No Holds Barred Tornado Tag Match

[Cletus & Big Jim]

There’s been some great action thus far, as we near the mid-point of this fully loaded episode of TNT. A few surprises so far, wouldn’t you say so Al?

Well…I suppose so Colin, we saw at least one upset so far tonight, that’s for sure, but we now know how the title picture looks going into Blood Runs Cold.

Speaking of titles, our next match certainly has championship implications. With the ranks of the tag division in the state they are, every victory is the difference between a shot at the titles and another few weeks of mediocrity.

There’s way more on the line in this one than a crack at the gold, this feud between the Logging Crew and the Legion got real personal real quick when Cletus & Big Jim torched the locker room after the action last week.

I’m not sure if I’d want Oleg & Joaquin angry with me…

Well, it’s No Holds Barred tonight, so I’m not sure who that favours, but I am sure that the blood that was spilled a few weeks ago when these teams clashed will seem like nothing when their through tonight.

Let’s go up to our ring announcer, Charlie Coors.

Our next match is the No Holds Barred Tornado Tag Match, there will be no count outs, no disqualifications, and all four men will be in the ring until a winner is determined.

The crowd is on its feet, they know this contest will be brutal.

Introducing first, at a combined weight of 526 lbs, Cletus the Lumberjack and Big Jim, The Logging Crew

Leadbelly’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night? begins and the cheers for the match turn to vicious epithets and expletives directed toward the Miramichi River Men. They come through the curtain, Cletus carrying a microphone, and looking uncharacteristically sullen, while Big Jim eyes his stained pulp hook with unvarnished amazement.

You all saw the match last week. We aren’t gonna make excuses. Bottom line is that we are the crew that’s reviving the tag team division and we’ll be god-damned if we make those same mistakes when it’s our time again.

The fans are unsympathetic, and the booing continues. Someone starts a “Should Have Swallowed” chant, which catches on pretty quick throughout the building. Cletus shakes his head in disgust.

Now there’s a lotta backdoor deals goin’ on around here these days, to our way ‘a thinkin’. How else do you explain AJ Scally in the main event? The last I heard tell of him, he was begging and pleading to get out of a match with Big Jim. And then there are our opponents tonight; we challenged the Legion to a six-man tag in a week’s time, but here we are tonight, going to face them in the same tag team match you saw two weeks ago. Someone told me that, on account of us burning their dressing room, they’ve got some stroke in the back. They’ve been doin’ some strokin’ alright! They got the stroke and the pull with the GM, maybe some clout too, if he likes that sorta thing. Seems all you need to do to put one over on the Logging Crew is head into that little stock exchange and make the Dow Jones rise, if you take my meanin’.

Amidst continued jeers, Big Jim breaks his eerie gaze toward the pulp hook and takes the microphone from the unsuspecting hand of his partner.

Sorry pal, but no one’s listenin’. I hate to say it, but these folks don’t much care what we’ve got to say.

Cheers of affirmation erupt in reply.

These people like to judge, and I know a thing or two about being judged.

He rubs the moose hide provocatively as his eyes roll back into his head.

If they think we’re not worth listening to, if the GM thinks we ought to be ignored, I say we make an example out of these guys, and end it once and for all.

Cletus nods solemnly and the two men head to the ring, knocking aside flailing and grasping arms as they go.

TBCB Legion

[frenforleg]

Le Boudin plays and the crowd begins to cheer. The Legion emerges from behind the curtain without their commandant who was injured last week.

Joaquin takes the mike

This will end once and for all as you say. We will be the ones ending it though. The time for talk is over...

Mercier emerges from behind the curtain armed with a Fusil mitrailleur modèle 1924 M29. He hands it to Oleg.

The crowd is confused but still cheering loudly.

Tonight we go war!!

Oleg opens fire on the Lumberjacks.

The cheers turn to screams

TBCB Lumberjacks

[Cletus & Big Jim]

JESUS CHRIST!!

Screams and shooting continue for at least another thirty seconds.

BRATATATATATATATATATATATATATATAT

The Logging Crew hit the deck in a vain effort to stave off execution at the hands of the crazed Legionnaires. The sound of equipment thudding to the ground, as the ringside staff duck and cover, is quickly overtaken by fits of static interference and feedback. By the time everyone figures out that the shots are blanks, the Legion has hit the ring and are putting the boots to the loggers.

Well, well, I gues you’d call those some diversionary tactics to gain the element of surprise, huh Al?

