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Nik Cain: Up next we’ve got Evenkiel coming out here to respond to the open challenge from “The One Man Riot” Hazard. Most people here know the significance of this but for those of you who have somehow managed to never hear the story of the dying days of FCW, allow me to fill you all in. Back in the summer of 2003, Evenkiel managed to get a bunch of disgruntled ex-employees together and leveled a class action lawsuit at James Crawford. Now I’m pretty sure I can’t get into the details of the case itself but what I can say is the legal fees for Jim were substantial. It’s important to note that FCW was a labor of love, not money. The company didn’t even start to turn a profit until well into its second year. Now add to that having your life’s work literally put on trial. Day in and day out having to defend yourself and your company against all sorts of accusations from people who work or worked for you. When the money finally ran out, you could tell Jim’s spirit was broken too and he simply closed FCW’s doors without a fight.
I still remember that smug look Evenkiel wore on his face after FCW went under. I don’t think he cared about the final verdict or any of the guys he’d suckered into suing with him. FCW’s demise was all he ever wanted and he got it. But, while the body’s been buried three years, the heart of FCW still beats and its spirit still lives on. That has never been more evident than it is here tonight so I’m glad he is here to see it. And, you know, I opened the show by talking about guys who helped put FCW on the map in the first place versus people FCW put on the map. Well, Evenkiel is definitely the latter. His lasting legacy is that he closed down FCW, nothing more. His history is our history; we are forever connected, and I want him to remember that.
(Evenkiel comes out to a tremendous response from the crowd…and not of the positive variety. Ignoring the boos and the garbage being thrown at him, he stands at the top of the ramp with a pompous smirk on his face.)
Evenkiel: I have some things to say and then finally, FINALLY… I will leave here and never have to deal with the likes of you, those imbeciles who will be dirtying that ring this evening and especially with the likes of Nik Cain ever again. Do you hear me? This is IT! I believe I have shown remarkable restraint thus far but I have had just about ENOUGH of this. FCW is gone. FCW is no more. Now if Nik Cain and Mr. Hazard wish to pin the blame for the demise of FCW on me then that is their misguided choice. I no more “killed” FCW than the 2 packs of cigarettes that all of you great unwashed troglodytes smoke every day are killing you. I believe in personal responsibility, so when you all die of lung cancer and emphysema my response is, the sooner the better. You knew what you were getting when you lit up every time. And when FCW didn’t realize the folly of playing Russian Roulette with people’s lives, then as far as I was concerned the filthy pig that was James Crawford needed to take some personal responsibility, even if it was forced on him. I will not apologize for using my superior resources and organizational skills to launch that class action. And I seek neither your approval nor your forgiveness. I take great pride in my accomplishment. Perhaps if those so-called “Men” in the dressing room took as much pride in themselves, they would not blame me for costing them their jobs. Perhaps then they would stop their crying about me taking food out of their family’s mouths. Perhaps they would use their minds for once and stop depending on others for handouts or treating their bodies like slabs of meat. Perhaps, just perhaps, then they would look upon me for what I was, their saviour.
But in any case, what they think of me is none of my concern. Quite frankly, I would have been happy to forget all about them and FCW forever. I say “would have” because due to the incessant harassment by Mr. Cain and Mr. Hazard, I have not been given a moment’s peace. What they refuse to acknowledge is that I am an adult, who lives in the adult world, and I do not respond to constant schoolyard taunts and challenges by simple-minded cavemen who see physical violence as the only way to settle their issues. So I have come here for one reason and that is to deliver this message in the clearest way that I can.
Mr. Hazard, I will NOT compete against you tonight, or ever. I will not set foot in an FCW ring ever again. Partly because FCW longer exists but mainly because I do not want to and I do not have to. I did not kill FCW but I certainly made sure that it remained dead. Deal with that harsh reality however you want, but as far as you and I entering that ring and fighting is concerned it will NEVER happen. My only desire this evening was to come here, say my peace and leave. I even went so far as to deceive Mr. Cain to ensure that my appearance fee in no way required me to compete if I didn’t get into that FCW ring. So no deal my friend. I am leaving. Enjoy your evening.
