(EAW intro plays)
(Showdown opens up with a recap of last week’s show. Kennedy Street talks about all the matches in The Last Stand so far, with Bea Valentine coming out and wanting to hear her out, as Kennedy requests Bea who she wants to face from the men who have challenged her in the past month and Bea says… she wants to face all three of them which Kennedy accepts. Clayton Golde defeats Halsey Neel after some shenanigans from Silas World, and as the rest of the group come out, with Damien, Pandora and Kelton coming as cavalry, they all go to a standstill, with Silas Mason announcing the last member for Team Silas World will be Clayton Golde. Sofia, Wynter, Grace and Yasmina brawl against each other after the problems from last week before Kennedy comes out to stop them, and to resolve this, the four of them will face off in a Fatal Four Way Iron Woman Match. The Jones Brothers defeat local competitors. Tafae Toa comes out with Malik, condemning KELIN for what he did last week, and KELIN comes out saying that with Tafae continuing to be in his way, as he goes forward trying to be a star, he knows he needs they need to end this, and Malik says they can, KELIN vs Tafae Toa in a Last Man Standing Match which KELIN agrees to. The two brawl once more before the two of them send each other off of the entrance stage and crash against electrical equipment. Akari Kiyoko defeats Cody Maverick, and while Akari is having a staredown with Mia Santoro, Cody gets attacked by El Duque. Milli Banks is clear in her revenge against Circe and Diego, and even though the couple try to act nonchalant, they desire to bring doom to Milli just as much, with Milli emphasizing that Minerva hurt her sister… so she might as well do the same to her. Milli fights against them, and out of nowhere, Veena comes back to help her out and even the odds, and it is officially done, a Hollywood Horror Nights match between Kute and Kunty versus Circe and Diego. And in the main event, after a chaotic tag match between Bea and Impact versus Joso and Rex, Joso is able to take advantage of one moment and he is able to pin Bea, giving himself and Rex the victory, with Showdown ending on a staredown between all four.)
(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 Sellend Arena in Fresno, California. 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 and Sienna Swann, as they eventually speak up.)
Deadprez: WELCOME TO SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN! OH YEAH, DAWG! WE ARE OFFICIALLY ON THE GO HOME SHOW TO THE LAST STAND!
Sienna Swann: Tonight we don’t have any matchs, but we will have plenty of news and excitement as we see our wrestlers prepare for The Last Stand, either through good means or well, destructive ones. Hope all of you enjoy it!
Deadprez: LET’S START THIS SHOW RIGHT OFF WITH THE CONTRACT SIGNING FOR THE ANSWER’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH!!!!
(Showdown cuts straight to the show, revealing Gavin Kirkland standing at the head of a table in the centre of the ring with the contract placed on it. Around him stand all four competitors who will be contending for the Answers World Championship: Impact, Joso, Rex McAllister and the champion herself, Bea Valentine. All of them stand tall, exchanging glances with one another, as Gavin formally introduces the contract signing to the crowd.)
Gavin Kirkland: The Last Stand is almost here, and on Sunday, the winner of this match will become the EAW Answers World Champion! We have all four elitists here tonight who will compete in the fatal four-way match for the championship. The three challengers, Rex McAllister, Impact and Joso, against the reigning champion, Bea Valentine!
(The crowd roars at the name of the fan favourite, and Bea Valentine gracefully bows to them as a sign of thanks.)
Gavin Kirkland: Alright, each of you will have the chance to say a few words and give us all a preview of what’s to come at The Last Stand. So… by all means.
Joso: Alright, Gavin. First of all, get the FUCK out of my ring!
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Gavin Kirkland: :lupes: !!!!!!!!!!
(After brushing Gavin off, Joso turns back to address everyone, taking off his sunglasses to reveal his steely gaze.)
Joso: There is no excuse for last week. None. Not one. And I’m not talking to the crowd, I’m not talking to the locker room, I’m talking to YOU, Bea Valentine. Is that really what you’re bringing into The Last Stand? Is that really the best our Answers World Champion has to offer? Is that really what I’m supposed to look across the ring at and take seriously? Let me ask you something, who was the last person in this match to pin the World Champion? Who was it? Take your time. It was me. ME! I was the guy. I was HIM that night, I am HIM right now, and I am going to be HIM long after you’ve run out of excuses to hide behind. You can’t deny it. You can’t spin it. You can’t rewrite it, because everyone saw it. Every single person in that building saw it, every single person watching at home saw it, and you know it better than anyone. So the debate about who deserves to win this match? There is no debate. There has never been a debate. The fact that people still pretend there is one, honestly, truthfully? It’s embarrassing. I am the most brutally honest person in this match. I am the workhorse of this match. I show up every week… and every week… and every week, and I do exactly what I said I was going to do. Not once have I made a promise I didn’t keep, or have I talked about something I couldn’t back up.
Joso: That’s the difference between me and you. That’s the difference between me and everyone else with their name on this match, so when I tell you I’m going to deliver again at The Last Stand, it’s not a prediction or a hope. It’s a fact. And nobody is going to stop me.
Joso: Especially not Karl. Especially not the man who has spent weeks crying to anyone with a working set of ears about how he got “robbed.”
Impact: ?
Joso: What exactly is he going to do about it? What has he ever done about it? Nothing. He ain’t going to do shit. I’ve beaten him, and I’ve beaten him again. I’ve beaten him enough times that it stopped being a rivalry and started being a routine, and he still walks around this company like the result is going to change because he wants it badly enough. At The Last Stand, I’m going to rob him of his moment, I’m going to rob him of #12timez, I’m going to rob him of his chance to ever call himself champion again, and I’m going to do it right in front of his face. It would be quite poetic in a sense, wouldn’t it? The man who can’t stop talking about what was taken from him… finally finding out what that actually feels like.
(Joso slams the microphone down, grabs the contract, and begins to sign. While he’s signing, Impact, already irritated by what he’s just heard, walks up and snatches the microphone. Joso catches on and, feeling disrespected, glares up at Karl.)
Impact: You’re one obnoxious motherfucker, aren’t you, Joso?
Joso: (Off-mic) The fuck?
Impact: Don’t give me the wide eyes and the “who, me?” ass routine, because you know exactly what I’m talking about. For weeks you’ve been running your mouth about Bea Valentine. For weeks you’ve been running your mouth about me. For weeks you’ve been running your mouth about every single person in this match as somebody handed you the keys to the building, and I’m tired of your shit. I’m tired of some youngling strolling in here with a couple good years under his belt thinking he’s the shit. Newsflash, my guy, you ain’t the shit. Not against the Child of EAW. And look, I’ll be fair, because unlike you I can afford to be. You’re a notable competitor. You’ve got impressive accomplishments. Put it on a plaque, hang it in your mom’s hallway, I’m happy for you. But you are not Karl Impact, and you never will be. Of course you’re not. Of course you talk the way you talk. Of course you spend every week telling the world what you’re going to be “someday,” because someday is all you’ve got. I’m the standard, Joso. I’m the standard you’ve been chasing since the day you laced up a pair of boots, and you’re going to spend your whole career ten steps behind it, the same way Bea Valentine is going to spend her whole reign wondering why nobody buys a ticket until Karl Impact is on the poster. She will never be a bigger draw than me.
