Post by The Commissioner on May 5, 2020 2:11:06 GMT -5
The PrimeTime debut was loaded with six high-profile round one matches in the inaugural Alberta Wrestling Federation World's Championship tournament. The first-hour main event that Raging Dead defeat Rockstar Spud in a 13-minute hard-hitting slobberknocker was what wrestling fans and critics across the globe have been raving endlessly about since the original airing. Both captivated the audience with their introductions and traded fighting words throughout the first forty minutes of the show, only to turn around and give them a performance they won't soon forget. Relieve the in-ring encounter below!
Rockstar Spud finishes his stretching with the ring rope to see Raging Dead having walked up to just feet away. Spud straightens his back and begins to engage in the natural staredown that begins building. He begins to walk to the right, not expecting to be able to punk his grizzled opposition enough to retreat back yet still wanting to find himself some room. Referee Wilford Daniels keeps careful, between the competitors as Raging Dead doesn’t let his eyes wander nor his body drift from keeping square with Spud’s. The signal for the bell.
Ding!
Immediately, Raging Dead lifts a leg and plants his heel in the mouth of Rockstar Spud, sending the man flatback on the mat.
Lance Storm: A ferocious start. He’s shooting the half; this could be a short first hour main event on the debut episode.
Wilford Daniels: 1!.......
2!........
3!-KICKOUT
Raging Dead grabs Spud’s hair as his head pops up with the kickout.
Christian Cage: This is aggression I can get behind, Lance. This is a veteran at work. Aggressive start and no letting up!
Dead is to his feet and has dragged Spud to his, before forcing his head into the top turnbuckle of the nearest corner. As Spud’s head reverberates, Dead aggressively pushes him back first into the corner and lays into his chest with a textbook knife-edge chop. Spud’s body curls in natural defense to the hit, but Dead’s gouge to the eyes causes Spud to send himself back into the corner in reaction.
Wilford Daniels: Hey, watch it, buddy! I’ll throw you outta here, don’t test it. Matter of fact, get him out the corner, let’s go!
Another knife-edge chop to the chest begins to deeply redden Rockstar Spud’s chest. An elbow to the top of the dome forces Spud to reveal his chest yet again and once more does a knife-edge chop find its mark.
Wilford Daniels: 1!
Like Scott Stenier himself, Raging Dead begins a sudden flurry: club to the back, knife-edge chop, club to the back.
Wilford Daniels: 2!
Knife-edge chop, club to the back, knife-edge chop.
3!
Kick to the gut. Knee to the face. Knife-edge chop.
4!
Club to the back. Wilford Daniels pulls at Raging Dead’s nearest arm. The glare in response causes Daniels to take a quick three steps back. It was just enough time for Rockstar Spud to compose enough energy to surprise Raging Dead with an efficient gutpunch, and in very quick succession: a quick kick to the calf, kick to the mid-abdominal region and then - with all the force he could muster - a headbutt to the windbarren midsection. Raging Dead staggers back before tripping on his own feet to the mat.
Christian Cage: Rockstar Spud’s standing on that middle rope now! Not to sound biased or anything, but I have a feeling a spinning diving elbow would be extremely effective.
Raging Dead gets to his feet huffing for air but is taken immediately back down with a spinning diving elbow.
Christian Cage: What I tell ya, Storm?
Lance Storm: Hook of the leg here.
Wilford Daniels: 1!.......
2!
KICKOUT!
Spud is back up as soon as Dead gets the shoulder up. Already having dealt with some of what comes when the more-experienced of the two is focused and in possession of the upper hand, he quickly stomps on Dead to keep him shaken. He returns to the middle rope from which he had just descended. Crossbody - the same leg is hooked.
Wilford Daniels: 1!......
2!.......
KICKOUT!
Lance Storm: Rockstar Spud is very smartly trying to go for the win as quickly as he can get it.
Christian Cage: Of course he is, Storm - do you know who he’s in there with? You don’t dominate the wrestling industry for decades by being a nobody.
Rockstar Spud has at this point returned to the corner, but this time he has scaled to the top rope.
Lance Storm: Third time up on that corner, now.
Christian Cage: They say the third time’s the charm.
The charm it is indeed, for Raging Dead’s sake, who rolls out of the way and the ring just in enough time during Rockstar Spud’s flying elbow drop descent. Spud grabs at his elbow and tries to get back to his feet while Raging Dead runs around the ring to the side opposite Rockstar’s view before sliding into the ring.
