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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 15:57:22 GMT
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 15:57:39 GMT
Originally posted by Rosie. [ATTACH type="full" width="324px"]82571[/ATTACH]
Sunday, April 21st, 2024
Pro-Wrestling Kitsune Live in Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan
Background:
"Mad Science" Seji Makabe
From: Tokyo, Japan
Height: Five Foot Nine inches
Weight: 203 pounds. (Jr. Heavyweight)Finishers: Flux Destroyer (Essex Destroyer)
Hypothesis (Octopus Stretch)
Frankenstein’s Cousin (Super Frakenstiener from the top)
Over the top, animated, a touch unhinged, but a technical and athletic marvel, Seji Makabe, after Tiger X, was one of Pro-Wrestling Kitsune's first proper Jr Heavyweight signings since its start earlier in the year, calling PWK his home promotion. Since his debut for PWK on its second show, Seji has been claiming to be the greatest in PWK and all of Japanese wrestling. Most of all, the Jr. Heavyweight style is ‘scientifically perfect’ and he is the master of it. He claims Heavyweights are too fat, and “The girls don’t count.” So by being the best Jr, he is the best. Sound logic, I'm sure. So he's been making noise and antagonizing everyone regardless of division. He’s had success against multiple Jr Heavyweights, and held his own against heavyweights (although he’s been prone to use some dubious tactics), in the event of his only proper defeat against Rio Kobayashi, he used an excuse, saying he was 'too fat' and it was unfair. He’s even fought a Joshi star before and won. With his only other defeat coming in a tag match in which he was not pinned, 'Mad Science' has claimed to be unbeatable, drawing the ire of Tiger X, the other Jr Heavyweight crown jewel of PWK. Though less experienced than Makabe, his family background and raw natural talent has given him high expectations, with expectations for him to refine it more soon.
When the two Jr Heavyweights finally met one on one, it was a close match, with Seji's strategy to isolate the knee of his more aerial opponent. Tiger X gutted it out and had him on the ropes, but with a pin using the tights, Seji Makabe got the win. If he ended it there, he might have gotten some flack, but would not have made enemies. But Seji decided to draw try to add insult to injury, trying to remove the wrestler's mask, the ultimate form of disrespect. This drew out PWK regular and CJW talent, KATSU to make the save with a steel chair, forcing him to run. Though in the Joshi division primarily, Katsu has teamed twice already in mixed tag team action with Tiger X, the two masked wrestlers seeming to have a natural chemistry with both having respect for the tradition and being young, ambitious, and full of heart.
The Intergalactic COSMIC Champion would get on the microphone and announce that she wishes to put Makabe in his place. Being that she is no stranger to “cross-divisional matches” or fighting from underneath, it’s no issue for her to shut him up, leading to the match to be booked with Pro-Wrestling Kitsune going to Ariake Arena in Tokyo. This will be a big test for “Mad Science” as a win over an international star would be a great way to back up his claim to being ‘the best across all divisions.’ While KATSU, after not having a proper one-on-one singles match against a male wrestler since Mexico City last year, it’d be a great way to see if she can still punch above her weight class?
{"Kizuna No Kiseki ||Man With a Mission x Milet"}[MEDIA=youtube]0N3j1erm3-Y[/MEDIA]
Cross-divisional Match
部門を超えた試合
KATSU vs Seji Makabe
1/30
Live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Pro-Wrestling Kitsune, after its arrival earlier in the year with “Worlds Unite” acting as a soft launch, the promotion has been in full swing, wrestling live events across the country, having its own base roster mixed with its various partner promotions. The identity of the company has begun to form too with the ring canvas having a white base and a red square on the outside. The company’s crest appears in the middle of the ring with various sponsors around the edge of the ring. The famous “boxing style” turnbuckle pads are in use with blue and red corners along with two neutral white corners. Then add the thin steel barricades on the outside and a ramp leading to the stage. There are two tunnels made with square beams and lights along the bottom. Above is an LED screen stretching across. The current graphic is the company name with the tagline “Fighting Spirit Lives” underneath in both Japanese and English.
At ringside, a familiar face for those who watched the original Worlds Unite show and a regular for CJW’s English commentary, the “Irish Stallion” James O’Connell. Next to him, breaking from his usual partners, is an African American male. He looks to be in his 40’s, bald, and he has some insane sparkling sunglasses on.
James O’Connell: “Our event here in Arikane Arena continues on, once again, I am James O’Connell, and my co-commentator tonight, filling in for Bobby Joel who is busy in North America right now due to his other commitments, we have Dr. Smooth, the King of Classic Attitude, Wally Shine.”
There’s a smoothness to Wally’s voice, very fitting. He chuckles.
Wally Shine: “Thanks J, you’ve always been a cool cat to work with and you know me, the Doctor’s always in for an excuse to see the world. And as someone with some experience south of the Border in Mexico, I love this upcoming matchup.”
James O’Connell: “Indeed. A true lucharesu clash. Joshi vs Junior Heavyweight. ‘Mad Science’ Seji Makabe, after antagonising people across all divisions and going a step too far by attempting to remove Tiger X’s mask, has drawn the ire of the Kitsune Warrior, and fellow masked wrestler, KATSU.”
Wally Shine: “I’ve been entertained to a degree by Makabe’s antics. You want to make some noise, you go for the biggest and the best cats you can. Now bending the rules in a match, I get. But once he went for the mask, he stepped over a line. And given that KATSU respects that masked tradition and has done mixed-tag matches here with Tiger X, I knew she wouldn’t stand for it.”
James O’Connell: “The two seemed to have strong chemistry as a team, so it makes sense KATSU has a strong level of respect for the Tiger Prince himself. And her being a singles champion currently in CJW and has international experience, it may be a prime chance for Makabe to make some waves.”
As the fans are ready for the next match, PWK announcer, Yuji Yoshida introduces the next match.”
Yuji Yoshida (Translation): “The following match is a Cross-Divisional Singles match scheduled for one fall with a 30 minute time limit!”
{"MEGITSUNE || Babymetal"}[MEDIA=youtube]cK3NMZAUKGw[/MEDIA] The drums of “MEGITSUNE” draw a positive response from the Tokyo crowd as the LED screen shows 8-bit inspired graphics of a cherry blossom field. Then 9 tails appear as the silhouette of Katsu appears on the stage. Her arms are crossed with two fox-heads, with the gold of her title belt breaking the darkness. KATSU then spreads her arms wide as fire shoots up and the lights come on, showing her white and red attire. She quickly does a throat slashing gesture and makes her way down the ramp, the glow of the pyro behind her.
James O’Connell: “On quite a roll over the past several months, winning COSMIC Joshi Wrestling’s Intergalactic COSMIC Championship, she has had a positive record in both singles and tag team action, and been wearing that championship with pride both in her home promotion and here in PWK, but the Kitsune Warrior finds herself going back in familiar waters for the first time in months.”
Wally Shine: “Try nearly a year, J. She has not had a one on one match against a male wrestler in nearly a year. In Mexico City, I was lucky to be there live in attendance to see her wrestle that weekend. She found herself at home in the birthplace of masked wrestling, and defeated someone twice her size. But she’s been focused at home for a while now, and likely longer still. I just have to wonder if she’ll readjust to fighting as the MUCH smaller competitor again? Even if she’s against someone who’s a Jr. Heavyweight.”
On her way down the ramp, Katsu points to her title belt and walks around the ring, showing a smile under her mask. Heading to the hard camera side, the Kitsune Warrior slides onto the apron and opens her cape, showing off her title belt. A growing confidence is seen in the champion as she does the splits and slides into the ring as Yuji introduces her.
Yuji Yoshida (Translation): “Introducing, in the Blue Corner, representing CJW’s YOKAI Death Squad, the Intergalactic COSMIC Champion… The Kitsune Warrior… ”
Katsu heads to the nearest turnbuckles, unclipping her title belt.
Yuji Yoshida (Translation): “KAAAAAAATSSSUUUUUUUU!”
The YDS co-leader does a throat slashing gesture with her hand in a “fox-head” gesture and raises her white-strapped championship belt in the air. Dropping down from the corner. Katsu poses in the middle of the ring before unclipping her cape as “Megitsune” fades.
{"The Almighty Violet Thunder || FalKKonE"}[MEDIA=youtube]6Wuej5pHSWM[/MEDIA] The eerie opening to “The Almighty Violet Thunder” draws a negative reaction from the crowd as lightning graphics appear with the word “MAD SCIENCE” appearing. After a few moments, the self-proclaimed “Jr. Heavyweight genius” makes his way out. His silver hair is contrasted by his dark jacket and thigh high trunks with various personalized designs. Seji Makabe rubs his hands together with a devious smirk on his hand as the arena lights are dimmed with a purple hue. He turns around to show his jacket, having a design of KATSU’s own mask on it, dismembered from her body. This draws an increasingly negative reaction from the crowd as the YOKAI Queen shakes her head in the ring.
Wally Shine: “Well, talk about mind games from him?”
James O’Connell: “That’s low. That’s low and probably a waste of money to commission.”
Seji Makabe turns around and shouts as the arena lights flash and ‘Mad Science’ makes his way down the rampway.
James O’Connell: "Listen, don’t let the routine fool you, Seji Makabe is a fundamentally sound good, dare I say, great wrestler. Athletic and technically proficient, but he is often concerned less with out wrestling his opponents and more with finding every loophole in the book.”
Wally Shine: “I guess he’s of the school of ‘work smarter, not harder.’ The cat’s been able to outsmart a couple of big time competitors, though his lone loss outside of the Jr Heavyweight division was to Rio Kobayashi, a man who knew his tactics well. Now he’s against a woman who has faced men twice her size and each time holds her own at a minimum.”
James O’Connell: “And she’s done it multiple ways. Flash pins, top rope moves, even submitting someone six foot seven. The Kitsune Warrior’s a champion for a reason, already CJW’s Intergalactic Champion, people have even been saying she might be a future Universe of COSMIC Champion.”
Wally Shine: “But she’s not immune, even on a hot streak. And if she doesn’t keep eyes in the back of her head, then Makabe will have no problems making her his latest experiment.”
Finally, the maniacal Jr Heavyweight heads to the end of the ramp. He looks at the steps which are on alongside the apron and slams his hands on them, going up to enter the ring. He spins around, laughing as Yuji Yoshida introduces him.
Yuji Yoshida (Translation): “And her opponent, in the red corner, weighing in at 203 pounds, “MAD SCIENCE,”
Turning to face the hard camera, he extends his arm, showing a wide grin.
Yuji Yoshida (Translation): “MAAAAKAAABEEE SSSEEEEJIIIIII!!!”
Dramatically, Seji Makabe turns to face KATSU as she stands in her corner, handing her championship off to a ringside attendee. Seji removes his jacket as the official does a quick check for weapons from him with the villainous Jr Heavyweight reluctantly going along. He does the same for KATSU and rings the bell.
[ATTACH type="full" width="584px"]82572[/ATTACH]
KATSU hops in place, trying to keep light on her feet as she circles the cagey Makabe. Clapping, she gets the crowd behind her. Over the past several months, she’s been growing in her ability to manage a crowd. The dastardly Jr doesn’t appear shaken by this as he licks his chops, eager to get another win over a top Joshi. KATSU locks up with the Jr Heavyweight with a collar and elbow tie up-
And Seji Makabe shouts, trying to get the referee’s attention. The official he feigns pulling his hair.
James O’Connell: “And already, the games begin, Seji says Katsu pulled his hair? Her hands were nowhere near it!”
Wally Shine: “The guy spent a dime dying his hair, guess he’s over-protective-.”
KATSU shouts, protesting his claim, but Seji uses the brief distraction to kick her in the gut, drawing jeers from the fans!
James O’Connell: “Or more accurately, THAT.”
Wally Shine: “There goes giving this dude the benefit of the doubt.”
Makabe uses his size in this match up to throw KATSU towards a neutral corner like a hammer and the joshi star slams with a thud into the turnbuckle pad! The crafty Jr follows with a leaping back elbow into the corner! He quickly follows with a front facelock, trying to get on the middle rope, but Katsu blocks the potential Tornado DDT attempt and kicks his knee. Katsu ascends to the middle rope to meet him, but is pushed off. The YDS co-leader stumbles on the landing and that gives Makabe a chance to leap in the air and catch her with a diving European Uppercut! He goes for a disrespectful cover, placing his boot on KATSU’s chest.
ON-
And it isn’t even a one as Katsu quickly gets her shoulder up. The crowd jeer Makabe.
James O’Connell: “And after a quick advantage, Seji Makabe clearly confident, likely over-confident, fighting KATSU.”
Wally Shine: “Either that or he just wants to get in the head of the crowd and KATSU. Sometimes, when you KNOW you’re not going to win the support of the crowd, you need to learn to feed off the negative energy. Let it light a fire under you. Get under everyone’s skin.”
There’s a wide smirk on Makabe’s face as he wrenches the arm of Katsu as she attempts to get back up. Any attempt to strike him with her free arm goes nowhere for KATSU as she misses. Seji transitions into a chicken wing and wrenches the arm further, even driving the elbow into the right shoulder of the YOKAI Queen. Finally, Katsu reaches out to touch the ropes forcing a break. Seji keeps the hold in for a few extra seconds, milking the five count. Makabe backs up and slides under the bottom rope, tripping Katsu up and he attempts to pull her out of the ring.
James O’Connell: “And Seji is trying to potentially drag her into the ring skirting, he likes to do that and trap people.”
But Katsu rolls to her back and kicks her leg wildly, catching the self-proclaimed genius on the chin! Seji backs up, covering his jaw. Katsu quickly rolls and baseball slides, hitting him in the chest! The Kitsune follows up by running to the opposite side of the ring. She bounces off the ropes as Seji Makabe flinches, screaming-
And KATSU instead swings through the ropes as if she was doing a Sakura Kick and does a bow to the delight of the fans and the annoyance of Seji Makabe.
James O’Connell: “A little showmanship from Katsu here with the fake-out. I guess Seji isn’t the only one willing to get under people’s skin?”
Wally Shine: “The speed of KATSU along with how slippery she can be, finding counters, that’s what brought her success against larger opponents.”
Hearing some fans chuckle after his flinch, Seji Makabe shouts at them. Katsu opts against the follow through dive, feeling amused by the animated reactions of Mad Science, she sits down in the middle of the ring as the assigned referee begins the 20-count. The crazed Jr Heavyweight steps on the apron and shouts for the Kitsune Warrior to back up. She obliges, letting him step into the ring. Katsu runs in for a kick and Seji Makabe grabs the ropes, shouting at the referee to get the “crazy woman” to back up. The Intergalactic COSMIC Champion backs up, finding the antics of Seji more amusing than anything. Makabe breaks, trying for a running lariat, but Katsu ducks and bounces off the ropes into a flying headscissors!
Seji bounces off the canvas and turns around for Katsu to drag him by the arm onto the mat. She twists the arm into a La Magistral cradle!
ONE! T-
Quick kick out from Makabe. Katsu keeps with the quick pins, rolling over and pinning him down with a roll up pin.
ONE TW-
Another kick out as Seji Makabe tries for a quick crucifix pin of his own after getting his shoulders up.
ONE, Seji struggles to wrap both arms as Katsu gets her shoulder up again. Before Seji Makabe can go for another pin, he decides to go straight for the eyes of the mask! The official shouts a warning as the fans jeer
James O’Connell: “And Makabe to the eyes! What happened to saying you’re the best ‘wrestler’ of all divisions?”
Wally Shine: “He just thinks he’s the best, didn’t specify how, but come on, dude! At least have some class!”
With Katsu’s eyes obstructed for a moment, Seji Makabe decides to show his athleticism for a moment by hand springing off the ropes and crashing into Katsu with a back elbow! Seji taunts, doing jumping jacks to “show his speed.” Katsu stumbles to her feet, disoriented, and Makabe Irish whips her across the ring. On the rebound, Seji twirls her around into an argentine backbreaker position and drops down, breaking her spine on his shoulders!”
James O’Connell: “And the unique twist on the Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker!”
Wally Shine: “He must be revelling having the power advantage in this match.”
Seji Makabe goes for a cover on KATSU, hooking both legs.
ONE… TWO-
And a kickout from Katsu who rubs her eyes, finally getting her vision back after the eye poke.
James O’Connell: “And Seji Makabe, with some dubious tactics, takes control!”
-6:49-
ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR
The official counts as Seji Makabe traps KATSU’s arm in the ropes. She yells out in pain as her opponent elbows her in the head before breaking it fully.
Wally Shine: “Seji’s been a surgeon to the shoulder area. Her injury late last year was a broken collarbone, so targeting either the shoulder or neck area’s a smart play for him.”
James O’Connell: “And that is in comparison to his recent match against Tiger X, targeting the young hunter’s knee to ground him.”
Makabe lights up Katsu’s chest with a knife edge chop, his palm striking just under the collarbone. He forces KATSU into the corner and runs off the ropes, hitting a running face wash into the corner! The masked Joshi wobbles forward, giving Makabe a chance to run off the ropes and driving his boots into her shoulder with a front dropkick! Out of instinct, Katsu rolls to the outside.
James O’Connell: “Katsu taking a moment to the outside, trying to find some way to breathe from the deliberate offense of Seji Makabe.”
Wally Shine: “She’s been known for her endurance. Multiple matches in one night, lasting half an hour in multi-person matches, but part of what makes you last that long is a mix of conditioning and pacing.”
Seji Makabe taunts the crowd, putting his hands up like “Fox ears” and laughing as Katsu shakes her arm, getting back the feeling in it. Looking at Katsu’s position on the outside, Makabe considers a dive, but decided against it. He slides out of the ring and forearms Katsu in the back. Turning his opponent around, Makabe leans Katsu’s back against the barricade and levels her with another chop! The dastardly Jr Heavyweight grabs her by the collar and drags her on the outside and points, throwing her shoulder first into the barricade!
James O’Connell: “And now the fight is getting near us!”
Wally Shine: “Dudes, don’t take our table. They don’t break easily.”
The Jr Heavyweight grabs Katsu and slams her again into the barricade multiple times, her back and shoulder crashing against the steel, with it moving each time. The barricade even pushes back one of the tables on the final hit. Makabe looks at the Japanese commentator’s table and shouts for a chair, threatening.
James O’Connell: “Wally, my Japanese is only so-so, but better than yours, but I think Makabe is asking for a chair!”
Wally Shine: “Bro’s going to get himself disqualified.”
The commentator reluctantly hands an unclaimed chair leftover from a guest commentator earlier in the night and Makabe folds it, slamming it against the barricade. The referee, who has been letting some outside brawling slide, steps in, sliding out and tries to take the chair from Makabe.
James O’Connell: “Thank goodness the referee is getting involved.”
He fights with the official over the chair as Katsu uses the moment to catch her breath. Finally, the referee gets the chair, and goes to put it away, but Seji thinks on his toes and grabs a bottle of water. He drinks some and spits the water in the face of Katsu, drawing a strong negative reaction from the fans!
James O’Connell: “And Seji Makabe blinds Katsu with the water! Come on! That’d be a fine in Japan if he didn’t do it as part of this match!”
Wally Shine: “We mention how ‘animated’ and over the top Seji is, but the dude’s smart. Distract the official, then do something to take advantage.”
Makabe tosses the water bottle away and throws Katsu shoulder first into the post and back into the ring. The official sees the water on the floor and questions Seji, but he just says a “bottle got knocked over.” Makabe goes into the ring and loads up a big kick, catching Katsu under the chin with a Superkick! He then goes behind and bridges into a German Suplex! The referee counts.
ONE… TWO- And Katsu rolls her shoulder off the mat. Makabe quickly transitions into a fujiwara armbar, once again wearing down her shoulder area. Katsu fights for position, but Makabe transitions into a crossface, trapping her arm with his legs. and pulling back on her chin.
James O’Connell: “Seji Makabe, going to the ground game now.”
Wally Shine: “Best not to let Katsu pick up the pace.”
The official keeps in position in case of a tap out, but Katsu isn’t giving up. She grunts as her neck is torqued with the submission. The Kitsune Warrior flights for position, moving her hips so she isn’t flat to the mat. Despite the size difference, Katsu has learned to find ways to break out of holds from larger opponents. Her strong legs position themselves to give her a push as she rolls through. The grip of Makabe slips as Katsu gets to her feet.
Makabe rolls to his feet and runs at the Kitsune Warrior who rolls out of the way. Seji turns around into a quick arm drag! Katsu switches her focus to kicks, hitting a side kick to the thigh! Then to the ribs before winding up and catching him in the chin with a roundhouse! She spins around with a heel kick to the gut and runs off the ropes, topping it off with a dropkick to the side of the head!
Wally Shine: “And there we talked about it. Get into a match-up where KATSU can strike and quicken the pace, she takes control.”
James O’Connell: “Great counter out of the crossface by Katsu and now she’s chopping Makabe down!”
Dazed from the kick, Seji Makabe wobbles towards the corner. Katsu creates distance and runs, hitting a double high knee in the corner! Makabe tumbles forward and Katsu goes to her wheelhouse, the top rope. Getting on the apron, Katsu slaps the turnbuckle pad and gets the crowd behind her as she effortlessly asccends to the top. She smirks and leaps, hitting a flying crossbody on her opponent!
ONE… TWO- And Seji Makabe kicks out!
James O’Connell: “After falling behind, Katsu is in control-”
-11:05-
Dropkicking Seji Makabe out of mid-air, Katsu cuts off the move from her opponent and remains in control. Seeing a chance, Katsu stands up with her back to her opponent and hits a standing moonsault to the delight of the fans!
James O’Connell: “And once again, when given the chance, Katsu thrives when she can fly around and work that quick pace.”
Wally Shine: “It was a beautiful cut-off with that dropkick and the standing moonsault, chef’s kiss, truly smooooth.”
Katsu once again goes to the corner and heads to the top. Seji Makabe crawls, but doesn’t appear to be jumping to his feet right away. He’s on his hands and knees. Changing her approach, Katsu smirks and leaps, hitting a Twisting Frog Splash to the back of Seji Makabe! Rolling him over, Katsu goes for a cover.
ONE… TWO… Th-
And a kickout from ‘Mad Science.” Katsu grabs her abdomen, taking a quick breath.
James O’Connell: “Surprising kickout from Makabe. Katsu has won several matches with that frog splash variation.”
Wally Shine: “The girl slowly phased the Frog Splash out as her main match ender for the Phoenix Splash. Competing against larger opponents, she noticed the extra rotations, while risky, was more forceful. So the success rate has gone up at the cost of more risk. But still a useful move in the repertoire when needed.”
Seji Makabe crawls to the ropes, trying to pull himself up and he feels out his lower back after Katsu crushed him from the top rope. The former Television Champion uses her good arm to throw a hard elbow to the side of the head of Seji and she pulls him closer to the middle of the ring. She attempts to sweep the leg for the Lightning Spiral, but Seji Makabe steps out and turns it into a Gory Special! He stretches out Katsu on his back and is wearing her down again!
The official asks if she gives up and Katsu shakes her head. Makabe shouts “She quits!” but the referee just gives him a glare as he keeps the hold in, slowly walking around the ring like Katsu is his backpack while hiking. The crowd rallies behind the joshi and she slowly gets her leg unstuck and she twists out into an arm drag! But she’s slow to get up and Seji Makabe follows through with a running knee strike to the head!
James O’Connell: “And Seji Makabe cuts her off with the very scientific knee.”
Wally Shine: “That’s a heavy hit, and I don’t think he’s done.”
Pulling Katsu off the mat, Seji Makabe puts Katsu in a gourdbuster position, holding her up in a suplex. He then transitions it into a knee strike to the head!
James O’Connell: “Experiment XJ7!”
Wally Shine: “That knee could be used for a physics question!”
Katsu lies on the mat, knocked out and Seji Makabe hooks both legs for a cover.
ONE… TWO… THREE- Shoulder up!
James O’Connell: “And just barely, Katsu gets her shoulder up!”
Wally Shine: “That fox is seeing stars still. I’m surprised she’s still in it.”
Seji Makabe shouts at the official and tries to “show him” a “proper three count” mimicking a referee’s count on the mat. The official shakes his head, holding up two. Katsu’s given a chance to recover slightly, getting to a knee, but with her shaking her head, it’s clear she’s still dazed.
Seji Makabe pulls Katsu up and tries to lock in an Octopus Stretch! He attempts to lift his head over Katsu’s head, but in a rare moment, with Katsu being much smaller than most his opponents, he’s got less to grab onto.
James O’Connell: “He’s trying to lock in the Hypothesis on Katsu, but the CJW star, not making it easy.”
Wally Shine: “The Octopus Stretch is a weird hold. Unlike its Abdominal Stretch ‘cousin,’ it is often done with an opponent around your size. A bigger opponent even is easier to lock it in within reason since you have more of a base. Someone smaller like Katsu, you have problems.”
Makabe has no problem locking the arm, but as he tries to lift his leg over her head, Katsu keeps tucking her chin in, giving him no room to lock it. Eventually, Makabe trips and falls backwards. Katsu gains enough sense to cross her opponent’s leg as if she was going for a sharpshooter and jacknife covers him in a Last Supper pinning combination-
James O’Connell: “Fox Tail! Fox Tail!”
ONE… TWO… THRE- Kickout from Makabe!
Wally Shine: “That’s a unique pinning combination, I need to write that down if I come back to wrestling!”
Katsu grabs her arm after he was yanked from the Octopus attempt. The longterm damage over the match has taken its toll. She’s slow to capitalize and Seji Makabe leaps and hits a double knee arm breaker! He then quickly scoops Katsu up into a michanoku Driver! He hooks both legs.
ONE… TWO… TH- And Katsu powers out.
James O’Connell: “Back to back near-falls from each competitor. Seji’s backing up what he said in that, anyone, any division, he can hold his own, but Katsu, after not having a one on one match with a male opponent in nearly a year, is showing she still has what it takes.”
Wally Shine: “But Seji has targeted that arm well. She may be known for her speed and quick feet, but a number of your moves become harder to do with one good arm.”
Seeing Katsu on the ground in the middle of the ring, Seji Makabe takes his turn to take a risk. Going on the apron, he motions and heads up the top turnbuckle.
James O’Connell: “Seji Makabe sees Katsu’s in the drop zone for a cannon ball!”
Wally Shine: “This Mad guy’s gonna fly!”
Seji Makabe motions with his hands a rolling motion as he sets himself-
But his extra time to hot dog and grandstand gives Katsu time to get up, she rushes to the corner and in a swift motion leaps up to the middle turnbuckle and pulls Makabe down to the mat with an arm drag!
James O’Connell: “And he flies… in another way with the arm drag!”
Wally Shine: “You gotta learn when it’s right to hot dog and when it’s time to just finish someone.”
Bouncing off the mat, Seji Makabe rolls so that he’s on his knees and Katsu sees an opening, she runs and spikes him into the mat with a hurricanrana DDT!
James O’Connell: “Death Spike!”
Makabe rolls over after landing directly on his head and Katsu shouts out to rally the fans behind her. She slaps the canvas with her good arm and gets to her feet. Seji slowly pulls himself up and runs into a HARD kick to the chest from Katsu. The Joshi follows up with a superkick to the chin! She runs off the ropes and catches him in the chin with a single leg dropkick! She’s picking up the pace. Seji throws a dazed punch, but Katsu dodges and does a victory roll-
Into a Double stomp right to the gut!
Wally Shine: “Girl nearly broke his ribs, ouch!”
Flopping on the mat, Seji Makabe tries to get up as he shouts “My ribs!” Katsu waits from behind and spikes him head first into the mat with a poison-rana!
James O’Connell: “Poison-Rana-”
And Seji Makabe stands up right after fired up, shouting.
James O’Connell: “And Seji Makabe fires himself up-”
Before collapsing, falling out of the ring and onto the floor-
Wally Shine: “Nevermind.”
The fans chuckle at the very cartoon-ish response. Katsu blinks, surprised at the display. His legs as shaky as Spaghetti as Makabe pulls himself up by the barricade. Katsu sees the distance and decides to go for it. Running off the far ropes, the Intergalactic COSMIC Champion dives onto him with a suicide dive!
James O’Connell: “And Katsu takes to the air!”
Wally Shine: “If I could add another nickname to her, it’d be the Sky Fox, this girl can fly.”
Grabbing her shoulder, Katsu tweaks it on the landing, but remains fired up. She struggles, but gets Seji Makabe to his feet and pushes him into the ring and uses a moment to catch her breath. She slides on the apron and into the ring-
And Seji Makabeuses the chance to go for the mask! He tries to pull on the Kitsune ears of Katsu’s mask in an attempt to rip it off! KATSU grabs her mask to try to keep it on and the official interjects, trying to get Makabe to let go. The crowd jeers.
James O’Connell: “First he tried to do this with Tiger X, and now Katsu!”
Wally Shine: “As a gentleman who has met many luchadores and respects their masked traditions, I give a big, SCREW YOU, PUNK!”
Katsu fights tooth and nail to keep her mask on, and she gets a bit of support. Running from the back…
Tiger X!
James O’Connell: “Tiger X is coming out!”
Wally Shine: “Katsu saved him from a demasking, so he’s going to return the favour.”
Seeing Tiger X head down the ramp, Seji lets his grip slip. He doesn’t rip off the mask, but it is all he needs as he uses the chance to hit a rope hung DDT onto KATSU! He rolls her over and gets a pin-
Using his feet on the ropes for leverage!
James O’Connell: “Not like this, not like this, damnit.”
ONE… TWO-
Tiger X shouts at the official and he looks up just in time to see the leverage and instantly waves the pin off!
Wally Shine: “Tiger X came just in time.”
The fans cheer as Seji Makabe is caught. He pleads with the referee, nearly pulling his hair out before turning his attention to Tiger X. Even through the opening of the mouth, we can see the feline-themed wrestler give a confident smirk as he sees Seji Makabe rage. Katsu adjusts her mask and catches herself. She jumps up and pulls him down into a crucifix pin!
James O’Connell: “Seji Makabe, distracted himself-”
ONE… TWO…THR- And Makabe gets his shoulder up.
He tries to get to his feet but Katsu ses his position and knows what to do to strike him. The Kitsune Warrior runs off the opposite rope and drives BOTH knees into his head from behind-
Wally Shine: “And that girl knocked him out!”
James O’Connell: “BURNING ARROW!”
Katsu rolls from the speed she struck Makabe in the head. She stops right in front of Tiger X who gives a small wink to the Kitsune Warrior. “返済されたものと考えてください。私にはあなたの背中があります。” He speaks to her and Katsu appears to have a genuine grin on her face as Tiger X backs away, having done his part.
James O’Connell: “I think Tiger X is saying ‘I got your back.’ More or less. He was the equalizer here.”
Wally Shine: “And the Kitsune Warrior is ready to put the loudmouth away.”
With Seji Makabe struggling to his feet, Katsu goes in the corner and she waits, kneeling down.
James O’Connell: “Katsu told me to keep an eye out for an extra ‘arrow’ in her quiver so to speak earlier today and I think I know what she’s going to do.”
Wally Shine: “I think you told me.”
As Seji gets to his feet, Katsu runs forward, she pops herself up in the air using her opponent’s shoulders and pulls him down with a double knee facebreaker!”
James O’Connell: “KITSUNE BUSTER! A Pop-Up Codebreaker!”
Wally Shine: “That dude’s face is broken!”
Katsu rolls over for the pin, sitting on top of Seji Makabe and pulling back on the legs.
ONE… TWO… THREE!
{"Result:"}
Winner:
勝者:
KATSU
Via Pinfall
16:42
[MEDIA=youtube]cK3NMZAUKGw[/MEDIA]
“Megitsune” begins to play as Katsu rolls off of her opponent, victorious. The Kitsune Warrior shakes her shoulder, feeling it out, and has a smile on her face. The match official checks on her as a ringside trainee rolls into the ring to check on each wrestler. He hands Katsu a bag of ice and places one on Seji’s jaw. Katsu stands up as Yuji announces the result.
Yuji Yoshida (Translation): “And here is your winner by pinfall at 16:42, the Kitsune Warrior… KAAAAATSSUUUUUUU!”
The official raises Katsu’s hand as a ringside attendee gives the Intergalactic COSMIC Champion her championship. The title was not on the line, but when you have a title, there’s that bit of pride. Getting on the top turnbuckles, Katsu poses for the fans.
James O’Connell: “Seji Makabe tried every trick in the book, but Katsu, ever resilient, gets the victory with a new weapon in her arsenal too!”
Wally Shine: “That, and Seji forgot the fact that he’s been creating one too many enemies. Tiger X, after being cheated a win against Seji before and having Makabe try to rip his mask off, he prevented the same to be done with Katsu.”
Seji Makabe rolls out of the ring, his jaw still jacked after the Codebreaker variation and he pushes the camera away as he stumbles up the ramp.
James O’Connell: “Katsu already has YOKAI Death Squad, her CJW unit she leads. Do you think we can add Tiger X to her list of allies?”
Wally Shine: “With their chemistry in mixed-tag action and this, I can see it.”
Katsu heads down from the turnbuckles and rolls out of the ring, keeping her title on her shoulder. She raises her arm then bows to the crowd cheering for her win.
-Backstage-
Set up is a media area with the usual set-up of a panel with the Pro-Wrestling Kitsune logo mixed in with various sponsors. After his loss, Seji Makabe stumbles into the backstage area, ice pack on his jaw. He stumbles onto the ground. ‘Mad Science’ begins to laugh on the floor. His breathing is still heavy. On his back, he looks up at the ceiling and speaks.
Seji Makabe (Translation): “That girl.. Needed help. Hahahahahaa…”
Rolling to his knees, he looks up. He takes a deep breath and has a wide, almost psychotic grin on his face.
Seji Makabe (Translation): “The kitty and the fox are friends. They needed to help each other, hahahaha. As far as I’m concerned, I’m still unbeatable! HAHAHA! Unless you are overweight or are a cheater, nobody can best my MAD SCIENCE, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!”
Looking up at the camera man, he gets into the camera. He opens his eyes wide.The camera hears every breath of his, slightly fogging up from that and his sweat.
Seki Makabe (Translation): “Little kitty. Kitty boy. If you aren’t done playing with me, then I’ll happily take another one of your nine-lives again. But you need to re-earn the right to face me one on one. As for the little Kitsune, I won’t forget your tricks. This will have only begun between us. But maybe next time, we bring ALL the tricks! HAHAHA!”
Seji Makabe limps away, laughing to himself, and slightly unnerving some of the media. Several moments later, the man who helped the victor of the match, Tiger X, makes his way backstage. He’s got his gold and black gear with trims of red. His tiger inspired mask is aggressive. He competed earlier on in the night, but refrained from comments. He shows a small smirk.
Tiger X (Translation): “Seji Makabe thinks he can run around being a pain in the ass for everyone across every division?”
Tiger X says, his confidence from his debut is beginning to grow and he’s getting more comfortable, slowly finding his voice.
Tiger X (Translation): “You’ve been watching him. Challenging everyone, taking a short-cut every way, making excuses every time he loses. I bet he made one tonight again-”
A member of the media comments in Japanese “He did” and the second generation wrestler laughs.
Tiger X (Translation): “Of course. For someone who calls himself ‘unpredictable’ I’ve gotten pretty used to his routine over the past few months. I would have accepted a loss to him, let him run his mouth and wait for my time to shut him up… But then you went for my mask…”
Tiger X points to his face. The camera zooms in and through the eye holds of the mask, there’s an intensity in his eyes.
Tiger X (Translation): “This mask isn’t just me paying tribute to my family. It is not for marketing, this is my IDENTITY! This is the legacy I wish to build! You do not pull on a superheroes’ cape. You don’t mess with a wrestler’s mask, and you don’t get in a fight with a Tiger! As for Katsu…”
He looks as the Intergalactic COSMIC Champion makes her way to the media area. She has her white strapped championship on her shoulder and a towel around her neck.
Tiger X (Translation): “I owe her after what she did, and early on in my career, she has been one person who has treated me with respect.”
The Kitsune Warrior nods, looking into the camera.
Katsu (Translation): “I am always open to helping another masked wrestler. There are few that make their name in Japan with a mask. Your Uncle was one of the first. He inspired me as a kid. While I was recovering from injury I had the blessing to meet him. He helped me push through. It’s safe to say I respect your family.”
Tiger X (Translation): “When we first teamed up, he told me that.”
