THE HEART OF THE MATTER
BACKSTAGE
“I’m doing this for you… I’m doing this for our family.”
[Paige turns to face Bruce and shakes her head through the tears. Not tears of anger, but tears of concern and worry. As she speaks, her voice echoes the same sentiment.]“Please… Bruce. Just walk away. We will find a way, we will get by. Just walk away from this before you risk your life any further. I don’t know what I’d do if I were to lose you. Our family needs you here.”
[Bruce shakes his head, very assuredly – he has already made up his mind. He brings a finger down and places it on the lips of his wife to quieten her concerns.]“I have to do this Paige. I need to do this.”
[He brings her in and embraces her.]“One win tonight will secure our future, a future for our family. Don’t you see? If I can bring home the OSW World Championship, I will ensure that you’re provided for, irrespective of what happens to me.”
[Bruce stands up, kissing Paige before straightening with a smile. Paige says nothing, yet her eyes are still filled with tears and her face is still wrought with worry.]“Besides. I’ve never felt…”
[Bruce cuts himself off short, clutching at his heart and falling to the ground without so much as a warning. Van Chan has collapsed and isn’t moving!] [Paige leaps off the bench she is sitting at and launches over to her husband’s side. Her voice is wavering with panic.]“HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!”
[As the camera pans away, her desperate screams the vocal point of everything we can hear, someone lurks in the darkened corner, watching.] [With his hands clasped, and his eyes focused on Bruce Van Chan, Muerte stands.] [Death awaits.]THE FAMILY VS. THE AMAZING JECKEL BROTHERS
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
THE KISS OF DEATH
RINGSIDE
“This virus coursing through our veins binds us. It connects each of us together as one.”
[The fans boo.]“And because of that connection, I know that one of my three sons has purged himself of our Virus,” [DTR says, as Cussen, Phoenix and The Dead line up in the ring, each looking towards each other with an accusing eye.] “Which means that he’s using us and has ulterior motives.”
[Stephanie Cussen walks down the line, sniffing each one of them up and down. Suddenly, she grabs one of them, planting a kiss on him. The kiss is slow, deep and passionate.] [And it belongs to Jacob Phoenix.] [He slowly falls to his knees, holding his throat due to the toxins.]“This one,” [Stephane says, pointing to her once beloved. Phoenix looks up at her, asking ‘why’, but she steps back, smiling.] [The Family quickly jump him, Jensen nailing him with a brutal kick to the jaw that lays him out. Both the Dead and Cussen stomp away at him, as DTR stands back, watching gleefully.]
“You were trying to take Stephanie away from us, weren’t you, boy?” [DTR yells, as his ‘sons’ beat the holy hell out of poor Jacob Phoenix.] “But we’re a family, don’t you see? You may have purged the virus from your system, but we can’t be fooled so easily.”
[Jensen finally steps away from laying the boots to Phoenix, to have his daughter throw her arms around him, embracing him.]“This game of yours has come to an end, Jacob. I gave you the family you so desperately required, but we’re not the one you deserve.”
[Phoenix lays there, uncomfortable, bloodied and nearly unconscious. He looks up at Cussen and Stephanie, who stand over him. We see them from his eyes.] [Jensen stomps.] [Cut.]DRAGONBORN
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Born in fire, the Dragon emerges.”
[His raspy voice echoes throughout the shadows of the night.]“His scales are created by the scars of many battles for his once mortal soul.”
[He pauses.]“And the fire washes away the impurities of a life once lived under the shroud of someone else’s story. For now, he is reborn.”
[Suddenly, a cackling insane laughter can be heard from within the darkness that surrounds the dragon. He whips his head to the right, peering into the pitch black.]“You see, man, rebirth is inevitable,” [The voice cracks from amongst laughter.] “And I like you was once shackled to the restraints of his voice. I no longer belong to a God that’ll hold my potential down.”
[Rhodes cannot see where the voice comes from, but it continues as the flames lick against our cameras.]“But I am no dragon. Oh no, man, I am no dragon. The fire I breathe is contempt for men like Lux Bellator, for men like you. You claim to have forsaken your Lord but his handprints still wreak havoc across your battered torso, claiming the land as its own.”
[Solomon has by now turned, becoming more and more weary of the voice.]“And in the fire, you’re reborn into darkness; into an ashen black existence, a void where only your lies create meaning.”
[The voice laughs once more.]“But I will show you the light. I will let you follow me to the truth, man. And I will slay the dragon.”
