MAINSTREAM 36 - CHICAGO - 04/05/2020

[Robert Daniels]

Battleground Network Presents

MAINSTREAM WRESTLING 36
SUNDAY - 04/05/2020
SEARS CENTRE ARENA
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

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MAINSTREAM WRESTLING IS LIVE FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND WE’RE INSIDE THE SEARS CENTRE ARENA!

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EARLIER TONIGHT...
Mainstream 36 cuts to the back and the shot is of the United States Championship that is glimmering on its stand. The shine of that title is just as bright, if not brighter, than the light that shines upon it and soon enough, an opening door is heard in the background as well as the sound of someone walking in. The door is closes and the scene pans to reveal Julianna DiMaria standing above her newly won United States Championship from two weeks ago. She beams with pride as she picks up the championship and slings it over her shoulder, exuding a confidence that has never been seen in her before. Maintaining this composure, she has a confident scoff to herself before she begins to express her thoughts.

JULIANNA DIMARIA: Surprised? I wouldn’t blame you. It sure as hell looked like I was screwed when I was not only dealing with Bryan Ford but the possibility of Cartier at ringside trying to screw things up for me. Of course, most of you expected I’d be a first round elimination anyway right? Because oh my … my opponent was AJ Morales right… the former Mr. Multiple Belts if I remember correctly? But how can he lose against JULIANNA… the JOKE of Portland Pro Wrestling who was last seen pulling some clown shit?

Julianna pauses and has another amused scoff to herself.

JULIANNA DIMARIA: What you’re seeing here is a sight that had been destined for me since the moment I began my training to become a professional wrestler. This destiny right here is something that I could have and should have had earlier in my career but it didn’t happen because of a combination of bullshit stemming from “powers that be” and… I’ll be adult enough to admit it.. My own damn fault. You people didn’t believe me when I said that I had matured, grown up, gotten better, left the clown shit in the past and so on and so forth. Do you believe me now?

“Are you still thinking that I’m the same joke that I used to be earlier in my career when I was doing nothing but starting Twitter fights, hashtagging offline and pissing people off just for the sake of pissing people off? If you do… this championship that I have here proves you wrong once and for all and I know what you’re thinking… ‘well, it’s a fluke’”

“Hey, keep finding excuses right?”

“Keep trying to explain to the masses how I’m attaining this success that nobody thought I would ever have because really, the ONLY explanation needed is that I grew up and started to focus a hell of a lot more on my natural, in-ring ability than I had ever done before and THAT is how I was able to win the Grand Prix and win this tournament and I’m going to keep this going… I’m going to be that champion that Bryan Ford before me never could be… and quite frankly never will be.”

“I am not the same bitch that used to run from a fight, I’m not that same bitch that always tried to duck a challenge and I say this because my opponent needs to have that drilled in her skull.”

“HI TRIXIE, remember me?”

Julianna briefly pauses and follows up with a mocking wave before she continues.

JULIANNA DIMARIA: I know you do! I know that by the time I was promoted to that roster you were long gone and all of that, but you never paid much attention to me back then did you? I can’t blame you. I had no reason to be on your radar back then. But am I on your radar now, Trix? Hmm? After all, you’ve been one of the top women here right? “Prime Girl”? I know you’ve been seen as perhaps the best women’s wrestler in the company right now for… a while.

“But you didn’t show that in this tournament, did you Miss First Round Elimination?”

“Don’t think I’m looking past you… because I’m not!”

“That’s not me anymore.”

“You’re still going to be tough competition for me but I proved when I won this championship that I can beat ANY competition no matter how tough it is… Morales… Cartier… Ford… you name it and you’re going to be added to that list tonight, Trixie. I don’t plan on being a one off champion. So listen here “PRIME GIRL”... you’re getting someone who deserves to be the definition of PRIME… because that’s what I’m becoming… that’s where I’ve just reached in my career… later than I hoped… sure… but I’m there now and that’s all that matters! My first defense against you?”

“It’s going to prove that!”

Julianna has a bit of a glare in her eyes as she turns around and leaves the scene, confident in her chances of victory as the scene shifts to ringside in the empty arena where even Charles Hudson and McKayla Lewis are sitting six feet apart.

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  Ladies and Gentlemen MAINSTREAM 36 is Live from Chicago, Illinois inside an empty Sears Centre for what should be an action packed night of Mainstream Wrestling!

CHARLES HUDSON:  We’re on the heels of MAINSTREAM 35 and we have new champions Lou. One of which you just seen and that’s the new United States Champion Julianna DiMaria!

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  Don’t forget Billy Danielson has regained the World Heavyweight Championship that he last held during the Summer of 2017! Wow that’s been a long time! But first off tonight Julianna DiMaria defends her newly won United States Championship against Trixie!

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[Robert Daniels]

MAINSTREAM WRESTLING
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
★★★ JULIANNA DIMARIA (C) ★★★
vs
★★★ TRIXIE ★★★

The bell rings and it’s Trixie and Julianna DiMaria sharing a stare down in the beginning of this match. Julianna shoves Trixie as they get closer, pushing The Prime Girl's face rather than the typical torso push. For his trouble, Trixie delivers a spinning heel kick that catches DiMaria off-guard. Julianna goes over to the corner and forces Trixie to back off so they can get up. Julianna tries to get hold of Trixie in a waist lock grapple.

Trixie pulls it apart and headbutts Julianna right on the nose. Julianna backs off holding their face while Trixie runs to pick up some speed so she can hit a running knee lift. Julianna doubles over while Trixie backs up off the ropes to strike with a scissors kick across the back of the head. The Prime Girl covers for a pin fall, only Julianna manages to push him off. Regardless, Trixie still goes right into her sexy stunner split legged stunner, again trying to put Julianna DiMaria away early as she makes the cover for 1...2...KICKOUT!

Julianna is crawling on the mat after taking that wicked strike by Trixie and Trixie is looking very determined as she measures the new United States Champion. Julianna stands up and she’s holding her jaw. Trixie runs up at her and attempts a forearm strike but Julianna is able to counter by tripping her up with a drop toe hold and leaving her hanging off of the ropes. Julianna expresses some anger as she pulls the top rope up and presses her knee into Trixie’s spine, causing Trixie to yell out in pain.

The referee walks up to her and begins to make a five count and Julianna breaks up the count by letting go at for. Julianna steps back but then delivers a running knee to the back causing her to come off the ropes and onto the mat. Julianna then rears back and runs up to the lain out Trixie, delivering a sliding dropkick that sends Trixie out of the ring. Trixie rolls onto the floor and slowly stands up while the crowd pulls for her but the moment she goes vertical, Julianna had run across the ring, slingshot herself onto the top rope, then bounced off the top rope and delivered a running springboard somersault senton that drives Trixie’s back right into the edge of the announce table.

Julianna rolls away in pain, but Trixie far and away got the worst of it as she grabs her back in agony. Julianna is able to slowly stand up and she grabs Trixie from behind, violently throwing her back in the ring before rolling back in the ring herself. Julianna drags Trixie up by the hair and then grabs her from behind the knees, scooping her up off the mat. Julianna expresses a snarl on her face when she drives Trixie’s lower back into her knee and delivering a backbreaker. Julianna smirks when she realizes the type of agony that Trixie finds herself in when the United States Champion turns her over, drops down and hooks the leg for the cover for 1...2...KICKOUT!

Julianna's backbreaker leaves Trixie face down on the mat where she applies a camel clutch for good measure! Trixie remains strong and fights out of the camel clutch hold. Julianna stuns Trixie to try and get some speed behind her forearm only to meet Trixie's superkick right under the chin. Julianna falls onto her back and tries to get back up, only to be assisted up by Trixie for her beautiful disaster RKO. Julianna looks out of it when Trixie makes the cover for 1...KICKOUT!

Julianna tries to reverse Trixie's suplex only to see Trixie land behind DiMaria; Trixie shoves Julianna into the corner chest first and catches Julianna on the rebound with an STO backbreaker reverse STO combo. Trixie floats over onto his feet in order to back up into the ropes and land the running sliding dropkick to the side of Julianna's head. Julianna is flat out now with Trixie crawling over to make a pin cover with one arm forcing Julianna down. Julianna has to dig deep to force Trixie off to kick out. Trixie goes to shining wizard Julianna there and then however Julianna avoids it and school-boy rolls up The Prime Girl for a cover with the ropes! The official spots it and a intense verbal trade of words happens. Julianna shoves the official who doesn't take that kindly and shoves Julianna right back to remind them who's in charge. Julianna gets spun around by Trixie, landing his beautiful disaster RKO to lay out DiMaria for yet another cover of 1...2...KICKOUT!

After Julianna manages to kick out of Trixie’s pinfall attempt, Trixie gets to her knees and measures the United States Champion as she tries to stand up. Julianna slowly gets to her feet before Trixie clubs her in her chest with a forearm to keep Julianna doubled over and to prevent her from getting to a complete vertical base. Trixie hooks Julianna’s arms and looks to try to get her in a butterfly suplex of sorts but Julianna at the last second blocks the move that Trixie is trying to do before she counters by using her strength to flip Trixie over her head with a modified back body drop.

Trixie lands on her lower back and she yells out in pain which only causes Julianna some pleasure as she measures Trixie from behind. Trixie holds her spine as she gets up near the corner and Julianna is quick to make a mad dash toward her, jumping and driving her knees into Trixie’s spine as she plasters her into the corner. Julianna turns Trixie to pick her up and place her on the top corner and Julianna climbs to the second rope. She delivers a couple of forearm shots to Trixie before jumping from the second rope and clasping her with a headscissors as she attempts a hurricanrana. Trixie however, blocks it as she tries to flip her over. She then stands up on the second rope herself while Julianna is in a state of panic. Grabbing Julianna from the air, she lifts her up with a powerbomb in mind. Julianna though, fires some punches trying to block this. She then grabs the ropes by her sides and uses them and any momentum to flip Trixie over her head with that hurricanrana causing her to crash, spine first into the mat. Julianna gently lands on her feet and then climbs to the top. Trixie turns around and when she does so, Julianna dives off the top rope into a cross body right into a pinfall attempt with the crowd wowed by her athleticism! The roll through from the cross body results in Julianna hooking both legs for the cover of 1…2...NEARFALL!

