THUNDERBIRD
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“I fast alone in solitude.”
[His words croak from his hoarse lips.]“The thunderbird is a legendary creature in my culture. It is a supernatural being of great power and strength.”
[Hawk pauses, slumping backwards somewhat.]“He controls the upper world, and throws flaming lightning bolts at the underwater creatures, boiling the sea, and creates thunder by flapping his wings. You can find him in all four directions. ”
[North, East, South and West.] [Tommy’s eyes flutter, but he works hard within himself to keep them open. Suddenly, they widen immensely. As his parched lips barely open in surprise, the words escape him.] [He finds them.]“Thunderbird.”
[Solomon Rhodes.] [Stood opposite the fasting World Champion is his enemy. At Ring Of Dreams, Solomon comes for the World Championship. Tommy struggles to stand, daring to rise to his feet.]“Tradition states that a man who has a vision of a thunderbird during a solitary fast will become a war chief.”
[The apparition of Rhodes slowly vanishes from his sight.]“I knew I would find you here, Rhodes.”
[He falls to his knees once more.]“I knew the fire spirit would come.”
[As those final words leave his lips, he falls face first into the dirt, collapsing. The camera pans away to nothing but the sight of poor Tommy Hawk, face down, unconscious.] [What is he doing to himself?]MR. X VS. JACK JECKEL
SINGLES MATCH
SUNK COST
RINGSIDE
“Have you seen Errol Flint?” [Bird demands.]
“N… uh… No.” [The scared young man offers.] [Bird angrily turns around to head out the door. As he opens it, he runs smack dab into a wall of suited bodyguards. Errol Flint smirks from behind them, the VHS Championship slung over his shoulder.]
“Looking for me, Ethan?” [Errol asks.] [Bird sizes up the situation, and decides to talk for the moment.]
“That’s Ethan Bird’s title.” [He begins.] “Maybe a deal can be made.”
[Flint clicks his tongue and shakes his head.]“We had a deal, Bird. The problem is that you broke the terms of it.” [Flint lets his white teeth reflect in the polished Championship.] “You only seem to ever want to make a deal if you can twist it around to only benefit you.”
[Errol pushes past his security to get in Bird’s face. His slick persona slips for a moment, and anger seeps through.]“You’re not messing with bums on the street or undead monsters this time, Bird.” [He spits.] “You’re messing with Errol fucking Flint, and the only reason you’re not already dead is because I paid to have you wrestle in a couple weeks. So you have an extra lease on life. But I’m about to just consider it a sunk cost and have you sent to join everyone else who crosses me.”
[Flint locks eyes with Bird, and makes sure that Ethan understands exactly what he means by that. Bird smirks in Flint’s face before dropping his bat and backing up.]“Have it your way, Errol.” [Bird says with his hands up.] “Ethan Bird knows better than to mess with a businessman like yourself. Just make sure the title stays nice and shiny for when it’s back around the waist of a god.”
[The sarcastic remark seems to reduce Errol to a simmering rage as Bird turns and walks away. Flint lets a small smile form under his lips as Jack Jeckel turns the corner to face him, finally returning from backstage.]“I need to take care of something for you, boss?” [Jack offers as he walks up, seeing the baseball bat on the ground.] [Flint’s small smile broadens as he looks down at Jeckel.]
“You just make sure you end Bird at Ring of Dreams.” [Flint coldly remarks.] “I’ll handle the rest.”
[Flint turns tail and walks away with his security team to leave Jack Jeckel looking on.] [What the hell did Flint mean by that statement?]EPITAPH VS. ALISTAIR HUXLEY
SINGLES MATCH
I’M EVERYWHERE
BACKSTAGE
“Hello?”
[Sergei Sokolov answers the phone with his thick accent.]“It’s Petrov.”
[Sergei’s eyes widen at the words.]“General! I demand to know the truth! Why is American hacker saying that you are out to get Sergei? Why is he say that you use informants for all that they are worth and then chew them up to spit them out?! Why is he…”
[Petrov cuts him off.]“Comrade! Calm yourself! Have you learned nothing about Americans and their deceptions? They would do anything to tear us apart! They hate our country and everything that it stands for! Are you going to allow them to destroy Mother Russia from the inside?”
[Sergei considers it for a moment.]“No, General Petrov. I will take care of Motherland. I am sorry for even considering that he may be telling the truth.”
