Sheldon is sitting on the bench outside the church, which has been his home for almost a year. His body slumped onto the bench.
Sheldon raises his Head, showing reddish eyes and a pale shade on his face.
Sheldon: Sanctum remembers. Sanctum remembers ... his words, filled with toxic venom, still echo in my Head. I ... can't get his Bullshit out of my Head!
Sheldon clutches his Head, restraining himself from banging his Head onto the bench.
Sheldon: LIE! It all was a lie from the very beginning. It wasn't a bond we forged all this time, no! You realized that I was that gifted Child. You know I overshadowed you and Frazer by a mile! Both of you called me a Prodigy.
Sheldon: Both of you tried to control me to my benefit from me. You wanted to elevate yourselves through me! And once cracks formed in the Sanctum, you tried to tighten your grips around me. When Fraser and I lost our Tag Team Titles, and you were straying from our path, it was clear that I had to leave.
Sheldon: Frazer almost immediately lost his will to fight after the title loss. You, Owen, had an easy way to talk him down, but me, oh no, I fought back against you. I clearly said my words about the entire situation.
Sheldon: You tried hard to pull strings on me, but I cut them as soon as you tried playing me. Wunderkind, my ass! You knew you would never reach my dedication level, which scared you. You got infested by jealousy, and it took you over.
Sheldon: Let me be clear to you Fuck Sanctum, and fuck you, Owen. I don't need you, Fraser, or anybody else for my future now!
Sheldon: I got disappointed so much now cause, in the end. I'm always ... alone in my fights. When I trust people the most, they vanish without a trace. Garcia, James, Kass, and you, heh, getting disappointed is a part of my life in OCW, I guess.
Sheldon: But Sanctum gave me a name. I am The Prodigy. I am the shining new star in the sky, but this Prodigy can turn its struggle into a rage you have never seen before.
Sheldon: Do you know what happens to Prodigys? To young people that get moved to universities to Harvard and such? They never come out not right in their Head.
Sheldon: In the end, they all struggle. They collapse under the weight ... and turn into Monsters. Have you ever heard about the Unabomber?
Sheldon: A man who was turned into a Monster cause of all the weight that was put on him? If I need to become a raging Vile Creature to beat you senseless, then so be it!
Sheldon smacks the wood on the bench with his right fist.
Sheldon: I will forge my own path. I will end the mat enforcer the same way he tried to end me, and I will do it alone.
Sheldon stands up, puts on his bag he had behind him, and walks away from the church. Before he is almost out of sight, he looks over his shoulder.
Sheldon: I hope for you, Owen, that Fraser turns the TV off when he watches us clash. His little princess shouldn't have to see Uncle Owen getting beaten to a bloody pulp on the mat, am I right?
With that, Sheldon walks away, and the picture fades to black darkness.
RIOT BLOCK - ROUND 1
SUE PLEX vs. BELLE
As the evening sun dipped below the city skyline, casting a warm orange glow, El Parca and Dennis Dillinger strolled side by side toward the vintage movie theater.
The neon lights above the entrance flickered to life, illuminating the scene with a nostalgic charm. Laughter and snippets of conversation wafted from nearby cafes, blending with the distant hum of traffic.
The anticipation of the cinematic escape hung in the air, creating a backdrop for the duo's rendezvous on this bustling evening.
The two men walk by multiple posters as they make their way to the front door. Parca’s eyes catch a few marquee posters featuring OCW superstar and international movie star, Justin Jehst.
He also notices torn up, weathered down posters of the man who went face to face with him last week, Maxx Edwards. Parca stops Dennis and himself in their tracks as he turns toward the posters.
Parca: Now see THAT?
Parca points at the pristine Justin Jehst poster…
Parca: That is a movie star right there. A man who carved his own path and opened doors for himself, not like THAT guy…
He points toward a Maxx Edwards poster…
Parca: …A guy that needed Archer to funnel money into a failed acting career.
Parca: What exactly was the point that you were so adamant about coming to this exact theater? Clearly they aren’t doing well business wise if they are showing Maxx Edwards movies. Those haven’t been in style since ever.
