question the Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla? Do you?

Jericho begins to raise the clipboard from his waist and brings it eye level with Charly Caruso.

Do you want to find out what happens?

{Charly Caruso}
Go ahead Chris, put me on your puny little list. I’m a backstage interviewer and it means nothing to me.

{Chris Jericho}
That is exactly why I am putting you on this list and I am so glad you said it yourself. You are just a meaningless backstage interviewer. Vince could go out and get any girl that works the street corner to hold a microphone up in front of my face. Oh yeah I know you don’t like hearing that but it’s true. You don’t have any talent, we both know that. If Vince didn’t see pictures of you scrolling past certain websites that I won’t say the names of, you would never have a job in this company to begin with.

Visibly angered by Jericho’s remarks, basically calling her a whore, Charly musters up all the power she has and slaps Jericho across the face. The fans pop big to it as Jericho begins to grin.

Oh I baited you right into that one, Chuckie. How dare you put your hands on the best in the world at what he does. How dare you lay your hands on the most accomplished and most decorated superstar to ever step foot inside an XWL ring. I am going to have you fired for this, mark my words. You will never work another day in this company. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some business I have to attend to.

Jericho walks off the set laughing as Charly is distraught at the threats of Jericho. As Charly’s picture fades away, it transitions to Velveteen Dream and The Dream’s Entourage (Miss Trum, Miss Veronica and a man, Mr. Ta N’Go) sitting in the dimly lit corridor known as The Velveteen Experience with Kayla Braxton.

---

{Kayla Braxton}
Velveteen Dream, thank you for inviting me to be here in The Velveteen Experience tonight, it truly is an honor.

{Velveteen Dream}
Well Miss Braxton, all I have to say is thank you for joining us tonight. Tonight is a very special night, and you know why that is, Miss Braxton? Because tonight, The Velveteen Dream, hand-chosen by Vince McMahon himself, gets to take on the most decorated superstar that has stepped foot inside an XWL ring. What is it he calls himself, Miss Braxton? The Best in the World at what he does? Well over the last couple of weeks, the only thing I have seen him do is lose. And tonight, the same thing is going to happen Miss Braxton. Chris Jericho is going to lose, because he is a loser, plain and simple.

{Kayla Braxton}
Well Velveteen, this match has a ton of Elimination Chamber implications riding on it, does that up any pressure you may feel from especially considering your opponent?

{Velveteen Dream}
Miss Braxton, did you not hear what I said earlier? I am not worried about the man across the ring from me tonight. He is simply not the competitor, not the man that I am in that ring. And tonight, he is going to find out that The Dream will become his nightmare. Now I have a match to go win.

As Velveteen gets up from his seat, he extends his hand out to Kayla to escort her out of the room. As he gets to the curtains at the entranceway, he is met by a brutal clothesline. A figure steps out of the shadows and reveals himself to be none other than Chris Jericho. Jericho begins strangling The Dream with his scarf.

{Chris Jericho}
Huh you stupid idiot? You think you are better than me? I’m a multi-time world champion and tonight I earn my way into the Chamber match.

He grabs the hair of Velveteen Dream and holds his head up, dragging him towards the exit and towards gorilla position.

Do you understand that? I am the best in the world at what I do, and you’re finding out why that is first-hand.

Jericho tosses Dream through the entrance-ramp curtains. He picks up Dream again and begins clubbing the back of his head, while also dragging him down towards the ring. Jericho whips him under the ropes and slides into the ring himself.



The ref rings the bell and Jericho goes for a cover, but Dream kicks out at 2. Jericho begins to pummel on Dream in the corner before the ref gets in between and breaks it up.

{Chris Jericho}
Get the hell out of my way, Mike. You’re going to slow up my momentum.

As Jericho is walking back towards the corner, he is met by a kick to the gut by Velveteen Dream. Dream charges at Jericho and nails him with the Rainmaker DDT. Both men crash to the mat, exhausted from the minutes of brawling that has ensued. Dream manages to crawl to the bottom rope, and uses it to boost himself to his feet. He spills between the ropes and perches himself on the top turnbuckle. Dream begins to point to the sky but stops and wags his finger in the air. He flexes his muscles and then mimics Chris Jericho’s outstretched arm pose. He takes one giant leap off the top rope, but he took way too much time taunting Jericho. Jericho springs to his feet and crushes Dream with a mid-air Codebreaker. Dream’s body collapses to the ring mat. Jericho realizes he is about to vanquish Velveteen Dream and get himself back into the main event picture. He crawls to the cover and extends his arm out over The Dream’s body.

1
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2
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3!!!!!!

HERE IS YOUR WINNER OF THE MATCH, CHRIS JERICHO!!!!

Jericho collapses back to the mat as the fans jeer his victory. As he gets back to his feet, his music is cut off by a throat being cleared on the titantron.

{Vince McMahon}
Chris, Chris up here. Listen Chris, I know you believe you won the match, but just look back at this footage. You can clearly see that Velveteen Dream’s foot and leg is underneath the bottom rope, but the ref’s vision is impaired by his poor positioning. Unfortunately I am going to have to overturn this decision. Usually this would lead to a reversal, and I would name Velveteen Dream the winner of the match. But since what I asked for two weeks ago was for everybody to step up and make an impact, I am not going to do that. Referee Mike Zapata… ring the damn bell and restart the match!

The crowd goes nuts at the thought of the two men going at it again. Jericho begins screaming in a fit of rage, saying it is unfair because he already won the match. As Jericho turns around, he is scooped up onto Dream’s shoulders and gets smashed into the canvas with a Dream Valley Driver. Velveteen uses his momentum and cartwheels himself to the top turnbuckle. He balances himself for a single second, and comes crashing down with the point of his elbow drilling a hole in the chest of Chris Jericho, getting all of the Rainmaker Elbow. Dream wraps up the legs and smothers the arms and shoulders of Jericho.

1
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2
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3!!!!!

Here is your winner of the match, The Velveteen Dream!!

[Renee Young]
… Corey, will you please sit down?!

[Corey Graves]
The lack of respect and professionalism that you two have is DISGUSTING! You two should be ashamed of yourselves. This is our North American Champion!

[Renee Young]
I haven’t seen you put on this kind of performance for any of our other Champions tonight.

[Corey Graves]
When one of our other Champions looks like that and is as deserving as God’s literal Greatest Creation, THEN I will!

The rest of the Glasgow arena join Corey in standing to their feet, however their intentions were drastically on the opposite end of the proverbial spectrum. The fans were leaning over the barricades, throwing their thumbs down, and booing the roof off of the place as the Golden Goddess confidently walks out onto the stage. As she stops dead-center, she raises her polished North American Championship in her right hand while her left hand slowly glides down behind her head.

[Mauro Ranallo]
There you see, ladies and gentleman, the North American Champion, Mandy Rose. She is currently set to face an opponent of her choosing, which she informed us of during her coronation celebration last week on Anarchy. The question now is: who has Rose selected to face in the first defense of her newly and controversially acquired championship?

[Corey Graves]
DOES IT MATTER, Mauro?! Whoever it may be should consider themselves blessed to even share a ring with the Golden Goddess! It doesn’t matter who that is, Mandy Rose’s historic title reign is going to continue after this match no matter what, she said so herself!

[Renee Young]
You know Mandy isn’t right about everything, right Corey?

[Corey Graves]
Uhm, hello?! Mandy Rose said she was a Golden Goddess, and she is! Mandy Rose said she was going to become North American Champion, and she did! Mandy Rose said she was the greatest superstar of all time, and guess what? SHE IS! Based off of the laws of probability, I think it’d really help your budding broadcast journalism career, Renee, if you start trusting that whatever God’s Greatest Creation says true, is TRUE!

Back on the stage, Mandy has places her title comfortably on her shoulder and has moved on to stroking the ends of her hair while she struts down the ramp. It was almost as if an invisible wall was placed between the Golden Goddess and the vocal and unaccepting fans in the front rows while Mandy strides by them without even a passing glance.



Her smoldering gaze remains fixated on the ring as she makes her way around to the side of the ring that the primary cameras call home. The reigning Champion then grabs hold of the bottom rope and lifts herself up onto the ring apron, gracefully spinning her legs through until stopping at the perfect time to raise her title high once again and shake her long, flowing, golden-blonde hair free.

[Corey Graves]
What a thing of beauty! Renee, Mauro, have either of you ever laid eyes on such an angelic being in your entire lives?!

An audible groan of disdain can be heard coming from Renee’s microphone as Mandy ducks down and slides under the bottom rope, crawling backwards into the ring before pulling herself up to her feet and raising her title high one more time. Her right hand slid down once again, resting behind her head until she was ready to place her belt onto her shoulder and receive a microphone from the official in the ring. As the Golden Goddess opens her mouth, before she even has the opportunity to get a word out, the crowd overwhelms her with their booing. Her initial reaction is to smile and laugh to herself, stroking her hair as she takes a quick look around ringside.


What, have you guys never seen a beautiful woman in person before?... Actually, looking around this ring-...

Mandy holds her hand over her eyes to act as a visor from the bright lights as she squints and grimaces after taking a look at the faces of the native Scottish fans.


My guess is you probably haven’t! So, allow me to educate you on what a real woman looks like.

The North American Champion holds one arm out wide as she turns around slowly in the ring, her trademarked smug grin never leaving her face. The crowd’s booing is enough to practically cause the foundation of the arena to rumble. In the midst of all of the boos, there are quite a few men in the audience throwing out whistles and cheering for the Golden Goddess.


Quite a difference from these Scottish midwives who smell like, dress like, and LOOK like a bunch of ogres. Moving on to why I was REQUIRED to be in this awful country, tonight I face my first contender for MY North American Championship. Now, as Mr. McMahon rightfully determined, there is not a single woman in that locker room who is worthy to face me. So as I told the XWL Universe at my grand coronation last week, tonight I will be hand-picking my first challenger, but who could possibly be deserving enough to face me for my North American Championship?... Well, good people of Scotland, I’ve decided to throw some bread crumbs to the people and give one lucky member of the audience the opportunity to step into this ring and fight me for my title.

Mandy walks over to the ropes and carefully ducks through before walking down the steel steps and perusing the crowd by the barricade. As she walks by, pointing her finger at each woman she passes, men in the first few rows reach their hands out, begging to be selected or recognized by God’s Greatest Creation. Unfortunately for them, Mandy predictably pays them with dust and keeps it moving.


Hmm… No, no, no… Not you… Not you either- are those PIT STAINS? Ew..! No, no… Oh, absolutely not...

The Champion sighs dramatically as she continues her walking along by the barricade.


Oh my gosh! Sweety, when was the last time you showered? Ugh, NO!... No, no, no… N-







The enormous pop from the crowd felt like an earthquake on Scottish soil as the lights began to hectically flash and dart sporadically around the arena. Mandy’s head jerks towards the stage while she clutches onto her North American Championship and her eyes become wide with terror as her jaw drops down below her collarbone.

[Renee Young]
WHAT A TWIST!

[Mauro Ranallo]
A TWISTED SISTER, NO LESS!

[Corey Graves]
SOMEBODY GET SECURITY OUT HERE, RIGHT NOW! This psychopath kidnapped Mandy Rose and tried to smuggle her here to Scotland last month before Final Stand!

As Nikki Cross’s music continues to play but she does not appear out onto the stage, Mandy begins frantically turning her head back and forth to try and locate the eminent threat to her newly acquired throne. As she does this, a spotlight finally shines onto the cement stairs leading down by ringside as the crowd parts ways and Nikki Cross runs down the staircase like the lunatic she’s known to be. Noticing this, Mandy quickly rolls into the ring for some amount of protection, clutching her title over her chest with both arms as Nikki Cross makes it down to ringside, hammering her fists down onto the padded barricade while she huffs and puffs and finally hops the divide and aggressively pushes her wet, greasy hair back out of her demented face. Mandy is visibly shaken to her core, coming face to face with the woman who chloroformed her and stuffed her into a suitcase only a handful of weeks ago.

[Corey Graves]
WHERE IS SECURITY?! I’m calling Mr. McMahon about this RIGHT NOW!

[Renee Young]
Are you kidding me Graves? Nikki Cross is a former XWL Superstar, she has every right to be here!

[Corey Graves]
Exactly, Renee! FORMER! She has no right being here, and so I ask again: WHERE IS SECURITY?!?!

Corey turns his head to direct his yelling at somebody who can get the North American Champion the protection she seems to be desperately in need of at the moment. Nikki walks over with a stiff, crooked grin on her face and RIPS the microphone out of the hand of the ring announcer! As she brings it closer to her lips, the sound of her heavy breathing picks up over the PA system and gradually silences the erratic Scottish crowd. Meanwhile in the ring, the Champion seems to be in a complete state of shock, backed into the far corner opposite of Nikki Cross who had not taken her eyes off of Rose since appearing in the arena. Before Cross even breathes a word, she jerks her head back and laughs maniacally, sending the crowd into yet another frenzy.

[Mauro Ranallo]
As Corey touched on earlier, These two have no love lost for each other and quite an extensive history in XWL. We haven’t seen Nikki Cross since she attempted to smuggle the now North American Champion, Mandy Rose, here to her home country of Scotland just before Final Stand!

[Corey Graves]
”NO LOVE LOST, MAURO?” Maybe on Mandy’s end, but this Nikki Cross woman is completely infatuated with the Golden Goddess! She’s obsessed and clearly doesn’t have God’s Greatest Creation’s best interests at heart!

[Renee Young]
Sounds a little bit like somebody else we know, doesn’t it, Mauro?

[Corey Graves]
Oh and what is that supposed to mean, Renee?! I would NEVER do anything to harm a single golden strand of hair on Mandy Rose’s head, this nutjob committed countless felonies, and is now being allowed back into the same ring with the North American Champion, no questions asked?!

[Renee Young]
This is wrestling, Graves! Y’gotta love it!

[Corey Graves]
NO, RENEE, this isn’t just "wrestling!" This is letting an unstable and hungry wolf into a pen with a baby deer!

Nikki finally lifts her mic up to her lips again, eyes fully locked and loaded on Mandy while she slowly approaches the apron from ringside.

[Nikki Cross]
Fancy seeing you here, dolly!


SECURITY!!

[Nikki Cross]
You’ve always had a fight in you, dolly… That’s what I like about you..! After all that trouble you gave me trying to get you here the hard way, you finally come here all on your own and fall right in my lap! Hehehehe…


If I don’t see a wall of security guards standing between me and this FREAK within the next 2 seconds, you’ll all be out of a job before we even leave the country! Now get this criminal out of my arena!

As security FINALLY comes barrelling down the ramp, surrounding Nikki at ringside, Mandy breathes a sigh of relief. That relief is short-lived, however, as security stops dead in their tracks once Nikki whips out a ticket, paid in full, giving her every right to be here and to accept Mandy’s open challenge.

[Nikki Cross]
Not so fast, dolly! Hehehe… You’ve got some shiny new gold since you got away from me, didn’t you? Gold always did look so nice on you, dolly, hehehehe… I quite like that one, I think Nikki might want a turn to play with it, dolly, GIVE NIKKI A TURN TO PLAY!

On that note, Nikki briskly rolls inside of the ring while security are forced to stand by. Nikki did pay for her ticket, and therefore by way of Mandy’s open challenge to any woman in the Scotland audience, has a right to stake her claim in a North American Championship match. As Nikki stalks closer to Mandy, the Champion leans out through the ropes and screams at the security force at ringside:


I don’t care about the stupid challenge, GET HER OUT OF MY RI-

Mandy is quickly cut off and instantly forced back into a state of shock as Nikki’s raspy voice booms over the arena while she now stands directly in front of Mandy Rose, mic in hand.

