{We’re taken back to Rachel who is now sitting at a desk in the comfort of the IWF Studios in Chicago, Illinois.}

 

Rachel Grimes: What better way would there be to not only kick off the year, but this show than a feud between two men who absolutely hate one another? This feud however, didn’t start this year as the two raged war in 2015 as well, ending things in a Cell match at the August, Legacy PPV. The two would battle with no fear, no pain, no sense of quit, and in the end, Rob would pick up the win, and we would soon find out that Mike would suffer a knee injury that would keep him out of action for the remainder of the year.

 

With Mike on the shelf, Rob was able to turn his focus toward championships and honed in on the Man of Steel Championship, winning it and carrying it into the new year. After being put through a myriad of trials by Roberto Verona, which we’ll touch on a bit later, Rob was set to defend his Man of Steel Title against a newcomer in the masked warrior Zasshu.

 

We didn’t know it at the time, but the rivalry between Mike Laszlo and Rob Diamond was about to invade 2016…

 

{There’s a flash and we’re tuned into the end of the Man of Steel Title match, January 31, 2016…}

 

{ A blond haired girl suddenly jumps the barrier and rushes over to Rob's side as he rolls off of Zasshu. }

 

Vasco Dias: Who the hell is that!?

 

Terri Morasco: I'm not sure but she looks very concerned.

 

{ She's checking on Rob trying to see if he's ok but he isn't answering her. The referee reaches the count of six and neither man has really moved. }

 

Vasco Dias: She can't be out here.

 

Terri Morasco: Well tell her yourself.

 

{ The referee hits Eight and the blond haired girl starts to help Rob up when ALEXIS CAFFREY COMES RUNNING AROUND THE SIDE OF THE CAGE AND SUPER KICKS THE BLOND!!!! }

 

Terri Morasco: WHAT THE HELL!!!???

 

{ Rob is barely on his feet, the referee has stopped counting, he looks from the blond to Alexis and looks pissed, he starts to move toward her but MIKE LASZLO COMES OUT OF THE CROWD AND SPINS ROB AROUND FOR MALICIOUS INTENT!!!! }

 

Terri Morasco: Mike Laszlo and Alexis Caffrey!!!! Mike Laszlo is back and he's looking to cost Rob the Man of Steel Championship!

 

Vasco Dias: Thank god for Mike Laszlo.

 

{ Mike turns to Zasshu who still hasn't moved and pulls the bloody masked man to his feet. Rob starts to come to but Mike peels the padding up off the concrete floor. Zasshu comes to and together they pull Rob up, Zasshu connects with the CIESTA KICK! And Laszlo hits him with another MALICIOUS INTENT ON THE CONCRETE!!!! }

 

Terri Morasco: This is bad.

 

{ Alexis laughs hysterically as she grabs the blond by the hair and screams into her face "This is what you get for dating dirt bags!" She slams the blonds head back onto the padded floor as Zasshu yells at the referee to count. }

 

Terri Morasco: This can't end like this.

 

Vasco Dias: It sure as hell can, Rob shouldn't of asked for Extreme Rules.

 

{ The referee counts. ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! Rob isn't moving and Zasshu has already collected the Championship belt. Mike stands over Rob. FIVE! SIX! }

 

Terri Morasco: This is a travesty!

 

Vasco Dias: This is justice!

 

{ SEVEN! EIGHT! Rob starts to claw at the boot of Laszlo. NINE! TEN!!!! }

 

Alison Valance: Your winner and NEW MAN OF STEEL CHAMPION!!!! ZASSHU!!!!!

 

Terri Morasco: NO! This is total horse shit!

 

Vasco Dias: This is what happens when you cross the boss!

 

{ Laszlo stomps on Rob again as Zasshu holds the Man of Steel Championship up over his head. The crowd boos unrelentingly. }

 

Terri Morasco: This is not how this match should have gone.

 

Vasco Dias: Too bad, because this is how it went and it's all Rob's fault.

 

{ Laszlo takes Alexis in his arms and the two beam with pride over what they've done. Zasshu stands at the top of the ramp now as pyro goes off all around him, the Man of Steel Championship still being held high over his head. }

 

{We flash back and see Rachel smack the counter in front of her.}

 

Rachel Grimes: Just the way to make an impact huh? Mike would cost Rob the Man of Steel Title as shown, and then the next week, with his wife Alexis Caffrey, and the Garcia Twins by his side, berate the people in attendance while threatening revenge on Rob, holding him responsible for the injury he sustained all those months back in the Cell match. Rob though would make his presence known and just to clue you in on just how much these men hate one another, he threatened to end Laszlo’s career, by breaking his leg clean off! WHAT INTENSITY!

