RED
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Welcome home,” [Helios gruffly says.] “Welcome to the end of the road, Watchmen.”
[The Sharkman raises his head, his mask somewhat broken.]“You won’t keep us down. You won’t stop us. We’re The Watchmen and we keep watch of Old School Wrestling.”
[Aion laughs.] “You don’t seem to understand, do you?” [He says, walking forward and kneeling before them.] “You’re in the Underworld now. You’re a man short and a day late of saving the world.” [El Trébol refuses to believe that this is the end.]“It’s you that doesn’t understand, Aion,” [he bellows back.] “None of you do. You can take our freedom, you can take our bodies, but you’ll never have our souls. They don’t belong to you and they don’t belong to The Underworld. They belong to something far greater than both.”
[The Watchmen rise from their knees in defiance, coming together with a show of such power and force, that as soon as their heads touch, a white light explodes across the Underworld.] [The power of such knocks Aion, Helios and Proteus on their asses.] [In the middle of them, a man stands, hooded. He whips his hood off and turns towards his brothers.] [Their fourth.] [Their final Watchmen.] [Betamax.] [He rushes towards them, leaping at them as they stand. Their masks unite and, in a flash, they’re gone.] [Static.] [Cut to a locker room in the Tap Room.] [Only this is no ‘normal’ locker room. Its long been discarded to history, hidden behind new walls and wooden boards. The Watchmen arrive and immediately Betamax stops, looking up at the rafters.]“This has been a long time coming,” [he admits.] “I’m sorry it took me so long, lads, but I had to figure out what all this meant.”
[Looking up, he shakes his head.]“This is where it all started. My father, El Rojo, died right here, [he says pointing up.] “I’ve spent my entire life convinced he hung himself from those rafters because he lost his mask. It wasn’t until recently that I came to understand the truth. I told my cousin Nigel at Red Snow that my father died for this temple in a battle of good and evil and he did.”
[The Watchmen listen intently.]“He was a Watchmen, just like your fathers. He battled with his mask on the line to save this Temple in a match that he lost. I thought he killed himself, hung himself, out of shame. That isn’t true. He was murdered. They stole his mask and it wasn’t until years later that my Uncle recovered it and gave it to me.”
[He looks upset.]“My father gave his life to save this temple, and your fathers carried the torch to complete that mission. He sacrificed to save the world.”
[The Watchmen come together, surrounding each other.]“And if we must, we’ll give ours.”
[The Watchmen are finally complete.] [Cut.]EDWARD NEWTON VS. BRENT KERSH
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
“The one who makes me, sells me. The one who buys me, never uses me. The one that uses me never knows he’s using me. What am I?”
[He waits for a moment before SLAMMING Kersh’s head into the apron once more as Kersh falls to the hard floor. Newton leans down over him.]“A coffin!”
[Edward Newton successfully connects with RIDDLE ME THAT as the riddle was laid out. He lifts up Brent Kersh and rolls him into the ring as the referee has made it to an eight count. Newton rolls him onto his back before going for the pinfall.] [One…] [Two…] [Kickout! It’s going to take more than that to take out The Enforcer.] [Edward Newton pulls Brent Kersh to his feet, but Kersh hits a jawbreaker! Newton clutches at his jaw before Kersh kicks him square in the midsection! He lifts up Edward Newton and hits the shoulder breaker!] [SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT!] [NO!] [Edward Newton had the wherewithal to reverse the move after the shoulder breaker with a big arm drag! Kersh charges after him as Newton sidesteps his spear!] [THE REFEREE IS BLASTED BY IT!] [Like most referees, this one seems to be made of glass! Kersh looks down at the official for a moment before turning back to Edward Newton who meets his eyes.] [Before gulping.] [Newton tries to take off, but Brent Kersh grabs him by his hair and turns him around. Vicious punch to the gut followed by a rising knee strike that sends Edward Newton recoiling backwards. Brent Kersh charges towards him and clotheslines him over the top rope before sliding out of the ring. Kersh walks over to Edward Newton and lifts him up.] [LOW BLOW!] [Newton may have ensured no further children for Kersh with that one as Kersh’s face contorts in agony! Newton reaches under the ring and pulls out…] [A TABLE!?] [He kicks out the legs quickly before pulling Brent Kersh up onto the apron. He wraps his arm around the head of Brent Kersh. He adjusts his glasses as he gives Kersh a dastardly grin.] [NEVERMIND!] [NO!] [Brent Kersh hooked onto the rope to keep himself up! Edward Newton falls down onto the apron hard as he’s clutching at his neck and shoulder! He pulls himself up onto the apron as Kersh staggers back towards the corner turnbuckle, still on the apron. Newton gets to his feet as he looks towards Kersh-] [SPEAR!] [Brent Kersh just NAILED Edward Newton who seemed dazed from that slip with a big time spear sending himself through Newton through THE TABLE!] [The two men just lay in the shambles of the table as Brent Kersh rolls off. The referee finally gets up from his stupor to see both men laid out beside what used to be a table! The referee looks confused for a moment before beginning his count.] [One!] [Two!] [Three!] [Four! The men begin to stir.] [Five!] [Six!] [Seven! Newton’s head appears over the apron as does Kersh’s.] [Eight! Newton kicks the knee of Kersh as he rolls into the ring!] [Nine! Brent Kersh falls to the ground from the kick!] [TEN!] [NO! Brent Kersh LEAPT to his feet to roll into the ring just at the last moment!] [Edward Newton looks at him in disbelief for a moment before standing over Brent Kersh and yelling at him.]“No excuses this time, Kersh! NO EXCUSES!”
