Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
It’s a cold November morning – so cold in fact, that you can see your breath.
Luke Storm stands over the recently filled grave of his father, looking down at the head stone with sadness.
As his mom approaches, he tuns to greet her.
They stop and pause for a moment.
“I wish Edward could’ve been here,” Luke’s mom says, leaning into her son for a hug.
“I wish Edward was the boy you used to know, mom,” he replies softly. “But he’s changed. You wouldn’t recognize him anymore.”
She shakes her head.
“You never quite understood your brother. He looked up to you as a boy. When you left to pursue your acting career, he was crushed.”
“I couldn’t stay here,” Luke admits. “I had to get out.”
“I get it,” his mom replies. “Of course, I get it. He never did. When he left to go wrestle, he wanted to prove himself to the world. It wasn’t just about being the smartest, it was about being the toughest. He did that.”
Luke doesn’t say anything.
“Throughout his entire life, Eddy has just wanted to be your friend, son. You shouldn’t keep this from him, and you shouldn’t carry the weight of this grief alone.”
Before Luke can respond, he’s suddenly thrust forward in a lunging motion that topples him through the tombstone and to the ground.
It’s Nygma, and he’s pissed.
The Laughing King quickly mounts his brother, slamming into him as hard as he can with right hands, pummelling away as his mom looks on in horror.
It isn’t until her shrill, shrieking plea, does he stop.
“ENOUGH!”
Nygma whips his head around, a wry smile finally upon his face.
“Hi, mom!”
Cut.
Next up is a trios match that brings together a variety of combustible elements. Can Redwing act as the superego to Whitlock’s ego and the personification of id in the form of the Blood Red Shark. Can The Reaper and The Judge keep their hands off each long enough to fight their opponents across the ring. And what of SeeSaw, the unpredictable wild card in this potential slobberknocker.
Collar-elbow tie up between Whitlock and Reaper, the latter easily overpowers The Candidate and drops him to the canvas with an arm twist hip toss. Kick to the back Whitlock’s head by Reaper and he tags in SeeSaw. Mr. Make Believe applies a sleeper hold on Whitlock. The Candidate tries to counter with back elbows but SeeSaw lifts up Alton and WOODY’S ROUND UP!!! SeeSaw climbs to the top rope in his corner but The Judge tags himself in. THAT DID NOT GO DOWN WELL WITH MR. MAKE BELIEVE!!!
No matter, The Judge grabs Whitlock as he tries to scramble to the corner. Military press…WHITLOCK DROPPED FACE FIRST ONTO THE TURNBUCKLE!! BIG BOOT FROM THE JUDGE…DUCKED!!! RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP!!! CAN THE CANDIDATE REACH HIS CORNER?
The Judge and The Candidate inch their way along the canvas…SIMULTANEOUS TAG!!! Redwing and Reaper are into the action again! The Red Knight is the hot tag, unloading a combination of strikes on The Harvester. Redwing looks to whip The Reaper, but drags him back…GODWATCH!!! THE KNEE TO THE FACE FLOORS THE HARVESTER…ONE…TWO…KICKOUT!!! SeeSaw makes the save.
This is the trigger for a six man brawl to erupt. Redwing and battling SeeSaw…ROCK-A-BYE!!!! Redwing is taken out. Shark has mounted Reaper and is pounding his head with machine gun rights. THE JUDGE DELIVERS THE VERDICT!!!! SPARTA KICK ALMOST TAKES OFF THE HEAD OF BLOOD RED SHARK!!! Then from out of nowhere…PARTY POLITICS!!! THE CANDIDATE TAKES OUT THE JUDGE!!! It’s not over yet – CLOTHESLINE OVER THE TOP ROPE!!! SEESAW TAKES WHITLOCK AND HIMSELF TO THE OUTSIDE!!!
Amidst the chaos Redwing and snuck up on Reaper and got him pinned with a schoolboy…ONE…TWO…THREE!!!
The Candidate, The Red Knight and the Blood Red Shark combine tonight to pick up a morale-boosting win.
We find ourselves in a dimly-lit room, where we soon find the source of illumination: a television screen, playing footage from the wedding gone horribly wrong at Heartbreaker.
“Stop.”
As if on cue, the footage pauses on The Butcher holding his daughter in his arms.
“This is what I was talking about. Here is the look of a man who in despair, in disarray…distracted.”
We soon see the source of the voice, the light of the television shining on the face of Lance Norman with a smirk on his face. He turns to face the rest of his squad for the oncoming war, who nod in understanding as Norman continues to speak.
“Our war is reaching its most crucial moment, and we must pay attention to every weakness our enemies show. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link… and if what we see is any indication, Old School Wrestling will break come Red Snow.”
His team nods once again, smirks growing on their faces as Rain speaks up with authority.
