Super6 - Group Stage Week 4 (RESULTS)

[Alex Smiley]

[Play.]

[Cut to footage of the twenty-four competitors in this year's Extreme Tournament, as a young woman speaks in voiceover.]

Six weeks, six groups, and only six will advance for the right to be crowned the winner...



[The scene cuts to backstage as 'The Living Legend' Michael Thunder is walking through the corridors. He is rubbing the side of his neck, clearly still hurting from the Eternal Circle attack during week two, however he appears to be back to fighting shape. He stretches out his arms and turns a corner, where he's met by one of the Tokyo Dome's resident interviewers.]

Interviewer: Mr Thunder! Just the man we were looking for, tonight you're going up against an old foe for yours, a man who you're now arm-in-arm with, MDK. How are you feeling for the big battle?

Michael Thunder: Listen, Tenegra and I have a hell of a history you're damn right, but we've chosen our sides in this war against The Eternal Circle and we're fightin' the same fight. He's a damn strong competitor, he's got his own legacy in this sport, and tonight we're gonna put on a show for the ages. Two classically-trained, technical, brutal competitors throwin' fists and holds, ready to score two points and get one step closer to that Elimination Chamber...

[Thunder smiles at the interviewer.]

Michael Thunder: And once that bell rings a line'll be drawn under our fight, and we get back to the One Ring Circus battlin' Legion, Kahrs, Benevolence, White, and any other damn asshole that tries to get some glory at the expense of The Experts.

[He nods his head and goes to walk off, however the interviewer speaks one more time, stopping the legend in his tracks.]

Interviewer: We tried to speak to MDK earlier, but he refused to answer the questions. What do you make of that?

[Thunder thinks it over for a few seconds, and a brief look of uncertainty crosses his face, before he turns to the interviewer.]

Michael Thunder: Tenegra's doin' what I should be too... focusin' on gettin' ready for the match...

[He offers another smile again before turning and heading off, and the interviewer turns to the camera, raising their eyebrows in a 'are you buying that?' kind of way. We cut to the studio with Kyle Bacon.]



Kyle Bacon: Well, the One Ring Circus are determined to put out a united front, but who knows, maybe there's MDK-shaped cracks forming below the surface? Welcome to Week 4 of the group stage for this year's Extreme Tournament! I'm your host Kyle Bacon, taking a look at the action from London, Toronto, and Tokyo! We kick things off in Toronto as James Raven takes on Rayne Young!


James Raven vs Rayne Young

[James Raven takes control of this match early on. Rayne Young just doesn't seem to have his head in the match. He's showed almost no energy since "We Ain't" had played over the loud speaker. Raven starts working over Young's arm with an arm drag takedown followed by a kimura lock. The referee has to get involved with Rayne somehow manages to get a hold of the ropes.]

[After the hold was broken up, James Raven continues his offense, almost going through the motions waiting for the right time for the pin. The crowd begins to grow restless after James Raven hits a snap DDT that Rayne didn't even seem to try and defend. This late in the tournament you'd expect a better showing, but clearly the past few weeks have worn down the competitors. Finally when Rayne Young is just about to go on the attack, James Raven hits The Flight of the Raven!! Immediately he goes for the pin.]

ONE! TWO!! THREE!!!

Winner via pinfall (5:22): James Raven

[The ref goes to raise Raven's arm in victory when suddenly the lights cut out, as the PA plays a recording of a voice...]

"Ladies and gentlemen! Your act at this time! Sights of wonder and amazement, a spectacle that will confound and amuse your mind!"

[The PA goes silent, the lights come back on...and Rayne Young has vanished! Raven is confused and the crowd is left, well, confounded and amused as we cut to commercial...]



[Back from break, we cut to Kyle Bacon in the studio.]

Kyle Bacon: Raven picks up the win to establish a firm dominance in the Toronto group, but it seems the bigger story is what has happened to Rayne Young? Will we get some answers before the night is through, or will the answers themselves become questions? We'll ponder that as we move on to action in Tokyo, where a former True Expert clashes with the biggest underdog—underAnt, if you will—as Smitty takes on La Hormiga Verde!


Smitty vs La Hormiga Verde

[Smitty made it clear at the start that he was NOT taking the challenge of the All American AmericAnt, toying with the little bug from the opening bell. This would later prove to be the first-ever True Expert's undoing, as Verde makes a spectacular comeback with his technical prowess...this makes Smitty rather angry, forcing him strike back with the power he's been known for in his heyday.]

[Smitty launches Verde into the ropes, hitting a running powerslam on the rebound! He follows up with a Fisherman Suplex, bridging for the pin!]

