#81: November 19, 2021

The show kicked off with recaps of Next Level: Ascension and we went ringside to the team of Parker and Foster who talked about it. We’re welcomed back after a small break in Empire Wrestling action and are treated to the lineup for tonight. They pointed out the mound of dirt that has been there since that night where Tia Santos buried Manic.

Truly Primetime

As the show started we got a shot of Sara Logan standing in the middle of the ring.

Sara Logan: Ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome the longest reigning Primetime Champion in Empire Wrestling history, surpassing 365 days, and the longest reigning champion of any type in EW… Marilyn Lee Cross!

“Hallelujah” by Panic! At The Disco began to play as MLC made her way to the stage with the Primetime Championship around her waist. Logan was in the ring with a plague in hand. Cross made her way to the ring to largely big cheers from the fans. She entered the ring and removed the title before holding it high. She placed it on her shoulder as Logan shook her hand.

Sara Logan: Miss Cross, your accomplishment of being Primetime Champion for over a year does not go unnoticed. Tonight we present to you this plague signifying that feat. We also present to you this photo.

A big framed photo of Cross pinning Danial Daemon at Tainted Twilight 2020 is revealed on a stand. Under it is a square piece of fabric.

Sara Logan: The moment you began this impressive run, along with a piece of the canvas from that night. Now, ladies and gentlemen, say her name!

Cross smiled as she took it all in as the crowd chanted “Cross, Cross, Cross!” The fans were mixed as they noticed her opponent tonight, Outlaw, standing on the stage. Cross and Outlaw had a staredown as we cut away for a brief moment for an ad break.

Danny Rose Vs. Austin Scott

• Rose and Scott locked up in the center of the ring and the Spartan Champion flipped Scott to the mat with an arm drag. Scott rolled to his feet but was popped in the mouth by an elbow.
• Rose looked for his 1, 2, 3, Triple Deke (Irish Whip, drop down, leap frog, springboard gamengiri/Disaster Kick) but Scott countered into a powerslam!
• Scott delivered a picture perfect double underhook powerbomb into a bridged pin as he grabbed his legs and flipped forward. Rose was just able to kick out at two.
• Scott pulled off his elbow pad and was set for the Straight Whiskey (Running Lariat) but Rose hit I Like My Wrestling Moves Like I Like My Coffee, Dark And Nutty (spin kick to the stomach, Code Red sunset flip bomb, roll opponent out to kneeling and roll back, running knee strike, bridging northern lights suplex combo). Rose picked up a two count before Scott kicked out.
• Rose started to make his way to the top rope to possibly try and end things and jumped, looking for My Ultimate Weapon Has 8 Materia Slots And They're All Black (Meteora) but Scott was able to move out of the way. Rose rolled to his feet and Scott flipped him inside out with Straight Whiskey!
• Scott quickly collected Rose and hit the Full Throttle (Inverted Overdrive)! Scott hooked a leg for a cover and was shocked when Rose kicked out at two.
• Scott rolled Rose onto his stomach and tried to lock in Lock 'em Up (Rings of Saturn) but Rose was able to block and eventually get to the ropes.
• Scott tried to pull Rose to the center of the ring but Rose kicked him hard in the face to cause him to stumble backwards. Rose got to his feet and took Scott down with a tornado DDT.
• Rose looked for a standing moonsault but Scott rolled out of the way and Rose landed on his feet. Scott looked for another lariat but Rose ducked it and delivered A Good Blaster By Your Side Is No Match For A Hokey Religion (Spinning Back Head Kick/Black Mass)! Rose fell onto Scott and picked up a pinfall victory.

WINNER: Danny Rose via pinfall @ 14:21

DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET

Kevin Olson stands in the ring. He holds a microphone next to him but he doesn’t say anything.

Gemma Foster: What is Kevin doing here?

Scott Parker: I don’t know. He just came out and is standing there. He hasn’t said anything to anyone, but we have a match scheduled and he’s holding up the show.

