“WHAT’S THAT TICKING NOISE?”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Click.
The Slaughterhouse logo flickers in glowing neon.
We hear the sounds of waves crashing against the old rickety shell of a large sailing vessel, more specifically, we find ourselves within the walls of Captain Scrimshaw’s personal ship. Its old wooden hull is as tough as the sailor who captains it! And just as we get used to the swaying of the ship, Scrimshaw himself walks down the halls of the lower deck, hands clasped behind his back as he inspects it. And then…
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
His ears perk up and he looks around himself, more than a little confused. He checks a few drawers and opens doors, unable to locate the sound. He scratches his beard quizzically before taking a puff from his pipe.
“A tickin’ noise. Either some of that canon mess is still clinkin’ around in here… or I got a rat infestation.”
He looks around a bit more, slowly moving towards the top deck, the sound getting ever louder.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
He bursts through the door to the top, beginning to get fed up with the noise as it grates against his ears. He looks around the top deck, the sound growing louder still… and faster.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
His head darts towards a nearby barrel, and without a doubt in his mind he grabs the lid and yanks it off to reveal… Junkrat, the mad bomber himself, with a pipe bomb in hand.
“YA FOUND ME YA OLD BUGGER! And now that you have, I can blow YOU up this time and see how you like it when YOU have to pick shrapnel out of your arse til two a.m.!”
Scrimshaw takes a moment, puffs his pipe, and looks at the bomb before looking back to Junkrat, a look of disappointment on his face.
“So lemme get this right. You snuck on, started the bomb, kept a hold of it, and now that I had to FIND you, yer HOLDING IT in my face.”
“Correct.”
Scrimshaw rolls his eyes with near acceptance when the bomb’s ticking comes to an end.
BANG!
The explosion is small and once the dust clears both of their faces are covered in black soot, hair singed, clothing torn. Scrimshaw grabs Junkrat by the throat and pulls him close.
“I’m gonna make a deal with you, Rat. I’m gettin’ real tired of yer antics. At Invasion, we’re gonna have ourselves a match on me ship. If I win, you leave me alone. If you win, you get to use me canon to destroy the Crab Shack. Deal?”
He looks at Junkrat but the anarchist is long passed out. He merely shakes his head and drops him in the barrel.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
And with that, the scene fades out while Scrimshaw goes about mopping soot from his deck.
“NOTHING PERSONAL”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Mark Gouldern is standing near the back door to the Slaughterhouse. His eyes are on his gauntlet, which seems to be counting down to something. After a moment, a grin lights up his face.
“Right on time, Inferus.”
Out of seemingly nowhere, Gouldern finds a knife to his throat, Inferus at its command.
“It isn’t often that someone looks for me.” She whispers in his ear. “Usually it’s the other way around.”
The Herald raises an eyebrow, completely unmoved by the weapon at his throat.
“Likewise.” Gouldern begins. “Even so, I would say both of us find strange visitors when the topic of business arises.”
She releases him from her grasp. The Herald turns to face her, nodding in approval.
“An individual of your talents has no need for pleasantries, so I’ll dispose of them. I’ve observed that you seem to have a personal issue with the Judge. I’d like to help you with that.”
“Would you?” She snorts.
“Very much so.” He replies, unshaken. “While I know your talents are usually utilized in more private matters, my associate and I will be standing by tonight if you wish to strike in public.”
“What do you want in return?” She asks, no stranger to these backroom deals.
Gouldern grins.
“Once you’ve crossed a certain threshold of financial means, you learn about the measures in place used to maintain the natural order. I know all about you, and those like you. It’s never personal is it? Always business. But I also know that financial means will never be enough to purchase your services. So I offer a quid pro quo to you.”
Inferus raises an eyebrow, seemingly interested.
“My associate and I will work with you to eliminate your enemy. In return, I only ask that you stand by to assist me in eliminating mine when I call for your aid.”
The hooded woman meets his gaze.
“I will think on your deal. But your blood will wash through my fingertips if I take it and you do not hold up your end of the bargain.”
The Herald nods in approval, giving way for Inferus to walk into the building. As she vanishes into the Slaughterhouse, Gouldern presses on his ear piece.
“Phase Two has been initiated, Greene.”
Cut.
MEZ VS. REDWING
SINGLES MATCH
The Crimson Crusader stands toe to toe with The Madman, Mez, in a bout between two of OSW’s physically strongest fighters!
The bell rings and Mez charges Redwing, catching the hero off guard with a LOU THESZ PRESS RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE! ANARCHY!!! Mez delivers a stiff headbutt to Redwing’s head! Another! Another! Mask collides into mask, but Redwing is able to send a stiff karate chop into Mez’s Adam’s apple!