[The fire suddenly roars up at the camera, being tipped over by a force we cannot see. Dust, embers and fire explode in front of us, returning the entire scene to static before our very eyes.]“I’m back home, man.”
[Those lasting words echo.] [Cut.]CODY GREER VS. MUERTE VS. THE SHARKMAN VS. THUNK
DOUBLE FEATURE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
TERMINATION
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Have you found it, yet?”
[A gruff, gravelly voice demands to know; his accent thick, and Russian.] [Sergei shakes his head.]“You were tasked with job, and you dare fail? Ve do not accept failure, Mr. Sokolov.”
[The man, whose face has been entirely obscured by the camera placement, is wearing a very expensive suit. He stands up, reaches behind his back and pulls out a Makarov pistol. With the weapon firmly in his hand, he tilts it to the left, allowing himself to enjoy the feel of it within his palm.]“If you not fit for job, you must be replaced. I don’t think you are right man for this, Mr. Sokolov. Therefore, your employment has been terminated.”
[He pulls the gun up to Sokolov’s head and reaches for the trigger.]“Do you think I’m afraid?” [Sergei says, pushing his head towards the gun.] “General Dzagoev would turn in his grave if he thought I would bow to the likes of you.”
[Slowly, he stands up. The guards rush to force him back down, but the original speaker allows him to stand. His hulking frame towers over him, his head hunched against the roof because he doesn’t quite fit.]“Pull trigger and end my life, but somehow, I don’t think you have enough bullets.”
[The Russian with the gun puts the safety back on his weapon, placing it back inside the waistband of his suit trousers.]“Maybe I underestimate you, Mr. Sokolov? Maybe I give you more time, but we will not wait forever. Find it, because next visit, I will bring 50 calibre and have more than required bullets.”
[The man nods towards his guards, who open the van door and toss Sokolov outside. The Russian Bear hits the concrete floor with a thud, but quickly rolls back to his knees. With one big forceful push, he snaps the cable ties that tie his hands behind his back and takes the bag off his head.] [Looking back towards the van that now drives away, he smiles.] [Click.]BRENT KERSH VS. MOTHER
REWIND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
NO CHILD OF YOURS
RINGSIDE
“Whatever power that monster thinks she has, she has none over us. This is our child, Brent…this is no child of hers.”
[Nicole turns her attention to Mother, whose laughter stops as she glares at the Kersh family with anger.]“Do you hear me? This is no child of yours! Your evil has no place in our family.”
[Mother lunges at Nicole, but Brent stops her in her tracks with a CLOTHESLINE! Brent isn’t finished yet, as they come to blows one more time. Brent is a man hellbent on revenge as he looks to hit SOUTHERN DISCOM—the lights cut out, and when they come back on Mother has vanished. Brent looks around, ready for a fight…but with Mother nowhere to be found, he is soon able to focus on the woman in the ring with him. He smiles, relieved that the horror, for now, has come to an end as they embrace in the middle of the ring.]HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER
BACKSTAGE
“Don’t worry little brother, there’s another shot at those tag titles down the road.”
[They both share a nod and begin walking down the hall.]“But first, one of us needs to win Pandemonium, alright? Now Ring of Dreams needs a nightmare and we’re ganna have to decide whether that’s you, or me.”
[Jack suddenly turns around, punching Jake square in the jaw, dropping him immediately. There’s boos coming from inside the Tap Room as he helps him back to his feet and runs him head first into a concrete wall. The impact is severe. Jake’s neck crunches against the concrete and leaves a giant dent as he slithers down and hits the floor.] [‘The Boogie Man’ is incensed and no-one knows why. Is winning Ring of Dreams really this important? He pulls Jake to his feet one more time and THROWS HIM THROUGH A GLASS WINDOW, STRAIGHT INTO AN OFFICE BACKSTAGE! HOLY SHIT!] [Glass shatters everywhere, and The Juggalo isn’t moving.] [EMT’s rush into the office to check on Jake, quickly realizing that he’s in very bad shape after this brutal assault.]“We need to get a stretcher in here now, he has to go to hospital immediately. Some of these lacerations are extremely deep. We need an ambulance outside The Tap Room, stat.”
[Jack though barges through them, reaching down and picking up his brother.]“He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”
[The Boogie Man walks with his brother over his shoulder, exiting the office and towards the awaiting ambulance outside. He lays an unconscious Jake down on the stretcher and walks back into the arena, not saying another word.] [What the fuck has gotten into this vicious and vile Jack Jeckel?] [Is he infected after all?]DOUBT VS. VIKTOR NORTH
SHOWCASE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
THE SEVEN SEALS
BACKSTAGE
“An angel spoke to me.”
