The lights in the arena dim to a dull grey as smoke emits from the ramp way. Envy by Ice Nine Kills hits the pa as the lights in the arena turn bright white. As the song really kicks in the lights die down to a normal level to reveal Shelly Diamond standing on the ramp.
Say what you want, the jealousy's absolute!
You've already got the claws diggin' into you!
You're hopelessly green, like the sickness you feed!
The greed never leaves, it just lies and deceives!
Believe me! This envy, it's gonna be the end!Shelly holds her fists up over her head as pyro erupts behind her. Once the light show dies down she begins to strut her way toward the ring to the beat of the music. Shelly walks up the steps, climbing up the outside of the ropes before throwing her fists up over her head again as the lights in the arena turn up to a blinding level. When the lights return to normal she is now standing in the center of the ring, ready and waiting.
The camera focuses on Shelly Diamond inside of the ring, stretching for her upcoming match against her rival, Tara Fenix, and the stadium suddenly goes dark which already gets the crowd into an uproar for the arrival of the hostess of the event… a faint light blue light emits from around the edges of the upper deck of the audience.
CROWD: Happy-birth-day! {Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} Happy-birth-day! {Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} Happy-birth-day! {Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} Happy-birth-day! {Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} Happy-birth-day! {Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.}
The crowd continues to chant a happy birthday for Tara Fenix, and the camera flashes back to Shelly Diamond who is pacing back and forth inside of the ring, and then over to the front row of the audience where the family members of the Blake-Docherty, and Diamond families are seated. Hayleigh appears to be more of a nervous wreck, but is comforted by Angel Blake, her father, and Tara’s significant other.
THADDEUS DUKE: This Waikiki crowd just has gone silent.
BILL DALTON: One thing to keep in mind is that this is going to be Tara’s first time in a match since the birth of her daughter in early-September! There are a lot of people that really believe she is coming back into action a little too soon, and I just wonder how much that is going to play when she steps into the ring against someone the caliber of Shelly Diamond.
DENZEL PORTER: But that’s the thing, Bill, people have underestimated Tara in the past… And she made them pay for it! Shelly Diamond would be making a huge mistake to be underestimating her!
The titantron suddenly lights up, and the crowd cheers loud when they hear the footsteps loud and clear over the speakers; all eyes are on the titantron when they see the famous blue hair while Tara has her back to the camera, but walks with a bold stride.
THADDEUS DUKE: Did you all just get a chill?
She continues walking down the corridor, and the crowd has become deafening.
The scenery in front of her shows that she is standing just on the other side of the curtains, and the blue spotlight shines onto it for a couple of seconds… But then, as if a power surge hit the building, every single light goes out, including the spotlight. The beginning of “The Eagle Flies Alone” by Arch Enemy is suddenly heard; the opening instrumentals continue to play, and the lights begin to come on in sequence with the music but there’s still no sign of Tara. Fog begins to shoot out onto the stage, filling it up.
The first verse of the song plays in its entirety, and just as the chorus hits…
I, I go my own way
I swim against the stream
Forever I will fight the powers that beTara emerges from behind the fog on the stage to a standing ovation from the crowd; she looks back and forth at the audience with her hands to her hips to bask in their cheers for a moment, to soak it in; what she has missed during her time out of the ring. The aura that filled the arena was electrifying, and only got her adrenaline racing.
I, I go my own way
I swim against the stream
Forever I will fight the pοwers that be
The eagle flies aloneAs she reaches the edge of the stage, she pumps her fist into the air and throws up the “devil horns”, and lets out a war cry that gets the audience to rally behind her even more!
BILL DALTON: What a “welcome back”!
THADDEUS DUKE: I’m sorry, Bill, I can’t hear you!
DENZEL PORTER: What?!
SETH EVANS: Ladies and gentlemen! On her way down to the ring, coming out of Hartford, Connecticut! It is THE PHOENIX QUEEN! THE BIRTHDAY GIRL! TARA! FEEEEENNNNNIIIIIX!
Tara starts to descend the ramp as many of the fans seated at the front row are bowing down to Tara; Tara returns the gesture to the audience as a sign of her gratitude for their respect; she stops midway down the ramp and walks toward the crowd where a series of flashes are going off with a number of fans snapping pictures and selfies with Tara standing near them. She reaches out to the audience to shake hands, or bump fists with as many of them as she can before walking to the other side and repeating the gesture.
It takes her long enough to reach the bottom of the ramp, and she then circles around the audience to her family; the Diamond family steers clear of her, for the exception of Hayleigh who is a Blake and Diamond… Tara takes Hayleigh by the hand and leans in to whisper some inaudible words to her on account of the crowd still going absolutely wild! She then goes to Angel, who cups her face with his hands and the two lovers share a passionate kiss in front of the sold out audience.
THADDEUS DUKE: Next! Next! I got next!
DENZEL PORTER: Wouldn’t your wife object?
THADDEUS DUKE: It’s her birthday, I think I should get a hall pass to use on her!
The two separate, and Tara turns her back to her family while her eyes lock on Shelly Diamond who is still standing inside of the ring, just waiting for Tara to get in; Shelly hunches forward, placing her hands to her knees in a ready stance… Tara glances over to Thaddeus, as if she may have overheard him, and blows him a kiss.
THADDEUS DUKE: {Satisfied sigh.} Yeah. I still got it.
Tara advances toward the ring, and jumps onto the apron with a single knee before slowly standing up; she keeps her eyes locked on Shelly while walking toward the turnbuckle, and then steps up with one foot on the top, and one on the second as she beckons the crowd to rally again and they go into another deafening cheer.
Tara holds the pose for several seconds before finally leaping off the turnbuckle, and to the inside of the ring. Shelly Diamond looks ready to start the match already, and steps forward, but the referee holds her back; Tara paces around the ring with her eyes still locked on Tara until she gets to her corner and Shelly is put back in hers.
SETH EVANS: Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the FOURTH and FINAL night of the Tara Fenix Charity Event, and please… PLEASE… join me in wishing a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to TARA! FENIX!
The crowd cheers, and the “happy birthday” cries ring throughout the audience. She uses the sign language response for “thank you” out to the audience.