[Nikki Cross]
NIKKI PAID FOR HER TICKET, MANDY ROSE, AND NIKKI ACCEPTS YOUR CHALLENGE! IT’S NIKKI’S TIME TO PLAY!

A loud boom signals the end of Nikki’s words as she violently throws the microphone onto the mat and begins to slap her own thighs, stomping and chanting: ”PLAY WITH NIKKI, PLAY WITH NIKKI!” An official rolls into the ring and steps between the two, reaching for Mandy’s Championship in order to conduct the match. The Golden Goddess shakes her head profusely demanding that the official leave the ring and cancel the open challenge. Unfortunately, this was what Mandy agreed to and signed on for, and the official was not about to let her redact that now with a ravenous Scottish crowd ready for a little golden bloodshed. Nikki finally takes one big leap towards Mandy Rose, stomping suddenly onto the mat right in front of her with both feet as she sticks her landing. The sudden proximity and loud noise from the jump was enough to startle Mandy into dropping her title and microphone directly into the hands of the official! Wasting no time, the official marches to the center of the ring with the North American Championship as the lights go out in the arena save for a large spotlight placed over both Champion and contender. Mandy was too traumatized to present any further protest as she found herself petrified like a doe in the headlights of Nikki Cross’s crazy eyes.

[Jojo Offerman]
The following match is set for one fall, and it is for the North American CHAMPIONSHIP!

The crowd goes absolutely mental as the match seems to be getting underway, fully behind and in support of their hometown felon.

[Jojo Offerman]
Introducing first, the challenger, from Glasgow, Scotland… Nikki, CROSS!

Just as if we didn’t think the crowd could have gotten any louder, their intensity becomes absolutely volcanic as Jojo says the name of the challenger. Mandy, on the other hand, is visibly distraught and pacing back and forth on her side of the ring with her hands on her hips, protesting this backfired open challenge every step of the way.

[Jojo Offerman]
And her opponent, from Yorktown Heights, New York, she is the North American Champion… Mandy, ROSE!

And just like that, the crowd flips seemingly on a dime as their explosive cheers quickly evolve into polar opposite, yet still explosive boos. The Champion rolls her eyes and huffs under her breath, too busy arguing with the official who is now raising her title high overhead to even notice the reaction of the fans. The referee turns a blind eye to the complaints of the Golden Goddess as he lowers the title and hands it off to a ringside staff member, and then calls for the bell.


DING

DING

DING!


The challenger wastes not a single second before rushing the Champion, tackling her back onto the mat with a lou thesz press and a flurry of lefts and rights. Mandy raises her forearms up, kicking and screaming as she desperately attempts to shield her face from the merciless strikes. Nikki finally climbs off of Mandy at the referee’s 4 count, leaving the Champion trying to catch her breath and gather her wits about her. Nikki circles around the ring and just as Mandy is starting to get back onto her feet, she looks across the ring at her crazed opponent with a wild look of disbelief.



Rose holds up her finger, tucking a stray strand of hair back behind her ear as she attempts to reason with the Twisted Sister. None of that appeals to Cross however, who spontaneously darts back at Mandy and tackles her with a low crossbody! Straight into a headlock, Nikki begins to furiously pound away at the skull of Mandy Rose with her free hand before once again backing off at the referee’s 4 count. As the official is scolding Cross for her dangerously close calls thus far, the once Twisted Sister of XWL slid over to the ropes on her knees, gnawing on the middle rope like a wild animal. While Nikki was busy making a chew toy out of the ropes, Mandy was quietly recuperating across the ring. By the time Nikki returns to her opponent, Mandy regains the energy and pulls her unexpected and unwelcome challenger into a roll-up!


1...!


TW-


KICKOUT!


The fresh Nikki Cross powers out of the pinning predicament with relative ease, much to the delight of the Scottish fans. Instead of getting to her feet after the attempted pin to end the match early, Mandy opts to instantly roll out of the ring and begin walking up the ramp. As the Scottish fans lining the barricade boo their hearts out, Mandy runs her hands through her hair and throws her hand up in their face, exclaiming:


YEAH RIGHT, I DON’T THINK SO! I’M DONE, I DON’T NEED THIS... SHE’S A LUNATIC!

Noticing this, her opponent practically licks her lips, chomping at the bit as she watches Mandy walk away, almost perversely for a moment, enough to give us a general sense of unease before rolling out of the ring and charging right after the retreating Champion. With a clobbering right to the back of the head, Rose drops to her knees. Then, Cross proceeds to grab Rose by her pretty golden blonde hair, and forcefully drags Mandy back towards the ring kicking and screaming.

[Nikki Cross]
I don’t think so, dolly! Hehehehe… NIKKI IS JUST GETTING STARTED!

Once the pair make it down to the ring, Nikki crawls back up onto the apron and goes to hoist Mandy back in by her golden locks, but Mandy, who has now been dragged up to her feet, spins around and connects to Nikki’s jaw with a spinning closed fist! Nikki is instantly rocked by the direct hit, and Mandy wastes no time at all shoving her dazed body back inside of the ring. The Champion rolls in and scurries into the pin, hooking one leg of the native Scot.


1…


2..!


KICKOUT!


Rose groans and sits up out of the pin and pushes her hair back out of her face, taking a quick moment to scold the ref by clapping her hands three times in his face. The official insists that Cross managed to get her shoulder up before the three count, and Mandy rolls her eyes in response. She follows up by standing to her feet and dragging Nikki up with her. With both women on their feet now, Nikki finds her second wind as she unloads on the unsuspecting Mandy with another fury of forearms! She backs Mandy into the corner who is desperately trying to protect her face. As Nikki finally halts, Mandy is now dazed in the corner. Cross muscles Rose up onto the top rope, leaving the Golden Goddess seated on the turnbuckle, completely dazed. The Twisted Sister looks around the audience full of her people who are egging her on. Nikki starts to nod quickly, bearing her crooked grin as she stomps on the mat and starts to smack the sides of her own head as she puts two and two together.

[Corey Graves]
I don’t like where this is going..!

[Renee Young]
I sure do, look at Nikki Cross! She’s in her element here in Scotland!

[Mauro Ranallo]
Wait, LOOK AT MANDY!

As Nikki finally turns back to deliver an undoubtedly devastating and potentially reign-ending move from the top rope, she and everyone watching is caught completely off guard by a FLYING BICYCLE KNEE COMING DOWN OFF OF THE TOP ROPE! The golden knee of Mandy Rose smashes right through the side of Nikki Cross’s face!

[Mauro Ranallo]
THE ROSE THORN! THE ROSE THORN!

[Renee Young]
I CAN’T BELIEVE MY OWN EYES!

[Corey Graves]
IT’S TIME TO BECOME A BELIEVER, RENEE! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it until the end of time, MANDY ROSE IS THE GREATEST SUPERSTAR OF ALL TIME!

The Champion lands awkwardly onto the mat, barely landing on her feet off of the unconventional top rope offense while her opponent remains a cold shell. The crowd gasps from shock after seeing this unexpected move from the Golden Goddess, fearing for their hometown favorite. Rose’s face says it all as she looks furiously frustrated with this unstable individual who has plagued her practically since her XWL debut. Mandy decides that she’s not risking anything, knowing how annoyingly resilient her opponent can be.



The Champion drags the Scot up to her feet, and shoves Nikki’s head between her legs to hold her in a pedigree-like position. Mandy grins and raises her hands up above her head, letting her right arms fall slowly back behind her head.

[Mauro Ranallo]
I hope Rose left room in her carry-on for her North American title, because if she can secure the Bed of Roses, this match is sure to be over!

[Corey Graves]
“CARRY-ON?” Mauro, I’ll have you know that my sources tell me that Mandy Rose has an elite, solid gold, private jet waiting for her on a private airstrip right down the block to get her out of this awful country with her championship the second this match is over, which by the looks of it, will be in about 5 seconds!

Mandy hooks the arms of Nikki behind her back, using her surprising strength to power Nikki up vertically with her feet pointing straight up at the ceiling. While she holds Nikki in this position for an impressive amount of time, Mandy can be heard shouting:


You’re just not Champion material, FREAK!

And just like that, Mandy drops her old foe, sending her entire body crashing down onto the mat horizontally. Nikki remains flat exactly where Mandy laid her while the Scottish fans are prepared to riot. Their shock and disapproval drowns out commentary and any other sound that would have otherwise been heard. After catching her breath and flashing her pearly whites at the fans tauntingly for a quick second, Rose flips Cross over onto her back and hooks the leg…!


1…


2…!


3!





[Corey Graves]
IT’S A FAIRYTALE COME TO LIFE! A TRUE STORY OF GOOD TRUMPING EVIL! THE GREATEST CHAMPION IN THE HISTORY OF XWL! MANDY ROSE!

[Mauro Ranallo]
You have to give it to the Champion, she has been on a sudden roll since Final Stand, but this finish was unlike any other showing we’ve seen from her this far into her young reign!

[Renee Young]
I may not always like Mandy Rose or agree with the way she was “awarded” the North American Championship, but she really did show out here tonight against a woman who has stalked her for as long as we’ve known of Mandy Rose.

Commentary is barely audible from the shock and unrest of the Scottish fans, who are all on their feet, throwing their hands up in protest and leaning over the barricades to shout obscenities and other negativity at the Champion. But Mandy couldn’t be bothered by it in the slightest. To her, her success is deafening enough to make everything else fade away. As soon as she makes it up to her feet, Rose is already prancing around the ring, arms spread wide, taunting the outraged fans with a smug look on her highly sought after face. Before she’s able to rub it in too much, however, the official brings Mandy her title and lifts her left hand high in victory.

[Jojo Offerman]
AND STILL, your North American Champion… MANDY, ROOOOSE!

The boos of the Scottish people thunder down on the Champion even louder with this announcement as Mandy pompously steps on the back of Nikki Cross on her way out of the ring, keeping her nose high and her title securely in her grasp. As she walks up the ramp, the heckling of one particular man in the front row catches her attention and pulls her gaze off of her successfully retained Championship. Mandy tilts her head to the side and takes a step or two closer to the individual, who continues to shout at her.


THIS is exactly why none of you will EVER be a Champion!

[Scottish Wrestling Fan]
Oh and why’s that, Malibu Barbie?! You don’t deserve that ti-

Mandy holds her hand up into the screaming face of the man, effectively cutting him off while quickly jumping in to verbally finish him off herself.


LOOK AT YOURSELVES! Nobody is going to put YOUR faces on a billboard! BUH-BYE NOW! I’m getting out of this pigsty, with MY North American Championship. THANK YOU!...

The few fans within earshot of Mandy’s elitist rhetoric were silenced temporarily, but the rest of the arena was still as rowdy as ever, booing God’s Greatest Creation all the way back to the United States. Mandy flicks her long blonde hair in the face of the fan as she continues up the ramp where she will undoubtedly have a luxury car waiting to take her to her jet immediately.

[Corey Graves]
Isn’t it great that Mandy Rose is the NORTH AMERICAN Champion, and she doesn’t have to call herself Champion of an ungrateful country like this?!

[Renee Young]
“Ungrateful?” Graves, Mandy Rose is the most ungrateful person I’ve ever met by a landslide!

[Corey Graves]
Clearly you don’t know God’s Greatest Creation as well as you think you do, Renee, because if you did, you wouldn’t be able to deny that Mandy Rose is the most humble, deserving, and pure person in the entire business! Better yet, THE ENTIRE WORLD!

[Renee Young]
You don’t ACTUALLY believe that, do you?

[Corey Graves]
I absolutely do, and do you know what else I believe? That Mandy Rose is STILL the North American Champion walking out of Scotland, just as she said she would be!

The camera cuts to Mandy at the top of the stage, holding her title up with one hand with her back to the fans as she walks straight through the curtain without so much as a second glance at the fans or her defeated opponent, Nikki Cross. The ultimate showing up disrespect and elitist mentality, which is to be expected at this point from the reigning North American Champion.

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Seventy four minutes and one Women's Championship match later, we've finally reached our conclusion: The crowning of a new Women's Champion in the form of The Pirate Princess. Kairi's theme plays throughout the arena, cheers, praise and adulation filling the ring for not only the newly crowned Champion but also the former Champion after the clinic both Champion and Challenger put on here tonight. Both women lie on the canvas, clearly feeling the effects of the extended engagement they just put themselves through for the most sought after prize in the Women's Division in the Women's Championship.

[Mauro Ranallo]
THE PIRATE PRINCESS HAS CLAIMED TO THE ULTIMATE TREASURE!

[Renee Young]
Kairi Sane is our NEW Women's Champion! Wow, what a match!

[Corey Graves]
I can already feel Alexa Bliss bursting at the seams behind the curtain to hog this moment.

[Mauro Ranallo]
After 70 minutes of hard fought action, we can say with certainty that these two are undeniably at the top of this division.

[Corey Graves]
Maybe so but at the top is no longer Tessa Blanchard, who ended the longest reign of a Women's Champion when she beat Natalya last month. Instead, it's Kairi Sane who just brought a swift end to her long awaited reign.


We learned that on this night, Pirate Princess triumphs over Undeniable Diamond and after the match we just witnessed, whoever walked out with the victory damn sure deserved it. Despite being the one that delivered the finishing blow to her opponent, Kairi struggles to pull herself up off the mat to a seated position but after her denial to accept defeat to this simple task, she does eventually succeed, which begs the question: If this is how hurt the winner of the match is, what is the physical condition of its unsuccessful combatant following this match?

[Renee Young]
Tessa may have lost here in her first defense, but let's make this exponentially clear she has NOTHING to be ashamed of after that match. This is what Natalya dreamed for the division. Two top athletes competing with both of their hearts at the forefront, their passion radiating off with each moment they refuse to stay down for a count of three. Tessa just did what a good crop of former Champion's never did. She fought with everything she had for over an hour. And yes, she's no longer Champion but that's not from lack of trying, or lack of skill.

[Mauro Ranallo]
They are absolutely spent, as is this audience after all the collective near falls that had us on the edge of our seats.

[Corey Graves]
I think we need to just quit applauding their efforts and call this what it was. Tessa Blanchard CHOKED live here in Scotland. She was commanding the early goings of this match, and then let it slip through her fingers.

[Renee Young]
Never underestimate the heart of the underdog that was The Pirate Princess. Tessa may have started off great but that doesn't mean she suddenly "choked." She gave it her all, and when the realization of losing set in for Kairi? She just went into another zone that allowed her to not only keep fighting but ultimately emerge as The New Champion.


With one obstacle in her rear view mirror, Kairi looks towards reaching a vertical base, which is much easier said than done, especially after exerting all her energy just moments ago to deliver the final nail in Tessa Blanchard's coffin after she spent the entirety of the match avoiding the newly named “Cutlass” maneuver, courtesy of Alexa Bliss, earlier in the evening. Quickly realizing that this is a fool's errand, Kairi pulls herself, slowly but surely, towards the nearest set of ring ropes, ultimately reaching her destination after much pain and anguish, the struggle causing her to dig deep within the remnants of her heart and soul. She wraps her left hand around the bottom rope, establishing an anchor point before placing her right hand on the middle rope, grimacing through the pain that surrounds her body and is etched on her face, fighting against every law of gravity and refusing to succumb to the pain. When she makes it to her knees, still gripping both ropes, she brings her left hand up from the bottom rope and wraps it around the top one, ensuring that her grip can't be broken easily before she using much of her remaining strength to pull herself up to her feet, hanging on for dear life to the top rope to ensure that her vertical base stays true and to spite the gravity that is intending to send her crashing back down to the canvas.



