Hello
wrestling fans and welcome back to another installment of the HCW Wrestling
Newsletter.
We are
coming to you from the Columbia Coliseum for another exciting edition of HCW
Voltage!
Sam
Duffy:
"What a week we've had in Heritage Championship Wrestling, Rick. Live Wire
delivered plenty of action, and tonight we've got another huge night ahead of
us."
Rick
Granger:
"That's right, Sam. Some people are looking to make names for themselves,
some people are looking to climb the rankings, and one man is looking to leave
tonight with the biggest prize in the company."
Sam
Duffy:
"Later tonight, Julius Squeezer gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he
challenges Zack Brown for the HCW World Championship."
Rick
Granger:
"I'll give Julius credit, Sam. He's earned this opportunity. The problem
is that earning a title shot and winning a world title are two completely
different things."
Sam
Duffy:
"We'll also see a Proving Grounds matchup as Koa Mauler makes his HCW
debut against the veteran Jake Montrose."
Rick
Granger:
"Montrose better not overlook the newcomer. Every time somebody steps
through those ropes on Proving Grounds, they're trying to prove they belong on
the HCW roster."
Sam
Duffy:
"Plus, we'll see members of Steel Justice and the Iron Syndicate in action
tonight as tensions continue to rise between two of the most dangerous teams in
Heritage Championship Wrestling."
Rick
Granger:
"I've got a feeling we're going to learn a lot about both teams before
this night is over."
Sam
Duffy:
"The road forward in HCW continues tonight, and it all starts with our
opening contest."
Rick
Granger:
"Let's get to the ring."
(Camera
cuts to ringside as Tony "Echo" Calibur stands ready in the ring.)
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is a Proving Grounds
Match!"
The crowd
applauds as Tony steps aside.
Sam
Duffy:
"And here we go. Proving Grounds has become one of the most important
opportunities in Heritage Championship Wrestling."
Rick
Granger:
"One man is trying to protect his spot, Sam. The other is trying to earn
one."
The arena
lights dim before Jake Montrose emerges from the curtain.
Despite
his usual attitude, the crowd response is more subdued than hostile. Montrose
doesn't waste time playing to the audience. He simply makes his way down the
aisle with a focused expression, keeping his eyes locked on the ring.
Sam
Duffy:
"Jake Montrose has been around HCW for quite some time. He knows exactly
what's at stake tonight."
Rick
Granger:
"That's what makes him dangerous. A veteran doesn't care about making
friends. He cares about winning."
Montrose
climbs onto the apron and steps through the ropes. He stretches in the corner
while awaiting his opponent.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"Introducing first... from Denver, Colorado... weighing in at two hundred
and twenty-three pounds... ‘THE BOUNTY HUNTER’ JAKE MONTROSE!"
A modest
reaction follows the announcement as Montrose nods confidently from his corner.
A moment
later the lights shift once again.
An
unfamiliar theme begins to play.
The
audience looks toward the entranceway, curious more than excited.
A large
figure appears at the top of the stage.
Koa
Mauler.
The crowd
offers a scattered round of applause. Some fans cheer simply because a new
competitor is arriving, while others look at one another, clearly unfamiliar
with the newcomer.
Sam
Duffy:
"And here he is. Koa Mauler making his HCW debut."
Rick
Granger:
"Listen to this crowd. They don't know what to make of him yet."
Koa slowly
surveys the arena.
No grand
gestures.
No attempt
to rally the audience.
Just a
cold, measured stare toward the ring.
He begins
walking down the aisle with a deliberate pace.
The
initial cheers continue from portions of the crowd, though curiosity remains
the dominant emotion in the building.
Sam
Duffy:
"This is what Proving Grounds is all about. New talent getting the chance
to prove they belong."
Rick
Granger:
"Well, if Koa Mauler wants a contract, he's standing across the ring from
a man who isn't going to hand him anything."
Koa
reaches ringside and climbs onto the apron without taking his eyes off
Montrose.
The two
men stare at one another for a moment before Koa steps through the ropes.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"And his opponent... from Honolulu, Hawaii... weighing in at two hundred
and fifty-two pounds... KOA MAULER!"
The
applause grows slightly louder after the formal introduction, though the
reaction remains largely one of curiosity.
Koa stands
motionless in his corner.
Montrose
cracks his neck and steps forward.
The
referee checks both competitors and calls for the bell.
The bell
rang and Jake Montrose immediately showed why experience matters in Heritage
Championship Wrestling.
Montrose
caught the newcomer off guard with a crushing loaded headbutt drop before
following up with a vicious backbreaker that sent Koa Mauler crashing to the
canvas.
Sam
Duffy:
"Not the start Koa Mauler was looking for."
Rick
Granger:
"Welcome to HCW, kid. Jake Montrose isn't interested in helping anybody
make a name for themselves."
The
veteran controlled the early pace, forcing Koa to absorb punishment while
testing the newcomer's toughness.
Koa
answered in emphatic fashion.
A powerful
lift-and-drop shifted the momentum before a thunderous superkick rocked
Montrose and brought the crowd to life. The audience, still trying to learn who
Koa Mauler was, began responding to the newcomer's impressive combination of
size and athleticism.
Montrose
refused to go away.
The two
men traded strikes and power moves throughout the middle portion of the
contest, neither competitor willing to surrender an inch.
Knife-edge
chops echoed throughout the Columbia Coliseum.
Forearm
smashes and kicks to the midsection kept Montrose in the fight.
A
devastating DDT from Koa nearly ended things.
A spinning
side slam brought the crowd to its feet.
Sam
Duffy:
"These two are throwing everything they've got at one another!"
Rick
Granger:
"I'll give Koa credit. Montrose has tested him every step of the way and
he keeps answering."
As the
match wore on, Koa's offense became increasingly punishing.
A massive
lift-and-drop nearly secured the victory before Montrose somehow reversed a pin
attempt into one of his own, forcing Koa to kick out.
Moments
later, Koa planted Montrose with a vertical suplex toss and earned another near
fall.
The
newcomer continued to methodically break down the veteran, repeatedly driving
him into the mat with body slams and suplexes.
Still,
Montrose refused to stay down.
Sam
Duffy:
"Jake Montrose is showing tremendous heart tonight."
Rick
Granger:
"That's what veterans do. They survive."
