#which i'm extending to include stomps too

[talietikasero]

how far into an idea was i to come up with an entire character arc and an almost full move list that combines original moves and those from the games

[latte-fairytaekwoon]

𝐖𝐡𝐨'𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐬? (𝐂𝐄𝐎! 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨) 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

𝙿𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐: 𝙲𝙴𝙾/𝙳𝚊𝚍! 𝙲𝚑𝚘𝚒 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚑𝚘 (𝙰𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚣) × 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚢/𝙼𝚘𝚖! 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 (𝙵𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎)

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝚂𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝, 𝙵𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏, 𝚂𝚖𝚞𝚝, 𝙳𝚊𝚍 𝙰𝚄, 𝙲𝙴𝙾 𝙰𝚄

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝙲𝚑𝚘𝚒 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚑𝚘 𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚜𝚝. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜, 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚞𝚜𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚋𝚘𝚜𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝.

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 𝟼𝙺+

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝚂𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝, 𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕 (𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐), 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚓𝚘𝚋, 𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚔, 𝚜𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚢/𝚍𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚢 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚔, 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚍𝚎𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚞𝚗𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚡 (𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗), 𝙵𝚎𝚖𝚍𝚘𝚖! 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 × 𝚂𝚞𝚋! 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚑𝚘

𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝: @little-precious-baby @yunhoiseyecandy @yunhofingers @brie02 @galaxteez @deja-vux @multidreams-and-desires @rvse-miingi @couchpotatoaniki

⊱⋅ ──────────── ⋅⊰

"I expect all of your reports in and in perfect order by tomorrow's meeting at 11 a.m. And I want all of you in there on time. I will not accept even 1 minute of tardiness. Are we clear?"

A chorus of 'Yes sir' chanted throughout the room, the occupants in their respective chairs starting to disperse themselves out of the room. The hushed groans and complaining did not go unnoticed by Jongho's ears, but he paid no mind to them, having grown accustomed to them. He was a tough boss, and he preferred to keep it that way. He enjoyed having people fear him and be too scared to even ask him something, and all of his subordinates seemed to fall in that category.

"Sir?"

All of them except the almost cherry red head girl who was batting her eyelashes at him, a strand of her hair being twirled around one of her fingers. Without breaking his poker face, Jongho held out the folder he had and fanned it in front of her face.

"Hyunjoo, make copies of these to put into the filing cabinets and make sure to save them into the computer as well."

In a rather abrupt way, he practically threw the folder in her hands, but the girl didn't seem fazed, she still continued to smile even as he turned his back to her and walked out of the room.

"Right away sir! Anything else I can-"

Her enthusiastic question was shut out by the loud slamming of the door, leaving her speechless once more.

Jongho let out a deep huff as he loosened the tie that was practically suffocating him as it did after a strenuous day of having to deal with the ineptitude of his employees. He said absolutely nothing as he walked to his car, and stayed just as silent during the entire ride home, the soft ballads playing on the radio being his only companion at the moment. He didn't even feel like breaking out his heavenly vocals as per usual, all he wanted at that moment was to get to his haven as soon as possible and see the two faces he loved seeing after spending grueling hours in front of a computer and a stack of papers.

As soon as he stepped foot inside the cozy house, his nose was hit with the delicious scent coming from the kitchen. Making sure to neatly place his shoes by the rack next to the door and hang his coat on one of the hooks on the wall, he practically dragged his feet down the hallway before turning the corner. His gloomy expression quickly faltered and broke out into a smile as he was greeted by loud squealing coming from the tiny individual sitting in the high chair.

"Hey buddy. You missed me?" Jongho couldn't keep the smile off his face as he picked up the 5 month old baby, his cheeks still stained with an orange hue. The baby made some incoherent guttural sounds, no doubt trying to convey his feelings as he outstretched his tiny hands and began touching Jongho's face.

"I know I missed you." He placed a tiny kiss on his head before picking up a wet tissue to start wiping off some of the puree residues.

Right at that moment, his wife came in and wrapped her arms around his waist. Placing a gentle kiss on his cheek, she tilted her head so she could look at his face more clearly.

"How was your day?"

He shook his head, not wanting to recall his day.

"Same as they've been since you went on maternity leave. Unbearable."

Rolling her eyes at that, she carefully took the baby out of his hands since it was time for him to take a bath.

"Here. You go on and eat while I clean junior here."

Although the baby grunted softly at being taken away from his father's arms, he eventually relaxed in his mother's embrace, his face nuzzling into her chest and soon afterwards he began nibbling softly at her shirt.

"Oh for goodness sakes! You just ate not even 10 minutes ago. You can't possibly be hungry again." Y/N half heartedly complained, bouncing the baby slightly in her arms.

"Well I mean.... I don't blame him for wanting to drink some of your milk."

Catching her gaze, Jongho sent a wink her way that had her blushing intensely.

"You're unbelievable!" She exclaimed as she stomped out of the room to go bathe her baby.

"You're the one who offered me your tits in the first place." He snorted, trying to contain his laughter as he sipped the glass of water he had in his hand.

"Keep it up and I'll extend my maternity leave longer." She called out from the bathroom, the sound of water running being heard.

"No way! I've gone far too long without my personal assistant helping me keep order in that building and helping me stay sane. You promised me you'd come back tomorrow and I'm making you keep that promise." He warned her.

"Are you saying that as my husband? Or as my boss?" She questioned him.

"As both if I have to." He sternly said.

"Neither one of you scare me.....but since I love you both, I guess I'll keep my promise and come back tomorrow as we planned."

Jongho let out a relieved sigh at her answer as his fingers rubbed at his temple, fork aggressively digging into the vegetables on his plate. He honestly had missed working with Y/N by his side. He was feeling rather antsy and impatient about having her come back into the company. And he knew the other employees were also eagerly anticipating her return, since they preferred going to her to get messages across to him when they were too scared to face Jongho themselves. Not to mention Y/N livened up the atmosphere with her fresh and energetic nature, one of the main reasons he fell in love with her.

As he ate, Jongho began to reminisce about how their story started. Y/N had been recommended by a friend to be his personal assistant and she was very proud to work for such an important CEO, seeing it as an opportunity of a lifetime. Jongho, however, of course was extremely tough on her from the start, just as he was with all his other assistants. None of them lasted more than 2 weeks because they just couldn't handle either all the unbearable tasks he gave them or got frightened off by his stern and aggresive form of addressing them. Not Y/N. Even after having her run up and down floors on wild goose chases at times, she still kept her bright smile and positive energy, never once flinching either when he scolded her for doing something that he deemed wrong, which it never actually was, he just enjoyed nitpicking at her. She broke the record and lasted not just 2 weeks, but over 2 years, earning her the admiration and respect of not only her coworkers but of Jongho himself. He became fascinated by her and that fascination turned into love for her.

He pursued her for quite some time, Y/N making him really work for it as payback for all the harsh times he put her through during her first months working for him. Eventually his persistence paid off as she agreed to not only date him, but actually accepted to marry him when he asked her to. Of course, it was a secret no one else knew about, both of them agreeing that they'd rather keep their personal lives outside of work, not wanting others to talk or gossip about them. So at the company they were simply the CEO and his personal assistant, but once they got home, they were back to being hopelessly in love and enjoying their married life which now included their son.

Jongho felt that he was extremely lucky. Lucky to have such an amazing and beautiful wife who had recently blessed him with a healthy baby boy, gifting him the family he always wanted. He couldn't contain his happy smile as he watched her rock the baby to sleep and eventually put him inside his crib. Tiptoeing out of the nursery and joining him in their bedroom, Y/N raised an eyebrow when she saw his expression.

"You doing good?" She asked him.

Nodding softly, Jongho let out a hum before wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Oh trust me, I'm doing just splendid." He let out a chuckle as he pecked her lips.

When she began pulling away from his embrace, he pulled her back in, this time pressing his lips against hers more firmly as his hands went to the back of her thighs and effortlessly picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. She couldn't help the squeal that came out of her mouth when he pushed her down onto their bed, already feeling breathless as his tongue continued to dominate her mouth. Jongho's hands began to slowly pull her tank top down, exposing her soft and squishy breasts that had grown quite considerably since she started her last months of pregnancy and continued up until then.

"You know it's been so long since I've had you all to myself...." He mused as he nipped across her collarbone.

Taking one breast in each of his hands, he gave them gentle squeeze that had Y/N moaning softly. Giving one of her nipples a few kitten licks, Jongho latched his mouth over it, covering her perky nipple and letting out suckling sounds until he felt her sweet liquid come out of her body.

"And I plan on taking my time with you." He finished his previous sentence as he went back to feeding from her milk.

Y/N's fingers tangled themselves on his hair, back arching to allow him to take more of her succulent breasts into his mouth, which he took advantage of graciously. Just as soon as they were both getting lost in their lust, they were interrupted by the small whimpered cries coming from the room next to theirs. Detaching his mouth from his wife's chest, Jongho groaned in annoyance and rolled over on the other side of the bed.

"Seriously? Can't even enjoy some alone time with my wife because junior over there wants to be a cockblocker."

Slapping his arm, Y/N arranged her shirt and got up to go attend to her baby, leaving Jongho laying there in a fuzzy and whiny mood.

⊱⋅ ──────────── ⋅⊰

Stepping into the floor, Y/N was immediately bombarded by greetings and questions from all of her coworkers. The men were fawning over her and thanking her for coming back on such an eventful day while the women were prying about her baby and other motherly topics. Since it was still early, Y/N thought it wouldn't hurt to show off a few pictures of her little bundle of joy. Taking care there weren't any photos of Jongho, she happily showed off her gallery that was full of images of her baby and herself. All of the people around her began cooing and awing at how adorable he was.

"He's so cute!"

"Simply adorable!"

"Does he look like his dad?"

Before Y/N could even answer that question, the father himself cleared his throat behind the little group. Collective gasps and startled wheezes were heard as the people began to disperse themselves back to their respective cubicles or desks. Donning his usual frown, Jongho side eyed some of the individuals before landing his eyes on Y/N, who per usual remained calmed and collected.

"Miss L/N, although no doubt your coworker are ecstatic to have you back I must remind you that we have an important meeting ahead of us and I don't want any distractions to hinder our plans. I'll let this go just this time but I want no more dilly dallying. Are we clear?"

Breaking out into a soft smile, Y/N put her phone back in her purse.

"Crystal Mr. Choi."

The corner of Jongho's lip twitched at hearing her usual response she'd say to his chastising. Y/N knew it affected him too, but she bit her tongue from bursting out laughing right then and there. Checking his watch, he sighed deeply.

"After you finish setting your space up, please gather up the documents needed for today's meeting and see me promptly at my office so we can look over them."

Just as Y/N was about to open her mouth, she was interrupted by a redhead whom she had never seen before during the time she worked there. The girl pushed herself in between them both rather tactlessly.

"Sir, if you'd like, I could go fetch them for you, I know where they are so it'd be faster given that I sorted them yesterday."

Y/N arched an eyebrow up at the new face, scanning her up and down, taking notice of how tight and short her skirt was, not to mention how snug fitted her blouse was, more than just the tops buttons undone to purposely draw attention to her cleavage. The way she was practically beaming at Jongho did not go unnoticed by her, and it was slightly irritating her.

"No thank you Hyunjoo. I want Y/N to do it. Besides I need to catch her up on what's been going on these past months she was gone."

Before Jongho could take one step, Hyunjoo moved to stand right in front of him, a rather bold move that had everyone bracing themselves for what would happen next.

"Anything else you want to say Hyunjoo?" Although he asked, it was quite obvious Jongho was not amused in the slightest bit. Hyunjoo bit her lip nervously, but decided to speak.

"Sir I just thought since it was an important meeting that perhaps you'd prefer to be assisted by someone who has more knowledge and experience in the matter so that there would be no... hindrances."

Y/N did not like the way she drawled out that last word. She did not hesitate to let out a scoff at the brazen behavior of whoever that newbie was. And she guessed Jongho was not happy by her input either given that he was now crossing his arms over his chest.

"There will be no hindrances. Y/N knows what she's doing and I know she'll do an excellent job. After all, she is and will always be my personal assistant."

Y/N couldn't hide the proud smirk that shone triumphantly on her face, especially after seeing the reddened face of the girl next to her, who gave her a small glare before excusing herself to go to her desk. Jongho brushed past her to go into his office, giving her elbow a light squeeze that went unnoticed by everyone else but that made her feel better about coming back to work. She was practically skipping all the way to the elevator and still skipping about when she came to the room where they kept all the documents. She skimmed through the cabinets, checking the dates to make sure she was looking in the right section when she was startled by a voice piping up behind her.

"Y/N!"

She let out a scream and stumbled back into one of the cabinets, hitting her lower back rather harshly before landing her bum on the floor.

"Oops! Sorry. Not how I wanted my welcome back greeting to go."

She allowed the blonde male to help her get up, scanning her to make sure no real damage was done.

"Yeosang what the hell? Why are you always popping up on people out of nowhere?" She grimaced as she rubbed her butt.

"Gotta have some type of fun while I'm locked up in here organizing, filing and documenting papers here you know." He adjusted the frames on his nose bridge.

"Maybe you could lend me a hand and show me where I can find what I need for today's meeting?"

Clapping his hands, Yeosang reached into his jacket and promptly took out a neat folder out that had several papers inside.

"I figured Mr. Grinch upstairs would have you come get them so I took the liberty of stashing them away just for you."

Y/N smiled as he handed them over to her.

"That and I didn't want that bitch Hyunjoo putting her nasty hands on them as well." Yeosang huffed loudly.

"Who is she anyways? She wasn't here when I was."

Yeosang went cross eyed momentarily, looking like he was losing brain cells as he tried to figure out where to start.

"She started out a week after you went on maternity leave. She's just a secretary, but has offered to do some tasks that were strictly reserved for you as Jongho's assistant, which he rarely lets her do. You know how he is."

Of course she did. More than anyone she knew what her husband was like.

"Well long story short like her dirty rags that she calls skirts, it's quite obvious she's trying to get in the boss' pants and we're all surprised he hasn't fired her yet. It's more than clear he's not interested either, I mean come on. It's Choi Jongho, he only looks at a woman or man to criticize them. I don't think he's capable of feeling romantically inclined towards anyone."

Y/N held her head down, pretending to skim through some of the papers to hide the giggle that was threatening to come out her mouth. She honestly found it hard not to laugh when others talked about Jongho like that. It was funny to her.

"So I take it I should be careful of her trying to take my place?" Y/N snickered amusedly, and Yeosang let out a dry laugh as well.

"Please Y/N. We all know no one will ever take your place. You're indispensable here, especially to the big guy up there."

He pointed a finger towards the ceiling.

"Speaking of which, don't keep him waiting. You know how he hates people wasting his time." He made quotation signals with his fingers while rolling his eyes.

Giving her a hug and proper welcome greeting, Yeosang watched her leave, reminding her to show him pictures of her baby when she got the chance which she happily agreed to share with him.

Coming back up to the main floor, she made sure to smile warmly at all her coworkers, a gesture that would hopefully calm their nerves a little for the upcoming meeting, which seemed to be working. They knew if she was there at least Jongho would be a little less terrifying than what he usually was. As she walked by the cubicles, she paused in her steps when she saw that a certain desk was empty, its occupant missing. Looking at the nametag, her tongue poked against her cheek.

"Mingi?" She turned to the nearest person to her, the tall male looking up from his screen to pay her his full attention.

"Where's Hyunjoo?"

Mingi didn't answer and instead pointed over towards the direction of Jongho's office.

"No doubt trying to suck his dick. That hoe."

Both her and Mingi looked over at the coworker next to him.

"Wooyoung!" Mingi chastised him.

"What? Fire me for speaking the truth." He grumbled as he continued his task of stapling a stack of papers together.

Mingi shot her an apologetic look but Y/N quickly brushed it off. Something told her that she was needed someplace else anyways. Her instincts were never wrong. Peeking into the office, she witnessed in disgust as Hyunjoo ran a finger down Jongho's torso. He looked visibly uncomfortable, swallowing hard as he tried to back away from her slowly.

"Typical of him." She thought to herself. "Acting all high and mighty like he's not afraid of anyone or anything yet when a woman throws herself at him, he cowers like a little baby."

When she saw Hyunjoo press her body against Jongho's, she knew it was time to step in. Slamming the door open, her face had a glaring scowl that was quite the contrast to her usually friendly demeanor. Only few people had ever seen it and it truly shook them to the core, even more than Jongho himself since they grew used to his anger. But Y/N? They desperately avoided incurring her wrath, even if it was such a rare sight to see. And it was producing an instant effect as Hyunjoo immediately backed away from Jongho, the latter already bracing himself for a lecture from her.

"Hyunjoo......I believe your station is right out there." She pointed behind her.

Hyunjoo nodded even though it was a statement not a question.

"So why are you not there?" Her foot tapped impatiently on the floor.

The poor girl apologized and quickly sped out of the office, like a puppy with its tail tucked in between their legs. Once she was out, Y/N shut the door behind her and then looked over at Jongho, piercing daggers into him with her stare as she took slow and careful steps towards him.

"Well.....guess I should probably thank you for getting me out of that-"

Jongho let out a tiny squeak when Y/N grabbed him by his collar and pulled his face close to hers.

"I'm gone for half a year and there's already a skank trying to take my place?" She was fuming, eyes burning a hole into his face and Jongho wasn't going to lie, he was always attracted more to her when she got angry.

"Baby, darling..." He cooed at her, hands going to her hips to rub circles around them in an effort to appease her.

"Don't you 'darling' me Choi Jongho. Tell me, did you enjoy having your little pet rub herself on you?" She demanded as she took his hands off her and slammed her own on the desk behind him, effectively trapping him and keeping him from moving.

"I- No! Of course not!" He exclaimed in indignation.

Y/N scoffed dryly as she reached a hand up and placed it on his chest, mimicking the earlier actions of her rival, except whereas Jongho recoiled from Hyunjoo's touch before, it was now different as he began melting into Y/N's touch.

"I don't really believe you, I think you would have fucked her if given the chance." She didn't really believe that sentence herself but she wanted to spark a reaction out of Jongho.

"Now why would I do that when I have the most perfect woman right in front of me? When she's everything and all I want?" He let out a hum as he ghosted his lips over hers, wanting to desperately kiss her at that moment.

"Oh really now? I'm all you want?" She giggled in a mocking tone as her teeth caught onto his bottom lip and tugged on them slightly.

"Fuck!- yes. You're all I want. You're the love of my life, the object of my desires, the mother of my son..."

Cupping her cheeks, he tenderly kissed her, lips perfectly molding against hers as he tried to convey his adoration for her. When he pulled back, he stayed only a few centimeters away as he nuzzled his nose against hers.

"My wife." He whispered those two words so soft as if they were a solemn prayer not meant to be heard by anyone else.

Although his words brought a sense of warmth and fuzziness inside her, Y/N was not about to let Jongho off the hook so easily. He needed to be reminded of something else.

"You're forgetting something else Mr. CEO...... I'm not just your wife."

Jongho grunted when she suddenly pulled him by his belt loops, her knee coming up to rub against his crotch which was starting to swell up.

"I'm your boss."

He watched with amazement as she dropped down to her knees, her fingers making quick movements to unbuckle his belt. Stiffening when her hands squeezed at his bulge, Jongho heaved out a sigh.

"Don't tease me." He slightly whimpered to her.

