The camera pans to the announce team.

LOCKHORN CHALLENGE!
OCW NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Backstage, it seems Jasmin Kaffee is getting ready for the biggest match of her career, a nervous swear on her brow as she aimlessly shadowboxes in front of the mirror in the women’s locker room. She’s muttering to herself the entire time, each word hissed with barely concealed loathing.

Jasmin: You can’t do this.

Jasmin: You’re not good enough. You’ve never been good enough. You got brought in to be a pretty face and you’re not even good enough for that.

Jasmin: You don’t deserve to be here. You don’t deserve this opportunity. You don’t deserve to be in the same building as these women, let alone the same ring. You’re a useless piece of sh-

Terra: Jasmin?

As if nothing has happened, Jasmin forces a smile and turns to greet Terra with an exuberant hug.

Jas: Hey, hon! Man, we really got TOG good last week, didn’t we! Man, you shoulda seen the look on Shianne’s face when I told her I was on board, oh, I’m such a bad liar but they actually BOUGHT IT!

Terra: They did. I usually do not like organizing that kind of underhanded thing, but sometimes even nature has to fight fire with fire…

Terra: But more importantly, is everything okay with you?

Jasmin:Y-yeah, I’m great!

Terra approaches Jas with a concerned look on her face and interrogates the Pro Wrestling Powerhouse with sharp eyes before relenting and eventually smiling back.

Terra: Good. I am glad to hear that.

Jasmin: So, uh… yeah.You got Shianne tonight, huh? She seems like a tough customer, but you’ve been in your fair share of nasty scraps before. Nothin’ you can’t handle.

Terra: It is true, despite how much I regret some of my past, it has prepared me for bullies like Shianne, Kameyo and Kumiko.

Terra: Shianne tonight has a major advantage against me, but her biggest disadvantage is her arrogance. I believe I can send a message to those three charlatans in my contest tonight.

Terra: …And you? How are you feeling before your match? It sure would do us all well for you and Harri to get along, but I know I have tried with her and she is… Unique.

Jasmin: She’s certainly not my favorite, yeah. I just like EMP a lot less. Maybe once someone teachers her some manners, she’ll mind *her* Etiquette around the rest of us for a while.

Terra: Okay. Well, I just wanted to say good luck tonight. This is a big night for all of us.

Terra reciprocates with a big hug and turns to walk out, stopping at the door as Jasmin turns back to continue preparing. Before Terra exits, she turns back one last time.

Terra: And Jasmin?

Jasmin: Yeah?

Terra: …Sue and I… We believe in you. We have always believed you were good enough.

Jas does not turn, instead nodding slightly now knowing Terra heard her entire self-loathing speech.

Terra smiles in her direction before exiting the room.

PROVING GROUNDS

We turn to….The P3 Soundstage? Well, it kinda looks like the soundstage, except the couch is missing and in its place is just a giant monitor. Next to it is Mugen’s desk, albeit this time adorned with organza confetti.

Is that even a thing? The camera pans over to the live studio audience. What’s left of it anyways. There’s about half as many people seated, all having a look on their faces like they don’t want to be here.

The “Applause” sign lights up above the stage and the crowd half-heartedly claps for the Lord of the Lariat Mugen, looking more professional than usual with his suit jacket getup. He clears his throat and takes a seat behind his desk.

Mugen: Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to welcome you to the NEW Bonanza! Things might look a little different due to outside circumstances, but as they say in show business, “The show must go on”.

Mugen: We have rebranded ourselves to become all about HARD HITTING wrasslin’ journalism. To find out the truth behind our favorite OCW competitors.

Mugen: But I can’t do it alone. I’ve been searching far and wide for a cohost that can match the EXCITEMENT of this news broadcast. Please welcome: Cyber Sensation!

The audience actually fires up for a bit, applauding what seems to be one of the last remnants of the old P3. A staff member pulls up a chair for the robotic owner of OCW.

Cyber Sensation: Processing…..What the f*** is all this b?

Mugen: This is what we call professional wrestling JOURNALISM. It’s what all the people want! And more importantly, it’s what our SUPREME LEADER EMP wants. RATINGS! 6 STARS!

