Joey Styles: Good evening and welcome to Warfare! I'm Joey Styles, joined by Corey Graves, and tonight, the Aftermath of Wrestlemania begins!
Corey Graves: We are live from New Orleans and tonight, in our main event, CM Punk will take on the Intercontinental Champion, Kevin Owens! Joey, how are you feeling after you were taken out of commission at Wrestlemania?
Joey Styles: I’d rather forget about that Corey! Up first, we've got the King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura, in action against Bully Ray!
Corey Graves: Shinsuke and Bully Ray are both hard hitting superstars, so this is sure to be an intense match Joey!
"Subconscious Entry Version" by Julia Claris hit and the crowd cheered as Nakamura made his way to the ring. Once the Japanese superstar was in the ring, "Deadman's Hand" hit and the cheers turned to boos as Bully Ray stepped out onto the stage. Bully Ray had both the Tag Titles belts over his shoulders, and he strutted to the ring with a confident swagger. Upon entering the ring, he started mouthing off to Nakamura, but the King of Strong Style seemed unfazed by his taunts. The referee called for the bell, and Bully Ray ran at Nakamura, going for a clothesline. Nakamura ducked out of the way, then turned to face Bully Ray and hit him with a knee to the midsection. Nakamura then whipped Bully Ray into the corner, and hit him with a high knee. Bully Ray staggered out of the corner, and Nakamura took him down with a lariat. He then hit a knee drop, and hooked the leg. The referee counted – 1... 2... kickout!
Joey Styles: A strong start from Shinsuke Nakamura! He's taking the fight to Bully Ray!
Nakamura pulled Bully Ray to his feet, and hit him with another knee to the midsection, then set him up for a DDT. Bully Ray fought out of it, pushing Nakamura against the ropes, then hit him with the bionic elbow. He then set Nakamura up for a powerbomb, but as he lifted Nakamura up, the Japanese superstar broke free, landing on his feet behind Bully Ray. Bully Ray turned around to face him, and Nakamura hit a roundhouse kick. Nakamura hit a leg drop, and as Bully Ray sat up, Nakamura kicked him in the back of the head. As Bully Ray got to his feet, Nakamura whipped him against the ropes, then hit a dropkick. Both men got to their feet and Nakamura lifted Bully Ray onto his shoulders, hitting the Death Valley Driver.
Corey Graves: Impressive strength there from Shinsuke Nakamura!
Nakamura hooked the leg once more and the referee counted – 1... 2... kickout! Nakamura pulled Bully Ray to his feet and set him up for a double underhook piledriver... but Bully Ray countered with a back body drop! Nakamura got to his feet and Bully Ray lifted him up, hitting a scoop slam. He stomped on Nakamura several times, trying to keep him grounded, but Nakamura rolled out of the way and got to his feet. Bully Ray hit a series of punches, then set Nakamura up for a Cutter, but Nakamura blocked it, countering with an inverted powerslam. Nakamura stepped back, waiting for Bully Ray to get to his feet, then as Bully Ray began to stir, Nakamura hit him with the Boma Ye! Nakamura hooked the leg and the referee counted – 1... 2... 3!
Joey Styles: It's over! Nakamura gets the victory!
Nakamura celebrated as Warfare went to a commercial break.
Summer Rae stormed the halls backstage of the arena with a vexed expression. Summer turned the corner and stopped in front of a door that read "Stone Cold Steve Austin" on a name plate with a smoking skull. Summer went to knock but opted to just barge right in instead.
Summer: Tell me WHY the hell those two tired old dogs, Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson, get to be number one contenders for the Divas tag titles?!
Steve Austin froze momentarily in disbelief. How dare someone barge in HIS office with THAT tone of voice.
Steve: Whoa, whoa, whoa. You think you can just come in here and start yelling at Stone Cold? Eh-eh! Sit your ass down.
Summer scoffed and almost looked like she was going to defy his command and remain standing. She sighed and walked over to the chair by his desk and sat down.
Steve: Now try again.
Summer: Ugh, fine. Why do Torrie and Stacy get a shot at the Divas tag titles?
Steve: If memory servers me right, they won that opportunity at Wrestlemania.
Steve picked up his pen and scribbled something on a notepad.
