HOME
RECORDED EARLIER

Click.

Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.

Home.

It’s the one very place that SeeSaw doesn’t remember fondly. He walks up the rickety old steps of the abandoned family place to the open door way. Once inside, he see’s Doctor D’Ville sat in an old rocking chair in the corner.

“I don’t like this place, daddy,” SeeSaw says with a grimace, his eyes searching the room.

“It’s okay son, I’m here.”

That doesn’t put Mr. Make Believes mind at ease.

Not at all.

“I had to teach you a hard lesson at Pandemonium. I’m sorry that it came down to that.”

SeeSaw stands by the door, not moving a muscle.

“It’s okay daddy, I’m glad I have a brother,” SeeSaw admits. “I’ve always wanted someone to play with.”

D’Ville stops rocking in is chair.

“Son, he isn’t your friend. His life was vastly different to yours. I wasn’t there much for either of you, but it was worse for him; much worse.”

SeeSaw nods.

“At Ring of Dreams, he wants to fight you. He wants to hurt you. I can’t stop that, because I encourage it. You see, this fight with Michael is your destiny. One way or another, it must happen.”

That disturbs Mr. Make Believe who backs away, shaking his head.

“I’m not fighting my brother, not again,” he sneers. “And you can’t make me, daddy. I just found out that I have a new friend and I want to get to know him.”

D’Ville stands up from the chair and walks over to his son, grabbing him by the cheeks with both hands.

“I won’t have to make you,” The Doc says with a wry smile. “He will.”

D’Ville peers over his shoulder, revealing Mez lurking outside the window, his mask barely visible beneath the dirt.

Cut.

PIGS
RECORDED EARLIER

Recorded Earlier.

In Harlan Kentucky, an African American Butcher stands in his pig pen, looking over the animals – he’s selecting which one is next to be slaughtered.

It’s Limehouse.

But he’s not alone.

Across from him are the three members of War Machine.

Malice, Major Thom and Bishop.

“Most people don’t like to think about how their meat ends up on their plate,” Limehouse states emphatically. “But someone has to choose which animal has to die, then they gotta slaughter it. That’s alotta responsibility, ain’t it?”

War Machine say nothing.

“I see you boys ain’t the talkative type. That’s alright, I got plenty to say for the bunch of us.”

Limehouse selects a pig with his rod, nodding to an associate who begins to rustle the animal into location.

“Now I’m in the business of knowin’ secrets,” he admits, tipping his hat. “And one of the secrets I know is that you three have my dear friend somewhere safe.”

Again, War Machine say nothing. They stand stoically, arms folded.

“I also know about Winona.”

Malice steps forward, stopped by Thom.

Limehouse just smiles.

“Now, I ain’t sure why you have Colin or what you want ‘im for, but just know that I know you got ‘im and if I hear somethin’ happens to that man, I’m gonna feed ya to my pigs.”

“Do you really think we’re the kind of men who appreciate being threatened?” Bishop gruffly replies.

Suddenly, a round ten men walk out from behind pushes with AK47’s pointed in their direction.

“Do I seem like the kinda man who doesn’t know that?” Limehouse asks. “Now go on wit’cha, get. Just remember what I said, ya heard? I ain’t gonna say it again.”

The War Machine, realizing they’re outnumbered, slowly back away.

Cut.

HUNTERS VS. AUDITORIUM VS. DOUBLE BARRELL
TAG TEAM MATCH

The OSW Champion looks to assemble an even greater team as he participates in the tournament!

Jessie lays into Gabriel with hooks and jabs. Perhaps the vampire had a prior encounter with Ash? Thespian clubs Williams from behind. The Playwright and the Lord of Darkness double-team The Prince with kicks and punches. Drake whips him into the ropes and Montcroix hits the high knee RIGHT ON CUE! ONE… TWO… Gabriel breaks it up!

Uh oh, that didn’t last long. Thespian plays to the back of the room, outraged – THE LORD’S SHADOW cape-whip! Montcroix collapses into his corner, tagging in Hex! She scales the top rope and LEARNS TO FLY! ONE… TWO… Jessie drags Hex off of Gabriel! A stiff uppercut drops her, followed by a dropkick – GROOVY ECLIPSE!

FLASH! POOF! COSMIC LEAP! The Rewind Champion tags in the World Champion, Sigil, who teleports in front of Jessie! An alarmed Williams swings with a BOOMSTICK, only to eat a FINITE roundhouse kick! Jessie spills to the outside – but not before Reaper tags himself in! SHOTGUN BLAST Superman punch to Sigil! ONE… TWO… Montcroix descends like a bat!

A melee ensues! Thespian performs THE FINAL ACT pedigree on Reaper! Drake locks the actor in the FEAST OR FAMINE cobra clutch – but Hex clocks him with the WITCHING HOUR discus elbow! She goes to cover – BOOYAH Superman punch to The Songstress by Jessie! ONE… TWO… THREE!

DOUBLE BARREL blast their targets to advance to ROUND II!

ORDERS
BACKSTAGE

Malice and Major Thom are sitting at a wooden table backstage waiting for Bishop to discuss strategy for Double Tap. Bishop joins them.

“Where have you been? The match is about to start.”

“Don’t worry Malice, we’ll have plenty of time for strategy, we are the champions after all. We will easily make it past the first round. Even if we do not, I’ve talked to Limehouse and convinced him to give us an opportunity at more gold since we have to defend ours against everyone tonight.”

“Oh? What did you convince him to give us?”

