The Bloody Gospel
We open inside of a basement, that's dimly lit by the roaring fire in the boiler. Trust me, we're not about to have some sweater wearing psycho with a gloved hand jump out at you but the man we're talking about is about as close to that as it gets. As the camera pans over the scene, there's a spool of barb wire lying on the ground. Yes, a spool of it. As the camera makes its way toward the sound of something being sharpened, there is a grainy shot of Trevor Cunning standing in the ring looking at the Commissioner as The Reaper hops over the railing with a 'friend' in hand. As we see Aarons slide in undetected, we get audio from The Reaper himself.
(The Reaper) I remember the day I first introduced Lendo to the Trust Fund Kids, almost like it was yesterday. The stars were out, well, there were you two who don't exactly count as 'stars' in the traditional sense…but I digress. The fans were screaming en masse and there was yours truly, slipping in while you two dummies looked the other way with Lendo by my side.
Aarons slides in the ring as Owens turns around, the crowd reacting now as Aarons swings that stick dropping Owens like a bad habit as he rolls out of the ring.
(The Reaper) Against Lendo, Keith really didn't make much of a…difference now did he? I mean, he had to have known that Difference Maker or not, nobody stops Lendo. Nobody beats Lendo. Which of course left the formal introduction that had to be made between you and me…
It's here that Cunning turns around slowly, the expression on his face changing considerably as he realizes that Owens isn't standing behind him, at least not right now. Yet when he sees what's standing behind him, he wishes it were his best friend. The crowd pops like kernels in a nuclear reactor as The Reaper stands with Lendo in his right hand. Cunning takes a shot to the gut and then one off the back of the head before he stumbles backwards into the ropes where he's tied up and unable to defend himself.
(The Reaper) Ya know, I don't know what it says about a best friend when he allows his best bud to be caned bloody by a madman with a barb wire kendo stick. With friends like him, I'd rather have enemies. But ya know, when Lendo first tasted your blood Trev, he liked it.
Here is where the shots are slowed down considerably, as the barb wire portion of this stick bounces off of Cunning's head again and again.
(The Reaper) The staples in your head may as well had been painted in red, because the barb wire bull I held in my hands were easy targets to pick off one by one. I opened you up and simply put, Lendo smiled with glee as with each shot, blood spilled from that head of yours. Bit by bit, as your plain complexion became bloodshot crimson, Lendo enjoyed every second of the pain you went through. And at the end of the night, with your blood all over Lendo it was quite clear to me what the final outcome of this would be…and to be fairly honest with you, it was that obvious to you too.
It's here that the screen is split in two, with a shot of a bloodied Cunning being carried out by Melissa Hayes and Keith Owens on the left side of the screen. On the right side, The Reaper standing on the second turnbuckle with Lendo pointed directly at the bloodied champion. There is a smile on the face of The Reaper as the fans cheer him and this is where the screen goes black. The only sound that is audible at this point is that of barb wire being sharpened as we fade back in on the basement that The Reaper is currently sitting in. He's on a stool, slightly slumped over as he wraps barb wire around the top part of his kendo stick. A few feet away from him are a pair of wire cutters and small droplets of blood where you can safely assume Aarons was cut from the barb wire. He doesn't acknowledge the camera at first, but he knows it's there.
(The Reaper) Tick, tock, tick, tock. The time slips off the clock. Your time as the FHC here is coming to an end and predictably, you're too drunk off of your own BS to see it. Not to worry though, it's not a big deal. Most of the people who have fallen victim to Lendo over the years, haven't seen it coming either and well, the rest as they say is academic. A few days ago on Annihilation, I beat you. Pinned your shoulders to the mat for the three second nap and well, your boy had to go and make matters worse for you by knocking me and my cousin out with a kendo stick.
A short pause by Aarons as he fastens the barb wire to the kendo stick.
(The Reaper) Now, normally this would be enough to warrant me coming to Utah with my cousin and ensuring that we beat the two of you out in the parking lot within an inch of your miserable existences, then walking off to leave you two drowning in a pool of your own blood. But good ole Buchanan took care of that for us when he gave Keithy to my cousin and left you, to face me in a Kendo Stick match. You know what that means boy? That means…
Obligatory 'Lendo' shot here.
(The Reaper) Is as legal as a headlock or toe hold. That means if I want to cheese grate this thing off of the top of your head, I can and the referee can't do a thing to stop it. If I decide to spare the world of any more little Cunnings running around like their spineless putz of a father…I can do that and there's nothing the ref can do but cross his legs along with the rest of the male population watching.
Gee, thinking about this guy as Foundation Heavyweight Champion makes you all warm and fuzzy inside doesn't it? The Reaper looks at his handiwork and smiles, as he rests his friend on his right shoulder confidently. He looks at the flame in front of him, thinking of that inside of him which wants to extinguish Cunning's as champion and walk into Death Wish as the Foundation Heavyweight Champion.
(The Reaper) Heading into your popularity contest at Last Rites, you made the analogy in reference to the National Championship scenario with Florida, Ohio State and Michigan. You likened yourself to Florida, Carver to Ohio State and ole Keithy got to be the Maize and Blue. So…would that make me USC? The guy everyone hates to see as champ, but can't deny the fact I get it done when the lights go bright. As for the here and now, let's face facts shall we? I've beaten you, TWICE. At the end of our first match, that ten minute BS fiasco, whose shoulders were on the mat? Yours? Or mine? At the end of our tag match this past week on Annihilation, whose shoulders were on the mat AGAIN? Mine…or yours?
Beat.
(The Reaper) Face facts boy, I told you before I'm not like anything you've ever faced before and you scoffed at it. You laughed it off thinking you were better than me and I was some flash in the pan they threw at you because there was nobody else around. In case you didn't get the newsflash, I've only got one loss on my record since joining the NAFW three years ago. Since coming back, I haven't been pinned yet. Allow me to repeat that last statement in case you aren't clear on it…
He puts the meat of the stick behind him, as his left hand is now wrapped around the meatiest part of the barb wire. The average person can't stand the pain of barb wire, yet Aarons embraces it. To become the Foundation Heavyweight Champion, he's willing to endure a helluva lot more to ensure that happens.
(The Reaper) I HAVE NOT BEEN PINNED YET. You haven't done it in two tries and in that first one, time was on your side. I mean, sure, all you had to do was run around and not get beat the first time out. But what kind of champion is content with running away from a challenger? The common sense thing to do is to knock him out and be done with him. Did Mike Tyson ever run around the ring trying not to get knocked out when he was the champion? Muhammad Ali, George Foreman or even Joe Frazier? Hell no. And you see, if you want a stark contrast between you and me, that match says it all. You ran away from me time and time again. And at the end of the day, when that clock ran out, you rolled out of the ring champion…but only by default. I said it once and I'll say it again, you weren't getting up after the Reaper's Wrath. You WERE. NOT. MOVING. So the mere notion that you're better than me, is laughable. You haven't proved [bleep] to me to back that up and the fact that you're carrying that belt is merely an asterik in gold and leather form. The same way Carver couldn't say he was better than you because he never beat you, is the big steel toed boot I'm using to kick you in the teeth repeatedly because you haven't beaten me.