 

Things got more personal as we thought we’d see the return of Mike Laszlo to in ring action as he was scheduled to team with the man he helped win the Man of Steel in Zasshu, to take on InFamous 2.0, Rob Diamond and Warren Kane. Mike though would refuse to tag into the match, eventually leaving Zasshu high and dry as he and Alexis left the ringside area, Rob hot on their trail. Rob would return to the match and his team would pick up the victory, but we would soon see where Mike and Alexis disappeared to.

 

{Another flashback moment as we are seeing the February 15th Open Fight Night Edition of Sacrifice…}

 

{ Rob and Warren stand tall over Zasshu as the crowd roars when Mike and Alexis Laszlo appear on the tron to a chorus of boos. }

 

Mike Laszlo: What kind of man drives a Kia Soul?

 

{ Mike asks the question out loud as the two of them make their way through the parking garage to a grey 2016 Kia Soul. }

 

Alexis Caffrey: I'm guessing a man with a dick as small as his ego is big.

 

Mike Laszlo: That sounds about right.

 

{ The two of them stop at the Kia Soul and face the camera. }

 

Mike Laszlo: Oh, hey Rob, so I noticed you ran back to the ring because your ego can't avoid the spotlight for even half a second. I figured I'd use this time to man up your "car".

 

{ Laszlo turns back around to face the car and waves to someone off camera. Rob starts to march up the ramp with Warren but stops half way as we see a large bulldozer roll into the shot. Mike walks up as the man driving it gets out but then turns to Alexis. }

 

Mike Laszlo: Would you do me the honors?

 

Alexis Caffrey: It would be my pleasure.

 

{ Rob starts to scream "YOU GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY CAR!!!!" He starts to march again as Alexis jumps onto the bulldozer. }

 

Terri Morasco: This isn't good.

 

Vasco Dias: THIS IS AWESOME!

 

{ Alexis fires up the engine and drives right at the Kia Soul as Rob stops under the tron and the blade of the bulldozer crashes into the side of the car and starts to cave it in as she pushes it across the parking garage toward one of the support beams, t-boning it against the beam. }

 

Vasco Dias: OH MY GOD!!! HAHAHAHAHA.

 

Terri Morasco: That son of a bitch.

 

Mike Laszlo: Wow, that isn't going to buff out.

 

{ Mike starts to laugh as Alexis continues to crush the car against the beam and Rob flips out on the stage, Warren standing right beside him unable to look away.}

 

Terri Morasco: I don't believe this....

 

Vasco Dias: I freaking love Mike Laszlo.

 

{ Alexis jumps out with Rob's car crushed up against the beam and Mike grabs her for a deep passionate kiss. The two of them face the camera as Rob rages on the stage. }

 

Mike Laszlo: Hey Rob, I'm not sure insurance is going to cover this but hey, if you're not down with that then we've got two words for you.

​

{ Alexis and Mike in unison crotch chop the camera and start laughing as Rob screams profanities left and right.... }

 

{We go back to Rachel who is now standing in front of the desk.}

 

Rachel Grimes: Talk about a destructive personality. I mean, who smashes another man’s car like that? Anyway, the next week on Sacrifice, Alexis would be taking on Mercedes Vargas, and Mike, alongside the Garcia Twins, would be at the commentary table, watching Alexis pick up the victory. As they celebrated, Rob rushes the ring with a chair and starts swinging wildly as the group dive out of harm’s way. It was on this night we’d learn that Mike and Rob would finally go at it...one-on-one in a match to be determined by Mike at the February PPV Danger Zone!

 

The match would be deemed an Iron Man Match with a twist...again showing the hatred and brutality of this war, the Iron Man Match would be contested under Street Fight Rules! The two warriors would battle as we’ve seen them do plenty of times in the past, but this one would end with just a hint of controversy…

 

{We flash away to Danger Zone, February 28, 2016…}

 

{The clock is down to the final 40 seconds when Mike let’s go of the hold, pulling Rob to the edge of the car, his now limp body draped over it. Mike steps through and locks in the Entanglement with 20 seconds left. He wrenches back and as we get to the final seconds, the referee waves his arms in the air, and the time clicks down, the buzzer going off. The crowd boos as this is believed to be a draw. The referee gets on the radio and tells Alison what to say.}

 

Alison Valance: Ladies and gentlemen, with five seconds remaining… the referee has decided that Rob Diamond was unresponsive while locked in the submission hold awarding the fall to Mike Laszlo.

