Battleground #35 : New Horizons (Show)

[SWAT Team]

Syndicate Wrestling & Tradition and the XHF presents ....

Jeremy Tucker : Welcome. Welcome to Memphis! Welcome to BATTLEGROUND! WELCOME TO SWAT!!!!! No Man’s Land was off the hook! Isabel Rios won the tourney in a fantastic showing, she is undoubtedly the hottest female in the XHF right now. We will be joined by her later today for a special presentation of her chq for winning, and we congratulate her on a great victory.

Andrew Fulton : We also have a NEW WORLD CHAMPION! Rally winning back his belt from El Combatiente at Supremacy! Go Rally!

Jeremy Tucker : Rally is crossing the line.

Andrew Fulton : When hasn’t he.

Jeremy Tucker : He went to far ramming that banana peel in EC’s mask. Then to Linda also, ruining the tournament. He …..

Andrew Fulton : (Goes into Vince impersonation again for those who missed Supremacy) He! He! HE IS GONNA PUKE! HE IS GONNA PUKE!!!

Jeremy Tucker : What is wrong with you man? This is not a joking matter.

Andrew Fulton : Damn right it isn’t. You think Radu can ‘Rib the Ribber’? Then what, walk off into the sunset? Rally don’t play that shit.

Jeremy Tucker : Well, tonight he has to face the consequences for his actions, and meet Lucky Linda La Fey in the Main Event with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line!

Andrew Fulton : I can’t wait for that one. Also at No Mans Land we had a Royal Rumble. ‘THE Big Deal’ Eddie D coming out on top in a monstrous display. What a win. And Dane joining him and the Bandits. What a coo.

Jeremy Tucker : They are stronger then ever before right at this moment. With Radu and El Combatiente both taking a leave after Supremacy, I seriously don’t know who can, or if anyone can around here, stop them. On that, we would like to send our best to both Radu Matei and El Combatiente and wish them well in healing their wounds. The door to both is always open here for a return.

Andrew Fulton : Yeah. Recharge them batteries guys.

Jeremy Tucker : Tonight we see a real intriguing match up. The 6 person tornado tag. Blaze teamed with the ReVenants against Eddie, Dane and Graysie. Is Graysie on board with Dane’s move to the KGB? Can Blaze work with the Rev’s after they eliminated her? Osland has major issues with both Dane and Graysie. It all comes to a head tonight!

Andrew Fulton : And Eddie after winning the rumble faces off against Keith for the first time since he lost his Renegades blet to him.

Jeremy Tucker : Its going to be a wild one. So much action coming your way tonight guys. Armand von Krauss Vs Death Trap! In a match straight out of the book of our new Commissioner ‘The Better Option’ Jonnie Valentine.

Andrew Fulton : In this one, YOU don’t escape the cage, you brutalise your opponent to the point you can throw them out onto the stretcher. Genius!

Jeremy Tucker : Frostbite and Tong will be in action. We have the TV Title on the line as Pequerro defends against HNDRXX!

Andrew Fulton : We have the return to SWAT of the Hellhounds, the most destructive tag team in the history of the business!

Jeremy Tucker : Rayzor and RDS meet in singles to find out who was the real power and back bone of their tag team. And we have the debut of Devon D’Andre facing off with SWATs welcoming committee, Psychotic Goth!!!

Andrew Fulton : Whoever’s idea this was for Goth to initiate all the new members to SWAT, I LOVE IT!

Jeremy Tucker : All that and more tonight live from Memphis, we will be back with some words from our Superstars guys, then, (Vince voice) THE RETURN OF THE HELLHOUNDS!
[/div]

[edwarddubin0604]

(The tron shows Psychotic Goth and Vampira are surrounded by smoke and flames as they glare ominously into the camera as Psychotic Goth is chanting hypnotically in the local Native American dialect.)

Vampira: "Psychotic Goth is angry and when 'The King of the Goths' is angry and he is in quite a rage. When the 'The Psychotic One' is in one of his rages he shows no remorse for any of his actions inside or outside the ring and Devon D'Andre you have the unfortunate luck of facing my husband in your SWAT ring debut."

Psychotic Goth: "Devon D'Andre you have the unfortunate circumstance of facing me in your SWAT debut. You shall be my sacrificial lamb to the slaughter and my warning to Armand von Krauss for all the shit he and his hench clowns have pulled on me and my wife Vampira. I don't give a shit what anyone thnks.I do things my way and my way only."

(He roars in the local Native American dialect.)

Psychotic Goth: "You see Devon I don't care who I face in the ring. I don't care about the opponent I face which tonight is you and you alone in the ring. I shall take care of you without mercy or remorse. You shall see why you drew the wrong opponent. You shall wonder why you had to sign your name below mine."

(Psychotic Goth cackles demonically.)

Psychotic Goth: "You see like Fulton and Tucker mentioned I'm kind of a welcoming committee in SWAT. A very hostile and meam welcoming committee since my reputation for mauling an opponent is quite legendary. My loner reputation is quite well earned and nobody ever wants to come near me since the whole SWAT locker room and roster know I'm not one to be approached or messed with."

(He roars in the local Native American dialect.)

Psychotic Goth: "You see Devon you shall never be the same after facing me in the ring. You shall never feel the same way again when I'm through with you and you shall be wishing you had never stood face to face in the ring with me. You shall be the message that Armand von Krauss shall receive from me. Yet I shall not be done with you even when I have beaten you Devon. The punishment I shall make you suffer from shall be magnified until my rage has been sated."

(Psychotic Goth bellows.)

Psychotic Goth: "Believe me Devon after No Man's Land events I'm even more enraged than ever because CEO Angela sold herself out after choosing me for her champion. Then that incompetent asshole Jonnie Valentine, the destroyer of Hardkore World, is named commissioner of this great fed known as SWAT. The motivation I have shall be unleashed upon you and I shall show no mercy towards you Devon. I was hoping to avoid this but things are unavoidable and inevitable."

(He roars and bellows in a local Native American dialect.)

Psychotic Goth: "Yes poor Devon D'Andre you chose quite a bad time for your ring debut in SWAT. You may wish that it was against one of the Indian Assassins Rajiv and Mohammed Khan. You may wish you had made your debut against a member of The O-Z or some other jobber. Too bad you have to face me at such a bad time."

(Psychotic Goth laughs demonically.)

Psychotic Goth: "Yes Devon you debuted at the worst possible time and shall regret it in kind. I shall make sure it is your last match and if you should happen to continue on in SWAT. Think of this match and see what you are in for."

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

Psychotic Goth: "People of Memphis, Tennessee prepare for the carnage and destruction of my debuting opponent. Whether he's a local kid or someone from some insignificant town doesn't matter. I shall put Devon D'Andre through ultimate hell and nothing he has learned in SWAT Academy or some other match book school that churns out wrestlers at a dime a dozen. I shall send a message that SWAT is a tough fed to compete in and if you can't take it just leave before you quit. Take my advice Devon and back out of our match before you face the consequences. Thus I have spoken and thus I shall make my warning a reality."

(The tron goes dark and the scene slowly fades to black.)

[vastrix]

Armand von Krauss sits in a conference room that had been converted into a dressing room. Esmeralda von Krauss sits next to him. Hehehe, Hahaha, Sir Monocle, Sticky the Clown, and Gabriel Tuck sit at the conference table as well.

Tuck: Boss, the shares Angela had are gone. I haven’t been able to track down who the buyer is. I’m sorry. Please don’t throw me off another bridge?

Armand sighs, lighting himself an Egyptian cigarette.

Armand von Krauss: I won’t throw you off another bridge, Gabriel. It seems that I will not be able to get all of the shares of this company and I should just drop it. For now. Hölle, I might even sell the shares I have. Just to be rid of it all.

Just then the door to the conference room opens to allow in Eric Dane. He walks into the room over to the seat to the left of Armand where Gabriel Tuck is sitting. He grabs the chair and slides Gabriel back.

Tuck: What the fuck?

Dane: Fuck outta my seat, stooge.

Gabriel puts his hand to his heavy pistol, but Eric grabs him by the back of the head and slams his face into the table.

Dane: Now.

Gabriel gets up, his hand going to his nose where blood now flows freely. He takes an empty seat by Sir Monocle. The Only Star sits in the chair next to Armand. He notices Esmeralda, who sits across from him, looking at him with a wide grin, but he looks to Armand.

Dane: You have something for me there, Superchief?

Armand reaches underneath the table and brings up a briefcase that he sets onto the table and opens it up in front of Eric Dane. It’s full of money, large, non-sequential bills.