As he continues talking, his left hand tightens around the barb wire out of anger. Just thinking of the fact that Cunning has been allowed to retain that title infuriates Aarons more and more. As a multi-time World Champion himself, he's never run from a challenge in his entire life. Ergo, he finds the notion of a champion running away from a challenger laughable at best.
(The Reaper) Prior to winning the United States Title from Tharodund, he was in some ways like you. A coward through and through. Someone who used loophole after loophole to keep his belt, someone I told that when it came down to the get down, would not work against me. He laughed, until he was left on the mat beaten and an ex champion. When the record's written about your title reign, it's going to read more like an obituary than an actual historical account. Here lies Trevor Cunning, former Foundation Heavyweight Champion. Won the title after garnering the majority of votes in a popularity contest…lost the title after being beaten by The Reaper in a Kendo Stick match. This match is being billed as you and me for the Foundation Heavyweight Championship. But the deciding factor here, will be your Kendo…
Aarons removes Lendo from its resting position behind him, as he brings the barb wire portion at eye level as he stares at it rather lovingly.
(The Reaper) Versus Lendo and just so you know, Lendo's a lot like me. When it comes down to the get down, Lendo doesn't lose. Lendo's blinded people, he has shortened more careers than STDs and paternity suits put together. The fact is Trevor, this week, the truth as they say will be told. Before we go into Death Wish and that Three Wishes match, you will be broken down to your simplest matter. I will expose you as nothing more than a putz who managed to find someone older than Father Time himself to get that belt off of and then was reduced to a sniveling, running bitch when faced with a real man who wouldn't back down or surrender. I will expose you as nothing more than a real bad cross between Stone Cold and Triple H before he started slamming sledgehammers into people and coming out to Motorhead. I will expose you as nothing more than a piece of blueblood crap that's absolutely NOTHING…without someone to hold your hand and grease some wheels in your favor.
He uses his left hand to wipe the blood over his face, before he takes the stick in his hand and bounces it off of his head repeatedly to really open himself up. As a wound is opened up on his forehead, he smears the blood over the top half of his face in a similar fashion to that of his trademark logo that appears on all of his merchandise. He looks at his bloody hand and grins, before that grin turns into a vicious sneer as he looks at the blood on the top of his Lendo Stick.
(The Reaper) Make no mistake about it holmes, I cannot wait for you and me to lock it up one time for the great time. I cannot wait to reacquaint you with Lendo, to see the first trickles of blood from that head of yours and then to see exactly how much blood I can get out of that thing you call a head of yours before I finally tire of embarrassing you and decide to put you out of your misery once and for all. In our first two matches, the theme so to speak were seconds…the one second I needed to take that title off of you and then the three that got the Crew into Three Wishes. This time, it's about an eternity and three measly seconds. The eternity, is what those minutes are going to seem like for you as I beat you off of any and every possible thing I can find. As for those three seconds…that will be all it takes for you to feel the Wrath of the new Foundation Heavyweight Champion. Oh yeah, thanks to Lendo, there will be blood spilled…so don't go donating anytime soon. The Red Cross is going to be co-sponsoring the thrashing you're coming to in Utah.
There's a wink from The Reaper as he gets up and walks off, as we fade on the shot of the drops of blood on the ground from L's hand.
Your television screen, tuned to TNT, is now pitch black, and a guitar riff begins to be shred in the background. It’s the opening to “Assassin” by Muse which is also known as Annihilation’s official new theme song.
At the same time a countdown appears on screen.
The guitar riff is playing over this countdown.
When the countdown reaches zero, there’s a pause, and then the rest of the hard hitting instruments kick in.
The intro video ends and we flash to the Annihilation logo.
ON
Cue the huge boom of the indoor pyrotechnics display.
BOOM!!
BOOM!!!
Finally, the camera cuts to the ringside announcer’s table, where JB Mann and Tom “The Bear” Kalhoun are standing by.
(JB) Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve just listened to the Gospel according to "The Reaper" Leonard Aarons that was taped earlier today to start off tonight’s huge Annihilation, and our main event is the first match of the night.
(Tom) In a matter of moments, Trevor Cunning will probably retain his Foundation Heavyweight Championship against the same man for a second night in a row!
(JB) I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I haven’t seen a man this motivated to become Foundation Heavyweight Champion in quite a long time.
(Tom) Trevor Cunning is the future of the business Mannwagon, and you’re just going to have to accept it.
(JB) He very well could be, but I’m not putting my money on him tonight. We also have to wonder what is going on with the Trust Fund Kids? Keith Owens ran himself like a train into Trevor Cunning last week and allowed the Destruction Crew to pick up a win to head to the Three Wishes match.
(Tom) But don’t forget Keith Owens came back and laid out both the Reaper and his cousin Lorenzo Richards with vicious kendo stick shots before raising Cunning’s arm in victory.
(JB) The reaction of Cunning to that tells me that wasn’t in the Trust Fund game plan for the night, and word backstage is that the two partners have not spoken to each other since last week, while on the other hand, the Destruction Crew will be working together to keep the playing field against the Trust Fund Kids fair.
(Tom) I know Keith and Trevor are tight, and with a chance to win the Tag Team Championship at Death Wish, those two have to be on the same page!
(JB) Perhaps, but Owens wasn’t around at the start of the show and Richards was posted up back stage to keep an eye out for him. But the only thing left to do now is watch and see how the action turns out.
"The Reaper" Leonard Aarons vs. Trevor Cunning (FH)
Foundation Heavyweight Championship
Kendo Stick Match
(Tom) The champ is here!
As Puff Daddy’s "It’s All About the Benjamins" rock remix blasts through the speakers in the arena, Trevor Cunning steps through the curtain and onto the stage. He has the Foundation Heavyweight Championship hanging low around his waist as he walks down to the ring wearing his collegiate wrestling gear with two Abercrombie and Fitch polo shirts over it, with both collars popped mind you.
(JB) And in his usual form.
(Troy) The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is a kendo stick match for the Foundation Heavyweight Championship. First, making his way down to the ring, he is the Foundation Heavyweight Champion… TREVOR… CUNNING!
In his right hand, Trevor holds his usual bottle of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, and in his left hand, a grip of Kendo sticks. As he makes his way down the ramp, he takes a heavy draw from the bottle and spits it into the crowd while they incessantly jeer him. At the bottom of the ramp, he slides the Kendo sticks under the bottom rope while resting his bottle of Jack in the corner. He walks up the stairs and into the ring, where he pulls off the polo shirts, as well as the championship gold, and holds the belt high up into the air.
(JB) Well, this is it. The main event for the Foundation Heavyweight Championship and other than the pre-recorded comments by The Reaper, he hasn't been seen all night.