 

{The crowd erupts in boos.}

 

Alison Valance: Therefore, the winner of this contest with the score of two falls to one…MIKE LASSSSSZZZLOOOO!!!

 

{“Cult of Personality” blares over the speakers in the arena as Mike and Alexis head back into the arena, leaving Rob motionless on top of the car as we fade from the scene.}

 

{Flashback to Rachel leaning against the desk.}

​

Rachel Grimes: Controversial? Some would say so, and Rob Diamond would definitely say so and let the world know that Mike Laszlo didn’t make him tap out, and didn’t pin him for that final fall. We all know that Rob is a man who doesn’t go down without a fight. He would let Mike know, not even a week later that this fight was far from over.

 

He’d be proven right, but unfortunately for him, it would be at the wrong time. On the March 14th Open Fight Night version of Sacrifice, Rob would finally get his hands on Roberto Verona with the Imperial Championship on the line, and Rob looked to have things in hand...or so we thought.

 

{She raises her hand toward the monitor to her right as the camera zooms in, the scene is set, March 14, 2016, Open Fight Night…}

 

{ Roberto smirks as Rob tries to stand up again, he even claps for him before hitting hard in the gut with a toe kick and picking him up for the IDES OF MARCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING!!!! }

 

Vasco Dias: IDES OF MARCH!!!!

 

{ Roberto quickly covers Rob, he hooks his leg, the referee drops for the count as the crowd boos. ONE! TWO! THRE-KICK OUT!!! }

 

Terri Morasco: He got the shoulder up!

 

Vasco Dias: I don’t believe it!

 

Terri Morasco: HE GOT HIS SHOULDER UP!!!!

 

{ Roberto looks to the referee who holds up two fingers and Verona shakes his head. He grabs Rob hard by the beard and rips him to his feet, he throws him hard into the corner and looks for the Veni, Vidi, Vici but Rob ducks out of the way and Verona crashes against the turn buckles, turns into another Fist Full O’Democracy and then Rob rips him out of the corner with the DIAMOND CUTTER!!! }

 

Terri Morasco: DIAMOND CUTTER!!!!

 

Vasco Dias: NOOOO!!!!

 

Terri Morasco: This is it, Rob Diamond is going to be the new Imperial Champion!!!!

 

{ Rob slowly starts to turn over as the crowd explodes into boos as MIKE LASZLO COMES RUNNING DOWN TO THE RING! }

 

Terri Morasco: What the hell!?

 

{ Laszlo flies into the ring and kicks Rob hard in the back of the head as the referee calls for the bell! }

 

Terri Morasco: NO!!!!!

 

{ Laszlo rips Rob up off the mat as the crowd boos and hits him with MALICIOUS INTENT!!!! }

 

Terri Morasco: DAMMIT NO!!!!

 

Vasco Dias: Thank God for Mike Laszlo… Never thought I’d say that.

 

{ Roberto rolls out of the ring to collect his championship with a large smile on his face. }

 

Alison Valance: Your winner of the match by Disqualification… ROB DI-

 

{ Laszlo rips the mic out of her hands and screams at Rob as he lays there. }

 

Mike Laszlo: IF I DON’T GET TO BE CHAMPION! NEITHER DO YOU!

 

{ Laszlo drops down and starts to viciously punch Rob with the microphone as Roberto makes his way backstage. }

 

Terri Morasco: Somebody needs to stop this!

 

Vasco Dias: WHY?

 

Terri Morasco: Because he’s going to hurt him!

 

Vasco Dias: GOOD!

 

{ Mike opens a nasty cut on Rob’s head with the microphone, blood starts to pour out as he stands up with a grin on his face, dropping the mic by Rob’s head. }

 

Terri Morasco: Jesus…

 

Vasco Dias: I’m starting to like this guy.

 

Terri Morasco: This is not how this match should of ended.

 

Vasco Dias: But hey, you were right, there was no way Rob wasn’t “winning” tonight.

 

{ We head to commercial break with Laszlo standing over a bloody Rob Diamond. }

 

{We come back to Rachel once again sitting behind the desk.}

 

Rachel Grimes: With this feud at a boiling point, and things going way beyond personal to the point where these two competitors wanted to kill one another, Mike Laszlo came out on Sacrifice and wanted to put an end...to it all.

