Date: 11/02/2024
Location: Baltimore, MD
Welcome to another week of action here, Rapid Fire Fanatics! I am the voice of RFW, Shawn Roberts, and we continue on the road toward our first supershow of the fall, Turmoil in Toronto. We have a lot to cover this week so let’s get right to it. Welcome to Rapid Fire Wrestling!
Siobhan Wild vs. Meghan DeWitt w/Claudia Winter
The RFW Wildheart Champion opened the show in a non-title contest against Siobhan Wild. Wild looked great in action here, bouncing around the ring and hitting the champion from all sides. DeWitt showed why she carries that belt and countered Wild’s explosive high-flying style with strong strikes and takedowns.
This match was beginning to favor DeWitt but that all changed when Lost Cause showed up at ringside. The trio looked rather studious with Cool Spencer and Rus Samson wearing hair combed and tied back, donning sweaters and slacks. Paisley Alden had her hair pinned up, was wearing glasses, and wore a dress shirt and a skirt. Alden was here to scout DeWitt in advance of their upcoming match at Turmoil in Toronto. Alden furiously took notes that I can’t imagine were readable later while Spencer and Samson watched the match with great interest, holding their chins and nodding occasionally.
Lost Cause’s presence was a distraction for DeWitt as the match continued which, of course, brought Claudia Winter over to the group to insist they leave.
Despite the presence of Lost Cause, DeWitt managed to secure victory, albeit narrowly, by pinfall after a flying knee. DeWitt rolled out of the ring to join Winter in confronting Lost Cause who insisted they meant no harm.
Something tells me this tension will escalate as we get closer to these two getting in the ring.
A Scramble for Number One Contender
The attention stayed in the ring as MoW Commissioner Tiger Johnson entered the ring with his assistant Delilah to talk about a big opportunity for six women at Turmoil in Toronto.
“We have a big RFW World Championship match at Turmoil in Toronto. Cate Stiles will defend her title against Kassidy Fortune. The winner will carry the title into Final Round in December and we are going to learn who will be the number one contender in a Number One Contender Scramble match at Turmoil in Toronto. Six women will compete in a match, first fall or submission wins.” -Tiger Johnson
And who are the lucky ladies competing for the number one contender spot? That would be Annika, Alexandra Morgan, Shannon Worth, Mia Mercury, Kami King, and Maria Estrella. I am excited to watch this one and I am sure you are, too. Not everyone is happy, though.
Unacceptable
We took a peek backstage at Maria Estrella who was thrilled about her opportunity and sharing her excitement with her girl Jessie Vega and Vega’s representative from her record label. Vega was congratulatory but I wouldn’t say she was as excited as Estrella. Estrella left to speak with Delilah and Vegas expressed her frustration to Hunt about being left out of the Number One Contender Scramble. Hunt agreed that Vega being left off was unacceptable.
“This is a slight against you which is not what the record company will stand. You bring in a lot of fans to RFW, Jessie, and you need to be seen in a higher profile position. I did not have any luck with Tiger Johnson last week, however, I want to speak with Maria. I might be able to work something out.” -Lee Lee Hunt
I don’t know what Hunt has in mind but I expect we will learn more next week. Maybe if Vega just asks nicely?
Preston Montgomery and Handpicked Partner w/Claudia Winter vs. The Door
Preston Montgomery found himself welcomed back into The Diamond Peak late last year and Claudia Winter had high hopes for his future in RFW. It hasn’t been a stellar 2024 run for Montgomery, though, and Winter’s performance improvement plan is for P. Monty to find himself a tag team partner and get back to finding some success around here.
Montgomery’s choice of partner in this matchup against The Door? Mikey Armstrong! Hey, you know what? Not a bad pick! Armstrong is an odd duck but he’s a solid wrestler.
Unfortunately, despite some good teamwork between Montgomery and Armstrong, The Door continued to show they are a well-oiled machine. Montgomery took a pinfall loss here much to Claudia Winter’s frustration and disappointment.
The Door were celebrating their win while we The Navigators were watching backstage. The RFW Tag Team Champions scoffed at the idea of The Door ever getting another chance at challenging them. Terrible timing for that statement! Delilah approached The Navigators to inform them that The Door is, in fact, getting a rematch at Turmoil in Toronto.
Sorry, guys. The Door isn’t done with you yet.
Flashback
We weren’t ready to go back to the ring just yet. Elsewhere backstage, Rex Anarchy was approached by Ruslan Panov who had a message for him.
“I heard you. You’ve become lost. Rudderless. A man without a compass. You need to get back on track. You need… a purpose. You know what I think? I think you need to look behind you to see the road ahead.” -Ruslan Panov
Panov followed up that cryptic message by handing Anarchy a Lords of Chaos t-shirt. For the newer fans, Anarchy dominated RFW as the leader of Lords of Chaos with Pit Viper and current HAW star Witchmere.
Anarchy did not appreciate Panov’s gesture and threw the shirt at Panov before walking away.