(With those final words, Evenkiel drops the microphone and walks out to even more boos and garbage raining down from the rafters.)
Nik Cain: This guy’s got some fuckin’ nerve. I bet he’d walk right into a lion’s den, tug on the biggest lion’s mane, turn right back around, and think he could stroll out of the place.
(Garbage is still coming from every which way.)
Nik Cain: Well, we better try and get this show back on the road before there’s too much trash for anyone to be able to get down to the ring, let alone in it. The next match for this evening will pit Brad Steel against Darian Blaze. In addition to both being very well rounded athletes, both men were briefly members of the Aces of Fortune stable. The stable quickly self destructed and both men were quick to place much of the blame on each other. They never got around to settling it in the ring so now seemed as good a time as any to let them go at it.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, James Crawford was a man who gave a lot of people a lot of opportunities and the only man I can honestly say he held down for a prolonged period of time was Brad Steel. Now, to be fair, he didn’t start to do so until after Steel started bitching up a storm about being held down. But the fact still remains that, largely as a result of that, Steel is one of the best to never hold the FCW World Title, as evidenced by the fact that he won every other title in the organization’s history…well, except for the women’s title that Rhapsody was so kind as to dust off and bring here tonight.
Steel never got a chance to hold the World Title but Blaze, on the other hand, won in three times, a feat only two other men can boast. He also holds the distinction of being one half of the last ever FCW Tag Champions and the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in federation history. These two have accomplished just about everything there was to accomplish in FCW, so it’s pretty ironic that they were unable to achieve much of anything together. Tonight let’s see what they can do against each other.
(“You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar But I Feel Like a Millionaire” by Queens of the Stone Age begins to play. Wearing a sleeveless robe with the moniker "King of Old School" on the back and riddled with the colors of blue and red, Brad Steel comes out to a predominantly but not exclusively negative response from the fans. He slowly stalks his way to the ring posing a few times along the way. Once in the ring he parades around making various gestures and poses.)
The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit.
Introducing first…
Fighting out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania…
And weighing in at 255 pounds…
”The King of Old School” Brad Steel
(Steel motions for a microphone. He gets one and, after a few moments, begins to speak.)
Brad Steel: You know, it’s been a few years since I have even seen anything remotely linked to the FCW. For a long time, I called this place home. There are a lot of memories I have competing here. Lots of great matches with lots of great athletes. I mean, look at it this way, where could I have been if I went from a nobody, to damn near becoming a murderer and then ending my stay with almost breaking my goddamn forearm? Nowhere but here. From my time in the Foundation and to being one of the Aces with my opponent for tonight “Mr. Moonlight” Darian Blaze. “D” it has been a long time and I know you really have not been wrestling as much as I have but I know tonight, you and I, we will throw the gloves down and show the world that we are what the FCW was all about. FUCK IT, what the FCW still is all about! FCW is an entity that will live forever in the hearts of anyone and everyone that was a part of this great promotion. I was sad to see it go but tonight, I am filled with pride that Nik Cain, was able to say “Hey guys, let’s do it one more time for the hell of it. Let’s show James Crawford that we are still what we were and that is a unique brand of wrestling. A breed that will never die and never be forgotten.
(Steel gets a little choked up before continuing.)
Ladies and Gentleman, Tonight, You will see two of the FCW’s most decorated square off against each other but I guaran-DAMN-tee you that, after tonight, if it hasn’t been already, the name “Brad Steel” with be synonymous with great wrestling. Good Luck Blaze, you’re going to need it. That’s the way it is folks, if you’re not down with that, I got three words for you….Deal With It!
(We still hear some boos but Steel’s speech manages to illicit a fair amount of cheers as well.)
