Opening Match
30-Minute Iron Man Match for the Quest For The Case Briefcase
Katalina Star vs. Rebecca Saint vs. Gwendolyn Massey vs. Joanna Thade vs. Datura vs. Maxwell Soloke
Following Axel and Ruby’s brief rundown of what is in store for the fans during this PPV, a graphic appears on the big screen showcasing the Quest For The Case Match, bringing forth excited cheers from the Norfolk crowd.
Axel Reid: Well this is how we’re going to start this special night, folks! The Quest For The Case will culminate tonight with one of six participants winning the illustrious briefcase. But as stated moments ago, this will not be a Ladder Match as in previous years. This year, it will be a first-ever… a 30 Minute Iron Man Match!
Ruby Parvati: For thirty minutes these six competitors will slam each other down, run wild and go for the points they need to take that briefcase home! Then once they do, they can request to open the briefcase at anytime until the following year!
Axel Reid: And for those wondering at home how this will work, we have a convenient set of rules that the competitors have been made aware of. The fans in this arena will also see… coming up shortly…
After a delay, the match graphic switches to the rules Axel was just referring to. They clearly read as follows:
- The participant that achieves the most pinfalls and submissions in the allotted time will win the briefcase.
- Managers, valets and other associates of the participants are forbidden from ringside.
- Count-Outs do not apply in this match.
- Should a participant use a weapon with intent, they will be deducted a point from their score.
- Any outside interference on behalf of a participant will also deduct a point from their score.
- The participant who gets attacked with a weapon or by an outsider will have a point added to their score.
- If the violator is on zero points, they will go into negative figures as a punishment.
- The violator will also not be allowed to compete for two minutes. This is known as the Penalty Box Rule.
- There will be two extra officials outside the ring to keep track of the action and note any violations.
- In the case of a tie between two or more participants, the match will go to sudden death involving those participants only. The first pinfall and submission achieved wins the match.
Axel Reid: As you can see the rules are fairly straightforward. This match will be determined by clean pinfalls and submissions, so if someone decides to cheat, bring out an ally to aid them or use a weapon, they will have points deducted… which can even go into negative figures!
Ruby Parvati: So that means we won’t be seeing Candi or Emma Carlisle out here!
Axel Reid: Well Emma will be focusing on more important matters.
Ruby Parvati: We won’t get to see Mimi Mai Saint! I’m heartbroken!
Axel Reid: And in the event of a tie, this match WILL go to sudden death! I’m not sure what those odds are but it could happen.
Ruby Parvati: And only one will take the briefcase! This should be an explosive affair!
Once the rules disappear from the screen, one camera shows the briefcase in question, stationed outside the ring on a nicely-designed podium.
Axel Reid: And there it is, ladies and gentleman, the prize that these six participants will be aiming to walk away with. It’s contents are unknown, but in the past two years it has given Zui Zhong and Tyler Storm an opportunity, an opportunity they took full advantage of which helped them become profound names in the halls of Visionaries of Wrestling.
The camera focuses on Jerry Heisenberg, smiling professionally as he stands in the center of the ring.
Jerry Heisenberg: Ladies and gentleman, the following contest… is a SIX-PERSON 30-MINUTE IRON MAN MATCH, and it will be for THE QUEST FOR THE CASE BRIEFCASE!!! All six participants will start the match at the exact same time, and after the thirty minute time-limit has expired, the participant with the most points will be declared the winner!
The slow guitars of “Seizure of Power” by Marilyn Manson waver through the arena speakers before the lights shut off shrouding the arena in darkness.
You're all
going to die down hereThe lights coming up in crimson and gold save for a single spotlight on the stage. Sauntering out to stand within that circle of light is Katalina Star. Katalina looks out over the crowd and firmly strikes the business end of a leather flogger into the palm of her open hand. She then starts on her way down the ramp, carrying herself with pride and poise.
Jerry Heisenberg: Introducing first, hailing from Malibu, California… standing at 5’9” and weighing in at 129lbs… KATALINA STAR!!!
Axel Reid: The first competitor to qualify for this prestigious match back at Fate of the Gods II will also be the first to enter the confines of the squared circle. All of the participants will start this match at the same time, but I believe entering first could be a key advantage for Katalina. She’ll be able to scout her opposition and work out exactly what to do as they come out, and knowing how they conduct themselves on their way out… that can be something she can exploit to gain points.
Ruby Parvati: Sadly she can’t use that leather flogger during this entire ordeal. She’ll suffer a penalty if she hits someone with it and an official notices.
Axel Reid: With so many participants, all she really has to do is capitalise when everyone else is busy. I’m sure all of them have that in mind when the match gets underway.
At the bottom of the ring, Katalina smacks her hand with the leather flogger again. Her motions are of such a fashion and pace as to immediately make most of the red-blooded males (and perhaps some females) in the crowd very jealous of the ring rope she saddles to get into the ring itself. She stands mid-ring, savoring the reactions with utter satisfaction. After a brief smile, she places her ‘weapon’ on the mat beneath the turnbuckles and hops onto the top one, crossing one leg over the other, her stare calculating and eager.
Axel Reid: And from that position she will wait… and think.
Seconds later, “Hello Bitches” by CL starts to play. The crowd boo as Rebecca Saint comes out and stands at the top of the stage, doing so alone without Mimi Mai in sight. She poses on the top of the stage as the booing increases, eventually striding to the ring with swag, sometimes looking around the crowd for any would-be members of the Saint City Society.
Jerry Heisenberg: Next, hailing from Saint City… standing at 5’8” and weighing in at 135lbs… REBECCA SAINT!!!
Axel Reid: We’ve read the stories and listened to the interviews regarding Rebecca Saint’s future in this company. While an official announcement has not yet been made in regards to her contract, she has stated multiple times that she will leave VoW with the briefcase in her possession.
Ruby Parvati: Firstly, I don’t want her to leave! This is a company she belongs in! She’s a superb role model and wants to make the women in VoW more sophisticated and pure! But secondly, if she does leave with the briefcase… what will that mean for the Quest For The Case and the prize itself?
Axel Reid: She gets to keep the contents, even though they won’t be useful to her. If she walks out it invalidates the prize. That means everyone in this match will not benefit, least of all VoW and the fans! She earned her way into this match, so she has a right to be here, but in a selfish, self-righteous manner, she wants to deprive this company of something special as a means to show them how badly they’ve treated her.
Ruby Parvati: Have we really?
Axel Reid: Of course we haven’t! She’s been the antagonist throughout! And I know I should be impartial, but I hope someone else in this match wins that briefcase and keeps it away from her horrendous grasp!
Saint climbs into the ring, posing once again as she looks around for worshipping spectators.
Axel Reid: No one is bowing, and no one is showing respect. She brought this on herself, but in 30 minutes time we will know whether she failed to cement her word… or whether she succeeds and walks away with something that should belong to us.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!Suddenly the lights begin to flicker on and off all around the arena before completely engulfing the VoW Universe in nothing but darkness. Static is heard coming from the arena speakers following the drums. The lights flicker to the beat of the instruments as the big screen follows suit, revealing a silhouette of a female with her hair hiding her facial features and a hood over her head.
Dun Dun – Dun Dun - Dun Dun DunThe beat begins to pick up and laminated by the flickering lights is a figure which is kneeling down before the arena goes back completely black once again. The loyalist begin to go into a frenzy for the speculated person as the lights completely go off and after a moment of silence, they turn back on. The light focuses on the young woman who slowly rises to her vertical base; raising her head and her hand up before the big screen exposes the name Gwendolyn Massey across it. It is welcomed by the fans who support her who began to cheer for her as '2 Am' by Ramsey begins to play throughout the arena.
Call all my demons I ache for their love
But none of these people know what I’ve done
I find hard to get close or to look in their eyes
Because there’s so many secrets hidden in mineLooking all around her as a small smirk appears on her face, she looks over to her left and then to her right at the fans before removing her hood and exploded from her position – pointing towards the ring mouthing 'That is MY Asylum!!' as she begins her descent to the ring.
Jerry Heisenberg: Next, hailing from San Francisco, California… standing at 5’2” and weighing in at 120lbs…”THE LADY JOKER HERSELF” GWENDOLYN MASSEY!!!
