Post by Staff on Dec 31, 2023 21:06:40 GMT
5 Nights in the 5 Boroughs
LIVE! From The Bronx
Monday 15th January
INTRO
Night Three in our five part series of NYC got underway with the usual recap of recent events. Particular focus was on Andrew Raynes' back to back victorys, and a face to face encounter with tonight's opponent in Journeyman Phillips. A re-run of Gabriel Landry's involvement in the Duke Andrews versus Monty Margolis match was played, and some footage of the Rogues Gallery was run ahead of tonight's Main Event match up.
BACKSTAGE
The night started with a cold opening, as Gwen Margolis was walking through the backstage area en route to the ring. Before she could get there though she was stopped by Emma Harrington for a few quick words. Harrington wanted to know if she had anything to say about what went down in Toronto, when her and her Uncle were denied an opportunity to potentially win the Tag Team Titles following interference from the Rogues Gallery. Gwen wasn’t interested in discussing it though. ‘Actions speak louder than words in this company,’ she said, before continuing to the ring.
SINGLES SHOWCASE
Gabriel Landry v Gwen Margolis
There was more at play here after Gabriel Landry helped his ally Duke Andrews to beat Gwen’s Uncle and tag team partner, Monty Margolis, on Friday. Landry shocked everyone when he turned up in Toronto to help Tiffany Lynn Page defeat Chelsea LeClair, and has made it very clear how he intends to operate in Five Lakes Wrestling. An ally of Page and Duke Andrews is more than enough to get the fans backs up but he didn’t seem phased by the reception. Margolis was not her usual upbeat self, which was hardly surprising given she was a screwed out of a potential victory herself last time out. Even her opponents that night, the NOVA Empire, had expressed their regret at not being able to see out the match. But tonight was a big opportunity for both, and Margolis seemed intent on taking her frustration out on the young newcomer from the off.
Gabe showed an impressive degree of speed and agility, but despite his abilities there always an element of arrogance that irked the crowd. Margolis though was equally adept at wowing the fans, matching him throughout. It’s only a matter of time before she steps out from her Uncle’s successful shadow and forges an impressive singles career of her own in this company, and tonight was a good test of the talent she would have to beat when that time comes.
But this narrow contest had to be won though and it was Landry who had the last laugh with a Hurricanrana Driver to seal a hard fought debut win. Not that he showed it, shrugging his shoulders after the bell as though it was nothing, ignoring the multiple two counts he had kicked out of to get there.
But this narrow contest had to be won though and it was Landry who had the last laugh with a Hurricanrana Driver to seal a hard fought debut win. Not that he showed it, shrugging his shoulders after the bell as though it was nothing, ignoring the multiple two counts he had kicked out of to get there.
Winner: Gabriel Landry
BACKSTAGE
Molly Hatchet was backstage with Emma Harrington. She had a look of concern across her face, as Emma probed who her partner would be for tonight. Molly said she was going to be totally honest, and right now she was going out there to fight alone. She had asked a number of people, but due to short notice, they had other commitments. There was one last iron in the fire though, someone she hoped might still come through, if they can get here in time. If not she was going to head out there and do what she does best. give it her all and put on a show. She didn't care if the odds were stacked against her, she never backed down from a fight.
SINGLES SHOWCASE
Marisol Vilaró v Roni Tyler
Vilaró made light work of Iida Matsuda in her surprise debut in Toronto, but tonight would be a tougher test against the athletic Roni Tyler. Tyler was unfortunate last time in her attempt at winning the Television Title following an impressive run of victories, and will be looking to get back to winning ways.
Vilaró's showboating early on came back to bite her a few times, a lack of ring experience perhaps shining through. But she weathered any storm of offence from Tyler to keep herself in this match.
Her gameplan was always to get under the skin of Tyler, and after a few too many dirty tactics she started complaining to the Ref. It was then that she capitalised with the Vilaró Experience, a handspring corner elbow, swiftly followed by her trademark Crunch Time (Natural Selection) to seal back to back wins.
