January 8, 2000
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum -- Oakland, CA
MMP Tag Team Championship Tournament – Round Robin Match
HARBINGER & THE DESTROYER vs. MASKED MENACE X & WOLVERINE
MMX and Wolverine were backed up by Carnage and Mini Menace, and didn’t waste any time attacking both members of the Cult opposition. Wolverine went right for Harbinger while MMX rekindled his rivalry with Destroyer by attacking the big man immediately at the opening bell. Wolverine’s attack didn’t hold for long as Harbinger quickly dumped him to the outside before joining his partner in a double-team on the TV champ. Destroyer nailed MMX with forearm smashes across the back of the head while Harbinger went to work with kicks to the leg. The two then whipped MMX off the ropes and went for a double clothesline, but MMX ducked underneath and caught Harbinger on the rebound with a spear. He stomped Harbinger in the chest, but was quickly spun around by Destroyer, who floored MMX with a big clothesline. Mini Menace was helping Wolverine to his feet on the outside, but in the ring The Cult was having it’s way with MMX. Destroyer sent Harbinger to the top rope before pulling MMX up and delivering a powerbomb. As MMX struck the canvas Carnage got up on the ring apron, but was quickly floored with a big forearm to the jaw. Harbinger was poised on the top rope, but before he could launch his assault on MMX, Wolverine reached up and swatted his leg, causing Harbinger to straddle himself on the top rope. Wolverine then grabbed a chair, slid into the ring, and nailed Destroyer across the back, sending the big man through the ropes and out to the floor. While Mini Menace got in and helped MMX to his feet, Wolverine walked over to the corner where Harbinger sat and brought him off with a superplex. MMX scaled the top rope on the other side and nailed a flying splash. While Wolverine kept Destroyer at bay, MMX made the cover and scored the three count.
MMP Tag Team Championship Tournament – Round Robin Match
DAARK & ??? vs. THE ORDER
Daark came to the ring with a mysterious new tag team partner, a 6’9” masked man going by the name “El Enorme Muerte”. The Order didn’t seem impressed by the big man, though, and immediately attacked the Cult duo with the poles of their Tibetan flags. With the two men dazed The Order launched a higher paced attack. Tao floored Muerte with a spear before allowing his partner, The Dragonfly, to use him as a springboard and nail Daark with a clothesline. The Order double-teamed the fallen world champion, but Muerte was quick to come to the rescue, grabbing Tao away and flooring him with a clothesline. Dragonfly followed Daark out to the floor and caught him with a spinning heel kick, while in the ring Muerte pulled Tao up and delivered a piledriver. Dragonfly slid back in and hit Muerte with a forearm smash followed by a Russian legsweep before helping Tao back to his feet. Daark waited on the outside as Tao went to the top rope and hit Muerte with the Essential Flash. He then quickly slid back in, grabbed Dragonfly, and nailed the Whispered Prophecy. Tao tried to get over to break Daark’s pin, but Muerte was able to grab onto his opponent’s leg, holding him up just long enough for Daark to score the pin.
MMP Tag Team Championship Tournament – Round Robin Match
HASSAN ABU SAADA & HOT CRIMSON vs. THE BOOTLEGGER & “STUNNING” STEVE SIMON
Just as happened in the last match between the two teams, Crimson came out without his tag team partner. Several of Hassan’s slaves were with Crimson, but the universal champion was nowhere to be found. Bootlegger and Simon came out together, but were distracted when a woman sitting along the aisle got out of her seat and started shouting at the duo. Simon walked over to confront her, but the woman responded with a slap across the face. The “Stunning One” responded with a right hand that nearly knocked the woman out, causing most of the surrounding fans to jump to their feet. Crimson seized the advantage from the distraction and hurried down the aisle, attacking both men despite the fact that he had no back up of his own. The attack didn’t last for long, though, as Bootlegger and Simon quickly took over on their outnumbered opponent. After running Crimson into the ground the two men laughed it up in the runway before deciding that Simon would take Crimson down to the ring. Bootlegger slowly followed, but was caught from behind by Hassan Abu Saada, wielding his golden scepter! Hassan floored Bootlegger with the scepter before pulling out a pair of handcuffs, which he used to chain Bootlegger to the safety rail. Simon pulled Crimson up on the apron and stepped into the ring, only to slingshot himself over the top rope, catching Crimson in a sunset flip position before powerbombing Crimson off the apron and onto the floor. He then rolled Crimson back into the ring, but in the meantime Hassan had made his way down the aisle. He climbed into the ring behind Simon and clubbed him across the back of the head with his scepter, the same as he had done to Bootlegger earlier. The Egyptian the pulled Simon up and delivered a powerbomb, enabling him to make the cover and score the pin for his team.
MMP Hardcore Saturday Night is on the air! Nearly 20, 000 fans are packed into the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for tonight’s huge event. Commentators Jerry Wood and Ray Brewer are at ringside.
