Back in Business XVIII || Night One Results.

the
FANTASY
WRESTLING
ALLIANCE
proudly presents



BACK IN BUSINESS
XVIII



Live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, USA.
Saturday 10th August.



NIGHT ONE.



We open with a wide shot of the arena, noticeably with no PPV opening theme song playing in the background (do we do those?), but with a soundtrack of eighteen and a half thousand rabid and partisan FWA fans repeatedly chanting the company’s name.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Welcome, wrestling fans, to the biggest event in the professional wrestling calendar… welcome to Madison Square Garden in New York City… welcome… to the eighteenth instalment of Back in Business!!"

Konchu Hao: "As a veteran of three Back in Businesses and one X4, Jean-Luc, it’s an honour to be here next to you - my fifth best friend in the FWA - in order to call all of the action from both nights of this extravaganza!!"

Jean-Luc Watkins: "We’re only doing the fir -- yes, Konchu. A great honour!"

The camera pans over the audience, revealing a series of signs being brandished by the enthusiastic fans: ‘SUMMER’S OVER’, ‘XYZITE’ (with an arrow pointing down), ‘WE MISS LIZZIE’, ‘WHO IS IT? WHO IS IT?’, ‘[REDACTED]’, ‘TONER COUNTRY’, ‘ALLEN PRICE BLOWS’, ‘BRING BACK PPV THEMES’, ‘BROOKLYN FOR STEINER;, ‘BURN BUDDY BURN’, ‘EXILE’ (with an arrow pointing down), ‘GET RID OF PPV THEMES’, ‘MY GARDEN SHED IS BIGGER THAN THIS’, ‘FREE PALESTINE’. ‘CHRIS PEACOCK IS AS EDGY AS A SATSUMA’, ‘KONCHU FOR PRESIDENT’, and ‘TRUMP FOR PRIMOGEN OF THE BLACK MASS’ are visible amongst many others.

And, dotted amongst them all, we see a large number of individual sets of ‘K’, ‘R’, ‘A’, ‘S’, ‘H’ fans, from the front row up to the rafters. That particular match-up might not be until Night Two, but there’s an excitement in the air for it ahead of time nonetheless.

After this sweeping shot of the crowd, we settle on the commentary desk, with JLW doing his best to comfort us with a welcoming smile, whilst Konchu looks slightly wide-eyed and manic next to him.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "You already mentioned the X4, Konchu, and Bellatrix Bordeaux’s first round match-up against Aaron Harrows is one of three championship matches scheduled for Night One. We’ll also see XYZ try to finally get his hands on championship gold in the FWA, as he challenges for the Television title against long-time rival Kleio De Santos."

Konchu Hao: "And then there’s our main event, featuring a team that I’ve been to war with myself as part of Dark Roads Alliance trying to reclaim their gold. I’m talking, of course, about Alyster Black and Chris Peacock of FTN, who will challenge Randy Ramon and Danny Toner for the FWA World Tag Team Championships."

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Tommy Bedlam will face Brooklyn Steiner in a parking lot brawl, Sawyer Xavier will go one-on-one with Nova Taylor, and the X4 semi-finals are rounded out by Vengador and Johnny Johnson. But first: a rivalry that has become very personal, and has built over the course of a whole year since last night’s Night One in Mexico City. I’m talking, of course, about Dreamer and Der Basterd. But, at least according to my sources backstage, it appears that Shawn Summers is still on his way to the arena…"

We cut to a different feed, which opens on a limousine. The man in the back of it - blonde haired and smiling (or more smirking) - is staring through an open window, the unmistakable sight of New York rolling by outside. He presses a button to wind them up, the tinted windows hiding the scene on the other side of them.

Shawn Summers: "It’s here, ladies and gentlemen: Back in Business XVIII. The biggest night of the year, and the biggest match of our tulip’s career, even if she doesn’t know it yet. As befitting such a grand occasion, I thought I should begin the broadcast by addressing all of you. Against Rupert’s better judgement, that is. He thinks I should be getting ready for Michelle. But she knows better than anyone how ready for her I am."

A pause to allow his grin to resonate.

Shawn Summers: "Now, I don’t usually wear my ring gear when in my limousine. In fact, Rupert here thinks it quite uncouth…"

Watkins, sitting opposite Summers, shuffles uncomfortably, the leather upholstery squeaking slightly as his suit rubs against it. Summers is wearing his gear and a shimmering white jacket, zipped up, sequined and sparkling under the limo’s low light.

Shawn Summers: "But I’d much rather spend as little time as possible at Madison Square Garden. It’s something about the East Coast. The big apple? Tastes rotten to me. I don’t usually travel with a cameraman, either. Three’s a crowd, you know? Tonight is special, though. I thought I’d pull back the curtain..."

The car, which has been static since we joined Summers in the back of it, finally begins to move, eliciting a more sincere smile from Shawn. This only lasts a few moments, though, with the car abruptly stopping again, the sound of dozens of New Yorkers simultaneously honking their horns in frustration muffled but audible through the car.

Shawn Summers: "Don’t you just hate traffic? I’m going to be late. Driver? Driv --"

Der Basterd’s query to the driver, whatever that might be, never gets verbalised, because - quite suddenly - the door of his car is opened and the wrestler is pulled out of it. The crowd, still several blocks away in the confines in the arena, first gasps and then pops. Rupert Watkins looks on aghast. The cameraman sits for a moment, perhaps too shocked to do anything else.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Get after them! What are we paying you for?!"

As if he can hear Jean-Luc (he can’t, and therefore can’t correct him by pointing out that he’s being paid directly by Mr. Summers), the cameraman clambers to the end of the limousine and leaps out of the door. When he finally re-aligns his camera, we find - to nobody’s surprise - Michelle von Horrowitz throwing Shawn Summers over the hood of an adjacent Chevrolet Camaro!

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Looks like we’re getting right into the action here, with Michelle von Horrowitz and Shawn Summers not quite with us in Madison Square Garden. Instead, they’re… well, I’m not quite sure where they are!"

Konchu Hao: "I’d wager they’re in New York, Jean-Luc."

Michelle climbs up onto the hood, garnering ire from its driver…

Chevrolet Driver: “Hey! I’m driving here!"

Dreamer ignores him, instead surveying Summers as he climbs to his feet. The cameraman momentarily pans upwards, revealing the Empire State Building looming overhead, before showing Michelle von horrowitz diving off the hood of the Chevrolet with a cross-body!

… but Summers catches her!! He carries her over toward a parking meter, dropping her onto it with a snake’s eyes! And then he takes her over on the sidewalk with a clothesline! Der Basterd proceeds to stumble backwards onto the sidewalk himself, before he drags himself up to his feet and dusts himself off, before quickly hurrying towards a nearby yellow cab. He tries to dive into the back of it, but Michelle prevents him from doing so, first slamming his head off the top off the cab and then closing the door onto his right hand. Der Basted staggers backward, but Michelle collects him, and drives him down onto the nearby curb with a Russian leg sweep!

Michelle throws Shawn into the front of the building, before delivering a drop toe hold onto a nearby bench in the plaza. The pair then disappear up West 33rd Street, the cameraman hustling to follow them, continuing their brawl against a backdrop of gridlock. Michelle drags Summers over towards a stationary, driverless Toyota Camry and places him in a front facelock…

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Michelle maybe going for a suplex or a brainbuster here, but Summers digs his heels in, maybe sensing his peril… and then delivers a snap suplex of his own!"

Michelle is dropped onto the sidewalk in front of a dim sum restaurant, a crowd gathering from the outdoor areas of nearby bars. They don’t seem to be FWA fans, and seem somewhat perplexed when Summers clutches von Horrowitz and drags her to her feet in a bearhug… before throwing her overhead with a belly-to-belly suplex!! Onto the hood of the Camry!!

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Wipe Out from Shawn Summers, sending MvH onto and over the hood of that car! Dreamer crawls away between the cars of that traffic jam, with Summers in hot pursuit…"

Konchu Hao: "Michelle climbs up onto the roof of a four-by-four, helmed by a currently unsuspecting driver, perhaps in an attempt to get away from Der Basterd. But rats are good climbers! He follows her up there!"

The driver gets out of his car, but surprisingly decides to film the incident on his cell phone instead of interjecting. Michelle is up to her knees, Summers standing over her, and he drags her head into position between his legs, maybe looking for Midsommar on top of the Jeep. Dreamer, though, drops down to a knee, and drives her forearm upwards with a vicious low blow!!

Konchu Hao: "That’s one way to turn the tide…"

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Summers drops down to his knees, and it’s Michelle’s turn to drag his head into position. She hooks both arms… TIGER DRIVER ‘98!! The roof of the Jeep caves in!!"

Michelle immediately climbs down from the roof, grabbing Summers by the scruff of his neck and pulling him down onto the hood. She is standing next to the car as she hooks both arms again, this time with Der Basterd in a front facelock. She pulls his torso parallel to the road, his legs still draped over the hood… and spikes him down onto the road with a DDT!!

MvH is breathing heavily, but with the traffic beginning to move she deems it prudent to collect Summers and drag him out of the road on the other side of it. Cars honk their horns as she holds them up, but she takes her time and Irish whips Der Basterd into the front of a bus bound for the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Summers stumbles onto the sidewalk and into the busy, pedestrianised area where Broadway crosses 33rd and 6th. A large crowd has gathered now, some - who are privy to exactly what they are witnessing - cheering but most are simply filming the incident on their phones. As Der Basterd turns to face his opponent (or future opponent, technically, as the match hasn’t begun) he sees her charging towards him, and that the last moment he’s able to telegraph and sidestep the attack, collecting Dreamer in a rear waistlock, and throwing her backwards with a release German suplex!!

After sucking in a few deep lung-fulls of oxygen, Summers collects Michelle and drags her over to the 6th Street crossing, where he waits patiently for the signal whilst delivering a half-dozen-ish European uppercuts to Dreamer. Eventually, the signal turns green, and Summers throws Michelle onto the crossing, backing her across it with a series of forearms. Before they get to the other sidewalk, Summers kicks her in the midsection, and this time lifts Michelle up onto his shoulders…

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Shawn Summers looking for a powerbomb here… but reversal from MvH! She sends him sprawling onto the sidewalk with a hurricanrana!!"

