Deep, booming trumpets play. Kruscher marches out, his expression as cold and hard as his wide, muscular frame. The crowd reaction is mixed; some boo, some cheer, but no one is silent.
David Bekker: The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, from Moscow, Russia, standing 196 centimetres and weighing in at 132 kilos, KRUSCHER!
SDS: It has been a series of misfortunes for this man. At the Saturday Night Super Fight, he ran the Six-Man Gauntlet to become the first Holder of Dominion, only for Paul Grizzly to come in as the surprise entrant and take the title for himself. Just one week later, at the 2030 draft, he faced Vito Montani in a Number 1 Contender's Match-
DS: And Montani cheated. Not that I have a problem with that, but Kruscher should have been the contender by default!
SDS: Frankly, I agree, but he ended up watching Ascension from the stands, where his opponent tonight, Johnny Cyclone, made himself known by stopping Grizzly's post-match assault on Vito Montani and Cody K. Olwagen.
DS: Yeah, and then Cyclone beat him on Friday that same week. It was crazy! He hit that spear- What he call it? The Speeding Bullet? And then that SPINNING POWERBOMB! What even is that?
SDS: The Cyclone Hammer. A terrifying feat of strength from the young Cyclone that is no doubt weighing on the mind of the Moscow Machine.
Kruscher climbs the steps, wipes his feet and enters the ring. He slowly turns his steelly gaze to the stage.
DS: That's one homem I wouldn't want to be-
Lightning strikes the stage before a high-energy 130 BPM rock track blasts through the speakers.
DS: AAAAAH!
The two big screens display an endless looping clip of a tornado. Johnny Cyclone walks, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck while clenching his white-gloved fists.
David Bekker: Introducing first, from Montgomery, Alabama, in the USA, standing 2 metres tall and weighing in at 115 kilos, JOHNNY CYCLONE!
Cyclone leaps into the air and comes crashing down, summoning a huge explosion of pyro. He marches down to the ring, slapping some hands with the fans.
SDS: In just two weeks, this young man has turned himself from an indie star with a famous grandfather to a potential fixture in the World Dominion Championship picture.
DS: Whoa, slow down, companheiro! He's only 23.
SDS: The youngest World Champion in this sport's history was 21.
DS: That was a lifetime ago, and Paul Grizzly wasn't wrestling back then! This kid only has one win to his name in THIS company. If he's a "fixture", it's because he keeps getting in Champ's face, and that's going to catch up to him eventually.
Cyclone slides into the ring and climbs the nearest turnbuckle, throwing his fist into the air. Kruscher never takes his eyes off him.
SDS: It may very well catch up to him tonight, if he's not careful. It is very difficult if not impossible, to beat Kruscher in a straight match ONCE, let alone twice.
Cyclone hops down and locks eyes with the Russian.
SDS: Just look at the intensity, the focus! Less than half an hour ago, he was helping to carry Grizzly's carcass to the back, and he's ready to go.
DS: What if he sapped his energy doing that?
SDS: If he did, he's not showing it.
Head Referee "Big Joe" Wilson stands between the two, his jaw visibly swollen from Montani's punch last week, with braces in his teeth, keeping the two giants apart.
Suddenly, Kruscher extends his right hand.
SDS: Interesting. Last week, Cyclone extended the hand, and Kruscher slapped it away.
DS: Because he hadn't earned it!
SDS: And then he beat him.
DS: Yeah, that's how you earn it.
Cyclone stares at the hand for a moment, then at Wilson, who steps back to allow them to proceed. The Nigerian-American then removes the glove from his own right hand and reciprocates the handshake.
SDS: If only we could see more of this in... Oh no.
Kruscher's eyes narrow and his grip tightens. Cyclone is slow to react, but again, he reciprocates. The two of them continue this test of grip strength while slowly inching closer until they are nose-to-nose. The crowd's voices slowly rise.
Wilson comes back and, with everything he's got, pushes them apart and calls for the bell. Cyclone opens and closes his hand in sync with the *DING DING DING*, before putting his glove back on.
SDS: And here's the Collar-and-elbow Tie-up. The classic test of strength. Kruscher driving Cyclone into the corner, and Diogo, Cyclone is a VERY strong man -e saw it last week, we saw it earlier tonight- but Kruscher IS strength embodied!
The Russian keeps the younger man pinned against the turnbuckle. Wilson starts counting while prying them apart once again. Kruscher backs away, then attempts a Knife Edge Chop. Cyclone dodges the chop and returns with a hard chop of his own.
DS: But he's also fast. Can't give him any space.
Cyclone (beckoning with both hands while backing away): COME ON!
Kruscher's frown deepens as he marches forward.
SDS: Locking up again. Cyclone holding his ground a little better, but Kruscher is still has the advantage in terms of raw power.
DS: Cyclone's a bean pole, man. Still got a lot of growing to do before he can even dream of pushing back against Kruscher.
SDS: Standing headlock by Cyclone. Attempting to counter the strength advantage with technique. I don't know how wise this is with Kruscher's sambo backgrou- Saito Suplex by Kruscher!
DS: Unless you're as big as the Bear, don't be putting Kruscher any kind of "lock"!
SDS: Grounded Front Facelock applied. Choking Cyclone on the ground. Arm draped. Back to standing. Snap Suplex! No release! Gutwrench! Another Suplex! STILL no release! Waistlock applied. German Suplex! Just DEADLIFTING Cyclone off the ground!
DS: This right here is the difference, man! Cyclone been playing hero since he got here. Kruscher's not playing AT ALL!
SDS: He is not! My God, he's trying to knee the back of Cyclone's head. Cyclone is covering up, but Wilson needs to intervene.
Wilson does intervene, pulling Kruscher off and warning him. The crowd hurls boos at the Russian.