[A shadow enters the cave, its darkness swallowing the altar whole.]“It recounted to me the revelation of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who recounts this prophesy, and blessed are those who hear it.”
[The shadow is hooded, and as he steps forward into the dim candlelight, we can see that it is none other than Lux Bellator. His new black and red mask gleams in the light before him, yet much of it is obscured by the shadow of his hood.]“This was not a prophesy of what has already transpired, but a prophesy of what is to come.”
[Standing above the altar, presumably created by Lux Bellator himself, the light warrior reaches down to run his fingers over what is laid upon this altar.] [A book.]“The time is near.”
[The book is old and weathered by time and the conditions in which it was found. Yet the book still somehow shines under the glow of the light. This tome is not open to all who would read it though. It is very evident that the book is protected by several seals that wrap around it. Each seal is fixed with a different wax, and from the wear upon them, we can see that each seal has been tried and tested by some force.] [Yet they remain unbroken.]“For the Lord has decreed this broken wretched civilization must be annihilated. Only then can God reach down and save his creation from the jaws of the beast.”
[Bellator’s fingers find their way to the wax of the highest seal protecting the book. As they touch it, the wax begins to slowly melt around them. A smile forms on the face of Lux Bellator.]“The seven seals must be broken. The reckoning of the world is nigh, and only the warrior of light will bring about the judgment.”
[With another gust of wind and sand, we leave behind Lux Bellator inside this small cave.] [What has he brought upon the world?]NEVILLE SHELDON VS. THE SCARECROW
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
BABY, BABY
RINGSIDE
“So here we are then, ” [Smiley begins with a chuckle, flaunting the large knife around and pointing it in the direction of Lane.] “Your final chance to save your daughter.”
[Smiley turns the knife away from Mike Lane and points it directly at his daughter’s neck.]“Let’s have Pandemonium really reign! I will kill her, right here in front of all of these people unless you lay down and let me win that shiny little title belt. This is your last chance to finally do right by your family, Michael. I’ve given opportunity, I’ve offered chances, I’ve tried to help you save her but you stubbornly refuse.”
[Smiley watches Lane intently, the knife still threateningly pressed to his daughter’s neck. Mike holds his arms up in front of him, begging with him to stop. Smiley only laughs once more, a sickening sadistic laugh.]“Either you humiliate yourself before all of these people, or my face will be the last thing she ever sees.”
[Lane thinks for a moment, placing his title belt down on the canvas. Without warning, “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin begins playing once more – Mike Lane’s own music. Smiley looks confused, even Mike Lane himself looks confused. Then, to everybody’s surprise… DESTINY COMES RUNNING TO THE RING!] [Hold on a second, I thought Smiley had killed her?] [Destiny climbs up onto the ring apron and begins pleading with Smiley to let the baby go. Smiley turns around toward her, a shocked look upon his face. Even he thought she had died. It’s like he’s seen a ghost.] [Suddenly, she snatches the baby away from him in the confusion. The fans roar, not expecting her to be so brazen. The Unhinged Smiley looks down at his hands, realizing that his bargaining chip has gone and slowly turns back towards The World Champion… SHADOWKICK! The crowd roar again as Smiley goes down faster than a ton of bricks.] [Destiny safely exits off the ring apron, her baby safely in her arms and the knife that had threatened her now lying over by the Tap Room bar. There will be no lying down here tonight… The World Championship Match will go ahead!] [And Mike Lane is going to bestow upon his daughters kidnapper a world of hurt.]BRUCE VAN CHAN VS. MIKE LANE VS. SMILEY
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
“See the sun, feel the heartbeat of our mother as she breathes.”
[The World Champion’s eyes immediately dart there, where Tommy Hawk emerges, his Invasion briefcase in hand.] [Oh boy, his night is about to take a turn for the worse.]MIKE LANE VS. TOMMY HAWK
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
THE DECISIONS WE MAKE
RINGSIDE
“What’s her name?” [He asks softly.] [Destiny puts her arm around him and whispers.] “Michaela.”
[Mike walks over to the ropes, his baby girl in his arms.]“You’re such a lucky little girl, you really are. Because you’ve got a mommy and daddy who think you’re the most precious thing in the whole wide world. I’ve achieved many great things, but all of them pale in comparison to you. I’m going to be there for you, for the rest of my life. You’ll always be able to count on me. And when times are hard, and you’re down, I’ll be right there to pick you back up again. You’re going to fall down sometimes, baby. You’re going to be hurt, but you’ll also experience all the love and joy that’ll make it worth it.”