It’s Summers’ turn to crawl away, and he spots a stationary pick-up truck. Perhaps in an attempt to escape, he climbs into the back of it, but owing to the red lights ahead Michelle (as well as the cameraman) is able to follow him in. Summers attempts to fend her off with some right hands, but she steps out of range before striking him with a knee raise. Shawn stumbles backwards into the corner of the cargo bed as the pick-up truck begins to move, with Dreamer gripping onto the side for stability as well as to lay in some stomps!

The cameraman pans up from the stomping Dreamer to the road ahead, with Madison Square Garden now clearly visible just half a block up. Michelle sees it too, and she grabs Der Basterd by the scruff of the neck, dragging him to the side of the moving pick-up truck… and then clotheslining over the side of it!!! Dreamer goes flying from the cargo bed too, with the crowd - still audible from inside the arena - losing it as both disappear from sight! The cameraman quickly creeps to the edge of the cargo bay, the two sprawled out on the sidewalk by the front entrance of Madison Square Garden, before the pick-up truck continues across the intersection and the pair are lost from view…

Fortunately, though, reinforcements arrive from inside the arena, with a pair of cameramen emerging through the doors, along with a team of security men who clear the way amongst late fans and passers by. MvH has risen to her feet, though is moving gingerly as she collects Summers and drags him towards the entrance. They pass by a rowdy queue - now FWA fans, their poor punctuality rewarded in an obscene twist of fate - on their way towards some revolving doors, but before they reach them Summers fights back with some elbows to the ribs, and then a rake of the eyes!!

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Underhanded tactics from Shawn Summers… I guess they’re even from the earlier low blow."

Konchu Hao: "All’s fair until they get into the ring, Jean-Luc. If they ever do."

Michelle recoils from the attack on her eyes, flinching and stumbling backwards, with Summers backing her up further with a discus elbow smash! Michelle falls back against one of the glass, revolving doors… AND SHAWN SUMMERS SPEARS HER RIGHT THROUGH IT!!!! The nearby fans, along with those in the arena, go wild again as the camera picks up Der Basterd and Dreamer lying amongst the broken glass, with Summers the first to start rising to his feet. The ticket and bag checkers don’t really know what to do as he drags his opponent through the area, the pair emerging into a grand, busy concourse, many of the fans seated nearby having made their way into it to see the brawl first hand. Security clear a way for Der Basterd, but he charges through them and into a bar area, throwing Michelle over an occupied table, drinks flying everywhere, and those sitting around it quickly dispersing as she crashes into them!

Michelle stubbornly fights up to her feet, but is greeted by a headbutt from Summers, followed by a boot to the gut that doubles her over. Summers collects her arms, hitting a double underhook suplex, sending Dreamer once again onto the top of the table she’s already crashed over. It’s not a pro wrestling table, though, and it doesn’t budge a centimetre, with Michelle instead sliding off it and into a heap on the ground.

Security are still keeping the fans back as Summers clutches both of Michelle’s wrists and drags her along the floor towards a turnstile, eventually giving up on the effort in favour of grabbing a handful of hair… only for MvH to bite his hand! He replies with an attempted backfist, but Michelle is able to duck underneath it and then hit a double leg takedown, following up with forearm strikes from a mounted position! Summers hastily throws up a guard, but he’s not able to deflect the impactful blows, Michelle only relenting in order to continue the assault with stomps. Eventually, she relents, grabbing Summers by the collar of his jacket and ripping it as she drags him along the ground, through the turnstile and into the arena.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Here they are! Dreamer and Der Basterd arrive in Madison Square Garden, and are heading towards the ring through this capacity crowd!"

The cameras pick up Dreamer dragging Summers along an aisle, through the fans, who are amped for the first in-stadium action of the evening. They boo, though, when Summers stops Michelle’s momentum by diving into the back of her knee with a chop block! Dreamer crumbles to the ground, with Summers finding his feet and shaking loose the cobwebs. He walks past a fan brandishing a sign reading ‘SHAWN SUMMERS EATS SPAGHETTI WITH HIS HANDS’, before hoisting Dreamer up around the midriff and slamming her back down onto the concrete aisle with a gutwrench suplex!

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Both of these competitors are breathing heavily already, having fought half-way across New York City already tonight!"

Konchu Hao: "Well, two blocks of Manhattan, but I understand the exaggeration. These two seem intent on killing one another, with no interest in pinfalls or submissions, except for the ultimate submission that is death."

Dreamer is crawling away from Summers, and he follows her down the aisle between fans, laying into her with frequent stomps, slowing her progress until she again collapses into a heap. Der Basterd poses over her body, much to the chagrin of the audience, who are not usually big fans of Michelle von Horrowitz but have seemingly made an exception given her opponent tonight. He grins at them, standing next to the barricade now, in sight of the ring, before collecting Michelle and throwing her over the barricade and into the ring-side area. Before following her, though, he gets distracted by another fan brandishing another sign. This one reads ‘SHAWN SUMMERS ATTENDS RIOTS IN ROTHERHAM’, which perplexes Der Basterd as much as the one about spaghetti. The fan proceeds to flip Summers the bird, causing him to rip the sign out of his hands, tearing it up into pieces and throwing it in the air in a gesture more reminiscent of Michelle von Horrowitz than Summers. The fan’s continued bird-flipping antics seem to amuse Der Basterd now, who laughs before turning back towards the barricade…

… and Michelle flies over it, catching Summers by the neck and taking him down with a blockbuster!!!

The crowd pops for the move, and Dreamer seemingly isn’t quite sure how to react to the positivity. She instead invests in the task at hand, throwing Summers over the barricade and then following him over.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "It looks like maybe Michelle is ready to move this one into the ring, and maybe then we can get things started officially…"

Konchu Hao: "I wouldn’t bank on it, Jean-Luc. Looks like she’s coming our way…"

Indeed, Dreamer makes a beeline to the announce desk, ripping off the cover and monitors as Konchu and Jean-Luc disperse from behind it. Michelle doesn’t turn back to Summers immediately, though, instead fishing beneath the ring and eventually finding a steel chair. This all gives Der Basterd valuable time to recover, though. When she approaches with the chair raised, he leaps to his feet and - almost in one fluid motion - delivers a standing dropkick, knocking the chair back into Michelle’s face! Dreamer hits the ground and the chair goes flying, Summers taking his time climbing back to a vertical base and grabbing a handful of Michelle’s hair. He leads her over to the announce desk and first throws her down face first onto it. He climbs up onto the top of the turnbuckle, careful at first whilst he tests how sturdy it is. When he’s confident it can take their combined weight, he hoists Michelle up onto it too, once more dragging her head into position between her legs. The commentators can’t illuminate us, having dropped their headsets in haste, but it appears obvious that he’s going for Midsommar again…

Just like earlier in the match, Michelle drops down to one knee, and then drives her forearm upwards towards Shawn’s netherregions. Only this time, Shawn is able to catch her wrist with both hands before she’s able to complete the low blow! He yanks her to her feet, both of them now standing on the announce desk, and winds up for a BIG headbutt. Maybe too big, though, as Dreamer is able to telegraph the attack, and quickly kicks upwards into the groin, delivering a second low blow at the second time of asking!

Once again, all of the air is driven from Summers, and he slumps down onto his knees. Michelle wastes no time in applying a front facelock, hooking the arm, and heaving Shawn Summers up into the air…

Jean-Luc Watkins (off-mic): "BRAAAAAINBUUUUUSTAAAAAAH!!"

Jean-Luc is so loud that we can hear him even without the headset, although the end of his cry is muffled by the imploding announce desk and the huge pop around the arena. The cameras show both competitors lying amongst the table debris, Michelle eventually rolling over onto her front and sucking in some deep breaths, though it is clear that the move - as well as the brawl in general - has taken a lot out of her too. She gets to her feet and staggers towards the ring, using the apron to prop herself up. We hear the announcers repositioning their headsets.

Konchu Hao: "Such carnage out here at ringside! Chaos!"

Jean-Luc Watkins: "There’s no need to sound so happy about it, Konchu! Our table has been destroyed thanks to that brainbuster, and now Michelle is looking to do the same thing to those steel ring steps…"

Indeed, Dreamer removes the upper half of the steel steps and discards them, before dragging the lower half a little closer to Summers. Der Basterd is still barely moving after the brainbuster, but MvH gives him a helping hand with one fist full of his hair and the other around the collar of his jacket. She drags him over to the steps, climbing up the two steps and onto the square platform at the top. Once there, she looks to maneuver Summers into a pumphandle position..

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Is she looking for Psycho Driver #2 on top of those steel steps?! This could be bad news for Shawn Summers!"

Konchu Hao: "Couldn’t happen to a nicer Basterd, really…"

Summers is having none of it, though, reaching up with a free hand and digging his thumb into Michelle’s eye!! This causes some separation, but Summers quickly grasps her and again pulls her head into position between his legs. This time though - perhaps having learned from the two low blows he’s received earlier in the sprawling brawl - he proceeds to hook both of her arms before lifting her up…

Jean-Luc Watkins: "SIT-OUT POWERBOMB!! ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!"

The crowd loses their mind once more, leading to a raucous HOLY SHIT! chant in the arena.

Konchu Hao: "Michelle von Horrowitz might be broken in half, but Shawn Summers looks in no state to continue either!! Both are spent, and we haven’t yet heard the opening bell!"

Summers collapses backwards, falling from the short height of the steel steps and onto the floor. Michelle, meanwhile, lies spread eagled over the top of them, her back arched at an unholy angle, until eventually she slides down from the top of it and into a heap next to Summers. The crowd are still wild, impatiently cheering for the match to continue, but Der Basterd takes his time in finally rising to his knees and then his feet. He looks up at the official, waiting now impatiently and increasingly desperately for them to get things into the ring, and then picks Michelle up by the hair. He throws her under the bottom rope, Dreamer rolling away from him and into a heap in the corner. Then, finally, after one more disdainful look towards the official, Summers rolls in after her.

The official calls for the bell, and we are now OFFICIALLY underway…



Michelle rolls off Shawn, remaining in a seated position with her palms flat on the floor behind her. She’s breathing heavily, staring dead ahead of her, ghostly pale and somewhat aghast. She barely believes it’s over - that she’s won - and can’t bring herself to look over at Summers’ supine and beaten body. It’s only when her music begins to play and the announcement is made that she starts to believe...

