Who's That Writing?
Somewhere very far away from prying eyes, John The Revelator slinks knowingly towards his potential doom. Waiting for him in the shadowy underbelly of the slums is none other than Narcissa Balenciaga.
Could it be a trap? The thought crossed his mind.
The OSW World Champion leans nonchalantly against a dumpster as he rounds the corner, his eyes flittering between all angles of the darkness.
“Relax,” she calmly soothes him. Her attempt is well meaning, which surprises him. “I came alone.”
John stops short of getting too close, understandably hesitant.
“I can’t stop Apokalypsis from rippin’ your boys apart,” he says disappointedly. “But perhaps there’s another deal to be made?”
Narcissa tuts. Her scoffing a clear indication of how disappointed she also is in that news. She needs to beat Apokalypsis, or her Uprising is as good as over.
“You’ve nothing to offer me, Johnny,” she remarks with disdain, flicking her hair out of her face as she turns to walk away.
But that isn’t true.
“If you bring me the fifth key, I’ll show you the darkness behind that door,” he offers. She stops in her tracks, turning to face him with a frown. “It’s better than you could’ve ever imagined. The hell behind that door will be a revelation to your cause. You won’t need criminals, not after this.”
A wry smile warms across her face. She nods at him, seemingly in agreement.
“Tell your boys that they’re in the fight of their life,” she warns with a sinister and knowingly defiant tone. “If they don’t come back, I’ll bring the soggy wet bit you need for the door.”
Even John laughs at that. “You’ve got a deal!”
They both amicably go their separate ways, fading into the distinct sounds of violence that echoes in all directions of the Slums.
Cut.
Johnny Gomez: Up next, we have a Steel Cage match between Jay Fury and the newest member of the OSW’s Roster Tombstone’s Apprentice, Gravedigger.
Cole Holt calls for the bell from inside the cage and Gravedigger rushes out at Fury... Leaping Knee Strike!
DROP DEAD - DODGED!
The Wasteland Wander sidesteps The Shovel who drives his knee into the top turnbuckle behind Fury! As The Mortuary Assistant staggers back to face Jay...
*WA-BAM!*
Fury is on top of Gravedigger forcing him back into the corner with Forearm After Forearm to the chest of Gravedigger!
Nick Diamond: It’s a SANDSTORM OF STRIKES raining down upon The Mortuary Assistant!
Gravedigger manages to stomp on the toes of Fury in between Forearms stunning Fury momentarily allowing The Shovel to drive The Wasteland Wander headfirst into the cage and pulling Fury back…
*KA-FUCKING-RAK!*
INTO A SHOVEL READY BULL HAMMER ELBOW ACROSS THE NOSE! Gravedigger holds on to the wrist of Jay Fury pulling him back in and onto his shoulders!
G!
T!
S!
CRADLE!
TO!
THE!
GRAVE!
GRAVEDIGGER FALLS INTO THE COVER AND HOLT JUMPS INTO POSSITION!
ONE!
...
...
TWO!
...
...
THREE!
Johnny Gomez: Gravedigger has toppled the Wanderer of the Wastes inside the solid steel cage tonight proving why he’s The Ferryman’s Assistant.
Assault On Precinct APD
In the middle of an interrogation room, Harold Attano and Jackson Cade sit, files strewn across a desk. The pictures are vile, but necessary. Harold Attano looks as if he’s seen a ghost, but his eyes don’t leave the desk.
Jackson Cade on the other hand, his eyes are full of sadness. What has this come to and why? He never wanted this. Why would he?
“I’m sorry Harold,” he says with sincere empathy. His eyes glazed somewhat with emotion. “But all the evidence points to Jasper Redgrave.”
Attano shakes his head, running his hand cooly through his hair. His ghost like expression turns to stone.
“They’ve pulled one over on me, haven’t they?” He contemplates. Was all this a mind game to distract him from their plans to defeat Old School Wrestling at Ring of Dreams?
Jackson raises an eyebrow. “It’s a despicable trick, but men like you and I are better at odds than fighting them.”
Suddenly, there’s a thud against the interrogation room window. Both Harold and Jackson’s eyes meet with surprise. Are they being watched? They rush outside into the halls to see The Uprising tossing cops around. There’re gun shots, gas, people running and screaming, and officers of the law being brutally assaulted.
Aster Gray, Haywire, Nox, Harvey Escher, CJ Thorpe and Jasper Redgrave are causing carnage with gleeful smiles on their faces.
Harold turns to Jackson, cutting a decidedly different figure than usual. He isn’t rushing into fight and pulls Cade back by the arm.