Late in
the contest, Montrose attempted another backbreaker, looking to finally put the
newcomer away.
Instead,
Koa exploded.
He
countered the move in mid-motion, lifted Montrose high into the air, and drove
him violently into the mat with the Eye of the Storm.
The impact
drew a stunned reaction from the crowd.
Sam
Duffy:
"Good grief!"
Rick
Granger:
"I think Jake Montrose just got folded in half!"
Somehow
Montrose kicked out.
But the
damage had been done.
Moments
later Koa muscled the exhausted veteran off the canvas and slammed him down
once more with a crushing body slam.
This time
there would be no escape. 1…2…3.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"Here is your winner... KOA MAULER!"
The crowd
applauded the impressive debut, though there was a noticeable uneasiness in the
reaction after witnessing the sheer force behind Koa's offense.
Koa stood
in the center of the ring breathing heavily as Montrose rolled toward the
ropes, still trying to recover from the punishment he had endured.
Sam
Duffy:
"What a debut."
Rick
Granger:
"And if I'm the rest of the HCW roster, I'm paying very close attention to
Koa Mauler."
Koa Mauler
remained in the center of the ring as the referee raised his hand.
The
newcomer showed no sign of celebration.
No smile.
No gesture
to the crowd.
Nothing.
He simply
stared ahead while Jake Montrose slowly pulled himself up using the ropes.
Sam
Duffy:
"I've got to say, that was an impressive debut."
Rick
Granger:
"Impressive? Absolutely. Friendly? Not so much."
Montrose
finally regained his footing and then left the ring.
Then
suddenly the mood inside the Columbia Coliseum changed.
A familiar
theme echoed through the arena.
The crowd
erupted.
Sam
Duffy:
"Oh my!"
Rick
Granger:
"Well, here we go."
The Samoan
Bloodline stepped onto the stage.
The crowd
erupted as HCW World Tag Team Champions Samoan Stomper Raku and Tumu
"The Island Beast" Vaega appeared with their championship belts
draped over their shoulders.
Koa didn't
react.
He simply
stood in the center of the ring staring at them.
Sam
Duffy:
"Well, here's the answer to the question everybody's been asking since
Live Wire."
Rick
Granger:
"These three men have been staring holes through each other for two
days."
The
champions made their way to ringside.
Raku
accepted a microphone.
Samoan
Stomper Raku:
"Last night."
"You
came out after our match."
"You
stood on that stage."
"And
you stared at us."
Raku
looked around the arena.
Samoan
Stomper Raku:
"So let's hear it."
"What
do you want?"
A
microphone was handed into the ring.
Koa slowly
raised it.
A long
pause.
Long
enough to make the crowd uncomfortable.
Koa
Mauler:
"I wanted to see what champions looked like."
The crowd
murmured.
Tumu
frowned.
Raku
smirked.
Samoan
Stomper Raku:
"And?"
Another
pause.
Koa
Mauler:
"I'm still looking."
The crowd
reacted immediately.
Not
cheers.
More of a
surprised "oooh."
Rick
Granger:
"Okay, that's a statement."
Tumu took
a step forward.
Tumu
Vaega:
"You've had one match."
Tumu
Vaega:
"One."
Tumu
Vaega:
"And now you're judging champions?"
Koa
shrugged.
No smile.
No
emotion.
Koa
Mauler:
"You asked."
The crowd
booed lightly.
Sam
Duffy:
"I don't know if that's confidence or arrogance."
Rick
Granger:
"Why not both?"
Raku
looked Koa up and down.
Then
glanced at Jake Montrose, who was still recovering outside the ring.
Samoan
Stomper Raku:
"I watched your match."
Samoan
Stomper Raku:
"You hit hard."
"You
don't talk much."
"But
if you're looking for respect..."
Raku
tapped the championship belt on his shoulder.
Samoan
Stomper Raku:
"You earn it."
Koa nodded
once.
Not in
agreement.
Not in
respect.
Just
acknowledgement.
Koa
Mauler:
"We'll see."
The crowd
booed a little louder.
The
Bloodline exchanged a look.
Then Raku
laughed.
Not
because he liked Koa.
Because he
had finally figured him out.
Samoan
Stomper Raku:
"Yeah."
"I
think we will."
The
champions turned and headed back toward the stage.
Koa never
took his eyes off them.
Not for a
second.
Koa
remained standing in the center of the ring, watching them leave.
Sam
Duffy:
"I don't think we've heard the last of this."
Rick
Granger:
"No, Sam. Something tells me Koa Mauler just put himself on the radar of
the most dominant team in HCW."
The camera
focused on Koa's unflinching stare as Voltage headed to commercial.
(Voltage
returns from commercial.)
Larry
Morton is standing backstage in front of an HCW Voltage backdrop.
Beside him
stands tonight's World Championship challenger, Julius Squeezer.
The crowd
cheers from the arena as Julius smiles and nods.
Larry
Morton:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time. Tonight, he
challenges for the HCW World Championship. Julius Squeezer."
Another
round of applause echoes throughout the building.
Larry
Morton:
"Julius, in just a few hours, you'll walk into the biggest match of your
career."
Julius
takes a deep breath before answering.
Julius
Squeezer:
"You're right, Larry."
"This
is the biggest opportunity I've ever had."
He pauses.
Julius
Squeezer:
"And I know exactly what it means."
The crowd
applauds.
Julius
Squeezer:
"It means every match I've wrestled."
"Every
loss."
"Every
win."
"Every
mile traveled."
"It
all led to tonight."
Larry
nods.
Larry
Morton:
"You'll be standing across the ring from Zack Brown. One of the most
successful champions in HCW history."
Julius
smiles.
Julius
Squeezer:
"And he deserves every bit of respect that comes with that
championship."
The crowd
cheers.
Julius
Squeezer:
"Zack Brown is one of the best wrestlers in this company."
Julius
Squeezer:
"That's why I wanted this opportunity."
The
reaction grows louder.
Julius
Squeezer:
"If I become World Champion tonight, I don't want anybody saying I got
lucky."
"I
don't want anybody saying somebody handed me anything."
"I
want people to say I beat the best."
The crowd
applauds again.
Larry
Morton:
"You sound confident."
Julius
nods.
Julius
Squeezer:
"I am confident."
"But
confidence isn't the same thing as arrogance."
The fans
react positively to that line.