Kurt Harrington: "Here is your winner… ‘Dreamer’... Michelle… von… HORROWITZ!!"

Dreamer climbs to her feet, but deliberately does so whilst facing away from Summers. She still hasn’t laid eyes on him since the three was counted.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "The official record books will read less than two minutes, but that only tells part of the story. An incredible brawl unfolded before the opening bell was even rung, and this could’ve gone either way once they finally found their way into the ring."

Konchu Hao: "It could have gone either way, but it went one way! And very quickly!"

Jean-Luc Watkins: "I’m reminded of a match from three years ago between Devin Golden and Alyster Black from three years ago, and if history teaches me anything, it’s that a chaotic and brutal battle - like the one we witnessed tonight - usually means the feud is far from over."

On this ominous proclamation, Michelle climbs out of the ring, walking away from it without once looking back, as if an Orphean figure with enough restraint to escape the tragedy.



Jean-Luc Watkins: “Folks, I’m getting word that there’s something going on backstage. We’ve got a camera on the way…yes. Yea. There he is.”

The camera cuts to the backstage area where the cameraman is running toward a familiar voice that’s heard in the distance.

Brooklyn Steiner: “BEDLAM! BEDLAM! Where the hell are you?”

Brooklyn Steiner is seen kicking open doors in the backstage area, obviously in pursuit of “The Cowboy” as the capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden goes into a frenzy.

Finally, a young man with a headset on points toward a long corridor that leads from the backstage area to the concourse. Brooklyn breaks into a slow trot as the cameraman finally catches up.

Brooklyn continues his pursuit as he passes a group of screaming fans who are waiting in line near the FWA merchandise table. For the first time, Steiner ignores the throngs of adoring fans.

Steiner goes around another corner where he’s met by a cheap shot from Bedlam who has a steel pipe in his hand. Bedlam swings the pipe directly into Steiner’s ribs, doubling “The Workhorse” over at his waist.

Bedlam hoists the pipe over his head to drive it into Steiner’s spine, but Brooklyn plants an elbow in Tommy’s midsection. It’s quickly followed by another as Bedlam drops the pipe.



Tommy jerks his arm away from Russnow, steps through the ropes, limps down the steps, obviously banged up from the fight that he’s just been through, and makes his way up the ramp. Fans throw cups, popcorn, and anything else they can fling toward him, but he’s obviously unmoved. He gives them no reaction as he pushes the curtain back and disappears from view.

Russnow squats over Brooklyn Steiner and motions for the medical staff.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to get Brooklyn Steiner some help here. That was a hellacious fight, and Steiner certainly gave Bedlam all he could handle. That bastard cowboy just managed to push things a bit further. We’ll get back to the action in a moment.”



[Taxi Driver || Bernard Hermann.]

And we start the next match off with music that’s probably very recognisable to the crowd here in New York as well as the car horn that is heard shortly afterwards as a yellow taxi cab comes out at the side of the stage through some obvious smoke generators as you can see through the front window, checking the meter one more time. The Top Star. Dressed in a World War II-era tanker jacket covering a plaid shirt and jeans, in a very obvious tribute to Robert De Niro’s performance as Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver. The taxi in question comes down the ramp as the newbie to Back In Business and potentially the first competitor to compete at such a big stage without a contract of any kind.

Kurt Harrington: "The Following Match Is The Semi-Final Of The X4 And It Is For One Fall With A 30 Minute Time Limit! Introooooducing First! From the Golden Coast, Australia, weighing in at 218 pounds…. He played the guy who got a pencil in his head from The Daaaaaark Knight! The TOP STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR! AAAAAAAAAROOON HAAARROOOOOWS! "

The taxi stops itself just shy of the ring apron, Aaron gets out and points to the crowd who loves Aaron in this role, especially repping a movie that’s about their city. Aaron runs up the steps and through the ring ropes, taking in the atmosphere as he goes over to where the commentators are sat

Aaron Harrows: "Hey Watkins! You talking to me!? You talking to me?! I’m the only one here! Well I’m not, actually. There’s a lot of people, actually. But you get what I’m trying to do!"

Konchu Hao: "Do you get what he is trying to do, Watkins?"

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Unfortunately."

Harrows shrugs as he refocuses onto the stage as the lights go down…



The song starts off slow, asking questions that had plagued the mind of the current FWA X Champion from the moment she stepped foot in the FWA over a year-and-a-half ago…

‘Am I brave enough?’

‘Am I strong enough?’

‘To follow the desire, that burns from within…’

As these questions are asked, the big screen on the stage shows Trixie at the beginning of her FWA journey, getting knocked down, getting beat, tasting defeat, and moments of doubt and anxiety as she struggled to find her feet in a business that she had little-to-no experience in…

’To push away my fears…’

‘To stand where I’m afraid…’

The video package continues, showing Trixie step up against some of the best that the FWA has to offer… Shawn Summers, Michelle von Horrowitz, Chris Crowe, Jeffry Mason, Reagan Cole… Trixie had tasted defeat against most of these people, some in close, competitive matches, and others in whitewashes, where Trixie had been completely overmatched.

’I am through with this…’

The video then shows Trixie struggling to pick herself up off the canvas after each defeat, defiantly battling against her own desires to just stay down and quit, and marching forward, onto the next fight.

’‘Cause I am more than this…’

We see Trixie scratching, clawing, biting, fighting… blood, sweat and tears, in the hopes of proving to herself and everyone else, that she was good enough to be here. We start to see her find some success, getting her hand raised in victory against the likes of Reagan Cole, Jeffry Mason, and Brooklyn Steiner.

’I promise to myself, alone, and no one else…’

These successes grow, as we see Trixie eliminating Cali Hayama in the Trios Battle Royale at Back in Business last year, winning the FWA Trios Championships for herself and her then friends, Blair and Celestia Ravenwood.

’My flame is rising higher…’

And finally, we see Trixie engage in a brutal display of heart, grit, and pure, bloodthirsty violence, getting her hand raised against Anzu Kurosawa, Aaron Harrows, XYZ, and Johnny Johnson, before a final image of Trixie Bordeaux, standing in the center of the ring, covered in blood, her own and the blood of her opponents, with the FWA X Championship raised triumphantly over her head….

’… I AM THE FIRE!!’

The lights beam back to life as the epic chorus kicks in, which is made all the more epic as fire bolts shoot from the stage in time with the rhythm of the song. As all this is going on, we see the first glimpses of the Coven’s former member Bellatrix Bordeaux as she rises from beneath the stage via a lift,

Kurt Harrington: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, introducing her opponent… From BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Weighing in at 133 pounds… She is the FWA X Champion, and the ‘QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN Of the DEATHMATCH’… TRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIXIE
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORDEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUX!"

Once Trixie is most of the way up, Aaron Harrows is seen clapping at the theatrics of Trixie’s new entrance as he sees Trixie, sat on what looks to be a homemade throne, with her FWA X Championship wrapped around her waist, and a thorny crown made from glued together twigs and sticks, sat atop her head.

With Trixie now fully lifted onto the stage, the camera zooms in close to her face. Despite the mixed support of the crowd, and all the theatrics, Trixie’s eyes slowly find her target on her Two Wrongs Make A Right teammate, Aaron Harrows. A small tilt of her head is the most obvious indication of any of her feelings at the current moment as her face remains serious. Aaron Harrows looks back for a second before realisation hits him and he jumps out of the ring.

The Top Star gets out of the ring and immediately jumps into the yellow cab! Trixie has a slightly puzzled look on her face, as the yellow cab slowly reverses up the ramp and up towards the massive throne, Trixie steps out of the way, clearly unimpressed as she once again meets Aaron smiling at her, his right arm hanging out the window.

Aaron Harrows: "You are aware there’s like six matches other than us right? Come on, I’ll give ya a rid-"

Suddenly the act of friendship is denied when Trixie grabs Aaron’s arm and slams it down onto the car frame! And again! The crowd gasps and Aaron tries to retract his own arm but his efforts are futile as Trixie is ruthless in the attack as she grabs Aaron and starts to drag him out of the vehicle by force despite Harrows’ resistance! Trixie continues to slam Harrows into the car as he’s getting pulled so it’s a different part of the torso every time and eventually Aaron does fall out of the car, wheezing for air. Trixie lifts her assumedly now former friend up as she goes to throw him into the car only for Harrows to reverse and now it’s Trixie that gets the side of the car jousted into her chest! Harrows quickly creates as much distance as he can between the two wrongs according to their tag team name. Aaron clutches his arm that has been pretty hurt and the bell hasn’t even rang yet. Harrows makes his way to the ring and you can briefly hear him murmur to himself due to the camera’s microphone

Aaron Harrows: "Okay, she’s back to her emo phase. Great. That’s what I wanted."

The sarcasm is quite clear in this one as the annoyance is clearly shown on The Top Star’s face as he rolls his way into the ring followed closely by the X Champion and only then does the bell finally ring starting the match as Aaron rushes over to the opposite gun.



Konchu Hao: "Trixie Bordeaux landing a mercy kill on Aaron Harrows here tonight, certainly a unique ending to a unique match."

Jean-Luc Watkins: "You can say that again, Konchu. Trixie Bordeaux does retain her belt for now, we will see what lies ahead for Trixie with the Johnny Johnson vs Vengador match coming up later on but for now..Insane match."

We see Trixie sitting there, having vanquished her former friend. There’s almost a hint of remorse but it’s quickly clouded up by anger and hate as she rises up and raises her arm in victory as we only see what the future holds for her but for now as banged up as she rightly is, she can still walk away with victory.



Backstage at Back in Business XVIII, cameras are searching the hallways for activity. Any activity. One camera feed picks up a commotion around catering. A few jobbers are arguing about whether hot dogs taste better with ketchup or mustard. Another camera spots The Mops -- legendary jobbers of FWA lore -- being given guest passes into the backstage area, with restrictions galore. A third camera spots the Ravenwood Sisters in a dark corner of a hallway, speaking together before spotting the camera and shifting behind a door to be unseen.

A fourth camera is moving down a hallway -- vacant except for two venue employees charged with setting up and breaking down events -- before reaching a door slightly open with normal-volume talking coming from within.

