(OOC: I've never done this kind of thing before so forgive me if I've gone and fucked it up. Good luck everyone. :D )
https://youtu.be/AOai94e3MhE
The lights suddenly drop to nothing, plunging the entire arena into darkness. “Shoot to Thrill” by Halestorm starts slowly but the arena still remains dark. A single spotlight lands on the entranceway, falling on Amy Jo Smyth cloaked in a long coat with an oversized hood. Next to her stands none other than Jake Rogers. She slowly lifts her arm, showing off a metallic gold elbow sleeve that covers her elbow, and raises a clenched fist into the air. The lights pop back on and Smyth spins around on her toes to face the crowd, glitter cannon in hand. She wears including matching red, white, and blue elbow sleeves, black and gold boots that match knee pads, and sets it all off with the long, hooded coat made of that same metallic gold. The Massacre Superstar Rogers, making his first appearance in tag team competition, wears the same metallic gold long coat as Smyth and sets off his red, white, and blue singlet with golden stars on his knee pads. He also carries a glitter cannon. With a 2-0 record, the former Olympian is well on his way to becoming the XWA mainstay and household name he hopes to be one day, but for now he is completely focused on this massive opportunity... And shooting the glitter cannon.
Mark Sanction: Take a look at that, the longest reigning LAW Champion in history and a prospect on the rise. They should make for one formidable team, Steele!
Matt Steele: Eh… We’ll see.
The two former Olympic-level gymnasts look at each other and hold their place for a moment. Rogers aims his cannon to the left while Smyth aims hers to the right.
I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will
‘Cause I shoot to thrill and I’m ready to kill
I can’t get enough and I can’t get my fill
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Pull the trigger, pull it
Pull it, pull it
Pull the trigger!
With perfect timing, just as Lizzy Hale hits the final word, the daring duo fire off their weapons on command. Large pieces of golden glitter fly into the air and start to rain down over the crowd sitting nearest the stage. They quickly trade places and fire again, sending more glitter into air, because once is not enough.
Hana Ramirez: On their way to the ring first, weighing in at a combined weight of 325-pounds...
Smyth and Rogers hand their cannons off to production staffers waiting in the wings. Rogers moves forward, beginning his high fives and fan greets. Meanwhile, Smyth opens the hooded coat to expose a black t-shirt that reads, “Rise Up!” in golden letters. Slowly following Rogers, she makes her way down the ramp as golden lights flash around them, all the while giving the occasional fist bump to a fan who knows how it works for her. The suddenly stop just before the ring. After a quick moment of listening to the crowd, each one rushes forward and leap on to the ring apron on opposite sides. In perfect form and with perfect timing, they fling themselves forward, flipping over the top rope, and land in the center of the ring superhero style, facing each other.
Hana Ramirez: They are the team of The Good Doctor, Amy Jo Smyth and Jake Rogers!
They each stand. Rogers slowly removes his long coat while Smyth throws up a fist, holding it in the air. After a few seconds, she slides out of her robe, gently folding it up, and passes it off to the ringside staff. Rogers also passes his to the side, ever so careful careful with it. She throws up another fist and turns to expose the back of her sleeveless t-shirt. It reads, “WITH FISTS!” in that same gold lettering. Meanwhile, Jake does his usual climb-the-turnbuckle-and-greet-the-fans schtick. There’s a reason it’s a classic.
Mark Sanction: I wonder how well they’ll gel as a unit. They got along quite well on social media, but can that translate into the ring? I certainly hope so! Both these competitors have displayed near unparallelled athleticism in the past.
Matt Steele: They’re up against teams that have been tagging for a long time and these two met on Twitter like, a month ago. You really think this is gonna go well for them?
Mark Sanction: Why must you be such a Negative Nancy?
Matt Steele: I am not. I’m being a Truthing Trudy.
Mark Sanction: What even? Like, Trudy from Facts of Life?
Matt Steele: Her name was Tootie, fool.
Mark Sanction: You take the good, you take the bad…
Matt Steele: Oh, God, here we go.