“Don’t,” he warns, his grip tight. “If you go into that melee, you don’t come out, kid.”
“But those are my friends…” Jackson stutters and stammers, his words escaping him as his heart pounds in his chest. He wants to defend them. He wants to fight back.
So does Harold Attano.
But it’d be a mistake.
Harold pulls him away into the corridor, pushing him towards the nearest exit. Cade is understandably reluctant but does as he’s advised.
Meanwhile back inside the APD, blood is being spilt as officers attempt to starve away the Uprising assault.
Cut.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: In this night of debuts we have a hard hitting Street Fight here tonight between the PI and the Juggalo. The ring itself won't hold them as the only way to win is via pin or submission anywhere in Olympus.
NICK DIAMOND: Hatchet came incredibly close in Lambs, getting to the final six in his first Olympic match but will he continue that dominance here tonight or will he be crushed by the Sweet Right Hook of Arcadia?
Candy Kane is sauntering her way to ringside when she gets blindsided by a huge spear by Hatchet, the two of them crashing down off the ramp to the hard concrete below. Hatchet rolls to his feet, stomping down hard on Candy before lifting her up.
NICK DIAMOND: Hatchet looking for some Hokus Pokus here but Candy Kane slipping out and slipping the Clown One Hard Jawbreaker with a brutal reverse bulldog onto the concrete.
Candy isn't done thou, picking up a nearby chair and NEARLY BREAKING IT OVER A STANDING HATCHET'S SKULL! She nails him over and over again, busting open the Clown but as she raises it high, looking for that knock out blow
HATCHET REARS BACK AND WIG SPLITS THE CHAIR BACK INTO HER FACE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: He just headbutted the chair right back into Candy Kane, Hatchet might be certifiably insane.
Hatchet pulls up the groggy Kane by the hair, dragging her to the ring before lifting her up high, looking for some Hokus Pokus into the turnbuckle posts. Kane manages to roll through, landing on her feet before rearing back as Hatchet turns around.
NICK DIAMOND: LOW BLOW...NO! Hatchet catches her kick, rattling Candy with another Wig Split before lifting her up onto his shoulders.
SELF TITLED BITCH! Firermans Carry Stunner hits flush, Candy Kane is out cold as Hatchet hooks the leg for the cover as Mills Lane drops down to count
ONE
............
TWO
................
.....................
THREE!!!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Brutal match here tonight with Hatchet just coming out on top. Candy Kane tried her best but The Juggalo showed that he could very well be a huge force to be reckoned with in the coming months here in Olympus.
Must Be Finished
Continued from Last Week…
“Dad.” Destructo Boy speaks, softly. “We need to talk.”
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Oh, here we go. You know this conversation isn’t going to be easy.
Blaze’s eyes burn with rage as he sees the one responsible for everything. The fire. His wife’s death.
“You walk where she stood, you pathetic little ant.” His words are spat out like vinegar, he points to the corner of the room where a burnt out benchtop sits. “Here, where she cooked your fucking dinners, boy.”
He walks over to an empty space in the center of the burnt out room.
“Here, where we would sit as a family. These are memories, James. And the only memory I have now is of her burning to death because of you.”
Destructo Boy pleads, begging his father to see sense.
“Dad… Please. You’re acting crazy. Surely you can see…”
Blaze erupts with anger.
“Don’t you dare call me that. Murderer. The scales of justice must be balanced, even if I have to kill you to do it.”
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Destructo Boy is trying to reason with insanity.
NICK DIAMOND: It’s not insanity. It’s the scales of justice.
Destructo Boy stands stoically, holding his hands out in front of him.
“Do what you must, dad. I cannot fight you. I will not. I just want you to see sense.”
But Blaze is done hearing. He acts. Without warning, his fist flies, catching Destructo Boy right in the face.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Headbutt after headbutt after headbutt. James crumples to the ground in a heap. But Blaze isn’t done. He continues to kick the holy hell out of his son, stomping him like he’s putting out a damned fire.
He finally lets up, but not for morality’s sake. From behind the kitchen bench, he pulls out a large gas-can. He takes off the lid, pouring accelerant all over the lifeless body of Destructo Boy.
“You are going to face what you deserve.” His words are emotionless. “You killed your own mother in that fire, and what was started must be finished.”
Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, Blaze pulls out a box of matches. The very same box of matches that he confiscated off his son all those years ago. He strikes a match against the lighter strip… But it does not take.
FLICK!
Again, the match is struck, but it does not take. Blaze turns in frustration to his gas-soaked son.
