TOMMY HAWK VS. KING ROYAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
“Let us make an arrangement,” [Tommy says, holding his tomahawk high into the air.] “Tonight, this ends.”
“It ends when your blood has stained the dirt of this cavern!”
[Hawk sneers.] “My Championship for the land. The winner takes all.” [The King smiles, delighted by the proposition. He suddenly grabs a handful of dirt, tossing it into the face of the Champion. Hawk stumbles backwards, Royal charging at him with his axe.] [It falls from high, driven towards the face of a stumbling Hawk, who somehow rolls to safety. He’s clawing at his face, rubbing his eyes furiously to try and see. The King doesn’t hesitate, he throws the axe as hard as he can, the entire weapon spinning through the air and catching the World Champion straight in the face.] [Handle first, thankfully.] [Blood spews from his nose, splattering in every which direction. Royal runs as fast as he can, driving a knee under his chin, knocking him to the floor.]“You have a deal. But in my Kingdom, there’s no referee, no rules, and no-one to save you. This match ends when one of us yields.”
[The King stands over him, looking down at the warrior between his feet.]“Do you yield, Indian?”
[Spluttering on the blood in his gullet, choking down the red flow of a crushed nose, he barely mumbles his response.]“No.”
[Despite the difficulty it takes to say it, his response is firm and resounding.] [Royal nods, dropping to his knees, mounting the Champion. He swings with a fierce left, followed by a violent right. Left, right, left, right, left, right. He doesn’t stop swinging until he’s unable to land another punch. Until his body refuses to swing once more. Tommy’s face is a sight to be abhorred.. There’s blood pouring from his nose, one of his eyes has damn near swollen shut and his lip has been cut in multiple places from the sharpened gloves of The King.]“Do you yield?” [He demands to know once more, rolling off the World Champion.] “Answer me, peasant. Do you yield!?”
[The King tries to sit up, exhausted after the ferocity and nature of his punches.] [But what he sees, shocks him.] [His eyes widen, his jaw drops and his face contorts into a deep and terrified realisation that this fight is far from over.] [Because Tommy Hawk; the World Champion, the Chief of these captured men, simply refuses to lay down and die. He rolls over onto all fours, and looks our challenger directly in his beady, surprised, terrified little eyes.”“Fuck,” [Tommy mumbles.] “You.”
[To be continued..]FIGHTING SPIRIT
RINGSIDE
“Ladies and gentlemen, the show is about to begin! Tonight, you will watch as the mighty Maui the Maori bends to my will and takes his rightful place amongst the acts of my Circus. Tonight, you will watch a warrior fall to his knees!”
[The crowd pours their displeasure out with a chorus of boos, when suddenly “96 Quite Bitter Beings” hits. The crowd is in an uproar for the Maori Warrior as Huxley and Fluffy gear up for a fight…only for Hayden HardKore to lay Fluffy out from behind with his mere club! The match hasn’t started, but HardKore has had enough as he lays into the right-hand man of the Ringmaster, who slips out of the ring for safety. HardKore rolls Fluffy out of the ring, staring Huxley down as he points to the Ringmaster with his club.]“If it’s a warrior you want, it’s a warrior you’re gonna get! If you wanna go for a strop, cut the skiting and let’s settle this like men! Rattle your dags or rack off, mate! Let’s see what kind of fighting spirit you really have…that is, if you’re not just a big sook!”
[Huxley just laughs before sliding back in the ring. He cracks his whip at HardKore, who narrowly avoids it before swinging his club at the Ringmaster. Huxley dodges it with another chuckle as he backs off. The two men square off in the ring, and this clash is about ready to begin!]ALISTAIR HUXLEY VS. HAYDEN HARDKORE
SINGLES MATCH
FREAK SHOW
RINGSIDE
“I said you’d be mine, Maui…and now the real game begins. See if you can muscle your way out of this one!”
[With a crack of his whip in the air, the Circus all slide into the ring, converging upon the Maori Warrior with haste. HardKore fights them off with his mere club, but the numbers game is too much for him as they grab each of his limbs. Huxley is beside himself as Fluffy brings a cage to ringside.]“Time to lock you up and throw away the key, Maui. Soon, it’ll be your time to shine!”
