ACROPOLIS KILLER
Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
Narcissa Balenciaga and Artemis are climbing the stairs together, cloaked in hooded attire so that their faces aren’t seen. Narcissa has a busy night ahead and keeping her secret has been top priority. They finally reach their destination, standing outside the doors of Acropolis.
“These people kept us safe in their homes,” Narcissa reminds Artemis. “They harboured the Uprising in our time of need. Do you have the credits?”
Artemis reaches inside her bag, pulling out a brown satchel and a Teddy Bear.
“I brought this for Anna,” she says with a smile.
Narcissa chuckles.
“You’re a softy, aren’t you?” The VHS Champion remarks, pushing the doors open.
As she does, a gust of air hits her face. It stops her dead in her tracks. That’s a smell she’d taken in many times before; one she’ll never forget.
She quickly turns to Artemis and places a hand on her chest, halting her.
“No,” she gasps. “Don’t.”
Artemis frowns at her and pushes on past into Acropolis. She didn’t get it. She didn’t understand, but the moment she laid eyes on the carnage therein, she did.
It takes her a moment.
With tears welling up in her eyes and the stench of death firmly in her nostrils, she suddenly starts to panic.
“Anna?” She calls out.
Before Narcissa can stop her, she rushes into the level headfirst, searching all the bodies as she scans in desperation and panic for the little girl.
It isn’t her who finds Anna.
It’s Narcissa.
The Champion can’t say a word. She’s lost to the carnage. As Artemis looks up and realizes, she rushes over to Anna, cradling the young child in her arms, screaming into the deathly void with agonising pain.
We look back at the Teddy dropped in the mire of viscera.
“Did we do this?” Artemis cries out, through gritted teeth and flowing tears.
The Uprising Leader lowers her head.
Cut.
DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS
Red District
Nergal glides, as if slithering, back to the cesspool of the Red District that she has sunk her claws into previously. But tonight, instead of the regular hustle and bustle of the Red, she finds a stoic wall of people meeting her head on.
There is fear in their eyes, but resolve. Ladies of the night, patrons, Arcadians one and all stand against her. At their head, the Hunter himself, Luther Grim. Yet, in his eyes, there is no sense of fear, just determination. He raises his spear towards Gemini as she approaches.
“When I inherited this fight from Fidel, I did so almost unwillingly. It was the thrill of the hunt that sold me in the beginning. But the more I’ve studied you, watched you… This has become bigger than just the hunt.”
He beckons with his free hand to the people standing behind them.
“Fidel’s people. Customers, workers. Eden. Those that you threaten with your mere presence. You are pestilence, disease. The more I allow you to roam free, the more you feed. Disease threatens the game I hunt, your disease. You must be stopped, if not for Aarman Fidel, then so I can hunt free.”
He raises his spear.
“These people stand, defiantly against you. But tonight, that is the least of your worries.”
Grim throws his spear at Gemini, but she erupts a swarm from her mouth that chews through the wood of the spear as it sails, disintegrating it in mid-air.
“As you wish.”
She hisses the warning at him, gliding menacingly towards Grim and the horde of people. Grim comes out to meet her and the pair lock horns. They trade blows, with Grim getting the upper hand with a flurry of fists that hit home.
GRIM CATCHES GEMINI AROUND THE THROAT, CHOKING HER!
BUT HER SWARM SURROUNDS THEM.
THE NIGHT IS BLACK WITH THE FLUTTER OF WINGS!
When the swarm subsides, Grim is still standing, but Gemini has gone. In his hands sits an apple, crawling with pestilence-ridden insects. Grim throws the apple to the ground in frustration and crushes it under his foot.
They will meet again, in Olympus. The hunt is on.
Cut.
The round of four for Ring King is set and rivalries are on full display, especially in this Odyssey between Scissor and Doom. Will the Doctor get the unkind cut or is it the Master of Strings who’ll have his… cut?
The bell rings and Scissors and Doom lock-up… no… wait… Doom has his hands wrapped around the throat of The Marionettist, THE HANDS OF DOOM are at work choking the life out of Scissors.
The Master of Strings is fading as The Mad Scientist squeezes.
…
…
…
Scissors drops to his knees, his head lulling back and forth as Doom moves his thumbs over the windpipe of the Former Foley and we hear servos in his gloves begin to whine as The Doctor screams,
“DIE!”
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“DIE!”
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“DIE!”
…
Doom gets down on his knees as well hands unmoving servos still whining staring into the mask of the man who started his Odyssey. Scissor’s head goes lifeless only a faint gurgling can be heard as Doom looks at the referee to call and when he looks back, he’s face-to-face with The Sinister Scissors who retorts…
“NO!”
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HEADBUTT!
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HEADCLAP!
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MANDIBLE CLAW FORCING HIS FINGERS UNDER THE METAL MASK OF DOOM!
…
THE MARIONETTIST JUST PLAYED A ONE-MAN GAME OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!
But instead of using the hold to put The Doctor out Scissors is using it to drag Doom into the corner slamming The Arcadian Inventor’s head off top turnbuckle repeatedly as the crowd counts along…
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ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
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FOUR!
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FIVE!
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SIX!
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SEVEN!
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EIGHT!
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NINE!
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TEN!
Doom slumps in the corner as Scissors starts laying in the boots stomping a mudhole in the chest of The Doctor shades of Foley…
THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR – COUNTERING – AS DOOM CATCHES THE FOOT OF SCISSORS IN ONE HAND AS HE RETURNS TO HIS FEET!
Doom jumps into the air Levitating Kick to the Head – HOVER, NO – POWERBOMB COUNTER BY SCISSORS!
* WHAM! *
….
TWICE!
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* BA-HAM! *
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THRICE!
AND THE ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE SURE THE HELL WAS NOT NICE! AS SCISSORS STACKS DOOM ON HIS SHOULDERS FOR THE COVER!
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ONE!
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THE RED LIGHT NIGHTMARE HAS DOOM WHERE HE WANTS HIM!
….
TWO!
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HAS SCISSORS CUT THE DOCTOR’S STRINGS?
….
…..
THR- WAIT?! IS THAT FLIGHT OF THE VALKYRIES?!
THIS MUST BE A MAD MONOLOGUE…
OR TO DRONE ON!
DRONES FLY IN FROM THE RAFTERS STAGGERING SCISSORS WITH PROJECTILES AND BREAKING UP THE COVER WHILE LAYING OUT A CLOUD OF SMOKE!
As the smoke fades Doom’s visage cuts through the haze aided by the thrusters in his boots…
IT’S THE SPLITTER CUTTING SCISSORS IN HALF WITH A SPEAR!
Into a cover!
…
KICK-OUT WITH NO COUNT LEAVES DOOM SITTING IN DISBELIEF THE EYES BEHIND HIS MASK CONVEYING THE SHOCK!
The Master of Strings soon joins The Doctor sitting up next to him.
Scissors looks at his fellow Tag Team Champion laughing maniacally, and Doom joins him as the ring is filled with the laughter of the sinister two before Doom slaps The Puppeteer and Scissors returns the blow.
This continues as both men work their way back to their feet exchanging blows, the slaps becoming punches, punches becoming haymakers as the crowd comes to their feet a mixture of jeers and cheers erupt after each blow.
Doom manages to get the upper hand looking to whip Scissors into the ropes, but The Marionettist reverses it sending The Doctor into the ropes instead straight into a…
QUICK SNIP, POWER-FUCKING-SLAM!
Scissors picks Doom up off the canvas quickly and sets the scene for LITTLE MARY MURDER TO TAKE CENTER STAGE, THE DOUBLE UNDERHOOK PILEDRIVER…
IS COUNTERED BY THE DOCTOR! WHO SPINS OUT OF THE UNDERHOOK LEVATING INTO THE AIR HITTING THE SPIN KICK TO THE HEAD!
HOVER, NO BOTHER STAGGERS MRS. FOLEY’S BABY BOY DROPPING HIM TO ONE KNEE!
DOOM EYEBALLS THE KNEELING SCISSORS BEFORE RUSHING FORWARD THE SCRAMBLER KNEE STRIKE IS EN ROUTE!
SCISSORS DODGES BRIDGING INTO A CRABWALK BEFORE SPINNING UP AND HITTING A SNAP DOUBLE ARM DDT!
SHADES OF FELIX COMING TO THE SURFACE AGAIN WITH SCISSORS CUTTING… THE… STRINGS!
The Master of Strings covers Doom hooking the inside leg.
ONE!
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DOOM MAY BE OUT!
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TWO!
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DID FOLEY JUST RESURFACE TO PUT AWAY THE MANIAC WHO HURT HIS MUM?!
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THREE?!
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NO, DOOM SLIPS HIS HAND UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE!
Scissor goozles The Doctor pulling him back to his feet.
* KA-RACK *
A massive blow to the side of The Inventor’s head wakes a dazed Doom whose eyes almost bulge from his mask in rage. Doom returns fire as when Scissors goes high The Doctor goes low with a kick to the groin dropping the Master of Strings to his knees once more!
Doom backs away, a monster now playing with his prey, he holds a finger in the air as if to check the wind direction before rushing in Punt Kick to the Skull of Scissors!
THE DOCTOR JUST…
BROKE…
THE…
FUCKING…
JAR!
COLLAPSING INTO THE COVER!
ONE!
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HAS DOOM JUST PUT DOWN THE MONSTER WHO NEARLY DROWN HIM IN THE ODYSSEY POOL?!
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TWO!
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DID SCISSORS LEG JUST TWITCH?!
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MAYBE…
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BUT THE MOVEMENT ISN’T ENOUGH AND THE REFEREE COUNTS THREE!
Doom has walked away but just barely after this war, which begs the question… what’s left of the Doctor for the finals? We’re not finished here though, as Doom’s henchmen make their way to the ring and grab Scissors. He has something else planned…
But what?
WINNER AND ADVANCING TO THE FINAL: DOOM
CONQUEST
Many Years Ago.
Walther sits on the floor somewhere we’ve never seen before, his head no longer covered in flesh. Even he doesn’t know how he’s still alive.
A man with white hair and a grey beard sits behind him with large spikes and a hammer. He’s wearing a large black brimmed hat and a red coat.
With a gruff voice, the man lowers a spike onto the head of Grimskull and painstakingly begins hammering it into his skull.
“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder.”
Crack.
Walther doesn’t even wince in pain.
“One of the four beasts saying, come and see.”
Crack.
The man grabs a second spike, placing that near the first. With his hammer in hand, he continues to drive it into his skull.
“And I saw and behold a white horse.”