(Tom) He's scared out of his mind, that's what's up. He knows what's waiting for him tonight in that ring and he sees a champion that's about to put him out to pasture once and…
A loud roar brings the lights down to a considerable dim before the sound of claws being sharpened cuts them out entirely. The NAFWtron flashes on and off as we hear the sound of a bass drum beating twice before we hear…
A huge pyro explosion brings the lights back on as "Walk On" by Method Man & Redman blaring through the arena. The fans erupt as flames erupt in 10 second intervals as a cloaked man enters through the entranceway with a black stick in his left hand. He looks out at the crowd using his right hand as he drops it by his side, bringing the stick to chest level as he lays it flat. He slowly removes the covering, revealing a crimson colored kendo stick before the top half is covered in barb wire. The fans mark out as The Reaper uses the stick to tear off the cloak he was wearing as he reveals himself in a pair of black and gold fatigues with his Reaper logo on the side and a black muscle shirt on with the same logo only with two bloody Lendo Sticks underneath it.
(Troy) And coming down the aisle, the challenger. From East Orange, New Jersey…he weighs in at two hundred and eighty-seven pounds! He is one half of The Destruction Crew and a former United States Champion…
Aarons doesn't stop in the middle of the aisle like he usually does, he proceeds straight to the ring and hops up onto the apron as he runs the Lendo Stick along the third rope as he ascends the turnbuckle resting on his perch on the outside.
(Troy) He is The Reaper! LEOOOO-NNNAARRRDDD!!! AAAARRR-OOONSSS!!!
Aarons points the Lendo Stick at Cunning and slowly brings it across his throat before striking his signature pose to the delight of the fans. He hops down inside the ring and cracks his neck from side to side as he rests with his back against the corner, his right hand still wrapped around his Lendo Stick before he places it down in the corner and steps out of it striking his pose before dropping it into a crotch chop three times as the crowd yells T-D-C.
The referee shows the Foundation Heavyweight Championship to both men. There’s no need to explain the rules tonight because there basically are none. Both men will just beat the holy hell out of each other with kendo sticks, or barbed wire Lendo sticks.
The bell rings and this match is underway.
(JB) Let’s take a look at how this match started out.
The match starts out with no kendo, or lendo sticks in play. However, both men don’t start this match grappling either. It’s a full brawl with nothing but closed fits, elbows, and forearms. Eventually they do break into grappling and exchange Irish whips and clotheslines. After a few minutes, Cunning nails Aarons with the kitchen sink and the challenge goes down. Cunning picks up a Kendo stick and begins to pound away on the back of Aarons. He snaps one stick and grabs another. He snaps that one and grabs a third. He cracks that one across the back of the neck and rolls Aarons over for a pin… 1… 2… Kickout!
(Tom) "The Reaper" unfortunately managed to gain the upper hand and turn things around with his Lendo stick though.
(JB) I thought this one might be over early, but mid-match he did really turn things around. Let’s take a look.
Reaper beats Cunning back into the corner and begins pounding away on him, eventually draping both of his legs outside of the second rope as if he's about to kick an 'extra point'. He grabs Lendo and begins pounding away on Cunning's head before he backs off and turns his back, then nails a vicious golf swing right in the jewels, landing several shots with the barb wire portion connecting before he walks away striking his signature pose with his eyes rolling back into his head.
(Tom) Those are future Godfathers in there! What the heck?!
(JB) All is fair in a kendo stick match Bear.
(Tom) Hardly!
(JB) Cunning barely recovered from that as he would nearly succumb to several near falls. He managed to buy himself some time by spitting Jack Daniel’s into the face of the Reaper, then nailing him repeatedly in the head with his own Lendo stick, busting him wide open.
(Tom) But the finish is what got me!
A bloodied Aarons reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pair of handcuffs! The crowd pops for what is about to come. He cuffs Trevor's hands behind his back and proceeds to wait for him to get to his feet before blasting him square in the head with the Lendo Stick. He rapidly hammers him eight times before he drops the stick on the ground and gives the cutthroat sign. Just then the crowd pops even louder? Why? Keith Owens has snuck in through the crowd! Now the crowd is booing! He jumps the barrier and slides into the ring. The Reaper has no idea as he is preparing to finish off Cunning! Owens bounces off the ropes and plows into Reaper, planting both of his knees firmly into the back of Aarons. The challenger bites it hard, and Keith is quick to pick up the Reaper and drop him with a Difference Maker onto his own Lendo stick. Reaper grabs his abdomen in pain Owens grabs the handcuffed Cunning, draping him on top of Reaper. From the back emerges Lorenzo Richards who starts storming down the ramp. The referee has no choice but to count… 1… 2… 3! Richards is too late!
(Tom) Cunning did it! Cunning did it!
(JB) You mean Keith Owens did it.
(Tom) Either way, the Reaper isn’t champion!
(JB) And you can be sure there’s going to be hell to pay for that later. Once again, the Trust Fund Kids SCREW Leonard Aarons out of the Foundation Heavyweight Championship.
Post match, Owens bails out of the ring, and heads back up the ramp to the back. Richards pulls Cunning off of his partner. He gets Reaper back onto his feet as the ref holds onto Cunning’s Foundation Heavyweight Championship. The Reaper snarls and rips the title out of the ref’s hands, and Richards pushes the ref out of the ring. Reaper then grabs his Lendo stick and continues to bash the barbed wire contraption on the handcuffed Cunning, who can’t do a damn thing about it. Both men are bloodied. Reaper throws the Lendo stick to the ground and both he and Richards hoist up Cunning. Reaper then nails the Reaper's Wrath, dropping Cunning face first on top of the barbed wire. A swarm of officials from the back come out and get in the ring to separate the Destruction Crew from Cunning.
(JB) Oh my God! Owens might have saved his partner’s championship title, but now Cunning is absolutely destroyed in the middle of the ring! We’ll be right back after the commercial break!
COMMERCIAL
Explanations?
Owens is high tailing it through the backstage area, knowing the Destruction Crew will be looking for him next. He rounds a corner and runs STRAIGHT into interviewer Rick Priestly.
(Rick) Keith, after what just happened out there, you’ve got to explain yourself!
The former Foundation Heavyweight Champion remains silent.
(Rick) You helped Cunning retain his gold, but then you left him handcuffed out there to be destroyed by the Destruction Crew. What is going on?
Keith pushes Priestly up against the concrete wall with one hand and tells him this…
(Keith) Why would you dare question me Ricky? Don’t you know the Difference Maker always has a game plan? I did Trevor a favor and sometimes that’s just the way the shit hits the fan. They call me the Difference Maker for a reason Priestly, and tonight, you just saw it first hand once again.
Keith releases his grasp on Priestly and continues down the hall.
(JB) What the hell kind of an answer was that? What was Keith really doing out there?
(Tom) He was helping his partner out, that’s what!
(JB) Will his partner even be ready for Three Wishes now? Or was Keith really just making sure Cunning held onto the title because HE’S going to be the one to take it off him, not Reaper?
(Tom) That’s a lot of speculation Mannwagon. Keith Owens is more of an upstanding citizen than that!
(JB) Will Owens hang around the arena to participate tonight in the main event? Only time will tell. But up next, we have Mike Castleberry versus Charles Johnson.
