JWA SG 09/2023 - World Heavyweight Championship Match

[Kip Whistler]

JWA World Heavyweight Championship Match - One Fall, 60 Minute Time Limit
"Relentless" Conor Caine (c) vs. Tommy End

[Dark Mauler]

*Tommy End enters the arena to a storm of boos. End smirks at the crowd reaction, then reveals the Oni mask he was hiding behind his back. The boos grow louder, but they fade into a shocked silence when End shatters the mask over his knee. The camera picks up Tommy saying “No more masks.”*
LeRay: Tommy End is here, and he looks almost the exact opposite of last week. I’ve rarely seen him more ready to fight.
Beeman: I wonder why he broke the mask? If that thing held the mystical powers we’ve seen in the past, surely it’d make more sense to keep it on for the match.
LeRay: That Tommy End has been gone for a long time, and from what I’ve heard End is determined to do this the right way. He needs to prove to himself that he can win that title without resorting to external forces.
Beeman: Still a strange decision to me, but End has shown himself to be much more calculated than in previous years, so maybe there’s a method to his madness.
LeRay: I’m sure you don’t have to worry about the level of violence in this match, Sean. Tommy End seems to be as willing to dole out brutality as ever, and Conor Caine isn’t one to shy away from violence himself. Both of these competitors have said in no uncertain terms that they aren’t tapping or being pinned.
Beeman: It’ll be an interesting clash of styles for sure. Both men are great at everything, but they each have their own unique strengths. Caine is able to take nearly anything thrown his way, and he’s incredibly strong. End is of course an amazing striker, and since he started training for MMA his technical submission game has massively improved. This is less a battle of skills and more a battle of wills.
LeRay: Surprisingly well said, and we’ll see who’ll come out on top very soon. Don’t go anywhere folks, Conor Caine makes his entrance next.

[“The Relentless” Conor Caine]

The arena lights lower to almost darkness as white spotlights rotate on the stage and the opening of “Vonnegut Busy” by Sage Francis plays:

When the lyrics kick in, the lights come up and Conor Caine walks on stage to cheers from the audience. He stands in front of the curtain for a moment, staring down the walkway to Tommy End in the ring: Tommy stares back just as intensely. Caine walks up to the broken halves of the masks and stomps on one, shattering it further. The studio mics catch him yelling, "No masks! Just you, me, and this!" before raising the JWA title over his head. The fans erupt in cheers, Caine slings the belt over his shoulder and makes his way to the ring, barely containing his adrenaline.

Rod C: Making his way to the ring, from Providence, Rhode Island... weighing in at 265lbs... the JWA World Heavyweight Champion, “The Relentless” Conorrrrrrr CAAAAAAINE!


Caine steps through the ropes and makes his way to the opposite corner to stand on the turnbuckles and salute the fans.

LeRay: Both these men have dedicated weeks to getting into peak shape, honing their skills and, we're to believe, adding new moves to their arsenals. They're each set to give everything they have in order to come out on top tonight!
Beeman: That's right LeRay. There's a lot riding on this one: pride, reputation, the most prized title in this business. The stakes couldn't be higher and both men are ready to step up to the challenge!

Now in the middle of the ring, Caine hands his JWA title to referee Panther Haberdashery, who holds it up for the fans as Caine and End stare intensely at each other.

LeRay: If either man is feeling any kind of nerves or trepidation, they surely aren't showing it. These are two gladiators ready to fight to the bitter end!
Beeman: And there's the bell!

[“The Relentless” Conor Caine]

LeRay: The two competitors are slowly circling each other, sizing each other up. It looks like each is trying to anticipate the other man's opening strategy... Will it be a lock up, or a slobberknocker to kick us off?

After some more circling, the two men eventually lock up. Tommy forces Caine back a few steps, before Caine pushes forward, forcing Tommy back a few foot or two.

LeRay: The unstoppable force meets the immoveable object! Caine goes to push again, but Tommy uses the momentum to take the Champ into a side headlock! Caine takes End's hand from under his chin and applies wrist lock!

