PROJECT: UNDERGROUND: XI | FINAL CHAPTER

The show for the second time in succession kicks off at the commentary table, Project Underground's pairing ready to kick off what could be the last standard Project Underground show.

LEON ENGLISH: Welcome to Project Underground from myself, Leon English and my colleague at the desk… Noah Hope!!

NOAH HOPE: YEAH!!!!!!!!! The former main roster champion, Jason Long conqueror, and pay per view main event superstar… NOAH HOPE!!!

LEON ENGLISH: You basically said all that last time.

NOAH HOPE: Well obviously… true then and true now.

LEON ENGLISH: Fair enough, which Jason Long did you beat though? Hasn’t he had more faces than this show's last general manager has had partners?

NOAH HOPE: Dude!!! That’s harsh, us midgets don't deserve that sort of abuse.

LEON ENGLISH: Moving on, our normal sized GM is kicking off the show again tonight I believe.

As the crowd begins to rumble… “Feel Invincible” by Skillet suddenly sounds throughout the building and the crowd erupt into a very mixed response. Some obviously aware of the fact he’s an asshole, others willing to show respect for his performance in hell in a cell versus Havoc. After a few seconds' pause Mark Hunter strolls out onto the ramp area wearing a dark blue suit, he smirks in a self-satisfied and confident manner at the reaction from the fans and begins his walk down to the ring. Mark acknowledges very few of the fans on the walk, as the camera zooms in you can see the bruising and cuts still recovering from the Havoc match. Upon entering Hunter climbs up and poses for the crowd whilst taking in the response from the fans. He soon steps down to the canvas and as the music dies, Mark takes the mic from someone at ringside.

MARK HUNTER: This right now is all about keeping it short and sweet, if any of you feel the way I do, you’ll be glad when this is all history. I have a job to do and a couple of announcements to make… so without any further…

The crowd interrupts Mark “YOU TAPPED OUT!” “YOU TAPPED OUT!” “YOU TAPPED OUT!”

MARK HUNTER: I fucking didn’t tap out!!! I was merely reaching for the ropes in aggressive manner, that action was simply misconstrued by the incompetent referee. I’ll be speaking to my good friend Adam Ekaterin about how we can get that injustice removed from the record books. Havoc should be ashamed to celebrate such a miscarraige of justice, the world now knows I’m better than him, the world can now and forever will see through his shameful and farcical excuses. If he had any decency, he’d turn up on my show, walk out right now… and he would apologise to me!!

Mark stares up at the entrance way.

MARK HUNTER: He won’t though, people on the roster just don’t have any standards, even our champions are a disgrace…

The lights in the arena cut out, interrupting Mark Hunter’s obnoxious monologue. As if that fact alone weren’t enough to please the crowd, a series of blue-white spotlights pierce the darkness as a grungy, plodding guitar riff comes over the venue’s speakers.

Immediately recognizing it as the opening chords of ‘Hiss of the Witch’ by Deadsmoke, the audience explodes into cheers and applause. They seem to rise out of their seats as one, as the music heralds the arrival of an unexpected individual.

Billy Bennett, Legacy Champion of Project: Honor.

She steps out onto the top of the entrance ramp, the crowd’s reaction intensifying as they catch sight of one of the company’s top stars. Bennett is dressed in her street clothes: tattered blue jeans, heavy boots, and a black ‘Combat Unlimited: Lethal Trials’ hoodie - merch from Casanova English’s new company - which is half-unzipped to reveal a white undershirt beneath.

With the Legacy Championship slung over one shoulder, she swaggers down the ramp. Mark Hunter doesn’t seem visibly shocked by her arrival; nor does he shrink away, even in the face of the infamous Billy Bennett.

Once she reaches the ring, Billy slithers under the ropes and pushes herself back to her feet, gesturing to an official at ringside who quickly rushes over and slides a microphone to her. She scoops it off the ground before tossing the Legacy Championship to the mat unceremoniously…

…directly between herself and Mark Hunter, who doesn’t even glance at it. The General Manager of Project Underground stands his ground as Billy steps over the fallen belt, coming to a halt with mere inches separating them.

