EPISODE NINE
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Sunday, September 6th
The Splat! Wrestling tour buses rolled south down Interstate 95, leaving the coastal breeze of Maine behind as the New York skyline began to loom on the horizon. The exhaustion of two solid months on the road was settling into everyone's joints, but nobody had the luxury of slowing down. With Splatoberfest less than a month away, every single division was reaching a fever pitch.
In the back lounge of the primary tour bus, Max Ironside sat with his boots kicked up on a duffle bag, an ice pack resting against his left shoulder. Across from him, Aaron Snyder was quietly rewatching footage of Mark Cross on a tablet, his face cast in the blue glow of the screen.
[CUTAWAY - AARON SNYDER, CONFESSIONAL]
Aaron Snyder: "Max got the better of me in Portland. Fair play to him. But this tournament isn't a sprint—it's a war of attrition. You win some, you drop some, but you never lose your head. Next up is Mark Cross in New York City. Mark thinks wrestling is an art form. I think wrestling is surgery. And on Saturday, I'm going to take him apart piece by piece."
Further up the bus aisle, Danni Anderson was on FaceTime with her husband Damon and daughter Leina, smiling warmly despite the deep fatigue in her eyes.
Danni Anderson: (into phone) "I saw the photos from yesterday, baby. You did so well. Uncle Gabriel was so happy to see you... Yeah, Mommy's got Nikki this weekend. Big match. Huge points. I love you both so much."
She hung up, took a deep breath, and leaned her head back against the frosted glass of the bus window.
[CUTAWAY - DANNI ANDERSON, CONFESSIONAL]
Danni Anderson: "Portland was emotional. Markus's anniversary is always hard on our family, but seeing GT step up for Leina meant the world to me. Now, my head has to be back in the game. Nikki Payne is sitting at two points. If I beat her in New York, I'm right back in the driver's seat. If I lose... my road to the finals gets almost impossible."
Monday, September 7th
[NEW YORK TRAINING FACILITY - LONG ISLAND]
The New York training center was a cavernous, state-of-the-art facility complete with three full rings, weight rooms, and medical suites. Monday morning began with high-intensity circuit drills led by Biff Franklin and Larry Gowan.
Larry stood at the apron of Ring Two, clapping his hands rhythmically as Max Ironside and Amber Payne traded technical chain grappling on the canvas.
Larry Gowan: "Smooth transitions, Max! Amber, keep that base wide. You give him an inch of arm control and he'll lock you down for the rest of the day!"
Amber bridged out of a side headlock, snapped around into a hammerlock, and drove Max down with crisp authority. Both veterans broke cleanly, tapped fists, and reset without a word.
Across the room in the athlete lounge, the atmosphere was considerably less cordial. Keylla Munoz-Atherton was sitting on a plush leather sofa, scrolling through fan comments on her phone with an iced matcha latte on the table. Her sister and trainer, "Triple B" Felicia Atherton, walked in wearing designer oversized sunglasses, a cropped pink blazer, and pristine white sneakers, carrying a shopping bag from Fifth Avenue.
Across the room in the athlete lounge, the atmosphere was considerably less cordial. Keylla Munoz-Atherton was lounging across a plush leather sofa, adjusting a portable ring-light attached to her phone as she recorded an Instagram story with an iced matcha latte on the table. Her wife and trainer, "Triple B" Felicia Atherton, walked in wearing designer oversized sunglasses, a cropped pastel blazer, and pristine white sneakers, casually swinging a luxury shopping bag from Fifth Avenue.
Felicia dropped into the armchair across from Keylla with an exaggerated sigh, sliding her designer sunglasses down the bridge of her nose.
Felicia Atherton: "Ugh, Manhattan traffic is an absolute nightmare. But look at this bag! Anyway, mi amor, how are your little bruised ribs feeling after that embarrassing loss to JoeStar in Portland?"
Keylla paused her recording, lowering her phone as her glamorous smile evaporated instantly.
Keylla Munoz-Atherton: "I'm fine, Felicia. JoeStar got lucky with a leverage counter. Fue un golpe de suerte. It happens in the ring."
Felicia let out a high-pitched, melodic chuckle and inspected her fresh French manicure.
