Post by Project: Honor on Dec 3, 2020 19:05:38 GMT -5
The Netflix logo appears on the screen followed by the Project: Honor logo. The camera fades into Rock Johnson’s office. Rock is suited all the way up with a glass of tequila in hand. He takes a sip of it before setting it down.
ROCK JOHNSON: Damn, that tastes good. You know what else tastes good?
??: Blood?
ROCK JOHNSON: What? No, get out of here. Well… I guess to some people, sure. But, still get out of here. I’m trying to get a Pay-Per-View started!
Whoever the random person was left the office and shut the door behind them.
ROCK JOHNSON: I was going to say victory. Victory is something that everyone in wrestling strives for. Some want destruction, some want gold, some just want attention, but in the end… we all want victory, including myself. While I may not be in the ring, my victory comes from the success of this company. Let me say, I am quite victorious right now. This is our second Pay-Per-View show in our history and each and every show it just gets better than the last. Between new exclusives, new roster members, new feuds, all of it combines into one massive victory for us all. Shit, I’ll drink to that.
Rock takes the glass of his tequila and takes a nice little chug. He ends up finishing the glass and pours himself another one on the rocks.
ROCK JOHNSON: Just before this show, we had a few more join our ranks and let me be the first to welcome you to Project: Honor. I’m sure based on this show, you’re not only going to like what you see, but you’re going to itch all over to be a part of it. Just be patient, your time will come soon enough. Welcome and just get ready to party.
Rock takes the new glass of tequila and takes a little swig.
ROCK JOHNSON: That being said, we have quite the fucking show for you tonight. I’m sure you don’t want to listen to me sit here, drinking this smooth ass tequila, when you could be watching BLOODBATH! Just a fair warning, what you’re about to watch isn’t viable for young viewers, so if you have any, either cover their eyes or send them to fucking bed.
IT’S TIME FOR A BLOODBATH!
Rock Johnson takes his entire glass, chugs it, then throws the empty glass at the camera, forcing it to cut out.
CADEN YOUNG: Good evening ladies and gents, and I’m happy to be the warm and friendly face welcoming you to one of the most horrid nights of the year, Bloodbath! While this event’s Project Honor’s second Pay-Per-View, it’s chock full of fighters who remember having hardcore matches they’ll carry with them every day of their life. As such, we’re starting the show with a little fun, our first ever Halloween Costume party! The winner will be awarded three thousand Young swag dollars, redeemable at participating franchises only! Votes are cast on Twitter by our loyal #behonored fans, so keep those fingers ready! First up we have…Pat the Postman! Pat, please give the judges down the runway a little bit of info on who you’re wearing.
Pat the Postman walks into the shot of the camera, nervously waving to whomever these ‘judges’ Caden mentioned are, and shows off his large, purple bodysuit, equipped with green spikes, a tail, and an almost perfect Barney the Dinosaur costume!
PAT THE POSTMAN: On this day, I choose to lean back into my work as a Postman where I frequently see the children of families across my route, and explain the fascinating world of postal service, by wearing a Barney the Dinosaur costume! I love you, and you love me-
Caden blinks twice and interjects.
CADEN YOUNG: Didn’t you just release a video of you telling a guy to shut the fu- okay, nevermind. Thank you, Pat.
Pat the Postman takes a bow, then steps off the stage as Caden marks off his clipboard.
CADEN YOUNG: Next up we’ve got… that CANNOT be right… is someone playing a prank? C-Caliban?
Next up on stage is Caliban, who looms a head above Caden before he’s standing on top of a stage, with white face paint as the background for red circles on his cheeks and dark painting on his features making his eyes and cheekbones seem inhuman and dolllike… wearing facepaint emulating the classic, Billy the Puppet!
CADEN YOUNG: A-a-alright, C-caliban, who are you supposed to be?
Caliban stares down at Caden and flashes a grin that only a mother could love.
CADEN YOUNG: Gotcha. You’re terrifying. I dig the c-costume. T-t-thank you, Caliban.
Caliban clears the makeshift stage and Caden FINALLY BREATHES ONCE HES GONE, before he marks off his clipboard.
CADEN YOUNG: Next up we’ve got…
Caden frowns. The only person as, if not more, terrifying than Caliban.
CADEN YOUNG (flatly): Kimberly Chase.
He obediently claps while the ever glamorous and gorgeous queen of Project Honor takes the stage. Her long, flowing red robe trails behind her, and she carries a basket in one hand as the other offers a quick wave. Kimberly raises her red hood and spins.
CADEN YOUNG: Ah, a classic! Little Red Riding Hood! Gorgeous, Kim!
KIMBERLY CHASE: That’s correct. You may now give me three thousand dollars.
CADEN YOUNG: Swag dollars, Kimberly. Swag dollars. Also, the competition isn’t ove-
KIMBERLY CHASE: Three thousand by the end of tonight, or you’ll be begging Colt to not let me show you what’s in this basket.
Kimberly flashes a wicked grin to make Caden shiver in place as she leaves the stage. Caden frowns but checks off her name, the costume’s legit.
CADEN YOUNG: I really gotta read these things before hand. Anyways, next up we’ve got… Jacob Steele!
Equipped with his standard regulation broom and wooden wand, Jacob Steele steps on stage rocking the gold and black of Harry Potter’s most beloved house, the Hufflepuffs! Steele air guitars with the wand, then points it to Caden.
JACOB STEELE: Avada Kedavra!
CADEN YOUNG: Which spell is that?
Steele shrugs his shoulders.
JACOB STEELE: I’m just here to win and cast spells on bitches, and I’m all out of spells.
CADEN YOUNG: Also, didn’t you put a guy into a table on your first night here? Isn’t Hufflepuff a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTT OF A REACH POTENTIALLY SOMEWHAT MAYBE?
Again, Steele shrugs his shoulders, does another spin, and twirls his wand as he crosses the stage as Caden checks off the costume as being authentic.
CADEN YOUNG: Next up.. And a reminder, only the fan’s votes matter, him being my best friend plays no factor in this one… MYOJIN!
Caden looks towards the stairs of the stage, but no one comes. It isn’t until pastel blue smoke rises from the stage that a hand raises from seemingly beneath the stage, that it becomes clear what’s happening. MYOJIN climbs from this hole presumably from the realm of the undead, wearing an elegant half mask so the pale, undead skin and dark eyes are visible. With zombielike motions, he slowly approaches the edge of the stage.
CADEN YOUNG: ...Jack Skellington? Does this mean Zane is Sally?
MYOJIN: Huh???
CADEN YOUNG: Neeeeeeevermind. So, tell the viewers about your costume?
MYOJIN twirls in place, and a hand measures him from up and down to show off his elegant attire from the cape, the formal pants, the tuxedo, and all the gold accents money can buy.
MYOJIN: Simple. I chose the undead masquerader. Just to let everyone know that beauty isn’t something you can leave behind, not even from the grave!
CADEN YOUNG: That’s pretty neat, I’m impressed. So, the smoke and the climbing from the stage, how’d you set that up?
MYOJIN winks.
MYOJIN: I’m fabulous.
With that being said, the undead man swishes his cape and seemingly disappears into the smoke back to which he came. Another great entry, another box checked.
CADEN YOUNG: ...anyways, next up we’ve got… Zane!
She steps onto the stage wearing thigh high, slick black heels, a short black dress, a black blindfold over her eyes, and despite the lack of vision she pulls her sword from its sheath and strikes a pose with the blade draped behind her back.
ZANE: I decided to go with 2B from NieR:Automata. It’s kinda funny, fighting as a job then playing games where I’m doing more fighting, but fighting to save everyone feels cathartic.
CADEN YOUNG: I’d say it’s fitting, there’s nobody who stands with you in the ring that thinks you aren’t a combat android, amirite? Also, that blade’s so fucking sick? Where’d you get a costume sword like that in Philly right now?
ZANE: ..costume? oh.
Zane flashes an innocent smile and laughs nervously, and her heels click as she rushes off stage. Caden squints, but gives her the green light. Box marked!
CADEN YOUNG: ...as a staff member on an event where there are no rules I proooooooooooobably should follow up on that. Or filter it out entirely. I’m sorry, what was I saying? Next up we’ve got… a group costume? Indy Darling, Malaysia the ‘Escort’-
Caden tilts his head.
CADEN YOUNG: Why is escort in quotation marks. Uhh. And Doc Miyagi!
With Malaysia’s hair in the back of his head in a ponytail and the rest curly beyond reason as she wears a sports bra with neon tights, Doc Miyagi carrying along a mop and wearing janitors scrubs, and Indy wearing a dark pants with a black jacket and no shirt on underneath, just a twelve pack of abs painted on, Caden’s absolutely god damned stumped.
INDY DARLING: Thanks for asking, I’m Jay Vaughn, Malaysia’s JONNY C, and Doc Miyagi is Charlie Smidt! Our team costume theme is ‘three people leaving empty handed tonight!’
CADEN YOUNG: ...I just wanted one thing that was fun and didn’t end with someone hunting me down because I started some beef but nooooooooo, it’d be too bad if Caden’s desk didn’t get slammed on until it’s just splinters. Thank you, Indy Darling.
The trio leave the stage and Caden finally unclenches. He debates on it for about twenty seconds, but their insult was a ‘costume’, in a way. Clipboard box checked!
CADEN YOUNG: Oh, speaking of trouble, we’ve got Jay Jones up next!
Stepping onto the stage wearing a black came with a red lining, a black top hat, a white button up shirt ripped to show off his huge arms, and equipped with a wand and black pants, is Jay Jones!
JAY JONES: Allow me to reintroduce myself, I am THE GREAT, JAY TRAIN!
CADEN YOUNG: ...Iunno. Technically, Steele had a costume on that was a magician. We can’t have repeats! What makes your costume different?
[/b]JAY JONES:[/b][/color] Unlike that dweeb, I’m competent enough to be prepared with tricks.
Caden strokes his chin.
CADEN YOUNG: Yeah?
Jones flips off his hat, taps it twice, pours a glass of water into the hat, then turns it upside down. Nothing drips out!
CADEN YOUNG: ...Kind of a shitty trick, don’t you think?
JAY JONES: Maybe, but it gets the job done.
Jones reaches into the top hat, pulls out Caden’s clipboard, checks his own name off and sets the board on the floor as he makes his exit while Caden stammers.
CADEN YOUNG: I fail to see how stealing official company property is a trick but… whatever. Last name on the list is the Grand Champion himself, Dickie Watson!
Donning a sleeveless yellow vest worn over a sleeveless black shirt with a hood worn over his head, black linen pants, leather belts, and metallic skull decorations and wristbands, all the way down to the golden face mask, is DICKIE, the SCORPION, WATSON!
CADEN YOUNG: ...So steampunk steve irwin? Hot, man, that’s totally hot.
Dickie furrows his brow in Caden’s direction.
DICKIE WATSON: Scorpion. Mortal Kombat, scorpion. You know. ‘GET OVER HERE!’
While Dicke says this, he flicks his arm and a long metal chain swings across the stage. Caden applauses hesitantly.
CADEN YOUNG: I don’t understand how that’s helping you catch scorpions or bears or crocodiles, but I respect the fit, my guy.
DICKIE WATSON: I’m not even from- screw it, whatever.
Dickie leaves the stage with a glare cut in Caden’s direction.
CADEN YOUNG: And there you have it folks! I’ll give it a few seconds to sit and digest but… looks like the results are in! The winner of Project Honor’s first costume contest and owner of three thousand Caden swag dollars is…
Caden looks to his phone and squints.
CADEN YOUNG: Pat the Postman! Barney steals the show! There you have it everyone! Now that the treats are over, I hope you enjoy the tricks. Have a lovely evening and don’t forget to cover your eyes!
HOLLY PEREZ: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a hardcore match set for one fall. Entering first, from Dildo, Canada, standing seven foot even and weighing in at 469 pounds, Pat the Postman!
A quiet rumble shakes the arena as the trap remix of the “Postman Pat” theme hits the PA. Pat’s steps foot through the curtain, accompanied by a loud foundation trembling thud. The crowd gasps in horror as Pat the Postman jollily jogs onto the stage with his pet cat Jess on his shoulder. The sound of metal girders bending echo through the venue as Pat merrily makes his way to the ring.
TREY BOOKER: Oh my gosh, I’m not sure the arena can contain this massive man.
J.T. PRICE: I hope they reinforced the ring for this match, because that Canadian freak may end up shoving his giant foot through the canvas just stepping into it.
As Pat drops Jess off at the time keeper’s table and gingerly walks up the steps, the twang of a guitar echoes through the arena.
“Tell me who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals “
The twang of guitar from Curtis Stigers ‘John The Revelator’ signals a cue for John Nash Strader as the youngest kin to Scott Nash Strader steps out from behind the curtain.
“You know God walked down in the cool of the day
Called Adam by his name
But he refused to answer
Because he was naked and ashamed”
HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent, making his way to the ring now weighing in at 245 lbs... he is the President of the Brothers of Mayhem MC....
“Tell me who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals”
HOLLY PEREZ: JOHN! NASH! STRADERRRRRRRRR!!!!
John holds his fist up in the air as he throws out that infamous family sneer and makes his way down to ringside. He climbs up the stairs and ducks between the middle and top rope.
“Now Christ had twelve apostles
And three he led away
He said, "Watch with me one hour
While I go yonder and pray."
JNS takes a seat against the middle turnbuckle on the far right side of the ring and stares down the freakish Postman before him.
DING! DING! DING!
Without waiting for any further pomp and circumstance, JNS charges out of the corner toward Pat, who miraculously catches him in a standing one-man spanish fly and pops back up to his feet. Shooked by the freak athleticism of the Canadian postman, JNS quickly rolls over onto all fours and scurries away. Pat patiently and playfully advances on John and bends down to offer him a hand up. Hesitantly, JNS reaches up and accepts the unexpected friendly show of sportsmanship. Pat the Postman yanks JNS up to his feet, nearly irish whipping him with his massive strength in the process, but JNS digs his heels into the mat and stops the momentum of the tug. Pat shakes JNS’s hand and then backs away, jockeying to circle.
TREY BOOKER: What is in the water in Canada?
J.T. PRICE: I never thought I’d say a Canadian postal worker would be the thing that scared me the most in this world, and yet here we are.
The two men circle, JNS uncertain how he should take his opposition. Pat lunges in for the tie-up, but JNS backpedals. Pat advances, seemingly more heartbroken than angry at JNS’s unwillingness to play. He backs John into a corner and lunges at him once more, but JNS ducks underneath, snags Pat’s legs, and lets the Postman’s own momentum drop him face first onto the top turnbuckle with Snake Eyes. Sensing his opening has come, JNS pegs Pat in the back of the head with a rabbit punch and locks up for a Russian leg sweep, but Pat doesn’t budge as JNS self-back bumps down onto the apron without an opponent in tow, smashing his elbow into the canvas in the process. As JNS lays on the canvas clutching his elbow, Pat takes an unworldly standing jump onto the top rope and flips back, looking for the moonstomp, but JNS rolls out of the way and to the outside just in time to miss the massive messenger’s feet to the chest. Pat lands on his feet and stares blankly at JNS on the outside, regrouping as little brother Scott gets into his ear.
TREY BOOKER: What are we witnessing here? JNS is a 1%er, these guys aren’t afraid of much.
J.T. PRICE: Yeah, but every big man meets his biggest fear when it’s too late to avoid it, and Pat? Pat’s pretty damn big.
Without warning, Pat charges the ropes, leaps onto the top strand, and flies outside with a missile dropkick that drills JNS through the barricade and out into the fans. At the sight of his big brother in peril, SNS beats it up the rampway as Pat zeroes his dead gaze on the now six rows deep body of JNS. As he approaches, a clearly winded and breathless JNS grabs chairs out from under fans and tosses them at Pat’s head, only for the postman to swat them away like flies. JNS, finally finding his wind, heads straight for Pat with a chair in hand. He swings it at the postman’s head, but Pat catches it. JNS lets go of it and then punches the seat right into the face of Pat the Postman, sending him staggering back toward the ringside area. JNS triumphantly shoots up his fist in celebration, revealing it’s rapped in brass knuckles. He charges Pat from behind as the postman retreats and bulldogs him throat first across the still remaining remnants of the barricade. Now, on the other side of the guard rail, JNS hooks up, looking to suplex Pat over, but Pat proves too heavy and reverses the momentum of the suplex and brings JNS down forehead first onto the barricade with a standing gourdbuster! JNS whiplashes off of the barricade and into the ring apron. Pat simply steps over the guard wall and rushes JNS hunched over on the apron. He swings his legs under the bottom rope, looking for Pix Pone Pine, but JNS ducks it at the last second and catches Pat on the swing-around with a 1%er! The stunner connects and leaves Pat dead on his feet, wobbling like a tree in the wind.
TREY BOOKER: What’s going to put down this force of nature and Canadian civil servitude?
J.T. PRICE: Those knuckles might help.
Hard loaded right from JNS sends Pat the Postman spinning on his heel. Josh Nash Strader whips the dizzied postal worker into the ring and starts digging under the apron for plunder. Just as he begins searching for loot to take down the postman with, Pat sits up in the ring like a horror villain. Sensing something’s amiss from the crowd’s collective gasp, without looking JNS yanks a trash can from under the ring and tosses it in blindly, haplessly landing it on Pat’s bulbous noggin in the process. Pat stumbles to his feet blindly with the trash can on his head as JNS finally finds what he’s looking for and comes up from underneath the ring with a pair of kendo sticks. He rolls in and pokes the blinded postman with the stick tauntingly, prompting Pat to swing at thin air. Laughing, JNS circles Pat and whacks at his hamstring with one kendo stick, while laying into his abdomen with the other. The crowd begins to audibly boo as JNS pummels the trapped postman over and over in the same spot with the kendos until Pat finally collapses to his knees, clutching his stomach. Ignoring the boos and jeers of the crowd, JNS shoves Pat’s still trash can entombed head between his legs and signals for Ride or Die, but without warning, Pat powers up and back body drops JNS onto the mat. Pat flips backwards and corkscrews in mid-air and lands a perfect standing 630, flattening the trash can into JNS’s abdomen with the senton and freeing it from Pat’s head.
TREY BOOKER: HOLY CRAP! SAME DAY SHIPPING CONNECTS!
J.T. PRICE: PAT FALLS INTO THE COVER
ONE!
TWO!
JNS kicks out last minute. Pat sits up out of the cover and quickly rises to his feet and starts pounding the flattened tash can across the back of the hurt and crawling JNS in retreat. Pat walks around JNS and stomps down onto his wrist, pinning his knuckle duster clad hand to the canvas. Pat reaches down and yanks the knuckles off of JNS’s digits and tosses them into the crowd. He effortlessly yanks JNS to his feet by the scruff of his neck and waves a reprimanding finger in his face. JNS spits in Pat’s face in response, grabs his finger, and wrenches it back until Pat’s nearly bent backwards trying to take the pressure off of his digit. JNS slowly leads Pat toward the corner and starts climbing up to the top strand, thinking Midnight Rider perhaps, but as soon as JNS gets his feet on the top turnbuckle, Pat breaks free of his grasp, hops up after him, and shoves JNS’s head between his legs on the top strand!
TREY BOOKER: Oh no, what is this giant lunatic doing now?
J.T. PRICE: I’ve seen videos of this, but I must admit that I thought they were doctored until now! He calls it Post of the Lion!
Pat lifts JNS up on his shoulders into the powerbomb position, and links his fingers behind JNS’s neck, and then flips backwards off of the top rope with a brutal moonsault Phoenix Plex! Both men crumple on the canvas after impact as the crowd’s stunned silence turns to impressed cheers.
TREY BOOKER:I wish the ref would start a ten count and just end this brutality.
J.T. PRICE: Me too, but it’s a hardcore match and these savages in attendance are eating it up.
Pat once more supernaturally sits up off of the canvas and immediately turns his creepy cheerful gaze over to the balled up body of JNS on the canvas. Pat pulls himself to his feet, comedically dusting himself off as he approaches the crumpled and lifeless remains of JNS, picks him up, shoves him between his legs, and shrugs to the crowd before delivering a brutal spiking canadian destroyer that stands JNS up on his head momentarily in an exclamation mark, before his body crumples under it’s own weight into a withering question mark. Pat rolls JNS over and covers with one hand.
ONE!
TWO!
JNS kicks out at the last second once more. Pat looks down at him with the confusion of a child wondering why his favorite toy is broken, before nonchalantly getting to his feet, rolling to the outside, and ducking under the ring apron in search of plunder.
TREY BOOKER: I shudder to think what kind of weaponry Pat’s came up with in his warped mind.
J.T. PRICE: The man’s clearly gone full postal.
Pat reaches under the apron and pulls out a postage parcel, wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. He inspects it momentarily, before finding an address. He pantomimes surprise as he looks from the name on the package, to the struggling to get up JNS in-ring. Pat points at the package, and then to JNS, and then rolls into the ring and stars stalking JNS as he staggers off of the canvas. On groggy legs, JNS stumbles back into the stalking pat and snaps around to face the Postman with his fist kicked, but instead of aggression, he finds Pat extending the parcel out to him. He hesitates to reach for the package as Pat innocently outstretches his arms toward him with the box in hand.
TREY BOOKER: W-what’s in the box?
J.T. PRICE: I don’t know man, wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Gwyneth Paltrow’s head. I wouldn’t be all that upset either.
JNS slowly reaches toward the box, but just before he lays hand on the parcel, he yanks a hand from behind his back, revealing a Desert Eagle pistol in his hand. Pat immediately puts his hands up, dropping the parcel in the process.
JNS (off-mic): What’s in the box?
TREY BOOKER: Holy crap, is this for real!?! Can he do this? I mean, it’s a hardcore match, but c’mon! A gun!?!
J.T. PRICE: Put the gun down, David…
JNS (off-mic): WHAT’S IN THE BOOOOOX!?!
Pat slowly lowers himself down to the mat until he’s on his stomach. He then places his hands behind his head submissively as JNS stares at him, and then the box, never letting his Desert Eagle leave its intended target.
JNS (off-mic): Roll over!
Pat nods obediently and rolls over onto his back. Still training the Desert Eagle on Pat, JNS lays down into the cover and motions for the ref to come count the pin. Hesitantly, the ref begins to drop down and count.
ONE!
