Frontline - October 8th, 2017 [Results]

Sarah Lacklan stands before the mirror in her private dressing room. Her influence and money afforded her various things in the business and this was one such item. She finishes putting the final touches on her makeup, the black wings extended out from the corner of her eyes and to her temples, the color making her odd red eyes blaze out in contrast. She sets own her makeup, her warpaint, and stares at herself in the mirror.

Sarah Lacklan: ...not this time…

Her face is full of sharp angles and most would consider her beautiful, though it is with a terrible frost. Her face is as much both judge and executioner as it is her laughing and giggling teen seen social media and youtube.

Sarah Lacklan: ...no stopping me this time…

The Londoner accent is sharp, full of soft “ahhs,” but her voice is low, conspiratorial.

Sarah Lacklan: ...no more games...not more jests...no more…

Sarah gives herself a small shake of her head, her platinum locks swaying in its braided tail.

Kenzi Grey: You ready, Selena?

Kenzi Grey appears in the mirror, the caramel-skinned woman setting a hand on the albino’s shoulder, her long braids spilling free all around her shoulders. Sarah raises one of her own hands and sets it on that of wife, partner, and co-champion in Canada.

Sarah Lacklan: As I shall ever be, Beloved.

Sarah stands from her chair and gathers her black cloak.

She was ready for Holland.

Erik Holland is seen now in his locker room, sat on a steel chair, staring at the Elysium Pro World Title as the crowd cheers for a few moments. They quiet as Erik does not break his gaze with the title, a heavy and focused sigh escaping the big man's lungs. I don't think he's even blinked. He reaches up a taped hand and wipes it across the leather entrance mask.

Erik Holland: Lacklan...

He's known we've been here the whole freakin' time.

Erik Holland: You like reading, right, Lacklan? I love to read... hobby of mine..

I'm fairly certain we know where this is going.

Erik Holland: Viktor Frankl once said "If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death, human life cannot be complete."

Erik approaches his championship, running that big calloused hand across the faceplate. Then he snatches it off the wall.

Erik Holland: I'm going to suffer tonight. I know I will. I suffered for 65 minutes in the ring with you last time, Lacklan, and I'd do it for 65 more, and 65 more after that. I find meaning in my suffering, I find PURPOSE in my suffering. I find completion. It completes my professional and personal life so, no, I don't FEAR the suffering you will bring and I certainly won't when you inflict it on me in your very creative ways..

The eyes crinkle behind that evil mask.

Erik Holland: I will endure, I will retaliate with complete disaster, and I will leave STILL the Elysium World Heavyweight Champion.

Erik closes his eyes, spreading his arms out.

Erik Holland: "...Souls of poets, dead and gone, what Elysium have ye' known.."

The uncomfortable, raw, uncut laughter issues now from Holland as he slings the title haphazardly over his chest, throwing the locker room door open and stomping out.

We see Ashe Corvin walking the halls backstage mentally preparing himself for his upcoming Hybrid title match. He turns a corner and almost runs into none other than Johnny Cage's daughter, Cheyenne. Ashe grabs a hold of her shoulders to make sure she doesn't fall and to help steady her.

Ashe Corvin: Easy there kiddo. What are you doing here?

Cheyenne Cage: Oh, hey. Sorry for almost running into you Uncle Ashe. But I was actually looking for you.

As soon as he is sure Cheyenne was steady he lets her go. He raises an eyebrow upon hearing that she was looking for him

Ashe Corvin: Oh? What for?

Cheyenne takes a deep breath and then slowly exhales before answering.

Cheyenne Cage: I really wish you could talk some sense into Dad and get him to stop doing this.

Ashe grins and chuckles slightly.

Ashe Corvin: I honestly wish I could kiddo. You know how your Dad is. He's got it stuck in his head that he has to prove himself to me and the world. He started this. And I will end it if I have to.

Cheyenne seems to deflate.

Cheyenne Cage: I was hoping you weren't gonna say that.

Ashe Corvin: I don't really like it either. But if that is what it takes to get him to see reason then I will do it. Now, you get back to your seat or your Dad's locker room. Don't want him getting pissed that you are talking to me. But I will call you later and talk to you about this. Maybe the two of us could do something to help him.

Cheyenne's eyes light up and she quickly embraces Ashe in a hug. The smile on Ashe's face is far more sinister than it should be for someone trying to help.


We now cut to K-Remix's locker room. There we find him walking around and stretching to prepare for his match with Jonathan Cage. The door to the locker room now opens and in walks his manager Diego Velez.

Diego Velez: Alright K, we're up in a few minutes.

K-Remix: I'm beyond ready.

Diego Velez: Remember what I've been telling you alright.

K-Remix: Yeah, Yeah, I've got it. Don't over-think it. Just have fun with it and do what comes naturally.