“It is understandable, Sergei, but let me warn you. We need you to stop Mr. X. He is digging in things that he should not know. Not things about me. Everything you know about me is true, but he is using me as a coverup for trying to dig into Russian affairs. You must stop him. Do not fail me. Do not fail Mother Russia!”
“No, General. I will not fai… [CLICK!]”
[Sergei realizes that the General is gone, but holds the phone to his ear just a moment longer. Then a high pitched squeal rings out from the speaker. Then a different voice.]“I’m everywhere, Sergei. I heard every lie that Petrov spoke with his forked tongue. Are you going to allow him to keep lying to you, or are you going to stand up and make this right?”
[Sokolov is immediately enraged.]“The General does not lie to me! Russian Bear is important agent for General Petrov and Mother Russia! Stay out of our business or I will crush you to bits, Mr. X!”
[Silence. Then…]“I will prove it to you…. [Click.] [Cut]
DESMOND CROSS VS. HAYDEN HARDKORE
SINGLES MATCH
STILL BURNING
RECORDED EARLIER
“Tragedy struck this place.”
[The whispered voice of Epitaph codifies what we already knew.] [These were his people. Men and women who had come to follow his way of life. Yet William Abraxas had snuffed them out no different than blowing a birthday candle out. And all that now remain are memories and the burning flame within the heart of Epitaph.]“I killed them.”
[With striking clarity, those words articulate everything that the masked man is feeling at this point. His actions led to their demise. He has taken to blaming himself for what Abraxas did, yet something seems to linger in the air.] [Unfinished business, perhaps?]“Killed by one of their own, weren’t they?” [A voice rings out into the hollow space.] [Epitaph gets to his feet in one smooth motion to find that something else has entered the room.] [The white candle.] [Now melted halfway down the wick, the wax has pooled into a guard of sorts from the handle. It looks gruesome and misshapen, and seems to glow brighter as Epitaph approaches it.]
“Abraxas?” [Epitaph calls out to the void.] “I’m through playing games.”
[The voice comes back, now recognized as that of William Abraxas.]“Who is playing?” [Abraxas returns, seemingly nowhere and everywhere at the same time.] “I have told you precisely what comes for you. I have told you precisely what this candle means, and yet you still ride the dying white mare while the Red Horse grows stronger with each moment this candle burns.”
[Epitaph kneels down in front of the candle, knowing that he cannot touch it.]“Only death can pay for life, Abraxas.” [He whispers.] “The price must be paid.”
[Abraxas laughs as Epitaph stares into the candle, a window into his own soul.]“The price has been paid. They died so that you could live. I come to set you free, for war never changes. Remove the mask of peace that you wear, and embrace the coming war.”
[Epitaph does not answer. He only continues to gaze into the candle.] [Cut.]KING ROYAL VS. SERGEI SOKOLOV
BEAR TRAP MATCH
“Don’t believe the lies, Sergei. They want you to fail…”
[Sergei screams at X, but Royal takes advantage of the distraction. He grabs Sokolov from behind.. Another GERMAN SUPL… NO! Sokolov channels his anger to break free. He hoists Royal up… IRON CURTAIN!! Right into the BARBED WIRE!! One… Two… THREE!!] [Sokolov wins, but is enraged! He slips out of the ring and runs to back. In the ring, Royal is tended to by his guard, who mops up the blood.]WATCH THIS
BACKSTAGE
“That’s him…” [The follower points a grubby, fingerless gloved finger at Desmond. He speaks in a hushed tone as to not alert Desmond.] “Saw ’em last week I did snooping around. Knew he wasn’t one of us. There’s something… different about ‘im. He’s the one that must ‘ave slipped you that note.”
[Calypso says nothing. She merely walks up to Cross, the note in her left hand. With he right, she reaches between Cross’s legs, grabs a hold… and twists until he yowls in pain. TESTICULAR CLAW!]“You want to play games?” [Calypso barks at Desmond as he turns around to face his surprise attacker.] “Think you’re so mysterious, passing me notes like some little schoolboy? You’re watching, huh? Am I supposed to be scared? Do I look scared?”
[Desmond had been taken by surprise and reeled backwards against the wall from the impact of the assault. But by the time Calypso had finished berating him, still with the Claw in full hold and pain etched onto his face… Desmond begins to laugh.] [Maniacal laughter that would send a shiver down the spine of even the steeliest foe. Almost as if he is enjoying it!]“Well, well, well… Smart and feisty. Aren’t you the whole package?”
