4CW Duskfall - October 2nd, 2022

4CW Presents… Duskfall
October 2, 2022
Live from Motorpoint Arena - Cardiff, Wales

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Phoenix: Welcome everybody to 4CW Duskfall! I’m joined by Ray Jeffrey and Olivia Ito! We are mere weeks away from Gallows End and tonight we have some great action on the highway to hell! In our main event, we have a six-person tag team match for the 4CW Franchise Championship as The Supergroup defend against The Black Flame! Who will walk out of here with the title that represents the best factions in 4CW?
Jeffrey: And that’s not all we have tonight, as Jon Viper and Dark Lotus go face to face foer the first time ahead of their Gallows Pole match on Halloween!
Ito: And if all that isn’t enough, we also have Phil McGroin in singles action! And that’s what we’re going to kick off with!

Carson: The following contest is scheduled for one fall!

”Numb” by Linkin Park hits the PA system  Out comes, to a mixed reaction from the crowd, the one and only Phil McGroin!

Carson: Introducing first, from Helston, England, weighing in at 14 stone, The Man Who Once Made A Cow Tap Out… PHIL … MCGROIN!!

McGroin comes down to the ring, with Camera Man trailing behind then rushing forward to get the best shots. Eventually, after some posing at the bottom of the ramp, McGroin rolls into the ring.

Phoenix: Well, here he is. Phil McGroin, who has over the years amassed quite the resume in 4CW. Former Custom Cup Champion, winner of the 2018 13 Ghost Gauntlet and the 2020 Lightning in the Bottle match, McGroin has always been on the cusp of ultimate glory but never managed to actually win the big one. He will be hoping this year’s 13 Ghost Gauntlet will be his chance at redemption and a win tonight would help build momentum heading into that match!

”Intro (Hate On Me) by Meek Mill hits the PA system. The crowd, unfamiliar with the opponent, give a mixed reaction. A bald, black man looking pretty built comes through the curtain. He wears a pair of black tights with white decals and a black studded, sleveless jacket.

Carson: And his opponent, making his 4CW debut, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 220lbs, STEVIEEEEEE … ROOT!!

Phoenix: Here’s Stevie Root! A great talent from Philadelphia that’s been on 4CW radars for quite some tme! He’s here to prove that he can mix it up with the best and what a challenge for the debutant than the one and only Phil McGroin!
Jeffrey: This guy looks the part, but McGroin is a seasoned veteran - can Stevie Root compete with him?

Root gets into the ring and circles McGroin before settling in a corner. Root exudes confidence as the referee, Dirk Meyer, does his pre-match checks.

Singles match
Phil McGroin vs Stevie Root

McGroin and Root lock up in the middle of the ring but it doesn’t last long as McGroin switches to elbow strikes, immediately gaining the upper hand. Root catches up with McGroin’s train of thought and retaliates with his own elbow strikes. McGroin sends Root to the ropes and clotheslines him on his return. McGroin takes out Root with an early powerbomb and goes for a cover! One… Two… Root kicks out!

McGroin continues the offence, taking out a recovering Root with a diving dropkick from up top. McGroin follows this up with a running shining wizard! He covers Root … .but only gets a one count before Root kicks out! McGroin, frustrated, goes to the ropes to attempt a leg drop, but Root moves out of the way!

Both men recover at the same time and Root takes out McGroin with a big right hand! Root follows this up with a knee facebuster! Root makes the cover! ONE… and there’s a kickout from McGroin! Root picks up McGroin’s head and slams it back on the mat and makes another cover! One… two… no! McGroin kicks out!

Root takes control of the match by going up top this time and comes off with a leg drop from the top rope! A cover from Root gives him a ONE … TWO … NO! McGroin kicks out! Root sends McGroin to the ropes and attempts to pop him up for his finish, but McGroin sidesteps Root, grabs him and takes him out with a facebuster! McGroin lifts Root up and continues the assault with a swinging neckbreaker! McGroin makes the cover! ONE … TWO … Root kicks out!!