“The Butcher has once again faced the pain of losing a loved one, and his mind is scattered as a result. He’s forced to fight a war on two fronts, now…his war against us, and his war against Sigil. This is an opportunity we can take advantage of. Once he falls, the rest of the dominoes follow close behind.”
Tyler Brooks speaks up now, a look of excitement on his face.
“They think they’ve faced some perils, but they aren’t ready for the terror that awaits.”
Cody nods in agreement as Anna speaks up.
“We begin our final steps, marching as to war…soon, OSW will pay for their transgressions.”
Rick Plant is noticeably silent, but nods in acknowledgment as Norman’s smile grows to a grin…recognizing that his army is ready for their final battle in this war.
Cut.
Backstage, Banzan is meditating against the wall of the main hallway.
Focused, he does not notice Bishop coming up to him.
“Hello monster.”
“The true monster is the one who doesn’t value the sanctity of life, Bishop. I have abilities beyond what most men possess but I am no monster. Look into the mirror if you want a true monster to target.”
“You think I care about what you think? I am a good man who eradicates the filth of this world. That’s why I killed a vampire, that’s why I killed a man who proclaimed to be a teacher but only corrupted the youth. I’m not here to be enlightened Banzan, I’m here to tell you there’s a reason I didn’t kill you at Heartbreaker.”
“What’s your reason Bishop?”
“There’s a part of me that wants to believe you, that despite being a monster in my eyes, there might be a shred of good in there. That’s why in the next couple of weeks, I’ll have a few trials for you to complete.”
“If I don’t agree to them?”
“I’ll kill you right here.”
“If I do them?”
“You pass or you fail. You fail, you die at Red Snow.”
“And if I pass?”
“You get to live.”
“I want more than that, Bishop. ”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to answer for your crimes.”
“If I don’t agree to that?”
“I’ll kill you right here.”
“Fine, deal but I don’t see you passing all of them.”
“You will.”
Banzan calmly states as Bishop shakes his head and walks away.
Cut.
The recently dethroned Rewind champion Banzan looks to get back into the win column against another recently dethroned champion… the always game, and always ready Jessie Williams.
The bell sounds and this main event caliber match is underway! The indestructible mountain stands in the middle of the ring and lowers his massive frame and center of gravity into a horse stance, his fists clenched and chambered at his waist. Jessie rushes towards him and starts unleashing a quick array of strikes: rights and lefts, kicks to the midsection.
He turns and hits a spinning back kick to the chest of the big man, that folds him over but he stands back up to a vertical base. He immediately goes on the offense with a spear strike transitioned into an overhead ridge hand that drops Jessie to the mat.
Jessie pops back up and starts attacking the legs. He sweeps the leg and follows up with a cannonball senton. ONE…TWO…SHOULDER UP! Banzan pops up and is immediately dropped to a knee by a stiff uppercut from Jessie. Jessie follows it up — GROOVY ECLIPSE! Banzan still on one knee. Another dropkick! Another! This drops Banzan into a seated position. Jessie with a pair of kicks to the chest, and one up top, still unfazes the big man.
Jessie turns his back to Banzan and holds his arm up. Unbeknownst to him a purple haze has surrounded the Mountain. He hits the ropes and launches himself into the air–BOOOOOMSTICK!!! NO! Banzan pops up into horse stance and pivots underneath, he catches Jessie–DUKKHA!!! Banzan lets out a primal roar and charges at kneeling opponent with a head full of steam… MAAAAAAGGGGGAAAAAA!!!!! He makes the lateral cover! ONE…TWO…THREE!!!!!
The Indestructible Mountain drew from the wellspring and emerges victorious!
Within the last week…
Groggily, both women begin to stir and slowly open their eyes. They each survey their new environment.
Lush green fields.
Oversized mushrooms.
Bright colored flowers as far as the eye can see.
It quickly becomes apparent where the duo have been transported.
Wonderland…
“Good gracious, why we’re in Wonderland, oh Queen of Fire,” Alice states cheerily.
Pyre rolls her eyes and slowly climbs to her feet. As the “fire queen” begins to make a snarky quip, she hears a rustling coming from the clearing and ducks behind an adjacent tree. A group of soldiers decked out in the Queen’s regalia quickly appear and surround Alice.
“Halt, you are under arrest! The Queen heard news of your return and now you must await your trial,” the lead guard bellows with authority. Alice quickly looks for her ‘companion’ but she is nowhere to be found.
“Whatever am I to be imprisoned for?”
“The Queen has charged you with attempting to overthrow her kingdom. Now, no more questions, you’re coming with us,” says the led guard, placing Alice’s hands behind her back.
As the soldiers begin to lead Alice away, a white blur quickly enters the frame, knocking the soldiers and Alice off their feet. Alice looks up and stares into the beady little eyes of the White Rabbit.