Free him from the sick man’s grasp, Redwing stammers to his feet, but Mez runs THROUGH Redwing juggernaut style! Headfirst! Redwing leaves his feet from the impact and falls to the mat! BIG SPLASH from Mez! GOOD GOD! He makes the cover! ONE! TWO! NO!!! Redwing, ever-resilient, kicks out!
Mez drags Redwing up to his feet, and whips him into the turnbuckles! Redwing collides with his back into the turnbuckles! Mez charges across the ring! GUT CHECK!!! REDWING DODGES!!! MEZ’S HEAD COLLIDES INTO THE RING POST!!! He bounces back and staggers into THE KILLING JOKE!!! MEZ’S HEAD SLAMS INTO THE BOTTOM TURNBUCKLE!!!
Redwing delivers a few stomps to Redwing’s back before leaping to the top rope! The Crimson Crusader sizes up Mez as Mez slowly comes to. Once Mez crawls to all fours, REDWING LEAPS!!! DARKNESS FALLS!!! THE CURB STOMP!!! REDWING MAKES THE COVER!!! ONE!!! TWO!!! THREE!!!
Redwing makes a statement tonight, picking up a big win over one of the strongest men to compete in the Slaughterhouse, Mez!
“JUSTICE?”
RINGSIDE
As Mez is escorted from the ring, Redwing steps out to sign a few autographs when a familar voice speaks from the entrance way.
“What’s happening, Freebirds!?”
Kenny. Tweetin’. Freeman.
He stops halfway towards the ring and points at Redwing.
“You, of all people, had the audacity to steal and to destroy another man’s property. And why did you commit this crime? Besides, of course, the fact that you’re a giant douche?”
The crowd roars.
Kenny winks at Redwing, who is barely containing himself in the ring.
“Because you couldn’t handle all the notoriety, all the attention, all the HEAT that I brought to your heroic cause.”
Kenny pauses. He licks his lips and grins.
“Because it was out of your control. Because I was out of your control.”
Kenny sneers as “FREE BIRD! FREE BIRD! FREE BIRD!” chants start in the crowd.
“Is that Justice? Is that what a hero does?”
Redwing finally breaks his silence, microphone now in hand.
“First of all, kid. You’re right about one thing. I shouldn’t have taken your phone. I shouldn’t have broken it. Heroes make mistakes sometimes, and I made one.”
The crowd is confused, befuddled, and downright angry at Redwing’s display of maturity. They boo loudly.
“Last week, you wanted a match at Invasion. Well, I’m going to give it to you. But I want to raise the stakes, if you’ll hear me out.”
Kenny looks around at the audience.
They want Freeman to hear him out.
“What did you have in mind, Redwing?”
Redwing grins. “If I win, you are contractually obligated to stop posting about me on any and all social media platforms.”
Kenny looks around again. A mixed reaction from the free birds.
“And if I win?” Kenny asks.
Redwing replies, “Then I will do a full interview with you on camera, in a setting of your choosing, for all of your social media platforms. But you still have to stop posting about me thereafter.”
Freeman looks around at the audience. Another mixed reaction.
“I’m not sure that’s justice,” Freeman says.
Kenny grins.
“But it’s a deal.”
Cut.
“ALL MINE”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Luke Storm sits at a busy convention. A line of fans waits in front of his autograph table.
A young boy approaches.
“The King of Make Believe has a message for you,” says the kid.
“Are you OK, bud? Where are your parents?” asks Storm.
The boy just stares.
“He needs help,” Storm calls to his faithful. “I’ll be right back.”
“Follow me!” the boy says. He sprints off. Storm follows him to a dingy boiler room, where the boy points at an old television.
The television activates itself. And there he is.
SeeSaw: wearing a cardboard crown with crayon-drawn jewels, surrounded by a court of mangled stuffed animals.
“You’re supposed’ta bow, silly!”
Storm turns to the boy, but finds that he’s already gone.
“King SeeSaw … Lord of the Land Make Believe… requests YOUR service…“
“What did you do to that boy?” Storm asks.
“THE KING DOES WHATEVER HE WANTS,” SeeSaw screams. “AND THE KING WILL HAVE HIS KNIGHT!“
SeeSaw leans forward.
“That’s you, Lukey! Only not this serious grown-up. So concerned. So grumpy. So boring. I want the meanie you showed me before!” he squeals. “Together, we’ll fill up my Toybox ’til it bursts! The kids are ALL MINE… and they’ll be yours too.”
SeeSaw’s eyes go wide.
“You love to play make believe, don’tcha? Why not play with me?”
Storm leans in close to the screen.