TWO!
Suddenly, Jess the cat springs from the time keeper’s table, into the ring, and scratches JNS’s hand, forcing him to drop the gun. Pat sits up out of the cover, holding tight to JNS as he does so. He gets to his feet and starts to setup JNS for a scoop slam as the ref kicks the gun out of the ring. As Pat tries to scoop slam JNS, he lands on his feet and tries to power Pat up with a gorilla press, but to no avail. Pat swats his hands away and shoves him off. JNS rolls to his feet. The two men charge one another. JNS goes high, Pat goes low, and JNS catches Pat with a Ride or Die Canadian Destroyer! Cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING!
HOLLY PEREZ: The winner of this match via pinfall, John Nash Strader!
John rolls out of the ring and books it up the ramp holding his neck with one hand while pumping his fist with the other as “John the Revelelator” plays through the PA to a chorus of boos.
TREY BOOKER: What kind of brand new David Lynchian hell did we just sit through?
J.T. PRICE: I don’t know, but I feel like David Fincher might sue as well after that finish. JNS steals the win, but he may have earned a powerful enemy in the process.
As JNS disappears through the curtain, Pat the Postman sits up in the ring and stares down the entrance ramp ominously.
We open up in the back where we see Caliban sitting on the floor, his eyes closed, his legs crossed. He is wearing a pair of black windbreaker pants and a dark blue t-shirt. Suddenly a man dressed in a black suit walks up to him. The man stands roughly about five-eleven, and looks to weigh about two hundred pounds. But the thing that really sets him apart, is he is completely bald, has no eyebrows, nor any eyelashes.
He reaches down and taps Caliban lightly on the shoulder.
Caliban does not respond.
The man once again taps Caliban on the shoulder and we can now see he has a pencil and a notepad in his right hand.
Caliban opens one eye and looks at the gentleman.
CALIBAN: What?
The man begins to scribble something down on the notepad. He shows it to Caliban, who reads it out loud.
CALIBAN: ‘Hi. My name is Arik Holt. I’m new to Project Honor.’
Caliban looks up at him.
CALIBAN: Your name is Arik? Like Eric, but with an A?
Arik shakes his head ‘yes’.
CALIBAN: Do you have a match tonight?
Arik shakes his head ‘no’, but pulls back his notepad. He flips the page and begins to write on it again. After a moment or two, Arik shows the page to Caliban, who reads it out loud again.
CALIBAN: ‘I haven’t signed yet. I am thinking about it though.’
Caliban looks up at Arik.
CALIBAN: You sure this is what you want to do?
Arik vigorously shakes his head ‘yes’.
CALIBAN: Is that what your heart desires?
Arik shakes his head ‘yes’ again.
CALIBAN: What kind of strings hold YOU down?
Arik looks at Caliban with a confused look on his face. He turns the page in his notepad over and begins to scribble in it again...but Caliban quickly jumps to his feet and grabs the notepad, yanking it out of Ari’s hands.
CALIBAN: You see this?
Caliban holds up the notepad.
CALIBAN: This is your string. This is something that holds you down. Why not just tell me these things?
Arik lets out a sigh. He makes a talking motion with his hand, but then stops and then just shakes his head.
CALIBAN: Too much anxiety, huh? I had that issue once. Made me not want to talk either.
Arik shakes his head ‘no’. While continuing to shake his head, he points to his throat.
CALIBAN: Loser your voice? Are you sick? DO YOU HAVE THE CORONA???
Caliban takes a step back, covering his mouth with his hand.
CALIBAN: Back the hell up!!! I have a match to get ready for! I can’t get sick!
Arik furrows his brows, reaching out and snatching the notepad from Caliban. He turns the page and quickly writes down three words. He turns the pad over and shows Caliban.
CALIBAN: ‘I am mute.’
Caliban takes less of a defensive stance, lowering his hand from his face.
CALIBAN: OH! Why didn’t you just say so?
Arik stares at Caliban, an ‘Are you f’n kidding me, right now?’ look on his face.
CALIBAN: Well, what is holding you back from signing with Project: Honor?
Arik shrugs his shoulders and then points to his throat again, shaking his head ‘no’.
CALIBAN: You’re worried about your disability?
Arik shakes his head ‘yes’, his shoulders are slightly slumped and he is beginning to look depressed.
CALIBAN: Cheer up, Arik. How about this...you sign up and I will help you out. You see, I have my own mental disabilities and currently I have a brain tumor...so I guess you and I can sit in the same short bus on this one.
Arik smiles, but then looks at Caliban oddly over his last comment.
CALIBAN: I’ll be your voice.
Caliban reaches out and puts his arm around Arik’s shoulders.
CALIBAN: And you can be the shiny sexy one, with that dome of yours.
Arik scribbles on his notepad, then shows Caliban one word.
CALIBAN: ‘Alopecia’? Is that your girlfriend?
Arik hangs his head slightly, taking in a deep breath.
CALIBAN: Don’t worry, we can bring her along too. Listen, Arik, with me in charge...we can make you a star!
Arik looks at the camera, a slightly worried look on his face.
Somewhere deep in the bowels of the Wells Fargo Center, “Oblivion’s Crush” Contessa Floran was seated on a road case. In her hand was what appeared to be a human femur bone -- a club that a caveman or cromag would use to defend themselves. Contessa held it in her right hand. Slowly and softly she smacked it into her left hand and did her best mean face.
CONTESSA FLORAN: Hello beasties. It is I, The Girl with Death Wish, The Spectre of Sweden, The Primal Pastry Chef, The Untanned, -- Contessa Floran. I don’t know that anyone actually calls me any of those things but feel free to do so.
Floran flashed a mischievous grin.
CONTESSA FLORAN: Tonight, here in Philly I get to carry on the traditions that have been carried out in this city since the early 90s. Some hardcore wrestling is afoot and I am set to be one of the perpetrators. I may be a facetious asshole a lot of the time but I want it known that I am genuinely honored to have my first ever Hardcore Match in Philly. This city has an unmatched proclivity for ultraviolence and I can’t think of a better place for me to be baptized in blood. What a joyous day!
She held the weapon up in the air in a celebratory way. This is genuine joy that we are seeing from Oblivion’s Crush. She is happy to be involved in a hardcore match in a city that is known for such extreme violence.
CONTESSA FLORAN: This here is my friend Smashy. He was a gift from my trainer Steve Heathen, when I graduated from his wrestling school back in Visby. It’s not a real femur bone, of course, but an aluminum bat coated in plaster. I assure you that it still hurts. Smashy isn’t likely to survive this match against Red Riot tonight because I aim to beat her senseless with him. But I will send him away and get him fixed -- he’ll be good as new in no time.
Contessa began petting Smashy like he was a cat or something of the like. She seemed to legitimately care for this inanimate object and yet that is not the strangest thing about her.
CONTESSA FLORAN: The last time I faced off with Red Riot was just over two weeks ago. Both of us tried to gun for Zane’s Warrior Rising Championship and neither of us was successful. Heck, I was the one who ate the fall! How embarrassing. Losses happen, that was my first one and I have come to terms with it. A lot of things that I am set to experience will be a first for me. Just like this match tonight. I’ve never been in a hardcore match but I have been in a fight. That’s essentially what this is.
A shrug.
CONTESSA FLORAN: Tonight Red Riot and I meet for the second time. This time I have a sense of what she can do, I have an idea of what to look out for. To say that I got the full spectrum of her capabilities last time would be foolish to say but at least I have something to go on this time. A victory for me tonight is not certain. I shouldn’t be allowing that thought to enter my brain but it is there anyway. I could lose. But one thing I know for a fact is that if Red Riot does beat me tonight...she is going to have to bleed me like a stuck pig. To beat me, she needs to leave me so I can’t walk out under my own power. Anything less and I’m not losing. Come chase Death with me Red. May I have this dance?
Contessa stood and pointed Smashy at the camera, ever so slightly tapping the lens before the scene faded to black.
With the feed shifting back over to ringside, we see Holly Perez standing in the center of the squared circle looking ready to continue the Bloodbath showcase with the next match.
HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is a HARDCORE MATCH scheduled for one fall! Introducing first...weighing in tonight at 141 lbs., fighting out of Visby, Sweden by way of Salem, Massachusetts, she is “Oblivion’s Crush” CONTESSA FLORAN!!
The lights in the arena flicker as if there is some sort of electrical short. The power struggles to stay on for a few moments until they ultimately go out. For a few seconds the arena is in complete darkness until rose tinted lights start pulsing along with the opening snare hits of “Only Shallow” by My Bloody Valentine.
The guitars scream as a cloud of smoke envelopes the stage and obfuscates a shape that stands in front of the curtain. The audience is entranced by the mythic imagery flashing on the screen and they wait with bated breath.
Sʟᴇᴇᴘ Lɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴘɪʟʟᴏᴡ Dᴏᴡɴ(ᴡᴀʀᴅ) Aɴᴅ (Wʜᴇʀᴇ)Sʜᴇ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴇ
Aɴʏᴡᴀʏ (ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ)
A small bleach blonde figure paces out onto the stage with her head low and her hair hanging in front of her eyes. Contessa Floran slowly parts the hair that obstructed the view of her face as the camera moves in for a close up. Her eyes are closed, she appears to be in a deeply pensive state. As if struck by lightning, she opens her eyes and her piercing blue gaze stares down the lens of the camera.
J.T. PRICE: GAAAHH why do they always do a close up like that?!
TREY BOOKER: Simple J.T. They want to show the fans out there the deadly focus of Contessa and rightfully so as this is an important night for her.
J.T. PRICE: Well I don’t like it! That girl looks like she eats souls for breakfast and is CREEPY!!
For a moment she gazes into the lens, her expression blank. Following a deep sigh, Floran skulks to the ring, choosing to walk along the guard rail in an effort to stay out of sight as much as possible. She does her best to avoid the grasp of clamouring fans. The camera scrambles to find her amid the darkness and haze.
Upon reaching the ring, she pulls herself up onto the apron and sits there for a moment, hanging her head once again. As the rose colored lights flash and the smoke begins to clear, Floran jumps up so she is standing on the apron. She takes a moment to survey the audience before she wipes her feet on the apron and enters the ring as her entrance music dies down.
HOLLY PEREZ: Now introducing her opponent...weighing in tonight at 165 lbs. and fighting out of Richmond, Virginia by way of Huntsville, Alabama, she is “The Crimson Cowgirl” RED RIOT!!
After those crimson spotlights roam around the arena, they find a new target: the woman behind the cheers and jeers from the crowd, and the woman behind the gauzy, dystopian “Violence (original mix)” by Grimes blasting throughout the arena, Red FREAKING Riot. She’s facing the entranceway, so those red lights focus on the spikes, the studs, and the patches from the wars she’s had in her career, with empty spots to add more victories to the list. She’s only focused on the fight on her way to the ring, beyond any high five attempts or waves. After Riot slides underneath the bottom rope and into the ring, she showcases a few blazing fast jabs, hooks, crosses, and after SCREAMING her opponent’s name, shows off a sharp, high knee for a little forewarning about how tonight’s ending.
TREY BOOKER: Red Riot looking all business here tonight as she looks to settle things with Contessa who basically took her out of the equation during their triple threat match with the Warrior Rising Champion Zane.
J.T. PRICE: Too true Trey, she looks ready to take Contessa’s head off but she needs to be careful. Knowing that freak monster, she probably won’t even be affected by decapitation!
TREY BOOKER: Seriously?
J.T. PRICE: She’s CREEPY!
The bell sounds and immediately the two women charge at one another, going strike for strike, trading forearms and chops, in a heated exchange as the crowd comes alive for the instant burst into action. As Contessa shoots for a go behind, Red meets her at the pass, rocking her with a stiff elbow, causing Floran to stagger back before she’s met with a Glasgow Kiss headbutt that sends her to the canvas. Riot goes to follow up by grabbing hold of Contessa but the crafty blonde uses leverage to dump Red to the outside in a rough landing. Upon witnessing Riot holding her neck in pain, a sinister smile comes across her face.
TREY BOOKER: Oh that look does not bode well for Red Riot..
Not wasting anymore time Contessa rolls out of the ring herself, stomping away at the downed Red before whipping her into the ring post. Seizing the moment, Contessa begins to look under the ring for a weapon to use. Tossing away items like trash can lids, cookie sheets, chairs, and for some reason a hula hoop, Floran finally grabs hold, albeit painfully of something she sees fit for the occasion. Laughing through the pain she pulls out a tiny roll of barbed wire and stalks Red who is stirring. Floran reaches her prey, but just as she wraps her fist and is ready to strike, Riot smashes a glass picture frame across her face, shards spilling on the floor. This does not bring down the now bloody Contessa to more than a knee however, and before she can have any further damage inflicted, she pops up, introducing Red Riot to a fist full of barbed wire, leaving both fighters taking a moment to recover as the crowd roars in approval of the bloody carnage so far.
J.T. PRICE: I never thought that Contessa could look any creepier but she seems to be smiling as she has bits of blood trickling down her face!
TREY BOOKER: To be fair she did state she was coming in with a new resolve so she has to fight through everything, especially to take down someone like the Crimson Cowgirl.
Still keeping the barbed wire along her bloodied fist, Floran is the first to rise and charges at her opponent with a Runnin European Uppercut, causing Red to get some of her own blood spill and stumble back against the guardrail. Backing up to give herself running space, Contessa rushes Red for the Front Dropkick but she moves at the last possible second, leading Floran to crash back first onto the thinly padded floor of the arena. With a hard thud, the fans in attendance almost let out a simultaneous gasp as there seems to be trouble for the second time in this match. Riot, sensing the opening goes for a potential Slingblade, but at the last second Contessa hooks her and nails a Crucifix Driver onto the outside, Red’s head managing to crash against one of the trash can lids that Floran had tossed about earlier causing more damage to the head and neck area. Contessa keeps the lock on Red, technically going for what is surprisingly the first pinfall attempt of the match.
One…
Two..
Red Riot is able to use her strength to kick out, the fans cheering her resolve. Floran just has this menacing expression, almost as if she was happy her opponent still had some fight left in her.
J.T. PRICE: Jeez can she stop with that?!
TREY BOOKER: Can you? The last thing we need is Contessa catching wind of what you’re saying and coming over here to cause trouble for us.
J.T. PRICE: You got a point there. I’ve had more than my share of wrestlers coming after me with just the one, thank you very much.
Now taking control of the match, Contessa grabs her larger opponent, tossing her back into the ring herself, along with a steel chair that just slides off to the side. While Riot is recovering, Floran springboards onto the top rope, delivering a beautiful Springboard Arm Drag, following it up with her Space Rolling Elbow, taking Red right back down to the canvas. The crowd is split on who they wish to cheer for, but are loving the match as a whole. Contessa picks up Red Riot, bringing her up to her feet. She goes for an Irish Whip into the corner but gets reversed on the way. Still having some wits about her, she hops up looking for the Selina Kyledriver but the larger and stronger Red uses her advantage to prevent the Poisonrana and instead slams her back first onto the steel chair that was left in the ring with an Electric Chair Drop. Somehow gathering a second wind, or running on instinct, Riot follows it up by running and catching Contessa with the Blood Gradient springboard reverse DDT, immediately going for the cover.
One…
Two…
Contessa managed to get the shoulder up as the referee was getting ready to count to three. Red, now showing a bit of frustration, slowly stands up, making sure to grab the hair of her opponent to bring her up as well.
TREY BOOKER: Red Riot here looking to turn things around in this match but she has to make sure to stay on Contessa because any slip up and she’ll end up taken out of the equation just like she was in the triple threat match these two were involved with.
J.T. PRICE: Well if the blood loss is any sign of who’s in control, I think she’s doing a pretty good job.
TREY BOOKER: True, but you can’t ever count Contessa out, she’s looking to make a statement here tonight and will surely do all it takes to accomplish that goal.
Red struggles but manages to lift Floran up onto her shoulders, despite her exhaustion, and sets up for the Protect Your Neck, however she receives a few knees to the head which is still throbbing from before and brings Contessa back down to her feet. Laying in a few kicks, Floran goes to follow up but Riot does her best to fight back with a lariat. Sensing it coming, Contessa ducks under and goes behind her, catching her off guard with the O’Connor Roll. Floating over, she springboards off the ropes looking for the Corkscrew Crossbody, however Red has it scouted and cuts her off from the seated position with a stiff kick to the head. Wanting to put an end to things, Riot sets Contessa up for the RED LETTERS, but as she goes to complete the move a spray of black covers her face as the torn crowd once again voices out their scattered opinions.
TREY BOOKER: Contessa with the mist! Red Riot is in some serious trouble now!
For the second match in a row, just as she doesn’t expect it, Contessa comes out with the Smoke Signal black mist. Yelling to express the mixture of pain and frustration, Riot still tries to regain control of the match, reaching out to Contessa and swinging wildly m, but her efforts are thwarted by a Front Dropkick just as Red turns her held. The force of the impact sends Riot stumbling over against the middle rope. She tries to will herself back to a standing position but gets caught with the Nighty Night dropkick to the back of her head. Contessa grabs Red by her short locks and slams her head hard against the mat, now going for another cover.
One…
Two…
Thr-NO!!
Red is slow to get up once again, showing the amount of punishment being taken in this match. Contessa herself is a bit fatigued yet is able to catch herself before making the mistakes from the last Proving Ground. Deciding to keep on her, Contessa mounts Riot, beginning to truly daze the tough competitor rising to her feet in an unsteady fashion. With Red looking completely out of it, Contessa Floran signals for the end. Untangling the barbed wire from her bloody hand, Floran sets up for the solution to her Red Riot problem. Using the barbed wire as she stepped closer, Contessa actually wraps it around Red Riot’s neck prior to locking in a variation of the OBLIVIATOR!! RIOT STRUGGLES AGAINST THE HOLD, THE BARBED WIRE NOW CUTTING INTO HER SKIN!! Reaching towards the nearest weapon, or anything for that matter, Red does what she can to fight out of the hold, but with the hold being cinched in tighter and the piercing growing deeper, Riot has no choice but to tap out so she may live to fight another day.
HOLLY PEREZ: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner of the match by submission CONTESSA FLORAN!!
Following the official bell and the referee pulling her off of Red, the victorious Contessa Floran stands tall even on a bit of wobbly legs. She stares down at Red Riot who is still feeling the pain from the entire match, especially the submission hold, before heading on out of the ring.
Que up an office room, somewhere in the back. The only thing in it is a desk with papers covering it, notes scribbled all over the papers. The man behind the desk is James Edgebrook, host of The Edge.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: Wow, that match was AWESOME!!!
James is watching Bloodbath from a monitor in the back, hanging on the wall of the office.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: I am SO ready for this Rage in a Cage match.
The door to the office opens. James turns his attention to the door to see Arik Holt standing there.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: Hello! Are you new around here?
Arik makes an ‘oops’ face, hissing slightly as he sucks in air at his embarrassment. He quickly starts to shut the door.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: NO! NO! NO! IT”S OKAY!!!
James shoots up from his chair to try to get Arik’s attention, but the door opens and there stands Caliban.
CALIBAN: Our apologies, Mr. Edgebrook. Arik’s new and all...and I’m trying to show him around before I head out for my match.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: You’re...you’re...Caliban!
CALIBAN: And you’re the guy that picked Sarah Roberts to beat me tonight.
James slinks back down into his chair.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: Oh I did...didn’t I.
CALIBAN: That’s okay, James. It’s your job.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: Thank you for under-
Caliban lunges into the room and slams his hands on the desk, knocking papers everywhere.
CALIBAN: But I’m going to make sure to free her tonight, like the rest of the people in that match. Just like I did to Alex Slayer. Do...do you want to be freed...James?
JAMES EDGEBROOK: N-n-no, sir. I...I just want to do my job.
CALIBAN: Good…
Caliban stands up straight as Arik can be seen writing on his notepad in the doorway.
CALIBAN: ...I hope you enjoy the rest of your time here at Bloodbath. Have a wonderful day.
Caliban turns and walks out of the room, slightly bumping into Arik. Arik shrugs his shoulders and just holds his notepad out to James.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: Sorry? For what?
Arik shrugs his shoulders.
CALIBAN: ARE YOU COMING?
Arik turns and walks away, shutting the door behind him. James turns and finally sees that his papers have all been messed up.
JAMES EDGEBROOK: SON OF A BITCH!!! MY NOTES!!!
James begins to gather his papers up again. The camera fades out.
The camera's cut to the backstage area where Alex Slayer and Devon Slayton are, the two men are talking as Slayer gets ready for his match.
ALEX: I'm telling you, the whole thing was rigged from the start.
DEVON: I know, but what can you do about it?
Whatever he was about to say further is lost as Devon's phone makes a noise and he picks it up to see what it was, then a snicker escapes him that Slayer catches.
ALEX: What was that for?
DEVON: I got a message that you might like.
Alex arches one eyebrow as Devon walks over and presents the other man his phone, at which point Alex chuckles himself as he shakes his head.
ALEX: Well at least he's a man who gets to the point, doesn't he?
DEVON: Exactly.
HOLLY PEREZ: This match is a RAGE IN THE RAGE MATCH, where eight participants will go to war in a steel cage filled with weapons! The following match is elimination style, and the winner will be the last warrior remaining! It is for the number one contendership to the Warrior Rising Championship!
The opening chord from 'Popular Monster' by Falling In Reverse, blares through the arena as Caliban steps out of the entrance way. He looks out onto the crowd, a smirk on his face, as a mixture of boos and cheers fall onto him. As the opening words begin to fill the air, Caliban makes his way down the ramp and to the ring...ultimately climbing up onto the apron and entering the ring through the middle of the ropes.
The opening chord from 'Popular Monster' by Falling In Reverse, blares through the arena as Caliban steps out of the entrance way. He looks out onto the crowd, a smirk on his face, as a mixture of boos and cheers fall onto him. As the opening words begin to fill the air, Caliban makes his way down the ramp and to the ring...ultimately climbing up onto the apron and entering the ring through the middle of the ropes.
HOLLY PEREZ: Introducing first.. hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, standing at 6’0” and weighing in tonight at 215 lbs., he is “Everyone’s Favorite” Indy Darling!
