The chilling voice of Jim Jones that led into Concrete Blonde's "Jonestown" played behind various solemn clips of The Cult Master speaking at The Cult's "Holy Chapel". As the song began those clips began to include other EWI superstars, those who had been involved in the long, arduous journey on the championship trail leading into tonight. Featured heavily in the video were the defending champions - Benjamin Childs, Heavy D, Lance Stanton, and The Daemon Knight, as well as clips of events leading up to their respective title defenses tonight; Childs' loss to Black Jack McBain several weeks previous to determine the number one contender to the universal title, as well as the controversial Childs vs. Prophet match from the most recent Collision; Heavy D attacking Virus Richards during a match against Mr. Beumont; Psychotic Sam and The Joker's Childs ambushing Harbinger and The Destroyer with baseball bats, even an old CWA clip of Sam battling Nick Sinister, leader of The Crimson Guild of which Lance Stanton and Daemon Knight are members. As the video concluded, the shot quickly cut to inside the Arco Arena in Sacramento, and with a loud bang and a flash of blue, green, and white pyro, the EWI Blaze of Glory took to the air. The arena was packed with several thousand rabid wrestling fans, waving signs and banners and cheering as loud as they can throughout the impressive opening display. As the noise dies down and the smoke begins to clear, the faces of play-by-play announcer Blake Underwood and color commentator, for possibly the last time, Adam Kogler, who were at ringside to call the night's action, appeared on the video screen and televisions across the world.
Underwood: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is the night! Welcome to EWI Blaze of Glory; I'm Blake Underwood alongside Adam Kogler and yes, the big night that we have been awaiting with baited breath for the past several weeks since the big announcement from Commissioner Owens has finally arrived. Tonight is the King of Kings match for the EWI world title. This is the match that the entire roster has been clammoring to be a part of for weeks and weeks, and tonight we're finally going to see it happen. Five champions in the ring at one time, but only one man will emerge as the undisputed best in the business today.
Kogler: Oh man, you'd better believe that the Greatest Mind in Wrestling is jacked up and ready to go for this one! Not only are you going to see every EWI Title defended tonight, you're going to see whoever comes out of those matches with the belts tie it up again at the end of the night! And the EWI World Title's on the line; that's two World Title matches for the price of one! But for once, instead of gracing you with my usual troves of wisdom as far as tonight's matches are concerned, I'm handing it back to you, Underwood, because I want to get this show started!
Underwood: For once I actually agree with you Adam, I can't wait to get things underway, and what a way to kick things off. Not only is the EWI world title on the line in our opening contest, but we are about to see one of the most heated rivalries in professional wrestling history unfold right between our very eyes as The Cult Master defends the championship against Captain Patrick O'Conner. This is a war that reaches back more than three years, and with The Cult Master's recent visitation to the grave of the Captain's deceased wife Paulina, I don't think the bad blood between these two has ever run any stronger than it does right now. We're set to go here at Blaze of Glory, and the world title is on the line!
EWI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Champion
The Cult Master
~VS.~
Challenger
Captain Patrick O'Conner
*****
Captain Patrick O'Conner made his entrance to his usual music, "I Will Find
You," but on this night, the proceedings had a special air to them. The
lights went down as the first strains of the song flowed over the speakers.
