The long awaited ring bell tolls with a din that draws all eyes on the center of the squared circle. For a brief moment, the crowd is as quiet as a crowd might be at a Japanese wrestling event- watching and waiting in relative silence for either competitor to make the first move. For the fans watching on television (or illegally via the internet, you cads), the camera begins to pan toward the ring from up high. All focus is on the two men standing in opposite corners of the ring. 2WWF and XWA alumni. Former World Champions. Best friends. Rivals. For these two men, who may never even step foot in an XWA ring again... it is their time. Chapman and Danny begin a slow, calculated walk toward the center of the ring. Gone is "The Prized Gem's" usual arrogant smirk. That flicker of absolute narcissism. Void of emotion entirely is "The Straight Edge Outlaw", Rob Chapman. His gaze cold, and unforgiving. As these former comrades... these "short change heroes"... meet in the ring's center, the faintest hint of a smirk emerges in the corners of both their mouths.

"I'm not afraid anymore." Chapman assures his opponent, offering his opponent the chance to shake hands in a show of respect.

"And I never have been." Diamond replies, showing a glimmer of his usually-radiant arrogance. He accepts Rob's handshake with a firm grip. Their eyes lock for a moment before their expressions return to neutral. Flashbulbs of every kind go off across the arena, whether they're from professional cameras or cellphones. After another long moment, the two step back. An confident smirk to rival Danny's arrogance forms briefly in the corner of Chapman's mouth.

"You should be." Rob goads, earning an equal reaction from Danny. His opponent's entire body tenses, and the Englishman's smirk returns.

"Is that a fact?" challenges Diamond; in a flash- blink and you'll miss it- both gladiators take charge, meeting again in the ring's center in a collar-and-elbow tie-up that sends a tremor throughout the ring frame! Danny's grin becomes a grimace as the pair of two-hundred-forty-pound warriors attempt to overpower one another. With both men being almost dead even, physically, it transitions into a battle of wills. The amount of force being put behind this simple lockup becomes visible as their feet spread further and further apart on the mat. The echoing skidding of boot soles grinding against ring canvas drives home the very real and very powerful desire of these two to best one another here tonight. Realizing he can take Rob down if he brings his feet together, Danny quickly shuffles his feet inward to begin pushing down against his opponent's might. Seeing this, Chapman throws his weight back the instant that Danny stops bracing himself to move, planting a foot into Diamond's stomach and flipping him overhead with a judo throw similar to a Monkey Flip! With this being a variation of one of Rob's older tactics, Danny has it as well scouted as he possibly can and throws his body forward at the same time, giving himself enough momentum to land on his feet! Almost instantaneously, the Cheshire native continues on into the ring ropes, ricocheting off of them and bounding back at his opponent in a hurry. Likewise, Chapman has Danny's speedy style of offensive defense imprinted onto his brain by now- he catches "The Shine" as he returns, hooking his arm and twisting his body, attempting to take Danny to the canvas with a quick Arm Drag. A lesser foe would likely be caught by this simple counterattack, but Danny knows this trick all too well. As Rob's body twists, Danny's does so in unison, and the former XWA Champion lands firmly on his feet with Chapman's arm in a wring. Before "Super Xero" can presumably un-wrench said limb, Danny yanks Rob toward him in a short-arm fashion and delivers a powerful knee strike to the mid-section, throwing Rob's body into a somersault! The "Kitchen Sink" sees Rob landing flat on his back, somewhat at a loss for air. After all, people tend not to expect the kitchen sink being thrown at them before everything else. Diamond is on top of his opponent like white on rice, pulling the Nova Scotian up into a seated position and pressing a knee in between Rob's shoulder blades. Both hands lock tightly beneath Chapman's jaw, as Danny cranks his head back with Chinlock to try and keep his opponent grounded. Rob yelps in surprise, but doesn't flail or struggle needlessly in the confines of his opponent's vice-like grip. To the contrary, he grips each of Danny's wrists in his adjacent hands and begins attempting to pull them apart like a stupid person might an Oreo.

Ted Cedar: “Diamond’s got that reverse Chinlock applied mighty tightly. Smart of him to try and control the pace early, wearing his opponent down with rest holds.”

Joey: “Smart of him? He practically invented the fucking tactic. Actually, he probably invented every tactic. He’s like Chris Jericho, only not retarded.”

The crowd begins to cheer for Rob as he struggles against Diamond’s might, hoping to motivate him against the man who’s chosen to turn his back on them so selfishly.

Rob realizes that he isn't going to be able to break the hold this way; Danny's gotten far stronger, physically, than he was during their last bout. Turning to a new tactic, he plants his feet into the canvas and begins trying to bridge upward. The Cheshire native sneers at his opponent's effort; if Rob couldn't pull his hands apart, how could be lift all of Danny with just his legs? He can't. What Danny fails to realize is that Rob knows this, and it isn't his intent. Rather than continually increase the pressure, Danny begins to settle in his application of the hold. That's when Rob strikes, kicking his legs up over his head and smacking Danny in the forehead with the toe of his boot! Danny topples backwards, caught by surprise as the stunned Chapman unfolds himself from the canvas, rising vigorously back to both feet and goading Danny to "come at me bro!"

Even amongst the chuckling of the crowd, an air of anticipation arises as these two very technical, very quick, and very dangerous wrestlers begin trying to out-wit and out-fight one another.

Joey: “Did he fucking just...?”

Cedar: “A challenge by Chapman! And Danny is ready and willing to meet it!”

Incensed by his opponent's attitude, Danny does exactly what Rob beckons for and charges at the Canadian combatant for a clothesline, only for Chapman to whip him into the canvas as his second attempt at an Arm Drag hits home. Danny rolls through with the impact, swiftly getting to his feet and grimacing at his "frienemy" once again.
"Should have seen that coming..." Danny grunts, only to be doubled over by a swift toe kick straight to the abdominals.
"Should have had a V8!" Chapman jokes, Grabbing Danny's arm and twisting it around to be behind him in a Hammerlock! The former 2WWF Champion exerts as much pressure as possible, keeping Danny doubled over with his arm wrenched behind him. Not thrilled with being in the position of a black person on an episode of COPS, Danny begins looking for some kind of way to maneuver out of the hold. As he begins swinging his inside leg back in an attempt to kick Chapman where it really hurts, Rob decides not to give him the opportunity; As Danny's foot lands back on the canvas, the "Straight Edge Outlaw" brings his own leg forward and kicks his opponent's out from underneath him, tumbling forward to send Danny skull-first into the mat with an unorthodox maneuver that's one-half Ranhei, one-half Headlock Driver! As his head hits the ground, Diamond is catapulted onto his back, with Chapman on him in an immediate Lateral Press attempt.

The volume of the crowd spikes with appreciation for the dynamic and innovative maneuver performed by Chapman!