Wood: Welcome, everyone, to MMP Hardcore Saturday Night! I’m Jerry Wood alongside Ray Brewer here in Oakland where tonight the MMP world championship is on the line for the first time in 2000. Daark will defend the title for the first time since winning it back at Season’s Slayings as he faces the universal champion, a man who defeated Daark only a couple of weeks ago, Hassan Abu Saada. The match will be a first for the MMP, a museum match, that I understand will take place at the Oakland Museum of Natural History and Art, just down the road from the action here in the Coliseum. Both men were victorious in their matches earlier tonight in the tag team tournament, but only one man will walk out of Oakland as the MMP world champion when the night is over.
Brewer: And what about the big steel cage match coming up later on as well? I never thought I’d have to see that obnoxious loud mouth named Death back in the MMP, but he’s gonna be here tonight meeting The Bootlegger inside the steel. The first man to get out wins it, and I really hope it’s Gene Barlotta. I really can’t stand Death’s little comedy act. Someone needs to tell that guy that this is the MMP, not Mann’s Chinese Theatre.
Wood: Whoa, hang on, I’m getting word that something is going down out back. Get a camera back there somebody.
Outside in the parking lot the camera shows the silhouettes of two men beating down on a third man. As the shot gets closer and into a better light it sees Masked Menace X and Wolverine, with baseball bats in hand, hammering away on Aries, MMX’s opponent later on tonight. A group of security workers came running out from the arena to intervene, but the damage had been done. MMX and Wolverine headed back into the building while Aries pulled himself up with the aid of a nearby car.
Wood: Looks like some people aren’t about to wait for bell time to get things started tonight. The locker room has been buzzing all day, with an enthusiasm that we haven’t seen for quite some time. Everyone’s ready for tonight’s show, and it would seem that MMX and Wolverine aren’t taking any chances going into MMX’s ladder match tonight with Aries. We’re ready to get things underway here on Hardcore Saturday Night, with Izz Amazing making his way to the ring for our opening bout against Ambush.
Brewer: Ambush has been making waves here over the past couple of weeks. It seems like quite a few people took notice when the rookie advanced all the way to the semi-finals of the midwestern championship tournament back at Season’s Slayings. Izz Amazing, on the other hand, has been struggling over the past couple of months. Outside of a win over Hyoga in the midwestern tourney he hasn’t been able to build much momentum since making his return to the MMP. This is a big match for both men.
Wood: There’s Ambush’s music now, so it looks like we’re ready to go. Ambush and Izz Amazing kicking things off on Hardcore Saturday Night.
AMBUSH vs. IZZ AMAZING
”The Movie” by Aerosmith played over the loudspeaker as Ambush made his way down. By his side was a young boy wearing a Boston Youth Center t-shirt with a picture of Ambush on the front of it. Ambush walked the kid down to ringside and helped him to a seat in the front row before sliding into the ring and hooking up with Izz. Izz went for a quick right hand but Ambush got his arm up to block it and nailed Izz with a series of hard punches to the jaw. He backed Izz into the corner where he pulled off his jacket, tossed it over Izz’s face and climbed the buckle, raining punches down on Izz while the crowd counted along 1…2…3….4…5…6…7…8….9…and after a short hesitation…10. The crowd cheered loudly, led by the youngster who had come to the ring with Ambush, who was on his feet in the front row cheering his hero on. Ambush smiled out to the boy before jumping down and pulling the jacket off of Izz, but his momentum was stalled with Izz nailed Ambush with a hard elbow to the jaw. Ambush stumbled out and Izz jumped in the air, taking him over with a huracanrana. Ambush tried to roll out of the way but Izz dropped a leg down across his chest, knocking the wind out of Ambush and stopping him in his tracks. He then grabbed Ambush by the legs and pulled him in close before catapulting Ambush up over the top rope and all the way down to the floor. Izz followed Ambush out, but was quickly distracted by the kid in the front row, who was shouting obscenities towards the Hawaiian. Izz lost his composure and hurried over to the kid, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him right into a nose-to-nose confrontation. He began screaming at the boy before Ambush made his way over and delivered a low blow, forcing Izz to drop the boy back into his seat. After rocking Izz back with a Russian leg sweep into the steel steps Ambush stopped to make sure the kid was OK before grabbing Izz and dragging him back into the ring. He then grabbed Izz and pulled him back to his feet, whipping him hard across the ring into the far turnbuckle. Ambush followed him in but just as he got within arm’s reach of Izz, the Hawaiian got his foot up and caught Ambush with a solid kick right to the midsection. With Ambush dazed Izz grabbed his opponent around the neck, propped himself up on the second turnbuckle, and executed a tornado DDT! Ambush’s head snapped of the canvas, but Izz wasn’t done there. He climbed up to the top rope and, pointing right at the boy in the front row, came flying off with a moonsault, landing flush across Ambush’s chest. The wind was knocked right out of the Boston native, but Izz still refused to go for the cover. He pulled Ambush up and nailed him with his new finisher, the “It’s Amazing” tilt-a-whirl DDT! Izz started gloating over his fallen opponent before he made the cover, but the delay would prove costly. The boy in the front row had seen enough. He hopped over the safety rail and grabbed a steel chair before sliding into the ring. Just when the referee was about to count three, the boy slammed the chair over the back of Izz’s head. Izz broke the count and turned to face the kid, who was so surprised that he didn’t knock Izz out that he dropped the chair where he stood. The ref urged the kid to get out of the ring, but before the boy could react Izz grabbed him by the shirt once again. He whipped the kid off the ropes to give him the Hawaiian Spinebuster when suddenly he was met with a vicious blow across the back. Ambush floored Izz with the steel chair and, after ushering the boy out to the floor, made the cover for the 1…2…3!! The kid slapped Ambush five as his hero emerged from the ring victorious. Ambush then hoisted the boy up on his shoulders and carried him back to the dressing room.
