TD: I don't know, Steve Roberts, you know the motto here in the IIWF: Everything Will Happen -- and that just might include Luke Steele becoming the next IIWF Heavyweight Champion. SR: If "Go Ahead - Cop a Feel" can win the Heavyweight Championship, then I am definitely coming out of retirement, Dross. Maybe me and the Smooth will take the US tag belts. TD: We don't have the US belts anymore, Steve Roberts. SR: Well, then it will be easier than I thought. TD: Let's get to the ring. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Coronation Clash Tournament First Round Match: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [GROUP D] Lord Byron vs. Ronnie Paris ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WRITER: JJ [Sparkplug Lee draws more than a modest amount of applause as he holds up a "Football in '99!" sign before taking the mic.] SL: The following Coronation Clash Crusade Tournament Contest... is your _main event_ of the evening! Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Luke Steele and Scott Rogers, he weighs 210 pounds and hails from El Paso, Texas... Ronnie Paris! [Face Pop from the crowd as the spartanly attired Paris enters to Queen's "We Are the Champions." Paris, Rogers and the newly victorious Steele smack the outstretched hands of aisle side fans as they enter the ring. Paris appears perhaps a little nervous, or, at least he is clearly cognizant of the enormity of the task at hand as he carefully stretches with the top rope.] TD: Here might be the biggest match of this man's life, Steve Roberts. He has won some and lost some here in the IIWF, but has never really had that breakthrough, never really been able to secure that win that would launch him into the stratosphere. SR: Yeah, he thought it would be against the Soundbite. Thought he could take advantage of my injured back... but I kicked his ass, just the same way that Byron's about to defend his title here tonight. TD: Actually, this is a non-title matchup -- as will be Dirt Dog Unique Allah's when he meets Serge Annis next week. SR: I somehow doubt Byron is too worried if the title is on the line, Dross, the guy's defended against half the Federation since winning the belt. He'll smack Paris into next week. [Paris takes a noticeably deep breath as "Intermezzo" from Sibelius' "Karelia" Suite begins to a resounding heel reaction.] SL: His opponent is accompanied down the aisle by Lady DeWinter and Otto "The Butcher" Verhoeven. He weighs 265 pounds and currently resides in New Orleans... he is the IIWF Intercontinental Champion... Lord Byron! [Entering first is the winsome DeWinter, who carries the IC belt aloft. Then comes the snarling Butcher and the regally attired Byron, his brass topped cane waggingly leading the way as he motions to the camera.] LB: Enjoy your vacation, rookie. [The Champ enters the ring, not giving so much as a glance toward the direction of young Paris, he smirks in the direction of a group of ringside fans who are clad in "Anyone... Anywhere... Anytime" t-shirts and are screaming "Pay - back! Pay - back!" at the Intercontinental Champion.] TD: Well, Lord Byron is here and has certainly made his presence known tonight. I don't know if I have ever seen anything quite like the look in the face of the red-gloved rookie Creed as he was eliminated from this tournament by Ike Sampson. This man Lord Byron has caused Creed such an incredible amount of, well, of heartache, that I frankly wonder about his future in this sport. SR: His future is the same as anyone's who is involved with Lord Byron -- brutal and short, Dross. This man may well be the best wrestler anywhere in the world,and Ronnie Paris is about to get the lesson of his life. [Paris and Byron are left in the ring, along with the official who brings the two men together for final instructions as the bell sounds. Ding! Ding! Ding! Paris offers a collar and elbow, which Byron sneeringly slips and jabs a knee to the Paris midsection. Byron boxes the young man's ears and then grabs a standing side headlock. Paris maneuvers out with a wristlock and looks to wring the arm -- but Byron counters with a jab to the eye and a top wristlock which he moves to an armwring of his own. Paris looks to forward roll... but Byron retains hold of the wrist and then lifts Paris into the air with an elevated wristlock... and then to the mat with a takedown -- but it is Paris who counters on the mat with a drag of his own into an armbar that has the crowd cheering the Texan. Discerning Pop!] TD: Nice display of counter-wrestling by young Paris here in the early going, Steve Roberts. You know, that is exactly the kind of maneuver we have seen successfully executed so many times by Lord Byron, Steve Roberts. Obviously young Paris has done his homework. SR: Well, Byron's about to beat him up and make him do his homework, Dross. This is gonna be the easiest match of his career. [Byron escapes the armbar with a takeover of his own and the two men are quickly to their feet. They lockup and Byron responds with a thrust and then a crescent kick that backs Paris up and sends him to run to the ropes. Byron leapfrogs the smaller man - and is then caught by a Paris monkey flip as the cruiser went to his back... but Byron remains on his feet, grabbing a facelock..and sending the young man down with a northern lights suplex and a cover... 