After the win got in a hard match versus Code Jackman, the scene opens up in backstage, where a tired Blacksmith is returning in his dressing room. Once arrived in front of the dressing room door, the Italian wrestler is surprised to see that, waiting for him, there is Drago Cesar himself, the LHW champion.
Drago: Very impressive.
TLB: Thank you. Why are you in front of the dressing room reserved for rookies. Have you lost yourself?
Blacksmith smiles defiantly.
Drago: I heard your speech on Turmoil last week. You surprised me. Who would have thought, after the rumblegrounds, that the same person throw out after only 14 seconds, would have ended the streak of one of the most promising superstars at Devils Night. Me not for sure.
TLB: Glad to have made you change your mind. You weren’t the only one that thought that couldn’t be possible.
Drago: But, i want to be extremely honest with you. Do not even think that this will be easy for you. Over the years, many have tried to beat me, and many have failed.
Drago: So please, kid, be careful who you decide to challenge. You can talk what you want behind whatever basement you hiding in, but when you step in the ring with me, you’ll see what difference is between talking the talk and walking the walk.
Drago stares intensely at Blacksmith, then decides to leave. The champion left a clear message.
*****
Stacy Clark: I’m joined by my guest, B17.
Clark turns around but finds that B17 is nowhere to be found.
She didn’t understand, just moments ago he had agreed to this interview and now...gone.
Clark: Such...a...dummy.
A faint whisper can be heard, not distinguishable at first, but the chant grows louder.
B17: Our Mugen, who art in Multiverse, Quantum be thy name…
Clark rips away the black curtain to find B17 keeling over a small holographic candle.
Clark: What are you doing?
B17: I’m praying to Overlord Mugen and thanking him for not exploding our universe when I hit the Mugen Died for my Sins on this Mugen. It’s a paradox, ya see?
Clark: Can...can we please just do this interview?
B17: Oh! Right! He stands up and stuffs the holographic candle down his pants where it continues to glow around his crotch.
Clark: B17, people have described you as more focused since your lost to Code Jackman. Can you comment on why that is?
B17 ponders his answer for a moment.
B17: I hate Code Jackman, hate em. I hate the very idea of him and what he represents. This is a man that sees B Community money and thinks it gives him power. He sees B Community loyalty and thinks it gives him control. He sees B Community respect and think that it makes him beloved. Mmmhmm.
Bingo pauses and takes a deep breath.
B17: Do what you want. Be who you want. Love who you want. It’s not about money, it’s not about control, it’s not about being beloved. The B Community is about being yourself and accepting yourself!
Clark interrupts: But he owns B Community now…
B17: Clark, I am Living Bingo Color. I am B Community. You are B Community if in your heart you know that when you look at me, when you trust me, when you support me that I will lay it on the line for all those that in their heart of hearts know that B Community is not a brand, it’s not a logo, a slogan, a marketing gimmick it is real life people standing up too the real life assholes who want to tell you how to dress, how to act, how to live. Gay, straight, bi, men, women, old, young, as long as you are 18 or over, you are B Community to the very end.
Clark: Bu--
B17: No, Clark. No butts. He wants to parade around and claim that he owns The B Community and disfigure it into a grotesque parody, The C Community. Have at it. Enjoy it. Code Jackman is not B Community and he knows it.
Clark:And...now what?
B17: Now what? Now what? I’m gonna go find Code and stick my fist right up his a-----
Clark: OK! THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, THAT WAS B17!
*****
We cut to Jim Black, dapper as usual, with a mic in his hand.
Jim: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here with Cort Marshall--and may I say, just in time, we had people looking for you!
Cort strides on screen. He’s attired in jeans, his denim jacket (as seen during entrances), a Milwaukee’s best branded t-shirt, and some cheap black sunglasses--the kind you find in any corner store. He removes the glasses and puts them in his jacket pocket before taking the mic from Jim with his good hand.
