Match Eight
Phoenix Winterborn vs Delsin Oswald
"Path" plays and Delsin steps out from behind the curtain, his arms out in wingspan and his head tilted up, yelling out "FIRST CLASS ATHLETE BABAY!" with the spotlight on him and the crowd boos to him with the smoke filling up at the entrance. Delsin walks down the ramp The spotlight stays on The crowd is reaching over trying to touch him or get his attention but he holds himself away from them, talking smack back to the fans before joggging up the steps.
Gavin Grey: The following match is scheduled for one fall! Making his way to the ring first, from Tallahassee, Florida, weighing 234lbs he is the "First Class Athlete"... Delsin Oswald!
Smith: Tonight we'll be getting out first look at Delsin Oswald, the self-proclaimed "First Class Athlete" as he takes on the veteran Phoenix Winterborn. A lot of people know Winterborn and his unique blend of technical wrestling but not much is known about Delsin Oswald other than the fact that he was a decorated athlete from Florida.
Bradford: Don't forget, he's IC3 approved! IC3 made the rounds while he was engaged in legal litigation on the independent circuit and surrounded himself with a few handpicked proteges. Along with Ulysses Queen the two made their way around the West Coast and Deep South as part of their development to prepare them for the big time. Ulysses Queen decided to return to University to further his education, studying for his Phd. in Psychology so tonight Delsin Oswald will be making his single's debut alone.
Smith: And that's what I'm afraid of, the fact that he's "IC3 Approved", whatever that means. The man is blessed with physical ability but with IC3 eager to put his grubby hands all over MSW with his stamp of approval I'm sure Danny Stevenson has got to be sick to his stomach watching this broadcast. I expect more of the same in this match simply due to this man's allegiances.
Bradford: It's not too late to join the "winning side" Smith. I'm sure if you apologize on air IC3 might only reduce your fine by half. It's time to stop living in the past and get with the program!
Walking about half way up the apron, Delsin puts his back to the ropes, arms out and head up, "IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER!" Grabbing hold of the top rope, he jumps it, clearing it with ease and jogs to the middle of the ring where he throws his arms out and head up one more time, all the while keeping a huge smile on his face the entire time.
Gavin Grey: And his opponent, already in the ring from Chicago, Illinois, weighing 229lbs he is The American Tradition... Phoenix Winterborn!
*DING DING*
Delsin Oswald wastes no time establishing his dominance early on as he manages to knock Winterborn off his feet with a running discus polish hammer. Winterborn appeared to be totally caught off guard as Oswald quickly follows up with a knee to the face as he tries to get up. Oswald drops to his knees and starts doing pushups in Winterborn's face as he taunted him. "FIRST CLASS BABY! FIRST CLASS!"
Smith: Absolutely disgusting.
Bradford: How can you possibly call such an athletic display disgusting? Winterborn wasn't taking him seriously and he paid for it immediately. For such a veteran he should have given him the proper respect he was due.
Smith: You want to talk about respect? Delsin Oswald wouldn't give Winterborn an ounce of respect if the world depended on it. As far as he's concerned whenever he's in the ring it immediately becomes the "Delsin Oswald Show". I get that he's a decorated collegiate athlete but this is amateur hour anymore, he has yet to pay his dues and yet we're expected to suddenly buy into the hype and disregard the hard working men and women that have busted their asses night after night, month after month, and year after year for his sake? Respect is earned and he has yet to earn mine and I'm sure the veterans in the back feel the same way. If he walked in with this attitude in 1987 the locker room would've blacklisted him and made his life a living hell.
Bradford: That was the past, this is the present. This is 2016, this is the I-C-3 Era! Like it or not there's going to be a lot of torches being passed by choice or by force around here. We have a lot of hungry men and women that have yet to get their due. You want to talk about paying dues? Look at that man go, he's already earning his spot.
Winterborn quickly rolled over and hit Oswald with a sucker punch to the jaw as he immediately dropped to the mat. With a chuckle Oswald shakes his head muttering "oh so you want to play that way? Alright kid."
Smith: Welcome to MSW, Delsin Oswald.
Bradford: That was a cheap shot and you know it.
Smith: Cheap shot? This is a wrestling match not the NFL Combine!
Bradford: Total lack of respect on Winterborn's part. You don't crack a man in the head when he's exercising!
Smith: He's making a mockery of this match and his opponent, maybe Oswald could stand to have some respect knocked into him before pulling a ridiculous stunt like that again.
Both men get back to their feet and get into a collar and elbow tie up, each man striving for control. Oswald get the upper hand with his superior strength and drives Winterborn into the corner. The referee calls for a clean break as Oswald backs off only to drive his shoulder into Winterborn's gut. He does this several more times as the referee gets to a count of 3. Oswald then whips Winterborn to the ropes and captures him in a fluid scoop powerslam using his opponent's momentum to drive him straight onto the mat.