Cyber Sensation: Analyzing…..She’s not gonna f*** you b.

Mugen: What?

Cyber Sensation: Judging from your pupil dilation, the quality of air, and the fact that these people in the crowd look miserable as f***, I’d say beep boop these ratings aren’t gonna compute stoopid mothaf****.

Cyber Sensation: Why the f*** you kick Drago out? The f*** he ever do to you?

Mugen: What he did to ME?

Mugen: He held ME down for years! He took MY North American Grand Prix Championship and turned it into a mockery!

Mugen: He embarrassed me at Summercide for sixty whole goddamn minutes!

Mugen: He cost us our chances at the tag team titles!

Mugen pounds his chest with his right hand.

Mugen: I WAS BOTH KOBE AND SHAQ. DRAGO WAS DEREK FREAKING FISHER!!

The Crowd GASPS as Mugen takes some deep breaths to calm himself down before continuing his rant.

Mugen: All anyone ever talks about when they talk about P3 is “oh look at how cool Drago is!” He is NOT cool! He’s too nice for his own good. How a guy that can’t even ENGLISH properly got in the Hall of Fame is beyond me!

Our Metallic Hero stares at Mugen for a minute before he rises from his seat, his visors buzzing in disappointment.

Cyber Sensation: He ain’t perfect b, but where would you be without him? Like it or not, he got you world championship and PPV main event opportunities.

Cyber Sensation: Mothaf**** stood by you all these years and gave you credit for all his success. You broke his heart.

Cyber Sensation: Now I hope he doesn’t break your spine. F*** this s*** b. This show is basura now.

He walks off, leaving Mugen alone with the crowd murmuring to each other. He looks around frantically before the spotlight above him is engulfed in a shadowy figure looking down in the rafters about fifteen feet above.

Mugen: Oh great, now we have a drunk fan ruining the show too. Get down from there!

The shadow doesn’t move an inch. It’s almost as if it’s an inanimate object.

Mugen: You. Get. Down. Now. JESUS CHRIST, does anyone here speak English??? SECURITY!

Mugen turns to face Graham Greene III, who seems content with just leaning against the wall and doing nothing.

Mugen: Bunch of useless sacks of s***.

He turns back to where the shadow was and sees that it’s gone without a trace.

Mugen: What the hell?

He turns back again to the hard cam, the cameraman motioning that he’s out of time.

Mugen: Son of a BITCH. Well, we’re out of time, but before we go, I’d like to mention that Heck Harvey Hamilton Ocean is a punk bitch and I’ll One Winged Hoot the s*** out of you just like I did all those years ago!

Mugen holds his hand up.

Mugen: I may not need to drop de five anymore, but I will drop you on your head HAAAAARVEY.

He storms out of the soundstage, but not before kicking out one of the legs of his desk.

WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Tink, tink, tink. The sound of clangorous metal can be heard as the scene fades from black inside a dark room. A room that is slightly lit by a fiery hearth – the camera pans slowly to a silhouette of the former OCW World Heavyweight Champion Hell Harvey.

He’s hammering what looks to be a long sword that lays upon an anvil. His focus is fed by the images of the latest TikTok video that was posted by none other than The Living Legend Larry Mugen.

Harvey strikes the sword repeatedly with a huge hammer until a hand grabs at his wrist that stops his focus.

Now stepping into frame is the leader himself of Kasstianity, Kassidy Hayes and then followed by Chris Greene.

Harvey looks back and the two lock eyes for a moment and then Harvey lowers the hammer.

Kassidy: What’s the meaning behind this?

Francis, who was assisting Harvey, passes him a towel to wipe the sweat off his face.

Harvey: I’m forging a symbol for my brotherhood within the church, Papa Kass. This symbol is a declaration of war between myself and Mugen.

Chris: A war?

Harvey: Yes. There’s history between him and I that must be resolved. He defeated a shell of who I was. Since then, he’s been glorifying it for nearly 5yrs.

Harvey: The number! Kassidy! “De Five” pounds he dropped before he dropped me on skull and took my soul – he took The Good Light away from me!

