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[Old Man's Child's "Black Seeds on Virgin Soil" begins to play, as images pass over the footage of the various HWC athletes in a montage of postures and expressions, some seeming good-naturedly happy, some seeming to be little more than hostility looking for a place to unleash itself. Then, an image of Jude Lamont flashes on the screen, followed by the arrogant smile of Marshall Law, before settling on the image of Lauren standing next to the upside-down figure of B.D., before fading to the arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The arena was packed, fans holding up various signs. The camera panned around, focusing on specific signs, then. Signs reading "Marry me, Hans", "Jarred stole my medication" and "I can out-drink Redhorn" were notable and focused on, before the camera switched over to Eddie Daniels and Travis Best at ringside.]
Eddie: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Delirium! We are here at the U.S.Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa!
Travis: Yeah, keep it in your pants, Daniels.
Eddie: I could respond, but I won't. Folks, tonight, we're going to see a match between Redhorn and a newcomer named Aaron Starr, a match pitting Enforcer, Damon "The Demon" Lancaster, and another newcomer named Alexander Extreme, against one another in a Hardcore Triple Threat, and our main event will pit Hans Kuhmann and Jarred Dylan, as a tag team, against further newcomers "Living Despair" Desiree Black and Romeo Damascus. Thoughts, Travis?
Travis: I predict Redhorn, Alex, and Romeo and Desiree will kill everyone else, and the show will actually be halfway worth watching.
Eddie: And do you have money on any of these matches?
Travis: Of course not. I would never!
[Backstage, Alexander Extreme is walking down a hall, essentially shouldering past people, not even bothering to apologize if he drops someone to the ground. Before long, he'd shoulder past someone slightly bigger than the other people backstage. The bigger man barely moved, and that, alone, seemed to piss off Alexander.]
Alexander: Hey, watch out, old man!
'Old Man': You ran into me, kid.
Alexander: You're lucky I'm too important to deal with an old fart like you, or I'd paint the walls with your blood.
[The 'old man' would turn, then, revealing a man who was so hairy and shaggy that he looked like a mountain man.]
Kearne: Kid, better people than you have tried. You got anything sneaky planned to try it, go for it. Otherwise, kick rocks, bub.
[Kearne stared at Alexander for several long moments, before Alexander heaved a huge growl/sigh, and threw his arms up, walking off.]
Alexander: You're not worth my time, old man.
[Kearne watched Alexander walk off, head tilting to the side slightly, as the cameras goes to ringside.]
Lanisha: The following contest is scheduled for one fall... And as per the request of the president, it is now a Stuffed Bunny Match! In order for the pinfall to count, there must be a stuffed rabbit between the wrestlers.
Travis: That opens the door for so many bad jokes...
Eddie: And tasteless comments that have no place on HWC programming.
Travis: You're no fun, you know that?
Eddie: Travis, if you said any of what you're undoubtedly thinking on the air, you could lose your job!
Travis: Are you serious!?
Eddie: VERY. It's even in the contracts we all sign. "No derogatory comments denoting race, gender or sexual orientation are allowed and uttering such commentary is grounds for disciplinary action".
Travis: ...Oh. Well in that case, I won't say them. But I can still think them!
Eddie: Of course you can think them. Nobody said you weren't allowed to think.
Travis: Good.
Redhorn Vs. Aaron Starr
Stuffed Bunny Match
Lanisha: Introducing first... From Napier, New Zealand... Weighing in at 185 pounds... "Amazing" Aaron Starr!
["Man In A Box (Instrumental)" - Alice In Chains hits the arenas speakers as Aaron Starr, the Amazing Starr comes to the ring, holding a stuffed bunny in one hand and looking rather nonplussed. The fans don't quite know what to make of him...]
Travis: He doesn't look very happy to be here, Eddie.
Eddie: Indeed he doesn't... I daresay the stuffed rabbit stipulation is the reason for it.
Travis: Probably.
Lanisha: And his opponent... From Mount Vernon, Tennessee... Weighing in at 255 pounds... REDHORN!!!
[What Do Ya Think About That, starts to play and Redhorn slowly strolls out onto the stage. He stands there grinning slyly looking over the crowd. As the music picks up Redhorn begins to wave the Confederate flag he carries with him. He then begins walking down the ramp to the ring. In his free hand is a large stuffed rabbit and he looks to be VERY irritated at having to carry such a sissy girly thing.]
Eddie: Redhorn looking quite perturbed at having to carry a stuffed rabbit...
Travis: Wouldn't you? I mean... Stuffed toys are for kids, not grown adults.
