(EAW intro plays)
(Showdown opens up with a recap of last week’s show. Bea and Valentine address their arrest last week and that they are not done with each other just yet, they go back into a brawl and it ends with Impact making Bea pass out. The triple threat between ARIA, Halsey Neel and Daryl Kinkade ends in a no contest as all Brand Warfare teams interfere and a gigantic brawl happens where almost everyone goes down at the end from Mia Santoro suddenly jumping down onto everyone. Kennedy explains the Futures match, a match for a shot at the Specialists Championship, with Circe, Yasmina, Airi and Sofia all being inserted into it, they all brawl and get pulled apart by security with Kennedy now changing it into a ladder match with the contract hanging up top. Wynter defeats a local competitor in an open challenge to show off against Anna Wautier, the two have a surprisingly respectful convo and they bow towards one another before Wynter gets a cheap shot in and lays Anna out, as she stands tall while posing with the title. Cody and Donovan yet again butt heads with Donovan suddenly revealing that El Duque will be a special referee in their match, they fight and it ends with Donovan standing tall over Cody. Veena and Minerva are somehow able to work together to defeat two local competitors but eventually they brawl and fight against one another. Joso and Milli go on a serious back and forth until finally Joso decides to challenge her to a Lumberjack match which Milli accepts, they go right after to the punches and Joso comes out on top. And in the main event, Pandora Paisley is able to defeat Kirk Redwood and Saori Aizen, but the rest of Team Voltage, Dynasty and Showdown arrive to help their partners but eventually, Kelton, Damien and Pandora are able to work together and send all six other opponents over and out the ring, the show ending with Team Showdown standing tall.)
(The recap ends, and it is replaced with the song “Brick Wall” by a Day to Remember, as the camera pans around the inside of the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fireworks shoot out of the entrance stage as the camera pans around the excited crowd cheering loudly. The camera ends up panning over to the commentary table with Deadprez, Gavin Kirkland and Sienna Swann, as they eventually speak up.)
Deadprez: WELCOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! TO SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN! OH YEAH, DAWG! WE ARE OFFICIALLY ONE WEEK AWAY FROM TERRITORIAL INVASION! WE ARE IN THE GO-HOME SHOW FOR SHOWDOWN!!!
Gavin Kirkland: AND TONIGHT WE HAVE… no matches.
Sienna Swann: But we will hear from all of our Showdown elitists one last time before heading into Territorial Invasion, all and so much more tonight! So on that note, let us start with-
???: NO! NO, NO, NO! I REFUSE!!!!
Sienna Swann: …???
Deadprez: Oh boy.
Gavin Kirkland: Aw dude.
(“Genie In A Bottle” by Christina Aguilera plays on the speakers to a HUGE wave of boos. Grace de Luca steps out with a microphone on her hand, and an annoyed expression on her face. She looks very insulted once she looks around and she sees the people booing her. She waves her finger in denial and then raises her voice.)
Grace de Luca: NOPE! NUH-UH! WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THIS! CUT MY MUSIC!!!!
(She yells with a very loud tone of voice before finally, her music cuts off and then she begins to walk down the ramp with that same annoyed expression on her face, ignoring the booing fans and somehow her tone getting even more high pitched.)
Grace de Luca: I know that all of you wanted to start off this show with something cute, something fun, something that all of your tiny short attention spanned brains could handle, because the deepness that comes with someone like me, the tragedy and the drama, the exciting and the bizarre, I am the whole package, I am able to get every single bit of attention on me with just a few words of my voice!
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Grace de Luca: OH, I KNOW ALL OF YOU LOVE IT! And then here I am trying to pour my heart out and all of you treat me like I am some kind of monster?! That I need a paper bag over my head?! No, ALL of you deserve to be called ugly and mean! Because what have I ever done to be treated like this?
(She shrugs acting like she is completely clueless, some people in the crowd start listing off reasons but because they aren’t coordinated, it just sounds like gibberish to Grace.)
Grace de Luca: Exactly, there is nothing at all I have done wrong! All of you have to speak in weird languages to mask that you have nothing!
(Grace finally picks up the pace and then eventually arrives towards the ring, going up the steel stairs and then stepping through, pointing aggressively at the people sitting and watching.)
Grace de Luca: All of you should learn some proper manners, all of you should learn how horrible it is to be able to treat a lady like me, a proper wrestler like me the way that you are doing. Well, no more! Officially, when I finally win the match at Territorial Invasion and then become the Specialists Champion, I will come back to this ring, with the championship in my hand, and then a list in another so that I can all give you a necessary lesson on how to be a decent human being. Let me start off with one for a preview, you-
(“Memory” by Mercy Drive plays on the speakers to a surprising wave of cheers as Grace de Luca completely freezes up and then she turns towards the stage with an incredibly confused expression. Delaney Rhodes walks out forward with her hands in the pockets of her hoodie. She takes it right off and then a bright smile is on her face as she looks at the Showdown crowd. She raises her hand showing the microphone as her music dies down.)
Delaney Rhodes: Let me give my own. ‘Grace de Luca should keep her mouth shut’.
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
(The crowd is already behind Delaney as she walks down the ramp and Grace looks around confused, and very much insulted.)
Grace de Luca: SHE IS NOT EVEN FROM HERE!!!!! SHE IS THE ENEMY, WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING CHEERING FOR HER, HELLOOOO?!?!?!?!?!??!
(Grace is so appalled that she is quite literally getting booed over the outsider as Delaney enters the ring and then keeps the microphone raised, shaking her head.)
Delaney Rhodes: Sometimes it is not all about that, Grace. Maybe you can put Bragging Rights into all of this but it is not about that either. It is proving between all of us who is the woman that deserves most to be able to challenge for such a prestigious championship as the Specialists Championship. And frankly, no matter what universe we are in, no matter what timeline we end up in as well, I can not imagine you being that woman who deserves that championship. The way that you carry yourself, the big mouth that you have on you, the disrespect that you show to this sport almost every single week, maybe even bad enough that you drive people away… actually, that is too mean, I am sorry about that, I am sure some people pity you, but the point of what I am trying to say is that when faced against you, I truly believe myself the best wrestler. You might take everything I said as something mean but it is something to always work on and get better at. Maybe you can grow to be better too if you try hard enough. I know I will try as hard as I can to fight and succeed when we face each other.
(Grace’s jaw is almost on the floor at this point after hearing everything Delaney had to say. It kind of looks like steam is coming out of her ears. She raises her voice considerably.)
Grace de Luca: OKAY, LOOK! I don’t know who the hell you even think you are but everything that you just said about me? Wrong, absolutely fake, everything has been fabricated and used as propaganda against my name! Because Delala.
Delaney Rhodes: Delaney.
Grace de Luca: Yes, whatever your stupid name is! I am not going to get usurped by this whole charade, song and dance from whatever rookie that wants to make my life worse. Because let me tell you, whatever you do, it will not stop me from-
Deadprez: WOW, WHAT?! GRACE SUDDENLY CRASHES INTO DELANEY!!!!
Gavin Kirkland: SELINA REYES FROM VOLTAGE IS HERE! THE TWO OF THEM GO DOWN AND NOW SELINA IS ALL OVER DELANEY! SHE THROWS STRIKES TOWARDS THE DOWNED DELANEY AND THEN SHE GOES TO SWITCH TOWARDS GRACE!!!
Sienna Swann: Grace making a swift escape and trying to get away but Selina is not letting her- BUT GRACE WITH A SUDDEN CHEAP SHOT! The two start coming to blows at ringside- OH WAIT!
Deadprez: AS DELANEY COMES OUT OF NOWHERE WITH A SUICIDE DIVE AND TAKES BOTH WOMEN DOWN! SHE THROWS STRIKES AT SELINA AND THEN GOES TO THROW HER AT THE BARRICADE, SHE DOES THE SAME TO GRACE AS SHE PULLS HER ALONG!
Gavin Kirkland: SECURITY! COME OOON!!!
(Security personnel rush down as fast as they can towards the brawl happening, the scene slowly beginning to fade away as Delaney, Selina and Grace trying to get away all end up getting caught in a huge battle, security surrounding them and trying to pull them away before Showdown goes to commercials.)
(Showdown transitions to Gina Romano standing at the centre of the ring with that composed smile.)
Gina Romano: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME!… THE EAW HALL OF FAMER!… IMPACTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!
(‘Section’ by The Roots plays into a genuinely mixed reaction from the crowd as Karl Impact strides out, dressed in a Tom Ford Nappa Grain Leather Biker Jacket over a clean white shirt, plain jeans, and black Nike Air Force 1s. The weight of years is visible in his expression, the accumulated burden of a career spent at the absolute peak of this industry written plainly across his face, and yet the confidence remains completely intact as he heads toward the ring with a microphone already in hand and that familiar, unmovable look locked in place.)