Diego Velez: Good, I do have something that I want you to think about though.

K-Remix: What is that?

Diego Velez: Well, I know that there is one topic that you and your father don't agree on. Which is the way you choose to conduct yourself inside of the ring.

K-Remix: Yeah, I want to do things the ring way. He on the other hand has always taken the easy way out.

Diego Velez: Hey, I wouldn't call it the easy way vato. I did things that way to, do you know how hard it is to cheat and not get caught? Cheating is an art form!

K-Remix: Is this going somewhere Diego?

Diego Velez: Yes, think about this. Your only two losses in Elysium are because of people doing shady things. Meanwhile you have been doing things the right way. However does anybody really care? Do they care that Sarah Lacklan is only fighting Erik Holland due to outside interference? I haven't seen one tweet, one snap, or one of whatever they do on Instagram. Nothing, I've seen no outrage at all over how Sarah Lacklan came to be the number one contender. However, she's in the main event and you're fighting Jonathan Cage.

K-Remix: I'm not doing it Diego.

Diego Velez: What if you only did it against people who cheat? I mean if you both cheat then is it really cheating? That's actually just making things even.

K-Remix: NO DIEGO!

Diego Velez: Fine, stubborn ass.

We now cut back to ringside as K-Remix leaves his locker room.


The lights turn red and gold, "You Will Know My Name" by Arch Enemy cues up. The audience stirs, not recognizing the music until the Badd Breed logo shows up on the tron. From behind the curtain Tiami Erickson appears and comes out on stage, a smile on her face. Those members of the Boston audience that are in the know are cheering for her.

Finale: Oh good god another member of The Badd Breed is here in Elysium. How many of these clowns are there? Fuck.

Thad Balk: Tiami Erickson is here in Elysium! She must have come to join her significant other, the World Champion Erik Holland.

Finale: Or she came to fight. Hopefully that's why. We don't need people's partners just loitering around. If you're going to be here then you better be here to throw down.

Thad Balk: I do not disagree my friend.

Erickson walks down to the ring, arms outstretched as she lets the crowd give her high fives until she makes it to the ring area. She gets to the bottom of the ring, psyching herself up before sliding into the ring with a smirk on her face. Erickson sits in the corner and gestures to Robin O'Ryan, indicating that she wants a microphone.

Tiami Erickson: You know I thought it would be nice to come out here and introduce myself to all of you who don't know. I am "The Pretty Badass" Tiami Erickson and I am the first lady of The Badd Breed.

A pop goes off for the Breed, they are truly loved by the Elysium fans.

Tiami Erickson: And while I don't have a match tonight, I am here to lay down a challenge. A challenge to anyone in this building for a match at Frontline III. Anyone who wants to take on The Pretty Badass need only answer my call.

Erickson drops the microphone and waits. There isn't any movement from the back but something in the crowd draws her eye.

Finale: What the hell is going on in the crowd?

Thad Balk: It looks like someone is answering the call.

The camera settles on the area and we see a young man stepping forward. The man makes his way through the audience until he reaches the front row.

Thad Balk: I do not believe my eyes.

Finale: What?

Thad Balk: That is an independent wrestler from Kansas City, where he has been tearing up the scene. Are you familiar with Terry Blue, Finale?

Finale: Yeah the guy was a fixture in the 70s. What does it have to do with this kid?

Thad Balk: That is his grandson Rudy Blue Jrue. No pun intended but this young man is a blue chipper if there ever was one.

RBJ stands in the front row, staring at Erickson. The Pretty Badass exits the ring and approaches RBJ.

Tiami Erickson: So you're answering the call then? You want to step into the ring with The Pretty Badass on the next episode of Frontline?

RBJ just nods.

Tiami Erickson: Perfectly perfect. And what do we call you oh stranger?

Erickson puts the mic in RBJ's face.

Rudy Blue Jrue: These people, they can call me Rudy Blue Jrue--but you? You can call me the man who is going to spoil your debut.

With that RBJ winks at Erickson and then backs away, enveloped by the crowd from whence he came. Erickson doesn't look shook, she simply smiles and we cut to commercial.

??: Let’s see, 23…. 24…

Wayne Darcy, an usher special to the TD Garden in Boston led the couple down the upper floor hallway, his eyes looking at the skybox room numbers as he passed them.

Wayne Darcy: First time at the Garden?

He asked, glancing back at the couple, making small talk. The lady murmured something he couldn’t hear; both of them too enamored with the other to mind him any attention. It didn’t hurt him any, he hadn’t caught their names.

Wayne Darcy: Here you are. Skybox 26.

Darcy entered and switched on the lights but stopped short of letting go of the doorknob upon seeing her sitting there, dressed in something floral, admittedly all he could see was the back of her, looking out onto the arena below. The couple behind Wayne Darcy stopped beside him.