[The crew forces HardKore into the cage, and Fluffy starts to lock it up…but HardKore comes to, shoving the Circus aside before escaping! Fluffy charges at HardKore, only to be driven into the floor with an STO! HardKore glares at Huxley, who’s backed off around the ring by now—and HardKore goes running, diving THROUGH THE ROPES TO HIT A TORNADO DDT ON THE RINGMASTER! HardKore shows the crowd why he’s called the Flying Kiwi, both men down as the crowd chants “Holy Shit!” Huxley’s crew grab HardKore, dragging him into the cage before locking it up! Huxley comes to, grinning at the sight of his prized warrior in the cage.]“And now, for my next act!”
[He cracks his whip in the air again, and the lights cut out. When they come back on, the ringside area is empty…the Circus, their Ringmaster, and the Maori Warrior…gone.] [Cut.]JACK JECKEL VS. JAKE JECKEL
SINGLES MATCH
BROTHERLY LOVE
RINGSIDE
“Brotherly love is a fickle thing, isn’t it, boys? [He smiles as he makes his way through the ropes.] “Jackie, here, he’d do just about anything to save your ass, Jake, even if that mean kicking it all over town.”
“What the f*** are you talking about, Bird?”
“Oh, you haven’t figured it out, Jake? Ethan Bird guesses all those beatings have dimmed your lights a bit. Allow Ethan Bird to spell it out for you: Ethan Bird is responsible for Jack Jeckel attacking you.”
[Jake’s eyes widen, and he looks at Jack. Jack speaks.]“I’m sorry Jake, he made me do it. He told me he was gonna turn you in if I didn’t do as he said. I figured you could take some beatings, but I didn’t want to see you in jail. I’m sorry, brother.”
“That’s right, Jake. It was easy to make Jack do my bidding when Ethan Bird threatened to expose you to the police for faking your own death. That’s a pretty big crime when you’re part of a murder investigation, don’t you know that Jake? Oh yeah, Ethan Bird told him he’d unravel everything and send you to prison where you belong.”
[Jake and Jack look at one another, and then back at Bird.]“Of course, Ethan Bird never planned of holding up his end of the bargain…”
[Jack lunges at him.]“WHAT!?”
[Bird chuckles and puts an arm out to stop Jack. Jake pulls his brother back. He wants to hear this.]“No, no-one is untouchable, not even the “Nightmare” Jake Jeckel. It was nice making you do the dirty work, Jack, but Ethan Bird never planned on keeping his promise. So without any further ado, come on out boys!”
[Suddenly, about two dozen of Miami’s finest come pouring in from every direction. The Jeckels brace themselves for a fight, but Jake surprises us. He puts his hand on Jack’s chest.]“I forgive you, brother. Make him pay.”