Caine applies pressure, trying to force Tommy down to one knee but Tommy flips, reversing the lock on Caine and transitions behind for a hammer lock.

LeRay: Some impressive athleticism from Tommy End! And now Caine spins behind Tommy--

Suddenly, Caine performs a snap German suplex, sending Tommy flying backwards to the apron, landing on his neck and shoulders.

Beeman: I didn't see that one coming!
LeRay: And neither did Tommy End! He's quickly getting up but Conor Caine has already hit the ropes and he's coming at Tommy... Shining Wizard!
Beeman: Conor Caine is pulling new moves right out of the gate! A cover!
LeRay: Barely one and a half! But Caine is running off the ropes again! A diving shoulder tackle floors Tommy again!

Conor continues moving and leaps on to the second rope, hitting a springboard elbow drop on to Tommy.

Beeman: The cover barely gets a two count! Conor Caine's trying to finish this one early!
LeRay: Or he's trying to get into Tommy's head with these surprise covers, not letting the Dutch Destroyer get on level footing.
Beeman: Well I can assure you, all that's going to do is piss Tommy End off and nobody wants to get into a fight with the Dutch Destroyer when he's mad!
LeRay: Well, despite two pin attempts on him, Tommy End is looking cool and composed out there as both men get back to their feet...

[Dark Mauler]

LeRay: Jumping knee from Tommy End and all of a sudden the momentum is reversed! Caine staggers back and Tommy presses forward with a barrage of punches and elbows, and he’s not even trying to parry anything Conor sends at him! Just as Conor gets some sort of block up, Tommy pulls guard and locks in a tight triangle choke!
Beeman: Textbook offensive jiu jitsu from Tommy, let’s see how Conor escapes the hold!
LeRay: Conor is trying to wriggle out, but every movement he makes just increases the tightness of the hold! A desperate Conor Caine lifts Tommy up while still in the hold and slams him back to the mat, breaking the hold!
Beeman: Inventive escape from Conor Caine, but that choke appears to take a lot out of him, and Tommy is back to his feet!
LeRay: Tommy leads his next attack with a stomp to the side of Conor’s knee, then picks him up in a fireman’s carry and drops him onto the knee! Cover from Tommy, but Caine is out just after 2!

[“The Relentless” Conor Caine]

LeRay: Tommy is back on his feet in an instant as Caine is a little slower, favouring that knee--
Beeman: A roundhouse kick from Tommy End!
LeRay: Caine ducks it but his knee gives out!

Caine is down on his bad knee, Tommy resets his feet lighting fast and comes down with another kick on the back on Caine's neck.

LeRay: Caine is down! Tommy moves into monopolise, but Caine grabs his ankle! A roll takes Tommy down and Caine has an ankle lock synched in!

The two are position close enough to the ropes that Tommy is able to reach his fingertips out for a ropebreak.

Beeman: Conor Caine isn't releasing the hold!
LeRay: Haberdashery is counting: one, two, thr--

Still holding Tommy's knee, Caine performs a raising knee smash, driving Tommy's knee into the mat.

LeRay: Tommy is off the ropes, the submission hold is released, but Caine is still controlling that ankle!

Caine goes for another knee smash, this time putting his foot on the back of Tommy's leg and simultaneously stomping for extra force on the smash.

LeRay: It looks like Conor Caine doesn't want Tommy to have any advantage over him. It's eye for an eye, limb for a limb!

Caine is shaking his injured leg out as Tommy climbs to his feet.

[“The Relentless” Conor Caine]

LeRay: Both men are back to a vertical base and, wait, Conor Caine just stumbled on that knee...

Tommy sees an opportunity and goes for a takedown on the knee but Caine hits him with a DDT instead.

LeRay: A set-up by the Champion to get Tommy to move first! And now Caine mounts Tommy and is raining down punches of his own!
Beeman: But not for long! Tommy rolls Caine over and now is landing some mounted strikes of his own!