Dane: I assume it’s all there?

Armand von Krauss: As we agreed upon, yes.

Dane: Preem. Keep ‘em coming and we’ll get along just fine.

Eric closes the briefcase and begins to get up, but Armand holds out a restraining hand.

Armand von Krauss: Is Graysie on board with the program?

Eric Dane stands up and scrunches his nose and brow together in a thoughtful expression. He answers, but it doesn’t exactly inspire a whole lot of confidence.

Dane: Leave Graysie to me. And no matter what happens, you keep your goons away from her, capiche? That’s a deal-breaker, von Krauss.

Armand nods as he lights an Egyption cigarette. Satisfied, The Only Star takes his exit.

Armand von Krauss: I face Death Trap again later in the night.

Tuck: You wan’ us to fuck him up before the match so he’s softened a little bit?

Armand flicks ashes onto the table with a wicked grin.

Armand von Krauss: No. I will handle Todesfalle on my own this time.

Sticky: You sure about that, boss? Gabe and I fought him before you and he still won.

Armand von Krauss: That was in Jrok. This is in SWAT. I will not lose to him a second time. I will stand against him on my own and defeat him. This way he has no excuses for his loss. We will banish him from SWAT the same way that we did El Combatiente.

Tuck: I thought it was the loss to Rally Jackson that broke the camel’s back?

Armand sneers as he blows smoke into the air.

Armand von Krauss: It was the lingering wounds from our tag team match that caused him to lose to Rally Jackson and thus leave the company. Make no mistake about it. The KGB ran El Combatiente out of SWAT. We will do the same to Death Trap. After I have humiliated him in the ring, you may come down to the ring to finish him.

Tuck: So, you kick his ass and then we will finish his career. Right?

Armand von Krauss: If that’s something you think you can handle.

Tuck: I can. We will break him.

Sir Monocle: Most indubitably, good sir. We will end his storied career once you have shown him the what-what.

Armand just rolls his eyes, flicking ashes onto the table.

Armand von Krauss: Now. I think I need to change into my ring wear.

Esmeralda von Krauss: Oooh, dahling. I like the sound of that. Everyone else...out!

The clowns and Gabriel Tuck get up to leave the room as the scene fades to black.

[BlazeFNfreya]

-On the steps leading up to guerrilla, there she sat, alone with her ego deflated. Her sad blue eyes hid behind her black shades. She wondered what she could’ve done to make things different, or if anything she was doing even mattered at all. She looks up at us, crushed after her first-ever rumble match-

“You fuckers took it all from me. All the work, all that time… you took it as you tossed me to the outside. I wish I was angry right now, I wish my rage would swallow my sadness and disappointment whole so that I wouldn’t have to carry that on my shoulders. I’m used to being able to honestly say I got distracted or, I underestimated someone or whatever. But no, I tried my absolute best and I still lost.”

-Blaze is devastated and at this point, it’s sounding sort of like a farewell. But she couldn’t!? She wouldn’t… or would she?-

“I was given the biggest opportunity of my life when I signed with The XHF Network n’ I didn’t know a damn thing about how any of this worked. I’m still labeled an “XHF Newcomer” and yet here I am, breaking more barriers than any other woman in SWAT! So, yeah. -Chuckles bitterly- I’m a bit torn up over missing my shot this year but it’s so far from over! SO FAR! I gave it my all, my all wasn’t fucking good enough… this year. But you’ve got the wrong woman if you think I’m just gonna tuck tail and run from all of my hard work and dedication to this company all over some stupid ass tag team who clearly took advantage of the system in order to get further than I did!”

-She stands up finally looking like her old self, bursting with British charm and filled with confidence-



“I’m not calling you guys cheaters, I’m calling you BOTH half of a man! It took one whole man to eliminate my one-hundred-fifteen pound self from that match. Yet, the whole time Keith and I were in there, he couldn’t lay a paw on me! So as far as I’m concerned, I’m heading for a handicap following this loss. I’m being challenged by the powers that be n’ those powers are soon to find out how much I love challenges. I’ve been paired with the two half-men, ReV’s I think it is. Well, ReV’s, I hate you. I hope you crash on the way to the show and die in a fire. I hope your oxygen runs out during the match so I can watch you die. I hope Eddie D snaps on whichever one of you he hates more, breaks your neck and just lets the other one live as half of a man with no more other half. You both depend on each other in order to do what the majority of us do by ourselves! It takes the both of you to screw in a lightbulb is what I’m saying, since it took both of you to eliminate me. And if I was the type to be capable of murder, I’d have shot you both dead right after your own eliminations. Y’all could share a casket together, too. Fucking losers!”

-The Blackpool Bombshell appears to be getting her wish as her rage starts to take over. Allowing us to understand exactly how she felt after hitting the outside mats-

“You took what I wanted more than anything, something I lucked into getting! It was like destiny, then the next thing I know, my destiny takes a turn for the worst and is in the hands of The ReVenants. Maybe if you two hadn’t done it so weaselly, then maybe I’d have been able to team with you guys without ripping your heads off. But you tossed all of my hard work, my time, effort, all of it went with me over the top rope. Now you have me on your team, you dumbasses! You have me right there on your asses until I get every bit of satisfaction I demand! I do want to win this match despite my hatred for you two but I guarantee both of you will regret ever even looking at me!”

-Her fiery orange locks flip to the side as she tilts her head at us, almost like she just saw someone tune in-

“And how could I ever forget about The KGB! Eric Dane, Graysie Parker and best of all, Eddie D! Funny thing about The KGB is that I declared war on all of you after Armand’s fuckery. Eddie was the only one still in the building and I could have taken him out of the whole match if I wanted to! I could’ve beat him mercilessly but I let him escape with his career intact. It was a warning shot, showing Armand firsthand what I’m capable of. I wanted to show him exactly what was coming n’ although I do hate The KGB, I will say Eddie is the only one I see any sort of potential in. At least he was man enough to fight me, not run for the hills like Armand, not wait for backup like Keith. Me and him, one on one already happened backstage. I already proved to be badder than the baddest man on the roster when I speared him through his own fuckin’ door! So I’ll let ReV’s handle Graysie or Eric, since they depend so heavily on two versus one. I’m calling Eddie D, though. We have some unfinished business n’ I might’ve fell short at No Man’s Land, but I will have my revenge when I defeat The KGB alongside Beavis and Butthead proving I could team up with anyone and still be a better team than The KGB! N’ that’s not tough talk, That’s A Promise!!!”

-Blaze grabs our camera and tosses it aside, storming off as we fade to black whilst watching her leave. Will The ReVenants and Blaze Freya be able to spoil Eddie’s big win celebration so soon? Or will her hatred for her own partners cost them? Stay tuned to find out! ONLY on Syndicate Wrestling & Tradition!-

[sc4r]

|HAUNTED|

## Long lost words whisper slowly to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there ##

A dimly lit interior with wisps of smoke rising through various parts of the space. The walls are adorned with various pictures of sports stars and other random celebrities, although it's a very loose interpretation of the term. Billiard balls careening off one another across the even dimmer lit tables in the corner, bad jukebox selections and random post-work, dear-god-is-this-life conversations. A bar, speaking generally. A dive, more specifically.

A place most go to forget.

For some, it's a place to remember.

He sits near the end, his brown hair shaggy and slightly unkempt, as well as his 5 o'clock shadow-3 day growth mix that adorns his face. One elbow up on the bar, a vape mod clasp tightly in his hand. The other arm lays flat across the bar top, the fingers from that hand tapping on the wood, half impatiently, half out of habit. With a deep inhale, he takes a hit from the vape as the barkeep steps down toward the end of the bar. Devon sets the vape down as he blows the smoke out, across the bar, a small haze settles for a second before disappearing. The barkeep, an older man in his mid to late 50's, grabs a bottle of clear liquor and shows it to Devon who waves it off and shakes his head no in response. "I gotta leave for the airport in a couple of hours, I'll drink on the plane."

The barkeep looks at Devon shocked, mockingly gasping at his reply. "You turn down a drink? Dear god, this may be the big one."

"Oh shut up" Devon says as he narrows his eyes and smirks at the old man. "I didn't turn it down, I'm saving myself for later."

"Devon," the old man begins as he leans up against the liquor rack, mindlessly wiping out the glasses that sit next to him. "I've never known you to save yourself for ANYTHING." Devon drops and shakes his head, an audible sigh escaping. "Fine" as he looks back up at the old man "give me 2."

The barkeep reaches around behind him and grabs a large bottle of clear liquid and a pair of shot glasses. "Where are you heading?" he asks as he begins to pour the shots. "Memphis."

