Commonwealth Rules
Drake is already in the ring with Lucius Togo on the outside as Madman comes to the ring with Ariel Shadows in tow. Ariel is carrying a steel chair in her hands, holding it up for the fans to see. I guess that’s because Togo threatened Madman after the match earlier this week.
Both men are set in the ring now. Madman Szalinski offers his hand to Sylar Drake, who accepts. Nice to see the Code of Respect honoured here. They both head back to their corners while Jenni Starr runs through the rules for the fans here in London. And then Sal Mancini calls for the bell and we’re underway!
The two circle and hook up, Madman pushes Sylar into the ropes and Sal Mancini calls for the break. Madman steps back and slaps the holy hell out of Sylar Drake! Drake holds his jaw as Madman smiles at him. The two hook up again, this time Drake gets the upper hand and has Szalinski in the ropes. Again Mancini calls for the break. Drake this time goes for the slap, Madman ducks and slaps the taste right out of Drake’s mouth again! He looks over at Ariel and winks at her before turning his attentions back to his opponent. Drake moves quickly to connect with an enzuigiri and follows up with an ankle lock hold… but Madman is in the ropes.
Drake continues his speedy attack as he connects with a series of quick kicks and a jumping leg lariat, only getting a one from the resultant pin attempt. Madman fires back with a couple of chops and a DDT. Then a swinging neckbreaker. And a snap DDT. Looks like Szalinski is keeping his attentions on the head of Sylar Drake here as the first round comes to a close.
Both men head back to their respective corners. Lucius Togo hops up onto the ring apron and gives his client some advice while Ariel does the same with Madman, although she slides in her steel chair for Madman to sit on. Madman keeps staring across the ring at his opponent while Ariel holds up a water bottle for him, and a bucket to spit in. She wipes him with a towel and gives him some advice, all while Madman stares at Sylar. I swear it was like watching Rocky and Mickey seeing these two.
Bell sounds to start round two and the two men hook up again. Madman gets the upper hand after a jumping shin kick and locks in the Texas Cloverleaf. Sylar reaches out towards the ropes, with Lucius Togo in his line of sight cheering him on. He keeps reaching, stretching, trying to drag himself closer but he can’t get there. In the end he pushes himself up on his hands and begins to twist to the left, then changing quickly to twist to the right which sends Madman toppling over. Drake back to his feet after escaping that hold, but he’s holding his back a little. He charges at Szalinski who sees him coming and takes him down with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker! A cover, two count only.
Szalinski seems to have switched his focus to the back of Sylar Drake as he goes for a surfboard stretch, although he’s too close to the ropes and Mancini forces the break. Drake takes a moment to recover, ducks a clothesline and nails a superkick that turns the tide late in round two! He covers, but again it’s only a two count. He steps back and waits for Madman to get to his feet and then connects with a flying clothesline. He steps back again… Shining Wizard! He covers… two count only! And then the bell instantly sounds to end round two.
Both men back to their corners again, Ariel and Madman doing their Rocky routine again which seems to aggravate Sylar Drake. Madman makes a gesture like he’s going to break the back of Drake.
Sal Mancini calls for round three to start and both men come out and circle each other for a while. Drake charges with a lariat attempt but Szalinski catches the arm and drags him down into an cross armbar! He pulls back and puts a lot of pressure on the elbow and shoulder of the young British star, but while checking Drake to see if he’s going to tap Mancini doesn’t notice that Lucius Togo has put his leg up on the ropes. Technically getting outside help in a Commonwealth Rules match results in a DQ, but the referee didn’t see it so the match continues!
Drake shakes out his arm as he and Madman circle once more. Drake attacks once more as the two trade open handed blows, until Madman again catches the arm of Drake and drags him to the canvas with an armbreaker. He stomps on the arm a few times and transitions into a keylock. Again pressure on the arm of Sylar Drake, who is again struggling to reach the ropes. Eventually, realising Drake’s not going to tap, Madman releases the hold and drags his opponent back to his feet. He whips Drake into the ropes and looks for a hurricanrana, but Sylar drops down and powerbombs Szalinski to the canvas! He heads to the top and connects with a diving moonsault, cover, only two!
And then the bell sounds to end round three. There seems to be a pattern developing here. Madman takes control, Sylar fights back and gets a near fall only for the bell to sound before he can capitalise. Drake will be looking to come out all guns blazing in the fourth, I’m sure. Again Madman signals to Drake during the break, this time pointing at his arm and smashing it into his other hand, signalling his intent to go for the arm again. Not sure what to make of that, seeing as he’s been going for a different body part each round so far!
Round four begins and, as predicted, Sylar charges in quickly. Northern Lariat connects, as does a series of lightning quick kicks. He whips Madman into the ropes and flattens him with an Infinity Kick (Jumping Kenka Kick). He heads to the top rope, looking for the Divinity Dive (Springboard 450 Splash) but Madman is back to his feet. Madman runs to the corner, jumps up and takes Drake down with a hurricanrana from the top! He quickly drags Drake to his feet and pushes him back into the corner. He calls out to the crowd…”READY!””…before stepping back a few steps, assuming a brief three-point stance…””DOWN!””…and then charging in, screaming out with every rapid-fire elbow and forearm strike he throws…”HUT! HUT! HUT! HUT! HUT!”
Drake is rocked by those Tecmo Elbows and looks dazed. Madman spots an opportunity to take him down into the Deathtrap (Front guillotine w/ leg scissors) while singing out “What if God was one of us…” I don’t know why, I didn’t dare ask when I saw him after the show. What I do know is that Drake was in real trouble at this point, and not even Lucius Togo could help him reach the ropes. But Sylar’s not the kind to give up easily, and so refused to tap out. Madman realised this too as he released his hold on his opponent.
Sylar gets back to his feet and charges in with another Lariat attempt, and connects. Madman pops back up but Sylar connects again. Szalinski up once more and Drake tries the move a third time… but walks right into a SCOOPSTONE (A scoop slam into a Tombstone piledriver)! Szalinski falls backwards to his corner and leans against the ropes as he watches Sal Mancini count over the fallen Sylar Drake. There’s only 10 seconds left in the round at this point and it takes until Mancini’s at the count of seven for Drake to begin to move… by 9 he’s at a knee… and then he stumbles back down and he’s counted out!
Your winner, by way of knockout, Madman Szalinski!
A fourth round KO from Madman Szalinski against a tough opponent in Sylar Drake. Drake looked good on his debut, but Szalinski had a little more in him and comes away with an all important win