[And Jake puts his hands on his head. The police cuff him and lead him out of the ring. Jack watches from the ropes, until Ethan Bird begins laughing behind him.]“It was too easy pulling your strings Jackie. Watching you attack your brother week after week, knowing it was for nothing all along, Ethan Bird can’t even begin to explain how fun it was! When you…”
[Jack spins and hammers Jack with a huge right hand that knocks Ethan Bird to the mat. Bird rolls out of the ring and begins to run to the back, Jack slides under the ropes to chase, but Bird lured him in and hits Jack with his own right hand! The two begin to trade punches and make their way towards the backstage area, disappearing through the doors. What does this mean for Ring of Dreams?]MR. X VS. WILLIAM ABRAXAS VS. EPITAPH
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
The White Horse is back to his feet and shakes his head to clear it whilst heading back towards The Philosopher. Abraxas is ready and waiting with a hard right hand that staggers the bigger man, before putting into position for a suplex…blocked! Epitaph is having none of it and counters with a HANGING VERTICAL SUPLEX of his own! He showcases impressive strength as he holds Abaraxas up high, but fails to notice that X is back up to a vertical base and climbing to the top rope. Epitaph, still holding Abaraxas, turns around as X takes flight…MISSILE DROPKICK! Epitaph goes down and Abraxas hits the mat hard too!] [X springs back to his feet and up to the top rope again, certainly appearing to be the quickest man in the match. He stares down at the two bodies lying on the canvas below him before taking flight…X MARKS THE SPOT! Mr. X connects with a double leg drop variation on both men! He appears to have done a little damage to himself upon landing but is able to drag an arm over both men as the referee counts the double pin…1, 2…Kickout by both opponents simultaneously! So close to a statement victory.] [X gets back to his feet as Epitaph and Abraxas both struggle to do likewise. The Movement ponders his next move before grabbing the arms of The White Horse looking to finish him off, only for The Parable to power out and send X sprawling backwards where William Abraxas reacts quickly to lock him in THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES! Sleeperhold applied with X reaching out in vain but nowhere near the ropes. He fades fast and is about to fall to a knee when out of nowhere…VIOLENT RESISTANCE! Epitaph just ripped through X with a spear as Abraxas threw him forward at the last second! William kicks a bemused Epitaph in he midsection…EXISTENTIAL CRISIS! 1, 2…3! A massive win for the Philosopher! Is his ideology the right one?]
WAR, WAR NEVER CHANGES
RINGSIDE
“What have I been telling you?” [William questions with a smirk.] “Huh? You think you can ride on in here on your White Horse, proclaiming peace and love, but where has that gotten you? I’ve defeated you, one, two three, and beaten your ideology with a better one; war, violence, pain.”
[Epitaph tilts his head, looking rather disgusted.]“However, I can see that I’m going to have to go one step further to prove it to you. So, last week, I took the liberty of meeting with some of your protestors,” [He says with a huge grin.] “And our meeting took a turn for the bloody worse.”
[The White Horse steps forward, only for Abraxas to hold his arms up, telling him to wait.]“Wait a second, big boy, that’s not how this works,” [He chuckles.] “I really think you ought to hear me out – or at least, watch the footage.”
[Static.] [A shaky handheld camera shows us bodies strewn about what looks like a warehouse. There’s men and women unconscious on the floor, bleeding, battered and bruised. Signs lay broken around them, and finally, when the camera turns to Abraxas, he smiles.]“If you ride the White Horse, I ride The Red Horse known as war.”
[A deep laugh.]“And war… war never changes.”
[Static.] [By the time the footage returns to the ring, Abraxas has escaped to the outside, leaving Epitaph shocked, leaning on the top rope. His puts his hand on his mask, his head lowered, feeling absolutely distraught.]“Between now and Ring of Dreams,” [Abraxas says from the entrance way.] “I’m going to take peace away from you, moment by moment, until there’s nothing left but violence. Buckle in, Epitaph, this horse ride is going to get a little bumpy.”
[He tosses the microphone down and heads through to the backstage, smiling all the while.] [This is far from over.]SERGEI SOKOLOV VS. DTR
SINGLES MATCH
THE DARK WEB
RINGSIDE
“Get back here! Sergei not finished with you!”
[But The Virus had no intention of that.] [Static.] [The entire screen is suddenly overwhelmed. Static fills it, accompanied by glitches and malfunctions.] [The lights go out.] [And then, like always, an altered voice plays.]“You have been lied to long enough, Sergei Sokolov.”
[The Russian Bear stands in the middle of the ring, his hands pressed against the ropes, looking around himself in confusion.]“But you don’t have to take it from me.”
[The screen flickers, revealing last week’s meeting between DTR and Sergei’s Russian counterpart.] [Recorded Earlier.] [Grainy CCTV footage.]“He’s a confident man, son.”
[The Russian turns, folding his arms.] “Do not give him what he needs,” [he says sternly.] “We’ve paid you handsomely to ensure he fails.” [The Virus grins, walking past the Russian with a slight bump of the shoulder. The camera closes in on our antagonist, before fading to black.] [Back in the present.] [Sergei’s face is one of dumbfounded shock. He can’t believe what he’s seeing. The voice enlightens him.]“General Alexi Petrov,” [Mr. X – the man behind the voice, enlightens Sokolov.] “Foreign Intelligence Service. They’re the reason why you’re here. They didn’t care about The Virus, or DTR, they just wanted to know how far you’d go to get them the information they want. They’ve been monitoring you, Sokolov. I can prove it.”
