Stacy Clark: Ladies and gentlemen, my guest, Ashley Blain.

Blain: Don’t talk, give me the mic. 

Clark: Bu--

Blain: Zip it. 

Blain rips the mic away from Clark and stares directly into the camera. 

Blain: A few weeks ago when I was asked about my “goals” I told you I had none, because I knew that Turmoil management wouldn’t aspire book me against the pretty bitches that populate this show. It’s all about tight waists and thick asses around here, it’s a freaking beauty contest around here. 

Blain pauses and breathes heavily, catching her breath before she continues. 

Blain: And I was proven right. The booking has stopped and I’m left to watch the continued pussification of the women’s division. It appears that you either have to “know” the bookerman to get attention around here, and then when you step up like those Skum boys did, you get punished. So I’m hoping for some punishment from this. I. Made. Some. Goals. 

*****

Following a gruelling contest, Doc and Antonio of the Uncrowned sheepishly make their way through the backstage area, with Everrett occasionally clutching at his mouth after taking a brutal knee to the face. Doc takes a seat on an equipment box and initiates the conversation perched up at eye-level to Antonio, who is particularly down-trodden having taken his first fall in competitive action.

Doc: Listen, bro, it’s never nice to take an L, especially not your first; but it won’t be your last for certain, and we learned so much about ourselves tonight. In defeat, we went to war with those men tonight and we have nothing to be ashamed of walking out of the arena. We showed up tonight, and perhaps next time we’ll get one over them. Experience at this level isn’t easy to come by so early into our careers here, so be proud we went out there and gave them a real, clean fight. 

Everrett looks up to face Doc.

Everrett: Yeah man, maybe you’re right. A.W.O.L are absolutely no joke and we took it to them with all dukes up. The pain is temporary, my friend, we’ll come back stronger next time, as disappointing as it is to look up at those blurry ceiling lights for a three count. I’m proud of us though, we proved tonight that we could go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the world, and now we move onto the next one.

Doc and Antonio fist bump but have their attention turned by the team they faced, A.W.O.L, who also appear shattered from a tough night successfully containing the energetic rookie team, but are in high spirits having successfully bounced back from their last loss as a tag team against the OCW Tag Team champions, Rust Cohle and Ijitu Quartz. Shepherd is the more conservative of the two, and calmly approaches the rookies, Doc and Antonio.

Shep: That was a tough match. Both of you have skill and grit. Saw some stuff from you, Doc, that I haven’t seen before here in OCW. 

Cort: And Everett, those power moves were crazy! You both have a bright future here for sure.

Everrett: Thank you, thank you man. That means a lot coming from you, brother. Doc and I have got a long way to go as a team but it felt good to be out there with you two and give you a good run for your money.

Doc: Yeah, I mean it goes without saying; it was a pleasure to be out there with you two tonight, even if it turned out in defeat for us two. And just so you know, you can count on us to have your back if you need our support. It’s all love, brother.

Shep nods.

Shep: Hopefully we won’t need it, but you never know around here.

He shoots a meaningful glance over at Cort.

Cort: Speaking of such things… if you end up dealing with CQC, watch your backs. They don’t play clean! In fact, the word “clean” isn’t in their dictionary. It’s scratched out and replaced with the entire script for The Bee Movie.

Doc: Weird flex but OK.

Cort: Everyone in OCW is weird, man. You gotta adapt! Also, Everrett, wrap up those feet at least! 

Everrett: Hey man, no shoes it’s how I’ve been training my whole life. I rest easy with the thought of my kicks rocking a fool three times as hard as with boots or wraps on, even with the added risk of a broken toe or eight. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I say.

Cort: All right, all right. Fair enough. Good luck out there, see you around.

Doc: Nice one man, see you around too.

Shep: Cort can you grab the car. I need to talk to talent relations.

Cort nods as the teams amicably part out as we fade out.

	This could have been a PPV Headliner!
	And we get it next.
	This match right here has a chance to be an instant classic and even flying blind in my #SafeSpace I am excited to be apart of it.

Aries vs Drago

The camera pans to the announce team.

	...
	...
	Some wrestlers are just born with it ladies and gentlemen, a tip of the cap to both of those two for what they just gave us.

The camera cuts to Shep who’s is still hyped up after his tag team victory. Now in his street clothes with his bag draped over his shoulder he’s stopped by Jim Black on the way out.

Jim: Looks like A.W.O.L. is back on the same page?

Shep: I guess you can say that Jim, we went out there and did what we have always been capable of and that is dominating. From bell to bell we showed those rooks what they need to work towards.

Jim: So what’s next for you and Cort?

Shep: You know what the end goal is Jim. Everyone does. Me with the OCW Championship draped over my shoulder. I mean did you see me out there delivering knees and kicks for days. 

Jim: I meant for A.W.O.L…

Shep: Well I mean Cort can still be Pride Champion and those Tag Championships are always on our mind. We shouldn’t have to say that. You know and the people know. But, Cort and I know we are at the bottom of the ladder right now. With wins like the one we had tonight we’ll be back at the top soon enough.

Shep: Now Jim I’m sorry but Cort and I have a little celebration to get to.

Shep walks away an enters the parking area. He doesn’t see what he expected. Instead of Cort in the rental car he sees a group of people circled around. As he makes his way through he sees and American Flag gym bag off to the side and he knows who everyone is looking at.

Cort Marshall is bloodied and the OCW medical staff is checking him out.

Shep: Son of a b*tch!

The scene fades as Shep pushes through to check on his fallen partner as he contemplates who’s ass he’s going to have to kick.