“Listen. I don’t know what you are. Or what you want,” he says. “But I will stop you. For the kids. For the ones who don’t have anyone to protect them. For the ones that need help. I’m an actor…”
“But I’m no pretend hero.”
SeeSaw grins, then begins to giggle uncontrollably.
“Where’s the fucking kid!?”
The King of Make Believe’s image disappears.
The boy is nowhere to be found.
Luke Storm slams his fist into the wall in frustration.
Cut.
MARK GOULDERN VS. MONTY STRAIGHT
SINGLES MATCH
em>The Straight Shooter, Monty Straight takes on the Tech Mogul, Mark Gouldern, in a match that is surely to bring about wizardry of some kind or other!
The bell rings and Monty Straight shoots on Gouldern’s leg, but The Herald of the Future meets Straight in the side of the head with his opposite knee!!! That calculated, chess style of fighting damn near ending the match right now as Gouldern makes the cover and hooks the leg! ONE… TWO… THREE–NO!!
Straight SOMEHOW has the wherewithal to kick out right in the nick of time! Gouldern drags Straight up to his feet and whips him into the corner! But Straight reverses and adds some extra sauce to the whip, sending Gouldern chest first into the turnbuckles! Gouldern bounces off and backs up right into TERMS AND CONDITIONS! RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP! CROSSFACE! GOULDERN CRIES OUT IN PAIN!!!
Out of pure desperation, Gouldern and his TeleGauntlet send a punch straight up into Straight’s throat! Straight’s poor trachea! He breaks the hold and Gouldern stands to his feet. He runs! Leaps! THE DISRUPTION!!! NO!!! STRAIGHT DUCKS!!! HE GRABS GOULDERN!!! DEAL BREAKER!!!!!
Monty has Gouldern exactly where he wants him, and he grabs both of Gouldern’s legs, steps through them, but Gouldern grabs Monty’s leg and twists his ankle, taking him over!!! ANKLE LOCK!!! HOLY SHIT!!! THE TELARIS GAVE GOULDERN AN EXCELLENT COUNTER!!! MONTY HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO TAP OUT!!!
It was unconventional for The Herald of The Future, but he picks up a huge win via submission here tonight as he shuts down the Straight Shooter!
“DECISION”
BACKSTAGE
In the office of The Butcher, we find our Chairman sat behind a large oak desk, puffing on a very large cigar. As rings of smoke circle into the air, the door opens and in walks none other than Darby Sorrow.
“I’ve been expecting you, kid,” The Butcher says, cigar between teeth.
“That makes one of us. I’ve been thinking about Invasion and the match between myself and Banzan. As much as I don’t want that Championship, I don’t want Green to have it either.”
The Butcher nods. “I can see why you might be of that opinion.”
“So, I’ll be in your Main Event. I’ll fight for the Championship and I’ll spill blood if I have to, just to win, just to make sure it stays out of his hands.”
There’s an air of something special about Sorrow as he turns to walk away. The Butcher stands up and stops him.
“Wait a minute kiddo,” he growls. “You might not realize it but you’re money. People love you; hell, they fuckin’ identify with you. Banzan is a mountain but you’re the gold mine.”
That raises an eyebrow from Sorrow. “Excuse me?”
“You have a curse that I can turn into a gift, Darby. You may not want that Championship but I’ve been looking at the bigger picture and if you get it, the possibilities are endless.”
Sorrow doesn’t quite know what to do with himself.
“Besides, I’m looking for something – something that can alter the course of history in the right hands. Something that we might be able to use to end your immortality.”
Darby turns. “I’m listening.”
Cut.
“RELEASE HIM”
BACKSTAGE
We cut Backstage to find Veritas pacing, determinedly. His hands clasped on a small, black briefcase. Without hesitation, he bursts forth through a door and wastes no time in pointing his finger accusingly.
“This all stops… Right now.”
His finger points at one Mr Johnson, busy readying Mez for transport back to the Asylum. The warden straightens up, as Veritas pulls open the briefcase. He pulls out a stack of papers and holds them up.
“Petition signed by hundreds of fellow people that seek the truth revealed. Demanding the release of this prisoner. It is against his human rights to hold him against his will. I will ask this only once… Release Him.”
He pushes the papers into the chest of Mr Johnson and turns his attention to the stoic Mez. Pulling at his straightjacket straps, he begins to unfasten them. He stops when he hears a flicking sound and turns to find the warden standing with a lighter in his hand, the papers in the other and a smirk on his face. He clicks the lighter and holds it up to the papers.
“He is a patient, not a prisoner.”
