Battleground #18 : War Crimes! (Show)
Sept 23, 2019 16:37:30 GMT -5
SWAT Team and suzispitz like this
Post by radu on Sept 23, 2019 16:37:30 GMT -5
[Broken bodies are strewn across the backstage area.]
[Production assistants, road agents, security, heavy traffic almost trips over the mangled remains as the show continues, business as usual. Trying to figure out if Powerhouse missed a cue or if Valentine has sewn up the rights to Syberus 110% T-shirts takes precedence over the human suffering. Moving at a slower pace is the figure that looms over Rajiv Khan’s gurney, casting a large shadow over the Hardcore division’s permanent top contender.]
Rajiv Khan: So dark…
[The shadow is enough to make the Indian Assassin think he is close to death. The other members of the enhancement talent tag jamboree are also lounging back on stretchers, enjoying neck braces and medical treatment due to the KGB’s cowardly response to returning, now elderly, New Breed. The camera pans over to Brien O. Thomas, who has enough gauze on that his ears are completely covered, starring up at the cold lights. Story of his life.]
“War crimes.”
[The large shadow of the world champion moves from Khan to Thomas, as Radu Matei takes in the carnage. The only sympathetic eye in the building.]
Radu Matei: I thought the War in the program eluded to my battles with Lynn Brewster, and the crimes were my offences against Jade.
Brien O. Thomas <pointing a bandaged arm up to his heavily gauzed ears>: I can’t understand you.
Rajiv Khan <neck brace keeping his focus on the ceiling cannot see the scene, just hear it>: WHAT? WHAT BECAUSE I SPEAK WITH AN ACCENT? YOU RACIST SCUM!
Brien O. Thomas: WHAT?
Rajiv Khan: FUCK YOU!!!
Radu Matei <smiling sadly at BOT>: But the War in question is between the KGB and the Society of the New Breed, and the crimes... <flinch> have only just begun.
[Trying to lean against a wall, TJ Zousa looks at his heavily bandaged hands before turning to a medic with tears in his eyes.]
TJ Zousa: Doc… level with me... am I ever going to dance again?
Medic: You didn’t sustain any damage to your legs.
TJ Zousa <trying to strike a John Travolta Saturday Night Fever pose but having a hard time extending his index finger>: ...You just don’t understand dancing.
[Matei puts a reassuring claw on BOT’s shoulder.]
Radu Matei: This should never have happened. I have tried my best to build up the world title, raising it to the quality that the organization deserves... but its like spinning plates. While I focus on making this belt the crown jewel of the XHF organizations, Joe has his run of the federation. Wrestlers can only appear in two segments because they don’t want them being overexposed, at the same time, Pesci manages to work himself into half the program. He treats this place like his personal toy box, undermining the structure and sense of community. Syndicate Wrestling And Tradition used to be the kind of federation, where if a dick stable decided to take liberties with a match they weren’t participating in, the rest of the roster would come out and hand them their asses. Packer would never have stood for this bullshit. Soutter wouldn’t have either… he’s just forgotten. We should have stood up for you guys. All of us. Despite Pesci’s best efforts, we WILL get that sense of community back.
Until then, I am sorry I let this happen to you.
Brien O. Thomas: ...WHAT?
Rajiv Khan: SAY WHAT ONE MORE TIME I DARE YOU!!!
Brien O. Thomas <confused by Matei’s kindness>: I don’t understand.
Rajiv Khan: THAT’S IT! I might die tonight, but if I’m still alive next show, we’re getting a rematch you inconsiderate piece of shit!
Brien O. Thomas: Is someone else there?
Rajiv Khan: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!
[As the injured tag teams start to squabble harder, the world champion looks up at the camera.]
Radu Matei: The state of SWAT.
[The Sacrificial Idol starts to make his way down the hallway. Busy personal that brush past the bandaged figure only lightly touch him to start the blood flowing again. As white gauze slowly reddens, The Beast of Dixie picks up his methodical pace, soldiering on despite the bombardment of backstage personal.]
Radu Matei: I consider Lynn Brewster to be the same kind of insidious presence as Pesci, putting herself over at the expense of the company. For my poor opinion of her booking, promoting, managing, personal, and wrestling skills – the fact remains that she was one of the few things that could keep Pesci in check. As questionable as she was, SWAT no longer has that quality control. Joe has been left to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.
Assembling the more mercurial members of our family into a little group that acts as his muscle. The only problem with the big bad stable designed to bully people, is that when another group comes in... and I’m not talking about the Royal Family... showing equal strength, well, bullies have a tendency to get defensive. So what was the response? DOUBLE THE NUMBERS! Let half the damned roster into their elite unit. Consolidate all the titles, so that if they ever have to wrestle the feared Newish Breed, the KGB can do it on the KGB’s terms.