Julius
Squeezer:
"I know how difficult this is going to be."
"I
know Zack Brown can beat me."
The crowd
quiets.
Julius
Squeezer:
"But I also know I can beat Zack Brown."
A louder
reaction follows.
Julius
Squeezer:
"And tonight, we're going to find out."
Larry
smiles.
Larry
Morton:
"Julius, thank you for your time. Good luck tonight."
The two
shake hands.
Julius
Squeezer:
"Thank you, Larry."
Julius
walks off camera toward the locker room.
Sam
Duffy:
"You've got to admire that attitude."
Rick
Granger:
"I'll admit it. He sounds ready."
Sam
Duffy:
"He earned this opportunity."
Rick
Granger:
"Maybe he did."
Rick
pauses.
Rick
Granger:
"But earning a title shot and winning a world title are two very different
things."
The camera
follows Julius down the hallway before transitioning back toward the arena for
the next segment.
The camera
returns to ringside where Sam Duffy and Rick Granger sit at the commentary
desk.
Sam
Duffy:
"Later tonight, the HCW World Championship will be on the line when Zack
Brown defends against Julius Squeezer."
Rick
Granger:
"I'll give Julius credit, Sam. He believes he can win. The question is
whether believing it and actually doing it are the same thing."
Before Sam
can respond, music suddenly hits.
The crowd
immediately boos.
Sam
Duffy:
"Well, this wasn't on the schedule."
Rick
Granger:
"Looks like somebody has something to say."
Valeria
Vex storms onto the stage with a microphone already in hand.
She
doesn't wait.
She
doesn't pose.
She heads
straight for the ring.
The crowd
continues to boo as she climbs through the ropes.
Sam
Duffy:
"I think I know what this is about."
Valeria
paces the ring for a moment before raising the microphone.
Valeria
Vex:
"Last week should have been the easiest victory of my career."
The crowd
boos.
Valeria
Vex:
"But somehow, some way, Twinkle escaped."
More boos.
Valeria
Vex:
"Let's be honest."
"I
didn't lose."
Valeria
points toward the entranceway.
Valeria
Vex:
"And neither did she."
A few fans
reluctantly acknowledge the point.
Valeria
Vex:
"So I'm done listening to people pretend the issue is settled."
Valeria
stops pacing.
Valeria
Vex:
"Twinkle."
"Get
out here."
The crowd
erupts as Twinkle's music hits.
Sam
Duffy:
"And here she comes."
Twinkle
appears on the stage to a strong ovation.
Unlike
Valeria, she takes a moment to acknowledge the crowd before heading to the
ring.
Rick
Granger:
"I've got a feeling this isn't going to be a pleasant conversation."
Twinkle
enters the ring and accepts a microphone.
The two
women stand face-to-face.
Valeria
Vex:
"You know what happened."
Valeria
Vex:
"You couldn't beat me."
The crowd
boos.
Twinkle
smirks.
Twinkle:
"Funny."
"Because
you couldn't beat me either."
The crowd
cheers loudly.
Valeria's
expression immediately darkens.
Valeria
Vex:
"I was one move away."
Twinkle:
"And I was one move away."
Another
cheer.
Twinkle:
"That's why it ended in a draw."
The crowd
applauds.
Valeria
shakes her head.
Valeria
Vex:
"No."
Valeria
Vex:
"That's why we need another match."
The
audience reacts.
Twinkle
doesn't hesitate.
Not even
for a second.
Twinkle:
"Fine."
The crowd
pops.
Twinkle:
"You want another match?"
"You
got it."
A louder
reaction follows.
Twinkle:
"Any place."
"Any
time."
"And
this time there won't be any questions."
The crowd
erupts.
Valeria
steps closer.
Twinkle
doesn't back away.
The two
women lock eyes in the center of the ring.
Sam
Duffy:
"I think it's official. This rivalry is far from over."
Rick
Granger:
"Good. Because neither one of them looks interested in walking away."
The
stare-down continues as Voltage heads to its next contest.
The camera
returns to the arena as the ring crew finishes preparing for the next contest.
Sam
Duffy:
"We've already seen an impressive debut from Koa Mauler and a challenge
accepted between Valeria Vex and Twinkle."
Rick
Granger:
"And now we're about to get a very physical matchup."
The lights
dim slightly as Iosef Koloff's entrance theme begins to play.
The crowd
immediately boos.
Iosef
emerges from behind the curtain with a stern expression etched across his face.
He wastes no time acknowledging the audience, instead marching directly toward
the ring with purpose.
Sam
Duffy:
"Iosef Koloff is one of the most dangerous competitors in HCW."
Rick
Granger:
"And one half of the Iron Syndicate. Dangerous is exactly the right
word."
Iosef
climbs the ring steps and enters through the ropes.
He moves
to the center of the ring and slowly surveys the crowd.
The boos
grow louder.
Iosef
remains completely unfazed.
Sam
Duffy:
"You have to wonder if tensions between the Iron Syndicate and Steel
Justice are beginning to build."
Rick
Granger:
"I don't know if they're building, Sam. I think they're already
there."
Iosef
backs into his corner and waits.
A moment
later, Alex Justice's music hits.
The crowd
responds with a strong ovation.
Sam
Duffy:
"And here comes one-half of the HCW Heritage Tag Team Champions."
Alex
"Skyhawk" Justice bursts through the curtain and immediately raises
an arm toward the crowd.
The
audience cheers even louder.
Alex
points toward several fans along the aisle before making his way toward the
ring.
Rick
Granger:
"You know what I find interesting? Everybody keeps talking about Steel
Justice as a team."
Sam
Duffy:
"Because they're champions."
Rick
Granger:
"Exactly. But tonight Alex Justice has to stand on his own."
Alex slaps
a few hands along the aisle before jogging up the ring steps.
He enters
through the ropes and immediately locks eyes with Iosef.
The
friendly smile disappears.
The crowd
senses the tension.
Neither
man backs down.
Neither
man looks away.
Sam
Duffy:
"I don't think either competitor is interested in taking a step backward
here."
Rick
Granger:
"Good. That's exactly how it should be."
The
referee steps between them as both men retreat to their respective corners,
ready for the opening bell.
From the
opening bell, Alex "Skyhawk" Justice and Iosef Koloff wasted no time
establishing exactly what kind of match this would be.
