“THE DOG DAYS ARE OVER”
Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
Continued…
As a fire rages behind them, Drexl is about to do the unthinkable and put Colt down.
Suddenly, the dog leaps up off the ground, taking a ginormous bite out of Big Slim, stumbling him backwards with an agonizing scream. He snarls as he rips and tears at the skin, only to be kicked off with a yelp by Drexl.
Drewitt meanwhile headbutts one of the men holding him.
And then an unlikely figure takes out the other.
It’s…
Teddy O’Toole.
O’Toole grins, using his cane with a low shot to take out a third of Drexl’s men.
Drewitt scoops Colt up and rushes through the fire towards the exit, leaving Teddy to look at Big Slim with a wry smile.
“I saw what you did, nigga,” Drexl screams. “I fuckin’ saw you cap dat man.”
Teddy shrugs.
“It no longer matters. He knows I shot him in the head, fella. You’re lucky that he does because this would make the perfect tomb for a man I needed to silence.”
Big Slim scoffs at him, getting back to his feet slowly.
“Yo bitch ass and what army, cracka?” He asks confrontationally.
Teddy just chuckles.
“Oh Drexl,” he says, tutting. “If anyone can, The Candy Man can.”
Meanwhile, outside of the vets – Drewitt isn’t alone.
He’s made it out with Colt, but standing before him is none other than the OSW Rewind Champion; Grimskull.
“I’m not lookin’ for trouble,” Drewitt says with a stern tone.
“Picture yourself walking through a forest, Drewitt. Suddenly, you’re hit by an arrow. This causes you great pain, but the archer isn’t done. Can you avoid the second arrow? That’s the arrow of emotional reaction. You can dodge it by consciously choosing contemplation, or give in to it, and suffer.”
Drewitt looks at him, perplexed.
“Give in to it, Explorer,” Grimskull beckons. “That’s how you become free.”
“Fuck off!” The Explorer responds, barging past him.
As Drexl and O’Toole make it out of the fiery vets, Grimskull turns to look at them both with a smile before walking off.
Cut.
“RELEASE DAY”
Jiro sits tied to a chair in the middle of the old warden’s office. After his fight with Prometheus, he was brought right back here to suffer in silence. As the light shines brightly on his face, the door opens and in walks an unfamiliar face.
It’s Max Meadows.
Meadows immediately begins untying him, looking to rescue him from his predicament.
“I can’t believe they’re doing this to you,” he says whilst trying to loosen the restraints.
“What do you care?” Jiro mutters in reply.
Max finally succeeds and loosens the restraints, helping him back to his feet.
“All this over some fucking weapons, huh?” He says in disbelief. Jiro looks at him, confused. “Let’s get you out of here and maybe we can talk business.”
The Arms Dealer stops in his tracks, pushing Meadows away.
“You fuckin’ prick,” he growls. “You think I’m fuckin’ stupid, is that it? The Red Hood sends you in here to ‘save’ me and thinks I’ll tell him everything I know through you?”
Supermax stops, not sure what to say.
“The Red Hood didn’t send me,” Max protests.
“Get the fuck outta here,” Jiro roars, pushing him further away. “How about you fight me, huh? If you want the answers so badly, come take your fuckin’ shot.”
Max shrugs.
“Fine,” he says with a nod. “I’ll get it cleared with Hood. You’re gonna wish you let me rescue you, boy.”
Jiro spits blood at him and walks back to his seat, taking it.
Cut.
“TAILING”
As the intro to TGIF plays, Narcissa walks out slowly to the beat. She enters the ring, microphone in hand and ready to address some business.
“Do you ever have that moment where you wear your finest shoes, get yourself looking like a million credits, then step in something foul? And no matter how hard you try, you cannot shake the stench?”
The crowd give a mixed response, mostly not sure where Narcissa is going with her spiel.
“Well I’ve noticed a stench lately. Following me around. You know that feeling you have when you are being watched, well I’ve had that feeling for the past week.”
She looks directly towards the entranceway, determination in her eyes.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you, you pathetic little worm, Colt Ramsey. You think you are hidden, snapping your little photos and doodling in your little notebook. But I see you, jumping into bushes. Slinking into shadows.”
