Opening Match
Pick Your Poison 2-Out-of-3 Falls Match
(I4NI Championship is on the line!)
Jerry Heisenberg: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is your opening match for the evening… It is the Pick Your Poison 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match for the VoW I4NI Championship! In this match, the first fall will be a standard wrestling match. When either man gains a victory, they will earn the right to choose the stipulation for the second fall. Should the other man tie-up the score at one fall a piece, he will be allowed to pick the stipulation for the third and final fall. Whoever can win two out of three falls will be declared the winner of the match, and the VoW I4NI Champion!
Cameras pan around the arena, capturing the precise moment everyone jumps to their feet to passionately boo as the opening riff of Drowning Pool’s “Reminded” cuts through the air. Tyron Bickerton slowly steps out from behind the curtain and sets foot onto the stage, prompting them to boo even louder than before.
Jerry Heisenberg: Introducing first, the challenger… Hailing from Saint City, weighing in tonight at 256 pounds… He is the Saint City Juggernaut… TYRON BICKERTON!!!
Ruby Parvati: Here comes the next I4NI Champion, Reid! This guy is a tank! There’s no way Heath Williams stands a chance!
Axel Reid: That remains to be seen, Ruby. I think both men have an equal chance of winning this match… I think it all comes down to who wants it more.
Tyron climbs up into the ring, strides to the opposite corner and takes a seat on the canvas; he’s focused on the forthcoming fight of his life, set to take place in mere moments.
His eyes are dead set on the top of the ramp as Devilskin’s “Little Pills” begins to play, the audio barely hearable over the pop conceived by the fans due to the presence of Heath Williams as he appears from behind the curtain, I4NI Championship draped over his left shoulder and warhammer firmly in his right hand. At the top, he raises both objects high above his head before making his way down.
Axel Reid: That’s him, ladies and gentlemen! The man that’s been put through hell the last couple of months, The Hardcore Hero himself!
Ruby Parvati: Boy ‘bout to get his ass whipped.
He stops at the bottom to quickly speak with a woman and her child, the three snapping a picture together. It appears that the woman’s more of a fan of Heath than her son is. Heath continues to the ring, climbing the steel steps and ducking in between the top and middle ropes before meeting Tyron’s eyes, who climbs to his feet.
The music stops and the opponents step forward, coming face to face, mere inches from each other.
“This is it, Williams! Your career ends tonight!” Tyron shouts, making bold claims.
“We’ll see pal, we’ll see.” Heath responds before passing both the title and the warhammer to the official who then takes them over to Jerry Heisenberg.
The referee calls for the bell, but Tyron stops him and drops out of the ring, demanding a microphone. Heath leans against the ropes impatiently while Tyron taps an open palm on the microphone to test it.
Tyron Bickerton: No no no, we’re not doing it like this just yet… Williams! I know you, and I know you're probably high as a kite right now. You managed to weasel your way through that drug test a couple of weeks ago, but who’s to say you're not under the influence right now?
He motions toward the ramp and the fans jeer - Heath turns just enough to keep an eye on his former friend and see what's going on; it's Earl Coleman, leading a doctor down to the ring.
Tyron Bickerton: Before I agree to wrestle any kind of match with you, I want to make sure it's the real you I'm facing, so that you can feel the sting of defeat!
Earl and the doctor set up a small station surrounded by screens, obscuring the audience’s view. Confused, Heath steps forward to inspect what's going on.
Tyron Bickerton: Those saliva tests, they've been proven to be faulty… So, if you want this match to go ahead… You're pissing in a cup!
Axel Reid: Oh, come on! Enough is enough!
Ruby Parvati: I love this! If Heath’s got nothing to hide, he’ll have no problem providing a urine sample!
Axel Reid: He shouldn't have to! He passed the test, we’re here at Fate of the Gods… The bell was literally about to ring to start this match!
Heath looks at Tyron with a shake of his head, smirk to match, before stepping out of the ring and walking over towards the booth. He goes inside and a few moments go by before he comes back out, whispering something in Coleman’s ear. Coleman sighs and hands Heath a bottle of water, who downs it in ten seconds flat. He goes back inside and disappears for a good two minutes before coming out with a cup containing his own urine.
