The scene opens in the center of the ring, this time there’s no overly long celebrations, no fireworks, no other people, the CCW champion stands with nothing but his championship, and the microphone, he seems to be taking his time to soak in the view, the sounds, the cheers and jeers, before he finally brings it to his mouth.
Wrex: I said last week that we’d be continuing the celebrations, consider it a tour.. Because there’s one man who wasn’t out there, the one man I wanted there.
Wrex: I’m not going to waste time trying to hype this up, give people the chance to guess, I’m just going to ask him to come out, I know you read my texts.
Wrex: Get out here.
Dominos falling
Riot in the streets
Baby this time
There's no retreat
There's no surrender!
The former CCW Champion, B17 steps out from the back.
Crowd: Bingo! Bingo! Bingo!
B17 stops, a large smile spreads across his face. The two inflatables pop skyward and their arms wave in the same crazed enthusiasm as the crowd.
Smacking fives and fist bumping the kids as he makes his way to the ring, he pauses and lets a granny wearing Colin Locke's Master and Defeat Death shirt plant a wet kiss on his cheek. Thinking it's done he tries to pull away, but granny pulls him back and gets some lips.
Finally making it to the ring, he motions for a mic while surveying Wrex.
Bingo: MY BOY!
Bingo wraps Wrex in a huge hug.
Bingo: Four time CCW Champion, Wrex! Ladies and gentlemen, let him hear it!
B17 throws up his hands and pumps the crowd.
B17: So. I got your messages. All 20 of them. Sorry, I was hunting. I heard Jacob Trance escaped and is terrorizing the countryside.
Wrex: Well, you’re here now. Figured I’d be safe holding one of these near you now, with the semi-retirement and all, how’s that been and all? Must of been tough adjusting to it.
B17: Tough? Absolutely not. You know this! You know. You've been to my wedding, you've met my adopted daughter, I'm running an Ironman triathlon! I'm loving life.
The smile drops from Bingo's face: And that's why I gotta say no to you. No. I don't want that anymore. I ain't that guy anymore.
The champion stares at him, his own smile appearing for just a moment, before turning stone
face cold.
Wrex: Didn’t even give me the chance to pitch it, not that guy anymore, Bingo? Really? You’re really trying to tell me, you’ve got the chance to take this all away again, on the biggest stage there is.. And you’re saying no?
B17: Hey, hey. Those days are over. We've been friends for years. We've been in wars, we've taken years off of each other's lives. But the biggest stage? Boss, there is nothing like those bright lights, but those Lution lights? No. Two main events. Five world title fights. I've drank it all in.
Wrex looks murderous.
B17: Wrex, this is about you! Not some guy that hasn't wrestled in three years! You're the guy! Mr. Turmoil, our war is over!
Wrex: Over? Fucking over? July twenty fifth.. Three years ago, you and me in a last man standing match? Do you remember it? Had to tear my arm and leave it in the fucking announce table to keep me down!
Wrex: ..You remember what you said to me after?
Wrex shoves Bingo: Remember?
Bingo: This ain't the place, Wrex. This isn't even relevant!
Wrex: I fail when the lights are bright, because I’m not afraid enough.
Wrex: The day I don’t need to rely on anyone, is the day I’m too afraid to fail.. Your words.
Wrex: It’s the brightest lights there is, and I’m challenging the man I’ve never beaten in them, a man who’s not done this in months.. A singles match in years.
Wrex: You said, when the day comes I’m afraid to fail, I’ll get that last shot, that day’s come, Bingo.
B17 looks Wrex up and down. Slowly he brings the mic to his mouth: No.
Bingo drops the mic and rolls out of the ring.
Wrex stands in the middle of the ring, complete silence from him, before making for the ropes, shouting at the man who had just declined.
Wrex: Don’t walk away from me! You either agree to this match, or I’ll force it out of you!
He drops the microphone, exiting the ring as he storms to the back, we move on with the show.
The former CCW Champion makes his way into the ring, looking around with his left eye at the masses, staring back at him inside the ring.
Inness Quartz turns to look at the X-Tron and sees it displaying the close up of his face to the entire arena. He stares at it blankly for a few minutes before turning and collecting a microphone from ringside.
He takes another moment to peer around with his good eye, half of his head wrapped in stained bandages.
Quartz: 13 days ago, I stepped into the ring knowing the possibilities. Knowing for certain what may lie ahead. I have never once passed on an opportunity because of the risks. That is what is going to make Quartz’ name live forever.
Quartz: But Wrex, I must give you your credit. You did not rest on your laurels as you did at RIOT 600. Each and every blow was met by a new neighbor until it was your hand raised as the new CCW World Champion.
Quartz: Wrex, you slashed my eye open on that ladder and you proceeded to beat 25 fluid ounces of blood from my body. A body that has crashed off of ladders, through tables, and on top of vehicles… and kept coming back every time.
Quartz: Not you, nor anyone else can break me, Wrex. You forced me to reach my human limits at Road 2 Glory, but here I am against every single recommendation I’ve gotten in those 13 days since.
Quartz: My eye has been damaged. I was forced to shave my face to correct the damage to my jaw. And I am still standing right here, gah’ dammit.
Quartz pauses after the comment to again peer out intensely at the crowd.
Quartz: And as I stand in this ring in front of each of these people watching at home and every single person in the back… I truly do hope you hold that championship and keep it safe until I fight my way back to you.
Quartz: Wrex, I will hold that world championship again…
Quartz: But that?
Quartz points to the X-Tron at the close up of his face.
Quartz: That will not keep me from Wrestlution 17. That will not-
The lights shut off, the crowd’s anticipation is immediately dialed up as the lights surrounding the X-Tron’s screen burst on.
