The Legend of Zelda: The Ring of Destiny, Chapter 23

Once again, HPW holds the Triforce Tournament, and we open with the Bracket of Power! Will Kage cast a long shadow on this tournament?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Bracket of Power: Death Sword VS Captain Keeta; Death Sword wins and advances to the semifinals.
• Bracket of Power: Rosso VS Ruto; Rosso wins and advances to the semifinals.
• Bracket of Power: Gomess VS Stal-Kid; Gomess wins and advances to the semifinals.
• Bracket of Power: Kage VS Dolph Zlither; Kage wins and advances to the semifinals.

PLAY BY PLAY

HPW and HXS TV set the scene!

And it begins again! The Triforce Tournament returns for a third year and it starts off just as strong as the others with the Bracket of Power kicking things off! The UnderWorld Order is represented by both Death Sword and Gomess, but all eyes are on Kage, Link’s long lost twin! Link won the Bracket of Courage and that started it all, but will Kage follow him like a shadow? HPW Dueling Peaks begins now!

Bracket of Power: Death Sword VS Captain Keeta!

The first match of this year’s Triforce Tournament is a meeting of the UnderWorld Order and the Ikana Royal Family. Will a wrestling reaper or Igos’ captain of the guard lead the way into a grim New Year?

The rest of the uWo and Ikana Royal Family are kept in the back to make sure this stays a fair and square 1v1 match. Fans rally already for, “BOOM BOOM! CAPTAIN KEETA!” as the bell rings. Keeta and Death Sword circle, feel things out, and then tie up with knuckle locks for a test of strength. They go shoulder to shoulder, are in a deadlock, even as they hook legs in an attempt to trip the other. They keep pushing and pushing, and then they let off and push each other away. Fans cheer as Keeta holds up his hands triumphantly. Keeta flexes with double guns as he and Death Sword reset and circle again.

Death Sword and Keeta approach again, feel things out again, and knuckle lock again. Death Sword rams a shoulder into Keeta, then hooks a leg and pushes to bend Keeta back. Keeta manages to bridge, and fans cheer more as Keeta powers back up! Keeta pushes Death Sword now, but Death Sword turns things around to put Keeta on the ropes. The ref calls for the ropebreak and counts, and Death Sword lets off at 4. Keeta flexes again and fans cheer, but Death Sword BOOTS Keeta! Keeta staggers against the ropes and Death Sword puts him in the corner to fire off haymakers! The ref counts again and Death Sword lets off at 4.

Death Sword runs corner to corner, then comes right back, for a big corner clothesline! Death Sword whips Keeta corner to corner then runs in to corner clothesline again! Keeta staggers, Death Sword scoops him to SNAKE EYES off the buckles! Death Sword then runs side to side and he BOOTS Keeta down! Cover, TWO! Death Sword clamps onto Keeta with a chinlock and grinds him down. Fans rally up as Keeta endures. Keeta fights up, throws elbows and body shots, but Death Sword CLUBS him down! Death Sword reels Keeta in but Keeta fights the back suplex with a headlock! Keeta throws elbows on Death Sword’s neck, then LARIATS him down!

Fans fire up with Keeta as he stands back up! Keeta drags Death Sword up, hoists him up and atomic drops to a GORON DROP! Keeta then runs and leaps, SUPERMAN CLUTCH! Cover, TWO! Keeta can’t believe it and asks the ref if that’s true. The ref says yes, it was a two, so Keeta goes back to Death Sword, SPINEBUSTER! Death Sword roars and soaks up the heat as fans boo and jeer. Death Sword choke grips Keeta and deadlifts him off the mat, to then SOUTH OF HEAVEN CHOKE SLAM him back down! Cover, TWO!! Keeta survives and Death Sword can’t believe it! Fans fire up and Death Sword seethes as he drags Keeta back up.