ARE YOU NUTS?! That’s damn near illegal is what I call it! This is wrestling, not some kind of war zone!

Yet, despite Mulligan’s impassioned reasoning, by the time the stunned official calls for the bell Oleg and Joaquin have the match well in hand. Oleg is sitting pretty with Cletus locked in a camel clutch, while his South American ally has locked Big Jim in a Mexican surfboard. Cletus’ face contorts and his eyes wince at the feeling moving along his lower back, he struggles but cannot get free. Meanwhile, Big Jim grunts and strains, in an effort to turn the surfboard into something more advantageous, but doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere. At length, he shifts hi weight backward, forcing Joaquin’s shoulders to the mat. The ref, still shaken by the earlier gunplay, swoops in for a quick two count that gets him scornful looks and a good deal of flak from the Colombian, but grants Jim a much needed reprieve. Oleg, having cast Cletus aside, now gives the official a piece of his mind as well.

How smart is this, both of them jawing with the referee?

He was way off with that count Al, you can’t tell me his head was in the game. They’re only trying to keep him honest in this all important bout.

They’d do better to keep the pressure on the Logging Crew; it isn’t wise to give them this sort of recovery time.

Mercier agrees and orders his men back into the fray. They lay the lumbermen out such that their boots meet in the centre of the ring. Then, each man grabbing a Cletus ankle and a Big Jim ankle, and planting their own feet in the accompanying hip sockets, they perform an excoriating, if slightly comical rowboat. The crowd laughs alone with the Legionnaires, as the birlers cup their genitals in an effort to ease their over-extended groins.

The old rowboat! I haven’t seen this since Little Tokyo and Lord Littlebrook.

Well, I assure you that it’s as stupid a move in Boston as it was in Detroit all those years ago.

The fans are loving it!

Come on Fuzzie, all the Legion is doing here is pandering. That, and likely pissing the Logging Crew off.

The time for fun having passed, the remote regulars discard their opposition. Freed, Big Jim slinks into the corner, curled upon himself in agony. The fan-favourites press their advantage on Cletus, dragging him to his feet before hooking him and raising him high into the air in a double suplex. The two soldiers hold him aloft, as the crowd cheers their show of strength and the blood rushes to the lumberjack’s head. The crash of all three men hitting the mat resonates through the arena as does Cletus’ wounded howl, much to the delight of the Boston faithful. Joaquin then comes off the ropes and, with Cletus lying prone beneath him, he sails through the air until Oleg pushes him down, spiking the big splash. The referee slides in to make the count, but the Beaubears Island native rolls his shoulder before the final three.

A close count there, Cletus just made it out.

He’s a tough nut Fuzzie.

No argument there, but the way things are going, he’s going to have to be.

Oleg motions to his partner, indicating that he’s going after Big Jim, who is still coiled in corner. The big Russian turns him over and huge flash lights up the arena, as the woodsman does his best Ed Farhat impression, throwing a fireball. Oleg stumbles backward, holding his face and crying in agony. Big Jim springs to his feet and delivers a DDT that puts his opposition on the mat. Joaquin, seeing this, leaves a battered Cletus to lend aid, but the bludgeoned brute holds on feebly to his leg, restraining him. A few kicks frees the Legionnaire from the logger’s grip, but leaves him only enough time to turn and be subject to a low blow from the pulp hook prodigy. A huge groan echoes through the arena, as every man turtles at the sight of the nut shot. Big Jim is unfazed and, with the South American cowed, he ties his adversary up before dropping him with a pump-handle slam.

Amazing comeback here by Jim!

He’s clearly going to do whatever it takes to win this one…

The Legion used guns; I think the Logging Crew are justified in doing pretty much anything at this point.

The perverse pulp peeler now rouses his partner with a few stiff slaps across the face. Cletus shakes himself like a dog and appears ready to dish out some punishment. A whoop straight from the Nor’West Miramichi fills the air and the crowd jeers in reply. The Logging Crew venture over to a semi-conscious Oleg, who is struggling to his feet, all the while showing clear signs that his vision isn’t yet 100%. He doesn’t even see his adversaries close in on him until it’s too late. A barrage of double axe handles overwhelm him and the frantic flailing of his arms does little to stop it. It doesn’t take long before even Oleg’s massive physique buckles and sinks to the canvas.

Textbook offence from the Logging Crew, you can tell by their faces that they’re enjoying this, and why not after those pre-match shenanigans from their opponents.

I thought it was pretty smart Al, and it gave them the early advantage. It’s too bad they couldn’t capitalize.

