Drako vs Salem Croft [Octane #13]

[Salem Croft]

Drako was nearing the bottom rope, but Croft was far from fone - digging the heel of his cowboy boots into Drako's bad hand to pin it down while twisting and hyper-extending his leg to wrench the ankle lock harder! Would it be enough to make the champ tap or would Drako manage to defy the odds and force the rope break?!  

[Drako Damone]

the pain is getting to be more than even Drako can bear. He has to get to the ropes. Reaching, clawing, screaming a bit because Salem is a douchebag, at last he reaches out and his left hand grabs the ropes, with the referee finally attempting to step in.

JR: He did it! He reached the ropes!

King: That took a lot of heart, but it took a lot out of him as well  

[Salem Croft]

Salem removed his cowboy boot from Drako's hand, slinging the man's ankle away as the referee intervened and the crowd cheered. It was fine, while Salem would have liked to make Drako tap, he'd still done some damage that wouldn't be quick to heal, and that brought a satisfied smile to Salem's face as he watched Drako's battered body cling to the ropes for safety.

JR: "This Croft is just cold-blooded! There isn't a drop of warmth in that man's heart to do something so sick to another human being!"

King: "Cold-Blooded Croft, that suits him pretty good, JR! He is a snake after all, what'd you expect him to do?! This guy's nuts, just don't tell him I said that!"  

[Drako Damone]

out of instinct, Drako rolls out onto the apron.

JR: That took a lot out of the champion. I don't know what more he can do to get back in this

King: He's come this far. Might as well go big or go home'

Drako slowly attempts to pull himself up again using the ropes on the outside  

[Salem Croft]

Salem was eager to get things going, he was having so much fun watching Drako suffer, why spoil the party? It takes two to tango, after all, so Croft helped his former stablemate up by the hair, reaching over the ropes to grab a fistful and wrench the world champion back up to a vertical base!

JR: "C'mon, ref, he's got him by the hair! Step in and say something instead of letting him torture this poor man!"

King: "He's too scared to speak up, JR! What's he supposed to do - tap 'em on the shoulder and ask politely?!"  

[Drako Damone]

Drako feels the pull on his hair. If he thinks the champion is out, Salem had another thing coming. Drako swings his foot up, attempting to kick him in the side of the head in an effort to get free again  

[Salem Croft]

Drako struck with the surprise kick, catching Croft across the cranium! Despite being on basically one arm and one leg, the champion still had fight left in him, prompting a resounding affirmation from the audience!

On their feet, or the edge of their seats, those in attendance affixed themselves aimfully at the ring, riotiously relishing the sight of Salem slipping his grip and stumbling backward from the kick!

Reaching up to hold his head, Croft reached for the top rope to steady himself, a sudden spout of vertigo overwhelming his senses!

JR: "And just like that the champion comes back into the fight! This man can barely stand, can't even use one arm, and he's fighting for his life! What pride! What fighting spirit!"

King: "He better hurry and do something, JR! That kick took Salem to Dream Street but he won't be there long!"  

[Drako Damone]

Clearly in desperation the champion looks to grab Salem by the head and drop off the apron while attempting to drop Salem's face across the ropes  

[Salem Croft]

Salem felt his hair being pulled, but no sooner did he realize this was Drako jumping off the apron, forcing Croft's throat to snap into the top rope and bounce him back, the recoil taking Salem off his feet! Flat on the canvas, Salem reached up to massage his neck, coughing a bit as he tried catching his wind!

JR: "And with a last ditch effort, Salem's finally off his feet! But can the champion capitalize?!"

King: "He's jumped out of the ring, JR! He needs to get back in there and put the Spurs to that creep, and quick!"  

[Drako Damone]

Drako is clearly still in pain but that doesn't stop him from getting back on the apron and climbing to the top rope.

JR: The champion is going to the top. What's he got in mind here

King: whatever it is, he better put Salem away with it

Reaching the top, Drako leaps off with a diving moonsault, a favorite move that has won him titles in the past and he hopes will put Salem away here  

[Salem Croft]

Salem caught sight of Drako as he soared through the air like his namesake, rolling just in the nick of time to avoid the moonsault's impact! Sliding from his roll into a crouch, Croft would watch what happened, eyes taking in the scene as Drako came down to the canvas!  

[Drako Damone]

Drako crashes chest first to the canvas, missing his target and knocking the wind from himself. He rises back to a kneel, left arm over his chest as perhaps he realizes his mistake but mostly just trying to rise again  

[Salem Croft]

JR: "...And Salem avoids the moonsault, leaving Drako to land on his chest with nobody home!"

King: "I've seen Drako put people away with that move, but he might've just put HIMSELF away, JR! Get up, champ, QUICK!"

Salem, trying to prevent that from happening, saw his opportunity and ran forward towards the champ from his crouch, looking to capitalize on Drako's winded and wrecked body by hopping to step down onto the back of the champs head and drive it face-first into the mat, attempting his finisher - the "Nap Town Stomp"!  

[Drako Damone]

Desperately trying to get to his feet, Drako is too winded and slower than normal. As such his head is sent crashing to the mat courtesy of Salem's stomp and its pretty much lights out for the injured champion.

JR: Damn it! Drako just got drilled.

King: That's it he's done  

[Salem Croft]

Salem felt a great deal of satisfaction as he felt Drako's head slam into the mat under his cowboy boot, the champ knocked out by all appearances as the audience booed loudly. Soaking it in as he used the tip of his boot to roll Drako over, Salem would add a little insult to injury by dropping an elbow into the man's chest as he laid across him for the cover, hooking the dragon's good leg to hold it tight while the referee went for the count!