AN: I need suggestions for some moves (not finishers)
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The Road Warriors had only just come together two weeks ago.
Just two weeks.
And yet, somehow, they already seemed like they were meant to be at the very top.
After the commercial break, Hawk found himself cornered by the Apex Predators. Marcus and Cal had been controlling the tempo for most of the early minutes, using quick tags and constant movement to keep the much larger Road Warriors from gaining any momentum.
Marcus was particularly impressive.
Every time Hawk tried to leverage his size, Marcus just wouldn't stay put.
A kick to the thigh.
A forearm to the jaw.
A quick tag.
Another attack.
The champions were dancing circles around their challengers.
Noah couldn't help but sound impressed.
"The Road Warriors have hardly had a chance to get going tonight."
Irvin nodded in agreement.
"The Predators are wrestling smart. They know they can't win a straight power battle."
In the crowd, Owen Hart leaned in closer.
"That's actually a clever strategy."
Bret gave a slight nod.
"They're making Hawk wrestle on their terms."
Back in the ring, Marcus seized Hawk by the wrist and hurled him hard into the corner. The impact reverberated throughout the arena.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Marcus charged forward and delivered a jumping shoulder strike right into Hawk's chest before tagging in Cal.
Cal quickly climbed the ropes and came crashing down with a diving strike onto Hawk's upper back.
The crowd roared with excitement.
For a moment, it genuinely seemed like the champions might hold onto their title with ease.
But Hawk managed to hang in there.
Cal went for another strike, but Hawk caught him.
The crowd gasped.
Cal wasted no time and started throwing punches to break free, but Hawk just soaked up the hits before grabbing him by the throat and tossing him halfway across the ring.
The arena went wild.
Cal hit the canvas hard.
Both fighters scrambled to their feet.
Cal dove in a last-ditch effort.
Hawk charged forward.
The crowd jumped up, cheering.
"TAG!"
The noise in the building was deafening.
Animal stormed in like a freight train, barreling forward at full speed.
Cal had barely managed to get up when Animal nearly took his head off with a massive clothesline.
Noah yelled, "What a clothesline!"
Irvin winced, "Good lord!"
Cal flipped backward and crashed onto the mat.
The entire momentum of the match shifted in an instant.
Animal yanked him back up and slammed a knee into his gut. Then another. And a heavy blow across his back.
The crowd began chanting for Cal.
The champion crawled desperately toward his corner.
Marcus reached out as far as he could.
"So close," Owen murmured.
But every time Cal got close, Animal yanked him back.
Every single time.
For nearly five minutes, the Road Warriors were in complete control.
Animal and Hawk expertly cut the ring in half.
The crowd grew more and more anxious for a tag.
Marcus paced back and forth on the apron.
The fans clapped in unison.
Cal took the punishment but somehow kept pushing through.
After the commercial break, things had taken a turn for the worse for Apex Predators.
The early lead they had built up was completely wiped away. Hawk and Animal had slowed the match down, turning it into a brawl that suited their style. Every move Cal made seemed to come with a price, and it was clear the champions were feeling the pressure.
Marcus stood on the apron, reaching as far as he could into the ring, shouting words of encouragement to his partner.
"Come on, Cal! Get over here!"
The crowd started clapping in unison, trying to rally behind the champions. Even those who weren't fans of the flashy Apex Predators had to admit they were one of IRW's most entertaining teams.
Inside the ring, Cal was taking a beating.
Animal had him cornered and was relentlessly stomping him down every time he tried to get back on his feet. Just when Cal managed to get to one knee, another boot would send him crashing back down.
Noah shook his head at the commentary table.
"The Road Warriors have completely taken control of this match."
"They're doing a great job of cutting the ring in half," Irvin chimed in. "Cal can't get anywhere near Marcus."
Every time Cal tried to crawl toward his corner, Hawk would swoop in and drag him back by the leg, eliciting groans from the crowd.
In the audience, Owen Hart leaned forward, clearly anxious.
"Just make the tag already."
"It's tougher than it looks," Bret replied calmly. "They're isolating him."
Stu Hart nodded in silent agreement.
Back in the ring, Hawk lifted Cal and went for another strike, but this time Cal managed to duck just in time. The crowd erupted as Cal sprinted toward his corner.
Hawk lunged in a desperate attempt to stop him.
Cal dove into action.
And just like that, the tag was made.
The arena erupted with excitement.
Marcus practically flew over the ropes, instantly shifting the momentum of the match. He slammed Hawk with a running forearm and then sent Animal tumbling off the apron. As Hawk tried to regain his footing, Marcus hit the ropes and delivered a dropkick that sent the bigger man reeling.