“Glad you asked, Thom. We are one-half of the competitors in the Sweet Dreams match at Ring of Dreams. Not only that, but we also got to pick the stipulation.”

“Did you tell him No Man’s Land?”

“Indeed, our opponents won’t know what to do when they see the stuff of our nightmares.”

“We had to deal with barbed wire everywhere simply to complete the most trivial of objectives. You’ll think they’ll be able to hand that and us in their way?”

“No, and that’s why one of us will get a shot at the VHS title after we relive hell once again.”

“Who are we facing?”

“Two new competitors and one piece of shit.”

Bishop throws three pictures on the table. The first is The Plague Rat.

“You know him. This bastard is as his name implies, a plague on this world and we are already dealing with enough pandemics.

The second is Mefisto.

“We saw what he is capable of, we were able to take him down together before, but we cannot go one on with this enigma. There is not enough intel on him yet.”

The third is what looks like an innocent, young girl. We have not seen her in the Slaughterhouse yet.

“Who’s this bitch?”

“Malice… Limehouse called her Sweet Alice. Not much is known about her either. All I can say is she’ll soon realize she’s not in Wonderland.”

“So, there’s three of them and we have three weeks to make sure we get that title shot. Who do we take out first?”

“It’s your pick, Thom.”

Thom simply points to a picture.

“That’s our orders, Malice”

Cut.

WAR MACHINE VS. FINAL JUDGEMENT VS. BEDTIME STORY
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH

The reigning Champions look to keep their gold in this first-stage bout!

Malice covers his squadmates outside. Bishop, Judge, and Banzan collide in a MONSTER MASH, all of them nearing 7–feet and breaking any household scale! The ring quakes under them as Judge nails Bishop with a SPARTA KICK – but The Hunter bounces back off the ropes with a DEADEYE spear! Malice tells him to turn round… DUKKHA Saito suplex by bear-stance Banzan!

ONE… TWO… Thom breaks it up! As the referee orders him back to the apron, Malice cheap-shots The Indestructible Mountain! Judge doesn’t see it, and kicks Banzan low. He pulls him into the RESTORATION powerbomb, but Thom—having since been tagged in—SABOTAGES him with the bicycle kick! ONE… TWO… Banzan brings The War Machine to a grinding halt!

Judge and Banzan dive into a DOUBLE hot-tag! Cryptkeeper rakes Death’s eye—THE BEGINNING—whips him into the ropes—MIDDLE—and lifts the big boot—BUT RED DOESN’T CATCH THE END! He pulls ‘Keeper into the KILLING JOKE turnbuckle bulldog! ONE… TWO… Malice pulls the referee out! The official, however, barks at him to leave! The War Machine protest, but their comrade exits the battlefield.

Thom grudgingly re-enters… A REDBLADE KNOCKS HIS GUN-RANGE GLASSES OFF! He staggers into the CURSE OF THE CRYPTKEEPER European uppercut! ONE… TWO… DARKNESS FALLS CURB STOMP! ONE… TWO… Bishop barely makes the save! He draaags Thom into their corner – earning a rebuke. Thom groggily tags him in – but Death also tags in Judge! Bishop races right into a RESTORATION powerbomb! ONE… TWO… THREE!

FINAL JUDGEMENT is passed as they move to ROUND II – guaranteeing NEW champions!

BLIND
RECORDED EARLIER

The Observatory

“Nothing.”

The Judge is preoccupied, casting his eye over his Observatory. Clearly what he would expect to see is different from what we see at present, for what we see is exactly the word he uttered. Nothing. Blank. Staring into the void.

No record.

“Peculiar.”

The Judge takes a seat on his throne, mulling over the implications of what he has just witnessed.

“Why? How can there be nothing?”

He stares into the void, but a single name appearing before him.

‘Reaper’

A scattering of memories, a handful but for the purposes of eternal balance… Nothing. Clearly the Judge is perturbed by this revelation.

“I cannot see your actions, Reaper. The Observatory shows all, but yours, it will not show. Not entirely. How have you gone absolutely un-noticed? Outside the watchful eye of balance and order? How have I been blind to you?”

He stands, reaching for an axe that is no longer there. A hand that balls into a fist.

“Answers.”

His hand slams down onto the arm of his throne.

“I need to find answers. What is going on? This has never happened before…”

He stands as the realisation hits home.

“Clearly, the Observatory may have some major errors. Flaws that are unacceptable. I need to find him, to explain what this means about his family…”

Flash. A lensflare of light and The Judge is gone.

RAMPAGE
BACKSTAGE

Telegon HQ.

Lovingly known as Fort Telegon.

Downtown San Francisco.

It was once a beautiful structure, brilliant, an architectural achievement as stunning an ambitious as the company itself.

But now?

That building burns.

And the only thing more unsettling than the burning architectural marvel crumbling to the ground, are the screams, the God-awful, blood-curdling screams inside the building. If last week was Lambs to the Slaughter and Pandemonium, it certainly feels as though it all continues inside of the building.

To see it from the ground level would be heartbreaking.

There was something far more terrible and sublime, floating over it in a state of the art helicopter.

“What should I do?” The Helicopter Pilot asks.

“Turn around,” a familiar voice replies.

Mark Gouldern.

“Should I report this to the authorities?”

Gouldern’s face remains utterly expressionless, but there is a tinge of disgust and dismay in his voice. “No. Turn around. Take me home. Revenant is on a rampage. I need to find a way to cool him off before I face him down.”