Christian Cage: Would you look at that - Raging Dead from behind with that double-handed bulldog!
The force of the maneuver forces Rockstar Spud’s body to spring back up and flip him over to his back. Dead is already off for the ropes by then, before landing a neck-crushing leg drop - the outside leg gets grabbed and body is on body.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!........
KICKOUT!
“Alright, kid,” the near twenty-year pro can be heard uttering before forcing Spud to sit up, tucking his bicep under his opposition’s chin, rattling the younger head. His grip is expert, and the way he wrenches on the neck causes grunts and pulls from the prone one.
Lance Storm: Many can’t understand why the headlock is utilized. It is not expected, Cage, to win a match for anybody, but a well-applied version like this one will certainly wear the smaller Spud down immensely. Look at the way Raging Dead leans in with his weight to truly get the neck sore.
Christian Cage: Thanks for the history lesson, smark.
Raging Dead: How’s he feelin’, ref, huh?
Another wrench and a deeper lean in.
Raging Dead: Breaking ya down, kid.
Spud has not stopped squirming, just looking and dying to find a way out.
Raging Dead: Piece by piece.
The hold is broken and another elbow shot to the top of the head leaves Spud grabbing his head and flat on his stomach. Raging Dead gets to his feet and kicks Spud in the kidney. A knee follows in the exact same place, then a delayed elbow drop. He gets up one more time before laying in three quicker versions of the knees from before, Spud shouting and gasping for air with every blow. The third knee stays, before being grinded into the small of the back and Raging Dead’s angry hands pulling up under the chin. Here, Rockstar Spud finds himself yet again prone and in the unbreaking grasp of Raging Dead.
Lance Storm: Another highly effective and purposeful submission maneuver here, but this one is more likely to cause a submission.
Raging Dead: C’mon, ref, ask the kid. Ask him dammit!
Wilford Daniels: Whataya say, Spud, huh?! Whataya say?! You can call it off right now, whataya say?!
Rockstar Spud: N….
Raging Dead’s knee grinds in deeper and his hands pull the chin back more aggressively.
Wilford Daniels: Tell me, Spud: do you give up?! Whataya say?!
Rockstar Spud: No! Never - no!
The crowd holds no particular contempt against Raging Dead but they suddenly surely begin to rally behind Rockstar Spud, who tries pulling and squirming for anything. As the crowd’s rally grows, it seems as if he begins to use some previously unforeseen strength to pull himself up from the ground in a type of push-up, but Raging Dead can seemingly shift the slowly changing moment and shoves his face into the mat.
Raging Dead: Naw, we’re not doing that tonight, twerp.
He rolls Spud to his back and gets body-on-body.
Wilford Daniels: 1!.......
2!..........
KICKOUT
The quickest kickout from the Rockstar yet, and Raging Dead seems to nod his head briefly. He gets to one knee as Spud stirs himself just prior to consulting his options. Once decided, the ropes are his direction. He returns looking for a clothesline, but it’s ducked by Spud who runs for the ropes just left - Dead forced by momentum to the opposite set.
Lance Storm: They’ve got the same idea in mind, they’re coming back - another crossbody from Rockstar Spud. Both men are back to their feet almost immediately. A dropkick to the thigh from Spud - and then another to the jaw and Raging Dead is groggy against the ropes.
Spud hastily jumps from the middle rope of the nearest set of them and clock Dead clean in the mush with a perfect triangle dropkick - just nearly sending the bigger man to the outside. It is not until Rockstar Spud bounds off another set of ropes and leaps with a third crossbody that both men tumble over the top rope and crash recklessly on the mat closest to the entrance ramp.
Christian Cage: Jon Bon Jovi wishes he could do something like that!
Lance Storm: “Caution to the wind,” as they say.
Spud had taken the best out of the collision and as such is the first to his feet, although not without gripping at his midsection and straining with each step. He sets himself up in front of Raging Dead as the older man uses the ring apron to help himself.
Wilford Daniels: 4!
Lance Storm: Referee Wilford Daniels is at a count of four as Raging Dead is to his feet; they have until ten.
Rockstar Spud: C’mon, then, ‘kid.’ What more do you have for me?
Raging Dead charges the taunting Spud, who craftily catches his knee with a low dropkick, sending the former world champion face first into the crowd barricade. Without delay, Spud finds himself on the apron and measuring his opponent.
