Apex Arena - Battle B2: Martin Riggs vs. John Wick

[Culwych1]

Introduction

In 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi famously asked, "Where the f&&k is everyone?" That question led to what is now known as the Fermi Paradox, pondering why humanity has never encountered intelligent life despite the vastness of the universe. But when first contact finally happened, humanity wished the answer had been "nowhere."

The aliens arrived with technology and powers beyond comprehension, annihilating Earth’s defences. Yet, despite their godlike abilities, humanity's defiance intrigued them. Instead of total destruction, the aliens devised a twisted experiment to understand humanity’s unique will to survive.

They chose Earth's 32 fiercest warriors from across time and space, placing them in The Apex Arena—a constantly shifting battleground where only the strongest survive. The prize? The salvation of Earth and a place of honour in the alien archives. 4 groups, 8 fighters in each. Who would stand, and who would fall?

Each warrior stands alone, unaware of their competition, fighting not just for glory, but for the very future of humanity. The Apex Arena has opened its gates. The battle for survival begins now.

---

Battle 2: Group B – Martin Riggs vs. John Wick

Far away, the Apex Arena shifts and contorts in a direction that a human eye would not be able to see. This time, it delivered its two warriors to the top of the world. Martin Riggs and John Wick appeared on the slick, rain-drenched rooftop of a towering skyscraper, surrounded by the glistening lights of the city below. Thunder rumbled ominously, and the sky above flashed with lightning, illuminating the treacherous battleground they found themselves in.

The rooftop was a sprawling, multi-levelled surface with numerous obstacles. Ventilation units hummed loudly in one corner, offering cover, while rusting metal scaffolding clung to the sides of the building, just begging for a misstep to send someone plummeting to the streets below. The wind howled between the towering antennae, whipping through the rain-soaked space and making every step perilous. Far in the distance, helicopters circled, their blades faintly audible, as if the whole city were watching and waiting.

Weapons were scattered across the rooftop—an assault rifle lying precariously near the edge, a knife tucked into the frame of a window-washing rig, and a pistol hidden beneath a fallen antenna. But the slick surface, sharp drops, and unpredictable gusts of wind made retrieving them a deadly game in itself. At any moment, a wrong move could send one of the fighters slipping toward the edge of the building, with nothing but air between them and the hundreds of feet below. Death came not just in the form of the opponent, but the very envnment that they faced.  

Martin Riggs crouched low, the rain soaking into his jacket, his hair matted to his face as he scanned the rooftop. A former Special Forces soldier and LAPD detective, Riggs was no stranger to death-defying scenarios, but the sheer height and deadly environment demanded an entirely different kind of awareness. His signature smirk flickered briefly as he locked onto the weapons, already calculating his next move. The rain pelted his face, but he barely noticed. His mind was focused on the fight ahead.

Across the rooftop, John Wick stood motionless, his suit drenched but his eyes deadly calm. The Baba Yaga had fought in rain before, under far worse conditions, but the slick surface and towering height didn’t make this any easier. His keen eyes swept over the scattered weapons, identifying each with clinical precision. He had taken lives with less and survived worse—this was just another job. Another opponent. He flexed his fingers, his body ready to spring into action, calculating his movements with the precision of a man who had danced with death too many times to count.

The rain beat down harder, making the rooftop treacherous, its surface slick and unforgiving. A narrow catwalk jutted out from one side of the building, a barely stable path leading to a series of satellite dishes—dangerous, but offering a higher vantage point. On the opposite end, the rooftop sloped sharply, a broken railing at the far edge leading to a direct drop into the void. The sound of the city’s pulse below was distant, but the wind carried it up, like a heartbeat for the battleground. It was a sound that both were accustomed to.

Riggs moved first, his boots sliding slightly as he made his way toward the knife by the window-washing rig. Every step was a calculated risk, but Riggs thrived on danger and the rush he felt translated into a grin. He reached the rig and yanked the knife free from its frame just as a gust of wind threatened to throw him off balance. He caught himself, smirking at the storm raging around him, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

Wick’s approach was quieter, more deliberate. He moved toward the fallen antenna, where a pistol lay just beneath it, half-submerged in a puddle. The wind lashed at him, but he remained unfazed, his focus entirely on the weapon. He crouched down, fingers brushing the cold metal, when a flash of lightning split the sky overhead, momentarily blinding them both.

