((The screen engulfs in fire burning quickly and leaving behind the burn remains of the blue HWC logo followed by the word "Brutality being spray painted over it. Numb by Linkin Park starts to play as the screen swirls blue and silver before an image takes shape. In black and white Jarred is seen helping out the Finest against the BloodLust Slayerz and later losing to The Tiger. From there it shows Jericho defeating The Tiger to go on to win the World Title. Jericho and Jarred are then seen winning the Tag Team titles together. The images become more resent with a bluish tint as the song picks up beat. Jarred slides into the ring, raising Jericho’s arm before flooring Jericho with a huge clothesline, then following it up with a perfectly executed Mardi Gras Kickoff. Jarred grabbing Jericho’s title, and holding it up, over his head. A close up of Jericho back stage looking deeply hurt is shown. Jarred is later seen walking out to the ring without Jericho for their Tag Team match, he seems to like the boos. In the middle of the match a clip shows back stage that a fork lift is blocking Jericho's door. The song slows again as black and white images of Celtic Hyena and Lucien walking out to the ring for their first tag team match. Celtic is shown countless times saving Lucien from B.D.'s attacks. From there Celtic is shown throwing a punch at Tiger durning their match when Tiger block with the chair breaking his hand. And Lucien not long after attacking Celtic with the same chair. The song speeds up again showing Celtic running out to the ring with a cast on, the images are too in a bluish tint. Celtic floors Lucien with a clothesline before stomping away on him. Later Luicen teamed up with Matt in a tag Title match against Jarred, Celtic comes out and stands on the stage watching, distracting Lucien from the match. Celtic is seen glaring up at the camera druning his video message just before unleasing his harsh words. The chorse goes on as the swirling colors are seen again along with a rapidly counting number going up. Profiles of the all the wrestlers fade in and out of view quickly as the DP belt fades in and out slowly. The image changes into the logos for the HWC and XAW on the left and right side of the screen as The Tiger, Jessie Blankenship, and Palaemon's profiles are showing looking ready to fight the remaining member of the XAW. The Saint, Sandman, Charlie Tyson's profiles seem to glare back at their oppoents. As the song comes to a close a clip of Jarred staring down the hurt Jericho is seen before everything fades out.))

((Suddenly all the lights in the arena go out. A stunned silence falls over the arena.))

Eddie: What the hell is going on?

Traivs: Who turned off the lights?

Eddie: Let go of me you big baby! Um, fans I'm not sure of what's going on here. If we're just exeriencing technical difficulties or what...

((Suddenly the turnbuckle posts explode with pyro that temorailly light up the arena.))

Eddie: WHOA! What was that all about?

((Suddenly the Tron jumps to life. On it is a kid dressed like a 1940's newsboy. People dressed in 1940's clothes are walking past him. Under one arm is a stack of newspapers, in his other hand is a single copy. He's waving it around hawking it just like the newsboys of that era used to do. At first there is no sound as the camera closes in on the boy, and his voice gets louder but still indistinct. Finally when the camera is almost on top of him he turns to face it and yells out "EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!" The headline on the paper reads "BAD NEWS IS BACK!" As the crowd explodes in cheers the stage explodes with another blast of pyro. AC/DC's "Back In Black" plays. Upon reaching the chorus..))

"Cause I'm baaa-aaa-aack
Baaaa-aaaaa-aack
Well I'm baaaa-aaaa-aack
Back in Black
Well I'm back in black!"

((One final blast of pyro from the rafters, Tron, stage and ringposts light up the arena and the lights snap back on to reveal...))

Eddie: BAD NEWS! BAD NEWS IS BACK!

Traivs: Oh my God! It's been nearly three months since we last saw them! Where in the hell have they been?

((Indeed, in the ring are Draven Masters, his younger sister Ravin and Jeff Wylde. The three of them raise their arms to the crowd as the cheers get louder and louder, as the fans realize that the remaining members of Bad News are indeed in the ring and are back. The three of them drink in the cheers of the crowd. Jeff asks for a mic as after nearly two solid minutes the cheers eventually die down.))