 

{The scene cuts to March 21, 2016, the Sacrifice before High Stakes.}

 

{“Cult of Personality” hits the speakers and the crowd erupts in a thunderous roar as Mike Laszlo walks onto the stage all by himself with the Joker In The Pack Briefcase in hand. He looks to his side where his wife would usually be and a sour looks comes over his face before looking out to the crowd who chants “WHERE’S YOUR WIFE!”. He scowls at them before cracking a smile and holding the briefcase high in the air as the boo him some more while he heads to the ring.}

 

Alison Valance: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Joker In The Pack Holder, MIKE LASZLOOOOOO!!!

 

{He heads up the steps and climbs to the top rope, holding the briefcase high in the air pointing to himself while yelling at the crowd before jumping down and heading over to the corner to grab a microphone.}

 

Terri Morasco: And we’re greeted with the presence of the Joker In The Pack Briefcase holder.

 

Vasco Dias: I’m sure it’s important, so how about you shut the hell up so he can talk.

 

{Mike taps the mic a few times before speaking into it.}

 

Mike Laszlo: Does this thing work? Good. Let’s get straight to the point shall we?

 

{The crowd doesn’t appreciate his condescending tone.}

 

Mike Laszlo: I came out here tonight to talk about a thorn in the side of Roberto Verona, but more importantly, in MY side. A man who I thought I had dispatched of at Danger Zone, Rob Diamond.

 

{The crowd applauds Diamond’s name.}

 

Mike Laszlo: That’s right cheer on the loveable loser.

 

{Cheers go to boos.}

 

Mike Laszlo: Boo all you want, not a single person cares. What we care about here is wins and losses...you know, like when I DID beat Rob Diamond at Danger Zone because he couldn’t handle the pain i was putting him through and passed out in the windshield of that car. Yet he’ll tell you over and over again that I didn’t.

 

{He turns to the ramp.}

 

Mike Laszlo: Rob, you say I didn’t beat you, the real world says I did, but you know what!? I want to put an end to this right here and now. I knocked you out for ten seconds, costing you your Man of Steel Title, and I knocked you out at Danger Zone. So here it is...all said and done. You and I, one on one at High Stakes in a match where no fluke can happen. It’ll be in a match where the object is to beat the holy hell out of your opponent. It’s a match where you have to get to your feet by a count of ten.

 

{He walks over to the ropes, dropping his case in the center of the ring while grabbing hold of the top rope, leaning over it.}

 

Mike Laszlo: THAT’S RIGHT ROB...YOU AND ME...LAST MAN STANDING!!

 

Terri Morasco: Holy crap.

 

Vasco Dias: These two may really put an end to this whole thing at High Stakes.

 

Mike Laszlo: This ends because when I’m done with you…

 

{Mike grabs hold of his briefcase and raises it in the air overhead.}

 

Mike Laszlo: I have more important things to attend to.

 

{“Cult of Personality” plays again as Mike throws the mic over his shoulder, posing with the case again.}

 

Terri Morasco: Did he just call his shot?

 

Vasco Dias: Not necessarily, but he’s gotta do it soon.

 

{Mike slaps the case and looks into the camera with a huge smile as we cut to commercial.}

 

{We cut back to Rachel.}

 

Rachel Grimes: With the challenge out for a Last Man Standing Match, Rob would accept after going nuts on the Union of Jobbers, hitting them all with Diamonds Cutters, preventing them from covering Jayson Matthews for the Invictus Title. After accepting the challenge though Rob would call out Mike then and there. Mike would sprint down to the ring and pandemonium would break out as others would try to get a hold of Jayson Matthews and the Invictus Title, as well as stake their claim in the Roulette Match at High Stakes. As the other’s would battle in the ring, the cameras would shift to our men of the hour near the concession area…

 

{Mike throws Rob into t shirt table, he looks to pick him up but Diamond hooks his head and DDTs him through the table! Mike doesn't seem phased at all as he gets right on top of Rob and starts to punch him in the face. Laszlo pulls him up out of the rubble, both men have some nice shiners forming as Laszlo throws Rob into the glass door of the arena entrance, shattering it and sending him through it. Diamond rolls across the cement steps and starts to get back up as Mike runs out after him but the police and security finally move in to pull them apart. Laszlo hits one guard with a super kick, Rob back fists another, they're trying to fight their way toward each other but the numbers are overwhelming them both as they scream at each other bringing Sacrifice to a close. }

 

{We cut back to Rachel once more.}

 

Rachel Grimes: How much more could these two men do to each other? I mean, they’ve put each other through hell and back, and neither one seems to have wanted to back down. That being said, there was one more match in 2016 between these two...a match that would be a match of the year candidate.

