Post by Big Time Fights on Mar 1, 2021 7:28:15 GMT
Despite the passion he showed in his fight against Felix Bingham, James Edwards looks morose as he sits at his locker.
JAMES EDWARDS
You'd think I would be happier after making another big guy tap out last week. I guess I'm satisfied with my performance. I didn't really think much once the bell sounded. I just went and did what felt natural, and that's not a smart way to fight.
He slumps forward on his stool.
JAMES EDWARDS
Fightin' reckless is great for the people in the stands. Watchin' two guys beat the hell outta each other is entertaining, but I promise everybody that ain't in the ring it hurts like hell in the moment, and when you wake up barely able to walk the day after. The Hammer and I fought wild during our reign, and I've been wonderin' if it was a mistake to do that. If we put some more thought into everything, maybe he wouldn't have gotten hurt.
He weakly shrugs his shoulders.
JAMES EDWARDS
I don't know, though, I know it's stupid thinkin' about that, but there is something to it. I don't wanna get hurt, and if I rush in tonight against a mountain like Luke Marshall, there is a damn good chance I'm getting wheeled up the ramp on a stretcher. I gotta take my time and I gotta be conservative. I've gotta be three moves ahead of Marshall. It won't be easy. Fightin' calm isn't my vibe, man, but know I can play it safe and win; plenty of fighters have done that in their careers, and now it's my turn to do that.
JAMES EDWARDS
You'd think I would be happier after making another big guy tap out last week. I guess I'm satisfied with my performance. I didn't really think much once the bell sounded. I just went and did what felt natural, and that's not a smart way to fight.
He slumps forward on his stool.
JAMES EDWARDS
Fightin' reckless is great for the people in the stands. Watchin' two guys beat the hell outta each other is entertaining, but I promise everybody that ain't in the ring it hurts like hell in the moment, and when you wake up barely able to walk the day after. The Hammer and I fought wild during our reign, and I've been wonderin' if it was a mistake to do that. If we put some more thought into everything, maybe he wouldn't have gotten hurt.
He weakly shrugs his shoulders.
JAMES EDWARDS
I don't know, though, I know it's stupid thinkin' about that, but there is something to it. I don't wanna get hurt, and if I rush in tonight against a mountain like Luke Marshall, there is a damn good chance I'm getting wheeled up the ramp on a stretcher. I gotta take my time and I gotta be conservative. I've gotta be three moves ahead of Marshall. It won't be easy. Fightin' calm isn't my vibe, man, but know I can play it safe and win; plenty of fighters have done that in their careers, and now it's my turn to do that.
We return from break with James Edwards applying a calf slicer on Luke Marshall, but the Super Rookie gets to the ropes before any damage can be done and saves himself from the jaws of defeat. Brian Shelzi thinks that Edwards is probably happy to face someone within his weight class, adding that he's outsized by a few inches but is only giving up ten pounds or so compared to the thirty plus he does with other fighters in LRX. Edwards cautiously circles Marshall, who seems a bit frustrated by the patience game and that allows him to be easily taken down with a single leg. Edwards works to secure the leg and tries to stand up and apply a kneebar, but Marshall kicks him right off. The Super Rookie gets up and applies a rear waist hold, but Edwards swings his arms out to grab onto the top rope, hugging it tightly to force a break. Marshall is again frustrated by this and blasts him in the back with some forearm shots before referee Robbie Morris orders him to break it up or he'll issue a yellow card. Edwards turns around and kicks Marshall in the knee, dropping him down to it then charges into the ropes and bounces off...
RIGHT INTO A BELLY TO BELLY!
Marshall covers!
1...
...
2-NO!
Edwards kicks out and Marshall gets up, pulling Edwards up in a front chancery and snaps off a vicious suplex. He floats over and covers again, but the result is the same as last - only a two! Marshall gets up, stomping away on Edwards before pulling him up into a fireman's carry. He looks to be going for the Death Valley Driver, but Edwards slips out and chop blocks the leg! Marshall goes down on all fours briefly, but gets back up as Edwards is getting to his feet...
KILL UP!
The Shining Wizard to the standing Luke Marshall connects and sends him down to the mat! Edwards gets up, hooks Marshall up for a butterfly lock but the Super Rookie is fighting it. Edwards tries to fight through it and lift him, but then shakes his head and releases it - clamping on a guillotine choke almost immediately! He wraps his legs around Marshall's torso and cranks back, centre of the ring and the Aussie has no choice but to tap! Hewitt puts over Edwards' gameplan, talking about how he wants to be more conservative in the ring and mentions that previously Edwards may have tried to fight through the resistance to the butterfly brainbuster to deliver the move - and it might've cost him. Shelzi says it's good that he's learned from his previous mistakes - it only took his partner suffering a career threatening injury to smarten him up.
Edwards watches as Marshall gets up and extends his hand. Marshall shakes it and Edwards leaves without a word more as we go to break.
"Oi!"
The familiar voice of the current World's Heavyweight Champion Jack Mace from within the locker room. All dressed up and ready for battle.