Summer: Yeah, well, my bae, Sasha, and I earned our shot WAY before them, and we never got our tag title shot yet! Ya know, it's only been a few months, but whatever, right?
Steve: Listen... which Mean Girl are you again? Skipper?
Summer's mouth dropped open.
Summer: I'm Summer Rae!! Who the hell is Skipper?!
Steve cleared his throat and continued.
Steve: Summer, you should of dropped the attitude at the door. If you think Stone Cold is gonna put up with this, you got another thing coming!
He continued to scribble down something else on the notepad. Summer tried to lean forward to see but Stone Cold covered it with his hands and shook his head at her. Summer flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder.
Summer: I just feel it's a little unfair to dish out another number one contender's match when you already had number one contenders! Obvi we deserve to have our match before those two geriatrics get their's! We're getting screwed and it's so unfair!
Summer whined and pouted like a spoiled brat after she said this.
Steve: What?
Summer: I was saying that I feel it's unfair-
Steve: What?!
Summer looked annoyed again.
Summer: It's unjust to just let-
Steve: WHAT!
Summer let out an angry sigh and stood up.
Summer: This isn't a joke! Something needs to be done about this!
Stone Cold simply laughed and slapped his hand on the desk.
Steve: I'm just messin' with you, don't get your feathers all ruffled. I'll tell ya what, Stone Cold is gonna make this right. Surely-
Summer: Don't call me Shirley! It's Sum-mer!
Steve: I was gonna say s-u-r-e-l-y there is something to fix this issue, before you opened your mealy mouth and interrupted Stone Cold.
Summer sank back into her chair and shut her mouth.
Steve: If you would keep ya damn mouth shut, I can tell ya that you and Tasha-
Summer: Sasha.
Summer blurted out and covered her mouth. Stone Cold pointed at her as a warning and she pursed her lips shut.
Steve: You and Sasha will now be in a triple threat tag match for the EBWF Divas tag titles whenever I decide to make it happen. And THAT'S the bottomline... Cuz STONE. COLD. Said so!
Summer opened her mouth to protest, she clearly didn't want Torrie or Stacy in the match at all, now they were all in a match together.
Steve: Now get the hell out of my office! Shut the door on your way out.
Summer angrily pressed her lips together so hard, her lips appeared to almost lose their color. She huffed and left Stone Cold's office without another word. The scene faded and Warfare headed to a commercial break.
Warfare returned from commercial with Sydal and McIntyre already in the ring!
Corey Graves: We’ve got some singles action ready to go. right. now!
In fact the bell rang and Sydal went after McIntyre’s left arm early on with a single arm DDT. Sydal tossed McIntyre into the ring post and then did an arm wringer to work on the arm. Sydal applied an armbar. Sydal missed a running corner attack, but McIntyre nailed an uppercut. He hit another followed by a dropkick for two. McIntyre tried a rollup that Sydal kicked out of and then Sydal sent McIntyre shoulder first into the steel post.
Joey Styles: He’ll be feeling that in the morning.
They worked each other over with punches, and McIntyre incapacitated Sydal enough to put him up on the ropes. McIntyre hit a gutwrench suplex off the top rope. Sydal gained back some momentum andlooked to be in control, but McIntyre hit some forearms followed by a double foot stomp for a two count.
Corey Graves: Sydal won’t stay down!
McIntyre hit a boot to the face, then a cross body block off the top and Sydal rolled through with a Crossface submission. McIntyre was able to counter into a rollup for two. McIntyre applied a Sharpshooter on Sydal, but it was near the ropes, so Matt was able to break it up. Sydal nailed a pele bicycle kick. Sydal went to the top rope and connected with the Frog Splash for two.
Joey Styles: I love how Sydal is mixing some of his high flying ability with the submissions Corey. Such a well rounded wrestler.
Sydal went for a power bomb, but it went awkward and McIntyre landed on his feet, jumped off the ropes and hit a spinning uppercut to knock Sydal down. Once on his feet, Sydal sent McIntyre into the middle turnbuckle. He came out hot and Sydal walked into the Future Shock. Drew went for the pin.
1..2..3!
Joey Styles: And there’s the victory! What a win for the returning Drew McIntyre.
