Backstage…
The camera panned across what looked to be a marquee - the sort that hangs over the entrance to theatres - showing the Steffi Sparkles in bright shining lights. It was big. It was bold. It would surely dominate any street that it might have appeared on and drew the attention of every single punter that strayed anywhere near it.
It was... small.
As the camera pulled backwards they found it was a mere model made from cardboard and construction paper and coloured plastic with a torch behind it getting wielded by the excited blonde herself. Indeed, as the camera watched Steffi was practically bouncing on the spot, telling the viewers that it might just be a model today, but it was a look into the future and one day her name would be up in lights above the biggest venues in the world.
She took a couple of moments to fight and calm herself down as she told the watching world that she’d had an incredible night at Vindication; that in beating Marc Cosmos and in keeping her winning streak going, she was proving she had everything it took to be a star in this industry and to be the face of this company. She was proving that she was marked out for greatness; that week in and week out it was Steffi Sparkles that was giving the fans something to talk about and every match involving her was in contention for Fight of the Night, stealing the show away.
Sunday Night Slams coming from the Sussex Academy in Georgetown, Delaware on Sunday March 18th wouldn’t be any different. In a number one contenders fatal fourway match against two huge and established names like Ash Fi and Maurice Robinson and a former SCCW Champion, Thunderbelly… Steffi would hold her own - even with all that talent in the ring. She was going to keep doing what she was doing; going to keep fighting as hard as she could, never giving in and being as just as impressive as had been every other single time she’d been in an SCCW ring. Despite the odds, despite the abundance of talent that she was facing in that ring she would find a way to win. Steffi would find a way and in the Sussex Academy she was absolutely certain that everything would become all Sparkles!!!
Singles Match
Noah Ortega vs. Goro Matsunaga
A collar and elbow tie-up started the contest, but it quickly went downhill for Noah as the young lion went chop happy on him. Ortega’s chest got lit up by some vicious chops, before Goro switched to forearm strikes, suplexes, and slams. By the third minute, Ortega had to roll out of the ring to put some distance between him and his opponent.
He did manage to get back into the contest shortly after, sending Goro face first into the steel steps as he was getting chased around the ring. Ortega tried to take Goro out of his comfort zone, upping the tempo of the match; Noah performed a hiptoss followed by a cartwheel then a basement dropkick, and a springboard corkscrew roundhouse kick shortly after. But Goro fought back. A hurricanrana attempt was countered into a powerbomb, before Matsunaga followed up with some rolling gutwrench suplexes. He seemed to have Ortega where he wanted him, when one of The Lost jumped up onto the apron. Matsunaga lunged to swat him away, only to get rolled up by a schoolboy pin. Ortega putting his feet on the ropes as he scored a three count!
Winner: Noah Ortega (8:42)
After the match, Noah rolled out of the ring and lead The Lost away while Goro stayed in the ring. He knew he was outnumbered and couldn’t get justice…yet.
Backstage…
Outside of Sussex Academy, Ash Fi rests upon one of the benches on the property. Seemingly on a cooldown from a pre match jog. She glances up to the camera, breathing deep before her breaths even out. Her eyes sparkled with excitment? Nerves? Both?
“My beginnings here were humble. I couldn’t speak worth a damn. And the seventeen year old girl that competed in my first matches here seems a complete stranger. I came here out of curiosity, just to see what the big deal was out of this sport.Then I grew; I guess. That would be the purpose of this place; would it not? From being some unknown girl from Wales. To getting eyes all over the country. I dunno what happened. Something’ possessed me. Maybe my ma was onto something’ when she talked about the Figgins curse. An affliction she believed my long lost dad and aunt had. A competitive obsession she believed rendered families apart. I dunno about all that. I don’t believe this drive is a curse.”
“I’m gonna be honest. I am a flutter of emotions right now. Ever since the match got announced. I’m not going to lie. I’ve been chomping at the bit for a rematch with Caintigern. She beat me in that tournament. She was the better woman that night. But I have a feeling that the match would have been something greater if it weren’t for circumstances that occured. The small collision I had with the Irish woman made it all to clear to me. She was the cream that rose to the top in this place. Her holding the ultimate prize only confirms it. I saw beating her as a milestone. An achievement to strive for in this company.”
Ash Fi stands. Stance confident.Her talking seeming to wash away the nerves with each word.
