Post by Staff on Mar 5, 2017 8:09:14 GMT -5
Kassandrah’s neck felt like a tensed fist encircling her throat. It gave her a headache. So did staring at the computer screen in her fancy new COO office where she sat hunched over her desktop with one hand rubbing her forehead, the other reflexively clicking the same button on her mouse. Her eyes were tired and bleary as her cell phone on the corner of her desk buzzed again. She sighed, blinked in annoyance and checked the phone’s display with a glare and even louder sigh. She set the phone down angrily and went back to clicking the button on her mouse, annoyance the best descriptor for a normally easygoing woman. Then in walked Thirteen and Francis Ford Cuppola.
THIRTEEN: Hey, hey!
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: What up, what up, what uuuuuup?
All smiles. Except for Kassandrah. She leaned sideways to get the glare of the computer screen out of her eyes and spy the pair she had so lately enjoyed the levity of completing as a trio.
Thirteen looked relaxed in her workout gear chugging a bottle of water, and Francis looked stylish, gold chains, gold watch, gold-rimmed sunglasses, a leather jacket and white bell-bottoms and a button-down shirt like he’d just left a 70s taping of Starsky and Hutch. Kass sighed longingly and jealously at them. Two and a half weeks ago she was just like them, relaxed and carefree. Her eyes drifted downward before returning to look at her screen, clicking the mouse and sighing loudly. Thirteen and Francis moved around to either side of her desk, Francis sitting on the edge.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: What’s the matter, lil dawg?
He sassed with a drawl of an accent. Kassandrah sighed and blinked heavily at her screen again as Thirteen sipped loudly from her trendy water bottle.
KASSANDRAH: It’s Kassandrah.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I said that.
Kassandrah glared at him and debated whether to bother pursuing the argument. You just get used to the man irrespective of his inner logic after enough time spent with him. Thirteen drank from her water bottle loudly and lazily eyed her computer screen. Kass could hear those drops of water she missed leaking down her chin and dropping one by one on the wood of her desk. Kass cringed as her phone buzzed again with a new message. She glared at the screen with a sharp inhale noting, once more, Tony’s name on the message.
THIRTEEN: What’s with all the Tony Chu emails in your inbox.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Ooooooo.
Francis wagged his eyebrows obnoxiously down at Kass.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Chu-mails. Sexy time going on in that inbox!
A grieved Kass rubbed her forehead.
KASSANDRAH: Look, you guys I appreciate you two periodically popping in to check on me at my peak busy hours, but I’m kind of busy.
Thirteen frowned as she looked closer at the screen.
THIRTEEN: There’s over 5,000 emails in here. Are they all from Tony?
Kass sighed ever louder.
KASSANDRAH: I don’t know. I’ve been going through them and deleting them while I wait for my meeting with Nate Hollis’ agent.
THIRTEEN: Nate’s coming back?!
KASSANDRAH: That's the plan.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Oh yeah. Him. I miss Nigel.
KASSANDRAH: Nate.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: That’s what I said.
Kassandrah glared up at him as Francis fixed his collar.
THIRTEEN: You’re not clicking on those emails, are you? They look like spam.
KASSANDRAH: Yes, I figured that out the hard way. We had to format the whole system cause the emails have a virus. Not sure why Tony keeps sending them.
The cell phone buzzed once more and Kass glared out of the corner of her eye at the display once more reading a blank text message from Tony Chu. She sighed with further annoyance.
KASSANDRAH: Now, look, I’m expecting a meeting with Nate’s agent, so—
THIRTEEN: Look, there’s an email from Nate Hollis buried with all the Tony Chu emails.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Chu-mails.
Francis corrected.
KASSANDRAH: What?
Kass frowned and entered into the email addressed from Nate Hollis and read with increasing dismay.
KASSANDRAH: No. No, no, no, no.
Kass gripped her hands to her temples.
THIRTEEN: What’s wrong?
Kass eyed the words on the screen.
KASSANDRAH: Nate had an offer from another company. I was supposed to call him before noon today or he’d finalize the deal.
THIRTEEN: Oh. That sucks.
KASSANDRAH: I would have gotten that email sooner if Tony hadn’t kept spamming my inbox.
Her cell phone buzzed. She didn’t need to look and see who it was. She sighed loudly and slammed the phone into a drawer in her desk. Francis and Thirteen eyed one another cautiously before Francis brightened.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You know what you need?
Kassandrah glared up at him once more and hissed through her teeth,
KASSANDRAH: What?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Well, if you’re like me, food is a huge stress-reliever. It just so happens I ordered a pizza to this office. For you. For lunch.
He smiled down at her just as the pizza delivery guy walked into the office with a large box of pizza.
THIRTEEN: Aw, Francis! That’s really thoughtful.
Francis eyed her smugly.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I know. I’m really great.
He pulled out an arrogant looking bejeweled money clip and counted out the bills for the pizza guy and paid him, no tip. With his smug grin intact, Francis opened the box of pizza and displayed it over Kass’ desk for her and Thirteen to eye it. Slowly, a frown crept upon each of them.
THIRTEEN: What…
KASSANDRAH: …is it?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: It’s Donny Osmond.
THIRTEEN: Who?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Donny Osmond. Only the star of a little play I like to call Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. Huh? Donny and Marie?
Thirteen and Kass stared at the Pizza cut into the shape of a face, Donny Osmond’s face, and blinked without words.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: It's my latest thing: I only eat food shaped like people. Rodney says it's Freudian or something. Dig in. Here. Let me get you a slice.
Francis gripped the pizza and began to pry the crust apart, accidentally tilting the box and dropping the pizza down right onto Kass’ computer. Eyes looked downward in disbelief at the cheese and gooey sauce leaking all over the machine.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Awwww. Donny Osmond’s chin is all over your keyboard.
THIRTEEN: Gross…
You could hear Kass’s chin clicking as she ground her teeth together inside of her mouth, eyeing the pizza that was currently destroying her computer slowly as the cheese and sauce congealed. Francis darted a finger through the cheese and licked it.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: It’s still good. Think of it as the plastic surgery days—
The computer screen flickered as cheese and sauce seemed to short it out.
KASSANDRAH: No….
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: That can’t be good.
Thirteen cringed as the computer automatically shut off as it overheated after a short fizzle. Kass eyed the screen defeated and murmured,
KASSANDRAH: I hope that’s not dead for good, I had all the contract information just uploaded, and the preliminary schedule for Massacre 10 in there…
Just then Tony Chu entered the office with a bright smile as soon as he laid eyes on her and nearly sang it,
TONY CHU: There she is.
Kass’s glare could melt steel.
KASSANDRAH: You think you're funny?
Thirteen and Francis awkwardly readied to get out of the office as Kassandrah’s tone stopped Tony dead in his tracks unsure of how to take her tone.
KASSANDRAH: You and your emails, and your 9 million text messages just cost me a contract.
Tony looked confused.
TONY CHU: I haven't texted you.
If it were possible for a human being to literally simmer with rage, it would be happening right now as Kass stood from her chair to address Tony angrily.
KASSANDRAH: I don't have time for this. GET. OUT.
Tony blinked incredulously. This was the first time she’d ever been angry with him. It took him aback. He stood there stunned and blinking at her uncertainly.
TONY CHU: What emails? I don’t know what you’re—
KASSANDRAH: Same old Tony, always fun and fucking games. I don't have time for it. GET OUT!
Tony was stunned. Kass didn’t give him another glance, a sure enough cue for Tony to cast his eyes to the floor and walk out of the office with his tail between his legs. Thirteen eyed Kass with concern.
THIRTEEN: Are you o—
KASSANDRAH: Can you guys, please leave? I have to figure out what I’m going to do about Massacre 10 AND try and figure out some way to get Nate back.
A pause.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Out of ideas, huh? You know where to go for ideas?
KASSANDRAH: Francis, I’m not in the mood.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Sure you are! I’m talking about the graveyard! That’s where I go when I need something fresh. Got my last blockbuster script in a graveyard. No negotiations needed. See this ring? I didn't buy this ring. Guess where I got it.
He showed a disinterested Kass his gold ring.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: That’s right, the graveyard.
Thirteen blinked.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: See this necklace?
He leaned forward to present his gold chain.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Guess where I got that.
THIRTEEN: Francis… *she frowned* are you a grave robber?
Francis straightened and got serious as he pointed and admonished Thirteen.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I don’t care for that term.
KASSANDRAH: Can you guys discuss this anywhere but here?
Clearly angered and annoyed, Kass rubbed her temples soothingly. Just then, one of the AWE talent barged in. The Resilience division’s own, Benny Stevens, entered the office with a confident demeanor. He took off his aviator glasses, folded and placed them into the pocket of his wool pants. Next, Benny greeted the individuals looking at him with a nod.
BENNY STEVENS: Having a tough day, Kassandrah?
Kassandrah sighed. Francis eyed the new arrival.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I bet you can’t guess where I got my pants.
Thirteen rolled her eyes and stepped away from the silently fuming Kass as Francis eyed Benny with barely a blink.
BENNY STEVENS: Ummm...
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: That’s right. The graveyard. See how the pants play off my jacket? Give you three guesses where I got them. *Francis nods proudly with no intention of giving him three guesses* Exactly.
Thirteen and Kassandrah just shook their heads as Francis pretend dropped a mic and snickered at Kass like he’d just proven a point. Francis popped his collar and walked to one of the 18th century portraits of a bouffant styled French aristocrat on Kass’ wall and attempted to fix his hair in what he deemed to be his reflection.
BENNY STEVENS: I… Ummm… Wow! What the FUCK? Oh, yeah, Francis… Because the graveyard is the best place to get new clothes, right? They’re dead anyway! Free clothes and stuff.
Thirteen raised an accusing eyebrow at Benny conveying how appalled she suddenly felt to have like-minded individual with Francis in her presence. Benny noticed.
BENNY STEVENS: Oh, no no no… I was just… Playing along. I have no idea what the fuck Francis is talking about. Anyway…
Benny just shrugged watching Francis smooth his eyebrows out as he peered into the portrait. After that, he looked to Kassandrah as he unbuttoned his shirt sleeves and rolled them up.
BENNY STEVENS: What’s the deal, Kassandrah?
KASSANDRAH: Excuse me?
BENNY STEVENS: Y’know, I was expecting to have words with you privately.
He emphasized that word as he looked to Thirteen and Francis who stood off out of the way. Kass barely blinked.
KASSANDRAH: Yes, well, get used to disappointment. What can I do for you, Mister Stevens?
Benny briefly looked to the unwanted people in the room and took a deep breath.
BENNY STEVENS: As you wish, ma’am… Listen, I have a match soon and you appear to be busy as hell, so I’ll try to make this quick.
He walked to one side and another while calmly motioning with his hands.
BENNY STEVENS: You see, I ain’t no bitch. If I disagree with the way you are running things, I’ll walk up to you and say it in your face. The thing about me is, as I’ve said multiple times, I’m not a bad person… I just have a different way of dealing with the enemies. You have new talent joining the AWE and that’s fantastic. The roster is growing both in star power and numbers; therefore, so is our reputation in the business. I’ve been watching, Kassandrah… I’ve been watching the decisions. The reactions. The goddamn chaos that appears to be unfolding as the days pass. Oh, and I’ve been quiet for too long… Well, not anymore.
Benny placed his palms on the desk and looked into Kassandrah’s eyes.
BENNY STEVENS: I’m pissed off, Kassandrah.
KASSANDRAH: Oh really.
He got back to pacing to one side and another, Kassandrah stared blankly at him with obvious annoyance.
BENNY STEVENS: Oh, you’re no rookie… You’ve been in the business long enough to figure out a way to handle the bullshit. It’s not that hard, I believe. I mean, most people in AWE are too predictable anyway. We have bitches wearing masks and attacking people from behind… We have people teaming up to jump the opponents. There are a couple of patterns and you can even tell when they are going to make a move – some of them actually warn you when they are going to attack.
He smiled
BENNY STEVENS: Me? Oh, you can’t predict me. I won’t jump others in the ring. I won’t wear a mask just to screw people over. I won’t cheat my way to the top. I’m just saying… I have different ways of dealing with an enemy. So, please, don’t become an enemy.
Silence.
BENNY STEVENS: So now that you’re aware of my, ermm, feelings regarding the state of AWE, I’d like to make a request… No beating around the bush – I want a title shot.
Kassandrah eyed him with disinterest. She glanced at her fizzled computer screen, at the cheese of the pizza all over her keyboard and desk, then glanced at Benny.
KASSANDRAH: First: I’ve been in charge for two weeks. Anything leading up to that point is moot. Second, you want a title shot? Fine. Have you earned it? No. But, we’ll ignore all of what you just said in order to expedite the matter quickly and reasonably. I’ve got work to do, and a raging headache. How’s that sound?
Benny answered right away.
BENNY STEVENS: How about no? I haven’t earned a shot. Okay, what about Austin Gale? Austin is in another goddamn title match and he hasn’t done shit to earn it. Yeah, he beat Christian Jones. That’s… Great?
Kassandrah blinked at him, but Benny interrupted her before she could think to respond.
BENNY STEVENS: So let’s ignore the fact that I’ve been working hard since day one, right? What did Dare do to earn a title shot, anyway? He was just the new guy back then, but hey, you trusted him to represent you at Executive Action. Actually, nah, you trusted Tony Chu. He says the word, and you’ll just do it. Shit, I’m talking to the wrong person… I should’ve been talking to Tony, not you.
Francis, over at the wall, looked up from his confused preening with a snicker.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Hey! We were just talking about him. Isn’t that funny, Kelly?
Kass glowered. Francis turned with an innocent smile.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Kelly? Did you hear me? Don’t you think that’s funny?
Francis inched towards her desk where Kass sat seemingly set in stone glaring at Benny.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Kelly?
KASSANDRAH: Are you done, Mister Stevens?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I don’t think she heard me.
Francis intoned sympathetically to Benny before he glanced back at Kass and raised his voice.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Kelly, I said: ISN’T IT FUNNY HOW TONY--
Kass lifted her voice.
KASSANDRAH: JUST GET THE HELL OUT. EVERYONE.
Benny just laughed.
BENNY STEVENS: Now you’re talking to me, baby. It’s all good, though… I’ll just take my leave.
He looked to Kassandrah with a sly grin on his face.
BENNY STEVENS: Think about my request, Elvira.
After those words, he left the office leaving Francis to frown at Kass and opened his mouth to speak before glancing at Thirteen who shook her head disparagingly then promptly shut his mouth. Just then, like the door were revolving, in strode James Radford’s manager Bobby Benson.
BOBBY BENSON: All right, baby. I know I’m unannounced but I gotta get something off my chest.
Thirteen nervously chimed in.
THIRTEEN: Uh, Bobby, I think Kass would like—
KASSANDRAH: *dryly* No, Thirteen. It's okay. Let him speak. It doesn't matter at all what I would like.
Bobby didn’t miss a beat, half bouncing around as he spoke with his whole body.
BOBBY BENSON: Now dig this, my boy James is 6 and 1. That’s damn near the best record in the entire Paramount Division. Hell, the number 1 contender Aaron Pace is a measly 2 and 1, now if that stark comparison right there doesn’t tell you something’s fishy in the state of Denmark I don’t know what does, baby.
Kass could see where this was heading and carefully rested an elbow on the one part of the desk not currently congealing with pizza mozzarella and set her chin in her palm.
BOBBY BENSON: Way I see it that notch in James’ loss column belongs to the man currently holding the Paramount Championship, Dom DiBona, and that’s a black mark James, and I, would like to rectify A.S.A.F.P, know what I’m saying?
KASSANDRAH: Your client won the Alpha Cup tournament, Mister Benson. That qualifies him to a shot at any title of his choosing. Are you cashing that opportunity in?
BOBBY BENSON: Hell no. That Alpha Cup contract is staying right here. *Pats his breast pocket* The only reason James isn’t the one holding that Paramount Championship is cause he turned his attention on the Alpha Cup anyway. I’m here to demand the match the big cat deserves. Why is he at the back of the line when Aaron Pace is sitting at number 1 after doing only half the work James has, huh?
Kassandrah, disinterested and swamped, eyed Bobby with a blink and blandly stated,
KASSANDRAH: You want me to give James a title shot.
BOBBY BENSON: Couldn’t have said it better myself, baby.
Thirteen winced silently and tip-toed toward the door. Francis slid a finger through some of the cheese melted onto Kass’ desk and ate it. Bobby felt like he’d punctuated his point clearly, and stepped in with increased confidence.
BOBBY BENSON: You just think on that, Miss C.O.O. I’d hate for this “new administration” to pick up with all the unfairness and backbiting that marked the last one. Good day.
Bobby smirked to himself, spun on his heels and beat Thirteen out of the door. She stopped and looked to Kass with concern. Stone-faced, save for a twitching eyebrow, Kass didn’t move. Francis chewed noisily.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Whatever happened to Tony Chu, anyway?
The eye twitch increased as Kassandrah inhaled sharply through her nose. Thirteen winced visibly.
THIRTEEN: Francis we need to leave.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: But I haven't finished eating Donny Osmond, yet.
Francis obnoxiously licked cheese off his fingers as Kass slowly swiveled her neck to eye him ready to explode with fury. Thirteen moved quickly, gripped him by the arm and tugged him towards the door.
THIRTEEN: NOW!
Like dodging a grenade they got out of that office, leaving Kass alone with her newfound overwhelming responsibilities. On the desk beside her, once more, her cell phone buzzed with yet another blank message from Tony Chu. Her shoulders slumped.
THIRTEEN: Hey, hey!
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: What up, what up, what uuuuuup?
All smiles. Except for Kassandrah. She leaned sideways to get the glare of the computer screen out of her eyes and spy the pair she had so lately enjoyed the levity of completing as a trio.
Thirteen looked relaxed in her workout gear chugging a bottle of water, and Francis looked stylish, gold chains, gold watch, gold-rimmed sunglasses, a leather jacket and white bell-bottoms and a button-down shirt like he’d just left a 70s taping of Starsky and Hutch. Kass sighed longingly and jealously at them. Two and a half weeks ago she was just like them, relaxed and carefree. Her eyes drifted downward before returning to look at her screen, clicking the mouse and sighing loudly. Thirteen and Francis moved around to either side of her desk, Francis sitting on the edge.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: What’s the matter, lil dawg?
He sassed with a drawl of an accent. Kassandrah sighed and blinked heavily at her screen again as Thirteen sipped loudly from her trendy water bottle.
KASSANDRAH: It’s Kassandrah.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I said that.
Kassandrah glared at him and debated whether to bother pursuing the argument. You just get used to the man irrespective of his inner logic after enough time spent with him. Thirteen drank from her water bottle loudly and lazily eyed her computer screen. Kass could hear those drops of water she missed leaking down her chin and dropping one by one on the wood of her desk. Kass cringed as her phone buzzed again with a new message. She glared at the screen with a sharp inhale noting, once more, Tony’s name on the message.
THIRTEEN: What’s with all the Tony Chu emails in your inbox.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Ooooooo.
Francis wagged his eyebrows obnoxiously down at Kass.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Chu-mails. Sexy time going on in that inbox!
A grieved Kass rubbed her forehead.
KASSANDRAH: Look, you guys I appreciate you two periodically popping in to check on me at my peak busy hours, but I’m kind of busy.
Thirteen frowned as she looked closer at the screen.
THIRTEEN: There’s over 5,000 emails in here. Are they all from Tony?
Kass sighed ever louder.
KASSANDRAH: I don’t know. I’ve been going through them and deleting them while I wait for my meeting with Nate Hollis’ agent.
THIRTEEN: Nate’s coming back?!
KASSANDRAH: That's the plan.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Oh yeah. Him. I miss Nigel.
KASSANDRAH: Nate.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: That’s what I said.
Kassandrah glared up at him as Francis fixed his collar.
THIRTEEN: You’re not clicking on those emails, are you? They look like spam.
KASSANDRAH: Yes, I figured that out the hard way. We had to format the whole system cause the emails have a virus. Not sure why Tony keeps sending them.
The cell phone buzzed once more and Kass glared out of the corner of her eye at the display once more reading a blank text message from Tony Chu. She sighed with further annoyance.
KASSANDRAH: Now, look, I’m expecting a meeting with Nate’s agent, so—
THIRTEEN: Look, there’s an email from Nate Hollis buried with all the Tony Chu emails.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Chu-mails.
Francis corrected.
KASSANDRAH: What?
Kass frowned and entered into the email addressed from Nate Hollis and read with increasing dismay.
KASSANDRAH: No. No, no, no, no.
Kass gripped her hands to her temples.
THIRTEEN: What’s wrong?
Kass eyed the words on the screen.
KASSANDRAH: Nate had an offer from another company. I was supposed to call him before noon today or he’d finalize the deal.
THIRTEEN: Oh. That sucks.
KASSANDRAH: I would have gotten that email sooner if Tony hadn’t kept spamming my inbox.
Her cell phone buzzed. She didn’t need to look and see who it was. She sighed loudly and slammed the phone into a drawer in her desk. Francis and Thirteen eyed one another cautiously before Francis brightened.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You know what you need?
Kassandrah glared up at him once more and hissed through her teeth,
KASSANDRAH: What?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Well, if you’re like me, food is a huge stress-reliever. It just so happens I ordered a pizza to this office. For you. For lunch.
He smiled down at her just as the pizza delivery guy walked into the office with a large box of pizza.
THIRTEEN: Aw, Francis! That’s really thoughtful.
Francis eyed her smugly.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I know. I’m really great.
He pulled out an arrogant looking bejeweled money clip and counted out the bills for the pizza guy and paid him, no tip. With his smug grin intact, Francis opened the box of pizza and displayed it over Kass’ desk for her and Thirteen to eye it. Slowly, a frown crept upon each of them.
THIRTEEN: What…
KASSANDRAH: …is it?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: It’s Donny Osmond.
THIRTEEN: Who?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Donny Osmond. Only the star of a little play I like to call Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. Huh? Donny and Marie?
Thirteen and Kass stared at the Pizza cut into the shape of a face, Donny Osmond’s face, and blinked without words.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: It's my latest thing: I only eat food shaped like people. Rodney says it's Freudian or something. Dig in. Here. Let me get you a slice.
Francis gripped the pizza and began to pry the crust apart, accidentally tilting the box and dropping the pizza down right onto Kass’ computer. Eyes looked downward in disbelief at the cheese and gooey sauce leaking all over the machine.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Awwww. Donny Osmond’s chin is all over your keyboard.
THIRTEEN: Gross…
You could hear Kass’s chin clicking as she ground her teeth together inside of her mouth, eyeing the pizza that was currently destroying her computer slowly as the cheese and sauce congealed. Francis darted a finger through the cheese and licked it.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: It’s still good. Think of it as the plastic surgery days—
The computer screen flickered as cheese and sauce seemed to short it out.
KASSANDRAH: No….
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: That can’t be good.
Thirteen cringed as the computer automatically shut off as it overheated after a short fizzle. Kass eyed the screen defeated and murmured,
KASSANDRAH: I hope that’s not dead for good, I had all the contract information just uploaded, and the preliminary schedule for Massacre 10 in there…
Just then Tony Chu entered the office with a bright smile as soon as he laid eyes on her and nearly sang it,
TONY CHU: There she is.
Kass’s glare could melt steel.
KASSANDRAH: You think you're funny?
Thirteen and Francis awkwardly readied to get out of the office as Kassandrah’s tone stopped Tony dead in his tracks unsure of how to take her tone.