You’re gonna have to do better than that to get ahead of these guys, they’re tougher than woodpecker lips…Cletus told me that.

Now Joaquin begins to stir and the two woodsmen are quick to the attack. Caught coming in with a inverted atomic drop, courtesy of the man from the Black Rapids, the stunned squaddie falls into a vicious bearhug from the Beaubears Brute. Lifted into the air, in a show of strength by Cletus, Joaquin is in prime space for a Big Jim propelled clothesline; subjecting the Colombian combatant to a modified Hart Attack. Meanwhile, courageously displaying the intestinal fortitude that saw him through his harsh training, Oleg is once again thrashing about, trying to get his feet under him. Cletus and Big Jim send him into the ropes with such force that his body turns over the top rope, but his head is caught between the first and second strand. Hung, and writhing to free himself, Cletus decides to scoot outside and hook the big man’s legs, allowing him to dangle helplessly. Believing his partner has the situation in hand, Big Jim turns to the downed man from Marquetalia. Twisting his opponent in knots, Jim applies a Pentagram chokehold and relentlessly throttles. Joaquin passes out, and the referee drops his hand twice. Before the third and final drop, Jim releases the hold; he’s not done yet. While Cletus rains blows on the ever reddening head of Oleg, Jim grabs a length of logging chain and wraps it around his fist. With a few sharp blows, he’s busted open the Colombian. Cletus, seeing the blood calls for a switch and begins delivering measured blows in order to open the laceration further.

Blood flowing here at the GHW Arena, you had to know this was coming.

Indeed, and the first bloodletting, but unless I miss my guess it’s not the last one we’ll see in this match.

A squad of backstage officials have congregated outside the ring and are trying to free Oleg. Jim beats them back with a swing of his chain before, Mercier, unable to stand anymore, bursts into the ring and attacks Jim with a series of forearms and chops. Sadly, the old man isn’t healed from last week’s encounter and quickly falls prey to a sneak attack by Cletus. Discarding the chain, Big Jim screams. “TIMBER!!!” Mercier is whipped into the ropes and caught in a Cletus flapjack that is only the pretext leading into a Big Jim double knee facebreaker. The crowd is sickened by this display, which is rendered less heinous only by the thought that Oleg is now loose, and Joaquin has gained some reprieve.

Oh, tough guys; beating up a manager.

Not a week ago you were singing that manager’s praises against Vince Vegas. If he wants to play lumberjack and get involved, Big Jim and Cletus are going to expect him to hold up his end of the log.

As the Logging Crew jaw with the fans and crow about their imminent victory, Joaquin begins to shake, he begins to shimmy, the sight of his own blood has fired his Latin temper and he’s beginning to heat up. As Big Jim turns, he catches a boot to the gut, and a standing dropkick. Cletus finds himself on the receiving end of an arm drag. Oleg is now just starting to stir, the tide could be turning once again.

TBCB-Legion

[frenforleg]

The two lumberjacks begin to double team Joaquin with double axe handles. He can feel the strength draining out of him as fast as his blood is. He feels hopelessness wash over him as he is hoisted into the air and slammed on his head as Jim delivers the ghostbuster. Cletus drops a leg on him from the top rope and he feels the air rush out of him. Big Jim props a foot in the middle of Joaquin’s chest and does a double bicep curl.

This is no time to get cocky.

Why not? They could take it all here.

Joaquin has almost resigned himself to defeat, but he cannot bow to anyone. He shoves Jim off him and rises up letting the roar of the fans soak in. His body begins to wiggle and sway as he is filled with power.

What’s this?

It’s the rumble of the crowd. He’s getting fired up!

Jim grabs him from behind, but Joaquin thrusts his pelvis forth and proceeds to slam his backside into Jim’s midriff, sending him to the canvas. Cletus tries a headlock and slowly grinds his sizeable arms against Joaquin’s head. Joaquin begins to quiver, Joaquin began to jiggle, Joaquin begins to wiggle out of the hold.

They can’t stop the Legion!

I don’t know about that…

Meanwhile Oleg gains his footing and storms back into action to take the pressure off his partner. Cletus runs at Oleg with a chair over his head but receives a stiff kick in the bread basket and a shot to the throat. He bounces off the ropes and hit a double clothesline that sends the lumberjacks reeling. He slapped the Cobra Clutch on Jim and Joaquin manages to head off Cletus as he tries to help his partner. Jim is out, and Oleg slaps on the bearhug, he could feel Cletus melt under the pressure. Only Cletus’ punches halt the almost match-ending move. Big Jim is on the receiving end of a hurracanrana from Joaquin. A moonsault and brainbuster on Jim almost ends his night.

