Date: 12/14/2024
Location: Philadelphia, Pa
This is it, Rapid Fire Fanatics! We have reached the big show for 2024, Final Round! We have all titles on the line, multiple grudge matches, and a special holiday concert from our very own Jessie Vega.
We have so much to cover and I won’t hold up any longer. I’m Shawn Roberts, the voice of RFW, and this is Final Round!
No Holds Barred Match
Shannon Worth vs. Claudia Winter
We started this big show with a grudge match that has been building since our spring season when Shannon Worth split from The Diamond Peak. Claudia Winter has made life difficult for Worth and Worth looked to make life hell for her in this no holds barred encounter! To make things even worse for Winter, any interference from The Diamond Peak meant the whole faction would be fired.
So, how did this one go? About as bad for Winter as you could expect. Worth wasted no time unleashing months of frustration on her former leader. Winter tried to escape several times but that only made Worth even more determined to punish her.
Worth did fall victim to a surprise head scissor sleeper hold from Winter and though the former RFW World Champion escaped it left an opening for Winter to begin her own brand of punishment.
Winter built up some confidence and got cocky. Too cocky. One insult too many empowered Worth to make a huge comeback. Without The Diamond Peak to help, this looked to be over for Winter whenever Worth decided to stop pummeling her.
Then everything changed. Someone with a hood over their head ran down to the ring and struck Worth from behind before dropping her to the mat with a spinning side slam. A very confused Winter looked up at her savior who pushed back the hood, revealing herself to be Alexandra Morgan! Morgan used another spinning side slam before pulling Winter across the mat and on top of Worth. No holds barred, folks. All the referee could do was count. Claudia Winter picked up the victory in the aftermath of this shocking turn of events.
The Diamond Peak and Mikey Armstrong came down to the ring to celebrate with Claudia Winter. As the crew stood elated and relieved over Winter’s victory, Morgan enacted the second part of her plan, attacking Meghan DeWitt and leaving the RFW Wildheart Champion out cold on the mat. Morgan approached Preston Montgomery next but Mikey Armstrong pulled his tag team partner out of the ring to save him from Morgan’s wrath.
Morgan grabbed a microphone and had a simple message for Claudia Winter, “Me, or them.” Winter hesitantly shook hands with Morgan, turning her back on The Diamond Peak! I have a lot of questions. What is going on here? Is this the end of The Diamond Peak?
This was a lot to take in and it was just our first match!
RFW Tag Team Championship Match
The Elements vs. The Navigators (c)
I don’t think anyone had The Elements, Marcus and Tommy V, on their RFW Bingo card for 2024 but they are here and they went right for the top team, The Navigators, in hopes of capturing the tag titles.
The Navigators may have expected opponents with some ring rust but if The Elements had any, they didn’t show it. Both teams displayed tremendous team work throughout this match and the action went back and forth. The champions isolated Marcus and traded tags as they kept him from Tommy V.
Marcus escaped several near falls before he avoided a powerbomb from Pete Arrow, blasted him with a super kick, and made a long-awaited tag to a fresh and fired up Tommy V! The V stands for Violence, folks, and that’s what Tommy brought to this fight. He was absolutely vicious in his assault on Arrow before shoving him into Aidan North to make a tag. North was shocked at Tommy V’s boldness but stepped into the ring looking to bring Tommy’s momentum to an end. Tommy V neutralized North and The Elements began a strong run toward victory in this match!
Marcus used a DDT on North and covered for a pin but it was broken up by Arrow. This brought in Tommy V leading to both teams brawling while the referee tried to get control. The referee began to direct Tommy V back to his corner and was unable to see Arrow low blow Marcus. Unfortunately for The Elements, this allowed North to plant Marcus with a neckbreaker, covering him for a pin as the referee turned and hit the mat for three. The Navigators won this encounter and go on to 2025 as the dominant Tag Team Champions.
The Elements came up short here under messy circumstances but they are here to stay in RFW and I have a feeling they aren’t done with The Navigators.
