In order to get the best feel for this transition, as well as the general feel of the contest, reading the Michaels/Flare promo is strongly advised, although not required.

Evan Flare stands in one corner of the ring with slightly altered attire. Instead of his usual all-black ensemble, his black pants now have a red line running from top to bottom on each side. Michaels is dressed in his usual attire and has already left his hat and glasses for the ring announcer to run over near the time keeper. They look at each other intently. The official tries to get their attention to go through checks, and while they comply, they don't break their look. The referee makes the motion to call for the bell.


Evan and David break their stare for the first time since they entered the ring as the look drop their head in an attempt to get into a lower, more agile position, before they pop their heads back up and start circling the ring. After a few seconds of milking the crowd, they start to take stutter-steps toward the middle of the ring to get the crowd more on the age of their seats. They inch closer together until the distance between them is so little either of them can attack. They both hold their hands out looking for a tie-up, and then they lunge forward and lock each other in a collar-and-elbow tie up. They struggle for a moment before Michaels, taking advantage of his marginal size and strength superiority, turns slightly and positions Flare In a side headlock. Flare reaches forward with his right arm and pushes against David Michaels left arm, loosening his grip enough for Flare to get out. He drops to one knee and grabs Michaels' right leg and pulls it into his chest, causing Michaels to fall on to his side. With his legs he tries desperately to kick Flare away and does so as Flare's grip and positioning wasn't ideal for continuing an assault. Flare takes several steps backward and calls for Michaels to get back up. He looks at Flare from across the ring, now, with a look of bewilderment. He turns slightly toward his stomach as he plants on the ground with his right hand and pushes himself back to a vertical base.

Michaels shakes himself off in reality and it seems to do the same for him mentally, as his expression returns to a more natural one as he walks toward Flare with his arms ready to attack. They lunge at each other again and lock up in a second collar-and-elbow tie up, this time with Flare acting immediately to swing his arm across Michaels' chest and grab his left arm with both hands, turning to his side as he works Michaels arm into a Hammerlock. He wrenches the lock momentarily, as Michaels winces in pain. He turns quickly, reaching with his right arm to grab Flare's left arm, successfully reversing the hold into a Hammerlock of his own. Flare, again, drops to one knee, temporarily putting himself in more pain, and grabs Michaels front leg, which happens to be his left leg. Flare hooks it around the back of the knee with his elbow and pulls him down to the ground. Michaels isn't able to react in time to break his hold, so Flare comes crashing down with him, landing elbow first into the mid-section of David Michaels. Still in shock from the fall, Michaels offers no counter as Flare pushes off of the ground with his legs, flipping him over Michaels and breaking the lock. Again, though, Flare is in no position to make a significant offensive attack, so he gets to his feet quickly and moves away from Michaels so they can restart the match on their feet. Michaels, still in shock, was prepared to defend from his back so he looks at Flare with some confusion about his lack of aggression offensively. Michaels pauses briefly and pushes on the canvas to get back to his feet.

Ted Cedar: “Not a lot of offense early on.”

Adam Dennis: “They're both trying to get something going but neither one seems satisfied.”

Once again they slowly move toward each other, again with their hands in their air looking for a tie-up. This time, though, Evan shoots low on David, who is unprepared for the tactic and has no defense for it. Evan wraps both legs and the motion of his shoulder hitting his knees actually knocks Michaels backward, but he hasn't fallen yet despite the fact he doesn't have his legs to gather his balance. Quickly, Flare plants one foot into the ground and shoots to one knee as he lifts Michaels legs from the floor as he pulls them into his chest. Michaels throws his arms out to try to break his fall as he lands crisply on his back. Flare takes advantage of the fact Michaels body is unprotected and pushes his legs toward the mat so he can get into better position to attack, as he slides into a mounted position. He throws his right arm over his head and swings his body into a 12-to-6 elbow attack as he tries to connect with a knockout blow of sorts, but Michaels blows it with the back-side of his right forearm. At the same time, Michaels swings and connects with a punch to Flare's mid-section, but it's almost impossible to land solid shots from your back so his blow is half-strength at best. Flare again tries for a 12-to-6 elbow which Michaels throws his arm up to block even quicker, but the attack was a chess move as Flare quickly takes advantage of the mistake of allowing his arm to be vulnerable. With his left arm he quickly throws it down underneath Michaels' left shoulder before reaching the other way with his right arm and locking in a hold that targets the elbow joint, while simultaneously moving his left knee off the ground and planting his foot in the same spot. He uses his planted foot for momentum as he shoots off the canvas and somersaults with the hold intact, successfully placing Michaels in a make-shift armbar as he works his arms down Michaels' arm and slides his shoulder underneath his upper-arm to create the tension.

