Anna C. Flowers
(Camera opens up to the Prudential Center, focusing on Maria Del Rey in the center of the ring in front of the capacity crowd for the exclusive Wildcard 1 pre-show match: the semi-finals for the Tag Team Grand Prix.)
Maria Del Rey: The following contest is a semi-final matchup for the Tag Team Grand Prix!
(“Bloodfeather” by Highly Suspect blasts through the arena speakers, marking the arrival of the Canadian Dream, exiting from behind the curtain and posing on stage with their respective championships raised high in the air.)
Mari Del Rey: Introducing first….the team of the EAW Answers World Champion, Theron Nikolas, and one half of the Empire Tag Team Champions, Cleopatra, THE CAAANNNAAAADIIIAAAANNN DRRRRREEEEEEAAAAAAMMMMM!
Ben Knight: Nothing but confidence exuding from the Canadian Dream as they make their way down the ramp here in Newark—are they your pick to win here tonight, Clark?
Clark Ruggerio: I think you’d be silly to look any further than the team of Theron and Cleopatra tonight to move forward to the finals and put an end to the Jaded Hearts—Cleopatra has already done it once before, hasn’t she?! She and Amber Keys took the Empire Tag Team Championships right out of their hands! What’s another victory against the Jaded Hearts? And with Theron Nikolas, the Answers World Champion, as her partner tonight, it’s a no brainer.
Ben Knight: I hear you, Clark, but you have to admit that Fire & Ice are an amazing team in their own right. You’d be making a big mistake to count them out of this one.
(Cleopatra and Theron Nikolas make their way into the ring, retreating to their turnbuckle corner and setting their titles down in a safe spot as their music dies down, and “Dark Horses” by Switchfoot begins.)
Maria Del Rey: And their opponents…the team of the EAW New Breed Champion, Raven Roberts, and the EAW World Heavyweight Champion, Rex McAllister, FIIIIIIRRREEEE AAAAAANNNNDDD IIIIIIIIIICCCCCCEEEEE!
(Rex McAllister and Raven Roberts march down to the ring, all business with their title belts around their waists. Raven poses on the apron while Rex shakes hands with a number of fans before entering the ring, Raven following soon after him and removing her belt. As the referee collects their titles, there is an intense stare down between the two teams.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Ben Knight: Looks like it’ll be Theron Nikolas and Rex McAllister starting things off for us in this matchup tonight, in traditional mixed-tag match fashion. Both men taking their time here in the middle of the ring, dancing with each other for a few moments before—oh, I guess these two won’t be starting the matchup tonight…
Clark Ruggerio: Theron Nikolas laughing as he takes a few steps backward, leaning his hand over his shoulder to give Cleopatra the tag! And Rex stunned as Cleopatra steps between the ropes, Theron applauding her! Cleopatra basically begging Rex to get this matchup underway, but she definitely knows better! Genius! Rex was all fired up, Ben, but the Canadian Dream have an excellent gameplan here tonight—Rex reluctantly retreats back to his corner, making Raven Roberts the official woman in this matchup, just because Rex can’t dare to put his hands on a woman, even though it’s completely legal in this matchup!
Ben Knight: Cleopatra with a wicked smile on her face as Raven Roberts slowly steps into the ring, a bit confused at the decision making by her partner here—so far, doesn’t seem like these two are on the same page tonight, Clark, I wonder how much of an effect that’s going to have on our Semi-Final matchup.
Clark Ruggerio: Cleopatra turning to Theron on the apron, both reveling in the beautiful mind game that’s playing out in front of us, Ben. But Cleo better watch her back—here comes Raven looking for a big boot—AND CLEO TURNS AROUND JUST IN TIME TO DUCK UNDERNEATH, RAVEN ROBERTS LANDING RIGHT INTO THE TURNBUCKLE!
Ben Knight: Not just the turnbuckle, Clark, but her boot was caught by Theron Nikolas! He won’t let her go! Oh, and there’s Cleopatra, taking a page out of the book of her Empire Tag Team partner it looks like, playing scared while distracting the referee, giving Theron all the time he needs to lay some hurt onto Raven’s ankle! He twists and bends the ankle, causing Raven to scream in pain—and he ties Raven’s boot to the turnbuckle corner using the tag rope! Raven is stuck, she’s got nowhere to go—the EAW World Champion yelling for the referee to turn his head back around, but the damage has been done! Theron throwing his hands in the air while Raven fumbles with her boot.
