Battleground #27 : Mamma Said Knock You Out (Show)

[SWAT Team]

[Nimbooda Nimbooda hits and Rajiv drives down to the ring in his taxi cab. ]

Frank Salazar : Introducing our first competitor… standing at five feet, eleven inches and weighing in at two hundred and nineteen pounds… from Mumbai, India… RAJIV… KHAAAAAAAAN!

Andrew Fulton : Here comes the cabbie!

[He gets out and stands on the roof and poses for the fans then runs down the bonnet and somersaults over the ropes into the ring.]

Jeremy Tucker : Rajiv looks ready to go tonight.

Andrew Fulton : I wonder how his side hustle has been affected by the rona?

[Master of puppets starts on the PA system. Out walks Samuel Blackstone with a huge smile on his face.]

Frank Salazar : And his opponent… standing at six foot four and weighing in at two hundred and forty-five pounds… from Hawaii… SAMUEL… BLACKSTOOOOONE!

[He stands there at the entrance ramp, taking it all in. He then slowly walks down the ramp, eyeing the ring. He climbs in and stares down Rajiv.]

Jeremy Tucker : Looks like Blackstone is ready for action.

Andrew Fulton : You think he’s high right now? He’s got that crazy look going strong.

[The bell rings and the action starts!]

Jeremy Tucker : Khan charges toward Blackstone to start this one off quick! QUICK COUNTER by Blackstone, dropping down to the mat to get under Rajiv’s attempt at a clothesline.

Andrew Fulton : Definitely high on something, that reaction time says it all!

Jeremy Tucker : Blackstone pops back up as fast as he went down and is taking it to Khan with rights and lefts!

Andrew Fulton : The punches sent Rajiv into the corner. This is getting bad early for the taxi driver.

Jeremy Tucker : Blackstone lands a few more big right hands to his cornered opponent. Now he goes for an irish rip to the opposite - REVERSAL!

Andrew Fulton : Khan runs after Blackstone and meets the big man’s boot! OUCH!

Jeremy Tucker : Rajiv stumbles back toward the center of the ring, holding his face doubled over in pain… Blackstone hits him with a running bulldog!

Andrew Fulton : Not looking great for the former Indian Champ.

[Kahn rolls onto his back.]

Jeremy Tucker : A quick legdrop by Blackstone. He grabs Khan by his hair to bring him up to his feet.

Andrew Fulton : Rajiv sends an elbow into Blackstone’s midsection on the way up! He follows up with an uppercut, sending Blackstone back a couple steps...

Jeremy Tucker : Hard clothesline from Blackstone!

Andrew Fulton : Khan damn near lost his head with that one! I guess he wouldn’t be the first guy Backstone’s killed this week...

Jeremy Tucker : I wouldn’t go there, Andrew. Blackstone grabs Rajiv’s legs, looks like he’s about to lock in a Boston Crab here.

Andrew Fulton : You ever wonder what it’s like to kill a man, Jerry?

Jeremy Tucker : No. Because I’m not a psychopath, Andrew. Blackstone’s got Khan turned over and is yanking on his legs, putting a lot of pressure on his opponent’s back.

Andrew Fulton : If I were Rajiv, I’d just tap out so I could get away from this guy as soon as possible!

Jeremy Tucker : Doesn’t look like that’s the plan as Rajiv starts to inch toward the ropes.

Andrew Fulton : I heard he was a banker back in India.

Jeremy Tucker : Thanks for your contribution. Blackstone releases the hold just before Khan gets to the ropes.

Andrew Fulton : Probably didn’t want the ref giving him orders.

Jeremy Tucker : Blackstone lifts Rajiv back to his feet and grabs him from the back. Here comes a belly to back sup- NOPE! Khan with a swift spin, putting him at Blackstone’s side. He brings Blackstone down with a nice side Russian leg sweep!

Andrew Fulton : Actually, he prefers to call that a side Indian leg sweep. And after what Blackstone did to the Russians, I think that’s smart.

Jeremy Tucker : Rajiv pops up to his feet and squats in the nearest corner. Blackstone doesn’t waste much time getting back up, looking angry with himself for letting Khan reverse that move.

Andrew Fulton : Think he wants to kill him?

Jeremy Tucker : Can we go the rest of this match without murder talk, please?

Andrew Fulton : Fine.

Jeremy Tucker : Khan looking to hit a jumping side kick, but Blackstone ducks under! Blackstone with a quick kick to Rajiv’s midsection as he turns back around. He grabs a doubled over Khan by the head, and he’s got him up… BRAINBUSTER!

Andrew Fulton : That’s gotta be it!

Jeremy Tucker : Blackstone with the cover- 1….. 2…. Kickout by Khan!

Andrew Fulton : Dumb. He’s gonna die in there.

Jeremy Tucker : Please...

Andrew Fulton : Never said how!

Jeremy Tucker : An angry Blackstone grabs Rajiv and lifts him up, but Rajiv tries to counter - grabbing at his legs. Blackstone sends a strong right forearm down onto Khan’s back, sending him down on his hands and knees.

Andrew Fulton : I wonder if Khan called him Sam. I heard only certain people can do that.

Jeremy Tucker : Blackstone wraps his arms around Rajiv’s midsection, and lifts him upside down. He takes an arm and puts it between Khan’s legs.

Andrew Fulton : RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!

Jeremy Tucker : Oh you decided to make a call, how cute. Blackstone goes for the pin after nailing his cradle piledriver! 1…. 2………… 3!

[The bell rings as the ref pops up with Blackstone, and raises his arm which Blackstone quickly rips away.]

Frank Salazar : And your winner… SAMUEL … BLAAAAAACKSTOOOOOOOOOONE!

[Soutter]

[We switch to the Intensive Care Unit, Mad Dog Paul Soutter is laying in a coma in his bed, his good friend Bruno sitting beside him reading the paper, is that Mike Maddox still in his coma beside him?

A cloud then appears above Suit’s head and we begin to magically see his thoughts. He is at the Police Academy, and he is Mahoney, standing behind Kim Cattrall and frisking her and pretending to be one of the officers. We switch to see Mahoney / Soutter and Cattrall at the beach getting friendly by the bon fire.

We see Jonnie Valentine as Lt Thadeus Harris. MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT!

We see Syberus and Rally Jackson as Kyle Blankes and Chad Copeland. Yes. They are at the Blue Oyster Bar.

We see Trent Jones as Hightower.

We see James Fierce as Jones.

We see Timeless as George MartIN.

We see Roxylishus as Sgt Callahan. Is she Hayden’s mother?

We see Radu Matei as Tackleberry.

We see Caffrey as Cadet/Off./Sgt. Douglas Fackler

We see Zoran Sainovich as Commandant Lassard

We see Goth as Bobcat Goldthwaite.

We see Lucky Linda as Hookes.

We see Frostbite as Leslie Barbara.

We see Eddie D as Capt. Carl Proctor

We see Joanne Canelli as Kathleen Kirkland-Tackleberry

[Fade.]

[Lucky Linda]

”Come on girl. You have to win this one. It’s all on the line.” Says the grizzled old trainer to his horse. We see a stable setting, and the desperate old coot is patting the horse and encouraging her. “We need this win girl, if you can’t get home tonight, it’s all over.”

The shot pans out and we see sitting on a bench alongside the stall the trainer is in, is one Lucky Linda La Fey. She is just relaxing with some cool sunglasses on and the newspaper open, is that the form guide she is reading? When did Lucky Linda become a gambler? She can’t help but over hear the conversation. “Give it your all girl!” continues the trainer trying to motivate his horse “I know you don’t understand and are 30 – 1 but if we can’t bring home the bacon today, we will lose the whole farm.”

Linda looks up from her paper, hearing the desperation in the trainers voice and moves over to them. “I couldn’t help but overhear you Sir” apologises Linda. “Do you think she can win it for you?’

“She HAS too.” Replies the trainer.

“What’s her name?” asks Linda.

“Amazon Crown” replies the trainer, and a chime ringing sound goes off in the background.

Linda smiles, and pats the horse fondly, the horse winks at her and another chime ringing sound goes off and the horse is surrounded in a light blue aura for a moment. “Well, I think today may just be your lucky day Linda grins up at the weary old trainer.

A ray of hope embraces the man and we then switch to the race track and the race is underway, and Amazon Crown is coming dead last, they turn the bend and she kicks in and thunders past the field and wins by a neck on the finish line. The trainer is staring in disbelief at the win, a tear in his eye, Linda smiles in satisfaction, we see she has a $5 winning ticket in her hand, it’s not all about the money to her.

“Dear Linda.” We have now switched from the racetrack and are backstage in the Amazons Locker room, Linda is sitting at a desk and has a pile of papers in front of her and is reading from one of them. “Commiserations on the Anzac Cup final, I really thought you and Radu were going to go all the way. Well done on making the final though, that was some show. Sarah, Chicago.”

“It certainly was Sarah.” Linda answers looking into the camera. “What a field, so many great teams, for us to even make it to the final was quite an achievement, not the finish we wanted but it was the Stylistics night, and congratulations to them.”

“Dear Linda” Linda is reading another letter “That was a moving flashback we saw where your Gran passed and you received all her luck like she did from her ancestors before. Thanks for sharing that with us. Rose, Hawaii.”

“Thanks Rose.” Replies Linda, looking into the camera. “I remember it still like yesterday, such Turmoil. One day I hope I can sacrifice myself for a loved one as she did for me.”

“Dear Linda” Yup. Another letter. “I gotta say, the way you punked Zoran out at the Anzac Cup presentation, that made my day. It was actually worth you losing the match, just so you could put him in his place. Hopefully you get a match with him soon and beat that two million dollars out of his hide. Helen, Green Bay.”

“Thanks Helen, you know.” Linda speaks to the camera like she is talking to Helen “That was kind of fun. He did have it coming to him, and knowing him, he had full intentions of stealing the spotlight from The Society, and after all their hard work to win the tournament, that just wasn’t going to happen. Not on my watch.”

“Dear Linda.” Another letter. “I see you have a X Crown title match coming up at Battleground 27. Do yourself and us all a favour honey and knock that poor excuse of a champion Anthony Caffrey OUT! Gemma, Charming.”