Above the burning building, the helicopter makes a slick 180-degree swivel and flies off.

At the ground level, Revenant has stepped out of the burning Telegon HQ to watch Gouldern fly away.

The Electronic Nightmare rares back his head, and belly laughs. His red attire, stained darker with the blood of Gouldern’s employees.

Cut.

BEG FOR THE STORM VS. LEGACY VS. TECHNOCRACY
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH

Are the descendants of two legends destined to win this tournament!?

Luke and Gouldern tie-up, only to be steamrolled by Tank with a double clothesline! The Olympian shotputs Luke into the corner, then pancakes him with Mark. Telegon’s founder stumbles out into the HAY BARREL gorilla press slam! Kersh turns back to Storm—LIGHTNING STRIKE! The superkick fells the powerhouse, but he lands on top of Gouldern! ONE… TWO… Luke pulls him off!

Stormborn stalks Mark for the DOWNPOUR codebreaker, but Gouldern counters with the PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE DDT! ONE… TWO… Michaela breaks it up! Having been tagged in, she pulls Mark into the REGENERATION triangle choke! Gouldern screams – but Luke drags The Light off of him! Storm and Lane stand-off… Until the now-legal Whitlock knocks them both down! The VHS Champion bombards Luke with the PARTY POLITICS overdrive neckbreaker!

ONE… TWO… Tank is back! He deadlifts Whitlock into the KERSH POWER full nelson slam! Luke gets the tag to BEG! The 1% kicks out Tank’s leg, then drives him head-first with a bulldog – he really is a CHIP OFF THE OL’ BLOCK! ONE… TWO… Tank bench-presses him off! A stunned BEG scrambles to cover Alton instead. ONE… TWO… Shoulder up! BEG pounds the mat.

FINANCIAL CRISIS!? Tank sandbags the crossface and shoves BEG into the ropes – TANKED! TANKED! TANKED! The gore cuts BEG in half! Hold on, there’s a DISRUPTION! Gouldern is back, and he clocks Tank with the TeleGauntlet-powered Superman punch! ONE… TWO… There’s a Storm coming – DOWNPOUR! Michaela tags herself in… THE LIGHTPIERCER superkick to Storm! ONE… TWO… THREE!

This is definitely in their blood – LEGACY progresses to ROUND II!

THE HAZE
SOMEWHERE ELSE

Last Week.

Miami, Florida.

Deep inside of a maximum security prison, inside a grimy cell, sits a man.

This man seems familiar to us, long dark hair hiding his full features. He wears an orange prison suit, and is sitting on a concrete slab jutting out of a wall.

Solitary confinement.

“Jason.”

The man swings his head to the side, looking for the source of the voice. He stands up, peering into the dark shadows of his cell.

“Or should I call you Darkwish?”

The former partner/enemy of the man once known as Redwing turns around to find a new presence in his cell.

The Blood Red Shark.

“What do you want, Sharkman?” Jason asks.

Shark tilts his head.

“Sharkman is dead.” He reaches up to touch one of the teeth on his mask. “Your friend Bill Kirby killed him.”

At his touch, the tooth opens up to emit a red mist. Jason backs away but it approaches him regardless.

“I don’t give a fuck about Kirby.” He says, just as the mist hits his nostrils.

The entire world changes.

A red haze comes over everything, and Darkwish falls to his knees. The Blood Red Shark seems to distort, his entire body elongating into some kind of foul creature. Blood pours from Jason’s eyes as he tries to gain his bearings.

“What did you…” Darkwish mutters as the walls begin crawling with insects. “…do to me?”

The Shark says nothing, the creature’s mouth opening so wide that it looks like it’s going to swallow Darkwish.

“You’ve been in his home. You’ve heard his stories. Tell me all that you know of Bill Kirby.”

Darkwish tries to resist, but the Shark swallows him whole.

Sometime later…

Jason Richards, formerly known as Darkwish, lies on his bed.

Everything is as it was before the Blood Red Shark arrived.

But in Jason’s eyes, there is no life.

The haze has taken him.

THE HUNT BEGINS
BACKSTAGE

Aesop.

The man who once told fables lays motionless, pale, completely unmoving inside of an ornate wooden casket. A hand examines him, turning his head to the side and stopping as he spots something upon his neck.

Puncture Wounds.

The camera pans up to reveal to us the man who is examining him. And we come upon the furrowed brow and solemn face of Banzan. He is ginger with his fallen comrade, showing great pain on his face as he finally takes his hands from Aesop, pulling a funeral shroud over the body of deceased. He closes the lid of the coffin, looking at it once more before turning his back to it.

“Soon, I shall bury you in the forest, Aesop. But first…”

Banzan begins to leave the room, locking the door behind him, keeping Aesop’s body safe inside as he grits his teeth and sits down, legs crossed with his back to the door. He takes deep inhales, and slowly, see an ethereal energy surround his form.

“I will drink from the wellspring of enlightenment. I will look deep inside of myself, and inside of the souls of others who I have shared my life with.”

Tears seem to well forth from his eyes, but just as soon as we see them they are gone, the mountain proving himself truly unshakable even in times of emotional reckoning.

“And from that enlightment, I will have the power to bring justice to the monster who has wronged you.”

He opens his eyes, a fire behind them.

“The tiger is leaving the mountain, and the hunt shall begin.”

THE EMPORIUM VS. OPUS VS. OF MICE & MEN
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH

Round I will reach a crescendo in this movement!