But Destructo Boy is no longer there.
NICK DIAMOND: Destructo Boy has escaped. Barely with his life, but he’s gone.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: He’ll be back, he has to be. For they need to finish what they started. Next week, at Ring of Dreams. Father meets son for the NXT Level championship. Right here, in what is left of their family home.
NICK DIAMOND: I’d say they’ll bring the place down around them. But they’ve already done that.
Blaze burns with rage, seething. He’ll need to bide his time and wait.
One more week.
The Elders XII
We haven’t seen Zeus since Pandemonium and when we open cold into the room with he and Hercules, there’s a tense and eerie silence. It’s been nigh on a month since Zeus revealed what he did to his boy, and his boy hasn’t spoken a word in response since.
The Baron stands at the door with his arms folded, beside Ares, who looks as stoic and firm as ever.
“Have you decided what we’re going to do yet?” The Master of War queries without breaking his gaze.
Zeus takes a large breath, contemplating. “The truth isn’t always the answer, it seems. What did I think was going to happen? Did I think he was going to understand me? Sympathise with me? Dedicate himself to my charge? I’ve been a fool.”
Ares doesn’t disagree, which is like a dagger to the heart of his best friend. Zeus walks away and takes a seat opposite Hercules, turning the chair around to sit on it backwards and face him.
“I told you everything,” he admits calmly, soft spoken and with sincerity. “What followed the death of my father, your grandfather, was the murder of anyone not willing to re-write history in a favourable way.”
Hercules doesn’t move. He doesn’t budge even in an inch. He’s heard everything his father has had to throw at him and this doesn’t surprise him at all.
“I controlled the narrative, son. I had to. You might not be able to forgive me for what I did to my father, but I had no choice. I saved Arcadia.”
Zeus stands up and heads over to Ares, putting his hands on his hips and shaking his head.
“Leave me with him,” Zeus demands. The Master of War looks confused for a moment. “Take the guard and patrol. I’ll be fine here.”
Ares debates saying what he truly thinks; that it’s a bad idea for them to be left alone. But he doesn’t. Instead he nods agreeably and leaves the room. Zeus lowers his head and takes another breath, turning back towards his son.
Cut.
JONNY GOMEZ: Fire surrounds the ring! The Don may be here strictly for business, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
The bell rings, the flames alight, and Jack rushes at Tony with a running headbutt to the nose! Jackyboy claps excitedly before forcing Tony up and whipping him into the ropes!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: THERE'S THAT RAY OF SUNSHINE!
NICK DIAMOND: POP UP STUNNER FLOORS THE DON!
Vincini is rolling in pain, grabbing his jaw in agony as Jack tells him to stand back up for more playtime! He assaults the Don with overhead smashes as Mr. Vincini tries to get to his feet! He reaches into his pants!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: BRASS KNUCKLES TO THE JAW!
NICK DIAMOND: AND THAT'S ALL LEGAL IN AN INFERNO MATCH, JOHNNY!
Tony grabs a cigarette and lights it on the flames, taking a few puffs before he lays into the rising Jackdaw with haymaker after haymaker! Jackdaw spits blood onto the mat and shoots back a deranged smile! Tony kicks him in the gut and hits the ropes!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: NORTHERN LARIAT! BADDABING!
NICK DIAMOND: NO! JACKDAW DUCKS IT! HE FLOATS OVER! TICKLED PINK DDT!
Jackyboy forcibly smashes Tony face first into the mat before forcing him back to his feet and hitting a knee to the temple! Tony looks out as Jackdaw drags him towards the ropes! Tony fires away with a few series of desperate body shots!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HIS VIOLENT HEART- NO! TONY LANDS BEHIND JACKDAW!
NICK DIAMOND: BADDABING! MASSIVE NORTHERN LARIAT SENDS JACKDAW OVER THE ROPES! HE'S ON FIRE!
Tony Vincini has set Jackdaw on fire!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: The ringside personnel rush to put him out! Tony has debuted to a massive win here tonight!
And Then There Was One
The Arcadian Censorship Authority has long been abandoned to the wreckage of their leaders. In the office of Mr. Kleen, he sits behind a desk as Sebastian Boswick and Tucker Goode guard the door.
Despite the mask, his demeanour is clearly pensive. There’s an air of tension in the air, but it isn’t between he and them.
“So, you see,” he says letting out a frustrated sigh. “That was the end of my tenure as The Yellow Python. The Zookeeper and others kicked me to the curb for my so called ‘over-zealous’ nature.”
