Casanova English Vs. Matt Slater
The crowd cheer loudly as "Subconscious" by Yonosuke Kitamura begins to play, prompting the arena lights to fade distinctly. At the song's inception, only a couple of white lights remain on the stage. However, once the bass beats conclude, giving way to a melodic guitar riff, they are joined by powerful blue and white lights. These lights begin to circle around the arena as the song properly kicks in, introducing the arrival of Matt Slater. The Silver Knight walks out from behind the curtain, wearing his customary wrestling gear and a waist-length silver jacket. Slater scans the crowd from the stage and walks to each side, giving the fans a closer look at his arrival. Before long he returns to the center of the aisle and looks towards the ring, eventually embarking on a brisk walk down the aisle.
Jerry Heisenberg: The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is your MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! Introducing first, he hails from Manchester, England and weighed in tonight at 224lbs… he is “The Silver Knight”... MATT SLATER!!!
Axel Reid: Over one year ago, this man thought he had to retire forever from Professional Wrestling. But ever since Armed and Dangerous, we have seen that Matt Slater still has a lot left to contribute to this sport. He may still be feeling some of the effects of his previous injuries, but his heart has not allowed him to walk away. He adores this business, and he wants to have another run and give these people something to remember.
Ruby Parvati: Or he can give them the chance to see his neck get broken whenever he wrestles. What caring wrestler could offer more to his fanbase?
Axel Reid: Do you have to be so negative about him?
Ruby Parvati: Why yes, because clearly he has his mind on other things… those other things being of a certain woman he once had in his life… and if he continues thinking of her, he’ll make a mistake and pay the ultimate price.
Slater reaches the ringside area and uses the stairs to ascend onto the apron. Looking around momentarily, Slater leaps up onto the top rope from the corner, keeping one foot on the top rope and the other on the middle rope. He embraces the cheers with a spread of his arms, absorbing the atmosphere of the moment before he jumps down into the ring. Upon listening to their calls, soaking in the numerous reactions from the crowd, Slater walks to the ropes facing the hard-camera and raises his arms, receiving a stronger ovation in the process. The crowd continue to cheer him as he lowers his arms, which leads to him removing his jacket and passing it to a staff member at ringside.
Axel Reid: Well this match is not about Cera… although why Slater wishes to help her is another story. This match is about proving something to our current World Champion. It’s about proving that he’s still able to go, even with the injuries that took him out for over a year at the young age of 30. He’s now 31, and he looks to be in decent shape.
Ruby Parvati: Until he’s being stretchered out of here with a neck brace on. Then that’s the only shape he’ll have for the rest of his life!
The crowd chant for Slater as he stands in the ring, focused on nothing but the entrance. Suddenly the lights go dim as the eerie voice of a former member of the notorious Manson Family rings through the arena.
"yeah, I remember her saying:
I'm already dead... I'm already dead... I'm already dead..."
The lights flicker revealing Casanova English on the stage the crowd boos loudly as the voice continues.
Ruby Parvati: And here’s the man that could very well make my prediction come true!
"You're going to get up and scream. I'm already dead... I'm already dead... I'm already dead..."
You're going to get up and-
Burn an x in your head."
Pyro blasts off and the lights turn back on as Casanova English takes a long drag off his already lit cigarette, his leather jacket hung loosely over his shoulders. He scowls at the crowd before walking down the ramp slowly.
Jerry Heisenberg: And his opponent, he hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and weighed in tonight at 200lbs… he is “The Modern Day Messiah” and the current VoW Visionary World Champion… CASANOVA ENGLISH!!!
Axel Reid: At our last event, English was involved in a controversial Tag Team Match that ended when his Orphanage partner Matt Robinson pinned Tyron Bickerton after a low blow when he was not the legal man. Whether we will witness another controversial conclusion is unclear, but what I can tell you is that there will be no Robinson. There will be no Winter Pine. There won’t even be Valquist. This match is about English battling alone against Slater, a man he once defeated and the man that English credits for giving him the step-up he needed to get to the top.
Ruby Parvati: And he will do so again, Axel. Mark my words.
Axel Reid: Are you that confident in his ability?
Ruby Parvati: Why wouldn’t I be? He’s a two-time World Champion! This is merely a test for English before he seeks to retain the gold at Darkest Hour.