Gavin Kirkland: We are one week away from Territorial Invasion, and the stage is set for one of the most compelling generational clashes this brand has assembled in quite some time! Karl Impact going up against Bea Valentine with everything on the line! Can the legend add yet another remarkable chapter to a career that has already defied every expectation placed upon it?!
Sienna Swann: Whether the in-ring delivery matches the outfit is the more pressing question tonight, and personally I have my reservations. The days of Impact outmuscling a generation are behind him and I think everyone in that building knows it, including him.
Deadprez: Karl Impact is a multiple-time world champion and a generational force in this industry that has reshaped what longevity looks like at the highest level. Going up against Bea Valentine for the EAW Answers World Championship at Territorial Invasion is arguably the biggest test of this chapter, and Impact has built an entire career on exceeding what people were willing to predict for him.
(Impact steps through the ropes slowly, gives Gina Romano a quiet nod as a signal that she can take her leave, and she returns it before slipping out through the ropes. The music fades. Impact turns to face the crowd surrounding him and raises the microphone.)
Impact: Before I speak one word about Bea Valentine, let me speak the truth about myself.
Impact: I am greedy.
Impact: I have been greedy since the first night I stepped through that curtain. I am selfish, and any man who has ever stood across the ring from me will tell you so without hesitation. I am obsessed, and I have never once had the decency to pretend otherwise. Ten times. #10Timez. It is not a boast or a slogan. It is a confession carved into the record books of this company, a monument to a man who has never in his life been able to look at a championship and feel satisfied. Fifteen years, and the hunger has never softened. Fifteen years, and the hunger has never let me rest. Fifteen years, and I have never learned how to want less. So I will not insult this arena by calling myself a humble man. But hear me, because this is precisely where I part company with every other selfish man who ever held this business hostage — my greed is the answer for EAW. My obsession left something behind. Fifteen years ago, I stood across the ring from George Copeland, and when the dust settled, I was the first man ever to be called Answers World Champion. There was no lineage waiting for me. There was no prestige handed down to me. There was no history to inherit. There was a strap of leather, a plate of gold, and a question no one had answered yet. I answered it with my body. I answered it on my back, night after night, until that title became an institution.
(Impact allows the silence to stretch, letting the weight of it settle over the crowd before he continues.)
Impact: Without me, there is no Lethal Consequences wearing that gold. Without me, there is no Alexander Da Vinci, there is no Prince of Phenomenal, no StarrStan, no Jamie O’Hara, no Adam Lucas, no Donovan Duke. Without me, there is no list at all, and the list goes on for generations because I gave it somewhere to go. Every man and woman who has ever had that belt around their waist has fastened my labor around their waist, and every reign that followed mine was rented from the foundation I poured.
Impact: And that includes your reigning champion… that includes Bea Valentine.
Impact: At Territorial Invasion, she does not simply defend a championship. She defends it against the reason the championship exists. Now let me be fair to her, because contempt is beneath this occasion. Don’t get me wrong, Bea Valentine is a hard worker. She is an excellent professional elitist. I will not degrade her by pretending she is anything less, and I will not degrade myself by pretending I cannot lose. She may well beat me. I have lived long enough in this business to know that the impossible keeps a locker room here. But understand the difference between what she can take from me and what she can never take from me. If Bea Valentine beats me, she keeps the championship. She does not keep the business breathing. If Bea Valentine beats me, the record book changes one line, and not one soul in this locker room eats better for it. She has spent her reign in service of her own name; I have spent my career in service of a name that outlives me. Bea Valentine protects what she holds — **Karl Impact expands what he holds.** That is arithmetic, because when I am at the summit of this industry, the whole industry rises with me, whether it loves me or loathes me. My star power has never been a private fortune. It has always been a public one. Every dollar that has ever chased my name has paid a check that was not mine, so when I take that title back, I will globalize it. I will carry it into markets that have never heard our anthem. I will drag this company into a boom period that Bea Valentine has neither the vision to imagine nor the shoulders to carry. Every man and woman in that locker room will profit from my position, from the inside out, from the top of the card down to the last name on the sheet.
Impact: For months, that championship has been diminished. For months, it has been reduced from an institution to an accessory. For months, it has been made small by hands that never understood how it was made large, and the creator has come to reclaim his creation.
Impact: At Territorial Invasion, it all comes to an end, and Bea Valentine pays every last cent of what she owes.
(Once Impact finishes, ‘Gloria’ by the London Symphony Orchestra cuts through the arena and immediately pulls his attention toward the stage. Bea Valentine strides out with the Answers World Championship draped over her arm, fixing Impact with a measured gaze as she makes her way toward the ring.)
Sienna Swann: Finally, a REAL champion arrives to shut this particular monologue down, sweetie.
Gavin Kirkland: Bea Valentine is not interested in hearing another word of it, and she is heading straight to the ring to make that unmistakable statement in person after everything Impact has been delivering throughout the course of this evening!
Deadprez: The champion is coming down, and she does not look like someone who came out here to listen; that much is abundantly clear from the top of that aisle.
(Valentine steps through the ropes and signals for her music to be cut with a sharp hand gesture. The arena goes quiet. She turns to face Impact directly, that cool and focused expression narrowing down into something considerably more pointed as she locks eyes with him and lets the silence do some of the work before she speaks.)
Bea Valentine: There’s only so much one man can say before it stops being a promise and starts being a sales pitch, Karl. You want to stand out there and read off your legacy like it’s a receipt you’ve been folding up in your back pocket for many years, be my guest. Boast, preen, count your fucking accolades out loud like a kid counting coins. But we are on Showdown. This is live TV. A brand that promotes wrestling, and not whatever the hell you’ve been pitching to that camera every week. Every dollar and cent you’re going to bring in. How the whole locker room eats better with you on top. How you’re going to globalize this championship, take it to markets nobody’s ever heard of, plant a flag on the moon while you’re at it…. It’s fancy….
Bea Valentine: … Which is exactly the point. Something to daydream about between commercial breaks, because none of it happens if you can’t get up off the mat, and Karl, I am going to make sure you cannot get up off the mat. Now, look, I respect that you want this so bad you can taste blood thinking about it, because that’s the only reason anybody should ever want it. But respect isn’t a title reign, and it sure as hell isn’t a defense. And here’s the part I want you sitting with, Karl. You keep telling everybody how this championship isn’t just about you. How it’s about the business, the boys, the future. If that’s true, if you actually mean one word of it, then you don’t need to be the one holding it. Do you? You just told the entire world you built something bigger than yourself, and then you turned around and demanded it back like a man asking for his own funeral wreath. You laid the foundation. Congratulations, that’s a beautiful thing to have done. A man who pours the concrete doesn’t get to come back years later and start pulling the furniture out of somebody else’s house… but it isn’t about who created the belt. It isn’t about whose sweat is in the leather. It’s about who is the best in EAW, who is the best on Showdown, tonight, in this ring, with a live crowd screaming and a referee counting.
Bea Valentine: And right now, that isn’t you.
Bea Valentine: You *were* the Quenssential Champion. Past tense. That’s the entire argument, right there, in two little words, and you’ve spent weeks talking around it because you know it too, so let me tell you how this goes. The bell rings and I take your legacy apart one joint at a time. I go after that knee until it folds the wrong way. I put your face into the turnbuckle until the padding’s got a stain on it in the shape of your mouth. I want the crowd close enough to hear your ribs. And when you’re down there gasping, when the fancy talk is gone, and it’s just wet breathing and canvas burn, I’m going to lean down and repeat your own words back to you. Everybody benefits — everybody but YOU, Karl.
Bea Valentine: Three years of climbing and bleeding for every inch of that and I did not do it so you could walk in and take it back in a single night because your name’s engraved on something. You want to take this away from me, Karl? Come and pry it out of my hands. I’ll be the one still holding it when they turn the lights off!
(Once Bea finishes, Impact nods… then slowly steps into her space, looks dead into her eyes, and presses her microphone down to her side.)
Impact: Be honest with me… are you even ready for that?
Impact: When they first fastened that gold around my waist, I was not ready either. I want you to hear that clearly, because I will not say it twice. I was not ready for the weight of it. I was not ready for the nights it took from me. I was not ready for what it costs a man to carry an entire company on a spine that was never built for it. I learned readiness the only way this business permits. I was broken open, and I put myself back together around that championship until I could no longer tell where the belt ended and I began. When I ask you whether you are ready, I am not mocking you. I am examining you, and what I find is not enough. These past few weeks, I have owned you. I have shown, over and over, that you cannot act on your own initiative, that you cannot make a decision and stand inside it once it is made, that you cannot look this business in the face and promise it that the Answers World Championship is safe in your hands.