Cort: Yes, I’m here, no thanks to a certain deadline… back on base we always kept to our schedules, Jim. Always.
He speaks in a low, serious tone.
Cort: But I’m not here to talk about the good old days back at base camp, like that time Pvt. Crenshaw ate an entire bucket of Skittles and shat rainbow for the next three weeks. I’m here to talk about what you all expect me to. The title, the situation with Shepherd, and Bobby… Minio.
Cort shifts on his feet and continues, seemingly thinking as he goes along.
Cort: Minio is no stranger to inserting himself where he doesn’t belong. I mean, you saw the vacation footage. But I can’t say he doesn’t have a claim to the title, Jim. If I did, I would be a liar, and I’d rather be stuck on a desert island with only Bray’s anime music to listen to than lie. Minio is a competitor with a proven history… a history far longer than either me or Shepherd. And it’s true, by all accounts, he should be the number one contender for the Pride title. By this time, and accounting for my injury, he probably is.
Cort: But it’s not the history I have a problem with. It’s the man. It’s the attitude. This man thinks his shit has never stunk. He thinks he is the icon, the centre of the universe, God’s gift to desperate housewives and OCW fans.
Cort pauses, and the vocal fans of the One Man Revolution take the time to let Cort know how they feel.
Cort: Well. Maybe he is, to some of you. But he’s also an asshole. He’s also a selfish, braggadocious sh*theel with nuclear levels of smug. He has the NERVE to call me “enhancement talent.” Now listen, Mini-me, I ain’t some dude named Jeff Blumpkin who weighs 145 pounds wet and 45 is in the beer gut. You claim you have ZERO respect for me. I can’t say the same. I haven’t ever had zero respect for anyone not named Adolf, Saddam or Osama. But you need some perspective. People all over the show have been calling me out, by name. Tre Golden. Telos. Quartz.
Cort: They all want that title, and who is in the same sentence? Me: Cort Marshall. Because I am the one who made it MATTER. I may not have history with the title like Tre, but the moment I won it, the moment 10,000 fans chanted my name, I made it MINE. KD has the title, not a peep. Defends on a random Riot against a man who nobody thought could win. Cort Marshall has the title? His tag partner and alleged best friend stabs him in the back just for a chance, and everyone and their mother wants a shot at the belt.
He gets more heated as he continues, gesturing as he talks and staring into the camera with fire in his eyes.
Cort: Me winning the Pride title wasn’t a watershed moment for my career, Jim; I AM the watershed moment in the history of the Pride title. So let me promise this to everyone, whether they claim to respect me or NOT--do not fuck with me. Do not fuck with Uncle Sam. And do not disrespect my title.
Cort: Tre, you’re welcome to have a shot at Shepherd while I recuperate. You’ve got that combat sports experience--I hope you knock his ass out or break something. Telos, you too. Let Dirty Dillinger lead you to the ring by the balls and send you yipping after Shep like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Minio, feel free to tell everyone and anyone how goddam cool and important you are like always. Go beat TTT with your new friends, whatever.
Cort: But all of you remember, when I’m back--and I don’t know when. But when I’m back, back for real, back in the RING, your name is going to disappear off the lips of the OCW universe. That belt is going to disappear from your waist. And I will be standing. As an example, of how. To. Be. A CHAMPION.
Cheers ring out from the OCW arena, with a few boos as well, and some fans shocked at the rant coming from the staunch patriot’s lips. Cort stares at the camera for a few seconds, allowing the reaction to continue, before lowering the mic. Jim Black moves to take it back, but Cort raises the mic again and lets loose one final parting shot:
Cort: Oh, and one more thing, Innbred Quartz. Try to remember the basics of suckin’ d*ck for free. ‘Cause you’re gonna need to do that when Spider drops you like a used condom. Mic drop.
His last words mocking one of Minio’s many catchphrases, the former Pride champion drops the mic and walks offscreen, leaving Jim Black to pick it back up and sheepishly send us back to commentary.