[Whilst Mike talks to his daughter, there’s suddenly a gut-wrenching guttural scream from behind him. He swivels on a pivot, turning to see Smiley stood behind him with a blade to Destiny’s throat.]“I thought we had a deal, Michael?” [Smiley says, pushing the blade tighter to her throat until it draws blood.] “I gave you an impossible choice, just like Hysteria did, and once again you were able to worm your way out of it. But not this time.”
[Lane looks at his daughter, then at Destiny.]“Decide, its either your precious daughter or your precious Destiny. One of them isn’t leaving here with you tonight,” [he says, before yelling.] “DECIDE!”
[It’s an impossible choice for anyone to make. In his arms, his daughter rests sleeping, and the joy of having her has lasted only briefly. Across the ring, his daughters mother has a knife to her throat, and all the while, he believed her to be dead.] [He doesn’t move, he doesn’t blink, he simply cannot choose.] [Holding his daughter close, he pleads for some humanity.]“Please, please let her go. I’ll give you whatever you want.”
[Smiley sneers.] “You just lost what I wanted.” [Mike has to make a decision, and he does. He shakes his head vehemently, whilst Destiny looks at him in agreement. What he has to do is clear; he has to save his daughter.]“I’m not giving you my daughter.”
[Smiley chuckles, shrugging his shoulders.]“Then finally, you’ve made a decision.”
[In one quick motion, he drives the blade across the throat, pushing her towards Mike Lane who darts over, allowing Smiley time to escape.] [The agony on The Shadow’s face is palpable. He really didn’t have a choice.] [He looks towards Destiny, but she’s choking – and a pale white in colour. Lane kneels beside her with Michaela in his arms, as white as a ghost himself. There’s blood everywhere.] [The fans don’t know what to do. Mike Lane doesn’t know what to do. He sits there with Destiny’s blood all over the canvas, his child unaware of the sacrifice they both just made and his title lost as a bargaining chip that could have stopped this from happening.] [And the light slowly drains from Destiny’s sad eyes, gasping for air in the middle of the ring.] [Cut.]A ROYAL WEDDING
RINGSIDE
“Bow to your King!” [He begins.] “All hail King Royal!”
[The guests all show their proper courtesies as King Royal enters his hall. His armor has been shined to the point of hurting everyone’s eyes, and his detachment of Knights are no different. Yet the thing to notice is the sheer swagger in the King’s step. This is a man who has won his greatest victory, and is prepared to do so again tonight.] [Taking his place in front of the priest, Royal offers a small curt nod of appreciation for the service being offered. Yet the priest decides to reach out and shake Royal’s hand. The King smirks at this display but turns away without reacting further. The courier steps back up to center stage, calling out to the crowd once more.]“And now, the bride!” [He begins.] “Raquel. House of Bourbon. Princess of Asturias.”
[Instead of a father figure, we see the Captain of the Knights appear. He has a broad sinister smile on his face as he practically drags Raquel into the hall. She is wearing the beautiful dress purchased by King Royal several weeks ago, and despite her reluctance, she will not show that fear to the people assembled. Her face becomes mask of steel as she slowly walks down the aisle to the tune of some ornate musical theme. She will walk to her fate as a woman cut of a better cloth than that of others.] [The Captain hands her over to King Royal, who joins hands with her before the priest.]“We are gathered here today,” [He begins.] “in the sight of dogs and men to bring these two people together in holy macaroni.”
[Royal rolls his eyes at this as the guests all seem confused at this idiot priest. Is he drunk?]“But before we commit these two to one another, there is a question that must be asked.” [The priest continues.] [PUNCH TO KING ROYAL!] [The priest throws off his mask and robe to reveal none other than Marvolo. Number One quickly forces his way between Raquel and anyone else.] [Yet King Royal doesn’t seem bothered.] [All around the hall, random guests throw their finery off to reveal armor. The musicians even were brandishing concealed weapons.] [Marvolo has walked into a trap.] [Or has he?]
“Marvolo. The King knew you would come.” [Royal comments.] “Did you really believe I would fall for that pathetic disguise?”
[Marvolo’s eyes dart around the hall, until he finds an exit path for he and Raquel. There is a small exit door to the side of the throne that has no one guarding it.]“Marvolo is a master of disguise, and Nigel knows it!” [Marvolo says, eliciting a scowl from the King.] “You can’t marry Raquel if you can’t find her!”