“Come, dear Alice, we’re terribly late and you must make haste. You are in terrible trouble!”
Alice hugs the rabbit and takes off running before the soldiers come to. Pyre watches with enjoyment from behind the tree. Though she enjoyed watching the little minx get arrested, she will enjoy chasing down her prey more. Pyre begins to smile as she envisions burning down everything Alice holds dear!
“Oh this is going to be fun,” Pyre says, igniting a small flame within her fingertips.
Cut.
A mixed reaction for the man standing ib the ring tonight.
Tank Kersh. Swimming in a chorus of cheers and jeers, microphone in his hand.
“A lot of you understand why I’m doing this. Probably more of you don’t. It seems strange. There comes a day when every man must take care of the one who raised him. I just didn’t think I’d have to do so in the ring.”
More mixed reaction from the crowd.
“I need my father to come out here. Dad, I know you’re back there. I can’t talk to you in front of all these people without looking you in the eye.”
“I’m here, son.”
BIG POP from the crowd.
And outwalks Brent Kersh on the entrance ramp.
“That was quick,” Tank says.
“You said you need your father,” Brent replies.
Tank smirks. “And yet you can’t see that the reason I’m in this world is precisely that I need you.”
Brent replies, “And you can’t see that I’m in this world for the exact same reason.”
Brent walks down the entrance ramp. He slides into the ring, reaches his feet, and looks his son in the eye.
“I can’t leave this world without you, son. I have seen OSW destroy some of the greatest men I’ve ever known. I can’t sit back and watch it do the same to my son. I won’t. I refuse.”
“You stubborn old man,” Tank answers. “If I thought me leaving would mean you left with me, I’d already be gone. But I know you. Better than you know yourself. And here’s the thing. I know you love me. I know I have your heart. But wrestling? OSW? It has your soul.”
Brent Kersh looks away, the truth shoved like a dagger by his own son right through him.
“What do we do then?” Brent asks, tears pooling in his eyes. “Because we may have a match at Red Snow, but I won’t lay a finger on you. I’m not going to hurt you. For God’s sake, you’re my son!”
Kersh looks away. He wipes tears from his eyes before looking back at Kersh.
“God’s dead, dad. Thanks to this place, nothing happens for his sake. You think I wanted it to come to all this? Why do you think I had each and every member of Legacy come to you first? Huh? I don’t want to hurt you. I have done everything I can to avoid this!”
“No you haven’t!” Brent screams. “You could return to your own time, and all of this could be avoided!”
“Believe it or not old man,” Tank replies. “What happens if you stay here is exactly what I’m trying to avoid!”
“Just say it then!” Brent cries. “What is it!?! What are you running from in your own time!?!”
Tank screams out. The kind of scream that comes from a gutteral place. A place no one thinks about because they can’t bare to.
Tank shakes his head and looks at his father. “Why can’t it be enough that I can’t bare to speak of it?”
Brent stares at Tank. Tank stares at Brent.
Both men’s tears stream down their faces.
Cut.
A technical wizard against a street fighting brutalist! It’s Jac Bastard versus Monty Straight tonight on Octane!!!
DING! DING! Jac Bastard immediately charges across the ring and sends a stiff shot into Monty’s jaw — which Monty narrowly avoids by ducking low for a double leg takedown! Bastard sprawls and nearly climbs back up to his feet, but Straight clinches him in a side headlock on the way back up!
Jac, trapped by the superior wrestler, does the only thing he knows to do: He PUNCHES Straight in his kidney so hard that Straight has to let go! UPPERCUT! NO! Straight avoids, kicks him in the gut, and drops Jac with a DDT! Straight gets back up to his feet!
And immediately starts putting boots to Jac’s lower back! Even as Jack starts climbing to his feet, Straight lays kicks into his back! No doubt working it for Straight Shooting! But suddenly Jac grabs Straight’s boot! He rises up to his feet! STRAIGHT GOES FOR THE ENZIGUIRI!!! JAC DUCKS!!!
Straight is back up to his feet!!! MUMBLES SMILE!!! RIGHT IN THE KISSER!!! STRAIGHT IS DAMN NEAR OUT ON HIS FEET!!! Jac sends a vicious right hook straight into Straight’s breadbasket!!! GYPSY KISS!!! WITH AUTHORITY!!! BASTARD MAKES THE COVER!!! ONE!!! TWO!!! THREEEEEE!!!
Jac Bastard picks up a big win over Monty Straight!
We find Redwing in his hidden base. He’s sat behind his large alien computer watching as it runs through several algorithms. So consumed in this is the Red Knight, that he does not see the lithe form of the Blood Red Shark slowly (and quietly) crawling up the damp rocks jutting out of the body of water the cave is built into.
The Emporium member find a perch, and settles in to see what Redwing is looking at.