Ruby Parvati: Ew, Heath pee.
He hands it to the doctor and idly stands by, waiting for results. Tyron climbs back into the ring, leaning over the top rope curiously.
Tyron Bickerton: So? What's it say?
Heath requests a microphone as the doctor inspects the sample, and it's granted.
Heath Williams: You know, Bickerton… I always knew you were a shithead…
In one swift move, he snatches the cup of urine from the doctors hands.
Heath Williams: ...I didn't realise you were a pisshead, too!
All of a sudden, he throws the cup of piss straight into Bickerton’s face - it enters his eyes, his nose, his mouth - the live audience comes unglued as Heath drops the microphone, slides back into the ring and starts hammering into his opponent with stinging right hands. Amid the chaos, the referee calls for the bell to officially begin the first fall.
Ruby Parvati: How disrespectful! Heath Williams should be disqualified for that!
Axel Reid: The bell only just rang, Ruby! He hasn’t broken any of the rules!
Ruby Parvati: It’s still not right…
Axel Reid: So this match will be a standard wrestling contest. Whoever wins this fall will get an early advantage, not only for being up one fall to nothing, but also getting to choose the stip for fall number two.
After picking up a heavy set of momentum, Heath stands and let’s out an almighty shout with two raised rock on signs before turning his attention back to Tyron, who’s now on all fours. He kicks Tyron’s left arm out from underneath him, causing him to give way and to collide with the canvas. Hyped up, Heath rushes over to the ropes and climbs, once at the top he turns around, coming off with a thunderous knee drop. Heath grabs Tyron by the collar of his shirt.
“How’s that feel?! Huh Bickerton?! Finally get my hands on you, you prick!”
He slaps him a couple times to make sure he’s still conscious, he proves that he is after a groan and shoves Heath’s hand away from him before rolling back over onto all fours. Heath comes up behind him and grabs the back of his shirt but he reaches around and knocks Heath square in the face, sending him back a few steps. Tyron stands and turns, launching his entire body towards his opponent but Heath sees it coming and positions himself, scoring a daring scoop slam. Once Tyron’s been flattened against the mat, Heath arches his back, leaning his forearm against it.
Axel Reid: Ouch! That’s gotta hurt! Heath just held ALL of Tyron’s weight!
Ruby Parvati: Ooooh. Sooooo stroooong. Freakin’ imbecile. It was only for like, a split second.
Heath slides himself back into the corner, that one clearly took a toll. He stands, back to the post and uses it to stretch out his back, attempting to massage the pain away. It appears to somewhat work as a moment later, he’s going back over to Tyron to make a move. He gives him a few derogatory kicks, before Tyron takes a hold of his heel and yanks him, causing him to land spine-first against the canvas.
Ruby Parvati: Yuss! The tides are turning!
Tyron retreats to the nearest corner, collecting his wits as Heath lies on the canvas, nursing his back. Suddenly, much swifter than you’d expect a man of his size to move, Bickerton explodes out of the corner and comes crushing down with all his weight on top of Williams with an elevated elbow drop. Knowing his opponent is winded, he goes for a pin.
ONE!
TWO!
Williams kicks out, and begins gasping for air. Tyron stays on the offensive, spinning around and locking Heath in a seated sleeper hold position. Earl Coleman coaches his client on from ringside, imploring him to squeeze Heath’s head until it pops - he may have managed to do so, until a modest rumble begins from the fans surrounding the ring. It grows louder as they try and will Heath back into the match; a few minutes after being trapped in the hold, Williams manages to hoist himself up to one knee, and then the other - both men are in a standing position, sleeper hold still applied. Two sharp elbow shots to Tyron’s sternum, and Heath has managed to free himself - he rebounds off the ropes, attempting to gain momentum to drive Bickerton to the mat with a strike; but, Coleman reaches into the ring and trips him up - not enough to make him faceplant, just enough to interrupt what he’s doing. Heath instinctively turns back to see what happened, and gets driven down to the mat with a German Suplex by his opponent.