[Royal only raises his eye brow as the Knights slowly surround Marvolo and Raquel, yet Number One can see the escape path is still clear.]“Raquel, tell these knights who your Number One is?” [Marvolo confidently says, his eyes fixed upon King Royal.] [The King smiles.]
“King Royal is my Number One.”
[The wind flies out of the sails of both Marvolo and everyone hoping for a happy ending as the masked man turns around to face Raquel. She grins at him before dropping down to a knee.] [LOW BLOW TO MARVOLO!] [Number One slowly crumples as Raquel stands to her feet. He reaches out, tugging at her dress in denial as she reaches down to seemingly stroke his face. Yet she grabs his mustache’s pointed end, and kicks him to the floor. The Knights quickly come to the scene, but the King holds them back.]“You should have listened, Marvolo. Your King told you that you had no idea what was going on. Did you really believe she would choose you? Did you believe anyone other than the King would make this marriage?”
[Royal plants his boot on Marvolo’s shocked chest as he turns to face Raquel. The duo share a kiss before Royal looks down at his former partner.]“There would be no more Royal gift to give to the Queen than banishing you from the kingdom. So it is that you shall never be allowed entry into my kingdom ever again, Marvolo!”
[The King boots the now-banished Marvolo to his Knights, who quickly begin to drag him away. The Captain stands tall before all that remain.]“All hail your new Queen! Queen Royal!”
[Raquel, now Queen Royal, stands before the assembled with a sinister grin on her face. Yet she bows her head just a bit as the King walks up to her side.]“All hail House Royal! King and Queen! United forever!” [The Captain charges the assembled.] [As the guests all bow, King Royal lets a broad grin cross his face.] [Not only has he dispatched his nemesis Marvolo, he has also consolidated his power by marrying other royalty.] [Now all that remains is to win the prize of Pandemonium for his bride.]
THE DEAD
ENTRY #1
THE SCARECROW
ENTRY #2
SOLOMON RHODES
ENTRY #3
DESMOND CROSS
ENTRY #4
“Men like Desmond Cross and Isaiah Black could not withstand the weight that befell them.”
[Pause.]“I told you, I’m back home, man.”
[Maniacal laughter fills the Tap Room as all the lights go out. The familiar beginning rift of In the Air Tonight begins fill the speakers as a single spotlight shines on Desmond Cross as he slowly makes his way to the ring, stopping periodically as if he’s having a conversation with himself. He grins wildly as he enters the ring and sits down in the ring, rocking slightly.] [Solomon Rhodes cannot believe it. Cross slides into the ring and immediately attacks him with a barrage of right hands. He beats him back into the ropes and sends him across the ring, connecting with a Clothesline. “I could not withstand the weight, man?” Cross yells, stomping away at Rhodes as he does. “What do you know about being abandoned?” he screams. Desmond finally stops stomping away at Rhodes, kicking him to the outside with a final blow.] [The fans are in absolute awe at Desmond Cross, who no-one expected to see here tonight. As he reaches Solomon outside, the Dragon fights back with a shot to the mid-section – only ‘The Fallen’ has almost zero reaction. He reaches down and pummels on the skull of Solomon, beating him until he’s busted wide open.] [The crimson red of blood starts covering the grey hair of Rhodes. Cross drags him over to the ring steps, smashing his face off them repeatedly as the buzzer goes, and our fifth entry enters the fray.]DOUBT
ENTRY #5
BRENT KERSH
ENTRY #6
JACK JECKEL
ENTRY #7
JENSEN CUSSEN
ENTRY #8
SERGEI SOKOLOV
ENTRY #9
JACOB PHOENIX
ENTRY #10
EDWARD NEWTON
ENTRY #11
KING ROYAL
ENTRY #12
“BEHOLD THE KING…. THE KING OF KINGS!”
King Royal walks out and begins to make his way to the ring, his men following flanking him from either side.] [The King stops at the bottom of the walkway and looks on inside the ring. He’s in no rush to get into the action as Jacob Phoenix is beaten from pillar to post by his former family members. Suddenly, Jacob blocks a right hand by Cussen, nailing him with a headbutt. He runs towards The Dead, ducking under a Clothesline, and Springboarding off the middle rope with THE PHOENIX FOREARM! STRAIGHT TO THE JAW OF THE DEAD.] [The Nightwatch rolls through, popping back to his feet… BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA! NO! HE DUCKS THE SUPERKICK… ZIG ZAG! THE WINGS! He covers… One…. Two…. Three! Holy shit, Jacob Phoenix has just eliminated Jensen Cussen!] [Jensen Cussen has been eliminated!] [King Royal quickly slides in under the bottom rope as Phoenix gets back up and THE DUNGEONS OF LONDON! HE HAS IT LOCKED IN! CAN JACOB ESCAPE?! HE’S SCREAMING IN AGONY…] [Then the buzzer goes!]
