Anzac Cup 2021 (Show)

[SWAT Team]

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

Jeremy Tucker : Welcome! Welcome to Melbourne! Welcome to SWAT! WELCOME TO THE ANZAC CUP!!!!

Andrew Fulton : Home sweet home. And before we get to the Cup Jerry. How about our NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHMAPION? EDDIE D!! THE Big Deal!

Jeremy Tucker : He did it in Detroit! Defeating Goth and certainly IS the NEW World Champion! The whole of SWAT sends huge congratulations out to him, and also to Goth on a fine run as World Champion.

Andrew Fulton : He stepped UP! Took the ball and ran with it, he will be back with a vengeance after that loss, you can guarantee that Jerry, but not tonight, tonight is for the Anzac Cup!

Jeremy Tucker : Absolutely. Let’s have a look at the brackets!



Andrew Fulton : Stacked! From top to Bottom! This year’s Cup could go to almost any team here!

Jeremy Tucker : This is the 5th Annual Anzac Cup.  A tournament named in the honor of the Anzac's and their tradition of Teamwork.  We salute them and dedicate this tourney to them and their memory.  Armand and Frostbite as the reigning Tag Champs are the favorites with the bookies, but it’s an open field.

Andrew Fulton : They are one of my tips. Where’s the new champ Eddie? Who’s he got?

Jeremy Tucker : One of? He’s with Joanne Canelli and they have Linda and Blaze in the first round.

Andrew Fulton : Poor poor sweet Blaze. She can’t catch a break, since standing up to the KGB they have gone out of their way to target her and I think she needs some sympathy, a shoulder to lean on, and I am here when she needs to ‘talk’.

Jeremy Tucker : You are too much. How about that barn burner round 1 match, Team Fairtex vs The Hellhounds. The Hounds embody tag team wrestling and are gods of the art and Team Fairtex carry the honour of being the Inaugural Anzac Cup winners.

Andrew Fulton : I don’t know who will win that one but whoever does could go a long way into this!

Jeremy Tucker : Coming in this year from the network we have the J Rok team of Project X …

Andrew Fulton : Booooooo!

Jeremy Tucker : (gives him ‘the look’) Mistress Discipline.

Andrew Fulton : (makes a cracking whip sound) Now that sounds more like it.

Jeremy Tucker : (groans) Also from NPW we have Jay Stevens and former Amazons Champion Kid Dynamite Nicole Anderson AND returning after last year again, Bloody Zen Romance.

Andrew Fulton : Last year they ran into K Jax and Lunchbox Larry, they were real stiff not to go over in that one.

Jeremy Tucker : We miss Lunchbox Larry.

Andrew Fulton : Yes, we do miss him. Who they got this year on them brackets?

Jeremy Tucker : Donzig and Godfrey.

Andrew Fulton : Wowee. Last match of the first round, whoever wins both will have had the most time to prepare I guess.

Jeremy Tucker : Alright, lets get moving on this, and hear from these entrants all vying for the Cup! Then, our first match Bear-O-Dactyl and the clowns hooking up!

Andrew Fulton : Bring_it_on!

[edwarddubin0604]

(Tong Fairtex is in the locker room preparing for the first round of the Anzac Cup. He continues to warm up as the door opens expecting his brother Phantam but a sour look appears on his face as Warren W. Webber enters the locker room.)

Warren W. Webber: "What's wrong."

Tong Fairtex: "I'm looking at the problem."

Warren W. Webber: "Where?"

Tong Fairtex: "I said I'm looking at the problem."

(Warren W. Webber looks around and then to Tong who is glaring at him.)

Warren W. Webber: "Why am I a problem."

Tong Fairtex: "You know why Warren."

Warren W. Webber: "No I don't know."

Tong Fairtex: "Well let me enlighten you Warren. Every time you interview Team Fairtex we always lose and being this is The Anzac Cup we have no intention of losing. So give me your microphone and I'll takeover from here."

Warren W. Webber: "You can't just interview yourself."

Tong Fairtex: "Try me."

(Tong takes the microphone from Warren W. Webber and motions him out of the camera range.)

Tong Fairtex: "'Now to start Tong what do you think of your first round opponents The Hell Hounds.....'"

(Warren starts to say something but Tong gives him a warning signal.)

Tong Fairtex: "Well let me tell you Tong Fairtex. Team Fairtex is primed and ready for any tag team even for the brutality of The Hell Hounds. Yeah we know The Hell Hounds are ultimate brutality and we know that loudmouth Reverend Cornelius Marsh is going to interfere in our business and supply his team with everything from weapons to bad sermons. Well Reverend spew all the biblical trash you want but in the end your team is going to be eating your words."

(Warren tries to interject but Tong continues to warn him off.)

Tong Fairtex: "'But Tong Reverend Cornelius Marsh has every intention to trash your good name along with his wife.' Well Reverend run your mouth all you want and so can that airheaded idiot. We're going to be motivated and we're going to be more determined to kick The Hell Hounds asses. It won't be like those two idiots Rally Jackson and that whatever he is El Combatelorean who are going to lose anyway. Team Fairtex is going to be show those two idiots what real tag team wrestling is."

(Warren W. Webber tries to talk but Tong gives him a lock and throwaway the key gesture which Warren does.)

Tong Fairtex: "Now we have this sore spot for The Revenants and be assured we'll come for you. 'Why would you have a problem with The Revenants who are the most decorated team in the XHF.' Well it's obvious since we want to even the score for them beating us last month. That's right if we meet Team Fairtex will beat you if we meet in any of the rounds and we'll show you why we're a real tag team machine."

(Warren W. Webber wants to ask a question only for Tong to give him a zip it gesture.)

Tong Fairtex: "'Who else do you want to face in this prestigious tournament.' Well let me tell you we want to face those two pieces of trash Armand von Krauss and Frostbite and we intend to beat them. They cheated us out of a victory and we intend to collect by depriving them of an Anzac Cup victory."

(Warren wants to talk but thinks the better of it.)

Tong Fairtex: "'Shouldn't you fear them because they are the most intimidating team in SWAT' Well the answer is no way are we scared of those two overrated jerks and Team Fairtex shall defeat them if we meet in any of the rounds."

(Warren remains silent taking the previous hints.)

Tong Fairtex: "'Now one last question before I leave you to your business.' Okay what else do you need to know. 'Are you looking ahead of The Hell Hounds.' We don't look ahead of past anyone in any match whether in singles, tag and six-man matches. We never do that and we will never do that because that isn't our style. That isn't how we were taught and that's how we go about our business."

(He looks at Warren who holds his hands up.)

Tong Fairtex: "'You have any last minute things to say about your opponents.' Yeah I have some other things to say about our opponents. Tonight The Hell Hounds, Psycho and Cerberus, are tough but they aren't a true tag team wresting machine like Team Fairtex. The reverend Cornelius Marsh can brag and bark until he can find a fireplug to go to the bathroom. He can also walk his Hell Hounds to the nearest fireplugs or better yet a park to go to the bathroom in. Well after tonight Team Fairtex is going to show why we deserve to earn our second Anzac Cup in two years. Ask yourself where the previous champs are. Society of the New Breed are nowhere amongst the winners haven't been seen since in this and who's been in this best of the best tournament. Yeah we've been in every Anzac Cup Tournament since it returned at the same time we returned to SWAT."

(Warren remains silent.)