Wood: Another big win for Ambush, who continues to impress as he works his way up the ladder here in the Midwestern Mayhem Promotion.
Brewer: Hang on a second, Wood. I thought Ambush was supposed to be a role model for children. What kind of role model attacks people FROM BEHIND with foreign objects? If you ask me, this Ambush is a pure and total hypocrite. If those are the kind of values they teach at the Boston Youth Center, well, let me just assure you I don’t want to be living ANYWHERE in Massachusetts when those young hooligans grow up.
Wood: Oh come on, Ray, who do you think you’re fooling…besides Izz Amazing was about to give that young boy the Hawaiian Spinebuster. I’m sure that if he were here right now Ambush would tell you that he acted out of necessity. Who knows what kind of effect a move like the Spinebuster could have on someone that young and that has never had any experience in the ring.
Brewer: Great, not only do I have to put up with your mediocre play-by-play work, now I have to listen to you spew out public relations rhetoric too? Just introduce the next match, Wood. That is, after all, what they pay you for.
Wood: Be that as it may…our next match should be a brutal affair to say the least. The extreme championship is on the line as arguably the most hardcore man the MMP has ever seen, the five-time extreme champion Psychotic Sam, defends his belt for the first time in the new year against one of the all-round toughest guys you’ll find walking the earth anywhere today in Wolverine. This should be a hell of a match-up. Anything goes, and the extreme title is at stake!
MMP Extreme Championship Match
PSYCHOTIC SAM (C) vs. WOLVERINE
Wolverine came to the ring first with 2x4 in hand, and he had a big entourage with him as he prepared to challenge for the extreme title. Masked Menace X, Carnage, and Mini Menace were all at ringside with him as he stepped through the ropes and awaited his opponent. Two police officers then stepped through the curtain, pushing Sam to the ring strapped to a cart. Sam was wearing his crown and had Marbels and AJ with him, as well as the extreme title belt that was wrapped around his waist. The officers freed him from the cart, but they weren’t able to get the final restraints off before Wolverine attacked Sam with the 2x4. He tore the straps loose from the cart and tossed Sam into the ring where he continued to work over the champ with the board, driving it repeatedly into Sam’s back while Sam lay face down on the canvas. Wolverine saluted the crowd by raising the board high in the air, and as would be expected he received only a smattering of boos for his trouble. Sam crawled over towards the ropes where his collection of objects lay and grabbed AJ while Wolverine’s back was turned. Wolverine reached down to pull Sam up, but Sam wrenched himself away and swung the bat wildly, striking Wolverine in the knees. The challenger doubled over, grabbing his leg, and Sam nailed him yet again in the same knee before grabbing Wolverine and tossing him through the ropes to the outside. While Wolverine was getting to his feet Sam climbed up to the top rope, diving off with a suicide dive that sent Wolverine back into the MMP Radio broadcast table. Mike the Giant Retard then started making his way out, carrying a large hockey bag that he shoved into the ring. Out on the other side Sam pulled Wolverine up and tossed him up onto the radio broadcast position. He pouned Wolverine with right hands as the Detroit native tried to pull himself up. Wolverine finally managed to block one of Sam’s shots, and the two men traded blows back and forth until Sam interrupted the exchange by catching Wolverine with a boot to the midsection. Then, without wasting any time, he grabbed Wolverine and delivered the Psychotic Smash on the table! Both men went crashing down to the floor, and both lay motionless in amongst the pile of debris as the ref came over to check and see if they would be able to continue. Sam’s right arm flailed limply and Wolverine’s head nodded faintly back and forth, showing that both men were still with it. The fans along the runway then got to their feet as they spotted someone coming down towards the ring. It was the wrestler known as The Golden One. MMX hurried out to cut him off, but was quickly floored with a headbutt from Golden One and his golden helmet. The TV champ rolled over in the runway, but Golden One’s progress was finally stopped when The Joker’s Child came running out from the dressing room. Joker came up on Golden One from behind and smacked him across the back with a steel chair, causing the man to fall flat on his face. Joker then jammed the chair into Golden One’s back and would have kept going if a group of referee’s hadn’t come out to pull him off. Both Joker and Golden One were taken back to the dressing room by the officials, who seemed intent to see a clear cut winner determined in the match. Back down at the ring, Sam was starting to move. He grabbed a steel chair and slid into the ring, where he sat rocking back and forth in the corner talking to Marbels while he waited for Wolverine to get up. When the challenger finally started to stir Sam went over and opened up the bag that Mike had brought out earlier. He first pulled out a frisbee, and when Wolverine got up on the apron he tossed it at the man as he tried to get back in the ring. Wolverine simply brushed it away, but wasn’t able to brush away the shot to the head with a license plate that was Sam’s next attack. The challenger slumped over the top rope, allowing Sam to grab him by the seat of the pants and snap him back over the top into the ring. Sam then went back over to his bag, but in the meantime Wolverine had his 2x4 passed back to him by Mini Menace. When Sam came back around Wolverine nailed the champ with a low blow using the board, and then got to his feet to deliver a face buster. Wolverine seemed rejuvenated as he dropped repeated elbows across the back of Sam’s head and applied a camel clutch. He wrenched back further and further on Sam’s head and neck, but Sam refused to give it up. Wolverine sat down even further, but he still couldn’t make Sam tap out. Out of frustration Wolverine released the hold, stomping Sam’s back before pulling him back to his feet. He didn’t let Sam stay up for long, though, and quickly floored the champ once again, this time with a short clothesline. Wolverine looked out to MMX, who nodded in agreement that it was time to finish Sam off. He slowly pulled Sam up once more, but before he could deliver one of his finishers, Sam reached up and dug his long, dirty fingernails into Wolverine’s eyes, raking violently and blinding Wolverine in his tracks. While Wolverine staggered around to try and shake the effect, Sam pulled over the chair that he had brought into the ring earlier in the match. Once it was in position he pulled Wolverine over and again nailed the Psychotic Smash, this time driving Wolverine head first into the chair. He rolled the man over and made the cover, scoring the pinfall just before MMX could reach in and stop the count. As soon as the match was over, the policemen rushed into the ring, slapped a straight jacket on Sam, and hurried him away from the ring, leaving Mike to gather up Sam’s personal effects.