The camera pushes the door further open and steps inside to show The Menage standing in a wide-radius circle in the center of the room.

XYZ stands with his face to the group -- and the camera. He isn't speaking, though. The voice is Sierra's, and she has the rest's attention. XYZ, soon to be challenging for the FWA Television Championship against Kleio de Santos, is joined by Sierra (obviously), Frank, Lizzy Golden, who has aged a year seemingly since we saw her just days ago, PacMan Bert, and Christian Howard. The only person missing? XYZ's mom.

"X ... please ... I am pleading with you to listen to us."

"X ... I mean ... Sierra makes really good points. And we've all tried talking with you separately."

Sierra is leading this group effort. Frank's support has impact considering his tenure in The Menage. But a group effort to what end? What purpose?

"I understand you all do not want my mother to join me side by side to the ring for my match for the Championship of all Televisions in the world. I understand there are some trepidations about her presence here. Trepidations through the energy of the universe. Concerns cast into the waves of the wind. But she is my m..."

"X ... before you say anything else ... we have been talking and ..."

Sierra pauses before continuing. It's obvious what she is about to say is affecting her. She even sniffles and wipes her arm just under her eyes as they get glossy.

"We ... have ..."

Sierra again wipes her arm through just under her eye. She's trying to keep it together.

"We have watched Wild Jerry leave. We have gone on intergalactic adventures. We have defended you through every questionable decision, every loss. Everything. Because we were given to you at your lowest point. Someone who we care about and believed in told us nearly two years ago -- when that person left the FWA -- to be by your side. They told us we had a responsibility to help you. They told us we still had a purpose here ... even when we didn't think we did anymore ... and it's clear to us why he said that. It became clear pretty quickly.

But it has been very very very difficult these past few months. And it has felt like we've been spinning our wheels. No one likes to lose. And no one likes to see someone they care about lose ... for the same reasons, over and over and over again. We have watched you fail, and picked you up. We have seen you succeed, and cheered you on. But the first seems to be happening more than the second, and Wild Jerry couldn't take it. He couldn't stay in a situation that wasn't getting any better for him.

We stood by you. We stayed because we felt it would turn. And it has a bit. You have a CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH! At Back in Business! This is huge. But now you're letting your heart ... get in the way. And you're not trusting us ... your friends ... when we sense something might be wrong.

We do not want you to fail, but we also cannot just stand by and let you fail despite us telling you how not to. We cannot let our voices be disregarded and ignored. If we are truly a family, then we must listen to one another and value each other's opinions."

"I may have said we are family, but my mother is my mother. There is a difference between a family that comes together during the course of life, and your true blood family. And I know that ... now."

While true, those words still sting to hear for everyone in The Menage. Despite this response from X, Sierra remains steadfast in her message. She is no longer sniffling, no longer on the verge of tears. She instead is defiant and definitive in her voice.

"If you choose your mom to go to the ring with your mom ... despite what we have said ... despite what people you supposedly trust have said to you ... then we are leaving the arena. We will not be there if you win, or if you lose. You will only have your mom. I'll say it again. We cannot stand by and let you fail despite us telling you how not to fail. We cannot let that go without consequence. Our voices must be heard."

Sierra stops talking. XYZ looks down at the ground before responding, as he's trying to digest the ultimatum placed at his feet.

"You all share this way of the feelings? A collective, united front?"

No verbal response is needed. Frank, Christian Howard, Lizzy Golden, and PacMan Bert all shift their positions in the circle to stand next to or behind Sierra.

"Fine. That is your decision then. I am going to the ring with my mom. I made that decision, and I am not changing. My dream has been to shine a light for those needing a light through the darkness. Winning a championship would be symbolic of that light.

But now my dream has changed. I want to shine this light and hold it up for people ... with my mom standing by my side. That is my dream now. I cannot do this with anyone else. It will not feel right. It will not feel whole. It will feel hollow if my mom is not standing next to me.

None of you can fill her shoes. None of you ever will."

Sierra nods her head and Frank turns and storms out of the locker room first. PacMan Bert follows, still looking at his handheld video game. Christian Howard sighs and walks out next. Lizzy Golden shakes her head and scoffs before brushing shoulders with XYZ on her way out.

"I'm sorry you feel this way, X. We did everything we could to be the best friends to you. I understand friends aren't truly family, but sometimes friends are needed ... even over family."

"I wish you all would stay."

"We won't."

Sierra heads for the door.

"I do still hope you win," she says as she turns the corner.

Coming through the door just after she leaves is XYZ's mom. She enters the ring looking confused at the vacancy of the room. She was expecting all members of The Menage to be here to hype XYZ up. Instead, it's just her son.

"X ... is everything alright?"

"Yes, mom. Thanks for being here. You still want to come to the ring with me, right? Be in my corner?"

"Absolutely, son! It is the correct decision. You need your mom there tonight."

"I only need my mom there tonight."

XYZ then heads out the locker room, followed by his mom just two steps behind. She smiles warmly as she watches her son choose her over the rest of The Menage.



Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit!”

[Sabotage || The Beastie Boys]

Drawing a solid cheer from the world’s most famous arena is the strums of the Beastie Boys. The camera goes up the ramp as Sawyer Xavier walks out as the lyrics kick in. With a leather vest on, bandana, he kneels down and looks around at the packed crowd. Standing up, he turns around and shows, written on the back of his vest, a simple message. “Keep Fighting.”

Kurt Harrington: “Introducing the participants first, from Savannah, Georgia, weighing in at 199 pounds, Sawyer Xavier!”

Sawyer Xavier turns around and makes his way down the ramp, keeping calm and cool despite the pressure of the big stage, and the fact there’s some different challenges than normal in store from him.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “‘Keep fighting’ the mantra that is pushing Sawyer through for this contest, looking to not just show he belongs on this big stage, but to overcome the unique circumstances of what’s in front of him.”

Konchu Hao: “Unique? You mean pure madness! This match was made by one person, Keres. She tasked Nova to fight Xavier, saying she ‘needs’ him! And that was after we thought Nova was free from the clutches of Eternal!”

Going up the steps, Sawyer Xavier wipes his boots and hops over the top rope and heads towards the corner of the ring, getting on the turnbuckles, he flicks his hair back, ripping his bandana off. Jumping down, Sawyer Xavier removes his vest as his theme music cuts away. He stands in his corner in wait.

With a somewhat long pause between entrances.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Just to fill the fans in, Princess Nova, or rather, Nova Taylor, after being absent for months was seen on our screens seemingly going through a ‘rehabilitation program’ to break free from Keres and Eternal.”

Konchu Hao: “We saw a glimpse into the ‘old Nova’ something FWA fans never got to see and I was curious, but we were played for fools. Keres is a puppet master, seeing victories not as a statistic. Sawyer right now, is in a lose-lose situation-”

Sawyer Xavier gets impatient, motioning for the music to play- as the lights of the arena power off.

[Damaged || In This Moment]

The whaling of “Damaged” plays as the screens near the stage cut to static with a dim light. The shadow of Nova Taylor appears on the stage. We see the shape of a short dress as she kneels on the stage.

“I wish there was a way for me to put this into words
All these feelings that I have as I start to lose control
(I feel panic rushing over me and gripping at my chest)
(And no matter what I say or do, I know that that it won't rest)”

Nova stands up. Her head is tilted to the side, limp. Her arms are slightly out to the side, wrists dropped.

“I feel my vision fade, sweat dripping down my back
I can hear my heart pound, I can feel my mind crack
(And I know that you love me and you want to save me now)”

Moving rigidly, Nova does a curtsy-like bow

“In the end of it all you can't save me from myself”

Before finally moving slowly to the ring as strobe lights flash in tune to the music.

Kurt Harrington: “And his opponent, representing Eternal… the Marionette Maiden, the TORN Angel, Nova Taylor!”

In a rare moment, the commentators remain hush, somewhat unnerved by the entrance. In the ring, Sawyer’s looseness is gone as he himself is perplexed. Through the strobe lights, we see covering Nova’s face, a white mask not dissimilar from what would be used for a play with small black markings. Across her chest, written in body paint, is the word “Rehabilitated.”

Walking around the ring, Nova Taylor doesn’t even look towards Sawyer, she just drags her feet towards the hardcam side of the ring. Taylor slides onto the apron and pulls herself up, still on her knees, leaning back on the middle rope. She moves her right gloved hand towards her face and slowly removes her mask.

The camera sees her face with ‘cracked’ markings on it, as if she was a broken doll. With a blank look in her eye, she gives a thousand yard stare into the camera as she rolls herself into the ring. She turns around and hooks her leg on the top rope, her head tilting to the side. Sawyer Xavier stands to the side, a chill down his spine. He keeps his distance from Nova as she puts her leg down.

Heading towards the opposite corner as Sawyer, she gets on her knees again, tilting her head slightly as she leans on the turnbuckles as her theme music cuts and the lights of the arena turn back on.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I… I am at a loss for words.”

Konchu Hao: “What did Keres put this woman through?”

The official for the match does a pat down of Sawyer, looking back at Nova who has not so far as blinked. He goes over and picks up Nova’s gloved hand and quickly pats her knee pads. Having done the bare minimum, he motions to ring the bell.



The referee forces Nova to release the hold and she stands up, not breaking eye contact with Sawyer Xavier.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Nova Taylor ‘sticks to the script’ and wins. She seemingly made it her mission to see what Sawyer had, not just in what he could deliver, but how much he could take.”

Konchu Hao: “This new side of Nova, I am completely freaked out by it. I don’t know what Keres put her through. I don’t know what is going on, all I know is if you see her, run away.”

Kurt Harrington: “And here is your winner, ‘The Marionette Maiden,’ Nova Taylor!”

The referee raises Nova’s hand and it immediately drops. She walks around Sawyer Xavier who slowly is beginning to come to his senses. She then grabs him by the head and directs him towards the entrance-way.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “What is Nova doing?”

Sawyer blinks, regaining semi-consciousness as-

[Hey Girl || Marti Amado]

Jean-Luc Watkins: “-Huh?”

Konchu Hao: “Did I do time travel.”

Unfamiliar, upbeat, and extremely cheery theme music begins to play. Everyone looks towards the stage and sees a familiar name pop up on the screen, Keres, although this is not her normal menacing self. She appears wearing garb reminiscent of a 50’s-era teenage diner waitress, light blue in color, and sporting a gigantic smile on her face.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “K-KERES!?”

