(EAW intro plays.)
(The recap of last week’s Voltage airs as always, before cutting out as the camera fades to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, where tonight’s show will take place. The fans in attendance are cheering loudly, excited for the show ahead of them. The camera following the shots to the fans cuts to the commentary team, where Rich Russillo, Thadd Blazevich and Persephone are seen.)
Rich Russillo: Ladies and gentlemen… Welcome to the FINAL Sunday Night Voltage before Grand Rampage! This is one of the biggest events of the year, I cannot wait!
Thadd Blazevich: Brooo, it’s gonna be gnarly! I can’t wait for it, but we still have this one final show, and I think it’s gonna be a great one.
Persephone: I don’t, but what else is new?
(The camera begins to fade over to the stage following the opening commentary, before finally, ‘COMO CAPO’ by Clave Especial and Fuerza Regida hits.)
Persephone: Okay, show’s already ruined. That might be record time.
(Diego Montana begins walking out to the stage, all while all of the fans in attendance loudly boo. Diego has a wide grin on his face, ignoring the hostile reception as he seems very happy with himself right now. Diego could be seen holding a microphone in his hand, and he just nods to himself, heading down the ramp and towards the ring.)
Rich Russillo: Diego Montana is here, and it seems he has some words for us ahead of his Hardcore Championship match against Kai Rabeaux at Grand Rampage.
Thadd Blazevich: Last week Diego got one over on Kai. Let’s see what bro has to say!
(Diego climbs up the apron before entering the ring, and once there his entrance music begins to finally fade out. Once his music has faded only the loud boos remain, and with this Diego begins to address the audience.)
Diego Montana: Alright, alright, cállate! What, would you rather see Kai Rabeaux out here right now?!
(This only causes more boos to come from the crowd, which of course causes Diego to laugh, knowing that Kai at this point may be the most hated man on Voltage.)
Diego Montana: Yeah, I didn’t think so. You guys don’t wanna see “Kai Rabeaux” as Champion, and why would you?? You wanna see some real talent with the gold, and there’s nobody better than yours truly. We’re not just talking about anyone, here. You’re looking at a lucha libre legend and the most talented guy this brand has, and it’s about time that I finally get what I deserve for carrying this show. Your boy’s about to finally win some much deserved gold real soon, ‘cause in case you guys haven’t already noticed it, Kai can’t keep up with me! The poor guy doesn’t have any idea what he’s in for, and he basically spent all of last week proving it. That’s right. The big bad Hardcore Champion Kai Rabeaux was humiliated last week. Humiliated by *me*!
(The fans continue to boo Diego, but Diego doesn’t even seem to care.)
Diego Montana: What? Did you forget? Last week Kai had a match against Miku Sakai, and his big problem wasn’t the guy he kept hiding from. His problem wasn’t Adam Lucas, it was me. Thanks to me Kai had to sit at ringside and watch Miku Sakai win, and the guy couldn’t even do anything about it! After all that talk Kai is the one who was helpless. I bet that entire night was just one surprise after another for him, and you know who was responsible for every one of those surprises? You know who kept Kai on his toes every second until he was left looking like a geek at ringside?
(After this, Diego steps forward, staring into the camera.)
Diego Montana: It was *all* me!
(It takes a few seconds, but eventually the fans begin to realize what Diego Montana is referring to, as it goes far beyond the attack on Kai Rabeaux prior to his match against Miku, and even the events at the end of the match. This realization causes loud mumbling to come from the fans, who can’t even believe what they’re hearing.)
Diego Montana: That’s right. That whole Adam Lucas attack? It wasn’t Kai. It wasn’t Miku. It was me! The GOAT! See I knew what everyone was thinking. Adam Lucas and Kai Rabeaux in the same building? Obviously something’s gonna happen! Why do you think Kai came to the arena so late? The dude was trying to avoid Adam even when he didn’t have a choice, but I bet the last thing he expected was to finally show up just to find out that Adam had already been taken out, and bossman thought it was him all along. Kai was distracted after being framed, and the dude was completely thrown off after that. There was no saving him, and that was again, all thanks to me!
Diego Montana: Now that you all see how much of a genius I am, there shouldn’t be any questioning what’s gonna happen at Grand Rampage. I’m so far out of Kai’s league it’s not even funny, and if you ask me, he should just consider himself lucky that he gets to lose his Championship to a wrestler as talented, as skilled, as smart, as all-around incredible as m-
???: I will admit, you’ve surprised me.
(These words immediately catch the attention of Diego Montana. He turns towards the stage, where the titantron screen has turned on. Kai Rabeaux is seen on the titantron, seated at his home rather than anywhere within the arena. The fans boo as loud as they can once his presence is felt, but Kai just looks towards the camera with a curious, and almost baffled look on his face after the information he was just given.)
Kai Rabeaux: Truly, I am shocked. It’s not often that I am left in a position where I am not even sure what to believe let alone what to say, but then I heard you run your mouth and for once, you actually said something worthwhile. So Diego, it was you? I was forced to put up with the Commissioner’s worthless interrogation regarding an attack that quite frankly was beneath me, only for the source of said attack to be not Miku Sakai, not someone that was in any way connected to Adam Lucas, but you? All of this, to keep me distracted? To attempt to take my focus away, so you’d have the opportunity to make the crucial mistake you did at the end of my match against Miku? Tell me, Diego. Did you really put every small speck of brilliance you supposedly have buried deep within you strictly to frame me for something I did not do for the sake of creating an opening to attack *before* my Championship could be put on the line?
(Diego doesn’t say anything in response to this, and Kai just shakes his head, a smirk briefly forming on his face.)
Kai Rabeaux: You are a special kind of fool, Diego. Not only did you go out of your way to attempt to find a blind spot and get under my skin, but you’ve shown your hand far too early. So you’ve cost me a match against Miku Sakai. I’m not amused, but I am still the Hardcore Champion, and you are still the one who will be trapped inside of the ring with me next week at Grand Rampage. You’ll have nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide, and quite frankly I find it very hard to believe that you have any tricks up your sleeve capable of achieving anything more than costing me a match against an opponent who poses a bigger threat even without the assistance than you ever could.
(Immediately Diego’s attention is caught, and he steps forward, beginning to respond.)
Diego Montana: Woah, hold on. Hiding? You don’t need to hide when you’re Diego Montana! You’re looking at a real star right now and a guy like me needs to be right here in front of all these people every single week, and besides, what do I have to hide from?? You been getting frame mogged by me every week, and last week I completely proved that you’re not even on my level. Right now, the only one that seems to be doing any hiding is you.
(Kai doesn’t appear amused by this response, just shaking his head with an almost unimpressed look on his face.)
Kai Rabeaux: That again. How unfortunate. Just when you finally manage to surprise me, you fall back into your old habits and remind me exactly why an imbecile like yourself should be nowhere near this Hardcore Championship.
Diego Montana: So… Are you trying to say that you not being here has nothing to do with Adam Lucas?
Kai Rabeaux: No, it doesn’t have anything to do with Adam Lucas. Diego, while I am sure it would be nice to meet you inside of the ring and make sure you understood where you really stand heading into Grand Rampage, I fear I’ve been left with no choice but to allow your delusions to survive one more week. It turns out that I am suffering from COVID, and as a result am unable to be there in person tonight.
(The fans begin to boo, not buying into Kai’s explanation whatsoever.)
Diego Montana: Really?
Kai Rabeaux: Yes, I did test positive for COVID, hence my absence at tonight’s Voltage. Be grateful, Diego. You have one final week. One week to maintain this idea that you are in any way a credible Challenger for me. Take use of this opportunity, and assess the situation you’ve put yourself in. You may not have the pleasure of seeing me tonight, but at Grand Rampage I will be there, armed with the knowledge of the lengths you’d go to in order to attempt to make a fool of me. You dug your own grave, and knowing you, I’m sure you won’t even realize it until it’s too late.
(Diego doesn’t appear to be convinced by Kai’s explanation either, but he chooses to buy into it for now, deciding that there’s no point in arguing about it now.)
Diego Montana: Right… Well, look. You go ahead and rest up, ‘cause I don’t need to hear any excuses when I beat you and become the NEW Hardcore Champion! I already proved how great I was against Cosmo and NICK at Shock Value. I proved it against Carmen in Mexico, and gave everyone a great reminder of why I’m the face of lucha libre. Grand Rampage isn’t gonna be any different. El Diablo Guapo is getting what’s his, and you’re not gonna-
(‘Lowlife Princess’ by BIBI interrupts Diego Montana, causing even more boos to come from the fans. Miku Sakai storms out, holding a microphone in her hand. Diego initially looks surprised, but he notices that Miku is staring right at him, causing him to drop his guard as a grin appears on his face, remembering what occurred last week.)
Rich Russillo: Well Miku Sakai is here, who as we know was involved in the whole mess involving the Adam Lucas attack, which we now know Diego Montana was responsible for. Not only that, but Diego would help Miku win against Kai… Which… Led to something unexpected.
Persephone: Do we really need to talk about that? A Miku Sakai and Diego Montana kiss is literally the stuff of nightmares.
Thadd Blazevich: I don’t really know what to say, man. There’s a lot going on already, as Diego just dropped some big info on us. Kai Rabeaux isn’t here tonight which we now know, and now Miku Sakai seems to have something to say after everything. Diego seems pretty happy to see her!
(Miku Sakai climbs onto the apron before entering the ring, walking up to Diego Montana. Diego still has a grin on his face, and as Miku’s entrance music begins to fade out, he goes to speak.)
Diego Montana: What’s up, Miku? Glad yo-
Miku Sakai: Are you fucking stupid??
(Immediately, the grin on Diego’s face drops and turns into an expression of pure shock, clearly caught off guard by Miku’s hostile words for him after the last interaction they had with each other.)
Diego Montana: Huh? What did I do?
Miku Sakai: Oh I don’t know, how about FRAME ME FOR SOMETHING I DIDN’T DO! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND??
Diego Montana: No no no, you got it confused. Easy mistake. I wasn’t trying to frame you, I was framing Kai.
Miku Sakai: Yeah, AND I WAS DRAGGED INTO IT, DUMBASS! Are you slow or something??? Did you get dropped on your head?? Kai isn’t the only one that doesn’t like Adam Lucas, and thanks to YOU I need to spend my Grand Rampage facing him when I should be on the way towards a World Championship! I don’t want anything to do with Adam Lucas unless I get to be the reason he never shows his face around here again, and thanks to you I had to sit in the ring for an eternity before my match over something YOU DID! Do you know how annoying it is being questioned over and over again about something that obviously had nothing to do with me?? You could’ve just told Captain Charisma the truth and the whole thing would’ve been solved. What the fuck was the point of all that?
(Kai Rabeaux just chuckles.)
Kai Rabeaux: That was quite the plan, Montana. I suppose it’s only natural you didn’t consider the ramifications of your actions.
Miku Sakai: YOU STAY OUT OF IT!
(Miku turns back to Diego after snapping at Kai, and Kai just maintains the smirk on his face seeing the argument unfold.)
Diego Montana: Look, you weren’t supposed to get caught in all that! This whole thing was about Kai, but besides! I left Adam Lucas bleeding out only two weeks before you face him! I had beef to take care of with Kai Rabeaux, you have your problems with Adam Lucas. You know, two birds one stone. I pretty much did you a favor with that attack just like I did when I helped you beat Kai… Which you seemed to appreciate in the end.
Miku Sakai: Shut the fuck up.
(Diego doesn’t respond.)
Miku Sakai: Did you not hear me last week? I DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP! I don’t need you interfering in my matches, I don’t need you attacking people backstage and making things more difficult for me because Captain Charisma thinks that *I* did it. I can handle Adam Lucas on my own and I DID handle him on my own before you decided to step in, and the LAST thing I need is for you to go around thinking that you’re actually doing me some sort of favor. All you’re doing right now is getting in the way, so STOP!
(At this point Diego just looks confused, given that while Miku did slap him and warn him never to interfere in her matches again following her match against Kai, this was also directly followed by her kissing him. Diego just stays silent, still trying to wrap his head around everything while Miku continues.)
Miku Sakai: I am so sick and tired of this shit. First Adam Lucas goes around getting all the attention in the world just for being a walking failure when I’M the one that won at Shock Value, then Captain Charisma wastes my time blaming me for something I didn’t do and forces me to waste MORE major events knowing the season’s almost over all because you decided to take matters into your own hands as if anyone asked for that! Next time unless I TELL you that I for whatever reason want your help, DON’T TRY TO HELP ME! I have it all handled, so I don’t need your help with Adam Lucas or-
(‘Everybody Knows (Unstoppable)’ hits…)
Rich Russillo: UH OH!
Thadd Blazevich: I THINK MIKU MIGHT’VE SPOKEN TOO SOON, BRO!!!
(The crowd explodes with cheers, and both Miku Sakai and Diego Montana turn towards the stage, both Elitists knowing that Adam was present to hear everything that was just said. Adam Lucas storms out, causing both Miku and Diego to look at each other for a moment, slightly unsure of what to do as Adam wastes no time rushing down the ramp.)
Rich Russillo: ADAM LUCAS IS HERE, AND HE WASTES NO TIME RUNNING DOWN THE RAMP AS MIKU AND DIEGO MIGHT BOTH BE TARGETS RIGHT NOW AFTER WHAT ADAM JUST HEARD! ADAM HOPS ONTO THE APRON, AND NOW MIKU CHARGES IN-
Thadd Blazevich: BUT ADAM FLIPS OVER THE TOP ROPE, WIPING MIKU OUT WITH THE EQUALIZER!!!! MIKU GOES DOWN, AND NOW ADAM GETS BACK TO HIS FEET! BRO IS STARING RIGHT AT DIEGO, AND DIEGO LOOKS LIKE HE’S SEEN A GHOST!
(Diego looks around, knowing that he doesn’t have many options here with Adam Lucas right in front of him. Finally he just sighs, before finally…)
Rich Russillo: DIEGO RUSHES IN AT ADAM, SWINGING AT HIM-
Thadd Blazevich: BUT ADAM DUCKS UNDER IT, AND HE RUSHES IN BEFORE STEPPING OFF OF THE MIDDLE ROPE, SPRINGBOARDING OFF BEFORE DROPPING DIEGO MONTANA WITH GENESIS!!! ADAM LUCAS IS ON A RAMPAGE RIGHT NOW, AND I’M SURE BRO DOESN’T PLAN TO SHOW ANY MERCY TOWARDS THE DUDE WHO ACTUALLY ATTACKED HIM LAST WEEK!
Persephone: Yeah… That was pretty stupid for Diego to reveal, wasn’t it?
Rich Russillo: Either way, I think he’s regretting it right now! DIEGO IS DRAGGED UP BY ADAM, WHO SENDS DIEGO INTO THE ROPES- BEFORE POPPING HIM UP AND PLANTING HIM WITH LEVEL UP!!!!
(Adam Lucas stares down at Diego Montana as the crowd loudly cheers. However… All the time that was spent taking Diego out had given Miku time to recover, and she had managed to get back up behind Adam.)
Thadd Blazevich: UH OH!!! MIKU JUMPS ONTO ADAM’S BACK WITH A SLEEPER HOLD, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DISTRACTION OF ADAM DEALING WITH DIEGO!!!
Rich Russillo: ADAM LUCAS IS STUMBLING AROUND, AND I DON’T THINK EITHER MIKU OR DIEGO WERE READY FOR A FIGHT RIGHT NOW, BUT MIKU MIGHT’VE FOUND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBDUE ADAM! ADAM IS STRUGGLING IN THAT SLEEPER HOLD, BUT HE IS SLOWLY REACHING BACK, AND HE MANAGES TO GRAB MIKU!
Thadd Blazevich: HE DID IT! ADAM WAS ABLE TO GRAB ONTO MIKU, THROWING HER OFF OF HIM! MIKU IMMEDIATELY ROLLS TO HER FEET THOUGH, AND SHE IMMEDIATELY RUNS BACK IN!
Persephone: CUCK KILLER!!
Rich Russillo: NO!! ADAM LUCAS HOLDS ONTO MIKU! ADAM IS HOLDING ONTO MIKU SO SHE CAN’T PULL HIM DOWN INTO THE DOUBLE KNEE FACEBREAKER- AND NOW ADAM POPS MIKU UP ONTO HIS SHOULDERS, BEFORE DROPPING HER WITH A SECOND LEVEL UP!!!!!
(The fans continue to cheer, and Adam breathes heavily as he does his best to contain the anger he is feeling as he looks down at both Miku Sakai and Diego Montana. He just shakes his head, making a sharp turn away from them to try and keep his composure. However, despite his attempts he is still beyond furious, knowing that of all the people he was able to take out tonight, the one he wanted to get his hands on most is once again not present.)
Rich Russillo: Adam Lucas had nothing to say to Diego Montana and his Grand Rampage opponent right there, just getting straight to action as he is able to take them out!
Thadd Blazevich: That got real violent real quick dude. They were not playing around whatsoever, and you can’t say Diego and Miku didn’t deserve that!
Persephone: I’m not surprised about Miku, but I hope Diego’s happy with himself. That idiot did this to himself.
(Both Diego and Miku roll out of the ring while officials go and check to see if they’re all fine. Still in the ring, Adam Lucas picks up a microphone left down on the ground, while Kai Rabeaux, on the titantron screen, gets up off the chair he was sitting on, and begins walking out of frame.)
Adam Lucas: KAI!!!!
(He calls out for Kai, still heavily breathing. Kai Rabeaux stops in his tracks for a moment. First, he goes on, still taking his leave, pretending like he cannot hear anything despite talking to Diego earlier, but then actually decides to get back on his chair and come “face to face” with Adam Lucas, with a big smirk on his face.)
Adam Lucas: Kai…! You sick piece of shit—
Kai Rabeaux: Hey Adam. I know you have a lot on your mind, and I’ll allow you to get it off in due time, no worries, but first I have a few things to say myself since we finally have the opportunity to meet face to face.
Adam Lucas: Face to face?! FACE TO FACE MY ASS!! You’re hiding behind a screen, and good for you, ‘cause if you weren’t I’d beat that head off your shoulders!
Kai Rabeaux: Well, that’s exactly the issue, Adam. But I’m glad we get this opportunity to talk, and you’ll have no choice but to listen to me, because right now, you’re like a dog in a cage, you can bark all you want, but you know you won’t be able to bite me, so I can do whatever I want while you’ll have to watch. Of course, you can simply walk away, still as angry as you always are, but that’s not going to do you any favors, now is it?
(Adam says nothing, though he remains visibly pissed. Kai nods.)
Kai Rabeaux: I know this will sound very, very inconsiderate, Adam, but from the bottom of my heart? You *just need to get over Shock Value.*
(For a brief moment, Adam’s eyes weren’t fully attentive to the titantron, as he’d be trying his best to actually regulate his anger in the moment—usually, he takes his anger out on people by putting his hands on them… but that isn’t possible right now. The second Kai brought up Shock Value, Adam intensely stares right back at him, seeing red.)
Adam Lucas: “Just” get over Shock Value?! DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF, YOU PRICK?! YOU KILLED MY UNBORN CHILD!! YOU SENT MY **WIFE** TO THE HOSPITAL!!!
Kai Rabeaux: And you wrestled an entire hardcore match against her prior to that. Like I said, I knew I’d sound inconsiderate, but you need to stop thinking emotionally and shift your focus to thinking logically. Actually think of the bigger picture instead of whatever your heart tells you, and you’d be more at peace. As a matter of fact, you would also not find yourself constantly laid out by a myriad of random people every Sunday or so. Everybody takes advantage of your vulnerable state, making you a far cry from the man who was the World Champion on this brand not too long ago.
Adam Lucas: Shut the hell up, Kai! Shut! Up!!
Kai Rabeaux: Come on Adam, you wanted to talk, didn’t we? I’m all yours. Now, look, here’s why you need to get over Shock Value and, more importantly, to get over your bloodthirst for me. We both have our own Grand Rampage matches to think about, two different opponents, completely uncorrelated stories. I must focus on defending *my* Hardcore Championship against that idiotic pest Diego Montana, while you have to handle Miku Sakai since she seems to be unhappy about not making headlines, or whatever her issue is these days.
Adam Lucas: Diego is the least of your problems, Kai, and you know it. I’ll send Miku back to whatever irrelevant pit she crawled out of for thinking she could project whatever sick issues she has onto me, but I could not care less for Grand Rampage right now, not when it’s just the two of us here. You know what you’ve done, and you know why you don’t even have the guts to even step foot in the same arena as me.
Kai Rabeaux: Hm? I was all yours last week, Adam, but it seems you were busy being a peon in Diego Montana’s “grand scheme”, of all people. I would LOVE to be here in person both for you and for the passionate fans in Rosemont, Illinois, but like I said, I have unfortunately tested positive for COVID, thus I cannot join you all in the flesh.
(The Allstate Arena all boos Kai, seeing through his apparent lies.)
Adam Lucas: You and I know that’s bullcrap and in case you can’t hear them, so does this audience. You’ve gotten creative these last couple of weeks, but trust me, the second I have an opening to get my hands on you, you’ll be left wishing you were never even born.
Kai Rabeaux: Oh, like your child?
Adam Lucas: YOU—
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
(Kai amuses himself, while Adam has to keep himself in control, knowing that if he could, he would choke Kai right through that television screen.)