English stops to blow smoke in the general direction of some fans before slowly strutting up the steps onto the ring apron. He hangs his jacket on the turnbuckle before stepping through the second rope. English smirks pulling the cigarette from his lips, he blows a cloud of smoke straight up into the air and tosses his coffin nail into the crowd. English laughs as people move trying to avoid the ember, and he follows it up by uncoupling the World Championship from his waist and raising it up in front of Slater.
Axel Reid: This match will not be about the Visionary World Championship, but there is something on the line for both of these men. Slater wants to amend the loss he took to English one year ago, and English wants to prove he’s definitively better than Slater, which he may use as fuel against Valquist at Darkest Hour.
Ruby Parvati: Well in my opinion, Casanova English IS better than Matt Slater. Look at what he’s accomplished in such a short amount of time compared to what Slater has achieved in the past two years!
Axel Reid: I think it’s unfair to compare the accomplishments of someone who has been here to another that was forced to retire last year. But now that Slater says he has significantly healed from his injuries after what we can only assume was a misdiagnosis, I’m sure he would want to be the World Champion at some point in VoW. But right now, his only ambition is to defeat Casanova English, because that is all he cares about. As he said before this event… he HAS to beat English, and he made the vow to do so. No pun intended.
Ruby Parvati: It certainly won't be easy. Casanova is one of two men in VoW who has proven to be very difficult to overcome.
Axel Reid: Right... and the other is...?
Suddenly feedback screeches out of the speakers, as the titantron flashes on. It seems to be a glowing blank screen at first, until finally we see the familiar, smugly grinning face of the Xcellent Champion, Ryder Blade. This immediately draws boos from the audience, even though The X himself cannot hear them. Indeed, a caption underneath Ryder's remarkably punchable face indicates this feed is coming in 'via satellite', and the background – which appears to be a large banner covered in Sprintex's yellow-and-blue logo – is not exactly conducive to the localisation of the piece. The bottom line, however, is that Blade is not at the arena – a fact he makes clear a moment later, when he begins to talk:
Ryder Blade: 'Sup, VoW?? You know who this is! The Xcellent Champion. Mr. Main Event. Mr. Seventeen-and-One. THE longest reigning Xcel Champion in VoW HISTORY! Soon to be VoW's longest-reigning Champion OF ALL TIME...it's ya boy...The X!
Axel Reid: Does he HAVE to say the entire thing EVERY time?!
Ruby Parvati: Weren't you ever proud of your accomplishments, Axel? Wait, nevermind...you probably never had any. But The X is proud of his! Why not let him have his moment?
Axel Reid: ...he's had plenty of 'moments'...
On-screen, the Xcellent Champion continues:
Ryder Blade: Now, The X knows what all his Xcellentologists are thinking. 'What up, X-Champ? How you gonna bail out on us like that? We wanted to see an Xcellent main event! This one's gonna put us to sleep!' The X knows...the X knows...'
The boos increase again, while in the ring we see English lowering the belt he'd been raising, calmly watching the screen with a bemused expression. Slater also eyes it, but keeps most of his attention on his actual opponent. Meanwhile, via satellite, Ryder smirks.
Axel Reid: The nerve of that kid...!!!
Ryder Blade: But you see, The X has a good X-cuse why he can't be in Head In Bruh tonight. Thing is, The X has had to come back to the States to get ready for next weekend. You Xcellentologists KNOW what's going down next weekend, right? That's when ya boy... the Xcellent Champion...Mr.. Main Event...Mr. Seventeen-and-One....THE longest reigning Xcel Champion in VoW HISTORY... and soon to be VoW's longest-reigning Champion OF ALL TIME...gets to add another title to his list.
More boos ensue, as Axel Reid once again grumbles about Ryder's increasingly long list of accolades.
Ryder Blade: Next weekend...The X also gets to become the most XCELLENT King of the Cage in EWC HISTORY!!!
A (very) mild cheer gets drowned by boos, which Ryder, of course, cannot hear. As such, the Xcellent Champion is free to continue:
Ryder Blade: So yeah, Xcellentologists...The X thought it was worth it to not be Mr. Main Event, the main atraction, El Cheeso Supremo, for one week...'cause The X knew he was gonna come back even more XCELLENT than he had left! Besides, it's not fair for The X to steal EVERY show...sometimes you gotta let the less important dudes feel relevant, you dig?