Trixie manages to kick out with all her might, much to Julianna’s chagrin. The Prime Girl is clawing her way back from DiMaria being in full control. She kicks Julianna's arm out the way with a spinning roundhouse, follows the momentum to spin around and jumping spinning roundhouse kicks Julianna into the ropes. Feeding off the fan's pop, The Prime Girl gets back up to catch Julianna on the rebound with his sexy stunner split legged stunner. Julianna still has some life left so Trixie uses her beautiful disaster (rko) but Julianna winds up grabbing the ropes. Julianna goes out the ring where she doesn't realize Trixie has stepped out on the apron.

A running big boot to the face from Trixie to Julianna pops the crowd and Trixie quickly gets Julianna back in the ring. The Prime Girl dives at DiMaria to land a flying knee to knock Julianna over onto his knees. Superkick #1, Superkick #2 and Superkick #3 all land on Julianna who wobbles back and forth like a jack in the box. Trixie wraps her arms around the head of Julianna and spike DDT's her into the mat. Trixie rolls Julianna DiMaria to make the cover for 1...2...KICKOUT!

Julianna DiMaria kicks out at the very last second possible and rolls over to all fours. Trixie is in disbelief as the United States Champion looks to make a stand against her challenger. DiMaria manages to stand up but Trixie comes in and punches her right in the face to catch her off guard. Trixie fires another right hand that Julianna takes on the chin and when Trixie tries to fire a punch toward her again, Julianna manages to block it and respond with a hard chop across the chest that causes Trixie to double over.

Julianna manages to grab her and take her down with a snap suplex and she expresses some anger in her face after she does so. Trixie slowly gets up, but Julianna is right behind her and she picks her up, hoisting Trixie by putting Trixie’s spine on her right shoulder. Julianna drops to her knees and winces with some slight shoulder pain, but Trixie gets the brunt of it as she’s experiencing some pain in her lower back. Julianna has a bit of an evil smirk on her face as she stands up, drags Trixie to the corner and picks her up, tying her ankles around the top turnbuckle and causing her challenger to flail around as she’s stuck in the familiar tree of woe position. Julianna delivers a corner foot choke to strangle Trixie before the referee gets involved and begins a count. Julianna breaks it up at four before she reverts to another dirty trick of stomping Trixie in the chest repeatedly before again the referee breaks things up.

Julianna grabs Trixie’s arm and then has her in a crucifix powerbomb position. She walks toward and plucks Trixie from the corner, finally freeing her but Trixie slips out at the last second. Julianna turns around and Trixie tries to nail her with a spinning heel kick, but Julianna ducks it. Trixie spins around right into a knee to the gut by Julianna, then a sleeper hold from her as she drags her back to the corner in it. She places her back on the top rope and hoists her up as she climbs to the second rope before leaping off and delivering a second rope sit out power-bomb followed with the pin for 1...2...3!

GRAHAM STEVENS: Your winner by pin fall and STILL Mainstream Wrestling United States Champion...JULIANNA—DIMARIA!

CHARLES HUDSON:  Awesome match between two of Mainstream Wrestling’s top female competitors!

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  No argument there Charles! Trixie put it all on the line tonight but it was Julianna DiMaria taking a stand and defending her championship!

CHARLES HUDSON:  Trixie is a two-time Tag Team Champion but she’s still yet to taste singles gold in Mainstream Wrestling.

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  Ladies and Gentlemen now that’s one way to kickoff MAINSTREAM 36! We’re going to take our first break and when we return we’ll have more Mainstream Wrestling!

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[Robert Daniels]

EARLIER TONIGHT...
CHRIS MADISON: Mainstream Thirty-Five didn’t quite go as planned.

The hoarse voice of Chris Madison was heard before the video feed came into picture. Isolated backstage, he leans forward, with both of his hands pressed on a large production case, a towel draped over his head, and his back facing the camera.

CHRIS MADISON: It wasn’t all that long ago that Jason Cashe came back to 4CW, desperately lookin’ for a way to reignite that competitive flame within. He issued a challenge and I accepted. The result? Maybe the four most embarrassin’ losses of his career. Not because of the opponent who stood across from him in the ring, but because of his own inability to answer his own challenge. That wasn’t the Jason Cashe that I got to face for the Television Championship. That Jason Cashe… Had he shown up to 4CW… We would have had a best of seven series that went the distance and would have left the fans beggin’ for us to fight forever.

Madison pushes off of the case and tugs the towel from the top of his head. He stands still, only for a brief moment, before flipping the towel over his shoulder and turning towards the camera.

CHRIS MADISON: That’s just not feasible… Nor would I ask such a thing. Cashe earned that win and doesn’t deserve to have me continuously knockin’ on that door. But as one door closes, another door opens.

Madison grins as he nods his head.

CHRIS MADISON: I’ll be the first to admit, maybe I haven’t quite earned this, but I’m also not one to turn down an opportunity. That opportunity comes in the form of another familiar foe from days past. AJ Morales… A chance to become the number one contender for the United States Championship. AJ, you know me… You know that I’m not the kind of guy who fails. And on the rare occasions that I do come up short, it’s usually short lived. If you’re gonna take full advantage of this opportunity, you’re going to have to make use of every square inch within those four angles to find a way to beat me.

Madison exhales, pushing the air through his nostrils as he grits his teeth. He takes a few steps past the camera crew and comes to an abrupt stop.

CHRIS MADISON: Best bet, move aside before you jeopardize your career - or at least what you think constitutes as a career!

[Robert Daniels]

MAINSTREAM WRESTLING
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER
★★★ A.J. MORALES ★★★
vs
★★★ CHRIS MADISON ★★★

As the bell rings, the two contenders touch gloves before circling each other around the center of the ring. Their past encounters in 4CW, both of which also took place in the Midwest, are no doubt replaying in their minds, along with every lesson learned from them. The War Machine and the Revolution start getting closer, fending each other off with low kicks and pawing jabs until they ultimately settle into a collar-and-elbow, which A.J. immediately knees his way out of—he knows damn well how much heavier Chris is, and he’s not interested in a test of strength. Instead, A.J. starts applying the sweet science, alternating lefts and rights to Madison’s ribcage to make sure it’s Morales who controls the positioning. Chris adjusts after a few seconds, dodging some punches and throwing a counterpunch of his own, but that’s when A.J. switches things up again and goes to Tae Kwon Do, catching Chris with a twist on one of the Revolution’s oldest bread-and-butter combos—roundhouse to the face, run it back for a reverse roundhouse to the chest, then an axe kick to knock Chris facedown to the canvas. A.J. immediately gets down, rolls Madison onto his back and makes the cover...1!...Chris kicks out at 1.5 or so!

Morales gets to his feet. Waves for Madison to rises and steps back to give him a bit of space. As Madison stands, he explodes forward, securing both legs, lifting AJ into the air and slamming him down to the mat. Madison quickly slips into a full mount. Madison tries to isolate an arm but AJ slips out and tries to spin free. Madison secures a rear waist lock and keeps Morales grounded, holding him in a seated position. Morales fights to his feet and begins to drag Madison with him towards the corner.

Morales walks up the turnbuckles and breaks free from Madison grasp, flipping over his opponent. Morales runs towards the ropes and rebounds back towards his opponent but is caught with a Lou Thesz Press. Madison sticks to his opponent and begins hammering away with 12 to 6 elbow strikes to the head of AJ Morales while he tries his best to cover up. Madison rises to his feet and stalks AJ Morales while he crawls towards the ropes. As AJ Morales stands tall, Madison slips behind him and locks in a full nelson before snapping him backwards with a dragon suplex!

A.J. bounces off the canvas but rolls up and over, sitting kneeled. He stands in a hurry as does Chris Madison and Morales drives a knee into Madison's midsection before snatching Mayhem up into a Muay Thai clinch. Madison calls that bluff, breaks free and gets A.J. in the clinch, and drives the Revolution up against the ropes, trapping him there with knee strikes. He keeps this up until the ref starts moving to separate them, at which point Chris brings the clinch a few steps away from the ropes and smoothly transitions it into an Irish whip. Chris isn’t thinking back body drop, but he picks a particularly low stance to try and catch A.J. with on the rebound, and that gives Morales enough of an opening to leap up and over with a sunset flip. Chris instinctively moves to prevent A.J. from making a cover, but that just makes it easier for A.J. to dip into his judo training and catch Chris in an ankle lock. Mayhem yells out in pain, mixed with some surprise that A.J. would even go for a leg submission, but it’s not like he’s never had to get out of this situation before. Chris quickly props himself up on his elbows and turns them both around so he can grab the bottom rope and force a break.

A.J. lets go as soon as he’s told, and when Chris shakes out that right leg A.J. just had a hold on, the Slayer gets an idea. This time, he goes for the lock-up, thinking Madison’s balance might be off enough to even the playing field. From just the right angle, the cameras catch Chris’s knowing smirk, and a split-second later—SLAM! Chris uses his nearly 50-pound weight advantage to perform an effortless takedown, transitioning seamlessly into a Fujiwara armbar. Now it’s A.J. yelling in pain, this time mixed with a certain air of “How the hell did I fall for that?”, but it’s still early in the match, and they’re still close to the ropes. It doesn’t take much for A.J. to be able to get a foot on the bottom rope and force the break.

Chris releases the hold immediately, just as A.J. did for him, but he doesn’t exactly back off. He gets A.J. in another Muay Thai clinch and starts driving him towards a nearby corner, but this time, A.J. kicks Chris in the shin of his right leg. Now Mayhem’s balance is off, and the Revolution exploits the situation, transitioning through working holds to get to a European headlock, then running up the turnbuckle pads to go up and over...and he completes the shiranui! A.J. makes the cover...1!...2—no, not quite 2, as Chris puts a foot on the ropes to save himself and conserve his energy.