“Oh Momma. I will knock him out, just because you said so.” Laughs Linda. “As for poor excuse of a champion, I don’t know about that, the guy seems to be really making an effort to embrace you great fans. Of course, to some of us, it is effortless.” Linda gives the did i just say that shrug. “I will say this, he defeated over ... what was it? Over 50 people to win that Crown. Including the former holder, Zoran Sainovich” She spits the name with disdain. “Will he go on to become one of the greatest X Crown Champions in history? Will he lose the title right here tonight to either Hayden Callahan or little old me?”

Linda taps her chin in thought. “Hmmm. Time will tell. I am thinking the later sounds a lot better. Lucky Linda La Fey. X Crown Champion! Now that has a ring to it. I did already defeat him, and Hayden Callahan at the Anzac Cup you know. ”

“Dear Linda.” Another letter, looks like it is the last one on the pile. “How’s this guy Callahan’s form, tries calling you out at the Anzac Cup for stealing Harry Callahan’s catch phrase, when he has stolen his NAME! What a nerve and what a hypocrite. I hope you smash his egotistical face in. Marge, Springfield.”

“You know Marge, I thought the exact same thing myself when he went on that rant” answers Linda. “Now I get the chance to do so. This is wrestling Callahan. Some people steal things from others. Some borrow them for a time and then make them their own. There was once a superstar who shone brighter than any other, he was electrifying even. They named a show after him called Smackdown. Do you remember that? Did you hear any other people in that time saying he stole THAT from Dr Dre? Of course not. He made it HIS and I made this MINE! So Callahan, Caffrey, you both need to ask yourselves a question, Do you feel Lucky? Well? Do Ya? PUNKS!?”

[SWAT Team]

[The new KGB Entrance Video hits the SWAT Tron and then the Bandits make their way out, standing at the entrance way in a group pose. There is Don Joanne Canelli, James Fierce, Frostbite and Timeless and Roxylishus. They head down to the ring, taunting the Palm Springs fans as they enter the ring.]

Joanne Canelli: Now I know you are all wonderin' why we are out here so soon... Well after the Anzac Cup, I wasn't pleased, but I guess... live and let live! I have to say I was thrilled that Lucky Linda and Radu didn't win the cup, but I wanted Frostbite and I to get to the last round but there's always next time. Now tonight we are facin' off another team that has not even impressed me. I mean sure they won the Anzac Cup but that's only because I wasn't in the last round. Tonight we face off against the Society of the New Breed or for those that don't know them by that... “The Palm Springs Kid” Jonnie Valentine, Tuxedo Mask & Marty Donovan.

[She paces in the middle of the ring, almost like a caged wild animal.]

Joanne : The last time I looked Tuxedo Mask was from a cartoon! Marty Donovan was left in the pits of some Greek desert and Valentine, well, he was parading as Lt Harris from Police Academy in The Founders dreams.

How’s that bed by the way Founder? He sure looks cosy there in the ICU.

[Joanne hands the mic to Fierce and leans against the ropes impressed with their actions putting Soutter in the hospital.]

James Fierce : The KGB has finally risen to the new gold standard. No longer is the organization lollygagging at the whimsical notions of an out of touch walking catch phrase. No Paul, this was not personal. Not in the slightest. Not from me at least. I was happy where I was. Life was good. Then you called ME, remember?

You needed a hand. You needed someone that would have your back. I agreed. Then I received another call, and another call, and then emails and videos of what the KGB had become in my long absence.

I was livid at first Paul, but then I understood that what I saw was a structural issue, the institution was caving in. The base was strong, but like any failing institution, the vision was incoherent. The head of the snake needed removing, and sadly old friend you were that head.

Had your eyes been clear and your thoughts been lucid, you would have seen that inviting the cosplayers Tong and Dong was a mistake. Did you feel sorry for them? For the love of Yorlik, did you think the Bandits were a fucking charity? Those days are over now Paul, although it will take a hot minute to remove the stank left by your misdeeds and ineptitude.

Which brings me to tonight, The Society of the New Breed.

Jonnie Fucking Valentine…

To say squaring off with you isn’t bittersweet for me would be a huge understatement. As a wise man once said, “I respect you bookerman.”

And that’s were that ends. Sure, you’ve done it all, and I applaud your previous success in wrestling. I applaud your ability to latch on to more talented individuals and use their works and claim it as your own in the form of guidance. I appreciate the way you made yourself a living legend on the backs of useful idiots such as Kilroy and Karnage…who by the way were my favourite useful idiots. Mayhaps you can fetch them again after Sun and Tux have outlived their usefulness. Ohhh a Hillbilly can dream, can’t he?

And now the horses that drive the buggy. Tuxedo Mask and The Rising Sun. I’m a fan. I enjoy the shenanigans. I really, really thought that time you did that thing was excellent. I laughed, I cried, I was inspired.

But please, fellas don’t let my admiration for your works erase what has to happen tonight. I have no doubt that you have come into tonight underestimating the contest. Hell, I would have too if I were you and just skimmed over the card. Consider this my gift to you tonight, we ain’t Paul and his gimp boys. We ain’t here to put on a five star classic. We ain’t going to go for the ha-ha’s, which I am sure Marty will cover plenty. We’re here for the violence. We’re here for the gore.

But then again, what do I know?

[Fierce shakes his head at the crowd who try starting a Jonnie chant. The microphone is turned over to Frostbite as he drops his head for about a second and he slowly picks up his head he starts to laugh.]

[CHORUS OF BOOS.]

Frostbite : Why don't you people just shut the fuck up.

[AN EVEN LOUDER CHORUS OF BOOS.]

Frostbite : You see this is why I got sick and tired of you people. You cheer and boo for whoever you want. You do not care about any of us in this ring. We all put our bodies on the line every night for your idiots out here to simply be abused by you assholes. You do not care if any of us get hurt at all as long as we entertain you that is all that matters. I get that you pay your money and can cheer and boo whoever you want and that is fine but I try and figure out why would you morons cheer for Paul Soutter.

[Crowd.. PAUL.... PAUL...]

Frostbite : You see? This is what I mean. The man has screwed you over so many times by hand picking his people to become champion. You simply did not like the way he did things and neither did some of the people in that locker room. But all of a sudden when we beat some sense into that has been, you now feel sorry for him and you want to cheer him. You people are a bunch of damn losers.

[AN EVEN CHORUS OF BOOS.]

Frostbite : Paul was becoming a problem, he was becoming weak. He was letting people get away with too much. I did not want to believe it but it took Timeless to help me understand what must be done. We had to get rid of Paul, and we did. You will never see him again. There is a new KGB and it does not involve that loser Soutter and what the other two other jackass in Team Fairtex more of Paul's lap dogs. Dead weight is gone and the new KGB can take care of business around here. We need to get back and run this place like we should be doing and not having Society of New Breed or some other outsiders and they know who they are.

You idiots better get used to the fact that we are going to take over this place once again. Now later on tonight we have Johnnie Valentine, Tuxedo Mask and Marty Donavan. Jonnie, I look forward to getting back into the ring with you. I know Paul was such a huge fan of yours that is why he wanted you to be champion. He let the world believe you two hated each other when in reality he was always patting you on the back. We both know it, Paul is no longer around to save you, but I promise you the fun and games are long over with it is time to get down to business. Tuxedo Mask you are one half of the tag team champions maybe after this match maybe myself and Joanne over here might want a match for those tag team titles.

[Joanne shrugs her shoulders. ]

Frostbite : Another one of Paul favourites. Marty, you are going to get what is coming to you. Society of the New Breed, you and others are going to understand real soon what the new KGB is all about. Plenty of money to be made, championships to be won and certainly as Paul found out more bodies to be taken out of here.

[He tosses the microphone and Timeless catches it.]

Timeless : Well said guys. This right here now is the Pinnacle in Wrestling! We are the heart and soul of SWAT! I am going to enjoy sitting back and watching as you guys rip the Society to shreds tonight.

The Founder, he got FOUND OUT! He was found lacking! Wanting! No balls! No STUGUTS! He had gone soft. The man who was the King of the Swerve just got SWERVED himself! He was no longer that King, the man who orchestrated bringing in this beast Frostbite to us at the war games.

The man who helped me win the Technical title from Goth with the help of his OWN breathren.

The man who not only got Mike Maddox to join us, so we could then boot his punk ass to the curb after betraying his butt buddy Calum, but also got him to swerve his OWN WIFE before hand to help Joanne capture that there Amazons title.

[Roxylishus does a crotch chop and Joanne pats her title.]

Timeless : That man, he was gone. Too busy playing cards in the back with the Society of the Old Breed. Too busy running around in corners stealing kisses with Lucky Linda like a damn school kid!

[The crowd Ooooo’s.]

Timeless : Team Fairtex! Frankly, you guys just didn’t make the cut! We gave you an option, threw you a bone, all you had to do was lay down for us, but no! You wanted to make a stand. Tell me? Where did that get you?

Booted to the curb the following round!

[Roxylishus snatches the mic from Timeless]

Roxylishus : Jade! Kim! You want to double baseball bat ME! You and US! Next week on Battleground!

[The crowd pops]

Roxylishus : That’s right moles! Timeless and Roxylishus against the Hired Whores! We will show you what WE do with baseball bats!

[Roxylishus hands the mic back to Timeless.]

Timeless : Eddie D! Don’t think I have forgotten about you either pal. You have shown some moxy so far here in SWAT, one could even say maybe Bandit material. Tonight, we will know about that, when you get in the ring with ME!

I am SIR WINSALOT.

We are the KGB.

We like to Root and we make all the Loot!

We take out the Trash, and collect all the Cash!

We break your heart and tear you apart!

We make Stacks and break backs!

I’ll rupture your spleen and knock you out clean!

I am the Ultimate Male Supreme!

Every breathing Woman’s Wet Dream!

A God Damn Wrestling Machine!

Un fade able!