She sniffs the air, a turned up look on her face as she holds her nose.
“I smell your stench. Do you think that’s the way to treat a lady? Or are you simply too much of a creep to introduce yourself. What the hell do you want with me? Get your sorry ass out her and explain yourself before I beat some sense into you in this ring!”
Narcissa is left waiting for a long pause. Eventually, The snapping of cameras can be heard over the sound system, the lights atop the entranceway flashing in sync as “Girls on Film” begins to play. We see Colt Ramsey making his way out, camera in hand as he takes a couple quick snaps of Narcissa from the entranceway, noticing the look in her eyes, the anger radiating from her.
Colt makes his way into the ring, to where Narcissa is waiting his explanation. He comes towards her, extending his hand, to which Narcissa simply looks stoically into his eyes and ignores the offer. Sheepishly, the hand soon withdraws, but is replaced by a cocky smirk on Colt’s face.
“You don’t even realise what a story you would be, do you, Narcy-doll?”
Narcissa blinks, almost unbelievingly at his ‘term of endearment’ for her, but says nothing, leaving Colt to continue.
“Sure, I’ve been tailing you. I won’t deny it. But it’s all for your story. A profile about you, could be the exact news that the people need to hear. Not to mention, you cannot deny that there is somewhat of a… connection between us.”
Narcissa turns from a look of bewilderment almost to a look of disgust. Colt continues.
“What say you? Let me run a story about you, doll. Share with me your tale, and I’ll give the people… and you… what they want.”
He says the last line with a wink and a smirk. Narcissa’s hand almost instinctively moves up to slap him across the face. Colt backs away from the slap into his corner, and Narcissa backs away to hers. But she utters one last line before she does so.
“You want to prove yourself? Now’s your chance, worm. In this ring, show me what you’ve got. Then, only then, will we talk.”
Colt has his hand to his cheek, rubbing the now reddened skin where Narcissa slapped him. It is not a look of shock on his face, but a smile breaking through his smirk. The referee checks on the pair to ensure they are ready for action, but Colt seems to have enjoyed the slap a little too much.
Cut.
It’s a headline-catching evening of high fashion, as The Designer takes on The Photographer: who will come out on top?
The bell rings and Narcissa attempts to start by going for her trademark Spinning Heel Kick – HIGH FASHION ducked by Colt Ramsey and The Designer sends herself sprawling across the canvas. Narcissa staggers to her feet and Colt goes to lock in the Full Nelson – FIT TO… ARMDRAG counter by Narcissa!
Ramsey hits the ground, rolling over onto his stomach, but Narcissa stomps her foot on the spine of The Photographer, grounding him as she walks the CATWALK down Colt’s back! Colt writhes in pain and rolls toward the corner as Narcissa comes over to pull him up— FLASH!
Colt just snapped a candid of Narcissa! He tells her to smile in jest before planting her with a DDT— SAY CHEESE! Colt keeps the hold on The Designer’s head, sitting Narcissa up and rolling through into a brutal cutter— THERE’S SOME B-ROLL FOR YOU!
The Jorno keeps hold of the head, looking to pile on more damage. He sets up the Designer for the swinging reverse DDT… but Narcissa counters, floating over the head of Ramsey! The Fashionista locks in the Full Nelson… but Colt spins out and counters into a Full Nelson of his own, quickly sweeping the legs into a Facebuster— NARCISSA’S FACE IS FIT TO PRINT! Colt falls into the cover, One… Two… Three!
Colt makes a statement tonight, and will be able to print the headline tomorrow: “Photographer Defeats Designer!”
WINNER: COLT RAMSEY
“DEVIL'S DEN”
The Blood Runner’s Compound.
Most people wouldn’t come within two levels of this place, but the person standing in front of it simply isn’t most people. No, the woman standing in front is none other than Gemini, the Night Bitch, that is. She looks up at the door, a smirk on her face as the gate begins to open and two Blood Runners exit, circling her like the wolves they are.
“Smells like fresh meat,” says one, a smirk on his face.
“Ain’t often we get our meals delivered straight to our door,” says the other as he sniffs the air.