Ryder smirks again, as the boos intensify.
Axel Reid: The insolence of Ryder Blade!
Ruby Parvati: He's right, though. His matches ARE the must-see events of any Breakthrough. The shows aren't as good without him...
Before Axel can intervene, the Champion speaks up again:
Ryder Blade: So you cool peeps do one thing for The X...you peeps hang in there and watch CasanOLDa English and MattSlurbater do their thing or whatever, and try not to fall asleep...and next week, you get to see The X beat up a bunch of dudes and chicks and become KING OF THE CAGE!
The X fist-pumps the air, but he seems to be the only one in attendance who is excited, as the Scottish crowd just boos some more. Matt shakes his head in annoyance, looking slightly agitated at this interruption. English is casually eyeing his championship, the hint of that smirk resting on his lips. Our view returns to the tron as Blade concludes his speech...
Ryder Blade: And when The X shows back up at Darkest Hour to whup PB&J's butt and become VoW's greatest Champion of all time...everyone is gonna get to experience...
Ryder leans into the camera, winking.
Ryder Blade: ...Maximum Xcellence.
With this, and without another word, the satellite feed cuts off on the Xcellent Champion's final words, ending the segment amidst a chorus of boos.
Axel Reid: What a douchebag. And of course he had to say all this right before our main event began.
Ruby Parvati: He might just be sending a message to both men. Ryder has such a way with words, si~gh
Axel Reid: Right............ anyway, I think we should get this match underway. Hopefully there won't be any other interruptions.
Our camera pans to the ring, onto the two competitors. Before the match officially starts, however, English approaches Slater and offers him a handshake. The crowd boo as English smiles smugly, waiting to see if Slater will accept. Instead the Silver Knight merely stares at English, maintaining a look of disapproval as the crowd cheer his decision, or lack thereof. After a few more seconds, Casanova realizes the handshake is not going to commence, and once he lowers his hand he tells Slater something that the commentators or the audience can’t hear, backing off to his corner before the referee can separate them.
Ruby Parvati: What a disrespectful act Slater just showed our World Champion. Isn’t he supposed to be an honourable man?
Axel Reid: He is an honourable man, Ruby, but you can’t exactly fault his refusal to shake English’s hand. That man threatened the existence of this company nearly a year ago, and Slater has not forgotten what he did to get the World Championship in the first place.
Ruby Parvati: But he wants an environment that offers sportsmanship. English offered him that, and he turned it down. What a damn hypocrite.
Finally, as the crowd start to chant Slater’s name, the referee signals for the bell.
DING DING DING!!!
Axel Reid: And our Main Event is underway! As I mentioned earlier, these two men have fought before, but will the result be different tonight in Edinburgh?
Ruby Parvati: After what Slater just did to English, don’t expect him to offer Slater any favors.
Axel Reid: As if he was going to to begin with…
Both men circle each other slowly, calculating what the other could potentially do from the off-set. “Slater” chants continue to resonate around the arena, eventually dying down as the two men lock-up. However, instead of engaging in a chain wrestling battle, English knees Slater in the stomach and hammers his forearm across the back of Slater’s neck, targeting the lingering injury and causing Slater to fall to one knee!
Ruby Parvati: What did I tell you, Axel! That’s what happens when you disrespect the World Champion!
Axel Reid: Well I never expected English to play fair, but this is a smart strategy. Slater has a history of neck issues, especially after he was spiked on his head by Seth Iser over a year ago, and if English concentrates on that area, then Slater is in serious trouble.
More forearms finally bring Slater down onto the canvas completely, at which point English acknowledges the crowd and gets heavy boos for his assault. He even goes so far as to step on Slater’s neck and pose triumphantly, receiving further disdain from the Scottish faithful.
Axel Reid: And look at this, Ruby. You said SLATER was being disrespectful?
Ruby Parvati: He started this entire fiasco! Therefore it’s only right for English to get some payback.
