We cut backstage, and the celebration is still going on for Shinji Uchikawa. Shozo and Shinji's friend Tom Higashikata are still showing Shinji how proud they are of him for beating the clock and advancing to Ascendency to meet Brando Martial. After a knock on the door, the trio is greeted by a new face, EXODUS Pro Director Jonathan Collins. Shinji breaks away from his friends for a moment to come closer to the man who took him under his wing after everything...and the two men embrace.
Shinji Uchikawa: Thank you, Mr. Collins. Thank you so much.
Jonathan Collins: The road isn't done yet. One more match, Shinji. Don't let it slip.
Tom Higashikata: MAH BOYS HAVE DONE IT TONIGHT! One beats the clock, one beats down DA DEACON!
At the sound of that, Collins turns his head and raises an eyebrow.
Jonathan Collins: You know the young man who did that?
Tom Higashikata: Um...no?
Collins takes a step forward and Tom puts his hands up.
Tom Higashikata: ...I know him. I buy my weed from him.
Jonathan Collins: Good. Then
you and I can go talk to Mr. Stearns after this show. Shozo, Shinji, I'll bring him back later.
Jonathan sternly places a hand on Tom's shoulder, escorting him from the locker room, leaving Shozo and Shinji confused and concerned.
CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION:
BLACK JONES ((R)Evolution Wrestling Tag Team Champion) vs. BRANDO MARTIAL ((R)Evolution Wrestling Champion)
Darrin Stearns: Minoru, my friend, I have to be honest. I think this is going a lot better than I really expected it to go! The Beat the Clock challenge went great, all my friends showed up, and we're at the main event without an issue!
Minoru Asano: This is great news, Dairy! Let us celebrate your triumphs with a drink! For all of you streaming this back home in the US, take a drink for Darrin's victories, and one for a great start to the World Cup!
Darrin Stearns: Do you know anything about soccer?
Minoru Asano: No, but people drink to it often, so I will too!
Darrin Stearns: So let's watch my first main event! Brando Martial's having non-title action against one half of our Tag Team Champions, Rush Hour. This match is next!
The gymnasium lights somewhat dim, causing the crowd to get restless in anticipation. Finally, "Braveheart" by Lupe Fiasco hits the speakers, starting as a slow electronic noise until the drums and bass kick in. The audience turns their attention to the entryway where the curtains dividing the ringside and the backstage area are suddenly thrown back as the superstar behind the music emerges.
May the Lord have mercy on my soul
Forgive me for my fetishes, my purchases, my clothes
Allow me to catch my rhythm so the nervousness just goes
That's why I sound so certain in my verses and my flows
The verbiage just gets merciless, the wordsmithness just rolls.Black Jones scans over the audience while he stands draped in a hoodie vest with "Half Man- Half Amazing" written on the back before taking a deep breath; his eyes continue to survey the crowd until he suddenly begins to bounce around in place, making dodging movements as if he were fighting an imaginary opponent, a smile lining across his face.
David Zinkus: On his way to the ring, from West Philadelphia, PA, weighing in at two hundred and ten pounds... BLACK! JONESSSSSS!
I've tuned into my pertinence, my purposes, my goals
The feeling when you realize you've been working for your foes
And the curtains have just opened and they worthlessness exposed
You remember where you've came from, where the purses was stole
There was nothing in the oven and just work up on the stove
And you blossomed from the bottom, yeah, you worked with it and rose
From nothing to a dozen and a garden now there grows. Tell em!Jones makes his way down the aisle with a steady march. His eyes remain focused and in front of him as he reaches ringside, "Braveheart" continues to blare through the speakers. BJ knees up onto the apron, quickly pulling on the top ring cable before using the elasticity of the ropes to propell himself off the apron and into the air. He somersaults into the ring, immediately exploiting the momentum into a roll before springing to a stand to excite the crowd with his athleticism and exuberance.
Courage under fire, gave me a brave heart (That's me)
Courage under fire, gave me a brave heart
(Yessir) Brave heart
(Yeah I got that) Brave heart
(You know) Brave heart!Jones removes his vest, throwing it over the ropes before backing into the nearest corner. With his tune coming to an end, he strokes his fingers on his chin before cracking his knuckles and preparing for war.
Darrin Stearns: Black Jones has been pretty impressive since our first show in (R)Evolution Wrestling! He's been exceptional in his tag team with Duke Togo, Rush Hour, but he's going to have to go at it alone now to face the champ.