[Renee Young]
My heart goes out to Tessa who I know really wanted to make it to The Elimination Chamber to follow in the footsteps of Natalya and potentially retain inside of it as she did last year. But when you see the pure raw emotion on Kairi's face, how can your heart not melt at the sincerity and joy pouring out from her?

[Mauro Ranallo]
It is a feel good moment tonight in Scotland as Kairi Sane courtesy of the newly dubbed "Cutlass" by her best friend Alexa Bliss picks up the biggest victory in her entire career and now stands, albeit quite fatigued on the top of the mountain.

[Corey Graves]
You ready for Alexa to come out here and hug her, then shove a knife in her back because Kairi accomplished what she hasn't in 3 years?

[Renee Young]
Will you stop? I swear ever since Alexa started badmouthing Mandy all you do is criticize her and make up these ridiculous claims. I bet you think Alexa was the mystery attacker who put Natalya on the shelf for the foreseeable future, huh?

[Corey Graves]
Well now that you mention it...

[Mauro Ranallo]
Enough, this is Kairi's moment and THAT is what we need to be talking about.

This sentiment only extends so far as the fatigue after such a grueling match gets the better of her, causing The Pirate Princess to take a few steps forward before beginning her unceremonious descent to the canvas below, showing the clear exhaustion she's currently experiencing. Her weight begins to shift forward, going against her will, but before it could lead to all her hard work making it to a vertical base all for naught, the referee manages to catch her before she reaches the point of no return, not only stopping her one way ticket to the mat at her feet but also keeping her true to her word and spiting gravity and its unseen forces in the process. Or she would if she didn't drop down to a knee shortly after, showing that gravity isn't to be taken so lightly. With the referee's assistance once again being used to her advantage, she manages to rise back up to her feet and when she stays vertical for a few more seconds, the referee sees this as their opportunity to hand The Pirate Princess her newly won treasure.



Upon holding her newly won Women's Championship in her hands, all her fatigue, all the doubts that crept into the back of her mind, all the pain she was experiencing begins to drift away, Kairi's only thought being that she has finally become Champion, she has finally attained her treasure. There's almost an aura surrounding Kairi as she looks down at the Championship, a sense of disbelief fills the immediate air as she slowly comes to grips with the fact that this is now hers and hers alone. The night she has been dreaming of since making her debut at the Slammy Awards Edition of Anarchy in late October of last year, the night she has been working towards for years prior to her signing, the dream that she would one day be able to call herself Women's Champion and here she stands six months later, the dream finally becoming a reality. Her theme continues to play throughout the arena, providing a good background to the roar of cheers emanating from the live audience in attendance alongside the Championship Treasure in her hands, a picture perfect moment for The Pirate Princess.

[Renee Young]
I'm just so happy for her, she really does deserve it.

[Corey Graves]
This moment is all well and good, but you realize this means her first defense is going to be inside The Elimination Chamber? I wouldn't be shocked to learn that these tears are more out of fear than "happiness."

[Mauro Ranallo]
It's a tall order, that up until last year NO Champion had ever overcome before. But Natalya proved it was possible, and thus I wouldn't deem Kairi's reign as "doomed." She was the underdog tonight, going up against a very game Tessa Blanchard, and that to me speaks to her valiant spirit, a spirit shared by Natalya who survived The Chamber last year, in her first defense at that.

Kairi readjusts the Women's Championship before lifting it high above her head, the positive energy from the live audience in attendance along with the moment proving to be too much for the newly crowned Champion to contain, causing tears to roll down her cheeks as a genuine smile appears on her face. Upon seeing this, a “You deserve it!” chant breaks out from the Scottish crowd. This causes Kairi to raise her head and begin to lightly chuckle as she mouths “Thank you.” at the kind gesture. A few moments of cameras rapidly flashing from the ringside area to properly capture this moment ensue before the flashing ceases, allowing Kairi to bring the Women's Championship back down, looking at it with her smile still intact  and tightly hugs it, as tightly as you could hug an inanimate object following a grueling contest. With her hug lasting a very short duration, the Women's Championship is snatched away from her grasp by its former Champion, a heavily breathing and scowling Tessa Blanchard physically regaining control of the Championship she just lost.

[Corey Graves]
So much for respect and "love" I don't think Tessa cares too much right now about giving Natalya the division she "dreamed" of. Because her dream of being Champion was just ripped away before it even truly could begin.

[Renee Young]
Come on Tessa, this is exactly what Natalya was saying. You won't win every match but it's about staying true to who you are and keeping your morality. I know she's upset she lost but that's not Kairi's fault.

[Corey Graves]
I mean Kairi pinned Tessa, so it's one hundred percent her fault.

[Mauro Ranallo]
But it was after both Women left everything in the ring, I know she's disappointed but...she's made so much progress...she can't throw that all away now like this, can she?

[Corey Graves]
Just watch her, friendships and respect are all well and good, but a Championship is what this is all about.

The crowd's reaction does a complete one eighty, going from cheering Kairi to booing Tessa, whose looking the worst for wear following the match she just had and still clearly feeling the effects that come with it, despite her best efforts to cover it up. Kairi's smile has long since faded and is replaced with a gaze of unbridled anger, if she wasn't “Blissed” off as her friend would say, she would be the first to call out the facade that Tessa has put on prior to becoming the Women's Champion. Tessa looks down at the Women's Championship in her possession, almost as if she's gazing into its nonexistent soul. After a deceptively long duration, Tessa nods to herself and disconnects the straps from one another before taking a step towards Kairi and holding the Championship over her waist. A confused Kairi keeps her guard up, unsure of what game her opponent is playing. Tessa walks around Kairi, still keeping the Championship leveled, sliding her hand down the strap and reconnecting it around Kairi's waist. The boos change back to cheers when Tessa returns to where she was standing previously, locking eyes with the woman that just defeated her and extending her arm towards the newly crowned Champion. Kairi looks down at the Women's Championship that was wrapped around her waist, placing her left hand on the main plate and extending her right to meet Tessa's in neutral ground. Both women interlock their hands with one another, a sign of respect and a scene of bygones being bygones.


The old me? I would've laid you out right here, right now after last week, but I'm not that person anymore, I'm better than that now, and I hope this helps you see that.

With the camera's microphone picking up Tessa's brief monologue, she gives Kairi a smile before breaking apart the handshake and leaves the ring, giving The Pirate Princess the spotlight to celebrate her well earned victory.  

[Renee Young]
THAT is what this is all about. Respect, Tessa's hurt, saddened, disappointed, but she isn't letting that detract away from Kairi's moment, a moment she herself had at Final Stand.

[Corey Graves]
So does The 2,945 day counter before her next reign start now or?

[Mauro Ranallo]
Oh come on, Corey.

[Corey Graves]
Hey if she's inspired to model her career after Natalya isn't it fair to assume she'll have the same obstacles that prevented Natalya from becoming Champion again until so long after her first reign? Being nice and respectful isn't exactly a strategy for long term success.

[Renee Young]
You do realize literally the epitome of "respect" Natalya just came off a 358 day reign where she empowered and respected her challengers the entire time? Maybe in the past it wasn't proven but it definitely is now. You can be good and be successful, the two things aren't exclusive from one another.

Tessa begins to make her way up the ramp as Kairi pulls herself to the furthest turnbuckle and slowly scales it, placing her feet on the middle rope and showing off her newly won Championship for a few feel good moments. Tessa makes it to the top of the ramp, turning around one last time as she looks towards the woman she will have to do battle again with if she hopes to reclaim the Women's Championship, a smile forming on her face before she disappears to the back. Kairi slowly drops to the canvas from her elevated position and begins to exit the ring, following suit as she begins making her way back up the ramp, slapping the hands of the XWL Universe standing between herself and her destination.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Once again, our congratulations to The New Women's Champion The Pirate Princess now has her treasure, and there's bound to be a locker room full of Women after it.

[Renee Young]
The Elimination Chamber isn't kind to Champions but I believe tonight Kairi Sane proved she is among the best, and I for one believe she CAN overcome any obstacle.

[Corey Graves]
We may know where her first defense will be, but we don't know WHO it'll be against. I think that's the biggest factor of all.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Maybe so, but that's a month away from now, for now let's allow Kairi the time to rejoice in her victory.


The New Women's Champion does eventually make it to the top of the ramp, saluting one final time before she walks past the curtain and makes it to the backstage area. Upon walking past the threshold, a crowd of various backstage personnel and a handful of XWL Superstars are shown clapping in honor of the new Women's Champion. Before Kairi can even process what's happening, she's nearly tackled to the concrete floor, the nearby wall saving her from such a fate, when the culprit behind the attempted assault is revealed to be Alexa Bliss, Kairi's best friend keeping her word when she said she'd be on the other side of the curtain after Kairi won tonight. Alexa wraps her arms around Kairi and begins hopping up and down, the excitement clearly building with every finisher attempt and kickout after being forced to watch that roller-coaster of emotions masquerading as a match.

I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU, KAIRI!

Kairi has been Alexa's greatest system of support the past 5 months, standing by her side in the presence of a bully to end all bullies, consoling her after the betrayal of her then best friend Nia Jax. She suffered the consequences of Nia's jealousy being leg dropped at nearly every single show all because she was being a better friend to Alexa then Nia was. And perhaps most of all, she sacrificed any potential moment she could have on the grandest stage of them all when she shoved Alexa out of harms way, and was instead eliminated from The Last Team Standing Match. For Alexa, while she may herself have dreamed of having this moment herself, she is beyond happy to see her friend's happiness.

I was rooting for you from the very second the bell rang, and it took everything in me to not run through that curtain and into the ring. You deserve it, they chanted it, and so did all of us back here. And now? You at last have your treasure!

Alexa briefly pulls away, placing her hand on The Women's Championship that the former Champion respectfully wrapped around her waist. Kairi's still quite emotional, and Alexa herself is finding it difficult to reel hers in. Final Stand last month was about Kairi supporting Alexa, but tonight it's all about Alexa supporting Kairi. It may have been an unexpected friendship to have sparked from a budding rivalry, but it's fair to say that these two are now the best of friends and now they're going to do what best friends do. Celebrate! Alexa once again smiles at Kairi then re-positions herself so that she can throw Kairi's arm over her shoulder and assist her away from all the cameras to allow her a much needed moment to relax and enjoy the greatest night of her career as International Incident heads to a promotional video promoting another International star who could potentially leave a Champion themselves when Buddy Murphy a new rising star in XWL challenges Matt Sydal for The Intercontinental Championship.  

The promo video for the Intercontinental Championship match between Matt Sydal and Buddy Murphy comes to an end and we come backstage to the guerrilla position where we see Murphy and his fellow Undisputed Era members, Adam Cole and Roderick Strong, watching the monitor with him. The two of them are working as hype men currently as they are helping their friend prepare for quite possibly the biggest match of his life… and he doesn’t even know what type of match this is yet! Matt Sydal has literally waited until the very last moment to inform them of what the rules of this match will be. Surely, that hasn’t sat well with the ‘Best Kept Secret’ since he hasn’t known what to prepare for. Was this going to be a match that ends by pinfall? Was this going to be a match where you need to tap the other person out? Could this be UFC rules and we see the long-awaited return of Matt Martial Arts? The three men are joined by one of XWL’s interviewers, Charly Caruso, who has a microphone in her hands.

[CHARLY CARUSO]
Excuse me, Buddy Murphy?

Her voice catches the attention of the Australian and the other two men.

[CHARLY CARUSO]
We are moments away from your first ever pay-per-view match and you are going to be challenging for the Intercontinental Championship. What’s going through your mind? Especially since, as we are all aware, you do not know what type of match this is going to be yet.

[BUDDY MURPHY]
There’s been something weighing heavily on my mind the last two weeks. Matt Sydal is the greatest XWL superstar of all-time, is he not? He’s who us newer wrestlers should be modeling ourselves after. He’s the man we should be studying to better ourselves. He walks the walk, he talks the talk, and I will never discredit everything that this man has done for this company and for the future of professional wrestling as a whole. Charly, I have a question to ask you if you don’t mind. If Matt Sydal is as good as he and everyone else says he is then why must he keep secrets from the Best Kept Secret? There surely must be some motive here that you and I are unaware of. He is being cheeky or perhaps he feels threatened going into tonight’s match? I understand the circumstances which he has defended his championship before. Triple Threat matches. Fatal Five Way matches. Open Challenges. It’s quite an impressive list if I were to be honest with you. Despite that, I don’t think anyone has pushed him to his limit quite like I did. Now, I know you could consider that beginners luck but… wait… no. You couldn’t. Because I’m not a beginner. I’ve been doing this for twelve years, Charly I gave the man the fight of his life and he’s scared that his Intercontinental Championship is going to fall into the hands of another man here tonight!

His voice is loud during the last part of his speech. The confidence in his words could be felt by everyone watching. He was a man ready to go to war - no matter the circumstances. Charly turns her attention to Adam Cole and Roderick Strong now and presents the other two members with a question.

[CHARLY CARUSO]
Gentlemen, can I get your thoughts on this Intercontinental Championship match? And now that the secret is out and we know who's side you're on. Will we see the two of you out there in Murphy's corner?

Adam Cole:
Let’s get one thing straight. I have my Buddy’s back no matter what, but I have faith that he can finally be the one to take the title off that fake. Matty boy hasn’t faced anyone like this man right here. As much as I want to be out there cheering him on, he doesn’t need me to beat the so called “Iron Man of XWL.” We aren’t just the best group here in XWL, we’re also the best individual wrestlers in the world today. Buddy here is gonna be the first to prove that here tonight when he rips the prestigious Intercontinental Title off of the dirty hands of Matt Sydal.

Roderick Strong
Us, Adam he doesn’t need us out there to beat Matt Sydal. We’ve been in this business along time as friend and as foe, we have went to war for one another and with one another for many different reasons. He knows how much of a threat that we are as a team just me and Adam, but add Buddy Murphy to the picture and we are the most dangerous threat to XWL today and he knows it. Don’t let that “Iron Man” persona fool you, even Tony Stark had his doubts and worries. We ditched him and picked up Buddy for a reason, he was nothing but dead weight to us holding us down, but not anymore. you see once the smoke clears and Buddy Murphy is the one standing over top Matt Sydal as your new Intercontinental Champion the world will see just how much of a threat to XWL we have become.

[BUDDY MURPHY]
Undisputed Era assembled as a group to take down a greater evil. It was the Age of Sydal. The Infinity War has begun and we're entering the Endgame here in Scotland. I'm not saying you're going to need to call me Thanos when the dust settles and the war has come to an end... but I'm going to be the one on the top of the ladder and you're going to be calling me your NEW Intercontinental Champion.

[CHARLY CARUSO]
We are just moments away from the Intercontinental Championship match. Any last words?

Adam Cole:
Tonight is the night Undisputed Era makes history. We are going to see the end of the reign of Matt Sydal. I have all the confidence that Buddy is going to rip that title right off the hands of the “Iron Man” or whatever he calls himself. It doesn’t stop there either. We will climb the mountain and take down everyone that stands in our way.  This is the beginning of a new era. Buddy is going to show how dominant this group is. This will be the first of many title reigns for Undisputed Era and we won’t stop until every single title belongs to us, by any means necessary… and that…

Adam Cole pauses and looks at his buddies and smirks before they do the same. The trio then throws their signature hand sign, look at the camera and Adam Cole says...

Adam Cole:
...is undisputed.

The group starts laughing and rambling as Charly sits there listening to what they have to say. As she sits there, Adam looks over at here as a confused look comes across his face.

Adam Cole:
Okay Charly, the interview is over. You can get the hell out now. Buddy has a big night ahead of him, and he doesn’t need the likes of you sitting around distracting him.

Adam gets out of his seat and leads the interview crew out the door and shuts it behind them. The last thing that is seen before the camera cuts to commercial is “Undisputed Era” hanging on the locker room door.