[The Riddler yanks Brent Kersh to his feet before slamming him down forcefully before hitting the rope for a leaping leg drop! He yanks Kersh to his feet by his beard before raising a finger in the air signaling one of his signature moves!] [KERSH GRABS THE FINGER!] [Newton seems a bit taken aback as Kersh just pulls the hand behind Newton to work on manipulating the joints as he grabs the fingers and begins stretching them! Newton is in severe pain. Kersh whirls him around before delivering a vicious uppercut!] [SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT!] [He hits it this time! The shoulderbreaker was transitioned beautifully into a piledriver as Newton slumps to the mat.] [One…] [….] [Two…] [….] [THREEE!] [NO! Newton powers out at the VERY last second!] [The crowd boos as they thought it was three despite the referee’s insistence that it wasn’t! Brent Kersh rises to his feet with a bit of a stagger, clutching the top rope to keep himself afloat. Edward Newton gets up to his feet as his resilience knows no bounds. He puts up his dukes in a mocking motion before Kersh smirks.] [Big boot!] [Newton is knocked head over heels with the big boot just damn-near taking his head off. Edward Newton is out! Brent Kersh comes over to him and rolls him over into a pin!] [But Newton catches him with a small cradle!] [ONE…] [….] [TWO…] [….] [THREE!] [NO! Brent Kersh managed to kick out at the last second!] [Kersh staggers to his feet as does Newton! HEADBUTT! Kersh nails Newton before pulling him into…] [SOUTHERN DISCOM- NEVERMIND!] [Kersh tried for his finish, but the slippery Edward Newton managed to slip that around into a DDT, spiking the head of Kersh into the mat! Newton throws himself on his challenger!] [ONE…] [….] [TWO…] […] […] […] [THREE!] [Edward Newton has… NO! Brent Kersh got his foot on the rope! Edward Newton looks irate! He gets to his feet and begins pacing! What is he plotting up this time?!] [The Riddler goes to pick up Brent Kersh, but he rolls HIM UP!] [ONE…] [Two…] [KICKOUT!] [It was close, but Newton manages to kick out of the roll-up! They scramble to their feet! Kick to the shin! FROM KERSH?! Newton looks a bit shocked! Kick to the midsection!] [SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT!] [Brent Kersh… isn’t going for a pin?! He yanks Newton back to his feet and…] [A SECOND SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT!] [Brent Kersh hooks both legs as he goes for the pinfall! The crowd is on THEIR FEET!] [ONE!] [….] [….] [….] [TWO!!] [….] [….] [….] [….] [….] [THREEEEEE!!!!!!!] [Brent Kersh has done it! The Enforcer has managed to defeat Edward Newton and capture his FIRST OSW World Championship belt here tonight! Tears are welling up at the sides of Brent Kersh’s eyes as he can’t believe it!] [WHAT?!] [Edward Newton has his FINGER on the bottom rope! The referee just realized it as Brent Kersh didn’t feel his body move towards the rope! Kersh damn-near has tears in his eyes as he’s finally done it yet… the referee is telling him no! He’s confused! The referee goes to tell the ring announcer that the match isn’t over.] [LOW BLOW!] [Brent Kersh turns after the impact with pain stricken over his face as Edward Newton’s face is angered. You can read his lips as he says three words.]“No… more… excuses.”
[NEVERMIND!] [Brent Kersh’s head is spiked into the mat as Edward Newton hooks both of his legs.] [One…] [….] [Two…] [….] [THREE!!!!!!] [Finally… FINALLY, the match is complete. The bell sounds as Edward Newton collapses on the mat. The referee gives him his OSW World Championship to which he clutches tightly to his chest. His eyes close as he rolls to his feet. Brent Kersh rolls out of the ring before slumping against the ring with disappointment written all over his face. The Riddler manages to overcome the odds once again as he holds his title high!]THE SCROLL
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Matthew 25… Matthew 13…”
[The entire content of the scroll – two words, two numbers; two references. He takes a candle set before him which had been illuminating the scroll itself and uses it to light ten small tealight candles placed around him. As he does so, he recites from memory.]“Matthew 25. Ten virgins took their lamps out to meet the bridegroom. Five were foolish and five were wise. The foolish virgins did not prepare any spare oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed, the lamps of the foolish ran out, but the wise virgins had brought flasks of spare oil and were able to tend to their flames.
Keep watch, for we know not the hour the bridegroom will return.”
[As he speaks, five of the candles extinguish, having run out of oil. Five candles remain.]“The hour comes, I know this as surely as I know my own breath.”
[Yet, there is something in Lux’s voice that wavers ever so slightly. His usual confidence and stoic belief in his mission remains, but edged with ever so slight hesitation. Something in the parable spoke to him. Something in the extinguishing of his five candles.] [He closes his eyes once more, drawing a deep breath before opening them once again. When he does, before him he places a seed. It seems to be almost the very seed that Godfrey placed before Solomon when handing him the scroll. Yet this seed is old, weathered and scratched from years of being carried on Lux’s person. He places it down on the scroll.]“Matthew 13. The parable of the sower. A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some fell upon the path and was eaten by the birds. Some fell upon rocky ground where there was little soil – the shoots sprang up quickly but were soon scorched by the sun and had no roots. Other seed fell among the thorns which sprang up and choked the plants. And some fell on good fertile soil which produced a fruitful crop, yielding many times what was sewn.”
[At that, Lux places the seed into the palm of his hand and turns the scroll over. On the back, two phrases are scrawled.] [We do not know the hour… What return has your crop yielded, Light Bringer?] [Lux laments on the words in silence for a long moment before finally managing to choke out a thought.]“I have always been rooted in fertile soil. But yielded no crop, no souls saved from the darkness. Am I not the fertile soil I thought I was? Have the thorns of darkness choked the word? Is this truly what God wants me to do?”
[He clenches his fist around the seed.]“Or is this merely a test of my faith? Steadfast in the face of adversity. Narrow is the road that leads to paradise.”
[He stands, seed still clutched in his hands and five candles still burning. He speaks in confidence, but there is an air about him that suggests he thinks more than he lets on. The torment is clear in his eyes.] [As we leave the Sanctuary and leave Bellator to his thoughts, we catch the watchful eye of another figure. The one who had delivered the scroll. Solomon Rhodes. He whispers a single word.]“Maybe.”
CAEL GABLE VS. ISAAC DANVERS
REWIND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
“I LOVE YOU!” [he screams as he pummels away at Gable, who tries to cover up.] “I ALWAYS LOVED YOU!”