Death Sword whips Keeta to ropes, Keeta kicks the back drop away! Keeta JABS, and JABS, and JABS! Keeta flips, flops ‘n’ flies for a BIONIC ELBOW! Fans fire up with Keeta again, he drags Death Sword to a corner and goes up to the second rope. Keeta bounces to get some momentum, VADER BOMB! Keeta drags Death Sword to a cover, TWO! Death Sword is still in this and Keeta is frustrated. Keeta stomps Death Sword, then drags him up. Keeta bumps Death Sword off buckles, then bumps him off buckles again. Keeta fireman’s carries Death Sword and then goes up the corner! Fans fire up, but Death Sword slips off to the apron!

Death Sword choke grips Keeta and looks to the floor! Fans are going nuts but Keeta hotshots Death Sword’s arm! Keeta runs side to side to BLAST Death Sword off the apron! Death Sword crashes into railing and fans in the front row go nuts! Keeta goes out after Death Sword, wrenches the right arm and wraps it around the railing! The ref counts, Keeta lets off at 4 and then KICKS the railing to jam the arm! Keeta puts Death Sword in the ring, drags him up and WRINGS out the bad arm! Keeta goes back up the corner and bounces, VADER BOMB onto knees! Death Sword saves himself! Keeta staggers, Death Sword scoops him, for a TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!! Cover, Death Sword wins!

Winner: Death Sword, by pinfall (advances to the second round)

And the uWo strikes first! Is this a sign of things to come in the rest of the Triforce Tournament?

Bracket of Power: Rosso VS Ruto!

A Sage of Fire and a Sage of Water, but only one can make it into the next round! Which living legend adds to their legacy with another prestigious victory?

The bell rings and fans are already all fired up to see this match. The Triforce Championship being an open title, this is the first time Rosso and Ruto have met in the ring as opponents. They circle, approach, and Ruto shoots in to go for a leg. But Rosso’s so sturdy, he stays up as she tries to trip him. Rosso throws Ruto off, and fans cheer as she goes to the ropes. Rosso waits on Ruto and she comes back, going after another leg. Rosso is still too sturdy, he goes to throw Ruto again but she gets his hand! Ruto bends the fingers back, the referee reprimands but Rosso uses his other hand to push her away.

Ruto comes right back and SHOTGUN dropkicks! Rosso staggers but he stays up. Ruto dropkicks him again and Rosso ends up against the ropes. Ruto runs in, slips through the ropes while getting the waistlock, and she turns Rosso around for an O’Conner Roll! TWO, and Ruto is sent tumbling out of the ring! Fans fire up seeing that while Rosso gets up. Rosso looks for where Ruto went, and she flounders up by commentary. Rosso heads that way, but as he steps out, Ruto slides in! Ruto runs as Rosso hurries to get back in and Ruto SHOTGUNS Rosso! Rosso stumbles and falls to his hands and knees, Ruto DOUBLE STOMPS him on the back!

Fans rally up as Ruto drops an elbow on Rosso’s back. Ruto goes after an arm, digging an elbow into the shoulder. Rosso fights up, Ruto drives her elbow in over and over, but Rosso still gets to his feet. He powers Ruto to ropes, then snapmares her down. Rosso JAMS a knee into Ruto’s back, then grabs the arms for a motorcycle stretch. Ruto endures, fans rally up, and Ruto fights to her feet. Rosso wrangles Ruto back down and twists the arms! Ruto endures again, fights back up again, and kangaroo kicks free! Ruto runs in, gets around Rosso’s clothesline and swings around, but Rosso’s too big for the crucifix takedown!

Rosso powers Ruto up into a fireman’s carry, GORON DROP! Cover, TWO! And Ruto gets the crucifix pin now! TWO!! Rosso narrowly escapes and fans fire up! Rosso runs in at Ruto in the corner but she dodges! Rosso hits buckles and staggers back, Ruto jumps up the corner to jump again, BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ruto is losing her cool, and she hammers away on Rosso again. Ruto lets off and paces around in a huff. Rosso slowly gets up, and Ruto KICKS him in the chest. And KICKS! And KICKS! Rosso blocks the next kick, fireman’s carries again, but Ruto slips off to ENZIGURI! Rosso staggers, Ruto KICKS at his legs.