Tong Fairtex: "So tonight Team Fairtex is going to beat The Hell Hounds on our way to winning the tournament. Like I said we're going to prove why we're a well oiled wrestling machine. Tonight is our night and Team Fairtex will be the winners of this tournament again. Interview over and back to you."

(Tong Fairtex returns the microphone and leaves.)

Warren W. Webber: "Well that was quite interesting. Back to you guys."

(The scene slowly fades to black.)

[Lucky Linda]

”Who’s a busy girl then?” asks Lucky Linda La Fey. She is out the front of the Eastern State Penitentiary. Wearing a ’Wanna get Lucky’ t shirt.

“First off, I have to walk into this prison and together with the Girls team, hook it up with the best the XHF has to offer.” Linda smiles. “Then, then Blaze and I fly over to Melbourne and take on the the best the XHF has to offer in the Anzac Cup.”

“You know XHF. Last year when I heard of this concept for the Call To Arms. I thought, why not an all girls team. Then, sadly, embarrassingly, my time zones got all messed up and I missed the deadline.” Linda frowns sadly. “That hurt me inside. Here I was gathering a team to enter, and all these great team mates jumping in with me, and I was late to the party.” Linda sighs.

“You know what they say though, better late than never.” Linda chirps up. “So I manned up and sent in a late promotional, knowing it wouldn’t count and still thought to at least try/” Linda gives an uncomfortable smile to the camera. “Evil Zoran got the laugh that night, then, I got the last laugh and I sent him packing from SWAT! That’s how it goes in this world, you lose some, then, you win the BIG ONE!”

“But that was then.” Linda looks at her watch. “This is now.”

“Now.” Linda looks determined. “Now I have an even BETTER TEAM!”

“Blaze Fn Freya!” Linda smiles happily. “THE most over wrestler in the facebook world. She digs our stuff is SWAT and wrestles with us out of her comfort zone because she knows hard work, and GOOD work and she respects that work ethic we bring, each and every show.” Linda switches to camera two. “I respect that and her! I couldn’t wish for a better tag team partner for the Anzac Cup. Or for the Call to Arms.”

“Last year Radu and I made the final. This year Blaze and I will one up that and go all the way, I feel it and see it.” Linda changes back to camera 1. “I was meant to team in the Cup with The Founder” Linda swallows. “Then, he goes and jumps back in the KGB with them other smelly stinking Bandits.”

Linda holds her finger and thumb over her nose. “Pee Yew!” Linda switches back to camera 2. “Sure I still support Paul and stand by him, but I can’t myself team with them, not now not ever.”

“And we have Eddie and Canelli in the first round?” Linda shakes her head. “Talk about smelly, something in that bracketing stinks.” Linda stands straighter, resolute “He may be the new World Champion, and I am very happy for him to be so. Joanne may be about to tangle with Isabel Rios for the Amazons Championship. But Blaze an I. Our resumes are pretty stacked too.” Linda grins. “I don’t need to list all of our accomplishments, the world knows what we have done. Joanne has her work in front of her, first with Blaze and I and then, then she has to get the job done against my Call To Arms partner, Isabel Rios.”

“Rios is a STAR” Linda rolls her neck “She has set the whole network on fire and I must admit. I am a fan and couldn’t be happier to be teaming with her in that prison behind me,”

“This place is haunted I hear.” Linda motions to the prison. “I have lived with ghosts my whole life.”

We flash back to see a war zone in Belfast. Linda is a youth, maybe 6 years old and there are explosions and concrete and dust flying, an elderly lady dives at young Linda and pushes her across the street and then there is a massive explosion and dust covers everything, it clears and Linda’s Gran is lying where Linda was and not moving, young Linda runs to her Gran and cradles her head in her arms. Linda’s Gran smiles at young Linda with all the love in the world and then she shimmers blue and the blue shimmers into young Linda, the luck that is.

“I have lived with this ghost my whole life. I received the greatest gift for the greatest self-sacrifice.” A tear rolls down Linda’s cheek. “It drives me each and every day. I take this into this prison. I thank the best of the best of the women in XHF to form this team with me. Blaze Freya. Isabel Rios. Olympia. And Mistress Discipline.”

Linda wipes the tear away, her eyes now clear. “A better team I could not ask for. As for our opponents, I am sure you all will be wanting to stake your claim, bring it I say. This is how we want it.”

“Fight until you can not fight any more!” Roars Linda. “AND THEN FIGHT SOME MORE!”

[Oh-Oh]

After what was deemed a roos by the wrestling media in regards to Osland's 'Open Challenge', our hero left the arena and flew back home to get some much needed downtime before the twenty hour flight from Miami to Australia. The feedback that Osland is receiving is mostly negative, as he endangered the health and safety of men that had no business being inside of the ring with him, and Osland certainly took liberties with them. True to form, it was merely a means of creating waves with the assumption that news outlets would pick up the story. Good or Bad, whether the desired outcome is to follow remains to be seen.

In the meantime, The Anzac Cup is upon us, and this was the type of event that Osland had been waiting for. For those who have followed his career, they would remember that Osland broke into the Midwestern Territory of the North American Wrestling Council alongside of the 'The Baby Bull' Brinley Bishop, and the duo was supposed to run roughshod over the tag team division. However an opportunity to turn his back on the man he broke into the business with was presented to him, and the rest is history. Osland would go on to win the North American Championship under nefarious means, and so began his successful singles career.

But, there was something about the art of tag team wrestling that a grappler like Oxford was drawn to. Ever the thinking mans wrestler, Oxford has always felt that should he find a tag team partner who was his equal, that they would be able to dominate. When Paul Soutter put Osland and Keith Williams together in a tag team match nearly six months ago, everything fell into place. Perhaps the 'Mad Dog' saw something in the two of them that they couldn't see in themselves.

Fast forward to the present day, and it's clear that The ReVenants are a legitimate threat to hoist the Anzac Cup this year.

~_~

It's no secret that our hero spends his day's off at in condo on the shores of Miami Beach. This time of year, even with the pandemic being what it is - the place is jumping with activity. if you want to find Oxford Osland, all you need to do is follow the action and he's liable to turn up. Today, we find Oxford and his underling Cape Breton Chad having a conversation in the parking garage of his condo building.

Osland: "If there is a bigger star in SWAT, I'd like for you to point him out to me. Even when I'm indirectly involved with someone's career, they flourish and they have me to thank. Look no further than Eddie D. Our friend Eddie was down on his luck, looking for advice. Who comes to the rescue? Yours Truly."

Chad: "Are you sure it's wise to talk about Eddie? He's liable to..."

Osland: "Liable to what? Give me a big bear hug? Do you honestly think that big oaf would've been able to get it together mentally without the advice of yours truly?"

Chad: "I guess you're right."

Osland: "Of course I'm right. The next time I see Eddie I'll be expecting him to dedicate his SWAT World Title victory to me. We really broke through some of his insecurities, and I was able to help alter his mindset by tweaking a few subtle mistakes he was making. I couldn't be prouder. It was almost as if I was right there with him as he was celebrating his victory. That's what I do Chad, I'm a healer and a giver... I take my valuable time and donate it to others in need."

Chad: "Well since you put it that way, maybe you've earned yourself a new friend."

Osland: "Follower Chad, a new follower..."

[There is a moment of silence where Chad is digesting everything. That doesn't stop Osland from continuing to pat himself on the back.]