Adam Lucas: Is this a game to you, Kai?! IS THIS ALL JOKES?? OR SOME STUPID GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE? YOU’RE DEAD, YOU SHITHEAD!! DEAD!!! THE SECOND I SEE YOU!!
Kai Rabeaux: Don’t say that, Adam. Maybe it’s these extreme lengths that you go to when it comes to others that bring you to such deplorable depths, this thing called karma, you know?
Adam Lucas: Are you seriously saying I DESERVED that?? Is that what you’re genuinely trying to say?!?!
Kai Rabeaux: Perhaps. But I’m not the judge of that. Still, these death threats easily turn to death wishes. I’m not the first person you’ve threatened like this, you know? But you say you’ll do these things, then you’re the one who ends up hooked to devices in a hospital room.
Adam Lucas: Go fuck yourself.
Kai Rabeaux: Oh come on, Adam. You know that’s the truth, and because you’re too emotional and cannot learn from your mistakes, eventually, you’ll just suffer the same fate over and over again.
Adam Lucas: Now you’re starting to sound funny. Real funny. But I’m not laughing. You won’t do any of that. Because as long as I’m around, you’re not going to have a moment of safety. Like I said, the second I get my hands on you, you’ll regret everything, but it will be too late to take any of it back. What’s done is done, and if you think I can’t keep my word, then come on, I dare you, *try me.*
Kai Rabeaux: Like I said, Adam, I’m sick with COVID right now, so you’ll have to wait a little while longer. Right now, the only thing keeping me uneasy is how much these symptoms will worsen!
Adam Lucas: Cut the crap.
Kai Rabeaux: There’s no “crap”, Adam. But let’s circle back to what matters, Grand Rampage. You can’t let all of this stuff keep getting in your head, or else Miku will just beat you. We’ll be in the same building again, yet this time you’ll be laid out because you were stuck thinking about me. Now, trust me, I get it. There are many reasons to obsess over me, but I am not your boy toy, Adam, nor am I the nemesis you want me to be. I had an opportunity, and I took it, just like any other wrestler would. Just like you have many times. Get out of your head and your delusions, and let’s think straight here.
Adam Lucas: This wasn’t about an opportunity. You had that contract for MONTHS and sat around. Why did it have to be Shock Value, Kai?! Why did it have to be right as my wife was on the verge of death?! Why did it have to be when she was *pregnant*?!
(Adam takes a moment… trying to compose himself after all of these memories flood him all over again…)
Kai Rabeaux: Adam… I obviously couldn’t have known about all of that.
Adam Lucas: SHE WAS HEMORRHAGING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!! YOU WERE SMASHING HER STOMACH WITH A BASEBALL BAT, AND SHE WAS JUST CRYING FOR MERCY!! SHE DIDN’T EVEN RESIST, SHE COULDN’T!!
(The noise in the arena completely quiets down, as does the expression on Kai’s face, with only Adam’s heavily breathing voice spiking decibels at the moment.)
Adam Lucas: YOU TOOK PRIDE IN IT, KAI!! YOU SICK, SICK PIECE OF SHIT, YOU WANTED TO THROW PARADES FOR YOUR SHITTY SHORTCUT OF A CASH-IN WHILE BETH WAS ON A STRETCHER, SNATCHING ON FOR HER LIFE…
(Adam suddenly stops talking altogether. A deep breath is heard through his microphone, as he wipes something under his eye with his finger.)
Kai Rabeaux: You know what, Adam?!
(Kai takes a breath himself, as all air is sucked out of the arena due to the nature of a topic as sensitive as this.)
Kai Rabeaux: I want you to take a look at yourself. “Why Shock Value” this, “why Shock Value” that, but Adam, WHY did you challenge Bethany for her championship the very second after you fell short in dethroning Drake Armstrong? WHY did you crash her celebration night? WHY did you spend an entire month causing cracks in your marriage? You’re a family man, Adam?! Spare me that. That’s a farce. A barrier to excuse yourself from holding yourself accountable. We’re both in it for the riches of this industry; the difference is that I’m the only one who owns up to my individuality and takes pride in it, while you cower in fear the second you have to deal with the consequences of those choices.
(Adam Lucas leans on the ropes, his posture uncertain, but it seems he’s not looking to talk back to Kai.)
Kai Rabeaux: YOU chose Shock Value as the night to have a 30-minute hardcore match with Bethany. YOU fought her using every weapon at your disposal without showing any mercy yourself. YOU didn’t exactly hold back striking that stomach, now did you? You wanna blame me, you sicko? How about you look at yourself? You rained on your wife’s own parade when she succeeded where you fell short. You brutalized her merely for the sake of taking her championship, the one that now belongs to *me*. I have a question, Adam, did you not notice it when Bethany was having cravings?! Did you not notice she was feeling sick more often than usual? When she seemed more and more irate? Unusually so?? Or were you too blinded by the desperation caused by your in-ring shortcomings to even give an iota of care to the person you’d supposedly move the earth for? Did your own **selfish** actions cause her to keep distancing herself from you? Did you just not care to begin with? You know, for how romanticized this Lucas family is, not only are you two truly some outstanding pieces of work, but you specifically, Adam, are an absolute piece of garbage. At least own up to it.
(After taking in all of Kai’s words, Adam finally raises his head again.)
Adam Lucas: You’re overstepping boundaries here, you overgrown, annoying little child. Don’t you dare put your nose where it doesn’t belong. Don’t even dare to lecture me about these things. You’ve done UNSPEAKABLE things to me, you caused so much torment to my household, *and I’m not gonna stand for that!!* Don’t even dare blame me for what you’ve done! YOU TOOK PLEASURE IN EVERY MOMENT!! YOU LOVED ALL OF IT!! YOU FELT LIKE THE WORLD WAS IN YOUR HANDS!!!
(Kai rubs his chin, composing himself, whereas Adam cannot.)
Adam Lucas: You chose Shock Value of all dates. Months, and months that you could’ve done it, but you did it at the worst time possible. You know what, Kai, for how much you embrace this “business” side of yours, for how much focus you put on this wrestling gig, then you would think it wouldn’t have to come this far. Because if you were the man you said you are, then you would’ve won straight-up at King of Elite, and ALL this hell could’ve been avoided…
(Kai’s expression changes after those last few words. He begins to feel uncomfortable, but quickly catches himself, not wanting to let Adam get in his head.)
Kai Rabeaux: When is life ever so easy?
(Adam stares a hole in Kai’s digital eyes.)
Adam Lucas: You don’t get to say that after what you’ve done. You fucking don’t.
Kai Rabeaux: You are a victim of collateral damage and, most of all, self-inflicted wounds. And you can’t even see it.
Adam Lucas: But do you ever think there’s an actual human being behind this “collateral damage” who could come to bite you? Is that it, Kai? I’m just some collateral damage? I’ll show you collateral damage when I’m done with you, Kai! I got nothing to reflect on, NOTHING, not until you’re rotting in the dirt, and I’ll spend every second of my life making sure you get just what you deserve, because when I get my hands on you, dipshit, I’ll make sure you feel the pain Beth felt TENFOLD. I don’t care what excuses you have! I don’t care what makes you think you’re in the right, because even if you were, that wouldn’t stop me from taking my revenge. I don’t give a shit what’s right, or what’s wrong!! I only give a shit about avenging MY FAMILY and the only way I can do that is to smash your head with my own two hands.
(Kai’s look begins to lose its arrogance…)
Adam Lucas: Maybe your intention was never so cruel… yet you never stopped to think. You went further and further, to appease your sick little ego. You only ever cared about yourself. *Fuck you.* My house has been collecting dust because ever since that day, I’ve been in and out of flights. Balancing hospital visits with hunting your cowardly ass down. I haven’t seen a day of peace AND BETH WON’T TAKE MY PHONE CALLS. And I won’t see one anytime soon, and it’s all your fault. My wife won’t see a day without pain anytime soon. It’s all your fault. You chose Shock Value. Why? I don’t know, but you fuckin’ did it. You watched a tragedy unfold in front of you, and you cued the celebrations. Don’t even attempt to talk any twisted “sense” into me!! I’m not gonna let you reign as champion like you want to! I’m not gonna let that spotlight shine on your head as my pain gets buried beneath this facade of yours!! Hell, maybe you’re right! I live in my own world, and this is all about myself and my Beth! So guess what, now that you set my world on fire, I’ll blow yours up into rubble! Let’s see how your pride handles that.
Kai Rabeaux: Pride… that’s rich. I’ve only been swallowing my pride because of you.
Adam Lucas: AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HURTS YOU MOST!!
Kai Rabeaux: SHUT UP! It’s not true. Not in the slightest!
Adam Lucas: You stupid, arrogant, immature prick. You won’t escape me. You won’t get me off your tail no matter what you say!
Kai Rabeaux: This conversation will never go anywhere.
Adam Lucas: It won’t, but I’m not done talking. I’ll never be done when it comes to you.
Kai Rabeaux: Well, I don’t have time for this nonsense.
(Adam begins talking into the microphone, but before any words can leave his mouth, Kai simply gets up from his chair before suddenly disappearing from the titantron.)
(Adam Lucas only grows more tense, pacing around the ring, just wishing he could beat the life out of Kai right this second yet knowing he cannot do anything.)
(After a while, he stops running in circles and raises the microphone back to his mouth…)
Adam Lucas: Running away, hiding like always. I am so surprised. I want you one way or another, and I’d do anything just to know you have nowhere left to run. You say I’m like a dog in a cage yet eventually you’ll be that little puppy trapped in a cage. I know everybody’s watching, and there’s nothing more valuable to me than your head. So listen up, whoever can serve me that prick’s head on a silver platter, I’m giving ‘em $10,000,000 out of my pocket, with the only condition being that you have fun with him. That’s right Kai, now there’s a bounty on your head, and it won’t just be me hunting your ass down now. All your enemies will be coming for you. Your entourage will become unsafe. Friends will wanna stab you in the back. You’re done for.
(After declaring the $10,000,000 bounty on Kai, Adam just drops the microphone to the ground and rushes out of the ring, still overcome with anger. The fans don’t react negatively or positively, though they are loving the prospect of Kai finally getting a beating. The camera follows Adam around before he leaves through the curtain, and the feed cuts somewhere else.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Adam Lucas faces Miku Sakai.)
(The camera returns to ringside, where three women could be seen standing inside of the ring, dressed in wrestling attire. The camera then fades to Bella Braxton.)
Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen… The following contest is a trios match scheduled for ONE FALL!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!!
Bella Braxton: Already in the ring… The team of Makayla Reeves, Sarah Kidman, and Abby Lopez!
Rich Russillo: We have ourselves a trios match coming up, and unfortunately for the three women in the ring, they have one of the worst challenges they could get coming up.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah bro, I don’t know if it gets any scarier than facing ToXXXin. Especially in a trios match.
(While the trio at ringside wait, ‘Duel’ by JINJER hits. This causes loud boos to come from the crowd, as Minerva, Daniella Atlas and Selina Reyes all make their way out to the stage. The three members of ToXXXin are oozing confidence, and they don’t show much care for the opponents inside of the ring as they walk down the ramp, heading towards the ring.)
Bella Braxton: And their opponents… At a combined weight of 414 pounds… Minerva and Unified Tag Team Champions Selina Reyes and Daniella Atlas…. TOXXXIN!!!!!
Rich Russillo: ToXXXin is here, and as we know all three women will be in the Grand Rampage match. Daniella and Selina got themselves a successful title defense at Grand Rampage. Let’s see if they can keep up the momentum.
Thadd Blazevich: These three are gonna be a crazy threat in the Grand Rampage. I feel bad for their opponents tonight, dude. This might be impossible.
Persephone: At least this’ll be quick…
(With Minerva and Daniella on the apron, Selina Reyes remains in the ring, starting the match against Makayla.)
(Ding! Ding! Ding!)
Rich Russillo: This match is underway as Selina Reyes locks up with Makayla- AND RIGHT AWAY SELINA PULLS MAKAYLA INTO A KNEE TO THE MIDSECTION! SELINA WITH ANOTHER KNEE- IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!! Makayla’s head rocks back, BEFORE SELINA CATCHES THE ARM AND PULLS MAKAYLA BACK IN, PLANTING HER WITH A SAITO SUPLEX!!!
Thadd Blazevich: Selina drags Makayla back up, AND THERE’S A SECOND ONE, THIS TIME SENDING MAKAYLA ROLLING TOWARDS HER TEAM’S CORNER! Makayla is hurting, and bro, Selina doesn’t even bother trying to stop her from making the tag! She just lets Makayla tag out to Abby, before tagging I. Daniella Atlas!
Persephone: Well… This is going exactly as I expected.
Rich Russillo: SELINA RUSHES IN, AND SHE CATCHES MAKAYLA WITH A BOOT TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD BEFORE SHE COULD GET UP, SENDING HER ROLLING OUT OF THE RING! ABBY TRIES TO SPRINGBOARD INTO THE RING TO GO AFTER SELINA- BUT DANIELLA SHOVES ABBY’S LEGS OUT FROM UNDER HER, DROPPING ABBY STOMACH FIRST ONTO THE TOP ROPE!
Thadd Blazevich: Abby falls onto the mat, and now Daniella grabs her before lifting her up… ALLOWING SELINA REYES TO LEAP IN, AS THEY PLANT ABBY ONTO THE MAT WITH THE FALLOUT!!!! ABBY IS DOWN, AND DUDE, THIS ONE IS AS GOOD AS OVER!
(Selina heads out to the apron. Meanwhile, Daniella Atlas grows a wider smirk on her face as she stares at the unconscious Abby Lopez.)
Persephone: Okay, so… Why is Daniella not going for the pin?
Rich Russillo: It can’t be for a good reason! Daniella is dragging Abby up, AND SHE JUST DESTROYS HER WITH INAMORATA, RIGHT IN FRONT OF SARAH KIDMAN, WHO IS FORCED TO JUST WATCH IT ALL ON THE APRON! This is just becoming a massacre, and now Daniella just drags Abby back up once again, before throwing her shoulder first into the ring post, right next to Sarah!
Thadd Blazevich: Sarah looks down at Makayla with a conflicted look on her face… BEFORE MAKING THE TAG! Sarah gets in the ring, AND SHE RUSHES AT DANIELLA!
Rich Russillo: BUT SHE GETS CAUGHT! DANIELLA IS HOLDING SARAH, AND NOW SHE THROWS HER INTO TOXXXIN’S CORNER WITH A FALLAWAY SLAM!!!! DANIELLA GETS BACK TO HER FEET, AND NOW SHE WALKS INTO THE CORNER BEFORE STEPPING ON SARAH, AND TAGGING MINERVA IN!
Thadd Blazevich: Minerva gets in the ring and pulls Sarah up, BEFORE JUST DRIVING HER OWN HEAD INTO SARAH’S WITH A HEADBUTT!! SATAN’S KISS CONNECTS, AND SARAH MIGHT AS WELL ALREADY BE OUT, BUT MINERVA ISN’T DONE JUST YET, BRO! SHE THROWS SARAH INTO THE CORNER, BEFORE STARTING TO REPEATEDLY PUT BOOTS TO HER!
Persephone: Well Minerva’s just stomping her out, and now would be a great time for the ref to step in and DQ her if you ask me.
Rich Russillo: Minerva pulls Sarah out of the corner before that could even happen, AND SHE DRAGS HER BACK INTO TOXXXIN’S CORNER, BEFORE SLAMMING HER FACE INTO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE! Minerva drags Sarah up after this, AND JUST LIKE THAT, SHE PLANTS HER WITH PARADISE LOST!!!
(Minerva gets back to her feet, and the grin remains on her face, as rather than going for the cover, she makes the tag back to Selina Reyes.)
Rich Russillo: Uh oh. The tag has been made back to Selina- who now tags Daniella Atlas in! Daniella and Selina now drag Sarah up by each arm while Minerva waits from behind Sarah… AND NOW THEY ALL DRIVE THEIR KNEES INTO SARAH’S HEAD! DANIELLA AND SELINA WITH KNEES TO THE FACE, AND MINERVA’S KNEE TO THE BACK OF SARAH’S HEAD! TOTAL TOXXXICITY CONNECTS, AND THAT’S IT!
Thadd Blazevich: DANIELLA PINS SARAH!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
(Ding! Ding! Ding!)
Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, here are your winners… TOXXXIN!!!!!
(Daniella Atlas returns to her feet, dragging Sarah Kidman up as well before throwing Sarah out of the ring. The three members of ToXXXin appear confident, as that match did not take much out of them whatsoever. Rather than allowing the referee to raise their hands, Minerva walks towards the ropes. Gesturing towards the timekeeper’s area.)
Rich Russillo: Well that certainly wasn’t a long match, but I suppose that’s to be expected when dealing with a Hall of Famer and the Tag Champs!
Thadd Blazevich: Those three ladies tried, but that was some serious dominance right there, bro. The members of ToXXXin are getting mics right now, and I wonder what they gotta say.
Persephone: Nothing good, I imagine.
(The three members of ToXXXin stand in the middle of the ring, with loud boos coming from the crowd. After a moment, Minerva begins to speak.)
Minerva: This is nothing new, and you know this. Another match, more opponents who do not belong in the same ring as us, all for a result I am sure you all know all too well. The sight you were just shown is the same sight you always witness once ToXXXin enters the ring. Make no mistake. I’m sure you all have your favorites that you hope are able to make use of this special opportunity, but Grand Rampage will turn out the exact same way tonight did. Not because the field is filled with competitors as lowly as our opponents tonight, but because exactly like tonight’s opponents, the Grand Rampage participants are in over their heads and have underestimated just how much danger they’re really in. Grand Rampage, tonight, even the last few weeks have told the exact same story. ToXXXin is not slowing down for anybody.
(The fans boo, and a smirk crosses the face of Minerva as Daniella Atlas begins to speak.)
Daniella Atlas: Last week the Unified Tag Team Championships were put on the line against Jake Smith and Caroline. A fool Jake may be, but we never ignored the Championship he had around his waist. Instead we made one clear promise, which was that when the night came to an end we’d have a victory over that Champion under our belts. Jake believed that his recent success enabled him to do as he pleased and run over whoever he came across, but he suffered the misfortune of finding himself in our path, and he happened to drag Caroline along with him. The promise we made was kept, and we will now enter the Grand Rampage match with our Unified Tag Team Championships, just as we said we would.
Selina Reyes: The reason we’re holding these Championships right now is simple, and it is not because of any interference that may have happened. I’m aware that Veena Adams decided to show her face, and I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. Veena has every reason to hold a grudge against Jake, but she didn’t need to involve herself in our business, and her interference was not the reason we’re holding these titles right now. That match was ours regardless of whether or not Veena decided to get involved, for the sole fact that we are the most dangerous threat this entire division has to offer. There is no team here that can defeat us, and Jake and Caroline are no exceptions to that.
Daniella Atlas: These Championships are staying where they are, and the road to Pain for Pride will only continue to fall in our favor.
(Daniella Atlas and Selina Reyes raise their Unified Tag Team Championships after saying this, which brings more boos from the fans in attendance.)
Minerva: That road takes us to Grand Rampage, where the three of us will enter the match and do what we do best. Destroy everyone in our way. I have my history in the Grand Rampage match, but I have never had the honor of winning such a match and this is not something that has ever pleased me, especially given what my history in the match looks like. A match like this I have no intention of allowing to be thrown away, and yet for the past few weeks Voltage’s list of Grand Rampage participants have been throwing themselves at us, as if their attempts at resistance against us will be enough to rip this victory away. They are wrong and they don’t even know it yet, but by the time it is all said and done they’ll understand everything they need to. There is no stopping ToXXXin. There is nothing any of you can do to prevent us from ending Grand Rampage on top.
(The boos continue, but Minerva stops, beginning to think for a brief moment before speaking once more.)
Minerva: But of course, I know all too well how this kind of match works. I’ve been in the Grand Rampage match in the past and I’ve already experienced what it is like to enter the match as a member of any kind of team, so I understand what some of our opponents may be thinking…
Selina Reyes: “If only one person can win the Grand Rampage, what will happen to ToXXXin?” This is the question on everyone’s minds, and I understand why. We all know the history that the Grand Rampage has when it comes to alliances, and more often than not that history falls into one of two extremes. Sabotage, or sacrifice. Only one person can win the Grand Rampage match, and thanks to this there have been questions regarding Daniella and I, and where we stand in all of this. There are some who’ve considered that we may just be here for Minerva, and that if all goes to plan we will just throw ourselves over the top rope for her. Others have considered that our allegiance is a farce, and that we’ll abandon our loyalty at the first opportunity. However, you’re all wrong.
Daniella Atlas: Every single one of you. What you’re failing to realize is that we’ve become a unit, but not one that is blindly chasing a dream with little regard as to what we want. We understand each other’s ambition, and we have no intentions of subduing each other at Grand Rampage. Instead we will make sure that the final three participants of the Grand Rampage match are the three women you are looking at right now. This is quite the opportunity for us, and it would be foolish for us to get in each other’s way knowing that this could be the path towards exactly what we want. We will eliminate everyone that stands before us. We will outlast everyone else in the field. We will reach the final stage of this match together, and once the time comes that the final three is here and it consists of only ToXXXin?
Minerva: May the best woman main event Pain for Pride.
(A grin is shared between all three members of ToXXXin as the fans boo. Minerva slowly takes steps forwards after this, and she has a focused look on her face as she continues.)