Eddie: You're asking for it... Don't make me bring the Commissioner down here.
[Travis contents himself with a hostile glare as Redhorn drops the flag and stares at Aaron with a gaze best described as bloodthirsty. Aaron steps back nervously as the bell rings and Redhorn advances menacingly. Redhorn is taller than Aaron and outweighs him by a good 70 pounds... One swing of that stuffed rabbit and Aaron drops like a stone. Right there in the middle of the ring. Redhorn drops the rabbit on Aaron's chest, puts his foot on the rabbit and crosses his arms. The ref slides into position for the count, which is surprisingly academic.
1...
2...
3!!!
The bell rings and the fans start booing out of principle.]
Lanisha: Here is your winner... REDHORN!!!
[Redhorn picks up the stuffed rabbit and yanks off its head to expose a thick steel pipe. The fans boo even louder even as Redhorn taps his temple to say "I'm smarter than that" and leaves the ring with the evidence of his trickery in hand.]
Eddie: Well... Um...
Travis: What can you say. Man think's on his feet. I like him.
Eddie: You would.
[After Redhorn’s match, he’d walk backstage, and see a figure, waiting on him, clapping humorlessly.]
Man: Good work, kid. Not bad for a loser.
Redhorn: You still think I’m a loser?! What’s it gonna take to prove to you?
Kearne: Something with a big show’a stuff. How about. . .
[Kearne pointed, the camera following where he was pointing, showing Alexander Extreme preparing for his match.]
Kearne: How about you take him out?
[The camera faded on Redhorn, as Delirium went to commercial.]
--Commercial Break--
[Reunited once again, walking backstage at an HWC event, The Enforcer and Draven were still discussing the Tiger situation when they finally spotted someone who might be able to help. Someone they hadn't seen in four years...]
Draven: Seamus!
[Seamus O'Patrick, Chief of Security, steps out of V.P. Law's office. His mind is heavy from the conversation he just had with Marshall Law. He didn't seem to notice the large men aproaching him.]
Enforcer: No, see, you gotta put some bass in your voice... like this... (clears throat) Yo Seamus!
[Again Seamus seemed not to hear them, so the two picked up their pace and the Enforcer again called to their former stablemate.]
Enforcer: Seamus? You ok?
[Finally torn from his troubled thoughts he turns and sees his old teammates. Seeing them made him smile despite his troubles.]
Seamus: I didna know tha circus was in town. What can I do fer ya lads?
[The Enforcer and Draven look at each other.]
Enforcer: Damn D. You gonna let him talk to you like that?
Draven: Me? He was talking to you. Anyway, we heard you were head of security around these here parts. What's wrong? Ring life get too tough for you, or is Maggie keeping you on a short leash?
Enforcer: What numbnuts here is trying to say is it's good to see you again. I tried to catch up with you at last weeks show, but I figured you had your hands full with making sure the first show ran smoothly.
Seamus: I can still take ya two lilies in tha ring an' tha bar. But I am getting older an' have a son now.
Draven: So, you're what? Just the hired muscle now?
[The Enforcer punches Draven in the arm.]
Enforcer: I know you never had any tact before, but you think in the four years since you've been married, Talia could have taught you some. Jeez... (looking to Seamus) But he does have a valid point, I mean I can see you as head of security, but why you? I figure B.D would get one of his psycho brothers to do the job. For that matter how did B.D become president anyway?
Seamus: Ya know honestly, I ask my self tha' very same question every nigh'. As fer why me? He knew I was stable an' needed a job. It's not so bad lads. It beats being 'nother bar bouncer.
Draven (nodding): Point taken.
Enforcer: Listen Seamus, something's been bothering me for the last week. Where the hell is your crazy ass sister? I mean she ate, drank, slept and shit HWC, and for her not to be back makes me wonder where she is. I figure she's either locked up somewhere, or she finally pissed off the wrong person. I've checked under Tiger, Tigris Soul and Ani Fitzgerald, and gotten nothing.
Draven: Yeah, I figure if she heard the company was open for business again, she'd have been the first one to sign up.
Seamus: (chuckling softly) Ya wouldna. It's Ani DeLioncourt now.
[Both men's mouths fall open.]
Enforcer: DeLioncourt? As in...?
Draven: Holy shit. I mean I knew they were... but... married...?
Enforcer: Okay, but that's only half the story. Why hasn't she come back? Like I said, HWC was her whole life last time around. Trust me, I got the scars and medical bills to prove it.
