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.
OCW WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
JASMIN KAFFEE
vs.
HARRI ETIQUETTE*
Previously Recorded
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! "LIVIN" LEGEND LARRY MUGEN
vs.
HELL HARVEY
