Zoe Cohle is seen in her hotel room, a pack of ice on both knees. Aisu is watching TV, the replay of Zoe's match is on.
Aisu: I mean you did well.. But it also been a long time since you competed, ring rust is a thing. No pun intended..
Zoe:*Sigh* I should have known better. And damn Alyssa is quick, didn't do my scouting report. That's on me. AOUTCH IT HURTS!
Aisu: Don't try to move too much..
As the replay of Riot rolls on, Cort Marshall vs Telos is on the screen. Aisu looks concerned. She sees that.
Zoe: Don't worry. It'll be your time soon. Be prepare for anything that comes. And who knows, it might be big. I am sure you can beat anybody.
Plus, I did some scouting. Why don't you answer open challenges ? There is one on Turmoil every w...
She is cut off.
Aisu: Hey hey hey now. No not now. I mean.. No. There are a lot of guys ahead of me that wants a shot at this. Plus, Drago is a legend, I admire him. I need preparation first, get matches done and maybe one day.. But now that is not my focus.
Zoe: You might be right. Take your time. I was just saying.... Damn I think my left is falling apart.
Both Zoe and Aisu stare at the screen while the scene fades.
*****
Backstage Jim Black is in catering getting a drink, ready to get the night over with, when JT pops up.
JT -HEY JIM!!
He shouts as he slaps Jim in the back right when he is about to take a drink, causing him to spill it all over his shirt.
JT -Whoa DUDE! Are you JUMPY today or WHAT!?
Jim looks down at his soaked shirt, then back up at JT his face beginning to turn red
Jim-WELL! Actually I......
JT shakes his head and puts his hand on Jims shoulder interrupting him to say
JT-No need to explain SLIM JIM! Just take a deep breath, give a shout, and RUN IT OUT! That will get you ready for ANYTHING! But first....
JT grabs a stack of napkins from a nearby table and hands them to Jim
JT-You should try and dry your shirt, you made a MESS my man!
JT takes a deep breath and shouts "LET'S GO" before running off down the hall. Jim is left confused and angry.
Jim- What the HELL was that all about!?
Jim shakes his head and begins to dab his shirt with the napkins.Fade to black.
The camera pans to the announce team.
Someone is going to get hurt.
This match may take years off of their careers.
VALKYRIE vs DRAGANA
The camera pans to the announce team.
Good lord!
I think the other guy takes credit for this one.
The cameras go live and one of OCW's newest rookies squints and blinks away the bright lights. There is a hint of nervousness in his Great Plains voice, it's the first time they've stuck him in front of a camera and told him just to talk.
Mark Reese: So I just start talkin' right? As if no one is there, but there is? Right, got you, lives, no retakes.
He inhales deeply before exhaling slowly to settle himself.
Mark Reese: My name is Mark Reese, and if you didn't know, you're gonna know it real soon. At the moment I'm unbeaten in the OCW ring but that's not how I know I've arrived at the big time, I've been out here twice so far and I actually heard some people singing along with my theme music. Tonight though that might all change, I've got to get in the ring with Tayy Breezie and he's fast, he's agile and he's smart. Now when you look at him and you look at me, there's a bit of a difference.
Mark laughs.
Mark Reese: But that's what this is about, that Scottsbluff Style is going to get tested and tested until it fails, then I gotta go back, hit the books and get right back in the ring. So tonight, Tayy, I wish you all the best of luck tonight, but I'll need to make my own and keep this run goin'! Eatin' hams and throwin' hands, let's do this!
*****
A dilapidated compound looms out of the darkness, the dirty light being blasted out from the occasionally flickering neon lamps paints a stark contrast to the empty surroundings outside the walls. The car from before grinds to a halt in the crisp gravel, Trance kills the engine and steps outside into the wild night. He moves round to the trunk and retrieves an iron bar, weighing it in his hand he closes the trunk and begins to walk towards the entrance.
