CSWA INDEPENDENCE DAY 2000 -- July 20, 2000

(FADEIN: Backstage at INDY2K. Poison Ivy has been pacing the hallways for hours. The occasional presence of Hornet as he prepares for his own match has done little to help her mood.)

IVY: I can't take this, Hornet.... If he makes his move it'll be tonight. I can feel it. I can't.... I can't face him alone.

H: You're not alone. You've got people who care about you who won't let you be alone in this situation.

IVY: Yeah.... but Battles is preparing for his own match, and Eli's still back home.

(Hornet gets a look of mock-pain on his face as he takes Ivy's hands into his own)

IVY (Pulling away): Hornet.... I appreciate everything you've done these past few days.... but....

H: I don't blame you. I DO have a lot to make up for. But it's like we've all told you before....

IVY: I know, I know.... "Trust in someone. Don't hold it all inside." It's just....

(Ivy can't finish her sentence.... the unsteadiness in her voice is all that holds back her tears. Fortunately, Hornet is there to catch her....)

(Backstage. Deacon is trying to relax and prepare for his performance tonight. Emmanuel Pacheco and Chris Shepherd are in the back. It has been obvious all night that they have avoided the topic of Susan or Deacon's sister - Lilith. Everyone knows that everyone else is thinking about the recent events; it is simply unspoken.)

(Outside in the arena, the crowd is buzzing with anticipation and that energy has made its way to the lounge room. Pacheco, looking forward to the relaunch of the CSWA as any true fan, finally makes his way from Chris and Deacon to the hallway.)

(An elderly man falls at a recently mopped section of the arena near the janitor's closet. Emmanuel looks around, and seeing no one else around to help him, runs to the man to check on him. As Emmanuel bends over, the man grasps hold of Emmanuel's arm. Emmanuel's eyes meet the elderly man. Emmanuel's eyes see.)

(With a near-unnatural heave of strength, Emmanuel is thrown into the janitor's room. As buckets and mops fly around, Emmanuel struggles to his feet to see the elderly man removing a wig. The camera, shot from behind, sees the black as night hair but little else. Emmanuel looks puzzled, lost in wondering who this man is and how he became quite so strong.)

MAN: Please do not suppose yourself wise enough to tell me what I do and do not want. What *I* want is for you to stay out of my way. Can you do that?

(Emmanuel, still oblivious to his assailant, begins to run forward. The door is slammed shut by the man, making a racket as Emmanuel hits the door with his face. Inside the room, Emmanuel checks the doorknob and pounds on the door for help - neither doing any good. Emmanuel gropes through the darkness until he finds a light switch. As he turns it on, a broom is broken over the back of his head. A masked face, looking like the skeletal remains of a bat, begins to assail Emmanuel with everything in the room.)

(Outside. The clanking from inside the room is obvious as the MAN begins to walk away.)

(Indeed, it is. Eli Flair is sitting in the sixth row, with his girlfriend M on one side, and his friend Johnny Fizzbin on the other.)

BB: This should be a great match-up folks, Shawn Stevens versus Evan Aho, the referee has just come down the ramp and we should be off in a few minutes.

BB: I don’t know but it looks like the ring announcer Rhubarb Jones is about to make an announcement.

RJ: Ladies and gentlemen, referee Patrick Young has informed me that due to contractual problems between Mr Stevens, the CSWA and the SCW he will not be able to compete tonight.

BB: I knew Shawn Stevens was in court over his SCW contract, but I didn’t think it had got to this stage.

BB: KERRY ALLEN! The former lightweight standout and CSWA veteran is apparently back from Japan!

("Blood, Milk and Sky" by White Zombie is queued up and the crowd rise to cheer Evan Aho as he walks down to the ring, he shakes a few hands as he does so before climbing between the ropes and disrobing.)

BB: Evan Aho is as good as they get and yet another example of the fine young wrestlers the CSWA have under contract.

BB: I know he wants to compete in the CSWA, but the SCW doesn’t! Kerry Allen has an opportunity to make a name for himself here, let’s see what he can do. Tie up in the middle of the ring and a headlock by Aho, bounced off the ropes by Allen who is dropped by a shoulder charge. Aho off the ropes and catches Allen with a clothesline before cinching in a headlock. Aho is technically superb, look at the way he has that hold cinched in.