[Gable sits up, driving his head under Isaac’s armpit. He drives forward and up to his knees, quickly driving further forward, his amateur wrestling background coming in to play. Drive, drive, drive! SMACK! The back of Danvers cracks into the ring post and he collapses to the ground.] [Gable is quick to take advantage, grabbing the larger Danvers around the waist and pulling him to his feet. GERMAN SUPLEX! Onto the cold, hard ground! Danvers lands heavily on the back of his neck! Gable rolls through! GERMAN SUPLEX! GERMAN SUPLEX! GERMAN SUPLEX! GERMAN SUPLEX! GERMAN SUPLEX! GERMAN SUPLEX!] [SEVEN German Suplexes. Danvers is almost limp. Gable looks tired. The weight of the seven foot opponent taking it out of him.] [GERMAN SUPLEX! This time instead of rolling through Gable rolls to his side, still clinching Danvers at the waist. His muscles burn as lactic acid pumps through them like battery acid.] [GERMAN SUPLEX NUMBER NINE! Gable lies, his head flat against the back of Danvers. Sweating. Panting. His waislock still applied. He pulls the weakened Danvers back to his feet yet again, looking to complete 10 KARAT!] [GERMAN SUPLEX! Gable lets go of the waist lock for half a second, his sweat making his skin slippery. Danvers slumps forward and down to his knees. Gable quickly regains his grip and yanks Danvers back to his feet. GERMAN SUP–Danvers grabs the barricade! Danvers blocks the completion of 10 KARAT! He sweeps his leg back. LOW BLOW!] [Gable arches his body over, grabbing at his crotch. Danvers slips the waistlock and rushes to the back of Gable. He uses the sleeve of his straight jacket to wrap around Gable’s throat! BLACK DEATH! A violent, and under normal rules, illegal strangle hold! Danvers wraps his legs around Gable’s body and drags him down to the ground! Gable’s face reddens. His body aches, his muscles are weakened from the run of German Suplexes. Isaac Danvers has played Opossum! He has allowed Gable to run himself to the edge of his stamina, and now he is CHOKING GABLE UNCONSCIOUS!] [Gable’s lips are a deep red, blue around the edges. His face is a deep shade of red. Thick white spit is dripping from his mouth.] [Cael Gable has gone LIMP! He is OUT!] [Danvers releases his grip and rolls to his feet. He stands over Gable and kicks his limp body over so he is lying on his chest.] [Danvers reaches into his back pocket and pulls from it a padlock! He raises it in the air and looks at it longingly for a moment.] [Danvers pulls Gable’s arms across his chest, wrenching the sleeves around the back. He pulls the padlocks arm around an–GABLE IS UP! Gable hops to all fours, forward rolls, and snatches Isaac’s leg! Danvers falls to the floor. ANKLE LOCK! ANKLE LOCK!] [Gable locks in the submission hold! Danvers crawls frantically across the ground, grabbing at the ring post. He drags himself underneath the ring! Gable’s face presses against the rim of the ring apron as Isaac’s head pops out on the other side of the ring post! His body is wrapped around the ring post under the ring!] [Danvers pushes his leg straight, then PULLS with all his might! Gable’s teeth SMASH off the rim of the ring apron! He releases the hold and collapses to the floor, his mouth filling with blood!] [Danvers pulls himself back from under the ring and gets himself back to his feet. He runs around the corner of the ring. PUNT! Danvers punts Gable in the fa–NO! Gable sits back onto his feet, the foot of Danvers soaring past him!] [Waist lock!] [10 KARAT! A TENTH GERMAN SUPLEX! INTO THE BARRICADE!] [Both men are down, both men worn out. Gable’s face is bloodied from the damage to his teeth. Danvers can hear ringing in his ears. They each lie, gasping for breath.] [Danvers uses the barricade to help himself to his feet. He staggers over to the ring apron, holding it for balance, and looks to be making his way away from Gable.] [Gable is up! He hops up onto the ring apron and sprints towards Danvers! He FLIES from the apron! GOLDEN PARACHUTE! A flying European Uppercu–THE CURE! Danvers sees it coming and catches Gable mid-air with a VICIOUS elbow to the side of the head!] [Gable flips in mid-air and slaps against the ground in a heap! His forehead is BUST WIDE OPEN!] [Danvers looks down at Gable, exhausted. He scoops him up and rolls him into the ring. Danvers slides in after him. Gable is back to his feet! KICK! PUGHPLEX! A stalling suplex turned into a cutter!] [Danvers is out! WAIT — What is Gable doing?!] [Gable peels back the mask of Danvers, and presses his face into Isaac’s face! His body obstructs the view of Isaac Danvers face.] [Is Cael Gable… KISSING ISAAC DANVERS?!] [Gable snaps the mask back over Isaac’s face.] [He rolls Danvers over and pulls his arms around him. He locks the padlock shut!] [Ding, Ding, Ding!] [For the second time in a row, Cael Gable has defeated his arch-enemy, retaining his championship!]MANIA
RINGSIDE
“CAEL!” [Gable’s mother screams.] [Cael looks down from the ring, his black eyes staring a hole through his parents.] [BLINK.] [The straight jackets are gone now, the illusion of entrapment disolved into thin air.] [Gable turns to Danvers and boots him in the stomach! PUGHPLEX! Danvers is down! Gable has risen to his feet, his eyes returning to normal. Cael Gable is FREE!] [As he heads to the ring ropes Danvers gets back to his feet, seemingly unharmed. Gable sees this as he is stepping through the ropes to leave. Danvers looks over Gable’s shoulder at Gable’s parents.]
“You should not BE here!” [he screams at them.] [With that, Danvers leans his head backwards, his throat peels open as though it has been slit from ear to ear. A bright light shines from his open throat. Te blinding light shines across the rotting bodies of Cael Gable’s parents.]
“RUN CAEL!” [his mother screams from beneath the light.] “RUN!”
[Screams. Spine chilling screams, as the Gable family are BANISHED back to The Underworld FOREVER.] [Danvers snaps his head back into place, the light disappearing in an instant. But as he turns his attention back to the ring to find he finds that Cael Gable is GONE!] [BAM! From behind Gable K.O’s Danvers with a steel chair!] [Gable tosses the chair to one side and runs from the ring, sliding under the bottom rope and running up the ramp. [Danvers is back to his feet in the ring!] [Gable rushes from the ringside area, finally, finally, a FREE MAN!]“I love you, Cael Gable!” [Danvers shouts after Gable,] “THIS ISN’T OVER, MY LOVE!”