Jeff: Did you miss us? WE'RE BACK!

((A huge pop comes from the crowd.))

Jeff: Now I know the question on everyone's mind is Where the hell have we been for the last two and a half months. And obviously we're here to tell you. You see, there are things that happen in your life that just can't be avoided. And that's what happened to us. We had to take a sudden unexpeted trip. The circumstances were...unavoidable.

Draven: Now while we can't say exactly what we did while we were away, I can say that we had to take care of some business, Bad News style. And now we're back here in HWC to continue to take care of business...Bad News style!

((Another huge pop.))

Jeff: And the first order of business is getting back some personal property. Like my Intercontinental title. Tiger, you psychotic bitch, you've got some stolen property...again! You know as well as I do, that for the second time you have my title belt without ever properly beating me for it! So simply put, I'm laying out the challenge to you right here right now! Anytime, anywhere, any kind of match, you and me for the IC title. And since you're not "offically" the IC champ, we make the match to determine the undisputed Intercontinental champion!

Draven: And then there's the matter of my DisasterPiece title which from my understanding is up for grabs in a tournament tonight. Well as everyone knows I busted my ass to become the first ever HWC DisasterPiece champion, and I will bust the ass of anybody who gets in my way of getting that title back. Simply put to that cockslap Austin, I want in tonight's tournament, or I can promise you, I will become a very unpleasant person to be around. Because if I don't get a shot at my title, not only will I make the new champions life unbeareable, but I'll make yours a living hell until I get a title shot.

Ravin: And if anyone knows anything about hell, it's us! Now for those of you that may not know, we're not taking out of our asses here. We're not just throwing words out there to make ourselves sound like bad asses. Because we are bad asses! Ask anyone who's been unfortunate enough to step in the ring with us and get the shit kicked outta them. We've broken bodies from coast to coast and will continue to do so now that we're back full time in the HWC.

Jeff: And we will pick up where we left off leaving a trail of bodies in our wake until we get what we want. And we WILL get what we want, one way or another. The easy way...or the hard way.

((Saliva's "Click Click Boom" blasts out and the members of Bad News leave the ring.))

Eddie: Bad News has come back to the HWC after taking some time off to take care of some personal business and they want their titles back! And they have promised that they will do whatever it takes, including making the lives of everyone here in the HWC a living hell until they get their titles back!

Travis: They can do it too, Eddie! Did you see Draven Masters? He looks even bigger than I remembered him!

Eddie: Well don't forget Jeff Wylde does own his own gym. And if Jeff is back...

Travis: Amy is off the market! Damn it!

Eddie: Actually I was referring to his challenge that he issued to the Tiger.

Travis: I knew that.

Eddie: Suuuuuuuuuuure. ALOHA, everyone! We are LIVE in Honolulu, Hawaii at the Aloha Stadium for the first HWC Pay Per View of the year in Oblivion! I am Eddie Daniels, and with me as always is...

Travis: Travis Best! What a night this is going to be, Eddie! We have action coming at you from every which way!

Eddie: That is so true, Travis. We have a Hardcore Title match pitting The Creeper against Ghost for the title which The Creeper currently holds.

Travis: Also on the docket for tonight is a match made in Hell... A Buried Alive Match. But it doesn't say who the participants are.

Eddie: It's probably for the best, Travis. We also have a Cage Match with Lucien Merriuci in one corner and Celtic Hyena in the other.

Travis: So Lucien gets to tangle with Big Irish, does he? Wonder who's going to come out on top in that one.

Eddie: Your guess is as good as mine, Travis. We also have a Six Person Elimination Match pitting the HWC against the XAW. And our team features a young woman who has wrestling in her blood... Travis, Team HWC has Jessie Blankenship on it.

Travis: Woo-hoo! We can't possibly lose!

Eddie: Agreed. But right now, we have the first match of the evening... Pitting a newcomer who calls himself Shadow against an established veteran in the form of Hans Kuhmann.

Travis: Hans Kuhmann? That dirty German? I thought he got fired!

Eddie: No, Travis, that was his partner Klaus von Hammer.