Axel Reid: She may be the smallest competitor in this match, but if there is any stipulation that suits this woman more than anything, it is an Iron Man Rules contest. Her MMA and technical skills will likely guide her through these 30 minutes, and if her endurance and stamina is anything to write home about, she is going to be less exhausted when the time is up than the rest of her opponents. With that kind of energy and experience, she is definitely the favourite to win the briefcase!
Ruby Parvati: Plus she has an aggressive streak, which makes it far worse for her opposition! But I’m just wondering what could be in that briefcase. A championship match, maybe… money…?
Axel Reid: Perhaps even the right to be General Manager for a day, if I was to hazard a highly unlikely guess.
Ruby Parvati: They could even earn a starring role in a feature film! That would make me jealous!
Axel Reid: Or, as Datura mentioned, a Pizza Hut Coupon...
Turning around, Gwen extends her hands out to show off her hoodie which says 'The House of Joker - EST. 1990. Simple, Right?' As she is walking down, she stops by a couple of fans who have signs up about The Lady Joker before she nods her head and continues.
At night I discover there’s a method to this
Living my life under cover I become the abyss
Inside a dark empty prison I learn how to love
And I am taught how to see beauty in lustStopping in front of the ring, Gwendolyn looks around once again before staring down the ring. Walking towards the steps, she stands on the apron with her arms extended as she looks out towards the universe yelling out 'Second to NONE!'
He won’t let me come down
My love is sold out
It’s 2am now run the red lights
I’m fucked up going crazy
Too young to save me
Born in the sin I deliver the nightStepping in between the ropes, Gwendolyn heads towards the turnbuckle. Giving the fans a slight smirk as she removes her jacket and then her hood before throwing it into the crowd. She then jumps back off the turnbuckle and sits down in the corner, staring across at Katalina and Rebecca.
Axel Reid: She looks confident about this match, and how could she not be. It’s as if this match was designed specifically for her.
Ruby Parvati: But as you said, there are five other participants she has to contend with. She needs to have eyes in the back of her head at all times.
The arena darkens while fog wafts up from beneath the stage, lights going off with a strobe effect meant to resemble lightning as the sound of thunder rumbles through the speakers. The sounds go silent after a few moments before the lights come up with a blue tint, a spotlight shining down on two kneeling figures who rises from within the fog at the top of the ramp moments before the haunting opening of "Cut the Cord" by Shinedown starts.
One lone figure starts to rise as the baseline comes in. Slowly giving nothing away until the bone-chilling thunder of vocals of children echo throughout the arena. The figure throws back her hood revealing her unmistakable blue hair. Laughing along with the lyrics. Joanna sways back and forth on the stage. Finally Joanna throws off her robes and heads to the ring, biting her lips as she savors the meal to come.
Jerry Heisenberg: Next, hailing from The Other Side of Sanity… standing at 5’4” and weighing in at 145lbs…”THE WARCHILD” JOANNA THADE!!!
Axel Reid: On the other side of the coin, though… the rules of this match do not suit this young woman at all. She is bloodthirsty and highly unpredictable, but she craves the freedom to bludgeon her opponents with weapons. If she starts doing that, she’ll be competing in the negative figures and have a mountain to climb to get back to zero!
Ruby Parvati: As if she listens to rules. She does whatever she please.
Axel Reid: But she has vowed to win this briefcase, and that means she HAS to abide by the rules. Her aggression will only get her so far if she becomes unhinged.
Circling around the ring, Joanna refuses to take her eyes off her prey until she runs and slides in under the bottom rope. Joanna moves to the center to take a knee, the maul portion of Hephty pressed to the mat, the Warchild affecting a delightedly malicious smile and shrieking laughter. She then stands and approaches Katalina, giving her a nod of respect before the two exchange a quick shake of hands.
Ruby Parvati: That’s another thing too, Axel… these two are Horsewomen. Will they be allowed to isolate and double-team their opponents?
Axel Reid: Anyone can team with anyone in order to thin the playing field, but they have to keep in mind that it’s everyone for themselves!
The arena turns black again. On the screen, scenes of post-apocalyptic landscapes haunt the darkness. Over the speakers an eerie synth-pad sets the mood as a deep, raspy voice begins speaking.
“The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel and the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides and a dark wind blows. The government is corrupt and we're on so many drugs with the radio on and the curtains drawn. We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine and the machine is bleeding to death. The sun has fallen down and the billboards are all leering and the flags are all dead at the top of their poles.” A chorus of string instruments begins to play a melancholic tune as a pale spotlight rushes to the top of the stage. There, it falls on Datura, dressed in a pair of tight dark jeans and a black hoodie. She stops at the top of the ramp and stares out into the darkness of the crowd and the sea of boos that flood from it.
Jerry Heisenberg: Next, hailing from Tampa, Florida… standing at 5’7” and weighing in at 130lbs… DATURA!!!
Axel Reid: And here comes someone who needs to be mentally examined and analysed as much as Joanna Thade is. She stores an ill-temperament that can cost her dearly, but at the same time she is no fool. She is an intelligent woman and knows exactly how to act when the situation calls for it. She is meticulous and methodical, skills that could gain her vital points when this match begins to reach its conclusion.
Ruby Parvati: I wonder how our General Manager will feel if Datura ends up winning the briefcase? Ryan Omega has been at odds with Datura for quite a while.
Axel Reid: But he’s also been at odds with Gwendolyn Massey when she targeted, attacked and ultimately defeated Rayne Draven-Omega at Fate of the Gods II. Nonetheless, as a professional, he must remain impartial, no matter who wins this competition.
Elizabeth makes her way down the ramp. The silhouette of hands reaching out to grab her can be seen on the outskirts of the spotlight. Datura ignores them as she makes her way to the steps.
“I said: "kiss me, you're beautiful - these are truly the last days. You grabbed my hand and we fell into it like a daydream or a fever." The strings slow. Datura trudges up the stairs and stands on the apron. She cracks her neck and under the top rope. She makes her way to the corner of the ring and places her hands on each side. She unzips her hoodie, slides it off, and averts her gaze to the sky. Once she settles, she individually stares at her opponents, making them aware that she means business.
Axel Reid: Five are accounted for. Only one is left to make their presence known and felt before this match can officially begin.
Ruby Parvati: No prizes to whoever that turns out to be...
As drums begin to beat from the speakers, fires begin to erupt from the stage gently.
You can set yourself on fire
You can set yourself on fireRuby Parvati: Oh, here we go. Rumor had it he decided to play a womanizer this week.
Axel Reid: As the only male wrestler in this match, that’s either a cunning tactic to cause grief and anger, or an unwise decision that will blow up in his face.
As the fires begin to die down, the crowd begins to cheer as Max Soloke is standing in the middle of the stage in his usual black and purple attire. Though, something different about his entrance this week is that he is surrounded by five other women. As the lyrics of P@TD's "Crazy=Genius" plays out, he merely walks to the ring while mouthing the words to both his ‘ladies’ as well as those in attendance at ringside.
She said at night in my dreams
You dance on a tightrope of weird
Oh but when I wake up
You're so normal that you just disappear
You're so straight like commuters
With briefcases towing the line
There's no residue of a torturer
Inside of your eyesJerry Heisenberg: And lastly, hailing from Bexley, Ohio… standing at 5’9” and weighing in at 200lbs…MAXWELL SOLOKE!!!
Axel Reid: Well! Certainly, he has done that job well!
Ruby Parvati: Yes, well, isn't he supposed to be something of a fa--
Axel Reid: Just because he charmed some girls this week doesn't mean he enjoyed it at all, as Darius was kind enough to tell me just before this match.
While pointing to one of the girls playing his entourage, he continues to jokingly mouth off to a man at ringside, almost insulting him with the lyrics. As he does so, the other four women climb onto the ring apron, holding the ropes wide open for him.
She said you're just like Mike Love
But you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
She said you're just like Mike Love
But you'll never be Brian WilsonRuby Parvati: He's going to need much more than just sex tips if he plans to get even a single pin-fall in this match.
Axel Reid: Despite the fact he outweighs all these women and stands above them in height, what he has to rely on here is his diversity and toughness. Surely this is getting under their skin, and he knows it.
He slips into the ring and mouths into the cane with both hands holding tightly over it, as if he is a rockstar playing out a power ballad. His fifth girl follows close behind him as they all gather in the middle of the ring now to crowd over him. The rest of the competitors just stand there with dumbfounded or annoyed looks on their faces.