Buddy Murphy’s theme hits and the crowd begins to boo as the challenger makes his way out from behind the curtain. Even overseas, he’s not the favorite to win the match. The reaction doesn’t seem to really bother the Undisputed Era member as he looks out to the crowd and sees all the Matt Sydal fans in there.

[COREY GRAVES]
And here comes the Juggernaut. I need you to understand that this is the first time Buddy Murphy has competed on pay-per-view. This is his first time working a crowd this large. Not to say I think the crowd is going to get the best of him but there is a very good chance he could choke and all of this could be put to waste. I believe in Buddy Murphy but I’m just trying to be realistic here. His first pay-per-view match is against Matt Sydal for a championship.

[MAURO RANALLO]
Not to mention, we still don’t know what kind of match this will be. We have no clue. We have a steel cage above the ring which is set to be used for Seth Rollins versus Shawn Michaels and we could very well see that steel cage be used twice tonight. Underneath the ring is loaded with weapons from the Last Man Standing and Street Fight matches. There’s a plethora of options Matt Sydal has at his disposal that we could see.

[RENEE YOUNG]
We saw one championship change hands earlier tonight when Kairi Sane defeated Tessa Blanchard to capture the XWL Women's Championship. Could we see lightning strike twice for the Best Kept Secret?

The Australian superstars plants his feet down onto the stage, pounds his fist down onto the ground a couple of times before throwing his arms up and spreading them out wide with open hands as he begins to step down the ramp. His entrance isn’t anything special like we’re probably about to see from Matt Sydal. There’s no pyrotechnics. No fancy entrance gear. No fancy effects. It’s just a man and his desire to become the next Intercontinental Champion. His confidence seems on point, but you have to wonder if he is perhaps a little worried that he doesn’t know what kind of battle he’s walking into. His eyes stay on the ring and he doesn’t pay much attention to the fans who boo him from the left and the right.

[MAURO RANALLO]
I do believe Buddy Murphy realizes this is the most important match of his life. I’m sure a lot of people said the last thing about his match against Matt Sydal a couple weeks ago on Anarchy but this is so much bigger. He’s established himself as more than a flash in the pan. Buddy Murphy is undisputed and Buddy Murphy is here for a fight.

[RENEE YOUNG]
I’m looking forward to Matt Sydal putting this man in his place. There’s one thing I can’t stand and that’s people throwing away their friendships to further their career. You have superstars like Natalya, Kairi Sane, and even Matt Sydal who have proved you don’t need to turn on your friends in order to be successful.

[COREY GRAVES]
This isn’t Summer Camp, Renee. This is the big leagues. This is XWL and this is International Incident. Sometimes turning on your friends can ruin your career and sometimes it makes your career. Adam Cole and Roderick Strong will probably know that answer by the end of the show.

Buddy Murphy lowers his arm as he reaches the end of the ramp and finally takes another glance at the crowd. They don’t seem to force much of a reaction out of the challenger before he turns his attention to the turnbuckle to proceed with the rest of his entrance. Murphy charges at the turnbuckle, slides beneath the bottom rope and then stands up onto the apron.

[MAURO RANALLO]
I’m going to assume this means you’re predicting a new Intercontinental Champion tonight?

[COREY GRAVES]
No and that’s because Matt Sydal has kept this match a secret. Buddy Murphy couldn’t prepare. Buddy Murphy wasn’t sure if he should train himself to pin or submit his opponent. Maybe he doesn’t even need to do either of those. Regardless, I think Matt Sydal has this in the bag through underhanded tactics.

His hands move to form the Undisputed Era hand symbol towards the crowd and he laughs knowing exactly how the crowd was going to react to that. The Scottish fans boo as Murphy enters the ring and walks over to the turnbuckle. He crouches down and sits on the bottom turnbuckle pad. Murphy makes a motion as if he’s telling someone to ‘come on’ with his arm. It was almost like he was ready for whatever long, extra entrance that’s about to happen because Matt Sydal is known for them at this point in his career.

[RENEE YOUNG]
Underhanded tactics? Don't even go there.

Right on cue, the arena turns pitch black sending the audience into a screaming frenzy as they anticipate the arrival of The Golden One himself. Flashes from phone cameras illuminate the darkened room, but for the next ten seconds it's mostly nothing but pure darkness here in Scotland. That is, until suddenly a gold spotlight casts down at the top of the stage, but standing at the top of the ramp isn't a sight we really expected to see. It's a figure sitting on what appears to be, nothing. Like they're floating in the air while perfectly in a sitting position. That person is very obviously Matt Sydal, identified by his Intercontinental Championship over his shoulder, and the gold mic in his hand.

[[Matt Sydal]]
I know what you're thinking, this guy is LITERALLY sitting on his pedestal, the nerve...am I right?

He grins for a moment, as the camera cuts over to the ring where a barely visible Buddy Murphy seems far from amused.

[[Matt Sydal]]
See, this isn't my time to make a grandiose entrance, no...my dear "Buddy" it is STORYTIME! So Roddy & Adam, as you watch backstage together waiting for your new investment to utterly fail to pay off? I want you to nestle real close and listen to the tale of THE GOLDEN AVENGER: THE AWAKENING! As for you Buddy? Stay put because trust me this isn't some "fairytale" no this is a REALITY that came to fruition on a night such as this a decade ago.

Matt pulls an expectedly "gold" book out from behind him and clears his throat rather animatedly as he turns to the first page of this "book" literally titled "The Golden Avenger."

[[Matt Sydal]]
In a land not so far far away, there was a man that never struck anyone as "spectacular" he was ordinary, he was small, he was so insignificant that no one batted an eye at his existence. He was a young man that had a dream, a dream no one believed he could achieve. Because in a world such as this? Men like him were dreamers, not achievers. The rough tough, Macho Men of the past had set a precedent that not only did he not in any shape or form measure up to? But his words were laughable at best, and pathetic as the voice that uttered them. Don't believe me? Just look for yourself.



He looks up, directly our gaze to the titantron where a still image of himself when he first arrived on the scene in XWL.

[[Matt Sydal]]
Ah it's like it was only yesterday...anyways, this man was named "Evan Bourne" a name given to him because he would be a "fun" novelty in the world of achievers. He would smile, he would do spectacular things on the battlefield. But never be anything spectacular himself. Men like him would be used as sacrificial lambs to showcase the actual "talents." This was his identity, this was the very purpose for his placement. Deviation from that was not only impossible but unprecedented. Despite his "doomed" lifespan, Men like him would try to defy that. They would speak mighty words that upon first listen? Would challenge that perception, maybe...MAYBE they are capable of more than we believe? But then, with a lot of sizzle, and no heat to back their foolish claims of challenging the status quo? They would once again become laughingstocks to the world around them.

He shakes his head, reminiscent of said doubters.

[[Matt Sydal]]
Evan believed he was different and like all the others...he used his voice to express that belief. But again, the sins of his fallen kinfolk had left those words without meaning or merit. He believed with all of his might that he could climb that ladder of "success" and be something more than what everyone else saw at the surface. He believed in a "brass ring" that if he just could pull it down? Would change EVERYTHING. "I'LL PROVE EVERY LAST ONE OF 'EM WRONG!" He quipped, but much like the boys before him, that believed they were "MEN" the world had heard it all before. Sure, you'll prove us wrong, BECAUSE YOU'RE SO DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE? RIGHT? HA! He was dismissed before the night had even come. The night where he would literally have a chance to climb the ladder to success.

Another image pops up on the screen, showing Evan standing in the middle of the ring with the then United States Champion R-Truth.

[[Matt Sydal]]
His first opportunity to prove he, in fact, WAS different. That he would back up his words and force everyone else to eat THEIRS. He was an "Avenger" to the dreams of the fallen before him. He believed that with victory? His entire career, the entire landscape of the world itself, would change forever. But the time for talking was over. He needed to do what the others before hadn't, he needed to do more than "speak" it into existence, he needed to BRING it to existence. So when that ceremonial bell sound, he looked deep within himself, he took a mighty inhale, then closed his eyes. GOLD was hanging there above him, his FUTURE was hanging above him, his very PROOF of his ability was hanging in the sky waiting for him to attain it. When his eyes opened, some say you could see the fire within them burning much more furiously than before. You saw a "change" overcome him as his eyes looked up and saw the precious gold right there, calling to him.

As he retells his very personal story, you see his eyes look to The Intercontinental Championship, as if it calls to him...because one thing we know for certain about Matt Sydal is that he's a proud Champion. He doesn't care what title it is, he treats it like it is the greatest prize in all of wrestling.

[[Matt Sydal]]
As if DESINTY was reaching out to him he would fight harder than before, he would dare to take more risks than ever before, and when the time came...and it was just him, and that ladder to success stood tall? He climbed each rung, each step faster than the last, as his eyes became level with GOLD. He stared at it as if he feared it indeed was just a dream. As if the moment he reached out, reality would come setting in. The reality that everyone else described to him every moment up until then. And he was right, for when his hand came into contact with The United States Championship? Reality DID set in, HE WAS RIGHT...HE WAS DIFFERENT! HE WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER BEFORE HIM! HE...WAS NOW IN POSSESSION OF THAT PROOF, AND HIS VERY LIFE? BEGAN IN THAT MOMENT AS HE AVENGED THE BROKEN DREAMS OF EVERY MAN BEFORE HIM, AND STOOD...whether he knew it in that moment or not, AS A NEW MAN! A man that had become awoken by the very gold in his hands and a prophecy was fulfilled.

You see a smile on his face as a third image pops up on the screen of then Evan Bourne standing a top the ladder with The United States Championship raised high into the air and the biggest smile on his face as for the first time in his XWL career he had become a Champion.

[[Matt Sydal]]
For years, many believed they were the heir to that wild imagination, that they could change the "game" that they could prove ANYONE can be WHATEVER THEY WANTED IF THEY FOUGHT HARD ENOUGH! But that night, he didn't just believe he was, he didn't just tell people he was, HE PROVED IT! THE GOLDEN AVENGER had not yet tapped into who he was destined to become, but one thing was certain, he had indeed proved EVERYONE wrong.

He closes the book, then stares down the ramp at Buddy Murphy who while still not very visible, looks like he's fallen asleep in the corner, clearly not as moved by his story as the audience.

[[Matt Sydal]]
Now I know what you're thinking, WOW...that's like such a touching tale, it should be a movie, right? Not just a one-off either, like an entire trilogy, and really that means a lot of you to think so. But that's just the first chapter, and believe me, there's A LOT of chapters that are even more harrowing and inspiring. I read you this tale because Buddy, the truth is...this story is about me. I know, shocking right? Hits ya right to your system, eh? This wasn't some wild tale, this was how it all began for me. I was the difference in a situation that a lot of Men before me had experienced. That first title changed my entire life because I fought endlessly to ensure it did. And as I look back at that reign? I'm sitting here as Intercontinental Champion, with quite a reign thus far, a reign that is very much like that one. Because I fought anyone, and everyone, whenever.

He took that one reign and gave everything he had to ensure it was anything but a "flop." Defending it at the drop of a hat, if someone spoke his name, or challenged him in any sort? He wouldn't wait to address that the next week, no he would come out to the ring right then and tell them to shut their mouth and prove they could beat him. He successfully defended that title 13 times in his near 5 month reign, sometimes even twice in a single night. So as he walks down memory lane, we know that the same that was said all the way back then can be said right here tonight.

[[Matt Sydal]]
I see being Champion as my right to do what is right by everything this title or any other stands for. My "Best Kept Secret" is believing in myself when no one ever did, and continue to do so even after all these years. To defy the odds of the first ever Triple Threat Iron Man Match, to outlast FOUR other Men in an Elimination Falls Count Anywhere Match on the biggest stage there is. To believe that I have the tools, and ability to defend this title the night after clashes like that. Buddy, beating you tonight? Doesn't prove anything I didn't already prove when you first accepted my Open Challenge the night after Final Stand. I gave you tonight's match not to prove myself, but to REMIND EVERYONE WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, AND WHY I AM THE GOLDEN AVENGER, THE BEST SUPERSTAR TO SET FOOT IN THAT RING, AND  WHY THAT'S NOT SOME EXAGGERATED REMARK!

Matt slowly begins to descend from the cloaked perch he's on, and grabs at it as he reaches the bottom.

[[Matt Sydal]]
I had the right to choose the type of match we do battle in, and that is why I've decided to take a trip down memory lane, with a modern twist.

Without further delay, his hand grabs a hold of the "perch" he was just on, then pulls it swiftly, revealing that this wasn't just some display of defying gravity it was in fact...a covered ladder.

[[Matt Sydal]]
Behold, The LADDER that took me to success 10 years ago. MY BEST KEPT SECRET!

As those final words echo throughout the arena and the excitement greatly increases all the lights return back to their normal setting, revealing that while he told his story, the very match he had chosen was being set up. Ladders yes are propped on all sides of the ringside area, but that's not all he's upping the ante as there's also tables set up, and chairs. Buddy Murphy looks around surveying the sudden change of his surroundings realizing that the match of Sydal's choice was a TLC Match.

[RENEE YOUNG]
Wow, talk about a blast from the past that's been spiced up.

[MAURO RANALLO]
Matt's defended in Elimination Matches, Iron Man matches, Falls Count Anywhere Matches, and now...tonight he has chosen to go back to his roots, where it all began, and suspend his title above the ring so that he might climb a ladder and retrieve it just as he did his first title a decade ago.

[COREY GRAVES]
That's a bit much don't you think? Why wouldn't he just pick some match he could win by pinfall again? He just successfully defended against Buddy 3 weeks ago, why fix what clearly wasn't broken?

[RENEE YOUNG]
Because he loves to challenge himself, he loves to stack the odds against him because for his entire career people believe he couldn't overcome the obstacles in his way, and he continually proves that there is no challenge too great for Iron Man to overcome.

Matt's skipped the fancy entrance, opting for his story book arrival instead, he slides into the ring quickly and goes face to face with Buddy as the referee quickly interjects between them. The two Men are chest to chest. Buddy mocking Matt's story, while Matt has a few choice words for the man that took his friends from him and led the unexpected betrayal from The Undisputed Era 3 weeks ago. Finally the official separates them, Matt without hesitation hands his title over, and the referee begins to hook it onto the ring before it's raised high above them and suspended for either Matt or Buddy to climb the ladder and retrieve it once the bell rings.





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SPOILERS

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Matt Sydal is climbing the ladder. The championship is a finger tips length away. The crowd is on fire as the Iron Man is about to defend his Intercontinental Championship again when… wait a second… the crowd starts to boo. Two men emerge from behind the curtain and are in a full sprint to the ring. It’s Adam Cole and Roderick Strong! It’s the other two members of the Undisputed Era coming to the aid of their friend Buddy Murphy!

[RENEE YOUNG]
GET THOSE TWO OUT OF HERE!

Adam and Roderick quickly exchange some sorts before they spring into action. Adam Cole rushes over to check on Buddy while Roderick Strong slides into the ring and hustles up the steel ladder. Sydal just grabs a hold of the championship when Roderick punches his former leader in the gut. He then connects with another hit which forces Matt to let go of the championship. Roderick goes for another punch but Sydal stops his fist and then punches the Undisputed Era member in the skull which gets a positive reaction from the crowd. Sydal doesn’t stop there. He’s fought too damn hard for his former friends to screw him out of the championship he’s dedicated the last couple months of his career to. Another punch was landed to Strong before Sydal balanced himself and placed a solid roundhouse kick to the skull of Roderick which causes him to tumble off the ladder.

[COREY GRAVES]
He shouldn’t start celebrating yet because here comes Adam Cole!

