Post by Greg T.O.M on Mar 29, 2024 16:30:56 GMT -5
*The FNF logo fades to reveal clips from Thunder In Paradise 3. The scene opens to Khloe Cox, Khloe is shaken as se tries pushing herself to her feet, and Andrea is already coming off the ropes.
Khloe tries to duck, but Andrea leaps over her for a sun-set flip. But Khloe drops down onto her knees on Andrea’s shoulders, hooking Andrea’s legs as she does and leaning forward for the pin. *
1…
2…
3!!!
As the ref counts three the scene transitions to the end of The Hurricane Hustle. Knox tries pulling the cups down, but then turns his attention to his neck as he tries to fight Alessia off. Knox begins to fade as Alessia sinks the choke in deeper. In a last effort Knox takes a step up to the very last rung, and with the cups blowing around widely in the wind one of them smacks into the head of Alessia, knocking her off Knox’s back.
Both Alessia and Knox fall sideways off the ladder, but Knox catches himself on the other ladder as Alessia falls to the mat below. Knox pulls himself up and as the cups sway around Knox grabs one and yanks it down for the victory. The shot fades from Knox holding the cups to a shot from the International championship match.
Vaughn sizes up Chris who gets to one knee, Peter comes out from the corner with a Superman punch with the brass knuckles cracking Page in the jaw and crumbling the legend like a ton of bricks. Peter takes the knuckles off his hand and slides it into his pockets. Peter drops down making the cover just as the referee comes back around and makes the count. As the ref counts three the shot fades to the main event of the night between Junko and JMont.
Junko takes JMont down with a flying sunset flip. JMont rolls through it though coming up to his feet, a bit dazed as Junko rolls up to her feet, grabbing the chair from the mat, and throwing it forward right into the head of JMont.
The barbed wire chair sticks to his head, and Junko charges in hitting the chair with a flying hip attack that sends JMont falling back into the barbed wire. Sparks explode and send JMont falling on his face, landing on the chair again, the impact causing him to flip onto his back. Junko dives on him for the pin.
We end on the shot of Junko on her knees in the middle of the ring, staring out blankly into the cheering sea of fans. The shot fades from Junko to the opening video for Friday Night Fury. *
*The video fades to a live shot of the sold-out Pechanga Arena, San Diego, California. The crowd of over 17,500.
The Thunderamanics roar as blue and yellow pyro shoot across the top of the arena. The camera begins to pan around the crowd and focus on individual signs. *
CONGRATS KHLOE
LUX STILLS SUXS
BERRTA, CHOPPY CHOPPY JACK’S PEE PEE
TACT > MMS, #TACTFACT
THANK YOU PAGE
MARRY ME JUNKO
*The shot cuts from the signs to the ringside commentary desk where we are joined by Mark Markson and Nick Napier. *
Markson: HELLO EVERYONE! Welcome to Friday Night Fury.
Napier: Any word on who the new head of operations is going to be?
Markson: No, I’m sure you’ll find out when everyone else does.
Napier: THERE IS TOO MUCH CHANGE GOING ON!!!
Markson: And all for the better.
Napier: FOR THE BETTER!?! JMont is leaving. Alexander Marshall has been fired. Matt KNox has another shot at gold. Khloe Cox is finally relevant… I DON’T LIKE ANY OF THIS!!!
Markson: You could always just quit.
Napier: You’d like that wouldn’t you?
Markson: YES!
Napier: …
Markson: Speaking of JMont, for the last time ever we will be starting the night off with JMont.
Napier: It’s a sad day for Thunder Pro Wrestling.
Napier: I am very sad right now. This show just doesn't feel the same right now.
Markson: Do you need a tissue?
Napier: We are going to have to start looking for new jobs. I wonder if the WGWF is hiring!
Markson: If you are as close to J Mont as you say you are, then you would know his contract expires April 19th right before their biggest PPV of the year in Wrestle Wars.
Napier: First TPW goes down, then WGWF. What's next to go down? Maybe Amazon or Porn Hub!
Markson: You really need help in the worst way!
Napier: J Mont made TPW COOL again.
Markson: You are so blinded by his loud mouth, money and fame.
Napier: I know what's best for business and that's J Mont.
Markson: The man that almost cost TPW the 5 man match vs WGWF? The man that almost killed Junko? The man that is single handedly trying to ruin this company and business?
Napier: ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!! J Mont is the man and I just cannot believe he's not here anymore. He was supposed to open the show and there has been no big arrival or word that he is even here.
Markson: So maybe Junko killed J Mont then.
*Suddenly, the lights in the arena shut off. The only sound you hear is the one from Napier who might be getting too excited at the moment. You can see the camera lights from cell phones being turned on, but that's it. There is no music. No pyros. No lasers. No Titantron. Nothing. This place is as dark as a cemetery at 2 am.*
Napier: DAMN IT! I really thought J Mont was coming out here.
Markson: Someone call Peter Vaughn, we need the lights turned back on and he is probably the most certified man in the building to fix them.
*The ring begins to fill with smoke out of nowhere. The people in the front row are coughing. Things are getting really gloomy at the moment. The ring is filled with smoke and nothing can be seen.*
Napier: If that stupid clown from IT pops out, I am out of here.
Markson: Maybe it's the ghost of J Mont’s past coming out since he is dead.
Napier: Nothing can kill J Mont but your commentary!
Markson: Wish i knew that a year ago!
*The smoke is pretty heavy but after about another 3 minutes, it is getting lighter and you can see a figure standing in the middle of the ring. Still hard to see who it is because everyone’s vision is foggy at the moment. The lights then slowly come back on, and when the smoke clears even more, you see none other than J MONT standing in the middle of the ring, with a mic in hand.*
Napier: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew he wouldn't let us down. I knew he wasn't leaving. GOD is here.
Markson: HOW? WHY? What the hell. I thought he was gone?
Napier: J Mont is not letting us down like Brock Purdy did with the 49ers.
Markson: What's next? J Mont can throw a better spiral than Patrick Mahomes?
*Napier is pumped while Markson is not pleased to see J Mont. Usually the fans are one to let J Mont have it, but tonight, their feelings seem to be on a different platform from the chants that are being thrown his way.*
PLEASE DON'T GO!
ONE MORE CONTRACT!
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE!
Fudge MATT KNOX, WE WANT J MONT!
IT’S THE J MONT ERA, NOT THE STONE AGE ERA!
J MONT FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024!
BRING BACK THE MECCA WITH XAVIER LUX!
JKO LIVES ON FOREVER!
KHLOE COX HAS A CRUSH ON J MONT!
J MONT AND VAUGHN WERE ROBBED!
PLEASE DON'T GO!
Napier: Are you hearing this Markson? The fans who hate J Mont even know he is the man. That he is the best thing in this industry today.
Markson: I cannot believe my ears right now. The fans have turned on me and the ones that want J Mont gone. Are we going to get stuck with Joe Biden and J Mont AGAIN?
*J Mont stands in the ring and is completely shocked by the love of the fans right now. Looking around from north to south to east to west, J Mont is taking in all the love from the fans. J Mont then taps on the mic and everyone settles down to hear what is on the mind of the Former American Champion and Heel of the Year. As J Mont brings the mic up to his mouth to say something, you can see a man walking from the back with a folder in his hand.*
Napier: Why is Greg The Handyman coming out here? He is about to ruin what the world has been waiting to hear!
Markson: Mayb the folder in hand is J Mont being served for past child support!
*As Greg The Handyman approaches the ring, J Mont keeps his stare on him. The fans once again are not BOOING J Mont, but instead, letting Greg get all the negativity that J Mont usually gets. This is crazy! As Greg comes up the steps, he steps through the ropes and approaches J Mont. *
Greg The Owner Man: Sitting in the back, I have heard what I needed to hear. Joe, I know most of the talent in the back hates you and wants you gone, but they don't make the decisions around here. I DO! You bring in a lot of Revenue, TV Deals, Commercial Deals, Movie Deals, Merchandise Sales. Every show you are on, we sell out within 5 minutes. You are an asset to TPW and what I have right here is a new IRON CLAD 1 year deal with a 1 year OPTION to resign after negotiations. Take a look at this bad boy Joe.
Napier: Guess who’s back? Back AGAIN! J MONT’S Back!!!! Tell your Friends!
Markson: NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Greg The Handyman hands the contract over to J Mont, who opens the folder and examines it pretty quickly. Greg is looking anxious like this deal means everything right now. J Mont’s eyes are scrolling down the folder, when all of a sudden, J Mont rips up the folder and throws it into the face of Greg, and then outta nowhere.*
JKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Markson: Do you need a tissue?
Napier: We are going to have to start looking for new jobs. I wonder if the WGWF is hiring!
Markson: If you are as close to J Mont as you say you are, then you would know his contract expires April 19th right before their biggest PPV of the year in Wrestle Wars.
Napier: First TPW goes down, then WGWF. What's next to go down? Maybe Amazon or Porn Hub!
Markson: You really need help in the worst way!
Napier: J Mont made TPW COOL again.
Markson: You are so blinded by his loud mouth, money and fame.
Napier: I know what's best for business and that's J Mont.
Markson: The man that almost cost TPW the 5 man match vs WGWF? The man that almost killed Junko? The man that is single handedly trying to ruin this company and business?
Napier: ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!! J Mont is the man and I just cannot believe he's not here anymore. He was supposed to open the show and there has been no big arrival or word that he is even here.
Markson: So maybe Junko killed J Mont then.
*Suddenly, the lights in the arena shut off. The only sound you hear is the one from Napier who might be getting too excited at the moment. You can see the camera lights from cell phones being turned on, but that's it. There is no music. No pyros. No lasers. No Titantron. Nothing. This place is as dark as a cemetery at 2 am.*
Napier: DAMN IT! I really thought J Mont was coming out here.
Markson: Someone call Peter Vaughn, we need the lights turned back on and he is probably the most certified man in the building to fix them.
*The ring begins to fill with smoke out of nowhere. The people in the front row are coughing. Things are getting really gloomy at the moment. The ring is filled with smoke and nothing can be seen.*
Napier: If that stupid clown from IT pops out, I am out of here.
Markson: Maybe it's the ghost of J Mont’s past coming out since he is dead.
Napier: Nothing can kill J Mont but your commentary!
Markson: Wish i knew that a year ago!
*The smoke is pretty heavy but after about another 3 minutes, it is getting lighter and you can see a figure standing in the middle of the ring. Still hard to see who it is because everyone’s vision is foggy at the moment. The lights then slowly come back on, and when the smoke clears even more, you see none other than J MONT standing in the middle of the ring, with a mic in hand.*
Napier: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew he wouldn't let us down. I knew he wasn't leaving. GOD is here.
Markson: HOW? WHY? What the hell. I thought he was gone?
Napier: J Mont is not letting us down like Brock Purdy did with the 49ers.
Markson: What's next? J Mont can throw a better spiral than Patrick Mahomes?
*Napier is pumped while Markson is not pleased to see J Mont. Usually the fans are one to let J Mont have it, but tonight, their feelings seem to be on a different platform from the chants that are being thrown his way.*
PLEASE DON'T GO!
ONE MORE CONTRACT!
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE!
Fudge MATT KNOX, WE WANT J MONT!
IT’S THE J MONT ERA, NOT THE STONE AGE ERA!
J MONT FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024!
BRING BACK THE MECCA WITH XAVIER LUX!
JKO LIVES ON FOREVER!
KHLOE COX HAS A CRUSH ON J MONT!
J MONT AND VAUGHN WERE ROBBED!
PLEASE DON'T GO!
Napier: Are you hearing this Markson? The fans who hate J Mont even know he is the man. That he is the best thing in this industry today.
Markson: I cannot believe my ears right now. The fans have turned on me and the ones that want J Mont gone. Are we going to get stuck with Joe Biden and J Mont AGAIN?
*J Mont stands in the ring and is completely shocked by the love of the fans right now. Looking around from north to south to east to west, J Mont is taking in all the love from the fans. J Mont then taps on the mic and everyone settles down to hear what is on the mind of the Former American Champion and Heel of the Year. As J Mont brings the mic up to his mouth to say something, you can see a man walking from the back with a folder in his hand.*
Napier: Why is Greg The Handyman coming out here? He is about to ruin what the world has been waiting to hear!
Markson: Mayb the folder in hand is J Mont being served for past child support!
*As Greg The Handyman approaches the ring, J Mont keeps his stare on him. The fans once again are not BOOING J Mont, but instead, letting Greg get all the negativity that J Mont usually gets. This is crazy! As Greg comes up the steps, he steps through the ropes and approaches J Mont. *
Greg The Owner Man: Sitting in the back, I have heard what I needed to hear. Joe, I know most of the talent in the back hates you and wants you gone, but they don't make the decisions around here. I DO! You bring in a lot of Revenue, TV Deals, Commercial Deals, Movie Deals, Merchandise Sales. Every show you are on, we sell out within 5 minutes. You are an asset to TPW and what I have right here is a new IRON CLAD 1 year deal with a 1 year OPTION to resign after negotiations. Take a look at this bad boy Joe.
Napier: Guess who’s back? Back AGAIN! J MONT’S Back!!!! Tell your Friends!
Markson: NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Greg The Handyman hands the contract over to J Mont, who opens the folder and examines it pretty quickly. Greg is looking anxious like this deal means everything right now. J Mont’s eyes are scrolling down the folder, when all of a sudden, J Mont rips up the folder and throws it into the face of Greg, and then outta nowhere.*
JKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Greg The Handyman is down and out. J Mont has torn up the chance to resign with TPW.*
Napier: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Markson: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the first time I am happy that J Mont has JKO’D someone in the ring.
Napier: You idiot Greg. What did you miss in that contract? He obviously didn't have enough money or incentives in there. Greg is a moron and needs to be fired. He just let the best thing in the business slip through his fingers.
Markson: J Mont is GONE!!!!! Wonder what Greg’s next move is now!
*J Mont steps onto the stomach of Greg as he makes his way to the other side of the ring. Climbing through the middle rope for one last time here in the TPW, J Mont makes his way back up the ramp. This time around, he is shaking hands with the fans in attendance. Even some high fives and posing for a few pictures. Usually a man that has a lot to say, J Mont has not said a word tonight. He let all his actions do the talking for him. Now at the top of the ramp. J Mont looks at the fans for the very last time. Giving the double middle finger salute for the last time, the fans are returning the favor back, but cheering at the same time. But J Mont, without anyone knowing, put the mic in his back pocket as he pulled it out.*
Napier: Please reconsider Joe! ONE MORE YEAR!!!!!
Markson: Cut the MIC NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
J MONT: Kon'ya wa minasan no ai ni kansha shitai to omoimasu. Zabieru Rakkusu to pītā vu~ōn ni koe o ō ni shite tsutaete kudasai. Sore ni, ano kuso yarō matto nokkusu ni wa dai fakkuda. Soshite, junko, anata ni keii o arawashimasu. Mata sugu ni o ai shimashou!
*J Mont drops the mic on the ground and walks to the back. Mont is finally gone from the looks of things and no one has any idea what he just said in Japanese. The fans are still going crazy while Greg the Handyman is in the ring trying to recover from that vicious JKO!*
Napier: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Markson: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the first time I am happy that J Mont has JKO’D someone in the ring.
Napier: You idiot Greg. What did you miss in that contract? He obviously didn't have enough money or incentives in there. Greg is a moron and needs to be fired. He just let the best thing in the business slip through his fingers.
Markson: J Mont is GONE!!!!! Wonder what Greg’s next move is now!
*J Mont steps onto the stomach of Greg as he makes his way to the other side of the ring. Climbing through the middle rope for one last time here in the TPW, J Mont makes his way back up the ramp. This time around, he is shaking hands with the fans in attendance. Even some high fives and posing for a few pictures. Usually a man that has a lot to say, J Mont has not said a word tonight. He let all his actions do the talking for him. Now at the top of the ramp. J Mont looks at the fans for the very last time. Giving the double middle finger salute for the last time, the fans are returning the favor back, but cheering at the same time. But J Mont, without anyone knowing, put the mic in his back pocket as he pulled it out.*
Napier: Please reconsider Joe! ONE MORE YEAR!!!!!
Markson: Cut the MIC NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
J MONT: Kon'ya wa minasan no ai ni kansha shitai to omoimasu. Zabieru Rakkusu to pītā vu~ōn ni koe o ō ni shite tsutaete kudasai. Sore ni, ano kuso yarō matto nokkusu ni wa dai fakkuda. Soshite, junko, anata ni keii o arawashimasu. Mata sugu ni o ai shimashou!
*J Mont drops the mic on the ground and walks to the back. Mont is finally gone from the looks of things and no one has any idea what he just said in Japanese. The fans are still going crazy while Greg the Handyman is in the ring trying to recover from that vicious JKO!*
*As the show returns from the commercial break “Magic” Mike Jones is already in the ring ready for his scheduled match against El Diablo Blanco when an unfamiliar music starts to play. The beat coincides with Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady” but it’s not the voice of Marshall Mathers. Instead, we are treated to a different set of lyrics as El Diablo Blanco appears out on the stage with a microphone.
May I have your attention, please?
Will the real El D please stand up?
I repeat, will the real El D please stand up?
We're gonna have a problem here.
Y'all act like you've never seen this face before
Jaws all on the floor like Good Ol El D just burst through the door
Started giving everybody his chips right out of the store.
It's the return of the... "Ah, wait, no way, you're kidding,
He didn't just shill his own Flamin Hots, did he?"
And Alexander Marshall said... nothing, you fools!
Brother Marshall’s fired, he’s trying to get a job mopping up schools.
Sing the chorus, and it goes
'Cause I'm El D, yes I'm the real D
All you other El D’s are just imitating
So won't the real El D please stand up,
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm El D, yes I'm the real D
All you other El D’s are just imitating
So won't the real El D please stand up,
Please stand up, please stand up?