Axel Reid: Bickerton aided by Coleman in putting his opponent down!
Ruby Parvati: See, that’s why you become friends with somebody like Earl Coleman, he’ll always have your back!
Although the referee didn’t physically catch what Coleman did, he knows he’s responsible for the distraction - he promptly dismisses him from ringside, much to Bickerton’s dismay. Earl Coleman begrudgingly leaves the ringside area as Tyron argues with the referee’s decision…
Ruby Parvati: No! That’s not fair!
Axel Reid: Considering this first fall is just your regular singles match, it is fair! It’s very fair!
This gives Heath the opportunity to take back momentum, rolling Tyron up into a pin attempt.
ONE!
TWO!
Tyron powers out of it, attempting to roll back onto his feet. Heath proves to be far too quick, bouncing off the ropes and connecting with a flying forearm smash - Tyron falls back down to the mat, and Heath crashes down rather harshly from the reckless move. The official checks on Tyron before checking on Heath, who’s inspecting his forearm. It appears to be okay though as he shakes it off and gets back up to his feet. He goes over to Tyron and locks his own arms with his, using all of his might to pull the Juggernaut to his feet before using even more might to yank him upwards and perform a Tiger Driver. The back of Tyron’s skull knocks against the mat and he flips over, now back first, seeing stars. With a huff and a puff, Heath makes the cover attempt.
Axel Reid: And again! By god, Heath’s showing us just how much strength he has here tonight!
Ruby Parvati: Come on, Reid, it’s not all that impressive. Not as impressive as it’s gonna be when Tyron snaps him in half like a toothpick.
Axel Reid: Something tells me our I4NI Champion isn’t going to let that happen!
ONE!
TWO!!
TH-
No, Tyron kicks out.
Heath rolls away to take a breather, seated in an upright position as he stares over at Tyron, who’s barely showing any sign of life. He pushes himself up to his feet and performs a swift leg drop, repeating the process over and over again until Tyron has no choice but to quickly roll out of the ring. In his groggy state, he takes hold of the bottom rope and apron for leverage, this however proves to be a huge mistake on Tyron’s part as Heath sprints towards him with a baseball slide from the ring, connecting with his chest and forcing him spine-first into the barrier.
Axel Reid: Looks like this is being taken to the outside!
ONE! The referee starts the count.
“You suck, Bickerton!” a fan shouts from the first row as Tyron leans no more than a metre away from him.
Ruby Parvati: He does not!
TWO!
Heath plants Tyron with a series of boxing jabs and hooks, the final one knocking him over the barrier and into the crowd.
THREE!
Heath climbs on top of the barrier and gets ready to leap off with another leg drop, but a second before, Tyron reaches up and pulls Heath by the leg, causing him to go pelvis first into the ledge of the barrier. A look of pure shock plasters itself over Heath’s face before turning into a look of pain.
FOUR!
Tyron tosses Heath’s limp body over the rail and to the arena floor before climbing over himself, nursing his injuries.
FIVE!
Tyron hoists Heath onto his shoulder, and drives him spine-first into the ring post before tossing him back in the ring under the bottom rope. He follows suit soon after, dragging his rival away from the ropes to get a cover on him.
ONE!
TWO!
THR--
Heath manages to power a shoulder up, and the crowd pops. Frustrated, Tyron hammers him in the head with closed right fists, eventually drawing blood.
Ruby Parvati: He’s busted wide open! Look at that beautiful, glorious shade of crimson…
Axel Reid: Uhh… You wanna try sounding a little less sadistic when you say that?
Tyron takes a moment to gloat, raising his arms and shouting “WHO’S YOUR HERO NOW?!” at the top of his lungs. The fans boo with passion as Tyron turns back to Heath - and suffers a stiff right hand to the gut. Then, a left. Right hand, left hand - the strikes keep coming, forcing Tyron back an inch with each connecting blow. Heath finally rises to his feet, clutching Bickerton in a DDT position, hooking both arms.