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The lights in the arena dim as “The Greatest" by Sia begins to play over the loudspeakers. A spotlight appears on the stage as Annie Zellor and Molly Reid both walk out in their wrestling gear.
Mark Sanction: Here comes team number two.
Matt Steele: And not a minute too soon.
Mark Sanction: The Whitest Girls You Know… Both international stars in their own right. Molly Reid is coming off two big matches and Annie Zellor comes from a long line of wrestling legends. Together, they’ve won a number of titles.
Matt Steele: I think they’re the team to beat in this…
Mark Sanction: Not Layton and Fenric?
Matt Steele: ...The team Layton and Fenric have to beat?
Mark Sanction: Uh huh.
Molly is bouncing around with a slight smirk on her face whilst Annie throws one arm up into the air with the devil horns raised and a #grrface on.
Hana Ramirez: Making their way to the ring now, at a combined weight of 247-pounds…
The crowd begins to boo as the Whitest Girls You Know start their walk down the aisle.
I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive
I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest
The greatest, the greatest alive
The greatest, the greatest alive
Once they get near the ring, both Annie and Molly sprint and dive into the ring under the bottom rope. They jump up to their feet, run to opposing, open turnbuckles and pose for the crowd before climbing down.
Hana Ramirez: They are the pairing of Annie Zellor and Molly Reid...
THE WHITEST GIRLS YOU KNOW!
Matt Steele: Look at them, they’re already in command of that ring. Look. At. Them.
Mark Sanction: Those ladies are certainly making their presence known.
They move to the next turnbuckles, forcing Smyth and Rogers to move out their way, but not without some long, hard stares. They once again pose for the crowd. Annie flexes her ‘bulging’ biceps as Molly brushes the dirt off her shoulders. The WGYK climb down and unite in the center of the ring, giving the other a fist bump, and then slowly make their way to the corner of their choosing to await the two other teams.
Mark Sanction: We’ve still got two - TWO teams left to join us in the ring for this match and it’s already looking stacked. With Fenric and Layton putting their titles up on the line, this match is going to be one of the greatest here in XWA.
Matt Steele: I hate to admit this, but Layton and Fenric have a real mountain here to climb. But it’s going to be sooooo goooodddd.
Mark Sanction: Team number three now...
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The opening riff of Sum 41's "Fake My Own Death" blasts through the arena. Fans leap to their feet with a massive roar of excitement, craning their necks toward the entrance ramp with anticipation. As the drums kick in, Kelsey and Rebecca burst out from behind the curtain to a massive ovation.
Matt Steele: Well aren’t they popular.
Mark Sanction: They are. They’re pumped up, too.
They head to opposite ends of the stage to greet the fans before swapping sides, getting the fans pumped up. They meet back in the centre of the stage, where they bump fists.
Hana Ramierez: The third team, currently on their way to the ring, weighing in at a combined weight of 255-pounds...
Down the ramp they stride, purposeful and enthusiastic. Kelsey slaps the outstretched hands of fans as they pass, while Rebecca simply acknowledges them from a comfortable distance.
Mark Sanction: These two together are one of Australia's top tag teams.
Matt Steele: The land down under full of kangaroos and didgeridoos?
Mark Sanction: And one of the best tag teams in the world today. Fenric and Emery Layton have attracted the world’s best talent.
They arrive at the ring simultaneously, both jumping up onto the apron.
Hana Ramierez: They are the team of Kelsey Spencer and Rebecca Saint, collectively known as
The Uncanny Socialites!
Kelsey opens the ropes for her partner to climb through, and once Rebecca's inside, she returns the favour for Kelsey. They retreat to opposite corners, avoiding the corners filled with their opponents, and climb to the second turnbuckle to strike poses for the enthusiastic fans one last time as Sum 41 fades out. They leap down and come together in an open corner, talking to each other, scoping out their competition.
Mark Sanction: Fenric and Layton attracted some talent for this match, didn’t they?
Matt Steele: Open invite titles matches tend to do that. Everyone wants themselves a title shot.
Mark Sanction: Speaking of which, here come the champions who brought this match together...