Halfway down the ramp leading to the ring, calls for the music to cease. The fans are a mixture of booing and laughing at El D for making a buffoon of himself. *
El Diablo Blanco: Let me tell you something, Brothers. I’ve got a bone to pick with the staffing around here. Not two weeks ago after I was robbed of my shot at the Prestige Championship in that Sunshine Shootout, I was accosted. I was blind sided and assaulted by some fool pretending to be me, the great El Diablo Blanco. Not only did security not do anything about it, the refs, the commentators, not even you Steve Cotton, did anything to apprehend that criminal. And let me tell you something else, Brother. My sources tell me this vile human being was not arrested, not brought in for questioning, and not even received a slap on the wrists. This is down right farcical. There is only one El Diablo Blanco and he is standing right here in front of you and he is about to make an example of this supposed “Magic” Mike Jones.
*El D slides in under the bottom rope and starts to approach Jones. As the referee turns to signal the bell for the start of the match, El Diablo Blanco reaches into his pocket and throws smashed up El D’s Flamin Hots right into Mike Jones’s face. Momentarily blinded, El Diablo Blanco tackles Jones to the ground and starts wailing away with rights to the face. The referee turns around and immediately starts to try and pull El D off of Mike Jones.
The referee is receiving a barrage of threats from El Diablo Blanco giving Jones the time to get back to his feet. As El D turns around, Mike Jones charges with a clothesline. El D ducks the clothesline and runs for the ropes. Meanwhile, Jones stops himself just short of clotheslining the referee. Jones turns around right into a running kick to the face from El Diablo Blanco.
El D wastes no time grabbing Mike Jones and hitting him with a Stump Piledriver. Jones lays prone on the mat as El Diablo Blanco once again goes into his pocket and crunches up remnants of Flamin Hots onto the chest of Mike Jones adding insult to injury.
El Diablo Blanco scales the ropes to the top turnbuckle and looks out at the crowd, taking in their disapproval. El D leaps off with a Feeling Froggy Splash right onto the chest of Mike Jones. El D quickly makes the cover.*
1…
May I have your attention, please?
Will the real El D please stand up?
I repeat, will the real El D please stand up?
We're gonna have a problem here.
Y'all act like you've never seen this face before
Jaws all on the floor like Good Ol El D just burst through the door
Started giving everybody his chips right out of the store.
It's the return of the... "Ah, wait, no way, you're kidding,
He didn't just shill his own Flamin Hots, did he?"
And Alexander Marshall said... nothing, you fools!
Brother Marshall’s fired, he’s trying to get a job mopping up schools.
Sing the chorus, and it goes
'Cause I'm El D, yes I'm the real D
All you other El D’s are just imitating
So won't the real El D please stand up,
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm El D, yes I'm the real D
All you other El D’s are just imitating
So won't the real El D please stand up,
Please stand up, please stand up?
Halfway down the ramp leading to the ring, calls for the music to cease. The fans are a mixture of booing and laughing at El D for making a buffoon of himself. *
El Diablo Blanco: Let me tell you something, Brothers. I’ve got a bone to pick with the staffing around here. Not two weeks ago after I was robbed of my shot at the Prestige Championship in that Sunshine Shootout, I was accosted. I was blind sided and assaulted by some fool pretending to be me, the great El Diablo Blanco. Not only did security not do anything about it, the refs, the commentators, not even you Steve Cotton, did anything to apprehend that criminal. And let me tell you something else, Brother. My sources tell me this vile human being was not arrested, not brought in for questioning, and not even received a slap on the wrists. This is down right farcical. There is only one El Diablo Blanco and he is standing right here in front of you and he is about to make an example of this supposed “Magic” Mike Jones.
*El D slides in under the bottom rope and starts to approach Jones. As the referee turns to signal the bell for the start of the match, El Diablo Blanco reaches into his pocket and throws smashed up El D’s Flamin Hots right into Mike Jones’s face. Momentarily blinded, El Diablo Blanco tackles Jones to the ground and starts wailing away with rights to the face. The referee turns around and immediately starts to try and pull El D off of Mike Jones.
The referee is receiving a barrage of threats from El Diablo Blanco giving Jones the time to get back to his feet. As El D turns around, Mike Jones charges with a clothesline. El D ducks the clothesline and runs for the ropes. Meanwhile, Jones stops himself just short of clotheslining the referee. Jones turns around right into a running kick to the face from El Diablo Blanco.
El D wastes no time grabbing Mike Jones and hitting him with a Stump Piledriver. Jones lays prone on the mat as El Diablo Blanco once again goes into his pocket and crunches up remnants of Flamin Hots onto the chest of Mike Jones adding insult to injury.
El Diablo Blanco scales the ropes to the top turnbuckle and looks out at the crowd, taking in their disapproval. El D leaps off with a Feeling Froggy Splash right onto the chest of Mike Jones. El D quickly makes the cover.*
1…
2…
3!
*The referee calls for the bell and the match is over with almost as fast as it began. El Diablo Blanco scoffs at his fallen opponent, stepping onto his chest as El D steps over his prone opponent.
El D starts looking out at the crowd, telling everyone how great he is. That’s when he sees some in the crowd dressed just like his old attire again. El Diablo Blanco rolls out of the ring as the individual in the crowd walks up to the barricade. As El D is ready to get into the face of the imposter, commotion comes from another side of the ring.
Another person in vintage El D gear has appeared in another portion of the crowd. A confused El Diablo’s face darts back and forth between the two imposters before a third vintage El D appears in the crowd.
El Diablo Blanco takes turns yelling at all three until the lights cut out. When they come back on all the imposters were gone. El D is paranoid as the scene fades to a per-recorded segment.*
*The referee calls for the bell and the match is over with almost as fast as it began. El Diablo Blanco scoffs at his fallen opponent, stepping onto his chest as El D steps over his prone opponent.
El D starts looking out at the crowd, telling everyone how great he is. That’s when he sees some in the crowd dressed just like his old attire again. El Diablo Blanco rolls out of the ring as the individual in the crowd walks up to the barricade. As El D is ready to get into the face of the imposter, commotion comes from another side of the ring.
Another person in vintage El D gear has appeared in another portion of the crowd. A confused El Diablo’s face darts back and forth between the two imposters before a third vintage El D appears in the crowd.
El Diablo Blanco takes turns yelling at all three until the lights cut out. When they come back on all the imposters were gone. El D is paranoid as the scene fades to a per-recorded segment.*
*As we open to the segment, we are greeted with a couple of sound effects…. *
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
And then we hear a voice. *
VOICE
Timberrrr!
*We then cue to a shot of a tree lying on the ground, and then we cue to a shot of the one, the only, Ricky McGee! Ricky then twirls his axe, somehow. *
RICKY MCGEE
Hehehehe….there she goes, b’y!
*Ricky then wipes the sweat off his forehead before turning towards something….that being his pet black bear.*
RICKY MCGEE
D’awww! You’re cute! Yes you are!
*Ricky then gives kisses on the black bear’s nose, which reacts like an overgrown dog.*
RICKY MCGEE
Don’t you worry! Everyday, I’ll make sure to bring you some Jiggs’ Dinner everyday from my earnings, b’y!
*Ricky then turns towards the camera.*
RICKY MCGEE
But not before poundin’ any halfwit in my way!
*Ricky then chuckles, before the scene fades to the ring. *
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
And then we hear a voice. *
VOICE
Timberrrr!
*We then cue to a shot of a tree lying on the ground, and then we cue to a shot of the one, the only, Ricky McGee! Ricky then twirls his axe, somehow. *
RICKY MCGEE
Hehehehe….there she goes, b’y!
*Ricky then wipes the sweat off his forehead before turning towards something….that being his pet black bear.*
RICKY MCGEE
D’awww! You’re cute! Yes you are!
*Ricky then gives kisses on the black bear’s nose, which reacts like an overgrown dog.*
RICKY MCGEE
Don’t you worry! Everyday, I’ll make sure to bring you some Jiggs’ Dinner everyday from my earnings, b’y!
*Ricky then turns towards the camera.*
RICKY MCGEE
But not before poundin’ any halfwit in my way!
*Ricky then chuckles, before the scene fades to the ring. *
*The shot returns from the segment to Berretta Blade and Jack N. Mehoff already in the ring with Jack’s music fading out. *
DING! DING! DING!
*As the bell sounds Jack charges from behind at Blade, buit she moves out of the way and Jack runs right into the turnbuckles chest first. Jack staggers back aroun into belly to belly from Blade. Blade hops right up, and limbs to the middle turnbuckle. Blade stands as Jack slowly gets up holding his back, and Blade leaps off the 2nd rope going for a cross body, but Jack catches her. Jack goes to lift Blade onto his shoulder, but she slides off his back and shoves him into the corner again.
Jack staggers back around and Blade goes for a “Chick Kick” big round house kick, but Jack drops down with The Johnny Cage (Johnny Cages Split Punch from Mortal Kombat). Blade staggers back holding her crotc area, as Jack spins up to his feet. Jack charges at Blade, but Blade is able to recover and take Jack down with a drop toe hold. *
Markson: Beretta Blade was staggered with that Johnny Cage punch, but recovered quickly.
Napier: A man wouldn’t have been able to recover that quick.
Markson: You are correct about that.
*Blade grabs the ankle of Jack, lifts his leg into the air, and slams it down spiking his knee into the mat. Jack rolls over to his back, clutching at his knee, but Blade doesn’t stop. Blade grabs the leg of Jack and begins to apply a figure four, but as Blade spins through to lock both of Jack’s legs, Jack cathces her in a small package. *
1…
2…
KICKOUT!
Markson: Oh, Jack almost got Berreta with that small package.
Napier: Oh come one, do you think Jack Mehoff would have made it as far in his film career if he had a small package?
Markson: STOP RIGHT THERE!!!
*Jack and Berreta both roll up, with Jack favoring his leg. Beretta sees Jack hobbling and charges at him, but this time it is Jack who moves out of the way and Blade runs into the turnbuckle. Blade staggers backwards into a belly to back suplex from Jack. Jack rolls on top of her and makes a pin.
1…
2…
KICKOUT!
Jack rolls up to his feet and backs into the same corner Blade had just ran into. Jack waits as Blade begins getting to her feet. As soon as Blade gets to a knee Jack comes out of the corner hitting the 68 Comeback Special (Knee lift into a uranage). Jack immediately makes the pin again. *
1…
2…
KICKOUT!!!
Markson: Back to back near falls for Jack.
Napier: He’s wearing her down.
*Jack is up and signalling for the Donky Punch and as Blade staggers to her feet Jack moves in looking for the punch, but Blade drops down and catches Jack on her shoulder in a standing firemans. Blade goes to drop Jack wth the Attitude Adjuster, but Jack flips through and lands on his feet. Jack charges at the ropes as Blade tries to get up. Jack hops to the middle of the ropes and comes off with a moonsault, but Blade catches Jack on her shoulders, spins around and drops him with the Attiude Adjusters.
Blade rolls to her feet and signals of the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Blade hits to ropes, hops of Jack, hits the rops again, comes back, brushes her shoulder off and goes for the fist drop, but Jack rolls out of the way and Blade lands on the mat. *
Markson: OH! Jack just ruined the most electrifying move in pro wrestling.
Napier: NO WAY! El Diablo Blano’s backyard elbow is way more exciting.
*Blade rolls up to her feet and as she gets up Jack strikes from behind with the onkey Punch (a strike to the sciatica nerve performed with surgical precision that renders his opponents legs completely numb, or to put it another way, a punch to the butt). Blade staggers holding her butt when Jack takes her down with The Load Blower (back stabber/cracker/ lung blower). Jack rolls on top of her for the pin. *
1…
2…
DING! DING! DING!
*As the bell sounds Jack charges from behind at Blade, buit she moves out of the way and Jack runs right into the turnbuckles chest first. Jack staggers back aroun into belly to belly from Blade. Blade hops right up, and limbs to the middle turnbuckle. Blade stands as Jack slowly gets up holding his back, and Blade leaps off the 2nd rope going for a cross body, but Jack catches her. Jack goes to lift Blade onto his shoulder, but she slides off his back and shoves him into the corner again.
Jack staggers back around and Blade goes for a “Chick Kick” big round house kick, but Jack drops down with The Johnny Cage (Johnny Cages Split Punch from Mortal Kombat). Blade staggers back holding her crotc area, as Jack spins up to his feet. Jack charges at Blade, but Blade is able to recover and take Jack down with a drop toe hold. *
Markson: Beretta Blade was staggered with that Johnny Cage punch, but recovered quickly.
Napier: A man wouldn’t have been able to recover that quick.
Markson: You are correct about that.
*Blade grabs the ankle of Jack, lifts his leg into the air, and slams it down spiking his knee into the mat. Jack rolls over to his back, clutching at his knee, but Blade doesn’t stop. Blade grabs the leg of Jack and begins to apply a figure four, but as Blade spins through to lock both of Jack’s legs, Jack cathces her in a small package. *
1…
2…
KICKOUT!
Markson: Oh, Jack almost got Berreta with that small package.
Napier: Oh come one, do you think Jack Mehoff would have made it as far in his film career if he had a small package?
Markson: STOP RIGHT THERE!!!
*Jack and Berreta both roll up, with Jack favoring his leg. Beretta sees Jack hobbling and charges at him, but this time it is Jack who moves out of the way and Blade runs into the turnbuckle. Blade staggers backwards into a belly to back suplex from Jack. Jack rolls on top of her and makes a pin.
1…
2…
KICKOUT!
Jack rolls up to his feet and backs into the same corner Blade had just ran into. Jack waits as Blade begins getting to her feet. As soon as Blade gets to a knee Jack comes out of the corner hitting the 68 Comeback Special (Knee lift into a uranage). Jack immediately makes the pin again. *
1…
2…
KICKOUT!!!
Markson: Back to back near falls for Jack.
Napier: He’s wearing her down.
*Jack is up and signalling for the Donky Punch and as Blade staggers to her feet Jack moves in looking for the punch, but Blade drops down and catches Jack on her shoulder in a standing firemans. Blade goes to drop Jack wth the Attitude Adjuster, but Jack flips through and lands on his feet. Jack charges at the ropes as Blade tries to get up. Jack hops to the middle of the ropes and comes off with a moonsault, but Blade catches Jack on her shoulders, spins around and drops him with the Attiude Adjusters.
Blade rolls to her feet and signals of the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Blade hits to ropes, hops of Jack, hits the rops again, comes back, brushes her shoulder off and goes for the fist drop, but Jack rolls out of the way and Blade lands on the mat. *
Markson: OH! Jack just ruined the most electrifying move in pro wrestling.
Napier: NO WAY! El Diablo Blano’s backyard elbow is way more exciting.
*Blade rolls up to her feet and as she gets up Jack strikes from behind with the onkey Punch (a strike to the sciatica nerve performed with surgical precision that renders his opponents legs completely numb, or to put it another way, a punch to the butt). Blade staggers holding her butt when Jack takes her down with The Load Blower (back stabber/cracker/ lung blower). Jack rolls on top of her for the pin. *
1…
2…
3…
Steve Cotton: Here is your winner… JACK N. MEHOFF!!!
Markson: MeHoff picking up a nice win tonight.
Napier: Beretta Blade loses again, like father like daughter.
Markson: Beretta has all the tools to be a big star, she just needs some polishing.
Napier: I think Jack N. Mehoff is going to polish her…
Markson: *interrupting Napier* NOPE! DON’T FINISH THAT THOUGHT!
Steve Cotton: Here is your winner… JACK N. MEHOFF!!!
Markson: MeHoff picking up a nice win tonight.
Napier: Beretta Blade loses again, like father like daughter.
Markson: Beretta has all the tools to be a big star, she just needs some polishing.
Napier: I think Jack N. Mehoff is going to polish her…
Markson: *interrupting Napier* NOPE! DON’T FINISH THAT THOUGHT!
*“The Pretender” by Foo Fighters blasted out of the speakers of the arena, setting the stage for Khoe Cox’s entrance. As she stepped into the spotlight, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause, their excitement palpable in the air. Khoe’s infectious energy filled the arena, and tonight, she had something special planned.
In her hands, she held a fluffy bear proudly wearing her Prestige Championship around its waist. With a gleaming smile, Khoe made her way down the ramp, doling out high fives and snapping photos with eager fans, the stuffed bear stealing the show in every shot.
Inside the ring awaited a big red button, a mysterious addition to the night’s festivities. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Khoe climbed into the ring, the bear still clutched tightly in her grasp. As the crowd’s anticipation reached a fever pitch, she raised the bear high above her head, the championship belt gleaming under the arena lights.
With a dramatic flourish, Khoe placed the bear gently on the canvas and turned her attention to the big red button. The crowd held its breath as she reached out and……
Grabs a mic from right beside the button. *
Khloe: I know I know…….you want me to press it but it clearly is a BIG red button…your shouldn’t press those….no matter how bad you want to….
But enough about that! I wanted to come out here and talk…about what that belt means.
Tonight isn’t just about me, It’s about all of you—the incredible fans who have stood by me through every triumph and every challenge.
I REALLY wanna know what the button does….
*The crowd’s cheers turned into chants, urging her to press the button. Khoe feigned hesitation, playing up the drama for all it was worth.*
Khloe: No no it might do something horrible like summon J-Mont outside of his opening segment….I wonder how he got that slot…..
But that brings me to my other point…to all of you in the back who might think I’m a free win….all of you hungry mid card animals….no no ANY AND ALL of you….I don’t plan on making it easy….ive waited too long! Dont worry about me losing this edge I’m gonna keep sharpening myself!
*With a final flourish she brings the mic back up to her lips.*
Khloe: So bring it on!
*And with that, she finally pressed the big red button, unleashing a spectacle of balloons and soft toys that filled the arena with joy and excitement.
The balloons were of all shapes and sizes, some even shaped like wrestlers’ heads, while others were adorned with Khoe’s face and the logo of Thunder Pro Wrestling. Soft toys of various animals and superheroes rained down, each one eagerly caught by fans who laughed and cheered in delight.