Kassidy: Do not focus on numbers, Harvey. Just cause you lost The OCW World Heavyweight Title doesn’t mean you failed me. B17 focused on the numbers and turned his back on me, that was a failure. He has redeemed himself as he still lives to this day by Kasstianity rules.

Harvey understands and nods his head several times while shaking the hammer in his hand.

Chris Greene looks around the room as Papa Kass notices the distraction from him.

Kassidy: Chris, what are you thinking?

Chris: I’m thinking about how does one – who wears a horse’s head – could relate to a place like this.

Harvey: How can you relate is the question. I can tell you. You’re in the presence of two REAL Living Legends. Both multi-time heavyweight champions that have fallen and still gotten themselves back up.

Kassidy: Falling is merely an opportunity to show everyone you don’t go away so easily.

Harvey: That “horse” made me fall once and look at what I’ve become since then. Look at what he’s become.

Kassidy: Chris, you will rise beyond even my morningstar while horse will never rise above the flames on a table. Horse is in over that costume head of his thinking he will make it out of the ring with Quartz and Wrex being able to lift his arms alone never mind holding gold.

Harvey: My brother alone won’t show him any mercy.

Chris: You guys are right.

Harvey gives his sword a few more hits. Both Kassidy Hayes and Chris Greene watch him put it in the fire. Harvey then takes it out after a few moments.

He wields the red hot sword in front of them.

Harvey: This blade is a representation of who I’ve become in this church. I will guard every square inch of this place with my life. The same way as the archangel Michael has done for his Papa.

Harvey takes his free hand and rubs sweat off the tattoo of The Archangel Michael on his chest.

Harvey: I don’t care what history he had with you Papa Kass. The Purge and Kasstianity are not the same.

Harvey: Hell, I’m not even the same.

Harvey: And unlike that Broken Pillar DOC, my sword is actually worth something when I bring it to Riot. He likes TikTok – well TIKTOK Mugen! Time to die!

We cut backstage to see one of the challengers for the CCW World Championship, Inness Quartz. He rests quietly in front of a large loading door with his eyes closed.

Voice: Thought I might find you here.

Quartz slowly opens one eye and sees his protege of sorts, Wilkes-Barre’s own Joe Deaver.

Quartz: Hello, Deaver.

Deaver: Just came to find you, your match is almost next… What’s with the army getup?

Quartz looks down at his green and off-white gear for a moment before responding.

Quartz: This… This was the first thing I was wearing when I debuted on RIOT. It was all I had at the time, back then.

Quartz: I don’t know. Something about this night… Something about this building. It all feels more special than normal venues.

The former champion stands to his feet and takes a deep breath, stretching his neck in the process.

Quartz: But enough sentimentality.

Quartz walks out of the dark area and heads down the hall with Deaver towards the ring area.

Quartz: Deaver, I am not sure if anyone else tells you often, but I’m glad you’re here, in this place. I know you’ve been through some things that would have sent other new competitors running for the nearest exit.

Deaver: Thanks, the last person that was glad to have me around hit me with a chair but, that’s in the past. This has always been a dream of mine, nothing will ever happen that will push me away.

Quartz stops in his tracks as Deaver finishes, just before he reaches the curtain.

Deaver: What’s up? Did you forget something? Let’s get out there!

Quartz: Deaver, tonight I’m getting in the ring with two of the most violent, sadistic people who have ever shared this special place with us.

Quartz: Wrex is a man who receives and resists pain greater than almost anyone who have come before him. I have an obligation tonight, to not just win back my CCW World Championship, but to prove to everyone out there, everyone who was there 82 RIOTs ago when I debuted, and everyone in the back that I am in that same category. Do you understand?

Quartz: So… I know I accepted your offer to join me and watch my back out there, but I can’t let you do that.

Deaver: Wh- Really? I mean I understand wanting to prove yourself and all that, but you’re the one who told me how dangerous it is to try and go completely alone. I thought that’s why I was here?

Quartz: No. You’re not here to be anybody’s goon. You’re not here to be anyone’s sidekick. You’re not here to be anybody except the pride of Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania. You’re here to be Joe Deaver. You’re here to be one of the pillars of the future of OCWFed.