Christian Cage: Don’t be an idiot, Spud - you got your chance. Don’t waste it! Wait look at this!
As soon as he’s at his feet again, Raging Dead finds himself being sent upside down into the set of steel steps just only about ten feet away.
Lance Storm: A flawless hurricanrana after jumping off the apron by Rockstar Spud, and I think that’s the most pain-inducing move we’ve seen yet tonight.
The hurricanrana-into-the-steel-steps is replayed from three different camera angles, the last one being shown in slow-motion and showing how badly Raging Dead’s left knee bent over the top set of steps before they went flying nearly into the barricade.
Wilford Daniels: 8!
Having recovered during the replays, Rockstar Spud quickly rolls in and then back out of the ring to break the count. He pulls up the wobbly legged Raging Dead before rolling him into the ring. Spud follows Dead, who rolls nearly to the center.
Lance Storm: It seems like Raging Dead’s still out after that one, and Rockstar Spud is going for the pin right here.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!...........
3!--KICKOUT
Christian Cage: It looked like Raging Dead barely kicked out. He’s gotta watch out, because this Pint-Sized Pariah is coming back!
The kickout leaves Raging Dead on his belly, attempting to pull himself up. Measuring and waiting, Spud keeps his legs moving until the perfect time comes for him to execute a springboard back elbow - before kipping right up and springboarding once more, coming down on Raging Dead’s neck with an athletic leg drop. The cover, after the combination.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!........
3!-KICKOUT
Lance Storm: How is he still surviving?
Christian Cage: Thirty years.
Rockstar Spud does not allow frustration to creep in, but instead stays focused and determined. He measures Raging Dead as he gets to all fours and does so well, with the rope-rebounded knee strike putting the bigger man back down to the mat. The ropes that they tumbled out of he returns to, going through the top and middle ropes.
Lance Storm: I wonder what he’s planning here - he’s on the apron stalking. I do know something about that, Christian.
Once Raging Dead has made it to his feet, in a seamless swoop even despite the match’s wear so far, Spud puts it all on the line with the outside-to-in springboard attack.
Christian Cage: He caught him! How did he manage?! He’s got him slung over his shoulder! What the hell is this?
Lance Storm: I’ve seen this set up before, Cage - shades of Fit Finlay here.
The mat thuds the loudest it has all match with Raging Dead’s quick execution of a back-to-belly piledriver. He just leaves his body laid on top of the man.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!.......
3!--KICKOUT!
Christian Cage: No! I don’t believe he did!
A brief and low chuckle utters out of Raging Dead who bows his head as the referee confirms “It was two!” to his face. He begins nodding with a devilish smirk as he gets to his feet. He drags Spud up by his hair yet again and guides him to the center of the ring.
Lance Storm: Oh what is this - a martial arts legsweep by Rockstar Spud from nowhere, and he’s putting all his weight on Dead’s legs. He’s folded all the way up.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!
3--KICKOUT
Just barely, Dead is able to push Spud off and send him flying.
Lance Storm: Both men to their feet and it looks like a sudden flash of adrenaline. Spud ducks the clothesline and he’s off the ropes. Back he comes: frankensteiner - no Raging Dead holds onto the legs and begins pulling him back up. Spud’s just used the momentum to sunset flip over his opponent - he’s got another quick pin.
Wilford Daniels: 1!.......
2!
KICKOUT!
Lance Storm: And they’re both back to their feet again. Dead with the kick to the gut, stopping all the momentum, and now he’s picking Rockstar up.
Christian Cage: Christ, he’s slipped out of his grasps’ again!
Spud clubs at the back twice before pushing Raging Dead into the ropes. Dead returns and quickly attempts a flying forearm, only for Spud to roll under the attempt and running himself into the other ropes. By the time Dead’s recovered from the failed move, Spud has come to meet him with a dropkick dropping him. They’re both back up and Spud’s attempt at an Irish whip gets turned around, Raging Dead sending the smaller man flying over the top rope.
Lance Storm: Rockstar Spud is cagey: he’s held onto that top rope and is on the apron yet again.
Raging Dead thwarts that plan once more, this time with a stiff clothesline that drops Spud to the apron backfirst. Fifteen seconds go by before he even stirs again, Dead taking the time to recover on his knees in the center of the ring. Back to his feet, he notices Spud pulling himself up backwards - superkick to the back of the head! And his opponent falls like a ton of bricks to the mat outside.