X-Treme Example
The camera pans up, revealing Michael Castleberry, alone backstage, sitting on a steel folding chair, smoking a cigarette, already in his ring attire. He brushes the few lose strands of his long hair out of his deep blue eyes, then take a long drag, leaning back as he holds the smoke in, then begins to blow small smoke rings. Finally he turns to the camera
(MC) I bet everyone here is surprised to see me still in one piece after my last two matches. Hell, in a way I'm surprised too. Granted, what happened with the match with Stein is my own fault, but I think I sent the kid a message loud and clear. As far as Heatwave is concerned... you and I will meet again, I guarantee it. No one uses me to send a message. You deliberately intended to injure me, and it's not something I will soon forget.
But, I have more pressing matters that I need to attend to tonight.
He stands, ashing his cigarette, then takes another long drag before snuffing it out in an ashtray on a cardtable he had set up.
(MC) Now, as much as I have an issue with Heatwave and a certain Mr. Stein, tonight I have to go one on one with Charles Johnson, the same man who basically beat the living hell out of Dan Stein on Annihilation. Now, usually I would say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but I really can't afford to be friendly. Not when thetre might be gold on the line. You see, word around the campfire is that the NAFW is looking to bring back the X-Treme championship. So, as of right now, I'm throwing my name into the hat, so to speak. I came back to the NAFW for one reason:gold, and there's no way I'm letting an opportunity like that to slip away. Now, I know there are a lot of guys in the locker room who want it also, but no one is as hungry for it as I am. My career was nearly ended, and all I could think of everyday was getting back into the ring, and becoming a champion again. Months of rehab... pain beyond what anyone should ever have to go through... it was all for just one more shot, and now I can taste it.
He begins to slowly pace back and forth, trying to calm himself after getting a little excited
(MC) But I'm getting ahead of mnyself, because I got a bit of a speed bump in front of me by the name of Charles Johnson. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know a lot about you Johnson, but I do know you're one big son of a bitch, that's for damn sure, and I watched your match with Stein, so, I know this will be far from easy. But, nothing that's worth doing ever is easy I'm afraid. But, tonight, I will make an example out of you. An X-treme example, if you get my drift. I'm not gonna bother with catch phrases or anything tonight. I will be a champion again, and no one, no matter how big is going to stand in my way.
He walks to the door of the dressing room an exits, as the camera fades out
COMMERCIAL
Mike Castleberry vs. Charles Johnson
(JB) Welcome back. We just heard Castleberry’s proclamation to make an X-Treme example out of Charles Johnson, and now its time to see how the cookie crumbles.
(Tom) CASTLEBERRIES!
The lights cut out in the arena, bathing it in darkness, the only lighting is from a few camera flashes. Suddenly, a guitar riff pierces the air over the PA, blue lights flashing at the entryway, revealing Castleberry standing, his arms folded, staring at the ring, a look of fierce determination on his face.
The first verse of Megadeth's "Die Dead Enough" plays, as Castleberry starts his march down to the ring as the chorus picks up.
Castleberry stands in front of the ring, stretching a bit, crackling his knuckles, then his neck, making sure everything is lose.
He hops into the ring, as the lights go back on in the arena, waiting is his corner for the opening bell, the chorus playing again, fading out.
(JB) And here comes CJ…
(Tom) THARODUMB!
"Miseria Cantare" by AFI slowly fades onto the arena’s sound system. The low music continues to play as various pictures, and small clips of Johnson’s career flashes over the Tron. When the first bit of vocals are heard, Charles walks out on the ramp looking down at the ring. Making his way down to the ring he walks up the ring steps, and into the ring. Bouncing around the ring before focusing in on the match ahead. The last big of the song fades as he awaits the bell.
(JB) Castleberry has a lot to prove against the experienced Johnson tonight if he has title hopes.
(Tom) Experienced Johnson… You bet mine is…
Castleberry walks out to the middle of the ring, as does Johnson. Castleberry stares up at his much larger opponent with a determined look on his face. The ref gets between the pair, and sends them to opposite corners of the ring. Once his back is turned, Castleberry lets out a sigh, realizing he has his wok cut out for him.
(JB) Castleberry looks to be outsized tonight, so he’ll have to be clever.
(Tom) Well after eating three finishers in his last match, Castleberry’s neck is going to be sore.
(JB) It seems like he’ll have to rely on his quickness as opposed to brute strength, and try to work on the big mans legs. Let’s see how he fares…
Once the bell rings, Castleberry quickly moves to the middle of the ring, grappling with Johnson, who easily shoves him to the mat and stares down at him. Castleberry smirks a bit, then pops up to his feet, locking up with Johnson again, who once again, shoves him to the mat. Johnson turns around laughing. Castleberry's smirk vanishes as he pops up again, this time delivering a flying forearm to Johnson as he turns, staggering him a bit. He immediately unleashes a flurry of right hands to the side of Johnson’s head, stunning him a bit. Castleberry runs to the ropes, bouncing off, and ducks a clothesline, hitting a spinning heel kick on the rebound, taking Johnson down. Johnson gets up and rushes Castleberry, who take shim down again with a quick arm drag, then hits the ropes again as Johnson rises to his feet. This time Castleberry hits a low drop kick to Johnson’s left knee, dropping him to one knee as Castleberry sprints to him again, hitting a variation of a shining wizard on his opponent, covering him for a two count.
(JB) A near fall for Castleberry! Quite impressive!
(Tom) Yeah yeah yeah… I smell a j.o.b. by him anyway.
About halfway through the match, Johnson hits a neckbreaker, causing Castleberry to writhe in agony. The ref checks to make sure his neck isn't seriously injured and allows the match to continue.
(Tom) That’s it! Take it to his neck!
Castleberry begins to target Johnson’s left leg again throwing a vicious kick to his knee, then stomps it repeatedly on the round. He drags him to the turn buckle, them gets outside the ring, slamming Johnson’s leg into the ringpost several times, then, ala Bret Hart does a figure four leg lock o the ring post, breaking the hold when the ref gets to the end of his count.
(JB) With Castleberry back in control, how will this match end?
At the end of the match, both men are hurt, Johnson favoring his knee, and Castleberry, his neck. Johnson rushes Castleberry, who ducks, causing the big man to floor the ref instead. He turns just as Castleberry delivers a vicious DDT, then rolls outside the ring when he sees the ref is down. He reaches under the ring, coming out with a steel chair, then rolls back inside. He stands crouched as Johnson rises to his feet, then blasts him with the chair, busting his forehead wide open. The crow boos loudly, as he then slides Johnson’s left leg through the chair, and then climbs to the top turn buckle, pausing for a moment then jumping down, "pilmanizing" Johnson, then tosses the chair out of the ring. Without hesitation, he then slaps a figure-four on Johnson as the ref comes to. Johnson screams in agony as Castleberry cranks down as hard as he can, causing Johnson to tap out.
(JB) Now THAT is an extreme example!
(Tom) CASTLEBERRIES!!!!!!