The papers burst into flames and the Wardens smirk grows larger. Veritas grabs the Warden by the scruff of the neck. As soon as he does so, the towering Mez launches himself across the room. With the straight jacket clasps unbuckled, he frees his arms, grabs Veritas around the throat and lifts him into the air before slamming him back first into the concrete wall. Mez holds him off the ground, gasping for air as the Warden straightens his tie.
“As for your request, I will release him. For one night only. I will release him unto you. One on one, and he will tear you limb from limb. If you manage to survive, perhaps we will talk. If not, well, that would hardly be a tragedy now would it.”
Mr Johnson taps Mez on the shoulder and the big man drops Veritas, who crumples to the ground. The pair leave him, with the warden re-wrapping the straight jacket as they leave.
Cut.
SIGIL VS. IGNATIUS
SINGLES MATCH
The Collector looks to add the Black Flame to his collection as Sigil faces off with Ignatius.
DING! DING! Sigil runs disappears momentarily leaving Ignatius confused with COSMIC LEAP! Sigil suddenly appears, landing a roundhouse that sends Ignatius to the mat. FINITE! The Truth Seeker looks down and notices his boot smouldering from touching Ignatius’ body. Ignatius gets back up to their feet as Sigil closes in.
As Sigil comes, Ignatius lunges forward driving drilling Sigil in the chest with a boot that pushes him back. The Black Flame closes in landing another boot that shoves the Planeswalker back once again. Sigil tries to respond with a kick that Ignatius ducks, positioning himself to lift the Realm Walker up. Ignatius throws Sigil’s feet over his head, dropping him down head first to the mat. BURNING HAMMER!
Sigil and Ignatius both begin to slowly make their way to their feet, Ignatius getting there first. Sigil being the quicker, sweeps Ignatius leg before going for a stomp onto their head.
Sigil hits with enough force that Ignatius’ body jerks from the impact as Sigil backs up, prepared for his next attack. He watches as Ignatius gets to his feet, and begins charging across the ring. Sigil throws his legs up, thrusting them hard into the heart of the Black Flame. PLANESWALKER! Ignatius flies across the ring. Sigil pins him. ONE! TWO! THREE!
The Black Flame is added to Sigil’s collection tonight with this victory. What will be added next?
“CHOOSE AND ACT”
RINGSIDE
The match over, Ignatius finds themselves rolling out of the ring. Smoke begins to rise from the ground of the Slaughterhouse, and it’s not from the Black Flame. Instead, it’s the thick fog of the Spirit of the Dead.
Papa Legba.
Ignatius tries to walk away, but the fog reaches up as if it were alive to engulf the plurality.
Darkness.
As the fog begins to thin out, Ignatius is no longer at ringside. Instead, he’s found his way to the domain of Papa Legba. The Gatekeeper of the Spirit World is sat upon his throne of skulls, with his cane by his side.
“Welcome, my friend.” He greets. “Have you considered my deal?”
Ignatius’s head tics to the side.
“We told you…”
Legba rises, with his hand up.
“I don’t care about the ‘we,’ I only made the offer to one of you. And only one will answer. They will either choose to accept the deal or choose to decline it. That decision will decide what action will follow.”
Smoke rises from Ignatius’s body as it seems a battle has begun anew.
“We will not…” Ignatius begins, its body seemingly at war with itself.
“Choose.” Legba says, towering over the twisting Black Flame.
“…make a deal.” A thousand voices rise out of Ignatius, causing his body to fall to its knees.
“Act.” Legba says, his cane stabbing the floor beside Ignatius with more force than the Gatekeeper’s frame suggested he had.
“I…” Ignatius whispers, a single plume of smoke rising.
Legba’s lips tug at a grin as Ignatius is on all fours now, the battle raging throughout their body. The war for control.
The Gatekeeper kneels beside the Black Flame, placing his hand on its back.
“I hear you, friend. They haven’t extinguished you yet.”
Papa Legba stands up, the grin almost fully formed. He walks back to sit on his throne of skulls.
“The time to choose draws near.”
Cut.
“A VISITOR”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
In Ryker’s Island, Alton Whitlock sits in a jail cell. Although not convicted of any crimes, his lighter was enough to get put in holding before a trial. A guard knocks on his door.
“Sir, you have a visitor, follow me.”
Our normally polished politician looks disheveled as he follows the guard to a meeting center to wait on his visitor. In comes a woman with a black veil, Alton gets excited thinking it is Vivian, but his heart instantly deflates when he hears Blackveil’s voice.
“Mr. Whitlock, don’t look too disheartened. I invited her but she could not bear seeing you like this. No, that’s not right, she could not bear to see you. She did want me to ask you a few questions though. Do you mind if I record this?”
“No, of course not, if it’s for Viv, anything.”