The crowd continues to lose their minds as two of the premier talents within Project: Honor square up almost chest-to-chest, a loud chant of “HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT!” echoing throughout the arena.

Despite the difference in size and experience, Billy stares up at Mark Hunter. Her eyes are bright and hungry as she speaks.

BILLY BENNETT: (off-mic) Hi, Mark.

And despite the fearsome reputation of the young woman sizing him up, Mark doesn’t seem the least bit intimidated. Aside from a theatrical wafting of his hand in front of his nose when Billy opens her mouth to speak, he doesn’t seem to react at all.

MARK HUNTER: Well, speak of the Devil. I talk about this company’s disgraceful champions, and one appears before me like magic!

Rather than look upset at this statement, the Floridian cracks a genuine smile. She lifts the microphone to her mouth, her voice sounding almost amused.

BILLY BENNETT: Well, ya might be right, buddy. Could be that I am a disgrace; don’t really matter one way or another, though, do it? ‘Cause at the end of the day, I’m holdin’ that belt… and you’re here, lickin’ your wounds and makin’ excuses.

The crowd’s chants and cheers finally begin to die down slightly, as Mark smirks and takes a step to the side to end the staredown with Billy. He’s brave enough to turn away from the unpredictable woman, looking out over the crowd like a King surveying his fiefdom.

Billy looks borderline furious at being ignored in such a dismissive fashion; no doubt that was fully intended on Mark’s part.

MARK HUNTER: Ah yes, your Legacy Championship. The prized possession of one Billy Bennett, a young woman who came into this company swearing up and down that titles didn’t matter to her. Now look at you…

Hunter turns back to face Billy, whose knuckles are white as she holds the microphone in a death grip. It appears that Hunter turning his back to her had a rather profound effect; Billy’s limbs are trembling with barely-contained fury, and the gnashing of teeth is almost loud enough to be picked up by her microphone.

Mark notices, and lets out a brief chuckle before continuing.

MARK HUNTER: You get your filthy paws on that thing, and suddenly you seem to care about what you used to call ‘meaningless prizes’. Carrying your little trophy everywhere, reminding everyone what it means… it would be amusing in an ironic sort of way, if it weren’t so very sad.

Taking a moment to enjoy the effect that his words have on the temperamental Bennett, Mark is about to speak again when she stomps towards him, closing the distance to bring herself face-to-face with Hunter yet again. This gives the General Manager pause, giving Billy the opportunity to respond before he continues.

BILLY BENNETT: Uh-huh. Question is, what the fuck does that make ya, Mark? Just a sore loser, bitchin’ and moanin’ and runnin’ down people who are better than he ever was. Say what ya want ‘bout me, but I ain’t gonna stand by while ya insult everyone el-

Interrupting her mid syllable, Mark’s voice snaps out, seizing on the opportunity presented to him.

MARK HUNTER: Say what I want about you? Well, don’t mind if I do! Let me tell you how I - and everyone else who isn’t high on crack - sees it.

In a remarkable display of courage, Hunter lifts an index finger and pokes Billy in the chest. She glares down at the digit before looking back at Mark, eyes wide in disbelief that he would dare do such a thing.

MARK HUNTER: You’re a joke, Billy. You see, maybe the rest of the people backstage and in the crowd aren’t smart enough to see it, but I am. And s-

It’s her turn to cut Mark off, swatting aside his finger and reaching up with both hands to grab him roughly by the collar of his lol shirt and yank his face closer to hers. If looks could kill, Mark Hunter would surely be dead.

And yet, he still doesn’t seem overly concerned with the situation he’s found himself in. Rather than fight back, he tilts his head to the side to speak into the microphone.