Khoe herself couldn’t contain her excitement, joining in the fun as she tossed balloons into the crowd and batted around the soft toys with the bear. The arena was transformed into a whimsical wonderland, filled with laughter and joy as the celebration continued.
The scene would fade with Khloe celebrating her big victory with the fans, the Prestige Championship the last thing seen. *
In her hands, she held a fluffy bear proudly wearing her Prestige Championship around its waist. With a gleaming smile, Khoe made her way down the ramp, doling out high fives and snapping photos with eager fans, the stuffed bear stealing the show in every shot.
Inside the ring awaited a big red button, a mysterious addition to the night’s festivities. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Khoe climbed into the ring, the bear still clutched tightly in her grasp. As the crowd’s anticipation reached a fever pitch, she raised the bear high above her head, the championship belt gleaming under the arena lights.
With a dramatic flourish, Khoe placed the bear gently on the canvas and turned her attention to the big red button. The crowd held its breath as she reached out and……
Grabs a mic from right beside the button. *
Khloe: I know I know…….you want me to press it but it clearly is a BIG red button…your shouldn’t press those….no matter how bad you want to….
But enough about that! I wanted to come out here and talk…about what that belt means.
Tonight isn’t just about me, It’s about all of you—the incredible fans who have stood by me through every triumph and every challenge.
I REALLY wanna know what the button does….
*The crowd’s cheers turned into chants, urging her to press the button. Khoe feigned hesitation, playing up the drama for all it was worth.*
Khloe: No no it might do something horrible like summon J-Mont outside of his opening segment….I wonder how he got that slot…..
But that brings me to my other point…to all of you in the back who might think I’m a free win….all of you hungry mid card animals….no no ANY AND ALL of you….I don’t plan on making it easy….ive waited too long! Dont worry about me losing this edge I’m gonna keep sharpening myself!
*With a final flourish she brings the mic back up to her lips.*
Khloe: So bring it on!
*And with that, she finally pressed the big red button, unleashing a spectacle of balloons and soft toys that filled the arena with joy and excitement.
The balloons were of all shapes and sizes, some even shaped like wrestlers’ heads, while others were adorned with Khoe’s face and the logo of Thunder Pro Wrestling. Soft toys of various animals and superheroes rained down, each one eagerly caught by fans who laughed and cheered in delight.
Khoe herself couldn’t contain her excitement, joining in the fun as she tossed balloons into the crowd and batted around the soft toys with the bear. The arena was transformed into a whimsical wonderland, filled with laughter and joy as the celebration continued.
The scene would fade with Khloe celebrating her big victory with the fans, the Prestige Championship the last thing seen. *
Steve Cotton: The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a 10 minute time limit, introducing first, the man already in the ring: "The Better Than You-ligan" Kayby Hale Cassidy!
*The crowd boos loudly and “Taylor-Made” Ms. Arden Taylor tells them to shut up and show respect. The crowd boos even louder until… *
Steve Cotton: And his opponent, about to make his way to the ring from Boston, Massachusetts… Weighing in at 260 pounds and standing at 6’2” tall… “The Surgeon of Thuganomics…” John Blade!
*The Time is now hits as he walks out on stage. He talks to the camera man and bounces a little. He holds up his “Never Give Up” logo flag and tosses it to the fans. He salutes and runs straight down towards the ring. He bounces off the ropes side to side and he holds up his “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect” shirt. He takes off his hat and tosses his shirt to the fans and hands his Chain to the ref to begin to fight. *
Markson: John Blade came up a little short at the last Fury in a Fatal Four Way match up, so you know he is looking to bounce back big in this one one with a debuting Hale Cassidy.
Napier: Where do I begin with this Cassidy guy… Do I address that long ass name, or that fine piece of a-
*The bell rings censoring Napier thankfully. Cassidy, not liking how much the fans cheered Blade as he came in, charges at Blade as he was still stretching in the corner with his back to him. He nails him with a double axe handle smash, and then turns Blade around before nailing him with a couple of knife edge chops. The ref for this one, Lindsey Wallace, calls for the bell to start the match. Cassidy then grabs him by his right arm and whips him to the opposite corner, no, reversal by Blade who pulls him in, lifts him and delivers an inverted atomic drop! Cassidy stays in place, holding Taylor’s jewels in pain as Blade bounces himself off the ropes and nails him with flying shoulder tackle! Blade goes for the pin, but Cassidy kicks out right at one. John gets to his feet and brings Cassidy to his before whipping him towards the ropes. Cassidy bounces off and Blade goes for a clothesline but Cassidy ducks it and runs towards the opposite side. As Cassidy bounces himself off, Blade swings his arm, hoping for a back elbow but again Cassidy ducks it. He bounces off the ropes for a third time and then goes for a cross body block! John Blade catches him however, displaying his power and shaking his head as if to say not today. He walks around with Cassidy for a minute before lifting him onto his shoulders and then signaling to the crowd with his hand in front of his face! *
Markson: Looks like this match is over before it really gets started!
Napier: No! Taylor can’t leave yet!
*John goes to toss Cassidy but he flips out of the hold, landing on his feet. He then kicks Blade in the mid-section before trapping him with an inside cradle! *
1!
2!!
*Kick out by Blade! Cassidy gets to his feet and quickly brings John to his before nailing him with a series of forearm shots to the head to stun him. He then runs towards the ropes, bounces off and then jumps onto Blade’s shoulders, trying to go for a hurricanrana but Blade blocks it, jumping as well, catching, and planting him with a Lou-Thez Press! Blade pummels him with right hands and Ref Lindsey warns him about the closed fists and he apologizes. He gets to his feet and stands by Cassidy’s head and says the “you can’t see me” line with hand gesture that every fan in the around shouts along. Blade runs towards the ropes, bounces off and, no, Arden Taylor grabs his foot, stopping him! *
Markson: Well we don’t know much about Hale and Taylor, but I never seen a manager and or valet that didn’t get involved.
Napier: I mean, they got to help their client win right? Can’t just stand there and be eye candy… I mean Taylor can, all day every day, but I’m glad there is more to her!
*Referee Wallace warns Taylor about getting involved, and if she does it again, she’s going to get kicked out. Blade shakes his head in disappointment and then runs towards the opposite side, running over Cassidy. Blade bounces off the other side and Cassidy flips over and tries to trip him. But Blade runs over him again and bounces off the other side as Cassidy rolls over and tries to trip him again, but again Blade jumps over him. Blade bounces off the ropes one last time and Cassidy this time kips up and then tries to leapfrog Blade but he catches him instead, spins around and delivers a sit-out power-bomb! Blade places both legs over Cassidy’s arms to keep him pinned and Lindsey makes the count! *
1!
2!!
*Th.. kick out by Cassidy! Blade flips Cassidy over and then drops to the mat, wrapping his legs with his and then wrapping his massive arm around Cassidy’s throat, applying his favorite submission, STFU! Lindsey hits the mat and is across from Cassidy asking him if he gives up. He tries to hang on, and even reaches out to Taylor for help, but there is nothing she can do, and he is forced to tap out! Ref Wallace calls for the bell. *
Steve Cotton: Here is your winner… John Blade!
Markson: A submission win by John Blade who ruins the debut of Hale Cassidy!
Napier: Who knew John had it in him!
Markson: A shocker for sure, but we both know that when Blade really applies himself he can pull wins like this.
Napier: Um, sure. But what about that Taylor huh? Helluva debut.
Markson: It was Cassidy’s debut, but we’ll see what happens with him-
Napier: AND Taylor.
Markson: Right, after a disappointing debut.
*The crowd boos loudly and “Taylor-Made” Ms. Arden Taylor tells them to shut up and show respect. The crowd boos even louder until… *
Steve Cotton: And his opponent, about to make his way to the ring from Boston, Massachusetts… Weighing in at 260 pounds and standing at 6’2” tall… “The Surgeon of Thuganomics…” John Blade!
*The Time is now hits as he walks out on stage. He talks to the camera man and bounces a little. He holds up his “Never Give Up” logo flag and tosses it to the fans. He salutes and runs straight down towards the ring. He bounces off the ropes side to side and he holds up his “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect” shirt. He takes off his hat and tosses his shirt to the fans and hands his Chain to the ref to begin to fight. *
Markson: John Blade came up a little short at the last Fury in a Fatal Four Way match up, so you know he is looking to bounce back big in this one one with a debuting Hale Cassidy.
Napier: Where do I begin with this Cassidy guy… Do I address that long ass name, or that fine piece of a-
*The bell rings censoring Napier thankfully. Cassidy, not liking how much the fans cheered Blade as he came in, charges at Blade as he was still stretching in the corner with his back to him. He nails him with a double axe handle smash, and then turns Blade around before nailing him with a couple of knife edge chops. The ref for this one, Lindsey Wallace, calls for the bell to start the match. Cassidy then grabs him by his right arm and whips him to the opposite corner, no, reversal by Blade who pulls him in, lifts him and delivers an inverted atomic drop! Cassidy stays in place, holding Taylor’s jewels in pain as Blade bounces himself off the ropes and nails him with flying shoulder tackle! Blade goes for the pin, but Cassidy kicks out right at one. John gets to his feet and brings Cassidy to his before whipping him towards the ropes. Cassidy bounces off and Blade goes for a clothesline but Cassidy ducks it and runs towards the opposite side. As Cassidy bounces himself off, Blade swings his arm, hoping for a back elbow but again Cassidy ducks it. He bounces off the ropes for a third time and then goes for a cross body block! John Blade catches him however, displaying his power and shaking his head as if to say not today. He walks around with Cassidy for a minute before lifting him onto his shoulders and then signaling to the crowd with his hand in front of his face! *
Markson: Looks like this match is over before it really gets started!
Napier: No! Taylor can’t leave yet!
*John goes to toss Cassidy but he flips out of the hold, landing on his feet. He then kicks Blade in the mid-section before trapping him with an inside cradle! *
1!
2!!
*Kick out by Blade! Cassidy gets to his feet and quickly brings John to his before nailing him with a series of forearm shots to the head to stun him. He then runs towards the ropes, bounces off and then jumps onto Blade’s shoulders, trying to go for a hurricanrana but Blade blocks it, jumping as well, catching, and planting him with a Lou-Thez Press! Blade pummels him with right hands and Ref Lindsey warns him about the closed fists and he apologizes. He gets to his feet and stands by Cassidy’s head and says the “you can’t see me” line with hand gesture that every fan in the around shouts along. Blade runs towards the ropes, bounces off and, no, Arden Taylor grabs his foot, stopping him! *
Markson: Well we don’t know much about Hale and Taylor, but I never seen a manager and or valet that didn’t get involved.
Napier: I mean, they got to help their client win right? Can’t just stand there and be eye candy… I mean Taylor can, all day every day, but I’m glad there is more to her!
*Referee Wallace warns Taylor about getting involved, and if she does it again, she’s going to get kicked out. Blade shakes his head in disappointment and then runs towards the opposite side, running over Cassidy. Blade bounces off the other side and Cassidy flips over and tries to trip him. But Blade runs over him again and bounces off the other side as Cassidy rolls over and tries to trip him again, but again Blade jumps over him. Blade bounces off the ropes one last time and Cassidy this time kips up and then tries to leapfrog Blade but he catches him instead, spins around and delivers a sit-out power-bomb! Blade places both legs over Cassidy’s arms to keep him pinned and Lindsey makes the count! *
1!
2!!
*Th.. kick out by Cassidy! Blade flips Cassidy over and then drops to the mat, wrapping his legs with his and then wrapping his massive arm around Cassidy’s throat, applying his favorite submission, STFU! Lindsey hits the mat and is across from Cassidy asking him if he gives up. He tries to hang on, and even reaches out to Taylor for help, but there is nothing she can do, and he is forced to tap out! Ref Wallace calls for the bell. *
Steve Cotton: Here is your winner… John Blade!
Markson: A submission win by John Blade who ruins the debut of Hale Cassidy!
Napier: Who knew John had it in him!
Markson: A shocker for sure, but we both know that when Blade really applies himself he can pull wins like this.
Napier: Um, sure. But what about that Taylor huh? Helluva debut.
Markson: It was Cassidy’s debut, but we’ll see what happens with him-
Napier: AND Taylor.
Markson: Right, after a disappointing debut.
*A wide shot had opened up to the backstage area of tonight’s arena. The cameras were able to catch a particular man roaming down the halls. That man turned out to be none other than Jayce Piece. The general audience reaction when seeing him was indifferent. Not too many booed, not too many cheered. Jayce’s eyes lifted up realizing the camera and the camera crew before him. Only a weak grin crossed his lips for a moment.*
Jayce Pierce: Let’s be honest shall we?
*He took a couple more steps forward.*
Jayce Pierce: I don’t belong here. Now that isn’t a shot at this company. It isn’t a shot at the way this place is ran. It’s not a shot at anyone here. That’s just me being honest. Speaking from the heart. It is more than obvious I do not belong here. I am a waste of a roster spot. I feel like putting me in a match is just a wasted spot. When it would go to someone that would put on a better show. And the money? Yeah, the money I see every time I compete. It’s a waste, it should go to someone that actually matters. I’m practically robbing this company blind in that aspect. No one is truly paying to see me. I’m Pooping the bed every chance I get too.
*Jayce’s pacing had come to a stop. As the man found himself one of those big metal crates to sit on there in the back. Taking a second or two to himself. As if he was trying to find the right words to say.*
Jayce Pierce: My best moment in Thunder Pro is beating a walking, talking, breathing meme that is John Blade. And even with beating him. That dude has more clout than me. Can’t knock the hustle. If it works, it works. Ya know. That being said, I thought that maybe just maybe if I found a way to motivate myself. Ask for an opportunity. Ask for that one chance. Ask for one more shot to prove myself. It would kick my ass into gear. It would force me to be what I thought I could be. And as you saw at Thunder In Paradise. That was not the case.
*The smallest amount of sorrow sounded from his voice. Maybe, just maybe the man was beating himself up more than he should. But the one thing about this moment was he had people’s attention. For better or for worse, depending on how it would be interpreted.*
Jayce Pierce: On that night. I was bested. It isn’t a situation where I feel slighted or I got screwed over. I simply was not the better wrestler in that match. Therefore I deserve to lose, but that puts me in the same situation I was in not even three weeks ago. It’s clear as day. I just don’t have that “IT” factor. I might be a good hand to have around here for x, y, and z. But that’s it. I’m not destined for great things. I’m not someone that’s going to be main eventing pay per views. I am not going to be main eventing Friday Nights. It’s showing right before my eyes. Right before your eyes. And the last thing I want is these types of moments to keep happening. For it to be some type of pity party. For people to think I’m feeling sorry for myself. Or even to think I’m trying to twist things around for people to feel sorry for me. Nah, that ain’t how I’m going to do Poop. I’m not going out like some pathetic punk.
*There was at least some expression on his face at that moment. Expression that wasn’t sorrowful or bitter. It was a disgruntled expression, but Jayce was disgruntled with no one other than himself.*
Jayce Pierce: Therefore after much consideration. Much thought. Much back and forth. And even if it isn’t going to mean anything to most people around here. I’ve made the decision I’ll be walking away from Thunder Pro for the time being. I have to figure out myself. I gotta figure out who I am as a wrestler. Hell, I have to figure out who I am as a man. That’s the only way I’m going to be able to succeed. Whether it’s in the ring or in life in general. So this is my fare---
*Before the word could be finished. There was a hand that came out of nowhere and SMACKED him in the back of the head. The smack sound seemed to be louder than it should. It certainly caught Jayce off guard. But he didn’t even have a chance to turn around before he along with everyone else heard an angry sounding voice..*
??: Goshdangit Boy! Are you stupid or something?!
*Jayce found himself rising up from the metal crate. Turning around real slow and coming face to face with an older man. He had to be pushing his sixties. *
Jayce Pierce: Ken?
Ken Borenette: Yes. Ken Borenette! In the flesh boy. I know it's shocking. I ain’t dead yet.
Jayce Pierce: What the hell are you doing here?!
Ken Borenette: Better Gosh Dang question boy is what in the sam-hell has gotten into you? I know you are a little soft around the edges. Spending all that time behind bars and what not. God knows what happened to you in them showers.
Jayce Pierce: Hey watch it!
Ken Borenette: Just saying kid. You got soft. Now you’re looking yellow. Trying to tuck your tail between your legs. Walk away. That isn’t who I trained. You letting all these internet wrestling trolls get to you? Reading them, what are they called dirt sheets?!
Jayce Pierce: No. I’m not reading dirt sheets. I’m not dealing with any internet trolls either.
Ken Borenette: Then, let me take another stab at it. Is it them flippy-doo-da wrestlers? Is it the spamming superkick and piledrivers morons?! Spot fest no chemistry or ring psychology pussies?! Are the ‘sports entertainers’ getting to you?! You feel like wrestling or wrestler is a dirty word?! Is this the type of stuff getting to you? Letting that crap rot your brain!
*The older man stood there with a sour expression on his face. Arms folded across his chest in front of him. A very animated character to say the least. Jayce’s expression was still a very confused looking one. He just looked back at the man in front of him like he was trying to make sense of it all.*
Ken Borenette: Come on now. Speak when spoken to!
Jayce Pierce: ... I don’t even know where to begin. Or how to even comprise the rant you’re going on about. It’s nothing to do with anything like that. Nothing to do with anyone here. Nothing to do with anything or anyone other than myself. I’m the one that’s struggling. I’m the one that feels the way I do.
Ken Borenette: So, you have gone soft? Well, I’ll be damned. Who thought a big bad tattoo cover prison man would have such self esteem issues?
Jayce Pierce: I might have respect for you, because you helped me get my foot in the door. But I’ve about had enough---
Ken Borenette: Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard this song and dance before. You clearly need me back in your life for a little guidance. Get you back on track. Stop you from making such a stupid decision. You ain’t going nowhere. I’m not about to allow you to go anywhere!