"Seminar?" He puts the bottle back.

"No," he starts, picking up one of the glasses, staring at it briefly. "A match. Decided it was time for one last run." The old keep nods towards Devon looking like he's about to say something before his attention becomes required elsewhere. Devon just smirks as he downs the first shot. Staring at the empty glass, he inhales deeply and lets out a rough sigh. "Some things change, some things stay the same. Welcoming committee. Everyone's got one. And.." he puts down the glass, his eyes fixated ahead. "They're all the same. Find the biggest bad you can find, give him an energy drink to snort and off they go! Maybe they scare the newbies, maybe they don't. Really hope you didn't think you were going to scare me Goth. Like... c'mon now. Just because y'all ain't heard of me don't mean I ain't been around."

He folds his arms in front of him on the table, hunching over a bit shaking his head. "Better part of a decade and a half doing this. Trust me, I've seen guys like you come and I've seen them go. You're not anything new to me, Goth. Sorry, not sorry to disappoint. And you can't put me through the ultimate hell. I was engaged once, I've been there. I digress."

He grabs the vape and takes a hit from it while shaking his head. Exhaling the smoke, his eyes wander aimlessly for a moment as if lost in a thought or a memory. "Ya know," he begins as he places the vape back onto top of the bar. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about this. Hemming and hawing on whether or not I should come back. If my body could handle it or my mind even. This whole time I was away I've had this voice, this... ghost if you will, whispering to me in the back of my head. For years it's been there telling me things like 'one more time' or 'you can do it'. Almost hauntingly at this point, so... I decided why not. What's life without chances anyways, right?"

He picks up the full shot glass and raises it up as if for a toast. In the mirror, a feminine silhouette appears, though most of her features are obscured by the dark clothing she wears blending into the dark surroundings. Only her face and a pair of piercing blue eyes stand out. She stops, her eyes never leaving Devon.

"A toast. To what if's, what was and what may be. To the have and have nots. To chasing our ghosts and fighting our demons. To old glories and new eras. I do hate to upset you, Gothyboy. You're not a welcoming committee. You're a stepping stone. Sorry, some things have to be. No hard feelings, right? There'll be someone next week for you to stare at menacingly, I'm sure. It's just... business."

He reaches forward with the glass to offer a metaphorical clink before downing the shot. As he starts to put the glass back down on the bar he looks up and meets the gaze of the woman.

"Fuck."

|FIN|S

[edwarddubin0604]

(Tong Fairtex is in front of a cellphone the screen a bit shay being it's on a cellphone stick that is being held by his brother Phantam Fairtex.
He is walking backwards smiling and trying to help Phantam steady the stick.)

Tong Fairtex: "Can you steady the cell phone......"

Phantam Fairtex: "Sorry bro....Okay in three....two....one."

Tong Fairtex: "Hey Frostbite I see you just enjoy talking to some mysterious individual or some mysterious thing and then go all psycho over it.
So Dr. Tong has some solutions for you and your obsession with belts."

Phantam Fairtex: "Remember you have to be PC or you'll be fined."

Tong Fairtex: "Thanks Phantam for the reminder."

Phantam Fairtex: "Brothers have to do that to each other occasionally."

Tong Fairtex: "Thanks and where were I? Oh yeah I was thinking you would be so satisfied with this choice of solutions with these very helpful suggestions that me and my brother Phantam came up with being he has such great tastes in all that is classy."

(He holds up a photograph.)

Tong Fairtex: "Now this first belt is a macho kind of belt and it's the choice of all them thar cowpokes. Here's a great suggestion for a belt that should also solve all your obsessions. It's a rodeo belt that has plenty of nice looking jewels and even a rose just for your romantic pleasure. You can see it now in bed with your belt next to you cuddled on a pillow."

Phantam Fairtex: "Remember PC."

Tong Fairtex: "I remember Phantam. Anyway, you can even go to one of those ro....d.....e....o bars and enjoy riding that thar me...ch...anic...al bull with your championship belt. Them thar patrons will love you for it and so will you."

(He holds up another photograph.)

Tong Fairtex: "Now for the person who needs a championship belt to hold a lot of tools to do home improvement. I give you the Bob the Builder belt consisting of championship gold and pockets to hold your tools to do all those round the house home repairs. You won't regret using your championship belt we gave you as a gift to satisfy your obsession."

(He holds up another photograph.)

Tong Fairtex: "Now Frostbite you have such an obsession with SWAT's Championship belt. Here's a suggestion for solving your obsession. You can have a camera phone belt. Imagine the possibilities you can have with a camera phone belt. You can take selfies at the sametime you defend your championship against all opponents. Imagine you can even document your match highlights and see yourself on the screen or in your photos crap book."

Phantam Fairtex: "Now that's funny."

Tong Fairtex: "Thanks bruh."

(He holds up another photograph and looks at it before showing it frowning.)

Tong Fairtex: "So PC you say brother."

Phantam Fairtex: "I don't know how that got there."

Tong Fairtex: "So you don't know how a chastity belt got in there."

Phantam Fairtex: "It must have been Rally as one of his dumbass jokes."

(Tong throws it away and holds up another picture which he looks even more upset.)

Phantam Fairtex: "Another hidden Rally photograph."

Tong Fairtex: "Yeah a garter belt's really funny Phantam."

(Tong holds up another photo and holds it up to the camera.)

Tong Fairtex: "Now here is a cool way to impress women and enjoy Valentine's Day at the sametime you can claim to be a champion. It's called a
candy belt with chocolate and cherry candies as the jewels. Oh imagine the experience as you admire your championship belt and you feel the need.
The need for sweets."

(Thy high five at the sametime the selfie stick almost falls down.)

Tong Fairtex: "Hey watch out for the cellphone."

Phantam Fairtex: "Sorry Tong."

Tong Fairtex: "Now imagine you can enjoy such a great time increasing your calories."

(He holds up another photograph.)

Tong Fairtex: "Now since 3D images and products are the wave of the future. It's only appropriate that you should be wearing a championship belt that you can both wear and pretend to defend. The appropriate accessory for the perfect future champion."

(He holds up the last photograph.)

Tong Fairtex: "Now if those suggestions don't appeal to you."

Phantam Fairtex: "You can't say that or poor Rally is going to get all hot and bothered over your use of banana references."

Tong Fairtex: "After hisshithe pulled on us who cares. Anyway, Frostbite you can buy yourself a SWAT Championship by going to the SWAT online store. Imagine if you can't win the championship. You can always wear it and feel like a champion. You can even buy your action figure and make your own matches with other action figures. Oh the fun you can have as you enjoy your championship run even if it's a run in your mind."

Phantam Fairtex: "Oh that's good brother Tong."

Tong Fairtex: "Now Frostbite to be serious you seem too obsessed for your own good. So since you have the possibility of facing that walking fart joke of a champion. So we'll see who really wants that championship shot. Will it be you and your sadistic fantasy of wanting your girlfriend around your waist or will it be me. Who knows maybe I'll be able to secure a tag team championship match."

Phantam Fairtex: "Oh it's going to be so interesting."

Tong Fairtex: "Maybe you'll get screwed by the commissioner being he's a buddy to the current champion. Who knows maybe I'll be able to beat you for the right to the championship only to be screwed out of a shot. Who knows let's see if I beat you for a tag team shot only for the commissioner to give himself and his buddy Tuxedo Mask the tag title shot. We'll find out tonight when we step into the ring. In a matter of moments we'll be seeing who the better man is. That person is going to be me. It's going to be Tong Fairtex. It's going to be 'The Bangkok Hitman.' The best there is at what he does best. See you in the ring."

Phantam Fairtex: "Ready to send brother Tong."

Tong Fairtex: "That's a wrap. Go for it brother Phantam."

(Phantam pauses and sends the video.)

Phantam Fairtex: "Okay sent and mission accomplished."

Tong Fairtex: "Time for me to warmup for my match."

Phantam Fairtex: "Do it."

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

[frostbite]

Earlier in the day....

We are somewhere on the outskirts of Memphis as our crew is searching for Frostbite and with his current state of mind of late one must wonder how brave men or women have lots of guts to track him down, however lucky for a camera crew it is a nice day, maybe a slight breeze is blowing almost spring like weather. Our crew continues to travel as they have reached just past the city limits, as they continue on down what appears to be a dirt road as the windows ate rolled down in the red and black SWAT van. The young driver is looking out of the window as if he is trying to find directions or even a sign as to where in the hell he might be going. As he sticks his head out of the window, dust from the road kicks out and hits him smack in his brown eyes, as he begins to weave on this dirt road for a few seconds but quickly catches a hold of the wheel as he continues on his quest to try and find Frostbite. The driver spots what appears to be a barn off in the distance, maybe he could be onto something but why would Frostbite be out in the middle of nowhere, could this be a wild goose chase or then again with his mental state of late anything is possible.