Impact: Joso, you’re walking in with a resume and a firm handshake, hoping somebody takes you seriously, with so much left to prove it’d take you till retirement to get through the list. For me? It’s one step. One step from becoming a twelve-time World Champion. #12timez, motherfucker. You’re out here counting on one hand, and you’ve still got fingers left over. I got robbed at Territorial Invasion, and that victory was mine; everybody with two working eyes knows it was mine, and the only reason anybody’s pretending otherwise is that it makes for a better story than the truth. That’s cool, enjoy the story. Because at The Last Stand, the story ends, the Queenssetial Champion walks back in and reclaims his throne, and the youngling who thought he was the shit goes right back to being exactly what he’s always been… A FUCKING FOOTNOTE!
(Impact begins to sign while Joso paces around, angry about Impact’s comments. The two keep barking at each other, having made their cases known. Meanwhile, Rex McAllister calmly looks around at everyone before stepping forward. He glances at the contract and at each competitor in the match, then slowly picks up a microphone to speak his mind.)
Rex McAllister: It has been a long time since I stood here, said the words World Championship, and meant them for myself. I have said them about other people. I have said them on behalf of other people. This time they are mine, and I will not pretend that means nothing to me. It means a great deal. Since the day I returned to this company, I have watched the scenery change more times than I care to count. Rosters. Champions. Entire eras. I saw all of it. And if I am being truthful, and I intend to be, there were stretches where I was comfortable just watching. I sat back. I let others rise. I told myself that was generosity, a veteran knowing when to make room. Some of it was. Some of it was simply easier than wanting something again. Both of those things can be true of the same man. I know the difference now. A new season has a way of asking you what you are still here for, and I did not have to think long about my answer. I am here to be World Champion. I am here to remind this company what the Lionheart is all about, because I suspect a few people have grown used to the version of me that was content to hold the door. Imp. Bea. I respect you both. I say that plainly, and I do not say it to be polite. I have watched you, I have felt some of it firsthand, and I expect each of you to be as formidable as advertised. Joso, I left your name out on purpose. I told the world exactly what I think of you. I chose those words with care, and nothing since has given me a reason to revise them. I will give you this much, because it costs me nothing to be accurate. You are dangerous. You are good enough to win this match. I can know that about you and still not respect you. My opinion of a man has never changed how hard I prepare for him, and it will not start at The Last Stand.
Rex McAllister: To be sure, I’m not walking into that match to make up the numbers. I am coming with everything. Every hold, every year, every lesson this business charged me full price for. The two I respect get all of it. So does the one I don’t. And when it is over, the Answers World Championship will be in my hands, a place I have not allowed myself to picture in a very long time. I am ready. It is no more complicated than that. The world has seen Rex McAllister, patient. It has seen him gracious. At The Last Stand, it sees him at his peak.
(Rex places the contract on the table and begins to sign. After a moment, Joso thinks over Rex’s words and doesn’t like them, so he snatches the microphone as soon as Rex finishes signing.)
Joso: That’s how you want it, Rex? You’re going to stand in front of the world, read off the names in this match, and leave mine out on purpose like that’s supposed to keep me up at night? That’s fine. Honestly, truthfully, that is perfectly fine with me, because I had no intention of respecting you in the first place. I didn’t respect you last week. I don’t respect you this week. I’m not going to wake up the morning of The Last Stand and suddenly find some. You’re acting like you took something away from me, and I haven’t thought about it once. I didn’t come here for a pat on the head from you, or from Karl, or from anyone else who thinks being around a long time is the same thing as being right. I have never needed it. I have never asked for it. But you’re going to give it to me anyway. Every single one of you, because you won’t have a choice. When I become a two-time World Champion, whether you want to respect me or not stops mattering.
Joso: You MUST, when I prove you wrong… and prove you wrong… and prove you wrong again, the same way I have with every person who ever doubted me. And I’m going to do it standing over some bitch named Bea Valentine. The same Bea Valentine who cannot shut the fuck up for a second. Our Answers World Champion talks, acts, and carries that title like a child who got handed something she can’t even lift. Fucking embarrassing, and Showdown has had to wear that embarrassment for far too long. So I’m going to fix it. I’m going to give this brand some class, and give it a World Champion who actually looks mature for once. It would be quite fitting, wouldn’t it?
Impact: Isn’t it ironic, talking about maturity when you’re a manchild?
Joso: Would you shut the fuck up? Did anybody in this building, anybody at home, anybody anywhere turn to you and say, “yo unc, what do you think?” Exactly. Nobody did. Nobody asked for your opinion, and nobody was waiting on it. Bro is really out here trying to play instigator. Bro really thinks stirring the pot counts as being involved. It’s pathetic, honestly. Keep running your mouth, and I will slap the shit out of you.
Rex McAllister: I quite agree with Karl….
Joso: Why am I being surrounded with uneducated old men–
Bea Valentine: ENOUGH!
(Bea, tired of listening, screams at the top of her lungs, then stands there panting. She looks at everyone with the eyes of a World Champion who has heard every word and is sick of it.)
Bea Valentine: I have listened. I sat down, and I listened to every single one of you, and to be quite frank, there is absolutely no need for it! There is no need for the bickering. Rex with Joso, Joso with Rex, Impact with whoever happens to be standing closest to him at that direct moment in time. It is one massive, chaotic mess, and I am not going to deny that it has been a little entertaining. But with that being said, let us not pretend. Let us be honest with each other, all four of us. You are not here to argue. You are here for one reason, and one reason only. You are here to become World Champion. You are here to take this championship away from Bea Valentine. And you know what? I get it! I am not offended, I am not heartbroken, I am not losing any sleep over it. You are hungry and desperate. You are elitists, after all. All three of you, chasing after the success that I have, and I am fine with that. I would be chasing it too! As World Champion, the target stays on my back, that has not changed, and I do not expect that it will. Not gonna lie, I feel surrounded. Three of you, one of me. But I am not exactly cracking under the pressure, either. I am going to walk into The Last Stand, and I am going to take on every single one of you. All of it, all at once. And if it has to be Bea Valentine against the world— then it is Bea Valentine against the world! I will be war-ready. I will be battle-tested. I will be out there standing, fighting, persisting, until one of you can truly pry this title off of my body. COME ON, PRY IT!
Bea Valentine: Impact, I have beaten you recently, fair and square and in front of everybody, and I am going to beat you again, buddy. Joso, you have had so much to say about me, so many strictly interesting feelings. I am going to take you on, and I am going to kick your ass again. That is the plan, it is not a complicated one! And Rex, I heard the kind words; I did, and I appreciate them. But do not think for one second that makes you the exception. It does not. Nobody is the exception. Come prepared. All of you, come prepared, because I am ready. I am ready for every single one of you.
Bea Valentine: I am still your Answers World Champion, and at The Last Stand, that does not change!
(The crowd roars as Bea Valentine tosses the microphone aside and signs the contract. She picks up the title and raises it high in front of her three challengers, reminding them who the champion is.)
Gavin Kirkland: All four competitors have signed the contract for the Answers World Championship match at The Last Stand, and this match is now officially confirmed for this week!
(Bea Valentine turns around and begins to make her way out of the ring–)
Deadprez: WAIT A SECOND! JOSO JUST BARGES IN FROM BEHIND AND LAUNCHES AN ATTACK ON BEA VALENTINE OUT OF NOWHERE!