Impact: You may say whatever you wish about me. You may wound me in a hundred ways, and I will bleed for every one of them, but you were outclassed before your hand ever began to rise. You are not ready to answer for that title in front of the world. You are not ready to be the reason a company rises or the reason it stalls. You are not ready, and no amount of ambition will manufacture what only endurance can grant. Whatever respect exists between us changes nothing. Respect is a courtesy, but truth is an obligation. I can extend you the first and still refuse to spare you the second. You do not possess the power I have wielded, and I say that not as an insult but as testimony. I have seen generations attempt what I accomplished. I have stood beside them. I have stood across from them. I have watched them try to counterfeit the value I placed on that championship with my own hands and my own blood. Some of them were good. Some were even extraordinary, but not one of them measured up. When I look at you, Bea Valentine, I look past the championship, and I see a woman who is not yet strong enough to bear the weight of the world she has been handed. But, do not for one moment think I have come here to abandon you to it. Because someone with more experience than you will ever have is going to help you. Someone who was broken by this exact weight and chose to be rebuilt by it is going to show you what the very best of EAW truly looks like. Someone who created the thing you are wearing has come to teach you what it demands. In about a week, you are not merely losing a title match.
Impact: You will witness something this industry may never produce again. You will stand in the presence of the peak of Karl Impact, and you will understand at last the difference between holding a championship and deserving one. You are getting the rarest gift this business has ever offered anyone, so do not cry when it is finished.
Impact: Be honored when you are about to be beaten by the greatest there has ever been.
(Impact releases the microphone and turns to make his exit. Valentine holds herself for a moment, something working behind her eyes as she watches him go, then raises her hand.)
Bea Valentine: Hold on, Karl.
(Karl hears it, stops, and turns back around.)
Bea Valentine: There is one more thing you need to hear from me before you walk out of this ring. You truly are the greatest to ever do it. You genuinely are…
(Karl’s expression softens slightly. A smile begins to form.)
Bea Valentine: …at being a loudmouthed, self-aggrandizing son of a bitch!
(CRACK!)
Gavin Kirkland: THE WORLD CHAMPION HAS HEARD ENOUGH! SHE JUST CRACKED KARL DIRECTLY IN THE FACE WITH THAT MICROPHONE, AND THE FIGHT HAS BROKEN DOWN IN AN INSTANT! BEA IS PRESSING FORWARD AND KEEPING HIM PINNED DOWN WITH STOMPS BEFORE HE CAN REGAIN ANY COMPOSURE!
Sienna Swann: YES! HELL YEAH! GIVE HIM EVERYTHING HE HAS EARNED TONIGHT, SWEETIE!
Deadprez: Bea Valentine has had every single word of this build sitting with her for weeks and this right here is the culmination of every last piece of it! She is done listening, and she is done being polite about it!
Gavin Kirkland: Bea gets pushed backward for a split second and Karl scrambles for the championship on the canvas, snatches it up, and comes charging back toward her—
(CRACK!)
Gavin Kirkland: BEA COULD NOT GET HER GUARD UP IN TIME AND GETS KNOCKED CLEAN TO THE CANVAS WITH HER OWN TITLE BELT! KARL HAS TURNED THIS COMPLETELY AROUND IN ONE MOVE!
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Gavin Kirkland: BEA COULD NOT GET HER GUARD UP IN TIME AND GETS KNOCKED CLEAN TO THE CANVAS WITH HER OWN TITLE BELT! KARL HAS TURNED THIS COMPLETELY AROUND IN ONE MOVE!
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Deadprez: AND KARL IS SHOWING ABSOLUTELY NO MERCY! HE IS SEIZING HER BY THE HEAD AND GRINDING HER FACE AGAINST THE TITLE BELT REPEATEDLY! THE BLOOD IS SLOWLY BEGINNING TO SURFACE FROM HER FOREHEAD!
(CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!)
Sienna Swann: This is disgusting to witness, sweetie! One week out from the biggest match of this championship reign and the World Champion is being treated like this with absolutely no protection whatsoever?! Where is everyone?! SOMEONE GET DOWN THERE!
Gavin Kirkland: HERE COME THE OFFICIALS! THEY ARE RUSHING DOWN TO THE RING TRYING TO PUT AN END TO THIS, BUT IMPACT WRENCHES BEA AROUND AND LOCKS IN THE WALLS OF IMPACT IN THE CENTRE OF THE RING!
Deadprez: HE IS TORTURING HER RIGHT NOW AND THERE IS NOBODY IN THAT RING WITH THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE HIM STOP! SHE ALREADY PASSED OUT!
Referee: (Off-Mic) KARL! THAT IS ENOUGH! RELEASE HER RIGHT NOW!
Bea Valentine: …..
Deadprez: Impact finally releases the hold and rises to his feet, standing over the World Champion with that composed and unbothered expression!
(Impact collects the championship off the canvas and raises it high above his head while officials work the ring from both sides, some checking on Bea’s condition while others try to usher Karl toward the ropes and out of the ring.)
Deadprez: The damage to Bea Valentine one week before Territorial Invasion could genuinely alter the entire landscape of what that championship match looks like when it arrives—
Gavin Kirkland: WAIT! LOOK OUT!
Sienna Swann: VALENTINE HAS SOMETHING LEFT AND SHE JUST KNOCKED KARL FROM BEHIND AND SENT HIM THROUGH THE ROPES TO THE OUTSIDE! SHE WAS PLAYING THE SITUATION PERFECTLY, LETTING KARL SOAK IN HIS OWN MOMENT WHILE SHE RECOVERED JUST ENOUGH AND HE WALKED STRAIGHT INTO IT! HE WAS PLAYED, SWEETIE!
Deadprez: KARL IS FURIOUS AND TRYING TO GET BACK IN THERE IMMEDIATELY! BOTH OF THEM ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE REFEREES HOLDING THEM APART AND NEITHER ONE HAS ANY INTEREST IN BACKING DOWN!
Impact: (Off-Mic) COUNT YOUR DAYS, BEA! THIS IS IT FOR YOU!
Bea Valentine: (Off-Mic) OVER MY DEAD BODY, OLD MAN!
(The final image locks onto the two of them straining against the officials separating them, the championship sitting between them as a physical representation of everything being contested, faces bloodied and furious, neither one willing to look away from the other as the tension builds toward Territorial Invasion.)
(The camera cuts to Gina Romano in the ring.)
Gina Romano: Ladies and gentlemen please welcome at this time… YASMINA!!!
( The Warning – Ego hits to cheers from the crowd. )
Deadprez: Yasmina has arrived! I wonder what she has to say?
Gavin Kirkland: Last week we saw that she was one of the people added to the Future’s Match to determine the next contender for the Specialists Championship! But luckily for her she has already won a “special” place in my heart.
Sienna Swann: Chill with all that sweetie. But Yasmina is probably out here to state her case for why she should be the next Specialists Champion. I could see it personally. She has the “it” factor.
(Yasmina comes out to the ring with a serious expression before taking the microphone.)
Yasmina: So… Obviously I am in line for a huge opportunity. Big big opportunity. Tremendous even. And you know what?
Crowd: WHAT?!?
Yasmina: I AM GOING TO PROVE I AM THE FUTURE!!!
Crowd: APFJOSPAFJPOSAJFOPSAJFOPSAFAs
Yasmina: I appreciate the support. But I’m doing this for me. For all the hard times I’ve had to endure. For all of the work I’ve had to put in. I have been climbing ladders my entire life. My entire career. At Territorial Invasion what is one more? I am going to climb that ladder and I am going to show the entire world that I am the next big thing. I am as big of a thing as this is a big opportunity. That is to say… very big indeed.
Gavin Kirkland: Almost as big as Big Gav-
Sienna Swann: Shh Gavin not now sweetie.
Yasmina: I will win the Future’s Match because… I am the Boricua Blue-Blood. ¡Yo soy la próxima campeona! Ganaré esta lucha y gana-
( ‘Episode X’ by Ado hits to cheers from the crowd. )
Deadprez: Well it looks like someone may take exception to Yasmina’s claims that she is going to win this match!
Sienna Swann: You can’t expect to say something like that before the match and expect no resistance sweetie.
( Airi Miyamune steps into the ring to confront Yasmina with a microphone. )
Airi Miyamune: Now hold on a minute Yasmina! You know I am gonna let you finish but last time we were in the ring you got real lucky. But that was then and this is now. This time I, Airi Miyamune, will be the one who climbs that ladder and snatches the Future’s Contract. You can’t stop me this time! Luck is no longer on your side!
Yasmina: That is where you are wrong chica. It’s all skill. But yeah I’m a lucky woman too. And my luck sure as shit ain’t run out. At Territorial Invasion you will see that first hand.