Vilaró's showboating early on came back to bite her a few times, a lack of ring experience perhaps shining through. But she weathered any storm of offence from Tyler to keep herself in this match.
Her gameplan was always to get under the skin of Tyler, and after a few too many dirty tactics she started complaining to the Ref. It was then that she capitalised with the Vilaró Experience, a handspring corner elbow, swiftly followed by her trademark Crunch Time (Natural Selection) to seal back to back wins.
Winner: Marisol Vilaró
BACKSTAGE
We cut to the backstage area where the camera is frantically running to get a shot of something. A car pulls up and out steps a woman, but the shot is from behind and it's impossible to see who it is. A few crew members recognise her though and are taken back. It's not somebody they expected to see, or have possibly ever seen, in Five Lakes Wrestling before. The camera tried to get closer but the action is about to get away at ringside and it immediately cuts back, with further speculation from the commentators.
TELEVISION TITLE MATCH
Andrew Raynes (c) v Journeyman Phillips
Raynes and Phillips meet again, this time for gold, as Raynes defends his Television Title for the second time in 4 days. The fans were excited for this one, the prospect of two veterans that were willing to do whatever it takes to win was an easy one to get behind.
Raynes was a pretty astute operator, but facing a master technician in Phillips posed a very different challenge. Knowing he could be locked in all manner of submissions was a challenge he would have to overcome, but The Toughest Out was always one to take it to his opponents, no matter who stood before him. As soon as the bell went these two started brawling in and around the ring, both looking to wear the other one down with hard rights and heavy power moves.
Phillips managed to slide things in his favour as he grounded Raynes with a Powerslam and quickly locked on a chokehold, but Raynes was able to manipulate himself back to the ropes. It was thought that the damage might be done, as he steadily pulled himself up to face further punishment, only to spring a surprise from nowhere, hitting his Shattered Glass (Leaping Reverse STO) and seeing it out for another successful defence.
Winner: Andrew Raynes (Still Television Champion)
BACKSTAGE
Once again we cut to the the backstage area where we see Frank James office for the evening. Out steps the same female figure we saw earlier, but again the shot is from behind, although this time we can see a bit more than previous. She's bigger than most of her counterparts, broad in the arms and shoulders, probably over 200 pounds, and potentially dressed to compete. The camera follows as she makes her way down the halls before we cut back to ringside once more.
INSIDE THE RING
The Rogues Gallery made their entrance to the usual torrent of abuse. Not they that cared, they were focused on one thing and one thing only as tonight meant they could be one step closer to their goal. Pain’s “Designed to Piss you Off” then hits the PA system and out steps Molly Hatchet to a rousing round of applause and cheers from the crowd. She skips about the stage back and forth, curly red locks bouncing around her smiling, slightly rounded and heavily freckled face, hands behind her back. She’s in full ring gear, but with the addition of a black and green spiked leather jacket, ready to go as she makes her way down the aisle only to stop, one hand holding up a finger and the other bringing a microphone to her lips. The music cuts immediately.
Molly: So lads, as ye’ both stand there in that feeling awesome, hyping yourselves up at what ye’ think is gonna’ be a grand beating to put down in the books, metaphorically spit-roasting me in front of a live audience, and that’ll be the end of that. I went around, asking various people in my past and a few randos in the back if they’d like to tag with me against you.
Molly shrugs her shoulders and sighs as she starts to slowly pace back and forth in the middle of the aisle, her opponents getting anxious, beckoning her forth with loud shouts in the ring.
Molly: Griffin Hawkins has a title match tonight, so can’t be the Axe Grinders that you face here, sadly. Some were indifferent and felt like ye’ werenae’ worth their time, others were even a lil’ scared of ya’ and I find that fair enough. So I went ‘round and round…. I seriously thought that I was gonna’ have to face you by meself. Again fair nuff, yer my problem, but then there was one number left in me phone.
The smile takes on a bit of a sick bent as she eyes her two opponents, nearly ready to spring out of the ring with impatience to start the fight and get the night over with. She holds a hand up to them.