SETH EVANS: And this match is scheduled for ONE FALL! In one corner, coming out of Hartford, Connecticut… She is the former, longest reigning IWF Women’s World Champion! She is the longest reigning champion in all of Imperial Wrestling Federation history! SHE! IS! SHELLY! DIAMOND!
There is a mixed reaction for Shelly Diamond; she doesn’t waste her time playing out to the crowd, and sneers while her eyes are locked on her rival.
BILL DALTON: Keep in mind, that as great as Shelly is, she is actually considered the underdog in this match! Personally, I feel like that’s only on paper… Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that we do not want to count out Tara Fenix, but Shelly Diamond has been in the ring this entire time, and has been getting the job done! The polls are making a mistake to be as one-sided as they were.
THADDEUS DUKE: Yeah, but one thing you need to keep in mind about Tara is that when she’s on these big stages, she ups the ante! She takes things to a whole new level that some people did not think possible. She did it last year against MYOJIN; she did it against Alex Jones at the Denzel Porter Invitational! She did it against Atara at the XWF last year! She thrives on these stages, Bill! I think that’s what the people know, and I think that’s why she’s the favorite walking into this one.
SETH EVANS: And her opponent! Also coming out of Hartford, Connecticut! She is also a former IWF Women’s World Champion, but she is also an XHF Grand Slam Champion! A Hall of Famer! She is the QUEEN OF KINGS! The PHOENIX QUEEN! THE Goddess! SHE! IS! TARA! FENIX!
Tara raises an arm into the air as a gesture to the crowd as they cheer for her just as loud as they did throughout her entrance. The referee gestures for both Shelly and Tara to meet in the middle of the ring as they go over the rules of the match.
REFEREE: This is one-fall! As both of you have agreed, this match cannot end by count out, and cannot end by time limit… There MUST be a winner! Weapons are strictly forbidden, and anything that would normally disqualify you, will disqualify you. Do you understand the rules?
Tara and Shelly nod their heads.
REFEREE: Back to your corners, and wait for the sound of the bell.
Tara and Shelly back into their respective corners. The crowd is already in a frenzy for the fourth and final night of the Tara Fenix Charity Event, while the anticipation grows for the start of the show to commence; Tara Fenix and Shelly Diamond… opening the fourth and final night… they circle the ring without losing contact with one another. The camera pans over to the front row where Angel Blake, Sabin Spencer, Dean Harper, Hayleigh Blake, Warren Harper, and Jennie Docherty who is still sporting scrapes, bruises, and cuts from her war against Atara Raven. Hayleigh sits next to Jennie, her step-auntie, who is hugging her and sharing some inaudible words with her.
BILL DALTON: You could cut the tension with a knife between these two extraordinary athletes!
DENZEL PORTER: It really is intense, Bill, and the bell hasn’t even sounded! But you have to ask yourself: how ready is Tara for this competition? Shelly Diamond has been on an absolute tear in the Imperial Wrestling Federation throughout 2021, and the majority of 2022, and some people would argue: did she really lose the IWF Women’s World Championship? Did Caroline Machado beat her to become the champion, or was Shelly robbed of her title on account of a fatal finish?
BILL DALTON: It is a valid question, Denzel, and one thing that we have to keep in mind is that Tara has been out of action since early-April, whereas…as you say… {Bill gestures to Denzel.} Shelly has been wrecking everyone that has crossed her path, so can Tara handle the intensity that Shelly is going to bring in this match?
THADDEUS DUKE: There is no denying the resolve that Tara has, though, the amount of training that she puts in! I think it’s a mistake to be counting her out!
Shelly sneers at Tara.
The two are mouthing off at each other inaudibly… The tension is rising, and just as the tension peaks: the bell rings!
SINGLES MATCHIWF ExclusiveShelly Diamond -vs- Tara Fenix
DING! DING! DING!
The opening seconds of the match start with Tara and Shelly circling the center of the ring; Tara is the first to launch forward for a double leg takedown! Shelly is able to stay on her feet; Tara shoves her back into the corner, and Shelly answers with a double axe handle! And a second! And a third! Tara pulls herself back and connects with a palm strike, and immediately in with a knife edge chop! Tara connects with a spinning back kick against Shelly’s midsection, which causes Shelly to fall to a seated position in the corner…
Tara creates some distance before coming back, and using the ropes to elevate herself and gain leverage while coming down for a dropkick!
Shelly moves out of the way just in time, and escapes to the outside of the ring!
BILL DALTON: That was a high impact dropkick coming right for her jaw, and I do believe Shelly was wise to get out of the way!
THADDEUS DUKE: It’s great to see that Tara, after being out of action since April, coming back in and looks like she hasn’t lost a beat!
DENZEL PORTER: It’s impressive, Thad, but Shelly is getting a breather here, but wait! Tara isn’t letting her go!
While Shelly is walking along the outside of the ring, Tara uses the ropes to spring herself over and comes over with a vaulting body press! Shelly is able to step to the side to avoid the collision, but Tara also transitions herself to land on her feet…
THADDEUS DUKE: That woman is like a damn cat.
Tara stands back up, and is met with a straight kick from Shelly to her midsection which drives the wind out of her; Shelly answers with another straight strike to the ribcage, and then grabs Tara’s head to slam it against the ring apron! Tara gets her hands down to stop Shelly’s momentum, and delivers an elbow to Shelly’s midsection several times, then slams Shelly’s head against the apron! Tara rolls Shelly into the ring, but overhangs her across the apron of the ring then throws several elbows down to daze her…
Tara climbs onto the apron, and follows with a few more stomps for good measure! Tara then springs onto the middle rope, and then the top rope, and comes down with a leg drop across Shelly’s chest! Shelly rolls into the ring, as Tara lands back on the outside of the ring, but Tara rolls back in and makes the cover:
ONE!
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TWO! KICK OUT!
DENZEL PORTER: A two count, but I think Tara did that more to try to wear down Shelly a little bit.
