We cut back to Dick and Seth, nodding to one another.
Seth Ericson: Heather Halliwell looks prepared...but...CHRISTIAN KANE IS BACK!
Dick Morosi: He sure is, and I'm stunned at what we've witnessed. Not only has Christian Kane made a VERY surprising return to EXODUS Pro, but Kane has basically turned the entire show on its ear! It needs to get back on track though, because it's time for our main event! It's been a long road for both Heather Halliwell and Fiona Rourke to get to this point, but tonight...only one of them leaves the RIMAC World Champion. Let's go to the ring for our Endgame main event!
The camera cuts to the ring, where David Zinkus stands in the center, holding the microphone.
David Zinkus: The following match is scheduled for one fall, and is your Main Event of the evening!
The PA system suddenly has a real slow strum of a guitar, followed by a few notes...
On a long and lonesome highway
East of Omaha,
You can listen to the engines, moanin' out its one old song
You think about the woman,
Or the girl you knew the night before...
"Turn the Page" by Metallica continues to play as the lights immediately flash on in unison at the stage in a red, white, and blue color pattern as standing on the stage in a long trench and cowgirl hat is the challenger, Heather Halliwell!
But your thoughts will soon be wandering
The way they always do
When you're riding sixteen hours,
There's nothing much to do.
And you don't feel much like ridin',
You just wish the trip was through.
Halliwell makes the long, slow walk down the aisle, slapping a few hands during the heavy part of the first verse, sighing as she realizes this could be the culmination of huge things. She looks up at the ring as she pats the apron, starting to step into the ring again, climbing the turnbuckle to salute the crown with the longhorn hand gesture.
Here I am,
On the road again.
There I am,
Up on the stage.
Here I go,
Playing star again.
There I go,
Turn the page...
Halliwell hops off the corner, looking around in awe and nerves as she waits for the champ.
Dick Morosi: There's a look of determination on the face of the challenger.
Seth Ericson: She's determined to wear that belt and hump the holy hell out of Christian Kane.
Dick Morosi: Will you stop?!
The lights start to darken again as the video screen hums to life, starting to show the road from the first show to now for Fiona Rourke.
Who are you not to be great?
You, with the imagination of a brilliant child,
And the powers of an ancient god.
It starts with her fighting off both Magnus Gunner and Omar Wise, using her old Expecto Patronum finisher to defeat Gunner and become the first International Champion.
Who are you to be ordinary?
You, who can rescind life or raise the dead.
Next comes a victory over Johnny Cannon and then a flash of the Shinigami used to pick up a victory over Abby Park in the Winter Road tournament.
Who are you to be afraid?
You who can serve as judge and jury
While hoarding infinite lives.
Next comes her old "Last Star to the Left" piledriver to beat Daisuke Iwakuma, the multiple Shinigamis used to defeat Omar Wise for the Title, followed by her Expecto Patronum off a ladder to draw against Magnus Gunner.
Who are you to be a slave to the past?
You, who can travel time like the oceans
And rewrite history with a single word.
Then the Yawarakai-Te to tap out Katherine Stryfe, the variation she used to turn away Magnus Gunner, along with shots of her starting to leave her locker room to step to the entrance.
Who are you to be anonymous?
You, whose name should be spoken in reverant tones
Or terrified whispers.
Next are montages of each victory where she's held up the EXODUS Pro World Title. The first one, the third defense against Jerry Matthews, the shot of her staring down KJPW's best and brightest during her tour of Japan.
Who are you to deny greatness?
If you deny it to yourself, you deny it to the entire world.
Slow motion shots of her Shinigami kick and her Expecto Patronum double rotation moonsault, all as she takes the step up to the entrance of the stage, and then over the PA system...
And we will not be denied.
The tron suddenly goes off, as if it were a television shut off with the light and dot in the center. The whole arena is dark, no lights at all save for some glow sticks and phones lighting the way. And then...music. The knocking and synth notes that open "New Divide" by Linkin Park begin to play, and as soon as the drums kick in, purple and white lights start to flash with the beat. As soon as the beat drops, the lights explode again and crouched at the entrance way, just staring the ring down as a silhouette right now, is Fiona Rourke, with the EXODUS Pro World Title strapped around her waist!