SeeSaw and The Plague Rat lock eyes. The golden child and the black sheep; shared trauma of their siblings. D’Ville smiles, beckoning them to come together. They oblige – to kick his ass! CONTAGIOUS pop-up Samoan drop by Rat! SeeSaw turns him over and pulls him back into THE STRETCH ARMSTRONG!

TPR knocks SeeSaw down. The Double Feature Champion looks hurt, saying “you play too rough!” – SUPERFINE TURBINE BLAST! The gore-spinebuster combo lays out TPR. ONE… TWO… D’Ville dives in! He mounts SeeSaw and headbutts him again and again – PSYCHOANALYZE that! Plague tags in Junk, who pulls The Doctor off…

Instead pulverising SeeSaw himself! “I still hate you, Ronald McDonald-lookin’ motherfucker!” he screams. D’Ville tags in Blood Red Shark. BLOODY MARY shining wizard to Junkrat! ONE… ‘Saw tags Concerto… TWO… The Conductor breaks it up! He and Shark perform a violent duet. BLOODMONEY hammerlock DDT!? Concerto escapes! Back rake—backbreaker—fall away slam! THE THREE MOVEMENTS!

ONE… TWO… TPR back in for the save! The Pandemic and Concerto exchange blows. Shark resurfaces and charges them both. Plague is sent packing into the ropes – DELIRIUM double-clothesline! D’Ville enters illegally, brandishing a syringe! Rat takes out his own syringe – SYRINGES AT DAWN! BACH BREAKER backstabber to TPR! SeeSaw drags D’Ville out! Concerto makes the cover – ONE… TWO… THREE! Junkrat just misses it!

OPUS will be back for an encore performance in ROUND II!

OPERATION SWEET PT 1
SOMEWHERE ELSE

Sweet Alice is walking down the halls and she enters a cloud of smoke! She can’t see anything.

Thud! She runs right into someone!

“Absolem? Is that you?”

“Bitch, do I look like a caterpillar?”

It’s Malice! War Machine set off a smoke bomb in the halls! He levels her with a Lariat From Hell!

“Let’s get her boys!”

Major Thom and Bishop come in when the smoke fades away.

“Help! Help!”

“Sorry, no one is saving you.”

They start stomping away on her! She is screaming but no one hears a thing!

“Let’s finish this.”

They hoist her up and lay her out with a Triple Powerbomb! She is out cold on the floor!

War Machine walks away pleased with their handiwork when they walk through a smoke cloud!

“Did one of you set off another?”

“Not me.”

“No…”

War Machine starts to cough! What’s happening? It’s Mefisto! He’s using his tricks from Pandemonium!

He brought a chair this time! He levels Malice with a chair shot!

He tosses it at Major Thom’s head! Thom is down!

He locks Bishop in a sleeper hold! He levitates again! He’s caught Bishop in another Torture Chamber!

Bishop passes out and Mefisto lets him fall to the floor as he vanishes from the area!

Smoke is still in the air as Plague Rat enters the hall!

It dissipates and he sees War Machine and Sweet Alice all laid out on the floor!

Plague Rat nods his head in subtle approval and keeps walking.

“I need to find their guy.”

Cut.

FINAL JUDGEMENT VS. LEGACY
TAG TEAM MATCH

Should a person be judged for the sins of their father in these Semi-Finals!?

Death comes for Michaela but, much like her old man, she endures. She ducks his hate-filled strikes and aims for his joints. Hobbling him, she goes for a whip – but he sandbags her with his 70-pound weight advantage. Crimson Scourge lobs her into the corner with such venom that she flips upside-down, then he hits a running knee!

Red tags in The Judge. The iron-giant climbs the ropes with Lane on his shoulders. He wants PERFECT BALANCE – but Michaela escapes execution in the top-rope electric chair! Judge leaps down right into a LIGHTPIERCER superkick! ONE… TWO… Death narrowly breaks it up! The Light tags in The Tank!

Kersh heaves Judge up and plants him with the OLYMPIC SLAM! He waits in the corner as Order slowly rises… TANKED!? THE VERDICT – the gore is cut-off by the Sparta kick! Judge knows that won’t be enough. He hauls Tank into a powerbomb. RESTORATION – Kersh counters with a back-drop! Judge tags Death back in!

Dark Reaper flings a Redblade at Tank’s knee! The Olympian goes down – RETURN TO ARKHAM double-underhook DDT! ONE… TWO… Michaela gets her receipt for earlier! Death, however, clobbers her off the apron! She hits the barricade hard. Red sneers and turns round – TANKED! TANKED! TANKED! The gore turns him inside-out! ONE… TWO… THREE!

LEGACY look to cement theirs as they head to the FINALS!

LUCID DREAMS
RECORDED EARLIER

Flash.

Jessie Williams runs through a forest. His face is drenched with sweat, his entire demeanor is that of a scared child. He darts between trees, sparing a look over his shoulder.

He is being chased.

By Matthew Cories. Or at least his rotting corpse.

Lightning!

“I killed your Uncle.”

In the flash of lightning, Cories is revealed as Mr. Sandman. Then, in the darkness, is back to the corpse of Cories.

Jessie continues to run, leaping over a small lake. Cories maintains pace, somehow defying the ability of a staggering corpse in keeping that pace. Williams enters a small clearing, rushing inside a log cabin. He immediately runs to a loose board in the floor, lifting it.

Nothing.

Jessie turns around to see Mr. Sandman, now fully revealed in all his demented glory. Jessie lifts his crowbar up, but Sandman knocks it away, lifting the boy up by his neck, and staring him in the eye.