 

{The cameras would come to as the camera overlooked the crowd at the Pepsi Center in Denver Colorado.}

 

Alison Valance: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to High Stakes! It’s time for your opening bout of the evening and it is the LAST...MAN...STANDING MATCH!

 

{The crowd goes nuts as they saw what these two men could do to each other in this type of environment.}

 

Terri Morasco: This is going to be one hell of a match Vasco. These two nearly beat the hell out of one another last month in that Iron Man Street Fight.

 

Vasco Dias: That they did, and I can’t wait to see what type of brutality these two come up with tonight.

 

Are you ready??

 

{Jekyll and Hyde by FFDP hits the pa as the lights start to strobe pink. Rob Diamond slowly struts out onto the ramp as the crowd pops huge for him, he smiles and looks around the arena and slowly raises his arms over his head. Just as Jekyll and Hyde kicks into high gear he brings his arms down in an epic crotch chop as pink pyro explodes in an X behind him. He begins his march down the ramp slapping hands with fans holding signs for him and wearing his awesome t-shirts. He points here and there making certain women feel special and wet in their pants as he gets to the ring and rolls in under the bottom rope.}

 

Alison Valance: Introducing to the ring at this time, weighing in at two hundred and four pounds, he is THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME! The King of Diamonds, The Xtreme American Dream, The Bloody Cinderella, The one and only, the Alpha and Omega, The beginning and the end, The baddest mama jama in the multiverse, You can't believe there's none better, Better than Butter, The Mad Titan, The Dark Lord of the Sith... THE INFAMOUS ROB DIAMOND!!!!!

 

{Rob stands in the middle of the ring and asks the crowd for silence, he takes a mic as the crowd dies down and so does his music...}

 

Rob Diamond: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and single ladies of ALL AGES!!!!!..... LETS GET READY TO SUCK IT!!!!!!!

 

{He tosses the mic and hits one final crotch chop as the crowd goes nuts then marches over to the ropes and steps up on the second rope with both fists held up over his head.}

 

Terri Morasco: Remember, Rob is also in the Roulette later on tonight.

 

Vasco Dias: If he makes it to the Roulette you mean.

 

Terri Morasco: That just exemplifies what tonight is all about...high stakes.

 

Alison Valance: And his opponent…

 

{"Cult of Personality" by Living Colour hits the sound system, Mike Laszlo walking out onto the stage, followed by Alexis Caffrey, to a negative reaction from the crowd. Surveying those who boo, a grin comes over his face as he heads for the ring with a confident walk, ignoring the outstretched hands of some fans along the isle, Alexis by his side holding his other hand.}

 

Alison Valance: Making his way to the ring, accompanied to the ring by Alexis Caffrey, from Cleveland, Ohio, weighing 237 pounds…MIIIIKE LASZLOOOOO!

 

{The two get to the end of the ramp before Mike lifts Alexis onto the apron. She enters the ring as Mike rolls in under the bottom rope. He climbs the outside ropes to the top rope in the corner nearest the entrance ramp and poses for the crowd amassing a magnitude of booing. He jumps down and goes to the opposite corner and does the same, garnering the same reaction. With a sly grin on his face he jumps down and backs into the corner, giving a kiss to his wife before clasping his hands together and twirling his wrists as he gets ready for the match.}

 

Terri Morasco: These two men hate each other...it’s plain as day.

 

Vasco Dias: And if it isn’t...it’s gonna be.

 

{The referee calls for the bell and these two just meet in the center of the ring and start throwing punches at each other’s face in rapid succession much to the crowd’s delight.}

 

Terri Morasco: This isn’t a match...IT’S A FIGHT!

 

Vasco Dias: Hell yes it is.

 

{The punchfest continues before Rob kicks simply throws his foot up connecting with the “Ball Breaker” which sends Alexis into a fury on the outside as Rob laughs at Mike who clutches at his groin. Rob walks over to Alexis and can be heard yelling down…”You like that bitch!?”}

 

Terri Morasco: No rules here folks.

 

Vasco Dias: Still, uncalled for.

