Dominga: Yep.
The lights go out. A sinister Western song plays on the speakers. The arena sits in darkness for 30 seconds before a gunshot is heard, startling some members of the audience.
Shamoon: Why do they let her bring that gun in here?
Dominga: It's a starter's pistol. Calm down.
At the same time, a spotlight shines down on Moore. She holds up the smoking revolver, her head hanging, allowing her hat to obscure the part of her face that isn't covered. She lifts her head, the red bandana hiding most of her face save for her eyes, which burn holes in everything as she slowly marches to the ring.
Briar Lane: And the opponent, from Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States of America, standing 5 feet 11 and weighing in at 241 pounds, the "Outlaw" Jessie Moore!
A.B.: Two weeks ago, this... woman played perhaps the most important role in the Empress's downfall.
Shamoon: Locking Chen in a closet before we were even on the air and then showing before Ngozi and Cobra's non-title match just to be a nuisance. Whole time. And why?
Dominga: Why else? She hates Ngozi more than anything. Chen was just collateral.
Shamoon: Yeah, well now she's about to be a consequence.
A.B.: It's pathetic. An 18-year career, wasted on a pointless vendetta.
Moore walks up the steps and enters the ring, completely ignoring Chen. She climbs the opposite turnbuckle and spreads her arms to bring the rest of the lights back on. Moore then drops her big black hat and throws off her brown sleeveless trench coat before coming off the apron.
A.B.: And I want to remind everyone that our main event is still to come. Queen Cobra and Empress Ngozi in a submission match for the Jewell's Championship.
Shamoon: IF there's no interference. If anyone shows face at ringside, Cobra loses her title shot. Moore is on her own here.
Dominga: So is Chen!
Moore finally acknowledges the Singaporean, and pie-faces her, sending her to the mat.
Dominga: HAHAHAHA!
Referee Atoye Bonds gets between, telling the Outlaw off while holding out her hand to block any possible retaliation from Chen, who simply stands up with narrowed eyes behind her domino mask.
Bonds then calls for the bell. Chen surges forward with a blinding flurry of kicks targeting Moore’s thighs.
A.B.: Chen immediately on offence!
Shamoon: Look at the speed! Look at precision. Look at-
Moore grabs Chen by the throat
Dominga: NOTHING!
Moore drives Chen into the corner and holds her there while punching her in the gut with her free hand.
Bonds: Come on, Moore! Let her out of the corner. 1! 2! 3! (grabs Moore's arm) 4-
Moore (turns around): GIT YO-WR MEATHOOKS AWK ME! Ah know the damn rules!
Shamoon: Moore's got to be careful not to get DQed.
Dominga: She knows what she's doing.'
Bonds (backing away while pointing): Back off! I'm warning you.
Moore makes a backhand motion, almost making Bonds flinch, before turning back to Chen in the corner. The smaller woman kicks the Outlaw in the knee.
A.B.: Chen going downstairs. Trying to fight back.
Moore just starts stomping a mudhole into Chen in retaliation.
Dominga: Trying and failing!
Bonds: I'm not going to tell you again, Moore! 1! 2! 3! 4-
Moore backs off.
Bonds: Get her out of that corner, now!
A.B.: Moore with a Splash in the corner! And now a Short-arm Clothesline. There's cover.
Bonds (slaps the mat): One! Two!
A.B.: Chen kicks out!
Bonds: That was two-
Moore: I AIN'T DEAF!
A.B.: Chen trying to sit up. Moore slamming her hand down- And look at this. Grinding a forearm across Chen's face!
Shamoon: She might break her nose!
Bonds: Hey, stop! (grabs Moore)
Moore (stands up): AH DONE TOLD YA NOT TA TOUCH ME!
Bonds: STOP BREAKING THE RULES THEN!
Moore: What rules am ah breaking? Tell me. Nuh-ame 'em.
A.B.: I've never understood some people going out of their way to make enemies with the ref. It does not do you any favours.
Dominga: Refs are supposed to be above being aggrieved.
Shamoon: That's a copout.
Bonds: Tch. Focus on your opponent.
Moore: That's what ah thought. (turns around and reaches down to grab Chen).
A.B.: Caught! Chen catching Moore's arm, trying to bring the Outlaw down with an armbar!
Moore keeps her feet under her and punches Chen in the face several times to force her to let go.
Dominga: Nice try! Moore too big, strong and smart for that.
Shamoon: That was close, though! Moore needs to quit fooling around.
A.B.: Moore picking Chen off the ground. Irish Whip into the ropes. Chen ducks under a clothesline. Coming back again. Ducks yet again. Coming back. Jukes to the left! Look at the speed! Jukes to the right!
The crowd gets louder and louder as Chen blitzes around the ring.