Wood: Psychotic Sam is still your MMP extreme champion, and I have to admit that I’m a little surprised that he was able to do it without any outside help from The Family.
Brewer: Wood, after nearly two years could you finally be seeing the light about these diseased freaks? I’m a little in shock myself, Wood. I didn’t think Sam would be able to hold onto that title in a fair fight, but I guess I’m due to be wrong, aren’t I?
Wood: Hang on…I’m getting word that we’ve got some more commotion backstage. What’s going on back there?
The camera shifts to the backstage area, and again it’s the TV champion Masked Menace X in the middle of things. He is standing, with TV belt in hand, stomping away on the back of a fallen wrestler. A close up reveals that it is The Bootlegger lying face down on the concrete floor, the victim of MMX’s latest attack. Suddenly, from around the corner comes Virus Richards and Aries. Upon seeing the two men, MMX takes off through the curtain and heads towards the ring. Virus and Aries follow close behind.
Wood: What? It looks like…yes, MMX is coming out here! And Virus and Aries are right behind him! Now here comes a referee! I guess it’s time for the TV title match. There’s the bell, we’re underway!
MMP Television Championship
Ladder Match
MASKED MENACE X (C) vs. ARIES
As soon as he got down to the ring MMX hurried over to the timekeeper to try and grab a chair to fend off the charging Aries, but he didn’t get there in time. Aries grabbed the champ from behind and nailed him with a big forearm shot to the back, a shot that dropped MMX to his knees and caused him to hit his jaw on the timekeeper’s table. He then rammed MMX back-first into the steel ring post, sending even more pain through the champ’s back in the early going. He pulled MMX out to send him to the post once more, but MMX countered with a blatant low blow, a kick that dropped the challenger to his knees in agony. Now it was MMX going to work, peppering Aries with jabs to the side of the head while the big man got up, and then shifting his attack to the legs, delivering a series of rapid-fire kicks to the lower limbs once Aries was back to his feet. He then rolled Aries into the ring for the first time, but when he turned and saw Virus Richards sitting at the broadcast position he waved back to the dressing room, bringing Wolverine, Carnage, and Mini Menace down to the ring. After flashing an ugly glare in Virus’ direction MMX rolled back into the ring, but by this time Aries was back to his feet and waiting on the champion. Once MMX was under the bottom rope Aries went back to work on the back, stomping MMX hard and not letting him have a chance to get back to his feet. Once MMX was subdued Aries pulled him up and delivered a backbreaker, but rather than letting MMX fall to the canvas he maintained contact and hoisted him back up again, this time dropping MMX in a sidewalk slam. After a big elbow across the sternum Aries left MMX and made his first move for the ladder. He opened the ladder and stood it up in the middle of the ring, but much to the surprise of the fans in the arena, he didn’t try and go for the belt, which had just been raised to the rafters by the referee moments earlier. Instead he pulled MMX up and whipped him off the ropes, lowering his head for a backdrop that would send MMX into the ladder. MMX put on the brakes, though, and drove a forearm into the back of Aries’ head, dazing the big man and letting MMX connect with a dropkick. The dropkick caught Aries square on the chin, but it wasn’t enough to put the big man down. Instead, it just knocked Aries back into the ladder. A second dropkick finally put the big man down, much to the delight of the TV champ. MMX then walked over to the ladder, but like Aries, didn’t immediately go for the belt. Instead he folded the ladder up and walked over to Aries, jamming the ladder down onto the challenger’s chest. He then re-opened the ladder and made his first attempt to retrieve his belt, climbing slowly up the far side. Before MMX could get very far, though, Aries was back to his feet and started climbing up the other side. Aries’ height advantage let him catch up to MMX quickly, and the two reached the top at roughly the same time. MMX reached up to try and grab the belt, but instead all he got was a right hand to the face from the “Beast from Greece”. Aries nailed a second right hand and then reached over and grabbed MMX by the throat, delivering a chokeslam off the top of the ladder that sent both men crashing down to the canvas. Both men were slow getting up, but as could be expected it was Aries that was back to his feet first. He pulled MMX up off the canvas and whipped him off the ropes, where he was caught on the rebound with a big boot to the face. With the TV title looking to be in jeopardy, Carnage hopped up on the apron in MMX’s corner. Aries grabbed the ladder and motioned that he was going to set it up, but instead ran to the corner and nailed Carnage in the face with the top of the ladder! He then dropped the ladder and dared Wolverine to get up and try him, but Wolverine just backed away laughing. Aries then turned, or at least tried to turn back to the match, but he couldn’t. When he looked down he saw that Mini Menace had shackled his left leg to the turnbuckle! He tried to pull himself free, but it was no use. MMX, who by now was getting back to