“I KILLED HIM.”

Flash.

Jessie Williams sits straight up in bed, his face filled with fright and drenched with sweat. As he takes a deep breath, he’s not alone.

Sandy Rogers sits on the edge of the bed with him, staring into his eyes.

“You alright, son?” Rogers asks.

“Just a bad dream.” Jessie says, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “It’ll pass.”

Then, reality hits him, and he pushes Sandy back.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Rogers nods, patting Jessie on the leg, ignoring his anger.

“I couldn’t tell you, Jessie. I just felt like you needed a friend. If you’re having nightmares, then perhaps I could teach you how to lucid dream, how to control your dreams at night. It keeps the power where it belongs.”

He points Jessie’s chest. Williams slides out of bed and gets to his feet.

“Maybe I’ll take you up on that, but get the fuck out of my house.”

Rogers smiles and heads for the door.

“I’ll look forward to seeing you.”

As he leaves Jessie’s house, lightning crashes outside, and a cat screams in fear. Williams opens the door to just see Sandy walking down the road alone.

Cut.

NOT ENOUGH
BACKSTAGE

In his backstage locker room, Alton Whitlock is staring at the mirror, trying to sort out the tortured journey that brought him here–and trying to conjure up the exact right moves to free himself from the vile clutches of Imperium.

It’s just then that Alton hears the telltale tapping of a cane upon The Slaughterhouse’s backstage hallways. He knows it well. It’s a sound that punctuates his nightmares.

And–if all he goes as hopes–a sound that no one in OSW will hear after Ring of Dreams.

The scent of sex, fine whiskey, cigar smoke, and too much expensive cologne wafts through the air as BEG lets himself into Alton’s locker room without knocking.

Whitlock turns and glares at him, but BEG barely seems to notice. The tycoon produces a tablet from his coat and casually sits down on Alton’s couch. He ashes his cigar on the floor before he speaks.

“Alton,” he says calmly, “I have campaign materials I thought you’d like to see. Photos, banners, speeches. An entire set. I bought out a few political PR firms to get the best minds on it.”

“You’re a bit ahead of yourself,” the politician responds.

“We’ll need to move immediately once I destroy you at Ring of Dreams,” BEG says. ““Imperium’s influence assures your victory. But we’ll need to ensure the public loves you more than ever.”

BEG takes another long drag of his cigar and exhales it in Whitlock’s face, then throws the tablet at him.

Reluctantly, Alton picks it up. The image on the screen shows his scarred face against an American flag. The words BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY are emblazoned along the top.

Alton looks disgusted.

“Not enough for you, Alton?” he asks. “Would you like something edgier? Or perhaps something more desperate, like your pathetic attempts to ruin the destiny I’ve decided for you?”

Every fiber of Alton Whitlock’s being wants to reach out and choke this man to death. But after a silent moment, he seems to regain his composure.

“I’ll see you at Ring of Dreams. When this sick game ends once and for all.”

“Oh, I think you’ll be seeing plenty of me before then,” BEG replies.

He stubs his cigar out on Alton’s couch, then stands and leaves the room.

Alton hurls the tablet to the floor, where his face and the flag behind it shatter and glitch into oblivion.

Cut.

OPUS VS. DOUBLE BARRELL
TAG TEAM MATCH

The Double Feature Champion makes his double-feature in Round II – the Semi-Finals!

The Reaper stares down The Mad Composer; random, nonsensical acts like The Concerto Killings are what took his family from him! The Detroit native swings for Concerto, but the maestro evades it and thumbs him in the eye. He slams his head off the turnbuckle, then lays the boots into him. He pulls him out and grinds his eye along the ring-rope!

Jessie protests and the referee admonishes Concerto – while SeeSaw blindsides Reaper! Concerto rakes his back… Backbreaker… Fall away slam – THE THREE MOVEMENTS! ONE… TWO… The Prince dives into action! SeeSaw throws him outside and the official calls for order. Concerto picks Reaper up – DESPERATION SWIFT REVENGE DDT!

Concerto is seeing stars, but Reaper has taken more punishment. The Harvester almost gets the hot tag – but Concerto gets it first! SeeSaw drags Reaper back into THE STRETCH ARMSTRONG—SHOTGUN BLAST OUT OF NOWHERE! The Double Feature Champion goes down and Reaper leaps into the tag! Williams climbs up… CALL OF THE CHOSEN swanton bomb! ONE… TWO… THR—Concerto makes the save!

BACH BREAKER!? Reaper intervenes! Concerto eats a SHOTGUN BLAST-BOOYAH COMBO! The double Superman punch lays him out – but SeeSaw rises behind them! Williams charges but gets dumped over the ropes to the floor. SeeSaw lunges at Reaper – JUSTICE BROUGHT!? NO! SeeSaw drops down out of the Samoan drop… TEETER-TOTTER reverse Death Valley driver! ONE… TWO… THREE!

It was a symphony of chaos, but OPUS proceed to the FINALS!

THE JUNKYARD BLUES
SOMEWHERE ELSE

Junkrat cuts a solemn and lonely figure.

He stands in the middle of his Junkyard, looking at the heaps of trash strewn around him. His eyes are somewhat taken by a glint of something glistening amongst the heap.

Junkrat knows everything in his yard.

But not this.

This, he doesn’t completely recognize.

He walks over and pulls it from the pile, revealing a shard of metal that seems familiar, yet is broken away from whatever it once covered.