[Jonnie Valentine]

(Open on the majestic peak of Mount San Jacinto, overlooking beautiful Palm Springs. The camera pans down the mountain to it's base where the historic Palm Springs Ariel Tramway sits. The world’s largest rotating tram car—travels over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting riders to the pristine wilderness of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Cut to the inside of the tram station where  people stand in line waiting to get on. The shot has to go into fast forward to show how far back "The Palm Springs Kid" Jonnie Valentine, one half of the SWAT World Tag Team Champions Tuxedo Mask, and Marty Donovan are standing. Jonnie is carrying the giant Anzac Cup trophy)


Marty Donovan: (fanning himself) Tell me again why we're here?


"The Palm Springs Kid" Jonnie Valentine: The tram? You gotta go to the tram when you're in Palm Springs. It's the thing to do. 


Tuxedo Mask: (reading from the brochure pamphlet) Wow, when we get to Mountain Station the elevation will be 8,516 feet!. Nearly 9,000 feet in ten minutes! 


(Marty feigns an interested look) 


Marty Donovan: How long are we going to wait? 


Jonnie Valentine: A few hours, if we're lucky. 


Marty Donovan: A few hours??? We're not even inside yet, and it's 110 degrees! 


Jonnie Valentine: Oh I know, it's torture. 


Marty Donovan: Then why are you making us do this? 


Jonnie Valentine: ... You know, I don't know? It's just what I've always done when people come to Palm Springs.  


Tuxedo Mask: (reading from the pamphlet) "Enjoy two restaurants, observation decks, natural history museum, two documentary theaters, gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails!" You hear that piece of business? TWO documentary theaters! 


Jonnie Valentine: I mean if anything, this line should be longer! 


Marty Donovan: Why couldn't we go to Disneyland?


Jonnie Valentine: Disneyland? Why their rides just spit you out into a gift shop where you can buy a sweatshirt with a gangsta Mad Hatter on it. 


Marty Donovan: The Mad Hatta hoodie is a top seller! Why didn't Syberus or Rally have to come?


Jonnie Valentine: They're wrestling each other, I thought it would be weird. 


(The Canadian tourist couple in front of them turns around)


Tourist Husband: First time? 


Jonnie Valentine: Hmm? Me? No. I've thought lots of things would be weird. 


Tourist Husband: No, I mean is it your first time at the tram?


Jonnie Valentine: Oh no, I come here all the time. 


Tourist Wife: Oh us too. We come here every time we come down here, don't we Glen? 


Tourist Husband: Oh ya, it's such a lovely place.


Jonnie Valentine: Yeah, I'm taking these two. It's their first time. 


Tourist Wife: Oh ya, you're going to have a wonderful time. 


Tourist Husband: Oh, you betcha. 


Marty Donovan: (shaking his hear lobe) What?? I think the heat is making me deaf. 


Tourist Husband: Oh sure. 


Tuxedo Mask: This is amazing! (reads from pamphlet) "In 1935, young electrical engineer, Francis Crocker was mopping his brow in the heat of the day. Crocker gazed at the still snow-capped peak of Mount San Jacinto 10,834 feet elevation and longed to “go up there where it’s nice and cool”. At that moment, “Crocker’s Folly,” as it was soon dubbed by one newspaper woman, was born!" 


Marty Donovan: I totally understand that notion at this point. 


(Guy in line in front of the Canadian tourists turns around)


Guy: Hey, Jonnie Valentine, right?


Jonnie Valentine: (to Marty and Tux) Oh, jeez. This is embarrassing. This happens alot, especially out here. I'm just trying to relax with my friends and these people think I'm "on" all the time. Hang on, I'll get this guy out of our hair.  


(Jonnie addresses the guy in front of them in line) 


Jonnie Valentine: Hey man, good to see you. Thanks for your support. 


Guy: Oh...sure. 


Jonnie Valentine: It's always great to meet a fan. 


Guy: Fan?


Jonnie Valentine: A wrestling fan. Thanks for all you do. 


Guy: Uhh...it's Jim. I'm your neighbor? You're a wrestler?


Jonnie Valentine: (recognizing him, but sticking with his first take) Uh... look if you need to take a picture with me, I'll only do one, If it's more than one we have to take a group photo. Please, I'm a human being.


Guy: Wha- Nah, that's OK. You know, when I asked Anjanette what you did she said you did Thundercat movies. 


Jonnie Valentine: I do do Thundercat movies. I also wrestle. 


Guy: Oh. Cool. You know Andre the Giant?


Jonnie Valentine: Do I kno-... Yeah, I know Andre. 


Guy: Cool. Ya know your sprinkler is broke and is spraying my side window. I was gonna give you an estima-...


Jonnie Valentine: (blinks) Marty aren't you hot? I'm suddenly very interested in that.


Marty Donovan: (panting) Need...Pepsi. 


Tourist Wife: Oh, the poor dear needs Pepsi. (looks through purse) Let me see. I have a peppermint from Red Lobster. 


Tourist Husband: Oh ya, ya gotta go to Red Lobster. 


Tourist Wife: Oh ya. It's so good there. But a little pricey, ya know? 


Tourist Husband: Oh ya, super pricey. But good. 


Tourist Wife: Oh ya. 


Tuxedo Mask: (reading from his pamphlet) "Francis Crocker’s dream was completed in 1963; the inaugural ride occurred on September 12th of that year with local and state dignitaries, and celebrities on hand." I SEE DORIS DAY!!


(Guy in line behind Tux speaks up)


Other Guy: First time?


Tuxedo Mask: (stops reading the pamphlet and turns around) No, I've seen Doris Day lots of times. 


Jonnie Valentine: (to the other guy) No? You? 


Other Guy: No, this is the third time I've herded some tourist relatives up here. How bout you? 


Jonnie Valentine: I've been doing this all my life. 


Other Guy: Ain't it the worst? I got my wife's cousins from Chicago. You?


Jonnie Valentine: Wrestling stable. 


Other Guy: Oh, oh, Have they informed you it's hot yet? 


(Marty clutches Jonnie's sleeve)


Marty Donovan: (huffing) The planet is asking us to leave this place. She can't mean for us to endure this. 


Tuxedo Mask: (reading) "The towers are so tall that the tramway was constructed using helicopter." You know, I'd probably get into construction if there was more helicopter work. 


(The Society of the New Breed finally get to the front of the line and get on the tram. They stand on all sides of the tram, watching the wonders of the mountain landscape as they whiz up)


Other Guy: My wife and I got tickets to see you guys in that falls count anywhere match. What's parking gonna be like? 


Jonnie Valentine: Poorly thought out as usual. But it's worth the frustration of being stuck in your car space waiting for 2000 cars to move out to see "The Palm Springs Kid" finally get his hands on Frostbite. It's been a long time coming. Frostbite betrayed me in a War Games match in New York back in January after I paid for him to have an exclusive spa treatment right here in Palm Springs. And he's spent this time ducking the ass beating he knows is coming. Why, the second his puny shoulder hit my beautifully sculpted knee with that chop block, he knew he had started the flush that was going to drag his career down into the sewer that it belongs. If you pause the video of him stomping me, you can see the abject horror in his eyes, hoping that I don't get up. Hoping that I don't just stand up and throw him into that cage over and over until there isn't much left to pin. But just like that night in New York, in Palm Springs, he'll be protected by the KGB. What's different this time is James Fierce has joined their group. Fierce would have made a fine addition to The Society of the New Breed, but Soutter offered him the one thing I couldn't. 


Tuxedo Mask: A job co-hosting Soutter's Suite? 


Marty Donovan: The World's Sweatiest Hug? 


Jonnie Valentine: Power among the booking committee. But then Soutter paid for his overconfidence when The Iron Bear turned on him. Now James, that wasn't very nice. You chased The Founder out of his own group. Now you guys are Domino's without The Noid. 


Tuxedo Mask: On January 30, 1989, Kenneth Lamar Noid, a mentally ill man who thought the ad campaign was a personal attack on himself, entered a Domino's restaurant in Chamblee, Georgia armed with a .357 Magnum and held two employees hostage for over five hours. After telling the employees that Domino's owner Tom Monaghan had stolen his name, he forced them to call Domino's headquarters and demand $100,000 and a white limousine as getaway transportation. After offering to exchange one hostage for a copy of The Widow's Son, Noid reneged on his offer after a police officer brought him the book. Noid eventually became hungry and forced the employees to make him two special pizzas. While Noid ate the pizzas with his gun in his lap, the hostages escaped. Noid surrendered to the police shortly after.


Marty Donovan: That's in the pamphlet? 


Tuxedo Mask: No, just something I read. 


Jonnie Valentine: Frostbite can hide behind James Fierce. He'll probably hide behind Joanne and her mobbed up keystone cops she has to hold her brass knuckles. But sooner or later I'll get my hands on that Colorado trailer park trash. Frosty is going to find out it's not a big arena, and I'm gonna paint every inch of it red with his blood until James and Joanne just sweep what's left of him under the ring. The KGB had the guy booking the matches and they killed the golden goose. I'd say it was the stupidest thing they've ever done but we all know I'd be lying. After Palm Springs, James Fierce is going to be looking for new stables in the Yellow Pages, Joanne's going to see how her reality show pilot is looking, and Frostbite is going to go back to managing Satan's Disciples where announcers bring up "Ya know, he used to wrestle." Like "Montreal" or "Fallujah" the word Palm Springs is going to be synonymous with the end of the KGB. The good people of Palm Springs will dance in the streets with souvenirs they've taken off of their ring gear. Ah. we're here! 


(The Society of the New Breed get off the tram, and then Jonnie leads them to another line) 


Marty Donovan: What's this line for?


Jonnie Valentine: Going back down. They close in 15 minutes. 


Tuxedo Mask: (reading his pamphlet) Oh, on the way down, we'll cross five distinct vegetation zones!

[Trent Jones MR Bones.]

Your view is mostly black but you can see a person driving a car. It’s a large man. But it’s late at night and the roads are dark. The only light is the headlights in front of the car as it makes turns through the woods. The driver speaks and you discover the large man is Trent Jones.

“You have to pay the price you have to know that I am not someone you want to fuck with”

He stopped talking, his voice was darker sounding than ever before? Was Trent on his meds only time will tell. Trent is dressed In all black and he has his ryder vest on.

