TOMMY ONIONS: So this is going to be a great main event. All the gold in the company is around the waists of the competitors tonight.
JOSEPH GREER: But only the Tag Championships on the line.
TOMMY ONIONS: True story. Let’s get it on!
JOSEPH GREER: Let’s hope that Lex Collins can still battle at one hundred percent tonight after the dastardly attack by Kintaru.
TOMMY ONIONS: He’s a big boy. I’m sure that he’ll be fine.
BOB MOONEY: And the first half of the challengers, the current RSW World Heavyweight Champion, it is Shane Mitchell!!!
“Fool’s Gold” by the Stone Roses begins playing as Shane Mitchell walks out from the back. The gold strap is over his shoulder. Shane looks at it before turning back to the crowd. He slowly makes his way down to the ring soaking in the atmosphere. When he gets to the ring he slowly climbs the steps and enters the ring. Shane nods as he unclips the belt and hands it to the referee.
TOMMY ONIONS: Four times world champion does mean he’s lost it a few times before.
JOSEPH GREER: Genius?
BOB MOONEY: And his tag partner hailing from the Open Road, he is the RSW Anarchy and Legacy champion…Lex Collins!
“Re-education (through Labour)” by Rise Against begins playing as Lex Collins emerges from the back with both the Anarchy and the Legacy belts on his shoulders. He walks down to the ring to the cheering of the fans, handing the belts to the referee to display to the cheering fans before handing them down to the timekeeper. Lex knocks knuckles with Shane as the crowd continues to cheer them. Shane reaches over the ropes and is passed a microphone. He turns and leans over the ropes looking up the ramp way.
SHANE MITCHELL: Hey Knucks, Salem, get you’re lazy asses down to this ring. So me and Lex can prove to this crowd why we are the best in the world!! You throw your weight around this promotion like you own it but as you can see we do!
The lights go out with a few seconds of silence. Suddenly there’s an explosion as the fans hear Tech N9ne’s “E.B.A.H” throughout the arena. The smoke machines kick in. Red smoke starts to rise from the entrance way as the extractor fans above turn on and generate a tornado effect in the red smoke. The strobe lights kick in but there is nobody stood there.
SHANE MITCHELL: Come on guys. Or are you yellow?
All three members of Awoken jump over the ring barrier behind them without them being seen by the guys in the ring. Knucks and Salem slide into the ring behind them with chairs in their hands and stand behind Lex and Shane. The crowd erupt as Shane and Lex look at each other and slowly turn around to be met with chair shots to the head.
TOMMY ONIONS: They can’t do this they will be disqualified?
JOSEPH GREER: Did the bell ring?
TOMMY ONIONS: Did you hear it?
JOSEPH GREER: I ignore a lot of things. Like you. And word from the back is that Armand has told the referee to let this go full pelt and made it no Dq!
TOMMY ONIONS: Is that why Erik’s out here?
Knucks and Salem throw the chairs to the outside and motion to the referee. The referee calls for the bell.
JOSEPH GREER: All four men are in the ring, and it looks like they’re just about ready to go! Knucks leading off for Filth Factory, while it looks like Lex will be the first to taste some action for the challengers.
TOMMY ONIONS: Second if you count the chair shots?
The bell rings, as the two men lock up. Knucks overpowers Lex which makes the crowd boo. He tries to lock in the arm bar, but Lex retaliates with a vicious elbow to the chest. Knucks let’s go and Lex catches him with the elbow for a second time. Knucks bends over in pain, and Lex connects with a DDT. Knucks gets on one knee, trying to catch his breath. Lex stomps him down, then shoves him into his corner. He tags in Shane and the two double-team their opponent with a slew of stomps.
TOMMY ONIONS: Good teamwork displayed by the challengers…
JOSEPH GREER: We agree on that, but both teams are quite experienced. Don’t forget this is the world champion and the legacy champion.