 

{Rob lifts Laszlo to his feet and rocks him with a few shots to the face before throwing him across the ring, into the ropes, and upon return leaps in the air for a Lou Thesz Press but Laszlo grabs hold of him by the legs while spinning, driving Rob into the mat with a hard Spinebuster!}

 

Vasco Dias: That’s what I’m talking about...take that!

 

Terri Morasco: You’re supposed to be impartial Vasco.

 

Vasco Dias: I’ll do what I please devil woman.

 

{Mike slides back on the mat, still clutching at his groin as he pulls himself up with the ropes. He heads over to Rob and lifts him to his feet, rocking him with a few shots into the corner, followed by a hard back elbow that knocks Rob into a seated position. Laszlo turns and taunts the crowd who boo.}

 

Terri Morasco: He might be wasting time here.

 

{Mike turns from the center of the ring and charges in for a Splash in the corner but Rob moves out of the way and Laszlo crashes and burns, stumbling back into Rob who locks his hands around his waist and pops him with a Release German Suplex. Rob rolls to his belly and pushes himself up, but before he can capitalize, Mike rolls out of the ring.}

 

Vasco Dias: Smart move by Mike to get out of harm’s way.

 

Terri Morasco: OR DID HE!?

 

{Rob lunges through the ropes, taking Laszlo to the ground with a “Bald Eagle” Suicide Dive!}

 

Terri Morasco: BALD EAGLE!

 

{Rob plays up to the crowd as the referee counts to three, but Rob waves him off and lifts Laszlo to his feet, knowing that’s not enough to keep a guy down. He grabs him by the head and slams his face off the mat, sending Mike stumbling to the stairs where Rob bounces his head off the steel!}

 

Terri Morasco: Rob is on the attack here.

 

Vasco Dias: Vicious mongrel.

 

{He grabs Mike by the arm and does a little dosey doe before power whipping him up and over the stairs in a flipping action.}

 

Vasco Dias: JESUS CHRIST!

 

Terri Morasco: Knees first into the steps. Remember, Mike was gone after knee surgery kept him on the shelf for five months.

 

{Mike holds his knee in pain as Alexis tries to come to his aide but Rob readjusts the steps, climbs up, and jumps off with an elbow to the chest, the referee starting to count as Rob gets to his feet and takes a few steps toward Alexis who looks on with a scowl as Rob smiles.}

 

Vasco Dias: Look at him taunting a woman…

 

Terri Morasco: That woman has done more than that to him.

 

{He turns back to Mike who seems to be crawling under the ring to escape. Rob grabs hold of him and pulls him back out, but as he grabs him by the neck, Mike swings upward and cracks him upside the head with a Kendo Stick!}

 

Vasco Dias: Here we go! WEAPONS!

 

Terri Morasco: All legal folks. This is a Last Man Standing Match and the referee is only there to count to ten.

 

{Mike slowly gets to his feet with help from the stick and smacks Rob right in the back. Rob screams in agony as he tries to stumble away, only to be hit again, dropping him to a knee before he stumbles up against the Announce Table.}

 

Terri Morasco: Look out here.

 

Vasco Dias: Screw this...I’m moving.

 

{The announcers get out of dodge as Laszlo drops the stick and slams Rob’s face into the table, jarring the overhang. Rob falls to the side as Laszlo throws the overhang off the table and starts removing all of the equipment.}

 

Terri Morasco: This isn’t going to end well.

 

Vasco Dias: It’s a good thing IWF got us these sweet wireless headsets.

 

{Mike turns with a monitor in his hand, ready to blast Rob, but it’s Rob who strikes with a simple thumb to the eye. Mike drops the monitor as he turns away, quickly trying to relieve the pain in his eye. Rob grabs hold of the monitor and as Laszlo turns, Rob blasts him in the face!}

 

Terri Morasco: What a shot by Rob Diamond with the monitor!

 

Vasco Dias: Mike looks to be in a bad way here. The referee is at three and he has barely moved.

 

{The referee’s count gets to six by the time Laszlo pulls himself up on the apron near the steps. Rob charges again, looking to land another shot with the monitor…

 

LASZLO REVERSES WITH A DROP TOE HOLD!

 

Rob goes down, the monitor slamming into the steps, and his face slamming into the monitor as he rolls down the steps!}

 

Vasco Dias: He’s gotta be missing some teeth!

 

Terri Morasco: He smacked directly into that monitor...he’s gotta be out cold.

 

{Both men are down and the referee starts the count. He gets to four before Laszlo is back to his feet, Rob barely moving. The referee is now at seven as Rob pulls his body up onto the steps, both feet flat on the ground.}

 

Terri Morasco: Somehow he made it up.