Kevin looks around, looks at the mat, then his watch. He shakes his head and starts walking to the ropes when “Hell Yeah” by Rev Theory begins to play. He stops and returns to the center of the ring as Casey Grey steps out onto the stage. She walks down the ramp, carrying the World Title on her shoulder. She joins Kevin Olson in the ring. The music stops.

Kevin Olson: Casey, why am I out here if you’re not even going to show up on time?

Casey Grey: You’re here so they don’t start the next match. I didn’t actually schedule this time slot. I’m not asking Sara Logan for anything. Besides, I’m the World Champion, I can do whatever I want to do.

Gemma Foster: She has a point.

Kevin Olson: It doesn’t work that way, Casey.

Gemma Foster: I’ve been wrong before.

Kevin Olson: Perfect. Just perfect. I want to ask you about Marilyn Cross? She’s mentioned you several times regarding her year long reign as the Primetime Champion.

Casey Grey: Kevin, come on. She can crow about it all she wants. It’s deserving. She’s held onto it for a year, and good for her. I wish her the best. I’m the World Champion though, Kevin. Some, not everyone, might say that this title is the highest status in the company.

Kevin Olson: I don’t see how I can argue with that even though agreeing with you is something I never thought I’d do. Now, we saw your successful title defense at Ascension against three other competitors, which many say you won because of Nessa Wall’s interference. Why do you think she attacked Lacy Nelson during the match which helped you keep your title?

Casey Grey: I don’t know, Kevin. I can’t speak on the actions of Nessa Wall or what her goals were. But what I can speak on is what I hope is the mindset of Sara Logan. I still have your title, Logan. You doing everything you can to take it from me backfired, and what I hope is your utter depression warms my heart like a thousand suns. Now, where this leaves everything we’ll have to wait and see. Of course, anyone that wants a shot at my belt can take it any time they want. All they have to do is convince Sara that they’re good enough to give her what she wants, which is this belt around anyone else’s waist but mine. So if there is anyone in the back that wants a shot at this, then step right up. I’ve got mints for all of you and I ain’t talkin’ about Mentos.

Casey departs the ring as her theme plays. Kevin shakes his head, shrugs, and follows suit.

Decisions to Make

We come back from a commercial as we are in the backstage area and we can see David Slayton standing in front of the backdrop of the Hype logo. He’s standing with Kevin Olson who is quick to start speaking.

Kevin Olson: I’m here with David Slayton and David, I have to ask, do you plan on hanging up your boots after not winning the EW World Championship at Next Level: Ascension?

You can see an unsure look on the face of Slayton as he stands there and looks around. He looks at Olson and sucks his teeth before talking.

David Slayton: That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? I know that there are many out there that want me to stay because of the way I lost that match but I didn’t want to ever go back on my word. It’s something I’m going to think about and then make a final decision. Soon.

Slayton walks away as we cut to ringside.