Quirking an eyebrow up, she sent him a seductive smirk.

"Wasn't planning on it."

Taking hold of the top of his trousers, she made sure to pull his briefs down with them, freeing his hardened cock that was already leaking at the tip. Running her thumb across his head, she looked up to find her husband flushing a crimson red hue, a soft chortle escaping his throat as he realized what she was doing. Pressing his bulbous tip against her lips, she coated them with a warm gloss before pushing them inside the barrier of her teeth, raking the underside of it. That motion alone already had Jongho's thighs shaking. Her tongue swirled around his shaft, giving the head a subtle suckle. At last, she opened her mouth more widely and drove him deeper into her throat until she was releasing a choking sound, a trail of moisture spilling out from the corner of her mouth. Pulling back, she hummed around his length to further intensify the sensation.

"Oh my god." Jongho moaned as his hands tried to reach towards the back of her head, which were quickly slapped away by her.

"Nuh uh my love, we're playing with my rules right now."

Jongho had to steady himself by gripping the desk behind him, resisting the urge to buck himself up into his wife's throat. He let out sharp gasps and groans when she gave him a particularly long slurp, gurgling melodies practically coming out her mouth. He filled her throat to the brim, his dripping organ stroking against her tongue each time she moved it to and fro. Instinctively parting her knees, she reached beneath her skirt to touch herself, finding herself to be dripping as well. Raising her eyes upwards, she saw Jongho's head thrown back, mouth open and spilling out melodic hums of bliss and lust as his pelvis began to thrust faster against her face, chasing his upcoming release with a determined intensity. Feeling his thighs tighten and his cock twitch, she knew it was only a matter of time before his hot liquid would spurt into her throat. Wanting to please him, her mouth began a mix of lapping, sucking and licking at his length, soaking his flesh until long pools of saliva came trickling down her chin and onto her neck. Her mouth kept moving back and forth, heightening his excitement until he began pumping his climax into her, his seed flowing down her throat which she swallowed generously.

"Oh fuck! Oh God!" Jongho cried out, not caring to keep his voice down as he had just had one of the most exhilarating orgasms after months of only having his hand to keep him company during those needy moments.

Pulling out of his wife's mouth, her lips glistened with a blend of her spit and of his cum. Getting up from the ground, she pulled out her hand that had during this time stayed between her legs, her arousal glowing on the tip of her fingers. Holding them up to her husband's face, she smeared some of it across his lip.

"Suck."

His mouth parted instantly as he graciously accepted her fingers into his wet cavern, licking off the sweet juices from her core. She watched him with utter fascination, always loving how he was always so pliant with her every command. Once sure he had licked her clean of anymore secretions, she pulled her hand out of his mouth and quickly replaced it with her own. Their tongues danced around each other as their arms wrapped around the other's body. Pent up desire and weakened passions were flowing through every touch and caress of their hands. They both realized just how much they had been missing each other's bodies, forgetting about their needs up until that moment. Pulling away with reluctance to catch her breath, Y/N looked up at the already disheveled looking male in front of her and smirked.

"Hop on top of the desk.......Sir." She whispered that last word in his ear, biting down at his earlobe.

His shivering body did not go unnoticed by her and she was more than delighted to watch as he practically cleared the desk, letting papers and other utensils scatter on the floor as he sat up on top of it. Reaching back inside her skirt, Y/N dragged her now soiled panties down her legs and set them off to the side, already knowing what she would do with them later. Climbing on top of Jongho's lap, she took hold of his cock one more time and began to pump him slowly, getting him worked up once more, his soft tender skin becoming erect and hard once again. Noticing the way his eyes peered at her slight cleavage, she used her free hand to unbutton her blouse before pulling her bra cups down enough for her breasts to pop out. Jongho swore he could cum at just the sight of them, nipples poking out and gleaming with the hints of milk oozing out.

"Suck on them. Drink mommy's milk up. After all, they're for daddy too." She encouraged him with a giggle.

His mouth devoured her breasts. He gnawed at the stiff buds of her nipples and suckled against her until her sweet nectar began trickling onto his tongue. Y/N arched her back and began spilling out erotic moans, teeth biting down occasionally at her lip as she couldn't handle the overwhelming pleasure of having her husband feed on her breast milk. Jongho was enjoying himself as well. She was moist to the point of being succulent. His tongue slipped against her fleshy mounds and he could feel himself choking on the rich taste she produced. The more he worked on sampling her flavor, the more she sighed and panted as she pushed her chest more out to him. All throughout this, her hand never stopped pumping at his length.

Jongho whined when she suddenly pushed his face off her chest, a tiny trail of milk being left on his lip. Gripping his base more firmly, she placed him right at her aching entrance and sunk down on him with no warning, causing his breath to hitch.

"I'm gonna fuck you Jongho. Fuck you til you're a crying mess to remind you who this dick belongs to. And you're gonna take it like the good slave you are. Got it?"

He nodded his head furiously, wanting nothing than to feel her take advantage of him, use him as she pleased. With an evil smile, she reached for the discarded panties she had momentarily forgotten about.

"Oh...and I guess we better keep quiet. I know I can keep it down. But you? You need a little help."

Jongho spewed out pornographic sounds as she stuffed his mouth with her panties. He could taste her sex on his tongue but he had no time to fully enjoy it when she suddenly began to bounce herself on his cock. When he tried to grip at her hips, she caught his wrists and slammed them down on the desk, his back hitting against the hard wood, but he didn't care. He was too immersed on the excruciating pleasure of having her tightness press around his cock. The desk underneath them rocked with every one of their sinful movements, no doubt alerting anyone within a few feet near the doorway, perhaps even further down. And that's what Y/N wanted. She wanted to make sure all the people outside finally understood that Choi Jongho was hers, hers only and no one else's. No one could ever take him away from her because she had him wrapped around her finger.

"Look at you, you look so pathetic. My dirty panties in your mouth, my hands keeping you from moving as I bounce myself on your cock."

Once again she felt the familiar twitch of his head warning her he was going to bust at any moment. It only fueled her to grind down on him harder.

"Who would have thought the powerful and mighty CEO would be nothing more than a little slut? Eager to get his dick wet enough to bend down to his assistant. You were so fucking easy my love."

Her mocking and teasing only helped in having him spasm underneath her, his orgasm ripping through his body in such an extreme manner he thought he would go insane. But Y/N didn't let him fully come down from his high when she began rutting herself once more on him, this time with more force and vigor that had Jongho crying out. His eyes began to became filled with tears, muffled pleading incoherent due to being gagged by her underwear. Before he could even comprehend what was happening, another orgasm was being forced out of him, his seed overflowing from inside Y/N's core that it began to cascade down into her inner thighs, droplets even falling onto the furniture underneath them.

"Even with your mouth occupied you still manage to be such a loud brat, I bet this entire floor can hear you. What? Is that what you want? Want all your employees to hear as I fuck you like my personal sex doll?"

Jongho's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he heard her words. He hated admitting it but having her degrade him, talk down to him and reduce him to nothing more than a pleasure toy never failed to make his toes curl.

"Maybe you do and that's fine. I want all of them, especially that little skank to hear as I ruin you. Let them know who's really in charge here."

Y/N's movements became more sloppy as she felt her own climax approaching, her walls squeezing unbearably down on Jongho's dick. Her breasts were jiggling with every move, adding more sensuality to the already wicked image of her riding her husband's body.

"Can you cum once more for mommy? I know you can. Daddy can definitely give mommy his cum one more time right?"

Jongho nodded, grumbling something that was not understandable. With a prideful look, Y/N raked her hands across his chest.

"Fill my pussy up once more love. Knock me up with another one of your kids. Wanna get pregnant once more by you. Fuck!"

She cursed loudly as she began shattering on top of him, chest heaving as she released her juices onto his thick cock, which was also pumping out the last remnants of his seed and coating her walls profusely. Jongho fell into a spiraling oblivion of pleasure, unable to feel anything but his throbbing dick pulsating around her heat as it milked him out of every last drop of his cum. He was in heaven, even if it was a sinful act they just committed.

Y/N let out a hiss as she pulled out of him, a long trail of sticky cum pouring onto the desk and even dropping onto the carpet. Her legs felt wobbly as she tried to walk, the numbness in her feet soon turning into a pins and needles sensation. Taking her panties off his mouth and stuffing them into his pocket, Jongho quickly fixed himself, zipping his pants back up and getting up just in time to catch his darling wife before she tumbled onto the floor

"It's ok my dear. I got you." He sweetly smiled at her and rubbed at her sore lower abdomen.

"I love you." She suddenly said.

Tilting her chin up, he kissed her temple.

"I love you more, so much more." He confessed.

"Enough to let me take the rest of the day off and go back home?" She made puppy eyes at him.

Jongho bursted out laughing at her question, nuzzling his nose against the crook of her neck.

"You're so funny babe.....nice try but no. We still have a meeting today." He reminded her, which earned him a huffing spouse.

"Have I ever mentioned I hate my boss?" She nudged him away, to which he snorted.

"Darling let's be real here. You're the real boss here. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

⊱⋅ ──────────── ⋅⊰

[natromanxoff]

The Vancouver Sun - April 14, 2006

Credits to Royal Blue and Queencuttings.com

Classic arena rock makes a comeback

Paul Rodgers had called it two worlds converging, and he pretty much summed up the concert he presided over last night's with Queen at the PNE Pacific Coliseum. He appeared under a spotlight at the end of the catwalk, singing Reaching Out a cappella. The curtain fell away, guitarist Brian May appeared and the place exploded with the blistering Tie Your Mother Down.

Rodgers is a super-fit hard body who looks about a decade younger than his 56 years. And he's got powerful pipes too, handling the Queen repertoire as deftly as his own, such as the swingingly soulful Can't Get Enough of Your Love.

It was a thrill to see the big presence that is the long, curly haired May, who shared the spotlight with Rodgers almost throughout. May is one of rock 'n' roll's greatest guitarists after all, and Rodgers knows what it's like to work with the best.

As promised, he's too great a musician to want to attempt an impersonation of Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991.

Unlike the Doors of the 21st Century show that played at the same venue last summer, Queen with Paul Rodgers is not a case of a veteran band needing to replace its frontman with a look-alike that sounds-alike.

Rodgers doesn't look or sound like Queen's famous frontman Freddie Mercury, which was just fine with the mixed ages audience. Nobody would have come expecting a straight ahead Queen concert. This version is really a super-group, a retrospective combo of Queen and Rodgers' legendary Bad Company and Free.

Because of Rodgers, May and drummer Roger Taylor's presence, it was one of those concerts elevated by an air of the momentous occasion, and not only because their tour was drawing to a close. All three are capable of generating immense excitement through sheer rock 'n' roll legend power alone, and their cachet was palpable. May simply stood out on the catwalk and caused the place to vibrate with adulation.

"We haven't been here for like 85 years," he joked. He then paid tribute to Mercury, the first mention of the evening. May sat on a stool and played an acoustic solo version of Love Of My Life, a moment so sweetly touching that it stirred the audience into a singalong which was just fine with the against a sea of Bic lighters.

Rodgers raised the roof with a full-on rock out on Feel Like Making Love. Taylor got his own spotlight performance on drums, including a passionately sung I'm In Love With My Car.

Taylor continued on vocal duty for Radio Ga Ga, for which Rodgers returned to the stage and finished the song.

One of the show-stopping moments came near the end of the show, when the band surprised everyone with Under Pressure, on which Taylor and Rodgers traded vocal parts and May spectacularly handled the falsetto. It was worth the price of admission alone, right there. But this turned out to be only the beginning of a spectacular finale. Rodgers continued with The Show Must Go On, the song Mercury never got the chance to perform live. Rodgers was riding this one to the fullest. He owns that song now, his voice is showcased to perfection on this rock tragedy, which also utilizes the signature Queen backing harmonies. Of course, the most exquisitely touching moment had to be when Mercury made an extended appearance on the video screen for Bohemian Rhapsody — even taking a bow at the song's end. The sight of a smiling May walking out onto the catwalk with his guitar as he joined his old friend's voice was, well, to use a tired but accurate cliche, spine-chilling.

That performance brought the entire room to its feet, hands clapping, feet stomping, air thick with dry ice haze and relentless screams. After a brief, incredibly loud pause for an encore, they returned for We Will Rock You, Free hit All Right Now and We Are the Champions.

So great was the shared feeling for the power of musically pure, tasetefully revisited old rock 'n' roll, that it may go down in history as the night that arena rock officially made its comeback. At least for those of us who didn't experience it the first time around.

KERRY GOLD

THE VANCOUVER SUN

[dreamdropxoxo]

hello, there! I just read the prompt 27 for your #50kisses, and I REALLY need a second part SO I was thinking about numbers 9, 29 or 45 would be VERY GOOD, what do you think? btw, I'm in love with u 🥰

Hi! That’s a coincidence because I was actually already writing more to this drabble. Thank you so much! ILY too ❤️ Your continuing support makes me very happy! 😍

I added some scenes and extended others to part one. You can find the whole work (including the complete second part) here.

I post the first part of the sequel here (the rest is just smut xD). I used prompt 45 for this. I hope you like it 🥰

The prompt is from the list here, where you find an overview over all my answers. (Original post of the prompt list here). 

45. Kisses exchanged as they move around, hitting the edges of tables or nearly tripping over things on the floor before making it to the sofa, or bed.

After the kiss, Damen knew he couldn't wait any longer.

They played another round, where Laurent asked Nicaise who out of all of them he liked best and Nicaise flushed scarlet red and cursed him out before admitting that it was Nikandros.

Which then led to Nikandros gaping at him and Nicaise declaring that they were all assholes, the game stupid and he would need a drink before he stomped off.

 Laurent looked very pleased and Aimeric sighed. "Do you have to provoke him every single time?"

Vannes laughed and clapped him on the back. "Come on, Aimeric. Don't pretend you wouldn't have done the exact same thing. It's good that it's out in the open. Now our earnest Akielon can decide on his next course of action. He can have his crisis over their age gap in peace while Nicaise boils with anger and as soon as both of them calm down, they can talk."

Laurent smirked and stood. "I like your thinking, Vannes." With these words, he made his way across the room.

Damen scrambled to follow him, ignoring Lazar's and Vannes' taunts, because they were really not important at all.

He wrapped his hand around Laurent's wrist to stop him. "Follow me, we need to talk."

Laurent grinned up to him. "If 'talk' is used as a synonym for 'having sex' then heed my words, Damen. I was completely serious when I told you that I wouldn't just sleep with you without a date."

This elicited a groan out of Damen just the image of Laurent in is bed was enough. He wanted him badly. But he wouldn't rush things. Not now, because he wanted more from Laurent than just a night of passionate sex.

"It isn't." He dragged him towards the second west wing of the house where his rooms were. Laurent followed with a curious glance around. He had never been here before Damen was aware of that.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Laurent asked as soon as Damen stopped walking. They were in his study, the room filled with books and records and Laurent was clearly intrigued by what he could see from the shelves.

"I wanted to ask you out on a date. Would you get dinner with me tomorrow?"

Laurent smiled. It was soft and warm, and Damen felt the tingles it evoked in his fingertips. "I would like that." Then he stepped closer and reached up to trail a fingertip over Damen's jaw. The touch was electrifying and exhilarating, and Damen wanted to haul him against his chest and kiss him until they both wouldn't know their names anymore.

-

Two weeks later

They stumbled through the dark. Damen didn't care, he only felt Laurent's lips on his own, his silky hair in his fist and his moving back under the palm of his hand.

Then he stubbed his toe. "Fuck- Ouch, damn."

Laurent laughed, the sound still as enchanting as the first time Damen heard him, and dragged his lips back to his mouth.

Damen was walking backwards towards his bedroom. At least, he thought this was the direction, but somehow it seemed as if someone had moved all the furniture just to pose another hurdle before he could finally get Laurent naked and panting under him.

Tonight, Laurent had taken him out to dinner and then the theater and it had been perfect. It had been their fourth official date and although they had finished date number three with very satisfying orgasms on both ends, they hadn't had penetrative sex yet or seen each other naked or touched each other's cocks.

But it seemed as if this would change soon. Gods, Damen hoped so.

Laurent stumbled into him, tripping over something on the floor. Damen wrapped his arms around him and kissed him again. "Fuck, I want you."

"You have me. But really, I would prefer a bed for these activities, if you don't mind." Laurent's teeth gleamed white when he grinned, and Damen laughed.

"And then he has standards. Unbelievable," he teased, and Laurent bit his collarbone. "I don't know about that. I mean I'm going out with you, don't I?" The blonde's breath was hot against his throat when he spoke the words and Damen shuddered. "My standards, as you call them, can't be that high."

He had to draw him back in. He pressed their mouths together and traced Laurent's bottom lip with his tongue.

"I assure you, I can live up to your standards just fine," he murmured and pressed his hips against Laurent's. The blond gasped against his lips just as Damen bumped against his door. He felt the edge of the doorway dig into his arm. He blindly fumbled in the dark and finally found the doorhandle. Pushing open his bedroom door, he flickered on the soft night light before dragging Laurent back in.

Read more on AO3.

[danwhobrowses]

WWE Wrestlemania 37 Day 2 - Review

And we are back! Wrestlemania hit hard with Day 1, good shit and big moments fitting of the show

So let's see if Day 2 can match up to it, lots of big matches on the card, we'll see how it goes.

See the Night 1 Review Here

Spoilers for Night 2 and References to Night 1 included, you have been Warned

Pre-Show Like the last Night, no matches on the Pre-Show, just drivel and promos. So the same criticisms really, Lawler saying 'Wrestlerainia' doesn't make it any better than when Cole said it, his attempts at jokes were awful even when they were his material. When they recapped Night 1 though they should've shown footage of Ford celebrating with Bianca rather than just say it - a Picture says a Thousand Words. Standard Promo Package lies apply too, 'Rhea Ripley has brutalized everyone she's come through' ...except Io Shirai and Raquel Gonzalez, similar went down for the second half of HOF because Great Khali is only there to pander to India - also what did the Mayor of Knox County ever do for WWE? Sonya also popped up again, strangely to talk about the Nigerian Drum Fight - which Booker T talked about the most, if I wanted to watch a bunch of old dudes talk over Sonya Deville I'd be drinking bleach. She also stuck for Sami vs KO, and barely talked in that too.

Also the promo they had about Kofimania was rough to watch, considering how it ended and how Kofi fared on Night 1, all this to promote a cheesy Cricket commercial about him not touching the ground...

The 24/7 title even got a continuation of ads, but it was more a 'to be concluded on Youtube' - honestly the belt has run its course, Truth has ran out of jokes and it's been reduced to an Old Spice ad crossover.

Main Card Starting once more with 'America the Beautiful', replacing the boob window with a bright yellow hat. It was fine, as a Brit 'America the Beautiful' does nothing for me.

They then did the same intro package as night 1 just with some different clips, skippable. And the shoddy camera switching is still there.

Hogan and Titus came out again this time in pirate outfits, there was noticeable boos in Hogan's bits with cheesy pirate puns. In the end the host concept was wasted on them. Reminder that names in Bold are those I predicted to win.