[He stops, his face changing as he cocks his head to the side, listening to an unheard voice. Calypso relinquishes her hold on him for a moment, unsure what exactly he is doing. When he speaks again, it is not to Calypso who stands directly in front of him but to a force unseen that seems to control his will.]“Can’t I just enjoy it a little?” [His face tells the negativity of the reply he receives.] “Yes… Yes… You’re right. No sense in stringing this along, is there? Just when I was enjoying myself too.” [Again, he listens, Calypso seemingly unsure what to do.] “You can’t blame me, really, can you? You see how cute she is…”
[To this, Calypso does respond. Reaching forward and slamming the back of Desmond’s head into the concrete wall, causing him to collapse to the ground.]“Cute?!” [She looks profoundly offended, as do her followers.] “You son of a bitch!”
[But once more, Desmond begins to laugh.]“Enough… Time you were stopped, Messiah. I’m the only true prophet around here worthy of being followed.”
[He scrambles to his feet, rubbing the back of his head. Calypso is waiting for him…]“You want to watch me? Watch this…”
[Desmond doesn’t even have time to react by the time her follower hands her the chair… The clanging sound of steel meeting skull… SKULL FUCKED!] [Calypso leaves a note on the unconscious body of Desmond Cross. A note in his own handwriting that reads… ‘I’m watching’.]THE FAMILY VS. JACOB PHOENIX
THREE V ONE MATCH
HER
RINGSIDE
“Come with me, Stephanie,” [Jacob pleads. His eyes show fear, but his heart demands action.] “Please?”
[With his hand out, he’s shocked when she takes it. Phoenix can’t believe it.] [She carefully begins to lead him back towards the ring. Jacob isn’t sure what’s happening. He follows, almost in some kind of trance, barely able to escape her soft and subtle grip.]“Daddy says I shouldn’t speak to strangers,” [Stephanie says as she stops outside the ring.] “And you are strange.”
[Stephanie suddenly and violently bounces his head off the ring apron. He bounces backwards into her arms, so she does it again and again, beating him bloody right there and then.] [Once she’s finished, she rolls him into the ring and laughs maniacally.] [Phoenix kneels in absolute shock, placing a hand on the crimson to check the damage. He slowly gets back up and is turned around, where DTR grabs him by the protective vest, holding him there.]“You see son, I’ve told you countless times but you just won’t listen; she’s mine. Though, I’ll tell you what, if at Ring of Dreams you beat us again, she’ll go with you, won’t you darlin’?”
[Stephanie’s head tilts.] “If you say so, daddy.”“And if we win, you’ll be forced to sit and watch as I make her my bride. What do you say, son? Actually, nevermind, I know the answer.”
[REASONABLE DOUBT!] [DTR nails him with the Reasonable Doubt, watching as he springboards away in a heap. He stands up, pulls Stephanie Close and kisses her.]“We’ll see you there, son.”
[Jensen watches, his brow furrowed, his daughter in the arms of a maniac.]JEEPERS CREEPERS
BACKSTAGE
“Terrifying?” [He spews venomously.] “How is one supposed to find this cretin scary? You were told Sir Davos, were you not? You were sent forth into the world to find your royal highness a credible creature.”
[Sir Davos bends a knee.] “I’m sorry, my King. We searched high and low but it would appear that creatures such as The Scarecrow and Mother are extremely unique.” [Raquel stands.]“When the King demands creatures, you find creatures. Should he have to ask you again, it will be the last time your head is attached to your woesome frame.”
“You should calm down, dear,” [suddenly erupts a voice, now sitting on her throne next to a terrified Royal. It belongs to Mother, who startles everyone.] “Before a terrible accident befalls your beautiful little head. One shouldn’t stress so much over something so inconsequential.”
“Be gone you harlot!” [Royal yells, standing bravely to attention.]
“Please, sit down your majesty,” [Mother says, not even glancing in his direction.] “Before all the Kings Horses and all the King’s men cannot put you back together again.”
[The King wisely sits.] [Though that may have something to do with the introduction of The Scarecrow, who has ominously appeared to his left.]“Trying to find a creature like us is a feat almost impossible, little birdie,” [The Hayman remarks.] “But if you wish, Mother dearest could render you a terrifying beast. All it would take,” [he remarks, bending down to meet Royal face to face.] “Is an eye.”
[Mother chuckles.] “What do you say, King? Jeepers creepers?”“Where’d you get those peepers.” [The Scarecrow continues.] [Darkness.]
“Where’d you get those eyes?”