 

Vasco Dias: Barely.

 

{After the referee waves off the count, Rob falls back to the floor, trying to gain some footing with the help of the apron skirt as Mike grabs hold of the Kendo Stick and walks over again, stalking Rob before cracking him in the back one more time, the stick splintering before he tosses it aside.}

 

Terri Morasco: This is dangerous. These two have tendencies to go all over the arena.

 

Vasco Dias: Yeah, last week they destroyed someone’s rental car.

 

{Mike grabs Rob by the neck and hurls him sideways toward the barricade.}

 

Terri Morasco: What a sickening thud!

 

{Mike grabs Rob and pulls him up, grabbing him by the head and pulling him up the isle where a bunch of gambling machines are, slamming his face into a Craps Table sending the stagehand dressed as a casino host scrambling for his life.}

 

Vasco Dias: Does that mean all bets are off?

 

Terri Morasco: Wow...really?

 

{Laszlo goes to follow up but Rob has the dice rake in hand and swings it into the ribs of Mike who doubles over in pain. Rob pulls himself to his feet and grabs hold of the Roulette Wheel, raising it over his head and smashing it over the back of Laszlo who drops on the cold concrete.}

 

Terri Morasco: Fitting, considering he’ll be in the Roulette later.

 

Vasco Dias: And that’s not cheesy?

 

{The referee counts to seven before Mike pulls himself up on the slot machine nearby, but Rob hits him in the back with the craps rake again causing him to writhe in agony. He then grabs Mike by the head and throws him INTO THE SLOT MACHINE!

 

Mike hits face-first and the whole machine topples over with sparks kicking up behind it as it hits the ground hard. Rob reaches down as the referee starts his count again and pulls at the lever of the slot machine, busting it off and using it as only he can, with rapid shots to the back of Mike who jerks one way or another with each shot.}

 

Terri Morasco: The brutality here is unmeasurable.

 

Vasco Dias: They hate each other...it's been chronicled.

 

{Rob backs off and allows the referee to count. He gets to eight before Laszlo pushes himself up with a BlackJack Table. Rob waits for Mike to turn before charging forward, spearing Mike over the table, hammering him in the face with right hands to the delight of the crowd. The referee starts counting as Laszlo rolls onto his stomach. He crawls toward the side area as Rob follows. The referee gets to nine before Mike pulls himself up with the rail leading up to the steps. Rob goes to capitalize when Alexis comes from behind, hitting him hard in the back with the Roulette Rake! Rob is stunned for a moment before turning to Alexis. He starts stalking her and grabs her by the hair to the delight of the crowd but Laszlo saves his wife with a “Ball Breaker” of his own from behind!}

 

Vasco Dias: The kick is gooooooood!

 

Terri Morasco: You didn’t appreciate that move earlier when it was Rob.

 

Vasco Dias: Like you said...no rules.

 

{Rob collapses holding his groin as the referee starts to count. Mike leans up against the blackjack table as the referee gets to six before Rob starts getting to his feet, but Mike grabs him and drags him through the curtain, throwing him into a table in the tunnel leading to the stage. He then grabs hold of one of the cables and wraps it around Rob’s neck, squeezing the air out of him as Rob tries to create some separation with his fingers.}

 

Vasco Dias: If he chokes him out and he can’t stand up Laszlo wins!

 

Terri Morasco: Good point as Mike pulls back on that cable.

 

{It seems as though Rob is struggling to stay conscious when finally Mike lets him drop to the ground. Mike grabs hold of a nearby water bottle and sips it as the referee’s count is up to four.}

 

Vasco Dias: Nothing like a refreshing sip of water.

 

{The referee is up to seven when Rob starts to come to, scrambling for anything that could help him get up and he does by nine and a half, and manages to lunge out of the way of a thrown soundboard, stumbling away into the main concourse area backstage. Mike gives chase and Rob grabs hold of the stage equipment trunk and wheels it around, into his stalker who catches it and pushes it out of the way. Rob then throws a garbage can at Mike who gets his hands up to block it, but it causes enough distraction for Rob to grab hold of a chair and plant it in the ribs of Mike who doubles over in pain before having the chair slammed down on his back, dropping him to his knees, and again, laying him out.}

 

Terri Morasco: An assault by Rob with that chair.

 

Vasco Dias: Someone call the cops damn it!