Several images of Doctor D’Ville scroll on the screen.
The formation of the Asylum.
His confrontation with SeeSaw at Heartbreaker.
The breaking of Edward Newton.
Each image places a marker on a large map Redwing has put together. They all begin to triangulate all around the central location of the Emporium. Each one pulls up exterior images of the building, all on different ways in or out.
Redwing is planning to break into the Emporium.
“I can’t synthesize an antidote on my own.” Redwing says. “But D’Ville made him. He has to have a way to un-make him.”
Letting the computer run, Redwing stands up and walks into a dark tunnel until we can no longer see him. The Blood Shark climbs up to stand in front of the powerful computer, a gift from the alien Berengar several years ago.
The Shark grabs the giant monitor, preparing to rip it free and destroy Redwing’s database, but before he can, he pauses.
On a table next to the computer, there is a picture and some letters. Shark goes to them, picking up the picture.
It’s of a much younger Axel, wearing his Axel the Shark getup without the mask. He has his arm around a young man who looks much like him.
His little brother.
His dead little brother.
For a moment, the Blood Shark seems frozen, and then as if a malfunctioning computer, he begins to shake with emotion. With a roar, he leaps down out of the cave.
SPLASH!
As the swimming sounds get dimmer, Redwing emerges from the tunnel with a tight smile on his face.
He knew the Shark would be coming, so he left him a present.
Cut.
In the Newton household, Nygma sits across the table from his brother, Luke Storm.
The former isn’t smiling and the latter holds an icepack over his nose.
Their mother meanwhile sits between them, her hands wrapped around a hot cup of coffee.
“You boys had better listen to me and you’d better listen good,” she starts with a grumble. Yet neither man takes their eyes off the other. “I know there’s a lot of animosity between you; I know there’s a lot of pain. But you’re brothers. You’re the men of this family and deep down somewhere within, you love each other.”
They say nothing.
“Eddy, you have to forgive your brother.”
“What?” Luke butts in. “For what? Do you even know what he’s done to me?”
“Hehe,” Nygma chuckles. “See mommy, he doesn’t even know what he’s done.”
She frowns.
“For everything, Lucas. Everything. You didn’t just leave this small town and your family behind, you cut us out. You found the love of your life and you left us all behind. Now, me and your father, we understood it. We knew you had to forge your own path, but Edward could never forgive that you left him behind. You didn’t write, you didn’t call and you didn’t care.”
Storm looks down, somewhat ashamed.
“I’m sorry, mom,” Luke finally says through shame.
“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to, it’s your brother.”
Storm and Nygma’s eyes meet once more.
Only this time, they’re not Luke Storm and Nygma.
It’s Lucas Newton.
It’s Edward Newton.
“I’m sorry, Eddy,” Luke says, heartfelt and sincere. “I’m sorry for everything.”
Their mom smiles.
Cut.
It’s a battle of fear and flames as The Sandman takes on Pyre!
Pyre goes off in a blaze of glory, unloading a flurry of offense on Sandman that cuminates in a DDT attempt…only for the Dream Demon to counter by slamming the Queen of Flames into the corner! Sandman takes control with some heavy stomps before connecting with a nasty corner splash!
That did a great deal of damage on Pyre, but the Night Terror isn’t through as he climbs up to the top rope, holding Pyre by the hand as he balances himself on the rope before going Old School, clubbing Pyre on the back and sending her into the canvas!
Sandman has been very dominant here as he goes to work on the arm of Pyre…only for the Fire Witch to slip out, taking advantage of Sandman’s position to lock the Dream Demon into a Dragon Sleeper! AWAKENING! WHAT A WAY TO STOP A NIGHTMARE…BUT SANDMAN BREAKS OUT OF IT!
Pyre is undeterred, looking for a second wind to fan the flames as she goes right after Sandman with some quick strikes before taking him down with a DDT! She senses the end, climbing the turnbuckle as Sandman gets up…DANCING FLAMES! ALL THAT REMAINS WITH THE COVER! ONE! TWO! THREE!
Pyre with a big win over The Sandman tonight, setting her ambitions ablaze!
We find the Reaper backstage, marching through the halls like a man on a mission. Determined. His face torn into a look of frustration. He bursts through a door, slamming it back against the dirty concrete wall as he bursts forth towards his target. The Judge.
In contrast, the Judge seems altogether cool, turning his head to the side as the intruder barrels up to him.
“All of this time that you’ve wasted chasing your tail. All of this time and you’re no closer to finding out anything.”
The Judge turns, standing tall till he is towering over The Reaper.
“I thought you humans found knocking polite…”
Reaper grabs the Judge by the scruff of his armour and pushes him up against the concrete wall.
“Don’t get smart with me, tin can. I’m going to ask nicely once and once only. Who is responsible for my family’s death?”