Cedar: "Hot damn, what an impact! I don't think I've seen that move before!"

Joey: "What the fuck was that even?! There should be a rule that states: If I can't tell what the fuck the move even is, the wrestlers can't do it. That way I don't look like a fucking moron on air, like you most of the time."

Cedar: "So by that logic, the wrestlers should just stand there and punch each other, right?"

Joey: “By that logic, I should just reach over and punch you, right?”

Before the official can even drop to make the count, an insulted Danny flings his shoulder off of the canvas. Slightly surprised, yet not really, the Canadian doesn't hesitate to continue what he's at, lifting Diamond back to a footed base and throwing him into the opposite ring ropes with an Irish Whip. Danny is well aware of the situation as he rebounds, roaring back at his opponent like a cannonball. Chapman steps forward to escalate his opponent's momentum, ducking to lift him up onto his shoulders; in a fluid motion, the former 2WWF Champion hurls Danny to his right with a standing Fireman's Carry, but Danny showcases exceptional agility and balance by continuing to flip his body, landing on both feet across from his opponent! Shocked, Rob hesitates for a split second before dashing toward "The Rubix Cube", but his nimble adversary takes quickly to the offensive, leaping into the air and planting both feet into the face of Chapman with a Dropkick! The Canadian goes down hard, smashing the back of his head off of the canvas. That he gets up is pure instinct, and "Super Xero" stumbles inadvertently straight into his risen opponent, who takes him back down immediately with a Snapmare. As Rob lands on his tailbone, you can practically watch the shock fire up his spine. Proceeding onward, the native of Cheshire drives his forearm into the side of Rob's head multiple times before wrapping it around the base of his neck in a Sleeper Hold.

A chorus of boos from the crowd shower corrosively over Diamond like acid rain, but the callous and uncaring competitor doesn’t even shrug it off; he simply endures and ignores. As always.

Cedar: “Another sound hold by ‘The Prized Gem. Danny is showing no hesitation in his offense. The mark of a natural.

Joey: “Natural? Mark Storey isn’t even in the building, you fat fuck. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t even work for the company. Get your shit together!”

So far the this match has changed pace more than a driver in San Francisco, having sped up for a moment, only to slow right back down to a crawl. Diamond keeps the rest hold applied, cranking back on his opponent's neck at random intervals to keep him from discerning any sort of pattern. This is the second time in a short time that he's gotten Rob in this position. If these competitors were being ranked, overall control would definitely go to Danny, thus far. Much like before, Rob begins to draw his legs toward himself, planting his feet on the canvas and attempting to bridge upwards. Danny's ready this time- as Rob brings himself up, forcing Danny to stand as well, the Englishman quickly pivots, keeping his arm wrapped around Chapman's head as he drops to his knees, slamming Rob's back into his own with a vicious Orton-esque Backbreaker! A sharp exhale is heard as Rob simply hangs across Danny's back, breathing heavily and twitching in pain. The "Straight Edge Outlaw" finally crumbles to the mat, landing on his back as Danny pushes himself back to a vertical base. Without so much as a glance over his shoulder, the departing Diamond leaps without warning, rotating backwards and plunging into the chest of his rival with a beautiful Standing Moonsault! Diamond remains draped over his chest and effortlessly hooks his opponent's leg in a Lateral Press, but just as with Danny, Rob is practically insulted by the idea of being pinned already and kicks out with gusto at a count of one. As a depressed Ryu Sanu backs out of the camera frame, Danny backs up off of his opponent, issuing a verbal challenge to him to get up.

The crowd boos at the smirk that currently resides on Danny’s face, but it’s undeniable that they put it there in the first place, cheering out of appreciation for the spectacular Moonsault a moment ago. Quite the Catch-22.

Cedar: “Standing Moonsault, and Chapman’s not getting up quite as quickly as he was before! Danny did not come to this match unprepared, and he’s not taking his opponent lightly, even as he challenges him to get up! He knows exactly what he’s getting into!”

Joey: “Of course he knows what he’s getting into. He’s Danny fucking Diamond. More importantly, he knows what he’s getting out of. This shithole company. And that Canadian spotlight hog is going away too. Good riddance.”

Within a moment, Rob appeases his opponent. As he shakes off the cobwebs, his intent is clear, his gaze is focused, and his fists are raised. They open quickly to initiate a collar-and-elbow tie-up, but as Rob moves forward to meet Danny, "The Shine" simply takes a hold of his arm and tosses him aside with an Arm Drag. Chapman rolls through the move, quickly rising... and stepping right into another Arm Drag from the former XWA Champion. Rob grunts as he lands this time, slapping the mat with both hands as he rises to his feet and lurches forward once again to meet his challenger. He allows Danny to grab him by the arm again, but this time twists it around, grabbing Danny by the wrist in one hand, whilst the other grabs his bicep. Wrenching the arm behind him, Rob proceeds to hook Diamond's underarm over his shoulder, and then throw the Englishman over his head with a Judo-style Hip Toss! Taken more than a little aback, the epitome of arrogance bounds to a vertical base and charges steadfast at Chapman, finally meeting him in the proposed tie-up from before. Powerful horns are locked once again, and both warriors struggle against the others' might, trying their damnedest to break each other's will.

The volume of the crowd begins to rise again, as excitement continues to mount in those watching at home, online, in person, and even amongst the collection of wrestlers watching in the back!

Cedar: “And once again with the tie-up! Danny and Rob are battling ferociously!”

Joey: “The one and only thing that I will give Rob Chapman, having been forced to watch his matches for years, is that when it comes down to it, he’s a stubborn prick. The motherfucker goes like the energizer bunny until he can’t anymore. And he’s faced Danny enough times to know how to draw out his demise. But mark my words, Danny’s gonna fuckin’ wipe the floor with him again. Just like he always does.”

Things seem to be at a stalemate for these two, and in that moment of competition, both men find the few words spoken prior to this bout resonating through their heads once more, fueling them emotionally, mentally, and physically. On the one hand, there's Danny's desire for further greatness, and to distance himself from a place where he's already made such a mark that he feels there's nothing left for him to do. On the other hand, we have Rob... his desires are similar in nature to his friend's, but as opposed to distancing, he's wanting to re-build a bridge rather than burn one... not just to XWA, but to his career as a whole. To not be a stepping stone anymore, and to break out on his own to a larger degree. In this instance, the fuel behind Chapman's motivation proves to be more volatile as he slams his forehead into his opponent's, knocking him back towards the corner with a brutal Headbutt! Danny had certainly not been expecting that, evidenced as he leans against the ropes, shaking his head. Rob's reaction is much the same, clutching at his forehead and... not regretting, but definitely admonishing his plan of attack.