And I said
Hey ay ay, hey ay
if crazy equals genius
Hey ay ay, hey ay
if crazy equals geniusThe stage explodes in flames and pyrotechnics now to the lyrics. He turns his attention to his opponents with a smirk on his lips as he leans back into his pseudo-harem.
Then I'm a [BLEEP]ing arsonist
I'm a rocket scientist
Hey ay ay
If crazy equals geniusHe crosses his arms as the ladies swarm over him again, holding onto every part of his body that they can. He continues to eye each one of his opponents with a smirk that grows just as much as the fires do on stage.
You can set yourself on fire
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn
You can set yourself on fire
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn
Hey!One final pop follows the “hey” as the crowd resumes their ovation of Soloke whilst his theme song plays quieter in the background. He bows to the ladies who accompanied him to the ring before sitting on the middle rope. With the top rope over his shoulder, he allows for all of them to leave before he faces off with every one of his opponents.
Ruby Parvati: Well, that surely is one way to get everyone to hate you the instant a match starts.
Axel Reid: Funnily enough, aren't you usually cheering for the men?
Ruby Parvati: When I'm rest assured they probably don't cross-dress at drag bars every so often, yes.
Axel Reid: Does he actually?
Ruby Parvati: No, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if he did.
Axel Reid: Cross-dressing or not, he’s put his opponents on high alert here with his shenanigans. If it’s a method of confidence, they could be expecting quite the battle against him. But all that aside, this will be for the Quest For The Case Briefcase, which could contain anything. They all want to win it, but it will take more than expert manoeuvres to get the job done. It will take resilience and endurance, as well as knowing when to strike and when to avoid getting involved in the crossfire.
Ruby Parvati: Mind games work just as well, Axel. But Maxwell’s mind game might have just put him at a major disadvantage!
Axel Reid: We’ll see how right you are in a few moments!
The two officials outside the ring take their positions whilst the main official inside the ring goes over the rules with all six participants one last time. After he finishes, all eyes turn towards Maxwell, who simply smirks and shrugs his shoulders confidently.
Ruby Parvati: Those looks only mean one thing to me…
Axel Reid: A gang attack?
Ruby Parvati: Worse. A FEMALE gang attack!
As they continue staring at him, the official signals for the bell!
DING DING DING!
Axel Reid: Well this Iron Man Match is finally underway... and the countdown has begun! 30 Minutes are all they have to achieve victory, and they have to make them count!
Without missing a beat, Gwendolyn Massey is the first one to go after Soloke! She clubs him with forearms, but he is able to block a couple and get in a leg kick. However, Massey is soon joined by Joanna and Katalina, both of whom take turns kicking Maxwell until he falls to his knees! Despite Katalina’s fear of men, she seems comfortable standing next to her sister in combat. The crowd are mixed as Datura joins the fray, hammering Soloke’s head with elbow strikes.
Ruby Parvati: Max can’t even defend himself against the surge! What an improvised group mentality this is!
Axel Reid: But you’ll notice there’s one person missing from that group, and that’s Rebecca Saint. She’s biding her time on the ring apron, watching these women beat Maxwell down!
Saint smiles as she continues watching the beating. Soon enough Soloke is on the canvas, being stomped to oblivion by his four female adversaries. No longer willing to share, Joanna takes it upon herself to start choking him… but she is pulled off him by Datura. The two exchange a tense look… until it is Datura who falls to the canvas and starts choking Maxwell!
Ruby Parvati: Okay ladies, wait your turn!
Axel Reid: What turn is there to take? They all need points to win that briefcase, and so far Maxwell is the easiest target!
Realizing they’re not a part of the beating any more, Gwendolyn and Katalina turn their attentions to one another and immediately lock-up. Massey quickly and aggressively takes Kat down to the canvas, rolling over her into an arm trap. Kat is able to scramble to safety… or so it seems. Gwendolyn quickens the pace by lunging at the Dominatrix and hooking her leg in a vice grip, dissecting Katalina by weakening one of her legs first. This includes twisting the leg and torquing it with a roll-over, giving Massey the time to kneel on the leg and wrench it upwards.
Axel Reid: That’s how versatile Massey is. She realized Kat was rolling away and captured her leg to prevent an escape.
Ruby Parvati: I’m still glued to what Joanna and Datura are doing to Soloke. They’ve pinned him in the corner and they’re… it’s like they’re trying to one-up each other!
As Ruby previously stated, Maxwell is seated in the corner, being suffocated by Joanna’s knee against his face. At the referee’s call, she lowers her leg and backs off… only to rush forward and drive her knee into Maxwell’s chest! The one-night “ladies man” looks breathless and haggard, yet there are still 28 minutes to go before this contest officially ends. Seemingly unimpressed by Joanna’s move, Datura rushes towards Max and leaps, spinning her body around to dropkick him in the face!
Ruby Parvati: This is what he gets for trying to cover up his shortcomings with fantasy!
Axel Reid: They may be like a pack of vultures now, but you can expect problems when one of these women attempt to pin him for the first point.
Joanna resumes her method of assault, squashing Maxwell into the corner with a cannonball senton! Still not impressed by this athletic display, Datura shakes her head and springs off the ropes adjacent to Soloke, twisting her body to issue a foot stomp against his head! Soloke feels his head and lies on the canvas, but it seems Joanna has just gotten started as she laughs.
Ruby Parvati: Do you see the look in her eyes? That’s the look of a predator on the hunt.
But before Joanna can issue more punishment to Max, she is turned around by Datura. The two women get up close and personal, exchanging words the cameras can’t detect. Suddenly, Joanna rears back and laughs again… only to instantly stop and swing at Datura with a punch! The punch connects, and Datura responds with one of her own! The fight is on!
Axel Reid: Now they’re going after each other! The cooperation ends when being the alpha female sets in!
Datura and Thade continually punch each other until Datura blocks a clothesline from the Warchild, turning it into a Double Knee Armbreaker! Meanwhile Gwendolyn is attempting to put Katalina into a Boston Crab, but Strife’s long legs have enough power to shove Massey away. Only now, amongst the bedlam, does Rebecca Saint finally make her move, slipping into the ring undetected and going straight for Soloke!
Ruby Parvati: Now that’s genius! Genius!
Axel Reid: After all the damage those four ladies did, it could earn a point for someone who was never involved in the group attack in the first place!
Pulling an unsteady Maxwell into a front facelock, Saint manages to drive him down with a DDT! The impact flips him over onto his back, and Rebecca quickly covers him!
Ruby Parvati: This is how you win, with intelligence rather than brute force!
The referee slides in and counts as the other four women are focused on their respective opposition…
ONE!
TWO!
THR-- NO!
Maxwell gets his shoulder up!
Ruby Parvati: Are you telling me after all that he still kicked out?!
Axel Reid: Never take Maxwell Soloke lightly, Ruby! Beneath that boyish exterior is a tough individual.
Frustrated by the failed pinfall, Saint toils with her hair before she stands over Max and stomps on him. As this occurs, Katalina manages to counter a snap suplex from Massey and turns it into a Spinebuster!
Axel Reid: That was a nice move from Katalina Star. And Joanna and Datura are still pummelling each other in the corner.
As soon as Katalina returns to a vertical base, Rebecca notices how vulnerable she is and sneaks up behind her foe. As Kat waves to a fan in the crowd, Saint grabs Katalina’s attire and pulls her into a roll-up, using the tights for leverage!
Axel Reid: She’s got a handful of tights! The referee doesn’t see it!
ONE!
TWO!
THR-- NO!
Katalina also kicks out, denying Saint a crucial first point! Rebecca screams loud, causing the crowd to cheer her frustration and then boo her for who she is.
Ruby Parvati: How can they disrespect her like this? She’s not a bad person!
Axel Reid: If cheating and using underhanded tactics isn’t bad, then I don’t know what is…
Ruby Parvati: I could give you a list.
Before Katalina can rise to her feet again, Rebecca connects with a Roundhouse Kick that takes the Dominatrix back down instantly! Shortly thereafter, she looks over her shoulder at Joanna and Datura, with the former bringing Datura down with a Hurracanrana. Attempting to remain composed, Saint quietly approaches Joanna from behind… yet Thade senses a disturbance. She spins around rapidly, but Rebecca is quicker on the trigger, levelling Joanna with another Roundhouse Kick!
Ruby Parvati: She’s kicking everybody, and they’re dropping like flies!