BB: ….Okay, thanks for that Sammy! Aho drags Allen up and executes a snap suplex….wonderful technique again and there’s the cover…..1…….2……kickout by Allen. Allen whipped into the ropes where he’s caught in a back body drop as Aho drops down and locks in a double leg arm lock. Aho is outclassing Allen here and I think Kerry needs to get to the ropes….he does. Evan picks him up and goes for a suplex….float over by Kerry……poke in the eye by Allen and several quick jabs send Aho to the canvas.

BB: Allen has to make this count, belly to belly suplex on Aho and now he stomps on Aho, you can see the different styles of the wrestlers.

SB: Yeah, Aho likes to use his technique……Allen just wants to beat the crap out of Aho!

BB: Aho whipped into the ropes and caught with a back elbow and Allen covers him….1…..2….kickout by Aho. Kerry puts Evan Aho in a side headlock, his technique isn’t as sound but that will still hurt. The crowd start clapping to inspire Aho who seems to be working his way up….he grabs Allen by the legs….SIDE SUPLEX AND BOTH MEN ARE DOWN! THE REF STARTS THE COUNT…..1……2…..3…..4…. 5…..6….7….8….9…..AHO IS UP AND HE’S ON FIRE! A CLOTHESLINE TAKES ALLEN DOWN, PICKS HIM UP AND DELIVERS A STANDING FACEBUSTER AND THERE’S THE COVER……..1….2…..KICKOUT BY ALLEN!

BB: Neckbreaker by Aho who looks in ominous form, knee to the gut doubles Allen over……IMPLANT DDT! DRAGS HIM TO HIS FEET…….A MODIFIED LIGER BOMB AND THERE’S THE COVER……1…….2…..ALLEN KICKS OUT AGAIN! EVAN AHO SETS UP KERRY ALLEN…….DIVING INVERTED DDT! THE AGONY AS HE CALLS IT, THAT’S USUALLY THE SET-UP FOR THE ECSTASY….AND HERE IT IS! TIGER DRIVER ’91…..A TIGER BOMB INTO A PILEDRIVER! AHO COVERS ALLEN BUT YOU CAN COUNT TO A HUNDRED IF YOU LIKE, HE WON’T GET UP……..1……..2………3!!!! AHO WINS AND AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY TOO!

BB: You have to give credit to Kerry Allen but he simply wasn’t in Aho’s league. They're clearing the carnage from the ring so that we get on to our next match...

BB: And what a match we have in prospect for you here folks, Cancer against John Cisco!

(Cancer’s music plays out and he walks to the ring to the jeers of the crowd, he gives the finger to a couple of guys in the front row who start shouting at him before he climbs into the ring.)

BB: Cancer used to be called Pat Black, and this former UnHoly member looks all business tonight…as he faces one half of Strictly Business!

SB: Gee Buckley, I hope you’re not planning a career in comedy!

("I Dare You" by Black Rob blares out over the PA as John Cisco walks to the ring to a decent pop from the crowd, he high-fives a few fans before vaulting over the ropes and into the match.)

BB: Cisco has a match later on against Cameron Cruise and Bobby Jackson so it’ll be interesting how he takes this match.

SB: If he has any sense he’ll take it real seriously, Cancer isn’t here for a laugh.

BB: Too true, and just to show it Cancer starts us off by pushing Cisco into the corner and laying into him with stiff right hands, Cisco drops to the floor where Cancer puts the boots to him…great start by Cancer. The ref drags him away as Cisco gets to his feet, Cancer charges him…drop toes hold by Cisco and Cancer goes head first into the lower turnbuckle as he rolls outside to get his thoughts.

SB: I have a feeling this match is going to be a brutal one, Cancers one mean guy.

BB: Yeah, and John Cisco won’t back down either. Cancer taking his time to get back in, he’s jawing with some fans as Cisco goes onto the ring apron……..DOUBLE AXE-HANDLE TO CANCER’S BACK AND CANCER TASTES THE STEEL! Reverse knife edges that find their mark knock Cancer backwards and he stumbles into the ring as Cisco goes upstairs. Cisco off the top rope……UPPERCUT TO THE GUT BY CANCER AND CISCO IS DOWN! CANCER DRAGS HIM UP AND FLATTENS HIM WITH A CRUNCHING BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX AND THERE’S THE PIN……..1……..2….CISCO KICKS OUT! Cancer rolls him onto his front and locks in an armbar submission, look at the way he’s grinding that in, what intensity by Cancer.