(JB) With a statement like that, and like Castleberry has displayed over the past few shows, it’ll be hard to deny this man a shot at some gold.
Escape
We fade in backstage to the parking lot where Keith Owens has his gym bag and is looking for a car to get a ride out of here. From behind him a voice calls out. Keith turns and is somewhat confused
(McJohnson) Hold it right there Owens.
It’s Ryan McJohnson, head of NAFW security.
(McJohnson) You’re not going anywhere. I’ve got orders from Commissioner Buchanan to bring you back to the arena, by force if necessary. And don’t think you’ll make it out of the parking structure either. I’ve got it locked down completely. You must compete in the main event tonight, or you will forfeit your spot in the Three Wishes match at Death Wish.
(Keith) You’re crazy McJohnson. There’s two mad men in there looking for me. These working conditions are dangerous. I have to leave for my own personal health.
(McJohnson) Don’t even try it Keith. With Cunning still being attended to in the medical bay, you better go find a good hiding spot from the Destruction Crew, because I may have to drag your ass back into that arena, but I’m not protecting you. Believe me, Aarons and Richards ARE looking for you, and the longer you stand here, the more likely it is your face is going to eat the windshield of one of these cars.
(Keith) I didn’t ask for your protection. I’ll go back into the arena, but it’ll be hell to pay for everyone. Mark my words. The Difference Maker always gets what he wants!
And with that, Keith cautiously flees the scene, checking around every corner and behind every door trying to find somewhere to hide.
(JB) Keith Owens is such a two faced coward!
(Tom) He strikes at the most opportune moments.
(JB) And Reaper and Richards are going to be striking him over and over and over once they find him.
(Tom) Speaking of strikes, tonight its Wilson’s in ring debut along side Snake!
(JB) That should be… interesting… to say the least.
Snake and Wilson vs. Crazy Boy and Andy D
If you're feelin' it when I drop this
"Rawkfist" by Thousand Foot Krutch hits the PA system before Snake comes out from the back to the ire of the crowd. He's got Wilson under his right arm. Snake starts to make his way down the ramp and when the first verse comes to an end, Snake sets Wilson on the ground and throws his hands up above his head allowing two large green fireworks to go off behind him. Snake then picks up Wilson and makes his way to the ring, hissing at some random fans before climbing into the ring.
(Tom) Wilson looks like he’s in the best shape of his career!
"Fully Alive" by Flyleaf hits the PA as the lights dim and then flicker out. Strobe lights flicker on as smoke fills the entryway and the ramp. All the sudden, a figure comes out from the back and stands in the smoke, right fist pumped up in the air. The strobe lights make the figure seem like it is blinking as the figure cuts through the smoke. The crowd cheers as it is NAFW's very own psycho, Crazy Boy. The lovable Andy D stands behind him. Crazy Boy and Andy D walk down the ramp, acknowledging the crowd as they slide under the bottom rope. The lights flicker back on as CB pumps his fist in the air.
(JB) Crazy Boy and Snake have been going at it for weeks now, and Snake made the mistake of getting Andy D involved.
(Tom) But after Crazy Boy and Any D qualified for Three Wishes, it was pure brilliance to cash in the Wish that Snake held from last year’s Three Wishes match.
(JB) Well, we’ll see how brilliant that is when Snake and Wilson officially team up for the first time tonight.
Snake appears to talk something over with Wilson as to who gets to start the match out in the ring. The two appear to ‘argue’ until Snake wins out and puts Wilson in the corner. Andy D opts to start this one for his team.
Snake and Andy go at it in a fast paced manner. Andy utilizes a lot of Irish whips to keep Snake moving in the ring. He also backs Snake into any corner but Snake’s own.
(JB) It seems like Andy D is trying to keep Snake away from his corner with Wilson.
(Tom) He just doesn’t want Snake to make the hot tag and see Wilson clean house!
Snake and Crazy Boy now exchange vicious brawls with Snake taking most of the beating. Snake manages to land several stiff shots on his ex-partner and constantly turns to his corner looking for a tag out to Wilson. However, Andy D and Crazy Boy keep rotating in, pummeling Snake.
(JB) I’m starting to think Snake regrets his choice of picking a volleyball to be his partner.
(Tom) Nonsense Mannitoba, Wilson will come through, I know it.
Crazy Boy hits a top rope missile dropkick on Snake and gets a near fall. Snake tries to slither to his corner where Wilson ‘waits’ for the hot tag, but Crazy Boy pulls him back. Crazy Boy hits him with some elbows to the face until Snake rakes his eyes. Snake then tells the ref to watch out for Andy D, despite the fact Andy D is minding his own business. When the ref turns around to see nothing, Snake low blows the blinded Crazy Boy. He then nails him with the Venom Sting and finally heads over to his corner where he… tags out to Wilson! The referee calls the tag legal and Snake carries Wilson into the ring. As Crazy Boy is still lying prone, Snake charges at his opponents’ corner and bumps Andy D off the apron to the floor below. He then slams Wilson on top of the chest of Crazy Boy and leaves him on top. Andy D slides into the ring and charges at Snake, taking them both over the top rope with a big clothesline. The ref turns his attention back to Crazy Boy who is technically pinned by Wilson. The ref slides in for the count…. 1… 2… 3!
(Tom) WILSON DID IT! WILSON DID IT!
(JB) I don’t think I’ve ever seen something quite as strange as this. Wilson the Volleyball has just picked up a win for his team against Crazy Boy and Andy D.
Snake crawls back into the ring and grabs Wilson, holding him up in the air in victory before scurrying out again when Andy D re-enters to check on Crazy Boy.
(JB) Is it possible Wilson could prove to be an advantage for Snake in the Three Wishes match at Death Wish?
(Tom) Maybe they’ll win a Wish, and Wilson can wish for a new heart, or even a brain!
COMMERCIAL
L…M…S?
A clusterfuck of drum and bass Begin to thunder and all of the lights in the arena mysteriously tint to a sickly shade of gray, as Trent Reznor's voice pierces through the boos and jeers from the crowd, reciting the lyrics to his song "The Line Begins to Blur".
A video trailer featuring a mammoth-sized individual sporting a leather trenchcoat rolls on the ol' NAFWTron, as the lights outlining the screen begin flashing blindingly white lights.
(JB) What’s this about? I didn’t know Hush was here.
(Tom) Well, he is, and apparently he feels like coming out here. Who, pray tell, is going to stop him.
(JB) I’m sure not.
Hush walks out from behind the curtain, flanked by one Aliester Essex, carrying Hush’s Atlantic title in his arms. They walk slowly towards the ring, basking in the venom spewed forth by the crowd. Essex stops the duo about halfway down the ramp, as they begin jawing with a group of nearby fans. The crowd begins to cheer, but not because of the argument they all can’t hear, but because of what’s happened behind the two men. Someone hopped the guardrail and went right after Hush form behind. Not just any somebody…
The Big City Hitman is here as well.