Tiger X turns to Katsu.
Tiger X (Translation): “He held you in high regards. We are also both young, trying to find our place while doing it our own way. The last time I checked, your YOKAI Death Squad is ‘Joshi only,’ but there is nothing wrong with lending a hand when needed.”
Katsu smirks and extends a fist bump to Tiger X, a common greeting from Cali which she has since adopted more. Tiger X returns it.
Katsu (Translation): “I will. And as the more experienced wrestler, I’ll be glad to tutor you.”
The woman gives a playful wink to Tiger X and he chuckles.
Tiger X (Translation): “This woman is a comedian, is she not? Must be from that time in America.”
The two masked wrestlers laugh. Katsu looks at the second generation wrestler and can’t help but smile. She’s only been able to team or work with him a handful of times, but maybe it is because she idolized his Uncle, or that the two have some similarities, but she feels like she’s already known him longer. Tiger X nods and walks off, leaving the victor to the media. She shakes whatever butterflies are in her stomach and gets back into promo mode as Katsu.
Katsu (Translation): “Seji Makabe, I would like to think I knocked you down a peg or two tonight, but I’ve met enough people like you who never know when to shut up!”
Katsu speaks with a fire and confidence, speaking in her native language. She looks at the championship belt on her shoulder.
Katsu (Translation): “I am a busy woman, but I am sure I can fit in some time to silence you. You are messing with two hunters. The Kitsune Warrior, Katsu, and the Tiger Price, Tiger X. Sooner or later, you will be eaten alive...”
Someone from the media speaks up and begins to ask a question..
Media (Translation): “You said you are busy, but to follow up, something Tiger X referred to. F-”
Katsu (Translation): “Speaking of busy.”
Katsu appears to dodge the question of the media personality. She holds up the International COSMIC Championship.
Katsu (Translation): “I have some news. Over the past several months, I have been working hard in COSMIC Joshi Wrestling and Pro-Wrestling Kitsune. I live in Osaka, but most shows often take place near Tokyo. While I like to be with family, they know my ambitions, and they know how much wrestling means to me. So, I will announce here that I am moving to Tokyo to better commit myself to pro-wrestling!”
Some of the media members clap at the announcement. The person who tried to ask a question is biting his tongue, letting her continue.
Katsu (Translation): “Of course that will result in a lot of packing over the next week, but I look forward to having a new home I can call my own and being closer to the fans I fight for!”
She nods her head, smiling.
Katsu (Translation): “And on that note, this coming week, CJW is having a match to decide the next contender for this championship. Some people I have history with… Something tells me that this defense will be my most important yet. So I will be keeping a very close eye on it. Until then… Thank you.”
Holding up her fingers, she says slowly.
Katsu: “Control… Alt… Delete-”
She flashes the ‘Fox Head hand gesture’ and begins to walk off. The media member tries to get her attention to ask her a question, but the Kitsune Warrior has said her peace and walks away.{"I be like"}  |
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 15:58:06 GMT
Originally posted by Sully. The Coven's Grandma Ethel is Currently Missing As if The Coven didn't need any distractions going into Carnal Contendership, the worst has happened, as their manager Grandma Ethel has now been reported missing. The 90 something year old grandmother, once dead and resurrected, was reported missing by family and friends yesterday evening. It's tragic news for The Coven, as Grandma Ethel was beloved by all. Grandma was reportedly with Coven member Blair Ravenwood. Blair reports they were alone, watching Jeopardy, when she got up to get a snack. Some time during this time, Ethel apparently had gotten up and wandered off. Ethel has struggled with episodes of Alzheimer's in the past, but she had never wandered off before. No other members of The Coven were with Ethel at the time, but Blair reports she looked in all of Ethel's usual spots before calling the police. "She wasn't in her chair, or in the bathroom...so I don't know where she'd be." the witch said. All four members of The Coven are expected to compete in Carnal Contendership, but they may have to do so without Ethel. Police currently do not suspect foul play, but are open to any help when it comes to locating the missing Grandma. |
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 15:58:32 GMT
Originally posted by Rosie.  Yanaka Ginza
Tokyo, Japan
April 29th, 2024
Closed off from any vehicles and houses exclusively for foot traffic, Shōtengai are a quintessential experience for locals and tourists in Japan to find tasty treats, gifts for friends and souvenirs for travel. Packed with people on a Monday afternoon, there’s a mix of tourists gawking at the local sights and flavours along with locals who are looking for a tasty treat. THe Yanaka Ginza area also has a surprising amount of cat themed accessories, with neko themed donuts, and statues around. The area is bustling with noise on all sides. Trying to navigate the crowd is a group of five young ladies, mostly locals, trying not to take up the entire street with their group. All five have surgical masks on due to the tight space, though they are hardly the only ones.
From the rear is a woman who is of decent stature, in good physical shape, but young. Her hair is reddish brown. Reo Hoshiki, or simply REO in the ring. Without her usual intimidating face paint, the young woman doesn't quite strike fear in the hearts of her opponents but still not afraid to kick someone's head off if they deserve it with a short fuse.
Younger sister to the woman next to her, height being on par with some of the men. Her colourful hair is let down with a blonde base and a mix of blue, purple, and pinks. She has a chipper spirit about her. Ririko Hoshiki, simply “Ririko” to most. Her power as a wrestler is great, explosive, and her hugs just as powerful. Just keep her away from Otters...
In the middle is a newer face. Her dark brown hair has squared off bangs with hair clips in her hair and a couple of piercings. She has a big grin on her face. But she has a couple of visible scars on arm. Deathmatch loving former idol, Miyu Kawamato. She does not look quite like the typical 'deathmatch specialist' and she still has a keen focus on being able to wrestle circles around her opponents. But after getting the rush from it once, she has grown to appreciate its place in wrestling. Though new to this group, she has quickly found herself at home here, being accepted for her despite any 'stylistic differences.'
At the front of the group are the two who, in a technical sense, are considered the ‘leaders’ of the group in the ring. Both for their own leadership qualities, and just a natural ability to lift up the others or being honest when needed. With her dyed silver hair, Cali Hayama’s look always stuck out wherever she is, whether it is in the middle of Tokyo, on stream playing games with her friends for a growing fanbase, or where her proper home is, in the dense forests and mountains of British Columbia, Canada. The first 'gaijin' member of their former group MAYHEM, she has quickly adapted to being in Japan, and most notably, become a great friend of her two co-founders of YDS.
Then finally, a somewhat short woman with long dark hair, silver dyed tips. Anonymous to most of the world, Katsuki Sasaki, or as she is under her masked persona, Katsu, the Kitsune Warrior. Currently CJW’s Intergalactic COSMIC Champion, she may not be the “top champion” of the company, but has established herself as someone to watch. That on top of her international success up until recently, where her attention has been at home among other challenges. With Cali, she leads the group of YOKAI Death Squad.
What started between three friends, Katsu, Cali, and Ririko, has grown into its own proper unit. Though the numbers have increased, they have tried their best to keep the identity of YDS consistent. Celebrate each other's uniqueness. Not just work together for wrestling is a brutal world-
But to support each other as friends to make it together.
“How has your unpacking been, Sasaki?” Kawamoto asks her friend in Japanese. “You said you didn’t need help.”
“My new place is such a mess right now, I don't want to show it to others.” She sighs. “Moving the contents of an apartment from Osaka to Tokyo has been a pain. But hopefully it will be all worth it in the end since I’m near you all.”
Ririko chuckles in the back, commenting. “Except for when Cali is on the other side of the Ocean in Canada.”
“Considering she acts like a roommate most of the time when she’s here, she’s lucky I do not charge her for rent.” Katsuki looks at Cali Hayama and teases. “I probably should since I made sure I had a guest room with enough room so you can stream.”
Cali, able to take a joke, laughs it off. She responds, her Japanese sounds confident, but still has a ‘westerner’s accent’ as her friends describe.
“At least when I am there I clean your messes, and I told you, if you needed money from me, I’d be glad to help.”
REO, who has been quiet in the back, speaks up, joking.
“Or she will spend all her money on gifts for her partner.”
Under her facemask, Cali Hayama blushes as her friends laugh at her expense. Reo’s older sister chips in.
“I personally think you two were SO CUTE together when we met her during her trip to Japan with you.”
Miyu Kawamoto nods, commenting. “It was the first time I met two people of the same gender dating, but you seemed to enjoy her company and to that I am happy to support.”
“Glad to see my Japanese friends like the real-life ‘yuri’ as you joke. But there’s some tours where I spend multiple weeks away. Sometimes a reminder that you’re thinking about them can go a long way in a relationship. In fact, I think I bought her a tea mug here for our two-year anniversary she loved.”
“Did it have a cat on it?” Ririko asks. Her sister rolls her eyes.
“Everything here has cats on it, sis.” Reo folds her arms. “I swear it is a tourist trap for anime fans.”
“The cats are a bit much, but still cute.” Katsuki comments. Miyu then jokes with her group’s co-leader.
“Which is why you are going to create ‘kitsune alley’ to rival this, no?”
Katsu covers her face, slightly embarrassed. Cali gives her friend a pat on the back.
“Ah come on, as YDS ‘leaders’ we need to accept abuse from our ‘underlings’ right?” She uses the term sarcastically. Katsu sighs and gives a small grin under her mask.
“Jokes aside, thank you for giving me a break from all that unpacking today. Surprisingly, a lot more than I expected. I still need to go shopping later and get whatever I would be missing.”
“Whoever would want to rent a place on their own right now is insane.” The youngest member of the team comments. “Everything got SO expensive.”
“Which is why you are rooming with me now.” Ririko tussles her younger sister’s hair.
“I guess right now I am in a bit more fortunate of a position.” Katsuki explains. “And it is a house actually. Not some grand palace, but it is a place where I am comfortable.”
“And if you think Tokyo’s houses are bad, then you would FREAK when it comes to Canada, especially Vancouver.” Cali comments. “Tokyo’s prices have been pretty consistent until last year. It was a bad spike, but they say it will level out before the end of the year. But I think Katsuki can afford it thanks to her merch sales.”
The Kitsune Warrior snickers. “I do thank you and your friends for designing our merchandise. They look good. That, and I guess being a singles champion has its perks.”
“That, and you three got international exposure in the past year or so with-”
Ririko lightly taps Miyu Kawamato’s shoulder.
“Remember-?”
Katsuki and Cali exchange glances. The deathmatch specialist bites her tongue.
“-But yes. If you didn’t wear a mask, I imagine there would be some people who recognise you now.”
Getting back on track, Miss Sakaki nods her head.
“One of the reasons I like keeping that tradition of masked wrestling. Keep my name and face only to my friends. Gives us a chance to head out as a group of friends and not be bothered for photos when we wish for only peace. Speaking of, hopefully by the end of this week or early next week I will have my house in order and we can have a gaming night.”
The invitation is met well by her friends. “That sounds awesome!” Ririko shouts.
“I’m interested.” Reo nods her head.
“I guess I made the right choice of which unit to join. Unit leaders offering game nights.” Kawamoto jokes. “I can’t wait to join.”
“Not all the other groups are terrible…” Katsuki says. “Unless you want to deal with abuse and manipulation from Yoshida and Watase’s newly inflated ego… Uhhg, I can’t wait to put her in her place in our title match next month.”
“I’m out when it comes to a gaming night this week. I’m sure I’ll visit later.” Cali clarifies. “I’ll be flying back out to Vancouver Wednesday. Since this is a rare weekend off from shows for all of us and they don’t have me scheduled the week after, I might as well head home for a week or two and rest up. But don’t let me stop you guys.”
“I hope you enjoy your time at home. You earned it.” Katsu nods as her friends ask.
“So, what day will it be? Friday? Saturday?” Miyu asks. “I think it will make us all closer as a team.”
“I still have three rooms full of boxes and shopping to do.” Katsu explains. “But how about this, by Friday, I will tell you when.”
Katsu looks back and the answer seems to satisfy her friends who all give nods of approval. Cali whispers something into Katsuki’s ear and the masked wrestler whispers back, giving a wink. Ririko’s tall head looks up and she motions for them to stop.
“Hold on, I think we need some snacks. Cat tail donuts!”
She points to her side to one of the stands and there is a glass display with various donuts and other snacks.
Most notably, some are shaped like long sticks with different designs on them. Little cat paws are drawn on their signs. The group heads over to the stand and Ririko asks for five of them. Katsu, being nice, offers to pay and pulls out her wallet, taking out some coins. The merchant takes the money as everyone picks which one they want. Miyu Kawamoto grabs her first and steps to the side where she takes notice of the stand next to them.
Behind the stand is a buddhist inspired statue and along it are colourful, somewhat creepy dolls. All with a similar bean shape. Of course, the front table has far less… creepy designs. Perfect for tourists, with all their eyes blank. The Daruma. Miyu hums and gets the attention of her friends.
“I have not seen these since I was young. My mom always got me a daruma before I had something big for good luck.”
The members of YOKAI Death Squad turn and get a look at the intricately designed dolls. Each carefully painted. Some of which have a human design, and fitting with the alley, some cat and even fox designs.
“Daruma? Are these considered bad luck?” Reo asks before taking a bite of her treat. The deathmatch wrestler pouts.
“No, they’re good luck!”
“I see for once, the locals are drawn to my dolls rather than the tourists.” An old man on the other side of the table notices. His skin is full of wrinkles which show his age. His greying hair is messy, but has a kind grin.
“Well, four of us are from here.” Ririko corrects him, pointing towards Cali. “She’s Canadian.”
“Japanese-Canadian.” Cali corrects her. “My ancestors moved to British Columbia from Japan around 1900.”
“Ay, and I see you speak Japanese fairly well.” The merchant comments. “Glad to see you come home where your roots are. I suppose you all know about the daruma? I know your friend does.”
“Aren’t they associated with Smallpox?” Ririko asks. The merchant chuckles.
“They were used as gifts during that time, yes.” The merchant clarifies. “Often used to show the life and death of the young souls affected by it, and to wish good healing to those ailing. But their origins are a sign of dedication and good luck. Do you want to hear?”
“I’m interested.” Katsuki speaks up. “I never got them as a gift, my family did not believe in such things.”
Picking one of the dolls up in his hand, the merchant holds it up, resting it on his palm. “The shape of these are inspired by the monk Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. They would stress the importance of meditation and the contemplation of the world.”
The beginning of the story draws interest from the YDS co-leader.
“I do know meditation can help reset yourself.”
“Ah, so you may be interested. Many monks would sit, remaining still for years on end. Legend has it their limbs would fall off, thus creating this shape, quite funny, it is.”
The vendor jokes, but the five young ladies in front of him do not share that humour and exchange glances.
“I suppose I will spare the origin of the blank eyes… That is a little too gruesome for you. But it goes down to their lesson of dedication to achieve a goal.”
Kawamoto nods her head.
“That is when my parents got me them as a gift. Before I had something big, they would have me paint one of the eyes and say a wish, sometimes writing down what I wished to get. Then they would put it in a place of prominence for good luck and encouragement so when I would pass by, I would be reminded.”
The merchant places his doll down. “That is why I have gotten many tourists to come and part with their hard earned dollars. I share my art, and they give it to a close friend who could use it.”
“Say, I have an idea.” Ririko says, swallowing a big bite of her treat. “How about we each get one and give ourselves a goal to accomplish? To give us some motivation.”
“That sounds fun. I’ll need a second to take home too.” Cali says, her friends rolling their eyes.
“I am sure your friend will appreciate it.” The vendor says.
“What about the rest of you?” Ririko asks.
“I think it will be fun.” Katsu agrees.
Reo also gives a nod and obviously, Miyu is on board. Each of them picks out a doll of their choice. Ririko goes for one with cat ears. Reo picks one with a purple hue. Cali Hayama goes with a blue and pink one for her and her partner. Miyu finds one which is white and gold. Katsu grabs her last and finds one with fox ears and a tail. They exchange money with the merchant.
“I hope you enjoy your daruma and I hope your wishes come true.”
The ladies give the gentleman a bow. “Thank you, sir.” Katsu thanks him on behalf of the group. Motioning to the table at his side, the merchant adds.
“And I do have some ink there if you want to make your wishes now.”
The girls head over to the table and they exchange glances. Cali puts the pink one in her bag so she can bring it home with her. Now, all that is left is to make a wish.
“So, who should go first?” Miyu asks.
“Well, you seem to be the ‘expert’ so why don’t you do you show us?” Reo asks Miyu,
Kawamoto shrugs and she goes to grab a brush, dipping it in ink.
“The tip is you take a drop of black ink and you mark the left eye as you make a wish. You leave the other eye blank until you achieve your goal.” She hums, thinking of her wish. She tapes her brush and fills in a circle in the eye. “I hope I can main event a CJW show with a proper deathmatch.”
Katsu blinks. “A deathmatch in CJW? In the main event? Miyu, I know you made your name with it before you met us, but do you think they will allow it?”
Cali shrugs. “I’ve seen them do some regular hardcore matches, two cage matches and one ladder match. So stipulations are rare, but not impossible to happen.”
“I know it is crazy, but I want to break that trend.” Miyu places her brush down and moves her doll to the side, giving it a moment to dry. “I know people see deathmatches and think of big violent monsters. But when I compete in them, I see them as a spectacle, a test of heart and endurance, and an art. When I was in my idol days, performing was an art. When I wrestle a normal match, it is an art. A deathmatch is just that with more tools. It can be a hero’s journey, or a horror movie you can’t look away from.”
Miyu turns. “Just look at me. As I was training for wrestling I was wearing sparkling outfits, singing and dancing for people, but I go through panes of glass and barbed-wire and still get up. I break the stereotype. I went to CJW so I can maybe change that perception from people, so if I can have a deathmatch in a big match and entertain people, that may go a long way.”
The Deathmatch Idol moves her doll to the side and gives space for her friends. “Okay, who is next?”
Stepping up to the table is Reo. She has been somewhat quiet, being the younger member of the group.
“I think I know.” She grabs the brush and dips it in ink. She says as she fills the eye in. “I want to win this year’s Young Blood Tournament.”
“Speaking as someone who won it against your sister, even making it to the finals can be an accomplishment given the year.”
Ririko nods, but she gives her younger sister encouragement.
“But we know you can do it!”
"I hope so. I remember after I got eliminated from Ground Zero, when I flew home we all talked while you were hurt, and I explained I was acting aggressive on the show because I was desperate to impress you guys and prove those Virtue girls wrong when they told me I couldn’t join MAYHEM.”
She takes a deep breath, exhaling. “I was so… I let my anger get out of control. I am getting better at controlling it. But I still feel… I need to win. I am 19 now. This is my last year of eligibility. I got eliminated round one two years in a row, both to outside wrestlers CJW allows to enter each year.”
Giving her younger sister a hug, Ririko smiles. “Well, you are way stronger than last year! We will make sure we train hard so you can have a big tournament this summer!”
Despite her usual shyness and moodiness, Reo smiles under her mask at her older sister’s sign of support. “Thank you, sis. So what is your wish?”
Ririko hums and gets an idea. Placing her kitty daruma on the table she begins to paint the eye in.
“I want to record a song, release it, and perform it in front of fans.”
The other YDS members exchange looks before showing their support.
“Finally growing confidence with that?” Katsu asks.
“I thought you quit singing?” Cali Hayama asks. Ririko smiles at Miyu.
“Well, Kawamoto has inspired me to give it another chance. But this time, I’m not trying to join some Idol group. I just want to do it on my terms.”
“Just don’t try to drag me into your performances like you did when we were kids.” Reo looks at Ririko and shudders, thinking of all the ‘impromptu concerts’ she had to partake in as kids.
“I won’t.”
“Well, if you need tips, I will be glad to help. I am sure some of my old friends can lend a hand too.” Miyu offers which Ririko accepts with a big hug.
“Absolutely!”
“Well, I guess it is my turn then.”
Cali places her blue Daruma on the table and hums. “Jeez. I don’t know what to wish for… I mean, I’ve been looking for singles gold for a while now-” She says, taking a knowing glance at Katsu. Welcoming the challenge, Katsu steps forward and does some playful trash talk.
“Well as a singles champion, I will tell you what I told everyone else in YDS. You want to fight me for the title? I have no issues. Step up, because I will not hold back.”
“Maybe when you finally stomp Watase’s head into the mat for good we'll celebrate with a match?” Cali sneers before getting an idea.
“Actually, I got a better idea.” Cali dips her brush and paints the left eye. “I want to hit three million subscribers on YouTube and reach 800,000 followers on Twitch.”
Cali places her brush down.
“My channel numbers have been a bit inconsistent in their growth. When I appeared on American TV I ended up getting a spike, but then when I was being double booked it was slow one period, then maybe I’d have a lucky day, or lose some because of YouTube’s stupid algorithm… Fuck.”
She curses in English under her breath.
“That sounds incredibly stressful for just streaming video games then uploading highlights online.” Reo asks.
“You have no idea. To be a content creator and be able to do it full time, or in my case, a weird mix in between part-time and full time while getting dropped on my head in Japan for a living, it takes some luck, but then a lot of hard work. You are basically your own boss. There are no sick days. When I wrestle, I genuinely hope that if I do get injured, that it isn’t something where I can’t use my hands for a while or else my channel may be screwed.”
Taking a deep breath, Cali tries to speak positively. “But I’m just thankful my community online is pretty good. I’ve also met some friends through it who I have collaborated with. Then of course Kay who was my video editor until she got her current job. CJW even allowed me to create a Japanese channel where they translate my highlights into Japanese and change up the editing. I’ve been getting close to those milestones so hitting will be pretty big.”
Looking at Katsu, Cali smirks under her surgical mask, saying in English.
“Your turn, champ.” She winks, getting her own playful trash talk in. Katsu stuffs her daruma in her purse.
“I don’t need to do it now, haha.” There is some nervous laughter from her.
“Come on, we all made our wishes.” Miyu taps the table. “Now it’s your chance.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to hear what you’ll say!” Ririko encourages Katuski. Reo even gets in on it.
“It is all for fun, right?” Reo reminds her. Katsu looks.
“Honestly, my life has been good as of late. It has. My career is at a high now. I just moved into a place I hope can be a long-term home. I won the secondary title for CJW. I could just wish to beat Miho Watase or for the Universe of COSMIC Championship, but all those would be a bit hollow.”
After some glances from her friends, she takes the fox daruma out of her purse and onto the table.
“Fine. But I don’t know what to wish for.”
“It does not need to be anything super serious.” Kawamoto encourages the YDS co-leader. “Maybe something fun you want to try?”
Taking some time to think, Katsu whispers something into the ear of Cali Hayama. She nods, giving her support.
“Okay. This might be a bit of a serious wish. Everything is going well for me, but I should not be complacent. Keep this going.”
“That’s the spirit!” Ririko shouts.
“What is it, then?” Reo asks.
Nodding, Katsu says. “It has been something on my mind for a while, but I know I can do it.” There is some confidence in the young wrestler.
“Well, I’m not sure if I’ll help directly, but you know we’ve got your back, buddy.” Cali winks.
“And likewise for me to you. To YOKAI Death Squad. May all our dreams come true.”
All the girls hold up their daruma dolls and shout "To YDS!" as Katsu places her down. She dips her brush in the ink and goes to fill in her eye.
Keeping her wish.
In her head. |
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 15:58:50 GMT
… the FWA proudly presents …
”CARNAL CONTENDERSHIP 2024.”
only on the WCNetwork.
live from Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Saturday 4th May, 2024.
FIRST MATCH | 1/60.
Jeremy Best [c] vs. Cyrus Truth.
Cage Match. FWA World Championship.
Match Writer: Dubb.
Cyrus Truth earned an opportunity at Jeremy Best and the FWA World Championship by overcoming four other competitors - namely Trixie Bordeaux, Gabrielle, Johnny Johnson, and Jay Kenny - back on Fallout 037. Cyrus is of course no stranger to the richest prize in the game, holding it on three separate occasions, but the most recent such occasion was back in 2019, when Saint Sully ended Truth’s third reign just shy of a year. Truth came up short twice last year in his efforts to pry the belt away from Chris Peacock, and will hope to have better luck against recently-crowned champion Jeremy Best. Best won that championship back at Winter Wasteland, defeating Alyster Black to begin his first reign. Since then, ‘the Exile’ and ‘Your New Best F(r)iend’ have been embroiled in a war of words before being forced to team with one another - along with Sir Stache and Mejor Amigo - in an eight-person contest last week on Fallout 039. After it was discovered Jeremy's attempts to befriend Cyrus included Sir Stache paying off Bobby Joel and Vengador to attack him at Fight Night, Cyrus Truth cashed in on his own stroke by making the title match at Carnal Contendership a Cage Match. Will Truth embark on his elusive fourth reign with the world title, or will the FWA continue to stand for Friendship Wrestling Alliance?
MOD NOTE: The loser of this match may choose to also enter their promo into the Carnal Contendership match in the main event. This is not the case for the F1 final due to grading commitments.
SECOND MATCH | 1/60.
Chris Peacock vs. Michelle von Horrowitz..
Singles Match. F1 Climaxxx 2024 Final. FWA North American Championship.
Match Writer: SupineSnake.
2024’s incarnation of the F1 Climaxxx tournament comes to a close at the Carnal Contendership, with a first time ever meeting between Michelle von Horrowitz and Chris Peacock. Dreamer comes into this final as the reigning F1 winner, having triumphed over Cyrus Truth - albeit by disqualification - in last year's final. She will remember, though, that Peacock withdrew from the tournament before his semi final match in order to focus on his Golden Opportunity cash-in, which was successful and led to a lengthy reign with the world title. This match, though, is all about the FWA North American Championship, which is on the line in the tournament and is the belt both need in order to become the fifth Grand Slam Champion in the promotion's history. The two know each other very well, with MvH failing in her challenge of Peacock at last year's Grand March, her prize for having won 2023’s F1. The two have also frequently clashed over the FWA World Tag Team Championships as part of FTN and the Connection, battles which Peacock and his partner Alyster Black invariably triumphed in.
THIRD MATCH | MAIN EVENT | 1/∞.
The 2024 Carnal Contendership Match.
30-Person Battle Royale. FWA World Championship #1 Contendership.
Match Writer: Man.
Annually (other than in 2018 and 2020) since 2008, the Carnal Contendership has seen thirty (or more) FWA competitors duke it out in order to get a spot on the grandest stage of them all: the main event of Back in Business, in order to challenge for the FWA World Championship. Twelve people have won this match over the years, with Cyrus Truth and WOLF having done so on two separate occasions, and in 2024 the entire FWA roster will have the opportunity to add their name to this illustrious list. The field will aim to join hall-of-famers Chris Kennedy, WOLF, and Ryan Rondo, as well as more modern names such as Cyrus Truth, Nova Diamond, Michelle von Horrowitz, and Danny Toner, as one of the select few that can boast a Carnal Contendership win on their resumé.
MOD NOTE: Anyone who wishes to enter a surprise promo should do so by PMing myself, Man, and Dubb, who will act as the preliminary graders for this match. Please consult the rules thread for more information on how multi-person matches like this are graded.
Promo deadlines are as follows:
Sunday 21st April 2024 at 23:59 Pacific Time.
Monday 22nd April 2024 at 03:00 Eastern Time.
Monday 22nd April 2024 at 08:00 British Summer Time.
Monday 22nd April 2024 at 17:00 Australian Eastern Time.
GLHF. No extensions.
MOD NOTE: After discussion of this in the staff room, we’ve decided that we are going to publish grades for this show (in this thread), and will do so for all shows going forward. We are going to publish the average grade for each promo. Please note that a higher average grade does not necessarily mean the win. The grading rubric is used to decide a winner for each individual grader, but the winner of the match (usually) is the person who has won with the most graders.
The process is more complicated than this for multi-person matches (four promos or more). As per our rules post, there are three initial graders for matches like this, who grade all the promos in the match. If they choose the same winner, that person wins the match. If there is not a consensus on the best promo, two more judges are asked to grade the top three promos in the match. Then, a points system is used to rank this top three. With all five graders, the three characters are awarded either 1, 2, or 3 points depending on where they come in each grader’s rankings. The person with the lowest overall score wins the match. In this scenario, the top three having five graders versus the rest of the promos having only three can often lead to the grade averages being skewed in one direction or the other for the top three promos.
We also intend to post who graded each match when we post the grades.
We have decided to do this in an effort to increase openness given some of the discussions earlier in the year. We are looking at other ways to do that alongside this. A more detailed breakdown of your grade is available on request to a mod, as it always has been. |
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:01:04 GMT
Originally posted by AON. "Fuck you"
... That's all it says in the description of the mysterious video that was uploaded onto the FWA website over the week. There is nothing there to give any clues as to what it may be about. The thumbnail is completely dark and pitch black; absolutely nothing can be seen in it. Nothing else is written in the description, and there are no tags. No one knows if it's supposed to be a promo, an interview, a segment, a recap clip, or anything. No one knows who's in it, what it's about, or what will happen in it, and for some reason, even comments are disabled. Perhaps the uploader didn't want anyone in the FWA universe spoiling the video for anyone else before they watched it?No matter how curious you may be, there was absolutely nothing on the page that could tell you what this video was about, except, of course, the video itself. If that's the case, what other choice do we have? Might as well...
*CLICK*
...
*BUFFERING*
As the video begins, the darkness seems to... move. There still isn't anything that can be seen. But the black screen is far from still. Look closer. Do you see it? It's not swirling. It's notshifting. It's ... pulsating. There's a noticeable back-and-forth motion to it. The black... is breathing. Yes, breathing, that's what it is. That's what you confirm once you hear the sound. There's Someone panting. Gasping. A person out of breath. There's no tone, no voice in it. It's impossible to tell who it is. Just whoever it is, all we know about
them is that they're gasping for breath. Are they tired? Are they afraid? Who is it, and what's wrong with them? There is a sudden sharp clatter. Things are moving, and the darkness moves with it, revealing its true nature. Suddenly, there is light. There is a shape, an outline. It turns out the darkness wasn't really darkness at all. It was the black tank top of someone who was standing so close to the camera as to block the view of everything else. The pulsating was merely the heaving chest and stomach of the person, followed in rhythm by heavy breathing. As the person steps away from the camera, they turn their back. Their face is unseen, but even with their back to the camera, there is no mistaking the red hair that billowed down behind them. It was Elizabeth Rose. In her hands was a steel chair, which could easily be assumed to be the source of the sudden clattering. The chair is horribly misshapen, though. There are so many dents and bends in it that it looks less like a chair and more like some sort of metallic alien sculpture that desperately wished it was a chair but was coldly rejected of its dreams. As Elizabeth moves away from the camera, more and more of the room can be seen, and the complete wreckage of it all starts to come into view. There are holes in the walls, with patches of white dust on the floor beneath each one. Wooden shrapnel covers the floor, shards of glass reflecting the ceiling light like twinkling, glistening dust. One can barely make out the things that used to occupy this room: a table, a couch, some chairs, and a couple of lockers. All of it lies in wreckage on the floor, with each piece no longer resembling its former self, being mutated and twisted in shapes they were never meant to. Soon, she reaches the middle of the room and unfolds her dented chair, setting it down. Without a word, she turns and takes a seat in the chair, though how she could possibly feel comfortable on such a beaten chair is anyone's guess. No one has to guess for long, though, as she immediately stands up and swats the chair away, sending it clattering into the rubble and glass on the ground. When the dust settles, Elizabeth stands alone, looking down at all the broken pieces at her feet, her chest still heaving back and forth with each heavy breath. She eventually reaches out her shaking hand towards the camera, her movements spastic as she does.
"DO I LOOK LIKE I'M IN THE MOOD TO GIVE YOU A PROMO?!"
Elizabeth pauses to kick out at some of the rumbles in clear frustration.
"Because that's what you came here for, right? A fucking promo? Me to sell you on the carnal contendership? Give you a few soundbites that sound good in a highlight reel package. That's what you want, right? Me to give you a quote about how this is a big moment for me? How meaningful is it for me to get a shot at the main eventing Back In Business in my home town of Brooklyn? Yeah ok, I got something to say. Something you can edit around. You ready?"
"I don't give a shit."
Elizabeth pauses to make sure we've really heard that.
"I don't give a shit about Carnal Contendership. Brooklyn. FWA. That shitty little title. Anything."'
Elizabeth took a beat and a deep breath, needing a second. She was clearly tired from venting her frustration to the room. Bemused, she tossed her arms in the air.
"Seriously, why do you even WANT to hear from me? Where are you gonna post this? Youtube? You know how that's going to go, right? Just a comment section full of "I miss Lizzie Rose" and "Where's Elizabeth Rose been hiding? I haven't seen her all year. I WISH I KNEW WHERE I'VE BEEN!!!!"
Elizabeth rubs her flaming red hair out of her face.
"People wonder why I'm so bitter, why I've stopped caring, and all I have to say is... Wouldn't you?"
Elizabeth holds up two fingers for the camera to see
"For one whole year. I was stalked, I was targeted, and two people tormented me to show me that everything that I ever held sacred in this world and everything I loved and cared about WAS A LIE! The only thing I could rely on was them. Was family. Sisterhood and they would welcome me into that sisterhood with open arms...So I did; I stopped believing in myself. I sold out everything I ever believed in, I sold out Lizzie Rose, and I went all in on Eternal, MY family, and the INSTANT I did that. The second I opened myself up, THEY ABANDONED ME TOO-!"
Despite herself, Elizabeth starts chucking, but there is no amusement in it. It's like her: bitter.
"The second I opened the door to ETERNAL, Nova fucked out, the sister that "LOVED" me, that understood me, that said she was the only one who did, Walked away the second I opened myself up to her, she's just like you, She loved Lizzie Rose, but the moment I became Elizabeth Rose, she was repulsed! She left me high and dry, Oh and don't get me started on Keres. Yeah, she's been here, but evidently, Tommy, God Damn, Bedlam was way more fun to be around them than me. I sold out EVERYTHING. Everything I was. Everything I am, everything I could have been, and you know what I got for the trouble? TORN. Yeah, I was torn, alright. THEY TORE UP EVERYTHING I BELIEVED IN, AND THEY SHOVED IT DOWN THE TOILET FOR ETERNAL, AND THEY JUST WENT ALONG THEIR MERRY WAY, LEAVING ME WITH NOTHING. DO YOU ALL GOT THAT?! I HAVE NOTHING NOW. NO HOPES. NO DREAMS. NO FUTURE BECAUSE I'M THE GIRL THAT SOLD THE WORLD TO A LIE., SO EXCUSE ME IF I'M A LITTLE BITTER ABOUT IT!
Elizabeth explodes with emotion as she tosses a nearby stool at the wall, leaving a pretty sizeable dent. Her eyes wide, she stares at the dent before the energy seems to leave her, and she sags into a nearby chair.
"It wasn't meant to be like this, you know...."
Elizabeth's voice was a lot softer all of a sudden, more dreamy and introspective.
"This time last year, I thought I was beautiful. I was friends with whoever said hi to me. Everyone was nice. Clothes didn't matter. I didn't have to worry about it. I'd go to sleep tear-free. I never had to try to run away. I was always smiling. I didn't know what a rollercoaster I was in for. for. Because for all our boasting, for all our hardships. There's one thing that remains the same for everyone. And I don't care if you're Cyrus Truth, MVH, or even me. There's one fact that remains the same....The fact is that I'm reminded time and time again that life is hard. The world is a horrible, mean, judgmental place. But It's not our fault we're so scared of the world. People force us to be afraid. They tell us stories about stuff that is happening in the world that makes us scared. I wish I was still didn't realize that. I miss playing in the rain. I miss being outside every second of the day. I miss not caring about anything in the entire world. I miss everything I lost.
There was another moment of silence; Elizabeth seemed to be staring off into space.
But at the end of the day, I don't miss Lizzie Rose. I miss the moments; I miss everything so fleeting. But, the reality of the fact is she is dead, dead and gone. Murdered long ago. Just like Keres and Princess Nova wanted her to be, and everyone else in the world thinks was career suicide. But that's the thing everyone in the Carnal Contendership doesn't get; they're not messing with who they think they are; they think I'm not a threat, and when Carnel Contendership rolls around, they're going to be looking everywhere else for a threat. They're going to target me because I'm not a threat, but in reality, they're targeting someone else. They're targeting the girl they knew, they knew Lizzie Rose But I am a rose for no one. I am Elizabeth Rose Because I choose to be, because I chose to live. I chose to exist; I chose to be this way. And what you see, it's nothing but an illusion., that presence, that person. It's not here anymore. They don't exist, but that's what the person before me fails to see. That's what everyone in the Carnal Contendership fails to see. And that's because they're not looking at me with their own eyes. Oh, no. They're utilizing the eyes of another, of another, in hopes of finally seeing the weakness, which is Lizzie Rose. But you want to know a secret? I can tell you about Lizzie Rose's weakness, and I can tell you everything you need to know. See, Lizzie Rose? She's weak.
