Fallout 042: "Life, The Universe, & Everything" || Results.

The sun shines in New Orleans, Louisiana and the crowd for the upcoming edition of Fallout, the go-home show for Back in Business XVII, are shown to be filing into the Smoothie King Center. There are happy families, wrestling fans young and old. Everyone seems to be excited and ready for the show in what is always a hotbed of activity for the FWA, given the company’s deep connection with the city of New Orleans. Todd Salum is shown in the midst of the crowd, enjoying the sun himself, but still looking unbelievably dapper in his new suit, unaffected by the heat.

Todd Salum: “Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Fallout 042 which will be coming to you live from right here in New Orleans, Louisiana later on tonight. Thousands of FWA fans are making their way into the arena and I was hoping to talk to some of them about what they hope to see in tonight’s show.”

Following Todd, the cameraman has to navigate the crowd and find openings and he happens upon a group of five men talking. All are wearing either Randy Ramon, Devin Golden or Golden Rock tees.

Todd Salum: “Gentlemen, I hope you’ll excuse me but I just wanted to get your thoughts on tonight’s show. What do you hope to see out there?”

Man #1: “Well, we’re all from right here in New Orleans, we went to high school together not far from here. So naturally we want to see our fellow Louisianian Trixie Bordeaux get the win tonight against Kleio, maybe knock some skulls together of those clowns coming after the X Title.”

Man #2: “Always good to see Gabrielle if you know what I mean… and then of course we don’t know whether we actually get to fight those three jackasses wanting to take on a whole city, but I’m ready to throw down if need be. I’ll smack that goofy moustache right off of Peacock’s damn face.”

Todd Salum: “Safe to say that there’s no love lost for Chris Peacock and Alyster Black here, then. Do you think Danny Toner will still agree to work with them tonight after what happened on Meltdown? We don’t actually know if either of the tag champions are going to be here.”

Man #1: “I hope we get to see Randy Ramon. He’s a legend and he’s always welcome here in New Orleans, man. We know we won’t get to see Devin Golden tonight so Ramon is the next best thing if you ask me. That and Trixie too, of course.”

Man #2: “Yeah, it doesn’t matter as long as we see someone kick FTN’s asse-”

The man is cut off in mid sentence by a loud exclamation from someone nearby. Salum and the fans he was interviewing look to the left of the screen and the camera pans around to reveal a hot dog kiosk. The man at the front of the line holds a hot dog which has had one bite taken out of it and in the other hand he holds a sauce bottle with a pale-coloured liquid inside.

Man #3: : “What the fuck did you put in this sauce, bro? It takes like shit!”

The vendor at the cart is dressed in stereotypical gear with a red and white apron over a plain white tee. The man has blond hair covered mostly by a paper hat, and his face is mostly obscured by his large sunglasses and a bushy beard. Through his beard, the vendor responds, but he speaks in a very exaggerated Italian accent.

Hot Dog Vendor: “What-a you tryin-a to say, eh? That’s-a my special-a recipe! Handed down through generations. You try-a more. You like it, huh?”

Whilst the hot dog vendor attempts to convince his customer to persevere with the sauce, another man inside the kiosk curses extremely loudly as a flame shoots up from the grill. It was a recognisable voice and it causes the man with the hot dog to pause for a moment before he puts it into his mouth again. The man’s eyes widen and some of the viscous sauce drops to the floor. Slowly, he reaches up and grabs the vendor’s beard…

Hot Dog Vendor: “Leave-a me alone! Stop-a! STOP! GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME!”

As the anger levels rise, the accent slips and the man is able to remove the beard from the vendor’s face, revealing a thick black moustache… IT’S CHRIS PEACOCK! The other man in the stand turns from the grill and now it can be seen that he is wearing a black wrestling mask… IT’S ALYSTER BLACK! The man begins to gag as he puts two and two together about what may have been inside the sauce he had put on his hot dog.

Man #3: : “You motherfu… HEY! HEY EVERYONE! IT’S THEM! GET THEM!”

Before long, a crowd gets drawn to the stand and FTN quickly realise that they are stuck inside the kiosk. They both dive through the hatch at the front of the kiosk and land on their feet as the crowd starts to converge on them. The man with the hot dog grabs Peacock by the collar, but he releases him once Black takes the ‘special’ sauce and squirts it in his face.They jostle through the increasingly hostile growing crowd, seemingly taking amusement in how much the New Orleans natives hate them.

The verbal abuse soon turns physical, with a couple of over-eager fans shoving them around. One catches Black with a punch to the side of the head, and ‘Black Jesus’ responds in kind with a Headbutt directly to the face! The man drops to the floor, his nose bloodied and likely broken as blood cascades down onto his Cyrus Truth shirt. FTN have to get physical with a few fans; the aforementioned Headbutt, Peacock shoves a woman to the ground and Black has to be pulled away by Peacock from a guide dog belonging to a visually impaired fan.

Eventually, Chris and Alyster force their way through the crowd to the talent entrance where the camera follows them. They cackle as the noise from outside is shut away.

Chris Peacock: “Can’t believe we got him to eat that!”

Alyster Black: “Dude, we’re in the dumbest town in America, responsible for giving us the biggest dickhead either of us have ever met. Of course they’re stupid enough to eat whatever we can trick them into eating.”

Peacock shrugs, accepting Black’s point. Their fun is brought to a quick halt though as Jon Russnow arrives on the scene, looking unimpressed. He is flanked by seven very large and burly men. FTN size up the security guards, seemingly unsure whether they are an antagonistic force or not.

Alyster Black: “Come on, Russnow. Just spit it out…”

Jon Russnow: “I’m glad I found the two of you, for two reasons. First of all, I’m not happy about what the two of you did to my tag team champions on Fallout. You’re both lucky that your actions did not mean that either Randy Ramon or Danny Toner are going to miss Back in Business. I’d have come for your asses if you two fucked with me like that!”

Unsurprisingly, Russnow’s phrasing draws a laugh from the perpetually immature FTN boys, and the Brand Co-ordinator stands still, unimpressed.

Jon Russnow: “The second thing is that I want you two to calm the hell down and stop antagonising these fans here in New Orleans. I don’t know what you’re planning later on, to fight an entire city, but you damn well make sure that you both get to Back in Business in one piece. I’m not having one of my main events ruined for the sake of your carelessness and immaturity,

These men are here to protect you tonight, boys. We could end up with a frenzied mob on our hands if what I just heard outside that very door is anything to go by! This man right here is Richard, he’s the team leader.”

Russnow places a hand on the shoulder of the largest man either Chris or Alyster can remember seeing. With his large chiselled jawline and colossal frame, Richard cuts an intimidating figure.

Alyster Black: “That’s ‘Richard’, like ‘Dick’, right?” We can call you Dick?"

Chris Peacock: He’s huge, Aly. What about ‘Big Dick?’ He’s huge, and it works!”

Peacock and Black laugh among themselves again and begin to walk off away from Russnow, not even thinking about saying goodbye.

Chris Peacock: “Come on, Big Dick, follow us…”

With a tense and frustrated look on his face, Richard abides by the command and follows FTN whilst shaking his head, wondering what he got himself into as we fade away.

- 042 -
”LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, & EVERYTHING.”

Live from the Smoothie King Centre in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Monday 8th June, 2024.





The show starts off with some shots of the very hot New Orleans crowd and Natalie Rosenberg standing in the middle of the ring.

Natalie Rosenberg: “Your Fallout opening contest is set for one fall with a twenty-minute-time-limit!”

[”Invasion” || Jim Johnston.]

The scene quickly cuts to backstage and a locker room door as the music begins to play. The door swings open, and the camera pans down to reveal the top of Joe Burr’s head! The camera begins to follow ‘The Giant Killer’ down the corridor towards the ring…

Joe appears on stage much to the delight of the fans in attendance and Joe makes his way down to the ring in a robotic-like walk due to sharing the appearance of a robot…

Natalie Rosenberg: “Introducing first, from New York City and weighing in one-hundred and twenty-nine pounds…’The Giant Killer’ JOOOOEEEE BUUUUUUUUUURRRRRR!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Straight into it tonight with our packed show and quite the reception for the young Joe Burr who has not had the best of luck since his return at the Carnal Contendership, but he’s looking to change that tonight as he teams with a Hall of Famer to face two familiar faces…”

[”Save Me” || Lacuna Coil.]

Another positive reception from the New Orleans crowd for the FWA Hall of Famer who stops to pose before making her way down to the ring…

Natalie Rosenberg: “His tag team partner, from Auckland, New Zealand and weighing in at one-hundred and thirty-two pounds…’The Goddess’ GABRIEEEELLLLLEEEE!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Tonight, Gabrielle gets a chance to get her hands on the young woman she once was a mentor towards. It’ll just be a preview of what’s to come though at Back in Business when Gabrielle will square with Elizabeth Rose one on one…”

Konchu Hao: “I’ve no doubt that Gabrielle is itching to give not only Elizabeth a preview of what’s to come but also get her hands on that dastardly Keres, who has no doubt been a thorn in her side as well…”

[”Rage Beneath The Mountains” || Lindsey Sterling.]
The lights of the arena dim as the lights near the stage flash purple and gold in tune with the strings of the music. All video screens are off apart from the one showing the main entrance video. Elizabeth Rose steps out first and not long after, she's joined by Keres, who is being carried by two followers. Keres stands beside Elizabeth before they both make their way down to the ring…

Natalie Rosenberg: “Their opponents, from The Residence, ‘The Daughter of Demise’ Keres and ‘The Blacklight Knight’ Elizabeth Rose…ETERRRRNAAAALLLL!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Gabrielle is already staring daggers at Elizabeth Rose as Rose and Keres enter the arena…”

Rose and Keres enter the ring and remain at their corner while on the opposite end of the ring is the team of Burr and Gabrielle. Joe is loosening his joints to the best of his limited mobility while Gabrielle hasn’t taken her eyes off of Elizabeth…


FIRST MATCH || 1/20.
Gabrielle and Joe Burr vs. Eternal (Keres and Elizabeth Rose).
Tag Team Match.
Match writer: Jimmy.


DING! DING! DING!

<< 00:00 >>

The match kicks off with Joe Burr and Keres, two familiar foes. Keres is the person responsible for the current state of Joe Burr. Joe charges at Keres with a shoulder block attempt but as usual with Joe Burr, it has little to no effect on his opponent.

Konchu Hao: “You would think that he would’ve learned by now that a shoulder block isn’t his forte”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “While I’m inclined to agree, you can’t deny it is an admirable effort on his part.”

Joe attempts a kick to midsection but Keres catches him by his shoe and drives down an elbow to his knee! Joe limps around and Keres unloads on Joe with repeated forearm strikes. Keres then proceeds to take Joe down with a drop toe hold and transitions into an arm bar submission where she wrenches back on the hold. Somehow, Joe is able to wriggle his way free and he hops to his feet just as Keres is back on hers and she swings wildly with a forearm strike that has Joe’s name on it, but Joe ducks and slips behind her for a roll-up!

One…NO!

Keres kicks out with authority and she’s quickly back on her and ducks an overhead chop from Joe and she catches him with a knife edge chop! She lays in a few more chops on poor Joe before she viciously grabs him by the nose and she drags him over to her corner and makes the tag to Elizabeth Rose. Elizabeth and Keres double team Joe with corner stomps until Keres leaves Elizabeth to it. Elizabeth places a boot on Joe’s throat and begins to choke him with it while he struggles to break away, but Elizabeth has her eyes set firmly upon Gabrielle on the opposite side of the ring…

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Elizabeth Rose is showing no mercy to the young man she once considered a friend!”

Konchu Hao: “She’s not the same woman she once was, Jean-Luc. Also, I can’t help but notice she’s got her eyes set on Gabrielle.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “It’s clear that Elizabeth is envisioning that it’s Gabrielle she’s choking in the corner.”

Elizabeth removes her boot from Joe’s throat and her full focus is on Gabrielle. The Hall of Famer wants nothing more than to get her hands on Elizabeth but she’s being held back by referee Grace-Lynn Guerrero. Elizabeth taunts Gabrielle and this fires up the legend even more, but all this messing about from Elizabeth has given Joe ample time to recover as he slips up Elizabeth with a roll-up!

One…NO!

Elizabeth angrily kicks out and gives chase to Joe who leaps across the ring to tag in Gabrielle, and the crowd starts buzzing with excitement for Gabrielle who is ready to throw hands with her former protege and Elizabeth is talking tough and looking like she’s ready throw down, but then she tags in Keres. The crowd starts loudly booing the once beloved Elizabeth Rose and she mocks Gabrielle while also letting the fans have a piece of her mind…

<< 05:22 >>

Jean-Luc Watkins: “The match rolls on wrestling fans, and these New Orleans residents are still letting Elizabeth Rose know what they think of her.”

Konchu Hao: “Meanwhile, Gabrielle is beating the daylights out of Keres in the corner!”

Indeed that is the case as Gabrielle is beating the stuffing out of Keres in the corner. She’s throwing just about every strike in the book at Keres, and to her credit, Keres is not backing down from the veteran. Gabrielle strikes with a running knee lift in the corner and quickly follows up with a running bulldog from the corner and makes the cover…

One…TW--NO!!

Gabrielle grabs Keres in a front facelock but Keres is quick to counter with a sitout jawbreaker! Gabrielle is stunned but still standing however, yet Keres takes her down with a running neckbreaker! This time Keres makes the cover…

One…TW--NO!!

Keres drags Gabrielle to her corner and goes to town on her with corner stomps, and then she follows up with a running elbow strike. Keres proceeds to choke out Gabrielle with her boot in the corner until she’s forced to break it up by the referee. Keres pleads her case with Guerrero while Elizabeth starts to choke Gabrielle while the referee isn’t looking…

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Now Elizabeth isn’t afraid to get her hands on Gabrielle…but Gabrielle manages to fight back!”

Gabrielle breaks free from Elizabeth’s choke and clocks her with a fist that sends Elizabeth to the outside! Keres turns around just in time and she’s level with a running thrust kick from Gabrielle! Gabrielle is fired up now but she’s clipped from behind by Elizabeth Rose! Elizabeth stomps away on the legend, much to the dismay from the crowd…
There’s a commotion from the crowd that causes Elizabeth to shift her focus on where it’s coming from…Joe Burr is up top and leaps off…only to be caught by Rose and she brings Joe down with a powerslam!

<< 08:11 >>

Keres has tagged Elizabeth back in the ring and Elizabeth continues to stomp down on Gabrielle. Elizabeth brings Gabrielle back up in a front face lock and she starts trash talking and even slaps Gabrielle. Elizabeth goes for a Calling Mr Violence but misses as Gabrielle avoids it and she counters with a snap DDT! Both ladies are down and start crawling to their corners where tags are made…

Joe explodes out of his corner but he’s immediately taken down by Keres with an arm drag…Joe kips up but he’s taken right back down with a superwoman punch from Keres! Keres requests Elizabeth’s assistance and Elizabeth retrieves her cane from the timekeeper’s area. Elizabeth is slowly sauntering toward the ring with her weapon of choice but before she can get back inside she’s taken down by Gabrielle with a thesz press and a flurry of punches!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “That could’ve been a disaster for Joe Burr had it not been for Gabrielle!”

Keres watches on from inside the ring with a scowl before returning her attention back to Joe Burr who manages to catch her with a small package!

One…two…THREE!!!

RESULT:
Joe Burr & Gabrielle wins by pin fall at 10:12.

Natalie Rosenberg: “The winners of the match, Joe Burr and Gabrielle!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Joe Burr managed to catch Keres off guard after a slight distraction and in turn he gets a measure of revenge on the woman that is responsible for his current appearance!”

Konchu Hao: “That’s all well and good Jean-Luc but there’s madness unfolding right in front of us!”

While Joe Burr is busy celebrating the win and Keres stews in anger in the ring, on the outside there’s a fight occurring between the heated rivals, Gabrielle and Elizabeth Rose. Eventually, the two women are separated but they can still shout obscenities and such at each other while being dragged away…

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Gabrielle and Elizabeth getting started early but they’ll have to wait until Back in Business to settle this mess once and for all. You won’t have to wait too long for more action on the way after this brief ad break, so stay tuned wrestling fans!”

Countdown to Krash’s Deadline: 2:38:32



[“Zombie” || The Cranberries.]

The crowd utterly explodes as the opening chords of Zombie ring out through the arena. They’re on their feet for their hometown hero, a certified legend in the FWA, who has not been seen since his retirement in early 2023.

Zombie plays for a while longer. Long enough for the haunting tones of Dolores O'Riordan to ring out. The crowd sings along with her.

’Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence caused such silence
Who are we, mistaken?’

The camera pans through the first row. There are fans in visible tears, shaking in anticipation for The Golden One to come out.

’But you see, it's not me, it's not my family
In your head, in your head, they are fightin'
With their tanks and their bombs and their bombs and their guns
In your head, in your head, they are cryin'’

They ready themselves, all singing in unison at the top of their lungs, belting out the chorus in earnest.

’In your head, in your he- BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!’

But their singing turns to jeers as instead of Devin Golden making his triumphant return, it’s FTN who make their way through the curtain. Flanked with a small army of security guards.

Chris Peacock can’t help but smile as he blows kisses to the crowd, all accompanied with raised middle fingers. Whilst Alyster Black is content to play to them, encouraging their boos, cupping his ears to entice them into booing louder.

The music cuts out, but the arena is still loud. For a full minute the crowd shits on FTN, breaking out into disheartening chants of ‘Fuck FTN!’, ‘Fuck you Peacock! Fuck you Black!’, ‘Aussie Wanker!’ all of which is met with genuine and shared hatred from the tandem. Eventually Chris Peacock picks up a microphone and speaks over them.

Chris Peacock: “Fuck you New Orleans!”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Alyster Black produces his own microphone.

Alyster Black: “Fuck this city, and fuck Devin Golden!”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Chris Peacock: “I’d tell you all to shut the hell up, but we all know that’d be a waste of breath. It’d be like telling Bryan Baxter to eat a salad.”

Alyster Black: “Relax, you dumb assholes, we’ll be leaving in a minute. We just came out here to receive our traditional NOLA welcome, and you pissants did not disappoint.”

Chris Peacock: “You’re in especially rare form tonight. I mean, falling for the Zombie ruse again. I hope you all feel dumb, because you sure look it.”

Alyster Black: “And don’t think that just because we’re accompanied by our own personal goon squad tonight that the handicap match is off. They might not televise it but Chris and I personally plan on punching each and everyone of you in the face after the show tonight.”

Chris Peacock: “We’ve already gotten a start on that. But our new friends here are in the protection racket, so for the remainder of the show you’re all safe. That is unless you want to jump the rail tonight, in which case my friend Dick “The Dick" Tator over here will fuck your shit up.”

Chris claps a hand on the shoulder of Big Dick who is indifferent to the antics of the Nephew haters.