The Judge pushes Reaper away with an open palm, forcing him off balance. When he regains his footing, the Judge is merely waiting.
“I believe we are getting closer to answers. Now that I have eliminated you as a suspect, it opens up a plethora of other options.”
The Reaper snaps, lashing out with a right hook that catches the Judge in the helmet with an almighty clang. Reaper retrieves his hand, shaking it from the pain.
“I don’t want a fucking plethora of anything. Just one fucking name. In all of your time investigating me, the one thing you could have done to save time was listen to me. Trust me. I’ve been saying all along that I’m not responsible. And you wasted all that time waiting, investigating what exactly? Jesus Christ… You’re damned impossible.”
The Judge shakes his head, showing no obvious signs of stress from the right hook.
“I think you mean improbable. I exist, therefore I am not impossible. Regardless… My existence has never been one of trust. I did listen to you… But like anything else, I took your word as evidence. I explore the evidence to make a judgement. My apologies that this investigation has not been to your own timeline. But then again, you haven’t exactly been very forthcoming either.”
The Reaper says nothing, but his face reddens like a tomato. His breathing deepens. Judge knows that it is probably best not to push the matter.
“Nevertheless. What is behind us is behind. Let us look forward…”
The Reaper takes a long time to answer, his voice seeming forced and filled with barely contained rage when he does speak.
“Fine. Let’s see this plethora of a list you have and see if we can’t whittle it down a bit.”
Cut.
The Toybox.
Or rather, the new and improved version of it.
Still partially under construction, the terrifying walls of this new structure are twisted, filled with a plethora of strange and new toys seemingly invented by SeeSaw to replace those he lost. And standing in the middle of it all is SeeSaw himself, a massive frown sitting on his face.
“Oh… all these new toys…”
He looks at them, but the frown on his face proceeds to twist even more, turning from a look of sadness to one of rage. SeeSaw rips a chunk of the toys from the wall, throwing the horrible creations left and right until he comes to a stop in front of one toy he refuses to harm.
Jack. His beloved little crash test dummy. SeeSaw’s anger once against slips between rage and despair as he takes the toy gingerly, holding it in his hands.
“Oh Jack, these toys don’t make me happy. Daddy lied to me and it’s all I think about! I… I want to know the truth, Jack. But I don’t know what to do!”
As he speaks to the dummy, the sound of slight radio static slips from the doll.
“You should listen to your dad. He knows what’s best.”
SeeSaw freezes, the poor man standing confused as he looks his toy up and down.
“You can talk, Jack?”
“Yes I can. And you should listen to your daddy. He’s so smart, he must have had a reason to hide things from you.”
Mr. Make Believe wipes some of his tears away, dumbfounded by what his toy was saying.
“N-no! Daddies should never lie! NEVER NEVER NEVER!”
SeeSaw clutches the toy tighter in his hands but stops himself, never wanting to harm his favorite toy.
“I have to know… but where could I even start?”
“No no, Andrew. You need to stay here, stay home and listen to your dad.”
And with those words, a lightbulb goes off in SeeSaw’s head, the demented man smiling wildly.
“Home! That’s it, Jack! I have to go home!”
He pauses, looking towards the door to the Toybox.
“But where is home?”
He walks towards the door, his doll repeatedly trying to stop him, its pleas falling on deaf ears as SeeSaw makes his way outside of his Toybox.
And towards where believes his home may have been.
Cut.
Two old rivals go head to head here tonight, can the dreamer send Voynich tumbling down or will she fall before the Eight Wonder once more?
The bell sounds as Alice rushes forward, nailing Voynich with a stiff knee to the jaw before slamming him down to the mat with a Snap Suplex. Voynich staggers up to his feet right into a thrust to the throat before he’s driven into the mat with a stiff DDT. Alice backs up, hopping up onto one foot
TERRIBLY….VOYNICH ROLLS AWAY! Alice lands hard on the mat, stumbling up to her feet right into ISTHAR’S GATE! The huge Lariat nearly decapitates Alice as Voynich rolls down for the cover, ONE…TWO...Alice gets the shoulder up. Alice slowly gets to her feet into a hard headbutt before she’s lifted up high into the air.
POWER…HURRICANRANA! Alice reverses the power move, rolling through into a pinfall. ONE…TWO…Voynich kicks out. A lighting fast jab stuns Voynich as Alice leaps up, DOWN THE…Voynich drills Alice with a knee out of nowhere, grabbing her by the head before rushing to the ropes, EIGHTH WONDER! Voynich hits the Sliced Bread out of nowhere as he drops down for the cover, ONE…TWO…THREE!!!
The Tag Team Champion picks up a big victory over Alice here as he makes her dreams into nightmares once more.
In the dark depths of the Slaughterhouse, Alton Whitlock waits.
