Rhaps vs Vladimir Strife

[Rhaps]

Mothership by Enter Shikari hits the PA and the crowd turns to see Rhaps emerge from backstage. Rhaps punches his fists into the air and as he does so fireworks are set off behind him, nearly blinding those looking directly at it.

Lizzie: This contest is scheduled for one fall and it is a hardcore match. Making his way to the ring, from Canterbury, England and weighing in at 205 lbs. Rhaps!

JP: It's good to be back after that brillaint PPV Ray. And this man right here is looking good for what happened to him in that hardcore cage match.

Ray: Yeah, if you call that hideous bandage across his nose as sexy then you must be blind.

JP: I didn't say any such thing and you know it. Stop taking what I say out of context.

Ray: You know you're quite sexy when you pout.

JP: Please stop, that just sent a shudder down my spine.

Rhaps has a bandage across his nose to signify the damage the sledgehammer did to his nose in the match against Lrey. Rhaps walks down the ramp, emulating Human Wreckingball by talking to the fans and generally spending time with them. When Rhaps reaches the ring he climbs the outside and raises his arm into the air. A circle of fireworks erupt from near the roof of the stadium and the crowd reaches feverpitch. Rhaps hits the usual forward flip into the ring.

As Rhaps waits he leans over the top rope and talks to someone on the outside. They come back and lean a couple of tables and a ladder against the barricade. rhaps nods his thanks and waits for Vlad to make his entrance.

TBCB Vlad

OOC: I forget, is this an I Quit match or just hardcore? Not that it makes much difference. lol.

[Vladimir T. Strife]

((I thought it was supposed to be hardcore. I'll mention it to Alex and have him change it later on. 'I Quit' it is.))

Lizzie: And his opponent.. Weighing in at 269 lbs, he is the King Of The DeathMatch... VLADIMIR STRRRIFE!!


"All Hail The New Flesh" begins to play as lights strobe across the entrance, the fans starting to boo before Vladimir even comes out from behind the curtains.

Vladimir steps out wearing his typical attire, his King Of The DeathMatch championship around his waist. He makes his way towards the ring, ignoring the roaring boos from both sides.

JP: I don't think Rhaps knows what he's gotten himself into tonight. This could be one of his toughest matches yet!
Ray: True, but he's been showing how hardcore he can be lately and if he manages to pull off the win, it'd be monumental! He'd instantly be a big name!
JP: Well, I can't argue with that. However, I just hope Rhaps watches Vlad closely in this match. Let's not forget that the last time Vlad was in a ring against someone partnered up with Human Wreckingball, he paralyzed poor Draigon from the waist down!
Ray: He can't hurt Rhaps... Rhaps is too sexy, I won't let him!
JP: *sarcastically* Yeah, if he tries to, you run right in there and stop him, Ray..


As Vladimir passes a kid on the side of the aisle holding a sign that says "Strife Sucks!". Vlad grabs the sign and pulls it out of the kids hands. He rips it in half, puts the 2 side together, then rips the sign into fourths. Vlad throws the remainder of the sign back at the kid and throws him a 1-finger salute, then heading into the ring.

Vladimir takes off his titles and tosses it over to the announcers table, then stretches a bit, getting ready for the match. Vladimir and Rhaps walk up to the center of the ring as the referee calls for the bell. Eyeing one another for a moment, they then lock up.

TBCB Rhaps

[Rhaps]

Rhaps struggles against the weight advantage that Vlad has. Gradually Rhaps is pushed backwards, edging ever closer to the ropes. Suddenly Vlad releases the lock up and smashes Rhaps with a huge right hand, connecting with Rhaps' broken nose. Rhaps is swung back over the top rope and is dumped on the outside the ring, amidst a fresh wave of boos from the crowd. Rhaps staggers to his feet and holds his nose in pain while Vlad grins at him. Rhaps shrugs the pain off and moves quickly. He jumps up to the apron and grabs Vlad's head. Before Vlad has a chance to counter Rhaps drops Vlad's neck across the top rope, causing him to lurch uncertainly ad drop to one knee.

Rhaps climbs the turnbuckle from the outside and flies off with a flying cross body but Vlad turns at the right moment and catches him in mid air, using the momentum to slam Rhaps into the canvas with a modified scoop slam. As Rhaps lays on the mat Vlad gets a boot in to Rhaps' sensitive nose.