Shamoon: I'm getting dizzy!
A.B.: So is Moore! Another juke!
Dominga: Is she going to anything other than ru-
A.B.: Dropkick to the knee. Moore is down!
Dominga: Never mind. Nevermind!
A.B.: And now Chen, looking for the Crossface.
Shampoo: But Moore crawls out of the ring.
A.B.: Veteran savvy there. Moore trying to create seperat- CHEN WITH A SUICIDE DIVE!!! Taking out Moore on the outside.
Dominga: Okay, she is WAY too quick. That is scary.
Bonds: Bring it back inside, Chen.
Chen grabs the disoriented Moore's right arm and, with some effort, drags her the larger woman to the steps.
A.B.: Oh no.
Dominga: What? What's she doing?
Chen then drapes the arm over the steps, the inside of her elbow touching the corner. She climbs onto the steps and pulls down Moore's elbow pad, while planting a foot on the hand. Bonds starts the 10-count.
Shamoon: Seriously, what is she about to do?
A.B.: Just watch, and grit your teeth.
Chen then stands straight. The crowd is cheering. Bonds is still counting. Then is beginning to stand. And then-
*BANG*
Alvarez shrieks. Moore screams. The crowd goes silent.
Shamoon: CHEN JUST STOMPED ON MOORE'S ELBOW!
*BANG*
Shamoon: Again!
*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*
Moore continues to scream, unable to get up because Chen's stomps come too fast.
Dominga: She's trying to break her arm! What the hell is this?
A.B.: This is the Blind Archer at work.
Bonds: Chen! CHEN, STOP! Get back in the ring. 7! 8!
A.B.: Chen back in the ring. No, she's out. The count is broken.
Moore is sitting against the steps, clutching her right arm in agony. Chen lines her up with an archer's motion.
Bonds: Back in the ring. 1... 2... 3...
A.B.: And now a dropkick to Moore against the steps!
Shamoon: She sent them flying!
A.B.: Zadie Chen is now firmly in control. Moore may be out cold. Referee on a count of 4!
Bonds: 5...
Chen gets in the ring and remains there so the count can continue.
Shamoon: That thing she did with the elbow. She did that in LDCC?
A.B.: As her father's enforcer, yes. Count of 6... Moore's not moving. Chen was infamously an armbreaker, and the stomp on the steps was one of her go-tos. Count of 7. Moore beginning to stir.
Dominga: So why does everyone treat her like a good guy now?
A.B.: Because she... stopped doing it.
Dominga: Until now, though, right?
A.B.: Moore has it coming. Count of 8 now. The Outlaw beginning to crawl.
Shamoon: I've had some convos with Chen, and she just never struck me as being capable of that.
A.B.: People change. Count of 9! Moore may be counted out- NO! Moore beats the 10-count!
Chen immediately goes back to stomping on the arm, before grabbing it and dropping knees on it over and over.
A.B.: However you feel, this brilliant strategy right here. Moore is right-handed. That's the arm she uses for the Bime-By, her signature Rolling Elbow.
Shamoon: It's the arm she uses for most of her power-based offence. Most of her strikes.
Dominga: I'll admit it. I don't think Moore realised who she was dealing with when she pulled that stunt two weeks ago.
A.B.: No, she did not. Chen looking for the Crossface again!
Dominga: Moore's got a foot on the rope.
A.B.: Great ring awareness. Chen has to let go.
Chen grabs Moore's ginger locks and drags her away from the ropes before putting the Outlaw's head between her legs.
Dominga: Now, what's she doing?
A.B.: Chen with the arms hooked. Perhaps looking for Subjugation, a Butterfly Suplex into an Armbar that has served her well in the past.
Shamoon: She's going to try and lift Moore?
A.B.: Chen is very strong for her size, but this is too much.
Dominga: And there's the Back Drop counter by Moore-Huh?!
A.B.: Chen with her legs locked around Moore's neck. The Back Drop failed.
Shamoon: She's got Moore's arm again! Some kind of Octopus Stretch!
A.B.: Look at the strength of Moore!
Dominga: She is spinning!
A.B.: Moore is trying to shake Chen off!
Shamoon: She might lose her arm in the process.
Moore gives up on this effort and instead gets to the ropes, grabbing the top one. This time Chen does not let go.
Moore (choking): GIT HER AWK ME, DAMMIT!
Bonds: Alright, Chen. Let go. Come on. 1! 2! 3-
Chen unwraps her legs from around Moore's neck while letting go of the arm. She falls to the mat, landing on all fours and moving in to make the Outlaw trip backwards.
A.B.: Chen with a roll-up. Moore kicks out.