Since Heartbreaker, his head hasn’t stopped spinning.
He wants answers.
And when Berkshire Ellison Green finally passes Whitlock’s shadowed hiding spot–Whitlock pounces.
But BEG sidesteps effortlessly. Then he bursts out laughing.
“When will you learn, Alton?” BEG asks. “It’s a world of sharks. And you’re a minnow.”
“Fuck you, Green,” Whitlock says. He steps out from the shadows. He looks like hasn’t eaten for a week.
Whitlock shoves BEG down with unbridled contempt. He sends two powerful kicks into BEG’s body, relishing each one.
“TELL ME!” Whitlock roars before his third kick.
“Back the fuck off, ” BEG croaks.
Whitlock retreats a few steps as BEG climbs to his feet, furious but hurting.
“I was patient, Alton,” Green snarls, glaring.
“I did the thing no one would expect. That no one would believe I could do.”
“I waited.”
“I sat in the middle of nowhere, putting hot lead into dead lumber. I drank. I fucked. I passed the time.”
“Oh, the things I wanted to do, Alton. I wanted to find you at some podunk campaign rally and snap your neck in front of the podium. And worse.”
“But to get home, to get back to where I belong… I needed you to need me.”
“So I gave you the villain of your nightmares.”
“Someone so wretched, such a threat to your reputation, that you’d become desperate. And turn to the worst man you know to beat him.”
“I almost ate myself alive out there, waiting for you. Then your black SUV came rolling down my driveway.”
“Was it always me under that mask?”
“No. Of course not. But it was always me pulling the strings, Alton. Always. Because I can’t live without OSW. I needed to come home. The election was just the icing on the cake…”
Whitlock loses it. He throws a vicious punch at BEG’s face, but Green once again sidesteps.
Whitlock’s fist collides with the concrete wall in an explosion of red.
“Getting some fucking rest, Whitlock,” BEG taunts. “It’s almost time to end this fairy tale of ours.”
Whitlock points a bloodied finger at the scar on his face.
“Was it you?” he asks.
“Oh, Alton. Think,” BEG says. He smirks. “Of course not. Whoever that loser was, he’s probably dead in a gutter somewhere.”
Alton leans his head against the wall and closes his eyes.
“I told you I had deeper scars to give you, Alton. Your last one comes when I end you at Red Snow.”
BEG walks off down the dark hallway, whistling.
Alton Whitlock drives his bloody fist into the wall once more.
There is no more pain left for him to feel.
Cut.
A storm is brewing on the financial horizon…
A battleworn Storm manages to grab a headlock on Green. The Money Man shoves him into the ropes. Luke limps back—still sore after his war with Rain—but counters a hip toss with one of his own! He locks in a deep armbar. Green soldiers to his feet and goes for a belly-to-back suplex, but Stormborn backflips out of it—
LIGHTNING STRIKE—NO! Green blocks it and sweeps the legs. He nods at the corner, to a pop from the crowd – CATAPULT! Luke domes the top turnbuckle and staggers back… Right into an atomic drop! He retaliates with a blind back elbow – but The Money ducks it! He kicks the mixed martial-artist in the gut…
SNAP SUPLEX – LUKE ESCAPES! He leaps up… DOWNPOUR! BEG BLOCKS THE CODEBREAKER! He lumbers forwards, seating Storm on the top rope. He goes to deck his halls – but the actor boots him in his face! Green stumbles back as Luke turns around on his perch… THUUUNDEEERRRR MOONSAULT!
ONE… TWO… TH—NEAR-FALL! The crowd can’t believe Green kicked out! STORM STOMPS THE MAT! BEG slowly gets up – he’s about to get STRUCK… LIGHTNING—BEG LIFTS LUKE ONTO HIS SHOULDERS! SAMOAN DROP! ONE… TWO… THREE! NO! TWO-POINT-NINE! BEG signals for the end. He hauls Storm up into the – BUT THERE’S A SUDDEN DOWNPOUR! He covers.. ONE… TWO… THREEEE!
Storm rains on Whitlock’s parade!
Inside of Jessie Williams backwoods cabin, we find the Prince sat under a dim lantern looking over maps. None other than Jimmy Sartyr is sat a little ways off on a crude stool.
“You never told me what you saw.” Sartyr asks, causing Jessie to look up from the map.
“I saw where my dad is.” Williams says, looking back down. “I can’t explain it. I wish I could. This would be a hell of a lot easier if I knew anything beyond what I saw. I didn’t have enough time to learn how to control it.”
Sartyr nods.
“I’m with you all the way.” Jimmy adds with a smile.
“I know.” Jessie replies. “I appreciate it, man.”
The Innovator stands up and walks behind Jessie. On the map, we can see a red circle over a small section.