Alyster Black: “Alright NOLA, you can all calm down now. We know you couldn’t handle Big Dick so you’re not going to do shit but sit on your hands and boo like cowards. So with that said, we’re outy.”

Chris Peacock: “Go fuck yourselves New Orleans!”

The boys drop their microphones and make their exit to a cacophony of boos.



Natalie Rosenberg: “The next contest is set for one fall with a twenty-minute-time-limit!”

[”Take Me To Church” || Hozier.]

The crowd begins to boo as Blair and Celestia Ravenwood make their way out on stage. They don’t posture for the crowd or show any real emotion as they look at each other before walking down to the ring.

Natalie Rosenberg: “Introducing first, from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and weighing in at combined weight of two-hundred & twenty pounds…Blair and Celestia Ravenwood…The COOOVEEEEN!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Amidst the Coven Civil War, The Ravenwoods are looking beyond that for now and onto a much larger task in their way tonight. Although, surely they’ll have a keen interest in Trixie vs Kleio later on this evening, despite the sisters siding with the X Champion Trixie, it seems there’s still some trouble in paradise in the land of The Coven…”

[”The Lumberjack” || Jackyl.]

The crowd cheers for the appearance of The Lumberjacks who waste no time marching down to the ring looking ready for some action.

Natalie Rosenberg: “Their opponents, from The Yukon, Canada and weighing in at a combined weight of six-hundred and twenty-five pounds…Dan and Doug Lupone…THE LUMMMMBERRRRJACKS!”

Konchu Hao: “The Coven had better forget about that civil war that’s brewing if they want to topple these two leviathans! Just look at the size of them!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “They’re not difficult to miss, Konchu, but I get your point.”

Referee Tommy Palmer checks out both teams before calling for the bell…


SECOND MATCH || 1/20.
The Coven (Blair Ravenwood and Celestia Ravenwood) vs. The Lumberjacks (Doug LuPone and Dan LuPone).
Tag Team Match.
Match writer: Jimmy.


DING! DING! DING!

<< 00:00 >>

The match starts with Blair and Doug Lupone and right away Blair catching Doug off guard with a low running dropkick that brings the big man to one knee. Blair continues to lay into Doug with a barrage of strikes until powers out and shoves Blair away from him. Blair gathers herself in the corner and before she can react she’s crushed by Doug with a running corner splash! Doug takes Blair by the wrist and sends her to the opposite corner and levels her with a corner clothesline! Doug drags Blair away from the corner and goes for a belly-to-belly suplex, but Blair slips out of his grasp and slithers behind him and catches him with a chop block to the back of the knee! Doug drops down on one knee once more while Blair tags in Celestia…

Celestia ascends to the top and leaps off but she’s caught by Doug, and Doug shakes his head while keeping a firm grasp on Celestia, who is trying to wriggle free but Doug sends her crashing down to the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex that was meant for her sister Blair and Doug quickly hooks the far leg…

One…NO!

Doug tags in Dan and the brothers take the smaller Ravenwood sister by her wrists and send her to the ropes and catch her with a double clothesline!

Konchu Hao: “They nearly decapitated her! What power!”

Dan runs the ropes and comes back with a leg drop on Celestia followed by another pin attempt…

One…TW--NO!!

Dan brings Celestia up and hoists her up in position for a fallaway slam, but the speedy Celestia spins around and out of his grip and from behind she manages to roll him up for a backsliding pin!

One…TW--NO!!

<< 04:58 >>

Jean-Luc Watkins: “The match rolls on, wrestling fans! The Coven have remained in control making frequent back and forth tags keeping Dan Lupone isolated from his brother…”

Blair has just tagged Celesta back in the ring after a double team pair of stomps in the corner to Dan. Celestia drags Dan out of the corner and mounts him before laying into him with wild punches…

Celestia removes herself and waits as Dan rises up and she goes for a jumping basement DDT, but Dan powers her away with a shove to the ropes and off the rebound she’s decimated with a big boot from Dan!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “There’s the opening Dan Lupone needed! Now he can tag in his fresher brother!”

Dan makes the tag to Doug and Doug comes in like a house of fire and hits Celestia with a jumping dropkick! Doug is feeling it now as Celestia rises back to her feet and charges at Doug but she eats a spin kick for her troubles instead! Doug hits the ropes and comes back with a running somersault senton to Celestia before dropping down for the pin!

One…two…NO!!

Doug tags Dan back while keeping a firm hold on Celestia and drags her to the nearest corner where they have a chopping contest at the expense of poor Celestia…

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Celestia Ravenwood in dire straits right now on the receiving end of that chopping spree, she is in desperate need for a tag before it’s too late!”

<< 07:55 >>

Dan has hit three scoop slams in a row on Celestia and the crowd is hyped up now as Dan hits the ropes and comes back with a leg drop but misses as Celestia rolls out of the way…
Dan holds his backside after the rough landing and starts to rise up only for Celestia to plant him face first to the canvas with a jumping DDT! Celestia leaps across the ring for the tag to her sister, and Blair sizes up Dan who is starting to rise up once more…Shining Witch! Blair makes the cover while Celestia prevents Doug from making the save by tripping him up on the apron on the outside…

One…two…three!!!

RESULT:
The Coven wins by pin fall at 09:06.

Natalie Rosenberg: “The winners of the match, The Coven!”

Blair joins her sister on the outside as the pair hastily make their exit back up the ramp while Doug checks on his brother inside the ring...

Jean-Luc Watkins: “The Coven sneak away with the win after outsmarting the Lupone brothers one too many times. Despite their power, the Lupones were no match for the quickness of The Coven, more action on the way!”

Countdown to Krash’s Deadline: 2:14:28

TO…

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

Patient: “So I think back to when things went out of the control and I think back to how I lost balance in my life. After I moved away from my community I lost a lot of connection to my family and my mental well-being. Then emotionally because I had nobody to talk to, and everything else followed suit. This necklace was made by my Grandmother and…”

Dr. Dolan: “It’s okay, Ethan. We won’t judge here.”

Ethan: “She always told me to stay balanced emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I lost that and it nearly ruined my life. So I want to regain that. Regain it for her. Thank you.”

Dr. Dolan: “Fantastic show and tell, Ethan. Now does anyone want to share their thoughts? Give support? Remember, this is a no judging zone.”

Dr. Dolan: “Nova! Any thoughts?”

Nova Taylor: “It was really insightful, Ethan. I’m not Indigenous, but it’s nice to learn about that perspective on wellness and trying to balance your life. I think we could learn a thing or two from you guys about keeping different areas of life in check and how when one of those things are off, it usually can lead to trauma. You’ve mentioned your substance abuse issues, your story sounds similar to some people I know who have had issues with it and what they go through. Something changes in their life, things get out of balance and sometimes if you cope in an unhealthy way.”

Nova Taylor: “And if there’s a silver lining the people I know did beat their demons and are on a better path now. It’s not easy, but we believe in you and I’m sure your Grandmother would be proud to see how far you’ve come.”

Ethan: “Thank you, you’re really kind.”

Dr. Dolan: “You’re a real sweetheart, dear. Now, do you want to share? Remember, the theme today is ‘Before.’”

Nova Taylor: “I’m going to need to change, but for a little background uh... I’m going to give a proper glimpse into what I was uh before. How I appeared and maybe see how I feel now and explain how I felt beforehand.”

Dr. Dolan: “Then go and change, we’ll continue while you do that.”

Nova Taylor: “I’m coming, jeez…”

Dr. Dolan: “Are you sure you should be wearing that?”

Dr. Dolan: “Well, share. Share with the group.”

Nova Taylor: “After I first seemingly ‘beat’ a lot of my issues with depression, anxiety and unhealthy coping I, uh, managed to get into modelling before I became a wrestler. I wasn’t much for wearing something uh, fancy looking, but it grew on me over time for sure. So, I uh, would commonly wear something like this on the runway and there I learned how to ‘mask’ how I’m feeling.”

Nova Taylor: “No matter if I was feeling like I was on the top of the world or was having a terrible day, for that minute I’d be on a runway, or in a photoshoot, I had to put myself in the right mood for what I was doing. If I was modelling something bright and fun I’d put on a big smile. If it was something like this, I’d be calm, alluring. I suppose apart from the fact I was getting dropped on my head in the ring, I guess it prepared me a bit for wrestling. No matter how I was feeling, once I stepped through the curtains I had to put on a show…”

Dr. Dolan: “And how did that make you feel?”

Dr. Dolan: “How did it feel to put on a mask? To be someone else?”

Nova Taylor: “-I uh, it was okay? I guess?”

Nova Taylor: “So when I was uh, I’ll use the word ‘Welcomed’ into my ‘family’ the woman who I won’t name uh, let me play Princess. I sort of escaped into that role and they made me think it was my purpose. Taking care of them and their daughter-”

Nova Taylor: “Their family. But really I deep down still had a lot of these issues. I was still struggling with how I viewed myself. I was scared. I didn’t feel like I belonged in most places. So in the end it was uh…”

Dr. Dolan: “And how did it feel to be a Princess?”

Dr. Dolan: “How did it feel to be called ‘cute’ and ‘sweet?’ To act graceful and elegant.”

Dr. Dolan: “Answer…”

Dr. Dolan: “Eden…”

Dr. Dolan: “What was she like to you?”

Dr. Dolan: “What about Slate?”

Nova Taylor: “He was complex, misunderstood. I. I related to him so much. He really made me feel welcomed.”

Nova Taylor: “I miss her.”

Nova Taylor: “I genuinely believe we want to help her. She was taken advantage of s-so much. She was so sweet as Lizzie but people stepped on her. L-Like me. I wanted to watch her mature and g-grow into a strong woman. I wish I could give her a b-big hug.”

Dr. Dolan: “What do you think of m̸̘̘̺̥͔͝͠ë̵̪̣̫̙̭̤͎̟̣͖̣́͆̑̓̎̃̂͂̕͝?̴̧̞͓͓̦̖̘̥͂̑̂͜͝ͅ”

Dr. Dolan?: “Y̸̡̪̫͙͗͑̈́̍͐̂͝o̴͚̰͙̱͖̺̠͋̔͌́̀ǘ̷͚̮̻̼̣ ̸̨̩̭͉̰̐͛h̵̜͔̲̀́̒a̶̪̙̦͉̾͒͝v̵̢͎̞̯͖̠̱̌͆̂͝ę̷͍̱̭̮͖̑̇̏͝n̵̲̮͙̣̘͈̟͆’̸̧̛̖̠͙̰͙̦̓̈́̌̆̍͠t̴̘͇͕̜̘̣̻͒ ̷̡̡͇̼͇̫͛f̷̧̳̣̼̲͎̒̏į̶̫̯͙̄̐͌̈́g̵̳̜̻̃̏̔̈́̾̈͘ú̵̠͎͛͛̿̄͌r̶̨̅̆͌̀̍̕e̴͈̝̔̄͆̍̚d̷̢͙̠̟̘̬̆͋̈́̄̚̕͜ ̴̧̛͔̝̇̎̑̍͝ͅĩ̵͕̰͚̼ͅt̷̯̺̙͗ ̷̡̬͖̳͖͓̭̾̆̈́͋͝ờ̵̗̤̜̭͗̉͠u̶̥͚̭͘ṱ̵̻̎̃͆͋̒ ̷̥͂̔̅y̷̡̛̺͉͓͇͖̥̆͒́̽é̸̦̙̮͔̼̆͆ẗ̴͚́̓͗?̷̧͕͎̘̘͐̀͌͝”

Keres: “Been a while, sister?”

Nova Taylor: “How… How could you do this to me!?”

Nova Taylor: “I s-sacrificed everything to help you… To be family to you! Ryan, Victoria, Reagan, Tyler, Riley, everyone! I chose you over them!”

Keres: “You needed to be taught a lesson…”

Nova Taylor: “For being excited for a tournament and signing up!?”

Nova Taylor: “No!”

Nova Taylor: “Stop with that! Stop! Stop! STOP! You always play these games and I'm getting sick of it! I changed your diapers, I gave you company, and I protected you at home and in a fucking wrestling ring and this is what you do!? I'm not your pawn!!!”

Keres: “You never answered the doctor. What do you feel about me?”

Nova Taylor: “I… I’m sorry, I’m still mad. I still feel betrayed…”

Keres: “It is okay, sister. Family fights sometimes, remember? Whether you like to admit it or not, our fates are forever intertwined. Without you, there is a piece missing from me. I do care and want the best for you.”

Keres: “What am I to you?”

Keres: “I thought you’d say that.”

Keres: “I think you served your sentence. You’re ready. But first, I need you to do a favor. Last year, you were kind enough to step aside to allow me to welcome Elizabeth into our family personally. Now I will step aside for you to have a ‘moment’ at Back in Business.”

Keres: “Him.”

Nova Taylor: “Sawyer? Really? Him-”

Keres: “I need him.”

Keres: “I want to see if what I see in him is true. You are crucial to this. Do you accept?”

Keres: “Good… Until then, it is time to reward you.”

Keres: “Consider this your rebirth, sister…”

“And this has been…”

"If you want to fly, g̷̩͝i̴̗̋v̴̰͆e̵̳̐ ̵̝̎u̴͔̚p̴͕̉ ̴̠̋ę̴͂v̵̯͐ḛ̸͑r̸̙̃y̵̛̞t̵͚̃h̷̤̆i̵̱̽ṉ̶̽ǧ̶̡ ̶̳͂t̴̹̽h̵̹̿a̵͚̔t̶̲̂ ̸̪̿h̶̦͝o̸̖͊l̷͉̏d̴͕͐s̵̯͗ ̵̬̑ý̷̳o̷̡̊ú̵̳ ̵̦̓d̶̛̪ȍ̸̮w̶̲̚n̵̰̈.̵͓̄.̵̺́.̷͉͠"

[ “End of the Beginning” || DJO.]

The electfired Fallout crowd to jumps their feet in the Smoothie King Centre in Denver. The FWA universe erupts as “The Workhorse” Brooklyn Steiner walks out from behind the curtains with a microphone in his hands. He walks down the ramp in a tailored suit with a gold rolex watch that one can imagine is worth. Walking down the ramp Steiner acknowledges his fans with a head nod.

As Brooklyn gets to the ring, a HUGE! “GO BROOKLYN GO SIGN” is held by his crazy fans that is so big that it covers the top deck seats of the Smoothie King Centre. It’s impossible not for it to catch the eye of Steiner which brings a smile to his face.He steps onto the apron and enters the ring as his aura commands nothing but attention from the crowd. The crowd reaches a fever pitch and the Workhorse takes a moment to soak it all in.

Steiner goes to pick up the microphone to his lips but he waits for the hyped up crowd to settle down just a little. His face shows nothing but focus and the seriousness of the moment. The Smoothie King Centre is filled with the anticipation waiting on what Brooklyn Steiner has to say. The crowd finally hushes down as Brooklyn begins to speak.

Brooklyn Steiner: I really don't want to take too much time out here tonight, I kinda want to get straight to the point here. I want one thing, and I want one thing only and I know there is only one man who can give it to me. I WANT TOMMY BEDLAM! I want to put my fist down his throat, I want to put an end to him. I want to put an end to the Cowboy for good, put his ass back on the shelf and show that FWA, will move on fine without him. I want to prove how unnecessary he is to this place, and I can only do that if I can get his ass in the ring for one match.

Brooklyn pauses for a second as he gets more fired up…..

Brooklyn Steiner: Tommy! You bitch ass Cowboy, let’s make this official… GIVE ME WHAT! I WANT!!!

[ “Wanted Dead or Alive” || Bon Jovi.]

Tommy Bedlam makes his way toward the ring. Bedlam appears at the top of the ramp to a chorus of boos from the crowd with a microphone in his hand. Seemingly ignoring the crowd, he makes his way toward the ring.

Before he can get to the apron, Jon Russnow along with a group of 12 security guards rush down the ramp and get between The Cowboy and the ring.

Jon Russnow:Tommy, Brooklyn, let me make this clear. If either one of you lays a hand on the other one, I’ll be forced to take action. Bedlam, you’re not even cleared to be here and I have every right to throw you out of the arena.

Tommy Bedlam:Calm down, Jonny. I won’t bust up your D-List Hollywood darling again, at least not tonight. But I’m not gonna sit in the back and let him run through his lines out here, either.

Russnow slowly turns his back to Tommy and instructs the security personnel to keep an eye on him, turning his own attention to Brooklyn Steiner who is staring down Bedlam.

Jon Russnow:Brooklyn, listen. I know you want to get your hands on Tommy again. I get it. If there’s anybody here who understands what a pain in the ass he can be, it’s me. But I cannot let you keep fighting with a member of this roster who does not have medical clearance to compete.

Tommy Bedlam:You think I give a shit about your medical clearance Russnow? You really think that matters to me? If you and this idiot fanbase hadn’t drooled all over some guy who washed in here after he tanked his acting career, I wouldn’t have had to do what I did. Jon, if you want to blame anybody for this whole thing, you can blame yourself and the dumbasses who stood around applauding a guy for going out injured when I did the same thing a few weeks earlier.

There was no “You deserve it chants” when I laid down the X Title. You weren’t standing in the back waiting on me when I walked through curtains when I left my boots in the middle of the ring, thinking my career was over.

Brooklyn Steiner:Shut the ###K UP! Maybe you just can’t get over the fact that we all see you as the phony that you are. The fans see, I see and deep down when you ask yourself why the fans didn’t get up on their feet and support you, the answer isn’t as complicated as you think. Maybe nobody stood up and told you that “you deserved it” because they didn’t think you did. Maybe they saw a man who was fake as ####, and they saw a man who was trying to be something that he wasn’t. You know deep down you didn’t deserve the support from these fans…

Tommy Bedlam:And you did? Seriously? Who the fuck are you, anyway? Some guy who couldn’t cut it in Hollywood but still needed some attention. Jon, have you ever thought about how stupid it is to bring in some mid-level actor and put a title on him? They’ll make documentaries about this shit one day. They’ll call it “WHO KILLED FWA” and it’ll be four hours of interviews about putting the strap on a guy who couldn’t get on a celebrity gameshow.

The crowd is absolutely indignant which seems to amuse Bedlam.

Brooklyn Steiner: “Russnow, listen. I’ve not given you any problems since I got here, but I want a match against that son of a bitch at Back in Business. Give me Tommy Bedlam in New York.

There’s a loud pop from the crowd at the idea of Steiner and Bedlam finally getting to have an actual match.

Tommy Bedlam: Do it, Russnow. Give him what he wants. Give these dumbasses what they want. You know you’re a man of the people, Jon.

Jon Russnow: You’re damn right I want to give these people what they want. Hell, Brooklyn, I want to give you what you want. I want you to shove your fist down Bedlam’s throat. I want you to kick his ass all over New York. But I cannot book a match for a guy who isn’t cleared to compete. If you and Bedlam want a match, we can set one up for later on. We can do it after Back in Business, but there’s no way for him to get clearance to compete before the show.