Travis: Oh. Pity it wasn't Hans. He's really let himself go!

Eddie: I have it on good authority that Hans got a pep talk from the one and only Jericho Dylan.

Travis: Big deal! He's a washed up has-been!

Eddie: Be that as it may... Let's go to ringside for the first match of the evening.

Standard Match
Hans Kuhmann vs Shadow

Jean Fortello: The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first... From Los Angeles, California... Weighing in at 245 pounds... SHADOW!

((The arena goes black. Red fog hits the entrance running down the ring. An explosion hits and "Out ta Get Me" starts. Shadow walks out and does a pose and cause another explosion. Walks down and enters the ring. Gets on one of the top ropes and poses.))

Jean Fortello: And his opponent... From Frankfurt, Germany... Weighing in at 220 pounds... HANS KUHMANN!

((Seek & Destroy plays on the PA, with white strobes flashing in the entrance way. As the main body of the song kicks in, there is a blast of pyro, and Hans steps out. Hans paces back and forth across the stage a couple of times, gesturing for the fans to get on their feet, then power walks to the ring. He vaults over the top rope, climbs the corner, and flashes the "crossed hammers" at the fans, then repeats at the opposite corner. The fans cheer loudly, waving their hands in the air for one of their favorite high flyers. Hans grins at them, then turns around and sees Shadow. The bell rings and Shadow charges, only to be caught with a clothesline.))

Eddie: What a way to start this match!

Travis: Rookies... BAH!

Eddie: You bet on Shadow, didn't you?

Travis: I might have...

Eddie: How many times have I told you... Bet ON a sure thing, not AGAINST it!

Travis: Let's see how things turn out.

((Eddie just sighs and shakes his head, then turns his attention back to the ring. Shadow's on his feet, but not for long! Hans nails him with a standing dropkick that sends him tumbling into the ropes, where he proceeds to fall over them to the outside. Shadow tries to pick himself up, only to be hit with...))

Eddie: ASAI MOONSAULT!

((Travis groans and puts his head in his hands. Hans sticks his tongue out at Travis, then throws Shadow back in the ring. Shadow lies there like a pile of wet spaghetti, unable to do more than groan and roll onto his side. Hans is up on the apron now... He grabs the top rope and executes a flawless Springboard Plancha into the ring and on top of Shadow. The fans erupt, loving every minute of it!))

Eddie: Hans is really taking it to this rookie here tonight, Travis!

Travis: *sobbing into his hands* Don't rub it in!

Eddie: Told ya so.

((Hans goes for a cover, which is pretty much academic at this point. 1... 2... 3! The bell rings and the referee lifts Hans' hand in victory.))

Jean Fortello: Here is your winner... HANS KUHMANN!

Eddie: In typical style, Hans disposed of the newcomer and seems to have plenty left for the Battle Royal later on tonight.

Travis: I almost forgot about that... That's got everyone on the roster, doesn't it?

Eddie: That it does, Travis... That it does. That's our Main Event tonight, folks... A Battle Royal for the DisasterPiece Title, held only by Draven Masters of Bad News V2.0.

Travis: I can't wait!

Eddie: Neither can I, Travis. We have a LOT more action heading your way, so stay right there! We don't take commercial breaks!

Travis: Commercials are for wussies! We just keep on going!

Buried Alive Match
The Lurker vs Peter Blankenship

Eddie: This is one of the most disturbing matches I've ever seen in my entire life... A Buried Alive match!

Travis: Goody... We get to see someone buried alive!

Eddie: Only you, Travis... Let's go to the ring.

Jean Fortello: The following contest is a BURIED ALIVE MATCH! Currently in the ring... THE LURKER!

((The fans boo stridently, even going so far as to throw paper cups at him. One of them bounces off his head and he turns to see who threw it. Staring at him, arm cocked back to throw another cup, is Missy DeLioncourt. Beside her is Peter's wife Nancy. But while Missy looks ready to kill, Nancy is weeping quietly. The Lurker sneers and flips them the bird, then turns back to the ramp.))