Cedar: “Rob looks like he could use an Asprin after that headbutt. That can’t possibly have felt good.”

Joey: “... why the fuck would you do anything in a wrestling match that would feel good? It’s literally two people beating the shit out of each other for sixty minutes. That is literally the fucking opposite of this. Unless it was a women’s match. Then I could get behind that shit. Or in front of it. Whichever they prefer, really.”

As he staggers toward a recuperating Diamond, in an ironic moment, he realizes that he's given Danny time to recover from the assault, and in order to keep him at bay, Rob headbutts him a second time! "LionHeart" recovers a little more quickly from that second one, oddly enough. Grasping the Englishman's bicep, Chapman proceeds to toss him into the opposing corner with a strong Irish Whip! Danny attempts to kill his momentum with a pivot, only to slam spine-first into the turnbuckle pads. Rob is on him immediately; as Danny stumbles out of the corner, Rob hunches over and wraps his arms around Danny's waist. "The Prized Gem" is discarded like old granite as he's taken up and over with a technically sound Northern Lights Suplex! Chapman bridges, for once offensively, into a concurrent pin attempt, but finds holding Diamond down a little difficult after those repeated headbutts and falls to the side at a count of one, unable to maintain his composure.

A wave of cheers in Chapman’s favour likely help to propel him onward into what’s coming next.

Cedar: “Beautiful execution on the Northern Lights Suplex from Chapman, but couldn’t quite stick the landing!”

Joey: “Ha! This white nigger couldn’t even pin Danny properly. He’s got more rust than a robot hooker.”

Cedar: “I… I don’t even know how to respond to that statement.”

Shakily, Chapman gets back to his feet, running his fingers through his hair in a display of stress. By the time he's back to reality, Danny is on all fours. Rob is quick to pursue his target, blasting him in the ribs with a vicious toe kick that flips him onto his back again. From here, the Halifax proceeds with a trio of stomps to the face, punctuated with a jumping Leg Drop that flattens his opponent's cranium! The former 2WWF Champion continues the assault, reverting to a kneeling position and driving his forearm into the bridge of Danny's noise, before battering the handsome Englishman's forehead with a series of vicious punches! Upon dishing out a lengthy clobbering, "Super Xero" hopes it sufficient as he rises back to a footed base and takes off toward the adjacent ropes. As he begins to rebound, the man once known as Mirage rolls onto his stomach, causing Chapman to have to leap over him instead of onto him. Rob continues his momentum into the opposite ropes as Danny fumingly erupts to his feet. Bounding back once more, Rob sees Danny's clothesline attempt coming from a mile away and ducks down, continuing one more time toward the opposite ropes. This time, Rob leaves his feet, bounding up to the middle rope. As Danny steps forward to avoid Chapman's "Fall From Grace" spin kick, the Cheshire-ite is surprised when Rob instead springs into a quick back flip, landing on both feet. Rob continues his momentum immediately into a second, standing back flip, twisting in mid-air with his heel prepared to dig into some part of his proximate opponent's body, but before the "Cold Wind Blows", the hot-blooded Englishman leaves his feet as well in a capriole, once again slamming both feet into Chapman's skull, this time at the base, with a sickening Dropkick! Rob's body is catapulted quicker than usual by Danny's "push", and the Canadian lands on his tailbone before bouncing up and back, landing supine on the canvas in what would be agony if he wasn't temporarily paralyzed.

The crowd lets forth a loud combination between cheers, jeers, and “oohs”, with many cringing at the downright frightening impact of Danny’s Dropkick, even before Chapman’s harsh landing.

Cedar: “GOOD LORD! Rob may have a broken neck!”

Joey: “This is why Danny is a fucking BOSS! Who else in XWA thinks of shit like that on the spot?!”

It's an opportune moment for Daniel to attain a pin fall, but he finds himself still reeling from the stupor Chapman knocked him into a moment ago. The Canadian definitely got the worse end of the exchange, but it doesn't help to lessen Diamond's discomfort any as he finally regains his composure and quickly scurries to cover Chapman in what is probably the first viable Lateral Press since the match started. Ryu Sanu slides in like a legend and slaps his hand on the canvas... once... twice.. but he's denied the three, as Chapman musters the strength to kick and bring his shoulder up off the canvas. It's crunch time, now. Danny senses blood in the water. Grasping both sides of Rob's head, Danny proceeds to rock his opponent's head like a cheap guitar at a on open mic night, slamming his knee into his opponent's cranium twice... three times.. four times! The fifth time finally sends Rob crumbling helplessly to the mat, all but unconscious again. The Canadian combatant lands face down, where Danny immediately puts the boots to him. Danny's stomps, unlike his opponent's, aren't quick and repetitive, but targeted and calculating. Each one delivers as much power as the last, yet, against the constant pressure, Chapman begins to slowly push himself up to all fours. For a moment, Danny Diamond stops being a wrestling machine. A sinister smirk begins to slowly spread across his devious face. His eyes narrow and his brows furrow in determination as he takes off toward the opposite ropes. As the returns, "The Rubix Cube" utters a cry of "BOOM!", extending his leg to the level of his opponent's head in a moment of blatant thievery... but the headshot misses it's target. In the span of a blink, an incensed Chapman spins on his knee, avoiding the Yakuza Kick and slamming his arm across the back of Danny's grounded leg, effectively sweeping him. As Danny begins to fall backwards, Chapman leaps to a footed base and goes straight into a back flip, colliding belly-to-belly with his opponent the second he touches ground and compressing him with a beautifully crisp Standing Shooting Star Press! Chapman hooks the leg all but instantly, and the referee begins to count. One... Two...A kickout! Shaking his head in frustration, the Nova Scotian lifts his adversary to his feet once again, hooking Diamond's arm around his head and proceeding to deliver him back to the canvas the long way, bringing Danny over his head and then down hard with a Vertical Suplex! Chapman rolls with the impact almost straight away, floating over him to land almost sitting atop his chest. The former 2WWF Champion keeps the offensive chain intact as he grips his opponent’s skull and rises to his feet, putting the Englishman’s head between his legs. With a mighty heave, the Canadian combatant lifts his adversary into position for a Piledriver, stalling him over the canvas for a moment. For most competitors, this would likely be a moment of sheer panic, as the move’s ban in a multitude of promotions is enough to drive home how potentially dangerous it is. But Danny’s been in this position enough times to know not to panic. Bringing his leg down at a ninety-degree angle to his body, he swings it back up toward his opponent, delivering a walloping blow above his opponents right eye! Rob’s grip is broken almost immediately, and one hand shoots to instinctively cover up his eye socket. Danny summarily goes to the canvas, scurrying under his opponent’s legs to pop up behind him.

The crowd’s reaction is somewhat mixed as Danny evades the Piledriver with a smart counter.