Felicia Atherton: "Does it? Because as an investigative journalist with a USC degree, I deal in cold, hard facts, darling—and the trendline shows you losing an awful lot lately. Meanwhile, let's check my ledger: 'Triple B' Felicia Atherton is undefeated. One technical masterclass in Boston over Binka Moab. One high-profile victory over Poema Tua in Portland. Two for two. Blonde, Bratty, and undeniably Better."
Keylla set her phone down on the table with a sharp, resonant click.
Keylla Munoz-Atherton: "¡Ay, por favor! You beat Poema because ONNA walked out and distracted her! You didn't outwrestle her on your own, Felicia!"
Felicia waved a dismissive, manicured hand, smirking coolly.
Felicia Atherton: "A win is a win, sweetie. Good journalism reports the final score, and history records that I looked flawless doing it. While you've been struggling to trend for anything other than taking pinfalls, I'm already booked in the inaugural Shooting Star Championship four-way at Splatoberfest. Maybe if you spent less time worrying about camera angles and more time learning technical submissions from your undefeated wife and trainer, Miss Magnifica would actually win a match."
Felicia stood up, smoothed down her blazer with a smug grin, and strutted toward the locker room. Keylla glared after her, her manicured nails digging into the leather sofa in sheer frustration.
[CUTAWAY - KEYLLA MUNOZ-ATHERTON, CONFESSIONAL]
Keylla Munoz-Atherton: "Felicia thinks she can talk down to me just because she has a USC degree, trust-fund money, and two lucky wins. She acts like she's the only star in our house. She's my trainer, she's my wife, and I love her, but ella se equivoca if she thinks I'm going to sit in her shadow. If she keeps pushing me on camera... she's going to find out what happens when Miss Magnifica stops smiling."
Tuesday, September 8th
[NEW YORK TRAINING FACILITY - AFTERNOON SESSION]
Tuesday's focus shifted squarely toward Saturday's massive five-match card in New York City.
In Ring One, Charlie Foxtrot was running through high-impact strike combinations with GT. Charlie's service dog, Gucci, lay patiently on a blanket near the timekeeper's table, watching Charlie's every move. Charlie looked sharper, faster, and visibly lighter on his feet than he had all tour, channeling his "Mystic Phoenix" mindset.
Outside the ring, Kimberly Hart sat on the ring steps, swinging her legs and playfully clutching her Rising Star Championship belt like a teddy bear.
[CUTAWAY - KIMBERLY HART, CONFESSIONAL]
Kimberly Hart: (grinning ear-to-ear) "Madoka thought she was punishing me with this gauntlet match. Five competitors? JoeStar, Ashley, Gabriel, Felicia, Charlie? Please! They're all lining up to get their dreams shattered. And when I beat every single one of them, I get Splatoberfest off and an all-expenses-paid vacation! I'm already looking at flights to Tokyo. Sayonara, losers!"
In Ring Three, Taylor Landry and AYA were drilling tag team footwork under the watchful eye of Chelsea Pryce. Despite their vastly different personalities—Taylor's flamboyant Hollywood glamor versus AYA's cold martial arts precision—the two found an unlikely rhythm, trading quick tags and double-team counters.
Taylor Landry: "Keep that pace, AYA! When Binka starts giving her doctoral dissertation on Saturday, we kick her head off!"
AYA merely nodded, landing a vicious roundhouse kick against the heavy pad.
HOUSE SHOWS
Buffalo House Show - Wednesday, September 9th
[BUFFALO VENUE - EVENING]
The upstate New York crowd at the Buffalo arena brought incredible noise, eager for a preview of the high-stakes weekend ahead.
Match 1: JoeStar Stanton vs. Clayton Halliburton
A hard-hitting physical clash between two powerhouses. Clayton controlled the tempo with his grinding mat technique and triple German suplexes, but JoeStar weathered the storm. Breaking free from a Cattle Mutilation attempt, JoeStar hit his Break Line Knee in the corner and planted Clayton with the Iron Verdict for the three-count.
Winner: JoeStar Stanton via pinfall (13:18)
Match 2: Keylla Munoz-Atherton vs. Taylor Landry
Keylla came into the match with an aggressive chip on her shoulder following her argument with Felicia. Taylor tried to slow the pace with her signature swagger, but Keylla overwhelmed her with sharp striking and scored with the Influencer's Edge rope-assisted neckbreaker to secure a much-needed victory.