Oh yeah, she went there. Elizabeth Rose attacked herself. She attacked her older self, someone she didn't care for at all. With a straight face, Elizabeth spoke these words.
Lizzie Rose cared more about material things. She's a woman with a chip on her shoulder for longer than I can remember. She's a girl who's not truly that much of a woman at all. She's still a woman, clinging on to her vain hopes and dreams. She's still a little girl who would rather hold down something so powerful. To keep buried, something that could showcase the world killing power she possesses. Lizzie Rose is weak because she wishes not to utilize what she's capable of. Lizzie Rose is weak because she wishes to hold back. But Carnal Contendership? That is a different story. You see, Lizzie Rose no longer exists. This Void is all that there is, which is all I am. There's nothing here but someone with nothing to lose and a point to prove, An entity with a plan. And that plan is to do what Lizzie Rose strives to do but lacks the power to do. And that's finally put an end to this nonsense. That's finally taking on the biggest sacrifice of all time. Because after Carnal Contendership, The Void? Will be well fed.
We now see Elizabeth Rose, who is a lot calmer and more confident than she was, as she kicks up her feet and leans back.
"And yes, I'm sure you're all wondering. What makes Carnal Contendership the greatest feast of all time? Well, don't worry. I'm going to tell you. I'm going to inform you. because, unlike Lizzie Rose, I have no such weakness. I have no cracks in my foundation because I am the foundation cracked!
Yes, Elizabeth Rose felt as if she were indeed the foundation cracked. She was the new and improved Void, the one Elizabeth Rose kept dormant for so long, only allowed to be unleashed in small percentages against her opponents. Except now, this was a different ball game. Now,Elizabeth had given full reign to this persona, to this Void, allowing it to become the number one in the driver's seat, which made everything More interesting.
But everyone else? Cyrus Truth? Chris Peacock? MVH? Oh, they're a different story altogether. One, I'll be more than happy to tell. "
She was, indeed, more than happy to expand on the story. There was no smile on his face. It was simply her, with her eyes open, telling a very calculated and menacing promotional story. Elizabeth locked her hands together, leaning back as she continued to speak.
With everyone involved in the Carnel Contendership becoming nothing more than everything needed. Everyone in that match, from Cyrus Truth to Sawyer Xavier, is not who they think they are. Oh no. Don't let their lies fool you. They throw on masks, and sure, They're good masks, But that's all hiding the fact that they're all damaged. I'm feeling the weakness. I see through the cracks in his foundation. I see the turmoil, the irony. I see not only their masks because my powers allow me to see beyond what disguise you may come up with. My perception is ever great. And because of it, I see them all. I see Chris Peacock. I see MVH. I see Cyrus Truth. I see you, Cyrus. Throughout everything, throughout it all, you're all the same people. But at the end of the day, I can see all of you.
Elizabeth paused for a moment, her face seemingly confused for the moment. She didn't know what was going on. Tilting his head to the side a bit before speaking up
You see, that's where I live: in the chaos and on the edge. I live in the realm of eternity, something your mind could never fathom. It doesn't matter who you are or what you think is going to happen at Carnel Contendership. I could see you from where I sit. I could see through all your guises. And at the end of the day, it all brings us back around to the one in the driver's seat. It all brings us to me! All those people are just like me, giving them over to a worthless cause without meaning or purpose, trying to claw at a title that sucks them dry That's... what they don't realize. All those people that have been eaten, They served their souls up to that damn championship, and they'll be focused on their selves. They're going to be focused on Lizzie Rose. But what you fail to perceive, as I haven't. Is that now I am on a whole other level? All this time, I've shined through. All this time, I've guided this mortal coil. But all they knows to look out for, is Lizzie Rose heart. All anyone ever knew how to do around these parts, no matter how far Lizzie Rose goes, she always blows it where it counts. Ruth.
That last one had become tiring, and Elizabeth even feigned a yawn because of it. She was tired of the same old, same old from his challengers.
Like so many others, all you think doesn't matter. Because it's the end of the day. You're all in it for yourself, isn't that the old familiar cliche? A shrug of the shoulders from Elizabeth Rose, who didn't care about how she was speaking. No one cares about what any of you have to say.: No one cares about what any of you think. Because you're no one. You're unable to see past anything someone else tells you. And because of that, it will be all your downfalls. Because of that, you will lose to Elizabeth Rose. Guided by the Void, you never sought to fight. A void you didn't even know existed. How is that, anyway? How could you be so blind when it was right here in front of your very eyes? Well, that's because you don't even know who the hell ANY OF YOU ARE! While trying to combat something you think you know. You've already lost the Carnal Contendership to me."
Elizabeth leaned forward only a tad bit. He placed both hands on the arm of the armchair she was sitting on. She squeezed down, just utilizing a bit of strength, showing how much passion she had for this. She showed how much she was trying to hold back while claiming she wasn't even holding back. There were some depths to Elizabeth, something far deeper. And only now was it about to explode.
"You've already lost. And the funny thing is, you see me all as a joke, but I'm going to be the one to watch as you tumble down the mountain, your dreams shattered. It's going to be something that even I could take absolute delight in. You all ask like you're special and that you stand out from the crowd, but you're all the same. All you ever care about is your never-ending desire to burn FWA down to the ground and build it back up in your image. You want people to know you can beat up this person and the next person. Blah blah blah. That's what this is all about for you. That's where it starts, and that's where it finishes. From MVH to Chris Peacock, all they care about is the next victory. I'm on a whole other wavelength. I care about immortality; I care about the wrestling. I care about this company, the sport, the idea! I'm doing it to feel something. I'm doing it because I don't have a choice. If I stopped wrestling, I would die. And If I can't take death and get right back up? Then my name isn't Elizabeth Rose, so keep them coming; death does nothing strengthen me. The Grim Reaper isn't ready for this fight, and neither are any of you. I can sense it, can't you?
There was a nod of Elizabeth Rose's head, who simply knew exactly what she spoke of. However, she didn't agree with it. Her head shortly turned into a shake.
You're all the same as each other. You're still the same broken facade. You're all just one personality; none of you are special. But you don't believe that, do you? That's ok, I didn't at first. There was a point where I thought what I did mattered, that was until my beliefs were burned to the ground, and I was abandoned by my sisterhood. But you know what? I'm glad because now you're not dealing with Lizzie Rose. You all would have ploughed over her. You would have beaten her. But, not me. Not I, not this Void. This Void, this nothingness. Everything chaotic. All were built up and channelled into this vessel. And it's half because I know myself. I know everything about me; I know how to rule me, and that is the very reason why I am who I am. and everyone else in the match? You're a puppet in the land of puppet masters. Going down the first path that will lead to championships. Slave to your egos. And I am the Spartacus Void, the one that would see you freed. I would see the shackles on your mind released. With or without your approval
There was a nod of her head, agreeing with her statement.
But you won't believe me; you won't believe any of this. But I do, and that's all that matters.
Elizabeth sat up a bit more straight, her face still showing no signs of nerves. Her face was still absent of its happy-go-lucky exterior. No smile,sinister or otherwise. It was simply all serious business for Elizabeth Rose. She was planning on stepping into this ring and winning the Carnal Contendership and taking the gold home at Back In Busness. She'd have to prove her mettle at the same time as disproving another. It would be a task, but she was sure she could win.
: "And even after all this, you still are blind to true perception. You're still unable to see why I'm so confident. You fail to see why I believe myself the victor already. And that's where you will fall. See. I can explain this as simple as possible. You see, guys, there's something else going on here. You just haven't realized it yet. You believe me to be weak;
A sigh escaped Rose's mouth, obviously forced. She'd then shake her head before laying on her hand. She stared into the camera, already knowing this was what people always said. She didn't even have to know her opponent to know what they would speak on.
Let me take a stab and suggest that everyone in the match thanks that and all the fans feel this way. But let me tell you a secret. This is the beans to spill all the beans. If this were tea, beware because it's about to be spilt. I'll let you in on it. I'm not what you think I am. YOU NEED ME TO WIN-! You see, so long ago, I came up with a plan. I had to put myself away. I had to keep myself locked down. Locked within something. But I just didn't know what. I had felt my foundation crack. I felt my weakness being expunged from my body. Till soon, I was nothing other than something I couldn't recognize. I knew what was boiling inside me. And let's be honest, it scared the holy hell out of me. But I got a grasp on it. I learned to satiate myself feed myself, one at a time. To keep it at bay. But soon, it wasn't enough; I needed more. I couldn't operate alone; I knew I had to let it go, and no one saw to coming! Too caught up in your dramas to see. But I'mgoing to pull the wool from over your eyes and SHOW YOU! Over time, the prophecy has been fulfilled, but it's been broken, and this foundation has been broken completely. Finally! "
What was this? Elizabeth was finally reaching her breaking point in the promo, finally deciding to show a little bit of emotion. It just seemed to be aggression. Backed by Elizabeth's confidence, it was none other than aggression. All these key things were allowed to bring forth the person you see before you. Scratch that, the Void you see before you. Elizabeth was caught on fire, and that aggression was angling its ugly head. A confident look appeared on Elizabeth's face, tired of having to tell people. all of what she's done. Expecting them to know this, to respect this fact
I am the woman who has, at every point, every turn, shown the ability I possess. And I did that at half power. I did that, as Lizzie Rose, but now I have to step forward once more and do what I need to. Because that's one thing. Do people seem to forget about me? Or, maybe it is something you WANT to forget. Before FWA, I had no one. I had ...NOTHING, and then I had everything and lost it all. You think I'm just going to let you break my heart again? For years... I heard it back in the locker room for. People are whispering. How. How did Lizzie Rose beat me? Her? That loser? That crazy girl?" Oh, yes. I've heard it all. I've heard the whispers of hate, the whispers of people who would dare condemn me—rocks, stones, glass houses, and all that. But it didn't bother me. Because I knew that I had no one, I knew that I had the Void I saw, what you did not. And because of it, I know that without a shadow of a doubt, I will win this. Do you know why?
Anybody could see the fuming of Elizabeth, which was building to the top. Soon, there would be nothing to contain his outburst.
Because you're all insignificant. You're all ants! Something I step on and keep moving! You all hide behind a mask, and I can relate because I once used to hide behind a mask. The pain is much easier to contain when it's on the other side of that layer. But let me explain something to you: I have much more pain deep buried within me than any of you will ever realize. You are nothing. None of you are tougher than me. You're not battle-worn. You don't know true loss. I HAVE LOST THINGS YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND. I CRIED TILL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT! THERE'S NOTHING ELSE YOU CAN TAKE FROM ME, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND! I CAN SHOOT MYSELF IN THE HEAD RIGHT NOW, AND STILL, YOU CAN'T BEAT ME! STILL NONE OF YOU COMPARE! YOU DON'T MEASURE UP! BECAUSE YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THEN SOMEONE THAT WANTS A TOY. This is it. You're done. Your legacy, your mask, It will all cease to exist. Before your very eyes, as I take the Carnal Contendership. And then go to Back In Business. Leaving you all standing there Waiting for your turn to ask. Why? Why did Lizzie Rose beat me? How? How did that happen? And then you'll finally realize. .. Elizabeth isn't a woman at all. She's a Queen. So bow down bitches. |
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:01:26 GMT
Originally posted by Nostradamus. Xperienx Xtacee sits in his club, “The Right Side of The Bed”, in fabulous las Vegas which just so happens to be the site of this years Carnal Contendership. Xtacee debuted in this match just a year ago and didn’t have any intentions of sticking around. The FWA offered him a contract because those in charge, and more importantly the adoring fans, loved him. He was entertaining, flamboyant, controversial, and gifted in the ring. Everyone thought that Xtacee would be one of the next breakout stars in the company… so what happened? He failed in a stable. He failed in the world of hardcore. He has failed to be the star everyone thought he could be and has become one of the biggest disappointments in the FWA. Rumor has it that he is on the verge of being cut because his performance does not justify the hefty contract that was given to him. Despite the words of positivity, undying love, and the encouragement from his lovers Monica and Antonio, he has become a broken man, and his mind is in shambles. Everything he tries just turns into a red velvet covered pile of garbage. What’s going to make this any different? Xtacee is so deep in a depression that his inner madman, Silenx, has ironically gone silent. His Undisputed allies have moved on to other things. The crowds, while still chanting for him, are no longer content with just the flashy moves in the ring, the extravagant outfits, and the taboo nature of his relationship. That’s another thing; the hate he deals with daily. His lifestyle choice isn’t exactly widely accepted by the world, not even by those he’d consider to be in his own community. The obscene chants, posts, signs, and think-pieces that pop up- Xtacee experiences all of them. He has to deal with ignorance and death threats every day of his life. He has no solace because his personal life and his professional life are so intertwined that there’s basically no difference anymore. On top of all that, his club now sits in isolation. Although it is still incredibly well-funded due to the income he receives, the patrons have left in droves. Where there once were high socialites, celebrities, politicians, and influencers galore, there are now small groups of tourists that stay for a few minutes to take a look around before leaving without staying to enjoy anything. The drinks on the shelves of the bar have sat stagnant for months. The walls and carpets have been free of stains and bodily fluids. The sound of fun conversations, loud music, and mysterious noises have all left down the elevator and out the door onto The Vegas Strip below. Xtacee’s vision of himself, and of what he thought he could make a new Las Vegas be, has become tainted. Where he once saw opportunities, he now sees failures. All the promises he made a year ago are as broken and buried as he feels. His career was set out before him in the image of a sprawling green landscape, but he reduced it down to nothing less than a nuclear wasteland. Xperienx Xtacee has nobody to blame but himself. He did this. Not the Undisputed Alliance. Not Monica and Antonio. Not the fans. He. Did. This. The man that could not fail is now consistently waking up on the wrong side of the bed as the biggest disappointment there is in the FWA. *CRASH* “What happened?!”, Xtacee yells as he slams a bottle of champagne on the ground, shattering it, and spilling its contents everywhere. “I’ve done everything I can think of! I’ve worked hard, I’ve literally put my blood, sweat, and tears into this, and I have nothing to show for it.” *SHHHHRREEEE-CHHHHH-THUDTHUDTHUD-CRASH* Xtacee slides his arm across the bar and sends glasses, the register, cups, cans, bottles, and other small objects to the ground. He stands up and throws the stool he was sitting on across the room. “I’ve made the people happy. I’ve fought my demons; I’ve worked with my demons… I’ve tried being a company guy, I’ve tried being friendly with everyone, I’ve tried being more aggressive, I’ve tried being myself, I’ve tried being someone else, I’ve tried being alone, I’ve tried working with other, WHAT MORE IS THERE!?” *ding* The elevator announces its arrival as Xperienx Xtacee leans his back onto a wall and slides down to the floor, sitting in the puddle of alcohol from all the broken bottles. The door opens and a man in a red cardigan walks out of the elevator and into Xtacee’s club. He’s holding a briefcase in one hand and an envelope in another. “Was just about to close for the day, sir. I’ve got a mess to clean up, sorry.” “Well, son, you look like a right mess yourself. That’s actually why I came here… to help clean up a mess.” Xperienx Xtacee eyes this strange man in front of him. His red cardigan, blue-ish grey slacks, and blue penny loafers seem incredibly misplaced in a setting such as Las Vegas. The man’s briefcase looks just about as old as he is in the face, approximately in his 60’s, but he seems surprisingly fit as well. “Well baby, judging by the briefcase and the outfit, I’m to assume you aren’t applying for a custodial position, right?” “Correct, Mr. Xtacee. I am in the business of cleanup, and by that, I mean I am in the business of helping others in whatever ways that may be. Whether it’s my farmwork, my charitable donations, or my managerial work. Now, I reckon that you are in need of some help, compadre. I’m involved in the wrasslin’ business myself. And I am very aware of who you are, and I am a huge fan. In fact-“ The man puts his briefcase down by his feet and opens the envelope he was holding in his other hand. He pulls out an 8x10 picture of Xtacee, Monica, and Antonio. “Mr. Xtacee, I hope you don’t mind that I picked up one of these photos from your lobby. There was nobody there to hand over payment to, so I left the money behind the counter there. I was hoping, if nothing else, to at least leave here with an autograph from the one and only Xperienx Xtacee after a three-hour flight from Austin, Texas.” Xtacee stares at the autograph in the man’s hand. Who is this man? His aura feels… friendly and calming, yet mysterious and maybe a little devious? But what harm could an old man do, and besides, he seems like a genuine guy and a nice fan. “Oh, silly me, I do also have a marker. Let me help you up first though, sir.” The man extends his hand out to Xtacee. Xtacee meets his grasp and feels the man’s strong grip. If he wasn’t out of Xtacee’s age range, he might consider something else entirely different with this man. After helping Xtacee off of the floor, the man hands him the marker and the 8x10, which Xtacee signs and returns back to the man, who places it back inside of the envelope. “Once we’re done here, Mr. Xtacee, how about we get that outfit of yours cleaned? It is much too nice to stay covered in adult beverages.” Xtacee looks around at the mess he made in his own club, embarrassed at the fact that someone is seeing him at his absolute lowest surrounded by complete filth. “Hehe, I’m sorry, sir, but who are you? And why are you here? You’ve been very flattering, but I am very confused. And I’m sorry for the mess, things aren’t usually like this, and-“ “Relax, Mr. Xtacee. You seem a little hyper and you’re rambling. Everything is fine, and as I said, I am here to help you clean up. As for who I am…” The man moves beside Xtacee and places his briefcase on the counter of the bar. He opens it and reveals a bunch of paperwork and some folders. There are also a few slits in the briefcase that contain different cards, one of which is this man’s business card. He takes one out and holds it in front of Xtacee. “My name is Wyatt Lovell… but please address me as everyone else does.” “And how would that be, sir?” “I am simply known as…” He extends his hand out to Xperienx Xtacee for a formal introduction. “The Gentleman.” Xtacee reaches out and shakes The Gentleman’s hand. “Now, Mr. Xtacee, I am more than just a big fan, and more than just a wrestling manager. I am, well what you might consider as stereotype of certain Texans, a tycoon of sorts. I own… many things and help those I hold dear. My farms employ and feed many, my businesses employ thousands, and my money provides countless necessities for those in need. I am also the father of a wonderful son I adopted and have cared for his entire life after he experienced such… well his hardships were, and are, many, but he is happy now and that is what matters. He’s actually just downstairs admiring your wrestling memorabilia. He’s a big FWA fan, his dream is to work for them one day.” “Excuse me, Gentleman, but I think you’re the one rambling now, baby. You haven’t said why you’re here? If I’m being honest, this is a bad time for an introduction, if you couldn’t tell by the scenery.” “Yes, let me get to why I’m here. You see, I want to help you. Your club has seen better days and, honestly Mr. Xtacee, you deserve it to return to its former glory. On top of that, you yourself deserve so much more. You are a great talent, a great man, a great wrestler, and a great mind. You’ve just fallen into a slump. I am here to ask you for permission to help you.” Xtacee stares at The Gentleman and he is both intrigued and confused by him. *ding* The elevator once again announces its arrival, but this time it is Monica and Antonio that come out of it. They enter the club slowly and stare at The Gentleman. The look on their faces conveys confusion. An older man standing in a dimly lit and filthy club with your lover/boss would have that effect on you. “X, who’s this?” “Monica, I’m nervous.” The Gentleman turns to them and smiles. He holds out his arms to offer a hug to Monica and Antonio. “Darlings… this is The Gentleman… It looks like he’s here for business.” Monica and Antonio do not go in for the hug. The Gentleman lowers his arms and continues to smile at them. “Pardon my manners, we’ve only just met, who am I to go in for a hug. Television will have people forming all sorts of para-social relationships with the figures they see on there. My apologies Monica and Antonio. I’m a big fan.” Monica and Antonio shuffle over to the back of Xtacee. “As I was saying, Mr. Xtacee, I am seeking your permission to both be a business partner with your club and a business partner with your wrestling career. The documentation is here in my briefcase, you and your lovers can look it over if you want, it is a fair 51/49 split with the 51 in this case being you. You would ultimately have the final say in any decisions made in either venture. I would be on the managerial end and, of course, making sure that you are always at your best and in the most optimal position possible. You would just need to work your usual magic.” Xtacee glances down at the bunch of paperwork, which is far too much to read in one sitting. “Let me be clear here, I truly believe that this would be a huge benefit for all involved. We all have a tremendous amount to gain. You have the opportunity to regain everything you feel that you’ve lost. You can be the Xperienx Xtacee that I know you are. You need to believe in yourself, your talent, and your abilities. Your lovers believe in you. I believe in you… You need to believe in you. I don’t want to walk out of here today without your signature on the line here. We can achieve great things together, all four of us as business partners.” The Gentleman holds a pen out to Xtacee. Monica and Antonio still stand behind him, perplexed by what is happening. They have no words because they don’t know how to handle this situation; they’re more bedroom and fun than boardroom and business. “With all the pressure that was thrown on your head when the FWA signed you, son… the game was rigged from the start. It was unfair. You had nowhere to go but down. But if you agree to this arrangement, I will make sure that things slowly get better, as long as you hold up your end and believe in yourself. Xtacee, I believe in you like I believe in my own son.” Xperienx Xtacee smiles and reaches out for the pen, taking it from The Gentleman’s hands. “51/49?” “51/49.” Xperienx Xtacee signs his name on the dotted line, going into business with The Gentleman. “You’ve made the right choice. We all have. I can’t wait prove to you all that this was a great decision. I believe in all of us. And I believe that you will do great in the Carnal Contendership.” “How did you know about that already?” “Monica, I told you I’m a big fan! I want nothing more than to ensure that Xtacee does amazing in that match and then we can all come back here to celebrate. Oh, that brings me to my first order of business.” The Gentleman pulls out his phone and taps on the screen a bunch, seemingly sending a text message. “Uhhh, was something supposed to happen?” “Give it a minute, Antonio.” *ding* The elevator announces its arrival one more time. However instead of one person or two people coming out, a whole group of service staff come out of the elevator and into the club. They quickly begin cleaning and tidying up The Right Side of The Bed, much to the amazement of Xtacee, Monica, and Antonio. “I work fast. And you, Mr. Xtacee, need to focus on that match. I’ll handle the staff here and I’ll contact FWA to make further arrangements for us all. See you lovely people at the show.” The Gentleman claps his hands and walks off around the club while talking to the new staff he brought in. Xtacee turns around to Monica and Antonio. Monica puts her hands on Xtacee’s shoulders. “I don’t know what just happened, but I think I believe in miracles now.” “Same here, Monica. X, how do you feel?” “I… believe I have a Carnal Contendership to win. I believe in myself.”
Xperienx Xtacee smiles as both Monica and Antonio hug him.
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:01:45 GMT
Originally posted by AON.
JTC: "Ah, The Carnal Contendership, bodies flying back and forward. You know what ol' Jack The Clipper calls that? A hair-raising experience., because Jack The Clipper is here to shake the very foundations of this ring and leave a trail of sheared dreams in your wake. You see, the chair I put my customers in? It may seem like a simple piece of furniture to you, but to me? It's a throne of truth. Each time someone enters my shop, they surrender themselves to my scissors, submitting to my expertise in the art of hair manipulation. And let me tell you, my friends, the possibilities are endless. You see, I choose to walk in the dark shadows of the barber's craft, and I see the truth in the strands. Hair is more than just an aesthetic. It defines who we are; it tells our stories, and tonight, I am here to change those stories forever. In the ring, we have heroes and villains, fighters and entertainers, but I? I am something more. I am an artist, a sculptor of follicular fate. and Carnal Contendership? That's my greatest piece of art yet. They will think I'm a gimmick, a sideshow attraction. But mark my words, when I step foot in this ring, I am 100 per cent all scissors, no clip. I will cut through the competition like a hot knife through butter. I will no strand untouched, no scalp undefeated, so to all those who doubt my talents, who belittle the importance of my craft, remember this holds power to sculpt and shape this world in my hands. With each snip of my blades, I change lives; I make statements. And tonight, my statement will be louder than ever before. Once you step into my chair, your fate is sealed. Your hair will be my canvas, and I will create my canvas, and I will create a masterpiece that I will shock the world."
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:02:11 GMT
Originally posted by Cyrus. [HEADING=2] Chapter 2: The Path that Brought You Here [/HEADING]
Well…that’s it, then.
Deep in the bowels of the Sapporo Dome, after that entire mess of a multi-man tag team match, Cyrus Truth allows himself a moment of peace and reflection, sitting on a couple of production crates as the remainder of the show continues towards its main event.
Jeremy Best and his squad of friendship-simpering fools attempted quite possibly the silliest ploy to get Cyrus to buy into their fantasy and call off the FWA World Title match. And not only did The Exile see through it as if it were freshly-cleaned window glass, but he was also able to bring down the hammer on whatever Jeremy’s plans would’ve been for Carnal Contendership.
It’s been some time since Cyrus had stepped into a traditional steel cage. The Golden Opportunity Chamber matches or Mile High matches are their own sort of beasts. But there’s something…intimate. Something primal about an old-fashioned Cage Match.
Cyrus chuckles under his breath, thinking about the match at Carnal Contendership. A year removed from his record-tying second Carnal Contendership win, the victory that catapulted him to the main event at Back in Business.
Now…another opportunity to secure the Back in Business main event. This time? It’s the potential of walking into the event as FWA World Champion.
All The Exile had to do was destroy Jeremy Best and put an end to the bad comedy act that is the Friendship Freak’s World Title reign.
The roar of the Sapporo crowd belies shock, and a dueling sentiment of outrage and exultation. By now, Cyrus is well aware that they’re reacting to the end of the Tag Team Championship main event. No doubt, given the parties involved, that there was some kind of chicanery.
A curiosity, for sure. But ultimately, despite having been Tag Champion earlier in the year, it’s not a concern.
Focus.
That is what was needed at this point in time.
Utter and complete focus.
Cyrus may have twisted Russnow’s arm to get the title match stipulation as a Cage Match, but even then? The history of wrestling is littered with many unfortunate examples of where a cage has not stopped any would-be interlopers from stepping into the middle of a contest that didn’t concern them.
But the important thing is that, at least, Cyrus has given himself SOMETHING to balance the scales. It would have to be enough.
And if not?
Then may the gods help whatever poor saps decided to enter Carnal Contendership this year.
Because The Exile has made up his mind.
He’s returning to Back in Business. He’s going to be in the main event. The only question is whether he has to step over one broken body or twenty-nine to get there.
As Randy Ramon’s music blares to signify the end of the main event, The Exile takes a deep breath. When you’ve been a professional wrestler as long as Cyrus has, you develop a sixth sense about certain things.
Nothing as advanced as Konchu’s spellwork, obviously. But just…a feeling. A vibe not just from the wrestlers you share a locker room with or the fans that pack an arena to see the most amazing sport in the world performed at the highest level. It’s…deeper than that. You can almost SMELL the blood of countless ring warriors that have stepped through the doors of not just the venue you just performed in, but those who have passed by on their own journeys to various rings and arenas across the country. Feel the ebb and flow of a million voices across time cheering and booing to whatever action has come to their part of the world.
A moment of introspection that leads to an outreach beyond just himself. Cyrus takes this moment, this flickering ember of peace before returning to the storm, to ponder the immensity of what has been not only his career, but the lives of those his Long and Winding Road have allowed him to cross.
Jeremy’s inane, childish perception of friendship is annoying, certainly. But in the end, Truth can’t deny that something the champion said didn’t stick with him.
Cyrus has always taken pride in the fact that, for the vast majority of his career, he’s accomplished legendary feats and multiple championships on his own. But even with recent events suggesting otherwise? Partnerships and alliances have been exceedingly few and far between.
Jeremy was right about one thing. On the surface, Cyrus was and is a lonely warrior. After all, Exiles don’t get to have friends, as someone once told Truth.
But…
Rarely does the surface truly tell someone the whole story.
And that? That’s what inevitably will lead to Jeremy’s downfall.
As The Exile rises to his feet and walks out of the arena, hood drawn up to not draw attention from the throngs of fans exiting the venue, the screen of the smartphone in his hand is a bright light in the middle of the night. We zoom in over Cyrus’s shoulders as he looks to be using a travel app to book a flight.
Not to Las Vegas, the site of Carnal Contendership.
But the opposite direction. West, instead of east.
To proceed forward…
…sometimes it’s necessary to go back.
*******
25 Years Ago
Undisclosed Location in Mongolia
Throughout the world, there are a handful of places where the eyes of the world of dawn don’t wander to. Places where the Order of Observers congregate, debate and discuss the comings and goings of the world at large, and what role…if any…they would play.
In the wind-swept steppes, near mountains that jut up from the grassy flatlands, we find a few tents have been set up, with no markings to indicate who they belong to. There’s a handful of people of all races and ages congregating, discussing various menial topics in a dozen different languages with no issues in understanding what anybody is saying.
Aways away from the tents, sitting alone in a field of grass chewing on what looks to be some kind of trail mix and jerky, we find a young man, no more than 13 or 14 years old. Black, frazzled hair that ended at his shoulders, a grim look in his eyes as he peers out over the steppes to the horizon, and a sun beginning to set.
The young man looks…frustrated. Angry about something. Maybe…maybe even a little bit hurt and sad. Nevertheless, it’s obvious that he’s doing his best to try and keep those feelings hidden behind his countenance.
But, it’s clear that there’s a lot of loneliness in the kid’s eyes. None of the other Observers or adepts seem to be reaching out to him, leaving him to brood alone.
Except for one.
“Excuse me. Could I possibly join you?”
The young man, somewhat startled, turns his head to see another young man, roughly about as old as he is. Dark, olive skin and pitch-black hair, with an easy kindness in his eyes and a polite smile on his lips. He speaks with a heavy accent, definite roots of Arabic but somewhat melodic in his cadence. And he, too, is draped in the robes of an Observer initiate.
Without getting an answer from the brooding loner, this newcomer has a seat in the grass next to him. There’s a few seconds of awkward silence where only the breeze passing by makes any sound, until the loner finally asks:
“What are you doing here?”
The other young man simply shrugs and replies:
“You looked…lonesome. I thought you might like some company.”
“And you’re not worried about what the others might think? Associating with the problem child?”
“Hmm…not particularly. Should I be?”
“Only if you don’t want people to stare at you like you’re some kind of freak. Or if you are concerned at all about people thinking that by associating with some snobby know-it-all, you must be one as well.”
The Arabic youth chuckles at that, a response that seems to surprise the broody teen.
“When I was brought into the order, I was a young child…six or seven? Hard to remember exactly. So much has happened since then. I was just an orphan, whose parents ended up in the crossfire of a corrupt government and a brutal insurgency. The Observer who found me, brought me into the fold…do you know what they told me?
“They told me that all Observers, no matter their faith, creed, or philosophy, are brother and sisters bound by the knowledge we seek and protect. I feel, if that’s the case? Why should you be shunned? You are my brother, after all. That’s how I see it, anyway.”
“But I do have to ask…why did you choose the name ‘Truth?’ You had to know that it would cause a bit of a stir.”
The young brooding loner, the boy who named himself “Truth,” relaxes his shoulders as some tension, due either to the attitude of the other Observers and initiates or due to his suspicions of this newcomer, seems to lessen as he sighs and lies back into the tall grass. Gazing into the sky, watching the clouds drift by, he somewhat flippantly retorts.
“You’re definitely forward. In the span of about 30 seconds, you’ve told me your life story and basically asked me about my name. I don’t know whether I should be wary about you or thank you for not wasting time on small talk.”
“Well, if I can continue to be honest? You don’t strike me as the type interested in small talk.”
That gets a laugh out of Truth as the other young man seems to smile at that. However, there’s a bit of a pause as neither Truth nor this curious teen say anything, until the silence is broken.
“If you don’t want to tell me, you can just…”
“We’re supposed to pick names based on what we think is important, right?”
Most people would take that blunt interjection as rude or perhaps insulting. However, Truth’s erstwhile companion does not take offense, does not betray any semblance of annoyance. Instead…he listens, graciously and patiently.
“The Truth is at the heart of everything and anything we’re supposed to be as Observers. Everything else we say, do, and preach is in service to the pursuit of The Truth. Of life, of the world, of what it means to be human. I guess…I don’t know…I didn’t see the point of calling myself anything other than “Truth.” If The Truth is what matters, then I want to matter. If The Truth is the ultimate goal at the end of the Long and Winding Road, then that’s exactly what I want to always remember."
“Hmm. I’ve heard from some of the other initiates that you’ve always been a bit…well, arrogant. And that’s why you took your name despite the elder’s protests.”
“And you?”
The initiate pauses for a minute before eventually, much like Truth had done before, falls back into the grass, lying face-up looking into the sky.
“I think they’re right. At least, a little. But I also think it’s arrogance on the part of the others to assume they understand something without seeking the answers from the source. We’re supposed to seek The Truth. Would it not be the height of hubris to assume you understand something without taking the time and effort to truly ensure that you do?”
“Well, I mean…yeah. I guess so.”
“So…I suppose what I’m saying is…if you need a friend? Or even just someone to confide in? I guess…”
“...you’re offering?”
No affirmation is said, but Truth doesn’t need it said to know that it is implied. He sits up in the grass as his fellow initiate does the same.
“And what do you get out of this?”
“Do I need to get something out of it, specifically?”
“Being my friend isn’t going to be easy. I don’t feel great thinking you’re catching some of the grief the elders have been giving me and the only thing I have to offer you is my company, for what little it’s worth.”
“‘Everyone is going to hurt you. You just have to find the ones worth suffering for.’”
“Huh. That sounds like a quote I should know. Tennyson? Keller?”
“Bob Marley, actually.”
There’s a slight awkward pause, before the two initiates laugh. Truth, looking like he hasn’t had a good laugh in a while, clearly enjoys the levity as the other initiate extends his hand.
“My name is Seeker. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Truth.”
“Yeah…”
Truth takes Seeker’s hand and shakes it, a genuine and grateful smile on his face.
“You too.”
*******
Present Day
Memories are a funny thing.
Sometimes, they’re just faint things. Flickers of the past that cross your mind from time to time, but only the general bits and pieces.
But other times? Memories can be so vivid, so vibrant that they can take you back to that place in time.
The feeling of grass licking your arms as you sit in the dirt.
The smell of campfire smoke accenting clean air and morning dew.
The sound of silence amidst the clamor of dozens of pilgrims seeking answers in a remote part of the world that time forgot.
As Cyrus Truth dismounts a horse borrowed from a Buryat village and steps onto this remote steppe in the middle of Mongolia, the first time in fifteen years and a whole other life ago, all of those memories come flooding back.
When he chose his name, he wasn’t completely ignorant to what the reaction was going to be. He knew full well that he’d be looked at as a curiosity at best and a pariah at worse. Honestly? Cyrus was shocked that he wasn’t Exiled immediately. He would have been, had Justice had her way…
…but no. That would come later. When Truth insisted on living HIS truth, regardless of what the Observers thought.
However, that’s the furthest thing from his mind as his horse stands still, simply taking the opportunity to graze. Truth walks, and walks for several dozen yards before he finds what he’s here for.
A wooden post. Nothing odd or out of place about it. No markings, no indication that it’s anything more than just a random piece of wood in the middle of the grass.
But Truth knows better. Something important is hidden here. Something more valuable, more precious than anything within an Observer Vault.
At least…it’s more important to Cyrus.
Taking a small handheld spade from his long, black coat, Cyrus digs the grass-covered earth from around the post. He doesn’t have to dig too long as, eventually, the spade strikes something metal.
Clearing out the dirt from around the object, Cyrus is able to, in time, use his hands to pull out what was buried here. It’s a cracker box, a tin container that’s older than Cyrus himself. The Exile brushes the dirt off it, a small smile curling from the corner of his lips. He opens it up, and pulls out the treasure from within.
It’s an old Polaroid instant picture of two teenagers. A brooding loner and the kid that offered to be his friend.
No strings attached.
No over-the-top gestures.