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The lights go down as the first few notes of "Come As You Are" by Nirvana ring out through the arena. When the drums come in and Kurt Cobain's voice begins to echo through the arena, that's when finally light begins to circle as Emery Layton, in her beanie and leather jacket, leads Adam Fenric, in his Victorian-era cloak, out from the curtain to a sea of cheering fans. Fenric and Layton both wear their respective titles.
Matt Steele: Aren’t they so pretty?
Mark Sanction: What?
Matt Steele: The titles, aren’t they pretty?
Mark Sanction: I’m sure that’s exactly what you meant.
Her arms are out, her head swaying with her eyes closed, she's completely feeling the moment while Fenric stands by, observing everything around him. After those first few moments, that's where Em begins to slowly strut down the ramp, spinning around as she meets fans along the way while Adam maintains a focused gaze on the ring.
Hana Ramierez: Last but by no means last… Making their way to the ring at this time, at a combined weight of 353-pounds…
As they reach the bottom of the ramp, they split off, and every single competitor in the ring stands at attention, some of the watching the champions and some of them watching the other teams watching the champions. Adam disposes of the cloak as he pops up onto the apron and into the ring, while Em- as per usual in her entrance- pops up onto the top rope.
Hana Ramierez: They are the team of Emery Layton and Adam Fenric! They are the XWA Tag Team Champions!
After a few moments of being up there, the eccentric traveller leaps down from the top rope and into the ring, transitioning from that into probably the most graceful, crisp forward-roll you've ever seen.
Hana Ramierez: They are… LAYTON AND FENRIC!
The crowd explodes into thunderous cheers. Now in the ring, she runs to the ropes right behind her, bouncing off it as she drops to her knees and skids forwards, all while Adam stands by in the corner. Em flips over onto her front and crawls into the corner as Adam begrudgingly moves out of the way. Adam stands while Emery sits in the corner, legs out, removing the title from around her waist and hand it to Fenric.
Mark Sanction: Don’t forget, it’s this team and those titles that brought this together. It’s their creation and it could be destruction.
Matt Steele: It’ll be interesting to see they’ve gotten in a little over their heads and all this tough talk…
Mark Sanction: It might just come to bite them in the behind.
Fenric then passes both the titles to referee. Layton and Fenric await the bell along with the six other competitors.
Matt Steele: Let’s go over the rules of this one last time… Only two competitors in the ring at any given time. Being pinned or submitting means that the whole team is eliminated, not the competitor who took the pin or submit. At the same time, anyone can tag themselves in at any time.
Mark Sanction: This is going to be something else. This is just going to be…
Matt Steele: I’m excited, Sanction, I won’t deny it!
Mark Sanction: There seems to some fussing and fighting over who will start the match.
Molly Reid and Annie Zellor don’t even make an attempt to start off the match as they hang in their corner, leaning up against the ropes lazily and unconcerned. Kelsey and Rebecca discuss it a little but move too slowly, missing their opportunity. It’s Smyth who fearlessly and without hesitation jumps forward and steps into the center of the ring, greeting Emery Layton.
Mark Sanction: And will you look at that - the debate is settled. Smyth and Layton will to start the match! The L.A.W. Champion against the XWA Lord of the Ring! Doesn’t get much bigger than that!!
As soon as the referee calls for the bell, Emery and AJS lock up in the middle of the ring. AJ uses her superior size and weight advantage over Emery to drive her back to the top right corner where Jake is waiting. Emery, however, manages to use that backward momentum to catch AJS off guard, grabs her hand, and reverses it into a wristlock of her own. But AJ backflips, relieving the pressure off her wrist and goes down, dragging Emery with her.
Mark Sanction: Great little exchange there by these two phenomenal athletes. Lock-up into a wristlock into an armdrag. Nice way to set the pace!
Emery grins as she quickly rolls through, getting back to her feet. She nods, acknowledging the fact AJS managed to out-counter her. Emery seems to want to up the pace, and rushes in for an attempted slingblade, but AJ rolls through, avoiding it. Emery avoids it, landing in the corner next to Jake. He winks at her and smiles, and the momentary distraction is enough for AJ to dropsault Emery in the back, sending her chest first into the turnbuckle. AJ follows her to the corner, tags in Jake, and sends Emery flying with an overhead German suplex.
