We cut to the back! Justin Jehst and Cort Marshall sit in their locker room; Jehst is sitting down, concentrating on sipping a fresh Mimosa. Cort is pacing around, nervous, tossing a can of beer up and down in the air.
Cort: I really don’t know--do I dump bitcoin and go for dogecoin? Or do I stick with what I got? Dilithium is on the rise… but the elusive Scottish man is telling me that’s about all she’s got, captain.
Jehst: … What are you even talking about? What on earth is a dogecoin?
Cort: It’s like a dog, but inside of a coin. An internet dog. You use it to buy drugs, or Russian videogames, or United States Senators.
Jehst angrily sets down his Mimosa. Gently, but angrily.
Jehst: FOCUS. You gotta focus, Cort, you’re in a title match! You’re opening the show against the guy who hates legs more than the general public hated Master of Disguise! You have one of the biggest matches of your career and you’re worried about money?
Cort catches the can for a final time and sighs.
Cort: No, you’re right. I’m worried about that too. I ain’t had the best record lately… I mean, think about it.
Cort starts counting on his fingers.
Cort: Lost my briefcase, lost my last title match, and the one before that, and the one before that… never held a title for more than one or two matches… botched the tag team titles by getting too close to the ropes…
Jehst stands up, patting his friend on the shoulder.
Jehst: Yeah, well you sent one of the Wolves back to the dog pound last match!
Cort: Sure, sure. Maybe I got lucky. Maybe luck ain’t a factor. I dunno. It’s just easier to think about stockpiling cash than going out there to look like a fool time after time, y’know?
Jehst: It ain’t like you to lose confidence like this. Look. I dunno what you’ve been telling yourself or what Archer’s goons have been selling you, but you still got it. WE still got it. And you’re gonna go out there and throw the pale penny pincher for a loop! All right?
Cort looks at his partner for a while before nodding.
Cort: … All right.
Cort: But how much do you think I should be trying to invest weekly if I want to keep up with stock tre--
Jehst grabs the can out of his hands and growls...
Jehst: Forget it! MATCH. Not money. GLORY. Wrestling gold, not virtual market dog-whatever!
Cort still looks unconvinced as we fade out...
'ICEMAN' NATE MAC vs. PAUL PUGH
Inside the UAE locker room we see Brian Feinstein sitting on a plush recliner like chair. Feinstein, is watching as both Derek Smith, and Tyler Walker are preparing for their tag team match against Wrestling Club.
Feinstein: Alright gentlemen tonight is the night! We MUST bring home the win for UAE tonight we both know this correct? We CANNOT let down Mr. Archer or our other bosses!
Feinstein: Tyler, you did an AMAZING job during the Battle Royale, and you were ROBBED! Those slimy Wrestling Club boys have no idea what’s coming at them tonight!
Feinstein stares directly into the subtle camera.
Feinstein: Because tonight, POWER AND GLORY! Yes not PRIDE AND GLORY, I see you guys in the production truck. Get your filthy muppets to fix this egregious mess up IMMEDIATELY or you will be hearing from me!
Feinstein: Derek post-op you look like a million bucks! Your strength and look is all coming back which is AMAZING! Now, remember, tonight? Do NOT go to the first, second, or third ropes!! There is absolutely NO reason you need to go up there! Got it? Great! Any comments, questions, concerns?
Derek: My question is what can we do after the match?
Feinstein leans back in his chair.
Feinstein: I’m intrigued by what you mean?
Tyler: Oh I know exactly what he means and I’m in the same boat with him.
[b]Tyler and Derek nod at each other and, Derek reaches under the table and pulls out his sledgehammer and Tyler reaches behind a cabinet and pulls out a baseball bat.
Feinstein: This is what I like to see this aggression from you two. But how did you manage to bring these weapons into the locker room?
Derek:The lady at the desk gave everyone a key.
Tyler and Derek show their keys to Feinstein.
Tyler: That’s beside the point right now. Here’s the plan.
Derek turns off the light and brings out a projector and turns it on.
Feinstein: How do you guys find time to do this? Tyler: Now listen, here's the plan after the match: win or lose. We will target Chris Greene first specifically so I can finally get my hands on him and take him out of the equation.
Derek stands up,
Derek: And I can finally get my hands on John Carter.
Tyler:Exactly then we put them both down we jump one of them.
Derek: Personally I say John mostly because he runs his mouth too much and needs to be shut up and I just don’t like him.