His opponent…
Hailing from Santa Monica, California…
And weighing in at 273 pounds…
”Mr. Moonlight” Darian Blaze
(“Victory 2004” by The Bad Boy Family plays as Blaze makes his way to the ring to mostly cheers.)
They lock up.
Brad Steel slaps Darian Blaze in the face.
Darian Blaze hits Brad Steel with a series of punches to the head.
Darian Blaze takes Brad Steel down with a front layout suplex.
Nik Cain: Steel wanted to get Blaze’s ire up and did. Of course, I have no idea why he’d want to do a thing like that against a man who historically performs better when he’s emotional.
Darian Blaze whips Brad Steel into the ropes but Brad Steel reverses it.
Brad Steel nails Darian Blaze with a flying forearm.
Brad Steel takes Darian Blaze down with an armdrag takedown.
Brad Steel takes Darian Blaze down with an armdrag takedown.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a shining wizard.
Brad Steel is getting a mixed reaction from the crowd.
Brad Steel executes a head and arm suplex on Darian Blaze.
Brad Steel goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, kickout.
Brad Steel throws Darian Blaze out of the ring.
Nik Cain: Steel has taken firm control of this match. It is relevant to note that Steel has not only been active but quite successful over the last several months. Blaze, on the other hand, has not had a professional fight in at least a couple years to the best of my knowledge.
Dick Palmer counts one.
Dick Palmer counts two.
Brad Steel jumps onto Darian Blaze with a baseball slide dropkick.
Brad Steel whips Darian Blaze into the guardrail.
Dick Palmer counts three.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a backspin DDT.
Brad Steel reenters the ring.
Nik Cain: Steel just drilled Blaze with that DDT on the concrete.
Dick Palmer counts four.
Dick Palmer counts five.
The crowd rallies behind Darian Blaze.
Darian Blaze reenters the ring.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with an elbow drop.
Brad Steel goes for an elbow drop but Darian Blaze rolls out of the way.
Darian Blaze hits Brad Steel with a guillotine drop on the top rope.
Darian Blaze takes Brad Steel down with a shoulder lift into a flapjack.
Darian Blaze sits back in the turnbuckle and motions for Brad Steel to bring it.
Nik Cain: What appears to be bravado is actually Blaze taking a much-needed breather. This match did not start out the way he wanted it to.
Brad Steel tries to punch Darian Blaze but Darian Blaze blocks it.
Darian Blaze takes Brad Steel down with a clothesline.
Darian Blaze whips Brad Steel into the ropes.
Darian Blaze executes a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Brad Steel.
The crowd starts a “Mr. Moonlight” chant.
Darian Blaze nails Brad Steel with a superkick.
Darian Blaze puts Brad Steel in a figure four leglock.
Brad Steel reaches the ropes after 5 seconds.
Darian Blaze hits Brad Steel with a single leg takedown into a leglock.
Nik Cain: For some reason, Darian Blaze appears to be focusing on the right leg of Brad Steel.
Brad Steel struggles to reach the ropes.
Brad Steel fights the pain.
Brad Steel reaches the ropes after 17 seconds.
Darian Blaze throws Brad Steel out of the ring.
Darian Blaze jumps onto Brad Steel with a twisting plancha.
The crowd starts an “FCW” chant.
Nik Cain: Blaze busting out a plancha much to the crowd’s delight.
Dick Palmer counts one.
Dick Palmer counts two.
Darian Blaze reenters the ring.
The crowd is cheering for Darian Blaze.
Dick Palmer counts three.
Brad Steel reenters the ring.
Darian Blaze hits Brad Steel with a spinebuster.
Darian Blaze goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, shoulder up.
Nik Cain: A huge spinebuster but its only good for two.
Darian Blaze hits Brad Steel with a brain buster into a seated powerbomb.
Darian Blaze goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, shoulder up.
Darian Blaze hits Brad Steel with a release tiger suplex.
Brad Steel falls out of the ring.