Airi Miyamune: I respect the confidence. But I’m going to shatter that confidence and worldview live at Territorial Invasion. Because it is I, the “Woman of Niten Ichi-ryū” not you who shall prove that she is the FUTURE of EAW!
Yasmina: Nah gurrrrrllll… I am the FUT-
( ‘God is a woman’ – Ariana Grande hits to boos from the crowd. )
Sofia Drakos: Nononono! Absolutely not!
(The crowd boos as the music fades and Sofia Drakos storms down to the ring with a microphone looking enraged.)
Sofia Drakos: I’m not going to sit backstage and listen to you two whiny puny bitches come out here and make a mockery of this match. I am The Goddess and it is my divine right that I shall collect the Future’s Contract. You two are just stepping stones on my rise to glory. I am going to finish both of you. I’m going to finish this story once and for all. I will be the future. Humanity’s time has ended, and it is time for the Age of the Goddess to begin!
(Sofia Drakos poses like a statue of a deity as the crowd boos loudly.)
Yasmina & Airi: Bitch please-
(However, they are immediately interrupted as “Pins & Needles” by Birthday Massacre hits to an outpouring of boos from the crowd. )
Deadprez: Well it was only a matter of time until she came out…
Gavin Kirkland: My beloved! Leave Diego for me Circe! Please!
Sienna Swann: This is just getting sad sweetie.
(Circe enters the ring as she is slowly accompanied by the menacing dark shadow of Father Vlad following behind her.)
Circe: Cut my music. Cut my music.
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Father Vlad: Silence! My daughter is about to speak!
Circe: You people need to shut up because I am not in a good mood!
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Deadprez: Well that tactic never works…
Gavin Kirkland: These people need to show some respect to the first family of EAW!
Circe: It is ridiculous that we are involved in this match at all. The “Future’s Match” might be the dumbest name for a match concept EAW has come up with so far. And that is saying something. It’s ridiculous because it is obvious to everyone with even two brain cells to rub together that I am the future. I have always been the future. I will always be the future. This match is simply a formality and before you people think that I’m salty or I care. I reassure you all. I don’t fucking care. You want to put me in this stupid match? Fine. I’ll win it and take out the trash of three nobodies who will probably flop in EAW and be some random trivia name that nobody remembers in a few months from now.
Yasmina: Callate pendeja.
Airi Miyamune: Who the hell do you think you are?
Sofia Drakos: Do you know who I am bitch?!?!
Circe: Yawn. I don’t have time to waste with you losers. I just came out here to tell you all to get the hell out of my ring and stop flapping your gums. I’m doing you all a favor because you are going to have to eat these stupid promises of success after I’m done with your asses. You all are pieces of trash and you smell nasty as fu-
Gavin Kirkland: LOOK OUT!-
(Sofia Drakos lunges at Circe and takes her head off with a powerful Clothesline!!!)
Deadprez: Sofia Drakos has heard enough! She’s crashing out and just laid out Circe! Father Vlad looks appalled!
Gavin Kirkland: Wait! From behind! Goddess no!
(Yasmina hits Sofia Drakos with a powerful Superkick! But then Yasmina turns around and Airi Miyamune hits Yasmina with a Superkick as well!)
Deadprez: All hell is breaking loose!
(Airi Miyamune hits Yasmina with the Raijin Breaker!!!)
Sienna Swann: Damn! Yasmina was talking that good shit before! But she ain’t saying shit now!
Deadprez: Wait look up on the top rope! How did she recover so fast!
Gavin Kirkland: Well it was just a Clothesline Dead… Circe is back up on and she’s pirched on the top rope! Father Vlad is smiling deviously as Airi turns around!!!-
(Circe flies off the top rope with a Flying Forearm punching Airi so hard that she goes flying out of the ring under the bottom rope.)
Sofia Drakos: …
Deadprez: Circe is standing tall… Wait no! Sofia Drakos is back up! She’s getting in Circe’s face!!! Sofia charges again with another thunderous Clothesline!!!-
Father Vlad: NO! MY DAUGHTER!
(Father Vlad hurls himself into the line of fire!!!-)
Sofia Drakos: Move old head!
Deadprez: Father Vlad interfering! Circe now rolling out of the ring.
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Sienna Swann: The crowd is not pleased by this. Circe is fleeing rather than face off against Sofia Drakos in battle.
(Father Vlad quickly escapes the ring as well as Sofia Drakos laughs and smirks at their cowardice.)
Deadprez: Damn. Not really the message Circe was hoping to send tonight I think.
Gavin Kirkland: What do you mean Dead? She got out of there with her skin intact! She’s a survivor!
Sienna Swann: Well she’s still going to have to deal with Sofia at Territorial Invasion and there won’t be any running then.
Deadprez: The Future’s Match is heating up for sure! Tonight it is the Greek Goddess who stands tall!!! But will that be the case at Territorial Invasion? Is Sofia Drakos the next contender for the Specialists Championship!?!?!
(The camera cuts to a commercial for the Kirkiversary featuring Kirk Redwood.)
(Showdown slowly came back from commercials as the camera focused over towards the stage-)
Halsey Neel: SHOWDOWN, YOU BETTER MAKE SOME DAMN NOISE!
(Halsey’s words make the crowd suddenly come back alive and then cheer as loud as they can. She and Mia end up walking out as well, the two of them having confident grins on their faces, Akari following through with a focused expression on his face, Rex following after as well with a bright smile on his face and trying to get the crowd hyped up as well. Just with KELIN coming in right behind them all, his serious expression not breaking a single bit.)
Gavin Kirkland: Dude, LOOK AT OUR SUPERTEAM!
Sienna Swann: Sorry to the viewers if Gavin deceives you, he likes everything for some reason. But for once he is right in giving praises to our Brand Warfare team.
Deadprez: It is clear that these five have some final words to say to everyone else in the crowd and to the rest of the locker room as we head towards Territorial Invasion just one week away from the Brand Warfare match. Let’s see what they have to say!
(The team is able to arrive towards the ring with Akari and Rex first, Mia and Halsey after, and KELIN just goes over the top rope like nothing. Halsey is the first one to take the stage with each person having their microphone as she raises her voice.)
Halsey Neel: Look, I am not going to arrive in front of this ring and say that I am going to bleed blue and then paint all of my belongings, my car and house in deep blue but damn, am I going to do everything in my power to be able to achieve something as prestigious as this? I know it isn’t a good look overall when the co-captains are women that really haven’t been known to be the heart moving, tear jerking wrestlers that some others can be, but are we not effective in what we do? Look at the team that we have with us right now, look at all this power that we have been able to gather just by the two of us? We made something incredible happen right here. And I’ll be damned if all of our hard work goes into the trash when we go to Territorial Invasion? Because this right here? This is a team that can’t be denied!
(Mia is the one that steps up now and puts a hand over her chest.)
Mia Santoro: You can all call it arrogance, I would like to give it a better word and simply say that it is confidence what I show in this ring, it is confidence when I get on this microphone and then run my mouth because I want to, I say whatever is on my mind because I desire for everything inside of it to be heard. Just like Halsey, I won’t get in front of this camera and then say that I like all of you who have bought a ticket to tonight’s show. I am more booed than admired, which it should be something that all you change quickly when we end up getting that win for Showdown, and admittedly, there is a good chance I am just going to fight any of my teammates in the future after this whole thing is over, but there is no doubt that Mia Santoro gets shit done, there is a reason why I was chosen for this position and I will show it when we get another win for Showdown. All thanks to us and me, of course.
(She throws that praise for herself as last as she gives way and now Akari Kiyoko is the one that steps up, letting the championship in his shoulder shine.)
Akari Kiyoko: Last year, I fought for Showdown with everything that I had. When many people doubted me, I exceeded all of those expectations placed on me, I ended up breaking whatever limit was placed on me in the first place and I arrived somewhere where I never thought I would reach when I first got into Brand Warfare. I did not go all of the way for a victory, Showdown did not win Brand Warfare that year but that match? I showed many glimpses of the greatness that was soon going to be realized when I first gained the National Elite Championship, and a year later, I am prepared to go all of the way to finally achieve what I couldn’t do before. I have raised the flag of this brand before and yet again I will carry it with one arm and championship in another, so that me and my teammates may place it at the very top of EAW, and we call ourselves victors of Brand Warfare. This opportunity, this match was made for us and we won’t cease it now!
(Akari takes his step back and now the big man himself, KELIN, takes a step forward, he looks around at the cheering crowd before he speaks forward.