“Heel, boys.” Gemini speaks with an air of confidence unlike anything these men have ever seen here. Most people who walk to the gates of the Devil’s Den speak with anger, fear, or caution. But Gemini? She acts like she belongs here, not a hint of fear on her face. “I’m here to speak to your leader. You wouldn’t want to make him mad, would you?”
The two cannibals share a look with one another, bearing their teeth as they close in on the witch. “Jus’ cause you were stupid enough to sit down next to him don’t mean-“
“BOYS!” The growling voice of Blacktooth interrupt them, both men immediately cowering away from Gemini who merely chuckles as she walks forwards, Blacktooth welcoming her inside of his compound with open arms. “Glad you could make it.”
“Of course.”
As Gemini walks into the compound and the gates close behind her, the camera zooms out and we find ourselves staring at a man who watched this all go down from a distance.
Kaiju Chiba.
Cut.
“THE VIXEN II”
Deep in The Bleak, Mannfred Curze paces the empty walkways. The area around him is empty, all of the residents of The Bleak scared of the disappearances.
Curze turns a corner and suddenly, after a small clink, a blinding white light fills his vision.
FLASHBANG!
Mannfred can’t see anything, as he tries to blink away the brightness.
Eventually, when he can see again, there’s a box on the ground in front of him. Simply packaged, with a note saying “Curze” attached, it riles Mannfred, who cannot see anyone in the vicinity.
Mannfred Curze opens the box, and within it finds an intricately carved fox, whittled from what looks like the wood taken from walls of The Bleak itself.
A note falls out. Curze picks it up and reads.
‘Mannfred,
Haven’t you found me yet? Come on, I’m just DYING to meet you again.
The Vixen’
This drives Curze wild. The man who thought he knew everything and everyone within the confines of The Bleak, suddenly rendered completely clueless as to just who is taking his residents, and what exactly for, he’s absolutely furious about it.
Curze screws up the note, but before he tosses it, he stops to think for a second, then pockets it, instead throwing the whittled fox aside.
Cut.
A former champion wanting revenge against the man who stole his title. Can Kpavio prove why he should still be a tag team champion or will Dr Death;s diagnosis shatter his championship dreams forever?
The bell sounds as Kpavio rushes forward, nearly decapitating Death with a brutal Lariat before lifting him up and pummeling him with hard lefts and rights. A stiff knee to the jaw rocks the luchadoc before he’s thrown head over heels with a powerful Belly to Belly Suplex. Death lands hard near the corner as he slowly pulls himself up by the ropes
RUNNING SPEAR…DEATH MOVES OUT OF THE WAY AS KPAVIO’S SHOULDER HITS STEEL! Kpavio staggers out in agony, holding his arm right into the LETHAL INJECTION! Springboard Cutter out of nowhere sends Kpavio face first into the mat as Death rolls him over for the cover. One…two…NO! Kpavio just gets the shoulder up.
Death tries to pull him to his feet, possibly looking for the end here but a snap headbutt stuns the good doctor as Kpavio tries to underhook him for a powerbomb but his right arm gives out. Death slides out underneath Kpavio, delivering a snap neckbreaker to drop the Skull to the mat before he leaps over the ropes onto the apron, waiting for Kpavio to slowly get to his feet before diving…RIGHT INTO A BRUTAL ELBOW TO THE JAW!
Death is dazed before he’s snapped down to the mat with a Punishing Snap Tiger Bomb but Death barely hits the mat before he’s flipped over and locked in a modified one armed Texas Cloverleaf but it’s still full of Vengeance as Death tries to fight but he’s stuck in the middle of the ring and forced to tap out!
The Skull gets a measure of revenge here tonight against the man who stole his tag team titles but you know he has to want a rematch very soon.
WINNER: KPAVIO
“BLOODY TEARS”
The Gallery.
Jasper Redgrave sits in a dimly lit chamber, walls adorned with macabre paintings and other such “art.”
“Jasper Redgrave.” A mechanized voice calls.
Redgrave, clad in a blood-stained smock, stands to his feet to see a drone floating before him, much like the one he plucked out of the air last week.
Stubbins Doom’s face flickers to life, projected by the hovering drone. Redgrave smiles, his eyes fixed on Doom’s ghostly image.