Sienna Swann: You simply cannot have one civil moment with these people without someone ruining the entire situation! And now Impact is going after Rex the second the brawl ignites, which tells you everything about his self-control, sweetie!
Gavin Kirkland: Joso is trying to lay Bea Valentine out completely while Karl has Rex down with a hard right hand! But here comes Bea fighting back and getting herself upright with both of them now in full fighting stance!
(## FIST OF FURY!)
Gavin Kirkland: OH! WHAT A RIGHT HOOK FROM IMPACT THAT SHUTS JOSO DOWN IN AN INSTANT! Valentine tries to come in but swings through nothing! She turns around— EVISCERATION CONNECTS! THE DOUBLE KNEE FACEBREAKER ALMOST FOLDS BEA VALENTINE IN HALF AND IMPACT STANDS TALL OVER EVERYONE ONCE MORE!
Sienna Swann: Why does it always have to be some veteran with an inflated sense of his own legacy deciding he owns the ring and needs to plant his flag on top of everyone around him, sweetie?!
Deadprez: Impact has made his promises and he has drawn his lines in the sand but he still remains absolutely firm in his position of standing above everyone else in this division despite all the arguments being made against him and all the evidence suggesting his best days are behind him!
Gavin Kirkland: WAIT! KARL IS REACHING DOWN TO PICK UP THE CHAMPIONSHIP BUT REX HAS GOTTEN BACK TO HIS FEET AND HITS THE ROPES! THE REX EFFECT CONNECTS AND SYSTEMATICALLY SHUTS KARL DOWN BEFORE HE CAN EVEN GET HIS HANDS ON THAT TITLE!
Sienna Swann: You know what, sweetie? I will give Rex McAllister that one. He carries himself with considerably more dignity and composure than the alternative standing across from him and I find that marginally more tolerable.
Gavin Kirkland: Rex McAllister stands tall and alone in that ring right now! Could this be a statement of intent?! Could we be looking at the peak of the Lionheart arriving at The Last Stand?!
(As ‘Power’ by The Score plays, Rex McAllister looks around at the others lying prone around him. With the Answers World Championship lying in front of him, Rex reaches down and picks it up. He looks at it for a moment, hoping this will come true at The Last Stand, then closes his eyes and raises the title high as a final warning to everyone of what’s coming at The Last Stand, while Showdown fades to a commercial break.)
(The camera cuts to Gina Romano in the ring.)
Gina Romano: Ladies and gentlemen at this time please welcome… KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELIN!!!!
Crowd; POAFJOAPJOPPJAOPJOPAJOFPJAOPJOPAJOPAJL:M:AMD
(‘Let God Sort ‘Em Out’ by Clispe, Pusha T and Malice hits to a big pop from the crowd.)
Deadprez: Here comes a big motherfucker!
Sienna Swann: Business has just picked up!
Gavin Kirkland: He’s not that big. I could take him…
Deadprez: *doubts*
(KELIN struts down to the ring interacting with fans before entering the ring and taking a microphone. He waits for his music to fade before beginning to speak.)
KELIN: Thank you thank you. First things first. Let’s talk about the match I have at the Last Stand… They have been saying that this is going to be a Last Man Standing Match at the Last Stand which is fitting. But what the matchmakers fail to understand is that KELIN is no mere man. Which is why this is not a Last Man Standing match…
This is a LAST MONSTER STANDING MATCH!!!
Crowd: KELIN! KELIN! KELIN!
KELIN: And trust me when I tell you this now. The War Artist will be the Last Monster Standing. For truly I am the only monster in EAW that you need be afraid of. I am going to end things with the false monster, the usurper Tafae Toa…
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
KELIN: I will end things at the fitting stage called the Last Stand and prove to Tafae that I not him am the true monster. There is not a single man that can stop me. There is not a single monster who can stop me. For I am UNSTOPPABLE!!!
???: Ladies and gentlemen may I have your attention please…
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Deadprez: Oh nah who invited bro?
Gavin Kirkland: I did. I’m texting him rn.
Sienna Swann: Dammit Gavin…
Malik Al-Farouq: Ladies and gentlemen my name is Malik Al-Farouq but of course you already know that. I am the representative to the TRUE MONSTER Tafae Toa. The unstoppable BEAST who has no peers in this wrestling industry or truly any other. You see I look out and I see this man KELIN and he runs his mouth but can he back up the words he is saying? I doubt it. Truly I doubt it. Am I biased? Of course I am. But you would be too if you spent every waking minute next to the MONSTER that is Tafae Toa. You would be as confident as I am my friends, of that I have no doubt whatsoever.
Crowd: TAFAE SUCKS! TAFAE SUCKS! TAFAE SUCKS!
KELIN: You got millions of people around the world disagreeing with you!
Malik Al-Farouq: I sure as shit don’t care about what they think. Any more than I care about how big you are KELIN.
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Malik Al-Farouq: You see KELIN… Size isn’t everything. You may be the bigger man but Tafae Toa is a motherfucking BEAST! And you should really be aware that it is what you do with the beast within that truly matters. You can bring your extra few inches to the table KELIN, but Tafae is a beast and a true monster and he will bring ruthlessness and VICIOUSNESS to the table. AND HE WILL PREVAIL!!!
KELIN: Wanna bet?
Malik Al-Farouq: I would bet my life savings on Tafae Toa any day of the week over you. You ain’ shit KELIN.
KELIN: Then I would invite you to prove it.
Malik Al-Farouq: Me? Are you such a cowardly wretch of a man KELIN? You would invite ME of all people down to the ring to fight you? Wouldn’t you rather take on an opponent that would truly test your skills? Or maybe you really are just a big man with small talent who gets off on picking on men like myself. But if you insist… Honestly KELIN I could probably whip your ass myself!
Gavin Kirkland: Wait hol up…
(Malik Al-Farouq takes off his suit jacket and slams it down on the stage as he makes his way down to the ring to fight KELIN.)
Deadprez: This is not a good idea Malik!
Sienna Swann: Is he crazy sweetie?
(Malik Al-Farouq hops up onto the apron shouting insults at KELIN as he climbs through the ropes to begin their showdown.)
Deadprez: Bro finna get murdered up in here.
Sienna Swann: I’m here for it.
Malik Al-Farouq: (off-mic) BRING IT KELIN! YOU BIG BITCH!!!-
Deadprez: Wait from behind! Tafae Toa just slammed into KELIN from behind knocking him down! Tafae is now pounding away at KELIN with strikes to the skull! He’s gone off!
Gavin Kirkland: What intelligence by Malik Al-Farouq! He lured KELIN in and now he’s having Tafae Toa beat the shit out of him! This is how a real one rolls!
(Tafae Toa hurls KELIN hard head first into the turnbuckle and then slams his knee hard into his back. Tafae grabs KELIN and whirls him around driving his fist hard into KELIN’s throat. KELIN collapses to the mat as Tafae runs the ropes and charges into him like a battering ram sending KELIN flying out from beneath the ropes as KELIN flies side first into the barricade scaring the fans in the front row.)
Sienna Swann: Damn! Those fans almost got crushed by a falling KELIN! That would have been bad! He’s heavy!
Gavin Kirkland: Tafae Toa is a beastly man! KELIN stands no chance!