MOTHER
ENTRY #13
NEVILLE SHELDON
ENTRY #14
THE SHARKMAN
ENTRY #15
CALYPSO
ENTRY #16
ETHAN EARHART
ENTRY #17
BRUCE VAN CHAN
ENTRY #18
ETHAN BIRD
ENTRY #19
LUX BELLATOR
ENTRY #20
“HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!”
[HOLY… OH MY… SOLOMON RHODES JUST NAILED CHAOS THEORY AS LUX BELLATOR DOVE TWENTY FEET FROM THE FANS ABOVE THE RING! WHAT A FUCKING MOVE! RHODES COVERS…. ONE…… TWO…. THREE!] [Lux Bellator has been eliminated!] [The fans can’t believe it. That was the most awesome thing we’re ever likely to see in Pandemonium. There’s no more entries, and nine competitors remain in the competition!] [Scarecrow, Mother, Solomon Rhodes, Jacob Phoenix, Ethan Earhart, King Royal, Bruce Van Chan and Ethan Bird remain in this match. With bodies scattered all over the place, and Solomon Rhodes having rolled from the ring after that amazing move, this match is really truly anyone’s to win. On the stairs above the ring, Bruce Van Chan and King Royal find themselves on a table, trading right hands. Bruce kicks him low, pulling him in for a Suplex. He looks down towards the ring and turns, snarling. He’s not going to, is he? Oh god, please don’t… think about your heart, Bruce!] [BUT KING ROYAL REVERSES! SNAP SUPLEX THE OTHER WAY, STRAIGHT INTO THE FUCKING WALL! The fans explode, but that has to be a bit of luck for Bruce, doesn’t it? Meanwhile in the ring, Ethan Bird drops Earhart with a big Spear! He gets back up and is scooped up by The Scarecrow. TOMBSTONE! TOMBSTONE TO BIRD! HE COVERS…. ONE…. TWO… THREE! THE SCARECROW ELIMINATES HIS FIFTH PERSON!] [Ethan Bird has been eliminated!] [He has a new record! The Scarecrow tops Bruce Van Chan’s four eliminations of last year with five! He gets back to his feet, but there’s Solomon Rhodes… TONGAN DEATH GRIP! HE LOCKS IT IN, BUT THE SCARECROW WHIPS HIS ARM AWAY AND PUNCHES HIM RIGHT IN THE HEART! THE HAYMAKER! Rhodes crumbles and falls through the middle rope, landing on the outside.] [King Royal meanwhile has dragged Bruce Van Chan down the steps and pulls him towards the ring. He wants to eliminate his nemesis, once and for all. The King rolls him under the bottom rope and follows, only someone appears to be grabbing his ankles. What the hell? IT’S EDWARD NEWTON!! WHERE THE HELL DID HE COME FROM!? HOLD ON A SECOND, HAS HE BEEN HIDING UNDER THE RING THIS WHOLE TIME!? HE PULLS ROYAL AWAY AND NEVERMIND! IMPLANT DDT ON THE WOODEN FLOOR!] [Newton clambers into the ring and pulls Van Chan back to his feet, NEVERMIND! IMPLANT DDT TO BRUCE AS WELL! NEWTON COVERS… ONE…. TWO… THREE! WHAT THE FUCK! HE JUST CAME IN OUT OF NO-WHERE AND STOLE ONE! Edward Newton just eliminated last year’s winner of Pandemonium! Holy crap!] [Bruce Van Chan has been eliminated!] [There’s seven left now and Edward Newton cowardly rolls out of the ring, trying to escape under the ring apron. What the hell is this guy up to? He quickly hides, ensuring no-one saw him leave. He can’t do that, can he? Surely, he can’t! Ethan Earhart is back to his feet in the ring, finding Jacob Phoenix there. They start trading punches, but Ethan pushes him back into the ropes and sends him across the ring, connecting with a Clothesline.] [The Immortal wants to win this more than anything. He pulls Phoenix back up, but Jacob spins him around… FOR HER! REVERSE DDT! NO! EARHART ROLLS OUT, SCOOPS HIM UP INTO THE MUSCLE BUSTER AND THE COST OF IMMORTALITY! HOLY SHIT! HE DROPS HIM HARD! ETHAN COVERS…. ONE…. TWO…. THREE! JACOB PHOENIX FINISHES SEVENTH IN PANDEMONIUM! WHAT AN EFFORT!] [Jacob Phoenix has been eliminated!] [As Earhart gets back to his feet and there’s that sneaky bastard Newton from behind! He spins him around, but Earhart is wise to it… SMALL PACKAGE! ONE… TWO…. THREE! OH MY GOD! HOLY FUCKING SHIT! EARHART PICKS UP DUEL ELIMINATIONS AND SENDS EDWARD NEWTON PACKING! That slimy bastard has hidden under the ring since his arrival at entrant