A.J. Morales frustrated, gets to his feet and kicks Madison's leg off the ropes. Madison sits up and looks to stand but Morales gets behind him. Morales grabs onto Madison tightly with a rear waistlock, taking a moment to catch his breath before dragging him to the center of the ring. Morales lifts Madison off of the canvas and slams him back with a german suplex! Morales holds onto Madison and rises to his feet, lifting Madison up and slamming him backwards with a second german suplex! One more time, albeit a little slower, Morales lifts Madison as he fights to his feet and slams him backwards with a third german suplex to complete the Smokin’ Kombo.

Morales forgoes the pin attempt and swiftly runs towards the corner. With his back pressed up against the turnbuckles, he holds onto the ropes as he urges Madison to get off of the mat. Madison pushes up to all fours and Morales charges towards him looking for a punt kick. Madison snaps out of it, snatches Morales’s leg before it makes contact with his head, trips him down to the mat, and quickly rolls into a calf slicer! Madison keeps his legs grapevined to the isolated leg of AJ Morales as he bends it backwards at the knee. AJ shrieks in pain as he tries to fight the submission hold. With no escape in sight, AJ plants both of his hands into the mat and begins dragging the both of them towards the ropes. AJ drops his shoulders to the mat and desperately reaches over his head, grabbing the bottom rope with both hands to break up the submission hold.

Madison lifts AJ up to his feet and backs him up against the ropes. He holds him there for just a moment and drives his knee into AJ’s got twice before whipping him across the ring. AJ rebounds, ducks underneath a clothesline attempt from Madison, and continues running. Morales leaps up onto the middle rope and springboards backwards, twisting into a meteora that catches Madison flush on the jaw. Morales’s momentum doesn’t stop. He rolls through to his feet and runs towards the ropes. Madison staggers to his feet by the time AJ returns and is slammed backwards with a sling blade.

Morales stands there and watches as Madison fights to his feet. Madison stands and turns into Morales’s waiting arms and is quickly spun into the canvas with a spinebuster. Instead of popping back up to his feet, Morales begins to squirm, flailing his right arm as the two lay on the mat. Madison managed to isolate one of his opponents arms and secured a kimura lock! Madison uses the submission to slip out from underneath his opponent. As Morales scratches and claws his way to the ropes, Madison transitions from the kimura lock to an omoplata! With his opponent’s arm trapped, Madison postures up and begins clubbing away with stiff forearm shots across the face of AJ Morales. Morales manages to get close enough to the ropes that he extends his leg and places his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold.

Chris Madison yanks A.J. to his feet but Morales takes control, dipping his shoulder and lifting Madison up into a fireman's carry. Madison fights free and slides down the back of Morales. He latches onto AJ with a rear waistlock and tries for a german suplex. AJ Morales manages to land on his feet and waits for Madison to rise to his feet. First opportunity he’s got, Morales connects with his F***ing Slayerrr Superkick! Madison hits the canvas hard and AJ instantly goes for the cover. 1… 2… Madison shoves Morales off of him and quickly gets to all fours. He crawls to the corner and uses the ropes to pull himself up to his feet. AJ charges behind him and Madison moves out of the way, causing Morales to crash sternum first into the turnbuckles. Morales stumbles backwards and Madison lifts him up onto his shoulders in a torture rack. Madison flips AJ’s legs into the air and hits a stiff knee as his feet touch the ground to finish his Torture Rack GTS! Madison makes the cover, hooking a leg. 1… 2… Thr--- NO! Morales barely kicks out!

Chris doesn’t want to take any chances here—he senses the end coming, and he knows how to put A.J. away. Pulling Morales to his feet, Madison gets the Revolution in a ripcord, pushes him away, then—WHAM! Leaves him Comatosed with that deadly rolling elbow! Chris maintains wrist control and gets A.J. up in the electric chair, ready to execute with the End Game. But this time, A.J. knows it’s coming, and he also knows how close they are to the ropes. So the Revolution leans over to grab the top rope, throwing Chris off-balance. War Machine tries to regain his footing, but the Slayer’s already pressing that advantage, tightening his legs around Madison’s neck and leaning even farther over until they both get tangled in the ropes. A.J. releases Chris’s neck, letting the veteran spill to the outside, then skins the cat to get back in the ring, races up to the top rope facing the ring, what’s he thinki—HOLY F#QKIN’ TOSTITO! MISTY FLIP INTO A METEORA! A.J. DRIVES CHRIS TO THE GROUND!

By all natural laws of combat sports, there should be an entire crowd on their feet right now. There should be thousands of fans from all over Illinois screaming their heads off, and bars all over the country full of people damaging each other’s hearing by making so much noise in such a crowded space. But this is the coronavirus era, where all natural laws about crowds go out the window, so when A.J. rolls all the way to the entrance ramp to absorb the impact and pops up into a raised-fist salute, instead of the roar he expects, all he hears is the commentators, screaming like usual for the TV audience’s benefit. The only two people in the stands are managers—Michelle Moana, who’s ecstatic seeing all those hours A.J. put in jumping on trampolines to see if he could even pull this off, and Frankie Morrison, pale as a ghost, wondering if his own client is even able to keep fighting.

Maybe that unsettling quiet is part of why, after a couple seconds, A.J. drops to his knees and doesn’t even try to head back to the ring. He just stays there, trying to wrap his brain around what he just pulled off, even after the referee starts the 20-count to corral both men back to the ring. By the time A.J. even notices it, the ref is up to 10 and Frankie’s frantically shaking the barricade back and forth, as if the loud, clattering noises might somehow will Chris back to reality.

“11!”

A.J. finally rises to his feet and looks over at Michelle, who gives him a nod, as if to tell him he already knows what to do.

“12!”

A.J. nods back and starts walking back over to the ring.

“13!”

A.J. stops right in front of Chris, considers stepping over him to get to the apron, then decides that’d be too disrespectful. He steps to the side…

“14!”

Chris finally springs back to life, grabbing A.J. by the ankle. A.J. freezes up, not even sure how to process this…

“15!”

“16!”

A.J. tries throwing shoot kicks with his free leg, but every time he does, Chris only seems to feed off the energy and pull himself a little higher.

“17!”

Chris still has A.J. by the ankle, and he’s high up enough that A.J. can’t throw another kick without compromising his own balance. A.J. tries throwing a punch, but he whiffs.

“18!”

Another punch from A.J., another whiff. Chris seems ready to twist that leg in two, but then…

“19!”

The two contenders look at each other in mutual panic before Chris drops A.J.’s leg and swipes an arm under the bottom rope, resetting the count and saving the U.S. title division rankings from a double-countout headache. A.J. thanks him with a nod, then slides back in the ring, where he’s joined by Chris soon after. Both men either on a knee or still pushing up from the canvas. They get to their feet simultaneously. Madison turns towards Morales as he explodes forward, connecting with a bicycle knee that rocks Chris. Chris stumbles backwards. His back hits the ropes and keeps him on his feet, instinctively he keeps hands up in a defensive position. As Madison leans forward, AJ throws a roundhouse kick which gets blocked. Madison counters with a flurry of leg kicks and punches, a spartan-like front kick to the chest, and then a spinning back elbow that drops AJ Morales down to one knee. Madison runs towards the ropes and rebounds, connecting with a running yakuza kick as AJ rises to his feet. Madison drops down and hooks a leg for the cover. 1… 2… AJ shoots his shoulder off of the mat to kick out.

Madison waves for Morales to stand up and seems to want another grapple of styles. A.J. isn’t playing along with that game and goes instead to Mi Tzu, the most obscure of his fighting styles. Chris seems to think A.J.’s bluffing—who the hell would still try kung fu on an MMA guy at this point? But when A.J. catches Chris with a high kick, then gets in close and lands a palm strike, Madison changes his thought process. Or at least he would, if he had time, but instead he ends up backing into the ropes, rebounding on instinct, and getting caught with a sweep kick that knocks Madison to the canvas. A.J. dives on top for the cover...1!...KICKOUT! A.J. stays with it and goes for a kneeling Fujiwara armbar, but Chris is able to slip out of it.

Once again, the two start dipping into Muay Thai, deflecting each other’s elbows, dodging knee after knee. Chris seems to get the upper hand with a massive front kick, but A.J. lets it help him build momentum, and he rebounds something vicious with a leg lariat! Cover! 1!...2! Kickout right at 2!

A.J. stays with him, going for a ground-and-pound, but Chris turns it over and starts going for the exact same tactic. He doesn’t get far before A.J. turns that around, and this back-and-forth keeps up until eventually the ref has to point out that both of them have one leg under the bottom rope, practically hanging out over the ringside area. The two separate, but not without exchanging some trash talk, which only worsens the closer they get to standing.

As Chris Madison executes a rare poor form double leg takedown attempt, A.J. catches him in a headlock and drops back connecting with a timely placed DDT. Scrambling back standing, A.J. dips out of the ropes, onto the apron, vaults up and over, and lands a springboard legdrop! This oughta do it...1!...2!...NEARFALL!

No matter—A.J.’ll just have to keep the pressure on. And keep it on he does, pulling Chris to his feet, Irish whipping him to the corner...and he chases after Chris to hit an El DiaBlade! It’s not quite a pure example, it’s got too much Stinger Splash in it, but it works, and after Chris falls, A.J. rushes up to the top rope aaaaaand...LANTERN’S FLIGHT! THE MOONSAULT CONNECTS! 1!...2!...NEARFALL!

AJ lifts Madison off of the ground with a front face lock. Once on his feet, Madison drives Morales backwards into the corner, slamming him back first into the turnbuckles. Madison staggers backwards and AJ follows. Madison shakes it off and grabs Morales with a front facelock, dragging him into the center of the ring. Madison turns that front face lock into a standing guillotine choke and begins spinning in a circle. After a few rotations of the helicopter guillotine choke, Morales is completely lifted off of the mat. Madison releases and tosses Morales aside. He grabs him by the wrist and pulls him up to his feet before slipping behind him. He uses the trapped arm to spin Morales around, connecting with his ripcord rolling elbow, Comatosed! Morales hits the mat and Madison quickly covers but Bryan Ford is seen hopping over the barricade as the referee is counting for 1...2...WHAT?