KELIN: The line has clearly been drawn in the sand. We, as Showdown, stand with our flag raised up high because it is the only thing that we know of at this point. It is the only thing that matters to us as we go forward with nothing else but bloodshed in our mind. Do you see this team and believe it is nothing? Do you truly believe in your feeble and ignorant mind that we are not strong enough? That we are not fierce enough? That we are not ruthless enough for what we desire? Underestimating us will be the last mistake that you ever do because after battle, after Warfare, your name shall be eclipsed by the light of our own, and all of you in Showdown and Voltage are banished when faced against Showdown, when faced against a mountain as big as KELIN!
(KELIN steps away and then gives Rex the chance for the last word. Rex walks forward with a small smile and looks at the people around him.)
Rex McAllister: I do not think you need to hear much from me to understand how much I am willing to put in for this team. Hell, I have done it for almost every single thing I have done in my career. Pushing forward with nothing else but the will that I have as a human being to be able to create something incredible that many of you can see and appreciate for what I was able to do as well. What are we going to face at Territorial Invasion? A battle like no other. Wrestlers that will not yield in any way possible towards what may be on their way, even my own wife being included in them. We may have lost before, we may have not come out on top leading forward to the final battle but it is the will that we have as individuals and as a team to get back up again and again, to learn from everything before us so that we may not fall once more! Whoever is against us, whoever from Dynasty, whoever from Voltage! WE, ARE, PRE-
(Suddenly, many people rush inside and Showdown has to drop the microphones.)
Gavin Kirkland: TEAM DYNASTY! KASAI, EFFY, BRIANNA, DARYL AND CHRIS ENTER INSIDE AND THEN CLASH WITH EVERY SINGLE PERSON THERE!!! TEAM SHOWDOWN THIS TIME DOES NOT BACKDOWN AT ALL FROM THE FIGHT THAT IS GIVEN TO THEM!!!
Sienna Swann: And yet again with another brawl to deal- HUH?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? TEAM VOLTAGE HOPS THE BARRICADE AND SLIDES INSANE! RAVEN, ERIS, CANDICE, ARIA AND ASHLYNN ENTER INSIDE THEMSELVES AND JOIN IN THE FIGHT!!!!
Deadprez: IT IS TOTAL PANDEMONIUM INSIDE OF THE RING NOW! EVERYONE IS THROWING STRIKES AGAINST ONE ANOTHER HOPING TO BREAK THROUGH! SHOWDOWN AGAINST VOLTAGE AGAINST DYNASTY FROM ALL AROUND!!!!
Gavin Kirkland: WAIT! WAIT! SHOWDOWN IS BREAKING THROUGH!!!!
Sienna Swann: MIA IS ABLE TO SEND EFFY FLYING OVER THE TOP ROPE JUST AS AKARI IS ABLE TO DO WITH KASAI!!!
Gavin Kirkland: A CLOTHESLINE OVER WITH HALSEY SENDING ARIA OVER!!! REX OUT OF NOWHERE WITH A ROCKET KICK SENDS HIS OWN WIFE FLYING OVER THE TOP ROPE!!!!
Deadprez: KELIN! LOOK AT KELIN!!!!
Gavin Kirkland: HE STEAMROLLS THROUGH EVERYONE ELSE! A DOUBLE LARIAT TOWARDS ASHLYNN QUINN AND CANDICE BLAIR! A CHOP DIRECTLY TOWARDS ERIS MORTI THAT MAKES HER FLIP OVER!
Sienna Swann: BIG BOOT TO BRIANNA! HEADBUTT TO CHRIS! HE GRABS ONTO DARYL AND THEN LIFTS HIGH UP!!! AND BRINGS HIM BACK DOWN WITH A POWERBOMB!!!!
Deadprez: EVERYONE ELSE IS FORCED TO ROLL OUT! KELIN JUST CLEARED THE RING! WILL THIS BE WHAT HAPPENS AT TERRITORIAL INVASION?! WE WILL HAVE TO SEE AND FIND OUT!!!!
(The last shot is of Kelin standing tall and posing in victory alongside Halsey, Mia, Akari and Rex, all four of them getting in the ropes and then sending out their message as all of Team Voltage and Team Dynasty re-group and then back away together, staring Team Showdown down as the show goes to commercials.)
(We have returned from the commercial break where we see that the ringside is currently empty considering the brief break in the action of Showdown before we hear the sounds of “Enemy” by From Ashes to New start to play throughout the arena. The silence is cut by sounds of loud boos coming from the crowd as Silas Mason, Donovan Duke, and El Duque enter the arena getting no love from the crowd. Unlike last week when they were in bad moods, they are looking to be in very good moods as they head to the ring.)
Gina Romano: Ladies and gentlemen! At this time, please welcome… SILAS MASON! EL DUQUE! DONOVAN DUKE! SILAS WORLD!
Sienna Swann: One again, this bald idiot just seems to make a show worse with the presence of his ugly face. Even worse, he’s smiling. Sweetie, young children are going to cry.
Deadprez: Most likely but they are all in a good mood, especially Donovan, after last week. Any happier and Donovan will be dancing across the arena.
Gavin Kirkland: Probably a line dance or something. Donovan looks ready to, and I quote, continue bringing class and dignity back to Showdown. His match with Cody Maverick at Territorial Invasion might be a good start. Let’s hear what The Debonair One has to say.
(Silas grabs a microphone from Gina before he walks up the steps and opens the ropes for Duke and Duque. Silas enters the ring himself and stands front and center with Duke and Duque. The crowd is still booing as Donovan’s music fades off and he begins to speak.)
Donovan Duke: Here I am. Another week making Showdown a little bit more tolerable and a hell of a lot more dignified. You’re welcome by the way.
(The crowd thinks Donovan is full of crap as they continue to boo loudly for him. Donovan rolls his eyes and keeps going.)
Donovan Duke: Imbeciles. But you know what? Not even the ignorant boos from you nitwits can ruin my good mood because I got exactly what I wanted.
Donovan Duke: What do I have you may ask? Well, at Territorial Invasion, I get the chance to once again put a Sin City Shithead in his place.
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Donovan Duke: Oh please. The only reason you all boo me is because you know I am speaking the truth. Cody Maverick thinks that next week, he is going to finish this once and for all so he can go after the Answers World Championship. Maybe when I’m dead and buried you can. Until then, that title is MINE!
Donovan Duke: To make that match even better, I also get to make that cocky bastard choke to death on some humble pie. Because, as the true King of Elite, I felt like the stipulation should be left to me.
Donovan Duke: What was it you said, Cody? Pick whatever I want? You’ll beat me regardless of the stipulation? You’ll regret those words because your big mouth wrote a check your ass won’t be able to cash. Because I naturally made the stipulation that my amazing protégé, El Duque, was the special guest referee.
Donovan Duke: You weren’t feeling so confident after that choice, were ya? What happened to that bravado where you said that you could beat me with ANY stipulation I pick? If you are as high and mighty as you believe yourself to be, then a special guest referee of MY choosing shouldn’t be a challenge for the King of Elite who got his crown from Burger King on his birthday!
(The crowd is still booing Donovan, which Donovan is ignoring, as he turns his attention to El Duque.)
Donovan Duke: Isn’t that right, Duque? Especially after Cody tried to humiliate the King of the Luchadores in a Lucha Rules match in the cowardly way that he did. This is your chance to get some payback against the bastard!
(Duque motions for the microphone and Donovan is happy to oblige and hand the microphone over to his protégé, who now decides to speak up.)
El Duque: Donovan, eso realmente suena como una idea muy tentadora. Pero…
(Donovan nods, because apparently he can understand Spanish… go figure, as Duque continues to speak.)
El Duque: Well, Donovan, as tempting as it is to get some revenge on Cody for beating me and trying, and I emphasize TRYING, to humiliate the King of the Luchadores in the way that he did. But….
(Donovan looks at Duque wondering what Duque is going to say next.)
El Duque: I have been trusted with the honor of being the special guest referee.
Donovan Duke: (off-mic) I know. I was the one who picked you.
El Duque: You did, but I am going to call everything right down the middle.
(Donovan gave Duque an intrigued look wondering what his protégé is going to say next.)
El Duque: No digo esto con ánimo de faltar al respeto. I don’t mean this with disrespect, but as the King of The Luchadores, I need to and I want to respect the lucha culture I have dedicated myself to learning and living.
(Donovan crosses his arms as he keeps listening to El Duque. Duque turns to look at Donovan.)
El Duque: No cabe duda de que vas a ganar, pero espero que entiendas por qué he decidido no decantarme por ninguno de los dos bandos en este combate. You are going to win, but I hope you understand why I am calling it down the middle because I will respect the lucha culture.
(We really can’t gauge what Donovan thinks because he has an expressionless look on his face as motions for the microphone, which El Duque hands him while Silas Mason watches closely.)