MARK HUNTER: I wouldn’t do that. You’re not booked tonight, and you certainly aren’t a roster member on Project Underground. Others in this company might not be comfortable pressing charges, but I assure you that I am. You remember Adam, correct? The company’s legal counsel, and a good friend of mine.

Several moments pass as Billy scowls in Mark’s smirking face, before she finally relents and releases the grip on his shirt. Clearing his throat, Hunter straightens up and smooths the front of his suit, fixing the collar of his shirt and adjusting his tie back to a perfect position.

Before he can follow up with some self-congratulatory comment, Billy mirrors his earlier gesture by jabbing him in the chest with an index finger.

BILLY BENNETT: Enough talk, boy. I was gonna come out here and congratulate ya on havin’ a real nice fight with Havoc, but I think I’ll skip all that and get right to the point. I need a challenge, and nobody worth a damn is steppin’ up to answer my call. I ain’t the patient sort, Hunter, and I’m gettin’ bored… so I came to offer ya somethin’. A gift, for both of us. Mark and Billy at Emergence; ya get another shot at a Legacy, and I get ya for half an hour.

The crowd has surged back to life during Billy’s statement, going wild over the idea that the Legacy Champion will be making an appearance at the upcoming PPV.

BILLY BENNETT: A second chance for Mark Hunter. Don’t that sound nice and charitable of me?

This time, it’s Billy who looks smug and full of herself, winking up at Mark as she lowers the microphone and waits for his reply.

What she gets is the exact opposite of what was expected.

MARK HUNTER: I’ll pass.

A chorus of boos immediately erupts from the audience, after having a match worthy of a main brand PPV dangled in front of them only to have it torn away by Hunter. He turns to the left, then the right, shrugging at the crowd’s reaction before he explains himself.

MARK HUNTER: If you think I have any interest in that championship, you’re kidding yourself. I’d have taken it from you gladly, at one point; but you’ve already held it for too long, and there’s just no getting rid of the stench now. Anyway, a man in my position can’t be seen giving himself a shot at such a prestigious title. I’m sure there would be complaints from the roster. But I’ll give you the match you want… one thing, though. In the interest of fairness, and since you’re not 1/10th of the wrestler I am, I’ll only step into that ring if we get rid of your silly submissions-only rule. Trust me, I’m doing you a favour; you wouldn’t have a chance in Hell of beating me otherwise.

Billy scoffs and rolls her eyes at this, but she doesn’t argue the point.

BILLY BENNETT: Whatever ya want, Mark. After all, it’s your show, ain’t it?

MARK HUNTER: That’s right, it is. And when I beat you on MY show, it’ll prove to everyone what I already know. You’re a fraud, Billy. A place holder champion, keeping that belt warm until someone better comes along to take it. Project: Honor is just using you as a spot filler. Sort of how Savannah used you to fill her spot until someone else caught her eye.

That last comment earns Mark Hunter a sharp, dangerous glare from Billy Bennett, her lips pulling back like she were baring fangs. For a moment the woman looks like a savage, untamed animal about to lunge at their prey; it’s only the grin on Mark’s face that pulls her back at the last moment.

BILLY BENNETT: Shut your fuckin’ mouth… better yet, I’ll shut it for ya at Emergence. See ya then, scumbag.

Taking a step backwards, her right hand suddenly flies through the air to throw the microphone directly at Hunter’s face. All of her power is behind the toss, and the projectile seems poised to smash into the bridge of Mark’s nose.

In a stunning display of reflexes, he manages to jerk his head to one side as the microphone sails past him. Billy growls as she notices the ease with which he evaded the object, turning away to grab the Legacy Championship off the mat.

As Bennett climbs through the ropes and drops down to the ringside area, Mark Hunter remains in the ring taunting her. Billy pays him no mind, walking back up the ramp with her title belt sling over her shoulder.

MARK HUNTER: Do try to control yourself at Emergence, Billy! Any little outbursts like that might be grounds for disqualification, after all!

Before she disappears backstage, the Legacy Champion lifts a middle finger up and back at Mark Hunter.

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