“You don’t get to fuck with my head, you made a mistake and now your going to pay for it”.

Trent went quiet just the sounds of heavy breathing. He grunted and his fist hit the steering wheel as the car he was driving squealed it’s tire going through. He reached over and grabbed another beer. He gulps it down and throws the bottle against the street. It shatters as it bounces off of the black top of the road.

Trent Jones is driving, he looks over to the passenger seat as if someone is with him. Trent's voice is heard but he isn’t speaking currently.

“It’s time For you to kill… its time for you to hunt… it’s time to set yourself free. It’s time we get the revenge on those that did us wrong… it’s time you put those people in their place. Don’t be a bitch now it’s time…”

The voice trailed off as Trent opened another beer. He again slams it down and this time he throws it at a speed limit sign that reads 45 mph. However Trents aim is off and it soars over the sign and crashes into the woods. They make the next turn and Trent slams the brakes as the car slides in sideways and hits an old fence. Trent steps out and grabs the last few beers out of the 12 pack. He opens one as he turns and faces an old condemned church. He walks towards the graveyard as he finishes the next beer. Trent looks around. Again he doesnt speak but his voice is heard.

“This is the final resting place for him, dig the grave and let him rot for the rest of his life. Let the maggots and bugs crawl through his skull. But first you have to kill him. You know its time, its the only way. You have a title you have to defend, you need to clear your head.”

Trent Jones was not on his meds that was very clear and now was working on beer 11 of 12. Trent slams down the 11th beer bottle and throws it against the nearby gravestone. The glass shatters once more. Trent Heads towards the church door and he finishes the last beer as he pushes the doors open. Trent walks towards the altar area and he looks around.

This time Trent is speaking and his mouth is moving, “I am here… Why is it you are bringing me out here, is this really something I need to do?”

Trent grabs his head as if he is hearing an extremely loud noise or that his ears are ringing. He steps back and falls into the pew of the church. His forehead is sweating and he just sits there motionless other than the heavy breathing. A Bat flies down and is hanging from the altar. Trent stands up and lights the candles on the altar.

****Flash back****
Trent Jones earlier in the night is seen, he is dressed the same outfit and he has a bottle of booze in his hands. He is drinking and he looks frustrated. He is watching the footage of the the cup and he is watching his promo from before his match with Jonnie and syb. He seems to get very angry and he throws the bottle against the tv.

“Trent you have to right this wrong… its time Trent its fucking time you do what is right you know the code.” Trent's voice is heard but his mouth is not moving. He looks very off, he stands up and stumbles a little as he moves towards the door. Trent looks at a car in the driveway he walks over and sees keys are in it. He starts the car and drives off. He seems to be talking to himself. But the words are not very clear that are coming out of his mouth.

“Die Tage der Dunkelheit nähern sich mir, meine Gedanken wundern sich über einen Ort, der dunkel ist. Die Flüsse fließen mit Blut, die Bäume hängen Körper und die Tiere fressen und pflücken das Fleisch der Gefallenen. Die Sonne scheint die Dunkelheit auf das Land herab und die Nacht wird noch dunkler… aber es fühlt sich für mich wie zu Hause an. Es fühlt sich richtig an, in dieser Hölle zu sein. Es ist die Dunkelheit, die ich brauche. Es ist die Droge, die meine Wut nährt. Wenn ich diesen Ort besuche, fühlt sich alles so real an. Sie sagten, ich muss mir meinen Weg verdienen, ich muss Opfer bringen”

Trents voice is heard but its not English that he is speaking. Based on the sound its german, but when did Trent Learn this new language?

The scene flashes ahead…

The screen is black you can’t see a thing but you can hear heavy breathing. You hear what sounds like a trunk opening and something be tossed inside. Then you hear nothing for a minute before you hear Trent Jones' voice.

“Don’t stop now we are so close. We have to do this, this person is a threat to you. Stop being a bitch and close the fucking trunk.”

And then you hear Trent speaking once more, “I agree he deserves an ass beating but death?” Again there is a long pause. “Listen you little bitch close the trunk and let’s go.”

Once more we hear a pause. Then you hear the sound of a trunk of a car being closed. A car starts and headlights come on. Trent puts the car in drive and starts out down the road. His breathing remains heavy and you hardly see it but his face is full of anger.

As they drive a truck is riding on Trents ass. Trent doesn’t seem to notice but the headlights are giving a clearer image of Trent. He is sweating as he drives. The truck flashes his bright lights and still nothing. Then a horn honk, just a quick beep that was saying fucking move it. Still nothing from trent. That’s when you notice that the speedometer says 20 mph and the signs all say 55mph. Because of the amount of curves on this road it’s all no passing. However, the truck had enough and it passed on a sharp curve. The man screams at Trent but he doesn’t seem to notice it.

Trent continues on this trip…

The scene fades back into the church.

Trent looks at the melting candles and he grabs a red cloth and lays it on the altar. He grabs a hymnal music book and he opens it. He then walks into a Room and comes outs with a bottle of wine and he sets it down. Face it the last thing Trent Jones needs at this time is more alcohol. Trent walks to the exit of the church. He looks around and walks out to the graveyard behind the church.

Being an old graveyard you can see many tall stones. A plot has been dug and the device that lowers a casket down is in place. A green tent that has holes in it sits above the grave plot. 4 old chairs are sitting next to each other.

“It’s almost time, then it’s back to wrestling business. It’s clear that this goth one is in a match with someone better than him. Someone that is more talented than him. You see I know a poser when I see one. I was ringside watching his shit match against some other Jober I destroyed already. I was pushed into this match by the announcer team and they think they got the best of me.”

Trent sits down in one of the chairs, “you see I knew I was going to have to defend my title so why not let it be against some pigment free low talent loser to make sure I keep my belt.”

Trent looks around before speaking more, “respect is earned that’s why you respect me and I show no respect for you. It’s not personal, it’s just facts when it comes to my feeling towards you. Nothing about you scared me, you are the scary movie character that no one is scared of. You basically are the original it movie. We are made to believe you're scary but at the end of the movie you just say, that clown is a bitch.”

Trent walks towards the church. He enters it and smiles. He straightens up a few more things as he waits for something.

He sits down in the big chair behind the altar and he looks out at the area the parish would be sitting.

[edwarddubin0604]

(Psychotic Goth is in a room burning the flames surrounding him but he doesn't care about the heat and the lapping flames rising and fading around him.)

Psychotic Goth: "Oh poor Trent you have sunk to the lowest levels of your personal demons. You're talking to yourself. You're drinking bottles of beer by the case and then steal wine from a church though I have to admire that since I would love to have done that first."

(Psychotic Goth laughs dementedly.)

Psychotic Goth: "Yes Trent I'm both respected and feared. Then again I suspect that was the beer and wine speaking. You say I'm like some scary character who's not scary. I'm not scary like all those unoriginal sequels. I'm more like that character on the internet named Stick Man. He's quite dangerous and lures those who are susceptible to their deaths. I'm also kind of like Freddy Krueger and I'm like a nightmare that never goes away. I'm like a nightmare who never goes away and never goes away as long as anyone lives."

(He laughs and chants in an ancient Latin dialect the flames rising higher.)

Psychotic Goth: "Imagine you even try to be like me by talking German. I'm surprised you even knew German unless you were studying German by way of Babbel.com or maybe the booze you were drinking is made in Germany but imported into America. Booze always done that doesn't it Trent."

(Psychotic Goth yells in an ancient Latin dialect as the flames block him and he just walks through them as if they are nothing but curtains.)

Psychotic Goth: "Now you wouldn't be facing me if it wasn't for your constant mocking me during my match. You see you pushed it and you thought that I wasn't going to let it go so easily. They say never fool with someone who's dangerous and
quite unpredictable. I'm not some jobber and I've held the SWAT Hardcore Championship for the longest period of time and believe me I can be mean and hardcore as I have to be and I was a multiple tag team champion with my old soulmate Bryan Warrior and a Hardkore Britain Tri-Counties Champion. If that's a jobber in your opinion then I'm a successful jobber and more successful than you are."

(He laughs demonically and roars in a ancient Latin dialect.)

Psychotic Goth: "I do agree that Tuxedo Mask is a jobber being he and the rest of the Society of the New Breed are just a group of has been jobbers living out their final years. Then again I always knew that from the start, but you're probably just noticing it. Then again I was around when they were in Hardkore World and you were serving time in juvenile prison."

(Psychotic Goth roars in an ancient Latin accent.)

Psychotic Goth: "Believe me Trent you should be glad that I shall relieve you of your SWAT World Heavyweight Championship since you'll have more time to enjoy the SWAT World tag team Championships if you can actually win those championships from the Society of the New Breed jobbers. You should appreciate my wanting to give you that favor Trent since that's what I'm doing for you."

(He laughs louder and the flames rise even higher.)

Psychotic Goth: "Your friend Eddie D.'s doomed because he's just a jobber literally hanging on your coattails and grown soft by hanging with the washed up muscle headed moron Ahnold Schnappshitneggar. Poor Eddie D. I almost feel sorry for him that you took him under your wing. Don't worry Trent he won't be able to save your sorry ass from getting beat and then you won't be able to retain your championship thus I'm going to end that joke of a reign. There won't be anyone running interference for you and I'll make sure that jar of mayo of your won't be around when you most need it."

(Psychotic Goth continues to laugh harder.)

Psychotic Goth: "Satan's Disciples I wasn't laughing at you. I was being quite complimentary seeing you deserved a spot in the Anzac Cup. Oh and I enjoyed the way you destroyed those sonofabitches La Famiglia the way you did. That proved you were worthy to compete anywhere and anytime. It's unfortunate that you waited until it was too late."

(He lowers his head and raises his arms before flinging his head up revealing his pale handsome goth like looks.)

Psychotic Goth: "Trent in a matter of moments we shall step through those ropes and we'll see if you can back up your words with action. I can back up my words and I shall make sure that I go all out to beat you for the SWAT World Heavyweight Championship. The flames of hell shall consume you and I shall be the one who sets them loose on you. I shall make sure of it and I shall make sure it happens. Thus I have spoken and thus I shall make sure this omen comes true."

