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 Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:01 pm
The crowd popped loudly as Rik missed the elbow, both men on the mat and unable to get up! The referee was starting to count, forcing Salem to stir from his back and try crawling towards the ropes! "Two!" the official shouted, Croft still advancing on his belly towards the bottom rope nearest him, which still felt like miles away at the pace he was making. "Four!" the ref continued, Salem only starting to reach the bottom cable, but now finding a tough time of pulling himself up with the ropes. If he didn't act fast, there was a chance he'd end up getting counted out along with his opponent!
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:11 pm
From one to four, Rik stayed on his back, trying to catch his breath after that bad landing. "Fiiiiiiive!" Rik finally started to stir, his head was up, as he moved his right arm up, starting to move his legs as well. "Siiiiix!" Rik turned his body towards his stomach again, but that took a lot out of him to even do that! "Seveeeeen!" The ref's count seemed like it was so fast, as Rik was now on his forearms, his forehead planted into the mat, regaining the energy he used up in trying to roll through.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:15 pm
Salem could hear the count nearing its end, already at the seven mark as "The Deuce" was only just getting onto the second rope. Eight, the referee had reached, both the crowd and Croft unsure of what would happen in the next two seconds...but, against all odds, Salem managed to get his hand up to the top rope by the count of nine, inspiring hope in the crowd as they cheered him on, "Wrestling's Favorite Son" swinging himself up to his feet with a jerk of his arm!
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:19 pm
By the time the ref go to nine, Rik was on one foot, and pushed off hard enough to get to both feet before dropping, as the ref saw both men standing, stopping the count and slapping his hands together, calling for them to continue! Rik took another breath before standing to his feet, starting to stand up straight, putting his hands up, still ready for the fight.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:25 pm
By the skin of their teeth, both men had managed to get back up by the count of ten, provoking the crowd into a frenzy over the staredown that inevitably came after both wrestlers had managed to regain their balance. With a firm look from across the ring, Salem looked on at Rik, this rookie who'd come from seemingly nowhere and pushed him to such a point of exhaustion. He hadn't expected this, to require burning up this much gas to put away Rik, and there wasn't much left in the tank. But with another nod of resepct, Salem held a hand up, offering another tie-up before he sprinted back towards Rik, looking to quickly go into the clench!
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:28 pm
Rik accepted the tie up with the veteran, and immediately went to pull Salem's head down, into the Front Facelock, before looking to wrap his arm around his neck. It was the biggest gut check he would ever have, as he looked to lift Salem high into the air with a Vertical Suplex, and would look to turn him and drop him with the Suplex Stunner! If anything would do it, THIS would be it!
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:38 pm
Salem charged forth into the lock-up, finding himself seized in the treacherous hold that was the prerequisite to Rik's finisher, the Suplex Stunner! Hoisted high into the air, Salem felt the blood rushing up (or in this case, down) to his head, adding to the pressure being put on his neck and skull due to the inverted position. Knowing he had only a precious couple of moments while fans took the chance at a photo-op, Salem threw a knee down, trying to both hit Rik in the face as well as bring his body back forward rather than backward, looking to try breaking the man's grip! If successful, Salem would attempt to reverse his forward fall into a high-impact DDT of his own by executing the Guillotine hold in mid-air!
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:48 pm
Rik had him high in the air, but he didn't see the knee coming into his forehead! It blurred his vision, and his knees became wobbly! He felt Salem shift his weight down, but for more than trying to block! Rik felt Salem pull his neck, and was quickly PLANTED, his feet lifting in the air from the momentum, before dropping to the ground on his face, knocked out from the move!
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:50 pm
Salem had done it! Instead of being tossed over Rik's shoulders for the Stunner-half of his finisher, Salem had managed to break the hold and even reverse the vertical suplex into his own finisher, the Guillotine DDT! Fans were riotous as Rik's face came crashing into the canvas, Croft doing all he could just to capitalize by nudging the soldier's shoulder over in attempt to lie back and initiate a cover! Could this actually be it?!
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:53 pm
The crowd joined the ref once again for the cover!
ONE!......TWOOOOO!.....THREEEEEEEE!
The crowd explodes, as Rik Rip'em was laid out, still unconscious from the DDT. He gave all he could, but the veteran came out on top, with the biggest counter of the match!
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:57 pm
Salem was exhausted as the referee counted to three, barely believing it as the official reached down to pick "The Most Wanted Man in Wrestling" up off his opponent and raise his hand high in victory. Still, Salem felt like he'd won more than just the match, as he leaned against the official, looking down at the unconscious Rik. Salem sensed that he'd gained a level of respect both for and from the valiant trooper who'd pushed him so very hard, and had come so close on a couple of occasions to upsetting him this evening. As his music played, Salem let go of the referee's hand and hunched over, nudging Rik's shoulder to try and rouse the lad awake.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:01 pm
Rik was indeed nudged awake, hearing the theme playing, looking up at Salem. He was still partially in fighting mode as he went to turn his body, but was stuck when he tried to sit up, the pain in his back and neck shot through and he fell back down to his back, wincing in pain.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:06 pm
With a reassuring pat on the shoulder, Salem silently told Rik not to worry, that they weren't at odds any longer, and offered a hand down to pull the lad up. The fans were still on their feet, but it wasn't just Salem they were cheering - it takes two to tango, and the E:E Universe knew full-well that Rik had given all he had for their viewing pleasure this evening, and wished to give the warrior the credit he was due after such a hard-fought match. It seemed Salem did, too, by the way he grinned down at the rookie, perhaps seeing a bit of himself in the lad from just a year ago.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:13 pm
Rik calmed down as he heard Salem, and accepted being helped up by his great opponent. He was still a bit out of it, as he stood on weakened legs, leaning on Salem for a moment, before using him to help him stand up completely, keeping a hold on his hand shaking it, The Marine had quite the war against him, and accepted defeat from the man who brought him past his limits.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:24 pm
As Rik stood up and shook his hand, Salem nodded and grinned, knowing that he'd surely be seeing more of this fella in the future. Since his own debut, Salem hadn't seen many people who caught his eye step onto the scene, but Rik could certainly count himself in said exclusive company after tonight, after having put himself and the former Asylum Champion through so much for the sake of honor and pride.
Fights like this were what warriors lived for, and as they shook hands Salem hoped that they'd share a ring together again, sometime. Maybe as partners, rather than enemies. Regardless, the future was bright for the both of them, as evident by the parade of cheers that engulfed the arena as Salem lifted Rik's hand up high, gesturing for the crowd to give it up for the "Soldier of Fortune".
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