No ulterior motives.
Just…honest intent and gracious openness.
Truth…and Seeker.
The picture is faded, but not so much that it isn’t clear what this is. Truth remembers this picture, remembers when Seeker suggested they take it and leave it here to be unearthed whenever one of them needed to remember the day they met and forged that friendship. That bond that carried Truth through the rest of his teenage years, even beyond his Exile.
Seeker rose to a position of status within the Observers. It would be understandable…hell, it’d be expected that he would cut whatever ties he had with the arrogant punk who named himself Truth and got himself Exiled for it down the line.
But…Seeker never did. Never considered it, or if he did? He never considered it for long. The Observer never forgot the bond that was forged here in the middle of nowhere, and always remembered The Exile that was his friend and stood by that bond.
Truth had nothing to offer in exchange for that friendship.
Seeker never asked for anything in return.
Cyrus…exhales. Despite the pressure of his upcoming fight, the dangers that lurk within the confines of a steel cage…there’s peace here. Understanding. And, that’s the whole point, isn’t it? The Long and Winding Road will never fail in taking you where you need to go if you have the courage and wherewithal to follow it wherever it leads. Even if it means taking several steps backward in order to give you enough space to take the next giant leap forward.
After a few minutes of looking at the photograph and remembering what it symbolizes, Cyrus returns it to the tin cracker box. He puts it in the hole and buries it again.
There’s no risk. Even if someone happened to come across this post and unearth it, there’s nothing in the photograph that would indicate that it’s associated with the Observers expedition that came out here over a decade ago. The Vault that existed out here was hidden deep within the mountains, almost impossible to find if you don’t know where to look.
But Cyrus Truth has found what it was he was looking for. Observer Vaults, for all the knowledge and secrets they contain, can’t really compare to this simple picture.
And should Seeker ever need it? Truth would make sure it was here for him.
We cut back some time later, to the major city of Ulaanbaator. Specifically, its airport, where we see The Exile is having his boarding pass scanned from his phone, a simple carry-on bag and backpack as his only luggage.
Again…not bound for Las Vegas or any destination eastbound.
Instead, we see that Cyrus’s flight is bound for the Middle East.
Destination: Baghdad.
*******
13 Years Ago
Several Dozen Miles South of the Euphrates River
Getting around Iraq is never an easy proposition. Even with Saddam Hussein dead and gone for half a decade at this point and the war initiated by American’s invasion having winded down significantly, there’s still an air of danger and instability. Especially when you don’t look like a local and you have an American accent.
Still, this isn’t the first time Cyrus Truth has been to this part of the world. The Fertile Crescent is a veritable cornucopia of lost and forgotten knowledge from what was once the intellectual capital of the world. Observer excursions come out here time and again, and there are always pathways that are safer to traverse if you’re not afraid of the dark.
Truth may be an Exile, but the knowledge of who to talk to, what methods of transportation to take, and where you can find information to make the journeys safer? That’s not something even the Observers can take away from their wayward children.
And thankfully for Truth, the destination he has in mind is not one many would think to go. Even if they knew what was there? Few of them would dare come this way.
But…The Exile has little choice. Since his banishment from the Order of Observers, he’s had to make his own way in the world of shadows. And sometimes, that means dealing with other shadow brokers and power players for various things they desire in the hopes that they’ll get you what you need to continue playing the game.
Cyrus, in a well-beaten Toyota pickup truck that The Exile didn’t care to ask where it came from when he paid a scummy black market dealer to borrow it for a couple of days, has been driving off-road for some time along the Euphrates river until turning south, heading for what was at one time a rest stop for Bedouin tribes that has long been reclaimed by sand and dust. But nobody being there is a good sign as Cyrus pulls up alongside a nearby well. It’s rather large, measuring about four feet in circumference and rimmed with fitted, smooth rocks. There’s no bucket, no rope, nothing that could be used to draw up water, and the bottom is impossible to see in the darkness.
This well has long been abandoned to the dust and echoes of time.
Good. Because there’s something here Cyrus needs.
Grabbing a heavy rope from the back of the pickup truck and affixing it to the front of the vehicle as an anchor, Cyrus tosses the rope down the well until he eventually hears the slightest splash. Wasting little time, Cyrus grabs onto the line and begins to descend into the well.
With a small flashlight affixed to his shirt serving as the only source of illumination for his descent, The Exile continues to climb down…down…down until he eventually reaches the water at the bottom. Testing its depth and learning quickly that it’s incredibly shallow, Cyrus eventually lets go of the rope and lands on his feet, the cold water quickly soaks his pants and causes a chill to run up Cyrus’s body. It’s a jolt, but somewhat refreshing considering the overbearing heat from the surface.
Now fully descended, Cyrus uses his light to survey his surroundings, focused on finding something beyond just water and darkness. And there is SOMETHING here, something that someone long dead and gone went through incredible trouble to hide here.
After several minutes, The Exile finds what he’s looking for.
To most, they would appear to be centuries-worn scratches on the side of the wall of the well. But Cyrus received an education in translating the runes of the Observers. These? These are child’s play compared to the runes that protected the treasures of the Observer Vaults.
A quick incantation, a few seconds of focus and extension of one’s will, and the scratches glow faintly, providing just a bit more light in this dark hole. The scratches almost seem to move in the wall like leaves in a river, aligning into more obvious ancient Sumerian text.
Eventually, the wall gives way, turning to sand as a passageway appears. Pulling his feet out of the pile of sand, Cyrus steps through the threshold out of the well and down this new path.
The pathway is polished stone, almost impossibly hewn considering how ancient it is. But none of this gives The Exile pause as he continues to navigate the narrow tunnel. He knew full well before coming to this secret sanctum that magic would likely be involved.
Cyrus, himself, never studied the arcane arts during his time with the Observers aside from some base-level enchantments and how to read magic runes. Even as a young man, he didn’t really have any interest in the deeper mysteries of magic, knowing how problematic spellwork can be and how dangerous even a slight mistake can be. Truth always preferred to put his faith in more grounded solutions. Still, that didn’t mean that certain individuals in the world of shadows didn’t share his opinion on such things, and could be swayed with certain offerings.
Deeper and deeper into the sanctum, we start to see the pathway branch off to small rooms and chambers, which appear to be sleeping quarters and other facilities such as kitchens and studies. Time has eroded anything of interest in these spaces, and nothing from what Cyrus’s small flashlight can illuminate strikes The Exile as something of value to the kind of circles he frequents.
However, something DOES get his attention. It’s faint, but as he looks to the floor, Cyrus notices that the dust that had accumulated over millennia has been disturbed, and recently.
Something or someone might have come here recently.
Cyrus curses under his breath. If someone beat him to the artifact…
No, The Exile thinks. Focus. Don’t dwell on what might be and figure out what is. With that thought shunted aside, he turns to press deeper into the sanctum.
Eventually, he finds himself in a larger atrium of sorts. Additional passageways split off from what Cyrus presumes is a central chamber that connects the rest of the sanctum’s various facilities. Ancient Sumerian text lines the width and breath of the chamber where the wall connects with the ceiling, and effigies of the long abandoned Bablyonian gods stand guard as statues.
It’s an awe-inspiring sight, and one that almost left Cyrus wide open.
Almost.
Survival instinct kicks in as The Exile ducks an elbow coming from his blindspot. He immediately spins out and into the center of the chamber as his flashlight gets a glimpse of his assailant.
A tall, lanky figure wearing black robes and…a mask? With insect antenna?
Truth’s confusion causes him to hesitate as the figure mutters some arcane incantation and Cyrus feels his muscles constrict and freeze. As the masked assailant keeps his concentration on the spell, he approaches The Exile with a wild look in his eyes.
“Ah-ha! FINALLY! I’ve been in this bloody ruin for what seems like a damned eternity waiting for you to show yourself, you wretch! If you thought for one second that you could escape me and your righteous punishment, you certainly have another thing com-YEOWH!”
The assailant, feeling confident, gets a little too close. Close enough that Cyrus, despite the paralysis spell, is able to move his head enough to violently headbutt this mage. The pain of having his nose crunched by Cyrus’s skull is enough to disrupt his concentration, freeing The Exile.
With this opening, Cyrus rushes the figure and pins him against the wall, forearm pressed against the masked man’s throat.
“I don’t know who the hell you are, but if you try that holding spell again, I’ll bury you alongside whatever ghosts haunt this place. Now, you mind telling me what the hell you’re doing here?”
“‘What the hell I’M doing here?’ What the devil do you think? I’m investigating you for illegal necromancy practices.”
“The hell are you talking about? I’m not a necromancer.”
“...Wait. You’re not?”
“NO! I’m just here looking for something. What the fuck is this stuff about a necromancer?”
“Well, I’d be more than happy to explain, but it’s rather hard when you’re CONSTRICTING MY AIRWAY.”
Cyrus hesitates for a second. He’s not exactly thrilled about the idea of letting up on this weirdo who clearly has some talent with magic. Still, now that he knows what he’s dealing with…
Eventually, Cyrus backs off, but only a little. The masked man coughs as he massages his throat. After a few seconds, the mage stands up, pats the dust off his robes, and looks Cyrus dead in the eye.
“Well, where to start?”
“You can start by telling me who the hell you are.”
“Ah, yes. Um…I don’t know exactly how much I can tell you, to be completely honest. Perhaps let’s start with a name. Yes, that would be a safe place to start. My name is Konchu. Konchu Hao.”
Cyrus looks a bit surprised by that. That wasn’t a name he was expecting, nor did he expect it to belong to this…stranger.
“Konchu Hao? By chance, you don’t mean the same Konchu Hao that just became the Primogen of the Black Mass, do you?”
With that follow up question, the figure, Konchu Hao, breathes a sigh of relief.
“Oh, thank the bloody Aspects! You’re a denizen of the world of shadows. This makes things so much easier. Yes, that is I. One and the same. I take it you’ve heard of me, then?”
“Of sorts. I’ve heard mutterings through the underworld that some newcomer came in and took over the Black Mass despite coming out of seemingly nowhere. But…what’s with the luchador mask?”
“I beg your pardon?! This mask is the vessel by which my essence is contained, you reprobate! This mortal form had their mind shattered and I…”
“Yeah, on second thought? I’m pretty sure I don’t care that much. What was this nonsense about a necromancer?”
Konchu looks a bit annoyed by the interjection, but that irritation gives way to confusion.
“Hmph, well...if you must know, The Black Mass received notification that a rogue necromancer had taken up residence in a hidden Sumerian sanctum to conduct foul rituals, bastardizing religious rites to the god Enki to conjure horrific monsters from the dark realms.
“However, that does bring up a question of my own. If you’re not the necromancer, then what are YOU doing here? HOW did you get in here to begin with? And who the bloody hell are you, anyway?”
“That’s not important.”
“I would argue it is!”
“I’m not here to debate you. I’m just looking for something to do some trading with.”
“So…you’re robbing an ancient ruin.”
“I prefer the term ‘reclamation.’ Besides, it’s not as if anybody who’s anybody would even know there’s anything here of value.”
“Hmm…perhaps. Still doesn’t answer my question as to how you got into this space. Looking at your energy, it doesn’t appear that you possess much arcane talent. And I’m not about to just allow you to traipse around doing whatever pillaging you’re here to do without some bloody answers.”
Now, it’s The Exile’s turn to be frustrated. This obnoxious upstart mage in the insect mask addressing him with this smug air of entitlement is starting to wear on his last nerve. However, fighting against the Primogen of the Black Mass, regardless of how the actual fight would go, is something Cyrus isn’t interested in at this moment.
“...Truth. My name is Truth.”
Konchu’s obstinate attitude fades as he hears that name. Immediate recognition registers in his eyes as an unsettling grin curls from his lips.
“Oh, my. You’re him. The Exile. Oh, that explains pretty much everything, then. Observer training, however cloistered, would certainly allow you to access such a place. Well, this is fortuitous! A true opportunity…”
“I’m not interested in teaming up, if that’s what you’re about to suggest.”
“Oh, heavens no! I was going to offer you a chance to join my burgeoning Army of the Night as my subordinate! With a minion like yourself at my disposal, there’s a great many…”
Cyrus’s expression says it all. He’s reached his limit with this Konchu Hao. However, before he can lash out, he interjects as something else gets his attention.
“Shut up.”
“HOW DARE YOU! As my future minion, you must learn to address me with the proper levels of respect and rever…”
“I said, SHUT UP. And listen. You hear that?”
Whatever indignation was building in Konchu Hao evaporates as he listens for whatever has Cyrus on edge. And eventually, he hears it, too. The horrific shuffling of footsteps.
From the corridors, dozens of animated corpses emerge, moaning and lurching forward slowly, but with a single-minded focus…the devouring of the living who dared to invade upon this space.
Both Cyrus and Konchu, without a word shared between them, quickly take up position in the center of the chamber, back-to-back as they stare down this zombie horde. Konchu mutters something under his breath, but is interrupted by The Exile.
“Stop! Take a closer look. The rags they’re wearing. See the runes?”
Konchu halts his spell as he sees what Cyrus does. He curses in an ancient language as he replies.
“Yes, I do. Blasted bastard. Anti-magic protection runes? Seriously? What fool of a necromancer makes it so that magic won’t work on his undead thralls?”
“An idiot.”
“For once, I am in complete agreement. So…now what?”
“Not like we have much of a choice. Even if we run, we can't leave these things here for someone else to find.”
“So, then what? Are you suggesting we fight them off the old-fashioned way, then?”
“That going to be a problem for you, mage?”
“Kehahaha! Hardly!”
Konchu mutters another quick series of incantations. Before Cyrus can admonish him for trying to use spells after already establishing that they wouldn’t work on these undead, Konchu finishes his casting.
In his hands, the Primogen of the Black Mass had summoned a pair of khopesh swords, and handed one to The Exile with a manic smile on his face.
“Will this suffice for the task at hand?”
Cyrus, taking one of the blades, simply smiles as he stares down his half of the zombies while Konchu turns to face his own.
“Yeah. This’ll do…”
*******
Present Day
Over a decade of time and decay had left nothing but bones and tattered scraps in that chamber where Cyrus first met the Mad Wizard who would, in time, become one of his closest allies in the world of shadows.
Returning to this space after all those years brings back that rush of adrenaline, the sound of conjured steel cutting through wretched flesh and bringing down the hordes of the rogue necromancer that had taken up residence in this ancient hovel. It was the first time that Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao would team up to combat something neither of them alone could accomplish.
This event didn’t make The Exile and The Mad Wizard friends, though. Even after the fight, as Cyrus reminisces inside that chamber, the two men would continue to butt heads and cross paths all over the world. Konchu always had a knack of ending up in the same place as Cyrus no matter how bizarre or grim the locale was, and often their own objectives and quests would conflict.
As Cyrus walks among the shattered bones and dusty remains of the zombie horde from over a decade ago, he recalls that after the fight? Cyrus would continue to seek out the artifact that he came to find. Once acquired, Konchu demanded that he hand it over so that the Black Mass could study it.
Obviously, Cyrus refused. There was a tussle, until Cyrus gave Konchu a counteroffer to provide information on the whereabouts of some other artifacts that were not as valuable, but still of some value to the Mad Wizard.
It would take years before whatever tension and rivalry between Konchu and Cyrus to finally mellow out into the relationship the two now have in the present day, and even now? There’s always a bit of one-upmanship between the two, especially now that both had found their way to FWA as professional wrestlers. Old rivalries don’t just go away, especially when the two men are as prideful as Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao.
But, that’s kind of the point.
Even when there’s that rivalry, there's respect. A bond forged by the fires of strife and conflict. And more importantly, there’s enough respect that one would never step away from the struggle if they valued what the prize was at the end of the Road.
Konchu Hao loves to play his games and mess with his opponent’s minds to get an edge, to ensure that he is in control.
But Konchu never did that with Cyrus. Even in the beginning.
Cyrus, as he crouches down and runs his fingers through the dust on the floor and rubs it in-between his fingers, thinks about that particular Truth about the Mad Wizard and thinks to himself…why? Why, when Konchu played his games and weaved his schemes, that he never tried to do that with Cyrus?
It doesn’t take him long to reach a conclusion. No…it’s more like, he knew the answer and simply had to remember it.
It’s because of respect.
Respect for one another as men.
Respect for the ambitions of one’s rival-turned-friends.
To try and play games like that would not only belittle the other’s aspirations, but also your own pride.
Maybe…that’s how they eventually became friends. That sort of mutual understanding that, even when and if they came to blows, it was in pursuit of something more than destruction, hatred, or greed. The respect for not just the people they were, but for the goals that they had, even if it meant that it would sometimes lead to them coming to loggerheads.
Cyrus smiles. This sanctum-turned-tomb is dreary and haunting, but for The Exile? It’s yet another good memory. A recollection of the path he took to get to the crossroads he finds himself at, and the Truth about something his opposition has never truly grasped regardless of how much he tries to speak on it with his unearned authority.
One more stop to go.
Climbing out of the well and taking his borrowed vehicle out of the wilderness and back to civilization, Cyrus has one last stop on his globe-trotting journey the long way around…
*******
Five Years Ago
Atlanta, Georgia
It’s well-past midnight in Atlanta. FWA’s latest live event, Quest for the Best, has concluded with massive ramifications moving forward.
Gabrielle Montgomery, after returning from an extended absence, would achieve another accolade to add to her already-impressive Hall of Fame career by winning the Quest for the Best tournament, and punching her ticket for a World Title match at the 14th Anniversary Show.
And in the main event? Cyrus Truth, in his fourth overall FWA World Title reign, would retain in a spirited Triple Threat match after eliminating special guest referee Chris Kennedy and opening the path toward defeating both Bell Connelly and Shannon O’Neal in what would be Shannon’s last match.
The rivalry between Shannon and Cyrus over a year ago had become brutal as passions, treachery, and deceit ran hot and the two of them would fight in a multitude of ferocious conflicts that left both of them changed as a result.
Odd that, a year in the future, the two would find themselves the sole patrons of a rundown little divebar deep in the inner city, drinking and laughing as the former challenger and current champion toss back shots of whiskey, the bartender having taken his leave, allowing the duo to basically have the place to themselves.
“Seriously? The hell’s a ‘Do Not Try This at Home Match?’”
“You know, I’ve had nearly ten years to try and figure that out, and…I still don’t have an answer. All I can tell you is that it had an obscene amount of plunder and involved me and Dan Maskell kicking the shit out of one another on some scaffolding ten feet above the ring. My back and neck still hurts thinking about that shit show.”
“Hot damn! I guess I kinda get why ya hate gimmick matches so much…”
Shannon chuckles as she holds out her glass for another round, to which The Exile obliges as he pours out the last remaining bit of whiskey out of the bottle. He then gets up and heads back behind the bar to peruse whatever bottles the owner left out before he took his leave for the evening and left the keys to Cyrus.
As he looks over the bottles before settling on a cheap Kentucky bourbon, he turns back to Shannon and bluntly asks:
“So…what are you going to do now? You know…now that you’re not going to be wrestling.”
Shannon takes a sip as the liquor clearly burns a bit going down. Both she and Cyrus are a bit of a mess, having come to this place pretty much after their match. Her sweat-drenched hair clings to her face as she takes a hand to move it away before fixing her gaze on her drink.
“...Dunno. Never thought much ‘bout life after wrestlin’. Maybe I’ll just go home to Lafayette. Settle in on that ‘domestic’ life.”
“Won’t you miss it?”
“Wrestlin’? Or you?”
Cyrus cocks an eyebrow at that, as if he’s not really sure how to react to that. Despite being well and truly drunk at this point, he still has enough sense to be surprised by that question, although he’s not entirely sure what Shannon means by it.
Shannon, however, simply laughs as she shakes her head.
“Relax, Cy. Just teasin’. But yeah…I guess I’ll miss it. Wrestlin’s been my own fuckin’ life for so long, and it ain’t easy walkin’ away. Thing is…I don’t wanna be one of those wrestler’s who stays in the game for so long that they end up hatin’ it.”
“Like how you said I had?”
Shannon shrugs as she tosses back her drink and downs the rest. Cyrus does the same as The Exile pours another couple of drinks for him and Shannon.
“Eh. I think ya just needed someone to kick you in the ass without the political bullshit. And…I think you’re prob’ly a lifer. You may bitch and moan ‘bout things, but you love wrestlin’. I don’t think ya’d be the same without it.”
“Hmm. Fair point.”
“Buuut…I was only half jokin’ with ya. I will miss ya, Cy. You were right when ya said that I wasn’t as good as I was without ya to push me. So, I suppose I should be thankin’ ya for giving me the last bit I needed to become the World Champion. And…you’re welcome.”
Cyrus doesn’t ask for clarification on that. Despite the turmoil that existed between Shannon and Cyrus when they first clashed over the FWA World Championship? The Exile isn’t so proud as to deny that, as much as Shannon needed him to reach the next level?
He needed her to get out of his funk and truly become the sort of champion he needed to be.
“So, domestic life, huh?”
Shannon, midway through a sip of her fresh drink, pauses as she looks somewhat inquisitively at Cyrus.
“What’s that actually mean, huh? Gonna settle down, find someone, get married, dive headfirst into family life?”
“Why do ya care?”
“Hey, I’m not trying to say anything about it. It’s just…I can’t really imagine you working a typical 9 to 5 job. Or, wait…don’t tell me you want to retire as a housewife?”
“And what if I do? Ya got a problem with that?”
Cyrus cracks a somewhat smarmy smirk as he takes a long sip of his drink.
“I mean, I can’t imagine you wearing an apron in the kitchen cooking up dinner for some schlub office worker. Doesn’t really suit you, in my opinion.”
A flash of faux anger crosses Shannon’s expression as she stands up from her seat, slams her hands down on the table, and glares at Cyrus.
“Fuck you! I can do whatever the fuck I want! Ya think you’re so smart. Well, if I wanna be find some sugar daddy or some normal guy to provide for me instead of some creep stalker or some walkin’ red flag like you, that’s my fuckin’ business! And I can totally pull off a fuckin’ apron, shithead!”
Cyrus, riled up, gets right in Shannon’s face as he returns her angry stare right back at her.
“The hell you can!”
“I damn well can, and your dumb ass ain’t ‘bout to tell me otherwise!”
There’s a few seconds of awkward silence after all the shouting…before both Cyrus and Shannon burst out laughing. Any tension, regardless of whether it was real or just fabricated in the drunken haze both are now operating under, evaporates as both finish off the booze in their glasses. Cyrus, without having to be asked, pours two more drinks for himself and for Shannon.
Shannon, after catching her breath from laughing too hard, holds up the glass as she looks at her former rival with an honest smile on her face.
“Hey…”
“What?”
“I’m sorry ‘bout what happened after Back in Business. You know…the rematch we had?”
“Oh…that? Don’t worry about it. It happens to the best of us. And in spite of everything?”
Cyrus holds up his glass to Shannon.
“You are one of the best of us.”
That…that takes Shannon by surprise. Cyrus is usually guarded in his compliments and most everything he says is laced with self-righteousness or heavy, world-weary sarcasm.
Here? Shannon’s not sure if it’s the alcohol or not, but that last thing Cyrus said wasn’t sarcastic, wasn’t self-righteous. It was…honest. A true compliment. Hell…almost even sweet.
Shannon returns Cyrus’s smile as she holds up her glass to his.
“So, what’re we toastin’ to?”
Cyrus pauses for a second before saying.
“To new beginnings. To fateful ends. To the Road that brought you here, and the path you choose to walk.”
“Heh. Bit too poetic for me. But fuck it, I’ll drink to it.”
*CLINK*
*******
Present Day
It’s the middle of the day when Cyrus arrives at the bar. Five years since he stepped through the doors with the woman who went from being his fiercest rival to one of his closest friends.
There’s a few people loitering around, hapless drunks and dreamers seeking a bit of respite from the rigors of the world. But none of them seem to give Cyrus any mind. And Cyrus? He could care less.
He’s not here for any of them.
Rather, he’s here because of a memory.
Shannon O’Neal. Someone who Cyrus never thought would be anyone important to him, someone who existed at first as an obstacle in his path towards solidifying his legacy.
Now? Well…
The Long and Winding Road is funny, in that way. The people you cross paths with on your journey may not always be the ones you expected to come across. Some would be allies up to a point, others bitter rivals seeking the same treasures at the end of the Road that you yourself desire.
But a rare few run the full spectrum, and become treasures in and of themselves.
And throughout this journey into the past, this retracing of his own life’s journey and the people he’s met, confronted, and yes…befriended? Something that should’ve been so obvious to Cyrus comes back to him like a memory long buried.
“Exiles don’t get to have friends,” as someone once told him.
But then again…when has Cyrus Truth ever cared about what he was or wasn’t supposed to have?
The Wayward Warrior approaches the bar, as a tired-looking older man sees him approach. With a look of recognition in the bartender’s eyes and without a word said, he grabs a glass and pours some whiskey for Cyrus.
Cyrus holds it up, remembering the last time he had whiskey in this space. And that familiar toast comes back to his lips.
“To new beginnings…to fateful ends…”
*******
It’s the morning of Carnal Contendership here in Las Vegas. All FWA personnel and talent have been called to the arena to make sure that everything’s in place for the first stop on the road to Back in Business.
Some wrestlers? Well, they won’t be arriving until later in the afternoon despite the all-hands call. And they’ll likely be able to get away with it, as Jonathan Russnow isn’t exactly known to be much of a disciplinarian.
Still, one wrestler is certainly not going to be late. In fact, as he often is? Cyrus Truth is the first wrestler to arrive at the arena.
Passing throught the doors into the backstage arena, as security and FWA staff point him to where they’ve set up the locker rooms and gorilla, we hear The Exile’s thoughts as he makes his way through.
“Tonight, I step into a hell of my own choosing and design. For the singular purpose of ending the championship reign of a monster disguised as a saint.
“Jeremy Best said he wanted to be my friend. That he didn’t want there to be any bad feelings or discord between us. Ever since becoming the World Champion, he’s been preaching a message of love and peace, despite the path of violence and madness he walked to get to this point.
“He said I needed a friend. Well, he was right. I did. I do.
“But not the kind of friend that Jeremy Best has been.”
Walking into the arena itself, he sees the ring crew setting up the mat. The large, ornate stage for Carnal Contendership is nearing complete construction, and is a fitting stage worthy of such an important event.
Cyrus takes in the sights as his thoughts continue to speak to us.
“The path I’ve taken on the Long and Winding Road is one that I’ve traveled alone for so many years. And yeah, I’m not someone that’s easy to befriend. But…is friendship given and taken so easily truly worth the effort?
“I’ve come to understand you, Jeremy. It took me retracing my own steps, returning to the start of my own journey to grasp it, but it was a journey well worth taking again. You claim to want to be everyone’s friend, to end the conflict in FWA and bring about peace and camaraderie among the roster. But…your actions and your words conflict with one another.
“You brutalized Krash. You robbed Alyster of his World Championship. Your two little stooges have had to suffer countless beatings in order for you to keep your stolen prize. And Bryan? His record-setting championship reign ended not long after your own reign began. How many times have you stuck your neck out to aid Baxter, when he’s done it for you time and again?
“I don’t have many friends in this world. But the ones I do? I know where they stand. I know their hearts. And I’m always willing to give of myself as they would of me. Because…bonds handed out freely are fragile. Partnerships without respect are feeble. It is in conflict that friendships are tested and strengthened, like a forge to iron.
“But you wanted to end conflict. Run and hide from it while you continue playing in your own little twisted fantasy. And that is why your talks of friendship mean less than shit, Jeremy. Because a friend, a true friend? They wouldn’t try to run from a fight…nor would they try and deny an opportunity to a friend like you tried to do with our World Championship match.”
As Cyrus sees the ring crew finishing their setups, he sees more stagehands bringing in wire-mesh panels framed with steel.
The pieces of a steel cage.
“So…I won’t allow you to run away anymore. I will make you face conflict. Suffer as others have suffered thanks to your delusional ramblings of friendship and ensure that your sins are paid for in blood.”
Cyrus heads back into the bowels of the arena, not waiting to see the cage’s construction. Instead, he dives deeper into the arena’s corridors, passing by posters of various FWA superstars. Presumably, the competitors in tonight’s Carnal Contendership.
“Tonight…I become the FWA World Champion. Not because it’s something I’ve craved since losing it five years ago. And not because I have anything to prove, either to the world or myself.
“No…it’s because…I owe it.
“I owe it to the journey, to the trials and tribulations that I faced and overcame on the Long and Winding Road…”
We see snapshots. Flashing images of Cyrus’s wrestling past. The vicious battles, the heartbreaking moments and triumphant victories.
“I owe it to the enemies, the rivals who pushed me and forced me to continue evolving and press forward…”
More images. Chris Kennedy, Dave Sullivan, Eli Black, Chris Peacock, and Michelle von Horrowitz being prominent…but not being the only ones. Opponents who pushed Cyrus to his limits time and again, who forced Cyrus to struggle and live up to the legacy he had built.
“And I owe it to my friends. The companions and partners that have been bound in blood, and forged by iron.”
More images. Fewer in number to the rivals, but still important, still poignant.
Krash.
Shannon.
Konchu.
Others that have had The Exile’s back for years, or have been his rivals before the conflicts that defined their relationship with Cyrus turned the animosity to something more.
“Tonight, I’ll walk into that cage to achieve what I want. To return back to the main event of Back in Business. Because the journey I’ve taken thus far, and the people who I’ve met on that journey? They deserve better than the fraud of a World Champion that you are, Jeremy. I’ll shed my blood, tear my flesh, and fight off whatever tricks and deception you want to throw my way. Because what you have done since becoming the champion? The bullshit you’ve spewed, the lies and deception you’ve peddled?
“All of it, every bit of it…it’s an insult. It’s an insult to me. An insult to the men and women who challenged me, aided me, befriended me, and walked alongside me on my journey. And it’s an insult I’m done leaving unanswered.”
The Exile finds his way to catering and, past that, to the locker rooms that have been set up for the talent. As he reaches the door for the men’s changing room, he stops with his hand on the door handle.
“My name is Cyrus Truth. And I am not alone. Because the bonds I’ve formed, both friend and foe? They are what defines me. They are what drives me. And in honor of them all, in the name of everything that has brought me to this point, this time, this moment, this opportunity?
“...I am going to walk into hell. I’m going to put you through hell, Jeremy. And walk out finally…FINALLY, as the FWA World Heavyweight Champion.
“And that hell? It’s going to follow me…”
Cyrus slams his open palm into the door, fire and focus in his eyes. All that brought him to this moment, all the friends he made, the bonds that have stood the test of time and weathered the storm of conflict and divergent aspirations…
Tonight, he wins. He returns to the main event of Back in Business. For them…and for himself.
He opens the door and slams it behind him as we hear the last statement, the last thought:
“That hell’s coming with me, back to Back in Business.”
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:03:47 GMT
Originally posted by Jimmy. Homecoming
“I’m home.”
Jackson Fenix was home.
The first FWA show back on US soil was in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. The last time FWA had a show here, Jackson wasn’t well-liked by his home audience. It didn’t help that he didn’t endear himself to the crowd back then. Now, it’s different. He’s a new Jackson Fenix in his hometown, and he’s going to win the Carnal Contendership match.
Jackson feels confident in himself, unlike the year prior when he entered the match. One year ago, Jackson lacked the confidence in himself that he once had when he acted like an ass and treated everyone like crap. It was easy for him to hype himself and find that confidence then, but it didn’t come as easy once he stopped that nonsense and changed his attitude. He may have looked confident on the outside, but he was a bundle of nerves on the inside. Despite that, he overcame his nerves and came close to winning, but it wasn’t meant to be. Maybe that loss was a blessing in disguise because now he can right that wrong and win the biggest match of his career in front of his friends and family.
Speaking of family, Jackson was greeted by his Mom as soon as he exited the Harry Reid International Airport. His Mom wrapped her arms around him as soon as she saw him, but she didn’t intend to let him go.
“Good to see you too, Mom.”
Momma Fenix looks up at her baby boy and gives him a kiss on his forehead.
“I’m so happy you’re home.”
“I’m happy to be home.”
She released him from her vice-like grip of a hug and started to lead him to her car, but he insisted that she wait.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet someone…”
As Jackson says that, his girlfriend Hazel appears behind him with her bags.
“Mom, this is Hazel, my girlfriend.”
His Mom looks a bit taken aback at first, possibly because she wasn’t expecting this, but she flips that around and puts on a smile.
“Nice to meet you, Hazel. Jackie has told me so much about you.”
Hazel and Momma Fenix share a hug. Hazel feels Momma Fenix’s warmth in the hug as she’s released from it and wears a big smile.
“Likewise, Jackson has told me so much about you as well.”
“We’ll have much to catch up on, I’m sure.”
“I hope there’s plenty of embarrassing stories about Jackson.”
“Oh, trust me, there will be.”
“Come on, Mom!”
Hazel giggles at that as his Mom smiles at him.
“You’re not the only one with surprises, mister.”
Jackson is confused for a second, but his face lights up immediately when he sees what his Mom is talking about.
“Meemaw!”
Jackson hurriedly runs over to hug his Meemaw. Meemaw pulls back from the hug and playfully pulls on his cheek.
“You better win that match, Jackie.”
“Ma!”
Meemaw shrugs at her daughter while Hazel laughs and Jackson blushes.
“Don’t worry, Meemaw, I won’t let you down.”
“Do you promise?”
“Promise.”
********************
They all arrive at Jackson’s childhood home a short while later. Jackson and Hazel bring all their bags inside the house, and almost immediately, Hazel stops as she enters, where she finds a picture of Jackson as a child.
“Oh my god, you were so cute back then!”
“I know; I wonder what happened?”
“Ma!”
Jackson shouts embarrassedly at his Mom as Hazel giggles.
“Jackie, why don’t you take all your bags and Hazel’s bags up to your room while I give her the tour.”
He looks at his one suitcase and his backpack and then glances at all of the bags that Hazel had brought along.
“Really, ma?”
Momma Fenix gives him that stern, motherly look. You know the look. He takes the hint and hauls all of the bags up the stairs to his bedroom.
After lugging all of Hazel’s bags upstairs, he sits down on his bed to rest. He can’t believe it, he’s home. Jackson begins to imagine how he’s going to win the Carnal Contendership match in front of his friends and family. He’s so glad he’ll have his Mom and Meemaw there to watch him live, and he knows he better not let his Meemaw down after he promised her he’d win the match. Nate isn’t with him, but he will be there in a few days once it’s closer to the day of the show. Jackson came early to spend time with his family and Hazel before the show.
He thinks about his promise to his Meemaw again. Now, he must win so he doesn’t disappoint her. I’m sure she’d forgive him if he didn’t win and still be proud regardless, but he didn’t want to think that way. It wasn’t only his Meemaw he didn’t want to let down; he didn’t want to let his Mom down. She deserves to see her baby boy win the biggest match of his career. He didn’t want to let Nate, Hazel, Xtacee, Monica, or Antonio down. Also, he didn’t want to let his hometown fans down. He’s going to do his best to make everyone proud of him.
He looks at his favorite Britney Spears poster that’s still on the wall of his childhood bedroom. He gets up, puts his hand on the poster, and stares longingly into her eyes on the poster.
“I can’t let you down either.”
“You’ll let everyone down.”
Jackson stumbles backward and falls back onto his bed.
Did the Britney Spears poster just talk to him? No, that couldn’t have happened. It’s an inanimate object; it can’t talk. Jackson has sworn he has had a talking dumpster before, though, so maybe it did talk to him.
“It’s not the poster talking to you, dummy!”
Jackson glances over to see his evil counterpart standing in his bedroom. Bad Jackson still resembles current Jackson, except he has his hair slicked back with a ponytail tied at the back, and he’s wearing all black.
Jackson acts like he doesn’t see or hear his past self in the room with him, but his past self knows better.
“Don’t act like I’m not here, Jackie boy, I’m always around! I’m a part of you, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about me!”
Jackson shakes his head, and he still pretends not to hear him.
“You can pretend all you want, pal, but I’ll always be a part of you whether you like it or not!”
“You’re not real.”
“How many times do I have to say it? I am real because I am you. Jesus, I knew you were dense, but I didn’t realize how dense you were!”
“You’re not real.”