Dennis wraps his arm around Parca and chuckles as he keeps the two of them moving. Before we know it, we come up to the front of the theater seeing the name of it. In large, comically large for that matter, lettering we see it’s called DILLINGER THEATERS.
Dennis: Amigo! You thought we were coming here to watch Maxx Edwards movies!?
Dennis starts cackling in exaggerated fashion even bending over slapping his knees, in response.
Dennis: Can you imagine what kind of representation I’d be if I took the World Champion to watch a Maxx Edwards film?
Dennis regains himself and stands back up wiping away a lone tear from his eye.
Dennis: My boy, this theater? Is OURS, now. This particular theater was owned by that clown- I mean my lovely business partner Thomas Archer invested in to try and bury that beautiful man right there, Justin Jehst. Maxx Edwards was his way of doing that. Can you imagine how much wasted money was poured into this entire venture?
Dennis: I was able to get it back from the bank for a fraction of the cost he paid. I wanted you to see what Maxx Edwards came from before I renovated the entire thing. What it looks like when someone invests in him.
Parca looks surprisingly delighted by the shade that Dennis threw to Maxx and Archer.
Parca: Wow, feisty this evening are ya. Okay I like the style right now, so ADC-Holdings owns this theater, that’s good but.. what exactly does this have to do with me?
Dennis once again wraps his arm around Parca, using the other in a large arching motion.
Dennis: Oh but it is actually more relevant than you think! You see? We are all very different than we were back then. I’m different. You’re different. Archer is different…
Dennis: …and the same goes for Maxx Edwards.
Dennis: Now, nobody bats 1000% in this business, I’d know that better than most, but you see, no matter what mistakes you have made, you would never have a run down left-over shrine of failure left in your wake.
Dennis: El Parca is the crown jewel. That championship proves it. This place that I’ve purchased? All it proves is what we already know.
Dennis: When you invest in the Crown Jewel, you get a World Champion the whole industry can be proud of. When you invest in Maxx Edwards? Well…
Dennis again waves his hand, as if to say “look around you”.
Parca: (...But you said we’re all different than we were back then, right?)
The Manhattan Mogul takes a deep breath and chuckles under his breath as he steps a few more stairs down.
Dennis: Damn straight. That’s why I can’t let you overlook him.
Dennis: Do you remember how motivated you were to show the world you are more than your past failures? More than your past decisions?
Dennis: Do you remember all of the hours you’ve spent outworking this entire roster in order to prove that you could shut down all of the doubters, all of the naysayers, all of the questions?
Dennis: This building, these posters, the silence that has filled these halls for so many years…
Dillinger turns around, his face no longer wide and smug, but instead looking very stern and serious.
Dennis: …This is Maxx’s past. This is his motivation. Just like you refused to be stopped, he probably will too.
Dennis: I’ve had conversations with Archer about this entire phase of his life and business, and the look in his eyes when we talk about Maxx Edwards I’ve only seen in one other place, and that place is the mirror I look into every morning.
Dennis: …Unfortunately for Maxx Edwards, he can run through brick wall after brick wall in order to prove himself the way you did, but at the end of that road he’s going to find a brick wall that’s even more stubborn and strong than he could hope to be.
Dennis: He’s going to find the Crown Jewel. He’s going to find El Primero. He’s going to find you, Miguel.
Dennis: Don’t lose sight of how far we’ve come, and that includes your opponents.
Parca wraps his arm around Dennis and gives him a smile realizing just how far the two men truly have come since the start of their journey together.
They continue walking forward into the theater as they still are laughing and pointing at posters all around, the cameras back away and fade to black as the show continues.
The scene opens up again with dramatic music as Spider’s now bare-feet slap against the concrete alongside Empress’ businesswoman pumps click in unison as the two travel to their meeting location.
EMP: This is the place.
The camera pans to see a door with a crinkled paper sign crudely taped on the front. In sloppy handwriting, the sign says “NOT THE PERFECT SOTRM”
RYU: How can you be sure? That clearly says it’s not the perfect storm.
EMP smirks confidently as she pulls off the paper sign, revealing an official PERFECT STORM nameplate screwed into the door.