BILL DALTON: We can talk about it all day, Denzel! All day! And there are still going to be people out there that do not listen, but going for these quick covers, these easy covers, is a nice way to force your opponent to expend some energy that they could otherwise use later on, while simultaneously giving yourself a breather.
THADDEUS DUKE: And besides, maybe you get lucky?
Shelly rolls toward the center of the ring, and Tara continues in with ground attacks against her to keep her dazed…Tara sees an opportunity when Shelly goes onto her back, and Tara rushes for the ropes and springs off the middle ropes to go for a springboard moonsault!
Shelly gets her knees up, but Tara is able to correct herself again and land, again, on her feet; Shelly rolls over onto her stomach and gets her hands on Tara’s ankles when she tries to maintain her leverage against Shelly…Tara starts throwing single clubs against Shelly’s back in an attempt to batter her down, but Shelly retaliates with a double leg takedown! Shelly is on top this time, and starts delivering crushing punches to Tara’s side and sternum.
BILL DALTON: Those shots from Shelly Diamond are no joke! She is a bit rough around the edges, and she has gone toe-to-toe with former MMA stars in Virgina Stepanov, people who love the pain in Rowan and Eternity, and she has beaten each and every one of them!
DENZEL PORTER: You got that right, Bill; Shelly is very capable of taking Tara out with those punches alone!
THADDEUS DUKE: That was just straight domination with that takedown.
While the two are scuffling on the ground, Tara manages to get an arm around Shelly’s neck and pull her in for a guillotine choke! Tara is unable to get the hold locked in while Shelly is continuing to fight her way for the ropes while also trying to keep Tara’s hands from getting locked… Shelly finally does push herself free out of sheer strength, and comes in with a hard elbow; Tara is able to move her head out of contact. Tara goes again for Shelly’s arm to look for an armlock, but Shelly is refusing to give it up; Shelly finally does wriggle her arm free, and returns to her feet.
Tara and Shelly start moving toward the center ring at the same time, and lock up in the middle! Tara quickly gains leverage on Shelly, but Shelly retaliates with an unexpected shoulder to Tara’s jaw; Shelly gets an arm around Tara’s neck and drags her into a headlock, and looks to take her over with a headlock takedown but Tara is able to hold on… Tara gets her head free, and circles behind Shelly while getting her into a hammerlock; Shelly struggles momentarily then catches Tara with an elbow! Shelly gets her arm free enough to twist herself out of the hammerlock, and sails Tara over with an arm drag, and immediately transitions for an armbar, but Tara is too quick and angles herself to safety.
Tara does a forward roll to alleviate the pressure on her arm, and takes Shelly over with an arm drag of her own! Shelly lands on the mat, and rolls through, back to her feet at the same time as her adversary; Shelly goes for an uppercut, which Tara deflects, but the palm and knee strikes from Shelly come in rapid succession and force Tara into a defensive position while also losing ground.
Shelly continues with the onslaught, but Tara is able to deflect or block all of the shots that are coming her way! It’s almost like watching a Dragon Ball Z fight! Shelly finally backs Tara into the corner, but Tara catches Shelly’s wrist and spins her around into the corner; Tara goes for a knife edge chop, but Shelly catches the first one and reverses her back into the corner! Shelly goes for an elbow, but Tara ducks underneath and shoves Shelly back, and sprints out of the corner… She aims for a clothesline!
Shelly ducks!
Tara stops and pivots on her heels to face Shelly, and Shelly fires for a spinning roundhouse kick aimed for Tara’s head! Tara does a Matrix-dodge…Tara straightens her posture, and then drops for a leg sweep, but Shelly is able to telegraph it and jump over! Shelly goes for a knee strike while Tara is still on the ground, but Tara catches her leg and uses a dragon screw to take Shelly down to the mat!
Tara maintains control over Shelly’s leg, and looks to go for a submission hold, but Shelly shoves her off! Tara bounces back against the ropes, and just as Shelly sits up, Tara rushes forward for a shining wizard!
Shelly rolls out of the way, and Tara continues her momentum forward to catch herself on the ropes! Shelly takes the brief opportunity to get back to a vertical base, and charges against Tara and lands a spinning elbow strike! Shelly takes a quick kick at Tara’s right knee, and lands the kick, as Tara’s knee buckles, and she drops down to one knee; Shelly steps forward and gets Tara into a front headlock, forcing her back up while connecting with a series of knee strikes against the targeted knee. Tara braces for every move while also trying to get herself free, but Shelly looks to have solid control over her.
BILL DALTON: Shelly is trying to take on that leg of Tara, and it’s amazing what she can do, but that leg has been a constant bother for her throughout her career with all of her high impact moves, and I do believe that Shelly knows that.
DENZEL PORTER: It’s not their first time in the ring, Bill, you know that! They’ve fought a number of times to a draw, and then Shelly Diamond did finally defeat her, and–
THADDEUS DUKE: And Shelly seems to be thinking that Tara is making excuses for it! But that’s not what I heard at all. Do you think she made an excuse?
BILL DALTON: I think that she is frustrated that some people could look at her win over Tara as tainted.
Tara reaches for a single leg takedown, but it merely forces Shelly off-balance as she hobbles back until she’s against the corner! The referee is in position to call for a break if needed. Tara connects with a shoulder thrust against Shelly; a second, a third, and a fourth that finally forces Shelly to release the hold; Tara does a backward somersault before charging in and leaping up, and sails Shelly over with a monkey flip!
Shelly arches her back on the landing, but does return to her feet; Tara charges forward and circles around her, rolling her into a schoolyard pin!
ONE!
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TWO!
KICK OUT!
BILL DALTON: Another near fall! And Tara looks like she is starting to take the driver seat!
THADDEUS DUKE: It does look like Tara’s getting fired up! Did you see that front flip? I can do that, too. But did you see it?!
DENZEL PORTER: That’s one thing I always love about a Tara match, is you see something of this magnitude!
Shelly rolls backward and is to her knees, and Tara is back to her feet; Tara goes for a spinning roundhouse kick against the seated Shelly Diamond! Shelly ducks her head down, and launches herself forward to roll Tara up into a schoolyard pin of her own, but before the referee can go down for the count, Shelly releases the pin but keeps a hold of Tara’s right leg, and steps over before dropping down with a knee drop against it! Shelly transitions into a knee bar causing Tara to scream in anguish.