Seamus: Well I saw her a year or so ago at tha weddin'. (shakes his head) After tha' it seemed she dropped off tha face of tha earth. Oddly enough lads. Somethin' strange is goen on. Ya ask those who knew her and Daemon says nothin, just like Jarred, Jude, and B.D. No one says a word. (glancing around and leaning in) I heard tell tha' tha Creeper was her biological father.
Draven: Alright, now you're starting to freak me out. Jeez, the company closes for four years and everyone goes fucking nuts.
Enforcer: Wait, if Ani's your sister, and the Creeper's supposedly her father... that means he's yours too. Remember the DNA test PitBull had taken?
Seamus: Aye, I remember, by the way where did he get her DNA from?
Enforcer: My fist.
Seamus: Half sister lads. Same mother different fathers. Our mother was in love with my father then.... (shakes his head.) She left him fer some scum bag an' went to the U.S. I know it's alot ta take in. She was surprised ta know she had an older brother. But I always knew bout her.
Enforcer: We know, we were there too, remember? Pit was the one who wanted confirmation, so he had the DNA tests done.
Draven: I was watching the old HWC tapes the other day, saw the episode of Slaughter where we sprung that on her. She wasn't very happy...
Enforcer: Ya think? She nailed Pit and Scott with a chain and dropicked Seamus on top of me! Still though, I just have this feeling that she's suddenly gonna show up, still toting around that same bloodstained chair from four years ago...
Seamus: I wouldna worry bout it lads. Though there's alot of hush hush when it comes ta her name. But if she was around, I think I'd be tha first ta know. She's still family.
[Draven nods again.]
Enforcer: Well, I got my triple threat match to get to. We'll see ya around Seamus.
Draven: Yeah, and take it easy buddy.
[Then he and the Enforcer turn and head to the ring as Seamus heads on to do his job. The camera returns ringside to Eddie and Travis.]
Eddie: As always the question everyone is asking is where is the fabled Tiger. You know Travis I ask around my self but no one seems to have an answer.
Travis: Oh god how many times do I have to tell you, Who Cares! Why look for trouble when there is none.
Eddie: Why look for trouble when he's sitting next to me. Anywas I can't get over that last match.
Travis: I have to agree. That last match was. . . . weird. . . .
Eddie: You’re telling me. What the hell is a “Stuffed Bunny” match? Well, folks, our next match is going to pit Enforcer, who we saw last week break the leg of Chimaira, against Damon “The Demon” Lancaster, who made his reputation by breaking bones and hurting people, and a newcomer to the HWC, Alexander Extreme.
Travis: Enforcer’s a punk. I hope this Alexander Extreme guy comes out and kills both of them. Two less idiots in this business.
Eddie: Harsh words, there, Travis. What if Enforcer walks out of this match with a victory? You could end up facing down one hell of a pissed off black man.
Enforcer vs Alexander Extreme vs Damon Lancaster
3-Way Hardcore Match
Lanisha: The following match is set for one fall. Introducing first, from New York, New York, weighing in at 300 lbs, Enforcer!!!
["Angry Again" blasts over the PA and the Enforcer steps out on to the stage, pausing at the top of the ramp for a moment looking over the crowd, his face an unreadable mask as the fans erupted in cheers. He nods at them and then heads to the ring, stepping over the top rope and getting ready to mix it up. After a moment, Enforcer darted out of the ring to grab a chair.]
Eddie: Enforcer is, by far, the strongest man in this match. If he can get that strength to work for him here, he may have this match won.
Travis: And if he can’t, he’ll be destroyed by Alex.
Eddie: You hope.
Lanisha: And his opponent, from Death Valley, Nevada, weighing in at 225 lbs, Alexander Extreme!
["People equal shit" by slipknot hits the PA system as the nazi flag can be seen lowering down to the ring from the rafters. Alexander stands on the top of the ramp, barbed-wire baseball bat in hand, and salutes the flag and, before he can make the charge to the ring, Redhorn appears behind him, cracks him in the head with the steel pipe. As Alexander begins stumbling, Redhorn continues to pursue him, continuing to lay into Alexander with the pipe, Alexander managing to stop short when he reached the end of the stage, and turning to face Redhorn. Redhorn, rather quickly, then, caught Alexander with the Rise of the South off of the stage, through the sound equipment.]
Eddie: I think that’s the doing of that Kearne fellow backstage.
Travis: Dammit, Redhorn! I had money on this match!
Eddie: You don’t learn, do you?
[The paramedics began to get Alexander onto a gurney as Redhorn stood at the top of the stage, surveying the damage he’d done, before cracking a smile, and walking backstage.]
Eddie: I have no idea what ulterior motive Kearne might have had. . . but it looks like Redhorn has, at least for the time being, become his instrument of destruction.