“Face the facts, bucko, I am real. Sorry, not sorry that you can’t handle that fact, but you may as well accept it because I’m not going away. The only thing that will be going away is your opportunity for a shot at the big one because you won’t be winning the Carnal Contendership. You’ll let down everyone you love just like you always do and break poor Meemaw’s heart after you break your promise to her, but maybe it’ll finally help her realize that you’re nothing more than a loser!”
“YOU’RE NOT REAL!”
Jackson shouts at the top of his lungs, which causes Hazel to come running upstairs to check on him.
“Jackson? Is everything okay?”
Jackson doesn’t answer her as he stands beside his bed, staring at the spot where his bad self was standing. Hazel notices that he’s shaking and breathing heavily, so she tries to help him take a seat on his bed. He slowly starts to relax and breathe normally without shaking.
“He’s back?”
Hazel knew what had happened before she walked into the room. She’s the only one besides Jackson himself who knows about Bad Jackson. Hazel rubs Jackson’s back to help him relax more as he nods.
“He never left. He’s always here.”
Hazel holds Jackson close as Momma Fenix appears in the doorway with a look of concern on her face.
“What’s going on, Jackie? What’s with all of that yelling?”
“It’s just nerves, Ma, nothing more.”
Momma Fenix looks somewhat reassured, but she knows something is up with her boy. She chooses not to push the issue further and moves on from it.
“Okay, well, maybe rest up to calm those nerves before dinner tonight.”
“Sure thing, Ma.”
Hazel lets Jackson go and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving him to rest as he lays down on his bed to try to sleep.
“That’s right, bucko, I’m always here. It’s about time you accepted it.”
Jackson shuts his eyes and tries to forget about everything.
********************
Later that evening, after a night out at dinner with his Mom, Meemaw, and Hazel, Jackson is back in bed again, this time with Hazel beside him. He didn’t get much rest earlier in the day with his nap, and he’s still having trouble sleeping this time around.
This trip was going so well.
He thought to himself as he lay in bed.
At least he could enjoy himself at dinner without incidents like earlier in the afternoon. He did his best to forget that but knew that Bad Jackson was always there. He always lingered about, waiting for the right time to strike and torment Jackson.
“What’s the matter? Can’t sleep? You’re afraid I’m going to give you nightmares or something? You’re weaker than I thought!”
Right on cue.
“At least you’ve accepted that I’m real and always here. Now, maybe accept the fact that you’re a loser. I mean, there is a way you can fix that, but I know you’re too weak for that now.”
Jackson shakes that off and gets out of bed. He puts on his clothes from earlier in the day: Britney Spears t-shirt, khaki shorts, and sneakers. He leaves the house to go on a walk and try to clear his head.
“Trying to walk away from your problems, huh? Fat chance of that working!”
“Leave me alone.”
“I will once you accept that you need me.”
“Need you for what?”
“You need me to win!”
“I don’t need you for anything.”
“Keep telling yourself that, and maybe it’ll come true.”
“Please, just leave me alone.”
“Let me show you why you need me.”
“What? How are you going to do that?”
Suddenly, Jackson finds himself inside of the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, which was the site of last year’s Carnal Contendership match. He’s sitting ringside with Bad Jackson beside him while they watch him in the ring.
“How did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Take us here, and what are we doing here?”
“I have my ways, but you never let me stick around long enough to show you. As for why we’re here, just watch the match.”
Jackson does as he’s told and watches the match unfold.
“What am I supposed to be watching for? There’s nothing wrong happening. This was one of the best performances of my life in the ring.”
“You should know what to watch for, dingus. You lived this.”
“I got Cyrus Truth good with the superkick right there…I almost got Alyster Black eliminated right there…and then weaselperson eliminates me…”
“Look at you after you’re eliminated…”
Jackson watches his past self seemingly accept the loss despite looking understandably disappointed, but he smiles at the fans for their positive response as he accepts some dabs from fans on the way to the back.
“Pathetic, truly pathetic.”
“What was pathetic about that?”
“You didn’t see how you pandered to the fans because they responded to you in a positive way? You should’ve been mad! You should’ve been furious that you got eliminated by a creep in a fursuit!”
“I don’t see the big deal; I still got into the Golden Opportunity match.”
“Yeah, but how did that go for ya, huh?”
Out of nowhere, they’re now at Sesame Street, of all places, where the Sesame Street fight between Jackson Fenix and Jeremy Best is happening.
“Right after that Carnal Contendership match, you end up here fighting your old pal, Jeremy Best. You couldn’t keep your ugly mug out of his business, and look what happened to you…”
“I mean, I couldn’t let him get away with what he was doing to Krash. It was partially my fault he turned out the way he is now.”
“You could’ve just let it go and focus on your own stuff, like winning the Steel Roulette match or winning the trios titles with Nate and Xtacee, or winning the North American title, but you decide to mess with Jeremy, and you lose…”
Jackson watches as Jeremy pushes Big Bird out of the window of that building.
“You were so concerned with that big yellow bitch that you let Jeremy win…”
They teleport to the Steel Roulette match and watch as Fenix is eliminated by Katsu. Then they go to Lights Out, where Fenix loses the North American title match to Bryan Baxter. Finally, they go to Winter Winter Wasteland, where he, Nate, and Xtacee lose to The Coven for the Trios championship.
Now they’re in front of the Las Vegas Sphere, the home of this year’s Carnal Contendership match.
“Do you get it now?”
“What?”
“Were you even paying attention? That’s your problem! You lose focus, and you lose the match! You’re not focused! You’re too wrapped up in other things like pandering to the crowd, and you lose, or too focused on worrying about a friend being knocked out.”
“Let me tell you right now that the only person you need to worry about is yourself. You’re too weak. You care too much about things that don’t matter. If you stopped caring so much about things like that, then maybe you’d be a world champion like your old friend Jeremy Best. He stopped caring and look at him now. He may have a weird way of showing that he’s bad, but it has paid off for him.”
“That could be you if you just embrace who you truly are and stop with this weak-minded crap that you think works. Go back to being the obnoxious douchebag that rubs people the wrong way and brags about how big his package is. Go back to what worked for you.”
Jackson absorbs all of this information and seems like he might be considering it.
“Don’t listen to him, Jackson.”
Jackson turns around to find his old pal, Big Bird.
“What are you doing here, you big yellow bitch?”
“It takes a bitch to know a bitch, bitch.”
“Did you just call yourself a bitch?”
“Yep, but at least I’m not as big of one as you are.”
“Big Bird, what are you doing here?”
Big Bird puts his hand on Jackson’s shoulder.
“I’m here as a voice of reason, and I’m here to tell you not to listen to him, okay? It may sound tempting, but don’t go back down that road.”
“Why? He might be a jerk, but he’s right.”
“No, he’s not right. Yeah, you haven’t had the best of luck. Last year, you came up short in big opportunities, but in the end, all that matters is that you haven’t given up. You could’ve quit doing things the right way a long time ago, but you keep going, and you earn yourself these opportunities the honest way.”
“Plus, the fans still love you no matter what. Nate and Xtacee don’t blame you for those losses; of course, your Mom and Meemaw will always love you no matter what. You can’t win them all, but sometimes you don’t need to win them all. Sure, it feels nice to win, but in the end all that matters is that you showed you can do it. You proved that you have heart, and when you put your mind to something, you do it.”
“With that being said, I believe in you and know you can win this match in front of your friends and family. You believe in yourself just as much as everyone else does, and you have a promise to your Meemaw that you need to keep.”
Jackson looks at Big Bird and smiles.
“You’re right, Big Bird. I’m more focused than last year, and I believe in myself. I know I can do it. Even if I do come up short, I could always earn my way to another Golden Opportunity match, but I probably shouldn’t think that far ahead just yet. Focus on the now and focus on winning the Carnal Contendership, and then taking the title from either Jeremy, Cyrus, or whoever is champion by the time Back in Business comes around.”
“This is it, this is my time.”
Jackson looks behind him, and Bad Jackson is gone. He looks forward, and Big Bird is gone, too. He’s back in bed with Hazel.
********************
Day of the Carnal Contendership
Jackson Fenix is in his locker room, waiting for the show to start. It’s about an hour away from showtime, and he’s a bundle of nerves, but he’s ready.
Another hour passes by, and it’s showtime. The first match is Cyrus Truth vs Jeremy Best.
Jackson watches this match closely because he could be facing one of these men in the future for that championship.
Another hour passes, and it’s time for the CC match. He leaves the locker room, and once he exits, he’s greeted by a group of his friends and family.
Nate Savage, Hazel, Bubbles, Momma Fenix, and Meemaw.
“Knock ’em dead, man, you got this!”
Jackson shares a hug and fist bump with Nate. He approaches Hazel, and he gets a kiss from her.
“Kiss for good luck; I believe in you.”
He gets a hug and a kiss on the cheek from his Mom.
“My baby, all grown up.”
Then, finally, his Meemaw. He gets a hug from her, and she whispers something to him.
“You win that match, okay?”
“I will, Meemaw.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.” |
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:05:37 GMT
Originally posted by ETE.
23rd August 2023
With her glorious blonde locks shimmering in the sun the gorgeous Goddess known as Gabrielle approaches the Limosuine that awaits her. The driver holding the door open for her, with the two of them sharing a smile as she steps inside and he closes the door behind her and then makes his way to the drivers door.
Inside the limousine Gabrielle sits right up the back, crossing her legs as she sits there in a little pair of denim shorts and a white baby tee. The red fabric of her bikini top slightly visible through the thin white cotton.
As the driver takes his seat she locks eyes with him in the rear view mirror like she has countless times before. “So where are we off too today Gabby? Desmond not joining you?” He asks.
“No Andy, Des isn’t joining me today, he’s off Directing a scene with someone else today, so I’ve got the day off.” She replies cheerfully.
“How nice. So where are you spending this day?”
“The beach, take me too the beach. I need to make the most of this lovely day.”
Its rare for Andrew Brown to have Gabrielle alone in the back of his limousine, but whenever he does he always makes the absolute most of it. He’s her driver, a perk of her foray into the world of Hardcore Pornography. Wherever she needs to go Andrew will take her in absolute luxury. Of course as touched on she’s rarely alone like this. Nearly always Desmond is with her. Regularly others will join them. Other men all involved in the Adult Entertainment industry; Directors, Producers, Casting Agents, other Talent, Cameramen, and anyone else who could find a job in ‘this’ industry.
So Andrew has seen all manner of sinfully debaucherous things going on in the back of his limousine with Gabrielle. As rare as it is to see her alone in the back of the Limo, it is equally as rare to see her fully clothed. He’s watched her in his mirror in all manner of positions, performing all manner of ‘acts’.
Afterall he drives her too and from her professional shoots, her on location ‘amateur shoots’, and every so often to ‘that’ Stripclub or to a Business ‘Meeting’.
He like so many others is a fan of the Caramel Coated Goddess, and he’s had a front row seat to watching her become the Cum Coated Goddess. Men like Desmond essentially using her just to pass the time as they head to their destination. Andrew could always tell that Desmond in particular, really got off on the control he wields over Gabrielle. All he ever had to do was free himself from his pants or palm her head and Gabrielle would always show off how dormant her gag reflex is.
You could say Andrew essentially regularly gets a free show. Her OnlyFans rakes in millions upon millions of dollars, her DVD’s move quickly, any website that features her see’s an uptick in membership. Many people would kill to be in his position. You’d probably imagine too that from time to time Andrew has his own fun with Gabrielle, maybe when he has her alone like this.
Yes and No.
He gets a free show regularly. Gabrielle often teasingly looking into the mirror while she’s in the middle of something…or rather someone is ‘in’ her.
He’s never got to experience what he’s seen so many times for himself though. This surprising fact is by his choice, unbelievably so. She’s the most in demand person in the industry, he see’s her if not every day, then close too it. But they’ve formed a relationship, a friendship and he’s never ‘tasted the goods’.
“You do something with your hair? It looks good.” He asks her.
“Yeah I did, some new colour and a slight cut.” Another perk of Gabrielle’s life now. Her own personal Hairdresser on call. Despite her immense success, and wealth in the Professional Wrestling arena she never really had perks like this. Perhaps a live in Chef here and there, but never a driver, a hairdresser, a masseuse, a nail tech, and a makeup artist all just waiting for her to call like this. “You know, you’re the only person who noticed.” She states with a warm smile on her face.
That’s why he hasn’t been in the back of the Limo with Gabrielle like so many others. He’s different. He looks at her like a friend, while so many others look at her as just a body to be used for pleasure and monetary gain. Friends do give each other shit though.
“Well to be fair to all the other men in your life Gabs, they’re usually palming the back of your head…so they might not be able to see your hair.” He says with a laugh.
Gabrielle rolls her eyes, but then laughs along with him.
Andrew continues to drive her through the City, taking her towards the beach as they share the occasional laugh or story. He does have one matter of business to attend too though.
“I meant to get it sent up to your suite, but there’s a case back there. You know the drill.”
Gabrielle cant help but chuckle as she looks at the black case up at the front of the Limo. Similar cases are regularly given to Gabrielle by Andrew.
Gabrielle’s regular ‘activities’ in the back of the Limo can leave a bit of a mess. He has to charge Desmond extra for the cleanup required after everytime Gabrielle isn’t alone in this Limo. Beyond just the bodily fluids there’s often so much else. While the guy(s) that Gabrielle is with will leave with all of their clothes, shoes, wallet, phone, and anything else they came in with. Gabrielle can often leave in a state of undress.
Its not like she needs clothes where she’s often headed.
So Andrew always finds some assortment of g-strings, bra’s, skirts, high heel shoes, stockings, buttons, clasps, torn off straps, loose earrings, chokers, necklaces, hair ties, sometimes even an entire dress left in the back of his Limo. What isn’t worth saving; the lacy underwear that was torn off her body, the ripped stockings, the buttons off a shirt he simply throws out. What is still intact or only has a few stains on it he has cleaned and then returns to her like this.
“You know you’re lucky it’s me, right?”
“Well…I have an unlimited supply of underwear and clothes and jewellery…I don’t actually need this stuff back.”
“I figured as much, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear the same thing twice and I’ve seen you every day for six months or so now. But not that Gabs. Everyone always tells me I could sell the stuff I find back there…”
Gabrielle doesn’t reply. She knows it happens, some of the companies she films with occasionally auction off an outfit she wore in their scene. She’s had a couple of fans she hooked up with sell off the underwear she was wearing, along with accompanying photos and videos. And some of her activities in this Limo were uploaded to her Only Fans or someone else’s. There’s a particular short video on a Male ‘Actors’ OnlyFans where you can see the earring Andrew found being dislodged from her earlobe by her own knee…though who was looking at her knee at that moment in time?
“Sorry I brought that up…”
“Its okay…”
“I just wanted you to know, I’m not like that, and I wouldn’t do that. You just need to be careful about that sort of thing in case it’s not me cleaning up that back seat.”
Gabrielle nods her head slightly.
“But hey thanks for not wearing body glitter in here again since last time, that was a nightmare to clean up.”
Gabrielle smirks as Andy changes the subject to something a bit lighter. Indeed after the last time Desmond had taken her back to the Strip Club where this had all began she’d gotten a lot of glitter in the Limo on the ride back. Easily the hardest thing Andrew has had to clean up back here. A piece of glitter that has so far evaded him has likely attached itself to the back of her thigh by now.
She then makes her way to the front of the limo, and the little divider between where she is and where Andrew is sitting. “What do you say I crawl in the front with you and suck your dick?” She asks bluntly with a huge grin on her face.
Andrew just laughs it off. Its an offer that nearly every other man in the World would say yes too, but not him. He doesn’t want her like that, he’d never take her just offering herself up. And besides while he knows if he did say Yes that she would do exactly what she’s said, better than anyone else he’s ever been with, he also knows its just her playful banter she reserves just for him.
Andrew doesn’t want to fuck her like everyone else around her, he see’s her differently than them. He cares about her as a friend, he values her higher than she values herself. “I wouldn’t want to mess up your hair.” He playfully states.
“A true Gentleman.” She replies. “You remind me of someone else I know. He never came onto me, he never tried to fuck me. He was always so good to me. I’ve been naked in front of him, and he’d just help me wash the blood out of my wounds and get dressed. He never made me feel like I had to wear a low cut top to keep him around.”
“He helped me shed the persona I’d had to build up, he helped me just be Gabrielle, not the Goddess. I miss him. I should have been a better friend to him…and everything could be so different now…”
Andrew slows the Limo down, and pulls over into a quiet side street where he can stop and then turn to face her. “It still can be different for you. You don’t belong here Gabs…the things I’ve seen you do in that mirror, you’re better than that. Letting all these men use you like that, and they’re all getting rich off of you. Desmond has me drive you all around this City taking you to get fucked by his buddies, and they record it and then sell it.”
Its not exactly a secret. Hardcore Pornography is a business, an industry. Performers like Gabrielle do what they do in exchange for money. But still, Andy laying it out there like that makes what it is feel so much more raw.
“That’s all this really is. Desmond and his boys having their way with you. Whoever offers him the most money gets to fuck you…”
Andrew pauses at that statement, his words sinking into Gabrielle. For as much as she has embraced this life she now leads, for as much as she has enjoyed it, and had fun with it, there are those moments usually towards the end of a shoot day where she’s found herself bent over with the 3rd, or 4th, or 5th, or 6th man she’s been with that day behind her. Sometimes those moments have come in this very Limo.
Andrew has seen it dawn on her. Just a couple of Weeks ago with Desmond and a small group of guys after she’d filmed a scene for Big Gulp Girls. She had been stripped completely naked and was on her knees where she’d been from mere seconds after she’d entered the Limo. Working her way from Desmond, to the BGG Director, onto a BGG Producer and then a BGC Cameraman.
It was when the Producer had finally released his grip on the back of her head where he had held her while letting out a primal grunt of release. Gabrielle playfully licking her lips as she looked up into his eyes and then moved on to the Cameraman.
As she’d crawled over to him though she’d glanced up in Andys direction, into that mirror where they shared so many looks, but never one like this. She looked broken and defeated. He’d never seen her like that before. It had pierced her soul where she is, what she’s doing, what she’s about to do. Andy didn’t know what to do as her eyes disappeared and her face was buried in that mans lap. Gabrielle had made none of the choices that had led her from that morning to that afternoon.
Desmond had set up the scene, as her Agent he always did. He was in charge of all of that, including the money. He told her she was filming a scene with just one guy today. She’d enjoyed herself, everyone at Big Gulp Girls was really nice to her. They always were. She’d worked with her Co-Star before. He was always firm but caring. Easy to work with.
Then when they were done, everyone was chatting. Talking about their plans for the night, or talking about Gabrielle’s performance. She couldn’t lie, there’s a real rush to being told how good, or great she is at ‘this’. Desmond boasted that he was just going to take Gabs back to their lavish Apartment Suite and fuck her. She was admittedly excited by this, then he’d thrown out the offer to see if anyone else wanted in.
She didn’t say no to it, terribly she didn’t even resist it…but she was glad when it was only a few people who were free to join in. There were high fives all round, and plenty of hands on her ass before they’d all headed out to the Limo. The scary thing is Gabrielle wasn’t daunted by this prospect at first. Its far from her first gangbang, and far from the first time she’s had an ‘afterparty’ like this.
Sex isn’t Sex anymore, its just sex. Its just what she does, what she’s good at. She was great at Pro Wrestling in the past, now she’s great at this.
She was excited when she’d hopped in the back of that Limo with those four men. She was the center of attention. But that was earlier in the night, maybe it’s the neck pain making her cranky after a solid 20 minutes of bobbing her head up and down in those men’s laps she had this moment of clarity, that she shared with Andy where she didn’t want to be there anymore. Moving onto wrapping her lips around the 3rd, and then 4th different man in half an hour wasn’t in her mind this morning.
But that thought is then buried as deep as he buries himself inside of her. A handful of her hair and before long finally its the Cameraman’s turn to push her all the way down himself.
If you asked Gabrielle why she willfully took strangers into that backroom in that Strip Club and did with them what she was doing with that cameraman in the back of that Limo, she wouldn’t be able to answer you.
If you asked Gabrielle why she just accepted that 4th man in the back of that Limo, after a brief moment of clarity, she wouldn’t be able to answer you either.
She just did. She just accepted it when he’d buried her head in his lap and then gleefully began to help her bob her head up and down rapidly.
But that later acceptance and willingness doesn’t erase that moment, or the other similar ones. Moments where she’d regret this life choice, moments where what has happened dawns on her. Desmond is making money off his friends and colleagues to have them fuck her. That’s what all of this is. This is the first time she’s had this moment though and not been in the middle of something…
“You hear me Gabs, you don’t have to keep doing this.”
She nods her head sternly and sits back into the seat. “Take me back home…”
Andrew quickly rejoins the main road and whisks Gabrielle back to her and Desmonds place here in Los Angeles.
24th August 2023
Gabrielle’s long light blonde hair is tied neatly back into a ponytail as she approaches the Limosuine. The few people who happen to be nearby cant help but stare at her, some lustfully, others with a sense of disgust. She doesn’t care though, she doesn’t even notice it anymore, she’s a Goddess and she’s used to it.
“Desmond, Gabrielle…welcome to you both.” Andrew states as he holds the door open for them. Gabielle is dressed in a very revealing little Naughty Nurse outfit; a very short white sheer dress with a plunging neckline, white stockings and stethoscope around her neck. While Desmond is dressed much more casually, jeans and a t-shirt.
Andrew then proceeds to make his way around to the drivers door. He pauses and sighs for a moment before opening the door and hopping inside where he is instantly greeted by an all too familiar sound. A mixture of joyful grunting, sinful moaning and a diabolical wetness.
He doesn’t even need to look in his rear view mirror, but he does anyway. “Oh Gabs” He mutters to himself as she’s currently laying across the back seat and Desmonds lap, as he uses her ponytail as a crude handle.
“Such a good little Whore!” Desmond exclaims almost proudly, receiving a satisfying groan from Gabrielle.
Andrew is glad he cant see her eyes right now. He still wouldn’t know what to do if she had ‘that’ look in her deep brown eyes again. That haunting glint of regret and sorrow, though she offers no resistance to Desmonds current use of her beautiful face. Worse still would be if she didn’t have ‘that’ look on her face, if she was blissfully enjoying this.
“Andrew we’ve got a meeting downtown with the guys from Thunder Cock.” He glances down at Gabrielle. “But I’m in no rush to get there…” He says with a grin as he directs his attention fully upon Gabrielle. “Just don’t make a mess of that outfit, you’ll need it.”
The outfit doesn’t last. The scene changing from a Naughty Nurse treating a Patient scene to just a Naked Gabrielle gets boned scene. Andrew later finding the entire dress just left discarded in the back, which he has cleaned and returned to her.
15th March 2024
Gabrielle’s dark brunette hair seems to sparkle in the warm sunshine as she makes her way too the Limosuine. She glistens in the sun like a Goddes reborn. The door popping open from inside as she smoothly enters, finding a beaming Desmond sitting there waiting for her.
She crawls over him playfully and sits down next to him, her hand quickly wandering into his lap as he looks her up and down. “That looks so good on you.” He exclaims. Her little Cheerleader outfit accentuates her curves perfectly. Just a short little skirt, a little top and knee-high socks doing the bare minimum to ‘clothe’ her.
“Thanks Des…it fits perfectly.” It doesn’t. If she stood up you could see her ass cheeks, and there’s ample underboob on display.
Gabrielle then turns her attention to the front of the Limo excitedly. “Andy…how’ve you been…I messaged you yesterday but you didn’t answer.”
“Oh sorry ma’am.” Comes the reply as the driver turns to look back at them, and he’s definitely not Andrew. “Andrew called in this morning…he quit. Really out of the blue, he’s been driving with the company for years now.”
Gabrielle sinks back in her seat a little bit. “Oh…”
“I’m Shawn, pleasure to meet you…I’ve seen all your movies.”
“Yeah…cool.”
“Andrew was a good guy.” Desmond chimes in, as he slides an arm around her, resting a hand on the back of her neck. “Does my sexy lil Cheerleader need some cheering up? I know what sort of cheer we need…”
Gabrielle glances over at Desmond who just unbuttoned his fly.
“I think we need to give you a…”
Gabrielle smirks and throws her arms up, a little mini cheerleader routine as she exclaims “Give me a D!”
Desmond grips the back of her head with both hands and he pushes her down. “Take all of that D.”
Shawns attention is fixed on his rear view mirror as he watches Desmond bury Gabrielles face in his lap. “What a slut.” Shawn exclaims.
“We’re going up town today Shawn.” Desmond mutters. “I’ve got a scene to direct with some failed Starlet.” He looks down at Gabrielle. “Not you. So keep your clothes on, we don’t need a naked Gabrielle distracting the working talent.”
That doesn’t happen. Shawn later finds a little g-string and her top in the back of the Limo. Both items along with promises of a digital photo he took in his rear view mirror finding themselves up on ebay later that day.
16th March 2024
“A loud sigh greets her…and then silence. She’s quiet as well. She cant talk…she doesn’t know what to say. But then she does. “Andy…”
“Hey Gabs.” Is his reply from the other end of the phone. “I should have replied the other day, I know…but I don’t know what I’m meant to say here.”
“Why’d you quit?”
No reply.
“Well?” She asks sternly.
“…”
“…”
“Why’d you quit?” He eventually retorts.
“What, quit what?”
“What you’re doing again…why’d you quit that last year?”
“Are you mad that I quit? I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have just broke off all contact with you when I did, but I had to get away from everyone.” She states with a sense of sorrow in her voice.
“Gabs…I’m not mad you quit then, I was happy, beyond happy. If the price for you quitting all of that was me never seeing you again I could live with that.”
“…”
“So, why’d you quit when you did?”
“I had too. I didn’t want to keep doing what I was doing. I didn’t want to be that person anymore. I wanted more to my life than just being fucked by all those men. I didn’t want to be a…Whore anymore…”
He doesn’t think about his next words, he just says them. “But you’re being a Whore again.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that…”
“I’m not…its just Desmond…there’s no money. Its not like that We’re just hanging out again.”
“Gabs…listen…Shawn…he sent me a video…you…in that Limo…with Desmond…and some Casting Agent…”
Silence.
“I told him to delete it, but he’s a pig. Listen Gabs…I’m not trying to upset you here You don’t have to explain anything to me…you really don’t. You don’t need me too approve what you’re doing.” Andy wants to be stern with his words, but he doesn’t want to be just another man telling her what to do.
“I’m not doing Porn again…it wasn’t like that…I just…it was…Desmond told him I can do magic tricks and make big dicks disappear…”
“So you just did it.”
“…”
“…”
“I’m sorry.”
“No. NO Gabs. You don’t have to apologise to me. Not to me. If this is what you want, then do it, keep doing it. If it makes you happy then just do it.” He pauses before continuing. “Does it make you happy?”
Her single word reply surprises him, and even her. “Yeah.”
He chuckles. He doesn’t want to laugh, he doesn’t want to be happy about that. But even more he doesn’t want to be like Desmond and the countless other men to come into her life in the past year or so and tell her what to do, but he doesn’t want her doing what she’s doing.
“Then I’m happy for you…but I just cant be around you doing this. Gabrielle, I don’t like seeing you like this. I remember how excited you were to leave this all behind, and I remember how broken you sounded and looked on that day I was driving you to the beach. It broke my heart seeing you bury your emotions sometimes in the back of that Limo. But I was so happy when you wanted me to take you back to Desmond, so you could give all of this up.”
Gabrielle’s silent.
“Then I saw you the next day…and it was like nothing could keep you off his dick. I wanted to slap some sense into you but I feared it’d just make you suck his dick even harder. So I just drove you to film a scene for whoever it was, and nothing had changed. I cant do that again. I cant watch you march off to take back the life you deserve only to watch you get passed around the back of that Limo instead.”
“They don’t pass me around.” Gabrielle says softly. That particular comment cutting her deeply. Degrading her and demeaning her. A part of what had made Gabrielle previously embrace the World of Adult Entertainment was her ‘claiming’ phrases like that, or words like slut, whore, skank, slapper, tart, etc for herself. Being called a Whore when she’s actually being one, when it was used almost in praise or appreciation took away the power of people calling her that to humiliate her in the past.
But this is different. Gabrielle had grown to be ashamed of who she had become. Ashamed and humiliated that she had gone from being the Caramel Coated Goddess, to the Goddess Coated in something else beginning with C…
Andrew didn’t want too, but he was humiliating her with that phrase. But in an instant Gabrielle was the Goddess of lore again. A woman who had created a Hall of Fame worthy legacy. Her pride being attacked by that single sentence. All the things she’d done to become the Goddess, the great things she’d do in the ring playing through her mind. The realisation that she’s a 37 year old Mother and Legend making what she’s done recently suddenly feel so wrong again. Though that being her reality then beats that pride back down into submission just as quickly.
“Gabs…I care about you deeply as a friend. I loved all those conversations we’d have alone, when you were dressed as a person not a sexual fantasy. We’d talk about our families, about your daughter, about your career. We’d chat about our futures, our plans, our ambitions in life. You wanted so much more to your life. We’d talk about pointless nothings, we’d share stories and jokes…your laugh, when you’re really laughing at something is so beautiful…instead of laughing at some crude comment some guy has made about how you just made him disappear.”
“I didn’t actually laugh at that did I?”
“Yeah, you did.”
“…”
“…”
“Andy…I appreciate you telling me how you feel, but this is about how I feel. I’m sorry we’re at odds here.” She’s trying to hide from the reality of how much it hurts to be confronted with all of this. Hide from the reality that she keeps finding herself so low in life that only sex brings her any joy, or worse still any identity.
“Don’t be sorry Gabs, just be yourself. I cant tell you not to do this, I drove you all around this city for all those months watching you back there with Desmond and whoever else, I dropped you off to dozens upon dozens upon dozens of scenes. Its not like I didn’t know what you were doing, I cant tell you to stop, and I wont. But can I just ask one more thing?”
“Yeah…anything Andy…”
“What happened when you went back to Desmond, when I dropped you off and you stormed in there to pack your bags and tell him you were giving this up?”
“He helped me remember how much I enjoyed what I was doing. It was just like Wrestling, sometimes it was scary, sometimes in the ring was the last place I wanted to be. But nearly all of the time I loved it, even when it was rough. Porn was the same…overall I still loved it. The lifestyle, that carefree simple lifestyle, no pressure, no failures. All the people I got to meet, the places I went. I could be a Cop one day, and then a Schoolgirl the next.”
“Andy…Desmond let me be great at something…” She states coldly. That yearning need to be great at something has driven her to seek validation on her back, on her knees, on a pole, on all fours…
It pains Andrew Brown so much to hear that, he’d need a mask to hide his face behind if they were face to face right now. Thinking she needs Desmond for anything. “What about now, how’d he get you back again?”
“He made me a Goddess again. I have people giving me everything I could possibly want again Andy. I feel so wanted, and needed even. He shows me off, he takes me around to see his friends and brags about me. Everyone loves me, they all hang off my every word. I feel special…”
“That’s what you want?”
“I want to not suck anymore…metaphorically.”
17th March 2024
As always her brunette hair looks so luxurious as she approaches that Limosuine. Shawn holding the door open for her, he tips his cap to her and stares outrageously at her tits as she slides inside the Limo.
He hurriedly makes his way around to the drivers door, pulling it open and looking towards the back of the Limo. No familiar noises greet him, Gabrielle and Desmond both just sitting there though he’s running a hand along her thigh.
“What happened to the clothes I picked out for you? The little Fire Fighter get up?” Desmond inquires. “I figured you could come drain my hose.”
“I thought I’d save that for later.” She replies.
“Fair enough, you still look incredible.” Desmond exclaims as he looks her up and down. “Very Professional…very sexy…like a Slutty little Professional…”
Gabrielle has dressed much more modestly, but still she’s Gabrielle. There’s a reason she was in Playboy, a reason she was in so many other magazines. A reason the World lusted after her for nearly two decades, and then ravenously watched her in such films as ‘Backdoor Sluts 9.1; the reSlutening’. She’s gorgeous, her pleated knee length skirt and pink blouse don’t hide that.
As Shawn eagerly watches in his mirror Desmond takes his hand off her thigh and doesn’t waste any time in palming the back of her head. He pushes her head down as he’s done a frankly astronomical amount of times before, putting her head in his lap…but she quickly sits back up and stares at him.
“Des…no.” She states.
“No?” He enquires. “What is this, some kind of game?”
“Des…no.” She states again. “I’m not sucking your dick in this Limo anymore.”
Desmond looks shocked.
“I’m not letting your friends bend me over and fuck me anymore either while he records it.” She states while pointing in Shawns direction. “I’m not sitting in your lap while you ‘direct’ your movies, I’m not fucking you in front of everyone after you’ve all finished filming.”
“Then why’d I bring you with me?” He bluntly asks.
“Is that all I am too you?”
“No…its just…that’s our relationship isn’t it? I make you into a Goddess again Gabrielle...those were your words to me…”
Gabrielle sighs and then presses her forehead to his. The man who orchestrated Gabrielle’s career in Porn taking that moment to grasp the back of her head once again and push her down onto himself. There’s no resistance, she accepts it with a sinful moan which is then muffled as she headbutts his chiselled abdomen repeatedly. Desmond is right after all, this is why she’s ‘with’ him, this is what he provides her.
Desmond grunts and relaxes, leaning back into his seat. “Crisis averted” He mutters to himself. “That’s my greedy little Slut.” He tells her more loudly.
Shawn settles in to watch the show in his mirror. Leaving the Limo in park as he fixates on watching Gabrielles head move up and down. Its definitely a perk of his job that multiple times a day he gets to watch Gabrielle like this up close.
Then finally she pauses to catch her breath, lifting her head up and swatting aside a strand of saliva that had dangled from her bottom lip. She playfully nuzzles her head against Desmond’s, even softly biting onto his cheek. Then she looks down at his erect member, and its like its staring back at her.
She feels like she’s at a fork in the road in this moment, as Desmond palms the top of her head she can see two paths in front of her.
The easy one; she offers up no resistance and Des pushes her head back down on every last inch of himself. She’ll mindlessly bob her head in his lap until he’s found his ‘release’. He’ll probably give her a ‘money shot’ and Shawn will likely record it on his phone. Then wherever he takes her she’ll find herself on her back at some point, with Desmond or someone else between her thighs.
Then Shawn will get another show, he’ll get to see more action this time. Maybe a third party joins them, maybe not. This will quickly become a routine.
And then at some point she wont be accompanying Desmond somewhere so he can film some other woman, she’ll be going with Desmond to be filmed. This will quickly become a routine.
Then she’ll turn 38, and ‘celebrate’ the same way she did turning 37. By doing the same thing she does every day, only there will be ribbons and whipped cream involved.
Then she’ll be 40…
Then before she knows it she’ll be 45. The MILF tag is all that keeps her relevant. No more saucy costumes, or silly / stupid plotlines, just the MILF. Even though her own Daughter probably doesn’t speak to her at all anymore.
Maybe she’ll have to try the Strip Club again full time. Steve will always have a soft spot for her. She gave him a lapdance on his 18th Birthday after all. But try as she does, she cant stop getting older, less desirable. The surgeries to try and cling onto a lost youth have started years earlier. The 45 year old Stripper doing what she can to feel anything, taking someone back to that private room nightly.
And then she’ll be too old, and frankly too worn out.
Her Parents haven’t spoken to her in over a decade, her Daughter doesn’t want to know her, her Brother, even he had to give up on her eventually. She’ll be unmarried. Marriages 3, 4, 5, and 6 falling through. All she offered to them was sex, and a younger woman always came along.
The ‘easy’ path leads to nothing but misery, not straight away. She’ll enjoy every second of it until the wheels fall off. But once they’re off she’ll have nothing.
Desmonds dick is still staring at her, and she’s finding it so hard to resist. The second path is hard. Anything could happen. She could give her all to the FWA only to fail again. She could ultimately be remembered as the Fallen Goddess, that turned to Hardcore Pornography, and then embarked on a failed campaign to claim back what she once was in the ring.
That’s scarier than anything Desmond could ever throw at her.
Or she could write one last GREAT chapter in her career. An exclamation point upon everything she has ever done in the FWA. Triple Crown status. A Third World Championship an entire Decade after her last reign. Carnal Contendership. The North American Championship. Anything, she could do ANYTHING. But she’ll never know if she takes the easy road.
She feels that slight pressure on the top of her head, Des never actually pushes that hard, he never really needs too. “Des…I cant.” She states as she lifts her gaze up to meet his.