Randy Orton def. The Fiend [w/Alexa Bliss] (Pinfall via RKO) Orton opened night 2 in white tights and a fairy long-winded entrance, the melted Fiend then walked through a corridor of fire LEDs as CGI burned away into his original Fiend look...but Alexa's Firefly Funhouse music hit. Cutesy Bliss approached a giant Jack in a Box commentary act like just 'appeared'. The Fiend arose from the box in a combat vest, posed then dove right at Orton. Red lights cover the match throughout, Uranage and a neck snap started the match as the Fiend continued to do his spooky thing, it looks like he was gonna set up the punt but Randy rolls out of the ring. Randy hits the back body slam on the Announcer's Desk but it's no sold into the Mandible Claw, rope break and apron DDT from Orton only staggers the Fiend but rebounding his neck off the ropes grounds him momentarily. Orton tries to methodically beat down the Fiend but the monster hits back hard, a missed Senton and a senton follows some head kicks and another apron DDT, he sets up for an RKO but the Fiend gets the Mandible Claw (which commentary no sold even though he has won titles with that move), he sets up Sister Abigail but the ring posts pyro like Kane and before Fiend is Bliss with new makeup, dripping in black goo she extends her hand to the Fiend from the jack in the box, RKO and...3!? Post match Fiend and Alexa stare down, the electricity shorts out and both members disappear.

That's it? That's what we got? The Fiend was burned alive and survived but 1 RKO does it? The Fiend no sold so much in his career and one RKO felled him. The fuck man, this was as bad as the last time these two went at mania, you'd think like the brilliant Firefly Funhouse Match last year we'd get some course correction. But nope, Fiend's story is just being taken over by Alexa and this daft-ass black goo stuff, I don't get the motivation either. Fiend helped Alexa straddle Orton for a 3 count at Fastlane, talked all big for months about how the Fiend was going to obliterate Orton and it lasted about 8 minutes, the entrances lasted longer! Last year the Fiend was great with a cinematic match, but WWE have somehow managed to systematically destroy one of their most inventive characters time and time again, not a good start.

Backstage once again Bayley gets buried by the Hosts and this time Eric Bischoff as she tried to push Ding Dong Hello and got jealous of them talking up Bianca vs Sasha from last night.

WWE Women's Tag Championship - Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax (c) def. Natalya & Tamina (Ref Stoppage Submission by Baszler on Natalya via Kirufuda Clutch) Not a promising sign to follow the opener with this match, the challengers entered quickly with Natalya having a slightly altered attire. Jax and Baszler came in with red, black and gold. Natalya and Baszler start the match with some mat wrestling, Natalya almost gets the Sharpshooter so Shayna tags Nia in, Nia shoves Natalya and demands that Tamina - her old tag partner - be tagged in. Both trade headbutts, Tamina almost lifts Nia but fails, she tags in Natalya for the double back body drop and drops the blind tagged Shayna onto her partner. Natalya tries a Sharpshooter but is schoolboy'd for 2, Natalya retaliates with a German Suplex, whipping Shayna into a Clothesline, then launch pad into a superkick. As Shayna strikes back an advantage she stiffs Natalya in the mouth with a knee (legitimately, there was a picture of a welt before) Nia brawls with Tamina outside, hitting a powerslam outside of the ring. Another knee strike floors Natalya for 2 as Shayna works on the leg, kneebar and then an ankle stomp, Nia follows up with a Legdrop over the injured leg, another kneebar and then combos of swing/knee strike and irish whip/powerslam. Nia runs into the turnbuckle as Natalya floors Nia with multiple lariat attempts, Nia though hits back with a Chokeslam/Powerbomb thing they called a Spinebuster but the pin is broken by Tamina. Tamina gets the hot tag against Shayna, Baszler tries to weaken the leg, then the Kirufuda clutch but Tamina powers into a Samoan Drop. She goes up for a Superfly Splash but Shayna kicks her, Nia looks to do an Avalanche Samoan Drop but Natalya pulls Tamina away, she lariats Baszler but Nia hits the crossbody on both opponents for 2, favouring the knee after. Talking trash to Tamina she gets hit with a slam, Nia's repositioning couldn't be missed by the wide shot as Tamina goes for the Superfly Splash, but nobody home. Natalya's tagged and she goes for Baszler in the corner, Baszler counters and blind tags as Nia lifts Natalya up, but she wriggles out, floors Baszler again and sets the Sharpshooter on the now not legal Nia. Baszler cinches in the Kirufuda clutch and the match is over.

The fact that this was more eventful than the opener speaks volumes. It was a match, I don't think there's many people who feel like Nia and Shayna deserve this spot. Shayna was great in NXT but she's not doing herself any favours stiffing her opponents, Nia's rubbing off in a bad way. I had the challengers to win because I'm bored of them still being champions - only briefly giving it to Asuka and Charlotte so Charlotte can add that to her list - they should've either dropped to NXT or let the Riott Squad win, there was nothing in this match to invest in.

Rey Mysterio is used to promote 2K22. A surprise since we thought WWE and 2K's partnership was done, I am a huge fan of Rey so it was nice to see, much nicer if he was actually on Wrestlemania and getting a push...

Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn [w/Logan Paul] (Pinfall via Stunner) JBL is the guest commentator for this...for some reason. Sami struts to the ring in dark green trying to pull off a Che Guevara look, a mini tantrum at the ramp before heading to the ring and grabbing the mic to introduce Logan Paul, who walks to the ring as Sami dances super embarrassingly in the ring. Owens then charges into the ring with vigor to get the crowd amped up. The bell rings, Sami tries the Helluva Kick and gets hit with a Pop-Up Powerbomb. KO punishes Sami in the start, dropping Sami gut-first on the ropes, corner clothesline and Cannonball as the camera awkwardly keeps cutting to Logan Paul. Sami gets a suplex on the apron to get back some momentum as he demands for Owens to be counted out, Owens rolls in at 8 but Sami continues to club at KO's head. Cole calls a Michinoku Driver a Blue Thunder Bomb but this time gets called out on it, pinfall is 2 and Sami gets into the ref's face. Attempted Superplex leads to a fistfight in the corner, Owens headbutts him off and Frog Splashes for 2, tries the Pop-Up powerbomb, Sami leapfrogs, Sami tries the Michinoku Driver but Owens reverses it into a meaty Pumphandle Neckbreaker for 2. He goes for the Package Piledriver but Sami hits the corner exploder, tries for the Helluva Kick but misses, KO tries the Stunner but it's reversed into a Blue Thunder Bomb for 2 as well. Two Exploders and a Brainbuster for 2 frustrates Sami further, brawling in the corner, he tries for a Superplex but gets hit with an Avalanche twisting Fisherman's Suplex. KO hits Sami with some corner clotheslines but as he runs to bounce off the other corner he runs into a Helluva Kick, Sami catching his collapsed friend as he sets it up again, 2 Superkicks from Owens and a Stunner finishes Sami off as Logan Paul applauds. Post-Match Logan checks on Sami and congratulates Owens, which Sami takes umbrage with. Logan shoves Sami as he storms off, Logan holds KO's arm in the air to boos, cheers start to rumble as Paul is hit with a stunner to a pop.

KO and Sami rarely disappoints, I don't think they really got to get out of second gear but it was still a good match. The Logan Paul stuff though was stupid and unnecessary, sure we got him to eat a Stunner but the ends don't justify the means. Also why was JBL there?

Backstage Riddle scooters across to Great Khali, stoner comedy doesn't land as Khali no sells it, RVD shows up to wish Riddle luck. Segment was meh.

US Championship - Sheamus def. Riddle (c) (Pinfall via Brogue Kick TITLE CHANGE!) Sheamus arrives blinding white but no special gear, Riddle scooters down in an Evil Knievel jacket, hologram doves with pirate hats and eyepatches adding to the cheese. Sheamus uses his power to start, but Riddle comes back with some chops, Sheamus hits back in each of his attempts; knee to the gut, then driving Riddle's sleeper in the corner, then a reversal swinging slam. Irish Curse gets 2, Riddle tries a Tarantula Armbreaker but Sheamus hits his Beats of Bodhran, he goes up high but Riddle reverses with a Spanish Fly Belly to Belly on the top turnbuckle. Riddle rallies with strikes, hits a Pele Kick and a Senton, to slight Goldberg Riddle hits the Jackhammer on the second time of trying but only gets 2. He tries the Bro Derek but Sheamus rolls back, Riddle kicks Sheamus away but in his slingshot lands into a Brogue Kick, 1, 2, No. Alabama Slam, 1, 2, No. He tries a White Noise on the Apron but gets pushed into the Ring Post and then German's on the Apron. An Apron PK and Moonsault keeps Sheamus down enough for Riddle to hit the Twisting Moonsault, he locks in the Reverse armbar but it's reversed into a deadlift powerbomb, Riddle then latches the sleeper for the rope break. Sheamus tries again for a Top Rope White Noise, Riddle tries to Sunset Bomb but fails, Riddle tries the Spanish Fly Belly to belly again but Sheamus grabs him. A stumble means that the two hop off the Turnbuckle for a normal White Noise, Sheamus goes up with a Knee Drop but it only hits 2. Sheamus calls for the Brogue, gets rolled up but catches the Knee strike, Riddle dodges the lariat, goes for a Springboard Moonsault but lands into the Brogue, 1, 2, 3. Post match Riddle is bleeding from the mouth, he angrily stares at the gleeful Sheamus who leaves with the title.

A good title match and much deserved from Sheamus, who has delivered in many matches on the later stages of of the Wrestlemania year, shame he was on the wrong brand to complete the set, he only needs the IC title to win everything. Riddle doesn't do it for me in this gimmick (which as I gather is mostly himself stoned) but credit where it's due, he put a good performance and that was a strong finish.

An odd package followed where Triple H handed Bad Bunny a golden briefcase with a skull microphone, which he opened atop his truck. The briefcase says Tour 2022 to promote his future tour.

Nigerian Drum Fight for the IC Title - Apollo Crews def. Big E (c) (Pinfall via Dabba Kato Chokeslam TITLE CHANGE!) The promo really hurt my ears to hear Apollo's accent devolve into this foreign heel gimmick. Wale though performs to enter Big E, more questionable camera cuts to E and the Fireworks. E's jacket represented Feeding Tampa Bay as a nice nod to the food bank, Apollo came out in Nigerian colors with his scarf and Spear. Commentary's line saying 'this isn't about percussion' falls kinda flat when there's drums around the ring.

Both men roll out to grab Kendo sticks, trading blows which E gets the power advantage over. E grabs the giant cymbal but Apollo knees it away, hits E with some more Kendo Shots back into the ring. You can hear the WAFT of Apollo's missed shot as E knocks him away and then does the out-of-ring spear. E sets up the lower steps near the apron but gets hit with a DVD on the apron, pinfall gets 2. Crews grabs the top half of the steps, lays E on the one he sets up and throws the other steps at it, but E rolls away just in time. On the apron Apollo hits a big boot, but on the second attempt falls into an Uranage onto the flat steps (which Cole called an Uranage Suplex for some reason...), after some trash talking E gets a table set up in the ring near a corner. Apollo kicks back and flurries E with a Kendo Stick, he rolls E onto the table to go for the frog splash, but E rolls away sending Apollo crashing through the table. E hits the Big Ending, but Dabba Kato/Babatunde in a military jacket breaks the pin, a sorta Samoan Spike and a Chokeslam leads to him dragging Apollo onto E for the win. Apollo gets a lot of unnecessary pyro and shakes his new comrade's hand.

Bit short that, the gimmick didn't really come into play. I mean, I'm glad Apollo gets a chance to hold another title and E can look towards the top of the card but I don't think this was really the way to do it. It didn't need to be a 'Nigerian Drum Fight', could've just been a No DQ, Dabba Kato gets his third repackaging since Greatest Royal Rumble probably as Apollo's 'General' which is kinda no different to what AJ and Omos are doing just with more foreign heel-isms. But yeah, bit disappointing on the means of it but the outcome was right, just...kinda stop faking a thick accent it's getting you nowhere acting like you're on the set of Black Panther.

Again we look back at Night 1, this time with minor clips of Ford congratulating his wife, but should've been a segment on its own rather than a flash-through recap. Stone Cold Mania 38 Texas promo and the HOF promo they did on this Pre-Show happens again which is unnecessary but the hologram of a ghost ship was cool, the HOFers come out and Kane gets the entrance, he does his pyro and that's it - that's how you do it, Hogan.

Raw Women's Championship - Rhea Ripley def. Asuka (c) (Pinfall via Riptide TITLE CHANGE!) THIS IS MY BRUTALITY! performed live as Rhea wastes no time coming out, leather biker outfit this time, no Vegeta costume. Silly camera cuts to Rhea and the Singer AGAIN though, stop it WWE it's distracting. Asuka dances down the ring in a bit of a Jason mask, but the camera keeps cutting to Rhea which is off-putting. Also commentary on 'she has never seen Rhea Ripley up close and personal', they were in a tag match together a week and a half ago and in Survivor Series 2019 she faced her in Team NXT as part of Team RAW, seriously WWE...

Asuka starts hot with her athleticism, dropkicks, rebounds and rollups met with more shoddy camera cuts, Rhea leaves the ring to take a moment as Asuka taunts her, she baits Asuka out of the ring as she rolls in but her leg is caught, pop-up knee strike returns Rhea to the ring but she misses the hip attack, gifting Rhea the slamming facebuster for 2. Rhea wears the champion down and taunts her with leg scissors and hits a couple of clotheslines, Asuka reverses the third into an ankle lock but Rhea rolls into a Release German Suplex. Rhea grinds away at Asuka's back and sets up for a super German but Asuka elbows her away and lands the Missile Dropkick, Release German, Hip Attack, a strike combo, another Hip Attack but it only gets 2. Asuka goes up top but is dropkicked to the outside, Asuka tries a PK on the apron but is caught into an Electric Chair position and dropped chin-first onto the apron. Trying to roll Asuka back into the ring, the champion returns to hit a DDT from the apron to the outside, after breaking the count Asuka only gets 2, stomps at Rhea but her running knee gets caught, Rhea stomps at Asuka and sets up the Texas Cloverleaf, Asuka rolls out and into the Armbar but Rhea swings Asuka into the bottom turnbuckle. Deadlift suplex back into the ring for 2, Asuka reverses a waistlock into two armbar variations and then an Asuka Lock, Rhea rolls back for 2 and the hold to break but gets gutted with kicks to the chest, Rhea demands more so Asuka runs to the ropes, Rhea catches her, Riptide, 3!

That finish came out of nowhere, which was not a good thing. We were having quite an enjoyable match which ended around the 15 minute mark, it wasn't short but the narrative wasn't quite there yet. I'm happy for Rhea, who I predicted to win but like Sasha/Bianca it came with the heavy heart. Like Sasha, Asuka has often been slighted especially at Wrestlemania, she deserves her moment too, especially Asuka who carried the Women for most of the Empty Arena era.

WWE recapped the opener which was a bad idea, Hogan and Titus thanked all the viewers at home and the fans but were interrupted by Bayley who demanded and got her pyro, then out came the Bella Twins. Bayley got a good zing by calling them Elmo but then Nikki slapped the mic away from her when she says 'John Cena isn't here tonight', Bellas said 'Ding Dong, Goodbye' and beat down Bayley. This was shite really, Bayley had been buried across 2 nights and her 'comeuppance' is the Bella Twins, not the woman beginning with B I was hoping for, and the John Cena comment was heavily forced, fans know they broke up ages ago Nikki has a kid with her husband who is not John Cena, fans aren't stupid WWE.

WWE then promoted 'Wrestlemania Backlash' for May 16th, a whole month away. They say it'll be a whole new season for WWE so I'm wondering if it's just a storyline reset...y'know how Wrestlemania is supposed to be, slapping Wrestlemania on other show names doesn't make it Wrestlemania-tier guys.

Universal Championship - Roman Reigns (c) [w/Paul Heyman & Jey Uso] def. Daniel Bryan and Edge (Pinfall on Edge and Bryan via Con-Chair-To) To the Main Event, one of the few storylines in Mania's card that was consistently good in build. Bryan comes out first, camera angles flashing during the YES! chants. Huge pops and smoke rage for Metalingus and Edge enters in white and Red (bookending with Orton), fireworks camera shots though. For once, Roman Reigns enters the Main Event without a chorus of deafening boos, but he takes his time to come out, in his red wreath flanked by Jey Uso and Heyman, cameras cutting to each opponent's faces a bit too much, especially to Bryan. Bad call not to bring in Justin Roberts to announce Edge either. Roman makes sure to hoist the belt while facing both his opponents before the bell.

Reigns starts by suckering Bryan and then going after Edge. He throws Bryan out of the ring where Jey superkicks him and sends him into the steps thanks to Triple Threat rules. Edge eats a superkick from Uso too when he's thrown out as Roman cleans up the announcer's table, as Edge is grabbed by Uso, Reigns is hit by Bryan's suicide dive but eats an Uso superkick, this gives Edge time to throw Uso into the steps, pinballing Reigns against the barricade and apron until bouncing off of the ring post. Edge then sets his sights on Uso, hitting a DDT on the steps to take him out of the equation, medical team swarm Uso as Heyman halfheartedly looks concerned. Edge chases Heyman away and enters the ring with Bryan - a moment which would've been sold better if the camera didn't cut to a close up of Roman alive and well on the outside. Bryan gets the Yes Kicks in the corner but his Super Rana is reversed into a sunset flip, Edge-o-matic but it's only 2. Roman comes back on the apron both men attempting to suplex the other, Bryan slides under Roman and cuts Roman's legs from under him - jawbreaking Edge on the ropes - he hits the Missile Dropkick on Edge, kips up and hits the uppercut, after dodging the lariat he tries to suicide dive Roman but he's caught by the champion and hit with a belly to belly suplex. Edge brings Roman to the ring but gets hit with a clothesline, Roman sets up the Superman Punch but Edge turns it into an Edgecution. He sets up the Spear but Roman knocks him down, Roman sets the Spear but it is reversed in a Sunset Flip, both men collide with spears to take each other out. During a wide shot Bryan goes up top, he lands a diving headbutt on Edge, then on Roman, he pins Roman but only gets 2. Yes Kicks to both men, Roman dodges one and pushes him towards Edge, but Bryan ducks the Lariat and hits the Buisaku Knee, Roman tries the Superman Punch but is kicked in the gut, Buzzsaw Kick! 1, 2, No! Bryan stomps on Roman's head and sets up the Yes Lock, but Edge breaks the hold, so Bryan puts Edge in the Yes Lock and Roman breaks the hold, clubbing at Bryan and powerbombing him onto Edge. After dumping Bryan, Roman pauses before setting up half the steps near the Announcer's Table, he's incited by the 'Roman Sucks' chant and powerbombs Bryan through the Announcer's table, but is then blindsided with a Spear! Edge goes to bring in a chair but Roman keeps his foot on it, he pulls the chair away and tries the Guillotine but Edge locks in the Crossface, as Roman powers out Edge grabs a part of the chair leg that fell off and uses that in his Crossface - a humorous face from Reigns as I pause the vid as well XD - he's about to tap but Bryan grabs the hand, and locks in the Yes Lock! Annoyed that his win is stolen, Edge demands he break the hold, but Bryan refuses, leading to a headbutt fight and Bryan pounding at Edge. Bryan then stomps at Edge's head and looks for the Buisaku Knee, but gets hit by a Spear! Roman tries a Spear but Edge hits one of his own! 1, 2, Bryan pulls the ref out of the ring. Furious, Edge introduces more chairs, hitting Bryan and Edge one after the other. He sets up Con-Chair-To to both men, hits it on Bryan but Jey Uso returns to attack, eats a Spear and a load of Chair Shots, Reigns hits the spear on Edge, hits the Con-Chair-To, drags Edge over Bryan and pins both for the win.