Winner: Keylla Munoz-Atherton via pinfall (11:45)
Match 3: Max Ironside vs. Mark "The Dragon" Cross
A masterclass in technical wrestling between two 15-plus-year veterans. Mark targeted Max's neck with stiff kicks and dragon suplex setups, while Max worked over Mark's left knee. When Mark went for the Go 2 Sleep, Max slipped out the back and locked in the Crippled Crossface, forcing Mark to tap out.
Winner: Max Ironside via submission (17:52)
Match 4: Nikki Payne vs. Ashley "The Menace" Ellis
Nikki entered the ring focused on protecting her momentum ahead of her showdown with Danni. Ashley tried to farm social media aura by dancing mid-match, but Nikki caught her flush with the Ugly Shot thrust kick, followed by Dismembered for the clean pinfall.
Winner: Nikki Payne via pinfall (12:04)
Albany House Show - Thursday, September 10th
[ALBANY VENUE - EVENING]
The capital city hosted another packed house as the roster continued to test combinations before Saturday's TV broadcast.
Match 1: GT vs. Ashley "The Menace" Ellis
An energetic cross-division contest. Ashley attempted to use speed and outside distractions to throw GT off, but GT's power proved insurmountable. GT caught Ashley mid-springboard with the Sweetest Kiss jumping knee, then sealed the win with the D E R E Z discus lariat.
Winner: GT via pinfall (10:15)
Match 2: "Triple B" Felicia Atherton vs. AYA
Felicia attempted to stall and flaunt her undefeated status, but AYA showed zero patience for her antics. AYA dismantled Felicia with rapid shoot kicks and heavy knees. Before AYA could lock in the Clover Execution, Felicia slid out of the ring, grabbed her designer handbag, and intentionally took a countout loss to preserve herself for Saturday.
Winner: AYA via countout (9:30)
Match 3: Danni Anderson vs. Amber Payne
A fiercely contested preview of the Grand Prix intensity. Amber took control early with punishing chops and her Final Judgment sequence, but Danni rallied with high-octane agility, hitting Stars-a-Dancing before executing the Pink Sugar Attack for a hard-fought submission victory.
Winner: Danni Anderson via submission (16:40)
Match 4: Aaron "Scarface" Snyder vs. JoeStar Stanton
Aaron tested the young powerhouse with relentless joint manipulation and psychological warfare. JoeStar showed immense grit, kicking out of a brainbuster, but Aaron capitalized on a missed shoulder tackle to cinch in the Prodigal Cross straight-jacket choke for the tap out.
Winner: Aaron Snyder via submission (15:22)
Syracuse House Show - Friday, September 11th
[SYRACUSE VENUE - EVENING]
The final stop before New York City saw an electric crowd in Syracuse.
Match 1: Charlie Foxtrot vs. Clayton Halliburton
Charlie competed with intense focus, moving crisply in his Mystic Phoenix gear. Clayton attempted The Final Curtain bridging suplex, but Charlie countered into a vicious Mantis Blades flurry, followed by the Chromed Up spear and the No Future lariat to earn the pinfall.
Winner: Charlie Foxtrot via pinfall (12:35)
Match 2: Binka Moab vs. Taylor Landry
Binka attempted to slow the match down with her methodical submissions, but Taylor used her speed and cunning to escape. Taylor connected with the Tay Drop Code Red, followed by the California Vacation sunrise to score the victory.
Winner: Taylor Landry via pinfall (11:10)
Match 3: Max Ironside vs. Aaron "Scarface" Snyder
A grueling, methodical clash that echoed their previous wars. Aaron targeted Max's arm, but Max caught Aaron in a sudden Accessible Parking double-knee armbreaker into a schoolboy roll-up to snatch the win.
Winner: Max Ironside via pinfall (18:14)
Match 4: Amber Payne vs. Nikki Payne
The Payne sisters put on an emotional, hard-hitting clinic to close the upstate swing. After a series of rapid counter-pins and devastating kicks, Amber reversed a Spanish Fly into the Pain Killer Kudo Driver to score the pinfall over her sister.
Winner: Amber Payne via pinfall (15:48)
SATURDAY TELEVISION BROADCAST
New York City Television Center - Saturday, September 12th
[NEW YORK CITY TELEVISION CENTER - BACKSTAGE]
The backstage hallways of the New York City Television Center were buzzing with electricity. Cameras followed "The Mystic Phoenix" Charlie Foxtrot as he walked toward his locker room to prepare for the main event gauntlet match.