Rosso hobbles, Ruto CHOP BLOCKS his leg! Rosso drops to a knee, Ruto BUZZSAWS him down! Fans fire up and Ruto stands on the leg. Ruto isolates Rosso’s foot, and STOMPS it! Fans are torn between cheers and jeers for that while Rosso clutches his ankle. Ruto grabs at the bad foot, but Rosso kicks her away with his good leg. Rosso hobbles even worse now, and Ruto CHOP BLOCKS the bad leg from the front! Rosso falls over and Ruto hurries for a corner! Fans fire up as Ruto climbs up top and aims at Rosso. SWANTON BOMB onto the legs! Ruto then grabs the foot for an ANKLE LOCK!!

Rosso endures, reaches out, crawls forward, fans are going nuts as Ruto drops to grapevine the leg! Ruto twists the foot more, but Rosso keeps crawling! He powers up, and he pushes forward to get the ROPEBREAK! Fans are thunderous as the ref counts and Ruto lets off at 4. Ruto is frustrated, but she stomps Rosso’s leg more. The ref has her back off, Rosso drags himself up the ropes, and Ruto runs in, but Rosso avoids the basement dropkick! He grabs Ruto with both hands, YANKS her right up and to a fireman’s carry, and manages to balance on one leg, for a LANDSLIDE DRIVER!! Cover, Rosso wins!

Winner: Rosso, by pinfall (advances to the second round)

For once, fire puts out water! But after the damage Ruto did to Rosso’s leg, will Death Sword have a clear target in the next round?

Bracket of Power: Gomess VS Stal-Kid!

We saw one wrestling reaper make it to the next round, but will the uWo keep going strong? Or will the Ikana Royal Family be avenged by El Nino Esqueleto?

The bell rings, the fans rally up and Gomess doesn’t seem to respect Stal-Kid. They circle, feel things out, tie up, and Gomess shoves the smaller Stal-Kid away. Gomess grins, they tie up again, and Gomess puts Stal-Kid in the corner to CHOP! And CHOP! Gomess then HIP TOSSES Stal-Kid all the way across the ring! Stal-Kid flounders up but Gomess reels him into a cobra twist. Gomess gets a leg and he bends Stal-Kid back. Gomess fish hooks Stal-Kid’s mouth, the ref reprimands, so Gomess shoves Stal-Kid down. Stal-Kid ends up in a corner, Gomess storms over to him. Gomess whips Stal-Kid to ropes, Stal-Kid ducks and jumps, but into Gomess’ arms! FALL AWAY SLAM!

Gomess looms over Stal-Kid, slaps him around, then whips him to a corner. Gomess runs in, Stal-Kid dodges and goes up top! QUEBRADA! Cover, TWO!! Stal-Kid almost had Gomess right there! Gomess swings on him but Stal-Kid gets around to CLUB Gomess on the back. Gomess swings again but Stal-Kid bobs ‘n’ weaves to fire body shots and kicks. Gomess shoves Stal-Kid down, Stal-Kid rolls back and handsprings forward to a SATELLITE DDT! Cover, TWO! Stal-Kid grows frustrated but fans rally up. Stal-Kid gets a leg, kicks and stomps the hamstring, then YANKS the leg! Gomess clutches the hamstring, and then Stal-Kid stomps him down.

Stal-Kid gets the leg again and steps through for a toehold. Stal-Kid pulls on the leg, Gomess fights back with a chinlock but Stal-Kid shakes that off. Stal-Kid stands up for a KNEE JAMMER! Gomess clutches the leg again, but Stal-Kid stomps him down, then drops an elbow on the leg to put on another toehold. Gomess endures, fans rally up, Gomess CLUBS Stal-Kid over and over. Gomess clamps on the chinlock again, he leans onto Stal-Kid, and he shifts to a full SLEEPER HOLD! Stal-Kid kicks and flails, and he gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Gomess lets go, and Stal-Kid sputters as he holds onto the ropes.

Gomess stalks Stal-Kid to a corner, and ROCKS him with a forearm. Gomess CHOPS Stal-Kid, shakes out the bad leg, then whips Stal-Kid corner to corner hard! Stal-Kid bounces off buckles and hits the mat. Gomess storms over, he deadlift gut wrenches Stal-Kid up onto his shoulder, but Stal-Kid kicks and flails to get free! Stal-Kid jumps up to get a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Stal-Kid hurries and drags Gomess to ropes, to then go up and out to slingshot back in for a senton! Stal-Kid then runs to ropes, comes back, and he basement dropkicks Gomess against the ropes! Stal-Kid then drags Gomess to a cover, TWO!