SB: Oh he’s a sick puppy all right!

BB: The ref’s asking John Cisco if he quits but he’s saying no, Cancer is leaning back and putting real pressure on the arm and Cisco can really feel it, again the ref asks him and again he says no. Cancer is frustrated and releases the hold, punches Cisco in the jaw and crashes him down with an arm bar slam. He picks up Cisco and throws him into the ropes….SPINEBUSTER AND CISCO IS IN REAL TROUBLE, THERE’S THE PIN…..1…….2……FOOT ON THE ROPE BY CISCO! Cancer smells victory and drags John up, throws him into the ropes…attempted back body drop….blocked……NECKBREAKER BY CISCO AND CANCER IS DOWN! MORE STIFF KNIFE EDGE CHOPS FROM CISCO, INVERTED ATOMIC DROP AND A SNAP SUPLEX AND THERE’S THE PIN…….1…….2…CANCER ROLLS OUT!

SB: Cisco’s going to be in no fit shape for his tag match later on tonight if this keeps up!

BB: That’s a good point Sammy…..for once! Cisco is breathing heavy as he picks Cancer up.…FACEBUSTER! HE’S TELLING THE CROWD HE’S GOING TO FINISH IT NOW…….RUNNING POWERBOMB! THERE’S THE PIN……1…….2……..3…NO, NO, NO!!!! KICKOUT BY CANCER! I DON’T BELIEVE IT, HOW DID HE MANAGE THAT?!?!

SB: Are you still drinking decaf?

BB: In annoyance Cisco drags Cancer to the middle of the ring and slaps on the figure-four. Look at Cancer, he’s screaming at the top of his voice, that hold must really hurt!

SB: He’s in the middle of the ring, he’s in trouble now.

BB: Cancer lies back as if that might alleviate the pain, his shoulders touch the canvas……1……2…HE SITS UP! Cisco has that hold really slapped on and Cancer is in a world of hurt.

SB: He can’t reach the ropes, he needs to roll the hold over if he can….if he can’t….he may as well tap out now.

BB: He must be reading your mind Sammy….not that it takes much doing…..because he’s trying to turn the figure-four over.

SB: Hey….I just got that!

BB: CANCER’S TRYING TO TURN THE HOLD OVER BUT CISCO ISN’T READY TO LET HIM DO IT….WILL HE TURN HIM? HE’S HALFWAY THERE….STILL TURNING…….CISCO MOVES BACK A LITTLE…….HE’S DONE IT! HE’S DONE IT! THE FIGURE-FOUR IS TURNED OVER, NOW JOHN CISCO IS FEELING THE PAIN! CISCO RELEASES IT AND BOTH MEN LIE ON THE CANVAS AND SUCK IN SOME AIR!

SB: Both men are out of it, I think whoever can get on a roll here could win it.

BB: Okay, thank you mystic Benson! Cancer up first and he nails Cisco in the gut with a knee…DDT! NOW HE GOES FOR AN ATOMIC DROP….FOLLOWED UP BY A BULLDOG AND THERE’S THE COVER……1…..2….KICKOUT BY CISCO! CANCER IS PULLING HIS THUMB ACROSS HIS THROAT TO SIGNAL HE’S GOING TO FINISH IT NOW…SUPLEX….NO…FLOAT OVER BY CISCO…..T-BONE SUPLEX ON CANCER AND JOHN CISCO’S BACK IN THIS ONE! He runs up top, could this be the "Hallow Point"? YES! YES IT IS……HUGE "SKY HIGH" SPLASH ON CANCER…THAT’S THE SETUP FOR THE CISCOLATING END, CAN HE LOCK THE SUBMISSION MOVE IN? HE DRAGS CANCER TO THE MIDDLE OF THE RING...THERE IT IS! CISCOLATING END! CANCER IS WRITHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING BUT ITS NO USE, HE’LL BE OUT SOON! CANCER’S TAPPING, CANCER’S TAPPING! JOHN CISCO WINS A BRUTAL MATCH BY MAKING CANCER TAP OUT!

SB: That was a great match, but it’ll be interesting to see how Cisco fairs later on in his tag match.

BB: Good point Sammy, but for the moment he’s enjoying his hard fought victory over Cancer.