JP: So far this has been all Vlad. I don't think that Rhaps is going to be able to pull of a win here. It'd be a major upset for one thing.

Ray: He's breaking Rhaps' sexy nose. I liked that nose. Curse him!

Rhaps rolls onto his front and crawls his way to the ropes. Vlad easily stops Rhaps in his tracks, grabbing his foot and pulling him back into the centre of the ring. Vlad tries to lock in an armbar but Rhaps squirms against Vlad. He gets his left arm free and punches Vlad squarely in the face. Rhaps punches a few more times until Vlad breaks the attempt. Rhaps gets up to his feet easily and jumps to the top rope and srpingboards himself, slamming Vlad to the mat with a hurricanrana. Quickly Rhaps exits the ring and searches for a weapon.

JP: I didn't think it'd take long for the weapons to be introduced to this match up.

Rhaps emerges from beneath the ring, carrying, of all things, the dreaded sickle. Rhaps re-enters the ring and heads to the turnbuckle. By this point Vlad has easily gained a vertical standing Quickly Rhaps jams the sickle into the top cushion on the turnbuckle. Rhaps turns and attempts to spear Vlad, but he easily sidesteps this. Rhaps turns and is met with a huge right hand blasting directly into his nose. Rhaps staggers back blindly, tears rushing out from the pain of the shot. As Rhaps wipes his eyes Vlad explodes with a huge clothesline, knocking Rhaps dow to the canvas.

JP: Vlad knows about Rhaps' injured nose and he'll continue to exploit that weakness until he gets the win.

Ray: And the more damage he does the more disfigured Rhaps will be. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

JP: Calm down Ray. There's always reconstructive surgery.

Ray: You have a point there. I wonder what else they could reconstruct?

While Ray thinks dreamily to himself Vlad picks Rhaps up to his feet. As he does so he notices the sickle protruding from the turnbuckle and he grins in spit of himself. He hefts Rhaps up over his head and walks towards it. Vlad throws Rhaps with all his strength, slamming Rhaps head first against the deadly spike of the sickle. Rhaps crumples to the mat, bright rivulets of blood pouring freely from the wound.

JP: Vlad is sick! Why would he do that?

Ray: Hold on JP. That means Rhaps is sick as well because he must have put it there for a reason.

TBCB Vlad

[Vladimir T. Strife]

Vladimir reaches down and grabs ahold of Rhaps by the hair. The referee scolds him about it, but Vladimir tells him to "F*ck off". He pulls his opponent up to his feet and lifts him up into the air and onto his shoulder. Walking back over to the corner, Vladimir looks as though he's going to drop Rhaps back down onto the end of the sickle.

JP: Not this again! Come on Vladimir, you could kill him like this!
Ray: Don't say that, you'll give him ideas!!

Wiping blood out of his eyes, Rhaps clears his vision as they're nearing the turnbuckle and grabs the sickle. He pulls it out and stabs it down hard, stabbing into Vladimir's thigh. Vlad lets out a startling yell of pain and throws Rhaps off of his shoulder over the top rope and to the floor. As Rhaps covers his face with his forearms to protect himself for the impact, Vladimir reaches down and looks at the sickle stuck in his thigh. He grabs onto the handle and braces himself, then pulls it out in one clean jerk. Vladimir drops to one knee as he lets out another bursting scream of pain.

JP: Looks like Vladimir shouldn't have taken his time so much. He left a wide opening for Rhaps there, he should have known better than that!
Ray: Either way, Vladimir knows he has this one. He's the Hardcore King, poor Rhaps is going to end up as just another victim.
JP: I don't know, Ray. Rhaps has a lot of heart, Vladimir will definitely have his work cut for him to get Rhaps to tap out. Through Vladimir's fault, pure luck, or skill, I'd actually like to see Rhaps pull it off. It would be one hell of an underdog story, that's for sure.