Stryker and Hush exchange punches before Essex gets involved by tackling Stryker’s legs, allowing Hush to get some shots in. Stryker kicks himself free and begins fighting back. Within seconds, a host of security guards show up and separate the parties to a chorus of boos. Marching behind them, an exasperated Ray Buchanan comes out looking to lay down the law.
(Buchanan) That’s it!! Every week this has happened that you two are in the same place. It’s done. Next week is Death Wish, and you two can settle it then. Until that point, Stryker, Hush, if you two so much as glare at each other, I’ll suspend you BOTH!!
The warning at least brings momentary pause to the scuffle. Essex gets himself a microphone and begins his tirade.
(Essex) This rogue is a danger to himself and others!!! He attacked us without any provocation at all!! He should be punished!! Take away his title shot!! I DEMAND IT!!
The crowd seethes at the notion, but Buchanan isn’t a fool. He shakes his head no, and begins to speak. However, he never gets the chance as Stryker snatches away the microphone.
(Stryker) Ray, I’ll tell you the issue here. It’s that piece of trash right there. Every time I’ve been in the ring with Hush, Aliester Essex has gotten himself involved. Hell, He parted my hair with a chair shot, and that’s the only reason hush has that belt. Every week, it’s 2 on 1. If you want this settled for good at Death Wish, it’s simple. Aliester Essex…BANNED FROM RINGSIDE!!
The crowd erupts as Essex glares at Stryker. Buchanan gets his microphone back, but again, he’s unable to speak, as Essex fires back.
(Essex) That’s a wonderful notion Michael, but it can’t be done. I’m Hush’s manager, I have every right to be standing by my charge at ringside for his match. You can’t ban me!
Stryker scoffs, but Buchanan lowers his head and nods.
(Buchanan) Mike…he’s right. I can’t ban him from ringside before the match. But I do agree….Aliester Essex has been involved far too much in Hush’s matches. So here’s what we’re going to do. Aliester, you have every right to be there that night, to watch the match, and to instruct and manage Hush. However…you won’t be doing it from the floor. I may not be able to ban you from ringside, but I damn sure can confine you once you get there. So at Death Wish, we’re going to have a small cage waiting for you. Then we’re going to raise that cage and suspend you 20 feet above the ring. You can see everything, but you can’t get your hands dirty no matter what!
The crowd cheers as Essex absolutely loses his mind.
(Essex) DAMN YOU!! EVERY TURN, ALL YOU’VE DONE IS TRY AND HOLD ME BACK!! BUCHANAN!! I SWEAR, YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS!! IT’S ABOUT TIME I HAD A SAY IN THIS MATCH!! SO STRYKER WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT’S ONE ON ONE…WELL, HE’LL HAVE TO BEAT HUSH WITH MORE THAN A PINFALL! STRYKER, IF YOU’RE MAN ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE, YOU CAN MEET MY CHARGE…
LAST MAN STANDING!!!
The building gasps in unison at the idea, and for a second, it makes Stryker flinch. He looks around, before his eyes meet the mask of Hush. As the thought crosses his mind about whether or not he could beat Hush so badly that Hush is unable to stand, Buchanan hands him a microphone, indicating it’s his challenge to accept or reject. Stryker thinks for a second…before that familiar smirk crosses his face.
(Stryker) Ok Essex…you want to be a dealmaker…well…let’s make a deal. You think that there’s no way I can beat Hush in Last Man Standing? If you really have confidence, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll take your challenge, and I’ll break that big goof until he can’t get up. I’ll take your challenge….if you take mine.
This issue isn’t just me and Hush anymore, Aliester…it’s also about me and YOU. So once I’m done beating that pretender and taking back what’s mine…I want a chance to settle all business. If Hush beats me, he walks out the Atlantic champ, and probably puts me in the hospital….but if he doesn’t….then I get FIVE MINUTES in that ring, one on one….with YOU!!!
The crowd explodes as Essex looks like a deep in the headlights. Stryker has called his bluff. Essex stammers for a second before looking at Hush with questions in his eyes. Hush, almost enraged, shoves Essex, telling Essex to have confidence. Essex hesitates, but he knows he’s stuck. If he backs down now, he’s admitting defeat for his monster. So he does the only thing he can.
(Essex) YOU’RE ON!!
Stryker grins as Hush stands tall and Essex begins to fret. Security keeps them separated as the crowd goes ballistic.
(JB) STRYKER VS. HUSH!!! ATLANTIC TITLE!! LAST MAN STANDING!!
(Tom) Plus…the possible demise of Aliester Essex!!
(JB) Death Wish just got a whole lot more interesting!! We’ll be right back!!
COMMERCIAL
Dan Stein vs. Sebastian Hawke
(JB) Well the next match should be interesting. Dan Stein has been rather luke warm since making a surprising appearance in the NAFW. He had a good series of matches with Mike Castleberry but has fallen silent since.
(Tom) I know The Lights won’t stay quiet for long. He’s got a big mouth, and if he wants to add more gold to his impressive resume, he knows he’s got to kick it into gear.
(JB) Sebastian Hawke has also fallen off the map lately as well. He had his problems with his trainer and former NAFW superstar Jeremy Lewis, but we haven’t seen either of them around for a while now. Perhaps Hawke has shaken off his excess baggage and is ready to pick up where he left off all the way back during Ultimate Showdown.
(Tom) I guess the only way to tell is to see how this match turns out.
The lights cut. The arena goes black. The fans buzz in anticipation. The megatron flashes gold quickly, then go blank again. A second passes, and two pyro rockets shoot off from the stage in an 'x' fashion. Then, the megatron flashes gold again, and the words 'The Lights' remain up. 'Apocalypse Please' by Muse begins to play as Dan Stein walks out from the backstage area, then jogs down to the ring.
"I'm The One" begins blasting out the speakers of the NAFW-Tron, as Sebastian Hawke walks out onto the stage, underneath the NAFW-Tron itself. He adjusts his wrist tape before looking out to the crowd. He slowly walks down the ramp to the ring, staring at the ring as he does. He passes by a few fans, who are waving their hands at him trying to get a high-five, but he ignores them, as he walks down to the ring. He comes up to the apron, walking over to the stairs and escalating them. He walks along the apron, facing the crowd as he stares out at them, before turning around to get into the ring.
(JB) Let’s see who picked up a piece of redemption tonight!
Hawke has the clear size advantage in this match up, but Stein has the technical upper hand. The contest begins with an exchange of strikes and Hawke seems to get the best of Stein. Stein then takes out one of the big man’s knees and tries to work him over with some mat based wrestling, but Hawke powers out. Hawke hits a series of power moves on Stein, but can’t put Stein down for the count. Stein battles back and manages to lock in a triangle choke! Hawke almost taps but manages to slam Stein out of the move. Hawke grasps for air and a sense of where he is while Stein slyly mounts the top rope and hits The Lights, a top rope enziguri. Hawke is down for the 1, 2, and 3.
(Tom) Well, that was somewhat impressive.
(JB) Indeed, it looks like Stein got some of his momentum back, but is he going to amount as a serious challenger?