"Crushed" by Parkway Drive hit and the crowd cheered as Gionna Daddio made her way to the ring for the next match.
Joey Styles: Up next, we've got women's wrestling to look forward to as Gionna Daddio takes on Paige!
Once Gionna had entered the ring, Up From the Ashes by The Letter Black hit and Paige came out to a mixed reaction from the crowd. When both women were in the ring, the referee called for the bell and the two women locked up. Paige applied an arm twist, but Gionna fought out of it, countering with a hammerlock. Paige broke free, then went for a side kick, but Gionna ducked out of the way and whipped Paige against the ropes. Gionna took Paige down with a hiptoss, then as Paige got to her feet, Gionna hit her with an enzuigiri. Paige staggered backwards, and Gionna whipped her against the ropes once more, this time hitting a dropkick. Both women got to their feet and Gionna hit Paige with a DDT, then hooked the leg. The referee counted – 1... 2... kickout! Gionna sat Paige up and applied a sleeper hold, but Paige fought out of it and both women got to their feet. Gionna set Paige up for a snapmare, but Paige blocked it and dragged Gionna towards the corner, slamming her head against the turnbuckle. Paige kicked Gionna in the corner several times, then pulled her out of the corner and whipped her against the ropes. As Gionna hit the ropes, Paige went for a back body drop, but Gionna countered with a sunset flip powerbomb! The referee counted – 1... 2... kickout!
Corey Graves: Great counter by Gionna Daddio! Impressive athleticism from the Jersey girl!
Both men got to their feet and Paige took Gionna down with a clothesline, then stomped on her several times. She pulled Gionna to her feet and set her up for a fisherman suplex, but Gionna blocked it, countering with a jawbreaker. Paige staggered backwards, and Gionna grabbed her, whipping her into the corner. Gionna then ran at Paige, hitting her with a forearm smash and taking her down with a bulldog. Gionna then went to the top rope, and hit a moonsault! She hooked the leg and the referee counted – 1... 2... 3!
Joey Styles: It's over! Gionna Daddio gets the victory!
Gionna celebrated, then made her way to the back.
Joey Styles: Still to come, we've got Dolph Ziggler versus Sami Zayn, and our main event, Kevin Owens versus CM Punk. First though, the former Intercontinental Champion Syxx takes on the Breakout Champion, Carlito!
Carlito came to the ring first, followed by Syxx. Both superstars received a mixed reaction from the crowd as they made their way to the ring. Once they were in the ring, the referee called for the bell and the two men exchanged right hands back and forth. Carlito gained the upper hand, and after hitting a series of punches in quick succession, he whipped Syxx against the ropes. Carlito ran after Syxx, and as Syxx hit the ropes, Carlito hit a clothesline, sending Syxx over the top rope. As Syxx got to his feet, Carlito grabbed the ropes, jumping over the top rope and hitting a springboard crossbody! Both men were down outside the ring, and the referee began counting – 1... 2... 3... at the count of 4, Carlito got to his feet. He grabbed Syxx and pulled him to his feet, slamming his head against the steel steps. Carlito then threw Syxx back into the ring, and re-entered the ring. He stomped on Syxx several times, then hit a swinging neckbreaker. Carlito hooked the leg and the referee counted – 1... 2... kickout!
Corey Graves: Carlito with a near fall!
Carlito pulled Syxx to his feet and hit him with some more right hands, then went to whip him against the ropes. Syxx reversed the Irish whip, sending Carlito against the ropes, then hit a spinning heel kick. Both men got to their feet and Syxx whipped Carlito into the corner, then ran at him and hit a corner clothesline. Carlito fell into a sitting position, and Syxx hit him with the bronco buster! As Carlito got to his feet, Syxx went for the Syxx Kick, but Carlito ducked out of the way and got behind Syxx, hitting a reverse DDT. Carlito then applied a figure four leglock on Syxx, but Syxx was able to get to the ropes. The referee forced Carlito to break the hold, and Carlito got to his feet. He stomped on Syxx several times, then stepped back, waiting for him to get back up. When Syxx was on his feet, Carlito ran at him and hit a knee lift, then ran against the ropes, and as Syxx got to his feet once more, Carlito hit a running clothesline. Syxx looked dazed as he got up, and Carlito got behind him, hitting the Back Stabber! He hooked the leg and the referee counted – 1... 2... 3!