He stands up and shakes his head, walking around his desk and taking a seat on the edge of it. He shuffles uncomfortably for a moment, taking a large breath in.
“All I wanted to do was make Arcadia a better place,” Kleen contemplates with a lowered tone and all the while, still shaking his head. He believes it. It’s embedded within his soul. “But it has long dawned on me that I can’t do that until The Kingdom has been destroyed.”
The camera pans out wide, showing us the room from behind Mr. Kleen, who remains sat on the desk. As Sebastian Boswick and Tucker Goode guard the door, it’s apparent that Kleen isn’t talking to them.
In fact, he never was.
He’s instead talking to a figure, who’s face we now see for the first time – bloodied and bruised. His face his drooped low as his head hangs in the balance, unconscious, or worse – his face unknown.
Mr. Kleen bends down and picks up a blue and white mask, that of The Blue Shark, looking at it with an audible scoff.
“And then there was one,” Kleen mutters, tossing the mask aside. “Dump is body where The Yellow Python will find it. Leave him a message and let him know that I’ll be in the ring at Ring of Dreams to end this once and for all.”
Tucker and Sebastian smile gleefully, the death of the Blue Shark not an iota of guilt on their conscience. They grab his limp body by the arms and drag him from the room.
Cut.
Enough is Enough!
Scott Sterling cuts a frustrated and angered figure in his office backstage. The crowd as usual aren’t pleased to see him and he can hear as much through the thin walls of Olympus.
However, his interest tonight is not with the fans.
It’s with the carnage from earlier tonight at the Arcadian Police Department.
“Earlier this evening, the Uprising ran riot through the APD,” he says pensively, his fingered clasped so tight that they’re turning red. “Many officers of our great Arcadia were injured or worse.”
He chokes up slightly as he finishes his last word, clearing his throat thereafter.
“These are good men keeping your homes safe. Ring of Dreams can’t come quick enough to put an end to this senseless Uprising violence,” he sternly condemns them. “But when it does come, it won’t be without violence itself.”
His stern and angered expression turns to that of a sinister smile.
“Because Jackson Cade, Harold Attano, Jasper Redgrave and CJ Thorpe will go to war in the middle of that ring,” he announces to cheers from the crowd. Everyone wants to see it. There’s not a quiet set of lungs in the house. “In a Fatal Fourway Match.”
The explosion of noise from the audience is heard clearly inside the office with Sterling, who shuffles in his seat, unused to the positive attention.
“I can’t tell you the Main Event will be anything other than a disgrace, but what I can tell you is that CJ Thorpe will not leave Ring of Dreams unscathed,” he declares, pumping his fist on the table. “None of them will.”
The camera focuses in on the glare he gives us, before fading back to ringside.
Cut.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: The ring is just surrounded with weapons! But a Thrillseeker like Aurora and a freak like Klaus look right at home!
Klaus starts the match off by running towards Aurora who ducks a corkscrew forearm! The Warden of Weird keeps rolling as he hits the ground and goes right to ringside! He looks around and grabs hold of a barbwire wrapped steel chair! He shows it off to the crowd!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: SOLAR STORM! AURORA WITH THE METEORA OVER THE ROPES TO THE OUTSIDE!
NICK DIAMOND: SHE'S CRAZY! BOTH OF THEM GET SHREDDED BY THE BARBED WIRE!
The crowd lets out a cheer as the Thrillseeker is quick to her feet! She grabs the chair from the downed Klaus and cracks him across the back with it! The Ringmaster yells in pain as Aurora lays into him with another wild smash before tossing the bent chair and digging for a new weapon! She grabs a ladder but Klaus is already up with a light tube!
THAT HE CRACKS ACROSS HER FACE WHEN SHE TURNS AROUND!
Glass shards embed themselves in her face and Klaus grabs hold of a bag of thumb tacks! He's looking to dish out some damage as he rolls the high flier into the ring and pours out the tacks! He forces her up!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: HAVE MERCY ON HER!
NICK DIAMOND: CIRQUE DOULEUR! STORMBREAKER ONTO THE DAMN THUMB TACKS!
Klaus rolls to his feet and takes a bow before rolling out of the ring and tossing in a plethora of weapons! He slides back in and grabs a trash can! Aurora gets to he feet and ducks a shot before nailing Klaus with a leaping knee to the back! She grabs the trash can and nails Klaus with it before placing it over his head!
SHE GRABS A PIECE OF REBAR! AURORA SMASHES THE METAL INTO KLAUS AND SENDS HIM TO HIS BACK!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: The Breath of the Heavens is setting up the ladder! She's climbing to the top!