Brooklyn Steiner: Fine. That’s fine. Bedlam, you and me. New York. We won’t do it in an FWA ring. Hell, we don’t even have to do it in the arena. I’ll meet you in the parking lot. I’ll meet you in Time Square. I’ll meet you at Yankee Stadium. I don’t give a shit. No rules, no referee, just a fight. Two men who hate each other fight until one of them can’t go anymore.

Tommy Bedlam: Hollywood, I’m not sure you know what you’re asking for here. While you were begging for bookings on Hallmark movies, I was busting my ass. While you were trying to get cast as an extra in some movie that went straight to DVD, I was fighting and scractching and clawing my way through this industry. But shit, if you want a fight, I’ll be in New York.

Jon Russnow looks a bit lost as to what to do.

Jon Russnow: Brooklyn, I cannot let you set up an unsanctioned match like this. Do you realize what this-

Before he can finish, Steiner cuts him off.

Brooklyn Steiner: What are you going to do Jon? Are you going to fire me? We both know you’re not. I’m not asking for permission here. Tommy, you and me. New York. Tell me where you want to do this thing and I’ll be there.

Brooklyn Steiner takes a couple steps toward the ropes as Tommy Bedlam inches closer to the ring, but six of the security guards hop up onto the apron while the others move closer to Tommy keeping them apart much to the chagrin of the crowd. Tommy smirks and drops his mic as he slowly starts backing up the ramp as Steiner continues to try to push his way through security. Brooklyn pushes through and gets to Russnow as he and the executive are face to face as Steiner looks him in his eyes.

Brooklyn Steiner: No matter what you do to try and stop it. A fight will happen at Back In Business, And I will put that man on the shelf FOREVER! This shit is inevitable and you know it!

Jon Russnow: He isn’t cleared, I can’t let this happen Brooklyn. This can’t be a match at Back In Business. But, whatever happens at Back In Business between you two, while I can’t sanction, I also can’t stop you two from ripping each other apart.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I’m not sure what that means for Back in Business, but I do know that Brooklyn Steiner and Tommy Bedlam detest one another, and Jon Russnow seems to have resigned himself to them fighting it out.”

Countdown to Krash’s Deadline: 1:55:10



[“Zombie” || The Cranberries.]

The crowd’s initial reaction to hearing Zombie again is to pop. Though this time they’re more hesitant. There is still a loud and vocal majority of Golden faithful who show support for their hero.

Again the song plays for an extended period of time, enough for the karaoke to begin again.

’In your heeeeeaaaad!
In your heeeee-eh-eh-ead!

ZOMBIE! ZOMB-BOOOOOOOOOO!’

The crowd are once again, unsurprisingly, disappointed to see not Devin Golden but FTN walk through the curtain.

Alyster and Chris are even more pleased with themselves the second time around. Hopping on the spot with their fists raised, offering to fight anyone who’ll take them on. Not that their small militia of security personnel will allow that to happen.

They settle in the middle of the entrance ramp, dangerously close to the fans in the front row. Thankfully Richard ‘Big Dick’ Tator and the rest of their security detail is there to keep the fans from getting their hands on FTN.

Chris is about to raise his microphone to his mouth when Alyster taps him on the shoulder and points to the rabid NOLA fans behind them who are desperately trying to paw at them, who are all being manhandled and kept back by Dick and crew. Chris can’t help but to laugh.

Chris Peacock: “HA-HAAAAAAAAAAA!”

The booing intensifies.

Chris Peacock: “Look at you idiots, trying to put your hands on the greatest tag team in the FWA.”

Alyster Black: “You heard that right folks, we’re THE greatest tag team. Better than The Connection!"

Chris Peacock: “Better than the Toner Brothers.”

Alyster Black: “Better than Golden Rock.”

Chris Peacock: “And better than Danny and Randy.”

Alyster Black: “But we didn’t just come out here to gloat this time.”

Alyster and Chris both drop their mics then turn around and sucker punch two fans in the front row, reaching past Dick and crew to hit them. As their personal security detail restrain the rest of the front row, FTN take their victims and pull them over the rail. They begin laying into what appears to be two teenages, no more than 16 years old each, with punch after punch. And once the boys drop down, they begin putting the boots to them.

Chris is the first to pick up his dropped microphone.

Chris Peacock: “That’s just a preview for the beating the rest of you are getting later tonight!”

Alyster Black: “Peace out fucksticks!”

They make their exit, both holding their middle fingers up valiantly as the crowd begins to pelt them with garbage.



The feed for Fallout shifts to Mexico City, Mexico, where XYZ and his merry band of hell-raisers and light-defenders are standing under the torrid heat of summer on a grey gravel parking lot. It's not ideal conditions, but XYZ and The Menage are here for specific business.

"Amigo, the bus ... no good ... but we fix. We even fix ... big fan in back."

The man, wearing a tattered and dirty mechanic shirt, stands about 5 feet, 6 inches and has a wrench in his hand. It's all quite stereotypical, but it's the type of stereotypical that offers X some comfort and reassurance. He feels the proper work has been done.

"Amigo," XYZ says in the whitest possible way, "I appreciate all of your hard work. Is she as good as new?"

The mechanic seems flustered by his question, which is a way of speak in English language more than a sincere question needing a practical answer. Yet ...

"Amigo ... she will never be new. She is old. Many miles. Millions. More than eight. You are close to ten. She not new. Old."

XYZ nods his head and puts his arm on the mechanic's shoulder.

"Can she fly again?"

The mechanic does not know how to answer, stumbling over his words. X shrugs it off and redirects the question.

"I'm sure you got her flying again, but we will test it. How much do I owe?"

"Paperwork inside. Come."

XYZ takes initial steps to follow him into the tiny little shop connected to the two-car garage. The parking lot is about half full of cars either needing repaired or already repaired and needing to be picked up. The assumption among XYZ and The Menage is their vehicle of desire is inside the garage, hidden from their sight.

"X, honey, should I come along? I think I should."

XYZ turns and smiles warmly at his mom.

"No need. I can handle. It should only take a few minutes, yes?"

XYZ looks back to the mechanic, who urges him to come more quickly. As the former FWA Tag Team Champion follows, this leaves the other Menage members alone in the parking lot. PacMan Bert cannot play his handheld PacMan game at the moment due to the machine overheating. Frank is sweating bullets and tries to find any shade he can by sitting in the shadows of parked cars. Lizzy Golden joins him, also offended by the 95-degree heat in Mexico City. This leaves Christian Howard, Sierra, and XYZ's mom standing in a disjointed triangle formation in the middle of the lot.

"Oooo," Lizzy says quietly to Frank, who is breathing heavily due to his overweight stature amid the heat. "Fireworks are about to go off. This oughta be good."

Sure enough, Sierra breaks the silence and jumps right into the accusations.

"Hi ... XYZ's mom. Yes, I have some questions for you, if you don't mind."

XYZ's mom is already on the defensive -- evident by her facial expression -- but shrugs her shoulders and says, "Okay." Christian Howard, who is still wearing a suit and tie somehow in this heat wave of summer, silently recuses himself from the conversation, pacing around the lot on his own.

"Where were you this whole time?"

"I told you all. I was traveling."

"You saw him on television. You saw him wrestling for years, did you not?"

"I have worried he would not want me back."

"Why now then?"

"Look ... I understand you have doubts about my intentio..."

"I have doubts because XYZ has been hurt many times! He has lost people close to him. He has been let down. He has struggled with loss and pain so many times. YOU ... started it. Then his dog. Then ... yes ... imaginary friends even. But it has not been simple for him. And now you return, and I want to protect him. I am a mother, after all, and my motherly instincts are unsure of ..."

Sierra pauses and looks away.

"Of all of this!"

Sierra then takes a deep, long breath.

"I am also concerned about the phone call."

"What phone call?" X's mom says defensively.

"The one on the last shows. The one where you were in the hallway talking. I saw you. The cameras saw you. Who were you tal..."

"Well, for starters, I don't like that you're spying on me."

X's mom suddenly shows a distrusting look toward the camera that's filming this specific segment.

"Second, that was a financial conversation. And it has nothing to do with my son!

Now leave me alone!"

X's mom seems rather defiant and aggressive now. She is closing the gap between her and Sierra -- in somewhat of a threatening manner, which gets Lizzy to rise to her feet in preparation for any need of her. Sierra, however, does not back down from the intimidation effort.

"And you wanting to be the one he chooses to be in his corner for the TV Championship match against Kleio de Santos at Back in Business?! What is that about? Don't you think it should be someone who has been by his side for longe..."

"Listen here, bitch," X's mom scowls as she gets right up into Sierra's face, with a finger pointed at her so close it is nearly touching Sierra's jaw. "I don't know why you're suspicious of me, or what I did to you, but blood is thicker than water, and I know my way to his heart. So whatever you think you know about him, or whatever you think is best for him, I am number one. So stay out of my way, Sierra, because you're not going to ruin this for me."

"Ruin this for you? What is 'th...'" Sierra starts to ask, which gets X's mom even more upset.

The commotion is interrupted, however, when XYZ emerges from the office with a piece of paper. He shakes the mechanic's hand. X's mom backs away from Sierra, who shifts her focus back and forth between X and his mom.

"The Magic School Bus!" Frank shouts in exasperation.

Everyone in The Menage looks in the direction where Frank points. One of the garage doors opens up and there she is, looking good as new, with a whole new coat of yellow paint. Gone are the chipped paint spots and the rust. There's no lettering on the bus. It's almost as if there are no signs of it being a "Magic" school bus, but it's still a beautiful yellow hue, shining in the sunlight.

Frank rises from his seated position and begins speed-walking toward the bus. He cared little for the confrontation in the parking lot. All he wants is a recuse from the heat. Proper air conditioning would be a bonus.

Everyone else follows, and they all file up into the vehicle through the open door and three steps on the front-right side.

"Oh! Air conditioning! It's back!" Frank shouts, with the cameras hearing it from the parking lot.

The mechanic smiles as he hears the joy and applause among the group. He wipes his hands with a dirty rag and sticks the old, rusty wrench in his pocket. The mechanic went above and beyond -- far above and beyond the request to get the bus simply "working again" -- and The Menage are now living a life of luxury.

"Alright, my fellow XYZites. You have stood with me for so long. So so so long. And I cannot thank you all enough. We are finally whole again. We have our transport. We can once more fly through the universe and face the evils that dismay the downtrodden!"

Everyone shouts with glee. It's like Christmas morning for The Menage. From the outside of the bus, the mechanic gives a curious look toward the bus. "Fly?" he wonders.

"Who wants to take a side trip to Galaxy Messier 81?!?!" X asks. "I've got some business to tend to."

The group is rather mundane in response, except for XYZ's mom.

"What does he mean? Galaxy Messier 81?"

"Oh, you've never done one of these before, have you?" Christian Howard asks.

"One of what?" she asks nervously.

"Hold on tight, ma'am. You're going to outer space," Frank says emphatically.

"Wait ... I thought that was just an imaginary tale, like some of the others."

"And after that ... WE RETURN ... FOR THE BUSINESS ... OF THE BACK!"

Suddenly, the Magic School Bus starts up, the engines running, and the vehicle's wings slide out from the bottom of the bus to either side. The fan in the rear also begins spinning. Gone is the black smoke exhaling from the rear exhaust pipe.

Slowly, the Magic School Bus elevates from the pavement and into the air. The wings begin shooting out fire as the bus glides through the Mexico City heatwave and out into the blue sky above. The cameras can hear XYZ's mom screaming in fear away

Down on the ground, the mechanic watches -- mouth agape in shock -- a literal school bus that he worked on for months turn into an aircraft right before his very eyes.

Countdown to Krash’s Deadline: 1:32:47




THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!
Este es un anuncio de servicio público.

ATTENTION!
Atención.

THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!
Este es un anuncio de servicio público.


BROUGHT TO YOU BY…
Traído a usted por...

THE GREATEST TRIOS CHAMPIONS IN FWA HISTORY…
Los mayores campeones de tríos en la historia de la FWA..

HALLOWEEN KNIGHT!
Caballero de Halloween.

THE TRASH MAMMAL!
El Mamífero Basura.

JUAN TOTHREFoR!
Juan Tothrefor.

TR1CK OR TR4SH!
[Error code 75682783112K: Translation not found. You are using an outdated edition of Translatte.AI. A support ticket has been created. Your ticket number is [UNKNOWN]. Please consult Translatte.AI firmware support forum. Consider upgrading to a Premium Subscription to gain further access to more translations and languages, including French, Turkish, Urban Dictionary, and English 2.0.]

Smash cut to a podium, standing tall amongst a colorful backdrop, with the BIB logo proudly etched onto it. A low triumphant mariachi solo is playing from somewhere off the screen, as three figures emerge from offscreen - Halloween night, Trash Mammal, and Juan Tothrefor, proudly holding their treasured FWA Trios Championships. And you know how Luchadores look absolutely badass in the mask and suit combo? It must be a special occasion, because our Lucha Boys are ROCKIN’ it. Halloween Knight has an absolutely stylish number benefitting his spooktacular shtick, a black suit with an orange trim. Juan has a rather snazzy Miami Vice-like leisure suit, as he finalizes his bowtie. And Trash Mammal is sporting the kind of checkered suit you’d see on a shady car salesman, complete with a tacky yet charming tie. He makes it work, though.

The three join each other in front of the curtain, nodding, as they place their FWA Trios Championships on the podium, before they turn to the camera. Big pop.

Halloween Knight: “Hola, Amigos.”

Juan Tothrefor: “It’s the numero uno stable in all of FWA : Halloween Knight, Juan Tothrefor, Trash Mammal-”

Trash Mammal: “TR1CK OR TR4SH, baby!”

Bigger pop. TxT are fuckin’ popular, yo.

Halloween Knight: “It’s the eve of Back In Business, and what do I spy? Or, rather, what don’t I spy?”

Juan Tothrefor: “Tell us what you do or do not spy, amigo.”

Halloween Knight: “We don’t have a match currently booked for Back In Business, is what.”

Trash Mammal: “The FWA Trios Championship, the most priceless an’ prestigious hunk of gold this side of El Dorado, ain’t got a spot on the card.”

Juan Tothrefor: “And neither do we, the FWA Trios Champions.”

Trash Mammal: “Undefeated Trios Champions, moight I add.”

Halloween Knight: “We had some talks. Had some discussions. Had some seances over the table. And we came to the conclusion that, we’re in prime position to kickstart an annual tradition.”

Juan Tothrefor: “Last year, the FWA Trios Championships debuted, in a chaotic battle royal. History was made, when The Coven outlasted them all.”

Trash Mammal: “An’ this year, we’re bringing it back ta where it all began.”

Halloween Knight: “TR1CK OR TR4SH are proud to announce that we’re continuing annual legacy… Of the BIB Open Challenge Battle Royal.”

HUGE POP. People love battle royals.

Juan Tothrefor: “It could be six men. Nine. Twelve. Fifteen. Eighteen. All whittled down to one, representing their own trios.”

Trash Mammal: “And when we say it’s open to anyone, dis is open to ANYONE. FWA, nGw, LCW - You name it, if you can rattle together two allies in time for BIB, then you’re welcome to take your shot, aim at the greats, and miss.”

Halloween Knight: “We’ve beaten a who’s who of FWA Trios recently - The Coven, The Lumberjacks, The Bad Boys Boy Band - and it’s only going to keep going up from here. We’re undefeated as a trio, and the list of names of those who couldn’t get it done against us is only going to double - nay, triple - at Back In Business.”

Juan Tothrefor: “Come one, come all. Just don’t come expecting to count us out.”

The trio nod gamely, smirking. The camera zooms in on the FWA Trios Championships, before we cut to black.



[ Paint It, Black || The Rolling Stones]

Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones goes off to a sea of boos from the crowd. Kleio De Santos emerges with her FWA TV Championship unphased by the crowd noise. She’s wearing her MMA fighting gear and wornout black Chuck Taylor All Stars.

Natalie Rosenberg: “This next match is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit. Introducing first, she is the current FWA Television Champion…. KKLLEEEEEEEEEIIIOOOO DDDDEEEEEEE SSSSSAAANNNNTTOOOOOOS!”

She stomps down to the ring with a look of anger and determination on her face.

It’s a quick entrance as she is just focused on getting in the ring and beating the hell out of Trixie Bordeaux.

And that’s it.

Kleio is ready to go, and is all business tonight as she stands in the corner, with her FWA TV Championship draped over her shoulder. The Louisiana crowd breaks out into an incredibly loud “TRI-XIE! TRI-XIE! TRI-XIE!” chant as they eagerly await the arrival of their home-state girl… the crowd’s chants are interrupted as the lights shut off completely, and an unfamiliar song plays throughout the arena…

[”I am the Fire” || Halestorm]

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

“Am I brave enough?”

“Am I strong enough?”

“To follow the desire, that burns from within…”

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

“To push away my fears…”

“To stand where I’m afraid…”

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

“I am through with this…”

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

“‘Cause I am more than this…”

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

“I promise to myself, alone, and no one else…”

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

“My flame is rising higher…”

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

“… I AM THE FIRE!!”

The lights beam back to life as the epic chorus kicks in, which is made all the more epic as fire bolts shoot from the stage in time with the rhythm of the song. As all this is going on, we see the first glimpses of Louisiana’s own Bellatrix Bordeaux as she rises from beneath the stage via a lift, sending her home-state fans into a frenzy of support for their favorite girl. Once Trixie is most of the way up, even Kleio couldn’t help but let out an eye-roll and a little smirk as she sees Trixie, sat on what looks to be a homemade (and pretty badly so, as it looks to have been made by Trixie herself) throne, with her FWA X Championship wrapped around her waist, and a thorny crown made from glued together twigs and sticks, sat atop her head.

With Trixie now fully lifted onto the stage, the camera zooms in close to her face. Despite the roaring support of her home fans, and all the theatrics, Trixie’s eyes are firmly set on her once friend and leader, Kleio De Santos… Trixie looked ready for war.

Natalie Rosenberg: “Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, introducing her opponent… From BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

The fans pop at the mention of their home state!

Natalie Rosenberg: “Weighing in at 133 pounds… She is the FWA X Champion, and the ‘QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN Of the DEATHMATCH’… TRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIXIE BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORDEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUX!”

With the fans roaring once more, screaming her name in unison with Natalie Rosenberg, Trixie climbs off of her throne and begins her walk towards the ring, still not taking her eyes off of her opponent.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “When Trixie won the brutal King of the Deathmatch tournament, she let it be known that she felt that she had been disrespected by the FWA itself when they cut her victory speech off, and didn’t give her the coronation that she felt that she earned… well, as she returns here tonight to her hometown, her Queendom, Trixie must finally feel like a Queen.”