After a moment, a lone spotlight shone down upon the Captain at the foot of
the entranceway, illuminating his trademark Black Watch plaid kilt, his boots
polished to a brilliant military gleam and his face painted in the
traditional Celtic warrior fashion. O'Conner made his way to the ring in a
slow purposeful manner, his face set in an almost murderous glare. The
Captain knew that this match had been a long time coming, and was determined
to exact his toll. Suddenly, as O'Conner was halfway down the aisle, The Cult
Master's elaborate entrance began. O'Connor quickly turned, and from his
makeshift throne carried by his minions, the EWI world champion jumped off
and dove at his challenger! The crowd roared as the arch enemies exchanged
frantic blows while making their way toward the ring. The Cult Master's
element of surprise gave him the early advantage, as he took over on the
Captain and rolled him into the ring, then followed him in to begin the
championship match. Cult Master removed his ceremonial robe, and with a look
of indescribable hatred, continued to rain blows upon his challenger within
the confines of the ring, then yanked him up and whipped him toward the
ropes, but O'Conner was able to shift his weight, pull the champion back, and
send him into the turnbuckles. Immediately, the Captain ran in with an
avalanche to stun the self-proclaimed deity, then dropped him to the mat with
a DDT. The fans cheered as Patrick O'Conner removed his kilt with purpose and
tossed it aside. O'Conner grabbed Cult Master from the corner and whipped him
into the ropes, but The Cult Master came off with a flying forearm that
caught the Captain off guard. A smattering of the champion's trademark
European uppercuts kept O'Conner on the defensive and backed him into the
corner. The Cult Master buried a succession of knees into the Captain's
midsection, then took him out of the corner and to the mat with a belly
to-belly suplex. He went for the pinfall, getting a two count. Cult Master
choked O'Conner into the canvas, before attempting another fall, but Captain
O'Conner kicked out even quicker this time. Frustrated, he then began
smashing O'Connor's head repeatedly into the canvas, screaming that the
"banshee will die tonight." The referee backed off The Cult Master, so the
champ pulled up O'Conner by the arm. O'Conner grabbed his adversary's arm and
turned it into an armbar takedown. The mortal enemies got their feet, with
Cult Master charging the Captain, but O'Conner took him back to the mat with
a hiptoss. Cult Master was able to get up, but Captain O'Conner stayed on
him, delivering a flurry of punches to the head and shoulders, then whipping
Cult Master into the ropes. On the return, O'Conner took him over with a
double underhook suplex. A cover got him 2, so the Captain continued his
offense. He hooked Cult Master's arm once more, and hooked a kick right into
his midsection. O'Conner dropped an elbow and got another two count. The
Captain allowed his opponent to slowly reach his feet, but then wasted no
motion in taking him over with a belly to-back suplex. The crowd roared its
approval, knowing full well that Captain Patrick O'Conner's series of
suplexes more often than not lead to the end for his opponents. The Captain
maintained the waistlock, and took the world champion over for a second time.
He moves slower now, but O'Conner still held Cult Master by the waist. He
hoisted up, but was taken down with a reverse Russian legsweep from Cult
Master. The two icons lay on the mat for a referee's eight count, until they
both shook off the toll of battle, got to their feet, and continued the
match. They exchanged punches as passionately as they have in battles of the
past, until Cult Master ducked one, and dropped O'Conner with a DDT. From
there, the leader of the Cult jumped on him, pulling his legs back and locking in a Boston Crab. The Cult Master reared back, but O'Conner slowly but surely lifted himself off the mat, a look of determination on his face ... but the pain was too much; he collapsed back down. The crowd was louder than before, egging the legend on, and indeed, the Captain made a slow crawl to
the ropes. The Cult Master pulled him back toward center ring, but the Captain would not have it, he thrust with all his might and kicked out of the move. With O'Conner still down, Cult Master used the ropes to pull himself up, then climbed to the second turnbuckle. He jumped off with an axehandle, but the Captain buried a fist into his midsection. With the champion hunched
over, O'Conner regained full verticality and furiously buried rights and lefts into The Cult Master. He finished the sequence with a judo throw, lifted up his enemy, and took him over with a German suplex, holding it for a pin attempt, the ref counted to two and a half before The Cult Master raised an arm and the crowd collectively gasped. Without hesitation, Patrick
O'Conner pulled his opponent up, and whipped him into the turnbuckles. The Captain charged in, but was met with a boot from the champion. The Cult Master reversed O'Conner into the turnbuckles, and rapidly buried a series of shoulderblocks into his opponent. And then, he lifted the Captain to the top turnbuckle and followed him up ... hooked the leg ... but Captain O'Conner blocked the Final Prayer! The Cult Master tried again, but to no avail, and O'Conner attempted to reverse the move high above the ring! At long last, O'Conner got The Cult Master into position for his own version of the champion's finisher, but as he lifted, Cult Master shifted his weight at the last moment, and both men landed awkwardly on the canvas; The Cult Master
getting the best of the situation, he landed on top, his feet ended up draped on the ropes, and the referee counted to three! Captain O'Conner kicked out a second too late, and it was The Cult Master who won the epic battle on this night, allowing him to take his world title into the King of Kings.