Travis: What the hell?! I mean, now who am I supposed to cheer for?!
Eddie: I thought you liked Damon?
Travis: Yeah, but that deaf idiot won’t ever hear me sucking up to him, so what’s the point?
Lanisha: Uh. . . Enforcer’s opponent, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 265 lbs, Damon “The Demon” Lancaster!!
[The alarm that marks the beginning of "Indestructible" plays, followed by the guitar lead, and the curtain parts, revealing Damon "The Demon" Lancaster, a towel around his neck. Damon pauses at the top of the ramp, and throws up three fingers, as an image of a demon's face roaring appears in flames behind him. Damon walks to the ring slowly, ascending the stairs, and stopping on the apron facing the entranceway, throwing up the same three fingers, before rolling backward, over the top rope, into the ring, and tossing the towel out of the ring, turning to look across the ring. Enforcer, however, caught Damon unaware, with a chairshot to the skull, sending Damon into the turnbuckle. Damon turned, in the turnbuckle, and, as Enforcer swung the chair again, Damon kicked Enforcer in the right knee. The kick, combined with Enforcer’s forward motion, sent Enforcer’s right leg swinging back behind him, sending Enforcer pitching forward. Damon ducked low, Enforcer’s skull colliding with the chair. Enforcer stumbled backward, out of the corner, Damon darting around to Enforcer’s side, and catching Enforcer with a sharp round kick to the back of his knee, dropping Enforcer to a knee, immediately turning it into a combo as he caught Enforcer with a kick to the face. Enforcer dropped backward, Damon grabbing Enforcer’s right arm and pulling, turning Enforcer over before locking in a steep Fujiwara armbar. Enforcer, however, was already in the ropes, so the referee called for the break quickly, apparently forgetting the lack of rope breaks in the match. Damon released the hold and stepped back. As Enforcer got to his feet, he’d grab the chair, and turn, throwing the chair into Damon’s face. As Damon stumbled backward, the chair falling to the side, Enforcer launched out of the corner with a clothesline, very nearly turning Damon inside out.]
Eddie: If he takes very many more hits like that, Damon’s done for. It doesn’t matter how tough he is.
Travis: What do you mean, it’s too late?!
Eddie: Get off the phone with your bookie!
[Enforcer hauled Damon to his feet, and sent Damon into the ropes. As Damon came back, Enforcer caught him with a spinebuster. Damon writhed in pain, as Enforcer moved to, again, pull Damon to his feet. Kicking Damon in the stomach, Enforcer grabbed the chair, moved around behind him, and cracked him in the back with the chair. Damon stumbled forward, then, turning to face Enforcer, who reacted quickly by kicking Damon in the stomach, and DDT-ing him into the chair. Enforcer shoots the half, and hooks a leg. 1 . . . 2 . . . kickout! Enforcer glanced up at the ref, who confirms the 2, then pulls Damon to his feet again, throwing Damon into the ropes again, and, as Damon returns, going for another clothesline. Damon, however, ducked the clothesline, catching Enforcer’s arm, and dragging Enforcer to the ground, locking in another fujiwara armbar, pulling on Enforcer’s right arm hard. Enforcer starts trying to fight back, first, by pressing his left hand to the mat and trying to lift his body off of the mat, only to have Damon pull on Enforcer’s arm sharply. After a few attempts like that, Enforcer would begin dragging both of them to the ropes. Slipping under the bottom rope, the move would be released, relatively quickly, as the move lost all of it’s pressure. Damon stepped back, hooking his foot under the leg of the chair. As Enforcer got to his foot, Damon snapped his foot up, sending the chair into Enforcer’s face. Enforcer stumbled backward, then, caught off-guard, Damon rushing him and jumping, spinning to his left, and moving to kick Enforcer again. Enforcer, however, ducked under the kick, Damon colliding, crotch-first, with the turnbuckle, before tumbling over the top rope. Enforcer walked outside the ring, and grabbed a table from under the ring, and moved to set it up.]
Eddie: This could be very, very bad for Damon, if Enforcer does what I think he’s about to, this could spell doom for Damon. . .
Travis: No. Doom is spelled D-O-O-M, moron.
Eddie: You’re in a mood today. . .
Travis: Well, of course. I’m about to lose five grand!
Eddie: Don’t you ever learn?
Travis: Don’t you ever shut up?
