Chapter III: World War - Night Two

The PANGAEA signature played and then we cut to the Russian audience inside the arena. The shot then cut to show the PANGAEA Grand Championship at ringside where Ring Announcer and Representative of the Proprietors Smoke Perkins sat.

Duff Buckley: "Tonight is Night Two of the World War Tournament! Tonight we will see the semi-finals take place and we will see who will go on to fight for the PANGAEA Grand Championship at Night Three."

Ramona Holiday: "Olethros and Cesar Salazar will square off in our main event while Shaelin Marie O'Hara will take on Vashta Nerada. The winners of those matches will fight for that prize right there at our next event in Paris."

Duff Buckley: "I have also been told that at least some of the Proprietors, the financiers that brought PANGAEA into being will be on hand in Paris to present the winner with the Grand Championship."

Ramona Holiday: "Good. People will stop saying that Smoke Perkins is anything but their messenger."

Duff Buckley: "Yes. The people have been confused. That being said, PANGAEA isn't about talking - it's about wrestling. So let's get to fighting."

The next match was the first World War Semi Final. Nerada hit the ring and looked hurt from his last two contests. O'Hara charged at Nerada and slipped behind him. She hit him with a series of quick forearm shots to Nerada's lower back and then hit a big dropkick to that same area.

Duff Buckley: "O'Hara is targeting the injury that Avalon Blake inflicted on Nerada at Convergence."

O'Hara got Nerada up and sent him into the corner. Nerada hit it and got hung up. O'Hara came charging in and nailed Nerada with a running knee to the lower back. O'Hara then lifted Nerada up and sat him on the top rope, facing the audience. O'Hara gave herself some room and then charged. She leaped up and took Nerada off of the top rope with a backcracker.

Ramona Holiday: "Shaelin Marie O'Hara is dominating Vashta Nerada. I don't think anyone expected this but I can't say that I'm bothered by it. She has been overlooked her entire career."

Nerada got back to his feet and caughta kick attempt from O'Hara. He tried to capitalize but O'Hara was able to put him down with a Shaelinziguiri! Nerada dropped and O'Hara covered. She was only able to get a two count but kicking out took everything that Nerada had.

Duff Buckley: "Who is this Vashta Nerada? This is not the man that we have seen in his last two outings. O'Hara has him beaten at every turn."

The Hungering Darkness got to his feet and reversed an Irish whip attempt from O'Hara. He sent her into the ropes but she hit a handspring, bounced off of the ropes with her legs and then came flying back with a cutter that planted Nerada. O'Hara covered again and nearly got three but Nerada was just able to kick out.

Ramona Holiday: "Could this be where Nerada turns things around?"

Duff Buckley: "He had better hope so."

Knowing that it was do or die time, Nerada charged in at O'Hara and went for a leaping lariat but she caught his arm and put him down with the Fhoréigneach Ceimiceach. Nerada was planted and O'Hara covered him for an impressive and dominant victory.

Winner: Shaelin Marie O'Hara (**1/4)

Following the contest the fans in Moscow gave O'Hara a standing ovation. An "O-HAR-A" chant started up and she looked a bit taken aback by the support.

Ramona Holiday: "Shaelin Marie O'Hara is one step closer to becoming the first PANGAEA Grand Champion."

Dufff Buckley: "No one expect her to make it this far and now she is in the finals."

Ramona Holiday: "Now who will she face; Cesar Salazar or Olethros?"

We get a final shot of O'Hara's hand being raised before we cut.

The next match was a mismatch to say the least. Driftwood entered the ring and stood high above Hightower. Hightower evaded a right hand shot from Driftwood and then immediately went to the second rope. Hightower came back with a hook kick that caught Driftwood in the chest, staggering him backward.

Ramona Holiday: "I'm not sure who I hate more in this match but I'm pretty sure that it's Hightower."

Duff Buckley: "He claims that you just want to sleep with him."