To counter this, Michaels plants his right palm into the mat as well as both of his feet as he bridges toward Flare to relieve the pressure. Unfortunately, for Michaels, Flare has a similar tactic. Using both of his feet, Flare bridges the other way, knocking Michaels' support off balance as he falls back to the mat, recreating the same tension he faces before. He screams out in pain as much as he does in frustration. The referee comes closer and asks if Michaels wants to submit but he offers no reply as his jaw clenches and he plots his next move, all the while Flare trying to break his left arm. Michaels tries his original plan again, this time without taking so long to get through it. In one quick motion he plants all three of his free limbs into the mat and uses them to push off the ground, successfully flipping him over onto Flare's chest as the tension is relieved completely, Michaels quickly noticed he's suddenly in an attacking position. Flare is slow to release the hold, so he has no defense for Michaels as he throws unguarded right hands into the head of Evan Flare, much to the pleasure of the fans who rise to their feet after a sluggish start from two fan favorites.

Adam Dennis: "Now things are about to pick up! Maybe Michaels will knock some sense into Flare?"

Ted Cedar: "He just might knock something out of Flare if he doesn't let up on those haymakers!"

Michaels lands four punches before Evan can get his hands free from his own submission attempt and get them to block his face. Michaels hits three more partial punches that glance off of Flare's arms before he takes a new course of action. He picks up his left leg and slides his foot into the same position as he turns at the hip and tries to grab one of Flare's legs for a submission attempt of his own, but Evan quickly uses his now free hands to push David Michaels off of his mid-section, allowing him to get free. He plants his palms into the mat with Michaels off-balance and uses the friction to pull himself away from Michaels, who awkwardly falls over before turning back around to turn his attention to Flare who still is vulnerable with his upper-body at a 45 degree angle, supported by his hands. Michaels is quick to his feet but Flare, in an odd position, isn't so lucky. Michaels inches closer looking for an opportunity to strike, but Flare gives him none as he leans back and throws wild mule-kicks to keep Michaels away. Michaels counters these wild kicks by throwing his hands up and swiping them away. He waits for the right kick to try an attack, and after a few seconds of waiting, he finds it. Flare kicks wildly once more with his right leg, and Michaels quickly uses both hands to swipe it across his body to create motion going one way for Flare so he can't guard the other way. After he does this, he dives back down, this time in side-mount, and starts throwing haymakers again,

The fans once again erupt for Michaels as he throws a few more punches on Flare, but this time Flare reacts quicker with an easier route to defense, so Michaels doesn't land a clean shot on Flare. As Michaels tries for a left-handed punch, it's blocked by Flare's right forearm, and Flare, from his back, tries to counter attack. He works his left around around Michael's left arm. He uses his legs, that are unencumbered, to push himself backwards, bridging with his head, as he flips himself and Michaels over, with Michaels landing on his back and Flare landing on his chest with his arms fully in control of the left arm of David Michaels, but Flare is once again quick to act as he plants his feet and tumbles over the top of Michaels again, locking him in an identical arm bar. Michaels screams out in pain as his elbow is once again being bent the wrong way. He tries to plant his arms and feet to go for the same counter that worked the first time, but Flare has planted his feet as well and is driving his shoulder into the Showstealer's arm, not allowing for him to get momentum going in the other direction. So with his first defense blocked, Michaels turns to his second defense, as he reaches outward with his free right arm to get to the rope. Because he can't see the rope, his arm moves around it without his knowing. The audience is in a fever pitch as their hero tries desperately to find the rope. Finally, Michaels find the rope and grabs a hold, causing a rope break. The referee is immediately leaning over the submission hold telling Flare to break the hold, and slightly out of character, Flare works the five-count a little bit, refusing to break the submission until the referee counted 2. The fans immediately start booing Evan Flare for this.

