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PRESENTING THE WWEP HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 -- AUSTIN MICHAEL PIEPER
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The Return of the Ultimate Eruption Match for the WWEP King of the Mountain Championship
Austin Michael Pieper (c) vs Ben Geraci vs Ryan Lucas vs Darren Cox vs George Amuah-Niamkey vs Robbie Casey
Lucas and Darren stay in their corner to eye up the competition, but the others are not so slow to react. Ben Geraci charges across the ring, diving at Robbie Casey as both men fall to the ground in a flurry of fists. They both roll out of the ring fighting tooth and nail, as George Amuah-Niamkey steps up to Austin Pieper. The two start trading blows as well, but George ducks a punch, landing a brutal kick combination! Both of them spill out as well, as they continue the onslaught. Geraci is able to connect with a belly to belly suplex on Casey sending him crashing back first against the steel pillar. Geraci then doesn't waste any time starting to climb on top of that same structure, looking to get to the cable. Lucas and Darren run over to Geraci, pulling him down off the top. They land a brutal duo combo, a flurry of punches, with a kick into a roundhouse kick from Darren, stumbling Geraci forward, as Lucas hits a back handspring towards him before landing a Pele Kick to the back of the head! ONE TWO THREE FOUR PUNCH OUT BY THE FORMER TAG TEAM PARTNERS, Ryan Lucas and Darren Cox!
Geraci rolls to the ropes, rolling out, and both men can see that all 3 of the other competitors are brawling in a cluster. Lucas smacks Cox on the chest, saying something. Cox gets down on all fours, and Lucas clearly knows what he means. Lucas hits the ropes, leaps off the back of Darren Cox, and then springboards off the top rope SOARING through the air with a front flip onto the mass of humanity outside the ring! Men get bowled over, but Geraci near the back is able to remain on his feet, which prompts Darren to charge off the ropes, and suicide dive on Geraci taking him down as well!
"I don't know if we have ever seen teamwork like this between two guys ever in this match!" - Mike Tenay
"Well that can only last for so long! At some point one of these men are going to have to decide who is going to grab that title on the cable up there!" - Ben Davis
The crowd raves as we are already full force ahead, as Darren and Lucas both roll back into the ring, not noticing one another. Both men go taunt to the crowd, walking backwards before they bump into each other. They spin around, noticing each other and smiling, as they see that the two of them are ready to square off once again. Both men circle each other before shaking hands as the crowd is ready to see them go at it once again. They lock up, and Lucas pulls Darren into a headlock. Darren pulls back, sending his partner off the ropes. Lucas is able to drop Darren with a shoulder charge before turning to run the ropes. Darren drops down in front of him, as Ryan Lucas jumps over, hitting the ropes again. This time, Darren is up, leapfrogging over, as Lucas runs the ropes again. Darren rolls back, legs up, as Lucas leaps, front flipping, and landing on his feet past Darren Cox. Darren rolls through to his feet, as now he charges in, only for Lucas to pass him by with a slap to the back, keeping the momentum. Darren hits the ropes, this time Lucas drops down. Mirroring the previous exchange, Lucas leapfrogs over Cox before rolling back, legs spread, and Darren jumps and rolls over him, onto his feet. Both men get up and attempt a dropkick, both hit the ground, and front handspring up onto their feet as they stare each other down. The crowd goes wild for this exchange of counter after counter after counter while the two former tag team partners smile and stare each other down. They back up, catching their breath. They go to lock back up, but now Robbie Casey and Ben Geraci are both back up and cut them off, pounding away on them.