Justice
relied on speed and agility.
Koloff
relied on raw power and punishment.
The two
men collided in the center of the ring, immediately trading momentum back and
forth.
Sam
Duffy:
"These two came ready for a fight."
Rick
Granger:
"No feeling-out process. No hesitation. Just violence."
Alex
struck first with a picture-perfect Enchanted Dropkick, but Koloff answered
with a devastating
Hostile
Takeover that nearly turned Justice inside out.
The crowd
roared as neither competitor gave an inch.
Justice
began building momentum with his high-flying offense.
A
Celestial Spiral Leg Drop connected cleanly.
Another
Enchanted Dropkick sent Koloff stumbling backward.
Then a Sky
High Suplex brought the crowd to its feet.
Sam
Duffy:
"Alex Justice is rolling!"
Rick
Granger:
"That's the danger. If you give him space, he'll take over a match in a
hurry."
Koloff
continued fighting through the punishment.
Face
stomps.
Knee
lifts.
Forearm
smashes.
Every time
Justice appeared ready to pull away, the veteran powerhouse dragged him back
into a slugfest.
Midway
through the contest, Justice soared through the air with a breathtaking Skyhawk
Soar Moonsault.
The crowd
erupted.
Sam
Duffy:
"What elevation!"
Rick
Granger:
"I don't know how somebody moves like that."
The move
nearly ended the match.
But Koloff
kicked out.
Justice
stayed aggressive.
Another
Skyhawk Soar Moonsault connected.
Another
near fall followed.
Still
Koloff survived.
Sam
Duffy:
"You can see the frustration starting to build."
Rick
Granger:
"That's because Koloff just keeps coming."
Koloff
answered with a crushing Jaw Clutch and several heavy strikes that briefly
shifted momentum back in his favor.
For a
moment it appeared the Iron Syndicate member might steal the victory.
Instead,
Justice dug deep.
As Koloff
charged forward looking for another opening, Justice caught him.
Spun him
around.
And drove
him into the mat with the Heavenly Hammer DDT.
The crowd
exploded.
Sam
Duffy:
"He got all of it!"
Justice
hooked the leg.
Slow-Count
Sam:
"One!... Two!... Three!"
The bell
rang.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"Here is your winner... ALEX 'SKYHAWK' JUSTICE!"
The crowd
cheered as Justice rose to his feet and had his hand raised.
Sam
Duffy:
"What a win for one-half of the Heritage Tag Team Champions."
Rick
Granger:
"Alex earned that one. Koloff threw everything he had at him."
But the
celebration didn't last long.
As Justice
turned toward the ropes, Koloff suddenly attacked from behind.
The crowd
erupted with boos.
Sam
Duffy:
"Oh come on!"
Koloff
hammered Justice with clubbing blows to the back of the head before driving him
into the corner.
The
official immediately tried to intervene.
Koloff
shoved him aside.
The boos
intensified.
Rick
Granger:
"Now this is the Iosef Koloff we know."
Koloff
continued the assault, stomping away at Justice while officials rushed toward
ringside.
Then Alex
fought back.
A forearm.
Another
forearm.
Justice
created just enough separation to escape through the ropes.
Koloff
followed.
The two
men spilled to the floor.
Justice
quickly spotted a steel chair near the timekeeper's area.
The crowd
erupted.
Alex
grabbed it.
And turned
around holding it high.
Koloff
stopped immediately.
The Iron
Syndicate member glared at Justice from several feet away.
Justice
didn't swing.
He simply
stood his ground.
Chair in
hand.
Ready.
Sam
Duffy:
"Alex Justice has had enough."
Rick
Granger:
"And for the first time tonight, Koloff is thinking twice."
The two
men stared at one another.
Neither
willing to back down.
Neither
willing to make the next move.
Finally,
Koloff sneered and backed away toward the entrance ramp.
Justice
remained standing beside the ring with the chair in hand as the crowd cheered
loudly.
Sam
Duffy:
"Alex Justice may have won the match, but something tells me this issue is
far from settled."
Rick
Granger:
"Especially with Kellyn Chrisari and Krueger still scheduled to meet later
tonight."
The camera
focused on the furious expression of Iosef Koloff as Voltage headed to
commercial.
(Voltage
returns from commercial.)
The camera
pans across the Columbia Coliseum as the crowd continues buzzing from the
confrontation between Alex Justice and Iosef Koloff.
Sam
Duffy:
"Welcome back to HCW Voltage. Tensions are definitely rising between Steel
Justice and the Iron Syndicate."
Rick
Granger:
"And if tonight is any indication, those teams may be headed for a
collision course."
The lights
in the arena shift as upbeat entrance music begins to play.
The crowd
responds warmly.
Sam
Duffy:
"And now it's time for women's division action."
Blair
Kensington emerges from behind the curtain to a solid ovation.
Smiling
confidently, Blair acknowledges the fans on both sides of the aisle before
making her way toward the ring.
Rick
Granger:
"Blair Kensington has quietly put together some impressive performances
over the past several months."
Sam
Duffy:
"She's one of the hardest-working competitors in the women's division and
she's always looking to move up the rankings."
Blair
slaps a few hands along the way before reaching ringside.
The fans
continue cheering as she climbs onto the apron.
She pauses
for a moment, looking out over the crowd before stepping through the ropes.
Sam
Duffy:
"You can tell she's excited to be here tonight."
Rick
Granger:
"Everybody's excited before the bell rings. The question is whether she'll
still be smiling afterward."
Blair
settles into her corner as the arena lights dim once again.
A
different theme begins to play.
The crowd
responds with a warm reaction.
Sam
Duffy:
"And here comes Starla Nova."
Starla
Nova emerges from behind the curtain and immediately acknowledges the fans.
She points
toward several supporters in the crowd before beginning her walk to the ring.
Rick
Granger:
"Here's someone we haven't seen in action for a little while."
Sam
Duffy:
"That's true, and opportunities can become very important when you've been
away from the spotlight. A strong performance tonight could put Starla Nova
right back into the conversation."
Starla
continues down the aisle, high-fiving fans along the barricade.
Unlike the
focused intensity of the previous match, the atmosphere feels noticeably
lighter.
The crowd
continues cheering as Starla circles the ring.
She climbs
onto the apron and pauses for a moment before stepping through the ropes.