In doing so, Moore rolls onto her stomach, creating distance between herself and the ropes. The Archer pounces and quickly locks in her signature Omoplata Crossface, trapping Moore's injured arm within her legs, ripping off Moore's bandana and locking her fingers over the Outlaw's mouth.
A.B.: CHEN CROSSFACE! CHEN CROSSFACE! CENTRE OF THE RING!
Dominga: Moore is crawling back to the ropes! She's going to force the break.
Shamoon: She's inches away.
Chen not only tightens her grip and cranks on the pressure, but she also rolls backwards with the 240-pound woman, bringing both back to the centre of the ring.
A.B.: The strength and technique of Chen. Moore can't escape!
Shamoon: It's over! Moore's going to tap! Another point for Team Ngozi!
Moore's left hand rises, trembling, preparing to slap the mat, but then it clenches into a fist.
A.B.: MOORE IS PUNCHING HERSELF! SHE IS PUNCHING HERSELF TO KEEP FROM TAPPING!
Shamoon: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS WOMAN?! SHE'S PSYCHOTIC!
Dominga: She wants to win! She wants to win that badly!
A.B.: Look at Chen's eyes! She can't believe it. She can't believe the lengths that the Outlaw is going to and- Oh no! Chen loosened her grip. She loosened her grip, and Moore is on top of her again. Grounding and pounding with that left hand.
Bonds once again pulls Moore off.
Shamoon: Now we've got some separation. I've never seen that in my life. Someone punching themselves to escape a submission.
A.B.: Classic Moore and one of the things that's so frustrating about following her entire career as I have. A wealth of knowledge, great ring awareness, and unbelievable toughness, and she hasn't accomplished more in this business. It's ridiculous.
Shamoon: Ugh. Look at her clutch the arm. Chen really did damage- Hey, hey! Moore's reaching for something in her overalls. Some kind of metal plate!
A.B.: The referee is checking on Chen! She doesn't see it.
Moore slides the plate into her left glove, pushing up the knuckle region. She then falls to her knees, screaming while clutching her right arm. This gets Bonds' attention as Chen gets to her feet, clutching her mouth.
A.B.: Oh no. No!
Bonds: Moore, what's wrong?
Moore (eyes closed): MAAH ARM! SHE BROKE MAAH ARM!
Dominga: That sounds serious.
A.B.: Tell me you're not buying this.
Dominga: You're the one who brought Chen's history as an armbreaker.
Chen approaches, but Bonds blocks her.
Bonds: Moore, I can call the match now. Do you want to quit?
Moore: AAAAAAAHHHH!!!!
Bonds: MOORE, LISTEN TO ME! IF YOUR ARM IS BROKEN, I'M STOPPING THIS!
Moore: No, ya kay-yun't! Don't stop it! Don't. Stop. It!
Bonds shakes her head and moves away. Chen approaches and immediately grabs the supposedly broken right arm and gets punched in the face by the loaded left fist. The crowd boos.
Shamoon: Dammit! She baited her in!
Dominga: HAHAHAHAHA!!!
A.B.: Chen is down! Moore with cover.
Bonds: 1! 2! 3! Ring the bell!
The sinister Western music returns.
Briar Lane: Here is your winner, the Outlaw, JESSIE MOORE!
Moore rises to her knees and raises her left fist in victory. She stands up and grabs her sore, but not broken, right arm.
Shamoon: Chen was so close.
Dominga: Horseshoes and hand grenades. She shouldn't have let go of the Crossface.
A.B.: On that, I can agree. Just as I think you can agree that Chen took a piece out of Moore here tonight.
Dominga: Oh, absolutely!
Shamoon: Well, now the score is 1-1. Moore wins it for Team Cobra, and since no one interfered, the Jewell's title match is on. You think Cobra can get it done?
A.B.: No.
Shamoon: ... Of course.
Moore grits her teeth, bending and straightening the arm while looking down at the still unconscious Chen.
Dominga: If I was Moore, I wouldn't want anything to do with this chica for as long as I... (sees something) live.
Shamoon (sees it too): Guys...
Moore sees it as well. The dark silhouette; the yellow owl-like eyes.
A.B.: It's Athiambo. What is Athiambo doing out here?
Shamoon: I thought she left after that stuff with Firyali. Does she want to pick a fight with Moore?
Athiambo climbs onto the apron, staring daggers at the Outlaw.
A.B.: In the state she's in, I don't think you could call it a fight.
Dominga: Didn't she want to "talk" to Chen earlier? Maybe this is part of it. They're old friends, right?
The Dark Talon enters the ring and walks forward, stopping when she is directly above the fallen Chen. Moore does not move from her spot, glaring back with her own beady, green orbs of hate. Bonds stands between them, holding her hands out to prevent a brawl.
A.B.: What's going to happen now?
No comments:
Post a Comment