Know the home field.
[Pushing through the curtain, the bloody husk that is Radu Matei steps out onto the entrance ramp to a massive pop from the capacity crowd.]
Radu Matei: To look at the badly beaten bodies of The O-Z and the Indian Assassins, you would think this was the KGB versus Society of the New Breed show.
[The Matei chants start up quickly.]
Radu Matei: If that was REALLY the story... then Syberus SHOULD have beat my ass last week.
[Chants show no sign of stopping.]
Radu Matei: I for one could not be happier – they represent the best and the brightest of HARDKORE world. All fans of this sport are luckier to have them performing again. The only thing is... they just got here... so while appreciating their greatness, lets not shit on the Psychotic Goths, Frostbites, and Lucky Lindas who have been keeping the HOPES AND DREAMS of SWAT Alive.
[The sheep continue to eat out of his blood stained hands.]
Radu Matei: ...you can shit on Hell's Bouncer though.
[Ha!]
Radu Matei: The KGB may have tied up the Hardcore, Tag, and Amazon straps... but between me and Suzi Spitz, I know it’ll be a COLD DAY IN HELL before they get any other gold. We all know that our Pan-Am champion is THE ONLY THING keeping Joanne Canelli from having her ass handed to her by Zolotrach later this evening.
[IT’S DAMN TRUE POP!!!]
Radu Matei: So Pesci might make this the KGB show, and the KGB might have all their sights set on those New Breeders, but if they aren’t looking in my direction, the answer is clear...
PAUL SOUTTER FEARS ME.
[That sounds catchy, lets try chanting it.]
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!!!
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!!!!!!
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!!!!!!!!!!
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!!!!!!
Radu Matei: I came here representing the END of his federation, and what did he do? Defend his home? Nah. He made Frostbite’s life a living hell, the only other guy who could have stood up to me, all while ducking yours truly. With Brewster out of the way, Pesci calls all the shots... the only thing standing between him and the total ruin of this product is this...
[The Sacrificial Idol holds the world title high in the air to a sea of flash photography.]
Radu Matei: Yet they keep their distance. So the KGB have gone from ruining the end of every world title match, to waiting for me to leave ringside before targeting people... which brings me to Jade.
Are the Hired Guns even in the KGB?
It seems like they always take a back seat to their husbands. The Fairtex brothers are in the Anzac Cup? Oh, well they all agree to look out for their own interests, but it ends up being the Fairtex show. Tong turns on Psychotic Goth? Do they question his actions towards their long term family friend, or do they rush take jobs from Pesci? Do I do something ABSOLUTELY MONSTROUS TO JADE???
[The cheers start to die down a little.]
Radu Matei: Can she get revenge for herself, or will Tong use it as a platform to start demanding world title matches, not really picking up on his wife’s discomfort? BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED!!!
[Ok, the audience is back with him!]
Radu Matei: So maybe I’m fighting the KGB tonight, you would have to ask them. Personally, its so much bigger than that. Its about war crimes. Coming to terms with past transgressions and hopefully growing in the process.
Jade. Unlike your husband, I understand your needs.
[Snap!]
Radu Matei: This isn’t about the title. This is about standing on your own two feet and screaming to the heavens that you have just as much right to be on this stage as anyone else. That you didn’t deserve to be collateral damage in my Lynn war. No one deserved that treatment. <double take> Only Lynn.
Ownership.
Not just this gold belt, but ownership over our actions.
Tonight. I put my belt and my health on the line, owning my role in your distress. Appreciating every lump I take, not for just bettering the strap, but because I asked for them. Being a horrible person, the chance of redemption is most welcome.
You should try it, Jade.
[Did the arena just get colder?]
Radu Matei: Those comments I made about collateral damage and my deep guilt, while all true, were recorded prior to your little shooting stunt. War Crimes. We are both guilty of them, I'm just the only one acknowledging it. For all the sensational headlines your stunt may have bought SWAT, Pesci might have given you a title shot, but did he do you any favours? In the world we currently live in, do you even know the stress and anxiety you caused for our audience members? You STILL have my pity, but now have brought about my disdain.
Ownership.
I can’t take back what I did to you, just as you can’t take back what you did to the audience last week. I can show remorse for my actions. You don’t seem to be emotionally capable of that yet.
So I will make you LEARN remorse.
I will TEACH you to OWN your actions.
ALLOW you to ACCEPT personal responsibility.
You will KNOW that this is my home, <tick> this is my community, <pause> and even if I owe you, Jade...
NO ONE fucks with SWAT.
[Mic drop.]
