Raven felt Fiona trying to drop with the DDT and reacted just in time, wrenching free from Fiona before she could hit the mat. Fiona stumbled from the sudden loss of balance, Raven immediately grabbing hold of her left wrist and shoulder. Raven hurled her opponent toward the east side ropes, Fiona hitting the wrapped cables hard enough to make them quiver before they launched her back toward the center of the ring. The instant Fiona came within reach Raven surged forward and wrapped both arms tightly around her waist. Working with the momentum, Raven lifted her opponent up and spun to the side, driving her into the canvas in a spinebuster.

“And a spinebuster off the ropes on Fiona!”

Raven stayed down on one knee beside Fiona for a few seconds, chest heaving. Sweat and blood were mixed across Raven’s face as she tilted her head back and sucked in several deep breaths, steadying herself before the final blow. Slowly, she stood and reached down, grabbing Fiona by both forearms, dragging her up to her feet despite Fiona’s weak resistance. Raven muscled her upward and across her shoulders into a fireman’s carry. Everyone knew exactly what was coming as Raven adjusted her grip and stepped toward the center of the ring. Raven grinned maniacally as she tightened her hold on Fiona’s body, setting her in perfect position for Taken To Hell.

“Oh, this is it, it’s over,” Brent said, “we know what’s coming!”

“She doesn’t belong here! She doesn’t belong here!” Raven yelled twice, much to the approval of nearly all those ringside that heard her.

In one sudden burst of motion, Raven spun Fiona across her shoulder then sprang upward and shifted her grip mid-spin. The moment Raven dropped she snapped Fiona down into the devastating Taken To Hell, converting the spin into a brutal stunner that drove all of Raven’s falling weight, Fiona’s momentum, and pure gravity straight through Fiona’s jaw. Fiona’s head and chest smashed into the mat with a sickening thud, the impact so explosive that her body bounced upward and flipped over onto her back.

“Taken To Hell!” Brent deepened his voice as he grumbled into his headset, the crowd practically blowing the roof off the arena on seeing Raven’s match-winning finisher.

Fiona knew she couldn't make any more mistakes, so when Raven was able to muscle out of her DDT and get her hands on her, she knew it was over. The spinebuster probably would've been enough, but only an iconic finisher would do for Raven, a statement made. This wasn't even about Fiona anymore, not really. She was just the one unlucky enough to be used in a demonstration meant for Elina.

She was already mostly limp across Raven's back before absorbing her Taken To Hell finisher for the first time, the massive stunner leaving her sprawled out on the mat in a spread eagle, face up and eyes closed, not moving at all except for her exhausted breathing. Raven stood tall over her thoroughly defeated opponent, looking significantly stronger than Elina at ringside despite the match leaving her battered and bleeding. All the adoration of the crowd was on the Queen of the Goths right now, who was set to move on to the title match despite being ganged up on in this triple threat.

"And it's just a formality from here," Dan Rich commentated, barely audible over the crowd's cheering. "Raven can join Elina ringside at her leisure, Fiona Chevalier is not getting up after being Taken To Hell."

"She came into the match with the right strategy," Brent chimed in, "but when it came down to it, Elina made the necessary moves to escape. I still think Fiona should've turned on her when she had the chance. Not that it would've mattered, she is not in the same league as Raven Veyn. Not yet, anyway."

Rhonda nodded her agreement. "She'll come back stronger, I'm sure, but it may take her a while to recover from this one. Always tough when you pour your heart into something and then come away with nothing."

She doesn't belong here! She doesn't belong here! The words echoed in Fiona's mind, the mat shaking slightly as Raven left her behind to start climbing the fence. Despite telling herself before the match that she'd already achieved a great result just by being here when so many other women fell short, the words still cut deep. She came up with the right plan, she managed to work together with a rival throughout the match, two-on-one the whole time, and what was the result? She was destroyed, her limbs feeling heavy as lead, proving she literally wasn't half the wrestler Raven was. The whole NMW fanbase watched as Raven climbed to the top of the cage, and Fiona didn't even stir. Maybe she was tough enough for the likes of Tanya Redd, but Raven shattered her tonight.