Lex is ordered back into his corner, as Shane picks up his rival by the beard, and then punishes him with a stiff kick to the head. He then poses, to the delight of his tag-team partner and the cheers of the fans. Shane waits for Knucks to get up, before hitting him with a short arm clothesline. He then runs towards the ropes, setting up the clothesline on Knucks whose slowly getting to his feet, which he hits but instead of across the chest it catches him in the nose.
TOMMY ONIONS: Oh my God!! What a clothesline!! That nearly took off Knucks head.
Instead of making the cover, Shane drags Knucks to his corner and tags in Lex. They once again stomp away on the tag champ, as his partner looks on in frustration. Lex Irish whips Knucks, and then goes for a clothesline, but Knucks ducks it. They go off the ropes a second time, and Lex tries for the body drop.
TOMMY ONIONS: He telegraphed that move!
JOSEPH GREER: You’re right even the guy’s playing Shuffleboard could have seen that!!!
TOMMY ONIONS: What?
Knucks stops his momentum and smashes Lex in the back with a forearm. He follows up with a slap to the face, backing Lex up against the ropes. Shane jumps against the apron, and the referee turns around to appease him. At the same time, Knucks tries to clothesline his opponent over the ropes, but Lex ducks and connects with a kick to the groin.
TOMMY ONIONS: Blatant low-blow by Lex.
JOSEPH GREER: I think the referee missed it plus this is no dq. Also haven’t the champs done worse in the past?
TOMMY ONIONS: Yes, but Salem sure didn’t!
Salem storms into the ring and knocks Lex over with a spear. The referee quickly turns around and angrily instructs Salem back into his corner. He resists, leading to an argument between the two.
TOMMY ONIONS: Looks like the referee isn’t taking kindly to Salem’s entry in the ring.
The challengers double-team Knucks, as Lex holds on to him, letting Shane connect with a super kick.
TOMMY ONIONS: Oh! That’s got to hurt!
Shane then grabs hold of Knucks and Lex connects with a chop across his chest. Knucks falls to the ground in extreme agony, as finally the referee stops arguing with Salem and turns to the match.
TOMMY ONIONS: Come on! Get one of them out of the ring.
JOSEPH GREER: The guy can’t call what he doesn’t see.
Shane gets out of the ring at the referee’s urging, as Lex whips Knucks hard into the corner. He charges in, but Knucks sidesteps.
TOMMY ONIONS: Oh! Lex goes head-first into the turnbuckle!
Both men lie on the ground, as the crowd chants in encouragement.
TOMMY ONIONS: This is the chance for Knucks to make a tag!
Knucks slowly crawls towards his corner, as Lex does the same. The crowd keeps cheering, as Lex nearly reaches his partner. Knucks is also nearly there. Shane tags in. Salem tags in.
FANS: Yeaaah!
The two meet in the middle of the ring, and Shane gets taken out by a Dropkick. Lex gets to his feet to challenge Salem, but he too is sent to the mat by another dropkick. Shane gets back up and hits his opponent with a punch to the head. However, Salem barely seems to feel the impact, as dropkicks his rival a second time.
TOMMY ONIONS: Salem’s alive in there; he’s showing the challengers what it’s like to be a part of Filth Factory!!!
JOSEPH GREER: What?
TOMMY ONIONS: Exactly.
Salem picks up Lex by the hair and hits a Samoan Drop. Shane is very slow in getting up, and Salem sets up and hits a spear. He then makes a cover.
…….1
…………2
……..Lex breaks up the count with an elbow drop. Knucks then charges into the ring and the two tumble out of the ring.
TOMMY ONIONS: Hey! He can’t do that!
Back in the ring, Salem makes a second cover, as the crowd boo loudly.
…..1
…………2
….Kick out by Shane.
TOMMY ONIONS: That was close! I almost had a heart-attack!