Minoru Asano: I'm a fan of success stories, Darrin. Let's drink to success!
The lights in the arena flicker rapidly as the distorted melody of the track pulses louder and louder out to the fans.
You're keeping in step
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
Cause you do
What you're told
But inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold
He bursts open the curtain, stepping through and staring out at the awed crowd as the fans begin to stir. He lets loose a deceitful, confident smirk as he looks over the crowd.
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?
David Zinkus: Making his way to the ring. From the fabulous city of San Francisco, weighing in at two hundred forty-two pounds. Brando Martial!
Brando's eyes pierce through the audience, as he looks left to right down the aisle. As his gaze fixes on the people it stirs up their emotions. Some of the wiser few boo out at him. Much of the meeker few cheer out in awe of his confident gate and look of determination as he wades his way into the ringside area.
What if this whole crusade's
A charade?
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood
On which we dine
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
He circles around the ring like a great white. His eyes scanning out into the masses as he completes his circle at the aisle steps, slowly ascending up into the top turnbuckle and surveying the stirred up crowd.
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?
He wraps his arms drapely around himself before stretching outward, presenting his glorious self out to the audience who collectively begin to flash photos and cheer and boo out to him as he basks in their captive attention as the arena lights flash to the synth break. He slowly dismounts the turnbuckle and paces the corner.
Darrin Stearns: But if you want a guy who is the definition of success, look no further than Brando Martial. Brando's looked every bit as dominant as one would expect as champ, including an exceptional performance in The Crucible.
Minoru Asano: Let's take a drink every time one of us talks about The Crucible with Brando!
The two already look at one another with a great deal of intensity as the two prepare in their respective corners. Jones seems to be instantly ready to go, while Martial seems intent on taking his time. Jones comes out to the center of the ring, and the champ takes his time slowly coming towards the center to meet him, giving him a rather condescending smirk. The two start talking, and it was clear this was trash talk! The two continue to jawjack with one another, and finally Martial just slaps the Tag Team Champion...BUT JONES ISN'T AFRAID TO SLAP RIGHT BACK! Martial seems surprised, and Jones starts hammering him with rights, slowly backing him to the ropes, whipping him across, and as Brando comes back toward Black, Jones hits him with a huge flying forearm that sends him over the ropes! Brando tries to regain his senses, but Jones dashes out to the ropes and charges towards Brando to dive over with a suicide dive...BUT HE CATCHES MARTIAL WITH A TORNADO DDT! The crowd is applauding for that move, and Jones tries to hype up the crowd more! As he gets Martial back up to his feet, he starts to throw him into the ring and climbs up to the apron, leaping over with a corkscrew splash! Black immediately rolls up to his feet before diving back and nailing a huge standing mooonsault!
Darrin Stearns: Black is showing some massive agility here as he dominates the opening moments of this match!
Minoru Asano: In my youth I could do that! Dr. Kuller told me earlier today he could restore me to my youth so I could do that again and relive my childhood, which is eerily similar to the 1987 cult classic Monster Squad, but that is a story for another day!
Black starts to get up and prepare himself for a rolling thunder, starting to take off...but as soon as she is about to land on Martial, Brando gets his knees up and Martial hits hard! BUT WAIT! Brando keeps a hold on Black, looking like he's about got Jones in a bow and arrow like hold, bending him in two! Martial rolls to the side, launching Black off his knees and making him hit the canvas face first, before he slowly starts getting back to his feet. Brando sneers angrily at one half of Rush Hour before picking him up and dropping him with a gutwrench powerbomb. Brando decides to hook the leg quickly, going for the pin!
One...
Two...
Kickout!
Jones manages to kick out, and Brando quickly reacts by trying to sinch in a dragon sleeper. The crowd is watching intensely as they see Brando has firm control of this match. Jones seems to be fading, and as the referee goes to check, it's obvious that Brando may have won this easily. Down goes Jones' hand once!
Down goes his hand twice!
Down it goes a thi--NOPE! BLACK JONES IS STILL IN THIS!
Darrin Stearns: That's a lot of heart and courage!
Minoru Asano: Courage? We're taking shots of courage now? I'm sold!