Ramona Holiday: "He is completely delusional."

Hightower hit Driftwood with a dropkick but still, Driftwood would not go down. Driftwood grabbed Hightower and sent him into the ropes but instead of coming back, Hightower hit a springboard from the second rope and came back with a moonsault that took Driftwood down.

Duff Buckley: "Moscow seems to be doing strange things to our roster. The dominant are being dominated."

Driftwood quickly got back up but Hightower ducked a right hand from the big man, lifted him up and put him down with an atomic drop! Hightower then hit a knee to Driftwood's mid-section and put him head first into the mat with a DDT! Hightower covered but Driftwood easily powered out after one.

Ramona Holiday: "Hightower is just making Driftwood mad. I hope they kill each other."

Duff Buckley: "Really?"

Ramona Holiday: "Well I'd like Hightower dead at the very least."

Hightower knew that he needed to keep the momentum so he hit the ropes and was able to keep Driftwood down with a bulldog! With Driftwood still down, Hightower climbed to the top rope, took a moment to pose and then came off with a leg drop! He connected perfectly and covered again but again Driftwood was able to kick out. Hightower began getting frustrated. 

Ramona Holiday: "Cry about it bitch."

Driftwood got up to his feet and seemed absolutely pissed. He came at Hightower with a clothesline but the latter dipped behind Driftwood and rolled him up! The referee counted and Hightower got the three count! Moscow could not believe it!

Winner: Keegan Hightower (**1/2)

Hightower left the ring immediately and ran up the ramp. He was jumping in the air as Driftwood stared at him from the ring.

Ramona Holiday: "I can't believe this."

Duff Buckley: "Neither can Driftwood."

When Hightower disappeared behind the curtain, Driftwood shifted his gaze from the ramp to the PANGAEA Grand Championship on display at ringside. Driftwood then exited the ring and approached the pedestal.

Ramona Holiday: "Well he tried to take it last week, who is going to stop him this week? Will Brooklyn Blake come to the rescue again?"

Duff Buckley: "I don't think so."

Driftwood stood over the pedestal, smirked, and grabbed the Grand Championship. Driftwood then calmly stepped over the barricade and walked through the audience toward backstage.

Backstage we saw Cutter Driftwood walking with the Grand Championship over his shoulder looking incredibly smug. That is until he is stopped dead in his tracks by another presence.

Cutter Driftwood: "Can I help you, freak?"

The other figure darted at him and nailed him with a forearm shot. Olethros struck again. He got the better of Driftwood hitting him with shot after shot before grabbing the side of his head. Olethros then put Driftwood head first into a concrete wall. Driftwood was rocked but Olethros wasn't satisfied, he smashed Driftwood's head into the wall two more times.

Duff Buckley: "Jesus Christ! Olethros is taking everyone out tonight!"

Olethros then got Driftwood over his shoulders with a fireman's carry and put him right through a door marked "Production" with the Bunker Buster. Driftwood was down and out when Olethros collected the Grand Championship belt. The production team in the office were stunned.

Olethros: "This will be mine soon enough."

Olethros placed the Grand Championship on the table and walked out of the room, leaving Cutter Driftwood laying on the broken door in a pool of his own blood.

As the next match was set to begin, Armada came out first. He was carrying the Swedish flag which is only natural as he is a Swedish native. However he looks confused and then quickly disappears behind the curtain.

Ramona Holiday: "What the hell was that about?"

Duff Buckley: "Armada is a patriot."

Armada appeared back from behind the curtain, this time holding a different yet very similar flag. The Ukrainian flag. The audience in Moscow showered him with boos and he seemed to soak it in.

Duff Buckley: "Oh. Oh no."

Armada stomps to the ring as the boos continue, many fans pelted him with garbage but he seemed to love it. He entered the ring and continued waving the flag with an arrogant smirk.