Clark Ruggerio: Things aren’t looking good for the New Breed Champion as Cleopatra comes back over to the turnbuckle corner, and she climbs to the top rope—looking down at Raven who can’t break free—DOUBLE FOOT STOMP TO THE BACK OF RAVEN ROBERTS! And the self-proclaimed Vixen’s Champion once again taking a moment to celebrate with Theron Nikolas, posing with her arms wide open in front of this booing Prudential Center Crowd! Cleopatra starts talking her usual smack to the fans, talking down to the referee—but look at this!
Ben Knight: Raven Roberts is fumbling with her boot once again! But Theron Nikolas won’t let her break free, he’s making sure that tag rope stays put! And Rex McAllister has had enough! He jumps down from the apron, stomping over to the Canadian Dream’s corner—HE PULLS THERON RIGHT OFF THE APRON AND ONTO THE GROUND! THE CROWD IS GOING WILD—but Cleopatra doesn’t quite realize what’s happening here, she’s still got her back turned to Raven Roberts, who’s got the laces loose on her boot! She pulls her leg free! Cleopatra confusing the crowd’s cheers for Rex as support for the Vixen’s Champion as she milks the response! She slowly backs away from the ropes—and backs right into Raven Roberts!
Clark Ruggerio: The 5’3” Queen of the Nile looking dumbfounded once she realizes she’s standing with her back against the 5’11” Bird of Prey—RAVEN ROBERTS WITH A CODEBREAKER TO CLEOPATRA! WILL THAT BE ENOUGH TO PUT HER AWAY?! Theron Nikolas is barely back on the apron here—
Referee: ONNEE!!! TTWWWOO!!!
Ben Knight: Luckily, Cleopatra kicks out, no assistance needed from Theron there, thankfully—Raven stands up, hobbling on one leg still after losing her boot, and clearly still feeling the effects of the hurt ankle thanks to Theron. She manages to grab Cleopatra by the hair, pulling her to her feet and setting up—BEAUTIFUL BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX! CLEOPATRA FLYING IN THE AIR AND LANDING ON THE BACK OF HER NECK! Cleopatra trying to crawl over to the Answers World Champion, who’s looking for the tag—Raven Roberts won’t let her, and she pulls her back to the center of the ring—LIONTAMER ON CLEOPATRA! SHE’S GOT IT LOCKED IN! CLEOPATRA WITH NOWHERE TO GO!
Clark Ruggerio: The referee drops to the ground, asking Cleopatra if she’s ready to give with Raven’s velvety knee burying her face into the mat!
Referee: WHADDAYA SAY, CLEO?
Cleopatra: NO! NO!
Ben Knight: Cleopatra showing no signs of giving up here, Clark! We should know to expect this level of resilience from one half of the Empire Tag Team Champions! Cleopatra looking to break the hold here, arms scrambling on the mat—wait a minute—she gets a hold of Raven’s hurt ankle, forcing Raven to release some of the pressure on Cleo’s head—AND CLEOPATRA TAKES RAVEN DOWN BY THE ANKLE, KNOCKING HER DOWN ON HER BACK!
Clark Ruggerio: Raven stumbling now as she tries to stand up on two feet—and she doesn’t see Cleopatra going for the ropes, looking for some momentum, maybe?—CLEOPATRA GIVING EVERYTHING SHE HAS WITH A TEXTBOOK SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODY TO RAVEN ROBERTS! BOTH WOMEN DOWN AND OUT IN THE CENTER OF THE RING!
Ben Knight: Now both women are crawling to their respective turnbuckles, hoping to bring both of their partners into this matchup with a cliche hot tag! Both Theron and Rex on the apron, just fingertips away from making a dent in this matchup and bringing each of their teams to the Tag Team Grand Prix Finals! Can they get it?! Aaaaaand—CLEO WITH THE TAG TO THERON! AND RAVEN TAGS IN REX! BOTH MEN COMING IN RED HOT, CHARGING STRAIGHT INTO EACH OTHER WITH SOME STIFF RIGHT HANDS!
Clark Ruggerio: Sexy Rexy with a hard elbow smash to the skull of Theron! Theron backs away here—but Rex not letting him go—BUTTERFLY SUPLEX TO THERON NIKOLAS! And Rex with a kip-up, the fans cheering him on! He takes a moment to milk the reaction from the capacity crowd before turning around to bounce off of the ropes, going after Theron—BUT THERON’S READY FOR REX—DROPKICK FROM THERON NIKOLAS! KNOCKING REX DOWN TO THE GROUND! Rex a little shaken up there, he’s trying to pull himself up—Theron bouncing off the ropes and—ENZUGIRI TO REX MCALLISTER, Rex rolling out of the ring! Raven Roberts dropping down from the apron, looking to check on Rex?