I remember black skies,
the lightning all around me.
I remembered each flash
As time began to blur
Like a startling sign
That fate had finally found me
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve...
As the chorus starts and the arena lights come back up, she stands up and flips the hood off her face as she yells to the skies to get the crowd energized! She starts to make her way down the small ramp, slapping a few hands. Seeing a young female fan at the bottom of the ramp holding up an "#UNBREAKABLE" sign, she goes over and touches foreheads with the young girl, whispering something to her before she removes a glow necklace from her neck and giving it to the fan. Fiona starts to climb into the ring, sliding across the apron on her knee as she hangs off the rope, looking out toward the crowd as she soaks in their cheers and applause! She stands on the apron quickly before grabbing the rope to slingshot herself in before landing on the canvas on one knee, dropping down with a hand touching the mat as she looks down, almost dropping down in a superhero like pose, suddenly getting pelted from around the arena with purple and white streamers! Fiona looks up to the crowd, almost overwhelmed at the reaction she's been given before she wipes her eyes, overcome with emotion! Fiona starts to nod her head to the beat of the song as she looks over at Heather knowingly before she climbs a turnbuckle and removes the title from around her waist, holding it up to the crowd as she uses her free hand to point to all of them in a salute, only to get more streamers from the crowd! Hopping down from the turnbuckle, she starts to unzipper her hoodie in preparation for the match.
Heather and Fiona stand in their respective corners - both superstars ooze with confidence and self-assurance in themselves and their capabilities. For Heather, if she had any jitters or nerves, she was hiding them well, appearing composed like the veteran she was. And this was indeed the biggest fight of her EXODUS career thus far; she was taking on the King of the Mountain, an EXODUS original, the champion that had overcome every challenge, and had quieted every skeptic. Fiona Rourke was just as focused - this of course was not her first rodeo. As stated, she had beaten everyone placed in front her. She'd slayed the monster Magnus Gunner, even defended the belt overseas, and had wins over some of the best in the world. Both of them knew what was at stake. They were two women in their primes, Main Eventing the final show before EXODUS goes on air on the FX Network. They were enthralled in the moment - a moment that would define both of them. The chirping around the venue suddenly comes to a hush as David Zinkus steps forward to begin the formal introductions.
EXODUS PRO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Heather Halliwell (Challenger) vs. Fiona Rourke (Champion)David Zinkus: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is your ENDGAME Main Event, and is scheduled for one fall with a sixty minute time limit... and it is for the EXODUS PRO WORLD CHAMPIONSHP!
The crowd buzzes again at the announcement, meanwhile the challenger hooks her arms on the ropes and bounces on them a few times, both limbering and psyching herself up.
David Zinkus: In the corner to my left, the challenger... fighting out of Dallas, Texas, standing at five foot three inches tall, and weighing in tonight at one hundred and twenty-six pounds... she is HEATHER HALLIWELL!
Seth Ericson: I'll be the one to state the obvious Dick. This will either make or break her career here in EXODUS. Can she rise to the occasion under the brightest of lights. She's in the ring with the best in the world. Can she hang?
Dick Morosi: History is about to be written here by the Lone Star State's favorite daughter, and Portland, Oregon's pride and joy.
Heather nods as the crowd erupts, never taking her eyes off the Seraph or the championship that is draped across her shoulder.
David Zinkus: And from Portlandia, standing at five foot five inches tall, weighing in tonight at one hundred and thirty-five pounds... making her sixth defense of her title, she is the reigning, defending, EXODUS PRO WORLD CHAMPION.... The "Strong Style Seraph".... FIONA ROURKE!!!!
On cue Fiona hoists her championship into the air, a championship she has held with pride, a championship she has brought legitimacy to, a championship that is now recognized as one most prestigious titles in all of wrestling. She soaks in the cheers for a moment, staring Heather right in the eyes, neither woman backing down from the challenge that awaits them. Finally, she hands the belt to Brian Lowery, who exhibits it to the crowd four times before handing it to the nearby ring attendant. The two opponents then shake hands and back into their respective corners, awaiting the sound of the bell.