Konchu Hao: “It is a title that she earned through blood, which I respect… but, despite all of the royal theatrics, Trixie’s eyes seem to want for only one thing right now, and that is the blood of one who was once her friend, her leader… she wants Kleio De Santos.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I am both on the edge of my seat with excitement to see these two go at it here tonight, but also interested… There is a lot of bad blood between these two Champions, and for all that bad blood to be confined to a regular old wrestling match with all the rules that come with it, and so I’m interested to see if these two women can keep their emotions in check enough that this fight stays within the boundary of those rules.”

Making it to the ringside area, Trixie walks to the left-hand side of the ring and climbs onto the apron, before removing her X Championship from around her waist and raising it high in front of her fans and screams triumphantly, which garners yet another sizable pop, before turning her attention back to Kleio as she climbs into the ring through the middle and top ropes. Trixie and Kleio each hand their respective championship titles to the referee, who himself hands them to the timekeeper for safe keeping.

Turning around, the referee notices Kleio and Trixie standing face-to-face in the center of the ring, each talking no small amount of shit to the other, and attempts to get them back into their respective corners. Neither is willing to back up, not even an inch. They’re nose to nose at this point, their words becoming more and more venomous with each passing second, with the referee trying to muscle his way between them to separate them. Unable to create some separation, the referee thinks for a moment, before deciding to just give up and ring the bell, much to the fans’ delight.



THIRD MATCH || 1/30.
Trixie Bordeaux vs. Kleio De Santos.
Singles Match.
Match writer: Welsh.


<< 00:00 >>

Jean-Luc Watkins: “And here we go… once friends, now enemies. Champion vs. Champion… this is gonna be a good one!”

Having each used every bit of restraint they had to not strike out at the other prior to the ring of the bell, well… they weren’t about to wait any longer, as, as soon as the bell rings out, the two just start fucking swinging! Each grabbing their adversary by the head, Trixie and Kleio just start driving their fists into each other’s heads and faces as the crowd cheers the fast-paced start!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “And both competitors are hot out of the gate here!”

After a good 15-20 strikes each landed to the face of their opponent, it is Kleio who is forced to take a staggered step backwards as the hard-headed Trixie marches forward and continues her vicious assault on her former leader, backing Kleio into the ropes. Having to cover up as the tireless barrage of punches rain towards her, Kleio manages to deflect on strike, dodge another, and finds an opening where she sneaks in a vicious knee to Trixie’s abdomen, doubling the X Champion over, followed by a nasty European Uppercut, sending Trixie staggering backwards. Kleio pushes forward and now it’s her turn to rain knuckles into the face of the Queen of the Deathmatch!

As stubborn as a mule, and as hard-headed as one too, Trixie forced herself steady and fired back at Kleio, delivering a picture perfect punch to Kleio’s jaw. Not wanting to give Trixie an inch, Kleio fires back. And Trixie returns. And Kleio retaliates, all the while the raucous crowd cheered “YEAH!” for their hometown girl, and “BOO!” for her enemy as the two traded strikes.

After a few more “YEAH!” and “BOO!”, Trixie decides to change up her method of assault, and retaliates after one of Kleio’s punches with a skull-cracking headbutt, knocking both girls woozy for a moment, before Kleio shakes the cobwebs loose and looks to fire another right hand, but Trixie once again lands a headbutt, and another! And another…

The Crowd: “YEAH!… YEAH!… YEAH!”

Kleio is on unsteady legs, and so is Trixie, but giving that bashing her opponent’s brains in with her own brains has been one of Trixie’s primary strategies for her emote career, Trixie is far more used to fighting while loopy, and so she doesn’t relent! She grabs Kleio by the hair and continues her skull vs. skull assault until Kleio loses balance and drops to her knees. With Kleio kneeling before her, Trixie lets out a visceral scream, before running off the ropes and charging back at her former leader and connecting skull to skull with a Torpedo Trixie to her kneeling opponent!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Torpedo Trixie! It took a lot to get her there, but Kleio’s down! Can Trixie capitalize!”

Heeding Jean-Luc’s advice, Trixie, wobbly as all hell, stumbles atop Kleio and goes for the cover, looking to end this match early and show her dominance…

One..-NO! Not even a TWO!

With an emphatic kick out by Kleio, Trixie, showing her hard-earned experience, jumps straight back on the attack, literally, as she mounts Kleio and proceeds to unload with… bloody well EVERYTHING! Punches, forearms, elbows, slaps, you name it, as Kleio tries to cover up! Managing to block the majority of Trixie's wild offense Kleio pushes Trixie off and scrambles to her feet. With Kleio backwards into the ropes, Trixie charges at Kleio, seemingly looking to spear her former friend to the outside, but Kleio sees the blonde mad-woman rushing towards her and manages to side-step, using Trixie’s momentum to throw her through the middle and top ropes to the outside. Impressively, Trixie managed to land on her feet and, not wanting to let Kleio catch a breath, Trixie immediately looked to slide back into the ring and go straight back on the attack, except, as she lifted herself off the mat upon sliding into the ring…

Jean-Luc Watkins: “KLEIO WITH THE CURB STOMP!”

Konchu Hao: “Ms Bordeaux’s relentless pursuit comes back to bite her, and bite hard. Trixie may be unconscious!”

With Kleio having driven Trixie’s head into the canvas, she allows herself a moment's respite from what has been a nonstop brawl up to this point, all the while the Louisiana crowd lets the “Queen of TV” know what they think of her.

Soaking in the boos with a shit-eating grin, Kleio drags Trixie’s lifeless body to the center of the ring by her wrist, rolls her over, and goes for a half-assed cover intended to troll the crowd as much as to actually win the match, essentially using Trixie’s body as a pillow…

One…

Two..-NO! Trixie gets the shoulder up!

Sitting up, Kleio doesn’t look at all surprised that Trixie kicked out, even going so far as to mockingly applaud her former underling, before slapping on a simple headlock so that she can talk some more trash to Trixie and her fans.

<< 08:22 >>

It’s been all Kleio since that vicious curb stomp, with the far more experienced combatant managing to keep Trixie grounded with a combination of ring IQ and superior technical ability, all the while belittling Trixie with mean-spirited trash talk.

Trying to fight her way back into the match, Trixie scratches and claws at Kleio’s hands with her free hand, trying to force Kleio to release her tight crossface submission. Though Trixie’s nails digging into her hand caused a good amount of pain, it only really serves to motivate Kleio to apply even more pressure as she wrenched on Trixie’s face and neck, causing the X Champion to grimace and yelp in pain, though the yelp is muffled by Kleio’s hands being clamped over Trixie’s mouth.

Kleio De Santos: “Aww, the stupid little girl wants to cry?”

Kleio taunts with a horrible grin, mocking Trixie’s yelps of pain and causing her to growl frustratedly as she desperately tries to crawl, using every bit of strength in her 130 pound body to drag herself, and Kleio, towards the ropes. As Trixie scoots forward, getting ever closer to the ropes, and freedom from Kleio’s excruciating hold, the “TV Queen” piles on the verbal mockery.

Kleio De Santos: “Oh! Almost there, little girl! C’mon, you can do it! YOU CAN DO IT!”

Trixie - wanting nothing more than to explode in a fiery inferno of rage, but being unable to - channels all of her emotions into her next scoot, and the one after that, crawling and reaching out, trying desperately to touch the ropes of freedom, when, just as her fingertips touches the ropes, Kleio releases the hold and grabs Trixie by the hair, before slamming her face-first into the canvas, much to the displeasure of the scornful crowd.

Kleio laughs gleefully at the boos of the crowd, and also at Trixie struggling to drag herself up using the ropes. Kleio’s pleased demeanor suddenly turns to an evil scowl, however, as she once again grabs Trixie by the hair and lifts her by her blonde locks to her feet, when-

Jean-Luc Watkins: “OH! A big right hand by Trixie! Kleio’s rocked!”

As Kleio staggers back a step, a furious-looking Trixie charges in, looking to unload all of her pent up frustrations into Kleio’s face! Trixie lands a forearm, and another forearm, and then a big right hand, sending Kleio stumbling backwards! Following Kleio into the ropes, Trixie grabs Kleio by the arm and irish whips her, sending her towards the opposite ropes, and charging behind her with a rageful scream signaling her charge!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “And TRIXIE WITH A BIG CLOTHESLINE! They BOTH go tumbling to the outside!”

Despite the sheer momentum of her clothesline sending both Kleio AND Trixie tumbling over the top rope and crashing to the floor, it is the Queen of the Deathmatch who springs to her feet first, fuelled by a burning desire to get her own back. Grabbing Kleio by the hair, Trixie throws her opponent into the barricade and unloads with a series of rights and lefts, screaming profanity all the while!

Trixie Bordeaux: “DIE, YOU FUCKING BITCH! DIE! DIE! DIE!”

Desperate to get this mad-girl off her, Kleio shoves Trixie back and tries to flee back to the ring, but Trixie is having none of it as she literally jumps atop Kleio’s back and begins elbowing her in the back of the head as the referee’s count reaches FIVE.

Kleio De Santos: “AH, GET OFF ME YOU DUMB BITCH!”

As Kleio staggers around with a wild blonde wolverine attached to her back, Trixie, wanting to cause as much pain as possible, BITES KLEIO’S HEAD as she clings on for dear life! Kleio yelps as Trixie digs her teeth into her scalp, before, in a desperate attempt to remove Trixie from her back, she backpedals as fast as she can and drives Trixie back first into the ring post, forcing the X Champion to release the hold as she clutched her back in pain.

Having separated herself from Trixie, and with the referee’s count at an EIGHT, Kleio scrambles back into the ring and clutches the back of her head as the referee counts NINE…

As Trixie looks up and realizes that Kleio is now in the ring, we see blood covering her mean, scowling mouth… Kleio’s blood. Realizing that the referee is about to count her out, Trixie slides back into the ring just in time. Kleio charges at Trixie, hoping to intercept her ring entry once again, but Trixie is too quick to her feet this time, and she tackles Kleio to the ground and begins slamming the TV Champion’s head into the canvas, much to the crowd’s delight!

Kleio pushes Trixie off and tries to scramble to her feet, but before she could get there…

Jean-Luc Watkins: “FAMOUSER! Trixie might have it here!”

Trixie rolls Kleio over and goes for the cover!

One…

Two..-NO! Kleio kicks out!

Trixie slams her hands onto the mat in frustration as Kleio uses the ropes to get up and stumbles to the corner. Seeing the opportunity, Trixie positions herself in the opposite corner to Kleio, looking to connect with her signature Shotgun Dropkick…

Jean-Luc Watkins: “… NOBODY HOME! KLEIO gets out of dodge!”

With Kleio darting out of the way just in the nick of time, Trixie winds up flying feet first into the corner and crashing to the mat, landing on her head and neck!

Konchu Hao: “A sickening landing for Trixie after that failed dropkick attempt!”

Clutching the back of her head, which is bleeding and probably missing a chunk, Kleio glares furiously at Trixie, who’s clutching her neck after her nasty landing. Using the ropes to get back to her feet, Kleio storms towards Trixie and drags her closer to the corner, before rolling out of the ring and dragging Trixie underneath the bottom turnbuckle. Grabbing one of Trixie’s arms and one of her legs, Kleio plants one of her feet on the ring post, and then the other, so that she is now no longer touching the floor, with the only thing keeping Kleio elevated is Trixie’s contorted spine bent unnaturally over the ring post… and with everything she has, Kleio PUSHES WITH HER FEET as Trixie screams in agony and horror as she is damn near being broken in half!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!! A HUMAN BODY IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BEND THAT WAY!!!”

The referee’s count must’ve seemed an eternity for Trixie as she cried and screamed, helpless as Kleio has all of the leverage, as she is bent backwards across the ring post!

Kleio De Santos: “YOU WANNA BETRAY ME, HUH BITCH!? SCREAM! SCREAM YOU STUPID BITCH!”

… and Trixie did just that as the referee counted…

5…

6…

7…

8…

Needing enough time to beat the count, Kleio reluctantly plants her feet back onto the ground and releases the excruciating hold, before rolling back into the ring. Kleio took her time as she watched as Trixie, with tears of agony in her eyes, nursed her back. Eventually, thinking that making Trixie cry in front of her hometown fans was enough retribution for now, Kleio dragged Trixie to the center of the ring and made the cover…

One…

Two…

THREE…-NO! Trixie refuses to lay down!

Kleio’s eyebrows raise in surprise as the referee signals the two count, thinking that Trixie had had enough. Kleio shook her head in frustration as she turned to see Trixie rolling over to her stomach and attempting to lift herself up, though unsuccessfully. Seeing her former underling even so much as still squirming in defiance was enough to piss Kleio off, as she climbed to her feet and went back on the attack…

<< 16:45 >>

Trixie’s back was the primary target of attack for Kleio, as she thought up different techniques that she could use to try and snap Trixie in half. For her efforts, Trixie had demonstrated a flat out refusal to quit over the last few minutes, enduring back-contorting maneuvers, painful submission holds, and Kleio’s almost constant verbal onslaught and mockery… enduring, but thus far unable to prevent, though she certainly tried.

Kleio dragged Trixie’s ravaged body to her feet by her hair, with the Louisiana native trying desperately to fight her off, throwing punches to Kleio’s torso that seemed to have very little affect, before Kleio powered Trixie up and brought her crashing spine-first across her knee with a sickening backbreaker. Trixie yelped in agony, but continued to throw elbows as Kleio still had her in her grasp. One elbow seemed to rock Kleio slightly, but this only served to anger the former leader of The Coven, as she powered Trixie up and delivered yet another devastating backbreaker…

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Jesus Christ, Trixie isn’t gonna have a spine left if Kleio has her way…”

… and another backbreaker, before Kleio finally let Trixie flop to the floor. Rising to her feet, Kleio outstretched her arms in a sign of dominance as the crowd chanted “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!”

Kleio laughed, all the while Trixie tried desperately to power herself back to her feet, but her back was in a bad way, and she didn’t have the strength, as she just flopped back to the mat each time. Seeing this, Kleio pointed at Kleio mockingly while chatting trash to the fans.

Kleio De Santos: “This is your champion, huh!? This pathetic little bitch is all this shithole of a state’s got left!? This little wimp is all you got!? BAHAHAHAHAAHA!”

Bubbling with rage but unable to climb to her feet, Trixie instead lashed out and kicked Kleio in the kneecap, which caught Kleio off guard, and hyperextended her knee, much to the delight of the fans.

Kleio De Santos: “AH, You LITTLE BITCH!”

As Kleio reached down to pick Trixie up, Trixie once again kicked out at Kleio’s knee!… and again! With Trixie’s kicks causing a surprising amount of pain, Kleio growled, before mounting Trixie and raining down a barrage of elbows as Trixie tried to cover up!

Kleio De Santos: “YOU WANT MORE, HUH!? You little shit!?”

Trixie Bordeaux: “BRING IT, BITCH!”

Trixie’s defiant response was followed swiftly by a venomous elbow that clocked Kleio on the jaw, rocking her!

Trixie Bordeaux: “C’MON, YOU UGLY FUCK, HIT ME!”

Trixie screamed as she threw another punch from below which landed on Kleio’s cheek. It did far less damage, but it did still enrage Kleio, who growled and fired back from above with another barrage of elbows. Trixie covered up once more, letting Kleio punch herself out, before clocking Kleio with another elbow!…

Trixie Bordeaux: “FUCKING HIT ME, YOU WEAK BITCH!”

… followed by a disrespectful slap straight across Kleio’s face. Kleio’s eyes almost turn to a hellish red as she grabs Trixie by the head and slams it repeatedly into the canvas.

Kleio De Santos: “WHO’S WEAK, HUH!? YOU WANNA SEE WEAK!? YOU WANNA SEE WEAK!?”

After slamming Trixie’s scrambled head into the canvas one more time, an enraged Kleio climbs off of the X Champion and drags her by her hair to the center of the ring.

Kleio De Santos: “Here. Let me show you weak!”

Kleio delivers a nasty stop to Trixie’s back, before locking her into a Camel Clutch, facing the stage, and more importantly, the big screen on the stage, which is showing the live action for those in the cheap seats.

Wrenching back as hard as she can, bending Trixie’s already compromised back to a little over a 90 degree angle, Kleio shouts.

Kleio De Santos: “You wanna see weak!? LOOK AT THE SCREEN! LOOK AT IT! Look at the pathetic little bitch getting her ass whooped! Who’s weak, huh!? WHO’S WEAK!?”

Seeing herself be contorted and humiliated on the big screen, Trixie growls and struggles, trying to break Kleio’s grasp, but is unable to. Kleio wrenches back again, with Trixie wanting nothing more than to scream in pain, but not wanting to give Kleio the satisfaction. Instead, she grits her teeth and growls, and grows ever more rageful as Kleio continues her verbal barrage.

Kleio De Santos: “You thought you could usurp me!? BETRAY ME!? You thought you were strong enough to lead The Coven!? You thought you were stronger than ME!?”

Kleio wrenches back once again, with the referee asking…

Referee: “Do you submit?”

Trixie Bordeaux: “NO!”

Trixie barks as she continues to struggle. With her emotions at a boiling point, Trixie tries to get her legs underneath herself, hoping to power herself out, but is prevented as Kleio again wrenches back, with Trixie reluctantly yelping in agony as she looks back to the screen, to see Kleio making her look like a weakling in front of her home fans… hell, in front of the whole world.

Trixie tries to wriggle an arm free, but she can feel her shoulders about to pop out as she tries. She looks back at the screen. Back at the bitch that Kleio is making her look like, and Trixie’s had enough. As Kleio lessens her pull slightly to give her arms a momentary rest, Trixie manages to get her one knee underneath her… she uses that slight leverage to push as hard as she can, fighting against Kleio, and the excruciating pain in her back. She bellows ragefully as she manages to lift herself and Kleio enough to get herself to both knees, and manages to free her arms.

Not wanting Trixie back to her feet, Kleio jumps atop Trixie’s back and applies a sleeper hold, trying to subdue the X Champion, but Trixie is having none of it, and through sheer rage, determination and the roar of the crowd, she powers herself back to her feet, carrying Kleio’s weight all the while, and, in a moment of either genius or instinct, Trixie charges with everything she has towards one of the corners and drops, essentially lawn darting Kleio as the former leader of The Coven crashes face first into the middle turnbuckle!

Kleio clutches her face, and we see a little bit of red drip onto the canvas as the referee attempts to check on her, meanwhile Trixie nurses her injured back. Trixie and Kleio struggle to their feet, with Kleio using the ropes to steady herself as she climbs, having been knocked for a loop. Managing to get to her feet, and revealing that her nose is now spewing blood from the impact of it crashing into the turnbuckle, Kleio doesn’t even get the chance to turn around, as Trixie pounces and connects!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “HOCUS POCUS! Trixie’s dropped Kleio!”

With Kleio seemingly out cold, her head bouncing off the mat from Trixie’s finish, Trixie desperately crawls for the cover…

One…

Two…

THREE!-NO! Kleio kicks out at 2 and 9/10ths!