The crowd starts a “Holy shit” chant.
Nik Cain: Blaze sent Steel all the way out to the floor with that suplex.
Dick Palmer counts one.
Dick Palmer counts two.
Dick Palmer counts three.
Darian Blaze rolls out of the ring.
Brad Steel grabs a kendo stick from underneath the ring.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze in the head with the kendo stick.
Darian Blaze is busted wide open.
Nik Cain: Oh man! Steel was playing a bit of possum. He had a kendo stick under the ring and just busted Blaze wide open with it.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze across the back with the kendo stick.
Dick Palmer counts four.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze across the back with the kendo stick.
The kendo stick is broken in half.
Nik Cain: Oh shit, that had to hurt. Steel may not be married to hardcore like some guys but it is his 2 am booty call so, when he calls her up, he fucks the shit out of her. I think I might’ve taken that analogy a little too far.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a series of punches to the head.
Darian Blaze is bleeding profusely.
Brad Steel whips Darian Blaze into the ringpost.
Dick Palmer counts five.
Brad Steel rolls Darian Blaze back into the ring.
Brad Steel reenters the ring.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a jumping neck snap.
Nik Cain: Blaze is bleeding all over the place and Steel is now looking to soften up the neck…and I think we all know why.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a jumping neck snap.
Brad Steel nails Darian Blaze with a kick to the midsection.
Brad Steel executes the Steel Driver on Darian Blaze.
Nik Cain: And there it is, the Steel Driver.
Brad Steel goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, thr…kickout!
The crowd erupts.
Brad Steel complains about a slow count.
Nik Cain: Blaze kicks out! Shades of the determination that led to three world title reigns.
Brad Steel nails Darian Blaze with a gutbuster.
Brad Steel climbs to the top rope.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a flying headbutt.
Brad Steel goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, Darian Blaze gets his foot on the rope.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a series of forearm smashes.
Nik Cain: Steel looks to be losing his composure in there.
Darian Blaze is bleeding like a faucet.Nik Cain: Blaze catching Steel with a nasty kick to the back of the head.
Darian Blaze executes a running diamond cutter on Brad Steel.
Darian Blaze hits Brad Steel with an Asai moonsault.
Darian Blaze goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, kickout.
The crowd boos with some scattered cheers.
Darian Blaze hits Brad Steel with a running powerslam.
Darian Blaze goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, Brad Steel gets his foot on the rope.
Nik Cain: Steel gets his foot on the rope. Blaze is on a roll but, at the rate he’s losing blood, he is definitely on borrowed time.
Darian Blaze goes for a thrust kick to the head but Brad Steel ducks out of the way.
Brad Steel executes a German suplex on Darian Blaze.
Brad Steel executes a German suplex on Darian Blaze.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a Blue Thunder Driver.
Brad Steel goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, thr…kickout!
The crowd is on its feet.
Nik Cain: Blaze just barely kicks out in time.
Brad Steel climbs to the top rope.
Brad Steel goes for a flying headbutt but Darian Blaze rolls out of the way.
Darian Blaze is bleeding profusely.
Nik Cain: Nobody home for Steel.
Darian Blaze takes Brad Steel down with a vertical facebuster.
Darian Blaze goes for the pin.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, kickout.
Darian Blaze goes for a running powerslam but Brad Steel slides down his back.
Brad Steel shoves Darian Blaze into the turnbuckle.
Brad Steel hits Darian Blaze with a roll up.
Dick Palmer counts one, two, three.
The crowd boos.
The winner is Brad Steel. Time of match: 08:28.
Nik Cain: That’s it! Steel caught Blaze with a roll up for the three count and this one is all over. It is a testament to how naturally gifted Blaze is that, with a tremendous amount of ring rust, he was still able to go in there and almost beat Steel on several occasions. But, in the end, a hell of a lot of blood loss and one mistake spelled the end for Mr. Moonlight as Brad Steel walks out of here tonight the victor.