Sam
Duffy:
"Starla looks ready."
Rick
Granger:
"She'd better be. Blair Kensington isn't coming out here to be anybody's
comeback story."
Starla
moves to her corner and locks eyes with Blair.
Both women
appear confident.
Both women
appear ready.
What began
as a friendly competition quickly evolved into one of the most competitive
matches of the evening.
Starla
Nova wasted no time making a statement.
Before
Blair Kensington could fully settle into a rhythm, Starla launched herself
through the ropes with a breathtaking suicide dive that sent Blair crashing to
the floor.
The crowd
erupted.
Sam
Duffy:
"Starla Nova came out flying!"
Rick
Granger:
"And Blair Kensington just found out this isn't going to be a wrestling
clinic."
Blair
barely beat the referee's count back into the ring.
Starla
immediately followed with an Alabama Slam that shook the canvas.
The
momentum remained with Nova until Blair fired back with a Storm Breaker Air
Raid Crash Neckbreaker that completely changed the complexion of the match.
From
there, the two women traded momentum repeatedly.
A Running
Blockbuster from Starla.
A Double
Underhook Powerbomb from Blair.
An Insane
Diving Elbow Drop from Nova.
A Release
German Suplex from Kensington.
Neither
competitor could gain lasting control.
Sam
Duffy:
"This has been one of the most evenly matched contests we've seen in
weeks."
Rick
Granger:
"Every time one of them gets rolling, the other has an answer."
As the
match entered its middle stages, the intensity continued to rise.
Starla
connected with a Cutlass Spinning Backfist.
Blair
answered with a Pendulum DDT.
Starla
locked in the Ikari Bridging Cross Legged Crab.
Blair
escaped and responded with a devastating Storm One DDT.
The
Columbia Coliseum crowd became increasingly invested as both women fought
through mounting punishment.
Sam
Duffy:
"You can feel the urgency now."
Rick
Granger:
"They both know one mistake could end it."
Blair
nearly secured the victory after another Pendulum DDT.
Honest
Abe:
"One!... Two!"
Starla
kicked out.
The crowd
roared.
Later,
Blair scored another near fall after a crushing Storm One DDT that left Nova
barely able to answer the referee's count.
Sam
Duffy:
"I thought that was it!"
Rick
Granger:
"So did Blair."
The
frustration began to show on Kensington's face.
Still,
Starla refused to stay down.
Late in
the contest, Blair attempted another German Suplex.
Nova
reversed.
A dropkick
staggered Kensington.
Both women
were exhausted.
Both women
were desperate.
Then came
the decisive moment.
Starla
charged forward and launched herself through the ropes once again with another
suicide dive.
The move
connected.
Both
competitors crashed hard to the floor.
The crowd
erupted.
Sam
Duffy:
"They may have taken each other out!"
The
referee immediately began counting.
Honest
Abe:
"One!... Two!... Three!..."
Starla
slowly pulled herself up using the barricade.
Blair
remained down.
Honest
Abe:
"Seven!... Eight!... Nine!... Ten!"
The bell
rang.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"Here is your winner by count-out... STARLA NOVA!"
The crowd
applauded as Starla rolled back into the ring, exhausted but victorious.
Outside
the ring, Blair finally rose to her feet, realizing she had been counted out.
A look of
disappointment crossed her face.
Sam
Duffy:
"A hard-fought victory for Starla Nova."
Rick
Granger:
"And a frustrating loss for Blair Kensington. She wasn't beaten in the
ring, but a loss is still a loss."
Starla
climbed the turnbuckles and acknowledged the crowd while Blair regrouped on the
outside, clearly unhappy with how the match had ended.
Sam
Duffy:
"Starla Nova returns to the win column tonight."
Rick
Granger:
"And Blair Kensington may be replaying those last few seconds in her head
for a long time."
The camera
follows Blair as she slowly heads back up the entrance ramp while Starla
celebrates in the ring.
The camera
returns to the arena as Starla Nova celebrates one final time before exiting
the ring.
Sam
Duffy:
"A big victory tonight for Starla Nova."
Rick
Granger:
"And an incredibly frustrating loss for Blair Kensington."
The
crowd's applause quickly turns into boos as a familiar theme begins to play.
The boos
grow louder.
And
louder.
Sam
Duffy:
"I think we know who's next."
Rick
Granger:
"Good. I was hoping we'd see him again tonight."
Krueger
Kruschchev emerges from behind the curtain.
The
reaction is immediate.
Relentless
boos rain down from every corner of the Columbia Coliseum.
Krueger
doesn't acknowledge them.
He doesn't
smirk.
He doesn't
taunt.
He simply
marches toward the ring with the cold intensity that has made the Iron
Syndicate one of the most feared groups in HCW.
Walking
several steps behind him is Iosef Koloff.
The crowd
boos even louder.
Sam
Duffy:
"Apparently Iosef Koloff isn't finished for the evening."
Rick
Granger:
"Why would he be? If I'm Krueger, I want my partner watching my
back."
Sam
Duffy:
"After what happened earlier tonight, that might be exactly what's
happening."
Krueger
climbs onto the apron and steps through the ropes.
He
immediately moves to his corner and begins loosening up.
Outside
the ring, Iosef remains stationed near ringside.
Arms
folded.
Eyes fixed
on the ring.
Watching.
Waiting.
The
crowd's boos continue as the camera focuses on the imposing Iron Syndicate duo.
Then the
mood inside the arena changes instantly.
A loud
ovation erupts.
Sam
Duffy:
"And here comes one-half of the Heritage Tag Team Champions."
Kellyn
"The Raven Archer" Chrisari steps through the curtain.
The crowd
rises to its feet.
Kellyn
pauses briefly at the top of the stage, taking in the reaction before pointing
toward the ring.
Specifically
toward Krueger.
Rick
Granger:
"I don't think Kellyn is interested in playing games tonight."
Sam
Duffy:
"Would you be? His partner was just attacked after a hard-fought
victory."
Kellyn
heads toward the ring with purpose.
No
dancing.
No posing.
No
distractions.
His focus
remains entirely on the two members of the Iron Syndicate.
The crowd
continues cheering as Kellyn reaches ringside.
Iosef
takes a step closer.
Kellyn
immediately steps toward him.
The crowd
reacts.
The
referee quickly moves between them.
Sam
Duffy:
"Easy now."