Her rollercoaster ride of a Rubicon Gauntlet delivered some incredible highs and boosts to her young career, but it was ending with a brutal reminder of how far she still needed to go if she wanted to be a real contender for the women's title belt.

“And that’s it.” Brent Christi’s tone was flat and matter-of-fact as Raven Veyn crawled over the top bar. Even after the brutal match, Raven refused to show weakness, maintaining her composure and not stopping for a second as she exited the cage. Fans chanted her name louder with every step as she descended. At this point victory was just a formality. Fiona was down and out and Raven had already made it over the top side. Now all that remained was reaching the floor below. Raven released her grip and dropped hard onto the thinly padded ringside floor, her knees buckling and forcing her to a crouched position as the bell rang and the crowd exploded. After a few seconds Raven Veyn lifted her head toward the amassed thousands with her signature smirk, soaking in the deafening reaction as though the entire building belonged to her alone. And most would say it did, in a manner.

“Raven Veyn has escaped the steel cage along with Elina Zamora!” Dan Rich yelled at the top of his lungs. “Raven Veyn and Elina Zamora have made it to the end of this long tunnel together, and next week they will face off one to determine the first No Mercy Women’s Champion!”

“Oh, look at this…” Rhonda nodded

As Raven stood slowly and steadied herself, eyes fixed on the roaring crowd, Elina Zamora emerged from around the northwest corner - her movements deliberate and measured. Raven caught sight of Elina in her peripheral vision and spun around. Fans of both women pointed and shouted, many hoping to see a ringside brawl break out as a prelude to next week. Elina’s chest heaved as adrenaline surged through her body, her muscles coiled like springs ready to explode. Raven’s gaze was icy and unflinching, daring Elina to try it. With every passing second the tension grew thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Oh boy,” Dan said. “Are we about to see some… after-match action between these two?”

“No,” Brent immediately replied. “Just look at them.”

Raven Veyn and Elina Zamora stood frozen in place, their sweaty, blood-streaked faces displayed across the arena screens. Raven smirking at Elina while Elina’s expression remained stoic and unreadable. There was an unspoken understanding between them. Beneath the urge to tear each other apart right now both women knew this was neither the time nor the place. After a few more seconds of eye contact with her old rival, Elina Zamora turned and slowly walked away - rounding the nearby ring post and heading toward the stage ramp. Many expected Raven to try and blindside the luchadora but she did not, the former champion staying where she was, still sneering away as her eyes followed Elina all the way up to the arena entrance.

“They’ll settle this next week in Las Vegas,” Brent said. “At Caesar’s Palace.”

“And Fiona Chevalier,” Rhonda added, “did everything she could tonight, but it just wasn’t enough.”

“I’ll give credit where it’s due,” Brent admitted as he watched Raven Veyn make for the exit next. “Fiona stepped into a steel cage with two former champions tonight, and she held her own. I won’t deny that. But she’s still got a ways to go.”

“There’s no doubt Fiona gave it everything she had,” Dan said with a nod, “but tonight, Raven and Elina were the ones who split the pie. Next week we’ll see which one takes the cake.”

Brent snorted at Dan’s analogy.

“But Fiona doesn’t need to leave here discouraged,” Rhonda said. “This was a learning experience for her — another notch in her belt — and that’s how she needs to see it when she walks out of this building tonight.”

“Making it to the final three in a championship tournament is an accomplishment in itself, especially for someone as young as Fiona,” Dan nodded in agreement. “She needs to pick herself up, wipe away the sweat and blood, and apply the hard lessons she learned in this match.”

“Well, it’s been a hell of a match,” Brent shrugged, “and now we have our two female competitors for next week. And up next…”

“Oh, yes, Brent, the night is not yet over! Up next after a few messages from our sponsors we have the men's triple threat cage match, featuring “The Astro Kid” Jay Wyatt, “the Mojave Scorpion” Uberto Cafrune, and the beast of Croatia, Mihailo Vasić. Folks we hope you are enjoying the show at home because we are having some fun here in Chicago! I’m Dan Rich and with me as always is Rhonda Pierce and Brent Christi. Don’t go away because we’ll be right back!”