Wayne Darcy: I’m sorry, Miss.

She didn’t acknowledge them, let alone move.

Man: She’s in our skybox--

Wayne Darcy’s eyes blinked in confusion, glancing down at his clipboard with skybox seating arrangements listed.

Wayne Darcy: No, no I’m sorry. My mistake. This is the wrong room. This skybox is reserved for guests of one of the wrestlers.

Man: Who?

Wayne Darcy: Deus.

Wayne Darcy responded, eyeing his clipboard, then the back of the woman who had to acknowledge their presence with so much as a nod.

Woman: Oh come on. All the other skyboxes are taken. We can share this one, can’t we? I’m sure this young lady won’t mind?

She approached the back of the seated woman.

Woman: Miss?

She reached for her before--

Wayne Darcy: Nah. It’s a reserved skybox. It’s my bad. We shouldn’t be in here. Come on. Let’s let this young lady watch Deus wrestle in peace.

Reluctantly the couple left the room a little put out for not getting their way.

Wayne Darcy: Apologies, Ma’am.

Wayne Darcy watched and shook his head to himself as the woman overlooking the ring below made no attempts to greet, or wave goodbye. Nothing. All part of the thankless job.

Wayne Darcy: Light on, or off?

He asked, suddenly thinking it strange the woman had been watching the earlier matches in the dark. He waited already assuming this rude, stuck up snob wouldn’t answer.

Wayne Darcy: I’ll leave it on then.

Nothing. Not even a nod. He closed the door behind him, leaving the silent spectator to watch the remainder of the show.

Both competitors are in the ring. SHIDO has made his unique and somewhat flamboyant entrance following the ominous and haunting entrance of Deus. The two stand in the center of the ring, neither making the first move. The bell sounds and Deus turns his attention to the lone illuminated sky box. There is just a single silhouette looking down at the ring.

Finale:: Balk...look...look at the fuckin’ skybox.

Thad Balk:: The woman from earlier, that must be her...right?

Finale:: Fuck man I don’t know! It’s like something out of Psycho.

SHIDO doesn’t look shaken by the spectre in the skybox but it does catch his attention. SHIDO turns back to Deus and SHIDO smiles. The Edge of Reality steps forward and look inquisitively at Deus, focussing on the latter’s mask. SHIDO slowly moves forward and Deus doesn’t move. SHIDO appears to be trying to look beyond Deus’ mask.

Finale:: Yeah...this seems ill-advised.

SHIDO slowly brings his hands onto Deus waist. Still, Deus doesn’t move. SHIDO slides his hands up Deus’ body, moving from Deus’ waist to their arms and then up to their neck. Deus is like a sentry. SHIDO smirks and then moves his hands up to Deus mask and that sounds the alarm. Deus suddenly reaches out and takes SHIDO by the throat.

Finale:: Told ya so.

Thad Balk:: This doesn’t bode well for SHIDO. Deus is...Deus is otherworldly!

The Vengeful mantel moves forward holding SHIDO by the throat. Deus sends SHIDO into the corner with an incredibly powerful shove. Deus jolts forward and connects with a very heavy dropkick that draws gasps from those in attendance. SHIDO holds his chest in agony but Deus charges in and hits him with another.

Finale:: The way that Deus moves. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. This...thing...it’s straight outta the Upsidedown I swear!

The unique SHIDO stumbles forward out of the corner and walks right into a double chokehold from Deus. Deus tries to lift SHIDO up for the Firstfruits two handed chokebomb but SHIDO breaks their grip before they can lift him. SHIDO then momentarily subdues Deus with a sit out jawbreaker.

Thad Balk:: SHIDO puts some distance between himself and Deus.

Finale:: Fuck I don’t even like being this close to Deus.

Thad Balk:: I concur.

SHIDO slides on his knees behind Deus and then runs and hits the opposing ropes. SHIDO comes charging back and looks for Misfit Love but Deus takes SHIDO out of the air with a falling lariat mid-move. Deus makes a lackadaisical cover but SHIDO kicks out before the referee can make a one count.

Thad Balk:: God. Deus can summon ferocity out of nowhere, in such swift movements.

Finale:: Yeah. I mean SHIDO is fucking good, even if he is a bit of a nutjob but Deus...like I don’t even know Balky.

Deus pulls SHIDO up to a vertical base by the hair and then gets in SHIDO’s face, they are forehead to forehead. SHIDO kisses Deus’ mask and that causes the latter to send the former across the ring with an Irish whip. SHIDO comes back and turns it into an Irish whip of his own. On Deus’ return SHIDO pops them up and smashes them with the Cadence and Cascade pop up knee strike!

Thad Balk:: Take nothing away from SHIDO he is one hell of a competitor. That is why he is in this match.