Vladimir stretches the leg a few times to alleviate some of the pain and steps out of the ring, going after Rhaps. As he's coming up behind Rhaps, Vladimir reaches out and grabs him by the back of his trunks. He pulls Rhaps back up to his feet and is surprised as Rhaps turns to meet him with a kendo stick to the skull. Vladimir stumbles back and turns away from Rhaps and leaves his back wide open for the next shot, which Rhaps delivers without haste. Vlad pushes his shoulder blades together as he arches his back. Rhaps delivers another shot across his back, the sound of the bamboo pieces smacking together loudly.

JP: Rhaps apparently grabbed the kendo stick from under the ring and is beating the holy hell out of Vlad with it!! I told you not to sell him short, Ray!
Ray: Psht, he got lucky.
JP: By the sound of that, I'm guessing he's the only one.
Ray: HEY!!

The action continues outside the ring, Rhaps rounding up and swinging the kendo stick again. Vladimir turns as he's about to swing though and catches the stick in his hand as it's coming at him, wincing slightly. His other hand darts out and his fingers wrap around Rhaps' throat, squeezing down as Rhaps' eyes grow wide. Rhaps kicks up hard and plants the toe of his boot into Vladimir's gut, breaking off the hold and causing Vladimir to double over. He leaps up into the air, swinging the kendo stick back and then bringing it down with him and slamming it down Vladimir's spine. Vlad drops to the mats and rolls over, his face grimaced in pain.

JP: And another devastating shot from Rhaps! This guy is simply relentless tonight!
Ray: ....Jerk.
JP: Writing an instruction manual to your love life?
Ray whines at the joke as JP laughs.
JP: Say, I'm getting pretty good at these one liners. Maybe I should be a comedian.
Ray: Don't quit your day job..

Rhaps hears the roaring cheers of the audience and throws the kendo stick out into the crowd. A lucky fan catches it and beats off a few people who grab for it, determined to keep the souvenir as his own. Rhaps picks Vladimir up and rolls him into the ring, then kneels down by the apron, lifting it up. He searches around underneath and pulls out a steel chair quickly. He throws it in the ring to Vladimir, who has just gotten to his feet. Vladimir catches the chair and looks at it in confusion as Rhaps leaps up onto the apron. He grabs the top rope and leaps into the air, planting his feet on the rope and then springboarding at Vladimir legs first.

JP: HIGH RISK MOVE!!!

Vladimir steps off to the side as Rhaps lands flat on his back, the ring shaking with the impact. Rhaps continues through the pain in his lower back though and gets up to his feet as quickly as he can. He comes up facing away from Vladimir and spins around to face him. As he turns around, Vladimir swings the steel chair around and slams it down onto Rhaps' head. The seat dents in the middle as it collides with Rhaps' forehead, a metallic thud ringing out. Rhaps crashes to the mat and lays still, closing his eyes tightly a few times to straighten his head out.

TBCB Rhaps

[Rhaps]

Rhaps rolls out underneath the bottom rope and slumps against the ring apron. Vlad, who is showing the crowd what he thinks of them by holding his middle finger up to them, turns and notices Rhaps has exited the ring. Vlad places the chair behind Rhaps' head, who is oblivious to the events going on behind him. Vlad heads to the other side of the ring, and breaks into a run. Vlad slides across the mat and kicks the steel chair with brutal force. The steel is driven into the soft flesh of Rhaps' scalp, scrambling whatever had remained intact after the first chair shot.

JP: Dammit! Rhaps should have been paying attention there.

Ray: You don't take your eyes off Vlad, ever. He's just too dangerous an opponent to do something like that and Rhaps is just facing the consequence of his stupidity.

Rhaps is scrambled on his hands and kness, face down against the concrete. Vlad exits the ring and grabs Rhaps by the head. Suddenly Rhaps turns his body quickly and smashes the carefully concealed chair into Vlad's ankle. Vlad let's go and stumbles with the pain. Rhaps is quick to his feet and he seizes Vlad's head and jumps over the barricade, slamming Vlad's head across it in a modified Bulldog. There is a horrific crack as bone and flesh meet unyieldly steel and concrete.

JP: It looks like Rhaps just got the edge over Vlad there. That was a sneaky attack and I think he's just made Vlad a whole lot angrier.

Ray: You don't do that to Vlad. Like I said earlier Vlad is too dangerous an opponent.