Seth Ericson: I'll say one thing, they're camouflaging their nerves better than I expected.
Dick Morosi: That's focus you see out there Dick. They're not nervous about anything. They know they belong here. Fiona's a fighting champion, Heathers ready to step into the limelight. That gives this match character, and the potential to be a great one on one contest. And it will be.
As the bell chimes thrice the two top female superstars in the company lock up in the middle of the ring, cranium resting on cranium, shoulder driven into shoulder as they push on one another in a battle for immediate leverage. Heather quickly lowers her stance, the lower center of gravity allowing her to coerce the defending champion across the ring until the Seraph is pressed against the ring cables. Lowery immediately steps in, calling for a clean break and giving the challenger an earful as he does so as he urges her to release Fiona. A clean break is generated, as Halliwell slowly backs up, nodding to herself, a confident expression on her Texan mug as she stares at Rourke, and if she had forgotten, it was just reconfirmed to that she was in store for the toughest match of her career. Her eyes wander around the arena as she begins to ponder - seemingly, possibly taken off her game mentally by the challenger's early aggression. As she continues to contemplate, she steps off the ropes and both competitors begin to circle around the ring. They finally get reacquainted in the center of the ring, once again locking in a collar and elbow tie - however this time Fiona takes the initiative, first dropping to a knee, before springing back to her feet and deftly maneuvering around her opponent and applying a hammerlock. The exhibition of her blinding quickness allows her to effectively subdue Double H who winces from the hold. Keeping her cool, Heather reaches back with her near arm and grapples the champion around the head. Having captured the Seraph by the cranium, she slides to the canvas, using the momentum to coerce Fiona off her feet and send her to the canvas in a forward somersault. Somewhat flustered by the brilliant counter, Rourke scrambles to her feet, and charges forward. The momentarily lapse in judgment gives Heather the perfect opening, as she leaps into the air and extends her legs - her protruding feet catching Fiona on the butt of her chin and sending her to the canvas in authoritative fashion.
Rourke slowly leans up off the canvas, her mind clouded by a wave of disorientation, all of which is created by Heather's textbook Dropkick, perhaps a move she perfected being friends with the Dropkick King himself, Adrien Cochrane. Continuing her attack, Halliwell grapples Fiona and lifts the Seraph to a vertical base, quickly holding her arm - both the lower and upper, and whipping the champion across the ring. Fiona charge across the ring and bounces off the ropes. Fleet of foot, the agile champion ducks under a Halliwell clothesline attempt, and ricochets off the ropes for a second time. Her physical nimbleness and magnificent athleticism is flourished once again, as she strafes to the back of her opponent, and encircles her arm around Heather's waist. Rourke drives her momentum to her rear, shifting her weight in a German Suplex attempt. The said attempt is thwarted by a shrewd, impeccable counter, a locking of ankles executed by the former International Champion - before Heather manages to slide a hand in front of her waist, disengaging Fiona's clasped hands to free herself. Having been liberated from the waistlock, she maneuvers her frame to the side of Fiona's body, and simultaneously seizes her by the arm. She quickly twists the aforementioned limb, applying a standard armbar, sending a surge of pain throughout the World Champion's appendage. Despite the wrenching of her joints, Rourke maintains her composure, denying Heather any psychological edge. Instead, she continues the chain of counters, as she rolls forward, effectively untwisting her arm before returning to a stand. With Heather's arm in her clutches, Rourke reels her in before bending and swinging her free arm, clobbering the Pretty Little Texan in the temple with a sickening forearm. Before her brainpan can assimilate the damage that's been sustained, Rourke follows up with a second forearm, this time with her right, turning Halliwell around in a dazed stupor. With haste, the champion hooks both of Heather's arms from the side, and places her palms flat against the Texan's upperback before lifting her into the air. She proceeds to fall backward, bridging her own back and arching her legs to slam the challenger into the canvas with a resounding thud.
Dick Morosi: Tiger Suplex! Fiona scores after they exchanged a series of artful counters.
Seth Ericson: An unbelievable start so far. And she's going for the pin!