Immediately as the bell rang Cesar Salazar unleashed himself upon Olethros. Salzar hit Olethros with a series of giant kicks and strikes to the face that forced Olethros to put his guard up. When Salazar went for a second series of alternating strikes Olethros reached forward and gave him a shove. Salazar jumped forward with a high kick that caught Olethros in the temple but the latter just shrugged it off.

It was Olethros' turn as he pressed forward hitting Salazar with clubbing blows and kicks. Unlike his opponent, Salazar couldn't cover up as well and was eating some punishing blows. Olethros hit a particularly quick combo of strikes and punctuated it with a lightning quick spinning back fist that hits Salazar in the side of the head like a cinder block. Salazar staggered sideways and dropped to a knee.

Ramona Holiday: "Salazar has tried to come with fury right out of the gate but Olethros is much tougher, less damaged."

Olethros pressed forward and hit Salazar with a rising knee to the chin. This brought Salazar back up to his feet but he stumbled backwards. Olethros came at him with a running big boot but Salazar moved and Olethros found himself hung up on the top rope. Salazar quickly started kicking Olethros' grounded leg as many times as he could. Olethros pulled himself over the top rope and Salazar met him with a staggering discus forearm smash.

Duff Buckley: "Finally Salazar is able to land a big shot."

Salazar had dropped Olethros to a seated position and then expertly applied a full nelson. The referee was in perfect position to get a verbal submission from Olethros. This was for naught as Olethros used his brute strength to stand up and break the hold, much to Salazar's shock. Olethros hit a subduing elbow to the top of Salazar's head and then nailed him with the Target Down torture rack bomb. Olethros covered but Salzar kicked out at two.

Ramona Holiday: "A near fall for Olethros. Both men are looking to end this match as fast as possible."

Duff Buckley: "That would be in Salazar's best interest."

Olethros angrily got Salazar up and sent him into the ropes. Olethros hit a big boot that put Salazar back down. Olethros then hit a running kick to the side of Salazar's head that sent him for a loop. Olethros stomped on Salazar again a few times and then went to lift him up but Salazar countered the attempt, tripped Olethros up and applied a heel hook.

It seemed that The Murder Machine's strength was still too much as he easily crawled towards the rope, dragging Salazar along with him. Olethros gripped the bottom rope and Salazar was forced to break the hold. Olethros knew that Salazar would advance on him quickly so the former sprung back up to his feet. Olethros attempted to strike first with a lariat but Salazar caught his arm and applied a Kimura lock.

Duff Buckley: "The submissions worked for Salazar last week. It would be quite impressive to see Salazar submit a man like Olethros."

Ramona Holiday: "I really don't know if it's possible."

Salazar attempted to bring Olethros down to the mat with it but Olethros fought up, again. In a show of ridiculous strength, Olethros lifted Salazar up, ran, and smashed him into a turnbuckle. Salazar, with his legendary tenacity, refused to break the hold. Olethros must have taken this as a challenge because he charge again and rammed Salazar into a second turnbuckle, this time causing Salazar to loosen up the hold slightly.

The camera closed in to show Salazar wincing as Olethros lifted him up again. Still Salzar refused to break the hold and you could see signs of agony in Olethros' expression. Olethros charged for a third time but this time with less energy. Olethros smashed Salazar into a third turnbuckle and still Salazar refused to let go. Howling in agony, Olethros lifted Salazar up a forth time and rammed him into a fourth turnbuckle. This finally broke the hold but both men went down.

Duff Buckley: "What power from Olethros. He smashed Salazar has hard as he could and still Salazar would not let go."

Salazar used the corner turnbuckles to lift himself back up. As soon as he was up he launched himself at Olethros. Olethros tried to meet Salazar with a high kick but Salazar ducked under it. Salazar hit the opposing ropes, leaped into the air and blasted Olethros with a leaping clothesline. One didn't put Olethros down so Salazar backed into the ropes and hit another. Again Olethros didn't drop but this time he staggered. Salazar hit the ropes a third time and this time his leaping clothesline but Olethros down. Salazar covered but only got 2.