Rhaps turns to face Vlad again and hammers away on his back, keeping Vlad off balance anf unable to get to his feet. Rhaps tries to maintain the advantage but Vlad stops Rhaps in his tracks before hitting a huge boot into Rhaps chest. Rhaps is knocked backwards into the crowd while Vlad climbs over the barricade with a look of fierce hatred contorted hideously on his face. Vlad wraps his hands around Rhaps' throat before choking him mercilessly, the brutal streak being unleashed. Rhaps drops to his knees and his arms flail wildly, occasionally grabbing at Vlad's wrapped hands, all to no avail.

Vlad decides to change tactic and once again he hefts Rhaps over his head and smashes Rhaps' back across the barricade. Rhaps' head slides back to rest against the concrete of the ground beneath. Vlad grins to himself and he climbs atop the barricade and looks down at the fallen Rhaps. He jumps and drops his knee across Rhaps' broken nose, a sickening cracking sound escapes, indicating further damage has been done.

Vlad looks around briefly for more weapons and he emerges with a biker's chain and a sledgehammer. He wraps it around Rhaps' throat and drags Rhaps bodily by the chain. Rhaps' face turns a horrible blue shade as Vlad drags him back into the ring. Vlad places Rhaps slumped against one of the tunbuckle's before tying the rest of the chain around the ring post to prevent Rhaps from moving. Through gritted teeth Vlad raises the hammer and crashes it down against Rhaps' body, causing Rhaps to thrash in pain with each terrible blow.

TBCB Vlad

[Vladimir T. Strife]

Vladimir drops the hammer and steps out of the ring, walking over to Lizzie. He asks for her microphone and she complies. Vladimir walks back into the ring and over to Rhaps. He leans in close to him and smirks.


"So, how about it? Have you had enough yet, boy?"

"Not...a...chance."

Rhaps reaches up and laces his fingers behind Vladimir's head as he rises up and sticks the top of his head under Vlad's chin. He drops back down to the mat, nailing Vladimir with a jawbreaker and knocking him back stumbling with the impact. Rhaps hurries back to his feet and grabs the sledgehammer while Vladimir is still stumbling about. He runs forward and slams it into Vlad's ribs, a crack being heard. Vladimir drops to his knees, clutching his ribs as he coughs violently.

JP: Holy sh*t! Rhaps turned the tables there quite beautifully, if I might say so.
Ray: Looked quite beautiful doing so too!

Rhaps takes the time to go back to the outside and look around for weapons. He throws a trashcan in to the ring as he comes across it and keeps looking. The next object he pulls out brings a look of confusion to his face as he pulls out a PS2 Guitar Hero controller. He shakes off the confusion and throws that into the ring as well, looking for something specific apparently. A few more moments and Rhaps pulls out a couple of light tubes, looking happy about the find. He slides into the ring with them and sets them across Vladimir's chest. Rhaps then jumps up and plants his feet down on Vlad's chest, causing the tubes to bust and shower Vladimir with glass.

JP: Rhaps is really showing Vladimir here that he can go hardcore as well. This won't be the pushover match Vladimir was hoping for, that's for damn sure!
Ray: Yeah, but at the end, Vladimir will be the winner.
JP: As you can OBVIOUSLY tell by the way Rhaps is stomping on him, right?
Ray: Shut up...

Rhaps grabs the garbage can and lays it on top of Vladimir's face. The audience cheers as he takes into the air and lands on top of the garbage can with his legs, smashing it into Vlad's face. He gets back up and stomps on it a few times for good measure, then walks over and grabs the bikers chain. As he does, Vladimir shoves the can off of his face and slowly starts to get to his feet. Rhaps walks over to him, the chain now wrapped around his fist. He punches Vladimir in the forehead with it a few times, drawing blood. Vladimir responds with a low blow that drops Rhaps to his knees.

JP: Vladimir gets in a cheap shot on Rhaps there. You think maybe 1 time Vlad will ever play by the rules?
Ray: Well, he is. There is no rules.

Vladimir gets up to his feet while Rhaps is kneeling and looks around the ring. Seeing the Guitar Hero controller, Vladimir snickers and picks it up. He turns and swings it down as hard as he can on Rhaps' head, busting the plastic controller to pieces. Rhaps topples backwards, falling to the mat blankly. Vladimir takes the cord to the controller and walks over, wrapping it around Rhaps' throat and strangling him with it. Rhaps suddenly starts to swing wildly at him, taking a few punches to finally connect with Vladimir's face and cause him to let go. Vlad gets up to his feet, closing his right eye tightly shut a couple of times, trying to get the blur out of his vision.

