THE HUNT BEGINS
RECORDED EARLIER
“The tree has grown around this spear, its handle remains unbroken, its head free of decay.”
[He wrenches on it, the roots slowly giving way.]“And its power still fully intact.”
[With a mighty heave North pulls the spear from the ground and holds it overhead, his scream of triumph echoing through the air.] [And only a second set of footsteps could make him go silent.] [From the other side of the tree walks Doubt, North dumbfounded as he sees this.]“You’re predictable, Viktor. I was able to follow you, able to know where you were going. You wanted to kill me, so you followed a rumor. Do you truly think a fairytale can be the key to your victory?”
[Doubt shakes its head, almost as if it pities North. Viktor sees this, and once his shock has faded, he simply chuckles.]“My beliefs are no fairytale, Demon. I did not follow a rumor, I followed my soul. And what I have in hand now? I have your demise!”
[Doubt instinctively flinches as North thrusts the spear towards him, the tip grazing Doubt’s arm.] [And the Emotion recoiling in pain.] [North tries to stab again but Doubt retreats, the Emotion shocked as North keeps the spear in hand.]“And your demise is named Gungir.”
[Doubt balls up its fists in shock before retreating, knowing when it has lost, the Emotion disappears into the darkness as North once again raises the weapon overhead.] [The tide has turned.] [And the hunt is on.]SHERIFF LAW VS. LESTER SAVAGE
SINGLES MATCH
NO GODS
BACKSTAGE
“Hey man, I didn’t fuckin’ do anything!”
[The sound of arguing echoes through the Tap Room, cameras moving through the halls to find Officer Davis with handcuffs in hand, his nightstick at pointed at AJ Dollar$.]“People like you always sayin’ that you ‘din du nuffin’. I can smell the crime on you, I ain’t gonna sit back and let you try to sneak whatever drugs you have passed me. Hand them over and maybe I won’t put you in cuffs.”
[AJ glares at Davis, shoving him back in anger.]“I know you didn’t just say that to me you Goddamn wannabe pig. I’ll tear that patchy ass chin scruff off of your face if you disrespect me like that again you dumbass honky!”
[The two are at complete odds as AJ gets right into Davis’ face. Their fighting is only stopped by the arrival of footsteps, the God Tonatiuh has arrived. The duo look towards him, their bickering momentarily stopped.]“You spoke of a God, so now I appear. Again speaking of petty squabbles and useless racial differences. I would end both of you now just so that I may silence your uneducated mouths. But I must go, I have a match to attend to and a certain man to crush beneath my feet. Move.”
[The two turn on Tonatiuh, the God ready to brawl. Only the sound of a voice is heard, the three stopping in their tracks.]“There ain’t no Gods here, boys.”
[A new face arrives on the scene. And it belongs to Lester Savage. The Biker walks forward and shoves Tonatiuh from behind, sending him through the duo ahead. The God turns around, annoyed at the man touching him.]“I was gonna mind my own business. But with all the ego and bullshit I heard down here, I decided you all needed someone to ground you in reality. There ain’t no Gods, and there ain’t no law here. So unless you wanna get a beat down now, I suggest you can it until you prove you can back it up.”
[The four men eye each other, none of them in the same mindset. The silence is only broken as Tonatiuh’s music hits, the God forced to leave as the other three seethe in silence.]TONATIUH VS. CAEL GABLE
SINGLES MATCH
ANOTHER LETTER
BACKSTAGE
Dear Brent Kersh,
I’m sorry that it has taken me so long to write again. By now you know that the man who wants to end you is Edward Newton. I saw last week when you called him out as a coward. He is not a brave man, but please do not underestimate him. He is cunning and willing to do whatever it takes to reach his goal.
Newton does not like to be embarrassed, Brent. This ain’t even almost over. Don’t even think that for a second. I saw his expression when he was unmasked; it isn’t pretty. He isn’t going to stop until he gets what he wants.
Kersh, watch your back. I was supposed to be out by now. I’m sorry. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to help, but until then, be vigilante. There are no lengths that he won’t go. I’ve gotta go.
Be careful,
Me
[Cut.]OFFICER DAVIS & AJ DOLLARS VS. BLACK MAGIC
TAG TEAM MATCH
BATTLES LINES
RINGSIDE
“Well that wasn’t easy” [Voodoo admits as he works out some tightness in his shoulder.]
“We’ll get better!” [Jakande says softly, confidence oozing from her stare.]
“That’s right” [Voodoo nods as the two duck through the curtains.] “We just need to keep an eye out for Law and Cable to make sure they don’t cause us any problems getting there!”
[CRACK! SMASH!] [In a heartbeat, Jakande and Voodoo are knocked to the ground with forceful blows from behind.] [It’s Sheriff Law and Cael Gable. It’s SHOOT!] [The two men stand above their fallen rivals with steel chairs in hand before Law drives another blow down across the upper back of a fighting Makena and Gable soon follows suits with Voodoo.]“Oh you’ve got problems” [The Sheriff scoffs.]