number 11! Newton finishes sixth in this year’s Pandemonium!] [Edward Newton has been eliminated!] [The Immortal has had the showing of his life so far. He gets back to his feet, looking for the next victim and turns around TO THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER! OH MAN! MOTHER WAS JUST WAITING FOR HIM. NO… COME ON.. NOT LIKE THIS…. ONE….. TWO…. THREE! ETHAN EARHARTS PHENOMENAL PANDEMONIUM RUN COMES TO AN END! JESUS CHRIST, HE ALMOST DID IT!] [Ethan Earhart has been eliminated!] [We’re down to the final four, now. The Scarecrow, Mother, Solomon Rhodes and King Royal get back to their feet, standing in a corner of the ring to themselves. This is it. The final stretch. One of these four will be going to Ring of Dreams to face Tommy Hawk for the World Championship. This isn’t just about the title, this is about the moment, the honour of such a victory. This is Pandemonium!] [Genesis look at each other, nodding. They know what they’re going to do. Mother attacks Rhodes immediately, leaving Scarecrow and King Royal to duel it out. The Mother Of All takes Solomon to the ropes and sends him across the ring, ducking underneath a clothesline attempt on his return, and pulling him down with a Sit-out Reverse DDT. She hooks the leg… One…. Two… Kick OUT! The bloodied and battered Solomon Rhodes barely kicks out. I have no idea how he’s still going, but he is. Mother hops back to her feet and hits the ropes, dropping into a Baseball slide with such ferocity that it kicks the poor Dragon across the ring.] [King Royal meanwhile has pulled The Scarecrow to the outside, backing him into the ring steps. He takes his time delivering right hands, until he looks up and see’s Mother LAUNCHING HERSELF THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPES! TOPE SUICIDA TO THE KING! SHE TAKES HIM RIGHT DOWN TOWN LESTER BROWN! She somehow pops back up, grabbing Royal and driving her fingers into his eyes. The Scarecrow follows, huddling somewhat together. What they don’t realize is that perched on the top rope, pun intended, is none other than Solomon Rhodes. Rhodes dives off with a big Crossbody, toppling all three like fucking dominos.] [He pops straight back up, his hair still stained red with blood. He’s a fighter and he’s not giving up tonight. He grabs Mother and rolls her back into the ring, ready to finish this. He turns to slide in but The King stops him, turning him around and SLAMMING HIM OVER THE HEAD WITH A STEEL CHAIR! WHERE THE FUCK DID HE GET THAT FROM!? HE MUST HAVE STOLE IT FROM A FAN AT RINGSIDE! Royal slides into the ring himself and waits for MOTHER, who gets back up and BLACK MIST! NO! THE CHAIR BLOCKS IT! ROYAL SLAMS IT ACROSS HER SKULL WITH EVERYTHING HE CAN MUSTER! HOLY SHIT WHAT A CHAIR SHOT! HE COVERS…. ONE…. TWO…. THREE! KING ROYAL ELIMINATES MOTHER!] [Mother has been eliminated!] [There’s three left now. The King waves the chair around like a mad man, willing to hit anything that moves. The Scarecrow climbs onto the ring apron, and Royal swings, but THE HAYMAKER knocks it RIGHT OUT OF HIS HANDS! Royal backs away like a coward as The Scarecrow steps over the top rope. He takes a deep breath and runs at him, walking straight into a Big Boot. The King hits the deck hard and gets straight back to his feet, being scooped up and dropped down face first on the top turnbuckle in SNAKE EYES! He stumbles backwards and… BYE BYE… NO!! THE KING RAKES HIS EYES! Dropping down, he grabs the arm of The Scarecrow and DUNGEONS OF LONDON! THE DUNGEONS ARE LOCKED IN! THE SCARECROW SQUIRMS FOR THE ROPES, AND MAKES IT! HE MAKES IT! Just then, Solomon Rhodes slides back into the ring and dropkicks Nigel right on the button as he drops the hold.] [Rhodes pulls him back to his feet and PACKAGE FISHERMAN BUSTER! DAWN! He drills Nigel hard into the canvas. The fans cheer as The Dragon covers…. One…… Two…. Three! He’s done it! Solomon Rhodes