ONE! TWO!! ...KICKOUT!

[Verde kicks out, setting Smitty off into a bit of a rage as he sets Verde up for the Smitty Slam...which Verde reverses into a hurricanrana! The former True Expert's shoulders are pinned to the canvas as the ref makes the count!]

ONE! TWO!! THREE!!!

Winner via pinfall (12:21): La Hormiga Verde

[Verde is just as shocked as everyone else as the ref raises his arm in victory, the upset of the century realized here as we go to commercial...]



[Back from commercial, we cut to Kyle Bacon in the studio.]

Kyle Bacon: With that shocking upset, La Hormiga Verde finds himself on the leaderboard with two points! Up next is action from London as Nariko Inazuma takes on Scorpio, but first we have a message from the S-Factor himself!

[We go backstage to the O2 Arena and there's a cheer from the crowd as we open on a pair of Louboutin heeled boots, working our way up to some rhinestone-studded tights, a sheer and lace top, and finally the beautifully made-up face of 'The S-Factor' Scorpio. He purses his ruby-red lips and stares into the camera with fierce emerald eyes...]

Scorpio: Legion... Timothy Kahrs... Jack Benevolence... Russell White... Thomas Crowne... Vagn Dahl... my name is Scorpio, and bitches have I got a message for you.

[A cheer goes up from the watching crowd as The S-Factor narrows his eyes.]

Scorpio: For some of us The Extreme Tournament is the chance for the best in the world to take one another on. For some of us The Extreme Tournament is the opportunity to form a legacy that will last far beyond our own careers. For you... for you it's a chance to lie, cheat, and steal your way to success... it's a chance to make money and glory at the expense of those who uphold the traditions and ideals of this incredible sport. Well darlings, I'm here to tell you THE JIG IS FUCKING UP. You see The One Ring Circus might be an unlikely grouping, you might see my fabulous-self stood side by side with a cellulite-riddled Rebel Child and two men who wouldn't know a good moisturiser if it slapped them in the face and undid years of damage... but we're united by our HATRED for everything you stand for and everything you're bringing to this great organisation.

[He runs a hand through his perfectly-coiffed hair and shakes his head.]

Scorpio: Crowne, Dahl, Legion, you may have got the upper hand two weeks ago, you may have done your best to take our Legend out of the game, but it would seem you've failed. You may have split us across two continents, but we are a force, and we are never going to back down. Bring your worst, do whatever you have in your power to break the Circus, but understand one thing – no kicks, no punches, no steel chairs, no baseball bats, no matter what the fuck you bring to us – it will NEVER match the power of a group of people who owe everything they have to this sport, to this organisation, who will never give up the fight to defend it. So bring it on bitches, we're ready.

[Scorpio smirks and goes to leave, before stopping himself. He raises a single finger, a long acrylic nail in crimson red at the end of it. He points it at the camera...]

Scorpio: Oh, and Jack, you think I forgot you? No chance. See this outfit... haute couture... lace, stones, sheer... fabulous. But it's missing an accessory. It needs a belt... leather... gold... a deep royal blue... yes, perfect. I feel like you've got just the one... maybe we'll see what it looks like around my waist pretty soon?

[Another cheer goes up amongst the fans and this time Scorpio does leave, the camera following him down the corridors as his heels echo their way through the maze backstage. With that, we go straight to the action in London!]


Nariko Inazuma vs Scorpio

[This one is a battle of the high-flyers as these two put on a fast-paced battle across the ring and from the sky. Scorpio takes the lead early with some big kicks to the side of Nariko's head, knocking her back into the corner, before following up with a big enzuigiri knocking her to the ground. He scores an early two-count before Nariko fights back, reversing an attempted tornado DDT as she sneaks free of the S-Factor's grip and follows it up with a dropkick to send him into the ropes, rolling him up on the rebound for a close two-count. Nariko continues with some fast-paced strikes before she lands a springboard moonsault onto the standing S-Factor, bringing him down hard for another two. Scorpio battles his way back and uses his size advantage to catch a flying Nariko in a rare powerbomb, slamming her to the mat. He then hauls Nariko up and drives a hard elbow, spinning her round into a big back suplex, covering her for two.]

[Scorpio dominates the rest of the match with some big moves and coms close-calls, before sending her into the corner for a second enzuigiri. As Nariko  slumps in the corner Scorpio hauls her up, using the rare size advantage to go for a big top-rope slam, however he doesn't bank on Nariko kicking Scorpio's head and sending him back. Nariko spots her chance and leaps to the top rope, using it as a springboard for... Os Arco-íris Gêmeos de Nariko (Springboard reverse hurricanrana)! She catches her legs on Scorpio's shoulders, but the high-flying Queen takes advantage of the power differential and manages to haul her up and shiver her off! Inazuma lands on her feet and turns - RIGHT INTO THE GLITTERAZI! Scorpio's nearly turned Nariko inside-out with that Lariat as he covers...]