"ONE"
"TWO"Halliwell kicks out, and roll away. Both women reach a vertical base now, and Fiona immediately dodges a spinning kick. Double H tries to spin around with a Clothesline, attempting to use the element of surprise, but Fiona circumvents that move as well. The World Champion then emerges behind her foe, and applies a rear waistlock, then finally throws her adversary backward. The Featherweight's shoulders crash to the mat, and this time Fiona scores with the German Suplex, simply lifting her whole body up to apply another pin.
"ONE"
"TWO"The Texan bucks out of the three-count, proving her mettle and resolve. She rolls onto her stomach to catch her breath, but is unable to as Fiona stays on the offense, quickly grabbing Heather by the arm and throwing a leg over it. Heather's arm is then driven up into the bottom of Fiona's thigh, and she locks in an Arm Bar in retaliation for the one she was forced to endure earlier in the match. Fortunately for Heather, the ropes are within reach, so she grasps the bottom of the three, forcing Brian Lowery to step in for a five count. After four painful seconds, the Seraph releases her adversary and backs up, as the official forces her to give Heather some distance. The challenger rises to her knees, clutching the arm that was just afflicted by the grueling submission. Once she has regained a state of full verticality, Fiona picks up right where she left off. She quickly belts her with a series of forearms, before dragging her to the nearest corner, and taking a hold of her arm. She attempts a Irish Whip, but Heather pivots and turns, pulling Fiona forward - only to stop her momentum in the middle of the ring and whip her back into the corner with tremendous force. The champion manages to stop her momentum before she can crash into the turnbuckle, and then delivers a back elbow to Heather who charges in, sending her adversary staggering back. Afterward, she climbs the top turnbuckle, proving to be a grave mistake as Heather charges toward the corner; she pushes the Portland native off her perch, sending the defending champion flying out of the ring, only to crash and burn on the padded floor below in a heap of sweat and possibly broken cartilage.
Seth Ericson: GODDAMN! She just folded up on the floor.
Dick Morosi: She went to the high rent district, and that risk blew up in her face. Heather is now in the driver's seat, and the champion is in a bad way.
As the fans look on with concern and amazement, Halliwell takes the opportunity to catch her breath before exiting the ring and stepping onto the apron. Lowery quickly steps forward, admonishing and chiding the challenger, demanding that she re-enter the ring. Heather pays him absolutely no attention, her focus solely locked on the commotion beneath her. The said commotion is the sound of groaning and movement from the World Champion whom, begins to stir, albeit gingerly. Double H stares out into the masses, and waves her hands to rile them up, immediately gaining a chorus of cheers and chants for her effort.
"HEA-THER- HALL-I-WELL!"
"HEA-THER- HALL-I-WELL!"
"HEA-THER- HALL-I-WELL!"As Fiona staggers to her feet, gingerly massaging her lower back, seemingly discombobulated, Heather runs along the edge of the apron before leaping into the air. In mid flight, she wraps her legs around the Seraph's head, effectively straddling her shoulders before leaning back and dragging the EXODUS World Champion off her feet. The momentum, coerces Rourke into a forward somersault, where she crashes violently into the barricade spine first - the force of which sends those nearby back in retreat. The maneuver brings the audience to a fever pitch, the high degree of excitement and enthrallment filling the RIMAC, all of which is induced by the challenger's devil-may-care approach to the match. She was leaving it all out in the ring. And as both competitors lie sprawled and inert, chests heaving rapidly, Lowery begins his ten count. The crowd continues to cheer, watching on intently as neither woman shows any immediate signs of life.
Dick Morosi: Headscissors Takedown that sends the champion into the guardrail! Innovative offense by the challenger who seems to be pulling out all the stops tonight!
Seth Ericson: And you've got to wonder if her strategy has at all changed after that fall Fiona took. If I were Heather, I'd focus on Rourke's lower back, which she seems be doing. That'll ground her and prevent any of those quick, high-flying moves she loves.
A veil of apprehensive astonishment falls over the audience as soon as they heard the deafening crack of the champion's spine against the guardrail. Murmurs begin to flutter about, but a majority of those in the capacity crowd remain in silence. Both competitors, appear to be bereft of life as they're sprawled out against the thin padding neighboring the ring. Lowery peers out at the two superstars, having already started his count.