KASSANDRAH: You and your emails, and your 9 million text messages just cost me a contract.
Tony looked confused.
TONY CHU: I haven't texted you.
If it were possible for a human being to literally simmer with rage, it would be happening right now as Kass stood from her chair to address Tony angrily.
KASSANDRAH: I don't have time for this. GET. OUT.
Tony blinked incredulously. This was the first time she’d ever been angry with him. It took him aback. He stood there stunned and blinking at her uncertainly.
TONY CHU: What emails? I don’t know what you’re—
KASSANDRAH: Same old Tony, always fun and fucking games. I don't have time for it. GET OUT!
Tony was stunned. Kass didn’t give him another glance, a sure enough cue for Tony to cast his eyes to the floor and walk out of the office with his tail between his legs. Thirteen eyed Kass with concern.
THIRTEEN: Are you o—
KASSANDRAH: Can you guys, please leave? I have to figure out what I’m going to do about Massacre 10 AND try and figure out some way to get Nate back.
A pause.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Out of ideas, huh? You know where to go for ideas?
KASSANDRAH: Francis, I’m not in the mood.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Sure you are! I’m talking about the graveyard! That’s where I go when I need something fresh. Got my last blockbuster script in a graveyard. No negotiations needed. See this ring? I didn't buy this ring. Guess where I got it.
He showed a disinterested Kass his gold ring.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: That’s right, the graveyard.
Thirteen blinked.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: See this necklace?
He leaned forward to present his gold chain.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Guess where I got that.
THIRTEEN: Francis… *she frowned* are you a grave robber?
Francis straightened and got serious as he pointed and admonished Thirteen.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I don’t care for that term.
KASSANDRAH: Can you guys discuss this anywhere but here?
Clearly angered and annoyed, Kass rubbed her temples soothingly. Just then, one of the AWE talent barged in. The Resilience division’s own, Benny Stevens, entered the office with a confident demeanor. He took off his aviator glasses, folded and placed them into the pocket of his wool pants. Next, Benny greeted the individuals looking at him with a nod.
BENNY STEVENS: Having a tough day, Kassandrah?
Kassandrah sighed. Francis eyed the new arrival.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I bet you can’t guess where I got my pants.
Thirteen rolled her eyes and stepped away from the silently fuming Kass as Francis eyed Benny with barely a blink.
BENNY STEVENS: Ummm...
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: That’s right. The graveyard. See how the pants play off my jacket? Give you three guesses where I got them. *Francis nods proudly with no intention of giving him three guesses* Exactly.
Thirteen and Kassandrah just shook their heads as Francis pretend dropped a mic and snickered at Kass like he’d just proven a point. Francis popped his collar and walked to one of the 18th century portraits of a bouffant styled French aristocrat on Kass’ wall and attempted to fix his hair in what he deemed to be his reflection.
BENNY STEVENS: I… Ummm… Wow! What the FUCK? Oh, yeah, Francis… Because the graveyard is the best place to get new clothes, right? They’re dead anyway! Free clothes and stuff.
Thirteen raised an accusing eyebrow at Benny conveying how appalled she suddenly felt to have like-minded individual with Francis in her presence. Benny noticed.
BENNY STEVENS: Oh, no no no… I was just… Playing along. I have no idea what the fuck Francis is talking about. Anyway…
Benny just shrugged watching Francis smooth his eyebrows out as he peered into the portrait. After that, he looked to Kassandrah as he unbuttoned his shirt sleeves and rolled them up.
BENNY STEVENS: What’s the deal, Kassandrah?
KASSANDRAH: Excuse me?
BENNY STEVENS: Y’know, I was expecting to have words with you privately.
He emphasized that word as he looked to Thirteen and Francis who stood off out of the way. Kass barely blinked.
KASSANDRAH: Yes, well, get used to disappointment. What can I do for you, Mister Stevens?
Benny briefly looked to the unwanted people in the room and took a deep breath.
BENNY STEVENS: As you wish, ma’am… Listen, I have a match soon and you appear to be busy as hell, so I’ll try to make this quick.
He walked to one side and another while calmly motioning with his hands.
BENNY STEVENS: You see, I ain’t no bitch. If I disagree with the way you are running things, I’ll walk up to you and say it in your face. The thing about me is, as I’ve said multiple times, I’m not a bad person… I just have a different way of dealing with the enemies. You have new talent joining the AWE and that’s fantastic. The roster is growing both in star power and numbers; therefore, so is our reputation in the business. I’ve been watching, Kassandrah… I’ve been watching the decisions. The reactions. The goddamn chaos that appears to be unfolding as the days pass. Oh, and I’ve been quiet for too long… Well, not anymore.
Benny placed his palms on the desk and looked into Kassandrah’s eyes.
BENNY STEVENS: I’m pissed off, Kassandrah.
KASSANDRAH: Oh really.
He got back to pacing to one side and another, Kassandrah stared blankly at him with obvious annoyance.
BENNY STEVENS: Oh, you’re no rookie… You’ve been in the business long enough to figure out a way to handle the bullshit. It’s not that hard, I believe. I mean, most people in AWE are too predictable anyway. We have bitches wearing masks and attacking people from behind… We have people teaming up to jump the opponents. There are a couple of patterns and you can even tell when they are going to make a move – some of them actually warn you when they are going to attack.
He smiled
BENNY STEVENS: Me? Oh, you can’t predict me. I won’t jump others in the ring. I won’t wear a mask just to screw people over. I won’t cheat my way to the top. I’m just saying… I have different ways of dealing with an enemy. So, please, don’t become an enemy.
Silence.
BENNY STEVENS: So now that you’re aware of my, ermm, feelings regarding the state of AWE, I’d like to make a request… No beating around the bush – I want a title shot.
Kassandrah eyed him with disinterest. She glanced at her fizzled computer screen, at the cheese of the pizza all over her keyboard and desk, then glanced at Benny.
KASSANDRAH: First: I’ve been in charge for two weeks. Anything leading up to that point is moot. Second, you want a title shot? Fine. Have you earned it? No. But, we’ll ignore all of what you just said in order to expedite the matter quickly and reasonably. I’ve got work to do, and a raging headache. How’s that sound?
Benny answered right away.
BENNY STEVENS: How about no? I haven’t earned a shot. Okay, what about Austin Gale? Austin is in another goddamn title match and he hasn’t done shit to earn it. Yeah, he beat Christian Jones. That’s… Great?
Kassandrah blinked at him, but Benny interrupted her before she could think to respond.
BENNY STEVENS: So let’s ignore the fact that I’ve been working hard since day one, right? What did Dare do to earn a title shot, anyway? He was just the new guy back then, but hey, you trusted him to represent you at Executive Action. Actually, nah, you trusted Tony Chu. He says the word, and you’ll just do it. Shit, I’m talking to the wrong person… I should’ve been talking to Tony, not you.
Francis, over at the wall, looked up from his confused preening with a snicker.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Hey! We were just talking about him. Isn’t that funny, Kelly?
Kass glowered. Francis turned with an innocent smile.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Kelly? Did you hear me? Don’t you think that’s funny?
Francis inched towards her desk where Kass sat seemingly set in stone glaring at Benny.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Kelly?
KASSANDRAH: Are you done, Mister Stevens?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I don’t think she heard me.
Francis intoned sympathetically to Benny before he glanced back at Kass and raised his voice.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Kelly, I said: ISN’T IT FUNNY HOW TONY--
Kass lifted her voice.
KASSANDRAH: JUST GET THE HELL OUT. EVERYONE.
Benny just laughed.
BENNY STEVENS: Now you’re talking to me, baby. It’s all good, though… I’ll just take my leave.
He looked to Kassandrah with a sly grin on his face.
BENNY STEVENS: Think about my request, Elvira.
After those words, he left the office leaving Francis to frown at Kass and opened his mouth to speak before glancing at Thirteen who shook her head disparagingly then promptly shut his mouth. Just then, like the door were revolving, in strode James Radford’s manager Bobby Benson.
BOBBY BENSON: All right, baby. I know I’m unannounced but I gotta get something off my chest.
Thirteen nervously chimed in.
THIRTEEN: Uh, Bobby, I think Kass would like—
KASSANDRAH: *dryly* No, Thirteen. It's okay. Let him speak. It doesn't matter at all what I would like.
Bobby didn’t miss a beat, half bouncing around as he spoke with his whole body.
BOBBY BENSON: Now dig this, my boy James is 6 and 1. That’s damn near the best record in the entire Paramount Division. Hell, the number 1 contender Aaron Pace is a measly 2 and 1, now if that stark comparison right there doesn’t tell you something’s fishy in the state of Denmark I don’t know what does, baby.
Kass could see where this was heading and carefully rested an elbow on the one part of the desk not currently congealing with pizza mozzarella and set her chin in her palm.
BOBBY BENSON: Way I see it that notch in James’ loss column belongs to the man currently holding the Paramount Championship, Dom DiBona, and that’s a black mark James, and I, would like to rectify A.S.A.F.P, know what I’m saying?
KASSANDRAH: Your client won the Alpha Cup tournament, Mister Benson. That qualifies him to a shot at any title of his choosing. Are you cashing that opportunity in?
BOBBY BENSON: Hell no. That Alpha Cup contract is staying right here. *Pats his breast pocket* The only reason James isn’t the one holding that Paramount Championship is cause he turned his attention on the Alpha Cup anyway. I’m here to demand the match the big cat deserves. Why is he at the back of the line when Aaron Pace is sitting at number 1 after doing only half the work James has, huh?
Kassandrah, disinterested and swamped, eyed Bobby with a blink and blandly stated,
KASSANDRAH: You want me to give James a title shot.
BOBBY BENSON: Couldn’t have said it better myself, baby.
Thirteen winced silently and tip-toed toward the door. Francis slid a finger through some of the cheese melted onto Kass’ desk and ate it. Bobby felt like he’d punctuated his point clearly, and stepped in with increased confidence.
BOBBY BENSON: You just think on that, Miss C.O.O. I’d hate for this “new administration” to pick up with all the unfairness and backbiting that marked the last one. Good day.
Bobby smirked to himself, spun on his heels and beat Thirteen out of the door. She stopped and looked to Kass with concern. Stone-faced, save for a twitching eyebrow, Kass didn’t move. Francis chewed noisily.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Whatever happened to Tony Chu, anyway?
The eye twitch increased as Kassandrah inhaled sharply through her nose. Thirteen winced visibly.
THIRTEEN: Francis we need to leave.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: But I haven't finished eating Donny Osmond, yet.
Francis obnoxiously licked cheese off his fingers as Kass slowly swiveled her neck to eye him ready to explode with fury. Thirteen moved quickly, gripped him by the arm and tugged him towards the door.
THIRTEEN: NOW!
Like dodging a grenade they got out of that office, leaving Kass alone with her newfound overwhelming responsibilities. On the desk beside her, once more, her cell phone buzzed with yet another blank message from Tony Chu. Her shoulders slumped.
We cut straight into an overhead sweeping shot of the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena where strobe lights pan the crowd, and loud instrumental rock music is the only thing drowning out the roaring crowd. Cut to crowd-level surveying shots of fans reacting for the camera, and we notice many signs held up especially to be seen!
FASTER BINDY-CAT! KILL! KILL!
I BEAT JACK HUGG AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS WORTHLESS CHAMPIONSHIP!
I AM THE DESTROYER! I AM THE WALRUS!
BENNY STEVENS HAD SEX WITH MY WIFE.
GENERATION… WHEN?
And the sweep over the crowd ends at the announce table where the now familiar faces of Nina Applebaum and Brad Stokes greet us. Brad smiles over the crowd as Nine prepares like it were a newscast.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Good evening all you AWEphiles and welcome to another action-packed thrill ride courtesy of the Alpha Wrestling Empire. I’m Nina Applebaum.
BRAD STOKES: And I’m Bradley Stokes. Good evening to this edition of Massacre.
Brad is all business. Like at some point between last Massacre and now a bolt of professionalism struck him. It puts Nina off-guard.
NINA APPLEBAUM: …right.
As pause of Brad looking smug and intelligent, (he’s wearing glasses and even a tie) as Nina eyes him wearily.
BRAD STOKES: Something wrong?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Are you feeling all right?
BRAD STOKES: This is a broadcast television show, Nina. What, you were expecting me to veer off-topic? We’re on the air. Do you really wish to waste time when we need to get down to the business of wrestling?
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s just… well… normally you’re a little more…
BRAD STOKES: What?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, maybe a little less…
BRAD STOKES: Yes…?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I don’t know. You seem very…
BRAD STOKES: On point? Look, Nina, we have to put aside petty differences for the sake of the show, all right? I know that my behavior in the past may have, at times, been off-putting, but that’s in the past. We need to leave it there. Ever since my feud ended with Dom Lawson I’ve been thinking clearer. The time has come to put aside childish things.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Wow. Just like that, huh?
BRAD STOKES: Just like that. Now, we’ve got a huge show tonight fans, with a lot to get to and only so much time, so we may as well get right down to it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m… without speech here, Bradley. But I welcome this newfound comittment to the task at hand!
BRAD STOKES: Let us partner in calling these matches down the middle, with as little bias as humanly possible.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Wow. Well said, Bradley. Yes, fight fans, as we transition from a previous Commander in Chief, all things must eventually change, and I guess that includes right here, at the announce table. So we may as well get on with the business of wrestling, just like Bradley said!
BRAD STOKES: Agreed. Partner.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’ve… waited so long to hear you say that, Bradley. I’m touched.
BRAD STOKES: While we’ve been smoothing over ancient history, the ring has slowly been filling up with the participants in our gargantuan open match. An inter-divisional over-the-top-rope Battle Royale.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s right. The likes of the Number One Contender to the Paramount Championship, Aaron Pace, is in there. So is Hubert Smalls and Christian Jones, Benny Stevens and Dom Lawson. A lot of firepower in one ring. Any picks as to who will win this one?
BRAD STOKES: Well, you know how, in the past, I’d have picked my winner, and made a big show of that, and then, depending on how the match progressed, I’d change my mind according to whoever looked close to winning. Well, I’m past that, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Very big of you, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: I will say that, while the field of talent in that ring, and still making their way down is staggering, I’m going to have to go with my gut and say Caroline O’Hara Burchill stands the best chance at winning this thing.
Just then the red and white colors of the lighting flash to the heavy hip hop beats of Logic’s ‘I Am The Greatest’, signaling the arrival of the infamous Red Queen.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Speaking of.
As if on cue, the fans roar with boos and jeers, though some of the rapacious boos from the crowd begin to taper off as Caroline O’Hara Burchill is seen in a white blazer and trousers outfit. Clearly, she wasn't dressed up to compete. She wears a serious expression on her face as her eyes pierce at the ring. Having a microphone on hand, Caroline brings it up to her mouth to speak.
CAROLINE O'HARA BURCHILL: Each and every single last one of you inside that ring are absolutely pathetic. I mean, seriously. You really think that I would come down to the ring and waste my time with any of you? Please. I'd stomp each and every last one of you if I actually cared.
The fans boo, but Caroline doesn't care. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes before continuing on.
BRAD STOKES: Uhhh… wait--what?
CAROLINE O'HARA BURCHILL: But see, that's the thing. I don't care, because someone like me who put on such a commanding performance during the Alpha Cup should be treated much better. I should be on the posters and in the main event matches. I'm practically the greatest thing that has ever happened to AWE, but instead of getting my rightful place on the throne that is known as glory, I'm supposed to be part of some stupid battle royale that has no incentive or gain behind it. I don't have the time nor the patience to be in a match that's just meaningless. I know my worth. I'm not stupid. So, you can be like these unenlightened dumbasses in the audience and have fun with your uneventful match. I'm not going to be packed in with a group of people who are destined to fall into obscurity.”
A smug little smirk graced the face Burchill as the fans voice their displeasure with the brash Aussie. However, she doesn't pay any attention to them as she blows a kiss towards the battle royale participants before she saunters off into the back.
BRAD STOKES: Son of a bitch pissing mother bitching—
NINA APPLEBAUM: BRADLEY!
BRAD STOKES: It just chaps my ass, you know? I was turning over a new leaf. You saw it. Everybody saw it. And now I went and blew the whole thing and now I'm evil again.
NINA APPLEBAUM: You can recover! It was just one mistake!
BRAD STOKES: No, I can’t. I’m Brad Stokes. Not Bradley Stokes. Fuck this whole being professional thing. I just fired off a ton of obscenity-laden accusatory tweets at Nate Hollis, Nina. It’s over. Ring the damn bell.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Oh dear.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Good evening all you AWEphiles and welcome to another action-packed thrill ride courtesy of the Alpha Wrestling Empire. I’m Nina Applebaum.
BRAD STOKES: And I’m Bradley Stokes. Good evening to this edition of Massacre.
Brad is all business. Like at some point between last Massacre and now a bolt of professionalism struck him. It puts Nina off-guard.
NINA APPLEBAUM: …right.
As pause of Brad looking smug and intelligent, (he’s wearing glasses and even a tie) as Nina eyes him wearily.
BRAD STOKES: Something wrong?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Are you feeling all right?
BRAD STOKES: This is a broadcast television show, Nina. What, you were expecting me to veer off-topic? We’re on the air. Do you really wish to waste time when we need to get down to the business of wrestling?
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s just… well… normally you’re a little more…
BRAD STOKES: What?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, maybe a little less…
BRAD STOKES: Yes…?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I don’t know. You seem very…
BRAD STOKES: On point? Look, Nina, we have to put aside petty differences for the sake of the show, all right? I know that my behavior in the past may have, at times, been off-putting, but that’s in the past. We need to leave it there. Ever since my feud ended with Dom Lawson I’ve been thinking clearer. The time has come to put aside childish things.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Wow. Just like that, huh?
BRAD STOKES: Just like that. Now, we’ve got a huge show tonight fans, with a lot to get to and only so much time, so we may as well get right down to it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m… without speech here, Bradley. But I welcome this newfound comittment to the task at hand!
BRAD STOKES: Let us partner in calling these matches down the middle, with as little bias as humanly possible.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Wow. Well said, Bradley. Yes, fight fans, as we transition from a previous Commander in Chief, all things must eventually change, and I guess that includes right here, at the announce table. So we may as well get on with the business of wrestling, just like Bradley said!
BRAD STOKES: Agreed. Partner.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’ve… waited so long to hear you say that, Bradley. I’m touched.
BRAD STOKES: While we’ve been smoothing over ancient history, the ring has slowly been filling up with the participants in our gargantuan open match. An inter-divisional over-the-top-rope Battle Royale.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s right. The likes of the Number One Contender to the Paramount Championship, Aaron Pace, is in there. So is Hubert Smalls and Christian Jones, Benny Stevens and Dom Lawson. A lot of firepower in one ring. Any picks as to who will win this one?
BRAD STOKES: Well, you know how, in the past, I’d have picked my winner, and made a big show of that, and then, depending on how the match progressed, I’d change my mind according to whoever looked close to winning. Well, I’m past that, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Very big of you, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: I will say that, while the field of talent in that ring, and still making their way down is staggering, I’m going to have to go with my gut and say Caroline O’Hara Burchill stands the best chance at winning this thing.
Just then the red and white colors of the lighting flash to the heavy hip hop beats of Logic’s ‘I Am The Greatest’, signaling the arrival of the infamous Red Queen.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Speaking of.
As if on cue, the fans roar with boos and jeers, though some of the rapacious boos from the crowd begin to taper off as Caroline O’Hara Burchill is seen in a white blazer and trousers outfit. Clearly, she wasn't dressed up to compete. She wears a serious expression on her face as her eyes pierce at the ring. Having a microphone on hand, Caroline brings it up to her mouth to speak.
CAROLINE O'HARA BURCHILL: Each and every single last one of you inside that ring are absolutely pathetic. I mean, seriously. You really think that I would come down to the ring and waste my time with any of you? Please. I'd stomp each and every last one of you if I actually cared.
The fans boo, but Caroline doesn't care. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes before continuing on.
BRAD STOKES: Uhhh… wait--what?
CAROLINE O'HARA BURCHILL: But see, that's the thing. I don't care, because someone like me who put on such a commanding performance during the Alpha Cup should be treated much better. I should be on the posters and in the main event matches. I'm practically the greatest thing that has ever happened to AWE, but instead of getting my rightful place on the throne that is known as glory, I'm supposed to be part of some stupid battle royale that has no incentive or gain behind it. I don't have the time nor the patience to be in a match that's just meaningless. I know my worth. I'm not stupid. So, you can be like these unenlightened dumbasses in the audience and have fun with your uneventful match. I'm not going to be packed in with a group of people who are destined to fall into obscurity.”
A smug little smirk graced the face Burchill as the fans voice their displeasure with the brash Aussie. However, she doesn't pay any attention to them as she blows a kiss towards the battle royale participants before she saunters off into the back.
BRAD STOKES: Son of a bitch pissing mother bitching—
NINA APPLEBAUM: BRADLEY!
BRAD STOKES: It just chaps my ass, you know? I was turning over a new leaf. You saw it. Everybody saw it. And now I went and blew the whole thing and now I'm evil again.
NINA APPLEBAUM: You can recover! It was just one mistake!
BRAD STOKES: No, I can’t. I’m Brad Stokes. Not Bradley Stokes. Fuck this whole being professional thing. I just fired off a ton of obscenity-laden accusatory tweets at Nate Hollis, Nina. It’s over. Ring the damn bell.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Oh dear.
Benny Stevens VS.
DING! DING! DING!
The ring looks packed as it is. All 8, well, 7 competitors go to work unloading punches onto the nearest opponent. Aaron Pace goes to work combating Dom Lawson! Hubert Smalls and Jessie Roberts team-up on Benny Stevens and Tornado Desencadenado takes Christian Jones down with an arm drag!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And we’re off to the races in our first ever inter-divisional match, and already so much has happened.
BRAD STOKES: I turned face and heel in like 5 minutes. Gotta be worth a record.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Quite possibly. Rumor has it this match is a test to see how it works for a future championship.
BRAD STOKES: Well, way I see it Tornado Desencadenado or however you say it put his lag-nap championship on the line to whoever wins this battle.
NINA APPLEBAUM: The Lagniappe Championship, you mean?
BRAD STOKES: Full disclosure? I was practicing for four hours just to say Tornado’s name right, I’m not learning to pronounce two things in one night. I may have almost turned face, but I didn’t turn that face.
Aaron Pace has Dom Lawson over at the ropes and is forcefully pounding Dom Lawson into the corner already working to lift him over the ropes but Lawson nimbly gets out of there before Aaron can maintain his offense and finds the roles reversed with Dom Lawson laying into him with heavy-handed strikes that threaten to rock Aaron Pace over the ropes with their sheer force.
Meanwhile Benny Stevens reverses course after Jessie Roberts and Hubert Smalls combined their efforts in an attempt to whip him for the ropes only for Benny to return and slam them both to the canvas with a double clothesline! Tornado Desencadenado finds his early concerns about Christian’ Jones’ height and weight advantage kick in as Jones turns the tables on TD with a swift powerslam coupled with some ground and pound punches!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Going to be a race to see who can be the last one in that ring!
BRAD STOKES: I’m done placing bets. I miss Caroline. What the fuck.
Christian Jones has TD up and forcing him to the ropes where he flips TD up and over only for the newcomer to grip the rope and land on the apron and respond to Jones’ offence with some stiff strikes that staggers the bigger man and allows for TD to slingshot himself back into the ring and take Christian Jones down with a forceful tornado DDT!