The show closes with pyro and Fireworks as Roman talks trash on his opponents and holds the title aloft, ending Wrestlemania 37.

It was a very good back and forth match, Roman of course relying heavily on Jey's interferences and the animosity between Edge and Bryan to come out on top. Keeping the Spear and the Con-Chair-To for last was the right move and the latter was definitely impactful enough to ensure that Bryan could sleep for a few minutes, especially with his and Edge's history of neck injuries. I bet on Roman because of his past record, how after finally turning heel he gets the right heat and because in Triple Threats involving a Heel Champion and 2 Faces, you either bet on the third man or the heel champion, since the story was that Roman could lose without being pinned I chose the latter, the heel often finds the escape. All three men had great chemistry together and I hope for more, SD's world title scene having an absolute slew of competitors waiting to challenge the head of the table.

Conclusion Overall another good night of wrestling...just not better. There were some super baffling and poor moments in the first half of the show and 3 title changes in a row (as well as 2 live performances in a row) was probably not the best card layout Night 2 could've done. Overall it was still a good show though and as a whole Wrestlemania 37 was a success, if not without its glaring flaws. But it goes to show that a 2-Day Wrestlemania continues to flourish as a new season of WWE kicks off.

[lemonayyyyyde]

Party Like the Dead

Chapter One

I apologize for it all being one big chunk without any "read more" areas- sadly I am confined to mobile at the moment. Either way, here it is! The first chapter of my exclusive writeblr WIP Party Like the Dead! I hope you enjoy it. :)

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“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Chilled October air filled Alexandra’s lungs as she asked the same question she had been repeating all week. The one she always seemed to ask when Nick was involved.

She shrugged her jacket up closer to hide her skin from the wind that picked up and whipped past them, turning her gaze over to Nick as he laughed.

“I’m sure, Alex. You’re starting to sound like my mom’s old Beatles record- you really gotta stop repeatin’ yourself.” Despite his teasing words, there’s a smile pulling at Nick’s lips as he spoke. “It’s just a party- a Halloween party in the most boring town on earth for Christ’s sake!” 

Alexandra forced a laugh at that, high-strung with the remnant of nerves. Nick's voice dropped to a more sincere tone as he reached over to give her hand a light squeeze of reassurance.

“We’ll be fine. It means a lot that you would do this for me.”

Alexandra couldn’t help but give a true smile at that, pulling him into a side-hug only to have to pick off some toilet paper that stuck to her skin from his costume when she pulled away. She made a face as Nick dissolved into a fit of giggles, scrunching up her nose as she glared.

“What are you laughing at, mummy boy? You’re the one who looks like a mom’s DIY project gone wrong.”

Nick gave a scoff of faux offense, holding a hand to his chest. “How dare you make fun of my costume! For your information, this is brand name toilet paper! No DIY mom would spend the money on that!”

Alexandra laughed again, for real this time,  trying her best to ignore the stares of the kids that were beginning to trick-or-treat. The sun was setting fast, peeking from behind the two-story houses of the neighborhood. It painted everything in a soft orange light, beautiful and eerie at the same time- which was exactly the same feeling that stopped Alexandra dead in her tracks, joy melting out of her and replaced by nothing but a cold pit of fear in her stomach.

It wasn’t as if Alexandra was a stranger to this area. Quite the opposite, in fact. She had driven this road many times, spent many sunsets and nights playing on these streets. Yet that never seemed to change the feeling of unease that would wash over her when her eyes landed on the Walker country house.

Menacing and decrepit, the Walker house had been there for as long as Alexandra could remember. Perhaps even longer than it was possible for her to. Back in it’s day, the house could have been beautiful. Its bricks may have once been spotless, column’s standing tall in brilliant gleaming white. The windows would have had curtains, not moth-torn fabric hiding the broken panes of glass from kids looking to have a little fun.

Now, however, the house was something out of a horror film: overgrown with vines and weeds that twisted up the walk to the house as if they were claiming back what was rightfully theirs. Everything about it screamed ‘Danger’, including the signs that were posted out front reading ‘DANGER: KEEP OUT!’.

The press of Nick’s hand jolted Alex out of her thoughts, forcing her eyes away from the house. His eyes were full of concern, brows knitting together as he spoke. 

“You alright, Alex?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine, it’s just…” Alexandra trailed off, glancing back at the mansion-esque house lurking in the distance. “You know the rumors about this place.” Nick raised a brow, causing Alexandra to elbow him lightly before continuing. “I’m serious! That shit’s terrifying.”

“I do know the rumors, Alex. But that’s just the thing!” He let go of her shoulder, his face returning to the smile that so often graced his face. “They're just rumors! Come on, do you really think they’d leave an old cult’s stomping ground just sitting in the middle of town?”

Alexandra bit her lip, thinking over what he said. It truly would have been weird if the town would keep something as sinister as that as a centerpiece. “I suppose not. Though you have to admit, that place is fuckin’ creepy. Just look at it!”

Nick laughed, beginning to walk again as he shook his head.

“Everything will be fine. I promise. I wouldn’t take you here if it was dangerous.” He paused for a moment before continuing, a nearly sinister smirk spreading across his face as he turned to face her once more. “Unless of course, this was all a ruse and I…” He jumped towards her, arms raised in a childish recreation of claws,  “was a ruthless cult leader leading you to your doom all along! Five years of friendship, all leading up to this whole moment! The whole town's in on it!”

Alexandra couldn’t help but startle a bit at his sudden movement, glaring at him as he began to laugh and she settled back down. Her anger didn’t last long though- how could it when he was working so hard to calm her nerves with a bit of fun- and she pushed past him with a laugh of her own.

“Don’t even joke about that! I don’t even want to imagine the hell my life would be if I went into Forensics in a cult town.”

Nick had to jog to catch back up to her, a small smile on his face as he slowed down to a normal walk when she waited for him. “I mean, it would be good for business!”

Alexandra simply rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Nick.”

Nick laughed and pointedly did not shut up. “You love me. Don't even try to hide it.”

The two joked in a similar manner the entire time they made the trek down the road to the Walker House;, Nick doing his best to keep their spirits light in order to distract Alexandra from her initial fear. All of that hard work was quickly unraveled, however, when they were standing at the edge of the walkway to the house.

Being closer certainly didn't do the house any favors, especially since the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon, as if on cue.

Alexandra hesitated as Nick began to start up the steps, only beginning to move again when he turned to give her a reassuring smile and extended his hand. He squeezed lightly when she took it, voice gentle as he spoke. “You'll be fine, Alexandra. I promise.”

Taking a deep breath and forcing it out slowly, Alexandra nodded and tried to imagine all of her previous anxiety melting away. Normally these things wouldn't have been so scary for her; in her high school days, she'd loved anything abandoned and creepy with the chance of paranormal encounters. Now, however, she was not quite as fond, and it certainly didn't help she had not been in this area since…

Alexandra was disrupted from her thoughts once more as Nick gently elbowed her side, obviously trying to shift her mind in a different direction, as though he could tell the dark path her train of thought was taking.

“Are you excited for your first college Halloween party? I'm sure there's going to be plenty of beautiful ladies looking for someone strong to protect them…” He winked at the last part, causing Alexandra to snort and hit his arm lightly.

“Gross, Nick. Just because I like girls too doesn't mean I'm as weird about it as you are! Besides, I thought you told me this get-together was with just a few friends and friends of friends.”

Nick opened his mouth to answer but before he could, the double doors they had wandered up to swung wide open, revealing a messy-haired and grinning Gavin - Nick's best friend.  He was wearing a cheesy cape and pointed fangs he had haphazardly glued on. Fake blood dribbling down the side of his mouth, the stark red of obvious face paint.

“‘Velcome to ve house of horrors, my friends!”

He greeted, pleased when Alexandra covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Nick merely shook his head, stepping inside and making a big show of doing a flourishing bow.

“I am honored to be welcomed into your home, Count Gavin.” He said, purposely dropping his voice a few octaves to sound more manly. “Thank you for inviting us on this wonderful All Hallows' Eve night.”

Gavin couldn't help but cheer, clapping Nick on the back when he returned to full height before pulling him into a hug.

“Nick, my man! I can always trust on you to liven up the party- you're the first one to actually bite the bait!” 

Nick shrugged, though he was obviously gleaming at the compliment. It took him a moment before he noticed he had yet to introduce Alexandra, who was awkwardly standing off to the side as she watched the two friends.

“Ah! Gavin, this is my friend Alexandra. Alexandra, this is Gavin.” 

Alexandra waved before indicating Gavin's costume with one of her hands. “Love the fangs!”

Gavin grinned, doing an over-exaggerated bow of his own before bouncing back up. “Thank you! I love the…” He trailed off, and Alexandra  grinned as she realized that he was trying to find a way to compliment her on her own ‘costume’.

Digging her hand into the pocket of her khakis, Alexandra pulled out an (admittedly hastily done) fake badge. “FBI agent Alexandra Strike on the case. Undercover agents aren't as flashy as you may think.” 

Gavin nodded, though he was obviously a bit thrown off by the casual attire. Which, to be fair, was what Alexandra has figured would happen. She didn't have the time to hit a Halloween store between studying and working.

He recovered swiftly to her under-dress though, turning his attention back to Nick as he began to walk into the home. The entire foyer was vacant of furniture and the lightbulbs hanging above on the fragile chandelier only offered a soft, dim glow of light.

Black and orange streamers were thrown wherever people could reach, weaving around the staircase railings like the vines that claimed the home outside. Overall it was dark, grimy, and pathetically covered in harmless decor to mask it's true identity- the perfect place for a Halloween party.

“Come on in! The party's just getting started.” Gavin said before waving down a girl who was resting against the wall, scrolling through something on her phone. When she caught sight of Gavin she smiled, pocketing it and coming over.

"Hey Gav- and new party peeps!" The girl gave a quick smile to both Alexandra and Nick respectively. 

"Hey Celine! This is Nick and his friend Alexandra." Gavin said, motioning to the two of them but continuing talking before they could get a word out themselves. "Where is everyone? I thought we were getting the Ouija board ready."  

“Ouija board?” Alexandra looked from Gavin to Nick, glaring at him when he shot her a grin. He knew she didn't like the whole 'talking with spirits' thing; she may not truly believe in them, but something about her mother's stern words again poking fun at something you don't understand had stuck with her. You don't fuck with Ouija Boards. 

"What, are you scared?" Nick asked teasingly, jumping away from her attempt to hit him on the arm in response. He raised both hands in defense. "Ah, okay, okay! I'm sorry I didn't warn you sooner! I didn't think you'd care!"

"Like hell you thought I wouldn't care! You know my mom doesn't like me messing with spirit stuff!" Alexandra huffed, turning to look at Gavin as he laughed.

“It's nothing to be worried about, Alex. Just an old hunk of wood we picked up from Andy's- a toy meant to make kids scared of the dark." 

Alexandra bit her lip at the mention of Andy's name, the owner of a small antique shop in the center of downtown. How old was this thing?

Celine interjected before Alex could put much thought into the question, rolling her eyes before her gaze focused on Gavin. "Be a bit more respectful of the dead, Gavin. You never know who might be listening, and I, for one, don't feel like pissing them off." She gave Alex a small wink, who despite the small flutter of butterflies in her stomach gave a nervous laugh. She then turned her attention back to the original question afterwards. "Everyone's off exploring the house- Sure you could find them if you look."

She twisted a strand of the green half of her hair around her finger before pointing up towards the stairs. "See! I think that's Lucas and Brittany right there. I'll go ask if they've seen the others."

"Alright, thank you, Celine." Gavin said, sighing once she was gone. There was the faintest hint of a comfortable grin on his face.

Even with the friendly aura, Alexandra couldn't help the low sinking feeling that settled in her gut. What was she thinking, agreeing to go to something like this with Nick?

She didn't know anyone here, she was in a house she had hated since she was young, and celebrating a holiday she hadn't enjoyed since 9th grade with Lillian.

Her heart dropped as the thought crossed her mind.

Lilly…

That was a name she hadn't thought about in a while, but she should have known the bittersweet memories would reappear.  Being in this part of town always brought them back.

She really, really didn't want to be here.

Clearing her throat to get Nick and Gavin's attention since they had been having a conversation during her silent musing, Alexandra forced a smile. "Hey, uh, does there happen to be any drinks? We walked here, and I'm a dumbass who forgot to bring a water."

Gavin laughed, shaking his head as he indicated up the stairs, the opposite direction Celine had gone. "Refreshments and snacks are in the room up there; want me to walk you up?"

"I should be good finding it myself, thanks." Alex said, her fake smile shifting to real. "Not as helpless as I look."

Gavin raised both of his hands, backing up a bit. "Wasn't saying you were." He said, though his voice still had a teasing tone to it.

Alexandra merely laughed and walked towards the stairs after muttering a quick 'I'll be back' to Nick. The moment she got up the stairs and veered to the room to the left, her body sagged in relief. No one else seemed to be in here, and a moment alone was exactly what she needed. 

Grabbing a solo cup from the table, Alex dipped it into the punch, watching as red liquid filled it.

It only took one sip for Alex to know what it was, grimacing at the taste of the alcohol that wasn't drowned out by sugary sweet syrup.

"Wow. Hawaiian punch and vodka. Classy." She chuckled to herself before taking another sip. Their dedication to the Halloween aesthetic was... admirable, to say the least.

She let herself relax as she took the seat that was in front of a desk, setting the cup down and taking in the area around her. There was a musty smell to the place, and just like everything else about the house this room seemed to give off a strange feeling of...foreboding. As though she were trespassing in a home that very much was not her own, one where she was an unwelcome guest. Even the paintings that hung upon the wall seemed to be glaring at her, gazes prickling her skin as her eyes skimmed over one after the other until it landed upon one she simply couldn't look away from.

It was a family portrait painted by a fine hand, artistry so transfixing that Alex couldn't help but admire it. A woman was standing in the middle of the frame, hands resting on the shoulders of what seemed to be two twin boys. Her face was stern, anger lines set as deep wrinkles and a small frown upon her face as she fixed her gaze on what would have been a camera in the perspective it was painted. 

Alex hadn't really noticed that she had been inching up out of her chair until she was fully standing, making her way towards the painting to get an even closer look. Unlike who she assumed was the mother, the two boys' faces weren't nearly as clear. It looked almost as if the paint that once depicted their faces was worn. Like someone had taken their nails to it and scratched out all of their features. The thought of that sent a chill down Alexandra's spine, and just as she went to look back into the woman's eyes a loud thud caught her attention, a small scream breaking from her as she spun around to see what had caused it.

A small book that had been resting on one of the shelves on the wall laid upon the floor, the pages it had opened to full of faded ink. She looked back up at the shelf to see a large rat staring at her, which quickly scampered away once they made eye contact.

Alex exhaled in relief, the fear that had been clutching at her moments before quickly melting away into embarrassment. It was a rat. Of course it was a rat. What kind of abandoned building would it be if it didn't have some sort of animal calling the place its home? 

She laughed to herself as she went back to the desk, shaking her head and downing the rest of the punch in one chug. 

"Easy now, Alex. Don't go getting too into that brain of yours. You'll just freak yourself out." She chided softly to herself as she wiped her mouth, tossing the now-empty solo cup into the waste bin beside the desk. 

Walking over to the book still laying discarded upon the ground, Alex leaned down to pick it up, surprised to find that its case had the coarseness of genuine leather. She thumbed loosely through the pages that seemed to be stained with time. Most were covered in faint penmanship, messily scrawled cursive that Alex perhaps could've deciphered if it weren't so old. 

It wasn't until she got to the last pages of writing that it became more legible, dark and confident pen strokes a stark contrast to the ones before it. It was almost familiar, the handwriting, and Alex found herself tracing it absentmindedly with her finger. Who had she known that wrote like…?

"Alexandra."

Alex jumped as she heard a faint whisper of her name, nearly dropping the book in her panic as she looked around. "Hello?" She asked, voice wavering nervously as she found that no one was in the room, the entrance still mostly shut. "Who said that?"

A terrifying beat of silence, and inexplicably Alex's eyes were drawn to the painting once again. If she didn't know it was crazy, she could have swore the woman was staring right at her. Creeping closer, Alex kept eye contact with her as she took one hesitant step after another. 

She was almost close enough to reach out and touch the painting when the door behind her swung open. "Alex!"

Another scream ripped free from her throat as she turned around, wielding the book as though she were about ready to chuck it at whatever assailant had barged into the room. She let it fall back down harmlessly to her side when she saw it was just Nick, brow raised and lips upturned slightly in amusement. 

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you, you were just taking a while- We've almost got the board all set up. Figured you'd want to be with us while we played." He leaned against the doorframe as he spoke, so completely at ease despite the stuffy feeling that Alex felt was suddenly flooding the room. 

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, sorry. There was a rat, and I was looking around the room…" Alex trailed off, biting her tongue at the urge to spill about the odd painting and whisper of her name. No need to make more of a fool of herself in front of him than she already did.

"No worries, I totally get it. This place has so many cool little nooks and crannies that I could get lost for hours just checkin' it out." Pushing off of the doorframe and instead moving to grab the doorknob and open the door wider for her, Nick flourished his arm towards the exit with a grin. "Ladies first."

Alex forced a small smile for him, sending back one last nervous glance at the painting before walking out of the room.

She could've almost sworn she saw that the women's frown had turned into a smirk before the door clicked shut behind them.

[roadtophantom]

Down Once More - RTP Does a Double Show

(or as they say, a two doe shay - so in that light, this review is hella long)

March 16, 2019

It wasn't planned but to take advantage of a discount, I got a second ticket targeting a Saturday matinee show so I could catch Clara. This plan backfired as I already inadvertently caught her the previous week. Being that the Theatre at Solaire is hours away where I am and I don't want to shell out over a grand for Grab, I decided to see the evening show too.

The fun part about matinees is it's not a rush hour so the travel time is cut significantly. We got to the theatre early enough to take all the photos we want without queueing plus some decent drive thru food. We got balc right seats this time, second row. I certainly missed the prime visibility of orch seats but liked being able to see the whole set.

Clara was on as Christine and I'm delighted to say that as early as a week-gap she's able to put different touches to her Christine so you see a somewhat different interpretation. This one was less afraid and was drawn more to MOTN, that she was able to show a dilemma between the Phantom and Raoul. What I gathered from my first viewing of her was that she's obviously Team Raoul all the way. I mean, sure that is a very valid interpretation but I guess I also like a Christine who is able to show a conflict, some sort of loyalty to her 'teacher' who she didn't just happen to meet yesterday. So there's some joy when she sings AOM.

A notable scene is how she took a while to unmask the Phantom (Jonathan) The instrumentation has already changed and she was still peeling the mask. Jonathan took that extended lull as fuel for anger that Clara cowered in a fetal position as Jonathan, imposing figure that he is, hovered over her. He then punches the floor with his fist and kicked the mandarin hat (which he never got to wore) away. Pretty intense. By STYDI he becomes remorseful as he lamented 'Oh Christine'.