Joey Styles: It’s over! Another victory for Carlito!
Carlito celebrated as Warfare went to a commercial break.
“Oh My Here We Go”
Joey Styles: It would appear that we’re about to be joined by the new EBWF World Champion.
Corey Graves: Wes Ikeda defeated Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania, and then the unthinkable occurred, Joey…
Sound of Madness continued to play as a brief video of the Wrestlemania fallout aired. When the video finished, Wes came from behind the curtain. He was wearing a black suit with grey pinstripes, and an olive green dress shirt under the jacket. He received a mixed reaction from the New Orleans crowd, and the boos grew louder as he walked to ringside and unbuttoned his jacket, pulling it open to reveal the EBWF World Championship fastened around his waist. He stepped into the ring.
Christy Hemme: Ladies and Gentlemen, the new EBWF World Champion, Wes Ikeda!
More boos as Wes took a microphone from Christy.
Wes Ikeda: You can stop booing right now because I am clearly the best thing to have happened to all of you in a long, long time. I heard all of you cheering me when I cracked that chair across the back of Chris Jericho. Your resurrected hero, against all odds, the under appreciated, under rated, under dog, back from the dead to entertain you! And even after I won, you continued to cheer! Even as I was purging us of that glory hog you couldn’t help but give me the biggest standing ovation in all of Wrestlemania history. It wasn’t until I wiped the blood of that walking nostalgia act on the face of his only son that you realized it wasn’t all fun and games anymore. It was then you all realized that I was taking my rightful place as the best in the business. Do you understand what I’m saying to you…
The heat was nuclear as he finished.
Wes Ikeda: …right now?
Wes smirked at the loud boos.
Wes Ikeda: Are we having fun yet? Is this fun now? Let me tell you something about who I am…
“Thrash Unreal” hit, and the crowd was on it’s feet. The boos turned to cheers.
Joey Styles: Are you kidding me?!
Corey Graves: Chyna? The 9th Wonder of the World.
Joey Styles: Joanie Helmsley. She’s here!
Indeed, the Executive Vice President of Programming and Production had entered, stopping on the stage. Wes had been cut off by the music, and she began speaking through the cheers.
Joanie Helmsley: I don’t know why you’re doing this, Wes. I don’t understand it…
Wes Ikeda: You don’t understand it? You? The woman who stood in the shadow of two icons of this industry? The woman who is consistently discredited in this business because of who she befriended and who she married. Mrs. Helmsley? You don’t understand it!
Joanie Helmsley: I am not going to let you hijack this show.
Wes Ikeda: Mission failed, lady, because I already have.
Wes removed the championship from his waist.
Wes Ikeda: I have this. This is all I need.
Joanie Helmsley: Chris Jericho isn’t here tonight…
The crowd booed, and Wes threw his free hand up, nodding as if he agreed with them.
Wes Ikeda: Right?! He’s awful isn’t he?
The boos grew a little louder, but were drowned out by the opening sounds of “Hart Attack” faded into “Closer” from Lacuna Coil and Natalya came onto the stage. Wes began furiously shaking his head when he saw she had a microphone and he bailed out of the ring and started back up the ramp.
Corey Graves: I don’t think this is quite the victory party Wes Ikeda had in mind.
Joey Styles: His wife, Natalya, is here! It looks like she has something on her mind.
Wes didn’t use the microphone but he could easily be heard on television.
Wes Ikeda: No! No, absolutely not. We’re not doing this out here.
Natalya: Wes, listen to me.
Joey Styles: We thought Wes was mad before. He’s becoming incensed now.
Wes Ikeda: I’m not listening to anything!
Natalya continued speaking into her microphone, standing next to Joanie now.
Natalya: You know I support you. In everything you do. I am so proud of you. You’re the World Champion, but above all, you’re a good man. I don’t understand why you’ve done this.
Wes finally spoke into his microphone.
Wes Ikeda: I don’t need you to understand it.
Natalya: This isn’t you. You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I can’t fathom why you so brutally attacked your best friend.