Cedar: “Excellent reversal by Diamond there. Really quick thinking!”

Joey: “Quicker than a lesbian one night stand in the Middle East.”

As Danny rises, back to back with Chapman, the polar shift from one instant to the next is overpowering. Before “The Shine” can even contemplate turning around, his clock gets absolutely cleaned by the sudden and forceful extension of Rob’s foot in a brutal Superkick to the back of his head! Both competitors hit the canvas at the same time; but whilst Rob rises to his knees, double checking to make sure his vision is still working after Danny’s crude punt, the English-born athlete hits the canvas like a sack of potatoes and rolls like the bag’s been spilled, tumbling out of the ring and hitting the lightly-padded concrete floor with an unmistakable thud.

A surge of approval comes from the crowd as Danny gets flattened by a sick savate-esque kick!

Cedar: “What a Shot In The Dark! Danny goes down hard!”

Joey: “What the fuck! Who fucking cheapshots a guy in the back of the head like that?! You can give someone brain damage that way! Some fucking friend Rob is!”

As Chapman finally regains both sight and composure, he turns to find Danny crawling along the concrete floor, making his way away from the ring. He’s once again incensed, refusing to let his opponent have further room to breathe. Sliding out of the ring in a haste, Chapman begins to follow Danny around the ring. As soon as “The Prized Gem” realizes he’s being followed, he arises and quickens the pace as much as he can. As Rob begins to sprint, so too does Diamond. That is, until the former XWA Champion stops to check over his shoulder, realizing that Rob isn’t there. Hearing the steps coming toward him, he reacts instinctively, bracing his arm as much as possible and doing a three-hundred-and sixty degree turn on the spot. As Chapman encounters his foe with a half-lap’s momentum behind him and his arm extended, he comes face-to-face with Danny in the instant that the wrestler and actor completes his rotation. What happens next is greatly akin to a car crash, as both men’s biceps come in contact with the other’s skull in a combination of crushing Lariats! Rob’s signature “Phantom Limb” meets Danny’s invitation to “Die Tonight” as both men are physically hoisted off of their feet before falling to the floor like two aircraft tangled in each other's burning wreckage!

A brief chant of “Holy Shit” circulates, but the crowd is mostly busy trying to cut through the ringing in either competitor’s ears with a motivational chorus.

Cedar: “That looked like a car wreck! Good lord!”

Joey: “Car wreck? Theodore, that motherfucker was a train wreck on par with Axel Anvil’s career!”

It is a long moment before either man begins to show signs of movement. Since there’s no disqualification, the referee can do nothing but make sure both competitors are still conscious, and simply wait it out. Danny is the first to rise, once again crawling away from his opponent. This time, the Cheshire-born combatant decides to vacate the outside area, and make his way back into the ring to prepare himself for his opponent’s momentary onslaught. Momentary onslaught… any minute now… right? After probably a solid thirty seconds in the ring, alone, Danny’s expression is one of confusion. Had he really hit Rob that hard? As far as he could tell, his friend hadn’t moved from the position where he’d gone down. Ryu had come to realize this as well. As the referee goes to check on Chapman yet again, the usually-arrogant competitor’s expression turns from confusion to rare concern.

The volume of the crowd has lowered significantly by now, reduced to mere murmurs as some question the physical condition of the former 2WWF combatant.

Another fifteen-or-so seconds pass, and Danny decides that he isn’t going to wait anymore. Making his way out of the ring, he shoves Ryu Sanu aside and looks frustratedly down at his opponent.
“Come on. Get up. You mean to tell me that you’re going to lay down less than fifteen minutes into the bloody match, LionHeart? Get the fuck up!” demands the junior Smithson, waiting for any sign of an answer beyond glassy eyes and labored breathing from his opponent. Something about Chapman’s lack of a reaction has gotten under Diamond’s skin… his pace quickens from a saunter to that of an enraged individual. As he reaches down to grab his opponent and yank him back to his feet, the former 2WWF Champion suddenly springs to life! He Danny in by one arm and quickly locks it between his legs, proceeding to lock his own hands together and grab Diamond right by the face, pulling back in a modification of the Crossface known as either the LeBell Lock, or… The Silencer! Danny’s own finishing maneuver! Danny roars in a frustrated mixture of anger and pain as Rob continues to crank back on his face and neck. There are no ropes to grab, no nearby weapons, and no immediately visible escape from his opponent’s vice. HIS vice!

The crowd roars as Chapman completely fakes out Danny and puts him in his own signature hold! What a twist!

Cedar: “The Silencer! The Silencer! By God, Rob’s got Danny locked in his own submission hold! He might get the tap out right here!

Joey: “YOU DISRESPECTFUL SON-OF-A-NUN’S-MOTHERFUCKING-CUNT! IF OBAMA HADN’T RUINED HEALTH CARE, I’D COME AND KICK YOU SO HARD MY LEGS BREAK!”

Cedar: “... Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to remind all of you fine folks watching Cyberslam, that we’re broadcasting live from the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario…”

“YOU MOTHER FUCKER! I AM GOING TO END YOU !” Danny screams, bracing up on his palms and gradually lifting himself up. Before Rob can reposition himself, Diamond manages to roll over to his side, pressing Rob’s shoulders into the floor and pinning his adversary! Pins on the outside are completely valid in this match, and Ryu Sanu quickly drops to the floor to begin a count! One… two…Wait a moment… Diamond is tapping! Diamond taps out to The Silencer! THREE! It’s a double-fall! Both competitors gain a point! Each release their hold on the other at the three count, tumbling back to the floor and panting heavily in a moment of unanimous, necessary rest.

The crowd continues to roar with excitement as Chapman and Danny begin the slow road to recuperation! There’s still forty-seven minutes to go in this match, and counting!

“Danny Diamond has gained one point by pin fall! And Rob Chapman has gained one point by submission!”

Cedar: “A double elimination! Danny and Rob both score a fall at the same time, bringing the score to one apiece in the first quarter of this Ironman Match!”

Joey: “The fuck?! No other ref in history has ever counted a submission and a pin at the same time. I CALL BULLSHIT.”

(Promise to format and colour the rest later. I’m so, so, so sorry that it’s so late. I’m just being completely swamped by school and work right now. I didn’t think it was going to be this crazy when I signed up for this… )

As Laura Watts announces his second pinfall, Chapman finds himself pretty-well spent. The Canadian combatant collapses to the canvas for the moment being, breathing and mentally checking himself to see if everything is still good to go. Soon after, he begins to crawl across the ring to the nearest corner, haggardly pulling himself up to an erect base. As he looks up in the direction of his friend and rival, he’s terrified to see Danny take off sprinting full bore. Both men rebound off of opposing ropes, as quickly as their tired bodies will allow them to go. It’s like watching a game of chicken between a smart car and a mack truck as Danny takes to the air, flying toward his opponent in a Dropkick versus Rob’s clothesline attempt, nearly taking his head off! Rob stumbles backwards, somehow not meeting the canvas, but instead toppling over the ring ropes. “LionHeart” barely hangs onto the top rope, groggily pulling himself to a standing position on the apron. Again, somehow, he hangs onto the rope as Diamond strikes his face with sickening Knife Edge Chop.