[Sergei looks up at the sky.] “Mother Russia would never betray me! Show yourself, and I will show you the might of the Federation!” [Mr. X laughs.]“You’re a puppet and Russia are pulling your strings. The Dark Web has the answers you don’t seek, but I’m going to show them to you, Sergei. Between now and Ring of Dreams, I will force you to wake up and see the world for what it is; see Russia for what it is.”
[Static.]“We.Are.Anonymous.”
[Cut.]DESMOND CROSS VS. SOLOMON RHODES
SINGLES MATCH
WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?
RINGSIDE
“No matter how far you walk, you will always be marked by his hand.” [He runs the whip along the scars on Solomon’s back once more.] “God, the great abandoner. He left me wanting in my time of need, turning his back on me… As you did on him.
I had faith, faith in something worthless. Where does your faith lay these days, man?”
[Desmond Cross cracks the whip in the air. The menacing sound sends a collective shiver down the spine of all of those within the Tap Room, much less Solomon himself. But Cross seems unfazed, breaking into another burst of maniacal laughter at the sound.]“When your hour of need arrives, as it has now, will you turn back to the God who you walked away from? Will you call out to him to save you? He who marks your flesh, has surely left a mark in your heart as well… Despite what you may claim.”
[The whip sounds a second time as Cross’s remarks hang in the air like a question unanswered. Solomon cries out, his voice muffled from being pushed into the turnbuckle.]“You know nothing about me. Do what you must to appease your own failings, hypocrite.”
[So, Cross does. He cracks the whip once more, before lashing it at the back of Solomon Rhodes. The whip connects, digging into the flesh of Solomon’s back, as it would have for Jesus himself prior to his crucifixion. A second, then a third strike connect with Solomon’s back, each receiving a heart-wrenching cry of agony that seems to build in intensity from the last. As the whip raises for the fourth strike…] [The lights in the Tap Room go out. Blackout! Then, fire erupts once more around the ring, as it had last week. The same fire that seemed to strike fear into Desmond Cross. In the fire, Cross’s confused figure can be made out. Whip still ready to strike the flesh on the Dragon’s back. Only… Solomon Rhodes has gone.]“Marked by the hands of God, Solomon Rhodes. And now marked by the hands of somebody greater, man.”
[Cross laughs once more, his chilling, maniacal laughter that pierces the air. Where did Solomon Rhodes go? Was Cross right, and he cried out to God in his hour of need, who saved him from the whip… Or was his faith put more in his own strength and power?]WHAT LIES
RINGSIDE
“Cortney! Cortney! Where are you!? I know she took you!” [She nearly screams. She and her followers have no respect for anyone as they search. A security guard steps around a corner.]
“You can’t have all these people in here, Miss Calypso. They don’t have passes, and they’re causing a disturbance.”
[Calypso doesn’t even slow, instead kicking the man in the stomach. He doubles over and she slams him head first into the wall. The drywall gives way as the guard’s skull is driven into it. They keep walking, some of them stepping over the security guard’s prone body.]“Where are you, Mother!? I know you have her!”
[BZZT! The lights go out. A flutter of feathers. BZZT! They come back on, and two of Calypso’s followers are gone, but it goes unnoticed. The rest keep walking.]“She’s just trying to play games with our minds, but our minds belong to us! Don’t let her fool you.” [Calypso says to the remaining.] “Come out, you witch! Stop hiding in the shadows!”
[BZZT! Lights out. A crow’s caw. BZZT! Lights on. But this time, only about half return, and they flicker. A strange feel is cast into the hallway. In the strobe, we see Calypso now stands alone. Then we hear a voice.]“Calypso?”
[The Prophet spins towards the voice.]“Cortney? Where are you?”