NICK DIAMOND: SHE LEAPS! DIVING ELBOW DROP FROM THE HEAVENS RIGHT ONTO KLAUS!
The can caves in entirely and Klaus is trapped as Aurora lays down stomp after stomp! She tries to peel him up and Klaus swings his whole body into her with a modified headbutt! Bent metal cuts Aurora and busts her wide open! The Freak forces the trashcan off of himself and grabs a box! He opens it and pulls out a whip!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Oh Zeus I can't watch!
NICK DIAMOND: Aurora run!
KA-FUCKING-RACK!
The whip goes off like a fucking gunshot and Aurora drops to the mat! Klaus uses that whip like a pro as he lashes out again!
CRACK!
Aurora is rolling in agony and The Ringmaster waltzes over to her and wraps that whip around her throat! The Thrillseeker scratches at the weapon futilely as Klaus chokes the life out of her! She has to tap here! She has to! But Aurora refuses to give in and she grabs a handful of thumbtacks from the ground!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: THUMBTACK LOADED SLAP TO THE FACE!
NICK DIAMOND: SHE JUST MADE KLAUS INTO A NEW ACT! THE TACKS ARE HANGING OFF HIS FACE!
The Thrillseeker capitalizes as she laps to the ropes and comes flying back with a massive springboard forearm that drives Klaus to the floor! He's down and Aurora grabs the last weapon tossed in! She has a table wrapped in barbed wire! She forcefully rolls Klaus on top and begins scaling the ladder!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: SHE'S CALLING FOR THE END! NORTHERN LIGHTS OUT!
NICK DIAMOND: TWISTED BLISS! SHE PUTS BOTH OF THEM THROUGH THE TABLE! THE REFEREE DROPS FOR THE COUNT!
ONE!
...
...
TWO!
...
...
THREE!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: This was brutal, both competitors are broken! But Aurora has found a way to claim victory in this absolutely horrific match.
Happy Or Sad?
The crowd roars as Aurora and Klaus Way stand opposite one another in the ring, trying to recover from their thrilling contest. Klaus grabs a microphone, his voice seething with anger.
“What’s your problem with me? Why do you keep sticking your nose in my business?”
Aurora, catching her breath, glares at him before grabbing the mic back.
“I've spent my whole life trying to avoid having my special talents put in a box. Because people with special talents don’t deserve to be part of someone else’s show. Jackdaw is obviously one sandwich short of a picnic, but I won’t see him become your attraction or a henchman for Jash Khan.”
Klaus looks taken aback, but before he can respond…
CRASH!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: What the hades was that?
Another crash follows.
NICK DIAMOND: It’s coming from behind the curtain!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Oh look who it is…
Jackdaw emerges from behind the curtain, but he’s not alone. He’s dragging a bloody Jash Khan through the curtain and down the aisle.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Showing his true colors!
NICK DIAMOND: Who says he started it?
Once in the ring, he throws Khan at Klaus’s feet. Klaus, momentarily stunned, asks, “So you’re accepting my offer then?”
Jackdaw walks over to Way, putting his arm around the Warden of the Weird.
“You know,” he begins, surprisingly jovial after what he did to Khan. “I knew I liked you, Klaus. It was a tough decision for me. It really just depended on whether I was happy or sad, you feel me?”
NICK DIAMOND: So which is he today?
Way gulps. Jackdaw seems happy, pulling out the envelope…
NICK DIAMOND: He’s going to join Way’s show!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Klaus’d be better off getting a bearded lady!
…AND DRAMATICALLY RIPPING IT IN HALF!
JOHNNY GOMEZ: That son of a bitch!
Jackdaw grabs Klaus, backing him into the corner.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Russian Leg Sweep!
NICK DIAMOND: We know what this means!
Aurora bails from the ring into the crowd as Jackdaw runs to the opposite corner, charging in with a brutal running attack!
NICK DIAMOND: He’s on Cloud Nine, John Boy!
Jackdaw stalks around the ring like a predator, having rejected the offers of Jash Khan and Klaus Way. Aurora stands in a sea of people, eyes locked with the man who she tried to save.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: The Thrillseeker’s gonna put him in his place!
The crowd begins to chant for Aurora as a Stop ■ symbol appears in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: Ladies and gentlemen, these four will go to war at Ring of Dreams in just one week!
NICK DIAMOND: I’m so excited, Gomez. It’s going to be explosive.
JOHNNY GOMEZ: We’ll see you all there, for what promises to be an epic event! Good bye and good night!
Static.
Click.