Ruslan Panov vs. Hector Diaz
Hector Diaz popped up on a lot of fans’ radars when he had a banger of a match against Mark Blood earlier this season. Diaz followed that up with a shocking win over Ruslan Panov and if you’ve been following our shows this year you know Panov has taken on a more aggressive attitude this year. Panov wanted more than a win here, he wanted to make an example out of Diaz.
This match was a rough one. Diaz is an accomplished technical wrestler but he adapted quickly to Panov’s street brawling style. Panov opened a small gash over Diaz’s right eye early in the match but it only revved up Diaz. The Mexican native stunned Panov with blows before clotheslining him over the ropes where the fighting continued.
Diaz slammed Panov into the steel steps and suplexed him on the floor. Panov forearmed Diaz in the gut before smacking his head repeatedly against the ring post. This one got hard to watch but thankfully the referee got this match back in the ring where it belonged.
Diaz really fought hard in this match but Panov was closing in on victory. Panov hit a curb stomp. Then another one. He waited for Diaz to try to get up and curb stomped him again. Panov watched as Diaz struggled to find strength to get up again, hit another curb stomp, and mercifully pinned Diaz to end this brutality.
Ruslan Panov didn’t bother to celebrate his win. It wasn’t enough. Panov waited for Diaz to stir so he could unleash more punishment but his head shot toward a commotion at ringside. Rex Anarchy jumped the guard rail, emerging from the crowd and confronting Panov! The last time we saw Anarchy was when Panov laid him out in Toronto.
Anarchy shoved Panov away from Diaz before helping Diaz to his feet. Anarchy steadied Diaz but then shocked us all by short-arm clotheslining him to the mat! Together, Anarchy and Panov beat down Diaz some more before tossing him from the ring.
Rex Anarchy opened his leather jacket to reveal he was wearing a Lords of Chaos t-shirt. He pulled another shirt from his waist band and threw it to Panov who put it on.
Lords of Chaos are back. That does not bode well for the rest of the RFW roster.
Knockout Match
Annika vs. Yurei
A freak accident in a match between Annika and Yurei left Yurei with a broken arm. Yurei has been attacking Annika the last few weeks and using her arm cast as a weapon leading to this match that can only be won by knocking your opponent out.
You know, had Yurei just stayed home and healed up, she probably wouldn’t need that cast anymore and this could have been a regular match between rivals but nooooo! Yurei had every intention of bludgeoning Annika with her cast and Annika came down to the ring with a kendo stick in one hand and a brick, yes, a brick, in the other.
This started off like a regular wrestling match but once Yurei tried to strike with a forearm, Annika ducked and began attacking the broken arm. Yurei, being one of the toughest fighters I’ve ever seen, overcame whatever pain she was feeling and kept on fighting.
Annika was the most aggressive I have ever seen her before. She wasted no opportunity to attack Yurei’s arm and when Annika tried to go for her armbreaker submission Yurei had to flee the ring. Yurei tried to recharge and refocus but Annika came at her with the kendo stick and swung for the fences. Yurei took a few hits but then hit Annika with a casted forearm across in the jaw. Annika dropped to the floor and the referee came out to check on her. I thought it was over here, just like that, but Annika stirred and this match continued.
Yurei beat Annika repeatedly with the kendo stick until it splintered and broke before spearing her into the steel steps. Annika was in rough shape though showed no signs of giving up consciousness.
This match came back into the ring where Annika found herself on the receiving end of a violent assault. Annika surprised Yurei by pulling her down into an armbreaker but Yurei quickly escaped. This only made Yurei angrier and she mounted Annika’s back and began bashing her in the back of the head with her cast repeatedly. Annika tried her best to get her hands behind her head for protection. Yurei let out screams of both anger and pain. This was clearing doing harm to whatever shape her arm was in but she was completely overcome with rage here.
I’m not sure how she did it but Annika freed herself of Yurei’s wrath and got to her feet. She was unsteady and probably unaware of what city she was in at this point but she found a way to defend herself from Yurei’s onslaught.