[Cortney’s voice speaks again, but from a different direction.] “Calyyypsoooo…” [Calypso spins again. There stands the young girl, but her face is hidden by her dark hair which hangs before her. Calypso takes a tentative step towards the girl.]“Did she hurt you, Cortney? What lies did she feed you?”
[Cortney looks up, and her hair parts. Her eyes glow.]“My mother wouldn’t lie to me.”
[She reaches out towards Calypso and begins to walk forward, arms raised. Calypso begins to retreat into the darkness, but backs right into Mother.]“Going so soon, my dear?”
[Calypso spins, and The Ultra-Violent takes over. She hammers Mother with a flurry of fists. Mother stumbles backwards, and Calypso shows her no mercy. She throws blow after blow at Mother, and Mother drops to a knee. But then… Black Mist! Calypso takes the mist to the eyes and begins stumbling through the hallway! Mother tracks after her and the two begin fighting their way through the backstage area until they come right through the doors and into the Tap Room! This fight is on!]MOTHER VS. CALYPSO
REWIND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
PUPPETMASTER
RINGSIDE
“I’m glad you’re out here, Mother.” [Bird begins.] “I’d hate to have to go hunting for you. Who knows what could happen to your children if I did.”
[Mother only cocks her head to the side at the threat, letting Bird continue.]“But considering what I’m about to do to another of your supposed children, I suppose you probably would want to be out here.”
[Now that one gets Mother’s attention. Bird takes note of that.]“I told him, you know.” [Bird remarks.] “I told him that it was the perch that gives you your power over him. He tried to play it off like I was wrong, but I know I’m right. Kersh built it, and when you pulled it out of him it gave you control over him. That’s why such a fearsome beast as Scarecrow serves you.”
[Bird grins.]“And that’s why he’s going to serve me. Because I’m going to take that perch and set Scarecrow free from your control.”
[And with that line, Mother actually smiles. She places her hands behind her back for a moment.]“Ethan Bird, you persist in dabbling with matters of which you have no knowledge.”
[She slowly pulls her hands back in front of her, except now she has something in them.] [A stick?] [No.] [The remains of the perch.] [The perch.]“This is a marvelously crafted object, isn’t it?” [She smiles her broken smile at Bird, who seems to be salivating over the nearness of the object he covets.] “But if it gives me command over the Scarecrow, then surely he would be here, wouldn’t he?”
[She smiles even wider as Ethan Bird realizes the implications before him. He slowly turns around…] […AND SCARECROW IS THERE!] [Mother cackles as she leaves the ring.] [Ethan Bird has to deal with an enraged Scarecrow before he can deal with the perch.]THE SCARECROW (C) VS. ETHAN BIRD
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
NO STRINGS
RINGSIDE
“Scarecrow.” [Bird begins, his voice tired but full of lordship.] “Bow before your god.”
[The rising Scarecrow stops his ascent and goes before Ethan Bird.] [And bows.] [Holy shit! Scarecrow just bowed to Ethan Bird. Who could not be happier in this moment.]“Do you see?” [Bird says, speaking to higher powers than himself.] “Jake Jeckel, this is what I will unleash upon you. The Exodus has come, and my Scarecrow will…”
[CROW GRABS BIRD AROUND THE NECK.] [BYE BYE BIRDIE!] [Scarecrow stands over the fallen body of Bird for a moment before reaching down to pick up the piece of the perch Bird had held. Crow takes a moment to study the object, all of the history he has had with the Kersh family all poured into it. This perch had held him in between life and death until it was pulled from his chest.] [SNAP!] [Scarecrow drops the pieces on Bird’s chest, looking down at his would-be god.]“I told you that you were dealing with powers that you did not understand.” [Crow begins.] “And now, there are no strings left on me. I am free.”
[Scarecrow turns away from Bird, now free to unleash his full power on everyone.] [May God have mercy…] […wait a second.] [Scarecrow is helping Mother up?] [Mother sees the broken perch and seems ready to fight Scarecrow, but the Hayman only makes sure she is able to stand on her own.“That perch never controlled me.” [Crow says to the surprised matriarch.] “I merely allowed you to feel that way. I feel a connection to you that I have never felt in all my time in this world. Genesis is not about control. I stand by your side, not because I was made to, but because I choose to.”