A spotlight cuts on above Quartz, as he stares dead ahead towards the tron. Words appear on the screen in burnt orange text…
“Has the storm subsided? Have the waters found peace?”
“...Or have the clouds simply grown weak?”
“Give me your answer, nuvole sopra..."
The lights slam back on as Quartz remains alone in the ring. He says nothing, but hastily exits the ring and stares up at the X-Tron as we fade to the next segment.
TAG TEAM TURMOIL THE FAMILY vs. BISHOP & CHANCE
We turn things over to the backstage area where "The Best in the World" Drago Cesar is once again struggling with one of our vending machines. He leans into the glass, glaring at the water bottle that is just a centimeter away from falling out of the rack.
Drago gives the machine a swift right hook. The automation swings back and forth, and the bottle of water falls into the pick-up box.
Drago: Finally.
He grabs the drink and takes a big gulp. However, his nourishment is interrupted by the appearance of the G.T.G.O.A.T. Nate Ortiz, nearly choking on his drink.
Drago: Hey man!
Nate stares daggers into Drago.
Nate: Give it any thought?
Drago: Yes. We will have a match. But I DO NOT want to end your career. That is not my thing. I'm sorry. Maybe you were happy to do that to Nick Kage, but this not my wheelhouse.
Nate furrows his brow in disappointment. Or perhaps annoyance.
Nate: Then what the hell is it you want?
Drago: I just want my friends back! That's all I want! If not, I want to make them understand that firing me was bad decision! They gonna hurt more people!
Nate curls his face into a fiendish smile.
Nate: I see…..Guess I'll just have to raise the stakes even further then. Catch you later, "GOAT".
The Franchize walks off. Drago takes another sip of his water before shaking his head.
Drago: What the hell has happen to this business?
Previously Recorded
It’s a sunny afternoon in Los Angeles, California. The Millionaire Beach Spa and Resort is comparably quiet at this time of day, save for a few regulars who are lounging poolside.
Kareem Franklin walks with a purpose past the regulars and into the newly renovated complex. He finds his way into a lift heading straight to the top floor. His form is more reserved than usual, occasionally he glances at his watch or behind his back before he eventually stands at the door to the office of his client.
Knock… Knock…. Knock
There’s a pause in the air for a moment.
Antonio Everrett: Mhmm.
Kareem opens the door and walks into the finely decorated office of the New Deal. Antonio stands with his back to Kareem, looking out over the famous Los Angeles skyline.
Kareem: Wassup Tony-
Antonio: Shh, shh, shh. Sit down.
Kareem nods and takes a seat on one of the sofas which is placed near the right hand wall. It’s at this moment that he realises that himself and Antonio aren’t the only ones here. Jerome Hamilton acknowledges the presence of his friend with a smile before Tony takes a seat at his desk.
Antonio: You failed.
Kareem: Well I wouldn’t say-
Antonio: I gave you one very simple, very trivial task. Stop Claudio from challenging for the International Title ever again. Did you succeed at this task, yes or no?
Kareem: Well I would’ve if-
Antonio: Yes or no.
Kareem: … No.
Antonio: Maybe now that you’ve had the chance to share the ring with Claudio, maybe you’ve started to get your head around why he is a danger to my career, and why he is a danger to my MONEY.
Antonio slams his fist down on the desk.
Antonio: Or have I given you too much credit there too?
Kareem: I always knew he was going to be a-
Antonio: I’m not finished.
Antonio stands up and looks out the window once more. Kareem shoots a glance over at Jerome, who returns the glance with a reassuring nod.
Antonio: Don’t get me wrong, Kareem, our partnership has been nothing but a resounding success. But I just think there’s one thing you’ve not quite realised yet.
Antonio turns around and looks at Kareem directly.
Antonio: Becoming successful is easy, maintaining your success is where you make the real money. And as my manager, if you want to maintain your success, your main priority is to PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT.
Jerome: Tony…
Kareem: And where the hell were you last week, Antonio!? Oh, that’s right, you got yourself kicked out of the building before the match even began! You KNEW I didn’t stand a chance against Claudio, and what did you decide to do to help me? NOTHING!
Antonio: And why did I get kicked out of the building exactly? Ah yes - because you decided it was such a smart idea to try and make a deal with the only guy who was ever going to side with Claudio!
Kareem stands up from his seat.
Kareem: I did what I could to try and save face because YOU made a STUPID deal with our General Manager! What? Do you think that just because you’ve won a few titles in OCW that you’re suddenly entitled to special treatment? You f*cked up and I’m the only one here trying to PROTECT THE F*CKING INVESTMENT.
Antonio begins to walk towards Kareem, but he stops as Jerome rises from his chair in response.
Antonio: Don’t you dare talk to me like that, bruv! You would be NOTHING without me, Kareem. What have you ever done in your career before your mate gave me a call?
Jerome interposes himself between Antonio and Kareem.
Jerome: Tony, you need to calm yourself down and show some respect. Nobody wanted the situation to unfold like this, but here we are. You just gotta keep doin’ what you’re doin’. You’ve beaten him before, and you can do it again. You know what it takes to stay at the very top, we’ve got the contacts to keep you there. That’s how it’s always worked, right?
Antonio stares at Jerome for a few moments, before nodding his head slightly.
Antonio: Alright, just no more surprises, yeah? I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that, Kareem.
Kareem: Me neither. I’m sorry, Tony.
Antonio: Mhmm.
Jerome: Great. We’ll call you later in the week, and we can figure out how we’re gonna deal with this problem once everyone has cooled down.
Antonio smiles.
Antonio: Sounds good.
With that, Jerome and Kareem leave the office and head into the lift. Antonio turns and looks back out the window. His smile quickly fades.
THE PROVING GROUNDS! SHIANNE LOVELACE
vs.
LA SERENA TORMENTA