Axel Reid: Heath Williams looking for Frozen Over here! Could this be it?!
As he prepares to drive Bickerton down to the mat head-first, he’s kneed in the abdomen and releases his grip. Quicker than he can react, he’s hoisted up into the air and driven down with a Brainbuster.
Ruby Parvati: It’s not FROZEN Over time, Axel! It’s GAME Over!
Tyron flops into a cover on the downed Williams.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!
Jerry Heisenberg: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the first fall… Tyron Bickerton!
Ruby Parvati: He did it, Axel! I told you so!
Axel Reid: Tyron Bickerton has earned the first fall, and now he’ll get to pick the stipulation for the second…
Tyron crawls over to the ropes and grabs a microphone. Gasping for air, he wipes his palms on his shirt stained with Heath’s blood, before delivering the anticipated announcement.
Tyron Bickerton: You...wanna fight...me?!
Pause for a breather.
Tyron Bickerton: I wanna beat you at your own game… A No Disqualification Match!
Jerry Heisenberg: The second fall will be contested with no disqualifications!
Ruby Parvarti: Thatta boy, Tyron! Pulverize him!
Tyron walks over to Heath and pulls him up to his knees, bending forward and getting right in Heath’s face.
Tyron Bickerton: I wanna hurt you, Heath. I wanna destroy you. I want to OBLITERATE you. Is there anything you have to say about that, Heath?
Cockily, Tyron extends the microphone to Heath’s face, who begins to mutter.
Heath Williams: Yeah...the feeling’s...mutual.
Heath launches a right fist straight into Tyron’s downstairs. Tyron drops the mic, clasps his pelvis and topples over, his groans and whimpers on reverb. Heath is quick to follow up, kicking Tyron in the gut before wrenching his arms behind his back and driving him face-first to the mat with Frozen Over. It connects this time, and Heath rolls Tyron onto his back for a cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the second fall… Heath Williams!
Ruby Parvati: No! Dammit!!
Axel Reid: That was fast! Heath Williams scores the second fall, and ties this match up at one fall a piece! Now, Heath gets to decide what the stipulation for the third and final fall will be.
The audience hushes, as Heath crawls over to grab the microphone Tyron dropped, Heath picks it up from the canvas and slowly climbs to his feet, clearly on spaghetti legs. He stares down at Tyron, who’s now holding not just his pelvis but his head too. Heath brings the microphone to his lips.
Heath Williams: I’m thinkin’ of something you don’t like, Tyron...it’s a six letter word and is used by builders all over the world…
Tyron rolls over, his face covered in desperation as he shakes his head, realising just what Heath’s hinting at.
Heath Williams: That’s right, Bickerton! It’s a match you’ve never won! I’m thinkin’ of a ladder…
He drops the mic, the crowd bursting to their feet with cheers and applause. Tyron and Heath retreat to opposite corners for a breather as the official calls for the belt to be brought into the ring. He signals for a metal cable to be lowered from the ceiling as the fans continue to roar their approval.
Axel Reid: What a start to Fate of the Gods II this has been! We’re set to end things with a bang in this opening contest with a Ladder Match! The man who retrieves the belt will be the I4NI Champion!
Ruby Parvati: This isn’t fair, Axel! Tyron doesn’t do well in Ladder Matches, Heath knows that! At least Tyron had the decency to choose a stipulation Heath was experienced in!
Axel Reid: Stop making excuses, Ruby.
As the I4NI Title belt ascends higher and higher, the camera pans out to show a full screen shot of the combatants in the ring and the distance they’ll have to climb to emerge victorious tonight. The referee gives both men the go ahead, and the third and final fall is underway.
The former friends charge at each other with fists flailing, colliding with craniums, each shot more devastating than the last. Heath comes in with a swift underhook jab, Tyron clearly seeing stars as he takes a few steps back. Heath follows up with two midsection shots followed up by a shin to the ribs but just before it connects, Tyron catches the leg and delivers an elbow right into The Hardcore Hero’s knee before throwing up his arm and nailing a backhand chop.