Charlie was wearing a light blue Dragon Ball Z shirt featuring Vegeta, custom ripped jeans, and black combat boots. By his side, his golden retriever Gucci trotted faithfully, his tail wagging gently. Charlie carried his blue-and-black gear bag over his left shoulder, mentally locked in for the biggest opportunity of his young career.
As Charlie approached the door of his locker room, he stopped. Leaning casually against the doorway, arms folded across his chest with a smug smirk, was "The Jar of Hearts" Antonio Cruz.
Gucci immediately let out a low, defensive growl, stepping slightly in front of Charlie.
Charlie Foxtrot: "What's wrong, Gucci?"
Charlie looked up, noticing Antonio blocking the entrance. Charlie rolled his eyes with deep irritation.
Charlie Foxtrot: "Oh great... what now?"
Antonio chuckled and pushed off the doorframe, taking a couple of steps forward while sarcastically clapping his hands.
Antonio Cruz: "Well, well... I heard about you and that tramp hooking up... way to go, Chance."
Charlie dropped his duffle bag to the floor with a heavy thud. The relaxed composure on his face vanished, replaced instantly by cold, simmering fury.
Charlie Foxtrot: "Maybe learn to get my name right. It's Charlie. Now get out of my way."
Antonio chuckled again, unbothered, tilting his head with mock pity.
Antonio Cruz: "Cute... you want me to move just so you can have a nice pow-wow with your bimbo girlfriend?"
In a flash, Charlie stepped directly into Antonio's space, standing only inches from his face, his eyes burning with intense conviction. Gucci stood rigid at his side.
Charlie Foxtrot: "Want to say that again about Maricela?!"
Antonio stared back into Charlie's eyes, smirking even as the physical tension skyrocketed.
Antonio Cruz: "Please... I know you can beat me up, Foxtrot. No doubt you can. But you still don't understand who you're messing with here."
Charlie held his ground for a long moment before backing up slightly, keeping his guard fully up and his fists clenched.
Charlie Foxtrot: "I don't care. I don't trust you one bit."
Antonio let out a soft laugh and slowly stepped aside from the doorway, gesturing toward the open room.
Antonio Cruz: "Well then, you'll soon find out. Let's just say... you mess with one person, you mess with us all."
Antonio turned on his designer heel and casually strolled down the hallway. Charlie watched him walk away, scratching the back of his neck in utter bewilderment.
Charlie Foxtrot: "The hell was that about?!"
Charlie exhaled a deep, heavy sigh, picked up his duffle bag, and opened the door to his locker room.
[ARENA - BROADCAST OPEN]
The arena lights strobed in brilliant neon pink and electric blue as pyrotechnics shot from the stage. The New York City crowd was on their feet, deafening in their energy.
The camera panned to the commentary desk at ringside, where Biff Franklin sat alone with his headset on.
Biff Franklin: "Welcome, everybody, to a historic night of Splat! Wrestling, broadcasting live from the New York City Television Center! I'm Biff Franklin, handling the broadcast solo tonight, and folks, we have an unbelievable evening in store! Three massive Super Star Championship Grand Prix tournament matches that will completely reshape the standings, and in our main event, Kimberly Hart runs the Rising Star Gauntlet! But right now, we kick things off with explosive tag team action in our Shooting Star Division!"
Match 1: "It Girl" Taylor Landry & AYA vs. "Triple B" Felicia Atherton & "The Intellectual Assassin" Binka Moab
Time Limit: 20 Minutes
The bass-heavy beat of Taylor Landry's theme music hit first as Taylor strutted out in shimmering gold and black attire, soaking in the spotlight. Following close behind was AYA, marching down the ramp in her traditional black MMA gear with a laser-focused stare.
The bass-heavy beat of Taylor Landry's theme music hit first as Taylor strutted out in shimmering gold and black attire, soaking in the spotlight and flashing a radiant smile. Following close behind was AYA, marching down the ramp in her traditional black MMA shoot-style gear, her eyes locked in a stoic, laser-focused stare.
The crowd gave a massive pop. Then, the obnoxious, synth-pop melody of Felicia Atherton's music filled the arena, accompanied by Binka Moab's imposing orchestral score. Felicia strutted out wearing a fur-trimmed robe, blowing kisses with a stuck-up smirk, while Binka walked with a thick leather-bound notebook tucked under her arm.