(he claps his hands hard and both the flames and the scene goes dark.)

[Lucky Linda]

”Tonight! You’re in for a treat.” We see Lucky Linda, she is talking to the camera and standing in a car park. The shot pans out to show it is actually a hospital car park. “Tonight, I am going to take you behind the curtain.”

Lucky Linda is wearing a ‘Fight the Power’ t-shirt. The face of Zoran Sainovich is replacing the Public Enemys silhouette in the scope. “But first! First I want to address something. No! SOMEONE!”

“ZORAN SAINOVICH!” Linda stares into the camera with intensity. “You want to go hard? Let’s go hard.”

“Firstly, my apologies to the XHF and the Call to Arms organisers. I realise the deadline may have passed, unlike others who may sit around waiting for the absolute last minute to get their stuff on air. I was planning and working towards an X Crown Championship SHOT!” Linda runs her fingers through her hair.

“When this event was announced, I thought, you know what would be cool, an all girls team. I made some phone calls, the response was like trying to get a SWAT Main Eventer onto an XHF show in our first 6 months on the network.” Linda sighs. “Alas, If only my Anzac Cup partner Radu Matei could have shown me the way, like he showed the world the Amazons way and fought our fight to promote womens wrestling and selected ME as his partner just so he could be the champion of promoting womens wrestling! What a priveldge that was to have someone tell the way for us” Linda does an over the top fist pump.

“Sorry Radu. WE LOST! I got pinned. It happens. In wrestling, there is a winner and a loser. I was always taught, humble in victory, gracious in defeat. So, I put my hand out like I said I would, and I congratulated the Society on their victory, they won, they were the better team on the night.” Linda sighs again “Then, THEN I saw that snake Zoran Sainovich come out, waltzing to the ring like he was some King SHIT! After making some preposterous matches none of the world cared to see or hear about, trying to gather as many useless and insignificant belts as he could, all in an attempt to make himself feel better because his X Crown belts were gone, so he would go and win more belts. Bah! You missed the one up for grabs at the MacDonalds drive thru SNAKE!”

Linda glares to the camera. “Here we all are, fighting for the most prestigious Tag Tournament going around, and we are meant to care about the elderly former champions journey home? And his tin scrap belts he was collecting along the way?” Linda shakes her head.

“So, my focus was on the Cup and the X Crown more than the Call To Arms. I readily admit it. I gave it my all and Radu and I just fell short. Kinda of like Zoran did in the Rumble.”

Burn!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is zat how it goes?

”You know what I have realised though?” Linda asks. It’s a rhetorical question. “I don’t need to win the Call to Arms to get a shot at the X Crown. I already have ONE! This Battleground! Against Anthony Caffrey and Harry Callahan.”

“And you want to know what else I have realised?” Yup, another rhetorical question. “YOU ARE FULL OF CRAP!”

“Well, I didn’t just realise it. You .... that’s you Sainovich I am still talking about in case you think no one can possibly come at you like this.” Linda grins, she is enjoying this vent. “You think you are some spin Doctor. That you can twist around reality and all will see you in the way you do. Guess what?” You know it, rhetorical. “We all see you for what you really are.”

“A low down, greedy, narcissistic, self-centered, egotistical, snake in the grass.” Linda is still glaring, wow, she is wound UP. “And another thing. You want to call ME a sidekick? You of all people want to call others sidekicks?”

Linda makes the “tsk tsk tsk” sound. “First time I saw you, you were carrying Industrial Man’s bags and changing his oils for him. Then, THEN you were filing papers for Joe Pesci, fetching him coffee’s and parking his car.” Linda shakes her head again. “I remember, we all remember. That’s why you have no respect in SWAT. We all see you for what you are, a grovelling brown nose bootlicker. Side kick THAT!”

“And while you’re at it” Linda flicks her fringe out of her eyes “On the subject of won’t happen in SWAT but will happen here, let me tell you what will happen wherever I am, and most of SWAT is too. We will fight, we will TRY! Others, they may miss a deadline and think, oh well, I knew I should have stayed in my comfort zone.”

“You know that comfort zone?” you betcha, rhetorical. “The one that says, we are too new to the network, we can’t go for their gold yet, we need to wait till they know us and are ready to embrace us, instead, let’s send the soldiers to the wolves. Well, them soldiers are the true Superstars. How many matches did YOU win here to earn you shot at the X Crown?” He knows. I know. All of SWAT knows.

“Listen UP Sainovich! I will not be bullied by the likes of you! Nor will I stand for your Sexual Innuendo’s. The same PUKE you ridicule others of, you now demonstrate, but YOU are ten times more immature and desperate to pull that filth. Desperate for HEAT that is, not or a women’s touch, we all know on an old geezer like yourself that would be a waste of time on, not to mention completely DISGUSTING!”

“Want to know what else I have noticed. You just went on a rant in SWAT, a tirade about where you are booked and placed on the card to face off with Death Trap. Like it is BENEATH you to come on before the X Crown and SWAT World Titles! Want to know what I heard in your voice when you were crying about that ZORAN?” Linda asks. Her eyebrow rose.

“I hear a hypocrite. A man who claims he calls the shots and is charge, but at the same time, is whinging that he isn’t the main event. Like YOU Vs ... pardon me for my ignorance, Death Trap? Like some guy who sounds like he is one of Skeletor’s henchmen, and you’re having a cry that even though no one in SWAT knows who this man is, that JUST because he is facing YOU, it should be the main event. See Death Trap, it’s not about you he is crying, he would want to be main event if he was facing Hells Bouncer! He likes to throw his name around. He likes to throw around the names of those who represented US in the XHF before him, like they were some failures and he was OUR saviour. What a joke.”

Linda is still glaring into the camera, I don’t think we have ever seen her like this before. “What I really heard, was a man who is NOT in charge. A man crying that he has been smote. I would have booked this differently. I would have booked that differently. Of course you would have. All to make yourself look better. The thing is, when you cry about these things, what it really shows US is that you don’t have the stroke you think you do. Sure, you lucked into this spot when Pesci was exiled. Sure you walked into an X Crown Title shot gift wrapped for you, Gift Wrapped by those who had come before YOU! Who you like to belittle, who you like to deride for having a crack. Do you think THEY said we haven’t been here long enough yet to have a crack at this belt. Hell no they didn’t. They said, Wow, I don’t know if it is our time yet, but win or lose, I will give it a go or for SWAT! That’s what THEY DID!” Linda is fierce in her intensity.

“What did you YOU do?” Linda shakes her head again. “Manage Industrial Man. Be Joe Pesci’s SIDE KICK! Then after all the real wrestlers had put their hand up for SWAT, come in at the Eleventh hour. Kind of like how your promotional got aired.” Linda yawns.

“Oh well. This doesn’t count for the Call to Arms it seems. But Battleground! The X Crown belt! My Main event match with Caffrey and Callahan! This COUNTS!”

“So, to put it as nicely as I possibly can. SCREW YOU Zoran Sainovich! Your team of glorified muscle heads may well get past the girls team, thanks to all the girls who signed up for this team too by the way, you knew you were up against it and said, I will have a go, we may not be able to take it to all the guys here, but we know who we can take it to, don’t we”

“You know who I can take it too. The X Crown Champion. Anthony Caffrey. Sure, I am distracted by Zoran Sainovich, see, I punked him out at the Anzac Cup. For good reason TOO!” Linda raises her fist in the air. “I will NOT be Fleeced! I will not be swindled by a two bit con like you Zoran Sainovich. You owe ME! I WILL collect. It may not be at Call to Arms, but your time IS coming boy! Remember that!” Linda refocuses “Caffrey! You seem t o be this big deal, well, sort of a big deal in the XHF. You won a rumble. Now, you are THE MAN. Are you the Man? Do you really believe you are the man? “

Linda starts power walking to the hospital. “Come with me. You want an exclusive, you got one.”

We see Linda enter the hospital and go up the elevator and then turn a corridor and then another. She turns a third corner and then enters a room, and lying there in the ICU we see Mad Dog Paul Soutter. The SWAT Founder. She walks into the room, and Paul’s ever loyal friend and bodyguard Bruno is sitting there with him, he see’s Linda enter and then the camera’s and raises an eyebrow, then shugs and leaves the room.

“This man. It is not a well kept secret, but he means the world to me. When I met him, I knew nothing of this business, but there was something about him, and his passion for this world, and I wanted to spend time with him, so I threw myself into this industry also. I started at the bottom, at the scrapheap. I asked for no favours, nor did I expect any, or ask for any.”

“I watched as this man I was falling for was pulling Swerve after Swerve on the wrestling World with his Bandits, and I asked myself is this the man I truly want to get involved with?” Linda gives a pondering look.

“I knew he was, he told me that was for the show and I got it. Then, I saw the rest of his crew all start to snicker and throw cheap shots his way. The man who built everything, all you see before you, and all they wanted to do was tear it down, it’s all anyone has wanted to do.”

Linda has a moment and then composes herself. “You know.” Linda has a moment of self reflection “Did this happen because of me?” She asks herself. “Did I somehow make them think you were going soft? I know you didn’t go soft. Everyone knows you didn’t go soft. But the wolves. They be at our heels always, wanting to bring us down.”

Linda looks over at the bed next to Paul. “Is that Mark?” If it were Mike he would yell My name is MIKE! she thinks.

“This puts it all in perspective for me, you all think there is always the next match, what if there isn’t?” That’s not rhetoric. Linda leans down and gives Paul a soft gentle loving kiss on the lips. “Come back to us.” We hear that chime, there is no reaction though, Linda looks down and another tear drops from her eye and she slowly walks from the room, as she heads down the hallway we hear a BEEP from the ICU room.

[King Syberus]

["Two Notes Shy Of An Octave" by Red City Radio kicks off and the crowd pops, Syberus doesn't leave them waiting long though and pushes his way out from the curtain. He takes a second to look around at the audience on the stage before pumping his fist in the air with a "YEAH!!" and swaggering his way down to the ring, high fiving a few fans on his way. He wears a black t-shirt with multi coloured percent signs all over it and has the SWAT International title belt over his shoulder. ]



Frank Salazar : Ladies and gentlemen, the SWAT International Champion and Anzac Cup winner... 110% SYBERUS!!!