Molly: Hold on, hold on! Ye’ both got to talk plenty of shite, this is time is mine. So this number I could have called on much sooner than I had but I was wanting to give you both a fair, fighting chance. Ye’ see that number is an old partner of mine and a former rival once upon a lifetime. I’m sure some of ye’ have noticed the jacket I’m wearing…
Slowly she turns her back to the Rogues Gallery, arms outstretched as we reveal an old but notorious logo etched on the back of her jacket…
The lights then dim to violet and gold…
#ON THIS ROCK… I’LL BUILD MY CHURCH!!!
Those opening lines to Lord of the Lost’s “On This Rock, I will build my church” plays over the PA system and through the curtains steps the powerfully built and imposing Lexus Van Drachenberg, dressed in black leather ring attire (pants, top, boots, pads, and gloves) but with a violet and black vest version of Molly’s jacket bearing the very same Hatchet Clan logo in her colors. Molly spins around and the two march in step lock to the ring. Halfway through the ropes, they spring into motion and attack! Immediately there’s a brawl as Lexus powers through their offensive onslaught of kicks and fists, headbutting one right off his feet, then savagely ramming her forearm into the head of the other. That one spins right into Molly’s Spiral Dropkick!
MAIN EVENT
TAG TEAM TITLE NO.1 CONTENDERS MATCH
The Rogues Gallery v Molly Hatchet & Lexus Van Drachenberg
With this match underway it was an all out war, as they fought in and around the ring. The officials tried to restore some order and regularity but it never really settled down to a point where either side were in a position to control this bout. Hatchet and Drachenberg took the fight to the ruthless duo that were the Rogues Gallery but they could never be kept down for long, and swiftly turned this into a brutal, bloody affair. Not that the Hatchet Clan were unnerved by that, coming back at them right everything they got. Eventually as things seemed to progress into the ring and some normality might ensue a furious Gwen Margolis came charging to the ring with a steel chair in hand. She took a swipe at Levi and the clatter of metal against his head could be heard all round the arena. She dropkicked Molly through the ropes before laying into Kaisano. The bell immediately rang out to signal the end of this match as Monty Margolis came rushing to the ring to protect his niece, and usher her out there, but the damage had been done and there were four incensed wrestlers at ringside disappointed at how this played out. The commentators reminded everyone of what had happened in Toronto, and that this was retribution, in Gwen's eyes, for having her and Monty's Title opportunity taken away from them by the Rogues.
Winners: No Contest
Frank James then came out to the entrance ramp and ordered everyone to stop and listen.
"I consider myself pretty liberal when it comes to interference and people manipulating the rules. Whether we like or not it will never disappear from this sport and the day we put too many rules in place is the day people turn off their televisions. However, there’s a line, and between you that line has been now been crossed. So there's only one thing to do here, and it involves each and every one of you inside this ring tonight."
"I consider myself pretty liberal when it comes to interference and people manipulating the rules. Whether we like or not it will never disappear from this sport and the day we put too many rules in place is the day people turn off their televisions. However, there’s a line, and between you that line has been now been crossed. So there's only one thing to do here, and it involves each and every one of you inside this ring tonight."
There was a look of confusion from many of the wrestlers.
"I know a good match when I see one and good matches often come from good rivalries. We didn’t get to see the outcome of tonight’s match, much like we didn’t get to see the outcome in Toronto. So in Brooklyn, I’m putting all of you in the ring together, including our Tag Team champions. Four teams. Eight wrestlers. One pinfall, for the Five Lakes Wrestling Tag Team Titles."
The teams all looked at their partners, then around the ring at each other. The Rogues stepped forward, presumably to lay down a marker on their soon to be opponents, however James interjected before they could do so.
"But if any you so much as lay a finger on each other between now and then, considered yourselves suspended."
With that he exited, leaving the six men and women to stare one another down as the evening came to a close.
The teams all looked at their partners, then around the ring at each other. The Rogues stepped forward, presumably to lay down a marker on their soon to be opponents, however James interjected before they could do so.
"But if any you so much as lay a finger on each other between now and then, considered yourselves suspended."
With that he exited, leaving the six men and women to stare one another down as the evening came to a close.