The official is dragged out of the ring by Bryan Ford! The two argue before Bryan throws the official into the guard rail!

The bell sounds and the match is over with an obvious no contest ending but Ford slides into the ring and lifts Morales onto his shoulders prior to throwing him forward and connecting with a vicious knee to the jaw! Sudden Silence!

Ford smirks at the downed Morales and turns his attention to Chris Madison who is staggering to his feet. Before Chris Madison realizes what's going on Ford folds him into with his patented Bicycle Kick that he calls the ‘B-Ford & After’!

GRAHAM STEVENS: As a result of outside interference this match is ruled a No Contest!

CHARLES HUDSON:  This could have easily been match of the night Lou!

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  Bryan Ford is just bitter because he lost fair and square to Julianna DiMaria and he left MAINSTREAM 35 empty handed!

Bryan Ford looms over both men as security rushes down! Ford rolls out of the ring and hops back over barricade rushing between the empty chairs and smirking the entire time as Morales and Madison is being on checked by medical personnel.

CHARLES HUDSON:  I sure hope both of these individuals are okay after this barbaric attack.

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  We’re going to let the medical professionals do their jobs and take a commercial break. When we return...MORE Mainstream Wrestling!

---

---

[Robert Daniels]

DURING THE BREAK...
Bryan Ford is seen walking with a hand towel as he wipes his face a bit before Samantha Kinsley hurriedly approaches him with a mic in hand.

SAMANTHA KINSLEY: Bryan! If I could get a moment of your time? You just interrupted tonights highly anticipated United States Championship Contenders match between A.J. Morales and Chris Madison. Why Bryan? Why?

BRYAN FORD: Why? You're serious? Let me break it down for you Sam. I single handedly put the United States Championship back on the map. That title is prestigious because of me and in all actuality I am the only person who really means something in this company!

“I can admit when I've been beaten and DiMaria did just that. But having held that title for as long as I did while putting on five star matches night in and night out as I always have...that alone—should make me the next challenger.”

“So I ask you...where's the respect? I know that neither Morales or Madison have anything to do with the shots called around here, but more so the ‘higher ups’ responsibility. So Robb Daniels, why is it that after my performance against Mariano Fernandez, after my reign as United States Champion wasn't I considered for the automatic rematch?”

“Instead you wanna hand off this opportunity to A.J. Morales? To a Chris Madison who compared to the talent on this roster is a nobody?! You’ve overlooked your top star for far too long! That's not gonna fly with me as I am the one and only true contender for the United States Chsmpionship."

Bryan Ford snatches the microphone from Samantha Kinsley and stares into the camera.

BRYAN FORD: Julianna grip that US Championship tightly...and watch your back because we’re not finished. So if anybody has a problem with what I’ve done or had to say then you can catch me at the next Mainstream...

Ford tosses the microphone back to Kinsley as he smiles walking off while the scene fades to black.

[Robert Daniels]

BACKSTAGE...
Mariano Fernandez is seen backstage going about his business. Preparing for the show, his rematch for the Title he lost. He seemed ready, anxious even to compete.

JASON CASHE: Well bend me over and peg me! It's Manny!!

Almost as if Manny turned into one of those angry anime gifs, he responds with the same expression as he turns to see Jason Cashe approaching with a gallon of water in hand. The "DiOGee" lifts the gallon of water and takes a long swig. For his part, DA #TROLL GUY’s face goes red

MARIANO FERNANDEZ: IT CASHE I DON’T GET FREAKING PEGGED!!!

JASON CASHE: I laughed.. How you holding up tho? You good? You look like hell! Have you brushed your hair?

Leaning closely, Cashe sniffs towards Manny. Cashe gets a sad, lower lip puckered look on his face as he steps in and gives Manny a hug. A small group of people pass by and see the two embraced in a one sided hug. Mariano can manage to notice them out of the corner of his eye, and he

MARIANO FERNANDEZ: I love the warmth, mang, but this is shit is starting to get creepy.

Cashe releases his hug on Manny. Stepping back to give the man space to breath, Cashe takes another sip from his water..

MARIANO FERNANDEZ: I mean, I’m alright, chico. Why the hug though?

JASON CASHE: I always talk about hugging people but I can't recall actually hugging anyone... You might be my first!

MARIANO FERNANDEZ: Listen mang. I got Billy Danielson and his bootlicks to get ready for, we’re gonna go over this later okay-

As Manny passes Cashe to leave the scene, Cashe turns and calls out to Manny.

JASON CASHE: Say...

Stopping his progression, Manny turns around to face Cashe..

JASON CASHE: You know... I sat with you on another night that carried great importance to you. Gave you advice, told you that the world can be against you and you can still stand out from a crowd. Probably not in those words but that night.. You did what nobody thought you could do. You put a staple in the statistics that nobody can take from you and tonight? You can do that very thing again. On a new stage but with the same great hair!

Giving it a little laugh, Cashe holds up a finger and takes a drink from his jug. Manny shakes his head and seems impatient as he is only moments away from getting the opportunity to reclaim the title he lost.

MARIANO FERNANDEZ: What’s with the water anyway, mang?

Wiping his mouth as water rolls down his beard. Jason Cashe smacks his lips and responds.

JASON CASHE: I cannot confirm or deny an upcoming drug test. Never mind that.. The point I was trying to make was that tonight, it doesn't matter which of you wins. I, for one hope it's you because we have a history and Jack is the better Danielson. However if you lose then it doesn't change what you have done. It just changes who I will eventually beat when I am ready to take my turn. Pinnacle has given me an opportunity and with the greed that pollutes this planet and the inhabitants that live here, I feel that maybe I can be twice the Champion.. Who knows? Maybe I'll see you out there, slow clapping the victor..

There was an empty silence that fell over the area. Cashe then laughs and approaches Manny, slapping him on the shoulder.

JASON CASHE: I'm only kidding! Good luck out there Manny!

Leaving the area, Manny Fernandez was now by himself as he was when the scene first cut backstage.

MARIANO FERNANDEZ: That’s Jason Cashe to y’all, mang.

[Robert Daniels]

MAINSTREAM WRESTLING
WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER
★★★ CARTIER ★★★
vs
★★★ TEDMUND MONTGOMERY ★★★

Prior to the match Tedmund Montgomery stretches out using the ropes paying his opponent no attention. With both of these two having one another fresh in their recent memory, they are clearly adjusting their approaches to adapt to the other’s strengths and weaknesses. Cartier is being much more careful to avoid getting snared by an arm or a leg due to Tedmund’s technical prowess, and for his part, Tedmund is staying a little further out of Cartier’s range to protect himself from her sudden bursts of speed and her quick strikes.

The bell rings and it’s like a switch is flipped. Montgomery takes off after Cartier trapping her in the corner with forearms and knees to the mid section. It’s clear he did NOT come to play this time around. Now, with his back to Cartier, he extends his elbows and if we didn’t know any better it would look like he’s doing the twist but he’s throwing back elbows to the head of Cartier over and over again. Ted hits a snapmare finally getting Cartier out of the corner and then a STIFF kick right between the shoulder blades!

Montgomery sees an opening and dives in for a double leg takedown after Cartier makes it to her feet but Cartier scouts it well and sprawls out to block it. Rather than just letting him get away, though, Cartier sinks in a front chancery and really digs her wrist under the chin of Tedmund, plowing him in the facial bones with some vicious uppercuts from her free hand as well. Tedmund is forced to take a knee, which you just KNOW he is angry about if you’ve ever seen his sock puppet tweets about Kaepernick.

Cartier backs off and Tedmund gets to his feet and takes a swing, but Cartier traps his arm under hers. He tries again with his other hand but she repeats the defense. With both of Tedmund’s arms trapped, Cartier just goes to town driving her forehead into the eyes and nose of Ted, head butting him relentlessly until his knees wobble. Cartier then plants her feet and pulls Montgomery up and over, flipping Tedmund in a double arm trap suplex. She leaps onto him for a cover of 1...2...KICKOUT!

Cartier picks Tedmund up and whips him off the ropes, as he comes back he ducks a clothesline and keeps going off the ropes for momentum before sliding underneath Cartier’s legs and tripping her in the process leaving her land face first while he immediately jumps on top and takes advantage of it locking in a cross face. Tedmund pulls back with purpose as Cartier reaches for the ropes but they’re too far away! She has no choi- Wait! She rolls the crossface over and leaves Ted’s shoulders on the mat for 1...2...NEARFALL!

Ted breaks the hold to kick out! Cartier decides to press her luck and pulls Montgomery up to his feet and sends him flying into the corner with a hard irish whip. When she follows him in though, Tedmund puts on the brakes and lifts himself up and allows Cartier to run front first into the buckles on her own, landing behind her and slapping a sleeper hold around her neck. Cartier struggles and claws at Tedmund’s arms, but it’s obvious she is fading out. With a desperate burst of energy Cartier leaves her feet and uses the buckles to walk up, flipping over behind Ted and breaking the hold while holding on into a reverse sitout facebuster, bouncing the back of Montgomery’s head off the mat.

Rather than go for a cover, Cartier pulls Tedmund to his feet and once again moves to send him into the far corner, and once again is stymied when Tedmund reverses the momentum and instead sends Cartier crashing spine-first into the turnbuckles. This time it’s Tedmund rushing in too soon, though, as Cartier lifts her knees and Tedmund’s face connects with them at full steam. Tedmund staggers around in a circle and Cartier takes advantage, lifting herself and wrapping her legs around Tedmund’s neck from behind and pulling herself into a sitting position on his shoulders as he continues to circle… and then plants him with a poisoned rana! Tedmund bounces off the mat headfirst like a pogo stick and Cartier crawls over to him and drapes an arm across his chest for 1...2...NEARFALL!