Christian Cage: Did ya see the way his body bounced off the ground? Hell, did you hear it? That’s it.
Raging Dead seems to agree, as he crosses his arms and brings them down back as to signify ‘he’s done.’
Wilford Daniels: 3!
Lance Storm: If you’re Raging Dead, do you take this countout even though Spud wouldn’t take his own earlier?
Christian Cage: Just because Spud wanted to be a dumbass doesn’t mean a consummate professional like Raging Dead is gonna pull the same thing. You’ve been in there, you know you’ve got to do whatever it takes to get the win. That’s doubly-so in a World’s Championship tournament.
Wilford Daniels: 7!
Spud has not yet moved, and Raging Dead stares from above. The camera’s angle is perfect to see a sudden change in his facial expression.
Wilford Daniels: 8!
Raging Dead shakes his head and pulls at his own locks. A very frustrated “Dammit!” is hollered seemingly impulsively and suddenly Dead’s outside the ring.
Christian Cage: The hell is he doing?!
He pulls Spud up and rolls him into the ring. He follows and shakes his head before pulling the opponent he’s just saved up.
Christian Cage: Pele kick from nowhere! He’s brought Raging Dead down yet again! Was he playing possum?
Lance Storm: Perhaps it was the work of nemesis, Cage.
Christian Cage: … What the fuck are you on about?
Rockstar Spud begins to ascend to the top rope with as much haste as his beat-up body can muster. One last deep breath is taken as he assures his balance. There it is!
Christian Cage: The Five-Stone Spud Splash!
Lance Storm: Wait - last second! Even I’m screaming - last second, knees up, he’s hooked him in a small package!
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!..........
3!
DING DING DING!
Raging Dead lets go of the winning hold as soon as the bell rings the first time. Spud’s body seems to have gone its distance for the night as it only barely limps up accepting being down on its back. Raging Dead sits and collects himself, nodding slowly and similarly as before, although it seems he can’t stop.
Mark Beverly: The winner of this match, advancing to the next round: Ra-ging!.... Dead!
Replays of the many hard hits play, both men being put over by the commentary team for the stellar performance. The finish gets replayed twice, the second showing in slow motion how Raging Dead was able to use his thirty-year ring presence to not only get his knees up in time, but get a quick enough grab to take his opponent into the pinfall just after.
The shot returns to the victor after the graphic flashes us back. His nods continue as he groggily pulls himself up with the ropes. His get up is shaky and he continues to use the ropes to his advantage as he stares down at the fallen Rockstar Spud, still nodding. He drops his body onto the middle rope and smoothly exits to the outside, but his eyes return to Rockstar Spud as he walks around the ring and up the ramp. All the while, nodding.
Raging Dead d. Rockstar Spud in 13:09
Ding!
Immediately, Raging Dead lifts a leg and plants his heel in the mouth of Rockstar Spud, sending the man flatback on the mat.
Lance Storm: A ferocious start. He’s shooting the half; this could be a short first hour main event on the debut episode.
Wilford Daniels: 1!.......
2!........
3!-KICKOUT
Raging Dead grabs Spud’s hair as his head pops up with the kickout.
Christian Cage: This is aggression I can get behind, Lance. This is a veteran at work. Aggressive start and no letting up!
Dead is to his feet and has dragged Spud to his, before forcing his head into the top turnbuckle of the nearest corner. As Spud’s head reverberates, Dead aggressively pushes him back first into the corner and lays into his chest with a textbook knife-edge chop. Spud’s body curls in natural defense to the hit, but Dead’s gouge to the eyes causes Spud to send himself back into the corner in reaction.
Wilford Daniels: Hey, watch it, buddy! I’ll throw you outta here, don’t test it. Matter of fact, get him out the corner, let’s go!
Another knife-edge chop to the chest begins to deeply redden Rockstar Spud’s chest. An elbow to the top of the dome forces Spud to reveal his chest yet again and once more does a knife-edge chop find its mark.
Wilford Daniels: 1!
Like Scott Stenier himself, Raging Dead begins a sudden flurry: club to the back, knife-edge chop, club to the back.
Wilford Daniels: 2!
Knife-edge chop, club to the back, knife-edge chop.
3!
Kick to the gut. Knee to the face. Knife-edge chop.
4!