RYU: Wait so they’re just in their locker room? Why couldn’t they be in catering?
EMP: Crafty sons a’ bitches.
EMP turns the knob as the music crescendos and the two enter.
H2O’s voice: There she is! Oh, and hey Spider!.
The camera pans around to see H2O, in a bright, fully-organza suit and wraparound shades, as Spider and EMP have to cover their eyes at how shiny and colorful it is in the well-lit locker room.
H2O removes his shades and places them on the table in front of him, as a second chair spins around with fingers clasped. The hands, of course belong to Ijitu Quartz, who’s completely slicked his greasy hair back, as it shines alongside his matching two-piece organza suit.
Quartz: We really appreciate you taking this meeting. We understand how busy you both are, Mrs. Sensation.
EMP: Of course. After all, Mr. Matsumoto and I take our roles as decision makers very seriously.
H2O: I’m glad someone in management does. You two don’t drown yourselves in maple syrup or hand out fines like they’re NYPD. Please have a seat.
Spider and EMP once again nod to each other and take their seats. Spider once again flicks open his briefcase, before reaching down and removing his shoes, placing them in his briefcase.
EMP: So… You… Wait a second, didn’t you already take your shoes off last time?
RYU: That’s better.
EMP shakes off the situation and turns back to the Perfect Storm.
EMP: So… You two believe you deserve a World Tag Team Championship match, eh?
Quartz: That’s right. The two of us are the most deserving team in OCW. Have been for a long time.
RYU mirrors Quartz’ energy and leans back in his chair, menacingly.
RYU: And what qualifies you for such a prestigious position?
Quartz: Well, I am sure you both are aware of our long history with championships in this company.
H2O: 8 world championships between us. Wrestlution Main Even....
Quartz puts his hand in front of H2O to stop him, not wanting to offend Empress. Empress’ eyes narrow slightly.
H2O: Eherm… Yes, well you are aware of our resumes.
EMP: Indeed we are, but what separates you from the other teams vying for an opportunity?
Quartz nods at his brother with a smug grin, before pulling out a small flash card and sliding it slowly across the table.
EMP looks intrigued, and takes the flashcard, turning it to read it. The note reads…
“Because I said so”
EMP nods and shows the card to RYU, who bounces his fingers off of one another in thought.
Suddenly, another card slides across the table. EMP again reads it…
“I know how to solve a Rubix Cube without taking the stickers off”
EMP looks very impressed, shooting a look to Harvey, who slid this one over.
Another card now slides across, this time to Spider from Quartz…
“My heavies are hungry for championship gold.”
EMP and Spider look up at the same time, as Quartz tears open his suit jacket to reveal his pecs, as several dozens of more flash cards fly out and float down to the ground. Quartz winks as he flexes them at the GMs.
EMP: Now, I am a happily married woman, but even I can’t deny these credentials.
After a very short nod to each other once again, EMP stands and straightens her own power suit as she extends her hand to H2O and Quartz.
EMP: I think I’ve seen everything I need to see. Next week, on RIOT 617, it will be Perfect Storm and The Future Idiots for the World Tag Team Championships.
Quartz: I knew you’d see it our way. Thank you, Mrs. Sensation.
H2O: How did we get so lucky to find such unbelievable leadership? Oh and by the way, Emp, may I throw this box away that you gave me a while ago?
Emp: Sure you can Harv! I’m wearing the wedding ring now so there’s no sense of keeping that thing any longer.
Quartz: Clever you two. A lot of people thought you guys were going to tie the knot.
H2O: Anything to send Sensation to a hospice. I promised you, no more distractions....He's lucky I don't RIP TI....
RYU, Quartz & EMP all look at H20.....
H20: He's lucky.......!
H2O tosses the box in the waste basket next to him. Spider reaches in to shake on it as well as the two general managers exit the locker room after making the championship match official next week.
As they walk away, again the dark figure creeps around the corner, slowly removing his hood to reveal himself as Francis, the head Ghoul of Kasstianity. He peers around for a few moments before putting his hood back over his head and scurrying away…