Rick
Granger:
"Good. Let them settle it."
Kellyn
smirks and points toward the ring.
Krueger
responds with a cold stare from his corner.
The
tension is obvious.
Kellyn
climbs onto the apron and enters through the ropes.
For a
moment, both men stand in the center of the ring.
Neither
willing to look away.
Neither
willing to take a step backward.
Sam
Duffy:
"This one feels personal."
Rick
Granger:
"And something tells me it's only getting started."
The
referee steps between them and directs both competitors back to their corners.
The crowd
buzzes with anticipation as the bell is about to ring.
The
tension that had been building all night finally erupted once the bell rang.
Kellyn
"The Raven Archer" Chrisari and Krueger Kruschchev wasted no time
taking the fight directly to one another.
Sam
Duffy:
"These two have been waiting for this all evening."
Rick
Granger:
"And after what happened between Alex Justice and Iosef Koloff, you knew
this wasn't going to be a friendly wrestling match."
Kellyn
relied on his speed and precision.
Krueger
relied on power and brute force.
The
contrast made for a thrilling contest.
A Raven's
Flight Body Press gave Kellyn an early advantage.
An Arrow
Storm Kick staggered the larger Krueger.
The crowd
roared as the Heritage Tag Team Champion repeatedly used his quickness to keep
the Iron Syndicate powerhouse off balance.
But
Krueger had answers.
A violent
throw into the crowd sent Kellyn crashing to the outside.
A hanging
suplex nearly turned the tide.
Several
crushing full nelsons and power maneuvers reminded everyone exactly how
dangerous Krueger could be.
Sam
Duffy:
"Krueger is a frighteningly strong individual."
Rick
Granger:
"And Kellyn keeps throwing himself right back into the fight."
The match
remained evenly contested.
Kellyn
connected with a Raven's Wing Chop.
Krueger
answered with forearm smashes.
Kellyn
trapped Krueger in Raven's Retribution.
Somehow
Krueger refused to submit.
The
Columbia Coliseum crowd became increasingly invested as both men continued
exchanging momentum.
Sam
Duffy:
"Neither one of these competitors is willing to back down."
Rick
Granger:
"That's because both teams know what's at stake."
Late in
the contest, Kellyn began finding another gear.
A
devastating Raven's Flight Body Press nearly secured victory.
Another
followed moments later.
Krueger
was beginning to show signs of wear.
Still he
refused to stay down.
Finally,
Kellyn exploded across the ring with a perfectly timed Quiver Dropkick.
The impact
caught Krueger flush.
The crowd
erupted.
Kellyn
hooked the leg.
Honest
Abe:
"One!... Two!... Three!"
The bell
rang.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"Here is your winner... KELLYN 'THE RAVEN ARCHER' CHRISARI!"
The crowd
cheered loudly.
Sam
Duffy:
"What a night for Steel Justice!"
Rick
Granger:
"And what a terrible night for the Iron Syndicate."
Kellyn
rose to his feet and had his hand raised.
But just
like earlier in the evening, the celebration didn't last.
Iosef
Koloff immediately slid into the ring.
The crowd
erupted with boos.
Sam
Duffy:
"Oh no!"
Before
Kellyn could react, Iosef attacked from behind.
Krueger
joined in.
The Iron
Syndicate began stomping away at Kellyn.
The crowd
booed furiously.
Rick
Granger:
"Now that's teamwork."
Sam
Duffy:
"This is two-on-one!"
The
assault continued.
Kellyn
fought back as best he could, but the numbers game quickly became too much.
Then the
crowd exploded.
Alex
Justice came sprinting down the entrance ramp.
Sam
Duffy:
"Here comes Alex!"
Justice
slid into the ring and immediately started throwing punches.
The arena
came alive.
Alex and
Kellyn battled back against the Iron Syndicate.
A wild
brawl broke out.
Officials
rushed toward ringside.
The crowd
stood on its feet.
Neither
team willing to retreat.
Neither
team willing to surrender an inch.
Eventually
the four men became separated.
The Iron
Syndicate backed toward the ropes while Steel Justice remained standing in the
center of the ring.
The crowd
erupted with chants of:
"LET
THEM FIGHT!"
"LET THEM FIGHT!"
Kellyn
accepted a microphone.
The noise
continued.
Kellyn
pointed directly at the Iron Syndicate.
Kellyn
Chrisari:
"You wanted our attention?"
The crowd
cheered.
Kellyn
Chrisari:
"You've got it."
Another
loud reaction.
Kellyn
looked toward Alex.
Then back
at Iosef and Krueger.
Kellyn
Chrisari:
"You want a match?"
"We
accept."
The crowd
erupted.
Kellyn
Chrisari:
"We don't care when."
"We
don't care where."
Another
huge ovation.
Kellyn
Chrisari:
"You name the time."
"You
name the place."
"And
we'll be there."
The crowd
roared.
Alex
stepped forward and pointed directly at the Iron Syndicate.
The
challenge had been accepted.
Iosef and
Krueger exchanged glances before slowly backing away toward the entrance ramp.
Sam
Duffy:
"I think Steel Justice just threw down the gauntlet."
Rick
Granger:
"No, Sam."
Rick
smirked.
Rick
Granger:
"I think they just picked a fight."
The crowd
continued cheering as both teams stared each other down from opposite ends of
the arena.
The issue
was far from settled.
(Voltage
returns from commercial.)
The camera
cuts backstage where Larry Morton stands in front of an HCW backdrop.
The crowd
cheers as Larry smiles toward the camera.
Larry
Morton:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time."
Larry
pauses.
Larry
Morton:
"The HCW World Champion... Zack Brown."
The crowd
responds with a strong ovation.
Moments
later, Zack Brown steps into frame with the HCW World Championship draped over
his shoulder.
Zack nods
toward Larry.
He looks
confident.
Focused.
But
perhaps a little more serious than usual.
Larry
Morton:
"Zack, earlier tonight we heard from your challenger, Julius
Squeezer."
The crowd
reacts.
Larry
Morton:
"He called this the biggest opportunity of his career."
Zack nods.
Zack
Brown:
"It should be."
A few
cheers.
Zack
Brown:
"Getting a chance to compete for this championship is something every
wrestler in HCW wants."
He taps
the title belt.
Zack
Brown:
"And Julius earned that opportunity."