Robbie pounds away on Ryan Lucas in the corner, while Geraci has Darren in the center of the ring, overhand rights to the back of the head and shoulders. Geraci hooks up Darren or a suplex, but Darren slips out the back. Darren shoves Geraci, sending him flying into Robbie Casey. The two men collide, and Casey turns around to angrily look at where the source came from. Geraci stares down Casey before the two turn into a flurry of strikes of their own! The two start brawling, and they both turn to the side, and they see Darren Cox flying off the top rope! A missile dropkick lands, with a boot to both men! Darren pops back to his feet, while Geraci rolls into the corner, just as Robbie Casey is able to pop back up to his feet. Darren lands a rush of kicks and forearms, back and forth into the chest and chin of Robbie Casey. Darren goes off the ropes, and Casey drops down, tossing him in the air for a back body drop, just as Ryan Lucas is standing up behind him. Cox flips through the air, but midair is able to wrap his legs around his former tag partner’s head, sending him down with a hurricanrana! The crowd goes wild as Darren gets back up, taunting to the crowd.
"See I told you! It wouldn't take long for this to eventually break! It's every man for himself in there!" - Ben Davis
Darren turns around, just in time to catch a stiff chop to the chest by Casey! Casey hooks him up for a suplex before planting him down hard with a brainbuster!
"Brainbuster right on the top of The Phenom's head! My god!" - Mike Tenay
Austin Michael Pieper rolls back into the ring, as Casey turns around, the two start trading strikes again. Geraci runs up behind Robbie Casey, sending a strike to the back of Casey forcing him to go face first into the steel pillar. Pieper looks Geraci up and down and nods as the two shake hands, with Tenay on commentary citing that the two used to tag together on the independent scene. Geraci grabs the arms of Robbie Casey, holding them behind his back in the corner, while Pieper handsprings across the ring, driving a boot into the temple of Robbie Casey! Pieper wastes no time, going to the top rope while Geraci looks to hook him up for a sitout piledriver…Geraci holds up Robbie Casey in the upside down position waiting for Pieper… Pieper flies off the top with a Warrior’s Way onto the butt of Robbie Casey, while Geraci drops down using Pieper's body weight to drive Casey onto the top of his head!
The crowd yells out with a “HOLY SHIT!” chant, all around the stadium, as the scene shows slow motion replays of the sick landing. Robbie Casey gets kicked out of the ring by both men, as a couple referees check on the body of the hot newcomer outside. George Amuah-Niamkey rolls back into the ring at the same time, as Austin and Geraci look to the outside. George climbs halfway up the steel pillar and instead of climbing the rest of the way in attempt to grab the King of the Mountain Championship, he instead leaps at both of them with a diving crossbody! George exchanges blows with both of them, not letting up and connecting with a superkick to the face of each of them! George kick ups back to his feet and starts pounding his chest several times screaming YEEEEEEET, much to the satisfaction from the crowd!
Austin Pieper comes barreling at George with a clothesline, but George leapfrogs over Austin and connects with a pele kick to the top of Austin's head knocking him into the corner. George screams out another YEEEET and goes to hit a Stinger Splash on Austin in the corner, but in mid air, Pieper catches George and proceeds to drive him back first into the steel pillar! As Pieper has his back turned wailing on George, The opportunistic Darren Cox is attempting to climb up one of the other steel pillars. Robbie from outside the ring is coming back to himself after the devastating head bump and struggles back into the ring, climbing up one of the opposite steel pillars. As Darren finally reaches the top of his pillar he starts slowly trapeeze like walking along the cables (one foot on each), but before he can ever reach the middle where the title belt is, Robbie Casey comes from out of nowhere with a flying RKO off the top of the cables all the way down to the canvas!!!
"WHAT?!? DID YOU JUST SEE THAT?!" - Mike Tenay
"He just hit an RKO off the top of those cables!!" - Coty Coleman
"Talk about putting it all on the line tonight! Wow!" - Mike Tenay
"That's what I love about these matches, guys! These men will absolutely go kill each other in this match just to get the opportunity to hold the King of the Mountain Championship!" - Ben Davis
Several replays show just how far it is from the top of those cables down to the canvas. Both Darren and Robbie are laid out in the center of the ring, looking as if it took just as much out of Casey as it did Cox.