A vicious move…

He got lucky there. That could have been all she wrote.

Oleg is knocked to the floor by Cletus’ clothesline. Cletus splashed Oleg on the outside and does a neckbreaker on the steel fence. Oleg is chair shot across the back three times. Cletus tries a running bulldog however he loses his footing and twists his knee. Limping, Cletus goes for a suicide dive but doesn’t make it. Back in the ring Big Jim climbs to the top rope but gets caught with another Hurracanrana from Joaquin. Unaffected by the move, Jim power clotheslines Joaquin down. A splash earns him a two count.

Action inside and out this is No Holds Barred!

These teams will need recovery time after this match.

Outside the ring Cletus and Oleg trade slaps and punches. Inside Jim is whipped Jaoquin into a corner. The Legionnaire reverses and he flips over the ropes landing on the apron. Joaquin dropkicks him to the floor. Cletus and Oleg are in a chop-fest the likes of which has never been seen before. For minutes and minutes they swing at each other until finally Cletus falls to his knees to low-blow Oleg. Following a series of standing switches, Oleg suplexed Cletus through a table set up at ringside.

In the ring Joaquin takes control for good. He starts with a head & arm superplex but Jim kicks out. The lumberjack somehow finds the energy to try and set up another table in the corner of the ring but he takes too much time and Joaquin is soon on him, laying the beats to him. Then he connects with a Dragon suplex, sending Jim through the table.

Both lumberjacks through the tables!

Obviously this match is for the Legion.

Oleg throws Cletus into the ring and plants him with a chokeslam and then Joaquin connects off the top rope for a near fall.

[Cletus & Big Jim]

These two teams honestly don’t like each other.

You think?! If you had a brain Fuzzie, you’d be dangerous.

The battle continues in the ring, as Cletus is pommelled by the Legionnaires and Big Jim slowly digs his way out from under the shattered table. He grabs the nearest shard and propels it toward his erstwhile attackers. It hits Oleg at an awkward angle and then careens into the ropes. Having got the Russian’s attention, the man from Black Rapids motions for the three hundred pounder to join him in the corner. Oleg is happy to oblige, looking to repay the earlier fireball attack. Jim makes an uncoordinated attempt to grapevine his foe’s leg, but gets a boot to the sternum for his trouble; then another, and another, and about a half dozen more. The crowd gives the adulation they feel the big man deserves, and the Sou’West savage wilts under the bombardment.

Look at the Russian, Oleg, put the boots to Big Jim, I’ll bet he’s never felt anything like that before.

Positively, he’s discovering new kinds of pain courtesy of the Legion.

Joaquin removes his combat belt and inventively uses it to give Cletus a modified snap mare. The pine island powerhouse coils on the mat in clear agony, while Joaquin proceeds to whip him mercilessly. Cletus labours to get his footing, trying to escape the pain, Joaquin continues the lashing as the fans count along. The lumberjack tries to run, but the soldier keeps up step-for-step and stroke-for-stroke. The GHW masses cackle as one at the sight of the clumsy cutter bumbling about the ring, looking for pardon from the well-deserved flogging. At his wits end, he ducks out between the ropes, hoping the Colombian will not follow. Joaquin now turns his attention to his partner, as his Russian brother drags the bowed Big Jim to a vertical base. The Legion whip their stunned foe against the ropes, but, before the taut strands can send him back, Jim’s partner hooks his legs. The master of the pulp hook falls face first on the canvas, but Cletus drags him to safety on the outside.

Looks like the Logging Crew might be getting ready to powder out Al.

I wouldn’t be so sure. They need to break this momentum, and this is a smart way to do it. It’s no different than a quarterback running out of bounds…

The Logging Crew decide to walk it off, but aren’t too sure of their feet. They wobble off track and veer into the timekeeper’s table, upsetting everything. Big Jim almost immediately scrambles to his feet. He holds his hand high in the air, the hand holding the pulp hook. The most morbid of fans begin an audible cheer over the chorus of boos. The Legionnaires exchange a look of concern and turn to face the loggers. The two teams fan out as the soldiers try to keep the weapon-toting woodsmen from sneaking in the back door. Cletus climbs the ropes but is forced down in the face of a charge by the Russian. Big Jim tries to get in on the opposite side, but Joaquin steps up to bar his way. The Logging Crew keep walking, cross paths and exchange a few words vis-à-vis approach. Finally the icy islander decides to take his licks and slides into a few kicks from the savvy South American. He fights his way to his feet and the two men begin to trade lefts and rights.