The driver comes to a fork in the road if you will an actually one I might add. He once again sticks his head out of the window as he is looking at the barn, but in the meantime he makes a left turn as he continues onward to the barn, but he spots something that catches his eye just off the side of the road. With a keen eye he realizes now that he is right near some corn fields, but still that is not what gets his attention he spots a pair of black shoes from a distance. He looks back as he makes a sharp right and drives well right into the cornfield as the husk of corn are hitting up against the van and some of it is hitting him right in the face, after going through some of the field, he does find some light at the end of the tunnel and in this case he spots a young man wearing a black and white outfit it appears ad though this young man might be a preacher, as he has a bible in his hand. This becomes a little freaky for us, what would a preacher be standing in the middle of a cornfield for. He looks up with a gleam in his blue eyes, the sun is quite bright that it is reflecting off of his shirt blonde hair, which even begins to blind our driver. This young man, looks right straight ahead at something. Our cameras zoom in on a scarecrow, straw everywhere and even some on the ground maybe more on the ground than the actually scarecrow itself. This scarecrow is wearing cut off blue jeans and a red and black striped shirt, but what really gets out attention is what is over the scarecrow face it happens to be an El Combatiente mask. Our camera zoom back toward the preacher we see that it is Frostbite.

Frostbite.. Dearly beloved we gather her today to pay respect to a gallant young man. A man that fought that good fight, however unfortunately he died as he went out in a blaze of glory doing what he loved to do best.

Frostbite suddenly stops reading the bible as he turns around in the middle of this cornfield, as he spots something leaning up against an ear of corn. Our cameras zoom in as we see that it is Frostbite cellphone with the wallpaper of the SWAT World title on it. However what really catches our eyes it appears a black dress is right under the cellphone.

Frostbite.. What do you mean he is not dead? He is not around anymore. That means he is dead.

It appears as if Frostbite is having some type of argument with his phone and it is believe that the phone is talking back to him.

Frostbite.. He just left the company because of injuries. I guess so, I put him through a flaming table, and I did it all for you. I am showing my sugarboo, how much I care about you, and how much I want you.

He continues to listen to the phone as once again if it is talking to him.

Frostbite.. Listen all he had to do was hold onto you my love long enough for me to final win you over but your boy could not do that. He threw you away like you were a piece of trash and now you have Rally that complete joke hold you once again. Damn it, can you see love, what these other men are doing to you. That treat you like you are a whore.

He walks over to the phone as if it call him over there in a manner of speaking.

Frostbite.. I am not calling you a whore. I am trying to get you to understand why do you let them treat you in such a way. Look I bought that dress for you today so you can look your best as we pay respect to one of your ex's. I keep telling you dear if you come with me you can have all of these things but you do not listen.

Frostbite bends down as if the phone continues to tell him something.

Frostbite.. Here we go again. Honey, I told you a thousand times already I am sorry that I did not win the battle royal last week. I know if I would have won, we would be a step closer for us finally being together. I keep telling you that do not want us together. I promise I will make it up to you. You know I would do anything for you.

Frostbite drops to his knees right in front of the phone.

Frostbite.. I must say this black really looks on you.

He leans in as if the phone is saying something to him.

Frostbite.. Please forgive me love. I am so sorry that I did not win the battle royal. I know that I am a disappointment to you, and you are right you deserve so much better. But you really believe that Rally is better holding you than me. He will never treat you like I would. What can I do to make it up to you. Should I put my opponent Tong through another burning table to show you my love for you. Is that what you want? I can do it.

Frostbite grabs the phone as he is actually starting to make out with in.

Frostbite.. You feel better love. I should not cause you so much stress. I know it is quite a tough time in your life but I am here love to help you relieve your stress anything you need from me, you can have it. So would putting Tong through a flaming table help relieve some of your tension. Maybe when we get back into town, I can get someone to give you a rub down. Would you like that?

He puts the phone back as he leans it up against an ear of corn.

Frostbite.. I know Valentine day is right around the corner, and I would not be good man to you if I did not get you something, and I do have a surprise for you, but you must close your eyes.

Frostbite looks at the phone.

Frostbite.. Are they close?

He jumps up as he walks a few feet and disappears into the cornfield for a few seconds before coming back out with a dozen red roses, a box of what appears to be chocolate candy shaped like a heart and red and pink balloons that say My Love.. He walks over to the phone as he puts all the gifts down in front of her.

Frostbite.. This is all for you sugarboo. I hope you like it. Call it a Valentine Day gift and saying that I am sorry gift if you will for letting you down. I never intend to hurt you, I hope you know that. But that is not all dear, I have even a bigger gift for you.

Once again he races into the cornfield as he comes out seconds later with a black and brown fur coat. He walks over to his phone as he places it right the coat right in front of it. Frostbite steps back as he is admiring the coat.

Frostbite.. I hope you like that. It really looks great on you. See my love all this can be yours and so much more. But you have decided to jump in another man arms instead of being with the one that will care to for you until his dying day. I just want you to be happy, I want us to be happy. So sugarboo, do you like all of my gifts.

Frostbite drops his head.

Frostbite.. I know it is not enough, but later on,my love. I will so you that you are my one and only. I will give you yet another gift. I will bring Tong head to your doorstep as a gift to you if this is what you really desire. Tong and I, have been friends and bitter enemies, but tonight my love he becomes a gift for you. So what should I do love. I will let you decide. Should I put him through a flaming table? Should I set him on fire? What would you like for me to do.

Frostbite leans in as if the phone has an actually answer.

Frostbite.. I like it. Brains and beauty you are the complete package, but what about Rally. Should we make an example out of him tonight as well. I believe we should.

A slight chill is in the air as Frostbite walks over as he tries to actually place the fur coat over the phone to try and really keep it warm.

Frostbite.. Now my love can we finish paying our respect to El Combatiente.

Frostbite walks back over to the scarecrow, as he puts his arm around it.

Frostbite.. Tong,I know you are not going to listen to a thing that I am about to say so I am going to appeal to your brother Phantam and a warning. Tonight, and I really mean what I say, you are going to have to save your brother from what I have in store for him later on. If not you then his wife needs to hear this. Tong is going to burn one way on the other. My best advise tell him to take the night off, but I know he will not. So when I beat him within an inch of his life. I will find me a lighter and I will set his ass on fire. Because I have promise this company I will burn it to the ground until she is mine. True love will be together soon enough.

Frostbite winks at his phone.

Frostbite.. And Rally, I am not going to rib the ribber when I say this, but you are going to burn to the ground soon enough. Maybe later on tonight, maybe I should you that your second title reign well it will go up in flames.

He looks at the scarecrow.

Frostbite.. As for you El Combatiente, I will give you a going away gift. I have no hard feelings toward you. After all, I beat you three different times and you got lucky just once. All you had to do was keep her long enough until it was time for true love to be together. But you could not do such a simple little task.

Frostbite reaches into his pocket as he pulls out a lighter.

Frostbite.. El Combatiente, it was nice knowing you.

He lights it as he throws it onto the scarecrow as it becomes engulfed in flames as our cameras zoom back as we see the mask burn.

Frostbite.. Burn baby burn.

Frostbite let's out a sadistic laugh as our cameras continue to watch as El Combatiente is engulfed in flames as the scene fades out.

[edwarddubin0604]

(The room is dark except for occasional flashing lights and the camera just barely focuses on the figure that slowly stalks forward laughing maniacally and the cameraman looks disoriented due to the flashing lights.)

Psychotic Goth: "Oh Devon D'Andre I'm quite surprised that you actually did a promo. Oh that's a rare moment in wrestling when it comes to rookies or shall I say actual veterans in this sport. At least you aren't a stiff and that's what counts isn't it."

(He laughs and yells in a local Native American dialect.)

Psychotic Goth: "You also seemed to underestimate me also Devon because you say you have over a decade of experience. Yet you don't realize that I also have more than a decade of experience. I started in Hardkore World sixteen years ago and yet you think I'm just a rookie."

(Psychotic Goth laughs loudly as he approaches the camera.)

Psychotic Goth: "You never heard of my original home Hardkore World have you. I loved that place until Commissioner Valentine destroyed it when he lost to his fellows tablemate Syberus. So when he became commissioner of SWAT I vowed to go into a rage and I shall do just that. Like Isaid you are the unfortunate opponent."