Mark Sanction: First tag of the match! AJS seemed to get the better of Emery Layton in their little back and forth, let’s see what our All-American can do! Emery down in the middle of the ring, and it looks like Rogers is going to take to the skies already! He hops on the turnbuckle and leaps!
Jake moonsaults off the turnbuckle, and hits Emery with deadeye precision.
Matt Steele: What elevation he got off that moonsault! Not a fan of the guy, but that was spectacular! He goes for the cover!!
The referee drops down, and counts!
ONE!
TWO!
But before the referee can even think about going for three, or Emery even had a chance to kick out, Adam Fenric slips through the ropes and breaks up the pin by stomping Rogers on his lower back! The referee is quick to get to his feet and force Fenric out of the ring. But as he does so, Emery rolls up Jake from behind! Hs shoulders firmly pinned, but no count happening, Rogers is struggling to break free. Fenric sees what is up and hurries out of the ring, realizing it’s in his best interests to do so. He shouts at the referee to turn around. As he does so, he slides in for the pin.
ONE!
TWO!!
Jake kicks out! After what seemed almost like an infinity stuck in a pin, he finally manages to kick out at the last split second.
Mark Sanction: So close! Ironically, while Fenric may have saved their match, he could also have cost them an elimination.
Matt Steele: In this match, survival is more important than getting pinfalls, Sanction. Unless when it comes to the very last one, I guess! And now, Layton gets Rogers back to his feet, and it’s obvious she’s trying to ground him with this headlock here.
Emery wrings away at Rogers’ head, but the former Olympian hooks his arms around Layton’s knees and almost effortlessly lifts her into the air! He flings her into the air, forcing the release, and Layton lands hard on her back! With no time whatsoever to recuperate or dodge, she is hit with with a standing moonsault, followed directly by another pinfall attempt.
ONE!
TWO!
Mark Sanction: Layton kicks out! I admire Rogers’ enthusiasm, but there’s no way that you eliminate the Lord of the Ring quite that easily. More high impact moves will be needed, I’m afraid, or some hard hitting tag team maneuvers! She didn’t get to where she is without being tough as nails.
Rogers gets back up and grabs Layton by the wrist. He tries to Irish Whip her, but Layton digs her feet in, blocking it. Jake frowns.
Matt Steele: Looks like he’s not used to being overpowered!
Jake’s frown reverts into a grin. He groans and puts some extra effort into it. This time, Layton does indeed move, as she is sent into the Fenric’s corner with such velocity the ropes almost break off the post!
Mark Sanction: Rogers can’t hold back. We saw it here, he’s gruesomely strong. He has to use that strength! Now, it looks like Emery is ready to tag herself out. And she does! Fenric’s in! A match like this, you need to keep your stamina up. And the Plague Doctor rushes in the ring, and he absolutely nails Rogers with a spinning wheel kick! Jake is levelled. He gets back up and stumbles to the nearest corner, but it’s not his own. He claps Molly Reid on the shoulder and the referee calls the tag! For the first time now, the team of Smyth and Rogers are not involved in the action!
Reid steps through the ropes and Fenric gestures for her to come over. Reid rushes in and hits Fenric on the knee with a low dropkick, causing it to buckle. She follows it up with a shining wizard after running the ropes.
Matt Steele: Fenric caught completely off guard there, and he is down! Great initial sequence by Molly Reid, who now drags Fenric to her corner. She tags in Anny Zellor, her tag team partner, and it looks like they’re going for the double team!
Zellor hops on the top turnbuckle and springboards, dropkicking Fenric in the face as Reid makes sure he doesn’t budge. Zellor goes for a legdrop while Reid drops an elbow on him simultaneously. Zellor goes for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
Fenric kicks out! Layton already had her legs between the ropes to run interference, but Fenric managed to avoid getting pinned. Zellor now drags Fenric back to her corner, and tags Reid back in.