Another strike with the cast sent Annika to the mat near a turnbuckle. Yurei leaned over and began yelling at Annika. In her rage, Yurei failed to see Annika’s hand reaching around the turnbuckle where her fingers curled around that brick. As Yurei reared up to drive her cast down on Annika, Annika swung and blasted Yurei with the brick. The damn thing broke in half as Yurei stumbled backward.
Annika threw herself at Yurei to grab her arm and pull her to the mat in an armbreaker. Yurei screamed out in pain as her broken arm was locked tight in the armbreaker submission. Annika held on tight, Yurei fought through the pain but eventually stopped trying to escape. The referee checked on Yurei, confirmed she had passed out, and called for the bell. Annika emerged the winner of one of the ugliest women’s matches I have ever seen.
Annika didn’t celebrate after the match as both she and Yurei were tended to by medical staff. After this one, we needed some lighter fare so we were treated to a concert.
Jessie Vega’s Holiday Concert
Jessie Vega made her wrestling debut in RFW back in 2015 and in the years since has managed to break into the music scene, playing double duty as a wrestler and a pop music star. She may not have had a match here at Final Round but thanks to her record label representative, Lee Lee Hunt, Vega was given time to perform a concert for the RFW fans.
Vega’s concert was a Christmas themed special and the music was good! Everyone was enjoying the show, including RFW alum Aurora Starkey who was sitting ringside with her daughter. Vega performed two songs before addressing the audience, thanking them for their support and then taking some not so subtle jabs at our management!
“Did you know that Lee Lee Hunt had to practically beg to get me this concert? RFW had nothing for me. Me! I’m the biggest star in this company. Forget Kassidy Fortune. Forget Mark Blood. Kami King? Andre Jordan? Please. None of them hold the star power I do. And I don’t get a match! I get to sing a couple of songs. That’s it. I am doing RFW a huge favor by giving them a concert. In fact, I think I might just stop here. If they want me here, they should show a little appreciation. Put me in a title match! Make me the main event!” -Jessie Vega
Well, that was awkward. Vega effectively held Final Round hostage and upset the audience. Vega’s girlfriend, Maria Estrella, came out on stage and tried to calm the situation. Lee Lee Hunt was also on stage, unfortunately, and supported Vega’s tantrum.
Someone else stepped up on stage. Having heard enough, Aurora Starkey walked over to Vega and ripped the microphone from her hand.
“You ungrateful little punk! I came here tonight with my daughter because she’s a big fan of yours. She was looking forward to this concert, all of these fans were supporting you, and because you can’t appreciate what you have you go into diva mode and ruin everything? Who do you think you are?” -Aurora Starkey
Vega argued with Starkey while Estrella tried to be peacemaker between them. Hunt got in Starkey’s face which was incredibly stupid on her part. Starkey slapped Hunt across the face which knocked her silly. Vega went to punch Starkey but she ducked and speared Vega into the drum kit. Estrella ran at Starkey but was back body dropped. Starkey picked up Vega and powerbombed her off the stage through a conveniently placed table where some production equipment was setup.
The fans cheered Aurora Starkey as she waved to the fans before rejoining her daughter in the audience. I’d say that you probably didn’t expect that ending to the Jessie Vega Christmas concert but, this is RFW.
Alone
The ring crew was clearing off the stage as we went backstage where Kimberly Kennedy was standing backstage with the RFW Wildheart Champion Meghan DeWitt. Kennedy asked about DeWitt’s mindset going into her title defense against Mia Mercury after being abandoned by Claudia Winter earlier in the show.
“Confused? Hurt? Lost? You know something, Kimberly, I am going to walk out to that ring and wrestle the biggest match I have ever had. I walk in a champion on the biggest show of the year. I came here tonight thinking I had the support of Claudia and she ditched me. Shannon Worth was right. Claudia Winter was using me and I never had her support. (laughs) Ironically, there is only one person who ever believed in me and I am about to wrestle her. Tonight hasn’t been going my way but I am not going to let that continue. I walked in here the Wildheart Champion and I will walk out of here the Wildheart Champion!” -Meghan DeWitt
DeWitt headed for the ring, alone, to defend her title.