Deadprez: He jumped him from behind like a pussy tho…
(Tafae Toa rolls out of the ring and picks up KELIN dropping him face first onto the ring apron. KELIN falls off laying back onto the ring steps. Tafae runs across the apron and lunges crushing him with a Running Splash!!!)
Gavin Kirkland: These kaijus are colliding out here! This is just like the best Godzilla movie of all time! RAWR!!!
Sienna Swann: Gavin is making this much lamer than it needed to be. Stay silent sweetie and let the big dawgs do their thing.
Deadprez: But at this point it looks like Tafae Toa is in full control! Tafae just picked up KELIN and he is standing up on top of the ring steps with KELIN over his shoulders! What the hell is he doing here.
Gavin Kirkland: Uhh guys… why is he looking over here at us!
Sienna Swann: We should probably mov-
Deadprez: No wait!!!
(TAFAE TOA LEAPS BACKWARDS OFF THE RING STEPS WITH KELIN ON HIS BACK. TAFAE WITH A SAMOAN DROP OFF THE RING STEPS RIGHT INTO THE SPANISH ANNOUNCE TABLE!!!)
Spanish Commentator: Idiota de mierda! ¡Nos vas a comprar una mesa nueva! ¡Vete al carajo putos!
(The Spanish commentator kicks angrily at both of the fallen kaijus in the wreckage of the announce table as neither of them are moving.)
Deadprez: BAH GAWD! BAH GAWD! HE DESTROYED HIM! HE’S BROKEN IN HALF!!
Gavin Kirkland: KELIN is you mean! Look! My guy is moving! Tafae Toa FTW!
(Tafae Toa rolls out of the wreckage as the Spanish commentator flees into the crowd. Tafae gets up and smiles looking down at the destruction beneath him.)
Malik Al-Farouq: (off-mic) Witness! Witness the devastation!!!
(Malik Al-Farouq raises up Tafae Toa’s hand in victory and celebration as they have successfully proven their dominance over KELIN tonight beyond all doubt.)
Gavin Kirkland: Tafae is better! Tafae is superior! Tafae is bigger! TAFAE TOA THE GOAT!!! Ahhh!!!
Deadprez: Hol up Gavin…
Sienna Swann: !!!!-
(Suddenly, Malik Al-Farouq’s eyes bulge out of his head as he grabs the arms of Tafae Toa and quickly drags him away getting him up the ramp and into the backstage area as quickly as possible.)
Deadprez: KELIN is getting back up! What the hell?!?!
(KELIN gets back up to his feet as he stares down the departing Tafae Toa seething with rage.)
Deadprez: There’s no way that was a 10 count! Tafae Toa didn’t defeat KELIN! He sure as shit wouldn’t have been able to get the job done at the Last Stand! KELIN won’t be kept down!!
(KELIN steps out over the wreckage of the Spanish announce table as he leaves ringside following slowly after Tafae and Malik.)
Gavin Kirkland: That… that was just a start Dead! KELIN will get put down for much longer at the Last Stand! This was just a fluke!
Sienna Swann: Calm down Gavin. Malik isn’t going to pay you. To blow him sweetie.
Gavin Kirkland: ???
(The camera cuts to a commercial for the Last Stand sold out now. The Last Stand is now standing room only! :mjgrin: )
(The scene quickly pans over towards backstage, a confident and excited smile on Airi Miyamune’s face, a lot of thoughts beginning to run in her head just as she is picking up the pace and she is able to arrive at the door belonging to the Showdown General Manager, she knocks on it quickly and once she is given permission, she opens it right up and there is a smile on her face.)
Airi Miyamune: Miss General Manager, hello! Uh, greetings! Right here on time!
(Kennedy is on her phone trying to answer calls and focus on plans for tonight and next week for The Last Stand, she finally hangs up and lets out a small smile seeing the excited Airi appear.)
Kennedy Street: Ah, Airi! Good to have you here in time, honey. Kennie finally has news for you that you will want to hear.
Airi Miyamune: Can I actually use a sword on someone?
Kennedy Street: Of- wait what?
(Kennedy grows incredibly confused when Airi asks that, she doesn’t seem to be joking at all and she looks quite sincere when asking that question. Airi finally realizes how that sounds, she grows nervous and she waves her hands rapidly trying to explain herself.)
Airi Miyamune: Wait, wait, chotto matte kudasai! I do not mean to use it to hurt anybody! It is for protection! And well… to make threats, just in case. You should know how crazy the people here can get every week, right?
Kennedy Street: I, uh… Kennie will have to have another talk with you another day when it comes to that, sweetie, but it is another type of news.
Airi Miyamune: Oh! No problem then! What are they?
Kennedy Street: Well, Kennie is proud to announce that you are indeed going to have your title match… and it is going to be the Specialists Championship! But it will not happen at The Last Stand, for you will face the current champion Saori Aizen… at WICKED GAMES!
(Airi’s jaw drops slightly when she ends up hearing the news, but the smile on her face seems to get a little bit brighter when she hears the shot that she has at this. She realizes though the weight of this opportunity and the smile quickly disappears to show a serious expression on her face.)
Airi Miyamune: I truly don’t know how many thanks I can give for this, so I will only say that I will come back to Showdown as the Specialists Champion! That is what I desire!
Kennedy Street: That is the spirit, honey! You can go now, Kennie is quite busy.
Airi Miyamune: Of course, see you Miss General Manager!
(Airi bows her head and then leaves the office after, but her seriousness changes back to happiness as she leaves with a bright smile on her face. Kennedy focuses back on work before-)
Adonis Jones: KENNEDYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
Artemis Jones: WHAT’S GOOOOOODDDDDDD?!?!
(Kennedy feels a deep sigh escape out of her as Adonis and Artemis now move inside of the office, the two of them in incredibly high spirits.)
Adonis Jones: YEET! What’s good, Kennedy?!
Artemis Jones: Me and my bro bro got a request if you don’t mind!
Adonis Jones: I know we ain’t been cooking it up as much as any of the other people in the roster so maybe we don’t have the chance to ask, but we got the heart, we got the spirit, we got the passion to go out there and make the people scream loud as hell!
Artemis Jones: SWAG!
Adonis Jones: So we wanna try either way and hope you can understand us!
(Kennedy grows quiet for a moment trying to listen to them and process their request before she ends up giving a nod.)
Kennedy Street: Sure, why not? Kennie gives you the chance.
(Artemis and Adonis give each other a huge high five.)
Artemis Jones: SWEEEETT! THANKS KENNEDY!
Adonis Jones: FOR SURE! Okay but getting serious now… we wanted to ask if we had the chance to go and have a match at the show that is coming up, the huge stars on the silver screen, absolute cinema everywhere, the stuff of legends, uce! We wanted to ask if we could have a match at The Last Stand, prove ourselves in front of the entire world that we truly were made for this whole thing!
Artemis Jones: And also, come on… IT IS HOLLYWOOD! Of course we gotta do everything we can to be there!
Adonis Jones: YEET!
(Yet again Kennedy grows quiet and she thinks deeply about what the two brothers have to say, before finally, she remembers the call that she had a few minutes ago and an idea comes to her mind, a confident grin appears on her face.)
Kennedy Street: You know what? I think I can find a spot for you on the show.