"Just Like You" by Falling in Reverse begins to play as Indy Darling walks onto the entrance area with the hood of his vest pulled over his eyes. He drops to one knee with arms outstretched on either side, accepting the crowd's response for better or worse. After we hear "Honestly I'm just like you" for the first time, he springs back to both feet and allows his hood to fall from his head, revealing a lit cigarette between his lips. Indy is sporting a pair of sunglasses under his cropped reddish-blonde hair, and his expression is difficult to read. Neither smiling nor frowning, he casually makes his way toward the ring with an occasional slow spin, so as to give everyone in attendance a clear view of the greatness that has emerged before their very eyes. Upon reaching the ring, he slides under the bottom rope and lets his vest slide off of his shoulders, catching it in his right hand before whipping it out to a lucky member of the audience. He is wearing full tights with his name stylized down the right leg, along with color-coordinated kick-pads and an elbow pad on his left arm. He moves toward the ropes facing the hard camera and steps onto them with one foot on the bottom rope and one on the middle. He looks around at the crowd with a seemingly uninterested look on his face, as we hear "I am aware you are all assholes" from his entrance music. He then takes a final drag from his cigarette before flicking it into the crowd while soaking up their cheers, jeers, curses, and praise, emotionally ambivalent to however they choose to respond.
Suddenly the lights in the arena fade to black at which point several cellphone lights key on until there is almost an ocean of the little lights as a hauntingly-eerie piece of instrumental music begins to play for a few seconds before a voice can be heard faintly mixed in with the music
[Voice]:
Look at what you've created...
...I am the eater of worlds...
Someone...to feed me...
...*Feed* me...
A pair of figures then appear on the entrance way in the form of the "Rated R Reaper" himself, Alex Slayer, and his own "Devil's Advocate" Devon Slayton. Slayer is dressed in his usual ring gear as he stops at the middle of the entrance way and slowly extends his arms out to his sides as he tilts his head back as Everyone loves a Villain's "Eater of Worlds" continues to play as the crowds let out a good measure of boos and cheers
[Please don't indulge me
I am sick and I'm empty
Guided by the voices in my head
My Head
Twisted by words that cut deep in my skin
Creating this monster
Consumed by the end
Oh no!
What have I become
Alex then lowers his arms as he looks over at Devon before the two men start to make their way down to the ring, Alex shakes out his arms as he goes and when they get to the ringside area, he quickly gets into the ring and is up on one knee, slowly taking a good look around "his" ring before he moves to his feet as Devon enters the ring as well.
All along
I played along
To hide the beast within
Look at what you've created
A creature so cruel and defeated
I am the eater of worlds
And I'm looking for someone to feed me
To feed me]
HOLLY PEREZ: Next, being escorted to the ring by the "Devil's Advocate" himself, Devon Slayton. He weighs in tonight at two hundred and twenty five pounds and hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada...he is the "Gawd Damned Man" himself, the "Rated R Reaper" that is AALLEEXX SLAYER!!!
Alex then quickly climbs the nearest turnbuckle and once more does his signature pose for a few seconds before he undoes the front of his ring jacket as he hops down to the ring and starts to prepare for his match, talking strategy with Devon as he smiles that darkly confident smile
Hello by Pop Smoke hits as Jay Jones enters to a shower of boos. He takes a sarcastic bow at the top of the ramp to even more boos as he moves on, imitating various fans who boo louder as he walks down the ramp. He slowly walks up the stairs and enters the ring, pausing to pose on each turnbuckle arrogantly. He leans on the ropes and smirks as he waits for the match to begin/watches his opponent enter.
HOLLY PEREZ: Next.. standing at 6’3” and weighing 210 bbs., from Parts Unknown, he is the HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER, JAY JONES!
The lights on the arena dim and start to flash blue and green. An 8 bit version of Jonny C appears on the screen with an ac and swings in at the screen cracking it and yells ‘here's Jonny.’ “Pretty fly for a white guy” blares over the pa system. Jonny C bursts through the curtain with his arms out. Jonny looks around the arena and laughs and walks down the ramp. Jonny climbs the ring stairs stopping on the top step. He grabs the top rope and jumps over it. He immediately scales a wall of the cage and yells "You're looking at the greatest to ever set foot in a wrestling ring."
HOLLY PEREZ: Nextt.. standing at 6’4” and weighing 260 lbs., from Milford, Connecticut, he is the INFAMOUS, JOOOOOOOOOOOONNNYYY Cl!
“Bad Boy for Life” blasts across the stadium as Jay Vaughn steps onto the entranceway with a determined stare on his face. He walks through the crowd as they both cheer and boo his presence, but nonetheless walking down the ramp to pats on his back from supporters on his way to the cage.
HOLLY PEREZ: Nextt.. standing at 6’2” and weighing 262 lbs., from Manchester, UK, he is JAAAAY VAAAUUUUUUGGGGGHHHNl!
"Holding My Breath" by Alien Weaponry floods the PA, marking the arrival of Sarah Roberts. She emerges onto the stage accompanied by her manager, Delilah Huang. While Sarah isn't much for pageantry and only offers a smirk before heading down the ramp, Delilah contrasts her client's stern demeanor with the type of hype antics befitting of a Public Enemy concert.
HOLLY PEREZ: Accompanied by Delilah Huang and fighting out of the Yankton Indian Reservation, South Dakota, she stands at 5'5 and weighs in at 140 lbs. She is "The Deerfield Destroyer", Sarah Roberts![/font]
With the same juxtaposition as seen on the stage, Sarah continues down to the ring with Delilah in tow. Before Sarah can enter the ring, Delilah scampers up the stairs and uses her body to separate the top and middle ropes. Sarah slides between them, moves to the center of the ring, and raises her arms while Delilah watches from outside of the cage, shouting inaudibly and pointing to her client.
Two random voices are heard speaking as if in demonic tones over the system, as the lights go out. The camera pans over to the top of the stage area where three red siren lights begin to spin. The voices continue speaking and the lights continue to go.
Yeah, Be prepared.
Yeah-heh... we'll be prepared, heh.
...For what?
For the death of the Queen.
Why? Is she sick?
No, fool-- we're going to kill her.
Great idea! Who needs a Queen?
No Queen! No Queen! la--la-la--la-laa-laa!
Idiots! There will be a Queen!
Hey, but you said, uh…
Then a loud scream is heard, as she begins cackling over the system. Then the final line is spoken as a tall woman steps out from behind the curtain. A gas mask covers her face as her long blonde hair falls to one side. She is holding a microphone looking up at the crowd her red eyes glowing with the sirens.
I will be Queen!
She cackles as she drops the microphone lifting her arms up the sirens cut out. No Time to Die by Violet Orlandi feat Barbie Sailers begins playing over the system as her arms go above her head in an X as her hashtag appears on the screen. #Queenslayer appears as blue spotlights appear on the ramp. She walks down the ramp letting her coat flow behind her as she drapes her arms to her side. She looks at the fans as she reaches the bottom of the ramp, She turns then raises her hands and the lights come on, she goes over to the steps slamming her hands down on them hard as she looks into the ring. She growls as she climbs up the stairs standing on the outside of the ring, she climbs through, taking the gas mask off looking at her opponent laughing as she climbs the turnbuckle, placing her hands above her head in an X once more as she drops down turning to face her opponent.
HOLLY PEREZ: Nextt.. standing at 5’9” and weighing 143 lbs., from Minot, South Dakota and residing in Tokyo, Japan, she is the QUEENSLAYER, LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGIONl!
DING! DING! DING!
The bell rings, signalling the beginning of the contest between one woman, fourmen, two monsters, and one Reckoning. The bind’s impossible to miss - each fighter’s locked in the steel cage, absolutely surrounded with fighters in what looks like it could turn into a mosh pit of pain at all times. Sarah’s neutral expression shows how comfortable she is trapped in a cage like a lottery ball, but Jay Jones’ huge grin is that of a man who won the lottery. Unlike the Scorpion costume meant only for aesthetic purposes, the metal chain Jay wraps around his fist from his costume is entirely functional, and each person he waves his reinforced fist at cautiously watches Jay’s clever trickery give him the early advantage. This advantage lasts about ten seconds, as Jay’s circling and threatening to take out any of the fighters in the ring ends with ALL of the fighters swarming him in a storm of punches and kicks until Jay’s left flattened, covering himself as well as he can as applause breaks out to Jay’s head getting dribbled on the match. With the ice broken, Jonny doesn’t miss a beat on getting Vaughn back for his words while charging across the ring with an overhand right! Vaughn’s forearm eats most of the blow, and the former tag partners stand in the center of the ring launching hooks and crosses. Indy Darling gets the slip on Sarah Roberts as two roundhouse kicks paint her side, and his attempt for the trifecta with a spinning back kick results in her catching him by the ankle, slinging him prone on the mat with a single leg takedown, and her throwing hammer fists from his full guard as Indy twists and turns away enough to get some space between the two. Sarah pursuits like a pitbull, and Darling keeps to the mat and going low with a fireman’s carry, and quickly finds how little safety there is with her hands reaching for his throat and her legs wrapping around his body, a la sleeper hold! Indy keeps his wits and pries the body scissors away, and rolls onto his back and bridges as he sneaks into a pin. She immediately catches his trickery and breaks the hold, and both fighters scramble to their feet, but Sarah’s double leg take down drags Indy away from his high-flying offense and puts her in his full guard. Alex Slayer and Legion go at it like rams, locking horns in a battle of skill and prowess, until an elbow across the visage of Legion gives Slayer the chance to irish whip his beastyl opponent into a corner. As dexterous and agile as ever, Legion leaps onto the second turnbuckle and use the cage to balance herself while she turns to face Slayer. Incensed, Slayer rushes to finish his job, til a crisp kendo stick across the stomach from Caliban takes the wind out of his sails. Caliban picks up where Slayer left off, aiming for a .1000 batting average at Legion’s legs, but Legion leaps from the turnbuckle, over Caliban and the body of Alex Slayer, and to safety on two the ground floor. Before Caliban can bring his reckoning, a stiff straight kick to the stomach puts Caliban stumbling back to the ropes and sends the kendo stick sliding across the mat. Legion seizes the moment, but Caliban’s experience bails him out as he ducks low, wraps his arms around Legion’s sides, and lifts the aerial assassin from the ground and crashing her face and torso into the steel cage. He tops it off with a spine buster slamming Legion on the mat. A bit perturbed about the failure of his first gameplan, Jay Jones climbs to his feet to see Legion at the wall of the daunting, unforgiving steel cage rifling through the various items, so he grabs the dropped kendo stick from earlier, scans the ring, and brings the weapon down across the back of his former tag partner, Sarah Roberts, in the middle of her trying to execute a kimura from half-guard onto Indy Darling. CRK.
J.T. PRICE: Jonny and Jay Vaughn spent weeks showing off their teamwork, but Jay blaming some of those shortcomings on Jonny seems to really have gotten underneath his skin. I loved seeing these two work together, but whenever New England and the UK go to war, you’ve just gotta love it. I can’t think of a better place to let the rage out.
TREY BOOKER: Yeah, it’s a beauty, isn’t it? As exhibited by Caliban, the cage is as much of a weapon as what’s hanging off of it! A weapon covered in weapons! In the middle of all the chaos, Sarah’s learning to keep her head on a swivel because Jay Jones knows this ain’t about being the best at cage fighting, it’s about being the best at the moment it matters.
A well placed elbow from Jonny staggers Vaughn. The two largest fighters in the match tangle up, with Vaughn trying to go low and twist Jonny into a back suplex, but Jonny’s pythons putting the squeeze Vaughn with a vicious headlock. Jonny gets a running start, and drags Vaughn along! Caliban’s keeping an eye out on the chaos, but the skilled street fighter doesn’t notice five hundred pounds of man meat closing in on him until Jonny’s got a head of steam! Simultaneous bulldog - clothesline connects! Jonny rises, bows to the audience, and sentons two hundred and sixty two pounds over both Vaughn and Caliban! Before he can spell ‘Connecticut’, Legion is a blur firing out of the turnbuckle like a bat out of hell, holding a stop sign to her chest as a battering ram as she crashes into Jonny with a picture perfect asai moonsault! The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and metal hitting face puts Jonny horizontal. In another corner of the ring, Jay Jones is on the prowl while Sarah Roberts is wincing from wood hitting flesh and bone across her back while she couldn’t brace for it and trying to defend herself by climbing to a stand. Jay takes from the Zombieland handbook and raises his kendo stick to go for the double tap, but Indy Darling’s hands around the weapon tug Jay Jones off balance! Jay Jones and Indy argue in the middle of all the chaos, Indy insisting he had her where he wanted her, and Jay insisting she’s his after she tried to outshine him in their match, until Jay cuts out the middle man and swings! Indy ducks, and rebounds off the ropes! Jay turns to Indy floating over, grabbing him with a front facelock, and sending him crashing face first into the mat! Float over DDT! Jay immediately rises and holds his forehead, which is a red and white target for Indy’s step-up enziguri. With Jones slumped, Indy pries a garbage can from the cage wall and sets it up in a turnbuckle… then while the self-proclaimed Highlight, Jay Jones, climbs to his feet, Indy drags him into a power bomb position and sets up the buckle bomb. Jones reads the room, and with one mighty heft and both feet planted, he back body drops Indy and sends him flying towards the turnbuckle. Darling shows off his instinct and comfort in midair as he clings onto the cage to stick a landing on the turnbuckle and avoids crashing in the corner of the cage, and after a few seconds of stabilizing his footing, moonsaults back onto his opponent. Jay’s grip around the kendo stick he dropped lets him return Indy back to sender, with wood CRACKING over Indy’s chest! Darling’s left howling in pain over the red stripe on his torso, but doesn’t get long before Jay yanks him into a kendo stick assisted russian leg sweep, which renders the weapon useless but milks every bit of use out of it as Darling’s splattered on the mat. Jones triumphantly raises his hands and leans onto the cage while beckoning the crowd’s applause, and their BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOing in response is loud enough to almost make it seem like the cage is shaking. The chanting from the crowd breaks into competing chants as the crowd reacts to Roberts, and Jones.
“DEER-FIELD KILLER!”
“JAY JONES SUCKS!”
TREY BOOKER: I’m only saying this because Jones is an example of young talent shining among veterans - as a person who loves the city of brotherly love, he’s going to have to sneak out of the back in an unmarked taxi if he keeps these antics up. Philly burns down their city when they WIN, I don’t think he’s about anything but stroking his ego.
J.T. PRICE: Did a jet just fly over, or do they just really hate Jones? Either way, he’s getting results. I’m cringing just imagining how that kendo stick’s gotta feel.
Brushing off the snub from the uneducated masses, Jay Jones goes for the pin.
ONE!
TW-
Kickout at one and a half. Legion looks across the ring and smiles at Jay Jones, who glares daggers at her and closes in one her with a wooden bat from the nearby wall of the cage, until she clicks the trigger on the staple gun she plucked off the cage’s wall and Jay Jones keeps his eyes on his own assignment instead and crack Indy over the back as he scales the ropes to stand. Legion looms over Jonny and kisses the stable gun to his shoulder - one click later, Jonny’s squirming and thrashing on the mat, doing his best to shove Legion away, but she gets two more staples buried in his torso before he manages to throw her back. Even on the ground holding her weapon of choice, the queenslayer is elated! Jonny stands, only for a basement dropkick from Legion to drop him. Afterwards, Legion turns her attention to Vaughn, whose biding his time near the ropes, and engulfs Legion in his grasp while he tries wrapping her up in a release suplex when she gets too close, but the staple gun clicks three times across Vaughn’s chest until the crimson patch of torso punctured with staples makes him drop her. Vaughn’s hands raise in a guard, and he reaches for Legion as she gets too close, but with she teases her weapon each time he commits to a grapple. Four leg kicks from Legion weaken Vaughn’s base, and makes his guard duck low, and a question mark kick changes course to slam her shin to his chin! The Ghost is true to her name as she moves across the ring like she’s weightness with a running big boot, looking to steal the match with her Icy Death finisher! Vaughn scoops up Legion, her leg, and every bit of momentum she’s bringing with a capture suplex! THE STAPLE GUN HITS HIS TORSO AGAIN, BUT NO DICE! AGAIN TO HIS TORSO! THEN TO HIS CHEEK! NO FUCKING DICE, VAUGHNS IN HIS ZONE! Raw strength and momentum send Legion rolling from the mat, and stumbles to a stand into a biel toss from Vaughn directly into the cage! With Legion out of the way, Vaughn turns back to Jonny and starts trying to drag him to a stand, but a headbutt to the kisser derails his train of thought.
Jonny C’s stands and admires Legion’s handiwork. A hand tapping his chest thanks Legion for the new jewelry stapled into his chest. His other hand yanks her up to her knees, and snatches her skull into a snapping DDT dribbling her skull on the canvass and spilling the first signs of crimson in this match dripping down her forehead! Jonny with the cover!
ONE
TWO
KICKOUT.
The Infamous fighter slaps the mat a few times looks over the rest of the field, where Caliban’s exchanging blows with Alex Slayer until a series of knife edge chops leave red welts across Caliban’s chest and force him back, and Indy Darling catches Jones with a jawbreaker and gets himself back into the fight… Jonny smiles and sifts about the goodies attached to the cage to retrieve the signature brown cloth bag, and an upside down turn of the bag covers the mat with silver tacks! The crowd erupts out of sheer bloodshed, and Jonny’s giant smile and nodding his head makes the message clear; it’s personal. Vaughn’s punching and swinging body blows the second Jonny reaches for him, but the Infamous one still does his damnest to drag Jay Vaughn into a suplex position and heft him above his head while those tacks promise a stabbing, paralyzing welcoming party. Instead, Vaughn manuvre’s his lower body enough to shift Jonny’s balance and fall down Jonny’s back but land harmlessly on his feet, where he starts scooping Jonny up for a back suplex of his own! No! His right hand tugs Jonny’s left between his own legs, and Jay Vaughn kicks into third gear with his own personal PUMPHANDLE FLATLINER, THE DISTINCT END, DROPPING JONNY C TORSO FACE FIRST AND ADDING TO THE STAPLES WITH DOZENS OF NEW PIECES OF METAL JEWELRY PIERCING HIM AND SINKING INTO HIS SKIN! JAY VAUGHN MAKES THE COVER!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
HOLLY PEREZ: JONNY C HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
TREY BOOKER: An winning the award of ‘least likely to make it through a metal detector on the flight home’, Jonny C! Jesus. Christ. Jay Vaughn didn’t leave any doubt in anyone’s mind that he’s able to stand on his own two feet.
J.T. PRICE: The cage came into play - you can’t imagine Legion and Vaughn getting so sadistic with anyone and staying in the ring unless they had no way out.
The referee aids with bringing Jonny to his feet as the cage door opens to clear him from the ring. Roberts and Slayer both meet with arm and tie collars with both vying for position, filled with lots of grabs for the others legs and attempts to switch ones stance to square the hips and toss the other, until Slayer whips Roberts down with a leg trip! He lands in her half-control, and she snakes his legs around his torso to get a headscissors. There’s no finesse in Slayer’s hands prying her legs apart and rolling her onto her front, and his rugged aggression’s met with her own! Superman punc- no! Slayer goes under, and sends Roberts to the ninth circle of hell with one HELLUVA spinning uranage! Slayer perches across the turnbuckle over Roberts and leaps with a double stomp aimed at her midsection, but she just barely manages to roll out of dodge and avoid getting a place to put a feeding tube, but Slayer rolls through and lands without crashing and burning.
“MURDER EM CALIBAN, MURDER EM”
Almost reacting to the crowd’s chanting, Jay turns his attention away from Darling and to the street fighter standing on the turnbuckle and reaching around between a wooden 2 x 4 wrapped in barbed wire and fishing it from the wall of the cage. Jones is white on rice, rushing onto the turnbuckle next to Caliban and making it rain punches and hammerfists across Caliban’s back to keep the man from getting too comfortable! He’s met with elbows to the chin! Punch from Jay! Elbow from Caliban! Punch! Elbow! The two trade back and forth until Caliban catches the advantage with a handful of Jay Jones’ beautiful golden mane and BOUNCES his face on the steel cage! Again! Again! Both fighters stand on the top ropes, with Jones trying to drag Caliban to the canvas while Caliban throws elbows with one hand and clinging onto the cage for DEAR LIFE WITH THE OTHER. Caliban hooks an arm behind Jones’ and positions himself beside him, then LIFTS! SPINNING BACK SUPLEX FROM THE TOP ROPE, CALIBANS DETANGLED LANDS ON JONES LIKE AN ANVIL. Sensing the urgency, Alex Slayer uses a running start to spring onto the wall of the cage, where his right hand CRACKS across Caliban’s back enough to earn loud WOOOOOOOOO chants from the members of the Project Honor audience. Elbow from Caliban slams across Slayer’s visage, but the Strong Arm Alchemist puts his nickname on display with more chops cutting Caliban down to size! He starts to try going for a chinlock as he looks to the brawl beneath the two fighters as Slayer starts measuring for a cutter, but Caliban’s having absolutely none of it. He slams Alex Slayer’s face into the cage, ignoring the handprints tattooed on his back a la Slayer’s heavy hand, until Slayer falls into the masses below!
Caliban looks back to the chaos on ground zero, then does his own personal reboot of Supermarket Sweep, dropping the 2 X 4, a car door, a guitar, and a bag of tacks as he scales higher and higher until he’s left sitting at the top of the cage where he FINALLY finds the weapon suiting the moment.. And with a black steel chair with a Project Honor logo, Caliban steadies himself by holding the chair underneath him…
CALIBAN, PERCHED TOWARDS THE COP OF THE CAGE, LAUNCHES HIMSELF OFF WITH A 360 DEGREE ROTATION LEG DROP WITH THE CHAIR POSITIONED UNDERNEATH HIM! INTO THE MOSH PIT OF FIGHTERS, CALIBAN STAGE DIVES AND TAKES EVERYONE OUT!!!! HE LANDS SPLAYED ACROSS THE BODY OF ALEX SLAYER!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
HOLLY PEREZ: ALEX SLAYER HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
TREY BOOKER: Probably one of the hardest hitting strikers in this match, Alex Slayer, is getting sent home as the second elimination. Technical prowess and stiff striking have taken this man from arena to arena, but matches like this ain’t sprints, they’re marathons.
J.T. PRICE: Exactly that my friend. Caliban’s a suicidal maniac, but he’s looking like a suicidal maniac that’s gonna outlast everyone else. Circle takes the square.
