With a loud bang and a flash of blue, green, and white pyro, the EWI Collision is on the air. The Collision theme song, Creed's "Bullets", blares over the loudspaker as the arena is 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, "Hostile" replaced the Collision theme, as an oddly subdued Adam Kogler slowly walked to the ring, ignoring the taunts and jeers of the fans. He gradually climbed the steps, then entered the ring and asked for a mic. After raising his hand in the air in a feeble attempt to quiet the booing crowd, Kogler simply rode it out until his voice could be heard.
Kogler: EWI, I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. I've thought long and hard, and I may regret this decision down the road, but ... it's time for the Greatest Mind in Wrestling to turn in his manager's license.
The crowd erupted into cheers at the drop of a hat.
Kogler: Yeah yeah, go on, have your fun. I've just decided to focus on another medium, that's all! You can't get rid of me that easily - I'll still be sitting next to my old pal
Blake every week, providing you fans with unbiased and insightful commentary!
The crowd reaction once again changed to boos.
Kogler: But the reason I'm here tonight ... I like to consider myself a manager of Champions. When you associate with Adam Kogler, you become a winner! And with that said, I'd like to introduce you to the man that did me proud at Destiny, the man who dropped that fat sack of crap, Heavy D, to win the Universal Title! And the man who is going to do it again tonight! Give it up for your Universal Champion, Rukuss!
"Bomb First" led the massive Universal Champion to the ring, seemingly unaffected by the overwhelmingly negative reaction, concentrating on the
newly won universal title slung over his shoulder. Rukuss stepped over the top rope, shook hands with Kogler, then folded his arms and stood behind him as Kogler continued to speak.
Kogler: Now THIS is a man that did me proud! This is a man that upheld the Kogler tradition where it counted most! But as proud as I am of Rukuss ... there's someone else. Someone I'm forgetting ...... oh yes. Hit the music!
Quiet Riot's "Bang Your Head" struck up, as all eyes turned toward the entranceway. Nothing happened for several moments, as Blake Underwood speculated at ringside as to whether or not this was another Kogler trick. Finally, Twisted Steel made his way into the aisle in black jeans, a plain black cutoff shirt, and with his usually thick hair wet and matted down. He
extended his arms across his chest with a confused look on his face, almost as if he didn't know he was going to be called to the ring. Nevertheless, he made he way into the ring, and after a quick glance at Rukuss, stood directly in front of his manager.
Kogler: Now Steel, I know you weren't expecting to come out here tonight. You
just lost the World Title to The Cult Master in front of millions of people,
and this is the LAST place you'd want to be tonight! But don't worry, because
Steel, you still have quite a lot to be proud of!
Twisted Steel, still with a wary expression on his face, stood still and
waited for Kogler to continue.
Kogler: Ever since you broke into this business, you've been a winner! We ran
roughshod through the MMP, ICW, CWA; the ABC's, XYZ's, you dominated them
all! Title after Title after Title! No one could stop us, victim after victim
felt the Steel. You pushed on, kicking ass and taking names, until you
arrived in the EWI. That's when you went through 15 other men, including the
very man who wears the World Title now, to become the first ever EWI World
Champion! And then...
Kogler: ...you lost! One month later, not even a cup of coffee's worth, you
LOST! What about me? What about the man that BROUGHT you to the top?! What
about my paycheck, Steel? I'm not getting that "World Champion's manager"
money anymore! After all the blood, the sweat, the 2 years of time and money
I put into you, you pay me back with a month?!
Kogler began screaming and poking Steel in the chest.
Kogler: Well let me tell you something, Twisted Steel, failure is NOT
something I ta-
Twisted Steel grabbed the microphone and Kogler's arm in conjunction, lifting
him up and getting visibly angry after remaining stagnant throughout Kogler's
tirade. A face mixed with shock and disgust, Steel was about to act, but from
behind, Rukuss locked in a full nelson, then nailed Steel with the Living
End! Rukuss stomped away at the former world champion as Kogler slid out of
the ring. Before long, Kogler has slid a table into the ring as Rukuss
brought Steel to his feet. Suddenly, Steel speared Rukuss into the
turnbuckles, drawing a pop from the crowd, and it only increased as an
incensed Steel turned toward Adam Kogler. Steel lifted him up by the shirt,
but as he did, Kogler snuck a silver crowbar out of his pants and slid it
across the ring. As Steel prepared to unleash, he was met with a vicious
crowbar shot to the back of the head from Rukuss. Rukuss continued to pound
away at Steel with the crowbar at Kogler's insistence, until Steel laid face
down and motionless. When Rukuss pulled Steel up, his face was a bloody mess,
but that didn't stop Rukuss from delivering his trademark move, the Bomb
First, slamming Steel into the mat. Steel was clearly down and out, but
Kogler was jumping and screaming, pointing to the table. Rukuss obliged,
pulling Steel over to the table, setting him up, and giving him a second dose
of his finisher, this time through the table! Rukuss dropped the silver
crowbar onto a battered and blooded Twisted Steel's chest, as Adam Kogler
picked up the mic from the canvas.