Trixie rolls off Kleio and nurses her back once more, but the look on her face is more of shock than pain at this moment, as she was convinced that Kleio was out cold. Seeing Kleio come too and crawl towards the corner, Trixie knew she had to end this. She climbed to her feet with great difficulty as Kleio rose to her feet also. Trixie backed up, waiting for Kleio to turn around, and when she did….

Jean-Luc Watkins: “SHOTGUN DROPKICK!”

Kleio bounces off of the corner and drops to the floor as Trixie sees her moment. Willing herself back to her feet, Trixie slowly and gingerly climbs to the top rope, struggling to steady herself, and she leaps backwards…

… and she connects! WHISTLING TRIXIE! The crowd goes wild!

Given the state her back is in, the coffin drop maneuver sent Trixie writhing in a agony as her spine crashed into Kleio’s torso, but, seeing the path to victory, Trixie crawled and crawled, and draped her arm over her former leader and friend…

One…

Two…

THREE!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “NO! KLEIO FOOT!”

Trixie rolls off of Kleio, thinking it’s over, only to look up and see the referee signaling a two-count. Trixie shook her head in denial…

Trixie Bordeaux: “… it’s over, right? I won?”

The referee shook his head “no”, and pointed to Kleio’s foot, which is draped over the bottom rope… and Trixie’s eyes turned evil.

With a menacing grimace on her face, Trixie crawled towards Kleio’s barely conscious body, wanting nothing more than to make Kleio pay for the humiliation she made Trixie feel earlier in the match…

<< 26:39 >>

… and boy did she. Coming back from a commercial break, we see Kleio sat, trapped in the corner, gasping for air as Trixie tried to choke her to death with her foot, all the while the X Champion screams venomous profanity at her.

Trixie Bordeaux: “DIE, YOU HORRIBLE C*NT! FUCKING DIE!”

The referee gives Trixie a count of five, but eventually has to physically pull Trixie off of Kleio, before giving Trixie a verbal warning, letting her know she’s risking being disqualified. Trixie hisses at the referee, before backing up and charging at Kleio, and connecting with a baseball slide dropkick to Kleio’s PEE-AREA, much to the delight of the fans, who cheer!

Kleio, barely conscious beforehand, was now well and truly awake, and in an unbelievable amount of pain as she clutched her groin. The referee admonishes Trixie, telling her that if she commits one more infraction, then she would be disqualified.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I’m surprised the referee hasn’t disqualified Trixie. That was a blatant low blow right in front of him!”

Konchu Hao: “I believe the referee may be a little intimidated by the situation he’s in, Jean-Luc. He’s in Trixie’s home, surrounded by her people… who knows how they’d react if he were to disqualify her.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Good point….”

Having been told off once again for her rule-breaking, Trixie pushes past the referee and goes for the cover…

One…

Two…

THRE-NO! Kleio gets the shoulder up!

Slamming her fist into the mat in frustration, Trixie scrambled to her feet and just starts to stomp the absolute hell out of Kleio, screaming at her to “JUST DIE!” once again, before delivering an elbow drop to Kleio’s heart, followed by another, followed by another, as Trixie completely ignores the fact that her back is in tatters, with the rage and adrenaline seemingly easing the pain slightly.

After the fifth elbow drop, Trixie goes for the cover once again…

One…

Two…

TH-NO! Again Kleio kicks out!

Becoming overwhelmed with frustration, Trixie grabbed Kleio by the hair and screamed directly into her face, before slamming her head first into the mat… over… and over… and over… and over… and over again, until she saw Kleio’s eyes roll into the back of her head. And, once again, Trixie made the cover, certain that this match was finally over…

On-NO! KLEIO KICKS OUT BEFORE ONE!

In sheer disbelief, Trixie glares at Kleio, who kicked out so vigorously that she had also lifted herself off of the canvas and up to her knees, as she stared devilishly into the eyes of Trixie…

… as the shock at Kleio’s kick out fades, and Trixie stares back into the eyes of her former leader, Trixie’s face soon turns evil too, as both women climb to their feet with great difficulty, not taking their eyes off each other…

“THIS IS YOUR TWO-MINUTE WARNING!”

Blares through the arena speakers!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Wait, there’s only two minutes left!”

Both Trixie and Kleio’s eyes widen as they realize that time is running out for them to claim their victory over the other… and they waste no more as they collide with a flurry of fists!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “AND THEY’RE RIGHT BACK AT IT! The two minute warning seems to have given these two warriors a jolt of energy!”

Clutching each other’s heads and swinging with everything they have, each trying to knock the other out, Trixie and Kleio are fighting as though their lives depended on it! Their speed with which they throw their punches wane slightly, but neither wants to give any ground to the other. Neither wants to admit defeat. Trixie clocks Kleio in the jaw, staggering the “TV Queen”! Kleio returns fire, staggering the “Queen of the Deathmatch”! Trixie returns fire! Kleio retaliates. Then Trixie! Then Kleio…

“THIS IS YOUR ONE-MINUTE WARNING!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “AND TRIXIE WITH A VICIOUS HEADBUTT!”

With Kleio staggering back, Trixie marches forward relentlessly, and RIGHT INTO A HEADBUTT FROM KLEIO! Trixie’s rocked, but her determination to win overrides her brain’s desire to switch off, and Trixie fires back with another headbutt to Kleio! And Kleio retaliates, and a gash opens up on Trixie’s forehead! She’s leaking blood! Seeing Trixi staggering and her head dripping blood, Kleio marches forward and kicks Trixie in the gut… LETTERS TO KLEIO-NO! Trixie escapes the Twist of Fate attempt, and leaps in, looking to connect with HOCUS POCUS… And Kleio manages to grab the ropes as Trixie flies off!

A countdown timer pops up on the tron… with 10 SECONDS LEFT!

Seeing this, Trixie desperately charges at Kleio, and Kleio charges at Trixie, Kleio ducks Trixie’s clothesline attempt, and they both bounce back off the ropes and charge… AND THEY BOTH CONNECT WITH CROSSBODIES! Both girls are down! The fans are counting…

“THREE!”

“TWO!”

“ONE!”

DING, DING, DING!

RESULT:
Draw at 30:00.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “The match is over! After all of that, we have no clear winner! The referee has called this match a draw due to the time limit. But it’s clear both Kleio De Santos and Trixie Bordeaux are walking out with less than they came in with.”

Konchu Hao: “Are you referring to teeth, blood, or hair?”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “All of it, Konchu…wait a second! They aren’t done yet!”

Despite the bell being rung, the two girls are still going at it! The hatred was too much for the referee to contain as both Trixie and Kleio charged in yet again.

Konchu Hao: “The match is over! What more do they have to gain!?”

Kleio continues to target the back of Trixie with kicks. With Trixie on the ground, Kleio began to kick at her like a soccer ball right in the back and kidneys. But, eventually Trixie was able to grab Kleio’s foot and sweep her to the ground.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Where did these two find this extra burst of adrenaline? They were nearly dead!”

Now on top of each other, the two girls in cat fight style continued to roll all over the mat clawing, scratching, and biting each other.

After a couple minutes, they continue to roll all the way underneath the rope and to the outside of the ring.

The referee in the ring cannot control it, as he’s calling… screaming for extra help to come down to the ring. Kleio and Trixie just cannot be separated. On the outside now, Kleio has control as she takes Trixie and throws her into the steel steps. With Trixie on the ground, she goes over and grabs her TV Championship and holds it up in the air.

Then she sees Trixie’s X Championship, and gets a smirk on her face.

As Trixie is laying in pain on the ground Kleio leans over and grabs the X Title. She then throws it over her shoulder, and now has both championships.

Kleio shouts at Trixie

Kleio De Santos: “You don’t deserve this! I am keeping it!”

This enrages Trixie, who gets a bolt of adrenaline.

She jumps up and screams like a maniac, tackling Kleio to the ground. Lou Thez Press style, Trixie begins to pound away at Kleio. Finally Kleio can block a punch, and hits Trixie with a jab hard enough to get her to roll off.

Trixie tries to get up first, but then Kleio hits her with a spear through the security barrier!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “OH MY GAWD! They just went through the security barrier!”

Both women are now yet again laying breathless on the floor.

Kleio tries to get to her feet, but she cannot as she collapses back to the floor. Then Trixie tries to as well, but she too cannot stand up as she also falls back down to the floor.

Kleio crawls over to Trixie, and takes a half hearted jab at her…with as much energy that she could muster.

Then Trixie, in response, tries to kick her with all the energy she has left, which is absolutely none.

Finally, the referee has gotten help. Several security members come down to the ring, as do several medics. Two stretchers are being rolled down for both Kleio and Trixie who are now laying motionless and not moving… aside from the large gasps of air.

Konchu Hao: “Help has finally arrived! It’s about time. These two need some serious help. ”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Both medical attention and security needing to put a stop to this, as the official in the ring could not handle it alone.”

It looks as though both Kleio and Trixie had been through an absolute war. As if they just walked the Oregon trail and survived dysentery.

The medics and security officers are both down the ramp now and making their way to Trixie and Kleio. Security has now slowed down, seeing that neither fighter is moving. The medics are just beginning to give some medical attention to both girls when…

[ “Take Me To Church”|| Hozier]

The crowd erupts in disgust!

Konchu Hao: “What? NO! What are they doing here?!”

The Ravenwood Sisters both emerge at the ramp through witchy smoke. The look of absolute evil in the eyes of Blair and Celestia is enough to scare off the medics.

The medical staff retreat through the crowd as fast as possible, as do a couple security officers. The rent-a-cops who are brave enough to stay are quickly taken down by Blair and Celestia with some uppercuts to the face.

Kleio is stirring first. She realizes what is happening, as Trixie is still not moving. She tries to jab Trixie awake, knowing that they’re both about to be jumped by their former Coven friends.

Blair and Celestia are now walking slowly over towards them, like a slasher movie killer. They take the long away around the ring, taunting the crowd who is now fully behind Trixie and Kleio.

Kleio has made it to her hands and knees. She begins lightly slapping Trixie in the face, begging her to get up as Trixie begins to finally stir. It’s too late as Blair gives a huge kick in the head to Kleio and knocks her back to the ground.

Trixie’s eyes finally open, but she too is kicked by Blair as Celestia stands in the background. Blair then picks up a lifeless Kleio, and drags her over to the ring. She orders Celestia to do the same, as The Ravenwood Sisters toss both Kleio and Trixie back into the bloody ring.

Blair then barks an order at Celestia to go get a weapon. She obliges as she exits the ring. While Celestia is gone she begins to taunt Kleio and Trixie who are both doing their best to try and get up and fight. Celestia is currently digging underneath the ring apron looking for the best weapon. She pulls out a couple chairs, and tosses them aside, and also drags a table out from underneath thering.

Blair shouts at her to hurry up, all the while she continues to play with her food like a cocky lioness.

She laughs at Kleio who is trying to get to her feet. Kleio looks like Grandma Ethel who’s fallen out of bed, trying to get up with a broken life alert.

Blair finds it amusing, as she pushes Kleio down to the ground like a bully on the playground.

It doesn’t stop Kleio, who just again tries to get back up again.

Once more, Blair shoves her down with two hands and a taunting laugh.

But yet again Kleio doesn’t stop.

Blair has finally had enough. As Kleio makes it up to her feet a third time, Blair jumps up to hit her with a Shining Witch! But then out of nowhere, Trixie is up and tackles Blair before she can connect!

The crowd absolutely bursts with excitement, as finally Trixie and Kleio have a chance to fight back.

Trixie is now absolutely whaling on Blair!

Kleio has instinctively rolled to the outside of the ring, as is laying there in pain.

Konchu Hao: “Trixie Bordaeux with yet another burst of energy! She is absolutely pounding on Blair! ”

Celestia, seeing her sister is in trouble, rushes back inside the ring holding a kendo stick! Trixie tries to stand her ground, but it isn’t long before she’s struck with the stick and on the ground. Celestia smacks her a few more times until the kendo stick smacks in half, and she tosses it to the outside.

Blair is now back up to her feet. She wipes the blood off her lip (courtesy of Trixie). Her mocking and playful face is now serious as she is absolutely pissed Trixie got the better of her for a minute.

Both Blair and Celestia are now beating down on Trixie. They’re giving her those mudhole stomps and kicks as she’s defenseless in the ring.

Kleio is still on the outside by the ramp. She is able to use the steps on that side to pull herself up to her feet.

She looks at Trixie getting absolutely destroyed by Blair and Celestia in the ring, as the sisters continue to kick and stomp on the FWA X Champion.

She begins to stumble backwards and limp up the ramp, looking to leave Trixie in the dust and retreat to safety.

Konchu Hao: “Kleio can’t just leave Trixie to this…this isn’t fair!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “What choice does she have? If she goes in there she’s going to end up getting beat down as well. Neither Trixie or Kleio have enough energy to properly defend themselves. If this was FWA 2K, their wear and tear body would be completely red. ”

But then she stops halfway up the ramp and turns back to look one more time at Trixie who is still getting beat down.

At this point Kleio’s prefrontal cortex is likely hanging on by a string. She probably has a concussion, and at the very least the pain and suffering she’s endured has resulted in a very significant cognitive decline.

And so with that said, her impulsive control and decision making abilities are non existent at this point.

That is the most logical explanation for why she does this…

Without thinking, Kleio turns around and runs (with a limp) back down the ramp and to the ring. She grabs one of the chairs Celestia dragged out early, and slides into the ring as the crowd is going absolutely crazy.

Blair and Celestia, who were too preoccupied beating down Trixie, notice too late. As Blair looks up, she is smacked in the face with the chair by Kleio! She then turns her attention towards Celestia, and then smacks her with the chair.

Kleio begins to hit Celestia with that chair over and over, until it looks nothing like a chair anymore. Blair is back up to her feet now, and as Kleio is pounding on Celestia, Blair is able to then run full speed with an elbow at Kleio.

It’s now one on one with Blair and Kleio, and it looks like Blair is going to have an advantage…but Trixie is back up!

She jumps on Blair’s back from behind like a wild animal!

Blair then begins to scream, as though she was being attacked by some sort of vampire bat!

Celestia tries to get up to help her, but Kleio postures at her and Celestia falls backwards and rolls out of the ring.

Blair is able to shake Trixie off, and soon too flees through the ropes to join her sister.

The Ravenwood Sisters now quickly are retreating as the crowd absolutely marks out.

Konchu Hao: “They did it! Trixie and Kleio fought them off!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “And now The Ravenwood Sisters are fleeing the scene!”

Blair and Celestia Ravenwood have made it up the ramp and stop at the top. They look back at Kleio and Trixie, who are both barely on their feet. They’re a bloody mess (literally bloody, not the English slang version) and can barely even stand.

The fact that they are even conscious right now is pure adrenaline.

With The Ravenwood Sisters retreating, it is once again just Kleio and Trixie.

They both manage to lock eyes and stare each other down with pure hatred, just as they had at the start of the night.

Konchu Hao: “Wait, oh no! We can’t be back to this again! They can’t…”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I think during all that chaos with The Ravenwood Sisters, Trixie and Kleio forgot how much they hated each other. ”

The two look as though they are about to once again go back to tearing each other limb from limb, just as they were doing before Blair and Celestia arrived.

But then, they both simultaneously turn and look up the ramp… Straight and Blair and Celestia Ravenwood.

That look of hatred they were giving each other is now being directed at The Ravenwood Sisters.

The same sisters who took everything away from them.

Konchu Hao: “I think they may have just realized…the enemy of your enemy…is your friend.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Which one is which in this case?”

Konchu Hao: “I honestly do not know...”

The intense staredown between the two duos continues.

Kleio and Trixie share a glance at each other again. This glance is different than the intense stare of hatred we had seen before. This glance is more of a…mutual understanding glance.

A mutual understanding that perhaps they have a greater adversary than each other.

Kleio De Santos and Trixie Bordeaux turn back one last time and stare down The Ravenwood Sisters. The intimidation is enough for Blair, who finally turns away, grabbing her sister Celestia by the arm and taking her to the back.

The crowd cheers.

With the threat gone…Kleio and Celestia once again collapse down to the mat in absolute exhaustion.

The medical staff once again returns as the cameras cut away for a break.

Countdown to Krash’s Deadline: 0:41:05



[“Zombie” || The Cranberries.]

‘Zombie’ plays for a third time in the night and at this point, the crowd are already jeering the music of their beloved hometown hero, because now they know that it is not Devin Golden. Once more, Chris Peacock and Alyster Black walk out into view to deafening boos from the New Orleans crowd. The security team assigned to them by Jon Russnow have their work cut out for them; Big Dick and the boys are forced to shield FTN from the onslaught of trash being thrown in their direction.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “This is just scandalous now, Konchu. Surely, even these two idiots can tell that they’re not just jeopardising their own wellbeing. Those guards look terrified and whilst we may be a pair of former X Champions, I’m not massively confident of our ability to fight off an entire arena should they turn on us via association.”

Konchu Hao: “A camaraderie forged through suffering in pursuit and holding the X Championship is all that is preventing me from putting an end to this farce myself, Jean-Luc. Black and Peacock may be travelling down a road of bad decisions with an unfavourable endpoint, but there has to be a small level of trust that despite the obvious and clear danger they are putting themselves in, that they know what they are doing.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “A doubt which I am struggling to provide a benefit for; this for me is yet another stunt where these impulsive children are unable to stop themselves. This time, I fear, they have gone too far.”

The ringside and camera microphones pick up Black and Peacock performing a terrible rendition of the iconic song. They roll into the ring and the security position themselves around the outside. Garbage lands in the ring, around both men, but they don’t care. A can of diet soda strikes Black on the chest, and he catches it before it hits the mat. He sends it straight back in the direction it came from, striking a man on the forehead. Peacock grabs two microphones and the music fades out.

Chris Peacock: “Aly, I’ve got to say dude, it doesn’t get old for me. I could literally keep doing this all night. I think I’m some sort of weird mythical creature that feeds on the tears of scum. Because that’s what you are, New Orleans… SCUM!”

More boos for Peacock and a fresh shower of rubbish landing around him, but none seem to hit him or Black, which causes the masked man to laugh loudly.

Alyster Black: “You’re all terrible at throwing stuff, LIKE YOUR LOCAL SPORTS TEAM! I don’t know what they’re called down here-”

Chris Peacock: “The New Orleans Fucksticks, I believe.”

Alyster Black: “That sounds right. Even if it isn’t though, I know that they won’t be any good at whatever sport it is they play, because they’re a bunch of dumbasses from New Orleans!”

FTN share an exaggerated, knowing laugh. Once the hilarity has died down slightly, Peacock lifts his microphone again.

Chris Peacock: “Alright, well, we promised these guys a match, did we not?”

Alyster Black: “But we’re missing our partner, Chris! Danny Toner isn’t here… I heard a couple of guys did a real number on him and that other asshole on Meltdown. Come to think of it, though, Danny Toner not being on an FWA show? It’s almost like the forty-nine weeks a year where he’s not on the shows because he’s too busy beating off to… ummm… her.”