(He roars in a rage.)

Psychotic Goth: "So unfortunate and yet why is it that I have a little bit of respect for you. Why do I have this little tinge of and I mean little tinge of respect for you Devon. Imagine you drink a lot drowning yourself in your sorrows and being harassed by your demons as you drink and drink your life away."

(Psychotic Goth laughs demonically.)

Psychotic Goth: "So why drink your life away. Why drink your sorrows away when you can show yourself at what was once your best years in this sport. Now you are trying to return to that former glory in order to prove you still have it in you. You want to show that you still have what it takes to run with the younger stars but I have been active for quite a while and I remained quite active all those years."

(He laughs as he shakes his head.)

Psychotic Goth: "So what were you doing all those years Devon as you drank your life away. Were you still competing regularly or were you drinking away your sorrows and allowing your inner demons to control you. I know how to control them and I do know how to unleash them in a violent rage and savagery. Can you control your inner demons. I think not."

(Psychotic Goth roars in a Native American Dialect.)

Psychotic Goth: "Wouldn't it be ironic if we had to team up. Wouldn't it be something if that should occur. Anything is possible in this sport Devon and we both know it since we've been around for quite some time Devon. You see tag teams have been lacking in SWAT and seeing how desperate
poor Jonnie Valentine is for teams can tell you everything you need to know about desperate he needs to fill the tag team ranks. Wait patiently and you shall see."

(He sees the cameraman looking faint due to the flashing lights and he grabs the camera and sticks his face into the lens.)

Psychotic Goth: "Why are you feeling so faint. It's not that flashing lights are harmful to the average human mind and that you can get a bit disoriented. Yet other than that you should be feeling fine. Now Devon you don't think I'm a welcoming committee but some kind of stepping stone. You must be thinking of The Indian Assassins and the O-Z. Maybe you are thinking about Benjamin Bolt or some other jobbers. You shall see I am none of the above and I can be quite dangerous."

(Psychotic Goth lets go and lowers his head and raises his arms before flinging his head back revealing his pale handsome goth like looks.)

Psychotic Goth: "In a matter of a few waning moments and we shall step into the ring and we shall see who is the true stepping stone and who is going to earn the others respect. We shall see Devon. We shall see."

(He roars in a Native American dialect as the scene slowly fades to black.)

[vastrix]

“Circus Apocalypse” by Vermillion Lies begins playing as Armand von Krauss walks out from the back to the boos from the fans. He looks unhappy as the fans boo him, lighting himself an Egyptian cigarette.

Jeremy Tucker: What’s this? Armand isn’t scheduled to come out from the back now.

Andrew Fulton: Perhaps he has something that he needs to say?

Jeremy Tucker: I think he always has something to say. It’s just that maybe no one wants to be listening.

Andrew Fulton: Well, I mean. He was the self-appointed commish there for a time. He has power and should be listened to.

Jeremy Tucker: Yeah, emphasis on the “self-appointed” part. He didn’t actually hold any real power.

Andrew Fulton: Armand von Krauss makes his way down to the ring. He looks like he wants to backhand a few of the fans who are talking smack as he walks. Hmm. I think I would have just smacked them.

Jeremy Tucker: The fans are here to watch the action going on in the ring. They aren’t here to participate in the action.

Andrew Fulton: Then they should know when to keep their mouths shut or have they mouths shut for them

Jeremy Tucker: Armand gets into the ring and he looks up to see the cage hanging overhead. He’s motioning with his cigarette. What does he want? Does he want the cage to be lowered now?

Andrew Fulton: I think that’s what he wants. Maybe he wants to see what having the cage lowered down upon him will feel like before the match happens?

Armand von Krauss: Lower the cage. I want the fans to see what things will look like later in the night.

Jeremy Tucker: Seems like an odd request, but the cage is lowering now.

Andrew Fulton: See Armand standing tall inside the cage. He’s showing the world who is dominant.

Armand von Krauss: This is what will happen later on tonight, you Boden Fütterung Drecksäcke. I will stand tall in the middle of the cage while your beloved Death Trap is carried out on a stretcher. You might remember that he was lucky to last year in Jrok and defeated me, but this will not be for play. There will be no submissions or pinfalls here. There will be someone who cannot get up and needs to go to the hospital. That will be you, Death Trap. Your fate will be to be carried out of the ring and cage on a stretcher. Your fate will be to go to the local hospital to get your various bleeding wounds checked out and stitched up.

Jeremy Tucker: Strong words for Death Trap, but can Armand back them up? I mean he did submit to Death Trap at Jrok in December.

Andrew Fulton: Yeah, but as he has just said. That match was for play. This match is for real. He won’t go so easy on Death Trap this time.

Jeremy Tucker: Yeah, will he have his clowns get involved in the match?

Andrew Fulton: You heard him earlier in the night. He will not have his clowns get involved in the match.

Armand von Krauss: Where are your friends, Death Trap? Where is Dylan Black? Moved on to his next Zuckerwatte Verteidigung. Where is El Combatiente? Gone into hiding to lick his wounds after being put through a burning table before losing his World title to Rally Jackson of all people. Mistress Discipline and Chaos? Back hiding in Fireside where they’re safe. You have no backup. No support. No way that you are coming out of this match as a winner.

Jeremy Tucker: You can already see that he is planning to use his clowns to help him win the match against Death Trap by saying that Death Trap has no help in the ring!

Andrew Fulton: No. He will defeat Death Trap fair and square in the middle of the ring. Now as to what happens to Death Trap in between leaving the ring and on his way to the hospital. That’s what’s up in the air.

Jeremy Tucker: He would have his clowns ambush Death Trap while he’s on a stretcher? I mean, not that he’s going to be on a stretcher anyway, but that’s just so low of him!

Andrew Fulton: The best way to handle your enemies. When they’re down.

Armand von Krauss: Death Trap. I would make sure that your people know what hospital that you will be going to as you are going to be there for a long time. It’s a long road to recovery once you are as damaged as you are going to be. First the recovery from the wounds and then the physical therapy. I don’t envy the path that you are going to be dragged down.

Jeremy Tucker: Yeah, between the match and the clowns getting him after the match, Armand plans on hurting Death Trap badly. What a coward!

Andrew Fulton: It isn’t being a coward to make sure that your enemy can no longer wage war.

Armand von Krauss: Once this cage is raised at the end of the night. You will all know who the real dominant force is in SWAT. It isn’t Death Trap. It isn’t Jonnie Valentine and the Society. It is the KGB. It is me.

Jeremy Tucker: Armand raises his arm like he was commanding the heavens. I suppose maybe he does since the cage is raised to let him out of the ring.

Andrew Fulton: Death Trap is going to have a few hard months ahead of him. What with being crushed in this steel cage match and then the long road for recovery after the match.

Jeremy Tucker: Armand makes his way to the back as “Circus Apocalypse” begins again. I don’t think that Death Trap will be so harmed during the match. Just a hunch. Death Trap is a former X*Crown champion. Armand can’t say that.

Andrew Fulton: Armand would have been champion if not for the fact that all three other people in the match chose to gang up on the biggest threat in the ring to ensure that he did not win it.

Jeremy Tucker: We are going to have to agree to disagree there. They were only avenging themselves from the clown ambush that Armand directed. He sent in the clowns to murder his opponents!

Andrew Fulton: Tomato, tomahto. There were no rules in that match.

[sc4r]

| A MODERN MYTH |

## Did we create a modern myth
Did we imagine half of it
Would happen in a thought from now
Save yourself ##

Hustle and bustle abounds backstage as we see Devon sitting very solemnly and quietly atop travel case. Gear on and ready sans the singular glove he normally wears, which is situated atop his leather jacket. The camera eases up towards him, stopping just a few feet in front of him. Reaching into his jacket, he pulls out his vape and takes a hit, putting it back quickly. Exhaling, he grabs a roll of white tape and begins wrapping his wrists.

"You know," He starts. "I never thought I'd be here. Now, the obvious joke there is to say here being Memphis and how much I don't like this place, but I'd be lying if I said that was true. I don't mind it here. I've had a few matches here in the past about.." He stops and turns his head upward in thought before raising his eyebrows in shock at the realization of just how long it's been. "Jesus. Fucking decade and half now. Bet three to one there's people in that crowd that weren't even born the last time I was here. God, I've been doing this for too fucking long. I digress."