Donovan Duke: I mean I understand why you have decided that, but I was thinking that–
(Donovan doesn’t get a chance to finish that statement before he is quickly cut off by the sounds of ‘Kostas’ by Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine & Benny the Butcher playing as Cody Maverick enters the arena to loud cheers from the crowd. Donovan is glaring up the entrance ramp as Silas tries to talk to him as Cody heads to the ring.)
Deadprez: I think Cody has heard enough from this crazy loudmouth Donovan Duke and now the true King of Elite is heading to the ring to once again confront Donovan Duke.
Gavin Kirkland: That’s how rumors get started. Donovan isn’t crazy. Besides, Donovan and Cody are just two very determined competitors wanting to get into contention for the Answers World Championship.
Sienna Swann: Sweetie, don’t get me started because Donovan has no taste in friends or associates while Cody is looking to have the best season of his career. Let’s see what Cody has to say about this.
(Cody enters the ring and snatches the microphone from Donovan. Silas and Duque hold Donovan back before he goes on a rampage. Cody is smirking as his entrance music fades off and he starts to speak.)
Cody Maverick: Yeah…nah.
Cody Maverick: I am surprised that your brain hasn’t started oozing out of your ears with all the bullshit that you spout out. Honestly, Donny, you should thank me for the beating I am going to give you next week because maybe it would fix whatever faulty wiring in that head of yours.
(Donovan is glaring at Cody as he smirks at how annoyed he is getting.)
Cody Maverick: While I think this El Duque guest referee fiasco is a bunch of bullshit and just another way to stack the deck for yourself to finally get a victory over me, you just need to accept the fact that you just aren’t good enough to beat me.
Cody Maverick: Territorial Invasion will just be another reason to back up my claims. Donny, you’re good. But whatever the fuck is going on with you is ruining everything for yourself. This is the implosion that everyone has been waiting to see. You are not winning at Territorial Invasion….
(Cody turns his attention and looks at El Duque.)
Cody Maverick: Even El Dookie can’t save you….
(Cody turns to look at Donovan and Donovan looks ready to hurt somebody.)
(Until….)
(POW!)
Deadprez: DONOVAN DUKE WITH A SPEAR AND THE FIGHT IS ONE ONCE AGAIN BETWEEN CODY AND DONOVAN!
Sienna Swann: SWEETIE, THESE TWO ARE JUST BEATING THE HELL OUT OF EACH OTHER! Remember Donovan and Duque left Cody down and out last week and Cody is mad. That fire is coming out right now as Cody is starting to get the edge over Donovan.
Gavin Kirkland: Silas has left the ring to avoid getting involved in the contact as Donovan is keeping up the fight against Cody, but Donovan is looking toward his protégé to help turn things back in his favor
Deadprez: DUQUE IS DOING AS HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO AND HE IS CALLING IT DOWN THE MIDDLE! DONOVAN WAS TAKEN OFF GUARD AS HE CATCHES CODY BEFORE GETTING BACK TO HIS FEET–
Sienna Swann: CODY TURNS DONOVAN AND HITS HIM WITH THE SIN CITY STUNNER! THE FORCE OF THE STUNNER SENDS DONOVAN OUT OF THE RING AND TO THE FLOOR, SWEETIE!
(Silas runs over to check on Donovan to help him back to his feet as Cody and El Duque lock eyes.)
Gavin Kirkland: Well this could get very interesting. Remember Duque was involved in the attack on Cody last week.
(Cody went for Duque as Duque barely manages to get away and gets out of the ring as Cody is left standing tall in the ring.)
Sienna Swann: Sweetie, will this be the sight we see at Territorial Invasion. Did Donovan’s plan of having the man he trained be the referee in this match show signs of backfiring?
Deadprez: Or is this all a facade to help guarantee Donovan victory? Dawg, these two want to beat the hell out of each other in the worst way while also getting themselves in contention for the Answers World Championship. DONOVAN DUKE! CODY MAVERICK! EL DUQUE THE GUEST REFEREE! This is going to be explosive!
(The final shot shows Cody standing tall in the ring as Silas holds Donovan back as El Duque joins them and they head up the ramp and the camera shot fades elsewhere.)
(The camera shifts backstage to Mikaela Street who is standing with Silas Mason and Cataclysm where she is ready to interview the two wrestlers who will compete for the Unified Tag Team Championships.)
Mikaela Street: Hey EAW Universe, and thanks so much to Deadprez, Sienna Swann, and Gavin Kirkland. In one weeks’ time Cataclysm, the team of Ryan Wilson and Vincent Mondrian, representing Silas World will go against La Farmacia Sexual, the team of Dr, Bethany Blue and TLA, the current Unified Tag Team Champions. Silas, as we found out, this match will be held in the Poon Palace, and last week Silas, you were given a tour, and it didn’t go the way you had planned. Thoughts?
(Silas turns to give Mikaela a look before he shakes his head, turning back to his Cataclysm team as they both nod, Silas turns back around to speak.)
Silas Mason: Let me correct you there, Mikaela. First off, I had no issues going to the Poon Palace, I mean it is paradise, right? Beautiful people are everywhere but when they try to play games with me, that is when I have a serious problem. The fact there were plants there is what irritates me most, instead of just inviting me and having a mature conversation while scoping out the landscape and seeing exactly what my guys were going up against. See, the way I look at it, they are scared facing them in a regular tag team match, and don’t get me wrong, the Good Doctor is a future Hall of Famer, TLA is a Hall of Famer, both of them are the cream of the crop, but they are a little too comfortable and that is where my boys come in.
Mikaela Street: With this being at the Poon Palace, and of course TLA knowing that through and through, that does put you at a disadvantage and –
(Silas quickly cuts her off.)
Silas Mason: Now hold on Mikaela, let’s slow our roll here for a moment because while YLA may know his own Poon Palace, that doesn’t mean that they have the advantage. Bethany doesn’t live there, I can bet she has been there maybe twice and not seen the whole Palace, she is not that type of woman. But this is like a bar fight, and look at these two men right here, nothing describes that better than these two, so I ask you now, in a fight, no matter where it is at, do you see these two not able to take the fight to them? No.
(Ryan Wilson now speaks.)
Ryan Wilson: Mikaela, we get it, they are on their home field, but we can bring the fight to them. Look what we have done already, and besides, the location doesn’t matter, we can do it on the streets, or in the Poon Palace. See, Mikaela, I know Bethany well, at one point we were best friends when I was in charge of Showdown back in 2020. As for TLA, we almost became tag team champions. I know him like the back of my hand and now, I have a partner that can do it.
(Ryan pats Vincent Mondrian who nods and he now takes the mic.)
Vincent Mondrian: Mikaela…. We know what the odds are, and yet do we look worried? Dr. Bethany Blue is vicious; she is an animal in that ring. TLA is one of the best to ever do it, we are talking about two elite that will never back down from anyone. But we have something they don’t but did, hunger. We –
???: Is that right, Vincent?
(That lovely voice sounded familiar when they turn to see Dr. Bethany Blue and TLA walk up with the titles over their shoulders. It was Bethany who cut them off and she walks right up to Vincent, as TLA and Ryan Wilson come face to face.)
Dr. Bethany Blue: We were listening to this entire time, and while we can appreciate the effort, you have us all wrong. We never needed the Poon Palace as an advantage, instead it was more to add a little twist to a match that lets be frank here, has become personal. We have history Ryan, and so does TLA with you. So honestly, I was fine wrestling both of you in a regular match, but honestly, there is nothing to prove, because it would have been a forgone conclusion.
TLA: Orale, la Doctora is correct, and let’s be honest hermanos, the Poon Palace gives you pendejos a chance to prove that you are better than us, but we all know that La Farmacia is going to put you two putos down with the quickness. But hey, next time you cabrones want to visit the Palace and not try to jump us, I’ll let you all in, I got plenty of Poons to fill your starved attention.
(TLA looks over to Bethany as they both smirk, Silas though this time gets in-between both teams.)
Silas Mason: There is no need to get physical here, but I want you two remember one thing, that at least you will not have to go far to soak your sorrows since we will beat you in your own home TLA. Then, maybe after this who tag team title farce thing is over, you come home with us Bethany and join a real stable. I can finally make you a REAL World champion.
(Bethany just smiles and then…)
SLAP!!!
(She slaps Silas Mason when Ryan Wilson forearms Bethany and knocks her down. TLA sees this and he jumps on Ryan Wilson as they start to throw fists but Vincent Mondrian jumps TLA from behind and throws him into some crates. He crashes down and they start kicking him while he is down as Ryan grabs a chair. Bethany quickly is up and she covers TLA to take the hit and as Ryan goes to drop the chair on her back, Vincent Mondrian rips the chair from his hands. Ryan turns to him shocked.)