Chris Peacock: “You still won’t say her name? Fine, they know who we’re talking about. You’re right, though, Alyster… we don’t have a partner but I don’t think we need one to take on these assholes, do we? What are a bunch of dumb, ugly and fat losers going to do to the two hottest dicks in the fuckin’ company?”

Alyster Black: “Jack shit, son. They’re really angry, though. I’m actually a bit worried about some of these fat guys out here. If those clogged hearts and congealed veins begin a-pumping too much then we’re gonna be seeing some heart attacks for sureskis. Like watching a Nate Savage impersonation contest with all these fat neckbeards. They do want to fight us, but I don’t think its fair.”

Chris Peacock: “Well, how about we make it fair? New Orleans, how about I let one of you come into this ring and punch me in the face? Who’d like to see that?”

For the first time, a cheer for something said by an FTN member goes up from the hostile New Orleans crowd. Every single person in the crowd, be they man, woman or child, has their hand stretched up in the air.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Somehow I do not think that this is going to be magnanimous act that Chris Peacock would initially have us believe…”

They both make a huge deal in pantomiming who they are going to choose from the crowd. After a couple of discussions between themselves, they seem to settle on someone in the third row on the hard camera side. Peacock wears a gleeful grin as he motions for the fan they have chosen to come into the ring.

Alyster Black: “Big Dick, help that guy over that there barricade. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! Give it up for this guy!”

The cameras finally locate the person being assisted by Big Dick, and to put it politely, he is not the most athletic specimen. An easy 6’2, but north of three hundred pounds, he has some difficulty getting under the bottom rope due to his lack of in-ring experience, and FTN make no attempts to hide their laughter. Eventually the man gets up to his feet in the ring and adjusts his shirt. Instantly, he approaches Peacock and goes for him, but Black gets in between them. A couple of the security guys jump up onto the apron as a warning.

Alyster Black: “Easy there, big fella. You’ll get your chance at landing one on that handsome face in a minute. First, let’s learn a little about the new hero of New Orleans. What’s your name?”

Brian: “My name’s Brian and I’m-”

Before he can even finish his sentence, he’s cut off by uproarious laughter by the FTN boys.

Alyster Black: “Of course it is. Where you from, Brian?”

Brian: “I’M FROM RIGHT HERE IN NEW ORLEANS!”

A loud cheer goes up and neither Peacock or Black react other than to laugh even more at the passion being shown by Brian. The big man raises his arms in the air to garner further support from his fellow Louisianans.

Alyster Black: “Alright, fella. Take it easy. Wouldn’t want you having a coronary on us. We’re not insured for that. Now, are you ready? You’re going to get to punch Chris Peacock in the face. Chris, mosy on over here. Hand behind your back and no flinching, alright? Youre going to take this one right on your face. You deserve it, buddy.”

With a small hint of reluctance, Peacock steps forward to the middle of the ring and leans over slightly. He brandishes his cheek to Brian and the fan rears his fist back in a poor stance. Just as he is about to strike Peacock, ALYSTER BLACK CLOBBERS HIM FROM BEHIND! Brian drops instantly at Peacock’s feet. The crowd boos as FTN put the boots to yet another fan. Some more try to hop the barricade, but even more security runs out from the back to curb the potential riot from breaking out.

Konchu Hao: “Never have we seen FTN stoop to this level. Not even when the Dark Roads Alliance waged war with them last year did we see them delve this deep into their inner worst characteristics… this is a level of chaos that not even I can condone.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Konchu, I think this just shows how deep inside the heads of FTN that Ramon and Toner have gotten. Their actions on Meltdown were barbaric, but what they’re doing to these people tonight in both a literal and symbolic sense is just cruel. They’ve paid for a wrestling show - the best wrestling show - and instead they’ve been insulted, taunted, attacked and had their food interfered with in unspeakable ways. The FWA legal team are going to have their work cut out for them this week…”

Seemingly bored of beating up Brian, FTN roll him out of the ring and laugh when his body slaps against the padding on the outside. They take their microphones again;

Alyster Black: “You really think we were going to let that guy have the honour of touching Chris’s face? You’re even dumber than we thought!”

Chris Peacock: “That’s right! Now, does anyone else here want to try? Anyone else from New Orleans think they can stop us? We fucking own all of you, you got that? We’re done here when we say we’re done here and I’m in the mood for kicking all of your asses tonight! So who fucking wants some?! What ASSHOLE from New Orleans is FUCKING NEXT?!”

[“Zombie” || The Cranberries.]

There is not much reaction for the song initially, given how many times it has been played tonight. However, the surprised look on Peacock’s face and the body language of Alyster Black suggests a different story than to the previous three renditions of ‘Zombie’. Black looks in Peacock’s direction, and the latter shakes his head.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Wait,,, this… isn’t the same as before. It feels different.”

With slight trepidation, FTN turn to the stage and the lights go out. A spotlight shines onto the stage in the middle where a sole figure stands on their own. Their silhouette shows a sharp suit and a bowler hat. They lean on a cane to their left side. The lights return to normal and FTN look like they’ve seen a ghost.

Because they have.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “HE’S HERE! No more parlours tricks, no more ruses; that is Devin Golden in the flesh here in the FWA for the first time in eighteen months! We haven’t seen him since last year’s Back in Town event where his career was ended… at the hands of Chris Peacock. He’s been described as the hero of New Orleans before and he’s coming to his city’s rescue to save them - and us - from this absolute mockery.”

Devin Golden absorbs the loudest reaction in potentially the entire history of the FWA, being able to take it in for the first time in over a year. He twirls his moustache and swings his cane around, barley paying attention to the men in the ring. He removes his hat and bows at the bottom of the ramp, before thanking the security guards on the outside and entering the ring himself. Finally, he looks in FTN’s direction and asks for a microphone. Once the music stops, he waits for a fore seconds and continues to remember the feeling of being in front of a packed arena.

Devin Golden: “Ha-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”

The crowd in New Orleans is absolutely electric, offering a resounding cheer for the trademark cackle. Both FTN members seem to bristle at it.

Devin Golden: “Aaaaaaaand you twoooooooo ... thought ... you could plaaaaaaaay ... your gaaaaaaaames ... here? Of aaaaaaaaaallllllll plaaaaaaces?”

Golden holds both hands out, signifying that he is referencing New Orleans. Peacock nods and tells Golden off-mic that they can do whatever they want.

Devin Golden: “No no. Not here. Not in ... myyyyyy city.

So here is what ... we're gonna do ... my ... never-ending imitatoooooors.”

Golden looks around at the crowd, which once more offers a loud ovation. Peacock steps forward, shaking his head.

Chris Peacock: “I can’t fucking take this already, man. Talk properly you insufferable-”

Devin Golden: “We ... are going ... to pick ... a ... side.”

Golden paces from one corner of the ring to the other while using the walking cane he absolutely does not need. It's all for a grandiose effect.

Devin Golden: “Well ... not really. What we're going to do ... is we're going ... to tell you ... of the side ... already piiiiiiiicked.”

Golden leans against the turnbuckle as he smirks at Chris Peacock and Alyster Black.

Devin Golden: “Aaaaalyster ... I cannot saaaaaay I am not disappointed in seeing you like ... this. With ... this. Still. You were ... one of my favorite adversaries.

And Peacock ... you still ... resoooooort to your games. Your chutes and ladders.”

In an attempt to shield themselves from the strange pattern of speech, they cover their ears. Golden shakes his head mockingly.

Devin Golden: “What was it? Three years ago? Yes, yes it was. Three Back in Businesses ago when the greatest ... tag team match ... of all time ... took place. And over the three years since ... with time spent here ... and time spent ... out there ... I will tell you something.”

Golden pauses and leans forward. Black leans forward as well.

Alyster Black: “We don’t give a fuck, mate.”

Ignoring the protest, Golden laughs and continues.

Devin Golden: “Randy Ramon ... you all know how I feel there. Randy is soul. He is ... heeeart.

But Daaaaanny Toooooooner?

There's something ... griiiiimy about Danny Toner. Something ... nasty ... murderous. Something almost ... illegal. Unethical. Immoral.

There's something ... New Orleans about Danny fuckin' Tooooooner.”

The crowd explodes with a cheer.

Chris Peacock: “Yeah, he’s a fucking prick like the rest of you.”

Peacock’s snarling comment is largely ignored by the fans as Golden steps closer to FTN in a triumphant and emphatic style.

Devin Golden: “Tonight ... New Orleans is ...”

One last pause.

Devin Golden: “Danny Toner country.”

That seems to be the clincher, pardoning the pun. An endorsement from the legend and hero of New Orleans is enough to get the crowd on their feet, chanting loudly and in unison;

“DANNY!
DANNY!
DANNY FUCKIN’ TONER!”

FTN are angered by the chanting and support for their opponents at Back in Business, even more than they had been by the negative reactions they had been the recipients of for the entire show and Devin Golden’s presence. ‘The Rotten Gold’ smirks as he sees his words and influence over the people have had the desired result.

Chris Peacock: “SHUT YOUR MOUTHS! SHUT UP!”

Unsurprisingly, Peacock is ignored but as an extra point, Golden himself motions for the crowd to quieten down.

Devin Golden: “Not that they deseeeerrrve iiiit… buuuuuuut leeeeeeeet’s hear what they’ve got to say, shall we?”

Alyster Black: “Yeah, New Orleans is Danny Toner country, big fuckin’ whoop. Back in Business is in New York, which is Chris Peacock country. Guess what else, fuckstick? Danny Toner is not here and neither is that other asswipe you used to roll with. We made sure of that on Saturday night. I’m sure you appreciate the outfits that we were wearing better than anyone else.”

Chris Peacock: “Yeah, and you know who is here? You know who is here for us to send to the same place we sent Randy and Danny to? Only the guy who didn’t learn his lesson from the first time that I sent his ass packing from the FWA. Only the guy that we’ve gone to all of this trouble for tonight. Devin, you stupid bastard… we wanted you here. We knew the only way to draw you out was to make it so no one else would come to the aid of your precious New Orleans. That’s why we struck when we did on Meltdown.”

Despite the setting out of the trap, Golden remains unnerved. He is almost amused at what Peacock is saying to him, but this does not get the rise out of Peacock or Black that he is hoping for.

Chris Peacock: “Those pieces of shit took out Allen, man. Allen Price might be a few screws short of a toolbox and suffer from delusions of grandeur, but he rolls with us. No one comes after the FTN Family without us having something to say about it. Not Best, Baxter… anyone.”

Alyster Black: “So we sat down and we thought to ourselves about how we could respond. How could we get back at Danny and Randy for taking out our insufferable, delusional idiot who speaks in nothing more than nonsense?”

Chris Peacock: “It’s pretty simple stuff, really… we’d take out theirs.”

Alyster Black: “And just like that… here you are.”

Chris Peacock: “Siempre, bitch.”

FTN drop their microphones and advance towards Devin Golden, their intentions clear. The crowd boos loudly as they see that ‘The Rotten Gold’ has fallen into their trap as set out. Despite them advancing towards him, he does not back away at all. Peacock cocks his fist back, about to strike… but Golden holds a single finger up. He looks to the side expectantly…

[“Greenback Boogie” || Ima Robot.]

Likely thanks to the words of Devin Golden, the music of Danny Toner receives a pop from the New Orleans crowd almost on par with ‘The Rotten Gold’ himself. Toner walks out from the back with a scowl on his face, clearly not in a mood for talking tonight. Next to him is Randy Ramon and the two of them hold their championships by their sides as they walk down the ramp. Both are clearly not at 100% after the assault in the parking lot by FTN on Meltdown, but most importantly, they are here.

Konchu Hao: “Just look at the smile on Golden’s face! Just like that, the trap has been turned back around on FTN! KEHAHAHAHA!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “The FWA World Tag Team Champions are wearing the results of FTN’s handiwork at Meltdown’s conclusion… but they’re here and I think we could be in for part two… that’s if these security guards don’t get their way.”

Whilst FTN were happy to allow Devin Golden into the ring, the tag champions are offered no such luxury. Under Peacock’s instruction, they form a line to prevent Toner and Ramon from getting through. There are a few angry words exchanged between Toner and one of the guards… but the matter is resolved when RAMON FLOORS THE GUARD WITH A REMIX! The crowd cheers loudly as the guards swarm the tag team champions, but Toner and Ramon begin to fight them off in an attempt to get to FTN!

Peacock and Black seem up for the fight, daring them to come and get them as Golden watches on in amusement at the situation unfolding in front of him. However, the challengers at Back in Business are both collared by the largest guard and leader of the team, Big Dick! The sheer size of the man makes it very difficult for them to repel him and he forces them both from the ring!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “It seems that Large Richard is taking his duties very seriously; he’s not going to allow Peacock and Black to fight! They seem to be protesting… but part of me thinks that they’re probably happy to let their security team take the fall for them here!”

The fighting between Toner, Ramon and the guards spills into the ring just as Big Dick navigates an exit for FTN. From behind the big man, they shout towards their Back in Business opponents and watch as Toner drops the last of the security detail with a right hand. At the urging of FTN, Big Dick walks towards the ring with a scowl on his face and without any intimidation, climbs in to confront Toner. He shoves Danny around a bit, but the look on Toner’s face makes it clear that he is not very pleased with that, and Toner jumps into the air and gets on top of Big Dick!

Danny punches Big Dick in the head and bites at his scalp, causing Dick to drop to a knee. This finally leaves him in range for RAMON TO STRIKE WITH A REMIX! The big man slumps his head slightly… EQUALIZER!!!! Big Dick rolls out of the way and this leaves the champions in the ring leaning against the ropes, staring at the challengers at the top of the stage. FTN, and Chris Peacock in particular, are livid that their plan to torment New Orleans has backfired, but it is obvious still from the wear and tear on the champions that even that minor fracas exerted a great deal of energy.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “It may be Toner and Ramon that have gotten the last laugh here in New Orleans, but the challengers struck the most significant blow on Meltdown. Questions have to be asked… will the champions be able to fire on all cylinders in New York? They’re not guaranteed full fan support their, either… that endorsement from Devin Golden won’t mean much in front of Chris Peacock’s people…”

Taking the wrist of both of the tag team champions, Devin Golden raises both Toner and Ramon’s arms. The expression on Toner’s face makes it clear that despite the kind words said about him by Golden, he is still not fully trustful of Ramon’s former partner and given his immediate refocusing back on FTN, it seemed that this rescue of Golden was more about getting to Peacock and Black. Golden senses this as well, and encourages Toner to open up and embrace the New Orleans crowd that are once again chanting his name. Golden then very obviously places something in Toner’s hand. The cameras are unable to pick up what it is but Toner seems to know and he cracks a smirk along with Golden.

‘Zombie’ plays for the fifth time in the show but this time the crowd knows that they can sing along to it now free from risk of FTN ruining it. The challengers are displeased with the turn of events and then turn their backs… allowing the champions a moment in the limelight.



The FWA's flagship show, Fallout, returns from commercial break to a capacity crowd inside of the Smoothie King Centre anxious for more wrestling action. The opening chords of "My Hero" by Foo Fighters reanimates the crowd, drawing them to their feet with cheers of excitement in anticipation for the arrival of Trevor Ocean, fresh off a win against The Undisputed Alliance. The wait with baited breath as the lights dim and the familiar strobes of light flicker throughout. The sounds of elated anticipation morph into screams of horror as Trevor Ocean is thrown onto the stage - his face pummled, bloody, and swollen with a rope tied around his neck. His white shirt was stained crimson with splatters of what one can only assume is his own blood on it. The gasps and murmurs of the fans are quickly replaced by jeers and shouts laced with profanity and disgust as Shawn Summers appears on stage holding the end of the rope tied to Trevor's neck. He is flanked by Rupert Watkins dressed in a fitted three piece suit and a smirk emblazoned upon his face. 

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Oh my god, what in the world are we witnessing right now?! Trevor Ocean is…he’s been brutalized!”

Konchu Hao: "This is nothing but a self-serving ploy! He’s angling to get into the match himself, and he’s using Trevor’s blood as his ticket!”

Shawn had continued his trend of dressing in a more casual manner, wearing a black CWA muscle shirt over a pair of 5 inch shorts, and Jordan 4 shoes. He stands over Trevor, face void of any emotion, staring down at him as the fans pepper him with boos and comments that are all but censored by the network for the vulgarity. "My Hero" continues to play acting as the background music for this slasher film like scene, as the camera focuses in on Shawn's bruised and skin torn hand gripping the end of the rope. Rupert is cautious in his approach to Shawn, placing a hand on his shoulder to get his attention before beginning. 

Rupert Watkins: "Come now, Shawn. It's time."

Shawn's gaze is locked on Trevor's battered body beneath him, but he manages a nod of acknowledgment to Rupert's words. Rupert takes charge, marching down the ramp with Shawn dragging Trevor along behind him. The two have grown accustomed to the reception that they receive from the crowd, but something was different about this one. Were the New Orleans fans this bothered by their actions or were they simply riled up as this was the last stop before Back in Business? The two did not know, and seemingly didn't care as they made their way to the ring and Rupert demanded a microphone for Shawn. Shawn rolled Trevor's body under the ropes, situating him in the center of the ring before exiting and retrieving a steel chair. He placed the chair over Trevor's body and sat as Rupert handed him the microphone. Shawn, so used to the interruptions and hate from the crowd mentally tuned them out as his gaze remained fixated on his friend.

Jean-Luc Watkins: "This is beyond heinous! Summers is just toying with Trevor’s lifeless body like he’s some kind of puppet! What kind of sick mind does this? This isn’t wrestling, this isn’t entertainment. This is a personal vendetta taken to barbaric extremes. This is just wrong on so many levels.”

Shawn Summers: "Two years ago, in the lead up to Back in Business, I upended my life and made it my mission to find you. I was determined to find you and bring you home - make everything the way that it should be. Nothing...could stand in my way of finding you. I fasted, prayed, repented and put my mind and body through the toughest challenges just...to find...you. I told myself that I deserved the pain that you ordered upon me in that church in Montreal. 'It's what you deserve, Shawn' - that's what I told myself. 'He needed to do this to find his way back to you'. I forgave you and cried tears of joy when I saw you backstage at the Carnal Contendership...only for you to betray me for that bitch, Michelle."

The fans boo at Shawn cursing Michelle's name, but he doesn't let their reaction break his focus. He knuckles, swollen and red, turn white as he grips the rope a round Trevor's neck tighter.

Shawn Summers: "Each time I drove my fist into your face, my knee into your stomach, my foot against your ribs, I felt the same pain as you. I never wanted to do this to you, Trevor. You're like a brother to me. I LOVE YOU"

He takes a moment as his face grows redder and his composure and grip to reality slips. Breath in. Breath out. He's ready to begin again.