Crack.
Walther begins smiling.
“He that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him. He went forth conquering and to conquer.”
With the second spike now firmly in his skull, the man takes a concoction of something hot and sticky, using a brush to meld it around the spikes.
“Out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. When they saw him, they fell dead at his feet. He laid hands upon them, saying fear not, I am the first and the last.”
The man stops and stands up. Walther meets him there, looking at him dead in the eyes.
“You now have a crown fit to conquer, boy. Write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter. I hath the keys of hell and death, but you will help me write their passage in time.”
“I will,” Walther replies. “They will call me Grimskull and I will speak of servitude and enduring pain to conquer all.”
The man places both hands on his shoulder and smiles widely.
“Seek your vengeance Grimskull and when the time is nigh, I and the other three Horseman will rise to meet you at the gates of hell itself. You ride the white horse, you are Conquest. Go forth and conquer.”
With that, Grimskull walks out into the Slums, his mission known.
Cut.
This Ring King semifinals matchup has a grudge match within it. Will Tombstone avenge Drewitt’s beatdown of Igor Mortis, or Will Drewitt get revenge for his incineration?
The bell rings, and Tombstone and Drewitt collide full-force in the middle of the ring—
BIG RIGHT HAND FROM TOMBSTONE!
BIG RIGHT HAND FROM DREWITT!
ANOTHER PUNCH FROM TOMBSTONE TO DREWITT’S FACE!
ANOTHER PUNCH FROM DREWITT TO TOMBSTONE’S FACE!
The two titans trade punches back and forth until Tombstone’s punch staggers Drewitt back into the ropes, affording the Ferryman the upper hand. Tombstone whips Drewitt across the ring and on the rebound a massive big boot nearly takes not only Drewitt’s mask off, but nearly his whole head! Drewitt manages to get back to his feet but Tombstone grapples the Journeyman and lifts him onto his shoulder. Drewitt’s giant frame slides out from Tombstone’s clutches though, and he lands behind him before grappling Tombstone from behind—
BELLY TO BACK SUPLEX!
Now it’s Tombstone who is on the defensive, pulling himself up by the ropes, then Drewitt whips Tombstone across the ring and on the rebound—
BIG BOOT!
DUCKED BY TOMBSTONE!
Tombstone continues his momentum into the ropes and off the rebound launches himself at Drewitt—
FLIPPING CLOTHESLINE DROPS DREWITT!
It sounded like a car crash in the ring from the force of that landing, and Tombstone stalks Drewitt as they get to their feet. He socks Drewitt into the corne, then slaps both his hands on Drewitt’s throat—
HE’S CHOKING THE LIFE OUT OF HIM!
The ref interjects with a five count, but nothing will deter the fury in Tombstone’s eyes, and he simply will not let go! The ref wedges himself between the two titans, forcing a break and warning Tombstone that a disqualification would send Drewitt to the finals.
But Tombstone’s more concerned with punishing Drewitt than that.
FINGER THRUST JAB!
FINGER THRUST PUNCH!
DELAYED FINGER THRUST UPPERCUT!!
THE FERRYMAN’S KNOCK!!
Tombstone aggressively whips Drewitt to the opposite corner—
DREWITT CRASHES BACK-FIRST INTO THE TURNBUCKLES—
AND TOMBSTONE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS UP WITH A RUNNING CORNER CLOTHESLINE!
Tombstone walks Drewitt out the middle of the ring by his neck, and turns whilst holding on—
NECKBREAKER!
Tombstone with a cover—
ONE!
.
.
DREWITT KICKS OUT WITH EASE!
Tombstone will have to dig deeper if he wants to put Drewitt’s soul to rest tonight, and he aggressively stays on his opponent as they get to their feet. Tombstone goes to whip Drewitt into the ropes again but Drewitt reverses it, twisting Tombstone’s arm and pulling Tombstone in—
KNEE TO THE GUT!
AND ANOTHER!!
AND ANOTHER!!!
Tombstone is doubled over holding his abdomen and Drewitt locks his arm around Tombstone’s neck, hoisting him up into the air before jerking down—
IMPLANT DDT!!
THE SIGHTSEER!!
Drewitt logrolls Tombsone and hooks a leg—
ONE!
.
.
.
TW—
TOMBSTONE GETS A SHOULDER UP!
Drewitt reacts to this by changing course, and stomping on the grounded Tombstone’s neck, over and over again as the crowd watches on in awe! This is more than just a match between these two: this is personal. And thus there’s more than just a trip to the Ring King finals at stake here. As Tombstone grasps at his neck, Drewitt climbs the nearest turnbuckle to the top, stalking the rising Tombstone and leaping at him just as he turns—
LEAPING CLOTHESLINE—
COUNTERED INTO A BOSSMAN SLAM THAT SHAKES THE ENTIRE ARENA!!
YOU CAN’T RUN FROM THE FERRYMAN!!
He caught him in midair with that one, and Drewitt is down, but Tombstone knows it will take more than that keep him down. He’s digging deeper, and gutwrenches his nemesis to his feet before lifting Drewitt up with all his might—
ODE TO CHARON!!
JACKNIFE POWERBOMB!!
As Drewitt’s legs flop onto the mat Tombstone puts out the proverbial cigar on Drewitt’s chest, burning him just as he did several weeks ago in the incinerator, and hooks a leg—
ONE!
..
.
TWO!!
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..
..
..
..
..
VENGEANCE FOR IGOR MORTIS??
…
NO, NOT YET!!
DREWITT BENCHPRESSES TOMBSTONE OFF HIM AT THE LAST MILLISECOND!!
Tombstone can’t believe it, along with the crowd, and stalks Drewitt once more from behind as he rises, raising his hand up high to signal the end…
GOOZLE!
Tombstone stares deep into Drewitt’s soul as he squeezes the air out of his lungs—
GOOZLE FROM DREWITT!
Drewitt’s fighting spirit is providing a second wind, and now both men jostle for position—
WHO WILL GAIN THE UPPER HAND??
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TOMBSTONE CHOPS DREWITT’S ARM OFF HIS THROAT!!
TOMBSTONE GOOZLES DREWITT WITH ALL HIS MIGHT, AND SHAKES HIS HEAD BEFORE HOISTING DREWITT UP HIGH—
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS!!!
FALLING CHOKESLAM TO THE KNEES!!!
Tombstone crosses Drewitt’s arms on his chest and flips his hair back as the ref counts along with the crowd—
ONE!.
.
.
TWO!!
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..
..
..
..
CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS??
…
YES!!!
THREE!!!
Tombstone is advancing to the Ring King finals, avenging Igor Mortis’ beatdown by Drewitt in the process!
WINNER AND ADVANCING TO THE FINAL: TOMBSTONE
FAR WORSE THAN DEATH I
Tombstone has done it!
He’s made it to the final of Ring King, but that doesn’t mean a fucking thing to him right now. He gets back to his feet, looking down at Drewitt who stirs.
“We had a plan,” he reveals, looming over his fallen foe.
Drewitt shakes his head, crawling towards the ropes.
“There’s always a plan,” he scoffs. “You’ve stabbed me, you’ve strangled me, you’ve burned me a-fuckin’-live. What’s next, big dog?”
He pulls himself up using the ropes.
“When are you gonna get your head around it? I can’t fuckin’ die. Do you think I want this? Do you know how it feels to take your last breath and feel that it’s over, only to come hurtling back like a fuckin’ freight train?”
The Ferryman shakes his head.
“Igor believed that by killing you in a variety of ways, we could unlock this curse. That is why I’ve done what I’ve done, Drewitt.”
That causes the audience to groan with discontent. The Explorer can’t believe it, shaking his head.
“You’ve been brutally killing me, as if you’re tickin’ off deaths on a bingo card?” He roars back at him in fury.
“You right,” Tombstone says, lowering his head. “There is no end to your curse. Nothing we’ve done has fixed you.”
He approaches slowly.
“But after what you did to Igor, there is no turning back the hands of time. For that, you will suffer a fate far worse than death.”
Goozle!
The Ferryman squeezes the throat of Drewitt, forcing him to panic and gasp for air. He squeezes it tightly, pushing him back into the corner before violently snapping his neck.
As his body falls, Tombstone scoops him up off the canvas.
“I’m no longer the Ferryman, but for the last time, I will send you on your way.”
Cut.
Pestilence personified is in the crosshairs of the Hunter tonight. Grim has been watching her, tracking and hunting her down at the instruct of Aarman Fidel. Now, Grim stands between Nergal and Arcadia. Can the Double Feature Champion hunt down Pestilence herself?
The bell sounding sets Grim off across the ring, and he has Gemini in his sights before she even has time to react.
BLOOD SPORT!
THE BROGUE KICK CATCHES HER RIGHT IN THE FACE AND SENDS HER FLYING INTO THE TURNBUCKLE BEHIND HER!
LUTHER FOLLOWS UP BY CLIMBING THE FIRST TURNBUCKLE AND UNLOADING A VICIOUS ARRAY OF FISTS!
Right after right after right fist pummels Gemini, the Double Feature Champion wasting no time tonight. Gemini pushes him off her, taking a moment to breathe before Grim comes charging back at her again.
DISCUS LARIAT KNOCKS A TORRENT OF BUGS RIGHT OUT OF GEMINI’S MOUTH!
THEY BUZZ ABOUT FOR A MOMENT BEFORE FALLING DEAD TO THE CANVAS!
When Grim turns back to Nergal, she is gone. Slipping out of the ring, The Void looks hardly worse for wear. She beckons Grim outside, and he obliges. Stepping onto the ring apron and leaping off at her.
YIN!
GEMINI CAUGHT GRIM WITH THE CODEBREAKER!
LUTHER GRIM PLAYED RIGHT INTO HER HANDS THERE!
Gemini scoops up her foe with a smirk. She grabs him by the head and lines up the ring steps as her destination.
BOOM!
GEMINI UNLEASHES A BRUTAL DDT!
GRIM’S HEAD SLAMS INTO THE STEEL WITH A DEAFENING CRASH!
She draws a deep breath as Grim rolls onto his back at ringside. Shaking violently, Nergal’s eyes roll into the back of her head. When she opens them again, she opens her mouth…
NERGAL SPEWS A TORRENT OF INSECTS AT GRIM!
FALL OF MAN AIMING DIRECTLY AT HIS MOUTH!
SHE’S TRYING TO INFECT HIM… BUT GRIM BRINGS HIS HANDS UP OVER HIS FACE!
HE BURIES HIS FACE INTO THE MAT AND WAITS OUT THE SWARM!