The crowd lets out a unified “WOO!” during each of Danny’s backhand chops!

Cedar: “Oof! A brutal variation of the traditional Knife Edge Chop there, backhanding Rob right across the face!”

Joey: “Not brutal enough. He didn’t fall through the floor and straight into Hell. Hit him again Danny!”

Danny literally has Chapman on the ropes, and it’s those ropes he grips in his hands, narrowing his gaze at his opponent. “I’m done playing nice. It’s time to show you what happens when you anger a god, Robert.” growls the enraged Englishman, vaulting up and over the ropes, before beginning to descend toward the floor. As he does, he hooks his opponent in a modified front chancery, dropping his opponent head first into the apron with a smash-mouth Slingshot DDT! Rob nearly does a headstand on the apron before flipping forward and landing spine-first on the arena floor! Danny shakes his head as he stands up, and then cracks his neck. Probably something he’s needed to do since taking that Heathen Chemistry from Rob. “The Rubix Cube” saunters over to his simpler opponent, grabbing a handful of his motley hair and yanking him to weary feet. Danny drags him to the barricade and then leans him against it, unloading with a thunderous Knife Edge Chop! The sound of bone meeting flesh echoes throughout the arena once, twice, three times! A fourth chop seals the deal, striking Rob across the cheek and causing him to stagger away, almost into the ring post, which he proceeds to lean against.

The crowd jeers Danny following the repeated choruses of “WOO” throughout the arena, specifically for beating their ‘hometown hero’, even though he’s not really that local.

Cedar: “Danny is out to burst as many blood vessels as possible with those Knife Edge Chops! Rob Chapman can barely stand!”

Joey: “Yeah, Danny! Chop that bitch down like a Cedar tree! Haha, see what I did there, Theodore? You better fucking see there. Or I will legit chop you down. I’m not even fucking kidding.”

Danny makes his way back up onto the apron, roughly at the ring’s center, and lines up his opponent. As Rob finally brings himself back to a proper footed base, Danny takes off across the apron, leaping at his opponent and wrapping both legs around his neck for a attempted Hurricanrana! Danny’s swings Chapman around, but he’s unable to take him over with the maneuver as “Super Xero” somehow holds his ground! Desperately, Rob begins to swing Danny around in this position, doing a full three-hundred-sixty degree rotation before slamming Diamond’s ribs straight into the corner post! “FUCK!” hollers the Englishman vulgarly, cradling his ribs as he hits the floor with a splat, curling halfway into a ball. At the same time, Rob collapses again, landing on all fours.

The crowd cheers at the high speed, high impact counter by Chapman to Danny’s already graceful Hurricanrana attempt!

Cedar: “Good lord! That was a great counter by Rob, but Danny Diamond may have broken ribs after that shot to the ringpost!”

Joey: “Fuck you! Any move that results in Danny being hurt at all somehow DOES NOT EVEN QUALIFY TO BE IN THE SAME DIMENSION AS ‘GREAT’.”

The former 2WWF Champion is finding it difficult to catch his breath, but out of the corner of his eye, he sees Danny’s current state and shakes off the cobwebs, pushing himself back up. He considers his options now; his friend may be hurt, but at the same time… what had Danny done the second Rob had come off of that stretcher? Kneed him right in the goddamn head. A frightening smirk suddenly appears on Rob’s face, as if etched there by some external source. Glancing over his shoulder, he sees the official, but more importantly… the steel chair from earlier in the match. He doesn’t hesitate. Marching towards the implement of destruction, that had already been used to nasty effect on his friend’s skull earlier, the Nova Scotian takes up arms, grasping the chair tightly in one hand, raising it over his head. The crowd cheers loudly as he saunters towards Diamond, but begins to recede into a mixed reaction as he takes on an almost-malicious attitude. Without warning, Rob grips the other leg of the chair and brings it down onto Danny’s ribcage with a cringe-worthy smack! Then again, and again, and again! Danny tries to cover up his ribs with his arm, but it doesn’t stop his attacker! Five, six, seven, eight times! Rob hacks away at Danny’s body like a miner with a pickaxe! Nine! Ten! Eleven! Chapman is absolutely relentless with the steel chair! Twelve… thirteen. Thirteen is where it ends. Danny appears little more than a writhing mass of aching flesh at this point. Rob drops the chair and falls to his knees, preparing to pin Diamond with twenty-nine minutes left in this bout. As he does, he stops abruptly. Second-guessing? There shouldn’t be any reason to, but he is.

The crowd seems a little less behind Rob than they were before after that display of seemingly unnecessary violence against someone he considers a friend.

Cedar: “Damn, there was no need for that many chairshots in the first place, Rob! Just pin him!”

Joey: “I agree that there was no need for that many chair shots, but only because it’s Danny. Don’t pin him, Rob! You aren’t allowed to win!”

Rob shakes his head and rises back to his feet. He turns briefly to look at the now disfigured steel chair and huffs a hollow laugh. Grabbing Danny by the hair, he rips the former XWA Champion from the floor and drags him toward the barricade, near the corner. Applying a front chancery, he hooks Danny’s arm around his head and then lifts his opponent into a Vertical Suplex! Rob doesn’t waste time showing off his strength, or letting the blood rush to Diamond’s head. Stepping forward, he tosses Danny back the way he came, dropping him stomach-first across the adjacent part of the barricade! The sound of air being forcefully ejected from the junior Smithson’s is a little jarring, but Chapman doesn’t seem to think much of it, clubbing him over the back a few times before  walking left, leaving Danny draped across the barricade in an exhausted heap. He begins to climb the barricade around the corner from Danny, lining himself up so that he’s facing his opponent’s side, then turning his back on the Englishman. Danny begins to try and straighten out to climb off of the barricade, and that’s when the “Straight Edge Outlaw” strikes; Leaping away, Chapman executes a back flip in mid-air, drawing his knees outward and crashing down across Danny’s upper back and neck with a Moonsault Knee Drop! Danny falls from atop the barricade with a dull thud, after Rob hits the floor first, holding his right knee and hissing in pain.

The crowd’s uneasiness disappears momentarily as they begin to cheer for the innovative Moonsault variation performed by Chapman!

Joey: “Shitfucktits! Danny, run away! Run away like a man, damnit!”

Cedar: “An unorthodox variation of a Moonsault hits home! I think we’re about to see a fall!”

