Date: 03/09/2024
Location: Memphis, TN
Rapid Fire Wrestling kicked off 2024 with returning stars, champions in action, celebrations, and big news from a legend.
Siobhan Wild vs. Yurei
RFW started 2024 with the returning Yurei in action against Siobhan Wild. Yurei returned to RFW at Merry Mayhem II in December. Yurei’s time away rejuvenated the Japanese star and she quickly overpowered Wild in the opening minutes of the match. Wild had a breakout moment that caught Yurei off guard with a sudden burst of energy but Yurei was able to secure victory following a spear.
Mark Blood Returns
Mark Blood was a crucial part of the RFW’s early years and into the MoW era before leaving the promotion to wrestle in Japan. Blood made his return to RFW and came to the ring to address the fans.
Blood was excited to be back in RFW and provided an explanation, and apology, for his two year absence.
“I left here because I thought you needed someone to guide this company in the right direction and you all rejected that. It took me leaving here to understand that you didn’t need a guide. You were making this place your own. I should have helped you, and I failed. I went to Honor Pro Wrestling to work for Akira Kusanagi. I had a great time there but all the while I left like I needed to come back to RFW and make things right. So here I am. I am back and I am offering two things to all of you. First, an apology. I am sorry I didn’t appreciate what was going on here. RFW is doing just fine. You fans have made this place better than I ever thought it could be. Second, now that I am here, I am going to give the performance of a lifetime to give you the wrestler you should have had in Mark Blood two years ago.” -Mark Blood
Mark Blood
Blood did not know what was next for him in RFW but promised to make the most of every opportunity.
Travis Samuels vs. John Austin Baker
RFW’s newest face, Travis Samuels, came to the ring for his debut match against John Austin Baker. Samuels strummed a guitar and sang a rockin’ country song about new horizons and traveling long roads on his walk to the ring.
Samuels looked energized and had an initial offensive advantage against Baker. Samuels tried to pump up the audience but took his eye off of Baker who recovered and blasted Samuels with a lariat. Baker punished Samuels before lining him up for a second, more brutal, lariat. Baker won the match by pinfall.
The Diamond Peak’s Next Chapter
The Diamond Peak had a rough 2023 with departures and loss of championships. Claudia Winter was backstage meeting with her group, now consisting of Shannon Worth and Preston Montgomery, to share her plans for the coming year.
Winter addressed turning on Pierre Laurent at Final Round to reunite with Preston Montgomery. Winter explained that Laurent was not as confident as Montgomery and admitted she made a mistake by dismissing Montgomery from The Diamond Peak. Montgomery took it in stride and was happy to be back in the fold.
Winter congratulated Worth for a near two year run with the RFW World Championship. Worth was still stinging from the loss at Final Round but Winter assured she would wear gold again in 2024. Winter then revealed that she was adding a new member to The Diamond Peak next week which was a surprise to Worth.
The Long Road Back
The new RFW World Champion, Cate Stiles, came to the ring to celebrate winning the title from Shannon Worth at Final Round in December. Stiles, carrying the title for a record fourth time, discussed her challenging climb back to the top.
“I was on the shelf for a year. I had a lot of self doubt while I sat at home recovering. People here doubted me, too. But I got over it and I came back to kick Shannon Worth’s ass and take back this title! I’m not ashamed to admit that taking this belt away from Shannon Worth was sweet revenge.”
Cate Stiles
Stiles proceeded to put the women’s division on notice and tell them the old Cate Stiles who would stop at nothing to prove she was better than the rest of them was back and she felt sorry for whoever was first in line to try and dethrone her.
Lucia Mendez w/Andre Jordan vs. Kassidy Fortune
Reigning RFW Wildheart Champion Kassidy Fortune was in action against Lucia Mendez. Andre Jordan was at ringside to support Mendez as she tried to rebound from a traumatic 2023 and continue her competitive career.
Fortune found a determined opponent in Mendez as the women locked up and traded holds before escalating to throws and slams. Mendez clotheslined Fortune over the ropes to the floor, surprising and frustrating the champion.
The match continued with Mendez trying to pin Fortune without success. Fortune make a strong comeback causing Jordan to get the crowd rallying behind Mendez. Mendez regained some offense late in the match but Fortune broke through and pinned Mendez following a cutter.
A Lost Cause Celebration
Few believed that Lost Cause would overthrow The Door at Final Round to become RFW Tag Team Champions but they did just that. Cool Spencer and Rus Samson came to the ring with their title belts in hand and Paisley Alden and Alexandra Morgan at their sides to celebrate their win.
Lost Cause toasted with some drinks in the ring as Spencer wondered to the audience if they were tripping because being champions did not seem real. Samson assured his friend it was. Morgan and Alden were proud of Spencer and Samson and offered up another toast.
The celebration was not without interruption, however. The Navigators, fresh off a championship run of their own in HAW, came down to the ring to address the new champions.
“My god. Pete and I left the tag team division here in a good place. We come back one year later and… what happened? Where are all the teams? How did two burnouts become the faces of the tag team division in RFW? This is a disgrace. You two are a disgrace.”
Aidan North
Alden pushed back on The Navigators’ insult and said Spencer and Samson worked hard to earn the titles. The Navigators scoffed which prompted Spencer to offer The Navigators the chance to learn first hand how good Lost Cause is. Pete Arrow refused unless the titles were on the line, which Lost Cause agreed to, setting up an immediate championship match.
RFW Tag Team Championship Match
The Navigators vs. Lost Cause
The Navigators competed for the gold in their first match back in RFW. Aidan North and Pete Arrow looked strong in their teamwork against Lost Cause. Alexandra Morgan and Paisley Alden cheered on Lost Cause when they started to fight back and then taunted North when Rus Samson threw him over the ropes to the floor.
Arrow and Samson collided in the ring and tested each others’ strength. Samson overpowered Arrow and tagged in Spencer who continued the champions’ momentum. Arrow turned the tables when he caught Spencer in midair and delivered a brutal sidewalk slam. The Navigators made a strong comeback, subduing both Spencer and Samson.
Arrow had Spencer in position for a powerbomb when Alden and Morgan climbed the apron and started seductively grinding against each other. Arrow looked at them, smirked, gave them a middle finger, and powerbombed Spencer to the mat. Arrow pinned Spencer to win the match making The Navigators the new RFW Tag Team Champions.
End of one Chapter, Start of Another
Snarl confronted Dr. Insidious last fall, culminating in a battle at Final Round where Snarl recaptured the RFW Grand Championship. The champion came down to the ring with an important announcement regarding his career and the future of the championship.
“I am not one for words so I won’t drag this out. When I came back last fall to confront Dr. Insidious, I said I had one more match left in me. That match came at Final Round. I’ve had a good run in this business but I am ending it here. I am retiring and am relinquishing the RFW Grand Championship.”
Snarl
RFW Commissioner Tiger Johnson came down to the ring to receive the vacated title and thank Snarl for his contributions to MoW and RFW over the years. Snarl’s friends, Andre Jordan and Lucia Mendez, came to the ring to support him. Snarl waved to the fans and stood in the ring while fans chanted his name to honor him for his legendary career.
Thank you, Snarl!!!
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