Tyler: I owe Chris a few chair shots but I'll pay him back in baseball shots.
Derek: So what do you think boss?
Feinstein, leaning back in the recliner cracks a devilish smile.
Feinstein: Yes, yes, and more yes! This is excellent! I knew it would be a great idea to have you two sign with UAE. Tonight, give them hell boys I know you’ll do UAE proud.
All three men continue conversing as the cameras pan down and fade to black.
CORT MARSHALL
vs.
THOMAS ARCHER*
The camera joins Antonio Everrett checking his phone as he walks towards his locker room, an OCW rookie carrying his bags. The rookie opens the door and places his bags on the side.
Everrett: Good work, I’ll be sure to put in a good word with Mr. Ortiz for you and with any luck, you may or may not still be employed at the end of the week.
Everrett laughs and lightly taps the rookie on the cheek. He nods his head.
Rookie: Thank you si-
Everrett: I didn’t ask you to speak… run along now, there you go.
Without another word the rookie leaves quickly. Tony laughs to himself and turns around to move towards his stuff, but is stopped in his tracks by the appearance of a bouquet of blue roses on a small table.
???: The Rosaceae lacks the ability to exhibit a natural beautiful blue color, you know?
The voice behind him causes his eyes to move around for a moment suspiciously, and a smirk wipes across his face as he swings around.
Standing with her arms crossed, one of her shoulders aloft out of her black jacket, Terra Daturas leans against the door frame. She smiles and turns her head to see Antonio.
Terra: It is genetically impossible for that gorgeous flower to obtain that shape via nature alone.
Terra: ...but that does not make it any less beautiful, Tony. Do you not agree?
Terra steps inside the locker room towards the flowers and leans in towards them.
Terra: These flowers may have hints of artificial coloring on the front, but they cannot exist without the completely organic core. The Rosaceae that created this is only complimented by the coloring… It is not defined by it.
Antonio steps closer to Terra and the table.
Terra: As people, the artificial parts of us cannot overtake who we are and what we have experienced. It can never define us.
Tony moves in and gives Terra a quick kiss.
Terra: … I have missed you.
Antonio: And I thought I was the one who always went missing… was starting to think I’d never see you again.
Everrett chuckles, leaning back on the table.
Terra: In times of inner conflict, we turn to those that make us feel comfortable about who we are… So here I am.
Terra: Did you know that the blue rose signifies mystery or uncertainty?
Terra turns back and lifts the bouquet, inspecting it.
Terra: I brought them to you because I admire their beauty and also feel a certain uncertainty within myself...
Terra: ...Do you believe that your balance… that OUR balance… is in the right place?
Terra: When I look at you, I see everything I saw back then, but you have added the necessary aesthetics to become the force of nature that you are today. I am proud of the choices you have made and the person I confide in.
Terra: ...but I am not so sure I can say the same about myself. Since I took a long look at myself and decided to make these changes, I have held a certain confidence. Marisa Welch… her unabashed arrogance and refusal to admit to her obvious insecurities, they have caused me to question my own insecurities once again.
Tony laughs to himself.
Everrett: Wait just a minute.. let me get this straight. THE Terra Daturas, the most formidable force in the entire women’s division. One half of the most star studded power couple that has existed since… ahem… anyway.
Ev shakes his head.
Everrett: YOU have come to me because you are starting to question yourself despite everything you’ve become, because of a woman they refer to as:
Everrett gestures his right hand in a rainbow motion
Everrett: ‘The Turbo-Thot’ has been stupid enough to step to you. Come on now, you’re like Premier league football and she’s like… Premier League Darts. She’s lucky if she has half the talent that I know you possess.
Terra places the bouquet back on the table and smiles as she looks back up to Antonio Everrett.
Terra: This is exactly why I came to you.
Terra: Thank you. I will feel more certain once I expose and help Marisa Welch find the balance she needs… whether she wants me to or not.
Everrett pulls her in a bit closer.
Tony: She isn’t even going to get a chance to think about what she’s done before you’re done with her. She should be thanking you for even giving her the opportunity to embarrass herself, because I think it’s time you reminded everybody how much of a cold-blooded killer you really are, eh?
Terra gives a sinister smile as she plucks one of the blue roses and holds it between herself and Tony.
Everrett: Now, while you're here, I think you can help me prepare for my own problems that I’ve got tonight.