LEE CROWLEY VS. JONATHON HEARTSFORD
SINGLES MATCH
The wood splinters and cracks but doesn’t break as Lee slowly pulls Jonathon up to his feet, a small sliver of wood sticking out from underneath Jonathon’s armor. Lee sets Jonathon up, trying to fish-hook him but Heartsford has it scouted as he slips out of Lee’s grasp, grabbing him by the left arm] [AND PULLING IT OUT OF THE SOCKET!] [Crowley screams in pain as his arm lies useless alongside his body. Absolutely furious, Lee rushes forward right into another knee to the jaw before Jonathon leaps up] [MOMENT OF CLARITY! HEADSCISSOR DRIVER ONTO THE CONCRETE! Lee spiked into the stone as a pool of blood forms where he landed. Crowley looks out cold but Jonathon knows better as he flips Lee over, Crowley barely concious as Jonathon pulls him up, rearing back one last mighty right hand]
“P…p..lease Brother. I Give”
[Jonathon’s hand shakes in mid-air as he hesitates for a second, only for a moment as the haze in Lee’s eyes fades and his right arm flashes towards Jonathon’s side. Heartsford drops Lee, staggering back as blood begins to drip, then pour down his side. A silver knife in Lee’s hand as he licks the blood off with a sickening smile on his face, Jonathon dropping down to one knee from the pain as Lee slowly stalks forward, twirling the knife in his hand]“You disappoint me Jonathon, you should really know..”
[Jonathon slaps the knife out of Lee’s hand before he can finish his sentence, the smile quickly turning into rage as Crowley responds with a massive headbutt that draws a trickle of blood to ooze down Jonathon’s forehead. Lee pulls Jonathon up to his feet, lifting him up into the air with a trio of right hands before tossing him head first into the throne. Lee grabs hold of his left arm, popping it back into place with a sickening sound before pulling his former brother up, hoisting him into the air] [ANTIDEPRESSANT ONTO THE THRONE WHICH CRACKS IN FUCKING HALF! Jonathon’s in a pile on the concrete, looking half dead as Lee slowly pulls himself up. He looks down at the fallen Jonathon, a smile crossing his face before walking over to the wooden door, but barely gets halfway there before a hand on his ankle stops him. Lee looks down and sees a furious Jonathon trying to stand and refusing to let Lee win. Crowley looks almost amused as Jonathon pulls himself up slowly using Lee before Lee kicks Jonathon away who crumples to the floor. Lee just shakes his head as Jonathon slowly pulls himself up once more, Crowley sizing him up] [SHOCK THE…JONATHON MOVES AS LEE SPEARS HIMSELF INTO THE WALL! The concrete cracks leaving a big impacted blood spot where Lee spiked himself. Crowley staggers away, completely dazed right into Jonathon…] [HEART TO HEART! Heartsford hits the Spanish Fly almost on instinct as both men collapse on the concrete, barely moving as this war has taken nearly everything out of both of them] [Both Lee and Jonathon slowly rise to their feet, and upon seeing the other, fury rises in their faces before they begin to wail on one another. Lefts, rights, knees, elbows, a furious onslaught from both men before a stiff headbutt dazes Lee. Heartsford powers Lee up onto his shoulders] [IN A HEARTBEAT! Jonathon sends Lee crashing to the concrete floor but he’s not done, mounting Lee and pounding down on him with lefts and rights, each one busting Lee more and more open as Heartsford’s fists quickly turn blood red. Half unconcious, broken and bloodied, Lee still has a massive smile on his face as Jonathon lets out a gutteral scream, lifting Crowley up to his feet and spearing him through the Wooden Door to the outside but Lee hits the floor first! Lee Crowley somehow wins this!]BEREFT
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Did you do it?”
[The Knight comes to a knee, confusion on his face. The Mad King grins.]“Did you save me? That’s what this was all about, wasn’t it?”
[Heartsford stands up, looking down on his amused former partner.]“End this war, Lee. Yield to me. Give up your throne. Close off the Underworld.”
[He holds out a shaky hand to Crowley, who looks at it for a moment.]“You still don’t get it, do you? There never was any saving me, Jon.”
[Crowley spits at the hand and stands up. He points behind them, through the door into King Royal’s former throne room.]“Royal had a kingdom to protect. Terminus had a charge from a god. Even these masked Watchmen have an ancient creed to uphold. But what do you have, partner?”
[Heartsford withdraws his hand. He looks at Crowley, the only sign of emotion on his face an imperceptible look in his eyes.]“I have hope.”
[Crowley chuckles, his pain-wracked body unable to do much more.]“Hope? You people and your hope, it makes me sick. Look at yourself, Jonathan Heartsford, you’re a Knight without a King. A warrior with no one to point you at something. You’re bereft of title, of land, of purpose, and now you’re bereft of the only person who would ever tolerate you.”
[Crowley takes a step back.]“You and I were once brothers. So take your hope and go in a different direction. Go fight a new war. Don’t come for me or my Throne. Or you’ll be kneeling at my feet as one of my dead. You are nothing, Jon. The emotion should have killed itself rather than let you come back. You’re not worthy of the title Knight.”
[The Mad King turns to stagger away down the hallway while Jonathan Heartsford looks on. He wipes a small bit of blood off of his face before nodding.]“I will always fight for what I believe in.”
[He turns to walk in the opposite direction.] [Former partners, now bitter enemies. Will either pull the other to their side?]DTR VS. CAPTAIN ZAPPA
SINGLES MATCH
THE CHOSEN ONE
RINGSIDE
“You see, son?” [The Virus says, looming.] “You can’t run away from your family.”
[Zappa lowers his head.]“You’ve the Virus flowing through your veins. We’re connected beyond blood, beyond any measure of humanity. You and I, we are in this together. The world will fall and we’re the ark for Noah. Stand beside me, like Corey Black, like Jensen Cussen and you will survive this apocalypse.”