Despite the agony, Tara reaches up to Shelly’s head and pulls her head down with one hand, and connects with an elbow strike! Shelly shakes it off, but Tara pulls her back for a second elbow, which connects better this time and causes Shelly to stand up and back away.
THADDEUS DUKE: Some people may not be happy with that style of offense, but I love it, and I think it’s smart for Shelly Diamond to be going after her leg like that. You take the leg out, that eliminates a good portion of her arsenal.
BILL DALTON: One of her most known finishers is the Genocide Kick, derived from her brother, Chris Docherty, and one that she can hit with the best of them.
THADDEUS DUKE: Mine is better.
DENZEL PORTER: Tara said that you’re a thigh slapper.
THADDEUS DUKE: I do not slap thighs! Well… I slapped her thi–
DENZEL PORTER & BILL DALTON: THAD!
Shelly gestures for Tara to get up to her feet, and Tara does; Shelly charges forward just as Tara gains her balance, and Tara reverses into a drop toe hold! Tara springs forward and gets Shelly into a side headlock, and Shelly is quick to get to her hands and knees while trying to wriggle herself free; Shelly gets up and raises Tara for a back body drop! Tara shifts her weight enough forward and lands back on her feet, takes Shelly over with a headlock takedown and wrenches with the headlock!
Shelly is too close to the ropes, though, and is able to gain the rope break!
DENZEL PORTER: This has been going back and forth, but Shelly is far too close to the ropes for this one.
THADDEUS DUKE: Still looks like she’s got the control. Shelly’s gonna need something big to shift this momentum back in her favor.
BILL DALTON: Oh-ho, as much as I do love Tara, I’ll tell you right now that Shelly Diamond is not one to underestimate!
Tara stands up and awaits for Shelly to get to her feet! Tara goes for the initial attack this time around by charging at Shelly, and Shelly reverses it by raising her for a hip toss, but drops Tara down with
F THE ‘80s! The hip toss backbreaker does its damage, and Shelly shoves Tara to the mat, driving an elbow against Tara’s collarbone whilst going for the cover:
ONE!
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TWO!
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KICK OUT!
BILL DALTON: There it is! And Shelly almost takes the win off that!
THADDEUS DUKE: That was a brutal move right there, and just…damn…she might’ve made me a believer!
DENZEL PORTER: I’ve been saying it for a long time: don’t sleep on the Diamond bloodline!
Tara sits up, and Shelly connects with a few more sharp elbows against Tara’s skull before grabbing Tara and forcing her to look her in the eyes and shouting…
SHELLY DIAMOND: I’M! THE FUCKING! BEST! PERIOD!
BILL DALTON: It looks like Shelly is getting frustrated and letting out some of the aggression on Tara!
THADDEUS DUKE: Don’t waste too much time, though, you’re giving her time to recover!
Shelly hits Tara’s head against the mat then forces her back to her feet…as Tara gets up, she raises Shelly Diamond onto her shoulders and the crowd rallies behind the creator of this spectacular event!
THADDEUS DUKE: And there it is! There it is! That resilience, and this crowd is going nuts, Bill and Denzel! Absolutely crazy!
Tara looks for
BURN TO ASHES!
Shelly connects with several back elbows while on Tara’s shoulders, and is able to fight her way back to a vertical base on the mat; Shelly continues driving in with some overhand strikes, and then a series of uppercuts! Shelly continuously spams the uppercuts in all varieties while getting Tara back into the corner!
Tara is dazed, and Shelly takes her over with a snapmare, and then dives for a rollover neckbreaker! Tara goes down, and Shelly covers, hooking the leg:
ONE!
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TWO!
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KICK OUT!
BILL DALTON: Shelly turns this momentum back around in a hurry!
THADDEUS DUKE: She’s showing that aggression. I like it!
DENZEL PORTER: She is starting to wear Tara down!
Shelly returns to a standing base. Tara sits up, and just as she does, Shelly drives a knee against her spine, then reaches forward and pulls her head back with a reverse chin lock! Tara brings her hands to Shelly to try to pry her off but to no avail, but momentary wriggling, she manages to get out from behind Shelly’s knee and rolls backward to go for a straight kick; Shelly is able to stand up and move out of the way, then takes Tara’s leg and smashes it against the canvas!
Tara holds onto her knee, and Shelly stalks her momentarily. Shelly reaches down to grab a handful of Tara’s hair, but Tara reverses into an inside cradle!
ONE!
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TWO!
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KICK OUT!
DENZEL PORTER: Tara almost stole it away!
BILL DALTON: I don’t think Shelly even knows what happened there!
Tara and Shelly both return to their feet… Tara sprints toward Shelly just as she is standing up, and goes for a calf kick! It connects! Shelly and Tara stand back up, and Tara is over Shelly again with several knife edge chops that cause Shelly to lose ground until she has nowhere to go and is against the ropes. Tara sends her off with an Irish-whip, and goes for a spinning kick; Shelly evades, but stops on a dime right behind Tara and rolls her into a schoolyard cover!
ONE!
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TWO!
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…
KICK OUT!
Shelly is the first to her feet, and goes for a running knee against Tara! Tara is able to roll out of the way, and return to her feet; Shelly turns and fires for a straight punch, but Tara reverses it and fires one against Shelly that lands! Shelly fires a second punch, but Tara reverses it and retaliates a second time, but this time is relentless with the attacks! Tara grabs Shelly by the arm, and sends her toward the corner, but Shelly reverses!
Tara crashes into the corner, and Shelly is already running toward her; she leaps up and goes for a monkey flip against Tara!
Tara is able to shift her weight and land on her feet, and the crowd pops for her display of athleticism!
BILL DALTON: There she goes again!
THADDEUS DUKE: I just don’t get what’s going to take her down!
DENZEL PORTER: There’s not much that can.