(Tom) I don’t know, but Sebastian Hawke is not going to be pleased about this loss tonight. He’s fallen a long way from the final four of the Ultimate Showdown Tournament, where as Dan Stein is rising to new heights.
The Big Warning
We're in the back with Amie Carmichael who's standing by next to the lovely Charlene Richards and of course her husband, Lorenzo Richards who's wearing a pair of black shades and a throwback Golden State Warriors jersey with the number facing forward. Hey, when you're six feet five and three hundred five pounds of pure muscle mass, you can wear your clothes anyway you want and nobody's none the wiser.
(Amie) In just a few moments, you're going to be…
Lorenzo simply grumbles, smacking that hard piston like right in knuckle form into his left making a rather loud smack as Amie has the microphone guided away from Lorenzo by Charlene.
(Charlene) I don't think a lot of what he has to say right now is what you would call, appropriate for younger viewers. Me thinks you'd be better served talking with me instead Amie.
(Amie) Well, coming up next your husband will be teaming up with the NAFW Originals to face the Old School Empire and "The Difference Maker" Keith Owens in six-man tag team action. What are your, err, Lorenzo's thoughts about the match?
(Charlene) You mean after Keith attacked my husband and his cousin post-match last time on Annihilation? You mean after Keith used a kendo stick to beat my husband into an unconscious state? You mean after Keith cost The Reaper his chance at the Foundation Heavyweight Championship and has spent the whole night hiding somewhere in the arena? His thoughts are simple. Keith, you picked the wrong man to piss off. Tonight, in a matter of moments, you're going to have a BIG problem on your hands courtesy of "Big Daddy" Lorenzo Richards. Bottom line is simple. It's not about wins and losses tonight, Lorenzo's main and only focus is to get his hands on you and show you exactly why when you [bleep] with the Crew, your ass is through.
Just as Charlene starts off, Amie asks one last question.
(Amie) What about your tag team partners tonight and your other opponents, the Old School Empire?
It's here that Lorenzo turns around slowly, his right arm holding his wife back as he motions that he's going to handle this one himself. Nobody has really heard him speak since he has entered the NAFW and his deep, Ving Rhames-ish tone cuts through the temporary silence as he says in no uncertain terms…
(Lorenzo) If they know what's good for them, they'll steer clear of me until Death Wish.
(Amie) Even Spaz and Mike Lane? I mean, they're you're tag team partners.
(Lorenzo) Did I stutter the first time? If they know what's good for them, they'll steer clear of me and let me handle my business with Owens tonight. I'll handle those two Thomas clowns at Death Wish.
(Amie) So you're only locked in on…
(Lorenzo) YES. Tonight Keith, you have my complete and undivided attention. I don't really care either way if I win or lose this match, so long as at the end of the night, you're not moving. Much the way I was the last time we met up. Anybody can attack someone when they don't see it coming. I see you coming now, bitch and I want to see if you've got the balls underneath that mud flap of yours to do it again. As for you two Mike and Spaz, unless you want the same exact thing that Keith is going to get, you'll know your damn roles and keep the [bleep] out of my way.
Lorenzo turns and heads off, as Amie stands rather surprised as we hear the opening chords of "Highway To Hell" by AC/DC out in the arena.
COMMERCIAL
(JB) Welcome back from our last commercial break of the night. As we were cutting to commercial, Lorenzo Richards made his way out to ringside and his team mates, Mike Lane and Spaz, made their way out to the ring too. However, there appears to be no unity as the NAFW Originals stand side by side in the ring and Richards cautiously waits outside of the ring.
The NAFW Originals (Spaz & Mike Lane) and Lorenzo Richards
vs.
The Old School Empire (Dustin & Shane Thomas) and Keith Owens
A siren hits the speakers and the word "EMPIRE" appears on the video screen.
The lights flash red and blue, as the camera pans around the arena. Lil' Wayne's "Fireman" starts playing. As the intro continues, the lights flash red to black to blue and back to black as a spot light is focused on the curtain. The song kicks in and Dustin Thomas blows through the entry way, his hand pointed towards the stage. New School points up, and Shane comes out of the curtain, all oiled up and ready to go.
(Tom) The Old School Empire have been the only full time tag team in the company since it's resurrection, and they want to show the world that they mean business by winning Three Wishes.
Dustin taunts the fans as he walks down the aisle, while Shane takes every opportunity to get in his bodybuilder poses. When he reaches the bottom of the ramp, the Alpha flexes his biceps and points his toe, much to the hatred of the fans. Dustin slides into the ring, and leaps up to the turnbuckle to soak in the jeers. The Alpha hops up the steps, and climbs into the ring. He looks around the arena before stepping between the ropes. Dustin pats him on the back one more time before Shane makes his finale pose in the middle of the ring.
(JB) The road to Three Wishes is almost at an end, and if OSE wants their first taste of Tag Title gold, they need to survive this match first.
Keith Owens’ music hits the speakers, and everybody’s attentions on the ramp. After several seconds no one comes out. There is a pause, and the music restarts again.
Puff Daddy’s rock remix seems moot as Keith Owens is not making his way down to the ring. Then, as if the same idea hit everybody all at once, they look around through the crowd expecting him to weasel his way in through there. But Keith is no where to be found.
(JB) Earlier tonight, Keith tried to leave the arena and a message was relayed to him that if he leaves and if he doesn’t participate in this match, then he forfeits the Trust Fund Kids spot in Three Wishes.
(Tom) It doesn’t seem like Lorenzo is going to have any of this. He’s heading back up the ramp, probably to find Owens, drag him out here, and try to beat his ass!
(JB) Are you supporting Richards?
(Tom) I said try to beat his ass. No one can take the Difference Maker!
(JB) Well it looks like this will be another rematch then for the Old School Empire as they take on the Originals once again.
The match starts out with Mike Lane and Dustin Thomas. Dustin taunts Lane the whole time, which prompts Lane to lay into him with some ‘Taker-esque right hands. Lane backs him into a corner and drives his knees into Dustin’s stomach before throwing him out onto the mat. Lane then runs and looks for a leg drop but Dustin rolls out of the way. He quickly is up to his feet and stomps Lane in the back of the head a couple of times. Dustin gains a slight advantage and then tags out to Shane. The two then double team Lane while the referee tries to get Dustin out. As much as Spaz likes to follow the rules, he’s not going to let his partner get double teamed like that and comes in to dropkick Dustin over the top rope. The Originals then pick Shane up and throw him up in the air for a double flapjack. Spaz then follows the referee’s orders and gets back into his corner.
(JB) It seems like Lane and Spaz have connected pretty well together as a team, despite the somewhat random alliance the two formed some time ago.