[He grimaces.]“Refuse and fight my infection and you won’t survive tonight.”
[Captain Zappa looks up at him, his eyes darkened by the virus. He shakes his head, trying to refrain from giving in.] [Then he says it.]“Never.”
[DTR sneers at him, grabbing him by the skull, wrapping his hands around his throat. He chokes at him, squeezing the life from within his very being. Zappa coughs and splutters, refusing to fight back. He knows this is it. This is the end.] [Flash.] [A white light pours into the arena from above, covering DTR and Captain Zappa. It’s so bright and illuminating that we can barely see their figures within.] [Zap.] [Just like that, the light is gone.] [And so is Captain Zappa.] [Static.] [We immediately transfer away from the ring to somewhere else, our surroundings unknown. There’s technology on display unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed, and from a window, you can see the abyss of space.] [Captain Zappa is tied to a large uncomfortable metal chair, as two suited beings stand over him with what look like guns.]“Translator on,” [one says.] “Can you understand me, Captain?”
[Zappa looks confused but nods.]“My name is Groknak and we are Zeta. Sweet Delilah has sent for you. It is time.”
[He doesn’t understand. After the betrayal of Lyra and the Valerians, he had begun to doubt they even existed.]“This planet is doomed and your time there has come to an end. As promised, the Zeta-Horizon empire awaits.”
“Stop!” [He cries out.] “You don’t understand. I’ve been infected with a virus; I can barely control it. If you take me, I’ll destroy everything. There’s no cure.”
[Groknak injects him with the gun shaped utensil.]“We are not humanity, Captain; our means will stretch the limits of your imagination. Come, you have been cured. Sweet Delilah awaits and soon, Earth will be but a distant memory. There’s much work to do in the universe and many planets to be saved, starting with our own. You may have destroyed the Valerians but this galaxy houses threats much greater. Follow us and you shall never return.”
[The Captain grimaces, swivelling from his uncomfortable seat to stand on his own two feet. He looks at his saviors, nodding.]“Why me?”
[Groknak puts a hand on his shoulder.]“Because you are The Chosen One.”
[Zappa looks out into space, spotting the Earth in the distance.]“You are not abandoning it,” [Groknak says carefully.] “By our calculations, it simply cannot be saved.”
[He looks at him, nodding stoically, a tear beginning to trickle from the corner of his right eye.]“Farewell dear world,” [Zappa says with a deep sadness and regret.] “Farewell.”
[Cut.]JUDGEMENT
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“The time for their judgement has begun,” [Noah says proudly, pacing the ground before the group.] “And you are the torchbearers of the new World.”
[He smiles.]“It is your mission to set ablaze the path to paradise, as directed by our almighty Lord and Savior.”
[We slowly begin to see more as the flames from the torches illuminate the faces of those around him.] [DTR.] [Jensen Cussen.] [Creeping Death.] [Noah approaches The Family.]“My father, my brothers, my family. Jensen, you must dispatch the Phoenix and ensure he does not rise from the flames once more. Death, Jake Jeckel must be consumed by our evil; infect him or decimate him. Retrieve his key.”
[He places his hands on his father’s shoulders. DTR grins.]“Father, you have the most important task of all; you must assemble a group of our fiercest warriors to battle theirs in the ultimate showdown. Life versus death, good vs. evil. You have to take what Edward Newton holds most dear by force.”
[Noah turns his attention to D’von Chambers and Gaia.]“You must join him in this mission.”
[They nod in agreement.] [TAM.]“My dearest mechanical monster. Jacen Novan has the power coursing through his veins to become an obstacle in our path. I have corrupted your programming and you must repay me by harnessing the Ashla to assist with breaking through these defences. Create an ally out of the darkness within him.”
[Finally, Noah approaches the last.] [Isaac Danvers.]“You failed to take the key from Cael Gable tonight, but your destinies are intertwined. You must consume him, Isaac. You must consume his being and take his key. You must. Do not fail me.”
[Noah pats him on the shoulder and turns around to face them all once again.]“The Revenants will destroy The Watchmen and I have a different path. Your missions are not critical. They will not decide the ultimate judgement should you fail. However, should you succeed, with every death, every victory, every key, my power grows.”
[Everyone nods.]“The end is nigh.”
[Cut.]LUX BELLATOR VS. SOLOMON RHODES
SINGLES MATCH
FORGIVENESS
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Where are you, child?” [She rambles.] “You must be here, you must.”
[She continues digging, tossing rocks aside.]“I forgive you, I forgive everything.”
[By the time she gets to the bottom, she realizes that despite her efforts, nothing is there. No Scarecrow. No nothing.] [Flutter.] [Her eyes widen and she turns around.] [The Scarecrow.] [Mother reaches out to touch him, placing her hand carefully on his chest.]“A-Are you real?” [She asks.] “Are you really here? How?”
[The Scarecrow rips her hand away, holding onto her wrist.]“I’m here, Mother.”
[She snatches her hand away from his grasp violently.]“These rocks were never my tomb. When you tried to bury me under them, I went deeper into the cavern. It wasn’t entirely warded.”
[Mother seems surprised.] “Did you find what you were looking for?” [The Scarecrow nods.]“I did. I found the way to stop you, to end your reign of terror. I found the answers I needed.”
“What now?” [She asks bravely.] [Before he can answer, she runs at him, scratching and clawing at his face. Her guttural yelling echoes back loudly.]
“I forgave you! I forgave you!”
[The Scarecrow tosses her off, sending her into a rocky wall with a giant thud.]“I don’t forgive you.”
[He grabs her and they teleport, appearing abruptly inside the ring.]MOTHER VS. THE SCARECROW
SINGLES MATCH
CANNOT
RINGSIDE
“You cannot be killed.”
[He hisses.]“You cannot be destroyed.”