Eventually, the swarm of insects dissipates, flying back into Gemini’s mouth. Luther Grim staggers away as the eyes roll back into her head again. She blinks them open and Grim is already back in the ring. Gemini follows him inside, but the Hunter is waiting. He scoops her up easily.
TROPHY HUNT!
THE FALLING POWERBOMB SENDS A MESSAGE!
HE HIT HER WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO NEARLY SEND HER THROUGH THE MAT!
Luther Grim backs away across the ring, but readies himself in a war stance. His eyes are trained on his prize, and he watches as Gemini struggles to a vertical base. Then he charges.
SPEAR!
THE GREAT PURSUIT!
NO!
GEMINI LEAPS OVER THE INCOMING HUNTER AND JUMPS INTO THE ROPES!
UNLEASHED!
SPRINGBOARD TORNADO DDT!
LUTHER GRIM IS TURNED INSIDE OUT, UPSIDE DOWN AND PLANTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE RING!
Gemini holds on, covering for the pinfall.
ONE!
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TWO!
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DO WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION?!
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NO!
KICK OUT JUST BEFORE THREE!
Gemini is quick to her feet and pulls Grim to his. The Hunter is groggy, but aware enough to block an incoming left strike from Pestilence. A second, parrying her right fist leaves her undefenced.
HEADBUTT! LUTHER GRIM’S SKULL SMASHES INTO GEMNINI’S!
SHE IS STAGGERED, BUT DOES NOT FALL!
Grim approaches once more, grabbing at her with both hands.
DROP TOE HOLD!
GEMINI DROPS GRIM OUT OF DESPERATION!
BUT NERGAL APPEARS TO BE CHOKING!
SHE REACHES UP TO HER MOUTH!
…
AND PULLS OUT AN APPLE!
Grim, by now, is staggering to his feet and Nergal grabs him by the head. Taking the poisoned apple, she forces it towards his mouth. As she does so, her swarm approaches, darting around Grim.
GEMINI SLAMS THE APPLE INTO GRIM’S MOUTH!
THE INSECTS SWARM HIM AS SHE CLIMBS THE TURNBUCKLE!
NERGAL’S PLAGUE!
SHE DRIVES LUTHER GRIM TO THE CANVAS WITH HER KNEES!
KILLING HIM WITH FIRE… THE INSECTS FEAST ON THE APPLE IN HIS MOUTH EVEN AS THE PINFALL IS COUNTED!
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
PESTILENCE WINS HERE TONIGHT… YOUR NEEEEEEW DOUBLE FEATURE CHAMPION!
Luther Hunted her down, but she always seemed to be one step ahead of the chase. Now she has the Double Feature Championship, Pestilence seems to be unstoppable. What this means for Arcadia, cannot be good.
WINNER AND NEW DOUBLE FEATURE CHAMPION: GEMINI
FREE
The Eden Den.
The scene opens upon the entrance of the cesspool we know as Eden. The devilish owner, Aarman Fidel, smokes a cigar as he approaches the door, taking a puff before moving inside only to stop in the doorway, the cigar dropping from his mouth. We finally look past him at the interior of his club.
And it’s a disaster.
Many patrons are strewn unconscious across the main floor, a slew of broken glasses and demolished furniture now decorates the club. However, the most egregious thing Fidel spots is the door to the back room smashed wide open! He rushes over to inspect it, stopping dead in his tracks as he gets to the doorway.
“No.” He speaks out in disbelief, a twinge of rage in his voice. “That pathetic fucking excuse of a hero.” Aarman kicks in the wood remains of the door, revealing to us the interior. Many of the back rooms have had their doors broken off of the hinges, and with them, a chunk of his ill-gotten ‘workers’ have fled the scene.
“You know, I was willing to work with you. But then you tried to go back on our deal.” The raspy voice of The Burned Man calls out to Fidel, the Duke turning around and finding himself staring down his former employee. The Burned Man stands in the entrance, Kingdomblade in hand. “Guess nothing about our deal said I wouldn’t break out. Wasn’t in the fine print.”
“I’ll kill you. Those toys were worth their weight in credits!”
“Toys,” Maxwell simply chuckles. “Yeah, the people I freed? They’re long gone. Tell you what, though. If you want me? Come and get me. I’ll see you in the ring, Fidel.”
Aarman rushes towards The Burned Man! But the Sole Survivor slams the door to the Eden Club behind him as he absconds from the mess he’s made! Fidel kicks the door wide open, but by the time he gets outside The Burned Man is long gone.
Cut.
Four competitors brought together by strange happenings now collide with the VHS Champinship on the line as Narcissa defends against TEC, Jinx, and Colt Ramsey!
Colt seems focused on Narcissa at the start, as Jinx goes after TEC!
Colt and Narcissa exchange strikes until the Designer takes the Journo to the ropes, eventually sending both competitors to the outside while TEC sends Jinx to the canvas with an arm drag.
Colt and Narcissa are already back on their feet as they go at each other with lefts and rights, but Narcissa catches the Journo off guard before sending him into the ring post with a thud!
Back in the ring, TEC goes on the offensive for just a moment, before Jinx is able to counter an armbar attempt into one of her own.
TEC’s power comes into play here, however, as the Automaton gets to a vertical base…and even lifts the Fatal Error up for a modified powerbomb, driving her into the canvas to break the hold!
Narcissa pays no mind to what’s happening in the ring as she remains focused on causing damage to Ramsey, stomping at the reporter’s head as he slowly gets back to his feet…finally shoving the Designer away in the process!
But that act is met with a spinning heel kick that knocks him out!
HIGH FASHION!
While this is taking place, TEC has made the cover on Jinx!
ONE!
…
NO!
Narcissa slides into the ring, immediately breaking the pin to save the match for herself before unleashing a flurry of kicks on the Automaton…ending with a superkick!
FAST–NO!
TEC dodges the superkick, hoisting the Designer up for a back suplex instead!
Colt is slow to his feet on the outside as Jinx starts pulling at the leg of TEC inside the ring…only for the Automaton to focus its attention on the Fatal Error.
Except this proves to be an error all its own, as Narcissa is back up and catches TEC with a dropkick to send it toward the ropes!
Colt slides back into the ring to get some revenge on the Designer, who turns her attention to the arriving Journo as Jinx goes after TEC…only she’s not attacking him, not directly.
Instead, she presses against the button she set up on the Automaton some time ago, the faint green light turning yellow and blinking rapidly!
Colt sends Narcissa to the ropes, looking for a clothesline that never comes as he’s sent flying by TEC instead!
Jinx’s hack of the Automaton has led to the dissolution of the alliance between it and the Journo as TEC lays into Ramsey…and now it’s Jinx going after Narcissa!
It seems the promise of gold has dissolved this alliance as well as Jinx sends the Designer into the corner with a dropkick…only for Narcissa to narrowly avoid a corner splash from the Fatal Error!
Narcissa takes advantage of this as she goes for the necktie choke on Jinx!
MADE TO–NO!
The fight between Colt and TEC has sent both of them hurtling toward the Designer, which gives Jinx a chance to escape the hold and the ring!
Narcissa gets to her feet…and takes a massive superkick by TEC!
DECISIVE EVIDENCE!
Down goes the Designer…but Colt catches the Automaton with a swinging reverse DDT!
THAT’S A WRAP!
The button controlling TEC seems to get disabled because of the impact…but in comes Jinx, absolutely rattling Ramsey with a discus elbow!
DDOS!
Colt is sent reeling toward the ropes as Narcissa gets back to her feet…just as Jinx lunges at Narcissa for a Kinshasa!
STS–NO!
Narcissa dodges the knee strike and takes a page out of Ramsey’s book with the full nelson legsweep facebuster!
FIT TO PRINT’S THE LATEST TREND!
Narcissa covers Jinx!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
THREE!
After everything that just went down, Narcissa Balenciaga comes away with the victory in the end and retains the VHS Championship!
WINNER AND STILL VHS CHAMPION: NARCISSA
RUN AWAY
Some time ago.
Anthesteria.
This level of Arcadia is home to the Mariachi, defying the norms of reality with its ethereal beauty and surreal ambiance.
Here, every day is the Day of the Dead. Its streets are cobblestoned labyrinths adorned with intricate sugar skulls, effigies, and countless marigolds whose scent perfumes the air. Buildings in shades of deep purples, fiery reds, and radiant oranges stand tall, adorned with murals depicting various stages of life and death. Every corner seems to pulse with vibrant energy as candles flicker atop altars dedicated to lost loved ones, casting an otherworldly glow that contrasts the darkness surrounding them.
The sounds of guitars, trumpets, and soulful singing permeate the air, but amidst it all, we find two people, a young man and woman, standing secluded in a dim-lit alley. In opposition to the song around them, these two stand in heavy silence.
Dressed in a black suit adorned with intricate embroidery, the man exudes an aura of impending doom. Beside him, the woman’s attire is a striking contrast—vibrant colors, radiant as a garden in full bloom. She embodies life itself, yet her eyes mirror his.
“We can’t do this,” she says softly, her voice quivering as she clings to his arm.
He looks at her, captivated by the sincerity in her eyes, and sighs deeply. “This is what we have lived for our entire lives, what we were trained to do. You know the laws that bind the Mariachi. I can’t easily turn my back on them, on our people.”
“Are we not also bound by the love that ties us?” She implores, pulling away and circling him, as if trying to find an angle where he’ll see reason. “Run away with me, let us be free of the shackles they wish to place upon us. Our love doesn’t have to be a whisper in the dark.”
He seems to falter, his stance weakening, but then he tightens his grip on the guitar case hanging beside him.
“If we run, another will become the Mariachi of Death instead of me, and they will come for us. Is that the life you wish to live? Always running, always hiding?”
“I’d rather be an enemy to the world than an enemy to my own heart,” she replies, her eyes moistening. “We can live our own truths. Do you not see the darkness that awaits you as El Mariachi Muerte? Do you not fear the loneliness?”
He looks at her longingly, her words piercing through his armor. But even as he wavers, the distant toll of a bell resounds through Anthesteria.
“Our time is running out,” he says, regret in his words.
“And what if it already has?” she murmurs, stepping back, creating a chasm filled with their unspoken fears and dreams.
Their choices made, the couple, soon to be avatars of life and death, separate for the last time, the gulf between them as large as that between their new names.
The Burned Man is already standing in the ring, but Aarman Fidel rushes down the ramp in a fit of rage!