"ONE!
TWO!"The voice of the official seems even more massive within the realm of bitter muteness. The crowd remains taken aback, the two combatants before them yet to display any alertness or signs of life. Just as the official signals for the third fragment of the imperative count, Halliwell begins to stir, begins to show signs of humanity. Her upper projections feel around, examining the battleground she finds herself confined in but only with her sense of touch.
"THREE!"
"FOUR!"The development brings more joy to the EXODUS faithful, as the challenger evaluates her whereabouts. The former International champ creates a firm clasp across the steel bars which support the squared circle's frame through the ring's skirt, and sues the low-level scaffolding as a provision to assist her to returning to a stand. Now able to stand without the aide of the ring, the Pretty Little Texan no longer needs her sense of touch to evaluate the situation. Albeit her head still aches from the minor-suicide offense she just exhibited, her eyes and ears are not attentive and are better poised to benefit her decision making as the bout continues.
"FIVE!"
"SIX!"The challenger take several steps forward, not faltering as she nears her adversary; Fiona Rourke was bent on her right knee, torso heaving as she took slow breaths, doing her best job to regain the wind which was knocked out of her and replenish the substantial amount of energy that she had already exerted. The Texan wraps her right arm under Fiona's left bicep, and her left arm crosses the champion's collarbone as Halliwell's fingers create a tight bond near the left pec. With the hold locked tight around the Seraph's head and left appendage, the challenger drags her foe to a vertical base, immediately dragging her toward the squared circle, quickly rolling her into the ring.
"SEVEN!"
"EIGHT!"Following immediately after, Halliwell knees up onto the apron and makes her way to the corner, making the ref's ten-count null and void with a quick and definitive cancellation. Considering Fiona was still sluggish and at a stand-still as far as her limb's mobility went, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for the Texan to take a high risk maneuver. Finally at the top turnbuckle, staring over the masses and down at the champion, Halliwell waits for the opportune moment to strike. The Strong Style Seraph slowly begins to climb to her feet, prompting the challenger to stand tall, raising her hands into the air to bring the audience to their feet - if they weren't already standing. She suddenly leaps off the top rope, extending her legs over the head of the Oregon native. She plummets down, and to Fiona, her near three hundred and thirty pound frame feeling like the weight of the world is crashing down upon her. Ultimately, she crumbles beneath the said mass, as her face is driven into the canvas from the successful aerial maneuver.
Dick Morosi: The top rope Leg Drop connects! That could be all she needs for the win Seth.
Seth Ericson: Listen to the crowd Dick, they know a changing of the guard could be a mere three seconds away! Here's the cover.
"ONE!"
"TWO!"The tenacious champion writhes her shoulder off the canvas, causing a pandemonium of noise in the RIMAC arena as the spectators react with gasps and cheers, almost as perturbed as the challenger who climbs to her knees. The challenger seethes in slight frustration, meanwhile her fingers run through her sweaty blond strands of hair. She gradually climbs back to a vertical base, able to regain her composure in time to continue her onslaught. She grabs Fiona around the head, lifting the champion to a seated position. She quickly rears back her leg before swinging it forward, her knee stabbing the Seraph in the lower back with a paralyzing force. As she winces, her bodiy tightens, the shockwaves of the vile strike traveling throughout her small body. With competitive intensity driving her, Halliwell connects with a vile kick across Rourke's upperback - the effects of the sickening blow are felt all the way in her chest, as she squirms and yelps in agony on the sweat stained canvas. The relentless Texan keeps her eyes casted on her opponent, while Fiona retreats in the corner. With the assistance of the ropes on either side of her, the Seraph pulls herself to a vertical base; her chest is still rising and falling rapidly, and her back is still strained and afflicted with a searing pain from the damage it's endured. Her standing, her show of defiance and will earns both respect and scorn from the Pretty Little Texan, who rushes in with reckless abandon. Rourke stares down the incoming assailant, and finally, somehow manages to find enough wherewithal, and muster enough strength to escape her predicament. She maneuvers out of the corner, circumventing Heather's charge, leaving the challenger violently impinging the turnbuckle with her chest, causing a slight shifting of the ring's position as she slowly staggers out of the corner clutching her sternum.