Maintaining control, English gets Slater to his feet and knees him into the corner. He starts to mudhole stomp the Silver Knight furiously, making sure that his opponent remains helpless in a tight space. However, the referee seems to have a problem with Casanova’s intensity and steps in, warning him that excessive violence in the corner can lead to a disqualification, as Slater is technically at the ropes.
Ruby Parvati: Now that’s not right. What kind of rule is that?
Axel Reid: A common one, Ruby, and honestly English should have known the referee would step in at that point.
English waves off the referee and guides Slater out of the corner, following this action up with an irish whip to the ropes. English then jumps up for a dropkick, but Slater keeps a hold of the ropes at the last second, stopping himself from running into English and watching as the World Champion lands on the canvas!
Axel Reid: English thought he had Slater set for that dropkick, but Slater had the wherewithal to stay away!
English feels his back as he gets up, only to receive a chop from the determined Silver Knight! The crowd react as they normally do from the chop, and this is followed up by a forearm strike from the proud Brit, sending English backwards towards the ropes. Slater then whips English to the opposite ropes and runs forward, catching Casanova with a kitchen sink knee strike to the abdomen!
Axel Reid: Normally Slater would chain moves and holds together to wear out his opponent, but it seems he’s taking a different approach to English tonight!
Ruby Parvati: Once again this proves how hypocritical Slater is. He could wrestle with English, but instead he’s attacking him like a street fighter.
Slater now has English primed for a suplex, and he successfully delivers a snap variation, rolling over into a lateral press cover on the champion!
ONE!
English gets his shoulder up just after one, proving it’s still too early to get a winner out of this match. Both men get back to their feet, whereby English launches a boot towards Slater’s stomach. Slater catches his foot though and spins towards the canvas quickly, torquing English’s leg with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip! Despite taking the Dragon Screw, English rolls away from a pursuing Slater and slides out of the ring, buying himself some time as the crowd boo his perceived cowardice.
Ruby Parvarti: Now why are they booing that?! That’s a smart move from English!
Axel Reid: It is a smart move, but obviously these fans are disappointed that Slater could not keep English grounded after that Dragon Screw.
English caresses his leg before he tests out walking, ignoring the crowd at ringside that boo his every movement. Meanwhile Slater remains in the ring, beckoning English to get back in and resume the match. Eventually he tries to go out to pursue English, but the referee does not want that, blocking Slater from leaving and telling him he will handle this situation, which the crowd also do not like.
Axel Reid: I hate to say this, but at least the referee is being strict with the rules instead of letting these wrestlers do whatever they please.
Ruby Parvati: Or maybe he’s just protecting Slater from English. We know how his neck is. He shouldn’t have even come back to wrestling.
English wanders around the ring, taking his time as the crowd chant “YOU SUCK CASS!”. Slater appears to be getting rather impatient, telling the referee to do his job and bring English back in. The referee is counting English out, but the champion fails to listen. Once he reaches the aisleway, he turns to one particular fan who throws a plastic cup towards him. English points him out to security, but as he does so, Slater garners the fans’ attention as he runs at the far ropes, using their momentum to dash across the ring and TAKE OUT ENGLISH WITH A SUICIDE DIVE! The crowd go ballistic as both men lie on the floor, cheering Slater’s decision to force English back into the ring!
Axel Reid: What a suicide dive from Slater! Clearly he had enough of English’s time-wasting and took matters into his own hands!
Ruby Parvati: But that could have been disastrous for him, Axel. He’s lucky he didn’t trip the rope when he dove, causing him to fall onto his head. And here I thought he was an intelligent competitor…
Slater feels his neck before he brings English back to his feet, a man who now looks disorientated from the dive. The Silver Knight easily rolls the World Champion into the ring, but it appears that English was playing possum, because as soon as Slater slides in under the ropes, English leaps to his feet and lands a hard elbow drop across the back of Slater’s neck!
Ruby Parvati: Oh how the tables have turned yet again! I knew that dive would cost him!
Axel Reid: It appears English did not suffer as much of the dive as we thought, and now he’s hammering away at Slater’s head and neck, driving that elbow down aggressively!