Club to the back. Wilford Daniels pulls at Raging Dead’s nearest arm. The glare in response causes Daniels to take a quick three steps back. It was just enough time for Rockstar Spud to compose enough energy to surprise Raging Dead with an efficient gutpunch, and in very quick succession: a quick kick to the calf, kick to the mid-abdominal region and then - with all the force he could muster - a headbutt to the windbarren midsection. Raging Dead staggers back before tripping on his own feet to the mat.
Christian Cage: Rockstar Spud’s standing on that middle rope now! Not to sound biased or anything, but I have a feeling a spinning diving elbow would be extremely effective.
Raging Dead gets to his feet huffing for air but is taken immediately back down with a spinning diving elbow.
Christian Cage: What I tell ya, Storm?
Lance Storm: Hook of the leg here.
Wilford Daniels: 1!.......
2!
KICKOUT!
Spud is back up as soon as Dead gets the shoulder up. Already having dealt with some of what comes when the more-experienced of the two is focused and in possession of the upper hand, he quickly stomps on Dead to keep him shaken. He returns to the middle rope from which he had just descended. Crossbody - the same leg is hooked.
Wilford Daniels: 1!......
2!.......
KICKOUT!
Lance Storm: Rockstar Spud is very smartly trying to go for the win as quickly as he can get it.
Christian Cage: Of course he is, Storm - do you know who he’s in there with? You don’t dominate the wrestling industry for decades by being a nobody.
Rockstar Spud has at this point returned to the corner, but this time he has scaled to the top rope.
Lance Storm: Third time up on that corner, now.
Christian Cage: They say the third time’s the charm.
The charm it is indeed, for Raging Dead’s sake, who rolls out of the way and the ring just in enough time during Rockstar Spud’s flying elbow drop descent. Spud grabs at his elbow and tries to get back to his feet while Raging Dead runs around the ring to the side opposite Rockstar’s view before sliding into the ring.
Christian Cage: Would you look at that - Raging Dead from behind with that double-handed bulldog!
The force of the maneuver forces Rockstar Spud’s body to spring back up and flip him over to his back. Dead is already off for the ropes by then, before landing a neck-crushing leg drop - the outside leg gets grabbed and body is on body.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!........
KICKOUT!
“Alright, kid,” the near twenty-year pro can be heard uttering before forcing Spud to sit up, tucking his bicep under his opposition’s chin, rattling the younger head. His grip is expert, and the way he wrenches on the neck causes grunts and pulls from the prone one.
Lance Storm: Many can’t understand why the headlock is utilized. It is not expected, Cage, to win a match for anybody, but a well-applied version like this one will certainly wear the smaller Spud down immensely. Look at the way Raging Dead leans in with his weight to truly get the neck sore.
Christian Cage: Thanks for the history lesson, smark.
Raging Dead: How’s he feelin’, ref, huh?
Another wrench and a deeper lean in.
Raging Dead: Breaking ya down, kid.
Spud has not stopped squirming, just looking and dying to find a way out.
Raging Dead: Piece by piece.
The hold is broken and another elbow shot to the top of the head leaves Spud grabbing his head and flat on his stomach. Raging Dead gets to his feet and kicks Spud in the kidney. A knee follows in the exact same place, then a delayed elbow drop. He gets up one more time before laying in three quicker versions of the knees from before, Spud shouting and gasping for air with every blow. The third knee stays, before being grinded into the small of the back and Raging Dead’s angry hands pulling up under the chin. Here, Rockstar Spud finds himself yet again prone and in the unbreaking grasp of Raging Dead.
Lance Storm: Another highly effective and purposeful submission maneuver here, but this one is more likely to cause a submission.
Raging Dead: C’mon, ref, ask the kid. Ask him dammit!
Wilford Daniels: Whataya say, Spud, huh?! Whataya say?! You can call it off right now, whataya say?!
Rockstar Spud: N….
Raging Dead’s knee grinds in deeper and his hands pull the chin back more aggressively.
Wilford Daniels: Tell me, Spud: do you give up?! Whataya say?!
Rockstar Spud: No! Never - no!
The crowd holds no particular contempt against Raging Dead but they suddenly surely begin to rally behind Rockstar Spud, who tries pulling and squirming for anything. As the crowd’s rally grows, it seems as if he begins to use some previously unforeseen strength to pull himself up from the ground in a type of push-up, but Raging Dead can seemingly shift the slowly changing moment and shoves his face into the mat.
Raging Dead: Naw, we’re not doing that tonight, twerp.
He rolls Spud to his back and gets body-on-body.
Wilford Daniels: 1!.......