As Heather drops to a knee, Fiona makes her way out of the ring, slowly and lethargically beginning to ascend the top rope. With each step she hisses through her clenched teeth and tightened jaw, as every movement is dealt with in tremendous agony. Her pace gives Halliwell a second wind, and more importantly, an opportunity to pursue her. She climbs onto the bottom turnbuckle and quickly strikes the Seraph with a staggering blow to the jaw - one of which that nearly sends Fiona flying off the top for the second time in the match. Despite every fiber in her being screaming at her to give up, Fiona refuses. She repeatedly blasts the challenger in the mug with forearms and elbow shots, until finally, a DEVASTATING, BLISTERING forearm stops Heather in her tracks and serves as a precursor to her inevitable plight. With haste, Fiona traps Halliwell in a front facelock, before leaping of the top rope and swinging down to the ring, dragging Double H off the turnbuckle and pulling her down head first. The collision of head being spiked into the unforgiving canvas reverberates throughout the venue, as both polarizing superstars land with a resounding thud. Heather immediately goes spread-eagle upon landing, contrary to the champion, whom rolls into the center of the ring from the bone-crunching meeting with the canvas. The crowd once again becomes vociferous, as the bedlam comes in the form of a unanimous chant.
"THIS- IS- AWESOME!"
"THIS- IS- AWESOME!"
"THIS- IS- AWESOME!" Seth Ericson: TORNADO DDT! That was insane. I can't even hear myself think, the crowd is so damn loud Dick do you hear them?
Dick Morosi: I hear them loud and clear. They're witnessing two of the best in the business exhaust their repertoires, and even themselves to hold the most important prize in this company. This is EXODUS Wrestling at it's finest. This is the vision Rufus Frost had when he came to Jonathan Collins! What a match!
Unable to go for the cover, Fiona slowly pulls herself up using the ropes as leverage before staggering into the far corner. She locks her eyes on Halliwell, and soon it becomes clear to her that this is the perfect opportunity to put the match away. As the battered, enfeebled challenger climbs to a vertical base, the champion moves out of the corner before seizing the Texan by the near arm. She turns away and reaches behind her, looking ready to go for the Rei-Gun. Dismaying the champion, Halliwell maneuvers her head to refuge, sliding out of the facelock before trapping Fiona in a waistlock and forcing her momentum forward. Rourke quickly grasps the ropes as Heather pulls back, sending her rolling back toward the center of the ring. The Seraph turns, coiled and ready to strike. The vibrations from the fan's rhythmic beating alerts the challenger, and as she climbs up from a knee, she sees the incoming locomotive. Fiona bends slightly, but Halliwell sidesteps, clutching Fiona's flailing arm and pulling her to the ground with it. Tucking arm between her legs, she clasps her hands around the champ's face - then proceeds to wrench her head back.
Dick Morosi: The Crossface is locked in! Fiona's flailing her arms around, trying to drag both their bodies to the ropes!
Seth Ericson: She's going to tap. There's no way she can last long enough to get there, considering the pain she's already in.
Dick Morosi: I won't count her out. She's overcome every challenge. She's got the heart of a champion burning within her. She can make it!
Seth Ericson: They've been at this for twenty minutes Dick. There's no way she's got enough juice left in the tank!
A multitude of voices encourages the champion,, all blending into one jumbled, unanimous roar as she claws her way, seemingly centimeter-by-centimeter, wholeheartedly refusing to tap out. Heather, emboldened by the resistance, continues to crank the hold as tightly as she can. Suddenly, the Texan's hair is grabbed and the other hand of the Seraph reaches up to deliver a blind blow to the jaw, a luck shot in the dark so to speak. Fiona quickly moves her hands toward those of her aggressor, proceeding and succeeding in pushing the Crossface off her visage for a moment. She kicks a leg back, her foot hitting Heather in the knee and knocking it out from under her. The World Champion is able to slip out, doing so and then quickly clawing her way on top of the Texan's back before wrapping her arms around the challenger's midsection. She begins pulling her opponent to a vertical base, and when both females reach their feet, Heather fires back with a series of well placed elbows to break the waistlock, sending Fiona staggering back in response. Halliwell turns, and quickly charges with a Clothesine - but Fiona ducks, dashes for the ropes and performs a handstand right into them. She uses the momentum to throw her legs against the ropes, and the flexibility of the cables sends her back onto her feet, where she exploits the momentum to spin, leap, and turn, swinging in a semi-circular motion. Her boot violently clashes against the skull of the turning Heather Halliwell - and as the sound of her cranium being smashed echoes through the arena, she is immediately knocked flat on her back. The electricity in the venue is tenfold, as Fiona stares up at the rafters, meanwhile the challenger's frame remains motionless, rendered inert from having her head nearly kicked off her shoulders.