his feet, came over, grabbed the ladder, and rammed it into Aries’ midsection before taking it to the other side of the ring. Once he was out of Aries’ reach he set the ladder up, climbed to the top, and grabbed the belt to win the match. Out at the broadcast position Virus was livid. He slammed the headset down, drawing the attention of MMX, who simply laughed at Virus out on the arena floor. Virus ignored him, though, and waved back towards the dressing room. Suddenly, a swarm of a dozen men in riot gear came running down to the ring. Six circled the ring and grabbed Mini Menace, while the other six climbed in the ring and attacked MMX. The men were identified by the letters “INS” on their backs. After putting handcuffs and leg shackles on both MMX and Mini Menace, the men dragged the two back to the dressing room, with two staying behind to make sure that Carnage and Wolverine didn’t attempt a rescue.
Wood: What in the world? Virus, what was that all about? And why is the Immigration and Naturalization Service involved?
Virus: Hey, you’ll have to ask them if you want the specifics, but I heard a rumor backstage that they were just about to apprehend the perpetrators in those border bombings that took place last week. I told them that I’d secure the area, and that they just had to wait for my signal. Looks like MMX and Mini Menace are a little more than just petty thugs after all. Hey Ray, think they can get a cell on the same block as Ponch?
Brewer: I’m an advocate of the death penalty myself. Terrorism is no joke, Mr. Richards.
Virus: Ya know, I agree. Ray, I’m glad you and I think alike. It’s good to see that there are some people out there who still think in practical terms. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a match to win. And Ray, if you don’t mind, see what you can do about adjusting the volume on your little flunky’s headset. Between you and me, his commentary leaves a little to be desired.
Brewer: You heard the man, Wood. Pipe down.
Wood: I don’t know why I bother…well, I guess that means that we’ve got tag team action up next. Virus Richards is going to the ring, and while the ring crew works on severing the restraint on Aries, we’ll send you back to the ring announcer for the next bout.
VIRUS RICHARDS & INFERNO vs. THE ORDER
The identity of Virus’ mystery partner didn’t stay hidden long, and as many might have suspected, when it came time to introduce the man, “Firestarter” blared over the loudspeaker. The phoenix shot up above the ring, and the giant Inferno made his way to the ring. He soon joined Virus and Aries at ringside, discussing last minute strategy. The Order then came down dressed in full samurai outfits, but this time they weren’t carrying their trademark Tibetan flags. Instead, it was baseball bats that the Oriental duo had in their hands. They walked calmly down the runway for the first few steps, but then ran the rest of the way and dove in under the bottom rope, eager to lock up with their Cartel adversaries. Tao slid in and nailed ducked Virus’ clothesline, countering with a low blow that doubled Virus over. The ref quickly separated Inferno and Dragonfly while this was going on. A simple drop toehold brought Virus to the canvas, where Tao went to work with a series of kneedrops to the back. He then pulled Virus up and started to drag him towards his corner, but a rake of the face let Virus break free from his opponent’s grasp. Virus the connected with a European uppercut that rocked the jaw of Tao, and dazed the man long enough for Virus to drop him with a simple double-leg takedown from behind. After an elbowdrop to the back of Tao’s head Virus went over to his corner and made a tag, bringing the giant Inferno into the match for the first time. Tao was pulling himself up but was met with quick jabs to the face from Inferno, and a kick to the chest that backed him into the ropes. Inferno then sent him off the far side, catching him on the rebound with a punishing sidewalk slam. He then leaned over and exchanged words with Virus, apparently discussing how to proceed from there. Virus told Inferno to give the big boot and Inferno complied, sending Tao off the ropes and going for the foot, but Tao slid underneath, narrowly avoiding having his head taken off. As he got back to his feet Dragonfly tossed a baseball bat over the top rope to Tao, and when Inferno turned around he was met with a bat right in the midsection. A second shot to the back put Inferno down, and Tao was right back in it. In the meantime a man dressed in Bootleggeresque riot gear came slowly down the runway. Aries circled the ring to keep an eye on the man, but when he left Dragonfly came up from behind on Virus and nailed him with a second baseball bat, causing Virus to fall of the apron to the floor. Dragonfly then reached into his tights and pulled out a roll of duct tape. He tore off a strip and stuck it over Virus’ eyes, leaving him blinded on the floor. In the meantime the man in the riot gear came down and slid into the ring, but he was quickly grabbed around the ankles by Aries, who had since realized that it wasn't Bootlegger. A right hand from Aries knocked the helmet off, revealing Hot Crimson underneath. He slammed Crimson into the ring post before going back and helping Virus by flooring Dragonfly with a hard right hand. Tao continued to hammer Inferno with the bat inside the ring