Osland: "The SWAT Television Championship is the most valuable championship in the company, and that makes me the number one man. It's all about who's doing what - and I'm the guy who's on the tip of everyone's tongue. I'm the one turning in highlight of the night type performances on a weekly basis. I'm the guy who's set to take the Television Championship to Hollywood and beyond. You heard what the boss man had to say recently, didn't you?"

Chad: "What do you mean?"

Osland: "The Mad Dog himself told the wrestling world that SWAT is bigger and better than it was a year ago when he was busy placating to the premadonna's of this industry. The type of exodus that would cripple most organizations was actually a blessing in disguise. Not only is SWAT better now due to the addition by subtraction - they also signed yours truly and Keith Williams. The ReVenants are the one's who turn heads and get people talking. We dominate both inside of the ring and outside. Trust me when I tell you, I'm the newcomer who's elevating the business to new heights, and doing so in a way that benefits everyone. Whether it's handing out advice, or encouraging my peers to be the best versions of themselves -- The SWAT Television Championship has become the most sought after championship on the entire network."

Chad: "That's right Ox, you did that! You're the man bro."

Osland: "Tell me something I don't already know."

[...]


"There you are."



[Osland and Chad turn around, and there she is.]

[Dangerous Donna.]

[Chad's jaw drops, and Osland elbows him in the ribs since he's making this so awkward.]

Donna: "The clerk at the front desk said I could find you here."

[Osland appears to be at a loss for words. Donna continues to approach and brushes past Chad like he's not even there.]

Osland: "Are you stalking me?"

[Quite the opposite really, but it's a cheeky way to begin the exchange now isn't it.]

Donna: "I've taken a liking to your city. Ever since you set me up down here a month ago. I decided to stick around."

Osland: "For business or for pleasure?"

Donna: "A little bit of both."

Osland: "What brings you here?"

Donna: "I heard you were leaving town for a little while, so I thought I would come by to see you off."

Osland: "You're keeping tabs on me?"

Donna: "Maybe..."

[Chad is still drooling in the background.]

Osland: "I'm all but out of here for the next three weeks. I'll be half way across the world making history."

Donna: "My schedule is wide open."

[Osland smirks before turning to Chad.]

Osland: (Whispering) "Give me your guest pass."

[Based on Chad's reaction he's heartbroken. Osland had promised him that he could come along on this trip to Australia and be his personal guest backstage. But with Donna finally making an appearance, it seems as though Chad has been instantly demoted. After a stern look from Osland, Chad ponies up the pass.]

Chad: "Have a great time guys."

Donna: "That's real sweet of you, Chad."

[Chad blushes.]

Osland: "You're going to need this. We'll buy your plane ticket at the airport."

[Donna walks towards a sleek mercedes C300 that's parked in a guest spot. She opens the trunk and takes out a suitcase. She puts it on the pavement, and pulls it towards Osland.]

Donna: "Let's get out of here."

[Osland doesn't hesitate, and opens the passenger door for Donna. He takes her luggage and tosses it in the backseat. Osland walks around to the other side of the vehicle and has a word with Chad.]

Osland: "Way to take one for the team, sport."

Chad: "Go on and win this thing."

Osland: "It's showtime."

[Osland raises his eye brow before exchanging a dap with Chad. Osland hops in the front seat, starts the engine and peels out of the parking garage.]

[Australia, here we come.]

[Cut.]
 

[SinclairGodfrey]

Inside a blackened room in the bowels of the arena, darkness gathered. They stood in silent rows, draped in shadows, wearing the skull masks that marked their allegiance. They were clearly fans, young and old, small or tall, those towards the front were children. But they had come together in this place of shadows, and Sinclair Godfrey stood before them. She was wearing her ring gear beneath her long flowing coat, and she lifted the back of the coat as she paced slowly before letting it fall once more as she nodded to the group. As though she were inspecting them, and then she lifted a hand as she spoke.

'Tonight, in Melbourne, Australia! We have gathered! Tonight, we will show them all our strength!' Sinclair intoned, her voice echoing as she turned on her heel. Pacing back and forth as her lips drew back in a smirk. 'Tonight, the stars of XHF have gathered! And tonight, they will learn that there is no escape from Oblivion! That there is no escape from the inevitable! Tonight, they will pay for their sins!'

The masked crowd nodded slowly, clearly approving as Sinclair paused in her pacing. 

'They think they will stop us, but we will take what we want from them! We will have the Anzac Cup! They will learn to fear us!' Sinclair nodded in time with the skull masked fans, and she quirked her lips into a smile. Rolling her shoulders before she continued. 'You have gathered among them, unseen and waiting. But tonight, they will know you are there! The best and brightest in the XHF, the brave and great of SWAT? They think they are going to deny us from what we want! From what we demand, but in the end all of their plans will fall to nothing! All of their bravado will prove fruitless! The Anzac Cup will be the first thing that we take from them!'

The crowd murmured restlessly, heads lifting as Sinclair stood before them. Her eyes flashed angrily, and she turned to gesture behind her. And you could see Donzig sitting on the same battered and faded looking antique wingback chair from NPW. His leg sprawled across the cracked leather of the arm of the chair. He was silent, staring at the crowd and Sinclair from beneath the leather hood he wore. The mask gleamed, and he tilted his head as Sinclair lifted her hands again before she continued. 

'They think we will be brushed aside, they think we will be denied, but tonight we teach them the meaning of fear! They will see us!' Sinclair shouted, and the masked crowd threw their fists into the air screaming back at her. And the sound echoed in the empty darkness, and then she drew back with a slow nod before glancing at Donzig. He said nothing, and then he shoved to his feet.

Donzig shoved back his hood, and then his hand closed on the cold surface of the mask. He pulled it off, eyes flashing as his lips twisted into his customary scowl before he handed the mask off to Sinclair. And he grunted, eyes narrowed as he looked at the masked crowd as Sinclair settled onto the chair. Her legs crossing absently as she cradled the mask, smirking as Donzig growled. 'No weapon formed against us shall prosper. Every tongue that shall rise against us in judgment? We shall condemn. Tonight, war walks in Melbourne! Tonight, we will have what we got coming, and the rest?'

Donzig paused, head tilting as he hissed before he spat the words. 'We are taking! Melbourne, Australia! Darkness is here! And the Darkness has come for the Anzac Cup!'

[Union Jack]

In a conspicuously quiet backstage corridor, Union Jack suddenly bursts through an open firedoor and into the arena. He staggers, pivots on one foot and urgently slams the door closed behind him. Panting hard he doubles over, dropping his duffel bag to the floor before slowly righting himself to a vertical, taking a huge deep breath of the conditioned air as he stands.

“HooooWeee that's fuckin' HOT!” With a smooth but exaggerated motion, he drags an arm arm over his masked forehead and huffs in exhaustion. “This country is bloody RIDICULOUS! No wonder we used to send our criminals here; just getting off the fucking plane must have been punishment enough!” He shakes his head “Those poor bastards.”

Jack snatches an Anzac Cup poster from the wall and begins desperately fanning himself. He turns to look at his best friend and Tag Team partner Pequeño Dinosaurio who is somehow impressively conveying his confusion all across his masked face.

“Mi Amigo, it cant be more than fourteen degrees Celsius today.” Dinosaurio tugs on his jacket as if to prove a point “It's even supposed to rain!”

“FOURTEEN DEGREE'S?!” Jack barks in disgust. “How the pissing hell are we supposed to work in these condition's?”