Tara charges toward the far ropes, and Shelly attempts to intercept her, and Tara answers with a spinning head scissors! Shelly uses the ropes to pull herself up, and Tara stands up near the center of the ring; Tara approaches Shelly from behind and pulls her head back to go for a reverse DDT! Shelly spins out, and reverses it with a back body drop sending Tara crashing on the outside of the ring!
BILL DALTON: This action has spilled back to the outside of the ring, and Tara– Tara lands back on her feet!
THADDEUS DUKE: The way she landed, though, she could sprain her ankle doing something like that. Sometimes, it’s better to just take the fall.
DENZEL PORTER: You’re not wrong there, but it does look like she’s okay.
Tara lands on her feet, but stumbles back against the apron; Shelly leans between the ropes and reaches down to grab a handful of Tara’s hair… Tara reaches her hands up to try to ease some of the pressure, and Shelly is able to transition her hands down to under Tara’s chin, still pulling her up; Tara manages to wriggle free enough, and connects with a Pele Kick! Shelly stumbles back, and to a seated position and she starts shaking the cobwebs. She pushes herself back to her feet, and Tara uses the ropes to pull herself up and is looking to get in the ring…but Shelly rushes forward and drops for a baseball slide!
Tara moves out of the way, and grabs Shelly’s legs and drags her the rest of the way out of the ring; Tara immediately jumps over Shelly and comes down for a knee drop, but Shelly rolls out of the way but Tara still clips her shoulder. Shelly gets to her knees as Tara goes for a palm strike, but Shelly parries it away, and drives in a hard punch against Tara’s abdomen; Tara fires back with a knee strike to Shelly, then grabs her head and slams it against the ring apron! Tara follows up with several elbow strikes while getting Shelly back against the barricade, and then comes in with a shoulder thrust!
Shelly takes the brunt of the impact, but still answers back by getting Tara into a front headlock; Tara tries to fight her way out of it, but several knee strikes from Shelly stops her in her tracks! Shelly raises Tara up, and positions her over the barricade before dropping her stomach down against the barricade and drives the wind out of her! Shelly takes a step back, and returns with a running knee strike that sends Tara off the barricade and into the audience!
THADDEUS DUKE: Oh, my! I felt that one!
BILL DALTON: That vicious running knee strike from Shelly Diamond sends Tara out into this Waikiki crowd!
DENZEL PORTER: I don’t like how this is going, and for those at home that are wondering: the reason that the referee is not counting this out is because they have agreed that this match WILL END! There is no count out! There is no time limit! There must be a winner!
The crowd is dispersing from the vicinity, but several pat Tara on the back and urge her on. Shelly starts to climb over the barricade just as Tara stands back up, and Tara leaps up and catches Shelly with an enzuigiri! Shelly is dazed from the kick, and Tara stands back up and delivers a few more elbows, and then pulls Shelly from the barricade; Tara looks like she’s in control, but Shelly reverses with a double leg takedown!
Shelly lands on top of Tara, and tries to pin her down while simultaneously unloading with a series of strikes! Tara takes a number of shots before reaching up and pulling Shelly into a guard, and is able to roll her over, then starts firing with her own strikes! Shelly flips Tara over and she lands on her back; both of the women get to their feet, staggering momentarily, and Tara is the first to fire with a roundhouse kick! The kick staggers Shelly, and sends her backwards to escape a continuation, but Tara charges forward and leaps up to catch Shelly with a spinning hurricanrana that sends both of them back over the barricade!
BILL DALTON: This crowd loved how close the action got, but it’s better that it does get back into the ring.
DENZEL PORTER: It still needs to get back in the ring, but at least the people are safe!
Shelly is crawling toward the steel steps to create some distance between herself and Tara. Meanwhile, Tara pulls herself back to a standing position. Tara turns toward Shelly just as she is leaning against the steel steps, and charges forward and aims for a claymore kick!
Shelly avoids it!
THADDEUS DUKE: That was a concussion waiting to happen! Had Tara hit that, this match would be over! Just over!
BILL DALTON: I do not disagree with you in the least! Shelly just dodged a bullet!
The steps fly off from the other side, and Tara falls onto her back! Shelly rushes forward and lands a stomp against Tara, and goes for a second, but Tara catches it; Shelly pushes all of her weight down then pulls her leg back quick enough to jolt it free; Tara rolls over onto her stomach. Shelly becomes relentless with the stomps and kicks against Tara, but Tara battles to get back to a standing base; Shelly begins to use elbows, palm strikes, and finally a knee strike. She hooks Tara’s arm, and sails her over with a hip toss on top of the steel steps!
THADDEUS DUKE: She is definitely going to feel that one in the morning!
BILL DALTON: It is all fair game, nothing the referee has deemed would allow for a disqualification, and I do like the decision! Tara may not, but I think it’s still the right decision!
Shelly measures Tara up and connects with a kick high enough to connect with her head following the hip toss, and Tara tumbles from the steel steps; Shelly rushes forward and picks Tara’s limp body up and tosses her back into the ring… She follows in and makes the cover:
ONE!
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TWO!
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KICK OUT!
THADDEUS DUKE: I’ll be honest: that kick to her head… that hip toss onto those steel steps… I didn’t think there was a chance that Tara was going to kick out!
BILL DALTON: But Tara is proving her resilience with this, and she is continuing this fight! But she needs to turn it back around. The early start of the match seemed to be all Tara, but now that Shelly has taken control, Tara has been unable to get any steam!
DENZEL PORTER: That’s because Shelly Diamond is one of the most meticulous fighters on the planet! One of the most precise! Everything she does has a purpose!
The crowd pops when Tara manages to kick out, and Shelly looks a little bit baffled by it. Tara rolls onto her stomach, and Shelly immediately goes in for a front headlock to keep her grounded, and starts driving devastating knee strikes against Tara’s head and shoulders; Tara does her best to cover her skull, but Shelly is still vicious with the attack.
With the hold still applied, Tara still is getting to her feet, and Shelly continues firing knees… Until Tara manages to shift Shelly enough to pick her up onto her shoulders, and she loses any leverage she had with the headlock! Shelly throws an elbow against Tara’s head, but to no avail; Tara tosses her up, and brings her back down with
BURN TO ASHES!