“Remember my medal?” [Cael shouts as he brings another chair shot down across the lifeless body of Voodoo.]
“And your damn cat attacking me!” [Sheriff Law growls as he too slams the flat of the chair into the back of Jakande.]
“But that’s not what this is about anymore!” [The Sheriff declares.]
“That’s right. It’s much bigger than that now!” [Gable rings in.]
“Cael and I just found out that the number one contendership is up for grabs and the two most likely recipients?” [Law spouts the rhetoric.]
“Black Magic and SHOOT!” [Gable says confidently.]
“The battles lines have been drawn and one way or another, Black Magic ain’t gonna cross em!” [The Sheriff says as he drops yet another chair shot on the fallen Jakande.] [The blow prompts Gable to land a final blow of his own before SHOOT drop their weapons on top of their unconscious foes.] [Suddenly, emergency personnel and Tap Room staff clutter the area; shielding themselves from the attackers as SHOOT slowly backs away. Grins covering their faces.]
BRUCE VAN CHAN VS. THE SHARKMAN
SINGLES MATCH
ANOTHER RIDDLE
BACKSTAGE
“Hello Brent. I have to say, you embarrassed me last week. You caught me off guard, which is a position I don’t normally find myself in. I was caught up by emotion and allowed myself to be made a fool of. I acted out of character. Trust me when I say this: It will not happen again.”
[Newton stares through the screen into our souls.]“You may wonder why I don’t like you, Brent. It’s simple really. You’re everything that I despise. You don’t quit. You don’t take no for an answer. You’re a man of principle. Some people may see these traits as a virtue, as something to strive for. But not me. No, I see them for what they truly are: foolishness!”
[He laughs.]“You see, Kersh. I’ve been watching you for a long time now, much longer than my short few months here in OSW. I’ve seen time after time what you’ve gone through for this business, and more importantly, what you’ve gone through for your family. I’ve seen how you reacted when your daughter, Danielle, got mixed up with that harlot called Phoebe Outlaw. You just wanted what was best for your baby girl…”
[He walks nonchalantly through what seems to be an empty warehouse, or maybe a basement.]“I’ve seen how you battled valiantly to help your wife and unborn child from the curses of Mother. Oh yes. And most of all, I’ve seen you battle with the Scarecrow for too many moons to count. I’ve seen you literally lay your life on the line to save your family from the Hayman… and come up short! Oh, I remember when your little boy Trevor was killed. I remember it well. I remember the look on your face… I know how much you care about your family, Brent. It’s admirable.”
[He smiles once again.]“But that’s why I never allow anyone close to me, Kersh. You can never hurt me by taking away someone I care about, because there is no one! But, you, Brent… You care very much.”
[He stands still and seems to rests his hands on something just below the frame.]“So I have another riddle for you, Enforcer. It’s a simple one, but I think you will find it fitting…”
[The camera begins to pan out.]“Riddle me this, riddle me that…
Do you know where your daughter’s at?”
[The camera has zoomed out enough to see Danielle Kersh tied to a chair. With one swift motion, Newton rips duct tape off of her mouth.]“Daddy! Help me!”
[Newton laughs and speaks through the giggle.]“Don’t bother coming for us, Brent. You have no idea where we are, and this is just a recording anyway. We’ve already moved even if somehow you knew where we were. So… for now, goodbye! Oh, and enjoy your match! You’re up next, and you wouldn’t want to miss your chance at the Sweet Dreams match, would you?”
“See you soon.”
[The television changes to static as the recording ends. Brent Kersh, furious, slings the tv across the room and it slams into the far wall. He screams in rage and leaves the room. His match is up next. Will he be able to focus?]DOUBT VS. VIKTOR NORTH VS. LUX BELLATOR VS. BRENT KERSH
SWEET DREAMS QUALIFICATION
BREAKER OF CHAINS
BACKSTAGE
“Who’s there?” [Shark calls out into the void.] [For a moment, it seems as if Shark was imagining things. But then the feeling of another presence washes over him.]
“A friend.”
[The voice is soft, yet unremarkable in most facets. The Shark turns towards the new voice with a look of curiosity.”“Who are you?” [Shark asks. He has not been given command to destroy anyone.] [The shadow of this new entrant falls in the sights of the Shark, yet we cannot see who has arrived.]
“What has he done to you?” [This new voice muses.] “The warrior of light does not know the art of mind control.”
[Shark tilts his head as a hooded figure comes into view. No features of this man can be identified. Shark doesn’t seem to recognize him either, for what its worth.]“In his excitement to unleash God’s wrath, the warrior has forgotten to forge an unbreakable sword. Yet he also seems to forget that those who live by the sword also die by it.”
[The hooded man seems to chuckle to himself as he reaches out to Shark’s face. The predator sees no threat from the figure and allows him to pluck out a single red tooth from his mask. The hooded figure seems to smell the tooth and the liquid that runs out of the bottom of it.]“Crude, but it was able to knock you out and render you pliable to his demands.”
[Shark seems confused as the hooded man steps aside to show him the way out.]“Leave, Sharkman! Leave before he returns!”