Adam Dennis: [color:5648=[color=#2ECCFA]]"The fans may not like it, but it's a smart move from Evan Flare."

Ted Cedar: "The fans are surely letting it known that there is no doubt, they don't like it, and I don't like it either. This kind of match can be spoiled by bending the rules like that."

After Flare breaks the hold his right hand moves instinctively to the top of his head as he combs through his hair one time, backwards and forwards. He moves his left hand to the ground and turns to his side and pushes himself to his feet. David Michaels lays on the mat clutching his left elbow with his right arm. Flare moves toward him immediately and stomps his other arm precisely in the elbow and follows it up with a second kick to the same spot. Michaels grunts in pain and his eyes close as he rolls away from Flare and lands on his feet on the outside of the ring. He takes a few steps to gather himself, but quickly turns to look at Evan Flare from outside of the ring with wide eyes. The referee is quick to start his count but Michaels isn't testing it, he just needed a breather. He lets go of the clutch he has on his elbow and shakes it to see how it feels. His jaw clenches and his eyes get tight from the pain, before he shakes his head in a quick motion and slides back into the ring without an attack from Flare. He backs away as Michaels uses the ropes to get back to his feet. Flare urges him to come toward him and Michaels complies. They inch toward each other again with their arms prepared for a tie-up. As Flare shoots high, Michaels shoots low, dropping his right knee to the mat, and with his right arm and grabs the right leg of Flare. He pulls it in but Michaels doesn't have the strength to pull Flare too far off balance with only one arm. Flare stumbles but quickly starts throwing punches at the injured arm of David Michaels which breaks Michaels grip, causing him to try to back away on one leg, but Flare won't let him escape this time.

With his left leg, Flare tries for a front kick that's caught by the free hand of David Michaels, but Flare follows this up with a  violent vertical swinging kick upward that lands on Michaels' chin, sending his head jerking violently backward as he connects with a Front Feed Uppercut Inziguri. Michaels drop to the mat, seemingly unconscious, as Flare drops to his back as he lands on the mat hard. Flare turns to his side and grabs his back in pain, but it's not long before he's up to his feet. He walks over to Michaels, but not at the pace you'd expect from someone who might have a pinning opportunity. Instead of attempting the pin, Flare drops to his knee, landing on David Michaels' left inside elbow. Michaels' eyes shoot wide open as he screams in agony. With his right knee on the inside-part of Michaels' elbow, Flare reaches down with both hands and begins to attack the wrist area, attempting to do additional damage. Michaels screams in pain again and reaches at Flare with his right hand but can't do much because of the position he's in. After a second to think it through, Flare turns into Flare and swings his right foot and connects with a kick to the back of his head, sending him fall forward off of Michaels' arm and onto the mat. Michaels turns away from Flare and does his best to get some distance as the kick didn't knock him out. Flare is quickly back to his feet and makes a few quick steps in his direction, but thinks better of it and comes to a full stop before he continues to inch toward him to attack again.

Adam Dennis: "Flare is solidly in control of this match and I can't help but believe it has something to do with his bending of the rules. Are we seeing an old... new side of Evan?"

Ted Cedar: "Well he hasn't brought out the barbed wire yet, so I think I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now".

Flare inches closer to Michaels, but Michaels does not reciprocate, rather choosing to stand in place. Flare shoots low this time, grabbing a hold of both of Michaels legs again, but this time he drives through the shoot and uses his momentum to pick him up. He swivels at his sides, turning slightly to the left, leaving Michaels' left arm as the only way to block Flare's attack by grabbing the rope. Michaels tries, but doesn't have the strength in the joint to stop Flare, so Flare throws him over the top rope as he smacks his back on the edge of the canvas before tumbling to the floor below. Flare waits patiently for an opening, and finds it somewhat quickly. Michaels has his back turned to Flare as he's getting to his feet, so he can't defend Flare as he uses the ropes to shoot himself over the top for a suicide dive that sends Michaels crashing into the barricade. The official props himself over the top rope as he looks on, screaming at Flare for disobeying his orders.