Jean Fortello: And his opponent... From Buffalo, New York... Weighing in at 245 pounds... He is the Assistant Commissioner of the HWC... "THE MAULER" PETER BLANKENSHIP!

((The familiar strains of "No Sanctuary" by Queensryche flood the arena, bringing the fans to their feet, erupting in a tumult of cheers. But instead of the man walking out, they see something else... Something they never thought they'd see... Mystic J and Air Raid drag Peter to the ring, seeming to revel in the shocked gasps from this capacity crowd.))

Eddie: My GOD! What happened?!?

Travis: I... I don't know what to say. In all my years, I have NEVER seen anything like this!

((Staggering, badly disoriented, squinting against the bright lights of the arena, the man being dragged to the ring bears absolutely no resemblance to the wrestler they know as "The Mauler". Absolute silence pervades the arena as the jobbers throw him under the bottom rope. Dried blood on his left temple and dark bruises all over his torso make him look like the prisoner he was. The referee is instantly sympathetic toward Peter and glares at the jobbers before pointing to the top of the ramp! The fans immediately erupt in a chorus of cheers.))

Eddie: The referee is ordering Air Raid and Mystic J to the backstage area...

Travis: I... Wow. Peter looks like death warmed over. Can he even compete?

Eddie: We're about to find out...

((The bell rings, hesitantly. Even the timekeeper is in shock. Nobody has ever seen anything like this... Lurker laughs and kicks Peter in the ribs. Another first as Peter curls into a ball to keep any further blows from landing. Lurker puts the boots to Peter without mercy or remorse, laughing every time he hears Peter whimper. To see such a proud man cowering under a one-man assault is more than these fans can take! Pockets of them begin stomping their feet and clapping their hands, chanting Peter's name. The action is picked up all over the arena, until all you can hear is "Pe-ter! Pe-ter! Pe-ter!" as these fans show whose side they're on. The sound reaches his ears and Peter's hands come down. He's just listening, absorbing the support and love from these fans. Some of them have never seen Peter in action, but some of them have. It's the older ones who started this... Lurker goes to kick Peter again and PETER GRABS HIS BOOT! With a mighty shove, Peter sends Lurker reeling back against the ropes!))

Eddie: YES! THERE HE IS!

Travis: How much has he got?

Eddie: I don't know... But he seems to be getting more and more from these fans. Just LISTEN TO THEM!

((The fans are chanting and screaming, begging Peter to get up. Lurker comes at him, fully intending to hit an elbow drop... And THERE'S NOBODY THERE! Lurker drops to the mat, howling and clutching his elbow, absently wondering where Peter went. He doesn't have to look far... For there, in the far corner leaning on the ropes, he is. Peter is leaning on the ropes, gasping for every breath. A wince crosses his face, then passes as something more familiar fills his eyes... Sheer blinding RAGE! Seeing the Lurker climbing to his feet makes a red veil drop over his eyes and he does something only the indy fans ever saw or heard him do... He lets out a wordless shout of rage! The fans scream their support as he stalks the Lurker, hitting him with a right hand. Then another. And another. All open hands, so they're perfectly legal. The referee can only watch in open-mouthed amazement as Peter hits Lurker with his patented Lockdown. The fans are roaring now, solidly behind Peter in this endeavor.))

Eddie: He's not going down without a fight!

Travis: I never thought I'd say this... But GO PETER!

((Eddie laughs as Peter lifts Lurker up by the throat, then hits a vicious uppercut that sends him staggering backward. But Lurker comes flying off the ropes with a boot that has Peter on the mat again. The fans start to boo him even as he shoves Peter out of the ring with his foot. Peter lands hard, completely motionless for the moment. Lurker climbs out and stares down at him in contempt. He pulls his foot back to kick Peter and finds it caught on something. He turns to see what it is and stares in shock. Sliding out from under the ring is the last person he thought he'd see...))

Eddie: IT'S JESSIE!

((The Mauler's little girl is standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at The Lurker with such ferocity that he actually backs up a bit. Jessie's attention is diverted by Peter's groans and she turns to crouch beside him. The camera picks up her commentary with surprising ease.))

Jessie: Come on, Dad, don't give up without a fight.