Minerva: NICK, Jon Kelton, Damon Lazarus, TLA, even you, Chris. None of you are safe at Grand Rampage, for no matter how long you last, your road ends the moment we enter the Grand Rampage match. For the last few weeks you all have had opportunities to prepare yourselves for this inevitability. You had chances to come to terms with the fact that you don’t stand a chance, but none of you were able to accept this, and that will be the part of the cause for your failure. It is bad enough that you are outclassed, but you are arrogant, and that is a combination bound to ruin your night. One week. You have one final week to think about the match you’re in, and the opponents you have in front of you. No matter how tough you already may think this match will be, you are still far off the mark. You are running into an unbreakable wall, and every single one of you will crash the moment ToXXXin stands in your way.
(After this, Minerva drops her microphone. ‘Duel’ begins to play once more as the three members of ToXXXin stand together in the ring. Daniella and Selina raise their Unified Tag Team Championships once more, before finally the three turn and begin to finally exit the ring.)
Rich Russillo: ToXXXin looks ready ahead of Grand Rampage, and I don’t blame them for the confidence. These three have had a phenomenal season, and right now they’re definitely some of the biggest threats in the entire Grand Rampage match. Especially knowing that they’re working together.
Thadd Blazevich: I don’t even know what it would take to take ‘em out of this one, bro. Right now they seem pretty unstoppable if you ask me, but then again, this is the Grand Rampage match. It doesn’t get much more unpredictable than this.
Persephone: Yeah, I guess. I don’t really care to see any of them main event Pain for Pride, but it’s not like we have much better options around here these days, anyway.
(Minerva, Daniella Atlas and Selina Reyes can all be seen beginning to walk up the ramp, still sporting confident looks on their faces ahead of the Grand Rampage match. As the three members of ToXXXin walk up the ramp and head to the back, Voltage fades away from ringside.)
(Voltage fades backstage and one of the participants in Grand Rampage’s Specialists Championship match is seen heading towards the catering area. Saori Aizen has a smirk on her face, as she is a woman who is on a mission tonight. There’s no denying that Saori has made it her mission to specifically target the champion, Auburn Ware, and that’s been by design. Saori knows when someone is struggling and it’s pretty apparent that Auburn’s recent infatuation with Damon Lazarus has left her vulnerable. As Saori rounds the corner, her eyes light up and as she settles them upon the one person she’s decided to seek out tonight.)
(Damon Lazarus.)
(Saori twirls a strand of black hair around her finger as she approaches him. She’s playing a game, knows it, and has a feeling Damon will know it too. Afterall, Saori gets the sense that she and Damon have a lot more in common than he has with Auburn. She keeps this in mind as she walks up to the man, who currently has his back towards her.)
Saori Aizen: (politely clearing her throat) Hello.
(Damon slowly turns around and looks down at Saori, as he holds onto a bottle of water. His eyes narrow, but his face doesn’t show a hint of an expression. He’s just cold.)
(This doesn’t make a difference to Saori as she saunters past Damon and pretends to be interested in what she sees on the catering table. Thankfully, when TLA and Chris Elite were in the general manager role, they banned the Taco Bell catering that Voltage had been forced to have for the last few years. The options were better; healthier now and actually appetizing.)
Saori Aizen: Grand Rampage, hm? Good luck with it.
(She grabs a bottle of water for herself, just to have a purpose for this interaction and she turns, fixing her eyes on Damon. Again, he simply glares at her, knowing good and well there is only one reason she would even be interested in trying to make small talk.)
Saori Aizen: Are you excited to be a part of such a monumental match, Damon?
Damon Lazarus: Cut the bullshit, Aizen.
(A genuine smile crosses Saori’s face and she nods, conceding the fact he read her right.)
Saori Aizen: Not one for small talk. Fair enough, because truthfully, I am not either. I supposed we have that in common, Damon, along with plenty of other things if I have correctly assessed the type of man that you are.
Damon Lazarus: I don’t think you know a damn thing about me, Aizen.
Saori Aizen: I know that we have a mutual friend.
(Damon scoffs, noting the underlying sarcasm in Saori’s words. When he doesn’t respond, Saori decides to push a little more.)
Saori Aizen: Isn’t it safe to say that we both have Auburn Ware in common?
(There’s a bit of a dangerous spark in Damon’s eyes as Auburn’s name slips out of Saori’s mouth, and interestingly enough, Saori isn’t able to pick up on what it meant. This man was truly an enigma, to not just her, but everyone else on Voltage as well.)
Damon Lazarus: Interesting you make that assumption. We have a name in common, but as far as motives go?
(Damon gives Saori a slight shake of his head.)
Saori Aizen: Are you sure about that? I think our motives and ideas about sweet, innocent Auburn may align more than you might think.
(Saori pauses, just long enough to take a sip of water, before she speaks again.)
Saori Aizen: We both want to hurt her.
(A low, slightly disgusted chuckle escapes from Damon and the full force of that penetrating gaze locks in on Saori. Despite the fact it makes her uncomfortable, she doesn’t waver under it and stands her ground.)
Damon Lazarus: There’s a big difference when it comes to my plan for Auburn and yours. You want to stip her of her dignity and take her championship. Our motives are not the same. Be honest with yourself, Aizen. You purposely placed yourself in a predator’s path right now simply to get inside a sweet little doe’s head.
(Damon squares his shoulders and glares down at Saori, and she actually takes a step back. It’s uncharacteristic, but something about Damon is ‘off’ and it dawns on Saori that perhaps she shouldn’t have approached him.)
Damon Lazarus: Whatever bullshit you have with Auburn has nothing to do with me, and I’m not the one you want to play games with, Aizen. You think you’re smart, far more intelligent than anyone else in EAW with fuck all to show for it, but I’m telling you now that people like you are nothing more than pretenders. You want to be something you’re not, and you’re no killer. Not even close. Me, however?
(Damon smirks.)
Damon Lazarus: You don’t have a clue what I’ve seen and done. So do yourself a favor and stay the fu-
(Damon’s not able to finish his sentence, because Saori is attacked from behind. She crashes into Damon, who simply steps back, and out of the way.)
(Having heard enough of the conversation to really get pissed about it, Auburn made the split second decision to slam her Specialists Championship into the back of Saori’s head. Now she’s all over her, punching and slapping the back of Saori’s head. The tension has been brewing between these two for awhile and now it’s all coming to a head. Auburn gets off Saori and pulls her up by the hair. She tosses her right into the catering table, knocking it over and she dives right on top of Saori, not caring at all about getting messy.)
(Multiple right hands connect with Saori, but Saori manages to grab a catering dish and slam it up the side of Auburn’s head. Auburn falls off of her and Saori keeps a hold of that dish. She starts slamming it into Auburn over and over, but the champ is full of adrenaline. She gets to her feet and tackles Saori, sending her back first into a huge metal bucket full of ice and various drinks.)
(Auburn wraps her hands around Saori’s throat and shoves her under the water, attempting to drown her. Saori kicks and thrashes, using her hands to claw at Auburn’s face, even catching her in the eye. That allows Saori a chance to get her head above the water and get some air back in her lungs, but Auburn is able to quickly shake off the poke to the eye. She takes Saori by the hair and pummels her with multiple forearms to the face!)
(Auburn flips Saori around and once again shoves her head into the ice water. She holds her down, using every single bit of strength she has. The fight starts leaving Saori and her movements become more sluggish. Auburn is content to drown one of her biggest rivals when she’s snatched off Saori by her hair.)
Damon Lazarus: Enough.
(Damon tightens his grip on Auburn’s hair as she starts to fight him, but one look quickly subdues her. Saori pushes herself out of the water, falling onto the ground, choking and coughing, and just trying to breathe again.)
(Auburn looks at Damon with accusing eyes and shoves him in the chest.)
Auburn Ware: Why did you pull me off her???
(Damon, continuing to hold Auburn by the hair, retrieves the Specialists Championship and drags her away from the scene of what was almost a crime. They round the corner and he finally lets go of her hair, but his hand settles on the back of her neck to keep her in place. She’s breathing hard, still amped up, and not really caring about how messy and disheveled she is at the moment. And her eyes are hardened against Damon.)
Damon Lazarus: You were going to kill her.
Auburn Ware: And???
Damon Lazarus: You’re a lot of things sweetheart, but a killer isn’t one of them.
Auburn Ware: You don’t know me like that! You have no idea what I’m capable of doing.
(Damon smirks at the obvious defiance and the fact Auburn still hasn’t come to terms with just how deeply Damon is inside her head.)
Damon Lazarus: I know you. You know I know you. You’re just battling yourself and against everything that you have been taught to know as normal. You would have had obvious regrets about eliminating Aizen before Grand Rampage because ultimately you will get far more satisfaction out of beating her inside the ring… where it matters to YOU.
(Auburn goes to reply, but she shuts her mouth almost as quickly. Her racing heart has started to calm down and she allows herself to digest what Damon had just said to her. She knows he’s right, and that bothers her. He shouldn’t know her so well when he remains nothing but a mystery to her. Auburn tries to shrug away from him but his grip tightens, so she takes her title back, hugging it to her chest.)
Damon Lazarus: What you just did had nothing to do with Grand Rampage, either.
(Auburn bites down on her bottom lip hard and her eyes drop to the ground.)
Damon Lazarus: You blindsided her just because she decided to speak to me. I’m flattered, sweetheart, but she PLAYED you. Aizen sought me out for one reason and one reason only. Do you want to tell me what that reason was?
Auburn Ware: No.
(Her voice is bitter and full of disdain, because it clicks in her head that Damon is exactly right. Saori approached Damon just to dig at Auburn and test her, and once again, Auburn failed.)
Damon Lazarus: …
(Auburn sighs and looks up at him, defeated.)
Auburn Ware: She wanted to get in my head.
(Damon nods.)
Damon Lazarus: Mission accomplished for Aizen, wouldn’t you say?
(Auburn mumbles something under her breath, something that sounded like an admission, and Damon took his hand off her neck. He pointed at the Specialists Championship and then gripped Auburn’s chin, giving it a squeeze.)
Damon Lazarus: One of my biggest pet peeves is repeating myself. Do not make me tell you again to keep your head together. Do NOT let Aizen, or anyone else for that matter, win. Understand?
Auburn Ware: Yes.
(Damon glares at her and then lets her go. Auburn sighs, and Damon puts an arm around her shoulders.)
Damon Lazarus: Lets get you cleaned up. We both got business to handle later.
(Auburn says nothing and the two start to head down the hall, disappearing from the camera’s view as Voltage fades away.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where the fatal four way for the Specialists Championship will take place.)
(We fade back into the ring where Eden Sinclair is standing in the ring. She looks out at the roaring fans, who are cheering seeing Eden out here tonight. Eden is holding a microphone in her hand, and she smiles towards the crowd.)
Thadd Blazevich: Well bros, it looks like Eden Sinclair has some sort of announcement or something to make here tonight.
Rich Russillo: It sure does! I wonder what Eden has to say.
(Eden waits as the fans slowly begin to calm down, before finally beginning to speak.)
Eden Sinclair: Can you believe how Grand Rampage has been shaping up? We are barely starting down the road to Pain for Pride and already you all get to experience matches like Drake Armstrong defending the EAW World Championship against Jay Jerry Johnson. Now that could be a match that absolutely steals the show. We have two megastars colliding with Cody Maverick and Hans Grayson! And I would amiss if I didn’t mention the tag action as well. Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy versus Candice Blair and Aria? So much to look forward to at Grand Rampage…and that’s not even talking about the Grand Rampage match itself. There is doubt about it that Grand Rampage is pivotal.
Eden Sinclair: We have seen it time and time again, how many Pain for Pride spots are earned at this event. There are so many opportunities to punch your ticket to the biggest show of the year…and everyone is just dying to seize them. When it gets to this time of the year, everyone wants to do what they can. Everyone is willing to push themselves to the limits in order to earn their spot. So without further ado, I would like to ask both Carmen Sanchez and Sayuri Himura down to the ring.
Rich Russillo: Wow! Both Sayuri Himura and Carmen Sanchez are being called out to the ring here by Eden Sinclair herself!
(The EAW fans murmur and cheer in confusion, waiting to see what Eden Sinclair wants them in the ring for. After some time, ‘REVIVER’ by MY FIRST STORY begins to play Sayuri Himura emerges onto the stage and down to the ring. The gears are turning in her head as she wonders why she’s being called down to the ring, walking down the ramp.)
Persephone: Didn’t they just have a confrontation last week or something? Sayuri Himura did say that she wanted to see what Carmen was capable of or whatever.
Thadd Blezvich: Yeah I remember that dude! Sayuri said that she believes that Carmen Sanchez can bring something out of her. Perhaps that is the reason they’re being called out here?
(‘Rompe’ by Daddy Yankee begins to play as the crowd cheers again for Carmen Sánchez. She heads down to the ring with a smile on her face, excited for whatever Eden might have to say tonight. When she gets there, she looks at Sayuri and gives a respectful nod. Once both women are in the ring, Eden begins to speak.)
Eden Sinclair: Ladies, ladies…I know that you and all these fans are wondering why I’ve brought you down to this ring so close to Grand Rampage. The truth is that you two have been very impressive as of late. Your performances have not gone unnoticed by any means. But something else that has been noticed is the interest that you two seem to have in one another. I believe you said just last week Sayuri that you would like the chance to see just what Carmen is made of for yourself?
(Sayuri Himura nods slowly and looks at Carmen Sánchez. Eden Sinclair smiles seeing this.)
Eden Sinclair: Well then, it is settled. I think that the two of you deserve an opportunity and that very chance to see what the other is made of. Which is why you will be competing against one another at Grand Rampage. But of course, it will not just be any singles match. No, I am going to give the two of you a major opportunity. You see, the winner of this match will be…the new number one contender for the Specialists Championship!
(The crowd cheers loudly and that statement seems to fire Himura and Sánchez up. The two Elitists look at each other, both needing a moment to process what they were just told knowing that a huge opportunity is now on the horizon for them.)
Rich Russillo: A BLOCKBUSTER ANNOUNCEMENT FROM EDEN SINCLAIR! These two elitists are going to have a shot at the Specialists Championship following Grand Rampage! Either one of them could potentially head into Pain for Pride as a champion! The very thought has to fill them with pride!
(As the fans begin to finally calm down after this announcement, Eden begins to speak once more.)
Eden Sinclair: I wish the both of you good luck and I hope that you give it your all. This could be a crucial step on your roads to Pain for Pride.
(Eden Sinclair then makes her way out of the ring and back up the stage. Sayuri Himura and Carmen Sánchez are left alone, both of them basking in the news. They then grab some microphones, before Sayuri speaks.)
Sayuri Himura: This is a rather fortunate turn of events, no? Here I was carefully thinking about what steps I had to take to make it to Pain for Pride, and now suddenly, the two of us are going to be competing at Grand Rampage. You see, I was interested in the idea of facing you. I always wanted to see what you may be capable of when given the chance to truly showcase yourself, but I also must tell you that this is not a match I can take lightly. I hope that you understand that this is not an opportunity that I take lightly Carmen. In fact, this is an opportunity that I need. There is nothing more that I want than to head into Pain for Pride as the Specialists Champion.
(Carmen just nods, not surprised by these words whatsoever as she begins to respond.)
Carmen Sánchez: To be honest, I couldn’t agree more. I haven’t even been here for long, but you already know I haven’t been too happy about how things have been going for me lately, and now I have the chance to potentially fix all of that thanks to you creeping around all those weeks. This is just what I need to turn things around. I mean, not only do we get to compete in Nashville, Tennessee in front of the thousands of EAW fans but we get a shot at whoever walks out of that fatal-four way match. There is no understating how badly I want this. I hope that *you* understand that there is not a prayer that I am going to let this slip through my fingers. And I know Sayuri, you’ve wanted to see just what I’m capable of. You want to know what lies inside me and now you’re going to find that out first hand. Let me ask you…is this what you wanted?
(Hearing this question, Sayuri actually lets out a smirk.)
Sayuri Himura: To put it simply…yes. It is just like I said last week on Voltage. I need someone that can push me in a way that wrestlers like us are meant to be pushed, rather than forcing me to a dark place. I want to face off against someone that is going to force me to improve…to go further than my current limits. That is something that I am in need of. The right person to help hone my talents…to push me to the brink. And that is who I believe that you are, or at least who you can be. In fact, I am certain that you are that person. So, there is no doubt in my mind that this is precisely what I wanted.
Carmen Sánchez: You know what? Have you ever heard the phrase “be careful what you wish for?” Because those words should be ringing through your head right now. It’s just what I said…I am more than ready to turn all of this around. After my last few matches…I need this opportunity. I need to prove myself. And this? Well, I couldn’t imagine a better way to do it than this.
(Carmen has a more focused look on her face as she says this to Sayuri, but Himura stands her ground, beginning to respond.)
Sayuri Himura: I know that you are going to make the most of this. In fact, in the few matches that you have had I have been nothing but impressed with you. You have spirit. You have proven that much in your short time here in EAW. But as much as I want you to push me to my limits and I want to see what you are made of…I refuse to let this slip through my fingers. I will grasp this opportunity with all of my might. At Reasonable Doubt, I failed to become the New Breed Champion. But now I can right that wrong. That is something that I must completely turn around. That is precisely what I intend to happen.
Carmen Sánchez: And I am determined to make sure that does not happen, got that? See I’m not stupid, I know what you’re capable of and I’m not gonna pretend you’re not gonna be a threat. I respect you Sayuri but that wrong you experienced at Reasonable Doubt will not be righted at Grand Rampage, not at my expense. I am going to get back on the path that I need to be on. I am going to defeat you at Grand Rampage and then I will become the Specialists Champion. Then I will be carrying that gold into my first ever Pain for Pride where everyone will get to see just what I am capable of.
(Hearing this, a smirk slowly appears once more on the face of Sayuri Himura.)
Sayuri Himura: Even now Carmen, I admire your spirit. And I have no desire to prevent those aspirations from coming true, but that is what is going to happen. I am going to defeat you at Grand Rampage. You will test me and you will push me to my very limits but I will grow stronger for it. And in your defeat I will be worthy of redemption and I will be worthy of another championship opportunity. But I want you to give it your all. Pour everything into our match, but in the end…I will be the winner. Even so, I wish you the best of luck.
(After saying this, Sayuri Himura extends her hand towards Carmen Sánchez for a handshake. Carmen looks at the hand, unsure if she should shake it or not knowing that they’re opponents now, and in a place like EAW, anything can happen.)
Rich Russillo: You can sense how tense all this suddenly became. There is a huge opportunity on the line at Grand Rampage and both of these elitists will do whatever it takes to capture it.
Thadd Blazevich: You’re right bro, but was determined as these two are, I don’t think that focus is coming outta hatred. It’s coming outta respect, and competition.
(Carmen Sánchez ultimately extends her hand and shakes Sayuri’s, causing the fans to begin cheering The two then stare each other down, both with focused looks on their faces ahead of their match at Grand Rampage. With this, the camera fades elsewhere.)
(The camera cuts backstage to the locker room, where Miku Sakai sits on a steel chair, pressing an ice pack against the back of her neck after the earlier attack by Adam Lucas. She’s breathing hard and looks pissed off, clearly still feeling what just happened. The crowd responds with loud boos at the sight of her, though the noise begins to settle as the locker room door is heard opening and shutting behind her. A moment later, Kiko Sakai rushes into frame, quickly moving toward Miku and placing her hands gently on her shoulders.)
Kiko Sakai: Miku! I came as fast as I could! Are you hurt? Are you injured? Are you okay?!
(Miku immediately jolts up from the chair, shrugging Kiko off without hesitation. She turns to face her with a mix of irritation and disbelief, clearly not wanting to be touched.)
Miku Sakai: I’M FINE, YOU IDIOT! STOP ASKING ME THAT!
(She scoffs, narrowing her eyes.)
Miku Sakai: What are you even doing here? I thought I’d gotten rid of you already!
(Kiko stumbles back a step after being shoved, but quickly steadies herself, still trying to stay calm despite the reaction.)
Kiko Sakai: I was worried about you! I saw what happened and you weren’t even moving for a second. Of course I came to check on you!
(Miku rolls her eyes hard, pressing the ice pack against her neck with more force than needed.)
Miku Sakai: Yeah, well DON’T! I’m fine!
Kiko Sakai: Really? You don’t look-
Miku Sakai: I SAID I’M FINE, so stop asking me the same dumb question over and over again!
(She throws her free hand up in frustration.)
Miku Sakai: God, you’re so annoying!
(She turns away for a second, pacing a couple steps before spinning back around.)
Miku Sakai: I was doing perfectly fine before you showed up. Actually, no— I’ve been better than fine. I’ve been at PEACE without you breathing down my neck every five seconds!
(Kiko’s expression softens, but she still tries to reason with her.)
Kiko Sakai: Miku… you say that, but ever since I got here you’ve been getting into trouble nonstop. Fights, arguments, now this—
(Miku snaps immediately, voice rising.)
Miku Sakai: OH MY GOD, SHUT UP! JUST— SHUT UP!!
(Miku tosses the ice pack aside, then abruptly folds the steel chair she had been sitting in and throws it off to the side with a loud clatter. She points directly at Kiko, her patience clearly gone.)
Miku Sakai: You don’t know what you’re talking about! You come in here out of nowhere acting like you get it, like you understand anything going on with me— NO YOU DON’T! YOU DON’T GET ANYTHING!
(She steps closer, getting right in Kiko’s space.)