“So I find myself in the same situation as the Finnian. One who fasted outside of a door until given entry. I may not be fasting, but I am hungry. I see the door, but I will not wait. I will knock once. If denied entry I will knock the door down. The Milestone is so near in sight. Having to face three others is more than appropriate. I am well aware of what is right ahead of me. All three of these competitors are fierce. I don’t have a mean word to say about them. And I know Thunderbelly is just as eager to meet Caintigern as I am. Maybe even more. I know this match will not be easy. And as the trend has been going recently. I am anxious for the challenge.”
Fadeout.
Singles Match
Wayne Williams vs. Rocky Rhodes
Again, Rocky Rhodes appeared sluggish throughout the match. He didn’t seem to have an answer for Wayne’s offense; the springboard crossbody, the discus elbow smash, and the standing shooting star press all scored big time for Williams, but Rhodes stayed alive.
Rocky did try and get back into the match with a lazy clothesline attempt, but Wayne countered with an enziguiri, knocking his opponent down to one knee. The OiOi Kicks! (Series of shoot kicks to a kneeling opponent, fans chant "OI!" with every kick) followed, and the End of Days (Heart Punch followed by a very illegal right hook) connected soon after as Wayne got the three count.
Winner: Wayne Williams (5:37)
#1 Contenders Match
Fatal Fourway Match
Thunderbelly vs. Ash Fi vs. Maurice Robinson vs. Steffi Sparkles
The four fan favourites lined up to start the match, when Maurice Robinson had an idea. Maybe this match could be decided by a dance contest!? He went first, gyrating his hips and dancing to the funky music that started playing out of nowhere. After he was done, he invited Ash Fi to step up. The Welshwoman sways her hips, waving her arms as the crowd clap along. Then it’s Steffi’s turn; she starts breakdancing, before finally pulling out the windmill, much to Maurice’s delight. Finally the three of them turn to Thunderbelly, who looks bemused by the activity.
But then Thunderbelly starts, imitating what he’s just seen, before performing a headspin and the worm. It seems like Thunderbelly might have won according to the crowd, but as the four wrestlers discuss it, push comes to shove. Soon enough fists are flying, and the wrestling is underway!
Maurice and Thunderbelly square off, as do Steffi and Ash. Robinson bringing the heat to the former SCCW champion; an early knee strike rocked Thunderbelly, before Robinson took him down with a belly-to-belly suplex. But Thunderbelly kicked out at two. Meanwhile, Steffi had the upper hand over Ash Fi, catching her off guard with an over the shoulder back kick.
As the match wore on, however, Thunderbelly managed to turn the tables on Maurice; a uranage backbreaker sent Robinson rolling out under the bottom rope in pain, before Thunderbelly turned to the other opponents. Sparkles got caught from behind with a German suplex, but Ash Fi was ready for him! A Western lariat nearly turned the masked man inside out, but Ash continued. She connected with Ionsaí (Cornered Running Double Knee Strike) shortly thereafter, before Ash got caught with the Thunderstruck (Swinging Sideslam Backbreaker)! Thunderbelly scored a two count, before Maurice dragged him out of the ring.
Maurice slid into the ring and, after a brief back and forth, managed to take Steffi down with a fireman carry facebuster. He managed to get a two count before Ash Fi interrupted. She quickly took Maurice down with a drop toe hold across the middle rope, setting him up for the tiger feint kick! Ash followed up with Crann Tabhaill (Springboard Corkscrew Roundhouse kick) taking Maurice down. But her pin attempt was interrupted by Thunderbelly. He threw Ash out of the ring, and drilled Maurice with the Green Power Thunderbomb (Blue Thunderpowerbomb), getting a three count before anyone could break up the cover!
Winner and NEW #1 Contender: Thunderbelly (13:47)
After the match, Thunderbelly celebrated his victory before heading backstage. Ash and Maurice both exited the ring as well, leaving Steffi behind. She looked set to leave…when Patience crept out from under the ring.
Sparkles didn’t see it coming, as Patience spun her around and planted her with a kneeling piledriver! The crowd quickly started booing as Patience knelt over her downed foe, smirking to herself before finally leaving the ring.
Ringside…
The crowd is talking amongst themselves as there is a break in the action. Suddenly “Tom Sawyer” by Rush begins to play. The crowd goes silent as they’re not sure if they should believe if it is who they think it is. Suddenly Tyberius King walks through the curtain with the NKP Openweight title hung on his shoulder. The crowd pops in disbelief as he wasn’t announced to be there. Ty makes his way to the ring and wipes his feet before entering between the ropes. He asks for a microphone and thanks the attendant who hands it to him.
“Hey everybody! How are you all doing tonight?!”
King laughs as he gets the cheap pop and readjusts the title.