“Ah, Doom,” Redgrave sneers. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Doom’s image crackles and hisses, as if struggling to maintain its form.
“In another world, we might have worked together.” Doom begins.
Redgrave snorts.
“But instead we are to be foes.”
“I’ve heard.” Redgrave says, cutting him off. “The OSW World Championship would be a wonderful addition my Gallery, after I’ve painted it with your bloody tears.”
“I have no fear of you, Redgrave.” Doom retorts. “Your threats are empty. “
“Are they?” Jasper says, revealing crimson stains on his teeth. “Why the remote visit then?”
“I simply prefer to keep my distance from your… creations.”
Redgrave chuckles.
“You wound me. But tell me, what mechanical construct do you have in store for me? I’ve seen your work in the past, and I was very unimpressed.”
“I do have a surprise in store for you.” Doom’s hologram shifts, revealing a sinister glint in his smile. “And I will give you a hint… it involves something you hold dear. Or perhaps… someone…”
Redgrave’s eyes flash with a deadly gleam.
“You underestimate my reach, Stubbins Doom. This will not go the way you think.”
“We will see.” Doom responds.
The hologram flickers, then vanishes.
Redgrave stands alone, surrounded by his bloody masterpieces, with a gleam in his eye.
Cut.
“PULLING THE STRINGS”
As Damien Wolfe stands opposite Vision in the middle of the ring, prepared to do battle – something happens.
The lights flicker.
Damien immediately gulps, demanding a microphone.
Vision understandably remains still.
“Wait a minute!” He roars into it, from boos from the crowd. “Just wait a bloody minute.”
The lights flicker again.
“You stop that, Foley!” He demands. “You stop that right now.”
Suddenly, the red light begins spinning above their head as the entire arena is thrust into darkness.
The ring begins shaking between flashes of red.
We can’t see what’s happening, but we have an idea – we definitely have an idea.
When the lights come back on, both Vision and Damien Wolfe are squirming on the canvas in agony. Damien has a bloodied forehead, and Vision’s cloak is ripped.
The tron behind the ring flickers, revealing medics and a trauma team rushing to the aide of someone backstage.
It’s Felix Foley, and he’s not in good shape.
The Puppetmaster has been driven through a glass window, left there to bleed all over the place as paramedics try to attend to him. He’s carefully pulled out, his mid-section bloodied.
What the fuck is going on? Wolfe looks back at the monitor, then at Vision – who’s attacking them both? Is it Foley? Is it Wolfe?
Are they both the victim here?
Tonight, they are.
Meanwhile, Damien Wolfe vs. Vision is up next.
The Third Eye has been a powerful figure in Arcadia so far but he’s going face to face against a very unpredictable wrestler here tonight. Can V1sion see his way through to a victory or will the mysterious red light lead to victory for the Conservator?
The lights slowly come back on as both men are slowly stirring, wincing in absolute agony. Damien is busted wide open and V1sions cloak is badly ripped as both men slowly get to their feet very worse for wear but Wolfe is the first to rush forward, surprising V1sion with a hard right to the jaw that staggers back the Awoken One before he rushes forward with some STATUTORY DAMAGE! The running knee hits flush as V1sion crashes to the mat.
Wolfe drops down, not for the cover but looking to choke out the Third Eye with that Capti Choke but V1sion manages to slip out of the hold, getting to his feet and drilling Wolfe with a hard kick to the jaw. Wolfe is dazed as he stumbles to his feet before he’s lifted up high into the air and spiked into the mat with a brutal eye opening Brain Buster. V1sion doesn’t cover, instead slowly climbing up to the top rope, shaking out the cobwebs before he dives off
SHOT IN THE…KNEES! Frog Splash is countered in the nick of time, V1sion staggering up to his feet into a kick to the gut and a FACIEM COUSHER! Rocker Dropper slams V1sion down into mat but again Wolfe doesn’t cover, instead lifting V1sion up off the mat. Wolfe stuns V1sion with a stiff kick to the jaw before delivering another to the gut that bends him over.
Wolfe grabs V1sions right hand, stepping over before trying to force V1sions head into the crook of his right arm but V1sion spins his way out, THIRD EYE BLINDED! DOUBLE ARM FACEBUSTER OUTTA NOWHERE! Wolfe crashes to the mat as V1sion collapses on him for the pinfall and the one…two…three!!!