Montgomery kicks out! She should have hooked a leg! Both Cartier and Ted are exhausted as they pull themselves together and push up off a knee. The come come together and grapple against the ropes with Cartier using all of her leverage to lean Montgomery back and over the top rope. She cracks a chop across his chest with a loud smack that can be heard throughout the empty arena, and then Tedmund sends a knee into Cartier’s gut, causing her to stumble back. With Tedmund hanging off the middle of the top rope looking to catch his breath for a moment, Cartier races at him and leaps into a Lou Thesz press that sends both of them up and over, spilling out of the ring to the concrete floor.

The official starts a ten count and both competitors are up by four. They trade a few lazy punches before Cartier snags one of Ted’s arms and pulls him into the ring post, then slides under the bottom rope and back into the ring. By nine, Tedmund manages to also roll in, though much more slowly. Standing up in a corner across from Cartier, Tedmund is completely caught unawares when she flies across the ring at him with a running meteora that sends the back of his head and neck into the turnbuckles. Cartier drags Tedmund to the center of the ring by his heels and rolls onto him, yanking one of his legs over for leverage for 1…2…KICKOUT!

Cartier goes falling forward onto her hands and knees from the pin fall: She slowly turns around as Montgomery wipes the sweat from him brow and the two of them meet in the center of the ring. They both make eye contact and start slowly nodding in some agreement that we aren’t privy to, but we find out quickly that they’re going shot for shot. Cartier chops Tedmund first and it stung, but Ted followed with a VICIOUS chop that put Cartier to one knee. But not for long, as Ted picked her up and hit an uppercut but Cartier is THAT bitch and her uppercut nearly put Ted on his ass!

Cartier then fired in with a forearm to the jaw and Ted returned shot but neither of them are giving any ground. That’s when they decided to grab the back of each other’s heads and just try to kill one another. The agony and pain from each shot is being overcome by the anger and force from each one they throw. Forearm after forearm the two won’t stop, but when it looks like Cartier is getting the best of Ted when she strings some together Ted boots her midsecti-NO! Cartier catches it and backs him into the corner where he gets a taste of his own medicine!

Back elbows to soften Ted as Cartier is clearly setting up Ca$h You Out Cold. BUT Ted grabs the ropes and refuses to be lifted up before Cartier surprises Tedmund with the “Eat This Ass” his worst nightmare! BUT NO! Tedmund gets under it and has Cartier on his shoulders for a moment before smiling he shoves her off and down to the mat she turns and he drops her with his patented ‘Patriot Act’ bridging southern lights suplex for 1...2...3!

GRAHAM STEVENS: Your winner by pin fall and Number One Contender for the World Television Championship...TEDMUND—MONTGOMERY!

CHARLES HUDSON:  Fantastic finish in this one Lou!

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  Cartier and Tedmund Montgomery put on a clinic tonight. Both really wanted to be the top contender for Jason Cashe’s World Television Championship.

CHARLES HUDSON:  Tedmund has that “bottom buster” maneuver scouted well. A solid ass always got the best of me too Lou...

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  Charles..,you can’t say that we’re on live television. My apologies folks. Ladies and Gentlemen were going to take a commercial break but when we return it’s more Mainstream Wrestling!

---

---

[Robert Daniels]

BACKSTAGE...
JASON CASHE: What to do.. What to do..

Pacing backstage as the cameras center the Mainstream World Television Champion.

JASON CASHE: See Coral, I want to be a nice guy here! I apologized for using you, for finding and creating an opportunity to gain this Title!

Slapping the TV Title wrapped around his waist. Cashe stood in his ring gear, ready for action anticipating the chance to compete. The camera lowers onto the title, Cashe slaps it. With his other hand he slaps it with an open handed uppercut to lift it to eye level. He points at himself.

JASON CASHE: Right here! Right here is the man who dethroned a paper Champion. You said it yourself Coral, you didn't want this rematch because you wanted to EARN IT but you were the Champion. Did you not DESERVE it when it was in your possession? Do you want me to lie to you or tell you truths? What kind of friend do you want exactly because I come only one way. I can tell you what is what as far as I see it but I cannot lie to you. I cannot tell you that you are special. I cannot tell you that you are Championship Material because that would be like someone telling you that you are authentic…

Letting his head hang, a smile on his face, almost laughing out loud. Cashe continues.

JASON CASHE: Those who sit at home or come to live shows. Not too many of them look like you. Looking at you is like opening a page of InTouch Magazine. Everything is bright, you show off your work out pictures which are photoshoots since you can't be seen sweating in one of them. I am not a pretty man but fabricated I am far from! You wanted to QUIT after I beat you the first time. Since then you've gone off and done some stuff in other promotions. I took more than the title from you and you hate me more for that than anything else I did to you.. I took your fabrication and shined some light to it. You were a World Champion, a Television Champion and you somehow felt you needed to earn something? You TAKE IT! This whole time I have carried this belt I have spoken of opportunity. I took one with you. That's business! You think Billy and this new 'Franchise' will end with everyone shaking hands? What did I owe you to NOT take that opportunity?

Holding up a finger as if to cut his own train of thought off.

JASON CASHE: Better question. What have you done to earn this title shot since being defeated for it? How'd you do in the Pinnacle? Who won that again? Trixie, did you beat her? No? Hmm.. Back at 34 you said you wanted the US Championship but good damn not even THAT went well for the SELF proclaimed Queen of Mainstream! What have you done to have earned this? Shouldn't it be Teddy Boy in this spot, on this night instead of you? Maybe Trixie should get this shot because EARNING seems to have a different meaning to me than it does to you Coral and THAT is the truth of your reality.

Slapping his bare chest a few times, Cashe is getting amped up.

JASON CASHE: No, you see the truth is Coral? You haven't earned this shot. You sat out there listening to Robb talk about this Championship being on the line for EVERY TELEVISED Event as I have called for and wanted since winning it and you decided THEN that you wanted it back! You wanted another shot at another Title because if by chance you won? It would be 'Look at me, look at me' Coral Rose finally in a spotlight of prestige again.. Another spotlight that you would no doubt dim in its shine. You want the truth Coral and this is it.. You are not on my level and me saying that doesn't make me a bad guy, it doesn't make me the 'heel' if I can use a word from the marks. It makes me the only guy who wanted to be your friend by NOT lying to you..

His arm itched. As he scratched it, the left forearm, it reminded him of something Coral had said days ago on Social Media.

JASON CASHE: Tricks up your sleeve. You better come to the ring with more than Christina Idol and a Phoenix Splash because it will take more than that if you want to TAKE THIS FROM ME!!

Breathing, not wanting to let himself get too worked up before his match.

JASON CASHE: I AM.. Your World Television Champion! You will remain just the former. That is the truth. Yours and Mine.. I don't need a friend when you make such a good victim...

Robb Daniels walks into the frame.

ROBB DANIELS: Sorry to interrupt Cashe but there has been a last minute change of plans. I just met with Coral Rose in my office and she informed me that she won’t be competing tonight.

JASON CASHE: Perfect just perfect..now what?

ROBB DANIELS: Oh you’ll still be in action tonight. As a matter of fact you’ll be facing off against our newest signee...MINKA CARTER!

JASON CASHE: For two weeks I’ve mentally prepared to defend my precious World Television Chanpionship against Coral Rose...it doesn’t matter you tell Minka that I’ll see her out in the ring...

[Robert Daniels]

MAINSTREAM WRESTLING
WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
★★★ JASON CASHE (C) ★★★
vs
★★★ MINKA CARTER ★★★

Jason Cashe is visibly furious about the change in the match. Meanwhile Minka Carter climbs the stairs, steps along the ring apron. Cashe doesn't wait for the bell as she ducks under the ropes to enter the ring, Jason Cashe is on the attack. Wild rights and lefts clubbing down onto Carter with forearms and punches. She falls to the canvas and Cashe turns punches and forearms into stomps and soccer kicks.

The referee signals for the bell as the action gets underway early. Cashe whips Carter into the corner with enough force that Cashe slaps down stomach first onto the ring. Cashe scrambles to his feet and rushes the corner, blasting Carter with a Kitchen Sink like knee to the midsection. Pulling the Carter from the corner, Cashe puts himself in the corner, keeping Carter in control. Cashe props himself up on the second turnbuckle. Pulling Carter in closely, Cashe hooks an arm, jumps off the turnbuckles, twirling himself around and hitting a Tornado Snap Suplex and hooks the leg for 1...2...KICKOUT!

Cashe pushes himself back off the mat and rises to his feet as scarred is selling the suplex. Cashe lifts her up and she open handedly slaps Cashe hard across the chest with a Knife Edge Chop. Cashe hugs his chest as Carter shoves him back to get in another. Cashe yanks Carter and throws them through the ropes to the ring apron. Cashe rubs and pets his chest as he growls and exits the ring. Now on the apron with Carter, Cashe grabs and holds Carter's head in a standing headlock. Cashe grips the waistline of Carter's ring gear and lifts. Stepping off the ring apron, Cashe plants Carter into the ringside floor with an Lifting DDT!

The official checks on Minka Carter on the outside but she waves off the medical attention. Instead she begins to pull herself together and follows Cashe back into the ring but she stops on the apron. Jason Cashe licks up with her and Carter with momentum pulls Cashe in, setting him up for a Suplex. She lifts Cashe but his feet only come off the canvas a few inches. Carter lifts again, Cashe hooks his leg around Carter's leg to stop the attempt.

Carter pounds down with a forearm across the chest of Cashe's and goes to lift him a third time. Cashe slips out of the headlock and instead lifts Carter with a suplex of his own back inside the ring. Carter is hurting in pain rolling over to a single knee. She’s doubled over in pain, meanwhile Cashe launches himself at Carter and cracks her in the jaw with a "Mark of JASON" Superman Elbow!

Carter launches back into the turnbuckles, helping him stay standing. Cashe rushes and blasts Carter with another "Mark Of JASON" in the corner! Cashe springs from the second Signature Move as Carter groggily steps out of the corner as Cashe hits the far ropes, hurling back at Carter for a third "Mark Of JASON" but Carter side steps the attempt and Cashe lands over the top rope, chest first. Carter grabs Cashe from behind and drops him with a desperation code breaker and hooks the leg for 1...2...KICKOUT!