Adam Cole has entered the ring from behind Sydal and grabs the Iron Man by the boot and pulls him down off of the ladder. One again, the fan’s reaction has turned from the positive to the negative. Just when it looks like Matt Sydal has started to take control of this attack, yet another obstacle is placed in his way. The two superstars trading shots back and forth until Roderick Strong once again gets involved. He clubs a closed fist against the back of Matt Sydal and then both he and Adam shove the Intercontinental Champion out of the ring at the same time as Murphy begins to drag himself back into the ring. Adam and Roderick shout at the Australian superstar and encourages the challenger to get to his feet, up the ladder, and grab the championship while they take care of Matt Sydal to make sure he’s there to ruin the Australian’s crowning moment. Buddy Murphy begins to climb up the ladder but it’s obvious that he’s struggling. The war he and Matt Sydal have been through are showing its effect. They’ve been hit with chairs, put through tables, and used ladders as weapons rather than a means to win the match. Cole and Strong exit the ring and the two men begin to brawl with the Intercontinental Champion - the two obviously overpowering the one.

[MAURO RANALLO]
I knew Buddy Murphy was willing to do anything it takes to capture his first taste of gold but this isn’t right. What does this prove? Is this something for him to look back on and be proud of? Anyone could beat a man by using the numbers advantage. This doesn’t make him better than Matt Sydal. This just makes him a coward.

The fans boo as Buddy is getting close to reaching the top of the ladder. At the same time, Cole threw Matt Sydal into the barricade and the two other members of the Undisputed Era converse back and forth for a quick second before they decide who’d get the next shot. It seems like Roderick Strong is given the go ahead and he charges at Sydal but Sydal reverses the move and sends Strong up and over the barricade and onto steel chairs that once sat fans who moved out of the way the second the action got close to him. The rest of the arena pops and Adam Cole looks absolutely shocked. Adam hustles over to Sydal and goes to deliver a superkick but Matt Sydal ducks the kick! Adam Cole turns around and he’s met with a superkick from Matt Sydal which sends him down to the mats on the outside of the ring! Buddy Murphy hasn’t realized what’s going on yet. He’s reached the top of the ladder and he’s got his hands on the championship! Sydal realizes this and quickly climbs onto the apron, jumps onto the top rope and then springboards onto the higher up rungs of the steel ladder! Matt Sydal is face to face with Murphy who looks like he’s seen a ghost. Sydal throws a series of punches which causes Murphy to let go and resort to defending himself instead of reaching for the prized championship that dangles above them. The sudden burst of momentum is driving the champion to defend his championship. The adrenaline in his body is giving him that last bit he needs to close this match out. Murphy is trying to get shots in of his own but those are nowhere near as strong or as fast as the Golden One’s strikes. Matt Sydal is about to go for another punch when he suddenly feels someone grabbing at his feet from underneath the ladder.

[RENEE YOUNG]
What’s it going to take to stop these men from getting involved?

It’s Adam Cole coming back to the aid of Buddy Murphy! That superkick earlier wasn’t enough to keep the man down long enough for Sydal to keep him out of the picture. Neither was what he did to Roderick Strong either because while he’s in more pain than Adam Cole is, he’s sliding himself into the ring. Sydal tries to kick the Panama City Playboy and boot his hands away but suddenly becomes the number game becomes too much. Roderick Strong is going to grab the other foot and now, Buddy Murphy connects with a strong punch to right between his eyes!

[COREY GRAVES]
This is genius! Do you see what they’re doing? This is brillant!

Cole has one foot while Strong has the other and they both pull Matt Sydal through the hole in the ladder all the way down until he’s only held up by his armpits! Sydal tries to swing his feet and kick the man but he’s not in a position to connect with those kicks. He’s not touching the ground. He’s just dangling there. Adam and Roderick both laugh at their former leader as he is helpless now. He can’t do anything. He can’t fight them. He can’t tip the ladder over. He can only watch as Murphy looks down at him from the top of the ladder. The Best Kept Secret is laughing now too as he realizes what his stable mates have done.

[RENEE YOUNG]
I can’t watch this. This is disgusting. This isn’t right. Matt Sydal has gave his blood, sweat and tears to this Intercontinental Championship reign and this is how it’s going to end?

Murphy grabs the Intercontinental Championship above him. His eyes haven’t once left the eyes of the champion. It’s almost like he wanted to see that defeated look as it arrives. Murphy has a hold of the championship and he unhooks it from the top of the ladder which causes the bell to ring!
































WE HAVE A BRAND NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION!

Adam Cole and Roderick Strong’s assistance have proved to be a success. Buddy Murphy has successfully captured the Intercontinental Championship and has ended the reign of Matt Sydal. Matt Sydal is forced to hang there and watch another man claim his championship as his own now. The fight has seemingly left his body. There was no point in fighting right now. The match was over. The Undisputed Era had won.

[MAURO RANALLO]
I can’t help but feel awful for Matt Sydal. Imagine winning a championship and putting your all into that championship. Imagine taking on any and all comers no matter how deserving of a shot they were. Imagine being able to overcome the odds no matter how many men were in that ring with you. Imagine all of that meaning nothing now that a rookie has stepped up with a couple of friends to gang up on and take that championship from you.

The Intercontinental Championship is held up to the air for the arena to see but it’s to their disgust. These Scottish people like anyone else around the world (except for maybe Buddy’s fellow Australian people) are not enjoying this sight they are seeing. Cole and Strong are clapping their hands together down in the ring and sending encouraging remarks to their friend while even shouting dirty remarks at the former champion who has seemingly accepted defeat for the moment. A couple of referees slide into the ring as Murphy begins to climb down the ladder with his championship held tightly in his grip. When his feet touch the floor, Adam and Strong bring the man into a hug as they celebrate his huge win. A win which will likely be the biggest win of his career for a longtime. It’s not often someone gets to make their pay-per-view debut in a championship match, against Matt Sydal, and he wins the match. Maybe Buddy Murphy realizes that as well because he seems to have let his guard down and his emotions are showing a little. Not a lot. He hasn’t broken down and started crying. But this has been a twelve years in the making - since the Australian born superstar first made his professional wrestling debut in Melbourne.

[COREY GRAVES]
I don’t care how he won this match. The reign of the Iron Man is over! This calls for celebration!

[RENEE YOUNG]
Ugh. You’re as full as yourself as the Undisputed Era is. This isn’t something to celebrate.

Buddy Murphy exits the ring with Adam Cole and Roderick Strong not far behind them as a few more referees rush the ring to help get Matt Sydal free from the position he was stuck in. The Undisputed Era watches with joy and laughter as they watch this happen. It takes a couple of tries but it seems like the referees were able to lift Matt Sydal back out of the structure and then help him down the rungs of the ladder. They’re doing their job and checking in with the superstar to make sure he’s okay and not hurt or anything. It was surely an uncomfortable position for underneath his arms but it wasn’t enough to hurt the man. If anything, having to watch this new guy steal his championship from him was what hurt the most out of all of this. Sydal insists that he’s fine before placing his hands on his hips.

[MAURO RANALLO]
That right there is the look of a man who had everything stolen from him. His friends. His championship. His dignity as well after the way he won. However, he still has his fans and perhaps that’s going to be enough to will Matt Sydal back to capturing the championship. He will have his rematch clause after all.

[COREY GRAVES]
Where does he go from here, Mauro? Matt Sydal literally had Buddy Murphy in the palm of his hands. Matt Sydal had chosen the match and not told anyone what it would be. Buddy could not prepare. There was no reason why he should have lost this. Heck, there’s no reason why he should’ve chose a No Disqualification match knowing what could possibly happen and who could possibly interfere. The champion slipped up and it cost him.

[RENEE YOUNG]
I think you’re being a little hard on him now.

[COREY GRAVES]
How am I being hard? He chose the match and Buddy didn’t break any rules.

[RENEE YOUNG]
I know, but...

[COREY GRAVES]
But nothing, Renee! Matt Sydal only has himself to blame. If he was worried about Roderick Strong or Adam Cole playing a part in this match then he should’ve chosen a Steel Cage or even Hell in a Cell. He could’ve even made up a match where outside interference is banned to keep them away but he didn’t.

Undisputed Era reaches the top of the stage. Adam Cole and Roderick Strong take a step back as Buddy Murphy takes the championship into his hands and holds it above his head. His eyes locked with Sydal’s as he stares from the ring at the newly crowned champion. Buddy smirks like a madman at Sydal and shouts at him. “I TOLD YOU!” he shouts at him. “I TOLD YOU THIS WAS ENDGAME!” which causes the men behind him to laugh and clap their hands together. Sydal doesn’t seem too thrilled with his former stable and that is obvious by the look on his face. He simply shakes his head and it’s the last thing we see as this match-up comes to an end and we prepare to head into the next match or segment of the show.

Camera cuts to the ring for the next match.


Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen this next match is a steel cage match !

The crowd cheer in anticipation for the match.

Announcer: The rules are as follows. You can either escape the cage by climbing over the top or through the cage door or you can win by pinfall or submission.



The crowd pops loudly for HBK as he makes his way out

Corey Graves: There he is, the icon, the show stopper, the main event, Mr Final Stand himself Shawn Michaels the best damn wrestler in the world today or that’s what he would have you believe. You can see that fire in his eyes tonight like a tiger hunting it’s prey but I think he may have bitten off more than he can chew when he faces the young lion in Seth Rollins who many believe to be the best wrestler the company has to offer.

Michaels makes his way down to the ring as he is crotch chopping some of the crowd and having his way with them.

Mauro Ranallo: Yes Seth Rollins is good but a cornered animal is dangerous and after what we heard before from Michaels I have a feeling we are going to see a side of him that we haven’t seen for a long time and I think deep down that scares Seth Rollins

Corey Graves: Are you kidding me Mauro. Seth isn’t scared of HBK. Rollins has been one step ahead of HBK Throughout this whole thing, playing mind games left and right it’s HBK who is scared he knows he has to be on his best to even stand a chance here tonight but even his best won’t be good enough against the architect tonight inside the steel cage.

Michaels enters the cage and looks around his surroundings and takes it all in as he calms himself for the coming war about to take place.



Crowd boo massively for Seth but for some reason as his music plays he doesn’t come out.


Mauro Ranallo: See Corey I told you he’s scared!

All of a sudden the crowd start booing. Michaels thinks it’s for him but what he doesn’t realise is someone is scaling the cage behind them.

Corey Graves: I wouldn’t be so sure Mauro! Look who’s scaled to the top of the cage!

Mauro Ranallo: Turn around Shawn! He’s behind you!

Shawn Michaels turns around and as he does Seth Rollins makes a dive of the top of the cage and lands on top of Michaels.

Corey Graves: It’s over ! It’s over ! What a dive cover him Rollins!

Seth covers HBK who kicks out just in time.

Mauro Ranallo: That was so close it was nearly over within a minute of this match starting that would have been embarrassing for HBK.

Corey Graves: Come on Seth keep that going don’t let him get up!

Seth gets to his feet and starts stomping on Shawn as he lays on the floor. He then begins to lay into each body part as he drops a knee to Shawn arms, legs and then Shawns head.

Mauro Ranallo: Seth is dissecting Michaels piece by piece and is enjoying every minute of it.

Seth then picks Michaels up and drags him to the cage wall and starts to grate his face on the cage wall as Michaels yells in agony.

Mauro Ranallo: Look at Michaels face and flesh grate up against the cage. Seth is torturing Michaels here and is loving every minute off it.

Mauro Ranallo: This is ridiculous Kruger might disfigure him this isn’t on at all.

Corey Graves: It’s a cage match Mauro anything goes.

Seth then pulls Michaels face off the cage talks some smack to him and then slams him face first into the cage. Michaels bounces off and falls flat to the Canvas. Seth again starts viscously stomping away at Michaels and then begins to bite the forehead of Michaels.

Corey Graves: Seth is an animal! This is sick!

Michaels lyes on the floor in pain as Seth sits cross legged smiling as he looks down on his pray tonight. Seth then gets up hits the ropes and drops an elbow to the top of the head of Michaels. Seth then goes for a cover on Michaels but he kicks out at one which bring a smile to Seth. Seth then picks up Michaels and drags him to a corner of the cage and rests him against the turn buckle. Seth then lays in some chops to the chest of Michaels which turns his chest bright red.

Mauro Ranallo: Seth with chops after chops to the chest of Shawn Michaels. Look at how red his chest is! Seth is laying into Michaels hard with these chops. We have never seen this side of Rollins before he has changed into a different man this past month and is determined to retire HBK

Seth then picks Michaels up and places him on the top turnbuckle. He punches Michaels in the head and then climbs the turnbuckle himself and hooks Michaels up for a superplex.

Mauro Ranallo: Seth is looking for a superplex here.

Corey Graves: Look at Michaels Mauro he is fighting back.

HBK starts to punch the gut of Seth and eventually gets out of the headlock and pushes Seth to the floor. Michaels then launches himself off the cage at Seth but Seth catches him.

Mauro Ranallo: Look at the strength of Seth he’s caught Michaels in mid air.

Seth the flips Michaels up into his shoulder and hits a sit out powerbomb to HBK.

Mauro Ranallo: Wow what a move by Seth planting Michaels with the powerbomb. Seth is going for the cover it could be over!

The ref starts his count but HBK kicks out at 2.

Mauro Ranallo: Another kick out by HBK. Rollins has him exactly where he wants him at the minute. Michaels is being punished.

Seth then climbs over Michaels and starts trash talking him and slapping him in the face. Michaels though has lured Seth into a trap. Michaels slams his leg up hard and hits a low blow to Seth who drops down to the floor in agony.

Mauro Ranallo: Yes brilliant by Michaels. Seth deserves every inch of that.

Michaels then drags himself to the ropes and sits up against them as he sees Seth on the floor in pain. Michaels then pulls himself up with a sadistic look on his face and begins his attack. Michaels begins to stomp away ferociously at Seth and even spits in his face after. Michaels then picks Seth up and sends him into the cage wall. As Seth bounces back Michaels sends him crashing into the cage wall again. Michaels then picks Seth up off the floor and begins to rake his face across the steel mesh. Michaels then drags Seth and places him in the corner on a turnbuckle. Michaels then climbs onto the second turnbuckle and begins to lay punches into the head of Seth as the crowd counts along.

Corey Graves: Michaels looks to be in control here Rollins could be in trouble.

Michaels hits the tenth punch and looks to gloat. As he is caught off guard Rollins  catches a quick breath and then sends his head straight into shawns stomach. He then lifts Shawn up into his shoulders and goes for another powerbomb. Shawn jumps off and sends a sweet chin music Rollins way who ducks and then follows up with a super kick of his own sending Michaels flat to the canvas.

Mauro Ranallo: Oh my god what a super kick by Rollins it nearly took Michaels head off! If only Rollins could make the cover it would be all over.

The ref checks on both competitors and after a while Rollins begins to stir and shouts for the cage door to be opened as he crawls his way towards the door.

Corey Graves: Yes Rollins escape come on you can do this!

As Rollins starts to stir however so does HBK as he crawls after him. Rollins is half way out of the cage door just as Shawn grabs Rollins foot to stop him escaping.


Corey Graves: Come on Rollins shake him off your nearly out of the cage.

Rollins just can’t seem to shake HBK off as he tries to grab the bottom of the ring apron to pull himself out of the cage. HBK somehow manages to make it to his feet and begins to pull Rollins back into the ring but not before Rollins somehow manages to grab a kendo from underneath the ring which HBK hasn’t realised. HBK pulls him back in and the cage door is shut. Rollins then manages to push HBK off with his foot which gives Rollins time to get to his feet and when Michaels turns back around Rollins flattens him with the kendo stick.