“What condition's?” Dinosaurio asks genuinely perplexed.

“What don't you get Lad?! I'm British! Do you know what that means?!” Jack flaps his hands with an exasperated gesture. “It means pasty skin, bad teeth, an underfunded educational system, gray skies and a complicated relationship with the sun which ranges from irrational fear to unwavering adoration and back again! I'm telling ya, back home you'd have seen some cunt staggering around near the off license with his shirt off and a lukewarm can of Fosters in his hand by Ten AM on a day like this! ”

“Come on, it cant be that bad!” Dinosaurio laughs.

“... Oh and lets not forget the occasional trip to Essex to find some inebriated party girl and the inevitable game of dodge the Child Support demands that starts nine months later!” Jack shakes his head and laughs “Ah Tammy, you'll never track me down; I fucking love this mask!”

Dinosaurio laughs at the absurdity of his friend, never quite sure if the animated Brit is being serious or simply saying the first thing which comes to his mind.

“Jack, there's obviously more to this than the weather... What's going on?!”

Jack stands in silence for a moment or two, staring at his friend. Finally, he leans against a wall and hangs his head.

“You know how I get in these high pressure situations.” Jack sighs “Remember that tournament in Mexico where I made it all the way to the semi finals, then got eliminated because I choked? Something like that always happens!”

“Jack, you didn't choke...” Dinosaurio says uncertainly “You went out to the ring eating a Taco and told the referee that the sour cream made it taste like his wife's vagina after you had 'switched from her stink, to her pink'. He punched you in the throat and you were disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct.”

“Correction...” Jack says, holding up a finger to stop his partner. “He punched me in the throat, I choked on the Taco and THEN I was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct!”

Jack and Dinosaurio laugh and Jack pats his friend on the shoulder.

“I'm just freaking out.” Jack speaks with an ill fitting, almost unrecognizable serious tone to his voice “Last week was my first loss since getting here and there's so much more pressure this time out. I know how much this shit means to you... An international stage, an influential tournament, a prestigious prize... the chance to prove yourself to your ol' man... I'm just worried I'll do something stupid and fuck the whole thing up.”

“Amigo, I'll be out there with you. you'll be fine.” Dinosaurio claps a hand on Jacks shoulder and smiles warmly. “We'll be fine.”

Jack shakes his head solemnly “You say that now... But I really wanna make those cunts suck balls.” Jack laughs and hoists the duffel bag back onto his shoulder. “Come on, let's get this little arsehole to the locker-room, he's been stuck in here since we left America.”

Union Jack and Pequeño Dinosaurio head off down the corridor looking for their locker-room as the bag hanging across Jack's shoulder starts to wiggle uncomfortably.

[edwarddubin0604]

(The tron has scrambling lines an the ringsiders are expecting to see Psychotic Goth on the screen but instead they see a mysterious woman in silhouette walking across what looks like a laser lit walkway over a giant chasm. The figure is revealed as Commandrix who stops just short of the screen.)

Commandrix: "You know Sinclair if I didn't know better you seem to be trying to deny the fact that your NPW tag team
Donkee got a fluke victory against The Dark Stars. Yet you keep forgetting that in last month's battle royal your team was embarrassed while The Dark Stars have an opportunity to win back their tag team championships."

(Se leans into the camera.)

Commandrix: "Now you are wondering why The Dark Stars aren't in this prestigious tournament. The reason is we plan on doing it on our time and when we want to. However, we plan on watching you and Donzig make Donkee 2.0 just like your NPW's tag team name Donkee's. Let's see if you can actually go farther than your NPW iteration. Imagine you and Donzig actually winning The Anzac Cup.
How embarrassing to SWAT will that be Sinclair. However, I'll leave you to your fun and see your embarrassment when you lose to a real tag team Like say The Revenants but I'll leave you to think about it though I suspect your answer will be the same thing. I'll be watching your shame from the comfort of our home."

(She smiles.)

Commandrix: "Good luck but then again you could care less about that."

(The screen goes back to normal as the scene slowly fades to black.)

[Kyle]

Panning upward, the camera shows Keith Williams and Oxford Osland, The ReVenants. To Keith's left is Jeff Noon, to Oxford's right is Vanessa Martinez who holds his SWAT Television Championship. Behind them is a special backdrop for the 2021 Anzac Cup featuring the trophy and the name of the tournament. Sneering from behind his recently collected clear face mask, the Ultimate Kingpin rubs his hands together.

Keith Williams: "Are we rolling?"

Offscreen the cameraman gives Keith a thumbs up and so he continues.

Keith Williams: "Good, I want you to get all of this."

Entering the shot, microphone in hand, Katie Moss is prepared to interview The ReVenants.

Katie Moss: "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome..."

Brazenly cut off by the manager of The ReVenants. I'm sorry, one of the managers. Jeff Noon rips the mic from Katie Moss and assumes ownership of it.

Jeff Noon: "The ReVenants!"

Outdoing her colleague, Vanessa grabs the microphone and does her version.

Vanessa Martinez: "THE ReVenants!!"

Fighting for control, Jeff and Vanessa grip the microphone as Noon yells into it.

Jeff Noon: "The REVENANTS!!!"

Reaching between them, Keith snatches the microphone from the duo.

Keith Williams: "The 2021 Anzac Cup. Sixteen teams determined to show why they're the best and take home the coveted trophy."

Keith Williams: "There's only one problem with that..."

Keith Williams: "The ReVenants are involved."

Keith Williams: "We want the cup and we want the tag-titles! We're coming for them and there's not a damn thing any pair can do to stop us!"

Looking at his ReVenant brother, Williams raises an inquiry to Osland.

Keith Williams: "You know what I see when I look at the brackets, Double O?"

Puzzled, the SWAT Television Champion glances at the former SWAT Universal Sin Champion and leans over to speak into the microphone Keith still has possession of.

Oxford Osland: "What's that?"

Keith Williams: "A lot of solid teams, but none more talented and deserving than us."

Nodding together, The ReVenants share a smile as they both believe they're the best.

Keith Williams: "Out of everyone from the other bracket that we could potentially face in the finals, I'm most looking forward to wrestling Armand and Frosbite. If it is our two groups who clash, it'll resolve more than one dispute with the finish. When we beat The KGB, we'll solidify The ReVenants as being better and that we are the next SWAT World Tag Team Champions. Your reign has been legendary, that can't be denied, but all legends have their end."

Keith Williams: "On our side of the tournament, in the first round, Ox and I have the displeasure of facing Rally Jackson and his gag of a partner. He's so hilarious; he's a ribber! Cool? The only reason I'm considering him a threat is because of his status as a former world champion. But even that is called into question when you recall that he was beat by Psychotic Goth AND El Combatiente. The same man that he's chosen to target with his sham of an ally. I'm sure when your ribbing gimmick gets old, Rally, someone else can toss you an idea to revitalize your sputtering career."

Keith Williams: "What's the matter? Was Jonnie not available? Is he brainstorming another ridiculous nickname and can't commit? It must be tough making a mockery of yourself in every promotion you join."

Keith Williams: "Where's Tuxedo Mask? He sort of faded away without any hint of a goodbye. Hopefully no allegations have surfaced about him and young girls. Tuxedo better erase any audio of him asking where they go to school. He never, allegedly, expressed knowing tricks to teach them with his "cane". That'd surely be more of a nightmare than a dream for the Society of the New Breed. If it is still a thing. I guess we'll always have Tux's performance in the Rumble to remember him by. Barely being in the ring and getting tossed out by a schmuck like Eric Dane."