Mark Sanction: Frequent tags by Zellor and Reid on the champion. Good strategy, and good teamwork! Zellor gets him in stalling suplex position, and Reid goes to the top turnbuckles again… she leaps, and Zellor drives him into the canvas with a brainbuster, before Reid stomps him right on the face! My God, Fenric’s face might have caved in!
The crowd squirms after the high impact maneuver, and Reid, back in as the legal woman, immediately goes back in for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR--THis time Emery does break up the pin! But as she rushed in to save her partner, Zellor nails her with a dropkick that sends her rolling out of the ring. Reid goes back in for another cover.
ONE!
TWO!
Fenric kicks out! The crowd gasps in amazement, but the extra time needed was just about enough to recuperate. Fenric looks worse for wear as Reid helps him up though, especially when she kicks him in the gut! He doubles over, and Reid runs the ropes…
Mark Sanction: Axe kick! What a vicious hit, it nearly guillotined the champion! He’s being brutalized by these two. He must be seeing stars! Reid now gets him back to his feet and tags Zellor back in. Reid subdues Fenric with a headlock and Zellor is going for the skies as she springboard from the apron and off of the top rope!
Zellor grabs Fenric’s head in mid-air and hits him with a perfectly executed springboard codebreaker!
Matt Steele: Rough ‘n Tumble II! I don’t believe it! What a move, this could very well be it, but Layton is on the lookout! Zellor goes for the pin!!
ONE!
Layton rushes into the ring to once again make the save, but out of nowhere, Rebecca Saint hits her with a Lou Thesz press!
TWO!
THREE!!
The bell rings the first time!
Matt Steele OH MY GOD! I don’t believe it! Fenric doesn’t get up. Is this… is this real? Are the champions seriously the first ones to be eliminated? I don’t know who put money on this, but if you did, I think you can go into early retirement. Listen to this arena, you can almost hear a pin drop as the South African crowd looks on in stunned silence.
Zellor and Reid aren’t silent however; they clap hands and laugh. Saint gets off of Layton, whose jaw has dropped several inches, realizing that the title is lost to her. Rogers and Smyth can’t believe it either, but just like the Uncanny Socialites, they don’t seem all that unhappy with it, as what was arguably perceived as the biggest threat in the match are out!
Mark Sanction: I a absolutely shaking, Steele! And look at the disappointment on the face of Emery Layton, she seems gutted. What a way to lose the titles. But props to Reid and Zellor, they worked together like a team, isolated Fenric completely, and now they have an elimination to their name.
Matt Steele: An elimination, yes, but while the titles are now up for grabs, one elimination won’t make them champions.
Mark Sanction: What a situation, though! Six wrestlers remaining, and only one is an XWA full-timer, being Rogers. All five others are invitational talents who took up the challenge when Layton and Fenric laid it out. It’s just… I don’t know whether to call it absurd or awesome!
Zellor, still celebrating, wait for someone from the two other remaining teams to jump into the fray and challenge them. Already in the ring, Rebecca Saint takes the honor and the two women lock up. Zellor doesn't even bother with it and just slams her knee into Saint’s gut, drops down, bringing the Australian sensation down with her, and cracks Saint’s back over her knee. Not to miss the trifecta, Zellor follows that with a knee drop to the prone Saint’s back, almost exactly where she took the knee seconds ago.
Mark Sanction: Marvellous combination there. Knee to the gut, backbreaker, and a knee drop.
Mark Sanction: She's gonna feel that in the morning.
Mark Sanction: I think she's already feeling it.
Zellor lifts Saint to her feet by the hair, pops her in the mouth with a few quick right hands, and drags to her corner. The brunette tags in the blonde and Reid climbs through the ropes. Together, the Whitest Girls You Know, lift Saint upright into the air and drop her with a powerful vertical suplex that rattles the ring. Reid goes for the cover while Zellor plays guard while calling out the other teams. Rogers tries to go through the ropes but Smyth grabs him, shaking her head.
Mark Sanction: What?
Mark Sanction: Interesting strategy. Save your energy for later.