Rhaps gets up to his feet, bending over and coughing, trying to get breath back into his body. Vladimir spots him and walks up behind him, pushing his head between Rhaps' legs and hoisting him up into the air. Rhaps begins throwing punches to the top of Vlad's head as Vladimir walks with him over to the ropes. He reaches up and grabs Rhaps neck, lacing his fingers behind them. Both men look out to the audience as Vladimir jumps up and lands on his feet, pulling down on Rhaps' neck as he does. Rhaps' chest slams down onto the top of Vladimir's head, causing pain to shoot into his sternum. The pull on his neck then sends Rhaps flipping forward and over the top rope, crashing down to the floor.

TBCB Rhaps

[Rhaps]

Rhaps lays in pain on the outside while Vlad holds up his arms to the crowd in a sign of victory. The crowd show their displeasure at the events unfolding in the ring and begin to boo audibly. Vlad starts shouting obscenities at them while giving them all a one fingered salute. Meanwhile Rhaps has rolled underneath the ring and soon he emerges with yet another light bulb in hand. He uses the apron to drag himself back to his feet and he picks up the discarded microphone, while keeping the light bulb hidden.

Rhaps: Hey Vlad, you didn't finish the job.

Vlad turns to face Rhaps, incensed at Rhaps' goading words. Vlad screams something in response and he stands by the ropes, pointing at ropes and making threatening gestures. Suddenly Rhaps pulls the light bulb out and swings it underneath the bottom rope, the glass sweeping across the canvas to smash into Vlad's ankles. A cheer erupts from the crowd as Vlad staggers and turns into the ring falling to his knees, seeing that glass has cut into his legs. Vlad has his back to Rhaps at this point while Rhaps jumps to the ring apron. The crowd urge Rhaps on as he bounces himself off the top rope. Amazingly Rhaps catches Vlad's head and he slams it into the canvas with a modified flying DDT.

JP: Oh my God! Rhaps just nailed Vlad with that DDT from out of nowhere. I was damn sure that Vlad was going to make a cover on Rhaps and win but instead he had to let his ego get the better of him and tell this crowd exactly what he thinks of them.

Ray: I don't care, Vlad is still sexily hardcore. Go Vlad, make Rhaps pay!

Rhaps rolls out of the ring instead of going for the cover and he grabs hold of the ladder placed at ringside. He slides it into the ring before going back to retrieve another. With two ladders Rhaps starts to set his opponent up by lying Vlad across one ladder and placing the next ladder on top of him, sandwhiching him between them. Rhaps moves quickly to the nearest turnbuckle and stands on it, building up the suspense of the move to come.

JP: Rhaps is going up but would he really sacrifice his body just to punish Vlad.

Ray: It looks like he will. Man that's sexy.

Rhaps dives off the turnbuckle and lands squarely on the top ladder with a swanton bomb Rhaps lands with a cracking thud against the steel, pain swamping and coursing through his back and neck. The two ladder were smashed together, nearly breaking Vlad in half. The referee looks around in panic and confusion at the two men laid out painfully in the ring.

Ray: These referees are getting better, he's allowing them to continue.

JP: And this would've been a disappointing end to a great match if the referee had counted the ten.

Finally, after what seems like an age, Rhaps begins moving and he slumps against the ladders. Vlad begins to slowly push the ladder off the top of him, eventually manouvering it to one side. Rhaps and Vlad struggle to their feet with Rhaps using the ropes and Vlad using Rhaps respectively in order to achieve this. With great effort Vlad punches Rhaps in a jaw. Rhaps totters uncertainly, as does Vlad. Rhaps returns the punch slowly, both men arching backwards each time a punch hits. The trading of the right hands in slow but neither lets up, each hoping to gain a small advantage over their opponent.

Rhaps blocks the next punch aimed at him and rams his shoulder into Vlad's chest with great effort. Both men drop to their knees, nearing the point of complete exhaustion. Vlad suddenly hits an uppercut on Rhaps, causing him to land backwards on the mat. Vlad swings himself onto a complete vertical basis, letting go of the ropes.