Mauro Ranallo: What a shot with the kendo stick. It has echoed all the way around the arena. Oh my look at Michaels the kendo stick has bust him open he is bleeding profusely.

Rollins sees his opportunity and begins to lay in shot after shot after shot to HBk with the kendo stick everyone more sadistic and sickening than the last. Rollins then places the kendo stick on HBK head. Rollins then climbs to the top rope and drops a knee onto the kendo stick into HBKs head which has HBK rolling around in agony.

Corey Graves: Rollins is showing just how sadistic he can be he promised to end the career of HBK here tonight and he looks to be doing just that.

Rollins then backs up to the corner and starts stalking HBK. Rollins is looking to set up the curb stomp as he runs at HBK

Mauro Ranallo: Curb stomp there it is it’s over!

Rollins however doesn’t go for the pin instead he goes back to the corner and waits for Michaels to try get to his feet. He then runs and hits another curb stomp to HBK

Mauro Ranallo: For god sake Rollins go for the cover end it all ready this isn’t right damn it!

Rollins goes for the cover this time with the camera zoomed in on his face as it shows his sick grin as the ref makes the count. However somehow HBK kicks out with a millisecond to go and the crowd and Rollins can’t believe it as Rollins bursts into a fit of anger at the ref.

Corey Graves: I don’t believe it HBK still kicked out he will not die. One curb stomp is enough to put away most people, two shouldn’t be a contest but he has somehow kicked out he is superhuman!

HBK begins to stir as Rollins begins to set HBK up for another curb stomp. Rollins runs at HBK but this time HBK somehow has the sense to flick Rollins into the air and as he is coming back down BOOM !

Mauro Ranallo: OMG SWEET CHIN MUSIC OUT OFF NOWHERE ! Where did that come from but look Rollins took the referee out when he hit the canvas HBK can’t make the cover.

The ring shows carnage as HBK is on his back, Rollins is flat face down onto the canvas and the referee is knocked out. HBK can only see one opportunity and that’s to climb the cage. He pulls himself up and begins the climb.

Mauro Ranallo: Yes Shawn climb, climb the cage and win this match you can do it.

As HBK starts to manoeuvre up the cage Rollins is starting to come around and notices what is happening. Rollins then motions for the cage door to be opened as he drags his body across the ring to try exit the cage before Michaels. Both men are getting closer and closer to the exit.

Corey Graves: Rollins is going to do it he’s just outside the cage he just needs to get out a bit more.

HBK notices this and as a last gasp effort throws himself off the top off the cage. The bell rings but something unprecedented has just happened. As the camera zooms and shows a replay both Michaels and Rollins seem to both hit the floor at exactly the same time.

Corey Graves: what’s going on who’s won ? surely Rollins got out first?

Mauro Ranallo: I have no idea. I thought Michaels had won it after throwing himself off the cage but the replay is so close I think we may have a draw ?!

The referees all consult each other and review the footage until finally the senior referee goes up to the ring announcer.

Ring Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen. The referees have reviewed the footage and have determined that both men excited the cage at the same time meaning this match has ended in a draw !

Mauro Ranallo: Wow what a big call. Both competitors won’t be happy about that at all. They both wanted to win so badly tonight. This isn’t going to sit down well one bit.

The doctors come out to check on both competitors after a gruelling cage match. Rollins gets up and realised what has happened and seems furious. All off a sudden as HBK gets to his feet Rollins runs at him and the pair begin to brawl ringside.

Mauro Ranallo: For god sake the match is over it ended in a draw why can’t Rollins except that.

Both men are trading punch after punch and it seems Michaels is getting the upper hand when all of a sudden Rollins hits a low blow to Michaels.

Corey Graves: excellent strategy by Seth there HBK should back off.

Eventually security come out and get in between both men as Seth is dragged away and the rest of the security keep Michaels back from going for Seth. The cameras then cut to another segment whilst security try to restore order.

We open to a dimly lit hallway where the silhouette of a women stands still. As she walks forward we see more and more revealed until we have enough to see it is none other than The Empress of Tomorrow, Asuka  

Asuka
I have...lost before. I have fallen to rock bottom. I have been cheered. I have been booed. I have been lot different things. But One thing that always consistent is...

The camera pans out revealing more os Asuka stepping out of the darkness and into the light. Her arm is still bandaged tightly, not that that will save her from the pain she is going to endure vs Becky Lynch tonight

Asuka
...I am dangerous

Asuka's smile smile warps into a grin that almost splits open her face

Asuka
No matter how many times I fall. No matter how many times you think I'm out. Even if you rip my arm out of socket...I am a dangerous woman. I been backed into corners and I lash out every time. Becky has backed me into corner. Becky not just beat me at Final Stand. Becky try to end my career. She try to take it all from me just like...Bliss. And Nia. And Shayna. All of them try to end Asuka. But thing is...You can't end me...

Asuka's hand softly touches her taped up arm. She looks at it in shame. A battle scar reflecting her failure. One of her many failures in her time with XWL

Asuka
Becky tried. And I SNAPPEDmy arm back in place before choking life out of her body. Her lifeless body lying on ground with me standing above it. The feeling was so...powerful. So...liberating. To be the one standing tall. To be the one showing no mercy. I almost forgot what that felt like. I have spent so much time defending myself. Fighting for survival. Being prey that I almost forgot what it feel like to be hunter. To be aggressor. But when I hurt Alexa Bliss I remember. When I feel myself squeezing life out of Becky's lung, I remember. And when I kicked the new Women's Champion's lights out...I remembered! I remember who I am! Who I supposed to be! I not weak! I'm not WEAK!

Asuka is screaming at this point. Her hair is misplaced and her eyes are wide with fury and anger. Her breathing is ragged and if looks could kill anyone watching this would be dead

Asuka
Tonight I not going to have good match. And I not trying to prove anything to Becky or anyone in this building. Tonight is for me. To remind myself who I really am. And when I done...destroying Becky Lynch...I coming for Kairi. The woman I beat last week. And the woman who owes me title shot the way I see it. But as for tonight

Asuka licks her lips in anticipation

Asuka
I hope you make me feel alive Becky

Asuka's creepy smile sends us to a blackness that mirrors her mood tonight

The moment Daniel Bryan has been waiting for all week has finally arrived, his previously advertised Open Challenge here at International Incident and while his opponent could be anybody as we've seen earlier in this very evening, one would have to believe that his opponent of choice is a certain “Deadman” that has targeted him the past number of weeks following his matches leading to this moment. With his theme having been playing in the background, building up the anticipation of the arrival of our favorite Goat Faced Hero, the goat in question emerges from behind the curtain, causing a roar of cheers and approval from the live audience in attendance directed at the Former American Dragon. While the possibilities are quite literally endless when it comes to opponents Bryan could end up facing tonight, there is only one that he wants: The Undertaker. With his darkened memories of being assaulted after suffering defeats just moments prior to the attack circulating in his mind, Bryan throws his arms into the air, causing the crowd to mirror his motions and shout “Yes!” in predetermined intervals as he begins his descent down the entrance ramp in typical Daniel Bryan fashion. After an uneventful trip, Bryan reaches the bottom of the ramp, stopping his momentum to prevent himself from colliding with the ring in front of him. He takes a left and begins scaling the steel ring steps, ultimately ending up on the apron before scaling the turnbuckle. With his left foot planted on the middle turnbuckle and his right foot resting on the top one, Bryan once again throws his arms into the air repeatedly, causing the members of the XWL Universe to do the same while they shout “Yes!” at the top of their lungs. A few fleeting moments later, he hops off the top turnbuckle and plants his feet on the canvas below, turning his attention towards the stage, awaiting the arrival of his mystery opponent for the evening.




























































It might not be the Phenom like Daniel Bryan hoped but it's the Phenomenal One who's stepping up to the challenge. The Scottish crowd is on their feet and loud as they realize what they're about to witness. Not only the return of AJ Styles after months of being out of action but a match between two of the greatest wrestlers of all-time that'll surely be a match-up that tears the roof off this building.

[RENEE YOUNG]
OH MY GOD! NO WAY! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!

[MAURO RANALLO]
I heard rumors that AJ Styles and Mr. McMahon have been negotiating contracts and going back and forth but I wasn't expecting them to be done so soon! AJ Styles is here tonight and he's ready for a fight!

Styles steps out from behind the curtain with his hood raised and his arms out to the side until he reaches the center of the stage. He clenches his fist and readies himself.



His hood is thrown back, his arms reach outwards, hair flowing as he throws his head back, and the Phenomenal One embraces the welcoming cheers from the XWL Universe.



[COREY GRAVES]
I'm going to be honest for a second. I think Daniel Bryan owes AJ Styles because am I supposed to believe Daniel would've been able to take on the Undertaker if he had accepted this open challenge? Daniel Bryan has a fighting chance now. Daniel Bryan is facing a man who has not stepped in a ring in over three months. Realistically, Daniel Bryan is not the underdog in this match. I'd say he's the favorite to win and rightfully so, too.

Styles' hands come together and he forms his signature 'P1' logo.



His arms fall back down to his side and he begins to take his stride down the ramp. He walks with the same confidence he once had many months ago as if he hasn't missed a beat.

[RENEE YOUNG]
Does it seriously matter who's this and who's that? Look at who's in the ring and look at who's making their way down the ramp. We're all going to be winners by the end of this. There's no debating that AJ Styles might have a little ring rust after being gone for so long, of course, but AJ Styles is a superstar who has a natural gift for this business. He's simply phenomenal and you can't teach that. You're born with it.

A couple of too sweets are thrown out to excited fans who reach their hands over the barricade.

[MAURO RANALLO]
I have to agree with Renee here. I've watched AJ Styles over the years and he's been nothing short of phenomenal. It has never mattered who you put him against after any amount of time being gone from the ring. It has never mattered the type of wrestler you put him against whether it's a powerhouse like Brock Lesnar, a high flyer like Matt Sydal, or a technician like Chris Jericho. He steals the show every single time he's out in that ring. I'm not counting out Daniel Bryan but Daniel cannot take Styles lightly or he will lose.

AJ reaches the end of the ramp and he walks over to the steel steps.



AJ climbs up the steps and enters the ring. He keeps his eyes on Daniel Bryan as he is handed a microphone by one of the crew members who worked at ringside. Styles steps to the center of the ring as his theme music begins to die. A smile works it's way onto the features of the Phenomenal One as he raises his microphone and begins to speak.



[AJ STYLES]
It's been a long, long time since I've shared a wrestling ring with you. Hasn't it, Daniel? A lot has changed. While I've been home with my wife and kids... you have been dancing with the devil. You issued an open challenge hoping the lights would turn an eerie shade of blue, a gong would ring throughout the arena, and the Undertaker would march down that ramp. I hate to break it to you, pal, but it ain't the Undertaker standing in this ring with you. It's far from it. I ain't no Phenom but dammit, in case you have forgotten who I am, I am the Phenomenal AJ Styles and I have made the long trip to Scotland so I could come to International Incident to accept your challenge!



[AJ STYLES]
Because unlike the Undertaker, I don't need smoke and mirrors to attack you from behind in order to make myself feel better about myself. I am man enough to step up to you, look you in the eyes, and say fight me. If Undertaker doesn't want a match with you then that's his loss and my gain. And if you're even half the man that you say you are then you'd step up to me, look me in my eyes, and say challenge accepted.

Daniel Bryan
The Undertaker said that I wasn't worthy to be in his presence, that I wasn't worthy to be in his “domain,” that I had two choices: Either run away and never come back or Rest in Peace. And yet, here I stand, awaiting the arrival of The Undertaker so I could show him what it's like when you stand face to face with Daniel Bryan. And instead of backing up his words, he chooses to simply ignore me. He chooses to stay in the shadows instead of coming out here and proving that he is, in fact, the judge, jury and executioner as he claims to be. But what I think is that The Undertaker has grown weak, he has grown old, he's not the force of nature that he once was and because of that, he has chosen to use me to send a message. The thing about messages is they are just idle threats until they are acted upon, and all you've done is attack me in the cover of darkness. You are a shell of the man you once were, Undertaker, and you hate the fact that you see me on the precipice of greatness and it eats you up inside knowing that I will soon surpass the legend that is The Undertaker. You are a coward, and it is you who is not worthy to be in MY presence.

Daniel Bryan
As for you, “Phenomenal” One, that's quite the entrance you've made. A returning hero trying to show that he still has it at my expense. The fact that you're out here, that alone already has shown that you are not a coward. My only regret is that I have to hand you your first loss on your grandiose return. What was it you said? You wanted me to step up to you...

Bryan takes a few steps towards his Phenomenal opponent.

Daniel Bryan
Look you in your eyes...

Now standing quite literally face to face with the man that answered his open challenge, he lifts the microphone one more time.

Daniel Bryan
Challenge accepted.

With that, a roar of cheers emanate from the live audience in attendance as Bryan tosses the microphone aside and makes his way to the nearest corner while Styles begins removing his jacket, tossing it under the bottom rope alongside the microphone and positions himself on the opposite turnbuckle, both men awaiting the referee to call for the bell and signal the start of this contest.





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Mauro Ranallo
Daniel Bryan’s going for the running knee. He’s about to destroy AJ Styles chances of a successful return!

Renee Young
This match could all be over within a matter of seconds.

Corey Graves
Don’t do it AJ! Don’t turn around!


Daniel Bryan is nearly jumping off the mat each time he bends his knees and pops up with both index fingers pointed to the heavens. The crowd chanting yes with every thrust. AJ Styles has put on one hell of a return match with Daniel, but it may just not be enough. His time away might have made him to rusty to return in a match with the likes of Daniel Bryan. AJ begins to get to his feet, unaware of Daniel across the ring just waiting for him to turn around. AJ stands his back turned to Daniel, however the very second he begins to turn around to find his opponent, Daniel takes off sprinting towards him. Styles has completely turned around now, eyes popping out of his head but it’s too late for him to even react. Daniel makes it to the halfway point of the ring.....




















Mauro Ranallo
What the hell happened to the lights?

Renee Young
Oh god no!

Corey Graves
This can only mean one thi.....


Corey is Suddenly cut off by the bright glare of the lights coming back on to reveal what so many thought, but no one knew for sure. Standing in the center of the ring now is Daniel Bryan. He has been brought to a dead halt. Styles is still standing in terror at the sight before him. And between the two men stands one of the most terrifying sight someone could possibly see. Before them stands one of the most decorated men in wrestling history. Before them stands.....



Renee Young
It’s The Undertaker!

Mauro Ranallo
What’s he doing out here!?

Corey Graves
We know damn well what he’s doing out here. He probably didn’t too much like what was said about him before the match and now he’s come to set the record straight.

The Undertaker stares daggers through the heart of Daniel Bryan. He ignore the fact the the man who not only made his return tonight, but the man who stole the opportunity for this open challenge is standing directly behind him. The stare-down continues, everyone waiting to see who the first to make a move will be. Suddenly AJ Styles makes his move by pouncing towards the deadman with a fury of forearms and kicks attempting to take him down. Undertaker blocks most of the forearms as he raises his hands in defense but each of the kicks land. Daniel sees this as his opportunity to return the favor for these past weeks as he too now jumps toward the phenom with his own fury of slaps and kicks. The undertaker tries to block as many as he can however too many begin to come through.

He begins to stagger a bit, but before any sign of weakness can show he raises his first landing a devastating uppercut to Daniel Bryan sending him straight onto his back. Styles begins to frantically throw more forearms but it isn’t enough. Taker blocks each of them and suddenly begins going on the offensive with punches of his own. Styles attempts to block them but taker has too much experience. Each time styles blocks the face, he begins throwing body shots and vice versa. Eventually styles is so beaten he doesn’t even attempt to block anything anymore. Takes has had enough of him, grabbing him and tossing him over the rope. Somehow, styles hangs on and lands on the outside apron. The Undertaker now turns back to Daniel who has begun to make it back to his feet. The Undertaker does his signature notion signaling the end.