This time, Rob doesn’t hesitate to go for the pin on his opponent, laying overtop of Danny’s chest as Ryu Sanu slides over to count. “One! Two! Three!” Rob gets his third fall, and second in a row, bringing the score to 3-2 in his favour! He takes a moment to catch his breath, sitting back against the barricade, prompting several fans to touch or pat him on the shoulder. In that moment, he finds himself reflecting. Did Danny deserve what had just been inflicted onto him? What was the point of this? The point…

The point.

Rob rises back to his feet, looming over Diamond ominously as he stands tall and looks down at his friend in disbelief. “This is more than just a match, now, Danny. This is a two way metamorphosis. An ascension… and a descension.” the Canadian proclaims, before turning his focus toward the ring. With great haste, he approaches and tosses up the ring skirt, scrimmaging underneath the ring for new weapon with which to dole out punishment.  His shift in demeanor compared to the start of the match was uncanny. Was Danny Diamond prepared for this? The scraggly looking competitor emerges with a frightening new tool in hand. A light tube. A staple of Japanese garbage wrestling that’s made its way across the world over the last decade. A device usually used to grant light, ironically used in wrestling to knock people’s lights out. Walking steadily toward Danny with the weapon in hand, Chapman grabs a handful of “The Prized Gem’s” hair again and drags him around the ring perimeter, coming to a stop in front of the announce table.

The crowd is beginning to get anxious, and excited murmurs are causing the volume levels to rise once more.

Joey: “Ohhhhhhh no you fucking don’t! This isn’t the Spanish announce table! We speak American over here, which means GET THE FUCK AWAAAAAAYYYYY!”

Cedar: “I’m gettin’ outta here!”

Without a warning to Danny, or either commentator, the arrogant superstar’s face is bashed suddenly off of the announce table covering! Danny’ eats table, and then again!
Two more times before Rob allows him to fall to the floor. Despite the tremendous amount of abuse he’s suffered in the last little while, Diamond somehow finds himself rising off of the ground, quite possibly through little-to-no will of his own, but by that point Rob is uncovering the table as the two commentators flee the scene. Any awareness that the former XWA Champion has is quickly sent back the way it came as Rob smashes Danny’s face off of the now-uncovered announce desk! It’s then that Rob breaks out into the truly frightening, snapping the light tube and breaking apart around over top of the table’s surface, resulting in a glass-covered table!

The crowd roars back to life as the announce table is uncovered and the broken glass is scattered overtop of it.

Joey: “Holy shit! What the fuck is Rob doing?!”

Cedar: “I don’t know Joey, but I don’t like Danny’s chances at this point!”

“I thought you XWA guys liked this kinda thing?” Rob calls, looking momentarily at Joey and Ted off to the side before turning his focus onto Danny. Lifting the Cheshire native into a bearhug-type position, he seats him atop the table, climbing up after him. Pulling Danny the rest of the way up, “Super Xero” doubles him over and begins slamming his midsection with stuff Muay Thai-esque knee strikes, rocking the already enervated Diamond and knocking the breath back out of him. With his rival sufficiently battered, Rob straightens his opponent back up and wraps Danny’s arm around his neck, placing the Englishman in a Uranage. The crowd roars to life at the prospect of what may happen, but before Rob can lift his adversary more than an inch off of the table, a stiff back elbow catches him unaware! Desperation has set in for Diamond as the driving force behind a rapid series of back elbow strikes to his opponent’s skull! “It is NOT ending like this!” he bellows, switching his back elbow strikes to forward elbow strikes as Rob is knocked off of him, striking him on the bridge of the nose and the forehead! “I will not fade away because of you!” screams Danny, this time launching into Rob’s midsection with a Toe Kick, and then beginning to club the back of the Halifax native. Danny has him doubled over, and a knee strike to the face stuns him enough for Danny to take both of his opponent’s arms and apply a Double Underhook to the former 2WWF Champion. “Do you smell it, Robert? The Smell of Death that approaches? Are you afraid?!” he roars, delivering one more knee strike to Rob’s face before lifting “LionHeart” by the arms and suspending him over the glass-coated table.

He leaps.

The roar of the crowd is deafening.

Still not loud enough to mask the sound of the table exploding.

The crunching of broken glass is almost sickening. Bodies are broken as Danny drives Rob straight through the shard-strewn table to the concrete floor with a Tiger Driver ‘98! Both men lay amidst a mess of broken table, broken glass, blood, sweat, and quite possibly tears as the crowd choruses the only two words that feel appropriate…

“HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!”

Cedar: “Good God Almighty! Danny just drove Rob right through the broadcast table with the Smell of Death onto broken glass! Get the EMT’s back out here!”

Joey: “Jesus fucking Christ, Danny just fucking murdered Rob on live Pay-Per-View! Now THAT’S worth the price of admission!”

As Ryu Sanu surveys the carnage, he almost immediately calls for medical personnel to tend to both competitors. Both men are covered in small lacerations from the glass, on top of God only knows what other injuries they’ve sustained throughout the bout’s course. And there’s still twenty-one minutes on the clock, if they can even make it that far. The EMTs arrive quickly and begin checking on both competitors. It seems as if they might be ready to call for two stretchers out of the arena, when suddenly both competitors sit begin to stir. The EMTs attempt to get Danny to lay back down, but the fierce competitor literally shoves the doctor off of him, slowly pushing himself to his feet. Rob’s situation is similar, and he ends up pushing the medical responder aside as he sees Diamond nearly standing just behind the EMT. Glass can be heard audibly crunching again as Chapman picks himself up. Both men physically feel like they’re on fire from all of the cuts caused by the broken glass everywhere, but it isn’t enough to stop them as they begin unloading on each other with punches! Back and forth these two go, landing rapid-fire punches on one another, much to the crowd’s delight! Danny finally begins to gain the upper hand in this slugfest, landing a trio of unblocked and un-parried shots to his adversary’s forehead. He winds up, preparing to finish the job with a Haymaker, but that wind-up time is just what Rob needs to recuperate, and he blocks his friend’s fist with a solid forearm, countering back with a European Uppercut that sends Danny staggering backwards! The former 2WWF Champion braces himself as Danny shakes it off and takes charge toward him. Danny extends his arm in an attempt at a Clothesline, despite his failure rate with said move in this match (because reasons), only for Rob to catch him by the arm. Chapman’s other hand grasps his head, and he continues Danny’s momentum, pushing him on and then throwing him straight over the barricade and into the crowd!

The crowd cheers loudly once again as Rob throws Danny over the barricade, though their cheers turn to confusion as he begins to head toward the entryway. Is he… leaving?

Cedar: “Danny has just been tossed rather unceremoniously into his ‘adoring fans’! This match is still far from over!”