“I thought you might say that so first, do you love her?”
“Of course, I do, She’s the best part of my life. I would do anything for her.”
“Then why did you go to that strip club, Mr. Whitlock?”
“I went there to stop my friend from ruining his marriage for a cheap thrill. No amount of girls are worth losing everything.”
“What about the second one?”
“I did not go in to that second one! You used Vivian like everyone else has used her! You played with her emotions so you could get at me. I understood what happened the moment I saw her with those girls.”
“No reason to get emotional Mr. Whitlock, these are just answers she wants to know. Last one, why did you marry her Mr. Whitlock?”
“The same reason anyone marries someone, I fell in love with her and I fell in love with her hard. She was damaged before me, but she was the very first thing I vowed to mend. Before my city or my country, there was Viv. She had a heart of gold; I could tell the moment I met her, but she buried it deep and someone had to dig to earn it. I dug and I dug and when I finally saw that glow, the one that had been buried by years and years of pain and misery, I knew I had to marry her. When I got to see her smile crack, the smile that got me through every day, that was the moment I knew she was the one.”
“Sweet words, Mr. Whitlock but to me, all they are is that, words. Hopefully, they mean something to her because for me, that is all you politicians know how to do, speak empty words. Goodbye Mr. Whitlock, enjoy your time on the island.”
The guard comes in.
“Follow me sir
Whitlock follows but it is the opposite way from which he came.
“Are we not going back to my cell?”
“No sir, when we heard what you said to that vile woman in there, we realized all we have is circumstantial evidence. By law, we are bound to let you go.”
Alton cracks the first smile we have seen from him since he joined OSW. If the guards can believe him, maybe his wife can.
Cut.
TRIOS MATCH
Tonight, we have our world champion Banzan, the number one contender Darby Sorrow, and possibly the man who cares the most about the title Beg taking on the team of Scrimshaw, Veritas, and Kenny Freeman! Will this underdog team find a way to conquer the mountain?!
DING! DING! Kenny Freeman starts the match against the world champ and starts throwing forearms! They are doing nothing! Freeman shrugs and charges the ropes! BEG pulls the top rope down and Freeman crashes to the floor! Banzan shakes his head in disapproval but BEG laughs and locks in the BILLION DOLLAR DREAM!
Freeman looks like he might pass out! Scrimshaw marches to the outside though and levels BEG with his brass knuckles! BEG is forced to let go as he crashes to the floor! Darby Sorrow surprises Scrimshaw with a COFFIN DROP! No! Scrimshaw counters it with an uppercut to the back of the head! Darby is wiped out!
Scrimshaw rolls into the ring and swings at Banzan! Banzan catches the arm! SUMUDAYA! Banzan traps Scrimshaw in a standing triangle choke! Scrimshaw looks like he might tap out any second! Veritas charges in with a jumping knee drop to break the hold! Banzan looks rocked for the first time in this match!
Veritas pulls Banzan up, he jams his thumb into Banzan’s eys! EYE GOUGE! Banzan can’t see and he turns around into a spinebuster by Scrimshaw! DASHED ON THE ROCKS! Freeman slides in, does a quick dance, and hits a running leg drop! FOLLOW THE FREEMAN! Freeman makes the cover! One…Two… COFFIN DROP! Darby hit the coffin drop to break up the pin, BEG tosses the other two out like bad investments and Banzan drapes his arm on Freeman! One…Two…Three!
The team of BEG, Banzan, and Sorrow somehow worked together to pull out the win over a fiery group in Freeman, Scrimshaw, and Veritas!
“WAR & PEACE”
RINGSIDE
After that successful trios match, Darby Sorrow and Banzan are back to their feet in the middle of the ring, with BEG just off to the right in the peripheral. Both men stare at each other, a stoic nod given between them.
Suddenly, BEG comes swinging in from behind with the OSW Championship!
Sorrow ducks and Green slams into Banzan, taking him down to the mat.
The Gravedigger turns to look at the Champion in shock but must react fast as BEG comes flying back once again. He stops him with a kick to the gut, dropping to his back with a right hand under the chin that forces Green into dropping the belt.
Darby gets back up, snatching the Championship off the ground.
He looks at it as Banzan gets back to his feet, dazed.
BEG stands before him, literally begging Darby Sorrow to clock him with the belt.
AND HE DOES!
NO!
BEG DUCKS AND DARBY CRASHES INTO BANZAN!
HE JUST DECKED THE FUCKING MOUNTAIN WITH THE BELT!
The Gravedigger can’t believe it as Green slides to the outside laughing. He backs up the entrance ramp, grinning all the while as Sorrow is left to check on Banzan.
Was that an accident?
Could Sorrow have stopped himself?