One thing I love about Matt's Raoul is we don't just know he is well to borrow from the Kingsmen: manners maketh man. He isn't only a gentleman at Christine but also to the managers when he makes it a point to excuse himself with a hand gesture when he is switching his attention to Carlotta, Piangi and Girys. And I think one takeaway I got from his Raoul is how he regarded the angel with dismissal and arrogance but slowly come to horror to know that this is a real thing plaguing Christine and that leads him to do what it takes even risk his life. Idk, he's just very real to me. When he does the disaster will be yours, he mounts all his  fiery passion to threaten what he knows is larger than him.

Also the travelator worked and he does jump so whee.

Again I adored the ballerinas during the rehearsals because they're just playful girlfriends, when they get excited at the introduction of the Vicomte, when one of them yawns tiredly and someone gets instruction from the slave master, love love these cute dynamics. Plus they are so nice and supportive of Christine. Meg is just a dear, and I love how Kiruna-Lind nods sheepishly with a “I’ll be a good girl cross my heart” smile at her mom before stomping right off. 

I finally looked up that lyric change in Notes, it's now using Broadway's: "Mystified baffled Surete say,we are mystified -"

After the show I accompanied my cousin and sister to stage door, whereupon Meghan came in looking like a rockstar, black ensemble, hat on. She's still somewhat ill but she's going on and it's to be appreciated because that means my evening ticket will finally see the other Christine.

My seats these time are way up because I got the cheapest tier. So it was going to be interesting to see Meghan who is probably one of the most petite ladies (she's probably 5 foot and a couple inches). But I immediately see how she compensates for the height with her hands. In Hannibal she grabs on to the nearest ballerina or Meg to seek comfort or to show excitement when the announcement of Vicomte came on, she holds Reyer's hands as he congratulates her. Later in the show she uses them in more heartbreaking ways (to plea for help at Madame Giry at Notes II and the managers after the PONR unmasking but all for naught).

I have to mention this, Meghan does not dance the slave girls track (and later most of the Masquerade track) but this may be because of an injury. Do not take my word for it, but it would make sense why Clara was on instead during the media call. I don't begrudge Meghan too in going off stage especially to protect her health.

BUT when she came on for Think of Me? Holy. Smokes. THAT GLORIOUS VOICE. Where did that come from such a tiny frame? It's so big and whole and powerful and she sings and extends the cadenza effortlessly. You'll know this is opera-trained.

My take with her Christine is that she takes on  Meghan's personality, especially in Act I where she is bubbly and friendly with the ballerinas and when she tries to explain to Raoul that the angel of music is very strict (she does it sheepishly). Listening to her radio interviews it makes sense how it sometimes blurs who Meghan is and who Christine is.

She also mentioned how she and the character are utterly consumed by music, and she shows it not just as a trance state but also in a Sarah Brightmanesque possessed state. I want to take a closer look at this because from afar there's a danger of looking like she's doing nothing when she's been doing big gestures with her hands earlier. So it looks like on and off. But maybe up close it's possible she communicates more.

Her strength and her strongest weapon is undoubtedly that voice, because with it she isn't afraid to make the songs her own, to manipulate them as the scene demands for it and as she needs it. Her vocal control is incredible. She is able to communicate fear, panic and passion effortlessly because of that malleable voice that she need not stay the course of the song but give it her interpretation ("in that, <i>strange</i>. sweet. sound.") She could cry and scream in song if that makes sense? I just looooooove listening to her sing and there are just so much dimensions in her interpretation that way. And there's even more to it when she performs with her cast mates.

Okay this brings me to the next part of the review. I saw Jonathan earlier with Clara and it went without a hitch so to speak. In figure-skating speak he landed those lutz. The evening, told a different story. When he couldn't extend his BE in MOTN I started to get worried.

The figure-skating analogy will become very clear towards the rest of the performance as I waited in bated anticipation how he'll try to land his jumps. This was me the whole time basically.

He started stumbling losing breath and ending in rasps towards the end of Act I. Obviously this is not his norm, I've seen him 4 times after all, including the earlier matinee. There was something wrong. But the question now is what he'll do in the vocally demanding AND fast-paced Act II full of quadruple jumps?

Well Jonathan had to do a series of quick decisions, there were words he had to speak more softly, keys that he had to changed and lyrics recited so he can reserve his strength and give them to the money makers. But all in all? Led to a beautiful heart-wrenching performance as he took the show in One Emotional Ride I've never witnessed before. And I believe the person sustaining him, receiving this acting and spinning it to gold? Meghan. There was teamwork happening during the Final Lair as both characters were giving one fiery performance and receiving it, enhancing it, supporting another by giving so much to work with. Meghan comes at you at Final Lair with such fervor. There was a part where she rips the veil so angrily the hair mic went POOF but this is the kind of energy she comes at Jonathan. I don't know if I've seen a Final Lair come like a frenzied hurricane of adrenaline, distress and fury. There were a lot of tears on that stage. Jonathan’s limitations worked for him in the end especially in conveying the anguish of the character. In this way, the show finished in a heart-wrenching note AND thunderous applause.

Oh when Meghan returned the ring, the Phantom clung to her hand and they remained that way for a bit, until Meghan regretably retracted the outstretched arm and left.

So. Um, wow. It was a hell of a ride, and I have to say, guiltily, that I liked how unpredictable it was. That was just pure raw stage energy and thespians are olympians too.

I definitely need to see more of these two before the show closes in close to 2 weeks (cue weeps). 

If you got as far as this um, thank you. You are very patient. I have no reward but here's me wearing the PHwhdjfis hoodie

[gobsmackapplejack]

Doljanchi

Rated G,  3041 words, on AO3

“Going out hunting,” Daryl mumbles as he grabs his crossbow.  His footfalls are a little louder than usual.  Something’s bothering him, Glenn can tell.  But sometimes he just has to let Daryl work out whatever it is by stomping through the woods, shooting things. Though, it’s not hard to figure out the source of his mood this evening.

“Okay. Mom is making dinner, so you don't need to catch much.”

Daryl's response isn't audible to Glenn's ears.  Which may be for the better. Glenn's mom has been staying with them for a couple of days already, preparing for Kevin's doljanchi. Their little house can barely fit everyone.  It’s only four people, three adults and an almost-one-year-old, in their tiny two bedroom house, but you’d think it was Glenn’s entire extended family or something, the way they’re hitting on nerves so close to the surface.  Thank God Merle moved out awhile ago.

Well, he didn’t so much move out as announce loudly when Glenn and Daryl started dating that the walls in their house were too thin for him to be around on nights when Glenn was staying over. Since that started happening more often than not, Merle and his stuff became more and more scarce.  Eventually they figured out that Merle had met someone, and miraculously, she didn’t mind him moving into her place.

They give Glenn's mom their room and put a full sized air mattress in Kevin’s room.  It covers the entire floor next to the crib so they only put it down at night and have to lean it up against the wall when they wake up in the mornings.  One frantic night Glenn woke up disoriented when he heard Kevin crying, jumped up and tripped so violently after running straight into the baby’s dresser that the mattress popped, sending Kevin into terrified screams.  That was not a great night.

Luckily, Daryl was able to patch the mattress the next day.  Too bad their nerves and tempers were not so easily fixed. Those took several more days to smooth over.

Daryl comes home with a rabbit, already dressed and butchered, which he puts immediately into the deep freeze storage in the garage.  They eat the jajangmyeon that Glenn’s mom made for dinner that night.  It’s Daryl’s favorite of her Korean dishes and Glenn isn’t ashamed to admit (though not to Daryl) that he asked her to make it, hoping to improve Daryl’s mood.  Plus, the noodles are soft enough so that Kevin can eat it too. The black bean sauce smears around his mouth and makes him look like he’s growing a baby beard.  Glenn takes a picture of Daryl holding him, with their matching goatees.

They get to bed early that night, to get ready for another day of work and preparations.

--

The next morning Glenn’s mom takes over the kitchen as usual.  Even getting a cup of coffee is a hassle, the coffee maker buried behind bowls full of marinades and sauces on the counter.

Daryl leaves early for his work, without coffee, at the high school, kissing Glenn and Kevin and giving Mrs. Rhee a nod.  Glenn has the mornings to play with Kevin while his mom works on preparing party food.  Around ten Glenn packs Kevin up and takes him to the daycare run by Beth Greene, their family friend, on his way to work.  Mrs. Rhee continues party prep and also makes dinner and baby food throughout the day.  Then, when Daryl brings Kevin home from his daycare she spends the late afternoon playing with him while Daryl showers and cleans up, then joins them.  When Glenn comes home they all have dinner together. Daryl and Glenn go through Kevin's night time routine, bathing him, reading his stories and giving him a last bottle before he falls asleep. This is their pattern through the week until it's finally the day before the party.

--

Friday they pick Glenn's dad and sisters up from the airport. More family will be coming in from Michigan the next day, the day of the party.  

Fortunately for them, Glenn's extended family knows the significance of this milestone, and two aunties and four cousins on his mom’s side are willing to travel for it.

Holding it in Georgia, they figure the maximum number of friends and family will be there, which is their goal.  Also, the wedding had been up near Michigan so having the party in Georgia seems only fair.  Only a few people were able to travel to the wedding: Merle, his girlfriend Andrea, and her sister Amy. Luckily, Hershel Greene, Beth’s father, had thrown a reception for them at his beautiful farmhouse just outside Atlanta, so they were also able celebrate with their friends locally.

Mr. Rhee, Ada and Alene spend the day at the house with Kevin, Mrs. Rhee, but later in the evening Glenn takes them to their rented rooms at Hershel’s. The retired and widowed veterinarian had converted his huge farmhouse into a bed and breakfast after all his kids moved out leaving so many rooms empty. His daughter Maggie soon moved back home to help him run it.

--

Finally, the big day arrives.  Everyone wakes up early.  The house is so clean you could eat off any surface but Mrs. Rhee continues to wipe and polish anything she can get at with her microfiber cloths.

They've set up one long picnic table out back with tons of chairs. Finger foods and bowls of Korean snacks fill the center of the table.  All the other available surfaces at their house, inside and out, are covered with food too; the dining room table, the kitchen counters, the coffee table, the wet bar and the hutch have bowls of the largest fruit found in the state -- mangoes, asian pears, apples, carved watermelons and pineapples. Plates and platters are stacked with ricecakes, sweets and cakes, and all the grilled meats, vegetable and banchan dishes Mrs. Rhee prepared throughout the week.

There is one small table on the porch that doesn’t have food piled on it, sitting low to the floor. It’s covered with a red tablecloth and on top are seemingly random objects set out on display. Glenn waves Daryl over.

“This is the Doljabi.  Do you remember?”

Daryl nods but looks slightly unsure so Glenn goes into the explanation again.  It should be easier to remember now that they have it laid out in front of them.

“Whatever Kevin touches first is believed to be symbolic of what will come to him in life. The pencil represents intelligence - it means he’ll have a good job. The gold coin is, well, pretty self explanatory, he’ll never want for money. String represents a long life. Food - your kid will never go hungry.  Those are the really traditional objects.  The rest are more modern additions.  The stethoscope means your child will go into medicine.  A ball represents sports.  Books for academia. We didn’t put in a paint brush for artist - I didn’t think you’d mind.  Some people add objects for politics or acting.”  Glenn shrugs, since it didn’t seem important to either of them.  “I'm debating putting my phone or laptop in for a technology career.  But we have the pencil to represent, like, all good jobs.  I don't know if I want to pigeonhole him into something he doesn't like. You know, us Asians and our tiger parenting. I figure we’ll keep to the more general fortunes.”

Daryl nods and crouches down in front of the table, tracing his fingers over the gold coin.  He looks at Glenn briefly then goes to the bedroom closet and comes back in with the crossbow. Sets it on the table. It takes up all the remaining space, even hanging off the edge and covering several other objects.

“Oh, hey.  Bow and arrow is actually one of the traditional items,” Glenn is surprised he remembers this.  “It represents bravery.  But then people didn’t like that in older times it meant that your child would go into the military - become a war hero or general or something.  It’s fallen out of tradition.  But, do you want it to mean bravery?”

“No.  It’s...that our kid’s gonna be a hunter.”

“But.  He’ll learn that anyway.  Do you think he’ll become a  professional  hunter when he grows up?  That’s sort of what that will imply.”

“No.  It’s… It’s just important.”  Daryl is staring hard at the crossbow, brow furrowed, rubbing his chin.

Glenn pauses before responding.  He knows this could be a sensitive area for Daryl.  “I don’t think my mom would like a weapon as part of the Doljabi.  She’ll think it means he’ll grow up to be a criminal. Or make a living where he’ll have to use weapons.”

Daryl isn’t meeting Glenn’s eyes.  It’s almost how he was early in their relationship: closed off, hesitant to share his feelings.  “S’my kid.  I’ll put what I want.”

Glenn knows when he shouldn’t push.  “Okay.  Um.  Okay. I’ll- I’ll let her know.”  He will.  He’ll make her understand, because it’s important to Daryl.  But he still has  some  concerns. “It's kind of big though. He might grab it first just because it's the only thing he can see. Or because he sees you with it but he's not allowed to touch it. Or what if he starts thinking he can touch it because we let him grab it this one time?”

Daryl grunts and picks up the crossbow.  He leaves, though not in a huff or stomping like he had earlier in the week.

Glenn is at a loss.  Of course he’ll let Daryl include the crossbow.  It’s just...it's huge. Putting it out there with things like a pencil or a piece of string doesn’t seem balanced.  But does that matter?  If it’s something Daryl wants to be included in the Doljabi, would it be so bad if it’s so oversized that Kevin grabs it first?  Glenn hears Daryl’s motorcycle pulling out and driving off.

He’s only a little worried. Surely Daryl will come back.  He didn’t seem upset, per se.  But there  is  something bothering him, something important enough to take him away from the party.

The guests start arriving. Hershel and Maggie bring Glenn’s dad and sisters a little early so they can help with any last minute setup.  Beth comes soon after with her boyfriend Noah, and Kevin makes excited noises when he sees her.  Merle arrives with Glenn’s two aunts and Andrea and her sister Amy bring the cousins from Michigan they picked up at the airport.  Merle immediately heads straight for the coolers in the back yard with the beer, takes one for himself and starts passing them around.

College friend and sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes and his new wife Michonne are the next to arrive with his five year old daughter Judith.  His teenage son, Carl, comes a few minutes later with girlfriend Enid. Morgan, Rick's friend who then became their friend, arrives with his son Duane, and the three teens head inside to play video games.

Daryl’s work buddy Tyreese Wililams brings his girlfriend Karen, and his sister Sasha brings her boyfriend Bob.

Rosita Espinosa and Abraham Ford were a couple who were part of Daryl and Glenn’s drinking group, but once they broke up started avoiding each other.  When they arrive they stay on opposite ends of the yard, but eventually start mingling with the group and later, grudgingly, with each other.  Also in attendance are Eugene and Tara, more drinking buddies and Tara’s girlfriend Denise.

Aaron and Eric are there, friends Glenn first met doing consulting work for their recruiting firm.  They hit it off and the two couples often hang out together.  Glenn calls it their gay alliance.

Carol, probably their oldest and dearest friend, and also Kevin’s godmother, is last to arrive with her daughter Sophia.

All these people comprise their found family - those they came to love due to shared interests, location and circumstance.  It's a blessing to be able to celebrate with them all.

Kevin, dressed in his hanbok, is carried around by Mrs. Rhee.  She likes showing off that he calls her ‘hah-mo’ now.  She lets others carry him too.  He goes willingly, recognizing almost everyone as imo, ajumoni, or sam-chon.

Glenn tells people who don’t know, about the doljanchi tradition.  How in the olden days in Korea, babies making it to their first birthday was rare, and so such an accomplishment called for a big celebration.  He also spends time describing and explaining all the Korean foods,  snacks and decorations.

Daryl slips in when Glenn is telling the kids about his favorite Korean candies, mallang cow chews. He goes into the house with a plastic bag under his arm.  Glenn slips away from the conversation and follows.  He sees Daryl opening a blister packaged toy.  When he gets close, Daryl puts a nerf crossbow on the table with the other objects.  It’s more reasonably sized and doesn’t take over the whole table like the real model had.  The bright neon green will be very eye catching to a one year old though.  He moves close to Daryl standing over the table and slips his arms around Daryl’s waist, hugging him from behind.  Daryl doesn’t turn, only places a hand on top of Glenn’s and they look at the items together.  Problem solved.

--

After the dinner of Korean specialties is finished, they ask everyone to gather around the doljabi table that’s been carried outside.  Glenn’s cousins have set up a skype call on his laptop so the rest of the family in Troy can watch and cheer too.

Glenn gives a speech, welcoming and thanking everyone for coming, and for their friendship through the years, for being a part of their lives and more recently, Kevin’s life.

He explains the doljanchi one more time. Then Daryl sets Kevin down in front of the table, far enough away so that he’ll have to crawl forward a few feet before he can reach any items.  At first Kevin is frozen, shocked by so many people crowded around, staring and cooing at him, but then he spots all the objects on the table and makes excited sounds.

Kevin scoots forward and gets a hand on the table and almost touches the spool of yarn but misses.  He pulls himself to standing so he has a better view of the items.  Glenn sees the moment Kevin spots the crossbow.  His eyes light up and he smiles a mostly gummy smile, grabs the crossbow with its orange and green foam bolts. Glenn’s mom wails and clutches her chest and shakes her head. Everyone else cheers and claps.  Daryl steps in quickly and swoops Kevin up, giving him a noisy kiss. Kevin squeals and laughs, still holding the crossbow, trying to chew on the handle.  

When people ask what the crossbow represents, Glenn tells them about the traditional bow and arrow that represented bravery, and that he and Daryl want Kevin to be a hunter like his dad. Daryl smiles slightly at Glenn’s explanation, but never offers the explanation or elaboration of his own.

--

The party goes on until late, but Glenn and Daryl slip away to put Kevin to bed at his usual time.  They are paying the teenage cousins to stay inside to keep an eye on him while the party continues on outside.  They rejoin the party once Kevin is asleep, taking turns carrying the baby monitor.

--

That night, after the guests have departed and Hershel and Maggie have taken Mr. and Mrs. Rhee, Ada and Alene back to the farm, Merle and Andrea have taken Glenn’s aunts and cousins to the hotel in town, and they have cleaned up only the most pressing mess (mostly putting away the leftover food) they wash up and collapse into their own bed.

Glenn pulls Daryl in for a kiss, just a light, press of lips.  They’re too exhausted for anything more.  Not even much talking beyond a few murmured comments about the party, their friends, family, and Kevin.

Glenn rolls onto his back and closes his eyes, ready to drift off, when he hears Daryl take a slow, deep breath.  It’s his ‘tell’ that he’s about to say something so Glenn opens his eyes and waits.

It takes Daryl a minute, then he starts in a low voice, “Hunting, it's. It’s...quiet. I found peace when I was hunting.”  He stops, looking up at the ceiling, then turns to fully face Glenn.  “It saved me.  When things were bad with my dad I could go hunt.  When we didn’t have a lot to eat.  After the house burned down and my-.”  His voice gives out and he takes a shaky breath.  It’s the most emotion Glenn has heard from him when talking about his past.  “When I figured out I was…different.” There’s the most meaningful pause Glenn thinks he's heard in their relationship. “That’s why it’s important to me.  Hunting, tracking, knowing the forest.  Knowing…yourself.  It makes you able to survive. Self sufficiency.  Not just surviving, but  knowing  you can survive.  It’s zen.  That’s…. that’s what I want for Kevin.”