Feeling his chest painfully, Max staggers towards Saint in an attempt to gain some retribution. But as soon as he touches her shoulder, she spins around and gives out a third Roundhouse Kick! Soloke crumples to the canvas, doing so as Datura forces herself back up. Saint measures a fourth Roundhouse Kick for her, but Datura smartly ducks… only for Saint to continue spinning until it leads to a Spinning Wheel Kick against her now-vertical opponent!
Ruby Parvati: Impressed yet?
Axel Reid: She has made a statement in a short amount of time, but she still has a long way to go in order to get that briefcase.
Saint arrogantly poses in the center of the ring, not showing any annoyance or sadness at the crowd’s negative response. She seems above and beyond them, as if they no longer matter. Suddenly, the crowd change their tune, causing Rebecca to smile fondly. She believes they have finally come to their senses… but it is for an entirely different reason…
Axel Reid: Uhm, Rebecca…
Ruby Parvati: Rebecca, turn around!
Stalking the oblivious leader of Saint City, Gwendolyn Massey smirks as she nears her current target. After waving off the crowd, treating them as unwashed, insignificant peasants, Rebecca is suddenly grabbed by the impatient Lady Joker, who throws her upward and backward with an excellent, arching German Suplex!
Axel Reid: Consider the popularity survey over!
Ruby Parvati: She can’t do that to a national leader! This is treason!
Saint stumbles up to her feet, only to be thrown back down with a Belly-to-Back Suplex from Massey! The crowd seem to be behind the Lady Joker despite her past discretions… although given who she is currently dealing damage to, the fans have picked their favourite. Rebecca attempts to run away, but she is pulled back into a Full Nelson, which transitions into a release Dragon Suplex!
Ruby Parvati: Gwendolyn is a suplex machine!
Axel Reid: She’s not just skilled in MMA and Submission wrestling, Ruby. This is something she’s practiced for years.
Meanwhile, Datura puts Joanna onto the canvas with the Danielson Special. But as the Butterfly Lock is sealed, Katalina rushes over and stomps on Datura to save her sister from submitting. Datura releases the hold and immediately feels her stomach, with Katalina stomping on her all the while. Joanna absorbs the pain and chuckles to herself, eventually standing to her feet and gesturing for Kat to send Datura her way.
Axel Reid: Now we’re seeing the cohesion between these two Horsewomen, and Datura is the first subject of their combined malice!
Katalina elbows Datura towards Joanna, who places her previous rival into a front facelock. However, as Joanna shrieks out towards the capacity crowd, Datura forces her way out and jumps up, wrapping her legs around Joanna’s head and sending her over the ropes to the outside with a headscissors whip!
Ruby Parvati: It was only a matter of time before they all started spilling out of the ring!
Axel Reid: It actually gives more room and strategic thinking to those who remain inside, Ruby. But the ringside area is a dangerous environment, let me tell you.
With Joanna lying on the concrete, Katalina knees Datura in the stomach and goes for a Scoop Slam. Unfortunately for Kat, Datura is still too alert, and she slips down Katalina’s back and lands on her feet. Before Kat can calculate a defensive move, Datura grabs Kat by her long hair and pulls her over the top rope, dumping her outside the ring alongside her fellow Horsewoman!
Ruby Parvati: That makes two!
Axel Reid: Two peas from a pod remain together as one, I suppose.
Ruby Parvati: … What?
During Datura’s solo effort against the Horsewomen, Gwendolyn has further weakened Saint with more German Suplexes and grounded punches. She brings Rebecca up and whips her towards the ropes, not knowing Datura is stood in her opponent’s path. Saint collides with Datura and sends the latter tumbling through the ropes, straight into the danger of Joanna and Katalina. Dazed from the collision, Rebecca feels her head and steps backwards… but Massey grabs Saint and tosses her out of the ring onto Kat and Joanna!
Axel Reid: We have four competitors outside the ring now and… oh, she can’t be thinking…
Ruby Parvati: Too late!
The crowd cheer enthusiastically as Massey runs at the ropes behind her, gaining some momentum before she sprints across the ring and dives through the ropes into the barely-recovered group outside!
Axel Reid: A suicide dive from Massey! They’re all down!
Ruby Parvati: And we’ve gone approximately four minutes! There’s no concept of conserving energy at all!
The only one left in the ring is Maxwell, who acknowledges the emptiness of his surroundings with a confused look. Seconds later he sees all five women lying outside the ring, gathering their bearings and beginning to get back up. One look towards the ecstatic crowd gives him all the ammunition he needs to make a pivotal decision.
Ruby Parvati: If he’s going to… he weighs more than all of them!
Axel Reid: Not combined, he doesn’t!
Ruby Parvati: Referee!
Before long, a rejuvenated Max nods to the crowd…
… and then he hits the same ropes Massey hit, dashing across the ring at great pace before FLYING OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH A CORKSCREW PLANCHA AND CRASHING DOWN ONTO ALL FIVE WOMEN!
Ruby Parvati: He squashed them!
Axel Reid: Even he had a rough landing on that one, but the damage has been done! If that was his counter attack to how this match started, it was an impressive one!
25 MINUTES REMAININGAt the 25-minute mark, Max is fortunately the first one to stand. The outside officials band together and attempt to usher all the competitors back inside, even those who are still dealing with effects of the plancha. Soloke lets out a strong exhale before he adjusts his attire and rolls under the bottom rope, getting back into the spacious ring. A few moments later, Datura stands and focuses on the ring, a violent instinct being shown in her eyes before she too enters.
Axel Reid: Max and Datura are back in, and wow does this bring back memories.
Ruby Parvati: Maxwell said he’s not finished with her, Axel. This is his platform to try and equal the score.
Datura and Max circle one another, knowing how the other acts and what they are capable of doing. As the crowd chant for Soloke, Datura rushes at him with chops to the chest. She blisters the flesh before hammering her arm against him with lariats, causing sweat to spray off him in every direction. But as Datura attempts a Flying Armbar, Soloke rolls through and springs back up to his feet, connecting with a low Superkick to his kneeling rival! The shot makes Datura lean backwards, yet she does not fall. With Datura nonetheless stunned, Soloke hoists her up from her knelt position and powers her onto his shoulder for an Argentine Neckbreaker!
Axel Reid: We could be witnessing the first point going to Maxwell in a short amount of time!
Ruby Parvati: You better think again! Datura is fighting against it!
Having come to her senses, Datura wriggles her body atop his shoulder, trying to loosen his grip. When this fails to work, she starts to elbow him in the back of the head, connecting with three shots until Max drops her. Awkwardly landing on her feet, Datura recovers in time to catch Soloke in the stomach with a thrusting boot. As he’s bent over, she hooks his head under her arm and, summoning immense, awe-inspiring strength, lifts him into a brainbuster! The crowd react loudly at this display before she drops him head-first onto her knee, performing a move better known as the Deliriant!
Ruby Parvati: Did you see that?! She got Max up for the Deliriant!
Axel Reid: He weighs 200lbs, Ruby. Had then been a much larger man, Datura wouldn’t have been able to pull it off!
Datura goes to cover Maxwell… but she is interrupted by Massey, who takes her down with a classic Judo Hip Throw!
Axel Reid: And there’s Gwendolyn, getting in at the right time to deny Datura a point!
Feeling her back, Datura once again rises to her feet… only to be struck down by an Enzuigiri from the Lady Joker Herself! Returning to a vertical base, Gwen looks between Maxwell and Datura… failing to notice Joanna perching herself on the top rope behind her!
Ruby Parvati: The Warchild is ready to bring doom from the air!
Signalling Massey’s damnation, Joanna lets her position become evident with a horrifying shriek. As soon as Gwendolyn spins around, Thade flies off the top rope with a tucking Crossbody block, crashing onto Massey…
… who rolls through and hooks Joanna’s legs into an inside cradle!
Axel Reid: Massey reversed the Crossbody!
The referee counts Joanna’s shoulders down…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Massey releases Joanna and rolls away, with the Horsewoman sitting up with a mixture of shock and anger.
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, GWENDOLYN MASSEY!
Axel Reid: Gwendolyn Massey gets onto the score sheet first with that inside cradle! Joanna just went too quickly and the momentum carried her over into that predicament!
Ruby Parvati: That’s how clever Gwendolyn can be too. But still, we have under 24 minutes to go now!