And we’re off again, nothing pretty about this; just a lotta hatred.

Oleg and Big Jim lock eyes and almost totally ignore their respective partners battling it out. Oleg snatches up the length of chain, used earlier in the night to wallop his partner, and invites Big Jim to join him between the strands. The two brutes circle each other and the hook twitches in Jim’s hand. He tries a fake with his free hand and then a strike with the curved steel, but no dice. Oleg flings the chain toward the perverse pulp peeler, but misses the mark. A wild swing by Jim is also wide and gains a kick to the gut in reply. As Cletus turns the tide on Joaquin with an eye gouge and a gutbuster, the pulp hook falls from Jim’s hand and Oleg wraps the chain around his opponent’s throat and hangs him over his shoulder; an excruciating variation of the Gory Special.

Mother of mercy, look at that!

I doubt anyone could last in a hold like that, even if he is as loony as Jim.

His face is turning all sorts of sickening shades, he’ll soon be out.

Where’s Cletus Fuzzie? He was here a minute ago, now Joaquin is down and the man from Beaubears is missing.

He probably ran out on his partner, no honour among thieves you know.

Oh will you be serious! That big ol’ lumberjack is around here somewhere.

But where, the arena isn’t that big…

As is so often the case in wrestling, the interrogative comments of the announce team provide ample impetus for the fulfillment of their queries. Cletus, emerging from obscurity and brandishing a steel chair, clocks Oleg so as to set his partner free. Returning to the wounded Joaquin, Cletus delivers a guillotine shot that leaves the Colombian writing on the mat, holding his throat. Jim is still clearing the cobwebs when his partner gets their Russian foe set in the launch position, ready to piledrive him into the chair. The man from the Black Rapids has enough wherewithal to venture close and spike the move, forcing Oleg’s head into the steel with additional force. The brute of Beaubears Island casts the twisted metal aside and locks his opponent’s leg behind the knee and then traps the other leg over the already-locked foot. He then uses his other foot to press against his foe’s knee; an Indian Deathlock best known as The Log Jam. What can break up a log jam you ask? Well, dynamite usually, but, failing that, you need to use elbow grease…and a pulp hook. With no small amount of joy, the Black Rapids beast begins to rake the head of his adversary with the polished black steel.

This is sick Al! What reason could he possibly have for doing a thing like that?

He enjoys it Colin, plain and simple; just look at his face.

Then he should be locked up…

No argument there, but who’s gonna tell him that to his face? Especially with that hook in his hand…

Of course a well-placed chair shot can break up a log jam too it seems, as the previously ignored Joaquin lambastes Cletus with tooth-rattling blast. Enraged, he jabs at the fallen logger with the edge of the weapon. Alas, when he turns to give Jim similar treatment, the frightening log feller answers with a big boot that forces the steel back into the face of the armed aggressor. With an almost feral scream, Big Jim goes ballistic, laying kicks into the downed Legionnaire and then turning to his larger partner to continue gouging him with the pulp hook. Oleg is a bloody mess and Joaquin is folded up on the mat. Jim starts throwing head-butts into both of them, as Cletus regains his bearings and surveys the scene.

It’s all Logging Crew at this moment; I don’t see how the Legion can mount a comeback after this onslaught.

I won’t count them out yet Al. It ain’t over till it’s over.

[frenforleg]

The Loggers give Joaquin a double backdrop and he goes way up. Oleg delivers a superkick to Cletus and a huge double slam by The Legion. The crowd is super hot for this match! Oleg & Joaquin then nail a double suicide dive to the outside. Double Flying bodypress to the outside by the Legion but Jim nails Joaquin with the chair, stopping their momentum. Back inside and Big Jim nails a spinning forearm shot. Cletus then attempts a slingshot into an axe handle by Jim but Oleg reverses and gets a sunset flip for a near fall. He then counters a double suplex into a double neckbreaker.

All four Fighty fighty persons end up on the floor in a big pile-up after Joaquin launches himself from the top turnbuckle on the Lumberjacks and Oleg. Back in the ring, the Legion hits the German Suplex/Clothesline, but Joaquin misses a Somersault leg drop on Jim. He executes a Double Rotation Moonsault on both lumberjacks and Oleg hits a European uppercut on both too. Oleg and Joaquin then each superplex a lumberjack and Jaoquin covers Cletus.