JP: It looks like as if Vlad has finally gotten over the ladder smash to some degree. If he has it won't be good news for Rhaps.

Ray: You're right JP, Vlad is showing amazing resilience and stamina. I like men with stamina.

JP: I know, you've told me on numerous occasions.

Rhaps is still struggling to do anything at this point. Vlad grabs hold of his head and helps him up. Vlad grabs hold of Rhaps and he gets him set up for the decimator. Rhaps struggles against Vlad's grip but he can't work his way free. Vlad gives a brief jog and smashes Rhaps onto the ladder with the huge slam move. Intense pain spreads up Rhaps' back and all he can do is lie across the ladder, stricken from the sheer pain coursing through him.

JP: Rhaps just got broken in half with that huge decimator. I don't think Rhaps is going to be able to walk out of this match Ray. It just got hardcore with a capital H.

TBCB Vlad.

[Vladimir T. Strife]

Vladimir stands up and pulls Rhaps back up to his feet by his hair. He wraps his arm around Rhaps' head and hoists him up into the air. Vladimir then spins and falls, turning Rhaps and slamming the small of his back down onto the ladder. Rhaps yells out with pain and holds onto his lower back as he writhes around on the mat. Vladimir drops his knee down across the back of Rhaps' skull and he stops moving. Vladimir grabs the microphone and asks Rhaps if he gives up.

Rhaps responds with a light "No".


"You will give up! One way or another, you son of a b*tch!"

Vladimir drops the microphone and walks back to the backstage area. A few moments later, Rhaps is slowly beginning to move in the ring as Vladimir comes back out with a metal pail in hand. A long metal handle sticks out of the top as he lowers it to reveal that it's filled with hot coals. Vladimir sets it down and pulls out a cattle brand, the letters VTS in reverse burning red hot as he slides into the ring with it. Vladimir sets his foot on Rhaps' back and presses the red hot metal against his flesh, Rhaps screaming out loudly in pain. Sizzles can be heard as the oils in his skin are burned, the flesh on his back being charred. Vladimir pulls the branding iron back off after a moment and puts it back in the bucket while Rhaps rolls around in pain. He looks back at the damage, seeing "VTS" on his back, black with char.

JP: HOLY SH*T!! Vladimir just branded Rhaps!!!
Ray: That's insane!! Does that mean Rhaps gets to belong to Vlad? Lucky fellow..
JP: LUCKY!? HE JUST GOT BRANDED!!!

Vladimir picks the microphone back up and kicks Rhaps across the jaw.

"THAT'S how we do hardcore!! A little trick I picked up from a hardcore legend. So, what do you say, you little sh*tstain... You ready to call it a night?"

Vladimir lowers the microphone to Rhaps' mouth.

"F*CK YOU!"

Rhaps rolls out of the ring and grabs a chair. Vladimir sighs and gets ready, watching Rhaps as he slides back into the ring and gets up to his feet. Before he can make a move though, Vladimir gives a stiff boot to the chair and blasts it into Rhaps' face. Vladimir sets the chair on top of Rhaps as he lays on the mat. He runs back and hits the ropes, building up a bit of momentum. As he comes forward, he leaps up and comes down with an altered leg drop. His leg slams down longways across Rhaps, the back of his heel slamming the chair into Rhaps' mouth. Rhaps pushes the chair off and rolls back to the outside, holding his mouth while trying to ignore the pain in it.

JP: Wow! Impressive move by Vladimir! That's called a son-of-a-b*tch legdrop, folks! A move originated by a former friend of the Hardcore King!
Ray: Well, whereever it came from, I think it just cost Rhaps a tooth!

Vladimir steps over after him and Rhaps grabs his legs and pulls them out from under him. He drags Vladimir over to the turnbuckle and pulls one leg beside each side of the steel post, Vladimir begging him not to do it. Rhaps gives a hard jerk and pulls Vladimir's crotch into the post, sending him grimacing in pain, tears in his eyes. Rhaps quickly climbs onto the apron and up to the top turnbuckle. Vladimir, still trying to cope with the pain, is surprised with a double stomp to the chest by an airborne Rhaps, knocking the wind out of his body. Rhaps paces around the ring a bit, looking pissed off about the abuse he's been on the receiving end of.

