High up in the skybox, Stern taps her fingers on her desk, considering the words of the other occupant of the room.
"You certainly make a persuasive case, James..."
The camera pulls back and standing opposite her is none other than 411fed and ECF legend and current liaison between TCW and FWRFed, the Acid Jackrabbit. The crowd erupts at the sight of him.
Cain: It's Jackrabbit! He's appeared in FWRFed again recently, but what does he want here?
Banter: Well he is the liaison between the two feds, right?
"So you'll put him in the Aftershock Title match at Endgame?"
Stern leans back in her chair. "The problem is, as marketable and as talented as Mr. Laughlin is, is putting him in the Aftershock Title match really an...'Endgame Moment'?"
Tex: Laughlin? Laughlin's gonna be at Endgame?!
"The kid's gonna be the next Revolution Champion. I'm telling you, Val - you're already looking at one possible unification match on the card. Why not make it two?"
"Well, that's the problem. Tommy Laughlin isn't the Revolution Champion yet, is he?"
"No," Jackrabbit concedes, "but he will be by Endgame, I promise you."
"You can't promise that, James. But I'll do you a deal: get me the Revolution Champion, whomever that may be, and you've got yourself your match."
Jackrabbit grins. "Deal!"
"But wait...that's not the deal. Not all of it anyway. See, if you want me to do you this favour, you have to do me a favour too."
"Favour?"
"Right. So think hard when I give you this condition." She beckons Jackrabbit closer and the camera fades.
Banter: Aw, I wanted to know what the favour was! I thought they were gonna get it on!
Tex: I suppose we'll find out what Jackrabbit will have to do to secure another interpromotional match at Endgame later tonight. Now it's time for our next match, and I'm sure Jackrabbit will be watching, as it features both his son and the Aftershock Champion!
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Sammy Eubanks: The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall...introducing first...
The lights dim as Rinne begins, the arena going dark... and when the lyrics begin, she comes out in a white spotlight, flashing a peace sign to the crowd.
Sammy: From Kyoto, Japan...IIIIZUUUUUUUMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!
Tex: Izumi was involved in a situation with all of the other participants in this match at Friction. I think it's fair to say that she's something of a unknown element tonight.
Cain: Yes, indeed. Izumi is a newcomer to in-ring competition in TCW, and we've yet to see what she's really capable of.
She slides into the ring and begins to work the crowd, climbing the turnbuckles and waving.
Sammy: And her tag team partner...from London, England...weighing in at 235 lbs...TWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED BROOOOOOOOOOWN!!!!!!
The arena goes black. "Stronger" by Kanye West starts to play and the Twistedtron displays the letters ‘ECF'. Lights flash and the prodigal son, the one and only Leroy ‘Twisted' Brown, saunters out onto the stage.
Tex: We just saw Acid Jackrabbit, Twisted's very own father, backstage with Commissioner Stern. I wonder what this ECF legend is thinking as he heads out to the ring.
Banter: ‘Why the hell is dad here and what the hell does he want?'
Cain: I don't think Leroy is the kind of guy to use a mild expletive like ‘hell'.
Banter: Well I cleaned it up for broadcast.
Twisted climbs into the ring and takes up position next to Izumi. They don't really acknowledge one another, just standing and waiting for their opponents.
Sammy: And their opponents...first...
The arena lights turn black and blue, the Twistedtron shows a limo driving through the streets, it stops in front of the arena and the door opens and out steps DeSean decked out in his trademark wrestling gear. After a 2 seconds of silence the beginning drums of Oasis Supersonic begins to play, DeSean walks through the curtain head down, with his hoodie covering his face.
Sammy: From Greensboro, North Carolina...weighing in at 221 lbs...he is the TCW AFTERSHOCK CHAMPION.... ‘THE TECHNICIAN' DESEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAN BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAACKWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL!!!!!!!
I need to be myself DeSean flips the hood back and outstretches his arms.
Cain: Last week at Friction, DeSean wrestled the match of his life against the World Champion and he came within a hair of beating him.
Tex: It was nearly a huge upset. I believe DeSean Blackwell has finally started to realise his potential here in TCW. He might well be on the verge of becoming a major main event star.
I can't be no one else
I'm feeling supersonic
Give me gin and tonic
You can have it all but how much do you want it? Syncing his steps to the beat, DeSean stops and forms a cross with his fist, he then outstretches his arms, pyro shoots off behind him.