1 -- 2 -- NO! Kickout by Paris. The two men lock up again, now each moving a little more aggressively. This time it is Paris who fires out with a boot to the midsection and a wristlock. Byron moves to a top-lock but Paris rotates out into an attempted backslide. Byron is too strong, however... and Paris ducks out of the slide, leaping to the sideropes and as Byron moves in for another suplex attempt... Paris leaps with a head scissors takeover that rips Byron to the mat... and causes the Champion to bail out of the ring! Huge Paris Pop!] TD: Oh, you have got to be impressed with the strategy of the young Paris. He seems to be learning as the match goes on, seems to be countering Byron with his own maneuvers. Very impressive. SR: Well, Byron's about to do some impressing, Dross. Impressing Paris' head against the steel steps... impressing Paris' back against the retaining barrier. [Paris moves to the ropes, and Byron drags him to the outside, the champion firing away with sharp European uppercuts... then whipping Paris hard into those steel steps, the young crusier's body crashing into the steel with an almost painful thud. Lady DeWinter leaps to the apron to distract the official -- allowing Verhoeven and Byron to lay into Paris with boots, then pick the young man into the air...] TD: Oh, that is ugly, Steve Roberts. They have dropped Ronnie Paris' neck across the apron -- and the rookie is down. Oh... here... here come Rogers and Steele! [Huge face pop as Luke Steele and Scott Rogers race from the other side of the ring and begin to take on the European Alliance, Steele tossing Byron aside and Rogers trading heavy blows with Verhoeven. The official finally disengages from DeWinter in time to see Steele and Rogers double teaming the Butcher...] TD: He's ordering them all to leave, Steve Roberts! Earl Alfonso is ejecting Otto, Steele, Rogers... and _DeWinter_ from ringside! Unbelievable! SR: This is totally uncalled for, Dross. Okay, toss Rogers and "Listen to Me Squeal" out of the building... even Otto if you want to be fair. But for the love of all that is good and pure in this world, please... _please_, Alfonso, I'm begging you: let DeWinter stay! The Soundbite gots needs, baby. Needs! Needs! NEEDS! TD: You're not well, are you, Steve? SR: NEEEEEEEDS! [The crowd response is enormous as the collection is escorted protestingly from the ring. Byron has tossed Paris back into the ring and is laying into him with a series of boots...then he picks Paris to his feet... to the air... and drops him on this head with a sharp brainbuster suplex that has the crowd gasping and Byron moving for a cover: 1 -- 2 -- NO! Byron picks Paris to his feet again... into an Irish whip which becomes a hook cradle suplex by Byron witha bridge... 1 -- 2 -- NO! Paris slides out and as Byron moves to him again, Paris is there with a sharp armdrag takeover. Byron rises again... and is dragged back the other way with an armdrag takeover -- and as Byron rises once again he is felled with a picture perfect dropkick that brings a huge face pop from the crowd!] TD: Ronnie Paris is _fighting_ back! [Paris moves to the midrope... coming down with a guillotine legdrop that snaps across the champion's neck and leads to an attempted cover... 1 -- 2 -- NO! Byron kicks out! Paris goes back to the ropes... climbs to the second buckle and drives down with a hard knee drop to Byron's forehead. Byron attempts to stand... but Paris sweeps the back of his leg and then dives atop Byron with a reverse chinlock that wrenches away at the Champion's head and neck.] TD: Notice what young Paris is doing, Steve Roberts... Ronnie Paris is keeping Lord Byron from a vertical base. Ronnie Paris has clearly been scouting Lord Byron for quite some time, and he is wrestling a textbook match! [Byron attempts to get to his feet... but Paris fights with every one of his 210 pounds to keep him down. Byron makes another rush, pushing himself to his feet... but, no. Ronnie Paris still keeps the chinlock and Byron stays down. Byron again... again tries to move to his feet... and as Paris tries to force him down, Lord Byron snaps off a jawbreaker that bullets Paris to the mat. Pop! Byron quickly attacks, driving a forearm to the lower midsection... then getting a double leg and sending a sharp series of elbows to the exposes inner thigh areas of the young Texan. Byron looks for a step over toe hold... and takes a boot to the rear by Paris. Byron runs to the ropes... and Paris hops to the top buckle to... to meet Byron with a hurricanrana that sends him to the canvas with a cover: 1 -- 2 -- NO! Kickout by Lord Byron!] TD: What a maneuver by Ronnie Paris! What a remarkable maneuver by this young Cruiserweight! SR: He's just toying with him, Dross. Come on Byron! Come on, Byron! Put this punk