Fidel slides into the ring shoulder charges Burned Man! The Sole Survivor slams back into his corner and puts up his arms to defend himself from the barrage of lefts and rights flying from an enraged Aarman Fidel! He fires away with a hellacious forearm before whipping Burned Man into the ropes!
AND PIERCING HIM WITH THE ARROW OF GREED AND DESIRE!
GOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
The Duke slams his fists down on Burned Man over and over! But the Mummy is fighting for his life! He takes blow after blow to the face! Fidel gets off of him just to beg him to get to his feet! The Burned Man slowly begins to rise!
ANOTHER ARROW OF GREED AND DESIRE!
NO!
GAUNLET CLAD FIST TO THE FACE! BLOOD ARCS FROM AARMAN’S BUSTED NOSE!
The Burned Man had the Kingdomblade shrunk down in his hand! He transforms it back and stows it away before taking the fight to Fidel! Aarman is forced to his feet before being dropped by a double under hook DDT! But Burned Man rolls through and tries to lift him for the tiger bomb! But he’s not strong enough to force Fidel up! The Sole Survivor pushes the Duke away!
AND NAILS THE BACKDRAFT! SPINNING ELBOW TO THE JAW!
Fidel drops like a ton of bricks and Burned Man goes for the pin!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
FIDEL GETS A SHOULDER UP!
Aarman refuses to stay down as he struggles to his feet! He blocks a haymaker from Burned Man and gives him a headbutt in return! He tees off with a flurry of right hands that knocks Burned Man back before grabbing him!
AND LAYING THEE DOWN!
THE SPINEBUSTER SHAKES THE GOD DAMN RING!
Fidel holds onto The Burned Man and forces him over onto his stomach as he locks in a Boston Crab! He forces all of the pressure he can onto Burned Man’s back as he sits down and locks the hold in tight! The Mummy reaches out but the ropes are out of reach! He tries to drag himself towards them but Fidel walks him effortlessly into the center of the ring! There’s nowhere to go!
He tries to force Fidel off of himself! He wants to break the hold but he’s just not strong enough! He’s fading! The referee grabs his hand and holds it up!
IT DROPS ONCE!
MAXWELL MAY BE OUT!
IT DROPS TWICE!
IS THIS THE END!?
IT DROPS- NO!
BURNED MAN SLAMS HIS FISTS INTO THE GROUND AND FIGHTS WITH ALL OF HIS MIGHT! HE SUMMONS UP ALL OF HIS STRENGTH AND FLINGS FIDEL OFF OF HIMSELF!
The crowd goes absolutely wild as Burned Man forces himself to his feet! He leaps onto Fidel and slams him hard to the ground with a German Suplex! He rolls through for another! Then another! The Hat Trick! Fidel is left reeling as he tries to stand only to catch a basement dropkick to the back of the skull that keeps him grounded! Burned Man moves to the top rope!
AND HE TAKES FLIGHT!
FIRE FROM THE GODS! DIVING ELBOW DROP TO THE CHEST OF FIDEL!
Both men are down with neither showing signs of life! The Burned Man seems to be first to roll to his feet! Fidel meanwhile uses the ropes to pull himself up! The Duke of Desire turns around and rushes Burned Man!
RIGHT INTO A BIG BOOT!
Fidel slams the ground and Burned Man forces him up with all of his might!
THE THIRD DEGREE!
PUMPHANDLE SLAM INTO THE DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! FIDEL GETS PLANTED IN THE MAT!
He covers!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
The Burned Man wrecked the Eden Club, and now he’s just taken down its owner in heroic fashion!
WINNER: THE BURNED MAN
RENEG
The action’s been wild tonight, but backstage, a different kind of spectacle is unfolding.
Flanked by five armed thugs, Drexl leans against a wall, a cigar in his mouth, exhaling a cloud of smoke as the Blood Runners walk in, Blacktooth at the helm.
The tension is thicker than the smoke coming out of the Shark’s cigar.
“I didn’t know we were having a party,” Blacktooth sneers as he walks in.
“One of us is,” Drexl retorts, flicking ash from his cigar. “What’d you find out about my bitches?”
“Seems like your missing meat ain’t much of a problem at all,” Blacktooth snarls. “They’re all tucked away safe and sound in one of your safehouses.”
Drexl smirks, taking another puff from his cigar.
“Ah, so you do have eyes in good places. I’m impressed.”
Blacktooth holds his arm out, as if to restrain his followers. The tension just ramped up.
“Why the charade? Sussing out rats in your ranks or making me run around like an errand boy?”
“Both. Had to see how capable your Blood Runners are. Now that I’m consolidating my power, I needed to know how high you could jump.”
Blacktooth clenches his fists. “You lying sack of shit!”
Blacktooth’s men look ready to leap, blades subtly revealed beneath their jackets. Drexl’s men move their trigger finger off the guard, eyes darting between their boss and the volatile cannibal.
“Look,” Drexl interrupts, “we can settle this. One on one. We head out to the ring, and you can try your worst. I’ll even let you cash in that favor I owe you. See, I won’t kill you tonight. I’ll just fuck you up real good.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then Acropolis ain’t the only level getting blasted. And trust me, neither of us wants that kind of attention.”
Blacktooth contemplates, his gaze cutting through the smoky air to meet Drexl’s eyes. “Fine. It’s your funeral.”
Drexl tosses his cigar aside, cracking his knuckles. “See you out there.”
Blacktooth steps forward, putting out the cigar with his boot. The pair stand like that for a moment before Tooth Rot shows off just that with a grin. The Blood Runners back away, because Blacktooth has to get to the ring.
This match is next!
Tonight we have Blacktooth vs Drexl! Will the cannibal have his next meal or will the shark take a bite? We find out now!
DING! DING!
Blacktooth is hot out the gates here sprinting at Drexl! He’s throwing wild rights and Drexl is backing towards the ropes! Right strike after right strike! Drexl gets underhooks and smirks at the crowd!
BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX OVER THE ROPES AND OUT TO THE FLOOR!
Hard landing for Blacktooth and Drexl rolls out of the ring. He pulls Blacktooth up and goes for a vertical suplex! No! Blacktooth with some quick punches to the gut to block it!
BLACKTOOTH COUNTERS WITH A SNAP SUPLEX INTO THE BARRICADE!
Drexl is rocked and Blacktooth grabs him by the hair! He starts smashing the back of Drexl’s head into the barricade! Blacktooth gets up, steps backward, and charges!
SPEAR!
NO! DREXL GETS OUT OF THE WAY LAST SECOND AND BLACKTOOTH CRASHES INTO THE BARRICADE!
HE’S WRITHING IN AGONY ON THOSE STEEL BARS!
HIPPIE FLIP!
DREXL NAILS THE RUNNING SENTON AND CRUSHES BLACKTOOTH!
Both men are on the floor but Drexl gets up first! He pulls up Blacktooth and rolls him into the ring! Drexl follows him in there and makes the cover!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
THR-NO!
BLACKTOOTH GETS THE SHOULDER UP!
Drexl nods like he should have known and he drags Blacktooth to the corner! He grabs Blacktooth’s hair! Is he making a braid around the ring ropes!? It looks like Drexl’s days of pretend have paid off as Blacktooth is trapped in the corner!
DREXL GOES TO THE OTHER CORNER AND CLIMBS TO THE TOP ROPE!
COAST TO COAST!
NO! BLACKTOOTH USES A BLADE ON HIM TO CUT HIS HAIR AND MOVES OUT OF THE WAY!
A RARE MISTAKE BY DREXL AS HE CRASHES AND BURNS!
Blacktooth pulls himself up and jumps on top of Drexl capitalizing on the mistake! He’s rainging down furious ground elbows to make Drexl regret his decision even more! Drexl is cut the hard way! Blacktooth is grinning ear to ear with the sight of blood and he starts heading to the top rope!
HE’S AT THE TOP AND HE DIVES!
BLOOD RAIN!
HE NAILS ALL OF THAT DOUBLE FOOT STOMP!
THAT’S ONE WAY TO TENDERIZE YOUR MEAL AND HE COVERS!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
THR-NO!
DREXL GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPE!
The match goes on and Blacktooth starts untying the bottom turnbuckle pad! He drags Drexl and puts his face directly under it! He grabs the legs to do the catapult to the exposed turnbuckle!
CATAPULT!
NO! DREXL BLOCKS IT BY WRAPPING HIS LEGS AROUND BLACKTOOTH’S LEGS!
HE PIVOTS HIS HIPS AND REVERSES IT!
DROP TOE HOLD INTO THE EXPOSED TURNBUCKLE!
Both men are down and busted open! This has got to end soon. Both men are using each other to get up! Drexl realizes this first as he drapes his arm over Blacktooth’s head and drops him with a DDT!
DREXL IS FEEELING THE EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR AND HE CLIMBS THE TOP ROPE!
HE JUMPS!
STRAIGHT SHOOTER!
DIVING HEADBUTT!
NO!
IRON PERFUME!
BLACKTOOTH GOT ALL OF THAT BLOOD MIST IN A FALLING DREXL’S EYES!
IT MESSES UP THE JUMP AND DREXL CRASHES HARD IN THE RING!
Blacktooth gets up and yanks Drexl up by the hair! He slaps Drexl again and again to embarrass him! Drexl grabs him by the wrist and simply shakes his head no!
DREXL HAS WRIST CONTROL AND HE PULLS BLACKTOOTH INTO HIM!
KNEE TO THE GUT!
HE KEEPS THE WRIST HELD TIGHT!
PULL! KNEE TO THE GUT!
PULL!
IOU!
DREXL NAILS THE SUPERKICK!
HE MAKES THE COVER!
ONE!
. . .
TWO!
. . .
. . .
THREE!
Drexl has done it and the shark shows why he’s the apex predator here!
WINNER: DREXL
WATER RUSTS SCISSORS
Kicking and Screaming.
Scissors may have been captured by Doom’s men after their match but that doesn’t stop him kicking and screaming as he’s being dragged through the Doom Factory.
The henchmen pull him forcibly up the stairs towards the very platform that Scissors himself attempted to kill Doom.
The man in question awaits their arrival.
“Oh, the memories,” Scissors remarks with a childish giggle. “Do you remember that great day we spent up here? Of course you don’t; you were unconscious. Silly me.”
Even Doom chuckles at that one.
“When I made the Odyssey Pool, I had nefarious intentions,” he admits, folding his arms. “I said that I wanted to bring out your dominant personality, but truthfully, I wanted to experiment on someone expendable.”
“You say the nicest things pookie,” Scissors retorts.
Doom looks over the edge into the bubbling green vat below.
