NO HOLDING BACK
BACKSTAGE
“Children.” [She calls, breaking up the dance.] “Leave us.”
[Us?] [Almost as if on cue, Jack and Jake Jeckel run onto the scene, breaching the inner sanctum of Mother. They are both poised for a fight and Mother is ready to give it to them.] [Scratch to Jack’s face! His paint is ripped off by her cruel talons.] [She grabs Jake by the hair, pulling him in close.]“Do you fear death?”
[Jake curls his lip, despite the danger.]“I’ve died before. I always come back.”
[Mother throws him back against the nearest wall, and grabs Jack to send him to join his brother. The Jeckel’s stand to their feet opposite to Mother, who only smiles.] [Darkness.] [A fluttering of crows.] [Light returns to the sanctum of Mother, and the Jeckel’s are both shocked to see Mother down on the ground. They are even more shocked to see none other than the Scarecrow…] […dragging Mother by the hair!]“I will be the one who takes care of Mother.” [Crow calls back to the Jeckel Brothers.] “For it takes a creature.”
[Crow continues his path to the arena proper, while Jack looks over at Jake.]“I told you that shit wouldn’t work.” [Jack mocks.] “These fuckers don’t operate by our rules.”
[Jake only smiles, leaning down to pick up the Rewind Championship.]“No, they don’t.”
[The gold reflects his painted face back at him.]“I’m counting on it.”
[With Scarecrow dragging Mother out to the ring to begin their four way, the Jeckel Brothers take off to join them.] [This match is going to be an epic!]MOTHER VS. JAKE JECKEL VS. JACK JECKEL VS. THE SCARECROW
REWIND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
FAILURE
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“This replacement must work. It has to work. I’m so very close to the stone, I can feel it!”
[The camera pans out to reveal none other than Ethan Earhart, the Mad Scientist. He takes the powder and moves across the makeshift lab, stopping in front of a stone, one seemingly carved out of granite and engraved with runic symbols. He pours some of the powder into a crevice in the top of the stone. He waits a moment then finally grabs the final ingredient.] [The vial of blood.] [He takes it and slowly pours it into the crevice, the blood mixing with bone, slowly the runic engravings begin to light up. The light grows in intensity and then…] [Nothing.] [It fizzles out before his very eyes. And with that, Earhart’s face goes from concentration to one of pure, unbridled rage.]“No. No! NO! IT CANNOT BE! WHY ISN’T IT WORKING!?”
“Because, mad man. You cannot replicate the will and soul of Sergei.”
[Earhart turns around to see that Sergei had long since entered the room, the Russian looking almost amused.]“When did you? How did you-”
“How Sergei came here is not important. Sergei was going to smash you, but he sees that you are too pathetic to crush. You simply wish to capture my power, but you cannot.”
[Earhart narrows his eyes, grabbing the stone and SMASHING IT ON THE GROUND!]“I know why it isn’t working. My calculations were perfect! But the problem lies with you. You’re not the perfect specimen, you’re simply a failure. I should never have used your DNA as the base!”
[Sergei shakes his head.]“The only failure tonight is your attempt to recreate my strength, mad man. If you want to be strong you must earn it. Tonight Sergei will show you why you are the failure.”
[Earhart merely watches as Sergei excuses himself from the room, the Red Tsar’s words cutting deep as he leaves Ethan amongst his alchemy materials.]NIL BY MOUTH
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Are you okay, dear?” [She asks with a sincere concern.] [The woman turns to look at her, her eyes bloodshot red.] [It’s Stephanie Cussen.]
“I don’t feel very well.”
“Let me see here,” [The Fat lady says placing a hand to her forehead.] “Well, you have a temperature. You’re burning up. I suppose Alistair hanging you has taken its toll, hasn’t it?”
[Stephanie rolls back over, holding her gut, turning away from the woman.]“That’s alright, my love. I know you’re not ready to talk about it. This will all be over soon. Tonight, The Circus will rid this world of your torrid Family once and for all.”
