ACE Showcase - 11/10/24

 The show kicks off with The Enchantment Rico Cruz backstage with Shania Wheatley. Cruz looks at the camera with his trademark smug grin, adjusting his extravagant ring gear as he leans casually into the microphone.

“Tonight, I step into the ring with Asombrosa,” he sneers, emphasizing his opponent’s name. “A man who hides behind a mask, clinging to an outdated tradition. But me? I don’t need to cover my face—I’m the face of the future. I’m redefining what it means to be a Mexican wrestler. I’ve got the talent, I’ve got the charisma, and unlike Asombrosa and his precious ‘Lucha Libre,’ I’ve got nothing to hide.” He chuckles, glancing at Shania. “Tonight, I’ll show him, and all of you, why ‘The Enchantment’ is exactly what ACE needs.”

The crowd responds with a chorus of boos as the camera cuts to the ring, where Asombrosa makes his entrance, greeted by cheers. Draped in his vibrant mask and attire, Asombrosa salutes the fans, feeding off their energy. He points to Cruz backstage on the monitor, determined to show him just how strong the Lucha Libre tradition can be.

Cruz’s entrance is a stark contrast—oozing confidence, he struts to the ring with a dismissive wave to the fans, taking his time as he surveys the crowd with a smirk.

The bell rings, and the action kicks off with a clash of styles. Asombrosa takes control early, using his high-flying Lucha moves to keep Cruz on his toes. A flurry of armdrags, dropkicks, and a spinning headscissors sends Cruz reeling, forcing him to retreat to the ropes, visibly frustrated. But Cruz quickly rallies, countering a hurricanrana with a stunning powerbomb that grounds Asombrosa.

Cruz shifts momentum, expertly combining technical wrestling and athletic counters to keep Asombrosa grounded. Cruz traps Asombrosa in a series of holds, wrenching his neck and limbs to slow him down. But Asombrosa refuses to stay down, rallying with a comeback—he lands a springboard crossbody and follows it up with a dizzying sequence of flips, hitting a moonsault that gets the crowd on their feet for a close two-count.

In the match’s climax, Asombrosa attempts his signature diving senton, but Cruz rolls away at the last second. As Asombrosa staggers to his feet, Cruz capitalizes with a dazzling Enchantment Cutter that plants his opponent in the center of the ring. The ref counts, and Cruz scores the decisive pinfall victory at 8:48.

After the bell, Cruz jumps to his feet, basking in his victory with an exaggerated bow to the crowd, taunting Asombrosa and blowing kisses to his booing detractors. He points to his face, mouthing “no mask needed,” before striking a smug pose as the show goes to commercial.

The camera comes back from break as The Shadows—the eerie masked duo, Shadow 1 and Shadow 2—are already in the ring, waiting with a menacing air. Soon, the upbeat theme of Air Raid hits, and Talon Towns and Hawk Hensley, accompanied by Scarlett McCaw, burst onto the stage, greeted by cheers. The two high-flyers exchange a determined nod, ready to redeem themselves after their last showdown with The Shadows.

As the bell rings, Air Raid starts off fast, keeping The Shadows off balance with a rapid sequence of aerial maneuvers and quick tags. Talon and Hawk work together to hit high-flying double-team moves, from dropkicks to springboard crossbodies, dazzling the audience. Talon hits a picture-perfect somersault plancha over the top rope onto Shadow 1, who’s left reeling outside the ring, while Hawk keeps Shadow 2 grounded with a headlock takedown.

But The Shadows quickly turn the tide with their usual underhanded tactics. As the ref’s attention wavers, Shadow 1 and Shadow 2 switch in and out without tagging, frustrating Air Raid and the audience. Shadow 2 uses a concealed chokehold on Talon in the corner while Shadow 1 distracts the referee, displaying The Shadows’ cunning teamwork. They slow the pace, targeting Talon’s legs to keep him from flying around the ring.

After a prolonged struggle, Talon finally breaks free and makes a hot tag to Hawk. Hawk charges in like a whirlwind, hitting both Shadows with a flurry of forearms and a high-angle dropkick that floors Shadow 2. With a final burst of energy, Hawk tags Talon back in, and the two set up for a jaw-dropping double-team maneuver—a double springboard moonsault that connects on Shadow 1 for a close two-count.

The match heads into its climax as Talon and Hawk, determined to end things, set up their finisher. With a quick setup and perfectly timed execution, Talon manages to roll up Shadow 1, catching him by surprise for the three-count at 10:02!

But Air Raid’s celebration is short-lived. Just as Talon and Hawk rise to their feet, The Shadows ambush them from behind. The two masked men unleash a ruthless assault, stomping down on Air Raid with a viciousness that shocks the crowd. Shadow 2 lifts Talon, slamming him into the mat with a brutal spinebuster, while Shadow 1 levels Hawk with a thunderous clothesline.

Scarlett McCaw rushes to try to help her team, but The Shadows close in on her menacingly, forcing her to retreat. Satisfied with their work, The Shadows stand over the fallen Air Raid, silent and ominous as the crowd boos them loudly.

As we come back from commercial, we see a promo video for ACE Marquee.