“It turns out that it does work if you survive it. I survived it. I’m not sure you know what kind of fortitude it takes to do that.”
He nods at his men who suddenly begin wrapping him with solid steel chains. They’re wrapped tightly around his arms, trapping him in a straight jacket of steel.
“What’re you doing, you kinky little man?” Scissors chuckles. “I just want to be friends. I’m not into any of these games.”
“Toss him in,” Doom demands.
The Henchman pick up and lean him over the edge, preparing to toss him into the vat below. Before they do, The Red Light begs of their attention.
“Wait! Wait! Wait!” He pleads desperately. “Before I go, does anyone know what water does to scissors? Rock, paper, scissors, water… it just doesn’t work, does it?”
Doom leans in face to face.
“Water rusts Scissors,” he says sternly. “And believe me, you’ll be in there long enough to rust.”
SWOOSH!
SPLASH!
As Scissors is tossed over the balcony, he sinks straight to the bottom of the Odyssey Pool. Doom looks at his men, then back over the edge.
“Fetch me the one,” he demands of his men.
Who’s he talking about?
Cut.
Two old friends turned mortal enemies will concoct dueling sermons tonight as they prepare to write the next chapter in the book of their epic rivalry!
The bell rings and after a brief, but tense stare down the two competitors tie up, collar and elbow. Grimskull latches on a side headlock and cranks it in. Vision calmly feels out Grimskull, creating a mental map of his opponent to which he will use as the basis of his game plan the rest of the match. Then Grimskull knees Vision in the gut, catching him off guard and doubling him over before releasing the headlock and pulling Vision’s arm back, twisting him into an abdominal stretch!
But not so fast. Vision saw it coming, deftly spinning out while keeping hold of Grimskull’s arm. He brings the arm behind Grimskull, locking it in place, and latches Grimskull’s other arm behind him as well into a double chicken wing and throws Grimskull backwards—
TIGER SUPLEX!!
ITS FORCE KNOCKED GRIMSKULL’S HEAD RIGHT OFF HIS SHOULDERS!!
Grimskull’s heads rolls off the apron to the outside, his eyes darting left and right, up and down trying to get a visual of his body inside the ring which is slowly getting to its feet, feeling around as if he were blind.
Vision unleashes a wicked cackle as he stands beside Grimskull’s body.
“How does it feel to be blind, Grimskull?” he quips as Grimskull’s body awkwardly reaches out and moves around the ring.
Vision begins peppering Grimskull’s body with jabs, chops, and kicks, with Grimskull’s facial grimacing and groaning showing that he feels every bit of the pain. Strikes, punches, kicks, and elbows capped by a massive forearm to the chest—
BLIND FURY IS BEING UNLEASHED UPON GRIMSKULL!!
Vision latches onto Grimskull’s wobbly body from behind, and sweeps him backwards—
RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP!!
Grimskull can’t see that a smiling Vision has hooked his leg but hears the ref slap the mat—
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
..
..
..
..
..
..
GRIMSKULL’S EVERY LIMB FLAILS AROUND TO GET A SHOULDER UP!!
As Grimskull’s body slowly and uncoordinatedly gets its legs underneath itself, Vision laughs as he blindly springboards backwards off the middle rope which just so happens to be looming over Grimskull’s head on the outside—
EYES IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD!!
THE SPRINGBOARD COFFIN DROP HITS NOTHING BUT CANVAS!!
Grimskull caught it out of the corner of his eye, and using Vision’s body as a sort of compass, Grimskull’s body feels around, finding the right direction towards the ropes—
HE SEES HIS OWN BODY REACH THE ROPES ABOVE HIM!
Grimskull directs his body to climb through the ropes—
BUT VISION HAS A HOLD OF GRIMSKULL’S FOOT!
Vision drags Grimskull by the leg off the ropes—
ENZUIGIRI TO VISION!
Vision releases his grasp on the leg as he crumbles to the mat and Grimskull dives out of the ring in desperation—
GRIMSKULL HAS HIS HEAD BACK!
Head and body have reunited, and Grimskull slides back into the ring holding his spiked skull like a mannequin head, albeit with a sinister grin on its’ face. He stands menacingly behind Vision who’s getting to his feet, and he polls the crowd:
“WHAT DOES EVERYBODY WANT?!”
To which the rabid Arcadians in attendance shout in response:
“PAIN!”
HEADBANGER BETWEEN VISION’S EYES DROPS HIM TO THE MAT!
Vision’s been busted wide open, a bloody third eye bearing its mark now on his forehead, and it’s shedding red tears as Grimskull winds up again—
“WHAT DOES EVERYBODY NEED?!”
“PAIN!!”
A SECOND HEADBANGER TO VISION!!
Vision is down and Grimskull is just straight up bashing his own skull all over Vision’s body over and over again as Grimskull screams,
“WHAT DOES EVERYBODY LOVE?!”
There’s nothing the ref can do about this because, technically, it’s Grimskull’s own body part that he’s hitting Vision with, and so he simply watches on in horror, wincing every time Vision is hit until Grimskull plops his skull back into place on his neck, standing above his bloodied and battered opponent.
Grimskull bows his head and places his hands in the prayer position, taunting Vision, and Grimskull’s followers chant his name as he ascends to the top rope, where he puts his arms out wide, and leaps at Vision—
PRAYER!!
THE DIVING HEAD BUTT HITS FLUSH!!
But Vision wasn’t the only one who’s suffering in pain from that one, and Grimskull can only manage to throw a single arm over Vision’s chest—
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
..
..
..
..
..
..
THREE??
…
NO!!
VISION GOT A SHOULDER UP!!
Grimskull parks himself in the corner of the ring waiting, demanding that Vision get to his feet. The Preacher already got his revenge on his old friend tonight, but now, as the crimson Vision slowly rises and turns, Grimskull wants to teach him a—
LESSON!!!
BUT VISION DUCKED THE SUPERKICK!!!
Vision drills Grimskull with a vicious back elbow to the head—
IRON STRIKE!!
This is just enough to daze Grimskull and allow Vision an opening to leap at him—
THIRD EYE BLINDED!!!
DOUBLE KNEE FACEBUSTER!!!
Vision covers Grimskull with a bloody smile—
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
..
..
..
..
..
..
DON’T LOSE YOUR HEAD, GRIMSKULL!!
…
THREE!!!
The winner writes history, as Vision will be the man to put his spin on his victory tonight!
WINNER: VISION
THE HUNT BEGINS
Before.
“We need to talk.”
Inside the office of The People’s Voice, Colt Ramsey has been confronted by his one-time fling of sorts in Narcissa Balenciaga who takes a seat across from the Journo.
“For quite some time, these hunters have been on the prowl, their desire growing more and more fervent to collect the finest trophies imaginable…always seeking The Great Hunt.”
Narcissa motions to the picture still in Colt’s hand, a frown on her face as she continues.
“And that young man? He turned out to be their trophy on this occasion…and I’ve been trying to figure out why.”
This only seems to confuse Colt even further, the reporter raising his eyebrow as he looks at the picture once more.
“But what does this guy have to do with you…why’s he any of your business?”
“He’s not,” replies the Designer with a sigh. “But that young man is someone else’s business…Jinx’s. He’s her brother, and those hunters murdered him…and their leader was Luther Grim. Jinx has been looking for clues as to what happened ever since.”
Colt looks over the picture some more, the context becoming clearer as he finally responds to the information he’s been given.
“And that’s why she agreed to help you out…but what’s TEC-nodrome got to do with this?”
Narcissa can’t help but chuckle at the remark, shaking her head at his incompetence before responding.
“I’m surprised you, the reporter, haven’t pieced that one together yet. Fine, I’ll tell you…the Automaton has been a very helpful tool in getting me the information I need. I haven’t found it yet, but I suspect there’s evidence that links Grim up with Zeus himself…and I have a nagging feeling this Great Hunt has something to do with it.”
Now.
We find ourselves backstage, where Colt has been trying to get underneath TEC’s chassis just long enough to remove the source of its misery, finally removing the broken button and tossing it to the ground.
“There we go bud, all fixed up,” remarks the Journo with a smirk. “Hopefully that’s put an end to that mess.”
TEC gives a slow, mechanical nod as Ramsey extends a hand…an act that TEC slowly understands to accept as it shakes hands on a case seemingly closed.
Cut.
What would you do for family? What would you do to find peace? Two very different men forced together to find answers but will their debts to others turn those answers into unsolvable mysteries or can Perseus remain a man true to his word, save his brother and give Nobody a little peace of mind in the process?
The bell sounds as both men just stare one another down, not moving for a moment before Jackson is the first to walk forward, not attacking but outstretching his hand to Attano who just stares it down. Cade nods, keeping his hand extended as Attano considers it for a moment before reaching forward and clasping his hand
AS HE PULLS CADE INWARDS, ROCKING HIM WITH A HEADBUTT!
Attano starting out dirty here as he pummels Perseus with lefts and rights, sending him staggered back into the ropes before he whips him across the ring, trying for a clothesline that Cade manages to duck underneath before bouncing off the ropes with the
BREACH AND CLEAR! SLINGUBLADEU!
Attano stumbles to his feet into a second and a third Slingblade, Cade backing up after the third as he looks for the killing blow allready but Attano sees the Superkick coming, rolling out of the ring and harms way to try and gain his bearings. Attano staggers away, holding onto the nearby speaker for balance as Cade sizes him up for a moment before running forward
SUCIDE SPEAR…INTO THE SPEAKER WALL! Attano suckers in Perseus’s there as Cade’s skulls drives hard into the thick metal, a low reverb echoing out into the arena as Jackson may well have knocked himself out cold there and then, Attano not helping matters as he pulls Cade up to his feet
AND TOSSES HIM HEAD FIRST BACK INTO THE METAL SPEAKER!
Cade’s head bounces like a ball against the speaker opening up a cut that’s slight at first but not after Attano slams his skull into it over and over again, that small cut turning into a river of blood as Jackson Cade is a bloodied and broken mess thanks to Mr Nobody who mercifully pulls him up from the unforgiving concrete floor and throws him back into the ring. Cade slowly and barely gets to his feet as Attano rolls into the ring, rushing forward
HEADSHOT! Brutal Superkick sends blood flying through the air as that has to be it, Cade dropping like a rock as Attano covers with the lateral press
ONE
……………..
……………………….
TWO
…………………
……………………..
THR…..
NO!