Lawson’s managed to stun Aaron Pace and has him spread across the turnbuckle leaving him open to severe elbows from Lawson in between attempts to muscle the number 1 contender of the Paramount Division over the ropes!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Aaron Pace in trouble!
BRAD STOKES: Meanwhile, Benny Stevens is fighting TWO people and actually taking it to them. Trouble is a relative term.
Indeed, as fast as he can, drops an elbow on the downed Hubert, then an elbow on the downed Jessie Roberts then lays boots down onto either of them in a flurry of hectic activity before Jessie Roberts slams a kick up hard into Benny’s chest and sends him staggering backwards into the ropes.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Hey, wait a minute…
BRAD STOKES: Who’s that at ringside?
Unseen by everyone, a larger man, “Tragik” Dexter Severin to those in the stands who immediately recognize him, has made his way to ringside. As Benny lands against the ropes Tragik is on the apron and grips Benny by the neck and yanks him backwards with enough force working in alignment with the momentum already working against Benny to pull the daredevil up and over the ropes! Severin lets him fall and innocently drops off the apron just as quickly as he’d come amid am uproar from the crowd, to say nothing of the stunned expression on Jessie and Hubert’s faces.
NINA APPLEBAUM: HE JUST ELIMINATED BENNY STEVENS! IS THAT LEGAL?!
BRAD STOKES: Who is that?!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Looks like… Dexter Severin! He’s attacking Benny on the outside!
A blindsided Benny Stevens is getting stomped outside and immediately ring security rush to both men to break them up, and pull Tragik off Benny.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It looks like they’re going to allow that elimination!
BRAD STOKES: If you ask me, Benny got whipped over the ropes and that other guy just made sure he was okay.
Hubert and Jessie are stunned, but not long enough to see a wayward Aaron Pace unleashing an irish whip on Dom Lawson that sends him careening for the two of them. Hubert acts fast and catches Dom in mid charge and SLAMS him hard into the canvas and Jessie Roberts rushes Aaron and superkicks him hard back into the corner!
NINA APPLEBAUM: This is absolute chaos in there!
BRAD STOKES: I still can’t believe Benny Stevens eliminated himself.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That is not what happened!
In fact, security has separated the two in spite of a massive struggle from both men to get at one another and find themselves being dragged up the ramp to the backstage area.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Uncalled for!
BRAD STOKES: Benny probably deserved it! Haha!
Christian Jones and Tornado find themselves trading off, for every split-second shift in momentum orchestrated by TD, Christian Jones shifts the momentum right back to himself and now has Tornado once more against the ropes attempting to lift him over to the outside.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tornado’s almost over!
BRAD STOKES: Say goodbye to the Loogie champion!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Lagniappe!
BRAD STOKES: You’re too easy, Nina, you know that? I know that it’s called the Luge Lesson Championship.
TD fights back against an eager Christian Jones who pushes with more might than TD can handle. TD coils his legs across the bottom rope and uses Christian Jones’ own momentum to suplex him quickly up and over the ropes to the outside while maintaining his grip on the ropes to a pop from the crowd!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Christian Jones is eliminated!
BRAD STOKES: And then there were 9. Or 8. Wait. Where are we here?
NINA APPLEBAUM: 5 Left, Bradley. From the 7 who started this match, excluding Caroline Burchill.
BRAD STOKES: The elimination that started my descent into heel-dom. How could I forget my sweet Caroline?
As TD climbs into the ropes Dom Lawson has reversed course on Hubert Smalls and has him worked into the corner, slamming elbow smash after elbow smash to keep Hubert incapacitated. While in the opposite corner, Jessie Roberts is working over Aaron Pace with a series of stiff strikes of her own before monkey flipping the far larger man into the center ring, leaving him open for a sudden moonsault from TD! Jessie moves in to follow up but spies Dom Lawson working Hubert up onto the corner and furiously pushing to get him over the turnbuckles.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Hubert Smalls might go over!
As Dom pushes on Hubert, Jessie moves in and slams a kick hard off Dom’s kidney that gets him off Hubert. Robert’s offense quickly has Dom literally on the ropes where she fires off a steady stream of kicks as Hubert rights himself off the turnbuckle and slams into Dom Lawson with a hard lariat that knocks the veteran off balance he he has a firm grip on the ropes and soon Jessie and Hubert are working together to try to pry Dom from the ropes but he won’t budge!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dom could go over here! Bet this makes you happy, Bradley?
BRAD STOKES: I feel no ill will towards Dom currently. Might need a vitamin B12 shot or something.
Tornado Desencadenado finds himself on the receiving end of some surprising and sudden Aaron Pace offense, reversing Tornado’s attempts at a suplex Aaron twists almost ironically TD into a corkscrew suplex and follows it up with a hard irish whip for the ropes that sends TD whipping over the ropes!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tornado Desencadenado is out!! NO! He’s still on the apron!
Aaron has rushed to the action where Dom Lawson is fighting off both Jessie AND Hubert and slammed into both with a double clothesline that knocks Dom off the ropes and down to the outside! In the same motion Hubert, Jessie and Pace find themselves off-balance hanging over the ropes and in the unexpected teetering, hanging literally by Jessie Roberts’ leg all three of them topple to the outside!
DING! DING! DING!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Unbelievable! Tornado Desencadenado has won!
BRAD STOKES: Through sheer dumb luck!
“Blow Me Away” by Breaking Benjamin hits the speakers and Tornado is on his feet to a roar of the crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Unexpected ending there, even moreso considering Tornado Desencadenado has managed to do what looked impossible at the opening bell, and win this match.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner…. TORNADO… DESENCADENADOOOOOOO!
The crowd pops as Tornado raises his championship belt!
BRAD STOKES: Pretty huge win no matter how you slice that one.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Indeed. And as the ring clears out, we’re waiting on Sam Young who has lined up a chance to talk to Tornado as soon as he makes it backstage! We go there now!
The shows cuts backstage, where AWE personality Sam Young is standing with his interview subject.
SAM YOUNG: I’m here with one of the many new faces to the Alpha Wrestling roster, The Fundamental Elemental “Tornado Descencadenado” fresh off his significant victory just now.
TD, still in his ring gear and looking exhausted, gives the camera a tired smile.
SAM YOUNG: Tornado, tonight saw you earn your first official victory in AWE. You outlasted seven, well, I guess 6, other competitors in an Inter-Divisional Over the Top Rope Elimination Battle Royal. To what do you credit your performance?
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Luck always plays a factor in multi-man matches like Battle Royals. There are so many variables in them you need a little bit of luck to make it through to the end. Beyond that? Maintaining my focus and energy throughout the fight.
SAM YOUNG: What does this win mean in terms of your standing here at Alpha Wrestling?
There are a few moments of dead air as Tornado contemplates the question.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: I, uh, well, it proves on this particular night I can outlast all those talented wrestlers. And I’m proud of the fact I earned the win for the Resilience Division in this Inter-Divisional Match. It might not translate into having actual ‘bragging rights’ over the Paramount Division wrestlers, but it could be a start of a rivalry- you know: all done in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
SAM YOUNG: So you’d be up for more of these Inter-Divisional Matches?
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Sure.
SAM YOUNG: You stated before the Battle Royal that if you were eliminated you would award the personal responsible the title belt you got from Jack Hugg at Massacre #8.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Yes. I wanted to continue to do what Jack Hugg did for me two weeks ago: give someone an opportunity. I know the ‘Lagniappe Championship’ isn’t recognized by Alpha Wrestling, but I think if it’s competed for, even unofficially, that will give it a special worth of its own.
It’s at this point Tornado reaches down to something out of camera and produces the ‘Lagniappe Championship. He sets the strap on his shoulder.
SAM YOUNG: So it’s your intention to continue to put the belt on the line in future matches?
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: In every fight I’m in, yes.
SAM YOUNG: You are the one who christened the belt the ‘Lagniappe Championship’. But are you aware of its original name and history?
Tornado did not. He shook his head to signal this.
SAM YOUNG: I did some research. It’s the old World Championship from the Bay Area Wrestling Alliance. Jack Hugg won the belt back in 1988, and took it with him when he left the company in 1989.
TORNADO DESECADENADO: Oh. That’s interesting.
SAM YOUNG: Even more interesting it’s the last championship belt designed by legendary artisan Gunter Hochstein. That, and its unique pedigree, makes it a sought after item for collectors.
The young wrestler gave the belt, and then Young, a bemused look.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Really?
SAM YOUNG: Yes. Previous Hochstein originals have been sold for anywhere between $7000 to $40000.
Tornado’s eyes widen. He glances again at the title. He repeats himself.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Uh, really?
SAM YOUNG: Yes. Does that affect your plans?
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Plans?
The Fundamental Elemental looks distracted; like he’s doing heavy duty ciphering in his head.
SAM YOUNG: Your plans to put the ‘Lagniappe Championship’ on the line in all of your matches.
More dead air. Finally, reluctantly, TD answers.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Well, uh, no. I mean, it shouldn’t, should it?
The scene fades out then; the question unanswered.
SAM YOUNG: I’m here with one of the many new faces to the Alpha Wrestling roster, The Fundamental Elemental “Tornado Descencadenado” fresh off his significant victory just now.
TD, still in his ring gear and looking exhausted, gives the camera a tired smile.
SAM YOUNG: Tornado, tonight saw you earn your first official victory in AWE. You outlasted seven, well, I guess 6, other competitors in an Inter-Divisional Over the Top Rope Elimination Battle Royal. To what do you credit your performance?
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Luck always plays a factor in multi-man matches like Battle Royals. There are so many variables in them you need a little bit of luck to make it through to the end. Beyond that? Maintaining my focus and energy throughout the fight.
SAM YOUNG: What does this win mean in terms of your standing here at Alpha Wrestling?
There are a few moments of dead air as Tornado contemplates the question.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: I, uh, well, it proves on this particular night I can outlast all those talented wrestlers. And I’m proud of the fact I earned the win for the Resilience Division in this Inter-Divisional Match. It might not translate into having actual ‘bragging rights’ over the Paramount Division wrestlers, but it could be a start of a rivalry- you know: all done in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
SAM YOUNG: So you’d be up for more of these Inter-Divisional Matches?
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Sure.
SAM YOUNG: You stated before the Battle Royal that if you were eliminated you would award the personal responsible the title belt you got from Jack Hugg at Massacre #8.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Yes. I wanted to continue to do what Jack Hugg did for me two weeks ago: give someone an opportunity. I know the ‘Lagniappe Championship’ isn’t recognized by Alpha Wrestling, but I think if it’s competed for, even unofficially, that will give it a special worth of its own.
It’s at this point Tornado reaches down to something out of camera and produces the ‘Lagniappe Championship. He sets the strap on his shoulder.
SAM YOUNG: So it’s your intention to continue to put the belt on the line in future matches?
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: In every fight I’m in, yes.
SAM YOUNG: You are the one who christened the belt the ‘Lagniappe Championship’. But are you aware of its original name and history?
Tornado did not. He shook his head to signal this.
SAM YOUNG: I did some research. It’s the old World Championship from the Bay Area Wrestling Alliance. Jack Hugg won the belt back in 1988, and took it with him when he left the company in 1989.
TORNADO DESECADENADO: Oh. That’s interesting.
SAM YOUNG: Even more interesting it’s the last championship belt designed by legendary artisan Gunter Hochstein. That, and its unique pedigree, makes it a sought after item for collectors.
The young wrestler gave the belt, and then Young, a bemused look.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Really?
SAM YOUNG: Yes. Previous Hochstein originals have been sold for anywhere between $7000 to $40000.
Tornado’s eyes widen. He glances again at the title. He repeats himself.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Uh, really?
SAM YOUNG: Yes. Does that affect your plans?
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Plans?
The Fundamental Elemental looks distracted; like he’s doing heavy duty ciphering in his head.
SAM YOUNG: Your plans to put the ‘Lagniappe Championship’ on the line in all of your matches.
More dead air. Finally, reluctantly, TD answers.
TORNADO DESENCADENADO: Well, uh, no. I mean, it shouldn’t, should it?
The scene fades out then; the question unanswered.
S.U.C.K. VS. Blue Impulse
BRAD STOKES: Get a load of that, Nina. Trinidadian Dessert there just found himself on an impromptu episode of Antiques Roadshow.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s amazing. Apparently the belt Tornado Desencadenado won from Jack Hugg last massacre, the belt he's calling the Lagniappe Championship,
BRAD STOKES: May as well call it unsanctioned as hell.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, it's rare collectible.
BRAD STOKES: Exactly. Perhaps I was wrong about that guy who’s name I’ve chosen to murder. Maybe we can be friends after all?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Gold digger alert. We go now to some tag team action, fight fans!
BRAD STOKES: Okay wait. Hold up. Who are these guys Blue Impulse is facing again?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Stereophonic Urban Calamity Killaz, otherwise known as S.U.C.K.
BRAD STOKES: That's their team name?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Yes.
BRAD STOKES: Man I love that. That’s a name I can wrap my head around.
NINA APPLEBAUM: As opposed to Tornado Desencadenado?
BRAD STOKES: Right. Why do people have to choose these silly names? Now Sterephonic Urban Calamity Killaz? That’s a name I can get behind.
Inside the ring, Hunter Storms is surprisingly starting off in the match against the very lanky Robbie Robertson who just gives him a goofy smile.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It's been awhile since we've last seen Storms actually in the ring, especially after what happened last show.
BRAD STOKES: The dragon kid is dragging him down, Nina.
NINA APPEBAUM: Look, it's probably just a dumb argument between the two.
The two lock-up in the middle of the ring, and Robbie easily shoves Hunter back into the corner. The veteran easily bounces straight out of it, landing a charging forearm to the giant Robbie. The taller man looks down at Storms before clubbing him down to the canvas with a MASSIVE standing clothesline!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Good lord! He may as well have just decapitated Storms!
Robbie soon bounces right off the ropes looking for a splash, but Storms rolls out of the way! Not wasting time, he immediately starts stomping down Robbie, and follows it up a jumping elbow drop right to the spine.
BRAD STOKES: Now there's the viciousness from Storms. That's what a veteran should be doing to rookies like these guys.
Storms lifts Robbie up off the mat and whips Robbie into the ropes. On the rebound, Robbie looks for another clothesline but Storms smartly ducks it this time and when Robbie rebounds off the other set of ropes, Storms drops him with a huge spinning spinebuster and follows it up with a side press.
1....
And Robbie easily tosses Storms right off!
BRAD STOKES: That guy sure is fat, though, hey?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Brad, be nice.
BRAD STOKES: I think we already saw how well that goes, Nina. I can’t be tamed. I’m like a bear cat. You know the song.
Unsatisfied with the result, Storms wildly lands a snap kick to the head of the big man, visibly stunning him as Storms marches over into his corner and tags in Hanzo who looks at him surprised.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Uh-oh, here comes the friction between the two.
The two start to argue and after several seconds go by, Storms suddenly smacks Hanzo across the face before hip tossing his own partner straight into the ring and stepping out onto the apron, barking orders at Hanzo as Robbie walks over to the masked wrestler. As Hanzo stands up, he soon finds himself on the receiving end of a powerslam in the center of the ring. Making the tag to Alex, the smaller of the two springs up on the top rope and comes crashing down onto Hanzo with a splash!
BRAD STOKES: Hey look, ya boy Skinny---
NINA APPLEBAUM: Shut it Brad.
Clutching at his stomach, Hanzo rolls himself up to both knees only to be met with a vicious enzuigiri from Alex and he collapses back down onto the mat as Alex moves in for the cover.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Alex looking for the upset!
1......
2......
KICKOUT!
BRAD STOKES: Damn, ya boy couldn't hold him down long enough.
Alex begins to lay the boots to Hanzo before rebounding off the ropes and dropping a stiff elbow to his sternum. Reeling from the pain, Hanzo rolls toward his corner looking for the tag, but Storms is nowhere on the apron and is instead staring at Hanzo through the bottom rope from the floor.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Oh c'mon, not again!
BRAD STOKES: The Dragon needs to learn to stop being such a pussy, Nina. Hunter is teaching him the ways of the herd, so back off!
Storms gives Hanzo a cut throat signal as he starts to walk his way around the ring.
BRAD STOKES: Hey, look, Nina! The rhino’s coming too close to the car.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Making me nervous.
Storms reaches the commentary, but rather than take a seat, he instead grabs a chair from nearby and shifts his focus to the hulking Robbie on the apron as the referee is checking on Hanzo still.
BRAD STOKES: And you were nervous.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Hunter Storms is s ruthless as they come on his best day, I don’t want to be in the way when he gets mad.
All the while Alex is showboating to the crowd, Robbie is cheering him on only to crumple right off the apron as Storms slams the steel chair off of his backside. He slams the chair against Robbie's back once more before dropping it at his feet. Alex hasn't appeared to quite notice this as Storms slides into the ring. Noticing the threat now, Alex charges him and instead finds himself to be lifted into an Argentine Backbreaker Rack and violently slammed into the mat with an Inverted Death Valley Driver!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Storms just decimated S.U.C.K! The ref never saw a damn thing!
Storms quickly slides out of the ring as Alex appears to lay out cold in the middle of the ring and he starts barking at Hanzo to make the cover. The Dragon slowly crawls his way over to Alex and drapes an arm over him.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I can't believe this!
BRAD STOKES: I sure can! That was genius!
The ref drops down into position, making the count
1…
2…
BRAD STOKES: Robbie's just now seeing the cover as he's still on the outside!
3!!
Hanzo rolls himself off of Alex as Storms continues to look on unimpressed from the outside before heading up the ramp.
“No Scared” by ONE OK ROCK kicks onto the speakers as Hanzo just now rolls himself to the outside while Robbie slides in to check on Alex's condition.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Unbelievable is all I have to say.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: And your winner….. BLUE….. IMPULLLLLLLSSSSE!
BRAD STOKES: C'mon Nina, that was a genius plan by Storms! He practically took care of those goons by himself!
NINA APPLEBAUM: It still wasn't fair Brad.
BRAD STOKES: Oh, cry me a river, woman.
NINA APPLEBAUM: This still leaves the question of whether or not the duo of Blue Impulse will still be able to co-operate as a time, but at this rate it looks like they're fading fast Brad.
BRAD STOKES: I'm sure they'll be fine, but if you think it'll end up like that, then so be it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Let’s go backstage where Bindy Trent is up to something.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s amazing. Apparently the belt Tornado Desencadenado won from Jack Hugg last massacre, the belt he's calling the Lagniappe Championship,
BRAD STOKES: May as well call it unsanctioned as hell.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, it's rare collectible.
BRAD STOKES: Exactly. Perhaps I was wrong about that guy who’s name I’ve chosen to murder. Maybe we can be friends after all?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Gold digger alert. We go now to some tag team action, fight fans!
BRAD STOKES: Okay wait. Hold up. Who are these guys Blue Impulse is facing again?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Stereophonic Urban Calamity Killaz, otherwise known as S.U.C.K.
BRAD STOKES: That's their team name?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Yes.
BRAD STOKES: Man I love that. That’s a name I can wrap my head around.
NINA APPLEBAUM: As opposed to Tornado Desencadenado?
BRAD STOKES: Right. Why do people have to choose these silly names? Now Sterephonic Urban Calamity Killaz? That’s a name I can get behind.
Inside the ring, Hunter Storms is surprisingly starting off in the match against the very lanky Robbie Robertson who just gives him a goofy smile.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It's been awhile since we've last seen Storms actually in the ring, especially after what happened last show.
BRAD STOKES: The dragon kid is dragging him down, Nina.
NINA APPEBAUM: Look, it's probably just a dumb argument between the two.
The two lock-up in the middle of the ring, and Robbie easily shoves Hunter back into the corner. The veteran easily bounces straight out of it, landing a charging forearm to the giant Robbie. The taller man looks down at Storms before clubbing him down to the canvas with a MASSIVE standing clothesline!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Good lord! He may as well have just decapitated Storms!
Robbie soon bounces right off the ropes looking for a splash, but Storms rolls out of the way! Not wasting time, he immediately starts stomping down Robbie, and follows it up a jumping elbow drop right to the spine.
BRAD STOKES: Now there's the viciousness from Storms. That's what a veteran should be doing to rookies like these guys.
Storms lifts Robbie up off the mat and whips Robbie into the ropes. On the rebound, Robbie looks for another clothesline but Storms smartly ducks it this time and when Robbie rebounds off the other set of ropes, Storms drops him with a huge spinning spinebuster and follows it up with a side press.
1....
And Robbie easily tosses Storms right off!
BRAD STOKES: That guy sure is fat, though, hey?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Brad, be nice.
BRAD STOKES: I think we already saw how well that goes, Nina. I can’t be tamed. I’m like a bear cat. You know the song.
Unsatisfied with the result, Storms wildly lands a snap kick to the head of the big man, visibly stunning him as Storms marches over into his corner and tags in Hanzo who looks at him surprised.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Uh-oh, here comes the friction between the two.
The two start to argue and after several seconds go by, Storms suddenly smacks Hanzo across the face before hip tossing his own partner straight into the ring and stepping out onto the apron, barking orders at Hanzo as Robbie walks over to the masked wrestler. As Hanzo stands up, he soon finds himself on the receiving end of a powerslam in the center of the ring. Making the tag to Alex, the smaller of the two springs up on the top rope and comes crashing down onto Hanzo with a splash!
BRAD STOKES: Hey look, ya boy Skinny---
NINA APPLEBAUM: Shut it Brad.
Clutching at his stomach, Hanzo rolls himself up to both knees only to be met with a vicious enzuigiri from Alex and he collapses back down onto the mat as Alex moves in for the cover.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Alex looking for the upset!
1......
2......
KICKOUT!
BRAD STOKES: Damn, ya boy couldn't hold him down long enough.
Alex begins to lay the boots to Hanzo before rebounding off the ropes and dropping a stiff elbow to his sternum. Reeling from the pain, Hanzo rolls toward his corner looking for the tag, but Storms is nowhere on the apron and is instead staring at Hanzo through the bottom rope from the floor.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Oh c'mon, not again!
BRAD STOKES: The Dragon needs to learn to stop being such a pussy, Nina. Hunter is teaching him the ways of the herd, so back off!
Storms gives Hanzo a cut throat signal as he starts to walk his way around the ring.
BRAD STOKES: Hey, look, Nina! The rhino’s coming too close to the car.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Making me nervous.
Storms reaches the commentary, but rather than take a seat, he instead grabs a chair from nearby and shifts his focus to the hulking Robbie on the apron as the referee is checking on Hanzo still.
BRAD STOKES: And you were nervous.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Hunter Storms is s ruthless as they come on his best day, I don’t want to be in the way when he gets mad.
All the while Alex is showboating to the crowd, Robbie is cheering him on only to crumple right off the apron as Storms slams the steel chair off of his backside. He slams the chair against Robbie's back once more before dropping it at his feet. Alex hasn't appeared to quite notice this as Storms slides into the ring. Noticing the threat now, Alex charges him and instead finds himself to be lifted into an Argentine Backbreaker Rack and violently slammed into the mat with an Inverted Death Valley Driver!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Storms just decimated S.U.C.K! The ref never saw a damn thing!
Storms quickly slides out of the ring as Alex appears to lay out cold in the middle of the ring and he starts barking at Hanzo to make the cover. The Dragon slowly crawls his way over to Alex and drapes an arm over him.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I can't believe this!
BRAD STOKES: I sure can! That was genius!
The ref drops down into position, making the count
1…
2…
BRAD STOKES: Robbie's just now seeing the cover as he's still on the outside!