The New York crowd gave them a massive pop. Then, the obnoxious, synth-heavy melody of Felicia Atherton's theme kicked in, blending into Binka Moab's pompous orchestral overture. Felicia strutted out in tailored, pastel technical gear beneath a designer varsity-cut robe, methodically adjusting her wrist tape with the poise of an elite submission specialist who knew she was technically superior to everyone in the building. Beside her, Binka marched down the ramp with a thick leather-bound notebook tucked firmly under her arm.
Mia Rivera raised her microphone to announce them.
Before Mia could finish, Binka Moab snatched the microphone cleanly out of Mia's hand, glaring down at her with haughty disdain.
Before Mia could finish, Binka snatched the microphone cleanly out of her grip, glaring down at the ring announcer with haughty condescension.
Binka Moab: (into microphone) "Cease your rudimentary vocalizations, Mia! The denizens of New York City require an introduction of true intellectual and anatomical transcendence! Introducing first, the premier erudite scholar and athletic mastermind in combat sports history... 'THE INTELLECTUAL ASSASSIN' BINKA MOAB! And my partner... the undefeated technical submission virtuoso and USC journalism graduate... 'TRIPLE B' FELICIA ATHERTON!"
Felicia held up three manicured fingers with a smug, bratty grin—signaling Blonde, Bratty, and Better—before methodically rolling her shoulders and testing the tension in her joint locks.
Binka shoved the microphone hard into Mia's chest. Mia stumbled back a step, biting her lip in quiet fury as she took her place outside the ring.
The bell rang.
TIME: 0:00 / 20:00
Taylor Landry and Felicia started the match, engaging in a fast-paced battle of arrogance. Felicia slapped Taylor across the face; Taylor responded with a crisp arm-drag and an It Girl Spike DDT. Felicia scurried to tag in Binka, while Taylor brought in AYA.
AYA immediately brought the fight to Binka, unleashing a rapid flurry of shoot kicks that echoed through the arena. Binka fought back with raw power, hitting the Chromosome Splitter atomic drop.
TIME: 10:30 / 20:00
The action intensified as all four women traded heavy momentum. Taylor hit her signature TayTay suplexes on Felicia, while AYA caught Binka with a spinning back kick.
TIME: 13:45 / 20:00
Felicia pulled Taylor by the hair out to the floor, slamming her into the security barrier. AYA launched herself over the top rope with a stunning diving plancha, wiping out both Felicia and Taylor! Binka immediately rolled to the outside and blindsided AYA with a brutal running knee against the steel steps!
Outside the ring, complete chaos erupted. Taylor and Felicia were rolling on the concrete, clawing and pulling hair near the announce table. AYA and Binka exchanged furious forearms against the guardrail, ignoring the referee's frantic instructions.
Referee: "ONE! TWO! THREE! Ladies, get back inside the ring! FOUR! FIVE! SIX!"
Neither team listened. Felicia threw Taylor over the commentary desk; AYA drove Binka spine-first into the ring post!
Referee: "SEVEN! EIGHT! NINE! TEN!"
The bell rang repeatedly.
Mia Rivera: "Ladies and gentlemen, as a result of a double countout, this match has been ruled a DRAW!"
Winner: DRAW via Double Countout (14:18)
Security personnel flooded ringside, desperately trying to pull the four competitors apart as the crowd roared.
Biff Franklin: "Total bedlam to kick off the night! None of these four women wanted to concede an inch, and this Shooting Star Division is an absolute powder keg!"
Match 2: Super Star Championship Grand Prix Tournament Match
Aaron "Scarface" Snyder (1 pt) vs. Mark "The Dragon" Cross (1 pt)
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
Mia Rivera: "The following contest is a Super Star Championship Grand Prix Tournament match scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit!"
Mark Cross made his entrance to a thunderous ovation, slapping hands with fans in the front row and performing his dragon martial arts salute on the turnbuckles. Aaron Snyder followed, walking slowly down the ramp with a chilling, calculating expression, his facial scars highlighted by the arena spotlights.
Biff Franklin: "Both men sit at one point in the tournament standings. A win here puts the victor in prime contention, while a loss creates a massive hole to climb out of!"
The bell rang.
TIME: 0:00 / 30:00
The two veterans circled each other with immense respect. Mark looked for an early takedown, but Aaron used his superior leverage to control the wrist and twist Mark into a hammerlock. Mark reversed with a fluid drop toe-hold, floating over into a side headlock.