It’s a silver casing with black lines across it.

Suddenly, he’s transported.

He now sits in a large building. Again, its vaguely familiar. Everything around him is blurry – as if it hadn’t quite rendered yet. Junkrat isn’t sure what to make of it. He tries to focus his eyes but nothing clears.

He tries to stand up but something compels him to stay in his seat.

There’s no moving from it.

Up ahead there’s something with bright lights, but he can’t make it out.

“Oi?” He aggressively screams. “What the fuck, mate?”

There’s a muffled sound around him.

What is that?

It’s fuzzy and full of static. Again, he can’t quite make it out.

Zip.

Then he’s back in the Junkrat.

He tosses the silver item down on the ground and backs away in confusion.

“What the fuck was that?”

Cut.

TEMPTATION
SOMEWHERE ELSE

Enigma Towers.

Edward Newton sits in front of a large log fire, drinking from a glass goblet. He’s soaking in the peace and quiet before everything gets a little messy.

That’s when a portal opens behind him and Sigil appears.

He, however, seems unsurprised.

“I wondered when you’d visit,” Newton says, sipping his beverage, “I suppose we have much to discuss, don’t we?”

The Collector has the OSW Championship over his shoulder and approaches, taking a seat amicably next to the Riddler.

“I listened to your agreement with Luke Storm last week in shock,” Sigil admits. “How could you agree to such demands?”

Newton smiles.

“Whatever happens, you and I will clash for that Championship,” The Riddler says pointing to the belt over Sigil’s shoulder. “And whatever happens after that is none of your business.”

There’s an eerie silence.

“Let’s not forget what we intend to accomplish, Mr. Sigil,” Newton reminds him with a knowing nod. “Our ties will bind for many years to come. We still need each other.”

The Collector stands up, nodding in agreement, although somewhat reluctantly.

Suddenly, time stops.

It freezes dead.

Edward Newton sits with a glass to his lips, about to take another sip.

Sigil meanwhile stands over him.

He walks to the desk and grabs a letter opener, walking back to The Riddler.

The Champion places it at his throat, contemplating his next move.

“You could do that,” a voice suddenly and abruptly interrupts. “But every action has a consequence, does it not?”

Sigil turns around, greeted by The Cryptkeeper.

“Are you going to stop me?” The Champion asks, pushing the letter opener into the throat of Newton.

“His story doesn’t end here,” he growls in reply. “So no, I don’t need to stop you. But what I will suggest is that you have more pressing matters to concern yourself with.”

The Collector tosses the opener down and storms towards The Cryptkeeper, only he’s gone.

With that, The Champion angrily stops in his tracks, starts time and vanishes too.

With time resumed, Edward touches his throat, where a searing pain now emanates. He pulls his hand away, revealing blood.

He smiles.

“Interesting,” he remarks.

Suddenly, the phone rings. He reaches down and picks it up.

“Just the man,” he says happily. “How can I help, Mr. Storm?”

He places the phone down on speaker.

“Cut the shit, Newton,” Luke aggressively barks. “I can’t believe I’m making this call. After everything you’ve put us through, I ought to be kicking your ass.”

Edward smiles.

“It’s Scarlett, she wants to see you. I’ve told her a thousand times no, I’ve told her that you’re not her friend but she won’t believe it. Whatever happened between you two when you took her, she has an affinity for you.”

The Riddler beams from ear to ear, a big smile on his face.

“I’ll stop by next week.”

Cut.

OPUS VS. LEGACY
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Every team in this tournament has been through the ringer tonight. Multiple matches, zero respite, putting it all on the line – just for a taste of those elusive Tag Team Championships!

But it’s not over yet.

The time has finally arrived.

NEW Tag Team Champions are guaranteed!

The only question is which of these two teams will raise the gold!?

Opus have played a masterpiece, albeit discordant and deranged – like them. Legacy have followed in their fathers’ footsteps, but will they forge their own path?

Both teams meet in the middle of the ring.

Tank fixes his opponents with the same steely gaze of his old man, while a familiar fire burns in the eyes of Michaela.

SeeSaw eyeballs the Tag Team title belt with greed – another golden toy for his chest.

Concerto, conversely, has his eyes closed. He knows what’s coming…

The referee holds the belts aloft.

Michaela and SeeSaw step out onto the apron, leaving Tank and Concerto to start things off.

DING!

DING!

DING!

There it is. That terrible, rhythmic bell…

Concerto runs his hands through his hair, enraged, and charges at Tank!

The frenzied Conductor unloads on Kersh with lefts and rights, pushing the farmhand back into the corner. Concerto lifts his leg and chokes him with his boot, but the referee quickly intervenes—

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

Concerto breaks the illegal choke before the count of five, narrowly avoiding a disqualification. SeeSaw nods his head gleefully in the corner.

Tank stumbles forwards, clutching his throat as he coughs and splutters. Concerto doubles him over with a kick to the gut, then grabs his wrist for an Irish whip. Kersh, however, digs his heels in. He strong-arms Concerto into the ropes –

RUNNING DROPKICK TO THE KNEE!

Kersh immediately goes down. That’s the knee that took a Redblade in the Semi-Finals!

Concerto capitalises with a snap DDT!

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

Authoritative kick-out by Tank. He’s not going to give up that easily! Michaela claps her hands on the apron, willing him on.

Concerto kicks Kersh while he’s down, wearing away at him. He raises his leg and kicks the knee, hacking away at the joint. Tank screams and claws the air, but Concerto is careful to keep out of reach. He chops away at his knee some more, then swings his leg to the side – slamming his kneecap into the canvas!