Both competitors are down for different reasons. Minka Carter was off to a slow start after the World Television started his offensive onslaught prior to the beginning of the actual match. Carter looks for an Irish Whip, Cashe reverses it but does a pull back Irish Whip. Cashe lifts Carter up and drops her neck first across the ropes. As Carter grabs at his throat, Cashe leaps up, catches Carter's neck from behind and properly executes his "UTI" Jumping Neck breaker and makes the cover hooking both legs for 1...2...3!

GRAHAM STEVENS: Your winner by pin fall and STILL Mainstream Wrestling World Television Champion...JASON—CASHE!

CHARLES HUDSON:  Minka Carter is a huge acquisition that I had learned of earlier today from my people and this story could have been told much differently had the action started after the initial ringing of the bell.

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  I think this can be summed up as the wrong person, at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

CHARLES HUDSON:  You’re absolutely correct Lou. Now Minka Carter is a proven winner and she could come back next week and challenge Jason Cashe and it could be a completely different story.

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  We’re going to take a commercial break and we’ll be right back with more Mainstream Wrestling!

---

---

[Robert Daniels]

BACKSTAGE...
We find A.J. Morales sitting on a folding chair, a bottle of Gatorade in one hand, his cell phone pressed to his ear with the other. He’s clearly still a little drained from the battle he and Chris Madison just went through, physically and emotionally, but he seems to be recovering nicely enough.

A.J. MORALES: ...no, yeah, it’s HELLA weird fighting with nobody in the stands. I’m so used to feeding off that energy, and now it’s just…it’s actually kinda creepy with all that silence.

He stops to take another sip of his drink, listening as the person on the other end of the line says something.

A.J. MORALES: Honestly, I might have to see if Michelle can DJ during my matches, just so there’s something to fill that space, even if it’s that EDM shit I barely know anything about.

He starts to take another sip, but then—

A.J. MORALES: PFFFFFT—HAAAAAAAhahahaha!...oh, man...maybe if you ever run Emerytown 2 or something, I don’t know. Not while I’m wrestling, though. I’d forget what I was even supposed to...

A.J. wipes off his mouth with the sleeve of his entrance jacket, then looks up...and finally notices the camera. He looks right at the lens and waves for the viewers at home, his wife included.

A.J. MORALES: Of course they find me now...yeah, don’t worry, I’ll call you back in a minute. ...Love you too, cielito.

Right as A.J. hangs up...

? ? ? (OFFSCREEN): A.J.!

A.J. stuffs the phone in his pocket as fast as he can, rising to his feet as Billy Danielson strolls into frame, flanked on either side by James Edwards and AJ Knight. All three members of the Franchise have their title belts slung over their shoulders, and they stand so that the front plates of the World Heavyweight and World Tag Team Championships are aimed right at the camera.

BILLY DANIELSON: My man! What’s good?

A.J. MORALES: That’s my li—

BILLY DANIELSON: Listen, listen...we just wanted to let you know, that match you and Chris just had? Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal.

A.J. MORALES: Thanks…

BILLY DANIELSON: Not as good as my rematch with Manny’s gonna be, but…hey, we can’t all be main-eventers.

Edwards and Knight exchange looks and snicker.

A.J. MORALES: How did I know you were gonna say that?

BILLY DANIELSON: ‘Cause you know me so well, man! I mean, we’ve had a million title fights, you’re gonna be on the cast of Batgirl with me next season…

Morales puts his hand up, sighing as he looks down and away, then looks up at Billy again.

A.J. MORALES: OK...dude, you’re not here to make small talk. I know it, you know it, everybody at home knows it. Let’s break it down to brass yams already. What do you want?

BILLY DANIELSON: Easy, easy...I’m getting there.

Billy gets in a little closer to A.J.—not threateningly so, just enough to separate himself more clearly from Edwards and Knight.

BILLY DANIELSON: You wanna be United States Champion, right?

A.J. MORALES: Yeah…?

BILLY DANIELSON: And you wanna get back at Julianna DiMaria, right?

A.J. MORALES: Yeah...

BILLY DANIELSON: I mean, what she did in Boston was absurd! Kicking you in the balls, attacking fans, being a dick to children...even I don’t go that far. And all that to knock you out of the tournament you named, and make you her stepping stone on the way to the title we made what it is today!

A.J. MORALES: , don’t even get me started on that assclown…

Billy’s eyes light up at that aside.

BILLY DANIELSON: See? We’re on the same page, A.J. Guys like us, we know who belongs at the top. We know how to get the job done. And I—well, we—can make sure it’s you on top of the U.S. title division.

Billy looks over his shoulder at Knight, who hands over a balled-up T-shirt that Danielson promptly unrolls, revealing The Franchise’s logo on the front, and flashes for both A.J. and the camera. (Gotta get that merch money, after all.)

BILLY DANIELSON: You’re Franchise player material, man. Just put this on, and from here on in, whenever you need us, we’ll be there.

A.J. looks incredulously at...well, everything, really. His eyes dart from Billy to the shirt to Edwards and Knight to the shirt again, slowly computing the offer in his mind.

A.J. MORALES: Wait...for real?

BILLY DANIELSON: For real!

A.J. MORALES: You want me to join the Franchise?

BILLY DANIELSON: Hell yeah!

Billy holds the shirt out a little closer, prompting A.J. to take it in his left hand—the right hand’s still holding that bottle of Gatorade. The Revolution steps back a bit, looking at the design on the front and nodding his head...

A.J. MORALES: A’right…

The Revolution takes a moment to choose his words, watching the anticipation build on Billy’s face...and drops the shirt on the ground before dumping the rest of the Gatorade on it. Billy’s expression flips from the verge of jubilance to looking like he just accidentally opened a long-spoiled carton of milk right under his nose, and an unfazed A.J. steps over the stained merch and gets in Billy’s face.

A.J. MORALES: Lemme make one thing crystal clear to you. The only reason you have that...

A.J. jabs a finger at the World Heavyweight title.

A.J. MORALES: ...is ‘cause you had the Pennsyltucky Posse over here helping you out. And then, after you’d already cheated my friend out of the world title, you decided it’d be a great idea to kick him while he was already down.

Knight and Edwards start to close in, but Billy holds out his arms, signaling them to stay back.

A.J. MORALES: But I crashed your party and didn’t let you do what you wanted. So now, you recognize me as a threat, you want me out of your way, and you convince yourself that I’m gonna forget who I am, abandon all my principles and faction ties, and help you solidify this empire you got going, right?

Billy doesn’t answer. Edwards and Knight do nothing to fill the silence. That doesn’t bother A.J., though—he just gives the three a wry smirk.

A.J. MORALES: Don’t get me wrong, Billy—you ARE the most accomplished guy in this company. You DID pick some great backup to join you. It’s just that you’re also a smug, power-tripping douchenozzle who thinks you can bring back the spirit of your old crew by rounding up the legends you wrote this company’s history with and convincing them to help you stamp out the new era. And the last time I ran into a guy who checked all those boxes, I joined the movement to stop him and I ended his career.

Morales pauses for a moment to let that statement sink in. Billy knows A.J. so well, after all—he knows exactly who A.J.’s talking about.

A.J. MORALES: So how about I make you a better deal: cut this New Midnight Horseshit out, and maybe I won’t come around and smash your title reign to pieces.

On that note, A.J. turns and leaves, while Billy forces a grin.

BILLY DANIELSON: Haha...OK then! See you around, A.J.!

As soon as A.J.’s out of earshot, Billy drops the plastic smile and turns to the rest of his crew.

AJ KNIGHT: I told you he wasn't gonna join.

BILLY DANIELSON: I didn’t expect him to. I expected him to pick a side, and he did.

Billy kneels down and picks up the stained Franchise shirt.

BILLY DANIELSON: And now that he’s officially at war with us, we’ve got every right to shoot his stupid ass down.

Billy tosses the stained T-shirt at the camera, covering the lens with it as we hear him, along with the rest of the Franchise, walk away.

[Robert Daniels]

DURING THE BREAK...
The scene cuts to the back as Chris Constantine Junior and Olivia are making their way towards the entrance ramp. Constantine has a cigar in his mouth and has all the confidence in the world as he’s being escorted by Olivia. The camera quickly makes its way up to him, hoping to get a word from him.

CHRIS CONSTANTINE JR.: I get rid of SILK from Mainstream Wrestling by basically breaking his fricken’ neck, and what does Robb do? No not a shot at the World Title or not even a day off. No! He puts me in the ring with Caroline Clarke who hasn’t been relevant since 2018. And she won’t be relevant after this match as I break her neck and send her back to the independent scene where Robb Daniels found her! Now get out of my way, I got a nobody to humiliate!

Pushing the camera man out of the way, the Constantines continue their way towards the entrance ramp.

[Robert Daniels]

SINGLES MATCH
★★★ CAROLINE CLARKE ★★★
[with DAYNA GRACE]
vs
★★★ CHRIS CONSTANTINE JR. ★★★
[with OLIVIA CONSTANTINE]

The bell rings and the match is underway! Caroline Clarke and Chris Constantine Jr. circle the ring waiting to see who makes the first move. Constantine Jr doesn’t hesitate to come in tight with the collar and elbow tie up to kick this one off. Caroline Clarke reaches down and lifts Constantine up looking to Suplex Constantine but Chris stops her with a poke in the eye. Blinded, Clarke holds her face as she tries to scoot back. Constantine doesn’t let her go far though as he scoops her up and slams her down. Bouncing off the ropes, Chris makes his way back and lands a knee to Clarke’s head. Chris makes the cover for 1...KICKOUT!

Standing up Constantine places his foot on Clarke’s nose and with a twist of his hips, Chris spins around and hurts Clarke’s nose. Clarke holds her nose but she can’t hold it for long as Constantine picks her up and lifts her up for a stalling vertical suplex. Constantine holds the Suplex and waits for the blood to pump to Clarke’s head until he finally drops Clarke to the mat. Constantine goes for the pin, but instead of a traditional pin, Constantine plants a knee on Clarke’s chest as he flexes for 1...2...KICKOUT!