For a second, time stood still.

Then, the storm surged again.

The storm roared around them, the rain soaking their skin, the wind pushing them closer to the edge. The city’s lights flickered below, the distant sounds of traffic and life irrelevant in this moment of deadly silence. The weapons scattered around the rooftop were within reach, but the real danger was the men themselves—two killers, honed by violence, ready to unleash hell.

The rain intensified, turning the rooftop into a slick, treacherous sheet of glass. Both men adjusted their footing, knowing that one wrong move could send them plummeting to the streets below.

Lightning flashed again, illuminating the two warriors. Both knew the stakes. Both knew only one of them would walk away.

Three. Two. One.

Grim serenity met grinning intensity, and the battle was joined!

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Martin Riggs
Read more about Martin Riggs at Wikipedia
Official Site: Warner Bros. Links: Wikipedia Site IMDB Link Official Site

John Wick
Read more about John Wick at Wikipedia
Official Site: Lionsgate Links: Wikipedia

[leroypowell3]

Mullet Mel 'gon get from Wick no doubt.

[Culwych1]

19 hours ago, leroypowell3 said:

Mullet Mel 'gon get from Wick no doubt.

Yeah was a tough one deciding who Wick would face in his first round (there are some other contestants but I wanted to see if they'd go further first).

Riggs seemed the best choice as i wanted him in this, and given his sheer unpredictability and love for chaos (and so I thought the terrain should match). 

[RiotGear]

I'm not sure Wick has ever faced someone like Riggs.

Wick is used to either rank amateurs or calm professionals and those professionals. Tend to operate in predictable ways. Remaining focused. While the amateurs are unpredictable, but also unskilled.

There is an idea in fighting, especially street fighting. That somebody who doesn't know what they are doing is often more dangerous, then someone who does, on account of being unpredictable, making stupid and dangerous choices. 

We actually kinda see this in the first Wick movie when the mob kids manage to take Wick by surprise.

Obviously at higher levels highly trained fighters are more capable.

The thing is Riggs combines the skill of a true professional with the wreckless unpredictability of an amateur.

On top of that Riggs has the feats to hang. He can ricochet bullets and throw hands with bullet dodgers.

Wick for Riggs is just another stoic merc, to annoy. Until he gets his opening.

 

[JohnnyChany]

I think Riggs's most impressive victory was over Jet Li's character in Lethal Weapon 4, but he also had Murtaugh's help at the time.

[Pizza Guy]

John Wick has taken down the most dangerous men from all around the world. By experience and feats he should destroy Riggs.

[Boratz]

I got to go with John Wick. I think Riggs could put up a decent fight but John has proven to be on a whole different level

[DSkillz]

Ah, finally, a couple of characters I'm freshly familiar with.  Good Apex Arena chapter, Culwych. Seen all four Lethal Weapon movies a few times each, and I've also watched the first two John Wick films recently. 

As for the match, while Riggs is definitely badass with his skills and unpredictably, it feels like Wick is a little better. If these are both Riggs and Wick after their most recent respective movies, which Wick may be older, it doesn't feel like he's slowed down like Riggs did by Lethal Weapon 4. Wick is a bit more ruthless and with less of a conscience, and he can probably take more punishment than Riggs and keep going. Wick also has more legendary "unseen" feats. 

Now that I'm thinking about, John Wick is kind of a callback to the "unstoppable" action heroes of the '80's and '90's in a way, but less heroic. I'd say Wick kills Riggs, but Martin's definitely gonna take it to him.  

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
4.50 - Yazmal
4.60 - DSkillz
5.00 - Boratz
5.00 - JohnnyChany
4.30 - Pizza Guy

FPA Calculation:
5 Total Votes cast
23.40 Total Combined Score
23.40 / 5 = 4.68 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Martin Riggs: 1
John Wick: 6