MWL Redline - December 19, 2007
* * *
Shane Warner approached the door leading into Michael Jamborgh's office, the MWL North American Championship around his waist. He pushed the door open and looked triumphantly at Michael. "Huh?" Shane asked, grinning, and motioning toward the belt. "I knew I'd be the first champion!"
"Well, now aren't you special?" Michael asked, sighing. "Remember, you're defending that title against Kouryuu tonight."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Shane answered. "But he won't take it from me! He couldn't even get past the qualifiers!"
"Shane, are we talking about the same Kouryuu? The effective leader of the Ssu-Ling?" Michael asked. "The guy that controls Genbu? One half of the MWL World Tag Team Champions?"
"Probably, I dunno." Shane shrugged.
"Don't get overconfident, Shane. You remember what happened last time you got cocky before a match against one of the Ssu-Ling..." Michael muttered.
"That was not my fault, and you know it!" Shane snorted, as Michael looked up in confusion.
* * *
"Ladies and gentlemen, Stevan Corber here, with the one and only, Nicholas Hunter!" Stevan announced. "Nick, Sunday, at the end of Dead Heat, there was a standoff between your team of Free Radical and the biggest threat to the MWL, the X. What are your thoughts?"
"Well, I challenged Yugo to a match for the title, and I can't imagine why he wouldn't take me up on the challenge, unless, of course...he's scared..." Nick grinned. "You're not scared, are you, champ?"
"Now, Nick, is there some specific reason you turned down membership in the X?" Stevan asked.
"Well, I noticed they only wanted me. Not Jimmy or Amy. The three of us, Free Radical, we're a package deal. You get one of us, you get all of us." Nick answered.
"Do you think Yugo will actually accept your challenge?" Stevan asked.
"Well, he'd damn well better!" Nick spat. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Free Radical has a match." Nick stated, making his exit.
"The Asian Persuasion faces Free Radical, NEXT!" Stevan announced.
Match 1: The Asian Persuasion v. Free Radical
"Yugo, do you really think this match is a good idea? What if they don't patch things up after this?" Melissa Rez asked, looking up at Yugo's face.
"Melissa, we're a family. Truth be told, they shouldn't even be having the match tonight, but those two have some major issues to resolve. And the only way to settle a family squabble like this is to do it in the ring." Yugo answered.
"Yeah, that's true..." Melissa nodded.
"The X is supposed to be a well-oiled machine. An unstoppable force." Yugo stated. "After tonight, with any luck, that's what we'll be."
* * *
"Ladies and gentlemen, Stevan Corber, here, with the #1-contender to the MWL North American Championship tonight on Redline, please welcome at this time, one half of the MWL World Tag Team Champions, Kouryuu!" Stevan announced. "Kouryuu, tonight you face Shane Warner for the newly activated North American Championship. What are your thoughts?"
"I'm going to break down Shane Warner, beat him one-two-three, and walk out as a double champion." Kouryuu growled. "It's all as simple as that."
"Kouryuu, in all honesty, I really don't think he'll let it go that easily..." Stevan answered.
"Well, that's not really his decision, now is it?" Kouryuu asked.
"I...guess..." Stevan muttered.
Match 2: Lino v. Catastrophe
The symbol of the X flashed on the titantron, as the Norton Brothers, Yugo Ryan, and Melissa Rez all appeared on the stage, making their way toward the ring. As the four entered the ring, they all congratulated Lino and Catastrophe on a match well fought. Lino and Catastrophe approached each other and reluctantly shook hands as Yugo looked on with a smirk.
"You see? We are a family, and when we have tensions, we settle here, in this ring!" Yugo announced.
"Well, I'm glad your tensions are so easy to solve." A voice called out, as Michael Jamborgh appeared on the stage. "Because, since Lino won the match, I'm giving him a shot at the MWL North American Championship at Onslaught!" At this, Lino struck a victorious pose, as Catastrophe looked to Yugo, then Michael, furious.
"Something else, Yugo, Onslaught will be the X taking on the MWL!" Michael announced. "Which means, like it or not, you will defend that MWL World Heavyweight Championship against Nicholas Hunter!"
"You can't do that! I am the champion, and I--" Yugo began.
"Have no say in the matter." Michael interrupted. "Nortons!" Michael spat, as the two brothers stood at attention. "You two will face the Ssu-Ling for the MWL World Tag Team Championship. Now let's make this interesting. One of you guys will be challenging for the MWL World Lightweight Championship, too. But, as far as I can see, you've only got one lightweight, and he's already booked. So, you can let little Spike there wrestle his heart out twice at Onslaught, or, you boys'd better get to recruiting!" Michael laughed.
"Now wait a damn minute, Michael!" Catastrophe shouted, grabbing a microphone. "What about me, huh?!"
"What about you?" Michael asked.
"Lino and Red get title shots, Spike gets TWO, what about me?!" Catastrophe demanded.
"Hrmm...what about Catastrophe...?" Michael pondered. "Well, let's see...I could...put you in the MWL World Heavyweight Championship match...or, I could make the tag title match HT5... Ooh, or what about giving you a shot at the MWL North American Championship? Or better yet, the MWL-CAW Championship..."
The X remained silent as Michael continued thinking. "You know what? I'll get back to you on that." Michael laughed, making his way backstage, as the X slowly stepped out of the ring and made their exit, as well.
* * *
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen, Stevan Corber here, with the reigning MWL North American Champion, 'Mr. Reality', Shane Warner." Stevan announced. "Shane, in just a moment, you will be walking down the ramp to defend your newly won title against Kouryuu. Now--"
"No, Stevan, you must resist the urge to ask the same question for the hundredth time since Redline began!" Shane interrupted, grabbing Stevan by the shoulders and shaking him violently. "Variety shall set you free!"
"Okay, so...how likely do you think you are to walk out still champion tonight, and go on to face Lino at Onslaught?" Stevan asked.
"Hundred percent. With an extra twenty tacked on. I guess." Shane answered. "Alright, now I've got a match!" With that, Shane made his exit.
"Kouryuu challenges Shane Warner for the North American Championship, NEXT!" Stevan announced.
Main Event: MWL North American Championship - (C) Shane Warner v. Kouryuu
As Kouryuu held the North American Championship high overhead, Michael Jamborgh appeared on the stage, making his way to the ring. He grabbed a microphone from ringside and stepped into the ring with Kouryuu and Shane Warner. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the NEW MWL North American Champion!" Michael announced, as Shane and Kouryuu shook hands. "Now, Catastrophe, I know exactly what we're going to do with you, so come on out!" Michael announced, as Catastrophe appeared on the stage.
"Well, after much consideration, I've come to a decision. Get ready, you're going to love this. Just a second ago, Kouryuu won the MWL North American Championship, so if he keeps that title, come Onslaught, it'll be Kouryuu and Lino, one-on-one. And, by the way, Kouryuu, the Freebird Rule is now in effect for the Ssu-Ling." Michael stated. "HOWEVER, you, Catastrophe, will be given a shot at Kouryuu's title between now and Onslaught. I haven't decided when, yet. But if you happen to walk out with the title, then, well, there'll be a change of plans. Onslaught will be MWL versus the X, not the X against itself. So, if you win the North American Championship, you will defend that title against Shane Warner, here. And then you can explain to Lino how you cost him his title shot." With that, Michael dropped the microphone in the ring, as Kouryuu slung the MWL North American Championship over his shoulder, and the three grinned.