RFW Wildheart Championship Match
Mia Mercury vs. Meghan DeWitt (c)
Before coming to RFW, Mia Mercury and Meghan DeWitt were tag team champions in Wildheart Wrestling Club. The two had been good friends until DeWitt joined Claudia Winter’s Diamond Peak stable and their relationship frayed. Mercury, to her credit, never gave up on supporting DeWitt but whatever friendship remained between these two had to be put aside in this high stakes championship match.
Mercury, the first-ever RFW Wildheart Champion, fought hard from the start to capture the title a second time. DeWitt found herself on the defensive of Mercury’s high speed, high flying impacts. The champion was rocked by an explosive drop kick and rolled out of the ring. She didn’t get any breathers, though, no way! Mercury dove through the ropes, crashing into DeWitt and sending both of them into the barricade.
Both women got to their feet at about the same time but it was DeWitt who struck first with a barrage of kicks to Mercury’s midsection. DeWitt brought the action back into the ring and focused on slowing down Mercury with submissions that cut off her air. Smart thinking! You can’t run around like a maniac if you can’t catch your breath.
DeWitt suplexed Mercury into a turnbuckle resulting in a nasty crash for the challenger. Mercury pulled herself to her feet as DeWitt charged at her for a flying knee. Mercury dodged at the last second causing DeWitt to fly between turnbuckle pads and hit the ring post. It was a mangled scene with DeWitt hanging across the ropes yelling out in pain as she held her shin while Mercury sat on the mat in a daze.
Mercury dragged DeWitt to the mat and softened her up for a finish. DeWitt tried to fight back but was at a disadvantage with a weakened leg. Mercury used a DDT to get DeWitt in position for a flying elbow. As Mercury took flight off the top turnbuckle, DeWitt rolled out of the way. DeWitt watched as Mercury struggled to her feet. The champion, clearly in pain, ran in and blasted Mercury with a flying knee. DeWitt was able to cover Mercury for the three count and successfully defended the RFW Wildheart Championship on a night that did not begin in her favor.
Meghan DeWitt stood victorious though I know she will be sore tomorrow. Mia Mercury stood against a turnbuckle and clapped for her friend’s performance. DeWitt approached Mercury and the two shared a hug before Mercury left the ring. Great effort from both of these women but tonight will always be special for Meghan DeWitt. People doubted her, her support system was taken away from her earlier in the night, and she still managed a definitive win here at Final Round.
RFW World Championship Match
Kami King vs. Kassidy Fortune (c)
Kassidy Fortune launched herself to the top of the industry when she defeated Cate Stiles for the RFW World Championship just a few weeks ago. Fortune’s rise through the wrestling world has been steady and to become the World Champion was inevitable.
Kami King has had a different path. Her career has had starts and stops. She has been one of RFW’s underdogs and one of its hardest workers. Tonight was her best opportunity to unseat Fortune and achieve a lifelong dream of becoming champion and shedding that underdog label.
Both women traded offense as this one got started. The crowd clapped in respect after a lengthy chain of takedowns between the two. Fortune looked amused while King got fired up. King’s momentarily lapse in control allowed Fortune to begin a strong offense allowing the champion to shine as this match continued forward.
King looked to be in trouble but turned things around after dodging a clothesline and rebounding with a drop kick. King got focused here and put on a champion-worthy performance. Fortune narrowly avoided a superkick and responded with a cutter. Fortune went for a pin but King was able to kick out.
Fortune started getting back into this match but leapfrogged King and tweaked the ankle she injured in her match against Cate Stiles back in Toronto. King saw this as an opportunity to weaken the champion and for a while it was working. Fortune found herself caught in several leg submissions and pin attempts though despite King’s efforts Fortune kept fighting.