Fans fire up as Gomess slowly stands up. Stal-Kid keeps close, and he swings palm strike after palm strike! Gomess kicks Stal-Kid back, then shoves him into the ropes face first! Stal-Kid staggers and sputters, Gomess gut wrenches him back up to his shoulder, CLIFFHANGER DDT! Cover, TWO! Gomess drags Stal-Kid up in a SLEEPER! He thrashes Stal-Kid, then SWINGS Stal-Kid around in the sleeper! Gomess then drops back into a REAR NAKED CHOKE! Stal-Kid flails but the body scissors keep him down! Stal-Kid fades, the referee checks on him, he is OUT! Gomess wins!

Winner: Gomess, by submission (advances to the second round)

The uWo is 2-0 in the tournament! Will the wrestling reapers end up taking over the Bracket of Power?

Bracket of Power: Kage VS Dolph Zlither!

Link’s long lost brother, having lived in the shadows, came close to taking the Triforce Championship from the Hero of Hyrule. But he has another chance to head back for that title, if he can make it through to the end. Will the #Showalfos stop him right at the start? Or will Zlither be left in the dark?

The bell rings, the two circle and tie right up. Kage waistlocks, Zlither gets to ropes and the ref calls for the break. Kage lets off and Zlither circles with him again. They feel out another grapple, tie up, and go around quickly. Kage gets around to another waistlock, hooks the arms but Zlither fights the full nelson. Kage shifts to a facelock, wrenches to a hammerlock, but Zlither elbows out. Zlither headlocks, grinds Kage down, but Kage fights up. Kage powers out, things speed up and Kage hurdles to hip toss Zlither down! Kage clotheslines Zlither out and fires up with the fans! Kage demands Zlither get back in but Zlither takes his time.

The ref starts a ring count, Zlither lets it go to 3, but Kage grows impatient with Zlither and rushes out. Zlither goes around the way and Kage pursues as the count reaches 5 of 10. Kage storms up, Zlither slips around and waistlocks, but Kage elbows free. The count is 7, Kage puts Zlither in, and Zlither scrambles to a corner. Kage is further annoyed and he runs in, but Zlither sweeps his legs with his tail! Kage crashes into buckles! Zlither is after him at the ropes, raking his eyes and grinding forearms into his face! The ref reprimands, Zlither lets off and follows Kage while talking trash. Zlither drags Kage up and turns him for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Zlither wraps Kage right up in a chinlock, then shifts to a sleeper hold and body scissors! The fans rally up, Kage endures but then Zlither shifts position to put leverage on the hold. Kage fights up, moves around, but Zlither throws him down by his head! Zlither keeps on the chinlock and shifts around for more leverage. Fans rally up as Kage fights to his feet. Kage JAWBREAKERS free, but runs into a DROPKICK! Deep cover, TWO!! Zlither gets a facelock and cradle, TWO! Kage gets to ropes, Zlither clamps on and rakes at the eyes! The ref counts, Zlither lets off at 4, but Zlither then pulls Kage into the ropes to choke him! The ref counts and Zlither lets off at 4 again.

Kage gets up and staggers away to the far corner. Zlither stalks up behind him, brings him up and bumps him off buckles! Kage flops back, Zlither clamps onto him with another sleeper hold and body scissors. Fans rally up, Zlither traps an arm and grinds his forearm into Kage’s face. Kage pushes that away but Zlither wraps the sleeper hold back on. Zlither squeezes tight, but Kage fights up. Kage gets free of the body scissors, stands up and throws body shots! Zlither lets go of the sleeper, Kage whips but Zlither reverses to CLOBBER Kage with an elbow! Zlither then gets a leg hook cradle! TWO!! That was a close one!