Lacy Nelson Vs. Johnny Maverick

• Johnny Maverick, the BWF World Champion, came to the ring first. He popped in a mouthguard on his way to the ring and removed his title. The fans popped for Lacy Nelson, the CaliPRO Champion, as she came out next.
• Nelson and Maverick met in the middle of the ring and shared a few words as the bell rang to start things.
• The two locked up and Nelson caught Maverick with a forearm to the face but he quickly took her to the mat and applied a headlock. Nelson slipped to her feet and Maverick climbed up quickly. The two locked back up and Nelson sent him into the ropes and Maverick ducked a shot to the head and applied a sleeper.
• Nelson tried to slip out and Maverick delivered a German suplex. They both quickly got to their feet and Maverick delivered a double underhook suplex and tried to go right into his armbar but Nelson slid over just enough to grab the ropes.
• Nelson and Maverick went back and forth with blows before Nelson caught Maverick with a swinging neckbreaker to take him down. Maverick rolled to his feet and Nelson looked for an ace cutter but Maverick pushed her into the ropes and she went over the top to the apron.
• After a few clubbing blows, Maverick climbed to the apron with Nelson and delivered a German suplex onto the apron!
• Nelson fell to the floor and was slow to get back into the ring but made it back to the ring.
• Maverick locked in a crossface chickenwing but as she started to slip out, Maverick took her down with a double knee armbreaker.
• Maverick worked the arm and elbow of Nelson as she tried to fight back. She was able to connect with a running boot to the face. Maverick was stunned which allowed Nelson to Le Gasp (Lungblower Backbreaker). Nelson got just a two count after a pinfall attempt.
• Nelson tried to pull Maverick into position for the Byline (Canadian Destroyer) but he countered with a backdrop. Nelson was up and he delivered OF!MF! (Running Shotei). Nelson grabbed her face and Maverick got behind her and lifted her up before dropping her with Dan Severn’s Mustache (Electric Chair into High Angle bridging German Suplex)! Maverick covered for just two before she kicked out!
• Maverick pulled Nelson up slowly and started to deliver a series of jabs and looked for a spinning backfist but Nelson ducked. She took a step back and rocked Maverick with a superkick! He fell to a knee and she caught him with the Hollywood Split (Shining Wizard)! Nelson rolled Maverick up and only got a two before he kicked out.
• Nelson leaned herself on the ropes and waited for Maverick to stand. He got to his feet and Nelson looked for another superkick but Maverick side stepped it and countered with Third Eye Opener (Ripcord Bicycle Knee strike) before then locking in the Perfect Armbar and Nelson was forced to tap!

WINNER: Johnny Maverick via submission @ 19:42

Nelson met Maverick in the center of the ring after the match and offered a handshake which he accepted before she rolled out of the ring.

New Grave
Previously Recorded

There’s the sound of a few notes being strung from a guitar before we fade in from black on a familiar looking graveyard. The soft, almost mournful guitar melody can be heard as the camera pans over gravestones with names of Empire talent we all recognize. Names like Kaito Hirano, Austin Scott, Kayla Taylor, Alicia Monroe, Manic...the select names go on. As we continue to pan over, we start to hear the sound of metal scraping into dirt, followed by soft thuds on the earth. It sounds like...digging. Finally, the camera pans over to the bottom half of a woman in a long black, funeral dress. She’s standing at the foot of an open hole in the ground where two individuals are digging deeper and deeper. Two figures in black robes with hoods and masks that conceal every inch of their features. They’ve never been seen in Empire before but some viewers may recognize them. They are “Demons.” Demons of the Children of Nephilim. Their newly appointed Harbinger, Tia Santos, is the woman identified standing outside of the grave as she watches the two Demons work tirelessly. Tia’s face is painted up in sugar skull makeup, as is expected in these videos. Without looking at the camera - without so much as a glance - she speaks. As always, it’s in Spanish and we are provided subtitles.

Tia Santos: Feliz día de los Muertos.

Her painted lips curl into a smile and her eyes open. Alarmingly, they’re all white with this particular attire. So...we can’t be sure if she’s watching the Demons or side glancing at us, as she begins to speak in Spanish.

Tia Santos: It is this time of year in which we celebrate the lives of those who have passed into the other realm. The realm of the dead.

Tia turns, beginning to slowly walk around the outside perimeter of the grave being worked on. She lifts her focus from the two digging and seems to focus on the night sky. It’s here that we notice a glass of deep red wine in her hand. As she walks, she lightly rolls her wrist, swishing the wine around in the glass.

Tia Santos: The brave men and women who looked death in the eye and, despite having no chance of survival, they stood their ground and fought valiantly. Salud.

Tia raises the glass just a tad, as if toasting those fallen warriors. She downs the wine in one elegant drink and casually tosses the glass over her shoulder. We hear it shatter against the ground somewhere in the distance.

Tia Santos: But the death has not stopped yet. The burials have not stopped.