2!..........
KICKOUT
The quickest kickout from the Rockstar yet, and Raging Dead seems to nod his head briefly. He gets to one knee as Spud stirs himself just prior to consulting his options. Once decided, the ropes are his direction. He returns looking for a clothesline, but it’s ducked by Spud who runs for the ropes just left - Dead forced by momentum to the opposite set.
Lance Storm: They’ve got the same idea in mind, they’re coming back - another crossbody from Rockstar Spud. Both men are back to their feet almost immediately. A dropkick to the thigh from Spud - and then another to the jaw and Raging Dead is groggy against the ropes.
Spud hastily jumps from the middle rope of the nearest set of them and clock Dead clean in the mush with a perfect triangle dropkick - just nearly sending the bigger man to the outside. It is not until Rockstar Spud bounds off another set of ropes and leaps with a third crossbody that both men tumble over the top rope and crash recklessly on the mat closest to the entrance ramp.
Christian Cage: Jon Bon Jovi wishes he could do something like that!
Lance Storm: “Caution to the wind,” as they say.
Spud had taken the best out of the collision and as such is the first to his feet, although not without gripping at his midsection and straining with each step. He sets himself up in front of Raging Dead as the older man uses the ring apron to help himself.
Wilford Daniels: 4!
Lance Storm: Referee Wilford Daniels is at a count of four as Raging Dead is to his feet; they have until ten.
Rockstar Spud: C’mon, then, ‘kid.’ What more do you have for me?
Raging Dead charges the taunting Spud, who craftily catches his knee with a low dropkick, sending the former world champion face first into the crowd barricade. Without delay, Spud finds himself on the apron and measuring his opponent.
Christian Cage: Don’t be an idiot, Spud - you got your chance. Don’t waste it! Wait look at this!
As soon as he’s at his feet again, Raging Dead finds himself being sent upside down into the set of steel steps just only about ten feet away.
Lance Storm: A flawless hurricanrana after jumping off the apron by Rockstar Spud, and I think that’s the most pain-inducing move we’ve seen yet tonight.
The hurricanrana-into-the-steel-steps is replayed from three different camera angles, the last one being shown in slow-motion and showing how badly Raging Dead’s left knee bent over the top set of steps before they went flying nearly into the barricade.
Wilford Daniels: 8!
Having recovered during the replays, Rockstar Spud quickly rolls in and then back out of the ring to break the count. He pulls up the wobbly legged Raging Dead before rolling him into the ring. Spud follows Dead, who rolls nearly to the center.
Lance Storm: It seems like Raging Dead’s still out after that one, and Rockstar Spud is going for the pin right here.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!...........
3!--KICKOUT
Christian Cage: It looked like Raging Dead barely kicked out. He’s gotta watch out, because this Pint-Sized Pariah is coming back!
The kickout leaves Raging Dead on his belly, attempting to pull himself up. Measuring and waiting, Spud keeps his legs moving until the perfect time comes for him to execute a springboard back elbow - before kipping right up and springboarding once more, coming down on Raging Dead’s neck with an athletic leg drop. The cover, after the combination.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!........
3!-KICKOUT
Lance Storm: How is he still surviving?
Christian Cage: Thirty years.
Rockstar Spud does not allow frustration to creep in, but instead stays focused and determined. He measures Raging Dead as he gets to all fours and does so well, with the rope-rebounded knee strike putting the bigger man back down to the mat. The ropes that they tumbled out of he returns to, going through the top and middle ropes.
Lance Storm: I wonder what he’s planning here - he’s on the apron stalking. I do know something about that, Christian.
Once Raging Dead has made it to his feet, in a seamless swoop even despite the match’s wear so far, Spud puts it all on the line with the outside-to-in springboard attack.
Christian Cage: He caught him! How did he manage?! He’s got him slung over his shoulder! What the hell is this?
Lance Storm: I’ve seen this set up before, Cage - shades of Fit Finlay here.
The mat thuds the loudest it has all match with Raging Dead’s quick execution of a back-to-belly piledriver. He just leaves his body laid on top of the man.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!.......
3!--KICKOUT!
Christian Cage: No! I don’t believe he did!
A brief and low chuckle utters out of Raging Dead who bows his head as the referee confirms “It was two!” to his face. He begins nodding with a devilish smirk as he gets to his feet. He drags Spud up by his hair yet again and guides him to the center of the ring.