Dick Morosi: SHINIGAMI! SHINIGAMI! SHINIGAMI OUT OF NOWHERE!
Seth Ericson: She got all of that! I mean, every bit of it! Heather's brains could be oozing out of her ears any second now.... that's all she wrote!
With her muscles stiffening, and sweat blurring her vision, Fiona slowly turns onto her chest, before lifting up on all fours. With every ounce of strength left she begins to crawl toward the downed Texan. Fiona crawls a short distance in the eyes of the crowd, but what seems to be an eternity for the Strong Style Seraph. She collapses into the canvas, staring one eye at her destination while the other is closed by virtue of the fact that one side of her sweaty mug is smushed into the mat. Rourke takes a deep breath, and forces herself to all fours once again, crawling just enough to lunge onto her fallen adversary. She limply hooks Heather's leg, Brian Lowery quickly sliding to the canvas and slapping his hand across the mat. As various members of the audience continue to cheer synchronically, other members chant along.
"ONE............."
"TWO............................................................................."Driven by a cocktail of instinct and a refusal to die, a refusal to be denied, the challenger throws a shoulder up. The crowd immediately rises to its feet in a shower of cheers. Fiona simply rolls onto her back with eyes wide open in disbelief and frustration. Meanwhile the crowd cheers their favorite competitor, looking to will one of them to the most important victory in their respective careers.
"HEA-THER- HALL-I-WELL!"*CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!*FI-ONA- ROURKE!" "HEA-THER- HALL-I-WELL!"*CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!*FI-ONA- ROURKE!" Dick Morosi: I CAN'T BEIEVE SHE KICKED OUT! IMPOSSIBLE!"
Seth Ericson: She's the first superstar to ever do so! And look at Fiona. No matter what she's thrown at her, Heather refuses to quit, refuses to lose, refuses to give up! And though she's obviously dismayed, she now knows what it feels like to be on this end of the spectrum.
Dick Morosi: It's pride Seth. It's knowing that you're fighting for the most prestigious championship in this company. It's knowing the entire world is watching! It's knowing you've worked your entire life for a moment like this. That's the force that's kept driving both these women! What a match!
Seth Ericson: I still can't believe she kicked out of the Shinigam Dick! Nobody has done that. And it begs the question, what does Fiona have to do to leave with the championship?
Fiona climbs up onto her knees, running fingers through her blond hair, visibly exasperated, visibly frustrated, lips trembling to convey these emotions. The boiling and seething comes to a sudden cease, as the World Champion suppresses her anger, and clears her mind, if only momentarily. With a specific vision and goal in mind, she nods her head before pushing herself up to a vertical base and stumbling toward the ropes. With Heather stirring in the center of the ring, the Pretty Little Texan leans against the top rope with her arm dangling outside of the ring. She stomps on the mat, inviting the crowd to do so. As they follow suit, Fiona blinks frequently in an effort to get the sweat out of her eyes, breathing heavily at the same time - two mannerisms making her look like she'd gone off the deep end. But she didn't. She was going to that second gear, digging into that reserve for the last bit of energy, finding that last bit of will power that she's used time and time again to put down her opponents. Appearing to be on her last legs, Halliwell struggles to her feet, finally getting up with one last bit of strength, and turns toward Fiona. The Strong Style Seraph has already begun charging. The Oregon native quickly scores with a THUNDEROUS elbow smash to the face....
Dick Morosi: Here we go... CLEAR EYES!