[As Damon got to his feet, Enforcer signaled for a chokeslam, and then reached out, wrapping his hand around Damon’s throat. Damon brought his forearm down, into the crook of Enforcer’s arm, then his other forearm up, under Enforcer’s forearm, before firing off a quick elbow, sending Enforcer spinning. Damon stepped back, then, jumping onto the apron and launching backward, and catching Enforcer with a back roundhouse to the back of Enforcer’s head, sending Enforcer facedown to the ground. Damon slid into the ring, doubling over and trying to clear the cobwebs. Due to that, it bought Enforcer enough time to recover. Enforcer climbed onto the apron, then, and, before he could get into the ring, Damon caught him with a quick jab to the jaw, before stepping back, and nailing Enforcer with the Demon’s Fang, Enforcer toppling backward, through the table. Damon paused, again, to entirely clear his vision, and then hit the far ropes, coming back and jumping onto the top rope, jumping off of the top rope in a shooting star press. Enforcer managed, somehow, to bring his knees up, Damon rolling away, clutching his stomach. Enforcer pulled Damon to his feet, then, and hooked Damon up for the Enforcing the Law. When Enforcer got Damon up, however, Damon managed to squirm out, landing on the apron again, and struggling to regain his footing. Enforcer responded simply, by grabbing Damon’s ankle and pulling. As Damon fell, his head collided with the edge of the apron, Damon turning, then, to face Enforcer. Enforcer grabbed Damon, and hoisted him overhead, pressing him in the air, before throwing him over the top rope, into the ring. Following him into the ring, Enforcer pulled Damon to his feet, and dragged him into the center of the ring, before setting him up, again, for the Enforcing The Law, only to have Damon counter out of that into the Final Destination. Before Enforcer could realize the move was coming, it was locked in. Enforcer, then, relying entirely on his physical strength, slowly managed to get to his feet, charging into the turnbuckle, and driving Damon into the turnbuckle spine-first. Unfortunately, Damon had the move locked in too tightly, and a quick jerk, and pull, and Enforcer was jerked around, Damon once again resting, back-first, on the ground. Enforcer continued to fight, but, after an almost impossible amount of time, the referee called for the bell as Enforcer had simply passed out.]
Eddie: Damn. . . . that Final Destination is one hell of a move. . . Once he had that move locked in, Enforcer really, it seemed, had no chance in hell of walking out the ring with a victory.
Travis: He just got lucky.
Eddie: Lucky? That’s not luck, Travis. . . I have to wonder if this match would have ended differently if Alexander Extreme had been here.
Travis: You know it would have been. Alex would have killed both of them and took a vacation.
--Commercial Break—
[The camera fades in on Kearne standing backstage, a bottle of beer in either hand. Redhorn stood near him, a bottle of beer in his hand as well.]
Kearne: Good work, kid. Nice job on the beating. Let’s go get you hammered.
Redhorn: Dammit, homo, I told you, I don’t swing that way.
Kearne: Alright, I’m getting’ about tired of this constant ‘homo’ shit. Get some new material, or start lookin into dentists.
Redhorn: Huh?
Kearne: Next time I’m gonna knock your teeth out. Get me?
Redhorn: I ain’t scared’a you, old man.
[Kearne lifted a chain-covered fist menacingly, and Redhorn stepped back.]
Kearne: That’s what I thought. Listen, kid, if you were a biker, that’d be enough for me to be able to chain you to the back of my bike and drive yer carcass all over this god dam state. Now, let’s get the hell outta this place before some office type tries to show up and make us, like, apologize to that idiot you hospitalized.
[And both men walked off-camera, and out of the arena.]
Eddie: We may not agree with their methods or intent, but it’s unquestionable that they’re effective.
Travis: I just figured out who that guy is.
Eddie: Who? Kearne?
Travis: Yeah. I saw him in a few promotions back in the day. Lost a lot of money betting against him until I started betting on him.
Eddie: So, wait. Kearne has huge amounts of experience. . . which means that, for all the experience that Redhorn lacks, if Kearne’s helping him, Redhorn is going to become a brutally effective engine of destruction. . . it’ll be interesting to see what happens.
Jarred Dylan & Hans Kuhmann vs Romeo Damascus & Desiree Black
Tag Team Match
Lanisha: The following match is set for one fall. Introducing first, from New Orleans, Louisiana, weighing in at 225 lbs, “The Untouchable” Jarred Dylan!!
["Sleepwalker
Did I give you concrete shoes
And throw you off of a bridge
When I lay down to sleep
Your soul's mine to keep
I feel you near me...
Sleepwalker!"