The promo video opens with an electrifying montage showcasing the intensity of the 2024 Tournament of Aces on Marquee, building up excitement for the upcoming semifinal matches. The announcer’s voice booms, reminding viewers of the stakes as we move into the highlights of the first semi-final showdown: Austin Adonis vs. The Wild Stallion Cody Montana.

We see Adonis in peak form, outsmarting Sammy Vice with quick counters and narrowly escaping Cael Gardner‘s submission holds, securing his place in the semifinals. Cut to Cody Montana, whose ruthless style overpowered Obsidian Black and then Calgary’s own Hart, solidifying Montana as a fierce competitor. The tension escalates as the video shows Montana’s ambush of Adonis on this week’s Crossfire Sermon, delivering a vicious attack as Reverend Elijah Cross stood by with his trademark smirk, leaving Adonis reeling and the fans buzzing.

The video then transitions to the second semi-final match, Keme Dakotah vs. Reverend Elijah Cross. Clips roll of Dakotah’s dominance, using his raw power and Native American warrior spirit to overcome Slim Elroy and then the unpredictable Simbi Loa. In contrast, we see Cross manipulating his way to victory over Ambassador Patrick Ford and, most recently, Belial Fish, showing off his twisted charisma and in-ring cunning. The video emphasizes the difference in styles, with Dakotah’s strength and straightforward determination against Cross’s manipulative tactics and dark sermonizing, making this an explosive clash in the making.

The promo video ends on a thrilling note, showing all four contenders with steely determination in their eyes, leaving fans at the edge of their seats for the high-stakes battles that will determine who advances to the finals of the Tournament of Aces.

Backstage, the tension is thick as The Technician Royce Cage crosses paths with Count Hammerli Von Fluker of the Foreign Legion. Von Fluker, towering and intimidating in his signature military-style jacket, looks down at Cage with a cold sneer.

“You really think you stand a chance against the likes of Cael Gardner?” Von Fluker taunts, his thick accent laced with contempt. “Gardner represents strength, discipline, a warrior with unmatched precision—qualities a so-called technician could never match.”

Cage stands his ground, his steely resolve unshaken. “Cael Gardner might have his accolades, but tonight, it’s about who has the grit and skill to leave as champion,” he replies confidently. “And don’t forget, Count—I’m not intimidated by Foreign Legion muscle or your threats.”

Von Fluker chuckles darkly, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing as he looms over Cage. “Then you’re a fool. Gardner will dismantle you, piece by piece, like the amateur you are. And when he’s done, maybe I’ll be next to teach you a lesson in respect.”

Without flinching, Cage squares up, staring the Count down. “You might try, but you’d regret it. I’m not just another name in the ring, Count—I’m the man who’s going to make sure the Foreign Legion leaves that title match empty-handed.”

The standoff is electric, each man refusing to yield an inch before Count Von Fluker, with a final glare, turns and storms off. Cage’s eyes are focused, unfazed and ready, as he heads off, leaving viewers anticipating the showdown with Gardner in tonight’s ACE Television Title match.

As the match begins, Cael Gardner and Royce Cage lock up with intensity, both men showcasing their distinct styles—Gardner using his superior grappling skills and brute strength, while Cage counters with precise technical wrestling and sharp striking. The match sees quick back-and-forth exchanges, each man battling to gain control, and Gardner begins to wear down Cage with punishing holds, applying the type of intensity that embodies the Foreign Legion’s brutal philosophy.

At ringside, Himalaya, Nikita Petrov, Anastasia, Count Hammerli Von Fluker, and General Zhangstand in unison, their presence an imposing force that looms over the match. Midway through, Cage gains momentum, landing a series of stiff kicks and a swinging neckbreaker, nearly scoring a pinfall before Gardner gets his shoulder up. But soon, Himalaya moves in to distract Cage from ringside, allowing Gardner to deliver a vicious Olympic Slam. Cage barely manages to kick out, drawing a roar of disbelief from the crowd.

With the Foreign Legion growing restless, they attempt multiple distractions, each time met with Cage’s determination. After narrowly avoiding a count-out due to another timely interference, Cage builds up steam and lands a devastating High Knee. It looks like it’s over, but Himalaya slides Gardner’s leg onto the rope, breaking the count. As Cage gets back to his feet, Von Fluker tries to strike, only to mistakenly nail Gardner with a hard right hand. Cage seizes the moment and nearly claims the victory, but Petrov’s distraction of the referee buys Gardner precious seconds to kick out.

The crowd is buzzing as Cage fights through interference after interference, hitting Gardner with everything he’s got. The match builds to its peak, with Cage defying the odds—until Gardner catches him off-guard with a surprise second Olympic Slam, finally scoring the three-count at an exhausting 17:44.

But there’s no time for Cage to recover; the Foreign Legion swarms the ring, launching a brutal assault. Gardner, Petrov, Von Fluker, and Himalaya lay into Cage with merciless stomps and strikes, while Anastasia taunts him from ringside. Gardner stands tall over Cage, holding his ACE Television Title high as the show fades to black, the Foreign Legion sending a ruthless message that they will protect their own at any cost.