Daniel Bryan turns to the Deadman And is immediately met with a hand wrapped around his throat. Daniel attempts to break free but to no avail. He simply cannot get away. However when all hope seems lost He looks over Undertaker should and see the thing that just may save him. Styles has gotten back to his feet and stands on the apron. He knows this is his chance. He hops onto the top rope and spring into the air to hit the Phenomenal Forearm.....BUT is caught in mid air by the free hand of The Phenom himself. The Undertaker now his both hands wrapped around the throats of AJ Styles AND Daniel Bryan. This is history. This is suspenseful. This is.....DONE.

The Undertaker lifts both men into the air and slams them directly into the mat with devastating chokeslams. The crowd goes silent. Unsure weather to boo or cheer. The deadman looks down at his fallen pray in satisfaction. He has done what he came to do. He bends a knee and drops onto the other as the lights dim down. He sticks his tongue out and his eyes roll back into his head as this open challenge ends in a no contest.

With her demonic duo that she is set to face tonight already inside of the ring, Liv Morgan appears onto the stage, but not in her typical “firecracker” like manner. She does pluck her suspenders off of her shoulders and slowly spins around on her heel, keeping a straight face the entire time. Very abnormal behavior for the spunky and bratty superstar that we’ve come to know and expect on our screens every week.

[Mauro Ranallo]
The look on young Liv Morgan’s face says it all folks, and leads one to assume that she has remained unsuccessful in finding herself a tag team partner in this match against the sinister combination of Allie and Rosemary.

[Renee Young]
I had the opportunity to speak with Liv earlier tonight backstage and sh-

[Corey Graves]
What a second, you actually SPOKE with that delinquent? Have you checked your wallet and pockets since then?

[Renee Young]
No, Graves! When she’s not vandalizing or robbing somebody, Liv is actually a super sweet girl from Jersey just trying to fulfill her dreams as an XWL superstar. As I was saying, earlier tonight I spoke with Liv and she informed me that she STILL had not yet been able to find a partner for her match tonight. Now, maybe she was able to pull a rabbit out of her hat and get somebody to sign on to this match with her since then, but she seemed confident in going in alone tonight if she had to.

[Corey Graves]
Confident? I’d call that delusional! If Liv Morgan feels confident about taking on the team of Rosemary and Allie by herself, than she’s truly fallen further off the deep end than we previously thought, and THAT’S saying something!

[Mauro Ranallo]
Call it confidence or delusion, if one thing’s for certain about Liv Morgan, it’s that she has proved herself to be quite the cagey competitor when pushed into a corner. She may be relatively young and small in stature, but her fury when she taps into it, is unmatched by anybody else on the roster.

Liv clasps her hands behind her back, keeping her eyes locked onto the two women awaiting her inside of the ring. She begins marching forward, opting not to skip down the ramp in her usual “jolly” fashion. With a determined glare glued onto her opponents, Morgan marches down the ramp towards the ring where she quite possibly may have to end up fending off two ominous foes on her own.

[Jojo Offerman]
The following is a tag team match, scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Elmwood Park, New Jersey… LIIIIV, MORGAN!



[Jojo Offerman]
And her opponents, already in the ring, from The Valley of Shadows in Winnipeg, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada… The team of, ROSEMARY, and ALLIE!

Allie and Rosemary eagerly await the arrival of what they view as their prey. Liv slaps her hands onto the apron from outside of the ring. She rests her chin on the top of her hand, but doesn’t flash her kooky grin this time. Liv seems like a newly determined and focused competitor, but perhaps that is to be expected when one was consecutively shot down by each member of the roster and is forced into a potential handicap match.

[Corey Graves]
To your point Mauro, this is far from the wacky and unpredictable Juvenile Delinquent we’ve become accustomed to. Liv’s typically sporadic attention span looks to be replaced by laser focus tonight. I still think that this is nothing more than a suicide mission on Liv’s behalf, regardless of how honed in she might seem, but it JUST might give her that fighting chance to last a solid couple of minutes before Allie and Rosemary pick the blue-tongued brats bones clean.

Liv pushes off of the apron and proceeds to roll underneath the bottom rope, ensuring that the official keeps her competition back while she strides over to the ropes and hopes onto the middle rope, perching herself and crossing her legs accordingly. While her signature blue tongue does make an appearance, it is accompanied by a hollow smile, which is cut off short as Liv jerks her head back to keep an eye on the two superstars across the ring from her.

[Renee Young]
Can I just say that I think it’s shameful of the other women in this division to not even give Liv a chance. YES, she has done some shady things in the past when it comes to tag team partners, but you have to consider that once upon a time she was practically connected at the hip with Sasha Banks. She would have taken a bullet for her, THAT is dedication. Yeah, things in the Boss and Brat camp went bad, and I mean REALLY bad, but Liv has shown us that she is capable of being a committed and valuable asset in a tag team environment in the past, and I think that all of the ladies in the locker room have overlooked that and missed out on the chance to put on a great match against two returning superstars tonight.

[Corey Graves]
An opportunity to have a knife shoved into their back, Renee? The women in the XWL locker room were WISE to turn Liv down, and refuse to let history repeat itself on their behalf. Now I’ll be fair in admitting that Liv likely learned her backstabbing ways from her former best friend and tag team partner, Sasha Banks, as if there’s one woman in the history of this business who has stabbed more people in the back than Liv, it’s her. But you have to consider the fact that one good deed does not recount the MULTIPLE times that she has blindly attacked someone! Sasha Banks, Natalya, Tessa Blanchard. Every single woman that Liv Morgan has had a big match with, she’s turned on. Coincidence? Unlikely, Renee.

Morgan stands alone in one corner, both eyes locked onto her opposition. In the opposite corner, Allie and Rosemary are practically chomping at the bit to sink their teeth into the notorious Problem Child. Liv doesn’t even look back at the stage, knowing full well that she was unsuccessful in her attempts to attain a tag team partner tonight. It looks as if Liv is readying herself to fight this battle alone which surely pleased the tag team standing across from her. Even the referee seemed like he was ready for the match to begin without Liv finding a partner. Suddenly, Rosemary and Allie’s collectively wicked glares are interrupted by...

[Corey Graves]
You have GOT to be kidding me.
















































If you were to take a glance at the look on Liv's face then you'd think she would have rather had no one come out here instead of this woman. The crowd wasn't sure how to react to this. Should they cheer because Sasha was coming out here to seek revenge on Liv Morgan? Should they boo because Sasha was coming out here to be the partner of the woman who put her out of action for a couple of months? And if she was stepping up to the plate to be Liv's tag team partner... why? Why would Sasha Banks do that after what Liv Morgan did to her? The introduction of her theme begins to play and the actual songs kicks into gear which brings the Boss out from behind the curtain and Liv Morgan looks as if she's seen a ghost. The Boss is here and she's stepping out onto the stage. Her 'LEGIT BOSS' rings and glasses were worn along with a jacket and she was in her ring gear and she was here to compete from the looks of it.



[Renee Young]
I'm not so sure what to make of this. I know I was saying how people need to give others a chance but can we really trust Sasha Banks and Liv Morgan being in the same ring together without things imploding?

The Boss flashes her rings a couple of times before striking her signature pose where she pushes her hands out to the side. She then removes her glasses, tosses them to the side and then the rings as well.

[Mauro Ranallo]
These two have had a very toxic relationship over the last year. It all began back on an episode of Anarchy last year during the build up to the first ever woman's Final Stand main event. Sasha Banks was called out by Liv Morgan and Liv Morgan didn't stand a chance. Sasha Banks used Morgan as an example and sent a message to the champion at the time, Natalya, by injuring Liv Morgan and forcing her to miss a couple months of action. Not only that but Sasha Banks' B-Trigger to the head seemed to cause some memory loss for Liv.



[Corey Graves]
Liv is surrounded right now. She's got two of the most terrifying woman on the roster on one side and a backstabber on the other. I'm sure Sasha Banks has a knife with Liv Morgan's name on it somewhere in that jacket.

Sasha takes the zipper on her jacket and slides it down the length of the jacket. It separates the ends and allows her to remove her arms from it so that she could toss that down to the floor as well. The Boss takes a deep breath as she glances at the ground as if she was readying herself since this is indeed quite possibly her first match since the injury she sustained at the hands of Liv Morgan. Sasha nods her head because she begins to walk down the entrance ramp - getting closer to the ring and Liv Morgan with every step that she took. Each step she took did indeed seem to make Liv panic a little more each time.

[Renee Young]
I don't know what to make of this. Does Liv Morgan deserve this?

[Corey Graves]
Deserve what, Renee? We don't know what's going on yet.

[Renee Young]
I assume this isn't going to end good for her. She's the reason Sasha Banks was out of action for a couple months. Liv's sledgehammer forced Sasha Banks to miss Final Stand. I can't imagine Sasha Banks is actually here to team with Liv. She's probably here to get revenge on her former best friend... or whatever you want to consider them... but does Liv deserve it? Sasha used Liv and manipulated her. Did Sasha deserve that attack is what I'm trying to say? Does Sasha have any right to be mad at Liv?

[Mauro Ranallo]
I see where you're coming from and normally I would agree with you, however, I do believe Liv Morgan took it a little too far. She nearly ended Sasha's career. She knew what she was doing. I still don't think Sasha ever meant to give Liv amnesia and put her out of action as long as she did.

Sasha doesn't continue with her normal entrance. Instead of walking around the ring, she heads towards the stairs and climbs up them. She doesn't enter the ring either. She grabs a hold of the white tag rope and points at Liv Morgan with her other hand. "FIGHT NOW. ASK QUESTIONS LATER," she shouted to the pink haired delinquent as her theme music begins to fade out and her stage trons switch back to the International Incident designs.


































Rosemary has herself perched in the corner and she beckons for Liv Morgan to get up. The wicked looks on the face of the evil duo shows how close they feel their victory is. The pairing of Sasha Banks and Liv Morgan has clearly not been on the same page this match and it’s worked to the advantage of the Demon Bunny and the Demon Assassin. Sasha Banks stands on the apron with a surprising look of worry in her eyes as her partner looks to be about to hit with one of the finishing maneuvers of Rosemary. Liv is out of reach to get the tag and it looks like she doesn’t realize what’s about to come.

[Mauro Ranallo]
If Liv could just turn around a make the tag then we could get the Boss back in the match and the tides could turn in the favor of the unlikely team of Sasha and Liv.

[Corey Graves]
I don’t think that’s going to happen. Rosemary is going to hit the spear and then Sasha Banks is just going to watch as her partner gets pinned. Has that not been her plan from the very moment she came out here?

[Renee Young]
I don’t know, Corey. I was sceptical about this team at first given their history but Sasha has looked to be trying her best to be the partner that Liv Morgan needed. I still have no clue why she’s suddenly okay with Liv but we can find that out either later tonight or on Anarchy next week.

[Corey Graves]
You’re delusional! They’re going to fight after they lose because they don’t know how to be civil.

Liv begins to stagger back up to her feet and she has yet to see the Demon Assassin lining her up for the spear. Sasha shouts at Liv and tells her to watch but the words just aren’t heard or maybe they were but Morgan’s brain just wasn’t realizing what Sasha was trying to tell her.

[Renee Young]
The Boss is trying her hardest to let Liv know but it doesn’t seem to be working.

[Mauro Ranallo]
Not at all. Liv has no idea where she is or what’s coming next.

[Corey Graves]
Here it comes! The spear that’s going to end the Boss ‘n’ Brat reunion tour before it even had a chance to begin.

Allie is down and it’s all up to Rosemary now. It was up to her to give her faction a win on pay-per-view against two highly established XWL women - one of them being a former champion and Final Stand main eventer. She begins to charge at the pink haired woman but she doesn’t see Sasha Banks hurry into the ring. The referee doesn’t even get a chance to try and stop Sasha before she…





















SHE SAVES LIV MORGAN!? Sasha takes her hands, places them on her partner, and she shoves Liv out of the way and Rosemary isn’t able to stop her move. She charges full force into Sasha Banks and connects with the spear on the Boss which sent her to the mat in a heap. The fans in attendance all gasps in unison as they are shocked to see Sasha Banks go out of her way to save Liv Morgan. Everyone was expecting Sasha and Liv to rip each others’ heads off. Not save one another from troubling situations.

[Mauro Ranallo]
MAMA MIA! THE BOSS HAS SAVED HER TAG TEAM PARTNER FROM BEING SPEARED!

[Renee Young]
Holy crap! I don’t know what to say right now. I didn’t think Sasha Banks had it in her.

Rosemary doesn’t seem to realize at first that she didn’t hit her intended target. She thought she connected with Liv Morgan and she’d have this win in the bag… but she thought wrong. She glances down and sees the purple hair and the darker skin. Her look changes and she wonders what happened to Liv since that was the intended target. Rosemary removes herself from on top of Sasha and shouts at the Boss. Liv shakes her head and realizes what exactly happened right there. She’s awkward sat on the ground but analyzes the situation real fast and puts the pieces together. The Delinquent quickly gets back up onto her feet and charges at Rosemary who’s still bent over above the Boss.

[Corey Graves]
That’s probably the nicest thing Sasha has done for someone in the last year. I can’t beli- wait. What’s Liv doing!?

[Renee Young]
She’s capitalizing on a distraction! You go girl!

Rosemary barely has a chance to react before Liv connects with her knees to the side of the Demon Assassin’s face as she hits her finishing move! The 201 Facebreaker connects and it sends Rosemary down and Liv Morgan quickly hustles into a cover while Sasha Banks is still out of it on the mat.




1































2




















































3!




SASHA BANKS AND LIV MORGAN HAVE DONE IT!





[Renee Young]
What is it you were saying, Corey, huh? Something about the end of a reunion tour? Sasha Banks and Liv Morgan have just emerged victorious over the dominant team of Rosemary and Allie! What do you have to say about that?

[Corey Graves]
Obviously, Rosemary and Allie were prepared for a handicap match until Sasha Banks came along.

You could almost hear the eyeroll in Graves’ voice as he speaks on the ending of that match. With Allie and Rosemary left in shambles and a state of shock, the Jersey-born Delinquent pulls herself up onto her feet. Without much celebration, Liv glances down at her surprise partner and former best frenemy. She walks over to the still lifeless corpse of the Boss who was still down and out from the brutal spear just moments prior. Instead of bending down and checking on her partner or tearing into her as many people expected out of Morgan at this point, Liv opts to place the heel of her custom-made Jordan's on the spine of the Boss as she uses her mangled body like a mere stepping stone on her way out of the ring.

[Mauro Ranallo]
A sight that begs the question if this action is more than just physical, but perhaps also symbolic of Liv Morgan closing the chapter of her career which involves Sasha Banks.

[Renee Young]
I just don't know you guys, I get that there is a lot of unfortunate history between these two but there's a connection there beneath all of the bad blood that you can't just walk away from. These girls were attached at the hip for months!

[Corey Graves]
Having to pull the dagger out of your back for the seventeenth time will do that to you, Renee. Liv is smart for recognizing Sasha's cheap attempt at keeping herself in the spotlight, once again. This entire charade was nothing more than just that, and that's exactly what it's always been about for the Boss.

Liv wipes both of her feet off on the mat after stepping over Banks and proceeds to duck down under the middle rope and usher herself up the ramp and backstage. With this monumental development of Sasha's return, and her efforts which arguably saved both Liv Morgan AND the match, could her intentions truly be as wicked as they were in the past? Or is everything between these two even now that both women have put each other out of action for a considerable amount of time now. Regardless, Liv may have had a rocky memory after getting her lights knocked out by Sasha last year, but one thing she doesn't seem to be too eager to forget is her history with the Boss.