[Suddenly, Cussen bolts up right.] “My Family?” [she asks.] [The Fat Lady’s eyes begin to widen and she’s frozen to the spot in fear. Stephanie has changed. Her eyes are bleeding black, a thick gunk like substance leaking onto her cheeks.] [Before you know it, Stephanie vomits violently, spraying her with thick black goo as she reels backwards. It only takes seconds and she’s screaming in agony, holding her face as the Virus infiltrates her body and burns her skin.] [Cussen laughs sadistically.]“Not my family.”
[With a sadistic, hysterical laugh, Stephanie Cussen gets up and walks towards the door. At her feet, The Fat Lady convulses, foaming at the mouth. Stephanie watches, tilts her head and waits for her to die.] [Static.]ETHAN EARHART VS. SERGEI SOKOLOV
SINGLES MATCH
03:27AM
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Hello?” [He groggily answers. His mouth is dry and he’s still half asleep.] “What the fuck you calling me at this time for?”
[Whatever is said, alerts him immediately. He instantly stands up, glancing at the alarm clock; it reads 03:27am. Looking back over his shoulder to the caramel skinned beauty spread nakedly upon his silk sheets, he grimaces.] [He snatches his red robe from over a nearby chair and puts it on to cover his modesty, heading out into the hall way. The lights are on in this mansion of his, and downstairs in a seat, surrounded by gangsters and criminal types, is none other than Errol Flint.] [As The Chief walks down his spiral staircase, he laughs gently.]“I heard you were in my city, Flint. I thought to myself, it couldn’t be,” [He says as he gets closer, walking towards his plush leather couch and taking a seat in front of Flint. Errol looks to be in good condition, all things considered.] “But here you are.”
[Errol checks out his surroundings, careful to speak.]“You knew I’d come for you.”
[The Chief bursts out laughing.] “Nigga, The Chief comes for you, you don’t come for me.”THE FAMILY VS. THE CIRCUS
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
PAINKILLER
RINGSIDE
“It’s been a matter of time,” [he barks.] “And I’ve been waiting for my moment to leave you in the dirt, Huxley. Did you really think I’d be under your spell forever?”
[He’s snarling, enraged.]“It was me who hung The Hangman! It was ME all along, Huxley! How do you think I found the Family home, huh? They told me where it was,” [he says pointing back to DTR, who smiles sinisterly.] “They told me that Stephanie would be there. They offered me something you never could; a Family.”
[As he speaks, black gunk begins leaking from the corner of his right eye – an infection, a virus.]“And all I had to do in return was help put down the man who took my freedom away from me. Tell me, Alistair, what do you have left now? Your Circus has been burned to the ground. Your greatest act has betrayed you and your world has come crashing down around you. You’re nothing! You’re dead.”
[Painkiller slams his head backwards off the canvas, rising to his feet with a smile. DTR walks over, putting his arm around him with Jacob Phoenix and Jensen Cussen are handed the Tag Team Championships.]“Welcome to the family, son.”
[All four men raise their arms together, hearing the boos hiss down upon them by the sold out crowd.]03:30AM
[With his arms folded and one leg sat across the other, once again to hide his modesty, he smiles.]
[The Chief checks his watch, noting the time. It’s 03:30am.]
“You duped me. You bought my company knowing that Jake Jeckel was still alive,” [Flint growls furiously at his dishonesty.] “And then you sold The School Yard, moved to Miami and took everything I built with you.”
[As business becomes the agenda, The Chief sits forward, uncrossing his legs. He leans in, his face stoic and serious.]“You’re right, I did,” [The Chief admits, still leaning.] “And I checked the contracts with my attorneys. They’re iron clad, man. You have no business in Miami, so how about I do you a favour, huh? How about I put you on my private jet back to Las Vegas. You’ll enjoy the flight.”
[He stands up, waving Flint and his men away, only Errol objects.]“I don’t think so,” [he bravely responds, stopping The Chief in his tracks.] “I know the contract is iron clad. I know there’s no way I’m getting my business back. You did what you had to do in business and I understand that. But business is what I’m here to discuss.”