Underwood: Damn it! Oh I tell you I thought O'Conner had it. He blocked the Final Prayer twice, and I was certain we were going to see a new world champion crowned. But somehow, some way, The Cult Master retains, and he'll go on to the King of Kings match later tonight. This has to be a huge disappointment for Captain O'Conner.
Kogler: You know Underwood, as much as I can't stand the guy, I have to admit that I thought all the religious mumbo jumbo and past memories just might be enough to propel O'Conner to glory one more time here at Blaze Of Glory. But it looks like old Pegleg's night is cut a bit short thanks to his most hated foe! The Cult Master keeps the gold and heads for the King of Kings match, but all in all, that was one hell of a battle!
Underwood: That it was, and I'm sure we have not seen the last of this war between these two men. O'Conner and The Cult Master can not co-exist in the same federation, we have seen that before, and I'm sure as I'm sure that I'm sitting here in front of you tonight that there will be another day for these two men to square off inside the ring. We go now from that wild world championship match to another title match; that's right, they don't stop coming here at Blaze of Glory as the tag team championship is about to be decided. A number of excellent teams have competed for these spots over the past few weeks, including Harbinger & The Destroyer and McBain & Achica, but tonight it comes down to The Crimson Guild against The Family, with the winners moving on to join The Cult Master in the prestigious King of Kings match.
EWI TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Champions
Lance Stanton &
The Daemon Knight
with Page
~VS.~
Challengers
Psychotic Sam &
The Joker's Child
with Ponch
*****
As Psychotic Sam and The Joker's Child waited in the ring, "Kashmir" blasted over the loudspeakers as the fans began to boo vigorously. Lance Stanton emerged first from the back, bearing his usual cocky smile and his tag title slung over his shoulder. Daemon Knight followed from behind, catching up to his tag partner to walk side by side with him, in a show of unity. Behind them walked a made-over Page, who wore a red pvc top and shirt, with black fishnet covering her legs and arms, as well as a red ankh that was tattooed over her right eye. Stanton and Knight got into the ring and discussed some things before having Stanton start off against The Joker's Child. The two locked up, and Stanton quickly hit an armdrag takedown followed by an armbar and a DDT. He picked the Joker's Child up and threw him into the ropes, connecting with a spinning heel kick as Joker came off. Stanton followed it up with a legdrop. He picked the clown up and tagged Knight, holding him so that Knight could connect with a mafia kick to the face. He then picked JC up and whipped him into the ropes, hitting a release spinebuster. He picked JC up once more, lifting him high in the air in a military press. He then dropped the clown to the mat and then tagged in Stanton. Knight lifted Joker's Child onto his shoulders, so that Stanton could dropkick Child's off of his shoulders! Stanton picked the Joker up, but the clown poked his thumb in Stanton's eye, distracting him long enough to tag in Psychotic Sam. Sam went on a rampage, knocking Stanton down and Knight soon thereafter. Sam picked Stanton up and backed him into the corner, nailing him with several punches. As this was happening, Harbinger and The Destroyer came out of the back, The Destroyer weilding a chair covered in barbed-wire. While Harbinger distracted the referee, The Destroyer rolled into the ring, reached back, and nailed Sam over the head with the lethal chair! The Destroyer then grabbed Stanton and threw him down onto Sam before rolling out of the ring and going after Joker's Child. Harbinger joined The Destroyer in the beat down, directing the ref's attentions back into the ring, where he saw Stanton pinning Sam. The ref dropped down and counted 1....2....3 to give The Crimson Guild the win. Harbinger and The Destroyer stalked to the back as Stanton, Knight, and Page looked on from the ring, a confused look on their faces.
Underwood: Lance Stanton and The Daemon Knight retain, and they'll be back later on tonight in the King of Kings match.
Kogler: The World Title match we saw earlier could have gone either way, but I'd have to call this one as somewhat of an upset. The Joker's Child may barely have control of his nutty buddy, and the whole Family may be a little out there, but a relatively new team like The Crimson Guild taking it to the ring veterans like that? I don't say this very often, but I'm impressed!