THADDEUS DUKE: That knee! Tara drove her knee right into the skull of Shelly Diamond, and– and– check to see if she’s bleeding! I think she may have been busted open!
The camera zooms in on Shelly Diamond, to unveil that there is blood starting to seep from her forehead. Tara falls over Shelly for the cover:
ONE!
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TWO!
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KICK OUT!
THADDEUS DUKE: Damn! She still kicks out of it!
BILL DALTON: Burn to Ashes, a vicious knee strike, is fully capable of rendering her opponents unconscious. I don’t know if Shelly kicked out out of instinct or not!
Tara grabs one of Shelly’s arms, and pulls her a little bit away from the ropes before calling for one of her numerous holds…
PHOENIX LOCK #2!
DENZEL PORTER: The figure four armlock! Tara is trying to get it in, this is a submission hold that she took from Angel Blake, her ex-husband and current boyfriend…
THADDEUS DUKE: Is he here?
DENZEL PORTER: Front row.
THADDEUS DUKE: Oh. Cool!
Shelly struggles as hard as she can to keep Tara from getting the figure four armlock locked in; she throws whatever strike she can against Tara, but Tara is still refusing to give up on the hold! Shelly finally gets a decent shot that breaks up Tara’s attempt for the hold. Shelly takes a step back, but then charges forward again; Tara reverses into a scissor leg sweep, and is able to keep her legs locked while returning to her own feet and the crowd goes into a frenzy as they are expecting Tara to come back for
TARA LOCK!
BILL DALTON: Tara is showing her knowledge with submission holds, and if she can get just one of them locked in, then I don’t know what Shelly Diamond is going to be able to do!
DENZEL PORTER: You’re right, Bill, she would be in grave danger if that were the case! But so far she’s been able to avoid it!
THADDEUS DUKE: It just takes one mistake, Denzel. Just one mistake, and they get that hold locked in!
Tara arches backward, looking to get a grasp on Shelly’s head or neck, but Shelly is scrambling for the ropes…she pushes Tara’s arms away from her head while getting to the ropes, but she can only withstand so long; Tara finally does get a hold of her head! BUT TOO LATE! Shelly stretches an arm out and gets it on the bottom rope!
BILL DALTON: She was able to avoid it long enough to get herself close enough to the ropes, and now Tara has no choice but to release her attempted hold. It’s something you love to see, though, all of these submissions… It’s an art that not many people seem to like to do anymore.
THADDEUS DUKE: That’s because everyone is a baby and doesn’t want to tap out, and when they do, they don’t want to admit that they did.
DENZEL PORTER: It does hit the pride a little bit, I imagine.
THADDEUS DUKE: But it’s part of the risk! Tap out, fight another day. Don’t tap out, and have your career ended. This is their choice, but just take the "L" and fight another day! There’s no shame in tapping out!
Tara releases her attempted hold, but doesn’t release Shelly; she turns toward her and grabs her ankle to drag her back toward the center of the ring! Shelly flips herself over, and connects with a hard kick against Tara’s jaw, then a second to her midsection; Shelly stands up, and follows up with a series of uppercuts against Tara, and then a basement dropkick causing Tara’s knee to buckle, and she goes down!
Shelly circles around for that same leg, and raises Tara up by the leg and slams her knee down against the canvas! Shelly goes for a knee bar, and is looking to transition it into
FROM THE FLAMES, but Tara drives in a kick of her own to stagger Shelly long enough for Tara to pull herself away!
BILL DALTON: Shelly almost got her own hold locked in, but Tara is able to fight her way out of it!
DENZEL PORTER: And she’s been going after that leg for quite a while, too, so you have to imagine if she gets that in, it’s going to hurt a lot!
Tara starts standing up, but Shelly is already on her with the attack before she can get all the way up. Tara retaliates with her own strikes, but none of them slow down Shelly who continues her onslaught for several more strikes until she has Tara looking down; Shelly takes Tara over with a shoulder capture snap suplex! Shelly rolls over and goes for a quick cover:
ONE!
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TWO!
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TARA GETS HER SHOULDER UP!
BILL DALTON: A beautiful suplex, and I thought for sure that there was enough taken out of Tara to end that one right there!
THADDEUS DUKE: She does have a way to keep going.
DENZEL PORTER: It was a close call, and– DAMN IT, THAD!
Tara rolls onto her stomach and starts to get up, and Shelly is there to already meet her…
Tara grabs Shelly’s legs and trips her back down to the mat! Tara gets the
PHOENIX LOCK #1 applied before Shelly can react, and Shelly starts squirming out in pain as Tara wrenches with the figure four leglock!
BILL DALTON: The Phoenix Lock is in! The figure four leglock that Tara has used for a long time throughout her career, and a move she has used to finish matches! This could be it!
Shelly is trying to alleviate some of the pressure with minor adjustments, but Tara has it in!
DENZEL PORTER: I don’t think Shelly has a place to go, and she could have no choice but to tap out!
THADDEUS DUKE: There is no shame in tapping out, Denzel, let’s never make that mistake! Shelly has been a hit at the IWF for over a year, and I think…I think this is going to be huge for Tara to be the first to submit her this entire time!
Shelly is trying to reach for the ropes, but she’s dead in the center of the ring; she opts to sit up, and claws her way for Tara…Tara lowers herself down, inadvertently putting her shoulders down and the referee counts:
ONE!
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TWO!
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…
TARA GETS HER SHOULDER UP!
THADDEUS DUKE: Don’t lose to something so silly! I’ll never let you live it down!
BILL DALTON: I don’t think anyone would! I believe Tara was fully aware of her positioning, and took the near-fall as a means to apply more pressure.
Shelly clenches her fist and is refusing to give up… Shelly starts to roll onto her side, but Tara drops all of her weight to make it increasingly difficult.
BILL DALTON: Notice how Tara is not easing up the pressure at all, and she’s hardly even building up to it! She got the Phoenix Lock locked in, and she is just applying as much pressure as she can! Shelly is holding on, and doing everything she can to alleviate some of the pressure, but unless she can get near the ropes or somehow break this hold, this could be over.
