Post by Staff on Oct 12, 2024 20:13:10 GMT
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
PORTLAND, OR
CHAPTER TWO
NIGHT FOUR
PORTLAND, OR
CHAPTER TWO
NIGHT FOUR
A modest opening ceremony kicked the night off as a run down of the action was given by the commentary team. Frank James, owner of the NAWL and Five Lakes Wrestling, came out to greet the crowd and thanked the Portland fans for their support and patience for this event. In the centre of the ring were a number of different championship titles and one by one he began to introduce them. The first two would be won tonight, in the Global Title and the Legends Title. Along side this were five other similar looking belts. James explained that these would take centre stage at the next episode, in November, where the following champions would be crowned, representing the respective weight classes;
LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION: For wrestlers 149 lbs and under.
WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION: For wrestlers 150-179 lbs.
MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION: For wrestlers 180-204 lbs.
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: For wrestlers 205-229 lbs.
SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: For wrestlers 230 lbs and over.
With that he thanked the fans once more, and promised a great night of wrestling that would hopefully live long in the minds of everyone watching.
OPENING BOUT
GLOBAL TITLE MATCH
Vance Isaac Parker (USA) v Hans Phillips (Germany)
Hans Phillips is a relative unknown outside of Europe, but came out of waving the German flag and arguing with front row fans. Clearly the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as the son of Nigel 'Journeyman' Phillips naturally irked people with his general demeanour. Parker also came out bearing a flag albeit to mixed reception from the crowd, but as the 'home favourite' it was clear he had at least half the crowd behind him. Hans was used to having his old man in his corner but looked out of sorts throughout with the veteran surprisingly absent. Once VIP figured him out it was all one way as ‘The Solution’ became the first ever NAWL Global Champion following the Uhm, Actually - a Pump Handle Backbreaker, for a fine win to etch his name in the NAWL history books.
Winner: Vance Isaac Parker (Inaugural Global Champion)
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
SEMI FINAL
Mark Cross v Andrew Raynes
This was always going to be one of the great matches of the night. Bags of experience and a similar style, it was anyone’s guess which way it would go. Cross won all three of his group games, while Raynes characteristically did what he needed to do, pragmatically progressing with two draws and a win but never looking troubled. With no time limits here it opened things up to all kinds of action, and a tactical back and forth was won when Cross broke free of the Caught in the Rayne and hit two Shining Wizards to finally get the better of his opponent.
Winner: Mark Cross (Advances to the Final)
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
SEMI FINAL
Shawn Clarke v Myra Rivers
Rivers overcame a disappointing defeat to Cross to win two hard fought matches in taking her place here in the Semi-Finals. Clarke won his group impressively, winning two and drawing one, and was naturally confident heading into this match up. Rivers didn’t get the start she wanted, and despite an impressive resume tonight looked to have maybe taken a step too far in this highly competitive field. But she had the crowd behind her, as usual, and gradually worked her way into match, dominating periods for longer and longer each time. It took over 20 minutes free of action to find a winner, and a kick out each from the other’s finisher, before Rivers sealed it with a Spanish Fly from nowhere to progress.
Winner: Myra Rivers (Advances to the Final)
INTERNET TITLE ELIMINATION MATCH
Calder Rhys (c) v Kore Violet v Scarlett Howell v Vanessa Page
Rhys might think himself a ladies man but these three women were only interested in taking one belt from around his waist tonight. They all ganged up on him once the bell went as he went tumbling out the ring. But that only gave him an opportunity to pounce when they least expected it. The Technical Tarantula caught Vanessa Page with a Triangle Choke for the first elimination, and Kore Violet wasn't far behind with a Killseeker (Hidden Blade). This was all set for a hugely impressive clean sweep and decisive retention of his title, until Scarlett reversed a Triangle Chokehold into her own Ginger Snap (Crossface Chicken Wing with Bodyscissors) in the centre of the ring. Calder couldn't get the break he needed as Scarlett held on to snatch the belt for a first NAWL Title.
