Post by fifthhorseman on Feb 23, 2019 17:59:51 GMT -5
MLW FRIDAY NIGHT HEAT
EPISODE 22
EPISODE 22
60-second video montage recapping the events of last week’s show, followed by title graphics and explosive pyro.
Cold open from the center of the ring. MLW Commissioner Chuck Norris stood with a microphone in his hand, and two gaudy straps over his shoulders. “I hereby declare the MLW World Tag-Team championships… vacated.”
With one simple sentence, Norris silenced the crowd in the USF Sun Dome, and he pointed toward the large screen on the ramp. Footage was shown from the parking lot brawl between the Horsemen and the Revival from a couple of weeks earlier, followed by the eight-man main event match from last week. Finally, new footage was shown, filmed after Friday Night Heat went off the air: in it, Brian Pillman was helped backstage by his teammates, and treated by local medics.
Norris: “Due to injuries sustained earlier in the month, MLW has placed Brian Pillman under indefinite medical suspension. Therefore, he and his partner, Curt Hennig, will be unable to defend their titles within the 30-day championship defense timeframe. Starting tonight, we will begin qualifying teams for a 10-team gauntlet match, taking place next week on Friday Night Heat. At the end of that night, new MLW World Tag-Team champions will be crowned.”
“Two more things. Because this is an injury situation, the Horsemen and JJ Dillon have until the end of tonight’s show to determine who will be representing their group as the tenth and final team to run the gauntlet match. Given the unfortunate circumstances, the MLW championship committee have given them, for what might be the last time in a while, a championship advantage. Mr. Dillon – I expect an answer in about 85 minutes.”
“And now, it’s time to start qualifying teams. Howard, here is tonight’s card – please introduce our first match of the night.”
The BRISCOE BROTHERS vs CACTUS JACK and TERRY FUNK:
vs.
vs.
Standard slobberknocker of a match, exactly what you would expect from these four. The referee gave them plenty of leeway, and they all took advantage of it, brawling in tandem inside and outside of the ring. The 10 minutes it lasted were thoroughly entertaining – unfortunately, it ended in frustrating fashion. While the two teams pounded away at each other, Dave Batista casually strolled down the ramp, clotheslined the MLW Wild Card champion from behind, and then grabbed his brother Mark and buckle-bombed him against the ringpost from the outside. The official had no choice but to call for the disqualification, and “the Animal” smirked into the camera. “Jay Briscoe – I’m not finished with you yet. The next time we go one-on-one, that title’s mine. And, Horsemen – consider that to be an audition. You’re missing one thing, and that’s raw, sadistic power. That’s my game. You know where to find me.”
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, the “Namer of Dummies”, Eli Drake, was monologuing. “Let me talk to you! By now, you all know that Paul Orndorff and I don’t get along so much anymore. You all saw him sneak-attack me, and after everything I did to put the team on my back, and get him into a spotlight that he never deserved. Big muscles, big ego – little brain, yeah dummy! So I’ll let you in on a little secret – ‘Mr. Blunderful’ isn’t my only friend. Next week, once we tear through whatever qualifying team Chuck Norris puts in front of us, me and my new partner are going to enter the gauntlet and win the World Tag-Team titles. He’s a former Impact World champion – just like me. He’s built like a Greek statue and he’s a real class act – just like me. And he just happens to be here tonight, finalizing his contract with MLW.”
Nick Aldis walked into the shot and smiled. “Truer words were never spoken. We will be participating in the gauntlet – and rest assured, that’s a promise.”
Styles: "Hello, wrestling fans! My name is Joey Styles, and I'm proud to join the team right here on MLW Friday Night Heat! I'm joined on commentary tonight by Jeff Jarrett and Elias Samson. I have no idea what else is coming up tonight, but hey, what else is new? So let's get right to the ring - all I know is that every match is a qualifying match for next week's championship gauntlet!"
AMERICA’S MOST WANTED vs. the LATIN AMERICAN EXCHANGE:
vs.
vs.
The TNA theme continued in the next bout, as two very familiar foes locked up in the next qualifier. This was fought at a fast pace, with even the massive Hernandez using his speed and agility to confound AMW. Harris, Storm, and Homicide all brought their A-games to this one, and the see-saw battle flew by. Finally, at 15:09, the faces hit the Death Sentence top-rope legdrop on Homicide, and AMW was the second team to qualify for next week’s championship match.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped interview was played, recorded earlier in the week, with Lance Russell interviewing the Revival.