Kogler: In case you haven't figured it out, Terry .... this is the living
end!!
As Rukuss left the ring and headed backstage with the universal title, Kogler
flung the mic to the canvas and exited the ring, heading to his position at
the announcer's table.
Underwood: Welcome to Collision everybody. What in the world....Adam Kogler, what...
Kogler: Well, glad that's out of the way. What's up first tonight, Underwood?
Underwood: Are you out of your mind? You're turning your back on Twisted Steel, the man who helped you make your mark in this business, based on one match? Do you have any idea what you're doing?
Kogler: Do you have any idea what you're talking about, Underwood? Any idea
at all?! I let that kid sponge off of me and my resources for two long years!
I put up with all the stupid skits, all the slacking off, and all the crappy
80's metal because I saw a winner! And I was right, until he literally choked
on his destiny at Destiny! He choked, Underwood! It was all for nothing! My
world title is gone!
Underwood: Great. I can see this is going to be another long night. If I were you, I'd be praying that Twisted Steel doesn't find his way out here again. I don't see Rukuss around anywhere, you might actually have to answer for yourself this time. Folks, what a wild way to kick things off here at Collision, and with all that's going on we're going to send you right to the ring. Two of the most impressive newcomers in recent weeks here in EWI are about to meet in singles action as Mikhail Androsovich puts his impressive undefeated streak on the line against the man who absolutely destroyed The Overnight Male a couple of weeks ago at Destiny, the ominous Prophet, live tonight at Collision.
Mikhail Androsovich
~VS.~
The Prophet
*****
Before either participant could be introduced, Daron Manners made his way down to ringside unannounced with two cups of coffee in hand. He set one down in front of both Underwood and Kogler, then put on a headset and joined the duo at the announce position. As Manners sat down, the arena went dark. The sounds of "Dies Irae" filled the arena, and when the lights came back up Mikhail Androsovich was standing in the ring, leaning back casually against the ropes. He soon came to attention as "Clubbed to Death" began to play, signifying the arrival of The Prophet. The grey-skinned man strode slowly down to the ring and stepped through the ropes as his opponent watched cautiously from across the ring the whole time. As Prophet moved towards the center of the ring, Androsovich proceeded carefully. The Russian moved in quickly, but backed away at the last second, avoiding the lockup. He then circled around, sizing up his much larger opponent, who watched his opponent carefully but did not do anything to initiate contact. The crowd started to get restless with the slow early moments, and some even began to boo to show their disapproval. Mikhail finally thought he saw his opening and shot in, but caught an equally quick boot to the face which knocked him flat on his back. The big man took advantage quickly, pulling Mikhail up and sending him into the ropes. As he rebounded, Mikhail was taken over and driven down with a devastating powerslam. Rather than go for a cover, though, Prophet continued the assault. He yanked Mikhail up and hoisted him high in the air in a gorilla press with ease. Before he could slam Mikhail down, though, the agile Russian slid down the back, landing behind his startled opponent. Before Prophet could turn, Mikhail grabbed his ankle, and using his shoulder against the back of the leg, drove Prophet into the turnbuckle. He then tried to hoist Prophet up with an atomic drop, but the mysterious grey man was just too big and easily countered with an elbow to the back of the head. After dropping an elbow down across Mikhail's chest, Prophet slid to the outside and broke apart the steel ring steps. Prophet set the top part of the steps next to the bottom section and crawled back into the ring, where he set Mikhail up on the top rope. He then climbed up to the top himself and readied Mikhail for a Prophecy down onto the steps below, but just at the last moment Mikhail blocked it, and in a miraculous show of strength took advantage of Prophet's off balance position and took him over with a superplex, slamming Prophet hard to the canvas. After taking a moment to catch his wind, Mikhail got up and delivered a pair of quick elbowdrops to his opponent's chest. Prophet didn't stay down, but neither did Mikhail let up. As Prophet was trying to get to his feet Mikhail applied an armwringer to control the big man, and delivered a series of kicks to the ribcage. He then hooked Prophet in a front facelock and drove him down with a DDT! Mikhail made the cover, but after a two count Prophet's arm shot up with authority. As Prophet struggled to his feet Mikhail backed off to re-think his attack, and once his opponent was up he charged in. Prophet, though, saw him coming, and caught Mikhail with a stiff clothesline, knocking him head over heels. He pulled Mikhail up and dumped him through the ropes to the outside and ran him into the ring post. The referee shouted at Prophet to get back in the ring, but the giant man responded by pulling Mikhail up and delivering a chokeslam, right on the concrete floor! He then rolled Mikhail's limp body back into the ring and, ignoring the referee's scoldings, hoisted the Russian up to the top rope. From there Mikhail, reeling from the chokeslam outside the ring, offered little resistance as Prophet drove him down with the Prophecy DDT from the top rope! Prophet then only had to cross Mikhail's arms over his chest and cover him for the three count, glaring down and snarling "I have SEEN IT!!" at his fallen opponent as the bell sounded and The Prophet was declared the winner.