Finale:: Yeah let’s not forget that this is for a shot at the title. Whoever wins here will face whoever wins in the main event tonight at Hallowed Ground for the World Title.

Thad Balk:: Somehow that seems secondary. These two are just so unique.

Deus is laying on their back and they go to sit up but SHIDO knows this move, he immediately kicks Deus in the face. Deus is flat on their back when SHIDO slithers into a full mount and stares in Deus’ face. SHIDO takes hold of Deus’ mask and slowly tries to remove it. SHIDO almost pulls it up past Deus’ mouth but Deus comes back to life and puts both hands around SHIDO’s neck.

Finale:: Fuck man. SHIDO is making me super uncomfortable.

Thad Balk:: That is saying something.

Finale:: I know right?

The Vengeful one rolls SHIDO over and now has SHIDO mounted. Deus is choking the life out of SHIDO and the referee makes the count. 1...2...3...4...Deus releases the choke at the very last second but pulls SHIDO up to his feet by his wrist. Deus shoots SHIDO into the ropes and then hits him with a kitchen sink knee. SHIDO goes ass over tea kettle and lands on his...well, his ass.

Thad Balk:: Here it comes. Here comes the unstoppable vengeance that is Deus.

Deus takes hold of SHIDO and lifts him up before quickly dropping him over the top rope with snake eyes. SHIDO rebounds and walks right into an enziguiri from Deus. SHIDO drops and Deus climbs to the top rope. Deus moves slowly but once on the top rope they leap off and hit SHIDO with a diving double stomp. Deus covers.

1…

2…

…!

Finale:: Any move that this phantom does is a match ender, I fucking swear it.

SHIDO kicks out but Deus grabs him by the throat again. SHIDO responds by grabbing Deus by the throat. SHIDO pulls Deus in and kisses them again but this time it’s just a quick prelude to SHIDO grabbing Deus’ mask. SHIDO quickly twists the mask so that Deus can no longer see.

Thad Balk:: This seems disrespectful.

Finale:: I think SHIDO is just testing Deus’ limits. SHIDO is seeing how far he can go.

Thad Balk:: Not an intelligent move.

Deus slowly tries to fix their mask but SHIDO slithers behind them and hits a quick kick to their lower back. Deus turns to face them but still can’t see. SHIDO slithers behind Deus again and hits another sharp kick to their lower back. Deus throws a wild punch but SHIDO grabs their hand and plants them with Across The Universe! SHIDO covers.

1…

2…

…!

Thad Balk:: SHIDO was nearly number one contender there.

Deus kicks out with authority but SHIDO is not perturbed. SHIDO pulls Deus up by their wrist and pulls them into a short arm lariat. SHIDO maintains wrist control and does this again. SHIDO still hangs on to the wrist and does it one more time. Deus is folded up on this last one and SHIDO looks very impressed with himself.

SHIDO allows Deus the opportunity to fix their mask, it was never about cheating but something much deeper than that. When Deus does, SHIDO runs and hits a springboard off of the top rope. SHIDO smashes Deus right in the face. Deus goes down and SHIDO is in complete control.

Thad Balk:: It seems that SHIDO is actually trying to win now.

Finale:: He has seen Deus up close now. He knows what he is facing. Now it’s time to try and get the prize.

Thad Balk:: The feeling out process is finished.

SHIDO takes a moment to look up at the spectre in the skybox. SHIDO blows them a kiss and then turns his attention back to Deus. Deus is backed into the corner. SHIDO runs in and hits Deus with a corner dropkick. Deus staggers forward and SHIDO puts him down with a legsweep. SHIDO then quickly hits a slingshot corner dropkick and climbs to the top rope. Deus is prone and SHIDO hits a picture perfect moonsault. SHIDO covers.

1…

2…

…!

Finale:: Near fall!

Deus kicks out at the very last moment. SHIDO looks just a little angry, a little frustrated. SHIDO climbs to the top rope and panders to the audience for a moment. SHIDO then turns to face Deus but Deus is flying at him. Deus lands on the top rope, grabs SHIDO by the throat and then takes SHIDO off of the top rope with a chokeslam! Both competitors come crashing into the mat.

Finale:: Top rope chokeslam!

Thad Balk:: Deus is supernatural!

Finale:: Understatement of the fucking year.

Both competitors are down but Deus sits up. Deus stands and gets SHIDO up. Deus looks up at the skybox and the light goes out, the silhouette disappears into the darkness. Deus then sets SHIDO up for Firstfruits again but SHIDO reverses it at the last moment, holds onto Deus’ wrist and then plants him with the Blood Stained Love Story. SHIDO covers.

1…

2…

...3!

Robin O'Ryan:: Here is your winner and number one contender, SHIDO!