[The world champion’s gauze is now deep red. The bloody effigy raises a fist in the air to the approval of the crowd, signalling the blood bath that is to come.]
[Production assistants, road agents, security, heavy traffic almost trips over the mangled remains as the show continues, business as usual. Trying to figure out if Powerhouse missed a cue or if Valentine has sewn up the rights to Syberus 110% T-shirts takes precedence over the human suffering. Moving at a slower pace is the figure that looms over Rajiv Khan’s gurney, casting a large shadow over the Hardcore division’s permanent top contender.]
Rajiv Khan: So dark…
[The shadow is enough to make the Indian Assassin think he is close to death. The other members of the enhancement talent tag jamboree are also lounging back on stretchers, enjoying neck braces and medical treatment due to the KGB’s cowardly response to returning, now elderly, New Breed. The camera pans over to Brien O. Thomas, who has enough gauze on that his ears are completely covered, starring up at the cold lights. Story of his life.]
“War crimes.”
[The large shadow of the world champion moves from Khan to Thomas, as Radu Matei takes in the carnage. The only sympathetic eye in the building.]
Radu Matei: I thought the War in the program eluded to my battles with Lynn Brewster, and the crimes were my offences against Jade.
Brien O. Thomas <pointing a bandaged arm up to his heavily gauzed ears>: I can’t understand you.
Rajiv Khan <neck brace keeping his focus on the ceiling cannot see the scene, just hear it>: WHAT? WHAT BECAUSE I SPEAK WITH AN ACCENT? YOU RACIST SCUM!
Brien O. Thomas: WHAT?
Rajiv Khan: FUCK YOU!!!
Radu Matei <smiling sadly at BOT>: But the War in question is between the KGB and the Society of the New Breed, and the crimes... <flinch> have only just begun.
[Trying to lean against a wall, TJ Zousa looks at his heavily bandaged hands before turning to a medic with tears in his eyes.]
TJ Zousa: Doc… level with me... am I ever going to dance again?
Medic: You didn’t sustain any damage to your legs.
TJ Zousa <trying to strike a John Travolta Saturday Night Fever pose but having a hard time extending his index finger>: ...You just don’t understand dancing.
[Matei puts a reassuring claw on BOT’s shoulder.]
Radu Matei: This should never have happened. I have tried my best to build up the world title, raising it to the quality that the organization deserves... but its like spinning plates. While I focus on making this belt the crown jewel of the XHF organizations, Joe has his run of the federation. Wrestlers can only appear in two segments because they don’t want them being overexposed, at the same time, Pesci manages to work himself into half the program. He treats this place like his personal toy box, undermining the structure and sense of community. Syndicate Wrestling And Tradition used to be the kind of federation, where if a dick stable decided to take liberties with a match they weren’t participating in, the rest of the roster would come out and hand them their asses. Packer would never have stood for this bullshit. Soutter wouldn’t have either… he’s just forgotten. We should have stood up for you guys. All of us. Despite Pesci’s best efforts, we WILL get that sense of community back.
Until then, I am sorry I let this happen to you.
Brien O. Thomas: ...WHAT?
Rajiv Khan: SAY WHAT ONE MORE TIME I DARE YOU!!!
Brien O. Thomas <confused by Matei’s kindness>: I don’t understand.
Rajiv Khan: THAT’S IT! I might die tonight, but if I’m still alive next show, we’re getting a rematch you inconsiderate piece of shit!
Brien O. Thomas: Is someone else there?
Rajiv Khan: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!
[As the injured tag teams start to squabble harder, the world champion looks up at the camera.]
Radu Matei: The state of SWAT.
[The Sacrificial Idol starts to make his way down the hallway. Busy personal that brush past the bandaged figure only lightly touch him to start the blood flowing again. As white gauze slowly reddens, The Beast of Dixie picks up his methodical pace, soldiering on despite the bombardment of backstage personal.]
Radu Matei: I consider Lynn Brewster to be the same kind of insidious presence as Pesci, putting herself over at the expense of the company. For my poor opinion of her booking, promoting, managing, personal, and wrestling skills – the fact remains that she was one of the few things that could keep Pesci in check. As questionable as she was, SWAT no longer has that quality control. Joe has been left to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.
Assembling the more mercurial members of our family into a little group that acts as his muscle. The only problem with the big bad stable designed to bully people, is that when another group comes in... and I’m not talking about the Royal Family... showing equal strength, well, bullies have a tendency to get defensive. So what was the response? DOUBLE THE NUMBERS! Let half the damned roster into their elite unit. Consolidate all the titles, so that if they ever have to wrestle the feared Newish Breed, the KGB can do it on the KGB’s terms.
Know the home field.