Fighting through the pain, bruises, and bloodshed, Caliban slowly inches to his feet. He doesn’t notice Indy Darling doing the same behind him, until the two fighters back into one another, snap around, and instinctively go into attack mode. Caliban finds the chair he dropped on a quarter of the roster moments ago, fresh with a dent from turning his body into a weapon and slamming it on the chair. Everyone’s favorite, Indy Darling, makes a mad dash to the cage wall to find something to help him win this arms race, and snags his own steel chair. He turns to face his opponent but sees nothing but metal. CLANG! Darling raises his chair defensively and Caliban’s death blow cracks metal over metal. Both men recoil from the impact, before another charge and swing! CLANG! Two side swings brings steel chair to steel chair. Frustrated, Caliban hoists his weapon over his head as Darling rushes in for thirds. Another CLANG as both men throw both chairs at face-level, sending both weapons crashing to the ground! Caliban and Indy don’t miss a beat, exchanging lefts and rights to try getting the upper hand, til an arm drag from Indy Darling whips the Reckoning onto his back! Caliban snaps back to his feet, only to eat another! Another quick stand, another quick throw with Darling’s picture perfect running headscissors - wait, Caliban catches himself on his hands and flips to his feet! A handful of hair slings Darling to the turnbuckle, where the Indiannapolis native leaps onto the turnbuckle and awaits Caliban’s offense with a flip leaping out of dodge. Caliban, a ring warrior in his own right, changes course as Darling gets out of dodge, with him leaping onto the second rope and launching himself off with a springboard crossbody that lands beautifully! As the two wrestling trailblazers go to war, Both Legion and Vaughn are trying to pick meat from the bones of Vaughn, whose fighting through fists pounding on his back from both fighters to shove both away. Legion’s running european uppercut pairs with Jones’ roundhouse kick to Vaughn’s back like red wine and steak! Still, they can’t bring Vaughn down, and Jay’s attempt for a sleeper hold ends with Vaughn sinking the proverbial ship to kill the captain, driving both men backwards into the turnbuckle as hard as he can and clipping Jones’ highlight reel! Legion with a running dropkick, but Vaughn ducks out of dodge! Jones isn’t so lucky, and gets two Ronin’ boots to the chest crushing him in the corner. Legion wipes her visage with a hand, and turns to Vaughn’s monster clothesline almost plucking her head from her shoulders, but she ducks underneath and hits the ropes, rebounding off with a tilt-a-whirl DDT but Vaughn’s strength doesn’t let her spike his head on the mat! Instead, he powerslams her down! Vaughn gets the drop on Jones in the corner and shoulder tackles right into Jones’ stomach.Jones’ fists hammering down Vaughn’s back don’t seem to deter the man from barreling forward again and again, gutting Jay Jones like a trout. Jay Vaughn steps back to get a bit of a running straight of extra oomph, and bulldozes with a stinger splash! Jay bends his knee and gives Vaughn a rough landing! Vaughn tries to overpower Jay, but an atomic dropstops him in his tracks, and leaves his chin at perfect height for Jay’s boot, step-up enziguri! The big man’s on his knees! Like a shark tasting blood in water, the Great White Jay Jones returns to the second turnbuckle and launches himself off, double axe handle! At least, that’s the move he’s AIMING to slam over Vaughn’s back, but instead Vaughn wraps around him like a straight jacket, and V-bone suplexes Jay Jones halfway to China and sending him flying across the ring! With a battle cry, Vaughn slams both fists on the cage to drive the Project Honor audience absolutely nuts! Vaughn’s thumb makes a cut-throat motion and he waits with baited breath on Jay Jones to stagger to his feet, measuring him up for something huge… Jones, fighting through what must be like needles in his upper back after a rough landing rises… Vaughn rushes in! Assasination spear! JAY JONES, SAVANT OF THE SPEAR, ISNT CAUGHT OFF GUARD! THE CHAIR DROPPED BY INDY DARLING GOES AIRBORNE, CLAPPING AROUND VAUGHN’S FACE AND LEAVING HIM WEARING A MASK OF CRIMSON WHILE JAY’S ALL SMILES! His grin’s nowhere as big as Legion’s as she enters the fray, reveling in Vaughn’s suffering and looking to Jay Jones… Jones shakes his head, points to Vaughn, and makes the case for trying to take out the biggest person and largest threat in the match before Legion ‘passes her judgment’...but Vaughn doesn’t give her much time to contemplate when his hand reaches for her on his way back up to his feet. If looks could kill, Legion’s death glare would have him pushing daisies, and it’s the last thing he sees before Legion smacks his hand away. BLACK MIST! BLACK MIST FROM LEGION, RIGHT INTO THE EYES OF VAUGHN, LEAVING HIM YELLING AND SWINGING BLINDLY IN AGONY! JONES SMILES AND PUTS HIS THE EDGE OF HIS STEEL CHAIR INTO VAUGHN’S STOMACH TO DOUBLE HIM OVER! VAUGHN CANT SEE HOW PERFECTLY POSITIONED HIS HEAD IS FOR A RUNNING LEGION’S BOOT TO BATTER HIS JAW, WITH HER LEGENDARY RUNNING BIG BOOT, THE ICY DEATH! LEGION MAKES THE PIN.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
HOLLY PEREZ: JAY VAUGHN HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
TREY BOOKER: ...Sorry, it’s hard to focus on analysis while Legion’s got such a sick, sadistic smirk painted on her face.
J.T. PRICE: I almost want to tell her it’s a match and not just an opportunity to torture others to ‘teach’ them, but I wouldn’t want to ruin her day.
While the referee unlocks the cage door to usher Vaughn away as the second elimination of the match, he just barely avoids getting mowed down from Sarah Roberts reading the room and noticing the temporary partnership, so taking out the threat before it’s got a chance to develop by tackling Jay Jones to the ground! Mounted punches and hammerfists in bunches land like a hammer on meat, and slam even louder when Roberts switches to 12-to-6 mounted punches while Jay’s trying to shove her away. Fortunately for him, Roberts learned from her mistake earlier, and releases him to meet Legion halfway with a massive overhead right haymaker. Legion ducks underneath! Spinning back kick to Roberts bread basket lands solidly, followed with a roundhouse kick to the side and a stiff set of leg kicks to leave Roberts struggling to stay upright. Legion rebounds off the ropes, and tries to add a second name to her kill list with the Icy Death big boot! Roberts catches it, swings Legion off balance, and lets a flying knee CRACK Legion directly in the jaw! Back elbow to Jones trying to catch her off guard, but she isn’t caught slipping! Roberts dashes forward, underneath a spinning tornado kick from Legion, rebounds off the ropes, and gets met halfway with BLACKOUT! BLACKOUT SPEAR FROM JONES! JONES FOLDS ROBERTS IN HALF! JACKKNIFE PIN!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
No! Without anything in her lungs but salt and vinegar, Roberts throws her entire body into tossing both legs up and derailing the Jay train! Both of his hands slap the mat, and Jay surges to his feet only to bark orders at the referee, yelling about whether or not this referee needs to watch The Count on sesame street to learn how to count to three. Legion snaps her fingers to get Jay Jones’ attention, and directs him back to Sarah Roberts’ crumbled form. Jones directs her to bring Roberts to her feet while he vents in frustration.
JONES: You thought you’d try to outshine me? You didn’t hear the Choo choo, the god damned JAY TRAIN is coming, you just didn’t know it! I didn’t need you as a partner!
Legion turns to finish off Robert, completely blindsided by Jones exploding across the ring like a bat out of hell, with a second Blackout spear like he wants to cave Legion’s chest in! She doesn’t see it coming, and gets nailed to the mat with the full force of the move! Another pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
HOLLY PEREZ: LEGION HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
JONES: Sorry, gotta finish this one quickly! I hurt my back carrying trash fighters like you all! Sorry Project: Yawner!
If there’s someone else capable of getting more hatred from every corner of the building at this moment, it’d have to be someone burning the building down. Amidst all the jeering and booing, Jones respectfully bows and waves to his ‘adoring fans’. Jones washes his hands after standing successfully over Legion, who refuses the help from the referee and leaves the ring on her own accord while glaring daggers into Jones. He mouths something about ‘you like that’, then turns to where Darling’s climbing to his feet and he makes a beeline for him. Darling just manages to slam an uppercut into Jay’s stomach before the self-absorbed assassin can get to work A second punch attempt fails, as Darling’s swept from his feet! Jay tugs him into the modified lifting STO while eyeing the nearby car door, looking to drop Indianapolis’ finest export atop the car door! INDY DARLING SCOUTED IT! HE ROLLS THROUGH THE REVERSE STO SETUP, AND LANDS ON BOTH FEET AS HE DRAGS JONES’ HEAD BETWEEN HIS THIGHS AND INDY HOOKS THE ARMS! HE LIFTS JONES FROM HIS FEET, BUTTERFLY PILEDRIVER ON THE CAR DOOR ATTEMPT, BUT JAYS INCESSANT KICKING AND THRASHING IS TOO MUCH FOR INDY TO CARRY! ROUNDHOUSE KICK FROM JONES THWAPS DARLINGS TORSO! JONES PASSES DARLING, REBOUNDING OFF THE ROPES LOOKING FOR ANOTHER BLACKOUT, BUT DARLING CATCHES HIM! SUNSET FLIP ON TOP OF THE CAR DOOR SLAMS BOTH FIGHTERS DOWN, AND THERES NO AIR BAGS, JUST GLASS AND METAL TO CATCH THEIR FALL! DARLING KEEPS HIS ARM DRAPED OVER JONES! PINFALL!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
TREY BOOKER: KIIIIIIIICKOUT AT 2.99999, BUT THIS ISNT HORSESHOES SO JAY JONES IS STILL IN THIS THING BECAUSE BEING CLOSE ISN’T ENOUGH TO SEND HIM HOME!
Darling rolls through the wreckage of two human’s body melded onto the car door and belts out a growl of frustration as he notices Caliban getting some life about him from the mat. Immediately, Indy finds a steel chair and slams it across Caliban’s back! Caliban reels in agony! Darling brings it down a second time over Robert’s spine! He then drags Roberts to her feet and irish whips her to a ring corner and sets up a chair in front of her on his way to running to the opposite ring corner. Launching himself from the chair, he leaps into an aerial heel kick onto Roberts! She goes down! Darling rinses, washes, and repeats as he throws Caliban into a corner and sets up the chair on his way across the ring. He sprints for the chair just as Caliban does - but instead of a launching pad, Caliban basement dropkicks the steel furniture and sends it crashing into Darling’s shins! He crashes harder than his Indianapolis Colts, post Andrew luck, holding his shins! Caliban holds his back for a few beats, before the Reckoning makes Darling pay for it by deadlift Indy from the ground from behind in a german suplex position, and adjusting his grip to send the man crashing SPINE FIRST into a garbage can with the Detangled, Caliban’s SPINNING BACK SUPLEX! CALIBAN MAKES THE COVER.
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
Caliban curses, but still paying attention to the four-way-dance nature of this battle, turns to Sarah Roberts draped over the ropes and shaking off the cobwebs rattling around after the blunt head trauma. The Reckoning comes a runnin’, looking to flatten her between two hundred pounds of destroyer and the cage, but the cage fighter’s experience lets her get a little extra english as she bounces off the ropes! Spinning backfist! The crowd erupts with cheers as the smallest dog in the battle has the biggest bite, and whether she’s seeing triple or not, she’s got one target in mind and its her fist BASHING into Caliban’s nose! He reels, but it isn’t long before a huge hook from Caliban batters Roberts across the dome and sends her back to the ropes!
Crowd: BOOOOO!
Apparently only kept upright by those ropes, Roberts rebounds back with an absolute blur of a haymaker across Caliban’s skull!
Crowd: YAAAY!!!
Open hand slap across the chest of Roberts cracks like a whip!
Crowd: BOOOOOO!
Overhand Haymaker that’d make Chuck Liddel shed a tear tries to cave Caliban’s face in!
Crowd: YAAAAAAAAAY!!
TREY BOOKER: No one trying to dodge or block, just going blow for blow!
J.T. PRICE: This ain’t just about winning, it’s about reputation and ego, and the two roughest fighters in this match ain’t gonna let the other look vulnerable.
Back and forth, the two warriors go, exchanging blows until a short-ranged elbow jab to Caliban’s nose opens the door for Roberts to kick the motherfucker in. Punches come in punches, only sending with a spinning back kick to Caliban’s stomach and an axe kick over his head once he’s bent over, but he’s a man unleashes, gladly looking his torture in the face and rising to ask for a second heaping if she’s got more to give. Roberts roars back, loading up with homicidal intent packed into her spinning tornado of a DISCUS BIG BOOT POLISHING OFF HIS FACE WITH HER BOOT! CALIBAN’S WALKING ON AIR FOR A SECOND, BUT A LAST-DITCH TWO HUNDRED POUND ENZUIGIRI FROM CALIBAN LEAVES BOTH FIGHTERS GROUNDED, LICKING THEIR WOUNDS FROM THAT VIOLENT EXCHANGE!
CROWD: FIGHT FOREVER! *CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP* FIGHT FOREVER! *CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP*
Both with enough bruises tattooed on them to guarantee nobody willingly looks them in the eye in public after the match for fear of getting a matching pair of scars, it doesn’t matter. Roberts keeps a grasp on Caliban as they are crabs in a bucket trying to use the other to climb to their feet, eventually transitioning into a muay thai guard where close knees to the stomach bring Caliban down to her height. In the middle of this struggle for power, Indy Darling is a shooting star launching from the turnbuckle with a missile dropkick to plant both Roberts and Caliban! Indy springs to his feet, bows to the fans erupting to the nastiness in the kick, but he’s distracted by the mat shaking.
J.T. PRICE: Uh oh.
TREY BOOKER: Run, forest, run!
The midwestern native turns to hear feet rushing at him, but he can’t see it coming, it’s a BLACKOUT! Jones shoulder cuts Darling right down the middle! Instead of going for a pin, Jones preys after Caliban! HE WANTS TO END THIS MATCH HIMSELF! THE JAY TRAIN RUSHES AFTER CALIBAN, BUT CALIBAN GOES HIGH AND LEAPS OVER HIS HEAD! JAY FIRES OFF THE ROPES FOR THE KILL, BUT CALIBANS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND! INSTEAD, THE RECKONING SPRINGBOARDS FROM THE ROPES WITH A SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODY! ICARUS’ WINGS FAIL HIM, AND THE BLACKOUT SPEAR PUNISHES HIM FOR TAKING FLIGHT! JAY JONES SENDS CALIBAN TO THE NO FLY ZONE! JACKKNIFE PIN!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
HOLLY PEREZ: CALIBAN IS ELIMINATED!
TREY BOOKER: Jones secures his second elimination of the night! God damn, dude’s fetching the bolt cutters!
J.T. PRICE:: Dated pop culture references aside, Jones said he didn’t need anyone holding his hand to make an impact, and despite Caliban fighting like a man with nothing to lose, Jones fought like a man with everything to gain. Great showing, and I look forward to seeing Caliban anytime a weapon’s within arm’s reach.
JAY LOOKS TO THE CROWD OF HATERS WHILE HE SURGES TO HIS FEET LIKE A LION TRAPPED IN AN ENCLOSURE WITH GAZELLE TO SEE SARAH ROBERTS STIRRING… AND JONES GOES FOR THE HAT TRICK. HE TAKES OFF AS SOON AS SHES UP.
...
CLNK.
...JAY RUNS INTO THE BLACKOUT SPEAR AND IT CONNECTS… WITH SARAH ROBERTS RUNNING INTO THE LIGHTS OUT HEADBUTT, AND THE SICKENING SOUND OF SKULL CRACKING INTO SKULL ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE ARENA ENOUGH TO ENTICE GROANS OF DISGUST. WITHIN SECONDS, JAY JONES IS PROFUSELY LEAKING FROM HIS FOREHEAD WHILE LAYING ON HIS BACK. Roberts got the better of the exchange, but her fist slamming on the mat as her other hand covers her forehead tells the story definitely accompanying the ringing in her ears and the dizziness in her awkward movements. For the disgusting moments that feel like an eternity, the crowd’s left watching crimson spill from around Jones’ hands and the referee trying to get Jones to let him see the damage, but even while fighting to cling onto consciousness, Jones isn’t hearing any of it. Thankfully, Roberts manages to pin both of Jones’ shoulders down.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
HOLLY PEREZ: JAY JONES HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
TREY BOOKER: ...The event’s called Bloodbath. Everyone knew what to expect. Still, hooooooooly christ. God, I got tinnitus just watching that impact.
J.T. PRICE: See that boys and girls? This ain’t Sunday Night football, there isn’t anyone wearing a helmet. Bone meets bone, and despite Jay fighting like a demon unleashed, Roberts’ instincts and experience let her put on one HELLUVA hurtin’.
Indy Darling is the first to survey the damage, he sits up to a referee trying to ask Sarah Roberts how many fingers he’s holding up but she’s too focused on trying to get back into the fight - concussions are a ‘later’ problem. Two black PH steel chairs compliment the accents of crimson staining the ring, and he stands them up in the center of the squared circling. He’s true to every bit of his word, brushing past the referee the very second he’s able, not here to make friends of show any mercy, just to heft Sarah Roberts over his shoulders! HE TRIES TO SLAM HER THROUGH THE CHAIRS, BUT ROBERTS GETS AN ARM AROUND HIS THROAT AND STARTS TRYING TO FALL DOWN HIS BACK INTO A DRAGON SLEEPER! DARLING SEARCHES FOR A MIRACLE, AND FINDS IT IN EVERYONE’S FAVORITE DRIVER - HIS MICHINOKU DRIVER SLAMMING ROBERTS ONTO THE MAT! DARLING HOOKS THE LEG WITH A PIN!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
J.T. PRICE: With a well fought battle, it looks as if Indy Darling got it done!
HOLLY PEREZ: SARAH ROBERTS HAS-
TREY BOOKER: Hold on just a second!
NO! A REFEREE WAVES THE RING ANNOUNCER OFF, SIGNALLING THAT ROBERTS DID IN FACT GET HER SHOULDERS UP! ANOTHER ENRAGED GROAN AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS, BEFORE DARLING SHOVES ROBERTS IN FRONT OF THOSE CHAIRS AND BEGINS HIS ASCENSION TO THE SECOND TURNBUCKLE WHERE HE WATCHES OVER HER LIKE A BIRD OF PREY! TWO HANDS CLASPED TOGETHER LAY UNDERNEATH HIS CHEEK AS HE MAKES THE MESSAGE CLEAR - HES GOING TO PUT HER TO SLEEP WITH THIS ONE! ROBERTS DIDN’T GET THE MEMO, HOWEVER! SHE RUSHES FOR THE TURNBUCKLE, BUT A BOOT SHOVES HER BACK! DARLING PREPARES TO LEAP FOR HIS INDEPENDENTS DAY, PANAMA SUNRISE ONTO THOSE STEEL CHAIRS! NO, ROBERTS CLOSES THE GAP AGAIN! ANOTHER BOOT TRIES TO SHOVE HER BACK INTO PLACE, BUT HER SUPERMAN PUNCH LEAVES HER MEET HIM ATOP THE TURNBUCKLE! BELLY TO BELLY SUPLE- NO! DARLING ISN’T HAVING ANY OF IT! PRECARIOUSLY POSITIONED OVER A GUARANTEED APPOINTMENT WITH A PHYSICAL BACKSTAGE, DARLING FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE! FISTS CLENCH TOGETHER AND BATTER ROBERTS ACROSS THE SPINE! SHE CLINGS ONTO THE CAGE TO STOP DARLING FROM SIGNING HER DEATH WARRANT, AND DARLING FIGHTS TO BATTER HER LOWER AND LOWER AS HE SCALES TO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE… WITHOUT A RACECAR IN SIGHT, THIS INDY BOY STARTS HIS ENGINES AND TRIES SNAKING DOWN ROBERTS BACK, AVALANCHE SUNSET POWERBOMB STYLE!!! SHE CATCHES HIS LEG AS HES TRYING TO LET MOMENTUM CARRY HIM OVER HER BACK, AND SHE THROWS THEM BOTH OVER! AVALANCHE BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX THROUGH BOTH OF THOSE CHAIRS AND THE CROWD ROARS IN APPROVAL! AMONG THE METAL, ROBERT LANDS ON TOP WITH HER ARM OVER DARLINGS CHEST!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
HOLLY PEREZ: The last woman standing of Rage in a Cage… THE DEERFIELD DESTROYER, SARAH ROBERTS!
TREY BOOKER: Show. Hip. ROBERTS WENT TO HELL AND BACK AND ALL SHE GOT WAS THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDERSHIP TO THE WARRIOR RISING CHAMPIONSHIP.
J.T. PRICE: And it’s beyond fair to say that her, and everyone else included, just earned a free trip in the back of an ambulance. Indy Darling is an example of what brought Project Honor into fruition - putting a spotlight on some of the greatest talents in combat sports no matter where they come from or the size of the stages they frequent, because that man burns the roof down everywhere he goes! He came close to stealing the win here, but Roberts narrowly skated past him.
Neither Darling or Roberts show any signs of life through the announcement, both fighters exhausted and beaten after giving it their all and laying among their destruction.
Bloodbath has finally approached and most of the members of the roster were preparing hard for their matches, including the X-Factor Champion Colton Saint who was set to defend his title against current Warrior Rising Champion Zane later on. Meanwhile, we are shown backstage where we see Kimberly Chase pushing around a baby carriage with the X-Factor sitting inside it. If you look up the term deranged in the dictionary chances are you will find her picture next to it, dressed in her little red riding hood costume from earlier, she hums to herself while she turns the corner, confident that her man will pick up a victory.
As she completes the turn, she finds the baby carriage, and herself, stopped. The camera pans out to show the cause as the current Project: Honor Warrior Rising Champion Zane. Dressed in her gear and looking ready to go, she offers an eye roll upon looking at the ‘baby’ and ‘mother’ before chuckling a bit.
ZANE: “You know it’s a crime to take someone else’s property right? Or have you and the barely breathing wolf been huffing and puffing too much to remember that?”
Kimberly Chase: “How dare you accuse me of stealing. What kind of woman do you make me out to be?”