Miku Sakai: You don’t help, you don’t fix anything, you don’t do SHIT! You just stand there and TALK AND TALK AND TALK like that’s supposed to mean something!
(Kiko goes quiet, not arguing back this time.)
Miku Sakai: Seriously, what are you even here for? “Miku watch out!” WOW! THANK YOU! THAT HELPS SO MUCH! I definitely needed that!
(She lets out a frustrated laugh.)
Miku Sakai: You’re useless! Like actually USELESS! If you’re not gonna do anything, then get the hell out of my way and stop acting like you belong here!
(Kiko looks at her, clearly hurt, but keeps her composure.)
Kiko Sakai: …I’m still here for you. Even if you don’t want me to be.
(Miku groans loudly, dragging a hand down her face.)
Miku Sakai: Yeah. THAT’S the problem.
(She grabs her things and brushes past Kiko.)
Miku Sakai: Just don’t screw anything up when you follow me out there.
(Kiko hesitates for a moment, then quietly follows behind as Miku heads out of the locker room.)
(The camera cuts to a local female competitor inside the ring, lightly bouncing on her feet as she prepares for the upcoming match. She stays focused, eyes locked on the stage, while Bella Braxton’s voice can be heard in the background.)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS SCHEDULED FOR… ONE FALL!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
Bella Braxton: Introducing first! Already in the ring! Hailing out of Rosemont, Illinois, weighing in at 115 pounds… SKYE NAVARRO!!
(Skye throws a fist up toward the hard cam, the crowd rallying behind her once they realize she’s local. She turns her focus back to the stage just as “Lowlife Princess” by BIBI blasts through the arena. Miku steps out onto the stage and pauses for a brief moment, already looking irritated. Her expression worsens as she notices Kiko walking out behind her. Miku rolls her eyes and immediately starts down the ramp, not bothering to wait for her sister.)
Bella Braxton: And her opponent! Hailing from Fukui, Japan, weighing in at 110 pounds, accompanied to the ring by Kiko Sakai… SHE IS THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE… MIKU SAKAI!
Rich Russillo: You can see it all over her face, Miku Sakai is still furious after earlier tonight. That attack from Adam Lucas hasn’t left her mind for a second.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, bro, she’s walking down that ramp like she’s ready to snap on the first person she sees. And look at that, not even waiting for Kiko either. That tension between them is still there.
Persephone: Honestly, good. Maybe she’ll take all that anger out on this poor local and we can get this over with quickly.
(Miku steps into the ring and quickly orders Kiko to stay at ringside. The referee checks with both competitors and signals for the bell, while Miku grows increasingly impatient.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: Both women step out of their corners and… Miku’s offering a handshake? That’s unexpected— OH COME ON! I KNEW IT! MIKU LURED HER IN AND AS SOON AS SKYE DROPPED HER GUARD SHE BLASTS HER WITH A FOREARM! Skye drops to a knee and you can see the anger all over Miku’s face right now…
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) STUPID!
Persephone: :mjlol:
Thadd Blazevich: MIKU KICKS HER DOWN AND IMMEDIATELY STARTS RAINING DOWN PUNCHES! SHE DROPS DOWN ON TOP OF SKYE WHILE SHE TRIES TO COVER UP! MIKU IS UNLOADING RIGHT NOW AND KIKO’S LOVING IT AT RINGSIDE!
Kiko Sakai: (off-mic) YAYYYY, GO MIKU!
(Miku suddenly stops and turns toward Kiko.)
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) SHUT UP, YOU IDIOT!
Thadd Blazevich: Wow, bro… she didn’t have to do her like that.
Rich Russillo: Seriously. Anyway, Miku pulls Skye back up— BUT SKYE FIRES BACK WITH A RIGHT HAND! A LUCKY SHOT AND MIKU STUMBLES INTO THE CORNER! SKYE CAN BARELY STAND AFTER THAT ASSAULT, BUT THE CROWD IS BEHIND HER AND SHE’S GOT AN OPENING!
Thadd Blazevich: SKYE CHARGES— SUPERKICK! MIKU CATCHES HER CLEAN AND TURNS HER AROUND! MIKU UP TOP— WALK OF SHAME! DIVING CORKSCREW CUTTER SPIKES SKYE INTO THE MAT! MIKU HOOKS THE LEG FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
Bella Braxton: HERE’S YOUR WINNER… MIKU SAKAI!
(Miku pushes up off the cover as “Lowlife Princess” by BIBI hits. She doesn’t look satisfied at all as the referee raises her hand in victory. Meanwhile, Kiko slides into the ring behind her, clapping excitedly.)
Rich Russillo: Quick, decisive, and honestly a little uncomfortable to watch. Miku Sakai made that one-sided from the very start.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, bro, Skye had the crowd behind her, but Miku just shut all that down instantly. That was less of a match and more of a statement.
Persephone: A statement that she’s in a terrible mood and willing to take it out on literally anyone. Honestly? I respect it.
(Miku marches to the right side of the ring, reaching through the middle rope to snatch a microphone from a ringside stagehand. She moves back to the center, pacing back and forth as she repeatedly taps the mic to make sure it’s working, while “Lowlife Princess” by BIBI fades out in the background.)
Miku Sakai: YOU JUST DON’T GET IT!
(She’s already yelling, pacing.)
Miku Sakai: ALL OF YOU, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, YOU KEEP ACTING LIKE HE’S SOME KIND OF VICTIM! LIKE HE DIDN’T SPEND MONTHS SCREWING PEOPLE OVER, LIKE HE DIDN’T RUIN MATCHES, LIKE HE DIDN’T STICK HIS NOSE IN EVERYTHING!
(She points to the crowd.)
Miku Sakai: Like he didn’t cost *me* everything! Like I didn’t have MY moment taken away because of him!
(She taps her chest harder.)
Miku Sakai: I SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORLD CHAMPION! I went through that entire Chamber, I bled, I fought off everyone they threw at me, I survived all of that just to get to him! I did everything right! I had it, I earned that moment— and he stole it from me at the very end like it was NOTHING!
(She scoffs loudly.)
Miku Sakai: But no, it’s always “poor Adam,” “feel bad for Adam,” “look at Adam, his life is so sad—” I DON’T CARE!
(The boos grow louder.)
Miku Sakai: I don’t care about his life, I don’t care about his problems, and I definitely don’t care what happened to him! Not after everything he’s done, not after everything he’s taken from me!
(She paces again, faster.)
Miku Sakai: When I had my moment, when everything finally went my way, when I was THIS close— HE took it from me! So yeah, I attacked him! I beat him down, I made sure he felt it, and I’d do it again without thinking twice!
(The fans loudly boo hearing this, but Miku doesn’t care whatsoever. She gestures toward the stage.)
Miku Sakai: Like I said. I want Adam dead and buried and when it happens I WANT him to know it was me! Last week he’s laid out by Diego of all people and somehow I get blamed for everything, and then earlier tonight he jumps me again like I’m supposed to deal with his breakdown every single week like it’s my responsibility! I’M TIRED OF HIM! I’m tired of hearing his name, I’m tired of seeing his face, I’m tired of EVERYTHING somehow turning into a story about Adam Lucas!
(She pauses, then scoffs.)
Miku Sakai: And the worst part? He acts like what he’s going through makes him special. Like it makes him the only person that matters around here.
(The crowd boos immediately.)
Miku Sakai: OH PLEASE!
(She points to herself.)
Miku Sakai: It doesn’t mean anything to me! It doesn’t change what he did, it doesn’t change what I lost, and it doesn’t make me feel bad for him!
(Her tone turns colder.)
Miku Sakai: You all keep bringing it up like it’s supposed to mean something… like I’m supposed to feel sorry because something went wrong in his poor little life.
(She shrugs.)
Miku Sakai: Things go wrong all the time. People lose kids all the time. That doesn’t make you special, and it doesn’t give you a free pass to lose your mind and make it everyone else’s problem.
(The boos grow even louder.)
Miku Sakai: YEAH, KEEP BOOING! I DON’T CARE!
(She leans forward, voice rising again.)
Miku Sakai: Maybe it wasn’t special! Maybe it wasn’t important! Maybe it was just another mistake waiting to happen and now everybody’s acting like it’s the end of the world!
(The crowd erupts.)
Miku Sakai: And honestly? That kid probably got lucky. Lucky it doesn’t have to grow up with him, with *them*, dealing with all that mess every single day— sounds like it dodged a bullet to me!
(The reaction gets even louder, more hostile towards Miku for her horrible comments. She points toward the stage, still paying no mind towards the boos.)
Miku Sakai: He wants to run around destroying everything, crying, screaming, acting like his life is ruined— GOOD! Maybe now he knows what it feels like to have something taken from you!
(She straightens up, breathing hard.)
Miku Sakai: So keep crying about it! Keep blaming me! Keep acting like I’m the problem when he’s the one who can’t control himself!
(She spreads her arms.)
Miku Sakai: I’M STILL HERE! I’m still standing, I’m still winning, and no matter how many times he tries to take me out, no matter how many times he loses it and comes after me—
(She grips the mic tighter, pacing as the tension builds…)
(“Everybody Knows (Unstoppable)” by Royal Deluxe hits as Adam Lucas storms down the ramp, wasting no time making a beeline for Miku in the ring. She drops the microphone and squares up, while Kiko stands nearby, clearly worried about what’s about to happen.)
Adam Lucas: (off-mic) I guess you didn’t have enough earlier.
Rich Russillo: IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN!
Thadd Blazevich: Adam Lucas is coming straight for her and he is not slowing down!
Persephone: Finally. Let them fight.
(Adam slides into the ring, eyes locked on Miku, but she doesn’t hesitate. Miku grabs Kiko and shoves her forward, sending her stumbling straight into Adam. Kiko tries to stop herself, reaching out, but Adam reacts on instinct and grabs a fistful of her hair, holding her in place as she struggles.)
Kiko Sakai: W-wait, Adam, I didn’t do anything—!
(Miku doesn’t look back. She slips out of the ring, hops the barricade, and backs up the steps, already putting distance between herself and what she just caused before turning to watch.)
Rich Russillo: MIKU JUST THREW HER OWN SISTER INTO ADAM LUCAS!
(Adam glances up and sees Miku already retreating. His expression tightens, the anger only increasing seeing Miku escape after everything she just said, until finally he reaches his breaking point. Without thinking, he pulls Kiko in, trapping her—)
Thadd Blazevich: LEVEL UP!! :damn:
Rich Russillo: ADAM JUST LAUNCHED KIKO OUT THE RING WITH THE LEVEL UP! :roman:
Persephone: :gladbron: That was awesome! Do it again!
(Kiko crashes hard at ringside. The crowd gasps, the mood instantly shifting.)
Rich Russillo: …Oh no.
(The tone changes immediately.)
(Adam turns back toward the barricade, staring at Miku. She flinches for a split second at how far he went… but it fades just as quickly. There’s no concern, no hesitation. She simply watches.)
Rich Russillo: She used her own sister to get out of this…
Thadd Blazevich: And now look at what just happened because of it…
(Then it hits him.)
(Adam freezes. The anger drains from his face as he slowly looks down toward ringside, realizing what he just did to Kiko. His hands hover for a second before dragging over his head. He paces a few steps, unfocused, like he doesn’t know what to do next.)
Rich Russillo: Wait… look at him… it’s starting to hit him now.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah… he knew that wasn’t Miku… he just lost it in the moment.
Persephone: If only it was Miku. We’d finally get some peace and quiet without her yelling.
(Adam looks back out of the ring. Medics are already rushing to Kiko. He takes a step forward, then stops, shaking his head as he backs away instead.)
Rich Russillo: This just went too far… way too far.
Thadd Blazevich: That’s someone who had nothing to do with this…
(Adam paces again, quicker now, before dropping to a knee at the center of the ring, staring out, clearly shaken as there’s a remorseful look on his face. There are no words, just trying to process what he just did to someone who wasn’t even involved.)
Rich Russillo: This just changed everything.
(Up in the crowd, Miku takes a few more steps back, then turns and continues up the steps, putting more distance between herself and the situation before disappearing from view without a second thought.)
Persephone: And there she goes.
Rich Russillo: No remorse. Nothing.
Thadd Blazevich: She got what she wanted… and left the damage behind.
(The crowd sits in stunned silence. Adam remains in the ring, still on one knee, watching as Kiko is helped at ringside, the weight of it all settling in as the camera fades elsewhere.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Miku Sakai faces Adam Lucas.)
(Sunday Night Voltage continues on as we hear ‘Kostas’ by Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine & Benny the Butcher begin to blast through the P.A System! Out emerges Cody Maverick, who gets quite a loud reaction from everyone here in Allstate Arena in Chicago! Cody looks to be wearing his casual attire whilst wearing some shades as he makes his way down the aisle and towards the ring.)
Bella Braxton: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN… PLEASE WELCOME AT THIS TIME…. THE KING OF ELITE, CODY MAVERICK!!
Rich Russillo: Cody Maverick is here on Voltage and I think everyone knows what he has on his mind following what happened between him and Hans Grayson last week here on Voltage! Hans and Cody had a very energetic back and forth between each other with Hans wanting answers from what Cody did after their match, working together alongside Adam Lucas. Cody gave his reasoning and while stated he wants nothing to do with Drake, he still views Hans as a threat to someone in his way to the World Championship.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah for sure Rich! Cody broski kept it straight with Hans bro and things got heated between these two, but Hans issued the challenge between them for Grand Rampage to settle things out before things got to a point of no return. As we saw last week, Cody accepted the challenge.
Persephone: YAWN! I wanted a fight between those two, so fucking boring.
Thadd Blazevich: Persephone bro, not everything is solved with just blood and guts and ripping each other’s eye socket… trust me I know. Cody and Hans fighting it out at Grand Rampage is the best case for everyone involved!
Persephone: Yeah sure Thadd, you chud.
(Cody is still making his way to the ring as he climbs the ring steps and enters in between the ropes, nailing his signature gesture towards the crowd! Cody then asks for a microphone from a ringside official as they toss him a microphone. His music begins to fade out as Cody begins to speak towards everyone here tonight in Chicago.)
Cody Maverick: Last week was quite interesting, wasn’t it? I think everyone here saw what had happened between myself and Hans Grayson. The back and forth we had with each other that ultimately saw Hans issue the challenge to face me at Grand Rampage in a week’s time in Nashville. I didn’t need to think about it for a single second, because I knew instantly I was going to accept the challenge. Despite what had occurred between us last week, I have always had respect for Hans Grayson, dating all the way back to our time on Dynasty. Hans and I had gained mutual respect by fighting one another, nothing ever personal between us, just two competitors wanting to be better than the other. Hans has earned his stripes, and deserves that Cash in the Vault briefcase he has in his possession right now.
(The fans cheer Cody for this, agreeing with the praise shown for the Cash in the Vault briefcase holder. After a moment, he continues on as he says… )
Cody Maverick: We both have been on the same side fighting guys like Drake Armstrong and Kai Rabeaux in recent months, dealing with those oppositions but now being the King of Elite, winning that entire tournament and the guaranteed championship match that comes with it… I have to take this more seriously than ever before and I don’t plan on taking any chances with my world championship victory that can be halted by Hans. As I told him last week he is a threat to me, standing directly in my path to being world champion and even in Hans’ mind he’s probably thinking the exact same thing. As much as I respect him, if you ask me something like this was bound to happen.
(Before Cody could say anything else, ‘The Leaving Song Pt. II’ by AFI begins to play as the crowd here in Chicago cheers in excitement! Hans Grayson emerges from the stage looking focused and determined as he is seen wearing black sweatpants and a black zip-up windbreaker jacket revealing a white t-shirt underneath. Hans makes his way over to the ring as Cody stands by.)
Rich Russillo: We can’t be shocked that Hans is coming out here tonight, I’m sure he has more he wants to say to Cody before the two square off next week at Grand Rampage which I’m sure will be a fantastic matchup between those two elitists!
Thadd Blazevich: Hans is all business here tonight broskis. Cody mentioned he’s always had respect for Hans but these two competitors are on a collision course with each other, so it should be quite interesting to see what’s about to happen here!
Persephone: Need Hans to bite Cody’s ear or something, we need some high action gore!!
Rich Russillo: Let’s relax Persephone.
(Hans high fives a couple of fans ringside before climbing the ringsteps and entering in between the ropes. He asks a ringside official to toss him a microphone which they do as AFI’s ‘The Leaving Song Pt. II” begins to fade off. The fans cheer in excitement as Hans Grayson acknowledges it before he begins to speak towards Cody Maverick.)
Hans Grayson: There’s a set of respect between us, I think that’s quite obvious but this notion that I’m a threat to you, or that I’m standing directly in your path or that I would cash this briefcase on you only exists because of the words that Drake Armstrong was feeding into your mind. You considered that possibility of me cashing this briefcase on you only because of Drake Armstrong trying to convince you that I’d go behind your back. Yeah I understand you may not be kahoots with that man, I think you’re way better than that Cody but even with that… you have allowed the narrative of what Drake was saying to you to get inside your head.
(Hans pauses for a couple of seconds before continuing to speak. )
Hans Grayson: I have no reason to wait and step on your moment Cody, there is no benefit in me doing that. I said it from the start when I won this briefcase, when I was fighting against Elysium and I told Bronson Daniels that I wasn’t going to pull a Donovan Duke and betray someone that I respect. You’re not the one who broke my arm Cody, so I have no reason to do you dirty like that as Drake has a bomb ticking for him at every moment he’s champion. He has forced me to play his games all season long and the second I fought back, he broke my arm. Drake is the one that should be worried, not you, which is why he tried coming to you in the first place.
Cody Maverick: Trust me I saw the desperation coming from Drake absolutely, but his intent was for me to join his side, or form an alliance between each other and that’s not what he got. I’m not giving him what he wants. I just can’t deny it when there’s even the slightest hint of truth in the words of someone I really didn’t want to hear it from. He brought up a valid point about you being a threat and even if I should trust you… I know how this place works. Trust is a thing that can get broken very easily which is why I ain’t letting my guard down against you, because even with that respect I have Hans… I ain’t trusting no one, especially not you.
(Hans stares at Cody for a moment, taking in those words. Hans just shakes his head knowing that there is nothing he can do about Cody’s lack of trust.)
Hans Grayson: You don’t need to trust me Cody, I’m stating my real thoughts and this whole disconnect between us is the reason I want to put this all to rest at Grand Rampage. I want to put an end to whatever this is and when I beat you next week… I want to get back to how things were before, and get back to focusing on the guy that still hasn’t gotten what he deserved.
(The fans cheer hearing these words from Hans, and Cody takes a moment before beginning to respond.)
Cody Maverick: I do agree that this issue between us will end at Grand Rampage, we can both agree on that. What I won’t agree with is this idea that “when” you beat me, everything is just going to go back to the way it was before. It’s not exactly like that Hans Grayson because the Sin City Superstar isn’t going to let you walk all over me. I told you that last week, I ain’t a pushover and I’m certainly not going to be the man who’s lying on that mat looking up at the lights. Now look, maybe I can’t do anything to stop the possibility of you being in my way in the future but I plan on making myself be ready for that possibility, and I plan to do it by making sure you’re the one looking up at the lights next week at Grand Rampage.
(The fans cheer, and there is a focused expression on the face of Cody Maverick after this statement. He stares at the Cash in the Vault briefcase holder, who just nods his head to the King of Elite winner.)
Hans Grayson: I guess we’ll see who ends up lying on that floor, knocked out conscious.
Cody Maverick: Yeah… I guess so.
(Both Cody and Hans drop their microphone as they two stare right into each other, all while the fans in Chicago go absolutely wild for it! Hans and Cody both appear determined to walk out of their match next week as winners, both showing just how ready they are for their bout at Grand Rampage.)
Rich Russillo: I can feel the goosebumps ladies and gentlemen! This match between Cody Maverick and Hans Grayson is going to be a barn burner, I can guarantee you that!
Thadd Blazevich: Both dudes want that victory against one another, and we’ll see who just wants it a little bit more than the other.
Persephone: Ugh. Hopefully there’s less respect when that happens. This is disgusting.
(The final shot sees Hans and Cody continue to stare at each other, both focused ahead of their clash at Grand Rampage before Voltage finally cuts to commercials.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Cody Maverick faces Hans Grayson.)
(The camera cuts back to the arena where ‘So Far So Fake’ by Pierce the Veil plays to a positive reaction as Candice Blair makes her way onto the stage, pointing out toward the crowd with a small smile before stopping for a moment. Not long after, ‘God Shattering Star’ by Takashi Baba begins to play to an equally strong reaction as ARIA steps out beside her, feeding off the energy from the fans before the two share a quick look and begin making their way down the ramp, high fiving fans on opposite sides.)
Rich Russillo: Here comes Candice Blair and ARIA, and after what we heard last week, you already know what’s on their minds heading into tonight.
Thadd Blazevich: No doubt about it, bro. That match at Grand Rampage already had tension behind it, but now? With the chance to skip straight to the finals at Fighting Spirit on the line, this just got way bigger.
Persephone: Which means we get to hear even more talking before they eventually start fighting anyway. Great.
(Candice and ARIA make their way up the steps and into the ring, both grabbing microphones as their entrance music begins to fade. The crowd continues to cheer as the two stand side by side, Candice calm and composed while ARIA takes a moment to look around the arena before speaking.)
ARIA: Last week, we got our answer.
(The crowd quiets slightly as ARIA nods to herself.)