JOSEPH GREER: And it would have been such a good riddance…
Outside, Knucks is dominating Lex. He connects with multiple blows to the head and then rushes his rival into the steel railing. But he then tries to charge in on him; a move which backfires, as Lex sidesteps, and Knucks body hits the railing then the ground with a thud. Back in the ring, Shane gets back on a vertical base, but Salem had been lining him up, and he connects with a Gut Wrench Suplex.
TOMMY ONIONS: Oh my! That’s got to be all!
Salem makes the cover.
…….1
………..2
……….Shane reverses it.
…….1
…………..2
…………..No, as the referee gets pulled out of the ring by Erik. Salem immediately slides out of the ring and starts to brawl with Lex.
TOMMY ONIONS: The referee has completely lost control of this match!
JOSEPH GREER: Why is Erik even out here?
Salem slams Lex’s head against the steel railing, just as Knucks gets back up. Shane, who’s also just come to his senses, joins the battle outside the ring, as he and Knucks begin duking it out. Knucks throws Shane back into the ring, and slides in. He connects with a Suplex, then as Shane lies still on the mat, climbs the top rope. On the outside, Lex has the advantage on Salem, as he whips the latter against the railing. Shane, meanwhile, slowly turns over as Knucks has him lined up; Knucks jumps off the top rope for a top rope head-butt, but Shane somehow manages to regain his senses enough to realize the danger, and he rolls out of the way.
TOMMY ONIONS: Wow, Shane showing a lot of agility.
Knucks lands on his feet and charges his opponent. Shane responds with an elbow and Irish whips Knucks. Shane then connects with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Lex picks up Salem’s limp body and sets him up for a big time move… to the cheers of the crowd. Suddenly, Knucks jumps him from behind. The crowd cheers once more, as Lex is left reeling from a series of blows to the head. He staggers around with butterflies in his head, and Knucks picks him up. Knucks hits him with a German suplex onto the matting.
TOMMY ONIONS: Lex is broken in half!
Knucks throws Lex into the ring and follows him in. Knucks makes the cover.
….1
…….2
……Shane breaks it up. He stomps away on Knucks, as the latter rolls out of the ring as quickly as possible. The referee makes Shane get out of the ring leaving Salem and Lex the two legal opponents in the ring. Salem hits Lex square with a big boot, then climbs the top rope. Lex slowly, very slowly gets up… and is met by drop kick.
JOSEPH GREER: Wow!!! Salem goes airborne!!! This has to be the end!
The crowd boo as the cover is made.
…..1
……….2
………Lex grabs Salem’s tights and reverses the pin.
……..1
………..2
…….Salem kicks out at the last possible moment.
Salem pushes Lex off of him with authority and he gets up to his feet and he stomps on Lex relentlessly in anger. Shane gets up and he grabs the ring bell and he walks over to Salem who is stomping on Lex and Shane smashes the bell over the back of his skull and Salem falls to the mat like a ton of bricks.
TOMMY ONIONS: Salem certainly is a cocky bitch isn’t he?
JOSEPH GREER: What?
TOMMY ONIONS: Well he just got the fudge knocked out of him with the ring bell from the World Champion.
Shane drops the bell and he goes to the outside and he grabs Salem legs and he pulls him to the outside as well. Shane picks Salem up in the air and he drops him throat first on to the steel barricade. Lex climbs up to the top rope with blood streaming down his face and he jumps off and hits Knucks with a double axe handle smash from the top rope to the outside. All four wrestlers are down on the outside whilst Erik is cheering them on, Salem is the first one to get to his feet and he shakes his head. Salem picks Shane up and he kicks him in the stomach many times and then he slams him shoulder first into the steel steps. Salem takes the head of Shane and he smashes it into the steel steps leaving big dents and he doesn’t seem to stop as he is taking out all of his frustrations between them.
TOMMY ONIONS: Ouch! Someone’s going to have to pay for those steps.
JOSEPH GREER: Maybe from your wages?