ZANE: “You’re literally carting a championship belt in a baby carriage. I don’t think I have to make you out to be anything. Plus I think you might have named it prematurely since the title won’t be resting in your care for much longer.”
She grips the carriage tightly, trying to get a hold of herself as she looks at Zane, then a smile forms on her face as she remembers something.
Kimberly Chase: “Think what you will, honey, but I'm actually glad I ran into you. There is something I want to discuss. Well, more like a favor..”
ZANE: “I have the strangest feeling I’m going to end up saying no to this but since I’m in a pleasant mood going into my title victory, I’ll give you the chance to speak your peace. What’s this favor?”
Kimberly Chase: “I know how stressed you been lately, especially with being a champion and defending it. I get it, but this match can be avoidable if you would just lay down for Colton once the bell rings and allow him to win. You would be doing the right thing. What do you say?”
Looking away for a moment, truly appearing as if she’s in deep thought, Zane finally looks back to Kimberly with a smile.
ZANE: “I think that idea is the absolute worst and I look forward to kicking out whatever air your ogre has left in his lungs before becoming the first double champion in Project: Honor history! Thanks for the offer though.”
She shakes her head, angry she would choose no for an answer.
Kimberly Chase: “I'm surprised by you, Zane...considering you're always on your back in your spare time. I figured you would want to be more useful.”
ZANE: “Sorry to burst your bubble but not everyone is like you. Why don’t you go back to the concession stand and get yourself another hot dog, while I actually work unlike you.”
Kimberly becomes enraged at this point, so she picks up the carriage and throws it at the side of the wall, dropping the X-Factor championship on the ground, picking it up and clutching it to her chest as she gets closer to Zane's face.
Kimberly Chase: “You will pay tonight, little girl and you won't like the consequences.”
She lets out a growl, then looks her in the eyes before turning around and walking away angrily.
Watching Kimberly storm off, Zane couldn’t help but let out a laugh followed closely by a sigh.
ZANE: “And people say I need help...jeez.”
Rolling her eyes at the whole thing, Zane heads on down the corridor as the feed shifts from the backstage area.
HOLLY PEREZ:: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is scheduled for ONE FALL and is a HARDCORE MATCH!!! Introducing first….from Anaheim, California...weighing in at two-hundred and twenty-seven pounds...THE MESSIAH OF THE KNEE STRIKE...THE JUGGERNAUT...RYAN...YOOOOOOUUUUNNNNNGGGGG!!!
The lights go for a light shade of pink as "Save That Shit" by Lil Peep begins to play for everyone to hear.
Fuck my life, can't say that girl
Don't tell me you can save that shit
All she want is payback for the way I always play that shit
You ain't getting nothing, now I'm saying
Don't tell me you is
Nothin' like them other motherfuckers
Ryan Young steps out from behind the curtain to a loud amount of cheers, he gives off a smirk as he crouches down and scans through the many fans in attendance. He slowly gets back to a vertical position, adjusting his kneepads before making his slow walk down to ringside. Soaking in the crowd's loud reaction.
I can make you rich (I can make you rich)
I can make you this, baby, I can make you that
I can take you there, but baby, you won't make it back
Growing sick of this and I don't wanna make you sad
Do I make you scared? Baby, won't you take me back?
Young makes his way down the ramp and to ringside where he runs at the ring apron and slides along it on one knee, entering the ring and climbing up to the second rope where beats his chest with his hands before stretching his arms out and giving a smirk to the crowd who continue to rain the cheers down for him.
HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent…
J.T. PRICE: Hold on, Holly. We are hearing that something happened backstage. Let’s cut to them in the back to see what is going on.
The scene cuts to the backstage where medical staff and management are all crowded around the bloody, beaten body of The Predator. Wood shards and broken glass are everywhere around the unconscious body. The medical staff are in a hurry to end to the wounds of The Predator, trying to unbury the body as they try to staunch the bleeding to see how bad off he is.
We quickly cut back to the ring, where Ryan Young looks angry. He turns and looks to the announcing table, holding his arms out as if to say ‘what now?’
TREY BOOKER: Ryan has a point. What now?
Suddenly the teletron lights up and on it is Proving Grounds General Manager, Callum Walker.
CALLUM WALKER: My apologies everyone, as it seems we have run into a little bit of a hiccup in our airing of Bloodbath. But of course, with tensions running so high during a pay-per-view and the nature of the entire contest tonight, it only makes sense that something like this would happen. But, it places us in a bit of a pickle when it comes to this match...doesn’t it Ryan?
Ryan shakes his head, agreeing. He leans over the ropes and calls for a mic. J.T. Price grabs one and rushes it to him.
CALLUM WALKER: But, with everyone busy tonight..it seems Mr. Ryan Young is going to step out of Bloodbath…
Ryan turns around with the microphone in hand.
RYAN YOUNG: As the number one contender for the X-Factor Championship?
CALLUM WALKER: Well...not exactly. You see, your only win in Project: Honor is against Alejandro Correa… and honestly, I wouldn’t say that’s enough of a resume to just be granted a shot at the X-Factor Title.
RYAN YOUNG: Then what? I showed up. I’m here. I can’t help it that my opponent couldn’t handle the intensity of this place… this roster… this event.
CALLUM WALKER: And I applaud you for showing up. You knew what was at stake. And I will give you your X-Factor Number One Contendership Match at the November Sixth edition of Proving Grounds.
RYAN YOUNG: Hopefully not against Predator. He seems… like he is going to be a little preoccupied… a little out of commission.
CALLUM WALKER: I will have to get back to you and the rest of our Project: Honor fans on that one. You’ll find out when the card is announced… but I’ll find you an opponent. Then we can see who will earn their shot at that beautiful X-Factor gold.
RYAN YOUNG: Don’t think too hard about it, Callum. We already know who is walking out of Proving Grounds with that designation… The Messiah of the Knee Strike… The Juggernaut… me… Ryan… Young.
Ryan turns and flips the microphone back to the announcers table as ‘Save That Shit’ by Lil Peep begins to play again. He slides out of the ring and starts to quickly make his way up the ramp, staring at the image of Callum Walker the entire time.
The camera cuts to the ring where Holly Perez is standing by with a mic in hand.
HOLLY PEREZ: This match is scheduled for ONE FALL and is a HARDCORE MATCH! Introducing first…
“Our Destiny” by Black Veil Brides starts playing through the speakers…
♫Have we begun to drift away?
Have we learned from our mistakes?
Who will be the one to save our destiny?♫
The guitar and drums start playing…
♫All the lights tell me no lies
Have we said our last goodbyes?
Who will be the one to save our destiny?♫
Right after the word ‘destiny’, Jacob Steele runs out onto the stage. Blue pyro starts going off to the beat of the ‘oh’s’ in the song. Jacob walks back and forth, looking out at the fans. Once the verse hits, Jacob begins his walk to the ring, interacting with the fans along the way.
♫The king is dead
In a town of broken dreams
The river's red
Are we breaking at the seams?♫
When Jacob reaches ringside, he runs and slides into the ring.
♫Bleeding out
The fire spreads like kerosene
We're going down
We're going down in tragedy (singing)♫
After walking around the ring, Jacob climbs onto the middle turnbuckle and raises his arms up, holding his fingers in a rock on position. While doing this, blue pyro goes off behind on from the other turnbuckles, once again to the beat of the ‘oh’s’ in the song.
HOLLY PEREZ: Weighing in at two hundred and forty pounds… From Charlotte, North Carolina… JACCOOBBB STEEELEEE!!!
Jacobs hops down from the turnbuckle and waits on his side of the ring for his opponent.
TREY BOOKER: Jacob has been impressive since joining. He suffered a loss in his debut, but it was for the Grand Championship against Dickie Watson. Last Proving Ground he picked up a win against Ryan Young. Another tough matchup tonight for him.
"Centuries (Remix)" by Fall Out Boy ft. Juicy J starts to play. Shawn Warstein steps out onto the stage, welcomed with boos coming from everyone in the audience. He makes his way to the ring while ignoring every fan reaching out to him down the ramp.
HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent… Weighing in at two hundred and thirty-four pounds… From Dallas, Texas… “Fuzz”... SHAWWWWN WARRSTEEINNNNN!!
J.T. PRICE: A newcomer in Project: Honor, but a well known name otherwise. He’s got the attitude, let’s see if he’s got what it takes against Jacob tonight!
Shawn Warstein enters the ring, ignoring everything around him and keeping his eyes locked on Jacob Steele. The reg signals for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
TREY BOOKER: Here we go! Jacob Steele vs. Shawn Warstein.
Shawn and Jacob nod at each other before they circle into the middle of the ring and lock up with one another. Immediately, Jacob spins behind Shawn with his arm pulled behind him. Shawn ducks and spins under and reverses the hold on Jacob and then locks him in a headlock. He brings him down to one knee, still with the headlock locked in. A few seconds later, Jacob gets back to both feet, pushes Shawn back against the ropes, then whips him across the ring. NO! Shawn reverses and sends Jacob across the ring! Jacob rebounds, Shawn jumps over Jacob, AND OH! JACOB PULLS DOWN ON SHAWN’S LEG AND HIS FACE DRIVES INTO THE MAT! Jacob gets down on both knees on Shawn’s back, crosses his legs, grabs a hold of his face, and then rolls him over on top of his knees! Here’s the side of Jacob that Shawn is gonna have to watch out for! These submissions are deadly! Jacob is pulling back on Shawn’s throat and legs and he’s struggling! SHAWN POWERS HIMSELF OUT! He flips himself over and lands on Jacob to start a pinfall!
ONEEE!!
TWOOO!!
J.T. PRICE: That took Jacob by surprise, but kicked out right at the two count! NO TIME IS WASTED!
Jacob charges right at Shawn and takes him down! He grabs a hold of his leg, turns him over, and locks in a single-legged boston crab! He takes his knee and drives it down into Shawn’s back! He’s crawling for the ropes and Jacob is clubbing his back trying to slow him down, but Shawn gets a hold of the bottom rope! Jacob immediately releases the hold and looks on at Shawn while he pulls himself up and into the corner. Jacob walks over, grabs a hold of his arm and then twists it. Shawn is in pain from the look on his face and he throws a punch right at Jacob’s stomach! OH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT FROM JACOB!
TREY BOOKER: Shawn is back on the ground and Jacob has complete control over this match! Shawn is gonna have to turn this around quickly before it’s too late for him!
Jacob is holding onto his stomach, right where Shawn had just punched. He’s eyeing as he gets back to his feet. ANOTHER EUROPEAN UPPERCUT! Shawn ends up back in the corner in a seated position now! Jacob grabs a hold of him… AND ANOTHER ONE! He falls into the ropes and bounces back at Jacob! He punches Shawn’s stomach, connects another uppercut, then runs against the ropes. SHAWN GRABS A HOLD OF HIS ARM AND FLIPS HIM ONTO THE MAT! Jacob is in a seated position, holding his back. DROPKICK RIGHT TO JACOB’S FACE! Shawn is alive! He’s in pain, but alive! He hasn’t stopped holding his arm that’s been targeted in this match and when he notices Jacob getting up, he stomps on his chest to bring him back down! Jacob tries to get back up again, but Shawn stomps on him! He tries again to get up, but Shawn throws a mean punch right to his jaw! He grabs a hold of Jacob by the head and pulls him up. ELBOW STRIKE RIGHT TO JACOB’S FACE!
J.T. PRICE: You can see the spit fly out of Jacob’s mouth as he falls back down to the mat!
TREY BOOKER: Looks like this match is starting to speed up!
Shawn grabs a hold of Jacob again and pushes him into the corner. KNIFE EDGE CHOP! Loud enough to hear a faint echo and Jacob goes down to his knees! Shawn doesn’t waste any time as he pulls Jacob up by the neck and then connects a snap scoop slam and then goes for the cover!
ONE---
J.T. PRICE: Before he could even finish the first count, Jacob kicks out! Shawn pulls him back down for another cover!
ONE---
TREY BOOKER: Again kicks out before the first count!
Jacob lifts his head up and a dropkick straight to his face from Shawn! He lifts him up to his feet again, twists his arm behind his back and then pushes him into the corner. Still holding on to his twisted arm, Shawn throws Jacob across the ring into the other turnbuckle! Jacob’s back collides with the turnbuckle and he walks towards Shawn, holding his back. Shawn lifts him up on the side and drops him into a backbreaker! Jacob is in a lot of pain and crawls to the outside of the ropes. Shawn pulls him up on the apron and goes for a shoulder thrust through the ropes to Jacob’s stomach. JACOB DODGES! He places his leg on top of Shawn’s head and pulls back on his arm through the ropes! The ref is telling Jacob to stop! He releases the next second. Jacob turns to the crowd to apologize and then turns back around. KNIFE EDGE CHOP FROM SHAWN! Jacob falls off the ring to the outside!
J.T. PRICE: Nice move from Shawn right there!
TREY BOOKER: Wait, what is Jacob doing?!
Jacob, without wasting any time, looks under the ring for something. He pulls out a light tube! Shawn turns around to run against the ropes and then stops midway. Jacob is back up on the outside of the ring and Shawn attempts the baseball slide! It connects and Jacob drops down outside of the ring again! He lands on top of the light tube and is writhing in pain! Shawn rolls out of the ring and just realized that Jacob had a weapon on him. Shawn then looks under the ring and pulls out a syringe.
J.T. PRICE: Uh… what’s in that syringe?
Shawn looks down at Jacob who’s still in pain and bends down with the syringe in hand. Noticing the syringe, Jacob kicks Shawn’s arm and the syringe falls away from them. Now pissed off, Shawn reaches down to bring Jacob up to a vertical base, but Jacob connects a drop toe hold and Shawn falls face-first onto the broken light tube. Blood slowly starts gushing out of Jacob’s back from where he landed on the light tube. He looks at the syringe and then kicks it away. Instead, he looks under the ring for another weapon and ends up pulling out a barbed wire bat. Without hesitation, he slams it onto Shawn’s back. Pulling it away, he slams it once again, this time the barbed wire gets stuck in Shawn’s skin. Jacob is forced to pull it out, pulling skin off with it. Shawn’s back starts bleeding immediately. Jacob drops the weapon and pulls Shawn up to his feet, revealing that his face is bleeding from a couple of spots too. He throws him into the ring and brings the barbed wire bat with him as he enters the ring also. Jacob leaves the bat on the mat and attempts a cover on Shawn!
ONEE!!
TWOOO!!!
TREY BOOKER: Shawn Warstein kicks out! I’m glad weapons were finally brought into this. I was wondering if this was even a hardcore match.
J.T. PRICE: I was wondering the same thing, but it’s not disappointing anymore! I still want to know what that syringe does.
Jacob looks a little irritated after not getting the pinfall and picks the barbed wire bat back up. He swings it at Shawn again, but Shawn rolls out of the way. Jacob tries again, this time Shawn rolls out of the way and when Jacob turns to him, he connects a low blow. Jacob drops to the mat and also drops the barbed wire bat. Shawn takes it like a golf club and swings it right at Jacob’s face. Blood immediately appears on his face. Shawn drops the bat and looks outside for the syringe he had earlier. He finds it, exits the ring to grab it, and gets back in the ring. Jacob is on his knees right now trying to get back to his feet. Shawn charges at him AND CONNECTS HEAVY IS THE HEAD! After connecting the move, Shawn just stands above Jacob.
TREY BOOKER: Why isn’t Shawn in pinning him?
Shawn drops to his knee and takes the syringe right to Jacob’s neck. He inserts the needle and whatever the contents of the needle are. Jacob instantly passes out and becomes lifeless. Shawn tosses the syringe away and covers Jacob.
ONEEE!!
TWOOO!!!
THREEEE!!!
DING! DING! DING!
"Centuries (Remix)" by Fall Out Boy ft. Juicy J hits the PA system and the crowd immediately releases a roar of boos. Shawn stands above Jacob’s lifeless body with his own arm raised in the air.
HOLLY PEREZ: Here is your winner by pinfall… SHAWWWNN WARRSTEEINNNNN!!!
TREY BOOKER: What the fuck was in that syringe? He just put Jacob down and still isn’t moving…
J.T. PRICE: We definitely have to find out. I feel like that’s worse than anything that’s happened or going to happen here tonight.
Project: Honor Medical Staff enters the arena with a stretcher and other equipment. They get to ringside with some of the staff entering and some staying outside. Shawn Warstein exits the ring and starts to head up the ramp with a smile on his face. The medical staff attends to Jacob as the camera fades out.
The feed cuts from the ringside area to backstage once again as many staff scramble to get things ready for the Bloodbath headliner and main event. The camera’s view focuses on a corridor, the person in frame seen walking is the current Warrior Rising Champion, and challenger for the X-Factor Championship, Zane. Elegantly dressed in a black and gold designer hooded royal gothic shieldmaiden’s coat, gear underneath, title belt draped over her left shoulder, she sports a stoic expression as she walks about. Looking as if she has a destination in mind before heading to the gorilla position, the potential future double champion continues on. Taking a moment to reflect on her upcoming match, she looks down at the custom mask in her right hand, letting out a deep breath as she does. Zane knows she’s in for quite the battle but isn’t allowing that to stop her from proceeding with her plans.
MYOJIN: Nervous?
The current Wrestleworld Territorial Champion, and hopefully soon to be Grand Champion, MYOJIN comes into view sitting in the gorilla area right in front of the entrance's curtains. He sits on an equipment box, already in full gear for the night ahead as he looked over to a TV showing feed of the aftermath of the last match. The Shining Star's usual laidback expression was replaced with a determined, almost nervous look. He takes a little breath with a small laugh.
MYOJIN: I am too. Just a bit.
Hearing MYOJIN’s voice snaps Zane out of her trance, the young woman looking over in his direction now. Meeting his small laugh with a little chuckle of her own, she then sighs.
Zane: That obvious huh? Usually it’s me calling you out for having your mind a certain way. I guess having the two of us in similar positions shows that I am guilty of being in my own head too.
Motioning him to scoot over a bit, she then joins him on the equipment box. She places her title belt and mask to the side of her, giving him a cheeky smile before continuing.
Zane: I just know chances like this don’t come around often and I don’t want to slip up. This match is mine to win, but it’s also mine to lose.
MYOJIN nodded, draping his own championship belt on his lap. He gives her a small smile in return, placing a hand softly on her shoulder.
MYOJIN: You've got this. I know you do. All Colt has done is continue to underestimate you and what you're capable of- and once you put him in his place, we'll both be done with him.
He looks away from her back to the curtains and takes a small, deep breath.
MYOJIN: This is a big night for the both of us. I'm not scared of Watson, even though he's a great wrestler- I'm scared of what could happen to him, me, or us both up there tonight. One tiny misstep and…
The blonde grimaces.
MYOJIN: Someone could literally die.
Zane: That’s not going to happen and don’t put any more thought into that possibility than you already have.
Zane looks at the curtain along with him, then placing her hand on the title belt that rests on his lap.
Zane: On top of being the one person I trust on a personal level, you’re also someone who can be trusted in the ring. The match you and Watson are involved in is incredibly dangerous, yes, but if anyone is able to make the most of it and keep the worst from happening at the same time, it’s you. Tonight is big for both of us but as nervous as either of us care to admit we are, we also need to know we’re not alone out there. We have fans who have dedicated their hearts and time to us, we have management who have entrusted us with this responsibility. We also have each other. While we may not physically be there at ringside, I know you got my back and I absolutely have yours.
He runs a hand through his hair, nodding and leaning back to the wall.
MYOJIN: Right, right. Sorry, it's just..- It's been a crazy past few days. I'm still a little hurt from Rise of the Ronin- I guess I'm pretty scared, but at the same time… I want this. I'm excited for this. I know that I have the chance to do it. We owe it to everyone that's supported us to put on a good show and that's what we'll do, yeah?
MYOJIN: I've got your back too. Are you sure you don't want any backup out there in case Kimberly tries something?
Thinking over his question for a moment, Zane gives a simple nod.
Zane: You need to focus on your own victory. The last thing you need is a distraction in the form of that menace and her puppet. I will make a deal though since I know you’re a bit stubborn and you are crazy enough to care about me. If she does try something more than the usual, you have my permission to chase her out..who knows? Maybe she’ll snap one of those cheap heels of hers and we can get a little laugh out of it.
Letting out a small laugh, Zane leans back and softly rests her head against MYOJIN’s shoulder.
Zane: You and I are going to give our greatest show yet. Rise of the Ronin was a big night and that wave is continuing here at Bloodbath. Neither of our matches will be easy, they probably won’t be all that pretty either despite our presence but I feel more ready than ever now. It means the world that you’re here for me. Plus I make a pretty good partner too so there’s that.
While she knows she is solely giving herself the ego boost to lighten the mood, Zane also knows that this is bigger than all that. Another sigh of hers follows the words.
Zane: I know you haven’t had much time to heal up since your last match but you’ve fought through the pain before to win and tonight will be no different. Plus I’ll be here if you need another ride, no matter how bad my obstacle tries to tear me apart.
In response, he leans his head against hers. His hand also lightly finding its way to gently grasping Zane's.
MYOJIN: And after this, whenever Project: Honor finally gets tag championships- We'll take those too!
He spoke in a lighthearted and humorous tone, before quieting down.
MYOJIN: You're my best friend. I believe in you. We can do this.
Looking down at their hands a moment, Zane then closes her eyes, taking in another deep breath before exhaling softly.
Zane: You’re my best friend too and I’ll always believe in you. You’re right, we can do this and we will…
Before she can say more, she opens her eyes as one of the producers for Project: Honor approaches, giving the signal that it’s time. Both then sit up and let go of the other’s hand. Zane hops off the equipment box, grabbing hold of her championship belt and mask. She takes a second to look over and up at MYOJIN, leaning a bit close.
Zane: Looks like I’m up. Keep as close of a look as you can on the monitor and be ready to congratulate me, okay?
MYOJIN: Only if you do the same for me when my match is up. Oh, and Emiko…?
He gives one little grin as they stand. But before Zane goes through the curtains, he speaks again.
MYOJIN: 幸運を、我が友よ. (Good luck, my friend.)
An angelic voice of ‘Beautiful Song’ by FalKKonE & Rena triggers the dimming down of the lights, surpassed by piercing blue lighting. Fans lean over the guard rail, watching the ramp as Zane slowly emerges onto the stage. Adorned in a black and gold royal shieldmaiden’s coat with the hood of the coat covering her head, she stands at the top of the ramp, facing the steel of the ramp before slowly raising her head. Her traditional mask has been replaced by the horned Demon Samurai Assassin mask.