Shawn Summers: "Trevor, it pained me to do this to you, but I had no other choice. Uncle Ru tried to give you the message, but it just wasn't resonating with you. This was the only way. The only way for me to show you that I...am the only one that truly cares about you, bud. I'm the only person in the FWA that you can depend on. Did you think that after your little bonding session that Michelle was someone that would have your back? Did you think she would save you from me? Huh? Tell me something, Trevor - where is Michelle tonight? Why hasn't she come to the ring to save you. She finds always finds a way when its important to her I mean, look at what she did to my face!"

The camera focuses in on the scratches and light bruising that Shawn sustained from Michelle's violent assault on Meltdown. Shawn displayed the wounds as if to paint himself as a victim. He was a master at turning up the theatrics when needed and the fans continued to hate him for it.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “He’s painting himself as the victim here? After all this carnage? Shawn Summers has officially lost his grip on reality!”

Konchu Hao: "This is classic Summers—twisting the narrative to suit his deranged agenda.”

Shawn Summers: "She used you, Trev. She picked you as her partner because she knew that I would be watching in support of you - one of my best friends. She knew that and used that against you and now she can't even be bothered to come to the arena and help you...after you helped her....Trev, I want you to know that I would've come to save you. I wouldn't let some silly 'arena ban' stop me from saving my brother. Michelle's selfishness is why this happened to you, buddy."

Jean-Luc Watkins: “The nerve of this man! He’s blaming Michelle for this whole brutal attack on Trevor? He’s delusional!”

Shawn Summers: "That's the difference between me and Michelle. She's a selfish, haggard, old bitch only looking out for herself while I'm the complete opposite. I'm the opposite and I've proven that over the past few years with the amount of careers that I've help make and I've especially shown my selflessness when it comes to Back in Business."

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Selfless? This is the same guy who’s dragging his supposed best friend around like a ragdoll! Selfless, my foot!”

Shawn Summers: "For the past two years I've propped up men who are less than and mediocre compared to me at Back in Business, leading them to the match of their careers, only for them to falter after I discarded them from my life. That's the type of selfless acts that I have given to this company. But I'm not done being selfless because I have an announcement to make regarding the Steel Roulette match at the anniversary show. Yeah...due to the injuries and suffering that he has sustained tonight...Trevor Ocean will NOT be able to compete in the match."

Jean-Luc Watkins: “What?! He’s not only attacking Trevor, but he’s also stealing his spot in the Steel Roulette match? This is despicable!”

Konchu Hao: “This is Summers’ twisted way of getting what he wants. Trevor’s dream is shattered, and Shawn’s taking advantage of the chaos he created!”

Shawn Summers: "HOWEVER! Instead of leaving the company to scramble to find a replacement for Trevor or, God forbid, cancel the match...I have selflessly agreed to take his place in the match so that the anniversary show doesn't lose it's marquee matchup."

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Oh, how generous of you, Shawn! Taking Trevor’s spot after beating him senseless. What a hero…”

Konchu Hao: “This is nothing but a self-serving ploy! He’s angling to get into the match himself, and he’s using Trevor’s blood as his ticket!”

The displeasure with his actions have grown considerably and its almost deafening in the Smoothie King Centre as the fans chants become too much for the networks censors. Shawn pays them no mind as he continues focus his gaze on Trevor - looking down on him with that emotionless stare. 

Shawn Summers: "You see, Trevor. I can be selfless and I can also be merciful. I could've ended your career tonight, but I choose not to because I know how much it means to you. Instead, I dragged you out here to see these fans one last time before you go away again. I trapped you under this chair when you and I both know that it should've been Rupert laying in your place."

For the first time since entering the ring Shawn averts his attention from Trevor, slowly turning his head to meet the eyes of a shaken Rupert Watkins. Rupert can be heard asking Shawn "What is this about?" but he receives no immediate answer. Instead, Shawn rises from the chair and slowly approaches the mogul.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Wait a minute…what’s he doing now? He’s turning his attention to Rupert Watkins…”

Konchu Hao: “This could get even uglier, folks. Shawn Summers is unpredictable, and Rupert might be in serious trouble."

Shawn Summers: "Uncle Ru....I'm not an idiot...I'm far from it honestly. I know that it was you that was behind releasing the tapes of me and Michele's hotel room meeting. Making...a private matter public - that's what you called it, right? Yeah, that was it. You can relax though because I'm not mad about it. Quite the opposite. I had been looking for a reason, any reason to come back to the FWA. I saw the people that were holding the titles that I brought to relevance and I was tempted to return and take the titles away from them just to show that the only reason they were holding those belts was because I allowed it...but that wouldn't have been enough to justify giving up my peace and rewarding someone with a career defining loss. You, Uncle Ru....You gave me a reason to come back. You showed the world that I had conquered Michelle in the bedroom and that got me thinking...why not show the world that I can conquer her in the ring too? But, then I really thought about it and that wasn't enough for me to return either. Beating Michelle would just be the ice cream, but I wanted the whole sundae...and you knew that didn't you Uncle Ru. You knew that I wanted more but to get me to realize what I truly needed to return you had to set the wheels in motion. Play the tapes, offer your guidance and fatherly advice on how I should deal with the whole Michelle thing. You've got a silver tongue, Uncle Ru, I must admit. You knew that bringing me back would get you closer to taking back the position of power you once held in FWA.

You used me...but I'm not mad at it because I allowed it. It's a symbiotic relationship that you and I have...you get the chance to win back your diginity and position of power within the wrestling world by working with me and I....well...I get the chance to break the streak.

Shawn steps back and grins, his eyes still cold and calculating. The tension in the arena is palpable as the fans are on edge, waiting for the next move.

Shawn Summers: "For the past four years, Michelle has built a winning streak at Back in Business on the back of wrestlers unqualified to stand across from her. Who could forget her win over....Toxic Wednesday. Or how about her demolishing the entire X-Division in one night? That was a special victory for the woman that would go on to headline the event the next year and pick up a win over Michael and the most protected wold champion of modern times, Sullivan. Her win over a broken and shell of man Chris Kennedy should've been career defining but by the ned of the night...no one even cared that she ended the most prestigious streak in wrestling. The hollow win over Snowmantashi at last years event that broke her mentally is one that truly lives as my favorite as its the catalyst for everything that has led us to...tonight. In all of those matches she'd had at Back in Business, none of the wrestlers posed a serious threat to her perfection...like Shawn Summers will."

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Michelle’s Back in Business streak is legendary, but Shawn Summers is aiming to shatter that legacy. He’s painting a grim picture of her past victories.”

Konchu Hao: “But Summers is a different beast. He’s making it personal, and Michelle has never faced someone quite like him at Back in Business.”

Shawn Summers: "This year is different for both of us. Right, Michelle? This year I wont have to prop up my opponent make them look worthy of stepping in the ring with me. This year you'll actually have to WORK to keep your perfection at Back in Business. You and I...we need each other. You need me to break your winning streak at Back in Business and I need you to break my losing streak at the event. So, I'm making it official - at Back in Business it will be Shawn Summers VS Michelle von Horrowitz. And I promise...when its all said and done...both of our streaks will have died and I will be the ONE in the 4 and 1 record of Michelle von Horrowitz at Back in Business and they will hang a banner in the arene to commerate the night that Shawn Summers fucked Michelle von Horrowitz...again."

Shawn allows the microphone to drop from his hands as we see the unveiling of a huge banner, perhaps thirty feet long, dropping behind him. Shawn Summers image is emblazoned on the dark blue fabric.The date at the bottom reads 08.11.2024. He stands tall, looking proud as the banner unfurls. The crowd’s reaction is a mix of shock, disgust, and outrage. Security rushes down to the ring to check on Trevor, but Shawn stands his ground, basking in the chaos he’s created.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “This is one of the darkest moments in FWA history. Shawn Summers has crossed every line imaginable, and there’s no telling what will happen next.”

Konchu Hao: “Back in Business just became the battleground for a war like no other. Michelle von Horrowitz will have to rise above this madness, and God help us all if Shawn Summers gets his way!”

As the show fades out, the camera zooms in on Shawn Summers’ cold, calculating eyes, and then shifts to the shocked and horrified expressions of the fans in attendance.



[”MEGITSUNE- メギツネ” || Baby Metal.]

The drums of "Megitsune'' cause the arena lights to flash in tune, drawing cheers from the fans. After seven seconds, a shadowy figure appears on the stage. Her arms are crossed in front of her chest, hands in a fox head pose as the LED lights behind her show nine Kitsune tails flowing behind her. As the music picks up, she spreads her arms wide as fire spurts from the side of the stage. Katsu basks in the glow of the fire before doing a throat slashing gesture as the rest of the LED lights are on. Cape flowing behind her, Katsu makes her way down to the ring.

Natalie Rosenberg: “The following match is a tag team match scheduled for one fall with a twenty minute time limit and is your Fallout MAIN EVENT! Introducing first, representing the YOKAI Death Squad… from Osaka, Japan… she is “The Kitsune Warrior” …. KKKKAAATTTTTSSUUUUUUUUU!”

Moving down the ramp at a somewhat quick pace, Katsu removes her entrance mask to show her regular one and she gives a small head tilt while holding it next to her head. Going around the ring, she places her entrance mask on the apron before sliding on the apron.. One hand on the ropes, she opens up her cape and closes her eyes, keeping a calm aura to her. She quickly drops down into the splits then slides into the ring.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “On our last episode of Fallout, Katsu certainly called her own shot… first suggesting a title match against Jeremy Best… but when that was denied, she turned her attention to his partner, North American Champion, Bryan Baxter!”

Konchu Hao: “I like the bravada, Jean- Luc. She showed no fear standing across the ring from all of the Friendship Freaks!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “And in turn, she got her wish because at Back in Business, this Carnal Contender runner up will be one of three others challenging Bryan Baxter for the North American title! And so will her partner tonight…”

Heading to the nearest corner turnbuckles, Katsu climbs up them and puts one foot on the top rope. She does another throat slash before winking to the crowd. Heading down, she leans down in a superhero-like pose, holding her arms in an “X” in front of her chest. Katsu’s hands again have the Fox-head gesture before she spins around and heads to her corner unclipping her cape as her music fades.

[ “Blood of Glory”]

The crowd is electric as “The Exile” Cyrus Truth makes his way out from the back, the hood of his jacket popped up around his head as he warms up on the stage. He stops, and tosses up one arm to the supportive crowd.

Natalie Rosenberg: “And her partner, he comes to us from the Long and Winding Road, he is “THE EXILE” CCCYYYYYYRRRUUUUUSSSS TTTRRRRRUUUTH!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Back in Business will see Cyrus continue his battle with what you and he refer to as ‘The Friendship Freaks,’ the Friendship Wrestling Alliance. He came up short at Carnal Contendership to Jeremy Best, thanks in large part to the new North American Champion.”

Konchu Hao: “The Friendship Freaks can only be so lucky for so long. You can’t get the upper hand over The Exile that many times and get away with it. I would know!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “We’ve already seen Baxter with a victory over Truth in the North American Gauntlet that got him his title back in the first place… but at Back in Business… it’s not one at a time… it’s all at once and he doesn’t even have to be the one to get pinned to lose the championship!”

The motivation clear on his face, Cyrus Truth walks down to the ring,climbing up and joining Katsu. He offers up a fist bump to his partner as they await their opponents.

[ “A Cut Above” || Avery Watts]

The crowd remains mostly positive as “The Prodigy” Mike Parr makes his way out from the back. Much like Truth, you can see the determination on his face though perhaps there’s also a hint of apprehension about teaming up with is partner tonight.

Natalie Rosenberg: “And their opponents, introducing first, from Toronto, Canada… he is “THE PRODIGY” …MMMMMMMMMMMMMMIIIIIIIKKEEEEEEEE PPPPPPPPAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!”

Konchu Hao: “Oh what an interesting alliance this will be!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Absolutely, Konchu. It was Bryan Baxter who assaulted Parr at last year’s Back in Business, leaving him out of action for most of the last year before he returned and kept Bryan Baxter from sole ownership of the record North American Championship reign. But since that huge win at the North American Showdown, Parr has been a little more down on his luck, losing the title to Chris Peacock and coming up short in the Gauntlet. But he gets another shot at the title and Baxter at Back in Business, and I know he’s just as hungry as the other two already in the ring.”

Parr focuses in on his opponents as he slowly makes his way down to the ring. He elects to not to wait on his partner, as he climbs the steps and enters the ring.

[ “The Bastard Anthem” || Dubb Rebel]

It’s mostly boos with some scattered cheers as Big Bryan Baxter slowly walks out from the back, his North American Title around his waist, tucked behind the glossy red letterman jacket with the word “BASTARD” embroidered on the back.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “You know, Bryan Baxter actually got a lot of cheers when he faced off against Chris Peacock to win back the North American title… but here in New Orleans, it’s back to a mostly negative reaction from the fans.”

Konchu Hao: “Aye, anyone would be cheered opposite of Chris Peacock, Jean-Luc!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “That’s certainly evident from tonight… but for Baxter, I do think the fans want to get behind Baxter, but his undying loyalty to Jeremy Best certainly prohibits that.”

Konchu Hao: “It is why he is a fool! That loyalty to Jeremy Best is what has made him these three enemies in the ring!”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “100% accurate, Konchu. But Bryan Baxter has made his bed and at Back in Business, he is going to have to lay in it.”

Bryan slowly makes his way down to the ring, stopping at ringside as his three Back in Business challengers eye him. He takes off his jacket and tosses it aside before removing his North American Title. He holds it up for all three to get a good look at before placing it down on the apron and he climbs into the ring.


FOURTH MATCH || MAIN EVENT || 1/20.
Bryan Baxter and Mike Parr vs. Katsu and Cyrus Truth.
Tag Team Match.
Match writer: Dubb.


Bryan Baxter enters the ring, finding himself being stared down by three competitors he has wronged over the last couple of months. Each seemingly eager to get their hands on the North American Champion, though one of them is his partner tonight. Baxter looks each one of them in the eyes…

And proceeds to flip off Cyrus.

Then Katsu.

Then he turns to Parr… and

PARR AND BAXTER BOTH TURN AND ATTACK THEIR OPPONENTS! Parr squares off with Katsu while Cyrus and Baxter begin to slug it out.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “A little slide of hand from Parr and Baxter to start the match! Did these two actually sit down and plan that out before hand?”

Konchu Hao: “Treacherous deception! I expect this sort of thing out of Big Bryan Baxter but I expected more from Mike Parr!”

Referee Larry Stevens already has his hands full as the two pairings exchange blows in the ring - Cyrus and Baxter wearing into each other with stiff right hands while Parr and Katsu exchange forearm shivers. Truth begins to turn the tables on the champion, rocking him with a series of jabs that ends with a big elbow to the face that sends Baxter stumbling into the ropes… as Truth then charges in with a running clothesline with such momentum it sends both of them toppling over the top rope to the floor!

Meanwhile, Parr gets the upperhand in the battle with Katsu, working her over into the corner with several backhand chops to her chest before Irish Whipping her into the opposite turnbuckles. Parr follows up by charging in, but Katsu avoids contact with a leapfrog over The Prodigy! She then scores with a roundhouse kick to the midsection before leaping up and taking Parr down with a headscissor takedown!

The Prodigy rolls right back up to his feet, but Katsu wastes no time continuing with her momentum as she strikes Parr with another pair of stiff forearms before executing a spinning enziguri to take Parr back down to the mat.

While Katsu and Prod have become the legal participants in the ring, the action still is taking place outside the ring as Cyrus continues to dish out some punishment to Bryan Baxter, sending the big man crashing into the ring steps.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I can’t say I blame The Exile here for not being too interested in the rules of a tag match. He has been eager to get his hands on Bryan Baxter ever since he played a pivotal role in his loss to Jeremy Best at Carnal Contendership.”

Truth isn’t done yet, as Bryan struggles to try and recover against the ring steps… he backs up and charges back in toward the North American Champion..

RUNNING KNEE STRIKE!


But Baxter moves out of the way! Cyrus collides hard with his knee into the steel ring steps!

Smelling blood in the water with Truth clutching at that knee, he immediately targets it with a hard kick before slamming the knee into those ring steps again himself! And again! And again!

Finally Larry Stevens shouts out a warning to Baxter, getting him to the corner… but perhaps the damage has already been done!

<< 05:22 >>

Back in the ring, Cyrus has managed to make his way to his corner, though definitely favoring that right knee that collided with the steps. Katsu has Parr down on the mat locked in a single leg crab after taking him down with a sit-out slingblade. Larry Stevens checks in on Parr, who is in no hurry to tap out.

He uses his considerable size advantage to lift himself up onto his arms and forces his way back onto his back and then uses his free leg to kick Katsu in the shoulder three times, forcing a release of the submission and sending the Kitsune Warrior stumbling back.

Parr rolls to his feet, ducking Katsu’s attempt to come back with a spinning heel kick and instead catches her foot and performs a dragon screw to take her down to the mat before pulling her by the leg to his corner and giving the tag to Baxter. Parr holds Katsu in place by the legs as Baxter comes into the ring and performs a big body splash onto the restrained “Huntress.”

Konchu Hao: “My goodness that’s a whole lot of mass coming down onto the much smaller Katsu.”

Katsu clutches at her midsection as Parr steps out onto the apron as Baxter delivers a series of stomps to her ribs in order to keep her down before grabbing her by the mask to help her up to her feet… only to lift her back up and drop her across his knee with a ribbreaker!

Baxter with a lateral press:

One! Two! Kickout by Katsu!

Baxter sits up from his pinning attempt and delivers a series of closed fists to Katsu’s masked head. He begins to pull her back up, but the determined young warrior tries to battle back, hitting a pair of forearms to Baxter… that he simply shrugs off before sending her into the turnbuckles with an Irish Whip.

Big Bryan Baxter rushes into the corner with a big running splash to Katsu, knocking her down to the canvas in a seated position, her head resting against the bottom turnbuckle… as Baxter charges back in again..

HIP ATTACK to the cornered Katsu! Her head bouncing violently off the bottom turnbuckle!

Baxter pulls her away from the corner… and runs off the ropes… another big BODY SPLASH to Katsu! He stays on for the pin!

One! Two Thre… SHOULDER UP by Katsu!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “A lot of heart being showed by Katsu here as Bryan Baxter is just overpowering her! Having his way with her at this point!”

<< 09:10 >>

Katsu continues to find herself in trouble in the ring, having wrestled the entire match and been kept secluded by Parr and Baxter. Attempts of Cyrus to get involved have seen him getting stopped by Larry Stevens, or Baxter and/or Parr attacking that weakened knee and preventing him from being able to be of further use to Katsu.

Parr now the legal man once again, secures Katsu with a underhook before dropping her with a backbreaker!

Prodigy with the cover!

One! Two! Thre… SHOULDER UP!

Baxter slams the turnbuckle padding in frustration as Katsu once again manages to kick out. But Parr insists its time to put her away as he takes her to the mat with a belly to back suplex…

And Prod begins to make his way to the top turnbuckle…

X MARKS THE SPOT!

KATSU GOT HER KNEES UP!