Artemis Jones: HELL YEAH-
Kennedy Street: BUT! With a caveat… you are going to go at The Last Stand, in a tag match… against mystery opponents. You won’t know you are facing until the bell rings. Do you accept that?
(Artemis and Adonis now huddle up together, whispering to each other and discussing with one another how to go about this before they quickly turn, still with those bright smiles on their faces.)
Artemis Jones: We accept, uce!
Adonis Jones: Ain’t no challenge big enough for us!
Kennedy Street: Incredible then! It is a pleasure doing business with you, gentlemen. Good luck with your match.
Artemis Jones: SWAG!
Adonis Jones: YEET!
(The two Jones brothers high five one another again as they wave goodbye towards Kennedy and then leave her office. She finally finds some peace for herself when suddenly…)
(She stops as she hears commotion outside of the office.)
Kennedy Street: Huh?
(She gets up to her feet and rushes quickly, opening the door to see in the hallway…)
(A huge brawl is breaking out! Sofia and Yasmina are going at each other’s throat, throwing strike to strike after one another, as Sofia snatches Yasmina by her head and then throws her over to the wall, just as she sees Wynter as well, trying to choke the life out of Grace here with a sleeper hold, she rises and smiles brightly.)
Wynter Kurayami: Oh! HI MISS KENNEDY! 😀
Grace de Luca: I… DAMN YOU… KENNEDYYY!!!!
(Grace is able to push herself backwards and then slam Wynter against the wall, forcing her to let her go. Kennedy grows frustrated and annoyed as she raises her voice.)
Kennedy Street: SECURITY! COME HERE!
(Sofia is about to throw Yasmina towards some boxes but Yasmina is able to escape, sending a punch towards the nose of Sofia, Sofia lets go, as Yasmina lands a body shot and sends her back, she rushes forward trying to go for a knee, but Sofia moves out of the way!)
(Grace sends an elbow to the face of Wynter before she can lock in that sleeper hold again, JUST FOR THE KNEE FROM YASMINA TO HIT AGAINST GRACE INSTEAD! Wynter uses that opportunity to rush forward and then begin brawling with Yasmina as well, but as Grace tries to get up and find where she is… she feels someone snatching her hair and then dragging her away.)
Grace de Luca: WAIT! WAIT! AAAAHHHHHH!!!!
(Finally, security is able to arrive in time, the whole group rushes over and then try to pry Yasmina and Wynter away from another, the two women are trying their best to push the security away but they do not notice as from the side, two people are escalating a stack of boxes and crates.)
(Grace tries to struggle as hard as she can, sending punches towards Sofia but- ONE HEADBUTT RENDERS GRACE BARELY CONSCIOUS! Grace gets pulled close as Sofia is able to get her high up, she holds her up in a powerbomb position!)
(BEFORE THROWING HER OFF OF THAT HEIGHT, SENDING HER DOWN ONTO YASMINA, WYNTER AND THE SECURITY GUARDS WITH A POWERBOMB, SENDING EVERYONE DOWN TO THE GROUND!!!!!!)
(There is a pond of bodies over in the ground as the security guards and the three other women remain on the ground hurt. The only person that is left standing is none other than Sofia Drakos, she stands on top of the crates like a Goddess in Mount Olympus, posing and taking in this small victory before Showdown fades away from the scene.)
(Commercial for The Last Stand plays advertising the 30 Minute Iron Woman Match.)
(We have returned from a commercial break and there is a brief break in the action before we hear the sounds of “Natural” by Imagine Dragons starting to play throughout the arena. Seconds later, we see the masked wonder El Duque enter the arena to a chorus of boos from the crowd. In his hand we see the infamous steel hair clippers from last week with a smile on his face as he makes his way to the ring.)
Gina Romano: Ladies and gentlemen! At this time, please welcome “MASKED AND MARVELOUS” ELLLLLLLLLLLL DUQUE!
Deadprez: Here comes a young upstart competitor who has a horrible taste in people he associates with along with a very egotistical attitude.
Gavin Kirkland: He isn’t egotistical. He’s confident. Very confident. Confident in his abilities that he is willing to put his mask on the line against Cody Maverick next week.
Sienna Swann: You mean confident as in last week when Duque attacked Cody from behind with those steel hair clippers leaving him down and out. Sweetie, I can only wonder what El Duque has to say about all of this. Unfortunately, we are about to find out.
(El Duque grabs a microphone from Gina before rolling into the ring. The crowd is still booing El Duque out of the building as his music fades off. El Duque looks poised as can be as he ignores the negative reactions from the crowd before he begins to speak.)
El Duque: ¡Gracias! Es genial estar aquí frente a todos mis fans.
(The crowd boos even louder to prove a point that nobody likes the masked sensation. El Duque ignores the boos with a smile on his face as he continues.)
El Duque: Mi amigo Cody…. He has been looking good in the ring this season, hasn’t he?
El Duque: But if you ask me? I think that Cody Maverick looks just as phony as he always has.
El Duque: But while he has been looking good in the ring, the results just haven’t lived up to the overhype you all give him. The poor guy just hasn’t had the best of luck these last few months, has he? Y, sin embargo, de alguna manera me culpa a mí de sus problemas. Why? Because he is still pissy about Territorial Invasion?
(The crowd boos even louder and El Duque is not amused by their sheepish attitude.)
El Duque: ¡CÁLLENSE…! SHUT UP…!! The only reason you are booing El Duque is because you know that I am right. Cody Maverick is just a pathetic sore loser. HE accepted Donovan’s challenge. HE accepted Donovan’s stipulation and HE lost the match. I did my job as the special guest referee to the best of my abilities. Joder, creo que hice un trabajo increíble como árbitro.
El Duque: But losing seems to be the story of Cody’s season, hasn’t it? No, I am not talking about that Lucha Rules match at Midsummer Massacre. El árbitro decía puras estupideces. He didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. He did all that just because he wanted to see Cody win. That was a hollow victory and even Sin City Shit for Brains knows that.
El Duque: Pero ustedes están cabreados porque él está perdiendo y es su favorito, y odian ver perder a sus favoritos. But what do you want me to say? I didn’t force his hand. Donovan didn’t force him to do anything. He did it himself and it cost him dearly.
El Duque: Just like how he lost last week against Akari. I mean I don’t like the bastard, but there was a sense of satisfaction watching Cody get knocked down to Earth a little bit. I think I got even more satisfaction from cracking these nice shiny steel hair clippers right across the back of Cody’s empty skull.
(El Duque raises the steel clippers up in the air for the fans to see as he is so proud of what he did last week. The crowd doesn’t agree and just starts booing even louder.)
El Duque: Cody, there is nothing more that I would love to do than to humiliate you again in front of the entire world next week. You lost at Territorial Invasion. You lost last week. And at The Last Stand, you are going to lose so much more.
El Duque: You are gonig to lose the match to me. You are going to lose the respect of the fans because you screwed up again… and then you are going to lose your hair when I shave your head completely bald… all while the real King will claim victory.
(Duque motions for the camera to come a little closer as Duque stands there just glaring into the camera.)
El Duque: You have one week, Cody. Make sure to say adios to your hair.
(As El Duque finishes, we hear the sounds of ‘Kostas’ by Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine & Benny the Butcher starting to play throughout the arena and any jeers for El Duque have quickly changed to cheers as Cody Maverick enters the arena. Cody does not look amused with what El Duque had to say as he makes his way to the ring.)