J.T. PRICE: What in the world?
With her slow descent down the ramp, Zane doesn’t appear to have taken her attention from the ring in front of her.
TREY BOOKER: Months of torment leading into this match, Zane seems to be channeling the dark side that had surrounded her at the hands of Colton Saint and Kimberly Chase. Now, running alone against that very man without the assistance of MYOJIN, Zane looks to stand alone as the first ever double champion here in Project: Honor.
Standing at the bottom of the ramp, she removes the Project: Honor Warrior Rising Championship from around her waist under the coat before peering towards each side at the audience before quickly getting onto the apron, springboarding over the top before landing on the second turnbuckle, placing a foot on the top rope as she looks up towards the rafters. A blinding blue spotlight watches over her as she reaches her free hand to the sky, gripping the air along her palm before climbing fully to the top rope, backflipping into the ring.
Flash photography goes at a rapid pace as Zane gives a bow. Gripping the bottom of the mask, she delays for a moment before ripping off, firing her arm up holding the Warrior Rising Championship high to a massive ovation.
J.T. PRICE: Now, that is the face of a determined Champion!
The Philadelphia faithful give their love to Zane, continuing their massive ovation as she hands over the Championship and the mask to the ring attendant before slowly removing her coat, revealing a black, red, white, and golden ¾ length Figure Skating Dress. She folds up her ring coat, handing it out to the attendant before circling the ring, looking around at the fans here in Philly.
TREY BOOKER: There is no doubt at all that Zane is one of the finest competitors here in Project: Honor. Everything she does is with absolute precision, but tonight isn’t about science or even the art of professional wrestling. She knows that tonight is about survival in its purest form.
Continuing her cycle around the ring, she slowly stops in the middle, watching the stage intently before the lights completely disappear in the arena. Her music slowly dies down, almost giving a demonic vibe to it.
On the video wall, a shot of a Crescent Moon is shown in the sky. A darkened cloud slowly begins to cover it. ‘Sonne’ by Rammstein (Instrumental Version) begins to play as the cloud is moving across the former glory of the moon before revealing it as a full moon. Heavy crimson red strobe lights cover the middle of the upper stage as Kimberly Chase walks out under the lights in her Little Red Riding Hood cape and mini dress. Holding the Project: Honor X-Factor Championship over her shoulder, she slowly turns to her side, extending her hand as Colton Saint walks in under the strobe lights.
Standing on the top of the stage in his black leather trench coat, Saint looks through the eyes of his zombified Wolf mask as he slowly approaches Kimberly, who showcases the X-Factor Championship to him. The slow movements of Saint cause his head to turn to each side of the guard rails, as the two make their way down to the ring. On the back of his coat, several dashes are shown through the names of the victims of The Extinction edict they made as they entered the company.
J.T. PRICE: And here comes the man that many have considered to be the Dark Horse of Professional Wrestling. Something had always eluded Colton Saint before coming to Project: Honor, but now we have seen what this man is capable of.
Kimberly walks up the ring steps to the apron while Saint circles the ring before sliding up onto the apron, pulling himself to his feet. He leans back along the top rope, and right on cue, he rips his mask off. Revealing his dead eyes to the audience. Kimberly leans on the second rope, holding them open for him as the X-Factor Champion climbs into the ring. Storming to the other side of the ring, he’s gripping the top rope as his unbalanced glare immerses the audience in front of him. He removes his trench coat, revealing black, white, and red trunks with dash marks over the initials of his victims thus far.
Lights returning to normal, Zane stands in her corner as she eyeballs her opposition. Colton has his back turned to her, facing out at the audience. Kimberly barks out some directions to him as his music slowly fades out.
DING! DING! DING!
HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a sixty minute time limit, and is for the Project: Honor X-Factor Cha..
Kimberly Chase storms over, grabbing the microphone from Holly Perez. She shakes her head before glaring at Zane.
Kimberly Chase: Whoa, before you get too excited here. I need to explain something here. First thing is first.
Kimberly reaches into the pouch of her cape, grabbing a paper. She flips through a few pages.
Kimberly Chase: For those of you idiots who don’t know, this is the official contract that Colton has signed under of course, the Power of Attorney..Me.
She gives her devious smile to the audience before continuing.
Kimberly Chase: Article 9..Section 4. Upon receiving a match on short notice, the signee has the right to refuse or alter the match. A 15 day notification must be delivered to the signee if it pertains to any stipulations including type of contest, stipulations, and championship opportunities. If these conditions are not met, they will be met under the discretion of the signee.
The audience doesn’t appear to be happy, more so with the voice of Kimberly as she aggressively read the statement.
Kimberly Chase: Okay, let’s dumb it down for you, Zane. You get NO title match! Colton wasn’t even physically cleared to compete tonight, but guess what? He’s here.
Astounded, Colton Saint looks over at Kimberly, trying to reason with her. She whispers something back to him, which causes him to shake his head in frustration.
Kimberly Chase: It’s for your own good! Trust me, you know I’m right. Like these idiots here know, I AM ALWAYS RIGHT!
Zane has had enough, walking to the middle of the ring before snatching the microphone from the hand of Kimberly.
Zane Always a way out, huh? I don’t care about your entitlement. A loss for you will always be a win for me.
Refusing to give the microphone back to Kimberly, she instead hands it over to Holly Perez before backing up into her corner. This has Saint’s attention, as the two make eye contact finally. Perez looks confused, but ultimately abides by the rules from the contract and agreement from Zane to alter the stipulation.
HOLLY PEREZ: The following Champion vs. Champion contest is scheduled for one fall…
Colton Saint immediately pipes up, walking over to Perez, whispering something to her.
HOLLY PEREZ: I’m sorry.. The following Champion vs. Champion contest is scheduled for one fall with a sixty minute time limit, and is for the ‘Fuck You, I’m Better’ Trophy!!!
The audience erupts at the naming of the trophy, as Zane and Saint begin a staredown from opposite sides of the ring.
HOLLY PEREZ: Introducing first to my right. Fighting out of Anaheim, California by way of Soka, Saitama, Japan.. Weighing in at 115lbs, she is the Project: Honor Warrior Rising Champion, ‘The Crescent Moon’ ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANE!!!!!!!!!!!
Overflowing with support from the audience, Zane’s expression doesn’t change. She watches Colton Saint with nothing but anger in her eyes.
HOLLY PEREZ: And her opponent, fighting out of the Rofflestomp Ranch by way of Sweetwater, TX.. He is the Project: Honor X-Factor Champion. ‘The Last Breathing Outlaw’ COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLTON SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAINT!!!!!
The support has drowned out very quickly, as Kimberly Chase points at the Champion with a big smile, while Saint is focused on Zane.
TREY BOOKER: It looks like Kimberly Chase has made her presence known already here, completely changing the match to a non-title contest. We’re going to have to see what the story is there, but evidently it is in Colton Saint’s contract. Rather than letting it go though, Zane and Colton Saint both had agreed on, if I’m hearing this right, the ‘Fuck You, I’m Better’ trophy to be put on the line.
DING! DING! DING!
With Kimberly Chase and Holly Perez out of the ring, all that is left is a referee, and two Project: Honor Champions. They haven’t even left the corner yet as a massive amount of ‘Let’s go Zane’ chants blister through the crowd. They both appear to be ready for war here in Philadelphia. Saint is first out of the corner, walking toward the middle of the ring. Matching the intensity of her adversary, Zane follows suit, standing in the middle of the ring with the much larger foe. Saint stares down at Zane as different chants begin to take place. Their eyes never leave one another, but Saint slowly backs up, as he begins to circle the ring.
J.T. PRICE: I’d say that was a sign of respect from the X-Factor Champion, Trey, but I don’t think that’s the case here.
Zane slowly circles the ring as well before the two finally meet for the collar and elbow lock up! Zane initially tries to overpower Saint, to force a step back, but he doesn’t budge. Resorting to using her speed instead, Zane quickly does a go-behind to confuse Saint, but he quickly grabs her hands, breaking the grip immediately before applying a quick inverted hammerlock over Zane’s own shoulder! The Crescent Moon cringes from the initial tension in the hold before attempting to pick the ankle of Saint, only for him to step back. She reaches up to the face of Saint, forcing his head back before transitioning it into the front facelock!
TREY BOOKER: I thought this was supposed to be a blood battle here. They seem to want to try to outdo one another technically!
Saint plants his feet while in the facelock, hoisting her up momentarily before dropping her back down due to the weight distribution by Zane, landing back on her feet. This allows Colton to twist out of the facelock into an arm wrench. He steps back to the middle of the ring with her, keeping the wrist in a difficult position. Zane circles the ring before trying to slap the hand of Colton, causing him to aggressively wrench on her wrist. A loud snap came from the arm as Zane dropped to a knee in pain.
J.T. PRICE: Jesus! Did you hear that?!
The initial reaction of pain, Zane’s face turns back to anger as she drops into a commando roll, before twisting herself over into a front handspring, then into a top wristlock takedown on Saint. Rather than holding the wristlock in place, she immediately tries hyperextending the arm by going for the cross armbreaker, but Saint’s hands are locked.
TREY BOOKER: These two seem to be putting on a clinic!
Zane kicks at the lower neck and upper chest of Saint to get him to break his grip, but it remains firm. He shifts his weight over, trying to roll her onto her back, but Zane keeps a shoulder off of the mat. Saint thinks of the easy road by stomping her head, but chooses to put his foot underneath her arm to cause distance between her arms and her chest before pulling his arm free from the cross armbreaker. His mistake is obvious though, allowing Zane to grab the leg of Saint in an attempt to get a kneebar in place, but he yanked his foot back, giving Zane a very light kick across the arm to mock her.
Both are back on their feet, as the audience begins to cheer on both competitors. Saint is looking to maintain the pace here in this contest by slowly walking around the ring, watching Zane. He looks for the single leg takedown on Zane, who uses his arm against him by latching it into a modified Kimura. Saint drops to a knee as the hold is locked in.
J.T. PRICE: Well scouted by Zane! She obviously did her homework, knowing about the surgically repaired shoulder of Colton Saint! That Kimura is stretching and possibly tearing multiple muscles and tendons in that man’s arm right now.
In the awkward angle, Saint grits his teeth while Zane pulls back on the arm. Trying to alleviate the pain, Saint immediately drops onto his back, causing a little damage to his wrist but ultimately taking the pressure off of his upper arm and shoulder. Zane throws in back elbows to the neck of Saint, forcing him to swing his lower body up into a headscissors on Zane before freeing his arm. He rolls away from her, bringing her head and neck up while her chest remains on the mat. The referee checks on Zane in the hold before Colton slaps his thigh, re-intensifying the pressure on her neck by causing the leg to force her head back further. She’s struggling to move, but her agility makes it easier for her to roll Saint into a seated position while the headscissors are still applied. He plants his elbows on Zane to keep her from escaping easy, but she finds a way out with a handstand back to her feet. Zane immediately swings for the fences with a roundhouse kick, but Saint drops back to the mat to evade it. He sits up right after the miss, only to be met with a swingaround dropkick from Zane, knocking him back to the canvas.
TREY BOOKER: What an escape by Zane! These two really have each other scouted, it looks like.
Zane is quick to her feet, followed by Saint who charges in. He runs into a Japanese arm drag from Zane!! They’re both back up, and a second Japanese arm drag!! Again, they’re back up and Colton runs into a spinning back kick from Zane, who is looking for the Shiranui!
J.T. PRICE: We know what’s coming next, the SC Zane Pop!! This early in the contest?
Zane runs to the corner with her opponent, but he quickly grabs around her waist, running her into the turnbuckles before sending her airborne with a high angle release German suplex!! Zane lands awkwardly on her stomach, kneeling up. She tries to recover, but is met with a charging clothesline to the kneeling Crescent Moon! Saint wastes no time, lifting Zane to her feet. He lifts her into a deadlifting Sambo Suplex, but Zane swings her legs up, looking for a short arm scissors. Saint doesn’t drop her, instead throwing her back first into the turnbuckles!! Saint charges to the opposite side of the turnbuckles, bouncing off of them before running full speed at Zane. She moves out of the way, as Saint hits the turnbuckles chest first, causing the sound of separated metal as he bounced back, hitting the canvas. Zane charges the ropes, climbing out onto the apron before climbing to the top rope. Without hesitation she dives off with the top rope double stomp.. JUST STAMP THE TICKET MAN!!! Zane looks for the immediate cover, hooking both legs.
One!!!
Two!!!
Saint powers out of the pinfall attempt. Zane is back on her feet, looking at the referee before Saint rises to a knee. She follows in with kicks to the chest of Saint. A final kick has been caught by the Outlaw, causing Zane to hop for a moment before backflipping to the middle of the ring, only to be met with a running big boot from Saint!! Saint is on the attack, hitting the ropes before delivering a sliding knee drop to the skull of Zane before making a quick cover.
TREY BOOKER: These two are beating the hell out of each other, J.T.!!
One!!
Two!!
Zane throws a shoulder up. Saint glances down at her before getting back to his feet, grabbing her arm along the way. He wrenches the wrist down on Zane, allowing her to fire in with a forearm to the jaw of Saint. She has the opening now as she hangs onto his wrist, running up the turnbuckles to the top rope, walking along them for a moment before delivering the hurricanrana to the middle of the ring!! Saint is immediately up to his feet, and Zane runs in, front rolling into a Koppo kick to the face of Saint, catching him right in the nose!! Blood begins to gush from the nose of the X-Factor Champion as he is barely standing. Zane runs in, but Saint lifts her up promptly, dropping her with a hellacious Powerbomb!!!
J.T. PRICE: Oh no..
In a fit of rage, Saint lifts her back up, hooking her in as he lifts her up and down with a second Powerbomb with authority!! Zane is sprawled out on the mat as Colton Saint leans his upper body back to a mix of cheers and boos from the audience. He reaches for his nose, looking at the blood before licking it off of his hand!!!
TREY BOOKER: That’s disgusting!!!
Chants of ‘You Sick Fuck!!’ come from the crowd as Colton Saint pulls Zane to her feet. He grabs her by both sides of her head, staring at her before hooking her in for a third Powerbomb, She drops to a knee, before collapsing to the mat. Saint looks down at her, showing a bit of remorse before immediately pulling her back in and lifts her back up, slamming her back down with the Powerbomb!! Kicking her over onto her back, Saint looks for the pinfall.
One!!
Two!!
Thr…
Zane fires a shoulder up!!
J.T. PRICE: What energy it took for her to get her shoulder up, Trey!!
Saint sits up, looking at the referee then over at Kimberly. She gives him a nod, mouthing ‘Do it.’ Saint rises to his feet before circling the ring for a moment, wiping his nose. Blood all over his hands, he notices Zane rising to her feet. He reaches down into his boot, looking for the Golden Spike!! He struggles to find it before standing back up, looking at Kimberly before noticing Zane slowly pulling it out of her boot. Saint is furious!! Rather than use it as a weapon, Zane tosses it aside, causing Saint to charge into a spinning heel kick from Zane!! Saint hits the mat with authority.
TREY BOOKER: Where did she get the spike from, J.T.?!?!
Bouncing back from the mat, Saint leans against the ropes, allowing Zane to clothesline him over the top to the outside!! Shockingly, Saint lands on his feet, but hits the guard rail. Zane springboards over onto the apron before looking for the Asai Moonsault, but Saint grabs her leg, swinging her forward as she crashes face first onto the ring apron!! Kimberly Chase quickly runs over, opening the basket to reveal a pair of shackles!! She smiles at Colton, wanting him to make use of it on Zane. He grabs onto the Crescent Moon, drunk sliding her down the apron into the ring post. Rather than using the shackles, Colton drops them onto the outside mat. Kimberly adominishes him for not using the weapon, as he slides into the ring, pulling Zane along with him. He looks out of the ring at Kimberly, saying ‘I got this.’
J.T. PRICE: What else is in that basket? I’m willing to guess she has come prepared for tonight!!
Saint grabs Zane by the neck as he lifts her into a vertical base before applying the reverse facelock. She tries to drive a knee up into his head, but he pulls away in time before lifting her up, looking for the elevated Hero’s Welcome that he calls For Kimberly With Love!! Zane tries swinging over his shoulder, but he catches her in an attempt to look for the Oklahoma Stampede. She hangs on for dear life, trying a choke, but Colton drops her over the top to the apron. Swing and a miss by Colton, as Zane catches him with a roundhouse kick to the shoulder!! Colton stumbles away, allowing Zane a chance, but once again there’s a stoppage, thanks to Kimberly Chase grabbing Zane’s foot. She kicks Kimberly away, but it’s enough of a distraction to allow Saint to pull her head and upper body into the ring over the middle rope, dropping her with a draping DDT!!
Storming around the ring in anger, Colton Saint mounts Zane, unleashing a flurry of elbows and forearms down across her head!!! Zane can’t even fight back with the wave of forearms hitting her. One final forearm and it looks like Zane is out!!! Blood is soaking the mat from the head of the Crescent Moon as Saint stumbles around the ring, exhausted. The referee checks on Zane, who is donning a crimson mask!!
TREY BOOKER: Look at that!! They are both pouring blood all over the ring!! Zane looks to be completely out cold!!
Colton Saint walks over to Zane, giving her a few light kicks, but no movement. He reaches down to pull her up, but she’s completely limp. Kimberly begins laughing maniacally outside of the ring as Colton pulls Zane to the middle of the ring. He kicks her a few more times as she begins to stir. Saint immediately walks over to the ropes, grabbing the top rope as he climbs onto the apron. He points at her as she slowly gets to her feet. Saint springboards up top, and dives in with the spinning heel kick to the back of her head!! From Point Blank!!!
Zane simply crumbles to the mat, allowing Colton to turn her over and go for the cover.
One!!!
Two!!!
Thre….
Zane again fires a shoulder up!!!
J.T. PRICE: Are you kidding me?! How is Zane even moving?!
The fiery spirit of Zane brings her to up to a kneel, while Colton Saint looks completely puzzled. He grabs onto Zane, only to be met with a blitz of rights and lefts to the chest before the flurry of strikes go up to his face. He takes a swing back at Zane, who runs through into a forward roll up the turnbuckles. Saint charges in, only to be met with the headscissors into the Mega Driver!!!!! Saint’s in big trouble here as Zane slaps on the Shiranui, running up the turnbuckles into a backflipped backstabber...THE SC ZANE POP!!!!!!! Saint is on the mat, and Zane scrambles into the cover.
One!!
Two!!
Thre……
Colton Saint’s foot is on the bottom rope!! Kimberly Chase stands beside it, pointing to her head with a grin!! The referee watches Kimberly, shouting at her. He points to the back to the massive ovation from the audience!!
TREY BOOKER: KIMBERLY CHASE JUST GOT EJECTED FROM RINGSIDE!! SHE IS BESIDE HERSELF!!!
Kimberly throws a huge fit, screaming at the referee. Zane slowly rolls out of the ring, shouting at Kimberly. Kimberly slowly walks towards the ramp before throwing another tantrum before exiting. Zane looks over, and is met with the suicide rolling plancha from Saint!!!! He connects with the Wrecking Ball!! Slowly back to his feet, Colton gets Zane and throws her back into the ring before walking towards the announcers table. He grabs Holly Perez, throwing her from her chair before picking it up, throwing the chair into the ring!!
J.T. PRICE: COLTON SAINT HAS LOST HIS MIND!!!
Saint climbs into the ring, slapping himself several times before grabbing Zane, lifting her up again, and a HUGE POWERBOMB!!! He hangs onto her and lifts her back onto his shoulders again, a SECOND POWERBOMB!!! Looking tired, Saint snaps out of it as he lifts her once again, and a THIRD POWERBOMB!! Saint is shouting at the referee in anger as Zane looks again to be done for.
TREY BOOKER: ZANE HAS NO CHANCE TO RECOVER HERE.. OH NO..
Colton Saint picks up the steel chair. He walks around the ring while looking at the crowd before turning to Zane. She’s fighting with all she has just to get to a kneeling position. Saint raises the chair high as he stomps over to her, but Zane covers her head!!!!
Saint stops dead in his tracks. He looks down at Zane, who refuses to even acknowledge him. Holding her head to ensure she cannot be hurt any worse than she already has, Zane pinches her eyes closed. Saint stands over her with the chair, slowly dropping it behind him.
J.T. PRICE: WHAT IN THE WORLD?? WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE??
Saint falls to a knee in front of Zane, lowering his eyes to the mat. He reaches over towards Zane, who swings her leg over into a hard kick to the face of Colton Saint!! She gets to her feet, kicking him over and over in the head and chest before jerking him to his feet. She hooks onto his neck again for the Shiranui, not even going for the turnbuckles, she looks for the backflip, but Saint hangs onto her in a crucifix!! Saint spins around relentlessly before throwing her down to the mat with the Wrath of Bodacious!!!
TREY BOOKER: HOW DO YOU STOP THIS MAN?!
Saint glares down at Zane before walking towards the corner. He exits onto the apron before climbing the turnbuckles. He looks to be going for the Outlaw’s Ballad!! His head isn’t in the right place though, unable to fully climb up to. Zane is back on her feet, and hooks Saint’s head in, dropping him with a snap brainbuster!!! Saint can’t even land on his back, he rolls over to his knees, only to be met with more kicks from Zane!! Several kicks to the head, and Saint is still finding a way up!! One incredibly stiff roundhouse kick catches Saint before he reaches his feet. The man is on dream street!! Zane with another kick to the face of Saint as he stands, he nearly sways backwards, but Zane quickly catches him, front rolling into an Octopus Stretch!! THE LAST BREATH!!!!!!!
J.T. PRICE: OH MY GOD!!! SHE HAS THE LAST BREATH APPLIED!!!
Saint’s arms slowly move as the seated Zane applies all the pressure she can to the Outlaw. His movements grow weaker as the referee quickly checks on Saint. The movement slows to a stop as he taps the arm of Saint to check if he’s still moving...HE’S NOT!!! THE REFEREE HAS CALLED FOR THE BELL!!!
DING! DING! DING!
Zane releases the hold, falling to the mat in exhaustion.