Mark Sanction: You mean let someone else do the fighting for you?
Mark Sanction: Remember, only that final pin will get you the titles.
There's no one to stop Kelsey from charging in and she does exactly that. Even though Zellor is ready, she isn't ready for the savage spear that sends her down atop Reid and Saint, breaking up the pin at two. Smyth gives Rogers a knowing, almost smug look and he smiles back at her.
Mark Sanction: Ha! That's one way to do it.
Mark Sanction: It was effective and now we've got a whole new match here. Looks like Kelsey will be the first one off that dog pile.
Kelsey grabs Zellor and whips into the ropes. Unstable and unaware, Zellor goes over the ropes, landing on the outside, hard. Kelsey goes for Reid next, lifting her by the hair, and wrenches the arm behind her back. She kicks her in the gut, twists the arm again, and back kicks her right in the face, sending Reid to the mat, where she lands, splayed out like a starfish. Saint comes to her feet with the aid of her partner. The referee, ever so forceful in his approach, finally moves in to tell Kelsey that she must leave the ring. After some debate, but mostly attending to her partner and making sure she is okay, she slowly moves to her corner, but not before giving Reid some stomps and kicks. Kelsey moves in for the kill, lifting Molly Reid to her feet.
Mark Sanction[: The tides, they have turned.
Matt Steele: Let’s see the momentum keeps. The Uncanny Socialites have a real chance here now.
Spencer Irish whips Reid into the corner. Sprayed out against the turnbuckles with her arms wide, Kelsey hops on the middle ropes and starts hammering away at Reid’s face, throwing haymakers to her face, over and over and over again. The crowd starts counting along with every strike, and as Spencer gears up for number ten, Reid suddenly blocks it by getting her forearms up! She grabs Kelsey by the legs and gets her in powerbomb position.
Mark Sanction: Looks like Reid is going for a good old fashioned powerbomb. Nothing like the classics. But wait, what’s she doing?
Mark Sanction: I don’t know, but it doesn’t bode well for Kelsey Spencer, Sanction!
Reid is climbing up the turnbuckle with her opponent on her shoulders.
Mark Sanction: That’s a long, long way down if you ask me!
Mark Sanction: They already eliminated the tag team champions and if they hit her with this, it’s game over for the Uncanny Socialites.
Mark Sanction: Smyth and Rogers will be all too happy to let them finish the job for them, I bet!
Reid, displaying tremendous leg and core strength as well as incredible balance, now stands on the top turnbuckle with Spencer on her shoulders. She calls out for Annie Zellor, who gets the message and climbs through the ropes.
Mark Sanction
Zellor looking to assist in a big time move, but Rebecca Saint isn’t about to just let this happen...
Rogers leaps off the apron, dashes toward, and takes out Rebecca Saint by sweeping her legs from behind, preventing Saint from helping her partner in her time of need.
Mark Sanction: Oh wow! Didn’t know that goody-goody had it in him. Bout dang time they left that little corner of theirs.
Mark Sanction: Rogers took out Saint and that gives The Whitest Girls You Know the freedom they need to do some real damage.
Mark Sanction: Amy Jo and Jake would benefit from it, too. I guess it’s a good strategy. Do what you can to win, I say!
As the crowd holds its collective breaths, Zellor positions herself in the middle of the ring. Reid jumps and Spencer, with flailing arms, is powerbombed off the top rope, right onto Annie Zellor’s knees!
Mark Sanction: My God! That was vicious beyond belief. Zellor went down and formed a target for Reid to bomb Kelsey’s body into.
Mark Sanction: I think she’s damn near broken in half!!!
The crowd absolutely blows the roof off the place after the amazing high impact move. As Reid, the legal woman, signals the referee, she also goes for the pin, as both Smyth and Rogers look on, safely and smartly staying out of this any further.
One…
Two…
Rebecca Saint makes a mad dash in the ring.
Matt Steele: Saint doesn’t make it! Rebecca doesn’t make it!
THREE!!
Mark Sanction: The Uncanny Socialites have been eliminated!