ARIA: We asked for an explanation, and we got it. Diamond and Cosmo made it clear exactly what kind of people they are, and exactly how they operate when something’s on the line. I’m not going to stand here and repeat everything that was said, and I’m not going to keep replaying that moment over and over again… because I’ve already accepted it. I’ve already moved forward.
(She pauses briefly.)
ARIA: But accepting something doesn’t mean it didn’t matter. That moment meant everything to me. It was a chance to take a step forward, not just for myself, but for everyone who believed I could get there. And before it could reach its end, it was taken away. That’s not something I’m going to forget. But it’s also not something that’s going to hold me in place. I didn’t come this far just to stay stuck on what I lost. I’m still here, I’m still standing, and I still have a path in front of me.
(ARIA glances toward Candice for a moment before continuing.)
ARIA: Because now we’ve been given something else. Another opportunity. Another way forward. And this time, there’s no waiting, no distractions, no outside factors. One match decides everything. Either we move forward… or we get pushed back with everyone else.
(Candice steps forward, lifting her microphone.)
Candice Blair: And we’re not getting pushed back.
(She keeps her eyes forward, calm but firm.)
Candice Blair: Last week didn’t just show us who Diamond and Cosmo are. It showed us exactly what this is going to take. You don’t get opportunities like this by waiting your turn, and you don’t keep them by expecting things to be fair. You either take them… or you watch someone else do it instead.
(She takes a small step forward.)
Candice Blair: That’s where this stands now. Not in the past, not in what already happened. Right now. What’s in front of us is a direct path to Fighting Spirit. A chance to skip everything else and go straight to the finals. One step closer to the Tag Team Championships.
(The crowd cheers.)
Candice Blair: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m not here to come close. I’m not here to build toward something that never happens. I’m here to win. And if the next step is going through Diamond and Cosmo, then that’s exactly what we’re going to do.
(ARIA nods, stepping forward slightly.)
ARIA: We’re not underestimating you. We already know what you’re capable of. We felt it last week. We saw exactly how you move when the moment is right.
(She looks toward the stage.)
ARIA: But knowing that doesn’t mean we accept it, and it doesn’t mean we let it happen again.
(Her expression sharpens just a bit.)
ARIA: If you think what you did gave you control over this… if you think that moment puts you ahead… then you don’t understand what you just created.
(Candice raises her microphone again.)
Candice Blair: You made this simple.
(She pauses briefly.)
Candice Blair: If we want this opportunity, then we take it from you. No excuses, no hesitation, no waiting. Just one match, and the better team moves forward.
(There’s a brief silence as both women stand firm.)
Candice Blair: So instead of talking about it, instead of dragging this out…
(She keeps her focus on the stage.)
Candice Blair: Come out here.
(ARIA gestures toward the entrance.)
ARIA: Diamond. Cosmo. We know you’re back there.
(A beat.)
ARIA: So come out here… and let’s finish this the right way.
(The crowd cheers as the camera lingers on Candice and ARIA, both standing firm, eyes locked on the stage as they wait.)
Rich Russillo: Well, they’ve called out their opponents ahead of Grand Rampage… but that doesn’t mean they’re actually going to show up.
Persephone: Good. We don’t need another long back-and-forth.
(Finally, “Nice To Meet Yah” by Asian Doll hits to a mixed reaction as Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy step out onto the stage with microphones in hand, Diamond already motioning for the music to cut as they start down the ramp side by side, composed and focused, Cosmo carrying his usual confident swagger while Diamond keeps her eyes locked on the ring.)
Diamond Dixon: You know, I’m listening to all that… and I gotta say, it sounds good. It really does.
(She continues walking, not slowing down.)
Diamond Dixon: Talking about moving forward, talking about opportunity, talking about how nothing’s gonna stop you. That’s the kind of thing people wanna hear. That’s the kind of thing that makes it easy to believe you’ve got this all figured out.
(She shakes her head slightly.)
Diamond Dixon: But what you’re not saying… is the part that actually matters.
(Cosmo lets out a quiet chuckle beside her, raising his microphone.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: Yeah, because while y’all are out here talking about what’s in front of you, we see the same thing. Grand Rampage. One match, one chance to skip the line and go straight to Fighting Spirit.
(He gestures ahead toward the ring.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: That’s not something you get twice. And honestly, I don’t think you realize how fast all of this can change.
(Diamond glances briefly toward Cosmo, then back ahead.)
Diamond Dixon: See, you keep bringing up last week like it gave us some kind of edge. Like it changed everything.
(She shrugs.)
Diamond Dixon: It didn’t change anything. It just showed you what this really is. We’re not here to feel bad about what happened. We’re not here to second guess it, and we’re definitely not here to pretend any of this is something it’s not. We’re not your friends. We’re not here to play along with any of that. We’re here to move forward, same as you… the only difference is we’re not gonna hesitate when it comes down to it. Whatever this takes, we’re ready for it.
(Cosmo nods, stepping slightly ahead as they near the bottom of the ramp.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: And here’s the part I find interesting. Yeah, the winners go straight to the finals. That’s the prize. That’s what everybody’s fighting for.
(He pauses briefly.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: But the losers?
(A slight smirk crosses his face.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: They still get into the tournament… just not together.
(The crowd reacts as they reach ringside.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: Random teams. No control. No guarantees. Everything you built as a team? Gone just like that.
(Diamond steps up onto the apron, looking straight at Candice and ARIA.)
Diamond Dixon: So if you’re putting everything into this… you better be ready for what comes after.
(She steps through the ropes, Cosmo following right behind her.)
Diamond Dixon: Because when we beat you at Grand Rampage… that’s it for this team.
(Candice and ARIA don’t back away as Diamond and Cosmo enter the ring. The four stand across from each other, the tension immediate as the crowd buzzes.)
ARIA: You really believe that?
(She steps forward slightly, eyes locked on Diamond.)
ARIA: After everything that’s already happened… you think this just ends with you moving on and us falling apart?
(Diamond doesn’t flinch.)
Diamond Dixon: I don’t think. I know.
(Candice steps up beside ARIA.)
Candice Blair: No, you’re assuming. Same way you assumed you could get involved and walk away like it didn’t matter. But last week proved actions have consequences. Would’ve been nice to walk away with a win over TLA, an EAW Hall of Famer… but because of ARIA and me, that didn’t happen.
(Diamond looks off for a moment, a faint smile crossing her face as she tries to hold back her anger.)
Diamond Dixon: You’re right. In fact, thanks for reminding me—
Rich Russillo: OOH! DIAMOND DIXON JUST BLASTED ARIA WITH A FOREARM! DROPPING HER!
Persephone: Haha!
Thadd Blazevich: MEANWHILE COSMO CATCHES CANDICE WITH A KNEE TO THE GUT BEFORE SENDING CANDICE OUT THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPE!
Rich Russillo: Oh no, now they’re just going to isolate ARIA as Diamond picks her up! Placing ARIA in a full nelson for Cosmo to get a free shot as he charges in— BUT ARIA GETS BOTH BOOTS UP! KNOCKING COSMO DOWN AND SENDING HIM ROLLING OUTTA THE RING!
Thadd Blazevich: DIAMOND CHUCKS ARIA TOWARDS THE ROPES— WHERE SHE HANDSPRINGS OFF WITH A PHOENIX INJECTION!
Rich Russillo: ARIA CAUGHT DIAMOND AND HURRIES TO THE CORNER! FIRED UP AS SHE LINES UP DIXON FOR THE J4A! DIAMOND STARTS STIRRING BACK TO HER FEET— BEFORE COSMO INTERJECTS! GRABBING HOLD OF ARIA’S ANKLE! ARIA DROPS TO A SEATED POSITION, AND PUSHES COSMO AWAY WITH HER FREE BOOT!
Thadd Blazevich: COSMO STAGGERS OVER TO ANNOUNCE TABLE AS ARIA SLIDES UNDERNEATH THE BOTTOM ROPE— BUT GETS DRIVEN BACK INTO THE APRON! COSMO THEN DIRECTS ARIA TO OUR ANNOUNCE TABLE AND SLAMS HER FACE FIRST OFF THE COVER!
Persephone: Jeez. Her big head dribbled like a basketball.
(ARIA drops to a knee against the announce table as Cosmo signals for Diamond to join him at ringside after seeing she’s back up. Diamond heads toward the ropes, but stops and turns around as the reaction begins to rise—)
Rich Russillo: OH, AND CANDICE BLAIR! CANDICE BLAIR IS BACK IN THE EQUATION, DOUBLE LEGGING DIAMOND DOWN TO THE GROUND! NOW BEGINNING TO MOUNT HER WITH RIGHT HANDS!
Thadd Blazevich: DIAMOND SHOVES CANDICE OFF, WHO SCRAMBLES BACK TO HER FEET AS COSMO SLIDES IN! FOREARM FROM CANDICE TO COSMO! FOLLOWING THAT UP WITH A FOREARM TO DIAMOND!
Rich Russillo: CANDICE DROPS COSMO WITH A GOLD RUSH! THEN DIAMOND WITH A SPINNING WHEEL! BOTH COMPETITORS STRUGGLE BACK TO THEIR FEET AS ARIA HOPS ON THE APRON TO DELIVER A SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK TO BOTH!
(Diamond and Cosmo roll out under the bottom rope as the crowd erupts, while ARIA and Candice stand tall in the ring, urging the reaction to grow even louder.)
Rich Russillo: And if this is any indication of what’s to come, you have to wonder… could this be the scene we’re looking at next week at Grand Rampage?
Thadd Blazevich: It just might be, bro. Because if Candice and ARIA bring this same energy into that match, Diamond and Cosmo are gonna have a serious problem on their hands!
(ARIA and Candice stay leaned over the ropes, arms draped over each other’s shoulders, as ‘God Shattering Star’ by Takashi Baba plays. They look down at Diamond and Cosmo writhing at ringside as the scene fades.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Candice Blair and ARIA face Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy.)
(The camera cuts backstage to the interview area, where NICK is already standing by. Sofia Clarke stands beside him, holding a Voltage-branded microphone with a composed smile. NICK is in his usual hoodie and sweats, both hands tucked into his pockets. He keeps a calm, unreadable expression, briefly glancing around before settling his focus ahead as Sofia begins.)
Sofia Clarke: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time… NICK.
(The crowd can be heard cheering loudly from the arena as NICK stands there, unfazed. He keeps his same laid-back posture, a slight shrug in his shoulders as he carries himself with that usual nonchalant swagger.)
Sofia Clarke: NICK, next week marks your first Grand Rampage event, where you’ll be competing for the opportunity to main event Pain for Pride. With so much on the line, how are you feeling heading into an opportunity like this, and how confident are you in your chances?
(NICK keeps his hands in his pockets, looking down for a brief moment before lifting his head again, a bit more focus in his eyes.)
NICK: How I’m feeling?
(NICK gives a small nod.)
NICK: I feel like I already know what everybody’s thinking. First Grand Rampage. First time in a match like that. No history, no big moment to point at, no long list of accomplishments to back me up. So it’s easy to look at everybody else in that match and then look at me and just assume I don’t belong there yet.
(He shrugs lightly.)
NICK: Easy to say I’m the underdog. Easy to say I’m the one that’s just there to fill a spot, the one that’s supposed to get thrown out early so everybody else can do what they came to do.
(NICK pauses briefly.)
NICK: And I’m not even gonna act like I don’t hear that, because I do. I hear it every week. I see it in how people talk, how they look at me, how they talk around me like I’m not even part of the same conversation.
(NICK looks ahead.)
NICK: But the difference is… I’ve never let that bother me. I’ve been the underdog before I even got here. I’ve been the guy people overlook, the guy people think needs more time, the guy people say should wait his turn. That’s not new to me. That’s normal.
(NICK gives a faint smirk.)
NICK: So when people say I’m the underdog going into Grand Rampage, that doesn’t scare me. If anything, that just tells me I’m right where I’ve always been.
(NICK shifts slightly.)
NICK: And when you’re in that position, you stop worrying about expectations. You stop worrying about pressure, about living up to something… because there aren’t any.
(NICK glances briefly toward Sofia, then back ahead.)
NICK: Everybody else in that match, they’re carrying something. They got history, they got reputation, they got people expecting them to win. They’re thinking about what happens if they lose.
(He shakes his head.)
NICK: I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about what happens when I win.
(The crowd reacts in the background.)
NICK: Because Grand Rampage isn’t about who has the best resume. It’s chaos. It’s survival. It’s about who can stay in it long enough to find that one moment.
(NICK taps his chest once.)
NICK: And when that moment comes, it comes down to who’s ready to take it. I’m ready.
(NICK pauses briefly.)
NICK: I’m not walking into that match worried about the odds. I’m not counting names or trying to figure out who I should be scared of. That’s not how I think.
(NICK looks forward.)
NICK: I’m not going in there to make up numbers. I’m not going in there for experience. I’m going in there to win.
(NICK nods once.)
NICK: And yeah, I know how that sounds. I know people are gonna say I don’t understand what I’m stepping into yet. Maybe I don’t fully know what it feels like to be in that kind of environment.
(NICK pauses.)
NICK: But I know what it feels like to be counted out. I know what it feels like to have people look past you. And I know what it feels like to prove them wrong.
(NICK relaxes slightly.)
NICK: Winning Grand Rampage this early changes everything. That’s me stepping into a spot people say I shouldn’t be in yet and making it mine anyway.
(NICK gives a small shrug.)
NICK: So yeah, call me the underdog. Say I don’t belong. That’s fine.
(NICK looks straight ahead.)
NICK: Just don’t be surprised when I’m still there at the end, and everything you thought was supposed to happen… doesn’t.
(NICK glances up as Jon Kelton steps into frame from the opposite side of Sofia, the crowd responding with loud boos. NICK doesn’t move, standing firm with his hands still in his pockets, unfazed as he turns his attention fully toward him. Kelton carries a dismissive smirk, slowly looking NICK up and down like he’s already made up his mind, before finally preparing to speak.)
Jon Kelton: You done? Because I’m listening to all that, and it sounds nice. Underdog, proving people wrong, not worrying about the odds… everybody says that when they’re new and trying to make a name for themselves. But this isn’t the place for that. You’re talking about Grand Rampage like it’s your moment, like this is where you show up and make an impact. You picked the wrong match for that.
(Kelton’s expression settles, turning more firm and serious as he looks directly at NICK.)
Jon Kelton: This isn’t about you stepping up early. This is where everything changes for me. This is where I finally take that next step and become a World Champion.
(NICK exhales and shakes his head once, still calm.)
NICK: You talking like it’s already yours.
(Kelton takes a step closer.)
Jon Kelton: I’m talking like I’ve been fighting for it longer than you’ve even been here. I’ve been close too many times just for it to get taken from me, just for someone else to step in and grab it. I’m done with that. I’m done watching people walk in and act like they can skip ahead.
(NICK nods slowly, not impressed.)
NICK: And I’m supposed to care about that?
Jon Kelton: You should, because you’re not the one who’s about to take it from me. Not this year. Not in this match.
(NICK shifts his stance slightly, stepping forward.)
NICK: You keep saying that like it means something. Like saying it over and over makes it real. Everybody in that match thinks it’s their moment. You’re not the only one.
(Kelton’s jaw tightens.)
Jon Kelton: The difference is I’ve earned the right to say it.
NICK: Nah… you earned the right to try again. That’s it.
(The crowd reacts as Kelton takes another step in.)
Jon Kelton: You don’t get it. This isn’t about trying. This is about finishing it. This is about finally getting what should’ve already been mine.
(NICK gives a small shrug.)
NICK: Then go get it. Nobody’s stopping you from trying.
(NICK looks him in the eyes, more direct now.)
NICK: But don’t stand here and tell me I don’t belong just because you’re tired of falling short.
(Kelton leans in slightly, tension rising.)
Jon Kelton: It’s not about being tired. It’s about being done letting people like you think they can just walk in and take something I’ve been working toward for years.
(NICK doesn’t back down.)
NICK: And it’s not about you either. That’s what you’re not getting. The Grand Rampage don’t care how long you’ve been waiting. It doesn’t care how many times you were close.
(NICK taps his chest once.)
NICK: When that moment comes, it goes to whoever takes it.
(Kelton stares at him, unmoved.)
Jon Kelton: And that’s not gonna be you.
(NICK nods once.)
NICK: We’ll see.
Jon Kelton: Oh yeah?
(NICK steps a little closer, his expression firm.)
NICK: Yeah. Matter of fact… back up off me.
Jon Kelton: Or else what?
(The two stand face to face, neither one giving an inch as the tension builds.)
NICK: So that’s how you wanna play it? Aight… bet.
Rich Russillo: OOH!
(NICK suddenly fires off a right hand, snapping Kelton’s head back! He follows up with more shots, pressing forward as Kelton tries to cover up before quickly shooting in and taking NICK down to the floor. Kelton starts throwing punches of his own, trying to gain control—)
(—but NICK shifts underneath him and turns it around, rolling Kelton onto his back and mounting him with right hands of his own! Referees rush in, grabbing NICK and pulling him off as Kelton scrambles up to his feet. As they restrain NICK, Kelton rushes in with a running kick to the gut!)
Thadd Blazevich: Things have gotten ugly fast back there, bro!
Persephone: Yeah, and he’s not talking about Kelton’s face.
(Kelton grabs NICK and throws him back first into a production crate. NICK drops into a seated position against it, wincing in pain as Kelton steps in, pointing down at him.)
Jon Kelton: That should teach you to—
(Kelton suddenly turns, snapping at a referee who gets too close.)
Jon Kelton: Don’t touch me!
(NICK’s expression sharpens as he pushes forward from behind.)
Rich Russillo: SECTION 8! NICK LOCKS IN THE KATAHAJIME FROM BEHIND!
Thadd Blazevich: HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF HIM FOR ONE SECOND AND IT COST HIM!
(Kelton struggles as NICK drags him down to the floor, tightening the hold until Kelton is forced down, coughing and gasping.)
NICK: (off-mic) What now?!
(Referees rush back in, pulling NICK away as others check on Kelton, who remains on the floor trying to catch his breath. The camera lingers on the scene before fading elsewhere.)
(Voltage returns to ringside following the backstage altercation, where Captain Charisma can already be seen standing inside of the ring. The Voltage commissioner is holding a microphone in his hand, and he smiles towards the fans in attendance. After a moment, he begins to speak.)
Captain Charisma: Ladies and gentlemen, we’re on our way to Grand Rampage as we all know we have some extremely exciting matches coming up at the event! Right now I am here regarding one of those matches, and it is one that has definitely gotten heated in recent times. That of course is the Specialists Championship match, as the defending Champion Auburn Ware defends the title against Saori Aizen, Eris Morti and Auburn Ware!
(This causes cheers to come from the crowd, as the fans appear to be excited ahead of the big Championship match between these four women.)
Captain Charisma: Right now I’d like to give all four women the chance to speak with each other one last time, and get all of their remaining issues with each other off of their chest before heading to Grand Rampage. Now, I do have one condition, and it’s that I don’t need a huge brawl to break out like the last few times you four have shared the ring. I know that you all have animosity towards each other and you can feel however you’d like, but I need you all to be in one piece at Grand Rampage, so while I’m giving you all the chance to stake your claims to that title tonight, I want *no* fighting.
(This disappoints the fans, causing some boos to be heard, which Captain Charisma understands as he nods.)
Captain Charisma: I know, I know. I’m sure you all are disappointed to hear that, but they’ll have all the time in the world to tear each other apart next week. Well ladies, get out here so we can get this started.
(The camera pans towards the stage, and ‘Bad Blood’ by Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar hits. The fans cheer loudly as Auburn Ware steps out, wearing her Specialists Championship around her waist. Auburn holds a microphone in her hand, and has a more calm look on her face, having had the chance to regain her composure since her encounter with Saori Aizen earlier in the night.)
Rich Russillo: The Champion is the first to walk out here, and she’s coming off of a surprisingly vicious encounter with Saori Aizen earlier in the night, which I don’t think Saori was expecting.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah bro, Saori was trying to get to Damon Lazarus, but Auburn Ware happened to be there, and bro, she was not messing around at all.
Persephone: Saori does something stupid and pays for it. What’s new?
(Auburn Ware climbs up onto the apron before entering the ring, and she nods to Captain Charisma before turning towards the stage, ready to meet her challengers in the ring one last time.)
Rich Russillo: Well the Champion is here. Now it’s time for the challengers!
(As Auburn waits, ‘Tears’ by Sabrina Carpenter follows, replacing her music. This causes boos to come from the crowd, as Ashlynn Quinn begins to walk out. Ashlynn and Auburn stare at each other while Ashlynn remains on the stage, still remembering last week’s events where Ashlynn managed to stand tall over her Grand Rampage opponents. After a moment, Ashlynn begins to walk down the ramp.)
Rich Russillo: Ashlynn Quinn had a big night last week, as she successfully laid out all three of her opponents for next week. Ashlynn may be in a better mood knowing she was in a way able to prove her point.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, but we’ll have to see where all this goes. This ain’t gonna be easy for her, bro. Or anyone, for that matter.
(Ashlynn Quinn enters the ring, and right away, there is a staredown between Auburn Ware and Ashlynn Quinn, before Ashlynn turns and taunts towards the crowd.)
Persephone: This is going to be really annoying, isn’t it?