"Just look at the balance and SPEED that Robbie Casey came barreling up that steel pillar and across those cables up there just to hit that RKO!" - Mike Tenay
Austin with a smirk on his face has George down at his feet and now both Darren Cox and Robbie Casey completely incapacitated. Austin starts to climb up the pillar himself, clearly just being very focused on getting to his King of the Mountain Championship belt, pulling it down, and going home with the win on night 1 of Wrestlemania. Now that Geraci sees what Austin is doing though, he starts to climb up the same pillar, but right behind the champion! Geraci and Austin both reach the top of the pillar and Austin starts tip toeing around the cable, but Geraci is right there to start exchanging blows with Austin on the cable.
Geraci tries to throw Austin off, but Austin latches on to Geraci and teases that he will bring him down with him. The two start throwing haymakers at each other while both trying to stay even on the cables. Austin bends over and desperately reaches for the title belt while still trying to fend Geraci off. But as Pieper gets closer to the title belt, both men fall off balance and drop off the cable. But in heroic like fashion, both men barely catch themselves enough to cling onto the same cable! Both men are swinging back and forth on the cable that holds the belt high above the ring. The two try kicking at one another to knock the other one off the cable, but neither man can force the other down. Finally just as it looks like Austin is going to be able to cling onto the title belt to pull it off, Geraci wraps his legs around the throat of Pieper and yanks him off the cable with a spinning head scissors!! Both men come crashing down to the canvas in a desperate attempt by Geraci to stop Austin from grabbing the belt and retaining!!
"Geraci was willing to sacrifice his own body in order to keep Austin Pieper away from the King of the Mountain Championship belt! This wrestling folks!" - Coty Coleman
With four of the six competitors all suffering huge bumps off the top of the structure, it starts to look more and more like none of these men will be able to make it out of Ultimate Eruption alive!
George and Lucas look to be the only ones left in the match that have the stamina to climb up the steel pillar, but George wants to ensure that he will be climbing up the pillar alone. Lucas goes to hit the stunner on George, but George instead reverses the stunner into a double underhook DDT of his own wiping out Lucas, at least temporarily! George goes to climb up the pillar, but instead notices a bunch of folded up steel chairs outside the ring. George starts laughing maniacally as he climbs down from bottom of the pillar and proceeds to set up a structure of about 12 steel chairs stacked up on top of each other in the corner of the ring. Just as George finishes stacking up the steel chairs, Lucas struggles up to his feet. George goes to hit his Yeet kick on Lucas through the steel chairs, but misses and Lucas out of nowhere connects with a spinning spinebuster on George THROUGH THE STEEL CHAIRS BACK FIRST!!!!
"Spinebuster through the steel chairs!!" - Mike Tenay
"Can this match get any crazier??? This is ridiculous!" - Coty Coleman
George is knocked out completely on top of the sea of steel chairs. Robbie starts coming back to himself and starts exchanging blows to the face back and forth with Ryan Lucas, both wanting to wear the other down as much as they can. With George now being basically the only completely wiped out, everyone else is struggling to stay up but are refusing to stay down. Geraci and Austin start brawling around the ring, but Darren comes out of nowhere with a steel chair in hand smashing it over the back of Geraci and over the top of the head of Austin Michael Pieper! Darren hits the edge of steel chair into the gut of Robbie Casey and Ryan Lucas who are brawling, as it looks like Darren Cox might be the one in control now with his steel chair insurance policy! But just as Darren is walking over to the steel pillar to climb up, Ben Geraci comes charging at Darren -- SPEARING HIM NOT JUST ON BUT THROUGH THE FRONT RIGHT SOLID STEEL PILLAR CAUSING THE ENTIRE PILLAR TO CRUMBLE ON TOP OF BOTH MEN!!!