Konchu Hao: “Why am I wishing for the one we normally see?”

Keres’ hands are clasped tightly in front of her chest as she skips down to the ring and stops waving at Sawyer as he slowly stands up, still feeling the effects of the match. They lock eyes and Keres’ face turns red while Sawyer looks at her with an incredible amount of confusion.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “-I. I am speechless. First Nova, now… This.”

Konchu Hao: “I thought I have seen it all-”

Keres hops up onto the apron and kicks her feet while still staring at Sawyer. After a moment, she rolls under the bottom rope and into the ring where she stands in front of Nova and excitedly wiggles her shoulders like a stereotypical giddy schoolgirl in a romantic comedy. Sawyer Xavier cautiously hops off the turnbuckle and faces Keres but does not move closer to her whatsoever. Keres looks over her shoulder and quickly tells the blank husk of Nova to get her a microphone.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I swear, the Goodfellas were booked for tomorrow night.”

Konchu Hao: “I am…”

Keres, now with a microphone in hand, holds it up to her mouth and lets out a deep, nervous, and exasperated breath before speaking.

Keres: “Hiiiiiii Sawyeeeerrrr!”

Keres’ voice is much higher pitched than anybody has ever heard it. She lets out a little giggle after saying Sawyer’s name.

Keres: “Ok, so, I’m like so sorry to come out here after everything you just went through in your match! I know Nova won, and I’m so proud of her, but you looked really good in that match, you did such a good job!”

Keres holds out her arms for a hug and takes a small step forward. Sawyer responds by taking a small step backward and lightly balling his fists.

Keres: “Why did you… oh! No don’t worry, I’m not out here to do anything bad, I promise! I’m, uhm… I’m sorry, I’m actually really nervous…”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “-I’m sorry?”

Konchu Hao: “It’s a trap-”

Sawyer can be seen mouthing something at Keres but it’s entirely impossible to make out exactly what he’s saying. Keres’ face is beet red and she is visibly sweating, whether it’s from her stuffy outfit or not is not known.

Keres: “Join Eternal?! Oh no, I’m not here to make you do that, cutie!-oop!”

Keres covers her mouth with her hands out of shock and embarrassment. She lets out a bit of nervous laughter that’s slightly audible over the microphone.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Did she just… call him a cutie?”

Konchu Hao: “I find that somehow MORE disturbing.”

Keres: “Whoops! I didn’t mean to say that… but… I mean you are really cute!”

She takes another step forward and Sawyer takes another step back which causes him to now be up against the turnbuckles with nowhere else to go.

Keres: "I’m not trying to scare you… I… for once I’m… I don’t know how… Sawyer Xavier!”

Keres loudly says his name as she stomps her foot, startling everyone except Nova. There is a long pause as she stares at Sawyer with a look of determination on her face. She then looks down at her feet and clutches the microphone close to her chest. Commentary is still flabbergasted.

Keres: “Sawyer Xavier… I think I might love you and I want to go on a date with you!”

Keres drops the microphone with a loud thud and crackle. The New York crowd’s jaws drop.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “-WHAT?! WHAT THE FUCK!?”

Konchu Hao: “I… I don’t know what to expect with her anymore.”

Sawyer Xavier’s face twitches in confusion and he blinks his eyes rapidly as if to see whether he’s actually here or not. Keres looks back up at him and she has visible tears on her very red face. Sawyer slowly walks to the side with his arm straddling the top rope and he puts one leg through the middle rope.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “And I think that’s a no…”

Konchu Hao: “I would not trust a person like Keres either.”

Keres puts her hands up and motions for him to wait and not go, but he quickly just hops down from the ring and starts heading up the ramp and the New York crowd give him a cheer, rejecting Keres’ advances.

The camera is focused on his face and follows him up as in the background Keres drops to her knees and lets out a gut-wrenching scream before she starts crying uncontrollably.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Keres is crying?! She’s actually crying?!”

Konchu Hao: “I have no idea what is real with her and what’s an act at this point.”

Nova, or what’s left of her, kneels down beside Keres and slowly puts her arms around her to comfort her, all the while not changing her expression. Sawyer looks back down the ramp, feeling confused at not just Keres’ advances, but her reaction. He goes to the back.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Of my time… I just don’t know what to say here. Was this some trap that Sawyer just avoided?”

Konchu Hao: “Nobody knows, but Sawyer made the right choice. If someone like Keres has interest in you, romantic or otherwise, you run, KEHEHEHE…”



[One Headlight || The Wallflowers.]

We return to the arena as the next theme music begins to play, with a loud and positive pop audible for the challenger. He walks out onto the stage, flanked on one side by the woman proclaiming to be his mom.

Kurt Harrington: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall, with a thirty minute time limit… and is for the FWA Television Championship! Introducing first, the challenger… accompanied to the ring by his mother… from Sitka, Alaska… weighing in tonight at one hundred and eighty pounds… X… Y… Z!!"

Jean-Luc Watkins: "And this one, wrestling fans, is likely to be a heated contest, as a feud that has been rolling on for well over a year comes to a head with the Television Championship on the line."

Konchu Hao: "Good on the champion, refusing to let a long-standing and rather overexaggerated grudge go."

Jean-Luc Watkins: "We also see the unfamiliar figure of XYZ’s purported mother accompanying him to ringside, for the first time in his wrestling career. Let’s hope she’s just here for moral support."

XYZ climbs into the ring, leaving his mother on the outside of it. He limbers up against the ropes, warming up for the match ahead as his music fades out. Then…

[Paint It, Black || The Rolling Stones.]

Kleio appears on-stage to a thoroughly mixed reaction. Some are sympathetic given the trials and tribulations that De Santos has encountered over the past few weeks, whilst others - those in possession of longer memories - still rain down boos on the young Brazilian. She comes alone and doesn’t let the mixed reaction bother her, walking down to the ring with a focused look on her face.

Kurt Harrington: "And his opponent… currently residing in Miami, Florida… she weighs in tonight at one hundred and fifteen pounds… ‘the Boa Constrictor’... KLEIO DEEEEEE SAAAAANTOOOOOS!!"

Jean-Luc Watkins: "One can’t help but have a little sympathy for Kleio De Santos, given the circumstances in which her association with the Coven imploded in recent months. KDS will have to put all of that behind her tonight and focus on the task at hand, with a capable and motivated opponent across the ring from her."

Konchu Hao: "Put all of that behind her? Unlikely, Jean-Luc. Did you not hear what I was saying about holding grudges?"

Kleio climbs into the ring and holds her championship belt high above her head. XYZ is standing behind her, staring up at the gold with a thoughtful, perhaps hopeful look on his face. The official takes the belt from her and shows it to XYZ, who continues to glare at it, focus growing in his eyes.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "It’s been a long road to an FWA championship for XYZ, who has had several opportunities at this very belt, as well as the FWA X Championship. Will tonight be the night that he finally breaks that duck?"

The championship belt is handed out of the ring and, after the official issues some final instruction, he finally calls for the bell…



XYZ receives the FWA Television Championship from the referee, who has never seen Wild Jerry in the ring. The formerly former Mexican friend of XYZ leaves the ring area through the crowd so as not to be detected and disqualify XYZ through the "one person at ringside" rule set for this match.

XYZ's imposter mom looks on from the outside. She cannot believe whatever her plan was had failed. Neither can Kleio de Santos, who rolls to the corner nearest where her mole is standing. Kleio walks directly past XYZ's "mom" and toward the exit. The imposter then says in a passive-aggressive manner, "I better be paid."

None of this is caught by XYZ, only cameras. He is still completely dumbfounded by everything that has transpired tonight. He turns and looks outside of the ring, at the woman he assumed for weeks to be his mom.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "This is supposed to be the best moment of XYZ's career in the FWA. Instead ... it feels like a half-measure. It feels like a scam. It feels like something was stolen from him. And you can see it on his face. The fans can feel it on his face."

It was very clear what she said to him. "I'm not your mom. I never was." It was unmistakable, and XYZ digested it. But he is still in shock. He cannot say anything. He cannot smile. He cannot be jubilous. He cannot celebrate winning his first singles championship. All he can think of is the fact that he stands inside of this ring completely alone. No mom. No Sierra. No Frank. No Big Al (RIP). No one from The Menage.

Just him, and while the fans applaud him for his accomplishment, he still cannot help but wish for his mom ... to be by his side. And she's not. He thought she would be, but she's not. And the physical, living depiction of that feeling is the woman walking away from the ring.

"Mom," XYZ says wishfully ... and soft enough that only the nearby camera picks it up.

She doesn't turn around, because she didn't hear him. But even if the woman did hear, she would not turn.



The scene unfolds in a giant board room offsite of the events hosted at Madison Square Gardens. A single man is sitting in this room at one end of a very absurdly long table. The striped cape of the man was folded over in his lap, his bright blonde hair swept back perfectly. He was stoic.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Who is that?”

Konchu Hao: "Um…Captain Righteous?”

Captain Righteous was streaming the FWA program behind and in front of him, Back in Business, he's actually watching them watching him, watching them…and on and on.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "Who?”

One of the commentators waved, and of course they saw themselves waving back.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "That's us! Who is this guy?!”

Konchu Hao: "Captain Righteous…he sent us a video package, so we're going to watch that now…”

A man in a superhero outfit floats above a war zone, he's valiant and stoic watching the chaos below laser bolts of various colors light up the night. The man floating above wears the proud colors of the U.S. despite being light-years away from the adopted planet, blonde hair perfectly swept back, and blue eyes like those of the purest pools of water.

Captain Righteous [VO]: "Our scene opens up in a hellish nightmarish landscape. Let's not sugar coat the world we know as Earth is anything less than fucked…your people have threaded a fine line long before my arrival…but let's not also church it up that the ENTIRE universe is royally fucked. It is. I know. And it is ending.”

Explosions on both sides rock their soldiers' very cores, warriors, pissing puddles of various neon glowing colors. On one side with green plasma bolts were green Martians actual fucking aliens battling it with some blue Uranus aliens and their red bolts of lasers.