[The Chief turns to face him, an eyebrow raised in his direction.]“I know who you are. I know what you’re capable of and I know what Old School Wrestling is a front for.”
[That immediately pisses The Chief off. He leans in with a big slap, knocking Flint backwards into his chair. Errol quickly brings a hand to his lip, checking for a spattering of blood that exists there.]FIRE’S OF JUDGEMENT
RINGSIDE
Lux Bellator. Flanking him from behind, a group of four robed Torchbearers stand, torches burning proudly. Once inside the ring, the Light Warrior reaches for a microphone and the song fades out as he begins to talk.]
“Last week we saw the trial and conviction of a sinner who had squandered his second chance at a life lived in light. With the Lord Almighty residing judge, the evidence was presented and the jury found one Solomon Rhodes wanting.”
[As he speaks, a team of stagehands wheel out a large black hooded pit-like object and place it just next to the ring, right up against the apron along one side of the ring. Bellator waits until the men have finished manoeuvring the pit in place before continuing.]“All that is left now is for the consequences of sin to be enforced.”
[He beckons for the hood to be taken off the large pit, revealing a giant brazier-like filled with coals.]“The cost of sin is death, an eternity lived out in the place where the fires rage and there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Solomon Timothy Rhodes… Your eternity awaits.”
[With that, Bellator takes a torch of one of his robed followers and tilts it towards the coals. The fire pit instantly erupts into flames. Merely moments later, ‘Bliss’ by Eric Whitacre hits and Lazarus enters the fray. He makes his way quickly toward the ring, wearily passing the fire pit before stepping inside.]“If this is the way you want it, Bellator, you have it. A pit of fire, symbolic of the fate that awaits one of us. Perhaps the flames may purify the truth so you may see the light once more… And feel it burn.”
[The two members of Bellatorum stand face to face, a natural stalemate reached between the pair. Lux uses the moment to cover one final point.]“The match will continue as scheduled, except for the addition of the Fires of Judgement. One will not be victorious by merely tossing the other into the flames. Are you ready to meet your fate?”
[Lazarus doesn’t so much as even nod.]“Bring it on. Ordo ab chao.”
LUX BELLATOR VS. LAZARUS
SINGLES MATCH
FACE THE MUSIC
RINGSIDE
“ENOUGH!”
[It is the voice of Lux Bellator. His voice acts as a command to his four robed Torchbearers, who had until now become all but forgotten. The four enter the ring, torches at the ready. At a flick of the wrist, Bellator commands his men to seize Lazarus and they soon bring him to his knees. Bellator, now feeling the power shift thanks to his numbers game brings himself nice and close as he addresses Lazarus.]“I said once before, your judgement will result in you losing everything you hold dear. You thought I was merely referring to a temple? You thought that your palace of sin burning down would be the extent of God’s wrath? No… We are not finished. The light of judgement has revealed what you truly hold dear.”
[Lazarus struggles but is held firm in the clasp of Lux’s Torchbearers. Bellator smiles as he continues getting to his point.]“There is one matter that still needs to be addressed. You see, to the world, you are still Lazarus – a symbol of everything that is good and righteous. You are a symbol of Bellatorum, the brotherhood.” [He grabs Lazarus by the mask and forces him to look him in the eyes.] “But I know the truth, for I see the light. You do not deserve to wear this symbol of righteousness. Each second it touches your skin tarnishes the mission of light. What you TRULY hold dear?”
[As an answer to his question, Lux begins to unfasten the mask, despite Lazarus’s protests which fall on deaf ears. He is still held in place when Lux slowly pulls the mask free from Lazarus’s face. With the mask free, Lux Bellator looks into the eyes of a man he once called brother… The face all too familiar to him.]“You no longer hold the title of Lazarus, the born again, for your rebirth was nothing but a lie. From this moment, you will be Solomon Rhodes… Your true identity. And all the sin that the name brings along with it is on your shoulders.”