There’s fight in Cade left as he gets the shoulder up, Attano looking impressed before peeling him up off the mat, a hard knee to the jaw rocking Perseus before he rushes to the ropes, trying for another Headshot
INCENDIARY ROUND! Bullhammer Elbow out of nowhere knocks Attano for a loop, an almost instinctual counter by Cade as both men collapse to the mat. Attano is up to his feet first, trying for a hard right that Cade ducks underneath, unleashing a torrent of blows onto the unsuspecting Attano before another Incendiary Round leaves him out on his feet before he’s lifted up high into the air
MASTER KEY! BRAINBUSTER spikes Attano into the mat but Cade can’t quickly follow up as the blood loss drops him down to one knee. Cade wipes the blood from his eyes, finding the strength to rise to his feet before slowly climbing up the ropes to the top, looking to make that fowl cry but Attano is allready rising to his feet, Cade diving off anyway
CROSSBOD…NOPE! Attano sees the flying Perseus just in time, dodging out of the way as Cade splatters against the mat. Perseus slowly rises up to his feet as Attano rushes forward
KNEECAP! Brutal Shotgun dropkick to the knee nearly breaks bone upon impact as Cade cries out in pain, before Attano leaps up, locking in a guillotine chokehold.
Cade’s still bleeding profusely, Attano choking all the wind out of his lungs as he pulls him down to the mat, trying to transition into that bulldog choke but Cade doesn’t let himself fall, rising to his feet in a roar of defiance as Attano tries to pull him down with all his strength.
SIT OUT POWERBOMB BREAKS THE HOLD! But that may have been all she wrote for Cade as he collapses to the mat. Both men struggle up slowly, Cade wiping the blood from his eyes as Attano smirks, motioning Cade forward before both men sprint forward.
Left from Attano, right from Cade. A sharp headbutt staggers Cade back before he nearly takes Attano’s head off with a brutal Lariat. Attano slowly rises to his feet, Cade rushing forward but Attano ducks underneath the Superkick, leaping up as Cade turns around
VENOM! Scorpion Kick rocks Cade, dropping him down to his knees as Attano draws one finger across his throat, looking for the killing blow as he rushes to the ropes, rebounding behind Cade
AS HE SILENCES PERSEUS WITH THE HIDDEN BLADE!
That has to be it as Cade collapses to the mat in a pool of his own blood, Attano turning over the dead weight and hooking the leg as the referee slides in for the pinfall
ONE
……………
……………….
TWO
………………..
…………………….
…………………………..
THREE!!!
Mr Nobody picks up the victory over Jackson Cade here tonight, using his fighting experience and a weakened Perseus to his advantage but will he get the peace he seeks or will his daughters demise still be a mystery?
WINNER: HAROLD ATTANO
D
The Slums look different since the last time we were here. Grimskull has travelled here after his match with Vision earlier tonight, and he looks battle-worn, but not as battle-worn as his home turf.
There are some of his people milling around, but the swathes that usually flock to him are nowhere to be seen. Grimskull looks concerned, and continues into the area surrounding his ramshackle stage.
His people look haggard – moreso than ever before, but even worse than that they look beaten. Like they’re finished with life.
They can barely look Grimskull in the eye, aside from one, who walks up to him.
“My child…” begins Grimskull.
“Don’t you dare,” responds the resident, his eyes cold. “You promised us the world, but we have nothing. We are even more destitute now than we ever were before you arrived. And you still don’t tell us why.”
“It will all become clear soon, I promise. All of this will be worth it.”
The man sighs at Grimskull’s words.
“Unfortunately your promises aren’t worth the paper they’re written on any more. You had better find a way to fix this, and soon, or you might find yourself the preacher with nobody left to preach to.”
The man walks away, leaving Grimskull looking more sombre than ever.
“Protocol V can’t complete soon enough,” Grimskull mutters to himself, as he retreats too.
Cut.
A long friendship turned into a deep seated hatred morphed into a fight for utter survival. The war between Dr Death and El Mariachi Muerte has shaped and morphed the world title scene for months now, will this be the fatal final confrontation or simply the beginning of Act Three?
MOTHER FUCKING SPEAR NEARLY CUTS RIGHT THROUGH DOCTOR DEATH!
No sneak attacks this time just good old fashioned beatdowns as Muerte nearly breaks Death’s ribs with a brutal spear before beginning to ground and pound his ass into the mat. Death struggles for a moment, clearly not expecting this immediate attack before reaching up
DOUBLE THUMBS TO THE EYES!
Mariachi gets blinded but he backs off quickly as the fingers just scrape his corneas, knowing Death would easily blind him permanently if he let him. Mariachi shakes away the pain, allowing Death to stagger him with a hard knee to the jaw before leaping off the ropes
LOBOTO…NO! Mariachi sees the tornado DDT attempt coming, slipping out of the hold before grabbing Death around the waist.
WHISKEY…NO! Death gets thrown overhead but lands on his feet from the Belly to Belly attempt before both men leap up into the air
DOUBLE DROPKICK! The Dropkicks cancel eachother out as both men land back on their feet, the pair knowing eachother inside and out by this point. Death nods as a slight smirk crosses Mariachi’s face.
BEFORE HE NEARLY TAKES DEATH’S HEAD OFF WITH A MASSIVE LARIAT!
Death didn’t expect the power game here as he staggers back into a flurry of hard forearms before a pair of double knees to the jaw rock the doctor for a moment as he powers him into the air
AND NEARLY PLANTS HIM THROUGH THE MAT WITH A STIFF POWERBOMB!
Mariachi doesn’t let go though, lifting Death up once more and delivering a second Powerbomb and a third before powering him up once more, rushing forward but before he can deliver the release Powerbomb, Death slips out of his grasp, rolling back into a Sunset Flip that pins Mariachi’s shoulders to the mat out of nowhere.
ONE
………………..
………………………
TW…..
………………….
MARIACHI GETS THE SHOULDER UP!
El Muerte gets to his feet into a sharp headbutt that rocks him before he’s lifted up off his feet
SPINAL CONTUSION! BRAINBUSTTTAA!
Two can play at the power game as Death drops Mariachi right onto his dome, rolling to his feet as he leaps over the apron, waiting for Muerte to stagger to his feet before leaping off with DEFIBRILATION! Mammoth Heart Punch staggers Muerte as Death leaps off the ropes behind him
PRESCRIBING HIS CHALLENGER WITH SOME PAINKILLERS POISONRANA STYLE!
Muerte staggers back to his feet, eyes glazed over but he’s not vertical for long before a rib shattering JOHN WOO dropkick sends him flying into the corner. Muerte crashes hard into the steel as Death begins to pummel him with everything he has. Lefts, rights, elbows, forearms, all pummeling Mariachi into the canvas before Death grips both hands
AND BEGINS TO DELIVER SOME LETHAL CHEST COMPRESSIONS!
He barely gets a few kicks in though before Mariachi catches one, slowly standing up as Death tries to fight his way out of the inevitable as Mariachi flips him into the air, dropping Death face first unceremoniously onto the mat. Death staggers up to his feet into a hard headbutt before he’s lifted up off his feet
IN THE END! PUMPHANDLE HALF NELSON SPIKES DEATH INTO THE MAT!
Mariachi doesn’t waste time, quickly heading to the top rope as he stares down his fallen foe for a moment, a sneer of disgust crossing his face as he tosses down that single rose before leaping off
48 ROS…NO! Death moves at the last second, Mariachi rolling through on his feet as he rushes right into COMATOSIA! TORNADO ROUNDHOUSE KNOCKS MARIACHI FOR A LOOP! But he’s not done as he lifts the groggy Mariachi up,
BY APPOINTMENT! DESTINO! Death plants Mariachi into the mat, rolling through for the cover as this match may well be over right here.
ONE
………………
………………………
TWO
……………………….
………………………………
………………………………………
THRE
………………..
MARIACHI GETS THE SHOULDER UP!
Death looks shocked for a moment but just shakes his head, knowing he needs a lot more to put down his greatest rival. He pulls Mariachi up to his feet, planting him into the mat with a second By Appointment but the world champion doesn’t cover, instead walking over to the corner as he grabs his favorite tool, that solid steel cane. But as Death stands to his feet, the hair on the back of his neck stands up as a slow, beautiful melody begins to float through the air.
El Mariachi has the guitar set up.
Death turns around, a grin of pure malice on Singing Death’s face as he whispers a single word into the strings he plucks.
“Congelar”
A single blue tinged note floats through the air, hitting the world champion straight in the chest as he stops moving, completely frozen in time by the mystical magic woven into the strings. The Mariachi chuckles to himself, placing his weapon safe down onto the mat as he slowly walks towards his helpless prey and simply places his head between his legs. Mariachi slowly places that rose between his teeth, that third world championship in his grasp already as he prepares for the end.
FADE
TO
…BACKDROP!
Death backdrops his way out of the Package Piledriver, Muerte staggering up confused as Death just taps his ears, flipping off Muerte before drilling him into the mat with a jaw crushing Superkick.
After all, the music can’t affect you if it’s on mute. But Death doesn’t need sound to put his opponent down as he leaps onto the apron, begging for Muerte to get to his feet as he’s looking for that lethal cutter.
Mariachi staggers up to his feet as Death springboards upwards
LETHAL….NO! Mariachi ducks underneath, knowing that move far too well as it’s Muerte’s time to springboard off the ropes, Death rolling to his feet right into a
MALICIOUS
GODDAMN
SONATA!
Muerte forces Death to listen to his song as raw adrenaline pumps through him, that single strand of guitar string falls into his hands as he stalks a slowly rising Dr Death, ready to choke out a bitch and regain the world championship
BUT DEATH CRASHES TO THE MAT
Death looks completely out of it, Muerte trying to lift him up to lock in the hold but Death is completely limp, the referee just about to call for the bell when Death suddenly springs to life
UPPERCUT TO THE CAJONES!
Muerte’s doubled over in pain as Death wraps Mariachi up into a small package out of nowhere, the referee sliding in for the count
ONE
………………….
……………………….
TWO
…………………….
……………………………..
………………………………….
THREE!!!!
Dr Death slides out of the ring, pulling the world title from the timekeeper as he clutches it to his chest. El Mariachi stares down his hated foe, both men knowing that this won’t be the final battle between the pair.
WINNER AND STILL OSW WORLD CHAMPION: DR. DEATH
LA MARIACHI VIDA
The OSW World Championship lays in the ring, its fate no longer hanging in the balance.
El Mariachi Muerte and Dr. Death crawl towards each other, their war not finished. Rising to their knees, they exchange blows.
“Some protector you are,” Death accuses. “My hands are thick with Mariachi blood, yet you put all your efforts into luring me out with one single Mariachi. One who was mine to begin with.”