Joey: “Goddamnit! It’s like Where’s Waldo trying to spot Danny in this crowd! How is it this hard to see him?! Nobody else in this crowd is that good looking!”

The instant Danny disappears over the barricade, Chapman begins to move at a brisk pace. Getting away from the announce table area, he makes his way toward the ramp and begins walking back up toward the stage. What is Rob playing at? We may never know- as he reaches the halfway point of the ramp, he turns his head towards the sound of the crowd growing louder just in time to see Diamond flying back over the barricade at him! “LionHeart” gets utterly floored by a Flying Clothesline! The sound of both bodies colliding with the steel ramp is far from reassuring after the events of only moments ago, and sure enough, both men remain down on the ground for a moment afterward. But “The Rubix Cube” isn’t defeated so easily, and finds a way to reach his feet quickly after a moment of short respite. Chapman has begun to move as well, but not nearly as much, crawling up the ramp on all fours. Danny is on him like David Caruso on a bad pun and sunglasses, cutting him off in his escape with a jumping stomp to the back. But if Rob is so eager to go to the stage to do battle… then why not? Lifting Rob by the head, the English-born competitor locks his opponent in a front chancery and hooks his arm before firing him further up the ramp with a beautiful Snap Suplex! Rob unleashes a yelp of pain, arching his back and looking up at the lights as he tries to recover from having tiny little glass shards from the table incident smashed deeper into his body as he makes contact with the ramp.

The reaction to the suplex is mixed, but surprisingly, more positive than negative for Danny.

Cedar: “Oh my! A hard Snap Suplex on the steel rampway by Danny!”

Joey: “Yeah! As a matter of fact, FUCK YEAH! Go Danny! Show that resilient prick why you’re the one, true God around here!”

Whilst Rob writhes in pain, Danny takes advantage of his grogginess. Walking to the top of the ramp, Danny drags his opponent by the arm straight to the top. Reaching down, he wraps both arms around Chapman’s waist, before pulling him up into a full rear waistlock, looking to hit a German Suplex! Rob wants absolutely zero part of his and throws as many elbows over his shoulder as he possibly can out of desperation. One of them manages to strike home and Rob follows with a back kick to the body that doubles Danny over! Keeping the momentum going, Rob suddenly leaps in place, executing a back flip in mid-air again, this time twisting his body to bring his heel down across the back of Danny’s head! Smack! A “Cold Wind Blows” for Danny Diamond tonight, as the sound of his body splattering against the steel stage echoes through the arena!

For the first time in awhile, the crowd legitimately pops for Rob, captivated by that signature Corkscrew Kick!

Cedar: “Cold Wind Blows! Cold Wind Blows! Chapman nails the corkscrew kick to perfection!”

Joey: “Fucking twisty kick! Damnit, Rob, you’re a wrestler, not a pretzel maker! Start wrestling! Like Danny!”

Rob looks up at the XWA-Tron just in time to see the clock hit exactly nineteen minutes. They’re in the last third of the bout and getting close to the end. If he wants to have a real solid shot at defeating Danny here, he’s got to go up by one more fall. Slowly rising to aching feet and wobbly knees, the straight edge warrior looks to one side and sees what he needs to complete that goal. Relocating his gaze to Danny, he sees “The Shine” up on all fours and quickly sends him skidding across the stage with a savage punt to the guts, earning a mixed reaction from the crowd once again. He doesn’t seem to much care at this point as he grabs his opponent by the head, lifting him to his feet and leading him across the stage. It’s where he leads him that evokes another mixed reaction from the crowd, bringing Danny closer and closer to the edge of the stage, where a several-foot drop onto bare concrete awaits them! Ryu Sanu, having finally caught up to them, urges the Canadian not to do what he’s about to do, but that he’s ignored no longer even comes as a surprise. For the second time in this match, Rob positions Danny in a Uranage, preparing to throw Danny straight to the floor! And also for the second time in this match, Diamond counters with a sharp elbow to the side of Rob’s head! Quickly repositioning his own arm, Danny barely even thinks before he reacts- With his opponent in a Uranage, “The Prized Gem” blindly leaps into a back flip, bringing his opponent with him to the floor below with a C4 right off of the stage! WHAM! Both men strike the concrete below with sickening impact! As they lay all but motionless on the concrete floor below, Danny keeps his arm draped across Rob’s chest. Realizing that Danny technically has Rob in a pinning predicament, Ryu carefully scales his way down from the stage to count the pin up close. “One! Two! Three!” It’s a three-count! Danny ties the match at three apiece with seventeen and a half minutes left to go!

The crowd goes absolutely WILD for the C4, cheering profusely for, if no other reason, how awesome what they’d just witnessed was.

Laura Watts: “Danny Diamond has gained one point by Pinfall!”

Cedar: “And Danny Diamond ties it up in the last third of the match! This match has been incredible thus far!”

Joey: “A-fucking-greed! That’s what Danny should just do every move!

(Best of luck Justin! A little word to explain what's going on to everyone, by the way... just in case it wasn't stated before... we aren't doing the match 2-Dub style out of any sort of preference, or as any kind of shot to XWA. The last fed I was in was the same style as XWA here and I actually grew to really like and prefer it. The reason that we chose to do the match this way is because we didn't want to have to throw out one person's hard work at the end of it. We wanted to both create a match that hopefully you all enjoy. It doesn't really matter to either of us beyond bragging rights who wins and who loses here. We just wanted to do something memorable since this match probably won't happen again for a pretty long while. I'm not active anymore because of college and life. Justin likewise has a lot going on. So... yeah. It was a privilege to write this for y'all. <3 )

Rob continues to crank back on his opponent's neck as the final two minutes count down on the clock. Danny's resistance to the hold decays more and more as two minutes turns to ninety seconds, but it still isn't enough to cause the Englishman to submit. Eventually, Danny appears to fall limp against Chapman's Guillotine Choke.
"Oh come on! Just tap the fuck out already!" Chapman hollers in disbelief, as the referee steps in to analyze the situation. He decides to check and see if Danny is still conscious, taking a hold of the English wrestler's wrist and raising his arm up off of the canvas slightly. Danny's arm drops back to the canvas with a THUD as Ryu lets it go, shaking his head. Rob grits his teeth and puts all of his might into choking his opponent as Ryu raises his arm a second time. Again, it drops limply to the mat. Time for what is quite possibly the match decider. One minute and fifteen seconds to go on the clock. Ryu raises Danny's arm a third time. It drops... but doesn't strike the canvas. Danny's clenched fist immediately begins to slam into Chapman's shoulder, striking the Canadian rapidly in a desperate escape attempt!

Cedar: "I cannot believe it! Danny's surviving! He's not going to tap out to the Fade-2-Black as the clock ticks away the final moments of this matchup! We may well have a draw!"

Joey: "FUCK YES! GOGO DANNY! YOU GOT THIS MY NIGGA!"