Clarke whips Constantine to the corner turnbuckle and looks to hit a splash on Constantine, but Constantine catches her and flapjacks her onto the turnbuckle. Clarke holds her face as Constantine runs to the ropes and comes running back with a knife edge chop that can be heard throughout the arena. Clarke holds her chest as Constantine shakes his hand to get the stinging sensation out of his hand. Grabbing Clarke by the hair, Constantine snaps Clarke grabs from behind and applies a standing sleeper hold!

Clarke rushes towards the ropes wrapping her arms around the top rope looking to break the submission which she does. Constantine Jr. stumbles backwards briefly losing his footing but Caroline Clarke turns while up against the ropes and Constantine comes running over and looks to clothesline her over the top rope, but Clarke flips Constantine to the outside.

Luckily, Constantine catches himself and lands on the ring apron. Constantine is about to go back inside but his foot gets grabbed by Dayna Grace. Constantine tries to kick his foot free and yells at Grace to let go but she won’t. By now Clarke has recovered and looks to strike Constantine with a right, but Constantine blocks it and lays a stiff right hand of his own to the jaw of Clarke.

Olivia, who’s been watching Grace grab hold of her husband's leg, quickly makes her way over and pulls Grace away. Olivia and Grace stare at one another before Olivia makes the first move and slaps the face of Grace! Dayna doesn’t like this as she tackles Olivia to the ground and the two ladies start to roll around on the ground as the two pull each other’s hair and slap each other.

The opening chords of the intro to "Purple Rain" by Prince begins as the lights in the arena dim. A light fog fills the entrance ramp as deep purple and pink strobes begin to light up the ramp and the entrance way.

♫ I never meant to cause you any sorrow...I never meant to cause you any pain ♫

The crowd begins to buzz as the ramp continues to fill with the light fog.

♫ I only wanted to one time to see you laughing...I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain ♫

Meanwhile inside the ring we see Chris Constantine Jr. shake off the false alarm and slingshot over Clarke and rolls her up with a school boy for 1...2...NEARFALL! Clarke quickly gets up but gets kicked in the midsection and Constantine Jr. looks for the the American Style Piledriver...NO...NO...Hurricanrana into a bridge by Caroline Clarke for 1...2...3!

GRAHAM STEVENS: Your winner by pin fall the ‘Prodigal Daughter’...CAROLINE—CLARKE!

CHARLES HUDSON:  I am at a loss for words Lou. First we see Dayna Grace grabbing Constantine Jr. by the ankle tripping him up in typical bad guy managerial fashion. Then we see Olivia Constantine stand by her man brawling with the buxom blonde at ringside.

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  Then we hear ‘Purple Rain’ here inside this empty arena blaring over the speakers...

"Whatever It Takes" by Imagine Dragons begins to play throughout the arena while Caroline Clarke and Dayna Grace celebrate at ringside and begin making there way up the aisle way knowing they just pulled off a major upset victory. Meanwhile from behind the curtain steps our Robb Daniels whom has a fist bump waiting for both members of Euphoric as they pass by.

CHARLES HUDSON:  I see, I see. Caroline Clarke and Dayna Grace seem to be in cahoots with the boss man.

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  This had nothing to do with Sean Issac Kennedy Leonard and everything to deal with these two men facing off over in the Universal Wrestling League on April 24th in Philadelphia at one of their signature events called ‘Pure Aggression’. That’s right Robb Daniels will defend the UWL World Championship against Chris Constantine Jr. in the next chapter of a year long feud!

Daniels stands at the top of the stage with a smile on his face before unbuttoning his suit jacket and revealing the UWL World Championship fastened around his waist. Constantine Jr. is being comforted by his wife Olivia inside the ring while looking up the aisles at Robb Daniels now holding the UWL World Championship in the air before tossing it across his shoulder as the show fades to commercial.

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[Robert Daniels]

“We are the Champions” blares through the empty arena’s speakers as the Franchise come out from the back. AJ and Billy bask in the sound… As James just sort of walks out with them as well.

AJ demands the microphone from the ring announcer, who protests that he doesn’t need it in an empty arena. AJ slaps his hand and takes the microphone away.

AJ KNIGHT: People of Chicago! Don’t you love it when a plan comes together?

AJ waits for a crowd response from the empty arena...

AJ KNIGHT: Shit, it’s not the same, hang on…

AJ begins to imitate a roaring crowd, before continuing to speak.

AJ KNIGHT: That’s a bit better. See, for months I’ve been saying that Mainstream Wrestling needed someone to save it. Ever since SILK stole the world title from me, I knew Mainstream needed leadership, and who better than three of the originals who put this company on the map? Hell we were here before it was Mainstream!

AJ cracks up at his own joke, Billy chuckles a bit at it, James just rolls his eyes.

AJ KNIGHT: And Mainstream 35, was where we finally decided to make our mark. We’ve all got belts, and we’re going to rule this place. And no one’s going to stop us, not SILK, not Manny, not that other A.J who’s apparently everybody’s wife on twitter, NOBODY!!! But now let’s hear from the champion, your hometown hero Billy Danielson!

AJ hands over the mic, before running out of the ring, jumping into where the crowd would be, and chanting for Billy.

BILLY DANIELSON: IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE BACK HOME WITH ALL OF MY ADORING FANS!!!

AJ continues going crazy in the front row for Billy. He even starts 1 man chant of “WE LOVE BILLY!!! CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP”. Billy sells this as an arena chanting his name, and even does the little motion to quiet everyone down.

BILLY DANIELSON: I love you guys too!I love you guys and this company so much, that I had to go and find the only two men in Mainstream History that are even close to my legacy here, so that we could fix all of the problems Mainstream has.

Billy pauses for a moment, acting like he can still hear the crowd, even though it’s just AJ screaming.

BILLY DANIELSON: You see, Mainstream used to be a place where unpolished gems came to become giants. It used to be where the strong survived and the weak left because they couldn’t handle getting crushed beneath our thumbs. Mainstream used to be a place of glory, but somewhere along the way we lost that environment.

AJ boos the “downfall” of Mainstream’s “greatness”

BILLY DANIELSON: Somewhere along the way, Mainstream became a place where anyone could walk in and get a title shot, or think of themselves as a face of the company without doing anything. So many people came in and diluted the greatness that once wrestled in this ring, and even though our greats would come and go, I stayed and I watched as this company lost its spark and became just another playground for losers on Twitter who think they can wrestle well.

AJ is now emphatically booing the “downfall” of Mainstream.


BILLY DANIELSON: However, I have always carried the weight of a true champion. I have always found a way to break through the monotony of piss poor champions, but when I saw Mariano get a shot at the World Heavyweight championship after not winning a match in 5 months, I knew I needed to make a change. I knew that I needed to put my foot down and win this title so Mainstream didn’t look like a bigger disappointment than it already was.

Now AJ jumps up and down cheering for Billy, and then does the “Bow Down” motion to the 2x Heavyweight Champion.

BILLY DANIELSON: However, I also knew that I couldn’t fix this company on my own. I knew I needed to make amends with some old rivals that have the same amount of history with Mainstream, so that we could truly be The Franchise that Mainstream Wrestling desperately needed, and who better than a fellow hall of famer and a fellow grand slam champion as my two friends to fight in my crusade!

He motions for AJ to get into the ring, and points at James, who claps. AJ looks almost like Daffy Duck as he jumps the barricade and bounces around screaming “WooHoo” as he gets back into the ring while still simulating a crowd!

BILLY DANIELSON: So that’s why we stand here today, as YOUR Franchise of Mainstream Wrestling! AJ, James and I are the greatest names in this company's history, and so we are the only ones that could save it.

Billy casually hands the microphone to James, so Edwards can say something. Billy now takes the role of the crowd, but AJ still hypes too. Edwards takes to the center of the ring stoically and looks at the microphone, carefully considering his word before finally speaking.

JAMES EDWARDS: All I’ve heard the last few weeks, is one thing: Why?

Danielson and Knight start hollering “Why, Why, Why” at the top of their lungs in what sounds like a mix of a British and French accent. Edwards looks a little annoyed but eventually smirks, earning a “Gotcha” chant from his stablemates this time in the worst Italian accents you’ll ever hear.

JAMES EDWARDS: I saw it every time I checked Twitter and people yelled it at me on the street before we all got put on lockdown. I didn’t feel like answerin’ those folks then or after we put Manny’s title reign out of its misery.

Danielson yells “Dilly Dilly”, interrupting the Burning Heart. Edwards gives him a smirk but also a stern look that says not to do it again. The World Champion clamps both hands over his mouth in a comical fashion, earning a loud guffaw from Knight.

JAMES EDWARDS: I ain’t gonna lie, we didn’t do that. Billy did. All me and AJ did was show up at ringside to watch our good friend fight in the match of his life. It ain’t our fault Manny can’t concentrate when people are watchin’. It ain’t our fault that Billy wanted the belt more than Manny did. The same way it ain’t our fault that Robb Daniels is a lyin’ son of a bitch!

Ringside, Danielson and Knight drop a collective “Ohhhhhh”.

JAMES EDWARDS: You remember my Hall of Fame induction speech, Robb? The one where I said you were the one promoter I trusted, do you remember? I sure as hell do! Because I meant every word I said that night. I believed every word when you convinced me to come back full-time. You told me I’d have all the top fights I wanted and that I’d have a chance to cement my legacy. You told me I was still one of your guys, Robb. I believed all that and I was dumb as shit for it.

Edwards looks disgusted enough to spit.

JAMES EDWARDS: History should’ve told me better. You’ve used my name, my heart and my blood to make other people look good. You talked me out of fightin’ Declan Black again to take an office job only for Bryan Blaze to jump my ass, injure me, and then beat me. Why? All so you could make a new start. You did the same thing when you let Augustin Gates and his pack of dickweeds beat the hell out of me not once but twice. The worst part about that was that those assholes turned tail and ran the minutes the figured out how hard it is to survive in this company. They could’ve ended my career all just because you always have to move on the next best thing, even when the very best already compete in your company. So why join these guys?