Matt Steele: Reid made the pin and The Uncanny Socialites are gone.
Mark Sanction: It’s down to Smyth and Rogers and The Whitest Girls You know. This is going to be impressive.
Smyth suddenly slingshots herself off and over the rope, tackling Reid with a single leg, and rolls forward, somersaulting toward the opposite ropes, and stands. It doesn’t take long for Zellor to spin around and hit Smyth with a smooth clothesline that levels the Doctor. Dazed, confused, and taken off guard, Smyth pops up to her feet and gets hit with another one. As soon as Smyth gets up, she eats another one. The man in a striped shirt, known as the referee, finally gets to doing his job and informs Zellor that she is not the legal man - or woman in this case - and demands she exit the ring. Thankfully, Reid is starting to stir.
Mark Sanction: Zellor has no choice but to return to her corner or they’ll be disqualified.
Matt Steele: Can the titles be won by disqualification, though?
Mark Sanction: They’d have to be. Or we’d have vacant titles.
Matt Steele: Yeah, but then we can have another match like this, with all this talent.
Smyth climbs to feet. Zellor climbs to her feet. They turn, face each other, and charge like bulls. Smyth trips Zellor, sending her face first into the second turnbuckle, and Smyth rolls out of the ring. She circles the ring and finds her way back into her corner. When Zellor stands, Smyth slides back into the ring and sharply kicks Zellor in the back of the thigh and forces Zellor into the corner by way of punches. Zellor counters with a quick upward knee to Smyth’s midsection. Smyth falls to the mat and Zellor begins assaulting the Doctor’s shoulder with stomps. Zellor lifts her, throws her into the corner, kicks her for good measure, and sends into the opposite corner with a powerful whip. Still fired up, Zellor drives her shoulder into Smyth’s midsection a few times and and tosses Smyth into her team’s corner where Reid is waiting. Reid wiggles around and kicks the Good Doctor in her stomach.
Mark Sanction: Things are not going well for Smyth and Rogers here.
Matt Steele: Now we know why they waited so long to get in on this.
Mark Sanction: They aren’t completely out of this yet, Matt.
Jake Rogers jumps into the ring, abruptly stopped by the referee, who kindly informs him that he must remain in his corner. Reid and Zellor take quick advantage of the distraction: Reid holds Smyth in place with a rear naked choke while Zellor goes to work on Smyth’s ribs.
Mark Sanction: Not only are they inhibiting airflow but they’re also pushing it out of her lungs.
Matt Steele: They wearing her out. Beating her like a rug.
Rogers finally returns to his corner and the referee turns around to see The Whitest Girls You Know engaging in their illegal activities. Zebra Man quickly calls out it out and the women release Smyth, letting her fall to her knees. Zellor tags Reid and Reid lifts Smyth to her feet while Zellor takes a few steps back. Zellor rushes forward, hits a big discuss clothesline then pulls her out, runs forward with Smyth in her grasp, and plants her into the mat with a big bulldog.
Mark Sanction: I Gots Skillz!
Matt Steele: An homage to her to her cousin!
Molly Reid has climbed up the turnbuckle and leaps, hitting a Corkscrew Moonsault on Smyth. Reid makes the cover, hooking the leg.
One…
Matt Steele: It’s all over!
Mark Sanction: Things are not looking good.
Two...
Matt Steele: I told you!
Rogers rushes into the ring, ducks under a clothesline from Zellor, and drops a fist onto the pin, breaking it up.
Mark Sanction: The All-American Boy has saved the day.
Matt Steele: Captain America!
Zellor grabs Rogers and the two start battling it out with right hands. Reid, angered and annoyed, pushes Rogers, sending him falling forward. Rogers is able to roll to his feet and leaps, taking Reid and Zellor down with a flying double clothesline. Smyth exits the ring under the bottom rope and just lays on the outside. Rogers leans through the ropes, checks on his partner. Zellor slams her fist into his back and forces him through the ropes, right to the outside. The Whitest Girls You Know follow closely behind Rogers and Smyth, heading to the outside.
Matt Steele: Ah, yeah.