[Syberus rolls into the ring and lifts the title belt in the air for all to see. After calling for a microphone, his music dies down.]

110% Syberus: Today we experience a wrestling landscape changed from two weeks ago. Changed for the better. The Anzac Cup rests safely in the custody of the Society of the New Breed. Trent Jones felt his shoulders pinned for three by 110% Syberus. Radu Matei was humiliated infront of thousands. Life is good.



[He shuffles the International title belt over his shoulder.]



110% Syberus: SWAT is heating up. New and exciting talent has emerged over the past several months and, like I've said so many times before, that's why me, and Jonnie, and Rally, and Sun, and Tux, are doing what we're doing. That's why we're here; because the Society of the New Breed, for almost 20 years, has set the pace in the wrestling industry. Can you imagine if that pile of shit Trent Jones just served as a piss poor excuse for a promo was the actual measuring stick for performance here? Ye gods. Just... just awful. Son if you're going to try and cut a more Goth-ey promo than Psychotic Goth, you need to hit that summbitch out the park. That's all I'm gonna say about that. Our “World Heavyweight Champion” is still reeling from me and Jonnie crushing him and Eddie in the cup, that's why he's downing beers quicker than you could even read a line of text describing him downing a beer.



Over the past few shows, my percents have been tested. I was asked to defend against Eddie D and Travis Daniels, the two guys it took to eliminate me from the Royal Rumble. I gave 110%, as I do in all things, and I beat them both in a ladder match to retain the International championship.



I was asked to defend the belt against Anthony Caffery – one of the most celebrated talents in the business today, and the current XHF X-Crown Champion. This was a LANDMARK match. There HAD to be a Syberus win if there was truly any relevance in our old brand of wrestling. I pinned him clean, even after a restart, even after he'd ruined my ankle. I elevated this title to yet another level and served a timely reminder to anyone that needed it, that 110% Syberus is here to stay.



Then finally the tag team sensation that the world had been waiting for was finally realised, as Syberus and Jonnie Valentine, bow ties and all under the banner of the Stylistics tore through the roster on the way to the Anzac Cup. Beating possibly the most exciting addition to the roster in the past 12 months K-Jax and Lunchbox Larry – the closest thing to the Miracle Violence Combination II I've personally seen since Andrew Karnage and Kilroy Evans hung up their boots -



[The crowd roar a the mere mention of the MVCII]



110% Syberus: Swatting aside the pitiful challenge of Eddie D and Trent Jones, who let's face it, were nothing short of absolutely insane to presume they'd somehow rewritten the rulebook here in SWAT.



And then.



Symbolic as it was. To plant the team of “SWAT Classic” firmly in the ground and cement ourselves as the best that this company has to offer. We knew it. Of course we knew it...



[Syberus hops up onto a turnbuckle and takes a seat at the top.]



110% Syberus: But there's still a few doubters out there that don't recognise that fact. Maybe they're delusional. Maybe they're bitter. It doesn't really matter – because we aren't going to stop until our work is done.



This here...



[Syberus holds up the International title belt.]



Syberus: ...before I held THIS, it was a token belt, a Hardcore title that most its' champs forgot to even mention in their promos. Here tonight it's being fought over by two guys with SEVEN Hardkore World Heavyweight championships between them. Eddie wants this belt. Caffery wants this belt. Even Radu would love nothing more than to prize this away from my grip. Because let's face it – when you see your world champion being out promo'd by Psychotic Goth, it doesn't take a genius to know which title really has value right now in SWAT.

[He lowers it back over his shoulder.]

Syberus: Rally Jackson and I share a storied history. This isn't the first time we've been Society of the New Breed team mates. Hardkore World Tag Team Champions. Frank Marano Tournament winners. When I was opening the show in the IWA, dropping matches to Hero and Adam Haven, Rally was someone I looked up to. And sure, he now gets out of breath looking for the remote, but I'd be a complete Trent Jones to believe he couldn't catch me with one Rio Deal and send me home without this 15lbs of leather and gold.



Figuratively speaking of course, we'd be sharing a ride and he'll probably be insufferable with two belts so let's make sure that doesn't happen.



Rally. Let's show the world what the Society of the New Breed is about tonight. Let's continue the education of this new generation. Only three people in Hardkore World's near 30-year history held that title more than twice... and two of them are wrestling tonight for THIS.



There's a locker room full of young talent that doesn't realise the significance of that.



Let's illuminate them.



[He drops the mic and “Two Notes Shy Of An Octave” plays out again. Syberus steps up on the turnbuckle he was sat on and holds the belt in the air with both hands.]

[edwarddubin0604]

(The Hired Killers are watching the show and shake their heads at the action in the ring and feeling embarrassed that they decided to watch the show especially the promos by the Society of the New Breed.)

Jade: "Why bother watching this show if the only action is wrestlers running their mouths as if they were significant."

Kim: "Yeah Syberus bragging that he elevated the International Championship and tore through the roster in the Anzac Cup.
Oh Syberus you forgot that half the teams were from other feds.....Oh sorry you must have forgotten that little bit of information. You forgot that K-Jax and Lunchbox Larry gave you more trouble than you realized. Oh and SWAT Classic was literally battered from their more impressive run. Sorry to have reminded you."

Jade: "Then there's Trent Jones all drunk and driving around and lucky he wasn't pulled over for DUI. Joanne Cannelli trashing us and our husbands acting like they can win on their own."

Kim: "Good luck with that since you need your mob goons to hand you brass knuckles and anything else you can find. Like we said you better hope that you can win on your own since we're coming for that title for real. Actually, make that me since I should have kept it for myself but I listened to my sister Jade and returned it and took my punishment like a real woman with no help from my sister Jade."

Jade: "Hell the only promos worth our attention were from Suzi Spitz and Psychotic Goth as well as K-Jax and Lunchbox Larry.
At least they were more intelligent than anything Society of the New Breed, Brothers In Anarchy or even KGB could even cut. Hell even those two goofs named Satan's Disciples cut a better promo than Syberus."

Kim: "At least our Call to Arms teammate Linda La Fey cuts a better promo than they do. My opponent tonight Suzi Spitz makes a better effort than the rest of the morons who cut promos. Yeah Suzi why bring up the past since everyone's been doing that lately now more than ever. Just look at that bunch of assholes Society of the New Breed. They love bringing up the past every once in a while but hey if Jonnie brings the past up you can always remind him not to."

Jade: "She would compliment him."

Kim: "Well we can see if she actually does that. Right now let's go back to this match with me and you. Let's see if that ring rust is actually been shaken off. I hope it is since I know we're going to have a competitive match. I know we're going to have a true battle between us and it's not going to be easy. Then again I have anything that's easy in the ring.

Jade: "With Suzi it's never easy."

Kim: "I hope not since I hate easy matches since those are given victories and I hate given victories. It just pads your record and over inflates your ego and then when you wrestle an opponent thinking you can beat them you get squashed and I have no intention of letting that happen tonight when we meet Suzi. I have every intention of facing you and defeating you in the ring tonight. Make no mistake Suzi it's going to be back and forth and I promise you that it will. If you do manage to beat me I will shake your hand in acknowledgement. That's a promise but I'll leave that up to you. Right now I'm getting bored at watching promos and let's see if there's any real action."

Jade: "Right behind you sis."

(They get up and leave as the scene slowly fades to black.)

[ManMountainFierce]

Diary of James Fierce, May 2020 Coronavirus Logs.



Dear Diary (Whom shall be referred to as Billy from this point forward.),



My comeback to the crazy world of professional wrestling is coming along just splendidly. The former Kross Global Bandits (ugh) has been rebranded as just the KGB. It seemed only right. Paulie was always trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Speaking of Paulie, we kicked him out of the KGB. He had changed. He wanted to be buddy-buddy with the plebs, bootlickers, and paste eaters. It was cramping my style. I mean, I am a GOD- like figure in Asian culture, albeit my absence from the wacky world of competitive eating and professional wrestling has caused that devotion to wane slightly. The new guys in the KGB are decent guys for the most part. They understand results matter, as do appearances. When I learned that Tong and Dong were members of the group and not two special kids that Paulie had adopted from Laos, I was in dismay. Thankfully the others were as well. I mean, really? Tong and Dong? The offspring of some ladyboy and cosplay Scorpio?



Things are corrected now in Banditland.



I’m excited to square off against the LEGENDARY bookerman of HKW. I mean, for the love of god I am AMAZED he is STILL kicking after being nearly killed in a plane crash, snorting Paulie’s weight in coke multiple times over, being bit by the clap, and somehow still has a functional brain after having syphilis for going on nearly two decades. It FREAKING AMAZING that he can even construct a sentence, more or less compete at a high level in the ring at 92 years old. Surely, he’ll let Marty and Tuxey do all the bumping and heavy lifting. He’s like Action Mike Jackson, with slightly more charisma, more carny…small hands smells like cabbage.



Then we have my former best buddy. Although former may just be too harsh. I mean, who can hate Marty D? I sure can’t. He’s shenanigans are cheeky and funny, but sadly, albeit unsurprising he’s hooked his reigns up with the old bookerman. Somethings off Billy. Marty has also been a scheming little turd, and frankly when I saw that he was in the Society of the New Breed, I sort of figured it was him trolling Jonnie and the rest of the gang, but as far as I can sniff, its quasi-legitimate. I’m not going to really enjoy making Marty D scream like a lil piggy, but doing so is my job now. Plus it’ll be funny. Like super funny. Can you picture him screaming like a lil’ piggy? I sure can. It’s visually and auditory pleasure at its finest.



Lastly, and definitely least we have Tuxedo Mask. The mysterious masked man that is a tuxedo. I know him from somewhere. I just can’t place it, so I am going to assume it was at some Turkish bathhouse or something and he got removed for the whole gimp gimmick thing. That is his gimmick, isn’t it? I don’t even know. What I am going to assume though is he probably is the dangerous guy for the TSOTNB so he’ll be the one that he take out first.