HOLLY PEREZ: The referee has stopped the match due to a knockout… HERE IS YOUR WINNER…. ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The crowd erupts in cheers as Zane lays in the middle of the ring, looking at the lights.
J.T. PRICE: ZANE HAS COME AWAY WITH THE VICTORY HERE TONIGHT AGAINST COLTON SAINT!!! WHAT A WAR!!!
Kimberly Chase is walking back down to the ring, noticing Colton Saint laying in the corner with nothing in his eyes. She stops at the bottom of the ramp, absolutely furious!!!
TREY BOOKER: WHAT IS SHE DOING, J.T.
Kimberly puts her hand out, clenching her fist, shouting “LET’S GO!!!”
NEARLY TWO DOZEN THUGS JUMP THE RAIL AND SLIDE INTO THE RING. THEY’RE STOMPING AWAY AT ZANE!!! SECURITY RUNS OUT TO THE RING, BUT THEY ARE QUICKLY OVERWHELMED BY EVERYONE!!!
Kimberly laughs as she walks over to Colton to check on him. He’s slowly beginning to stir, looking at her. The thugs continue to attack Zane in the middle of the ring, pounding away on her. The sound catches Colton’s attention who looks back in the middle of the ring before back at Kimberly. He grabs the top rope and slowly climbs to his feet.
J.T. PRICE: Oh no… DON’T TELL ME THIS WAS THEIR PLAN ALL ALONG?!?!
Stumbling for a moment, SAINT STARTS ATTACKING THE THUGS!!! EACH OF THEM ARE GETTING KNOCKED TO THE MAT ONE BY ONE BEFORE SWARMING IN ON THE X-FACTOR CHAMPION!! ZANE IS SLOW TO HER FEET, BUT JOINS IN ON ATTACKING THE THUGS AS WELL!!! BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, THEY ARE DISPATCHING THE THUGS ONE BY ONE!! KIMBERLY IS ASTOUNDED BY SAINT’S CHOICE, YELLING AT HIM TO STEP AWAY. SAINT PULLS ONE OF THE THUGS IN, DELIVERING A STIFF HEADBUTT BEFORE ALLOWING ZANE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST.
TREY BOOKER: WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?? COLTON SAINT JUST ATTACKED THE SAME THUGS WHO WERE ATTACKING ZANE!!!
Kimberly shouts at Colton who exits the ring. Zane drops to a knee, being handed her Warrior Rising Championship. Colton turns to Kimberly, grabbing the X-Factor Championship before hurling it up the ramp!!! He points at her, mouthing something that couldn’t be heard before storming up the ramp. Kimberly follows after him, but pauses to grab the X-Factor Championship before chasing him down backstage!!
J.T. PRICE: I don’t even know what to say right now, Trey. Did that just happen?
TREY BOOKER: I… Don’t know.. What is going on here guys?
Zane is also handed the ‘Fuck You, I’m Better’ trophy, raising it for the fans to an elation from them. ‘A Beautiful Song’ hits the speakers once again as Zane sees the thugs scatter into the crowd before walking towards the corner, climbing to the second rope, raising the trophy and the Championship high above her head as the shot fades out.
The cameras cut backstage to the just now re-arriving Dickie Watson. He’s already passed the studio doors, having flashed his badge to get past the usual security guard, who just waved him forward. Due to the “wear a mask for COVID-19” suggestion, he complied with the rule, a black cloth mask covering the lower half of his face, and his hazel eyes peek out over the white band placed on the bridge of his nose. He hikes his backpack higher on his shoulder as he passes through the hallway, finally ending up in a small room with a couch and a table. Due to his status, he was able to have his own locker room, but this was more than enough. He couldn’t ask for more.
He drops his bag and exhales, lifting the mask off his face and staring at the ceiling. In a little more than an hour, he’d be facing off, defending his title yet again and while there was a part of him that was always going to be more than exhilarated about it, it was a moment in which there was a terrifying prospect lying in wait in front of him. If he miscalculated, if he failed, if he fell off the forty foot steel cage, he could be paralyzed. Or worse.
Of course, the daredevil in him was stoked.
He began to pull things out of his backpack -- his wrestling boots, he pulls through the handle of his bag where they’d been strung up on, dangling as he walked. A fresh shirt -- American Psycho’s Christian Bale, classic horror flick and common to see near Halloween --, his wrestling pants (jeans, but stretchy with holes, very apropo), and his black tape he uses around his hands sits neatly on the table. His championship belt, he sets next to all of it. He stares at the championship for a moment, inhaling heavily and exhaling.
He didn’t know why he was so much more nervous than he’d been two weeks before.
A knock sounds at his door and he turns to see a familiar pair of eyes and a raven head of hair poke itself into the room.
: Am I interrupting, Dimitri?
A smile coats his lips as he turns to look at the invader, pressing one hand on the table as she fully steps inside. The woman is a voluptuous version of Snow White -- her straight raven hair hangs down across her shoulders and she wears an artfully-applied layer of makeup across her high cheekbones and her eyes. She smiles as she steps in, a “THE MOLOTOV” t-shirt clinging tightly to her torso and a pair of dark denim jeans gracing her frame.
DICKIE WATSON: Lena! You made it!
Elena DeDraca, The Gothmother of Wrestling, lifts an eyebrow and purses her lips slightly in an amused pout.
ELENA DEDRACA: You asked me to come, so I made the trip. I think it’s probably one of the better gifts I’ve gotten this year for my birthday. It’s been far too long, little one.
She lifts her arms and instantly, Dickie moves towards her. They share in a hug, the family members seeing each other for the first time in what seemed like ages. And it probably had been. Elena ran a successful business venture of selling sweets such as cupcakes and cookies, with two shops open in New York and London, where they both were from. A prior competitor in the world of wrestling, Elena held multiple titles in every promotion she went to. For now, she was retired, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t still land a good smack on Dickie’s head.
Which she promptly did.
ELENA DEDRACA: And when were you going to tell me you were wrestling again?
Dickie rubbed his head, and Elena walked into the room, dropping onto the couch. She crossed her legs, looking at him expectantly. Her British accent was heavily posh, a distinct difference from Dickie’s Cockney, lowbrau accent that seemed to be enhanced when he was around Aiden.
DICKIE WATSON: You’ve been on Twitter. I know we don’t talk much there but…
ELENA DEDRACA: But…?
DICKIE WATSON: I guess I should have said something directly to you. I mean, you sent me the replica to put on my wall, so I assumed you knew. Which...you did, you were just waiting for me to talk to you. Sorry, Sis.
She shrugs then, the smile still plastered on her face happily.
ELENA DEDRACA: I suppose I can forgive you. That’s nice that you’re champion again -- the belt fits you nicely. If, you know, you can retain it again.
DICKIE WATSON: I had a defense already. Retained once.
Elena nods, beaming in pride for her little adopted sibling. She looks around for a second, and her face turns somewhat sour.
ELENA DEDRACA: So. Hell From Above. Catchy title, and you seem to be moving in the same direction as your brother and I. It’s kind of thrilling, don’t you think? I remember when you sat across from me, your head on the counter, not sure this was what you really wanted to do. You thought, at the time, that it was what we wanted from you, but Finn and I, we told you then that it was something that you needed to do for yourself, not us. Look where you went from there.
DICKIE WATSON: I know. It’s been...a hell of a ride, that’s for sure. Ever since DIVISION, I’ve been trying to keep my head above water. Do what I’m supposed to do, but don’t make a scene. Don’t try to bury the rest of the roster, be a leader…
ELENA DEDRACA: I guess that is a question I have for you. Have you really been a leader, Dickie?
The Calamity pauses as he gazes at his sister in thought. Elena didn’t browbeat around corners, even more than Dickie. She was blunt and she got her point across directly every time. She did not wait for people to worry and wonder what she was going to talk about. It was a shared trait that all of the family had, but none more direct than their brother.
ELENA DEDRACA: I ask because while I know that you’re the Champion now, news of your grandeur, if you will, never reached my ears. You know how many hands I have in places at this point, how many ears are settled in the locker rooms. Finn doesn’t speak to me as much either, and I know you speak to him often. And yet still, I haven’t heard much about you. That doesn’t speak volumes of leadership, does it?
Dickie’s face flushed. Bam, right on the nose.
DICKIE WATSON: I haven’t done nearly everything I needed to. I mean, Aiden and I had a conversation about it too. We’re walking from APEX this week, so our Tag Belts are virtually gone. But I just...I didn’t want to be that overbearing prick, you know?
ELENA DEDRACA: But love, that’s exactly what you’re supposed to be. You’ve made it this far, gloat a little.I watched your opponent’s video -- you know how much I like to keep involved. I cannot say that I was impressed. Thirteen hundred words was all he had to say about you, and all of them...attempting to bury you into this little hole of what he thought you were. That you weren’t going to blossom. That you weren’t going to do better than you ever had and that you were basically washed up already.
Dickie drops into a chair and hangs his head. It was true. Myojin’s promotional video had basically tore him apart from top to bottom, basically telling him that there was no respect to be given because he hadn’t done his duty. He supposed at the time, it was because Myo was a product of a Japanese culture that didn’t give a shit about mental health or needs outside of their duty. But to be honest, it kind of incensed him too. Zane had defended her title. Colton was the lazy one who relied too much on his girlfriend to do a majority of his stage work. Hell, the only time Dickie really had a night where he wasn’t present was the last show.
ELENA DEDRACA: Now, I know you’re better than this. I don’t want you going into this match tonight thinking that myself, nor your fans, think any less of you. You’ve done so much in this company and some brat wants to take that away from you because you didn’t...what, show up one night? So I want you to look at me, and I want you to imagine me not as your sister, but as your opponent.
DICKIE WATSON: Well, your makeup is quite on par with his so…
Elena snorts, but she takes out her phone, and she sets it up to record.
ELENA DEDRACA: Your brother wears makeup, shut up. Now. Sit up. Straighten your shoulders. What is it you’d like to say to him?
Dickie inhales and looks directly at his sister, then to her phone. The warriness that seemed to be on his face prior to this moment faded, and as he thought about what he wanted to say, his face became much more stoic.
DICKIE WATSON: Myojin...you didn’t even know what to say. You said that in your five minute promotional video where you elaborated on everything that you didn’t know what to do. Didn’t know how far you were willing to go, didn’t know if you could muster up any kind of resolve. It took you failing over and over to pick up some gumption, to read the tabloids of the company, to listen to the words of other people telling you what they thought about me to come up with your own bullshit. I know you like the sound of your own voice, because every promotional video, you talk just a little bit longer, but...in the end, do you really think that’s good enough?
You admitted it yourself -- you were bred for this life. You were set up to be the king. And you’re right -- I clawed my way up from the literal gutter and became this thing that you covet being so much. But that’s the thing, Myo. You covet it. You want it, but you realized prior just that moment that you weren’t cut out for it. You were so scared that you made a miscalculation in mouthing off to me, challenging me for the title, that you couldn’t muster even one final thing until the 9th hour. That’s fine. Neither could I, but in my case...it’s because I had so little I could even think about saying about you that I needed to go to another company to figure out exactly who you are.
You covet. You desire. You aspire, but in the end, you’re scared of your own success going into this. I know you’re probably going to have some bullshit thing to say before our match, but unlike you, the words of my coworkers don’t affect me any more than the tabloid does. You say you had doubters, Myo, but you’ve been fed a gift horse from the second you got into any kind of sport. Don’t kid me with that bullshit about you thinking that there are people who wanted you dead in the dirt where you laid. 12-4, Myo. Territorial Champion, Myo. The Shining Star, Myojin.
What makes me laugh is that all of sudden, you came up with all these points like they were discussed for you. Word for word. I’ve seen ‘em somewhere, maybe on social media, and it’s like you were suddenly gifted all the things you needed to say. Dude, no-one thought you were James Charles...that would require uniqueness and inspiration. The reason you challenged me is because you sat there and figured that you were on my level, and you’re just not. You can try to relate yourself to me, Myo, but you can’t. There’s no way. There is something that you can believe so highly, but if you can’t come up with an argument to save your life until you think you’ve gotten there...well, time to go back to the drawing board.
But wait, suddenly you found your inspiration. You knew what you needed to do.
Suspicious. But whatever.
Elena looked up at him, noting his irritated expression.
ELENA DEDRACA: Dimitri?
DICKIE WATSON: Sorry. I just...I hate when people think they’ve got me figured out based on what’s put on social media. Like I haven’t done enough here. Like I haven’t won virtually every match save for a bastardized tag match. I know my flaws, I know my faults, but to have someone sit there and claim they know me and how I feel because I...what, didn’t show up one week? Come on. Champions don’t have to sit there and be involved in everything. Champions don’t have to sit there and work their asses off every week because guess what, we’ve already been there, done that. When it comes time, I do what I need to. What I do in that ring matters, sis. Not what I do out of it right now. And that all changes tonight. The Dickie Watson that everyone thinks isn’t present anymore...nah. You want me present? I’ll be breathing down your throat.
You want me there, Myojin? You want my full focus? You’ve got it. Just make sure you keep your coveting eyes on me when I hold the title one more time at the end of the day.
Good fucking luck.
Static.
A recap video plays of Dickie Watson defeating Jason Terrance and Kasey Winterborn to become the Inaugural Grand Champion.
A recap video plays of Dickie Watson defending the Grand Championship against Jacob Steele.
A recap video plays of MYOJIN challenging Dickie Watson for the Grand Championship at Bloodbath and him coming out to accept the challenge.
The camera cuts to the arena to show the Hell in a Cell structure set up around the ring. Above the cell lays a twenty foot ladder with the Grand Championship hanging that far above. Holly Perez stands in the middle of the ring with a mic in hand as the camera cuts in closer to her.
DING! DING! DING!
HOLLY PEREZ: Welcome to your MAIN EVENT OF BLOODBATH! This is a Hell From Above Match and it is for the PROJECT: HONOR GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP! In order to win, you must climb the cell, set the ladder up, and unlatch the Title from twenty feet above! Introducing first…
The lights dim down as the slow synth intro of Blinding Lights begins as a spotlight suddenly appears on a figure on the ramp, with his back turned and begins kneeling. Once the beat finally kicks in, MYOJIN explodes with energy- wearing a masquerade-style mask over his eyes, and turns around with a confident smile on his face, raising his arms to soak in the positive reaction from everyone around.
I been tryna call
I been on my own for long enough
Maybe you can show me how to love, maybe
I'm going through withdrawals
You don't even have to do too much
You can turn me on with just a touch, baby
With his blonde locks hanging over his face. He then whips his head back, flipping his hair out of his face before excitedly running down the ring before performing a cartwheel and a jump, landing on his feet before reaching the cell!
I look around and Sin City's cold and empty (oh)
No one's around to judge me (oh)
I can't see clearly when you're gone
He stands outside the cell for a second, looking up and then back down, then opens the door and walks in. He climbs up to the apron, grabs a hold of the top rope, and slingshots himself into the ring. MYOJIN performs a somersault roll, landing on his side with a hand on his hip. The other, taking off his mask to reveal his piercing blue eye contacts. He tosses it aside nonchalantly before climbing up the top turnbuckle, tilting his head upward as if he’s looking toward the sky- while the lights mimic stars above.
I said, ooh, I'm blinded by the lights
No, I can't sleep until I feel your touch
I said, ooh, I'm drowning in the night
Oh, when I'm like this, you're the one I trust
Hey, hey, hey!
He backflips off, back onto his feet while taking off his flamboyant coat and moving to his corner. The lights go back to normal as he checks his wrist tape. His charismatic smile fading to a more focused expression as he paces back and forth, ready for action.
HOLLY PEREZ: The challenger… Weighing in at one hundred and eighty-five pounds… From San Diego, California… “The Shining Star”... MYOOOOOOOJINNNNNNN!!!
TREY BOOKER: I got to say, MYOJIN is definitely the most decorated person in Project: Honor right now. Just look at him. Based on his performance and if I were Dickie, I’d be a little scared.
J.T. PRICE: I agree, but we’re talking about Dickie Watson right now. Dude is near unstoppable. Only time will tell.
HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent…
♫ TRYIN' TO FUCKIN' RECORD THIS [sorry] ♫
"Brand New Numb" by Motionless In White rings out over the sound system as the lights in the arena fade out. As the guitar theme plays, Dickie Watson slides out from beneath the curtain with a large grin crossing his face. He jogs up to the edge of the stage, his head bobbing with the beat of the music, lifting his hands out to the side, that smile of his infectious as he meets the eyes of several crowd members.
♫ I'VE GOT A SHOTGUN TONGUE THAT TICK LIKE A TIME BOMB
ALL BLACK EVERYTHING
I'VE GOT A SWITCHBLADE WIT THAT CUTS LIKE A BITCH
AND I THINK YOU TWO SHOULD MEET ♫
With a pep in his step, he begins his walk to the ring while mouthing the words and hi-fiving a couple of outstretched hands. At "cut likes a bitch", he stares directly at the camera as he makes a cutting motion with his fingers, widening his eyes and while gnashing his teeth together, lifting a corner of his lips up in a somewhat-cocky smirk.
♫ I WANNA BREAK FREE FROM MY HUMANITY
I WANNA RELEASE THE ANIMAL IN ME
B-B-B-BREAK FREE YOUR CURIOSITY
YOU'RE GONNA GIVE ME WHAT I NEED
I'VE GOT BLOOD ON MY HANDS
NO GUILT ON MY CONSCIENCE
THE WAR IN YOUR PATH
THE "SEX IN YOUR VIOLENCE"
ALL OF MY FLAWS, I WEAR EM WITH HONOR
A PURPLE HEARTBREAK FOR ALL WE'VE SUFFERED ♫
Dickie comes up to the cell, hits it a few times with his palm, then opens the door, walking inside. The Molotov slides quickly beneath the bottom rope into the center of the ring, into a kneeling position as he looks around at the crowd and rises to his feet. He takes no time in heading over to the turnbuckle and climbing it to stand tall, his head still bopping with the beat. He raises one arm, stretching stiff out the side, closing one eye.
♫ I AM THE ENEMY, I AM THE ENEMY, I AM THE ENEMY
HERE TO SAVE THE DAY ♫
With the music, he repeats the phrase, before jumping backward and landing with a loud thud against the canvas. He throws off his leather jacket, then leans into the turnbuckle, sitting against it and grasping the ropes as he checks the tension in them, looking upwards with a smile as his music fades out.
"Brand New Numb" by Motionless In White rings out over the sound system as the lights in the arena fade out. As the guitar theme plays, Dickie Watson slides out from beneath the curtain with a large grin crossing his face. He jogs up to the edge of the stage, his head bobbing with the beat of the music, lifting his hands out to the side, that smile of his infectious as he meets the eyes of several crowd members.
♫ I'VE GOT A SHOTGUN TONGUE THAT TICK LIKE A TIME BOMB
ALL BLACK EVERYTHING
I'VE GOT A SWITCHBLADE WIT THAT CUTS LIKE A BITCH
AND I THINK YOU TWO SHOULD MEET ♫
With a pep in his step, he begins his walk to the ring while mouthing the words and hi-fiving a couple of outstretched hands. At "cut likes a bitch", he stares directly at the camera as he makes a cutting motion with his fingers, widening his eyes and while gnashing his teeth together, lifting a corner of his lips up in a somewhat-cocky smirk.
♫ I WANNA BREAK FREE FROM MY HUMANITY
I WANNA RELEASE THE ANIMAL IN ME
B-B-B-BREAK FREE YOUR CURIOSITY
YOU'RE GONNA GIVE ME WHAT I NEED
I'VE GOT BLOOD ON MY HANDS
NO GUILT ON MY CONSCIENCE
THE WAR IN YOUR PATH
THE "SEX IN YOUR VIOLENCE"
ALL OF MY FLAWS, I WEAR EM WITH HONOR
A PURPLE HEARTBREAK FOR ALL WE'VE SUFFERED ♫
Dickie comes up to the cell, hits it a few times with his palm, then opens the door, walking inside. The Molotov slides quickly beneath the bottom rope into the center of the ring, into a kneeling position as he looks around at the crowd and rises to his feet. He takes no time in heading over to the turnbuckle and climbing it to stand tall, his head still bopping with the beat. He raises one arm, stretching stiff out the side, closing one eye.
♫ I AM THE ENEMY, I AM THE ENEMY, I AM THE ENEMY
HERE TO SAVE THE DAY ♫
With the music, he repeats the phrase, before jumping backward and landing with a loud thud against the canvas. He throws off his leather jacket, then leans into the turnbuckle, sitting against it and grasping the ropes as he checks the tension in them, looking upwards with a smile as his music fades out.
HOLLY PEREZ: The Champion… Weighing in at one hundred and eighty pounds… From Orlando, Florida… He is the Project: Honor Grand Champion… “The Molotov”... DICKKKKKIIIEEEE WATTTTTSONNNNNNN!!!
TREY BOOKER: Well, after looking at our Grand Champion, I’m remembering why he’s the top dog right now.
J.T. PRICE: The video packages that played just minutes ago didn’t do it for ya, eh?
TREY BOOKER: Look…
The camera cuts from the announcers, back to the inside of the cell. Dickie and MYOJIN walk to each other and shake hands. They take a step back and the ref signals for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
TREY BOOKER: Dickie Watson. MYOJIN. Grand Championship on the line. Hell From Above. IT’S GO TIME!
Both Dickie and MYOJIN pause for a second and look straight up to where the Grand Championship hangs. Not even a second later, they lock up in the middle of the ring. Dickie spins behind MYOJIN and pulls his arm back. He holds onto his arm while he pushes MYOJIN towards the ropes. When they reach the ropes, MYOJIN’s body rebounds off and Dickie connects a snap German suplex. MYOJIN was able to roll through it and get back to his feet almost immediately. He then runs to Dickie and dropkicks him into the ropes. Dickie hits the ropes and then falls to his face, but just like MYOJIN, immediately rises to his feet. Both men meet back in the middle of the ring and lock up once again. This time, MYOJIN spins behind Dickie and pulls his arm back. Without hesitating, he lifts Dickie up and slams him down right onto his arm. After landing, Dickie grabs his arm in pain and slowly makes his way to his feet. Before he can reach a vertical base, MYOJIN lands a punch right to the top of his skull, then lifts him up to his feet. He then whips him to the corner where Dickie arrives back-first.