Salem finally stops and Shane lays their motionless and Salem gets up into his face and he points his finger at him and talks some trash until Lex comes up from behind him and he takes Salem head and he slams it into the steel post. Salem falls backwards and lands on the ground holding his forehead as Lex picks the limp body of Knucks up and he body slams Knucks down onto the steel steps and dents them even further. Lex then goes back over to Salem and he picks him up and he whips him into the steel barricade which bends in as Salem is driven into it. Lex backs off and then he runs at Salem but Salem back body drops Lex over the railing and into the crowd. Many spectators back off as Lex lands on their chairs. Salem walks over to Shane and he picks him up and he gets him in the power slam position and he rams his back into the steel post several times and then he walks over to the barricade and he drops Shane over it and he lands on the cement.
TOMMY ONIONS: There in the crowd. No one is safe.
Salem goes under the ring and he pulls out a table and he sets it up so it is resting partially on the ring and partially on the steel barricade. Salem stands on it and it is sturdy enough to hold him and he runs down it and he jumps off and does a Splash down onto both Shane and Lex.
JOSEPH GREER: Nice air time by Salem who seems to be dominating this match up thus far with his partner.
TOMMY ONIONS: Lex hasn’t been in it much ever since being busted open; sucks to be him.
JOSEPH GREER: You know, Lex holds two of the singles titles in this promotion.
Salem gets up and he taunts Shane and Lex until he climbs back over the railing and he goes under the ring and looks for more weapons. Lex follows him and Shane does so as well. Shane stands on one side of the table and Lex hits Salem from behind with a dropkick and he grabs Salem and puts his head in-between her legs and he lifts his body up with the help of Shane and he walks him over to the table and Shane and Lex deliver a double power bomb onto Salem through the set up table. The table breaks upon impact and Salem crashes down to the ground and is covered by fallen table debris. Shane grabs Salem legs and he covers him.
……….1
…………..2
Salem gets a shoulder up and Shane grabs Salem by the head and he pulls him up to his feet and whips him into the steel barricade and this time the whole barrier falls over as Salem collides with it. The whole first two rows of people are cleared out by security and they are all standing up as Lex is down with the barrier on him and Salem on top of that. Shane pulls Salem off of the barrier and he whips him into the side of the ring and Salem hits it and he grabs onto the banner on the ring to keep himself up. Shane runs at him and jumps and hits a body splash. Salem is smashed up between the side of the ring and Shane and he just falls straight down. Lex tears off a section of the steel barrier and he gets up to his feet and he smashes it up against the back of Knucks and Knucks falls down on top of Salem. Lex slams the barrier up against Knucks repeatedly until he finally drops it to the side. Lex picks Knucks up and he knee’s him in the stomach and then he puts his head in-between his legs and he lifts up his body and he power bombs Knucks down onto the steel barricade.
TOMMY ONIONS: That must have broken him in two?
JOSEPH GREER: Does he look broken? Hold that thought.
Lex taunts Knucks real quick and then he goes over to Salem who is pulling himself up to his feet and he grabs Salem by the head and he throws him into the crowd and Salem knocks over a few chairs as he is thrown into them. Lex follows Salem into the crowd and Salem is slowly walking away. Lex catches up to him and he hits him in the back of the head and he walks with him deeper into the crowd. He finds a table set up with a few chairs and trash cans around it. Lex picks up the trash can and empties its contents over the body of Salem and then he slams the trash can over his head and Salem is knocked down to the concrete.
JOSEPH GREER: I didn’t know this match was a falls count any where’s match? I guess they are making up their own rules as they go along.
TOMMY ONIONS: So Joseph, what are your plans for the rest of the night?
JOSEPH GREER: What the hell does that have to do with anything let alone this match?
TOMMY ONIONS: Really?
JOSEPH GREER: Are you not listening to me?
TOMMY ONIONS: Oh yeah thanks, I will be working on my tan.