Manners: WOW I can't believe that, I was so betting on Mikail. Who woulda thunk it, the Prohpet eh? Weird. Anyways uhh.. thanks for letting me sit here for the match guys.
Kogler: Sure thing, buddy; great having you. Anytime you want to come back,
you just-
Manners: No way...
Manners got up from the announce position and turned his attention to a man in a suit passing out flyers in the audience. He hopped over the guardrail and went towards the man.
Kogler: Who the hell let that screwed up little reject into MY booth? Did you put the OK on this one, Underwood? You know what, you two deserve each other; why not replace me next week with Daron Manners? Can you imagine that? Can you imagine an announce table without the Greatest Mind in Wrestling?
Underwood: Do you really want me to answer that? What's going on in the crowd with Daron Manners and that man in the suit? Let's see if we can listen in...
The shot shifts over to Manners as he grabs the man in the suit. The flyers the man is passing out feature former DOA wrestler Larry Mental.
Daron: Eddy O, what are you handing out? Flyers with Larry Mental on them? You brought him to the EWI? He said he wasn't coming.
Eddy O: Well I got him since you said I couldn't manage you. I'm sticking with a winner. No one needs aloser like you!
Manners clenched his fists, then suddenly nailed Eddy O with a clothesline, taking him clean off his feet. Realizing his mistake almost immediately, Manners started apologizing and helped Eddy O to his feet. Eddy walked away, clearly angry, with Manners following and continuing to apologize.
Underwood: An interesting situation developing there with Daron Manners. Did you get a look at those flyers, Adam? Do you know anything about this Larry Mental? I'm not aware of any new signings with EWI. We'll have to see if we can get more information on this before we go off the air tonight. For now, it's back to the ring and the debut of the newest product of the Valentine School of Wrestling, Walter "The Assassin" Placer. We've heard good things about this man from those who have seen him in action, but I wonder if he's getting in over his head making his debut against a man the stature of Benjamin Childs. Childs as you know has held championships in just about every promotion he has been in, and is regarded as one of the cornerstones of The Cult. This will be a huge test for the rookie in his first match tonight.
Benjamin Childs
~VS.~
Walter "The Assassin" Placer
with Caitlin Valentine
*****
The lights went out, and a voice boomed over the loudspeakers: "I am the new way to go. I am the way of the future!". The stage then exploded in pyro as out walked former OWA World Champion Caitlin Valentine, who was met with a standing ovation from the capacity crowd. Following behind her was the EWI newcomer "The Assassin" Walter Placer. As the two made their way to ringside, however, Benjamin Childs charged out and nailed Placer with a massive clothesline to the back of the head. Following behind the Cult member were several hooded Cult minions. As Childs stomped away at the small of Placer's back, the minions surrounded Valentine. A large minion came from behind her and applied a full nelson, while another minion produced a pair of handcuffs. They handcuffed Valentine, and then several of them dragged her, kicking and fighting, to the back, encouraging heavy booing from the audience. The large minion remained, and pulled back his hood to reveal Zane. Zane and the remaining minions then went to ringside and set up two tables side by side. Meanwhile, Childs had grabbed Placer and whipped him into the guardrail. The Cult Enforcer hit several kicks to the ribs of the newcomer before hitting a full nelson slam to the arena floor! Childs then picked Placer up and rolled him into the ring, following closely behind. Childs picked Placer up and pused him into the corner. The referee immediately stepped in an attempt to break the hold. Childs attempted to throw an elbow to Placer, but the Assassin ducked and moved out from the corner, nailing Childs with several punches to the ribs and kidneys. This staggered the big man, and Placer sent him down with a clothesline followed by a fist drop. Placer went for the pin, but barely got a one-count before Child powered out of the pin. Childs immediately got up, but was met with a kick to the back of the knee by Placer, follwed by several elbow shots to Childs' head. With Childs back on the mat, Placer applied a Boston crab, wrenching back with all his might. Childs, however, being a big man, was able to get to the ropes in a semi-quick