Winner: Scarlett Howell (New Internet Champion)
HEADLINER
PURE TITLE MATCH
Lily Blaise v Michael Hayden
There is no primary championship in the NAWL. All belts are created to celebrate the overall diversity and unique attributes of the men, women and non-binary athletes in professional wrestling. However. There is but one belt that seems to bring out the best of the best. A title that has continuously appealed to the most talented of people from this generation of grapplers. That belt is the NAWL Pure Title and it's currently held by Lily Blaise.
Caine Landry. MYOJIN. Tapp Adams. Silas Romero. And that was just to win the belt. Then it was Owen Gonsalves in her first defence. She won that too. Now she finds herself standing across the ring against a man 22 years her senior. A man that was already 2 years into his career when Lily was born. A man that has championed her reign thus far, but promises to take the belt to new heights. A man who given everything to this sport. Michael Hayden, had he entered, would have been a firm favourite for the Legends Title. But clearly this veteran had other things on his mind, as he proudly put himself forward to face this rising star in the most challenging of stipulations.
Hayden's strong style with a heavy emphasis on submission work would always be difficult her for to work against. And like she has done so in many situations against other talented, vastly experienced opponents she found herself behind in the opening five to ten minutes. But like all those other times she was the underdog. Slowly, but surely, she began to weather the storm. A rope break here, a brief reprisal there. Michael Hayden was heading towards the Pure championship, and against many opponents a performance like this would have been straight forward for the veteran. He was, for more than half this match, just too good. But matches are won and lost in a moment. Key moments, in fact. In many great bouts there is a point in which a match begins to turn. As Blaise looked up at the clock she knew, in her heart of hearts, there was little chance of securing a majority victory from the judges. She needed to finish this within the timer, but could she really make him tap out? Unlikely, given his toughness. But not impossible. And despite his advancing years he was visibly fresher than her, after dominating the majority of the fight. When she finally got into the fight she began to adapt her style, taking it less to the mat and matching his aggressiveness. Her speed was her asset and when she had the upper hand she made it count. She was looking good for at least an opportunity to finish this match on top, but a mistake let Hayden back in and as he lined up the Hand of God this could well have been the end of days of Blaise, but she side-stepped is advances, and hit the Timeless Beauty (Peach Bomb). Hayden kicked out at the last split second, and after she picked him up for another he began to fight back. One minute thirty left on the clock he has wearing her down, but she hit back with a Deglamourizer from nowhere (Backstabber into Rear Naked Chokehold). Hayden was gasping for breath, too far from the ropes to get any sort of break. The clock was directly above them both, their eyes darting back and forth from the seconds as they edged closer and closer to zero. Could he hold on? Lily tightened her grip.. and with ten seconds to spare, Hayden began to tap! She held on for a second longer, not in spite but just to be sure he was really tapping and the victory was hers. She fell to her back and released the hold, before leaning over to check he was ok, before being handed the belt and rolling out the ring. Only once she was up on the ramp did she really celebrate, as the crowd cheered and chanted her name after yet another impressive retention of her title.
Caine Landry. MYOJIN. Tapp Adams. Silas Romero. And that was just to win the belt. Then it was Owen Gonsalves in her first defence. She won that too. Now she finds herself standing across the ring against a man 22 years her senior. A man that was already 2 years into his career when Lily was born. A man that has championed her reign thus far, but promises to take the belt to new heights. A man who given everything to this sport. Michael Hayden, had he entered, would have been a firm favourite for the Legends Title. But clearly this veteran had other things on his mind, as he proudly put himself forward to face this rising star in the most challenging of stipulations.