before a dropkick sent Inferno over the top. Tao followed the man out to the floor while Virus pulled Dragonfly back in. Tao jumped off the apron with a double axhandle aimed right for the top of Inferno’s skull, but Inferno moved out of the way, sending Tao crashing to the safety rail. Aries checked to see if Inferno was OK and then nailed Tao with a forearm smash, but his attack was short lived when Crimson came around and attacked Aries with his riot helmet. The commotion on the floor, though, distracted everyone from the action in the ring. Virus whipped Dragonfly off the ropes, allowing Inferno to deliver the Elder’s Vengeance heart punch. He then went to the top rope and caught the winded Dragonfly with his frog splash and covered Dragonfly for the 1…2…3. As soon as the match was over Virus and Inferno helped Aries fight off Crimson and Tao on the floor, hurrying the Organization members to the back. The Cartel was just about to enter their dressing room when “Carmina Burana” blared over the loudspeaker. The Cult Master, flanked by two of his followers, came slowly down the runway, stopping the Cartel members in their tracks. The three men conversed and let Aries confront his Daark Ages opponent, but Aries’ advances sent him quickly back to the dressing room. Aries gave chase, but while Virus and Inferno remained focused on what was going on in front of them, they never saw Harbinger and The Destroyer coming up on them from behind with lead pipes in hand. The former tag champs floored Virus and Inferno, and then looked anxiously back to the entrance where Cult Master re-emerged. The giant video screen showed a shot of the other side of the curtain, where several Cult minions wielding various weapons were hammering Aries into the ground. Cult Master approached his followers Harbinger and Destroyer, who stood proudly over the fallen bodies of Virus and Inferno, and pulled out a microphone;
Cult Master: "Cartel!!! Is it war that you want? Then, WAR it shall be! But your behavior against Lord Daark in The Cult's most triumphant moment at Season's Slayings will not incur mere war from The Cult....no, no, it is much bigger than this! I and my Faithful Followers declare HOLY WAR on The Cartel and all who follow in their tread! We have watched as other pretenders to our power have fallen: The Syndicate, the Untouchables, the Anti-Cult. You too will fall! But these now-dead groups faced nothing compared to what you have now brought upon yourselves! It is HOLY WAR between us now!!! So prepare, Cartel! Prepare to recieve Knowledge from pain, and Enlightenment from TORTURE!!!"
Cult Master simply let the mic fall, landing squarely on Virus’ chest, before leading Harbinger and Destroyer back to the dressing room.
Wood: Holy war?! What could The Cult Master possibly mean by that?
Brewer: What does he mean by that? You ask as if you actually care? Wood, you know I’m not generally that concerned about you, but don’t go listening to this man’s nonsense. The fact that he’s been able to brainwash several talented wrestlers with his unbelievable spiels is bad enough. He doesn’t need a mediocre announcer as well. God, if you get sucked in, I’d be stuck working with that Lewin kid every week. I might have to quit my job.
Wood: Wow, Ray, you’re too kind. Oh…hang on a second. It looks like your remarks aren’t going to fall on deaf ears. The MMP world champion Daark is making his way over the announce position.
Daark walks right over to Brewer and grabs the announcer by the shirt collar, but Wood quickly intervenes.
Wood: Gentlemen, calm down. We don’t need another confrontation out here. Now Daark, I understand you’re here to offer commentary on our upcoming steel cage match. Daark, your thoughts on…
DaarK: LORD DaarK…
Wood: Very well, LORD Daark, if you would, your thoughts on the cage match about to get underway…
DaarK: GENE BARLOTTA was once my equal, but since his hiatus I have surpassed him. The once formidable BOOTLEGGER is now nothing but a roach that scurries at my feet. DEATH is an annoying wretch. He is but a jester in my court. If he continues to make disparaging remarks about me he will learn of the true might of THE CULT...
Brewer: Save it, Daark If you’re on a recruiting mission, you’re in the wrong place.
Again Daark and Brewer nearly come to blows, but again Wood is able to play the role of peacemaker.
Wood: Gentlemen PLEASE…the cage is in place and we’re ready to go for The Bootlegger and Death.
Steel Cage Match
THE BOOTLEGGER vs. DEATH
Death came down to the ring first, drawing a warm welcome from the MMP fans who had not seen the man in action for many months. The ASSociates stepped out of the backstage area as “Paint it Black” blasted over the loudspeaker. After posing for the crowd they turned back towards the entrance and bowed as The Bootlegger made his way down. Bootlegger paused to absorb the crowd’s hatred before coming down to ringside. Without taking off his robe, Bootlegger requested a microphone and addressed Death:
Bootlegger: "DEATH, being a man of my word, I said I would offer you this opportunity to save face and leave before I humiliate you. Don't worry, I, the CARTEL and the rest of the MMP will not think any less of than we already do... which by the way isn't all that high to begin with.... but I overtake myself... go ahead. The door's still open, you may go and save yourself the humiliation."