V1sion picks up the big victory out of nowhere, seeing right through the Ex Parte to completely blind the Conservator here tonight.
WINNER: VISION
“RENEGED”
Backstage, we see Dr. Death making his way down the hall to join El Mariachi Muerte…when suddenly, their attention is grabbed by a shout from the distance.
“Dr. Death! We need to talk.”
O’ Death turn their gaze to the one responsible for calling the Luchadoc out…Kpavio. Though it’s hard to tell from looking, something in the Skull’s tone of voice indicates a level of anger bubbling up, something we saw even a glimpse of during their battle earlier in the night…and it may boil over.
“Kpavio! It’s so good to see you again…how may I be of service?”
Dr. Death’s question is met with a silent glare from the Skull, before a reponse is given.
“I’ve seen some of your work, Doctor. I want to know what you’re doing to those so-called patients…because it sure seems like you tried to fool myself and Gemini, and I cannot stand for that.”
The pair opposite Kpavio look at each other for a moment before giving a nod.
“I’m sorry, that information is strictly between myself and those in my care,” replies the Luchadoc. “And I promise you we would never try to hoodwink you, sir. If that’s all there is, we’ll be taking our leave…seems we need to tighten up security at The Clinic, after all.”
The duo let out a chuckle at this, but Kpavio does not look amused one bit. They turn to leave, but are interrupted by the Skull’s final statement of intent.
“We’ll be looking to get our rematch for those Tag Team Championships, then. We’re owed as much, and if you’re as honest as you claim you’ll surely accept.”
O’Death stop to think about this for a moment, finally responding with another nod toward each other before Dr. Death speaks once more.
“A rematch it is, then. See to it that your friend Gemini is ready…considering she’s had her attention elsewhere lately.”
The pair chuckle at this before making their way down the hall, leaving us with a frustrated Kpavio to consider that last word of advice from the Luchadoc.
Cut.
DEATHROW WRESTLING
Both men meet in the center of the ring, disdain dripping off of both men.
PISTOL WHIPPED! MASSIVE RIGHT HOOK TO THE JAW!
Jiro starts the match off strong as he knocks Meadows silly with that strike! Supermax bounces into the corner and gets nailed with a slew of knee strikes before rolling him in front of the rope! He climbs to the top!
DEATH FROM ABOVE! FROGSPLASH-
FOOT TO THE FACE!
Max is fast to his feet, forcing Jiro up!
AND LAWN DARTING HIM OVER THE ROPES! JIRO HITS THE FUCKING CELL WALL FACE FIRST!
Jiro looks dead on arrival and Max slides out, slamming a plethora of boots to the downed arms dealer before forcing him up with a deadlift before flinging him with a German Suplex into the steel steps! Jiro is in a heap and Max grabs a steel pipe from beneath the ring!
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON!?
NO!
JIRO DODGES! HE SLAMS THE STAIRS ONTO MAX’S HAND!
Meadows lets out a yell of pain as Jiro takes the pipe and slams his right across Max’s Jaw!
AND HE SPITS BLOOD ONTO THE FLOOR!
Jiro looks to tee off with the pipe but Max ducks! He spits blood in the eyes of Jiro!
AND MOVES BEHIND! LIFE SENTENCE! FULL NELSON!
MAX SLAMS JIRO FACE FIRST INTO THE CELL WALL OVER AND OVER! JIRO GOES LIMP! HE’S KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT!
Supermax flings Jiro onto the ground, standing tall with a dominant victory.
“EMPATHY”
Sometime after Vision’s match, he finds himself stood alongside Grimskull on Grimskulls home turf. The Slums.
They have not gathered Grimskull’s followers for a speech or sermon as Grimskull usually would. Instead, they simply watch.
“What do you think when you see these people?” Vision asks, solemly.
Grimskull looks at him.
“They are my people. They see that pain is the path to freedom, as I have taught them.”
“I am not talking about what you have taught them, or to which belief system they belong. Look closer, Grimskull.”
Grimskull takes his time, studying those closest to him. It’s the first time he’s really looked at them.