King was rocketed chest-first into a turnbuckle and stumbled backward into German suplex from Fortune. Fortune covered, King kicked out. Fortune used another cutter, King kicked out. Fortune used a second cutter, covered for the pin, and picked up the win.
Kassidy Fortune is your winner here, folks. The RFW World Champion closes out her 2024 with a hard-earned victory against a hungry challenger. Fortune looked supremely confident holding the title belt high over her head. King looked dejected as she walked toward the backstage area, throwing an elbow pad to the floor as she left.
Tracy Blood vs. Cate Stiles
RFW has had its share of legendary rivalries and one of the most enduring is the rivalry between Cate Stiles and Tracy Blood. Their rivalry has been one of jealously, disrespect, and competition. Their most recent meeting was a match at this year’s Rapid Fire Festival where Stiles and Blood shook hands in a show that their tensions had cooled a bit.
With Stiles losing the title at Turmoil in Toronto and being without a match for Final Round, Blood challenged her old rival to a match on our biggest show of the year.
The two rivals started slow. There was no feeling out process here as they knew each other better than anyone. This was an attempt to pace themselves for what they knew would be a long match. Stiles picked up the pace when she transitioned a tie-up into a neckbreaker.
Blood came back after a series of body kicks and went for a quick head kick that Stiles ducked and attempted an ankle kick that Blood slipped free of. Blood’s attempt at ending things early failed but she got right back in the mix and out-maneuvered Stiles in melee combat.
Blood took a different tactic when Stiles favored her back after a snap suplex and Blood focused her offense on Stiles’s back. Blood used a Boston crab to force Stiles to submission but Stiles dragged herself to the ropes to break the hold.
Blood liked Stiles up for another head kick but Stiles tumbled through the ropes to escape to the ring apron. Blood approached and fell right into a trap! Stiles suplexed Blood over the top rope to the floor! Both woman landed with a sickening thud and I thought the match was going to be called off right then. Both were slow to move but Stiles recovered first and in a show of the vicious Cate Stiles she put Blood through my announce table with a flapjack! The crowd was going nuts, a sinister grin crept over Stiles’s pained face, and Blood was completely motionless on the floor.
Stiles dragged Blood into the ring and attempted to finish this with an ankle lock but Blood somehow managed to find the wherewithal to pull Stiles down into a small package and nearly got the three count! Stiles kicked out and began stomping Blood but Blood caught her foot, rolled Stiles to the mat, and put her into her own ankle lock submission!
Stiles escaped but this began Blood’s comeback. Stiles found herself fighting out of several pin attempts as Blood’s momentum built. Blood ran off the ropes but was thwarted by Stiles who hit a desperate flapjack stopping Blood in her tracks! Stiles covered for a pin but Blood kicked out.
Both women struggled to their feet, clearly worn down from this match, and began slugging each other with right hands. This wasn’t a methodical competition anymore! These two just let out all their energies in primal warfare! Stiles began a short comeback before Blood blocked a suplex, making a comeback of her own.
Stiles was whipped into a turnbuckle, stepped forward, and caught a well-placed head kick from Blood. I don’t know how Stiles didn’t fall on her back but she only took a knee, stood up and took a second head kick. Stiles immediately tried to stand again while Blood watched before striking with a third head kick. Blood fell to her knees in front of Stiles’s body, staring at her for a long moment before covering her for a pin and winning the match.
Tracy Blood won the latest chapter in this storied rivalry. Take nothing from Cate Stiles. She fought her heart out. Blood stood tall with her hand raised. Stiles recovered and began to leave the ring but was stopped when Blood grabbed her shoulder.
Last week, Blood confronted Stiles about a rumor she had heard. At the time, I did not know what that rumor was. I did my homework and I tried to get the real story. I couldn’t get a definitive answer, I still don’t have one, but what happened next strongly suggests my suspicions.