[There’s a growl to his voice.]“But you can be…”
[THWACK!] [A giant thud interrupts and sends him reeling backwards. He falls into the ropes, looking down at his chest. A bright green axe sits buried within him, and he feels it. The Scarecrow reaches down, trying to pull it out, but it burns his hand.] [He looks up.] [And there he is, wielding a second axe.] [Only it isn’t an axe.] [It’s a tomahawk.] [Tommy Hawk.] [With skin rotting from his flesh, Tommy Hawk stands before him, a revenant. He runs towards The Scarecrow, snatching the tomahawk from his chest and swinging the other violently. It cuts him across the abdomen and sends straw flying out onto the canvas. He immediately starts burning from within and quickly starts patting himself down.] [Tommy meanwhile pulls him away from the ropes and nails him on the forehead with his tomahawk. The Scarecrow drops, quickly deciding to escape.] [And with a flutter, he’s gone.] [Tommy walks over to Mother, helping his killer back to her feet. She smiles, looking down upon him as he kneels before her.]“The King sent me to defend you,” [Tommy growls.] “He sends his regards.”
[Mother strokes through his hair, grinning.]“Thank you, my child.”
[Cut.]DTR
ENTRY #1
HELIOS
ENTRY #2
“I am your war!”
“I am the strong, aiding the weak!”
“KNOW ME BY NAME, SHEPHERD OF FIRE!”
[Helios is standing in the flames as smoke files in around him. He points towards the ring before disappearing in an explosion of fire and reappearing inside of the ring as another eruption of flames. He whirls around, ready to engage.] [And DTR comes barrelling right for him with a thunderous Clothesline. Helios bounces back to his feet, being backed into the corner by vicious right hands that stumble him with every shot. The Virus pushes him backwards, mounting him on the turnbuckles and reigning fists down upon head. Helios though lifts him up and drops down underneath, dropping DTR with a Snake Eyes on the top turnbuckle. He rolls him up immediately!] [ONE…] [TWO…] [KICK OUT!] [They both spring back to their feet, Helios scoops him up into the Fireman’s Carry and down with a MASSIVE GUTBUSTER!] [INFERNO!] [The Flame quickly mounts him, slamming right hands down across his face until The Virus kicks him off overhead. Helios rolls through and DTR pops up.] [REASONABLE DOUBT!] [HE GOT HIM!] [ONE…] [TWO…] [THREE!!!] [KICK OUT!] [Helios barely survives!] [The Virus pulls him back to his feet, into the Death Drop position. He’s going for FILL IN THE BLACK! NO! HELIOS KICKS UP WITH A KNEE! ANOTHER! ANOTHER! ANOTHER! THE VIRUS LETS GO, STUMBLING BACKWARDS!] [HELLFIRE!] [CODEBREAKER! HE GOT ALL OF IT!] [HE COVERS!] [ONE…] [TWO…] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]LEE CROWLEY
ENTRY #3
“Just… Smile.”
[Helios stops, pulling himself from the cover before the count of three and bending the knee. What the hell?] [The lights dim as “Deranged” by Coheed and Cambria plays throughout the Tap Room. Emerging from the entrance is a Palanquin made of bone, on top of it, King Crowley. Undead servants march Crowley’s throne to the ring, the King brandishing his crowbar with a sickening grin. As he reaches the ring he leaps onto the apron, smiling.] [Helios lowers his head, bowing before his King.] [What the hell is Crowley going to do? His Family member lays prone on the canvas, the virus running through their veins as kin. Helios, his loyal servant, kneels before him in an epic moment of fealty. Crowley approaches, lifting The Flame’s head with his Crowbar, looking deep into the fiery pits that are his eyes.]“We wait,” [he says with a growl.] “Help him up.”
[The Flame nods enthusiastically, helping DTR back to his feet. The Virus shoves him away, looking at Crowley with a grimace. He nods, understanding what their plan is.] [And they wait.] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]JONATHAN HEARTSFORD
ENTRY #4
“We… are ready for the siege.”
[Silversun Pickups’s “The Royal We” blasts out of the speakers as Johnathan Heartsford opens the doors of the tap room. He’s slightly apprehensive as he looks towards the ring. With a deep breath and a focused eye, he sprints down to the ring and slides in from the bottom rope.] [He immediately pops up, nailing DTR with a thunderous Clothesline. He turns around to Crowley who swings with the Crowbar! NO! Heartsford ducks underneath and leaps into a Crossbody that takes down Helios!] [By the time he gets back up, The King of The Underworld is waiting for him and SHOCK THERAPY!] [SPEAR!] [SPEAR!] [SPEAR!] [Crowley doesn’t cover! He pulls his former brother and best friend back to his feet, backing him into the corner. He slams him with shoulder barges, driving his shoulder deep into his ribcage as the fans look on in fear. Helios and DTR are back to their feet, clambering to join in.] [Lee pulls Jonathan out and into a DOUBLE FLAPJACK by DTR and Helios!] [The Knight rolls under the bottom rope to the outside, wisely trying to escape this onslaught, only Helios slides out to meet him, catching him with a right hand. He tries to run him into the steel steps, but Jon blocks it with a boot, THROWING HELIOS OVER THEM INSTEAD!] [He turns around to be met by DTR, but he runs him into the metal barricade, refusing to be walked all over here tonight!] [Crowley is quickly out to stop the comeback, attacking The Aerial Knight from behind with a clubbing shot to the back!] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]EL TRÉBOL JUNIOR
ENTRY #5
THE SHARKMAN
ENTRY #6
NICHOLAS MAMMON
ENTRY #7
“You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise. Oh, you’re the devil in disguise.”
[Elvis Presley’s classic blares out into the arena, causing everyone to turn their attention to the entrance. Nicholas Mammon steps out, his welcoming smile a tale of deceit. He enters through the middle rope, surveying the carnage.] [El Trébol runs towards him but is immediately dragged down into a CRIPPLER CROSSFACE!] [THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS!] [HE HAS IT SYNCHED IN!] [The Little Green Bean tries in vein to get to the ropes but even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. There’s no rope breaks. He squirms, his hand shaking – is he going to tap? Is he going to tap?] [NO! THE SHARKMAN BREAKS IT UP!] [With a stomp to the back of the head of Mammon, he breaks the hold.] [The Sharkman pulls Mammon away, only The Salesman pushes away and ducks underneath a Clothesline. He barrels into the ropes and comes storming back across the ring!] [SLINGBLADE!] [THE HARD SELL!] [THE SHARKMAN IS DOWN!] [Mammon smiles, turning around to see Jonathan Heartsford coming at him. He kicks him hard and low in the leg, dropping him down a peg and onto one knee, before DRIVING HIM DOWN INTO THE MAT WITH A KNEELING DDT!] [THE PRICE CHECK!] [The Salesman wasn’t expected to be here but by God, he has arrived!] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]JACEN NOVAN
ENTRY #8
ELI FOREVER
ENTRY #9
“It’s the coronation of a brand new day!”