SeeSaw hops up and down on the apron excitedly with his hand extended. The Mad Composer tags him in, and Mr. Make Believe enters the sandbox.

Across the ring, Lane stomps her foot on the apron. She’s trying to rally support for The Ranch Hand!

The 6-5 clown uses his long limbs to draaag Tank over to the ropes. He drapes his leg on the middle rope, then jumps up and crushes it under his body weight! Kersh slaps the mat and groans in agony. SeeSaw rolls his kneepad down, then pulverises it again, and again, and again – as Concerto conducts from the apron.

The Double Feature Champion twirls an imaginary lasso in the air. Uh-oh…

He waits for Tank to get on all-fours. Michaela tries to warn him, but Kersh is overwhelmed with pain. He climbs to his feet unsteadily—

WOODY’S ROUNDUP!

SeeSaw wraps Tank’s arms, then snaps his skull back with the unorthodox neckbreaker! With the Olympian grounded, the Toybox Torturer heads to the top…

HE FLAPS HIS ARMS LIKE THE WINGS OF A BIRD…

“Tank, move!” Lane implores him.

SEESAW LEAPS –

FLIGHT OF THE ORNITHOPTER!

SEESAW HITS THE TOP-ROPE SPLASH TO THE KNEE OF TANK KERSH!

Michaela holds her face in her hands as the amateur wrestler writhes on the mat. That knee must be reduced to dust by now!

SeeSaw hooks the same afflicted limb.

ONE!

TWO!

TAG TEAM TITLES ON THE LINE!

SHOULDER UP!

TANK IS JUST AS STUBBORN AS BRENT!

Concerto shakes his head as SeeSaw throws a tantrum. Kersh is ruining this playtime!

The Tranquility Lane resident heaves Tank to his knees. He grabs his earlobe with one hand, then points a finger in his face with the other.

“Play fair!” He yells.

TANK GRABS HIS FINGER!

SeeSaw suddenly screams in pain as Kersh twists his digit! He tip-toes the canvas frantically, sucking air through his teeth—

SHORT-ARM CLOTHESLINE!

Kersh knocks the man-child down. He pulls him back up…

BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX!

The air is driven from SeeSaw’s lungs as 339 pounds lands on top of him! Michaela claps her hands and slaps the top turnbuckle.

ONE!

TWO!

SHOULDER UP!

SeeSaw just barely lifts his shoulder off the mat. He nurses his ribs – having taken a swanton bomb from Jessie Williams earlier in the night.

Gathering steam, Tank peels SeeSaw off the mat and powers him into the air –

GORILLA PRESS SLAM!

THE HAY BARREL!

WAIT—

HIS KNEE BUCKLES!

KERSH GOES DOWN!

Lane groans in dismay.

Does Legacy have too much to live up to!?

SeeSaw lands in a heap and clutches his ribcage. Concerto holds his hand out – as does Michaela in Tank’s corner!

SeeSaw craaawls over to Concerto, keeping his knees close to his chest.

HE MAKES THE TAG!

Concerto makes his reprise. He RAKES the broad back of Tank, then goes for his patented BACKBREAKER –

BUT HE’S TOO DAMN HEAVY!

Thinking on his feet, The Mad Composer ditches the second movement. He turns Kersh round…

FALL AWAY SLAM!?

DENIED!

THE THREE MOVEMENTS ARE BLOCKED!

TANK GRABS HOLD OF CONCERTO—

HEADBUTT!

JESUS CHRIST, THAT SKULL OF HIS IS LIKE A MEDICINE BALL!

Concerto’s eyes roll into the back of his head. He was on the receiving-end of a Double-Barrelled Superman punch earlier in the evening!

ANOTHER HEADBUTT ROCKS CONCERTO!

Tank digs deep…

FULL NELSON SLAM!

KERSH POWER!

Concerto hits the deck as SeeSaw pulls his hair out on the apron.

Lane is screaming to the rafters for that elusive tag…

SPICY-HOT TAG TO MICHAELA!

CONCERTO TAGS IN SEESAW!

Mr. Make Believe storms the ring, summarily having his head taken off by a roundhouse kick!

He pops back up, only to be knocked right back down by a forearm to the jaw!

Third time’s the charm!? It is for Michaela – a dropkick sends him packing!

Lane socks the clown over and over, until…

LIGHTPIERCER!

NO!

SEESAW BLOCKS THE SUPERKICK!

HE SCOOPS HER UP ONTO HIS SHOULDERS!

REVERSE DEATH VALLEY DRIVER – THE TEETER-TOTTER!

NO DICE!

MICHAELA LANDS ON HER FEET!

SEESAW CHARGES HER…

SUPERFINE TURBINE BLAST!

THE GORE INTO THE SPINEBUSTER!

MICHAELA YELPS IN PAIN!

SHE FLEW FROM THE APRON INTO THE BARRICADE EARLIER TONIGHT!

HER BACK INJURY IS REAGGRAVATED!

SeeSaw makes the cover—

ONE!

TAG TEAM GOLD UP FOR GRABS!

TWO!

THREE!?

TRIANGLE FUCKING CHOKE!

MICHAELA LOCKS IN THE REGENERATION OUT OF NOWHERE!

SeeSaw frantically flails as the submission clamps down on his carotid arteries! Bloodflow is being shut off to his brain, and he is fading FAST!

The official slides in.

