WATCHING ME, WATCHING YOU
Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
No Man’s Land.
We haven’t seen El Mariachi Muerte since Zeus demanded he find Paragon and The Watchers. Muerte walks carefully through the wreckage of No Man’s Land, approaching the door he helped close on his friends.
He puts a hand on the door, lowering his head. He’s ashamed. After what he did, how could he not be?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This seems like a place of real significance for El Mariachi Muerte. I wonder why?
Muerte backs carefully away from the door, his head lowered until a sound from ahead forced him to look up.
It’s Paragon.
“Looking for me?” He asks, his trenchcoat dirty from dragging across the floor.
Singing Death nods. “You and your people know too much, amigo. Zeus sent me to put an end to it.”
That makes Paragon slightly nervous. He shuffles slightly, folding his arms.
“The truth won’t be silenced, Muerte. Don’t you think your new love will learn the truth sooner rather than later?” He asks, seemingly knowing more than he should.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What's he talking about?
MATT RUBY: Your guess is as good as mine.
It surprises The Mariachi, who can’t believe what he’s hearing.
That makes him uncomfortable.
“How can you possibly know what you know?” He demands to know.
There’s an eerie pause as he approaches Paragon, carefully and slowly.
“We know everything,” Paragon reminds him. “Everything.”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I just want to know what the hell is going on here.
Now stood face to face, Muerte grimaces.
“We knew you’d be coming here. Just like I knew Zeus’ secret and just like I know what’s behind that door and the secret you’re keeping from Gemini,” Paragon warns, looking to his left and then to his right. Figures emerge from the shadows, all wearing masks similar to his. “And I didn’t come alone.”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Whatever this secret is that Zeus and his House of Judgement cronies are conspiring to keep is close to be outed.
MATT RUBY: I have to admit, I'm desperate to know what it is.
El Mariachi looks left and then right as well, gulping. He quickly realizes hes outnumbered and backs off. His mission to end Paragon perhaps best saved for another time.
“The truth will set you free,” Paragon backing away. “I'll show you, Zeus and the whole of Arcadia precisely that.”
Cut.
DARK MATCH RESULTS
We head to commentary, where Bronco Blackwood and Matt Ruby sit, having just watched that intense moment between El Mariachi Muerte and Paragon.
The crowd are on their feet. It’s deafening inside Olympus.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Ladies and Gents, Howdy and welcome to Bad Blood. We’ve got one helluva a show here for you tonight!
MATT RUBY: We had one hell of a match to kick things off here as well. Tell em about that, Bronc.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Ain’t that bout the truth. Old Nick Morningstar defeated newcomer Mighty Mighty in our Dark Match before the show tonight. They warmed this crowd up well and good!
MATT RUBY: And it’s only gonna get hotter. With any luck, we’re getting to see Aurora in action. Whoo-wey.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Speaking of which… I understand that may not be a foregone conclusion. We’re heading on our travels, folks…
THE NEXT ACT
Last week.
Jasper slams the door shut behind himself, knife in hand as he rushes Aurora down! The Thrillseeker screams in horror as Redgrave lunges forwards, burying his blade into a film container Aurora hastily held up to defend herself!
BRONOCO BLACKWOOD: BY GOD HE'S GONNA KILL HER!
MATT RUBY: RUN AURORA! PUT THOSE BEAUTIFUL LEGS TO WORK!
Aurora lashes out with a desperate kick to the gut that forces Jasper back, immediately following up by clanging the container across his face! The Artist hits the ground for a mere moment as Aurora rushes by, slamming into the door and rushing out of the room! She slams it shut behind herself, locking it before running for her life down the hall.
CRACK!
CRACK!
SMASH!
JASPER JUST KICKED THE DOOR OFF OF ITS HINGES!
Redgrave smiles sadistically as he begins to walk after Aurora, rearing back and throwing the knife at her with surprising accuracy! Aurora dives out of the way, sliding across the floor towards the exit of the Gallery. She makes her escape, leaving Jasper behind as she disappears.
However, Redgrave doesn't give chase. No, he simply walks up to one of the many cameras set up around his Gallery, looking upon it with a smirk.
"Oh no, she escaped." He speaks sarcastically as he turns the camera off. "I suppose that means we get one more act, don't we? One more beautiful, heart pounding act."
MATT RUBY: What the hell is Jasper planning?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I don't know, Ruby. The only thing clear to me is his movie is far from over.
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Ezekiel Graves has been on a crusade, killing Chef Andre and Momoko Honda in recent weeks. Josh Conway is here to stand up to him.
MATT RUBY: Josh Conway is here to be a sacrifice to the good Reverend!
The bell rings, and Josh Conway charges toward Graves with determination, his fists swinging with fury.
BUT GRAVES CATCHES A PUNCH!
He slams his knee into the Northstar's gut.
A CLOTHESLINE FLIPS CONWAY ASS OVER END!
Graves drags Josh to his feet, a look of pure contempt on his face.
“You think you’re Arcadia’s savior?” Graves growls, his voice dripping with malice. “Let me show you what salvation looks like.”
Graves whips Conway into the corner with brutal force. Josh stumbles forward…
BIG BOOT!
MATT RUBY: This is the sermon of a lifetime, BB!
The preacher doesn't relent, mounting Josh and raining down hammer-like punches. Blood begins to trickle from his mouth as the assault continues.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Somebody needs to do something.
Graves runs his thumb across his throat, and picks Conway up into a fireman’s carry.
DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!
MATT RUBY: Divine Intervention!
But Graves isn’t finished. He stands over Josh's limp body, eyes wild with a fanatic gleam.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Stop the match, he’s done!
Graves locks in the Crossface as Conway’s body goes slack, unable to fight, unable to resist.
The ref calls for the bell.
MATT RUBY: The star has fallen tonight, BB. No one can stand against a man of god.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I’m not sure Graves is done.
THE WORD
MATT RUBY: Of course he’s not done, Bronc’. The Reverend promised a sacrifice here tonight.
Ezekiel Graves stands over the broken body of Josh Conway, a dark glint in his eyes. Blood drips from Conway’s lip, his chest barely rising and falling.
Graves kneels beside him, fingers curling around the hilt of a blade he pulls from his coat, the edge gleaming under the arena lights.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Get the APD out here! This man has a knife!
Graves lifts the blade.
"This is the only salvation you will receive, Josh Conway. Freedom from this world of sin," he whispers.
The stage lights up as “Up Jumped the Devil” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds hits the speakers.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Finally, someone is doing the right thing.
Old Nick Morningstar saunters down to the ring as Ezekiel Graves glares at him.
MATT RUBY: What is this guy doing here? I thought he was a loan shark?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Rumors say he’s something far more sinister.
Nick gets in the ring, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ezekiel," he drawls. "Might I have a word?"
Graves rises slowly, still gripping the blade.
"I only hear The Word, old man. Are you here to stop me, or follow me, Morningstar?"
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Graves knows who Old Nick is. Odd.
Nick chuckles, shaking his head.
"Neither," he says, voice dripping with a strange approval.
"You’re doing fine work, preacher. Keep cleansing, keep purifying. The more you do, the sooner we’ll meet again." His eyes gleam with a dark promise. "And trust me, Ezekiel, we will meet again—whether in this life or the next."
With that, Old Nick turns on his heel, leaving the ring.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: That was ominous.
MATT RUBY: It was something.
Graves stands still for a moment, considering Nick’s words, before looking back down at Josh Conway’s broken form.
He grins.
AND SLAMS THE KNIFE DOWN INTO CONWAY’S HEART!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Somebody get the hell out here! This is murder!
MATT RUBY: This is The Word of god manifest, BB!
"One more soul for the fire," Graves mutters.
Cut.
LISTEN TO ME
The Observatory.
Felix Foley strides through its corridors, the clinking of chains echoing as he passes the Burned Man, restrained and shackled.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What we just saw from Graves was disgusting, but what DOOM is going to do to the Burned Man may be a fate worse than death.
DOOM waits in the central chamber, his expression grim as he notes Felix’s approach.
“You’re not really going to force him in the Pool are you?” Felix starts without preamble, his voice tense with suppressed anger.
MATT RUBY: Looks like trouble in Paradise, BB.
DOOM crosses his arms.
“Much like you going into that Hell in a Cell match with Tombstone, this is fate unleashed upon us. Would you cast aside your issue with the Ferryman?”
Felix shakes his head, his resolve hardening. “That’s different. This is torture. We’re better than this.”
DOOM steps forward.
“And what Tombstone plans for you isn’t?” He stares down his best friend. “Listen to me, you’re walking into a trap, Felix.”
Felix's eyes darken. “I need to end this, for my Momma. For all of us.”
“No.” DOOM interrupts. “You’re doing it for yourself. Give up your pride. Don’t do it.”
“Set Maxwell free.” Foley retorts.
The two stand there, their burdens hanging between them like a thick fog. Neither willing to back down, yet both bound by a deep-seated friendship and mutual respect.
Finally, DOOM sighs. “I can’t stop you. But I won’t help you throw your life away either.”
Felix nods. “Nor can I stop you from throwing Maxwell into the Odyssey Pool. Then we’ll go our separate ways for tonight."
“As friends,” he adds, the last word a reassurance.
“Best friends.” DOOM replies.
With a last look, Felix turns and walks away.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Neither of the Tag Team Champions are able to see clearly right now. They’ve been consumed by vengeance.
MATT RUBY: Maybe DOOM can be there to nurse Foley back to health after Tombstone eviscerates him!
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Captain Arcadia has been on a quest to free a kidnapped child…
MATT RUBY: Kidnapped? The kid was looking for a real family it sounds like to me, and Klaus Way is as fatherly as any man I’ve ever met.
Captain Arcadia bursts out of his corner at the bell, charging at Klaus Way with a flying forearm, but Klaus casually steps aside, using Arcadia's own momentum against him as the Captain crashes into the turnbuckle.
While Arcadia is recovering in the corner, Ajax the Adonis appears on the apron, distracting the referee.
MATT RUBY: The ref’s got gum on their shoe!
Klaus grabs a handful of powder from his trunks…
AND THROWS IT IN ARCADIA’S FACE!
The referee turns back just as Klaus tosses the evidence away.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Klaus Way can’t just fight, can he!?
Arcadia swings wildly, while Klaus laughs at him.
BUT ONE SHOT CONNECTS! THE WARDEN REELS BACKWARDS!
Arcadia’s vision is clear, and he charges the ropes, but DAMIEN SOLUS TRIPS HIM UP!
MATT RUBY: Look, Klaus needed the ref to check his jaw!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This isn’t a match, it’s a mugging!
Captain Arcadia tries to fight his way back to his feet, but Klaus is on the top rope.
DOUBLE AXE HANDLE!
The Captain is still trying to fight to his feet, but Klaus signals for it…
THE SO MUCH UNPRETTIER HITS FLUSH!
BRONOC BLACKWOOD: BIZZARO!
Ajax the Adonis roars his approval as Klaus drops into the cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Klaus Way used his thugs to take advantage of this young hero!
MATT RUBY: Young hero? He’s not even my captain, BB. This kid can’t get anything right, can he?
FREE TO GO
Captain Arcadia lays breathlessly beside Klaus Way after their grueling match. The hero glances over to the kid, who has been by the timekeeper's table the whole time, with a sad face; seemingly apologizing for his failure to save him.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Well don't that beat all! I bet the boy's absolutely dismayed that he can't go home now!
But the young man isn't sad. In fact, he looks rather relieved by his loss. The Captain's frown transforms into confusion as Klaus rolls out of the ring, placing his hand on the kid's shoulder.
"I wasn't lying to you, Captain Dumbass!" Klaus yells. "The boy really did come to me of his own free will! He showed up at my circus covered in bruises and begged for shelter from his family!"
Arcadia rolls out the ring and looks at the kid, concerned. The boy nods solemnly in response.
"Then why were you going to let him hit the ground?" The former Python asks. This elicits laughter from the Warden.
"You really thought we were going to let him hit the dirt? We were going to catch him before you jumped in to take him back to his abusers!" The Captain looks down shamefully in response.
MATT RUBY: How does it feel to be wrong, Blackwood?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: How was he supposed to know that? Gosh darn it, how were any of us supposed to know that?
"However," Way begins, leading the kid to Arcadia. "I don't think the boy is worth the trouble if puritans like you want to stop him from performing. Take him to the adoption center. He'll be happier there, away from abusers and 'heroes' like you." The boy turns to the Ringmaster with shock. Klaus responds with a nod, easing his fears slightly.
The Hero takes the kid by the hand and leads him out of Olympus as we fade to the next scene.
ANOMALY
Mr. Sunshine.
The ever optimistic leader of the Sunshine Club walks through the backstage of Olympus, Nox's coveted notebook clutched tightly to his chest, a large yellow smiley face clearly drawn across the cover.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Here comes Sunshine! And it looks like Nox's book was left mostly untouched.
MATT RUBY: Mostly? It's been defaced, Bronco! This smiley git must just love making enemies out of powerful men.
Cheery Charlie soon comes to a stop, however, as he comes face to face with Nox. The Mad Chemist looks at Sunshine from down the hall, a cannister of golden yellow liquid in hand.
"Sunshine." Nox's voice drips with malice as he approaches Arcadia's Smiling Friend.
"My little Sunbeam!" Sunshine smiles wide, clapping his hands excitedly. "I have something for you!"
"You do." Nox holds up the cannister, shaking it. "You may have my notes, but I still made something that might finally affect that brain of yours. You're an anomaly, Charles. But this? It'll fry every last one of your little neurons. Hand over my research or I'll take out the entire backstage!"
Sunshine tilts his head, smile unwaveringly stuck to his face. "Oh, but I have an easier way! If you want your notes back... All I want is a hug."
MATT RUBY: A hug!? All this just for a hug?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Sunshine is an enigma, Ruby. One I don't want to figure out.
Nox pauses, as thought dumbfounded. "A hug?"
Sunshine nods his head, arms outstretched. "One nice, big hug and the book is all yours."
There's a pause as Nox approaches, looking from his cannister to Sunshine.
AND HE HUGS HIM!
Sunshine embraces Nox, the Chemist snatching his book. "I hate you," he says. "I'm going to end you tonight."
"You can hate me," says Sunshine. "But we both know you needed a hug. You may have a few rain clouds... But look at the Sunshine that shined through."
Nox breaks the hug, taking off down the hall, notes in hand.
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: We have a horror movie in the making here tonight! One can only hope that Aurora can survive against the terrifying Jasper Redgrave.
Jasper stalks around the ring, watching as Aurora shies back against the ropes. The Artist fakes a lunge and Aurora leaps back against the turnbuckle! Redgrave chuckles and the Thrillseeker rushes him in anger!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: SOLAR STORM! METEORA- NO! VANISHING POINT! REDGRAVE REVERSES WITH A CRUCIFIX POWERBOMB!
MATT RUBY: GET OUT OF THERE, AURORA!
The Breath of the Heavens lands in a heap and Redgrave continues to stalk her, letting her stand before clobbering her from behind with a running clothesline! Aurora hits the ground and Redgrave hauls her to her feet!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: PORTRAIT OF A KILLER! THE NIGHTMARE PENDULUM!
MATT RUBY: NO! AURORA REVERSES IT INTO A DDT!
Redgrave hits the mat and Aurora kips up before rushing to the ropes and coming back with a springboard Phoenix Splash that demolishes Redgrave! Aurora rolls through and leaps back with a standing moonsault to keep Redgrave down!
Aurora begins to scale the ropes-
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: JASPER IS ALREADY UP! HE'S GRABBING FOR HER!
MATT RUBY: Kick him in the teeth with those beautiful feet!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What?
Aurora kicks violently and knocks Jasper away before leaping onto the top rope!
MATT RUBY: NORTHERN LIGHTS OUT! TWISTED BLISS TO A STANDING REDGRAVE!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: IT LANDS FLUSH! REDGRAVE GOES DOWN AND AURORA COVERS!
Demi Sky slides in for the count!
ONE!
...
...
TWO!
...
...
THREE!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Redgrave was terrifying as ever, but Aurora was able to put her pursuer down!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: After that awkward hug we witnessed earlier tonight, one has to wonder just what's going through Nox's head going into this.
MATT RUBY: It's easy to guess, you geezer. He's thinking 'Kill Sunshine'.
The bell rings and Nox storms Sunshine with a massive boot to the chest! He pulls Sunshine in close for a headbutt before lifting him up!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: SCHRODINGER'S SPINE! BACKBREAKER!
MATT RUBY: ANOTHER! ANOTHER! ANOTHER! ANOTHER! TEN BACKBREAKERS IN A ROW!
The Chemist drops Sunshine to the ground and Nox lets him stumble slowly get to his feet before leaping onto him!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: GET OVER HERE! SHORT ARM CLOTHESLINE- NO!
MATT RUBY: THE DIZZY GAME! LOOK AT THAT IDIOT SPIN!
Sunshine lifts Nox onto his shoulders and spins wildly with an airplane spin! He giggles before falling back into a massive Samoan drop! Sunshine wearily gets to his feet, stumbling as he hits the ropes and runs towards a rising Nox!
CATCH ME! SUNSHINE WITH A CROSSBODY!
GET OVER HERE! CLOTHESLINE BY NOX!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Both men collide in the center of the ring! Neither one of them is standing!
MATT RUBY: Get back to your feet, Nox! Put this smiley moron in his place!
As both men slowly begin to rise, Sunshine holds his arms out wide. "Does somebody need a hug?" Nox looks at Sunshine for a moment before walking towards him with his arms out!
MATT RUBY: NOX OUT! REVERSE FULL NELSON BOMB!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: SUNSHINE GETS PLANTED! NOX COVERS!
ONE!
...
...
TWO!
...
...
THREE!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Sunshine tried to hug it out, but Nox's negativity snuffed out this ray of Sunshine!
THE DIARY, II
With a small creak, Felix Foley pushes open the door to the dimly lit room where his mother lies still and silent, her breath shallow, her presence ghostly under the pale light seeping through the curtains.
MATT RUBY: He must be coming to tell her goodbye.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Felix Foley is a changed man. I trust his plan.
As he approaches his mother, he stops. His eyes are not locked on his Momma, but on the bedside table.
On his father’s diary.
He picks up the diary. Randomly flipping it open, he begins to read the contents at a whisper.
“…the doctors cannot tell us which of us is barren, but we have been unable to conceive a child. I have been to countless levels, searching far and wide for a solution. Witches. Mariachi. Chemists. None have been able to give us the baby boy my beautiful wife so desires. I myself greatly desire an heir, someone to take over the business I have been burdened with.”
A sound causes Felix to raise an eyebrow, but he continues.
“It is within that business, my store, that I have found what I believe to be the solution. A perfect red apple. As soon as I touched it, I knew—it would illuminate our life.”
“Felix.”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Momma Foley is awake!
Foley slams the diary shut as his mother has sat up in the bed. She looks at him with wide eyes, and with surprising strength reaches out to snatch the diary from Felix’s hands.
“Don’t read any further, son,” she pleads, her voice raspy but urgent.
The smile on Felix’s face drops, a sharp edge rising in his tone.
“I need to know everything, Momma. I know Tombstone is the Terminal Man. Now I’m going to end this tonight, and after that, nothing will stop me from uncovering the truth you seem to want to hide from me.”
He stands abruptly.
“Goodbye, Momma.”
Felix Foley leaves the room as Momma Foley throws her legs over the edge of the bed and looks down at the diary.
“You won’t be alone tonight, Felix.”
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Destructo Boy has found himself staring down the barrel of what looks like an unwinnable fight at Bad Blood. Hatchet has an army in force here, and The Kid has agreed that it’s Hatchet rules tonight.
MATT RUBY: Which means anything goes. More guts than brains. The Kid never should have come back. He’s going to get killed in there, and all the answers he seeks will die with him.
Hatchet stands behind a half dozen members of the Gathering, who advance on Destructo Boy. The Kid isn’t backing down, and rushes the group.
JUSTICE BARRAGE!
DESTRUCTO BOY IS TAKING THE FIGHT RIGHT TO THE GATHERING!
SURROUNDED BY JUGGALOS, DB HITS THEM WITH EVERYTHING HE’S GOT AND FORCES THEM BACK!
HATCHET GETS A KICK TO THE JAW AND THE KID FLIPS BACK AND RUSHES THE ROPES!
BOOM!
HATCHET DESTROYS HIM WITH A CLOTHESLINE!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: It doesn’t matter how valiantly Destructo Boy fights, Hatchet has the numbers.
MATT RUBY: The Kid isn’t backing down. At least he’s going to die swinging.
Hatchet pulls DB to his feet and slams him into the turnbuckle. He steps back as his troops come in, punching and kicking the Kid. But Destructo Boy slips out of the ring.
One by one, the Gathering follow him to ringside.
BAM!
DESTRUCTO BOY WITH A STEEL CHAIR!
BAM!
ANOTHER!
BAM!
ANOTHER!
GATHERING MEMBERS ARE DROPPED LIKE FLIES!
MATT RUBY: He’s got a weapon. Referee, step in!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Hatchet agreed to this. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
With a gathering of bodies around him, Destructo Boy steps back into the ring.
KA-RACK!
HATCHET SMASHES A BOTTLE OVER HIS HEAD!
DESTRUCTO BOY GOES DOWN!
HATCHET STEPS FORWARD, LAUGHING!
SUICIDE HOTLINE!
THE ELEVATED BOSTON CRAB!
MATT RUBY: There’s nowhere to go and no choice now for Destructo Boy.
THE INEVITABLE… DESTRUCTO BOY TAPS OUT!
HATCHET WINS!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Hatchet stacked the decks tonight and comes out on top. What this means for Destructo Boy getting any answers from The Clown… I don’t know.
SEND IN THE CLOWNS
Both Hatchet and Destructo Boy are back to their feet. Destructo Boy is battered, bleeding from the head after the bottle strike from Hatchet.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Destructo Boy has been through a war to prove himself.
MATT RUBY: The kid is a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. He’s trusting the word of Hatchet?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What other choice does he have? Hatchet is the only one who knows.
Despite everything, Destructo Boy smiles through the blood.
“Answers…” he simply states, glaring at Hatchet. “You threw everything you had at me and I’m still standing. I deserve to know.”
Hatchet seems to ponder for a while, before laughing to himself. He shakes his head.
“You don’t call the shots here, little boy.”
Destructo Boy slaps Hatchet across the face!
“I’ve done things your way. You’ve had your fun. Now tell me what I need to know.”
Hatchet rubs his face, still smirking.
“You have balls, little boy. I’ll give you that. But balls count for nothing when you have no leverage. I never confirmed a damn thing.” He pokes his finger into DB’s chest. “I don’t care how great you think you’ve done, I’m not about to tell some little pick a fucking thing.”
DESTRUCTO BOY PUNCHES HATCHET RIGHT IN THE FACE!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: He’s had enough of being messed about. Destructo Boy wants answers even if he has to beat them out of Hatchet!
KA-RACK!
THE KID IS HIT FROM BEHIND WITH THE STEEL CHAIR!
IT GLANCES OFF HIS SHOULDER AND THE KID TURNS AROUND!
THE GATHERING SURROUND HIM… AND DB FIGHTS BACK!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This is a damned disgrace. Destructo Boy is getting a few good shots in, but even he has to see the inevitable here.
HATCHET STEPS FORWARD, CHAIR IN HAND AND SMACKS IT OVER THE BACK OF DESTRUCTO BOY’S SKULL!
DB GOES DOWN HARD!
MATT RUBY: The sound of steel meeting skull, holy crap! That put an end to that!
The Gathering pick up the unconscious body of Destructo Boy and toss him from the ring. Slowly, he begins to stir at ringside.
The jeering voice of Hatchet calls down from above.
“Now fuck off, fuckboy. Stay away from the slums or next time we take out the trash, it won't end so well.”
Cut.
DIP YOUR TOES
The Observatory
The Burned Man struggles against the energy cage that Doom has him locked in. Every move he makes gives him a shock that holds him in confines. The cage hangs over the Odyssey Pool, bubbling away below him.
MATT RUBY: The Burned Man has gotten himself into a right pickle, hasn’t he?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Doom has brought The Burned Man back to the site of the Odyssey Pool with the express purpose of forcing him inside it. How is he going to get out of this?
Doom looks up at him from the steps leading to the pool.
“It’s useless struggling. You will not break free.”
The Burned Man falls still, glaring at Doom while The Doctor continues.
“Years of research were lost in that fire. You risked my life, and betrayed my trust. I cannot let that go unpunished. Time has come to pay for your crimes.”
From within the cage, The Burned Man pleads his reply.
“I was a different man. It wasn’t my…”
Doom cuts him off.
“I understand that, which is why you are here. It is what is necessary, I must be able to face my betrayer. If Felix himself couldn’t convince me otherwise, you’re wasting your breath trying. Just a mere dip in that pool, and I can have my justice.”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Doom is set on his course of action. But isn’t that taking one hell of a risk?
MATT RUBY: Hell yes. Bring back Blaze!
Doom pauses.
“But I cannot merely drop your cage into the pool. The energy of that cage would make the pool volatile, not to mention upsetting the delicate pH levels. Everything must be balanced for the effects to be most significant. So…”
The floor of the cage opens.
TBM falls, but grabs onto the bottom bar of the energy cage to stop himself from tumbling into the pool. The energy of the cage frame burns into his hands, and he lets out a scream, much to the frustration of Doom.
“Let go, and accept your fate!”
But TBM begins swinging his body, letting the cage build up momentum swinging back and forth on its chain.
Then, like a trapeze artist, he lets go, flying through the air and kicking Doom back down the steps. He himself lands hard on the floor.
Both men rise to their feet, but the Burned Man speaks first.
“You want me in that pool, you’re going to have to try harder than that.”
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: We’re live in the Observatory with Doom and The Burned Man fixing to destroy the place!
MATT RUBY: BB, I really hope ole Maxwell can still swim under all those bandages because this former Pool Boy may be heading back from whence, he came.
Doom starts the fight by grabbing The Burned Man by the rags and driving his fist into TBM’s temple!
*BAM!*
ONCE...
*BAM!*
TWICE...
*CRASH!*
JUSTICE SMASHES A NEARBY BUNSEN BURNER INTO THE SIDE OF DOOM’S MASKED FACE SENDING THE BEAKER AND BURNER FLYING!
TBM pivots on his heel driving his Elbow into the hinge of the Scientist’s jaw!
THE KINGDOMFALL SENDS DOOM STAGGERING TOWARD THE ODYSSEY POOL!
The Burned Man stalks after Doom looking to keep on the advantage when from behind the pool, we hear the whirring of fan blades as Drones appear flying over the head of The Balancer firing projectiles at TBM.
IT’S THE MAD MONOLOGUE, OR TO DRONE ON! SENDING THE BURNED MAN STAGGING TOWARD THE STAIRS LEADING TO THE ODDYSEY POOL!
TBM drops to one knee in front of the stairs leading to the Odyssey Pool and Doom comes rushing in...
*KER-RAK!*
BREAK THE JAR! BOOT TO THE FUCKING SKULL OF THE BURNED MAN SENDS HIS SKULL RICOCHETING OFF THE STEEL PLATE STAIRS LEADING TO TBM SPRAWLED UNCONCIOUS ON THE STAIRS!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: It looks like Doom has won this brawl with the aid of his dastardly drones!
MATT RUBY: Hell yeah, BB brains over brawn!
ALWAYS A POOL BOY
The Odyssey Pool bubbles away, eagerly awaiting its victim. Doom, wrought with anger, clutches at head and screams.
“It is the only way!”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I don’t know if Doom is justifying his choice to the Burned Man or to himself, but nothing has seemed to draw him away from his choice here.
MATT RUBY: His mind has been made up since he found out who was responsible for setting that fire. Just get it over and done with!
Both men pull themselves to their feet. The Burned Man stands atop the steps, on the edge of the pool, Doom closing in on his fate.
But where there was defiant resistance in The Burned Man, this is now gone. He falls to his knees as Doom approaches one final time.
“I’m… Sorry.”
TBM chokes the words out, sobbing.
“Really. Truly. I am sorry. Please, please don’t turn me back into… that.”
Doom stops in his tracks. The words cut through for a moment, but he shakes his head and keeps on moving.
“No. It must be done. Only this way can I look into the eyes of the one responsible for all of this.”
MATT RUBY: This is it folks. Get ready for the splash!
TBM pleads again, holding his hands up.
“Look into my eyes. This is the real me. That abomination was everything I hate about the man I was. He’s gone. Dead. Do you really want to bring him back just so you can tell him how much you despise him?”
Doom doesn’t answer, he takes another step.
"Everything Blaze was is some part of my past. A part I want to take responsibility for. But putting me in that pool is not the answer. Tell me how much you despise me.”
Doom is right by him now. He grabs TBM by the scruff of his neck and hoists him up so that he stares into his eyes.
“I despise…” He pauses. There’s tears in TBM’s eyes. “I…”
The Burned Man chokes his words out, through Doom’s gauntleted hand on his neck.
“I despise him too. But leave him in the past. It’s the logical thing.”
Doom’s fist slowly releases The Burned Man, dropping him to the floor by the steps.
“An eye for an eye makes Arcadia blind.” He mutters to himself, before pointing into the distance. “Go… But I will always be watching. Do not, ever, make me regret this choice or it won’t be the pool you face. I’ll slaughter you on the spot.”
The Burned Man doesn’t need to be told twice, he scarpers away.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: The Burned Man convinced Doom to release him. After everything he’s been through, perhaps Doom could see this was the right thing to do.
MATT RUBY: Weak. He should have kicked him into the pool. But The Burned Man isn’t hanging around to let him change his mind. He’s fucking right off.
Doom stands over the Odyssey Pool, contemplating as TBM gets as far away as possible.
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight two men enter the gates of Hades itself as Felix Foley faces off once more against Tombstone and the stakes could not be higher. Both men's fury has risen to a fever pitched and this may well be a blood bath here tonight.
MATT RUBY: I may think Foley is an idiot BB but I'm not looking forward to this. From how Tombstone looked last week, he may well kill Foley here tonight.
'You've Got A Friend In Me' begins to play over the sound systems of Olympus, the crowd roaring in approval as the green flashing lights begin to adorn the entranceway. Felix Foley stepping out but he's not his usual happy go lucky self.
He's almost trembling as he walks out, that same dented chair in his hands from last week as he looks out to the crowd. He breaths deeply before nodding as he walks forward, not with a smile but a determined focus in his eyes.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: No sign of Friendly here tonight Ruby, Felix is iron focused here like we've never seen him before.
Felix walks down the ramp to the ring as he looks up at the towering structure of death. He nods before beginning to climb the cell upwards.
MATT RUBY: Has this idiot got a death wish? Why in the hell would you climb that thing willingly?
Felix slowly climbs up the cell, each foot taking all his strength to continue before he finally gets to the top. He throws the chair up first before climbing fully up and rising to his feet, brandishing the chair and waiting with laser focus for Tombstone.
**THE LIGHTS GO OUT**
They come back on and Tombstone is behind Foley, CLOTHESLINE...NO! Foley ducks underneath the attack before swinging hard and bending the chair once more over and over the Ferrymans skull. Tombstone tanks each and every blow before Foley backs up, running forward
BIG BOOT! Tombstone kicks the chair right back into Foley's face, busting Friendly open slightly but Felix is still up on his feet. He wipes the blood from his eyes, fury flowing over him as he rushes forward again
MATT RUBY: SOUL TAKER! A sickening heart punch and that is it for Felix Foley. Tombstone has destroyed Foley in record time here.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Tombstone doesn't look done though, Felix is limp in his arms as he lifts him up...oh no. Don't you do this you sick son of a bitch.
Tombstone lifts Foley up into a Powerbomb, sprinting forward
ODE TO CHARON OFF THE FUCKING CELL!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: BY ZEUS IS MY WITNESS FELIX FOLEY IS BROKEN IN HALF! Fifteen feet down through a damn table and it's lucky it was there cause Foley may not have survived otherwise.
MATT RUBY: Tombstone may well have retired another Olympian here and look at that bastard BB, he's damn near giddy at the idea.
Medical staff rush down the ramp to the unconscious Foley trapped underneath the exploded wreckage of a table. They carefully place him onto a stretcher and slowly wheel him away from the ring as the crowd is just silent and Tombstone.
The Ferryman is staring down with a satisfied smile upon his face.
The stretcher slowly gets up the ramp but they're stopped as Momma Foley rushes out, a mixture of distraught and anger in her face as she reaches her broken son. She caresses his face before bending down and whispering something in his ear as Felix's eyes suddenly burst open.
MATT RUBY: This crazy son of a bitch still wants to fight. What in the hell did his mother tell him BB?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I don't know Ruby but Foley is bloodied and hurting but he's not broken and he's going back up the goddamn cell.
Foley breaks out of the stretcher, stumbling down the ramp as with pure fury in his eyes he begins to climb up the cell. Almost leaping forward as he scrambles up before reaching the top. Tombstone tries to stomp down on his hand but Felix slaps it away, tripping the Ferryman up before he gets up on top to his feet.
BIG BOOT! FOLEY TANKS IT!
Felix stumbles back up to his feet, spitting out blood before begging for Tombstone to hit him again. The Ferryman rushes forward
MATT RUBY: KICK TO THE DICK...CUT THE STRINGS! DOUBLE ARM DDT OUT OF NOWHERE! Oh my god BB, can Foley do it?
Felix gets to his feet as the crowd roars, raising his hand as he looks for the Puppetshow. Tombstone staggers up as Foley tries to jam the Mandible Claw down his throat
HEADBUTT! DOUBLE HANDED GOOZLE! Tombstone looks into Foley's eyes for a moment before powering him up high
FULL FORCE FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS! DOUBLE HANDED CHOKESLAM ONTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CELL!
AS FOLEY LANDS HARD, BREAKING THE CELL AND FALLING DOWN FIFTEEN FEET TO THE RING!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: He's Dead. He's fucking Dead. Felix Foley has just been murdered by Tombstone with that Chokeslam through the cell.
Tombstone looks down satisfied before dropping down to the ring. He lands with a thud before dropping to his knees, placing Foley's arms across his chest and waiting for Demi Sky to count the fall which she does with trembling hands.
ONE
.............
TWO
..............
...................
THREE!!!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Another dominating victory for Tombstone but this just went too far Ruby. Forget his career, is Foley even breathing after that sickening move?
MATT RUBY: I've gotta give Foley props, he came back after a hit that would put down any man but he's lucky to survive tonight. Killed family or not, walk away Felix because I don't think Tombstone will miss a third time.
VISION
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: That may have been the most disgusting match I’ve ever seen.
MATT RUBY: We literally watched someone die earlier.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: But this was much more personal.
The world is a blur of pain and shadow as Felix Foley lies broken beneath the towering Hell in a Cell, staring up at the harsh red light.
Every breath is a struggle, every heartbeat a thunderous echo in his battered frame. The ring mat presses hard against his back, the scent of sweat and blood mingling in the stale air.
Above him, the metal grid of the cell casts a harsh, unyielding net of reality over his defeated form.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I just hope Tombstone doesn’t do what Ezekiel Graves did after his match earlier.
Barely able to open his eyes, Felix can tell the black and purple form of Tombstone stands above him. Despite everything he felt, all the fury and rage, it wasn’t enough.
Not today.
Maybe not any day.
Tombstone's power had been overwhelming, his malice a tangible force that left Felix crushed both in body and spirit.
MATT RUBY: Finish him Tombstone!
The dark form walks away, the unmistakable sound of a snort in the air.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: He’s been clear. This isn’t finished until Felix knows whatever truth is out there.
As his nemesis retreats, a cold emptiness settles over Felix. The sharp sting of defeat feels closer as his Momma rushes to his side.
Her presence, once a beacon of safety, now twists into something unrecognizable.
The touch of her hands on his skin doesn’t comfort; it burns, scraping against his raw nerves.
“Felix, are you okay?” She calls out as reality slowly morphs into view.
“Yeah,” Felix whispers with all the breath he has left. “I’ll be fine, Momma.”
He’s not fine.
Because his Momma's features, so familiar, have morphed into something else—the also-familiar vision of a puppet, strings pulled by unseen hands, words echoing as if spoken by someone else.
“The stretcher is on the way, honey,” she continues. “Just close your eyes and rest.”
He wants to believe her, to find solace in her presence, but this isn’t his mother talking.
Felix wants to fight the puppet, to find out what it did with his dear Momma.
But he can’t.
All he can do is close his eyes and wait for the stretcher.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Felix Foley is lucky to be alive.
MATT RUBY: We’re the ones who aren’t lucky, then.
BOARDROOM BLUES
A large boardroom – somewhere we’ve most definitely been before. Only this time, Hatchet sits in a chair with his feet up on the expensive large oak table. His arrogance permeates the entire room, and when the door opens and a man walks in, it doesn’t change.
He doesn’t take his feet off the table.
He doesn’t flinch or move. He just watches as the man walks in and takes a seat opposite him.
“This is an unexpected meeting,” the man says with a grimace. We’re finally able to see his face. He’s an elder gentleman, perhaps in his fifties, with slicked back short hair and glasses. He’s clean shaven and well presented. “What can The Corporation do for you today?”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Who the hell are these people?
MATT RUBY: Whoever they are, they had something to do with the death of Sarah Rijen and I don’t think Hatchet is wise in being there.
Hatchet takes his feet off the table and leans in smugly. “Your little fuck-boy problem ain’t so little, is it? I’ve just got finished beating Destructo Boy’s ass and that little fucker still stands. I wanna say I scared him off, but I ain’t sure it’s ganna cut it.”
The man sits back and debates his response for a moment.
“Now Mr. Broker, I reckon it’s time we negotiate a little contract change,” The Juggalo continues. “Or else I might be better off going back to the boy and his daddy with some information. You know, information like where to find these here corporate towers and who to look for in them.”
The Broker doesn’t like the sound of that. His expression changes from seemingly welcoming to very angry in a matter of seconds.
The Juggalo’s smile meanwhile fades in of itself, but not for the same reasons.
Within seconds, his face becomes weary.
And then he collapses, face first into the table.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What the…
MATT RUBY: That isn’t good. Is he dead!?
The Broker casually reaches inside his pocket and pulls out a device, pressing a couple of buttons on it before a grunt welcomes him to speak.
“Sir, we have a problem,” he says looking down at Hatchet. He stands up and walks over, checking for a pulse. “… And a hostage.”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: My God, Hatchet finds himself in a world of trouble, Ruby. Who the hell are these people!?
MATT RUBY: You just wait until The Gathering find out about this!
Cut.
The camera slowly fades into the eerily calm Arcadian night, the desolate Cemetary just barely illuminated by the rays of the moon as we see two empty graves with mounds of dirt next to each one. Around the grounds lie several shovels, fallen tombstones, and various other things that wouldn't be out of place in a gravesite.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: We take you now to the Cemetary where our main event will take place. Four competitors, two graves. One for either CJ Thorpe or Gravedigger and the other for Malakai Midnight or Jackson Cade. The only way to win is to bury your opponent and after last week, I don't think this could end any other way.
MATT RUBY: The Cade brothers are out for blood but that makes people sloppy BB, and against men like Malakai and Gravedigger, that may well be a death sentence for our world champion and sheriff.
The gate to the Cemetary creeks open as out of the misty fog come two figures. One gingerly walking forward using a blood red staff, a steel rams head adorning the top while the other scans the environment, a shovel propped up against his shoulder. They seem to be all alone for the moment but Gravedigger still seems to be completely on edge as Midnight just smiles.
"Relax my boy, they're just a bunch of rampaging fools. We use that anger against them and they'll run crying back to mommy...or what's left of the whore anyway."
Gravedigger doesn't reply, his eyes simply go wide as he pulls Midnight to the side.
AS A BULLET GOES FLYING THROUGH THE SPACE WHERE HIS FACE WAS A MOMENT AGO.
MATT RUBY: ZEUS IN CHRIST! I knew Cade was a dirty cop but I didn't think he'd try and murder them.
Six Feet Under barely get to look at the shooter before a large cylinder rolls at their feet and thick smoke fills the nearby area. Both men barely able to breath, let alone see the rushing figure
HOSTILE DOWN!
The smoke dissipates as Jackson Cade takes off his riot mask, looming over Malakai Midnight with fury in his eyes.
"Take my mothers name out of your fucking mouth...bitch"
Jackson looks over at CJ, nodding as Thorpe begins dragging a dazed Gravedigger by the shirt collar. The brief lapse of concentration lets Gravedigger slip out of Thorpe's grasp, rolling back onto his feet before leaping forward
DROP DEAD JAWBREAKER!
CJ gets dropped with the leaping knee as Jackson rushes forward, swinging with wild lefts and rights that Gravedigger ducks and weaves underneath. A hard uppercut rocks Cade before an arm is wrapped around his head and he's lifted up high
NEVERMO...CADE SLIPS OUT
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: BREACH AND CLEAR! Cade slips out of the Elevated DDT before dropping the Shovel to the unforgiving dirt with the Slingblade.
Cade kips up right into a brutal staff shot to the face, the hard metal exploding into his face and breaking his nose upon impact. A scowling Midnight looming over him as he twists the staff in his hands.
MATT RUBY: MIDNIGHT IS GONNA CHOKE THE SHERIFF OUT! Even that extra padding can't protect against solid wood crushing your throat.
Jackson's face is turning red as he tries to pull Midnight off him but he slowly begins to fade away as the air is forced from his lungs.
SHOVEL TO THE SKULL!
CJ Thorpe swings hard, sending Midnight flying back with a bell ringing brutal shot. CJ pulls his brother up to his feet, waiting for him to catch his breath for a moment before throwing him another shovel.
"Let's finish these cunts off shall we?"
Jackson nods as the pair turn into an onrushing Gravedigger.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: SHOVEL READY...INTO THE SHOVEL! Gravedigger may well have broken his elbow from the sheer force of that misstep.
Shockwaves of agony go down Gravediggers arm, causing him to drop to his knees as both Cade brothers raise their shovels high.
CON-SHOVE-TO!
Both shots hit flush as blood begins to pool down Gravediggers face and the back of his skull, the Shovel barely concious as he's pulled to his feet and rocked back and forth by the Cade brothers punching back and forth before a giant knee by CJ drops him to the dirt. Gravedigger tries to slowly crawl away but he's stopped with a knee to the spine as CJ pulls him up by the hair.
MATT RUBY: POCKET DIRT! The perfect distraction to get back into the fight.
CJ staggers back blinded but Gravedigger can't take advantage as Jackson is on him with a brutal uppercut to the jaw before he underhooks him, raining down knees to the unprotected skull as he walks him forward before lifting him up high.
MASTER KEY! BRAINBUSTER INTO THE OPEN GRAVE! GRAVEDIGGER COULD GET ELIMINATED HERE!
Jackson goes to grab the fallen shovel to fill the grave but CJ just shakes his head, pointing to the rising Malakai. Jackson just nods, picking up the shovel as he walks forward to finish off Midnight who begins laughing maniacally. Cade looks furious as he rushes forward, pulling Midnight off his feet and screaming in his face.
'WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ASSHOLE?'
Malakai wipes a tear from his eye, shaking his head before staring deep into Perseus's eyes.
"Oh my boy, did you really think we came alone?"
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Oh no, that cannot be good.
Midnight clicks his fingers as from the darkness, dozens of owls begin to pour into the Cemetary surrounding the Cade Brothers. CJ begins swinging wildly as they rush forward, taking down a few but the sheer numbers begin to overwhelm him and Jackson, both men getting pounded down into the dirt.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This is absolutely crap here, how in the hell are they meant to fight against a veritable army?
MATT RUBY: You use what resources you have BB, it ain't sportsmanlike but if it gets you the win and the world title, it's all fair game when you're burying someone alive.
Jackson and CJ keep trying to fight back, swinging wild and taking down a few here and there while Malakai just looks over at the hurting Gravedigger. The Shovel is barely moving, the brutal shovel shot having taken its toll as Malakai reaches down, grabbing a handful of dirt and sprinkles it over the Shovel's wounds.
MATT RUBY: I heard of rubbing dirt in the wound but this is kinda ridiculous here.
The moment the dirt hits the blood of Gravedigger, his eyes open wide, now pure white. He sits up, dark energy energy swirling around him as it heals every wound. Gravedigger just cocks his head, feeling the power flow through him as he stands wide, opening his arms in a very familiar taunt.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Either Tombstone is powering up his pupil here or Gravedigger is feeling the energy of his masters domain, either way like mentor like pupil and this spells disaster for the Cade Brothers.
Malakai clicks his fingers again as the owls begin to disperse. CJ and Jackson stumble to their feet, bloodied and battered but not broken as Jackson rushes forward, brandishing the Shovel.
AND GRAVEDIGGER CATCHES IT! Jackson struggles with all his strength, trying to keep ahold of it but Gravedigger just snatches it out of his hands before crushing it into a crumpled heap and tossing it aside. CJ looks at the crumpled steel in shock for a moment before shaking his head and rushing forward.
He throws out a series of wild rights and lefts that the Shovel tanks, barely flinching let alone moving from the heavy blows. Jackson joins in but the Cade brothers strikes are like flea bites to the empowered Gravedigger who grips Jackson by the throat
AND BIEL TOSSES HIM FIFTEEN FEET IN THE AIR RIGHT INTO A NEARBY TREE!
Gravedigger turns around into a huge right from CJ who threw his entire body weight into that blow. Gravedigger turns his head back, smiling wickedly
Before he responds with a right of his own that nearly breaks Thorpe's jaw.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Blood and teeth fly through the air as Gravedigger nearly knocked the world champion out with a single blow.
Thorpe drops to his knees, scrambling for something...anything to fight against the deadly Gravedigger who is now slowly stalking the Coyote. CJ's hands grasp a fallen stone as he stumbles up to his feet, swinging it up high.
BIG BOOT RIGHT THROUGH THE GRAVESTONE!
The mammoth Boot kicks right through the stone, busting him wide open from impact as stone goes flying. Thorpe crashes to the dirt as Gravedigger mounts him, gripping him by the throat and Gravel Pounding him with hard forearms over and over.
MATT RUBY: The World Champs a bloodied and nearly unrecognizable mess here. Gravedigger may well kill him here and you can't win the title from a dead man.
Gravedigger finally lets go, gripping Thorpe by the back of his shirt and dragging him to the open grave.
BEFORE TOSSING HIM INSIDE!
Gravedigger collapses to the dirt, the power finally having left him as he's barely able to do anything but breath heavy. Malakai walks over, patting Gravedigger on the back with a wide smile on his face.
"Good job my boy, now let me finish off our dear sheriff once and for all."
Midnight slowly walks over to Jackson who is half embedded into the rotten trunk of the tree from where he was thrown headfirst into it. Midnight yanks him free, rocking him with a brutal headbutt before gripping him around the throat
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: THE CLAW! Midnight has that brutal claw wrapped around Cade's throat and Jackson can barely defend himself, let alone get out of it.
Jackson screams out in pain as Malakai digs his fingernails in, choking out the last bits of air Cade has in his lungs. The sheriff tries to fight out, slapping away at the hands but Midnight is too strong and Jackson is too hurt as he slowly but surely passes out. Malakai keeps it locked in for a few moments just to be sure before picking the unconscious Jackson up off his feet and dragging him towards the grave.
The now empty grave.
Midnight looks confused and shocked as he drops Perseus before looking all around him. He just barely is able to dodge as a crowbar flies through the air, embedding into a tombstone barely a foot away from where Malakai was but it was a trick.
SUPERKICK TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!
Thorpe out of nowhere drills Midnight with a Hostile Down of his own, sending Midnight head over hilt to the dirt but Thorpe can't follow up as the owls begin to appear once more, a wall of them surrounding Midnight and Gravedigger and protecting them from the now alone CJ Thorpe but the World Champion doesn't look taken back, he just smirks.
"You aren't the only ones with friends Midnight"
We suddenly hear pop after pop as the owls begin to go down one by one. The APD surround the outside of the cemetary, riot guns in hand as they begin to disperse the crowd of owls.
MATT RUBY: POLICE BRUTALITY! This is criminal BB, what did those owls do to deserve this?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Hey fair is fair, Six Feet Under can have their crew, so can the Cade brothers.
The few remaining owls scatter as Midnight is distracted for a moment allowing CJ to rush forward and spear Midnight to the dirt. He rains down lefts and rights before lifting him up to his feet. A rib crushing knee doubles Midnight over as CJ double underhooks him, looking do The Right Thing and Pedigree this asshole into the dirt.
LOW BLOW! THORPE ABSOLUTELY FELT EVERY BIT OF THAT!
Thorpe drops to his knees as Midnight tries to back away
HOSTILE DOWN FUCKFACE!
Jackson is still woozy on his feet as he doesn't get all of it but it's enough to bowl Midnight over. CJ tries to follow up but Midnight is pulled away by Gravedigger. Both pairs stand side by side, the Cade Brothers with fury in their eyes and Six Feet Under with twisted grins plastered upon theirs.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This is the last stand Ruby, only two men can be left standing.
Jackson rushes forward, spearing Malakai to the mat as Thorpe and Gravedigger begin pounding away at one another. Cade picks Malakai up, delivering a brutal headbutt as Midnight follows up with the DEVILS ADVOCATE! Spinning Forearm clocks Jackson as Midnight tries to hook him up into the Fishermans.
MIDNIGHT PLE...NO! Jackson slips out, rocking Midnight with a hard enziguri to the back of the head as Midnight stumbles backwards to the edge of the grave.
Meanwhile, Gravedigger and CJ are pounding down on one another, Gravedigger dodging a hard right before swinging wild with the Bullhammer Shovel like elbow. CJ manages to catch it, spinning Gravedigger around and a few feet backwards.
TRUST! Brutal running knee staggers Gravedigger backwards, the Shovel a step away from the other grave. The Cade brothers look at one another, nod before sprinting forward.
HOSTILES DOWN! SUPERKICK TO BOTH GRAVEDIGGER AND MALAKAI MIDNIGHT!
Six Feet Under crash into both graves, the brothers collapsing to their knees but they have just enough energy to sweep their arms and send the mound of dirt into the graves, burying their opponents alive.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: THEY DID IT! The Cade Brothers survived Six Feet Under and buried them alive in the Cemetary. But is this whole war over or has it just begun?
WINNER AND STILL OSW WORLD CHAMPION: CJ THORPE
WINNER: JACKSON CADE
REMEMBER ME?
They’ve done it. The Cade Brothers have exacted revenge on Six Feet Under and buried both Malakai Midnight and Gravedigger alive!
As the brother recover and come together, their celebrations are cut short by an eerie fog that descends upon The Mortuary.
Static. Glitch. Static.
A figure suddenly appears, breaking free of one of the graves from behind – their darkened fist puncturing the ground like something from a horror movie. It’s Calypso, who bursts through covered in mud. She begins crawling towards the startled CJ Thorpe and Jackson Cade.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This is like some kind of nightmare! The Cade Brothers need to get the hell out of there, double time!
MATT RUBY: I do like a woman who can get down and dirty.
THWACK!
Suddenly, CJ Thorpe crashes face first into the dirt. Jackson spins around in a panic, only to have a hand wrapped tightly around his throat.
It’s Narcissa Balenciaga and Tombstone.
Jackson looks down desperately at his brother, who isn’t moving a muscle. Blood seeps from a wound on the back of his head, but Six Feet Under don’t care. Calypso raises her arms into the air, black magic swirling around them like dust in the wind.
Gravedigger and Malakai Midnight suddenly appear within it, covered in mud, but standing.
Narcissa bends down and picks up CJ’s World Heavyweight Championship, draping it over her shoulder.
“Is this what you’ve always wanted to be?” Cade asks of Tombstone between gritted teeth, trying not to choke. “A lapdog for Zeus…”
Tombstone leans in. “I’ve always worked for someone, Jackson. Whether The Baron or Death himself, my soul has always been for someone else to keep.”
He squeezes tighter.
“Do it then!” The Sheriff roars, spitting as he ungrits his teeth. “Go on, fuckin’ kill us you coward!”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Don’t ask him to do that, Jackson – because he will. He’ll kill you both right there and then, we all know it.
MATT RUBY: Another not-so-wise choice of words by a Cade. What a surprise.
The Ferryman thinks about it for a moment and then releases him, pushing him backwards into the dirt next to his brother.
Jackson quickly checks on him, crawling over to make sure that he’s okay.
“Take your kin and leave my lands,” The Ferryman demands. “And At Ring King, Narcissa will finish what she started with your brother for his Championship.”
The Sheriff looks back at him in anger. “And you’ll answer for what you did to my father!”
Tombstone thinks about the challenge for a moment, dropping slowly down into a squatted crouch.
“Boiler Room Brawl…” Tombstone retorts menacingly.
Jackson growls with a nod.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Ring King is going to be ridiculously good, folks. Jackson and CJ might find themselves lucky to walk out of The Mortuary with their lives here tonight, but at Ring King, they may not be so lucky.
MATT RUBY: We can always hope.
Cut.
A Stop ■ symbol appears in the bottom right hand corner of the screen as a logo flashes up amongst static.