TIME: 12:00 / 30:00
The match transitioned into a stiff striking battle. Mark connected with a series of martial arts kicks, capped off by his signature Shining Wizard! Mark covered:
One! Two! Aaron kicked out at two and a half!
Mark hoisted Aaron up for the Go 2 Sleep, but Aaron slid down his back, targeted Mark's previously injured knee with a chop block, and drove him down with a crushing Blazing Tornado Brainbuster!
TIME: 21:30 / 30:00
Aaron clamped down on Mark's shoulders, locking in the dreaded Prodigal Cross—his signature straight-jacket chickenwing choke! Mark writhed in agony, clawing toward the ropes with his boots, but Aaron dragged him back to the center of the ring, grapevining the legs and squeezing with ruthless force.
Mark's arm dropped once.
It dropped twice.
On the third check, Mark's hand went limp. The referee called for the bell!
Mia Rivera: "Here is your winner, via submission... AARON 'SCARFACE' SNYDER!"
Biff Franklin: "Aaron Snyder secures his second point in the Grand Prix! A masterclass in systematic destruction from Scarface!"
Superstar Grand Prix Points:
- Aaron Snyder: 2 points
- Mark Cross: 1 point
Match 3: Super Star Championship Grand Prix Tournament Match
Danni Anderson (1 pt) vs. Nikki Payne (2 pts)
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
Nikki Payne strutted down the ramp with total confidence, holding up two fingers to remind the crowd of her first-place tournament standing. Danni Anderson entered next, bursting with bubbly energy and greeting the young fans along the guardrails before stepping into the ring with fierce determination.
Biff Franklin: "Nikki Payne leads the entire Grand Prix with two points. If she wins tonight, she moves to three points and puts one foot in the Splatoberfest finals! But Danni Anderson is fighting for her tournament life!"
The bell rang.
TIME: 0:00 / 30:00
Nikki used her height and reach advantage early, mocking Danni's size and grounding her with a snap dragon suplex and a sharp Face Smash reverse STO.
TIME: 14:20 / 30:00
Nikki went for the Cheer Drop Cross Rhodes, but Danni spun through, landed on her feet, and hit a stunning Flower Hurricane double-jump springboard hurricanrana that sent Nikki flying across the ring!
Danni caught fire, hitting her Big-Bada-BOOM spinning knee strike, followed by the SPARKLY Asai DDT! Danni covered:
One! Two! Nikki got a shoulder up just in time!
TIME: 23:45 / 30:00
Nikki rallied, catching Danni with the Ugly Shot thrust kick to the jaw! Nikki climbed the top turnbuckle, looking for Dismembered. Nikki leaped—
Danni rolled out of the way! Nikki crashed hard to the canvas. Danni quickly wrapped Nikki's arm in a whirlwind rotation, locking in the Pink Sugar Attack (La Mistica), wrenching back on the shoulder and arm with incredible leverage!
Nikki screamed, fought the pressure, but had nowhere to go and tapped the mat frantically!
Mia Rivera: "Here is your winner, via submission... DANNI ANDERSON!"
Biff Franklin: "Danni Anderson does it! She hands Nikki Payne her first tournament defeat and moves to two points! The roof has just blown off this arena!"
Superstar Grand Prix Points:
- Nikki Payne: 2 points
- Danni Anderson: 2 points
Match 4: Super Star Championship Grand Prix Tournament Match
Amber Payne (1 pt) vs. Max Ironside (2 pts)
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
Max Ironside walked out with steady, blue-collar focus, shaking hands with referee and staff. Amber Payne walked out with intensity in her eyes, slapping her own chest to psych herself up for a brutal fight.
Biff Franklin: "Another colossal tournament match! If Max wins, he takes sole possession of first place with three points! If Amber wins, we have a complete logjam at the top of the standings!"
The bell rang.
TIME: 0:00 / 30:00
From the opening lockup, the match was a clinic in physical, punishing wrestling. Max worked on Amber's shoulder with the Half-Nelson Facebuster and crisp leverage takedowns. Amber fired back with blistering knife-edge chops that left Max's chest bright red.
TIME: 16:50 / 30:00
Amber trapped Max in the corner, unleashing her full Final Judgment sequence—the crushing lariat, the body splash, the hip attack, and the ringing big boot! Max collapsed, and Amber ascended the ropes, crashing down with a sensational 450 Splash!
One! Two! Max kicked out at 2.9!
