 |
 |
7 fantasy hardcore matches
BY WWE.COM STAFF, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRADLEY LITTLE
Bray Wyatt vs. Raven, Dog Collar Match
With images of Harley Race and Pat O’Connor running through their heads, the old-timers in the front row of St. Louis’ Scottrade Center had to remind themselves of what was written on the marquee. They weren’t prepared for this.
Standing in opposite corners were two equally deranged and charismatic forces: Bray Wyatt and Raven. As WWE officials affixed dog collars around the combatants’ necks with the hurried nervousness of a man trying to tame a wild pit bull, an eerie smile crept across The Eater of Worlds’ face. The eternally mopey Raven, on the other hand, sized up the length of chain — approximately 15 feet long, more than 50 pounds — that connected him with “The Man of 1,000 Truths” and envisioned how he’d implement the weapon.
Surrounding the ring, meanwhile, were two groups of similarly plain-clothes-clad crushers. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan had Wyatt’s back, while Raven’s Flock — a menagerie including Kidman, Saturn and Sick Boy, among others — fell in line behind their leader.
After weeks of mesmerizing yet foreboding interviews conducted with Wyatt and Raven, it was finally time for the cults of personality to clash, and clash they did. The chain gave Raven just enough slack to shoot Wyatt into the ropes and then nail him with a drop toehold onto an open steel chair. Though Raven’s plea of “Quote the Raven, nevermore!” was met with groans, the Scottrade Center began ramping up a verse of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” That gave Wyatt the support he needed to rebound, use the chain to bring Raven in close proximity and hit Sister Abigail for the three-count. — JOHN CLAPP
BACK TO MAIN ARTICLES PAGE
|
|  |
|
|