“Honeythief” by Halou cues up and SHIDO gets his hand raised. SHIDO seems less concerned with the referee and more with Deus. SHIDO goes to approach his fallen opponent but Deus sits right up. SHIDO smiles and slithers out of the ring, staring at his opponent. SHIDO takes a bow and Deus just stares at him from a seated position. We cut to commercial.

The lights go out as a red spotlight flashes down on the entrance area. Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” begins to play over the PA system and a body steps out onto the entrance ramp. Kenzi Grey, the sexiest valet in the history of all sporting events, is wearing a #TeamKickass t-shirt and stands in the spotlight for a moment, but then moves out of the way and gestures for a figure in a hooded robe to take her place as the guitars hit. Kenzi pulls back the hood to the the bright white face and red eyes of the Red Queen. They make their way down the isle with the red spotlight following them as the rest of the arena stays dark. When they come to the ring, the two slide underneath the ropes and upon standing, Kenzi and Sarah stands nose to nose. Kenzi helps Sarah remove her robe to show the black skin-tight bodysuit beneath with the figure of a large firebird in flight on the back.

Finale: It is time ladies and gentlemen, for the main event. You are getting a World Championship match on free television. These two went over an hour last time. This is why Elysium is the last kingdom of professional wrestling.

Thad Balk: The Red Queen is here and she looks focussed Finale. She wants that World Championship.

Finale: She was fingertips from getting it at Wideawake, I think tonight we will see The Red Queen take her throne.

The lights vanish. The crowd is on their feet, wondering what is going on.

THE NEXT STEP IN EVOLUTION IS A MACHINE

A MACHINE THAT CAN THINK [AND] FEEL

SURVIVING...IS [ALL] THAT WILL MATTER

After a few long moments, a pulsating and punishing salvo of Fear Factory's guitars and drums assault every one of our senses, with strobe lights blazing in time in red and white. We can see the silhouette of Erik Holland on the top of the stage, pacing back and forth, shaking his head, arguing with himself, tugging at his hair, generally just working himself and the crowd into a frenzy before he stomps toward the ring at an accelerated pace with the Elysium World Championship in tow.

Sever mortality from existence

Disconnect the chains of fate

Disrupt and disobey

Disobey

The strobes stop and explode into a cacophony of red and white searchlights as Erik Holland is seen fully now, yelling about what violent things he's going to do as he bounces from one side of the entrance ramp to the other, pinging off the crowd like a pinball. Holland holds the title over the heads of a grouping of fans and they are loving it.

Disconnect and circuit break

Impulse to eliminate

ELIMINATE

Holland arrives at ringside and circles the ring one and a half times before jumping on the apron facing the hard camera, staring out to the vast expanse in a crouch before he ducks through the ropes into the ring. Heading to one turnbuckle, he hops up on the second rope and throws his arms out to welcome the roars of the crowd.

AM

A 

WEAPON

OF 

HUMAN

DESIGN

Erik is now seen slumping in the corner, back against the second pad and ass on the mat, glowering up at the camera from behind his entrance mask. He reaches up and peels the mask off, yelling something we can't hear over the music and cheering at the cameraman before he slings the mask into the crowd and pulls himself up onto his feet with help from the ropes and hoists his title high in the air, ready to begin the match.

Robin O'Ryan: Ladies and gentlemen the following contest is schedule for one fall..

Boston: ONE FALL!

Robin O'Ryan: ...and it is for the Elysium Pro Wrestling World Championship. Introducing first, the challenger, hailing from Lacklanland, weighing in at 143lbs., being accompanied by Kenzi Grey, “The Red Queen” Sarah Lacklan!

A small portion of the audience rises up for Lacklan but the boos are far more prevalent. I guess they like her when she isn’t standing across from the most popular guy in the company.


Robin O'Ryan: Introducing second, from Silent Hill, weighing in at 265lbs., representing The Badd Breed, he is the Elysium Pro Wrestling World Champion, “The Weapon of Human Design” Erik Holland!

Holland steps forward and raises the championship right in Lacklan’s face. Lacklan responds by hissing at the champion and Holland screams right back in her face. The referee separates them and then takes possession of the World Championship. The referee holds the title up for all to see and then hands it off to Robin O’Ryan.


The bell sounds and the two competitors come to the center of the ring much like they did in their first meeting. The two do not shake hands, they just stare at one another which again mirrors their first encounter. Holland goes to lock up but Lacklan ducks under it only this time Holland turns around and treats her to a knee to the jaw.

Finale: At Wideawake it was Lacklan who opened the match with a combo of brutal kicks. Not tonight.

Thad Balk: These two competitors have studied each other. I do not believe that they will not make the same mistakes as last time.