DENZEL PORTER: It’s a good thing to note, and I think any lesser competitor would have already tapped out in this instance, but one thing you need to keep in mind about Shelly Diamond is that she is a WARRIOR! She is a FIGHTER! She ran the IWF for over an entire year, and shattered records, records that not even Tara could come close to!
THADDEUS DUKE: And this is personal, guys, so let me tell you from experience: I do try to keep my business and personal lives separate, but it’s not always possible, and when things get personal, you can always fight a little harder!
Tara has her weight shifting the opposite direction as Shelly, to fight her trying to get out of it, and Shelly suddenly shifts in Tara’s direction! The two roll over, and continue through, getting the distance as Shelly grips the bottom rope!
BILL DALTON: There it is!
DENZEL PORTER: The rope break!
Shelly rolls out onto the ring apron and tries to get the circulation going back through her legs. Tara stands back up, and walks toward the ropes where she leans between the top and middle ropes to grab Shelly… Shelly answers by getting Tara into a front headlock, and using the ropes to choke Tara for several seconds; Shelly tries to pull Tara through the ropes in position to drop her with a DDT to the outside of the ring!
BILL DALTON: This could get real ugly, real fast!
DENZEL PORTER: It could, but Tara is fighting back!
Tara connects with several punches to Shelly’s midsection as a means to slow her down, but Shelly continues to try to pull her out, until Tara finally stomps on Shelly’s ankle! Tara is able to get herself free from Shelly’s grasp, and delivers a few well-placed elbows, but Shelly retaliates with a knee between the ropes to catch Tara in the midsection! Shelly forces Tara forward and raises her up for a suplex! Tara is able to shift her weight and land a little bit off-balance on the apron beside Shelly; Shelly throws a back elbow, and Tara fires with her own.
The two continue to alternate strikes until Shelly gets a well-placed, and well-timed back elbow… Tara backs away from her along the apron, and Shelly charges in, and Tara answers with a front kick that sends Shelly back a couple of steps, and then Tara charges forward and goes for a hurricanrana!
THADDEUS DUKE: Oh, she’s in trouble now!
Shelly manages to brace herself, and hold Tara up in position for a powerbomb; she goes to send her back to the inside of the ring, but Tara keeps it held and reverses it into a figure four necklock! The referee immediately intervenes to call for a break…but before Tara can lock onto the ropes, Shelly manages to pick her back up into the powerbomb position; Tara manages to shift herself enough to complete the hurricanrana this time to the outside of the ring!
Shelly tumbles toward the barricade, but is already getting to her feet; Tara is able to catch herself by the ring skirt, and uses it to pull herself back up… Tara glances over her shoulder to see Shelly stumbling, and then jumps to the ring apron, to the middle rope, and then springs off with a moonsault to her standing opponent! Tara takes Shelly down with the aerial move and earns a huge pop from the crowd!
BILL DALTON: Never forget that Tara knows how to fly! I tell people that all the time, but not one person believes me!
THADDEUS DUKE: Tara looks like she’s in solid control at this point!
The camera flashes to the front row, where the Blake-Docherty family is seated, and nearby is also the Diamond family; sitting in the middle is Hayleigh, the daughter of Shelly Diamond and Angel Blake, and the stepdaughter of Tara Fenix. She cups her hands over her mouth as she watches the action, and Angel puts an arm around her to assure her that everything will be alright.
DENZEL PORTER: Hayleigh doesn’t look like she wants this match to go on much longer, but Tara and Shelly are in the middle of a war.
The camera returns to the ringside; Tara is struggling to get up, while pulling Shelly with her… Tara delivers a couple of palm strikes to keep Shelly staggered, and Shelly answers by getting a hold of Tara’s arm and Irish-whipping her into the steel post as hard as she can! Tara’s head cracks against the beam, and Shelly rushes forward and delivers a forearm strike to her back, then grabs Tara’s head and crashes it back into the steel post!
Shelly pulls Tara away, and scoops her up onto her shoulder…she charges Tara toward the steel post!
Tara manages to get herself free, and shoves Shelly toward the post! Shelly gets her hands up to stop her momentum, and turns around just in time to stop Tara from continuing an attempted attack; Shelly sails Tara over with a shoulder capture snap suplex, angling Tara into the steel post!
DENZEL PORTER: Shelly just– she just suplexed Tara into the ring pole! Happy birthday!
Tara is on the ground with an arm against her back, while Shelly takes a breather. Shelly shakes the cobwebs, and swipes her hand across her forehead several times to clear some of the blood that has been seeping from Tara’s “Burn To Ashes”. She’s bleeding a little more profusely.
Shelly shakes her head, and gets back up; she’s a bit wobbly on her feet, but she still closes the distance between herself and Tara before grabbing her by the collar and pins her against the steel post.
SHELLY DIAMOND: I told you! I told you that I! AM! THE BEST! EVER!
Shelly shouts in Tara’s face, and then headbutts Tara! Shelly doesn’t stop there, and opts to start rubbing her head against hers, smearing her blood across her face, and the audience reacts with a disgusted groan.
THADDEUS DUKE: Okay, that’s just disgusting!
DENZEL PORTER: You’re worried about bodily fluid getting on someone?
THADDEUS DUKE: That’s blood, Denzel! There’s a difference!
BILL DALTON: But the WHY for why she is doing it is brilliant! This is sending a message to Tara: no matter what Tara does, she is not going to stop her! This is letting Tara know that she’s not intimidated by her! It’s disgusting, but it is brilliant.
Tara tries to get Shelly away from her, but Shelly maintains her control; Shelly pulls herself away and then starts bringing in a series of uppercuts against Tara that she is unable to defend herself from! The crowd starts rallying behind Shelly Diamond as she is showing her relentlessness, ruthlessness, and straight carnage with every uppercut that follows!
After a count of twenty, Shelly Diamond finally throws Tara with force back inside of the ring! Shelly follows in, and fixes her waistband while stalking Tara… Tara starts to get back to her feet, and Shelly draws her in and hooks both of her arms.