What did The Butcher say earlier once we’d cut that might’ve changed the entire complexion of this match?
We cut away with Darby Sorrow, kneeling beside Banzan, checking on him after a second brutal shot to the skull.
Cut.
“DECISIONS, DECISIONS”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Monty Straight is checking on various parts of his studio with a smile on his face when footsteps from the distance interrupt his review. Straight turns around, only to be greeted with a frustrated X with the Slaughterhouse Championship slung over his shoulder and a stern look on his face. Straight, however, is unperturbed by this as he waves to the Lethal Weapon.
“Hello, X! I’m glad you’re here, the show is just about to begin…and by the fact you’ve arrived here, I’m assuming you’ve given some thought to my proposal?”
X just glares at the host, his bionic eye taking a quick scan just in case.
“I wanna know what it is you can actually offer me, Straight.”
This causes the grin on Monty’s face to widen.
“Well, it’s like I always say…you have the choice of that which you always wanted, or that which you never knew you needed. The choice is yours on The Show That Never Ends!”
“I will admit, the offer does sound tempting.”
Surprisingly, that response comes not from X but from another voice approaching…the Realm Walker, Sigil. Monty looks at the masked figure, back at X, and chuckles.
“Excellent, so we have an arrangement! Gentlemen, you will not be disappointed…here at The Show That Never Ends, we make sure that our contestants are given the opportunity they deserve to find what it is they seek.”
Straight motions to the stage, politely asking his newest contestants to step up.
“You both have a chance to make a very important decision…a crucial chose. That choice is yours, and yours alone here on The Show That Never Ends!”
X and Sigil reluctantly take their places as Monty turns to the audience arriving.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to…The Show That Never Ends!”
With that, the game begins.
LUKE STORM VS. BLACKVEIL
SINGLES MATCH
Luke Storm looks to continue his winning ways as Blackveil looks to make her mark!
The bell rings as the mysterious Blackveil doesn’t waste any time scooping Luke Storm up with one leg, flinging him overhead with an exploder suplex! Storm bounces off the mat but Blackvel scurries over a series of hammerfists followed by driving her elbow across the bridge of Luke’s nose with an STF!
Storm wiggles his way to the corner of the ring as Blackveil is forced to release the hold. Storm tries to get up but he’s immediately caught with a drop-toe-hold from Blackveil and she’s firmly in control. She spins forward, wrapping her arm around Storm’s head and dives forward with a running bulldog. Storm props himself up off one knee, but Blackveil leaps off the second rope with a spinning leg kick to Storm’s face! He flutters back and she dashes for a cover but Storm kicks out at two!
Blackveil continues her onslaught with a big right hand but Storm catches her fist and spins her around, diving at her knee on her return with a chop block! He follows it with a set of quick elbow-drops and a diving headbutt! A quick two count and Storm picks Blackveil up off the mat, whipping her against the ropes, and on her return, locks-in an abdominal stretch!
“The Bridezilla” wiggles loose and attempts to arm-drag Storm, but he reverses, and sends her against the ropes again, and he’s waiting on her return with a bridging northern lights suplex! Shoulder up at two! Storm hurls Blackveil up to the top-rope, and latches on her neck with a frankensteiner! Blackveil bounces hard across the mat, and Storm waits frantically for her to get back up, and as she stumbles to her feet, he leaps forward … DOWNPOUR (codebreaker)! He covers… ONE, TWO, THREE!
Luke Storm picks up the win here tonight.
“AT LEAST HE’S HONEST”
BACKSTAGE
After her match, Blackveil marches to a backroom where has a laptop hooked up to a projector and Vivian Whitlock is sitting ready to watch what Blackveil wants to show her. She enters the room.
“Vivian, you asked me to talk to your husband and get some answers out of him. I did just that and let me show you what he said.
Blackveil starts to play a heavily edited version of the meeting she had with Alton.
“Do you love her?”
“No, of course not.”
“Why did you go to that strip club?
“I went there to see girls. Those girls played with me like Vivian would not.”
“What about the second one?”
“Years and years of pain and misery.”
“Why did you marry her?”
“For a cheap thrill, I used her like everyone else used her. She had a heart of gold and I used it.”
Vivian can tell that those were his words and she starts to shake her head no and tears start to flow. Blackveil hugs her and pats her back.”
“There, there, he’s not worth crying over. No man is. I’ll give him one thing though. Unlike most men, at least he’s honest.”
Vivian starts to sob more as everything she has ever known is unraveling. She then stops sobbing and looks outright pissed.
“You’re right, no man is worth crying over. I gave him a chance and he said everything I was worried about. He used me fine, I hope he had fun, he’s about to lose everything.”