Violently tossed aside, Williams is left in a heap on the canvas cradling his knee as Tyron drops out of the ring, searching for a ladder; he removes a decent-sized ladder from underneath the ring apron and tosses it over the top rope, where it crashes next to Heath.
Ruby Parvati: He’s already gonna win this one, Axel! Tyron’s gonna win!
Rather than set up the ladder and climb for the belt, Tyron adds in a devastating stomp to Heath’s already-injured knee, causing him to cry out in pain. With Heath seemingly crippled for the time being, the ladder is erected in the centre of the ring, and Tyron arrogantly begins the climb to glory.
But, despite being on one leg, Heath’s far from done. Using the ropes, Heath claws to his feet, hopping over to the opposite side of the ladder that Tyron climbs. Instead of climbing to, he lifts the ladder from the bottom step and tilts it backwards, swinging it violently as Tyron holds on for dear life. Eventually, the challenger is unable to keep a grip and slips, spine crashing into the ropes behind him. Heath pulls the ladder back down so that it finds its flooring and immediately begins his own climb but once he’s reached the top, he doesn’t reach out to the title and instead, performs a diving splash, causing both competitors to go reeling over the ropes and to the outside.
Out on the floor, Tyron’s still seeing stars and Heath’s struggling with his knee; he reaches under the ring, pulling out a slightly-smaller ladder. His intentions with this ladder are far more sinister than the last, as he holds its rungs and patiently waits for Tyron to turn around - he rams the top end of it straight into his face, lacerating him deeply across the bridge of the nose as he falls to the floor.
“LET’S GO HEATH! LET’S GO HEATH!”
Axel Reid: The fans trying to rally the champ!
Ruby Parvati: This is barbaric! He’s a freaking madman!
Fans show their undying support for the champion as he drops the ladder, trying to get feeling back into his leg by moving his knee at the joint. He quickly turns his attention back to his foe, who’s still grounded, bleeding heavily. He lifts Bickerton to his feet, delivering several forearm shots directly to the bridge of the nose before sending him flying over the barricade, into the laps of several fans seated at ringside.
Williams staggers back into the ring, shifting the ladder directly under the belt before making the ascent; climbing proves to be difficult, with his knee constantly buckling under his own weight - he has to take it one rung at a time, moving at a snail’s pace. Tyron forces himself back over the barricade before climbing into the ring - oblivious, Heath continues to climb, unaware that his opponent is right behind him. With Heath only half way up the ladder, the Saint City Juggernaut grabs a hold of him in a powerbomb position before driving him down to the mat with so much force, the ring seems like it’s about to implode.
Axel Reid: A spine-rattling Powerbomb off the ladder!
Ruby Parvati: That’s it; he’s dead.
Both men lie exhausted in the ring, by the corner with the ladder lying beside them. Tyron peers over at Heath, who’s now rolled over to his stomach, clasping his back. Tyron shuffles over and sends a kick into Heath’s side, forcing him to roll even closer to the ropes. He keeps this up and ultimately sends Heath back to the outside before sliding himself over to the post and using the buckles as aid to get back to his feet. He leans against the corner for a bit, watching Heath writhe around in pain on the floor, his lips forming a smirk before stumbling over to the downed ladder, picking it up and setting it up perfectly beneath the championship.
Almost as if he’s telepathic, Tyron turns his attention to the ring apron, Heath using it to try and hoist himself up. Immediately, he jogs over to the opposite set of ropes and bounces off of them, coming forth with a baseball slide that connects with Heath’s jaw, sending him aback into the announcer's table.
Ruby Parvati: He’s right there! Nobody can be disqualified! I have a plan!
Axel Reid: Uh oh…
Ruby Parvati: Hey! Heath!
Heath cocks his head just in time for Ruby to throw a cup of cola against his face, his eye clench as the soda burns them. Ruby looks over to Tyron who’s watching on contently.
Ruby Parvati: For that cup of pee, before! Oh, and…
Ruby raises her right fist.
Ruby Parvati: FOR SAINT CITY!