Upset from having been pinned in such a fashion, Joanna pursues Massey and relentlessly clubs her with forearms and punches. The referee can do nothing about it as Joanna claws and scratches at Gwendolyn’s face, doing so as Katalina enters the fray. The Dominatrix grabs the pained Massey and gives her a Snapmare, leading to Joanna booting her hard in the spinal column!
Axel Reid: Now we’ve got Joanna and Katalina teaming up together. They can certainly do a lot of damage combined, but it’s still every person for themselves here.
After pulling Massey to her feet and issuing a hard slap, Katalina floors her with a drop toe hold and keeps her legs wrapped. Gwendolyn is helpless as Joanna gets onto the middle rope, using them to jump up and land on Massey’s head with a knee drop!
Ruby Parvati: That will give Gwendolyn a headache for the rest of this match… or worse!
Dusting her hands off, Joanna considers covering Massey and equalling the score. But instead she spots Maxwell, forcing his way to his feet near the corner. Directing a finger at Soloke, Joanna commands Katalina to follow, and both Horsewomen proceed to stomp him into the corner again. Unable to fight back against both of them, Maxwell is further restricted as Katalina chokes him with the sole of her leather boot. Keeping him in place, Kat looks over at Joanna, who backs off and then runs towards Max for a flying knee strike!
Axel Reid: This doesn’t feel organic, Ruby. It feels rehearsed, as if these two have been working on these double-team moves before Heatstroke. Perhaps they worked this out in secret and are now putting it into effect!
Ruby Parvati: You could be right for once, Axel. And why shouldn’t they? If anyone is going to win this match, in their minds, it’s better for one of them to rather than the other four!
A rather delirious Saint then enters the ring, still reeling from the suplexes and attacks Gwendolyn gave her earlier. She forces herself to stand, but Joanna is already on the case, grasping her tight and giving her a Belly-to-Belly Suplex. This sets up Katalina, who slaps her thigh with her hand before giving Rebecca a solid elbow drop. The leader of Saint City folds up after the elbow drop, and Kat smiles proudly towards Joanna.
Ruby Parvati: What a masterful tactic this is. They’re isolating the competitors and punishing them together.
Both sisters slap hands and prepare to target Datura, who is recovering near the ropes…
...that is until Katalina breaks the partnership by grabbing Joanna and rolling her into a bridging prawn-style predicament!
Ruby Parvati: Wait, what!
The referee counts Joanna’s shoulders down again!
ONE!
TWO!
Joanna powers herself out and breaks the count!
Axel Reid: It seems neither one can be trustworthy. Katalina just proved that to her fellow Horsewoman!
Joanna tilts her head at Katalina, who tells her “it’s just business, love”. Seemingly accepting this as a form of individuality, Joanna nods her head and gets back to her feet… whereby she runs at Katalina and gives her a Thesz Press into grounded punches!
Ruby Parvati: No! You’re supposed to be sisters!
Axel Reid: It’s everyone for themselves, as I keep saying! Katalina willingly opened the door to allow this, and Joanna has accepted it for what it is!
Suddenly, Joanna is pulled up from Katalina by Soloke, who drops the Warchild with a Back Suplex! Katalina thinks she has time to recover, but then Datura comes into play, dragging Kat away from the ropes by her foot and wrapping her into a Figure Four Leglock!
Axel Reid: Datura has a figure four on Katalina! Will she tap out?!
20 MINUTES REMAININGKatalina yells out as Datura applies more pressure, sitting on her hands to gain better leverage. Meanwhile Maxwell takes Joanna down with a Running Facebuster, setting her up for a springboard move off the ropes. He jumps off the middle rope and rotates with a Moonsault… but Joanna moves out of the way! Luckily Maxwell spins fully and lands on his feet, but the surge of anger that is running through Joanna causes her to recover quicker than he can. Before Max can hit a clothesline, Joanna connects with the Mental Disorder, a running knee to the head! Soloke goes down and Joanna covers him a few seconds later!
Axel Reid: Joanna has a cover on Maxwell, and Katalina still hasn’t tapped out to Datura!
Having to take his eyes off the submission going on, the main official slides across the ring to count Joanna’s cover, doing so as an outside official gets onto the apron to see if Katalina will tap…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Ruby Parvati: Joanna gets a point!
Axel Reid: So Joanna and Gwendolyn Massey are tied at one fall apiece, and we have less than 20 minutes left.
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, JOANNA THADE!
Joanna finally notices Katalina in peril and dives towards Datura, striking her in the head with an ax handle and breaking the Figure Four before the one known as Strife can give in!
Ruby Parvati: And Joanna saves Katalina too! They’re still on the same side really!
Axel Reid: I don’t think so. Joanna was just stopping Datura gaining a point, which could have given us a three-way tie.
Meanwhile, Gwendolyn has recovered, as has Rebecca Saint. Both competitors reach each other unknowingly, leading to a stand-off of chops and forearm strikes. Showing her technical prowess, Massey turns a spinning chop from Saint into a Fujiwara Armbar, bringing Rebecca into a submission hold that could give her a second point!
Axel Reid: The pace in this match is frighteningly quick. Joanna is trying to keep Datura down, but she’s giving Joanna strikes back. Massey has Saint on the verge of tapping, and Max and Kat are recuperating from the injuries they’ve sustained!
Ruby Parvati: Rebecca isn’t done though, Axel. She’s heading towards the ropes!
As Saint claws her way to the safety of the ropes, Datura counters a Hurracanrana from Joanna into a Powerbomb! Suddenly an intense fire burns within her eyes, showing a fierce side of her that is about to emerge.
Axel Reid: I think Datura’s violent temperament has just taken her over the edge!
Running on all cylinders, Datura first rushes over to Massey and gives her a vicious Curb Stomp as she keeps Saint in the armbar! Gwendolyn is incapacitated as Saint grabs at her arm, but Datura is not exactly merciful. She grabs Rebecca’s damaged arm and wrenches it, causing further agony for the leader of Saint City until she places her into a hammerlock. This suddenly turns deadly as Datura adjusts her position, stepping over the back of Rebecca’s leg before giving her the Devil Lock DDT!
Ruby Parvati: Rebecca’s arm could have been wrenched out of the socket! That poor woman!
Axel Reid: Datura doesn’t care, Ruby, nor is she going to apologize. All she cares about is gaining these points to win the coveted briefcase here at ringside!
The crowd respond loudly to Datura as she looks around, but the violence has not yet passed. She sees Maxwell getting to his feet and runs at him, delivering a corner dropkick that soon leads to an overhead kick! With Maxwell disposed of, Datura sets her sights on Katalina, the woman she could have forced to tap out moments earlier. Star is still feeling her leg from the ground, but this fails to garner sympathy. Datura advances on her wounded opponent and kicks at her aggressively, landing every shot to her chest and neck. Eventually, Datura drags Katalina to her feet and gives her a seated Death Valley Driver, followed up by a cover!
Axel Reid: There’s a Death Valley Driver, and Datura senses a point coming!
The referee counts as Datura looks around at her affected opposition…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Axel Reid: Three different competitors now have points. How close is this going to be near the match’s conclusion?
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, DATURA!
As soon as Jerry announces that Datura has gained a point, Joanna clubs Datura from behind and bends her backwards into a Reverse DDT!
Axel Reid: It’s pretty clear Joanna did not take that announcement well!
Ruby Parvati: But don’t forget, Massey has a point on the score sheet too!
Joanna gives Datura a standing moonsault and makes a cover…
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Datura gets her shoulder up in time, which makes Joanna punch her opponent even more.
Meanwhile Soloke, as worn and fatigued as he appears, attempts to capitalise on the still-grounded Katalina. He musters the energy to scale the ropes and reside on the top turnbuckle, and before the crowd can properly cheer he jumps off with a Frog Splash!
But at the last second, Kat has the instinct to move out of the way, making sure Maxwell hits nothing but canvas!
Ruby Parvati: How Katalina had the wherewithal to see that coming I have no idea!
Axel Reid: She’s another one that can’t be underestimated. Her notorious sessions behind the scenes are rarely discussed, but they establish just how much pain she can withstand.
Getting onto his hands and knees, Soloke breathes heavily from the loss of oxygen, driven out of him after the impact. But he is unaware of Katalina forcing herself to her feet, and soon enough she moves towards him, jumping up and giving him a Curb Stomp!