The crowd
applauds.
Larry
Morton:
"So what are your thoughts heading into tonight's main event?"
Zack
pauses.
Not for
dramatic effect.
Almost as
if he's tired of answering the question.
Zack
Brown:
"My thoughts?"
He shrugs.
Zack
Brown:
"My thoughts are the same as they've been every other time somebody stands
across the ring from me."
The crowd
quiets slightly.
Zack
Brown:
"They say they're ready."
"They
say they're different."
"They
say this is their moment."
He gives a
slight smirk.
Zack
Brown:
"Then the bell rings."
The crowd
gives a mixed reaction.
Not boos.
Just
uncertainty.
Larry
Morton:
"You don't sound particularly concerned."
Zack
Brown:
"Concerned?"
Zack looks
down at the championship.
Then back
at Larry.
Zack
Brown:
"How many times am I supposed to be concerned?"
The
reaction grows quieter.
Zack
Brown:
"Every challenger says the same thing."
"They're
going to shock the world."
"They're
going to change HCW."
"They're
going to beat Zack Brown."
Another
slight smirk.
Zack
Brown:
"I'm still standing here."
The crowd
applauds, but not as enthusiastically as earlier.
Larry
Morton:
"Julius said he respects you."
Zack
Brown:
"Good."
A brief
pause.
Zack
Brown:
"Respect is important."
The answer
feels shorter than expected.
More
abrupt.
Larry
notices it.
So does
the audience.
Larry
Morton:
"Anything you'd like to say to Julius before the match?"
Zack
adjusts the championship on his shoulder.
Zack
Brown:
"Yeah."
The crowd
listens carefully.
Zack
Brown:
"Bring everything you've got."
Another
pause.
Zack
Brown:
"Because if tonight really is the biggest opportunity of your
career..."
He looks
directly into the camera.
Zack
Brown:
"...you only get one chance to make it count."
The crowd
reacts.
Not quite
cheering.
Not quite
booing.
Just
listening.
Zack nods
once toward Larry and walks out of frame.
Larry
watches him leave.
Larry
Morton:
"Tonight, Zack Brown defends the HCW World Championship against Julius
Squeezer."
"And
that match is coming up next."
The camera
follows Zack down the hallway, championship over his shoulder, as Voltage
prepares for its main event.
Sam
Duffy:
"I don't know, Rick. Something felt different there."
Rick
Granger:
"I'll tell you what felt different."
"Zack
Brown sounds like a man who's tired of hearing about challengers."
Sam
Duffy:
"Maybe."
"Or
maybe the pressure of being champion is starting to wear on him."
The camera
transitions toward the arena as anticipation builds for the World Championship
main event.
The camera
returns to the arena.
The lights
dim.
The crowd
immediately rises to its feet.
Sam
Duffy:
"It is time."
Rick
Granger:
"Biggest match of the night."
The
anticipation inside the Columbia Coliseum is palpable as the opening notes of
Julius Squeezer's entrance theme echo throughout the building.
The crowd
erupts.
A strong
ovation fills the arena as Julius emerges from behind the curtain.
He pauses
at the top of the stage for a moment.
Taking it
all in.
The
biggest opportunity of his career.
Sam
Duffy:
"You can feel what this means to him."
Rick
Granger:
"I'll give him this. He doesn't look intimidated."
Julius
nods toward the crowd and begins making his way to the ring.
Fans along
the barricade reach out.
Julius
slaps hands as he walks.
The
audience continues cheering.
Not
because he's a challenger.
Because
they've watched him earn this opportunity.
Sam
Duffy:
"Julius Squeezer has worked for this moment."
Rick
Granger:
"And tonight we find out if hard work is enough."
Julius
circles the ring and climbs onto the apron.
He looks
around the arena one final time before stepping through the ropes.
The crowd
applauds once more as he moves to his corner.
Then the
arena lights change.
The
reaction immediately grows louder.
The
champion has arrived.
The HCW
World Championship appears on the video screen.
The crowd
rises again.
A
confident smile briefly crosses Julius' face.
Then it
disappears.
Because
now it's real.
Zack Brown
steps onto the stage.
The HCW
World Championship rests over his shoulder.
The crowd
cheers.
A
tremendous reaction.
But
perhaps not quite as explosive as the one Julius received moments earlier.
Sam
Duffy:
"The champion is here."
Rick
Granger:
"And that's the man every wrestler in HCW is chasing."
Zack
stands at the top of the stage and surveys the arena.
His eyes
eventually drift toward the ring.
Toward
Julius.
Toward the
championship match waiting for him.
Then Zack
begins the walk to the ring.
The crowd
continues cheering.
Several
fans reach out.
Zack
acknowledges them.
But his
focus seems elsewhere tonight.
More
serious.
More
intense.
Sam
Duffy:
"We heard it in Larry Morton's interview earlier."
Rick
Granger:
"Yeah. Zack Brown sounds like a man who's carrying the weight of being
champion."
Zack
reaches ringside and slowly climbs the ring steps.
He pauses
on the apron.
Raises the
championship belt high.
The crowd
responds with another ovation.
Then he
steps through the ropes.
The
champion hands the title belt to the referee and moves into his corner.
Across the
ring, Julius never takes his eyes off him.
Neither
man looks away.
The
tension builds.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur steps into the center of the ring.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"The following contest is scheduled for one fall..."
The crowd
cheers.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"And it is for the HCW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!"
The crowd
erupts.
Tony turns
toward the challenger.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"Introducing first... the challenger..."
"From
Columbus, Ohio..."
"Weighing
in at two hundred and forty-two pounds..."
"JULIUS
SQUEEZER!"
The crowd
roars.
Julius
raises a fist.
Another
strong reaction follows.
Across the
ring, Zack watches silently.
Tony then
turns toward the champion.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"And his opponent..."
"From
Charlotte, North Carolina..."
"Weighing
in at two hundred and twenty-seven pounds..."
"He
is the reigning... defending... HCW WORLD CHAMPION..."
Tony
pauses.
The crowd
cheers.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"ZACK ‘THE COMANDOOOOOOO’ BROWN!"
The
champion raises the title belt.
The crowd
applauds loudly.
But once
again, there is the slightest hint that the audience is rallying just a little
harder behind the challenger.
A subtle
thing.
Almost
impossible to identify.