We now cut inside, joining the Sultan of Scum, living it up inside. There appears to be some large party going on, Wrex himself sat at the head of the table with his feet up and arms behind his head. His title belt screwed onto the wall like some kind of trophy, as he watches the proceedings happening in front of him with a massive grin. Various faces can be seen in attendance, but only one other might be known. Aries can be seen staring a hole through the bottle of Jameson he had in his hands
Wrex: Jesus man cheer up a bit, tonight is a celebration, for the newest member of the family and the gifts he’s brought with him. Shame he won’t be here till later but what can you do.
As the pair discuss their plans a figure moves through the night, peeling back an uncared for chain link fence to gain access to the compound. No alarm sounds, no dogs bark, everyone is inside attending to the king of Scum City. Trance walks with purpose towards the nearest building, peering in the window through the grime. Nothing inside. He moves from building to building before approaching the main one. We cut back inside.
Wrex: -I know he’s reaching his breaking point. It won't be long before he slips. And when he does it’s going to be up to you to take him out for good, no more Trance, no more match, easy path right to Lution.. We’ve seen the mistakes he makes when his mind is in the wrong place before, and how to capitalise. Only this time, you won’t let him walk away.
A scream cuts through the air as those who are assembled stop. The crashing of furniture can be heard a few rooms over as a momentary confusion rolls over the scum party.
Wrex: Oh for- Can someone go shut those animals up! Trying to have a conversation here..
Moments later a man comes crashing through the wall, a cloud of dust rising, obscuring the view through the hole. Eventually a large hand appears, gripping the wall before Jacob Trance emerges from the dust like a real life Jason Voorhees.
Wrex: Oh Jesus f**king Christ.. Really!
The rest of the room stay deadly silent, deeply troubled about what just came through the wall.
Wrex: Well… stick em!?
Most of the gathered crowd choose the opposite action and make a run out of the door. As Wrex slams his head onto the table as his hand reaches under the table and out of the cameras view.
Wrex: Useless… I uh, don’t suppose we can sit and talk?
One of the fleeing men strays too close to Trance and eats an elbow to the face. The man stays silent and draws out the steel pipe which has become stained with gore, twisted from use.
Trance: Depends what you have to say…
Wrex: I can guess that both of the reasons you came here are in the same room right now. And I have a feeling trying to get out of this room right now is probably not good for my, our,health.. how about we make a deal?
In the background parts of the building can be heard crumbling.
Wrex: What the actual F**k did you do back there?
Trance ignores the second question: What's the deal?
Wrex: Just.. ignore me then, I'm sure you want revenge on Aries for what he did, so next week you get him in any match type you want. No DQ, Wrextreme rules, a cage.. Name it.
Trance: A cage sounds interesting… But I'll save that one for you…
Wrex: Like I’d ever agree to that one anyway.
Trance: How about I make you a two part deal… An offer you can't refuse, a trinket that unlike that piece of leather and gold on the wall will never fade, it'll never tarnish… It'll echo in this and all other worlds…
Wrex: Go on..
Trance: A title match… In exchange for the chance to do away with me for good… You win and I'm done, never to return. No comebacks bubba. That's the first part of the deal…. The second part… If I beat Aries in Wrextreme Rules… You get locked in a cage with me, no escape, no way out.
Wrex: ..You never enter a ring again, no one-offs, no network specials, no legend reunion shows, no special announcer duties. I don’t care if you want to walk your wife down to the ring for her forty seventh failed title shot. You never step foot in there again?
Trance: Not even if B-17 sacrifices his first adopted Chinese daughter. Done means done.
Wrex: You beat Aries, and you’ve got it.. On one obvious condition, you lose and I choose the stipulation.
Trance smirks.
Trance: Fine by me.
At that he points the pipe towards Aries.
Trance: See you soon, brother.
Aries takes another swig of whiskey and gives Trance a sarcastic wave. Being, literally, the bigger man Trance ignores it and turns to leave, exiting through the hole he made. As the camera follows him with the scene fading out we are treated to a myriad of groaning bodies littering the floor in his wake.
Wrex: See, told you this would work itself out. And we didn’t even have to do anything.
As Wrex throws the small hammer he had tucked in his hands onto the table and gets himself comfy again in his padded chair, all with a massive smile, the scene draws to a close.