“Somewhere in here is what I’m looking for. An underground dungeon. I know we thought the key was Lucid Falls, and maybe its important, but this is nowhere near there. I need to find out how to get inside the dungeon to get my dad out. But I know the Sandman will be waiting for me.”
Somehow, Jimmy Sartyr makes an expression that somehow combines a smile and a frown.
“So I guess I’m going on a dungeon crawl now? I thought it was dangerous to go alone. You have a sword?”
Jessie looks up at him with no clue what he’s referencing.
“A sword?” He says after a moment. “Sorry, I don’t.”
The Prince gets up, and digs into his bag. He pulls out a small vial of liquid and a knife. He pours some of the liquid on the knife, and rubs the knife over both his large maps.
“Here,” Jessie says as he hands the knife and the circled portion of the map to Sartyr. “I’ll always know where you’re at now.”
“What are you going to do?” An overwhelmed Sartyr asks.
“I’m going to distract Mr. Sandman.” Jessie says.
But what neither of them sees in their cocky statements is that right outside their window, the familiar visage of Mr. Sandman is watching their every move.
Cut.
The main event promises to be one hot contest as Sigil enters the inferno with Bishop. Heartbreaker gave us explosive revelations about both these men. Bishop, having survived the Pyre, blew a hole in Banzan and revealed himself as the serial killer that has engulfed The Mountain’s close friends like a relentless wildfire. Sigil created The Red Wedding, combusting a rage that will burn for a long time in the hearts of Bishop and The Butcher, who lost their best friend and daughter respectively as Malice and Winona were discharged by The Collector’s hands. Tonight, they meet inside The Slaughterhouse and will set the whole building ablaze in the notorious Inferno Match.
Both men are face to face in the ring, Bishop is glowing hot with rage. The inferno is lit around the ring and
DING! DING!
We are underway. Sigil tries to grab the early momentum with a run at Bishop but The Last Gunslinger has it telegraphed and pours cold water over that.
CROSSHAIRS!!!
THE BIG BOOT SENDS SIGIL’S SENSES BACK TO WHATEVER DIMENSION HE CAME FROM!!
Bishop grabs Sigil and launches him hard against the turnbuckle with an Irish Whip. The Collector bounces out of the corner…
DEADEYE!!!!
BISHOP EXPLODED INTO THAT SPEAR AND BROKE SIGIL IN HALF LIKE HE WAS NOTHING BUT TINDER!!!
The Collector is bent double on the canvas, clutching his midsection after that impact. Bishop circles around him, the flames in his eyes more than a reflection of the inferno that rages around them.
Sigil is back on his feet, Bishop in with a big right to the chest. The Realmwalker stumbles back into a turnbuckle. Bishop running in…SHOULDER THRUST IN THE CORNER!!! AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!
Sigil flops to his knees, his midsection burning, but Bishop won’t let him cooldown. The Last Gunslinger has Sigil back on his feet and he drives that big right hand into The Collector’s abdomen. It’s a methodical, strategic attack because he knows Sigil’s face is protected by his mask.
After several further blows Bishop hoists Sigil up onto the top turnbuckle, climbing up one buckle at a time to join.
WHAT IS BISHOP DOING HERE!!
OH SHIT!!!
HE’S NOT…
FUCKING TELL ME HE’S NOT DOING THIS!!!
BISHOP IS GIVING SIGIL HIS LAST RITES FROM THE TOP TURNBUCKLE!!!
WAIT A MINUTE!!!
COSMIC LEAP!!!
SIGIL TELEPORTED!!!
THE COLLECTOR GOT THE FUCK OUT OF THERE!!!
Bishop jumps down off the turnbuckle, he’s scanning The Slaughterhouse looking for Sigil, peering through the flames but The Collector is nowhere to be seen. Bishop turns full circle before his sixth sense draws him to turn around.
IT’S SIGIL!!!
HE’S OUTSIDE THE RING!!! I SWEAR HE WASN’T THERE A SECOND AGO!!!
WHAT’S THAT IN HIS HANDS?
OH FUCK!!!
SIGIL IS HOLDING A JERRY CAN!!
The Collector rips the top off the can and feeds the inferno with its contents.
BLAST!!!
The flames of the inferno are engorged and an explosion of fire seems to engulf the ring. As the licks subside we see Bishop is still standing in the middle of the ring but behind him.
SIGIL.
HE’S TELEPORTED BACK INTO THE RING!!!
MERCIFUL!!!
THE HARD CHOP TO THE BACK OF THE NECK TAKES BISHOP TO HIS KNEES!!!
PLANESWALKER!!!!
THE COLLECTOR COMES OFF THE ROPES AND NAILS THE HOT SPOT!!!
Ordinarily this would win the match for Sigil but remember the objective is to set your opponent alight. Now Sigil has the unenviable task of trying to get all 6’10’’ 295lbs of The Last Gunslinger to the flames that surround the ring.