Peter: *coughing* Wouldn't dream of it! Help me up.

((Jessie chokes back a sob of joy as she helps him stand up. The fans cheer loudly for father and daughter as they converse quietly. Lurker's had enough and hits Peter with a standing dropkick, sending Jessie tumbling into the stairs. The fans gasp in shock, then the camera catches the look on Peter's face.))

Eddie: Uh-oh... Travis, I think the Lurker just crossed the line...

Travis: Crossed what line?

Eddie: He hurt Jessie! Look at her!

((Peter's staring down at his little girl, who's holding her arm against her side even as she struggles to get to her feet. He snaps out of it and helps her up, supporting her with his strong arms. Someone comes pelting down to ringside and helps Jessie backstage with Peter's shout of thanks. Peter turns around and the Lurker steps back. His eyes are a living flame... Literally! He slams Lurker with a clothesline that has him hitting the mat amid a tumult of cheers from the packed arena.))

Eddie: That's the Peter Blankenship we're used to seeing!

Travis: You said it. But I seriously doubt he's going to be able to hold out much longer. I mean, look at him!

((Lurker gets up and sneers before slamming his boot into Peter's ribs, sending the fan favorite to the mats with a groan. The fans instantly start to boo, showing their true colors. They want The Mauler! Lurker laughs sadistically as he shoves his foot into Peter's ribs again and again, causing this great man even more pain. Peter lifts his head and glares at Lurker with eyes that are nearly black with suppressed fury. His hands reach out and grab Lurker around the knee, then heave him over and INTO THE RING APRON! The fans gasp as Peter gets up and starts dragging Lurker to the pre-dug grave near the ramp. Lurker gets his bearings back and starts punching him in the ribs. But this time, it doesn't work. Nothing fazes this angry giant! Until they reach the grave itself. Peter gets a glimpse into the dark shadowy depths... It sends him spiraling back to that cell he was held in since his abduction and he stops shy of throwing Lurker in.))

Eddie: What's wrong with him? Why did he stop?

Travis: I have no idea.

((His hesitation causes Lurker to regain his senses and figure out where exactly they are. He wiggles his way out of Peter's grip and puts his hands on Peter's back. The fans start screaming, telling him to turn around. He gets halfway turned around when Lurker's hands push him toward the grave. His feet scramble for but can't find any purchase and he teeters on the edge of the grave, hands windmilling. But, alas, it is all for naught. Lurker had too much momentum and Peter falls backward into the open grave. The fans begin to scream as Lurker grabs a shovel and starts covering him up. Mystic and Air Raid come out of the shadows and start shoveling along with him. When the grave is completely filled, Lurker jams the shovel into the top of the mound, the bell tolling softly in the background. Jean can barely be heard for the shock in her voice.))

Jean Fortello: Here is your winner... The Lurker!

((Lurker is standing on the grave, gloating. He crouches down to croon softly about revenge, not seeing the mound of earth begin to quake a bit. He's too busy enjoying his victory to notice it. Then, from beneath his feet, a large hand explodes from the earth below and grabs Lurker by the throat!))

Eddie: MY GOD!

Travis: What just happened?

Eddie: Look at Lurker, Travis... There's a hand around his throat!

((The fans scream with joy at the sight of Peter's hand wrapped around Lurker's throat. Then, before their astonished eyes, Lurker gets shoved backward! The camera cuts back to ringside, showing a bit of wisdom.))

Eddie: That was absolutely unbelievable! Peter Blankenship got buried alive by the man who kidnapped him but somehow managed to get his hand up through all that dirt to grab Lurker by the throat!

Travis: Unbelievable is right! This has just been one HELL of a night!

Eddie: But it's far from over... We still have the Main Event to look forward to.

Travis: Right. A Battle Royal for the vacant DisasterPiece Title! Every wrestler on the roster is involved in that match!

Eddie: I can't wait, Travis!

Travis: Me either!