Quartz: I’m not going to allow your presence to be a factor in this match. I appreciate your support and your sentiment, but I’m going out there to face Wrex on my own. Whatever he has to dish out, I WILL take it and deliver more than my share in return.

Quartz: Thank you, Deaver. I’ll see you after the match.

Joe Deaver takes a deep sigh, but reluctantly nods his head in affirmation.

Deaver: You got this. I’ll have the champagne ready for you when you’re done.

Quartz nods back as he walks through the curtain…

4 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Directly following the conclusion of the match, Harvey Ocean and Mugen stand face to face in the ring once more following their absolute war. Suddenly, a commotion builds amongst the crowd as emerging from the ramp appears DOC, his face full of piss and vinegar as he stares down the two in the ring, mic in hand.

DOC: Well ain’t it just a great surprise to see you back in the building, Mugen. And here I was thinking you’d be able to duck me forever. I should’ve known you’d turn up when your girl put you up to a match like this bruv.

H2O: Well, well, well. The two of us back in the ring together once again. Finally!

H2O closes in on his former tag team partner. H2O looks down onto him.

H2O: The nerve of you. Mugen is all things but he certainly isn’t your..bruv. You don’t know what it is to be a brother.

DOC: You can pipe down too bruv. Sorry to spoil your little party, but this ain’t about you, I’ll deal with you later.

Mugen: HOW DARE YOU come into MY sacred ring and try to steal the spotlight for yourself. Why don’t you get out of MY ring and go to the back and let the real stars shine tonight in front of the crowd.

DOC: I’m happy your gums are still working, bro, after I just watched Harvey kick your teeth back down your throat. I know what you want mate, and it ain’t a match like this one. You know how this ends, I just need you to accept the challenge.

Mugen: You are speaking my language, old sport. I never back down from a challenge. Especially not from someone who has rudely disrespected me tonight. Just know that this time, the match ain’t going to be one for the faint of heart.

H2O puts his arm across Mugen’s chest and moves him to the side slowly. Mugen shoves Harvey’s arm off of him and shoves him back.

Harvey is taken back by it but does nothing. He looks at the area of where Mugen hands touched him and wipes off the sweat.

H2O: I’ll let that go, for now. DOC, you and WILL see each other sooner than you think!

Harvey begins to walk away towards the ropes. He begin to step through but doubles back towards Mugen and DOC.

H2O: One more thing. You better watch your mouth talking about Emp like that.

Mugen stares at Harvey with a questionable look on his face. DOC looks at both of them as he raises his eyebrows and a smirk comes across his face. Harvey walks out of the ring and smirks to himself.

NO DQ (SHIANNE ONLY)

On the afternoon before the biggest RIOT in years, Derek Smith pulls up to the global headquarters of OCW, Derek is looking to verify info on this “Cammy A.” girl from 2 weeks ago, after she didn’t appear backstage at Turmoil.

He’s told by the lady at the front desk to take the elevator to the 7th floor, where the Social Media department is. When the elevator reaches the ground level, a familiar, yet unexpected face in Evelyn Parker steps off the elevator with what appear to be financial documents.

Evelyn: Why are you here?

Derek: I could ask you the same question. So what’s wrong wit you?

Evelyn: Concussion protocol. As much as I would love to be tossing hoes around like you do, some people just don’t work safe. So I took an office job up at financial in the meantime. Perks of not relyin’ on wrestling as my only talent. Hit some books, you might be able to do the same.

Derek: What do you mean by that?

Evelyn: You know exactly what I mean, Smith. Also, good job on the segments, ya merch sales are on the rise again!

Derek: Whose giving you that infor-

Evelyn: Best of luck, lil bro. Lemme know when you wanna hit some weights.

Derek: Ight “lil bro” is crazy, but i’ll let you know.

Evelyn walks out of the front door and hops into her Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk. After the trip to the 7th floor, Derek enters the Offices of OCW’s Social & Digital Media department, where he sees Cammy A. shooting what appears to be a preview video for RIOT 600. Once she notices Derek, she tells the camera crew to cut, and she immediately runs to give Derek a hug.