Lacklan stumbles, caught somewhat off guard. Holland runs and nails her with a bicycle kick to the chest which sends The Red Queen flying backwards into the corner, hitting the turnbuckle pads hard. Holland goes to charge in but Lacklan catches him with a hard kick to the ribs.

Finale: There is the kick. Hard to avoid from a skilled striker like Lacklan. Look at the size of her fucking quads.

The Red Queen advances, looking for some of her signature kicks. Lacklan is able to score with two, one to each of Holland’s knees but when Lacklan starts aiming for the midsection Holland catches her leg, wags a finger in her face and then pulls her right into a big time capture suplex.

Thad Balk: A signature suplex from Erik Holland. As skilled as The Red Queen is with her kicks, Holland is just as talented with his suplexing ability.

Finale: The dude is good at TOSSIN’ PEOPLE AROUND.

Thad Balk: What was that?

Finale: Felt right.

Ready to take Lacklan to the city of suplex, Holland lifts Lacklan up with a front facelock and then he drives some knees hard into her stomach. Holland then positions himself just so and attempts a northern lights suplex. Just as Holland lifts Lacklan up to the apex she shifts her weight and drops him neck first over the top rope with a tornado guillotine!

Thad Balk: Something different from The Red Queen.

Finale: There is no way that we have seen everything she is capable. Same with him. I expect to see some surprising sequences in this title match Balky.

Thad Balk: Please do not refer to me as Balky.

Holland staggers back trying to breath and Lacklan wastes no time, she steps through the ropes and springs off the bottom rope to catch Holland right in the jaw with a leaping knee. Lacklan quickly follows that up with a spinning back kick Holland’s midsection and then Lacklan jumps and hits him with another knee! Holland drops and Lacklan makes the cover.

1..

2..

The champion grabs the bottom rope to break the fall. Frustrated, Lacklan gets up and kicks Holland in the side of the head. To avoid further stiff kicks, Holland tries to stand. Lacklan pounces on him and applies a front facelock. In a moment of trepidation Lacklan attempts an ill-fated suplex.

Finale: Notice that Holland grabbed the bottom rope? He was close enough and didn’t have to use the energy to kick out. I’m not Holland fan but it’s moves like that which turn a contender into a goddamn champion.

Thad Balk: Smart move from the champion but is this a smart move. Lacklan is going to try and suplex Holland?

Finale: She wanted to close the gap and this was her only move. Ill advised but she made a call.

Lacklan attempts the snap suplex but Holland is too big. Holland stomps on Lacklan’s foot and then lifts her up for a suplex of his own. Holland hits a suplex and holds on. Holland spins his hips on the mat and gets Lacklan back up. The champ tries for a second suplex but Lacklan spins around him and grounds him with a Fujiwara armbar!

Thad Balk: That was seamless! Sarah Lacklan has the champion trapped!

Holland is reaching for the ropes but he is dead center in the middle of the ring. Boston is getting behind him and cheering loudly for their champion. Lacklan wrenches back as hard as she can but Holland is much bigger, he is able to drag his body towards the ropes. Lacklan rips and tears at Holland’s shoulder as hard as she can. Holland is able to grab the bottom rope but a lot of damage has been done.

Thad Balk: The World Champion utilizes another rope break. After going full broadway in the last match the champion knows that he needs to save some strength. This could be a marathon not a sprint.

Finale: Yeah. If he can get the rope break he should. Trying to fight out of submissions and pinfalls is going to gas you way faster. Meanwhile Lacklan is trying to end this as fast as possible. Interesting strategy clash.

Frustrated, Lacklan charges and kicks Holland hard in the head again. There is an audible gasp from some people in the front row which makes Lacklan smile...slightly. Holland tilts his head and stares up at Lacklan. Holland’s gaze is frightening, it’s angry. Holland leaps up and grabs Lacklan under the arm, Holland looks for a beale but Lacklan breaks his grip and cracks him in the jaw with a spinning heel kick. Holland drops but rolls out of the ring to the outside.

Finale: Holy fuck I heard that! Someone may wanna make sure that Holland’s jaw is still attached.

The World Champion is on the outside but he has gotten up to one knee. Lacklan sees her opportunity and darts through ropes onto the apron. Lacklan takes a moment to measure her opponent. Lacklan smirks again and then charges before leaping off of the apron where she smashes Holland in the face with a shining wizard.

Thad Balk: Lacklan is relentless with this attack on Holland’s head.

Finale: It’s a fuckin’ smart strategy. You can’t kick out or grab the goddamn ropes if you’re sleeping.


Kenzi Grey watches on as Lacklan stares down at Holland. Lacklan looks to the barricade and then back to Holland’s prone body. Lacklan waits a moment for Holland to stand and when he does Lacklan steps off of the barricade and looks for a flying knee but Holland unleashes a monster lariat that takes Lacklan out of the air. Lacklan does a full backflip and lands with a thud on her stomach.