“You can, you swallow that up easily…” Is his response.
“No Des, I cant. I need more to my life-“ Desmond goes to cut her off but Gabrielle puts a finger to his lips. “No Des. I need more than just endlessly sucking dick to my life. How are you not bored of me at this point? You’ve fucked me so many times in the last 5 weeks, multiple times a day, every day. Before that we had what nine months of that same thing?”
“I want more in my life, more purpose than just this. More meaning than just waking up knowing all I’m going to do today is have sex, possibly with more than just one person. That’s the only change I have to my days, when I find myself under some guy I’ve literally just met through you. God Desmond, I’m signed to the FWA and I haven’t turned up for a day of work in weeks now…”
“I told them you had a throat injury.” Desmond interjects.
“Cute.” Is her sharp response. “You…you remember when I was in Japan and you hit me up? You told me you were still a fan, and even a friend of mine.”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Then you chartered a private Jet and flew over to see me…it was romantic that night. You cooked for me, we ate in front of the fire…you spent a small eternity just caressing me and kissing me…I should have known though, when I spent the entire jet ride back here naked. The staff on the Jet refused to serve us or even leave the front of the plane after a while because everytime they came to us you had me on my knees, or bent over, or I was dancing for you or laid out on the table for you…”
“You never said stop, I was just giving you what you needed.” He interjects.
Gabrielle sighs and nods her head almost in defeat. If only she could refute what he’d just said. But the low point she was at when she let Desmond back into her life was a real low point, and he made her happy for most of these last five weeks.
“You looked so broken and defeated in Japan. Losing to an absolute loser like XYZ…I could tell you felt like a loser yourself. You’d walked away from your new life, and all your new friends chasing your old one and you were having so many off nights. So I gave you some good nights. Some GREAT nights even. Gabs you’ve never had an off night with me, or John, or David, or Ben, or Cooper, or the rest of them.”
Gabrielle rests her forehead against his once more, but Desmond doesn’t push her head back down onto himself.
“I thought you wanted all of this again, to live like this again. So I gave you that. When you were struggling in the ring you could forget about all of that with me.”
“I want some of that life Des, you were there for me…I just don’t want all of this. I cant just have this. I don’t want to just be this. Des I want to be a Champion again, an actual Champion! Not a play thing, okay. I don’t want you out of my life…just all the other stuff.”
Desmond wraps an arm around her and rests his head on hers, she cant see the smirk on his face as he tells her “Okay…I don’t need anymore than that.”
He lets go of her and they both sit back in their seat. “You should just stay here, don’t come with me to the shoot, you don’t need to be there, do something else with your day…”
Gabrielle smiles. “I should probably make some calls to someone at the FWA…”
“You do that.” Desmond states as he rests his hands behind his head. “But just…maybe…before you go…” He glances downwards. “I just had the most beautiful and skilled woman in the World sucking me off…she’s not going to start the next chapter of her life leaving unfinished business is she…”
Gabrielle glances downwards, a fiendish smile on her face as Desmond somehow turns that fork in the road into a single option…
Shawn watching on as Desmond grabs her by the waist and lifts her onto himself. The Limo Driver later that day finding all the pink buttons off her blouse and a little red g-string on the back seat.
23rd August 2023
“Hope you’re ready for a butt fucking Baby.” Desmond hollers as he steps inside the Apartment Suite he shares with Gabrielle in the heart of LA. Tossing his belt aside, he rounds the end of the entryway and steps into the Dining Room where she’s waiting for him…bent over the kitchen bench…
Or rather leaning on it, as she sits at the breakfast bar with a pair of suitcases besides her.
“Des…we need to talk.” She states. “Please have a seat.”
Desmond does exactly that, sitting down beside her, he rests a hand on her bare thigh. Those short shorts, and white baby tee still doing just enough to conceal her curves. “Everything okay? He asks.
“Wonderful.” Is her reply. “I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.”
“Des…I appreciate everything. The Apartment, the clothes, the jewellery, the people who wait on me hand and foot, the driver, the sense of purpose and meaning you’ve given my life.” She wryly smiles at that. Those words sinking into herself as she spoke them. Not lost on her that she found meaning to her life being fucked on camera. Not lost on her that she went from defending World Titles at Back In Business to be dubbed porns ‘Deepthroat Demon’.
“I do appreciate all of it greatly. When you came into my life like this. When you approached me in the Strip Club and gave me that offer you helped pull me out of a pit I had been stuck in for years. Without you Desmond, I’d just be dancing for dollar bills, and giving head for free…”
Desmond cant help but smirk at that statement from Gabrielle.
“But…” She continues. “I’m more than this, I have a reputation, a Legacy. I’m a Hall of Famer now! Finally! I kicked ass for most of my life, now I just get… …in the ass…”
“Gabs.” He interjects, though she cuts him off.
“My mind is made up Desmond. There’s people out there who care about me and helped me see what I can still do with my life. I was never going to do this forever…”
Silence befalls the both of them, before Desmond finally speaks up. “So you’re just going to quit?”
“Well…yeah.”
“So you’re a quitter, when it gets tough you quit.”
Gabrielle glares at him, but he continues before she replies.
“Wrestling got to tough for you, and you quit that. Well you were too weak to quit, but you took the out when it was given to you…your words Gabrielle.” He states bluntly. It causes her to sink into her chair a bit, its true after all.
“Sick of being put on your back. You told me those exact words with a huge grin on your face as I had you on your back in that Hotel room after the Strip Club. Sick of men putting you on your back and making you into a loser, but with me you were a winner when you were on your back. You were so happy to be doing this, doing what you’ve done for six months now. Taking back your life, taking back the power.”
“Put on your knees and it’s a good thing! Not having to fight your way back up, just to get knocked down again. You could just stay there and make everyone so happy. Especially yourself.”
He reaches a hand out and brushes a few strands of hair out of her face. “Don’t forget that Gabs. Don’t forget how hard Wrestling can be, and how much it broke you.
She looks up at him, a mixture of acceptance and heartbreak written upon her face. “I dont want to be broken anymore…”
She is broken though. She’s not Broken Gabrielle the FWA wrestler, she’s just broken Gabrielle the person. Sinking into the beds and arms of countless men to just feel something, anything.
Its a heartbreaking reality for Gabrielle. After all she ever did in the ring, all the boundaries she broke, glass ceilings she shattered. It all means nothing now. Those things gave her no comfort when she couldn’t relive them. She’s had to sink to this, had to sink to her knees endlessly, as she does now in front of Desmond.
To return to Pro Wrestling is too daunting. Its what broke her in the first place. It could break her again. It could hurt her even worse than it already has.
Any reams she has of Main Eventing another Back In Business or winning a Carnal Contendership are just that; dreams. She doesn’t have the strength to try to make it a reality. She’d chased that for years and kept coming up short, kept failing. Had to settle for being second best, then third best, then fourth until she wondered if she even belonged in the FWA anymore.
All that people could talk about in the Hall of Fame career of Gabrielle was what she had done in 2015 and earlier. That passage o time from 2019 too now just seeing her sink lower and lower.
But maybe one day she’ll have the guts again to face that challenge.
Maybe one day she will find herself in the ring again surrounded by people who are fully clothed. Her ultimate dream would be just one more road to Back In Business. A Carnal Contendership win…and then immortality…
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:06:11 GMT
Originally posted by SJW. “Hey dipshit.” “Hey fuckface.”“...” “...”“How’s he doing?” “Is that a serious question?”“That bad, huh?” “I guess. I mean, y’know, he’s doing… Better, I think, just not… Better enough.”“These things take time.” “Motherfucker, I know, alright? I’ve been keeping an eye on him. They’ve given him medication, but it’s touch and go. Sometimes he…”“Sometimes he what?” “Sometimes he just… Stares into the distance, and I know he’s not there. Y’know? Dude’s somewhere else, with the most hollow look on his face, and I don’t know what the fuck he’s seeing but he seems so… Empty. Other times, he’s almost like himself. Almost.”“So still a way to go.” “I’m doing what I can, alright? Fuckin’ cut me some slack. If it’s so easy, then why don’t you fuckin’ try?”“I’m not saying it’s easy, I just thought… I hoped he’d be… Y’know. Him again.” “Me too.”“...” “... Look. I think- I think you should call him.”“I know, it’s just-” “I think he’d like to hear your voice.”“I know, alright? I- It’s just… It’s not that I don’t want to, but I wouldn’t even know what the fuck to say.” “Me neither, asshole, we’re both working without a contract here. Fuckin’ improvise. You really think he gives more of a shit about what the topic is, than actually hearing your voice?”“... No, you’re right. I’ll give him a call. Soon, alright? Where is he now?” ~\~|~/~The man in front of him had a mouth that kept moving, but it was all white noise. Excited chatter, rambling words, nerves getting the better of him. Initially cocky, confident, he had faltered in the face of impassiveness, resulting in an unfiltered stream of both self assuring boasts and halfhearted, vapid compliments. Krash didn’t care. Even if he could hear exactly what the man was saying, he didn’t care. He knew what he was here for. So did his nervously boastful companion. Everything else was just going through the motions. Idly sipping his drink - some brightly colored alcoholic beverage that he wouldn’t be able to remember the name of under intense interrogation - Krash tried not to look at his reflection in the glass. He knew he didn’t look his best. He rarely did these days. Most people at this club rarely noticed, too focused on their hookup goals. But Krash always did. After what felt like minutes, the man propositioning him finally seemed to run out of things to say, grinning nervously as he leaned on the column next to Krash. “So, anyway…” He began, visibly self-conscious about his rambling. Krash felt something akin to a chuckle lapse in his throat. The man - whose name Krash had already forgotten, but certainly wasn’t Luis - cleared his throat. “This might sound a bit weird…”Krash braced himself, mind already running towards the worst scenario, heart beginning to pound painfully in his chest. Flashes of a face he had put behind him resurfaced, memories left buried. Already, the edges of his vision began to fizzle and whisper. He couldn’t live through another incident like with Luis again. He couldn’t. Krash traced the thin outline of a scar on the back of his palm, and bit his tongue, forcing the pain to keep him grounded, keep him here. To keep him from going back there. The man chuckled awkwardly. “But I didn’t catch your name.” He admitted, looking somewhat shamefaced. Krash felt a wave of relief run over him, and his heartbeat settled. He let out a rattling breath, closing his eyes briefly. “No?” He mumbled. Good. He didn’t know him. He wasn’t a fan. He was everything Krash needed. A stranger. Krash raised a hand to the man’s face, gently tracing his jawline, smooth skin gliding beneath his fingertip. “Tell you what.” He began, guiding his touch lower, brushing past his neck and settling on the open collar of his shirt, curling his finger around the collar, firmly pulling him close. “How about we keep it that way?” He whispered, lips brushing against his companion’s cheek. Krash caught a flash of intrigue, of surprise, followed by slick hunger. “Works for me.” His companion said, a hand snaking around Krash’s waist, pulling him close. Letting out a sigh, Krash let his head rest against his companion’s chest. He knew, tonight, these carnal desires, the afterglow of passion, it helped him feel something. It made him feel alive. Which was a hell of a lot more than what he usually felt these days. ~\~|~/~“... So he might have his hands full right now.”“His mouth too, by the sounds of it.” “Maybe hold off on calling him for a day or so. But, y’know. Still call him.”“Alright, alright. What about in the meantime?” “I’m thinking of taking him sightseeing.”“Sightseeing? Really?” “I guess? I don’t fucking know. I’m just thinking of what usually makes me happy, and dunking on tourists paying for overpriced crap usually gets a kick out of me.”“Oh. So it’s not that kind of sightseeing.” “Fuck, maybe marvelling at the wonder of nature or manmade accomplishments will do something? Probably? Maybe? I don’t know, but I’m trying.”“I’ll call him in a few days. See what happens.” ~\~|~/~“You look like shit, for the record.”“Thanks.” Krash tugged at his jacket, brushing his unwashed, uncombed hair out of his face. He had seen better days, and he knew it. Lines of uneven stubble traced his jawline, and even his moustache looked rather frazzled and uncared for. His clothes, an olive jacket, a brown undershirt, and faded black trousers, hung off him like a hanger, limply, drab and faded. Even inside, his bones felt like they didn’t fit his skin anymore. They hadn’t for a long time. Just a frame for a meatsack, its expiration date largely forgotten. “Where are we going?” He asked, fingernails digging into the armrest of the passenger seat in Violet Dreyer’s shitty sedan. Violet shot a glance at him, eyes narrowed. Her bright green mohawk, as ugly as it is eye-catching, hid underneath the wool of a black beanie, and a red leather vest hung over a shirt with her own face on it, and blue jeans. Standard affair. “I know you’ve been…” Violet began, waving a hand flippantly, as she pulled into a park. “Y’know, kind of out of it lately…”Krash raised a solitary eyebrow. “So I was thinking - what do I do when I need to feel better about myself? Simple, I go find some schmuck and talk shit about their life choices. And what better schmucks are there than tourists?” She declared, opening her car door and boldly gesturing. Letting out a sigh, Krash peeked his head out the window, grimacing at the crowds of tourists in tacky outfits. Most of them sunburnt, unsurprisingly. “This is what you do in your spare time?”“Fuck yeah, it’s great. Here, c’mon, I’ll show you.” Violet beckoned, exiting the car and waiting for Krash to join her. With the kind of reluctance usually reserved for booking a dentist appointment, Krash begrudgingly joined her, hands in his pockets, attempting to look like he actually wanted to be here. “What’s the attraction here, anyway?” He asked, seeing nothing but ugly generic ‘I <3 Australia’ shirts. Violet shrugged. “Fucked if I know. Oh, look, there’s a good target.” She said, pointing towards a particularly sunburnt man, holding a tiny Australian flag as he chatted with another tourist. “Tacky flag, shit t-shirt, he’s even got a fuckin’ boomerang on him. How much do you think he paid for this shit?”Krash shrugged impassively. “Twenty dollars?”“Each, maybe. Dude threw away at least sixty bucks for lame trinkets he’ll never look at again. Ha!” Violet barked, laughing. “What a fuckin’ loser! I already feel better about myself. Don’t you?”Violet glanced at Krash proudly, the smile fading slightly at the complete lack of change in Krash’s expression. “Alright, rough example. There’s some kids around here, laughing at those fucking shits and their fuckup divorced parents usually does the trick. Wait here.”Just like that, Violet disappeared into the crowd, leaving Krash alone before he could even make a noise of protest. Krash sighed, mumbling beneath his breath, avoiding eye contact and pretending he was part of the scenery, leaning on the hood of Violet's car. Faces passed, smiling, laughing. Krash felt a hint of longing, and he wasn't sure why. He shifted uncomfortably, idly glancing around. He was sure a flicker of recognition sparked across one of the tourists’ faces. “Shit.” He muttered, glancing around for an escape. Violet’s car was now locked, and as he felt rather than saw someone approach, Krash’s gaze focused on the merchandise shack, past the crowd of people. He groaned, shook his head, then trudged towards it, avoiding eye contact and pretending he didn’t hear someone call out to him. Stepping into the merchandise shack, Krash stepped past the rows of tacky shirts he’d rather revert back to being dead than be seen wearing, stepping past the crowds with a mumbled apology, pretending to peruse the shelves and assorted knick-knacks until he was sure he wasn’t followed in. The aisle he stood in was empty, devoid of tourists, at least for now, and Krash let out a sigh of relief. Idly waiting for time to pass, Krash glanced at the shelves out of curiosity, if nothing else. The shelves were lined with snowglobes. Small glass spheres, each no bigger than the palm of his hand, with a polished wood base. Tilting a head in curiosity, Krash leaned in, inspecting the snowglobes. A duo of buildings, a trio of random setpieces, accompanied by a different solitary figure in each. The world dimmed around him, as Krash reached out a hand, cradling one snowglobe and bringing it closer. The figure within the snowglobe stood still, frozen in a majestic post. Tentatively, Krash shook the globe a few times, watching the snow within kick up, swirl around the figure and the setpieces. He held his breath, unsure why he was doing so. As the snow settled back, reverting the globe back to its regular environment, the figure stared up at him. Krash stared back, feeling a deep longing within him. It felt… Calming. Restful, to a degree. And he was unable to say exactly why. Clicking his tongue, Krash placed the snowglobe back on the shelf, finding it oddly difficult to rip his eyes from it. Taking two steps away, he paused, biting his tongue, before sighing. “Fuck it.” He grumbled to himself, before turning back, grabbing a random snowglobe, and heading towards the counter. ~\~|~/~Finding Violet waiting by the car, Krash approached, the snowglobe bulging in his jacket pocket. Her expression flashed from one of irritation, then relief, then back to irritation in an instant as she wrenched the car door open. “Where the fuck did you go?” She barked, raising an eyebrow. “I found this family of five and nearly ruined their day, you missed it.”Krash shrugged, settling into the seat next to her. “Thought someone recognized me.” He mumbled, avoiding eye contact. “Oh.” Violet blinked. “Oh.” She repeated again, unsure what to say. “Is that… Bad?”“I don’t…” Krash hesitated. “I don’t think I can meet fans anymore. Not after…” He lapsed into silence, not wanting to continue the thought. Violet, missing the obvious signal, continued the thought instead. “Not after Jeremy.” She mumbled, turning to start the car, and completely missing the sudden spike of stress and anxiety that ran across Krash’s face, at the mention of his name. She did, however, catch the rocky and forced exhale, and immediately realized her mistake. “Shit. You’re still- Fuck. Sorry, I wasn’t thinking, I just- Fuck.”Closing his eyes, Krash’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the hemline of his jacket, biting his tongue so hard it nearly split into two. The sharp stab of pain in his mouth, the warm copper liquid pooling in his gums, swiftly dragged him back to reality from the sudden input of disassociation, before it was too late. “It- It’s okay.” He muttered, wiping his mouth with a sleeve. It wasn’t okay, and they both knew it. As Violet peeled the car out of the car park, driving away, Krash’s free hand fumbled its way to his jacket pocket, unveiling the snowglobe. He held it within his palms, keeping it still despite the bumps and Violet’s driving, as he gazed deep within it. "The fuck is that, dude?" Violet remarked, glancing at the snowglobe as she drove, frowning. Krash blinked. "It's a snowglobe, Violet.""Yeah, no shit it's a fuckin' snowglobe.” Violet rolled her eyes, stopping at a red light. “You collect fuckin' snowglobes now?""What of it?” Krash snapped back, bringing the slowglobe closer to himself, shaking it gently and watching the snow scatter. “Aren't they... Reassuring, in a way? Tiny, insignificant lives, cased away from the world around them, quietly existing. You shake it up, watch the snow fall, and life goes on. Isn't that just... Perfect?”Violet squinted, then grumbled. "... If you say so.""You can turn the world upside down, and imagine the ghosts of people within, holding on for dear life as their world spirals around them.” Kash continued, doing just that with the snowglobe, his voice growing soft, reserved. “You can shake as violently as you wish, until you're certain the glass will crack, the foundations will crumble, and everything within gets torn asunder. Then you'll stop. Maybe you're tired, maybe you're bored. You'll put the snowglobe down, sit down, and watch the snow fall. And soon, no matter how violently you shook the globe... The snow stops falling, and everything within the globe settles. Everything goes back to normal.”Krash grew quiet, watching the snow within the snowglobe eventually settle, before turning back to Violet. “Wouldn't that be... Nice?" He quietly asked. Violet didn’t respond for a long time. "Dude, it's a snowglobe.” She eventually replied, eyes focused on the road, as she gestured flippantly. “A fuckin' novelty."Krash felt a deep sadness resonate within him, and he couldn’t begin to explain why, as he sighed. "... Yes. Yes, I suppose the idea is a bit of a novelty, isn't it."~\~|~/~That night, Krash dreamed. He rarely dreamed nowadays. Something he was thankful for - he had a hard enough time staying connected with reality as it was during waking hours. But this night, it was different. A pitch black world, a void devoid of color. His footsteps echoed, taking steps on a surface that didn’t exist. He didn’t know where he was walking to, or why. He just was. Dreams are like that, sometimes. The darkness stretched on forever, seemingly unending. It was the same view in every direction - nothing as far as the eye could see. Or not see, as it were. If he was breathing in this dream, Krash would’ve let out a sigh. But his chest didn’t rise and fall with the intake and exhale of air. Nor did his veins pump with the rhythm of his heart. Krash placed a hand over his chest, and felt nothing at all. Suddenly, he stopped walking. His boot jammed against something, an action that probably should’ve sent a crushing wave of agony up his leg, but it did nothing of the sort. There was still nothing in front of him, yet as Krash placed his palms out, he felt a cold, unyielding surface. He reached around, but the surface seemed to go on forever. And as he frowned, he spotted something on the other side of the surface, just out of reach from his palm. A single white spot. Snow. There was a light on the other side of the surface, the now transparent wall. First a gray flicker, then a slight blue hue. Faded, barely visible, but it was there. Just out of reach. Shapes passed in front of the glow. Familiar shapes. No, not shapes - People he knew. A scant handful, but some of the most important people to him, once. Laughing. Cavorting. Being alive. And in the center, a man dressed in complete all black, nearly invisible, save for the flicker of the glow highlighting his features. Krash’s mouth fell open. His hands scrambled around the glass surface, for a door, a hinge, for anything. It was nothing but a smooth dome, all the way. He wanted to rejoin them. He didn’t want to be like this. He wanted nothing else in the world more than to join them once again. He couldn’t. Krash pounded his fist against the surface, first experimentally. Either to gain the attention of those within, or to break the glass. Neither happened. His fist impacted against the glass without a sound, and no-one within the dome gave any sign of noticing him. The pounding of his fist grew desperate, yet without a singular sound nor note of his attempt, nothing changed. Krash continued striking the glass, even as his hand began to crumple, folding in on itself with the force of repeated impacts, knuckles curling in and splitting apart without a hint of blood. He switched to his other fist, beating at the glass until it, too, was a ragged, splintered husk, with no difference. Dropping to his knees in front of the glass wall, Krash screamed, a hoarse, desolate cry that made absolutely no sound at all. The glow within the glass dome slowly evaporated, plunging the world back into darkness, unheeding of Krash's tormented howl. Without even adjusting to seem like they heard or felt his presence, the figures of those within the dome vanished, one by one, until there was nothing left. Leaving Krash cold, broken, and alone. ~\~|~/~Waking up in a cold sweat in his bed, tears streaming down his face, Krash didn’t realize he was still screaming until his throat grew raw and dry. He ran his hands over his face, huffing forlornly, as he gasped, gripping the bed sheets with a fever. Legs shaking, he pushed himself off the bed, onto the floor. Unsteadily, he fumbled for the light switch. Squinting against the sudden harsh glare of the lights, he groaned, turning to face the snowglobe that sat upon his bedside table. “You shake the snowglobe, and watch it settle…” He whispered hoarsely, stepping towards the snowglobe. “After a while, the snow stops falling, and everything goes back to normal.” With a pale shaky hand, he grasped at the snowglobe, bringing it to face level. “Everything goes back to normal.” He repeated, closing his eyes. “No matter how much the globe is shaken, eventually, the snow stops falling, and everyone within it will be okay.”There was a beat of silence. Krash breathed, steadying himself, his grip on the snowglobe tightening before he spoke again. “So if everyone turns out okay in the end… Then why the fuck can’t I?” He whispered, his voice full of resentment. His hands shook, causing the snow within the globe to aimlessly flutter, before slowly disappearing back to its normal state. Krash felt a bile of scorn grow within him, as his grip tightened. “Why. Why, why, why, WHY CAN’T I GET BETTER?!?” He shouted, turning and throwing the snowglobe down the hall, where it clattered across the tiled floor. “Why do you get to live your life again after the snow settles, while I’m stuck feeling like this, over, and over, and over again?” He muttered to himself, hands on his head, pacing to and fro. “When is my snow going to settle? When am I going to get better?”He glanced down the hallway, at the snowglobe, resting against the wall, and felt a poisonous surge of jealousy grow within him. “What makes you so fucking special?!?” He howled, stepping forward and kicking the snowglobe as hard as he could. He was rewarded with a throbbing ache in his foot, as the snowglobe spun down the hall. Grimacing, Krash sat down on the floor, clutching his foot as he swore to himself, huffing, sweat dripping down his body. The snowglobe slowly rolled back towards him, somehow unharmed, unbroken, coming to a halt next to his hip. Krash let out a whine that died in his throat. “I just want to be me again.” He whimpered, the edge of his vision numb. “Please.”The familiar sound of static grew in, as Krash grasped the snowglobe, cradling it against his bare chest as the world fizzled and faded away around him. “Please.” He sobbed. In the final seconds before he gave in to a dissociative episode, Krash glanced at his snowglobe, realizing with a glint of despair that there wasn’t a figurine within it. It was empty. Just like him. ~\~|~/~When he opened his eyes, Krash found himself behind the wheel of his car, parked back at the tourist trap. Before him, stood the merchandise shack. It was the dead of night, no-one else around. Pushing open his car door, he stepped out onto the gravel, pausing to reach back into the car, and grab his own snowglobe. He was numb, distant. Like he was watching himself in third person, while the controller was passed off to someone he barely knew, as he made his way towards the merchandise shack. He banged his first against the wooden door, waiting only half a second before he reeled back, lifted a leg, and booted the door open. A sensation that might’ve been pain, dampened enough to feel more like a twitch, shot up his leg, but he barely registered it, as he marched inside. He made a beeline for the aisle containing the snowglobes, his gait slightly offbeat. He stopped at the shelves, glancing at the snowglobes, at the dozens of different figures within them. If he wasn’t in such a dissociated state, he might’ve noticed how a lot of the figurines seemed to resemble people he once knew. Instead, he observed the different figurines in each, contrasting them with his own, empty snowglobe. A hand reached out, a hand that he only realized was his after it wrapped around the cold glass of one of the snowglobes. He lifted the snowglobe to his gaze, eyes narrowing at the figurine within. A thin, dorkish man, wearing a bright blue sweater waved at him, smiling with teeth that were far too white. There was a hint of something copper clutched in his other arm. But Krash only saw shapes without a form, colors without a meaning. He shook the snowglobe, watching the world within it turn asunder, before rapidly resuming its regular, normal setting. Then he turned his palm, and let it slip from his grasp, where it shattered against the wooden floor, splattering fake snow and fake water against his shoes. Krash’s hand automatically went to another snowglobe, this one with a long-haired, bandanna wearing figure within it. He slammed it against the corner of the shelf, barely noticing the cuts the shattered glass made on his hand, nor the icy chill of the water droplets hitting his skin. He threw it over his shoulder without a second glance, where it tumbled, rolling and breaking against a wall. Another snowglobe, this one with a figuring of a stern man, stubble lining his jaw, gazing knowingly into the distance. Krash dropped this one too against the floor, where it landed on its base, miraculously unbroken. Until Krash stomped a foot upon it, crushing the snowglobe and causing glass to shatter and scatter. More and more, he attacked the snowglobes in a frenzy. More and more figurines cracked under his violence, with barely a change in Krash’s expression. A flamboyant dancer, a lethargic lout, a lanky sleaze, a thick, unsmiling man. All of them were summarily shattered and cast aside without even a blink. More and more, the shelf growing emptier with each broken snowglobe. A dull glow rose inside of him, a feeling akin to satisfaction, as more and more of those perfect little contained worlds splintered and cracked under his boot, within his palm, against a wall. He laughed, a hollow, exhausted bark of laughter, without knowing why. Victory? Jealousy? He couldn’t say. He couldn’t know. He leaned against the shelf, sliding down and resting on the floor, not noticing the cold water sink into his pants as he sat down, nor the lines of cuts and slices that trailed across his hand. He always hoped that, with time, he could regain what Jeremy or Death - it was hard to tell the difference between the two sometimes - took from him. That piece of his soul that made him, him. Time had passed. Nothing had changed. Maybe he couldn’t wait for it to happen naturally any longer. Maybe he had to go and force it to happen, force himself to regain that part of him that made him who he was. Fuck the collateral. He became aware of a sudden buzzing against the place where his heart should be, the muffled melody of a familiar tune. His vision began to sharpen, as his breath came in ragged gasps, the last echoes of laughter still caressing his throat, as the dissociative episode slowly passed. Blinking, Krash glanced around himself, at the mess within the merchandise shack, gaping in astonishment and horror at what he had done. His arm ached, and he withheld a shriek as he finally noticed the dozens of cuts and slices across his hand and forearm. Pain returned to him, and he swore beneath his breath, thumping the back of his head against the shelves in frustration. Usually his episodes weren’t this bad. This one… This one was different. His bleeding hand rested by his side, cradling the sole unbroken snowglobe - his own snowglobe, the one without a figurine within it. The empty one. With his other free hand, he reached into his jacket, grasping at the vibration - his phone. [ONE (1) MISSED CALL
ALYSTER BLACK][Y/X] He hesitated, glancing between his phone and the chaos he had caused. He hadn’t talked to Alyster in a long time. In a way, he was afraid to, knowing all he could be was a pale imitation, a hollow husk, of who Alyster hoped he would be. But in a way, as his gaze followed his line of destruction, he knew something had to change. Even in his disassociated state, he knew. He couldn’t wait to be better. The pills did nothing. Waiting did nothing. Something had to happen. Burying Jeremy Best alive last year was barely the start. He needed to get better, for himself. He wanted to get better, for Alyster. And as Krash gazed at the wreckage around him, he came to an understanding with himself, with his dissociative episodes. His hand curled around his singular, unbroken, hollow snowglobe. He would ruin as many lives as possible, if it meant regaining his own. Taking a shaky breath, Krash closed his eyes and counted to five. As he trailed a finger along the glass dome of his snowglobe, he raised the phone to his ear, and began dialing to his missed call. He glanced at his ruined surroundings, making a mental note not to mention this. A dial tone commenced. It rung once, twice. Three times. A warm, unfamiliar feeling rose within him. Krash felt his breath catch in his throat, as the call connected. Silence echoed. Krash leaned back, closed his eyes, and let out a shaky breath. "... Hey." A voice mumbled through the phone, distant, unsure. "... Hey yourself." Krash airily replied back, staring into his snowglobe. The empty world within, standing tall atop the carcasses of its manufactured brethren. Snow fell, fluttered, and settled, within the desolate land. Who better to stand atop a barren, hollow wasteland of broken dreams, than the man who was already a husk?  |
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:12:27 GMT
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:13:18 GMT
Promo reviews. Originally posted by SupineSnake. [posted AFTER show results and contains spoilers] Posted my thoughts on the discord during two read sessions. Will reshare here for those not on there. Loved the write up for Cyrus v Jeremy. Thought Best was written really well, both dastardly and cowardly bit also showing moments of skill. All of the Friendship WA getting involved was typical but well done, liked Cyrus knocking Stache and Amigo off the cage with one kick. What is it with Cyrus and his opponent's factions? Never learns. Also thought that Best trying to persistently escape rather than face his opponent like a man was a nice touch. Funny that he eventually won by pinfall anyway. Enjoyed the climax with the implied hesitation (I think implied not inferred) of Baxter, very intriguing. He of course follows through anyway. Really fun and fast paced write up, enjoyed the use of the cage. As for the promos, I actually had Cyrus winning 33.45 - 33.20, with Truth edging it on QoC as well as Character Portrayal to win by fine margins. I had Best up in Creatively (again only barely) and the other categories tied. Thought that altho Best edged creativity with what was a very clever narrative, the Cyrus promo still scored highly there because I liked the way that the theme and structure of the promo was directly influenced by the opponent. I liked that your creativity was fitted around the match, rather than the other way around. This also helped with match/opponent focus in the QoC category, with Truth's usual in-depth commentary on his opponent packed into a structure in itself designed to address the opponent. Has been mentioned that this one was super close and went to 3-2 on the grades. Although it was hit in the QoC and Creativity sections because the promo was so inherently about Best, I'm glad that the Cyrus promo was enough for GO. Think the fact that the prize of CC was a shot at Best just about did enough for Truth to earn top 7. Halloween guy, trash guy, and number guy next, a thing that happened on the show. Public congrats to Man on winning F1, NA title, and Grand Slam. I hope you choke on the accolades. Excited to write with CBK. Literally impossible to read the Keres text on my phone with the standard skin. Just reread the by the numbers shit and it really is so sick. Gip did an awesome job. I hope he posted the data and I guess he probably did, would like to see the master sheet. Was well written and felt big time and built the match up even more, altho I am psyched to finally be able to read what man has come up with. KDS and XYZ starting the CC is fun, love that those two are eternal rivals. Man writes Konchu on comms really really well I think. Enjoy brrrrrrr as buzzer onomatopoeia. Konchu mentioning CC 2022 Nephew shenanigans looool what a time, definite foreshadowing. Maybe even Coven Implosion here I guess. Sawyer theme music is hype, I suggested it to Jam for Connection theme music along with a few others. Trixie and Kleio coexisting for now is interesting, definitely feel there's an undercurrent here tho in the early goings of their involvement. Some nice preludes to the Sawyer v Kleio here and think Sawyer's tactics are sound in forming an alliance with XYZ with two, now three, Coven members in the ring. Poor XYZ, he never stood a chance  . Sawyer should've done more tbh. Guess it's about self preservation. The Coven implosion better come quick for his sake. So much Hozier :/. Will have to work out probability of 4 coven out of first 6. Seems high if it's random, probably down to FWA known anti-witch bias. Hahaha Konchu on my level on the comms o7. Oh shit! Big moment, Coven in disarray! Interesting that both Ravenwoods side with Trixie. I always assumed there would be some sort of split between the sisters. Excellently done split, really good. Get wreckt Kleio. Johnny Johnson appearing and remaining entirely uninterested whilst Xavier gets his ass handed to him by the remnants of the Coven is fitting and in character. Lol at random Harrows cameo. That guy gets everywhere. Poser should fuck off back to Hollywood. Fenix and Sawyer temp partnership is super fun. Haha JJ troll elimination on Trixie. Really like how you've used this match to play towards both of the championship matches that are on Meltdown XL. Spooder man kek. Poor guy. Coven falling apart so soon, maybe I'd like to have seen them dominate for a little while (no backseating). Both Ravenwoods out so quickly - feels like the Coven story is a pretty self-contained 'opening' of the match, tying in their next challengers as well as old foe XYZ. Wow poor Spooder Man, the guy is really having a rough night  . Looool Harrows what a god damned imp. Taking poor Spooder's spot. Gip promo was fun in parts, confusing in others. Enjoy the movie presentation for sure. Linus Badger wow. Kind of enjoy these random entrants, definitely better than like Jobber Jimbo or whatever (imagine if Jobber Jimbo is in later). Gabrielle hype and I see that JLW and Anzu have been looking at Gip's spreadsheet. Interesting factoid. I'm sure being eliminated by Gabrielle really hurt JJ's ego, will be interesting to see how he spins that on Trixie. I really really loved the Gabrielle promo. Tbh I thought about posting some reviews for cc but put it off because I didn't know if I'd be able to put into words the feeling of reading that Gabrielle promo. There were parts that I didn't like - some of the more graphic depictions maybe felt a little indulgent and maybe repetitive at times, and to/too stuff dinged presentation, but in the first reading I was really taken by the promo. The idea of looking at large stretches of the story from driver's perspective, outsider looking in, was interesting and subtly creative, kind of reinforcing the central themes of voyeurism, fame, privacy or lack of, etc, that have been somewhat central to Gabrielle since return. I don't mind that it's all black and white - it doesn't get the 0.3 ISH that I'll award for outstanding presentation but the bulk of presentation for me is spelling grammar etc so this still scored highly for me. I also think and have argued that the black/white serves a purpose, given that you debuted it right at the onset of Gabrielle's descent and during her darkest days a couple years ago. I thought the character work was truly outstanding here, best in the match and maybe on the card. Match focus maybe a little lacking if looking at that harshly, but I'm not as critical of that in the CC given the structure of the match. I think a character driven approach can be effective for these types of matches and that is what you had. Scored highly across the board for me, great promo. Hope Gaby gets some hype in the write up. There's a fair bit of LCW representation here with Bobby Bennet arriving too. Here's hoping for the people's LCW tag team champs at some stage. Think I forgot to comment on Fenix entering. Enjoyed this promo from Jimmy, clear that he put a lot of effort into it and that shows in the quality. Very good character work in that promo. I had Fenix just outside of the GO places in my own voting, v unlucky. Feels like things are just ticking along on terms of the action at this stage - definitely feels like a middle-Rumble. XX in next, another good promo (altho I did prefer the KODM piece personally) that I think would've definitely qualified for GO last year. Didn't remember that this was his one year anniversary, pretty neat. Goodbye JTC, we barely knew ye! Was just thinking the ring is filling up, difficult to keep track of exactly who is active (especially with a several day reading break), so hopefully this is the beginning of a spate of eliminations. LMAO Fedora!!!! Love that entrance. Do much hype. Love that Fedora had about as much build as anyone entering the CC. Top stuff. Then next we get the real hype - so excited to see Brooklyn back. The promo was strong but not quite strong enough for Golden Opportunity - another one I had scoring pretty highly on character. Thought it was quietly creative also, although I did detract points from presentation for grammar/spelling stuff. Nice to see Brooklyn come in and immediately get some rub. Hopefully the character can hit his stride quickly again and rebuild the momentum he had before he left. Poor Funky. RIP. I love JLW's fedora vitriol. Definitely fitting. Also is very nice to see Al Blizzard pop up - would be interested to know if that was from the handler's request or just a random inclusion. Still, fun character and glad to see him make an appearance. Big hype for Vengador. Heard through the grapevine that dubb thinking of having a proper run with old Vengy, definitely something to look out for in the run up to Back in Business. Marking for Giunti and ofcourse the Maltese Falcon film ref which is still one of my favourite nicknames. I had this promo amongst the GO places - thought it was very quietly creative in how it tied together the disparate scenes and dialogues, and that the characterisation (particularly in the internal monologuing) was very strong considering the infancy of the character. Loved the structure of it. Would like to see more of Giunti and glad that I will in the chamber. The exchange between him and Sawyer after his introduction to the match was fun and inventive. Bye Sawyer -- nice little exchange and definitely some rub for Xavier with the amount of time spent in the ring, which was definitely deserved given Blaine's promo. GG!!!!!! He's back! No, different GG, same handler. Enjoyed this promo from Jam a lot, I like how the character definitely feels a lot more grounded and everyday than some of the more elaborate characters we often see in the FWA. Would like to see a feud between Gino and someone like Keres lol. Hope Keres likes pizza. Not sure about tying the character to Gerald straight away rather than him being his own entity but will let it play out - definitely excited by the character and having Jam back promoing. Makes sense for him to insta team up with Giunti given his sensei's partnership with him in the Buddy Bowl. Goodbye Badger! He survived surprisingly long given he's an LCW guy. Wonder if we'll see him on the main roster (or another LCW show hmmm hope). Two thirds of the entrants are in and next comes Mike Parr. I had this promo scoring very highly (5th position). I thought it was very strong particularly in creativity (although we have seen a similar approach from Prod before, this was an extension of those beginnings) and quality of content (nobody addressed the match and their character's place within it quite as well as you). Presentation was also good, boosted by the formatting matching the structure/content (similarly to Harrows). Obligatory spate of moves when the new entrant comes in, always like to see Parr looking strong. Hahaha Joe Burr. Guess it makes more sense now that he's booked this week. Big return and rise story? Hope not. Lizzie coming out next - I expect to see something between her and Joe and others that we know are yet to come. Trust it will. Hahaha instant fuck off for Burr, just what he deserves. Entrant 24 is hella nice. Heard rumblings about this towards the start of the window and was super glad to see it come to fruition. The promo itself was outstanding. Really loved the central metaphor and imagery surrounding the snow globe, thought this was cleverly conceived and expertly executed. Krash's character work is always sublime and that is of course no different here, but it's quite shocking to read some of these passages and find them attributed to him -- the dream sequence, for instance, felt like something that would've been at home in an MvH promo maybe. The fact that this drastic and severe picture that you draw is perfectly fitting for Krash is a testament to your writing skill and to the character work that you've been doing sort of behind the scenes over the past two years. Also loved the interactions with Violet, she's always a delight. Feel like in another universe her and Michelle would get on like a house on fire. Jeremy v Krash for the second year running is lit, with it moving over to Night Two's main event instead of Night One. All seems perfect. Considering at two consecutive BiBs Krash has been buried at sea and underground, I'm interested to know what Jeremy has in store to keep him down for good this time. Oh and Krash fans in the audience! Retro! Love it! I just saw AON typing and remembered I forgot to comment on the Rose promo. I liked it, but it very much felt to me like a precursor of things that are to come as opposed to the here and now, which is understandable considering the character has been in limbo for a long time. Think the major detracting factor for me here was yeah I don't need to say it I'll just leave it at that. Krash coming in and insta getting punked by Vengador is pretty funny. Subverted my expectations. Obviously the Wolf gets the better of him in the end and the elimination. Dubb feeding SJW some easy Ws now before he goes nuclear on him at BiB. Haha wow I wasn't really expecting a direct interaction between Krash and anyone from Friendship WA but there you have it. Nothing much but a definite statement of intent. Lovely little tickle of the balls. Get wreckt Sir - there's room for only one Stache here. More surprises! More returns! 26 is a very exciting entrant, too. Rosie's promo for Katsu was stellar, very creative in its structure and its depiction of twinned narratives, both in the here and now and beyond that. It's a structure that in itself we've seen before but it was done extremely well, particularly in the transitions between the two, which felt smooth and kinda cinematic in a way. Presentation was great here but strongest category for me was character development. Really felt I got to know Katsu here more than I've ever done, as well as see her progress over the period of her absence, which is in some ways easier and in most ways more difficult than showing progression week to week. Chris' FWA scar is so teenage emo. Here comes Randy Ramon to take out the trash. Guess he adds 2:48 to his all time stat which is creeping higher. Cyrus Truth enters the fray next - I've already spoken about the Exile and his promo earlier. I think he was still good for the Golden Opportunity despite some points losses here in the CC match. Truth with the briefcase is a truly terrifying thought. Ocean at number thirty, the final entrant, definitely feels fitting given Shawn Summers' history with that number and Trevor's history with Shawn. Really liked the Ocean promo, creativity and presentation were obviously on point but you've also continued what has been a great Open Promo project. I'm a big fan of long, extended Open Promo pieces although haven't been able to produce any sense the Smarks move, and this Summers Renaissance filled what I think is a big gap for the fed. Twitter posts and news stories are fun but the character work you've undergone in that story is unparalleled, given that you're not tied down to addressing and discussing one match. When talking about this promo with others, I understand the point that this Ocean piece is best if thought about in conjunction with Summers Renaissance. I agree with this but don't think it's necessarily a detraction. All promos are standalone pieces, yes, but they are also best viewed as part of a whole, of a greater story. MvH volume 120 will be better or worse depending on how many of the previous 119 (and particularly the last 5) that you've read. The same is true I think of every character except brand new ones. I had this promo in fourth place and more than good money for Golden Opportunity. Parr and Ocean going at each other rather than rekindling an old alliance -- not sure I like that strategy from two ostensibly smart guys and pragmatist types. Gino gets caught in the crossfire and bites the dust - but thankfully not the last we'll see of him. Hahah marking for the Ocissor Punch, one of my favourite move names. Wow Peacock is back again quelle surprise. Good build to what I'm sure is going to be a hype BiB feud, jokes aside. Makes sense for Peacock and Ramon to be involved in this way here. Both look strong, Peacock looks cowardly and dastardly, and the slow-build feud continues to slow-build. Can't believe we still have ten left!! Jackson Fenix sure has a lot of moves named after Britney Spears songs. Funny guy. Things feel frantic and urgent (fittingly) in the final ten, everybody getting their shit in and a shine. Jackson, Brooklyn, and Elizabeth are the three that fall before the Golden Opportunity qualification spots, but three excellent promos and the lengthy match write up is I think in part in recognition to how close they were to getting into the chamber. Gabrielle and Rose interaction definitely feels like it's building to something also. Am excited about another potential rematch there. Katsu power bombing Giunti! What a beast!! Surprising quick elimination but I like this upturn in pace, keeps things exciting. Quick fire eliminations for Cyrus Truth and Gabrielle, the two former world champions dumped out by estranged freebirds Parr and Ocean. Wow and then the ultimate betrayal. Extended interaction between Katsu and Trevor was certainly interesting. Didn't expect Parr to be helping Katsu, even accidentally, to dump him out at all. But it swings back onto him, Parr eliminated by the Kitsune Warrior, leaving it down to just two. Either would've been worthy winners, really, but after a short back and forth it's the White Wolf who goes one step better than in 2021 and wins the CC. Almost perfect considering Jeremy Best has the championship, and tbh probably still would've been if Cyrus had managed to dethrone him earlier in the night. Super hyped to have Krash back and intrigued as to what he has in store for us in the run up to BiB! Moment with Alyster was nice. I noted that I had Black's two former tag partners in #1 and #2 spot. Shame Peacock didn't enter to try and swoop the bronze too. Elevating by association. Match ratings: Word title: two thumbs up NA title: mid hand Carnal Contendership: guns up |
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Post by supinesnake on May 29, 2024 16:13:42 GMT
… the FWA proudly presents …
”CARNAL CONTENDERSHIP 2024.”