Hayden's strong style with a heavy emphasis on submission work would always be difficult her for to work against. And like she has done so in many situations against other talented, vastly experienced opponents she found herself behind in the opening five to ten minutes. But like all those other times she was the underdog. Slowly, but surely, she began to weather the storm. A rope break here, a brief reprisal there. Michael Hayden was heading towards the Pure championship, and against many opponents a performance like this would have been straight forward for the veteran. He was, for more than half this match, just too good. But matches are won and lost in a moment. Key moments, in fact. In many great bouts there is a point in which a match begins to turn. As Blaise looked up at the clock she knew, in her heart of hearts, there was little chance of securing a majority victory from the judges. She needed to finish this within the timer, but could she really make him tap out? Unlikely, given his toughness. But not impossible. And despite his advancing years he was visibly fresher than her, after dominating the majority of the fight. When she finally got into the fight she began to adapt her style, taking it less to the mat and matching his aggressiveness. Her speed was her asset and when she had the upper hand she made it count. She was looking good for at least an opportunity to finish this match on top, but a mistake let Hayden back in and as he lined up the Hand of God this could well have been the end of days of Blaise, but she side-stepped is advances, and hit the Timeless Beauty (Peach Bomb). Hayden kicked out at the last split second, and after she picked him up for another he began to fight back. One minute thirty left on the clock he has wearing her down, but she hit back with a Deglamourizer from nowhere (Backstabber into Rear Naked Chokehold). Hayden was gasping for breath, too far from the ropes to get any sort of break. The clock was directly above them both, their eyes darting back and forth from the seconds as they edged closer and closer to zero. Could he hold on? Lily tightened her grip.. and with ten seconds to spare, Hayden began to tap! She held on for a second longer, not in spite but just to be sure he was really tapping and the victory was hers. She fell to her back and released the hold, before leaning over to check he was ok, before being handed the belt and rolling out the ring. Only once she was up on the ramp did she really celebrate, as the crowd cheered and chanted her name after yet another impressive retention of her title.
Winner: Lily Blaise (Still Pure Champion)
MAIN EVENT
LEGENDS TITLE MATCH
TOURNAMENT FINAL
Mark Cross v Myra Rivers
Myra Rivers and Mark Cross kicked this tournament off, and several months it all comes to an end with the same two competitors. Eight legendary men and women, fifteen matches all in all, and we've come full circle as they entered the ring to a rousing reception. The belt was paraded before them as they prepared for this match up in their opposite corners. Cross looked very comfortable, self-assured in his abilities and safe in the knowledge he had beaten Myra once already. Rivers on the other hand paced around the ring, her nervous energy on display for all to see. She carried those nerves into the match and struggled to match Cross for the opening five minutes. His size and strength was proving to be too much for her to handle, much like their first encounter. It was one way traffic, as he confidently wore her down to the point she would not be able to come back. But then the fight back started. At first it was just a couple of irish whips, then a few blocks, right hands, before a DDT flipped this match on it's head. Myra was tired., lacking in energy, and every move she threw at Cross he seemed to bounce back from with remarkable energy. Every reprieve or period of dominance was swiftly reversed back in his favour, as he continued to dominate things. But with no time limits Myra was able to stay in this match as long as she needed, and no matter how many times Cross got a two count, this fight was there to be won. A corkscrew neckbreaker put The Dragon down, and by this point he was all out of puff too. Myra smelt blood and with the adrenaline surging she quickly responded with a Rebel Splash (360 Splash). The crowd were on their feet but Cross was not going down without a fight of his own. He rallied back and hit Rivers with a Shining Wizard, but she too found the strength to kick out. They fought on, both exhausted, frantically looking to land that final blow but as Cross went for another Shining Wizard that surely would have sealed things, Myra managed to duck underneath, and threw herself off the ropes. Cross turned around but had no time to react as she landed the RIVER DRIVER (Spanish Fly)! She hooked the leg, as the crowd chanted along, ONE..TWO..THREE! It was quite the comeback, not just tonight but throughout the whole competition. Having lost her opening match she was staring at elimination altogether. The prospect of even making it out the groups, at that stage, was an unlikely prospect. But back to back wins took her into the Semi's as group runner up, and a hard fought win against Group Winner Shawn Clarke set her up for a rematch with The Dragon. Once more, she upset the odds and dug deep to secure her place in NAWL history as the inaugural Legends Champion, as she thrusted the belt into the air and celebrated, as 'Come to Live' by Alter Bridge blared over the arena, and the night came to a close.
Winner: Myra Rivers (New Legends Champion)