JACK MACE
Ryan Samuels… mate, I heard what you had to say before last week about this World Title match tonight and I heard what you had to say about how I was wrestlin' dojo boys. Mate… ya understand I ain't Duke Womack, right, mate? I am the man of LRX right now and Its World's Heavyweight Champion, but I don't ask who I fight…. But I do wear this belt with the prestige it was meant to have. That means you fight ANYONE that wants to prove themselves or you fight ANYONE put in front of you. It means that you're the best and it means you represent this company to the best of your ability. I don't care who wants to Grap and Scrap with me at any level! I treat this title, its staff and its roster they deserve from the bottom all the way to the top! To do anything to less means I don't deserve to wear this title at all, mate… and I beat one of the best for it and it is my obligation to make Troy proud. I won't let him or I won't let the LRX fans down.
Hoisting the championship proudly on his shoulder, he continues.
JACK MACE
Me and Moosh are two people who represent what this company is all about! The fight! The respect! You see me and think this "nice guy" act is a bit, you say? That the big, crazy bugger in the bear skin cape is just a disguise? You probably think the Wrestlin' Bear belongs in a circus? Well, I think I've been around this company more than enough to show the whole lot of you that I am that and MORE, my friend. Grappin' and Scrappin' ain't just a pretty catchphrase, Ry, it's made me what I am. You can ask literally anyone that's scrapped with me the kind of man I am.
He chuckles half-heartedly.
JACK MACE
I bet that you're pretty chuffed about how you manhandled that dojo boy just to prove your point, eh? But unlike all the bloody disrespect you've thrown to people like that Jonah Ke'ala kid or that dojo boy you attacked to send your message… I will still give you all the praise you want, Ryan. Are you ready? I know first-hand how much of a monster you are. It was God-Bears that made it to the finals of the Strongest Tag League, but it was Lariat, Inc that beat us in the opening round. I know how scary that Lariat of yours is! It's why you're one half of the World Tag Team Champions and I know we might have a new champion if you hit it. I'd be gutted if I lost…
And now, The Wrestling Bear grins. Widely.
JACK MACE
...But mate, THAT is why I am Champion. Because I WANT this and because I run at the danger like some crazy person and not away from it! Because I WANT the thrill of the fight to show that I am worthy of this championship and worthy of the trust LRX has in me to carry it.
He holds the championship out a little closer.
JACK MACE
I have ZERO doubts you'll test me, mate. In fact I think you'll fight me to my very limit, Samuels. I think it's gonna be a close one, but I KNOW that tonight, I'm gonna prove my worth. Winnin' this bloody thing is one thing. STAYIN' the champ is a whole 'nother… but I am ready, Ry.
The familiar voice of the current World's Heavyweight Champion Jack Mace from within the locker room. All dressed up and ready for battle.
JACK MACE
Ryan Samuels… mate, I heard what you had to say before last week about this World Title match tonight and I heard what you had to say about how I was wrestlin' dojo boys. Mate… ya understand I ain't Duke Womack, right, mate? I am the man of LRX right now and Its World's Heavyweight Champion, but I don't ask who I fight…. But I do wear this belt with the prestige it was meant to have. That means you fight ANYONE that wants to prove themselves or you fight ANYONE put in front of you. It means that you're the best and it means you represent this company to the best of your ability. I don't care who wants to Grap and Scrap with me at any level! I treat this title, its staff and its roster they deserve from the bottom all the way to the top! To do anything to less means I don't deserve to wear this title at all, mate… and I beat one of the best for it and it is my obligation to make Troy proud. I won't let him or I won't let the LRX fans down.
Hoisting the championship proudly on his shoulder, he continues.
JACK MACE
Me and Moosh are two people who represent what this company is all about! The fight! The respect! You see me and think this "nice guy" act is a bit, you say? That the big, crazy bugger in the bear skin cape is just a disguise? You probably think the Wrestlin' Bear belongs in a circus? Well, I think I've been around this company more than enough to show the whole lot of you that I am that and MORE, my friend. Grappin' and Scrappin' ain't just a pretty catchphrase, Ry, it's made me what I am. You can ask literally anyone that's scrapped with me the kind of man I am.
He chuckles half-heartedly.
JACK MACE
I bet that you're pretty chuffed about how you manhandled that dojo boy just to prove your point, eh? But unlike all the bloody disrespect you've thrown to people like that Jonah Ke'ala kid or that dojo boy you attacked to send your message… I will still give you all the praise you want, Ryan. Are you ready? I know first-hand how much of a monster you are. It was God-Bears that made it to the finals of the Strongest Tag League, but it was Lariat, Inc that beat us in the opening round. I know how scary that Lariat of yours is! It's why you're one half of the World Tag Team Champions and I know we might have a new champion if you hit it. I'd be gutted if I lost…
And now, The Wrestling Bear grins. Widely.
JACK MACE
...But mate, THAT is why I am Champion. Because I WANT this and because I run at the danger like some crazy person and not away from it! Because I WANT the thrill of the fight to show that I am worthy of this championship and worthy of the trust LRX has in me to carry it.
He holds the championship out a little closer.