Salem gets back up to one knee and Lex raises the trash can high in the air and he acts like he is going to slam the trash can down on Salem head again but Salem connects with a low blow and Lex drops the trash can down to the ground. Salem wipes his forehead in relief and he picks the trash can up and he hits Lex in the head with the blunt side. Lex falls backwards but he stays on his feet and Salem puts the trash can down and picks Lex up in a power slam position but he turns it into a fall away slam and Lex crashes down on top of the trash can. Knucks and Shane finally make their way over to the action with Salem and Lex. Salem is stomping away at Lex and he is taunting him until Shane catches up with them and punches Salem in the face and then he throws him on top of the table.
TOMMY ONIONS: Oh this is going to be good!
JOSEPH GREER: Will anything go right tonight?
Shane grabs Salem but Lex runs and dives off of a chair with the trash can in his hands and he slams it up against the face of Knucks but catches Shane too who fall down to the concrete and Lex does as well. Salem is left standing on the table looking at the damage from that move. Salem just shrugs his shoulders and he hops off the table and he picks Shane up and he grabs his head and he slams it up against the edge of the table and Shane bounces backwards and falls to the ground. Salem picks Lex up and Lex is wobbly, Salem walks back a little bit and he lunges forward and connects with a Boot to the end of Lex’s chin. Lex jumps backwards and lands on the ground after the Boot. Salem goes over to Shane and he picks him up and puts him over his shoulders and goes for a Death Valley driver but Shane slips out and he delivers a reverse suplex on him down onto Knucks.
JOSEPH GREER: Knucks is being squashed!
Shane gets back up to his feet and he puts Salem on the table and he grabs him and then he connects with a power slam and Salem is slammed through the table. Shane slaps Lex around the face trying to wake him up which he manages to before he drags Salem back to the ring.
JOSEPH GREER: This is amazing.
He rolls him into the ring and continues to lay the boots into him as Lex and Knucks slowly get back to ringside. Shane picks up the barely conscious Salem and drops a knee across his throat. Lex reaches under the ring and pulls out a weed wacker and holds it aloft. He throws it in the ring.
JOSEPH GREER: Oh my god!
TOMMY ONIONS: Things got serious suddenly.
Shane tags in Lex and rolls out of the ring; Lex grabs the weed wacker and shoves it into Salem’s face but he ducks at the last moment. The weed wacker hits the ropes and bounces back and hits Lex straight in the face. Salem turns him around thinking he’s easy prey but Lex hits him with a clothesline. Lex’s face is bleeding profusely and he reaches the corner and pulls out a cheese grater. He pulls the front of Salem’s pants forward and put the grater down them position the grater side over his crotch. He then takes a run up and kicks him in the balls. Salem drops down to the mat rolling around in excruciating pain and Lex goes for the cover.
…………….1
………………..2
Salem bites Lex finger deep. Salem barely gets a shoulder up but he reaches over and tags in Knucks. Knucks picks up Lex again and hits him with another German suplex and then goes for the pin.
TOMMY ONIONS: Oh this has got to be it!!!!!
………………1 Shane gets in the ring and tries to come to the rescue of his partner.
……………2 Salem gets back in the ring and clotheslines him back to the mat.
…………..3!
The bell rings. Erik rolls into the ring and starts to lay the boot into Shane and shout abuse at him. Salem picks up Lex and throws him into the corner and then Irish whips Knucks into him before following in with an avalanche of his own.
TOMMY ONIONS: Awoken are taking it to Lex and Shane!
JOSEPH GREER: Look in the crowd, it’s D!!
After checking a few different areas of the arena, the reaction on the floor level causes the camera team to zoom in to see D, hoodie on and up covering his head making his way through the fans. Not using any designated aisles or walkways, D pushes through the fans.
TOMMY ONIONS: Wait, what is Erik doing?
As D reaches the guardrail at ringside he hops over in a smooth motion but is caught by Erik. A look of shock crosses his face for a split second before Erik launches him over in a release German Suplex straight into the ring steps. There is a huge crunch as body and steel don’t mix. Salem starts shouting abuse at D before slapping him around the face. Erik grabs D by the hair and slams him face first into the steps. He pulls him back up and repeats this.