only on the WCNetwork.
live from Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Saturday 4th May, 2024.
After the sponsor videos play, we go straight inside the venue and as there is a lot to happen tonight, no time is being wasted. The steel cage slowly begins to make its way down from the top of The Sphere, the crowd cheering in anxious anticipation.
Kurt Harrington: "Our opening contest tonight is a CCCAAAAAGE MATCH and it is for… for the Fantasy Wrestling Alliance CHAMPIONSHIP!"
{BLOOD OF GLORY}[MEDIA=youtube]lFeFdm51sJ4[/MEDIA]
The roof nearly explodes as “The Exile” jogs out from the back, his hood flipped up over his head as he makes it onto the stage. He stops as a burst of pyro shoots off from behind him and he flips his hood back, revealing Cyrus Truth’s determined face to the fans, only bringing about even more cheers for the fan favorite.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first… the challenger…. from The Long and Winding Road… weighing in at two hundred twenty seven pounds… he is “THE EXILE”.. CCCCCCYYYYYRRRRUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSS TTTTTRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUTH!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “I think there’s little reason to doubt who the fans are going to be behind in this one.”
Rod Sterling: “You can see the determination on his face. You can see how bad Cyrus Truth wants this. This is not an unfamiliar position for The Exile - challenging for a title he held in the past… he’s hungry… he wants this more than anything. And he especially would love to be the one to take the title off our current champion.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “I think a lot of people would like to do that, Rod. But Cyrus has the benefit of a 20 foot steel cage tonight.”
Rod Sterling: “By his own doing, as well. Cyrus knows that where Jeremy goes - so goes the rest of the Friendship Wrestling Alliance - and he’s hoping tonight the cage will be the great equalizer to keep them from getting involved.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “He better hope that the plan works out because this was supposed to be a four-person booth and there’s only three of us here.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Konchu Hao - certainly conspicuous by his absence, apparently running late tonight.”
Rod Sterling: “The one man in the FWA locker room who would certainly have Cyrus Truth’s back tonight if things got out of hand… and conveniently is having some transportation issues…”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Convenient my ass. We’ve seen the Friendship Wrestling Alliance do this before with Chris Peacock… I think we all know why Konchu Hao isn’t here right now.”
Focused and determined, Cyrus Truth makes his way down to the ring where FWA Official Richard Davis opens up the cage door to let him climb up the steps and enter the stage of tonight’s FWA Title match.
{THE BESTEST FRIENDS || DUBB REBEL}[MEDIA=youtube]5NpjO3xtMb8[/MEDIA]
Boos no fill the Sphere in Vegas as Jeremy Best emerges from the entrance, holding his arms high in the air with the FWA World Friendship Championship wrapped around his waist. Joining him are his two masked compadres, Sir Stache and Mejor Amigo as well as his resident friendly magician, Tonya Scott, who tips her top hat to the less than adoring crowd. Rounding out the Friendship Wrestling Alliance group is the former FWA North American Champion, Big Bryan Baxter, whose face looks much more sour than usual.
Kurt Harrington: “And his opponent, representing the Friendship Wrestling Alliance… he is the reigning and defending FWA World Champion… from Friendship, North Carolina… this is “Your New Best Friend” ….. JJJJEEERRRREEEEMMMMYYYY BBBBBBBBBBBBBBEEEEEESSSST!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Your eyes do not deceive you ladies and gentlemen, this is our champion - the man who holds the most respected belt in all of wrestling… and the entire circus he brings with him… including a literal clown.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “She’s a magician, not a clown!”
Rod Sterling: “Either way, we can see the fact that there’s a cage designed to keep them away, Jeremy is still bringing the entire Friendship Wrestling Alliance out with him for this one.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Of course he is. They have something up their sleeves. Just ask Konchu Hao, wherever he is.”
Jeremy and the entire group make their way down to cageside. Jeremy stops to shake hands with each of his friends, lastly with Bryan Baxter who overall seems a lot less interested in being in Jeremy’s corner than he has in the past, but he still gives Jeremy a shake of the hand and heads to one of the corners of the ringside.
Rod Sterling: “Not usually known for his pleasant moods, Bryan Baxter’s scowl tonight seems even stronger than normal.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Perhaps the big man can’t take losing. He’s lost how many matches in a row now? Plus a draw. I can’t even remember the last time he won a match! No wonder he’s in a bad mood.”
Sir Stache: “Ahem, I’d be careful with what you say.”
Sir Stache had picked up the headset that should’ve belonged to Konchu, and now joins the announce team.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Oh joy, looks like we got quite the downgrade for our four person booth.”
Sir Stache: “Nice to see you too, Jean-Luc. Who is ready for Jeremy’s first exciting title defense?”
Rod Sterling: “Well, if you’re going to be joining us Sir Stache, how about shedding some light on if you guys had anything to do with Konchu Hao being late tonight?”
Sir Stache: “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Mmmhmm… suuuureeee….”
While Sir Stache pleads their innocence at the booth, Richard Davis opens up the cage allowing Jeremy Best to slowly make his way up the steps and into the cage. His smile begins to fade into a much more anxious look as he joins Cyrus Truth in the cage, the door being locked by Davis behind him.
FIRST MATCH | 1/60.
Jeremy Best [c] vs. Cyrus Truth.
Cage Match. FWA World Championship.
Match Writer: Dubb.
The bell rings to start the match. Jeremy and Cyrus approach each other in the center of the ring, and as customary, Jeremy extends out his hand to Cyrus for a handshake. With his hands on hips, Cyrus is clearly not looking for a handshake and instead takes a swing at Jeremy..
But Jeremy ducks and runs to the ropes! Jeremy leaps over the top rope onto the side of the cage and begins trying to climb out!
Sir Stache: “Look at the strategy here from our hero!”
Rod Sterling: “What strategy? This isn’t escape the cage rules!”
Sir Stache: “Look it’s strategy, okay Rod.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “It’s not strategy. It’s fear!”
Unfortunately, Jeremy’s attempts to escape are foiled as Cyrus catches up, grabbing him by the boot and pulling him down off the cage back into the ring. Jeremy tries to beg Cyrus off, looking for a truce but Truth isn’t interested as he lights up Jeremy’s chest with a big open handed chop. Jeremy leans back against the ropes as Truth hits him with a pair of knife-edge chops before he grabs Jeremy by the hair… and runs with him across the ring to the opposite side, tossing Jeremy head first into the side of the cage!
After his head collides with the steel of the cage, Jeremy stumbles backward back to Truth who grabs him by the head and runs once again with him, back across the ring again and once again sends Jeremy head first into the wall of the cage! Best stumbles back away from the ropes, trying to shake off the attacks to open the match, taking a wild swing at Truth which The Exile easily avoids and then drives his elbow into the side of Jeremy’s head…
And then grabs him and tosses him into the side of the cage a third time!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Jeremy Best is in a lot of trouble to start this match. The savvy veteran that is Cyrus Truth is making good use of the cage early.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “I imagine you’re starting to feel a little worried now, Stache?”
Sir Stache: “Worried? No, no… not all. This is all part of Jeremy’s plan, I assure.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “He plans to get his ass kicked?”
Best falls to a knee, but Truth is there to pull him back and whips him into the ropes. As Jeremy rebounds, he slides through Truth’s legs, getting back up and turning around… right into a Discus Punch from Truth, once again catching Best off guard and Best drops to the mat. The champion begins to get back up as Cyrus hits a series of rapid fire strikes before attempting to send Jeremy into the corner with an Irish Whip..
.
But Jeremy reverses it! Cyrus is instead sent crashing into the turnbuckles. Jeremy shakes off the cobwebs and then charges in toward The Exile, but Truth gets his boot up, connecting right with the jaw of Jeremy! Truth darts out of the corner with a big running clothesline to take Best back down to the mat.
The Truth stalks over Jeremy, who begins to pull himself up to his knees, once again trying to plead with Truth… begging the challenger off to stop the onslaught that the Exile has brought since the opening bell… but Truth is showing no mercy as he instead knees Jeremy right in the face!
Sir Stache: “What a disgusting, cowardly act!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Cyrus Truth isn’t the one begging for his life in that cage!”
<< 04:37. >>
Rod Sterling: “Cyrus Truth continues to dominate the action inside the cage while I think we can see a lot of anxiety on the faces of the Friendship Wrestling Alliance here at ringside watching their leader get picked apart in the ring by The Exile!”
Sir Stache: “Don’t speak for us, Rod. Jeremy is fine! He absorbs the pain and will use the power of Friendship to rally. Just you wait.”
It’s a RUNNING DDT from Cyrus, taking Jeremy back down to the mat and the Exile goes for the first pinfall of the match!
One! Two!
KICKOUT by Jeremy!
Truth gets right back up on the attack, stomping on the back of Jeremy’s neck and upper back as Your New Best Friend attempts to get back up to his feet. Truth hooks him for a Dragon Suplex attempt, but Jeremy is able to block him from locking up his arms securely and scores with a series of back elbows to rock The Exile briefly.
Best recovers to his feet, getting in some of the first offense in the match for him as he charges in with a running shotgun dropkick that has a high impact, sending Truth through the ropes and into the side of the cage! Jeremy backs up… and charges in with another running shotgun dropkick, this time with Truth up against the side of the steel!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Well, maybe Stache was onto something here because Jeremy Best is storming back now! Truth’s back bounced off that steel cage after the big impact from that dropkick!”
Climbing out through the ropes, standing on the apron between the ropes and the cage alongside Truth, Jeremy takes Truth by the head and walks the apron, slamming his head into the steel ring post! Truth is left staggering as Jeremy jumps onto the side of the cage before leaping off it with BULLDOG onto the apron!
He’s slow to recover himself, but Jeremy is able to roll Truth through the bottom ropes, climbing through them himself to go for the pin! Larry Stevens slides into place…
One! Two!
KICKOUT!
Jeremy climbs on top of Truth’s back with a rear naked choke, but Cyrus battles his way back up to his feet and charges backward, sandwiching Jeremy into the turnbuckles, causing Jeremy to release his grip. Truth staggers out of the corner, trying to catch his breath..
As Jeremy climbs the turnbuckles..
Cyrus turns around - FLYING CROSSBODY FROM JEREMY!
He connects and down he goes on top of Truth to the mat for another pinning attempt.
One! Two! NO!
<< 07:52. >>
Sir Stache: “Let’s go Jermey! You got this buddy!”
Jeremy connects with a trio of rolling vertical suplexes - the Three Amigos… but was unable to get a pinfall on The Exile as Truth immediately rolls out under the rooms and onto the apron next to the side of the steel cage. Jeremy seems frustrated, but begins to measure up The Exile as he uses the ropes to begin to pull himself up.
Jeremy rushes to the opposite side of the ring, bouncing off the ropes and building up a head of steam as he DIVES THROUGH THE ROPES TOWARD TRUTH..
But CYRUS MOVES!
JEREMY CRASHES INTO THE SIDE OF THE CAGE!
The collision sends Jeremy bouncing off the steel and then down to the apron. He rolls over, his head resting against the side of the cage as Truth staggers over..
Truth leans in toward Jeremy, holding onto the side of the cage as he lifts his boot up…
FIRST.
FIVE.
STEPS!
It’s FIVE consecutive stomps to Jeremy’s head as its up against the side of the cage! The fans are loving every minute of it as they count along with Truth’s stomps.
“ONE!”
“TWO!’
“THREE!”
“FOUR!”
“FIVE!”
Jeremy’s head bounces precariously up against the side of the cage with every stomp
Sir Stache: “Okay, I’ve seen enough! Amigo! Come here! Take my spot!”
Sir Stache tosses the headset down as his associate, Mejor Amigo comes over, taking the seat.
Mejor Amigo: “Hola!”
Rod Sterling: “What exactly is going on now?”
Mejor Amigo: “I believe my friend Senor Stache is going to try and help out Senor Best.”
Rod Sterling: “But it’s a cage match for a reason!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Don’t be so naive, Rod. You know that these guys are not going to be stopped at trying to help Jeremy win even if there’s a cage in the way.”
Sir Stache stomps with a purpose around the ring while Cyrus continues to stomp on Jeremy in the ring. Jeremy’s face now with blood trickling down from the corner of his forehead. Sir Stache approaches Richard Davis, the FWA official outside the ring with access to the key to the door of the cage.
Sir Stache, looking to help out his friend, approaches Davis - DEMANDING the key to the cage door! Ever the honorable official, Davis refuses which is certainly not what Stache was hoping. He then reaches for Richard’s arm and begins trying to pull the key away from him…
But Richard Davis is no pushover!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Stache may have pulled off more than he can chew here. Richard Davis is a former running back from TCU and is not going to take any shenanigans here!”
Richard Davis stands his ground, and SHOVES STACHE away, sending the mask man falling over to the floor!
Back in the ring, Cyrus sends Jeremy back through the ropes and hits the WANDER’S WRATH to Best!
Truth with the pin..
ONE!
TWO!
THRE… NO! Jeremy just barely gets his shoulder up!
<< 11:12. >>
Anzu Kurosawa: “So tell us, Mr. Amigo - did you guys have anything to do with Konchu’s absence right now?”
Mejor Amigo: “I… uh… err.. I have no knowledge of this matter.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Mmmhmm… very convincing, good job.”
Back in the ring, Cyrus Truth has Jeremy up on his shoulders, looking for the Exile’s Edge, but Jeremy is able to rake the eyes of Truth to escape the hold. He slides down Truth’s back and scores with a back cracker!
Best has Truth down but is slow to recover from the beating he has received throughout the match. Both are slow to their feet, just as Jeremy is getting up, Truth is already recovering as well. But the FWA Champion is able to strike first with a stiff kick to the ribs of Truth. Jeremy added another pair of stiff kicks to rock Truth before running to the ropes…
Coming off the ropes, Truth looks for a clothesline to Jeremy, but Jeremy floats over into a DDT to Truth!
Jeremy makes the cover!
One!
Two!
KICKOUT!
Jeremy slaps the mat in frustration but gets back up as Exile is right behind him in pulling himself up. Best looks to lift Truth up into a Fireman’s Carry, perhaps for the BFF, but Truth this time escapes with an elbow to the top of Jeremy’s head!
Truth goes down the back of Jeremy and scores with a stomp to the back of Jeremy’s knee before leveling him with a RUNNING BIG BOOT!
Rod Sterling: “It’s the BROKEN PATH to Jeremy his time as the momentum once again swings back to the challenger!”
Sir Stache stumbles back to the booth, grabbing the headset off Mejor Amigo.
Sir Stache: “Don’t just sit here you fool! Do something!”
Mejor Amigo: “..Uhh si! Si!”
While Amigo and Stache begin to conspire at ringside, Truth is going for another pinfall attempt on the champion.
One!
Two!
THREEEEE… NO!
Jeremy best manages to roll his shoulder up to keep himself still alive in the match.
<< 14:44. >>
While Truth remains in control, at ringside, Amigo assures Stache that he could get the key to the door and help out Jeremy… and he does so by approaching Richard Davis and seems to be… just talking to him?
Anzu Kurosawa: “This is getting a bit ridiculous.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Maybe Amigo has a way with words? Maybe he can talk Richard Davis into just handing over the key.”
Rod Sterling: “Based on the look on Rich’s face… I don’t think it’s working…”
Cyrus Truth, noticing the antics of the Friendship Wrestling Alliance at ringside, walks away form Jeremy long enough to yell at Stache and Amigo, which causes both to back away from Richard Davis, holding their arms up and acting as if they were innocent in the matter.
Annoyed, Truth shakes his head at the duo before turning back to Jeremy..
HE”S CAUGHT IN A SMALL PACKAGE FROM JEREMY!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE.. NO!
Truth escapes the flash pin!
Both Jeremy and Truth are back up their feet at the same time..
AND EACH go for a boot to their opponent’s head..
AND BOTH CONNECT!
Both Jeremy and Truth drop to the mat! Larry Stevens checks on both in the ring… and the crowd is on their feet as both slowly begin to pull themselves up…
Back at ringside, Amigo and Stache seem to realize they are getting nowhere with Richard Davis and the key… and Amigo points out there’s no ceiling to the cage, so they can just climb over! Stache smacks himself in the forehead for not thinking of it first..
ANd both masked men begin to climb the side of the cage..
BUT RICHARD DAVIS GRABS BOTH BY THE FEET!
Anzu Kurosawa: “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the outside the ring official have to be so active in a cage match… Richard Davis deserves a raise for his efforts tonight!”
Stache pulls his boot free from Davis and kicks at the official, creating some distance that seems like it might open the door for them to ascend the cage..
BUT TRUTH IS UP AND HE SUPERKICKS THE SIDE OF THE CAGE!
Both Amigo and Stache lose their grip and crash back down to ringside!
<< 19:30. >>
Cyrus Truth comes off the ropes, heading straight into an ARM DRAG from Jeremy who transitions it into the FRIENDSHIP BRACELET submission!
With the cross armbar on tight, Larry Stevens comes in to check on Cyrus, his face showing the pain but the Exile fights through it and is adamant in the fact that he is not giving up. Jeremy wrenches back on the arm as the crowd’s cheers grow in support of Truth to attempt to give him the energy he needs to battle out of this hold.
Truth begins to rotate his legs allowing hims to slowly begin to get himself more vertical, while Jeremy continues to hold onto the submission… but Truth lifts him up off the mat…
AND SLAMS JEREMY DOWN TO THE MAT TO BREAK THE HOLD!
Truth is slow to his feet while Jeremy grabs the ropes, pulling himself up as well. Both worn competitors stumble toward each other… and Jeremy… extends his arms… and wraps his arms around Truth with a very exhausted hug..
But he tightens his grap and goes for the belly to belly suplex..
BUT TRUTH reverses it into a belly to belly OVERHEAD SUPLEX THAT SENDS JEREMY INTO THE SIDE OF THE CAGE!
Truth pulls Jeremy back under the ropes and goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
NO!
Jeremy somehow manages to kick out!
Rod Sterling: “SO close! I thought that was going to be it but somehow Jeremy Best managed to keep this match going!’
Jean-Luc Watkins: “And don’t look now but his stooges seem to be once again up to something..”
Stache and Amigo have once again regrouped, but now its Tonya Scott who approaches them, seemingly annoyed by their combined ineptness. She seems to be telling them she’s going to handle it now.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Looks like Tonya Scott is telling he boys to step aside… but in the ring, Cyrus looks ready to finish Jeremy off, so they might want to hurry…”
Sure enough, in the ring, Cyrus Truth pulls Jeremy Best up and hoists him up onto his shoulders into a Fireman’s Carry… he’s looking for the Long Road to Nowhere!
BUT somehow Jeremy finds something left in his tank to drive a pair of punches to Truth’s forehead and he escapes down the back this time. Cyrus turns around and Jeremy catches him in the jaw with an elbow that rocks Cyrus..
And instead of following up with it, Jeremy decides to begin trying to climb the cage!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Here we ago again!”
Rod Sterling: “Once again Jeremy is trying to elect to escape the cage than deal with Cyrus Truth in the ring!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “I’m not sure I can blame him after some of the punishment he’s been taking in this match.”
Truth gives chase, climbing the turnbuckles as Jeremy is near the top of the cage… Jeremy begins trying to pull himself over the top of the cage as Cyrus stands on the top turnbuckle, grabbing the back of his khaki pants, halting Jeremy’s progress!
Best tries to kick Truth off, but Cyrus clobbers Jeremy in the lower back with some hard forearm shots, and begins to pull him back over the cage… back toward him…
Turning Jeremy back toward the ring, his body still positioned across the top part of the cage, Cyrus ROCKS Jeremy with a huge elbow shiver to the side of the head… a blow so hard it almost sends Jeremy falling, but Cyrus actually holds onto him by the waistband of his khaki’s… and pulls Jeremy back to safety.
Well, safety may be a relativey term because now he was in the grasp of Cyrus…
Cyrus comes off the top rope, pulling Jeremy down off the side of the cage with an AVALANCHE POWERBOMB!
Rod Sterling: “OH MY GOD!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Jeremy Best may be dead.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “He may be… but Cyrus is also down!”
The impact had, in fact, left both Jeremy, crumpled up lifeless on the mat, and Cyrus down on his stomach, slow to recover from the impact of his own move.
Meanwhile, at ringside, things became more desperate as Tonya Scott now approached Richard Davis… and with some slide of hand magic, suddenly produced the key to the cage from.. HIS EAR! This seemed to really delight Mejor Amigo especially while Davis was not amused. Stache and Amigo blocked his way as Scott went to unlock the cage…
But Davis managed to get past his roadblock, and GRABBED SCOTT BY THE ARM as she was about to unlock the door!
However, the moment Davis laid hands on Tonya, Amigo suddenly seems to get a new sense of courage and strength as he shoves Davis away from Tonya! “UNHAND HER!” he shouts out..
CRACK!
Big Bryan Baxter, having remained standing stoically in the corner the entire match, finally makes his presence felt as he cracks Richard Davis across the back with a chair.
Rod Sterling: “Jesus! That’s one way to take care of things…”
Anzu Kurosawa: “I guess Bryan Baxter showing how you really take care of business.”
Tonya Scott finishes unlocking the cage door as Bryan stands over Davis, showing little emotion as Amigo and Stache rush into the ring, boos raining down. They attempt to attend to Jeremy, but instead, they quickly find themselves across from a recovered Cyrus Truth…
MOMENTO MORI TO AMIGO!
Stache decides to try and run away, but Cyrus grabs him by the back of his shirt… and pulls him in..
JOURNEY’S END TO SIR STACHE!
Truth pulls himself up after laying out both stooges…
And found himself now staring down Big Bryan Baxter, joining them in the cage with the steel chair in his hand and ready to strike. Truth eyes his opponent’s partner… staring Baxter down with no fear.
“You don’t want to do this.”
Baxter remains silent, positioning the chair, ready to strike but actually seems hesitant.
“Why are you helping him? Where was he when you needed him?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Is Cyrus Truth trying to talk some sense into Bryan Baxter here? Seems like an uphill battle.”
Rod Sterling: “I don’t know, Jean-Luc… Baxter could’ve laid him out already if he wanted too,,, there’s something about Truth’s words that are resonating with the Bastard.”
“Where was he win you lost your title?”
Bryan lowers his head… and begins to lower the chair…
LOW BLOW!
Jeremy Best had crawled up from behind and strikes Cyrus Truth with an uppercut to the groin.
Cyrus doubles over , drops down to his knees as Jeremy weakly sits up to his own knees.
“Finish him… Bryan… go ahead…”
Baxter looks to his partner and then to The Exile…
“I… can always… count… on you….”
Bryan sighs… as he lifts the chair high over his head…
AND CRACKS IT ACROSS TRUTH’S SKULL!
Boos flood the Sphere as Baxter tosses the chair to the mat, revealing the huge dent left in it from Truth’s head. Baxter walks out of the cage, slamming the door behind him… as he walks up the aisle, not sticking around to see the match conclude.
Anzu Kurosawa: “What… was that? It almost looked like we saw something we haven’t seen before from Bryan Baxter… but instead he lays out Truth!”
A smile has returned to Jeremy’s face as he pulls himself up… he grabs Truth’s no motionless body, lifting him up with what little strength he has left..
BFF! Just to make sure…
Jeremy makes the cover…
The crowd boos grow louder and louder..
One…
Two…
Three…
{RESULT}Winner: Jeremy Best via pinfall at 27:15.
A recovered Amigo and Stache along with Tonya Scott all rush to Jeremy’s aid, helping him to his feet. Through the pain and the blood on his face, a smile is still shining bright on Jeremy’s face as they hoist him up.
Kurt Harrington: “Here is your winner… and STILL FWA WORLD CHAMPION…. JEREMY BEST!!"
Rod Sterling: “Cyrus Truth had this match won! Cyrus Truth should be the FWA Champion once again! But not even a damn cage could keep the Friendship Wrestling Alliance from intervening.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Perhaps the power of Friendship really is just too strong!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Ugh. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.”
Sir Stache is more than happy to grab the FWA World Title from Larry Stevens, handing it to Jeremy Best. Best holds his “World Champion of Friendship” belt high into the air, waving to the fans as the cage begins to lift back up.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Jeremy may be celebrating with his friends now… but Bryan Baxter’s absence is quite telling after the big assist he offered up.”
Rod Sterling: “Perhaps a lot of questions about what’s going on inside the mind of the former North American Champion. We certainly haven’t seen the same side of him lately, with him on a losing streak - something he’s never experienced in his FWA career. But in any event, whether we like the outcome or not… Jeremy Best is still the champion and later tonight, we will find out who will be challenging him at Back in Business!”
We cut backstage where we see...HOLY FUCKING SHIT-! IT'S A SPOOKY SKELETON-!!! AND-oh, right, that's just one-third of Trick Or Trash, Lucha Wrestling Legend and the man who probably spends way too much time hanging around the haunted mansion ride, Halloween Knight. Who else, I wonder.
Halloween Knight: “When hinges creak in doorless chambers, and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls. Whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still… that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight! And at Carnal Contendership-”
???: "Um, excuse me?"
Halloween Knight is cut off as an unassuming backstage worker walks into his shot, and absolutely ruins the scary vibe he was going for.
Unassuming Backstage Worker: "Excuse me, I'm looking for a guy named Halloween Knight? He's meant to be a really spooky, scary guy, so I doubt I'd miss him."
Knight stares down at the man, blinking somewhat.
Halloween Knight: "...I'm Halloween Knight."
The backstage worker blanches.
Unassuming Backstage Worker: "Really?"
Halloween Knight: "Si."
Unassuming Backstage Worker: "You're the ultra scary, spooky guy?"
Halloween Knight: "Yeah."
Unassuming Backstage Worker: "You're spooky?!"
Halloween Knight: "Yeah!"
Unassuming Backstage Worker: "... Are you sure?"
Halloween Knight: "I'm the scariest wrestler in the history of wrestling."
Unassuming Backstage Worker: "Oh… Huh. Well, we all have dreams."
Knight’s impossibly hurt and emotionally scarred expression is hidden behind his mask.
Unassuming Backstage Worker: "Anyway, there's an issue with the numbers for Carnal Contendership."
Halloween Knight: "Well, that's a shame, but we got like… An hour before the match, so why are you telling me-"
Unassuming Backstage Worker: "Well, your friend Juan just started counting out the numbers and-"
That was as far as the man got, before Halloween Knight grasped him tight with the kind of strength only true fear could bring.
Halloween Knight: "JUAN'S COUNTING THE NUMBERS?! YOU LET JUAN COUNT NUMBERS?! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"
Before the man could reply, Knight suddenly took off running like his life depended on it, towards where everyone was getting their numbers, it was easy to find. It was the room with a big line of disgruntled-looking wrestlers out the door… And a rather loud, expressive voice echoing from within the room.
???: “-could be… Number SEVEN. Or… You could be… Number EIGHT…”
Carefully easing his way past the line of disgruntled and impatient wrestlers, Halloween Knight ducked into the room, letting out a sigh as he witnessed the sight - His loyal tag partner and fellow Champion of High Quality & Status, one third of the FWA Trios Champions… Juan Tothrefor, standing behind a golden tumbler, with a rather distressed assistant by his side. There’s also a random FWA wrestler in the room but this segment isn’t really about them so I’m not going to bother explicitly saying who it was. Fuck you.
Random FWA Wrestler, Of Whom Little Importance To This Segment Is Had, And Is Unlikely To Have More Than Two Lines: “Look, can we hurry this up?”