McGroin attempts to set up Root for a Fisherman’s Suplex, but Root reverses into a roll up! ONE … TWO … McGroin rolls out, Root breaks free, so does McGroin - SUPERKICK from McGroin! Root stumbles around, McGroin grabs him and hits a German Suplex! McGroin then grabs the prone root and sets up and executes the EGGCUTION DDT!! That’s all she wrote as McGroin makes the cover! ONE … TWO … THREE!!

Carson: Here is your winner… PHIL … MCGROIN!!

Phoenix: Well it was a decent showing by Stevie Root, but McGroin takes victory tonight as experience wins out!
Ito: If you wanna compete with the best in 4CW you have to bring your best! Root discovered tonight that he needs to bring even more next time!

”Possezz” by Owl Vision hits the PA system. The crowd is buzzing as one of the brothers heading into war at Gallows End steps out onto the stage. He absorbs the crowd’s reaction then heads to the ring with a mic in hand.

Phoenix: Well, here’s what we do know: Jon Viper started stalking Dark Lotus a few months ago. Lotus would eventually respond with some stalking of his own, costing Viper matches in the process back at Viper. There is some real bad blood between Viper and Lotus, and they will go fight in the Gallows Pole match at Gallows End - but in tonight’s face to face, we expect to learn more about what the catalyst for all of this is.
Jeffrey: And of course Viper is the aggressor. Does he simply believe the Universal Title should be his, or is  this more personal than that?
Ito: I think it’s definitely more personal. The WHY it is personal is what we really want to know!

Viper gets into the ring and his music fades out. He looks around and the booing crowd around him and shakes his head.

Viper: It’s funny how quickly the narrative can change around here. If you ask around what’s been going on lately between myself and Dark Lotus, you get the same old tale: Jon Viper took it upon himself to make Dark Lotus’ life a living hell. He’s been distracting him during matches and when Dark Lotus repaid the favour, it was fair game. The problem with this summary though is that it completely ignores the Dark Lotus of the past that you all seemed to hate. And here’s me, staking my claim for the championship he holds and suddenly I’m the villain.

The crowd boos Viper’s words. They start a “shut the fuck up” chant.

Viper: Luckily, I’ve never had much problem being what the people think I am as long as I get what I want and I want the 4CW Universal Championship. See, me and Lotus go way back, and that’s a story for another day, but to me, this isn’t even about Lotus. This is about me gaining a championship that has eluded me in my almost twenty year career.

“Loooootus” chant starts but Viper pushes through, raising his voice.

Viper: Gallows End, it all goes down. Viper v Lotus for the Universal Title. And what better way for us to do it than a Gallows Pole match. Lotus, for too long, you’ve remained unchecked in 4CW. Well, it’s time for that to change. I’m going to put you and the 4CW Universal Title out of your misery at Gallows End -

Suddenly, the titantron flickers. In between moments of static, Dark Lotus stands in the middle of the frame and responds to Viper.

Lotus: Talk around the true issues if you please. It won’t change what happens at Gallows End when you take the Last Ride and Count The Lights. And when you ascend it’ll be with a noose around your neck. You entered my domain and declared war. Now you will fight that war.

The titantron dies and all the lights go out, leaving the arena in pitch blackness. Then, the lights suddenly come back on. Standing behind Jon Viper is none other than DARK LOTUS!!

Dark Lotus spins Viper around, kicks him in the gut and sets him up for the Last Ride! Lotus lifts Viper into the air - but Viper manages to wriggle free and land swiftly back on his feet. He kicks Lotus in the gut - AND HITS THE FATE SEALER!!

Viper stands up and stares down at Lotus. Viper seems proud of himself for managing to reverse the attack. He moves forward to pounce of Lotus, but suddenly, pitch black returns. When the lights come back on, Dark Lotus is gone and in his place is a single black lotus flower and a noose.