Camille: Derek, what are you doing here?

Derek: Six feet lady we don’t know each other like that yet

She immediately releases the hug.

Camille: Sorry, I’m still fangirling a little bit. Like, wow, your idol comes to visit you at your dream job! How would you react?

Derek looks at her, slightly confused.

Camille: Anywho, here we are, I got the badge, we’re on site, and we were just recording. Enough for you to believe me now?

Derek: Sure…

Camille: Okay, so, perfect timing. I reserved a table for us at a nice place, tomorrow night. You, me, and a big juicy porterhouse with all the fixings, all on me. Deal?

Derek: Sounds nice, but how you book it without asking me at all?

Camille: It’s a nice place, and they don’t do walk-ins, so better safe than sorry?

Camille has an “I messed up.” look on her face.

Derek: You know what i’ll go. You paying tho right?

Camille’s face lights up at the response, and she goes for another hug.

Derek: I don’t hug like that remember?

Camille: Sorry, sorry, sorry…

Derek walks back to the elevator, and as the door closes, he says to himself…

Derek: Unc told me don’t mess wit these white girls and look at what i’m doing!

TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

BATTLE OF THE JERKS

Backstage, after her match, Jasmin stumbles through halls with an ice pack pressed to the back of her head. Tears stream down her face, smearing her heavy eyeliner, and she holds the title with a trembling hand, looking at it as if she can’t believe she has it.

In this rare moment of vulnerability, she’s approached by Stacy Clark, who seems happy to see the Pro Wrestling Powerhouse successful.

Stacy: Jasmin, congratulations. You went out there and went to war in one of the most competitive matches in recent OCW history, and you did what many considered impossible, especially after your loss at the Queen of OCW tournament.

Stacy: I have a couple of questions for you, but the first, and most important one… how do you feel?

Jasmin starts to giggle, her voice choked with emotion, before looking up at Stacy with a bright, ear to ear smile.

Jasmin: I can’t believe it! I-I just… A few months ago I was considering i-if I even belonged here at all, if i was just too soft, or too nice, or not good enough, a-and now, on short notice, I won the OCW Women’s Championship! I-I – oh my God, I’m gonna cry-!

Stacy, for her part, can’t help but laugh a little sympathetically along with her, placing a hand on the embattled new champ’s shoulder.

Stacy: I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’re excited to see what’s next for you, Jasmin, but for now, I think it’ll be best if we let you enjoy your moment.

Jasmin: T-thank you Stacy, I love you!

Stacy: Love you too, haha~!

With that, Stacy leaves with her own little smile, but Jasmin isn’t alone for long… she’s joined by yet another familiar face! The Silent Queen Dragana Cesar immediately jumps and gives her a BIG HUG.

After a moment, she lets go and does an excited little jump. Jasmin’s face might look like a mess from the smeared eyeliner, but her happiness is undeniable.

Jasmin: Oh my God!

Glaring down at the championship, she offers it to Dragana.

Jasmin: I-It’s pretty cool isn’t it?

Regina Tacet carefully takes it and stares at it for a moment. She looks at her own reflection, then closes her eyes. She walks behind Jasmin and wraps the championship around her waist.

She comes back around to face her and grabs her by the shoulders. Jasmin, for her part, looks like she’s about to start crying again.

Jasmin: I-I couldnt’ have done this without your help, you know.

Dragana sniffs and tears start dropping from her big blue eyes. Her face turns red, looking down at the floor with a laugh. That won’t do! Jasmin decides to try and ease her sorrows with a big WRASSLIN HUG!

Jasmin: C’mere, you!

Coming back from commercial break we see Bobbi Baddie and Chance Williams sitting down in a GOAT Academy training room. The room has a projector on where Bobbi’s match from RIOT 599 is paused. The camera shifts to Bobbi as she turns to Chance with a frustrated look on her face.

Bobbi: I just don’t get it! I was so close… I felt like I had her! I could’ve sworn the win was right there but… it slipped through my fingers.