ONE! TWO! THREE!!!

Winner via pinfall (20:19): Scorpio

[The ref raises Scorpio's arm in victory as we cut to commercial...]



[Back from break, we cut to Kyle Bacon in the studio.]

Kyle Bacon: Scorpio picks up a big win over Nariko Inazuma, leading the pack in London as we get ready to see who wins between Georgie Nickles and Artemis Kaiser! Up next we return to Toronto, where we were supposed to have Daryl Prichard taking on Lisa Seldon...


Daryl Prichard vs Lisa Seldon

[Lisa Seldon is in the ring, looking visibly annoyed and angry as Daryl Prichard has yet to come out for this match. After a moment the ref begins the count, calling for the bell at the count of ten!]

Winner via count-out: Lisa Seldon

[The ref goes to raise Seldon's hand but she pulls her arm away, demanding a microphone from ringside. The look of anger never leaves her face as she starts to speak.]

Lisa Seldon: So this is what it's come to, is it? All over the world I heard people singing the praises of The Experts, telling stories of the legacy of this company...and this is what I get upon arriving? A man who could barely get in an ounce of offense in my debut, and this week a man who isn't even here!? If this is what The Experts is all about, then clearly...

[Suddenly, the lights cut out once again as the PA plays a recording of the same voice as before...]

"Ladies and gentlemen...the Last Magician!"

[This voice cuts away as "Troublemaker" plays through the arena, and the lights come back on...with Sally Talfourd standing in the ring across from Lisa Seldon! Those who remember Sally give a loud reaction for her, putting a smile on her face as she gets a microphone of her own from ringside.]

Sally Talfourd: I know what you're thinking, Lisa. You're no doubt wondering who the hell I am, and why the hell I'm out here. Let me give you a brief history lesson...I was a part of this tournament the last time they put on group stages, and like you, I understand the frustration of competition not living up to your standard. Heck, just look at what happened to Rayne Young...took two dives in a row, and seemingly vanished without a trace.

[The smile grows to a knowing grin as she continues.]

Sally Talfourd: But if it's competition you're looking for, Lisa, then the Last Magician is here to deliver!

[Suddenly, "Bleed It Out" plays over the PA bringing the fans in an uproar as James Raven enters the ring, microphone already in hand!]

James Raven: Hold on a second, Sally. I realize you're excited to come back after God knows how long, but the fact is I'm facing Miss Seldon here in a few weeks' time.

[Raven turns his attention to Seldon, a smile on his face as he extends a hand out in a sign of respect.]

James Raven: So, Lisa, I wanna wish you the best of luck in our match the next time we're here in Toronto. It'll be nice to have someone of your caliber step in the ring with the likes of me.

[Lisa scoffs as she looks at Raven, choosing to exit the ring instead of shaking hands. Raven just chuckles as he turns to face Sally—but the Last Magician has made good on her namesake and vanished! Raven looks around, confused and shocked that a disappearing act has transpired twice before his very eyes as we cut to commercial!]



[We come back from break to a video package highlighting the careers of both Georgie Nickles and Artemis Kaiser, as their paths come to a crossroads in our next match!]


Georgie Nickles vs Artemis Kaiser

[The match begins with both women attempting to one-up one another with a series of holds and punishing strikes, both knowing with the previous weeks' results a win would open a gulf between the competitors ahead of the final showdowns. Artemis takes an early advantage with a nasty elbow strike that sends Nickles into the corner, and Kaiser follows it up with some hard shoulders to crush Nickles against the turnbuckles. Kaiser's dominance continues with a hard powerslam that earns her a two-count, followed by a series of brutal stomps on the downed Rebel Child. Finally RC turns the tide as she catches Artemis' foot during an attempted roundhouse kick, and uses it as an opportunity to drag Kaiser in, dropping her with a DDT!]

[Nickles follows it up with some fast-paced moves, running off the ropes to drop Artemis with a series of clotheslines, catching her in a suplex, and finally downing The Last Empress with a spear, earning a two-count. A big chance comes for Nickles to settle this one when she finds herself on the top rope, and attempts an early Carpe Diem (top rope sunset flip powerbomb), however as she leaps Kaiser catches Nickles onto her shoulders and dropping her with a death valley driver! Kaiser then seeks to end this as she drops RC with a shoulder barge and stalks her prey, setting up for the Last Crusade. She storms at Nickles and spins, landing the First Crusade, a rolling elbow! She then hooks Nickles' arm and goes for the Second Crusade, a ripcord into an elbow smash, however as she spins Nickles out the Rebel Child drops down and hooks Kaiser's leg, landing a schoolboy roll-up! The crowd are on their feet as the referee drops... ONE... TWO... THREE! NICKLES SNEAKS THE WIN OUT OF NOWHERE!]