He finishes the one wrist and begins on the right arm, this time wrapping part of his hand as well. "If I was going to drink my life away, you'd think I'd pick something better than fucking VODKA. I don't drink my demons away like most has-been's. I can't, they're dead! I stepped away to run a school, not that it should matter. Injuries and time. I got burned out." He half grins, half smirks as he chuckles a bit, almost to himself. "I guess it's true, yea? Time heals. Cause here the fuck we are. Time's got one hell of a sense of humor, I tell you. I'm sure you can attest to this, Psycho. You stick around in this long enough, time becomes an enemy. You look back on the places you've been and the things you've done and seen and it all blurs. Start to wonder if it was all just a myth. And then there's that one guy who comes along and it seems like for them, time stands still. Like they've found the secret formula to save themselves from all of that. From all of this.."

A last loop of tape around his wrist, he rips it clean and presses the edge down. Tossing it back onto the cart, he grabs the vape for a quick hit, exhaling the smoke as he finishes putting his compression sleeve and glove on. "Look, I'll be completely honest with you Psycho, I really don't give a fuck about you. I know you've been around a while, at this point most of us have. And welcoming committees aren't stepping stones, I have to turn you into one. Again, it's nothing personal. It never was. This is about me. This is about what I can do and if I can even do it anymore. Stepping through that curtain, onto the stage and into that ring. Doing what I'm best at.." His voice trails off as his eyes wander off downward, not fixated on anything. More lost in something. Mindlessly tossing the tape back onto the case, he grabs his vape and take's hit before tucking it safely into the inside pocket of the jacket.

Something catching the periphery of his eye causes him to snap his head fully left. He continues though, "What I hope I'm still best at." The camera turns to see what has caught his eye. A female figure. Distant enough that no distinguishing can be discerned apart from the eyes again and dirty blonde locks that drape just past her shoulders. "They say that necessity is the mother of all invention. I think it can be true of reinvention as well. At the end of the day..." The camera swings back onto Devon who hasn't moved. "All that we do. All that we ARE. Begins and ends with ourselves. Guess we'll find out, won't we?" Grabbing his jacket, he climbs down off the case and walks past the camera as it pans back to the left looking down the hall where the woman... was.

|FIN|

[Oh-Oh]

"Get your work in early, so you can roam freely without regret."

CLANG.

[...]

CLANG.

"I set my alarm for 5AM everyday, because it gives me the psychological edge that I crave."

[Oxford Osland.]

We know it's him before we see him. Our camera fades up to a sweat soaked Oxford Osland inside the private gym of his beachfront condo in Miami. We can hear the sounds of the water crashing along the shorelines in the distance, but the morning sun has yet to rise.

"I know for a fact that less than 1% of our population is awake at this hour. The ones who are, certainly aren't putting in the amount of work that I put in. While all of the nine to fivers sleep to the very last moment that their rigid schedule will allow - I find vindication in my ability to make lifestyle choices like this one."

Osland looks down at his six pack abs. He looks up and winks into camera.

"The mental edge that I receive is knowing that when I'm pushing through the final repetition of every set, my opponents are either sleeping off the night that was, or preparing to wake up to a mundane life littered with insignificance."

Our hero stands up from the bench press, walks over to grab a towel to wipe his brow. Osland grabs a large water bottle and throws a few gulps back to rehydrate.

"By the time 7AM hits, I will have consumed my second meal of the day, and will go on my post workout jog along the beachfront."

As Osland towels off, he rotates his neck to loosen any kinks that may have accumulated during his session. Once complete, Osland turns his body forward so he's camera facing.

"Now, let's get to the point, shall we."

Osland's tone is matter of fact.

"2021 is going to be an epic year. The Year of The ReVenants, and most certainly the year of Oxford Osland. This coming Battleground is going to serve as the blueprint for what one can expect when they get into the ring with the likes of Oxford Osland and Keith Williams. While the two of us might be the 'new kinds on the block' we certainly didn't come to SWAT to play second fiddle to anyone. That includes the Kross Global Bandits, or whoever else believes that they're at the top of the marquee in this promotion."

"2020 can only be labelled as a transition year. Out with the old, boring and disloyal. 2021 will be the year of ascension. The year of change, loyalty and perseverance."

Osland rubs his chin while staring off into the distance - seemingly watching his prophecy come to fruition.

"Let me tell you all a little story about a blue chip prospect who exceeded the expectations of all to become the top champion for a North American conglomerate of wrestling territories in only his third year in the wrestling business. Let me share with you the intimate details of the same 'prospect' who was at the top of the hierarchy in Northern Pro Wrestling during it's first two years in existence."

You've never laid eyes on a bigger smile.

"It was mine before it was yours Eric. Remember that. In a weak moment, I took my foot off the gas, and you made me pay for it. My historical reign at the top was dashed by you, I'll give you that. But as luck would have it, I would land on my feet and find myself on the cusp of something new. When my contract expired with Northern Pro Wrestling, Gus wasn't able to match the offer made to me by the SWAT Brass, so here I am. Why am I not surprised that your clout chasing carcass would find your way back on my radar in short order?"

Osland shakes his head.

"I thought I had seen a ghost last month when I saw you fraternizing with my boy Keith in the backstage area. But my eyes did not deceive me, there you were. Fresh off of your win in the Lethal Lottery with a pretty new championship over your shoulder. Bravo Eric, you most certainly earned it. But the thought did cross my mind - 'How would you have fared if I was there to put a stop to it?'"

The questions was rhetorical, and we will clearly never know the answer.

"I felt that it was proper tact that let the uninitiated know that 'The Only Star' and I are well acquainted, which adds an exciting layer to this upcoming six person match at Battleground."

[...]

"But the most exciting part of this upcoming match for me?"

[White Teeth That Sparkle.]

"My girlfriend Graysie and I are set to get reacquainted."

Osland feigns a looks of sadness as he continues.

"All Graysie is looking for is a little attention, and I'm fixing to give her more than she can handle."

Osland looks down to his nether region, before making direct eye contact with the camera once again.

"If I know Graysie like I think I do, she isn't the Smitten Kitten she once was when Uncle Eric took her under his wing. Eric's latest decision to join the likes of the KGB must be causing the Suplex Siren to have a conflict of morality. Graysie wants to fight the good fight, she wants to let her positivity guide her through the world of professional wrestling. Newsflash Sweet Cheeks, The KGB do mean things to people and the ReVenants know how to have a good time. This is the perfect opportunity for Graysie Parker to make the executive decision to go where she's wanted, to go where she can spread her wings to be that delicate angel we all know her to be."

Osland's eyes narrow.

"Graysie, hunny. I know that feeling that you've got burning deep inside of you is confusing and scary. But girl let me tell you, it's 100% natural. The chemistry that we share is so unique that we can't put it into words. But we feel it, don't we?"

[...]

"We feel it."

Osland's puppy dog eyes are on full display.

"2021's Bonnie and Clyde, Ride or Die."

"Don't fight it."

"Embrace it."

"Let it consume you."

"Revel in it."

Osland's tone softens.

"All you have to do is take that first step..."

Osland does his best to be convincing.

"Once you do, I'll be right here waiting for you..."

On cue ' Wherever you go' by Richard Marx plays in the background. Osland starts the sing over top of the chorus.

#Wherever you go
#Whatever you do
#I will be right here waiting for you

#Whatever it takes
#Or how my heart breaks
#I will be right here waiting for you

[Slow Fade.]

[Cut.]

[HNDRXX]

Deandre “HNDRXX” Simms sit outside the Pyramid in the cold Memphis night, vapor trails of breath following every exhalation.

“I come up hard, in the projects.”

A slight nod as the vapor curls away.

“Not a lot of opportunity for young dudes like me in Flatbush, you can count ‘em on one hand. In the System, Manual Labor.

I mean you can dream big and think you can spit rhymes, but I figured out early on man, I can’t be in that situation, cause I can’t spit bars. But it ain’t no big hullabaloo that I ain’t gonna be the next Beast Coast.

And the other thing?

Naw man, it ain’t for me. I grew up watching wrestling, and even though, there ain’t whole lotta dudes who look like me, not a whole lot of dudes who talk like me, listen to music I listen to. I was hooked. Was it like that for you Pequeno?

It was for me.”

Simms has the hood up on his black supreme hoodie.

“But the thing is when you’re young, and you don’t look like other wrestlers, and you ain’t built like other wrestlers you get put in a box. It ain’t a whole lot different from growing up hard. Everyone telling you every day, you ain’t gonna amount to nothin’ to speak of. Teachers ain’t gonna teach, Cops gonna hassle you just because, even if you don’t hustle, if you follow.