Jayce Pierce: This isn’t your decision to make.
Ken Borenette: Shut up boy and just follow me. We got some work to do, but first we need some cheeseburgers and them... muffins you used to talk about from back in the day.
*By that point the older man had turned his back to Jayce and started to walk along. Waving for him to follow behind him. This was so out of left field. Caught him by surprise. No doubt the fans in attendance were as confused as him, but getting a treat all the same. Jayce sighed heavily, starting to follow behind the man.*
Jayce Pierce: Let’s be honest shall we?
*He took a couple more steps forward.*
Jayce Pierce: I don’t belong here. Now that isn’t a shot at this company. It isn’t a shot at the way this place is ran. It’s not a shot at anyone here. That’s just me being honest. Speaking from the heart. It is more than obvious I do not belong here. I am a waste of a roster spot. I feel like putting me in a match is just a wasted spot. When it would go to someone that would put on a better show. And the money? Yeah, the money I see every time I compete. It’s a waste, it should go to someone that actually matters. I’m practically robbing this company blind in that aspect. No one is truly paying to see me. I’m Pooping the bed every chance I get too.
*Jayce’s pacing had come to a stop. As the man found himself one of those big metal crates to sit on there in the back. Taking a second or two to himself. As if he was trying to find the right words to say.*
Jayce Pierce: My best moment in Thunder Pro is beating a walking, talking, breathing meme that is John Blade. And even with beating him. That dude has more clout than me. Can’t knock the hustle. If it works, it works. Ya know. That being said, I thought that maybe just maybe if I found a way to motivate myself. Ask for an opportunity. Ask for that one chance. Ask for one more shot to prove myself. It would kick my ass into gear. It would force me to be what I thought I could be. And as you saw at Thunder In Paradise. That was not the case.
*The smallest amount of sorrow sounded from his voice. Maybe, just maybe the man was beating himself up more than he should. But the one thing about this moment was he had people’s attention. For better or for worse, depending on how it would be interpreted.*
Jayce Pierce: On that night. I was bested. It isn’t a situation where I feel slighted or I got screwed over. I simply was not the better wrestler in that match. Therefore I deserve to lose, but that puts me in the same situation I was in not even three weeks ago. It’s clear as day. I just don’t have that “IT” factor. I might be a good hand to have around here for x, y, and z. But that’s it. I’m not destined for great things. I’m not someone that’s going to be main eventing pay per views. I am not going to be main eventing Friday Nights. It’s showing right before my eyes. Right before your eyes. And the last thing I want is these types of moments to keep happening. For it to be some type of pity party. For people to think I’m feeling sorry for myself. Or even to think I’m trying to twist things around for people to feel sorry for me. Nah, that ain’t how I’m going to do Poop. I’m not going out like some pathetic punk.
*There was at least some expression on his face at that moment. Expression that wasn’t sorrowful or bitter. It was a disgruntled expression, but Jayce was disgruntled with no one other than himself.*
Jayce Pierce: Therefore after much consideration. Much thought. Much back and forth. And even if it isn’t going to mean anything to most people around here. I’ve made the decision I’ll be walking away from Thunder Pro for the time being. I have to figure out myself. I gotta figure out who I am as a wrestler. Hell, I have to figure out who I am as a man. That’s the only way I’m going to be able to succeed. Whether it’s in the ring or in life in general. So this is my fare---
*Before the word could be finished. There was a hand that came out of nowhere and SMACKED him in the back of the head. The smack sound seemed to be louder than it should. It certainly caught Jayce off guard. But he didn’t even have a chance to turn around before he along with everyone else heard an angry sounding voice..*
??: Goshdangit Boy! Are you stupid or something?!
*Jayce found himself rising up from the metal crate. Turning around real slow and coming face to face with an older man. He had to be pushing his sixties. *
Jayce Pierce: Ken?
Ken Borenette: Yes. Ken Borenette! In the flesh boy. I know it's shocking. I ain’t dead yet.
Jayce Pierce: What the hell are you doing here?!
Ken Borenette: Better Gosh Dang question boy is what in the sam-hell has gotten into you? I know you are a little soft around the edges. Spending all that time behind bars and what not. God knows what happened to you in them showers.
Jayce Pierce: Hey watch it!
Ken Borenette: Just saying kid. You got soft. Now you’re looking yellow. Trying to tuck your tail between your legs. Walk away. That isn’t who I trained. You letting all these internet wrestling trolls get to you? Reading them, what are they called dirt sheets?!
Jayce Pierce: No. I’m not reading dirt sheets. I’m not dealing with any internet trolls either.
Ken Borenette: Then, let me take another stab at it. Is it them flippy-doo-da wrestlers? Is it the spamming superkick and piledrivers morons?! Spot fest no chemistry or ring psychology pussies?! Are the ‘sports entertainers’ getting to you?! You feel like wrestling or wrestler is a dirty word?! Is this the type of stuff getting to you? Letting that crap rot your brain!
*The older man stood there with a sour expression on his face. Arms folded across his chest in front of him. A very animated character to say the least. Jayce’s expression was still a very confused looking one. He just looked back at the man in front of him like he was trying to make sense of it all.*
Ken Borenette: Come on now. Speak when spoken to!
Jayce Pierce: ... I don’t even know where to begin. Or how to even comprise the rant you’re going on about. It’s nothing to do with anything like that. Nothing to do with anyone here. Nothing to do with anything or anyone other than myself. I’m the one that’s struggling. I’m the one that feels the way I do.
Ken Borenette: So, you have gone soft? Well, I’ll be damned. Who thought a big bad tattoo cover prison man would have such self esteem issues?
Jayce Pierce: I might have respect for you, because you helped me get my foot in the door. But I’ve about had enough---
Ken Borenette: Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard this song and dance before. You clearly need me back in your life for a little guidance. Get you back on track. Stop you from making such a stupid decision. You ain’t going nowhere. I’m not about to allow you to go anywhere!
Jayce Pierce: This isn’t your decision to make.
Ken Borenette: Shut up boy and just follow me. We got some work to do, but first we need some cheeseburgers and them... muffins you used to talk about from back in the day.
*By that point the older man had turned his back to Jayce and started to walk along. Waving for him to follow behind him. This was so out of left field. Caught him by surprise. No doubt the fans in attendance were as confused as him, but getting a treat all the same. Jayce sighed heavily, starting to follow behind the man.*
*A Steadicam operator follows Sandy Marshall down a clean white hallway, ducking past a doctor striding through with a clipboard. She scans the names on the door, then finds the third on the right, twists the handle, and steps through, the camera following.
Inside, a well-appointed room - armchair, rug, door to an ensuite bathroom - the aesthetic only slightly spoiled by the IV bag and heart rate monitors standing next to the bed. Propped up, a tube full of clear liquid running to a cannula in the back of her hand and an oxygen supply in her nose, is Ava Arthur. She sees Sandy and raises her arm in greeting, then winces as the tube pulls tight.n*
SANDY: Maybe don’t-
AVA: Yeah, yeah. Hey, how come I only ever see you when I’m hurt? First Gladiator’s Ball, now this… we gotta grab a drink or something so you can see me at full strength.
She winks, and then swears under her breath.
AVA: How does even that hurt?
Sandy ploughs on, ever the professional.
SANDY: So, I hear you’ve got an announcement to make.
AVA: Unfortunately… yeah. Roll the clip.
*We flash back to Thunder in Paradise, and Knox wrapping his arms around Ava’s waist, lifting her off the apron, and throwing her back against one of the huge fans. Through a shower of sparks we can just see the pain etched across her face. *
AVA: Not gonna lie, Knox, that one hurt like a bit-
SANDY: -big old pain, you mean?
AVA: Whoops. Yeah. I mean, hey. Respect. Do what you gotta do. And I’m excited to see you and Amber kick Rogue’s Gallery’s heads in. But unfortunately, having that many volts run straight through your back… kinda puts you on the shelf. Don’t get the camera behind me. I look like a rack of barbecue ribs from there.
Sandy retches a little.
AVA: That is to say… I’m sorry, Thunderamaniacs.
Maybe there’s a little more seriousness in her eyes. Maybe a tinge of sadness.
AVA: And sorry, most of all, to Lessi. I’m gonna be on the shelf for a little while. But you know that you’ll still be fighting. And I expect to come back to you on fire, you hear me? Tear it up. And don’t worry. Soon as I’m better, I’ll be back. But in the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing what you do.
*Sandy nods, and the camera fades to Alessia, in the middle of the ring - face solemn, hands crossed. A closeup shot, just heads and shoulders. She nods to acknowledge the rings of applause and chants of her partner’s name, letting them echo for a few seconds before she gestures for quiet.*
ALESSIA: Just like Ava says. I’m not going anywhere.
The crowd roars, and despite herself a small smile creeps onto her face.
ALESSIA: Because this is a chance to wipe the slate clean, and rewrite a new name. People see me as just Ava’s lesser - her sidekick, her assistant. Thrown out of the Bash early, while she goes on to win it all. First to raise her arm when she wins. Well, you know what? I am tired of not being acknowledged. Ava is a great talent, I’ll be the first to say it. But I am too. I am the Angel of Agony. I know how good I am.
A cheer, but she silences it quickly with a wave of her hand.
ALESSIA: But I also know - unlike so many others in this promotion - that I have to show it. That nobody can wipe the mark off my name but me, and it’ll only come off with sweat, and blood.
*She reaches down, out of shot, and from her waist… draws a sword, short and wide, gleaming steel with a bright bronze handle.*
ALESSIA: So to all of you - everyone in the seats, and everyone back there behind the curtain. I’m not sitting on the sidelines, waiting until Ava comes back so I can get back in her shadow. I’m starting my own fire. This is my promise.
*In one smooth movement, she lifts up the blade and slices her palm open, letting blood ooze from a long, neat cut as she raises her hand in the air, the other letting the sword drop. She holds it for a moment, to a cheer - her name, this time - then turns, slowly, and with a red hand beckons to the back.*
ALESSIA: Next Friday Night Fury, my redemption will start. Who wants to be first?
*“The Pretender” By Foo Fighters erupts from the speakers as ANOTHER shower of balloons rains down for the fans as Khloe Cox strolls out hands wrapped around her Prestige Championship equipped teddy bear. She would get about half way down the ramp before plopping down and fishing a Mic out from somewhere. *
Khloe: Heyyyyyya Alessia! Did Ava get my get well card and five pounds of candy? They gave me a big ole check for winning this belt!
*Alessia frowns. That’s… a change in tone. Still, Khloe’s a solid competitor, and a new champion. Someone she respects. *
ALESSIA: Uh… hey, Khloe. Congratulations on the title win. We were watching from the back - well-earned. Your star is rising.
Khloe: Thank you, now I came out here to accept your challenge!
*She would pop up and head towards the ring all smiles and high fives in one swift motion she would roll in and prop Teddy champ in the corner.*
Khloe: I’m sure you can guess why and all that?
Alessia nods, with a smile.
ALESSIA: I’m sure I can. You’re a new champ looking to prove her reign, I’ve got a singles losing streak to end. Sounds like a good test for both of us.
She holds out a hand (the non-bloody one, hygiene is important) for a shake.
Khloe: I know you're the more…serious of the duo but you CANNOT be serious right now….
*Khloe would give her a look a seemingly razor sharp seriousness coming on her face. Alessia cocks an eyebrow, but says nothing, letting Khloe take the initiative. Khloe would sigh and shake her head before dropping the mic and giving Alessia a great big hug! Alessia almost raises her fists as Khloe steps forward, before she realises what’s going on and embraces Khloe - still a bit of confusion on her face, but a real warmth too. After a moment or two Khloe pulls away from the hug and picks her mic back up. Her smile is still bright but her eyes have a real confidence. *
Khloe: Alessia, don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. While I appreciate the camaraderie and plan on getting milkshakes with you after this , in the ring, it’s all business.
ALESSIA: I wouldn’t expect anything else. That’s why I respect you, and why I’m looking forward to the challenge.
*She stares Khloe down for a second - likewise, confident, maybe a little aggressive, but nothing harsh - then turns to leave the ring. She’s halfway through the ropes when she stops and turns back round.*
ALESSIA: Milkshakes sounds great. You’re buying, though, with your new champion money. Deal?
Khloe: That’s exploitative Alessi plus you guys where champs way longer so you should have good savings!
*Khloe follows her out of the ring after grabbing her championship teddy the screen turning to a commercial break. *
Inside, a well-appointed room - armchair, rug, door to an ensuite bathroom - the aesthetic only slightly spoiled by the IV bag and heart rate monitors standing next to the bed. Propped up, a tube full of clear liquid running to a cannula in the back of her hand and an oxygen supply in her nose, is Ava Arthur. She sees Sandy and raises her arm in greeting, then winces as the tube pulls tight.n*
SANDY: Maybe don’t-
AVA: Yeah, yeah. Hey, how come I only ever see you when I’m hurt? First Gladiator’s Ball, now this… we gotta grab a drink or something so you can see me at full strength.
She winks, and then swears under her breath.
AVA: How does even that hurt?
Sandy ploughs on, ever the professional.
SANDY: So, I hear you’ve got an announcement to make.
AVA: Unfortunately… yeah. Roll the clip.
*We flash back to Thunder in Paradise, and Knox wrapping his arms around Ava’s waist, lifting her off the apron, and throwing her back against one of the huge fans. Through a shower of sparks we can just see the pain etched across her face. *
AVA: Not gonna lie, Knox, that one hurt like a bit-
SANDY: -big old pain, you mean?
AVA: Whoops. Yeah. I mean, hey. Respect. Do what you gotta do. And I’m excited to see you and Amber kick Rogue’s Gallery’s heads in. But unfortunately, having that many volts run straight through your back… kinda puts you on the shelf. Don’t get the camera behind me. I look like a rack of barbecue ribs from there.
Sandy retches a little.
AVA: That is to say… I’m sorry, Thunderamaniacs.
Maybe there’s a little more seriousness in her eyes. Maybe a tinge of sadness.
AVA: And sorry, most of all, to Lessi. I’m gonna be on the shelf for a little while. But you know that you’ll still be fighting. And I expect to come back to you on fire, you hear me? Tear it up. And don’t worry. Soon as I’m better, I’ll be back. But in the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing what you do.
*Sandy nods, and the camera fades to Alessia, in the middle of the ring - face solemn, hands crossed. A closeup shot, just heads and shoulders. She nods to acknowledge the rings of applause and chants of her partner’s name, letting them echo for a few seconds before she gestures for quiet.*
ALESSIA: Just like Ava says. I’m not going anywhere.
The crowd roars, and despite herself a small smile creeps onto her face.
ALESSIA: Because this is a chance to wipe the slate clean, and rewrite a new name. People see me as just Ava’s lesser - her sidekick, her assistant. Thrown out of the Bash early, while she goes on to win it all. First to raise her arm when she wins. Well, you know what? I am tired of not being acknowledged. Ava is a great talent, I’ll be the first to say it. But I am too. I am the Angel of Agony. I know how good I am.
A cheer, but she silences it quickly with a wave of her hand.
ALESSIA: But I also know - unlike so many others in this promotion - that I have to show it. That nobody can wipe the mark off my name but me, and it’ll only come off with sweat, and blood.
*She reaches down, out of shot, and from her waist… draws a sword, short and wide, gleaming steel with a bright bronze handle.*
ALESSIA: So to all of you - everyone in the seats, and everyone back there behind the curtain. I’m not sitting on the sidelines, waiting until Ava comes back so I can get back in her shadow. I’m starting my own fire. This is my promise.
*In one smooth movement, she lifts up the blade and slices her palm open, letting blood ooze from a long, neat cut as she raises her hand in the air, the other letting the sword drop. She holds it for a moment, to a cheer - her name, this time - then turns, slowly, and with a red hand beckons to the back.*
ALESSIA: Next Friday Night Fury, my redemption will start. Who wants to be first?
*“The Pretender” By Foo Fighters erupts from the speakers as ANOTHER shower of balloons rains down for the fans as Khloe Cox strolls out hands wrapped around her Prestige Championship equipped teddy bear. She would get about half way down the ramp before plopping down and fishing a Mic out from somewhere. *
Khloe: Heyyyyyya Alessia! Did Ava get my get well card and five pounds of candy? They gave me a big ole check for winning this belt!
*Alessia frowns. That’s… a change in tone. Still, Khloe’s a solid competitor, and a new champion. Someone she respects. *
ALESSIA: Uh… hey, Khloe. Congratulations on the title win. We were watching from the back - well-earned. Your star is rising.
Khloe: Thank you, now I came out here to accept your challenge!
*She would pop up and head towards the ring all smiles and high fives in one swift motion she would roll in and prop Teddy champ in the corner.*
Khloe: I’m sure you can guess why and all that?
Alessia nods, with a smile.
ALESSIA: I’m sure I can. You’re a new champ looking to prove her reign, I’ve got a singles losing streak to end. Sounds like a good test for both of us.
She holds out a hand (the non-bloody one, hygiene is important) for a shake.
Khloe: I know you're the more…serious of the duo but you CANNOT be serious right now….
*Khloe would give her a look a seemingly razor sharp seriousness coming on her face. Alessia cocks an eyebrow, but says nothing, letting Khloe take the initiative. Khloe would sigh and shake her head before dropping the mic and giving Alessia a great big hug! Alessia almost raises her fists as Khloe steps forward, before she realises what’s going on and embraces Khloe - still a bit of confusion on her face, but a real warmth too. After a moment or two Khloe pulls away from the hug and picks her mic back up. Her smile is still bright but her eyes have a real confidence. *
Khloe: Alessia, don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. While I appreciate the camaraderie and plan on getting milkshakes with you after this , in the ring, it’s all business.
ALESSIA: I wouldn’t expect anything else. That’s why I respect you, and why I’m looking forward to the challenge.