Tia comes around to the head of the grave where she lightly brushes her fingers across the top of the gravestone the Demons are digging the hole for.

Tia Santos: I have buried many within these fences. Valiant adversaries. Underdogs who have risen in defiance and proven their worth. Braggarts with false bravado...

She pauses, before lifting her gaze to the camera again.

Tia Santos: ...And rogue demons who tried to rise above their station.

Tia pauses as she lets that one sink in for a moment. She then turns to face directly towards the camera and touches the fingertips of both hands to the top of the gravestone.

Tia Santos: Of all the graves dug within my cemetery, however...I have made room for one in particular. A special grave that will hold one soul, in particular, which I find valuable above all.

The Demons in the hole stop digging and climb out. They stick their shovels into the mound of dirt they’ve made on the outside and come to flank the Harbinger on either side. Neither of the two say a thing. Not one single word. They simply fold their hands in front of them and bow their heads in her presence.

Tia Santos: We...the Children of Nephilim...have an offering that is extended to those who oppose us. Kneel...or Perish. That offer will not be extended to this soul. I know she will not kneel when she must defend something that is to be taken from her. And so...she will simply perish...when I destroy her...and take what it is I seek….

Tia holds for a moment before she slowly turns and steps away from the grave, walking out of frame. The two Demons turn and follow after her. Shockingly, to viewers, something in the shadows in the background move and we realize there are more of these “Demons” that were in her presence. All in all, a total of about eight emerge out of the darkness and follow their Lady. Once they’ve completely walked out of frame, the camera slowly pans down to reveal the engraving on the headstone, which reads:




And the shot fades out….

PRIMETIME CHAMPIONSHIP
Marilyn Lee Cross (c) Vs. Outlaw

• The fans were buzzing as the Hall of Fame wrestler, Outlaw, came out to the stage. He bumped a few fists on his way to the ring and rolled under the ropes. Cross came out next to a nice pop with the Primetime Title around her waist. Outlaw’s EW history with chasing the Primetime Championship is talked about on commentary.
• The match was set to start and the two circled each other. They went to lock up but Outlaw quickly drove a knee in the gut of Cross. She came back with a discus forearm to the face. Outlaw hit the ropes and came back with a running knee to the face. Cross stumbled but came right back with the Hand of God (Spinning Backfist).
• Cross tried to send Outlaw into the ropes and he came back with a big spear!
• Outlaw had Cross in the corner and was unloading with blows and knees to the gut. Outlaw dumped Cross over the top with a lariat and then quickly went flying with Flying High (Springboard triangle plancha to the outside)!
• Outlaw rolled Cross into the ring and was on the apron before jumping to the top rope. He looked for It Came From Above II (Frog splash) but Cross got her knees up!
• Cross got up and Outlaw was soon to follow. Outlaw looked for a crossbody but Cross countered with Do A Barrel Roll (Cartwheel Death Valley Driver)!
• Cross was fired up as the fans cheered and she got to her feet. She tried to lock in the Hungry Jaws (Dragon Sleeper w/ body scissors) but Outlaw was able to counter with a headscissors takedown.
• Cross stood and ran at Outlaw and he took her down with the Lock-up (Black hole slam) and went right into Harsh Punishment (Border City Stretch)! He had Cross in the center of the ring and the fans were in a frenzy. Cross looked as if she was about to tap but she was able to get a knee under her and was able to get up enough to push back and roll into the ropes.
• Outlaw pulled Cross up but she caught him with a big headbutt that stunned both of them. Outlaw charged but ran into the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot)!
• Outlaw dropped to a knee and this opened him up for Cross to hit John Wilkes Boot (Running Yakuza Kick to the back of the head)! She covered and picked up a three count as Outlaw couldn’t kick out in time.

WINNER AND STILL PRIMETIME CHAMPION: Marilyn Lee Cross via pinfall @ 20:44

Cross celebrated after the match with the title in hand.