Flare is quick to his feet as Michaels tries to deal with a second area of concern as he grabs at his head with his free hand. Flare stays aggressive as he reaches down and picks Michaels up by his head. The fans in the front row boo wildly at him. Flare takes Michaels by his good arm and tries an Irish Whip into the steel steps. Michaels plants his foot and reverses the Irish Whip, sending Flare into the ropes instead, but not with enough power as Flare stutter steps and stops short, using his right foot to plant on the steps as he turns back toward Michaels. Michaels follows him into the steps, though, as he charges forward with a diving shoulder block that sends Flare back first into the steps as he flips over the top and knocks the top of the stairs away from the bottom. Michaels lays on the ground for a moment, trying to catch his breath and regain his composure. Flare lies on the ground, grabbing his back and grunting in pain as he leans against the steps.

Ted Cedar: "This damn ring area looks like a war zone right now!"

Adam Dennis: "I don't know what kind of PEDs this Michaels' guy is on, but it's something special.

Ted Cedar: "It's a little something called resilience! Heart!"

The referee was reluctant at first to do so, but as he peers out at the wreckage he has no choice but to start his count. Flare and Michaels start to stir at the same time, but neither is doing more than trying to make it to their feet. Flare uses the steps to prop himself up, and then the announcers table. Michaels uses the barricade. Michaels stumbles to the apron and slides into the ring, allowing himself more time to regain his composure. Flare stumbles toward the apron and does the same, but neither one of them are satisfied with that. They quickly turn to their stomachs and crawl back toward the ropes, as they both slowly work their way back to a vertical base. They get there and turn toward each other, before each of them start inching toward one another again. Flare tries for a left hand, but it's blocked by Michaels who counters with a left of his own that lands. The crowd erupts, seeing Michaels use his injured arm effectively. The punch knocks Flare off balance, but not backward. Michaels follows this up with another left hand, this time knocking him backward into the ropes. His momentum backward actually swings him back forward into a third punch from David Michaels.

The third punch lands with authority as Flare once again falls back into the ropes before stumbling forward. Michaels turns and darts into the ropes on the opposite side and returns with a diving forearm smash that sends Flare to the mat. Michaels reaches back with his palms and pushes off the ground to help him kip up. Once again, the crowd erupts for their hero. Michaels plays to the crowd, motioning and turning about as on a Michaels could. He walks into the corner and starts to tune up the band. He stomps once. The crowd stomps with him. Again he stomps, again the crowd stomps with him. He stomps a third time, this time Flare starts to stir. He moves more quickly now, as do the fans who stomp along with him. Flare gets to his feet and turns toward him. Michaels takes his gather steps toward him and tries for the kick with his left leg, but Flare drops to both knees and falls forward, grabbing Michaels plant leg. Michaels, off balance, falls onto his side. He tries to get his elbow out of the way, but he cannot, as his elbow makes first contact and bares the weight of Michaels' body.

Adam Dennis: "Talk about resilience!"

Ted Cedar: [color=#2ECCFA]"You can never take things for granted with Evan Flare. He's just a different kind of ball player... Always thinking two moves ahead."/[color]