fashion, forcing Placer to break the hold. Placer allowed Childs to get up, but then quickly grabbed him by the leg, sending Childs down to the mat with a crash. Placer immediately applied a figure-four leglock. Childs, still aware of his position, was able to use his size advantage to flip Placer over and reverse the hold. Placer reacted quickly, however, and managed to get up to his feet. With some maneuvering, the Assassin turned the hold into a Texas cloverleaf! Childs squirmed in pain, as he managed to get himself to the ropes once more. The hold was broken, and once more, Placer allowed Childs to get to his feet. He then grabbed the Cult Master's "Enforcer", and attempted an Irish whip. Childs reversed it, however, and as Placer came off the ropes he was met with a big powerslam. Slow to his feet, Childs got up and lifted Placer up, sending him into the turnbuckle, followed by an avalanche. Placer stumbled out of the corner, and was met with a Samoan drop by Childs. The two men lay for a moment in the middle of the ring, until Childs began to stir. By the time Childs had gotten to his feet, Placer was on one knee. As Childs moved in, however, Placer shot up and attempted a clothesline. Childs ducked under it, however, and grabbed Placer. He lifted him up into the air, and threw him to the outside, through the two nearby tables! As the referee admonished Childs for his tactics, Zane moved around and picked Placer up in a bear hug, before ramming him back-first into the steel ringpost. He then rolled the newcomer back into the ring, and Childs was right on him. He set Placer up in a tree of woe in the turnbuckles, and then hit a few shoulder blocks to his opponent's ribs. The referee immediately stepped in and ordered Childs to free Placer. Meanwhile, Zane moved around and grabbed Placer's arms from the outside, pulling back to stretch his arms and ribs. Zane eventually let go and Childs moved back in, and released Placer from the turnbuckles. He then immediately picked Placer up and executed three consecutive backbreakers. He then went for the pin, but lifted Placer's head up after the two count. The referee was quick to admonish Childs, who simply glared menacingly back at the official. Childs then applied an abdominal stretch. He held onto the move for some time but eventually, summoning a second wind, Placer managed to break out of the hold and take Childs over with a hiptoss. Enraged and surprised, Childs shot up and grabbed Placer, attempting an Irish whip. Placer reversed the whip, followed by a Childs reversal and an attempt at an elbow block. Placer ducked under Childs' arm, however, and kicked Childs in the back of the knee. As the big Cult member went down, Placer applied his Head Shot sleeper hold!!! Summoning all of his remaining strength, Placer wrestled Childs to the ground and sinched on the hold, not allowing Childs to move out of it. After quite some time in the hold, the referee went to Childs and lifted his arm, which fell to the mat. He lifted the arm again, and Childs' arm once more fell. The referee then lifted the arm for the third time, and once more Childs' arm fell to the mat! The referee called for the bell and awarded the match to Walter Placer, who collapsed in a heap in the middle of the ring. The crowd cheered wildly as Zane and the stunned Cult minions grabbed the still groggy Childs and helped him to the back.
Underwood: Can you believe it? This could be the biggest upset we've seen to date in EWI! Walter Placer has defeated Benjamin Childs in his very first match! The reports were true; this man is the real thing. I...I don't believe it...
Kogler: You know what, this just pisses me off even more. Before Destiny, the great Benjamin Childs was the only person to have ever pinned Twisted Steel. And here tonight, he goes and loses to- what's this guy's name? Walter Placekicker? Yeah, he loses to Willie Placemat in his first EWI match! Is the whole wrestling world against me, or what?
Underwood: Not that I know of, although these little temper tantrums of yours are kind of entertaining, so who knows. An interesting situation our next match, our first of two championship matches still to come tonight here at Collision. The tag team championship is about to be decided, but to my knowledge this will be the first time ever that the challenging team of Ronin and Mystikal has ever teamed up. Will they be able to overcome that disadvantaged against such a decorated and experienced team as our current tag champions, Harbinger and The Destroyer? We're about to find out, the tag team titles are on the line!