Ruby Parvati: There’s another curb stomp! First from Datura, now from Katalina!
Axel Reid: It’s an effective move, no doubt about it, and Katalina is going for a cover!
15 MINUTES REMAININGWith Datura and Joanna brawling outside the ring at this point, and with Gwendolyn and Rebecca Saint struggling to regroup, Katalina has absolutely no interference to worry about as the referee counts the pinfall…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Axel Reid: That makes four on one point!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, KATALINA STAR!
Outside the ring, Joanna reverses a whip from Datura and drives her adversary into the boards that line the crowd barrier! Once this has been accomplished, she storms around the ring before sliding back in, targeting anyone that damn well moves.
Ruby Parvati: Now we have an unhinged Joanna on the loose!
Axel Reid: I smell foulness in the air…
Rebecca, while coping with her arm, cannot avoid the Superkick that Joanna gives her. Gwendolyn is then taken to task, receiving a series of leg kicks before she is felled by the Sanity Check, a running bulldog onto Joanna’s knee! Everyone is a meal for Joanna to feast on at this point, and she bypasses Katalina to get to Maxwell. He suffers a series of kicks away, leading to a spinning heel kick and then a double foot stomp onto his stomach. Joanna sways her head back and forth, as if reeling in madness as the voices in her head consume her mind.
Axel Reid: She is a deranged, psychotic young woman.
Ruby Parvati: Even when she abides by the rules she makes them need more enforcement!
Then, and only then, does Joanna acknowledge Strife. Kat looks up at Joanna from the canvas, and War smiles at what she intends to do. Without even giving a warning, Thade kicks Katalina in the head before she pulls her up to her feet, giving her a Belly-to-Belly Suplex for good measure!
Axel Reid: If this only serves to make them stronger, I hate to imagine how they’ll be together in the future.
Ruby Parvati: That’s why they’re the Horsewomen of Chaos, Axel! They frequently test each other to see if they’re still up to standard!
Joanna scales the ropes once again, residing on the top as the crowd give mixed reactions. She jumps off with a knee drop… but for a second time Katalina is able to avoid the aerial attack, causing Joanna to roll forward after landing. Returning to her feet, Joanna shrieks and sprints at Katalina… who pops up and catches Joanna before swinging her around into a Sidewalk Slam!
Ruby Parvati: What a counter from Kat! She’s really becoming quite the wrestler since joining the ranks of the Horsewomen!
Axel Reid: Development takes time in wrestling. No one can be an instant success story. But Katalina is willing to learn and willing to become stronger. Not just under the influence of Chaos, but under the influence of Zahara as well!
The crowd are more positive towards Katalina, giving her more cheers than boos, which some in the audience still do. Feeding off the support, Kat grasps Joanna’s legs and goes for a Figure Four of her own… until she turns it into a convoluted Kneebar submission!
Ruby Parvati: Look at this! Look at this!
Axel Reid: I don’t believe it! Katalina has Joanna trapped in the Sweet Release… or a variation of it! If Joanna taps out, Katalina will take the lead!
But Joanna is unwilling to give up. She continually tells the referee no, reaching out to the ropes. Kat straightens out her body more and pulls, causing more pain to course through Joanna’s legs. Suddenly Joanna sits up, staring angrily at Kat. The Dominatrix stares back, gritting her teeth as she controls this moment in time.
Ruby Parvati: Don’t disintegrate! You’re stronger together!
Axel Reid: At this mom-- LOOK OUT!
Axel changes his words as, from out of nowhere, Gwendolyn Massey lands on the legs of both women with a splash from the top turnbuckle!
Ruby Parvati: Where did she come from?!
Axel Reid: I never noticed her climbing the top rope! I was too focused on what was happening between the Horsewomen!
The kneebar is broken, and Katalina and Joanna tend to their individual woes. Massey scrambles to her feet with restored energy, catching the oncoming Max in time to give him The Killing Joke!
Axel Reid: The Killing Joke on Maxwell Soloke!
Suddenly, with her arm having more flexibility, Rebecca appears and furiously crawls towards Kat!
Ruby Parvati: Wait, Rebecca is entering the fray!
Unfortunately, before Saint can cover Katalina, Gwendolyn intervenes by striking her with a boot to the head! Rebecca is sent backwards and into the corner, whereby Massey pursues, pulls her out of the corner and brings her into THE JOKER’S CALLING!
Axel Reid: And there’s the submission, the Joker’s Calling! That Triangle Choke is a deadly, deadly manoeuvre!
A few seconds later, Rebecca can no longer resist and frantically taps her hand against Gwendolyn’s thigh, surrendering and granting her an extra point!
Ruby Parvati: Did she tap out?!
Axel Reid: I believe she just did!
Ruby Parvati: Poor Rebecca!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall by submission, GWENDOLYN MASSEY!
Having been unnoticed until now, Datura takes this opportunity to make herself seen and feared once again. Returning to the ring after being slammed into the crowd barrier, she nearly decapitates Massey with a lariat! Continuing to run forward, she then drives a Yakuza Kick into Katalina’s face, stopping only to grab a hold of Joanna and give her a second Deliriant!
Ruby Parvati: Datura looks like she’s possessed!
Axel Reid: She’s running on adrenaline, operating as a predator with no remorse!
Following this move, Datura places Joanna between her legs and hooks her arms, lifting her upside down for the THORN-APPLE DRIVER, which receives a loud ovation from the crowd!
Axel Reid: The Thorn-Apple Driver!
Datura hooks the leg of Joanna for another cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Axel Reid: Gwendolyn and Datura are tied again! They’re both on two points each!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, DATURA!
Suddenly, to everyone’s excitement, Maxwell Soloke grabs Datura from behind and gives her a Wheelbarrow Facebuster, which transitions into a bridging jackknife pinfall!
Ruby Parvati: What the heck?!
The referee starts counting Datura’s shoulders down!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
After the count of three Datura kicks out, but it is far too late!
Ruby Parvati: Did… Did Max just get a point?!
Axel Reid: Yes, he did, by pinning Datura! How monumental is that!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, MAXWELL SOLOKE!
Surging with his own form of adrenaline, Maxwell brings Datura up into a European Uppercut, which is followed by a Swinging Neckbreaker! Katalina stumbles to her feet at last, but Soloke seizes a hold of her and delivers a T-Bone Suplex to cheers from the crowd!
Ruby Parvati: He’s running wild! I don’t believe it!
Axel Reid: I told you he was a tenacious competitor!
10 MINUTES REMAININGAxel Reid: And we’re now into the last ten minutes! Things are really starting to heat up here at Heatstroke for this Quest For The Case finale!
Ruby Parvati: Your intentional puns are absolutely horrible.
Max scans the crowd, taking in the atmosphere before he poses for them. The crowd respond in kind, giving him further support before he goes after Saint.
But that’s when Rebecca drop toe holds Soloke onto the bottom turnbuckle, giving him head trauma as she continues to recover from Massey’s submission hold!
Ruby Parvati: Woo, go Rebecca!
Axel Reid: How could you possibly want her to win of all people! She wants to spoil this prize and ruin the future of this company in one fell swoop!
Ruby Parvati: I can convince her to stay! She’ll listen to me! She deserves to be here and I will not take no for an answer!
The crowd boo heavily as Rebecca takes note of her surroundings, realizing that everyone is down from fatigue or grogginess. Rebecca then crawls over to Massey and hooks her leg for a cover!
Axel Reid: If Saint can get a point from each of these competitors, this will be a travesty!
The referee counts!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-- NO!
MASSEY KICKS OUT!
Ruby Parvati: Oh no! Wait, wait, Katalina is still down, Rebecca!
Axel Reid: Would you please stop giving her tips to win?!
Becoming desperate, Saint scrambles over to Katalina and hooks HER leg for another cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE???
NO! KATALINA KICKS OUT AS WELL!
Ruby Parvati: Come on, come on…
Seemingly beginning to lose her mind, Rebecca anxiously looks around before she goes to pin Datura!
Axel Reid: This could be third time lucky for her...
ONE!
TWO!
NO! IT IS NOT TO BE!
Ruby Parvati: OH COME ON!
Axel Reid: Whose side are you on, Ruby?! The Visionaries or Saint City?!
Ruby Parvati: I support talent and professionalism, Axel! Rebecca has it in spades!