Then The Realmwalker hits upon an idea and begins to dig around in his hip satchel.
WHAT’S SIGIL GOT THERE?
HE’S PULLED SOMETHING OUT OF THAT SATCHEL!
IT’S A…
WHAT THE FUCK!!!
SIGIL IS HOLDING A PRIMITIVE TORCH!
AND HE’S SETTING IT ALIGHT!!!
SIGIL HAS BROUGHT THE FIRE TO THE RING!
HE’S STANDING OVER BISHOP!
THE FLAMING TORCH RAISED ABOVE HIS HEAD!
SIGIL IS GONNA FINISH THIS RIGHT HERE AND NOW!!!
NO!!!
BISHOP ROLLS AWAY FROM THE BLOW!!!
The Last Gunslinger gets to his feet but he has to dodge and avert that flaming stick as Sigil swings it at him.
COSMIC LEAP!!!
Sigil tries to surprise Bishop with the teleportation but Bishop read it and counters!!
CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL!!!
BISHOP CAUGHT SIGIL IN MID-AIR!!!
Bishop kicks the loose torch out of the ring. The Last Gunslinger hoists The Collector on to a shoulder so they are facing the same way. Bishop runs towards the ropes but as he gets close Sigil slides out of the hold, Bishop’s momentum takes him against the ropes.
SPINNING BACK KICK!!!
BISHOP IS DRAPED OVER THE MIDDLE ROPE!!!
HE’S FACE TO FACE WITH THE INFERNO!!!
Sigil has his arms locked around Bishop’s torso, he’s heaving and trying to get The Last Gunslinger inching towards the inferno which rages maybe an inch or two away. BACK ELBOW!! Bishop strikes Sigil and the weight pressure shifts and Bishop starts pushing back out of the ropes and to his feet.
Sigil still has the waistlock but Bishop reaches his mammoth arms backwards and gets two good handfuls of Sigil, dragging The Realmwalker up and over his head and launching him onto the canvas.
THE FUCKING STRENGTH ON THIS KILLER!!!
Bishop levels a kick at The Collector but the latter catches The Last Gunslinger’s foot and wrenches.
MOMENTUM SHIFT!!!
BACKBREAKER!!!
SIGIL HAS BISHOP FACE UP OVER HIS KNEE!!
BANG BANG BANG
REPEATED ELBOWS FROM THE COLLECTOR!!!
LONG ROAD AHEAD!!!
Bishop rolls away, clutching his throat which rages with burning pain. Sigil is slowly stalking the predator, he’s plotting his next move. Bishop starts to rise.
SIGIL OFF THE ROPES!!!
THE PLANESWALKER!!!
NO!!!
BISHOP CAUGHT SIGIL IN MID-AIR!!!
THE LAST RITES!!!
SIGIL IS SPIKED THROUGH THE DIMENSIONS!!!
Bishop has the small matter now of getting Sigil to the flames. He lifts The Collector and carries him to a corner, sitting him on the top turnbuckle.
BISHOP IS CLIMBING UP TOO!!!
WHAT IS HE DOING!!! HE’S TRYING TO SUPERPLEX SIGIL INTO THE INFERNO!!!
SIGIL IS FIGHTING BACK!!!
THEY ARE BOTH STANDING ON THE TOP ROPE!!!
TRADING BLOWS!!!
BIG SWING FROM BISHOP!!!
HE MISSES!!
SIGIL WITH A HEADBUTT!!!
BISHOP FALLS!!
THE LAST GUNSLINGER IS ON FIRE!!!
It’s a scorching summer’s day in The Slaughterhouse for The Collector as he survives the inferno against The Last Gunslinger.
Static.It’s Voynich and he’s in a bad way.
He’s tied to a chair somewhere unknown, bleeding profusely from wounds on his face as if he’s been repeatedly punched in it.
Standing opposite him, wrapping his knuckles in ice, is none other than The Butcher.
“I’ve told you everything I know,” Voynich says through muttered, bruised and battered lips. He can barely speak.
“You’re telling me you had no idea what he was going to do to my daughter?” Colin replies, shaking his hand.
Another right follows, crunching into the face of poor Voynich.
The truth is, he’s innocent in all of this.
Meanwhile, Sigil watches on.
“It came as complete surprise to me,” Voynich mutters. “I would never. You must know that. You must.”
The Butcher stops for a moment.
“Then you must be angry, no?” He questions. “Sigil took you for a ride. He used you. He put you in the middle of the ring whilst he committed murder.”
Voynich doesn’t say anything.
“Tell me son, don’t you see the predicament he’s put you in?” The Butcher asks whilst winding up another hammerfist. “Because until he faces me like a man, I’m going to keep punching.”
Cut.