(‘Burn Victim’ by Methwitch is the next song to hit, and the camera pans over towards the stage as Eris Morti begins to walk out. Ashlynn Quinn stares at Eris, while Eris seems to have her eyes on the Champion, before her eyes divert towards Ashlynn. Auburn waits as the second of her three challengers walks down the ramp, as Eris doesn’t waste too much time heading to the ring.)
Rich Russillo: Eris Morti is walking into Grand Rampage with a pinfall victory over Auburn Ware, but like you said Thadd, things are looking far too chaotic to assume it’ll happen again so easily.
Persephone: I really don’t care to see this weirdo as Champion.
(Eris Morti enters the ring, before climbing onto the middle rope, and sitting on the top rope. She stares at her Grand Rampage opponents, and she grins as she waits for the final one.)
Thadd Blazevich: Well three of the ladies are here, so y’know what that means! Only one more to go!
(‘Let Me Hear’ by Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas is the last song to play, and this brings more boos from the crowd, even louder than before. Saori Aizen walks out, and following the events that took place earlier in the night, Saori is absolutely furious, still shaken following the attack. She gives a death stare towards Auburn Ware on her way to the ring, completely ignoring the presence of both Ashlynn Quinn and Eris Morti.)
Rich Russillo: Saori Aizen is here, and we saw what happened earlier tonight, so I can’t be surprised by the look on her face. I think she might be more irritable than usual right now.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah… I don’t know how that no violence rule is gonna hold up, bro.
(Saori enters the ring, and while she doesn’t immediately go after someone, there is a colder look on her face than usual, clearly still thinking about the previous events.)
Persephone: I hope you’re right. I don’t see what they could possibly say at this point.
(As the four women stand inside of the ring, there is a brief silence between them, as there’s obviously clear tension between them. Saori Aizen is staring directly at Auburn Ware however, and she notices a smug grin on the face of the Specialists Champion, which only irritates her.)
Saori Aizen: Is there something funny?
Auburn Ware: Nothing, just thought you looked a little dry, that’s all. Need some water?
(Saori Aizen immediately tries to walk towards Auburn, but Captain Charisma gets in between the two.)
Captain Charisma: Don’t forget what I said. No fighting.
(Saori just stares at Captain Charisma for a moment, with the look on her face saying enough about how annoyed she is. However, she reluctantly complies, stepping back before turning to Auburn once more.)
Saori Aizen: Laugh while you can. What occurred earlier was far from ideal, but I know you won’t maintain whatever aggression you showed earlier when it actually matters. You already proved as much when you allowed Eris to pin you because you were foolish enough to prioritize the well-being of someone other than yourself. You are on borrowed time Champion, and when Grand Rampage arrives, there is nothing and nobody that will be able to save you.
Auburn Ware: I think I’ve shown that what you’ve tried to use against me is irrelevant compared to what’s actually going to happen at Grand Rampage. So much so that I think it’s finally set in for you the type of Champion that you’re going to be up against next week. It may not be something that you want to accept, but reality is going to close in a lot quicker than you think when you don’t get what you expect at the event. You’re not going to step over me like you think you are, you just don’t have what it takes to do that.
(The fans cheer hearing this from Auburn, who stares at Saori with a focused look on her face. However, Saori is quick to respond.)
Saori Aizen: You are such a fool. You haven’t the slightest clue of what I am capable of. Not when there is a target on your back, and the Championship I’ve been seeking is right in front of me.
Auburn Ware: There has *always* been a target on my back. There’s more than one enemy to account for, but that has never changed. I didn’t just win this Championship for no reason, I fought for it, and the same can be said for me being able to keep it for this long as well. I didn’t get this far to fuel some pathetic girl’s delusions of what she wants for her career, I got this far to make sure that this continues being around my waist, and-
Ashlynn Quinn: And NOTHING! Nothing is going to happen because you’re not going to be able to finish the job. NOT when Ashlynn Quinn is in this match. You might think that it’s cute and demure to look over someone like me, especially when you got a win over me in the past, but that has changed. My New Breed Championship reign showed that I have what it takes to be a Champion, and I am going to continue to show why I am the only capable person out of all of you to wear that title.
Saori Aizen: Shut your mouth. I’ve heard enough from you, doll. Don’t you get tired of wasting our time?
Ashlynn Quinn: Um, I don’t think so. Watch your mouth when you’re speaking about me! Besides, I think I proved my point more than any of you will be able to do when I took ALL OF YOU out last week and raised that title right above my head. I don’t know about you, but I think the look of me with that Championship just felt right, didn’t it???
(Saori just stares at Ashlynn for a moment, not amused whatsoever. However, she doesn’t say anything in response to this, as Auburn Ware begins to respond to Ashlynn Quinn.)
Auburn Ware: I really hope you did enjoy that moment, Ashlynn, because that’s as far as you’re going to get. I don’t believe that you truly do understand the type of match that you’re walking into, and that’s ironic, because you actually have a point. Your argument has ground, you are just so in over your head that it’s going to end up playing to your detriment instead at Grand Rampage.
Ashlynn Quinn: What an absolutely absurd thing to say, Auburn! For the record, every single thing that I say is true, and I will take that to the grave! Not only do I have the best case out of everyone in this match, but I am definitely the best wrestler out of all of you. So the people who want to say that I’m all talk are more than welcome to. But I will be swimming in your tears once Ashlynn Quinn wins her SECOND Championship this season!
Auburn Ware: It’s a pipe dream, Ashlynn. It’s not something that will last, solely because you won’t let it. I’m going to beat you again, and I don’t want you blaming anyone but yourself when the inevitable happens.
(While the arguing continues, Eris Morti shakes her head, seemingly bored by the current discussion as she gets off of the turnbuckles. She finally begins to speak, looking towards Saori Aizen.)
Eris Morti: Saori. Earlier you attempted to speak to Damon Lazarus, not realizing that Auburn Ware, for whatever reasons she may have, was nearby when you found him in catering. Clearly whatever you were planning was meant to stick with Auburn, but you don’t seem too thrilled by the reaction you were given. Tell me, where did you hope your “conversation” with Mister Lazarus would lead you?
(Saori stares at Eris, not pleased by that question. Saori didn’t hide that her plan was just to get in Auburn Ware’s head, but that plan was quickly cut short, and never had the chance to be fully realized. The last thing she was interested in was someone like Eris trying to further stir the pot after what she already dealt with earlier.)
Saori Aizen: Why does it concern you what my plans were?
Eris Morti: It doesn’t. I ask this because from my perspective, you got everything you could’ve asked for. Auburn Ware weeks ago looked like a fish out of water, one unfit to wear the Specialists Championship. You knew her weakness thanks to our tag team match, and you hoped to exploit that. You wanted to get under her skin, and you did. So much so, that you likely wouldn’t even be competing at Grand Rampage let alone standing here right now had Damon not stopped her.
(After saying this Eris turns towards Auburn, all while Saori appears even further irritated just by the idea Eris has suggested.)
Eris Morti: You’ve certainly piqued my interest, Champion. More than you did in that tag team match, at least. I didn’t expect to see such a vicious attack from you of all people. I suppose emotional damage makes for excellent fuel so long as you’re left with anger rather than concern, but I can’t help but find it strange just how far you were willing to go all of a sudden. Is the thought of someone trying to fool around with a snake like Damon Lazarus really all it takes to set you off?
(Auburn takes a moment, both taken aback and disgusted by Morti’s suggestion. She quickly just brushes off Morti’s words, before firing back.)
Auburn Ware: What’s going on between Damon and I is none of your business, and it’s irrelevant to what’s going to happen in this match. Thank you very much.
(Eris just shrugs, not too bothered by Auburn’s clear irritation as she responds.)
Eris Morti: I was just curious. Either way, I believe Saori’s assessment was wrong. What she really wanted was to throw you off your game in as cruel of a manner as she could think of, but instead all she managed to do was the usual, and made a mockery of herself.
(Saori Aizen immediately storms over to Eris Morti in the corner of the ring, before pressing her forearm into Morti’s jaw, trapping her in the corner as she speaks.)
Saori Aizen: A mockery? You have seen nothing yet Morti, and it’d be in your best interest not to forget who I am. Don’t think you know my intentions, nor what is really to come at Grand Rampage.
(Saori says this through gritted teeth, but before anything could happen, Captain Charisma once again steps in, pulling Saori away from Eris. There is a brief staredown between the two, and there is a slow nod from Morti, while Saori just shakes her head in disgust, turning her attention away. Ashlynn rolls her eyes during this, beginning to speak once more.)
Ashlynn Quinn: You know what? All of you can SHUT UP! You know why? Because this whole argument is just dumb, idiotic, and STUPID! You can all make these baseless claims all you want, but it’s not going to make a difference because I’m not going to lose at Grand Rampage anyway! And you know why? Because all it takes is a snap of a finger and that title is around my waist. You uggos might need it more than me to find purpose in your devoid careers, but none of you have been able to get to where I am because you’re not me! I’ve shown that I can get there, and I’m not done just yet, because I want more, I NEED more. Being a one-time Champion might be fine for the rest of you, because that’s pure luck, but I know that I can do more, and I am ready for it. Grand Rampage is going to be my crowning moment, it’s going to be amazing, and everything is going to want to see it. Because once again, Ashlynn Quinn is heading straight to the top, and all of you are just going to have to CRY ABOUT IT!
Auburn Ware: We’re not going to need to cry about it, Ashlynn. You’re delusional, and you’ve been knocked off your high horse one too many times in the past to have to be told this. You’re too far in, having already won a title with this company, to act this way and continue to shoot yourself in the foot like this. I’ve held this Specialists Championship for as long as I have for a reason, for four months I have faced every single person they have thrown at me and watched them fall under their predisposed ambitions, and I’ve proven to everyone else what I have known for the longest time now, and that is how great of a Champion that I am. Winning this title was one part of the battle, the biggest test came from keeping it and I succeeded in it, and I don’t plan on losing it now just because this is a tough challenge. Everyone trying to get in my head isn’t going to work, the result is still going to be me standing on top.
Ashlynn Quinn: “eVerYoNe TryIng TO GeT InTo My heaD”! UGH! Stop the sob story, will you!!! Nobody cares! Myself in particular! I don’t care whatever’s going on between you and that decrepit old man, and you know what just grinds my gears? That this is the talk of the town over what the big elephant in the room is that I am going to be Specialists Champion! But I guess that just comes with the territory. I guess that just goes to show why, despite everything that I have done, that I am STILL being overlooked. But that’s okay, because I have plans to finally shut my doubters up, and I’m telling you right now, just so you’re not surprised, that I am the actual biggest threat to your title.
Saori Aizen: That’s enough. For what reason must I listen to you spit out excuse after excuse for yourselves, as if you’re the only individuals on this roster with the desire to hold that Championship? Why must I care that the doll wants to silence her doubters, or that Auburn is not yet ready to relinquish her Championship to a superior competitor? The truth is that Championship should’ve already been in my hands, but I was forced to move on when my first opportunity at it fell apart. I was forced to miss time of my career, and I was forced to take a step back and reassess the position I am in here. In that time you’ve all had your opportunities to find yourselves in the Championship picture, but how long do you think you can keep me away from what is mine? Shock Value achieved only one thing, and that was putting two distractions in my way. Distractions that serve as obstacles between me and that Championship, but I warn each and every single one of you…
(Saori walks up to Auburn, and she points at her Championship.)
Saori Aizen: I have waited far too long to allow any obstacle to ruin my perfect victory, so count your days.
(The fans loudly boo, and there is a tense staredown between Saori Aizen and Auburn Ware after what happened earlier in the night. However, during this, Ashlynn begins to respond to what Saori had to say.)
Ashlynn Quinn: If this Championship was meant to be in your hands, then it would’ve happened already. But of course! Saori Aizen can’t get the job done! Duh, she’s just not good enough to do it! She doesn’t have the starpower that I do in order to be a Champion, and that’s okay! She doesn’t have to feel sad about it, because not everybody has that. Some people are just not meant to wear a title like that around their waist, even if they’re already the Champion, and the best thing that you can do is just give up while you can. So you know what? All of you should just give up! Let me give you a chance to do that before I embarrass you next week!
(Eris just shakes her head, which Ashlynn notices as she turns towards her.)
Ashlynn Quinn: What are you looking at, uggo??? Do you even care about winning the title??? Because everything that you’ve done to me has shown that you’re only here to fuck around with me and my ACTUAL chances.
Eris Morti: I certainly don’t want the title in the way that the three of you do, I’ll admit. I don’t live or die by the gold that’s around my waist, but I would be lying if I said it meant nothing to me seeing just how invested you all are in this Championship race. I don’t think anyone walking out of this match empty handed will feel satisfied. No, instead the chase will only continue for you, and you’re either going to allow your career to die a slow death, or you’re going to keep scratching and crawling your way back into this spot so you can try once last time. I know for a fact that Saori Aizen would never be content with such a devastating loss. I am sure that Auburn Ware wouldn’t be pleased to know that her last not one, but two matches as Champion ended in disaster. Even Ashlynn should know better than to let another failure do anything but motivate her.
(Ashlynn looks annoyed by that statement, and Eris smiles, continuing to speak.)
Eris Morti: I want that Championship for the target that’ll be on my back. I want it so that I won’t need to provoke any of you into giving me your best. It’ll simply be the expectation, like I’m sure it already is for you.
(Eris points at Auburn as she says this, and Auburn has a focused look on her face, staring right back at Morti. After a moment Auburn just steps back, looking at all of her challengers before beginning to speak.)
Auburn Ware: In any other world, where Auburn Ware wasn’t Champion right now, one of your dreams would be fulfilled. But unfortunately, that’s not going to be the case. Even as the Champion I find my back against the wall, and that’s okay, because I know that none of you were going to give me the respect that I deserve, even after everything that I went through. From Ashlynn doing everything that she can to make up this fake scenario in her mind where everything goes in her favor, to Eris believing that she has the control that she thinks that she has over this match, to Saori being way over her head believing that this match is already in her favor. All of you have your reasons for wanting this title, and I was never going to be the one who took that away from you, but I have to be the one who crushes your dreams in order to get ahead, and trust that won’t be much of a problem for me with this title on the line.
(Ashlynn rolls her eyes as she approaches.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Ridiculous talk, pointless blabber. Who genuinely believes that they’re going to win this match??? You? The Champion who has shown that she doesn’t even deserve that title?!
(Ashlynn turns toward Saori, pressing a finger directly into her chest.)
Ashlynn Quinn: You??? Someone who runs all of us down but doesn’t have a lick of the abilities that I do?! You already got humiliated earlier, I think you-
Rich Russillo: WOAH!! SAORI AIZEN WITH AN ELBOW TO THE FACE, DROPPING ASHLYNN TO THE MAT!!!
Thadd Blazevich: CAPTAIN CHARISMA IMMEDIATELY STEPS IN TO TRY AND STOP SAORI- BUT THIS TIME SAORI JUST SHOVES BRO AWAY, BEFORE RUNNING IN AND IMMEDIATELY BEGINNING TO STOMP AWAY AT HER! I THINK SAORI’S HAD ENOUGH REMINDERS OF WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT, BRO!
Rich Russillo: ERIS MORTI IMMEDIATELY RUSHES IN, TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN SAORI AROUND BEFORE DRIVING HER INTO THE CORNER! I THINK ERIS WAS WAITING FOR THINGS TO BREAK OUT BEFORE GETTING SOME PAYBACK FOR WHAT WENT DOWN BETWEEN THESE TWO A FEW MINUTES AGO, AS SHE BEGINS WAILING AWAY AT SAORI!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT ERIS ISN’T THE ONLY ONE THAT WANTS TO GET HER HANDS ON HER, AS AUBURN SHOVES PAST ERIS-
Rich Russillo: BUT ERIS INSTINCTIVELY TURNS AND STRIKES AUBURN, HITTING HER IN THE JAW! AUBURN STUMBLES BACK- BEFORE RUNNING IN WITH A DOUBLE LEG TAKEDOWN, TACKLING ERIS AS BOTH WOMEN FALL THROUGH THE ROPES AND OUT TO RINGSIDE!!! SAORI AIZEN IMMEDIATELY STEPS THROUGH THE ROPES AND OUT TO THE APRON TO FOLLOW THEM- BUT LOOK OUT!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: ASHLYNN QUINN JUST GOT BACK UP, AND SHE HITS SAORI WITH A DROPKICK, KNOCKING HER OFF THE APRON!!!! Ashlynn rolls out to the ring to follow, and bro, I think Captain Charisma’s just giving up on stopping ‘em from fighting!
Persephone: Good. I better not have wasted my time watching them talk for nothing.
Rich Russillo: ERIS MORTI AND AUBURN WARE ARE AT RINGSIDE BRAWLING, AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE’RE AT A POINT WHERE THERE’S JUST HOSTILITY BETWEEN ALL FOUR WOMEN! NOBODY’S HOLDING ANYTHING BACK TOWARDS EACH OTHER, AND NOW ASHLYNN MAKES HER WAY TOWARDS SAORI, DRAGGING HER UP BEFORE SLAMMING HER FACE INTO THE BARRICADE!
Thadd Blazevich: A NASTY ELBOW SMASH FROM ERIS CAUSES AUBURN TO STUMBLE TOWARDS THE TIMEKEEPER’S AREA, BUT AS ERIS APPROACHES, ERIS IS MET WITH A KICK TO THE MIDSECTION! AUBURN FOLLOWS THAT UP BY GRABBING ONTO ERIS, BEGINNING TO THROW CLUBBING BLOWS AT HER BACK!
Rich Russillo: ASHLYNN MEANWHILE HAS MANAGED TO GET THE UPPER HAND OVER SAORI! ASHLYNN IS PUMMELING SAORI WITH FOREARMS FOR THAT SUDDEN ATTACK, AND NOW ASHLYNN GRABS SAORI, LOOKING TO SEND HER INTO THE TIMEKEEPER’S AREA!
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI TURNS IT AROUND THOUGH, JUST AS ERIS WAS ABLE TO SHOVE AUBURN OFF OF HER! ASHLYNN JUST COLLIDED WITH AUBURN TO TAKE BOTH WOMEN DOWN, AND NOW SAORI HAS HER EYES ON ERIS, WASTING NO TIME GOING AFTER HER!
Persephone: AUBURN PUSHES ASHLYNN OFF OF HER, BUT ASHLYNN RESPONDS SHOVING AUBURN INTO THE BARRICADE! Both women are fighting while getting back up- AND AUBURN PUNCHES ASHLYNN IN THE JAW, MAKING HER STUMBLE AS THEY START WALKING PAST OUR TABLE!
Rich Russillo: ASHLYNN AND AUBURN CONTINUE TO FIGHT- AND ASHLYNN CATCHES AUBURN WITH A STOMP TO THE FOOT, BEFORE SLAMMING HER FACE INTO THE RING POST! ASHLYNN TRIES TO GO AGAIN- BUT AUBURN ELBOWS HER IN THE MIDSECTION!
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI AND ERIS ARE FIGHTING IN THE MEANWHILE, AS SAORI SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN THE UPPER HAND! THESE TWO ARE BEING SUPER AGGRESSIVE AS SAORI IS JUST WAILING ON ERIS WITH ELBOWS, BEFORE PULLING HER AWAY FROM THE BARRICADE! SAORI NOW LOOKING TO SEND ERIS INTO IT- BUT ERIS TURNS IT AROUND, SENDING SAORI BACK FIRST INTO IT!
Rich Russillo: SAORI HITS THE BARRICADE HARD, BUT ERIS DOESN’T STOP THERE! SHE RIPS SAORI OFF OF THE RINGSIDE FLOOR, BEFORE THROWING SAORI INTO THE BARRICADE A SECOND TIME! Eris now begins to back up, and I think she has something in mind while Saori starts to stir in front of the timekeeper’s area!
Thadd Blazevich: Auburn and Ashlynn are still fighting, BUT I THINK THEIR MUTUAL ENEMY MIGHT BE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT BEHIND THEM, AS ERIS RUNS IN FOR A SPEA-
*DING!*
Rich Russillo: WOAH!!! ERIS I THINK WAS HOPING TO SPEAR SAORI THROUGH THE BARRICADE IN FRONT OF THE TIMEKEEPER’S AREA, BUT SAORI JUST GRABBED THE RING BELL, LAUNCHING IT RIGHT AT ERIS’ FOREHEAD AS HARD AS SHE COULD!!!! ERIS IS DOWN, AND I THINK SHE’S GONNA BE FEELING THAT ONE IN THE MORNING!
(Eris Morti is motionless, as the ring bell lies next to her head. Blood can be seen spilling from her forehead where she was hit, and Saori just stares at her for a moment. Once seeing that Morti isn’t moving, she turns her head, turning her attention over to the other two.)
Rich Russillo: AUBURN AND ASHLYNN ARE STILL GOING AT IT MEANWHILE, AND AUBURN HAS GRABBED ASHLYNN BEFORE SLAMMING HER FACE DOWN ONTO OUR TABLE! AUBURN BEGINS POUNDING AWAY AT ASHLYNN’S BACK, BUT ASHLYNN IS ABLE TO START RUNNING INTO AUBURN, SHIFTING TO HER RIGHT AND SLAMMING AUBURN INTO THE APRON! THIS HAS BEEN A SUPER MESSY FIGHT, BUT THAT’S TO BE EXPECTED AT THIS POINT!
Thadd Blazevich: AUBURN KNOCKS ASHLYNN OFF OF HER AS SHE STUMBLES BACK, AND NOW AUBURN LOOKS FOR THE FOLLOW UP- BUT ASHLYNN RESPONDS WITH A NASTY FOREARM OF HER OWN! THESE TWO ARE JUST GOING AT IT, NOT STOPPING AT ALL!