3!!
DING! DING! DING!
Hanzo rolls himself off of Alex as Storms continues to look on unimpressed from the outside before heading up the ramp.
“No Scared” by ONE OK ROCK kicks onto the speakers as Hanzo just now rolls himself to the outside while Robbie slides in to check on Alex's condition.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Unbelievable is all I have to say.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: And your winner….. BLUE….. IMPULLLLLLLSSSSE!
BRAD STOKES: C'mon Nina, that was a genius plan by Storms! He practically took care of those goons by himself!
NINA APPLEBAUM: It still wasn't fair Brad.
BRAD STOKES: Oh, cry me a river, woman.
NINA APPLEBAUM: This still leaves the question of whether or not the duo of Blue Impulse will still be able to co-operate as a time, but at this rate it looks like they're fading fast Brad.
BRAD STOKES: I'm sure they'll be fine, but if you think it'll end up like that, then so be it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Let’s go backstage where Bindy Trent is up to something.
BINDY TRENT: Is this a bad time?
The gruff animalistic grunt that Aaron Pace gave as a reply was neither a yes, nor was it a no, in the eyes of Bindy Trent as she approached him. The man was sitting backstage, still in his ring gear, recovering from the match he’d just taken part of. He drank from a plastic water bottle, which made the woman cringe a bit. Disposable bottles were soooo bad for the environment, but she decided to put a pin in that thought and get back to it later. She was dragging a small suitcase with her, which seemed odd. Why hadn’t she left it in the locker room?
BINDY TRENT: I know you’re probably not very happy about your match, huh?
He scoffed, ready to throw his bottle, but thought twice about it.
AARON PACE: It was highway robbery! It was obviously very clear that I was the most intimidating threat in that ring, which is why those jerks conspired against me. I’m having Abcde bring the PACECAR around, and the first one I see I swear I’m going to run over.
BINDY TRENT: Mmhmm, mhmm, you COULD do that. Or you could …
As she trailed off she leaned forward, and extended her hand with a bit of flourish, encouraging Aaron to finish the thought. It looked as if a light bulb had gone off in his head though, and he nodded, catching on.
AARON PACE: I should have Abcde herd them into a group, so I can run them all down at once!
His answer made her sigh. Aaron looked disappointed as well at the fact he hadn’t been right. He was ALWAYS right.
BINDY TRENT: You could congratulate Tornado Desencadenado on his victory. I think that would be a pretty nice thing to do. Don’t you?
The man mumbled something under his breath that the cameras didn’t quite catch, and if Bindy did she chose to ignore. Aaron was in the middle of a transformation. He had decided that the “bad” guys in AWE just weren’t the sort of losers he could seen as being a part of, which had spurred him on to try and be “good.” It was something that he’d found much more difficult that he could have anticipated, which was were Bindy came in.
Bindy was great at being “good.” Even when she was losing she was smiling. She was nice to even the gross wrestlers he wouldn’t think of stepping within five feet up in case they might try and reach out and touch his greatness. In short, he needed Bindy to teach him her ways and so he’d asked if she would be what he had decided should be called his “Nice Coach.” Of course she’d leapt at the opportunity and was diving right into the role.
AARON PACE: Congratulate him? For what? If anyone wants anyone to blow hot air, he should be the one doing it himself. Get it? Tornado? Blowing? Because he fucking s..
Bindy cuts him off, raising her voice loudly enough to overpower his.
BINDY TRENT: Aah! Ahhh! Aahhhhhh! NICE! We’re being nice. Okay, I figured this was going to be a bit of a challenge, but that’s okay because I came prepared with a few different options. People learn different ways, we just have to find what’s right for you. Sooo ….
She unzipped her suitcase and pulled out a large piece of rolled up poster board, the kind you’d expect to see a kid’s school report glued to. This one had a big chart drawn on it. The top was labeled “Aaron’s Week Of Niceness!” written in glitter pen.
BINDY TRENT: See? I’ve got the days of the week plotted out and every day you can earn various stickers for doing good things! You can say something nice to someone, help someone out, do something charitable. I have a whole list in the bag.
Aaron didn’t quite seem to be as thrilled with the idea as she was.
BINDY TRENT: Let me finish! You see if you get a sticker for every day, and fill up a whole week you get a prize! And if you happen to be able to fill up every day for three weeks, then you get like … well an even bigger prize. Eh? Eh?!
Now she was ready to hear his response, which of course was going to be as enthusiastic as her. Right?
AARON PACE: A prize? What am I, seven? What could you have that someone like me could want? I’ve got it all. Money? Power? Fame? Weapons Grade Plutonium?
BINDY TRENT: No, um … I was thinking more a few king size Snickers? A couple movie tickets too?
She started rolling up the poster board, seeing that Aaron wasn’t exactly like this current idea. She’d really thought the Snickers would be a winner too.
AARON PACE: I’m just not that into Snickers and movie tickets.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t disappointed, but she put it behind her. That’s why she came with options after all.
BINDY TRENT: Well … we could always get different candy bars. We’ll just set this idea aside for now though. I’ve got a couple more for you to look over. Let me see your hand?
Aaron gave her a questionable look, but eventually gave in and held out his hand for her. She took out a large yellow elastic rubber bracelet and placed it around his wrist. Written on it, next to a smilie face emoji were the words, “It doesn’t cost a penny to be kind!”
AARON PACE: So what? I’m just supposed to look at this dumb thing and that’ll make me nice?
BINDY TRENT: Well yes, it’s there to remind you, and also-
Sliding her finger under the band she pulled it back several inches and then let it snap against the skin of his wrist.
AARON PACE: Ow!!
BINDY TRENT: It can help to provide some negative reinforcement as well. If you say or do something bad or mean, you just snap it against your wrist so you don’t want to do it again! I used to use one of these to keep me from biting my nails.
AARON PACE: This is stupid.
If he was purposefully trying to try her patience well, Aaron was succeeding at that, but he wasn’t about to best Bindy just yet. It was obvious he was probably still just pouting over his loss, and she was the convenient person to take it out on since Abcde wasn’t here yet. She briefly looked annoyed, but tried to put a happy smile on her face right after.
BINDY TRENT: Maybe I’m getting a little bit ahead of myself. Cart before the horse and all that. Huh?
She took a seat beside him on the large cargo trunk he was sitting on.
BINDY TRENT: This isn’t stupid, it’s just different than what you’re used to is all. I know it’s hard but come on, you’re Aaron Friggin’ Pace. I bet if you really committed to it and actually put in some effort you could be THE nicest, and THE most goodest wrestler around. I mean, I know you could. Right?
Maybe a little bit of ego stroking would give Aaron a nudge in the right direction.
AARON PACE: How do you deal with it? It makes me want to you know, K.Y.S… or I guess in my case, K.M.S.
BINDY TRENT: Well when I get K.M.S. I usually have some hot tea and a couple Pamprin or Midol.
Sagely, she nodded, feeling that her advice was great even though what he said had just gone right over her head.
AARON PACE: … No, ugh. Forget it, we’ll do your d… I mean, ‘cool’ nice thing. But if this goes wrong, I will wrap this bracelet around your throat and strangle you. I mean… make you a nice gift basket.
He almost said he’d beat her with it but, hey, progress! Bindy reached over and snapped his wrist band again, considerably harder this time. Maybe she was going to like this whole negative reinforcement thing after all!
BINDY TRENT: That’s the spirit Aaron! I’m actually on my way right now to sneak a plate of good luck vegan and gluten free cupcakes into Dare’s locker room. Why don’t you help me? It’ll earn you a sticker on the chart. Eeehhh?
AARON PACE: Okay, okay fine, I’ll do the good luck cupcakes thing but… I won’t be happy about it. I’ll pretend to be happy about it because apparently that’s what people do to feel alive.
At least it made her smile, as much as Aaron was only begrudgingly doing this.
BINDY TRENT: Well you’re trying, and that’s a start, so ….
She took out his chart, and then a small pack of stickers. On the first Sunday listed on it she put a sticker of a bunch of grapes, that read “GRAPE JOB!” Bindy showed it to Aaron, and gave him quite the thumbs up. He tried to return a smile but ended up looking more like a shark with something caught in it’s teeth.
BINDY TRENT: Just remember why you’re doing this. You wanted to be good, because it’s either that or you have to go be best friends with Caroline Burchill, Bryan Williams, and Austin Gale. There’s no in between.
AARON PACE: I’d rather KMS.
BINDY TRENT: That’s the spirit!
Bindy locked her arm with Aaron’s at the elbow, guiding, maybe even dragging him slightly off with her in the direction of Dare’s locker room so that they could perform this good deed, and perhaps give Aaron his first lesson in being nice.
The gruff animalistic grunt that Aaron Pace gave as a reply was neither a yes, nor was it a no, in the eyes of Bindy Trent as she approached him. The man was sitting backstage, still in his ring gear, recovering from the match he’d just taken part of. He drank from a plastic water bottle, which made the woman cringe a bit. Disposable bottles were soooo bad for the environment, but she decided to put a pin in that thought and get back to it later. She was dragging a small suitcase with her, which seemed odd. Why hadn’t she left it in the locker room?
BINDY TRENT: I know you’re probably not very happy about your match, huh?
He scoffed, ready to throw his bottle, but thought twice about it.
AARON PACE: It was highway robbery! It was obviously very clear that I was the most intimidating threat in that ring, which is why those jerks conspired against me. I’m having Abcde bring the PACECAR around, and the first one I see I swear I’m going to run over.
BINDY TRENT: Mmhmm, mhmm, you COULD do that. Or you could …
As she trailed off she leaned forward, and extended her hand with a bit of flourish, encouraging Aaron to finish the thought. It looked as if a light bulb had gone off in his head though, and he nodded, catching on.
AARON PACE: I should have Abcde herd them into a group, so I can run them all down at once!
His answer made her sigh. Aaron looked disappointed as well at the fact he hadn’t been right. He was ALWAYS right.
BINDY TRENT: You could congratulate Tornado Desencadenado on his victory. I think that would be a pretty nice thing to do. Don’t you?
The man mumbled something under his breath that the cameras didn’t quite catch, and if Bindy did she chose to ignore. Aaron was in the middle of a transformation. He had decided that the “bad” guys in AWE just weren’t the sort of losers he could seen as being a part of, which had spurred him on to try and be “good.” It was something that he’d found much more difficult that he could have anticipated, which was were Bindy came in.
Bindy was great at being “good.” Even when she was losing she was smiling. She was nice to even the gross wrestlers he wouldn’t think of stepping within five feet up in case they might try and reach out and touch his greatness. In short, he needed Bindy to teach him her ways and so he’d asked if she would be what he had decided should be called his “Nice Coach.” Of course she’d leapt at the opportunity and was diving right into the role.
AARON PACE: Congratulate him? For what? If anyone wants anyone to blow hot air, he should be the one doing it himself. Get it? Tornado? Blowing? Because he fucking s..
Bindy cuts him off, raising her voice loudly enough to overpower his.
BINDY TRENT: Aah! Ahhh! Aahhhhhh! NICE! We’re being nice. Okay, I figured this was going to be a bit of a challenge, but that’s okay because I came prepared with a few different options. People learn different ways, we just have to find what’s right for you. Sooo ….
She unzipped her suitcase and pulled out a large piece of rolled up poster board, the kind you’d expect to see a kid’s school report glued to. This one had a big chart drawn on it. The top was labeled “Aaron’s Week Of Niceness!” written in glitter pen.
BINDY TRENT: See? I’ve got the days of the week plotted out and every day you can earn various stickers for doing good things! You can say something nice to someone, help someone out, do something charitable. I have a whole list in the bag.
Aaron didn’t quite seem to be as thrilled with the idea as she was.
BINDY TRENT: Let me finish! You see if you get a sticker for every day, and fill up a whole week you get a prize! And if you happen to be able to fill up every day for three weeks, then you get like … well an even bigger prize. Eh? Eh?!
Now she was ready to hear his response, which of course was going to be as enthusiastic as her. Right?
AARON PACE: A prize? What am I, seven? What could you have that someone like me could want? I’ve got it all. Money? Power? Fame? Weapons Grade Plutonium?
BINDY TRENT: No, um … I was thinking more a few king size Snickers? A couple movie tickets too?
She started rolling up the poster board, seeing that Aaron wasn’t exactly like this current idea. She’d really thought the Snickers would be a winner too.
AARON PACE: I’m just not that into Snickers and movie tickets.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t disappointed, but she put it behind her. That’s why she came with options after all.
BINDY TRENT: Well … we could always get different candy bars. We’ll just set this idea aside for now though. I’ve got a couple more for you to look over. Let me see your hand?
Aaron gave her a questionable look, but eventually gave in and held out his hand for her. She took out a large yellow elastic rubber bracelet and placed it around his wrist. Written on it, next to a smilie face emoji were the words, “It doesn’t cost a penny to be kind!”
AARON PACE: So what? I’m just supposed to look at this dumb thing and that’ll make me nice?
BINDY TRENT: Well yes, it’s there to remind you, and also-
Sliding her finger under the band she pulled it back several inches and then let it snap against the skin of his wrist.
AARON PACE: Ow!!
BINDY TRENT: It can help to provide some negative reinforcement as well. If you say or do something bad or mean, you just snap it against your wrist so you don’t want to do it again! I used to use one of these to keep me from biting my nails.
AARON PACE: This is stupid.
If he was purposefully trying to try her patience well, Aaron was succeeding at that, but he wasn’t about to best Bindy just yet. It was obvious he was probably still just pouting over his loss, and she was the convenient person to take it out on since Abcde wasn’t here yet. She briefly looked annoyed, but tried to put a happy smile on her face right after.
BINDY TRENT: Maybe I’m getting a little bit ahead of myself. Cart before the horse and all that. Huh?
She took a seat beside him on the large cargo trunk he was sitting on.
BINDY TRENT: This isn’t stupid, it’s just different than what you’re used to is all. I know it’s hard but come on, you’re Aaron Friggin’ Pace. I bet if you really committed to it and actually put in some effort you could be THE nicest, and THE most goodest wrestler around. I mean, I know you could. Right?
Maybe a little bit of ego stroking would give Aaron a nudge in the right direction.
AARON PACE: How do you deal with it? It makes me want to you know, K.Y.S… or I guess in my case, K.M.S.
BINDY TRENT: Well when I get K.M.S. I usually have some hot tea and a couple Pamprin or Midol.
Sagely, she nodded, feeling that her advice was great even though what he said had just gone right over her head.
AARON PACE: … No, ugh. Forget it, we’ll do your d… I mean, ‘cool’ nice thing. But if this goes wrong, I will wrap this bracelet around your throat and strangle you. I mean… make you a nice gift basket.
He almost said he’d beat her with it but, hey, progress! Bindy reached over and snapped his wrist band again, considerably harder this time. Maybe she was going to like this whole negative reinforcement thing after all!
BINDY TRENT: That’s the spirit Aaron! I’m actually on my way right now to sneak a plate of good luck vegan and gluten free cupcakes into Dare’s locker room. Why don’t you help me? It’ll earn you a sticker on the chart. Eeehhh?
AARON PACE: Okay, okay fine, I’ll do the good luck cupcakes thing but… I won’t be happy about it. I’ll pretend to be happy about it because apparently that’s what people do to feel alive.
At least it made her smile, as much as Aaron was only begrudgingly doing this.
BINDY TRENT: Well you’re trying, and that’s a start, so ….
She took out his chart, and then a small pack of stickers. On the first Sunday listed on it she put a sticker of a bunch of grapes, that read “GRAPE JOB!” Bindy showed it to Aaron, and gave him quite the thumbs up. He tried to return a smile but ended up looking more like a shark with something caught in it’s teeth.
BINDY TRENT: Just remember why you’re doing this. You wanted to be good, because it’s either that or you have to go be best friends with Caroline Burchill, Bryan Williams, and Austin Gale. There’s no in between.
AARON PACE: I’d rather KMS.
BINDY TRENT: That’s the spirit!
Bindy locked her arm with Aaron’s at the elbow, guiding, maybe even dragging him slightly off with her in the direction of Dare’s locker room so that they could perform this good deed, and perhaps give Aaron his first lesson in being nice.
Close up on the sizzle of a hamburger patty cooking to perfection on a large grill surrounded by plenty of varied meats and grilled veggies as a set of tongs lifts a set of ribs.
Pull out to a wide shot.
Pull out to a wide shot.
The man speaks in a southern drawl as he plates the food. Around him kids play happily.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: Hello. I'm R.J. Soylentgreen, owner and C.E.O. of Soylent Green Industries. For about ten years now I've been finding smart solutions to everyday problems and helping to make your lives easier and stress-free.
He smiles and gives a plate to a young boy who takes a bite of his burger right off the plate and moans with satisfaction. As he chews,
R.J. JUNIOR: Dad, where's mom?
Little R.J. Junior looks around curiously as his dad's jaw sets a moment before lightening up and tousling his son's hair.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: I don't know, son. Go eat your burger.
His son runs off to enjoy his food. R.J. closes the lid on the grill and has the camera follow him as he walks along the patio.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: They sure do like to talk these days, don't they? The liberals, the conservatives, the social justice warriors, my kids, all of them making a fine how do you do and making nothing but one great big ruckus. But I didn't make Soylent Green Industries to add to partisan topics on wealth inequality, gender disparity, food crises and just about all the modern dilemmas we have to deal with nowadays. No. I founded Soylent Green Industries to solve these problems. Out of food? Find a way to make more.
His son runs up looking concerned.
R.J. JUNIOR: I've looked everywhere, dad! I can't find mom!
R.J. looks at his son with a sudden gleam of anger at being interrupted. His fist clenches around the tongs still in his hand before remembering the camera and he softens. He tousles the kids hair again.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: I'm sure she'll turn up, son. How's your burger?
The small boy's face turns from concern to pure enjoyment.
R.J. JUNIOR: So good!
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: So glad. Now go finish your dinner. Daddy's cutting a commercial, okay? Sheesh. Remind me of your mom, heh heh.
His son exits off screen. R.J.'s smile returns after a momentary onset of darkness and entrenched fury.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: In a world beset by problems, Soylent Green Industries is out to find solutions. Sure, in the past we've had our naysayers, but after they get to see our production behind closed doors, you never hear them nay saying again, do ya? Exactly. Soylent Green Industries is solving so many issues like
- Drought.
- Famine.
- The Homeless.
- Abusive Family Life.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: Hell, just about any opposition to progress? Soylent Green Industries finds a way to fix that problem.
Again R.J. Junior stomps up, this time with tears of worry.
R.J. JUNIOR: Dad, the neighbor just said they saw you hit mom with a--
R.J. looks very unimpressed. The feed cuts rather abruptly.
Close up of a set of tongs grilling a fine sizzle into a set of round steaks on the grill.
Pull out to R.J. looking more relaxed in the solitude of his backyard grilling his food. He smiles to the camera.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: Mmmm. Gonna be eating good tonight. Remember: Soylent Green Industries solves problems. We don't make problems. Just how it should be.
He licks his lips as he coats another set of ribs with barbecue sauce as the scene fades to voice over.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: Hello. I'm R.J. Soylentgreen, owner and C.E.O. of Soylent Green Industries. For about ten years now I've been finding smart solutions to everyday problems and helping to make your lives easier and stress-free.
He smiles and gives a plate to a young boy who takes a bite of his burger right off the plate and moans with satisfaction. As he chews,
R.J. JUNIOR: Dad, where's mom?
Little R.J. Junior looks around curiously as his dad's jaw sets a moment before lightening up and tousling his son's hair.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: I don't know, son. Go eat your burger.
His son runs off to enjoy his food. R.J. closes the lid on the grill and has the camera follow him as he walks along the patio.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: They sure do like to talk these days, don't they? The liberals, the conservatives, the social justice warriors, my kids, all of them making a fine how do you do and making nothing but one great big ruckus. But I didn't make Soylent Green Industries to add to partisan topics on wealth inequality, gender disparity, food crises and just about all the modern dilemmas we have to deal with nowadays. No. I founded Soylent Green Industries to solve these problems. Out of food? Find a way to make more.
His son runs up looking concerned.
R.J. JUNIOR: I've looked everywhere, dad! I can't find mom!
R.J. looks at his son with a sudden gleam of anger at being interrupted. His fist clenches around the tongs still in his hand before remembering the camera and he softens. He tousles the kids hair again.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: I'm sure she'll turn up, son. How's your burger?
The small boy's face turns from concern to pure enjoyment.
R.J. JUNIOR: So good!
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: So glad. Now go finish your dinner. Daddy's cutting a commercial, okay? Sheesh. Remind me of your mom, heh heh.
His son exits off screen. R.J.'s smile returns after a momentary onset of darkness and entrenched fury.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: In a world beset by problems, Soylent Green Industries is out to find solutions. Sure, in the past we've had our naysayers, but after they get to see our production behind closed doors, you never hear them nay saying again, do ya? Exactly. Soylent Green Industries is solving so many issues like
- Drought.
- Famine.
- The Homeless.
- Abusive Family Life.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: Hell, just about any opposition to progress? Soylent Green Industries finds a way to fix that problem.
Again R.J. Junior stomps up, this time with tears of worry.
R.J. JUNIOR: Dad, the neighbor just said they saw you hit mom with a--
R.J. looks very unimpressed. The feed cuts rather abruptly.
Close up of a set of tongs grilling a fine sizzle into a set of round steaks on the grill.
Pull out to R.J. looking more relaxed in the solitude of his backyard grilling his food. He smiles to the camera.
R.J. SOYLENTGREEN: Mmmm. Gonna be eating good tonight. Remember: Soylent Green Industries solves problems. We don't make problems. Just how it should be.
He licks his lips as he coats another set of ribs with barbecue sauce as the scene fades to voice over.
SOYLENT GREEN INDUSTRIES
SMART SOLUTIONS, FOR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS.
SMART SOLUTIONS, FOR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS.
Cosmo Cooper & Trevor Miller VS. Kayla Wright & Anthony Dvorak
Coming back from commercial break, Anthony Dvořák has Trevor Miller in a chinlock in the center of the ring.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dvořák has that chinlock locked on tight!
But Miller is able to get a base to start standing himself up, driving an elbow into Dvořák’s midsection. Anthony’s quick to reposition his hands and lock in a cravate. He tries going for a knee strike, but Cosmo clubs Anthony in the back, giving Trevor some room to breathe.
BRAD STOKES: So, if I’m reading this write-up one-sheet about this match correctly, we have a dead composer versus those jerks from the Pepsi Generation and a woman who hasn’t shown me her breasts, yet.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s one way to put it.
BRAD STOKES: The only way. The STOKES way.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I miss face Brad.
BRAD STOKES: He’s dead. Rabies. Had to be put down. Get over it.
Theo Refano motions for Cooper to get out of the ring and it allows for Miller to capitalize on Dvořák with a discus elbow smash. The strike dazes Anthony and lets Trevor hit a double underhook suplex, rolling over to hook the leg
1…
2…
NINA APPLEBAUM: KICK OUT!
Dragging his opponent by the arm, Trevor tags in Cosmo who starts stomping on Anthony in the ring corner.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice teamwork by newcomers Trevor and Cosmo, though I can’t say I entirely approve of their strategies.
As Cooper begins to choke out Dvořák, Theo Refano is forced to break it up and create some distance between the two. With the space, Cosmo closes in, trying to hit a knee in the corner, but Anthony grabs Cosmo by the trunks and pulls him face first into the middle turnbuckle. Dvořák lifts Cooper up and hits a fallaway slam, tossing him in the center of the ring.