Jones starts to try to power out of the move, kicking upward to get Brando to break it. Trying to get himself upright, Jones finally gets out of the move and back to his feet. He bounces off the ropes and charges back toward Brando...WHO CATCHES HIM WITH A HIPTOSS INTO AN ANACONDA VISE! Jones seems to be screaming and hollaring in pain as he tries to move himself around so he can get into position! Black Jones finally gets his ankles wrapped around the ropes to get himself out of the move! Brando breaks the hold at four, picking up Jones by the head and whipping him to the ropes, but Jones reverses and sends Brando into the corner...AND JONES CHARGES IN WITH DOUBLE KNEES TO THE CHEST...THE ROLLING SNAPMARE...AND THE SHOOT KICK THAT FINISHES OFF THE IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE! Jones is starting to feel it as he starts climbing up top...he looks to be going for a moonsault...BUT MARTIAL CLIPS THE KNEE! Brando quickly climbs the turnbuckle...BACK SUPLEX! He quickly picks up Jones...SNAP BRAINBUSTER! Martial starts to reach for Jones again...SMALL PACKAGE FROM BLACK JONES!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
Darrin Stearns: SO CLOSE! Black Jones is giving the champ all he can handle!
Minoru Asano: He is holding his own like I can hold my liquor!
Jones gets to his feet and goes for a superkick, but Martial catches it and shakes his head, showing he was prepared! He swings Jones' foot...DRAGON WHIP! Jones is starting to feel it, especially as he grabs Martial...BIONIC ELBOW! Jones is finally calling it as he looks to go up top! He runs towards the corner as Martial is on the mat...HE RUNS UP THE TURNBUCKLES TO GO FOR A MOONSAULT...Martial rolls out of the way...BUT BLACK LANDS ON HIS FEET....STAY SCHEMIN'! Jones is feeling it now, and as he looks prepared to lift up Martial for Black Magic...BRANDO WITH THE ESCAPE...ATLAS SHRUGGED! Martial hits his finisher, and he goes to hook the leg!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
"The Hand That Feeds" starts to play again, and the RW Champion is victorious again!
Darrin Stearns: You have to give it to the champ! Black Jones was super impressive tonight, and he looked like he had Brando a couple of times, but the champ is the best for a reason!
Minoru Asano: Let's drink to the success of a young man who is talented and in no way a disturbed individual!
WINNER: BRANDO MARTIAL
Darrin Stearns: I think we're not the only ones who want to celebrate Brando...look at the entrance.
Sure enough, at the entrance is "The North Star" herself, Sydney Christensen. She seems to be applauding Brando, but she knows she's got to wait for a shot at the Champ himself. However, knowing that she still has unfinished business with the champ, she's happy to be patient and wait--BUT SYDNEY IS BLINDSIDED! Someone attacks Christensen from behind...and it's The ImPerfect Evil herself! Eve has come to attack Sydney, and as she picks up Syd...DOUBLE ARM REVERSE RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP DDT!
Darrin Stearns: I...I've seen that before.
Minoru Asano: I think I'm sobering up. It just got colder in here.
After Eve does her job, she's quickly greeted at the entrance by her leader, Daisuke Iwakuma. Beaming at the work she's done, he motions for her to pick up Sydney, and she does, looking like they're going to do more to attack her...BUT SUDDENLY SHE'S SAVED BY FIONA COLLINS! Fiona comes out and spears down the disciple of Iwakuma, and she starts to immediately go after The Perfect Evil himself, with Syd going after Eve.
Darrin Stearns: Pardon me, Minoru, I need to go to work...
"Zer0space" by The Kidneythieves begins to play again, and the crowd stirs as Darrin Stearns begins getting onto his feet and away from the announce table, reaching for a microphone.
Darrin Stearns: Hi guys. Okay, so you guys want to have this little argument, and believe me...Fiona, I want to see you kick this guy's ass from pillar to post incredibly bad right now, so I decided it's probably for the best to do this.
He glances at Fiona and nods, the former World Champion smiling at him.
Darrin Stearns: Can you come back in two weeks?
Fiona nods looking at the head of RW.
Darrin Stearns: Good. Because I'm sure Jonathan won't mind if Daisuke comes back down either. In two weeks, you are gonna team up with Sydney Christensen to meet Daisuke Iwakuma and Eve!
Sydney and Fiona exchange looks and grin at the idea, as Daisuke and Eve simply exchange a nod, the two stare each other down from across the ramp, setting the stage for what was to come.