Both Parr and Katsu are down!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “This is the moment she’s been waiting for? Can Katsu get the tag to Cyrus Truth here?”

Katsu is very slow to make the crawl to the corner, while Parr also is making his way to the ropes… and he manages to get to his corner first…

HE GETS THE TAG TO BAXTER!

Bryan charges in, grabbing Katsu’s leg as she is within mere INCHES of Truth’s outstretched hand..

AND HE PULLS HER AWAY!

A confident Baxter shakes his head as if to say ”not so fast...

But maybe not so fast for Baxter… because Katsu responds with a spinning enziguri to the “Bastard!” It doesn’t take Baxter down but it sends him stumbling backward enough for Katsu to dive over and GET THE TAG TO CYRUS TRUTH!

Konchu Hao: “KEHAHAHA! The time has come! Sweet revenge for The Exile!”

Truth steps in the ring, slightly hobbled but not showing any concern as he finds himself once again staring down Bryan Baxter. The two lock eyes intensely before moving in and… its another back and forth slugfest between the two! Truth looks to be getting the upperhand in the exchange until Baxter goes low with a kick to the knee!

That slows down the Exile long enough to give Baxter some momentum as he lights up Truth’s chest with some knife edge chops before lifting him into a Torture Rack…

But Truth escapes down Baxter’s back! DISCUS PUNCH to Baxte rocks the champ and its a stomp to the back of Baxter’s knee that finally takes down to one knee… followed by a running BOOT from Truth! The Broken Path takes Baxter down!

But it also has Truth down, selling the damage to his knee. He’s back up as Baxter begins to recover, catching Baxter with a running DDT! Truth goes for the pin!

One! Two! Kickout!

<< 13:08 >>

It seems like Cyrus Truth has overcome the weakened knee as he looks to put away the North American Champion…

Lifting him up for the Journey’s End..

But the big man’s weight is too much… the knee gives way and Truth drops down with Baxter landing on his feet! Baxter shakes off the cobwebs as Truth begins to get up but its a big DISCUS LARIAT from Baxter to take Truth down!

Bryan stumbles over to the corner and gets the tag to Parr! Parr climbs to the top turnbuckle as Baxter lifts Cyrus up and drives him into the canvas with a powerslam…

Baxter steps out of the ring as Parr comes off the top rope!


X MARKS THE SPOT!

This time it connects to Cyrus Truth!

Parr hooks the leg!

One!

Two!

Three!

NO! KATSU BREAKS IT UP!

Konchu Hao: “That was perhaps a little too close for comfort.”

Furious that she kept the match alive, Bryan charges in at Katsu, hitting her with a big shoulder tackle to take her down to the mat. But he wasn’t done as he begins putting the boots to her immediately as Larry Stevens tries to get some order restored.

Meanwhile, Parr pulls Truth back up to his feet… ROLLING CUTTER!

But Parr realizes that he can’t go for the pin because the referee is busy trying to pull Baxter off of Katsu! Baxter SHOVD LARRY STEVENS BACK and CONTINUES his assault on Katsu…

Parr comes over, trying to reason with his partner so they could get the win, but when he grabs Baxter by the arm, Bryan instinctively turns around and clocks his own partner with a vicious knock out punch!

Prodigy stumbles backward and falls to the mat!

Jean-Luc Watkins: “A different kind of friendly fire for the Friendship Wrestling Alliance member!”

Baxter seems genuinely surprised and upset that he struck Parr, but while he’s got his hands on his head… Katsu is back up… and she ascends the ropes…

DIVING MISSLE DROPKICK!

Baxter falls to the mat and rolls out of the ring as Katsu rolls out to the apron, getting back to her feet and slapping the top turnbuckle, which the fans echo with claps to encourage Cyrus to get the tag. Truth makes his way to the corner and this time it’s the Exile getting the tag to Katsu while Parr makes his way over to find his corner empty!

Parr turns back around…. SPRINGBOARD HURRICRANA from Katsu takes the Prodigy down! Parr rolls back to his knees, once again reaching out to the empty corner as Baxter is starting to grab the apron to try and pull himself up…

BURNING ARROW FROM KATSU!

She makes the cover!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE - NO! Parr just barely gets his shoulders up!

Katsu seems surprised herself as she sits up to her knees… while Parr grabs the ropes, trying to pull himself up… she runs in… Sakura Kick! Parr is sent falling backward as she heads across the apron… climbs the ropes…

NIGHTFALL!

She hooks the leg!

ONE!

TWO!

BRYAN BAXTER IN FOR THE SAVE!


BUT TRUTH TAKES OUT BAXTER WITH A RUNNING KNEE STRIKE! Sacrificing his knee to take out Baxter in the process!

THREE!


RESULT:
Katsu & Cyrus Truth win by pinfall at 16:55.

Natalie Rosenberg: “The winners of the match, Katsu and Cyrus Truth!”

Katsu rolls off of Parr as Larry Stevens comes in to lift up her arm in victory. She staggers to her feet before making her way over to Cyrus, who is on the ground clutching his knee. She reaches down offering her hand to Truth… to which he reaches up, and takes her by the hand. Konchu helps Truth to her feet and they lift up each other’s arm.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “A bit of respect here between these two partners tonight but at Back in Business, it will be every competitor for themselves with Bryan Baxter’s North American title on the line!”

Meanwhile, Bryan Baxter has rolled out of the ring and retrieved his title, stumbling away from the ring, leaving his partner Parr to recover by himself in the ring. The Prodigy slowly gets up, joining the two other challengers in the ring.

Much like the start of the match… the three challengers stare down Bryan Baxter… this time as Bryan leaves the ring..

Bryan stops at the stage to turn back to the ring, lifting up his title with a smirk on his face as he only adds to the hunger of the challengers.

Konchu Hao: “Someone should teach Bryan Baxter to not play with his food. Because I think his food is going to bite back.”

Jean-Luc Watkins: “He’s made a lot of enemies lately… and at Back in Business… he’s got to take on three of them at the same! But speaking of the enemies of the Friendship Wrestling Alliance… when we come back… will Krash sign the contract? Time is running out!”

Countdown to Krash’s Deadline: 0:4:38



[ “Life is a Happy Song” || The Muppets]

The countdown clock in the top right hand corner is now down to just under 2 minutes. The crowd boos as a very happy Jeremy Best makes his way out from the back, waving like a buffoon to the crowd with the “Friendship” World Championship around his waist. He is joined by Sir Stache and Mejor Amigo, who wave just as happily to the loudly booing New Orleans fans. Sir Stache appears to be holding the contract for the Back in Business match in his hands.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “This has been a night of disdain for the fans here in New Orleans - so why not close the show with this guy.”

Jeremy does manage to spot one fan at ringside in a “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” Jeremy Best tee-shirt holding a sign that says “Krash’s time is up!” and Jeremy stops to give this weirdo a big ole hug before the trio climb into the ring and Jeremy takes the microphone.

Jeremy Best: “Thank you! Thank you! You are all too kind! I love each and every one of you! From the bottom of my heart… I do! I really do!”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~!!!

Jeremy Best: “I wouldn’t be here without you guys and the collective power of Friendship. And in just a few seconds… the time will run out… the demon masquerading as my deceased best friend, Krash, will be out of time! So count along with me… ready? Here we go…”

The countdown clock becomes more prominent on the screen as it gets down to…

Jeremy Best: “TEN…

NINE…

EIGHT…

SEVEN…

It should probably be noted that no one is counting along in New Orleans except an exuberant echo from Sir Stache and Mejor Amigo, of course.

Jeremy Best: “SIX…

FIVE…

FOUR…

THREE…

TWO…

ONE!!!!!!”

“That’s it! THE TIME IS UP! IT’S OVER! HE DIDN’T SIGN! HE’S NOT HERE! WE DID IT! WE WON! WE WON!”

Jeremy jumps up and down, running in for a group hug with both Amigo and Stache.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “This is just disgusting… he hasn’t won anything! I can’t believe he’s managing to get out of defending the title at Back in Business… it’s just not right!”

Jeremy Best: “What a glorious day, my friends! Evil has been defeated once again. We have rectified the wrong that happened last year at Back in Business… and I will remain your World Champion of Friendship! Natalie… Natalie… come here! Let’s make it official!”

A very reluctant Natalie Rosenberg stands up at the behest of Best.

Natalie Rosenberg: “Ladies and gentlemen… here is your winner… and STILL FWA World Champion… Jeremy Best….”

As the balloons and confetti fall around Jeremy Best, the champion beaming like the happiest man alive - which he likely is, at this point - there’s a flicker of activity on the big screen. One that isn’t immediately noticed by Jeremy, too caught up in his victorious gloating to note that the booing and jeering of the audience has turned into hushed whispers of interest and intrigue.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “Something appears to be happening on our jumbotron, though Jeremy’s yet to realize it…”

Up on the jumbotron, the screen freezes, pixelating, before fading in… To a familiar sight, one seen not too long ago. The majestic face of a building, marked with a certain logo - The Friendship Wrestling Academy. Though, the view is rather different - rather than Jeremy’s polished, state-of-the-art touring cameraview, it’s rather grainy, as if broadcast through a phone.

Konchu Hao: “What is this place? Wait… I think I know… though the quality leaves something to be desired. Probably not one of our cameramen.”

Oblivious to the display going on on the screen, Jeremy continues to showboat, as the view on the big screen follows the cameraperson as they approach the entry doors of the Friendship Wrestling Academy. A single, gloved hand throws up the middle finger at the logo of the Friendship Wrestling Academy, before they yank on the doors, finding them locked, and with the air of someone who is not surprised by this, they start threading a thick, iron-wrought chain through the door handles.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “So engrossed with his celebration, Jeremy seems to be… Completely unaware of what is happening just over his shoulder.

Konchu Hao: “For now.”

The cameraperson retreats, as the roar of engines echo, finally catching Mejor Amigo’s attention. His eyes grow wide under his mask as he grabs Jeremy and gets his attention as well. The cameraperson steps aside, revealing the other side of the chain - linked to a pair of trucks, engines revving. Between the two trucks sits a quiet, cherry-red cadillac, a solitary figure sitting on the hood, his coat gently flowing in the wind. A cheer echoes through the arena, some fans recognizing the car from last week, or the silhouette of the man sitting on the hood.

Jean-Luc Watkins: “I think we all know who that is…”

The silhouette gestures quietly with a hand, and the trucks beside him roar, driving forward and ripping the doors of the Academy clear off their hinges with an ear-splitting CRACK. The two doors slide into the gravel, landing on either side of the man on the Cadillac, as he casually gets up, walking towards the now-torn open Academy, stepping into the security lights to a roar of a pop. Even through the grainy, poor-quality of the phone broadcast, no-one can miss the mustache.

Konchu Hao: “KEHAHAHA! IT’S KRASH!”


Jeremy Best: “YOU?!?”

Krash: ”Hey Jeremy.”

Krash’s voice is flat, dismissive, as he passes the camera without even a glance at the screen. He steps through the twisted ruins of the doors, into the Friendship Wrestling Academy. He gazes around at the interior of the room, eyes listlessly flickering from the ring set up in the middle, to the seats gathered around, to the miscellaneous gym equipment. A single eyebrow raises, as if belatedly admitting that this would be a nice setup, as the camera pans around, capturing his pale, sunken visage, the frazzled mustache looking a touch less frazzled than previous. Behind him, several more figures approach, five in total, clad in all black, each carrying sledgehammers. There is something vaguely familiar about them, but you can’t quite place it, only that you might’ve seen them before, briefly.

Regardless, Krash’s gaze settles on the portrait of Jeremy Best, standing heroically and triumphantly over a fallen Alyter Black. His eyes narrow slightly, and he scoffs.

Krash: ”Now that’s just gaudy. H, would you mind?”

One of the henchmen, ‘H’, nods once, resolute. He eagerly strides forward, weighing his sledgehammer in his hands, before swinging it against the portrait, once, twice, three times. The frame buckles, the glass shatters, and the art is torn from the wall, left to scatter beneath his foot. Krash nods, his motion approving even if his eyes aren’t quite.

Krash: ”Very good. S, K.”

As he walks along, Krash nods, gesturing to his left with a quiet gesture. Two of the henchmen look at each other, before nodding, vanishing off screen. Without breaking his stride, Krash flickers a few fingers to his right.

Krash: ”A, R, H.”

The remaining three figures are sent to the right without a peep. Krash pauses, closing his eyes, one fist clenched behind his back, the other held up like a conductor. He holds, then gestures, palm out… And the noises of destruction begins. As the cacophony of violence echoes, Krash lets out a sigh, closing his eyes, the fracture of a smile on his face.

Jeremy Best: “Wha- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?”

The smile vanishes, Krash’s green eyes flickering back open, the moment lost. The corner of his lip twitches, as he saunters through the building with purpose. Amid the destruction going on in the background, he stops at an office door, observing it with flatness..

Krash: ”Violet. Keys, please.”

With a muffled grunt, the phone camera is passed to Krash himself, who takes a step back as the distinctive green mohawk of Violet Dreyer bobs into frame, the woman herself armed with her trusty crowbar. Swinging it like a cricket bat, the crowbar smashed through the flimsy wood of the office door, ripping out a chunk and tearing a hole in it. Reaching through the hole, Violet casually unlocked the door, letting it swing open, before stepping back, crowbar leaning against a shoulder.

Krash: ”Thank you.”

Nodding, Violet took the camera once more, as Krash stepped into the office. The head office for Friendship Wrestling Academy, lined with banners, accreditations, the like. There’s a sole desk, and Krash sat down in the plush, comfortable chair behind it. His gaze scanned the room, settling on a photo of Jeremy, posing with Krash himself, taken some time ago around the Cibernetico area. He stared at it for quite some time, fingers trembling, before he sighed, and flipped the photo facedown at the desk.

Krash: ”Nice place you got here, Jeremy. Shame what’s happening to it.”

Jeremy Best: “GET OUT OF MY ACADEMY! YOU- YOU MONSTER!”

Krash leans back, closing his eyes, unconsciously digging at his wrist with his fingernails, before catching himself.

Krash: ”Monster. That’s rich.”

Jeremy Best: “WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!?”

Krash: ”Someone has to, Jeremy. And who better than me?”

There’s no triumph in Krash’s words, only a cold acceptance, as he reopens his eyes with an exhale, bending down to rummage through Jeremy’s desk.

Krash: ”No. You don’t get to walk away unscathed. You don’t get to spread your poison. You don’t get to brainwash the young, the impressionable, the students who just need a teacher. You don’t get to do that. I’m not going to stand by, and let what happened to me, happen to someone else. I can’t.”

Finding a handful of forms - applications, it seems - in Jeremy’s desk, Krash idly flips through some of the forms, before tucking them into an inside pocket of his overcoat.

Krash: ”I really hoped last year was the end of it. I really did. But you-”

Jeremy Best: “You had your revenge last year! Y-”

A flash of… Something sour passes Krash’s face. Perhaps it’s anger. Perhaps it’s discomfort. It’s difficult to say, as just as quick as it appeared, it vanished, all the same.

Krash: ”Revenge? Funny, the way I see it, you seem to be doing pretty well for yourself. Look at you. FWA World Heavyweight Champion, on the run of a lifetime - meanwhile, I’m barely functioning. For someone who got buried alive last year, you seem to have turned out okay. I mean, I’m not one to compare situations, but I fucking died the year previously. You seem okay in comparison, don’t you think? I don’t think last year counts as an adequate measure of revenge. I think last year was… Not enough.”

Jeremy stares, flabbergasted.

Krash: ”My mistake last year was only tearing you down. I left everything else alone, everything that enabled you to climb back up and be you again, because I was too focused on you, and me, and what we had. That was my mistake, and I assure you, it will not happen again. Last year, it was you. This year, it’s everything. You, your stable, your academy, everything that can enable you to be the monster you are… It’s all going to burn.”

The flicker of a smile graces Krash’s features, as he rises to his feet.

Krash: ”Speaking of…”

Krash leans forward, accepting the camera with a hand, turning it onto Violet as she ducks out of the office, a bottle of lighter fluid in her hands. She sprints onto the apron of the ring in the middle of the Academy, spraying the lighter fluids across the mat, the ropes, everywhere and anywhere. Meanwhile, in the background, the five henchmen who followed Krash in have certainly made some work, taking down and smashing walls, equipment, before wrapping the iron-wrought chain from earlier across some of the support pillars. Krash nods, gesturing for the henchmen to leave, and they eagerly comply as Violet jumps down from the apron, creating a trail of lighter fluid as she and Krash continue towards the exit.

Jeremy Best: “No… No no! No! It’s NOT going to be you and me! You don’t GET to face me! The deadline is up, you didn’t sign the contract, y-”

Krash clicks his tongue, almost disappointed, as he and Violet exit outdoors. With the bottle empty, Violet tosses it aside, rummaging in her pockets for a lighter, before passing it to Krash.

Krash: ”Jeremy. Check the next page.”

His anger dying in his throat, Jeremy tore his gaze from the screen, to go over to Sir Stache. He swipes the contract out of Stache’s hands. He looked up at Krash, then back at the contract, rapidly shuffling through it.

Krash: ”I signed that contract last week, Jeremy.”

With a flick of the wrist, Krash ignites the lighter, tossing it over his shoulder onto the trail of lighter fluid. The fluid catches aflame, quickly spreading through the building, very rapidly turning the ring into an inferno. Orange flames lick and dance within the Academy, as Krash pauses in the doorway, observing the flames with… It’s difficult to say. With his back to the camera, all we can made out is a brief twitch, a shudder, before he kneels down, picking up the discarded logo of the Friendship Wrestling Academy.

Krash: ”Sometimes you need someone to really speak the Truth to get things in order, huh. So, now, it’s on you, Jeremy. I don’t care how terrified I am. I don’t care how empty I am. Maybe this will make it all better, maybe it won’t. Point being, it doesn’t matter - this has to be done.”

He casually slings it into the Academy, where it lands in the center of the bonfire, rapidly curling into ash. Retreating back to his Cadillac, Krash sits himself on the hood, before gesturing to the trucks. With a roar, the two trucks once again come to life, pulling and straining, the chains linking them to the support pillars in the middle of the Academy. With a heave and a crack, the pillars come loose, and the Academy is quick to come crashing down. Friendship Wrestling Academy, in ruins, as Jeremy stares, mouth agape in horror.

With a single humorless chuckle, Krash shakes his head, tilting his head just so to finally look into the camera view, at Jeremy Best, for a fraction of a second.

Krash: ”It had to be me. It had to be you. Was it ever going to be anything else?”

Then, as quick as it occurred, the eye contact was broken. Krash leans back on the hood of his Cadillac, turning to watch the Academy crumble, burn, come apart, no longer paying attention to the camera, to Jeremy, or any word coming out of the champion’s mouth.

As Jeremy Best loses his shit in the ring, Krash simply sits silently, content to watch the Friendship Wrestling Academy burn, until there is nothing left.

We fade to black.