Glenn nods, then takes Daryl’s hand.

“Okay.  Yeah.  That’s what I want too.  Thank you, Daryl.  Thank you for giving him that.  That’s what he’ll have.  That’s… yeah.”  He reaches out and slips his hand around to the back of Daryl’s neck, brings their foreheads together.  “I love you,” he whispers, and kisses him one more time, long and lingering.

When they pull apart, Daryl’s breathing is ragged. Glenn knows it’s a sign he’s overwhelmed, fighting his emotions.  He also knows Daryl wouldn’t want him to call attention to it so he shifts them into a more comfortable sleeping position, Daryl’s face tucked into Glenn’s shoulder.

So he doesn’t tell Daryl, not tonight anyway, that that’s what he’s found too. Found it in meeting and knowing and loving Daryl.  This reassurance that he'll be okay, no matter who he is and who he loves. The knowledge that he can take care of himself and his loved ones.  This contentment with himself, his life, love, family and friends; it’s exactly what he would want for Kevin. So, yeah.  The crossbow is perfect.

[danwhobrowses]

AEW Double or Nothing 2021 - Review

It's that time of the year to put your chips in, Double or Nothing is back with a big card that includes a Stadium Stampede, Sting in Non-Cinematic action and AEW's first Triple Threat World Title match.

Unfortunately due to the UK having a weekend heatwave I was way too tired to watch this live, so I'm watching the replay on Fite- thankfully it's a Bank Holiday so I don't really have to rush this and I somehow managed to get through the morning without being spoiled.

Like my Wrestlemania review I will be putting in bold who I thought would win Also it goes without saying, Spoilers within

The Buy-In Not a fan of the 5-ish minutes of beeping as the camera synced up or the 12 minute wait overall but it is the Pre-Show. But we start with a lot of packages, in fact we had 2 packages of Bucks vs MoxEddie which was weird. 45 Minutes we get the crowd though and that just injects you with the energy.

Matt and the HFO starts with a backstage promo, bragging of his win and enticing Private Party by lowering his 30% cut to 15% if they win, then another Shida/Baker package...like, we could throw more matches we had an entire Countdown show for these packages on Fite and Youtube, you have the roster for it. Also the stage did invest a lot in the fan seats, not much of the set, kinda 50/50 on it because on one hand it's a shame we didn't have a grand set but on the other hand it had an ECW feel of being swarmed with (COVID safe) fans.

NWA Women's Championship: Serena Deeb (c) def. Riho (Submission via Serenity Lock) At about 50 mins of a 75 min buy-in we get our first match, and Riho and Deeb come out to big pops. I'm glad they noted that Riho has a win over Deeb too. Bell rings to a big cheer, after some back and forth Riho extends the handshake but Deeb slaps her, cementing a heel turn. Riho slaps back and fires up, knee to the corner and a diving crossbody for 2, she tries a sunset flip but Deeb almost gets the Serenity Lock. Deeb then decides to pick off Riho; Dragon Screw, launch pad into the bottom rope, Elbow into the thigh, she looks to set up the Romero Special but instead pulls on Riho's nose, then stomps her knees down. Abdominal Stretch and then a Cravat, but Riho snapmares out and chases Deeb at the corner, Deeb catches her though through the ropes with 3 rope-assisted chokes and the a spinning neckbreaker into the middle rope for 2. Deeb then pulls Riho up for a inverted Gory Special then driving her into the turnbuckle, she tries the superplex but gets knocked off, Riho hits the stomp but the knees buckle so she can't make the pin. She attacks with some strikes, headscissors, 619 but it's only 2, she tries the Dragon Suplex but Deeb locks in the Octopus Stretch, transitions into a sleeper but Riho gets a fantastic reversal of the bridging suplex for 2 again. Strung on the middle rope, Riho goes for the double stomp but misses and hits the ring apron, injuring the knees more, Dragon Screw on the rope, Twisting Neckbreaker for 2, she charges at Riho in the corner but Riho has her boot up, Riho tries to kick away but Deeb keeps hold of the leg, catches the other and Dragon Screws both of her legs, Powerbomb 1, 2, No. Deeb sets up the Detox but hits the back body press, she tries the Dragon Suplex but Deeb escapes, she gets it on the third attempt of the match, Double Stomp on Deeb's back while she was bent over but the knees give way again, she tries the running Meteora but Deeb rolls into the half-Crab in Maki Itoh fashion, Riho makes the ropes but can't escape the inverted Dragon Screw, she rolls out another Detox into a pin combination for a tight 2, but when she tries for the Crucifix Roll she can't wrap her legs and drops, leading to Deeb hammering the injured knee into the ground and cinching in the Serenity Lock, Riho taps out to a standing ovation.

I wish we lingered on the celebrations a bit more since we moved straight onto the fanfest thing with all the neat merch, but damn did that match go! That was a PPV quality match and just the thing to heat up the crowd, Deeb's vicious heel style still suits her especially against Riho's connection to fans as a babyface. This also sets up Rosa to be the babyface in her pursuit to reclaim the NWA title too, but yeah excellent match, it could've gone either way but I know that COVID would've restricted Riho's schedule to be the champ, otherwise a hot start.

A THIRD Bucks/MoxEddie package preludes Taz and JR coming to commentary to get the main card started. The main card has a bit of pyro though

Main Show We were kinda given away on the first match since you hear the entrance theme just as the Buy-In ends, no time for packages we're jumping straight into action.

'Hangman' Adam Page def. Brian Cage (Pinfall via Buckshot Lariat) Cage comes out with some Terminator gear and the FTW title, a low hum of boos for the Machine given how he is the heel. Hangman however gets a massive pop, a poster of 'Hangman is a Dream Boat' and 'He's a F***ing Horse' and the traditionally hilarious name plate joke being 'Horse with a Hangover' pads Hangman's time getting in the ring while Taz talks trash. The moment the bell rings Hangman is off the mark but gets shoved off by the stronger Cage, some Big Boots stagger but Cage throws him into the turnbuckles, he tries to set up a Pumphandle version of the Drill Claw but Hangman lands on his feet. Triangle Clothesline doesn't stun Cage long enough to pull Hangman out of the ring and into the guardrail, but Hangman comes back with a Suicide Dive. Cage catches the Diving Crossbody and powerbombs him into the ring post, another guardrail throw and Cage brings things back into the ring, every time Hangman tries to strike back Hangman uses his power, choking Hangman on the ropes, throwing him into the turnbuckle, Cage is having fun. That fun almost gets him though, after some showboating with bicep curls, Hangman reverses the Fallaway Slam into a Crucifix Bomb for 2, Hangman tries the lariat but Cage doesn't budge, he tries again but Cage responds at the same time, only Hangman falls from the impact though. Cage then tries a lariat but misses, leading Hangman to use his whole body to Lariat both of them over the ropes. Big Moonsault out of the ring hands the Hangman an advantage but as he climbs to the top rope Cage pulls back, looks to set up an Avalanche Drill Claw but Hangman fights out, Hangman tries a super Hurricanrana but Cage is too strong, Cage looks for the Avalanche Bomb but Hangman hits the super rana the second time, 1, 2, No. Hangman looks to set up the Buckshot but hits a boot through the ropes, Cage hits back with a Superkick that kinda doesn't hit him at all XD Cage sets up the Deadlift Suplex, but Hangman flips out of it and sets up a Powerbomb, Cage wriggles out, misses the Discus Lariat and gets hit with a forearm, Lariat floors Cage for 2. Commentary notes that Cage is dazed as Hangman sets up the Deadeye, Hangman clubs out though and hits the ripcord elbow, looks for a F-5 thing but Hangman floats out, Cage catches the big boot, Knee to the gut and a neckbreaker for 2. Cage does his corner combo but Hangman holds off the German, he hits an elbow but runs into Cage's F-5 that drops him into the ropes. Seeing the entrance ramp, Cage hits the Deadlift Suplex, hits an Avalanche Flatliner back into the ring and sets up his own Buckshot Lariat, but he staggers on the flip and Hangman hits the F-5 for 2. He tries the Buckshot but Cage ducks German, Powerbomb, Buckle Bomb, but Hangman gets the Jacknife Pin, 1, 2, NO. Cage hits the Discus, Spinning Liger bomb, 1, 2, NO. The crowd are getting super hot. And in that heat a reign of boos come about as Hook and Starks rush to the ring, the former distracting the ref as Starks throws Cage the FTW title, Cage though is having none of it, throwing the title back to Starks declaring that he can win it without. Starks is offended, aghast even, but as Cage turns Hangman tries to lift him for Deadeye, Cage escapes and throws Hangman into the ropes, as he turns to address Hook though Hangman holds on, Buckshot Lariat! 1, 2, 3!

And Breathe. Lord what a match. Granted the FTW shenanigans was a little bit of a damper but this sets up Cage's face turn away from FTW, and it protects him a little because they distracted him. A big Hangman win was definitely the best way to open the match with the crowds, Hangman grabs a beer and cheers to the roaring crowd as Taz voices his disappointment. Angered, Cage gets in Hook and Starks' faces, he goes to shove Starks but he notes his bad neck so he shoves Hook instead and leaves.

Yet another Bucks/MoxEddie promo...this time though it's because the match is on next.

AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks [Matt & Nick Jackson w/Brandon Cutler] (c) def. Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston (Pinfall on Moxley by Matt via BTE Trigger x4) Wild Thing (admittedly, while it was nice for Nagata I prefer his old theme) hits the crowd as the crowd get to their feet, Mox and Eddie enter the crowd like they're in the streets, carrying the Buck's fancy shoes with them. The Bucks comes in with a Red and Blue with liquid prints on their jackets (signifying 'drip'), but as the streamers pop Mox and Eddie attack. A good nod from commentary joking that the pop of the streamers signified 'Go' to Mox and Eddie as Mox fed Matt his streamers outside of the ring. While choking Matt with a scarf though the significantly blonder Nick escapes Eddie and gangs up on Mox, all get hit with a Suicide Dive from Eddie as the two take things outside of the ring. Kingston throwing streamers in front of KiLynn King while Mox soaks in a beer with the crowd. Both bucks get thrown in the Barricade as Brandon Cutler attempts to tend to them with Cold Spray, Kingston stalks him though so he rushes through the ring in hopes of getting to the ramp - only to run into Moxley's Rear Naked Choke - Kingston and Mox combo a Half-Nelson Suplex and Clothesline combo to finish him. The Bucks come back though as Matt pulls Mox out the ring, Nick blindsides Eddie and calls for the bell to ring, the match is finally started. Moxley deals with Matt as Eddie chops and Kitchen Sinks Nick. After a double shoulder block Mox alerts the ref to Matt entering the ring illegally, as the duo stomp at Nick in turnabout. After both hitting Nick in the corner Kingston hits a Drop Suplex? (I dunno what it's called he lifted him up but then dropped him face first rather than leaning back) and an STO. The Bucks recover momentum with a thumb to the eye thanks to Matt's distraction, Matt tags in and knocks away Mox, mid-rope dropkick while skinning the cat leaves Eddie alone for the corner combos; boot and enzugiri and then the bottom corner dropkick/kick to the back of the head, the Bucks then chide the crowd. The Bucks start getting into their groove with their usual combos, but when Nick mocks Mox it gives Eddie time to Flapjack him into the ropes, Matt tags in though before Eddie can reach Moxley and kicks away his leg before knocking Mox from the corner and pretending to Hot Tag from Kingston. It's your traditional hot tag stuff, clotheslines then the 10 clubs in the corner, powerslam then some Hogan-esque showboating, but Moxley catches Matt's legs when he goes to the ropes and hits a lariat. Throwing his brother in the ring, Nick tags himself in but lands into an exploder, both men tag out but Mox goes at both Bucks, dropkicking Matt into Nick, throws Matt, hits Nick with the Money Clip and Gotch Piledriver, Matt jumps Moxley but gets a piledriver too, Mox tries the Bulldog Choke but Nick breaks the hold, the Bucks try a double suplex but Mox twists out and into a double DDT. Both Bucks are in opposite corners, Nick gets hit by a clothesline but Matt gets his foot up, Mox hits the back body press and then Anderson comes out. The ref distracted, Nick goes to hand Matt the spray, but Eddie's got a glare like hell on the Bucks and scouts what they're doing, he dives at the blindsiding Gallows and Kazarian out of nowhere charges at Anderson, he warned the Elite that he would come for them. Matt does get the Cold Spray in Mox's face and hits him with the bottle for good measure, 1, 2, No. Mox is busted open now but Gallows and Anderson are ejected. The Bucks are pissed now, and hit Moxley with a Meltzer Driver on the rampway, wanting the countout as Don Callis (I only could confirm he was there up till now...) notes how he'd be happy with that. Moxley staggers around the ring, dazed but able to get back in the ring, inviting more from Matt. Matt goes for the open wound, stomps and punches, then the draped swanton for 2, the crowd chant for Moxley as the Bucks kick away at him for 2, then a Bulldog Choke by Matt, then an outside the ring choke from Nick

as Eddie tries to alert the ref. Mox tries to fight back but the Bucks team up to club down at him, they mock the Shield as they set up an assisted powerbomb, but as Matt does the OOOOAHHH he eats a boot from Moxley, German for Nick, German on both at the same time (Matt grabbed Nick trying to escape it), Eddie tags in for a big hot tag. Belly to belly on Nick, Enzugiri and DDT on Matt, he tries his submission hold but Nick hits breaks the hold by hitting Eddie's head, Eddie is not at all impressed - as am I for JR forgetting that Maki Itoh has the 'hardest head in the business' - Nick eats the big boot and Matt gets the chops, Nick though superkicks the back of Eddie's leg to regain momentum. Assisted Sliced Bread and a running Shining Wizard gets 2, Nick goes for the Swanton but the knees are up, Mox tags in but runs into a double Superkick, they set up More Bang for your Buck but Mox gets the Rear Naked Choke as Eddie holds Nick down. Nick escapes and just as Matt rolls out lands the 450, 1, 2, NO! Matt is furious, sets up the Meltzer driver but Eddie pulls Nick down, Mox gets the Choke again, they try their combo (I think they called it the Violent Crown) but Nick pulls Moxley from the ropes. Bucks try the Meltzer driver on Eddie but Mox pulls Nick into the apron, Mox throws Eddie one of the Bucks' Diors in front of the ref, but grabs the other three as the ref confiscates it, using one of the shoes he hits the Doomsday Device but Nick breaks the hold, rocks Kingston with a knee and sets up the superkick, Mox catches and sets up the Paradigm Shift, Nick rolls out and gets the Sharpshooter (JR correcting with the Scorpion Deathlock) as Matt tries to hold down Eddie. Eddie breaks the hold and hits Matt with the Backdrop Driver but eats a Superkick, Moxley hits the Lariat, Paradigm Shift, 1, 2, Matt breaks the pin. Moxley hits headbutts and tries to throw Nick out of the ring, but he lands on the apron and kicks at Eddie's leg again, that leads him to be choked but he's on the ropes so Mox drags him into the ring, Matt tries the superkick but Mox catches, but he can't stop both of them, double Superkick! But Mox rebounds to a double Lariat, he looks to get Nick with the Paradigm Shift but eats a Superkick, then it's just a Superkick party, Nick, then Matt, then both, On-NO! Not Even One! Moxley is possessed, staring at the Bucks, they hit another double Superkick but Eddie comes in, he flinches at the Superkick and gets one in the shin by Matt, leading to Nick hitting him with one in the face. The Bucks smell the end, BTE trigger! But Mox doesn't fall, BTE Trigger, BTE Trigger, BTE Trigger, and Mox finally collapses, 1, 2, 3. Callis comes down to celebrate as the Bucks mock in the camera.

3 Matches in and all have been bangers. I sincerely thought that Eddie and Mox's unorthodox nature would throw the cocky Bucks off for a short reign until Renee was due but I am not unhappy with what we got, stunning match where the Bucks simply won because they were a tag team, plus their position on the card - no way they were gonna have Hangman and then MoxEddie win consecutively. It's a shame that Eddie rarely wins a feud still but what a showing from all four men, shades of Revolution's tag team banger too.

As Commentary run down the rest of the card we learn that the Blade will be replaced by Serpentico and QT is replaced by Aaron Solow in the Casino Battle Royale due to injury, shame but I doubt they were gonna win. They at least storied up QT's one as him 'not wanting to risk injury'. Paul Wight comes down as guest commentator for the CBR as the rules are run down.