“I’ve been wanting to come and visit all of you for a long time. I’ve been wanting to interact with all of the young talent in that locker room for a long time. When you go back there you can just see all the potential they have and it’s so inspiring. Now I’ve been given a chance and I’m not going to waste it.”
The crowd is listening carefully to every word wondering where this could go.
“I have always been one to try and do what I can for those who are coming up. I remember what it was like training inside of a small building in a strip mall. The windows in the front all taped so that no one could see in. These guys have it much better than that.”
Ty couldn’t stop himself from laughing at that one.
“They have the same drive though. They want to be as successful as they possibly can in this sport. So I’ve come to see what this roster has when it comes to heart. I want to see who has the drive and the passion to try and bring me to the limit.”
The crowd cheers and Ty just nods along as he looks out at all of them.
“So if you’re wondering why I am here tonight, it’s to tell you that you will be seeing more of me in the next few weeks. I am here to make an open challenge for the Hudson Cup!”
The crowd pops hard at King’s announcement and many of them begin to clap.
“So I want everyone in the back to listen very closely. I want whoever feels they can give be the best challenge. Whoever has that spirit that burns the brightest. That’s who I want to face the most, and when we do I want you to try your absolute hardest to beat the absolute shit out of me in this ring. If you’re not willing to go to your point of breaking then don’t bother. I hope to hear from one of you soon.”
King drops the mic and a “Wad-Jet-Hotep” chant starts and King just smiles out at the crowd as he exits the ring and drops down to the floor. He slaps the hands of fans as he makes his way back behind the curtain.
MAIN EVENT
Singles Match - Champion Showcase
Caintigern vs. Melody Marshall
The SCCW Champion and the Rising Star Champion squared off, and it seemed like Melody got the better of the tie-up. She took Caintigern down with a side headlock, before keeping the Drowned Goddess grounded. Marshall showing off her mat game with various submission holds, eventually forcing Caintigern to reach the ropes and force a break.
A thumb to the eye brought Cait back into the match, however, and she took full advantage. Melody was worked over in the corner, punches and kicks finding their mark, before Cait struck with a rope hung knee strike. That was enough to score her a two count, but not enough for the win as the match continued. An attempted short arm lariat was ducked in the sixth minute, and Melody countered with a Yakuza kick after hitting the rope!
The Rising Star champion stayed on the offensive, hitting some suplexes including a high angle back suplex. But not enough for a three count. A couple of running European uppercuts connected whilst Cait was trapped in the corner, before a shotgun dropkick caught the SCCW champion off guard. Another two count followed, and Melody looked peeved. The fans were cheering her on, driving Melody onwards as she whipped Cait towards the corner – NO! The Drowned Goddess reversed and Melody got sent in, but she went for a big boot to counter…and Cait caught her foot. Melody knew what was coming next, but could do nothing to stop herself from being bitten.
The action spilled outside for a moment, with Cait using the environment to wear Melody down. The steps and guard rail took a hit or two between them, before Melody got drilled on the outside with a double arm DDT. That looked to be it, but Cait took too long getting her back in the ring, and Melody was able to kick out at two. Cait stayed on the offensive for a few minutes, coming close with a Jawbox Gin (Boma Ye) in the twelfth minute. But Melody stayed in it.
The SCCW Champion appeared to be growing ‘frustrated’…yeah, that’s an apt description. Her inability to put Melody down for the three started to grind her gears, and it was only made worse when Melody hit a handspring elbow smash to counter an Irish whip! Then she ducked a clothesline and countered with a Pele kick! Another Yakuza kick followed, and Cait rolled through to one knee – only to get dropped with a shining wizard! But even then Caintigern kicked out at two!
Marshall appeared to be in full control as the match wore on, until Cait hit the Silver Spear and Tonic (Rolling Spear) out of nowhere! Both women were down for a moment, but as Cait stood up she appeared to have brass knucks on her fist. The referee saw this and grabbed the weapon. But as he leant out the ring to hand the weapon to another official, Cait took a swig of her flask, and blasted her opponent with some gin mist to the face! Melody was temporarily blinded, and fell victim to the Brass Magnum (Superman Punch) before Cait picked up the three!
Winner: Caintigern (16:51)
After the match, Caintigern got her arm raised by the oblivious official. She held the SCCW Championship high above her head, when suddenly the lights went out. Thunder rumbled throughout the Sussex Academy and ‘lightning’ flashed! When the lights came back up, Thunderbelly was standing in the ring with Caintigern – and the champion backpedaled out of there in shock. Thunderbelly held his hammer aloft, and the crowd cheered as the show came to an end.