Ryan Wilson: What the hell are you doing!?
(Vincent Mondrian throws the chair down and shakes his head, Bethany looks up at Mondrian who turns to her and then Silas intervenes.)
Vincent Mondrian: NO! We get them next week!
Ryan Wilson: Are you seriously trying to protect her!?
Silas Mason: ENOUGH! Let’s go. We will see you at the Poon Palace, Doctor.
(Silas throws her his card and has Ryan walk with him. Vincent and Bethany stare at each other before he nods and walks off, she then turns her attention to TLA who is being checked by her and Mikaela as it fades to a commercial break.)
(‘You are stronger’ by Lyn Inaizumi cuts through the murmur of the crowd. She doesn’t wait for a big entrance; she walks out with a mic already gripped tight in one hand. She climbs the steps, slides between the ropes, and plants herself dead center in the ring.)
Milli Banks: Cut the
music.
(It cuts immediately. She
lets the silence sit for a second, rolling her shoulders.)
Milli Banks: We ain’t
about to waste time because we know what this is all about, Joso! I know you’re
back there right now. I know Minerva is probably in the back too, coddling you
like a baby and whispering in your ear like she always does. But I don’t give a
fuck! Tonight, there’s no Veena running interference for me. There should be no
Minerva coming down here behind you, pulling strings. And most certainly, you
shouldn’t be a little bitch and sucker punch me! It should just be you and me
talking face-to-face! Man to Woman! So I’m only going to tell you this once:
get out here and let’s talk!
(A pause. Then ‘LIKE
WEEZY’ by Playboi Carti hits, Joso struts out alone, spreading his arms wide as
the crowd booes him. He saunters down the ramp, grabs a mic from ringside, and
rolls into the ring slowly, making her wait.)
JOSO:
You called, Banks? You wanted to talk? Ight then, let’s talk.
(He circles, a smug grin
creeping across his face.)
JOSO: But I gotta be
honest, I didn’t expect you to still have the nerve to call anybody out.
Especially not me, after I dropped you on your head not too long ago.
Especially not now, with your credibility at an all-time low. After Minerva
exposed you for the fragile little girl you are, shit, you gotta be stupid to
be puffing out your chest like this. Milli, I expect you to be a lot quieter
than you are now. But I guess you got to make up for being so frail right now.
(The crowd reacts with
boos. Milli doesn’t flinch. She stares him down, letting him talk.)
Milli Banks: What is your
point, Joso?
JOSO: Ain’t it obvious?
After that loss to Minerva, you haven’t been the same, Milli. You’ve been a
shell. A shadow of the Supernova that we all loved. The Milli Banks that used
to strike fear in people- she’s long gone, and Minerva killed that. Everybody
sees it, and you are hoping your little friends will cover up the fact, like
they always do when you are down on your luck.
Milli Banks: Is that what
you think?
JOSO: Is that what I
think? It’s what I know. And you know what? Since you’re concerned with being
real with each other, let’s get real! You aren’t on my level, Milli. Maybe at
some point in time I could take you seriously, but the time isn’t now. It is long
gone, and I won’t pretend that you concern me in the slightest. At Territorial
Invasion, everything is already set in stone, and even the dumbest, most
illiterate fan can read the writing on the wall. “Kute & Kunty” is going to
go backstage after their loss, lick your wounds, and console each other like
the sad little support group you two have become. While Minerva and I are gonna
celebrate, long and hard as actual winners around here. A sentiment your sad
pathetic ass can’t seem to grasp anymore.
(The crowd continues to
erupt into boos. Milli’s expression doesn’t change; she tilts her head
slightly.)
Milli Banks: You finished?
JOSO: Oh, I could keep
going, you—
Milli Banks: Shut the
hell up.
(The crowd cheers.)
Milli Banks: Because I
want you to hear this clearly, Joso. I called you out here not to waste my
breath on stupid shit, but to tell you what it is, short and simple. I am done.
Done with the mind games, done with that stupid ass, smug little smirk on your
dumbass face, done watching you and Minerva parade around like you’re
untouchable.
(She takes a step closer.)
Milli Banks: So in one
week, I’m going to make you regret ever thinking you could play these games
with me. And when I’m done with you, you are going to crawl your ugly ass back
to Minerva crying, because you are going to finally understand what happens
when you push someone like me too far. You get your ass spanked, like the child
that you are.
(Joso’s smirk falters for
just a second before he masks it with a laugh, shaking his head.)
JOSO: Oh my god, classic
Milli, am I right? Give it up for her! Seriously, I mean, you see what I mean?
You keep talking like the old you is still in there somewhere. Like you’ve
still got that fire. But we both know the truth. It’s all bark, and no teeth.
At Territorial Invasion, it’s not just gonna be Minerva and me walking out on
top; it’s gonna be the final proof that you are finished. That EAW doesn’t need
Milli Banks anymore, that you are just a relic that ain’t capable of holding
the crown—
Milli Banks: You ain’t
hearing me, are you?
(She says it flat,
cutting him off before he can keep going.)
Milli Banks: You don’t
seem to get it through your thick skull? You think this is about pride? You
think this is about redemption and me wanting to prove myself to someone like
you and Minerva? This isn’t about that, Joso. This is about what I am willing
to do to teach you a lesson about testing me. And if I have to, I will run
through both you and Minerva to teach you that I ain’t the one to play with no
matter where I am in my career. I don’t care if it’s you and Minerva together;
I don’t care how many times you two try to gang up, try to scheme, try to play
your little games. I will run you both down! One at a time, or both at once! It
doesn’t matter to me ANYMORE!
(Joso playful arrogance
drains out of him in an instant.)
JOSO: You ain’t shit,
Milli. Never have been. All this talking doesn’t mean shit.
Milli Banks: I agree, so
stop running your mouth and do something, pussy.
That’s the line that does
it! Joso throws the mic down and lunges at her, swinging wildly—)
(Milli ducks the first
shot, but he catches her with a shoulder that knocks her back into the ropes.
He presses the advantage, grabbing her by the hair, screaming something
incoherent as he tries to whip her across the ring! But Milli reverses it at
the last second, sending him into the ropes instead. When he bounces back, she
catches him with a DROPKICK!)
(He’s up fast, swinging
again, catching her with a forearm that snaps her head back! She absorbs it,
and fires back with a series of strikes that back him into the corner! The
crowd is fully alive now, chanting her name!)
(Joso tries to fight out
of the corner, throwing a wild haymaker! But Milli slips behind one, grabs his
shoulders from the back, and drives him down with a devastating BACKSTABBER!)
(BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER,
SHE ROLLS THROUGH AND FLATTENS HIM WITH A “NOCTURE” DOUBLE FOOT CURBSTOMP! THAT
LEAVES HIM LAID OUT! Milli stands over him for a moment, staring down at him.
She picks the mic back up off the mat, looking down at him.)
Milli Banks: Territorial
Invasion, your ass is mine.
(She drops the mic beside
his head and rolls out of the ring, walking up the ramp, never looking back as
her music hits and the crowd continues to roar behind her. As the scene fades
to black.)
(A graphic for Milli
Banks vs. Joso in a Lumberjack Match shows.)
(The camera shot has returned from commercial break for the final time tonight as the silence at ringside is quickly cut off by the sounds of “Just Stop” by Disturbed starts to play in the arena. Seconds later, we see the Showdown War Games team of Jon Kelton, Damien Kutcher, and Team Captain Pandora Paisley enter the arena as the Showdown faithful cheer them on. They look at each other and nod in solidarity before they head to the ring.)
Gina Romano: Ladies and gentlemen! At this time, please welcome THE SHOWDOWN WAR GAMES TEAM OF DAMIEN KUTCHER… JON KELTON… AND PANDORA PAISLEY!
Gavin Kirkland: I don’t know about you, but I love our War Games team. They are the most cohesive team in the War Games match and I really think that Showdown is going to win the War Games match and bring victory to Showdown.
Deadprez: They were certainly looking good after the solidarity they showed last night on Dynasty. But looking good will be put to the test at Territorial Invasion as they have to participate and battle in the infamous War Games environment.
Sienna Swann: Voltage and Dynasty might have got the one up on us a few times over the last month, Sweetie, but with the intensity and fight that Showdown brings, they better not underestimate us. Let’s hear what Team War Games has to say.
(Pandora, Kelton, and Damien are in the ring standing front and center looking out towards the crowd as Pandora’s music fades away. The trio look at each other as Pandora decides to take the lead and speak up first.)
Pandora Paisley: I don’t know about any of you people, but I think that we have Voltage and Dynasty exactly where we bloody well want them. Look at Dynasty. Look at Voltage. Now look at us. If you look at our team, it’s easy to write us off as the underdogs of the match. You know what, flowers? We are the TRUE underdogs of the match and that’s fine with us. You want to know what else? That’s exactly how we like it.