TIME: 24:30 / 30:00
Max countered a fisherman suplex into his Crippled Crossface! The crowd held its breath as Amber grimaced in pain, crawling inch by inch. Just as Max adjusted his grip, Amber rolled backward, trapped Max's legs in a pinning combination, forcing Max to break the hold!
Both rose to their feet. Max swung for a lariat; Amber ducked, hooked Max under both arms, and planted him with the devastating Pain Killer (Kudo Driver) right in the center of the ring!
Amber hooked the leg:
One!
Two!
Three!
The bell rang!
Mia Rivera: "Here is your winner, via pinfall... AMBER PAYNE!"
Biff Franklin: "Amber Payne wins! What an incredible match! And look at the tournament standings now, folks—five competitors are deadlocked at two points apiece!"
Superstar Grand Prix Points:
- Nikki Payne: 2 points
- Max Ironside: 2 points
- Aaron Snyder: 2 points
- Danni Anderson: 2 points
- Amber Payne: 2 points
- Mark Cross: 1 point
Main Event: Rising Star Championship Gauntlet Match
Kimberly Hart (Champion) vs. The Rising Star Division
No Time Limit
(Rules: Kimberly must defeat all challengers to earn Splatoberfest off with a vacation. If any challenger pins Kimberly, that challenger earns a Rising Star Championship match at Splatoberfest.)
Rising Star Champion Kimberly Hart made her entrance with an arrogant swagger, skipping down the ramp, kissing her title belt, and holding it high over her head in the center of the ring.
Mia Rivera: "The following contest is the RISING STAR CHAMPIONSHIP GAUNTLET MATCH!"
Biff Franklin: "Kimberly Hart has to survive every eligible Rising Star contender tonight! Let's see who enters first!"
Gauntlet Entrant #1: "JoeStar" Stanton
JoeStar strode out with power and purpose, immediately taking the fight to the champion. JoeStar dominated with his Factory Slam delayed vertical suplex, holding Kimberly in the air for ten seconds before crashing down.
When JoeStar charged for the Steel Line lariat, Kimberly cleverly pulled the referee into JoeStar's path. JoeStar slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the official. Kimberly immediately sprang from the corner, hitting a low chop block followed by her Shattered Dreams spider-crawl Sister Abigail!
Kimberly hooked the leg: One! Two! Three!
JoeStar Stanton has been eliminated!
Gauntlet Entrant #2: Ashley "The Menace" Ellis
Ashley sprinted to the ring, trying to take advantage of a winded Kimberly. Ashley hit a flurry of flying forearms and went for her signature camera pose on the second rope.
As Ashley turned around, Kimberly grabbed a handful of Ashley's hair, snapped her across the top rope with the Nightmares are Made Of rope-hung DDT, and rolled her up—blatantly grabbing a fistful of Ashley's tights for extra leverage!
One! Two! Three!
Ashley Ellis has been eliminated!
Gauntlet Entrant #3: GT
GT marched down the ramp to a huge roar from the New York crowd. GT used his explosive power, tossing Kimberly with the Chemical Imbalance stalling vertical suplex and setting up for the D E R E Z discus lariat.
Kimberly dropped to her knees, clutching her eye and screaming in agony, pretending she had been poked in the eye. As the referee stepped in between them to check on Kimberly, Kimberly whipped out a pair of brass knuckles from her boot, struck GT square in the groin behind the referee's back, and rolled him up with both feet stacked on the middle ropes!
The referee counted: One! Two! Three!
GT slammed the mat in utter disgust as the referee waved him out.
GT has been eliminated!
Gauntlet Entrant #4: Clayton Halliburton
Clayton Halliburton marched down the ramp with cold, no-nonsense intensity, a dark scowl on his face as he entered the ring to handle business.
Clayton immediately grounded the champion, utilizing his superior size and technical power. He hoisted Kimberly up and drilled her with a punishing German suplex, then grabbed her arms to lock in The Grand Finale (Cattle Mutilation). But as Clayton dragged her toward the center of the mat, Kimberly desperately raked her nails across Clayton’s eyes while the referee was moving to check the hold. Blinding Clayton momentarily, Kimberly drove a sharp back elbow into his throat, shoved him off balance, and rolled him up into a schoolgirl pin—blatantly stacking both feet on the ropes and grabbing a handful of his trunks!
The referee counted: One! Two! Three!