Wilder: “Being a Horseman was a dream come true – I’ll admit it. Real wrestling fans out there know what we bring to the ring each and every night, and for the last few months, we’ve brought it. We were the backbone of the Horsemen, a 21st century upgrade to the tradition of excellence. And they want to blame us for their troubles? Give me a break!”
Dawson: “JJ’s eyes got too big for his stomach. He saw that Tully and Arn were free agents, and he brought them in, kicking us to the curb in the process. JJ, you made the wrong choice. Like Dash said, it was dream come true… but hey, we woke up. No more doing your dirty work. No more protecting your precious golden boys. We’re gonna take care of business with Anderson and Blanchard, then we’re going after those titles.”
The MIDNIGHT EXPRESS vs. MONEY INC. (w/Keith Lee):
vs.
vs.
A veritable dream match between two highly skilled pairs of technicians. The heels utilized a slight weight advantage to ground things when they could, and Eaton and Lane countered with a more aerial game to frustrate their foes. “Beautiful Bobby” and the MLW World champion, DiBiase, carried the load for their respective squads, and Styles suggested a singles world title shot was worth considering.
Regrettably, it was the massive X-factor on the floor that harkened the end of the match. As all four grapplers mixed it up in the ring, Lee hammered Lane with a double kidney punch after “the Taxman” flung him into the ropes. The referee didn’t see it; he was too busy trying to get Eaton out of the ring. Schyster seized the opportunity, and rolled “Sweet Stan” into a small package, taking the tainted victory at 13:26.
COMMERCIAL
The AUTHORS OF PAIN vs. EDGE and CHRISTIAN:
vs.
Despite being outweighed by over 150 pounds, the inaugural MLW World Tag-Team champions were unfazed. Cautious, yes, but eager to get into the gauntlet next week. The Authors were full of adrenaline, and they took it to Christian early in the contest, surprising the Canadian with their impressive combination of mass and agility. They dominated the first few minutes, before the multi-time WWE belt-holders settled into a rhythm, using their guile and teamwork to try to exhaust their much bigger foes. However, the AoP had surprising stamina, and the match went nearly 15 minutes before the “Rated-R Superstar” pinned Akam with a top-rope bodypress at 14:39.
After the match, Edge and Christian waited defiantly in the ring, knowing that the Horsemen were due to make their announcement. And indeed, the five men appeared at the top of the ramp – Pillman sporting a massive knee brace and an arm sling – gesturing at the two to clear out. Several tense moments elapsed before a horde of MLW officials, including Norris, got between the groups and ordered Edge and Christian to leave. It took some time, but nothing other than words were exchanged as the groups essentially switched places, separated by the refs and other crew. Finally, the Horsemen were ready to speak, and as Russell stood by with them, Dillon took the microphone.
Dillon: “Needless to say, we aren’t pleased with this situation. It’s a travesty, quite frankly, that Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder haven’t been fired, and rest assured, I’ll be taking this all the way to Mr. Steinbrenner if I have to. But that isn’t really my, or our, biggest concern, right now. Right now, we have to decide who will replace... the irreplaceable. The Horsemen are the Major League Wrestling World Tag-Team champions. The 2018 MUW team of the year. The very best team walking the planet today.”
“And now, we’re down a man for the foreseeable future. Brian Pillman is a key cog in this machine, and thanks to the Revival, and others, the machine is temporarily broken. And I say temporarily, because the Horsemen are resilient.”
“United, we considered several scenarios this past week. And Mr. Batista, let me just say, your actions tonight certainly put you on the short list; unfortunately, our minds were already made up. That said, we were very impressed, and I hope that we can do business someday.”
Russell: “JJ, I think the time has come to let the world know… who will be representing the Horsemen and defending the MLW World Tag-Team championship next week?”
Dillon smiled. “Lance, you’re right. For a day or so, we considered giving this important task to Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, but in the end, decided that that wasn’t fair to Curt. Curt Hennig has proudly defending his half of the championship for almost six months now, and he’s earned the right to continue doing so. So we reached out to a man who we felt had all of the tools, all of the qualifications, to step into a high-pressure situation like this… and he accepted without hesitation. This man has been a champion wherever we worked. He is a former World Tag-Team champion. He’s a former World champion.”
Hennig: “And he is going to be the perfect partner. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you…”
The USF Sun Dome went dark for a second, and then the large screen sparked back to life.
Rude: “See you next week.”