[The very confused Shark heads towards the light, leaving the hooded man all alone.] [Who is this man?] [And is he waiting on Lux Bellator to return?]SMILEY VS. EDWARD NEWTON
[Static.]
[The old place hasn’t changed much. The walls are still adorned with cobwebs, blood and dirt, having remained as unkempt and horrifying as ever before. The shaky camera footage soon widens to reveal Edward Newton. The Showcase Champion carefully walks through the corridor, checking every sound for Smiley. Suddenly, the Deranged One himself comes running into camera from the right, driving a knee into Newton’s mid-section. He quickly grabs him, running him into the wall with as much power as he can muster. Ed hits the floor and holds his neck in agony, only to be dragged back up and knocked backwards with a right hand.]
[He stumbles down the corridor with Smiley in hot pursuit, crashing forearms down across his back and neck as he walks away, beating him as hard as he can with every blow. This maniac just wants to maim someone and Newton is bang in the middle of the crosshairs tonight. Edward stumbles around the corner, falling through two double doors, into what appears to be an old kitchen. He grabs a pot, swinging violently at Smiley who ducks underneath it, laughing as he does. There’s something horrifying about this man who loves the Asylum and feels entirely at home here.]
[Edwards tries to escape, hauling ass through the kitchen but not fast enough, being grabbed by Smiley and thrown head first through another door, into a hallway. He falls down backwards, crashing into some garbage before The Lunatic pulls him back to his feet and bounces his head off a windowsill. The Showcase Champion is reeling here and again stumbles away, back down another corridor towards what appears to be a bathroom of some variety. Smiley runs to kick him through it, but Newton sidesteps, grabbing him by the back of the head and tossing him straight through the doors into the room.]
[The minute he enters, six thugs in balaclavas attack, beating the holy hell out of Smiley with rights, lefts and big kicks to the head and gut. The maniac doesn’t know what’s hit him as Newton chains the door behind them, chuckling to himself. “You thought you were smarter than me, Smiley?” he says, running with a vicious kick to the head as two thugs hold him back. “I lured you right here to this room, with every kick and punch I received, I brought you closer to your demise!” Holy crap. Edward Newton had this planned from the jump! One of the thugs bounces Smiley’s head off the nearest sink, holding it there as Edward adjusts his tie, steps backs and STOMPS HIS FACE RIGHT INTO IT! Holy fucking shit.]
[All of the hired thugs back away, watching as Edward grabs a limp Smiley, positioning him and NEVERMIND! IMPLANT DDT ON THE TILED FLOOR! The impact sends shivers down your spine, it’s that violent. The Showcase Champion covers, One…. Two…. Three! He wins here tonight!]
FACE YOUR FEARS
RINGSIDE
“Do you think you’re the only man who should be feared?” [Bruce hisses.] “What about me?” [He offers.] “Shouldn’t I be feared, too? I’m running this race with a lame horse, Smiley. I’m outgunned, outmatched and it takes every ounce of my being to simply stand across from you on any given night.”
[Smiley looks up at him; he’s almost impressed.]“But I do it. My heart will soon stop beating in this wooden box I call a chest and when it does, everything will be for naught if I don’t capture that World Championship. My time is coming to an end and that makes me a man with nothing to lose. I’ve faced that fear.”
[His eyes become fierce.]“Have you?”
[Cut.]IT CANNOT BE
BACKSTAGE
“My sword?” [Lux Bellator calls triumphantly.] “It is time to take peace from this barren earth. War has come to the world, and I am its shepherd!”
[Bellator waits for a response, but turns harshly into the darkness when he receives none. All that awaits him is a dark figure lurking in the corner.]“Does my great sword not wish to ride out on the red horse as the great warrior slays all who would incur the wrath of the Almighty?”
[The question lingers in the damp air for a moment, and all that can be heard is the rushing of water through the underground caverns Lux has built his altar over.] [Then, a voice.]“Wars do not make one great.”
[Lux Bellator’s eyes grow large at the sound of someone questioning him and his Lord. He also recognizes that this voice does not belong to Sharkman.]“Who dares to invade my holy place?” [Lux demands.]
“One who does not wish to see ancient powers wielded by a warrior of light who has been seeped in darkness.”
[The anger from the answering figure is enough to have Lux step forward to the edge of the darkness. His body language shows that Bellator is prepared to destroy this invader. Yet the bold hooded figure continues to speak.]“You toy with scriptures that your broken mind cannot comprehend.” [The voice continues.] “You bring wrath on those who do not deserve it, and you use crude tricks to bend men to your will. You find them weak, but their strength far outshines yours. A warrior of light would never hide in such a place of darkness.”
[For perhaps the first time in a long time, Lux Bellator is at a loss for words.]“Who are you?” [Lux spits out.] “How do you presume to speak such falsehoods?”
[The hooded man steps out into the light as the camera pans around to show the reaction of Lux Bellator…] […who looks like his whole world just ended.]..“No.” [Lux stammers, backing away in shock.]
“It cannot be.”
[Cut.]