“They look… worn,” he says. “Broken, in a way.”
“They do,” responds vision, nodding slightly. “These people have merely been a means to an end for you. You’ve seen them as part of your growing whole, rather than as individual people. You cared not for their struggles, but these people have all struggled. They continue to struggle. And alongside your leadership, they need you to understand them. They need your empathy.”
Vision turns to face Grimskull.
“I do not need to know of these people and their strife for them to be useful to me,” Grimskull retorts.
“It’s true,” Vision reasons. “You do not need to know of their strife for them to be useful to you. But you need to know of their strife for you to be useful to them. And as a leader, that is more important than almost anything else on the path to true freedom.”
He motions for Grimskull to follow him and they leave the open air of The Slums.
“Empathy is the yellow facet of The Third Eye’s prism. I can tell from your tone that you don’t understand yet, but you will. I implore you to watch your people more closely. Listen to them. Understand and empathise with them, and soon you really will…”
Cut.
A hero and a kind-hearted soul take on a survivor and a hero in the making, as Kaiju Chiba and Gemini take on The Burned Man and Destructo Boy!
Gemini and Destructo start us off, with Nature’s Delight quickly getting the better of Destructo with a flurry of offense that culminates in a headscissors takedown, sending him into the canvas hard! Gemini is quick to her feet as she hits the ropes, launching herself for a running senton splash!
But Destructo rolls out of the way in the nick of time! Gemini goes crashing to the canvas as Destructo tags in The Burned Man…but Nature’s Delight has rolled to her corner, where Kaiju gets a blind tag. They charge quickly at each other, trading some hard lefts and rights!
Kaiju gets the better of TBM thanks to his larger frame, sending the Arcadian Mummy to the corner…before hitting a big corner splash! CHIBA SPLASH! TBM drops to the canvas as Kaiju makes the cover! ONE! T–NO! Destructo makes the save, breaking the pin…with a running corkscrew headbutt! IMPACT BREAKER!
Chaos ensues as Gemini hops onto the top rope, walking it before leaping off with a hurricanrana on Destructo! ROUGH HIKE! TBM’s back to his feet, intercepting Gemini with a clotheslines before turning his attention to Kaiju with an STO! MATCH STRIKER! TBM goes for the cover! ONE! TWO! THREE!
Despite their best efforts, the Big Save and Nature’s Delight couldn’t quite topple The Burned Man and Destructo Boy!
WINNERS: DESTRUCTO BOY & THE BURNED MAN
“LET ME”
The match is over, and Destructo Boy helps The Burned Man out of the ring, both men moving up the ramp as Destructo Boy speaks.
“We’re taking Blacktooth on together, right?”
The Burned Man shakes his head. “No.”
“What do you mean no?”
“Blacktooth is dangerous, boy. He’s vile, he’s not going to mess around. He came out here because he wanted a meal and I had to save you. You don’t need to be anywhere near him.” The Mummy speaks gruffly as both men exit out into the backstage of Olympus.
Destructo Boy looks at The Sole Survivor with a frown, almost showing annoyance at the prospect. “You can’t be serious. You said it yourself, he’s dangerous and if you go in there by yourself you might get hurt too!”
“Might. If we both step in the ring with him there’s a chance both of us get a knife to the throat. I’m taking him on by myself and you’re going to stay safe and out of the way.” The Burned Man’s tone shifts from gruff to almost disciplinary. He looks to Destructo Boy who merely stands as tall as he can, refusing to back down.
“Let me help you. We’ve fought O’Death, we fought Skulltography. Let me show you that I don’t need to be saved.”
“The only thing I’m going to let you do is go home safe and avoid the Blood Runners.” Burned Man places a firm hand on Destructo Boy’s shoulder, his voice deathly serious. “Do you understand me?”
There’s a long pause as Destructo Boy stops, clenching his fists and looking down before letting out a small sigh. “Fine. He’s all yours.”
“Good.”
Both men continue to walk on the way out of Olympus, an awkward silence sitting over them as they do.
Cut.
Two teams of partners at odds makes for a unique matchup in the main event when the Mad Scientist and the Artist team up against The Adventurer and The Pimp!