Flare backs away from Michaels as Michaels turns to his back and Michaels turns to his back in pain. Once again, Flare walks toward the vulnerable Flare and tries to drop a knee down on Michaels' elbow, but he moves his arm out of the way. With his hands at his sides, he can't defend the wild right hand that connects with his jaw as Michaels turns toward Flare and delivers a punch. Flare is knocked backward and Michaels quickly returns to his feet. Flare is up to his feet quickly as well, but Michaels has control as he pushes him into the ropes and pulls him away, sending him for an Irish Whip. Michaels takes a few big steps quickly toward the middle of the ring in the same direction. He bends over and connects with a Back Body Drop, sending Flare soaring through the air as he drops onto his back and screams out in pain. Flare is quick to his feet, but Michaels is right there to continue the assault. Once more he pushes him into the ropes and pulls him away for an Irish Whip, this time Flare plants his foot and reverses it. Michaels bounces off the ropes at full speed and Flare tries for a tilt-a-whirl back breaker, but as he lifts Michaels up, Michaels counters it into a Spinning Headscissors DDT, leaving Flare planted in the center of the ring, completely out of it. Michaels kips again, again to the pleasure of the crowd as they rise to their feet and cheer. Michaels walks to the ropes and steps through, and then walks on the apron toward the turnbuckle.

The crowd once again explodes with excitement. Flare turns to his back, unaware of what's going on. Michaels gets to the top rope and looks out at the crowd as they manage to raise the octave level again. He dives off, looking for a Diving Elbow, but Flare rolls out of the way. Michaels crashes into the mat hard as Flare's exit was at such a time that Michaels couldn't brace himself, so he landed awkwardly on his side and his elbow pressed into the mat causing stress on his neck. Flare uses the ropes to help him get to his feet as he stumbles around clumsily as Michaels easily regains his composure and waits on a vertical base, looking for the right chance to attack. Just as Flare turns toward him, he takes a gather step and spins quickly, looking to connect with a Spinning Back Fist, but Michaels ducks the wild swing and grabs Flare by the back of the head before pressing his head underneath his chin. Michaels drops to the mat and pulls Flare along with him, connecting with a Jaw Breaker that sends Flare wobbles toward the ropes and catches himself with his arms as he grapevines the top rope. Michaels is quickly back to his feet and follows Flare into the ropes and connects with a Knife Edge Chop to the unguarded chest of Evan Flare. The crowd “woos!” He hits him with another Knife Edge Chop, this time Flare's arms come away from the rope as he drops down to the mat. Michaels picks him up by the head and Irish Whips him again. Flare bounces off the ropes and sprints back, as Michaels follows him and catches him soon after he bounces off the ropes with a knee to the midsection that flips Flare over the top and lands him on his behind.

Ted Cedar: "Michaels has him right where he wants him!"

Adam Dennis: "Or so he thinks!"

Flare pops right back to his feet, grabbing at his lower back as he winces in pain. He turns around to spot Michaels, but he's already in mid-air. Michaels grabs Flare by the back of his head and pulls his knees into his face and connects with the Heartbreaker that throws Flare backward, connecting with the canvas. Michaels pops back up to his feet and looks out at the crowd and holds a finger up and mouths the words “One more time” as he slowly goes toward the ropes again. He steps through the ropes and climbs up the turnbuckle. He positions his feet just right and poses for the crowd temporarily as he dives off the top rope and throws his elbow to one side. He lands it right into the chest of Evan Flare as the crowd finds a new octave to raise to. He pops right back to his feet and goes back to the corner, once again tuning the band up. He stomps once and the crowd does the same. He stomps again and the crowd does so again. He works the speed up to a drumroll as does the crowd. Flare gets to his feet and turns around. Michaels takes a few gather steps and tries for Sweet Chin Music with his right foot, but Flare catches it and pulls it into his chest, sending Michaels to his chest on the ground. Flare pulls it up toward his collarbone as he locks in the Ankle Lock Submission. Michaels puts both palms on to the mat and tries to crawl away. He gets closer to the ropes, but Flare drags him back into the middle of the ring. All of a sudden, Flare lets go of the hold dropping Michaels' lower body to the mat. Michaels, unprepared, pushes into the mat with his hand to try to brace the fall, but this was exactly what Flare was hoping for. Flare takes a big gather step out wide of Michaels with his left foot, and swings for the fences with his right foot, kicking Michaels right in the elbow.