Mary Jane Elder vs. Kassidy Fortune
Kassidy Fortune has a big opportunity to challenge for the RFW World Championship at Turmoil in Toronto but Mary Jane Elder hoped to steal some of that thunder in this singles match.
Fortune looked fantastic here, though Elder surprised her with a school boy pin that, while unsuccessful, rattled Fortune and gave Elder the opening she needed to show off her own skills.
Elder did something bold that likely cost her this match but it got people laughing. I did, anyway. Fortune was on the mat after a springboard DDT and Elder stood over her and slowly pulled a red clown nose out of her trunks. Elder held it up high and looked at it with great concentration before placing it over Fortune’s nose. Who ever considered Kassidy Fortune a clown??? Elder did. It got a good response from the audience and Fortune’s frustration led to mistakes on her part as the match continued.
The psychological warfare by Elder was clever but Fortune refocused and defeated Elder by pinfall.
Kassidy Fortune stood tall in the ring after her win. Backstage, RFW World Champion Cate Stiles was watching on a monitor and was approached by Kimberly Kennedy. Kennedy asked the champion about Fortune’s performance tonight ahead of their title match. Stiles gave a Stiles response.
“I think Kassidy Fortune can try as hard she wants to prove herself worthy of this belt but she is coming to Toronto to challenge me and is going to be hit with reality as cold as a Canadian night. She’s not a clown. But she is going to look foolish after I am done with her.” -Cate Stiles
With that said, Stiles walked off. Cold words from the champion but if I’m making a list of the best wrestlers in RFW these days, Kassidy Fortune is in the top tier of that list. She’s no joke.
Plans Change
Kimberly Kennedy was ready to send us back to the ring for the main event but was interrupted by The Iconoclast and Dezzy Nightshade.
“Ms. Kennedy, I sat back and watched our Grand Champion have fun with his little ‘Open Challenge’ but the time has come for me to step in and take back what is mine. Tonight, right now in fact, I walk down to the ring to challenge Mark Blood.” -The Iconoclast
Nice plan, Iconoclast, but someone else had plans for you. Andre Jordan exploded into view and blindsided The Iconoclast with a furious, vicious attack. Dezzy Nightshade tried to step in but was neutralized by an equally aggressive Lucia Mendez.
The four brawled until The Iconoclast was thrown down a flight of stairs and Nightshade was left laying below some production equipment. Jordan was pulled away from doing any further damage but his message to The Iconoclast was clear.
RFW Grand Championship Open Challenge
Alright, so, The Iconoclast wasn’t in condition to challenge RFW Grand Champion Mark Blood this week but the fighting champion came to the ring looking for another challenger. He got a curious one.
Hector Diaz, one of RFW’s younger stars and one who has yet to have a standout moment, stepped out to the aisle to plead his case to challenge Blood.
“I came here to RFW for opportunity. I know I have a lot to prove to everyone and there are a lot of guys in the locker room who deserve this opportunity before me. I believe in myself. I believe I belong here. If you are open to any challenger, I would like the opportunity to fight for that title. I believe I can win but even if I don’t, I know I can give you and all of these people in the audience the best match of the night.” -Hector Diaz
Blood eyed Diaz with curiosity and then pulled open the ropes to invite him into the ring. Blood shook hands with Diaz and made it official. Diaz vs. Blood for the RFW Grand Championship!
RFW Grand Championship Match
Hector Diaz vs. Mark Blood (c)
All eyes in the audience were on Hector Diaz and his performance against the Grand Champion. Blood had the early advantage thanks to his in-ring knowledge and experience but Diaz surprised him with a takedown followed by a string of technical wrestling holds. This kid has got something!
Diaz found himself with his shoulders pinned to the mat several times but managed to kick out each time. Blood tried for a tombstone piledriver but Diaz shifted his weight and fell on top of Blood for a pin that nearly, and I mean nearly got him the championship. Blood kicked out but looked stunned that Diaz nearly had him. The crowd, already invested in this match, started buzzing as Diaz continued to press on in his quest for championship glory.
Blood countered a suplex and began to dig his way back into this match. Both men fought hard but it was the champion that broke ahead late in the match, using a tombstone piledriver, and pinning Diaz to win one of the hottest contested matches thus far in Blood’s title reign.
Mark Blood goes on another week as the RFW Grand Champion. Blood celebrated his win while Hector Diaz picked himself up and began to leave. Blood stopped Diaz and addressed him in front of the audience.
“This, here, tonight, is what I wanted out of the weekly open challenge. I wanted to use this championship to show the world what RFW is made of and you, Hector Diaz, showed that you are part of what makes RFW what it is today. You came to this ring for an opportunity and a chance to show the world that you deserve to be here. I think I speak for everyone when I say you deserve to be here and are a part of RFW’s future. I’m proud to have been in the ring with you.” -Mark Blood
And there it is. Mark Blood, gracious in victory, endorsed Hector Diaz as part of our future here in RFW. Speaking of the future, be sure to join us next week in Detroit for our last stop before Turmoil in Toronto!
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