TREY BOOKER: MYO has Dickie in a good position right now. If he’s able to finish off some sort of combo, he may be able to continue on and start moving outside of the ring.
J.T. PRICE: It’s just the very beginning, we haven’t even scratched the surface of this match, I’m sure.
MYOJIN charges at Dickie with a corner clothesline that connects. Dickie groggily steps out of the corner while MYOJIN jumps to the top rope. He turns to Dickie who is facing the opposite corner and jumps off to connect a hurricanrana! Dickie is sent across the ring and back to his feet. Dickie charges back at MYOJIN, but he grabs him by the arm and flips him over onto the mat. Both rise back to their feet again, only for MYOJIN to repeat the same move. This time, when they get back to their feet, MYOJIN places Dickie into a DDT position and drives his face into the mat, connecting the DDT. He doesn’t waste any time as he gets Dickie locked in with the single-leg boston crab submission. MYOJIN is applying pressure and you can tell by the look on Dickie’s face the pain is starting to commence. MYOJIN pulls the leg back further, but before he could get too comfortable, Dickie rolls onto his back and kicks MYOJIN off of him. Before Dickie could get back to his feet, MYOJIN ran back over to him. Dickie has both of his legs up and on MYOJIN’s stomach and pushes him off and hard enough for him to land on his back. This gives Dickie enough time to get back to a vertical base.
TREY BOOKER: I must say, MYO had things under control and he’s been very impressive thus far. Looks like Dickie’s getting fed up with it, though.
J.T. PRICE: I’m only going off the matches we’ve called, but they can only take so much beating before they just go off. We’ll see if that’s the case here.
Dickie notices that MYOJIN is still on the ground by the time he gets to his feet and immediately charges at him. He connects a baseball slide onto him which sends MYOJIN out of the ring and out next to the cell! After getting to his feet, Dickie climbs onto the top turnbuckle and watches MYOJIN for a second. He jumps off and connects a diving dropkick onto MYOJIN who’s body flies into the walls of the cell!
TREY BOOKER: Here comes the carnage!
Dickie is a little slow to get to his feet after the dropkick but makes it before MYOJIN. He grabs a hold of him by his head and slams it into the cage a few times. Dickie takes MYOJIN’s arm and holds it against the cage, then drives his knee into it a couple of times. Right after, he pulls MYOJIN up to his feet and drags him to the ring post where he slams the same arm into the steel! After halting the tear he’s on, he watches MYOJIN hold his arm in agony then pulls the arm behind his back and positions them both to where they have their back to the cell. Dickie connects a back suplex onto MYOJIN where his arm and back both collide with the cell. MYOJIN immediately falls to the ground, holding his arm. Dickie steps away for a second and starts to reach under the ring for something.
J.T. PRICE: This isn’t looking good for MYO now. Dickie decided to continue what MYO was trying to do to him, except onto MYO. Now they both are starting to have injured limbs.
TREY BOOKER: Could be the start of an interesting match here as they still haven’t even made it out of the cell. With Dickie looking for a weapon now, I bet he’s going to make sure MYO can’t reach for that Title.
Dickie doesn’t seem to care what he grabs as he’s not even looking under the ring, he’s just feeling around for something. After a few seconds of reaching, he pulls out a steel chair and forms a smirk on his face. He walks back over to MYOJIN who kicks Dickie directly on the knee cap. Dickie buckles, drops the chair, and ends up on a knee. From a seated position, MYOJIN thrusts Dickie in the throat with the same arm that’s been focused on, pushing him onto his back. MYOJIN holds his arm for a second and then gets up to his feet at about the same time Dickie does. With their opposite arms that haven’t been touched, they start to exchange hooks to the face; Dickie, MYOJIN, Dickie, MYOJIN, Dickie, MYOJIN, and then Dickie once again. Dickie blocks MYOJIN’s incoming jab and connects a kick to his gut. MYOJIN bends over just enough for Dickie to grab him by the shoulders and back and throw him into the cell wall again. MYOJIN ends up in a seated position against the cell wall. Dickie steps back and then quickly sprints with the intention of driving his knee into MYOJIN’s face. MYOJIN rolls out of the way and Dickie’s knee goes straight into the steel. While MYOJIN is getting back to his feet, Dickie is holding onto his knee and trying to extend it to put pressure on it. Once he does, MYOJIN dives at the injured knee with a shoulder block and takes Dickie down to the ground.
TREY BOOKER: I’m just going to say it now… While they are the nicest people in the world, they are going to tear each other apart tonight.
J.T. PRICE: The Grand Championship is on the line, of course they’re going to. I personally wouldn’t expect anything less.
MYOJIN grabs a hold of Dickie and rolls him into the ring. He slides in right after. MYOJIN rises to his feet and stomps on Dickie’s hurt knee. Right after he runs for the ropes, performs a handspring, and follows that with a moonsault right on top of Dickie! MYOJIN connected what he calls; the Divine Star Press. Without wasting any time at all, MYOJIN exits the ring and picks up the steel chair that Dickie pulled out from under the ring, and throws it next to him. After getting back into the ring, he picks up the chair and swings it right towards Dickie’s knee. Dickie is able to get his leg up in time to stop the force of the chair from hitting anything but the bottom of his foot. Dickie quickly rolls out of the ring and looks under the ring. MYOJIN follows with the steel chair in hand still, trying to get to him before he can get anything. Dickie is able to find a steel chair also. MYOJIN comes running from around the corner and before he can do anything, Dickie drives the chair into his gut. MYOJIN bends over again, barely hanging onto the chair in his hand. Dickie swings his chair down onto MYOJIN’s back, forcing him to drop his chair and fall to the ground. He now sets the chair on top of MYOJIN’s back and then climbs onto the side of the ring. Dickie raises his arms up, getting the crowd to cheer for him, then jumps off the side of the ring and connects a leg drop on top of the chair! MYOJIN lets out a roar of pain after the weight from Dickie drove that chair into his back again. Dickie is also slightly in pain, but nowhere near as bad.
TREY BOOKER: That’s just what the Champ needed to do. Put MYO down for a little longer than a few seconds so he can breathe and, any time now, start to exit the cell.
J.T. PRICE: This has the making to be match of the year already. I’M LOVING THIS!
Dickie gets back to his feet after holding the same leg that MYOJIN was punishing earlier. He grabs the chair and places MYOJIN’s arm in it. That very next second, he stomps right on the top of the chair and has MYOJIN hurting pretty badly right now. Dickie attempts to stomp again, but MYOJIN pulls his arm away with the chair still attached. He goes to grab MYOJIN’s arm, but MYOJIN uses all the force he has and swings his new chair infused arm at Dickie’s face, causing him to fall back a bit. It gives MYOJIN enough time to release his arm from the chair’s grasp and crawl to the other side of the ring. Dickie doesn’t know where he went and looks quite confused. He goes to look under the ring, but can’t find him. Instead, he finds something intriguing and pulls it out. Dickie finds a bag of broken glass and dumps it onto the ground around him. Around the corner of the ring, MYOJIN had just looked under the ring and found a pair of kendo sticks and was seated, waiting for Dickie to walk around. Dickie walks up the steel steps and walks across the apron, looking for MYOJIN. He’s able to peak just enough to see MYOJIN around the corner of the ring. He tries to sneak above him, but MYOJIN hears him just enough to swing a kendo stick at Dickie’s knee. Dickie’s knee forces him to collapse and on his way down, MYOJIN swings the other kendo stick right onto his neck. Dickie falls to the ground right next to MYOJIN. He notices the glass shards around the corner of the ring and drags Dickie over to it. Dickie is trying to fight, but MYOJIN takes both the kendo sticks in one hand and swings it at his knee again. MYOJIN places Dickie right on top of the glass, back first. MYOJIN runs to the steel steps, runs up them to the apron, and continues running until he jumps off with a shooting star press. He lands right on top of Dickie, whose back was just driven into the glass shards all around him. Dickie is writhing in pain right now. MYOJIN is back to his feet and has a couple of glass shards in his boots and around his body.
TREY BOOKER: HOLY SHIT MYO! What a way to turn this match back around into his favor and in such destructive fashion. He’s showing that he’s not going down with a fight no matter what Dickie does.
J.T. PRICE: Absolutely, and look at Dickie right now!
Dickie rolls over onto his stomach to reveal many glass shards in his back and blood starting to drip all over. MYOJIN begins to walk away from Dickie, pulling the couple of glass shards out of his skin. Drops of blood come out from those shards, but nothing like the blood dripping all over Dickie’s back.
TREY BOOKER: WE HAVE FIRST BLOOD DRAWN!
J.T. PRICE: Still haven’t even left the inside of the cell.
MYOJIN stops for a second and looks up above him where the Grand Championship hangs twenty feet above the cell. He then changes focus to the door of the cell and makes his way to it. Once he reaches the door, he looks back to see what Dickie is up to. Realizing that he’s still trying to get himself back in order and pull the glass out from his back, MYOJIN opens the door to the cell and walks outside. The crowd begins to cheer since we finally have someone out and getting closer to a winner. MYOJIN closes the door behind him and then starts to climb the cell. He’s very slow to do so because of his arm and knee that are both causing him issues. MYOJIN has to stop climbing and ends up leaning against the barricade for a moment, keeping his eyes locked onto Dickie’s position. He starts to shake off the pain and goes right back to the cell wall to begin his ascent again. Dickie is finally starting to get back to his feet, wiping his back of any remaining shards he’s able to get out. There are some still in there, but now it’s just blood all over his back. Dickie notices that MYOJIN is slowly ascending up the cell and runs as fast as he’s able to the door. He stumbles a few times because of his knee but makes it outside. MYOJIN is about halfway up the cell when Dickie jumps as high as he can and latches himself on.
TREY BOOKER: Dickie’s adrenaline is at an all-time high right now! He’s climbing that cell faster than he should be able to!
J.T. PRICE: LOOK AT DICKIE GO!
Dickie climbs quickly and pulls his body close to MYOJIN. MYOJIN looks surprised to see Dickie up there so quickly and starts to kick at him. Dickie dodges one of the kicks and throws a hammer of a fist into his back. Both men are holding on for dear life as MYOJIN sends another kick at Dickie. Dickie grabs a hold of his leg and starts to pull on it. MYOJIN keeps trying to kick him off, but Dickie jerks his leg enough to pull him off the cell. MYOJIN is able to grab a hold of him on the way down, pulling Dickie off the cell with him! They both collide with the ground, except part of Dickie lands on top of MYOJIN! Neither of them are moving right now!
TREY BOOKER: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HALFWAY UP THE CAGE AND THEY BOTH FALL BACK DOWN! I don’t know how they’re even going to make it up there at this point!
J.T. PRICE: I don’t think they will! Neither of them will allow the other to get much further. It’s a back and forth battle for the Grand Championship!
Dickie is the first to show signs of life, considering half of him was on top of MYOJIN when they fell. He opens the door to the cell and looks under the ring for something.
TREY BOOKER: Wait, why isn’t Dickie going after the Title…
Dickie grabs a hold of what he’s looking for and pulls it out from under the ring. He has his grasp on a table and slides it into the ring. Instead of sliding into the ring, he gets back under the ring and looks for something else. After pulling it out, he holds a sledgehammer up high and the crowd starts going ecstatic. Now Dickie slides into the ring to set the table up. He does so directly in the middle of the ring and then exits the ring to head back out of the cell.
J.T. PRICE: A table in the middle of the ring and a sledgehammer in his hand… I don’t think I like whatever Dickie is thinking about right now.
MYOJIN is finally showing signs of life right now as he’s rolling over onto his stomach and using his arms to push himself up. Dickie walked to the other side of the cell and started to climb with the sledgehammer in his other hand. Realizing that he’s having difficulty trying to climb with it on his person, he launches it up as high as he can and is able to get it to the top of the cell! He’s taking a second on the cell now with his hurt knee before continuing his ascent. MYOJIN is on his feet and slowly begins his ascent also. After a few seconds of waiting, Dickie arrived at the top first and took a second, holding his knee. A twenty-foot ladder lays in the middle of the cell, waiting to be set up. Before MYOJIN reaches the top, Dickie takes the sledgehammer and starts hammering the top of the cell. Some of the steel starts to break apart. He stops right before MYOJIN gets to his feet and then walks over to him. Reaching down to pull him up, MYOJIN grabs a hold of Dickie’s head and connects a jawbreaker, then thrusts himself to take Dickie onto his back. MYOJIN fully mounts on top of him, drilling his fists right onto his face. MYOJIN unmounts and gets to his feet. He notices the sledgehammer and picks it up, changing his focus back to Dickie. He swings it from behind him and down onto Dickie… but Dickie rolls out of the way! The sledgehammer is driven into the steel and when MYOJIN pulls it away, the steel rips apart in that one spot, leaving a hole in the top of the cell.
TREY BOOKER: This couldn’t have been what Dickie had planned… it just couldn’t.
J.T. PRICE: I think it was…
MYOJIN attempts to slam it on Dickie again, but he rolls out of the way, leaving another hole in the cell. MYOJIN realizes the beaten steel from earlier when Dickie was using the sledgehammer. Instead of swinging and slamming, MYOJIN takes it and drives it right onto Dickie’s knee. He connects it this time and Dickie is screaming in pain now! MYOJIN drives it into his knee once again and then drops it next to him. He looks over at the ladder and then up to the Grand Championship that just hangs twenty feet above him now. MYOJIN grabs the ladder and lifts it up, holding it like he’s going to do something besides set it up. He looks directly at Dickie and goes to drive it onto his abdomen and he does!
TREY BOOKER: We may be seeing a new Champion… MYOJIN is putting some hurt onto Dickie and I couldn’t imagine someone coming back from being torn apart like this.
J.T. PRICE: You’re counting out the Grand Champion right now… do you hear yourself? Although, it isn’t looking good. You’re right in that aspect.
MYOJIN places the ladder right under where the Grand Championship hangs from. He’s slow to start climbing as the pain of his arm and knee are keeping him from full speed. Dickie is still on the ground holding his knee. MYOJIN is about halfway up the ladder before Dickie gets to his feet and begins limping to the ladder. By the time Dickie reaches the ladder, MYOJIN is a couple of steps from the top and starts to reach. He’s unsuccessful by about a whole arms reach and Dickie starts his trek up the ladder now. MYOJIN looks down to notice him climbing and goes up another step. He tries to reach again and isn’t able to get a finger on it. Dickie is even slower to get up the ladder after taking sledgehammer shots to the knee but is fighting through the pain. MYOJIN takes another step up and is finally able to reach the title, but can’t fully get a grasp on it. Dickie reaches close enough to MYOJIN to throw a punch at his gut. MYOJIN responds with a punch of his arm, but to Dickie’s face. Dickie takes another step up and throws another punch, but MYOJIN is able to block it. MYOJIN grabs Dickie’s head and slams it against the ladder. He changes his focus from the hanging belt to take care of Dickie before he loses his chance. MYOJIN grabs a hold of the groggy Dickie and pulls him up another step. He then turns around so that his back is facing Dickie. MYOJIN looks behind him then flips over Dickie and behind him, pulling Dickie down onto the cell to connect what he calls; the Passion Flower. The sit-out shiranui connects and BREAKS THE STEEL OF THE CELL ON COLLISION, SENDING BOTH DICKIE AND MYOJIN THROUGH THE TOP OF THE CELL AND FALLING INTO THE RING! THEY BOTH LAND ON TOP OF THE TABLE AS IT SHATTERS UNDERNEATH THEM!
TREY BOOKER: FUCKING HELL! THEY JUST WENT TWENTY FEET ABOVE THE CELL, THROUGH THE CELL, TO THE RING AND THROUGH A TABLE! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST THIS IS CRAZY!
J.T. PRICE: BOTH OF THEM ARE UNRESPONSIVE! THERE ISN’T EVEN A GLIMMER OF LIFE COMING FROM THEM AT THE MOMENT!
The crowd all rise to their feet in shock and awe of what just happened. Silence has struck the entire arena. Moments go by without a single sound before the camera cuts to the announcer table.
TREY BOOKER: What we just saw was both exciting and horrifying. The cell itself is twenty feet tall. Add another fourteen to fifteen feet from where they were on the ladder… then falling through a table… absolutely insane.
J.T. PRICE: To add to that Trey, I don’t think they can even call this match no matter what happens out there. We have to have a winner.
Both Trey and J.T. pause for a second and listen to a voice on the other side of the headphones. A few seconds pass until they look back up.
TREY BOOKER: Well, folks, we’ve just been told that we have medical staff on standby. We don’t want to interfere with the match, but if it comes down to it, they will come out here to at least check on the two warriors in the ring.
J.T. PRICE: I still can’t believe what happened. While we’re waiting, can we get a replay of the carnage that just took place?
The camera cuts to the titantron where a video playback begins. The footage starts where MYOJIN slams Dickie’s head into the ladder. He pulls Dickie up a step and then turns around to have his back facing Dickie. He flips over and behind Dickie, pulling him down with a Passion Flower. They both fall through the steel of the cell and through a table down in the ring below.
As the video playback ends, the camera then cuts back to the announcer table where Trey and J.T. are still in awe.
TREY BOOKER: Still no movement in the ring. Not really sure what to do for now.
J.T. PRICE: Do we stall with our humor?
The crowd lets out a roar of boos.
TREY BOOKER: Well, damn. We get that you’d rather watch this match, but jeez. Cut us some slack.
J.T. PRICE: Why don’t eggs tell jokes?
Silence strikes the arena once again.
TREY BOOKER: I don’t know, J.T. Just tell us.
J.T. PRICE: … They’d crack each other up.
The sound of crickets chirping echo throughout the arena.
TREY BOOKER: Ugh, that was horrible. Okay, I got one. Why can’t a nose be twelve inches long?
J.T. PRICE: Why?
TREY BOOKER (chuckling): Then it would be a foot!
J.T. starts to laugh a bit.
J.T. PRICE: I’ll give that one to you. Good one.
TREY BOOKER: Wait, look in the ring!
The camera immediately cuts to the ring where MYOJIN is moving broken wood away from him.
J.T. PRICE: WE HAVE LIFE!
TREY BOOKER: Good, because that was the only joke I know.
He’s able to make it to his feet, but Dickie grabs a piece of the wood and slices MYOJIN’s leg with it. MYOJIN grabs a hold of his leg and then sees the blood on his hand. Dickie gets to his knees and has MYOJIN reaches for a piece of wood, he slices him right in the face, causing blood to be drawn. MYOJIN connects a Question Mark Kick to the side of Dickie’s face knocking him back down. MYOJIN takes this opportunity to exit the ring and out of the cell. He starts his ascent up to the top of the cell once again. Dickie is slow to get up. By the time MYOJIN is three-quarters of the way up he gets back to his feet and makes his way to exit the cell. MYOJIN reaches the top of the cell, carefully getting around the hole he made earlier. Luckily, the ladder is still intact, just slightly moved. MYOJIN moves it closer to where he could reach the title and starts to climb. Dickie is halfway up the side of the cell now. He reaches the top when MYOJIN gets halfway up the ladder. Dickie grabs the sledgehammer that lays on top of the cell and swings it at the ladder. MYOJIN looks down and hurries to the top of the ladder to reach for the belt. Dickie swings again. MYOJIN is able to get his hands on the belt and Dickie immediately drops the weapon. He rapidly makes his way up the ladder. MYOJIN has both hands on the belt, but is having trouble getting it unlatched. Dickie scales the ladder completely and jumps off the ladder to have a full grasp on the belt. The ladder falls out from under both MYOJIN and Dickie as they both hang there with their hands on the belt.
TREY BOOKER: THIS IS IT! No matter what happens, we’re about to have a winner!
J.T. PRICE: I’m on the edge of my seat right now, Trey! I have no idea what’s going to happen next!
DICKIE WATSON (without a mic): Get your hands off my gold!
MYOJIN (without a mic): Your gold? It’s about to be mine!
MYOJIN simultaneously throws a punch at Dickie about saying the belt was about to be his. Dickie starts to lose his grip on the belt and MYOJIN notices this. He releases a fury of punches with his one hand. Right when Dickie is about to lose grip on the belt, he kicks MYOJIN right in the groin and then starts to unlatch the belt. MYOJIN is still holding on but also to his groin. Dickie, realizing the belt is almost unlatched, takes a swing at MYOJIN with his fist. Right when he does so, the belt unlatches and both of them fall to the top of the cell, MYOJIN losing his hold on the belt and Dickie bringing the belt against his chest.
DING! DING! DING!
“Brand New Numb” by Motionless in White blasts through the speakers as the entire audience rise to their feet. Both Dickie and MYOJIN are laid out on top of the cell.
HOLLY PEREZ: Here is your winner… AND STILL PROJECT: HONOR GRAND CHAMPION… “THE MOLTOV”... DICKIEEEEE WATTTSSSSONNNNNN!!!
TREY BOOKER: That ending… I just have no words.
J.T. PRICE: I WAS SO FAR ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT I ALMOST FELL OFF! WHAT A FUCKING MATCH THESE TWO JUST PUT ON!
TREY BOOKER: What he said! I was so antsy there at the end, I really had no idea what was going to happen. Dickie just proved once again that he’s here to stay and he has no intention of losing that belt.
J.T. PRICE: MYOJIN fought and showed us that he means business. These two are the top of two in our company and I truly believe they just proved that with this match.
TREY BOOKER: I agree. MYOJIN is easily still the top contender and top threat to Dickie’s belt. I have a feeling that this isn’t over between them.
J.T. PRICE: I’m a little curious why Dickie ended up kicking him in the groin though. That’s a dick move.
TREY BOOKER (chuckling): That was funnier than your horrible joke earlier. I see what you did there.
J.T. forms a confused look on his face.
TREY BOOKER: Anyways, that’s about all we have for y’all tonight! We’ve seen it all tonight and more! Congrats to the Halloween Costume Contest winner, all the winners of their matches tonight, and even those who came up short. Everyone in this business is a winner and you show it each and every time you step in the ring.
J.T. PRICE: I couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks for tuning into Bloodbath! We’ll catch y’all next Friday for another episode of Proving Ground!
TREY BOOKER: GOODNIGHT!
The camera cuts to show Dickie holding the belt on top of the cell with MYOJIN right next to him as it slowly fades to black.
Project: Honor logo flashes on the screen and then goes completely black.