Casino Battle Royale - Jungle Boy wins the battle royale (Eliminated Christian Cage). The Clubs come out first with Christian Cage first out, Matt Sydal, Powerhouse Hobbs (looking extra lean now), the Bullrope-wielding Dustin Rhodes and Max Caster look to start off, Caster running down his opponents in rap - that 'had no Edge' comment for Christian was one hell of a deep cut, but also alluding to Sydal's flop last year - it at least got the crowd going. Bell rings and Hobbs and Christian pick up where they left off, Dustin goes for Caster while Sydal bounces off Hobbs. Dustin and Matt switch places for Sydal to have a mini-match with Caster, but Caster hits him with a low blow and dumps him out - I guess we won't see him do the Shooting Star Press. Caster though gets eliminated by Christian, he landed on the ramp first so there was confusion but he rolled to the floor to sell it properly, he may've hurt himself though because Christian did pop his head out the ring to check on him. The Diamonds are out next; Matt Hardy, but he and Kassidy wait at the tunnel to try and jump 10, Vance though boots Hardy and Powerbombs Kassidy so the two can sleep, Comoroto is out next and guns for Dustin, easily outmatching him as Serpentico makes his entrance dragged by Bobcat Goldthwait Luther. Serpentico doesn't last long against 10 though, who squares up to Comoroto, Spine on the Pine by 10 but he can't clothesline Comoroto over the rope, he lands into a Spear and gets thrown over to the apron, 10 looks like he was meant to headscissor but didn't grip well, as Comoroto is draped Dustin throws the Freakenbeast over as 10 falls with him. Comoroto though still cracks Dustin with the cow bell, their Bullrope Match is imminent, leaving Hobbs able to dump Dustin out. For 4 seconds only Hobbs and Christian remain in-ring (Hardy starts to enter at 1 seconds) for him to hit the Killswitch. Hearts are next as Kassidy chop blocks Christian when the crowds popped for a classic E&C/Hardys retreading; the Varsity Blonds though roar in together to get Matt and Kassidy, Colt Cabana comes in with Brodie's old ring jacket to hit the Dusty Elbow but the numbers are balanced by Bowens (Christian and Hobbs are sleeping now). And then Penta rocks up in a Joker-inspired gear which looks insane in the best possible ways, Cero Miedo superkick to Bowens, then just having it at anybody who looks at him. Cabana is eliminated off-screen by Kassidy when trying to deal with Hardy, Bowens is it with the Dropkick/Spinebuster combo from the Blonds before being dumped out, Griff is eliminated by Hardy after some blows on the apron as Pillman struggles with Penta. HFO try to clean up but Penta just goes at it with Matt now, the crowd chant for Brian Pillman as Jr tries to dump Kassidy, but the Spades are coming. Baltimora pops the crowd huge for Jungle Boy's entrance, immediately getting in Penta's face, two Singblades by Penta follows Quen's entrance to Gin n Juice Pillman Jr, Pillman's dumped by Private Party as Aaron Solow goes in for Matt Hardy, Evil Uno and Lee Johnson complete the 20, Uno at Hardy, Johnson to Solow, the latter two go to the apron and Johnson elbows Solow off but gets knocked off by Hardy - tad abrupt for me really. Uno is eliminated by Penta's Enzugiri but then Jungle Boy just LAUNCHES at Penta, headscissors him out while still holding the ropes that was insane, but Hobbs has slithered back in and just ran through Quen, patented Spinebuster on Kassidy and now Christian is back in the ring. Hobbs though is shrugging off any offence, Hardy is knocked away, JB is being choked out, he tries to splash Christian in the corner but Christian dodges, and after a labored attempt throws Hobbs over. 50 seconds until the Joker; Hardy Party vs Christian and JB, Christian is hobbling as the numbers advantage comes into play, 20 seconds both faces are just being stomped in the corner, 10 seconds and Kassidy is holding Christian down with his foot, 7 Seconds the Crowd Stand to see who it is; 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Lio Rush, it got a tiny pop but, yeah...people were

hoping for something bigger. Rush is another Forbidden Door given his time on NJPW Strong and starts immediately with Private Party, Poison Rana on Quen, Spanish Fly on Kassidy, botches the first but hits the second rebound stunner on Hardy, the Man of the Hour is the only one standing. Rush looks to try and dump Private Party, they try the Silly String but Rush puts Quen back on Kassidy, he looks to add the weight but Hardy eliminates him, saving Private Party and kinda rendering the Joker meaningless, a half-hearted 'sorry, Lio' from JR too. Back to how it was before Lio came in, Hardy Party dealing with the faces, doing some 'Delete!' chants as Hardy hits JB with a Side Effect, JB though hits the rebound Clothesline so Quen attacks, JB is on the apron but Christian has come in, Private Party try the Silly String again but JB superkicks Kassidy off him and sweeps Quen for Christian to dropkick him, the turns have tabled! Hardy tries to establish veteran teamwork against Christian, Christian looks to agree then just throws Hardy out to a big pop. It comes down to Jungle Boy or Christian Cage, it really sells on JB's face what a moment it is. Christian tries for a quick throw over but JB goes to the corner, the crowd chanting his theme song, Flying Uppercut by Christian but JB gets his Enzugiri combo, rebound clothesline is reversed into a reverse DDT, Christian favors the knee but sizes JB up for the Spear, JB lifts him though and tries to DVD him off, but Christian shifts his weight back in-ring, Christian throws JB onto the apron, but JB latches onto Christian, trying the slow DDT-drag but now both are on the apron. JB tries to get in the ring but Christian grabs the hair, JB (sitting on the middle rope) leans back to kick him in the face, he knocks away one hand, goes to boot the other but Christian dodges, sets up the Killswitch but JB elbows out, goes to push him into the ring post but JB SWINGS AROUND IT and back into the ring. Christian tries the dropkick but JB headbutts him in the gut, tries the back body press AND HE'S OUT! JUNGLE BOY WINS!

The crowd erupts in Baltimora as Jurassic Express congratulate their stablemate, Christian returns and congratulates JB, telling him to make the most of his opportunity. I am physically sweating right now. Battle Royales are tough to get right unless it's called 'Royal Rumble', even then the CBR did fail in some places of not giving some younger talent enough time. Hardy eliminated a lot of younger talent which while it's a storyline sense because he's the Leech didn't sit too well, once again Evil Uno gets slighted but at least he didn't botch his elimination. Lio Rush as a Joker would've been fine but he came in, had a flurry and then got eliminated so nothing really changed, I know a lot were hoping for Daniel Bryan and lawd would it have blown the roof off but I am fine with a Forbidden Door entry, should've at least gotten one person - I had hoped the Joker would be the winner too. I really appreciate though that Christian didn't win, he still has his mini feud with Hobbs which is elevating the dude big time, and I don't think winning a royale to get a title shot fits for his 'Out-Work Everyone' Mantra and I was convinced he was gonna win after being the first to enter, Jungle Boy though is a thoroughly deserved winner, this dude was bouncing off all manner of things! He has been a proverbial bridesmaid in royales because of how good a babyface he is and while I doubt he'll beat the champion this can act as a similar saga that Darby had when Moxley was champ.

In prep for the Patriotism match Shawn Dean - a veteran himself - and the K9 for Warriors group while respecting the fallen and showing a number to support the Paws Act S.613, which will help Disabled Veterans get Service Dogs to combat Veteran Suicides. Blatant placement to make Cody the face aside, this act should be a thing. But of course, this leads to USA chants and a very American veteran's package which I thought was preluding Cody's entrance to start. I have...thoughts...but not ones I'm going to rant about.

'The American Dream' Cody Rhodes [w/Arn Anderson] def. Anthony Ogogo [w/QT Marshall] (Pinfall via Din's Fire) Ogogo enters to weak boos carrying the Union Jack, it seems that some fans have been handed mini-USA flags too. Ogogo's entrance is short because Cody comes in with the tron showing the American flag, Cody is VERY red white and blue, with some gold in there too, it's not Apollo Creed level but if you stuck that attire in a fighting game you'd tell that they were the American. The announcer really hammed up both men too, but while Ogogo's is worth noting since he is an Olympic medallist I don't think Cody's needed the 'he's the son of a common man and a father to be', I would actually have been intrigued to watch this match with an American because as a Brit this is super excessive and pandering. Cody hands his weighted USA belt to a kid in the crowd and at this point Cody's entrance has lasted 2x longer than Ogogo's did. A tale of the tape also kinda undermined Ogogo, 'The East of England'? He's from Suffolk just say Suffolk, England. The Bell rings and Ogogo goes straight for the hammer, Cody ducks and does the Boxer-hugging thing to stop punches. Ogogo tries another punch but Cody catches and tries to wrench it, being knocked away he does the drop uppercut but then runs right into the Guv'nor's Hammer, but Cody is a patriot, we all knew he would stand up from that. Olympic Slam hits 2 as Cody catches his breath, he dodges the corner charge and hits the powerslam but now both men's ribs are hurt. Cody knees at Ogogo's ribs, but Ogogo shows his athleticism, leapfrogs Cody then stomps him down. He tries for a punch but Cody grabs the leg to knock him down, Cattle Mutilation weakens the arms but doesn't get the submission as he rolls out the ring, Cody tries a dive but gets clubbed in the arm. German from Ogogo, kick to the gut, then kinda a heelish People's Elbow - he middle finger'd the crowd and did the wanker gesture then hit the elbow - but it's only getting 2s. Cody grabs the leg but Ogogo rakes the eye, corner European Uppercut and a Clothesline from Hell, as Ogogo talks to the ref QT suckers Cody but it only gets 2. Anderson chases QT with a chair to prevent him from interfering again, QT scurrying to the ramp to avoid the Enforcer. Ogogo misses the...let's call it The Empire's Elbow as Cody goes for the hands, Ogogo lifts him up though to a F-5/chokeslam kinda move for 2. He boots Ogogo in the face and looks for the lariat but Ogogo just sidesteps him and throws Cody into the ropes, Cody then quickly rushes to Arn for encouragement - for a brief moment I thought he got whiplash or his throat got crushed because that was a nasty rebound. QT is busted open, likely bladed by QT, as he tries for another punch, Cody though keeps kicking away, picking at each limb and then the Bulldog (ironic), Cody clubs at the open wound and hits the Cody Cutter, he puts him on the top turnbuckle but Ogogo punches him away, he gets down but gets back up on the turnbuckle so he probably forgot his position for a bit but he lands an impressive Frog Splash, the injured ribs means that Cody kicks out at 2. Cody hits a dropkick and puts in the Figure Four, QT tries to pull the ropes to Ogogo but it's too far so Ogogo rolls, Cody breaks the hold and goes to the ropes, headbutts blindly at Ogogo and sets up the Cross-Rhodes, but Ogogo snapmares him, Guv'nor's Hammer, Uppercut, but as he pins Cody's arm is under the ropes. Dominator, 1, 2, no...He tries the Pop-Up Guv'nor's Hammer but Cody elbows at his head, Din's Fire for 3. Cody jumps in the crowd to celebrate.

*sigh* Yes, let's not put over Anthony Ogogo in victory, not like Cody has a child he'll wanna take care of and thus be written out of tv. It went how I feared it would really, Cody shrugs off 3 gut punches that have KO'd him before AND AN UPPERCUT from an Olympic Boxer who KO's people for 10 seconds rather than 3 because 'Murica and Memorial Day Weekend, could QT have not moved Cody's arm from under the ropes? Or told Ogogo of that fact? I'm sorry but I didn't feel this, it doesn't ruin the PPV but this match should've ended on the first gut punch, but Cody is Cody, he doesn't lose clean unless he gets a win back and he's only ever done that once - I just hoped this'd be different. This feud didn't need the America vs UK stuff, but Ogogo really makes the valid points about the failings of America's healthcare system and how the foundation of America is built on underpaying and overworking the lower class while Cody's argument is 'my wife is black', but Cody is the face. This narrative also was hampered by the fact that Cody beat QT - the faction leader - previously too, so what was the point of putting his less-experienced student against Cody if he wasn't gonna win? As a match it was a good showcase to what Ogogo could do, but booking wise this only benefits the uber-patriots and Cody's ego, especially since he didn't even land a Cross Rhodes he used Din's Fire which hasn't beaten anyone in AEW nor does it affect any of the 'injured' spots alluded to in the match, the worst thing he got before that was a cutter, so sorry but no don't buy.

We move to setting up the TNT title match as it's noted that in a prior fans-only weigh in between Baker and Shida, Miro cheap shotted Jake the Snake.

TNT Championship: Miro (c) def. Lance Archer (Submission via Game Over) Archer charged in without Jake, scaring the announcer since he hadn't brought any jobbers with him, Miro next comes in with the TNT title colors. Before the match even starts though Archer dives at Miro, throwing him in the ring to begin the match. After some running corner clotheslines Miro tries to clothesline Archer, neither man budges though so Archer hits the big boot, he does his Old School Moonsault but only gets 1. Miro takes advantage outside the ring by hitting Archer with the barricade, but when trying to use Archer's hair as leverage Archer comes back, hitting Miro on the ring post, a table then a spinebuster through that table. Miro leaves the ring but Archer goes for the charge, he's caught though and belly-to-belly'd into Fuego del Sol and friends, Northern Lights back over the Guardrail and Miro takes advantage, he takes a bit too long to soak in his strength though as Archer crossbodies into his charge, Miro gets back the momentum with the leg lariat as he amps the crowd for some Yes Kicks - while holding Archer's hair - his third one though is caught and I think they called it a 'Hellercoaster' is hit, only gets 2. Archer goes up top, but misses the Moonsault, Matchka Kick, Samoan Drop, 1, 2, no. Miro sets up another Matchka but Jake the Snake is in, with the snake bag in hand, Miro drags Jake in and superkicks Archer, he then grabs the snake bag and throws it all the way back down the tunnel - rather he had stomped it first like Earthquake killed Jake's original snake. Eyes like Death Miro prepares to finish Jake off, but runs into a chokeslam by Archer, 1, 2, No. Miro's on the turnbuckle clubbing at Archer, Archer sets up the Black Out but Miro gets out, chopping the tree at the legs but then gets hit with a Pounce. As Archer attempts to enter the ring he grabs Miro with a chokeslam in mind, but Miro kicks the middle rope so it hits the nether region, suplex into the ring by Miro, Matchka and then Game Over is announced. Archer struggles before Miro can lock in and as Miro tries to cinch back it's proven that Archer's knees are in the way. Miro kicks at the kidneys then pulls back, Archer now laying on Miro as the Game Over fades him. Miro rallies the crowd as he gleefully celebrates his successful defense.

Nice little TNT title match, I think it did well to cleanse any sour palettes that the last match begot. Archer is sadly in the same case as Kingston where he does keep losing but at least here they had a pseudo-low blow to protect him. Miro's reign continues which is a positive though the snake stuff probably wasn't needed.

A promo for All Out returning to Chicago is made, Cody announcing it probably not the best call either, there are other EVPs, how about World Champion Kenny Omega?

AEW Women's Championship: Dr. Britt Baker DMD [w/Rebel 'Reba' Tanea] def Hikaru Shida (c) (Submission via Lockjaw) - TITLE CHANGE! The show wasted no time getting this started, no promo package at all. Baker came in to a huge pop clad in red and black as Reba feigned walking with a crutch. Shida arrives clad beautifully in white with the new Women's Title (Bigger is better but I still think it could be wider). While it didn't get a package it got an announcement, allowing the crowd to cheer both women, but the DMD chant was louder. Staring down each other, the match immediately explodes, clubbing blows from both but then Baker rolls for the Lockjaw, Shida escapes and tries the Tamashii but Baker dodges. Baker takes control and gets a snapmare pin, but then Shida powers out, stretching Baker with the Bow and Arrow, then a Bodyscissors, then a shoulder stretch, Baker escapes the dropkick though and catches Shida with a kick when re-entering the ring, she holds the hammerlock but gets thrusted into the turnbuckle, a fantastic rana from Shida and then a dropkick lands, Baker is thrown into the barricade as Shida sets up the Chair-assisted knee strike. Baker looks to reverse it into a Sling Blade but Shida dodges by jumping onto the apron, diving crossbody takes out Reba and Shida sets up the apron knee-lift, but Baker kicks Shida during her charge. Baker resumes control by attacking the head, stomps and punches, Shida tries to reverse into an arm drag but Shida then hits the curb stomp (the one where she holds the arms not the Rollins one), Reba brandishes a black and red sparkling glove as Baker prepares for Lockjaw but Shida rolls away, Baker hits the butterfly suplex for 2 twice and lays into Shida, Shida gets a foot up but Baker sweeps her face first into the turnbuckle for 2. Shida catches one of Baker's mock kicks as she starts to heat up, two hits in the face sets her off as she goes to town on Baker, sweeping her leg to club at her some more. Headshots into the turnbuckle, 3 knee strikes and a stretch at the nose, she looks for the Falcon Arrow but Baker sandbags and tries to roll away, but Shida rolls with and hits the normal suplex for 2, Tamashii to the back of the head - Reba unable to grab the leg - 1, 2, no. Shida tries Falcon Arrow but Baker hooks the leg to try a Fisherman's Buster, Shida escapes with some knees to the gut as they trade punches, Baker kicks the thigh but Shida hits the Enzugiri, low superkick by Baker and a Fisherman's Neckbreaker gets 2. Baker tries to get the Rollins-esque Curb Stomp but Shida catches her into the Stretch Muffler but Baker gets to the ropes, Superkick and Sling Blade gets Shida as her emotions are running high against the ref, Air Raid Crash for 2, she sets up for Lockjaw but Shida is crawling for the ropes, so Baker cleverly switches sides but can't get the Mandible Claw in, in Sasha Banks fashion she kicks the ropes to roll them both into the ring but Shida's on her feet, Baker looks like she yanked the hair to get off. Both trade yanking at the hair, Shida hits the German, a Sliding Lariat for 2. It may've been a botch because I think Shida was trying to do Colt Cabana's finish when you drop someone into the turnbuckle corner but it was easily sold as Baker wriggling out, instead we get a In and Out Superplex by Shida for 2, she lifts Baker to try again but Baker rolls her up for 2, Shida gets the Stretch Muffler so Reba distracts her with the title, scouting the crutch though Shida side steps Baker and Baker gets cracked by the crutch, 1, 2, No! Falcon Arrow, 1, 2, No! Shida sets up the Katana but Reba distracts her and the ref, Baker grabs the title, Shida takes it off of her, Baker superkicks, Curb Stomp on the title, 1, 2, NO! Tony cannot believe it! I can't either! Baker goes for Lockjaw but Shida rolls up for 2, jumping Knee strike by a wobbly Shida, Tamashii! 1, 2, No! Baker rolls Shida up, 1, 2, No! Baker has the Lockjaw, gets the Mandible Claw and Shida taps! Reba comes to the ring to show a new shirt and Tony embraces Baker.

It had to happen, but by god...what is this show? Palette completely cleansed now the women killed it. My only complaint would be how quickly Shida tapped - and that she tapped at all - but it does really sell the Lockjaw well. Shida though, I will have no disrespect towards her, she has delivered all freaking year AND she was responsible for the eliminator tournament, Hikaru Shida is an AEW Legend, full stop. As for Baker, as I said it was indeed her time, Shida had beaten everyone in the division and now Baker can be at the top of the mountain, we can also now establish a ton of new challengers for Baker, like whoever takes it from her will be instantly elevated, will it be Rosa, Conti, Anna, Riho, Itoh, Leyla, Abadon, Statlander, Yuka? There are endless possibilities to look forward to.

We pan to each of the Triple Threat members in preparation for their match; PAC is working out, Cassidy is chilling with his Best Friends and Alien with ice cream, and Kenny is playing with a ball with all the titles around him - Callis holding the Impact World title is a nice touch.

Tag Match: Darby Allin & Sting def Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky (pinfall on Sky by Sting via Scorpion Death Drop) The team I like to call ScorpEgo enter first with their posturing before a package by Darby signifies 'It's Showtime', skating down the highway he this time enters a 50s car Sting is riding. Sting enters first with his snow and a huge pop from the crowd, Darby soon after with the Sting-inspired paint. Darby gets in the ring, then dives right at Page (seems to be a theme this PPV) to instigate a brawl on the outside. Darby using his full body to crush Page by the guardrail before rabidly attacking him with the rail and then hopping on him like an animal while Sting and Sky (Scorpion vs Scorpio) go to the rampway. Sky rakes Sting's eye and hits 60 Year Old Sting on the rampway (the red carpet must be obvious padding) as Page crushes Darby between the apron, but Sting immediately gets back up as Sky poses on the poker chips and throws Sky off the stack and into Page. Sting takes off his sweater and there's the old ring attire, diving crossbody! The crowd goes wild! Sky gets thrown into the ring to start the match as Sting throws Darby into Sky, then again into Page, before hitting a bulldog. The duo isolate sky with an armlock and quick tags, Darby tries the armbar but Sky powers out, he looks to jump off the top rope but Page cuts the legs from under him, making an innocent shiteating gesture as the crowd boo him. In and out cutter by Sky puts the heels in control, Page toys with Darby as Excalibur notes on their shared history outside of AEW. Sky tags in to bend Darby with a backbreaker and a stretch, but Darby goes for the fingers to escape, only to be hit by Page's elbow drop after Sky tagged him in while still locking Darby down, Page mocks Sting before hitting a suplex, Sky tags in and sends Darby into the corner as Page rakes him, Darby tries to kick but Sky catches it and swings him for a Draping Neckbreaker but Darby flips over and tags in Sting. As Sting goes to clean up though Aubrey dismisses Sting, having not seen the tag due to Page's attacks against Darby, Sky drags Darby from outside the ring back into his corner and tags Page back in, Page mocks Sting by extending Darby's hand, picks him up for a gorilla press and JESUS CHRIST ETHAN! The dude throws Darby into the crowd, and you hear where Darby's legs clip the barricade that was close. It turns out that the people who caught him included Darby's brothers as Page just looks insane. Sting drags the limp body of Darby from the barricade as Aubrey is forced to start the count, Sting torn between protecting his successor and continuing the fight as Page goads him into bringing Darby back into the ring with him. He tries to lift Darby but he can't do it in his heart, the count gets to 9 as he drops Darby and looks to charge into the ring alone, but then Darby just darts back inside the ring on his own. Page drags Darby back into his corner, mocking Sting for too long, because when he sets up the Ego's edge Darby kicks Sky off the apron and uses the turnbuckle to lock his legs around, he scraps out and applies the backpack sleeper, pulling Page's arms under his legs so he can't reach Sky. Page breaks the hold by charging into the turnbuckle, but Darby replies with the flip stunner and finally tags in Sting. Sting clubs at Sky and whips him into Page, then whips him into the other corner for a Stinger Splash, then another to Page, he clotheslines Sky out the ring then hits a rolling 'code red' onto Page for 2 (it was more a sunset roll but still really impressive). Darby asks to be tagged for the Coffin Drop by Sky cuts the legs from under him, Page then winds Sting with some kicks, with Sting on the floor and Darby on the turnbuckle, Page throws Darby into Sting like a Swanton, maintaining wrist control to set up the Ego's Edge, it looks like he's gonna drop Darby on Sting but Sting pops up and gets the Scorpion Deathlock in. Sting is not legal, but Darby adds to the hold with the armbar, Sky though gets the heel lock in, so now both legal men are being

subjected to submissions by the illegal men, slapping at each other and gouging at the eyes as Aubrey tries to reclaim control. At 4 she pushes Sting away and Sky breaks the hold, Sting and Sky square up but Aubrey sends both to their respective corners. Page and Darby tag in to set up Sky and Sting - JR noting the Scorpion/Scorpio comment I said too, quit stealing my lines JR - Sky keeps chopping at the legs but Sting rallies, he tries the Stinger Splash but Sky goes for the In and Out Cutter, Sting catches it, Scorpion Death Drop, 1, 2, 3! Sting pulls Darby back into the ring to celebrate.