When Dave Mustaine's signature growl creates the word Sleepwalker, a blast of red pyro shoots up into the sky at the top of the ramp. When it dies down, there's someone standing there. He doesn't look around, instead choosing to walk slowly down the ramp until a spotlight finds him. When that white light engulfs him, his identity is exposed. It's Jarred Dylan! The fans rise up and start cheering, clapping and chanting his name. He looks around a bit, then grins and starts high fiving the fans around the ring. Staring up at the ring, he backs up a bit, then runs up the ring steps and does a Swanton over the ropes to land in the ring.]
Eddie: Now, this week, Jarred is teaming with a man he faced last week, and beat. I have to wonder if Hans will have any issue with the fact that Jarred got a victory over him in the first week.
Travis: Does it matter? Did you see the cans on that Desiree chick? Holy shit. . . It’s like two mountains under a shirt. . .
Eddie: You’re a pig.
Travis: You’re jealous.
Lanisha: And his tag team partner, from Berlin, Germany, weighing in at 220 lbs, Hans Kuhmann!
[The opening riff and drums of "Walk Among Us" pounds out of the PA. As the main body of the songs comes in, Hans bursts out from behind the curtain, pumped up for the match, his fists raised in the air. He walks back and forth across the stage, getting the crowd fired up, then runs easily to the ring and slides in under the bottom rope. He climbs the turnbuckle, raises his fists to the crowd, then does a backflip off the top and removes his leather jacket, ready for the match to begin.]
Eddie: These two seem to have more or less smoothed things over from their conflict from last week. I have to hope that this match is going to be as great as their match from last week.
Travis: Great? What’re you on? It was a snooze-fest!
Eddie: Travis, not everyone bases great matches on how many dirty moves are in a match.
Travis: The smart ones do.
Lanisha: And their opponents, introducing first, from Newport, Arkansas, and Venice, Italy, weighing in at a combined weight of 366 lbs, “Living Despair” Desiree Black and Romeo Damascus!!
[Softly, the sweet sounds of a piano start to play over the speaker system, as the lights fade down to a deep navy blue. The soft, mysterious voice of Seraphim Sock starts to sing "Beyond Forever"
"A dream of me still holding you
Beneath the violet sky
The painting of a world soon lost
For here exists no time
Together through an endless night
Beneath october's moon
This secret held behind my eyes
I long to give to you
Remember heavens scent
Remember my touch
If only you could understand
If only you could hear my call..."
Suddenly, the music picks up, as an eerie fog starts to roll into the arena, and the video screen flickers to life. It shows a woman with absolute beauty, in a film noir type setting. She's holding a rose, looking out the window, about ready to cry. It zooms in on her eye, and then out again, to show blood coming out from her neck. She falls softly to the ground, revealing a man with a wicked grin across his face, almost covered by a bloody dagger. The lights in the arena start to flicker a reddish color, as a spotlight in the shape of a rose appears on the stage. Romeo Damascus walks out from the backstage, Desiree at his side, his dagger in one hand, and a rose in the other. He reaches the end of the stage, as the camera zooms in on his face. He closes his eyes, and drops to his knees, while lowering his head. Suddenly, he lets out a scream, thrusting his arms into the air, as a red liquid falls from the rafters, drenching him.
He smiles, as he stands, a viscious smile upon his face, his eyes burning. Quickly, he walks to the ring, removing his bloodied shirt on his way, revealing a more than chiseled physique. He climbs up on the apron, and whipes his feet, before climbing in. The lights slowly return to normal, as Romeo walks around the ring, before placing his rose, and his dagger in his corner. He then leans on the turnbuckle, awaiting the match to begin. The referee begins to move to call for the bell, but a voice rather quickly stops him.]
Voice: Stop right there!
[All eyes move to the top of the ramp, where Marshall Law steps onto the rampway, a bandage on his forehead from last week, Seamus a half-step behind him, flanked by a security guard on either side. The crowd begins booing Marshall on sight.]
Marshall: That is a wrestling ring, is it not? Last I checked, wrestling was a man’s sport. Which means that you, Ms. Black, are out of place. Seamus, remove her.
[Seamus frowned, and then motioned to the security guard. Desiree scowled up the ramp, and readied for a fight. Desiree caught the first security guard with a right hook that sent him backward, before the other man grabbed her hands and held her wrists behind her. Romeo slipped outside the ring, then, and went to grab a chair.]
Marshall: Mr. Damascus. I feel the need to warn you right now, if you do so much as attempt to stop this, I will terminate you immediately.
[Romeo looked at Marshall, then scowled, and went to grab a chair, even as Desiree was bodily dragged up the ramp. After she disappeared backstage, Romeo drilled the other security guard between the eyes, and then dared Marshall to come into the ring.]
Lauren: Hold it!
[Lauren stepped onto the stage, glaring holes into Marshall.]