((The curtains hide the backstage world of wrestling from prying eyes, encapsulating it in a mystique of circumstance and ideals. Nobody sees how many people are needed to set up a live HWC show... All they see is the end product. And unlike concerts where a glitch is repaired in front of the audience, any glitches here are held in the deepest of shadows as they're taken care of discreetly and immediately. But there's one glitch nobody counted on. A glitch that has to be dealt with in public. While everyone's attention is focused on the ring, a handful of men with shovels, pick-axes and wheelbarrows are working to defuse a potential disaster. Mounds of packed earth are heaved into the wheelbarrows and hauled away in a steady stream as they chip away at a grave. The grave a man was buried in about half an hour ago. They have to get him out before he dies. And if he dies, there's going to be hell to pay. Literally. One of the workers reaches the open space and stares in shock.))

Worker: Somebody get Jessie Blankenship! FAST!

((One of the men runs off, heading to the back in search of Jessie Blankenship. They find her sitting on a trunk, hands steepled in front of her chin.))

Worker: Excuse me, Miss Blankenship, but I was told to come get you.

Jessie: Show me where I'm needed.

((The worker turns and runs back toward the grave with Jessie hot on his heels. They stop at the side and Jessie jumps down into the hole. The man in there points down into the empty spot where a man is lying, face pale and drained of all life. Jessie gasps audibly, then turns and bellows up at the men.))

Jessie: We need the EMT's here STAT!

((Then she grabs a shovel and starts excavating around his arms and chest. Those who can fit in the hole pitch in, digging feverishly to relieve the pressure on his lungs. The only reason they're digging him out now is because he's not in the best of shape. The man who went to fetch the EMT's runs at full speed looking for them, shouting frantically. The ones he does find are cocky and loud.))

EMT: Hey, old man, where's the fire?

Worker: They're digging up the grave from that Buried Alive match!

((They grab their gear and the stretcher and follow him back to where they're still moving piles of dirt. Hey, they're loud, but they're dedicated to their work! Jessie is kneeling now, using her hands to clear the dirt away from the man's face.))

Worker: That's the last of it, Jessie... The EMT's are here.

((She stands up and lets someone tug her out. The EMT's get in there with a backboard and carefully put him on it. They affix a collar around his neck, then lift him up onto the ground beside the stretcher. Bruises abound on his torso and upper arms... Up onto the stretcher he goes, placed there with the gentle hands of professionals. They're out in the staging area, but nobody can see them. The grave was placed down on the cement floor beside the ramp, so it would be unseen by the cameras. Thus, nobody sees the EMT's wheeling someone away on a stretcher with Jessie Blankenship trailing behind them. They get to the ambulance and the EMT's turn to look at her.))

EMT: Did you want to come with him?

Jessie: I wish I could... But I can't. I'll come when I can.

EMT: All right. We'll take good care of him, Jessie. Promise.

Jessie: Thank you...

((They get in and she shuts the doors, thumping them with her fist. The ambulance pulls away with sirens blaring and lights flashing. Jessie is left standing in the parking lot, staring after them with a heavy heart and her hands clenched into fists. She fights to stay in control of her emotions when she can't see the lights any more. Then she turns around and heads back into the heart of the arena, her mind traveling with the man in the ambulance.))

((Now that they had made their presence known to the HWC that they were back Bad News sat in their locker room getting ready for the battle royal for the DisasterPiece title. Ravin looked back and forth between her brother and Jeff as the two got ready for their match. There was an unspoken tension between the two. Jeff and Draven both knew if it came down to it, Jeff would try to eliminate Draven and vice-versa. Jeff was lacing up his boots when a knock came at the door. Ravin went to get it.))

Ravin: Yeah, what is it?

Crew member: I was told to give this to you.

((He handed her a video tape and walked off. Ravin shrugged and shut the door.))

Draven: What's that sis?

Ravin: Dunno. Guy said he was told to give this to us.

Jeff: By who?

Ravin: Didn't say.

((Ravin popped the tape into the VCR and the three members of Bad News see the familar figure of Celtic Hyena on the screen. They listen to him talk about the pain he wished to inflict on Lucien later in the evening. Once the tape ends Jeff and Draven look at each other.))

Jeff: That is one pissed of Irishman.