Mark Sanction: Everyone is on the outside now. This is getting messy now.
Zellor grabs Smyth, whips her toward the ring steps. Smyth reverses! Zellor crashes into the steel steps. Rogers is able to catch Reid with a kick to her midsection and slams her head first into the apron. He throws her back into the ring, resetting the count. Smyth, with a little guidance from Rogers, climbs back into the ring. The opposing women climb to their feet while Rogers returns to his corner. The sassy Southerner looks at Rogers and heads right for him, ready to make the tag. Reid grabs her by the hair and whips her back, preventing her from reaching Rogers’s outstretched hand. Reid hooks her neck from the front, gets ready for backbreaker or choke but Smyth wants none of it. The gymnast rolls back, flips free, and in swift, almost elegant move, dropkicks Reid in the face. Finding a second wind, she rushes forward, tags Rogers, and baseball slides right into Zellor’s face as she tries to climb back into the ring.
Mark Sanction: Oh. The Whitest Girls You Know just ate a lot of boot leather.
Mark Sanction: I told you not to count them out just yet.
Smyth tangles with Zellor on the outside, throwing her into the ring post. In the ring, Jake Roger leaps and hits Reid with a corkscrew elbow. He lifts her up, leaves her wobbling in the center of the ring, and shoots himself off the ropes. The Olympic medalist flattens her with a sling blade. He turns to find Smyth waiting on the top turnbuckle and moves in toward. Smyth, careful and slow, climbs up onto his shoulders.
Mark Sanction: Oh, okay. What’s this now?
Matt Steele: I - I have no idea. It’s a giant.
Mark Sanction: This can’t end well.
As soon as Smyth gets stabilized with Rogers’ help, she releases his hands and jumps, landing on Reid with a single rotation senton. The crowd explodes as they get to their feet. Smyth bounces off Reid, growls in pain, and stumbles forward. She instantly rolls out of the ring, clutching her back, and starts screaming at Rogers to pin Reid. Rogers hooks Reid’s leg.
One…
Matt Steele: Is that even legal?
Mark Sanction: Yes, and Smyth and Rogers are two second away from winning the XWA tag titles.
Two…
Matt Steele: That Chinese Acrobat move is about to give us new champions.
Mark Sanction: Zellor is coming!
Smyth grabs Zellor and out of pure desperation, shoves her back, sending her into the barricade.
Matt Steele: Or not…
THREE!
Mark Sanction: Rogers and Smyth have done it! We have new champions!
Matt Steele: The Gymnasts!
The bell rings. Smyth lamely rolls back into the ring and has to be helped to her feet and held up by Rogers.
Matt Steele: Oh, my, God, they did it! They freakin’ did it! I don’t believe it!!
As ‘Victory’ starts playing, the crowd erupt in massive cheers. Jake and Amy Jo are exhausted, stunned, and delighted in equal measure. Before the referee can even hand them the belts, AJS and Rogers hug in the middle of the ring.
Mark Sanction: This is beautiful! Two competitors, barely even knowing each other, agreed to this match on what was little more than a whim. She, already a phenomenal champion, and he… an Olympic medalist, but a green rookie inside this squared circle. They gelled immediately and they pulled an upset victory here tonight. What an incredible turn of events!
As Jake and AJS break up their hug, the referee hands them the titles. Jake grabs it with both hands, unable to fathom what this exactly means for him. AJS is visibly delighted as well and allows the referee to grab both her and Jake’s hand to raise it in the air.
Mark Sanction: This is what wrestling is all about. Two people with a love for the sport, making an instant connection and persevering on sheer skill and power of will! I think this match didn’t go down like anybody would have thought beforehand. The champions and odds-on favorites were the first to be eliminated, and a team that has never tagged before gets the victory and the tag team titles.
The referee lowers their hands, but AJS drapes her arm over Jake, and her title over her shoulder. She playfully taps Jake on the shoulder, clearly mouthing ‘well done, buddy’, and slaps him on the ass, giving him her patented good game. Jake grins and raises his title once more to the delight of the crowd.