“Do you wanna quit!? Do you give up, SeeSaw!?”

“Playtime… never ends!”

SEESAW LAUGHS AS HE FADES AWAY…

WAIT – CONCERTO JUST SLID SOMETHING INSIDE THE RING!

THE CONDUCTOR JUMPS UP ON THE APRON TO DISTRACT THE REFEREE!

SEESAW CLOCKS MICHAELA WITH A CONDUCTOR’S BATON, THEN HUFFS IT OUT OF THE RING!

TANK KERSH SHAKES HIS HEAD FURIOUSLY, YELLING “NO!” FROM THE APRON!

The international object breaks Lane’s vise-like grip on SeeSaw, who slumps over her. Concerto hops down and points behind the referee’s back!

ONE!

NOT LIKE THIS!

TWO!

NOT LIKE THIS!

SHOULDER UP – MICHAELA ENDURES!

TANK KERSH PUMPS HIS FIST WITH A BIG “YES!”

LEGACY ARE STILL IN THIS!

BUT SO ARE OPUS!

SeeSaw shakes off the cobwebs. He looks over at Tank, who holds onto the tag-rope like a lifeline and glares back at him. SeeSaw smiles ear-to-ear and waves at him – then tags in Concerto!

Concerto stalks Michaela, who slowly comes to. There’s a visible lump on her head, and she clutches the small of her back as she struggles to all-fours.

The maestro waits for her to prop herself up on the ropes, then RAKES her back!

This is what he couldn’t do to Tank!

He scoops her up into a BACKBREAKER!

Lane cries out as Concerto wraps her around his knee – the top of her head and her feet touching the mat simultaneously!

He snatches her back up –

FALL AWAY SLAM!

THE THREE MOVEMENTS!

ONE!

IS THIS WHERE THE ROAD ENDS FOR LEGACY!?

TWO!

THEY’VE DREAMED OF WINNING THESE BELTS SINCE THEY WERE KIDS!

TANK BREAKS IT UP!

KERSH STANDS OVER MICHAELA AND MOTIONS FOR OPUS TO BRING IT!

The referee frantically tries to restore order, but Tank is incensed at Opus’ tactics. The principled—yet impassioned—Kersh protests the use of the baton, but Concerto… Concerto…

CONCERTO IS PANTOMIME CONDUCTING TO HIS YELLING!?

Tank is stunned into speechlessness as he watches Concerto. Is he mocking him!?

The Mad Composer, though, screws up his face and tilts his head. Though Kersh has fallen silent, Concerto can still hear him. It. The music.

And it’s…

Maddening.

SEESAW DRAGS TANK’S FOOT FROM OUTSIDE THE RING!

HIS KNEE GIVES OUT!

MR. MAKE BELIEVE PULLS HIM OUTSIDE AND THE TWO BRAWL!

Meanwhile, Michaela uses the ropes to pull herself to her feet.

Concerto’s eye twitches.

This is how it ends.

HE POUNCES –

BACH BREAKER!

WAIT—

MICHAELA ELBOWS HIM!

SHE AVOIDS THE BACKSTABBER!

CONCERTO DARTS BACK OVER—

LIGHTPIERCER!

THE SUPERKICK LANDS FLUSH!

CONCERTO IS DOWN!

ONE!

SEESAW TURNS ROUND!

TWO!

HE STRETCHES OUT A HAND HELPLESSLY!

THREE!

IT’S OVER!

LEGACY WIN THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS!

Tank slides back into the ring and hugs Michaela as the official hands them their newly-won titles.

What a WAR!

SeeSaw stomps his feet outside the ring. Concerto pulls at his hair and covers his ears as Legacy’s theme music plays.

LANE
SOMEWHERE ELSE

In the middle of a suburban street, every house looks picturesque with a white picket fence and toys in the yard.

But in the middle of the night, something dangerous lurks.

The Cryptkeeper.

He approaches one house in particular, standing on the porch with his eyes fixated on a window above. Whatever he wants, it’s up there.

Suddenly, the door opens.

Stood there, trash bags in hand, is none other than Mike Lane.

The former OSW Champion immediately drops the trash and lunges at Cryptkeeper, grabbing him in a tussle and flying off the steps. They roll around for a moment, getting back to their feet in the mud.

Mike hasn’t let go.

He swings with big powerful right hands that stun The Keeper, sending him sprawling backwards.

“Wait!” He yells, holding his hands up.

“For what?” Lane sneers. “When something like you darkens my door step, there’s no other explanation than Old School Wrestling.”

The Cryptkeeper backs away carefully.

“I came to discuss your daughter, that’s all,” he wisely says from a distance. “You may not know it but the future holds great peril for her.”

Lane tilts his head.

“You need to keep her away from OSW,” Cryptkeeper almost pleads. “If you don’t, you have no idea of the consequences.”

Mike steps forward, almost toe to toe with this monster on his lawn.

“Get the fuck off my property, before I introduce you to the Shadow,” Lane threatens angrily. “And stay away from my daughter.”

The Cryptkeeper stoically nods, backing away further. He’s about to walk away when he stops, turning back to look at The Shadow King.

“I only wish I could.”

Lane leaps forward with a Shadowkick, only The Cryptkeeper vanishes.

“Yeah, you better run,” Mike hisses, walking back to his door step to pick up the trash.

There wating for him is a young Michaela. She can’t be any older than four.

“Daddy, who was that?”

Mike kneels, stroking her hair.

“No-one you’ll ever meet, hon.”

Cut.