Draven: Can you blame him? First of all his own sister turns on him, and then his tag-team partner. The man's been betrayed so many times it ain't even funny.

Ravin: I wouldn't be surprised if he suspected us of leaving him high and dry too.

Jeff: Well, if he was that mad when he made that tape, he must be fuming right now. I don't think now is the time to ask him that.

Draven: At least not without getting him liquored up first. I say soon, we get some booze into that man and talk to him. There still is a spot in Bad News for him. If he wants it.

Jeff: His spot never left. We just did.

Ravin: I'm never gonna live that down am I?

Draven: Not for a while.

((Jeff and Draven looked at each other and laughed.))

Draven: You ready for the battle royal, Wyldeman?

Jeff: Yep. I'm ready to take that 290 pound ass of yours and toss it out of the ring.

Draven: Excuse you? I think I'll be hauling your 280 pound ass and tossing it out.

Jeff: Sez who?

Draven: Sez me? You gotta problem with that?

((The two men get nose to nose and toe to toe. Then suddenly break out laughing backing away from each other.))

Jeff: Seriously though, if by some bizzare chance it does come down to you and me, may the best man win.

Draven: Damn straight!

((The two shake and continue getting ready. Ravin just shakes her head and chuckles.))

Ravin: Men...

Cage Match
Lucien Merriuci vs Celtic Hyena

((Eerie music and lighting accompany the awesome sight of the cage as it slowly lowers down over the ring, while Jean Fortello begins her announcements.))

Jean Fortello: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is a Cage Match. The only way to win this match is to escape from the cage and touch the floor, either by exiting through the door, or by climbing over the top. There are NO pinfalls or submissions.

Travis: Yadda yadda yadda! We already know the rules! Let's just get on with the carnage!

Eddie: Well some people get confused about the rules of a cage match, Travis! If you would make it to staff meetings, you would know that it's now standard policy to explain the rules of special matches to the fans, so they know what's going on!

Travis: (Sourly) Jessie Blankenship's idea, no doubt! That's what happens when you put kids in charge, they start changing everything!

Eddie: Sometimes for the better!

((The commentary suddenly dies out as The arena darkens giving away to a strobe light effect with the start of "Somewhere I Belong". On the tron clips of Celtic in training are shown. Just as the music starts to get hard Celtic steps out with Maggie at his side.))

Jean: The first competitor, accompanied by Maggie, from Limerick, Ireland, weighing in at 335 pounds. CELTIC HYENA!!!!

((Celtic actually gets a few cheers as he shadow boxes for a moment at the top of the entrance ramp, his right hand heavily taped, then head for the ring with Maggie at his side. Referee Steve Kayne stands at the door, and holds it open as Celtic steps up and into the ring, where he shadow boxes a bit more.))

Eddie: Even with that injured right hand, Celtic Hyena looks like he's ready to go here tonight!

Travis: Big Irish is always ready for a fight, but he better have his thinking cap on tonight, if he wants to get past the likes of Lucien Merriuci! And don't think that Lucien will stay away from that bad right hand of Celtic's!

((Celtic's music fades, and the arena goes pitch black as "The Call of Ktulu" starts. Lucien steps out and slowly methodically walks to the ring as the lights come up to a dim.))

Jean: His opponent, from Prague, in the Czech Republic, weighing in at 275 pounds...LUCIEN MERRIUCI!!!!

((Lucien is booed soundly by the fans, but seems oblivious has he steps up and into the ring with Celtic. His music fades as the referee secures the door, and calls for the bell to begin the contest. The two combatants immediately begin to circle, then meet in the center of the ring in the standard collar-and-elbow lock-up. Celtic asserts his superior muscle power by twisting Lucien around into a hammer lock, but doesn't stop with that. He hoists Lucien into a back suplex, and Lucien comes crashing down on his back, to the approval of the fans.))

Eddie: Wow, nice little move there by Celtic!

Travis: No doubt! I guess Big Irish wasn't just sitting around doing nothing while he was gone...but it's gonna take more than that to keep Lucien Merriuci down!