Bootlegger turned his back to allow Death to leave but, of course, Death would have none of it. He quickly charged Bootlegger and attacked him from behind, hammering him with punches to the back of the head that sent the Italian stumbling face first into the corner. The ref called for the bell, and the match was underway. With Bootlegger still struggling to get out of his robe, Death grabbed him in a side headlock and used him as a battering ram, ramming Bootlegger’s head repeatedly into the steel cage. He released and Bootlegger stumbled backwards, only to be taken off his feet by a flying forearm from Death. Bootlegger bounced back up, only to be knocked down again, this time by a running dropkick. The Italian stayed down and rolled towards the door, but Death quickly cut him off and pulled him up, sending Bootlegger hard across the ring and into the wall of the cage. The crowd cheered loudly as Death seemed to be in control, but Bootlegger still had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. While Death slowly stalked in Bootlegger reached into his tights and pulled out a pair of brass knuckles. Death spun his opponent around, but when he did he was met with a loaded punch right between the eyes. Death was dropped like a ton of bricks and Bootlegger, after pausing for a moment to compose himself, walked over to where his opponent lay and mounted his fallen frame, raining loaded right hands down upon his opponent until the referee intervened and instructed Bootlegger to let him up. Bootlegger complied, but then dropped a knee across Death’s throat, holding it in a choke, forcing the ref to step in once again. Bootlegger finally relented and pulled Death back to his feet, grabbing the man by the hair and dragging him over to the wall of the cage, raking Death’s face across the steel before letting go and letting Death fall unceremoniously to the canvas. With the crowd booing loudly Bootlegger slowly walked over and pulled Death up, whipping him off the ropes and catching him in a sleeperhold. Bootlegger let out a devious laugh as Death slumped to the canvas, giving the impression that Death was almost out. The Italian yelled at the ref to check Death and stop the match, but the official had to remind Bootlegger that the only way to win was to escape the cage. An argument naturally ensued, and it appeared to cause Bootlegger to inadvertantly loosen his grip on his opponent. Death started slowly back to his feet, and drove repeated elbows into Bootlegger’s midsection to break the hold. Bootlegger, though, didn’t let go and instead lifted Death in the air and delivered an atomic drop. A clothesline to the back of the head put Death down, and Bootlegger walked over to the side of the cage, where he started to climb his way to victory. With the aid of the ropes Death was pulling himself to his feet. When he saw Bootlegger making his climb Death lunged at the cage and started shaking the wall. A look of concern crossed Bootlegger’s face as he tried desperately to hang on, but his grip eventually loosened and he fell back intot he ring, landing in a straddled position on the top rope! The look on the Italian’s face turned to one of sheer agony, and he paid no mind to Death’s climbing the ropes behind him. Once in position Death turned Bootlegger around and nailed a DDT off the top, driving Bootlegger’s skull into the canvas. Death was getting his second wind, while things were looking bleak for Bootlegger. He pulled Bootlegger up and scooped him up in a bodyslam, running him head first into the cage and busting the Italian open. He then dropped Bootlegger to his knees, but he wasn’t done yet. Death grabbed Bootlegger by the back of the head and delivered the Death Drop, sending the capacity crowd to it’s feet! With Bootlegger lying nearly unconscious in the ring, there was nothing left to stop Death from making his way over to the exit. He shouted at the ref to open the door, and the official complied. Death then stepped through the ropes out to the apron and….SLAM! Out of nowhere Inferno hopped over the safety rail and slammed the door into the skull of Death, who then slumped back into the ring. Seeing his Daark Ages opponent down at ringside Daark jumped up from the broadcast position and attacked the big man, running Inferno head first into the steel. The world champ stomped away on Inferno on the outside, but back in the ring Bootlegger was starting to move. He slowly walked over and pulled Death up, ran across the ring, and delivered the Heart’s Desire. The crowd booed loudly as Bootlegger got to his feet and slowly started climbing the cage. No one came to Death’s rescue as they had done for Bootlegger, though, and Bootlegger was able to scale the wall all the way to the top. Death started to move, but by the time he did Bootlegger was already making his way down the other side. The Italian dropped to the floor and the bell sounded, with Bootlegger being declared the winner. He raised his hands in exaggerated triumph as the decision was announced, but Bootlegger never saw Daark coming up on him from behind. The world champ nailed Bootlegger across the back with a steel chair, dropping Bootlegger face first to the floor. With Inferno down on the other side Daark was able to pull Bootlegger up and roll him back into the cage to the feet of Death. Daark grabbed a microphone and followed the Italian in. Death started hammering on Bootlegger again, but Daark then approached Death, wielding the same chair. He wound up to nail Death, but instead pulled back and nailed Bootlegger again, this time on top of the skull. Daark and Death glared at one another, but then teamed up in a joint beating on Bootlegger. Before long Harbinger and The Destroyer made their way out and joined Daark and Death in the cage, with Destroyer chaining the door shut after the two men were in. With the attack in full swing, Daark backed away and addressed the crowd.
DaarK: Allow me to introduce the NEWEST member of THE CULT. The one true soldier of the Apocalypse... DEATH!