Persephone: Yeah, and thanks to that they don’t even realize what’s coming for them.
Rich Russillo: SUICIDE DIVE!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI AIZEN JUST FLOORED BOTH AUBURN WARE AND ASHLYNN QUINN WITH A SUICIDE DIVE- BEFORE IMMEDIATELY GRABBING ASHLYNN AND- WOAH!!!
(Saori Aizen throws Ashlynn over the commentary table, sending her nearly right into the commentators as Saori grabs Auburn, sending her into the ring.)
Rich Russillo: SAORI JUST THREW ASHLYNN OVER OUR TABLE, AND NOW SHE IMMEDIATELY SLIDES INTO THE RING BEHIND AUBURN WARE!
Thadd Blazevich: AUBURN IS QUICK TO GET HER BEARINGS, AND SHE SWINGS AT SAORI AS SOON AS SHE GETS INTO THE RING!
Rich Russillo: SAORI DUCKS UNDER IT THOUGH BEFORE REBOUNDING OFF THE ROPES…
Thadd Blazevich: RAIMEI HAKKE!!!!!
(Saori Aizen stares at Auburn Ware following that knee strike, as the knee has caused Auburn to fall onto the middle rope, leaning against it. Auburn is lifeless, and would already be laid out on the mat had the ropes not been there to stop her fall. Saori just stares at the Champion, and rather than a cold, empty look, Saori looks absolutely enraged, still full of malice and hatred after what occurred earlier. With this in mind, Saori steps forward, breaking into a sprint.)
Rich Russillo: A SECOND RAIMEI HAKKE!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: AUBURN WARE GOES DOWN AFTER THAT ONE, AND BRO, I THINK SAORI HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THAT ALL NIGHT!!!
Rich Russillo: Saori Aizen just took out all of her challengers at Grand Rampage, and you can just see it on her face! Saori is not messing around here. There’s been a target on Auburn Ware from the moment she won that Championship, but I don’t know if anyone has had it out for her the way Saori has.
Thadd Blazevich: We already knew that Grand Rampage would be wild, but at this rate I don’t even know what lengths they *won’t* go to try and tear each other apart! One thing’s for sure. Saori is ready to become Champ, and dude, if she keeps this up she might just get it done.
(The fans loudly boo as Saori Aizen looks down at Auburn Ware. She is breathing heavily, trying to contain all of the rage she must have built up over the course of the night. The camera shows a shot of all of the participants in the match. Ashlynn Quinn is still laid out behind the commentary table, holding the back of her head. Eris is still not moving yet after the ring bell busted her open, and Auburn Ware is down on the mat, right at the feet of Saori Aizen. With this final shot, Voltage fades from ringside.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Carmen Sánchez faces Sayuri Himura for number one contendership for the Specialists Championship.)
(The camera cuts to the arena as “Invincible” by Pop Smoke plays. Chris Elite steps out onto the stage to a mixed reaction from the crowd. He pauses for a moment before making his way down the ramp, focused and serious. There’s no usual energy from him tonight as he walks with purpose, clearly having a lot on his mind.)
Rich Russillo: And here comes Chris Elite, and you can already tell something’s off. Usually there’s a certain energy to him, but not tonight. This looks like a man who’s been waiting to say something for a while.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, and you can’t really blame him after what we saw last week. Being stuck in jail the way he was, all because of everything going on between him and TLA… that’s not something you just brush off.
Persephone: Good. Maybe now we’ll actually get something interesting out of him instead of the usual talk.
Rich Russillo: Either way, this doesn’t look like it’s going to stay calm for long. Chris Elite has something to get off his chest, and I think we all know exactly who it’s directed at.
(Chris goes up the steps and enters the ring, immediately walking over to the right side as he calls for a microphone. A stagehand approaches and hands it to him through the ropes, and Chris takes it. He then walks to the center of the ring, turning his full attention toward the stage as he taps the mic a few times to make sure it’s working.)
Chris Elite: Yo, cut the music!
(“Invincible” by Pop Smoke cuts out in the background.)
Chris Elite: …Yeah. That’s better.
(Chris lowers the mic slightly, pacing a step or two as he keeps his eyes locked on the stage.)
Chris Elite: TLA… bring your ass out here.
(He pauses, jaw tight, trying to stay calm.)
Chris Elite: And don’t take your time either. I’m not in the mood for games tonight, I’m not in the mood for jokes, and I’m definitely not in the mood after last week. You thought that was funny, right? Thought it was cute having me locked up, sitting in a cell while you out here talking like you proved something, while everybody else stood in that ring going back and forth and I couldn’t even be there.
(He taps his chest.)
Chris Elite: Let me clear that up real quick. You didn’t embarrass me, you didn’t break me… all you did was piss me off.
(The crowd responds with a loud mixed reaction as Chris steps forward slightly.)
Chris Elite: And maybe that’s what you don’t understand, because if you wanted to get your get back, cool. That’s part of this. We fight, we settle it, and we move on… but you ain’t wanna move on. You wanted to drag it out, make it bigger than it needed to be, and make sure I couldn’t even show up while you stood there acting like you had everything under control.
(Chris exhales, shaking his head.)
Chris Elite: Meanwhile, everybody else is in there talking Grand Rampage, throwing shots, making their claims… and I’m stuck watching it on a screen like I ain’t part of this.
(He looks back toward the stage.)
Chris Elite: All that… over one mistake. And yeah, I said it already, I messed up at Shock Value. I’m not ducking that, I’m not running from it… but what I’m not about to do is let you act like that gives you a pass to do all this extra shit, because that’s exactly what this is now.
(Chris paces a few steps, more focused.)
Chris Elite: You talking like I ain’t been putting in work, like I ain’t earned my spot, like I’m the reason everything went wrong… like you ain’t been in that same position before. That’s the part that don’t sit right with me, because if anybody should know better, it’s you.
(He pauses briefly, nodding to himself.)
Chris Elite: We’ve been doing this too long for you to switch up over one moment, too long for you to start sounding like everybody else the second things don’t go your way. So yeah, you got your moment. You got your revenge. You got to stand tall while I wasn’t even in the building… that’s cool.
(Chris points toward the entrance.)
Chris Elite: But now I’m here. Now you don’t get to hide behind anything, you don’t get to do it from a distance, and you don’t get to control how this plays out. You wanted to take it there? Then we can take it there. You wanna drag this out over one mistake, fine… but if you were gonna go that far just to mess with me, then you should’ve made sure I stayed there a whole lot longer.
(A brief pause as he nods.)
Chris Elite: Because now I’m here, standing in this ring, looking straight at that stage waiting on you… and I promise you, whatever you thought this was gonna be—
(He points toward the entrance.)
Chris Elite: You just made it worse.
(Chris lowers the mic slightly, still staring at the stage.)
Chris Elite: So come on… quit hiding, quit stalling… and get out here so we can handle this face to face.
(Chris continues to gesture toward the entranceway, and before long, ‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ begins to play through the speakers. The crowd erupts into thunderous cheers as the camera goes over to show TLA as he makes his way out from the backstage area. He has a smirk on his face as he eyes Chris in the ring, gesturing for him to calm down while making his way down the ramp.)
Rich Russillo: Here comes TLA and it certainly seems like the two of them are different sides of a coin approaching this matter. TLA was the one who aggregated it and while he expected to just rid himself of the problem and move on, he’s certainly gotten a lot more than he bargained for when it comes to his former Co-GM partner.
Thadd Blazevich: Well, bro, we also know that Chris Elite has never been one to back down from a fight. So when he got disrespected in the way that TLA disrespected him, he wasn’t going to take that shit! He stood up for himself and even though he got thrown in jail for it, he came back ten times stronger, and that’s something that TLA is going to have to address tonight.
Persephone: Personally, I would’ve taken being thrown in jail as a sign to just fuck off, but Chris Elite is notoriously stubborn and that is annoying as fuck. So why even bother at this point?
(TLA makes his way up the steps and onto the apron as he enters into the ring. He heads over and takes a microphone from the ringside area while ‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ begins to come to a close. As he turns around and approaches Chris, he takes a moment before beginning to speak.)
TLA: Whew! Chris, amigo! You got dat fuego right now! But te calmes just for a little bit, ight? I don’t know why you think I did all this just to hide from you. Homie, you think the biggest hustler in this company is boutta grindrun when you try and fight him?! No way, ese. Yo boi gonna stand ten toes down, and if anything, what happened to you was not my fault. It was yo fault you got thrown in la celda, amigo.
(Chris does not look happy at that as he crosses his arms, TLA, continuing to smirk, goes on with what he has to say.)
TLA: Shit, and if it were up to me, yo ass woulda been in there a whole lot longer. But I ain’t do that to you. Nah, cuz you tried to say that you was gonna stop me from winning the Grand Rampage match and main eventing Pain For Pride. And I wanted to see if you was gonna back that up. But I know you, hombre, I’ve teamed with Chris Elite, and I’ve seen just what he brings to the table. And I think I got nothing to worry about, you feel me? Not when you don’t got that dawg in you no more, not when you out here costing me title shots left and right, that ain’t the typa guy that’s boutta eliminate TLA.
(TLA shakes his head as he approaches Chris.)
TLA: I let you out cuz I ain’t wanna miss the opportunity to eliminate you from the Grand Rampage match, homie. Imma throw yo ass over dat top rope, and imma win the entire thing, and we can all finally move on from this.
Chris Elite: That’s what I don’t get, you’re standing here talking like you’re in the right and like you got some moral high ground when you’re the one who started all of this in the first place and now you’re acting like I’m the problem for how it turned out.
TLA: Maybe if you wasn’t ass then we wouldn’t need to be doing this. :pacspit: But nah, here we are, because yo ass ain’t shit. I ain’t neva said I was the good guy, homie. TLA always been one slimy mfer and I ain’t gonna backtrack on that. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I can beat yo ass, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do in this match. You gonna feel dat salt, all dat rage in you when I toss yo ass over, because not only am I better than you, I deserve to win that match and I ain’t just gonna say it… imma show you too.
Chris Elite: I know exactly how good I am and one mistake doesn’t change that, and no matter what you think or say about me, none of this is gonna matter when I get my get back on you.
TLA: Sure, sure. If that’s what you think fr. But you better just worry about making sure you in dat ring by the time I get there, hombre. There’s some mean ass luchadores in there that’ll try and fuck with you, and I don’t know if you got what it takes to back that up. But shit, I hope you are mine, because I want it to be me who finishes the job and shows you why I am the last amigo you wanna fuck with.
(Chris laughs to himself briefly before shoving TLA back! TLA responds back with a shove of his own!)
Rich Russillo: AND ITS ON! CHRIS ELITE DOUBLE LEGS TLA DOWN TO THE MAT AND HE’S GOING TO TOWN WITH RIGHTS AS TLA TRIES TO COVER UP!
Thadd Blazevich: TLA ROLLS CHRIS ONTO HIS BACK, MOUNTING HIM WITH RIGHTS OF HIS OWN! CHRIS DOES THE SAME, ROLLING TLA BACK ONTO HIS BACK! STAYING MOUNTED WITH RIGHTS!
Rich Russillo: CHRIS TRIES TO PULL TLA BACK UP BY THE HAIR— BUT TLA DRIVES HIM BACK FIRST INTO THE CORNER! UNLOADING WITH RIGHTS AS CHRIS TRIES TO COVER UP!!
(Suddenly, ‘Duel’ by JINJER hits, causing the crowd reaction to rise as the fans in attendance boo.)
Rich Russillo: UH OH! TLA AND CHRIS ELITE ARE STILL BRAWLING, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE A BIT OF COMPANY!
Thadd Blazevich: YEAH, AND IT’S NOT JUST ANYBODY! TOXXXIN IS HERE!
(Minerva, Daniella Atlas and Selina Reyes all begin to walk out to the stage, watching the fight unfold between TLA and Chris Elite. They all have slight smirks on their faces, and they seem to have something in mind as they slowly begin to walk down the ramp, keeping their eyes on the action inside of the ring in front of them.)
Rich Russillo: I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE CAN MENTION HOW DANGEROUS TOXXXIN WILL BE IN THE GRAND RAMPAGE, BUT I THINK WE’RE ABOUT TO GET ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW!
Thadd Blazevich: WE ALREADY SAW ‘EM IN ACTION EARLIER TONIGHT, BUT I GUESS THAT WASN’T ENOUGH FOR THEM!
Persephone: At least it doesn’t look like they’re here to talk. Just get to the point-
Rich Russillo: WOAH WOAH WOAH, WAIT A SECOND!!!
Thadd Blazevich: NICK AND DAMON LAZARUS ARE HERE, AND THEY JUST BLINDSIDED DANIELLA ATLAS AND SELINA REYES!!! THE UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS GO DOWN, AND DUDE, I CAN’T SAY I EXPECTED THAT! NICK AND DAMON HAD THEIR ISSUES RECENTLY, BUT I THINK THEY BOTH ARE AWARE OF THE COMMON THREAT! DAMON QUICKLY GRABS SELINA REYES, THROWING HER INTO THE TITANTRON AS MINERVA RUSHES IN TO HELP HER!
Persephone: DANIELLA ATLAS AND NICK ARE FIGHTING DOWN THE RAMP- AND DANIELLA GRABS NICK BEFORE RUNNING FORWARD, RAMMING NICK INTO THE APRON! Daniella grabs NICK and powers him up onto her shoulders after this, AND SHE HEADS TOWARDS THE STEEL STEPS-
Rich Russillo: BUT NICK SLIPS OUT OF HER SHOULDERS, BEFORE SENDING HER SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE STEPS! DANIELLA CRASHES INTO THE STEPS, MEANWHILE ON THE STAGE DAMON LAZARUS AND MINERVA ARE STILL GOING AT IT!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT WAIT! LOOK OUT, NICK!!!
Rich Russillo: JON KELTON DIVES OFF THE BARRICADE, FLYING AT NICK WITH A DIVING KNEE!!! NICK GOES DOWN AS KELTON ROLLS TO HIS FEET, AND WHERE THE HELL DID HE COME FROM!? WE SAW NICK LAY KELTON OUT EARLIER, AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE WANTED A BIT OF REVENGE!!
Thadd Blazevich: AND HE GOT EXACTLY THAT, AS HE DRAGS NICK UP BEFORE USING ALL HIS STRENGTH TO THROW BRO INTO THE BARRICADE!!!!
Rich Russillo: This has been a very chaotic brawl, and throughout it all TLA and Chris Elite are STILL fighting inside of the ring! TLA has Chris laid in a seated position in the corner, AND TLA RUNS IN FROM THE OPPOSITE CORNER, DELIVERING THE DOUBLE KNEES TO CHRIS ELITE! THOSE KNEES HIT CHRIS HARD, AND THINGS ARE DEFINITELY HEATING UP RIGHT NOW! THIS IS OUT OF CONTROL!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON AND MINERVA HAVE BEEN FIGHTING DOWN THE RAMP DURING ALL THIS, AND THEY MADE THEIR WAY DOWN TO RINGSIDE AS WELL! DAMON HITS MINERVA WITH A NASTY PUNCH, SENDING MINERVA STUMBLING TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RING FROM DANIELLA AND NICK! Damon goes for the follow up- BUT MINERVA GOES AFTER THE EYES, BEFORE SENDING DAMON BACK FIRST INTO THE RING POST!
Persephone: BUT HERE COMES JON KELTON AGAIN, RUNNING IN AND RAMMING MINERVA INTO THE BARRICADE! I guess he’s still salty over King of Elite, huh?
Rich Russillo: JON KELTON IMMEDIATELY STARTS PUTTING THE BOOTS TO MINERVA, TRYING TO GET SOME PAYBACK AGAINST HER LIKE HE DID AGAINST NICK! NICK IS BACK UP THOUGH, AND HE RUNS IN BEFORE RIPPING KELTON AWAY FROM MINERVA! KELTON IS READY FOR NICK THOUGH, AND HE HITS NICK WITH A FOREARM!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON GRABS KELTON FROM BEHIND THOUGH, AND SLAMS HIS FACE ONTO THE APRON! KELTON STUMBLES AWAY- BUT BRO, THIS JUST GAVE DANIELLA THE CHANCE TO RUN IN, HITTING DAMON WITH A BIG BOOT!
Rich Russillo: AND DANIELLA’S NOT THE ONLY ONE!!! SELINA JUST RAN DOWN THE RAMP, FLYING AT DAMON LAZARUS WITH A HUGE JUMPING FOREARM SMASH!!! THE UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ARE GOING AFTER DAMON LAZARUS, MEANWHILE MINERVA GOES AFTER JON KELTON FOR THAT ATTACK ON HER!
Thadd Blazevich: MINERVA ELBOWS KELTON IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, AND NOW NICK PUSHES PAST HER TO TRY AND GET TO KELTON- BUT MINERVA GRABS NICK, BEFORE SENDING HIM INTO THE APRON! I DON’T THINK NICK EXPECTED THAT, BRO! MINERVA SLAMS HIS FACE ONTO THE APRON- BUT THIS GIVES KELTON TIME TO GET BACK UP, AND HE SLAMS HIS BOOT INTO MINERVA’S MIDSECTION! MINERVA STUMBLES BACK-
Persephone: AND NICK CATCHES KELTON WITH A PUNCH TO THE JAW!
Rich Russillo: WHICH HE IMMEDIATELY PAYS FOR, AS KELTON ELBOWS NICK IN RESPONSE! DAMON LAZARUS IN THE MEANTIME IS ABLE TO CATCH DANIELLA WITH AN UPPERCUT, BUT THE NUMBER’S GAME IS DEFINITELY CATCHING UP TO HIM AS THE TAG CHAMPS CONTINUE TRYING TO PICK THE BIG MAN APART!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON GRABS SELINA AND SHOVES HER AWAY, SENDING HER STUMBLING TOWARDS THE TIMEKEEPER’S AREA! Damon follows- BUT DANIELLA IS QUICK TO RUN IN, SENDING DAMON INTO THE BARRICADE! Damon stumbles off, BUT HE USES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GRAB A STEEL CHAIR, TURNING IT AND SLAMMING IT INTO DANIELLA’S MIDSECTION! DANIELLA GRITS HER TEETH IN PAIN, STUMBLING BACK FOR A MOMENT AS DAMON TURNS TOWARDS HER TEAMMATE!
Persephone: DAMON TRIES TO HIT SELINA WITH IT, BUT SHE CATCHES IT, GIVING DANIELLA JUST ENOUGH TIME TO KICK DAMON IN THE MIDSECTION! DAMON LETS GO OF THE CHAIR- BUT HE IMMEDIATELY RESPONDS BY HITTING SELINA WITH A BIG BOOT!
Rich Russillo: MEANWHILE MINERVA IS ABLE TO SEND NICK INTO THE STEEL STEPS! MINERVA USES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND FOCUS ON JON KELTON, BUT KELTON IS IMMEDIATELY ON THE ATTACK! HE JUST KNOCKED MINERVA BACK WITH A NASTY PUNCH TO THE JAW, AND NOW HE RUSHES IN FOR THE GALICK GUN- BUT MINERVA CAUGHT THE BOOT! MINERVA HOLDS ONTO KELTON’S LEG- BUT KELTON IS ABLE TO COUNTER WITH A STEP-UP ENZUIGIRI!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT WAIT A SECOND, LOOK WHAT’S HAPPENING INSIDE THE RING! TLA WAS ABLE TO LEAVE CHRIS HANGING ON THE MIDDLE ROPE DURING ALL THIS, AND NOW BRO RUNS THE ROPES FOR THE 305- BUT CHRIS IS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY JUST BEFORE IT COULD CONNECT! TLA LANDS IN THE RING AND CHRIS SWINGS AT HIM- BUT TLA DUCKS UNDER IT BEFORE LANDING A SPINNING BACK KICK THAT DROPS CHRIS TO A KNEE! TLA NOW RUNS PAST CHRIS AND RUNS THE ROPES-
Persephone: BEFORE GETTING DROPPED WITH THE OPP SPOTTER!!!!
Rich Russillo: TLA GOES DOWN AFTER THE OPP SPOTTER, AND CHRIS ELITE IS RIGHT BACK TO HIS FEET WITH FURY IN HIS EYES!!!! TLA SITS UP WHILE HOLDING HIS HEAD, BUT I THINK THAT’S GONNA BE THE LEAST OF HIS PROBLEMS IN A SECOND!
Thadd Blazevich: BOX OFFICE SMASH!!!
(TLA falls down on the mat, and Chris Elite immediately returns to his feet. The brawl between everyone else in the Grand Rampage match continues, but Chris doesn’t even pay any attention to it. Instead he just looks down at TLA, seemingly coming up with an idea as he slowly drags him up.)
Rich Russillo: Uh oh… Chris doesn’t seem to be finished with TLA yet! He is dragging him into position, but what for!?
Thadd Blazevich: FOR A MEXICAN DESTROYER!!! NO WAY, BRO JUST DROPPED TLA WITH HIS OWN FINISHING MOVE!!!
Persephone: Well I guess I’m not surprised. You lay someone out multiple times then get him arrested, this should be expected.
Rich Russillo: Chris Elite in a way is able to get the last laugh over TLA before Grand Rampage, but that’s not all that’s going on here as we still have a huge brawl taking place! Damon Lazarus is fending off the Unified Tag Team Champions, while NICK, Jon Kelton and Minerva are all going after each other!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, this is the kind of chaos Grand Rampage is known for! Security is rushing out here to try and finally break things up, but I think the fans are loving what they’re seeing!