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW??! BEN GERACI JUST SPEARED DARREN COX NOT ON THE STEEL PILLAR BUT THROUGH IT!!!" - Mike Tenay
"AND THE ENTIRE PILLAR FELL RIGHT ON TOP OF THEM!!! SOMEBODY NEEDS TO CHECK ON THEM NOW!" - Coty Coleman
Austin Pieper, Ryan Lucas, and Robbie Casey all are slowly struggling up to their feet, still feeling the effects of everything, including the most recent steel chair shots from The Phenom who now lies motionless below a 2500 pound steel pillar! And all at the same time, all three remaining men left start to climb up opposite sides of the same pillar still standing. Halfway up the pillar, Robbie Casey headbutts the King of the Mountain Champion several times and then bounces his head off the steel, forcing him to crash down to the canvas one last time!
"The champion is down! Austin has been knocked off the pillar!" - Mike Tenay
"Whoa whoa whoa! Are we gonna have a new King of the Mountain Champion??" - Coty Coleman
"Well it certainly looks like it!" - Mike Tenay
Lucas and Casey continue to climb up the pillar finally reaching the cable. Lucas attempts to reach out for the belt first, but Robbie Casey headbutts Lucas as well, forcing him to stagger a little bit as well!
"Are you telling me Robbie Casey is gonna become the new King of the Mountain Champion in his debut match??!?" - Mike Tenay
"That'd be one hell of an impact, wouldn't it?!" - Coty Coleman
"I don't even know why this stupid asshole is in this match to begin with! How do you even qualify for this in your first match?!" - Ben Davis
"Well it looks like he's doing a pretty good job keeping up, I'll tell ya!" - Mike Tenay
Just as it looks like Robbie is about to powerbomb Lucas off the pillar though and claim his championship belt, Ryan Lucas out of nowhere hits a lowblow on Casey and proceeds to hit a half way stunner on the free agent!!!!
"STUNNER STUNNER STUNNER!!!" - Mike Tenay
Casey goes crashing off the top of the pillar through the motionless George and 12 stacked up broken chairs!! The crowd jumps up to their feet with excitement while Tenay and Coleman are screaming for Lucas to climb across the cables and grab the belt! Just as Lucas is climbing across the cables to the title belt, Austin below the structure is desperately trying to climb up the pillar to stop Lucas. But just as Austin positions himself on the pillar to climb up it, Lucas is able to latch onto the King of the Mountain Championship belt and yank it down off the cable....both barreling down to the hard stiff canvas!!
"We've got a new King of the Mountain Champion!" - Mike Tenay
"And it's Lucas?!?" - Ben Davis
Ryan Lucas lies on his back with the title belt clinched tightly in his hands as the camera zooms in on a completely shocked and distraught Austin who is laying over top of the steel pillar shaking his head that Lucas was able to take his title belt away.
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Steve Steigerwald vs Brady "The Bard" Steigerwald
Before the match ever starts, Steve Steigerwald is standing in the ring pacing back and forth waiting for The Bard to come out. But as soon as The Bard's music hits and he comes out through the curtain and onto the stage, Darren Cox Sr comes barreling out through the curtain too with a running clothesline on Brady! Commentary sells the shock of what is happening right now, considering Darren Cox Sr had nothing to do with this match, this feud, these two guys, or anything on the entire card! Darren starts kicking Brady's back and drilling into him like a rabid animal. Darren picks Brady up to his feet by his hair and screams in Brady's face, "THIS IS FOR MY SON!!!" before throwing him face first through the glass on one of the set props on stage!
Steve looks at the damage from Darren Cox Sr in total shock, having no idea what's going on, even questioning the referee about what this means for his match against Brady tonight. Darren surveys the damage from a now bleeding profusely Bard. Darren shakes his head with a sick smile and turns back around aggressively with his tongue out storming down the ramp and towards the ring with his eyes now locked on the eyes of Steve Steigerwald!!
Steve starts preparing for Darren Cox Sr's entrance into the ring, bouncing back and forth ready for Darren to make his first move. Darren gets up onto the ring apron and just stares at Steve with wide eyes, nodding his head yes and screaming at the referee that he "wants this match!"