EWI TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Champions
Harbinger &
EWI Hardcore Champion
The Destroyer
~VS.~
Challengers
Ronin &
Mystikal
with Kachiko
*****
The crowd began cheering as "Ressurrection" by Moist hit the arena speakers,
bringing with it an explosion of white flame down the length of the ramp.
From the smoke and flame emerged Ronin and his lady Kachiko. Ronin headed
down to stand outside the ring, turning back to face the ramp and motioning
someone out from the back. At this point, the arena lights faded, until it
became bathed in an eerie red glow. The sounds of a rattling projector could
be heard behind short, intense guitar riffs, and on the big screen, a
silhouette appeared in a foggy backdrop. Finally, a pair of red eyes pierced
the screen, briefly illuminating the grim, smiling visage of Nick Sinister
before the lights again faded. This time, the sound of rain was heard
hammering down, which gave way to "I Disappear" by Metallica playing over the
speakers. When the lights returned, Mystikal stood in the center of the ring,
beckoning the tag team champions as a wary Ronin rolled in to join his
partner. As Ronin and Mystikal waited in the ring, "Fell on Black Days" by
Soundgarden began to play, signaling the entrance of the EWI tag team
champions, Harbinger and The Destroyer. The two entered the ring, and
Harbinger faced off with Mystikal as the bell sounded and their partners left
the ring. The two locked up, and most uncharacteristically, Harbinger applied
an armbar. Soon after it was applied, however, Harbinger began to bite down
hard on Mystikal's arm! Mystikal yelled in pain as the ref stepped in,
breaking the hold. Harbinger moved in again, and shoved Mystikal into the
corner. Harbinger relentlessly climbed to the second rope and began choking
Mystikal, soon to be shoved off. Undaunted, Harbinger flew at Mystikal with a
spear, but Mystikal propelled himself up and over his charging opponent using
the top rope, then made the tag to Ronin. Harbinger attempted to pounce upon
his challenger, but Ronin swung around behind with a standing switch,
dropping Harbinger with a ridgehand to the back of the neck and a stiff kick
to the spine. Ronin pulled Harbinger up and sent him into the ropes, then
swiped him down with a spinning heel kick, and finished with an elbow across
the throat. Ronin then tagged in Mystikal, as Harbinger used the ropes to
pull himself up and tag in his massive teammate. Before Destroyer could make
a move, Ronin and Mystikal both jumped at him with a double dropkick, sending
the big man into the ropes. The Destroyer, however, came off with a huge
double clothesline that felled both men. The referee made sure to direct
Ronin out of the ring, leaving Mystikal alone with Destroyer. Mystikal
attacked the hardcore champion with some hard knife-edge chops, but they only
seemed to ire The Destroyer, who responded simply by grabbing Mystikal in a
bearhug and taking him over with a belly-to-belly suplex. He calmly grabbed
his fallen opponent, then pressed him high above his head, until finally
slamming him down to the canvas. Keeping with his methodical pace, Destroyer
slowly locked Mystikal in an STF. Mystikal quickly grabbed for the ropes,
forcing the break. Harbinger was then tagged in, as Destroyer put his foot
over the top rope. Mystikal was rammed into the boot face first, but was able
to duck a haymaker from Harbinger and whip him into the turnbuckles; not
before the blind tag was made by The Destroyer. Ronin was quickly tagged in,
as Mystikal Irish whipped his own partner into Harbinger with a Dragonfly
splash before leaving the ring. Mystikal was quickly tagged in, then both men
took down Destroyer, who had just entered the ring, with a double DDT.
Mystikal climbed to the top rope, then came off with a flying frog splash -
but he became stuck in place, as the massive Destroyer caught him on the mat,
rose to his feet, and nailed a backbreaker! As Harbinger wildly thrashed
after Ronin, The Destroyer rolled Mystikal into the Will Breaker, getting the
submission victory for his team soon afterward.
Kogler: No surprise there Underwood, Ronin's new partner is doing as much for him as his old one. In my opinion, those belts are staying with The Cult for a long time. And what's Nick Sinister's place in all this? How are all these guys getting on the screen and making scary eye faces at people? Oh well, it doesn't matter, because the man I guided to the second highest EWI Title in a matter of weeks is up next, isn't that right?
Underwood: That's right, our main event tonight is a return match from Destiny for the universal championship. Rukuss, the new champion amidst some very suspect circumstances, defends against the man he won the title from only about ten days ago, his former best friend, Heavy D. Gee Adam, I wonder if Twisted Steel is going to show up...