*She stares Khloe down for a second - likewise, confident, maybe a little aggressive, but nothing harsh - then turns to leave the ring. She’s halfway through the ropes when she stops and turns back round.*
ALESSIA: Milkshakes sounds great. You’re buying, though, with your new champion money. Deal?
Khloe: That’s exploitative Alessi plus you guys where champs way longer so you should have good savings!
*Khloe follows her out of the ring after grabbing her championship teddy the screen turning to a commercial break. *
*The shot returns from the commercial break to Strangler and Matt Knox already in the ring. As the bell rings, The Strangler seems hot to trot as he charges out but puts on the brakes as Matt Knox holds up a hand to stop him. He leans out of the ropes, motioning for a microphone and nodding his thanks to Steve Cotton as he did so. The Strangler yells something from across the ring which earns a cross look from Knox. *
Matt Knox: Chill out kid, you’re still gettin paid.
*The fans pop as Matt turns his attention to them.*
Matt Knox: Sorry to do this out of order but, see, when they put out the e-mail askin us to reserve mic time I decided to ignore it and gosm–Hey!
*Knox sidesteps a flying knee by the Strangler who catches himself on the ropes and turnsto charge directly into Dead and Lovely. The kick floors the other man as Knox stares down at him incredulously.*
Matt Knox: A For effort…..anyway. Rogues Gallery? Here’s the skinny, Me and Amber have something to prove. We could, hypothetically, prove it by bringing in the only other tag team worth a damn into the match but…”
*He pauses to look into the camera.*
Matt Knox: They need to mucho earn it, first. So at Retromania, its going to be just the two of you against me and Amber and its going to be brutal. It’s going to be final and it’s going to be a message, one spelled out in the bits and pieces of you left in the ring.
*The Strangler stirs which catches Knox’s attention. He walks over casually, pressing his boot on the other man’s throat as he looks up to find the camera again.*
Matt Knox: Look to him, and know that this is your future. Struggling against something you never stood a chance again to begin with. Nevermore, Rogues Gallery. Texas Death Match. We’ll even make it interesting…Elimination style…but lets be real…
*He presses down harder, leaning onto his knee.*
Matt Knox: The only question is which one of you goes down first.
*He lifts his boot off The Strangler’s neck, dropping the mic and lifting him onto his shoulders to send him Into the Void. He plants a single foot on the Strangler’s chest as he bends down tor retrieve the mic. He waits for the ref
ONE!!!
Matt Knox: Chill out kid, you’re still gettin paid.
*The fans pop as Matt turns his attention to them.*
Matt Knox: Sorry to do this out of order but, see, when they put out the e-mail askin us to reserve mic time I decided to ignore it and gosm–Hey!
*Knox sidesteps a flying knee by the Strangler who catches himself on the ropes and turnsto charge directly into Dead and Lovely. The kick floors the other man as Knox stares down at him incredulously.*
Matt Knox: A For effort…..anyway. Rogues Gallery? Here’s the skinny, Me and Amber have something to prove. We could, hypothetically, prove it by bringing in the only other tag team worth a damn into the match but…”
*He pauses to look into the camera.*
Matt Knox: They need to mucho earn it, first. So at Retromania, its going to be just the two of you against me and Amber and its going to be brutal. It’s going to be final and it’s going to be a message, one spelled out in the bits and pieces of you left in the ring.
*The Strangler stirs which catches Knox’s attention. He walks over casually, pressing his boot on the other man’s throat as he looks up to find the camera again.*
Matt Knox: Look to him, and know that this is your future. Struggling against something you never stood a chance again to begin with. Nevermore, Rogues Gallery. Texas Death Match. We’ll even make it interesting…Elimination style…but lets be real…
*He presses down harder, leaning onto his knee.*
Matt Knox: The only question is which one of you goes down first.
*He lifts his boot off The Strangler’s neck, dropping the mic and lifting him onto his shoulders to send him Into the Void. He plants a single foot on the Strangler’s chest as he bends down tor retrieve the mic. He waits for the ref
ONE!!!
TWO!!!!
THREE!!!
DING DING DING *
Matt Knox: Now, before I go to the back and watch the eyes of so many go to the floor when I pass, i’m laying a challenge on the lin to the one bit of hope that team has. You, big fella. Superunkown. Matt Knox. Friday Night Fury….Let me know…but hey, I’ll understand, if you want to delay the inevitable.
*He drops the mic now as his music hits He takes his boot off the Strangler’s chest and heads to the back.*
DING DING DING *
Matt Knox: Now, before I go to the back and watch the eyes of so many go to the floor when I pass, i’m laying a challenge on the lin to the one bit of hope that team has. You, big fella. Superunkown. Matt Knox. Friday Night Fury….Let me know…but hey, I’ll understand, if you want to delay the inevitable.
*He drops the mic now as his music hits He takes his boot off the Strangler’s chest and heads to the back.*
*The Terry-Tron lights up with the words "TWO WEEKS AGO.".
Superunknown sits in his rebuilt Crystal Starship hanging in the sky high above the hovercraft.*
Shadow: You spent all of this time recreating this place for a man who tried to steal your life?
*Superunknown turns to the Shadow who hovers like a ghost half-in, half-out of this world. Superunknown sighs.*
Superunknown: It is not his fault, not entirely. Besides, he is going to need it in the coming fight.
Shadow: You really think they are going to turn on their master?
Superunknown: Frances will use her Atlantean tech to heal the trauma that bound them to the Technocrat's will.
Shadow: If you say so.
*Suddenly Superunknown is roused from his meditative state by JTW. He opens his eyes back aboard the Crystal Starship.*
JTW: It's time. We've arrived.
*JTW zips up his jacket as he exits Superunknowns's quarters. Superunknown rises to his feet, he pulls his mask on and follows his partner out to the bridge. They navigate the narrow hallways of the ship and reach the bridge where Frances Farmer and the crew are manning their stations.*
Frances Farmer: We've got their coordinates locked. Hold onto your butts, we're about to time jump.
*Rogues' Gallery are leaving the Aloha Stadium after losing the insanely chaotic S.E.X. Cup Hurricane Hustle finals match to Never//More. Both men are covered in blood. Some of it is their own, the rest… well, who the hell knows? As they make their way across the parking lot to their rental vehicle JTW notices a bright light in the sky rapidly getting closer.*
JTW: Dooood! Look dude.
Superunknown looks up and the ship is close enough to make out what it is.
Superunknown: Oh, fudge…
*Suddenly a beam of bright light engulfs them and just as soon as it came it was gone leaving the real Rogues’ Gallery standing there in front of them.*
Superunknown: It's so over for you.
*The real Superunknown reaches forward and grabs his counterpart by the throat. The real JTW head butts his counterpart. Superunknown chokeslams his counterpart on the pavement and JTW Unleashes the Lion.
The evil clones now lay on the pavement, writhing in pain as the same bright light engulfs them again. When the light recedes. All that is left are the real Rogues’ Gallery and the Duos championship belts lying on the pavement. Rogues’ Gallery scoop up their belts and sling them over their shoulders in unison.*
JTW: We're so back.
*Frances Farmer stands at the other end of the lot. She smiles before clapping her hands. *
THE PRESENT.
*Strobe lights begin to flash as "Cowboys From Hell" by Pantera starts playing. As the chuggy main riff of the song starts the Rogues’ Gallery, Jeremy The Wicked, Superunknown, and their manager, Frances Farmer, emerge onto the stage from behind the curtain. Frances leans down in front of Jeremy The Wicked and Superuknown and surveys the crowd. They toss their arms triumphantly into the air before they head to the ring. On the way to the ring, Superunknown grabs a microphone, he tosses one to his partner, JTW before taking another for himself. Both walk to the ring, slide their Duos belts under the ropes and climb in.
Rogues’ Gallery pick up the belts and sling them back over their shoulders. *
Superunknown: So… Thunder In Paradise didn’t go our way and as a result Never//More walked away winning the S.E.X Cup for the second time. Congratulations.
JTW: And yeah, that means they get a shot at our titles… although, I’m not sure how soon Amber Ryan will be able to get back in the ring after I took her out.
Superunknown: And of course, they might not have gotten a chance to do that without those pathetic losers, those Mucho Evil bastards, the Malvados, showing up to snatch victory from our hands with their cowardly attack on us. But what’s done is. You did it, Knox. Though, your partner really paid the price for it, huh? So let’s here it for the 2024 S.E.X. Cup winners!
Superunknown claps his free hand on the microphone as his partner and Frances clap along.
JTW: Alright… alright… enough of that. My partner and I have been through hell and back to here tonight and we aren’t here to throw a party for Never//More. No. We are here tonight in Seattle to send a message to Never//More who won a Duos title match with the stipulation of their choice at Retromania and to the Malvados, who saw fit to stick their noses in Rogues’ Gallery business. Knox, you called us bitchmade for not putting our belts on the line for the S.E.X. Cup… I say demanding that be added wouldn’t make us brave like you suggest, that would make us stupid.
Superunknown: And we ain’t stupid.
JTW: But if you want to get stupid, if you want to get crazy for Retromania and you’re having trouble coming up with ideas. We’ve got a few… just give us a call or have Amber do it when she is released from the hospital.
Superunknown: And while Team Never//More will keep us in suspense for a bit longer on what their choice will be… well, let’s just say we’ve got some surprises up our sleeve of our own. You see, our story to this point has been about our struggle to find our identity as Duo champions. You know, it took time to learn how to walk in the big shoes we were tasked to fill way back when JTW defeated Alessia Angelo to earn our title shots at Winter Wrestleland. We’re just finding our stride as champions. Never//More can smile for having won the battle, but they haven’t won the war, not by a long shot. That’s just getting started.
JTW: The loss at Thunder In Paradise 3 isn’t anything but actionable intelligence to us.
Superunknown: We’ve got a bit more soul searching to do. We’ve got a few more identities to try out and well… let’s just say, I have a feeling you aren’t going to like our next one, but I know it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun for us.
*Rogues’ Gallery drop the mics and climb out of the ring. Frances Farmer follows slowly behind as the scene fades to a commercial break. *
Superunknown sits in his rebuilt Crystal Starship hanging in the sky high above the hovercraft.*
Shadow: You spent all of this time recreating this place for a man who tried to steal your life?
*Superunknown turns to the Shadow who hovers like a ghost half-in, half-out of this world. Superunknown sighs.*
Superunknown: It is not his fault, not entirely. Besides, he is going to need it in the coming fight.
Shadow: You really think they are going to turn on their master?
Superunknown: Frances will use her Atlantean tech to heal the trauma that bound them to the Technocrat's will.
Shadow: If you say so.
*Suddenly Superunknown is roused from his meditative state by JTW. He opens his eyes back aboard the Crystal Starship.*
JTW: It's time. We've arrived.
*JTW zips up his jacket as he exits Superunknowns's quarters. Superunknown rises to his feet, he pulls his mask on and follows his partner out to the bridge. They navigate the narrow hallways of the ship and reach the bridge where Frances Farmer and the crew are manning their stations.*
Frances Farmer: We've got their coordinates locked. Hold onto your butts, we're about to time jump.
*Rogues' Gallery are leaving the Aloha Stadium after losing the insanely chaotic S.E.X. Cup Hurricane Hustle finals match to Never//More. Both men are covered in blood. Some of it is their own, the rest… well, who the hell knows? As they make their way across the parking lot to their rental vehicle JTW notices a bright light in the sky rapidly getting closer.*
JTW: Dooood! Look dude.
Superunknown looks up and the ship is close enough to make out what it is.
Superunknown: Oh, fudge…
*Suddenly a beam of bright light engulfs them and just as soon as it came it was gone leaving the real Rogues’ Gallery standing there in front of them.*
Superunknown: It's so over for you.
*The real Superunknown reaches forward and grabs his counterpart by the throat. The real JTW head butts his counterpart. Superunknown chokeslams his counterpart on the pavement and JTW Unleashes the Lion.
The evil clones now lay on the pavement, writhing in pain as the same bright light engulfs them again. When the light recedes. All that is left are the real Rogues’ Gallery and the Duos championship belts lying on the pavement. Rogues’ Gallery scoop up their belts and sling them over their shoulders in unison.*
JTW: We're so back.
*Frances Farmer stands at the other end of the lot. She smiles before clapping her hands. *
THE PRESENT.
*Strobe lights begin to flash as "Cowboys From Hell" by Pantera starts playing. As the chuggy main riff of the song starts the Rogues’ Gallery, Jeremy The Wicked, Superunknown, and their manager, Frances Farmer, emerge onto the stage from behind the curtain. Frances leans down in front of Jeremy The Wicked and Superuknown and surveys the crowd. They toss their arms triumphantly into the air before they head to the ring. On the way to the ring, Superunknown grabs a microphone, he tosses one to his partner, JTW before taking another for himself. Both walk to the ring, slide their Duos belts under the ropes and climb in.
Rogues’ Gallery pick up the belts and sling them back over their shoulders. *
Superunknown: So… Thunder In Paradise didn’t go our way and as a result Never//More walked away winning the S.E.X Cup for the second time. Congratulations.
JTW: And yeah, that means they get a shot at our titles… although, I’m not sure how soon Amber Ryan will be able to get back in the ring after I took her out.
Superunknown: And of course, they might not have gotten a chance to do that without those pathetic losers, those Mucho Evil bastards, the Malvados, showing up to snatch victory from our hands with their cowardly attack on us. But what’s done is. You did it, Knox. Though, your partner really paid the price for it, huh? So let’s here it for the 2024 S.E.X. Cup winners!
Superunknown claps his free hand on the microphone as his partner and Frances clap along.
JTW: Alright… alright… enough of that. My partner and I have been through hell and back to here tonight and we aren’t here to throw a party for Never//More. No. We are here tonight in Seattle to send a message to Never//More who won a Duos title match with the stipulation of their choice at Retromania and to the Malvados, who saw fit to stick their noses in Rogues’ Gallery business. Knox, you called us bitchmade for not putting our belts on the line for the S.E.X. Cup… I say demanding that be added wouldn’t make us brave like you suggest, that would make us stupid.
Superunknown: And we ain’t stupid.
JTW: But if you want to get stupid, if you want to get crazy for Retromania and you’re having trouble coming up with ideas. We’ve got a few… just give us a call or have Amber do it when she is released from the hospital.
Superunknown: And while Team Never//More will keep us in suspense for a bit longer on what their choice will be… well, let’s just say we’ve got some surprises up our sleeve of our own. You see, our story to this point has been about our struggle to find our identity as Duo champions. You know, it took time to learn how to walk in the big shoes we were tasked to fill way back when JTW defeated Alessia Angelo to earn our title shots at Winter Wrestleland. We’re just finding our stride as champions. Never//More can smile for having won the battle, but they haven’t won the war, not by a long shot. That’s just getting started.
JTW: The loss at Thunder In Paradise 3 isn’t anything but actionable intelligence to us.
Superunknown: We’ve got a bit more soul searching to do. We’ve got a few more identities to try out and well… let’s just say, I have a feeling you aren’t going to like our next one, but I know it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun for us.
*Rogues’ Gallery drop the mics and climb out of the ring. Frances Farmer follows slowly behind as the scene fades to a commercial break. *
*The shot returns from commercial break to Steve Cotton standing in the ring. *
Steve Cotton: Introducing first, from Charleston, South Carolina, weighing in at 330lbs, this is AARON WARTHOG!!!
*"Everyone knows I'm Hog Wild!" Hank Williams Jr starts the intro as the fans all turn to look at the entrance. The heavyweight known as Aaron Warthog comes out, jutting out his chin on the stage and facing the audience. He starts down to the ring, pounding on his stomach along the way, ready for another brawl. He gets up on the apron, flashing a signal to the camera, a sign of his love for his wife and child, before stepping through the rope. *
Markson: Aaron Warthog is looking to get his career on the right path as he returns to TPW.
Napier: I don’t know how that is gonna work out for Aaron, that guy is a few cars short of a full train if you know what I mean.
Steve Cotton: Introducing his opponent. From London, U.K. via Atlanta, Georgia, and weighing in at 229lbs, this is TONY SAVAGE!!!
*Savage comes out to “Off Deez” by J.I.D. featuring J Cole. He’s wearing his black warmup jacket adorned with the Stars and Stripes, as well as the Union Jack. He moves down towards the ring, ready to fight, as he looks at the other competitors waiting for him. *
Markson: This should be a good match, both men looking to get back on the winning track
Napier: I love to see two big, beefy boys smacking meat..
Markson: Uhh, that sounds a little dirty.
Napier: I used all my dirty material on the Jack N. Mehoff match.
DING! DING! DING!
*The two \men move to the middle of the ring, sizing each other up. Savage begins verbally dressing Warthog down, and Warthog just stares back at the smaller man. Finally, Savage pie faces Warthog. Warthog immediately snaps back, slapping Savage across the face. Savage is stunned and goes for an overzealous haymaker that Warthog surprisingly ducks. Warthog charges into the ropes and comes back with a shoulder tackle to Savage. Savage is thrown back into the ropes from the tackle, and as Savage flies off the ropes Warthog is there to catch him with a scoop slam. Savage hits the mat and rolls out of the ring, a bit surprised by Warthog. Warthog is ecstatic and hyping up the crowd in the ring. *
Markson: Aaron Warthog surprising everyone here in the opening moments of this match.
Napier: Looks like he is really surprising Tony Savage.
*Savage yells at Referee Dizzy Dan to get Warthog back as he gets into the ring. Warthog backs up and allows Savage in. Savage steps in and immediately calls for a lockup, as Warthog comes in for a lock up Savage quickly duckls under the lock-up going behind Warthog and landing some quick and hard body shots to the body of Warthog. Dizzy Dan admonishes Savage, but Savage brushes him off as he continues to unleash his educated hands on Warthog. Warthog throws a hard back elbow, but Savage ducks it and moves forward nailing Warthog with a hard right hand. Warthog staggers back into the corner holding his face. Savage grabs Warthog and whips him hard across the ring into the turnbuckle.
