Jim Black stands with Cort Marshall backstage. Jim is looking his usual professional self, but Cort is clearly still feeling out-of-sorts after Shepard’s actions. He’s downcast, rolling on the balls of his feet as Jim starts us off.
Jim: Well, Cort, I’m not sure where to start. First of all the situation with Shepard, and now you’re in a Future Investment match at Wrestlelution--but you don’t know who else will be in the match!
Cort sighs and looks up at the camera.
Cort: No, Jim, I’m not sure where to start either. These past few weeks have really thrown my world upside-down.
Cort:
I didn’t think… it was possible for a man to stoop that low.
Cort:
I didn’t believe that anyone could take the sport of professional wrestling that far. What he did was disgusting.
Cort: And what disgusts me more is that it seems like he was rewarded for it.
Jim: Hold on now, some would say that you being put in the match is a chance to get back at him!
Cort shakes his head.
Cort: Forget "the match," Jim. This has progressed beyond matches.
Cort:
Isn’t that a federal crime? Isn’t that grounds for firing?
Cort:
As far as I’m concerned he should never be allowed to show his face in this company again--
Suddenly he stops, eyes locked on something offscreen. We soon see that it’s Christian Shepard, leisurely strolling onto the interview set.
Shep: You afraid of me? Just think, this could be your very last chance to succeed in this company!
Shep:
After all, there’s two other people in the match to hide behind. Then again, you haven’t really had luck with multimans either!
A shit-eating grin crawls along Shepard’s face as Cort looks at him in disgust.
Cort: You shut your mouth. You. Are. Human. Garbage.
Cort:
What in the hell made you think it was okay to take out your personal frustrations on my father’s GRAVE?
Shep: I knew I had to do something. If the office refused to notice me, I’d make them. And so I did.
Cort: You defiled a grave for your career?
Shep shrugs.
Shep: As graves go, it was mediocre. Couldn’t afford anything better?
Cort steps forward, ready to throw hands.
Jim: Whoa now gentlemen… let’s not turn this interview into a fight!
Shep: Yeah, you gonna assault me with a weapon again? You need one?
Cort slowly lowers his fist, clenching it and grinding his teeth.
Cort: Believe me, I would love to. But Tre was right. You’re just goading me into doing something stupid.
Cort:
I’ll be the better man. Just get ready for Wrestlution… it’s hard to climb a ladder with a broken leg.
Shep: I take a step up the ladder every time I step in the ring. Broken leg or not I’m still better than you in and out of the ring.
Shep:
Watch what I do tonight, ask yourself can you really hang with me. Because on the biggest stage we got I’m not throwing away my shot!
The scene ends with the two men staring each other down as an increasingly nervous Jim Black looks offscreen for assistance.
The camera pans to the announce team.
These 2 are going to kill each other at Wrestlution!
If they even make it that far!
K'DANGELO vs RYU MATSUMOTO
The camera pans to the announce team.
Right in the breadbasket!
NO! don't you even start! NO!
Stacy Clark sits in her interview chair going over her notes and questions. Today she has chosen to reach out to OCW wrestler Capo. Stacy had not done a segment with Capo since he was a rookie. There is a light glow about Stacy today…
Director: Live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
Stacy Clark: Good evening OCW fans, I’m Stacy Clark and this is The Clark Effect. We would like to thank you all for tuning in to today’s segment.
Stacy Clark: The crew here at OCW studios heard your voice and are thrilled to bring to you LIVE @ RIOT 531 here in MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, a special interview with the bad boy, trash talking, and somewhat emotional Capo Genovese.
Crowd applauds fill the studio as Capo walks into the studio area in a brand new tailored suit. He has cut all of his hair off and is now bald.
The wrestler looks to be very fresh and healthy. He shakes hands and plants a kiss on the cheek of Stacy as the two slightly embrace for a small but kind of hot embrace.
Stacy blushes slightly but quickly snaps back into her professionalism. Capo’s eyes are piercing through Stacy’s soul as he watches her fumble with her notes for a second or two. This feels like Deja Vu for both
Capo: Good evening, Stacy
Stacy: Good evening Capo...We are so thrilled to have you and this new look here tonight in MSG, WHERE BROOKLYN AT?
The two exchange laughs as Capo stands and bows to the behind scenes fans…
Capo: It’s always a pleasure to be home and representing OCW as much as I can.
Stacy: Yes, certainly speaking of which, It seems you have not been as present on the wrestling side of things this season, we all know about the melodrama that's panning out between you and Justin Jehst, but the people want to know is Capo still able to compete?
Capo: There is nothing like being in the ring, but I do understand that this is a business, and its all about the appeal, flair, who’s who, and most importantly fan favorites.
Stacy: So are you saying you are none of these things Capo?
Capo laughs...
Capo: Absolutely not….To be honest, I have been so wrapped up with bringing down Justina, I have not had much time to be in the ring. But that’s all gonna change at Wrestle-Lution!
Crowd pops..
Stacy: So this beef with Jehst, it’s still unclear. Aside from some photos you revealed a while back, and that can be taken out of context very easily, we the people still don't know what happened between Gene & Jehst, and You and Gene, a matter of fact, Where is Gene??
Capo: I don’t know...You gotta realize that when I saw the two of them in my vacation home that evening, I just took off because I felt a very dark side come over me, and I'm not about doing dirt to my friends.
Capo: I spoke to Gene a couple of times after that went down, but I just never could confront her, or Jehst about it.
Stacy: Yeah but you have not been so nice to the guy as of recent. I mean, shouldn't friends talk through these things.
awkward silence...
Capo: ahh I know, I know...But the cameras don't lie, and I'm telling you Justina is going to be in for a rude awakening when I get my hands on him at Lution!
Stacy: So based on your experience here in OCW, are you ready to face off against a high caliber wrestler like Justin Jehst.
Stacy: In a lot of your matches you either flat out lose or you come close to putting it away but can’t finish at the end. I mean we all remember the“Capo has no Cardio” rumors when you were a rookie.
Capo laughs and says “Fans are unbelievable”...
Capo: I try not to listen to the spectators...I’m working and training hard, not sitting on my ass scrolling through social media.
Stacy chuckles…
Capo: I’m training hard...
Stacy: Said every wrestler I ever interviewed…
Crowd starts to laugh and applaud
Capo: This is different….My heart is broken, the pain I felt that day has consumed me. It will be the driving force behind me at Wrestlelution.
Capo: Without pain, there would be no suffering, without suffering we would never learn from our mistakes. I must make Justin Jehst suffer--then learn.
Stacy: Ok, but does it really matter? I mean, nobody knows where Gene is, you have not been relevant in the ring this season at all.
Capo: Jehst’s ratings are through the roof, no shade to your NYC cult following, but let's be serious, this is classic good-guy-bad-guy here, and it's looking like Jehst has the edge.
Capo: Stacy, what is the phrase that comes before my theme music?
Stacy sarcastically sings: It’s been so long since you been gone” then chuckles...
Capo: Stacy, if this interview was with anybody else...(
scumbag laugh)…
Stacy: I kid Capo, I kid...(scumbag laugh…)
Capo struggles to swallow his pride and hold his composure, he feels as if he is being taken for granted.
Capo: I will always be painted as the bad guy, so at Lution’, I plan on handing out brushes to everyone.