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Steve Steigerwald vs Darren Cox Sr.
The referee questions Steve if he is fine with this, but before Steve can even answer, Darren Cox Sr jumps into the ring and runs to Steve barreling him with shot after shot to the face! Steve screams at the referee to "START THE DAMN MATCH!" and the two immediately go at it with back and forth shots!
The match isn't a long one, but Darren Cox Sr especially looks like he wants to rip Steve and anyone else who gets in his way's head off! Throughout the FIGHT, commentary continues to sell the suspense as to why Darren Cox Sr is doing all this and what this "FOR MY SON!!" means!
After Sr's initial hubbspah fire runs out a little bit, Steve is able to flip the momentum a little bit more in his favor, catching Cox with a big boot to the face...followed up with a sidewalk slam! Steve sets him up for a Jackknife Powerbomb, but Cox Sr is able to reverse it into a crossface chicken wing of his own, screaming at Steve to tap out!!! Steve desperately tries to reach for the bottom rope, but Cox Sr uses his ring awareness by flipping Steve backwards and into the center of the ring away from the ropes!
"This right here could be the end for Steve Steigerwald! Perfect perfect ring awareness!" - Coty Coleman
Even though it looks like Cox Sr is going to get Steve to tap out, somehow the big man is able to leverage himself up enough to reverse it into a Samoan Drop to break all momentum that Cox Sr looks to have! Steve picks Cox back up to his knees and goes to attempt the Jackknife Powerbomb again, but before he can even get him up, Cox Sr low blows Steve...bounces off the ropes and comes barreling down with a -- SPEAR SPEAR SPEAR!!!!! Cox covers Steve for the pinfall, 1...2...3!! Darren Cox Sr has picked up the unexpected victory from Steve Steigerwald! Taking out 2/3 Steigerwalds within 10 minutes of each other!
(throwing his arms out and pounding on his chest) "DARRRRRENNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!" - Darren Cox Sr
Cox Sr hops out of the ring and proceeds to walk up the ramp as backstage correspondent and spokesperson Jackson Murphy comes rushing out with a microphone wanting to find out exactly why Darren Cox Sr did what he did tonight to both Brady and Steve!
(smirks at the question) "It's real simple! There ain't no reason why my boy didn't make it into the damned WWEP Hall of Fame!" - Darren Cox Sr
Cox Sr starts pointing out the next few statements on his fingers.
"He's won matches. He's won titles . He's earned his spot in that hall of fame!" - Darren Cox Sr
Darren shakes his head in disgust at the thought of the people who have made it into the hall of fame, clearly getting a very mixed reaction from the crowd in attendance.
"I think the fact that someone like The Bard is in the hall of fame and not my son...makes me absolutely sick! For one, Austin shouldn't even be eligible for the damned Hall of Fame! Darren's won championships and he's beaten better men to take those championships! You can like him or not, but my boy deserves to be in the hall of fame! Hell my boy deserves his own damn hall of fame!" - Darren Cox Sr
Darren's eyes light up as he starts motioning what the sign should say outside the door of the hall of fame.
"The Hall of Cox! Nice little ring to it...That's what we'll call it!" - Darren Cox Sr
Darren again switches gears and starts pointing down to the ring aggressively at Steve who is slowly making it back up to his feet.
"But it allllll started with that piece of garbage right down there in that ring right now, and hell he didn't deserve it THEN and he DAMN SURE doesn't deserve it now! But I'm going through every son of a bitch in that hall of fame, til my boy and I are given the respect we deserve! Because I'm making my damned way to the Hall of Fame myself....AND I'M BRINGIN' MY BOY WITH ME! WE BOTH ARE GETTING OUR COX ON THAT DAMNED HALL OF FAME!!" - Darren Cox Sr
Darren Cox Sr nods his head with a big yes and then throws the microphone down out of Jackson's hand before storming up the ramp!