Savage charges across the ring, but at the last moment Warthog steps out with a back elbow and Savage hits it and staggers back. Warthog charges out of the corner with an avalanche attack that drops Savage. Warthog hits the ropes and comes back with a splash onto Savage. Warthog goes for a pin, but Savage kicks out before the referee even gets to one. Savage quickly rolls away to the corner and begins using the ropes to pull himself up*
Markson Aaron Warthog is delivering way more than Tony Savage bargained for.
Napier: Aaron Warthog is delivering more than any of us bargained for. He's looking better than ever before.
*Savage stands up in the corner and marches right out to Warthog and goes for another quick punch, but again Warthog ducks. This time Warthog catches and lifts Savage up for a belly to back suplex, but as Savage is lifted he punches the face of Warthog and nails him with a hard right. Warthog falls backward with Savage coming down on top of him. Savage quickly rolls to his knees and hammers Warthog with four more right hands, stopping only at the threat of disqualification.
Savage stands up, and takes a few steps back before pacing forward and dropping an atomic-style elbow into the head of Warthog. Warthog rolls around to a seated position and as he sits up Savage comes off the ropes and nails a hard penalty kick to the back of Warthog. Savage then fires a hard crossface to the nose of Warthog, and takes him down into a chin lock on the mat. *
Markson: What a vicious cross-face from Tony Savage, almost knocking Aaron Warthog’s nose off.
Napier: Well, on the bright side Aaron Warthog can’t get any uglier.
*As the crowd begins clapping and cheering, Warthog starts fighting to his feet. As Warthog gets to his feet he slams an elbow into the stomach of Savage. Savage responds with a big forearm across the back of Warthog. Warthog responds with a chop across the chest of Savage. Savage fires back with a big forearm to the jaw of Warthog. Warthog fires back with a forearm and Savage responds with another, and the two beefy brawlers break down into a brawl trading forearms back and forth
Warthog seems to be getting the upper hand after landing a back fist with his ham-like fist. Savage responds by firing a hard kick to the stomach that doubles Warthog over. Savage hits the ropes and comes back with a Superman punch to the side of Warthog’s head that drops Warthog to the mat on his face. Savage immediately jumps into the air and comes down with another atomic elbow to Warthog’s head. *
Markson: What a vicious assault from Tony Savage.
Napier: Aaron Warthog is a big man with a big head, that can withstand bigtime damage.
*Warthog rolls to all fours and is crawling towards the ropes when Savage charges and nails Warthog in the back with a running European uppercut. Warthog calls chest first across the middle rope and. Savage continues his assault, firing four hard cross faces across the face of Warthog before turning, running off the opposite ropes, and coming back diving his knees into Warthog’s back and driving Warthog’s throat into the middle rope. *
Markson: Tony Savage is brutalizing Aaron Warthog.
Napier: Tony is taking his frustrations from Thunder In Paradise out on Warthog.
*Warthog tries pushing himself up, but as he pushes himself up Savage slams an elbow right into the small of Warthog’s back. Warthog collapses to the mat, and Savage is to his feet. Savage hits the ropes and comes back jumping into the air and coming down into a seated position on Warthog’s back. As Warthog pushes himself up in pain Savage catches Warthog in Larry Tact’s move he called “Larry’s Throne” (Steiner Recliner). Savage pulls back on Warthog’s chin while sitting himself down as deep as he can on Warthog’s back. *
Markson: Clearly Tony Savage still has unresolved issues with Larry Tact
Napier: What can I say, everyone hates Larry.
*The crowd begins stomping their feet and clapping for Warthog, and this seems to give Warthog a renewed sense of energy. Warthog pushes himself up to all fours. Warthog powers himself up to his feet with Savage on his back. Warthog backpedals into the corner and crushes Savage in the corner breaking the hold. Warthog staggers forward and shakes the cobwebs off before turning and charging into the corner at Savage. Savage manages to get a boot up that Warthog runs into causing him to stagger back to the middle of the ring.
Savage runs from the corner at Warthog, but Warthog catches Savage and lifts him overhead with a Gorilla Press. As Warthog slams Savage down to the mat the crowd erupts, and Savage’s face is pure shock. *
Markson: HUGE GORILLA SLAM!
Napier: Wrong. That was a Warthog Slam.
*Warthog holds his back, but is feeling the roar of the crowd. Warthog paces as Savage starts getting to his feet, as Savage gets up Warthog tries to hook him in a full-nelson. Savage fights it off, pulling his arms down, before slamming an elbow backward into the side of Warthog’s head. Savage charges forward hitting the ropes and as he comes back Savage goes for a jumping knee. Warthog catches Savage in mid-air though and drops Savage with a belly-to-back suplex.
Warthog rolls to his feet as the fans are cheering and backs up as Savage begins pulling himself up in the corner. As Savage is pulling himself up in the corner Warthog charges in going for the Stampede (Spear/Tackle), but Savage leaps and rolls out of the corner. Warthog hits the turnbuckles hard, and chest first, while Savage rolls right to his feet.
Warthog staggers backwards out of the corner holding his chest as Savage charges off the ropes for momentum and nails Warthog with One Shot, One Kill (Ox Baker Style Running Heart Punch). Warthog falls flat on his back with Savage landing on top of him. Savage hooks the massive leg of Warthog as the ref counts. *
1…
2…
3…
Steve Cotton: Here is your winner… TONY SAVAGE!!!
Markson: What an impressive shot from Tony Savage.
Napier: One Shot, One Kill can put anyone away, well anyone but Peter Vaughn that is.
Markson: Oh brother.
*The shot focuses on Tony Savage with his hand raised in victory as the scene fades to a pre-recorded video. *
3…
Steve Cotton: Here is your winner… TONY SAVAGE!!!
Markson: What an impressive shot from Tony Savage.
Napier: One Shot, One Kill can put anyone away, well anyone but Peter Vaughn that is.
Markson: Oh brother.
*The shot focuses on Tony Savage with his hand raised in victory as the scene fades to a pre-recorded video. *
*The shot fades to a black screen accompanied by the sound of ocean waves crashing onto land. The rippling boom of thunder joins the mix as the picture fades into the end of a pier on a stormy day. Leaning up against the railing and looking out into the horizon is Maxwell Mason Stone in his black hooded sweatshirt. His TPW American Championship belt is draped over the railing of the pier.*
MMS: Normally I would have somewhere to be at this time on a Friday but I've decided to play hookie today and take in the last few moments of solitude before the storm hits the shores of Thunder Pro Wrestling. It's been brewing for quite some time but you've all looked the other way, put your heads in the sand and pretended everything was perfectly fine. You've all ignored reality in favor of what is comfortable and easy to understand.
*A bolt of lightning strikes out in the ocean, sending a white flash across the entire sky. A huge wave in the distance begins to take shape and slowly make its way towards the shore.*
MMS: Sometimes a person won't confront a problem until it's shown up in the locker room and left them lying in a pool of their own blood when they carelessly let their guard down. Larry, what I did to you was necessary. It was necessary because now you realize that this storm is rapidly approaching and you, being the proud TPW stalwart you are, can now warn each and every person in that locker room that Maxwell Mason Stone will be raining terror down upon them too.
*The wave is getting taller as it creeps towards the beach. Stone picks his championship belt up off the railing and holds it in front of him towards the camera.*
MMS: And if nobody wants to take the warning to heart, they will see with their own eyes when I defeat the hero to all Thundermaniacs and secure myself a true title defense against a real challenger.
*The massive wave gets louder and louder as it approaches.*
MMS: But for tonight, Larry Tact can take comfort in the fact that Maxwell Mason Stone will not be present on this Good Friday.
*MMS quickly exits the frame as the wave crashes upon the pier. The camera shakes erratically as the feed cuts to black.*
MMS: Normally I would have somewhere to be at this time on a Friday but I've decided to play hookie today and take in the last few moments of solitude before the storm hits the shores of Thunder Pro Wrestling. It's been brewing for quite some time but you've all looked the other way, put your heads in the sand and pretended everything was perfectly fine. You've all ignored reality in favor of what is comfortable and easy to understand.
*A bolt of lightning strikes out in the ocean, sending a white flash across the entire sky. A huge wave in the distance begins to take shape and slowly make its way towards the shore.*
MMS: Sometimes a person won't confront a problem until it's shown up in the locker room and left them lying in a pool of their own blood when they carelessly let their guard down. Larry, what I did to you was necessary. It was necessary because now you realize that this storm is rapidly approaching and you, being the proud TPW stalwart you are, can now warn each and every person in that locker room that Maxwell Mason Stone will be raining terror down upon them too.
*The wave is getting taller as it creeps towards the beach. Stone picks his championship belt up off the railing and holds it in front of him towards the camera.*
MMS: And if nobody wants to take the warning to heart, they will see with their own eyes when I defeat the hero to all Thundermaniacs and secure myself a true title defense against a real challenger.
*The massive wave gets louder and louder as it approaches.*
MMS: But for tonight, Larry Tact can take comfort in the fact that Maxwell Mason Stone will not be present on this Good Friday.
*MMS quickly exits the frame as the wave crashes upon the pier. The camera shakes erratically as the feed cuts to black.*
*The scene returns from the commercial break to Steve Cotton standing in the ring ready to introduce the next math. *
Steve Cotton: The following contest is your... MAIN EVENT!!!
*Crowd pop. *
Steve Cotton: Introducing first, hailing from Milan, Italy/San Antonio, Texas, and weighing in at 227lbs, this is ANGELLLOOOO CAITOOOOO!!!
*"Moving On" by Asking Alexandria plays over the PA as Angelo makes his way to the ring.*
Steve Cotton: AND HIS OPPONENT! Hailing from Manhattan, New York, and weighing in at 260lbs, he is the number one contender to the American Championship, this is... LAAARRRYYYY TAAACCTT!!!
*"In the Face of Evil" by Magic Sword reverberates over the PA. Row after row, aisle to aisle, the THUNDERAMANIACS rise to their feet throughout the arena and cheer, the beating heart of TPW about to burst!
As the second, third, and fourth chords of the theme reverberate, three spotlights shine down, one over another: A green circle, a gold triangle over it, and a crimson line intersecting the other two. On the Terry-Tron, his monikers cycle through one after another:
TACTILIZING ONE
GAME CHANGER
SAGE OF THE SQUARED CIRCLE
From there, the beat triggers the house lights to illuminate the figure of the former International Champion himself, Larry Tact, standing on stage, the spotlight glinting off his shaved head.
Larry whips his hair up and trudges to one side of the stage, firing up the fans by throwing his arms in the air at them. He then goes to the other side of the stage and beats his chest before opening his arms to the reaction of the THUNDERAMANIACS, who hoot and holler back. "This is our company!" Larry bellows as his arms point around at the crowd. He then returns to center stage and makes his way down to the ring, pounding fists with some fans at ringside before hanging onto the middle rope and pulling himself up onto the apron.
He turns and faces the stands, opening his arms up and making a ‘T’ shape, puffing his chest out. Wiping his boots on the apron, Tact proceeds into the ring. He climbs a turnbuckle and again holds his arms out. “WE ARE TPW STRONG!!” he exclaims to another pop before descending and making his final preparations for the match. *
As the second, third, and fourth chords of the theme reverberate, three spotlights shine down, one over another: A green circle, a gold triangle over it, and a crimson line intersecting the other two. On the Terry-Tron, his monikers cycle through one after another:
TACTILIZING ONE
GAME CHANGER
SAGE OF THE SQUARED CIRCLE
From there, the beat triggers the house lights to illuminate the figure of the former International Champion himself, Larry Tact, standing on stage, the spotlight glinting off his shaved head.
Larry whips his hair up and trudges to one side of the stage, firing up the fans by throwing his arms in the air at them. He then goes to the other side of the stage and beats his chest before opening his arms to the reaction of the THUNDERAMANIACS, who hoot and holler back. "This is our company!" Larry bellows as his arms point around at the crowd. He then returns to center stage and makes his way down to the ring, pounding fists with some fans at ringside before hanging onto the middle rope and pulling himself up onto the apron.
He turns and faces the stands, opening his arms up and making a ‘T’ shape, puffing his chest out. Wiping his boots on the apron, Tact proceeds into the ring. He climbs a turnbuckle and again holds his arms out. “WE ARE TPW STRONG!!” he exclaims to another pop before descending and making his final preparations for the match. *
Markson: The number on contender to the American Championship, and a man looking to make an impact, two great veterans, ready to go at it.
Napier: Aka, two irrelevant old farts about to bore the fans to death.
Markson: You’re older than both of them.
DING! DING! DING!
*As the bell sounds Tact steps forward and offers a handshake to Caito. Caito nods his head and shakes hands with Tact, and then the two men begin to circle one another. Caito stops and holds his hand up as if going for a test of strength. Tact smirks and locks left hands with Caito in a knuckle lock. As they go to lock their right hands, Caito kicks Tact’s right hand away, and then spins under the left hand transitioning the knuckle lock into a wrist lock.
Tact grabs the hands of Caito and begins trying to fight it off. Caito tries to block it, but Tact uses his strength advantage to collapse the arms of Caito and reverse the wrist lock into one of his own, with an arm wringer into the wrist lock. Caito tries breaking it, but Tact’s grip is too tight. Caito to try and free himself does a forward roll, rolls back and knips up, but as soon as he does Tact yanks him down to the mat by his wrist, places his knee on the side of Caito’s head, and transitions into an arm bar. *
Markson: Larry Tact is really using his power advantage here.
Napier: How long until these two goody two shoes start punching each other in the face and just throw the rule book out of the window?
*Caito rolls out from under Tact, to his knees. Caito pushes against Tact, working his way back to his feet. Caito grabs Tact runs him into the ropes, and then shoots Tact off, breaking the arm bar. Larry hits the ropes and comes back and Caito goes for a hip toss, but Tact drops his weight blocking the toss, whizzers the arm of Caito, and locks on a standing arm bar.
Caito winces in pain, and tries to fight his arm free, but can’t get loose. Finally, Caito drops down into a low single leg, taking Tact down to his back and freeing his arm. Caito pops to his feet and goes for a quick elbow drop, but Tact rolls to his feet. Caito rolls up holding his arm, but charges at Tact. Tact sees him coming and catches Caito with a beautiful Steamboat-esque arm drag, holding on and locking Caito in another arm bar. *
Markson: Beautiful arm drag by Larry Tact. Larry has a game plan of taking out Angelo Caito’s arm, and he’s working that plan perfectly so far.
Napier: Both these men have forgotten more about wrestling than the average Thunderamoron will ever know.
Markson: Did you just compliment Tact and Caito?
Napier: NO WAY! I meant it as an insult to the Thunderamorons.
*Caito again spins out from under Tact, and fights up to his feet, but this time back Tact into the corner. Ref Mullet calls for a clean break, and Tact grants it. Caito takes a step back holding his arm, and Tact charges out of the corner, but this time it is Caito catching Tact coming with a drop-toe hold. Caito spins on top of Tact going into a front face lock.
Tact comes up to his knees, over hooks Caito’s arm, sits out, and rolls under Caito’s arm going back into a wrist lock and transitioning into an arm bar. Caito pushes up to his feet, shoves Tact into the ropes, and arm drags Tact. Tact hits the mat and rolls up, while Caito shakes his arm getting the feeling back into it before charging. Tact sees Caito coming and catches Caito with a snap power slam
Tact rolls to the corner and begins climbing the turnbuckles, signaling for "Dive to Blue" (Top Rope Elbow Drop). Tact gets to the top turnbuckle and leaps off for the elbow, but Caito rolls out of the way at the last minute and Tact crashes into the mat. *
Markson: OH, BIG MISS FOR LARRY TACT!!!
Napier: Larry Tact’s entire career has been a series of big misses.
*Tact is stunned, but begins pushing himself up from the mat. As Tact gets to his feet Caito comes out of the corner with a Running Jumping Knee, that nails Tact in the face dropping him back to the mat. Caito rolls up, still holding his elbow, but charging to the ropes. Caito comes off the ropes and delivers a Running Leg Drop to Tact. Caito quickie rolls onto Tact for a pin.
1…
KICKOUT!!!
Caito rolls to his feet, grabbing Tact by the head as he does. Caito pulls Tact to his knees when Tact fires a hard shot into the stomach of Caito. Caito is stunned and takes a step backward. Caito comes back but is met with another punch to the stomach from Tact. Tact keeps coming, firing off lefts and rights to the body of Caito as he makes it to his feet, and drives Ciato back to the corner. Tact grabs Caito to whip him out of the corner, but as he does Caito reverses and sends Tact crashing into the turnbuckles. Caito follows up with a Corner Body Splash on Tact.
Tact begins to fall forward, but Caito catches him and shoves Tact back upright into the corner. Caito then begins to unload with Repeated Forearm Smash To His Opponent In the Corner. After five hard shots Tact is out on his feet, and Caito grabs him and delivers a Belly To Belly Toss out of the corner. *
Markson: Big belly to belly there by Angelo Caito, he certainly has Larry Tact in a bad spot.
Napier: You think Tact is in a bad way now, just wait until Maxwell Mason Stone gets him in the ring.
*Caito makes a cover on the downed Tact.
1…
2..
KICKOUT!
As Tact kicks out Caito grabs a chinlock on him. Caito begins trying to wear him down, but the crowd is behind Tact, as they instantly begin to stomp their feet and clap their hands for Tact. The energy of the crowd gets Tact going as he pumps his hands in the air and begins fighting to his feet. Tact fights to his feet and throws an elbow into the stomach of Caito, loosening Caito’s grip. Two more elbows from Tact and Caito’s grip is completely broken.
Tact takes off to the ropes and as he comes off takes Caito down with a big tackle. Tact turns and runs off the other ropes, but as he does Caito spins up to his feet and leap-frogs the charging Tact. Tact keeps moving and hits the ropes again, but this time runs into an Exploder Suplex from Caito. *
Markson: Another nice suplex from Angelo Caito to take the bigger man down.