Juan Tothrefor: “Don’t interrupt me. You could be…”
Juan dramatically fishes around in the tumbler, producing the little white ball with the number six painted on it. He pauses, before flipping it upside down, brandishing it towards the random FWA wrestler.
Juan Tothrefor: “Number NINE.”
Before the random FWA wrestler can speak, Halloween Knight steps forward with a sigh. He plucks the number from Juan’s grasp, and tosses it back into the tumbler.
Halloween Knight: “What’s going on, here?”
Juan Tothrefor: “Hola, Knight. I’m just showcasing all of the numbers this entrant could have, all the possibilities. Observe.”
Juan rummages around in the tumbler once again, before fishing out a number.
Juan Tothrefor: “You could be… Number TEN.”
His hand goes back into the tumbler, repeating the process.
Juan Tothrefor: “You could be… Number ELEVEN.”
Halloween Knight: “... Why?”
Juan Tothrefor: “I’m the numbers guy. One of the brass mentioned it would be fitting for me to explain all the numbers for the Carnal Contendorship, so… Here I am. I’ll list out every possibility for this guy-”
Halloween Knight: “Sounds tedious but that should take, what… Three minutes, tops?”
Juan Tothrefor: “-Then I’ll list out every possibility for the next guy, then every possibility for the guy after that, then every possibility for the guy after that, then… So on, so forth.”
Halloween Knight: “Fuck, we’re going to be here all night.”
Juan Tothrefor: “Potentially! Anyway. You could be… Number TWELVE.”
A sigh echoes through the room. The distressed assistant looks particularly distressed. Halloween Knight looks mildly concerned. Juan Tothrefor looks like he’s having a wonderful time. The random FWA wrestler has a random facial expression.
Suddenly, another enters the room, leisurely. It’s the remaining third of the Trios Champions, Trash Mammal, casually sipping a starbucks coffee as he observes the room.
Trash Mammal: “Sup. I gots here as quickly as I could.”
Halloween Knight eyes the starbucks coffee quietly.
Halloween Knight: “… Sure.”
Juan Tothrefor: “You could be… Number THIRTEEN.”
Trash Mammal: “Oh. ‘E’s doing the numbers thing?”
Halloween Knight: “He’s doing the numbers thing.”
Juan Tothrefor: “I’m doing the numbers thing.”
Trash Mammal: “Roight, roight.”
Trash Mammal sips from his coffee again nonchalantly.
Trash Mammal: “‘S a lotta numbers to go through.”
Juan Tothrefor: “Si. You could be… Number FOURTEEN.”
Trash Mammal: “‘E doing this for every entrant?”
Halloween Knight: “Yup.”
Trash Mammal: “Might take a while.”
Halloween Knight: “Yup.”
Trash Mammal sighs, crumbling the starbucks cup and tossing it at the bin. Or the random FWA wrestler. Y’know. Whatever.
Trash Mammal: “Roight. You get his legs, I’ll get his arms.”
Juan Tothrefor: “You could be… Number FIFTEEN.”
Scooping their partner into their arms, Halloween Knight & Trash Mammal start to carry Juan away from the tumbler, out of the room and past the line of waiting impatient wrestlers.
Trash Mammal: “C’mon, Mathematical. Let’s get dis outta your system an’ quit holdin’ up traffic.”
Halloween Knight: “We’ll come back after he’s finished doing his thing, then we’ll draw our numbers.”
Trash Mammal: “Sure. Shouldn’t be too long.”
Juan Tothrefor: “You could be… Number SIXTEEN.”
Trash Mammal: “That’s tha spirit.”
{IN DREAMS || ROY ORBISON}[MEDIA=youtube]MVRunwyoTMA[/MEDIA]
The reaction is mostly negative as the next entrance theme plays in the arena, although there are a few noticeable and vocal pockets of cheers. The lights are down but for a spotlight on the stage, into which ‘Dreamer’ saunters. There is no smile on her face, as there would have been this time last year, nor is there a countenance expressing focus or determination. Instead, Michelle wears her anxieties plainly for all to see, a bundle of apprehension and even nerves as she begins her descent of the ring ramp.
Kurt Harrington: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall, with a sixty minute time limit… is the final of the F1 Climaxxx 2024 tournament… and is for the vacant FWA North American Championship!"
The camera shows the currently unheld championship belt, which sits on a podium at the base of the ramp.
Kurt Harrington: "Introducing first, from Rotterdam in the Netherlands… she weighs in tonight at fifty four kilograms… ‘Dreamer’... Michelle von HORROWITZ!!"
MvH passes the championship belt at the foot of the ramp, pausing to contemplate it before rolling into the ring.
Rod Sterling: "There we see Michelle von Horrowitz contemplating the FWA North American Championship, which incidentally is the one belt that she needs to complete her grand slam."
Anzu Kurosawa: "We’ve heard Michelle say that illustrious accolade is far from her mind going into this one, with the idea of becoming a two-time F1 winner and getting one over old rival Chris Peacock more prevalent within her thoughts."
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Dreamer takes her seat in the corner, her eyes locked on the stage area as her music fades out. A familiar pose, but something about Michelle’s body language tonight suggests that she isn’t the ocean of calm that she usually is…"
Konchu Hao: "Ocean of calm? You and I must know very different Michelles, Jean-Luc. I know a thing or two about chaos when I see it."
As Michelle waits in the ring for her opponent to make his entrance, she paces, unsure what the hold up is. The Sphere gets plunged into darkness for a few moments before a piano is shown on the stage, illuminated by a single spotlight. On the stool in front of the piano sits Chris Peacock. He grins and waves in the direction of the ring towards MvH, who looks extremely annoyed by the unnecessary pageantry. Peacock is dressed in a full pink suit with matching waistcoat. He cracks his knuckles and begins to play;
{I’M JUST KEN (INSTRUMENTAL)}[MEDIA=youtube]qQWT4zYjHE4[/MEDIA]
“Doesn’t seem to matter what I do,
I can’t get respect from you.
No one knows how hard I tried, oh-oh I…
I have feelings that I can’t explain…
Causin’ me so much pain..
You hate me for being me,
Well I guess I’ll just make you see..”
Chris kicks the stool away and rips the microphone from the stand attached to the piano, starting to walk away from the stage. The lights brighten slightly to reveal around two dozen men on the stage with him, all dressed the same and wearing latex masks resembling his face.
“‘Cause I’m just Chris, shoot at me you better not miss.
There’s hilarity in your unrecognised hypocrisy.
I’m just Chris!
Everyone says you smell like piss,
Would it be mean for me to say Europeans don’t have personal hy-giene?”
There’s a grin from Chris as he knows that he is getting underneath Michelle’s skin as the music kicks into a higher gear and the backing dancers begin to perform a synchronised routine. He nods his head and dances along a bit himself to the more upbeat section before bringing the mic up to his mouth once again.
“I wanna know what it's like to win the Grand Slam!
Sorry to say, but you’re gonna lose like only a Nephew can!
You might not like me, but I don’t give a damn!
Fuck you, Dreamerrrrrrr…”
The backing dancers form into more organised routines, with most of the gestures and moves that they are making involving thrusting or other simulated acts of debauchery. Peacock himself runs into the back, allowing the dancers to take centre stage.
As they dance, a horn is heard and to the shock of almost no one, Chris Peacock is standing atop a truck which comes out onto the stage. It mows through the piano and shatters it into pieces. Whilst Chris is in the middle, he is flanked by both of the Diamond Dogs, as well as Alyster Black and Violet Dreyer. Allen Price is shown in the driver’s seat of the truck. They are all wearing pink tracksuits in another middle finger to the Nephews, but these are branded ‘FTN’.
“Can you feel that energy?
That sexy F-T-Nenergy!
Can you feel that energy?
That sexy F-T-Nenergy!”
As Chris begins to croon once more, he slides down the windscreen and starts walking down the ramp. As he does so, the dancers get a dosing from the hoses all of the other FTN Family members are in possession of, covering them in thick, frothy white liquid.
“I'm just Chris; this stuff’s not actually jizz,
I have to say legally that it’s a synthesised pro-per-ty!
I'm just Chris; you can all just suck on this!
Will it take me beating her again to take me ser-ious-ly?”
The other FTN members leave the truck as well, a white mess in their wake as they follow Chris down the ramp and sing along to the harmony section.
“I'm just Chris!”
“JUST WATCH HIM DANCE!”
“Shove my size ten up your ass!
So, hey, go fuck yourselves, yeah, I'm just Chris!”
Peacock slaps a baseball hat from a fan’s head and shoves a middle finger in his face, before looking back at Michelle in the ring who is seething.
“My name's Chris!”
“THAT’S CHRIS PEACOCK!”
“FUCK RAMON AND GOLDEN ROCK!
Fuck the Ne-phews too, yeah, I'm just Chris!”
This time the whole group - all of whom Michelle has had run-ins with in the past, give her a one finger salute before Chris steps forward for the crescendo.
“Baby, I'm just CHRIS!”
The song ends and Chris embraces his friends and they all offer him well wishes ahead of the match. He tosses the microphone over his head and then climbs into the ring, pleased with his performance.
Anzu Kurosawa: "Well that was certainly an entrance. Jean-Luc, any thoughts?"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Let’s just get this match underway."
SECOND MATCH | 1/60.
Chris Peacock vs. Michelle von Horrowitz..
Singles Match. F1 Climaxxx 2024 Final. FWA North American Championship.
Match Writer: SupineSnake.
<< 00:00. >>
The bell has sounded, but both competitors remain in their respective corners, staring across the squared circle at one another with contrasting expressions. Peacock has an air of confidence, whilst Michelle still wears a vague, uncharacteristic nervousness plainly. Eventually, with the crowd’s anticipation for the match properly built, the pair circle the ring, becoming ever closer to one another as the radius of their concentric circles decrease. Michelle seems to be offering a collar and elbow tie up, which Peacock initially reciprocates, before he shifts his weight and lashes out with an attempted boot to the midsection. Dreamer telegraphs it, though, catching his boot and then pushing it away to turn him around. She proceeds to grasp Peacock in a rear waistlock…
Rod Sterling: "von Horrowitz attempts to wrench Peacock up and over with a German suplex, but Peacock anchors his weight down, before aiming a side elbow at Michelle…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Dreamer ducks it, Peacock turning to face her…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "… and Michelle throws him over her shoulder, with not so much a Northern Lights suplex as a judo-ish throw."
Anzu Kurosawa: "A judo-ish throw? Don’t get too technical, Jean-Luc."
Peacock scrambles straight up to his feet, lunging back towards Michelle. Dreamer doubles him over with a spinning kick to the gut, though, and then hits the ropes to connect with a dropkick to the side of the head! Peacock immediately rolls under the bottom rope, perhaps looking to recuperate after the flourish of offence from Dreamer. He props himself up against the barricade, but Michelle is perpetual motion in the ring, having already hit the opposite set of ropes…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Tope con hilo!! Michelle crashes onto Peacock on the outside!"
Rod Sterling: "This audience understandably doesn’t know who to cheer for in this one, but there’s no denying the athleticism on the display. Everyone’s on their feet here in the Sphere!"
Everyone, that is, except Chris Peacock, who needs some help from MvH to get back up to a vertical base. Dreamer throws him back into the ring, beneath the bottom rope, before hopping up onto the apron, feeding off the momentum as she climbs up towards the top rope. Peacock uneasily clambers to his feet in the middle of the ring, turning to face Michelle as she steadies herself atop the top turnbuckle…
Anzu Kurosawa: "Michelle goes for a picture perfect cross-body…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "… but Chris Peacock catches her with a SPEAR!! He wipes her out!!"
Rod Sterling: "Incredible anti-air from Disco’s Last Warrior, who now hooks the far leg. This might be it already!"
ONE… TWO… T – NO!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Michelle thrusts a shoulder up, but Peacock follows up by slapping on a reverse chin lock."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Attempting to slow this match down to a more manageable pace, it seems."
Konchu Hao: "Time for a nap, then."
***
<< 06:24. >>
Peacock has dominated the early stretches of the match, and has most recently earned himself another two count following a delayed vertical suplex and then a standing leg drop. With Michelle suitably worn down, he Irish whips her into a corner and follows her in with a clothesline. He nails a quartet of hard, loud knife edge chops, before proceeding to mount the second rope, grabbing a fistful of Dreamer’s hair in the process.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Chris Peacock begins to rain down with right hands onto the top of Michelle's head, continuing to take it to her in the early stretches of this match."
Rod Sterling: "He's showing the world why they call him Dreamer's Nightmare!"
The crowd counts along with him as he completes ten punches, pauses, and then delivers another ten, more rapid fire than the first set! The crowd reaches twenty in their count and Peacock finally hops down from the ropes, allowing Michelle to fall down face-first in the middle of the ring! Peacock smirks as he drags her back to her feet by the scruff of the neck, then hoists her onto his shoulders.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Chris Peacock spins round and round and round and round with the airplane spin, and we know what usually comes next… Samoan drop!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "He calls that Dance Dance Revolution…"
Konchu Hao: "The softest of all revolutions."
Rod Sterling: "Chris Peacock with the cover…"
ONE… TWO… T – NO!
Again, Michelle gets the shoulder up, but Peacock is undeterred. He helps Dreamer regain a vertical base, holding her up with a fist full of hair… and then connects with a pimp slap!! The crowd audibly gasps at the disrespectful move, prompting another snide smirk from Disco’s Last Warrior, who follows up with a boot to the midsection. Michelle is doubled over, and Peacock hits the ropes…
Rod Sterling: "Chris Peacock maybe looking for his patented scissor kick famouser… but Michelle cuts him off with a discus forearm!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "I think that pimp slap might’ve shaken Michelle back to life, and now she doubles Peacock over with a kick to the gut."
Dreamer applies a front facelock, attempting to wrench Peacock up and over with a brainbuster, but again Peacock anchors his weight down, proceeding to fight back with repeated digs at her midriff.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Once again, Dreamer is unable to lift Peacock up off the mat… and he reverses with a snap suplex!"
Peacock shakes the cobwebs loose from the discus forearm before dragging himself to his feet. Michelle is still down, allowing Peacock to reassume full control with a grounded side headlock as the match rolls on…
***
<< 12:01. >>
Peacock once again has Michelle backed into a corner, where he proceeds to drive a shoulder into her gut a half dozen times, before hoisting her up into a seated position atop the uppermost turnbuckle. He reaches up to connect with another slap, rocking Michelle, before climbing up onto the second turnbuckle.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Chris Peacock assumes a precarious position, with Michelle von Horrowitz already in one on that top turnbuckle… and now he applies a front facelock."
Rod Sterling: "Surely thinking superplex here, which is bad news for an already weakened Dreamer. She recognises that fact, too, and attempts to fight back with forearms aimed at Peacock’s gut."
Chris is forced to relinquish his front facelock, and then he attempts to incapacitate Dreamer with a straight right. Michelle blocks it, though, before firing back with a forearm… and then a headbutt!! Peacock is staggered, and Michelle thinks she has a moment or two to shake herself back to life. Chris has other ideas, though, immediately returning with a headbutt of his own!! Michelle is rocked, allowing Peacock to recollect her in a front facelock. He drags MvH onto the very top, before stepping up onto the uppermost turnbuckle alongside her…
Rod Sterling: "SUPERPLEX!!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "All the way from the very top!"
Rod Sterling: "Peacock drapes an arm over Michelle…"
ONE… TWO… T – NO!!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Dreamer kicks out! This one's not over!!"
***
<< 16:38. >>
Peacock has Michelle on Dream Street (pun intended) in the middle of the ring, where he connects with a right hand. Then a second. And a third. Disco's Last Warrior wows the crowd with some theatrics, and then looks for the fourth… but Michelle ducks underneath it! She grasps Peacock from behind in a rear waist lock.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Once more, Michelle looks for a suplex - this time a German - and, once more, Peacock proves too heavy for her…"
Rod Sterling: "Peacock attempts a spinning back fist to counter the rear waist lock, but Dreamer sees it coming. She evades the strike…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Russian leg sweep! Peacock is taken off his feet, but only for a matter of moments. Both competitors stagger to their feet and charge at one another… Michelle connects with a Busaiku knee!!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "You got the sense that Chris Peacock was looking for his Strut there, but Michelle von Horrowitz beats him to the punch!"
Dreamer is up to her feet first, this torn crowd unsure whether to cheer or boo as she clutches Peacock by the scruff of the neck. She drags him up and into position in a front face lock…
Rod Sterling: "Michelle is going for it again…"
Konchu Hao: "Madness! She can't do it…"
Michelle pauses, takes a deep breath, then heaves…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "BRAINBUSTAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! She gets it!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "And now she hooks the leg…"
ONE… TWO… TH – NO!!
Peacock kicks out, but Michelle feels the momentum has shifted. She drags him up, doubling him over with a spin kick to the gut. Dreamer hooks both arms, and connects with a DDT! It's not a pinfall attempt that follows, though, with Michelle instead eyeing up a top turnbuckle that looks above Peacock's supine body.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "MvH is doubtlessly thinking 450 splash here, looking to end this one with a killer blow…"
Dreamer drags herself up to her feet and begins to move over to the corner…
… but then, unexpectedly for both her and the crowd, the lights dim low. She can still see, but not with the same clarity as a moment before. She is confused and on edge, the crowd's excitement for the interruption palpable.
Then, the big screen spurs into action. A timer more suited to a 1940s cinema counts down from five to two.
To those that watched the previous episode of Meltdown, the footage is familiar, having been played after the culmination of Michelle's semi-final match with Bryan Baxter.
We find ourselves in the corridor of a hotel, as viewed from a CCTV camera positioned in a high corner. Text in the corner acts as ID for the security camera and a timestamp:
4S-MCC F7-002
07/23/2023 03:26
After a few moments of flickering footage and buzzing audio, we see the sullen and dejected figure of a female dressed all in black. She walks away from the camera, her rucksack low on her shoulders. The figure is immediately recognisable as Michelle von Horrowitz, and this is confirmed by the woman's reaction within the ring. We see her scowling and seething as the footage plays on.
Just like we saw on Meltdown, Michelle turns a corner in the corridor and we see her walking towards a different camera. She arrives at a specific door, full of shame and regret to go alongside the physical pain that she wears plainly. She knocks on the door with only a moment's hesitation.
As on Meltdown, we can’t hear the audio of the brief exchange that follows between Michelle and the unseen man who opens the door. We can tell they are talking only by the muffled snippets of speech on the audiotrack.
???: ". …. …’. ….."
An awkward shuffle. Dreamer grips the top rope in the ring in present day, her rage tangible.
MvH: ". …, …."
On the screen, Michelle enters the room, and a title card announces INTERMISSION. The lights come back up inside the arena, Michelle's anger and terror now obvious for all to see. She continues to watch the screen, until the image shifts into one of herself, standing in the ring, looking as lost as she did that night in July.
Finally, she remembers herself. Where she is. She turns around…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Peacock connects with a pimp slap!! The third of this match-up, catching Michelle unawares!"
Rod Sterling: "DISCO THRILLER!!! Peacock hits his split-legged stunner!"
Dreamer does her best to fight up to her feet, but manages only a seated position. She doesn't even see Peacock charging towards her…
Rod Sterling: "STRUT!! STRUT!! Chris Peacock hits The Strut!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "But he isn't going for the cover! Peacock wants to make absolutely sure!"
He grasps Dreamer by both wrists and pulls her up into a kneeling position. He continues to maintain wrist control…
Rod Sterling: "Chris Peacock hits a second Strut! Dreamer has nowhere to go, and slumps down to the mat…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Peacock with the cover! Michelle might be out!!"
Konchu Hao: "A dark day."
ONE… TWO… THREE!
{RESULT}Winner: Chris Peacock via pinfall at 19:31.
Kurt Harrington: "Here is your winner of the 2024 F1 Climaxxx… and the NEW FWA North American Champion… Chris… PEACOCK!!"
In the middle of the ring, the official helps Chris Peacock to his feet and lifts his hand in victory. Disco's Last Warrior, a wide grin on his face, promptly snatches his hand away from the referee so that he can celebrate alone. He raises both of his hands in the air and then moves to the side of the ring to demand his championship belt from the timekeeper.
Rod Sterling: "He's done it! Chris Peacock has won the F1 Climaxxx 2024, and claimed the FWA North American Championship in the process! That makes him only the fifth Grand Slam champion in company history!"
Peacock is handed the belt, finally, which he clutches to his chest, a look of relief and happiness plastered on his face.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "The FWA X Championship, the FWA World Championship, the FWA World Tag Team Championships, and now the FWA North American Championship. Chris Peacock completes the set, entering his name onto a historic list that - until tonight - included only Ryan Rondo, Chris Kennedy, WOLF, and Phillip A. Jackson. A remarkable achievement for a man whose FWA career is still so young."
Peacock mounts the second turnbuckle, the championship belt raised high above his head. The crowd is unsure whether to cheer or boo, both reactions raining down on the ring in equal measure. Sonny and Ricardo have joined Peacock in the ring, applauding him from the centre of it as the new champion celebrates in the corner. He eventually hops down from the turnbuckles and engages in an embrace of the tag team.
Anzu Kurosawa: "What a moment for Peacock, who made it very clear what this match and this accomplishment meant to him. You can chalk up an assist to the guys in the production truck, maybe, but tonight belongs to Chris Peacock!"
The Diamond Dogs each lift a hand of the new champion into the air after fastening the belt around his waist. Then, with his music blaring around the chaotic arena, Peacock and his accompaniments climb out of the ring.
Rod Sterling: "The new North American champion and his FTN associates head up the ramp, doubtlessly to begin their debauched celebrations, leaving the defeated Michelle von Horrowitz in the ring. She looks like she's finally coming around after that pair of devastating Struts from Peacock, and now she must contemplate the ramifications of this defeat…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "As well as whatever that footage was we saw playing towards the end of the contest."
Peacock lingers on the stage as Michelle gathers herself in the ring. She uses a set of ring ropes to help hoist herself to a vertical base and watches on as Peacock lifts his belt into the air, a shit-eating grin on his face, before disappearing through the curtain.
In the ring, with Sister Sledge still blaring out of the arena's PA system, Dreamer silently seethes with her hands on her hips. Her eyes are fixed upon the stage, and remain so as - once more - the lights go off in the arena. Just like it did during the match, the big screen on the stage shifts from images of the action within the Sphere to a black, blank canvas. Upon this background, in white text, we see an introductory title card:
R.W.P. presents.
"
[/color]ONE NIGHT IN MEXICO CITY."[/b][/color][/span][/div][/span][/div] Part Two: the Director's Cut.
[/b][/font][/span][/div][/span][/div] The screen flickers into motion, with the now-familiar grainy image of Michelle von Horrowitz walking down a hotel corridor. The timestamp and ID number in the corner is the same as it ever was.
4S-MCC F7-002 07/23/2023 03:26
When she arrives at the same particular door, though, we notice a startling difference. She knocks three times and we hear it. Not clearly, but more so than in earlier iterations of the footage. A moment later, the door clicks and opens. The person on the other side of it remains hidden behind it.
???: "I knew you'd come."
The voice is peculiar: both goading and sincere, and somewhat recognisable although clouded by its strange candour. Michelle shuffles awkwardly on the threshold, uncomfortable in the crosshairs of her expectant counterpart’s gaze.
MvH: "I did, too."
The door opens wider still, and Michelle disappears inside the hotel room.
It is the third time that we have seen these images, but - unlike the previous two occasions - the footage continues to play. Our feed remains fixed on the screen, but if it was to flit to the woman currently inside the wrestling ring it would find Michelle von Horrowitz silenced and paralyzed by her rage and her fear.
From within the room, a man wearing a white bathrobe and gold, silk boxer shorts walks into the corridor. He stretches, yawns, and turns to face the camera. He regards the lens thoughtfully.
We know him. He pushes his blonde hair back from his eyes. Smiles. Winks at the camera. A Basterdly wink.
He returns to the hotel room and the footage ends. The lights come up in the arena, revealing Michelle within the ring, even paler than she usually is. Her fists are clenched tightly, her shoulders convulsing slightly with anger.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "That was… Jesus Christ, that was Shawn Summers!"
Rod Sterling: "We haven't seen Der Basterd in the FWA for almost a year, since Back in Business 2023. Does this mean… is he coming back?!"
We don't get an answer. Instead, with excited chatter swirling around her in the audience, Michelle von Horrowitz climbs out of the ring. Her back is hunched and her eyes fixed firmly upon the ground in front of her as she paces abruptly up the ramp. We fade from the scene.
Elizabeth Rose walks into her locker-room before the Carnal Contendership match. Her intention is to get out any last-minute pre-match jitters, however… the lights in the room are off and all she can see is a television set with static filling the screen. There’s a figure obscured by the static on the screen, male in shape, but specific features are impossible to be seen. The television illuminates a large black throne facing it in the center of the room. There is a chill in the air that she hasn’t felt for months. It feels… familiar, yet it has a new sting to it.
Elizabeth crosses her arms and taps her foot before exclaiming, “Well, where the hell have you been? Abandoning me like that, who the fuck are you to do that?!”
From the side of the chair comes an outstretched arm and a limp-wristed hand. Hanging off the index finger of this hand… is a very familiar tiara.
“Bite your tongue, sister. I have been… collecting myself, dealing punishments, and allowing fate to run its course.” The static on the television goes crazy as the female voice speaks. The woman stands from the throne and comes around to face Elizabeth Rose.
“My heart bleeds… For you, for the Princess… and for other reasons…”
The woman is the returning Daughter of Demise, Keres. She clutches the tiara in her hand as she walks up within inches of Elizabeth Rose’s face.
“The words you spoke, the truth you told, and the fire in your voice as you declared your intentions for the Carnal Contendership… while they were blasphemous in nature… showed me what I wanted to see. Instead of ending you where you stand… I will instead say that you passed your test, my darling Elizabeth. Perhaps you will be a good influence for… her.”
Keres holds up the tiara between them before bringing it back down to her side.
“Win or lose… make your statement in that match. And then… well, let’s just say I feel as if television is about to become more interesting.”
Keres snaps her fingers and the television shuts off, leaving the entire room in darkness.
Cut to backstage, at the familiar room with the tumbler and the numbers and the FWA assistant. The FWA assistant is cleaning up, a blanket over the tumbler, whilst whistling casually.
Unfortunately, that isn’t to last, as the FWA Trios Champions, Tr1ck or Tr4sh, burst through the doorway.
Juan Tothrefor: “LET’S GET OUR NUMBERS, AMIGOS.”
Halloween Knight: “SI, SI, SI!”
Etc.
Trash Mammal: “Took ya toime. Didn’t think you’d ever stop counting.”
Juan Tothrefor: “There’s a lot of numbers and I won’t apologize for exploring all avenues.”
Trash Mammal: “Regardless. Let’s grab our numbers for the CC and get out of here, pretty sure the match starts in, like… Ten minutes, ish.”
Nodding, Halloween Knight reached for the tumbler, gleefully ripping the blanket off of it, before pausing in dismay, as the tumbler lay empty, devoid of numbers. A long pause ensued, as TxT glanced at each other, then at the FWA assistant.
Halloween Knight: “... There’s no more numbers left, aren’t there?”
The FWA assistant nodded.
Halloween Knight: “So we could’ve been in the CC if Juan didn’t insist on counting every number possible.”
The FWA assistant nodded again.
Halloween Knight sighed, as Trash Mammal turned to Juan Tothrefor, glowering silently.
Halloween Knight: “There’s always next year, lads.”
Juan Tothrefor: “Look, when I was counting the numbers-
Trash Mammal: “The next numbers you’re going to be counting are going to be the number of teeth you got left, you motherf-”
As Trash Mammal lunges at Juan Tothrefor, we mercifully cut to black.
[HEADING=1]
[/font][/span][/div] “The Carnal Contendership.” [/HEADING]
We see stages of past Carnal Contendership shows go past as we see fans getting hyped.
“First appearing in 2008, it has become a mainstay of FWA as it resembles the first step on the path to Back In Business.”
We see a quick glimpse of a Back In Business before being transported once more.
“The rules are simple, 2 entrants start the match. After a starting bout of 3 minutes. another competitor will enter the match every ninety seconds until all thirty competitors have entered the match.”
The video shows as such.
“You get eliminated when not one but both of your feet touch the floor.”
We see classic eliminations over the years like Maximillion getting eliminated by Adam Rock, WOLF eliminating Ashley O’Ryan, Thomas Princeton throwing out Christian Quinn and who could forget Kayden Knox getting himself eliminated so he could help his mentor Michael Ga-
“The last 6 runner ups of the match go onto the Golden Opportunity Match but for the one who wins the Carnal Contendership..they have a chance to immortalise themself with a shot at the world championship in the main event of Back In Business. But with chances of winning being so slim, success is all about the numbers.”
263
“The number of wrestlers who have all tried their shot in this glorious bout, consisting of 26 Former world champions & 22 Hall Of Famers.”
Various competitors from the CC over the years making their entrance flash upon the screen. Names include Eyesnsane, Katsu, Uncle J.J.JAY!, Steve The Techno Vampire, Dave Sullivan, and Reagan Cole.
12
“The number of wrestlers of that 263 who have managed to win the Carnal Contendership. A whopping 4.63%. 12 is also special to the Carnal Contendership in another way. the entrant number of 12 holds 2 separate winners, Nate Richardson and Shannon O’Neal.”
We see the first-ever winner of the Carnal Contendership, Nate Richardson along with 2017’s winner Shannon O'Neal both coming out at 12.
1
"As showcased, the best entry numbers haven’t come from the later numbers but instead, it is actually the early ones and nothing proves that quite like the number one entrant that despite it’s tough challenge, has possessed more winning entrants than any other number with 3 different winners. A third of the last 9 winners have all come from number one."
This is showcased via showing Nova Diamond from 2019, Ryan Rondo from 2015, Danny Toner from 2022 all celebrating their Carnal Contendership Victory.
“The Carnal Contendership is no stranger to surprises, whether that’s Jeffry Mason in 2022 who does hold the record of most times an entrant has eliminated themselves with 2 separate occurrences or Jean-Luc Watkins returning to the ring for one night only last year. But no surprise was more iconic than the one that happened in..”
2016
The video goes dark for a moment, we hears the murmurs start to spread around as an now very familiar song begins to play we see Chris Kennedy standing in the ring – he may have been focused before but he seems to have lost a step as he stares at the screen... he was not expecting this.
“In 2016 professional wrestling legend, Cyrus Truth finally made his way to FWA and since then his name has been synonymous with The Carnal Contendership.”
15
“The amount of eliminations Cryus has made over his three appearances, the most career Contendership eliminations of all time, eliminating stars of past, present and future alike, all of them falling to the Exile.”
We see every single one of Cyrus’ famous eliminations in quick succession. Danny Toner. Chris Kennedy. Thomas Jordan. Ryan Rondo. KAIZEN. WOLF. Gabrielle. Chris Crowe. Xyz. Phillip A. Jackson. Kleio De Santos. The aforementioned Jean-Luc Watkins. Alyster Black. Chubby Carlos and finally…Weaselperson.
“And most recently last year he put another record in there by becoming the second person alongside WOLF…”
We get flashbacks to Wolf’s previous wins of the 2011 Carnal Contendership and also the 2014 Carnal Contendership where he kicks Gabrielle off the apron as we once again hear Langdon Trafford yell at the top of his lungs as WOLF is seen falling to his back and laying in the center of the ring.
“To win the Carnal Contendership not once but twice.”
We get a few more flashbacks this time to the 2016 & 2023 Carnal Contendership of Cyrus Truth last eliminating Gabrielle and Weaselperson respectively.
“Cyrus Truth is also one of 6 people to win their first Carnal Contendership”
More flashbacks to each winner that won the Carnal Contendership the first try. Nova Diamond. Michelle Von Horrowitz. Shannon O’Neal. Nate Richardson. Ryan Hall. And Chris Kennedy himself but we go back to..
“And someone that came so close to doing the same thing his first time is the man who knows Cyrus Truth very well.”
We cut back to last year’s Carnal Contendership where Cyrus stands tall and he shares a momentary eye contact with CHRIS PEACOCK who watches on knowingly.
1 Hour 3 Minutes
1 Hour 9 Minutes
“Chris Peacock in his, only to this date, outings in the Carnal Contendership have went the mile being the very few who have lasted over a hour not once but twice. In his secondary legendary run, he even managed to eliminate the most individuals in a single CC with 9 mostly nephews in his hunt yet he was outshone by a former rival of his Danny Toner who just lasted 16 minutes longer in the same match to gain the record of longest time in a Carnal Contendership with"
1 hour 25 Minutes
“Leaving Peacock still without a win in the biggest stipulation of the year but he isn’t the only one.”
We cut to 2016 where a younger version of the man who very recently lost his North American Championship, Mike Parr comes out at number 13.
“For the last 6 Carnal Contenderships in a row, they have all shared one common person and that is “The Prodigy” Mike Parr.”
Now we get cuts between this and every entrance Parr has made into this stipulation even his performance from number 2 in 2019, we see him fighting and yet even we see him coming up short sometimes because of his own fault for example 2022 when him and Shawn Summers eliminated themselves and each other as a just another highlight of their feud or 2023 when he was once again eliminated by Shawn Summers this time just more out of spite.
“Always the bridesmaid, never the bride but will this be the year Mike Parr finally makes it all the way? Or will he grasp short once again as someone else takes the prize?”
Eternal. Trixie Bordeaux. Sawyer Xavier. Jackson Fenix. Johnny Johnson. Konchu Hao. The Coven.
“Anyone on the FWA roster is eligible to enter which is one of the things that make this one of the unpredictable matches of the year.”
Nate Savage. XYZ. Jason Randall. Jack The Clipper. Jay Kenny. Trick Or Trash. Vengador, Gabrielle.
“Because there’s only
1
path to Back In Business.”
Shots of Back In Business from past years. Bryan Baxter. Colby Sol. Ryan Rondo eliminating Devin Golden. Sierra. Danny Toner on a truck from the 2017 Carnal Contendership. Xperienx Xtacee. PONI BOI. Lord Vincent Takaab Blackbird being eliminated by Yuna Funanori.
“And It starts right here at the
|
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. Sawyer should've done more tbh. Guess it's about self preservation. The Coven implosion better come quick for his sake. So much Hozier :/. Will have to work out probability of 4 coven out of first 6. Seems high if it's random, probably down to FWA known anti-witch bias. Hahaha Konchu on my level on the comms o7. Oh shit! Big moment, Coven in disarray! Interesting that both Ravenwoods side with Trixie. I always assumed there would be some sort of split between the sisters. Excellently done split, really good. Get wreckt Kleio.
. Looool Harrows what a god damned imp. Taking poor Spooder's spot. Gip promo was fun in parts, confusing in others. Enjoy the movie presentation for sure. Linus Badger wow. Kind of enjoy these random entrants, definitely better than like Jobber Jimbo or whatever (imagine if Jobber Jimbo is in later). Gabrielle hype and I see that JLW and Anzu have been looking at Gip's spreadsheet. Interesting factoid. I'm sure being eliminated by Gabrielle really hurt JJ's ego, will be interesting to see how he spins that on Trixie. I really really loved the Gabrielle promo. Tbh I thought about posting some reviews for cc but put it off because I didn't know if I'd be able to put into words the feeling of reading that Gabrielle promo. There were parts that I didn't like - some of the more graphic depictions maybe felt a little indulgent and maybe repetitive at times, and to/too stuff dinged presentation, but in the first reading I was really taken by the promo. The idea of looking at large stretches of the story from driver's perspective, outsider looking in, was interesting and subtly creative, kind of reinforcing the central themes of voyeurism, fame, privacy or lack of, etc, that have been somewhat central to Gabrielle since return. I don't mind that it's all black and white - it doesn't get the 0.3 ISH that I'll award for outstanding presentation but the bulk of presentation for me is spelling grammar etc so this still scored highly for me. I also think and have argued that the black/white serves a purpose, given that you debuted it right at the onset of Gabrielle's descent and during her darkest days a couple years ago. I thought the character work was truly outstanding here, best in the match and maybe on the card. Match focus maybe a little lacking if looking at that harshly, but I'm not as critical of that in the CC given the structure of the match. I think a character driven approach can be effective for these types of matches and that is what you had. Scored highly across the board for me, great promo. Hope Gaby gets some hype in the write up.