Bradford: Come on Smith! You got to give him credit for that one!
Smith: I admit that was a very impressive powerslam by Delsin Oswald. I'll never deny the physical tools this kid possesses but he needs to act like he's been there before. He's more concerned about stealing the spotlight than actually wearing his opponent down.
Bradford: Ok Roger Goodell. I wasn't aware that celebration and showmanship in a wrestling ring was punishable by a 15 yard Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty.
Oswald then gets up and highsteps over to taunt and flex for the crowd before he goes for a standing moonsault straight onto Winterborn. Winterborn with his veteran ring awareness managed to catch the First Class Athlete with a rude awakening when he puts his knees up, literally taking the wind out of his sails. Winterborn seizes the opportunity and makes the best of it as he catches him in a headlock, looking to cut off oxygen to the brain to wear the First Class Athlete down. Oswald kicks at the mat several times as the referee asks if him he wants to quit.
Smith: Winterborn is cutting off circulation to that brain now. He's looking to wear Oswald down and slow this match down a few notches.
Bradford: Oh just look at yourself Smith. All giddy that your hero Phoenix Winterborn is making a comeback, and you say I'm the biased one.
Smith: You are, I'm calling the match and stating the facts; you're openly rooting for Delsin Oswald..
Bradford: What, so it's a crime to be a fan now?
Smith: No, but it gets old when you make every excuse in the book to try to justify this man's bad behavior. Winterborn has Oswald right where he wants him in the middle of that ring and he's got a long way to go to reach the ropes, Oswald will need to escape quickly before too much damage is done.
Bradford: You say that as if it isn't a forgone conclusion. You're slipping Smith!
Oswald manages to make it back to his feet as he reaches for the ropes, Winterborn quickly releases the hold and transitions to a sleeper as he pulls him away from the ropes. Oswald begins to fade as he drops to a knee as Winterborn clinches tighter trying to put him away. The referee goes to check his arm as it fell limp and raises it once as it dropped back down.
Smith: It might be over here, if that arm falls back down three times in succession the Derek Lay has to end this match as a result of submission and in the best interest of protecting the health and well being of our competitors.
Bradford: Come on Delsin! Don't tap to this Chi-ra
q trash!
Smith: Was that really necessary?
Bradford: Chicago is a cesspool of violence and corruption, and don't even get me started on the Chicago Bears.
Smith: I'm surprised you're a fan of IC3 with that logic.
Bradford: IC3 single handedly saved MSW, you shut your mouth.
The referee does it again and once more it drops lifelessly back down. Finally he goes to do it one final time but Oswald throws his arm back up in defiance. Winterborn having seen this song and dance before wisely and abruptly releases the hold before Oswald could power out. Oswald being caught of guard by that quickly stumbles back to his feet only to be met with a vicious back spinning heelkick! Oswald stumbles as he gets hit by another back spinning heel kick immediately followed by another in rapid succession as Winterborn completes the Reign of Fire. Oswald takes two steps forward before flopping on his face. Winterborn quickly goes for the cover. 1,2, 3!
Smith: Phoenix Winterborn has done it! He proved the doubters wrong and won his first match in MSW!
Bradford: This is a travesty of justice!
Winterborn's music starts to play as the crowd starts to boo. The referee quickly waves off the bell and orders for the match to continue.
Bradford: Haha! You spoke too soon Smith! That pin is null and void, his foot was on the bottom rope!
Smith: That's TJ Bryce! What the hell is he doing out here and why did he put Delsin Oswald's foot on the bottom rope?
Bradford: He's enforcing The Boss's will that's what he's doing!
Smith: He has no right being out here. He already got a Pure 15 Championship match on the next show, shouldn't that be enough?
Bradford: When the boss tells you to jump you ask him how high. If he tells you to help out one of your brothers in the corporate family you do it. IC3 is developing a team, a brotherhood comprised of only the classiest and gracious professional wrestling has to offer. With Ulysses Queen and Delsin Oswald he formed First Class and now he's looking to form a bonafide dynasty in its own right.
The referee asks what TJ Bryce is doing out here as he's met by a smug grin. As Winterborn argues with the referee and TJ Bryce Delsin Oswald manages to catch his breath and he runs against the opposite side of the ropes and with a streaming streak of momentum behind him he leaps and catches Winterborn from behind with devastating Crucifix Driver. Winterborn crashes to the mat as Oswald slaps the mat several times shouting "That's it baby! Your goose is cooked birdbrain!" Winterborn slowly gets up to his feet as Oswald captures his arm, pulling it across Winterborn's neck as he lifts him up for the Perfect Score [Cravat Suplex]. Oswald places his elbow on Winterborn's chest with a wide grin as he raises his other arm into the air to count with the referee. 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Delsin Oswald