[With those scary words, Mother smiles at her ally.] [Darkness.] [BZZT!] [The arena lights come back on, and all that remains are Ethan Bird and the broken pieces of the perch that Scarecrow left on him.] [Genesis is even scarier now than they were before tonight.] [May heaven save all whom they seek to destroy.]JACOB PHOENIX VS. JENSEN CUSSEN
CELLULAR INFECTION
IF YOU WANT A JOB DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF
RINGSIDE
“If looks like if you want a job done right, you’ve gotta do it yourself.”
[The unmistakable voice of DTR echoes as the arena falls into darkness.]“Welcome back to the Family, son.”
[The lights return and DTR is stood in the middle of the ring, opposite Jacob Phoenix with Jensen Cussen and The Dead stood alongside him.]“I’ll never stop and you’ll never stop me,” [Phoenix yells at him.] “Not until I get her back, David. Not until she’s safe.”
“Safe?” [The Virus muses.] “She’s safer with us than she’s ever been. She’s been freed, Jacob. Can’t you see that, son? There’s always been a darkness in her; a darkness her daddy never nurtured,” [DTR says whipping his head angrily at Cussen.] “Until now.”
[The sound of cackling female laughter can be heard, of which sends the lights into a flickering meltdown. Between the flashes, we see a figure, and when the lights return, she’s sat rocking back and forth in the middle of them all.]“All this drama over lil ol’ me?” [Stephanie ponders.] “Don’t you get it, baby?”
[Jacob tilts his head at her, his eyes welling up with tears.] “Get what?”“It’s you’s that ain’t safe.”
[Suddenly, she leaps to her feet, squealing wildly like a pig and runs at him. He can barely react before she’s pounced on top of him, scratching and clawing away like a mad-woman. With Phoenix occupied, DTR turns his attention to Jensen Cussen, punching him so hard in the jaw that he stumbles backwards. He turns around, shocked and walks straight into the Virus.] [REASONABLE DOUBT!] [Meanwhile, Stephanie has mounted The Vigilante, wrapped her legs around his head and fell backwards over the top rope, strangling him in a vice like grip.] [DTR gets back to his feet and walks over.]“At Ring of Dreams, I’m going to finish this job myself, son. You should have never turned your back on the family.”
[Stephanie lets him go and he stumbles forward. REASONABLE DOUBT! DTR CATCHES HIM WITH A REASONABLE DOUBT TOO!] [The Virus gets back to his feet and helps Stephanie back in from the ring apron. They saunter over to Cussen, who’s stirring on the ground.]“You don’t fail The Family,” [DTR says to him, as he tries to get back up. The Dead looks ready and poised to strike if necessary.] “Get him up,” [The Virus commands, watching as The Dead does as he’s told.] “Let’s go home.”
[The Dead helps his fallen brother back to his feet and the cell begins to rise. As it does, The Family exit together, leaving poor Jacob Phoenix laid out in the middle of the ring.] [Static.] [Cut.]KING ROYAL VS. TOMMY HAWK
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
FIRE BREATHER
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“You should have yielded, Indian,” [Royal says through gritted teeth, trying to drain every ounce of life from the World Champion.] “You should have yielded!”
[ROAR.] [A loud roar echoes throughout the cavern as Royal turns in astonishment, trying to seek where it’s coming from.] [Just then, fire erupts through the cage out of the camera, forcing the King to roll off of Hawk and escape the flames.] [The camera spins.] [Solomon Rhodes.] [The Dragon himself.] [Royal quickly gets back to his feet as Solomon enters the cage without an ounce of fear, much like Hawk earlier.]“If you don’t release this man and his comrades, I will burn your Kingdom to ash, Royal.”
[Solomon helps Hawk back to his feet.]“We have business to attend to at Ring of Dreams.”
[Both men stare each other down, stood side by side, in the middle of King Royal’s cavern. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife.] [Until the cage door swings open and The King stands to one side.] [Only neither man moves.] [Cut.]