A poor simile to use after what was just expressed, Keith and Osland fake shocked reactions, then laugh wildly like little school girls.

Keith Williams: "A few years can make all the difference in sorting the wheat from the chaff. 2017, Team Fairtex were crowned the Anzac Cup winner. 2018, Better Than Sex. 2019, Chianti. 2020, The Stylistics. One team remains, Tong and Phantam Fairtex. We've beat them and we'll beat them again if necessary. You want your win back, boys? Come and get it. Let that be the motivation you need to meet us in the finals. We're rooting for ya, even if we both know the odds are stacked against you."

His brow furrowed, Oxford leans over and makes it clear who he supports.

Oxford Osland: "I'm not rooting for them."

Making a face, Williams tries to steer around the embarrassing moment for Team Fairtex.

Keith Williams: "Well, I am at least! Double O is his own man and has his own mind; I won't fault him for that!"

Pointing at something off camera, Keith nudges Oxford.

Keith Williams: "You know what else I spy when I look at the brackets, Os?"

Oxford Osland: "Not a clue, bud."

Keith Williams: "Two teams needing an extra helping of ass whooping."

Oxford Osland: "Which ones?"

Keith Williams: "You know."

Taking a second to think on it, Osland realizes who Williams is referencing.

Oxford Osland: "Oh, those!"

Confirming who it is, Keith replies instantaneously.

Keith Williams: "Yeah, those!"

The Ultimate Kingpin locks his eyes on the audience watching this, including his opponents.

Keith Williams: "Top of the Class! Mistress Discipline and Death Trap!"

Keith Williams: "Nearly eight months since our last encounter and here we are. I'm so excited that I might get the opportunity to right a wrong. At End of Days... You took a win that wasn't yours! You weren't meant to move on, Neo James Carner and I were!"

Keith Williams: "A pie match! A fucking pie match!"

Double O says what everyone's thinking.

Oxford Osland: "I like pie."

Keith Williams: "I do too, but... A goddamn pie match!"

A MOTHERFUCKING PIE MATCH!!!

Keith Williams: "That's what decided who moved on to the Tag Team Annihilator finals. Such a bright idea!"

Keith Williams: "The XHF would have to wait until December to watch a true classic, what should have been the last match to cap off the Tag Team Annihilator tournament, The ReVenants vs. The Purple Emperors."

Keith Williams: "You never pinned me. You never pinned Neo. I've got a new companion this time and you aren't pinning either of us. The ReVenants aren't accepting any place except first. Move past The Indian Assassins, you're getting swiftly eliminated by Double O and myself. We're not chickenshits. We don't duck and run at the drop of a banana."

Making sure Keith's aware of a plot hole, Osland responds.

Oxford Osland: "You mentioned two teams."

Keith Williams: "I'm getting to the second..."

Sighing, KW lightly fogs up his face guard as he keeps talking.

Keith Williams: "Devon. D'Andre. And..."

Keith Williams: "Well, I'd say your tag-team partner's name, but it doesn't matter. I'm only interested in YOU!"

Keith Williams: "You did it! You took MY title!"

Keith Williams: "How do you feel? Is the burden getting heavier? It will, until you sink beneath it."

Keith Williams: "Hell will freeze over before I let you steal a title AND The ReVenants being rightfully awarded the Anzac Cup. I promise you that, Devon."

Keith Williams: "Check your calendar, nothing has changed. 2021 still is and will remain the year of The ReVenants. Keith Williams and Oxford Osland aren't taking a L."

The Artist Formerly Known For Sleaze gives the SWAT Television Champion a friendly chop across the chest.

Keith Williams: "Unbelievable, are you ready to take this whole thing?"

Chopping Keith with a chop of his own, Osland answers.

Oxford Osland: "Kingpin, you know I am."

The Ultimate Kingpin surrenders the microphone back to Katie Moss as The ReVenants make their exit. Vanessa and Jeff linger as they glare at each other.

Katie Moss: "Tonight is certain to be full of action and every team participating is betting on themselves to win! What you've just heard is only one set of opinions from The..."

Needing the last word, Noon and Martinez brawl with Katie again for the mic as they yell the name of their team.

Vanessa Martinez: "The ReVenants!"

Jeff Noon: "THE ReVenants!!"

Vanessa Martinez: "The REVENANTS!!!"

[Tetsuo Kijada]

Andrew Fulton: I’m like the look of this show. The Anzac tag thing is going to be great for SWAT. There are some great teams competing tonight.

Jeremy Tucker: This is true but I’m looking at the card and see that the Hawaiian luchador Kaupena Yoon is team with Devon D’Andre which seems a bit random.

Andrew Fulton: I know there are some random elements to the show but that is what makes it so great.

Jeremy Tucker: That is true. Oh, I am being told that Kaupena recorded something earlier from the ring to be shown tonight.

Andrew Fulton: Does he want to address the fans? He could have come out here now and did his talking.

The scene opens completely dark except for a single ray of light coming down towards the ring. Kaupena sits in the deserted arena, long before everyone has arrived, even his own companions. Kaupena sits on a metal chair in the middle of the ring as a single camera remains, set-up by himself, to record this interview in the dimly lit arena. He looks down at the mat for a long, long time before he raises his masked face. He is dressed in his white "Night Marcher" T-shirt and black shorts. His mask seems to highlight the eeriness of the black contact lenses.

Kaupena Yoon: A victory. This is that what myself and my tag partner for the night are expecting, right Devon? We may be a random team but I’ve been looking up your stuff online and you’ve got enough talent to hang with the Night Marcher.

His voice rings loudly, echoing throughout the arena. He holds his head for a few moments, until raising it again to focus on the camera.

Kaupena Yoon: Jay Stevens and ‘Kid Dynamite’ Nicole Anderson. I will admit that on paper you're a couple of very worthy adversaries, and hell, anywhere else, you'd deserve to win this tournament but not tonight guys. But this is SWAT, and Kaupena and Devon are the team who shall take the whole of this tournament to the next level. Hell, more than that, we will win this whole thing.

Kaupena stands and mysteriously snaps his fingers, causing the ring ropes and apron to light on fire, almost supernaturally. He paces around his chair.

Kaupena Yoon: I will make sure that none of my family members get involved.... But know this, my friends... If Kaupena hit’s the Justicia demoníaco, what am I saying?? WHEN I hit the Justicia demoníaco on either of you, and the referee counts 1, 2, 3....and he raises my hand just remember the Night Marcher warned you it was coming!!!

He shakes his head.

Kaupena Yoon: Devon, I'm turning up the heat for this one. I've done my homework, I've watched the footage. Not just their footage, and frankly I never, EVER wanted to see some of that footage. But back on subject, I've watched every SWAT show over and over again over the last week. Understand this; Devon... not a single opponent EVER has had the interest of the Night Marcher. EVER. I'd say that alone doesn't give our opponents a great chances. Then add in my skill and experience. Man, they're screwed. Face it.

He looks around.

Kaupena Yoon: There is no preventing it Devon. Someone is walking out of this tournament the winners, and we’re it. We'll kick everyone’s ass so bad that they'll be lucky to still have a career.

Kaupena visibly pauses, switching gears mentally.