Bobbi: Where did I go wrong? What should I have done differently? I just don’t get it.

Chance: Have you never done a tape review before?

Bobbi has a confused facial expression as she shrugs at Chance clearly not understanding the terminology he just used.

Chance chuckles and looks back at the projector, points at it, and starts explaining to Bobbi.

Chance: Okay first let’s go over how you started the match. I don’t think I’d ever recommend running toward the bigger opponent, ever. As you learned from what happened, your momentum plus theirs? Almost never usually works out.

Chance: Now let’s fast forward a little bit to a moment when I thought you were really doing well.

The match fast forwards a bit to where Bobbi forearm smashes Jasmin in the chest and she collapses to the ground.

Chance: See this? This is what you really want to do. You want to smother her, when Jasmin gets her hands on people she tends to inflict mass amounts of damage. But with your speed and wit, you can keep this unrelenting pressure that realistically Jasmin can’t keep up with.

The camera shifts back to Bobbi where she’s comedically writing down everything Chance is saying with a furious speed. Where the paper and pen came from? That’s to be discovered on a different episode.

Chance continues on as he smirks at the eagerness of Bobbi wanting to improve.

Chance: Honestly Bobbi you really have it all if I’m being forward with you. Speed, wit, technicality, and heart. You don’t struggle to put it together as we kept seeing time and time again in this match plus your other matches.

Bobbi stops writing as she looks up at Chance and smiles at him.

Bobbi: Wow, you really mean that?

Chance: Of course! You don’t just become a world-class athlete, fighter, wrestler, or anything overnight. It takes time, repetitions, it’s all just a massive grind on who wants to be the best most.

Bobbi: That- that is seriously so kind. I feel like most of my time in OCW people haven’t really taken me seriously… so hearing that from you? It means a lot.

Chance chuckles as he places a hand on her shoulder.

Chance: I’m not nearly as pretty as you are, but I get what you’re saying. I feel sorta the same way you do but in my own kind of way. I feel like Harris gave me the opportunity of a lifetime by putting a word in for me… but then, I kinda sorta blew it.

Chance’s chuckle tones down as he now looks bummed out over his recent remark, Bobbi noticing slides his hand off her shoulder and holds his hand with both of hers.

Bobbi: Hey, come on now. Look at you! YOU were chosen by Stephen McCallum, Aries! The GOAT! To continue on his legacy of training the next generation of upcoming professional wrestlers!

Chance: Thank you Bobbi.. That does mean a lot to me. I’m sure the tides will change for both of us if perhaps we keep this newly founded relationship. I sure could use more faces around here and I could always help you as well!

A knock on the class door is heard as Chance excuses himself from Bobbi and goes to open the door. As he opens it, he notices none other than Derek Smith, the hand-picked student of Stephen McCallum and former OCW International Champion.

Derek: Ay my fault if I interrupted something, I can come back later Chance if you still around.

Chance looks a bit surprised to see Derek, who hasn’t been around the GOAT Academy for some time. He turns around to Bobbi and smiles.

Chance: Bobbi, I hate to end this prematurely but do you mind? It’s… not often we get blessed with the rare Derek Smith sighting. But I promise we can pick back up soon.

Bobbi nods at Chance and smiles as she gets up to leave the room. She brushes past Chance and blushes as she scoots by him and Derek. Chance has Derek step into the room as he shuts the door.

Chance: Man. Derek Smith, the Golden GOAT medal winner, former International Champion, the chosen one! What can we do for you?

Derek: Man Chance it’s good to see you, but this is a place of business so i’m not gonna beat around the bush. I want back in the academy.

Chance crosses his arms and looks bemused with Derek. He takes a few steps back before responding to Derek.

Chance: Well Derek I’m glad to hear that but also saddened to hear that as well. You “want back in” as if you know that you left the academy behind. Bit of a guilty conscience on ya pal?

Chance: Listen, I get it. Everyone goes through hard times, burn out, lack of motivation, personal issues, injury sabbatical, I get it. But the real thing that scratched me the wrong way with this Derek is… do you deserve to be in the academy?