Sienna Swann: Well, sweeties, things are just about to get more interesting because here comes the King of Elite. Cody Maverick is making his way to the ring with a purpose and we might just reach a fever pitch here tonight.
Gavin Kirkland: I can understand why Cody and Donovan hate each other, but why is he mad at El Duque? He did his job and Cody lost the match. It is as simple as that.
Deadprez: It actually isn’t, dawg. You saw how the match went and you are ignoring facts. But Cody has had just about enough of Duke, Duque, Silas, and everything in between. I can’t wait to hear what Cody has to say about all of this.
(Cody grabs a microphone from Gina as he gets in the ring and he gets right in El Duque’s face. The crowd is cheering louder in the hopes that Cody punches Duque in the mouth, but restraint is being shown as Cody’s music slowly fades off. The two men are glaring at each other before Cody finally brings the microphone up to speak.)
Cody Maverick: I hope to gawd you are done talking because just like all these people right now, I am so sick and tired of listening to you run your fucking mouth. Why? Because nobody cares what you have to say. At all!
(The crowd cheers at Cody’s burn and El Duque just shakes his head and doesn’t think much about what Cody says.)
Cody Maverick: Let’s be serious. This crap between you and me and Donovan and all of Donny’s other personalities has gone for far too damn long. Right now, I should be focusing on the Answers World Championship. Instead, I am having to deal with a bunch of damn screwballs who are in their own little fantasy world. But don’t worry. I am gonig to get my payback against you for that little stunt you pulled at Territorial Invasion.
Cody Maverick: Dookie, I am so sick and tired of having to deal with you and deal with all this crap, but there are a couple of silver linings involved having to wrestle your boring ass again. That’s the only thing that’s keeping from losing my mind.
Cody Maverick: The first is knowing that I get to kick your ass once again and showing you once and for all that I am the one and only and true KING between us. The second? The second is the fact that when you lose to me, you will be forced to remove your mask and I get to reveal the mystery of who is under the El Duque mask once and for all!
(Cody and Duque are staring daggers into each other with neither person saying a word. Until….)
Deadprez: WAIT A SECOND! DUQUE TRIED TO HIT CODY WITH THE CLIPPERS AGAIN, BUT CODY DUCKS OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE CATCHING DUQUE IN THE FACE!
Sienna Swann: THE CLIPPERS GO FLYING BEFORE DUQUE TACKLES CODY TO THE GROUND AND THESE TWO ARE FIGHTING ONCE AGAIN!
Gavin Kirkland: The King of Elite. The King of the Luchadores. Battling it out once again. These two hate each other in the very VERY worst way.
Deadprez: The fists are flying and if these two are this aggressive now, can you imagine how much of a bloodbath it will be next week?
Sienna Swann: I don’t know, sweetie, but I hope Silas Mason is there too so he can get the shit knocked out of him. That would make me happy.
Gavin Kirkland: COME ON DUQUE! BEAT HIS SMUG FACE IN!!
Deadprez: Then again, I am not sure if they are even going to make it to The Last Stand the way these two are trying to beat each others brains in.
(Now officials and referees have come out to break these two up. Cody and Duque hate each other and are trying to break free as the crowd boos them being separated.)
Gavin Kirkland: Once again, Duque and Cody are forced to be separated and the crowd does NOT agree with that decision. They want to see these two beat the hell out of each other.
Sienna Swann: Sweetie, there is no worry because everyone gets the chance to see these two try and kill each other next week at The Last Stand in a Hair vs. Mask match.
Deadprez: This is going to be a war. Will we see El Duque finally be unmasked? Or will we see Cody Maverick get his head shaved completely bald. Either way, someone is losing more than just a match.
(The final shot shows Duque and Cody just trying to break free and fight some more as security and officials hold them back as the camera shot fades elsewhere.)
(Commercial plays advertising the Hair vs. Mask match between El Duque and Cody Maverick.)
(We have once again returned from commercial break as there is a brief moment of silence in between all the Showdown excitement before we hear the sounds of “DICTATOR” by REI AMI starting to play throughout the arena. Seconds later, Mia Santoro enters the arena. She looks like a woman on a mission as she looks around the arena before heading down the ramp to the ring.)
Gina Romano: Ladies and gentlemen! At this time, please welcome “LA DESPERADA” MIA SANTORO!
Deadprez: Here comes Mia Santoro heading to the ring and she has been a woman on a mission ever since the season started and that mission has been to become a champion once again.
Gavin Kirkland: She had a chance earlier in the season to become National Elite Champions which didn’t come to fruition. But the beautiful former Specialists Champion has made her case time and time again to get another shot at the title.
Sienna Swann: Well, sweetie, she gets another chance at the gold after an impressive performance a few weeks ago. Will The Last Stand be Mia Santoro’s night? Well, we are about to find out what she has to say in just a few moments.
(Mia has grabbed a microphone from the timekeeper’s area as she walks up the steps and enters the ring. She listens and looks out into the crowd for a moment, but it is clear that she has something on her mind. Seconds later, her entrance music has faded off and Mia looks around one more time before she finally speaks.)
Mia Santoro: Let me go ahead and just say this right at the beginning. As a former Specialists Champion, my mission has been clear. My mission has been to break this dry streak and become champion again.
Mia Santoro: Now I had that chance at Midsummer Massacre for the National Elite Championship. My mission should have been completed then. Things should have gone my way THEN… but they didn’t. I would be standing in this ring right now as the National Elite Champion if it wasn’t for that gigantic moron Clayton Golde ruining everything for me all for his damn clout or some crap.
(Mia is getting annoyed thinking about Midsummer Massacre and falling short of being champion again. She takes a few breaths to compose herself before she starts to speak once again.)
Mia Santoro: While it gets on my nerves just thinking about it, I have also accepted the fact that Midsummer Massacre was a triple threat match. And with that extra person in the match, sometimes things happen that are outside of my control. That’s exactly what it was.
Mia Santoro: Since I wasn’t involved in the fall at Midsummer Massacre, I knew I had a pretty good case to get another title match. So obviously I was going to make my case and Akari understood that so he was more than willing to give me another shot at the title after Territorial Invasion.
(Mia stops and holds her finger in the air before shaking her head before she continues.)
Mia Santoro: Yeah… we are not going to talk about what happened at Territorial Invasion because it isn’t exactly one of my brightest moments.
Mia Santoro: But what I am more than willing to talk about was officially earning my second chance at the National Elite Championship by winning the Number One Contender’s match a few weeks ago.
Mia Santoro: Now that I have that second chance to win the gold, I think I have an even better chance to win the title than I did at Midsummer Massacre. Why? It’s simply because the outlier factor has been eliminated. Meaning that I don’t have to worry about some skirt chasing himbo screwing things up for me again. This time it’s just me and Akari one on one.
(Mia smiles and motions for the camera to come closer… which the cameraperson does.)
Mia Santoro: Akari, I have no doubt that you are listening, so I want you to keep listening. I want you to know that I am going to make the most of this opportunity that I have been given for another shot at your title. The mistakes that happened the last time will not happen again. This time? This time I am leaving with the National Elite Championship.