[Suddenly, a guttural scream echoes throughout the chamber. In the darkness, we’re unable to see the brutality of what might have occurred. The scream was horrifying, but not male.] [The lights return and The Scarecrow stands, his claw like hand held out in front of him, an eyeball attached to it.] [Raquel meanwhile lays bloody, holding her face in contorted terror.]“On second thoughts,” [Mother reacts calmly.] “Eye don’t think you need a creature, King. I think you need to see clearer. Scarecrow, be a dear and lend our Royal Highness an eye.”
[The Scarecrow nods, flicking the eyeball at the King who shivers in fear and disgust. There’s a sudden flash, followed by a flutter, and Genesis have gone. He rushes down to check on Raquel, taking her hand away from her beautiful face only to fall back in horror.] [Her eye is gone.]THE SCARECROW VS. SOLOMON RHODES
SINGLES MATCH
CHAIN REACTION
BACKSTAGE
“Let’s catch ourselves a Warrior, shall we?”
[They continue down until a voice from down the hall stops them in their tracks.]“You’re in heaps of trouble now, lads.”
[They turn around to see Hayden HardKore standing there, mere club in hand. This merely draws a chuckle from the Ringmaster, who whispers in his right-hand man’s ear.]“Get him.”
[Fluffy charges at the Maori Warrior, a chain raised high above his head. HardKore dodges the chain attack, raising his club and slamming it onto Fluffy! The club glows in a strange light, and the resulting impact sends Fluffy flying right into the wall! HardKore raises his club to land another blow, but is stopped dead in his tracks by Huxley as the Ringmaster starts choking him out with another chain! HardKore struggles to breathe, but is eventually knocked out…and his club stops glowing. Fluffy finally comes to, assisting Huxley in wrapping the chains around HardKore.]“Get your rest, Maui. You’ll need it, where you’re going.”
[Huxley walks off as Fluffy starts pulling the chained Maori Warrior down the hall…but suddenly, HardKore’s club glows again! HardKore opens his eyes, and using a combination of his strength and the mere club he breaks free of his chains! Fluffy tries to restrain him, but HardKore just throws him into the wall again…this time leaving a hole in the wall! With Huxley’s main man down, the Ringmaster smirks at the Maori Warrior who simply walks off.]“Just as I hoped.”
[Cut.]ETHAN BIRD VS. TOMMY HAWK VS. CALYPSO
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
SCALES
RINGSIDE
“You want the fire spirit?” [A voice booms from above.] “Then seek no longer, mortal.”
[As if out of no-where, Solomon Rhodes with his cape spread, falls from the rafters into the ring. He snaps his cape free and swings for Hawk, stumbling him backwards into the ropes. Fire immediately scorches his skin, sending him reeling towards the Dragon.] [Solomon leaps into the air, CHAOS THEORY! Codebreaker to Tommy Hawk!] [The Dragon whips himself back to his feet, kneeling with his cape in hand, as if it’s the wings of a dragon. They’re scaled, and they look strong.]“I misunderstood you, Tommy. I renounced my Lord and embraced the flames from within. I became The Dragon. However, I now know you to be right. I do come for your fire. Because your fire isn’t what keeps you warm, not literally. Your fire sits around your waist and in your heart. They’ve become connected. I want your Championship and thus, I want your fire.”
[He carefully stands up, allowing his scaled cape to drop.]“I can give life and I can take it. I can scorch the very earth you walk upon.”
[Tommy slowly comes to, scooting backwards slightly. His eyes are widened, looking at the sight of the fire spirit in all his glory. This is The Dragon.] [But Tommy smiles.] [His grimaced and bloodied face turns into a large smile.] [Then he stands. The World Champion regains his footing, with the marks of the dragon upon his back, he becomes invigored by the Thunderbird.] [He’s a War Chief.] [Tommy runs towards Solomon, ducking underneath his cape swing, leaping into the ropes and returning with a massive Scalp that takes him down to the canvas. The fire surrounding the ring goes out with the impact, both men landing hard on the mat. The Champion rises, grabbing Solomon. He drives forearms into his face, faster and faster, harder and harder until he sends blood splattering across the camera.] [Solomon is reeling, but grabs at his cape, blocking the next shot with such ferocity that Tommy is rebounded. He grasps at his arm in agony, realizing the power of that scaled cape. Rhodes wraps it around his arm, using it to toss him across the ring in one large flip. They both quickly scoot back to their feet, meeting in the middle of the ring.] [The tension is thick.] [The atmosphere is intense.] [Cut.]