Tyron follows suit, raising his fist and calling out the same thing before exiting the ring and making way over to Heath, hard slap across the I4NI Champion’s cheek. Still blinded by the carbonated beverage in his eyes, Williams swings wildly to defend himself, with none of his shots hitting their target; he’s soon taken down to the floor hard with a devastating clothesline. Tyron checks the bleeding from his nose, noticing that it’s getting heavier.
Ruby Parvati: Here! I got you, Ty!
Ruby stands in her seat, offering a towel to Tyron, who uses it to dab the blood from his nose and reduce the watering of his eyes.
Axel Reid: You’re not supposed to be helping either of the combatants, Ruby!
Ruby Parvati: Would you shut up?! I heard Saint City’s lovely this time of year, and I’m in need of a vacay!
Tyron offers the blood-soaked towel back to Ruby, who turns open palms to it, repulsed.
Ruby Parvati: You keep it…
As Heath begins to stir, Tyron throws the towel down on his face and delivers several stomps to his back. He pulls yet another ladder out from under the ring, propping it up against the security barricade 10 feet away - he pulls Heath to his feet, and prepares to whip him into the ladder - but Williams reverses it, and the challenger crashes spine-first into the aluminum instead. Although still spinning, Heath doesn’t allow this opportunity to be wasted and with full force, sprints towards Tyron with a harsh spear! The steps of the ladder give way, bending out of shape as Tyrons stature is pushed in between its frame while Heath falls backwards, breathing heavily on the ground.
Ruby Parvati: What?! No way! All the momentum was in Tyron’s hands! How did this happen?!
Axel Reid: Heath’s just the kind of person to make the right reversal at the right time, it’s part of his instinct.
Shaking immensely, Heath rolls over to his knees and after some time, finds his footing. He stumbles backwards and climbs into the ring, making for the ladder Tyron had set up previously. He very slowly moves over to the steps and begins his climb, still with only one good leg, the journey seems like that of a lifetime, the audience's cheers picking up with each step taken. He reaches the top, and slowly extends an arm towards the championship that’s only a mere metre from his grasp.
BAM! Just like that, it’s all taken away from him, as Tyron has somehow managed to recover from the powerful spear and re-enter the ring, he takes a hold of the ankle on Heath’s bad leg and yanks him down, each step of the ladder colliding with his chin on the way. He’s tossed into the corner by his larger opponent, who degradingly shoves his open palm in Heath’s face whilst shouting “I did this to you!” He rears back, catching Heath in the jaw with a stiff elbow shot, before whipping him across the ring to the opposite corner and pancaking him with a running splash. Heath flops down to the mat as the air escapes his body - the worst is yet to come, however, as Tyron pulls a folding table out from underneath the ring.
Axel Reid: What’s he planning to do with that?!
Ruby Parvati: Anything he wants, Axel! He’s running this show right now!
The table enters play underneath the bottom rope, and it’s not long before Tyron sets it up beside the ladder. One step after the other, he trails around the equipment in his way and takes hold of Heath’s forearm, dragging him back into the ring. He picks him up and tries for his patented brainbuster through the table but Heath forces all of his weight into his feet and escapes the hold, backing into the corner. With a sneer, Tyron goes for another corner splash but Heath sees it coming this time and quickly uses the top buckle to push himself up, wrapping his legs around Tyron’s arms and dropping to the outside, taking hold of the bottom ropes, locking in the tarantula submission.
Ruby Parvati: Come on, Heath knows he can’t win via submission! That move is pointless!
Axel Reid: It’s all about wearing your opponent down, Ruby and Heath knows that something like this will put a strain on just about all of Tyron’s limbs!
Heath applies the pressure, as Tyron does his best to escape the hold but it’s no use, this one’s locked in tight. After a good minute of Tyron’s own weight against him, Heath breaks the hold and allows Tyron to fall to his knees before leaping over the ropes with a knee drop. Forgetting about his injury, Heath yelps out in pain as the knee used was the one that’s already been damaged, he writhes around for a few moments before noticing that Tyron’s seemingly out cold. He crawls over and slips himself underneath Tyron’s front, using all of his might to push his opponent up onto his feet. With Tyron sprawled out on his back, Heath somehow manages to muster enough strength to stand, before quickly dumping the Juggernaut onto the surface of the table.