They told me at the wrestling school up in the city, that’s Manhatten for you not familiar with the uh, parlance of New York. You’re small, you gotta learn how to fly, and I’m like naw my dude, I wanna be like Karl Gotch, I wanna be like Lou Thesz, I wanna stretch fools who run they mouth like they hot shit.

I ain’t scared of the work, cause it ain’t like anyone thought to give my skinny teenaged ass a passing second thought. Just another hood rat from the Bronx, From Staten, from Queens, from wherever and whatever they wanted me to be.”

HNDRXX thumps his chest with a forefinger.

“All my life, I’ve got people like that milk carton candidate in NLW, trying to steal my shine. And do you think the supposed good guys are really any better?

Naw man, I waited my professional career to face a dude like Adrien Cochrane, A guy who comes up under his own power, never listened to the people who told him he wasn’t good enough as he was and he needed to change. He needed to be less honorable..

But where was he after the show? Ain’t no handshake, Ain’t no Joe Greene towel toss, that’s for goddamned sure...

He’s on to the next thing, he’s on to the next “respectable battle”. And then you hear about him turning in his privilege card to jump the entire line to try and angle for an X*Crown? Corrupt.

Those Dylan Black moves,

Those Ultimate Kingpin moves,

Those Eric Dane moves,

He ain’t no hero. He’s one expose away from being Keith Williams.”

HNDRXX nods a little bit.

“Turns out, ain’t even the heroes gonna act like heroes when it matters. An’ Pequeno, It’s a lot to promise this early, but I ain’t gonna be like that with me. SWAT sends me out in two straight battle royals, my dude, it did not go well, I ain’t gonna sugar coat that sour candy and pretend its sweet, ya dig?

But things changed man.

I got the call from my dude up in Flatbush man. Cause my pops ain’t got no cell phone, and he delivers me some bad news.

My pops grew up poor in the south, he grew up in hard times. He works like a mule, at a laundry, washin’ and hanging clothes for people who don’t have to do they own hard work. He put bread on the table so his children could do whatever they wanted.

My pops believed in me, he put me through wrestling school, not just with money, but with his bleach scared hands, with the burns from industrial driers on his arms like tiger stripes. He put me through to a plane to Europe when American Schools didn’t want to teach me the style I wanted to learn, My pops ain’t even got to see me wrestle yet, because every day, the laundry keeps coming.

Every Day, the Work never stops. Even though he’s been sick for months, he’s carried the difficulty like a soldier, never told me, didn’t want me to worry.

He didn’t want me to call home, and tell him that I was coming back to take care of him. Naw my dude, He didn’t do all of that hard work so that when things got hard for him, I’d fold up shop and come home.

Just like my time in SWAT, he’s going through hard times, Pequeno. Hard times are what defines who we are as men, hard times is where Jason Justice folded, hard times is where Adrien Cochrane took the easy way out.

Hard Times is when a man’s legacy is defined. “

HNDRXX stares ahead and nods, standing up he brushes the night cool off of himself and heads back inside the pyramid.

[eddied]

(Eddie D is seen in a "Covid friendly" open air gym. A reporter appears with a camera and Eddie stops his work out and initially looks furious, but sees the SWAT logos on the mic and on the side of the camera and changes to a false smile and eases himself to his feet and crosses over to greet them.)

EDDIE: Well hello SWAT-everse! Thank you to all the SWAT-the-fuckers, SWAT-The-fuckanauts, SWAT-The-Fuckaneers and SWAT-The-Fuckbuddies that sent me all the congratulations on Facepage for my Rumble win at No Man's Land. 

REPORTER: Hi Eddie, sorry to spring this on you. Deadline for promos is fast approaching and the office sent me. I had some questions planned...?

EDDIE: That's sweet of you. How about you shut the fuck up and keep rolling and I'll give the fans what they came for...
THE Big Deals take on all things SWAT right now, that's what the fans need...

Let me start by saying... ‘The Only Star’ Eric Dane & ‘The Suplex Siren’ Graysie Parker? You are so welcome in my corner at New Horizons that I truely couldn't be happier. No one expects them to be worth shit. No one expects them to shine in a star studded ring with me or the suicide squad facing us....
Blaze "The Blackpool Flasher" Freya
with her unlikely bedfellows...
The magic ink of stables... The remnants;
‘The Oregon of the 7 seas’ Keith Williams...
And ‘The Implausible’ Oxford Osland...
Thing is... Dane and Parker are going to win this thing for me whilst I take on the heavy hitters in there.
It's such a perfect game plan that I can advertise it before the match.
There's nothing they can do about it.
If they try to concentrate on my newest buddies I will punish them for it...
If they come straight at me, I can weather any storm, I can go toe-to-toe with anyone in SWAT and my tag partners will launch their best offense on this flawed team for the 1..2..3. We'll just chalk it up to another win for the good guys.
KGB is the best place to be today. It truely is a buzz. It's the sweetest flavour of anarchy baby...

(The reporter finally gets up the courage to interrupt Eddie's flow and get a question in.)

REPORTER: What about you being beaten up by a girl last show?

(Eddie looks like he's going to punch the reporter, but he catches himself and stares down the lens of the camera awkwardly as he changes his stance and composes himself)

EDDIE: Freya Blaze is not a girl. She's all woman. And all fucking wild cat too. She blindsided me with one hell of a shot... no denying... but I dragged myself up from her favourite finisher and won a fucking Rumble.
If that vicious bitch hit you with the TORN she'd break your scrawny butt in two. IN TWO! Then drag the severed bottom half away, pulled along by your inevitable Blaze induced boner, and chuck your dying butt down the nearest sewer grate. Don't talk to me about being beaten up by a girl peckerwood.

REPORTER: Keith Williams took your Renegade Title from you? Aren't you worried about another beating from him?

EDDIE: Keith Williams is the leader of an extended tag team of assorted misfits and the KGB will crush his  broken stable... and as a merciful kindness... put The ReVenants out of their misery so that they can all move on with their careers.
I don't fear Keith Williams. He beat me... maybe if our new commish hadn't run down in our last fight maybe there would have been a different ending, but I won't pretend that he didn't get some good shots in and pushed me towards my limits. I grow and I learn and fight back harder; Keith took his chance well but I get better with every encounter and payback is a bigger bitch than Blaze Freya. 

REPORTER: Social media is alive with talk that this big tag match will be far from the cakewalk that you are suggesting. @revenant4life says that "Eddie D sucks and Oxford Osland will be your kryptonite." What do you say to that?

EDDIE: I say "eat shit and die you nerdy fuck". Get your head out of the comic books and watch the highlights reel of No Man's Land where I dominated and won the rumble. Osland isn't my kryptonite. He's not my Clark Kent, He's not my Lois Lane, he's not even Jimmy from the press office... maybe he's Jimmy's unnamed brother-in-law that had one reference in Superman #13 1941... ya fucking nerd.
You're a cheap shot queen, but every Fed needs one. I ain't a slip of a thing like poor old Tuxedo Mask; bless his soiled cotton socks. I aint an unsuspecting referee you can just brutalise either. When you get in the ring with me Osland you'll actually have to bring some moves, or at least hold your guard up, because I'm going to knock you, and your tag team partners, the fuck out.
Have you got any more stupid quotes or questions from teenager trolls?

REPORTER: Only one. A guy called "@goldengodrib69"? He or she said that "I have a banana with your name on it and why'd you buy a new gym bag?"

EDDIE: I live in the hope that comment truely was from The Golden God Rally Jackson, because I'd guess he has been sitting on that one liner for a month ...and it's still a hot mess.
I hope it really is Rally, but whether it is or not, if Rally's telling the world that anyone that is a friend of Radu is in the eye of the storm... I just joined Radu's fan club. Biggest U-Turn of the year. Whatever Radu thinks of me or the KGB I couldn't care less, because nothing hurts me more than imagining a PPV card without that son of a bitch on it. If it itches Rally's crotch then i love Radu and suggest all my fans big the legend up too. Rally is not a ribber, he's a jobber and his presence in MY main event slot just grinds my gears.
I think an Eddie D vs El Combatiente title fight was going to put some butts on seats, but Rally's bullshit scared the little flower away on the breeze.
I thought that Linda La Fey was finally going to get over her crotch sopping horn for me and bring herself to try to harm her heart's desire in the squared circle; to face me in a main event some day, but Rally gunning for her just pushes that day further away too.
You're not funny, Rally. You're fat. You look as though you should be funny, but your not. You're actually quite tragic.
Rally Jackson i said it before and I'll say it again... You're a big man, but you're out of shape. With me, it's a full-time job. Now behave yourself … prepare yourself … Check yourself, before you wreck yourself.
I’m such a good guy I’ll sell you a keg of beer to drown your sorrows with when I stuff that banana up your Rio De Janeiro and take that World Title strap from your sweaty saggy gut.
Rally Jackson... If that really is you Rib69... BRING... IT... ON!!!