BRAD STOKES: Tit for tat, Nina. Kill or be killed. Dog eat dog. Gorilla fights shark. It’s the law of the jungle and you’d best learn that!
A kneeling Cosmo gets drilled by a European uppercut that sends him back down to canvas. Anthony follows up the uppercut by dropping his knee right onto Cosmo’s left leg and once he’s back up, he grabs ahold of Cosmo’s leg and applies an ankle lock. Trapped in the middle of the ring, there’s no real possibility of a rope break for Cooper as Dvořák has the submission locked on tightly. But Cosmo’s pure wrestling instincts kick in as he’s able to roll through the submission, but Anthony transitions it into a kneebar!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Solid transition wrestling by Anthony Dvořák. He loves to fight, born to do it, and he’s doing that right now almost single-handedly.
Unfortunately for Dvořák, the roll through just put Cooper closer to the rope and allowed for him to cause a rope break. As Anthony releases the hold, Cosmo sends his foot right into Anthony’s face. Cosmo rolls backwards up to his feet and meets Anthony with a spinning heel kick that sends him back down to the mat. After dropping Dvořák, Cooper turns toward the crowd, taunting them, which was just the window Dvořák needed to tag in Kayla Wright.
NINA APPLEBAUM: And now we get our first real look at Kayla Wright!
BRAD STOKES: I’ve never stopped looking, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Are there any females on our roster you aren’t looking to date, Bradley?
BRAD STOKES: The correct term is “sex”, Nina. I don’t date, I sex. This is 2017. Get with the program.
When Cosmo turns back to the ring, Kayla’s already airborne with a missile dropkick! Following with the lateral press, Refano gets in position to make a count
1...
2...
NINA APPLEBAUM: KICK OUT BY COSMO COOPER!
BRAD STOKES: No. It’s Kramer, isn’t it? Cosmo Kramer. The Assman.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Please no 90s references.
BRAD STOKES: Too bad, there's literally nothing good to reference in the millenium. Suck my left one.
Cosmo is fast on his feet, but so is the newcomer as she plants him with a DDT followed by a kip-up that gets the crowd rallying behind her. As Wright goes to lift Cooper up, he switches the momentum with a double leg takedown. In a top mount position, Cooper mocks Kayla for a moment before he gets his leg up for a triangle hold!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Not a good place to be in there for Kayla Wright!
But before he can inflict any damage, Dvořák is fast to aid his partner by breaking it up. Cosmo tries going at Anthony, but Trevor’s yelling at him to make the tag, which Cooper starts to do. On his way, he delivers a stomp right to Kayla before bringing Trevor in the ring. Wright starts to get up, but Miller makes sure to keep her on the mat with a half nelson German suplex. While lifting her back up, Trevor gets a shot straight to the stomach from Kayla who then bounces off the ropes, but on the rebound, she’s dropped cold to the mat with a spinning backfist!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Miller goes for a pin attempt here!
1…
2…
THRE—
BRAD STOKES: Or not. These two may be reasonably fresh faces, but they don’t act like it. Like seasoned veterans. Previously marinating in seven herbs and spices of justice and turmoil and a training regimen. Rife and ready for the slaughter of--
NINA APPLEBAUM: That's enough, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Sorry. Still figuring out my alignment here. I'm aiming for over-wrought heel.
Trevor starts picking up Kayla by her hair, which causes Theo to yell warnings at him, but Miller’s not listening as he tosses Wright into a corner. He charges at her, but Wright moves at the last second, causing Miller to hit the turnbuckle post, followed by a Russian legsweep from Kayla. Kayla begins to crawl over to her corner as Trevor’s slowly recovering. He tries to grab at Wright, but it’s too late, she’s made the tag to Dvořák, who comes in with a running bicycle knee!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Hot tag by Kayla Wright and that sets loose Anthony Dvořák!
The knee sends Miller crashing down and Anthony hooks the leg!
1…
2…
THRE--
Trying to keep Miller grounded, Dvořák gets another chinlock applied which he then transitions into a sleeper hold attempt, but Trevor’s able to roll it over to the ropes. With a clean break, both men are able to get up and meet again in the center of the ring. Trevor and Anthony start a grappling match, each man trying to get control, but the sweat makes it hard for either one to get an advantage. Miller’s able to get a waist lock on Dvořák, but Anthony manages to get one of Trevor’s hands and bites his finger!
BRAD STOKES: I’m noticing an eerie number of references to cannibalism going on in the AWE, Nina. You noticing that?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m really not sure I know what you’re talking about, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Huh… I may be tripping balls, Nina.
Trevor releases his hold and Anthony connects with a big European uppercut that sends Miller back into the ropes. Dvořák follows through by sending his opponent across the ring and as MIller hits the ropes, Cosmo makes the tag unbeknownst to Anthony!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Slick tag there by Cosmo Cooper!
The rebounding Trevor is hit with a running European uppercut this time and Anthony goes for the pin, but Theo Refano informs him Trevor Miller’s not the legal man anymore.
BRAD STOKES: Awwwww. So close, but he has the wrong guy.
Anthony tries to argue with Theo, but Cosmo whips him around and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex! Cooper quickly lifts his opponent up and gets Dvořák in a tombstone position before sending him head first with the Crater Maker! After the jumping tombstone piledriver, Cosmo hooks Anthony’s leg while Trevor pulls Kayla off of her corner, sending her face first into the apron.
NINA APPLEBAUM: THERE'S THE COVER!
1
2
3!!!
Cosmo explodes up off the mat in joy, celebrating his debut win as Trevor Miller rolls into the ring to celebrate with his partner. The camera cuts over to a disappointed Kayla Wright, who was unable to break up the pin attempt. Cooper climbs up to the top turnbuckle to a rain of boos from the crowd as he continues the celebration.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here are your winners…. Cosmo Cooper and Trevor Miller!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Close match there.
BRAD STOKES: Yea, but my boy Cowpoop Cooper and Tres Cool Miller took home the win, while the other two look like sore losers.
NINA APPLEBAUM: They do not, Brad. You’re not so much being a heel anymore as being an outright ass.
BRAD STOKES: That kind of hurts, actually. Won’t lie.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, while the teams make their way backstage we’ll get ourselves ready for another contest.
The camera rises to an overhead shot of the arena, before cutting to,
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dvořák has that chinlock locked on tight!
But Miller is able to get a base to start standing himself up, driving an elbow into Dvořák’s midsection. Anthony’s quick to reposition his hands and lock in a cravate. He tries going for a knee strike, but Cosmo clubs Anthony in the back, giving Trevor some room to breathe.
BRAD STOKES: So, if I’m reading this write-up one-sheet about this match correctly, we have a dead composer versus those jerks from the Pepsi Generation and a woman who hasn’t shown me her breasts, yet.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s one way to put it.
BRAD STOKES: The only way. The STOKES way.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I miss face Brad.
BRAD STOKES: He’s dead. Rabies. Had to be put down. Get over it.
Theo Refano motions for Cooper to get out of the ring and it allows for Miller to capitalize on Dvořák with a discus elbow smash. The strike dazes Anthony and lets Trevor hit a double underhook suplex, rolling over to hook the leg
1…
2…
NINA APPLEBAUM: KICK OUT!
Dragging his opponent by the arm, Trevor tags in Cosmo who starts stomping on Anthony in the ring corner.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice teamwork by newcomers Trevor and Cosmo, though I can’t say I entirely approve of their strategies.
As Cooper begins to choke out Dvořák, Theo Refano is forced to break it up and create some distance between the two. With the space, Cosmo closes in, trying to hit a knee in the corner, but Anthony grabs Cosmo by the trunks and pulls him face first into the middle turnbuckle. Dvořák lifts Cooper up and hits a fallaway slam, tossing him in the center of the ring.
BRAD STOKES: Tit for tat, Nina. Kill or be killed. Dog eat dog. Gorilla fights shark. It’s the law of the jungle and you’d best learn that!
A kneeling Cosmo gets drilled by a European uppercut that sends him back down to canvas. Anthony follows up the uppercut by dropping his knee right onto Cosmo’s left leg and once he’s back up, he grabs ahold of Cosmo’s leg and applies an ankle lock. Trapped in the middle of the ring, there’s no real possibility of a rope break for Cooper as Dvořák has the submission locked on tightly. But Cosmo’s pure wrestling instincts kick in as he’s able to roll through the submission, but Anthony transitions it into a kneebar!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Solid transition wrestling by Anthony Dvořák. He loves to fight, born to do it, and he’s doing that right now almost single-handedly.
Unfortunately for Dvořák, the roll through just put Cooper closer to the rope and allowed for him to cause a rope break. As Anthony releases the hold, Cosmo sends his foot right into Anthony’s face. Cosmo rolls backwards up to his feet and meets Anthony with a spinning heel kick that sends him back down to the mat. After dropping Dvořák, Cooper turns toward the crowd, taunting them, which was just the window Dvořák needed to tag in Kayla Wright.
NINA APPLEBAUM: And now we get our first real look at Kayla Wright!
BRAD STOKES: I’ve never stopped looking, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Are there any females on our roster you aren’t looking to date, Bradley?
BRAD STOKES: The correct term is “sex”, Nina. I don’t date, I sex. This is 2017. Get with the program.
When Cosmo turns back to the ring, Kayla’s already airborne with a missile dropkick! Following with the lateral press, Refano gets in position to make a count
1...
2...
NINA APPLEBAUM: KICK OUT BY COSMO COOPER!
BRAD STOKES: No. It’s Kramer, isn’t it? Cosmo Kramer. The Assman.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Please no 90s references.
BRAD STOKES: Too bad, there's literally nothing good to reference in the millenium. Suck my left one.
Cosmo is fast on his feet, but so is the newcomer as she plants him with a DDT followed by a kip-up that gets the crowd rallying behind her. As Wright goes to lift Cooper up, he switches the momentum with a double leg takedown. In a top mount position, Cooper mocks Kayla for a moment before he gets his leg up for a triangle hold!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Not a good place to be in there for Kayla Wright!
But before he can inflict any damage, Dvořák is fast to aid his partner by breaking it up. Cosmo tries going at Anthony, but Trevor’s yelling at him to make the tag, which Cooper starts to do. On his way, he delivers a stomp right to Kayla before bringing Trevor in the ring. Wright starts to get up, but Miller makes sure to keep her on the mat with a half nelson German suplex. While lifting her back up, Trevor gets a shot straight to the stomach from Kayla who then bounces off the ropes, but on the rebound, she’s dropped cold to the mat with a spinning backfist!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Miller goes for a pin attempt here!
1…
2…
THRE—
BRAD STOKES: Or not. These two may be reasonably fresh faces, but they don’t act like it. Like seasoned veterans. Previously marinating in seven herbs and spices of justice and turmoil and a training regimen. Rife and ready for the slaughter of--
NINA APPLEBAUM: That's enough, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Sorry. Still figuring out my alignment here. I'm aiming for over-wrought heel.
Trevor starts picking up Kayla by her hair, which causes Theo to yell warnings at him, but Miller’s not listening as he tosses Wright into a corner. He charges at her, but Wright moves at the last second, causing Miller to hit the turnbuckle post, followed by a Russian legsweep from Kayla. Kayla begins to crawl over to her corner as Trevor’s slowly recovering. He tries to grab at Wright, but it’s too late, she’s made the tag to Dvořák, who comes in with a running bicycle knee!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Hot tag by Kayla Wright and that sets loose Anthony Dvořák!
The knee sends Miller crashing down and Anthony hooks the leg!
1…
2…
THRE--
Trying to keep Miller grounded, Dvořák gets another chinlock applied which he then transitions into a sleeper hold attempt, but Trevor’s able to roll it over to the ropes. With a clean break, both men are able to get up and meet again in the center of the ring. Trevor and Anthony start a grappling match, each man trying to get control, but the sweat makes it hard for either one to get an advantage. Miller’s able to get a waist lock on Dvořák, but Anthony manages to get one of Trevor’s hands and bites his finger!
BRAD STOKES: I’m noticing an eerie number of references to cannibalism going on in the AWE, Nina. You noticing that?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m really not sure I know what you’re talking about, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Huh… I may be tripping balls, Nina.
Trevor releases his hold and Anthony connects with a big European uppercut that sends Miller back into the ropes. Dvořák follows through by sending his opponent across the ring and as MIller hits the ropes, Cosmo makes the tag unbeknownst to Anthony!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Slick tag there by Cosmo Cooper!
The rebounding Trevor is hit with a running European uppercut this time and Anthony goes for the pin, but Theo Refano informs him Trevor Miller’s not the legal man anymore.
BRAD STOKES: Awwwww. So close, but he has the wrong guy.
Anthony tries to argue with Theo, but Cosmo whips him around and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex! Cooper quickly lifts his opponent up and gets Dvořák in a tombstone position before sending him head first with the Crater Maker! After the jumping tombstone piledriver, Cosmo hooks Anthony’s leg while Trevor pulls Kayla off of her corner, sending her face first into the apron.
NINA APPLEBAUM: THERE'S THE COVER!
1
2
3!!!
DING! DING! DING!
Cosmo explodes up off the mat in joy, celebrating his debut win as Trevor Miller rolls into the ring to celebrate with his partner. The camera cuts over to a disappointed Kayla Wright, who was unable to break up the pin attempt. Cooper climbs up to the top turnbuckle to a rain of boos from the crowd as he continues the celebration.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here are your winners…. Cosmo Cooper and Trevor Miller!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Close match there.
BRAD STOKES: Yea, but my boy Cowpoop Cooper and Tres Cool Miller took home the win, while the other two look like sore losers.
NINA APPLEBAUM: They do not, Brad. You’re not so much being a heel anymore as being an outright ass.
BRAD STOKES: That kind of hurts, actually. Won’t lie.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, while the teams make their way backstage we’ll get ourselves ready for another contest.
The camera rises to an overhead shot of the arena, before cutting to,
Cosmo Cooper and Trevor Miller stroll down the hall leading to their locker room. Both are still sweaty from their match moments ago, but the adrenaline is still pumping from being out in the crowd, evident by their excited chatter before reaching the door. They are so engrossed in the details of the match that, after walking in the door, it takes them a second to realize that they aren’t alone.
Sitting on a bench at the back of the room is ‘Country Fine’ James Radford, wearing blue jeans, boots, and a striped referee shirt with the sleeves cut off. He brings a bottle of Jack Daniels up to his lips and takes a swig, before screwing the cap back on and giving the men a sidelong glance.
JAMES RADFORD: Fellah’s, I’m not the kind of guy to sucker punch you or attack you from behind like a coward, but seeing as this situation is still two on one, you’re going to have to forgive me…
Leaving the sentence open ended, he lifts the bottle over his shoulder, and hurtles it forward end over end to nail Trevor Miller square in the crotch. The bottle clatters to the ground, while Miller’s eyes pop comically out of his head. As he sinks to his knees, he lets out a whimpering noise, and then drops the rest of the way down into a fetal position holding his privates.
All of this is a big enough distraction that by the time Cosmo Cooper looks up all he sees is the bulk of James Radford lowering his head for a spear. He hits Cosmo square in the gut, and the momentum sends them crashing right through the door and out into the hall where they land with a thud on the concrete.
Both men are disoriented for a moment, but it’s James who gains his wits first, swinging a leg over Cooper to mount him, and then dropping heavy forearms right into the man’s skull. Blood begins to pour from an open wound, but James continues his assault until security rushes in to break it up. The AWE security team pulls James from a stunned Cooper, while one of them breaks away to check on Miller who has vomited on himself.
Once they pull James up to his feet he throws his hands up in the air and stops resisting, allowing himself to be pushed away from the scene. He sneers at the man bleeding out on the ground at the same time straightening his shirt.
JAMES RADFORD: Just as well, I got a match to referee later anyways. Oh, and fellah’s, I’m going to need that bottle of Jack.
He winks, followed by a chuckle, before turning away from the camera and making his way down the hall.
Sitting on a bench at the back of the room is ‘Country Fine’ James Radford, wearing blue jeans, boots, and a striped referee shirt with the sleeves cut off. He brings a bottle of Jack Daniels up to his lips and takes a swig, before screwing the cap back on and giving the men a sidelong glance.
JAMES RADFORD: Fellah’s, I’m not the kind of guy to sucker punch you or attack you from behind like a coward, but seeing as this situation is still two on one, you’re going to have to forgive me…
Leaving the sentence open ended, he lifts the bottle over his shoulder, and hurtles it forward end over end to nail Trevor Miller square in the crotch. The bottle clatters to the ground, while Miller’s eyes pop comically out of his head. As he sinks to his knees, he lets out a whimpering noise, and then drops the rest of the way down into a fetal position holding his privates.
All of this is a big enough distraction that by the time Cosmo Cooper looks up all he sees is the bulk of James Radford lowering his head for a spear. He hits Cosmo square in the gut, and the momentum sends them crashing right through the door and out into the hall where they land with a thud on the concrete.
Both men are disoriented for a moment, but it’s James who gains his wits first, swinging a leg over Cooper to mount him, and then dropping heavy forearms right into the man’s skull. Blood begins to pour from an open wound, but James continues his assault until security rushes in to break it up. The AWE security team pulls James from a stunned Cooper, while one of them breaks away to check on Miller who has vomited on himself.
Once they pull James up to his feet he throws his hands up in the air and stops resisting, allowing himself to be pushed away from the scene. He sneers at the man bleeding out on the ground at the same time straightening his shirt.
JAMES RADFORD: Just as well, I got a match to referee later anyways. Oh, and fellah’s, I’m going to need that bottle of Jack.
He winks, followed by a chuckle, before turning away from the camera and making his way down the hall.
Tommy Stone VS. Akragth VS. Zack Fantana
BRAD STOKES: Okie Dokie, looks like Radford evened the score with Gen Now.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Or thereabouts. I doubt they’ll be very happy once they come to.
BRAD STOKES: The night isn’t even over. Just think about it, Nina… we may still see someone die.
Brad turns to the camera and turns on a flashlight under his face hoping to create an eerie effect as he,
BRAD STOKES: Muhaahahahaahahaahahaha.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Stop that! It doesn’t work with the house lights on.
BRAD STOKES: Oh, true. Hadn’t thought of that.
Theo Refano calls for the match to start and the three men stare at each other overly cautious of making the first mistake. Akragth then turns his back to the other two and holds his arms out daring them to make a move.
BRAD STOKES: This Akragth guy is pretty gaudy. Like he dares people to do stuff, and then they do it. So clever!
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s not clever! That’s him literally aiming to disrupt for the purpose of disruption, nothing else!
BRAD STOKES: You wound him, Nina. Can’t you see the tears behind that bitchin’ mask?
Zack Fantana measures Tommy Stone up and turns his back to him as well. Tommy Stone doesn’t know what to do and he searches the audience for an answer with some people pointing at Zack and other yelling rabidly for him to attack Akragth.
BRAD STOKES: It’s at this point I’d likely stun them all by attacking myself. Ain’t nobody predicting Brad Stokes.
Tommy shrugs and grabs Zack Fantana and throws him at Akragth and the two begin trading surprised and sloppy lefts and rights.
BRAD STOKES: That works too.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A lot of history in that ring right now.
BRAD STOKES: We talking the ring itself, or…
NINA APPLEBAUM: The men, Bradley. The men.
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, but a four sided wrestling ring dates back to the Mongol Hordes when they invaded North Dakota.
Stone then rushes them and lays them both out with double lariats. He kicks Fantana out of the ring and goes to work on Akragth, leaning down and hitting him with a few punches. He picks him up and hits a quick rabbit punch followed by a discus elbow laying him down again. Tommy goes over to the apron and is about to springboard off the ropes when Zack grabs a hold of his ankle and pulls him down. Tommy hits his head on the apron and Zack scrambles up and springboards off the ropes and hits Akragth with a dropkick.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A shaky start has given way to high energy.
BRAD STOKES: Fishing for a sponsorship still. These guys are… MONSTERS… heh. Haha. Seriously, you like Monster Energy drinks, or what?
Zack immediately rolls until he goes under the bottom of the ropes on the opposite side and springboards off them again only to be met with a big boot from Akragth. Akragth puts him in a sleeper hold.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Akragth’s a big man, a powerful man. No matter how quick either Tommy Stone or Zack are it’s difficult to fully get around that size advantage.
Zack Fantana tries to fight out and the fans cheer him on.
BRAD STOKES: Even through it all, the piss poor selection of which staff member to represent at Executive Action, the odd choice of haircuts, the potentially disastrous choice to cling to Rico’s gym in spite of the sagging inner city economy, the fans still seem willing to stand by Zack Fantana. I’m still debating my stance on him.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Waiting to see who wins, Bradley?
BRAD STOKES: You know me too well.
Zack struggles to get to his feet but he is almost fading. Theo Refano checks his arm. It goes down once. It still limp for the second time. Women cry out in the audience. Refano lifts his arm for a third time. It is about to drop but doesn’t! Zack is coming to back to life because of the roaring AWE audience!
BRAD STOKES: AND HE’S STILL ALIVE!
He picks himself up with Akragth. The hold is loosening. Zack drags Akragth towards the ropes. He almost has a finger on the top rope when Akragth pulls him back and hits a sleeper driver. Akragh goes for the pin.
One...
Tw-
Tommy Stone rushes into the ring and breaks up the count with a kick to Akragth’s face.
BRAD STOKES: Almost forgot about Tommy Stone!
NINA APPLEBAUM: He’s difficult to forget! And he’s making Akragth pay!
Akragth gets up to confront him but Tommy grabs him up and drops him hard with a rolling cutter. Zack Fantana is showing movement in the corner. Stone picks up Akrath and whips him to the ropes. He hits Akragth with a scoop slam. Akragth is getting up and is hit with a shining wizard from Tommy. Tommy is getting up and is hit with a shining wizard from Zack! He pins.
One…
Two…
NINA APPLEBAUM: And Stone kicks out!
Tommy rolls out to the apron. Zack goes over to Akragth slowly picks Akragth up. He hits him with a few elbows and runs to the ropes only to fall backwards over the top and hitting the floor hard as Tommy pulls down on the top rope.
BRAD STOKES: Cheeky bastard, that Tommy Stone!
NINA APPLEBAUM: All three men are as experienced as they come.
Tommy enters the ring in surprise and yells at Theo Refano that he was only getting up. He turns around and Akragth grabs Stone by the throat for a chokeslam. Tommy gets free of the grip when Akragth picks him up and drops down for an arm drag but he keeps a hold of the arm and twists it hard. Then he wrenches it down and Akragth falls. Refano asks Akragth if he quits but Akragth just glares at him through the mask. He easily rolls backwards to relieve the pressure then grabs Tommy’s neck again. He slowly gets up as Tommy tries to stop him but the hold isn't working for him. Akragth stands and finally executes a strong chokeslam on Tommy.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A lot of power there in Akragth. Easily one of the more intimidating figures stalk the Resilience Division!
Akragth picks Tommy up and whips him to the ropes and then hits a spinning spinebuster and pins
One…
Two…
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout! Akragth can’t believe it!
Akragth picks Tommy up and whips him to the corner. He sits Tommy up on the top rope for a superplex. Zack Fantana enters the ring and rushes over to the corner. He positions himself to deliver a power bomb to Akragth. When he does Akragth still brings Tommy overhead and the both of them crash down hard and Zack Fantana grins. He pins Tommy.
One..