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"One Last Rodeo"
T-Dog vs RJ Stagg
As T-Dog makes his GLORIOUS entrance he gets to the ring and awaits his POSSIBLE opponent. The referee and timekeeper are confused since RJ Stagg has not technically accepted this match or even said he would be here tonight, but T-Dog audibly reiterates to them that if Stagg does not show up within the next 2 minutes then the referee can count for a 10 count out. T-Dog bouncing up and down in the center of the ring awaiting Stagg's possible appearance has the crowd at a fever pitch and commentary speculating about if he will even show up tonight, considering his response at the end of the press conference didn't answer anything about if he would be here! A minute or so passes and clearly T-Dog is getting more and more restless when all of a sudden the lights in the stadium dim. The crowd pops with excitement that RJ Stagg might actually be here to accept T-Dog's challenge.
A bright spotlight is shown on the top of the Wrestlemania stage as it slow dramatic music starts playing softly. The camera zooms in on a smirk from T-Dog who clearly understands now that RJ Stagg is coming! The music hits a crescendo and RJ Stagg slowly walks out through the curtain to a huge ovation of both cheers and jeers. Stagg walks out onto the stage with an arrogant halfway smirk on his face, looking back and forth on stage at the crowd and T-Dog bounces up and down in the ring hyping himself up for what commentary refers to as "The Last Rodeo". The entire time Stagg makes his way slowly down the ramp having a staredown with T-Dog, commentary hypes up the history that these two have with each other and that they are truly the originals of this organization.
"All great stories and story arcs come down to this. Batman has his Joker. Superman has his Lex Luthor. Daniel Larusso has his Johnny Lawrence. Tyson has his Holyfield. And at this moment in front of over 70,000 people in Texas Stadium...T-Dog has his...R...J....Stagggg." - Mike Tenay
"I've got goosebumps already forming! I've been up and down the road with both of these men from the beginning. We are the true OGs. These two men single-handedly define what this entire industry is about." - Coty Coleman
"Psh! I kicked both their asses and I'm going to love watching these two rip each other apart tonight!" - Ben Davis
RJ Stagg slowly gets into the ring and stands face to face with T-Dog, both with very confident smirks on their faces staring deep into each other's eyes.
"You wanted it...you got it..." (nods his head) - RJ Stagg
As soon as the bell rings though, the crowd is at fever pitch going back and forth with dual chants for each man. The two men continue to stare each other down, and then begin circling each other in the middle of the ring, both both trying to anticipate the other's movement first. Commentary sells the moot point of how familiar both these men are with each other, and the fact that they seem to know every single move in each other's arsenal. T-Dog immediately goes after the legs of Stagg, trying to ground him...but Stagg manages to step over him. Stagg catches T-Dog's leg, but T-Dog hastily gets out of his opponent's grasp. While the fans show their support, trying to build some momentum.
The two men back away from each other, before resorting back to circling one another, trying to work one another out. This time the men lock up, Stagg stepping behind and locking in a brief waist lock before T-Dog powers out and locks in one of his own. Stagg drops to the mat, pulling T-Dog down with him and locking him in a leg bar but T-Dog easily manages to get to the ropes, once again finding a way to stalemate this. The referee calls for a rope break as it looks for a moment that Stagg was debating about keeping the hold and making use of the five-count. Instead, he allows T-Dog out of the hold and back to his feet.
The two men lock up in a test of strength, Stagg striking with a kick to the back of T-Dog's right leg, but he doesn't manage to topple his opponent. Side headlock applied, T-Dog, manages to get Stagg into the ropes and whip him, tripping his legs and rolling Stagg up for the first pin attempt of the match. Shoulders down...1.......2...NO!