Napier: Caito used Tact’s own momentum against him there.
*Tact is rolling up in the corner, holding his back as Caito spins up to his feet. As Tact begins pulling himself up into the corner Caito charges in and nails a running clothesline into the corner. Caito steps back and Tact falls to the mat. Caito moves right to the turnbuckles and begins climbing up. Caito gets to the top rope and leaps off with a Frog Splash, but Tact rolls out of the way and Caito crashes to the mat. *
Markson: LARRY TACT MOVED!!!
Napier: I guess you could call that a full-circle moment.
*Tact crawls to the corner and uses the ropes to pull himself up as Caito staggers to his feet. Both men get to their feet, but Tact is up just a bit fast and charges out of the corner, taking the rising Caito down with a big clothesline. Caito hits the mat and pops right back up dazed and confused, where Tact grabs him and whips him off the ropes. Caito comes off the ropes right into the waiting arms of Tact who takes him down with a spinebuster.
Tact rolls right to the corner after the spinebuster, and climbs the turnbuckles. Tact takes a moment to get to the top and steady himself, and then stands tall and looks down at Caito. Tact leaps off the top rope and delivers "Dive to Blue" (Top Rope Elbow Drop). Tact rolls onto Caito and makes the cover. *
1…
Napier: Aka, two irrelevant old farts about to bore the fans to death.
Markson: You’re older than both of them.
DING! DING! DING!
*As the bell sounds Tact steps forward and offers a handshake to Caito. Caito nods his head and shakes hands with Tact, and then the two men begin to circle one another. Caito stops and holds his hand up as if going for a test of strength. Tact smirks and locks left hands with Caito in a knuckle lock. As they go to lock their right hands, Caito kicks Tact’s right hand away, and then spins under the left hand transitioning the knuckle lock into a wrist lock.
Tact grabs the hands of Caito and begins trying to fight it off. Caito tries to block it, but Tact uses his strength advantage to collapse the arms of Caito and reverse the wrist lock into one of his own, with an arm wringer into the wrist lock. Caito tries breaking it, but Tact’s grip is too tight. Caito to try and free himself does a forward roll, rolls back and knips up, but as soon as he does Tact yanks him down to the mat by his wrist, places his knee on the side of Caito’s head, and transitions into an arm bar. *
Markson: Larry Tact is really using his power advantage here.
Napier: How long until these two goody two shoes start punching each other in the face and just throw the rule book out of the window?
*Caito rolls out from under Tact, to his knees. Caito pushes against Tact, working his way back to his feet. Caito grabs Tact runs him into the ropes, and then shoots Tact off, breaking the arm bar. Larry hits the ropes and comes back and Caito goes for a hip toss, but Tact drops his weight blocking the toss, whizzers the arm of Caito, and locks on a standing arm bar.
Caito winces in pain, and tries to fight his arm free, but can’t get loose. Finally, Caito drops down into a low single leg, taking Tact down to his back and freeing his arm. Caito pops to his feet and goes for a quick elbow drop, but Tact rolls to his feet. Caito rolls up holding his arm, but charges at Tact. Tact sees him coming and catches Caito with a beautiful Steamboat-esque arm drag, holding on and locking Caito in another arm bar. *
Markson: Beautiful arm drag by Larry Tact. Larry has a game plan of taking out Angelo Caito’s arm, and he’s working that plan perfectly so far.
Napier: Both these men have forgotten more about wrestling than the average Thunderamoron will ever know.
Markson: Did you just compliment Tact and Caito?
Napier: NO WAY! I meant it as an insult to the Thunderamorons.
*Caito again spins out from under Tact, and fights up to his feet, but this time back Tact into the corner. Ref Mullet calls for a clean break, and Tact grants it. Caito takes a step back holding his arm, and Tact charges out of the corner, but this time it is Caito catching Tact coming with a drop-toe hold. Caito spins on top of Tact going into a front face lock.
Tact comes up to his knees, over hooks Caito’s arm, sits out, and rolls under Caito’s arm going back into a wrist lock and transitioning into an arm bar. Caito pushes up to his feet, shoves Tact into the ropes, and arm drags Tact. Tact hits the mat and rolls up, while Caito shakes his arm getting the feeling back into it before charging. Tact sees Caito coming and catches Caito with a snap power slam
Tact rolls to the corner and begins climbing the turnbuckles, signaling for "Dive to Blue" (Top Rope Elbow Drop). Tact gets to the top turnbuckle and leaps off for the elbow, but Caito rolls out of the way at the last minute and Tact crashes into the mat. *
Markson: OH, BIG MISS FOR LARRY TACT!!!
Napier: Larry Tact’s entire career has been a series of big misses.
*Tact is stunned, but begins pushing himself up from the mat. As Tact gets to his feet Caito comes out of the corner with a Running Jumping Knee, that nails Tact in the face dropping him back to the mat. Caito rolls up, still holding his elbow, but charging to the ropes. Caito comes off the ropes and delivers a Running Leg Drop to Tact. Caito quickie rolls onto Tact for a pin.
1…
KICKOUT!!!
Caito rolls to his feet, grabbing Tact by the head as he does. Caito pulls Tact to his knees when Tact fires a hard shot into the stomach of Caito. Caito is stunned and takes a step backward. Caito comes back but is met with another punch to the stomach from Tact. Tact keeps coming, firing off lefts and rights to the body of Caito as he makes it to his feet, and drives Ciato back to the corner. Tact grabs Caito to whip him out of the corner, but as he does Caito reverses and sends Tact crashing into the turnbuckles. Caito follows up with a Corner Body Splash on Tact.
Tact begins to fall forward, but Caito catches him and shoves Tact back upright into the corner. Caito then begins to unload with Repeated Forearm Smash To His Opponent In the Corner. After five hard shots Tact is out on his feet, and Caito grabs him and delivers a Belly To Belly Toss out of the corner. *
Markson: Big belly to belly there by Angelo Caito, he certainly has Larry Tact in a bad spot.
Napier: You think Tact is in a bad way now, just wait until Maxwell Mason Stone gets him in the ring.
*Caito makes a cover on the downed Tact.
1…
2..
KICKOUT!
As Tact kicks out Caito grabs a chinlock on him. Caito begins trying to wear him down, but the crowd is behind Tact, as they instantly begin to stomp their feet and clap their hands for Tact. The energy of the crowd gets Tact going as he pumps his hands in the air and begins fighting to his feet. Tact fights to his feet and throws an elbow into the stomach of Caito, loosening Caito’s grip. Two more elbows from Tact and Caito’s grip is completely broken.
Tact takes off to the ropes and as he comes off takes Caito down with a big tackle. Tact turns and runs off the other ropes, but as he does Caito spins up to his feet and leap-frogs the charging Tact. Tact keeps moving and hits the ropes again, but this time runs into an Exploder Suplex from Caito. *
Markson: Another nice suplex from Angelo Caito to take the bigger man down.
Napier: Caito used Tact’s own momentum against him there.
*Tact is rolling up in the corner, holding his back as Caito spins up to his feet. As Tact begins pulling himself up into the corner Caito charges in and nails a running clothesline into the corner. Caito steps back and Tact falls to the mat. Caito moves right to the turnbuckles and begins climbing up. Caito gets to the top rope and leaps off with a Frog Splash, but Tact rolls out of the way and Caito crashes to the mat. *
Markson: LARRY TACT MOVED!!!
Napier: I guess you could call that a full-circle moment.
*Tact crawls to the corner and uses the ropes to pull himself up as Caito staggers to his feet. Both men get to their feet, but Tact is up just a bit fast and charges out of the corner, taking the rising Caito down with a big clothesline. Caito hits the mat and pops right back up dazed and confused, where Tact grabs him and whips him off the ropes. Caito comes off the ropes right into the waiting arms of Tact who takes him down with a spinebuster.
Tact rolls right to the corner after the spinebuster, and climbs the turnbuckles. Tact takes a moment to get to the top and steady himself, and then stands tall and looks down at Caito. Tact leaps off the top rope and delivers "Dive to Blue" (Top Rope Elbow Drop). Tact rolls onto Caito and makes the cover. *
1…
2…
KICKOUT!!!
Markson: UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Napier: If that elbow drop can’t put Angelo Caito away, what chance does Larry Tact have against Maxwell Mason Stone?
*Tact rolls up to his feet, and grabs Caito by the head and pulls Caito’s head between his legs looking for the “Star Power” ( Release Powerbomb into Backstabber). As Tact wraps his arms around Caito’s waist the light begin to flash on and off in the arena. Finally the lights cut off and the TerryTron lights up with the numbr 10, and then counts down to 9, then flashes 9, and flashes 9 a third time and the lights come back on.
Tact turns from the tron back to Caito, and Caito is waiting with a boot to the stomach.Tact doubles over and Caito nails him with a stunner. Tact falls backward into the ropes.
Tact staggers forward into the waiting arms of Caito who catches Tact and lifts him for the Death Blow (Suplex Sit-out Piledriver), but as he gets Tact up, Tact spins out behind Caito. Tact jumps up delivering a lung blower to Caito. Tact then rolls right over into “Larry’s Throne” (Steiner Recliner). Tact begins cranking on the hold when the lights cut out again. The Tron lights up agian with the number “9”, the screen pulses three times and then the lights come back on and Maxwell Mason Stone is standing in the ring. Tact looks up, still holding Caito in the hold and Stone blasts Larry in the face with the American championship in the face. *
Markson: OH COME ON STONE!!!
Napier: I’m liking this new Maxwell Mason Stone.
Steve Cotton: Here is your winner, via disqualification… LARRY TACT!!!
*Tact falls to the mat, a bit of blood beginning to trickle from his forehead. Stone stands over Tact and lifts the American Championship over his head to a round of boos from the crowd as the scene fades to a commercial break. *
KICKOUT!!!
Markson: UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Napier: If that elbow drop can’t put Angelo Caito away, what chance does Larry Tact have against Maxwell Mason Stone?
*Tact rolls up to his feet, and grabs Caito by the head and pulls Caito’s head between his legs looking for the “Star Power” ( Release Powerbomb into Backstabber). As Tact wraps his arms around Caito’s waist the light begin to flash on and off in the arena. Finally the lights cut off and the TerryTron lights up with the numbr 10, and then counts down to 9, then flashes 9, and flashes 9 a third time and the lights come back on.
Tact turns from the tron back to Caito, and Caito is waiting with a boot to the stomach.Tact doubles over and Caito nails him with a stunner. Tact falls backward into the ropes.
Tact staggers forward into the waiting arms of Caito who catches Tact and lifts him for the Death Blow (Suplex Sit-out Piledriver), but as he gets Tact up, Tact spins out behind Caito. Tact jumps up delivering a lung blower to Caito. Tact then rolls right over into “Larry’s Throne” (Steiner Recliner). Tact begins cranking on the hold when the lights cut out again. The Tron lights up agian with the number “9”, the screen pulses three times and then the lights come back on and Maxwell Mason Stone is standing in the ring. Tact looks up, still holding Caito in the hold and Stone blasts Larry in the face with the American championship in the face. *
Markson: OH COME ON STONE!!!
Napier: I’m liking this new Maxwell Mason Stone.
Steve Cotton: Here is your winner, via disqualification… LARRY TACT!!!
*Tact falls to the mat, a bit of blood beginning to trickle from his forehead. Stone stands over Tact and lifts the American Championship over his head to a round of boos from the crowd as the scene fades to a commercial break. *
*Moments pass following the main event. The fans begin to settle down as the ring is cleared out from the previous match and the ring crew switches the mat over to an almost ceremonial red. The fans murmur amongst themselves, electricity filling the air as they wonder what’s coming next… what could possibly follow the incredible main event that they just witnessed? There’s a smattering of applause and increased murmuring as Mark Markson stands up from behind the announce table, removing his headset and placing it on the table in front of him. Nick Napier leans back in his chair, an unimpressed look on his face as Markson picks up a microphone and makes his way around the table, approaching the ring and walking up the steps.*
Napier: This oughta’ be good.
*Markson steps through the ropes and approaches the center of the ring, stopping to admire the crowd from center stage for a moment before raising the microphone and beginning to speak.*
Markson: Ladies and gentlemen, we’re approaching the tail end of March and it’s been a heck of a year already for Thunder Pro Wrestling… and I’m pleased to announce that it’s going to get even bigger and even more exciting from here on out!
*The fans applaud loudly, listening intently as he continues.*
Markson: Only moments ago, I was informed that we have a new number one contender to the Thunder Pro Wrestling International Championship coming out of Thunder in Paradise 3 and I’m gonna reveal who that is… right here and right now in front of all of you in Seattle, Washington!
*The fans begin buzzing with anticipation.*
Markson: That’s right… just two weeks ago, everyone witnessed quite possibly one of the biggest pay-per-view events in Thunder Pro Wrestling history, Thunder in Paradise 3. So many incredible moments that night… such as Never//More becoming the first-ever two-time S.E.X. Cup Tournament winners!
*The fans cheer at the mention of their name.*
Markson: How about Khloe Cox defeating Andrea Hernandez to earn her first taste of gold in TPW, the coveted Prestige Championship!?
*More cheers. Markson looks around, smiling proudly.*
Markson: Or Maxwell Mason Stone beating some goober in a mask to set the record for the fastest win in the history of the company!
*The fans begin to boo, not caring at all for the mention of the American Champion, wounds still fresh after what happened to Larry Tact. Markson gestures for everyone to settle down, a concerned expression on his face as he continues.*
Markson: And who can forget the reigning TPW International Champion, Peter Vaughn, defeating the living legend himself, hall of famer “Chronic” Chris Page in his final match in a TPW ring!?
*The fans cheer and respectfully applaud as Markson nods.*
Markson: But that’s not all that happened two weeks ago… oh no!
*Smirking, he raises one finger in the air, continuing to speak.*
Markson: In the main event at Thunder in Paradise 3, we witnessed together one of the most violent displays to ever take place… not just in Thunder Pro Wrestling but in professional wrestling as a whole! No ropes, electrified barbed wire! Joe Montuori and Junko Souma pushed their bodies to the limit, as well as what our TPW faithful could stomach watching! Blood was spilled, flesh torn and peeled back… and that was just the beginning of it.
*He looks out at the fans, shaking his head… still unable to believe what he witnessed.*
Markson: In the end, it was Junko Souma who walked away victorious… and it was because of this victory that TPW management has determined she will be the next competitor to stand across the ring from quite possibly –
*He sighs as though he hates to say it out loud.*
Markson: – the greatest TPW International Champion of all-time.
*The fans boo loudly. Markson just shrugs, there’s no other way to put it.*
Markson: Of course, I’m talking about the first and only three-time TPW International Champion, Peter Vaughn!
*The boos become even louder.*
Markson: So, without further adieu, allow me to formally introduce all of you to the number one contender to the TPW International Championship, the competitor who will challenge for that championship at RetroMania in Chicago, Illinois… the Girl Who Makes Rain of Blood –
*He turns to the entranceway, smiling proudly as the instrumental version of “Battle Royale” by Apashe hits, drawing a big pop from the fans in attendance. He shouts over them, completing his announcement.*
Markson: – JUNKO SOUMA!
*Seconds later, Junko steps through the curtain and walks out onto the stage in a blue tracksuit. She looks out at the cheering fans with a proud expression on her face, soaking in their adulation before making her way down the ramp. Even two weeks later, there’s stiffness in her movement, still feeling the effects of the match with Joe Montuori.*
Napier: This might be the biggest miscarriage of justice I’ve ever seen. She can still barely walk. Who says she’s going to be ready for Peter Vaughn at RetroMania, huh? They couldn’t find a better opponent for the greatest champion of all-time? Didn’t Markson mention a goober in a mask? I’d rather see that guy get the shot!
*Junko walks up the steps and then stands on the apron, looking out at the fans for a moment before climbing onto the middle rope. She points out at the fans and then pats her heart with her fist before climbing down into the ring. She approaches the center where Markson greets her with a handshake. She bows politely and he offers an awkward bow in return. The music cuts and all that remains is the sound of the cheering fans, the air thick with electricity. It almost looks as though she might become emotional due to the positive reaction from the fans. As they finally begin to settle down, Markson raises his microphone and begins to speak.*
Markson: Junko, you came to Thunder Pro Wrestling nearly one year ago to the day. What started with a temporary contract for last year’s S.E.X. Cup Tournament has blossomed into a full-blown career. Since then, you’ve become the American Champion, had an incredible series of matches with Joe Montuori that got the wrestling world talking, and just two weeks ago, you made it to the finals of the S.E.X. Cup.
*She looks up at him, nodding, listening.*
Markson: Tonight, you’re standing here… the number one contender to the most important championship in the game today. Tell us, Junko… when you showed up last year, did you ever think it would come to this?
*Junko looks out at the fans. They applaud loudly. She takes a deep breath before speaking into Markson’s microphone. Her English isn’t perfect but it gets the job done.*
Junko: I just want to say… TPW… is my home.
*The applause becomes even louder. Markson smiles, nodding as he holds the microphone for her.*
Junko: And it is an honor… to receive this opportunity –
*She looks up at Markson, almost flustered by the incredible reaction. Shaking her head, she finally gets around to answering his question, a frenetic energy in her tone*
Junko: – no, I… didn’t think this would ever happen!
*She turns, looking into the camera as she continues.*
Junko: But… I wanted it to happen! I dreamed that it might… and I told everyone months ago… that it is what I wanted. One of my three goals heading into 2024… was to challenge for the TPW International Championship… and I have fought, scraped… and bled… to earn this opportunity.
*Markson nods, agreeing.*
Junko: Standing here tonight… I promise all of you who have supported Junko… that I will do my best… I will work hard… and I will leave RetroMania as the new –
*The crowd is immediately booing as Peter Vaughn’s Tron begins playing. They all turn to the entryway, where the International Champion has walked out on the stage. He’s more dressed up than usual, wearing a fine suit along with the championship belt laying on his shoulder. Vaughn looks around at the negative reaction from the crowd, and then raises the belt upwards, causing a shower of sparks to shoot off all around the ramp. He then walks forward, heading towards the ring.*
Napier: Now HERE’S something worth seeing! The three-time champion is here! These fans should be grateful that he’s gracing them with his presence. It’s an honor to see him in person!
