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Salem watched as Three staggered up to his feet, hoping that he wasn't making a foolhardy mistake as he extended his arms to the side for balance...standing up straight in preparation for a high-flying attack. Leaping towards the groggy champion, Salem would try to land on top of Three's shoulders, hopefully carrying his momentum to drive the champ back down and into the bed of nails with a Seated Senton.

Salem gasped in surprise as Three rolled forward, quickly using his forearms to brace his knees as he landed on his feet following the failed Seated Senton. The wily veteran was showing off the skills that got him that Asylum belt in the first place, but Salem was not about to let his opportunity to seize it slip through his fingers. Turning around, Salem would watch as Three recovered from his roll, the ladder bridge separating them. Leapfrogging over the steel device, Salem would attempt to drive Three's face into the arena floor with a Bulldog as he got to his feet.

Salem sprung back to his feet, reinvigorated by the jolting recoil of driving Three's skull into the arena floor. Calling for the fans to get hyped, Salem would look to bring this match back into the ring, trying to pull Three to his feet and roll him up onto the apron, his head extended off the side of the ring.

Having Three where he wanted him, Salem would grab the nearby ladder and drape it like a makeshift ramp that extended from the floor to the apron - the edge of the ladder resting atop Three's face. Pointing towards the ring, Salem would look to excite the crowd by running up the rungs, hoping to punish the champion's face before grasping the ropes and leaping over top, seeking to drive his heels down into Three's gut with a great deal of force as he entered the ring.

Salem proudly beat his chest as his heels connected with Three's stomach, inadvertently causing the champ to re-injure his previously throttled throat. For the first time all match, it appeared that Salem had a dog in this fight...a point he'd look to validate by dragging Three to the center of the ring by his ankle before rolling him to his stomach, then wrapping his arms around Three's face to attempt a Crossface submission hold. In this fashion, Salem hoped to slow down the match a little and build his reserves while he had control.

Salem fought to maintain his grip on the Crossface, but he had underestimated the strength left in the defending champion as he struggled to break Salem's hold. Salem knew that this match would be grueling, but it would be just as important to avoid making mistakes as it would be trying to keep Three grounded. As soon as Salem felt his hands starting to break from one another, he'd spring up off the barbaric veteran and run towards the ropes, hoping to rebound with a great deal of force to try delivering a savage boot to the side of Three's skull.

Salem felt the recoil of Three's brick-like skull colliding with his heel, causing the champion to roll in a daze towards the ropes. As Three drew nearer to the cables that framed the ring, Salem would run towards Three, leaping over him and landing on the second rope while holding on to the first. Not staying long, Salem would use the momentum of his jump to spring off the side of the ring, flipping backward and curling in his knees to drive them down into Three, attempting to hammer him with a Moonsault Knee Drop.