Captain Righteous [VO]: "It doesn't have to, I can stop it. I will. I like it on Earth, I can do whatever I want there. This is like the number sixty of planetary wars I've stopped since December first! Oh…oh proper introductions! That man, that's me…Captain Righteous!”

Captain Righteous finally makes his move zipping down like a bolt of lightning into the fray of The Uranus warriors, surprise took them but they had already lost…

Captain Righteous [VO]: "I'm the good guy! The hero and no one knows about me, not until now…when I landed in Japan at a wrestling show, I forced my revelation of existence upon you and upon the world, much to the dismay of the US government. Jesus was there a bunch of fucking meetings, people yelling at me, and NDA's out the wazoo! I get it, I do, I've been their weapon since the 80s when they found me and gave me to the secret wealthiest family running the country…that's another story…I could talk about my childhood all fucking day”

It was a slaughter for the Uranus warriors: heads popped when Captain Righteous clapped his hands coating him in orange ichor, heat beams spliced down the dozens one by one and sometimes two by two. He kicked one who was surrendering through another one that smashed together much like a sloppy pb&j. Squeezing one until it erupted like a Capri Sun.

Captain Righteous [VO]: "HOLY SHIT DID YOU SEE THE DISTANCE! New distance record…anyways, I've cleared up the air with Uncle Sam and the truth is here a walking God is amongst you! Me! It's me and now that I have to pull double duty to get to do what I've always dreamed of…wresslin’!”

There seemed to be mass confusion on the Martians side as the firing upon them had ceased, they watched as horrific screams turned inward on the other side, dust from the planet caused by the fighting clouded their bug eye view: all they could see was colorful explosions in the clouds and just screaming.

Captain Righteous [VO]: "When I wasn't doing something fucked up for my Uncle or being brainwashed by my totally fucked in the head parents about how to take over the corporate world…they sat me down with my tv dinner in front of the tv and wrestling became my hobby! My life! I tried for years to get in, but NO! They'd scream it in my face NO! YOU FUCKING MUTANT DEMON FREAK NO FUCKING WRESTLING YOU HAVE REAL WORLD FUCKING SHIT TO DO! Can you believe that? Yelling at a child who was extraordinary beyond belief, no. Then turn around and tell me I can do whatever I want, I can take my own future into my hands as long as it was to their…quota…DON'T THINK ABOUT WRESTLING THOUGH!”

For hours it seemed the anarchy behind the dust seemed to go when the flashes of light seemed to be less sporadic, trickling down to here…there…nothing. The screaming had stopped too. The crunching of boots on this planet's surface seem to be the only sound heard, the blonde hair was the only real standout feature until an alien blood soaked man emerges from the dust…bright pearly white teeth shine eerily. When he speaks it is of the Martian language.

Captain Righteous: "*Peace! Friends, please one second!*”

He presses a button in his ear.

Captain Righteous: "Ship.”

Ship: ”Captain Righteous we hear you, have you shut down the rebel army?”

He smiles at the curious aliens waving with his finger. What looks like an ear falls from his chest off of his gooey goopy soaked uniform.

Captain Righteous: "They didn't stand a chance Ship! I'm standing here with the Martians and let me tell you they seem super confused..”

Ship: ”Did you say the Martians Righteous?”

Captain Righteous: "Yes Ship.”

Ship: ”Oh geez, yeah, so the Martians are the rebels Captain Righteous…and uh, we were saving..”

A moment of clarity washed over Captain Righteous face and the peace sign he was offering squeezed into a fist.

Captain Righteous: "Uranus….yeaaah fuck. Well.”

From where he stood Captain Righteous sprang into action exploding through a near couple thousand dozen Martians.

Captain Righteous [VO]: "Only thing is: wrestling is all I could think about. When I started going on solo missions I'd stop off and watch every kind of wrestling around the world! Around the Universe! You don't know it but wrestling is universal and comes in all forms of blood baths and scandal and fucking…everything Righteous in this world. And I finally put together all my life lessons and power and did what I was told I could do to do something I was told I couldn't…I came out of my superhero closet and very soon I will be stepping into the FWA! Look at that face and tell me I'm not the face FANTASY needs! You deserve this people, and I am going to shove myself so far down your fucking throats I'm going to pull your own sexual organs through you so you can literally….”

Unlike before the carnage sprung upon the Martians was fairly quicker, the cloud of their wreckage wasn't dust but the mist of blue blood. Captain Righteous came to a stop staring out at the fourth wall…right at you! And all you fucks in Discord and on the forums! All of you….smiling! Shaking his superhero suit absolutely clean of alien genocide juice.

Captain Righteous: "Fuck yourselves! See ya soon Fantasy ... .Ship…error corrected they were dead before I got here.”

He zipped off flying at supersonic speeds to his golden yellow star cruiser, Ship.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "What…was..that?”

Konchu Hao: "It was a mess but, what you folks didn't see was the psycho watching us right now..”

Captain Righteous still watches on the giant picture screen.

Konchu Hao: "Well he was enjoying his little gift to us, clapping and chuckling! He seemed to actually thrive off of his little intergalactic stunt.”

Back with Captain Righteous the sound of a door opening pulls the perfect man from his perfect thoughts. Entering the room were three men; head of the board for Prince Industries, Hustace Copperwaller, and the lawyer twins Eddie and Eddy Hinderbottom. They greeted him with silence and Captain Righteous rolled his blue eyes standing.

Captain Righteous: ”Listen if this is about what happened to the Uranains they were dead when I got there! I mean they eat from their asses mister Copperwaller, what do you do with that? But Martian invasion averted that carries some clout yeah?”

As Captain Righteous continued his rant a new guest arrived Madame Vice President of the United fucking States.

Madame Vice President: "Save it Victor.”

Bitch, he thought to himself. As they sat and offered Captain Righteous a seat he just stared, defiant as ever. Fuckin rats. He could explode into action tear them a part and fuck everyone in this room before security could pinch their thousandth shit of the morning to try and stop him. Nothing could stop him, except his wrestling dream. He still wanted that.

Madame Vice President: "In light of your recently granted extracurricular privileges and now that you have outed the secret of your existence..”

Hustance Copperweller: "...or your very gray questionable moral compass…”

The Lawyer Twins Together: ”All the violence.”

Captain Righteous: "*scoff* I get things done!”

Madame Vice President: "...no you solve problems without a second thought to the outcome Captain Righteous, thus CREATING more problems! To make sure you don't cause too much collateral while you pursue this silly wrestling dream of yours let me introduce you to Lady Liberty…”

The door opens again and strutting through the door is a small petite blonde woman dressed almost comically (at least to Captain Righteous who thought she looked silly) in a superhero outfit.

Lady Liberty: ”Thank you Madame Vice President…Captain Righteous it is a honor to finally meet you, I've been follo-”

Captain Righteous interrupts with a fit of barking laughter looking at everyone at the table.

Captain Righteous: ]”What the fuck is this? Why…why does she sound so horrible?! What is that accent? Is this an episode of Fargo?”

Lady Liberty: ”I'm actually from South Dakota dontcha know?!”

Captain Righteous: ]”Stop…seriously…what can she even do to “police me”..”

Now everyone looked more smug than the Captain.

Madame Vice President: "She's going to manage you.”

Madame Vice President took a seat and nodded at Lady Liberty who simply floated above and over the meeting table which instantly made Captain Righteous trigger a fight instinct by floating himself…he'd never seen another living creature do that, because that was his thing! She still approached closing the distance by flight when she cocked back and PUNCHED CAPTAIN RIGHTEOUS IN THE FACE SENDING HIM SAILING INTO A LARGE CONCRETE WALL! And just like that Captain Righteous launched into an attack spearing Lady Liberty through a large thick plate of glass, spilling them both into the night air. The pair would fight for hours in the sky above with hundreds of millions of people watching and filming.

Eustace Copperwaller: ”I hope you are right about this Madame Vice President, he didn't look happy.”

Madame Vice President sat back in her chair smug and happy, a smirk of great condescension wilted on her face.

Madame Vice President: "She'll do for now, perhaps she will beat some of that fire within Victor make him more manageable…plus I think we found someone within the organization at Fantasy Pretendy Fight Club that will dampen his little wet dream…I'll work the angle in the meantime.”

She twisted her imaginary evil mustache as the board minions laughed evilly.

***

The pair, Captain Righteous and Lady Liberty, come to a crashing landing on a building! Dust and pieces of shrapnel explode into the air…Captain Righteous slowly stands with mild damage, a red spot beside his left eye and dry blood from under his nose were his only markings. While Lady Liberty looked a little more beat up, he grabs her up by the front of her outfit pulling her close to his face. Captain Righteous speeds up into the air and “by chance” above the BACK IN BUSINESS EVENT!

Captain Righteous: ”Never think you're better little Missy! And don't ever get in my way, understood? I will destroy you like I will destroy every man and woman of Fantasy!! Do you want to see the extent of my power ?! You just show up for my first match and watch a God amongst men…”

He tosses her aside, sending Lady Liberty crashing on top of the arena! The crowd below where she had landed was doused in dust.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "What did he do?! Can we send someone to check on that lady?!”

Captain Righteous lips, ’See you soon!’, salutes and takes off into the night air. Everyone is clearly stunned.



Kurt Harrington: “Ladies and gentlemen, your next bout is set for ONE FALL and will be fought under X RULES. The winner of this match advances to Night 2 to face the winner of Trixie Bordeaux and Aaron Harrows for the FWA X CHAMPIONSHIIIIIIIP”

“Introducing first, hailing from the Realm of Despair, weighing in at 270 pounds, VENGAAAAADOOOOOOR!”

[Metallica || Here Comes Revenge]

Vengador appears at the top of the ramp as Madison Square Garden shows their support for the native of the Realm of Despair.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Vengador has a chance to get his first taste of gold since his FWA debut. All he has to do is get through Johnny Johnson and the winner of the Trixie Bordeaux, Aaron Harrows match.”

Vengador methodically walks up the ring steps and heads to the far corner where he leans back against the turnbuckle and stares toward the ramp.

The camera pans backstage where Johnny Johnson is seen walking from his dressing room, heading toward the gorilla position.

Just as he rounds a corner, someone charges in and plants a forearm into the side of his head, knocking him into the cinderblock wall. Johnson is down! The camera pans out, and it’s Tommy Bedlam! Bedlam delivers a series of stomps to Johnson’s head and abdomen before picking him up off the ground and throwing him over a catering table.