Both men are back on their feet, T-Dog goes to apply another waist lock but Stagg this time reverses it into his own. T-Dog leans forward and pulls Stagg out by the legs, causing him to fall back on his head, he grabs Stagg's legs, but Stagg's strength in his legs is too powerful and he is able to use his legs to push T-Dog back into the ropes. RJ jumps back up to his feet and goes to clothesline T-Dog over the top rope, but T-Dog manages to dodge RJ and connect with a -- FACE BUSTER DRIVING STAGG'S FACE INTO THE CANVAS! 1...2....SHOULDER UP BY RJ Stagg!!!
T-Dog hasn't released his grasp on Stagg though and pulls him back up - Irish whip into the corner....but it's reversed by Stagg! Stagg comes charging at T-Dog in the corner for a Stinger Splash, but T-Dog quickly uses his acrobatic ability to flip over the top rope before Stagg can hit, T-Dog hopping up onto the top turnbuckle, and connecting with a devastating HURRICARANA THAT COMPLETELY HALTS ANY OF STAGG'S MOMENTUM! BAM!
"Did you just see that athleticism from T-Dog?!?" - Mike Tenay
"He's born for this Tenay!" - Coty Coleman
This time it's T-Dog who charges at a struggling up to his feet RJ Stagg, but Stagg is able to utilize his weight and strength advantage to power "The Inglorius Bastard" over and onto the apron. Stagg bounces off the ropes and takes a big run-up with a dropkick, sending T-Dog out to the floor face first onto the edge of the commentary booth! Stagg goes to the apron and comes leaping down like a beast with a double axe handle right across the back of T-Dog's neck as T-Dog is trying to struggle up from his knees! As T-Dog lies flat on his back outside the ring, RJ Stagg in his usual demeanor starts gloating at taunting at the crowd, pressing his foot against the head of T-Dog.
"You wanted one last shot at The Great Kavortha, Tweedle T-Dick?!?" - RJ Stagg
The crowd starts to boo RJ Stagg resorting back to his old classic ways, who seems to be firmly in control of the match at this point. Stagg throws T-Dog back into the ring and attempts another clothesline, but T-Dog catches him with a kick to the gut, followed up with another to sweep the legs and send the big man off his feet! T-Dog hyper-extends Stagg's leg and begins to stomp on the hamstring, looking to cause some damage and T-Dog clearly tapped into a different and more vicious side of himself. Stagg manages to roll free and gets back up to his feet to meet T-Dog with a rattling forearm, with the two now exchanging blow after blow with one another until both men can barely stand up. A Snapmare is executed by T-Dog, who delivers a STIFF KICK to the back of his opponent causing Stagg to stagger a little bit. T-Dog steps to the apron and slingshots himself over the top rope onto Stagg with a HILO!.
COVER! ONE...TWO... A generous two count but Stagg manages to stay alive!
The two men begin to exchange forearms again, with the crowd divided between who to support. T-Dog sneaks in another kick to the hamstring, to take Stagg off of his guard but Stagg responds with a chop across his opponent's chest. T-DOG WITH THE FOREARM AGAIN. STAGG RESPONDS WITH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT. This one is breaking down between two world-class veterans.
Stagg catches T-Dog's leg and connects with a knee to the jaw, knocking T-Dog for six feet, back into the corner. Stagg runs up like a maniac with another chop before delivering another and another. The crowd is rife with Ric Flair references, but T-Dog somehow manages to push him away to create some distance. The two meet once more, this time Stagg goes for a suplex attempt but leaves himself open to another kick to the hamstring by the Inglorious Bastard and a big one that sends the big man rebounding back, hitting his head on the second turnbuckle!
The referee backs T-Dog away, checking that this match can continue from that devastating headshot on RJ and the turnbuckle. But RJ reassures the official that he's fine. Meanwhile, T-Dog is fired up and gestures to the mixed crowd...ROUNDHOUSE KICK! BUT STAGG DODGES IT...LOW CLOTHESLINE FROM T-DOG WHO FLIPS STAGG OVER AND LOCKS IN A LEGBAR! All the leg attacks and the targeted kicks have led to this as RJ Stagg screams out in pain!!!