Kruscher (points at Cyclone): ASK HIM!
Wilson kneels down: Shyclone! Shon, do you wanna-
Cyclone (weakly waving): I'm... I'm good! Just-
DS: Did he just say he's "good'?
SDS: I think he did, and I think Kruscher heard him as well!
Kruscher drags Cyclone to his feet, shoves him into the corner, and chops him in the chest.
DS: OOH, MAN!
Kruscher chops him again, the *SMACK* reverberating throughout the Dandelion Dome. Louder and louder, fighting for equality with the crowd's rising indignation... and fear, and Cyclone's own screams.
SDS: And this is what's so terrifying about Kruscher. The "Moscow Machine" comes from him presenting as cold and unfeeling, but deep down, this is a man with A LOT of rage! And it has been building...
*SMACK*
Cyclone: Ah!
SDS: ... and building...
*SMACK*
Cyclone: ARGH!
SDS: ... AND BUILDING over the last month plus!
*SMACK*
Cyclone: GAH!
DS: And why wouldn't it? He keeps getting screwed!
SDS: He wasn't screwed last week. Cyclone beat him fair and square.
DS: That's even worse! He was supposed to be the first Champion, and now you got this punk ass kid, coming in here, trying to be the main character. It makes me sick!
*SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK*
SDS: Not as sick as these chops, I imagine!
DS: Damn, he's just unleashing them like a machine gun... a Moscow Machine Gun!
Kruscher (grabs Cyclones): Are you still "good"? ARE YOU STILL GOOD?!
Wilson desperately tries to push Kruscher away again. Cyclone doubles over, gasping for air and coughing violently.
Kruscher (turning away and pointing): ASK HIM!
The Head Ref asks the young man again if he wants to continue.
DS: Throw in the towel, kid.
SDS: You said that last week.
DS: He put up a better fight last week!
Cyclone has drool and spit coming out of his mouth. He looks like he's ready to throw up, only to sprint past Wilson at the exact moment Kruscher turns back around.
SDS: SPEAR! Cyclone with a Speeding Bullet to Kruscher!
DS: WHAT? He looked like he was dying after those chops!
SDS: He was playing possum! There's the cover. Kruscher kicks out at 2!
DS: You telling me was eating those chops?
SDS: He was weathering the storm until the right moment, until he got just enough separation. This is exactly how he got the win last week. We've said it, he's not as strong as Kruscher, but when he combines his own substantial strength with that overwhelming speed, he cannot be stopped!
Cyclone gets to his feet, gritting his teeth while rubbing his sore chest.
DS: Yeah, but he's feeling it. Look at how he's rubbing his chest. Those chops HURT, man. Credit where it's due. Would have stopped my heart if it were me.
Kruscher starts to stir, to slowly push himself off the ground. Cyclone looks down at him, with a combination of disdain and anger: Yeah... (pulls singlet straps down) Yeah, I'm good! I... AM... GOOD! I'mma show you! I'mma show you (points at the sky), one more time, how GOOD I am!
DS: Is he going to try and powerbomb him again?
SDS: That may not be a wise idea. No, he's running the ropes! Picking up speed! He's been clocked at 37 kilometres per hour. There's nothing Krusher can- SNAP SCOOP POWERSLAM! HE CAUGHT CYCLONE MID-SPRINT!
DS: HOW?! WHAT KIND OF REFLEX-
SDS: Reflex and POWER. There's the cov- No, its not a cover!
DS: He's lifting him off the ground again, Darryl!
SDS: That he is! Is he perhaps going for a Falling Powerslam- No, threw him onto his shoulders and now the Military Press! AND THERE'S THE SPINEBUSTER!
DS: KRUSCH LANDING! KRUSCH LANDING!
SDS: IT IS ALL OVER!
Wilson: 1! 2! 3!
David Bekker: Here is your winner, KRUSCHER!
DS: That's what I'm talking about! THAT is more like it!
SDS: Exactly what he needed.
Kruscher gets to his feet, breathing heavy and clutching his ribs of moment before allowing Wilson to raise his hand to loud boos.
SDS: Hats off to Johnny Cyclone, however. Kruscher dominated, but the young man only needed one moment to swing the match in his favour and you can see it. That Speeding Bullet dented the armour. If he had gotten another one with the velocity he was building-
DS: Too bad he got cocky, caught and killed. What was he thinking with all that trash talk?
SDS: It was a dangerous mistake, and it cost him. Let's hope he learns from it. And now, Kruscher is asking for a microphone. This should be interesting.
Kruscher (standing over Cyclone and pointing, still breathing heavy): Get... this TRASH... out of my ring!
The crowd boos.
SDS: There's no need for that!
DS: You heard the man, kick him out of the ring!
Kruscher (looks out into the crowd): ... "Open Season"... "Title Conversation"... "Title Race"... NOISE! All noise!
The crowd continues to boo as he paces.
Kruscher: Pretenders... Thieves... "Heroes"... Fighting for what should be mine. For what was STOLEN from me! (looks into the camera) I will be... World Dominion Champion... and NO ONE will stand in my way again!
The boos become cheers as Cyclone gets to his feet, clutching his. back and the back of his head. Kruscher turns his own head and then turns fully to face him.
DS: How'd he get up so fast after that?
SDS: Getting called "trash" on live tv can be one hell of a booster shot!
Wilson considers getting between them, but the two giants both glare at him.
DS: Get out of there, Wilson! You already got a busted jaw.
The Head Ref does indeed take his leave. Cyclone and Kruscher go back to boring holes into each other with their eyes.
SDS: I said last week, and my words keep proving gospel. There are too many bulls on this brand.
DS: And there'll be plenty of beef to go around next week, on the Friday Night Fight Pit!
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