Two…
Thr-
NINA APPLEBAUM: And Tommy kicks out!
Zack is surprised but Akragth stomps on him. He hits a DDT but Zack rolls through and answers back with a palm strike. He stands tall and elbows Zack back. Akragth stumbles over and tries to elbow Zack in the face, but Zack ducks so he hits Tommy with a back elbow. Tommy hits Zack with a rabbit punch. Zack hits Akragth with a palm strike. Akragth hits Tommy with an elbow. Now Tommy hits Zack with a rabbit punch. Zack hits Akragth with a palm strike! Akragth hits Tommy with an elbow! They go on like this until they are all groggy and stumble back to the ropes. They all look at each other with exhaustion,and pain trying to regain their bearings.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Incredible series of exchanges there! Like a game of chess played by three masters!
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, but where’s the mask going?
Rather suddenly, as all three men stare one another down, Akragth turns and slips his way through the ropes to the outside.
NINA APPLEBAUM: What’s Akragth doing? Where’s he going?
Amid a hail of confusion in the crowd Akragth stalks up the ramp. Inside the ring both Tommy and Zack frown in confusion, looking on as Akragth turns and looks back at them without expression… then exits through the entryway.
BRAD STOKES: What are the chances you think that he just forget which way the ring was?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I honestly don’t know, Bradley. I doubt it. Akragth is likely the most mysteriously confusing competitors the AWE has ever signed…
As the confusion settles, Tommy and Zack slowly look to one another, and the crowd noise rises to a fever pitch as the moment feels like it might boil over!
BRAD STOKES: This is like a movie! Former partners sworn to do battle! Like Kirk and Spock or something!
Then they rush each other in the center of the ring! Zack Fantana dodges a lariat from Tommy and stops short. He spins and hits Tommy with the corkscrew roundhouse that is The Reverie and Tommy drops like a zack of bricks! Zack drops for the cover!
One….
Two….
Three!
“Lucid Dreams” by Franz Ferdinand pops and Zack rises to his feet with a glare down at Tommy, and then an out of breath gaze up the ramp at the entry where Akragth lately exited on their match.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… ZACK… FANTANAAAAAA!
The crowd pops as Zack looks determined after Akragth.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Definitely not what anyone was expecting out of this match, but I’d argue we got more than we bargained for and then some.
BRAD STOKES: Still gotta wonder what Akragth was up to splitting like that. Some sort of distraction to give Zack the edge, maybe?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Or maybe he meant to give Tommy an edge and it backfired? Very confusing, and we may very well still find out as the night continues! There’s more still to come AWE fans. But first, let’s check in on our Dynamic Champions.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Or thereabouts. I doubt they’ll be very happy once they come to.
BRAD STOKES: The night isn’t even over. Just think about it, Nina… we may still see someone die.
Brad turns to the camera and turns on a flashlight under his face hoping to create an eerie effect as he,
BRAD STOKES: Muhaahahahaahahaahahaha.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Stop that! It doesn’t work with the house lights on.
BRAD STOKES: Oh, true. Hadn’t thought of that.
DING! DING! DING!
Theo Refano calls for the match to start and the three men stare at each other overly cautious of making the first mistake. Akragth then turns his back to the other two and holds his arms out daring them to make a move.
BRAD STOKES: This Akragth guy is pretty gaudy. Like he dares people to do stuff, and then they do it. So clever!
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s not clever! That’s him literally aiming to disrupt for the purpose of disruption, nothing else!
BRAD STOKES: You wound him, Nina. Can’t you see the tears behind that bitchin’ mask?
Zack Fantana measures Tommy Stone up and turns his back to him as well. Tommy Stone doesn’t know what to do and he searches the audience for an answer with some people pointing at Zack and other yelling rabidly for him to attack Akragth.
BRAD STOKES: It’s at this point I’d likely stun them all by attacking myself. Ain’t nobody predicting Brad Stokes.
Tommy shrugs and grabs Zack Fantana and throws him at Akragth and the two begin trading surprised and sloppy lefts and rights.
BRAD STOKES: That works too.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A lot of history in that ring right now.
BRAD STOKES: We talking the ring itself, or…
NINA APPLEBAUM: The men, Bradley. The men.
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, but a four sided wrestling ring dates back to the Mongol Hordes when they invaded North Dakota.
Stone then rushes them and lays them both out with double lariats. He kicks Fantana out of the ring and goes to work on Akragth, leaning down and hitting him with a few punches. He picks him up and hits a quick rabbit punch followed by a discus elbow laying him down again. Tommy goes over to the apron and is about to springboard off the ropes when Zack grabs a hold of his ankle and pulls him down. Tommy hits his head on the apron and Zack scrambles up and springboards off the ropes and hits Akragth with a dropkick.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A shaky start has given way to high energy.
BRAD STOKES: Fishing for a sponsorship still. These guys are… MONSTERS… heh. Haha. Seriously, you like Monster Energy drinks, or what?
Zack immediately rolls until he goes under the bottom of the ropes on the opposite side and springboards off them again only to be met with a big boot from Akragth. Akragth puts him in a sleeper hold.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Akragth’s a big man, a powerful man. No matter how quick either Tommy Stone or Zack are it’s difficult to fully get around that size advantage.
Zack Fantana tries to fight out and the fans cheer him on.
BRAD STOKES: Even through it all, the piss poor selection of which staff member to represent at Executive Action, the odd choice of haircuts, the potentially disastrous choice to cling to Rico’s gym in spite of the sagging inner city economy, the fans still seem willing to stand by Zack Fantana. I’m still debating my stance on him.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Waiting to see who wins, Bradley?
BRAD STOKES: You know me too well.
Zack struggles to get to his feet but he is almost fading. Theo Refano checks his arm. It goes down once. It still limp for the second time. Women cry out in the audience. Refano lifts his arm for a third time. It is about to drop but doesn’t! Zack is coming to back to life because of the roaring AWE audience!
BRAD STOKES: AND HE’S STILL ALIVE!
He picks himself up with Akragth. The hold is loosening. Zack drags Akragth towards the ropes. He almost has a finger on the top rope when Akragth pulls him back and hits a sleeper driver. Akragh goes for the pin.
One...
Tw-
Tommy Stone rushes into the ring and breaks up the count with a kick to Akragth’s face.
BRAD STOKES: Almost forgot about Tommy Stone!
NINA APPLEBAUM: He’s difficult to forget! And he’s making Akragth pay!
Akragth gets up to confront him but Tommy grabs him up and drops him hard with a rolling cutter. Zack Fantana is showing movement in the corner. Stone picks up Akrath and whips him to the ropes. He hits Akragth with a scoop slam. Akragth is getting up and is hit with a shining wizard from Tommy. Tommy is getting up and is hit with a shining wizard from Zack! He pins.
One…
Two…
NINA APPLEBAUM: And Stone kicks out!
Tommy rolls out to the apron. Zack goes over to Akragth slowly picks Akragth up. He hits him with a few elbows and runs to the ropes only to fall backwards over the top and hitting the floor hard as Tommy pulls down on the top rope.
BRAD STOKES: Cheeky bastard, that Tommy Stone!
NINA APPLEBAUM: All three men are as experienced as they come.
Tommy enters the ring in surprise and yells at Theo Refano that he was only getting up. He turns around and Akragth grabs Stone by the throat for a chokeslam. Tommy gets free of the grip when Akragth picks him up and drops down for an arm drag but he keeps a hold of the arm and twists it hard. Then he wrenches it down and Akragth falls. Refano asks Akragth if he quits but Akragth just glares at him through the mask. He easily rolls backwards to relieve the pressure then grabs Tommy’s neck again. He slowly gets up as Tommy tries to stop him but the hold isn't working for him. Akragth stands and finally executes a strong chokeslam on Tommy.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A lot of power there in Akragth. Easily one of the more intimidating figures stalk the Resilience Division!
Akragth picks Tommy up and whips him to the ropes and then hits a spinning spinebuster and pins
One…
Two…
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout! Akragth can’t believe it!
Akragth picks Tommy up and whips him to the corner. He sits Tommy up on the top rope for a superplex. Zack Fantana enters the ring and rushes over to the corner. He positions himself to deliver a power bomb to Akragth. When he does Akragth still brings Tommy overhead and the both of them crash down hard and Zack Fantana grins. He pins Tommy.
One..
Two…
Thr-
NINA APPLEBAUM: And Tommy kicks out!
Zack is surprised but Akragth stomps on him. He hits a DDT but Zack rolls through and answers back with a palm strike. He stands tall and elbows Zack back. Akragth stumbles over and tries to elbow Zack in the face, but Zack ducks so he hits Tommy with a back elbow. Tommy hits Zack with a rabbit punch. Zack hits Akragth with a palm strike. Akragth hits Tommy with an elbow. Now Tommy hits Zack with a rabbit punch. Zack hits Akragth with a palm strike! Akragth hits Tommy with an elbow! They go on like this until they are all groggy and stumble back to the ropes. They all look at each other with exhaustion,and pain trying to regain their bearings.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Incredible series of exchanges there! Like a game of chess played by three masters!
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, but where’s the mask going?
Rather suddenly, as all three men stare one another down, Akragth turns and slips his way through the ropes to the outside.
NINA APPLEBAUM: What’s Akragth doing? Where’s he going?
Amid a hail of confusion in the crowd Akragth stalks up the ramp. Inside the ring both Tommy and Zack frown in confusion, looking on as Akragth turns and looks back at them without expression… then exits through the entryway.
BRAD STOKES: What are the chances you think that he just forget which way the ring was?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I honestly don’t know, Bradley. I doubt it. Akragth is likely the most mysteriously confusing competitors the AWE has ever signed…
As the confusion settles, Tommy and Zack slowly look to one another, and the crowd noise rises to a fever pitch as the moment feels like it might boil over!
BRAD STOKES: This is like a movie! Former partners sworn to do battle! Like Kirk and Spock or something!
Then they rush each other in the center of the ring! Zack Fantana dodges a lariat from Tommy and stops short. He spins and hits Tommy with the corkscrew roundhouse that is The Reverie and Tommy drops like a zack of bricks! Zack drops for the cover!
One….
Two….
Three!
DING! DING! DING!
“Lucid Dreams” by Franz Ferdinand pops and Zack rises to his feet with a glare down at Tommy, and then an out of breath gaze up the ramp at the entry where Akragth lately exited on their match.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… ZACK… FANTANAAAAAA!
The crowd pops as Zack looks determined after Akragth.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Definitely not what anyone was expecting out of this match, but I’d argue we got more than we bargained for and then some.
BRAD STOKES: Still gotta wonder what Akragth was up to splitting like that. Some sort of distraction to give Zack the edge, maybe?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Or maybe he meant to give Tommy an edge and it backfired? Very confusing, and we may very well still find out as the night continues! There’s more still to come AWE fans. But first, let’s check in on our Dynamic Champions.
In a room backstage Ketsuekigata Z watch the show while sitting on the floor with their backs on opposite sides of the wall. They are absentmindedly throwing darts at each other’s heads to pass the time. Kimitsu Zombie aims and throws one that hits right above Aokigahara’s right ear.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: They don’t matter.
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Aren’t they like the only other team on here worth a damn.
She lifts her head and spits her gum up in the air and catches it in her mouth again. Aokigahara tries and fails to knock it out of the air with the dart landing just above the tip of her nose.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: What do you mean? Storms thinks we stole the title but it’s no wonder they lost our match. They have no chemistry as a team. I mean look at the last show. Look at earlier tonight. If they want our titles Hunter has to trust in Kirigaya.
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: We’ll still beat ‘em.
Aoki cracks his neck twice and Kimitsu hits a dart on each side of his head.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Well maybe but they can still try.
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: They won’t try shit. This is the first time I win something like this and I won’t lose it so easily. I failed with the Resilience Championship and with the Alpha Cup, but this… I won’t be letting it go to those two. Oh and last week was totally their fault. If they hadn’t distracted me with their disfunction Hubert and Roberts wouldn’t have beaten us.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Did you think it was smart to show that video before the match to get Hubert riled up?
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Sexy Smalls should be proud. I did him a favor. Can’t be ashamed of what everybody already knows. That match was a clusterfuck anyways. I blame our loss on Hunter and Kirigaya.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Got some new guys lately. They looked good mostly.
Kimitsu makes a heart with her fingers above her head and Aoki hits a dart through them.
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Yeah, it’s exciting. We’re growing… You know what I like that Gen Now. They really got my attention with they beat up Radford. Got his too! Anastasia really showed him what she thought about… FUCK!
She gets up and throws a dart that Aokigahara has to dodge. It lands right where his face was.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: What?
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Why didn’t I fucking beat up James Radford! Him and Benson crossed me first. They cost me the Alpha Cup first! I should have taken his ass out a long time ago.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Didn’t he win that thing?
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Fucking Generation Now is taking my prey. Those bastards think they can just walk in here and beat up on my possible fucking victims? We need to do something about this. We need to put everyone on notice. AWE belongs to the Zombies! Everyone that tries to rise up should get cut down!
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: The nail that sticks up will be hammered down, right?
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Damn, right.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Wait does that apply here…
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Fuck it.
She puts her full attention to the screen now as the shot fades.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: They don’t matter.
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Aren’t they like the only other team on here worth a damn.
She lifts her head and spits her gum up in the air and catches it in her mouth again. Aokigahara tries and fails to knock it out of the air with the dart landing just above the tip of her nose.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: What do you mean? Storms thinks we stole the title but it’s no wonder they lost our match. They have no chemistry as a team. I mean look at the last show. Look at earlier tonight. If they want our titles Hunter has to trust in Kirigaya.
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: We’ll still beat ‘em.
Aoki cracks his neck twice and Kimitsu hits a dart on each side of his head.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Well maybe but they can still try.
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: They won’t try shit. This is the first time I win something like this and I won’t lose it so easily. I failed with the Resilience Championship and with the Alpha Cup, but this… I won’t be letting it go to those two. Oh and last week was totally their fault. If they hadn’t distracted me with their disfunction Hubert and Roberts wouldn’t have beaten us.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Did you think it was smart to show that video before the match to get Hubert riled up?
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Sexy Smalls should be proud. I did him a favor. Can’t be ashamed of what everybody already knows. That match was a clusterfuck anyways. I blame our loss on Hunter and Kirigaya.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Got some new guys lately. They looked good mostly.
Kimitsu makes a heart with her fingers above her head and Aoki hits a dart through them.
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Yeah, it’s exciting. We’re growing… You know what I like that Gen Now. They really got my attention with they beat up Radford. Got his too! Anastasia really showed him what she thought about… FUCK!
She gets up and throws a dart that Aokigahara has to dodge. It lands right where his face was.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: What?
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Why didn’t I fucking beat up James Radford! Him and Benson crossed me first. They cost me the Alpha Cup first! I should have taken his ass out a long time ago.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Didn’t he win that thing?
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Fucking Generation Now is taking my prey. Those bastards think they can just walk in here and beat up on my possible fucking victims? We need to do something about this. We need to put everyone on notice. AWE belongs to the Zombies! Everyone that tries to rise up should get cut down!
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: The nail that sticks up will be hammered down, right?
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Damn, right.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Wait does that apply here…
KIMITSU ZOMBIE: Fuck it.
She puts her full attention to the screen now as the shot fades.
Bindy Trent VS. Austin Gale VS. Dare Clemmens (c)
Back at ringside where Bindy Trent, Austin Gale and Dare Clemmens are in the ring warming up.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A little mid-show wisdom there from the Zombies.
BRAD STOKES: A watched pot… is right twice a day. See, I can do that, Nina. Anyone can do that. Aoli Zombie's got nothing on me. Brad Confustokescius. Pay attention to me.
BRAD STOKES: Or the folks in the ring, suit yourself.
At the bell Austin makes a surprising charge at Dare Clemmens, nailing him with a shoulder-charge that bowls Dare Clemmens over into a sommersault. Gale stops on a dime in time to catch Bindy Trent coming for him but not in time to prevent the headscissor takedown that sends him skidding across the canvas. Gale is up in a hurry, but so is Dare Clemmens who seems put out enough by Gale’s impromptu offense to slam Gale right back down with a thesz press into some ground and pound.
BRAD STOKES: I tell you, that Resilience Title incenses people enough to make an ordinary wrestling match into a savage brawl.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s a title with some prestige, Bradley, thanks to those who vie for it, and those who carry it.
BRAD STOKES: Think you can out zombie wisdom me, huh?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m just saying—
BRAD STOKES: I know what you’re doing!
Bindy hangs back giving Dare a chance to rise to his feet and face her, more a gesture of respect before she moves in and takes Dare down with a quick snapmare Bindy lines up a seated Dare for a swift kick to his spine, but before she connect Austin Gale moves in and slams Bindy with a Superman Punch!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Gale gets in the way there!
Gale is a force to be reckoned with, wasting no time dragging Bindy to her feet and lays into Bindy with a backhanded chop that staggers Bindy backwards before Dare intervenes with a running punch of his own that levels Gale!
NINA APPLEBAUM: There’s been a level of mutual respect between Bindy and Dare since they first faced, and that has only grown to this point where it now looks like they’re willing to work together against Austin Gale!
BRAD STOKES: That or Austin Gale is trying to take them both on without much strategy to speak of!
With Gale down, Dare starts back up to his feet only to be surprised by a swinging reverse neckbreaker by Bindy and she goes for the quick cover!
1…
TW—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice try by Bindy Trent!
BRAD STOKES: It was pretty funny when I thought her name was Becky though, right? be honest.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No. And no.
Bindy is up to her feet, dragging Dare with her but not before Austin Gale gets to his feet and surprises Bindy with a german suplex he bridges into a cover!
1…
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dare is there to break that up before it goes much farther with a kick to Austin’s back!
BRAD STOKES: Matches like these favor the opportunist. It’ll come down to that one pin someone’s not fast enough to kick out of, or break up. These three are hungry.
NINA APPLEBAUM: This is a very close repeat of the main event at Executive Action just without Zack Fantana. We’ll find out whether the outcome will be much different soon enough.
Bindy rolls to the apron and braces her shoulders as Dare delivers a few vicious stomps to Austin Gale before forcing him to his feet. Austin counters with shots to the midsection then slams Dare down with a snap DDT he capitalizes on with a cover.
1…
2…
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dare gets his shoulders up!
Bindy doesn’t seem to mind the reasonably close count as she rolls off the apron and takes a chance at walking the outside to roll her neck loose. In the ring Austin lays some stiff punches into the downed Dare Clemmens before lifting him to his feet and belting him with some elbows before irish whipping him into the corner with force. Austin spies Bindy as he stalks the ring, letting the crowd noise raise in intensity as Dare is propped in the corner then Gale charges for a spear! Dare grips the ropes and kips up and onto the turnbuckle as Austin slams his shoulder into the ring post to a loud unison grimace from the crowd. Dare wastes no time flipping off the turnbuckle into a sunset flip pin to a stunned Austin!!!
1…
2…
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Bindy Trent was there to break up the pin!
Bindy slid in quickly and now has Dare up to his feet and suplexes him onto his back as now Austin rolls to the apron and drops to the outside clutching his shoulder.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That attempted Howler by Austin Gale would have been devastating. That split second of quick thinking by Dare Clemmens likely saved him.
BRAD STOKES: At least for now. Austin’s out for blood.
Bindy rises to her feet with Dare down and makes a quick gesture to the fans before slamming down onto Dare with a standing moonsault, hooks the leg and goes for the quick cover!
1…
TW—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout!
Bindy is unperturbed as she is on her knees taking a second breather before grabbing Dare and dragging him once more to his feet only to be surprised by a sudden Dare Clemmens gutwrench suplex! Dare hooks the leg!
1…
2..
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout by Bindy Trent!
Austin Gale slides in just as Dare is rising to his feet, turns and gets booted by a series of stiff kicks and punches by Gale before Gale drops Dare with a vicious belly to belly with enough force to send Dare skidding halfway under the ropes.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Some fury there from Austin Gale.
BRAD STOKES: He’s looking pretty swole, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: He’s looking like he wants to be taken seriously.
BRAD STOKES: By being swole, probably.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Please stop talking like that, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: You jive turkey?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Giving me a complex.
Dare struggles to climb to his knees before Austin charges him and slams a stiff soccer kick into Dare’s midsection that boots Dare under the ropes and onto the outside! Bindy is up and she surprises Austin with a double knee backbreaker!
NINA APPLEBAUM: BINDY WITH THE COVER!
1..
2..
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout by Austin Gale!
Bindy’s determination is undaunted as she turns Austin Gale back up to his feet only for Austin to thrust a shoulder into her midsection then stuns her with a quick northern lights suplex into bridge pin!
1…
2..
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Just barely missed the pin!
BRAD STOKES: The match is starting to take its toll. Gale’s hurt his shoulder, Bindy’s tough but she won’t be able to withstand all those impact moves for long, and neither can Dare. Something’s going to give here.
Dare slides painfully onto the apron just as Austin Gale drags Bindy to her feet and slams several stiff chops into her before sending her charging for the ropes with a hard irish whip with enough force to propel Bindy up the turnbuckles and land like a lump on the apron! Dare leaps onto the ropes and catches Austin unawares with a sudden leaping side thrust kick that knocks Gale senseless and topples him to the canvas!
BRAD STOKES: Shoot to Thrill off the ropes!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dare goes for the cover!
1…
2..
Bindy drags herself up from under the ropes to break up the pin, leaps but
3!!!
“Suburbia” by Kavinsky starts in as Bindy is stopped in her tracks with a confused mixture of disappointment and anger at being barely a second too slow and Dare can see it squarely in here eyes.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… and STILL Resilience Champion…. DARE CLEMMENS!
As Theo Refano raises Dare’s arm and hands him the belt, Dare slings the belt aside and gives a big hug to Bindy in the ring as the music rocks the crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice show of sportsmanship on the part of Dare Clemmens.
BRAD STOKES: That match outcome is nothing to sneeze at. I told you, a match like that always comes down to inches, seconds, and sheer luck. Like my body Tobaggan Esperanto said earlier.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tornado Desen—
BRAD STOKES: I don’t care, Nina. Nobody cares. That guy’s like the seventh favorite superstar of some kid here in Milwaukee. Pictures don’t lie. Nor do twitter feeds.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Regardless, a win for Dare Clemmens means he’s still carring the Resilience Championship, and we’ve got more still to come here on Massacre, so stay tuned after this.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A little mid-show wisdom there from the Zombies.
BRAD STOKES: A watched pot… is right twice a day. See, I can do that, Nina. Anyone can do that. Aoli Zombie's got nothing on me. Brad Confustokescius. Pay attention to me.
DING! DING! DING!
BRAD STOKES: Or the folks in the ring, suit yourself.
At the bell Austin makes a surprising charge at Dare Clemmens, nailing him with a shoulder-charge that bowls Dare Clemmens over into a sommersault. Gale stops on a dime in time to catch Bindy Trent coming for him but not in time to prevent the headscissor takedown that sends him skidding across the canvas. Gale is up in a hurry, but so is Dare Clemmens who seems put out enough by Gale’s impromptu offense to slam Gale right back down with a thesz press into some ground and pound.
BRAD STOKES: I tell you, that Resilience Title incenses people enough to make an ordinary wrestling match into a savage brawl.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s a title with some prestige, Bradley, thanks to those who vie for it, and those who carry it.
BRAD STOKES: Think you can out zombie wisdom me, huh?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m just saying—
BRAD STOKES: I know what you’re doing!