Axel Reid: Wow! I never knew Heath was such a powerhouse!
Ruby Parvati: Powerhouse or not, he just completely ignored the fact that he could take the victory here. He’s done too many drugs and taken too many chairshots to the head to know when to stop the beat down. He’s a savage, Reid, a damn savage.
Axel Reid: I think what he’s planning here is just to assure the challenger stays down…
Heath rolls out of the ring and grabs the smaller ladder from earlier before reaching underneath the ring and taking hold of a steel chair. He gets back in and sets the ladder beside the bigger one and the chair beside that. Backing up into the corner he turns his attention to the crowd, who sit in silence as they watch what’s about to unfold. Hopping, he makes way over to the steel chair before leaping up onto the smaller ladder and then over to the bigger one centre ring, he takes a brief moment to look at Tyron who still appears to be down and out. However, just as Heath makes the final jump, leg drop at the ready, Tyron’s eyes open and instinct kicks in as he rolls off of the table and to the outside, just as Heath crashes through the table.
Axel Reid: OH MY GOD! Heath Williams just crashed and burned before our eyes!!
Ruby Parvati: This is fantastic! Maybe Tyron can win here!
Dazed, Tyron glances down at Heath’s broken body amongst the splintered wood. With blood flooding his eyes, he takes a look at the ladder in the ring and the belt situated high above it. He slowly crawls under the bottom rope, and begins clawing his way up the ladder; each rung more desperately scaled than the last. Tyron sarcastically motions for the crowd to cheer him on - but instead, they boo, prompting him to flip them the bird. Their volume increases as they chant “Fuck you, Tyron!”
The ladder starts trembling as much as Bickerton himself, who’s running on fumes right now. As he inches closer to the prize, the champion begins to stir on the outside. Realising how close he is to actually losing his title, he forces himself into the ring and drags himself up the opposite side of the ladder using only his arms. Almost on even footing with each other, the two men trade fists - blood splatters from the open wounds on their faces, showering down on the canvas in a crimson mist. Bickerton thinks fast, grabbing a handful of his opponent’s hair and slamming him face-first into the steel.
Groggy, Heath holds onto the ladder and tries to regain his composure, but it’s too late - Tyron reaches up, unsnaps the belt from the hook and brings the title to his chest.
DING DING DING!
Drowning Pool’s “Reminded” blasts through the arena, and the fans vocalise their disappointment.
Jerry Heisenberg: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout… And NEW VoW I4NI Champion… TYRON BICKERTON!!
Heath and Tyron lock eyes on the ladder, before Tyron bursts into hysteric laughter and lifts his newly-won prize up high. Exhausted and defeated, Heath flops down to the mat in a heap.
Ruby Parvati: It happened, Axel! It happened!!
Axel Reid: What a bloodbath! These two nearly killed each other, all for the sake of the I4NI Championship!
Ruby Parvati: The better man won, Axel! Say it!
Axel Reid: On this night, Tyron Bickerton was the better man… But just barely! I wonder what would’ve happened if Heath made it there a second earl--
Ruby Parvati: No, no, no! Don’t try to discredit his victory! He earned the right to be called the I4NI Champion!
Tyron stands atop the ladder, roaring “I TOLD YOU SO!!” in triumph. It’s not long before he climbs down from the ladder, title draped over his shoulder, inspecting his handiwork - Heath Williams hasn’t moved since he fell to the canvas.
But, of course, Tyron’s not satisfied with that - against the referee’s urging, Tyron knocks the ladder to the floor and lifts Heath to his feet. Defenseless, the now-former champion has no choice but to take a Game Over...right onto the ladder!
Axel Reid: No! Someone stop this!!
Medics rush out to the ring as Tyron leaves his motionless rival a broken mess in the twisted steel. The camera shows a final shot of Tyron on the ramp, wearing the proverbial crimson mask, hoisting the title high as he loudly declares, “This is MY TITLE NOW!!!”