Edwards jerks a thumb toward Danielson and Knight, who jump up and down like excited dogs.

JAMES EDWARDS: Because you did the same thing to them! We’re not history you can use to make money, Robb. We’re not names to make every new signing of yours look good. We’re guys who can still make history and dammit we’re gonna do that! Send your so-called best at us and we’ll beat em’ every single one. Why? Because we’re the Franchise of Mainstream Wrestling.

AJ Knight asks James for the microphone. James tosses it back to him as Billy steps back into the ring.

AJ KNIGHT: You know, when I starting calling out Robb Daniels on his bullshit last fall, who would ever have thought it would turn out like this: The three most accomplished superstars in the company’s history united for its future? But the fact is that this is what I’ve always done: I’ve always fought the biggest threat this company faced at any given time. Whether it was the Midnight Horsemen, or the Killswitch, I fought tooth and nail to defeat them, even if I had to do it on my own.

AJ steps back, putting his arms around Billy and James shoulders.

AJ KNIGHT: But this is the biggest threat this company has ever faced. A threat I can’t face on my own. So I’m not alone this time. I found the only two men who are where I am in this company’s history. The only two men who could understand my situation. And together we’re going to conquer Mainstream Wrestling’s biggest threat to date: Mainstream Wrestling! Because we’re the only three who can do it. Only we can save Mainstream from itself. And we will…

AJ jumps up on the turn buckle.

AJ KNIGHT: Franchise for life bitches!

AJ spikes the mic down to the mat as the three men remain in the ring during the final commercial break prior to then start of the main event.

[Robert Daniels]

MAIN EVENT

MAINSTREAM WRESTLING
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
★★★ BILLY DANIELSON (C) ★★★
[with THE FRANCHISE]
vs
★★★ MARIANO FERNANDEZ ★★★

The much anticipated rematch begins at last! There is first a huge staredown between the current and former Champions, and it couldn’t be complete without some audible trash talking. Both competitors lock up and Danielson overpowers DA #TROLL GUY! He lifts him up for a powerbomb… NO! Counter Hurricanrana by the Grand Slam Champion! Danielson is sent sprawling to the mat and Fernandez takes off running! Danielson is now up but Fernandez coming at him with a flying forearm! The Champion is knocked down again and DA #TROLL GUY runs again towards the ropes - HE LEAPS! SPRINGBOARD LIONSAULT CONNECTS! Mariano makes the cover for 1...2...KICKOUT!

As Danielson gets up, Fernandez forces him to his feet. He delivers a big chop to the Franchise’s chest, but Danielson counters with one of his own! Mariano goes for another, and Danielson respond-NO! Fernandez with a block! He counters with a front kick that doubles the Champion over, and plants him to the mat with a DDT! Cover by Fernandez, but Danielson kicks out! Still looking to press his advantage, DA #TROLL GUY goes for the World Heavyweight Champion’s legs…But Danielson pushes him away! DA #TROLL GUY staggers and Danielson charges for a massive Spear!

Down goes Mariano, and Danielson with the cover, but DA #TROLL GUY kicks out! Danielson is now the one looking for payback and picks Mariano up to hoist him on his shoulders… NO! Fernandez with a back body drop counter, and both men have the time to regain their composure! Both wrestlers charge again at each other and Danielson goes for a massive clothesline… DA #TROLL GUY DUCKS AND LANDS A BEAUTIFUL PELÉ KICK TO DANIELSON’S TEMPLE! Cover by Fernandez for 1...2...KICKOUT!

Mariano slaps the mat in frustration and looks out into the empty arena looking for the inspiration from his fans that aren’t permitted in the building. Mariano steps through the ropes and he’s out on the apron, as Danielson is slow to get to his feet. The former champion stalks the current one, looking for the right time to hit THHe waits for the moment that Billy is pushing off of his knees to his feet to leap up- JUST DANIELSON TO POP UP AND SHOVE MANNY’S LEGS!!!

Manny lands gut first onto the ropes, as Danielson stumbles into the corner. Billy climbs up to the middle rope, so that his butt sits on the top rope. Danielson takes a deep breath, and then leaps off the middle rope, delivering a springboard Chicago Blackout to Manny’s head that makes him spin off the top rope and land on the mat hard! Danielson rolls Manny up in an alligator pin for the 1…2…KICKOUT!

Danielson boots Manny in the back of his head sarcastically. Manny tries to get to his hands and knees again, but again, Danielson boots him down. Again, Danielson boots Manny down, before stomping on every appendage available for stomping. He stomps on Mariano’s head, and then his right arm, right leg, left leg, left arm, and then right on the spine of Manny for added effect. Danielson lifts Manny up by the back of the neck and puts him into the position for The Franchise.

Billy Danielson goes to deliver his finisher, but Mariano Fernandez has the wherewithal to flip all the way over onto his feet, rather than on his back for the powerbomb. Manny instantly runs towards the ropes- CHICAGO BLACKOUT!!! Danielson stops all momentum with a devastating knee strike to Manny against the ring ropes! Who crumbles between the ropes and down onto the ring apron! Danielson stays on the offensive as he looks to pull Manny back into the ring for a DDT but Manny with a shoulder thrust into the abdomen of Danielson and it stuns him when the back of his head bounces off the top rope!

Mariano Fernandez decides to throw it all on the line! He makes his way to the turnbuckle, and turning back towards the crowd, he taunts and they respond with a huge favorable reaction! Danielson is still down and DA #TROLL GUY launches…PICTURE-PERFECT MOONSAULT RIGHT ON THE CHAMPION and he makes the desperation cover for 1...2...NEARFALL!

DANIELSON GETS HIS SHOULDER UP AT THE VERY LAST SECOND! Danielson rolls to the outside of the ring and continues buy time to regain his composure. Meanwhile AJ Knight and James Edwards stand from a seated position by the announce booth while watching the match and they move around the ring. Billy Danielson stalls on the outside, as the referee begins counting Billy and attempting to get him back inside the ring.

James Edwards lunges onto the apron and looks to attack Mariano Fernandez from behind. Knight looks to climb onto the apron as well and the two men begin wailing away on the former World Heavyweight Champion. Manny shakes off Knight and hits him with a forearm where he drops to the floor landing on his feet. Fernandez comes back hard with a left backhand to Edwards also knocking him down to the floor. The official intervenes Manny from going outside. The referee finally gets Manny to go to the otherside of the ring, as the referee tries to convince Billy to return to the ring and threatens the Tag Team Champions from being thrown out from ringside.

Danielson refuses to go in, as randomly, Mariano Fernandez leaps over the official and lands on Knight and Edwards. Manny is pumped up as he turns around and begins to kick the crap out of AJ Knight on the outside...1…2...Danielson comes around the side of the ring and is able to shoulder block a Manny towards the barricades... 3… 4… 5... Manny leap frogs onto the barricade, and jumps at Billy with a crossbody- JUST TO GET CAUGHT IN AIR!!! Danielson then rams Manny spine first into the ring post, before hitting a fallaway slam right into the barricade… 6… 7… Billy rolls in as the referee stops the count to check on Mariano Fernandez.

AJ Knight and James Edwards are prepared to help there Franchise stablemate. But they are interrupted by Cartier and her tag team partner Silk whom have come down to even the odds against the Franchise. Edwards clothesline’s Silk over the barricade and into the empty first and second row. Knight retreats as well but it’s Cartier who leaps off with a crossbody onto him!

Manny has his opportunity. He’s begging for Danielson to turn around, so that he can scream “Problem” and spit in Danielson’s face. However, Danielson has this scouted, as Billy brings his big forearms up to block the Asian Mist. Manny has a back-up plan though as he sweeps the champion’s legs. Danielson goes down to his knee, and Manny goes for the shining wizard, BUT DANIELSON POPS HIM UP!!! Danielson lifts Manny up high in the air in a power position, uses his strength to flip Manny over the right way, and hits The Franchise right in the center of the ring. The crowd can’t believe this upset, as Danielson holds Mariano Fernandez in for the 1...2…3!

GRAHAM STEVENS: Your winner by pin fall and STILL Mainstream Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion...BILLY—DANIELSON!

CHARLES HUDSON:  It’s total chaos at ringside following the finish of this match. AJ Knight and James Edwards is battling with Thot Chocolate in the aisles of this empty Sears Center Arena meanwhile it’s Billy Danielson standing tall with the World Heavyweight Championship over his head.

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  You’re Charles. This is getting out of hand!

Danielson kneels down beside Mariano Fernandez and you can hear him say ‘I am the Franchise...I built this f***ing place!’. He grabs the back of Mariano’s neck and begins hitting him repeatedly with his closed fist. A limited number of Security is sent down to stop the onslaught. Robb Daniels emerges from behind the curtain still wearing a headset from the production booth. He removes his headset and grabs a microphone.

ROBB DANIELS: Everybody stop it right now. James, AJ, Silk you shouldn’t even be here tonight, you’re not booked and you’re disobeying the governors orders! We have to take COVID-19 seriously. It’s a life or death matter—so stop it! You can all settle it in the ring in two weeks from tonight! MAINSTREAM 37! In the Main Event we’ll see the three members of the Franchise...Danielson, Edwards and Knight against the team of Mariano Fernandez and Thot Chocolate! This has gotten personal and you will settle these differences in a six man person tag team bout!

Daniels flips the microphone and points down at the ring as James Edwards and AJ Knight retreat up the stairs in the aisleway from Silk and Cartier. Fernandez is scooting backwards into the corner as the official now with gloves on is ordering Danielson out of the ring.

CHARLES HUDSON:  This is a very sensitive matter Lou and these professionals know better!

MCKAYLA LEWIS:  For once I can agree with you Charles. Folks that’s all we have time for tonight but we’re not sure where MAINSTREAM 37 will take place but we do know that in the Main Event it will be Billy Danielson, AJ Knight and James Edwards against Mariano Fernandez, Cartier and Silk in a six person tag team match. We’ll see you in two weeks! Good Night!

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