The crowd boo as English continues his assault, only to stop after one delayed elbow strike to Slater’s sensitive neck. The Silver Knight protects his neck with his arm as he tends to the affected area at the same time, giving English time to steadily stand up and stomp down onto Slater’s chest. Following these physical demonstrations, English pulls Slater away from the ropes and hits another elbow drop, going for a cover shortly thereafter.
ONE!
TW--
NO! Slater pops his far shoulder up, using the unsecured space to help him kick-out.
Axel Reid: Matt Slater is a very resilient competitor, but so is Casanova English. I believe we’re going to witness a number of kick-outs in this match before we get a clear winner.
Ruby Parvati: But if English continues attacking Slater’s neck, this match won’t last much longer… and neither will Slater’s in-ring career.
Continuing to control the match, English hoists Slater up and delivers a Back Suplex. Slater lands on his upper shoulders and neck, which immediately causes him to grimace and feel his neck again. The mood in the arena is poor yet concerned, with the crowd wanting Slater to come back and give English a dose of his own medicine. Meanwhile, Casanova relishes the control he has, bringing Slater up again and this time giving him a deep Neckbreaker!
Ruby Parvati: I think we’re witnessing the end of a career right here, Axel.
Axel Reid: Slater needs to battle back as soon as possible. His neck can not take any more damage, otherwise it could very well be the last time we see him compete.
English issues his trademark smirk before he kneels over Slater and strategically covers him.
ONE!
TWO!
THR--NO!
Slater manages to get his shoulders up in time before the count of three!
Ruby Parvati: Well, he’s still resisting, but not for long.
Axel Reid: No one can deny the heart Matt Slater has… not just for his matches, but for this business in general!
Changing tactics, English settles on placing Slater into a Dragon Sleeper, arching him back against his knee to exert all the energy from the Silver Knight in a painful way. Slater looks agonized as he reaches out to the distant rope, but it’s not possible for him to get there in this position. English bends Slater further backward, yet Slater persists, refusing to give in as the crowd clap and stomp their feet all around the arena.
Axel Reid: That Dragon Sleeper is locked in deep. I don’t think Slater can last much longer.
Ruby Parvati: Now you’re starting to think like me! It’s only a matter of time before he taps out or passes out! Either way, English wins!
Several moments go by in a specific sequence, with Slater going from fighting the hold, to becoming weak and going limp, and then fighting the hold again. English keeps the move applied throughout all of this, knowing it’s only a matter of time until Slater succumbs to the submission. The crowd, having died down on their encouragement, start it over again as Slater becomes limp for a third time, offering no resistance to the move whatsoever.
Ruby Parvati: This is it, Axel! This is the end!
Axel Reid: All of the energy seems to have been depleted from Matt Slater. I think the referee may have to call this one now…
Doing his duty at times like this, the referee grasps Slater’s wrist and raises his arm up. English nods, tasting victory on his lips, and the referee drops the arm… only to have Slater swing it upward and battle against the hold for a fourth time!
Axel Reid: I don’t believe this! Slater has been in this hold for so long, yet he’s still able to fight!
Ruby Parvati: YOU can’t believe it?! Look at English!
As Ruby points out, English is befuddled, looking around as Slater begins to run on adrenaline! As the crowd’s applause builds up, so does Slater’s stance, beginning to push himself up off the canvas as English seeks to retain the hold! Once Slater gets back to his feet, he is still caught in an underarm grip from the World Champion. However, with one swift motion, Slater turns over and grabs English around the waist, delivering a Northern Lights Suplex that delights the fans!
Ruby Parvati: How in the…?!
Axel Reid: SLATER HAS THE BRIDGE!
ONE!
TWO!
NO! English pops up out of the bridge, denying Slater the chance to seek redemption!
Axel Reid: English had the Dragon Sleeper applied, but somehow, someway, Slater found a way to get out of it!
Ruby Parvati: But look at him, Axel! He’s still weak!
Due to the Dragon Sleeper, and English’s other attacks that were aimed at his neck, Slater finds it difficult to stand. In fact, it is English who gets to his feet first… but he is still caught by a chop from Slater, fighting with sheer will and courage! The crowd rally behind him with more “Slater” chants, and they are rewarded with another scintillating chop! But Slater is thwarted by a knee from English, burying it square into his abdomen before laying out Slater with a Spinning Wheel Kick!