Becky Lynch walks out to cheers from the XWL Universe, meaning business here tonight, she's wearing her leather jacket and "I'm The Man" shirt with her wrestling gear underneath, she walks down the ramp and takes a moment to soak in the crowd here tonight. Becky walks to the steps and walks up them slowly and steps into the ring as she awaits Asuka



As Becky awaits Asuka, the Empress of tomorrow's theme continues to play. But after 30 seconds no one comes out. Becky can be seen talking to the ref, confused as the rest of us. Little does she know...

[Corey Graves]
If I was Becky I'd turn around...

Sure enough Corey is right because Asuka has slid into the ring behind Becky with a sinister smile on her face. The crowd is yelling for Becky to turn around but it doesn't help as that's when Asuka strikes! Quickly wrapping her arms around the neck of Becky Asuka drags her down to the mat in a surprise Asuka lock! The ref signals for the bell as The Empress is trying to choke the life out of her! The crowd boo but there is nothing the ref can do since this is a street fight and there are no rules. Becky thrashes around but her eyes are getting heavy and her movement sluggish. The ref holds her arm up and lets it drop. The ref does it again and it drops once more. The ref goes to do it one more time

[Renee Young]
C'mon Becky fight!

Becky arm starts to drop before stopping mid drop! Her fist clenches and with a strength pulled deep down begins to throw elbows back into Asuka's ribs. Three elbows and Asuka is forced to let go. Becky gasp for air but waste no time getting to her feet and laying out Asuka with a clothesline. The crowd are into it and Becky points to the top rope. The crowd cheers her on as she does just that and climbs the turnbuckle. With new energy and the playing field being even she beckons for Asuka to get to her feet













Asuka finds herself in the same situation she found herself in at Final Stand! Except this time her arm is already injured! Becky waste no time pulling at Asuka with all her might who is simply screaming in agony. The ref is asking if she wants to quit and her hand hovers above the mat as she kicks her legs wildly trying to find a way out. Becky only increases the pressure and you see Asuka biting her lip hard enough draw blood. Asuka looks like a wounded animal as she looks for a way out. And she finds one

Asuka reaches with desperate eyes for the chair to her right. It's just finger tips away and if she can't get her hand on it it'll be all over for her. And she'll lose. Again. With a roar Asuka reaches the chair and waste to time swinging it into the shoulder of Becky who is blindsided by it. Becky lets go of the Dis Arm Her and Asuka takes the time to roll out of the ring. Asuka hits the floor and with the time she has gropes around underneath the ring for something. From the look on her face she's found it but it's at that moment a pissed off Becky grabs her by her hair and drags her onto the apron. What she fails to notice is what Asuka found under the ring. And it's wrapped around her hand

Asuka has to use her injured arm to strike so it doesn't have the full impact but the sound of metal bouncing off flesh can be heard. Becky falls back first on the mat holding her forehead which is bleeding a little. The camera zooms in on Asuka's hand with holds a metal chain. Asuka grimaces in pain but continues on anyway. She enters the ring slowly but stops in surprise as she sees Becky standing up on shaky legs. Becky's forehead is bleeding and all things considered she should be knocked out but she stands and stands tall at that. She makes a simple Bring itmotion which brings cheers from the crowd and makes Asuka seeth.
Asuka advances on Becky and waste no time wrapping the chain around Becky's neck. Becky grabs at it to remove it but Asuka is already behind her and dropping the two of them onto the mat. What we see now is a modified Asuka Lock! The chain is wrapped so tightly around the neck of Lynch and Asuka keeps applying more and more pressure. She screams for Becky to tap but Becky doesn't comply. She simply scratches weakly at the chain cutting on her circulation. With a deafening scream Asuka pulls at the chain until Becky's face turns damn near purple and she isn't responding leaving the ref no choice but to call the match!




Asuka isn't letting go and it takes the ref getting involved to make her stop. Asuka slowly stands, holding her injured and clearly distraught from the pain. The ref holds her good arm up high and while the boos rain down on Asuka like rain drops she bask in glory as if she's won the Women's Championship. Her attention shifts to the lifeless body of Becky and she gets the biggest smile on her face we've seen all day. Asuka's taunting smile mixed with painful agony brings this match to a close

The camera cuts to two hooded figures in the backstage area, standing in a dark corridor with their backs turned.

{Hooded Figure #1}
We have been waiting days, weeks, months… even years for our time in XWL.

{Hooded Figure #2}
For 10 years we have traveled the world chasing our dream, and now we have captured our dream.

{Hooded Figure #1}
And that dream is…

{Both Hooded Figures}
ICONIC!!

{Corey Graves}
Yes, Yes, Yes, 3000 times YES, Renee. They are finally here in XWL.

{Renee Young}
I’m just as excited as you are Corey, but which one did Vince sign to a wrestling contract? He only had one available spot to compete for!

{Corey Graves}
I’m not sure Renee, but something tells me we will find out on Anarchy this week.

A video package promoting the Main Event begins to play.

[Renee Young]
Well everyone this can only mean one thing, that’s it time for our next match of the night here tonight, John Cena vs. Cody. Now, for those of you at home who have been a bit confused about the situation with these two men as of late, we can explain. As we saw on the Anarchy after Final Stand, Cody has become bitter as of late due to what he feels is a lack of recognition and respect. This change in attitude prompted the appearance of the returning Cena, who angered Cody even further by bringing up his family, leading Cody to attack him. After this, a match was set between the two men on the next week of Anarchy, however we have learned that the match was moved to here tonight as a result of Cody no-showing that episode of Anarchy.

[Corey Graves]
“No-showing”? I swear sometimes we watch different shows Renee. Cody has no reason to stoop to the level of someone like John Cena, who would use the Rhodes family legacy to take a cheap shot against Cody, trying to goad him into a match. Speaking of which, what matches has Cena won since returning exactly?

[Mauro Ranallo]
Sure, Cena may have had a little bit of ring rust. But those losses have to be motivating him even more here tonight, to beat Cody and try to knock some sense back into him!

Cena makes his way bursting out from the back, bursting with energy and positivity like always. He walks back and forth across the stage, yelling out to the fans, before making his way over the camera, where he yells out “I tried the kilt, didn’t work!”. Smiling at his own joke, Cena makes his way to the middle of the stage, beginning his signature sprint to the ring. His slide into the ring looks as effortless as always, as Cena throws up the Cenation sign to the Scottish crowd. Cena is backed up by the referee, as we await the entrance of Cody.



Cena's standing in the ring awaiting Cody when his music finally hits.



Cena is in the ring awaiting Cody.

Cody's theme continues playing but he is nowhere to be seen. Cena is in the ring ready for a fight but it doesn't look like he is going to get what he wants when...

Suddenly the arena goes pitch black dark, the crowd silently stirs wondering what exactly is happening.  Suddenly a very bright white light appears on the stage. The camera pans back to the blackened sight of the arena.



The mysterious theme begins to play as the crowd goes absolutely wild.

Corey Graves
Oh my god, tell me I'm not hallucinating.


Renee Young
I see it too Corey.
Just as the music begins to pick up the lights return revealing a “Megalodon” of a man standing in a long trench coat his hands behind him holding on to one of his wrists his legs straight military like.






The crowd erupts in singing along with the mysterious man’s theme as they know exactly who he is.

Corey Graves
Ladies and gentleman let me introduce you to a man who brings destruction everywhere he goes, a household name in Europe, he has torn a path through the independent circuit and has now made his mark for right here in XWL. I give you The Austrian Anomaly, The Ring General known as WALTER.  


Renee Young
He may be making a mistake interrupting John Cena before his match with Cody tonight.  


Corey Graves
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch Renee, I have had a first-person point of view as to just what this man is capable of and it is not pretty. Besides it doesn't look like Cody is showing up tonight, he's been out here for almost 5 minutes now and Cody is nowhere to be seen. 


As the man now known as WALTER continues his way down the ring at the sound of the fans singing along to his theme the camera pans around to show John Cena still in the ring looking confused as he is not entirely sure what to think about who we now know as WALTER interrupting his celebration over beating Cody. At this point WALTER has stopped at the bottom of the ramp still maintaining his composure staring Cena down.  

Cena begins speaking in audibly motioning for WALTER to enter the ring to meet face to face with him. Walter begins his walk entering the ring as Cena backs off to give room for WALTER to enter.

WALTER then steps over the top rope entering the ring stopping in the center straightening back up as he was on the stage moments ago. Cena walks up to him clearly out sized looking up into WALTERS eyes.

The men continue to stare at each other.

Cena backs up provoking WALTER for a fight but WALTER doesn’t budge. Cena continues to provoke WALTER hyping up the crowd for the fight but WALTER still does not make a single movement in regards of answering Cena’s challenge. That is until Cena punches WALTER in the face. WALTER just looks down at Cena grabs his jaw to acknowledge the fact that he felt Cena’s punch but it did not faze him. Cena is stunned at the fact that the punch did absolutely nothing to WALTER. But WALTER finally begins to show some kind of response. Walter removes his trench coat and lays it on the outside of the ring for the ring crew to put in its proper place.


Corey Graves
The Beast has awoken, if John Cena is going to do anything it needs to be now while WALTER isn’t looking it’s his only chance


Walter steps back to the center of the ring to meet back face to face with Cena. Cena continues provoking Walter for an attack but to no avail WALTER does not make one single move. Cena who by now is fed up with the ignoring of the request he is demanding takes matters into his own hands. Cena runs off the ropes to hit WALTER with a shoulder block only to be met with a massive big boot from WALTER. Cena who is now reeling from the impact of the big boot at the hands (or feet rather) of WALTER slowly begins standing, staggering the whole time. Cena stands up regaining his balance looking to give more of a fight to WALTER.  Cena fully regains his balance as he goes to pick WALTER up into his patented AA but as Cena attempts to pick up the massive WALTER, he doesn’t budge. Cena makes another attempt at picking up WALTER where this time WALTER moves just the slightest bit but nails Cena with a clubbing blow to the back dropping him to his knees. Walter then brings the head of a limp Cena between his thighs picking him up and slamming him with a powerbomb. Walter then looks down down at Cena going back into his military type pose not a drop of sweat dripping off of him as his music begins to play once again.

Corey Graves
You can’t say I didn’t warn you guys.  

Renee Young
It has been a long time since I have seen John in this sort of shape, can we get some help down there is he ok?



Mauro Ranallo
The massive structure of a man that is WALTER absolutely decimating John Cena before our very eyes. A disturbing site to see.


WALTER steps back over the ropes exiting the ring leaving John Cena lying in the ring barely moving a muscle. The scene fades as we see the camera change focus from John Cena being helped by medical staff to WALTER walking backstage the crowd in absolute awe as to what just went down all while some are chanting his name as the screen fades.

As the arena darkens, a pretaped video comes upon the Titantron showing Aleister Black sitting before the camera.

Aleister Black
A demon. An entity that which is uncontrollable. That which is unpredictable. That which, some claim, is unstoppable.

Aleister stands from his seat as the camera follows his face and eyes.


Aleister Black
But you, Finn Balor. You are just a man. A man who tries to dress up. Paint themselves. A man who looks back to old traditions to bring you some hope. Bring you power.


Aleister slips on his leather vest as he stares a hole into the camera.


Aleister Black
Finn, Demon, whatever or whoever you are. Prepare to fade to black.

As soon as the last syllable fades, Aleisters theme hits.



Aleister rises from the floor shrouded in fog, slowly coming to his feet before looking around at the crowd, making his way to the ring waiting on Finn Balor to arrive.



The crowd becomes confused at the sound of the unknown music that begins to play over the titantron. Over the titantron a scene of battle between two factions can be seen. Vikings and Knights can be seen fighting each other viciously. Vikings fight for their spot in Valhalla as the Knights fight for their Gods glory. As the battle comes to an end, the knights seem to have conquered the Vikings. As the last few Vikings stand their ground, the sky grows dark and lightning strikes down from the sky. A wolf’s howl can be heard throughout the land and the screen grows dark. Heartbeats can begin to be heard throughout the arena. Everyone then understands what’s coming next. The Demon King Finn Balor is making his presence known. As the final heartbeat sounds a different theme begins to play…



As the song hits Finn Balor rises from the smoke slowly making himself seen by all. Balor is not wearing normal gear though. The Demon has taken a new image. The Demon King wears a long trench coat covered in the blood of the enemies who have fallen before him. He wears leather pants wrapped in the pelt of the creatures he has slain, and finally, on his head sits his crown made of antlers. A mask covers his face making the demon creepier than ever. The mask he wears is also covered in the blood of his enemies.  Balor outstretched his arms as the crowd goes wild for The Demon.

Corey Graves:
Now this is a side of The Demon none of us have ever seen before. I am nearly speechless.

Mauro Ranallo:
The Slayer of Odin stands before us as Finn Balor. What a spectacular entrance. Ragnarok is upon us.

Renee Young:
I am absolutely speechless. Finn Balor always seems to make chillbumps run down our spines.

Balor crawls his way towards the ring as the music continues to play and the crowd goes nuts for The Demon. Balor climbs up the stairs and enters the ring. He then proceeds to take off his mask to reveal his war paint. The colors of blood covers his face as it leaves everyone in awe. The Demon is here to leave his mark on the world. The King of Demons has arrived to lay waste and bring about the apocalypse. The Demon… is here. Balor then crawls to the corner and stares into the eyes of his prey, awaiting the bell to ring.



Balor begins to climb the ropes as the crowd goes crazy. Ever single member of the audience gets on their feet as The Demon looks down upon his prey. Balor looks around and takes in the electricity of the crowd. Balor then stands up and begins to outstretch his arms. The end is near. Balor then proceeds to leap from the top rope hitting Aleister with a Coup De Grace.

Mauro Ranallo:
He hit it! Coup De Grace! It’s all over!

After Balor hits his target he immediately crawls onto Black for the pin. The ref swiftly falls to count the pin.

1!
.
.
.
.
2!
.
.
.
.
.
.
3!

DING DING DING!

Balor then relieves himself knowing that victory has been achieved.  The crowd goes ecstatic that The Demon has pulled out the victory. Balor slowly rises to his feet as his arms outstretch, taking in all the praise from his fans.

Renee Young:
Balor has conquered his competition and has put himself that much closer to being in the title picture. I definitely believe he deserves a qualifier for the Elimination Chamber after that performance tonight.

Corey Graves:
Let’s not take away the performance of Aleister Black tonight. He put on one hell of a show against The Demon. He took him to hell and I see big things in his future.

Mauro Ranallo:
Credit where credit is due, Aleister did put on a great show tonight but not enough to overcome Hell. Darkness is spreading through the lands of XWL in the name of The Demon King.

Balor proceeds to climb the turnbuckle and continues to celebrate his victory. He looks around for a moment then decends the ropes, but as he turns around…

Mauro Ranallo:
BLACK MASS! BLACK MASS!

As the crowd is still reacting to the Demon's win, Aleister had made his way to his feet and dropped the Demon with the much feared kick. He demands a microphone as he stands over top the fallen Demon.

Aleister Black
The dear demon thought he was strong. He thought he was unstoppable. But, I care not for pageantry and paint. What I care about is domination. Control. You dear demon, you still serve a purpose in the war to come. But alas, I get ahead of myself.

The lights go out and as they come back up, both men disappear but the crowd can hear chanting coming in the form of Black's voice.

Aleister Black
Dear little demon....I'm not done with you yet....

As the crowd begins to react International Incident begins to move on to the next match.