WSW Day Three: Nova Flare vs Monarch Highlights
Day Three saw possibly the most over the top non-title match in WSW history between reigning champion Nova Flare and Monarch. For once, the champion’s entrance was not the most extravagant but if he was concerned with this, he didn’t let it show. Despite Monarch’s theatrics, the champ appeared to take him as seriously as any other competitor, saying in a pre-match interview that he couldn’t afford to let his guard down on an opponent so intent on unmasking him (apparently the champion misunderstood a comment Monarch had previously made that he “bet he [Nova Flare] looks good under [his mask]” and construed it as a threat to unmask him if Monarch won.)
The bell rang and Nova Flare went for his traditional pre-match handshake only for Monarch to reverse it into a kiss on the back of the champion’s hand. If this puzzled Nova Flare, he didn’t show it and as they went to lock up. A complex series of holds and catches followed, each wrestler striving to gain control of the situation. There were a series of near falls before they broke up to a smattering of applause, Monarch smirking at his opponent as they slowly circled each other. At the same time, they both ran for opposing ropes. Nova lunged with a rebound lariat, knocking Monarch to the mat briefly before he kipped up, smiling inches from the champ’s masked face. Nova again ran for the ropes but Monarch ducked the clothesline, bouncing off the ropes and catching the champion with a flying headscissor takedown that sent him to the mat. Monarch stretched himself across the opposite turnbuckle, blowing a kiss to Nova as he got to his feet, eyebrows raising as Nova pulled the top of his uniform off, tossing it to the side of the ring with a casual flick of his wrist.
Nova lunged with a palm strike that Monarch countered into a wrist lock, wrenching the champion’s wrist to one side as he ran up the ropes, leaping and catching Nova’s head in an assisted DDT which took them both to the mat. Monarch went for the cover and Nova kicked out at one and a half. Monarch transitioned quickly into a headlock, lounging on top of Nova Flare as he struggled to kick out. Eventually, Nova’s legs cleared the top of Monarch’s head, locking him in a Koji clutch as suddenly the tables had turned. Monarch managed to crawl his way to the ropes, breaking the hold as Nova Flare got to his feet, crouching in the corner to catch his breath while Monarch recovered.
Monarch recovered and Nova Flare launched into the Three Amigos, suplexing Monarch only twice before Monarch landed on his feet for the third suplex, reversing Nova into a small package pin attempt that saw the champ kick out at two and a half counts. Nova Flare rolled through, sliding to the apron and launching a springboard forearm as Monarch turned around. Nova went for the pin; Monarch kicked out at two.
Monarch slipped up, seizing Nova around his midsection and dropping him backwards for a bridging German Suplex. Nova struggled to kick out but managed to get his shoulders up in time. Both fighters stood, Monarch going off the rope and attempting a flying crossbody. Nova countered into a spinning spinebuster, stepping over Monarch’s legs as he attempted to go for the Event Horizon but Monarch slides away, pulling himself up in the corner and wagging his finger at Nova Flare as if to say “it’s not going to be that easy.” Nova charged, running into a modified gutbuster that slipped a little south for Nova Flare’s taste just out of view of the referee. The champion, sucking wind, struggled to get to his feet as Monarch ascended the top rope, preparing for his flying elbow finisher. Monarch leapt but Nova managed to roll out in time, staggering to his feet as Monarch crashed in the middle of the ring. Capitalizing on his opponent’s disoriented state, Nova staggered to the center of the ring, crossing Monarch’s legs and slowly struggling to roll Monarch over. Monarch bridged, trying to keep himself from slipping onto his side, but after a proacted struggle, Nova twisted Monarch over into the modified inverted sharpshooter, locking Event Horizon in. Monarch struggled, trying to get to the ropes but Nova’s added muscle mass made it hard to drag to the ropes. After a moment, Monarch tapped out and Nova Flare won the match.