She reached up to where he had perched the championship on his shoulder and took it from him.
Natalya: Look at this.
She held the title between them, showing it to him.
Natalya: You won the Royal Rumble. You beat Jericho fair and square, right there in that ring. You earned this. No one is disputing that.
Wes’ eyes had shifted to the championship as Joanie interrupted.
Joanie Helmsley: That’s what I wanted to say, Wes. I think we need have a talk about this. Whatever it is, we can work through it, backstage.
Natalya: Chris is your best friend. His our son’s godfather. Wes, Chris is your brother. He’s our family. And you know how I feel about family.
In a split second, Natalya dropped her microphone and slammed the gold faceplate of the championship belt into Joanie Helmsley’s head. Joanie fell to the stage, out cold. The boos were vicious.
Corey Graves: I can’t believe it! Natalya! Natalya Neidhart just laid out Joanie Helmsley! That’s her boss.
Wes was smirking as he held his microphone toward Natalya so she could speak again amidst the vocally displeased crowd.
Natalya: You know how I feel about family, after all, I’m an Ikeda now.
“Sound of Madness” joined the boos as Wes and Natalya stood on the stage. Wes held the championship in his left hand and raised his wife’s arm with his right as Warfare went to commercial.
The announcers were set for the main event when Warfare returned.
Joey Styles: Coming up now Corey we have a huge match up with two stars from Wrestlemania.
Corey Graves: Absolutely, Sami Zayn and Dolph Ziggler. Love them or hate them, you can’t deny both of these guys gave their all at Wrestlemania in two fantastic matches and I’m expecting a great bout from them.
The crowd erupted into cheers as “Here to Show The World” played over the speakers and Dolph Ziggler energetically came down to ringside.
Joey Styles: In the Intercontinental ladder match Ziggler came so close to taking the title home but came up just a little short. But all we’ve seen on Twitter since is how Dolph stole the show and so many people saw him as the MVP of the whole event.
There was an even bigger pop as Sami Zayn came down the aisle. A short recap package was shown of Sami Zayn winning his match against Solomon Crowe and thus allowing him to continue his EBWF career.
Corey Graves: Joey, there isn’t anything bigger a wrestler can put on the line than his career and that’s exactly what Zayn did at Wrestlemania against Solomon Crowe and came out the winner. You’ve got to respect him for that.
With both men in the ring circling each other the bell rang the crowd burst into a “this is wrestling” chant before they had even locked up. Both men smiled at each other as they continued to bob around the ring.
Joey Styles: Ha, you hear that Corey? These guys haven’t even touched each other yet and you can see these fans know something special is going to happen.
They locked up and Dolph forced Sami into the corner. The referee broke the hold and both men stepped back into the ring. They once again locked up however this time Sami forced Ziggler into the corner and once again there was a clean break. For a third time Sami went for a collar and elbow tie up, however this time Ziggler floored Sami with a drop toe hold, before diving on top of him and applying a headlock. But as quick as the hold was applied Zayn had slipped out and bounced to his feet. As Dolph approached him, Sami carried out the exact same sequence of drop toe hold, followed by a headlock but Dolph Ziggler was unable to squirm free. Eventually he worked to a vertical base and bounced Zayn off the ropes. Speeding towards him, Sami Zayn ducked the initial clothesline attempt by Ziggler, however when he came running back towards him Dolph hit a picture perfect dropkick to send Zayn to the mat. For the next few minutes Dolph worked over Sami Zayn, hitting several high impact moves, keeping him grounded.
Joey Styles: Great domination here from Dolph, wearing Zay down.
Eventually the momentum turned as Sami managed to reserve an irish whip and immediately chased after Dolph and clotheslined him over the top rope. Without stopping Zayn followed him over the top with a suicide dive landing on top of the show off to a loud “holy shit” chant from the fans. Zayn tossed Ziggler back in the ring and began to take the upper hand, hitting many of his own moves, much to the delight of the fans.
Corey Graves: This one is an absolute master class! These fans are being treated to a match of the year contender here right now!
Both competitors started to tire and traded blows in the centre of the ring, before at the exact same time they hit each other with a superkick, leaving them both flat on their backs. The referee checked both men and started a double count.