Thad Balk: The Red Queen is assassinated out of the air!

Finale: Holland can hit hard too, that right there was proof positive. These two are brutalizing each other.

Thad Balk: I concur.

Holland takes a moment to recover, shaking his head to try and get the circling birds and stars to disappear. This affords Lacklan enough time to get back up. Knowing that she has to keep the pressure on, Lacklan charges at Holland but he comes to life at the very last second and beales Lacklan through the air! Lacklan flies into the timekeeper’s area and lands in a heap. Robin O’Ryan only barely got out of the way in time (no pun intended).

Finale: Holland almost killed Robin O’Ryan. Super uncool man!

Thad Balk: Ms. O’Ryan is a professional, she saw it coming.

Finale: This dude doesn’t give a fuck about anyone!

Lacklan is upside down with her feet in the air, lying among the rubble of the timekeeper’s area. Holland drops to a knee and is holding his head. Holland stands up and shakes his head again. Holland moves toward Lacklan but staggers a bit. Holland smacks himself in the face a few times and then continues toward Lacklan.

Thad Balk: This is not good for Erik Holland. He may have a concussion.

Finale: There is no “might” about it. Dude got his bell rung but the World Title is on the line. Gotta keep on.

Lacklan is up to her feet but she can’t beat Holland to the punch, he is already running at her. At the last second before contact Lacklan drops and hits Holland with a drop toe hold that sends him forehead first into the barricade. Holland’s head snaps back and the audience collectively gasps again.

Finale: I’m gonna be sick.

Thad Balk: Actually?

Finale: No. But that was fucking gross looking. That’s coming from a dude who slapped someone with a handful of glass.

Thad Balk: You actually did that?

Finale: A few times.

The Red Queen smells blood in the water and in the air because Holland’s forehead is busted open. Lacklan uses all of her strength to drag Holland to the ring and get him back inside. Holland lays on the mat and a small trickle of blood runs down his face from his forehead. Lacklan sees this and presents that eerie smile again.

Finale: I’m in love. That’s it.

Holland gets up to his knees and Lacklan starts hitting him with some serious kicks to the body. Lacklan then hits a few chest kicks to the kneeling Holland and finally a big roundhouse to the side of Holland’s head. Holland doesn’t drop so Lacklan hits the ropes and nails him with a sliding forearm to the face. Lacklan covers.

1..

2..

..!

Thad Balk: Holland has the rope! Again!

Finale: Oh I bet Lacklan is getting pissed.

For the third time in this contest Holland gets his hand on the bottom rope. Lacklan doesn’t get the three and she is irate that he got yet another rope break. Once again Holland is up to one knee and Lacklan hits another half dozen kicks to his chest. Lacklan then backs up and charges for another shining wizard but Holland catches her and lifts her high in the air.

Thad Balk: What a counter from the World Champion! Holland anticipated the shining wizard!

Finale: That sounds like a Pink Floyd lyric. Holland anticipated the shining wizard, wild mushrooms will help you fly!

Holland runs and sends Lacklan into the corner with a buckle bomb. Lacklan makes contact and then stumbles forward into a revolution powerbomb, The Move From Another world. Both competitors are down but the entire audience is on their feet. A “Holland” chant begins to spread through the crowd.

Thad Balk: Boston is showing their support for the Weapon of Human Design!

Lacklan pulls herself up using the ropes and Holland stands under his own power. Lacklan turns and faces Holland only to eat a boot to the mid-section. Holland attempts a third powerbomb but impressively turns it into a triangle choke! Holland is stuck in the middle of the ring and he is taking serious punishment.

The referee is right in the thick of it, asking Holland if he gives up. We can see blood streaming down Holland’s face as Lacklan wrenches back with all her might. Holland lets out a primal roar and begins to lift Lacklan off of the mat. After a few moments of struggle Holland lifts Lacklan up but Lacklan shifts her weight forward and Holland falls backward, taking the referee out in the process!

Finale: Uh oh...REF BUMP!

Holland has rolled onto the apron to escape any kind of pin attempt from Lacklan. Holland is seriously rocked, the man looks the dizziest person to ever be dizzy. Holland stands and he rocks in place for a moment. Lacklan grabs Holland over the top rope from behind and locks in a chicken wing! Lacklan then gets her legs through the rope for the standing body scissors!

Thad Balk: Chicken wing through the ropes! This would normally be an illegal move but the referee is down and out.

Finale: This is real bad news for the champ. With those ropes tangled in there this is a hard move to reverse. Lacklan can keep it locked in as long as her strength allows.

Thad Balk: No rope break for Holland here. He’s in a bad way.