The crowd went wild.
For the first time in what felt like ages, the champions were back in control.
Marcus thrived on the crowd's energy. He seized Hawk by the arm and flung him toward the Predators' corner, then took a few steps back to set up his next move.
Noah quickly caught on to Marcus's plan.
"Marcus's looking to finish this!"
The audience jumped to their feet.
Marcus charged forward.
But at the last moment, Hawk dodged.
What unfolded next felt like it was happening in slow motion.
Cal had climbed onto the apron, ready to lend a hand to his partner.
But Marcus didn't see him coming.
Instead of crashing into Hawk, Marcus collided straight with Cal.
The force of the impact sent Cal tumbling off the apron and crashing hard onto the floor below.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Marcus stood frozen.
The horror on his face was unmistakable.
"Ooooh!"
The reaction rippled through the entire arena.
Marcus quickly turned to check on his fallen partner.
That brief moment of hesitation cost him dearly.
Hawk seized the opportunity and delivered a crushing elbow right to Marcus's face.
The champion staggered back.
Animal wasted no time entering the ring.
The Road Warriors moved with terrifying precision. They grabbed Marcus before he could recover and executed their devastating tag-team finisher right in the center of the ring.
The crowd sensed it was all over.
Animal hooked Marcus's leg.
The referee slid into position.
One!
Two!
Three!
The bell rang.
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then, the arena erupted.
"We have new champions!" Noah shouted, his voice booming.
"The Road Warriors have done it!" Irvin yelled, excitement radiating from him.
Animal and Hawk proudly accepted their championship belts as the crowd erupted in cheers. The towering challengers lifted the titles high above their heads, taking a slow victory lap around the ring.
Meanwhile, Marcus sat alone in the middle of the canvas.
His hands rested heavily on his knees.
His head hung low, a picture of defeat.
The loss was clearly weighing on him.
Months of hard work had crumbled because of a single mistake.
Cal eventually climbed back into the ring while the Road Warriors reveled near the entrance ramp. Marcus sprang to his feet, eager to explain himself.
The cameras couldn't catch every word, but the sentiment was clear.
He was apologizing.
Cal wasn't having it.
He pointed toward the departing Road Warriors.
Then he gestured at the missing championships.
Finally, he pointed directly at Marcus.
The crowd began to murmur, a wave of confusion washing over them.
Noah frowned, sensing the tension. "Wait a second."
Cal kept talking, his voice rising.
Marcus tried to calm him down, but then, to everyone's shock, Cal shoved him.
The entire arena gasped in disbelief.
No one knew how to respond.
Tag partners often argued. They pointed fingers and shouted.
But physically attacking your own partner?
That was almost unheard of.
Especially after losing a championship defense.
Marcus looked taken aback.
He stepped forward, trying to reason with Cal once more.
But Cal shoved him again, this time with more force.
The crowd erupted in boos.
In the audience, even Owen looked taken aback, "What's wrong with him?"
Bret narrowed his eyes. "He's blaming Marcus."
Finally, Marcus lost his cool.
He swung.
The punch landed perfectly.
The arena erupted.
Now both fighters were exchanging blows right in the center of the ring.
The crowd was in disbelief at what they were seeing.
Apex Predators had been a team for months. They had celebrated victories together. They had traveled the world side by side.
And now, they were facing off against each other.
At first, it seemed like a fair fight. But then Cal started to take control.
He drove a knee into Marcus's gut, then seized him by the head and slammed his face into the turnbuckle.
The crowd let out a chorus of boos.
Cal did it again.
And again.
Marcus slumped against the ropes, clearly dazed.
Cal yanked him by the arm and sent him flying across the ring with a fierce Irish whip.
As Marcus stumbled back, Cal nearly turned him inside out with a devastating clothesline.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Marcus hit the mat hard and lay still.
Cal stood over him for a few tense seconds.
Booing echoed from every corner of the arena.
Then, without uttering a word, Cal turned and walked away.
The audience was left in disbelief.
No explanation. No apology. Just silence.
As Cal vanished behind the curtain, Marcus slowly rolled onto his side, gazing toward the entrance.
The reality began to sink in for the crowd.
The championships were lost.
And now, Apex Predators were no more.
One of IRW's most beloved tag teams had just crumbled before twenty thousand astonished fans.
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AN: The reason you might feel that the updates are not consistent is because I am currently working on my original novel which I intend to publish by the end of this month. But don't worry, I will not drop this story.
Be sure to check my novel out when it's out.