The match continues with Lane and Spaz tagging in and out a couple of times to keep things fresh. After several minutes, the match is back to Lane and Shane in the ring, with Shane getting the upper hand after Dustin removed the turnbuckle pad in their corner and Shane drove Lane’s skull into it. Shane picks up Lane and locks in the ALPHALOCK! The crowd marks out and Lane seems to be dazed enough that he might pass out from this devastating hold. Spaz starts clapping in the corner to get the crowd riled up and pretty soon they’re cheering loudly for Lane who begins to come to. He starts over powering Shane and elbows out of the Alpha Lock. Shane Thomas is absolutely shocked, but he should have been more on his toes because Lane nails the Shadow Kick out of no where and Shane eats it. Lane dives to the corner and tags in Spaz, but Dustin quickly jumps into the ring to buy his partner some time to recover. Spaz takes it to Dustin with a series of clotheslines before clotheslining him over the top rope. Shane has managed to come to, but…
(Tom) Look who’s storming down the ramp JB!
(JB) Its Keith Owens running like holy hell!
Owens sprints down to the ring and jumps up into his corner where he manages to catch the dazed Shane in a blind tag. Now Keith is there and he starts to clean house on Spaz. Lane interjects and gets his clock cleaned too. Pretty soon everyone in the match but Owens is down. Owens lifts his arms up in the air and screams about how he’s the best. This excitement turns to fear when the crowd pops at the sight of Lorenzo Richards coming down the ramp with a bandaged up Reaper carrying a Lendo stick.
(JB) The Destruction Crew has finally found who they’re looking for!
(Tom) Keith… RUN!
Unfortunately, Keith doesn’t run and taunts Richards to get into the ring. Keith tries to run circles around the big man, but has no where to run as everyone else is downed outside the ring, and the Reaper is waiting for him like a hawk. Richards throws some massive lefts and rights before nailing Owens with a big boot right between the eyes. Suddenly our attention is drawn back to the top of the ramp, where Crazy Boy has just come barreling down it.
(JB) What the heck?
(Tom) Crazy Boy has just been man handled from the back, but why?
Trevor Cunning, bandaged up as well with the Foundation Heavyweight Championship around his waist and a bottle of Jack Daniels in the other hand seems to be the explanation for this.
(JB) Crazy Boy must have crossed Cunning in the medical bay at the wrong time.
Crazy Boy and Cunning exchange blows down the ramp until out of no where, Snake pops up out of the crowd and nails Crazy Boy in the head with Wilson!
(JB) What in the heck again?
(Tom) Snake is a sneaky creature and has capitalized on the misfortune of his ex-partner!
(JB) Well it doesn’t seem to be lasting because look, here comes Andy D to make the save!
Andy D runs down the ramp and jumps Cunning from behind, pummeling him with punches to the back of the head. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Richards has picked up Owens and launches him across the ring for an Irish whip. As Owens hits the ropes, The Reaper nails him in the back with a well placed Lendo stick shot! Owens crumbles from the impact and walks right into The Big Finish by Richards! Richards covers and the referee makes the count… 1… 2… 3!
(JB) The Destruction Crew exact a small measure of revenge tonight as Owens takes the loss here, but things are only heating up!
Snake, meanwhile, has taken Andy D’s attention off Cunning and Cunning heads toward the ring as he hears the bell ring. OSE and the Originals have gained their composure and have joined in the brawl on the outside.
(JB) The Destruction Crew have Owens surrounded and alone in the ring. Is Cunning going to walk away like Owens did earlier tonight?
Cunning doesn’t walk away. Instead he rummages under the ring and pulls out his answer to the Lendo stick… a ladder! He throws the ladder over the top rope and into the ring and the TDC have to scramble. Cunning rolls in under the bottom rope and picks up the ladder, swinging it like a mad man! Its ladder versus Lendo stick, but before we can see how that plays out, the brawl on the outside is finding its way back into the ring. Owens slowly recovers and as Cunning is swinging at Richards, Owens snags the Lendo stick away from the Reaper and knocks him between the middle ropes to the outside mat!
(Tom) That a kid, Owens!
(JB) The Trust Fund Kids are cleaning house on their own right now!
As fast as the brawl found its way back into the ring, its finding its way out. Owens and Cunning take turns trading weapon shots on everybody. Crazy Boy, Andy D, Snake, the Thomas Brothers, Spaz, and Lane all eat a variety of ladder and barbed wire kendo stick shots, knocking them down and out of the ring. The TDC are back in the ring and its them versus the Trust Fund Kids. Cunning charges at them with the ladder held horizontally and knocks them both down. Reaper slips underneath the bottom rope and Cunning kicks Richards to the outside. Cunning turns around to find Owens with the barbed wire kendo stick wound up like he was up to bat in baseball!
(JB) Was Owens about to clean his own partner’s clock?
(Tom) Nonsense, he was just on the defensive!
Cunning and Owens begin shouting at each other and the crowd buzzes with excitement because one of them is bound to hit the other with a weapon. The two get up in each others face and the exchanging of words continues until they are interrupted by someone else…
(JB) It’s the Commissioner!
Ray Buchanan stands at the top of the ramp holding a microphone, drawing the attention of the Trust Fund Kids in the ring, and all the other Death Wish competitors on the outside of the ring who are once more recovering from the brawl.
(Buchanan) Tonight has been out of control, and it is largely thanks to you Mr. Owens. First you interfere in the Foundation Heavyweight Championship match, then you try to flee the arena while the Destruction Crew tried to hunt you down, then you barely show up for your match, and when you do, Mr. Cunning comes storming down the ramp kicking someone’s ass while he does it? Now I’ve got everyone in my Pay Per View main event brawling out here? And as much as I’d like to see you boys nail each other with those weapons, you’ll want to hear this first.
The Commissioner pauses and looks directly at the Trust Fund Kids.
(Buchanan) It’s time to teach you Trust Fund Kids a lesson. You two have screwed every Foundation Heavyweight Championship match since the last Pay Per View in addition to the endless amounts of ruckus and headaches you cause me. So it ends now. Cunning, if you thought you were going to get away without defending your gold at Death Wish, think again. Thanks to your partner’s actions here tonight, not only will the Tag Team Championships be on the line in the Three Wishes match at Death Wish, but the Foundation Heavyweight Championship will be too! Whoever climbs the ladder and grabs the title belts will not only be one half of the Tag Team Champions of the World, but they will also be the Foundation Heavyweight Champion!
Keith smirks, somewhat happy with what his actions have caused. However, when he looks over at his tag team partner who is staring him dead in the face, the sentiment is not shared. Cunning looks utterly pissed off and enraged and he starts barking at Owens again. Owens starts to fire back, but before things can get too hot, the other competitors have climbed up onto the ring and Cunning has the largest target on his back of them all. The brawl resumes again and it is utter chaos in the ring!
(JB) I can’t believe it! First a Last Man Standing Match made earlier in the night, and now this!
(Tom) Not only will there be the Three Wishes, but the Foundation Heavyweight Championship will be coupled to the Tag Team Championships as well!
(JB) Not only will we crown our new Tag Champs at Death Wish, but we could have a new Foundation Heavyweight Champion as well!
(Tom) We’re out of time for tonight. Be sure to tune in for Death Wish, only on Pay Per View where the Three Wishes match will be our main event!
With the absolute chaos in the ring continuing between the Three Wishes participants, the scene fades out and the credits roll.