away! [Paris pulls Byron to his feet, whipping him farside -- leapfrog -- Byron off the back ropes -- backfrog by Paris -- Byron attempts a hiplock takeover -- blocked -- Paris sends a thrustkick -- blocked by Byron, who grabs Paris' leg, Ronnie swings his free leg forward looking to strike with an enzuigiri... but Byron slips the blow and drops the cruiser with a side suplex that smacks Paris' head into the canvas. Byron covers: 1 -- 2 -- NO! Kickout by Paris. Byron winds up for a big elbowdrop..and Paris slips, sending Byron into the mat... Paris then leaps to the ropes, climbing to the midbuckle for a measured elbow drop... missed! Byron is able to roll out of the way. He lays into Paris with sharp boots, then picks him up and Irish whips him hard... into a big backdrop that takes Paris down hard to the mat. Byron lifts Paris to his feet, sending him down again with a snap suplex.] TD: No cover from Byron. He is looking to build some momentum and maybe inflict a little bit of punishment here, Steve Roberts. SR: Well, it is about damn time. Not that I was worried, or anything... but this Paris is starting to irritate the hell out of my L'il Soundbiters. Ain't that right, morons? [The group of L'il Soundbiters are uncharacteristically quiet. In fact, as Roberts turns around he realizes they have disappeared entirely, save for the Soundbiter with the prosthetic leg who informs Steve that "they all left when DeWinter got kicked out."] SR: See, Dross? I told you they were smart guys. [Byron picks Paris to his feet slowly rocking him with uppercuts... then putting a boot to the midsection that doubles Paris over, rudely leading to an inverted neckbreaker by Byron that sends Paris to the mat and awakens the heel popping crowd. Byron again eschews the cover... now arrogantly lifting Paris to his feet... turning him again... and again nailing him with an inverted neckbreaker! Big Heel Pop!] TD: Consecutive neckbreakers by Byron... and still no cover by the Champion! Still no cover! SR: He's gonna make the punk quit, Dross. He's gonna make him submit right in the middle of the ring! I love it! Okay, I like it.. I'd love it if DeWinter would come back out, maybe dressed like a girl scout. "Would you like some Thin Mints, Mr. Soundbite?" "Well, yes, I would, little girl... can you break a fifty..." "Well, no, Mr. Soundbite, I only have change..." "Well, that's okay, little girl... I think we can work something out. Do you like gladiator movies?" [The only L'il Soundbiter left makes an unsuccessful attempt to stand while yelling out, "Shoot, Soundbite! Shoot!"] TD: We're perilously close to cancellation. [Byron has dropped Paris to his neck again with a blockbuster suplex and now slowly moves to execute a butterfly suplex, but as he underhooks an arm, Paris reaches underneath for a shocking cradle and a... 1 -- 2 -- NO! Byron is just able to escape. Byron swings with a wild clothesline; Paris ducks and locks on with a crucifix takedown for a 1 -- 2 -- NO! Byron escapes again and he staggers away! The crowd is popping like mad as Paris feverishly follows Byron into the corner... the two men exchanging lefts and rights now... swinging wildly as they reach a corner... and begin climbing the buckles... they are climbing the corner as they fight... all the way to the top rope!] TD: Lord Byron and Ronnie Paris are balanced on the top rope... Paris' back to the ring... and Ronnie Paris is looking to superplex! Paris is looking to superplex! SR: No... no... no...! Byron's got him! Byron's gonna bring him down! [Big Pop as Byron wrests control from the smaller Paris, and sends him to the mat with a front layout superplex! Big pop! And then bigger as the crowd sees that Paris has unintentionally struck the official as he headed to the mat! Big pop as both Paris and the referee are down on the mat as Byron remains perched on the top rope! Byron stands above the ring... giving a mock bow to the crowd... which responds with an enormous... a resounding... a cataclysmic POP!] TD: IT'S CREED! IT'S CREED! Creed's climbing the ropes! [Byron smirks at the crowd reaction... and then his expression turns to horror as he suddenly realizes that he is not alone on the top buckle... Creed lifts Byron high into the air... high over his head and then flies down to the mat!] TD: GFA! GFA! Powerbomb by Creed! Creed has powerbombed Byron from the top rope! Byron is out... The referee is stirring! Ronnie Paris... Ronnie Paris has the cover! [Creed bails out of the ring, the crowd ripping the rook off Gund Arena with their approval as Paris has his arm draped over Bryon and Alfonso counts: 1 -- 2 -- 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] SL: Your winner... as a result of a pinfall... RONNIE PARIS! [The crowd roar increases as Alfonso lifts the arm of the stunned Paris, the Texan beginning to shout, "Yes! Yes!", as Luke Steele and Scott Rogers quickly hit the ring, the three men celebrating with tremendous vigor as they exit the ring, the crowd chanting "Ron - nie! Ron - nie!" as the wrestlers boisterously leave ringside area.