Ruby Parvati: You see? Every action Slater takes, he’ll be slower on the draw than English!
Axel Reid: And there’s another cover from the World Champion!
English has the leg hooked as the referee counts!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE--NO!
Yet again Slater kicks out! Taking his time, English stands back up and measures Slater, giving him some choice words about what he’s gotten himself into.
Axel Reid: English with the trash talk… is he attempting to compensate here, or does he truly believe he has Slater’s number?
As the crowd boo him, English runs to the ropes and jumps on the middle one, executing a Lionsault that Slater manages to roll under! Luckily Casanova rotates and lands on his feet, making sure he was not affected by his own move. But as he approaches Slater with vile intent, the Silver Knight courageously pounces and takes down English with a double leg, rolling over the World Champion with a jackknife bridge!
Axel Reid: WAIT, Slater has English rolled up!
ONE!
TWO!
TH--NO!
English pops up his shoulders, causing Slater to lose his grip and roll to the side!
Axel Reid: How Slater is still able to do this with how his neck is, I have no idea.
Ruby Parvati: Special additives maybe?
Axel Reid: What are you insinuating?
The crowd are firmly behind Slater at this point, even as he struggles to get back up yet again. However his face is frozen with determination, and when English attempts a clothesline on him, Slater ducks under and gives English a throwing German Suplex!
Ruby Parvati: Oh don’t tell me it’s started!
Axel Reid: English has awakened the Suplex Machine in Edinburgh!
The fans inside the arena roar with approval as both men get back up, with Slater grabbing English and giving him a Gutwrench Suplex! Another roar from the crowd follows, and as soon as English staggers to his feet again, he is taken down to the canvas with a T-Bone Suplex! It is clear that with each suplex Slater does his neck takes a toll, but since he is running on adrenaline and the will to win, he continues to throw English around, giving him another Gutwrench Suplex as soon as the Modern Day Messiah is able to stand!
Ruby Parvati: How long can he possibly go?!
Axel Reid: Until the task is done! Until he has defeated Casanova English, and these fans are loving it!
Despite taking all of these suplexes thus far, English still manages to get up on his own accord. He appears weary from them though, and seems to be expecting more. But instead, almost as if by instinct alone, Slater changes his tune and snaps up a hard machine gun kick! The crowd is shocked but excited, as they're suddenly cued by a glance from the Silver Knight.
After the first one, before Casanova can recover, Matt pops him with another! This time the Scottish crowd gets in on it, eagerly chanting “ENGLAND!”, making Matt show the hint of a proud smile. But he remains focused as English attempts to shake off the kicks. Slater is relentless though, swiftly moving forward for another kick!
Crowd: IRELAND!
Axel Reid: This is the same thing they did during the tag match against Cuthroat Corps! Those were suplexes... I never expected Slater to be utilizing machine gun kicks!
Ruby Parvati: This does seem a bit... out of style. Perhaps there's a reason???
Now looking worse for wear, English seems a bit dizzy, having trouble keeping his footing as Matt throws out another machine gun kick!
Crowd: WALES!
Ruby Parvati: The referee has to stop this! He’s trying to kick him to death!
Axel Reid: Well after what English has been doing to his neck, all is fair in this match!
Finally, as English looks like he's about to fall flat on his face, Slater surges forward with one last burst of energy for a powerful machine gun kick that nearly sends English flying!!!
Crowd: SCOTLAND!!!!
As English drops to the mat, the crowd applauds Slater’s tenacity as he too has fallen back onto the mat, looking at the battered World Champion as he feels his neck from the canvas.
Axel Reid: The Four Kingdoms of the UK! That was an unusual if not uncharacteristic set of events we just witnessed, brutal all the same..... Slater HAS to make a cover!
Instead of making the cover, though, Slater stumbles into the ropes. He looks over at English, who is groggily moving around on the mat. With a beckoning motion, Slater grimaces as he squats down, prepared to put Casanova down for good.
Ruby Parvati: No, English, stay down!
Axel Reid: We could be moments away from witnessing the triumph of Matt Slater here in Scotland!
Once English finds his feet, albeit leaning backwards and nearly toppling over, the groggy Messiah stumbles towards Slater, who painfully scoops English up onto his shoulders, causing the crowd to go ballistic!