Winner via pinfall (22:08): Georgie Nickles

[Kaiser is absolutely livid as the ref raises the Rebel Child's arm in victory, to the point where the Last Empress jumps Georgie from behind! FIRST CRUSADE! Kaiser just laid Georgie out with that Rolling Elbow! Kaiser's seemingly snapped as she stomps away at Nickles...but here come Scorpio AND Nariko Inazuma! One comes to the aid of his ORC ally, the other here to stop the woman she's set to face in a few weeks! Realizing this is her chance to get the upper hand, Artemis shifts her focus from one adversary to another as she nails Inazuma with the Hand of God! She leaves the ring with Inazuma knocked out and Scorpio helping Georgie to her feet as we cut to commercial...]



[We head backstage at the Tokyo Dome's car park as we open upon the one and only Legion. Loud boos echo around from the fans watching this on the screens as Legion appears to be in the middle of a phone call. He's nodding a long and occasionally responding – we can't quite hear what he's saying – before the sound of an approaching car fills the area. Legion continues his conversation as Thomas Crowne, one of his Eternal Circle lackeys, approaches. He nods to the boss and Legion smirks and explains to the caller that he has to go...]

Thomas Crowne: Your special guest is here, sir.

Legion: Excellent...

[He beckons Crowne to walk with him as the pair round a corner in the parking lot and approach a now-stopped car – a black sedan with blacked-out windows. Legion approaches one of the rear doors and opens it, obscuring the camera's view of who's inside. A smile develops over his face and he reaches a hand inside...]

Legion: Welcome to Tokyo, I hope you're ready to have some fun tonight?

[The final shot is of Legion continuing to grin at his 'special guest' as we cut back to Kyle Bacon in the studio.]

Kyle Bacon: Either there's trouble brewing, or we accidentally just found out Legion's living his own version of Pretty Woman? Either way, it's time for our main event featuring the collision of ORC brothers in arms! It's Michael Thunder taking on MDK in Tokyo!


Michael Thunder vs MDK

[As expected emotions are running wild in this one as the old foes-turned-friends stare one another down, circling the ring. They lock up and jostle to be on top, Thunder wrapping MDK up in a headlock, before MDK breaks free and catches Thunder into a wristlock, throwing a kick at his gut. MDK then hooks Thunder into a front facelock but the Living Legend punches his way free, dropping MDK with an arm drag and driving him to the mat before hooking him into a shoulder lock. The back-and-forth technical wrestling continues until Thunder goes for a suplex attempt and MDK breaks free from Thunder's grip, dropping him with a clothesline. MDK takes some dominance as he works Thunder over, dropping a knee on the legend's head, an elbow into his chest, and finally dragging him up only to bring him straight down with a big powerslam.]

[He earns a two-count before Thunder kicks out, and MDK drags him up. He hooks Thunder for a DDT who fights his way free and slams a shoulder barge into MDK's torso, knocking him back into the ropes. With Tenegra caught on the ropes Thunder runs and lands a big clothesline sending MDK over the top, and the fight goes to the outside. Thunder whips MDK into the steps and the ORC leader is clearly knocked for six by the collision. Thunder then attempts a rare aerial manoeuvre as he uses the steps as a launchpad for a flying elbow, but MDK dodges it, sending Thunder to crash into the barricade! The referee's count approaches seven and MDK climbs his way back into the ring, with the crowd on their feet, seeing whether Thunder can make it back in before the count... eight... he's still down... nine... -- AND MDK CLIMBS OUT!]

[The crowd are on their feet for the show of professionalism as MDK shouts that it's not ending that way, and he drags Thunder up, rolling him back into the ring. MDK smacks the mat a few times as Thunder slowly gets his way up, and as Thunder stumbles towards Tenegra's grip he hooks him for the Hellshot (reverse STO) – BUT THUNDER COMES TO LIFE, DRIVING AN ELBOW INTO MDK'S HEAD AND HOOKING HIS ARMS – LANDING THE THUNDERPLEX (crossface chickenwing suplex)! THUNDER COVERS... ONE... TWO... THREE!]