Rich Russillo: Thankfully for them, they won’t have to wait much longer for the real thing! Grand Rampage is only a week away, where one of these Elitists could be on the road to a Pain for Pride MAIN EVENT!
(The security guards flood the ringside area, finally beginning to pull the Elitists away from each other. Damon Lazarus, Selina Reyes and Daniella Atlas are all separated from each other, while other guards go after Jon Kelton, NICK and Minerva. Some of the Elitists struggle and fight through the security guards, while others choose to comply, deciding to play it safe and save themselves for the Grand Rampage match. In the middle of this chaotic scene is Chris Elite, who stands over the fallen TLA with a focused look on his face, ready for Grand Rampage as he looks down on his former teammate. From there, Voltage fades from ringside.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where the annual Grand Rampage match takes place.)
(Voltage returns from commercial one final time with the tune of “Thoughts of a Dying Atheist” by Muse reverberating throughout the Allstate Arena. The crowd pops up on their feet, cheering at the tune as Jay Jerry Johnson walks out to the stage, analyzing the atmosphere and hyping the fans up a little, before walking down the ramp.)
Thadd Blazevich: Y’alls, brothers and sisters, this is it! This is our last hurdle before the road to Pain For Pride OFFICIALLY begins!
Persephone: And it’s promo time with Jay Jerry Johnson. Just fucking kill me.
Rich Russillo: Our colleagues over on Dynasty and Showdown had electric shows going on, but Thadd’s right, this is it before the chaos truly ensues. After this, we’ll see you guys at the Grand Rampage event, and until the end of the season, that Pain For Pride sign will hang right above our heads, reminding every competitor what it’s all about. There’s a sense of tension; some people are lost, looking to hit this deadline, to salvage their seasons, while others already have a path in mind, and all they gotta do is make sure they don’t stray from it!
Thadd Blazevich: Jay Jerry Johnson seems to find himself right in the middle of that, he’s making one last push for the big one, and looks to forge a path straight to the top, but there’s also the question that if you don’t succeed, then what’s next?! The clock is ticking, and everybody has to be on their A-game in this upcoming stretch to make every second worth it!
Persephone: Yet 75% of this roster feels entitled to something. I don’t like Jay Jerry Johnson, I’m not even sure why the audience likes him, and I root for his failure, but if all this talking leads to yet another loss on the grand stage, then I think he just shouldn’t make the big show anymore!
Thadd Blazevich: Well, that’s an extreme stipulation to attach to him, but it’s also something the mind of Drake Armstrong could come up with, which is funny.
Persephone: Drake Armstrong wishes he had my brains…
(Having entered the ring, Jay goes to grab a microphone as his theme song fades. He fidgets with the microphone, waiting for the crowd to quiet down, while still enjoying the reaction. Once that happens, he pops his collar, and begins talking.)
Jay Jerry Johnson: Rosemont… let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we?
(Rosemont cheers with anticipation.)
Jay Jerry Johnson: Grand Rampage isn’t exactly the kindest to me. I let some of these memories resurface… and I remember last year, when I lost the Interwire Championship in a three-way matchup. I think of two years ago, when I actually took on the challenge of the Grand Rampage matchup in a very… chaotic… state of mind, and how at the end of that I crumbled and it wasn’t until months later that I even showed my face again. I think as far back as three years ago, and I remember my singles opportunity at the Interwire Championship, how I fell short despite truly fighting for my first title like there was no tomorrow. Grand Rampage means a lot to me, and on the surface level, Grand Rampage is also my mark of failure… which is a tough pill to swallow, but I think deeper than that, and I can also point to Grand Rampage events and think of how they were pivotal moments in shaping the legend of Jay Jerry Johnson.
(Jay rubs his chin, with a hint of a smile on his face.)
Jay Jerry Johnson: Most see Grand Rampage as the do-or-die event, the place where your road to Pain For Pride is established, and when you “die”, you find yourself lost on the road to Pain For Pride, done for, but that usually hasn’t defined me. Last year, indeed, I lost the Interwire Championship, and I wasn’t the happiest about that, but I knew I had to move on, to let my lodestar guide me, and to open up a new chapter in my career. In quick succession, I embraced the next step, and I decided it’s time my name makes headlines. So, despite Grand Rampage closing a door, it opened a new one, and I ended last Pain For Pride with a decisive victory over the Hall of Famer Brian Daniels, and from one master of the mat to another, the torch had officially been passed — by will, or by force, but this part of the story is for Brian to tell.
(The fans clap at the mention of Brian Daniels and at Jay’s own feat as well. Jay nods as a “thank you”.)
Jay Jerry Johnson: Two years ago, when the Grand Rampage match broke me, I made my return many months later and in the span of a single month I got my hands on the Interwire Championship for the second time in my career, wasting no more time after all of the time I lost inside of my own head. I don’t like to go in-depth with these topics, and frankly, it’s quite difficult shaping what I was going through, what I was thinking into actual words, but most of you face struggles, and most of you know how heavy these burdens are to carry. Making it to a finish line, in the end, is a testament to our strength, no matter how long it takes. Remember that. Three years ago, before I had even achieved *anything* in this industry, I felt the need to prove myself to the world. I had this insatiable hunger to make myself a name known in the same vein as other greats, but I used to be like a little ant, someone who some would never imagine holding championships. And three years ago, that idea was proven right when I suffered defeat, one-on-one, with an opportunity to win my first championship on the line, yet what feels like a definitive end to most, what seems like a conclusive roadblock, wasn’t that to me. Instead, seeing how close I came, I saw it as the missing piece of the puzzle, and by the end of that season, three years ago, I won my first championship at Pain For Pride. Three years ago, I achieved possibly my most important landmark to this day, and earned the right to call myself a champion, and I put people who thought I wasn’t someone worth taking seriously on notice.
Jay Jerry Johnson: That is to say: my past does not define me. It strengthens me. The higher up I climb on this ladder, the tougher it gets, yet I don’t relent in my journey. In our war of words last week, Armstrong and I discussed patterns, and there’s a pattern to point out with Grand Rampage, which is the fact that despite my success in the long run, I fail at Grand Rampage. A zero percent success rate. Honestly? It feels a little embarrassing to put it this way, and it sounds like a foregone conclusion that with my history, with these odds stacked against me, Drake Armstrong is right to feed into his ego and count me out… yet history isn’t predestined to repeat itself. I have agency over that, I have a choice. There is no dictator high above the sky deciding what I do on this earth, like I am some sort of puppet on strings. I am in control of that. And with how many times I’ve proved both doubters and even *myself* wrong, I reminisce on the history of Grand Rampage to serve as a chip on my shoulder, to tell me that I have so many steps to retrace, so many wrongs to set right, and Grand Rampage, the event as a whole, is one of them, and what better way to right that ship than to win the highest prize of them all, the EAW World Championship?
(The crowd cheers loud at the idea Jay is presenting, while also feeling touched by his words.)
Jay Jerry Johnson: Grand Rampage, I aim to put an end to multiple cycles… and despite our human tendency to keep walking in circles, we have a choice, and we can set ourselves straight… and I’m going to do exactly that when I step in the ring with Drake Armstrong next weekend. You see, Rosemont, I know what I am. I know the threat I present in that ring. I know that if somebody doubts my technical skill, then once I step in the ring with them, their mind is guaranteed to change. There is no challenge I cannot endure, and no obstacles I cannot cross, so how does someone like Drake Armstrong try to impede me on the way to our roads inevitably crossing?
Jay Jerry Johnson: It’s simple. He goes below the belt. He tries to get under my skin. His threats… they are serious, but grossly overexaggerated. I know how his other matchups went. I know the power he has bought himself into. But none of that makes him invincible. Attempting to interfere in my matchups… knowing how much I pride myself on what happens inside of these ropes, yeah, it’s pretty annoying. Many, many lesser-thans have stepped inside the ring with me, and I put them down with ease. I don’t need to name them, but everyone should know their place in the world. When I step in the ring with somebody I know I can completely outclass, I like to showcase that. Last week, that obviously did not happen because of Drake Armstrong, and I suppose, to an extent, that’s fine. It’s not my problem if somebody lets dirty victories get to their heads, but it becomes my problem when this becomes the centerpiece of a rhetoric. I have had more time to gather my thoughts since, to get myself in a more controlled state of mind, but last week? Last week I was pissed, and I had every intention of not just embarrassing Drake Armstrong out of revenge, but to leave him without any air in the lungs so he knows better than to go below the belt with me.
Jay Jerry Johnson: Alas, he carries great instincts himself, which I cannot deny him of. But unfortunately for him, escaping also means our match at Grand Rampage remains on the table, and Grand Rampage will serve as his final resting place because his reign of tyranny FINALLY COMES TO AN END!!
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Jay Jerry Johnson: Drake… I can only warn you so much. If you don’t want to listen? Then I’ll go on and reap the benefits, simple as that. Next weekend, I will become the new EAW World Champion, and if you cannot avoid a repeat of last week? Then I will have no issue repeating these events, I will have no issue making you—
(“Pride and Arrogance” by Takeru Kanazaki blares over Jay’s voice which is met with loud jeers from the crowd. Drake Armstrong arrives on the stage with a microphone in hand and the EAW World Championship sitting comfortably on his shoulder, seemingly not taking Jay’s words very seriously from the expression on his face. He signals to cut the music, and begins addressing the matter at hand, while walking down the ramp.)
Drake Armstrong: Tap?
(Armstrong pauses, leaving time for, perhaps, an answer, one he doesn’t get.)
Drake Armstrong: Is that what you were going to say, Jay? That you would make me tap? That you would force me to VOLUNTARILY give up my wealth, my kingdom? You?! Of all people?! Oh, how amusing. Go on, tell another joke.
Jay Jerry Johnson: You think this is still a joke? Was it a joke last week when your eyes were bulging out of your head, Armstrong?
Drake Armstrong: Do you hear yourself, Jay?! You conclude how our match will go, why? Because of a tactical retreat?
Jay Jerry Johnson: Tactical retreat?!
Drake Armstrong: Well, yes. You talk this eloquently about your pride as a technical wrestler, so I put it to the test, and I simply took advantage of your instincts when you *somehow* managed to get the better of me! Think, you worthless insect, what does it matter if I tap out to you in this setting? There is nothing on the line. There isn’t a referee. There isn’t even a match! But I’ve come to a realization, and it’s that you believe this is all about pride. That you’ve won because you struck a hit on my pride, but you see, I am not the type to die by my pride… I die by my brains, and if my tactical machinations do not lead me to victory, which is rare may I add, then so be it, but pride? Pride is your sin to bear, Jay, not my own, because if your pride wasn’t this ridiculous idea of honor between those ropes, then perhaps your cold desires would have won, and you would have damaged me for the long run last week, but you did not. Because you let go when I tapped, when I “gave up”, and you gave me an easy opening to make my way out. Do you think this is about a shattered ego, Jay? The only ego that will be shattered is YOURS when that bell rings at the end of Grand Rampage, and I will STILL reign over Voltage and Elite Answers Wrestling as a whole.
Jay Jerry Johnson: For how long did you workshop that intricate excuse, Drake?
(Drake shakes his head and climbs onto the apron so he can be even closer to his opponent.)
Drake Armstrong: Don’t flatter yourself, Jay. This isn’t an excuse, but instead a fact. Which makes this funny, because you don’t seem the happiest over the way I sell your abilities inside the ring, correct? You are quite frustrated that I am, as you put it, “underestimating” you? Yet to think you are so hung up on this moment, to think you could not fathom the simple, tactical reason for why I would “tap” amidst a common brawl… it only makes me think YOU are the one underestimating me here, Jay, and what is more intriguing is that I hold all the cards, not you. YOU are the challenger. YOU must make the long climb and then step up to me. I have the high ground, Jay, I hold the vantage point, and when you have your hand grasping onto the edge of glory, do you know what I can do from my position? I could stomp your fingers beneath my boot and make you fall all the way down. Remember that before Grand Rampage hits you like a train.
(Now, Drake enters the ring.)
Jay Jerry Johnson: Drake… there is no point in doing this. My ego isn’t suddenly as massive as yours just because I got the better of you last week and almost made you regret everything… but last week can serve as a reminder for what can happen if I catch you off your game for even a second. Don’t let your hubris be your downfall… and, Armstrong, I believe I am owed some gratitude.
Drake Armstrong: Hm?
Jay Jerry Johnson: You still have that title on you, don’t you? You see, many men would see you leave that championship vulnerable, and play mind games, take it for themselves, but that’s a shortcut, and as I have established, I don’t like shortcuts. You weren’t careful with keeping that title safe, you “tactically” tapped out to save your ass, what are you assembling here, Armstrong? Because to me, it looks a lot like a recipe for disaster walking into Grand Rampage.
Drake Armstrong: I should thank you because you didn’t steal MY title?
Jay Jerry Johnson: No… you missed the point, you should rethink your game plan and focus on protecting your guts more.
Drake Armstrong: Hollow, hollow threats. If anything, you should have taken that title! See what it means to hold that responsibility, realize its weight makes you fall on spaghetti legs, and if despite that you go ahead with your challenge, then you would have to eventually hand the referee this championship, and I defeat you, simple as that. The truth is, Jay, the only way you are getting your hands on a World Championship is if the industry truly finds itself in an apocalyptic state and you are all that’s left, or if you simply steal it and pose as what you are not, which is the far more likely outcome, yet once more, your pride wants you to do things “the right way”, yet it will be this pride that makes it a certainty you don’t even *slither* your way to the glories you seek.
Jay Jerry Johnson: I will always prefer to earn what I achieve in life, instead of being what you are: a con artist.
Drake Armstrong: Well, if that’s the case, then I would rather be a “con artist” than the real deal, seeing as you are perpetually beneath me. All you are doing is disrespecting me and my status at the top, do you understand? You are low-class scum spitting in the face of the king, and if you had learned anything from the mistakes of Adam Lucas and Cody Maverick, you would have known I don’t take disrespect very well, and I do not appreciate peasants like you thinking they belong on a level head with me, when that is far from the case. Very interesting you brought up the story of you defeating Brian Daniels at Pain For Pride earlier, because it does bring me down memory lane. When I coined the term “anthroweaponization” based on you. When I used you for victory, and you benefited by earning a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship without extending any gratitude. When I found myself involved in your scuffles with that poor fraud Brian Daniels, yet knew there were bigger fish to and didn’t care to invest much time nor care into a has-been and a never-will-be. What if I gave you two the time of day then? And your biggest victory to date doesn’t exist anymore, because I was there to take it from you? It seems you have stumbled into so many fortunes as a result of my actions, Jay, yet you still dare disrespect me?
Jay Jerry Johnson: Everything revolves around you, doesn’t it? My great moments are thanks to you. Everything is thanks to you, apparently? That is not something I am willing to entertain, not even for a second. That’s ludicrous. My journey up to this point isn’t serendipity, or Drake Armstrong sparing me some charity, it’s hard work, it’s taking any opportunities, some of which you arrogantly found beneath you. And that’s really the difference here, isn’t it? When I don’t have options, I take what I can, and I find a way to excel, while you have all of these options to choose from, and many, many shortcuts that falsely paint a picture of perfection, while you’ve only ever taken the easy way out. Nobody gave you a reality check up to this point. You probably think it’s impossible you’ll ever get one, but the truth is, you are not shielded from anything, and at Grand Rampage, I will send you back down to earth myself.
Drake Armstrong: You won’t do that. At Grand Rampage, I’ll make your “hardened” technical abilities look like child’s play, and I will send you down where you belong. You are BENEATH ME, Jay. BENEATH ME!! My kingdom will not crumble just for the sake of giving you a moment you failed to achieve for years. Do you wanna know the harsh truth, Jay? If you had that bone in your body, you would’ve done it already, but you are born to be inferior. You seem to be a late bloomer, so as you watch talents come and go, as you watch them walk through the door and achieve the big one before you, you attempt to recompose yourself and patiently wait for your moment, knowing things don’t come to you so quickly, yet the truth is, Jay, you have a clear ceiling. And you’ve already reached it. Props to you, you dragged your pitiful career out of the mud and became a middling act instead, but this is where your resilience stops. Jay, I was *born* to be better than you. I arrived in this industry, and I overtook your efforts without a struggle. Ever since then, you’ve been playing catch-up to me, and you will keep doing so until the day you die, because what you are trying to do is unachievable.
Jay Jerry Johnson: You think glory is a birthright. You’re a privileged, coddled kid who thinks the world owes you something. I reiterate from last week, we will never see eye to eye, not until you reach the bottom and see what it means to take the hard road to the top, but entitlement breeds arrogance. Arrogance becomes hubris. Hubris is what makes those like you crumble. You don’t wanna listen to me, that’s all fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when it all comes to an end next weekend.
(Drake laughs, but Jay lets go of the microphone, staring him in the eyes as Drake continues to brush him off. Armstrong mouths some things to Jay, and the challenger responds to spreading out his arms, daring him to go for a hit…)
(Drake leaves his title on the ground, and…)
Rich Russillo: ARMSTRONG STRIKES!! HERE WE GO!!
Thadd Blazevich: IT SEEMS JAY GOT WHAT HE WANTED, BUT NO MORE FREE BLOWS BECAUSE JAY IS FIGHTING BACK NOW!! THESE TWO ARE TRADING BLOWS BACK AND FORTH!! FINALLY UNLEASHING THAT ANGER THAT WE KNOW IS DEEP INSIDE OF THEM AFTER ALL THIS ANIMOSITY!!
Rich Russillo: THEY’RE DONE WITH THE TALKING!! JAY GETS THE LEGS OF ARMSTRONG, GETTING HIM ON THE GROUND, AND NOW HE’S MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE CHAMPION, STRIKING HIM!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT DRAKE TURNS IT AROUND!! NOW HE’S THE ONE ON TOP AND THE CHAOS SEEMS TO DWINDLE AS ARMSTRONG STRIKES HARDER AND HARDER, WHILE JAY’S BLOWS START TO LOSE ALL POWER!!!
Rich Russillo: ARMSTRONG IS THROWING DOWN FOREARM AT JAY’S FACE UNTIL HE’S KNOCKED OUT COLD, AND I DON’T THINK JAY IS—
(Suddenly, “The Leaving Song Pt. II” by AFI starts blasting, and the crowd ERUPTS!! Drake Armstrong almost jumps, as he quickly becomes overwhelmed. He instantly has to get off Jay, hoping he’d done enough to knock him out, and his gaze quickly meets Hans Grayson’s. Hans stepped out on the stage, and once Drake’s eyes met his, he raises the briefcase, holding a devious smile on his face… while Drake has no choice but to keep himself on alert.)
Thadd Blazevich: DID THE MOMENT FINALLY COME? IS HANS CASHING IN?!
Persephone: Or is this just another underwhelming reminder that he has the briefcase, like we don’t clearly know that already??
Rich Russillo: I’m… not sure… Hans is flaunting the briefcase in Drake’s face—OH LOOK OUT!!
Thadd Blazevich: JAY JERRY JOHNSON IS BACK UP ON HIS FEET AND HE GRABS DRAKE’S WAIST FROM BEHIND—A BIG GERMAN SUPLEX SENDS THE CHAMPION DOWN!! THERE MUST BE A THOUSAND THINGS GOING ON IN DRAKE’S MIND RIGHT NOW!!
Rich Russillo: AND IT WORKS TO JAY’S FAVOR!! HE PICKS ARMSTRONG BACK UP—HEAVEN’S FEEL!! JAY JUST PUT ARMSTRONG DOWN FOR GOOD, AND IN THEIR FINAL MEETING BEFORE GRAND RAMPAGE, JAY IS STANDING TALL!!!!
Persephone: Jesus Christ, did Drake ever get the upper hand on this guy…?
(Hans nods on the stage, while Jay acknowledges his presence. Jay crouches and takes the EAW World Championship in his hands, once more having gotten the better of Armstrong, with just one more step left until that title becomes his. He takes in the moment one final time…)
Rich Russillo: Wow! What a surprisingly action-packed ending to Voltage! Thank you all for joining us! It was my pleasure to be here with you—as always, I’m Rich Russillo, my colleagues, Thadd Blazevich and Persephone Tsitsipas. We will see you next time—
Thadd Blazevich: HOLD ON! LOOK ON THE STAGE!!
(Out of the blue, Hans Grayson would be laid out atop the stage. He clutches onto his head, then looks up to reveal…)
(Cody Maverick.)
Thadd Blazevich: CODY MAVERICK JUST ATTACKED HANS GRAYSON FROM BEHIND!! AND HANS FINDS IT HARD TO BELIEVE! I KNOW THEY’RE ABOUT TO FACE OFF… BUT DAMN!
(Cody takes the briefcase, taking a brief look at it, before smashing Hans’ head with it right as he was about to get up.)
(Then, he quickly picks Hans back up… and kicks him in the gut…)
Rich Russillo: SIN CITY STUNNER!! HANS GRAYSON IS LAID OUT ON TOP OF THE STAGE, AND THE CROWD DOESN’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO FEEL ABOUT THIS!!
(Cody stares down at Hans, and then looks towards the ring, seeing Jay Jerry Johnson, crouched down, with the EAW World Title in his hands. The two stare each other down across the entire stage, and the show comes to a close.)
