Salem Croft vs Tim Edgren

[The Number Three]

Normal match
Good luck  

[Daemonsparta]

After his promo, Tim waited in the ring for his opponent, removing his baseball jersey.  

[Salem Croft]

"A company, always on the run..."

The crowd started to stir with anticipation as the name "Salem Croft" was drawn out across the Titantron, written in bloody cursive across a piece of parchment. As the lead singer of Five Finger Death Punch continued the verse, a fog of black smoke started to choke the stage floor.

"A destiny, oh it’s the rising sun…

Like the very sun that had been spoken of, the stage floor started to catch fire due to unseen forces. The yellows, oranges, and reds all flickered ominously as the flames stood and danced, rising to a height of about four feet before the next line was solemnly said.

"I was born, a shotgun in my hands..."

Through the crackling sheets of light and heat, a lone shadow ascended from under the stage. Fans started to cheer as the outline of Salem appeared for the first time on an EWA stage. His masculine frame stood resolute despite the inferno that surrounded him, unafraid to bathe in the glow and scorching air. In fact, a soft laugh could be heard from what appeared to be a caldera to Hell while the guitar line strummed along.

"Behind the gun I’ll make my final stand…"

The band started gearing up for the chorus while Salem started gearing up for his match with Tim, a man he'd heard much about in his short time on the professional circuit. Bouncing from side to side, Salem swung his fists into the fires he welcomed as the rhythm continued to build into an explosive burst of vocals.

"...and that's why they call me...baaad company, I can't deny!"

As the hook burst forth, Salem cleared the blazing hurdle with one deft leap, the fires extinguishing as he landed on the ramp to the sound of a thunderous burst of fireworks from the Titantron. Salem's eyes were wide, lit up with the rush that could only come from stepping into the squared circle. The audience erupted into applause, drowning out the music for a moment as Salem bolted straight towards the ring, sliding under the bottom rope before bouncing right to his feet. Taking a moment to stare down Tim, Salem smiled at his opponent before making a bee-line to the nearest turnbuckle, ascending it with a single jump to embrace the fans.

After embracing his audience, Salem descended the ring post and went out to center of the canvas, extending his hand politely to his opponent.

 

[Daemonsparta]

Tim took the hand, shaking it. He went back to his corner and cracked his neck, the bell ringing for the match.  

[Salem Croft]

As the bell rang, Salem felt a second surge of adrenaline rush through his veins, causing a brief tingle to run through his spine and across every pore of his skin. The prickling sensation of goosebumps formed along his arms, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end as the fans clamored for the start of the match. Though all of this had taken but a couple of seconds, it was a couple seconds that Salem didn't wish to waste again. Charging towards the turnbuckle, Salem rushed Tim like a bull, swiftly nearing his opponent.  

[Daemonsparta]

Tim flashed a smile, Salem was charging just as Tim always liked his opponents to do. Reacting fast, Tim moved forward two steps then dropped down low, aiming a dropkick to his opponent's knee to trip him using his own momentum.  

[Salem Croft]

Salem's eyes never wavered from his opponent as each stride he took brought him nearer and nearer to contact. His mind was racing over the nuances of battle that held the keys to victory and defeat, a tandem Salem was suspended between. He watched as Tim advanced, and in that brief moment Salem's knees bent and extended - launching him forward just as Tim had ducked low for his dropkick. Though he had planned to launch an aerial assault into the corner, Salem was forced to alter his plan - instead, he landed on the second turnbuckle, having narrowly evaded the power of Tim's knee-shattering dropkick. Trying to take advantage of the missed effort on the part of his opponent, Salem would kick off the corner ropes and splay his body out, looking to hit Tim with a splash while he was down.  

[Daemonsparta]

Tim hit the mat low, feeling his dropkick miss. Ok, this new guy had good reflexes. Tim wasn't used to fighting guys who could match him in speed. He sprang up, trying to kick in an extra gear as he saw the bigger man launching at him. No time to dodge, so might as well have him get hurt as well. He leaped up to have his knees meet Salem, knowing the weight of his opponent would still hurt.  

[Salem Croft]

Salem was still a bit green around the ring - or perhaps he was just excited to be facing such an athletic opponent - but either way, he should've known better than to try such a risky maneuver on such a fresh Tim Edgren. As he should have expected, Tim's knees curled in to put a new crater in Salem's gut, a move that caused the intrepid fighter to clutch his abdomen in agony. Rolling off of Tim, Salem would reach for the bottom rope, looking claw his way up the ring to get back on his feet.  

[Daemonsparta]

Tim winced, Salem landing on him certainly didn't feel pleasant. High risk high reward after all. He forced himself back onto his feet and scouted the rookie. Seeing him in good position, Tim hit the ropes and attempted to baseball slide kick him out of the ring.  

[Salem Croft]

Salem had his back up against the ropes, arms draped around the second as he looked over at the quickly recovering Tim. Time wasn't on Salem's side, but he had to act or face getting dropped onto the padded concrete outside the ring by Tim's sled-like attack. Doing the only thing he could, Salem would jump up onto the ring ropes, clinging to them as he hoped his opponent would pass underneath and collide with the mats of the arena floor. If his evasion was successful, Salem would springboard off the second rope to deliver an Elbow Drop onto the rattled Edgren.  

[Daemonsparta]

Tim found himself sliding right out of the ring, no salem in the way. Was he overzealous? Right as he turned around he saw salem sailing through the air, his elbow crashing into Tim's head, sending him to the padded floor.  

[Salem Croft]

Something about the sensation of Tim's skull cracking under the force of Salem's elbow made the high-flying attacker come to life once again. Springing up off the mat, Salem let out a triumphant roar before immediately going to work on the fallen Tim Edgren, looking to stomp him with a series of vicious boots to the champ's mid-section. Though he had been courteous at the start of the match, Salem spared his opponents no punishment when that bell rang.  

[Daemonsparta]

Tim was certainly sore, now feeling rapid stomps on his torso. He curled up defensively, he didn't get his title belt by being a pushover.