Kaupena Yoon: The veterans of this company have been asking for an absolute beating since day one, and now the first on my list finally gets it. Okay I’ve had trouble with other veterans in the past but I thought that was behind us man? Very true. Devon, you have no blood lust, no violent nature, not a hard-core drop of blood within your body. You don't belong in this match, but I'll be glad to have you as a partner against those two. But Devon, you've never had to fight flames of such strength as the ones within me. I'll give you a tip: the only way to fight fire is with fire.

Kaupena stands and grabs the chair. The flames around the ring flare up ever higher as Kaupena’s emotions get the best of him. He chucks the chair through the wall of flame, and it alights on its way through until it finally hits the ground in the stands.

Kaupena Yoon: Because there is only one way to defeat us Devon, now that I've found my true fiery nature. You must join the flames, dive in, and play the game MY way. For this match shall be like no other, we shall come out of this match, no scratch that. We will come out of this tournament with our arms raised high.

He caresses the side of his mask.

Kaupena Yoon: I'll see you in a bit, when you will be hit with the Justicia demoníaco. Then, and only then, will you realize why you should have never forgotten about the Night Marcher, KAUPENA YOON!!!!!

Kaupena bows his head, and the flames extinguish immediately. There once again is only dim light, fogged by smoke from the flames on the ring. The smoke slowly clears, but Kaupena is long gone as the scene fades to the ring announcers.

[Donzig]

A cold light glows from somewhere in the darkened room, mist and steam swirling around as Donzig steps from the shadows. He scowls at the camera, a hand lifting to rake through his wild tangle of his beard. And he shrugged his shoulders, slowly settling onto a rusted and stained pipe that ran through the room in the bowels of the arena. And he shook his head, snorting before he spoke. 'They say that Australia is over run with creatures that will kill you, animals so dangerous that they are a threat to human life. Even a kangaroo, can disembowel a man with a kick. That there are jellyfish that have a sting so painful it can cause a heart attack within minutes!' Donzig paused, and then he waved a hand before he continued. 'The Eastern Brown Snake whose bite is initially painless, yet causes paralysis and uncontrollable bleeding!'

Donzig grunted to himself, absently counting off on his fingers. 'Sharks. Crocodiles. Octupuses. Spiders. And more snakes than you can count.'

He rolled his shoulders, leaning forward as his hands folded between his knees as he glared at the camera. 'Fuck, to be honest you can be killed by a swarm of bees. Just fucking honey bees, which by the way are not native to Australia.'

Donzig slid to his feet, starting to pace as he walked back and forth in that boiler room. And he waved a hand, fingers twisting as he growled to himself. 'Now I would like to compare all of these other teams to those animals! I would like to tell you that I am taking my life in my hands as surely as I would if I walked into the Outback when I go down to that ring! That every team is a pack of vicious killer animals that could kill you with a mere touch, eh?'

Donzig snapped his fingers, glaring at the camera before he sneered. A hand lifting to tug at his beard, then he shrugged arms out before they fell again. 'But Australia has another problem! A fucking plague of vermin! Of fucking pests! That spoil and pollute everything they fucking touch! That spread diseases, and filth, and fill the air with the stench of their rotting carcasses! And this tournement, eh? It has alot of those too, yeah? A fucking lot!'

He dropped back down on that massive pipe, shaking his head before his fingers reached up to claw at his beard. Fingers dragging through it as he nodded to himself before turning back to the camera, scowling as he shrugged again. 'Where do I start? Where do I begin? Let's start with Bloody Zen Romance! Much like the bees you aren't native to SWAT! You're an invasive species, and I intend to cut you off at the knees! Bloody Zen Romance, so you're covered in blood? Yet Calm? And a romance? Interesting. But lucky for you, Star Fox that I am going to make sure you're bloody! And I am not sure how calm you will be, but me? I'm calm like a bomb.'

Donzig growled to himself, his hands slowly grinding and twisting together as he leaned forward. Head tilting to glare at the camera, and he sniffed. 'I have bad news for you two, I am going through you. You see I want that fucking Anzac Cup, but even more than that? I have business in round two with Devon D'Andre and his partner, Kaupena Yoon! Devon stuck his nose in my goddamned business, he insulted me! Mocked me! He thinks he is past me? He thinks he won that title so he can sit there and act like he is better than me?'

Donzig paused, a hand lifting to rest on his chest before he fairly sprang to his feet. And he slammed a fist against that pipe, shaking his head. 'No! I don't fucking think so! So sorry for you, Bloody Everything Zen? It's not your fucking day, you're just the unlucky sons of bitches in my way! You are standing between me and my pound of flesh, and that? Is no place you want to be! So I guess I am going to have to send you back to wherever you came with some participation prizes! Because that cup is coming home with me! It's fucking mine!'

Donzig glared at the camera, taking a deep breath as his voice had risen to a near scream. Fingers lifted to tug at his beard, dragging through it before he waved hand angrily. 'Get ready, boys. You're meat, and the most deadly creature in Australia? Is Motherfucking Donzig!'

[thejerseydevildiva]

Act 1: KGB Will Reign Supreme

"Family will always be important. It is the one thin' that keeps me goin' and I understand that it will always come first. When you're on vacation and someone calls you drop everythin' and rush to the family's side. There is no time off, and there is only one way out... Death!"

 The scene opens on the beautiful city of New York. The nightlife had started to come back to life, and starting to draw in the crowds once again. The camera moves over the city and soon comes to a stop on a club with a line that started at the door and wound itself around the corner and down the block. The sound of music could be heard faintly as the doors opens and closes. The camera moves to the interior where we see a live band on the stage, and a throng of bodies on the dance floor. The bar tender is a young woman with silver hair trimmed to a pixie cut, with what could be deep green eyes. She makes her way along the bar moving quickly never stopping for a long period of time. The camera moves to the upper floors, where we see a row of doors, and soon comes to a set of double doors, that are open slightly. The sound of laughter is heard coming from within. We see Joanne sitting with Suit. She pours him a glass of a dark liquid, before she sits down with a glass of what appeared to be a dark red.

Joanne: So I told him that if he didn't agree I would shove his head up his ass!

Suit: It doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Joanne: It's hard to run a family at times, and keep everythin' else goin' at the same time you know...

Suit nods as he leans back in the high backed leather chair.

Suit: I don't know how you do it. I mean you have your own family, in meetings most of the time, run a city, and still get into the ring full time.

Joanne smiles showing one of her upper fangs.

Joanne: Sometimes I have others handle my business for me. Rude is my second... He takes care of thin's when I can't. Uh Oh... He's my accountant and husband...

Suit looks over at her with a raised eyebrow.

Suit: You? The big bad don married?

Joanne nods.

Joanne: Yeah. Surprisin' isn't it? It kind happened... I wasn't in my right mind and when I came to it had been a few months... He's sweet and takes good care of me, and one hell of a cook.

Suit: You are full of surprises.

Joanne smirks.

Joanne: Just wait until the Aztec cup...

Suit: Now you have my interest peeked.

Joanne: Think about it... I just beat the holy hell out of Linda and you took care of Freya... What chance do they really have against Eddie and myself? He's a champion, and well I'm the best Amazon this company has to offer. I know Eddie can handle himself and that last match proved it. And the match that we were in... Well Linda was beaten into the ground. This match won't be any different.

Suit: You have a plan?