*Vaughn makes his way up the stairs and steps through the ropes, keeping his eyes on Junko. She looks wary, but isn’t backing down. Markson appears to be nervous himself, as he’s realizing the perils of being the announcer in a situation like this. Fortunately, he has a spare microphone, as he always likes to be prepared.*
Markson: Umm… your three-time International Champion, Peter Vaughn, everyone! Peter, this is a surprise. What br…
*Vaughn reaches over and takes the mic from Markson, not letting him finish. He continues to stare at Junko, before finally bringing the mic up.*
Vaughn: So… Junko Souma. The girl who makes rain of blood. It seems strange that you have been here in MY Thunder Pro Wrestling for a year, and we’ve never faced off. I suppose it’s been different circles… until now.
*The crowd doesn’t react well to Vaughn claiming ownership of TPW, but Junko doesn’t seem fazed. She waits, ready for what inevitably comes next in situations like these.*
Vaughn: So you’re the new #1 Contender to my championship, huh? You’re the next big threat to my run at the top of TPW?
Napier: Tell her the truth, Vaughn! Someone else deserves this title shot instead of her!
*Vaughn looks contemplative for a moment, still studying the wrestler standing before him.*
Vaughn: You know, Junko, if I can call you Junko… well, Junko, I have been watching you and your battles with Joe Montuori over the past few months. I saw what you did in that no rope, electric barbed wire death match at Thunder In Paradise 3. And I’ve got to say, the decision to make you the #1 contender… I agree with it.
Napier: Yeah, that’s right, she… wait, what??
*There is surprise in Junko’s eyes as well, as Vaughn readjusts the International Championship on his shoulder.*
Vaughn: I believe that you’re worthy of this championship, Junko, more worthy than many others who have gotten the opportunity. This championship only deserves the best of the best competing for it. I respect everything you’ve accomplished in TPW, Junko. You and I, we’re going to take Retromania to a completely different level. I look forward to working with you.
*With that, Vaughn extends a hand towards Junko, waiting for her response. Appearing confused, maybe even a little shaken by Vaughn’s words, Junko looks down at his hand before turning her gaze toward the fans, who appear just as taken aback. First, there’s silence… and then a moment passes before boos swell up from deep in the heart of the arena. Junko looks back down at Vaughn’s hand… and then up at his face, eyes locked on her, steely gaze unwavering.*
Napier: Do it, Junko! Shake the champion’s hand!
*She swallows hard, beginning to breathe heavier under the pressure. Markson watches from the corner, his own microphone clutched tightly in his fist. He doesn’t say a word, though he silently urges not to fall for it. In his mind, he’s screaming at the top of his lungs.*
Napier: You shook J Mont’s hand after everything he put you through! Don’t act like you’re above shaking the hand of the greatest International Champion that this company has ever known! This is the price you pay to be elevated, Junko! Sometimes, to get where you wanna go, you gotta grease the palms of people you don’t like –
*Vaughn remains still, hand extended, showing no adverse reaction whatsoever to Junko’s delay in accepting his gesture.*
Napier: – and that’s why The Mechanic stays at the top! Because he’s willing to get down in the dirt and the mud with scrubs like you!
*Junko takes a deep breath and slowly raises her hand, almost trembling under the pressure… before accepting Vaughn’s hand. He grips her tight, a firm and respectful handshake. She keeps her eyes on his, bracing for the betrayal… the kick to the stomach… the right hand to the jaw… maybe even an assault from behind by a hidden lackey. The fans boo… and seconds pass with nothing happening. Vaughn lets go of her hand and then looks at the championship belt resting on his shoulder before turning his head to face her once again, offering an almost… respectful nod before turning and climbing out of the ring, making his way down the steps without incident. The fans are so confused, they don’t even know how to react. Junko remains in the center of the ring, watching as he makes his way up the ramp.*
Napier: What a gentleman… what a champion! At RetroMania, Peter Vaughn is doing the lord’s work! Charity, if I’ve ever seen it! I don’t know why everyone is acting so surprised! THIS IS HOW A CHAMPION IS SUPPOSED TO ACT! Maybe if people paid a little less attention to freakshows like Matt Knox and Junko Souma, or washed up has-beens like “Chronic” Chris Page, they’d have a better idea of what a real champion looks like! THIS IS IT, BABY!
*With his back to the ring, Peter Vaughn stops on the stage, only a few feet away from the entranceway. Slowly, he turns his head and looks over his shoulder, giving one last glance toward Junko before stepping through the curtain and out of sight, taking the TPW International Championship with him. Junko watches, staring in the direction he left long after he’s gone. Markson approaches from her behind, gently touching her shoulder before raising his microphone.*
Markson: Junko, I think I speak for everyone here tonight when I ask… what just happened?
*Silence. No physical response whatsoever.*
Markson: Is… is there anything you’d like to say? Anything you can add? What’s going through your mind after this, your first-ever confrontation with the TPW International Champion, Peter Vaughn?
*She cuts her eyes in his direction, shaking her head before walking to the ropes and exiting the ring, making her way up the ramp to a smattering of applause. Before she’s even out of sight, the camera cuts to Markson in the ring, appearing flustered by everything that’s gone on. Holding his microphone, he addresses the camera directly.*
Markson: Well, that was interesting, to say the least. There you have it, folks… the main event for RetroMania on May 10th has been set! “The Mechanic” Peter Vaughn will defend the TPW International Championship against the number one contender, “Girl Who Makes Rain of Blood” Junko Souma!
*The fans cheer loudly. Markson points into the camera, smiling.*
Markson: But for now, we’re desperately out of time! We’ll see you in two weeks for Friday Night Fury out of Minneapolis, Minnesota! Good night, everyone!
*We fade on a slow zoom out from the ring to the credits.*
Napier: This oughta’ be good.
*Markson steps through the ropes and approaches the center of the ring, stopping to admire the crowd from center stage for a moment before raising the microphone and beginning to speak.*
Markson: Ladies and gentlemen, we’re approaching the tail end of March and it’s been a heck of a year already for Thunder Pro Wrestling… and I’m pleased to announce that it’s going to get even bigger and even more exciting from here on out!
*The fans applaud loudly, listening intently as he continues.*
Markson: Only moments ago, I was informed that we have a new number one contender to the Thunder Pro Wrestling International Championship coming out of Thunder in Paradise 3 and I’m gonna reveal who that is… right here and right now in front of all of you in Seattle, Washington!
*The fans begin buzzing with anticipation.*
Markson: That’s right… just two weeks ago, everyone witnessed quite possibly one of the biggest pay-per-view events in Thunder Pro Wrestling history, Thunder in Paradise 3. So many incredible moments that night… such as Never//More becoming the first-ever two-time S.E.X. Cup Tournament winners!
*The fans cheer at the mention of their name.*
Markson: How about Khloe Cox defeating Andrea Hernandez to earn her first taste of gold in TPW, the coveted Prestige Championship!?
*More cheers. Markson looks around, smiling proudly.*
Markson: Or Maxwell Mason Stone beating some goober in a mask to set the record for the fastest win in the history of the company!
*The fans begin to boo, not caring at all for the mention of the American Champion, wounds still fresh after what happened to Larry Tact. Markson gestures for everyone to settle down, a concerned expression on his face as he continues.*
Markson: And who can forget the reigning TPW International Champion, Peter Vaughn, defeating the living legend himself, hall of famer “Chronic” Chris Page in his final match in a TPW ring!?
*The fans cheer and respectfully applaud as Markson nods.*
Markson: But that’s not all that happened two weeks ago… oh no!
*Smirking, he raises one finger in the air, continuing to speak.*
Markson: In the main event at Thunder in Paradise 3, we witnessed together one of the most violent displays to ever take place… not just in Thunder Pro Wrestling but in professional wrestling as a whole! No ropes, electrified barbed wire! Joe Montuori and Junko Souma pushed their bodies to the limit, as well as what our TPW faithful could stomach watching! Blood was spilled, flesh torn and peeled back… and that was just the beginning of it.
*He looks out at the fans, shaking his head… still unable to believe what he witnessed.*
Markson: In the end, it was Junko Souma who walked away victorious… and it was because of this victory that TPW management has determined she will be the next competitor to stand across the ring from quite possibly –
*He sighs as though he hates to say it out loud.*
Markson: – the greatest TPW International Champion of all-time.
*The fans boo loudly. Markson just shrugs, there’s no other way to put it.*
Markson: Of course, I’m talking about the first and only three-time TPW International Champion, Peter Vaughn!
*The boos become even louder.*
Markson: So, without further adieu, allow me to formally introduce all of you to the number one contender to the TPW International Championship, the competitor who will challenge for that championship at RetroMania in Chicago, Illinois… the Girl Who Makes Rain of Blood –
*He turns to the entranceway, smiling proudly as the instrumental version of “Battle Royale” by Apashe hits, drawing a big pop from the fans in attendance. He shouts over them, completing his announcement.*
Markson: – JUNKO SOUMA!
*Seconds later, Junko steps through the curtain and walks out onto the stage in a blue tracksuit. She looks out at the cheering fans with a proud expression on her face, soaking in their adulation before making her way down the ramp. Even two weeks later, there’s stiffness in her movement, still feeling the effects of the match with Joe Montuori.*
Napier: This might be the biggest miscarriage of justice I’ve ever seen. She can still barely walk. Who says she’s going to be ready for Peter Vaughn at RetroMania, huh? They couldn’t find a better opponent for the greatest champion of all-time? Didn’t Markson mention a goober in a mask? I’d rather see that guy get the shot!
*Junko walks up the steps and then stands on the apron, looking out at the fans for a moment before climbing onto the middle rope. She points out at the fans and then pats her heart with her fist before climbing down into the ring. She approaches the center where Markson greets her with a handshake. She bows politely and he offers an awkward bow in return. The music cuts and all that remains is the sound of the cheering fans, the air thick with electricity. It almost looks as though she might become emotional due to the positive reaction from the fans. As they finally begin to settle down, Markson raises his microphone and begins to speak.*
Markson: Junko, you came to Thunder Pro Wrestling nearly one year ago to the day. What started with a temporary contract for last year’s S.E.X. Cup Tournament has blossomed into a full-blown career. Since then, you’ve become the American Champion, had an incredible series of matches with Joe Montuori that got the wrestling world talking, and just two weeks ago, you made it to the finals of the S.E.X. Cup.
*She looks up at him, nodding, listening.*
Markson: Tonight, you’re standing here… the number one contender to the most important championship in the game today. Tell us, Junko… when you showed up last year, did you ever think it would come to this?
*Junko looks out at the fans. They applaud loudly. She takes a deep breath before speaking into Markson’s microphone. Her English isn’t perfect but it gets the job done.*
Junko: I just want to say… TPW… is my home.
*The applause becomes even louder. Markson smiles, nodding as he holds the microphone for her.*
Junko: And it is an honor… to receive this opportunity –
*She looks up at Markson, almost flustered by the incredible reaction. Shaking her head, she finally gets around to answering his question, a frenetic energy in her tone*
Junko: – no, I… didn’t think this would ever happen!
*She turns, looking into the camera as she continues.*
Junko: But… I wanted it to happen! I dreamed that it might… and I told everyone months ago… that it is what I wanted. One of my three goals heading into 2024… was to challenge for the TPW International Championship… and I have fought, scraped… and bled… to earn this opportunity.
*Markson nods, agreeing.*
Junko: Standing here tonight… I promise all of you who have supported Junko… that I will do my best… I will work hard… and I will leave RetroMania as the new –
*The crowd is immediately booing as Peter Vaughn’s Tron begins playing. They all turn to the entryway, where the International Champion has walked out on the stage. He’s more dressed up than usual, wearing a fine suit along with the championship belt laying on his shoulder. Vaughn looks around at the negative reaction from the crowd, and then raises the belt upwards, causing a shower of sparks to shoot off all around the ramp. He then walks forward, heading towards the ring.*
Napier: Now HERE’S something worth seeing! The three-time champion is here! These fans should be grateful that he’s gracing them with his presence. It’s an honor to see him in person!
*Vaughn makes his way up the stairs and steps through the ropes, keeping his eyes on Junko. She looks wary, but isn’t backing down. Markson appears to be nervous himself, as he’s realizing the perils of being the announcer in a situation like this. Fortunately, he has a spare microphone, as he always likes to be prepared.*
Markson: Umm… your three-time International Champion, Peter Vaughn, everyone! Peter, this is a surprise. What br…
*Vaughn reaches over and takes the mic from Markson, not letting him finish. He continues to stare at Junko, before finally bringing the mic up.*
Vaughn: So… Junko Souma. The girl who makes rain of blood. It seems strange that you have been here in MY Thunder Pro Wrestling for a year, and we’ve never faced off. I suppose it’s been different circles… until now.
*The crowd doesn’t react well to Vaughn claiming ownership of TPW, but Junko doesn’t seem fazed. She waits, ready for what inevitably comes next in situations like these.*
Vaughn: So you’re the new #1 Contender to my championship, huh? You’re the next big threat to my run at the top of TPW?
Napier: Tell her the truth, Vaughn! Someone else deserves this title shot instead of her!
*Vaughn looks contemplative for a moment, still studying the wrestler standing before him.*
Vaughn: You know, Junko, if I can call you Junko… well, Junko, I have been watching you and your battles with Joe Montuori over the past few months. I saw what you did in that no rope, electric barbed wire death match at Thunder In Paradise 3. And I’ve got to say, the decision to make you the #1 contender… I agree with it.
Napier: Yeah, that’s right, she… wait, what??
*There is surprise in Junko’s eyes as well, as Vaughn readjusts the International Championship on his shoulder.*
Vaughn: I believe that you’re worthy of this championship, Junko, more worthy than many others who have gotten the opportunity. This championship only deserves the best of the best competing for it. I respect everything you’ve accomplished in TPW, Junko. You and I, we’re going to take Retromania to a completely different level. I look forward to working with you.
*With that, Vaughn extends a hand towards Junko, waiting for her response. Appearing confused, maybe even a little shaken by Vaughn’s words, Junko looks down at his hand before turning her gaze toward the fans, who appear just as taken aback. First, there’s silence… and then a moment passes before boos swell up from deep in the heart of the arena. Junko looks back down at Vaughn’s hand… and then up at his face, eyes locked on her, steely gaze unwavering.*
Napier: Do it, Junko! Shake the champion’s hand!
*She swallows hard, beginning to breathe heavier under the pressure. Markson watches from the corner, his own microphone clutched tightly in his fist. He doesn’t say a word, though he silently urges not to fall for it. In his mind, he’s screaming at the top of his lungs.*
Napier: You shook J Mont’s hand after everything he put you through! Don’t act like you’re above shaking the hand of the greatest International Champion that this company has ever known! This is the price you pay to be elevated, Junko! Sometimes, to get where you wanna go, you gotta grease the palms of people you don’t like –
*Vaughn remains still, hand extended, showing no adverse reaction whatsoever to Junko’s delay in accepting his gesture.*
Napier: – and that’s why The Mechanic stays at the top! Because he’s willing to get down in the dirt and the mud with scrubs like you!
*Junko takes a deep breath and slowly raises her hand, almost trembling under the pressure… before accepting Vaughn’s hand. He grips her tight, a firm and respectful handshake. She keeps her eyes on his, bracing for the betrayal… the kick to the stomach… the right hand to the jaw… maybe even an assault from behind by a hidden lackey. The fans boo… and seconds pass with nothing happening. Vaughn lets go of her hand and then looks at the championship belt resting on his shoulder before turning his head to face her once again, offering an almost… respectful nod before turning and climbing out of the ring, making his way down the steps without incident. The fans are so confused, they don’t even know how to react. Junko remains in the center of the ring, watching as he makes his way up the ramp.*
Napier: What a gentleman… what a champion! At RetroMania, Peter Vaughn is doing the lord’s work! Charity, if I’ve ever seen it! I don’t know why everyone is acting so surprised! THIS IS HOW A CHAMPION IS SUPPOSED TO ACT! Maybe if people paid a little less attention to freakshows like Matt Knox and Junko Souma, or washed up has-beens like “Chronic” Chris Page, they’d have a better idea of what a real champion looks like! THIS IS IT, BABY!
*With his back to the ring, Peter Vaughn stops on the stage, only a few feet away from the entranceway. Slowly, he turns his head and looks over his shoulder, giving one last glance toward Junko before stepping through the curtain and out of sight, taking the TPW International Championship with him. Junko watches, staring in the direction he left long after he’s gone. Markson approaches from her behind, gently touching her shoulder before raising his microphone.*
Markson: Junko, I think I speak for everyone here tonight when I ask… what just happened?
*Silence. No physical response whatsoever.*
Markson: Is… is there anything you’d like to say? Anything you can add? What’s going through your mind after this, your first-ever confrontation with the TPW International Champion, Peter Vaughn?
*She cuts her eyes in his direction, shaking her head before walking to the ropes and exiting the ring, making her way up the ramp to a smattering of applause. Before she’s even out of sight, the camera cuts to Markson in the ring, appearing flustered by everything that’s gone on. Holding his microphone, he addresses the camera directly.*
Markson: Well, that was interesting, to say the least. There you have it, folks… the main event for RetroMania on May 10th has been set! “The Mechanic” Peter Vaughn will defend the TPW International Championship against the number one contender, “Girl Who Makes Rain of Blood” Junko Souma!
*The fans cheer loudly. Markson points into the camera, smiling.*
Markson: But for now, we’re desperately out of time! We’ll see you in two weeks for Friday Night Fury out of Minneapolis, Minnesota! Good night, everyone!
*We fade on a slow zoom out from the ring to the credits.*
Matthew 28 : 1-10
28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