JP: OW! Rhaps just jumped off the top turnbuckle, right onto Vladimir chest! That'll take you down a notch.
Ray: He hurt Vladimir's privates!!! Get a medic down here! Quickly, we have a private down!

Rhaps slides back out of the ring and takes a table, picking it up and sliding it in. He finds a roll of barbed wire and grins as he gets a bright idea, throwing that into the ring as well. While Vladimir is beginning to stir, Rhaps sets up the table and unwraps some barbed wire. He grabs Vladimir by the hair and moves him onto the table on his back. He takes the barbed wire and begins to moves it over and under the table, tying Vladimir down to the table with it. Vladimir tries to struggle as the barbs sober him up from the dizziness. Rhaps has it wrapped around him tightly and he can't get free. Rhaps climbs up to the top turnbuckle as Vladimir tries to get free, the barbs tearing into his flesh. The audience stand up from their chair as Rhaps taunts them and looks down to Vladimir, stuck on the table in the middle of the ring.

JP: I THINK THIS MIGHT BE IT!!!

Rhaps hops down from the turnbuckle though and the fans begin to boo. He walks over to Vladimir and pulls him further away from the turnbuckle he was on a bit. He then walks over amidst the boos and picks the ladder up, cheers shooting again as he starts setting it up. Rhaps climbs up to the top as Vladimir struggles harder, realizing he was in for a lot of pain if he didn't find a way loose. Rhaps makes it to the top of the ladder and cautiously stands on the top, looking down at the 15 foot drop to the ring. He leaps off and spins forward in air, coming down and nailing Vladimir with a Swanton Bomb. The table crumbles at the impact and the two men lay in the ring, not moving. The audience goes crazy and "Holy Sh*t" chants rise up loudly.

JP: Rhaps just knocked the living hell out of Vladimir!! What a Swanton!!!
Ray: I think he's done it! He might actually have beaten Vladimir here!!

Rhaps slowly crawls over to Vladimir, laying his arm across Vlad's chest. The audience counts up to a 8 count, but the referee doesn't count, trying to remind Rhaps that it is an "I Quit" match. Rhaps pulls at his hair in frustration and rolls away from Vladimir, slowly starting to get up to his feet. Rhaps grabs the microphone and pushes it into Vladimir's face, yelling at him to give up. Vladimir gives no response though, seeming to be unconscious.

JP: No! Rhaps knocked him out! He can't win if Vladimir can't speak!

Rhaps pulls the barbed wire off of Vladimir and stomps at him viciously. He kicks Vladimir in the head, then grabs a handful of his hair. Grabbing the back of his pants to help him, Rhaps pulls Vladimir up to his feet. Vladimir doesn't seem to be able to stand though and falls right back to the mat. Rhaps sighs and tries again, Vladimir wobbling but not falling. He quickly rushes over to the ropes and steps out onto the apron. Rhaps turns back and grabs the top rope, using it to slingshot himself up. He steps onto the top rope and springboards off towards Vladimir at full force. Vladimir suddenly seems to reanimate as he grabs Rhaps in midair and spins around with his force, then slamming him to the mat with a devastating impact that shakes the ring.

JP: OH MY GOD! Vladimir caught him in midair and just planted him with a spinning side slam!!!
Ray: That's my man!!

Vladimir rolls off of Rhaps tiredly and both lay on the mat, breathing heavily and trying to recoup.

TBCB Rhaps

[Rhaps]

Rhaps is first to his feet, while Vlad is on his hands and knees breathing heavily at the effort of having countered Rhaps in mid air. Rhaps heads to the outside and looks under the ring. As he is searching he finds something much to his delight. Rhaps pulls out a table and pushes it into the ring and a can of gasoline and some matches emerge from beneath the ring as Rhaps takes hold of them. Rhaps re-enters the ring and stacks the table against the turnbuckle before dousing it with the gasoline from the cannister. Rhaps however doesn't have a chance to proceed any further. Vlad taps Rhaps on the back. Rhaps turns into a huge right hand, felling him to the canvas.

JP: Thank God for that, imagine how this match would've gone if Rhaps had a chance to set that table on fire.