BILL DALTON: We could be looking at the Tiger Driver ‘98! And let me just go ahead and warn you that no one has kicked out of this move yet!
THADDEUS DUKE: I’ve seen her land this move a few times, and it is brutal!
Shelly pulls Tara up for the
TIGER DRIVER '98!
Tara is able to bring her feet back down to the ground!
Shelly struggles to pull Tara up again, and fails!
Tara pulls her arms free, and shoves Shelly against the ropes; Shelly rebounds, and Tara fires for the
GENOCIDE KICK!
THADDEUS DUKE: There it– no…
BILL DALTON: Shelly avoids it!
DENZEL PORTER: Which spells trouble for Tara, because Shelly is keeping that momentum running!
Shelly ducks! She rushes for the opposite ropes, and Tara follows her in with a kitchen sink; Tara pulls Shelly away from the ropes, and then gets her into a butterfly lock transition, and then leaps up to go for
PHOENIX WINGS!
THADDEUS DUKE: This is it! Tara is going to be two-and-oh at her own event!
Tara tries to drop Shelly with the DDT variation, but Shelly manages to hold Tara’s weight; she rushes Tara back against the turnbuckle and follows in with several shoulder thrusts to knock her loose! Shelly takes a step back, and charges at Tara; Tara leaps up and catches her with a front dropkick, landing back on her feet with the aid of the corner… Shelly staggers back toward the middle of the ring, and Tara charges out to take Shelly down with the Cobra Clutch Slam! She transitions right into the arm triangle, the full maneuver she refers to as
THE PHOENIX TRIANGLE! Tara gets it in!
DENZEL PORTER: No way! No…WAY! Tara has that arm triangle choke locked in, and Shelly looks like she may not have a choice but to tap out right here!
The crowd is going into a frenzy now back in favor of Tara as she wrenches on the hold to try to force Shelly Diamond to submit.
THADDEUS DUKE: Here we go!
Shelly is reaching out for the ropes, but she is too far away from them.
BILL DALTON: She’s fighting, but she’s starting to lose consciousness… Tara has that hold locked in, and even if Shelly doesn’t tap out, I think it’s just a matter of time before the referee has no choice but to call it!
Shelly adjusts herself on the ground to get her feet planted on the ground; Tara wrenches harder with the choke and is screaming to tell Shelly Diamond to tap out… The referee is trying to check on Shelly’s consciousness, if she may be out on her feet, but then Shelly continues to stir; Shelly gets to a standing position and powers Tara up before dropping Tara! Tara is able to arch herself enough so the pressure goes onto her upper back, but still holds on with the lock!
BILL DALTON: The resilience that Shelly Diamond has, but Tara still has it in!
Shelly raises Tara a second time, and drops her down again! Tara is still holding on!
THADDEUS DUKE: How many more times can she do that? Because that is exhausting some of her oxygen, and Tara is choking her! She’s about to black out!
Shelly raises Tara a third time, and drops her down! TARA STILL HOLDS ON!
BILL DALTON: I don’t think she has anything left! This just isn’t her night!
Shelly raises Tara a fourth time and drops her…
DENZEL PORTER: She did it! Tara releases!
Tara is forced to release the hold from the damage done, and Shelly Diamond rolls Tara up immediately with the schoolyard roll-up:
ONE!
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TWO!
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…
THR– TARA KICKS OUT!
BILL DALTON: It doesn’t get much closer than that!
DENZEL PORTER: I just– I have to check the replay, because I think Shelly may have gotten the three!
THADDEUS DUKE: Replays do not exist in professional wrestling, Denzel, so call it how you want it, the fact is that the three-count was not called, so the three-count did not happen!
DENZEL PORTER: I just have to know!
BILL DALTON: Shelly Diamond is in absolute disbelief that Tara was able to kick out after everything that they have put each other through!
Shelly wobbles on her feet again, but holds her stance… She reaches down to pull Tara back up, and gets her set up again for the
TIGER DRIVER ‘98! Shelly pulls Tara up, but with a bit too much force that it almost turns into a double underhook powerbomb! Tara is able to continue through and land on her feet; she drives her knee several times into Shelly’s midsection, then hooks her back into the butterfly lock, and jumps up! She takes Shelly down with
PHOENIX WINGS and the impact causes Shelly to roll over onto her back, and Tara just tosses herself over Shelly Diamond, not even enough strength to hook the leg…
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!!!!!
DING! DING! DING!
SETH EVANS: Your winner! By way of pinfall! TARA! FEEEEENNNNNIIIIIX!
BILL DALTON: What a battle! What a war! But Tara perseveres, and she takes her first victory since April! Shelly Diamond and Tara Fenix have exhausted each other! They have taken each other to their limits, and surpassed those limits! But at the end of the day…the birthday girl! Tara Fenix is walking out with the win on this momentous night! And what a way to kick off the final night of the event!
The Blake-Docherty, and Diamond families are all crossing over the barricade to rush into the ring… The medical staff is rushing down to the ring to check Tara and Shelly for any damage, but Tara is still covering Shelly Diamond and continues to talk with her.
THADDEUS DUKE: This is your honorary “aww” moment for the night.
DENZEL PORTER: Incredible performances by Tara and Shelly! INCREDIBLE! Now, you have to ask yourselves… Is this war finally over? There is a young woman caught in the middle, and I hope for her sake that their fighting is over.
Tara and Shelly both sit up, side by side, as the medical staff is following their duties; the medical staff are finishing their process… Angel helps Tara to her feet, and she wobbles momentarily, but she immediately turns around and reaches a hand down for Shelly. Shelly takes her hand and is assisted to her feet as the entire family stands in the center of the ring. Hayleigh stands in the center of Tara and Shelly, and rather than the two looking at each other, their eyes are locked on the daughter they both love... Shelly takes one of Hayleigh's arms, and raises it, and Tara takes her other arm and raises it as well. The audience howls in adoration for the family moment in the ring.
DENZEL PORTER: What a moment for them!
THADDEUS DUKE: You're telling me that we're going to have another one of the family members in this ring soon?
DENZEL PORTER: Just a couple more years, Thad!
The scene fades out to another advertisement for the event.