Joey Styles: Well the referee has got to the count of 7 and both men seem to be back to their feet, but I’m not sure how much either has left to give.
As both Sami and Dolph staggered to their feet out of nowhere Dolph went for a superkick, but Zayn ducked underneath it and hit Dolph with a flying forearm. The blow sent Dolph into the corner and without hesitating Sami nailed him with the Helluva kick.
Corey Graves: MY GOODNESS! That’s it Joey, this one is over…….. What’s this?
As Dolph hit the canvas a burst of static played over the speakers before the familiar sound of CM Punk’s music played and out strolled the straight edge superstar wearing his now trademark suit, holding a microphone in his hand. With Dolph Ziggler laid out in the ring, Sami Zayn looked confused at Punk’s arrival.
Joey Styles: What on earth is he doing out here, Punk is scheduled to wrestle Kevin Owens later tonight.
Clearing his throat CM Punk spoke into the microphone.
CM Punk: Ahem, ladies and gentleman, it’s clobbering time.
With that Kevin Owens appeared from behind in the ring and threw the official over the top rope to the outside. As Sami Zayn spun around to see what was happening Kevin Owens immediately hit him with the pop up powerbomb leaving him laid out next to Dolph Ziggler. Owens slid out of the ring and grabbed a chair as the fans loudly booed the action.
CM Punk: Just so you all are aware, THIS…
Punk pointed to the ring as now Kevin Owens began to unload several chair shots on Sami Zayn’s back.
CM Punk: …is tonight’s main event. I’m afraid you won’t be seeing myself or Kevin Owens wrestle tonight.
The fans loudly booed as Kevin Owens was shouting at both Ziggler in the ring “YOU MADE ME DO THIS” as he sat down on the chair he had been using to assault Sami Zayn with. Zayn was motionless, however Dolph Ziggler was beginning to stir. CM Punk had not moved from the top of the ramp, and continued to talk.
CM Punk: I personally couldn’t think of a bigger insult than trying to get myself and Kevin Owens to fight each other tonight. In fact we’ve recently found we have a mutual interest. And a common disdain for certain quote “superstars” here in the EBWF. As long as people choose to ignore our message, then we’ll just have to make examples of your little favourites.
The crowd booed even louder as CM Punk spoke. By now Dolph Ziggler was sitting in the corner trying to pull himself up. Kevin Owens stood up and walked towards him.
CM Punk: Dolph Ziggler. The show stealer. The superstar everyone has been talking about since Wrestlemania. You know what we stand for Dolph? Kevin Owens and I are wrestlers. The very best wrestlers around and maybe we don’t post the right hash tags or enough photographs on social media to be the superstar the EBWF top brass wants us to be. And I know you’re another guy out here busting his ass every single night to be the best and you have to come out here and literally beg for a match at Wrestlemania. Is that right? A marketable star like yourself having to beg for something you clearly deserve is that right? Well the way we see it now is you are either with us, or against us and it’s time to make that choice.
By now Ziggler was on his feet holding his ribs following his gruelling match with Sami Zayn. Kevin Owens was extending his hand out to him to be shaken. The crowd booed at the gesture and Dolph Ziggler looked around as if considering his options. However, instead of shaking Owens hand he turned away and the crowd loudly cheered.
CM Punk: Ah, sadly Dolph as the saying goes, three’s a crowd anyways.
With that Owens spun Dolph around and lifted Ziggler into the air and powerbombed him through the chair he had been previously sitting on to a loud chorus of boos as Zayn and Ziggler were left laid out next to each other. Owens stepped out of the ring and walked towards CM Punk as the fans continued to boo.
CM Punk: Ladies and gentleman you have been watching The Last of Us, you have been great, we have been better. Thank you and good day.
With that Punk threw down his microphone as he and Kevin Owens posed side by side with the fans hurling abuse at them.
Joey Styles: The Last of Us? What does this even mean Corey? What do they mean by “us"?
Corey Graves: I have no idea Joey. But hell hath no fury like a wrestler scorned apparently and it appears CM Punk and Kevin Owens are making a statement here tonight. Just look at the carnage in the ring.
The show went off air as medical teams charged past Owens and Punk to get to the ring to tend to Ziggler and Zayn.