(Eddie walks away from the reporter abruptly, picks up a barbell resting on a bench, no weights on either end he toys with it with his fist gripped around the middle of the long bar. Eddie tests it for weight in his right hand, balances it in his grip as though preparing to throw it like a javelin and looks at the reporter and cameraman and smiles... Eddie starts to count down slowly but loudly from 10 and suddenly the SWAT team realise what's about to happen and run for the exit. When Eddie gets to three you can hear the whoosh sound of something heavy being thrown and the clang and clatter of the bar hitting a wall just beyond the panicked cameraman and reporter and a curse from behind them that Eddie missed. After some panicked breathless mutterings from the SWAT team and some echoing laughter from Eddie D the footage fades to black. )

#MainEventEddie #BuyMerch #QuoteFulton #TheBigDeal

[Lucky Linda]

”We are joined now backstage by Lucky Linda La Fey.” States Glamorous Glenda backstage at the Memphis arena in front of a SWAT Banner. “Linda. How are you after No Man’s Land?” asks Glenda.

“Three gruelling matches in one night … “ Linda pauses … “I couldn’t be better or want it any other way. To be sure. Too be sure.” Linda answers smiling.

“You made it all the way to the finals, beating the former Champion Rebecca Brookes and Mistress Discipline also.”

“That I did” interrupts Linda. “That was one heck of a fight against Mistress. She came in here with a huge reputation, and she delivered on all fronts. No Man’s Land wasn’t her night. It wasn’t my night either. It was Isabel Rios’ night.” Linda looks intently into the camera “And I congratulate her on her victory. It was well earned and she is a mighty competitor.”

“What about after the show, Rally Jackson assaulted you.”

“That he did. He seems to be on a campaign against my SWAT Classic Teammate Radu Matei. He thinks if he comes after the likes of myself and El Combatiente, he is getting back at Radu somehow.” Linda’s intensity rises. “But let me tell you something Mr Golden God! I am nobody’s pawn. I am nobody’s fool. I am Lucky Linda La Fey! You want to make a statement, you just fooled yourself, because now its going to be YOU and ME in the ring tonight!” Linda smiles. “And I think that World Belt will look mighty fine around my Amazon waist.

“It can be done, Suzi Spits was a former Champion, so, its not unheard of.” States Glenda.

“Yes, she did. For all the haters whispering and bringing our name down. We deliver for Women’s Wrestling. I am proud to be a Women’s Wrestler. Privileged people want to tell me I am not a women’s wrestler but merely “A” wrestler. I will kindly tell them not to tell me what to think. Think and speak for yourself but don’t speak for me. I watched on with pride as SWAT won the Fed of the Year and Paul Fedhead of the year, looking to see if I would get a showing in Woman of the year. Alas. People have decided we don’t have that. A shame that, a crying shame.”

“We can be proud of being a woman but can’t be classified as being one apparently.” Linda goes cross eyed trying to figure it out. “Regardless, we at SWAT fly the flag for Women’s wrestling. We just celebrated the 3rd Annual No Man’s Land Cup. As you said, Suzi Spits is a former World Champion. Radu and myself were runners up in the Anzac Cup. We promote a thriving and entertaining Women’s Division in the Amazons.” Linda continues “Yet we are Women Haters? Or, Paul is. Let me let you in on a little secret, he doesn’t hate women, he“ now whispering “loves them”.

“Some things have been said and recorded …” Glenda begins.

“Yes, they have, and I believe and agree with 95% of them.” Retorts Linda. “The lines in this world are now blurred. Do the little girls at home want to see their Hero Lucky Linda shine and defeat the evil Rally Jackson?” Linda asks then answers her own question “Of course they do.”

“Do the housewives sitting at home want to see me take it to the pig who resembles their hubby lazing on the couch they are stuck with?” Linda asks and then again answers her own question. “You bet your sweet ass they do.”

“Can every girl who walks into this ring do that?” again, asks and answering her own question. “Sadly not. It’s just human nature. Yet. ONE of us can! I know I am overpowered and under sized going into this battle. I know he is a bully and a disgusting person, and that he is out to make an example of me. I though, don’t know the meaning of the word quit. I am a bit of a pig too, well, pig headed that is. They raise them stubborn back on the Isle.” She smiles.

“So, I will go out there tonight and I will give it everything I have, like I always do. I may win and I may lose, but one thing I won’t be is a sacrificial lamb to Rally’s butt hurt revenge on losing a little scaffold match.” Linda pretends to cry “Oh, poor baby got a taste of his own medicine and has to run around taking it out on the world. Tonight Jackson! You’re luck is UP!” Fade as Linda glares to the camera.

[edwarddubin0604]

(Tong Fairtex is in their locker room and his brother Phantam is holding the camera phone and acting like a director as Tong is getting irritated by his brother's instructions.)

Tong Fairtex: "Will you stop sounding like an idiot and just give me my cue to do my promo?"

Phantam Fairtex: "You have to have motivation and know what you need to do."

Tong Fairtex: "I'm motivated to kick your ass if you don't stop attempting to give directions."

Phantam Fairtex: "I know how direct a scene."

Tong Fairtex: "Yeah and if you keep talking I'll make sure you don't use that cellphone ever again."

Phantam Fairtex: "Fine.....Okay....Three....Two....One.....Action."

Tong Fairtex: "You know it's funny that I was being nice to Frostbite and what do I get for being so polite to him. Now Frostbite I know you seem to a bit upset and I can understand you need a few visits from a psychiatrist to deal with your....ahem....obsession with shining inanimate objects."

Phantam Fairtex: "Good one Bro."

Tong Fairtex: "I mean if someone dangled a real gold necklace in front of you and you went berserk all because you thought that was the SWAT World Heavyweight Championship. I mean every time you see a shiny object you get all steamy and all sex crazed along with changing into a maniac."

Phantam Fairtex: "Remember the PC police have eyes brother Tong."

Tong Fairtex: "From the one who tried to pass off a chastity and garter belts for a championship belt."

Phantam Fairtex: "Okay that was stupid."

Tong Fairtex: "Now Frostbite you think you're going to just intimidate me into backing out of a match. I mean you know the reputation of Team Fairtex.
We never and I mean never ever back out of a match. We never do and we never would. That's our reputation and that's my reputation as well. Now you said you want to put me through a burning table just to get yourself a championship shot against that over stuffed and overweight and out of shape toxic waste dump who thinks he's a practical joker. Well I'm not that kind of wrestler. I'll go through fire and barbed wire tables. I'll go through a brutal war just to get that victory."

Phantam Fairtex: "Good one bruh."

Tong Fairtex: "I went through hell in a Thailand Death Match with Radu Matei and yeah I survived that match despite not winning the championship. So if I have to go through a burning table just to beat you Frostbite. I'm willing to be put through hell just to beat you for a possible tag team title shot.
Yeah it's going to be quite ugly and I know it's going to be quite painful and bloody and hardcore but that's how I like it."

Phantam Fairtex: "S...W....A...T! S....W....A....T!"

Tong Fairtex: "Will you stop that Phantam."

Phantam Fairtex: "Sorry."

Tong Fairtex: "Now before I was interrupted by my cheerleader brother interrupted. Frostbite I plan on making you earn that opportunity if there is an opportunity to face that piece of trash. Yeah you messed with Team Fairtex too with that shit you placed in our gear bags. Yeah you enjoyed embarrassing us. How would you like to try us Jackson since we never forgot your jokes too. You like to pick on women."

(He makes a challenging gesture.)

Tong Fairtex: "Yeah I want you to bring it against a wrestler close to your own size Jackson. Let's see how tough you really are then. The same goes to you Frostbite andI will be quite serious coming in this match. I will be ready for this match and I will come out with the victory and you and Armand aregoing to face us in a tag team championship match. We will regain what we never truly lost to the Society of New Breed bastards."

Phantam Fairtex: "Excellent reference bro."

Tong Fairtex: "Even if I lose Frostbite I'm going to take you down and out and we'reboth going to be in hell. You aren't going to get your shot but we're going to get our tag team title shot. It's as simple as that Frostbite because I'm going to prove I'm the best there is at what I do. So watch out for the 'Bangkok Hitman' Frostbite. I'm coming straight after you. Promo done and hit send."

Phantam Fairtex: "Got it bro."

(He sends the video.)

Phantam Fairtex: "Cut and wrap and video has been sent."

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