Tommy grabs one of Caine's arms and goes for an armbar, but before Tommy can position his legs properly, Caine rolls through, taking one of Tommy's arms and locking in a triangle choke in the middle of the ring.

LeRay: Back and forth, back and forth! Neither man giving an inch! Can Conor Caine take a decisive lead in this match now, or does Tommy End have more tricks up his sleeve?!

[Dark Mauler]

LeRay: Conor’s triangle attempt is tight, but Tommy still has one arm free, and he uses it to land a few shots on Conor to break the hold! Both men back to their feet, and Tommy lands a front kick to the body that sends Conor stumbling back to the ropes! Tommy runs in with a huge lariat that sends Conor to the outside! Tommy rebounds off the opposite ropes and flies between the ropes with a huge suicide dive!
Beeman: Murder him, Tommy!
LeRay: Tommy holds Conor’s leg down on the ground, then drops a knee directly onto his already compromised leg! Nasty offense from the Dutch Destroyer, as he picks Caine up only to drop him with a filthy elbow directly to the nose! Conor’s nose looks to have exploded as Tommy works his way around his grounded enemy with stomps.

[“The Relentless” Conor Caine]

LeRay: Caine is trying to get up but Tommy keeps up the pressure with stomps and kicks!
Beeman: Tommy has the taste for blood now, he has Conor weakened and it’s only a matter of time before he goes for the kill!

Caine catches one of Tommy’s kicks under his arm and traps it there. Tommy is quick to go for an ezuigiri but Caine ducks it, dumping Tommy to the floor in the process. Tommy rolls through and back to his feet, he turns to attack again, but Conor spits the blood from his nose into Tommy’s face.

Beeman:  Poison mist! That’s cheating!
LeRay: It’s spit! Not sportsmanlike, but not illegal!

Partially blinded, Tommy stumbles a little and Conor shoves him into the edge of the ring; End rebounds into a overhead belly to belly, sending Tommy crashing into the barricade. Caine lifts Tommy up and whips him into the ring steps, sending them clattering across the floor.

LeRay: It was inevitable that things would descend into a brawl with these two, and now Conor Caine is giving Tommy a receipt: elbowing the challenger repeated in the face until… my god… he’s busted him wide open!
Beeman: Tommy End isn’t afraid of the sight of his own blood. That’s just going to give him something to smile about!

[Dark Mauler]

LeRay: Both Conor Caine and Tommy End are bleeding all over the ring side area, and as Tommy gets back to his feet he charges at Conor Caine, and they begin to trade punches! Neither man is backing down here, but as the two continue to brawl Tommy feints a leg kick and Conor falls for the trap. Tommy lifts Conor up for a suplex, then drops him on his neck with a brainbuster!
Beeman: I hope the cleaning crew are getting paid extra tonight, because they’ll deserve it after this one!
LeRay: Tommy rolls Caine back into the ring and goes to the top rope, perhaps looking for his double foot stomp.

[“The Relentless” Conor Caine]

Tommy leaps off the turnbuckle, feet aimed squarely at Caine's chest...

LeRay: Caine twists at the last second to avoid the stomp! Tommy lands straight into a drop toe hold from Caine: LOCKDOWN!!!
Beeman: He can't lock it in, Mick! That knee is too banged up and he can't synch Tommy's leg in place. The Dutch Destroyer is free!

Tommy gets to his feet just ahead of Caine and goes for Foot to the Face.

LeRay: Caine ducks the spinning heel kick! RAISING CAINE!
Beeman: Nooooo!
LeRay: A tired and bloody Caine makes the cover: One! Two! Three! Conor Caine retains!!!
Beeman: Nooooooooooo!!!

Panther Haberdashery presents Caine with the title and he hobbles to a turnbuckle to celebrate with the fans as Tommy rolls out of the ring.

LeRay: What a bloody, brutal end to this feud, as was to be expected! Each man threw everything at the other, and both came back for more! Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being with us on this exciting night!