Clayton slammed his hands against the canvas in pure outrage, furious that the official missed the blatant cheating, before being ordered out of the ring.
Clayton Halliburton has been eliminated!
Gauntlet Entrant #5: "The Mystic Phoenix" Charlie Foxtrot
The arena lights dimmed, shifting into deep mystical blues and fiery orange. Charlie Foxtrot walked out to a massive roar from the New York fans, his service dog Gucci sitting proudly at the top of the ramp under the supervision of arena staff. Charlie jogged down the ramp, slid into the ring, and locked eyes with the champion.
Kimberly was visibly exhausted, clutching her belt at ringside before the referee made her hand it over.
The bell rang!
Kimberly immediately tried her bag of tricks—lunging for an eye rake. Charlie caught her wrist cleanly! Kimberly tried a kick to the groin, but Charlie blocked it with his knee, spun behind her, and hit a stunning Preem Ride (Shining Wizard)!
Kimberly stumbled back against the ropes, reaching into her waistband for a foreign object to blind Charlie. But Charlie anticipated the move, swatted her hand away, delivered a rapid sequence of Mantis Blades strikes across her jaw, and rebounded off the ropes to deliver a thunderous No Future (Northern Lariat) that turned Kimberly completely inside out!
Charlie dropped down and hooked both legs:
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
The bell rang frantically!
Mia Rivera: "Here is your winner of the Gauntlet Match... CHARLIE FOXTROT!"
The arena erupted! Charlie rose to his feet, raising his fists in the air as Gucci barked happily from the top of the ramp! Kimberly sat on the canvas, clutching her head in total shock and disbelief, watching her vacation vanish into thin air.
[POST-MATCH & CLOSING]
General Manager Madoka Kawada walked out onto the entrance stage, holding a microphone with a wide smile.
Madoka Kawada: "Kimberly... pack away your passport! Because at Splatoberfest in Nashville, you will defend that Rising Star Championship against Charlie Foxtrot!"
The official match graphic appeared on the giant arena screen:
RISING STAR CHAMPIONSHIP: KIMBERLY HART (C) VS. CHARLIE FOXTROT — SPLATOBERFEST
Charlie pointed toward the screen, nodding with cold determination as the crowd chanted his name.
The broadcast transitioned to a graphic displaying the updated tournament standings:
===================================================== SUPERSTAR CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND PRIX - STANDINGS ===================================================== 1. Nikki Payne - 2 Points 2. Max Ironside - 2 Points 3. Aaron Snyder - 2 Points 4. Danni Anderson - 2 Points 5. Amber Payne - 2 Points 6. Mark Cross - 1 Point =====================================================
Madoka Kawada: "What an incredible night here in New York City. As we move closer to Splatoberfest, the stakes could not be higher. Next Saturday night, Splat! Wrestling heads to the Philadelphia Television Center in Pennsylvania, and I have officially finalized next week's card.
"To open the broadcast, our Superstar Championship Grand Prix continues as Aaron Snyder squares off against Danni Anderson!
"In tag team action, 'Triple B' Felicia Atherton partners with 'It Girl' Taylor Landry to take on 'The Intellectual Assassin' Binka Moab and AYA!
"Poema Tua will go one-on-one against 'JoeStar' Stanton!
"Next, GT steps into the squared circle to face Ashley 'The Menace' Ellis!
"And in our main event of the evening, tournament points are once again on the line in the Superstar Championship Grand Prix as Nikki Payne clashes with Max Ironside!
"In addition, I have a major announcement regarding the Rising Star Championship picture. On September 26th, just one week before Splatoberfest, both Rising Star Champion Kimberly Hart and number one contender Charlie Foxtrot will be put to the ultimate test. Kimberly and Charlie will each hand-pick a final opponent for the other from the Rising Star Division. Furthermore, to ensure complete focus and element of surprise, the identities of both selected competitors will remain strictly secret until the very moment their matches begin. Thank you, New York!"
The camera then cut to Biff Franklin at the commentary desk for the final sign-off.
Biff Franklin: "What an unbelievable night in New York City! Five competitors tied at the top of the Grand Prix, Charlie Foxtrot punches his ticket to Splatoberfest, and huge announcements from our General Manager for Philadelphia! Next week, Splat! Wrestling heads into the Keystone State of Pennsylvania! For everyone here at Splat! Wrestling, I'm Biff Franklin—good night, everybody!"