 

{Rob opens the chair and sits as the referee counts in an attempt to get some rest while keeping an eye on his opponent who starts to stir as the referee hits five and is back up by nine, leaning up against a garage door. Rob grabs the chair and swings wildly, Laszlo ducking as the chair connects with the door. Rob turns, chair still in hand and Laszlo Superkicks the chair into the face of Diamond who falls back into the garage door with a sick thud before slumping to the floor.}

 

Terri Morasco: Did you see his head hit the door?

 

Vasco Dias: He’ll need some aspirin.

 

{Laszlo falls to the ground as the referee counts both men, reaching five before Laszlo pulls himself back up on the crate, Rob looking out of it but moving against the door, just getting to his feet after nine.}

 

Terri Morasco: One of these two may have to kill the other.

 

Vasco Dias: We may witness a murder tonight Terri.

 

{Mike goes to grab hold of Rob who swings desperately, nailing Mike in the face, causing him to stumble up against a door. Rob charges and drives Mike through the door into the main concourse area where a bunch of fans are. He pulls Mike up and goes to punch him again, but Mike blocks it and punches back. Rob strikes back and Mike again hits him, sending him tumbling into a nearby concession stand. Mike grabs Rob but he hits him with a back elbow as Mike stumbles down the hall a bit, Rob giving chase, hitting him again, and again as the two head down the hall. Mike knees Rob after suckering him in a bit before throwing him through a curtain, and the crowd starts to cheer as the two men fight down the steps around the staging area. Mike hits a shot that sends Rob down a few steps before Rob fires back.}

 

Terri Morasco: Back out into the crowd they come.

 

Vasco Dias: Look out up there.

 

{Mike hits another shot and again Rob goes down a couple of steps, the two men now along the rail, duking it out. Mike gets a shot in that leans Rob against the rail before Mike charges, only to be back body dropped onto a platform on the other side of the rail. Rob climbs up on the rail to jump off but Mike pushes his feet out from under him, Rob landing ribs first on the rail. Mike grabs hold of Rob and pulls him over the rail in a gutwrench of sorts before swinging him up and lifting him on his shoulders, swinging him down.}

 

Vasco Dias: MALICIOUS INTENT!

 

{Laszlo’s knee connects with Rob’s face but at the last second Rob grabs hold of Mike’s leg, falling backwards...BOTH MEN falling through the equipment area!!}

 

Terri Morasco: THEY JUST FELL FROM THAT PLATFORM DOWN ONTO THE SOUND EQUIPMENT!

 

Vasco Dias: There’s no way they can get up from that.

 

{Sparks continue to pop as Alexis runs down the steps as the referee counts from up on the platform area, looking down at the carnage shaking his head. He’s up to four as Alexis starts pulling at Mike, slowly rolling him out of the rubble as Rob is motionless. The referee is up to six as Alexis helps Mike almost to his feet, slumped over. She sits up on the table and wraps her legs around her husband to keep him standing on his feet!}

 

Terri Morasco: WHAT THE HELL!?

 

Vasco Dias: BRILLIANT!

 

{The referee keeps counting as Mike starts to come to as his wife keeps him standing.

 

7!!!

 

8!!!

 

Rob starts to move, but nothing resembling getting up.

 

9!!!

 

10!!!

 

The referee rings the bell.}

 

Alison Valance: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner...MIKE...LASZLOOOOOO!!!

 

{The camera flashes from the barely standing Mike Laszlo to the nearly unconcious Rob Diamond before fading away to Rachel who just stares at the camera in awe, shaking her head.}

Rachel Grimes: We’ve seen our share of bloody wars here in the IWF, but I would personally nominate that one as the bloodiest of the year. Those two had it out for each other from the get go thanks to their unfinished business from 2015, and they took things to a whole other level. Rob would go on to other feuds (of which we are going to touch on) and Mike would go on to cash his Joker In The Pack contract in at Night of the Immortals in another Match of the Year candidate that we will be touching on in another episode. However, later in the year Mike Laszlo would return after a hiatus and foil the plans of the House of Howlett, and the first person he hits with a baseball bat? You guessed it...Rob Diamond. Could we see a reignition of this feud in 2017? I for one wouldn't mind one bit.

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That does it for us on the first edition of "Looking Back" where I give you insight and opinion on all the happenings here in the IWF's past. I'm Rachel Grimes, and I'll see you for episode 2 where we go over another feud Roberto Verona versus the "Heroes" of IWF, mainly Rob Diamond and Warren Kane. Catch you then!

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{The same generic music plays as the scene begins to fade.}