He then passed the mic to Death, who along with Harbinger and Destroyer had left Bootlegger in a bloody heap.
Death: The Cartel, The Order, and all you Cult wannabes. This is a message to all you little maggots. The Cult has just gotten stronger in many ways. (points to The Bootlegger) You can learn a lot from a dummy. The Bootlegger has just proven to the world that he is. We aren’t afraid of anyone who steps to The Cult.
On the outside Inferno grabbed a steel chair and started to climb the cage, but when The Cult saw him coming they broke the chain off the cage door and made their exit, heading back to the dressing room.
Wood: Death has joined The Cult! My God, The Cult is as strong now as it has ever been before! First Richards, Aries, and Inferno, and now Bootlegger…it looks like The Cult wants to make it’s presence known for the new millenium, and they are off to one hell of a start here tonight!
Brewer: They’ve already got the world title, and for some reason The Cult Master seems to be able to sucker more guys in each and every week. I’ve never been a big fan of Death, you know. Someone with a mouth that big should be out stinking up small town comedy festivals on Saturday night, not wrestling in an MMP ring. But hey, maybe by affiliating himself with The Cult Master and his mindless drones, Death will now spare us from his incessant ramblings. There could be a silver lining to this after all.
Wood: Well, we’ve just about seen everything here on the first Hardcore Saturday Night of the new year. The tag team championship tournament is underway, Masked Menace X retained the TV title over Aries only to be arrested by the INS and charged with being a terrorist, and The Cult has made their presence felt in a huge way, taking out almost every member of The Cartel in a matter of minutes. Now, to cap it all of, the MMP world championship is at stake in the first ever museum match. I understand that Daark is being rushed to the match site as we speak, and our cameras are in place, so let’s send you now to the Oakland Museum of Natural History and Art for our main event!
MMP World Championship
Museum Match
DAARK (C) vs. HASSAN ABU SAADA
Hassan was waiting inside the museum wearing golden gloves, holding his golden scepter, and with the universal championship belt around his waist. As Daark arrived the world champ stopped to ensure that the door was chained shut, but while he was double-checking the security of the building, Hassan came out from around the corner and got the first shot in, nailing Daark in the midsection with his scepter. Daark was doubled over, winded, and Hassan took full advantage, picking the champ up and nailing a punishing vertical suplex onto the cold, hard museum floor. Hassan then grabbed a vase off a nearby ledge and shattered it over Daark’s head, nearly knocking the champion out early. Hassan went for a quick cover but only got a two count before Daark rolled his shoulder. The challenger continued his assault, stomping away on the champion as Hot Crimson, with a lead pipe in hand, came in from the back room. Hassan saw Crimson coming but, in a surprise move, ordered Crimson to stop and return from whence he came. After his master repeated the order a second time Crimson obliged and left the site. Hassan turned back to Daark and pulled the champ up, but Daark caught Hassan with a thumb to the eye before grabbing the telephone off the nearby information desk. He jumped up on Hassan’s back, using the phone chord to choke the big man and bring him down to his knees. Hassan was left gasping for air as Daark pulled back tighter and tighter. The ref was right down in the Egyptian’s face asking him if he wanted to give up, but the disgusted universal champ responded simply by spitting on the official, signifying that he was going to continue. Using the chord to drag his opponent Daark pulled Hassan down the corridor, into a room filled with dinosaur exhibits. Daark released his chokehold and walked over to one of the displays, grabbing a bone off of a reconstructed tyrannosaurus. The champ struck Hassan across the skull with the bone, dropping Hassan to the floor. After taking a moment to recompose himself Daark attempted a standing moonsault, but Hassan got his knees up and Daark caught them flush in the midsection as he landed. Hassan pulled Daark back out towards the lobby where he picked up his gold scepter, striking Daark again in the midsection with the scepter before using it to choke Daark up against the wall. The ref stepped in and ordered Hassan to break the hold which the Egyptian did, but not before spitting on Daark, the saliva landing right between the champ’s eyes. Hassan then walked into another room, shattering a glass display case and pulling out a golden plate that was speckled with jewels. He approached Daark and wound up to hit hiim with the plate, but Daark got a foot up and kicked Hassan in the midsection, causing him to drop the plate to the floor. Daark responded by reaching up and grabbing a painting off the wall and busting it over Hassan’s skull. Hassan went down but Daark didn’t let up, pulling Hassan back to his feet and Irish whipping him down the hall, sending him into a room filled with a special display of Egyptian works. Daark charged in but Hassan got his foot up, catching Daark right in the face with the sole of his boot. Daark went down hard and, with Hassan breathing heavily, the challenger pulled him up and went for the Koran Thump. The Thump was countered into a huracanrana, sending Hassan head over heels while Daark bought himself some time that he so desperately needed. Both men were clearly on their last legs, but neither was going to give up. Hassan charged with a clothesline, but Daark ducked under and countered with an inverted bulldog that dropped the back of Hassan’s skull against a sarcophagus. Before Hassan could regroup Daark locked him in the Purgatory sharpshooter! Hassan reached out desperately to try and grab a weapon that would help him break the hold, but he couldn’t find what he needed. He eventually had no choice but to tap out, giving Daark the victory as the screen fades to black.
© 1997 cnes@king.igs.net
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