Michaels screams out in pain and the fans immediately start booing Flare is if he was a heel.Flare drops to both knees and hooks his left arm over the left arm of Michaels, as he locks it into place with the right arm that goes underneath, pressing the forearm toward his back. Flare leaps over the top of Michaels, bridging his head on Michaels left side, as he locks in the Bridging Armbar submission. Michaels shrieks out in pain as Flare is putting extreme torque on his elbow. The referee comes over to check if Michaels wants to submit but he sternly yells “no!” which draws a favorable response from the fans. Michaels pushes his right palm into the ground and slides the right side of his body underneath the left side, successfully breaking the tension on the hold.

Ted Cedar: "I don't know how much more David Michaels can take! He might have a broken arm!"

Adam Dennis: "If he's smart he'd give up now. I'm telling you, this Flare guy is back to his ruthless ways! I love it!"

Flare backs away from Michaels in a site all-to-familiar to the beginning of the match. He waits in the corner as Michaels tries to get up. After a short struggle, he's up on one knee when Flare starts charging toward him. He gets his other foot underneath him as Flare shoves him at full speed into the turnbuckle, connecting shoulder-first. The crowd bursts out more heat than most of the heels get. Michaels bounces off the turnbuckle and stumbles backwards into Flare's arms, who grabs Michaels around the waist and pulls him back, connecting with a German Suplex. Michaels fold up backward before turning over to his back. His eyes remain shut despite the cries from the fans, as Flare grabs the top ropes on either side of the turnbuckle, and uses them to pull himself up to the top ropes. He gathers himself, and leaps into the air. He pulls his knees into his chest and throws his feet down violently, smashing them into David Michaels' chest, connecting with the Southern Arrow as Flare tumbles away from the lack of a solid landing. Michaels eyes open at the point of impact but immediately shut. He squirms around in pain, though, as to suggest he was knocked into consciousness for the second time tonight.

Flare picks him up by his head and puts him into gut-wrench position. He lifts him up onto his shoulder, but Michaels squirms out of Flare's hands and falls off of his back and stumbles away.  Flare turns around to follow him. Out of nowhere, Michaels tries for the Sweet Chin Music with his left leg, but it's again caught by Evan Flare, who hugs the leg tight to his chest with his right hand as he lunches forward and connects with a 12-to-6 elbow to Michaels' elbow with his left arm. Michaels screams out in pain but remains on his right leg for balance. Flare quickly moves his left arm to hook the left leg of Michaels to leave it in the air, as he does this, he lets go of the leg with his right arm. He takes a short gather step and spins, swinging his right arm violently through the air, before extending his arm and connecting with a Spinning Back Fist to the face of David Michaels that looks like it gives him whiplash. Flare lets go of his leg and Michaels drops to the ground unconscious. Flare picks him up by the head and drags him into the middle of the ring. He puts him in gut-wrench position once again, before lifting him onto his shoulder. Flare drops him down and sends his knee hurling into the back of his head. If he wasn't unconscious then, he is now. Michaels head touches his knees before he slides back into a flat position. Flare drops to his knees and hooks his outside leg, as the referee slides into position.


Laura Watts: And here is your[/] winner … EVAN FLARE!

As she says his name the crowd bursts with boos once again. Evan stands in the middle of the ring, looking down at David Michaels with a somber expression. The camera man comes into the ring and gets a close up of the scene. Flare says the words “I'm sorry it had to be this way, but it did. It wasn't personal ... I hope they forgive me.” Flare turns to the side of the ring facing the ramp and steps through the ropes to a chorus of boos. He intentionally never makes eye-contact with the fans that boo him in the front row. He walks away and does not look back at all. The feed is switched back to Michaels in the ring being tended to by doctors. Now conscious, they're testing out his left elbow.

Ted Cedar: "I don't agree with everything that happened, but that was a hell of a fight."

Adam Dennis: "I reluctantly agree. I was really hoping Flare wouldn't have stopped the assault at the bell. I thought he was different!"

Ted Cedar: "It appears he is. The Flare I remember wouldn't have let David Michaels walk out of this building in his own power.... But what are his goals? Who are the [i]they he was concerned about?"

Adam Dennis: "If his goals involve the World Heavyweight Championship, he's one step closer to being there tonight."