The sophisticated violence will be a thing of beauty. I’m just sad Paulie doesn’t get to see what success actually looks like. I do wonder if he got the flowers we sent? Hmmm, I bet Frosty will know.



Anyway, get to go.



Love,



James Fierce

[SWAT Team]

Jeremy Tucker: What a night so far!

Andrew Fulton: I have to admit it has been a great one so far and up next we have a returning Amazon!

Jeremy Tucker: That we do. Suzi Spitz has returned!

Andrew Fulton: Lets head to ringside and get this match started!

Frank Salazar: This match is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first hailing from Bangkok, Thailand and weighing in at 150lbs she is one half of the hired Killers she is Kim!

["Street Fight (Rumble On Sunset Strip)" By Guns N' Roses plays and Kim comes to the ring ominously accompanied by her twin sister Jade. She jumps onto the ring apron and does a suset flip kip up before she stands in the ring and looks around slowly from side to side before slowly and ominously taking off her dark shades and placing them in her trenchcoat before taking it off glaring ominously and going to her corner still glaring ominously as her sister who also takes off her trench coat gives her advice and psyches her up for her match. ]

Jeremy Tucker: This should be an interesting match.

Andrew Fulton: That it should!

Frank Salazar: And her opponent hailing from New Orleans Louisiana, and weighing in at 135lbs she is Suzi Spitz!

[C.O.D. hits and Suzi makes her way to the ring, high fiving the fans on the way.]

Jeremy Tucker : The two ladies stare each other down from their corners as they wait for the bell to ring. The bell sounds, as Kim and Suzi step into the middle of the ring the two of them lock up but Kim soon gets the upper hand, and grabs Suzi hitting a snap suplex sending Suzi to the mat and goes for the pin...

1...

Suzi kicks out and hits Kim with a headbutt sending Kim to the mat. Suzi gets to her feet, and as Kim starts to get to her feet Suzi hits her with a hard standing drop kick sending Kim back to the mat. She goes for the pin...

1...

Andrew Fulton: Neither one of these ladies are going to go down that easy!

Jeremy Tucker: I think you're right! Suzi wants to get that first win, no matter what she has to do!

Kim grabs her and locks in a camel clutch and takes Suzi to the mat once again. The ref asks if she wants to quit but she screams no as the ref starts to count..

1...

2...

3...

4...

Kim still has the hold on Suzi as the ref warns her to let go once again. Kim lets go and Suzi hits the mat.

Andrew Fulton: Kim wasn't going to let go!

Jeremy Tucker: If she didn't she would have been disqualified! Kim locks on an ankle lock as Suzi tries to reach the ropes but Kim pulls her back into the center of the ring. The ref asks Suzi if she wants to quit but she scream no once again and the ref starts to count once again...

1 ....

2 ......

3 ................

4 ......................

5 ....................

Kim lets go and goes for the pin...

1 .................

2 .........................

Suzi kicks out as Kim goes to grab Suzi once again only to have Suzi hit Kim with a hard elbow to the face. Kim falls back to the mat, as Suzi grabs her by the hair and drags Kim to her feet, and hits the Bitch Maker sending Kim to the mat, as Kim tries to get out of the hold as the ref gets down and asks Kim if she wants to quit, but she screams no and touches the ropes, and the ref starts to count...

1 ......................

2 .....................

3 .....................

4 .....................

5 ....

Suzi lets go and Kim falls to the mat and goes for the pin...

1 ......................

2 .......................

Kim kicks out as the crowd cheers

Andrew Fulton: Kim isn't going down that easy!

Jeremy Tucker: Suzi is looking for the win. Kim gets to her feet, and drags Suzi up to her feet. Kim hits K-Choke as Suzi tries to get out of the hold. The ref asks if she wants to quit but Suzi utters a no, as the ref starts to count.

1 .....................

2 .....................

3 ......................

4 ......................

Kim lets go and goes for the pin

One .................

Two ................

Thr .....

Suzi kicks out, as the crowd boos.

Andrew Fulton: A close call there! Kim almost had it! These Palm Springs fans are well and truly behind Kim in this one, fools.

Jeremy Tucker: It's coming down to the wire! The Hired Killers have had many battles in this arena. Kim goes to drag Suzi to her feet only to get a hard chop to the midsection for the trouble. Suzi gets to her feet and grabs Kim hitting the Bitch Maker once again. The ref gets down quickly as he asks if Kim wants to quit. She screams no, as the ref checks the hold.

Andrew Fulton: This could be it!

b]Jeremy Tucker:[/b] I don't know how much Kim has left. Kim taps as the bell sounds. Suzi lets go and gets to her feet s the ref raises her hand in victory.

Frank Salazar :And here is your winner Suzi Spitz!

Andrew Fulton: What a match!

Jeremy Tucker: That's for sure! And what a way to make a comeback for Suzi Spitz! Kim can hold her head high, she took it to Suzi and this could well have gone the other way, but not many people survive the Bitch Maker.

Andrew Fulton: I’d like to see if I could survive it. What a way to go.

[Venom 🕷]

Cut to the back. El Combatiente is doing something unfamiliar. Well, it’s not unfamiliar but the way he is doing it is unfamiliar, he’s alone. He’s wrapping up his wrists and his ankles preparing for his match but his manager is nowhere to be found. We could watch him as he prepares, or we could find his manager, the person who actually speaks.


We cut to the corner of the craft services room. This is where Javier is huddled alone, on his cell phone.


Javier: LD, buddy, pal. I saw your promo and I’m really upset. You seem to have completely ignored me. I just want you know how much I care even though we have to be on opposite sides now, but you seemed to have completely skipped over our promo. I just want to hear your side buddy.


Javier stops and looks at his phone.


Javier: Ugh, I ran out of time.


Javier hangs up his phone and then dials again. He waits and then leaves another message.


Javier: Buddy, I’m sorry for leaving another message but I’m hurt. I called you, I left you a promo, I’ve risked it all to let you know how much I care and appreciate you, but you just keep ignoring me. I just want you to call me back so we can talk about us. DAMN IT!


Javier stops and looks at his phone again.


Javier: Who has such a short message time? It’s ridiculous.


Javier dials again.


Javier: Look. I hate being “that guy” but I need to talk to you before the match tonight. I’ve left you messages and texted you and I need you to call me. I’m expecting you to call but all I keep getting are calls from Nelly. I’m sure he just wants the exclusive interview but I don’t want to talk to anyone but you, call me.


Javier hangs up the phone and holds it tight in his hand.


Javier: Please call me.


We cut back to El Combatiente who appears to be now ready for his match, but he’s ready alone. Will Javier be on his side or Dominicus’? Only time will tell.

[frostbite]

Totally darkness...

Voice.. So he wants a piece of me, I am not surprise it was only a matter of time.

The light flickers back in the locker room, but it soon goes out.

Voice.. So you want a piece of me? How rich is that coming from this joker. Because he has been a joke since he has gotten here or maybe he believes everything is a joke. I am not quite finish with what I have to say.

The light flickers once again but all we can see is a short blonde hair but nothing else as the lights go back out.

Voice.. Johnnie, you want a piece of Frostbite right. You said that he was my fault SWAT team lost at war games. Do you ever take a look in the mirror and realize it was really you that cost the team the win. Think about it for just a minute, Nobody bought into your leadership or a lack of one. You believe Goth bought your act? You thought Lynn Brewster bought your act? Do you really believe Suzi Spitz bought It? None of us did, the team was doom from the start.

The lights flicker on once again, we see a blue and black tee shirt as his back is toward the camera. But once again the lights go out.

Voice.. Sure we all have egos that goes without saying but it was not what lead us to the loss. It was not the talent because we had more than team KGB at the time. It was your leadership was the reason. You can bitch about me turning my back on the locker room, but that was not really the reason and we know it. You see team KGB won because and I hate to admit it but Paul was a better leader than you. That is why we lost, until you admit that then you will carry guilt for that lost. Will I atone for my sins? Hell we are all sinners are we Not?

The lights flicker to catch the long blue and black tights and blue and black boots but the lights go back out once again.

Voice.. You see Johnnie, Paul has given you everything you wanted since you have come out from whatever rock you and yours have been under. You became the world champion, it was a feel good story. The crew is back together and winning championships right and left because Paul cared for you because of his time in hardkore world. That is one of the reasons why Paul simply had to go. Loyality can be such a bitch it clouds your judgement.

Silence in the dark..,

Voice..But you want a piece of me?

The lights flicker as Frostbite slowly turns around but the lights go out.

Voice.. It is no more time playing games with this company. Since my return it was been one failure behind the other. I do not blame you Johnnie. I have only myself to blame, and I know it. But no more, Paul is no longer here to screw me out of the world title shot well maybe Zoran is but that is a different subject. There is no more room for failure. So what is Frostbite to do?

Slience...

Voice.. I know to be the guy I must go through your band of misfits and you Johnnie I get that, but again you want a piece of me. I guess you are thinking that you have this match in the bag, you have your boys watching your back the new KGB is not on the same page. We are suppose to roll over and play dead because you are Johnnie Valentine. Johnnie, tonight there will start a new era, not only the new and improve KGB but a new and improve Frostbite. It is simply high time I take my place and the top of this company. You see since my return, Paul never wanted Frostbite to be the man because he fear me more than you or Radu Matei or anybody else because he thought I was going to burn this bitch to the ground.

Laughter in the darkness..

Voice.. He was right, but I had to come up with a new plan and well it hatched no more Paul. I have a new plan. Take over, it time that Frostbite steps up and take over. It is high time that I get my respect and become the world champion. It is high time that the cold hearted bastard reign supreme no more of letting everybody pass him over. The title needs to come to me.

The light flickers as we see his head down.

Voice.. Way too many defeats, way too many set backs, enough is enough. It is my damn time. But Johnnie you want a piece of me. I want the KGB allow me the chance to go one on one with you in the middle of that ring later on. Because it is high time somebody steps up around here and puts you out of your misery. It is about time, I really love up to my words and burn this bitch to the damn ground. It needs to be done, there needs to be a rebirth, something new, something different, not the same old force fed stuff that these idiots have gotten use to.

The light flickers as he slowly, lifts his head to reveal a black and white rag across his chin.