The bell rings, and Redgrave and Drexl start things off tying up collar and elbow. Drexl trash talks Redgrave a bit, which elicits a smile from the artist, and he tugs Drexl in close with a tight side headlock. Redgrave wrenches it in, and Drexl lifts—
SIDE SUPLEX—
But Drexl can’t get Redgrave off his feet! He takes a step toward his corner where Drewitt stares a dagger through him, but Redgrave holds steady. Drexl rushes Redgrave into the ropes and whips him—
REDGRAVE COUNTERS INTO A WHIP OF HIS OWN—
TOSSING DREXL ACROSS THE RING BY HIS NATTY DREADS!
Drexl lands in a heap as Redgrave slowly advances towards him with that sadistic smile on his face before picking Drexl up by those same dreadlocks and pressing him up against the ropes. Drexl is protesting this as the ref begins a five count to break, but Redgrave simply shushes the ref before raising up a hand—
SMACK!
BIG SLAP TO DREXL’S CHEST!
You could hear that smack echo throughout Olympus, and Drexl collapses to the mat with the wind knocked out of him. Redgrave seems to really enjoy toying with the Arcadian Pimp, locking legs with him and raking his back before stretching Drexl’s arms behind him—
SURFBOARD STRETCH!
The look of pure joy and exhilaration on Redgrave’s face directly contrasts the pain and agony displayed by Drexl’s, and the ref asks Drexl if he’s had enough here…
TO WHICH REDGRAVE SHOUTS AN AUDIBLE, “WE’RE ONLY GETTING STARTED, MISTER ZEBRA STRIPES!”
Redgrave throws his own body backwards, lifting Drexl in the air above him! Drexl’s escort at ringside is shrieking almost as loudly as Drexl’s cries for help, and just as Drexl looks towards the ref—
BIG KICK TO REDGRAVE’S GUT FROM DREWITT!
The Adventurer begrudgingly made the save here, with Redgrave immediately guarding his midsection to release the submission as the ref escorts Drewitt back to his corner. Drexl, meanwhile, is scratching and clawing his way towards his partner and reaches out as Redgrave rolls towards his own corner—
TAG—
HOVER NO BOTHER!!
Doom just jetted himself across the entire ring and kicked Drexl in the head before he could tag Drewitt in! And it’s Doom’s turn to go to work on Drexl, who is in a bad way. Doom begins stomping on Drexl as the latter attempts to climb up the ropes, and when Drexl latches onto the middle rope Doom digs a knee into Drexl’s back that presses his neck up against the middle rope!
“ONE!”
“TWO!”
The ref is counting as Doom applies the pressure…
“THREE!”
“FOUR!”
Doom releases and throws his arms up into the air, wryly grinning before stepping back towards Drexl. He takes hold of the middle rope with both hands—
AND SHOCKS IT, ALONG WITH DREXL BY PROXY—
DREXL IS THROTTLING AROUND AS THE REF SHOUTS AT THE WORLD CHAMP TO STOP!!
BRAINS OVER BRAUN!!
Doom finally releases before the five count again, watching as Drexl drops like a fly to the mat, and covers him—
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
..
..
..
..
..
..
DREXL IS DAZED AND CONFUSED!!
…
THREE!!!
NO!!!
DREXL JUST GOT THE SHOULDER UP!!!
Doom’s smile morphs into a grimace as he picks Drexl up and drags him towards his corner where Redgrave stands nonchalantly with his hand hanging out, just waiting for the tag. Doom, sees the outstretched arm, pauses, and looks his tag partner up and down before slapping it as hard as he can.
Redgrave steps through the ropes, audibly laughing now as if he enjoyed the hard tag from Doom. The champ holds Drexl up from behind, pinning his arms behind him as Redgrave tunes up the band…
SUPERKICK!!
TO STUBBINS DOOM!!
Drexl spun out at the last millisecond, and Doom goes down—
REDGRAVE IS STANDING OVER DOOM WITH A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE!!
Redgrave turns his attention to the rising Drexl and makes a move towards him—
LARIAT—
DUCKED BY DREXL!
Drexl hits the ropes, and on the rebound gets confronted with a spinning back elbow from Redgrave—
COLLAGE OF VIOLENCE??
NO!!