Ray: I thought Vlad had a sexy mean streak, what a kill joy. Now we can't enjoy barbecued Fighty fighty person.

JP: Have I ever told you that there's something very wrong with you?

Ray: Constantly.

Vlad picks Rhaps up and quickly hoists Rhaps over his head. Rhaps is flung to the outside with such force that he bursts through the barricade, his face and neck landing in the splinters of wreckage left behind. Rhaps, by this point is almost all but destroyed from the attack while Vlad retrieves the microphone again.

Vlad: Take that you son of a b***h. Now I'm gonna put Rhaps through this table and make the b******d say 'I Quit'

Vlad picks up the box of matches before taking a single one out. He lights it and holds the lit match dramatically while staring at the prone Rhaps before dropping the match and lighting the table in a blaze of heat. Vlad exits the ring and picks Rhaps up to his feet before sliding his opponent beneath the bottom rope. Vlad re-enters the ring and picks Rhaps up and holds him in the decimator position once more. Vlad nears the table while Rhaps suddenly notices Vlad's intention. He starts squirming and struggling against Vlad's grip, rewarding him in getting his right arm free. Rhaps hits a low blow on Vlad, causing him to drop his knees and let go of Rhaps simultaneously.

JP: Rhaps just saved himself from a scorching. What a counter out of that decimator.

Ray: Damn! I want to see some crispy fried superstar, preferably Rhaps.

Vlad and Rhaps get to their feet at about the same time. Rhaps ducks underneath a clothesline from Vlad, who turns to see a determined Rhaps. Rhaps explodes at Vlad with a spear, slamming both men through the flaming table, sending a shower of flames and soot licking against the ring post. The intense heat starts to scorch the canvas and has already begun to burn both Fighty fighty persons who are now crumpled in the wreckage. EMTs with fire extinguishers run down to the ring and put the fire out before trying to help both men. Rhaps starts signalling wildly at one of them. He turns and retrieves the microphone before handing it to Rhaps.

Rhaps: We don's need help, not for this piece of trash. Say you Quit Vlad, Say it!!!

Vlad mutely pushes the microphone out of his face. Rhaps forces it back again and Vlad loses his patience.

Vlad: Eat S**t!

Vlad draws his legs together before placing them against Rhaps' chest and kicking him backwards to the mat.

[chemodeus]

As Vlad and Rhaps are exchanging left and right blows , both feeling exhausted and the effects of a long and brutal match the arena lights dim out and everything changes to a dark purple glow. Smoke starts to rise from the ground and fill the stadium in a haze. Both stop momentarily , first looking at each other then towards the stage.

Ray: I don't like dark places Jimmy.

JP: What the hell .. those bastards changed the damn roster of tonights events again !!

Nazugul by Artrosis begins to play softly over the speaker system as small flames appear on the edge of the Stage , slowly the flames grow higher. Almost having a life of there own , the flames crawl towards the ring lighting the edge of the ramp with orange and red flames that look out of this world in the hue of the purple darkness.

Ray: Oh no .. It's happening again Jimmy.

Jp: It can't be ..

In what seems like an eternity has past , but only mere moments the fire reaches the ring engulfing all four sides of the squared circle in a wall of flame. Inside the ring Vlad almost has a evil grin in anticipation of what is about to happen. Rhaps on the other hand is almost scared , remembering what happen the last time he was in a ring of fire.

Ray: Look out Rhaps , he's after you again.

Jp: Lets hope Vlad can put a side his difference's for the time and help Rhaps.

Ray: I highly doubt that will happen Jimmy, Vlad has but a few friends and Rhaps isn't on that list , especially standing against the Coven the way him and Wreckingball done.

Jp: You're right Ray , how could I almost forget the crusade him and Wreckingball had against the Coven.

Midway thru the chorus the song ends leaving the arena in a cold darkness. The mega-tron lights up with animated fire burning fiercely thru a city leaving nothing but ashes which soon get blown away by the wind. The mega-tron fades to black , soon the flames around the ring return to normal with the lights flickering and they too return to the bright lights leaving both Fighty fighty persons in the ring stunned. Rhaps even more so than Vlad and gets woken out of his daze by a cheap shot from his opponent that drops Rhaps to the canvas.

Tbc by Rhaps or Vlad.