Really good match, Sting really showed his stuff and AEW did really well to mask any limitations he might've had. Sky and Page worked great too aside from that throwing spot which scared the shit outta me. I had ScorpEgo to win by neutralizing Darby because they were undefeated, there looked to be a Dark Order feud on the horizon and I did have a lot of babyface win predictions (in this I'm including Ogogo as a face, because he was) but I am not upset with Sting and Darby getting another win. I will say however that this needs to lead somewhere, and not just Archer interrupting Sting interviews it actually has to lead to something tangible, even if it's Darby getting a rematch so he can face Miro at 100%.

We get out World Title package now for the first of our co-main events.

AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega [w/Don Callis] (c) def. PAC & Orange Cassidy [w/Best Friends & Kris Statlander] (Pinfall on Cassidy via Crucifix Roll-up) PAC enters first, he doesn't go to the turnbuckle though and he's not with his Death Triangle buddies, OC though comes with his squad, a chekov's backpack and Statlander looking extra beautiful - her outfit seems to be an alien homage but I dunno which one, Kenny then comes out draped in gold; AEW title on his waist, TNA on his chest, and the AAA and Impact titles in his hands. Also Unbeaten in 638 days...we not including Impact where he lost in tag action? The bell rings and PAC tries to go for Kenny, but hides in the ropes before jumping OC. PAC and Kenny square off in the ring, trading blows off the rebound before wiping each other out with simultaneous crossbodies, OC struts back in, casually pins both men each time for 1, both men get up and try attack him while he gestures for the pockets, but OC ducks and hits a double rana. PAC leaves the ring leaving just Kenny but OC does the suicide dive on PAC and a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Omega, more emphatic cover for 2, he gestures the Orange Punch but Kenny goes in close, PAC returns and ejects Kenny with a Headscissors, then an Asai Moonsault before tending to OC in the ring. PAC tries to choke OC in the corner, Shotgun Dropkick to OC, then to Omega, then to both, now he chokes Kenny in the corner, Kenny whips PAC into OC but his running back elbow only hits Cassidy, he seats Cassidy on the middle turnbuckle and hits PAC with the You Can't Escape while hitting OC with the backstabber. Kenny continues his focus on PAC, dragging his face across the ropes then hitting the backdrop for 2, chops piss off PAC though and they trade blows, PAC asks if that's all he has so Kenny replies by shoving PAC into the turnbuckle with his boot, he talks shit to PAC but as he turns OC is doing a Last Supper rollup, only two! Kenny hits a Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker as PAC rolls out the ring, Kenny gets a gutbuster and mocks the Freshly Squeezed Chants with the thumbs up, he throws Cassidy to the ropes but he grips on, hits and elbow but PAC slides OC under the ring and then gets hit with Kenny's baseball dropkick then hits both with his diving tope. He pulls OC into the ring, sets him up for a suplex but gets countered into a Stundog Millionaire, he sets up the Beach Break but Kenny tries the sunset roll, OC sits down to pin him but they see-saw back and forth with pins, OC tries the Jacknife pin, Kenny gets each shoulder up but on the third PAC breaks the pin with a 450. Pac leapfrogs over Kenny on the springboard but gets hit with a Snap Dragon Suplex, two for OC as well, both opponents are on the ropes, V-Trigger for OC but PAC dodges and hits the German, blocks the Superkick but not PAC's boot, Kenny uses OC to block PAC's momentum and tries another Snap Dragon, but PAC wriggles out, he goes for a superkick but Kenny ducks and it hits OC instead while Kenny swings a Lariat. Another V-Trigger to OC this time on the turnbuckle, he sets up for an Avalanche Snap Dragon Suplex but OC is fighting, the crowd sense it as he lowers his hands, inching to his pockets, Kenny tries to torque back but he gets them in there, and is unable to get them out, in his struggle PAC leaps up and Avalanche German's Kenny, PAC rolls out the ring but OC hits him with a diving flip. He goes back into the ring for Kenny but gets a kick in the gut, Kenny unpockets him and hits the Tiger Driver 98, 1, 2, No. PAC is on the apron, ready to springboard on Kenny, but as he jumps Kenny catches him and sets up the OWA, PAC shifts himself though and tries to flip him, but Kenny catches him and does a bridging German Suplex for 2. Kenny pulls down the Knee Pad and strikes OC with a couple of knee shots, on the third OC puts in his pockets and then collapses, giving PAC time to recover, but Kenny hits a knee onto him, he rebounds off the ropes but OC pushes PAC out the way and hits the powerslam, PAC then hits OC with the Brainbuster, 1, 2, No. PAC is growing even more

brooding as he sets OC up for a delayed Superplex, but Kenny breaks it up - OC falls real hard off the apron though, he did not get any grips on that - and sets up the OWA again, but he's climbing the turnbuckle...he looks to finish PAC but he reverses into a sunset bomb, Avalanche Falcon Arrow but OC has stormed the ring, thrown PAC out to pin, 1, 2, NO! Callis choking in fear. Kenny's out of it and PAC and OC are in the ring, OC goes for his deadly shin kicks but PAC just low blows him like a BASTARD, all fair in triple threat rules. Twisting tope to Kenny then setting up for the Black Arrow, he hits it, 1, 2, Kenny breaks the pin! PAC goes for Kenny this time, sets him up for the Black Arrow, but this one he misses, Kenny sets up the OWA but PAC locks in the Brutalizer! The thing that KO'd Kenny last time weakens Kenny but OC comes in with a wild swing that's probably meant to be the Orange Punch, in the rebound from the ropes PAC is dumped out the ring, Beach Break! 1, 2, NO! PAC rushes back in and tries to low blow OC but he catches it, PAC goes for the powerbomb but OC flips out of it, Orange Punch! Kenny's setting up the V-Trigger though, OC dodges it, Orange Punch to Kenny! Callis has left the announcer's table, OC picks his corner, hits PAC with the Orange Punch again, 1, 2, Callis pulls out the ref. I hate ref pulls to be honest, I don't get why that stops a count, you could just tap from the apron, but it serves as a means here. Callis is arguing with the ref as KiLynn King stands out from afar, Callis turns and is met by a very bewildered OC. Callis flinches away but OC goes to the top turnbuckle, Kenny grabs his leg and climbs up, but OC headbutts him away, he tries to hit PAC with the diving DDT but PAC catches him, Northern Lights with wrist control, rolled over and now the Brutalizer to OC. Kenny stomps on PAC's head but PAC won't break the hold, OC is fading and there's no rules about breaking a hold, so Kenny attacks the ref. Spoiled for choice, Callis picks to throw the Impact title to Kenny, who cracks PAC with it, then again with the AAA Mega Championship, then with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, and finally with the AEW world title, as he postures though OC hits an Orange Punch, he crawls for a pin and Aubrey darts in, 1, 2, No Kenny's rolled him, 1, 2, 3! The Bucks, Gallows & Anderson celebrate with Kenny as OC looks on in lament, probably could've stayed there a little longer.

Really good match, shenaniganry was expected of course and I feel like the finish could've been a bit more but OC did endure a shit ton of abuse earlier to warrant exhaustion, it protects him and PAC that it took so much to be inches from a win, for AEW's first triple threat for the World Title it was really good but honestly, nobody expected Kenny to lose and when they did it was 6 seconds before he did win.

An ad for Full Gear in St. Louis is set for a Saturday Night in November as JR and Excalibur talk about going back on the road. Tony announces that AEW Rampage will debut on August 17th and that they have signed a 'special analyst' and his name: Mark Henry. No Salmon Suit but a big pop for the World's Strongest Man, he'll be appearing on the Next Dynamite on Friday, the card will also have the Inevitable Bullrope Match, the Bucks will take on Death Triangle (PAC and Penta), Cody and Lee Johnson will face QT and Ogogo - where Ogogo will likely get his win back without Cody taking a fall - and Baker will have a Championship Ceremony. Two weeks from now as well Jungle Boy will get his title match.

Stadium Stampede: Inner Circle [Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz] def. The Pinnacle [MJF, Wardlow, Shawn Spears & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) w/Tully Blanchard] (pinfall on Spears by Guevara via 630) MJF enters first in a white limo dressed for a street fight, cutting a promo on the camera that the Inner Circle should be scared because it's the end of the line. Judas hits though and the Inner Circle are seen abseiling down the Jacksonville arena Scoreboard - showing the Inner Circle logo, Jericho still in his arm cast as coherent Judas-ing is heard from the crowd. MJF is noticeably alone though as IC charge him, he flees to his limo, but there's a reason MJF was alone, the rest of the Pinnacle fly in on truck to ambush the Inner Circle, going for their obvious parallels. Sammy and Spears start in the ring as the camera struggles to keep up, Hager was gonna stick Wardlow's head in an oil drum fire as Santana gets thrown into a barricade wall. Guevara hits the cutter and boots Wardlow on the outside, this distracts him enough for Spears to roll away from the Shooting Star Press and hit the Blue Thunder Bomb on Sammy. Sheepishly, MJF slithers out the limo but Jericho has been waiting for him behind the car as they tee off on one another. As the tag teams climb the bleachers Jericho opens the boot to try and shut MJF in there, Jericho's cast is unraveling though as MJF knocks him away and grabs a fire extinguisher from the boot, blinding Jericho before running away. Jericho catches up as MJF asks to talk things out, punching MJF into a trash can, MJF retorts by throwing coffee in Jericho's face then hitting him with an old telephone (surprised the stadium still has those) while MJF makes a 'sorry can't come to the phone right now' joke. Raking the eyes MJF turns to face the camera, but Jericho then screams through a megaphone point blank at MJF to disorient him and sandwiches him with catering trays, he throws MJF towards a table but MJF slides under it, so Jericho crushes him in between it and whacks him with a Wet Floor sign. After another bin attack they run into another room which I guess had Jacksonville Jaguars staff (they said one was the coach), because they throw him some Pigskins to chuck at MJF, as well as a laptop. MJF rakes the eyes but misses the helmet shot, Jericho gets a roller chair and charges MJF out the door, over the rail and into a conveniently placed catering table. MJF goes for the arm but Jericho hits MJF with a flip of the white board, stalking MJF as he crawls away before charging him out the door. In the back room, Wardlow and Hager are throwing some MMA style punches, Wardlow catches a kick and throws Hager into some boxes, then shuts him an the freezer room, Hager though stops the door from shutting and kicks Wardlow away only for Wardlow to weaponize those big oil cartons, Wardlow sets up the F-5000 but Wardlow escapes and they both charge into the freezer room, a gruesome sight of a vertically bisected pig was not appreciated. Wardlow grabs an icicle like a shiv but Hager hits an Uranage onto a trolley of boxes before hitting his back with a plastic tray as they leave the freezer. Hager knocks Wardlow back with his strikes but hits a giant locker which Wardlow throws into him - the locker has a literal dent in it too - groggy, Hager talks shit but gets socked by Wardlow's punch, Hager throws up the middle finger so Wardlow gets a knee to the gut, Hager didn't hear no bell though and flips off Wardlow some more, leading to Wardlow spearing him through a gimmicked wall into the kitchen. Over to Sammy and he's searching for Spears, he hears a noise and the lights go dark, in the middle is Spears, the Chair Man, in the Chair Room. The brawl falls in Sammy's favour due to his speed and ability to use the chairs as a launch pad, but Spears pokes the eye and boots him off a chair to regain momentum. He tries to throw Sammy into a wall but Sammy pops the crowd by backflipping off the wall, kicking Spears and then kipping up it was ridiculous. Knee strike off a Forklift

then a dropkick through the Forklift's cockpit, he tries for the crossbody though and gets caught, Lawn Darted into a metal screen as Tony reminisces about Kevin Nash almost murdering Rey Mysterio. Seeing some tools Spears is spoiled for choice, he doesn't like the bolt cutters and grabs the chair, nonchalantly strutting until Sammy just bullets himself into a knee strike. They end up into the construction warehouse with a chekov's ladder, Guevara is hit onto the same Scissor Lift that he had the Infamous Matt Hardy match with as Spears looks for wires, Sammy though leaps out and chokes Spears with his own wires, prone, Sammy sees how tall those shelves are and sets Spears up, he climbs to the top but Spears rolls away, Sammy jumps down parkour style but runs into chekov's ladder. Spears then brandishes handcuffs and locks him against the shelving, giving him the finger and walking away. As Sammy struggles though he notices some bolt cutters. We move to the bar with that notorious brand 'Vodka' having bottles on the table. Santana and Ortiz are approaching FTR and Tully who are having a casual drink, Santana breaks a glass over some innocent bystanders while FTR throw away Jake St. Patrick and friend, all coming together to one table, where Tully sets out 4 glasses of the Vodka Brand. Seems this is our Hangman/Hager segment as they down the Vodka, the DJ stops though as we zoom in - It's Konnan! - the table flips and the brawl commences. Our first ever cover of the night comes when Ortiz hits Harwood with a tray for 2, before choking him with the same tray, Tully comes in with a pipe to blindside Ortiz but Konnan stops him and gets hit in the gut by Ortiz. Santana comes to group up on the horseman, Santana hitting him on the head with a plastic dinner knife, but FTR jump the duo; Santana is whipping Wheeler with his belt but Harwood is hitting Ortiz with a bin, Santana dives at Wheeler for two as Harwood and Ortiz are engaging in fisticuffs, Ortiz gets the upper hand and hammers him with a traditional wrestling trash can, Wheeler though comes in and throws bottles at Ortiz from afar, he's tackled by Santana which triggers the elevator which they sprawl into. Back to Wardlow and Hager and the War Dog is stalking Hager, Hager dodges a wooden tray being thrown on him and evades Wardlow with those buoy things before getting Wardlow with a punch, he's thrown into the famous golf kart though as they set up on the roof, Wardlow looks to powerbomb him but Hager low blows him, chokeslamming him through a bunkhouse. In the VIP area Jericho and MJF still brawl, MJF wrenches Jericho's injured arm but the veteran kicks him away, MJF hurts his own hand by punching a cut-out of Shahid Khan, which Jericho then weaponizes and pats on the head, MJF then swings a door into Jericho's face and increases pressure on the arm, Jericho though repays the favour and staples a thank you card onto MJF's head. A superman punch sets them up on the table and MJF hits a piledriver for 2, he grabs the hammer and aims for the arm but Jericho hits him with a mini-bin, he opens a cabinet to brandish his baseball bat and ping it on MJF's head, neck and stomach. MJF then goes through the glass of a door busting him open. Back to Spears and he's looking for Tully, but he's found the Inner Circle's 'motorcycle club' (that's a thing?) and gets chased down by them, exiting into the Trades Office. MJF is dragged to the rafters of Daily's Place, going through the crowd as MJF is atomic dropped into the railing. MJF though attacks the arm with the railing and removes the cast entirely, looking to throw Jericho off the rafters, Jericho escapes and hits MJF with a heavy spotlight, then Powerbomb through a box. Spears is arriving in Daily's Place too, he looks to his side and it's waiting for him: this time, Sammy's at the wheel of the Golf Kart and gets all of Spears with it. Sammy and Spears enter the ring - Sammy with a chair - but Spears lifts him up, Sammy escapes and hits an Enzugiri, gestures the audience but gets wiped out mid-launch with a chair shot! 1, 2,

No. Spears picks up his favoured weapon again, but Sammy gives him the middle finger, Spears cracks Sammy with the chair, 1, 2, No! Spears is absolutely perplexed how that didn't work, so he prepares the corner spot he did on the Pinnacle's debut. Dragging Sammy over is labored but it gives Sammy time to lift him for the GTH, now Spears is in position for the Chair stomp and gets it - although not as impressively - 630! 1, 2, 3! The rest of the Inner Circle come down to celebrate, embracing Sammy - who was responsible for losing Blood & Guts remember - as the crowd sing along to Judas. Pyro goes off as the Inner Circle do their usual middle finger. The music stops but the chanting keeps going, and our final image is the crowd finishing Judas with the Inner Circle.

Well that was as entertaining as the last, I do have minor qualms like how FTR just kinda disappeared, you'd think they'd come back given that we last saw them in the elevator, I think it would've been much more satisfying for MJF to have taken the pin as well. Sammy getting the win was absolutely correct in story but booking consistently does wrong by Spears taking the fall, he's already considered the weak link of the Pinnacle so taking the fall doesn't do anything to disprove that. At the very least though the Inner Circle send the fans home happy.

Conclusion My god, what a show. From the moment Deeb/Riho's match started to when Stadium Stampede ended it was one hell of a wrestling show, one of the best PPVs of the year for sure. AEW delivered in spades having at least two 5-Star matches in my opinion, in a rating I would give this 9.7 out of 10. Why not 10? Well, there were some minor tarnishes from the bloating of promo packages with the Buy In - the only reason you should have 1 match on a pre-show is if it's a big Battle Royale, the Buy In should be treated like Rampage, 1 hour of wrestling and build up to the PPV - since we could've fit at least 2 more 10-15 minute matches in there, Lio Rush's uneventful Joker entry in the CBR and Cody beating Ogogo after withstanding several of Ogogo's punches because patriotism. But frankly those are my only major complaints, otherwise it was a pulsating and emphatic show, even surprising us with a Jungle Boy win and Mark Henry joining as a Coach and Analyst. The Era of DMD begins, the Elite and the Inner Circle live on, Hangman gets back his spot, and Sting turned back the clock, what more can you ask for?

Absolutely All Elite.