Bindy hangs back giving Dare a chance to rise to his feet and face her, more a gesture of respect before she moves in and takes Dare down with a quick snapmare Bindy lines up a seated Dare for a swift kick to his spine, but before she connect Austin Gale moves in and slams Bindy with a Superman Punch!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Gale gets in the way there!
Gale is a force to be reckoned with, wasting no time dragging Bindy to her feet and lays into Bindy with a backhanded chop that staggers Bindy backwards before Dare intervenes with a running punch of his own that levels Gale!
NINA APPLEBAUM: There’s been a level of mutual respect between Bindy and Dare since they first faced, and that has only grown to this point where it now looks like they’re willing to work together against Austin Gale!
BRAD STOKES: That or Austin Gale is trying to take them both on without much strategy to speak of!
With Gale down, Dare starts back up to his feet only to be surprised by a swinging reverse neckbreaker by Bindy and she goes for the quick cover!
1…
TW—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice try by Bindy Trent!
BRAD STOKES: It was pretty funny when I thought her name was Becky though, right? be honest.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No. And no.
Bindy is up to her feet, dragging Dare with her but not before Austin Gale gets to his feet and surprises Bindy with a german suplex he bridges into a cover!
1…
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dare is there to break that up before it goes much farther with a kick to Austin’s back!
BRAD STOKES: Matches like these favor the opportunist. It’ll come down to that one pin someone’s not fast enough to kick out of, or break up. These three are hungry.
NINA APPLEBAUM: This is a very close repeat of the main event at Executive Action just without Zack Fantana. We’ll find out whether the outcome will be much different soon enough.
Bindy rolls to the apron and braces her shoulders as Dare delivers a few vicious stomps to Austin Gale before forcing him to his feet. Austin counters with shots to the midsection then slams Dare down with a snap DDT he capitalizes on with a cover.
1…
2…
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dare gets his shoulders up!
Bindy doesn’t seem to mind the reasonably close count as she rolls off the apron and takes a chance at walking the outside to roll her neck loose. In the ring Austin lays some stiff punches into the downed Dare Clemmens before lifting him to his feet and belting him with some elbows before irish whipping him into the corner with force. Austin spies Bindy as he stalks the ring, letting the crowd noise raise in intensity as Dare is propped in the corner then Gale charges for a spear! Dare grips the ropes and kips up and onto the turnbuckle as Austin slams his shoulder into the ring post to a loud unison grimace from the crowd. Dare wastes no time flipping off the turnbuckle into a sunset flip pin to a stunned Austin!!!
1…
2…
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Bindy Trent was there to break up the pin!
Bindy slid in quickly and now has Dare up to his feet and suplexes him onto his back as now Austin rolls to the apron and drops to the outside clutching his shoulder.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That attempted Howler by Austin Gale would have been devastating. That split second of quick thinking by Dare Clemmens likely saved him.
BRAD STOKES: At least for now. Austin’s out for blood.
Bindy rises to her feet with Dare down and makes a quick gesture to the fans before slamming down onto Dare with a standing moonsault, hooks the leg and goes for the quick cover!
1…
TW—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout!
Bindy is unperturbed as she is on her knees taking a second breather before grabbing Dare and dragging him once more to his feet only to be surprised by a sudden Dare Clemmens gutwrench suplex! Dare hooks the leg!
1…
2..
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout by Bindy Trent!
Austin Gale slides in just as Dare is rising to his feet, turns and gets booted by a series of stiff kicks and punches by Gale before Gale drops Dare with a vicious belly to belly with enough force to send Dare skidding halfway under the ropes.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Some fury there from Austin Gale.
BRAD STOKES: He’s looking pretty swole, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: He’s looking like he wants to be taken seriously.
BRAD STOKES: By being swole, probably.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Please stop talking like that, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: You jive turkey?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Giving me a complex.
Dare struggles to climb to his knees before Austin charges him and slams a stiff soccer kick into Dare’s midsection that boots Dare under the ropes and onto the outside! Bindy is up and she surprises Austin with a double knee backbreaker!
NINA APPLEBAUM: BINDY WITH THE COVER!
1..
2..
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout by Austin Gale!
Bindy’s determination is undaunted as she turns Austin Gale back up to his feet only for Austin to thrust a shoulder into her midsection then stuns her with a quick northern lights suplex into bridge pin!
1…
2..
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Just barely missed the pin!
BRAD STOKES: The match is starting to take its toll. Gale’s hurt his shoulder, Bindy’s tough but she won’t be able to withstand all those impact moves for long, and neither can Dare. Something’s going to give here.
Dare slides painfully onto the apron just as Austin Gale drags Bindy to her feet and slams several stiff chops into her before sending her charging for the ropes with a hard irish whip with enough force to propel Bindy up the turnbuckles and land like a lump on the apron! Dare leaps onto the ropes and catches Austin unawares with a sudden leaping side thrust kick that knocks Gale senseless and topples him to the canvas!
BRAD STOKES: Shoot to Thrill off the ropes!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dare goes for the cover!
1…
2..
Bindy drags herself up from under the ropes to break up the pin, leaps but
3!!!
DING! DING! DING!
“Suburbia” by Kavinsky starts in as Bindy is stopped in her tracks with a confused mixture of disappointment and anger at being barely a second too slow and Dare can see it squarely in here eyes.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… and STILL Resilience Champion…. DARE CLEMMENS!
As Theo Refano raises Dare’s arm and hands him the belt, Dare slings the belt aside and gives a big hug to Bindy in the ring as the music rocks the crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice show of sportsmanship on the part of Dare Clemmens.
BRAD STOKES: That match outcome is nothing to sneeze at. I told you, a match like that always comes down to inches, seconds, and sheer luck. Like my body Tobaggan Esperanto said earlier.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tornado Desen—
BRAD STOKES: I don’t care, Nina. Nobody cares. That guy’s like the seventh favorite superstar of some kid here in Milwaukee. Pictures don’t lie. Nor do twitter feeds.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Regardless, a win for Dare Clemmens means he’s still carring the Resilience Championship, and we’ve got more still to come here on Massacre, so stay tuned after this.
Day 1
Hands part the curtains and a pair of eyes peek out the front window and look to either side. Inside the house, Jake stands in the doorway of their kitchen with a kid on either side of him, each of them holding an empty bowl and Madeline, wife and mother, who is peeking out the window suspiciously.
JAKE: Are they here yet?
Her eyes search pleadingly out the window a moment before she turns back to her husband and kids apologetically.
MADELINE: No.
KIDS: Ohhhhhhhhhh.
Jake and the kids shuffle disappointed into the kitchen as Madeline looks concerned for her family.
Day 2
In new clothes, we repeat day 1. Madeline looks longingly out the window as Jake and the kids stand with their empty bowls, Jake has noticeable stubble now and the kids look tired and grumpy.
JAKE: Are they here?
Madeline sighs, stepping away from the curtains to look at her husband. She shakes her head. Jake and the kids slump their shoulders and shuffle back into the kitchen.
Day 3
At the breakfast table, empty bowls in front of them the kids and Madeline look on in hope as Jake reads from a list he’s written down.
JAKE: Aw man. They are supposed to be so great. Says here they have won numerous awards, and so many accolades.
The whole family is incredibly impressed.
KIDS: Woooooow!
Madeline smiles dreamily at Jake as they share a smile. Suddenly the sound of someone stepping on their porch, and the sound of the metal mailbox opening. All their eyes open wide as the whole family races to the front door. Madeline opens the door full of hope to see the mailman. Her expression sours as the mailman smiles politely and hands her the envelopes and flyer advertisements he was about to stick in the mailbox.
MAILMAN: Here you go.
Madeline takes the mail with disappointment.
MAILMAN: Problem? You guys look upset.
Behind Madeline Jake and the kids stands bereft of hope.
MADELINE: It’s… it’s nothing. We were just hoping you might have our E-fed Flakes.
MAILMAN: Nope, sorry.
The mailman shrugs, unable to give much more and walks off. Madeline turns to her family.
MADELINE: Why won’t they show?! They were scheduled to show up today!
She closes the door.
Day 4
Madeline, Jake and the kids are disheveled sitting around the table. The house has fallen into disrepair. Madeline’s not taking care of herself, or the kids and Jake’s got an unkempt beard started.
We begin a time lapse of the family falling further into disrepair as they await the arrival of their E-Fed Flakes.
ANNOUNCER: E-Fed Flakes are the greatest breakfast cereal ever! Winner of countless trophies and awards for greatness, E-Fed Flakes are a nutritious and wholesome way to complete your roster of breakfast items!
As the announcer speaks, the kids lose interest and go off on their own as Madeline falls into deep depression. Jake’s beard grows to biblical lengths as moss and foliage starts to overgrow the house. The kids open the front door and disappear, leaving it open in their wake. The family falls apart. Slow down to normal speed. Madeline is a gaunt shell of her former self.
MADELINE: I don’t understand why my E-Fed Flakes won’t show.
Jake is suffering depressive twitches.
JAKE: W-was it us?
MADELINE: I don’t… I don’t know. We had so many… so many plans….
Disappointment. Jake starts hiccupping nervously.
Fade to a product placement scene only there’s nothing but a white background and a white table. Overhead of milk pouring down onto the delicious looking cereal! The Announcer’s voice is sped up like verbal fine print to a contract you may not want to sign…
ANNOUNCER: E-Fed Flakes are sure to impress once they arrive. Mail-order requests accepted, don’t call us we call you. Actual packaging may vary. Warning: Results May Vary as well! May not ever actually show up.
Non-Title
Anastasia Hayden VS. Dom DiBona (c)
W/ Guest Referee James Radford
James Radford is already in the ring, and he’s playing up to the crowd when “Internal Dialogue” by Mind Eraser hit’s the PA, and Anastasia Hayden appears in the entry way. She stares coolly down the ramp at James as she makes her way to the ring, ignoring the booing fans and peeling off her ‘Generation NOW’ T-shirt before climbing the steps and entering the ring.
MARSHAL DOUGLAS: Ladies and Gentleman, this is your Main Event of the evening! Introducing first, standing at 5 foot 6, weighting in at 128 pounds....She is the MVP of the AWE…..ANASTASIA HAYDEN!!
BRAD STOKES: That’s my chick, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: So you’ve said, many… many… many times.
BRAD STOKES: Just clarifying in case there were any doubt.
Ana smirks at James before turning out to the crowd and throwing her fists over her head. They answer in kind in a chorus of boos, but she pays it no mind as she steps over to wait patiently in her corner.
MARSHAL DOUGLAS: And introducing her opponent…
“Get Free” by The Vines blares throughout the arena, and the fans come to their feet as the Paramount Champion, Dom DiBona, breaks through the curtain with his arms over his head. The eruption from the crowd rattles the building as several signs for DiBona on them bob up and down. As soon as he reaches ringside he starts high fiving fans, and everyone tries to get a piece of him as he grins up into the ring, placing a reassuring hand on the championship around his waist. After a few more moments of placating the fans, he hops up on the ring apron, springs over the top rope to the inside, and unhooks the belt to thrust it up into the air.
MARSHAL DOUGLAS: Standing at 6 foot, and weighting in at 205 pounds, hailing from Youngstown, Ohio…..He is your PARAMOUNT CHAMPION…..DOM DIBONA!!!
Another eruption from the crowd as Dom hands the championship over to the ring keeper.
NINA APPLEBAUM: And there he is! The man himself. THE Paramount Champion!
BRAD STOKES: But if Ana calls him a paper champion then it must be true.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Sound logic as always, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: I do try.
A stare down ensues between Dom, Ana, and James as the timekeeper rings the bell. James shakes his head with a smirk, and steps over to the far corner and calls for a mic.
BRAD STOKES: Here we go. I knew that country bumpkin couldn’t keep his mouth shut. This is where he backstabs Ana and shows the world that the stupid south shall rise again!
JAMES RADFORD: I want this to be a fair contest between you two, but as you’ll come to find out Dom, Ana here ain’t much for following the rules of fairness, so let’s just get that out of the way up front. As the official of this match, and the powers vested in me by the AWE, I’m making this a no disqualification match!
BRAD STOKES: Told you!
NINA APPLEBAUM: You didn’t call that in the slightest, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Shut up, Nina.
The crowd explodes at the news and James smiles in acknowledgement as he tosses the mic back to the timekeeper. Ana doesn’t seem to really care about the announcement, but Dom steps over to James with arms out at his side, asking him what he’s doing.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dom DiBona doesn’t seem entirely appreciative of the creative liberties this special guest referee is taking with his match.
BRAD STOKES: Dom’s a big boy, he can take care of himself.
Radford just nods his head towards Ana, and seeing that there is no more reasoning with him, Dom turns back towards his opponent just in time to see her already in a sprint and leaping into the air with her boot leading the way.
NINA APPLEBAUM: SHE WAS ONLY SEVENTEEN!!
Dom hit’s the mat, and Ana looks up at Radford and points down at her opponent before making the cover. James shakes his head in disappointment but dutifully drops to count the pin.
BRAD STOKES: IT’S HAPPENING!!!
1…
2…
THREe…
At the very last possible nano-second, Dom’s shoulder shoots up off the canvas much to the fans relief.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dom DiBona does the unthinkable!
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, what gives? He’s supposed to die and Ana and I will get married or whatever. That CHEAT Radford is trying to screw with Ana’s mind, is what’s going on there!
Ana makes a snide comment towards James as she jerks DiBona up to his feet, and then unceremoniously sends him through the middle ropes to land with a thud on the outside. She smirks before following suit, landing on her feet beside the downed champion. She gets him vertical and points to James, and then the steel steps, before attempting to whip DiBona right towards them.
DiBona, however, retains hold of Ana’s hand, and makes for what looks like a reversal, but instead he uses the momentum to whiplash Hayden right back into his arms for a release overhead belly to belly. Ana soars through the air at ringside before coming to an abrupt halt when her spine strikes the concrete. Both competitors are down on the floor as James Radford leans casually against the ropes, and shrugs to the cheering crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Radford’s either intentionally, or untinentionally offered a chance for some serious pain in this match with a no disqualification. He’s either very lazy, or rather clever. Not sure what he’s up to, either way.
BRAD STOKES: He’s trying to destroy our love is what he’s up to.
Dom and Ana sluggishly pull themselves up to their feet at about the same time, and when they turn to face one another, they lock eyes intensely for a brief moment. The two break off into a spring towards one another, Dom attempting a clothesline, and Ana ducking it. When he turns around, he’s met with a high straight kick that catches him just under the jaw, snapping him back to rest against the ring post. Ana backs up a pace, and then rushes forward with a crossbody splash that crushes the Champion like a hammer striking the anvil. Dom clutches at his midsection as he stumbles away from the scene, and Ana waits for no one as she grabs him by the hair of the head and rushes him face first down into the guardrail.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Anastasia Hayden might as well add Hardcore to her list of sobriquets. After her battle with James Radford at Executive Action, and some of her earlier matches in PAW, to say nothing of her relentless touring schedule, Ana Hayden might very well be the one best suited to this type of match.
Ana snatches a chair from an unwilling patron while Dom slumps across the guardrail holding his forehead. She back peddles to give herself some room for the wind up, but when she brings the chair crashing down towards DiBona, he manages to duck out of the way. The chair strikes the guardrail with a ‘CLANG’ and bounces back up to strike Ana right in the face. She drops the chair and clutches at her face, giving Dom the time needed to boot her in the midsection, hook her around the head, and plant her skull into the concrete with a DDT.
BRAD STOKES: Ana has been busted open! She looks strangely beautiful. Is that bad? Am I a pervert now?
Dom gets to his feet, and helps Ana up, blood pouring down her face from the laceration on top of her skull. He gets her by the seat of the pants and tosses her back into the ring, and scrambles in behind her to make with a cover.
1…
2…
TH-
Hayden kicks out, and Dom looks on for a second in disbelief before remembering his game plan, and helping her up to her feet. He hooks her around the head, draping her arm around his neck, and then snaps her over for a short suplex, quickly floating over and hooking the leg once more.
1…
2…
TH-
NINA APPLEBAUM: Ana kicks out again!
Dom is a little more heated as he pulls Ana back up to her feet, pushes her into the ropes, and then sends her to the other side. Ana returns, and Dom leaps into the air for what looks like a hurricanarana, but Ana ducks underneath and continues on to the opposite side. Dom lands and spins towards his opponent just as she rebounds, leaving her feet and catching him square in the face with a Bicycle Knee!
NINA APPLEBAUM: THE MAGNOLIA KNEE!!
Ana pauses by the ropes to catch her breath and try and get some of the blood out of her eyes while DiBona lays flat on his back sucking in air. She starts to make her way for the cover, but stops short, shaking her head and making her way towards the nearest corner.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Ana Hayden’s got different ideas.
Ana steps out onto the ring apron, and then climbs up to the top of the corner. Once perched, she stands to her full height, and then launches herself up and out, drawing her knee’s into her chest, and then thrusting straight down to try and Foot Stomp DiBona. The Paramount Champion, however, manages to roll out of the way, leaving nothing but open canvas for Ana to land. She manages to land on her feet, but instinctively she goes for her right knee, the sudden jarring impact obviously having an effect.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Ana’s hurt her knee.
BRAD STOKES: It’s all Radford’s fault somehow!
Ana cringes at her tweaked knee, but manages to turn back towards Dom just in time to watch as his foot connects with her jaw with a massive Super Kick. Ana snaps down to the canvas, and Dom shakily makes his way towards the nearest corner. It’s DiBona this time who takes to the top, and he rolls his fists out in front of him as the crowd cheers for him to do it. He nods once, and then leaps out into a 450 before landing with a head butt right down into Ana’s shoulder. Dom immediately snaps away clutching his skull, while Ana clutches her shoulder in agony.
NINA APPLEBAUM: So much punishment has been doled out already on behalf of both of these competitors. How can they keep going?
Radford checks on both competitors, and gets his hand slapped away by Ana for the trouble. Dom manages to get back to his feet, while Ana does the same on the opposite side with some help from the ropes. Dom see’s Ana, and barrels straight in for her, but the wily veteran is quick to drop her shoulder and allow momentum to do the rest as she back body drops him right up and over the ropes to the outside below.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Expert ring awareness there by Ana Hayden.
BRAD STOKES: I taught her everything she knows.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No, you didn’t.
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, I know.
Ana rubs some feeling back into her knee before stepping out onto the apron, and waiting for Dom to get to his feet. He finally obliges, but is facing the wrong way. When he turns to try and find his opponent, Ana sprints the length of the ring apron, and delivers a rolling Sentan that wipes out the Paramount Champion. Ana manages to roll back up to her feet to a chorus of boos, and she jaws back at the crowd before grabbing the steel chair she had botched earlier.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Radford’s enjoying himself, I’m sure. Watching these two kill each other.
BRAD STOKES: Even though I hate him, I also love him for potentially bringing me my dying wish to see someone else die.
Dom crawls up the ring apron to his feet as Ana stalks behind him with the chair. The crowd boos to try and warn him, but to no avail. He turns just as Ana pulls the trigger, clobbering him and wrapping the steel around his skull. Blood spurts out from underneath, as she dislodges the twisted metal, and tosses it aside with a satisfied smirk. Dom crumples to the concrete, eyes glazed over as Ana drops down for the cover.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Ana’s trying to cover him on the outside, and James isn’t having it.
BRAD STOKES: Do your job, ref Radford!
Ana hops up onto the ring apron to get in Radford’s face, but he just points at Dom, and back into the ring vehemently. As the two argue, neither see Dom DiBona struggling to his feet, and Ana certainly doesn’t see him grab her ankles and yank them out from under her. Ana goes straight down to catch the ring apron with her face, and as she recoils away from the ring, Dom grabs her and tosses her back in under the bottom rope. He’s quick to hop onto the apron himself as James steps back out of the way, and as soon as Ana is back up to her feet, he springboards up to the top rope and leaps off, catching her around the head with his legs, and takes her over with a beautiful hurricanrana.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dom for the Cover!
1…
2…
THRE-
NINA APPLEBAUM: KICK OUT!
Ana barely gets her shoulder up in time, and Dom looks onto the woman with a newfound respect. He doesn’t let that hang him up though, as he’s back on his feet, and making his way back up the nearest turnbuckle. Once there, he poses for the crowd who are electric with anticipation, and he nods to them before leaping off for his patented shooting star leg drop.
NINA APPLEBAUM: FLIGHT OF FREEDOM BUT ANA MOVES!
Ana sinks back into a corner, bloodied, sweaty, and tired. Dom’s painfully surprised expression remains in place as he gets to his feet holding his bum. He turns to find the familiar image of Ana rushing across the ring at him full speed. She leaves her feet, throws her boot out, and catches Dom one more time right in the face, snapping him back down to the canvas with authority.
NINA APPLEBAUM: SHE WAS ONLY SEVENTEEN FOR THE SECOND TIME TONIGHT!!
She scrambles for the cover, and Radford is there to make good on it.
1…
2…
3!!!
NINA APPLEBAUM: I don’t believe it! Ana Hayden has done it!!
MARSHAL DOUGLAS: And the winner of this match by pinfall…..ANASTASIA HAYDEN!!!
Anastasia Hayden gets to her feet ready for a second round, staring across the ring at James Radford who simply smiles, shrugs, and exits the ring. He’s handed a mic as he turns and back peddles up the ramp so that he can face the ring.
JAMES RADFORD: Yeah, I know Ana. You and half of these fans expected me to do you dirty in the match, and when that didn’t happen, the other half expected me to lay you out for what you did to me on the last Massacre. Well, that isn’t going to happen.
James shakes his head and chuckles as the crowd boo’s slightly. He looks up under his brow bringing the mirth to a halt.
JAMES RADFORD: No, Ana…I don’t want to catch you from behind, or pull of some sneak attack. Hell No! I want you and yours to see me coming, cause when I do, I promise, it will be worth the price of admission.
With that James drops the mic to the ramp, and turns to disappear through the curtains, leaving Ana standing over the downed Paramount Champion in the center of the ring.
BRAD STOKES: Bwock, bwock!
NINA APPLEBAUM: James Radford called that match straight down the middle in spite of himself AND refused to cheap shot Ana Hayden and you imply that he’s chicken?!
BRAD STOKES: Can’t a guy make chicken noises for the fun of it? I wholeheartedly agree with you, but I don’t like James Radford and I wanted to show it.
Ana turns to look back over at the fallen Dom DiBona, but before she can decide to do anything else from the top of the ramp Bindy Trent appears, hurrying quickly down to the ring. As she climbs inside through the ropes, it’s enough to get Ana’s attention, and Bindy takes up a mic.
NINA APPLEBAUM: What’s she doing out here?
BINDY TRENT: Ana, you did it! Just look at this!
She gestures to the Paramount Championship belt that would belong to Ana were this a title match strewn on the canvas near Dom DiBona.
BINDY TRENT: I know recently things between us haven’t been as good as they used to, and from here on out I don’t want that to be the case. But with this win setting you clearly at the top of the Paramount Division I wanted to come out here and not only congratulate you, but also bury the hatchet between us. Whatever ill feelings I had, I’m over. I’m a grown woman and so are you, and you’re also a hell of a wrestler. For that you have my respect, and I wanted to tell you that face to face.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Bindy Trent is a bona fide class act.
BRAD STOKES: Pretty hard to deny.