JACK MACE
I have ZERO doubts you'll test me, mate. In fact I think you'll fight me to my very limit, Samuels. I think it's gonna be a close one, but I KNOW that tonight, I'm gonna prove my worth. Winnin' this bloody thing is one thing. STAYIN' the champ is a whole 'nother… but I am ready, Ry.
We come back from commercial as the festivities for the World's title bout are dying down, Garner calls for the bell and Samuels storms the champion in the corner and begins pummelling him with lefts and rights. Samuels grabs him by the wrist and tries to Irish whip him, but gets reversed and sent into the opposing corner himself. Mace grabs Samuels in a waist hold and delivers a belly to belly suplex! He covers!
1...
NO!
Mace is shoved off by the challenger, but the champion responds with a headbutt that staggers the rising Samuels and sends him stumbling back into the corner. Mace comes charging at him, but eats a big boot to the face from the Kansas native. With the champion doubled over, Samuels hoofs him in the head with a knee lift. Mace falls to a knee, Samuels grabs him up and unleashes a quick scoop slam then follows it up with an elbow drop. He holds his place, executing a nonchalant cover but of course it barely earns a one. Samuels slaps on a rear chinlock, talking trash to Mace and demanding Garner ask him. Mace fights back to his feet, but Samuels cuts him off with an elbow into the shoulder! With Mace dropping down to his knees again, Samuels tries to slap on a sleeper hold but the Wrestling Bear backs up and bulls him into the ropes. He turns and headbutts Samuels again, then whips him into the ropes. Mace charges out looking for his shoulder block, but Samuels clobbers him with a big boot! Mace goes down and the challenger covers him again!
1...
...
2-NO!
BRIAN SHELZI
Never a bad idea to make a cover after a move like that, you never know what kind of state your opponent is in after a sudden strike or impact move. On the flip side of that, a lot of fighters can be out after shots like that but the referee's count is so ingrained into them that they can seemingly kick out on instinct.
Samuels argues the count and Mace sits up, the challenger slaps the champion for doing so and grabs him in a sleeper hold attempt again. Mace scoots over to the ropes and gets 'em to cause a break. Samuels is arguing with Garner while pulling on Mace's wild mane, then gets up and begins stomping on the champion until the five count is up. Garner issues him a yellow card! Samuels chortles, telling the senior referee that the winner's purse will render that $500 as chump change. Samuels grabs Mace by the hair, pulling him to his feet before whipping him into the corner. He rushes in, but the champion decks him with a headbutt! Mace uses the ropes to keep himself up as Samuels collides with the top turnbuckle after impact, then turns around into Bear Paws - forearm hammers upside the head! Mace grabs an arm wringer and tries to lift Samuels off of his feet and DOES... just for a moment.
SAM HEWITT
Ryan Samuels is typically one of the biggest men in any given match - only outsized by his tag team partner, Mack Brody but Jack Mace is only an inch shorter and weighs thirty pounds less. These are two big boys.
Samuels swings wildly, but misses as Mace pulls his arm and directs him back and forth at will. With the challenger off balance, Mace lets go and unleashes a mighty double clap! With Samuels brought down to his knees, Mace grabs an arm, steps over and applies an armbar. Samuels grunts and groans, but rolls over and gets into the ropes to break the hold. The two men scramble back to their feet and Samuels attacks with a kick to the gut, then bounds off the ropes and hits a big boot! The champion goes down and Samuels taunts him, sizing him up for an elbow drop...
BUT IT MISSES!
Mace rolls out of the way, Samuels howls in pain and rolls out of the ring. Mace follows him out, grabbing him and slamming head first into a ringside table. Mace rolls back inside as the count reaches four, but Samuels isn't too far along behind him. Mace grabs him and clobbers him with a headbutt, then follows it up with a bear paw upside the head. He grabs Samuels and whips him into the ropes and charges in with a front dropkick that sends the big challenger down to the mat in a hurry! Mace jumps on top for a cover!
1...
...
2-NO!
The champion pulls him up by his head, then positions him and applies a pumphandle... then...
POWERBOMB!
He covers again!
1...
...
2...
...
3-NO!
Mace shakes his head in disbelief as the Hewitt and Shelzi put over Samuels' drive. Mace grabs him in a rear waist hold and tries to hoist him up, but the challenger runs him back into the corner. Samuels turns and batters Mace with shots to the body and the head, then backs up...
LARIAT!
IT MISSES!
Mace turns and grabs Samuels and German suplexes him!
AS HIGH AS HE CAN GET THE BIG MAN!
HE HOLDS IT!
1...
...
2...
...
3!
Mace shoves him off and rolls out of the ring, collecting his championship from Teddy Davis at ringside. He's asked to pose for some pictures and does so, beaming with a smile from ear to ear. Unfortunately, Mack Brody comes charging down the aisle to break up the celebration. Mace and Brody start duking it out at ringside while Samuels is still incapacitated inside the ring. Brody strikes Mace low and sets him up for a powerbomb on the floor, but Mushigihara comes running down to make the save for his partner - smashing Brody in the back and sending him away! Mushi picks up his partners' belt and stands tall between the two, eyes it briefly but hands it to Mace as the show closes.