Ruby Parvati: OH NO!
Axel Reid: THE SHOCKWAVE!
Suddenly, English slips down Slater’s back and throws a forearm into the back of his head!
Ruby Parvati: NO, he avoided it!
English then spins Slater around and kicks him in the stomach, putting his head between his legs and going to hook his arms for the EXISTENTIAL EXISTENCE!
Axel Reid: WAIT, ENGLISH HAS SLATER!
But before English can fully grip Slater’s arms, Slater drops to his knees and pulls his arms away. He grabs English’s leg and trips him forward, at which point Slater expertly hooks his legs around Casanova’s and rolls onto him INTO THE STF!
Ruby Parvati: NOOOOO!
Axel Reid: THE STF IS LOCKED IN, AND ENGLISH IS FRANTIC!
The crowd are going crazy as Slater wrenches the hold, listening to English yell aloud in pain and panic! His fingers scrape and claw the canvas before he tries to pry Slater’s hands away from his head, but it doesn’t work!
Axel Reid: English is trapped! He has to fight for the ropes or submit!
Ruby Parvati: Don’t let that hypocrite beat you, English! GET TO THE ROPES!
English does start to move towards the ropes, screaming ‘NO’ to the referee as he asks him whether he wants to quit. Slater wrenches on the hold further, but English is tough as nails, continuing to pull himself closer to the ropes. Finally he reaches his arm out… but only the tips of his fingers stroke the rope!
Ruby Parvati: GET CLOSER!
Suddenly, English starts to succumb. His hand hovers above the canvas, fighting the urge to tap out! The crowd order him to do so, and as his hand goes up it looks like he will… until he makes one last effort and forces himself closer to the ropes, whereby he lunges his arm forward and grabs the rope to resounding boos!
Ruby Parvati: He did it! HE SURVIVED!
Axel Reid: English barely avoided defeat there at the hands of the STF! But the move has taken its toll on him, and Slater is still not looking good with that neck of his!
After the hold has been broken, both men lie on the canvas, exhausted from the match and the urgency to win. A minute or so goes by as the crowd entertain themselves, watching as both Slater and English finally start to return to a vertical base. Once they do, they instantly engage each other with desperation forearms, duelling in the center of the ring as the crowd cheer for Slater and boo English’s strikes!
Axel Reid: What a match this has been… what a Main Event for Breakthrough!
With both men locked in a perpetual stalemate, English decides to shift the balance in his favor with a rake to Slater’s eyes! The referee questions his choice as the crowd boo heavily, but English neither cares nor listens, grabbing Slater and running him SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE RINGPOST!
Axel Reid: Now THIS was what I expected from English! He had to resort to cheap tricks to beat Slater, who is now hung over the rope with his arm against the ringpost! That could have done some serious damage!
Ruby Parvati: What was it you said before, Axel? Oh that’s right… all is FAIR in this match.
Heading outside the ring with a face of fury, English grabs Slater’s arm and WRAPS IT AROUND THE RING-POST VIOLENTLY! Slater yells in agony and feels his arms, but English punches his head and grabs his arm again, wrapping it around the ring-post a second time! The referee warns him to stop from inside the ring, but English does not even look at him, grabbing Slater’s arm a third time and wrapping it around the ring-post again!
Axel Reid: This is not right! English is out to put Slater on the shelf permanently, plain and simple!
Ruby Parvati: And whose fault is that? Slater knew what he was getting himself into when he returned. This is the price he’s paying courtesy of our World Champion!
English at last slides under the ropes and back into the ring, looking at the still defenceless Slater. He pulls Slater out from the corner and turns him around, hoisting him up and sitting him on the top turnbuckle. The crowd boo mightily after English slaps the taste of Slater’s mouth, mounting the ropes and putting him into a Superplex position!
Axel Reid: English is going for a Superplex now, and this could be it for Matt Slater…
However, as English pulls Slater upward, the Silver Knight blocks the elevation. English tries again, but Slater once again refuses to accept it! Losing his temper, English hammers away on Slater’s spine and neck, trying to keep him weary enough to execute the move. On the third attempt, English finally lifts Slater into the air… but Slater kicks his legs to alter the momentum, falling back into a seated position on the top turnbuckle! That’s when he punches English in the ribs a few times, allowing him to stand up on the middle rope and push English backwards RIGHT ONTO HIS HEAD!