Blood spoke something to Stiles at length with Stiles offering some responses in return. Stiles offered her hand to Blood and the two shook hands before Blood embraced her longtime rival in a tearful hug. Stiles even wiped away a tear. A tearful Blood held Stiles’s arm high before leaving the ring to the five-time champion.
Cate Stiles took a long look around the arena, waving to the crowd before taking a bow, and left the ring. I don’t know if we have seen the last of Stiles, but if we have, let me be the first to say thank you, Cate Stiles. RFW wouldn’t be what it is today without your contributions.
RFW Grand Championship Match
Andre Jordan w/Lucia Mendez vs. Mark Blood (c)
Final Round was already a huge night up to this point but we still had a main event! Mark Blood captured the RFW Grand Championship earlier this year and has defended that title at nearly every show we’ve had since then. It’s been an admirable title run and he has paid a physical tool along the way. The champion hopes to continue his reign into 2025 but he has to get through one more opponent first.
Andre Jordan has been climbing the ladder in RFW for years and called his shot for glory on our biggest stage. Flanked by his longtime girlfriend Lucia Mendez, the challenger looked confident in the moments before the bell rang.
Despite confidence, the champion came out strong in the early goings of this match, overpowering Jordan and applying takedowns and submissions. The pace ramped up when Jordan found an opening and hit Blood with a series of clotheslines and high speed attacks off the ropes.
Blood had been looking notably roughed up in recent weeks and Jordan showed he had him scouted well by focusing on Blood’s neck and shoulders. The champion found himself in dangerous situations when Jordan tried for several pins throughout the match. Blood struggled get through Jordan’s relentless offense but did find an opportunity to counter a clothesline and rocket Jordan through the ropes to the floor.
This is where Mark Blood showed his meaner side. The champion was absolutely vicious as he body slammed, Irish whipped, and suplexed Jordan at ringside. You know the sickening sound of a human body slammed onto concrete. Yeah, that happened. Lucia Mendez watched in horror as Blood’s mean streak came to life and Jordan was on the receiving end.
This match came back into the ring where Blood tried to finish Jordan off with a Boston crab. The challenger dug deep and broke free of the Blood family’s signature move. Jordan tried to get back into this thing but Blood got him up into position for a tombstone piledriver. This would have ended it but Jordan somehow reversed his weight, flipped the damn move around, and drove Blood to the mat with his own tombstone piledriver! Jordan hastily covered for a pin bit Blood kicked out.
Mendez slammed her hands on the apron trying to hype Jordan to finish this match. Blood recovered and fought back against his challenger but Jordan was able to build an offense that culminated in a belly-to-belly suplex followed by cradle suplex and covering for a pin. Blood put up a good fight this year but Jordan kept him down for the three count, picking up the victory and securing his first-ever singles championship.
Lucia Mendez jumped into the ring to hug the new RFW Grand Champion, Andre Jordan, who was on his knees in disbelief. Jordan was greeted by the referee who handed him the title belt and held his hand high. Jordan celebrated with Mendez as the crowd cheered him on.
As for Mark Blood, the guy put in a title run of the ages. He left the ring in defeat but looked happy as he watched Jordan from the aisle before walking backstage.
This is normally where I would wrap this up but we weren’t done quite yet. Jordan was standing on the turnbuckle holding the RFW Grand Championship when his music was cut off. The Iconoclast’s music began to play and he stepped out to the arena with his protege, Dezzy Nightshade. The duo climbed into the ring and confronted the new champion. The Iconoclast took a microphone from his pocket and had a simple message for Jordan.
“Mr. Jordan. Congratulations. Enjoy your time with that championship. When we come back in 2025, I think it is time I take my Grand Championship back.” -The Iconoclast
The new Grand Champ stood defiant, ready to fight his nemesis, but The Iconoclast and Nightshade left the ring without further incident. I think it is safe to say that Jordan has another collision with The Iconoclast coming and the stakes are higher than ever!
That’s another Final Round in the books! Thanks for being with us this year, Rapid Fire Fanatics! We’ll be back in 2025!
Rapid Fire Wrestling 