Joanne: Of course I do... I always do. What they will get is not goin' to be a pleasant experience. I'll make them wish they were dead. This isn't my usual I don't give a fuck moment... This is I'm goin' all the way to the end and anyone that stands in my way will fear me in the end. Blaze isn't goin' to go away just because she lost. Linda has already run her mouth and once again all I heard was shit being spewed!

Suit: Is that anything new?

Joanne shakes her head.

Joanne: Not really. But she really thinks that she and Freya have this match won already.

Suit: But we both know who's going to win the match don't we?

Joanne: Of course we do... Eddie and I are goin' all the way. But what happens when our teams meet up at the end?

Suit: Does it matter? As long as KGB pulls out the win it doesn't matter. The KGB are the best in this business and we will control it all in the end.

His phone sounds as he sighs.

Suit: Shit.. I have to take this. I'll be back in a sec.

Joanne: Of course. The hallway is quiet enough. You should be alright.

He gets up and walks out of the room, leaving Joanne alone once again. She stares out the tinted one way window out at the dance floor below.She could feel the heart beats that were there and feel the coldness that came from the others that she couldn't read or feel.

Joanne: Blaze, Linda... Do you two even realize what you have done? What you are about to face when you step into the ring with Eddie and myself? I don't think you do.  Linda you were destroyed on the last show. Freya and you were taken through hell and back by Suit... And yet you two still insist on havin' this match. It will not end well for either one of you when all is said and done. This is goin' to be the quickest match that you will ever be in. This is the last match you two will ever be in, and I will take such great joy in destroyin' you and provin' once again that KGB are the best of the best and there is nothin' that you can do to stop us from runnin' wild and takin' what is ours.

She smiles as her eyes glow red before shifting back to their normal color.

Joanne: I just hope that you are ready for anythin' that we can throw at you, because I know Eddie and I will. See you soon and good luck, you're goin' to need it.

She laughs before taking a drink from the glass in her hand, as the scene fade to black.

[BlazeFNfreya]

"You lose some, but then you win the big one."

-There she sat on the cold concrete floor of the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dressed in a pair of Daisy Dukes and a white tank top, she looked around at the stained walls and rusty bars of the cell. She had on her brave face but the hairs on the back of her neck was standing tall as she tried to keep it together for just a few more minutes inside this creepy old place. The one and only Blackpool Bombshell is known for being fearless in the face of any living being, but who's to say only the living are present in this scene?-



"That's exactly what I've been waiting for. I thought "the big one" was my first match with Eddie D, and then I got squashed in under a few minutes... then, I thought "the big one" was my match with Mister Suit, only to be screwed over n' suffer an official loss to the leader of this group I despise. I thought "the big one" would come a lot sooner than it did but now I see I was never meant to win "the big one"... ALONE."

-Blaze's icy blue eyes filled with a fiery determination and the hairs on the back of her neck finally laid still-

"It's no secret I've been outnumbered n' overwhelmed every time I tried to stand up to these bullies, so, whereas before I might've rejected the idea of an "all girls team" n' told Lucky Linda to shove it, now I realize how much allies matter in a company like SWAT. I tried fighting a war without an army, I tried my absolute best but the truth is I'll never defeat The KGB by myself. And it just so happens they've made a shit ton more enemies than just "little ol' me" -Chuckles- They've basically shat on the entire roster by weaseling one of their own into becoming The WORLD Champion! Call me old fashioned but I'd prefer a World Champ who actually earned it rather than having one who had everything handed to them by their leader who just sits backstage pulling whatever strings he has to to ensure The KGB stays on top! Regardless of who's better, regardless of what the fans want, the man in the SUIT wants nothing besides The KGBORING to keep on doin' the same exact crap!"

-She brushed her hair out of her face and looked to the side quickly after hearing a loud bang come echoing down the hall, then she just shook her head and continued speaking to us in good faith that nothing bad would come of it-

"Knowing how evil these fuckers are, I wouldn't be surprised to find out they made a deal with the devil to have all these spirits or demons help em or whatever the FUCK keeps on BANGING down there while I'm tryin' to TALK!!!"

-The Bratty Brit shouted back down the hall at whoever, or whatever was making so much racket. Her sass far outweighing her fear of the unknown-

"I'd be surprised by nothing they do because out of all the alliances I've come across, The KGB is the most predictable, boring, cowardly bunch of CUNTS! So, yeah... you bet your ass I'm all in on the all girls team. I'm down for helping whoever I gotta help in order to build my army one soldier at a time. I wasn't able to take down Eddie D alone, because he always has an outrageous amount of help. Now he has Joanne n'I got Lucky Linda, I may have lost under screwy circumstances, but when it comes to fair fights you can ALWAYS bet on Blaze! I've worked too damn hard to just let them bury me! I ain't goin' out like that... you won't bully me outta my home federation! You won't intimidate me into not messing with The KGB like you have everyone else. I'll gather up as many people as it takes n' together we'll destroy the lot of you. Starting with Joanne and Eddie D!"

-For the first time since we tuned in, Blaze rises to her feet, placing her hands on the bars and leaning her face up to them-

"After Linda helps me take out every last member of The KGB from this Anzac Cup tourny, I'll return the favour by taking her all the way to the Call to Arms. First we prove to be the greatest team in SWAT, then we prove to be the greatest team in The XHF as a whole. And that's not tough talk, That's A Promise!!!"

-This time the banging was coming from her as she pushed and pulled on the bars like a lunatic, bringing us to a close and leaving us to wonder if the team of Blaze fuckin' Freya and Lucky Linda La Fey is really the dream team we've been wanting to see, or if it's all just wishful thinking? Stay tuned to find out! When Blaze & Linda take on The KGB in the first round of The Anzac Cup!-

[bloodiedfox]

Time is such a funny thing.

The scene would look familiar to anyone who watched last year's Anzac Cup. This small space, lit in red, housing both the man known as Bloodied Fox, and a taller figure in a metal wolf mask behind him that should logically be his tag partner and husband, Brendan Harding.

Anzac Cup 2020, fresh off of a career making performance in the XHF Rumble, I come charging in full of piss and vinegar. So secure in my sense of superiority as an AWF superstar; so full of righteousness at the thought of fighting my way through to having Zoran Sainovic in my grasp, that I could see no way my better half and I weren't winning the whole damn thing.

Fox chuckles and shakes his head.

Well, we all know what pride comes before. Not that there was any shame in losing a match as excellent as the one we had against K-JAX and Lunchbox Larry, but going out in the first round was still a humbling experience. At least it was also an educational one. Fast forward to Anzac Cup 2021 and the changes have rung out on so many levels. K-JAX and Larry are gone, which is a shame. So is Zoran, which isn't. I've held the AWF United States and Prestige titles, making me the company's only ever triple crown winner, and then added the XHF Junior Heavyweight championship to that list too.

Fox jerks a thumb back over his shoulder at Brendan.

This guy went from being my boyfriend to my fiancé to my husband, and established himself as one of the top guys in JROK with a damn impressive New Wave title run. But the most important change? My attitude. I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm not looking down on SWAT because I learned the hard way what a hell of a hotbed for talent it is. I'm not looking any further ahead than the match in front of me, because that is challenge enough.

This cooler head I've developed becomes kind of ironic when I listen who we're facing in the first round. Hello Donzig; I know you're in a rush to get to round 2 to tangle with Devon D'Andre, given you were shouting it loud enough to be heard from space, but I think it best we're properly introduced. My name is Bloodied Fox, and I'm the man who will be kicking your teeth into the first three rows tonight. See, you hit the mark dead on when you referred to us as an invasive species. We are here, we are deadly, and if you think you're getting rid of us easily...