Winner via pinfall (25:37): Michael Thunder

[After a thrilling main event the crowd are on their feet, and slowly but surely MDK and Michael Thunder climb to theirs. The two foes-turned-friends stare one another down across the ring, neither breaking eye contact for a second. The crowd being to sense some tensions between the One Ring Circus compatriots as they seem to start circling the ring, stalking one another...]

Kyle Bacon: These two have been at each other's throats for years, it's been an uneasy alliance, and maybe that result is all that's needed to tip it over?

[However before anything can happen there's a disturbance in the crowd north and south of the ring – and Thomas Crowne and Vagn Dahl vault the barrier each brandishing a baseball bat! Thunder and MDK immediately abandon any animosity, nodding to one another before they end up back-to-back in the ring. Crowne and Dahl slide into the ring, circling the ORC pair – BEFORE THEY BOTH SWING FOR THE PAIR! However MDK and Thunder are too long in the tooth for this kind of jump, and expertly duck at the same time, causing the two baseball bats to clash into each other. Dahl and Crowne drop their weapons as the ORC members spring into action, MDK landing a brutal set of elbows and fists on Dahl, whilst Thunder wraps Crowne up in a wrist lock and goes to down with kicks across his face and chest.

A shout goes out between Thunder and MDK and the two nod at one another, before sending their Eternal Circle attackers crashing into one another with irish whips. Thunder storms at Dahl, sending him flying with a clothesline, spinning the giant Dane around – RIGHT INTO A HELLSHOT FROM MDK! Thunder raises a jubilant fist as Dahl drops to the mat, before he turns to MDK and gestures towards the downed Crowne. MDK drags Crowne to his feet as Thunder picks up a baseball bat, and MDK lifts Crown into a seated position on his own shoulders. Thunder smirks and climbs to the second rope as MDK balances Crowne where he is – BEFORE THE LIVING LEGEND LEAPS FROM THE SECOND ROPE, SWINGING THE BASEBALL BAT AND CONNECTING WITH THE SIDE OF CROWNE'S HEAD, DROPPING HIM TO THE MAT!]

Kyle Bacon: Nice try Eternal Circle, but it'll take more than that to pull the rug out from these seasoned fighters!

[The crowd are going wild as Thunder and MDK shove the Eternal Circle members under the bottom rope, and turn to face one another. MDK is the first to offer a hand, which Thunder emphatically shakes, before the pair raise one another's arms in victory – only to be interrupted by "Ignite" blasting over the sound system. Both men turn to the stage, confused as the crowd turns to boos...]

Kyle Bacon: But that's the music of... oh wait... Legion's special guest... the plotting from last week...

[... and Robina Hood steps out from the back! She raises a hand up, pointing the sky, as Thunder and MDK raise their fists getting ready for a second attack from the seemingly newest member of the Eternal Circle. As they're distracted by Hood on the stage there's a disturbance in the crowd once again, and this time Legion vaults the barrier. Neither ORC member spots him as he sneaks into the ring, picking up a baseball bat at the same time, and he lines it up – CRASHING IT ACROSS THUNDER'S BACK! The Living Legend drops down as Legion slams the bat into MDK's gut before he can do anything, before repeatedly crashing the bat down on both men. As Thunder slowly tries to get to his feet Legion grins and paces back, sprinting as Thunder reaches all-fours, and leaping to dropkick the baseball bat into the side of Thunder's head!

Legion gets to his feet raising a victorious fist as Robina Hood joins him in the ring, staring down at MDK hungrily. Legion nods to his newest recruit and hauls MDK to his feet, giving Robina the perfect set up – FOR THE GRANDE FINALE! THE BRUTAL DOUBLE KNEE BACKBREAKER DROPPING MDK! Both ORC men are now out for the count as Legion and Robina Hood link hands, replicating the same raised arm gesture Thunder and MDK had put up minutes before. The crowd are booing heavily as The Eternal Circle stand tall...]

Kyle Bacon: Well that victory was short-lived for the ORC, once again the Eternal Circle proving they have alliances and links everywhere, even getting Robina Hood over to their cause. What will the ORC's response be next week?!



Kyle Bacon: Looking at the leaderboard, it's become apparent that Michael Thunder is the clear leader of the group in Tokyo, with a tie for the lead in both Toronto and London! Between this, the return of Sally Talfourd, and the recent revelations of the Eternal Circle, things are really getting heated around here! Be sure to tune in for Week 5 in just a couple weeks as we head back to the States for the final matches in Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas! Till next time this is Kyle Bacon, signing off!

[Fade to black.]

Kudos:
- Russ and Mark Mania for matches and segments
- Sally Talfourd for coming back to this crazy hobby at just the right time, lol
- All y'all as always, for the great RPs and putting up with me during a rough time IRL