Lauren: I don’t recall ever giving permission for a removal of a valid competitor. And I know that the president sure as hell didn’t. Would you mind explaining yourself, Marshall?
Marshall: Shouldn’t you be in the back, doing notation, or making coffee?
[Lauren continued to glare at Marshall.]
Lauren: I don’t have the power to fire you, Marshall, or you’d better believe you’d be begging on the street. But I DO have the power to undo the garbage you’re doing here, tonight. Seamus.
[The big Irish fighter looked up at the wife of the President.]
Lauren: Give the order. I want Desiree in this match. Now.
Marshall: Don’t even think about it, Seamus. She doesn’t have the power to punish me, but I have the power to punish you.
[Seamus stepped forward, then, and, glaring down at Marshall, snatched Marshall’s mic.]
Seamus: Release th’ girl.
[Seamus thudded the mic back into Marshall’s chest, then, as Desiree bolted to the ring, pausing on the rampway to stare at Marshall, directly. After a long moment, Desiree moved, kicking Marshall in the groin hard enough to drop him.]
Lauren: Let this be your reminder, Marshall. Seamus doesn’t work for you. He works for my husband, and, as my husband’s representative out here, for me. Ring the bell.
[The referee, thusly ordered, would call for the bell to be rung. Desiree would start off against Jarred. Both combatants would circle each other, before they’d lock up. Desiree got the quick, early advantage, with a European uppercut. Immediately afterward, Desiree caught Jarred looking with a kick to the midsection and immediately flowed into a DDT. Desiree pulled Jarred to his feet, tossing him into her corner, before darting back to the opposite corner, and drilling Hans with a right hand. Hans responded by beginning to move to enter the ring, at which point Romeo wrapped the tag rope around Jarred’s throat, choking him, Desiree charging across the ring and drilling a few kicks into Jarred’s stomach. When the referee finally got Hans out of the ring, Desiree stepped out of the ring, clapping her hands together loudly. By the time the referee turned around, Romeo was in the ring, kicking Jarred in the stomach. Having heard the ‘tag’, the referee simply began to administer the 5 count. Romeo came as close to the 5 as humanly possible before stepping back, making a big show of throwing his arms up. Behind him, Desiree began to fire clubbing shots into the chest and head area of Jarred. Before the referee could turn to catch Desiree, though, Hans attempted to come into the ring to make the save, and the referee went to get Hans out of the ring. Desiree entered the ring, then, and both Desiree and Romeo moved Jarred to the top turnbuckle, before following him up, hitting a double suplex from the top turnbuckle, Desiree rolling out of the ring. Romeo went for a quick pin, as the crowd booed him soundly, Hans quickly into the ring to make the save. Hans continued in his mad rush, sailing over the top rope to take Desiree off of the apron, the referee darting out of the ring to try to separate Desiree and Hans, giving Romeo enough time to grab a chair from outside the ring, bring it into the ring, and set Jarred up for a DDT. Jarred quickly countered into a desperation spinebuster onto the chair, then dropping to the mat. Jarred began crawling, slowly, toward his corner, getting to his corner just before Romeo got to his feet, and reaching for a tag to a partner that was not in the corner. Jarred looked around, trying to find out where his partner was, as Romeo got up, kicking the chair out of the ring, and smiling rather evilly at Jarred.]
Eddie: Come on, these two are just toying with Jarred and Hans now. . .
Travis: HAH! I love it! This is the greatest match ever!
Eddie: They’re cheating like madmen, Travis! How is this great?!
Travis: Hey, is it cheating to know how to use your partner? Hell no. That’s just good teamwork.