Voice.. But you want Frostbite. Tonight is the beginning, a new one at that. It is my damn time, screw what everybody thinks. It is the time to put everything to bed once and for all. It is to put the rest The Society of the New Breed, it is time to put these trespassers out of this company. It is time, that I and the KGB take over this place once again.

A wicked grin comes across his lips.

Frostbite.. But you want me. Johnnie be careful what you wish for.

The lights flicker out once again as he Let's out a sadistic laugh in the darkness.

[anthonycaffrey]

The camera opens on drone footage of the Philadelphia skyline at night. The buildings that are lit all share the same color light: bright red. One building has an electronic banner that scrolls around the side, and it reads 'Congratulations Anthony Caffrey'.

The camera cuts to the champion looking over the skyline from the roof of his home. He is drinking a brandless beer as he nods, looking much healthier than he had a few weeks ago when he captured and defended the X-Crown in a forty-eight hour period.

“Maybe not the celebration we were all hoping for, but we’re getting there. I was thinking of going and getting the belt made because my local shop is beginning preparations to reopen, but… but after seeing everything in the news lately, I think I gotta keep wearing this thing. I don’t know why I find it shocking, but apparently some assholes need to be told to wear a mask when out in public. So this is your PSA: your X-Crown Champion wants you to wear a fuckin’ mask.”

Caffrey delivers his promo with the X-Crown facemask tightly positioned on his face. His black glasses match the mask itself.

“I’m surprised how much still shocks me these days. I’m a man of preparation and anticipation. It’s what I do; it’s what helped me survive fifty-nine other wrestlers and take this bad boy home. It certainly helped that Tweedle Dum crashed into Tweedle Dickhead, but as Linda knows, a little bit of luck certainly never hurt.”

The champion cocks his head in a shrug before taking another swig of his drink. He has to keep pulling on his mask and readjusting it to enjoy the beverage.

“And no, when I mention what shocks me... I’m not talking about Hayden. He didn’t show up for me for the majority of the tournament. I’m not wasting any more of my time on him until he proves he’s worth it. Even though I don’t quite respect someone like Blackstone as a human being, at least that guy came out for our match firing on all cylinders. If Callahan shows his face at Mama Said Knock You Out, I promise I will take the brunt of that spineless jellyfish’s half-assed efforts and fully kick his ass.”

He lets out a deep sigh, keeping his opinions about his shitty tag team partner to himself for now.

“But no, what does shock me is the words and actions of ‘Lucky’ Linda La Fey. Linda... I’m not sure where to start with you. The past few weeks, you’ve made it clear that you want to step up onto my level, you’ve made it clear you want to chase the best prize the entire federation has to offer. And trust me, you’re not alone. Including you, about fifty people have declared some kind of intention for Call to Arms, with the ultimate goal of ultimately getting into the X-Crown match at Night of Champions and taking my baby home with them. Big names, small names… I’m a popular guy right now.”

Caffrey mutters something barely audible about “cotton candy title shots” and rolls his eyes before taking another sip of his beverage.

“So here we are: the lights are on at our brightest. We have to deal with a walking shitstain between us, but you get the champ in your headlights in what could easily be one of the best matches SWAT sees this entire year. And… instead of addressing me, instead of telling me how you’re going to beat me and survive my ankle lock or the blunt force of the world’s angriest elbow smacking you upside the head… you spend what felt like hours ranting about Zoran.”

The contempt in the champion’s voice is palpable as he continues.

“And I get it: Zoran is a monstrous dickhead. But newsflash, in case you were under a rock for the past month? I’m the fuckin’ champ, Linda! You don’t have to beat Zoran for the Crown, you gotta beat me. While we both think Zoran is going to be the next challenge down the road, I am not a fuckin’ speed bump on the road to fighting him. This championship makes me the destination. And based on your attitude, I can tell you right now: you can kiss your dreams of getting revenge on Zoran goodbye. You aren’t getting through me. Neigh.”

Caffrey tries to make the quick sound of a snorting horse but absolutely fails due to the mask he’s wearing. He laughs.

“Goddamn horse women…”

He skips out on being the eighteenth XHF wrestler this week to talk about his sex life to continue speaking on his challenger.

“I don’t want anything I’m saying to come off as disrespectful, even though I’m shocked by how clearly little you really respect me. Even though casual fans still don’t know the difference between you and Canelli, before I even joined SWAT I knew all about you. I knew you were special, and I knew that one day our paths would cross. I was hoping you felt the same, but I guess too much time around Soutter has begun to poison the mind of a great competitor. And while I have a giant ego, the one you’re sporting these days makes mine look normal.”

“The SWAT Team for Call to Arms is 110% Syberus, ‘Timeless’ Alex Turner, El Combatiante, K-Jax, and Lunchbox Larry. And don’t get me wrong… that’s a good team. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned that you’ve yet to grasp, Linda, is that good doesn’t really fuckin’ matter when it comes to the X-Crown. You either fire off with all of the greatness you have stored up in you, and you give these fans everything they paid for, or you go the hell home. That team is missing two names. You take the Lunchbox Squad outta there and you plug in Radu Matei and ‘Lucky’ Linda? That’s a main event squad capable of taking on any fucking team in the world right there. That’s five of the best talents SWAT has to offer and is why we’re the #1 show on the Network. But you and your giant fucking ego couldn’t let that happen.”

“And look at how you tried to frame it. ‘Lucky’ Linda aiming to make history with a team of five badass women, all that good ol’ gender empowerment shit would be truly admirable if it wasn’t coming from a woman just looking to serve her own narrative. Point the finger at Zoran for being a manipulative bastard, but all you had to do was work on a team and you’d be well on your way to the main event of NIght of Champions. But instead, you made everything about you.”

“And your ego is earned… at least, mostly. You’re looking to become the first female wrestler to hold the Crown in its seventeen-year history. You are… probably… one of, if not the greatest woman’s wrestler in the history of the XHF. But Linda, I’mma let you in on a secret. Zoom in on me for just a moment.”

The camera zooms in on the champion. He lowers his facemask.

“Being the best women’s wrestler in the history of the federation is like being the best baseball player in a league without people of color.”

He raises the mask back over his mouth as the camera zooms out. He lets the words sit for a few more moments to carry their intended weight.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s a milestone. It’s cool. But being queen of the Amazon doesn’t mean much when you step outside of the forest. You’re gonna learn the hard way come Call to Arms when your team ultimately fails you just like you failed Matei. As I learned during the ANZAC Cup, your team is only as good as the weakest link… and deep down, I think the reason you didn’t join up with Team SWAT is that you knew that weakest link would be you.”

He points his finger towards the lens.

“Now I’m not one to hit women. I’m not some kind of monster like Michael Storm. But I know full damn well that you will take my title from me if I pull my punches against you. It’s funny that you mention thievery because you remind me an awful lot of a woman I used to put on classics with: Faith Dunkarino.”

Caffrey pauses in respect for the GWA icon, even though he knows 90% of the fans don’t remember who she is.

“She tore up the floor in GWA. One of the absolute best I’ve ever been in the ring, she gets forgotten during the reminiscing sessions because she retired early. She was the woman that taught me that women could be just as good as men in the ring, because she was truly better than everyone she fought, including me. I have shaken that tree on more than one occasion trying to get her to come out fo retirement because I know her technical ability and in-ring awareness was too much for me eight years ago, and I’d love to finally beat her...”

Caffrey fantasizes about what could’ve been, trailing off for a few moments.

“...about eight years ago, I picked a bone with her and was trying to do anything in my power to beat her. This included stealing her finisher. I kept trying to execute the ‘Reach out and Touch Faith’, but my shooting star press was just… not great.”

He throws up his hands in defense of himself.

“I can hear some nerd firing off at his keyboard ‘bullshit, Caffrey did a shooting star press?’ And to that I say… yes. Did a shooting star press? Yes. Did a shooting star press well? No. It only takes one bad roll of the dice to stop doing that.”

Caffrey rubs his neck, thankful that he can walk.

“She did have an ankle lock, though. She stole it from another guy, and I stole it from her. I didn’t win, but I can hear the sound of her ankle snapping to this day. I called it the CAL almost immediately after, which stood for ‘Caffrey’s Ankle Lock’, because I knew right away that move was mine. Over the years, as I crawled out of mediocrity and became the champ you see before you, the CAL became something I could trust and depend upon. And as any Philadelphian will tell you… the phrase ‘trust the Process’ is pretty big around here.”

Caffrey slides his finger from one end of the shot to the other.

“Fast forward nine years, and here we are. X-Crown champ Anthony Caffrey defending against someone who shall not be named and ‘Lucky’ Linda La Fey. I now am stepping in the ring with a woman just as dangerous as Faith with the ego to match. The problem, Linda, is that in the eleventh hour, when we’ve given everything we have left, Faith could dig deep and pull out the victory. My Crown defenses shows I can dig deep and pull out the victory. And what does the main event of the ANZAC Cup show? When you go to dig deep against real competition, your well runs dry.”

Caffrey finishes his drink.

“You be real careful about trying to kick me in the face, Linda, because one catch is all it takes to expose that weakness. Last show, I talked about not going home empty-handed… and let me tell you,, it was real fuckin’ weird coming home to a socially-distanced round of applause as I got off the plane, but I would do anything to hear it again, again, and again. The old Anthony Caffrey got by on staring at his reflection in his gold, in seeing that smile smiling back at him. Now? All it takes is the smiles of the fans. It’s been a wild fucking ride and we’ve only just begun.”

Caffrey takes a quick glance back at his city and his name in the lights. He turns to face the camera one last time.

“The question isn’t whether or not I feel lucky, Linda. The question is what the fuck are you gonna do when your luck runs out and you’re locked in the Process in the center of the ring? The move I stole eight years ago firmly wrapped around your ankle, all the lights shining on you… are you gonna come up aces in the biggest match of your XHF career, or are you just going to fold like the rest?”

Caffrey taps his hand ala submitting. He turns back to the skyline.

“But to answer your question… I don’t feel Lucky, Linda.”

He shakes his head.

“I feel determined.”

The camera cuts.