On the verge of tears, Saint slams her fists down onto the canvas, throwing a tantrum as the crowd boo her across the Norfolk Scope. Channelling her emotions into her methods of attack, Saint grabs Datura and pulls her up to her feet. With an unflattering comment to her opponent, Rebecca slaps Datura across the face and then hits the ropes, going for a Shining Wizard!
But Datura amazingly puts a stop to it, countering the Shining Wizard with the Lady Death into the turnbuckle pads!
Axel Reid: Now THAT was a vicious counter! Rebecca almost landed square on her head! As much as I wouldn’t like her to leave this company with that briefcase, I would hate for someone to get seriously injured here.
Ruby Parvati: NOW you’re showing sympathy to her? You’re really odd, Axel.
Meanwhile Maxwell gets up and pushes himself away from his corner, going after Datura to gain a second point. He grabs Datura from behind again… but this time she counters his intended German Suplex with a standing Shiranui!
Axel Reid: How did she pull that off?!
Ruby Parvati: I don’t know! It looked amazing!
Datura covers Maxwell as the referee, showing signs of fatigue as well, slides in to count!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, DATURA!
Axel Reid: Datura is ahead on points with three!
Ruby Parvati: Now she’s in the lead to take that briefcase!
Datura digests another successive point for a few moments, but it isn’t long until she is struck down by a recharged Katalina Star! Strife even manages to counter Massey with a facebreaker, putting the Lady Joker Herself back down onto the canvas! Star sees Joanna coming and rushes at her ally, giving her a flying clothesline!
Axel Reid: Katalina Star is on a roll! She has one point next to her name already, but soon there could be more if she keeps this up!
Rebecca Saint attempts to end Katalina’s momentum, but the Dominatrix blocks a kick and delivers one of her own. Katalina then administers numerous slaps to Saint, each one connecting wickedly. Leaving Saint stunned, Katalina gives her a DDT!
Ruby Parvati: I don’t know who’s going to win this, Axel! All of them are so determined!
Sensing another point coming, Katalina stalks Gwendolyn, perhaps thinking of a submission. Instead, she boots Massey in the stomach and then hits the ropes, coming back with a third Curb Stomp!
Except Massey dodges the attack, causing Kat to stomp the canvas hard! The impact channels up her leg and limits her movement, giving Massey the opportunity to grab Katalina’s arm and pull her into a Short Arm Clothesline!
Axel Reid: Gwendolyn has cut off Katalina, and now the Lady Joker is in control!
Two more short arm clotheslines follow, yet Massey fails to let go. As she brings Katalina up for a fourth one, she keeps hold of the arm as she takes Star to the corner. Mounting the ropes, Massey calmly and expertly across the top rope, receiving a loud cheer from the crowd before she jumps off and delivers a Tornado DDT!
Ruby Parvati: This woman amazes me more and more!
Axel Reid: Gwendolyn is so unorthodox, even if she has a particular combative background!
Suddenly, before Massey can cover Katalina, she is driven out of the ring by a knee strike from Joanna! The Warchild then kicks out at an approaching Max, giving him a knee strike as well that sends him to the outside alongside the Lady Joker!
Axel Reid: Here comes trouble…
Abandoning the ring to suit her own means, Joanna punches Gwendolyn until she savagely runs her into the steel steps!
Ruby Parvati: Okay, now things are getting dangerous!
The two officials outside the ring converge, but they cannot stop Joanna going after Max. Fire burns in her eyes as she grabs a hold of him, running him head-first into the steel ring post!
Axel Reid: Hold on, would that give Joanna a disqualification?!
Ruby Parvati: I… I don’t know!
For some reason, the two officials outside the ring do not consider it a harsh offense. Still, they try to reason with Joanna and calm her down, but she doesn’t seem to be listening. Instead, she heads to the announce table and grabs her warhammer Hephty, which causes the officials and the announcers to start panicking! The majority of the hardcore crowd, meanwhile, cheer like crazy.
Axel Reid: Okay, this is going too far now! She’s going to get disqualified!
Ruby Parvati: Put it down, Joanna! Put it down!
Joanna threatens the officials with the warhammer, laughing as they flinch and hold their hands up. This brings over the main official, ducking through the ropes to talk Joanna out of using it.
However, as this is going on, a wily Rebecca Saint suddenly reaches into her gear and produces a set of brass knuckles!
Axel Reid: Hey, wait a minute!
Ruby Parvati: Wait a minute what? I don’t see anything wrong apart from Joanna’s warhammer!
Axel Reid: Not her, Saint!
Putting the brass knuckles onto her hand, she keeps an eye on the referees, making sure they don’t see her. When they’re fully engaged in dealing with Joanna, Rebecca goes after Katalina and punches her with the brass knuckles!
Axel Reid: Now that isn’t fair! That’s blatant cheating!
Ruby Parvati: If the referee doesn’t see it, it’s perfectly legal!
Concealing the brass knuckles afterwards, Rebecca shouts at the referee to pay attention. She covers Katalina as the referee looks around, knowing a pinfall is happening. Leaving his fellow referees to take care of Joanna, he slides into position and counts the pinfall…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Axel Reid: Give me a break!
Ruby Parvati: Smart! SMART!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, REBECCA SAINT!
Axel Reid: Jerry, even you know that was wrong!
Ruby Parvati: His only job is announcing, not being a judge and law enforcement officer!
With the main referee now paying full attention to what is happening in the ring, Rebecca goes after Maxwell outside the ring. She manages to get him back inside the ring, his face bruised from the ring post.
Axel Reid: This can’t happen. No way is she taking advantage of everyone else to steal that briefcase!
Ruby Parvati: Is that against the rules? I don’t think so!
A few moments later, Rebecca locks Soloke into the Figure Four Sharpshooter!
5 MINUTES REMAININGMaxwell struggles to hold on, fighting to reach the ropes. However the pain becomes too much… and he has no choice but to submit!
Ruby Parvati: That’s two points in under a minute for Rebecca!
Axel Reid: This cannot be happening!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall by submission, REBECCA SAINT!
After releasing Maxwell from the hold, Saint fortunately dodges an attack from Datura and gives her adversary a Neckbreaker! Suddenly, all eyes turn to the stage, and the fans boo heavily again!
Axel Reid: Oh I don’t believe it…
Ruby Parvati: IT’S MIMI MAI!
Despite the rules specifically stating all valets and managers are barred from ringside, Mimi seems to want to be a cheerleader to her adoptive mother. She applauds her mother as she resides at ringside… but Rebecca is not thrilled by her appearance.
Axel Reid: If those referee’s catch Mimi, Saint’s points will be depleted!
Rebecca commands Mimi to go backstage, but Mimi refuses, shaking her head animately. The two go back and forth, with Mimi wanting to stay… and then her eyes grow wide.
Ruby Parvati: REBECCA!
Axel Reid: Will you shut up?!
Ruby Parvati: BUT… JOANNA!
Having been reasoned with and disposing of Hephty, Joanna has returned to the ring and is stood directly behind Rebecca. Mimi tries to tell her mother, but Rebecca is still giving her a lecture. Eventually, Rebecca decides to turn around… whereby she is booted in the stomach and quickly given the ELECTROSHOCK TREATMENT!
Ruby Parvati: Mimi tried to warn you, and I did as well!
Axel Reid: That’s it! I think you should be barred from this announce table for the rest of this match!
Mimi looks upset and attempts to enter the ring, but one of the officials grabs her and prevents any interference. The crowd cheer as Mimi is then handed to a security guard, who carries her off under his arm as she kicks and screams.
Axel Reid: And there goes Mimi, who might have just cost her mother the briefcase!
Ruby Parvati: It wasn’t her fault! She’s innocent! Blame Joanna Thade!
Joanna gets back to her feet and flips her hair around, summoning energy from the depths to last through the rest of this match. But as she turns around, she is taken off her feet by a spear from Datura!
4 MINUTES REMAININGAxel Reid: We have four minutes left!
Rebecca Saint: There’s Katalina!
Katalina, still having enough sense to continue, crawls over to the fallen Saint and covers her!
Axel Reid: Katalina is taking a page out of Rebecca’s book!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Axel Reid: Katalina is on two points!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, KATALINA STAR!
However, Datura gets back up and delivers a boot to Strife, kicking her away from the downed Rebecca. Joanna shrieks as she musters the energy to stand up, but Datura dodges a running knee and connects with an Enzuigiri to the back of Joanna’s head!