“Where is she?!” EMM retorts.
The Luchadoc rises to his feet, a chuckle behind his words.
“She only wanted to protect you, because she knew you’d fight to the bitter end to protect the Mariachi.”
EMM also rises to his feet.
“Where is she?” He asks again, steel in his voice.
“When she reached out to you, you really thought it was because she needed help? Because she was trying to protect the institution she hated? No, she reached out to you for the same reason you came to Olympus in the first place.”
“Where is she?” Muerte repeats. Dr. Death pays him no mind.
“The other Mariachi seek to dominate, to impose their will and emotion upon the world around them. But life and death? They are gardeners, preserving that which is worthy, and culling that which is not. Diametrically opposed, yet fundamentally linked. Two sides of the same coin, always calling to one another, drawing the other near. “
EMM finally pauses, confused by where Death is going.
“She was my first,” Dr. Death muses. “Through her, I discovered your kind, saw what they were doing to Arcadia. It taught me that the hardships of my youth could have been countered with one simple song. Yet they only seem to bless the already fortuned.”
The pair meet in the center of the ring, Muerte’s anger cooling into confusion.
“I asked her to transfer her power to me, to make me the Mariachi of Life. But she refused, saying the Mariachi were benevolent.” Death says, sounding wistful. “How foolish of me to believe I could kill the Mariachi of Life. Though I tried, amigo, I tried. Over and over again, I honed my namesake. But over and over again, she came back, more scarred and deformed each time. Through her, I learned how to track and kill Mariachi, to rid Arcadia of their ‘benevolence’”
“What have you done?” EMM says, starting to understand.
“You know what I’ve done,” Death says, the smirk somehow visible even through his mask. “You just cannot face it. I used her to lure you to Olympus, to bring together the final components I need to rid Arcadia of the Mariachi. So now I ask you the same thing she refused to do.”
He steps back, holding his arms out.
“Make me the Mariachi of Death, give me the power to make this right, or become my slave as your love…”
WHAM!
DEATH FALLS TO HIS KNEES, HOLDING HIS BALLS!
BEFORE MUERTE CAN REACT, A GUITAR GOES SWINGING THROUGH THE AIR!
AND CRASHES AROUND THE HEAD OF DR. DEATH!
THE LUCHADOC HITS THE MAT FLUSH.
He is out.
And behind him, holding the remains of the guitar?
Nurse Frightengale.
Or should I say…
La Mariachi Vida.
A moment of silence passes between the Mariachi. EMM studies her face, the scars that made her so ugly now revealed as Dr. Death’s attempts to snuff her life out.
Her life.
Life and death stand reunited.
Vida grabs Muerte’s hand.
“There’s so much you need to know.”
They flee the ring, leaving Dr. Death laying in the center of it.
Cut.
WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?
Arcadia Police Department.
Jackson Cade sits at his desk, contemplating his decisions. He’s been a man possessed when it comes to finding his brother and the weight of what he’s done has been pulling him down. So, when Harold Attano sits opposite him, it’s quite the shock.
“I should’ve given you answers,” Attano admits outright.
Cade shakes his head.
“I didn’t come at you in the right way,” Cade says earnestly. “Honestly, I’ve not been myself for quite some time. I’ve not been winning matches. I can’t get my head around my brother being in Deathrow and it’s consuming my every waking moment.”
Harold thinks about it for a moment.
“You don’t need to worry about your brother,” the ex-con finally says with some promise. “He’s more than capable of looking out for himself.”
That raises the eyebrow of Cade.
“What’s going on down there?” Jackson enquires, leaning in closer.
“It’s not too dissimilar from what’s going on up here. They have the inmates on Deathrow wrestling one another, but the stakes are higher. Your brother held his own and had a little trouble down there with a cat called Max Meadows. They had history.”
Jackson writes that down.
“I’m sorry about your daughter,” he says peering up over the pen and paper. Harold looks saddened, taking in a deep sigh. “I have her file here.”
He slowly passes the file across the table.
Harold opens it up and begins reading, taking in all the information. His eyes widen as he goes through, unravelling the fate that befell his poor daughter.
“Tell me more about Jasper Redgrave,” he barks.
Cade gulps.
“He’s dead,” the officer says proudly. “His reign of terror is over.”
Suddenly, the sound of heels clapping against the floor echoes throughout the APD. Both men turn their attention to find Narcissa Balenciaga, her eyes firmly focused on them.
“Gentlemen,” she says confidently. “I have a very important question to ask of you.”
They both tilt their heads.
“Who do you want to be?”
Cut.
It’s that moment you’ve all been waiting for.
It’s the Ring King 2023 Final. Old School Wrestling looks to crown a King. Who will rule over Arcadia?
DING! DING! DING!
The bell sounds and both men begin circling one another. They lock up, equal in height – only Tombstone is a bit heavier. He takes Doom into a Side Headlock and wrenches, only for Doom to run him off into the ropes.
He comes barrelling back with a Clothesline! NO! The Scientist ducks beneath it, spinning quickly with a kick to the back of the knee.
ANOTHER!
ANOTHER!
THE FERRYMAN GOES DOWN TO ONE KNEE!
Doom storms back into the ropes….
THE SCRAMBLER!
RUNNING KNEE TO TOMBSTONE!
Doom leaps into the cover…
ONE…
TWO….
KICK OUT!
The Scientist gets back up, grabbing a leg and going to work. He kicks at it beneath the knee, doing as much damage as he can with every vile stomp.
Tombstone writhes in agony…
LEG DDT!
SLAMMED WITH A SNAP, STRAIGHT INTO THE CANVAS!
BUT DOOM HOLDS ON!
SUBMISSION! SUBMISSION! He twists and bends under the knee, wrenching The Ferryman into an agonizing seated position. He reaches out! RIGHT! RIGHT! RIGHT!
DOOM BREAKS THE HOLD!
Both men re-organise themselves, Tombstone getting back to his feet with a hobble. He falls backwards into the ropes as Doom storms across the ring…
GOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEE!!
THE SPLITTER!
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FUCKING KNEES OF TOMBSTONE AND THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPES TO THE OUTSIDE!
“HOLY SHIT!” “HOLY SHIT!”
The fans roar as both men hit the outside with a thud. Doom is a much different cat. He’s vicious and Tombstone is finding out just how much that’s true.
He gets him back up and runs him back first into the KING sign outside the ring. The Ferryman’s head bounces off it violently.
The Doctor grabs him, taking him towards the ring post and slamming him head first into that for good measure as well. As Tombstone drops to one knee, Doom backs up…
A SECOND SCRAMBLER!
STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF TOMBSTONE’S HEAD, SLAMMING HIM FACE FIRST INTO THE FUCKING RING POST!
JESUS CHRIST!
The referee has followed them to the outside and can only watch helplessly as Doom drags a limping Tombstone around the ring towards the steps.
He holds The Ferryman there, with twenty plus steps looming behind him.
HOVER, NO BOTHER!
LEVITATING KICK TO THE HEAD!
AND TOMBSTONE FALLS DOWN THE FUCKING STEPS! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! TOMBSTONE ROLLS BACKWARDS, SMASHING HIS SKULL ON EVERY STEP BEFORE LANDING AT THE BOTTOM WITH A THUD.
The crowd are going wild. There’s boo’s, cheers, and hisses from the audience.
Doom slowly walks down the steps. He’s casual. He’s terrifying. He gets to the bottom and looks down at Tombstone, who’s on all fours…
And he walks back up three steps, leaping off…
CURBSTOMP! CURBSTOMP TO THE FERRYMAN!
The Mad Scientist has dominated this match so far. He walks casually back up the steps and rolls back into the ring, leaving Tombstone down and out on the outside.
It’s over.
There’s just no chance in hell that he’s getting up.
The referee joins him and reluctantly counts…
ONE….
….
….
TWO….
….
….
THREE….
….
….
FOUR….
….
….
FIVE….
….
….
SIX….
….
….
SEVEN….
….
….
EIGHT….
Clunk.
Pitch Black.
The lights suddenly go out. Olympus is thrust into complete and utter darkness.
Just then, apparitions appear around the ring.
They’re in the crowd too.
Ghostly apparitions.
Their faces a light blue hue, illuminated, but empty. What the fuck is going on? Who the fuck are these ‘people’?
“Ferryman, rise.”
The chant is overwhelming. It’s loud and trembling. The entire arena shakes with it. It thunders around us from voices of the unknown – voices of people or things we can barely see.
Flash!
Suddenly, the lights return and there’s Tombstone!
The ghostly apparitions are gone.
The Ferryman stands in the middle of the ring with his head lowered. What the fuck is going on?!
Doom doesn’t waste a second and runs at him full speed with a Clothesline.
TOMBSTONE DUCKS!
UPPERCUT!
UPPERCUT!
THRUSTING UPPERCUT!
THE FERRYMAN’S KNOCK!
BACK GOES DOOM INTO THE CORNER!
Tombstone backs up and runs at him, leaping into the air with a GIANT CORNER SPLASH! BOOM! DOOM stumbles out…
HEARTPUNCH!
SOUL TAKER! SOUL TAKER BY TOMBSTONE!!
He drops into the cover…
ONE….
TWO….
THREE!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
DOOM KICKS THE FUCK OUT!
Tombstone gets back to his feet and grabs Doom by the hooded mask, pulling him back up as well. He runs him back into the corner, only his knee gives out as he does.
The stumble aside, The Ferryman gets back up and starts going to town on Doom with right hands before whipping him violently across the ring into the opposite corner.
The Ferryman storms over as Doom drops to his knees, pulling him under and into position.
JACKNIFE POWERBOMB!
ODE TO CHARON!
COVERS….
ONE….
TWO….
THREE!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
DOOM KICKS THE FUCK OUT AGAIN!
Both of these men have given and taken their lumps here tonight. Tombstone gets back to his feet and puts his hand in the air. He’s signalling for the end. It’s Chokeslam time!
The Scientist is slowly back up…
GOOZLE!
NO!
KICK TO THE KNEE BY DOOM!
IMPENDING DOOM!
DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! OUT OF NO-WHERE! OUT OF NOTHING!
THAT HAS TO BE IT!
BUT DOOM CAN’T COVER….
HE’S EXHAUSTED!
Both men lay on the canvas. Doom is the first back to his feet, backing away. He’s gonna look to break the jar here. He rallies for Tombstone to awaken and slowly he does.
The Ferryman begins his crawl, unsure of where he is…
DOOM RUSHES!