Vivian pulls out her phone and calls someone, she has it on speaker so Blackveil can hear.
“You have reached the law office of Cheryl Stein, divorce attorney, how may we help you today?”
“Yes, I’d like to set up a consultation.”
Blackveil is smiling wickedly as the conversation continues.
Cut.
X VS. THE JUDGE VS. JUNKRAT VS. ALTON WHITLOCK
Last week, X became our inaugural Slaughterhouse Champion but he has barely any time to enjoy it as three new competitors try to rip it apart from his steel grip! The Judge, Alton Whitlock, and Junkrat face X next!
DING! DING! Junkrat slides out to ringside and looks under the ring! Anytime he finds a new item, he chucks it into the ring! Some velvet bags! Chairs! Lastly a couple of tables! He’s making the ring look like his home as the others try to dodge every item! A personal junkyard for destruction delights Junkrat and he slides back into the ring! Alton throws a chair at Junkrat but he catches it! Junkrat laughs but VERDICT! The Judge Sparta kicks the chair into Junkrat’s face! Junkrat doesn’t stop laughing as he sees he’s pissing the personification of order off! The Judge stomps on him until X levels the Judge with a straight punch!
THE BIONIC ARM LEAVES A CRACK IN THE BACK OF THE JUDGE’S HELMET!
X MAKES THE COVER!
ONE!
. . .
TWO..NO!
NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO KEEP THE JUDGE DOWN!
X MARCHES TOWARDS A TABLE BUT HE WALKS INTO A CHAIR SHOT BY ALTON!
ALTON HIT HIM SQUARE IN THE HEAD AND ALTON COVERS X NOW!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
KICKOUT BY X!
While the chaos was happening, Junkrat set a table up in the corner behind all of them! Alton gets up from the cover but JUNKRAT SPEARS HIM INTO THE TABLE! Junkrat doesn’t make the cover though and he starts swinging at Alton with a broken piece of the table! He claps it like a tambourine after every swing! Swing! Clap! Swing! Clap! Swing! Clap! Swing? No! The Judge catches the wrist and pulls Junkrat in! He turns him inside out with a massive lariat! Junkrat looks completely out of it as The Judge gets him on his shoulders with ease and slams him down just as quick!
RESTORATION POWERBOMB!
THE JUDGE MAKES THE COVER!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
THR..NO!
X BREAKS IT UP AND SAVES HIS TITLE!
The Judge gets in X’s face and swings a right hook! X’s muscle memory forces him to retaliate with his non-bionic arm! These two powerhouses are in a slugging fest and The Judge gets a slight edge but it doesn’t matter! Junkrat levels The Judge with THE CONCUSSION MINE, he hit the tilt-a-whirl DDT! He quickly follows with another CONCUSSION MINE! This time, he floored X with it! Alton sneaks up behind Junkrat and hoists him on his back! Junkrat is upside down and Alton sits down quick!
BETTER WORLD!
HE HIT THE VERTEBREAKER!
ALTON COVERS JUNKRAT!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
. . .
THR…NO!
X PULLS ALTON OFF JUNKRAT!
X yells at Alton, “You and every other dirty politician did this to me!” He points towards his bionic arm and starts throwing bionic gut shots! Alton crumbles to his knees after the first blow but X holds him up and keeps hitting blow after blow! X winds back for one last strong blow but The Judge starts biting his forehead! YOUR PAST MIGHT BITE YOU! The Judge keeps biting until X has a crimson mask! He then drops X with a cutter! When The Judge lands on his back, Junkrat hits a 450 splash out of nowhere!
RIPTIRE!
JUNKRAT HITS THE RIPTIRE AND MAKES THE COVER!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
THR..NO!
THE JUDGE KICKS OUT!
Junkrat shakes his head muttering “bugger” when he grabs a bag, opens it, smiles and does a jig! He pours the contents of the bag onto the mat! It’s thumbtacks! He drags his smallest opponent, Alton Whitlock to the tacks and asks, “Let’s open that face a little more, shall we?” Alton shakes his head viciously no! The answer never mattered! FACEBUSTER INTO THE THUMBTACKS! Junkrat laughs as he keeps slamming Whitlock into the tacks! He finally lets go and he starts playing the back of Alton’s head like a drum! Alton’s face is covered in tacks and Junkrat starts to run!
CONCUSSION MINE!
TILT-A-WHIRL DDT ON THE TACKS!
BLOOD IS POURING OUT OF EVERY HOLE AND JUNKRAT COVERS!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
. . .
THR..NO!
X BREAKS UP THE PIN BY POURING THE OTHER BAG OF TACKS ON JUNKRAT’S BACK AND STOMPING ON HIM HARD!