[While a jubilant voice echoes, the house lights dim down and smoke rises from the floor grates while “The Humbling River” by Puscifer begins. Initially nothing but a silhouette standing at the entrance way, a single spotlight eventually illuminates him. Another whispering voice.]“Praise and pass the ammunition, for it’s the coronation of a brand new daaaaaay!”
[There, Eli Forever, stands with his hands clasped together, praying with his eyes closed behind his tinted glasses. He then looks up, spreads his hands out, and smiles towards the rafters before proceeding to the ring.] [Making his OSW debut, Eli carefully enters the ring and sizes up the competition. Mammon runs at him but gets caught with a DIVING INTO A SHOULDER TACKLE THAT CATCHES NICHOLAS AROUND THE NECK! FROM EAST TO WEST!] [He bounces back to his feet, blocking a right hand by Lee Crowley. He makes the sign of the Lord on his forehead, burning Lee, who stumbles in desperation. Eli quickly pulls him close and into a thunderous DDT!] [Meanwhile, The Sharkman and El Trebol are battling away with Helios outside the ring. They have him backed into the barricade, slamming him with right and left hands. Heartsford is shortly back to his feet, as is Mammon, both squaring off in the centre of the ring.] [Heartsford swings Mammon in with an Irish Whip but The Salesman turns it into a Short Arm, reversing and KNEEDFUL THINGS! OUT OF NO-WHERE! THE KNEE STRIKE TO THE SIDE OF JONATHANS HEAD!] [He’s about to cover when Eli Forever notices him back to his feet. He kicks him low and pulls him in deep, Pedigree style.]“AMEN!”
[ETERNAL RIVER PLUNGE!] [HE GOT IT ALL!] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]DARKSTAR
ENTRY #10
GAIA
ENTRY #11
“I wish it didn’t have to come to this, my dear,” [Mammon says, lifting his head.] “However, our paths have crossed once again.”
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]ISAAC DANVERS
ENTRY #12
??
ENTRY #13
“The Oxford Comma, dear boy.”
[Lee Crowley quickly comes in from behind, grabbing the man by the scruff of his neck and running him into the corner, shoulder first! He stumbles backwards, but the man kicks out!] [LOW BLOW!] [The King falls to his knees, but the man helps him up, shaking his hand. What the fuck is this?]“Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Edgar Nevermore and this, this is.. POETRY IN MOTION!”
[VERTICAL SUPLEX SIDESLAM!] [Edgar Nevermore? Who the fuck is this guy? Helios is next in, grabbing him as he gets back to his feet and delivering a big right hand. The two square off, exchanging fists.] [Meanwhile, outside the ring, Danvers has Heartsford slumped against the ringside barricade, driving his knee into his face violently. Thrust after thrust, shot after shot, until poor Jonathan is bleeding from his nose.] [Forever though comes leaping from the ring steps with a Double Axe Handle, clocking Danvers across the back of the head. He grabs him by the head straight after, nailing him with a European Uppercut.] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]CAEL GABLE
ENTRY #14
LUKE COLE
ENTRY #15
“AMEN!”
[ETERNAL RIVER PLUNGE!] [HE DRILLS HER!] [COVER!] [ONE…] [TWO…] [THREE!!!] [Gaia has been eliminated!] [Gable meanwhile has returned to Danvers, pulling him to his feet.] [PUGH PLEX!] [YES! HE GOT IT!] [DANVERS IS SURELY DONE.] [GABLE COVERS, HOOKING THE LEG…] [ONE…] [TWO…] [THREE!!!] [Isaac Danvers has been eliminated!] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]SOLOMON RHODES
ENTRY #16
AION
ENTRY #17
DVON CHAMBERS
ENTRY #18
“YOU CAN’T STOP ME!”
[As the smoke clears, “The Bishop” stands with outstretched arms mimicking the crucifixion pose before methodically making his way down the aisle with a slight grin escaping the corner of his mouth.] [D’von Chambers stops outside the ring, surveying the carnage. He’s about to enter when he changes his mind, backing up the rampway to watch instead.] [Back inside the ring and Cael Gable is back in the fight. He grabs Aion from the canvas, setting him up.] [PUGH PLEX!] [NO!] [Aion drops down from behind and runs him face first into the ladder! Gable turns around holding his face and Clothesline! Aion wills him back to his feet and it isn’t long before he stands. The Master of Time pulls him in and STEENALIZER! STEENALIZER TO CAEL GABLE!] [HE COVERS!] [ONE…] [TWO…] [THREE!!!] [Cael Gable has been eliminated!] [Aion eliminates him! He gets back up, still a little groggy and heads over to Solomon Rhodes. They have unfinished business. Rhodes though somehow fights back! Right hands, right hands, he backs him into the ropes and whips him across the ring, right into both sets of ladders!] [The Templar is ready for a fight!] [Nicholas Mammon comes for him, diving with a KNEEDFUL THINGS!] [NO!] [RHODES DUCKS AND MAMMON LANDS ON THE LADDER.] [CHAOS THEORY! ELEVATED CHAOS THEORY! A CODE BREAKER BY SOLOMON RHODES!] [HE COVERS!] [ONE…] [TWO…] [THREE!!!] [KICK OUT! MAMMON KICKS OUT!] [Rhodes can’t believe it. He gets back to his feet and NO HOPE! SPEAR! SPEAR BY HELIOS! HE JUST CAUGHT HIM OUT OF NO-WHERE!] [HELIOS COVERS!] [ONE…] [TWO…] [THREE!!!] [KICK OUT!] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]LUX BELLATOR
ENTRY #19
“I’m lost in you everywhere I run
Everywhere I turn I’m finding something new”
[The song erupts into a wall of sound, a figure emerges amidst the black light, yellow mask the only visible sign in the dark light. He steps forward into the Tap Room]“Lost in you, something I can’t fight
I cannot escape
I could spend my life lost in you! Lost in you!”