You need to find out
Cos no one's gonna tell you what I'm on about
You need to find a way for what you want to say
But before tomorrow DeSean walks down the ramp arguing with some fans while clapping the hands of others, he hops on the apron and and slowly walks down the side. He stops, leaps on the top rope and backflips in. He pumps his fist and raises his arms getting a mixed reaction but mostly cheers, he yells "I'm back baby" and pumps his chest screaming this is "my show".
Tex: A great reaction for DeSean. He came to the rescue of his old rival and the man with whom he partners tonight at Havoc, which won him a lot of fans.
Twisted watches DeSean carefully as he plays to the crowd. Izumi hangs back, perhaps a little unsure of her role in this complex situation.
Sammy: And his tag team partner...
The drum beats of "Battle of One" start as white lights strobe to the beat. The guitar riff starts, and blue strobes join the white lights. As the singer screams, Matt Strikmore makes his way through the entrance way. Wearing long brown tights with blue details, Matt has stitches across his brow and looks determined. There's very little fanfare, just the occasional slapping of a fans hand without looking away from the ring.
Cain: Matt Strikmore bears the scars of Twisted Brown's backstage attack earlier this week. There's only one thing on his mind here: payback.
Sammy: From Wildwood, New Jersey...weighing in at 220 lbs...he is the TCW TRANSCONTINENTAL CHAMPION...MAAAAAAAAAAAAATT STRIIIIIIIIIIIIKMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOREEEEEEE!!!!!
Sliding under the bottom rope, Matt quickly jumps back up to his feet before lightly jogging in place while shaking out his arms.
Banter: Team Strikwell is back!
Cain: I believe they prefer to be called ‘Technical Perfection'.
Banter: And hillbillies prefer to be called ‘sons of the soil', but it just ain't gonna happen.
Strikmore and DeSean confer quietly in one corner. They slap hands as Strikmore starts things off, squaring up against Izumi.
Banter: Twisted lets ladies go first - what a gentleman.
Tex: I'm more interested in Strikmore and DeSean. Did you see how they slapped hands? I think these two men may have finally reached an understanding.
Strikmore and Izumi lock up. Strikmore goes behind with a hammerlock, but Izumi jumps up and rolls him onto his back with a snapmare. She holds on with a chinlock, but Strikmore pushes his way free, bringing Izumi down to the mat. He rolls her onto his shoulders and tries for a cover but she kicks out straight away. Strikmore bends down to pick her up, but she kicks him in the face and he staggers back against the ropes.
Izumi kips up and then throws herself at Strikmore with a leg lariat. The impact sends him right over the ropes and to the outside.
Cain: Strikmore takes a tumble! Izumi is holding her own against perhaps the best pure athlete on the roster!
Izumi plays to the crowd in the ring as Strikmore picks himself up. However, Twisted Brown has left the apron and stalks his way towards the TC Champion. Strikmore gets up, only for Twisted to fly into him with a forearm smash. DeSean jumps down from his corner to deal with the commotion and Twisted just rolls Strikmore into the ring before backing away.
Tex: Twisted Brown and Matt Strikmore have some unresolved issues going on - Twisted has become obsessed with bringing back the ECF name, and he thinks Strikmore is the man to help him do that, perhaps.
Cain: ‘I believe in Matt Strikmore' has become the mantra we associate with Twisted Brown in interviews recently. He has an unhealthy obsession with the Transcontinental Champion.
Izumi drags Strikmore into the middle of the ring and makes the cover...
One...
Tw...not enough!
Izumi rolls Strikmore up to his feet and hits a dropsault. Strikmore goes back against the ropes and Izumi looks to knock him out again, but he ducks her clothesline. Izumi gets tangled up in the ropes with a squeal, and Strikmore takes advantage, grabbing her from behind and flexing back into a bridged back suplex. He holds on for the pin...
One...
Two...
Kickout!
Cain: Strikmore with that Japanese-style suplex. He is always innovative with his offence.
Tex: A maybe a bit of Izumi's own medicine?
Strikmore rolls back to his corner and tags in DeSean who hops through the ropes and immediately floors Izumi with a clothesline. He backs up, preparing for a big move, but gets a little close to Twisted in his corner who yanks him in and starts choking him with the tag rope.
Banter: Whoops! People need to learn to stay away from Twisted Brown!
Tex: He hasn't been part of this match legally yet, but he's certainly made his presence known thus far.