Lacklan has the move locked in tight and Holland is fading fast. Perhaps just out of survival instinct Holland begins throwing elbows back through the ropes and into Lacklan’s midsection. With each elbow Lacklan winces even harder until about the sixth one when she finally loosens her grip a little bit.

This moment of weakness from Lacklan gives Holland the opportunity to pull Lacklan over the rope. Lacklan tries to hook her legs again and succeeds but Holland grabs her head and jumps off of the apron with a backpack stunner! Lacklan is jacked off of the floor, her chin off of Holland’s shoulder and both competitors are down again.

Thad Balk: That could have broken The Red Queen's jaw. Oh my goodness!

Finale: I'm not a huge Holland fan but that was pretty fucking cool man.

Holland gathers his mental faculties and grabs Lacklan. Holland rolls her back into the ring and now we see that Lacklan is bleeding from the mouth. Holland wastes no time, he takes hold of the challenger and lifts her up with a fireman’s carry. Holland looks to hit The Toxic Avenger but Lacklan gets her hands on the ropes, she hangs on for dear life.

Thad Balk: Holland is looking for the finale here!

Finale: Pardon?

Thad Balk: You know what I mean.

Finale: I'm sure that I don't.

Lacklan is able to wiggle out of the hold and land on her feet. Holland charges and Lacklan catches him with a high kick to the face. Lacklan then lurches forward and plants Holland with a Cop Killa punch right on the button! Holland collapses and Lacklan falls into a cover. The referee is alive once more and makes the count.

1..

2..

..!

Holland kicks out, neither Boston nor Lacklan can believe it. Both competitors are laying on the mat, both bleeding. The cut on Holland’s forehead is about double its original width. The “Holland” chant rises again throughout the crowd but there is a smaller “Red Queen” chant in between each repetition.

The Red Queen rises almost at the insistence of her small group of fans. Lacklan’s expression is one of murderous rage, couple that with the blood running down her chin - well it’s scary. Holland is on all fours when Lacklan approaches him and stomps on his left hand and then his right. Lacklan then back peddles and hits a soccer punt to Holland’s chin.

Thad Balk: Those stomps on Holland’s hands were bad. They may have broken his fingers!

Finale: I guess Lacklan was sick of those rope breaks. She’s gearing up for the end. Also look at her face, the death dealer is here in Boston!

Lacklan pulls Holland up to a vertical base and then takes him toward the corner. Lacklan positions Holland so that his back is to her and then she ascends to the second rope. Lacklan pulls Holland’s head back and attempts a second rope version of The Abyss but Holland spins out of it and stuns Lacklan with a roaring elbow. A fine mist of blood escapes The Red Queen’s mouth.

Finale: She's supposed to drink blood! Not spit it out!

Lacklan is now literally laying on the top rope. Holland then ascends to the top rope with her and the audience gets in their feet. Holland pulls Lacklan up into a fireman’s carry and looks like he is going for an avalanche The Toxic Avenger! Lacklan fights with all over her might hitting Holland with sharp elbows to the side of the head. They work as Lacklan slips out.

Finale: The Red Queen is about to be crowned. Like right now!

Thad Balk: Holland is rocked!

Both competitors are standing precariously on the top rope, both are bloody messes. Holland looks to be in a complete daze when Lacklan lets out a scream like a banshee and cracks Holland with a high kick to the jaw! Holland slumps forward and falls off the top rope with a front flip, landing hard on his back.

Finale: Here we go Balky, it's happening!

Out of pure survival instinct Holland staggers up to his feet but his legs are Jello. Lacklan sees her moment and leaps from the top rope and lands on Holland’s back! Holland collapses and Lacklan has the Hail Mary locked on in the center of the ring!

Finale: Hail Mary! Hail Mary! Hail Mary!

Holland uses his last ounce of strength to reach out for the ropes but he can’t extend his fingers fully due to Lacklan’s stomps earlier! Holland’s expression is that of bloodied agony, Lacklan’s that of a relentless demon. That's when cherry blossom petals start falling from the ceiling.

Finale: The fuck is this?

Thad Balk: I usually do not care for cursing but...the fuck is this?

The referee is distracted as hundreds of thousands of cherry blossom petals are falling into the ring and into the audience, covering everything. Even Lacklan is distracted, still with Hail Mary locked in. Your screen is almost filled with pink, that's when a figure appears on the apron.

Finale: Someone is here! Who is that?

Whomever it is, they climb to the top rope and quickly leap off with a frog splash landing on both champion and challenger. The perpetrator then slides out of the ring and disappears through the crowd. The exhausted wrestlers in the ring are both laid out and the referee has no choice but to call for the bell.

The final shot of Frontline II is that of Holland and Lacklan, both covered in cherry blossom petals. The referee lays the World Title down beside Holland. Frontline goes off the air with no definitive winner...