Followed by a palm strike to the chest that buckles Heather's knees...
Seth Erickson: FULL HEART!
Leaping into the air, Fiona juts out her legs, but Heather manages to counter, channeling a second wind from deep within. With new gas in the tank she captures Fiona's legs, slamming her into the canvas before quickly turning the Seraph onto her belly. Upon stepping over and sitting down, the former International Champion pulls back, Fiona's back arches more and more, stressing the spinal column and making the champion yelp at the top of her lungs in search of some assistance or another Houdini-like escape from her current state of anguish and distress.
Morosi & Ericson: SOUTHERN COMFORT!
With the crowd cheering and watching intently, the Seraph pushes her body off the canvas, positioning herself so that the ropes now lay just out of reach. She reaches out, the tips of her appendages rub against the ring cables, but in that moment, Heather pulls her right back, sitting down further to wrench on the spinal chord and column again and again. Fiona, crumbled beneath Heather Haliwell's frame, reaches out once more in a desperate attempt to grab the ropes - but salvation is too far away. And without another moment to waste, the fight had finally been forced out of her as her hand frantically slaps the mat three times, the challenger releasing her hold in a triumphant response.
"DING! DING! DING!" Lying on the canvas in delirium, too weary to even soak in the moment, Heather gathers her thoughts as they slowly come together, the ringing of the bell merely another bit of noise and racket in the background that she hears, muffled and drowned out by the fanfare currently exhibited by those in attendance.
Dick Morosi: It's over! She's done it! Heather Halliwell is your new World Champion!
David Zinkus: Here is your winner... and the NEW EXODUS PRO WORLD CHAMPION.... HEATHER HALLIWELL!
The Texan's arm is lowered and a timely bit of composure returns to her lower body. She walks to the first ring post she sees, and climbs onto the second rope, then lifts her newly won championship into the air with both hands to the cheers of the E-Pro lifeblood.
Dick Morosi: What a hard fought classic between two friends, two friends who respect the hell out of each other. I look on in amazement Seth. This is what it's all about. Heather Halliwell now carries the torch that Fiona Rourke has held with pride for so many months.
Seth Ericson: After everything she's achieved in her career, to be on top of the world tonight, here. she's done it, Dick! She is the new World Champion. This is her moment. She'll never forget this night.
As the final bell sounds and "This Life" by Curtis Stiger & The Forest Rangers plays, the announcement is made and the crowd goes wild, Heather rolls slowly off Fiona and lies face down on the mat for a few moments. She’s aching on every inch of her body, sweat is dripping from every orifice and she’s trembling from head to toe but only one thought keeps going through her mind. She did it. She finally made it to the top. As the thought reaches her brain for the third time she slams on the mat several times, bringing herself up to her knees. Now the crowd can see the tears in her eyes and the victory on her face. The referee comes over with the belt and hands it over to her. She takes it with shaking hands and stares down at it for a moment, admiring the shine.
The ref helps her get to her feet slowly and raises her hand in the air, much to the approval of the crowd. Even after the ref releases her arm, she continues to hold both arms up, right hand gripping the title belt tightly. She looks over to Fiona, who has gotten to her knees and is staring up at Heather. Heather stares back and for several long moments, no one is quite sure what’s going to happen between the two women. Fiona slowly makes it to her feet and walks over to Heather in the middle of the ring. She slowly offers up her hand, nodding towards it and quietly congratulating Heather.
Heather looks at Fiona’s hand, still clutching the belt as if for dear life. Finally, she hoists it over her shoulder and takes Fiona’s proffered hand, shaking it firmly. She pulls Fiona into her and the two women embrace, talking quietly for a moment. When they pull apart, Heather grabs Fiona’s arm and raises it high in the air.
Winner and new EXODUS Pro World Champion: Heather HalliwellDick Morosi: This concludes ENDGAME ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for sticking with us through the entirety of the evening, you just witnessed history. Heather Halliwell is the new champion, and it's time to set our course to the FX network, where we'll be moving to in two weeks. Until then, take care!
The EXODUS logo with some copyright info appears in the corner of the screen before the feed fades to black a bigger EXODUS Pro logo appearing then.