Zlither is frustrated, but he stalks Kage again. Kage is seething, but Zlither pulls his hair to get him back in a sleeper hold! Kage pries at the hold, Zlither grinds his forearm in Kage’s face, but fans rally up. Kage fights up, back suplexes but Zlither fights it off. And again, and again! Kage gets Zlither up but Zlither lands on his feet! Kage runs in but Zlither tosses him out of the ring! Fans rally up while Kage writhes on the floor. Zlither gloats a bit and then soaks up the heat from the fans before he goes out after Kage. Zlither drags Kage up and whips him hard into barriers! Kage drops to his knees, Zlither brings him up, to whip into more barriers!

Zlither follows Kage as he flounders and staggers around to ramp side. Zlither CLUBS Kage, RAMS him into steel steps, then shoves Kage into the ring. Kage gets up as Zlither gets in. Kage kicks but Zlither blocks to club the leg, then he kicks Kage low. Zlither whips Kage corner to corner, Kage tumbles up the buckles and then back down, but he comes back to LARIAT Zlither inside-out! Both men are down and fans fire up! Kage rises first, and he growls as he storms over to Zlither. Zlither swings a punch but Kage blocks to counter punch! And again! And then Kage haymakers, CHOPS, haymakers, and whips Zlither to ropes. Zlither reverses, but Kage SLINGBLADES!

Kage baits Zlither into a corner and BOOTS, then leaps up the corner. Kage jumps again but Zlither gets under. Zlither rushes Kage but he gets around to ENZIGURI! Zlither is down and Kage fires back up. Zlither is in a corner, Kage runs corner to corner, but Zlither puts him on the apron. Kage ROCKS Zlither with a right, then takes aim, Springboard FLYING FOREARM! Cover, TWO!! Zlither survives and Kage is seething. Kage drags Zlither to a drop zone and goes up top. Fans fire up, but Zlither gets up to trip Kage! Kage gets stuck on the top and Zlither ROCKS him with an uppercut! Zlither climbs up, “Now we’re done!”

Zlither stands on the very top, but Kage resists the superplex! Kage shoves Zlither down, adjusts on the top rope, but Zlither is right back up! Kage shoves him right back down, to FIRE ARROW FLOP! Zlither avoids the corkscrew shooting star, and runs in to hit a FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! Kage survives and fans are shocked! Zlither is furious, and both men are down on the mat! Fans rally up, Kage goes to ropes and Zlither runs in, ZIG- NO! Kage bucks that off, but Zlither comes right back, SATELLITE- NO! Kage stops that, too, to pop Zlither up, but Zlither makes the suplex a cradle! TWO, and Zlither ducks the enziguri! SLEEPER HOLD!

Zlither is a backpack, Kage gets to ropes but can’t hold on! They go around the ring, Kage squats, but he powers up to a BACKPACK SENTON! Zlither sits up, Kage SUPERKICKS him down! Cover, TWO! Kage is frustrated but he thinks of what to do next. Fans rally up, Kage goes to a corner and he aims at Zlither. Zlither gets up, Kage SUPERKICKS him again! Kage then runs to CURB- NO! Zlither avoids the stomp, and then again! ZIGZAG!! Cover, TWO!?! Kage survives and Zlither is beside himself! Zlither shakes his head and refuses to give up, and the fans say, “This is Awesome!” Zlither gets up, Kage flounders, but Zlither tunes up the band!

Fans boo as Zlither keeps stomping. Kage hasn’t gotten up, though, and Zlither smirks. Zlither looms over Kage, “You don’t have the guts to compete?” Zlither slaps Kage around, Kage gets him for a cradle! TWO!! SATELLITE DDT! Zlither goes to the apron, goes to the corner, and goes up top! Zlither doesn’t usually fly, but Kage goes right up after him! SUPERPLEX, roll through, FALCON ARROW!! Kage covers, Kage wins!!

Winner: Kage, by pinfall (advances to the second round)

What a match! The Bracket of Power definitely has heavy hitters, and Kage might’ve just proven he’s the heaviest one! But with Gomess in his path, will he prove he can be deadlier than a reaper?

My Thoughts:

Aw yeah, a real fun start to this tournament. I really like how the second round looks already with these match-ups. Death Sword VS Ross and Gomess VS Kage, clearly the uWo isn’t going to take this bracket, but they’ll put up a fight.