Unless
you're standing in the ring.
Holding
the championship.
And
hearing every reaction.
Sam
Duffy:
"The stage is set."
Rick
Granger:
"Julius Squeezer has the opportunity of a lifetime."
The
referee presents the championship belt to all four sides of the arena.
The crowd
roars one final time.
The title
is handed away.
The
referee checks both competitors.
Zack
Brown.
Julius
Squeezer.
World
Championship on the line.
The bell
is ready to ring.
The bell
rang.
The HCW
World Championship was officially on the line.
The
Columbia Coliseum crowd immediately came alive.
Sam
Duffy:
"Here we go!"
Rick
Granger:
"Biggest opportunity of Julius Squeezer's career."
Both men
approached cautiously.
A
respectful nod.
Then
business.
Julius
struck first, nearly squeezing the life out of the champion with a powerful
Gorilla Squeeze before forcing Zack Brown to regroup.
The
challenger had arrived ready for a fight.
The crowd
responded loudly.
Perhaps a
little louder than Zack expected.
Sam
Duffy:
"Julius isn't intimidated."
Rick
Granger:
"He shouldn't be. You don't get this opportunity by accident."
Julius
followed with a thunderous belly-to-belly suplex that rocked the champion and
generated another strong reaction from the audience.
Zack
quickly answered.
A
devastating Paratrooper Plunge shifted momentum back in his favor.
A crushing
backbreaker followed.
The World
Champion immediately transitioned into the hold, trying to wear the challenger
down early.
Julius
refused to submit.
The crowd
applauded.
The
reaction drew a brief glance from Zack.
Not anger.
Not
frustration.
Just
awareness.
Sam
Duffy:
"Julius is hanging tough."
Rick
Granger:
"And Zack knows it."
The
champion's offense became increasingly aggressive.
A
perfectly executed powerbomb rattled the ring.
A Bossman
Slam nearly folded Julius in half.
Football
tackles repeatedly drove the challenger backward.
Every time
Julius fought back, Zack answered with something harder.
Something
heavier.
Something
more forceful.
Sam
Duffy:
"Zack Brown has controlled much of this match."
Rick
Granger:
"That's what champions do."
Still,
Julius refused to disappear.
A vertical
suplex brought another strong reaction from the crowd.
The
challenger wasn't dominating.
But he
wasn't going away either.
And every
sign of resistance seemed to irritate the champion just a little more.
Not enough
for the audience to notice.
But enough
for those standing in the ring.
Late in
the contest, Zack finally found the opening he had been searching for.
He caught
Julius and immediately locked in the K-9 Clutch.
The
challenger struggled.
The crowd
roared.
Julius
fought.
Twisted.
Reached.
Tried to
survive.
But there
was nowhere to go.
Sam
Duffy:
"He's trapped!"
Rick
Granger:
"He's done!"
Julius
battled for several more seconds before finally tapping the mat.
The bell
rang.
Tony
"Echo" Calibur:
"Here is your winner... and STILL HCW WORLD CHAMPION... ZACK BROWN!"
The crowd
applauded.
Zack
immediately released the hold and rolled away.
Breathing
heavily.
Exhausted.
The
referee handed him the championship.
Sam
Duffy:
"Another successful title defense for Zack Brown."
Rick
Granger:
"And another challenger turned away."
Julius sat
in the corner, disappointed but respectful.
After
several moments, he slowly rose to his feet.
The crowd
applauded his effort.
Zack stood
across the ring holding the championship.
The two
men stared at one another.
Then
Julius stepped forward and extended his hand.
The crowd
cheered.
A
respectful gesture.
A show of
sportsmanship.
For a
moment Zack simply looked at it.
Not
refusing.
Not
accepting.
Just
looking.
The pause
lasted only a second.
Maybe two.
Then Zack
accepted the handshake.
The crowd
applauded.
Sam
Duffy:
"A tremendous effort by Julius Squeezer tonight."
Rick
Granger:
"He came up short, but nobody can question his heart."
Zack
raised the championship high above his head.
The crowd
cheered.
But as the
camera focused on the champion, there was something different in his
expression.
Not
celebration.
Not
relief.
Something
else.
Something
harder to define.
The kind
of look that disappears before anyone can quite identify it.
The kind
of look that leaves people wondering.
Sam
Duffy:
"Zack Brown remains the HCW World Champion."
Rick
Granger:
"And the target on his back just keeps getting bigger."
The camera
returns to ringside as Zack Brown stands on the turnbuckle holding the HCW
World Championship high above his head.
The crowd
applauds while Julius Squeezer remains in the ring, still recovering from the
grueling title match.
Julius
receives his own round of applause as he slowly rises to his feet.
Sam
Duffy:
"What a tremendous main event."
Rick
Granger:
"Julius Squeezer threw everything he had at the champion."
Julius
nods respectfully toward Zack before exiting the ring.
Several
fans along the aisle stand and applaud the challenger as he heads toward the
back.
Sam
Duffy:
"He may not have left with the championship, but Julius Squeezer proved
tonight that he belongs in the conversation with the best HCW has to
offer."
Rick
Granger:
"I'll give him that. He earned a lot of respect tonight."
Inside the
ring, Zack Brown remains standing with the championship draped over his
shoulder.
The
referee raises his arm one final time.
The crowd
cheers.
Sam
Duffy:
"Tonight we saw the successful debut of Koa Mauler."
Rick
Granger:
"And apparently he has his eyes on the Samoan Bloodline."
Sam
Duffy:
"Valeria Vex and Twinkle agreed to meet again after their recent
draw."
Rick
Granger:
"That issue is far from settled."
Sam
Duffy:
"We also saw Steel Justice sweep the Iron Syndicate in singles competition
before officially accepting their challenge."
Rick
Granger:
"Now all that's left is for the Iron Syndicate to name the time and
place."
The camera
cuts back to Zack.
The
champion looks out into the crowd.
Championship
firmly in hand.
Still
standing.
Still
champion.
Sam
Duffy:
"For Rick Granger, I'm Sam Duffy."
Sam
Duffy:
"Thank you for joining us for another exciting edition of HCW
Voltage."
Rick
Granger:
"Goodnight everybody."
The final
image is Zack Brown standing in the center of the ring with the HCW World
Championship as the crowd continues to cheer.
Voltage
fades to black.
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