Ruby Parvati: This is getting fast and furious!
Axel Reid: The time is ticking down. We’re heading towards the three minute mark!
Katalina aggressively grabs Datura and attempts a takedown, but Datura counters with a Front Russian Leg Sweep! Katalina lies on the canvas, as do Joanna and Saint, and Datura decides to head to the top rope!
Ruby Parvati: Now what is she thinking?!
Reaching the top, Datura doesn’t waste any time picking an opponent. She flies off with a 450 Splash, crashing down on top of Rebecca! She hooks the leg for another pinfall!
Axel Reid: Datura went for the leader of Saint City!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
Axel Reid: AND THAT MAKES FOUR!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, DATURA!
3 MINUTES REMAININGWinded from the splash, Datura does her best to push herself up. Unfortunately, she fails to notice Soloke, who rushes at her with a Bicycle Kick! But Maxwell is fatigued also, collapsing onto the canvas as time ticks away!
Axel Reid: Datura is in the lead, but no one seems to be able to continue!
Ruby Parvati: ALMOST NO ONE!
The person Ruby is referring to is the Lady Joker Herself, who sees the score sheet on the big screen. Suddenly her eyes flare and she scans her opposition, knowing she has over two minutes to win this match!
Axel Reid: Massey is up! She’s like a wolf in a field of sheep!
Ruby Parvati: This isn’t good!
With the crowd on the edge of their seats, Gwendolyn immediately goes after the rising Katalina. She grabs her and delivers a Northern Lights Suplex, but she doesn’t form a bridge. The reason is she has noticed Joanna getting to her feet, and she gives Joanna palm strikes before launching her across the ring with a Belly-to-Belly throw! Maxwell is up next, and he too suffers a similar fate, being chopped to pieces by this female machine until he is driven to the canvas by a Spinning Kick!
Axel Reid: Could this be Massey’s moment to shine?! Could this be Massey’s night?!
Ruby Parvati: Here comes Rebecca!
Showing signs of the match that has raged on for 28 minutes, Rebecca attempts to roll Gwendolyn up into a pinning predicament… but Massey rolls through and bides her time, waiting until Saint stands up to give her a The Killing Joke!
Axel Reid: The Killing Joke! That’ll do it!
Unfortunately for Massey, Datura is quite aware of what is happening. Eager to defend her lead, she goes after the Lady Joker Herself… only to be taken down as well with a Spinebuster!
Ruby Parvati: She can’t be stopped! She’s on auto-pilot!
2 MINUTES REMAININGKatalina attempts to stop Gwen for a second time, giving her slap after slap. But one such slap fails to connect, with Massey blocking it and twisting the arm into a Kimura Lock!
Axel Reid: Kimura! The Kimura is locked in!
Wrapping her legs around Katalina and forcing her down to the canvas, Gwendolyn severely wrenches the arm! Katalina screams… and then submits!
Ruby Parvati: Gwendolyn is on three points, one behind Datura!
Axel Reid: WE COULD BE REACHING A TIE HERE!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall by submission, GWENDOLYN MASSEY!
As Katalina rolls away feeling her arm, Joanna returns to knee Massey in the head. But Gwendolyn doesn’t seem to take the blows, instead glaring at Joanna every time she strikes! Joanna laughs louder than ever and rears back, going for a big boot… but Gwendolyn catches the leg and stands back up, staring coldly at Joanna until she smirks!
Ruby Parvati: SHE’S UNSTOPPABLE!
Massey then pulls Joanna towards her, giving her a forearm that sends the Warchild into the ropes. Upon Joanna’s rebound, Gwen spins around and delivers a ROLLING ELBOW, THE REMEDY OF CHAOS!
Axel Reid: JOANNA’S OUT!
Joanna collapses onto the canvas, seemingly knocked out by the devastating elbow strike!
1 MINUTE REMAININGThe crowd are at a fever pitch as Gwendolyn prepares to cover Joanna, but she is prevented from doing so by Rebecca Saint. The leader of Saint City dropkicks Massey into the corner, going after her with forearm shots. But Gwendolyn is on another level, absorbing the blows before she retaliates with her own strikes!
Axel Reid: THIS PLACE IS DEAFEANING!
Ruby Parvati: THERE’S SOLOKE!
Maxwell, instead of going after Massey and Saint, decides to target Datura. He comes off the ropes and gives her the Adrenaline Rush, planting her down hard onto the canvas!
30 SECONDS REMAININGRuby Parvati: We’re so close to the finish, Axel!
Saint knees Massey in the stomach, buying herself a little more time. But as she goes for a DDT, Massey manages to spin out of it and snapmares Rebecca over… leading to an ANACONDA VICE!
Axel Reid: THE ANACONDA VICE! REBECCA IS TRAPPED!
20 SECONDS REMAININGAll three officials closely watch the action, and the main official wants to see if Rebecca will tap. Meanwhile, Maxwell heads to the corner of the ring, punching in the Konami Code with his feet!
Ruby Parvati: Don’t tap Rebecca! DON’T TAP!
Before Maxwell completes his code, Rebecca finally taps out!
Ruby Parvati: NOOOOO!
Axel Reid: WE’RE TIED! WE HAVE A TIE AT 4 APIECE!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall by submission, GWENDOLYN MASSEY!
Just then, with Massey keeping the hold on Rebecca as a form of punishment, Maxwell rushes out of the corner to deliver the PERFECT DISASTER TO DATURA…
… BUT DATURA LEAPS UP AND COUNTERS WITH A FLOATOVER NECKBREAKER!
10 SECONDS REMAININGRuby Parvati: WAIT, DATURA!
DATURA COVERS MAXWELL AND THE REFEREE SEES IT!
ONE!
Massey finally lets Rebecca go and rolls away...
TWO!
… and then she sees the referee counting!
THREE!!!
BUT IT’S TOO LATE!
Ruby Parvati: DATURA! DATURA!
Axel Reid: DATURA JUST GOT 5 POINTS AT THE DEATH!
Jerry Heisenberg: The winner of the fall, DATURA!
Before Massey can even register a response, she is kicked down to the canvas by Katalina, who herself collapses to the mat afterwards!
BUZZ!!!DING DING DING!!!
Axel Reid: THAT’S IT! THE TIME LIMIT HAS EXPIRED!
Ruby Parvati: Datura just barely got the point she needed to take the briefcase!
Axel Reid: DATURA… DATURA IS THE QUEST FOR THE CASE WINNER!
With all six participants down on the canvas, the officials all gather together and come up with the same result. The main official informs Heisenberg, who nods and gets onto the microphone.
Jerry Heisenberg: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the match and official Quest For The Case Briefcase Holder… DATURA!!!
Axel Reid: We thought Gwendolyn Massey got the tie. We thought this match would go to sudden death. But mere seconds later, Datura countered Maxwell’s Perfect Disaster and got the point that sealed her lead and granted her the illustrious briefcase. What a match… what a match.
Ruby Parvati: I’m out of breath and this is just the first match of the night! How is my voice going to cope?
Axel Reid: Plenty of water will help… trust me on that one.
The main official collects the briefcase and hands it to an exhausted yet satisfied Datura. She accepts the prize… and immediately intends to open it!
Axel Reid: Wait, hold on!
But suddenly she stops, smiling at her playful actions. Still, she shakes her head as she looks at the briefcase, ever wondering what could be inside for her.
Ruby Parvati: Well, Ryan Omega isn’t going to be happy.
Axel Reid: But he has to accept it. Datura survived against five other competitors for 30 minutes and came out the victor. I'm much happier that Rebecca Saint wasn't the one to win that briefcase, otherwise she would have walked out of here and made the prize null and void!
Ruby Parvati: You're so bitter! Rebecca will stay! I know she will... I hope...
Axel Reid: Well congratulations to Datura, our third Quest For The Case Briefcase holder in VoW history!
Datura finally stands and hoists up the briefcase, being given a mixed reaction by the masses. Meanwhile Gwendolyn has her hands on her face, seemingly thinking about what went wrong and how close she was to winning. She was a machine. She was on fire. But then fate dealt someone else the hand at her expense. The cameras show the remains of Maxwell, Joanna, Katalina and Rebecca before they focus on Datura once more, lingering on her simplistic celebration before the scene fades to a quick inset commercial.
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