The Logging Crew nail Joaquin with the Hart Attack again, but Oleg makes the save at the last possible second. Jim and Cletus then set up Joaquin for the Chopping Block, but Oleg grabs Jim and pulls him off the ropes with a neckbreaker. Cletus gouges Oleg's head but Joaquin rallies with his skateboard dropkick into a chair on Cletus. Jim readies a big boot for Joaquin, but instead nails Oleg. He covers a two count. Jim almost gets a tap-out with a Fujiwara armbar. Joaquin heads to the top rope, but Cletus shakes the ropes and he crotches himself. Seconds later, Joaquin counters the chokeslam into DDT and Oleg counters a powerslam into a spear.

[Cletus & Big Jim]

That’s two finishers simultaneously! Looks like the Logging Crew should have brought a little more gumption.

Gumption? What are you, eighty? Besides, I have a funny feeling they aren’t done yet.

Indeed, they are not. Setting up for the coup-de-grace, Joaquin grabs Jim, preparing to deliver a German suplex, spiked by a vicious Oleg clothesline. Unfortunately, the Black Rapids reprobate has been charged by many a jealous bull moose, and Oleg simply doesn’t measure up. He still has enough in him to break Joaquin’s grasp with a low blow mule kick, and catch the charging Russian with a double knee face-breaker. The four combatants lay sprawled on the mat and the referee begins a count.

Fuzzie, don’t tell me this one ends with a double countout.

Al, by the way these four guys fought this one, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly how it went down.

Fortunately for the announcers, the fans, and the Logging Crew, Cletus rolls onto his side and gets to his knees. Joaquin too, climbs the ropes and regains a vertical base. The two men glare at one another with a weary, but by no means extinguished, hatred. Joaquin wipes the blood from his brow, makes the sign of the cross, and hurls himself off the ropes toward Cletus. The advance is rash and the South American is caught coming in. The lumberjack takes a few well-chosen steps backward and executes a flapjack into the ropes, resulting in a hangman. As his opponent writhes on the mat, holding his throat, the pine island powerhouse notes that his wild woodsman companion has stirred and is raining kicks into the midsection of the overpowered Oleg. A look between the two is enough to signal the perverse pulp peeler to drag the big man to the corner and lace his chains around the Russian’s legs, binding them to the post.

What’s this? He’s chaining him to the post!

You’re very observant, aren’t you? They just want to make sure this ends here. Two bloody bouts already between these two, I suspect that Cletus and Big Jim don’t want to bother with a third.

Then it’s only because they’re scared of the Legion!

Yeah, they look pretty frightened to me…

Turning their collective attention to the Colombian foe, the Logging Crew begin to close in on Joaquin. The lethargic legionnaire makes a valiant effort to defend himself however, and Big Jim is on the receiving end of a foot to the face, which sends him stumbling. Cletus goes for a leg, but gets caught in a small package that nearly steals the match. That seems to tear it, a slightly embarrassed Big Jim wastes no more time and slaps on the Pulp Hook claw, the instant that Joaquin turns to face him. It soon overwhelms the former cage fighter, and he falls to the mat. His partner struggles with the links that bind him, but Cletus is at hand to drop a leg to settle him down. Joaquin loses the strength to keep his shoulders off the mat and the soldiers are faced with defeat.

A courageous effort here by Oleg and Joaquin, they came close.

This ain’t a dance, close don’t count. Well the battle is lost, let’s see what kind of terms the Legion gets from the Logging Crew.

What do you mean?

This…

Big Jim releases the hold only to allow him to grab the chair and begin to beat Joaquin mercilessly. He takes the pulp hook again and rakes at the defeated man’s forehead. Oleg is helpless, as Cletus keeps measuring him with lefts and rights. Finally the Beaubears birler looks at his partner with concern and decides he ought to intercede. An army of officials is surrounding the ring, cautions to enter, but Cletus breaks through them and fetches the moose skin. He re-enters the ring and, with a stiff kick breaks up the onslaught by Big Jim. The two loggers have a standoff, before Cletus stands aside and reveals that he’s flung the pelt across the broken body before them. Jim stops; his expression lightens, tears well in the corners of his eyes, he crawls toward the skin and tentatively brushes a hand against it. Cletus gives some encouragement and his partner finally cuddles up to his erstwhile enemy, and spoons him. Feeling the soft coat on his face, his breathing slows and his rage dissipates.

This is sickening…