[Pushing through the curtain, the bloody husk that is Radu Matei steps out onto the entrance ramp to a massive pop from the capacity crowd.]
Radu Matei: To look at the badly beaten bodies of The O-Z and the Indian Assassins, you would think this was the KGB versus Society of the New Breed show.
[The Matei chants start up quickly.]
Radu Matei: If that was REALLY the story... then Syberus SHOULD have beat my ass last week.
[Chants show no sign of stopping.]
Radu Matei: I for one could not be happier – they represent the best and the brightest of HARDKORE world. All fans of this sport are luckier to have them performing again. The only thing is... they just got here... so while appreciating their greatness, lets not shit on the Psychotic Goths, Frostbites, and Lucky Lindas who have been keeping the HOPES AND DREAMS of SWAT Alive.
[The sheep continue to eat out of his blood stained hands.]
Radu Matei: ...you can shit on Hell's Bouncer though.
[Ha!]
Radu Matei: The KGB may have tied up the Hardcore, Tag, and Amazon straps... but between me and Suzi Spitz, I know it’ll be a COLD DAY IN HELL before they get any other gold. We all know that our Pan-Am champion is THE ONLY THING keeping Joanne Canelli from having her ass handed to her by Zolotrach later this evening.
[IT’S DAMN TRUE POP!!!]
Radu Matei: So Pesci might make this the KGB show, and the KGB might have all their sights set on those New Breeders, but if they aren’t looking in my direction, the answer is clear...
PAUL SOUTTER FEARS ME.
[That sounds catchy, lets try chanting it.]
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!!!
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!!!!!!
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!!!!!!!!!!
SOUTTER FEARS MATEI!!!!!!!
Radu Matei: I came here representing the END of his federation, and what did he do? Defend his home? Nah. He made Frostbite’s life a living hell, the only other guy who could have stood up to me, all while ducking yours truly. With Brewster out of the way, Pesci calls all the shots... the only thing standing between him and the total ruin of this product is this...
[The Sacrificial Idol holds the world title high in the air to a sea of flash photography.]
Radu Matei: Yet they keep their distance. So the KGB have gone from ruining the end of every world title match, to waiting for me to leave ringside before targeting people... which brings me to Jade.
Are the Hired Guns even in the KGB?
It seems like they always take a back seat to their husbands. The Fairtex brothers are in the Anzac Cup? Oh, well they all agree to look out for their own interests, but it ends up being the Fairtex show. Tong turns on Psychotic Goth? Do they question his actions towards their long term family friend, or do they rush take jobs from Pesci? Do I do something ABSOLUTELY MONSTROUS TO JADE???
[The cheers start to die down a little.]
Radu Matei: Can she get revenge for herself, or will Tong use it as a platform to start demanding world title matches, not really picking up on his wife’s discomfort? BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED!!!
[Ok, the audience is back with him!]
Radu Matei: So maybe I’m fighting the KGB tonight, you would have to ask them. Personally, its so much bigger than that. Its about war crimes. Coming to terms with past transgressions and hopefully growing in the process.
Jade. Unlike your husband, I understand your needs.
[Snap!]
Radu Matei: This isn’t about the title. This is about standing on your own two feet and screaming to the heavens that you have just as much right to be on this stage as anyone else. That you didn’t deserve to be collateral damage in my Lynn war. No one deserved that treatment. <double take> Only Lynn.
Ownership.
Not just this gold belt, but ownership over our actions.
Tonight. I put my belt and my health on the line, owning my role in your distress. Appreciating every lump I take, not for just bettering the strap, but because I asked for them. Being a horrible person, the chance of redemption is most welcome.
You should try it, Jade.
[Did the arena just get colder?]
Radu Matei: Those comments I made about collateral damage and my deep guilt, while all true, were recorded prior to your little shooting stunt. War Crimes. We are both guilty of them, I'm just the only one acknowledging it. For all the sensational headlines your stunt may have bought SWAT, Pesci might have given you a title shot, but did he do you any favours? In the world we currently live in, do you even know the stress and anxiety you caused for our audience members? You STILL have my pity, but now have brought about my disdain.
Ownership.
I can’t take back what I did to you, just as you can’t take back what you did to the audience last week. I can show remorse for my actions. You don’t seem to be emotionally capable of that yet.
So I will make you LEARN remorse.
I will TEACH you to OWN your actions.
ALLOW you to ACCEPT personal responsibility.
You will KNOW that this is my home, <tick> this is my community, <pause> and even if I owe you, Jade...
NO ONE fucks with SWAT.
[Mic drop.]
[The world champion’s gauze is now deep red. The bloody effigy raises a fist in the air to the approval of the crowd, signalling the blood bath that is to come.]