JOSEPH GREER: OH MY GOD! Erik is really taking it to D!
TOMMY ONIONS: We need security out here now!
D, Shane and Lex are all down in the ring with the Awoken all standing above them triumphantly. Erik passes the tag belts back to the champions as the arena goes black.
TOMMY ONIONS: What the hell?
JOSEPH GREER: Did Riot forget to pay the bill before he left?
An office appears on the big screen. The camera pans around and picks up Frank Windsor. The crowd cheer really loudly as the Awoken start shouting abuse at the big screen.
JOSEPH GREER: It’s your boy!
TOMMY ONIONS: FRANKIE!!!!
FRANK WINDSOR: Hey guys, you didn’t think you got rid of me this easily did you? Wait, you did?
TOMMY ONIONS: Where’s he been? I thought that he’d left me.
FRANK WINDSOR: Okay before I left the company I spoke to the rest of the booking team and I booked a couple of matches right? You know with that power that I hold I had to take the responsibility really, really serious right? I had to look at the bigger picture right? It’s not always about the Bastards is it?
He smirks at the camera.
FRANK WINDSOR: Anyway, the first match is going to be very special. It’s for the RSW World Heavyweight Championship belt right? Well Masquerade is around the corner and we need a great opponent for Shane Mitchell to face right don’t we guys?
Erik shouts and points at himself.
FRANK WINDSOR: Oh I’m sorry Erik but it’s not your turn is it? Come on bro, you just had your chance and you choked didn’t you? No. But I promise it is one of the guys in the ring.
Salem points at himself whilst Knucks does likewise.
FRANK WINDSOR: Oh hey Champs, how you doing? Oh and no it’s not you either. At Masquerade, it will be Shane Mitchell, one on one for the RSW World Heavyweight Championship belt will be D!
The crowds cheer as the Awoken go made in the ring.
FRANK WINDSOR: But I won’t be around to watch that classic match as someone has made an offer to myself and Fowler to buy our shares of the company. He is coming to RSW with a clear conscience and will take no shit from punks like you guys. This two-time RSW World Heavyweight Champion AND RSW Hall of Famer will be at the next show to make sure you respect his authority.
He looks off camera.
FRANK WINDSOR: Ready?
The camera pans around and the crowd goes wild.
TOMMY ONIONS: OH MY FUCKING GOD!
JOSEPH GREER: He can’t be back?
On camera sat behind the desk is none other the Innovator of Darkness, the Sadistic Bastard, Nocturnal! He is flanked by other members of the Koresh Family.
NOCTURNAL: Boo! You missed me?
Frank walks onto shot.
FRANK WINDSOR: I think there’s something I’ve missed Noc?
NOCTURNAL: Oh it could be the guy?
FRANK WINDSOR: Oh right, we thought it was time Erik had a calibre of opponent that would give him a run for his money. Who could we get for him to face at Masquerade? Could it be Lex? Could it be Lilith? Could it be Havok? No…………..We went for………………
The lights go out for a few seconds.
TOMMY ONIONS: What’s happening?
JOSEPH GREER: Who can it be?
They flicker back on and the tag champions are face down in the ring. Stood over them is a man, a man from RSW’s past. Erik slowly turns around and looks at him.
TOMMY ONIONS: He can’t be here. Rob Riot fired him!!
JOSEPH GREER: He can’t be back!!
Stood looking at Erik is Chris Gibson! He points at Erik and then at the Masquerade logo hanging from the rafters. The lights go out again and return and he’s gone.
TOMMY ONIONS: So let me get this straight, we’ve got two matches set for Masquerade, Nocturnal AND Chris Gibson are back and Erik Black looks like his head is about to explode?
JOSEPH GREER: And that’s a wrap.
TOMMY ONIONS: Good night ladies and gentleman, I’m going for a lie down.