Underwood: Of course let's not forget the Cult's involvement in this match. I wonder if they weren't sent out here with the intention of keeping Sam and Joker, like you said two ring veterans and Sam himself a former world champion, out of the King of Kings match. The Cult Master is in, and I'm sure his followers would love to see their leader take the easiest road to victory possible later on tonight. That's not a knock on Lance Stanton or The Daemon Knight, but they are not experienced and, I would have to say, not the threat to the world championship that Psychotic Sam or The Joker's Child could be if they're on top of their game. Regardless, that won't be an issue as Stanton and the Knight have advanced, and with 3/5 of the title picture already set for later on we take you to another tag team match, this time to be contested under elimination rules as Charles Childs and Jaden take on The Mental Brothers, with a shot at the tag team titles possibly in the future for whichever team can pull out a victory here live in Sacramento at Blaze of Glory.
ELIMINATION MATCH
The Mental Brothers
(Larry & Jerry)
~VS.~
Jaden &
Charles Childs
*****
As Charles Childs and Jaden waited in the ring, "Orgallo" blasted through the loudspeakers as Larry and Jerry Mental burst out of the back and ran to the ring. The duo slid under the ropes and were met with dropkicks from both Childs and Jaden. Larry and Jerry both shot to their feet, but both were whipped into the ropes. Jerry came off and hit a flying clothesline on Jaden, and Larry ducked under a superkick from Childs, turned, and applied a sleeper hold. Jaden shot up and began brawling with Jerry, so much so that they fell out of the ring. Meanwhile, Childs flung Larry over his shoulder and hit an elbow drop to the man. He then picked Larry up and hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the man. Jaden, meanwhile, had gotten the advantage on the outside and slid back into the ring. Charles and Jaden flung Larry into the ropes and hit a double-dropkick as he came off the ropes. Just then, a man recognizable as Riot from the OWA ran down to the ring area and distracted Charles and Jaden, flinging a cactus into the ring. This gave Jerry an opening, as he slid into the ring and rolled up Jaden, pinning him and leaving Charles all on his own. Riot left as soon as he came, as he was chased to the back by an angry Jaden, and now it was down to the two Mental Brothers against Charles Childs. Larry charged Childs, but Charles ducked, sending him over the top rope and hard to the floor. Childs and Jerry then went at it, trading left and rights, before Childs hit a boot to his midestion and grabbed him and sent him over with a fisherman's suplex. Jerry kicked mightily, but was unable to kick out, and was eliminated with a three count. Just then, however, as Jerry Mental made his way to the back, Larry came in and attacked Charles, who was just rising to his feet. After a few punches he sent Childs into the ropes, hitting a back-body drop as he came off. Larry then mounted Childs, landing a flurry of punches before getting up and motioning to the crowd, who booed heavily. Mental even went so far as to go to the second turnbuckle to cheer himself on to the crowd, but this gave Childs the opening he needed. Getting up, he charged the unaware Mental Brother and climbed to the second turnbuckle with his opponent, grabbed Larry's head, and hit a devastating tornado DDT off the second turnbuckle! Childs quickly went for the pin, and the referee counted the 1...2...3 to award the match to Childs.
Kogler: I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this one - after all, you've
got funky rules, a technician, a martial artist, and a pair of nutbags! But wrestling wins out over brawling in this wild affair, Charles Childs is your sole survivor!
Underwood: Yes indeed, an impressive performance from Charles Childs, outlasting both Mental Brothers after Jaden was eliminated early on to win the match for his team. Childs and Jaden were unsuccessful in a recent title match against The Crimson Guild, but after tonight's performance one would have to think that they are right back in line for another championship opportunity. And speaking of title opportunities, our next championship match is up next; this time for the EWI hardcore title. Heavy D, fresh off an impressive string of victories that have included two wins over The Destroyer and a win over Charles Childs this past Monday night, puts the belt up against Virus Richards. I tell you Adam, this Virus Richards absolutely makes me sick. I have never in my life been around anyone who is a bigger liar or more insincere than this guy.
Kogler: Why, Underwood? Why must everyone in the EWI attack the character of Virus Richards? You know, I talked to Mr. Richards earlier tonight, and he was so upset about all these crazy accusations floating around, that he could barely focus on tonight's Hardcore Title match! Luckily, The Greatest Mind in Wrestling was there to reassure him that he can get the job done against a human turd like Heavy D!