Drexl ducks under the elbow and rebounds off the opposite ropes. Out of pure desperation, Drexl leaps at Redgrave as he turns around—
SOMERSAULT CLOTHESLINE—
CONNECTS!!
HE’S GOT THE ARTIST ON SPEED DIAL!!
This knocks Redgrave off his feet just long enough for Drexl to somersault a second time towards his corner towards the outstretched arm of Drewitt—
TAG!
Drewitt enters the ring like a man on a mission, bolting towards the rising Redgrave—
BIG LARIAT DROPS THE ARTIST!
Drewitt waits as Redgrave gets back to his feet and rushes again—
ANOTHER LARIAT DROPS HIM AGAIN!
Redgrave pops back up but he’s a bit hazy, and Drewitt lifts him up onto his shoulders—
WATCH MY RIGHT HAND—
TO REDGRAVE!!
DREWITT TURNED AND DOOM’S PROJECTILE PUNCH BLASTED HIS OWN PARTNER IN THE FACE!!
…
AND DREWITT DROPS REDGRAVE WITH A BURNING HAMMER!!
THE TRAVELLER’S GAMBIT!!
Redgrave almost looks in eternal bliss as Drewitt covers—
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
..
..
..
..
..
..
COULD THIS BE IT??
…
THR—
BROKEN UP!!
BY DREXL??
Drexl landed ontop of Drewitt, and the Traveller aggressively shoves Drexl off him and lifts him up by his shirt collar, berating him for breaking the pin up. They argue for a moment while Doom, who initially shoved Drexl onto Drewitt to cause this mess, snickers from behind them…
WATCH MY LEFT HAND!!
Doom’s other glove blasted Drewitt right in his ugly mug, and he releases Drexl as he drops to the mat…
BREAKING THE JAR!!!
DOOM BLASTED DREWITT WITH THE RUNNING PUNT KICK TO THE HEAD!!!
Drexl simply backs away and rolls out of the ring, heading up the ramp as if nothing had just happened as Doom drapes Redgrave’s arm over Drewitt—
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
..
..
..
..
..
..
Jasper has come to and sees Doom pointing at him as he backpedals up the ramp…
THREE!!!
Despite rising tensions, Doom and Redgrave manage to pick up the big victory tonight ahead of their world title match!
WINNERS: STUBBINS DOOM & JASPER REDGRAVE
“DECISION TIME”
Sometime later.
This week, Jackson Cade is able to ignore the multitude of drones and weaponized lasers pointing at him as he enters The Doom Factory. He’s a man on a mission as he lets them lead him into the audience of the man who has enlisted his services.
Stubbins Doom, himself.
Doom has a sly grin on his face as he watches Cade approach.
“Officer Cade,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “Have you made a decision?”
Cade hesitated, his hand hovering over the gun at his hip. He knew that dealing with Doom was dangerous, but he also knew Redgrave was more dangerous.
“I’m not sure,” Cade replies cautiously.
The grin vanishes from Doom’s face, as he steps away from the table in front of him. The Specialist, ever eagle-eyed, takes note of what almost looks like grains of sand laid out on the table.
“Pay those no mind, Officer.” Doom says, approaching Cade. “They’re no use to you if you are no use to me.”
Perseus hoists his gun.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Stubbins stops.
“My dear boy, if I wanted you dead, that relic in your hand wouldn’t even fire a shot.”
He grins again.
“Think about what my technology could do for you. To be able to bring in Jasper Redgrave by the book, without needing to resort to the primitive methods of your peers… you’d be unparalleled.”
Cade sighs. Doom’s grin widens.
“Think carefully, Officer. The offer won’t last forever. One vial of Jasper Redgrave’s blood, that’s all I ask for. Before my Championship defense against him at Pandemonium. And the world is yours.”
He pauses, no more niceties in his voice. He holds out a small vial to Cade.
“I need your answer now.”
Jackson Cade takes a deep breath, his eyes darting around the room, feeling the vice grip squeezing his head.
“I accept.”
Grabbing the vial and turning on his heel to leave, Cade’s made a deal with the devil!
What’s Stubbins Doom planning for Jasper Redgrave?
And how the hell is Jackson Cade going to get a blood sample?