RUNNING PUNT KICK!
BREAKING THE JAR!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
TOMBSTONE ROLLED FORWARD OUT OF THE WAY! HE ROLLED OUT OF THE FUCKING WAY!
Doom quickly adjusts, turning to rush Tombstone one more time as he lands on one knee.
BOSSMAN SLAM!
YOU CANT… RUN… FROM THE MOTHER FUCKING FERRYMAN!!
Tombstone covers as the crowd chant with the count…
ONE….
…..
…..
…..
TWO….
…..
…..
…..
THREE!
TOMBSTONE HAS DONE IT! TOMBSTONE HAS FUCKING DONE IT! The crowd go wild as the referee jumps back to his feet! Tombstone is your 2023 Ring King!
But wait…
Doom’s foot….
It’s…
Oh fuck, it’s on the fucking ropes!
As Tombstone stumbles forward with his arms raised, the referee tells him the count didn’t matter. He doesn’t understanding, turning to see DOOM!
DOOM STANDS THERE!
HEAD LOWERED!
WHAT…
THE…
FUCK!
DRONES! DRONES FROM EVERY DIRECTION! ROCKETS FIRE AT THE FEET OF TOMBSTONE, EXPLODING HIM DOWN TO ONE KNEE! THEN DOWN TO ALL FOURS!
THE MAD MONOLOGUE!
Doom hits the ropes…
BREAKING THE JAR!
RUNNING PUNT KICK TO THE FUCKING HEAD OF TOMBSTONE!
HOLY GOD DAMN SHIT!
THE POWER TURNED TOMBSTONE OVER IN MID FUCKING AIR! He drops into the cover….
ONE….
…..
…..
…..
TWO….
…..
…..
…..
THREE!
DOOM HAS DONE IT! Doom has fucking done it! The Scientist rolls off of Tombstone and gets back to his feet, the referee raising his arm in celebration.
“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Only…
Uh…
He spots it.
Tombstone’s foot is on the fucking ropes! The fans roar with cheers as the referee tells Doom that it isn’t over. He immediately grabs the referee, choking the fuck out of him!
THE HANDS OF DOOM TO THE REFEREE!
THE HANDS OF FUCKING DOOM!
THE REFEREE IS BEING CHOKED BEFORE OUR VERY EYES!
SNAP!
Oh no.
Oh my God.
Doom just… he just… I don’t think this has ever happened before. Doom just snapped the referee’s neck with both fucking hands. He stops for a moment, holding the lifeless corpse of the referee by his neck.
Jesus Christ.
Tombstone rises.
The Ferryman snatches the referee away from Doom and places him carefully down on the canvas, taking a moment to close his eyes.
He gets back to his feet and turns around…
STEEL CHAIR TO THE FUCKING SKULL!
THAT SON OF A BITCH DOOM NAILS HIM WITH A FUCKING STEEL CHAIR!
Tombstone goes down like a sack of shit! But there’s no referee. Doom, you know, killed that poor fucking bastard.
The Scientist drops the chair on the canvas and pulls a limp Tombstone back to his feet, scooping him into position!
IMPENDING DOOM!
DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!
RIGHT ON THE STEEL FUCKING CHAIR!
HE COVERS…
ONE….
…..
…..
…..
TWO….
…..
…..
…..
THREE!
…..
…..
…..
FOUR..
…..
…..
…..
FIVE…
There’s no fucking referee!
Suddenly, “Felix Foley’s Funhouse Theme” by The Funhouse Band roars into the arena, sending the crowd into absolute fucking raptures.
The last we saw of Scissors was when Doom dropped him in the Odyssey Pool! Now he’s… he’s back to being Felix!
And uh… he’s wearing a… uh… referee’s shirt.
The crowd cheer as Felix hops up the steps like an excited child, sliding into the ring.
“Hey buddy!” He yells, waving enthusiastically at Doom, who is by now back to his feet and looking with a tilted head. “You saved me and now I’m gonna save you!”
“What on Earth do you mean?” Doom growls at him.
Felix puts an arm around him.
“You could’ve let me remain as that terrible Scissors, but you didn’t. You saved me. We’re the Tag Team Champions, friend! How about that? Since you saved me, I’m gonna be a good friend back and save you. You don’t have to be a murderous psychopath. You can beat Tombstone fair and square, watch!”
ROLL UP!
TOMBSTONE FROM BEHIND WITH A ROLL UP!
ONE…
…
TWO…
…
THREE!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! DOOM KICKS OUT!
The Ferryman exhaustedly bounds away from the cover and rolls to the outside, leaving Doom on his knees in absolute shock. He gets back up and grabs the steel chair, only Felix stops him, grabbing it.
“Uh huh huh!” He says, wagging a finger. “That’s not the right way.”
Doom growls at the inconvenience.
BUT HERE COMES TOMBSTONE!
He spins Doom around and begins delivering right hands, backing him into the ropes. He whips him across the ring, only The Scientist ducks a Clothesline attempt, leaping into the air with a Neckbreaker!
Foley squeals in excitement!
One half of the Tag Team Champions gets back to his feet and grabs Tombstone, only the Rewind Champion delivers a body shot that stumbles him backwards.
They both rise.
Doom rushes forward, being scooped.
ELYSIUM FIELDS!
TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
DOOM WIGGLES OUT! He pushes Tombstone straight into Foley, who instinctively acts!
DOUBLE ARM DDT!
CUT THE STRINGS BY FOLEY!
The Puppetmaster can’t believe he did it. He didn’t mean to. Doom rolls Tombstone over and jumps into the cover…
Felix thinks about it for a moment…
Another moment.
Doom is slamming the canvas in frustration.
AND THEN HE COUNTS!
ONE…
…
TWO…
…
THREE!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! TOMBSTONE KICKS OUT!
As The Scientist is kicked away with the cover, he gets back to his knees and slams the canvas in frustration. He admonishes Foley for not counting quicker.
“What’s your problem, Foley?” He roars.
Felix shrugs.
“It wasn’t fair. You made me do that,” he begs off. “I gave him a gentleman’s chance to kick out.”
Doom gets back to his feet and grabs Foley by the throat, slamming him backwards into the corner with both hands.
“Do you know what happened the last referee who infuriated me?” He growls angrily.
Felix looks down at the deceased ref and nods slowly.
Doom releases him, turning around and straight into A GOOZLE!
A GOOZLE OUT OF NO-WHERE!
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS!
FALLING CHOKESLAM BY TOMBSTONE!
He covers….
Felix reluctantly drops to his knees….
He’s not counting fast…
ONE…
…
…
…
“COME ON DOOM, BUDDY!”
TWO…
…
…
…
“KICK OUT! KICK OUT!”
THREE!
But he doesn’t! Doom doesn’t kick out! It’s over! Ring King 2023 is finally over. The bell sounds as Tombstone rolls exhaustedly away from the cover, absolutely shattered.
Felix looks dejected and perhaps somewhat scared too.
He rouses Doom, shaking him to let him know what’s happened as The Ferryman gets back to his feet, being handed his crown by the staff at ringside.
Tombstone has won Ring King 2023.
The King of Old School Wrestling is The King of Destination.
WINNER AND RING KING 2023: TOMBSTONE
FAR WORSE THAN DEATH II
Hours Later.
The Mortuary.
Tombstone stands in the middle of the Cemetery, a shovel in his hand. He’s slowly moving dirt from one pile back into what looks to be a nearly covered grave.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t save you,” he says, continuing to pile dirt into the grave itself.
He steps out of the grave and finishes it off, moving the last remnants of soil back to where it was disposed.
“I did everything I could. I did everything I knew,” he convinces himself. “I just couldn’t save you and I’m sorry.”
With the grave now filled, Tombstone walks over to his namesake – a large concrete slab. He picks it up with enormous strength and trundles back towards the grave, slamming it into the mud powerfully.
He takes a deep breath.
“There won’t be a moment in time that I’ll forget what happened to you,” he promises. “It will remain with me forever, even if you cannot. I wanted nothing more than to make this right.”
Tombstone brushes away the dust from the gravestone.
It reads…
Here Lies Drewitt
Laid to rest eternally.
Rest. Awaken. Rest.
He turns and walks away, leaving Drewitt buried alive in the ground. Once back inside The Mortuary, he heads to the room where Igor lays, still hooked up to machines and still in a coma.
It could’ve been him he was burying tonight.
Many might have thought it so.
“We couldn’t rectify the balance, Igor,” he says solemnly. “And for what he did to you, he will suffer a fate far worse than death.”
Tombstone takes a seat, grabbing Igor’s hand.
“I need you to awaken though, mentor. Something is happening to me.”
Suddenly, surrounding him are ghostly apparitions – just like we saw in the Ring King Final. They’re chanting at him, demanding of him, and he looks confused.
“They’re everywhere.”
Cut.
THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT
Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.
Mechanical footsteps stomp methodically in the distance. The red hue illuminates the background, soon shown to be bustling by patrons going about their business. It’s The Red Light District.
Aarman Fidel stands outside Eden, shaking hands with patrons gaining entry to his sleezy and private club. He flashes a wry sinister smile – his base of operations restored quicker than The Burned Man could tear it down.
Drexl soon walks to the front doors of The Shark Tank, stepping outside to see the lights of the Pussycat Club dazzling him.
Blacktooth stands at the chain-link fence of The Blood Runners Compound, using a toothpick to clear his latest meal from within his teeth. He shares a look in Drexl’s direction, chuckling to himself.
Whilst we spend time looking at each of these locations, the clunking of footsteps had continued in the background until finally they come to an abrupt stop.
The hustle and bustle of the Red Light District is in full effect.
So much so that no-one pays attention to TEC, stood slap bang in the middle of it all.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A thunderous and explosive shockwave suddenly blasts from where TEC stood, obliterating all those in the vicinity. Their blood and viscera flying in every which direction. The shockwave is so powerful that the ceiling begins to crumble.
Dust begins falling.
Fire and flame rage from that centralised point, cascading with the bomb blast in every which direction. TEC itself has been reduced to nothing but metal shards, nuts and red hot bolts, slamming into anyone that moves or anything in its way.
Concrete starts slamming into the ground as people begin running for safety.
The sky is quite literally falling.
Screams echo from every direction. They’re harrowing. People are on fire, bellowing in rapturous agony. Explosions suddenly start emanating from different areas of the Red Light District. Broken pipes and beams are falling everywhere.
There’s blood.
So much blood.
Then silence.
When the screams stop, there’s an eerie and deathly silence, only interrupted by the electrical buzzing and sound of flame.
Cut.