Bedlam shoves a member of the event staff out of his chair and picks it up. He raises the chair and drives the edge of it into Johnson’s ribs. He spins it around and delivers a brutal chair shot to Johnson’s head that busts “The Legend” wide open.

Tommy throws the chair on the ground and starts pounding Johnson with a series of punches. As security peels him away, Jon Russnow runs into the frame.

Jon Russnow:“Bedlam! Bedlam! What the hell do you think you’re doing?! Get him the hell out of my building! Get him out of here.”

Tommy Bedlam:“Looks like you’re down a competitor. Don’t worry. I’ll fill in for him. You know me; big team player.”

Tommy wipes the blood from Johnny Johnson off his hands and across his chest as three security guards grab him and start pushing him toward the door.

Jon Russnow:“Bull shit. You’re gone, Bedlam. I’ll have your job for this.”

Rocco Sullivan:“Jon, it’s your biggest show of the year. You’ve already got one guy standing in the ring. We both know you’re not going to call the whole match off, not when there’s a title shot on the line.”

Tommy Bedlam: “I never lost my fucking title, Russnow. You can send me out there to fight Vengador for a shot, or you can sit back and wait on me to hijack every fucking show you try to put on until I get a shot.”

Rocco Sullivan:“Be smart about this, Jon. He’s already proven he’s healthy enough to fight. We can do this now, or we can do this on Meltdown, and then again on Fallout. You get to choose. Don’t worry. He won’t even take a lighter with him for this one”

Jon Russnow is obviously annoyed by Bedlam’s antics. He squeezes the bridge of his nose between his first two fingers and holds up a hand toward the security guards.

Jon Russnow:“Let him go. Get your ass out there, Bedlam. I’m not going to let your dumbass ruin our biggest show. But this isn’t over. I’ll figure out what to do with you later.”

Tommy jerks his arm away from the security guard, pats Rocco on the back, and smirks at Jon Russnow as he makes his way toward the curtain.

Tommy makes his way toward the ring as Vengador looks confused by what’s going on. With Rocco in tow, there is no music, but it would be hard to hear “Wanted Dead or Alive” over the boos of the crowd. Tommy is obviously still banged up from the unsanctioned fight with Brooklyn Steiner, as evidenced by the large bandage on his forehead that’s covering his stitches, the wrap around his ribs, and his noticeable limp.

Rocco is slapping Tommy on the back, getting him hyped up for the match as Vengador is shown to his corner by the official.

Tommy climbs up the ring steps, steps through the ropes, and glares at Vengador before smirking at the crowd who absolutely detests him.

Jean-Luc Watkins:“This crowd is certainly against Tommy Bedlam here, and who can blame them? His actions over the last few weeks have been absolutely deplorable. What he did earlier tonight to Brooklyn Steiner was disgusting.”

Konchu Hao:“Don’t forget what this does to Vengador. He’s been preparing for Johnny Johnson, not Tommy Bedlam.”

Jean-Luc Watkins:“He hasn’t. But Bedlam is beat all to hell, here. That fight with Brooklyn Steiner earlier has to have taken it out of him.”



Kurt Harrington: “Here is your winner, TOMMY BEDLAAAAAAM!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, you can tell this crowd is not happy with this result, but Bedlam pulled it off. Tomorrow night, he’s going to have a chance to reclaim the X Championship that he relinquished months ago.

Tommy stands over Vengador, seeming to soak in the boos from the crowd. He kicks a broken piece of table away as he makes his way back toward the ramp with Rocco Sullivan close behind.

He stops at the top of the ramp, turns around to face the crowd, and taunts them by pretending to wrap a title belt around his waist.



The Back in Business Night One coverage resumes inside Madison Square Garden and there is an excited but somewhat nervous atmosphere inside the world renowned venue. Fans are shown taking deep breaths, and some now even arguing amongst themselves as clear lines are being drawn ahead of the final match of the evening.

The commentary team is shown once more, but now Jean-Luc Watkins and Konchu Hao have been joined by a third just for this match.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “The tension here is palpable, wrestling fans. Tonight has already served as another historic chapter in the annual spectacle that is Back in Business, but there is still one match to come. A deeply, deeply personal affair between two teams with copious amounts of history with each other, and the FWA World Tag Team Championships hanging in the balance. To help us call what I am sure is going to be a display of pure carnage, Christian Quinn. Great to have you back at the table, Christian.”

Christian Quinn: “It’s great to be back, Jean-Luc. A story that began ten years ago when Danny Toner and Randy Ramon both first set foot in the FWA has led to this moment tonight; finally with their differences set aside they face off against two men who epitomise their regret. FTN took advantage of a vacuum and catapulted themselves far above their stations. Tonight, the champions will put the challengers back in their rightful places.”

Konchu Hao: “Without seeking to sour the camaraderie so imminently, I think it would be wise to write off Alyster Black and Chris Peacock so easily, my friend. I’ve battled with both of them - as has Jean-Luc - and can attest to their legitimacy. Lest you also forget who is responsible for that limp of yours...”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Now, now. That’s enough of that, gentlemen. Personal preferences aside, I think we can all agree that this match is filled with promise. To be contested under Warehouse rules-”

Christian Quinn: “That means that absolutely anything goes, Jean-Luc. A rule set that all four will be familiar with. Yes, even Randy Ramon.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Born from the historic meeting between Danny Toner and Chris Peacock three and a half years ago. And as Christian says, absolutely anything goes. There is nothing off limits here, so long as the match ends with a pin fall or submission inside the ring. Tags are required however you’ll probably see the insistence for them dissipate as the match progresses.”

Konchu Hao: “It’s going to be CHAOTIC. There will be UNPARALLELED DESTRUCTION! IT ALL ENDS HERE! KEHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I could not have put it better myself. Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts and get ready because we’re ready to go.”

[War || Hypnotic Brass Ensemble]

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Oh no…”

The fans stand up at the music abruptly plays. Approximately half of them are rabidly cheering whilst the other half are tearing their lungs to shreds with the boos. After a few seconds, Allen Price appears on the ramp. The manual wheelchair he has been bound to since Randy Ramon broke his leg has been replaced by a motorised one. Price stops it at the top of the ramp and is shown to be smirking.

Christian Quinn: “What does this idiot want?”

The reason for his complacency becomes clear when he begins to advance down the ramp. At the press of a button, a foggy white, foam-like substance is sprayed out from behind him. It is a sorry excuse for a release, barely going a few inches above his head and then landing on the ground behind him without much fanfare. A runner sweeps it away almost as soon as it lands but this is not noticed by the oblivious Price. The camera follows Price and the microphone attached to it picks up his commentary of his own entrance - “OH MY GOD IT'S A DAMN CUM WHEELCHAIR!”

Konchu Hao: “This is not the chaos I was referring to, I want that made clear!”

Price brings the wheelchair around to the commentary table and parks it up next to Konchu Hao, who shuffles away from him. He pulls out a headset from the horrendous and gaudy lime pastel suit he is wearing and tosses the cable onto the table.

Christian Quinn: “You’re joking, right? He’s not doing fucking commentary. YOU DON’T BELONG HERE, DICKFACE!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Oh for fu-”

With a face plastered with premature regret, Watkins slots Price’s lead into an open slot in the console.

Allen Price: “Oh, thank you, Jean-Luc! Thank you so much!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Consider that charity, Price. I must stress that you are on an incredibly short leash. A cum wheelchair, really?”

Allen Price: “I think it’s going to catch on. I’ve filed the patent already. But enough about me, I’m not the talking point here-”

Christian Quinn: “You don’t say.”

Allen Price: “OH YEAH?! You shut your crippled ASS up, Quinn, and you show the next tag team champions the respect they deserve! Because guess what? FTN. Alyster Black. Chris Peacock… HERE THEY COME!”

[Gangplank Galleon]

Despite the divided crowd, there is almost a unanimously loud cheer once the challengers’ music begins to play inside MSG. Alyster Black and Chris Peacock walk out together. There are no grand or controversial theatrics like last year; it is clear from their faces that they’re here for business. Peacock wears black trousers which match Alyster’s and the navy accents on Black’s mask is the only colour on either of their wardrobe. A sign in the crowd is almost instantly spotted by Peacock, reading ‘REST IN PEACE DREW’. He nods appreciatively at the fan holding it and then FTN walk towards the ring together. As they pass the camera, the black armbands they are both wearing reads ‘DP’ with an orange heart next to it.

Allen Price: “You saw the signs and you heard the news coming into Back in Business; Chris Peacock laid his twin brother to rest almost a month ago to this day. The fact that he’s here - alongside the man he considers his brother - to fight at the highest level shows how much of a warrior this man is. You pair him up with the toughest son of a bitch in the world, you’ve got two winners and that’s what FTN will be tonight.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Of course the FWA was deeply saddened by the loss of Drew Peacock and our heartfelt condolences are offered to Chris and the rest of the Peacock family.”

Konchu Hao: “I have since come to view Chris Peacock and Alyster Black in a different light since this event. Where I once saw two fierce competitors in an alliance, what is clear now is that whilst their actions and choices in acquaintances leave a lot to be desired, a brotherhood exists between them.”

At ringside, FTN stop to interact with a couple of people in the front row. Chris kisses a woman on the cheek as Alyster fist bumps a young man. Chris then presses his forehead against the boy’s, hugging him and then kissing him on the head before he rolls into the ring.

Allen Price: Chris’s nephew, Max. Drew’s son. All from right here in New York. Then there’s the beautiful Cindy, Chris’s girlfriend-”

Christian Quinn: “Is she registered blind, deaf and with deficiencies in the rest of her senses? What the hell is someone like her doing with Chris Peacock?”

The challengers bump fists in the ring and discuss some last minute strategy as their music fades out. They start to pace, awaiting their opponents. The lights go out in the arena…

[Gangplank Galleon || Sixx: A.M.]

It is a mixed arena as the lights return and on the stage the previously shaded out area now houses Nicky Sixx and the rest of Sixx: A.M., who begin playing to a cheer from the crowd.