Half the crowd who is behind RJ Stagg cheers him on as he manages to somehow get back up to his feet! But T-Dog is relentless with the hold, refusing to let up on it screaming at Stagg to submit. But Stagg's overall strength and ring prowless allows him to arch up his back into an inverted cover on T-Dog!
ONE...TWO...HAS HE DONE IT!? NO! NOT THIS TIME!
RJ Stagg is not giving up as he charges toward T-Dog, who explodes with a german suplex into the turnbuckle! T-Dog drags Stagg into the middle of the ring away from the ropes and covers him for a pinfall,...ONE... TWO...KICKOUT! STAGG WILL JUST NOT STAY DOWN!!
Commentary can't determine who will win this one, with neither man backing down. Both men are vying to end their legacy against one another on top as the crowd is fully behind both men in this match. T-Dog gestures that this one is about to be over lifting Stagg up to his knees. T-Dog calls for the Crossroads, but before he can finish him off with it, Stagg manages to drop down and turn T-Dog towards him to deliver an almighty slap across the face, before transitioning into a big-time belly-to-belly suplex that knocks T-Dog senseless for a couple moments! Stagg now now starts delivering some brutal-looking knees to the mid-section of T-Dog, who is trying desperately to get back to his feet. Stagg hobbles over T-Dog and locks in a GUILLOTINE CHOKE! T-DOG HAS NOWHERE TO GO!
"Here we go! Is he gonna tap?! Is The Inglorious Bastard gonna tap?!" - Mike Tenay
T-Dog tries to reach for the bottom rope, but Stagg pulls harder and harder on T-Dog forcing a reposition back into the center of the ring.
"See that right there! That's smart smart thinking for the multi time world champion! He could see T-Dog getting a little bit close to those ropes and he pulled him right back in!" - Coty Coleman
As it looks like T-Dog might be fading away though, Stagg pulls harder on the neck of T-Dog screaming, "WHY....WONT...YOU...DIE???!" Just as Stagg seems to have this match completely in the bag though, in some miraculous fashion, T-Dog is able to struggle up to his feet with Stagg staying locked around his neck. T-Dog falls backwards into the corner, crashing Stagg back first into the turnbuckles. The force of the bump causes Stagg's arms to loosen and T-Dog finally gets free! Stagg staggers around holding his back and T-Dog bounces off the ropes coming in hot with a flying lariat clothesline!
"STAGG IS DOWN! STAGG IS DOWN!!" - Mike Tenay
T-Dog starts motioning for Stagg to get back up to his feet, rallying HIS crowd up behind him. Stagg slowly makes it back up to one knee and then both feet when T-Dog swiftly kicks Stagg one more time in the gut and connects with his devastating signature, The Crossroads completely wiping the Hall of Famer out!
ONE....KICK OUT STAGG COME ON...TWO....T-DOG MIGHT HAVE IT....THREE!!! T-DOG WINS! T-DOG HAS DETHRONED THE GREAT KAVORTHA!
As the bell rings, T-Dog falls onto his back in mutual exhaustion as well, completely spent from the grueling and hard hitting match he just had with RJ Stagg. After catching his breath for a few seconds, T-Dog slowly makes it back up to his feet and celebrates with the crowd at ringside, making his way to the back BUT THROUGH THE CROWD OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. But as T-Dog makes his triumphant celebration into the crowd and to the back, RJ Stagg slowly makes it back up to his feet as well in the center of the ring.
The crowd all mutually are clapping for the effort and toll that RJ Stagg put on his body in this legendary bow to a story that may never be told again with these two! Stagg looks around at the crowd with a thankful look on his face before going to step out of the ring. But before he steps out of the ring, he turns back around...leans down...and takes his boots off. Stagg holds up his boots to the crowd and then places them in the center of the ring before walking out of the ring. Commentary teases if this is the end of RJ Stagg and if we will ever see him again as cameras zoom in on RJ's boots in the ring and commentary sends us home for night one of Wrestlemania.
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