Lance Storm: Oh what is this - a martial arts legsweep by Rockstar Spud from nowhere, and he’s putting all his weight on Dead’s legs. He’s folded all the way up.
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!
3--KICKOUT
Just barely, Dead is able to push Spud off and send him flying.
Lance Storm: Both men to their feet and it looks like a sudden flash of adrenaline. Spud ducks the clothesline and he’s off the ropes. Back he comes: frankensteiner - no Raging Dead holds onto the legs and begins pulling him back up. Spud’s just used the momentum to sunset flip over his opponent - he’s got another quick pin.
Wilford Daniels: 1!.......
2!
KICKOUT!
Lance Storm: And they’re both back to their feet again. Dead with the kick to the gut, stopping all the momentum, and now he’s picking Rockstar up.
Christian Cage: Christ, he’s slipped out of his grasps’ again!
Spud clubs at the back twice before pushing Raging Dead into the ropes. Dead returns and quickly attempts a flying forearm, only for Spud to roll under the attempt and running himself into the other ropes. By the time Dead’s recovered from the failed move, Spud has come to meet him with a dropkick dropping him. They’re both back up and Spud’s attempt at an Irish whip gets turned around, Raging Dead sending the smaller man flying over the top rope.
Lance Storm: Rockstar Spud is cagey: he’s held onto that top rope and is on the apron yet again.
Raging Dead thwarts that plan once more, this time with a stiff clothesline that drops Spud to the apron backfirst. Fifteen seconds go by before he even stirs again, Dead taking the time to recover on his knees in the center of the ring. Back to his feet, he notices Spud pulling himself up backwards - superkick to the back of the head! And his opponent falls like a ton of bricks to the mat outside.
Christian Cage: Did ya see the way his body bounced off the ground? Hell, did you hear it? That’s it.
Raging Dead seems to agree, as he crosses his arms and brings them down back as to signify ‘he’s done.’
Wilford Daniels: 3!
Lance Storm: If you’re Raging Dead, do you take this countout even though Spud wouldn’t take his own earlier?
Christian Cage: Just because Spud wanted to be a dumbass doesn’t mean a consummate professional like Raging Dead is gonna pull the same thing. You’ve been in there, you know you’ve got to do whatever it takes to get the win. That’s doubly-so in a World’s Championship tournament.
Wilford Daniels: 7!
Spud has not yet moved, and Raging Dead stares from above. The camera’s angle is perfect to see a sudden change in his facial expression.
Wilford Daniels: 8!
Raging Dead shakes his head and pulls at his own locks. A very frustrated “Dammit!” is hollered seemingly impulsively and suddenly Dead’s outside the ring.
Christian Cage: The hell is he doing?!
He pulls Spud up and rolls him into the ring. He follows and shakes his head before pulling the opponent he’s just saved up.
Christian Cage: Pele kick from nowhere! He’s brought Raging Dead down yet again! Was he playing possum?
Lance Storm: Perhaps it was the work of nemesis, Cage.
Christian Cage: … What the fuck are you on about?
Rockstar Spud begins to ascend to the top rope with as much haste as his beat-up body can muster. One last deep breath is taken as he assures his balance. There it is!
Christian Cage: The Five-Stone Spud Splash!
Lance Storm: Wait - last second! Even I’m screaming - last second, knees up, he’s hooked him in a small package!
Wilford Daniels: 1!........
2!..........
3!
DING DING DING!
Raging Dead lets go of the winning hold as soon as the bell rings the first time. Spud’s body seems to have gone its distance for the night as it only barely limps up accepting being down on its back. Raging Dead sits and collects himself, nodding slowly and similarly as before, although it seems he can’t stop.
Mark Beverly: The winner of this match, advancing to the next round: Ra-ging!.... Dead!
Replays of the many hard hits play, both men being put over by the commentary team for the stellar performance. The finish gets replayed twice, the second showing in slow motion how Raging Dead was able to use his thirty-year ring presence to not only get his knees up in time, but get a quick enough grab to take his opponent into the pinfall just after.
The shot returns to the victor after the graphic flashes us back. His nods continue as he groggily pulls himself up with the ropes. His get up is shaky and he continues to use the ropes to his advantage as he stares down at the fallen Rockstar Spud, still nodding. He drops his body onto the middle rope and smoothly exits to the outside, but his eyes return to Rockstar Spud as he walks around the ring and up the ramp. All the while, nodding.
Raging Dead d. Rockstar Spud in 13:09