(Pandora takes a few steps back and Kelton decides to be next to step into the forefront.)
Jon Kelton: She’s exactly right. We’re not former World Champions. We’re not the biggest people in the match. We’re not some fucking delusional lunatics in the midst of a love triangle or some shit. But what we all are… are fighters. Dynasty? Voltage? They look at us and underestimate us. Go ahead and do that. Write us off and figure us as the least likely team to win inside War Games. You’ll all learn the hard way how big of a mistake that truly is.
(Damien nods as Kelton steps back and he steps up to the plate to say what is on his mind.)
Damien Kutcher: You got that right, Kelton. One week. Voltage. Dynasty. You all have one week to come to terms with your inevitable defeats. One week to accept that Territorial Invasion is going to belong to US! War Games is going to end as the SHOWDOWN SHOW! You will bleed red. You will have yellow streaks of cowardice down your back, but the lights will be shining blue thanks to US!
Pandora Paisley: Get ready to watch the underdogs take it all next week. But before that, how about Team Dynasty and Team Voltage come on out here right now because it’s only a matter of time before you bloody well come out here anyway.
(Pandora then turns to the ramp and glares right at the top of the ramp.)
Pandora Paisley: Especially YOU, Damon Lazarus.
(The crowd starts booing at the mention of Damon’s name.)
Pandora Paisley: I bet you are feeling pretty good about yourself after hitting me with that bloody CTE move of yours two weeks in a row. Let’s face it, flower, you got bloody lucky. But tonight? YOUR LUCK RUNS OUT! I dare you to do it again! FACE! TO! FACE
(Pandora doesn’t have to wait very long before we hear the sounds of ‘Until It Sleeps’ by Metallica playing throughout the arena as the Voltage War Games Team of Saori Aizen, Auburn Ware, and Damon Lazarus enter the arena. Damon leads as Auburn and Saori follow down the ramp.)
Deadprez: Well ask and you shall receive because here comes Team Voltage being led by Captain Damon Lazarus. There certainly has been a small rivalry building between the captains of the Showdown and Voltage teams.
Gavin Kirkland: Yeah because that crazy bastard Damon Lazarus likes to keep hitting Pandora with that damn CTE move of his. But take a gander at the looks on Team Showdown. They see Team Voltage in almost a cohesive unit at the moment.
Sienna Swann: Sweetie, it’s more like they have fallen into order with Damon as the ringmaster as opposed to a captain. If it’s intensity Showdown wants, they are about to get it.
(The Voltage team stops at ringside and they elect to not enter the ring. Damon walks over and grabs a microphone from Gina before walking back to his team as his entrance music fades off.)
Damon Lazarus: Are you done talking? I hope so because I think we are all done listening to you.
(The crowd boos louder and Damon is paying them no mind.)
Damon Lazarus: Listen carefully because I am not sure if you can really comprehend this concept. There is a big difference between trust… and loyalty. I am the type of person who NEVER needed trust.
(Team Showdown gives him a weird look as Auburn and Saori stay stoic as Damon keeps speaking.)
Damon Lazarus: What I do need is the loyalty and the awareness of my team and myself included to make sure that we all fall in line because I am looking for nothing less than victory inside War Games. If you have the gall to stop me from achieving victory, then you will have nobody to blame but yourselves for what happens to you inside that structure. I guarantee it.
(Pandora rolls her eyes as Team Showdown doesn’t look very amused with what Damon is saying.)
Pandora Paisley: Are you done? If you are, then how about you put your money where your big mouth is, flower? Right here. Right now. How about you get your ass in the ring and do something about it.
(Before Damon could answer or react, we hear “Clash of the Gods” by Norihito Sumitomo starting to play as the Dynasty team of BRAE, Cy Henderson, and Kirk Redwood enter the arena and head to the ring.)
Gavin Kirkland: Now we are officially in Territorial Invasion mode on Showdown with the Dynasty War Games team here. They are heading to the ring to join in on this chaos.
Sienna Swann: They certainly made a big statement last night on Dynasty. Sweetie, this team is gonna be tough. They won’t back down. They won’t back up. Now that Dynasty is at ringside. Let’s hear what they have to say.
(We see that Dynasty has a microphone in their possession as BRAE’s music fades off. Seconds later, Cy Henderson takes the honor of speaking first for the team.)
Cy Henderson: I have heard a lot of people talking about being written off. But if there is one team being written off, it’s us.
(BRAE motions for the microphone and Cy hands the mic to BRAE.)
BRAE: While our team might have some differing views on things, we know very well that we only have to be united for one single night to beat the hell out of all six of you and leave War Games victorious.
(Kirk then motions for the microphone as BRAE obliges and hands the mic to Kirk.)
Kirk Redwood: We don’t agree on much of anything, but we all can agree that our team enjoys a good fight. After we beat the shit out of you and win the match, we don’t even have to be in the same room any longer. But in War Games, you all are fucked.
(The Showdown team is looking at Dynasty like they can’t believe what they are hearing.)
Pandora Paisley: Are you serious right now?
BRAE: We are very serious.
Jon Kelton: You all are so full of shit right now. It’s ridiculous.
(As Showdown and Dynasty are looking at each other….)
Deadprez: LOOK!
Sienna Swann: TEAM VOLTAGE FROM BEHIND AS THEY ATTACK SHOWDOWN AND TAKE THEM DOWN AS DYNASTY JUST SITS BACK AND WATCHES!
Gavin Kirkland: WHAT A BUNCH OF BACK FIGHTERS THEY ARE! SAORI AND AUBURN ARE TAKING CARE OF KELTON AND DAMIEN WHILE DAMON IS BEATING UP PANDORA ONCE AGAIN!
Deadprez: They have neutralized Showdown and Damon is getting into position… OH COME ON! NOT AGAIN!
Gavin Kirkland: THAT JERK DAMON IS SETTING UP FOR THE CTE AGAIN AND PANDORA HAS NO IDEA!
Sienna Swann: PANDORA IS STARTING TO GET BACK TO HER FEET AND SHE IS ABOUT TO RUN INTO A MESS OF TROUBLE–
Deadprez: DAMON HAS JUST JUMPED UP FOR THE CTE TO SPIKE PANDORA DOWN AGAIN–
Sienna Swann: PANDORA GOT FREE! PANDORA PUSHES DAMON OFF WHO TRIES TO CATCH HIS BALANCE! Now that Damon has his balance he turns around back to Pandora–
Gavin Kirkland: PANDORUM!! PANDORA GOT A BEAUTIFUL RIGHT HOOK ON DAMON AND HE FALLS DOWN LIKE A STONE….
(At that point, Dynasty decides to jump into the ring and join in the fray.)
Deadprez: OH AND HERE WE GO!! DYNASTY IS NOW IN THE RING AND WE HAVE A NINE PERSON BRAWL GOING ON
Gavin Kirkland: VOLTAGE! DYNASTY! SHOWDOWN! THEY ARE ALL BEATING THE HELL OUT OF EACH OTHER AND THIS IS ONLY A TASTE OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE AT TERRITORIAL INVASION IN WAR GAMES! COME ON SHOWDOWN!!
Sienna Swann: Sweetie, there is chaos going on in the ring as Pandora gets Damon out of the ring while BRAE is tossed out as well.
Deadprez: NOW THERE GOES THE REST OF VOLTAGE AS THEY ARE TAKEN OUT BY SHOWDOWN! KIRK AND CY ARE TRYING TO FIGHT BACK, BUT THEY ARE ALSO EVENTUALLY TAKEN OUT OF THE RING AS WELL!
(The crowd is cheering for Showdown as they are the last team standing in the ring as they have successfully defended their turf. Meanwhile, we see referees and security coming out to prevent more of a brawl.)
Crowd: LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!
Gavin Kirkland: Normally I would agree with the crowd, but next week, we are going to see a massacre between these three teams.
(The camera cuts to Saori and Auburn making sure that Damon is alright after the Pandorum punch before they look up at each other and lock eyes as they don’t say a word.)
Sienna Swann: Well that is an interesting development outside the ring, but right now let’s focus on the fact that we are one week away from the annual War Games match. If this little preview is a precursor, sweetie, then it’s going to be a hell of a match.
Deadprez: Three brands. Three teams. One match for brand superiority. All I can say to the fans is be ready for action beyond words next week at Territorial Invasion. We will see you all next week.
(The final shot shows Team Dynasty being escorted out of the arena as Saori and Auburn are still locking eyes with each other while checking on Damon before cutting to Team Showdown standing tall in the ring wanting the other teams to come back and bring it on as they have protected their turf as the shot fades to black….)
(EAW Logo Buzzes….)