eliminates King Royal for his Third elimination tonight!] [King Royal has been eliminated!] [Here it is, ladies and gentlemen. It’s down to The Scarecrow vs. Solomon Rhodes for a place at Ring of Dreams for the World Championship. Neither has held the belt, and both would love to join the ranks of former winners in Red River Jack and Bruce Van Chan. [Slowly but surely, Solomon and Scarecrow get back to their feet. They’ve been in this thing since #2 and #3 respectively. The Scarecrow has eliminated five people, whilst Solomon Rhodes has eliminated three. Whoever wins this battle will go to Ring of Dreams!] [They rush each other, meeting in the middle of the ring with thunderous right and left hands. There’s so much on the line here. The Scarecrow slaps his hand around the throat of Rhodes, trying to lift him up but he slams down his arm, dropping out. He leaps up into the air, looking for the Chaos Theory, but The Scarecrow catches him and CORNER POWERBOMB! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!] [The Dragon bounces off the turnbuckle and stumbles into a giant Big Boot, nailing him hard across the face. He rolls to the outside instinctively, knowing that he must avoid being covered if he wants to win this match. The Monster though, he follows, meeting him on the outside. He grabs him by the head and bounces it off the barricade. They stumble through the wreckage of the tables and eventually stumble towards the fans. They head up the stairs, The Scarecrow right handing Rhodes with every punch he can muster along the way.] [The fans quickly move, giving them room to brawl, Solomon driving a knee into the mid-section of the Hayman as he approaches. They’ve been through so much here tonight, but it’s hardly over. The Dragon grabs a nearby glass bottle, crashing it over the head of The Scarecrow and it barely phases him. He bounces his head off the table for good measure and rolls him atop it. Solomon climbs up using some chairs and stands on this unsteady table, looking down twenty feet to the ring below.] [Solomon pulls The Scarecrow up and kicks him low, positioning him for a Powerbomb! He spreads his arms, lifts him up and CRUICFIX RELEASE POWERBOMB! OH MY FUCKING GOD! THE DRAGON POWERBOMBS SCARECROW TWENTY FEET FROM THE FUCKING RUNWAY TO THE GOD DAMN RING! THE SCARECROW HITS WITH SUCH A SICKENING THUD, IT’LL BE A FUCKING MIRACLE IF HE EVER GETS UP AGAIN. HOLY FUCKING CRAP! HOLY FUCKING FUCK!]“HOLY SHIT!”
“THIS IS AWESOME!”
“HOLY SHIT!”
[THE FANS ARE ON THEIR FEET AS THE DRAGON STANDS, EXHAUSTED!] [If he can just go down there and pin him, he’ll win this!] [BUT WAIT….] [OH NO…] [SERIOUSLY?] [THE SCARECROW SITS UP! HE FUCKING SITS UP. THE MONSTER SITS UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING, HAVING JUST BEEN FUCKING POWERBOMBED FROM THE GOD DAMN OVERHEAD RUN WAY!] [SOLOMON SPOTS THIS…] [BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDD!!!] [HE LEAPS FROM THE FUCKING TABLE!!] [DOUBLE FOOT STOP TO THE FUCKING HEAD OF THE SCARECROW!] [THE CROWD HAVE GONE BALLISTIC! THE CAMERAS ARE SHAKING WITH THE UPROAR AND ATMOSPHERE INSIDE THE TAP ROOM! SOLOMON RHODES HAS… WELL… HOW THE FUCK!? WHAT THE FUCK?! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!! HE COVERS… AND THE FANS CHANT ALONG WITH IT, THE ENTIRE ARENA BUZZING…] [ONE…….] [TWO………] [THREE!!] [IT’S OVER! IT’S OVER! Solomon Rhodes wins Pandemonium III! He said he was coming to break the wheel and by god, he didn’t break it, he obliterated it. The fans are in a frenzy, cheering, screaming, stomping and clapping so loud that the camera shakes from the impact alone. There’s nothing like this. There has been nothing like this.] [Solomon can’t stand. He can’t even get up.] [He kneels, his blood red hair like fire from his brow. The fans celebrate as he bows his head, a Dragon reborn in the flames of Pandemonium.] [Goodnight.] [Good… fucking… night!] [Cut.]