The referee admonishes Twisted and he shoves DeSean away where he walks right into an arm drag from Izumi. She twists into an arm bar in the centre of the ring and DeSean can only try to claw his way to the ropes.
Cain: The Aftershock Champion might be in trouble!
DeSean can't reach the ropes. Strikmore pounds on the turnbuckle, getting the crowd behind his partner. Slowly, inch by inch, DeSean is able to drag himself (and Izumi) across the canvas towards the bottom rope. He reaches out for it, then Twisted flies out of nowhere with an elbow drop. Izumi releases the hold in surprise and backs away, scuttling away on the mat. Twisted keeps stomping DeSean down.
Tex: The official needs to take control of this match!
Strikmore enters the ring but, typically, the referee forces him back to his corner, allowing Twisted to pick DeSean up and hook his arms.
Cain: Twisted is going for the Double Helix!
But DeSean twists out, flipping Twisted around. Stunned, he whips around to face DeSean and gets a kick to the gut, followed by being lifted up and brought down neck-first into the mat for the Hangman's DDT!
Tex: DeSean with his finishing manoeuvre! We saw him land that on Darkness at Friction!
Twisted rolls out of the ring, clutching his neck as DeSean gathers himself. Suddenly though, Izumi capitalises on his distraction and smashes into him with a Shining Wizard. He goes down and she hooks his leg for the pin...
One...
Two...
Thr...no! He just gets his shoulder up in time!
Cain: She nearly had him there.
Banter: Well the Shining Wizard is a powerful move - why do you think fifty percent of the roster use it as a signature?
Izumi lifts up two fingers, signalling for the Shinfuzen. She approaches DeSean, but he performs an astonishing kip up into a hurracanrana, sending her spinning across the ring. The crowd cheer for DeSean, but now both he and Izumi are down. Strikmore is reaching for the tag while Twisted crouches in his corner, having recently found his way back after the Hangman's DDT. He holds the back of his neck, still clearly in pain.
Tex: The race is on!
Banter: Slowest race ever.
DeSean and Izumi both crawl towards their respective partners. DeSean nearly reaches Strikmore, but Izumi comes to her senses and makes a grab at his leg. She pulls him upright, and he hops comically for a moment before giving into to wrestling physics and hitting the Inevitable Enziguri.
Cain: Izumi's down! DeSean has a clear run to the tag!
He throws himself at Strikmore and makes the hot tag and Izumi stumbles into her own corner and gets a blind tag from the still-groggy Twisted. The two rivals race towards one another, and Strikmore ducks a sloppy punch from Twisted. He hammers him in the back with a forearm and Twisted goes right down.
Tex: Twisted Brown is still reeling from the Hangman's DDT.
Cain: He's certainly paying the price for getting involved when he shouldn't have.
Strikmore grabs Twisted by the head and drags him into the corner. He hops up to the second rope and puts his opponent in a front-facelock. He signals and then hits a swinging DDT, driving Twisted headfirst into the canvas.
Tex: That neck of Twisted Brown's has got to be in agony now...
Strikmore signals as Izumi hits the ring, only to be headed off by DeSean who trips her with a double-leg takedown. Twisted staggers up to his feet and Strikmore jumps up, bring him down with the Ring Slinger! He hooks the leg...
One...
Two...
Three!!!
Cain: Strikmore with the pin! This is all over!
Tex: Twisted Brown falls victim to the Ring Slinger after being taken apart earlier by DeSean's Hangman's DDT. Amazing team work by these two men - a pair of young stars who are rapidly becoming two of the most proficient and skilled members of the roster.
The referee raises Strikmore and DeSean's arms as they celebrate and Strikmore's music plays. However, the jubilation doesn't last because Twisted Brown blindsides DeSean and sends him over the top rope and to the outside. Strikmore turns around to intercepts Twisted, but gets a kick to the gut and is then flattened by the Double Helix.
Tex: Oh my! Twisted Brown just took out Matt Strikmore! These two men are on a collision course!
Banter: Actually, I think they've already collided.
The crowd boos as Twisted stomps Strikmore down. Everyone else in the match is out, so there's no one to come to the Transcontinental Champion's rescue.
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Cain: Oh my God!
Twisted stares down at the stage, his brow furrowing in consternation as Jackrabbit, his own father, walks out from behind the curtain.
Tex: It's the Acid Jackrabbit! Acid Jackrabbit himself has come out to address the TCW fans!