Phoenix: Well, Viper got the upper hand in that exchange - he must have known this was coming. But Lotus vanishing like that - and the noose and the lotus - just what is going on here?
Jeffrey: These two clearly have a storied history. I’d love to hear what it is if they ever stay in the same ring long enough to divulge it!
Ito: What we do know is most important - Jon Viper wants the Universal Title and he’s willing to hang Dark Lotus to get it!
Phoenix: And based on what sits in the middle of the ring, that same sentiment is true in reverse, no doubt! It’s gonna be a clash for the ages at Gallows End! It’s Viper, Lotus, and Gallows Pole!

Carson: The following six-person tag team contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the 4CW Franchise Championships!

”Superstar” by Lupe Fiasco hits the PA system.

Carson: Introducing first, the team of Zak E Justice, Nik Waverly and Rane … they are the 4CW Franchise Champions, THE SUPERGROOOOUP!!

”Black Flame” by Bury Tomorrow hits the PA system.

Carson: And the challengers, the team of Eli Waters, Bruce Rigg and Garret Fischer… THE BLACK FLAAAAAAME!!

4CW Franchise Championship
The Supergroup © (Zak E Justice, Nik Waverly & Rane] vs The Black Flame [Eli Waters & The Liberation]

With all extra members of either faction banned from ringside in this strict six-man tag team match, the match starts with Zak E Justice and Eli Waters circling the ring to start the match. Waters dominates the opening minutes, almost putting Justice away after a mean lariat but he managed to grab the ropes before three.

Waters and the other two members of The Black Flame begin isolating Justice in their own corner, making quick tags while beating him down. Justice starts to fight back against Fischer and manages to break free of the corner and tag in Waverly. Waverly and Fischer go back and forth with irish whip, hurricanrana and springboards. Waverly hits a springboard cutter on Fischer for a two count, but is unable to capitalise as Fischer rolls him up and almost gets a three count. Fischer tags in Rigg and Waverly tags in Rane.

Rigg ploughs through Rane with ease. Multiple clotheslines and powerslam put her out for the count. Rigg sets up Rane for the Freedom Bomb but she slips free and hits a hurricanrana instead. Rane sets up Rigg for the Chokeslam from Well, but of course she can’t lift him for the move. Instead, Rigg hits a Freedom Bomb at the second attempt. At this time, Waters and Fischer have sneaked around to the other side and both of them pull Justice and Waverly from the apron, giving Rigg free reign to hook the leg and get the ONE … TWO … THREE!!

Carson: Here are your winners and the NEEEEEW 4CW FRANCHISE CHAMPIONS… THE BLACK FLAME!!

Phoenix: I hate to say it but The Black Flame were performing on a different level tonight. They were five steps ahead of The Supergroup and it showed! As a result, we have new Franchise Champions!
Jeffrey: And let’s not forget the first-ever two-time Franchise Champions!

After the match, the Franchise Championship is handed to Eli Waters from referee Dirk Meyer. Waters raises the title in the air, then decides they aren’t done and signals for the attack to continue on The Supergroup. Before they can do much damage though, ”Antivists” by Bring Me The Horizon hits the PA system and out comes Erica Moxie, Lindon Jett and Grant Zaiden, each of them carrying their own steel chair!

The Antivists run to the ring and as they slide in, The Black Flame slide out and retreat over the barricade with their newly-won championship. Moxie grabs a mic from a ringside assistant.

Moxie: Congratulations on your big win, champs! Keep those belts warm for us, because you’re not gonna have them long! At Gallows End, it’ll be The Black Flame defending those titles against Antivists… in a HIGHWAY TO HELL STREET FIGHT!! See you there, Black Flame!!

Moxie throws down the mic as The Black Flame look on in the crowd fuming at this new development. Moxie climbs on the turnbuckle and dares them to return to the ring, but they don’t.

Phoenix: What a collision that will be at Gallows End!
Jeffrey: I can’t wait for that one! Antivists vs Black Flame for the Franchise Title! What a barnburner that has potential to be!
Phoenix: And that’s all we have time for, folks! Thanks so much for joining us! We will ber back, Halloween - for Gallows End!!

Quick Results:
-Phil McGroin defeated Stevie Root
-The Black Flame defeated The Supergroup © to become new 4CW Franchise Champions

Writing Credit:
Rhys (with input from Snake! And TheSurrealOne)