(After Mia finishes speaking, she looks around and starts to motion around her waist. But before she does, ‘chain’ by BACK ON starts to play throughout the arena as the crowd is up on their feet as they recognize the music. After a moment, the National Elite Champion Akari Kiyoko enters the arena with the title on his shoulder. He raises the title in the air for a brief second before he places the title back on his shoulder and heads to the ring.)
Sienna Swann: Well, sweetie, you really can’t expect to talk about the National Elite Championship without the National Elite Champion himself coming out to have a little something to say.
Gavin Kirkland: Especially since the National Elite Champion, Akari Kiyoko, has worked his ass off to finally win the first title of his career back at Pain for Pride and he isn’t going to let just ANYBODY dethrone him from the reign that he sees as the reward for being the workhorse of Showdown.
Deadprez: Akari has worked so hard since last season with numerous star making performances which culminated at Pain for Pride almost four months ago. Will it continue next week? The challenger has spoken her mind and now it is time for the champion to do the same thing. Let’s hear what Akari has to say about all of this.
(Akari grabs a microphone before rolling into the ring and walking over to Mia. Mia doesn’t look amused that she was cut off before she could finish, but Akari doesn’t think much of it as his entrance music fades off and he begins to speak.)
Akari Kiyoko: Mia.
(Mia looks at Akari for a moment before Akari continues.)
Akari Kiyoko: Before I go any further, I will go ahead and say it right now. Congratulations. Congratulations on winning the Number One Contender’s match a few weeks ago and getting the shot at my title that you have been wanting for a while. Now the match is official and you have one week to see if you have what it takes to defeat me and win the title that you have been after.
(Mia isn’t offended, but she does raise an eyebrow wondering what Akari is getting at.)
Akari Kiyoko: You have worked hard to get back to the front of the line of challengers for my title and you know that I was more than willing to give you a rematch considering you weren’t pinned at Midsummer Massacre. That was no problem for me whatsoever. Of course you know that.
Akari Kiyoko: Now while I did offer to give you another title match and while you also further cemented your chance to right the wrongs done to you at Midsummer Massacre by winning that Number One Contender’s match… that doesn’t mean I am just going to simply let this title slip through my grasp.
(Akari raises the National Elite Championship in the air to further make his point as the crowd is cheering. Meanwhile, Mia’s eyes are locked on the National Elite Championship belt.)
Akari Kiyoko: Not after all of the hard work and heartbreaks I went through last season for it all to culminate in one of the biggest victories of my career at Pain for Pride. As far as I see it, I have just scratched the surface of my title reign and I sure as hell am not going to let it end before things really get started.
Akari Kiyoko: You see, Mia, I am not blowing smoke when I call myself the Workhorse. I have put in performance after performance after performance to reach this point in my career and it isn’t ending right now no matter how badly you want the gold on my shoulder. You might be hungry and I know damn well you are going to bring the fight, but the result is going to be the same, Mia. You are going to leave empty handed and my title reign is going to continue.
(Mia isn’t affected by what Akari said. Instead, she walks up and taps her finger on the front plate of the title.)
Mia Santoro: We will definitely see about that, won’t we?
(The crowd is cheering loudly as Mia and Akari are now in the middle of a very intense staredown. Neither one of them is making a move or saying a word, but there is fire in both of their eyes.)
Gavin Kirkland: I think both of them have made their intentions perfectly clear. Neither one of them are budging on their viewpoint. They both want the National Elite Championship.
Sienna Swann: Sweetie, I am going to be honest and say that this is going to be a hell of a battle for the coveted National Elite Championship.
Deadprez: Mia wants to claim the title that she thinks should rightfully be hers. Akari wants to retain the title that he has worked so hard to get in the first place. Somebody is leaving Los Angeles with the gold. Mia Santoro. Akari Kiyoko. National Elite Cham
(The final shot shows Mia and Akari still in the middle of their staredown as the camera shot cuts elsewhere.)
(The feed cuts away from the arena entirely. There was the low, grinding ambience of wind moving through dead brush somewhere above the city. The Hollywood Hills at night, viewed from below. The letters of the Hollywood Sign loom pale and enormous against the dark sky, lit from nowhere, framed against a spread of light pollution rising from below. The hills themselves are black. The paths between the brush are blacker.)
(The camera drifts slowly upward along the hillside until it finds him.)
(Father Vlad moves through the darkness. Above him, perched sideways on the crossbar of the D, one leg dangling freely over the city below, sits Circe. She watches him move through the brush. To the right, Diego leans against the base of the W post with his arms folded, watching the camera. Father Vlad stops and turns to face the camera as well. Below them, the lights of Los Angeles sprawl in every direction.)
Father Vlad: Do you know what happened up here? The Hillside Stranglers came to these hills. Bianchi and Buono. Kenneth and Angelo. Two men, with a shared appetite, and an entire city that went to bed afraid for the better part of two years. They brought them up here — Karen, Yolanda, Dolores, Kristina, Sonja, Dolores again, Jane, Lauren, Cindy, Kimberly — they brought them here and the hills made them victims. Ted Bundy drove through this very city. Richard Ramirez walked these streets. The Night Stalker left his mark on a neighbourhood not four miles from where I am standing right now. Do you understand what I am telling you? These hills have a dark and bloodied history, and the darkness up here is not for the weak.
(He tilts his head slightly.)
Father Vlad: Which is why Milli and Veena are perfect for this place! Not because they are dangerous but because the hills have always preferred a certain kind of victim for its brutality — ones who walk in confidence and are unsuspecting, those who can not yet feel what is watching them, and who thinks the quiet up here means they are safe from danger. The horrors you will encounter in these darkness are not ones you can train for. I will let you know that now. You can only walk in blindly and discover, rather too late, why most that step into this world never seems to walk out.
(He steps back and gestures upward toward the sign without breaking eye contact with the camera.)
Father Vlad: Circe.
(Circe unfolds from her perch atop the sign, sitting forward now, elbows on her knees, looking directly down at the camera lens.)
Circe: I have been sitting up here for an hour watching the city. You know what the city looks like from up here at night? Every light down there belongs to someone who believes they are the centre of something. Every one of them. Eight million people and every single one of them is the protagonist of their own story. Milli and Veena are down there right now, under those lights, believing exactly the same thing. That is so lovely, isn’t it? I prefer them to be confident like Father said. Because when they are confident, I get the opportunity to wipe it off their smug faces!
(Father Vlad turns toward Diego. Diego pushes off the post with one shoulder.)
Diego Montana: You have no idea what you’re stepping into, at The Last Stand. You may think you got it all figured out, and you are going to come with a plan that is going to lead to you winning. But let me tell you something, all that planning is going to get you nowhere but buried six feet under. So listen to this and listen carefully, the only way you two win on Saturday, is if you don’t show up at all and that is my warning to you. I suggest you take it and do the right thing.
(Father Vlad turns back to the camera one final time. He takes a single step closer to the lens.)
Father Vlad: But knowing Kute and Kunty, you two won’t. So please listen, if you want to step in, come right ahead. The hills will be here for you. The darkness will be waiting for you. And most importantly, we will be here waiting for you. But just know, the moment you step foot on our turf. The world will never see or hear from Veena Adams and Milli Banks, again.
(He holds the camera for one more second. Then he turns away. Circe swings back up to sit straight on the sign. Diego looks at something off camera. The wind moves through the brush. The city glitters below. Then the feed cuts.)