Ramona Holiday: "Salazar is gaining momentum. This may be his last chance at gaining victory."

Duff Buckley: "It's true. Olethros is primed to go much longer in this match."

Both men got back to their feet but Salazar rushed Olethros again. Salazar began hitting Olethros with some big strikes but the latter reached forward and took him by the throat. Olethros lifted Salazar up for the Spinal Shock but at the last second Salazar brought him back down to the mat with a miraculous counter into a triangle choke.

Olethros was trapped in the middle of the ring in a triangle choke, nowhere to go. That's when Olethros let out a growl of sorts. With difficulty, Olethros lifted Salazar up off of the mat while still in a triangle choke. Olethros then slammed Salazar down with incredible force. Salazar bounced off of the mat, landing face down. Salazar favoured his back as Olethros closed in.

Duff Buckley: "More brute force from Olethros. Salazar can't take much more of this."

Salazar tried to get up and did so but without the tenacity he displayed earlier. Olethros was on him like a shadow, clubbing Salazar in the back before sending him hard into the corner like a dart. Salazar went through the gap between the top and middle turnbuckles, his shoulder meeting the ring post with force. Olethros pulled Salazar out of the corner, took hold of him and sent him for a ride with an overhead belly to belly suplex.

Knowing that Salazar's back was pretty much fucked Olethros got his opponent up. Salazar attempted to fight back with some strikes but Olethros blocked all of his shots. Olethros then sent Salazar into the ropes with and Irish whip. Just before Salazar turned to hit the ropes with his back, Olethros caught him with a running knee to the small of the back. Olethros backed up and then charged, hitting Salazar with a spear through the ropes. Both men landed hard on the outside in a heap with Salazar's back taking the majority of the impact.

Ramona Holiday: "Oh my God!"

Duff Buckley: "Cesar Salazar's back has to be broken."

Ramona Holiday: "We'll see if he can walk or not."

Olethros took a moment to recover but to his surprise, Salazar was up first. Holding his back and wincing in agony Salazar went to move on Olethros. Olethros got to his feet and charged at Salazar. Olethros went for a spear but at the last possible second, Salazar stepped aside and sent Olethros head first into the ring barrier. An "Eto Kruto!" chant started up at this point.

Ramona Holiday: "Moscow thinks that this is awesome."

Only after that did the referee start the ten count. Salazar dropped to a knee to recover and this time it was Olethros who was up surprisingly quickly. Olethros charged at Salazar and the latter popped up and turned around just in time. Both men hit each other with clotheslines just as the referee hit a count of three. The two went down simultaneously and a double count out looked likely.

Duff Buckley: "This incredible match can't end this way!"

Both men pulled themselves back into the ring before the ten count came down but Olethros was first up. He took hold of Salazar but Salazar rushed him back into a corner. Perhaps the last act of a desperate man, Salazar hit Olethros with as many strikes as he could dish out, appearing to be in incredible pain as he did so. One uppercut caught Olethros in the chin and dropped him.

Olethros slowly got back to his feet and Salazar egged him on. Salazar then charged in and went for another leaping clothesline but at the last second Olethros caught his arm, spun him around and planted him with the C.K.D. for the three count.

Winner: Olethros (*****)

Following the contest Olethros was announced as the winner and Salazar remained down. Olethros went to leave the ring but then decided better of it and turned his attention back to Salazar. At this point Pedro Gonzales ran down to the ring.

Duff Buckley: "Olethros is looking for a hat trick but Gonzales won't let him!"

Gonzales slid in under the bottom rope and hit Olethros with a forearm shot to the back of the head. Olethros was sent over the top rope to the outside and landed hard. Gonzales begged for Olethros to get back into the ring but the victor chose not to. He got what he wanted here tonight.