Fox sucks air through his teeth as Brendan shakes his masked head.

The blood on the fox is seldom his own, so if you want that pound of flesh then you'd best be prepared to pay a high price for it; you and your little rich girl acolyte. You'd better hope your bomb isn't a dud, Mr Australia's Deadliest Creature, otherwise you'll get your own ego crushing life lesson...

Fox places his own entrance mask on, his voice still loud and clear as he and his partner face down the lens with their creepily implacable visages.

Don't hunt what you can't kill.

[Jay Stevens]

Inside the locker room of The Wrecking Crew, the trio watch the closing moments of the spectacle that is Kaupena Yoon on the mounted flatscreen.

“I don’t know about you guys… but I like him,” Nicole Anderson garbles through a half-filled mouth. Munching on some sort of food, “Kid Dynamite” uses her ring jacket as a bib.

“He’s an idiot. If you can decipher what any of that was about, I pity you,” Jay Stevens responds whilst tying his boots.”

“What’s not to like? There was fire and smoke and gibberish and shiny masks,” Anderson excitedly responds. “It’s awesome!”

Stevens just rolls his eyes before the smell hits him. “Hey, what are you eating?”

Anderson looks down at her food, loosely held together by aluminum foil. Jordan Neal sneers as she waives it around.

“Yeah, that,” Neal gulps, “It smells like the inside of an asshole.”

Anderson chuckles and takes a big bite. “It’s not that bad, you’re being dramatic. Did you want some?”

She waives it near his face and he pushes it away.

“Well, you’re being insensitive. It’s a kangaroo burger,” she confidently insists to her now bewildered teammates.

“I’m sorry… what?” Stevens asks, reluctantly.

“It’s… a… kangaroo… burger, local delicacy,” she slurs through her overfilled mouth, “you should get you some.”

Stevens and Neal look to one another and motion, both shaking their heads “no” until Neal shoves his shoulder into Jay.

“Okay, Nic, I’ve got something to tell you,” Jay speaks slowly, “they don’t serve kangaroo here. It’s like, a national animal and I think it’s indigenous to the country, but definitely, definitely, definitely not food.”

Confused, Anderson holds the food out at the end of her arm and furrows her brow. She shrugs and then takes another big bite. Neal and Stevens heave.

“Maaaaaann, this is the last time I buy food from some guy in the parking lot!” She exclaims. And then takes another big bite.

“You don’t even know what it is!” Jay spits back.

“Sure I do…” Kid Dynamite smiles, finishing the last bite, “It’s delicious.”

Jay and Jordan just shake their heads in disbelief, dreading what will likely be a long night filled with food poisoning and tears. And there’s still at least one match to be had.

[SinclairGodfrey]

Sinclair Godfrey was lounging in the battered wingback chair in the darkened boiler room, eyes focused on the tablet in her hands. She was clearly doing research on their possible opponents, and she was listening to a stream of the show as she went about her business. She knew that Donzig would be in a mood the longer the night dragged on, she could sense it. Tension was in the air, a thrumming ripple of chaos, Donzig loved that. He thrived on it, drank it deep like wine. And she knew that not doing her part would be a disaster, she didn't intend to fail. Her eyes widened suddenly, and her hands tightened on the tablet as Commandrix cut into the stream. 

'Unbelievable! Just unbelievable! I am going to--'

'What? You're going to what?' growled a voice, and Sinclair nearly dropped the tablet as she leapt out of the chair. Spinning around to see Donzig looming behind the chair, and he stared at her with those cold angry eyes. She hated it when he would just pop out of nowhere, everyone did. But Sinclair tried to not let it get to her, but she was tense. A hand lifted to brush back her hair, and she shook her head before she frowned.

'Do you have to do that!' she took a deep breath as his head tilted, and he shrugged. He was in already in a mood she could tell, he was forgetting to blink. She blinked at him, and he blinked in response. That was a good sign, and she waved a hand before she moved to settle back into the chair as he stared at her with a scowl. 'It is Commandrix! She's really testing me, I can't wait to kick her ass!'

Donzig was suddenly in front of her, and leaned down to let his eyes met hers. His eyes narrowed, and he hissed angrily as he leveled a finger. 'See that you fucking do, Sinclair! I want that woman broken and defeated! This business with the Dark Stars has gone on long enough! And I expect you to bloody them, and I don't care how you get it done! Just see that you fucking do!'

Sinclair nodded slowly, and Donzig drew back up to smooth his beard with a shake of his head. And Sinclair held up the tablet, pointing with a frown. 'Fox and his husband are not very happy with your comments. Is it possible you are looking past them? Maybe discounting them slightly?'

Donzig arched a brow, watching Fox's segment with a slow tilt of his head before he sniffed. 'Is he mocking me? I will not be mocked by this Harry Potter looking motherfucker! He will suffer for this insolence! Such arrogance!'

Sinclair arched a brow, unconsciously mirroring her mentor as she looked back to the tablet. Hearing Donzig comment on someone else's arrogance was just a bit much, and she propped her chin in her hand as she shrugged. Normally she would advise him to watch some tape, but she had the feeling that he had already done some research on Bloody Zen Romance. She waved a hand. 'I think you might be underestimating them slightly.'

Donzig snorted, and he blinked when she did again. He waved a hand, tugging at his beard as he shook his head before he growled. 'I have broken better men, Star Fox and Brendan will be going down in flames! I will not be denied my vengeance against Devon D'Andre! And then you and I will win the Anzac Cup, and cement our place in immortality! Or at least we will leave such a fucking path of wreckage that even the crew over in J-Rok will learn to fear Oblivion's Song! They want to play games? Then let's give them a first round that they will never forget!'

Sinclair smiled slightly, and nodded at him as she sat aside the tablet. 'I don't like being called a little rich girl. Let's send the Fox back to J-Rok covered in blood! Him and his husband! They might be Triple Crown champions but they have never faced anything like us!'

Donzig nodded in agreement, and he tugged at his beard before he shrugged again. Then he waved a hand towards the door, turning slowly as he spat. 'You need to go fetch one of those insipid interviewers! I will send a message to our arrogant opponents, and teach them what it means to invade my domain! Besides everyone knows it is terrible practice to get romantically involved with your tag partner!'

Sinclair froze, her eyes widening as color drained from her face. Her teeth caught her lower lip as she stared at his back, and a flicker of rage flashed across her face as her fingers clawed at the worn leather of the antique chair. Then she turned her head away, face twitching as she tried to calm herself as Donzig droned onward. 

Oblivious. 

'Imagine that! You would be so concerned for this other you would do anything, risk anything on their behalf! You have to be willing to sacrifice anyone or anything to win! I will exploit this obvious weakness! We will see how the Fox likes to be covered in the blood of Brendan before I destroy him, eh? You and I are far too clever to make such a mistake, aren't we?'

Sinclair was staring at his back, still frozen before she gave a quick shake of her head. She fairly leapt to her feet, and snapped her coat behind her as she swept towards the door. A pause, as she closed her eyes before taking a deep breath before she looked over her shoulder. 'Of course, of course. You are far too clever for that.'

Donzig grunted, and she snarled as she ripped the door open with a squeal of protesting hinges before disappearing from the room.