X keeps stomping on him! Each stomp drives different tacks into Junkrat’s back! His back is looking like Whitlock’s face! X locks in a grounded front headlock and gator rolls Junkrat all over the thumbtacks! All of his body is getting pierced now! Anyone else would be screaming but Junkrat might be enjoying the pain! He laughs louder with every roll! X is getting enraged and starts to suffocate Junkrat by putting both hands on his trachea! He’s choking Junkrat out! Junkrat looks he might be fading but The judge breaks it up with a big boot! The Judge backs up for another big boot but Alton Whitlock rolls him up with a schoolboy!
HE HAS THE JUDGE STACKED FOR THE COVER
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
NO! JUNKRAT SHOVES WHITLOCK OFF THE JUDGE!
Whitlock gets in Junkrat’s face and they start swinging at each other! The Judge and X look like they are about to come to blows as well but The Judge nods towards the other competitors and X understands! X levels them each with a double axe handle! TWO EXECUTIONS AS ORDERED BY THE JUDGE! X has done The Judge’s dirty work! The Judge goes for a Sparta kick but X catches the leg! He spins The Judge around and levels him with the double axe handle!
A THIRD EXECUTION AND X MAKES THE COVER!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
THREE!
X has done it! He has fought off three very game opponents to remain your Slaughterhouse Champion!
“ONLY ONE”
What a match for the Slaughterhouse Championship!
As the competitors begin to scatter, the Judge is the last to leave, walking up the aisle with his ax over his shoulder.
WHAM! INFERUS WITH A STEEL CHAIR OUT OF NOWHERE!
The Judge staggers back towards the ring as Inferus has come out of nowhere with the hard steel. She tees off on the masked force several times as he retreats into the ring. She follows him in with bad intentions, but he’s ready for her.
RUTHLESS INSPIRATION!
THE TELEBOOT STANDING DROPKICK OUT OF NOWHERE FROM MARK GOULDERN!
The Herald of the Future nods to Inferus as the duo begins to tee off on The Judge, trying to keep him down.
But he keeps getting up.
Inferus and Gouldern back away, letting Judge roar to his feet.
“Your day will come, Gouldern. You’ll pay for all you’ve done to upset the balance.” He points at Inferus. “But she dies tonight.”
Just as he advances, Gouldern grins.
KICK TO THE BACK OF JUDGE’S LEG! RUNNING BULLDOG PUTS HIM DOWN!
CHIP OFF THE OL’ BLOCK FROM BERKSHIRE ELLISON GREENE!!!
BEG has joined the party, and it’s more of a fight now. Inferus has her knife out, advancing on Judge with cruel intentions as BEG and Gouldern tee off with reckless abandon.
Darkness.
The ring quickly fills with thick white fog as none of the four combatants know what the hell is going on. As the fog begins to roll out, all that’s left is smoke.
Ignatius.
The Black Flame stands between Inferus, BEG, and Gouldern and the Judge. BEG rushes in, anger in his eyes at the kill being taken away.
SPINNING BACK ELBOW TO BEG! BURNING WHIPLASH!
Gouldern rushes in, carefully tuning his instruments.
THE HERALD FEELS THE RED RAIN OF FLAME! THE CHOP BURNED THROUGH HIS SWEATER!
Inferus wastes no time in trying her own plan of attack.
BUT HE GRABS HER IN A CLAW! HER HAIR BEGINS TO BURN AT THE ENDS AT IGNATIUS LIFTS HER UP AND SLAMS HER DOWN WITH THE GODDESS TOUCH!
No conflict within the Black Flame any longer, Ignatius turns its attention to The Judge, who is up to his knees. Ignatius quickly grabs him, and lifts him up.
BURNING HAMMER! BURNING HAMMER TO THE JUDGE!
Ignatius stands alone in the ring after leveling the other Invasion competitors.
But not alone!
Papa Legba.
The Gatekeeper of the Spirit World has entered the ring, clapping slowly for Ignatius, who merely stands before him.
“Good.” Legba congratulates. “You have chosen. You have acted. My dear, you have done beautifully.”
“Free me.” The singular voice says from within Ignatius.
Legba gestures to the fallen bodies around him.
“At Invasion, you will ensure I am the winner. Then I will free your soul from that wretched prison.”
Legba holds out his hand.
“But if you fail to do so, then your soul will be mine.”
Ignatius contemplates for a moment before stepping forward to shake his hand.
“I accept.”
Ignatius has agreed to make sure Papa Legba wins Invasion in exchange for freedom! How can anyone defeat this monstrous tandem?
Invasion looms in the distance!
Only one will hoist the briefcase!
Only one.