Chance: Do you deserve a second chance after all that Stephen and this academy has already done for you? I don’t know if I think you are my friend.

Derek: Alright listen I know letting me back would be questionable because where did I go in the first place? To be honest, pressure got to me and I couldn’t handle the weight of being champion, so I did the worst possible thing and left.

Derek: But hear me out, I got so much love for this place than anybody who was here from the start. If it wasn’t for you and Stephen I wouldn’t have become International champion.

Chance uncrosses his arms and can tell by Derek’s facial expression he regrets his mistakes from the past. Chance walks up to Derek and looks him up and down.

Chance: You’re an extremely talented man Derek. You stepped in the ring with Stephen McCallum and won. You stepped in the ring with me and won. You stepped in the ring and won the OCW International Championship.

Chance: Pressure got to you? That’s fair. I respect it and I admire you for recognizing your faults. That doesn’t erase what you did. So here’s what we’ll do and you tell me how you feel about this.

Chance: This off season? I want you here everyday. Working with the juniors.

Derek’s jaw drops as he shakes his head aggressively and rubs his eyes like what he heard was from a dream.

Derek: Ok I get you’re disappointed in me right now, BUT THE JUNIORS?? I’m the only original, other than you, still here. You still got the picture on your desk look how many heads are gone.

Chance pulls out his wallet from his back pocket and pulls out a picture and hands it to Derek. Derek takes the photo and looks down at it as Chance starts to go on.

Chance: Christian Garcia, John Carter, Marcus McMichaels, Jasmin Kaffee, Jordan Trance, Derek Smith, Alyssa Marceaux, Chance Williams, and Harris Turner. I remember everyone and guess what Derek?

Chance: You. All. Left! One way or another whether flat out abandoning GOAT Academy and turning your back on us or just disappearing for a while and coming back. You all left.

Chance: You wanna show me you’re serious about coming back? Then I’ll see you every day working with the juniors. After that? Then me and you can start talking about one on one training. Before that though my man?

Chance: I have students and other priorities. Remember KC? Ya. I thought he almost ended my career, and where were you at big dawg? I’m happy you’re back Derek. But you gotta earn my trust if you want me to take you seriously.

Chance pats Derek on the shoulder as he walks out of the room leaving Derek by himself.

Derek: Chance is right, but if he compares me to those walkouts again i’m filing a complaint.

The cameras back away as somehow a studio crowd is heard chuckling. Derek looks around and sprints out the room as he definitely doesn’t mess with that energy. The cameras cut back to the announcer’s desk as the show move on.

OPEN CHALLENGE

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Nate Ortiz sits down for his media availability after his shocking return earlier tonight. He has his shoulder wrapped with ice he looks tired but alert as he begins to answer questions.

Reporter: Why did you answer the open challenge?

Nate: Because that man was supposed to leave town. But I guess he got lost. 100 episodes ago I suffered the most embarrassing moment of my career. That coward is on a sabbatical and Paul was next on my list.

Reporter: Does this mean your back for another run at things?

Nate: No, that time has come and gone. I don’t need to prove that I can hang with the new generation, I did it for a year. In that year know one could touch me. I was a Kassidy cash in from… you know what I dealt with his at the charity show. I’ve climbed that mountain so no there won’t be another full time run.

Stacy Clarke: So what’s next for you Franchize?

Nate ponders for a few moments before beginning to speak.

Nate: You know, back home to Tiffany and the kids. The office in New York.

Nate shakes his head and hits the table.

Nate: You know what who am I kidding. It might be the blows to the head tonight or the adrenaline still pumping. But there is one thing thats been eating at me. It’s rotting my core. Even more than Tiberius Dupree.

Nate: It’s been seven years and Drago Cesar is the guy. He’s whats next. He’s the last mountain to climb.

Nate points for the camera to zoom in.

Nate: Drago! If I’m going to be Greater Than The Greatest of All Time then I have to beat you. I don’t need the stupid jackets that those fools run around with, I just have to know that I can do it. It’s been seven years. You know where and when. I just need you to say yes…

Nate stands and walks off as questions and camera flashes rush forward.

CCW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP