WELCOME TO INVASION
Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
Static.
Who’s Got A Match? by Biffy Clyro suddenly bounces into action.
Scott Sterling and Narcissa Balenciaga stand in the middle of the ring.
“I’ll ratify every active member of the Uprising roster into the OSW roster!”
“And if you lose, all of you leave OSW for good or get shot on sight.”
“You’re on!” Narcissa agrees.
In an instant, a horde of insects bursts forth, swarming towards Igor Mortis with unnatural ferocity. He recoils, swatting frantically at the air, as the insects cloud around him, their tiny bodies buzzing with malevolent intent.
From the shadows, a figure watches the scene unfold with a smile playing on their lips.
Gemini.
Jackson Cade walks through the hall towards the lounge, stopping at the entrance.
“Look Jacky, Joey’s home,” his mom says proudly, tears in her eyes.
CJ Thorpe sits in a chair opposite his dad, his mom’s hand proudly placed on his knee. They’re thrilled to see him. It’s been years.
HEADBUTT!
Jackson suddenly Headbutts his brother, stumbling him across the room. Thorpe touches his bloodied nose before storming back at him, slamming him into a nearby bookcase.
As the brother’s punch, slap and kick one another, they tussle across the room.
Backstage, Attano stares down Pym, Escher, and then Narcissa.
“You’re a marked woman, you know that?”
At Ringside, Narcissa gets back to her feet and immediately attacks The Yellow Python with a double axe handle over the back!
ROCKETS FIRE AT THE RING!
HOLY SHIT! DRONES FLY IN FROM EVERY DIRECTION, FIRING ROCKETS AT THE FEET OF VICTOR DOOM, NARCISSA, RODERICK PYM AND DAHLIA BLACK!
Harold Attano storms to the ring as drones fly in Doom, Felix Foley and Blaze! They drop off and straight into the action, immediately brawling with the Uprising.
Inside the Doom Factory, Doom takes control.
Harold looks stunned.
“We’re the majority here,” Blaze reminds him. “The balance is in our favour… you need to understand your place.”
Tombstone is preparing to leave the ringside area, when from nowhere and everywhere, a dense mist materializes, swirling with an eerie life of its own.
Gemini appears.
“You see, Tombstone, your foes have always sought to match you in strength, to beat you at your own game. But I… I am no mere brute.”
Tombstone lunges towards Gemini, but as his fists swing through the air, they meet nothing but a buzzing horde of insects.
He tries again, each attempt to reach her swallowed by the living mist.
Suddenly, Victor Doom appears on the stage with Blaze.
POWERBOMB!
POWERBOMB OFF THE STAGE AND THROUGH THE TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT!
SPARKS FLY!
BLAZE HAS JUST BEEN FUCKING DISMANLTED!
STEEL CHAIR TO THE SKULL OF DOOM BY NARCISSA!
BASESBALL BAT TO THE STOMACH OF FOLEY BY HAYWIRE!
NICK DIAMOND: And where’s Harold Attano!?
We flash back to the ring where Harold Attano stands, leaning on the top rope, watching the violent unfold. As The Pool Boys get their asses handed to them, Nobody just… watches.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: He’s… he’s knowing his place, Nicky!
Doom and Attano stand face to face.
“I was told to know my place,” he says with a smirk. “And I’m just a nobody; a ghost.”
Narcissa holds Foley hostage.
Doom and Attano fight.
“Do you Quit?”
Attano can barely talk through the pain but he’s able to utter one single word
“Yes”
With the match over, Doom immediately looks towards the entrance ramp.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HERE’S THE YELLOW PYTHON!
NICK DIAMOND: AND BLAZE! AND BLAZE!
Both men attack Narcissa, dragging her away from Foley who falls flat on his face.
The Double Feature Champion laughs maniacally as The Arcadian Censorship Authority beat the holy hell out of her competition for Invasion.
NARCISSA
Her face.
“I’m a fire..”
JACKSON CADE
His face.
“I’m a fire..”
FELIX FOLEY
His face.
“I’m a fire..”
HAROLD ATTANO
His face.
“I’m a fire..”
DOOM
His face.
“I’m a fire..”
BLAZE
His face.
“I’m a fire..”
CJ THORPE
His face.
“I’m a fire..”
GEMINI
His face.
“I’m a fire..”
THE YELLOW PYTHON.
His face.
“I’m a fire..”
TOMBSTONE.
His face.
Fireworks explode from the stage as Invasion X kicks off live from Olympus. The camera circles the adoring fans, watching on as they celebrate the beginning of what should be a phenomenal show.
We settle back at ringside to see Johnny Gomez and Nick Diamond looking spiffy ahead of their calling the action.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Invasion! We have a jam packed show for you here tonight and it’ll begin shortly with Spiros the Great versus Lionel Troy.
NICK DIAMOND: Before we get there though, we’ve gotta tell you about our two main matches of the evening. Tombstone defends his OSW World Championship against Gemini and we have The Invasion Match.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Tonight has a big night feel, doesn’t it Nicky?
NICK DIAMOND: It does!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: The Invasion match is a simple concept folks. Two competitors will start and every two minutes another will enter until one of two things occurs.
NICK DIAMOND: Either someone wins the match or all six participants are in the ring.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And not all of them need to be there either. This match can be won with only three participants having entered.
NICK DIAMOND: Harold Attano, DOOM, Narcissa, Blaze, Felix Foley and The Yellow Python have the night of their lives ahead of them tonight.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Let’s not forget… hang on a second, I’m being told that we’re being sent immediately to the backstage. There’s a commotion.
APOSTLES
Grimskull and Drewitt walk through the backstage area, focused and looking for El Mariachi Muerte. Tonight, Muerte goes one on one with Jasper Redgrave and Gemini is in action against Tombstone.
“You’ve got Death?” Drewitt asks, as both men stop, about go in different directions.
Grimskull nods.
“And you Pestilence?” The Preacher asks in response.
Drewitt nods.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Apokalypsis are going to divide and conquer tonight. With Drewitt and Grimskull not in action, they’re aligning with a member each.
NICK DIAMOND: Hang on, what’s that?
Suddenly, four masked assailants attack them both from behind with clubbing forearms, knocking them both to the floor.
One drops down, pummelling away at Grimskull whilst another forcibly removes Drewitt’s gun from his holster.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: What the underworld is going on!?
NICK DIAMOND: No…
BANG! BANG! BANG! Three shots fire brutally into the chest of Drewitt, slamming him back into the concrete powerfully. As War bleeds out all over the floor, everyone turns their attention to Grimskull.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Drewitt is immortal, but Grimskull isn’t…
NICK DIAMOND: This isn’t the way we want to kick off Invasion!
The holder of the gun points it at Grimskull’s head. The Preacher is unafraid, pushing his face up against the weapon.
“Go on,” he growls at them. The holder looks at his fellow attackers and laughs. “Make me a martyr.”
WHACK!
PISTOL TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD!
As The Preacher falls unconscious, the masked men arrange themselves – two dragging away Drewitt by his boots and the other two lifting Grimskull between them.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Where are they taking them!? They’re kidnapping half of Apokalypsis!
NICK DIAMOND: Something feels off here tonight, Johnny. Something feels off.
INTRODUCING FOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST...
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Poor Demi Sky has her work cut out as a referee tonight! Can she keep Lionel and Spiros from playing dirty?
Lionel Troy drops to his knees in prayer! Spiros raises and eyebrow and approaches him with ill-intent!
NICK DIAMOND: HALLELUJAH LEG SWEEP!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: NOT SO FAST! SPIROS JUMPS OVER THE LEG AND SLAPS TROY IN THE FACE!
Lionel is shocked and Spiros deadlifts him into a massive suplex! He forces Troy back to his feet and runs him shoulder first into the turnbuckle! The Lion of Zion is dazed and Spiros hits the ropes as he stumbles from the corner!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: GRACED BY GREATNESS! BY GOD SPIROS JUST TOOK LIONEL’S HEAD OFF WITH THAT KNEE!
The Great One is looking cocky as ever as he peels Troy back to his feet and whips him across the ring! Spiros goes to follow up- But no! A Child of Zion grabs his leg from ringside! STG turns to kick him off!
NICK DIAMOND: CLOTHESLIONEL FROM HELL! LIONELY JUST TURNED SPIROS INSIDE OUT!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: LIONEL JUST GOT SAVED BY ONE OF HIS FOLLOWERS!
Demi tries to shoo the congregate from ringside but Lionel talks her down! The reverend argues the rules before running and catching a rising Spiros with a low dropkick to the face! The Greatest is sent sprawling and Lionel pushes the offense with another kick to the gut! He tries to peel him up but Spiros headbutts him!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: SPINE ON THE PINE! MASSIVE SPINEBUSTER!
Spiros doesn’t cover! He rolls outside the ring and grabs Lionel’s follower! He flings the congregate right into the steel steps! STG rolls right back into the ring but Lionel is back up and he’s pissed!
NICK DIAMOND: ZIONIC ELBOW!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: NO! CLOTHESLINE BY SPIRO!
STG is in control and Lionel is reeling! He tries to get to his feet but drops to the ground! He’s calling over the referee and begs her to stop the match! Demi looks at the bell but Spiros doesn’t buy it as he pushes her out of the way!
NICK DIAMOND: LOWBLOW TO SPIROS! IT’S A MIRACLE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: MORE LIKE A PLAGUE, NICKY!
Lionel leaps to his feet, praising Zion for his miraculous recovery as he backhands Spiros across the face! He’s calling for the end as he grabs hold of The Great One!
NICK DIAMOND: DIVINE INTERVENTION!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: MASSIVE DDT PLANTS SPIROS! LIONEL COVERS!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Reverend Troy took advantage of Demi’s green nature and used it to sneak out a win here tonight!
WINNER: LIONEL TROY
SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT
With that match over and Lionel Troy victorious, Spiros the Great angrily gets back to his feet, demanding a microphone from the ring announcers.
He snatches it away and stands before Demi Sky, enraged.
“What in the name of ALL that is GREAT was that?” He shouts at her. She looks at him confused, quizzically even. “One.. two… three. It’s that simple! You slap your pathetic little monkey hands on the canvas three times and when The Great One kicks out at two, you stop.”
She mutters back that the fall was fair and he didn’t kick out in time.
“Spiros didn’t kick out in time? I oughta slap the make-up off those rosey ass cheeks of yours,” he says, raising a hand. “How dare you stand before The Greek God and lie. Get on your knees. Bow before Greatness.”
JOHNNY GOMEZ: This is completely uncalled for. He’s embarrassing that poor young referee.
NICK DIAMOND: How was her count, Johnny? Was it legitimate?
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Of course it was! Don’t question her integrity.
Demi reluctantly gets down to her knees with the fans booing.
“OHHHHH OHHHHH OHHHHH”
The slow rumble of Carl Douglas blares throughout the speakers before “EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING” blasts along side it. Master Ken walks out onto the stage, standing with his hands behind his back.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HANG ON A SECOND! YOU WON’T BELIEVE IT… THAT’S… THAT’S MASTER KEN!
NICK DIAMOND: THE KARATE OLYMPIAN DEBUTS!
He bows to the audience and then makes a fast paced walk to the ring, carefully pacing the ring steps before wiping his feet on the apron and stepping through the ropes.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Spiros looks like Ken just took a whizz in his cornflakes.
Master Ken pulls a microphone from inside his gi.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you as Master Ken, your beloved Karate instructor and the man who is about to deliver a lesson in humility to Spiros the Great.”
The fans roar with cheers.
“WHOA… WHOA… WHOA!” Spiros interrupts, thrusting his hand in the face of Ken. “Your monkey ass is new around here, so perhaps you haven’t got the memo. When The Great One speaks, you sit down, shut up and learn from The Greatest.”
Ken looks at the crowd and shrugs his shoulders.
“Young lady, please get off your knees,” he motions to Demi, ignoring Spiros who’s enraged. He helps her towards the ropes and see’s her out of harm’s way.
NICK DIAMOND: SPIROS FROM BEHIND!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: RIGHT HANDS! RIGHT HANDS TO KEN!
Spiros spins him around and starts nailing him with right hands, pushing him backwards into the ropes before sending him across the ring…
KARATE PUMP KICK!!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: THE CRANE! DOWN GOES SPIROS!
The Great One immediately rolls out of the ring holding his chest, leaving Master Ken to soak up the cheers from the crowd inside the ring.
Ken looks over to Spiros and bows as KUNG KU FIGHTING blasts into the arena one more time, accompanied by OOHHHH’s from the crowd.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Master Ken has finally arrived and put a boot in the mouth of the so called Great One.
NICK DIAMOND: This is just the beginning, Johnny. You know that. Spiros won’t let this go.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Either way, welcome to OSW, Master Ken! Next week, live on NXT Level, he’ll debut against Colt Ramsey. Can he do what Spiros couldn’t? Tune in and find out!
INTRODUCING FOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST...
We cut inside The Cabin, where Nox has been seemingly teasing Luther Grim since his arrival at his own abode!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Folks, we have a massive bout up next, as Luther Grim defends his NXT Level Championship inside his Cabin against the Uprising’s chief of chemicals, Nox!
Grim does not take kindly to the Arcadian Chemist, lunging at Nox…who simply sidesteps the Hunter, letting him lash out at nothing but air!
Nox lays in some punches before blasting him with a bit of gas to the face, aggravating the earlier effects it’s had on the Hunter!
Luther howls in anguish, taking several wide swings that completely miss their mark!
He soon recognizes a figure that he lunges at, unaware that he’s going after referee Cole Holt!
Holt narrowly avoids a big right hand by Grim, pointing in the direction of his actual opponent.
Nox teases the big man some more, goading him in for another attack…only to drop him with a chop block from behind!
NICK DIAMOND: Grim is just struggling to get out of the gates here, Johnny!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: A sure sign of the damage the Chemist has been doing to him!
Nox lays in a few mounted punches for good measure, but Luther manages to fight his way out before rising to his feet…but he’s looking a bit wobbly!
This gives Nox an opening to go right back on the attack, nailing some lefts and rights to wear the Hunter down…only for Grim to knock him back with a headbutt!
Grim is fighting back now, his tenacity pushing him toward the Chemist as he connects with a boot to the midsection.
Nox folds over from the impact, which gives Luther a chance to follow up with some clubbing forearms!
But just as quickly, the Hunter stops…and begins staring toward the wall of the Cabin.
Nox backs away, a light chuckle faintly heard from under the mask as Luther…raises his fists?
NICK DIAMOND: Grim looks like he’s seen a ghost…one that he’s about to square up with!
Nox decides to add to the confusion setting in Luther’s mind with another blast of gas to the face…and we see the Hunter’s pupils shrink.
He looks focused, determined…and angry.
And he goes for a right hook…that lands flush against the wall!
That doesn’t seem to deter Grim however, as he lands a left jab on the wall, repeating the combo over and over much to what appears to be amusement from Nox.
Until he’s had enough, that is…and grabs one of Grim’s claw traps off a nearby shelf.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Oh no, he’s got real bad intentions with that trap!
Sure enough, Nox charges at the Hunter with the trap, blindsiding him with a shot to the skull!
This knocks the big man down hard, but it also seems to temporarily get him out of whatever haze he find himself in.
He looks at his now-bloodied knuckles, noticing the marks he left behind on the wall before turning his attention to the Chemist standing over him…and lunging with a double-leg takedown!
NICK DIAMOND: That’s more like it, Luther!
Grim rises to his feet once again, this time bringing Nox right up beside him for some more punches!
He then hoists the Chemist up onto his shoulders, bouncing him up and down in a Torture Rack!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: THE HARVEST! Luther’s got Nox trapped now!
BUT NO!
Nox breaks free courtesy of another blast of gas in Grim’s face!
Nox lands on his feet as the Hunter rubs his eyes, trying to clear his vision…but his face quickly descends into panic!
Luther appears to be begging someone off, though it’s unclear who…but that doesn’t matter to Nox, who pulls the Hunter in for a short-arm clothesline!
GET OVER HERE!
But Grim’s already back on his feet, driven by a mix of fear and rage!
But it’s the former that forces him to spin around, as if trying to fend off a foe that isn’t there!
This gives the Chemist a much-needed opening, catching the distracted Luther with a snapdragon suplex!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: PARALYTIC-PLEX! Grim’s getting beaten down hard here by Nox!
Despite Holt’s best attempts, the referee can’t get the big man to stay focused as he rises back to a vertical base…which leaves him open for another chop block by the Chemist!
And with Grim down on his knees, this gives Nox a chance to lock in a Steiner Recliner…his hands over Luther’s nose and mouth as he pulls up!
OXYGEN DEPRIVATION CHAMBER!
But Grim is still fighting as hard as he can, building back up to a vertical base to force Nox to break the hold just as quickly…only for the Chemist to roll him up!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: After a massive battle here, Grim nearly fought off the onslaught of Nox…but it wasn’t enough as we have a new NXT Level Champion, standing over a defiant Hunter who still has a look of fear in his face!
WINNER AND NEW NXT LEVEL CHAMPION: NOX
CONCOCTION
Luther Grim is battered, both in body and mind. His eyes scream in a mixture of fear and defiance as Nox stands over the spot where he has collapsed on the floor of the cabin.
In Luther Grim’s mind, Nox’s eyes shine red, his very skin crawling and he seems twenty times larger than possible. Towering over him, he seems to erupt from the cabin itself, allowing all manner of nightmares to infiltrate his mind.
“Make them stop!”
But when Grim looks back at Nox, it is not Nox at all he sees, but Thomas. In his hallucination, Jinx’s brother appears before him, eyes flashing red.
“You don’t deserve it to stop. You hunted me down, like a dog only because you were TOLD to…” Gas sprays in the face of Luther Grim, seeming to come out of Thomas’s mouth itself. Instantly, the gas begins to burn at Grim’s skin, and he lets out a blood curdling scream. Thomas’s voice mixes with Nox’s own. “… You deserve to be hunted like the dog YOU are.”
The gas burns, the pain consuming Luther’s mind. Nox stands, holding a metallic canister from which the gas had sprayed in Grim’s face. He can see it doing its work, bubbling and boiling on Grim’s skin as it eats its way through his flesh. Grim tries to scramble away, but only manages to trip over a discareded chair in the process and falls to his back.
Nox kneels next to his victim.
“You have been the perfect subject to test these latest concoctions out on. I control your mind. The fear, heightened to levels which your psyche cannot handle. But this latest concoction, I’m going to call it ‘the Hunter.’ Because that’s exactly what its doing to you right now.”
He pokes at Grim’s face with a gloved hand.
“It attacks your already addled mind, eating away at it through your skin. There’s nothing anybody can do for you now, but watch as you get what you deserve.”
Grim’s eyes flash with terror. Nox produces a gun and hands it to him.
“You’re going to die, Luther Grim. You can let the concoction do its job slowly, or take the cowards way out and end it more quickly. That is the final choice you will make in your life.”
Nox stands, backing away to observe his victim, watching as the concoction slowly kills Grim. His wheezy laugh fills the air as he watches Grim struggle, holding the gun to his temple.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: This is sickening. Nox is a sick bastard.
NICK DIAMOND: This is hard to watch, Johnny. That gas is powerful, and there’s nothing that anybody can do for Grim now. End it!
But Luther Grim does not pull the trigger. His fingers slip off the trigger, and with one last guttural scream of pure agony, he falls silent.
His face melted.
Dead.
Nox stands, walking over to where his victim lies still, picking up the gun and pointing at what is left of his face as if to double check the job has been done.
BANG!
Cut.
INTRODUCING FOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST...
TESTIFY
“TROY IS TRUTH!“
The ringside is filled with the Children of Zion who look on at the center of the ring where Colt Ramsey stands with a microphone, speaking fervently to his fellow Children. Meanwhile, Lionel stands behind him, practically beaming as he holds onto his sacred texts and watches Colt speak.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Not these two again. Now they’ve taken their ranting to the ring!
NICK DIAMOND: Have you put your credits in the offering plate, Johnny?
“Last week, we got our reparations upon the interloper we call Destructo Boy!” Colt paces back and forth, riling up the congregation. “We kicked him, bit him, and showed him why you don’t invade on our personal paradise! I would even say Destructo Boy is scared of us, terrified of the strength of Zion!”
“TESTIFY!” Lionel chimes in excitedly, patting Colt on his back. “I hope everyone got their credits worth! For just seven credits a month you can never feel fear, never feel alone! Isn’t that right, Colt? You’ve learned quickly just what giving yourself onto Zion can do, haven’t you?”
Ramsey chuckles, nodding his head as he takes the microphone back, bringing it to his lips. “Troy-“
“RIP IT!“
Justice Will Be Done by Flat Black blares through the arena!
NICK DIAMOND: BLAZE AND DESTRUCTO BOY! THEY’RE RUSHING THE RING!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: AND LIONEL TROY IS RUSHING FOR THE EXIT THROUGH THE CROWD!
The desolate duo collide with the congregation! Members of the Children of Zion try to fight back but the Pool Boys absolutely clear house at ringside! With Kingdomblade swings and flaming headbutts flying at anyone who tries to get near them! The congregation flees leaving Colt Ramsey to his own devices! Destructo Boy climbs into the ring, nodding to his father who chases the remainder of the clergy through the crowd!
Ramsey gets into fighting stance as he stares Destructo Boy down! Blackheart isn’t here to talk, he’s here to fight! A referee rushes to the ring and calls for the bell! This match is about to be under way!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: The ringside is barely cleared but the bell has already been rung! Referee Cole Holt is here and Now Colt’s all alone to deal with Destructo Boy one on one!
Destructo Boy flies forwards and nails Colt with a terrifying leaping dropkick that fires him into his corner! Colt drops to the ground and James grabs the ropes before stomping an absolute mudhole in the Journo! Blackheart begs him to get to his feet, springboarding off the ropes!
NICK DIAMOND: SEE NO EVIL! SHINING WIZARD TO THE TEMPLE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: COLT MIGHT BE KNOCKED OUT!
Ramsey stumbles out of the turnbuckle and right into Destructo Boy’s grasp!
NICK DIAMOND: BLACKENED SOUL! SPINNING URANAGE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: NOT SO FAST! COLT JUST POKED DESTRUCTO BOY IN THE EYES!
Referee Holt gets between the two men and admonishes him for the dirty tactic! Colt puts his hands up in surrender before pushing Cole out of the way! Ramsey kicks James in the knee forcing him down before grabbing him and dropping him with a devastating DDT! Colt is quick to his feet and he peels Destructo Boy back up before whipping him to the ropes and taking him out with a running chop block! Destructo Boy tries to get to his feet but Colt catches him with a kick to the chest!
“TESTIFY!”
“TESTIFY!”
“TESTIFY!”
“TESTIFY!”
“TESTIFY!”
JOHNNY GOMEZ: COLT IS JUST WAILING ON DESTRUCTO BOY WITH THOSE KICKS!
NICK DIAMOND: HE’S MAKING HIM TESTIFY, JOHNNY! KICK AFTER KICK AFTER KICK!
Lionel Troy’s favorite boy finishes off the barrage with a sickening kick to the jaw that drops Destructo Boy right back to the mat! Colt grabs him from behind and lifts him up in a dragon sleeper! He smirks!
NICK DIAMOND: AND THE B-ROLL! ROLLING CUTTER!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: DESTRUCTO BOY ROLLED THROUGH BEHIND COLT! TRUE JUSTICE! BACKDROP DRIVER!
James kips up angrily to his feet and lays into Colt with boot after boot! He punctuates his barrage with a leaping double foot stomp to the chest that leaves Colt gasping for breath! The Anti-Hero drops down and grabs Colt by the legs!
NICK DIAMOND: NO INNOCENCE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HE LOCKS IN THE HAAS OF PAIN! BUT COLT GRABS THE ROPES! THAT’S A ROPE BREAK!
The referee tells him to drop the hold but Destructo Boy refuses! He applies as much pressure as he can! Cole starts the count!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: IS THAT A DQ?
NICK DIAMOND: HE DROPPED THE HOLD AND HE’S ARGUING WITH THE REFEREE!
‘I have til five!’
Cole reprimands Destructo Boy but he doesn’t call for the bell! He’s letting him off with a warning! The crowd isn’t sure to cheer or boo the decision but as the argument continues Colt is slowly getting back to his feet! He rolls Destructo Boy up from behind and the ref drops for the count!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
THREE- NO!
Destructo Boy kicks out at the very last moment and rolls onto the apron! Ramsey rolls to his feet as Destructo Boy springboards into the ring!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: FLYING BULLDOG- NO! COLT CATCHES HIM!
NICK DIAMOND: THAT’S A WRAP! SWINGIN REVERSE DDT! DESTRUCTO BOY HAS TO BE OUT!
Colt isn’t done yet, though! He peels Destructo Boy up!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: B-ROLL!
NICK DIAMOND: THE ROLLING CUTTER CONNTECTS!
The Journo finally has some control in the match and he stalks Destructo Boy as he slowly begins to rise to his feet! The Kid has no idea where he is and Ramsey leaps onto him!
NICK DIAMOND: FIT TO PRINT!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: FULL NELSON FACE BUSTER! DESTRUCTO BOY IS OUT!
Colt Ramsey rolls him over for the pin!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Colt Ramsey has just secured his reparations for the Children of Zion as he gets a win over Destructo Boy here tonight!
WINNER: COLT RAMSEY
A CURIOSITY
Recorded Earlier.
Backstage.
Jasper Redgrave stands before Narcissa Balenciaga.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Seeing this pair together is never good.
“I’ve come across something… interesting,” Jasper begins. “A curiosity. It’s about Apokalypsis and their mission. There’s a Door in the remains of the Red Light District. It doesn’t respond to just anyone, it seems. And El Mariachi Muerte, along with Grimskull, were there, guarding it, discussing its significance.”
Narcissa’s interest is immediately piqued. “A Door, you say?” she muses, her tone betraying her curiosity. “And it did not respond to you?”
Jasper smirks. “No, it did not. But that’s not what caught my attention. It’s their fixation on it, their mission to strike at us, to show their strength. They believe we’re a threat to whatever that Door represents to them.”
Narcissa leans forward, her gaze sharpening. “This is a development we cannot ignore. If the Door, and whatever it conceals or reveals, is of significant importance to Apokalypsis, then it could be advantageous for us.”
NICK DIAMOND: The last thing I’d want if I were John the Revelator is the Uprising poking around No Man’s Land.
She stands, pacing thoughtfully, the wheels in her mind visibly turning. “We need to keep an eye on this Door and the Horsemen. Understanding their mission could give us leverage, or at the very least, ensure we’re not caught off guard by whatever they’re planning.”
Jasper nods. “I agree. The Mariachi intends to take me down at Invasion. He’ll be extra motivated because of my finding the door.”
Narcissa stops, her gaze settling on Jasper with a fierce determination. “Handle him. We’ll worry about the Door later.”
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Jasper had better not look past El Mariachi Muerte. It could cost him and the Uprising, Nicky.
NICK DIAMOND: That’s not exactly a bad thing, is it?
With a devilish grin, Jasper leaves the room, ready to take on Death himself. Narcissa is left to think to herself.
Cut.
INTRODUCING FOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST...
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Ladies and gentleman, we have a match here pitting Jasper Redgrave against El Mariachi Muerte! The door remains shut and Muerte has no time for uninvited guests!
DING! DING!
El Mariachi Muerte rushes Redgrave into the corner! Stiff chops from death here! He whips Redgrave into the opposite corner and charges! Redgrave gets his feet up but Muerte catches them!
MUERTE SHOVES REDGRAVE HEAD OVER HEELS OVER THE TOP ROPE!
REDGRAVE CRASHES ON THE FLOOR!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: What a nasty landing!
NICK DIAMOND: I’ll say Johnny! He got tossed and turned like it’s laundry day!
Muerte is nowhere close to done! He goes to the top rope and leaps with malice!
48 ROSES!
NO!
JASPER ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID THE DOUBLE FOOT STOMP!
MUERTE’S KNEE BUCKLES AND REDGRAVE TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY!
HE GETS A TIGHT HEADLOCK AND HE LIFTS MUERTE TO DRAPE HIM ON THE BARRICADE!
BLOOD ON THE FLOOR!
NICK DIAMOND: He nailed that DDT Johnny!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Ouch! I’d take canvas any day Nick.
Muerte is stunned and Redgrave rolls him back into the ring!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
. . .
THR-NO!
MUERTE GETS HIS FOOT ON THE ROPE!
Redgrave notices an easy target! He grabs the leg and starts wrenching and pulling it against the rope! Muerte is flailing in agony! Desperate eye rake as his hands could gets on something! Redgrave is momentarily blinded!
MUERTE SEES AN OPENING!
THE LAST CARNIVALE!
SPRINGBOARD LUNGBLOWER !
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Muerte got all of that lungblower Nick!
NICK DIAMOND: Yeah but it got all of him too Johnny! All of Redgrave’s weight went to his legs!
Both men are down and trying to pull themselves up! Muerte gets up first but there’s a noticeable hobble in his steps! He pulls Redgrave up but Redgrave nails a quick dropkick to the hurt leg!
MUERTE IS DOWN TO A KNEE!
ART PROPOSAL!
BICYCLE KNEE BY REDGRAVE!
NICK DIAMOND: See Johnny, that’s why I’m not married, I was always scared to go to a knee and propose.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: I don’t think that’s the reason Nick.
REDGRAVE COVERS!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
THR-NO!
MUERTE GETS THE SHOULDER UP!
Redgrave wants to end this as soon as possible and he’s calling for a pedigree! He pulls Muerte up! He has him in position!
HE JUMPS!
MUERTE COUNTERS WITH A BACKDROP OVER THE ROPES!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Another crash landing for Redgrave!
NICK DIAMOND: Remind me not to go on a trip with him Johnny!
Muerte rolls out of the ring and whips Redgrave into the steel steps! Muerte sprints towards Redgrave! Redgrave counters with a drop toe hold and Muerte falls face first into the steps!
MUERTE IS STUNNED AND REDGRAVE SNATCHES HIM INTO A SUPLEX POSITION!
PORTRAIT OF A KILLER!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: He nailed all of that nightmare pendulum!
NICK DIAMOND: If he did that in the ring, we’d have a winner right now.
Jasper Redgrave picks Muerte up and tosses him back in the ring!
Jasper Redgrave slides in after him and is shouting at Muerte to get up!
Muerte is getting up slowly but surely!
Redgrave charges at him but Muerte wraps His arms around him and won’t let go!
WHISKEY LULLABY!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: He got all of that belly to belly toss and launched Redgrave into the corner!
NICK DIAMOND: Redgrave definitely looks like that lullaby almost knocked him out rather than sing him to sleep.
Jasper is pulling himself up in the corner! Muerte charges with a jumping clothesline! Redgrave gets the knees up! Muerte is stunned and Redgrave capitalizes!
SYMPHONY OF SYMMETRY!
NICK DIAMOND: He nailed all of that pedigree Johnny!
REDGRAVE COVERS!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
THREE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: When one door shuts, another opens! Redgrave is your winner!
WINNER: JASPER REDGRAVE
THREE HE LED AWAY
With the match over, Jasper Redgrave rolls immediately out of the ring and begins backing up the entrance ramp, his arms raised in celebration. This was a mammoth victory.
Suddenly, out onto the stage walks Scott Sterling with a microphone. The Authority looks as smug as ever.
“What a tremendous audition that was,” Sterling says accompanied by a slow clap of applause. “Unbeknownst to you, Mr. Redgrave.”
Jasper looks confused. Meanwhile, El Mariachi looks on from the ring with a scowl, having gotten back to his feet.
“By order of Zeus, this match has been declared a number one Contendership to the OSW World Heavyweight Championship,” he continues much to the surprise of the Artist.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Are you kidding me!?
NICK DIAMOND: This stinks!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: We need to be careful what we say but surely Zeus is trying to buy the loyalty of the Artist. Remember his offer?
NICK DIAMOND: You think this is part of his master plan? Recruit Jasper Redgrave to turn on the Uprising by giving him a World Championship Match?
JOHNNY GOMEZ: It could be.
Jasper smirks.
Sterling continues.
“At Bad Company, Jasper Redgrave will face the winner of Tombstone and Gemini later tonight for the OSW World Heavyweight Championship! Because I… have full authority.”
DARKNESS.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: What on Arcadia is happening now?
NICK DIAMOND: I can’t see a thing, Johnny.
When the lights come back on, El Mariachi Muerte is… gone.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Where the hell as Muerte vanished to!? He was just here?
NICK DIAMOND: I don’t like this. First Drewitt and Grimskull, and now Muerte?
TERMINAL II
The Past.
On a scratchy image that tracking lines keep floating up and down, we once again find ourselves with the purple and yellow clad man, the terminal man. His face is gaunt, and he looks weathered by his disease.
Standing at the doorway to a tent, a robed figure stands opposite him, with a face full of sorrow.
“I’m sorry,” they finally say, their voice a gentle but unwavering decree. “I cannot help you. Your path is one I cannot alter.”
The man’s heart visibly sinks, a stone dropped into the abyss of his despair. He stammers, “But I’ve been to every healer in Arcadia. You were my last hope.” His voice cracks, the weight of his journey, of his illness, bearing down upon him.
The healer listens, eyes piercing yet filled with a sorrowful resignation, but merely closes the tent flap.
Leaving the tent, the man finds himself aimlessly wandering until he collapses onto a bench, the fight seeping out of him like water through clenched fists. The world seems to blur, a tableau of life moving around a still point of pain.
Then, a kind voice cuts through his fog of despair. “Tough day, huh?”
The man looks up to find someone sitting beside him, his face obscured by the shadow of a hat.
The stranger hands him a card, an action so casual yet charged with an unspoken promise. “I may know someone who can save you,” he says, his voice a balm to the man’s battered spirit.
The card feels heavy in his hands, a beacon in the gloom. On the card, he finds an address, and two simple words.
ILLUMINATION ANTIQUES.
Cut.
INTRODUCING FOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST...
NICK DIAMOND: They say nothing hurts more then bad blood between those you love and tonight we see that in the ring as two brothers fight off in what should be a brutal match.
The bell sounds as Jackson circles the ring, clearly tentative to face off against his brother. Thorpe scoffs, before running forward and nearly taking Jackson’s head off with a lariat. Jackson stumbles up into another Lariat before staggering back into the ropes as he’s clotheslined head over heels onto the concrete floor. Jackson steadies himself on his feet for a moment as CJ rushes forward
JOHNNY GOMEZ: SUICIDE DIVE! Thorpe gets all of that as Jackson gets driven into that hard metallic barricade. Thorpe holding nothing back against his older brother here tonight.
Thorpe rolls to his feet, delivering a few hard kicks to the unprotected sternum of the dazed Jackson before trying to lift him up
NICK DIAMOND: HEADBUTT! Jackson suckered in his brother there with that skull rattling headbutt.
Jackson tees off on CJ with heavy lefts and rights before grabbing him by the back of the head, running forward as he looks to introduce skull to steel post but CJ reverses it just in the nick of time,
THROWING CADE HEADFIRST INTO THE STEEL POST!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Cade may well have broken his skull from how hard that steel slammed against him. At the very least, he’s busted wide open and this scuffle between brothers may well get deadly.
Jackson is heavily bleeding, barely able to sit up let alone stand as Thorpe reaches down before roughly throwing him back into the ring. Thorpe slowly follows, setting himself up on the other side of the ring as he waits for his brother toi slowly rise to his knees before sprinting forward
JOHNNY GOMEZ: TRUST! A sickening knee trembler may well have further damaged Jackson’s skull as Thorpe looks almost pleased at the damage he’s inflicted here
Thorpe drops down for a casual cover as Demi Sky slides in to count the fall.
ONE
……………..
…………………….
TWO
……………………
CADE GETS THE SHOULDER UP!
Thorpe just smiles, slapping the head of the dazed Jackson a few times to try and rile his big brother up. Jackson looks pissed but still dazed as he tries for a wild swing that Thorpe ducks before rocking him with a hard elbow to the side of the head. CJ pulls him in, double underhooking him as he looks for The Right Thing but Jackson slips out
NICK DIAMOND: INCENDIARY ROUND! RIPCORD ELBOW OUT OF NOWHERE ROCKS THORPE!
CJ staggers back into the ropes, bouncing off as he ducks underneath a lariat before springboarding off the ropes
JOHNNY GOMEZ: PATHFINDER! Sickening Hurricane DDT plants Jackson into the mat but CJ isn’t done, quickly grabbing the arms before flipping around as he locks in that POLICE BRUTALITY!
Jackson screams in pain from the submission, blood pooling into his eyes as he tries to fight out of the Rings of Saturn but he’s losing strength along with the blood as CJ looks moments away from winning…if the ropes weren’t inches away. Cade manages to swing his legs to the left, placing one directly on the ropes to force the break as Sky shouts at CJ to break the hold.
Thorpe quickly lets go, backing up as he calls for Jackson to get to his feet. Cade is dazed, bleeding out and near helpless as he slowly gets to his feet. CJ just smirks, spinning around
NICK DIAMOND: Discus Clothesline? Was that…?
JOHNNY GOMEZ: It was Nick, a dirty underhanded psychological move by the younger Cade there and it doesn’t look like he’s done as he lifts him up high.
NICK DIAMOND: Oh you don’t know that Johnny, CJ could just be debuting a new move.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Since when has CJ Thorpe used power moves Nicky? No this has the Artist’s stink all over it.
Thorpe raises Jackson high up in the air in a crucifix, looking for a move that we’ve seen far too many times before against Jackson Cade as Thorpe rushes forward.
Jackson slips out, landing on his feet.
Both brothers don’t move for a moment before CJ turns, that same cocky grin etched on his face as Jackson turns to face him, absolute fury in his eyes. Thorpe just chuckles, before motioning for his brother to come at him.
HOSTILE FUCKING DOWN!
NICK DIAMOND: He asked, Jackson delivered with some venom there Johnny.
CJ staggers up to his feet into a BREACH AND CLEAR! SLINGBLADE! SLINGBLADE! SLINGBLADE! Jackson goes ham with the Slingblades before lifting Thorpe up high and driving him down into the mat with a skull rattling MASTER KEY Brainbuster. Jackson doesn’t waste any time as he scrambles up to the top rope, staring down at his brother with that rage still building before leaping forward
JOHNNY GOMEZ: SCREAMING EEEAAAGGGLLLLE! A beautiful flying elbow hits perfectly as this may well be about to be all she wrote for CJ Thorpe here.
Jackson backs up into the corner, rhythmically stamping his foot as Thorpe struggles up to his feet. Jackson rushes forward but slows down as CJ drops to his knees, conflict in his eyes. CJ sees the hesitation, scowling before flipping off his big brother.
“Hit me motherfucker”
Jackson nods before sprinting forward
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HOSTILE DOWN! That one had some stank on it as Jackson collapses onto his brother, Demi Sky sliding in to count the pinfall
ONE
………………
…………………….
TWO
…………………….
…………………………
………………………….
THREE!!!
NICK DIAMOND: Jackson Cade wins the battle of the brothers here Johnny but you have to wonder if anything has really changed?
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Two sides of the same war Nick and unless either one can compromise, their next fight may be even bloodier
WINNER: JACKSON CADE
FAMILY VALUES
The two brothers are both down. What a gruelling match. They slowly get back to their knees, facing one another in complete exhaustion. Cade reaches out, placing a hand behind the neck of his brother. They go head to head.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Could this be the hatchet buried?
COLLAGE OF VIOLENCE!
SUPERKICK TO THE SIDE OF JACKSON CADE’S FUCKING HEAD!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: THAT SON OF A BITCH!
NICK DIAMOND: JASPER REDGRAVE NAILS HIM!
Jasper helps a confused Thorpe to his feet.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: I don’t think CJ appreciated that.
Both men talk amongst themselves briefly as Redgrave explains that Cade needs to be put down. The number one contender pulls Jackson back to his feet and puts him in position for The Pedigree.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Don’t let him do this… come on, CJ! That’s your brother!
NICK DIAMOND: SYMPHONY OF SYMMETRY! PEDIGREE! PEDIGREE TO JACKSON CADE!
The crowd boo as Jasper Redgrave hits the canvas with CJ Thorpe.
“WE WANT NOBODY!”
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
“WE WANT NOBODY!”
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
“WE WANT NOBODY!”
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
The lights drop in Olympus, and we hear the rattling of chains and on then…
“I will stay and fight….
….As long as I’m alive!”
-Silence-
“And Kill ‘Till I Die”
-Beat-
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HERE COMES ATTANO!
NICK DIAMOND: OHHHH BOY HERE HE COMES!
Harold Attano storms down the entrance ramp like a man possessed with a steel chair, sliding into the ring as Redgrave and Thorpe quickly escape to the outside. Harold sits on the middle rope and begs them both to get back in the ring, but they avoid it, heading away.
Attano demands a microphone.
“You need to learn some family values, kid,” Attano says with a growl, looking purely at CJ Thorpe. “I’ll have something for you later, Redgrave, but Thorpe… Nobody is coming for you.”
Jasper looks at CJ, who looks at Harold.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: The challenge has been set.
NICK DIAMOND: CJ Thorpe has Nobody hot on his tail.
INTRODUCING FOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST...
THE EXCHANGE
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Up next we have the World Championship match, and it is a doozy!
NICK DIAMOND: Is Gemini going to keep her end of the bargain?
FLUTTER.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: We’re about to find out, Nicky.
Tombstone is in the middle of the ring, holding the OSW World Championship.
Chittering fills our ears as black insects herald the arrival of Gemini. She has Igor Mortis bound behind her.
“As promised,” Gemini says, her voice filled with triumph, “here is your treasured Igor Mortis.”
She turns to Igor.
“Will you tell him?”
The question lingers in the air as the bug shackles fall from Igor’s body. He regards Pestilence with no expression but approaches Tombstone instead.
NICK DIAMOND: What’s Igor supposed to tell him, Gomez?
Reaching the center of the ring, Igor stops before Tombstone, the silence between them a palpable entity. All eyes are on Igor, waiting, wondering what truth he might unveil. But Igor’s message is simple, “Crush her.”
Gemini, unflinching, meets Tombstone’s gaze. “Ask him about the lighter I gave you last week,” she challenges, her mind games refusing to yield.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: What’s the deal with this lighter?
“That is a question for later,” Tombstone states, his focus unbreakable, his purpose clear. “Now, it is time for me to destroy you.”
“I thought you’d say that,” Gemini says. “It changes nothing.”
JOHNNY GOMEZ: We’re going to find out if Gemini’s mind games actually worked.
NICK DIAMOND: Zeus help her if they didn’t.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: With the kidnapping of Igor Mortis over the last month Tombstone and Gemini have been at each other’s throats.
NICK DIAMOND: That’s right Johnny with the OSW Championship on the line, Igor being released, and no rules to stop either of them from destroying each other until one of them walks away.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Strangely enough, Nicky, Gemini looks unsure here tonight. Very out of character for Pestilence!
Referee Mills Stanton call for the bell and then gets the fuck out of the way.
Gemini hits the ropes…
Clothesline by Tombstone…
Ducked by Pestilence…
Crossbody by The Void…
But The Ferryman catches the Nergal throwing her overhead and…
OVER THE TOP FUCKING ROPE WITH A HUGE FALL AWAY SLAM!
SENDING PESTILENCE CARINING TO THE FLOOR A LOUD THUD!
NICK DIAMOND: Massive Fallaway Slam by The Ferryman sending The Goddess of the Underworld to the concrete below!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: That’s not all Nick because Tombstone isn’t slowing down!
Gemini slowly pulls herself to her feet just as a shadow is cast over her.
TOMBSTONE!
IS FLYING OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH A PLANCHA!
AND GEMINI…
SIDE STEPS IT AS THE FERRYMAN AND HE NEARLY LANDS ON HIS FUCKING HEAD ON THE CONCRETE!
AND THE CROWD ERRUPTS!
“HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!”
JOHNNY GOMEZ: MY GOD NICK, TOMBSTONE COULD BE DEAD!
NICK DIAMOND: HE MAY HAVE BROKEN HIS FUCKING NECK JOHNNY!
Gemini looks around herself, checking for… something? Someone? She takes a breath, going for a cover and Mills is Johnny on the spot.
ONE!
KICK-OUT!
GEMINI’S EYE GO WIDE AND THE CROWD ERUPTS AGAIN!
“WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT THE FUCK!”
AS TOMBSTONE SITS UP AND SLOWLY STARES AT DAGGERS AT GEMINI!
NICK DIAMOND: WHAT THE FUCK INDEED JOHNNY! WHAT DRIVES THIS MAN, HOW IS HE STILL ALIVE?
JOHNNY GOMEZ: I DON’T KNOW NICK BUT I DO KNOW ONE THING, HE’S PISSED!
The Ferryman lashes out grabbing Gemini by the hair and dragging her to her feet before wrapping his arms around her and lifting Pestilence into the air while squeezing the same from her lungs with a Bearhug!
TOMBSTONE HAS A SOUL TO CARRY!
AS HE SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY BEGINS TO WALK TO THE CORNER POST!
WAM!
GEMINI IS SLAMMED BACK FIRST INTO THE POST BUT THE FERRYMAN A SOUL POSSESSED MARCHES TO THE NEXT POST AND THE CROWD COUNTS!
“ONE!”
PANG!
INTO THE NEXT CORNER POST!
“TWO!”
CONTINUING HIS PARADE, AND TO THE NEXT ONE!
BONG!
BACK FIRST INTO THE POST AGAIN!
“THREE!”
AND NOW THE FERRYMAN GETS A HEAD OF STEAM RUNNING AT THE NEXT POST!
GONG!
THE CROWD GOES WILD!
“FOUR!”
TOMBSTONE BRIEFLY RELEASES THE HOLD AND SLUMPS AGAINST HIM BEFORE THE FERRYMAN SCOOPS GEMINI BACK UP IN RESUMING THE BEARHUG!
GEMINI GOES LIMP AND ONCE AGAIN STANTON IS RIGHT WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE!
HE LIFTS THE GODDESS’S ARM AND…
IT DOESN’T FALL!
NO!
INSTEAD, GEMINI’S EYES ROLL INTO THE BACK OF HER HEAD AND SHE OPENS HERE MOUTH OPENS AND INSECTS FLY INTO TOMBSTONE’S FACE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: OH, MY ZEUS! THE FALL OF MAN!
NICK DIAMOND: AND THAT’S JUST UNERVING!
As Tombstone’s grip loosens Nergal locks in the Kimura!
AND THE FERRYMAN IS SUFFERING!
BUT NOT FOR LONG AS IGOR RAKES THE EYES OF GEMINI FROM BEHIND BREAKING THE HOLD!
NICK DIAMOND: Does he have a fucking death wish Johnny?!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: I don’t know Nick, but she’s held him trapped for weeks he’s had the right to interfere beaten into him!
Gemini drops to the ground and shoves Igor into the steel steps! Mortis sprawls over them and Pestilence turns back to Tombstone with rage in her eyes! She leaps onto the apron before flying off with a hurricanrana that flings Tombstone head first into the apron! Gemini scurries quickly away, checking around herself again as she gets to the other side of the ring!
NICK DIAMOND: What in Zeus’s name is she looking for?
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Maybe you can ask her because she’s coming right over here!
Pestilence grabs a chair from beside the announcer table and waits as Tombstone comes barreling around the corner!
CHAIRSHOT TO THE FACE!
TOMBSTONE IS STILL STANDING!
ANOTHER SHOT!
ANOTHER!
WHY THE FUCK WON’T HE GO DOWN!?
Gemini throws one more shot but Tombstone catches the weapon! He rips it from Gemini’s hands and shoves it right under her throat before slamming her downwards!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: BY GOD! HE COULD HAVE CRUSHED HER WINDPIPE!
NICK DIAMOND: SHE’S COUGHING UP BUGS, JOHNNY!
The Ferryman takes Gemini and slams her headfirst into the announcers desk! He follows up by throwing her back first into the apron! Tombstone looks pissed as he begins clearing off the table!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Back up, Nicky!
NICK DIAMOND: My back is literally against the wall!
Tombstone grabs Gemini and hauls her on top of the table! He cracks her with a headbutt across the nose before wrapping a big hand around her throat!
FOR WHOM THE BELL- NO! GEMINI BURIES HER NAILS IN TOMBSTONE’S FACE! THEY BREAK OFF IN HIS SKIN AND HE DROPS HER!
Pestilence fires off blow after sickening blow with wild, desperate haymakers! She leaps to the barricade and checks the crowd!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: She’s paranoid!
NICK DIAMOND: About what!?
JOHNNY GOMEZ: WAIT! UNLEASHED! SHE JUST LEAPED FROM THE BARRICADE WITH A TORNADO DDT!
NICK DIAMOND: SHE JUST PUT TOMBSTONE THROUGH OUR ANNOUNCE DESK, JOHNNY!
Gemini does everything in her power to roll Tombstone over onto his back and hooks a leg!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…….
………….
…………………
…………………………
NEW WORLD CHAMP!?
THREE!
NO! TOMBSTONE KICKS OUT! HE KICKS THE FUCK OUT!
Gemini is at a loss! What can she do to keep the world champ down! Tombstone sits up and lumbers to his feet! He looks at Gemini with terrifying intent and wraps a hand around her throat! She tries to claw at him but he refuses to let go!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS ONTO THE BARRICADE!
NICK DIAMOND: AND IT TOLLS AGAIN!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: AND AGAIN!
NICK DIAMOND: AND AGAIN!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HE JUST CHOKESLAMMED HER ONTO THE BARRICADE FOUR TIMES! HE BROKE THE FUCKING BARRICADE WITH HER! HE COVERS!
ONE!
…
…
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…….
………….
…………………
…………………………
DOES HE RETAIN?
……………………………………
……………………………………………
………………………………………………….
THREE!
TOMBSTONE RETAINS! HE PUT GEMINI DOWN!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: The carnage is over! These two took everything out of one another but no matter how much she fought, Gemini could NOT put Tombstone down here tonight!
WINNER AND STILL OSW WORLD CHAMPION: TOMBSTONE
GO TELL MY DISCIPLES
What a close fought match. Gemini almost took it here tonight, but now gets back to her feet, watching as Tombstone and Igor Mortis head to the backstage area.
Suddenly, four figures slide into the ring from each and every direction, converging on her instantly.
Before she can move even a muscle, they’ve violently attacked her with steel pipes and weapons, beating her to the floor.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HOLY ZEUS! They’re tearing her apart! Whilst I don’t condone her methods of earning a title shot… this… this… this is uncalled for!
NICK DIAMOND: They’re pummelling the crap outta her, Johnny.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And there’s no-one to save her! This happened to Grimskull, Drewitt and El Mariachi Muerte, I’m sure of that.
NICK DIAMOND: Who’s behind this? Is it the Uprising?
JOHNNY GOMEZ: I have no idea but that’s where I’d put my money, Nicky.
With Gemini completely subdued, we turn our attention to Tombstone on the entrance ramp, who’s debating coming back to save her.
“That’s not our problem,” he gruffly and angrily says.
“There’s innocence in there,” Tombstone replies, looking his boss in the eye.
Only Mortis puts a hand on his shoulder and shakes his head.
They exit, leaving Gemini to be dragged away by her attackers.
INTRODUCING FOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST...
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And here we are ladies and gentlemen, our main event of the evening. For the second time in Olympus, we see six individuals fighting it out for the most valuable briefcase in Arcadia. A shot at the OSW World Championship at any time of their choosing and if last year’s contest was an indication of quality, this contest should be a barn burner folks.
NICK DIAMOND: El Mariachi used that briefcase to end the seemingly unstoppable reign of DOOM last year Johnny, and with five of the six not having held that world title before, could we see a future OSW World champion emerge tonight?
ENTRANTS #1 & #2
The arena lighting drops to complete and utter darkness as the introduction to 2CELLOS popular Vivaldi Storm hits.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Speak of the devil Nick and he emerges, DOOM is the very first entrant in Invasion tonight Nick.
The music comes to a stop before the lighting returns as the music does, revealing DOOM at the entrance ramp. Two Mk2.0 drones circle him as he floats down the aisle and slowly rises up the steps and above the ring ropes before slowly settling down inside the ring. The drones float over him for a moment more before they fly off to the outside, as Doom hovers above the ring, staring intently down at the entrance ramp as he awaits the second entrant.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: DOOM is all business here tonight as he wants that world title around his waist once more. He’s been inches away before but with that briefcase, it’ll be only a matter of time before he gains it again.
NICK DIAMOND: DOOM knows all about how valuable that briefcase is. He’s felt it’s sting in the hands of El Mariachi but he’s gotta go through five hungry competitors tonight, including the second entrant, whoever they may be.
“You’ve got a friend in me” by Randy Newman hits to a tremendous ovation from the sold out crowd and a wide smile by DOOM inside the ring.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And things may well have just gone in the Pool Boys favor Nick, they have half the entrants in this contest and not everyone has to enter the match for their to be a winner. This may well be the shortest main event OSW has ever had.
Green flashing lights adorn the entrance as Felix Foley comes bounding out from the entrance way, waving to the crowd with a large smile on his face. He nods in agreement with the music before slapping hands with all fans nearby.
With that only making him smile more, he theatrically stomps up the steps to the ring and steps inside, ready to give it his best shot.
Doom stops hovering and smiles as Felix rushes over, giving his bestest best buddy a giant bear hug. Doom hugs Felix back for a few second before slowly pulling himself away. He pats Felix on the shoulder before pointing upwards at the briefcase. Foley nods his head as he rolls out of the ring, grabbing a ladder and begins to set it up. Foley goes to climb up but DOOM stops him, grabbing him by the shoulder and looking him deep in the eyes.
“Remember the plan Felix”
NICK DIAMOND: Oh I think you’re right Johnny, DOOM’s about to steal the victory here before the third entrant can even come out
Felix nods somberly before holding the ladder as DOOM slowly climbs up. One rung, two rungs, three rungs, the smug, satisfied look on his face as Foley looks torn, clearly not happy with his best buddy winning this way as the crowd begin to chant.
“DON’T DO IT FOLEY, DON’T DO IT FOLEY!”
Felix tries to ignore the crowd but from the pain in his face, it’s clearly getting to him. He watches up high as DOOM’s fingertips just touch the briefcase, mere moments away from pulling it down
AS FELIX CLOSES HIS EYES AND PUSHES THE LADDER OVER!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: YES! Felix did the right thing here as the Invasion match continues to be a legitimate contest.
DOOM doesn’t crash to the mat, instead hovering slowly to the mat as he shakes his head. Foley looks ashamed as he tries to apologize to DOOM but DOOM just waves his hand, nodding his head with a slight smile on his face
WATCH MY RIGHT HAND! BEFORE SENDING HIS HAND FLYING AT FELIX’S FACE!
NICK DIAMOND: And now we have ourselves a fight Johnny, Doom flying at Felix with lefts and rights as Foley does his best to stop the onslaught from his best buddy.
Doom backs Foley into the corner, nailing him with a stiff headbutt before backing up as he rushes forward but Foley grabs him in mid-air, throwing him through the air with a suddenly Belly to Belly Suplex. DOOM lands upside down in the corner as Foley backs up, before running forward
FOLEY’S FUNHOUSE! Foley lands all of that running basement dropkick, conflict still on his face as he pulls DOOM up to his feet, trying to grip him up in a hug once more but DOOM just pushes him away, before delivering an almighty slap that echoes through the arena.
“Come on Felix, fight me”
Foley turns around, a big smile on his face as he nods before pulling DOOM in and nearly Lariating him out of his armor
NICK DIAMOND: DOOM asks, DOOM receives and this fight may well be turned up to 11 judging by that thunderous lariat.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Don’t forget that these are only the first two entrants in Invasion Nick. We still have four other entrants to come. Every two minutes someone else will come out until all six competitors have entered. Now as we saw before, not everyone has to be in for the match to be over so it’s absolutely luck of the draw and with thirty seconds away till our third entrance, this match is only getting started.
DOOM staggers up into a flurry of lefts and right by Felix who tries to throw DOOM into the ropes but the Scientist activates his boots, flying into the ropes to use as a springboard before he rockets forward
PUNCH OF DOOM! Mammoth Superman Punch may well have knocked Felix out cold!
Doom stops himself from flying through the ropes to the outside as he looks up at the briefcase high above. He looks over and briefly considers grabbing the ladder but seeing his boots are already activated,
He decides to use them to rise into the air instead.
Just then, a “10” flashes on the tron, and the countdown to our next competitor’s entrance has begun!
“NINE!”
“EIGHT!”
“SEVEN!”
“SIX!”
The crowd is chanting along with the countdown as DOOM slowly rises up, halfway to the briefcase
“FIVE!”
“FOUR!”
“THREE!”
“TWO!”
“ONE!”
The buzzer sounds at zero.
ENTRANT #3
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And here comes the third entrant Nick. Will they be able to stop DOOM before he gets the briefcase?
“Snakes” by PVRIS begins to play over the speakers, and as the beat drops the lights flash yellow, the spotlight shining down onto…nothing. The Yellow Python isn’t doing his traditional heroic pose as the lights flash around, trying to find him before shining on the turnbuckle posts as we see the Yellow Python perched behind an unsuspecting DOOM before diving off.
CRUSHING COILS! PYTHON DRIVES A HOVERING DOOM BACK DOWN TO THE MAT SKULL FIRST!
NICK DIAMOND: A brutal Poison Rana driving DOOM back down to the mat as the Yellow Python enters the match with an emphatic statement.
TYP rolls to his feet into a flurry of lefts and rights from Foley who pounds down on the hero that hurt his best buddy. Foley throws the Python into the corner, trying to rush forward with an Avalanche Splash but the Python ducks at the last second as Foley’s skull slams into steel, knocking him for a loop.
The Serpent rushes to the ropes, bouncing off as he nails Foley with Crushing Coils of his own before leaping up to the second rope
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HOLLOW FANGS! A brutal double elbow drop right to the heart of Foley as the Serpent is all over the Pool Boys so far.
TYP walks over to the ladder, setting it up but before he can climb, Foley staggers up, delivering a clubbing blow to the back of the head as he grabs him in a Full Nelson. DOOM staggers up to his feet, seeing Foley clutching the Python as he rushes forward.
THE SPLITTER….TO FELIX FOLEY! The Serpent slithers his way out of Foley’s grasp at the last second, causing DOOM to gore his best buddy. DOOM looks shocked as TYP takes advantage, grabbing him by the back of the head and spiking him down into the mat with a Reverse DDT.
NICK DIAMOND: The field is clear, the ladder is set up. All the Serpent has to do is climb that ladder and he can win that briefcase.
The Python slowly climbs up, slowly ascending one rung by another.
He’s Getting Closer
He may win this before the other three competitors even get into the match!
The Python’s so focused on the briefcase he doesn’t notice DOOM slowly rising off the mat as the Scientist hovers in the air until he lands opposite the Python. The Serpent stares at DOOM for a moment, who simply smiles smugly
AND NAILS THE PYTHON WITH A HARD RIGHT HAND!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Both men exchanging hard rights and lefts, both going at it with blows as the Python looks to be teetering from the sheer strength of DOOM but Felix is up underneath, he has the ladder in his hands.
FELIX FOLEY PUSHES THE LADDER OVER!
BOTH MEN GO FLYING OVER THE ROPES, OVER THE BARRICADES AND DOWN INTO THE CROWD ONTO THE HARD CONCRETE FLOOR!
Foley looks beside himself, clearly thinking DOOM was going to save himself as he rolls out of the ring, trying to rouse DOOM back into conciousness as the countdown begins again, slowly counting down until it flashes 0 and we have our fourth entrant.
ENTRANT #4
The lights drop in Olympus, and we hear the rattling of chains and on then…
“I will stay and fight
As long as I’m alive”
-Silence-
“And Kill ‘Till I Die”
-Beat-
And a spotlight is thrown on the center of the stage revealing Harold Attano light, “I’M A DEADMAN WALKING”!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And Mr Nobody is our fourth entrant here as he has a clear path to the briefcase.
Dead Man Walking by WarHall picks up as The Arcadian Ghost begins to make his way to the ring as the song continues to blare in the background, his gait is deliberate, eyes filled with purpose, as the only man in the spotlight is Nobody himself.
He goes to walk up to the ring steps but he suddenly finds himself speared out of his boots by an onrushing Felix Foley who pounds down on him with heavy lefts and rights. Foley’s eyes are wide and furious as he tries to severely hurt Attano who ducks and weaves out of strikes before a slick thumb to the eye wounds Foley enough for Attano to slip out from under him.
NICK DIAMOND: Foley is clearly still furious at the betrayal over the past few weeks from Mr Nobody. Anyone who messes with his best buddy is very much an enemy of the usual fun loving Foley.
Foley staggers up, blood slightly oozing from his eye as he rushes forward, trying to take Attano’s head off with a mammoth Boot but Attano ducks under, peppering Foley with quick shots to the lower back and kidneys, weaving in and out as Foley tries but constantly fails to hit Attano. Foley finally manages to grab him. pushing him back with an almighty shove before rushing forward as Attano ducks underneath again.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: VENOM SHOT! A brutal Scorpion Kick into that deadly Superkick as Foley flies forward, his skull implanting onto the steel steps. OH NO… DON’T DO IT… OH MY GOD!
Harold Attano barely lets Foley fall onto the steel steps before he leaps onto the apron and dives forward
CURB STOMPING FELIX FOLEY INTO THE STEEL STEPS!
Foley falls sideways onto the concrete, busted wide open as there’s a blood impact on the steel. Attano chuckles to himself as the audience begin to boo him, chanting
‘YOU SICK FUCK! YOU SICK FUCK!”
Attano nods to their claims as he doesn’t roll into the ring but instead looks underneath the apron as he pulls out a table before sliding it into the ring. Attano sets it up, looking for his next victim as the Yellow Python slowly staggers back into the ring. He shakes the cobwebs off as the countdown begins again, rushing at Attano who ducks underneath a lariat but the Python is able to dodge Venom before clocking Attano with an enziguri to the back of the head. Attano staggers back as The Python springboards off the ropes. The crowd count down to three as the Serpent leaps at Attano
ONE HIT ONE KILL!
ATTANO JUST MURDERED THE PYTHON WITH THAT LETHAL CUTTER!
The buzzer sounds once more as Mr Nobody focuses in on the stage, casually calling down who his next victim will be.
ENTRANT #5
The guitar of “Justice Will Be Done” by Flat Black slowly fades in as the lights begin to dim, leaving the arena in darkness. Suddenly a growl is heard ringing through the arena before the singer shouts-
“RIP IT!”
This causes the drums and bass to begin playing and the guitar to increase in volume. As if on cue, small explosions erupt from the sides of the entrance ramp and the lights turn back on with a red hue.
Blaze suddenly bursts out of the curtain, a cannister of gasoline in his hands. After looking out to the crowd for a brief second, he suddenly pours the contents on his person and pulls out a lighter from his pocket, lighting his flame retardant clothes on fire.
NICK DIAMOND: Justice is here for Harold Attano Johnny as the third member of the Pool Boys is about to enter Invasion and he surely looks fired up here tonight.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Terrible puns aside, this may well be a challenge Mr Nobody can’t fight. Skilled or not, fire usually wins against flesh.
Engulfed in flames, Blaze rushes down the ramp as Attano waits for him inside the ring. Blaze slides in, most of the fire having faded away as Attano tries to stomp him out on the mat. Blaze manages to push his way to a vertical base as Attano tries to nail Blaze with a shot to the kidneys.
The supernaturally powered Blaze merely catches the shot, pulling Attano in close as the fire pulsates over him scorching Mr Nobody before a fiery headbutt staggers him
TIP THE SCALES! BLAZE NEARLY SENDS ATTANO THROUGH THE MAT WITH A BRUTAL URANAGE!
Blaze doesn’t follow up as he looks over at his Pool Buddies slowly getting to their feet on the outside. He rolls out of the ring as he helps DOOM up to his feet, the pair walking over to the ring as the Scientist sees a still woozy Felix on the steps, blood oozing down him and absolute fury flows over him.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And now here comes the payback. You don’t mess with DOOM”s best buddy and get away it. Harold Attano may wish he hadn’t given into his brutal nature very soon Nick.
DOOM and Blaze roll back into the ring as they stare at a slowly rising Harold Attano, DOOM slices his finger across his throat before the pair rush forward
FLAMETONGUE…INTO THE SPLITTER! BLAZE KICKS ATTANO RIGHT INTO A BRUTAL GORE THAT NEARLY CUTS HIM IN HALF!
Both Blaze and DOOM begin to kick the hell out of Attano, pounding down on him in an assault that only stops as Foley stumbles into the ring. DOOM quickly checks on his best buddy who seems to slowly be recovering before motioning for Blaze to pick Attano’s ass up as electricity begins sparking through the air from DOOM’s gauntlet.
But Foley stops him….?
Only to point at the timer on the titantron.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Five seconds left to the last entrant Nick and Foley just reminded DOOM who the real enemy here is. The leader of the Uprising herself.
NICK DIAMOND: Every other competitor has a bone to pick with Narcissa Johnny and unless she’s got some tricks up her sleeve once more, she’s in for a rough time in a few moments.
DOOM nods, signalling for Blaze to let Attano go as the Pool Boys focus on the stage, waiting for Narcissa Balenciaga…waiting for Hera to make her entrance.
ENTRANT #6
TGIF begins to play through the arena as Narcissa begins to walk out onto the entrance ramp, flanked by Lucky Landucci, with a microphone in her hands. She stares down the Pool Boys and the slowly rising Harold Attano staring her down but she doesn’t make a move to walk down, instead chuckling to herself as she begins to speak.
“Do you really think I’m a lamb walking into the slaughter boys? I’m the Queen, this is my Kingdom and I always have a plan.”
The lights go out for a moment and when they come back on, the ring is surrounded by Uprising members. Some faceless, some like Haywire and Harvey Escher that we recognize as her elite guard but either way, the five men in the ring are heavily outnumbered. Blaze pulls the Python to his feet, needing another pair of hands as all five men go back to back, waiting for the first of the Uprising to strike.
When thick, green gas begins to flood the ring.
All five men begin to cough hard, separating as DOOM activates something on his wrist, the gas quickly dissipating only to reveal NOX right behind DOOM
WHO NEARLY BREAKS THE NXT LEVEL Title over his skull.
Narcissa clicks her fingers and the moment DOOM falls, the Uprising swarm.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: A devious move by Narcissa here, the numbers game is far too much for her opponents as she may well have this all but won before she even gets inside the ring.
NICK DIAMOND: Devious? Yes. Ingenius? Absolutely. If you have the power Johnny, you’ve gotta flaunt it and that world title is the prize you should be willing to do anything to get your hands on.
The four remaining wrestlers fight off the nameless goons but soon get overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. Haywire grabs the Yellow Python, nailing him with stiff strikes with his crowbar before placing it in his mouth
TWISTED MADNESS! CROWBAR ENHANCED BACKSTABBER!
Aster Gray grabs hold of Blaze, rocking him with an almighty headbutt before lifting him up high, walking slowly to the ropes
ALL GRAY! CHOKESLAM TO THE OUTSIDE!
Roderick Pym nails Foley with the Perry Wink, giving him a Double Arm DDT of his own before Harvey Escher nearly decapitates Attano with a brutal BLOOD RED LARIAT
Everyone is down as Narcissa smiles, and begins to walk down the ramp. Lucky follows, hyping up Narcissa as the crowd begin to heavily boo the Uprising Leader. Escher sets up the ladder in the middle of the ring as the Uprising continue to beat down on the helpless men.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And this is how Invasion ends, with not a bang but a whimper as a god takes the briefcase without any effort. This disgusts me Nick.
NICK DIAMOND: Me too Johnny but you want to go out there and stop her? The numbers don’t lie and they’re on Narcissa’s side here.
Narcissa slides into the ring as she slowly makes her way to the ladder and begins to climb.
ONE RUNG
……..
TWO RUNGS
………………..
FOUR RUNGS
……………………..
Narcissa is nearly at the top
Attano stirs on the mat, trying to get to his feet as Lucky rushes over, trying to deliver one of his deadly right hands but Attano catches it, pushing Lucky backwards
…….INTO THE LADDER AS NARCISSA CRASHES TO THE MAT!
Lucky looks shocked as he quickly picks Narcissa up, trying to brush her off but she pushes him away, clearly hurting and pissed off. She orders him to leave before trying to pick up the ladder. She lifts it up before dropping it in pain as she gets a static shock from it before seeing all the hairs on her arm raise up.
DOOM is on his feet as electricity sparks all around him, fury in his eyes. Narcissa gulps before looking around at her loyal Uprising followers
And orders them to attack.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: DOOM is clearly nettled here Nick but can he truly fight off a one on six disadvantage Nick? Even DOOM isn’t that powerful
NICK DIAMOND: I don’t know about that Johnny but DOOM is certainly a man who will try to his last breath.
Haywire rushes in, trying to leap at DOOM who simply punches the Madness out of the air with a brutal right hand that takes all the wind out of him before he grips him around the temples and begins to send a few thousand volts through the psychotic madcap.
DOOM drops the near crispy Haywire to the mat, dodging a clothesline from Pym before gripping him around the neck with one hand, slamming a hard fist into his sternum before lifting him onto his shoulders
IMPENDING MOTHER FUCKING DOOM!
DOOM gets to his feet, sparking from both hands as he calls for Escher and Gray to come get him before he’s jumped from behind
AS NOX BEGINS TO MAKE HIM BREATH THAT NOXIOUS GAS!
The electricity begins to fade from DOOM as the three on one beatdown begins but before it can truly begin, Harvey Escher goes flying through the air
BLAZE WITH FLAMETONGUE OUT OF NOWHERE!
Aster gets pulled off DOOM as Foley lifts him high up in the air with a goozle
MASTER OF PUPPETS TO THE OUTSIDE!
Nox tries to keep on the assault but the Yellow Python leaps in from out of nowhere, dropping him on the back of his skull with CRUSHING COILS! Nox staggers back up to his feet right into a Headshot by Attano before he’s sent flying over the top rope to the outside by a double clothesline from the standing Pool Boys. Foley and Blaze pull Doom to his feet, checking he’s okay before all five competitors turn to Narcissa.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Payback is a bitch Nick, and Hera is about to get some heavy payback here.
Narcissa tries to run through the ropes but a flying right from DOOM knocks her back into the corner. Dazed and confused, Foley slowly walks forward
AS HE BEGINS TO STOMP A MUDHOLE DRY IN FELIX FOLEY’S CORNER!
Narcissa’s ribs are feeling every blow as she’s pulled up to her feet before being thrown onto her knees as both Blaze and DOOM rush forward
KINGDOMFALL BEFORE DOOM! SPINNING ELBOW/RUNNING KNEE SANDWICH!
Narcissa crashes to the mat as the Python leaps up to the top rope, quickly diving off with the Serpent’s Strike Shooting Star Press
Balanciaga looks done on the mat but the boys aren’t as they slowly pull Narcissa up to her feet to the waiting arms of Harold Attano who simply smiles
NICK DIAMOND: ONE SHOT ONE KILL! That has to be all she wrote for Balenciaga as she is done inside this match.
Balenciaga crashes to the mat, rolling to the outside looking unconscious as all five men look proud at their revenge before looking upwards at the briefcase.
And all of them begin trying for the ladder.
DOOM headbutts the Python back, the Serpent managing to worm his way out of DOOM’s grasp but runs right into a brutal Big Boot by Foley that turns him inside out. Attano nearly grabs it but drops it in pain as Blaze also grabs the steel, setting it ablaze for a moment before delivering a scorching headbutt that staggers Attano back into the waiting arms of Foley
CUT THE STRINGS!
Foley nails Attano with that stiff double arm DDT as Blaze grabs the ladder, setting it up before he begins to climb. But he’s quickly pulled down by DOOM who tries to climb. DOOM gets only a few rungs before Foley pulls him down.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: And there it is, they might be united by that pool but all three men want that briefcase tonight.
The Pool Boys stare at one another for a moment, before shrugging as they begin to go at one another. Blaze nails DOOM with a right hand before Foley retaliates with a big headbutt. Blaze staggers as Foley picks him up, trying for that Fallaway Slam but Blaze manages to land on his feet, drilling Foley with a hard elbow to the back of the head before dropping him to the mat with a Reverse DDT.
Blaze turns into a brutal right hand by DOOM who lifts him upside into that Omega Driver.
NICK DIAMOND: DOOM IS ETERNAL! AND BLAZE IS UNCONCIOUS
Blaze rolls to the outside as DOOM is all alone in the middle of the ring. Too spent to truly hover high, he slowly grabs the ladder and begins to climb.
ONE RUNG
……………
TWO RUNGS
…………….
THREE RUNGS
…………………….
FOUR RUNGS
……………….
DOOM’s nearly at the top as he sees Attano slowly rise, scowling he summons one of his drones and clicks something on it as it begins to glow burning bright.
NICK DIAMOND: DOOM looking for blood here as he sends a kamikaze drone right at Attano.
The drone flies forward, right as Foley staggers to his feet into the path of the drone. DOOM’s eyes go wide as he dives off the ladder at Foley right as the drone explodes.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: DOOM just possibly sacrificed his chance at the briefcase to save his best buddy there. That’s true friendship there.
The smoke fades as Foley and DOOM look a little scorched and hurt but still breathing as Attano staggers back, looking at the ladder but before he can climb it, the Yellow Python rushes forward delivering a brutal Superkick that sends Attano flying through the middle rope to the outside.
Leaving the Yellow Python all alone with a clear shot at the briefcase.
The Serpent quickly begins climbing, going up one rung, then two but as he makes it to the third, the lights go out
And when they come back on, the Yellow Python is staring down at the Black Panther.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: One of his fellow Kingdom members but is the Panther here to cheer on his friend or for something more?
The Python looks hesitant for a moment before the Panther smiles, holding the ladder and urging the Python to climb. Which he does, climbing the third, the fourth, the fifth until he’s at the top, fingertips scraping the briefcase as the Black Panther’s head turns to a tilt…
AND HE PULLS THE LADDER OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE PYTHON!
The Yellow Python grips the briefcase, dangling from high above as he desperately tries to pull it down. The Black Panther climbs the ropes, scowling as he stares deep at the Python
STAY DOWN! AS HE SPEARS HIM RIGHT DOWN TO THE FUCKING MAT!
NICK DIAMOND: WHAT THE HELL? Why did the Black Panther just turn on his friend like this?
The Yellow Python crashes to the mat, screaming out in agony from his possibly busted ribs. The Panther just continues to growl, pounding down upon his injured form before he lifts him up high in the air
POWERBOMB TO THE OUTSIDE!
Everyone is down inside the ring, nobody stirring but a single figure on the mat.
Mr Nobody.
Harold Attano slowly gets to his feet as he sets the ladder up once more, and begins to climb
ONE RUNG
……………
TWO RUNGS
…………….
THREE RUNGS
…………………….
FOUR RUNGS
……………….
Attano is fingertips away when someone flies in from out of nowhere
NICK DIAMOND: THE LATEST ONE SHOT ONE KILL! NARCISSA NAILS ATTANO WITH THAT CUTTER RIGHT TO THE MAT!
Both competitors crash to the mat, Narcissa slowly rising as the crowd begins to boo as she slowly pulls herself up the ladder, climbing slowly with everyone else out as she reaches up high.. BUT ATTANO ISN’T OUT OF THE FIGHT! He stumbles back to his feet and with a burst of energy, flies up the ladder! They trade off… rights and lefts… both have one hand on the briefcase…
WHO’S GONNA TAKE IT DOWN!? WHO’S IT GONNA BE!?
DOWN GOES ATTANO! DOWN GOES NARCISSA! DOWN GOES THE FUCKING BRIEFASE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: WHAT IN ALL OF ZEUS IS THIS!? ATTANO AND NARCISSA… Narcissa Balenciaga has done it? Hasn’t she? She survived a beatdown and nearly stealing it early on before taking it from the grasp of Harold Attano out of nowhere.
NICK DIAMOND: I don’t think so Johnny. They both have their hands on it… I think… I think we’ve seen the unthinkable.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Harold and Narcissa have co-won this thing!?
The referee raises both of their arms as they crawl to their knees on the canvas. Attano looks at Narcissa. Narcissa looks at Attano. What on Arcadia is next
JOHNNY GOMEZ: This is unbelievable, folks! Harold Attano and Narcissa Balenciaga have won Invasion. There’s one briefcase and two holders… I never in a million years thought we’d see this.
WINNERS: NARCISSA & HAROLD ATTANO
THE ELDERS IV
Many Years Ago.
Years have passed since The Elders sat in this room and debated the potential enactment of Project OSW.
It didn’t happen.
They decided against it, thinking it might panic Arcadia.
Zeus, now privy to the meetings, sits in the corner as The Elders gather around a large table, taking their seats. Worry and fear are etched on their faces, father time having been less than favourable.
“We stayed the course,” Cronus says with a deep sadness. There’s an air of impending doom. “And things remained dark. How long has it been?”
Crius flicks through some documentation, shuffling the pages.
“Two years, two months and twenty four days,” he grumbles.
There’s a gasp from Calypso and a grunt from Atlas.
“Are you afraid yet?” She asks Cronus.
The normally fearless leader glances at his son, then back at the ground. He nods one singular nod, which is enough to bring complete silence. You could hear a pin drop.
Hyperion stands up and places a hand on his best friend’s shoulder. Cronus places his atop.
“Good friend,” Hyperion calmly and earnestly says. “We always said that in dire circumstances, we would do what is right. I think now is the time, don’t you?”
Cronus takes a deep breath.
“You’re right,” he admits. Crius angrily stands up, pushing his chair away and pacing. Calypso puts her head in her hands. The decision is made. “Calypso, put together an event for the people. Let’s call it The Classic. We’ll give our people the best food and drink. We’ll make it a celebration of Arcadia, with the best wrestling and bouts of fighting ever seen. When it is over, we’ll announce it to the whole of Arcadia.”
“Announce what?” Zeus asks from the corner of the room.
“That Arcadia… is…” Cronus pauses.. “…Over.”
Zeus’ eyes open wide with terror. Gulp.
Cut.
INTRODUCING FOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST...
HE REFUSED TO ANSWER...
Trudging footsteps.
Groaning.
John The Revelator finds himself badly beaten; his eye swollen almost out of its socket. Blood dripping from his nose and mouth. He’s gasping and groaning as he’s drug along the rubble of what used to be the red light district. His attackers aren’t masked. They aren’t trying to hide their identity, not this time.
They drag him towards the door that Jasper Redgrave followed El Mariachi Muerte to, only to find Grimskull, Drewitt, El Mariachi Muerte and Gemini all kneeling – likewise beaten and in the case of Drewitt, resurrected.
They’re surrounded by the Uprising.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: As we suspected… but this can’t be good.
NICK DIAMOND: Poor JTR has been nearly beaten to death.
Narcissa stands before them all, a baseball bat that belongs to Lucky Landucci in her hand.
They drop John on his knees with the rest of Apokalypsis and turn their attention to the door. Narcissa puts her hand on it, only for it to beep red and reject access.
She walks back to Jasper Redgrave, who stands guard of the prisoners. The rest of the Uprising surround them, out-numbering them 10 to 4. Even if they could fight back, they’ve all been so badly beaten that they’re unable to move.
“Who wants to be the first to explain this?” She asks, slapping the bat in her hand.
She walks over to Grimskull and puts the bat under his chin.
“Is this why you blew up the Red Light District? Is this why I was accused of it?” She demands to know. Grimskull says nothing, so she demands that Harvey Escher grab his arm and outstretch it.
He does as he’s told, pulling Grimskull’s arm out vertically. Narcissa smashes him down across the arm with the bat, breaking the arm in the process. He doesn’t moan, he doesn’t roar or yell, he soaks in the pain.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Those vile sons a….
NICK DIAMOND: This isn’t going to get better, Johnny.
“You weren’t kidding about enduring the pain, were you preacher?” She muses. “Someone here is going to tell me what’s going on.”
They say nothing.
Narcissa walks over to Gemini next, putting the bat on her head. She releases her black tongue, spewing bile out in a sinister smile.
“How about you, sister?” The Double Feature Champion asks. “Do you have anything to say? Us girls ought to stick together, hadn’t we?”
Gemini spits black at her, barely missing.
Narcissa nods to Victor Doom who’s stood behind her. He grabs her by the throat, squeezing violently in a headlock from behind. She coughs black acidic bile at him, across his arm, but it has no effect. He chokes her nearly unconscious before letting go.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Someone needs to tell her what she wants to know!
That just pisses the Uprising Leader off. She trundles over to Muerte, kneeling before him.
“I know what it’s like to lose something you love. I know what loss tastes like, Muerte. That sickly taste of iron never goes away,” she comforts him. “Tell me what’s going on and I’ll find a way to help you.”
Muerte shakes his head.
With her frustration growing, she gets back to her feet and stands beside Drewitt, who is being watched over by Lucky Landucci and Roderick Pym.
“You’re the lucky one, Drewitt,” Narcissa says with a shrug of her shoulders. “You can’t die. Your friends? They’re not so lucky, are they?”
NICK DIAMOND: Oh Zeus…
“Don’t…” War angrily mutters.
Narcissa steps back slightly.
“Open your eyes, close your eyes, bow your head and cry. It doesn’t matter. Someone dies tonight…”
CRACK!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: OH MY ZEUS… SHE KILLED… SHE JUST KILLED….