Ruby Parvati: OH GOD!
Axel Reid: Slater countered the Superplex, but… that was not a good landing for English!
Even some of the crowd are a little concerned, especially from the way spittle drips out of English’s mouth as he lies on the canvas, his eyes glazed over and distant. Somehow, he still has the wherewithal to get onto his knees, but he looks as if he is running on instinct more than ring awareness. Meanwhile, Slater changes his position and perches himself on the top rope!
Ruby Parvati: I do not like the look of English right now…
Axel Reid: But keep your eyes on Slater!
As soon as English groggily faces Slater, the Silver Knight leaps off and delivers a MISSILE DROPKICK to the World Champion, knocking English down! However, Slater goes back to gripping his neck with his one remaining good arm, the other held at his side as the turmoil of this match resonates throughout the arena.
Matt eventually shakes off the cobwebs and exhales, nodding toward the crowd and finally heading toward English. The other man stirs a bit and slowly starts getting up, but Slater holds up a finger as if to say 'one more!'. He grabs hold of his foe from behind as the fans start up again!
Ruby Parvati: MORE suplexes?! How many does this man have IN him?!
Axel Reid: He excels at them.
Ruby Parvati: His arm has been compromised! He'd have to be insane to do this!
But in the ring we see Matt keeping his grip, despite the groggy English elbowing him repeatedly to get him away. There's a bit of a struggle, of course, but soon the chants of the fans bring in an adrenaline rush for the Silver Knight. With a bit of a guttural roar, he strongly lifts his foe up over his head, throwing him with a powerful releasing German suplex! The fans are going wild as the exhausted man then drops for the cover...
ONE!
TWO!
THRE--NO!
Axel Reid: WHAT?! NO!!!
Ruby Parvati: YES! ENGLISH WITH A SHOULDER UP!
Crowd: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
The crowd is in an outrage!!! A frustrated Slater starts to get up.... but as he's doing so, suddenly English latches onto his bad arm! He applies his gogoplata, Silence of the Lamb!!! The fans, naturally, grow even louder at this. They watch in horror as their beloved Matt has that limb torqued violently by the Messiah, the Silver Knight crying out in pain!
Ruby Parvati: He's going to tap out here tonight... this is it!!!
Axel Reid: That must be so excruciating... hang in there Matt!
As Axel is saying this, the fans begin desperately chanting his name, as the struggling Slater manages to lift his head the slightest amount... enough to glance up at English. The two lock eyes... and something changes in the Silver Knight's. With Casanova refusing to relinquish the hold, Matt squirms a bit, as if positioning himself a certain way, before starting to slowly move upward to stand...
Ruby Parvati: What is he...
Axel Reid: Holy sh-bleep-... Matt is... stacking up English. He... He's just forced his shoulders back to the mat...
Ruby Parvati: No... no way...
Axel Reid: And there's the ref running over.........
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
DING DING DING!!!
THE CROWD EXPLODES!!!!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner via pinfall.... MATT SLATER!!!
Even Axel jumps out of his chair!!! English is forced to let go, as a tired and dazed Matt slowly rolls away from the other man, laying there on the mat and favoring that arm. He closes his eyes a moment, taking in the sounds of the shocked but absolutely thrilled crowd. Casanova pushes himself up to stand, looking utterly exhausted himself as the commentators both sit back down...
Axel Reid: Unbelievable! It has been said that English is one of the hardest if not THE hardest to defeat in VoW and Matt Slater has DONE IT!!!
Ruby Parvati: It was a completely unorthodox way to garner a victory.
Axel Reid: Unorthodox or not, a win is a win. And after such a brutal, hard-fought match like this was... it was also well deserved! These men, two of the best VoW has to offer, have made this night one to remember. This battle was one to be revered, and all newcomers should be taking notes! THIS is what makes our organization great! Kudos to both superstars, and congratulations to Matt!!!
As the cheering continues, we see the Silver Knight finally getting to his feet. Though obviously having taken a beating through this bout, he stands tall with a smile as soon enough we fade to black on the mans proud triumph...