Ben Knight: The Bird of Prey might just have a heart of gold, Clark! She definitely cares about her tag team partner! Theron Nikolas moving to the edge of the ropes—but not before tagging Cleopatra back into this one! Cleopatra, now the legal woman, joining Theron at the ropes, both members of the Canadian Dream facing Rex McAllister and Raven Roberts on the outside—wait a minute—YES! DOUBLE SLINGSHOT DIVE OVER THE TOP ROPE AND ONTO THE GROUND, CANADIAN DREAM TAKING OUT FIRE AND ICE!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
Clark Ruggerio: Cleopatra and Theron quickly getting up to their feet here, each grabbing Rex McAllister and rolling him back into the ring! Theron back onto the apron, and Cleo, going for the cover here!
Referee: ONNEE!!…TWOO!!..
Clark Ruggerio: And Rex kicks out! He gets the shoulder up and rolls away—he looks stunned to see the beautiful Cleopatra kneeling before him—is she—did she just wink at Rex? He shakes his head and looks to get up onto his feet, but Cleopatra gets a hold of his leg! Rex on one foot now as Cleopatra grabs a hold of the other—AND REX MCALLISTER WITH A DRAGON WHIP TO CLEOPATRA! SHE FALLS TO HER KNEES, AND REX IS ABLE TO MAKE THE TAG!
Ben Knight: I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! REX MCALLISTER JUST HIT A WOMAN! CLEOPATRA IN SHOCK AS SHE HOLDS HER CHEEK RIGHT WHERE REX’S BOOT CONNECTED! SHE BETTER GET UP BEFORE RAVEN ROBERTS CAN GET THE BETTER OF HER—RAVEN CHARGERS AFTER CLEO—AND CLEO COUNTERS WITH A KICK TO THE MIDSECTION OF RAVEN ROBERTS, SLOWING HER DOWN AND GETTING HER IN PERFECT POSITION FOR—RUNNING BULLDOG!
Clark Ruggerio: Waaaait a minute, Ben, who is that? Is that who I think it is?
Ben Knight: I think it is!
Clark Ruggerio: That’s Impact! Impact is here tonight, jogging down the ramp—what business does he have here at the Prudential Center?! Let alone the Grand Prix Semi Finals?!
Ben Knight: Impact is one of five of the other chamber participants for Rex’s World Heavyweight Title at Road to Redemption—but what does that matter tonight?
(Impact slows down as he gets closer to the ring, standing at the end of the ramp, watching the matchup go on.)
Clark Ruggerio: Cleo with several swift kicks to the head of Raven Roberts, who’s still feeling the effects of that running bulldog! Cleopatra slowly pulling Raven Roberts up by her feet now—what’s this—SHE’S SETTING UP FOR IT! YES! YES! I THINK REX SEES IT!
Ben Knight: THE CANADIAN DESTROYER! THE CANADIAN DESTROYER! SHE HITS IT! AND—IMAPCT!!! IMPACT GRABS REX BY THE LEGS, PULLING HIM OFF OF THE APRON BEFORE HE CAN BREAK THE PINFALL!
Referee: OONNNEE!!
Ben Knight: IMPACT IS ABSOLUTELY MAULING REX MCALLISTER AT RINGSIDE! OH MY GOD! STOP THIS BRUTAL ASSAULT! THE REF DOESN’T SEE IT! HE’S DOWN FOR THE COUNT!
Referee: TWWWOOOO!!!
Ben Knight: WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?! IMPACT BEATING REX INTO THE STEEL STEPS—
Referee: THHHHREEEEEE!!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(“Bloodfeather” by Highly Suspect picks up throughout the arena, the crowd booing as the referee hands Theron and Cleopatra their respective championship titles.)
Clark Ruggerio: The Canadian Dream are FINALISTS in the Tag Team Grand Prix!
Maria Dely Rey: HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS….THE TEAM OF CLEOPATRA AND THERON NIKOLAS…THE CAAAANAAADDIIAAAAAANNNNNN DDDDRRRRREEEEEAAAAAMMMM!
(“Tag Team Grand Prix Finalists” flashes on screen as Cleo and Theron raise their titles in the air and celebrate with one another. The camera cuts to Raven Roberts unconscious in the middle of the ring and then transitions to Rex McAllister laid out on the floor, Impact standing over him.)
Ben Knight: Impact just cost the team of Fire & Ice their spot at the Tag Team Grand Prix Finals! I can’t believe what we just saw. That man has a lot of explaining to do.
(The camera catches one last shot of Impact scowling as medical professionals rush out to assist Rex before the camera fades to black.)