[Romeo took his time pulling Jarred to his feet, Jarred managing to fire off a punch to Romeo’s stomach. Romeo doubled over, Jarred following the first punch up with a second, to Romeo’s jaw. Romeo stumbled backward, Jarred, again, looking for a tag. Hans, finally, began to move back around the ring, but, by the time he got to his corner again, Romeo had stopped Jarred’s forward momentum with a kick to the head, and had pulled him back into the center of the ring. Romeo quickly went for a pin, only to have 220 lbs of Hans Kuhmann land on the back of his head in a legdrop. Hans quickly darted out of the ring, then, Jarred, again, after a moment’s pause, beginning to drag himself, slowly, toward his corner. Shy of Hans’ outstretched hand, Jarred would be stopped short, Romeo holding Jarred’s foot, and slowly pulling him back, before jumping up, and over Jarred’s body, planting an elbow into the back of Jarred’s head. Romeo quickly got to his feet, looking down at Jarred, and smiling, again, that same sick, evil smile. Romeo then paused, and turned to face Hans, bowing low, with a flourish. Hans lunged over the top rope for Romeo, Romeo stepping back, and moving to haul Jarred to his feet as the referee, again, tried to keep Hans out of the ring. Before he got Jarred to his feet entirely, though, Jarred caught him with a low blow, dropping Romeo, and moving to crawl, again, toward the turnbuckle. This time, when Jarred reached for a tag, Hans was in the corner, and took the tag, coming in like a house of fire, catching Romeo with a clothesline before he was entirely able to stand, and then planting a dropkick to Desiree, knocking her from the corner. Hans came back, then, and planted Romeo with a running DDT, followed by a pin. Desiree was in the ring quickly, then, to break up the pin attempt, and drag Romeo toward her corner. When she exited the ring, then, Romeo was next to her corner, and it was an easy enough process to make the tag, and come into the ring, taking Hans down with an armdrag. As Hans began to get up, Desiree caught him with a low dropkick to the head, sending Hans out of the ring. Jarred, on the apron, was so worn he could barely move, at this point. Desiree moved as if to pursue Hans, Romeo retrieving the chair, again, and, as the referee’s back was turned, drilling Hans between the eyes with a savage chairshot, before throwing Hans back into the ring. Desiree dropped into an extremely nonchalant pin, watching Jarred as she did, her back over Hans. The referee didn’t even get into position before Hans had rolled over, putting Desiree’s shoulders to the mat. 1. . . 2 . . kickout! As Desiree got to her feet, though, she caught Hans, again, with a low dropkick, this time to the face.]
Eddie: Come on! These two are bending the rules as much as possible, and blatantly breaking the rules, and, what’s worse, they seem to have the advantage, here.
Travis: Of course they do. Like I said originally, Eddie. Matches are made off of what you’re willing to do to win. Romeo and Cans are willing to do anything to win.
Eddie: Her name is Desiree, Travis.
Travis: Okay, so what’s the other one’s name?
Eddie: God, you have to be the biggest pervert on the planet.
[Hans quickly recovered, catching Desiree with a drop toehold into the ropes, then moving out onto the apron. As Desiree stood, Hans rolled over the top rope, catching Desiree in a headscissors, then swinging backward, sending Desiree over the top rope, Hans moving to follow her. Romeo came into the ring, charging across the ring, ‘accidentally’ colliding with the referee and sending him sprawling to the mat. Hans quickly darted into the ring, then, to check on the ref. Romeo darted out of the ring, sliding into the ring, then out the opposite side, cracking Jarred in the back of the skull with the chair, as Jarred prepared to launch himself over the top rope at Desiree, sending the already-worn Jarred to the ground, over the top rope. Romeo turned, then, to face Hans, who quickly caught Romeo with a low dropkick, sending Romeo headfirst into the chair he held. Hans quickly picked up the chair, then, and slammed the chair into the back of Romeo’s skull, followed by a second shot. When Desiree slid into the ring, she’d eat a chairshot too, Hans moving to check on the ref again, before returning to Romeo, drilling him in the spine with the chair. Jarred got to a knee, outside the ring, looking into the ring, and seeing Hans in the ring with the chair he’d felt against the back of his skull earlier, would slide into the ring, and grab Hans’ shoulder, indicating the chair angrily. Hans continued to adamantly maintain he’d not been the one to hit Jarred with the chair, which would cause Jarred to shove Hans. Hans shoved back, and Jarred responded with a kick, before Romeo would shove him out of the ring, Desiree quickly setting up the Living Despair, planting Hans in the ring, Romeo rousing the referee finally, Desiree quickly going for a pin. 1 . . . . . 2 . . . . . 3!!! And the crowd boos so loudly that Desiree’s music is next to inaudible.]
Travis: YES! TWENTY-FIVE GRAND, HERE I COME!
Eddie: You bet on this match too?!
Travis: When don’t I bet on a match, Daniels?
Eddie: Still, this was ridiculous. These two ‘athletes’ cheated throughout this match, and, what’s worse, managed to get a victory out of it. But, part of me has to wonder if, if Hans and Jarred had been a bit more familiar as tag partners, if that match might have been different.
Travis: Yeah, right. Even if they’d teamed for a while, you got Romeo and Cans who are at least a bit more familiar than these two jokers would ever be.
Eddie: You can’t know that, Travis.
Travis: Oh? You saying Hans and Jarred are banging each other backstage?
Eddie: On that note, folks, thank you for joining us tonight. Join us next week, as Delirium, again, redefines excellence.
[The transmission dies and as the scene fades. Copyright 2008, Hardcore Wrestling Corp.]