[With that, Lux Bellator takes the crimson mask and tosses it into the still burning coals of the ‘Fires of Judgement.’ He watches as the flames engulf the mask. Melting, burning, destroying. Before his eyes, Lazarus is no more.]03:35AM
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“The last nigga who knew my name took a dirt nap. How the fuck do you have the iron balls to step into my house and stand before me talkin’ ‘bout business?”
[Flint continues to check his lip.] “I’m not threatening you, kid. I’m making a deal. I had investigators check you out the minute Jake Jeckel was revealed to be alive. That snitch you had, you didn’t get to him quick enough. I’ve known who you are, Ghost, since Jake Jeckel reared his ugly head.” [There’s a snarl coming from The Chief now, who takes a seat once more. This is getting extremely serious.]“I haven’t said a word and the only reason I’m telling you now is so that you know I’m the real deal. You paid me millions of dollars for Old School Wrestling. You bought the contracts, the titles, the arena, you bought it all. Now I want to buy something from you. At Ring of Dreams, I want to purchase a match with Jake Jeckel.”
“You wanna do what?” [The Chief stammers, surprised.] “Are you fuckin’ crazy?”
[Flint shrugs.]“He’s come to you, hasn’t he?” [Errol asks with a tilted head, knowing the answer.] “He’s told you this is ‘our’ problem, right? Well, you can kill two birds with one stone and make a million dollars in the process.”
“Let me get this right, nigga. You want a match one on one with Jake fuckin’ Jeckel at Ring of Dreams?”
[Errol shakes his head ‘no’.] “I’m not going to fight him. I’m not a fighter, kid. I never have been. But I have a fighter willing to kill Jake Jeckel for me. All I need you to do is let me buy that match. What’s the worst that can happen, huh? Either way, you lose a problem.” [Suddenly, a shadowy figure appears behind the glass conservatory doors, looking in. The Chief nods towards his guards, who open it. The man walks in, pulling down his hood.] [It’s Ethan Bird.] [The Chief looks at him sideways, with a grin.]“I’ll tell you what Flint. I’ll have that contract drawn up for Ring of Dreams, and you can have your match with Jake Jeckel. I don’t give a shit if it’s you versus him, or Ethan Bird. But the price is 1.5 million and Bird joins Monday Night Showcase.”
[Errol smiles, looking towards Ethan who nods..] “You have a deal. In the meantime, my fee buys me the right to disappear. I don’t want Jake Jeckel finding me between now and Ring of Dreams. You make people disappear, don’t you?” [The Chief nods, his once angry expression all smiles.]“Like a ghost.”
[Cut.]BRENT KERSH VS. NEVILLE SHELDON
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
GENESIS
RINGSIDE
“I have been alive since the beginning of time itself.”
[Kersh and Sheldon carefully back away.]“And for that time, people have known me by different names. But I am the Mother of all creatures that roam this Earth.”
[Her head suddenly snaps sideways, looking towards Brent Kersh.]“Tonight, is the night when those creatures come together. Tonight, is Genesis.”
[Darkness.] [Flutter.] [When the lights come back on, stood behind Mother with his arms spread is none other than The Scarecrow. The Hayman himself, with his head lowered, has joined her in the middle of the ring.] [Suddenly, he lunges left, slapping his giant hand around the throat of Neville Sheldon. The fans can’t believe it, no-one can. Mother meanwhile has moved just as quickly, leaping through the air and HAPPILY EVER AFTER TO BRENT KERSH!] [CHOKESLAM! BYE BYE BIRDIE!!]“Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!”
[Chants echo throughout the tap room as The Scarecrow and Mother dispatch of the VHS Champion and Brent Kersh.] [They return to the centre of the ring, Mother kneeling once more. The Scarecrow stands behind her, his arms perched.] [She laughs maniacally.] [Static.]“Good little Crow.”
[Her voice whispers.] [Cut.]