[Lux Bellator descends upon the ring, unfaltering in his mission. Each soul before him about to step into the light and be judged.] [The first person he comes across is D’von Chambers. He looks at his fellow religious leader and nods, both men heading to the ring. Chambers grabs one of the ladders and tosses it outside the ring at a getting up Darkstar, nailing him in the head. Bellator meanwhile grabs the second ladder, running it into Solomon Rhodes, Nicholas Mammon and Eli Forever as they both get back to their feet.] [He tosses it to the outside and we finally have a clear ring.] [Helios and Aion are up, standing alongside Chambers and Bellator. This doesn’t shake out well for the rest of the Pandemonium participants. Eli Forever, Nicholas Mammon, Edgar Nevermore and Darkstar have a unified group of evil to fight and by God, everything is on the line.] [Everyone except Darkstar are back to their feet and in the middle of the ring.] [Outnumbered, Aion and Helios tackle Mammon, beating the holy hell out of him. Chambers meanwhile battles Eli Forever as Lux Bellator and Edgar Nevermore slug it out.] [DISCIPLE MAKER TO EDGAR NEVERMORE!] [PASTORS PLUNGE TO ELI FOREVER!] [HOLY SHIT!] [AION THROWS MAMMON INTO THE NO HOPE SPEAR OF HELIOUS AND THE EVIL HAVE TAKEN CONTROL HERE TONIGHT!] [THERE’S ONLY ONE ENTRANT LEFT AND EVIL HAVE THIS ONE UNDER CONTROL!] [OR DO THEY?] [BECAUSE DARKSTAR IS ON THE RING APRON AND BOY, THIS MONSTER LOOKS PISSED!] [Helios runs at him!] [BIG BOOT!] [D’von Chambers slaps him across the chest, only to be grabbed by the head and TOSSED OVER THE TOP ROPE, LANDING ON THE LADDER BELOW!] [THE SAME LADDER CHAMBERS THREW AT HIM EARLIER!] [LUX BELLATOR IS NEXT, DIVING AT HIM, ONLY TO BE CAUGHT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! DARKSTAR DRIVES HIM INTO THE CANVAS WITH A SPINEBUSTER!] [The Devourer gets back to his feet and there’s Aion, trying to deliver punches. RIGHT HANDS bounce off of Darkstar but he’s having none of it.] [DYING…] [STAR…] [DRIVER!] [HE COVERS WITH A FOREARM TO THE FACE!] [ONE…] [TWO…] [THREE!!!] [Aion has been eliminated!] [BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]BRENT KERSH
ENTRY #20
THE BECOMING
FLASHBACK
“The world must end.”
[Jonah announces.]“The Lord wishes it to be, thus it must. His greatest creation has been corrupted by evil forces, and it is those evil forces he must rely on to cleanse this once great paradise.”
[DTR looks on.]“You’re an integral piece to this puzzle; to his plan.”
“How?”
[Jonah stands up and heads towards the basement stairs, preparing to exit.]“She’ll tell you.”
[Static.] [Suddenly, glitching before him stands a terrifying figure. With her head lowered, she stands extremely still.] [Mother.]“My creator has tasked me with a holy mission of such grand proportions that I cannot dare fail.”
[DTR looks terrified.] “What does this have to do with me?”“You’re the perfect carrier, David. How long have you looked at the world and wished for it to change? How many years did you corrupt and create, trying to destroy what you despised? I can help you do that.”
[He looks interested.]“I can give you what you need. I can give you a Family. I can make you a virus; a walking infection that facilitates the end of the world. With this disease flowing through your veins, you’ll be an unstoppable force. You will not only create the end but become the ark that sails it to a new beginning. You won’t be alone. There will be others, others who stand by your side, others who’ve been given their own missions.”
[She closes in, lifting his head with her fingers.]“You will have everything you ever desired. Everything.”
[He nods.]“Yes,” [he whispers.] “I’ll do it.”
[Mother smiles, pulling him in for a deep and passionate kiss. Black leaks from her mouth, down his and her chin, dribbling onto the floor as she infects him.] [Black veins take a hold immediately, causing him to cry out in pain.] [He falls to the wet and dirty floor, screaming in agony. Mother stands, wiping away her mouth.]“Don’t worry my child, the pain will soon pass.”
[DTR cries.]“Welcome to the family, son.”
[Cut.]LIFE OR DEATH
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Your time is nigh.”
[He doesn’t respond.]“It doesn’t have to be this way.”
[The Chief looks up, his lips dry and chapped.]“I-I can’t die here,” [he pleads.] “I can’t die here. Please Noah, help me.”
[He doesn’t relent. He demands answers.]“I told you, did I not? I can save you from this place. All you have to do is give in to me and say yes.”
[The Chief pulls himself from the floor, coughing and spluttering.]“I can’t,” [he complains.] “You’re asking me to say that God wants to end the world and kill all life on it. You’re asking me to believe that he’s a judgemental and vicious God. That isn’t my God, Noah. That isn’t who I believe in.”
[Suddenly, he coughs and blood spews out into the darkness.] [He’s immediately pulled by an invisible force to his feet, held there with his arms spread, dying imminently. He can barely speak, his body failing him in the real world and his mind failing him here. His life is all but over.] [Whispers.] [We can’t hear what Noah’s saying. Its inaudible. The whispers last only a few moments before they stop.] [Something changes. His eyes widen, as blood shot as they are, and his face contorts into that of shock and awe. He looks up, then down, contemplating what he’s just been told.] [His lips are pursed.]“Yes.”
[The Chief gives in.] [He finally relents.] [Flash.] [His eyes open abruptly.] [He gasps.] [The Chief is back.] [Long Live The Chief.] [Cut.]