Bindy lowers her mic, and holds out her arms, offering what would appear to be a hug. Ana Hayden pauses though, hesitant. So instead Bindy offers just a hand out there, waiting for the other woman to shake it. Still Ana hesitates, leaving Bindy hanging, and gradually starting to look more disappointed. The crowd starts getting restless, jeering, but finally Ana throws open her arms to embrace Bindy in a hug. The crowd reacts with elation and Bindy practically jumps into Ana’s arms.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Huge reaction from the crowd as these two have buried the hatchet!
BRAD STOKES: Bindy’s stealing my girl though, dude.
Patting her friend on the back, Bindy moves to break from the hug, but Ana locks her arms behind the woman’s back, trapping her. Before anymore of this civility can continue, Ana cinched her hold down tight onto Bindy and performs a belly to belly suplex, that ends up throwing Bindy right into the corner turnbuckles! Ana isn’t done yet though, delivering several stiff shoot kicks onto the fallen woman. Afterwards, she yanks Bindy back up to her feet.
BRAD STOKES: You show her, Ana Baby! YEA!
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s despicable! Ana Hayden responded to a genuine gesture of good will from Bindy Trent with a smack to the face.
BRAD STOKES: Actually, that’s called a belly to belly suplex.
Ana continues her attack with several chops to the chest, backing Bindy into the ropes. She leans over and drives her shoulder into the other woman’s midsection repeatedly. Bindy doubles over, and is met with a double underhook DDT for her troubles, planted hard into the mat on the crown of her head. With laid out on the ground, Ana picks the nearby Paramount title belt, and uses it as a weapon now, bludgeoning Bindy with it over and over, all while yelling some unintelligible but no doubt not very family friendly words. When she finally tires of that she locks Bindy into a sleeper hold, showing zero intention of letting go, although Bindy is already tapping furiously on Ana’s forearm.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Someone needs to stop this now!
Almost as if rising from the dead, Dom DiBona is back on his feet, and able to peel Ana Hayden off of her most likely now ex-friend.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s Dom DiBona to the rescue!
At the same time Aaron Pace comes bolting down the ramp, sliding into the ring under the top rope.
NINA APPLEBAUM: And Aaron Pace!
As the man jumps straight to his feet he ends up in a hard stare-down with Dom, who is still holding onto a thrashing wild Ana Hayden. For
a moment Aaron clenches his fist, ready to engage with DiBona, but thinks better of it, and lowers himself to a knee to check on his “Nice Coach” who had been left a crumpled mess on the canvas.
Ana frees herself from Dom’s grasp, and gives him a hard shove, distancing themselves from one another and she rolls out of the ring before there’s a chance for any retaliation. Inside Bindy is finally sitting up right at least, looking a good bit worse for the wear as Aaron makes sure she’s still in one piece. Finally he manages to help her to her feet, Dom making sure Bindy’s okay as Aaron’s glare warns DiBona off.
BRAD STOKES: Wow. Who knew so much tension could exist in one ring all in the span of 20 minutes?
NINA APPLEBAUM: What a night. And that’s all we have for you AWEPhiles. I’m sure there’s bound to be a ton of fallout from this night in the coming weeks, as always, stay tuned to the AWE website for news and updates. From me, Nina Applebaum,
BRAD STOKES: And me Brad Stokes, thanks for watching AWE’s Massacre.
MARSHAL DOUGLAS: Ladies and Gentleman, this is your Main Event of the evening! Introducing first, standing at 5 foot 6, weighting in at 128 pounds....She is the MVP of the AWE…..ANASTASIA HAYDEN!!
BRAD STOKES: That’s my chick, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: So you’ve said, many… many… many times.
BRAD STOKES: Just clarifying in case there were any doubt.
Ana smirks at James before turning out to the crowd and throwing her fists over her head. They answer in kind in a chorus of boos, but she pays it no mind as she steps over to wait patiently in her corner.
MARSHAL DOUGLAS: And introducing her opponent…
“Get Free” by The Vines blares throughout the arena, and the fans come to their feet as the Paramount Champion, Dom DiBona, breaks through the curtain with his arms over his head. The eruption from the crowd rattles the building as several signs for DiBona on them bob up and down. As soon as he reaches ringside he starts high fiving fans, and everyone tries to get a piece of him as he grins up into the ring, placing a reassuring hand on the championship around his waist. After a few more moments of placating the fans, he hops up on the ring apron, springs over the top rope to the inside, and unhooks the belt to thrust it up into the air.
MARSHAL DOUGLAS: Standing at 6 foot, and weighting in at 205 pounds, hailing from Youngstown, Ohio…..He is your PARAMOUNT CHAMPION…..DOM DIBONA!!!
Another eruption from the crowd as Dom hands the championship over to the ring keeper.
NINA APPLEBAUM: And there he is! The man himself. THE Paramount Champion!
BRAD STOKES: But if Ana calls him a paper champion then it must be true.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Sound logic as always, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: I do try.
A stare down ensues between Dom, Ana, and James as the timekeeper rings the bell. James shakes his head with a smirk, and steps over to the far corner and calls for a mic.
BRAD STOKES: Here we go. I knew that country bumpkin couldn’t keep his mouth shut. This is where he backstabs Ana and shows the world that the stupid south shall rise again!
JAMES RADFORD: I want this to be a fair contest between you two, but as you’ll come to find out Dom, Ana here ain’t much for following the rules of fairness, so let’s just get that out of the way up front. As the official of this match, and the powers vested in me by the AWE, I’m making this a no disqualification match!
BRAD STOKES: Told you!
NINA APPLEBAUM: You didn’t call that in the slightest, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Shut up, Nina.
The crowd explodes at the news and James smiles in acknowledgement as he tosses the mic back to the timekeeper. Ana doesn’t seem to really care about the announcement, but Dom steps over to James with arms out at his side, asking him what he’s doing.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dom DiBona doesn’t seem entirely appreciative of the creative liberties this special guest referee is taking with his match.
BRAD STOKES: Dom’s a big boy, he can take care of himself.
Radford just nods his head towards Ana, and seeing that there is no more reasoning with him, Dom turns back towards his opponent just in time to see her already in a sprint and leaping into the air with her boot leading the way.
NINA APPLEBAUM: SHE WAS ONLY SEVENTEEN!!
Dom hit’s the mat, and Ana looks up at Radford and points down at her opponent before making the cover. James shakes his head in disappointment but dutifully drops to count the pin.
BRAD STOKES: IT’S HAPPENING!!!
1…
2…
THREe…
At the very last possible nano-second, Dom’s shoulder shoots up off the canvas much to the fans relief.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dom DiBona does the unthinkable!
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, what gives? He’s supposed to die and Ana and I will get married or whatever. That CHEAT Radford is trying to screw with Ana’s mind, is what’s going on there!
Ana makes a snide comment towards James as she jerks DiBona up to his feet, and then unceremoniously sends him through the middle ropes to land with a thud on the outside. She smirks before following suit, landing on her feet beside the downed champion. She gets him vertical and points to James, and then the steel steps, before attempting to whip DiBona right towards them.
DiBona, however, retains hold of Ana’s hand, and makes for what looks like a reversal, but instead he uses the momentum to whiplash Hayden right back into his arms for a release overhead belly to belly. Ana soars through the air at ringside before coming to an abrupt halt when her spine strikes the concrete. Both competitors are down on the floor as James Radford leans casually against the ropes, and shrugs to the cheering crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Radford’s either intentionally, or untinentionally offered a chance for some serious pain in this match with a no disqualification. He’s either very lazy, or rather clever. Not sure what he’s up to, either way.
BRAD STOKES: He’s trying to destroy our love is what he’s up to.
Dom and Ana sluggishly pull themselves up to their feet at about the same time, and when they turn to face one another, they lock eyes intensely for a brief moment. The two break off into a spring towards one another, Dom attempting a clothesline, and Ana ducking it. When he turns around, he’s met with a high straight kick that catches him just under the jaw, snapping him back to rest against the ring post. Ana backs up a pace, and then rushes forward with a crossbody splash that crushes the Champion like a hammer striking the anvil. Dom clutches at his midsection as he stumbles away from the scene, and Ana waits for no one as she grabs him by the hair of the head and rushes him face first down into the guardrail.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Anastasia Hayden might as well add Hardcore to her list of sobriquets. After her battle with James Radford at Executive Action, and some of her earlier matches in PAW, to say nothing of her relentless touring schedule, Ana Hayden might very well be the one best suited to this type of match.
Ana snatches a chair from an unwilling patron while Dom slumps across the guardrail holding his forehead. She back peddles to give herself some room for the wind up, but when she brings the chair crashing down towards DiBona, he manages to duck out of the way. The chair strikes the guardrail with a ‘CLANG’ and bounces back up to strike Ana right in the face. She drops the chair and clutches at her face, giving Dom the time needed to boot her in the midsection, hook her around the head, and plant her skull into the concrete with a DDT.
BRAD STOKES: Ana has been busted open! She looks strangely beautiful. Is that bad? Am I a pervert now?
Dom gets to his feet, and helps Ana up, blood pouring down her face from the laceration on top of her skull. He gets her by the seat of the pants and tosses her back into the ring, and scrambles in behind her to make with a cover.
1…
2…
TH-
Hayden kicks out, and Dom looks on for a second in disbelief before remembering his game plan, and helping her up to her feet. He hooks her around the head, draping her arm around his neck, and then snaps her over for a short suplex, quickly floating over and hooking the leg once more.
1…
2…
TH-
NINA APPLEBAUM: Ana kicks out again!
Dom is a little more heated as he pulls Ana back up to her feet, pushes her into the ropes, and then sends her to the other side. Ana returns, and Dom leaps into the air for what looks like a hurricanarana, but Ana ducks underneath and continues on to the opposite side. Dom lands and spins towards his opponent just as she rebounds, leaving her feet and catching him square in the face with a Bicycle Knee!
NINA APPLEBAUM: THE MAGNOLIA KNEE!!
Ana pauses by the ropes to catch her breath and try and get some of the blood out of her eyes while DiBona lays flat on his back sucking in air. She starts to make her way for the cover, but stops short, shaking her head and making her way towards the nearest corner.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Ana Hayden’s got different ideas.
Ana steps out onto the ring apron, and then climbs up to the top of the corner. Once perched, she stands to her full height, and then launches herself up and out, drawing her knee’s into her chest, and then thrusting straight down to try and Foot Stomp DiBona. The Paramount Champion, however, manages to roll out of the way, leaving nothing but open canvas for Ana to land. She manages to land on her feet, but instinctively she goes for her right knee, the sudden jarring impact obviously having an effect.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Ana’s hurt her knee.
BRAD STOKES: It’s all Radford’s fault somehow!
Ana cringes at her tweaked knee, but manages to turn back towards Dom just in time to watch as his foot connects with her jaw with a massive Super Kick. Ana snaps down to the canvas, and Dom shakily makes his way towards the nearest corner. It’s DiBona this time who takes to the top, and he rolls his fists out in front of him as the crowd cheers for him to do it. He nods once, and then leaps out into a 450 before landing with a head butt right down into Ana’s shoulder. Dom immediately snaps away clutching his skull, while Ana clutches her shoulder in agony.
NINA APPLEBAUM: So much punishment has been doled out already on behalf of both of these competitors. How can they keep going?
Radford checks on both competitors, and gets his hand slapped away by Ana for the trouble. Dom manages to get back to his feet, while Ana does the same on the opposite side with some help from the ropes. Dom see’s Ana, and barrels straight in for her, but the wily veteran is quick to drop her shoulder and allow momentum to do the rest as she back body drops him right up and over the ropes to the outside below.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Expert ring awareness there by Ana Hayden.
BRAD STOKES: I taught her everything she knows.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No, you didn’t.
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, I know.
Ana rubs some feeling back into her knee before stepping out onto the apron, and waiting for Dom to get to his feet. He finally obliges, but is facing the wrong way. When he turns to try and find his opponent, Ana sprints the length of the ring apron, and delivers a rolling Sentan that wipes out the Paramount Champion. Ana manages to roll back up to her feet to a chorus of boos, and she jaws back at the crowd before grabbing the steel chair she had botched earlier.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Radford’s enjoying himself, I’m sure. Watching these two kill each other.
BRAD STOKES: Even though I hate him, I also love him for potentially bringing me my dying wish to see someone else die.
Dom crawls up the ring apron to his feet as Ana stalks behind him with the chair. The crowd boos to try and warn him, but to no avail. He turns just as Ana pulls the trigger, clobbering him and wrapping the steel around his skull. Blood spurts out from underneath, as she dislodges the twisted metal, and tosses it aside with a satisfied smirk. Dom crumples to the concrete, eyes glazed over as Ana drops down for the cover.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Ana’s trying to cover him on the outside, and James isn’t having it.
BRAD STOKES: Do your job, ref Radford!
Ana hops up onto the ring apron to get in Radford’s face, but he just points at Dom, and back into the ring vehemently. As the two argue, neither see Dom DiBona struggling to his feet, and Ana certainly doesn’t see him grab her ankles and yank them out from under her. Ana goes straight down to catch the ring apron with her face, and as she recoils away from the ring, Dom grabs her and tosses her back in under the bottom rope. He’s quick to hop onto the apron himself as James steps back out of the way, and as soon as Ana is back up to her feet, he springboards up to the top rope and leaps off, catching her around the head with his legs, and takes her over with a beautiful hurricanrana.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dom for the Cover!
1…
2…
THRE-
NINA APPLEBAUM: KICK OUT!
Ana barely gets her shoulder up in time, and Dom looks onto the woman with a newfound respect. He doesn’t let that hang him up though, as he’s back on his feet, and making his way back up the nearest turnbuckle. Once there, he poses for the crowd who are electric with anticipation, and he nods to them before leaping off for his patented shooting star leg drop.
NINA APPLEBAUM: FLIGHT OF FREEDOM BUT ANA MOVES!
Ana sinks back into a corner, bloodied, sweaty, and tired. Dom’s painfully surprised expression remains in place as he gets to his feet holding his bum. He turns to find the familiar image of Ana rushing across the ring at him full speed. She leaves her feet, throws her boot out, and catches Dom one more time right in the face, snapping him back down to the canvas with authority.
NINA APPLEBAUM: SHE WAS ONLY SEVENTEEN FOR THE SECOND TIME TONIGHT!!
She scrambles for the cover, and Radford is there to make good on it.
1…
2…
3!!!
NINA APPLEBAUM: I don’t believe it! Ana Hayden has done it!!
MARSHAL DOUGLAS: And the winner of this match by pinfall…..ANASTASIA HAYDEN!!!
Anastasia Hayden gets to her feet ready for a second round, staring across the ring at James Radford who simply smiles, shrugs, and exits the ring. He’s handed a mic as he turns and back peddles up the ramp so that he can face the ring.
JAMES RADFORD: Yeah, I know Ana. You and half of these fans expected me to do you dirty in the match, and when that didn’t happen, the other half expected me to lay you out for what you did to me on the last Massacre. Well, that isn’t going to happen.
James shakes his head and chuckles as the crowd boo’s slightly. He looks up under his brow bringing the mirth to a halt.
JAMES RADFORD: No, Ana…I don’t want to catch you from behind, or pull of some sneak attack. Hell No! I want you and yours to see me coming, cause when I do, I promise, it will be worth the price of admission.
With that James drops the mic to the ramp, and turns to disappear through the curtains, leaving Ana standing over the downed Paramount Champion in the center of the ring.
BRAD STOKES: Bwock, bwock!
NINA APPLEBAUM: James Radford called that match straight down the middle in spite of himself AND refused to cheap shot Ana Hayden and you imply that he’s chicken?!
BRAD STOKES: Can’t a guy make chicken noises for the fun of it? I wholeheartedly agree with you, but I don’t like James Radford and I wanted to show it.
Ana turns to look back over at the fallen Dom DiBona, but before she can decide to do anything else from the top of the ramp Bindy Trent appears, hurrying quickly down to the ring. As she climbs inside through the ropes, it’s enough to get Ana’s attention, and Bindy takes up a mic.
NINA APPLEBAUM: What’s she doing out here?
BINDY TRENT: Ana, you did it! Just look at this!
She gestures to the Paramount Championship belt that would belong to Ana were this a title match strewn on the canvas near Dom DiBona.
BINDY TRENT: I know recently things between us haven’t been as good as they used to, and from here on out I don’t want that to be the case. But with this win setting you clearly at the top of the Paramount Division I wanted to come out here and not only congratulate you, but also bury the hatchet between us. Whatever ill feelings I had, I’m over. I’m a grown woman and so are you, and you’re also a hell of a wrestler. For that you have my respect, and I wanted to tell you that face to face.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Bindy Trent is a bona fide class act.
BRAD STOKES: Pretty hard to deny.
Bindy lowers her mic, and holds out her arms, offering what would appear to be a hug. Ana Hayden pauses though, hesitant. So instead Bindy offers just a hand out there, waiting for the other woman to shake it. Still Ana hesitates, leaving Bindy hanging, and gradually starting to look more disappointed. The crowd starts getting restless, jeering, but finally Ana throws open her arms to embrace Bindy in a hug. The crowd reacts with elation and Bindy practically jumps into Ana’s arms.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Huge reaction from the crowd as these two have buried the hatchet!
BRAD STOKES: Bindy’s stealing my girl though, dude.
Patting her friend on the back, Bindy moves to break from the hug, but Ana locks her arms behind the woman’s back, trapping her. Before anymore of this civility can continue, Ana cinched her hold down tight onto Bindy and performs a belly to belly suplex, that ends up throwing Bindy right into the corner turnbuckles! Ana isn’t done yet though, delivering several stiff shoot kicks onto the fallen woman. Afterwards, she yanks Bindy back up to her feet.
BRAD STOKES: You show her, Ana Baby! YEA!
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s despicable! Ana Hayden responded to a genuine gesture of good will from Bindy Trent with a smack to the face.
BRAD STOKES: Actually, that’s called a belly to belly suplex.
Ana continues her attack with several chops to the chest, backing Bindy into the ropes. She leans over and drives her shoulder into the other woman’s midsection repeatedly. Bindy doubles over, and is met with a double underhook DDT for her troubles, planted hard into the mat on the crown of her head. With laid out on the ground, Ana picks the nearby Paramount title belt, and uses it as a weapon now, bludgeoning Bindy with it over and over, all while yelling some unintelligible but no doubt not very family friendly words. When she finally tires of that she locks Bindy into a sleeper hold, showing zero intention of letting go, although Bindy is already tapping furiously on Ana’s forearm.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Someone needs to stop this now!
Almost as if rising from the dead, Dom DiBona is back on his feet, and able to peel Ana Hayden off of her most likely now ex-friend.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s Dom DiBona to the rescue!
At the same time Aaron Pace comes bolting down the ramp, sliding into the ring under the top rope.
NINA APPLEBAUM: And Aaron Pace!
As the man jumps straight to his feet he ends up in a hard stare-down with Dom, who is still holding onto a thrashing wild Ana Hayden. For
a moment Aaron clenches his fist, ready to engage with DiBona, but thinks better of it, and lowers himself to a knee to check on his “Nice Coach” who had been left a crumpled mess on the canvas.
Ana frees herself from Dom’s grasp, and gives him a hard shove, distancing themselves from one another and she rolls out of the ring before there’s a chance for any retaliation. Inside Bindy is finally sitting up right at least, looking a good bit worse for the wear as Aaron makes sure she’s still in one piece. Finally he manages to help her to her feet, Dom making sure Bindy’s okay as Aaron’s glare warns DiBona off.
BRAD STOKES: Wow. Who knew so much tension could exist in one ring all in the span of 20 minutes?
NINA APPLEBAUM: What a night. And that’s all we have for you AWEPhiles. I’m sure there’s bound to be a ton of fallout from this night in the coming weeks, as always, stay tuned to the AWE website for news and updates. From me, Nina Applebaum,
BRAD STOKES: And me Brad Stokes, thanks for watching AWE’s Massacre.
James Radford and Bobby Benson exit through the parking area of The UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Bobby is ecstatic, waving his arms around excitedly, and telling James about everything that had went on in his meeting with AWE’s Chief Operations Officer, Kassandrah. James doesn’t appear to be listening, but this doesn’t deter the wiry manager in the least.
BOBBY BENSON: Oh man! You should have seen it James! I walked right in there like Robert E. Lee walked into Burnside at Fredericksburg! Kassandrah, she’s a cool woman and all, but I’m telling you she was taken aback by what I had to say. You’d be proud of me too, James, cause it was all true! You deserve to be the next Paramount Champion, and not because you won the Alpha Cup contract, but because you’re the #1 man in that division! Besides, what better way to shake things up than….than….
Bobby stops in midsentence and stride, and pats his jacket down anxiously. James continues moving forward, and Bobby calls out to him in a panic.
BOBBY BENSON: James…..JAMES! I don’t have the contract! Tell me you have it!
James comes to a halt, thrusts his hands in his pocket, looking to the ground, and shakes his head. He slowly turns to look over his shoulder at Bobby whose aggravated expression almost seems comical.
JAMES RADFORD: No, Bobby. I don’t have the contract cause I sold it to Austin Gale.
Benson’s jaw came unglued from the rest of him, and he stares at James in absolute horror.
BOBBY BENSON: But….but….WHY?
He pleads, hoping that this is some sort of joke. James shrugged.
JAMES RADFORD: I needed cash. A lot of it. And I knew that it was either owe him or owe you, and I chose to owe him.
James didn’t pause to see the crestfallen manager fall to his knees before turning to walk away. The camera trails off the departing Radford, and refocuses on Bobby Benson whose still slack jawed, eyes wide.
BOBBY BENSON: I…I can’t believe this. That….that son of a bitch!
Bobby jumps up to his feet in a huff, and quickly runs past the cameraman to chase after his client.
BOBBY BENSON: James! JAMES! YOU SON OF A BITCH! GET BACK HERE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU’VE DONE!
The voice trails off as the AWE Logo flashes, and the scene fades to black.
BOBBY BENSON: Oh man! You should have seen it James! I walked right in there like Robert E. Lee walked into Burnside at Fredericksburg! Kassandrah, she’s a cool woman and all, but I’m telling you she was taken aback by what I had to say. You’d be proud of me too, James, cause it was all true! You deserve to be the next Paramount Champion, and not because you won the Alpha Cup contract, but because you’re the #1 man in that division! Besides, what better way to shake things up than….than….
Bobby stops in midsentence and stride, and pats his jacket down anxiously. James continues moving forward, and Bobby calls out to him in a panic.
BOBBY BENSON: James…..JAMES! I don’t have the contract! Tell me you have it!
James comes to a halt, thrusts his hands in his pocket, looking to the ground, and shakes his head. He slowly turns to look over his shoulder at Bobby whose aggravated expression almost seems comical.
JAMES RADFORD: No, Bobby. I don’t have the contract cause I sold it to Austin Gale.
Benson’s jaw came unglued from the rest of him, and he stares at James in absolute horror.
BOBBY BENSON: But….but….WHY?
He pleads, hoping that this is some sort of joke. James shrugged.
JAMES RADFORD: I needed cash. A lot of it. And I knew that it was either owe him or owe you, and I chose to owe him.
James didn’t pause to see the crestfallen manager fall to his knees before turning to walk away. The camera trails off the departing Radford, and refocuses on Bobby Benson whose still slack jawed, eyes wide.
BOBBY BENSON: I…I can’t believe this. That….that son of a bitch!
Bobby jumps up to his feet in a huff, and quickly runs past the cameraman to chase after his client.
BOBBY BENSON: James! JAMES! YOU SON OF A BITCH! GET BACK HERE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU’VE DONE!
The voice trails off as the AWE Logo flashes, and the scene fades to black.