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" Rob roars, his grip weakening as Danny stands up, hauling up all two hundred and forty pounds of clinging Canadian with him! Wrapping his arms around Rob's midsection, he tosses the Halifax native off of him, throwing him forward where he lands shakily on his feet. Rob is wobbly, but Danny is too weary to capitalize! Shaking his shaggy, blood-spattered head, Rob lurches forward with his arm extended looking for another "Phantom Limb" Lariat, but Danny steps to the side and catches his adversary's arm, beginning to pull him towards the canvas to lock in The Silencer! Somehow, some way, Rob has the wherewithal to keep moving as Danny steps in a circle around him, trying to pull him down by the warm. Moving with his opponent rather than resisting, Rob stands his ground until he's face-to-face with Diamond. Yanking his arm back, he pulls Danny toward him and slams a stiff knee into his sternum! Diamond doubles over, dropping to his knees as Rob applies a tight Side Headlock on his best friend. Ever the fighter, Danny begins to push himself back up to his feet, even against his opponent's grip. But the Side Headlock isn't meant to be the decider.
"HEATHEN CHEMISTRY TWO!" the Canadian screams, drawing gasps from the very, very few in the audience who are familiar with the maneuver. Switching to a Bulldogging Headlock and putting Danny's arm between his legs, as if he were going to be suplexed, Rob leaps into the air, pulling himself and Diamond into a simultaneous backflip and crashing to the canvas! Rob slams into the mat chest first, whilst Danny lands right on the top of his skull, bouncing into the rest of the flip and landing face down as well! Both competitors lie motionless as the clock ticks away! 60 seconds... 59... 58...

45... 44... 43...

Cedar: "Good God almighty! Rob connects with an unbelieveable version of the Heathen Chemistry! Rob and Danny are both down and I don't think they're getting back up this time!"

Joey: "Jesus fucking Christ! No, no, noooo! DANNY NOOOO!"

Joey's high pitched wail in the style of Will Smith dissipates into the background as all focus falls to Rob Chapman and Danny Diamond. Rob has finally begun to claw his way across the mat toward his fallen opponent. All he can manage is a single arm draped across "The Rubix's" chest. Ryu Sanu drops to count the pin.

Joey: "FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU-"

"One! Two! Three!" Rob pulls his arm away from Danny as the crowd roars wholeheartedly! Danny and Rob continue to lie there, motionless, and covered in blood, sweat, tears, tacks, and lord only knows what else as the final seconds tick away.

30... 29... 28...

"This is awesome!" *clap clap clapclapclap* "This is awesome!" *clap clap clapclapclap*

Cedar: "Rob is up five points to four against Danny and this match may be over!"

Joey: "Sweet jesus... I... I don't think a wrestling match has ever made me... feel things... I mean... besides the massive boner I get from watching divas matches... and also anger when people like Rob win... or like a boss because my niggas like Danny, or David Michaels, or Mark Storey win... meh, whatever. What I'm trying to say is that this match has been fucking incredible."

Cedar: "That it has, Joey. That it has."

20... 19... 18...

In an unbelievable display of intestinal fortitude, both Danny and Rob have somehow made it to all fours. As their gazes meet, the two warriors crawl towards one another and meet the other on their knees, locking hands in a test of strength, as each one tries to topple the other over.

The crowd begins a count off the final seconds on the clock. "Ten! Nine! Eight..."

As the clock ticks away, Danny begins to overpower Rob, pushing him back towards the canvas.

"Seven! Six! Five!"

Rob begins to fight back against Danny's might, powering himself back up and even beginning to push Danny toward the mat!

"Four! THREE!"

Just as quickly, Danny fights back against his opponent and pushes himself up to a single knee, Rob doing the same as they stay locked in place like a car with its wheels moving in opposite directions.

"TWO! ONE!"

*DING DING*

As the bell rings, Danny and Rob both cease to resist, falling into a bloody hug as a sign of deep respect. Seems like going into the depths of hell itself isn't going to end this friendship. The Heavy's "Short Change Hero" begins to play over the Public Announcement system as Rob and Danny slowly rise to their feet, much to the delight of the crowd.

Laura Watts: "Ladies and Gentlemen! The winner, by a score of five to four! "LionHeart... Rooooob! Chaaaapman!"

As Rob is announced the victor, Diamond and Chapman exchange a handshake, before embracing once more in a sign of respect.

Cedar: "That's pure respect right there. This match has been a physical, mental, and emotional journey for both competitors... and an amazing spectacle for a fan of professional wrestling. It's almost bittersweet that we may not see these two in an XWA ring again... but by God it's been a pleasure and an honor for me to call this match."

Joey: "Me too, Theodore. Me too."

In the long run of XWA, this match means nothing. Neither man will remain in the company beyond this eve. But in the storied history between these two competitors, and in the whole of wrestling, this match will be remembered. Chapman struggles to hold his arm up in victory, even with Ryu Sanu's assistance, but he manages. As he turns his focus on his weary opponent, he lets his own arm drop and staggers his way over to his injured friend, nodding in approval, and then shaking his head in pure disbelief in regards to everything that's happened.

Realizing this will be the last time Danny Diamond stands foot in an XWA ring for a long time... as he stands before them, broken to all but his limit, they finally give the man from Cheshire, England, hated until this moment, their best wishes.

"Thank you Danny! *clap clap clapclapclap* Thank you Danny! *clap clap clapclapclap*

In that moment, as XWA wishes "The Prized Gem" goodbye, Chapman raises his friend's arm to a hook of loud cheers. After helping his broken friend to bask deservedly in the crowd's serenade for a moment, Rob staggers towards the ropes and indicates to a ring hand that he'll need the EMTs to meet them backstage.

Ted Cedar: "That was such an incredible matchup that I almost forgot that this isn't the end of the show! David Michaels and Dominik Diveraz will face off in a Ladder Match for the XWA Heavyweight Title in a Ladder Match that's sure to steal the show!"

Joey: "That's right peasants! Up next we have a match between the glorious love child of Shawn Michaels and Chuck Norris against a Meximelt who has been enlarged to show texture! Tell me that doesn't fucking scream main event?"

The camera cuts away from the ring as Chapman and Diamond continue to celebrate and are helped out of the ring by medical staff.

(Thank you. <3 This was so much fun. Dominik's reign at the top is going to be beast. I figured the only way for the post match to go was all out cheese.

By the way, just in case anyone is wondering, yes that finisher is possible, and yes, it does, in fact, already exist. Check it out, because it's absolutely awesome to see done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lnQdccszKg )

Awesome ending. Didn't even remember too much of the regular match cause it was a while ago, but definitely felt the intensity of it all. Awesome work. Also, Joey Miles hates David Michaels, as far as I know.

Oops. xD