Banter: I missed this guy.
Tex: He is a living legend - the founder of ECF and FWRFed and the legendary Commissioner of 411fed - a true icon of the sport.
The fans are showing their appreciation. There is a spontaneous wave of exaggerated bowing down with the arms in the front rows which quickly spreads through the arena. A thunderous "AC-ID! AC-ID! AC-ID!" chant breaks out.
Jackrabbit smiles but holds his hand up. It takes a while for the cheering to die down, but it's finally quiet enough for him to speak with the microphone he has in one hand.
"Leroy...son..."
Twisted mouths off at his dad, walking towards the ropes and leaning over them.
Cain: There's so much history here. Father and son, tied together by bonds of blood, but ripped apart by the business that brought them both fame and fortune.
"Son, I wanted to tell you something before you hear it from anyone else. I wanted to do the right thing and be man enough to say this to you face to face, alright? I think you can respect that."
Twisted looks confused.
Banter: What's he talking about?
"You see, I just brokered a major deal with Commissioner Stern to book an interpromotional match at Endgame. It's appropriate that two of the participants in that match are out here too as I make this official announcement. You see, at Endgame, DeSean Blackwell will be defending his Aftershock Title against one of his opponents during this match - Izmui!"
Izumi, who has now pulled herself up using the ropes perks up at this news. She smiles broadly at the fans.
Tex: Izumi gets her shot at gold! What a coup for this young woman!
"And the third participant in the match is someone very special. Well...I hope it will be. You see, at Endgame, there are going to be two Champions involved in the match - the Aftershock Champion, and FWRFed's Revolution Champion!"
The fans erupt at the news, but Twisted is still left frowning.
Cain: Man, what a match that will be!
Banter: Who's the Revolution Champion?
Tex: It's Red Barker, but he's defending that title against William Shamrock and Tommy Laughlin at Heatwave.
"Now, Heatwave will occur before Endgame," Jackrabbit continues, as if reading Tex's mind, "which means the second challenger in the match could be any of three people: Red Barker, Will Shamrock or a kid I think has a very bright future named Tommy Laughlin."
Now Twisted is openly sneering. He shakes his head in disgust.
Cain: Hold on, now. Laughlin and Twisted came to blows at the Road to Glory. Tex, I believe you speculated that the two of them may have some history somehow.
Tex: I did indeed.
"But, Leroy, I had to give something up to get that match booked and, right now, FWRFed comes first for me. I have to do right by the promotion I founded. You see, up until tonight, you were pencilled in to get a shot at the Transcontinental Championship at Endgame, however, the condition of getting the Aftershock Title match book was that you would not, in fact, receive that shot."
Banter: Whoa! Jackrabbit sold out his own son?!
Twisted stares at his father open mouthed.
"I'm sorry, son. You'll get another chance. It's just...this time...FWRFed comes first..."
Cain: Jackrabbit wanted to put Laughlin in this match at first though. What the hell's going on here?
Tex: I have no idea.
Jackrabbit shrugs apologetically as his music plays out again and raises his hand before turning his back and walking out. Twisted Brown is left in the ring, still looking aghast.
Up in the skybox, the end of the scene plays out on Stern's screen. She clicks off the TV and turns to the man in her office: Stephen Hawthorne.
"I hope you were watching all that, Stephen."
"Yes I was, ma'am."
"As you can see, I'm left without a challenger for the Transcontinental Championship at Endgame."
Hawthorne nods. "I guess so."
"Which is why I thought I'd take this opportunity to reward you for your long time spent recovering and your loyalty to TCW."
"I see..."
"You could at least pretend to be excited..."
Hawthorne looks uncomfortable. "No offence, Miss Stern, but I don't exactly trust you."
"And that's what I'm trying to change. I want you to like me, Stephen. I want us to be friends."
"You do?"
"Yes I do. A lot of your friends have some strange ideas about me - I'm hoping that if you come to realise what a fair and generous woman I am, you could sway them a little."
"I can't make any guarantees about that kind of thing, ma'am."
"Of course not. But you will take the TC Title shot, yes?"
Hawthorne thinks about it. "Yes, alright."
"Excellent." She makes a note on a piece of paper in front of her. "Booked!"
"Can I go now?"
"Of course."
He leaves the room and Stern smiles slowly to herself.
Tex: Did the Commissioner just buy a mole in the former-NHFC camp?
Cain: It looks like she may have!
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