(Inside the arena, the broadcast returns to the backstage monitor. Milli Banks and Veena Adams stand side by side in a corridor just behind the gorilla position, arms folded, watching the monitor as the feed goes to static. Neither of them moved.)
(Without saying any word, Veena extends her fist to her partner. Milli doesn’t even look, and bumps it. They both turn and walk away from the monitor without looking back at it. The camera holds on the empty corridor and the static-buzzing monitor above it as they disappear around the corner.)
(As it comes back from the last commercial break of the evening, “Another World” by Gojira is playing throughout the arena. We see all members of Silas World standing unified as they prepare for the Temple of Trials match. Silas Mason along with Cataclysm, Ryan Joseph Wilson and Vincent Mondrian, the man who was bought out for his services in Clayton Golde, and finally Donovan Duke. The theme starts to fade as they already stand in the ring.)
Silas Mason: The Temple of Trials is a match we won last year and yeah, I know, Pandora and Halsey were a big part of that. But I said it before and I will say it again, I don’t need either one of those ungrateful bitches because this year we end this once and for all. Silas World has been concentrating on the low hanging fruit for far too long, and though Cataclysm didn’t get the Unified Tag Team Championships, and though Donovan Duke is not the Answers World Champion, the reason being is because these cockroaches always seem to get in the way. But if Pandora thinks she can lead another team to a win when she already showed that she has lost at War Games? So be it.
(The crowd boos as the rest of Silas World nod. Silas though starts to pace as he knows the Temple of Trials is a grueling match. )
Silas Mason: Pandora Paisley could have been a World Champion already under my leadership, but she wanted to do things on her own, leave the partner who carried her behind, and even turn on Daryl Kinkade. Pandora is desperately trying to find herself, but she can’t that has always been her problem. She has become a disappointment to her family, especially her “mum” and little brother, which is so sad to see but who can she blame? Herself. And then there is the rest of her team. We got Halsey Neel who, while I said, always carried Pandora, in truth she was the weak link and an underachiever. The only reason why Damien Kutcher is even anything is because of that 24/7 Contract, if it wasn’t for that, he would be nothing.
(The members of Silas World laugh as Silas though is far from done. He looks back into the camera.)
Silas Mason: Then there is finally Jon Kelton, a man who had all the potential in the world and blew it because he can’t harness the talent. Do you think these four men are worried about this “Vanguard”? No, not at all. Ryan Wilson, talent personified, a smart wrestler and someone that will hold gold. There is Vincent Mondrian who is also a machine in that ring and will wear gold. Clayton Golde, talk about someone that is the silver tongue of the EAW and one of thew most hated men in all of professional wrestling. Finally, Donovan Duke, a future Hall of Famer and legend, who will sit at the top again. THAT Is what Silas World brings! These four do not stand a chance and after The Last Stand, we are DONE with them and my boys here go and get their gold. In the Temple of Trials, Silas World will –
(Suddenly they are cut off by “Just Stop” by Disturbed as Pandora Paisley walks out, Halsey Neel follows with Jon Kelton and Damien Kutcher. Pandora Paisley has a mic in hand as they make their way toward the ring.)
Deadprez: We knew it was not going to take long for Pandora Paisley, Halsey Neel, Damien Kutcher, and Jon Kelton to answer the call.
Sienna Swann: After what he has to say, Silas is a bloody worm, he was the man that brought me into wrestling, and to be fair he gave me my break sure, but also took advantage of my career. I have seen this man take losers to World Championships and make legends out of talents like me, but Pandora Paisley is a different breed, she is the protégé of my best friend and former tag team partner, I believe in her and this team.
Gavin Kirkland: I think that Pandora’s confidence is a little shattered after War Games, and Silas World knows it.
(Pandora, Halsey, Jon and Damien step into the ring as the music dies down. Pandora has a mic.)
Pandora Paisley: You had a lot to say about the three people that stand in unity with me, mate. But you also had to talk about me because let’s face it, you failed to keep that promise, as I had every chance to become a World Champion and you shit the bed, flower. Me mum and brother are here because of wrestling and what I have done for me family. Halsey is here because of this, so is Jon and Damien, and yet you want to run our names in the mud because it suits you.
(Pandora pauses, looking into the rest of the Silas World group.)
Pandora Paisley: I look at Clayton Golde and I see a bloke who can’t break that glass wall because he’s an arsehole. I look at Donovan Duke, and you want to talk about a wanker that is confused, he defines it. Then you have Cataclysm. Ryan Wilson and Vincent Mondrian. Ryan, the plonkers that has to team with so many different partners to find that gold…. And Vincent…. Funny thing is you two could have had a chance to be the Unified Tag Team Champions, but at The Last Stand, Ryan, you better hope that hot Doctor doesn’t decide to show her face and Vincent decides that she is more important than any of you. Because you ARE looking at the four who will be standing LAST.
(The crowd cheers as all eight wrestlers stare at one another for a moment when – )
WHACK!!!!
(Pandora just crumbles to the mat.)
Deadprez: SILAS MASON JUST CRACKED PANDORA IN THE JAW WITH THE BRASS KNUCKLES WITH A SUCKERPUNCH! THE KNUCKLES THAT HE ONCE GAVE HER! AND NOW THE BRAWL BREAKS OUT BUT SILAS WORLD HAVE THE NUMBERS ADVANTAGE! CATACLYSM JUMPS DAMIEN KUTCHER! JON KELTON IS GOING TOE TO TOE WITH DONOVAN DUKE! CLAYTON GOLDE AND HALSEY NEEL ARE GOING AT IT! PANDORA IS LAID OUT AND SHE IS SLOWLY STIRRING, TRYING TO GET BACK HER SENSES!
Sienna Swann: SHE HAS A BUSTED LIP AND SILAS FROM BEHIND WITH A LOW BLOW ON JON KELTON! HE FALLS AS DONOVAN DUKE IS POUNDING ON HIM NOW! DAMIEN KUTCHER IS GETTING DOUBLE TEAMED BY CATACLYSM! HALSEY AND CLAYTON GOLDE FALL OUT OF THE RING AND LOOK AT SILAS! THAT SON OF A BITCH!
(Silas sees Pandora slowly trying to get up and he kicks her in the stomach, she rolls over and Silas starts laying brass knuckled fists into her as she tries to cover up but can’t as he continues to punch her face until she bleeds and stops fighting.)
Gavin Kirkland: THIS WAS A SET UP AND SILAS MASON JUST LEFT PANDORA BLOODIED AND UNCONSCIOUS IN THE RING AS THE REST OF SILAS WORLD BEATS DOWN JON, DAMIEN AND NOW THEY HAVE HALSEY TOO AS SILAS STANDS OVER PANDORA WITH A BLOODY KNUCKLE, HE WIPES HER BLOOD ON HIS SHIRT!
Deadprez: THIS IS OUT OF HAND, BUT IF SILAS WORLD THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS, THEY HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING! WE ARE OUT OF TIME AND WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE LAST STAND IN LOS ANGELES!
(The final shot is a bloodied Pandora laid out in the ring as Silas stands over her, Halsey Neel is being triple teamed while Damien Kutcher and Jon Kelton are also down as the fans boo, Silas just smiles as he has a hold of Pandora’s hair lifting her head off the mat and screaming at her crimson mask.)
(EAW Logo Buzzes)