“Stand up to the devil slowly rising,
Clear your throat now, you can call for their demise.
Speak out, don't let the status quo define you.
This is your world, just put the fear back in their eyes.
There comes a time when you know there's a problem…

Rise up, it's a dawn of a new day!
Hands up, it's gonna be okay!
Even when they strangle you!
Get yourselves together!
Strike down for all that oppose you!
Look now, what have they sold you?
Even if they anger you,
Get yourselves together!
Get yourselves together!
Get yourselves together!

RISE!

Get yourselves together!

RISE!

Stand up and live your life!

RISE!

Get yourselves together!”

As the band continues to play the song, a figure emerges onto the stage and stands tall next to the band. ‘Rockstar’ Randy Ramon proudly looks down at the championship on his shoulder and nods at Nicky before he marches down to the ring with his eyes firmly set on FTN inside of it, specifically Chris Peacock.

Allen Price: “I can’t be the only one tired of hearing this song, right?”

Christian Quinn: “Give it a rest, Price. Randy Ramon and Danny Toner may have had their differences in the last decade but even I will concede that this man is arguably the greatest tag team wrestler in the history of this company. He is just one reign shy of equalling the record held by Devin Golden and Ashley O’Ryan, but my prediction is that he’s going to be stuck on reign number six for some time holding the titles alongside Danny.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Randy Ramon’s impact on tag team wrestling cannot be understated, but it is his other recent impacts that have drawn the ire of the challengers tonight. At Lights Out last year, he interfered in the match between Black and Peacock, cutting Peacock’s reign short and causing Black to have a crisis of confidence. He almost broke FTN up that night.”

Konchu Hao: “The Dark Roads Alliance did not do much to improve that situation either…”

Ramon gets into the ring, showing no fear of either Peacock or Black and Alyster has to hold Chris back. Ramon climbs up onto the turnbuckle and nods his head as the band finishes up the song and Nicky Sixx thanks the crowd and endorses Ramon. Pleased with it, Ramon jumps down and looks at Peacock who stares daggers at him. Peacock’s focus on Ramon is only broken by the next song to play…

[Down With the Sickness || Disturbed]

Chris Peacock grits his teeth and balls his fists, but the crowd ROARS in approval as the Disturbed song begins to play. The song reserved for Warehouse matches and also those against Chris Peacock plays and strobe lights shine around the historic venue. Once David Draiman’s voice delivers the iconic “OH-WAH-HAH-HAH-AH!”, Danny Toner appears on the stage with his arms outstretched, receiving a hero’s welcome. He closes his eyes and takes in the atmosphere before bursting back into life and hyping up the crowd.

Christian Quinn: “It is quite pathetic how easy it is to get under your guy’s skin, Price.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Ever the master tactician, an expert in getting inside the heads and under the skins of his opponents and using their disturbed temperaments to his advantage. Danny Toner is ‘The Chessmaster’, and his opponents are merely pawns for him to bend to his will. I think there is no one that can deny that on his day and in these big matches… no one shines better than Danny Toner.”

Christian Quinn: “When you’re right, you’re right, Jean-Luc. FTN are here because Danny Toner wants them to be. Neither Peacock or Black can hold a candle to him and he knows it, but so do they. He’ll let them enjoy the experience of being in a main event of Back in Business – the first and last time for Black. They can pay respects to Peacock’s deadbeat brother, but make no mistake, Toner takes no prisoners and these two clowns are going to realise that this is a fight that they did not want to pick.”

Toner rolls into the ring after milking the crowd for all that they are worth.

Once the commotion has died down, the two teams take their places in opposite corners. The referee, Larry Stevens, holds up the championships in the air, the lights inside MSG reflecting off of them. Kurt Harrington takes a step forward and clears his throat into the microphone.

Kurt Harrington: “The following is a Tag Team Match to be contested under Warehouse Rules, and it is for the FWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS!”

A big cheer goes up for the announcement and focus turns to FTN. Neither of them are looking at the titles, only at the equally focused and determined Ramon and Toner standing opposite them.

Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first, the challengers! First, from San Dimas, California… weighing in at none of your damn business… he is the ‘BLACK JESUS’… ALYSTERRRRRRRRR BLAAAAACK!!!”

A mixed reaction for Black, with the pro-Toner section of the crowd making themselves heard along with the FTN fanatics. An excited rumble swells as a close up of Black’s partner is shown.

Kurt Harrington: “His tag team partner… from Brooklyn, NEW YORK!”

Kurt pauses to allow a big cheer, causing Chris Peacock to crack a small smile. Danny Toner rolls his eyes.

Kurt Harrington: “He weighs in tonight at two-hundred and ten pounds… he is ‘The King of Dong Style’, ‘Dreamer’s Nightmare’ and ‘DISCO’S LAST WARRIOR’… your very own GRAND SLAM CHAMPION… CHRISSSSS PEEEEEEACOCCKKKK!!!”

A very loud cheer for Chris Peacock drowns out any negative reaction for him.

Kurt Harrington: “Together they are EFFFFFFFFFF!!! TEEEEEE!!!! ENNNNNNNNNN!!!”

Placing a hand on Peacock’s shoulder, Black nods at his partner and Peacock returns the sentiment. Attention then turns to the champions in the other corner, with the chanting for Danny Toner already starting to begin. Before that though, the focus turns to Randy Ramon. ‘Rockstar’ wears a steely expression.

Kurt Harrington: “Their opponents… First, from Detroit Rock City and weighing in at two-hundred and forty pounds… he is one half of the FWA World Tag Team Champions… ‘ROCKSTAR’ RRRRRRRAAAANDYYYYYYYYY RRRRRAAAAAAAMOOOOOOOOON!!!”

Harrington does not even get the chance to begin introducing Ramon’s partner as the crowd hijacks the moment.

“DANNY!

DANNY!

DANNY FUCKIN’ TONER!”

A smirk forms on Toner’s face.

Kurt Harrington: “His tag team partner… the other half of the FWA World Tag Team Champions… from NEW YORK CITY…”

Another giant cheer for another New Yorker.

Kurt Harrington: “He is DAAAAAAAANNNNYYYY!”

“FUCKING!”

Kurt Harrington: “TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!”

More chanting for Toner ensues and both teams convene in their respective corners. Some discussions take place between them as to who is going to start things off, but there is a clear air of anticipation in the crowd.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Many things have been said by these two teams but now, the time for talking is over. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the main event!”



Madison Square Garden erupts as Larry Stevens’ hand hits the mat for the third time. Randy Ramon bows his head to break off the eye contact with Peacock, who instantly allows the emotions to hit him and he drops to his knees with his face in his hands. Alyster Black grabs him from behind and hugs him as confetti begins to rain down from the rafters above them.

Kurt Harrington: “Here are your winners… AND NEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW FWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS… ALYSTER BLACK AND CHRIS PEACOCK… FTN!!!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Almost forty minutes of chaos culminates in us crowning new FWA World Tag Team Champions, with FTN ascending to the top of the tag team division for the second time. Alyster Black remains undefeated at Back in Business and Chris Peacock makes it consecutive victories in the main event-”

Allen Price: “Oh who gives a shit about the accolades, Jean-Luc?! FTN have overcome their demons; Ramon and Toner hung over them like bad omens for years! Now those demons have been exercised and those omens are gone. Chris Peacock is a champion again, alongside his brother in spirit and that will be dedicated to Drew. Drew, you crazy bastard, you were looking down on us tonight. That one was for you.”

Konchu Hao: “A moment brimmed with so much emotion it would even make the most devious of beings such as myself shed a tear were I able to. A brotherhood of choice, forged by love grown in the heat of battle. There is no stronger bond.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Christian… anything you want to say here?”

A clunking sound is heard as Christian Quinn tosses his headset to one side and in the background of the FTN celebrations he can be seen rising from his seat to Allen Price’s great amusement.

Allen Price: “Who's the dickface now, huh?”

Randy Ramon walks up the ramp, holding his ribs with a frustrated look on his face. ‘Rockstar’ mutters something under his breath which could suggest that whilst Peacock decreed their business complete, it may not actually be over as far as he is concerned. Despite his disappointment, he lifts an arm into the air and receives a gracious cheer from the New York crowd before he turns away and disappears into the back.

Peacock and Black stand up, and Chris looks up to the heavens and nods his head with tears in his eyes. Larry Stevens enters the ring with the championships in his hands and FTN stand together with their arms around each other ready to accept them… but Stevens is spun around by Danny Toner!

The fans are confused as Toner snatches the belts out of the referee’s hands and shoves Stevens out of the way. FTN step forward, ready to fight him once again but the exhausted and beaten down Toner shakes his head… before presenting FTN the championships himself.

Allen Price: “Dammit, that’s the Danny Toner I know. After two years of playing the fool and trying his hardest to be the big bad wolf… that’s the real him. A man who knows when he’s been beaten and will show the right respect to the winners. A class act.”

Black reluctantly nods his head in Toner’s direction and then Danny speaks to Peacock and points up to the sky and can be heard saying, “He’s gonna be so fuckin’ proud of you. I’m so sorry for your loss, man.” Then for the first time in a long time, Chris Peacock and Danny Toner embrace to a HUGE cheer from their fellow New Yorkers. Toner then pats Peacock on the shoulder and leaves the ring, collapsing into a seated position on the ramp.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I think as far as these fans are concerned, this match could not have ended in a better way. Their two heroes, hated most elsewhere in the country but can do no wrong in their eyes, have reconciled.”

Peacock and Black hug once more as Peacock’s music plays in MSG with the crowd singing along. The two are then joined in the ring by young Max, who Chris holds tightly to his chest and kisses on the top of his head. The Diamond Dogs have also appeared at ringside and they help Allen Price up from the announce position and into the ring. There is a group hug for the Peacock branch of the FTN Family and then Max lifts both Peacock and Black’s arms one more time to another big cheer.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Konchu, it’s been a pleasure.”

Konchu Hao: “Indeed! KEHAHAHAHAA!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Tonight will be a night of celebrations for the FTN Family, but will there be more for them to rejoice over tomorrow night? Can Krash do what Chris Peacock and Alyster Black have managed and as Price surprisingly eloquently put it… exercise his demons? Or will Jeremy Best continue to cast his friendly shadow over the FWA? Find out tomorrow night… Night Two.”

The first night of Back in Business XVIII ends with the new FWA World Tag Team Champions hugging in the middle of the ring as a content, almost proud Danny Toner watches on from ringside.