((Travis is correct, as Lucien rolls back to his feet. The two circle again, and again go to lock up, but this time, Lucien, being the quicker of the two, ducks, steps to the side, and hits an inverted Russian leg sweep, AKA a Flatliner, which takes Celtic down hard! Lucien immediately springs up and makes for the side of the cage, but Celtic isn't hurt nearly enough, and easily catches Lucien before he can get even halfway up. Celtic grabs Lucien from behind, and, once again asserting his power, presses Lucien over his head, then, to the cheers of the fans, tosses him face-first into the side of the cage!))

Travis: WOW! What a display of power by Big Irish!

Eddie: Indeed it was, but it also looks like he may have tweaked that already-injured right hand!

Travis: And you can bet that Lucien will take advantage of that injury!

Eddie: (raising an eyebrow) Now Travis, you know what you were told about betting!

Travis: (look of innocence, which almost works) And just what are you insinuating?

Eddie: Oh nothing, Mister "New England Can't Beat Carolina!"

Travis: (slumping down) Screw you, Eddie!

((Meanwhile, Celtic is taking advantage of Lucien's disposition between the cage and the ropes to make his own break for freedom. He is about halfway up when Lucien finally extricates himself from his situation and starts up after him. Celtic spots Lucien, and kicks at him, but Lucien won't be so easily dissuaded. Instead of ducking, he grabs the booted foot as it comes at him, and yanks, causing Celtic to lose his grip and fall backwards. To make things worse, in falling Celtic instinctively extends his right hand to break his fall, and lands right on it! He roars in pain and grasps the injured hand.))

Eddie: Oh no! What an unfortunate move on the part of Celtic!

Travis: And right in front of Lucien! It's all over but the shouting now!

Eddie: I wouldn't count Celtic out of this! He's a big guy, he can take a lot of pain!

Travis: Gimmie a break Eddie! Celtic's main weaponry are his fists! And now he's down to one! And Lucien's going right to work!

((Travis is correct...Lucien homes in on Celtic's injured right hand. He reaches down and grabs it, using it to haul Celtic to his feet, then begins twisting on it, eliciting a howl of pain from Big Irish, who responds by swinging his left, catching Lucien in the side of the head and forcing him to release his grip. Celtic, being careful to protect his hand, continues swinging the left, again and again, rocking Lucien back on his heels, then follows with a boot to the midsection, which doubles Lucien over! Celtic hits the opposite ropes, gaining momentum, and runs at Lucien. He goes for a Big Boot, but at the last second Lucien drops to the mat, and Celtic instead hooks his leg over the top rope, crotching himself!))

Travis: OUCH! He keeps up moves like that, there won't be a Little Irish!

Eddie: Not only that, but Lucien has a chance to get out of the cage!

Travis: And He's not gonna waste it!

((Lucien is indeed slowly and groggily starting to climb, as Celtic works to get himself off the top rope. Unfortunately for Lucien, he chose to start climbing too close to Celtic, who uses his good left hand to start hauling himself up, then gets a foot hold on the ropes, and also starts climbing! Urged on by the cheers of the fans, Celtic manages to get hold of Lucien's boot, and clamps on with all his considerable might. Lucien struggles to get loose, but Celtic lets his feet swing away from the cage, and Lucien is unable to hold on with 335 pounds of Celtic Hyena hanging from his foot, and both men crash down to the mat!))

Eddie: My god, what a horrid crunch that was! Both of these men will be damn lucky if they aren't severely injured!

Travis: Hey, that's the risk they take when they sign up for a cage match!

Eddie: They certainly do...and now Lucien is back on his feet...but Celtic has grabbed him with the bad hand...OH MY GOD! Lucien STOMPED on Celtic's injured right hand! Celtic is almost screaming in pain!

((Lucien arrogantly walks to the ropes and prepares to climb, taking his time, watching as Celtic writhes in agony, clutching his injured arm. The fans boo soundly as Lucien rather smugly begins a leisurely climb towards the top of the cage. Celtic, however, is not just laying there. He begins to painfully crawl towards the door. Lucien gets to the top, looks down, and with a dismayed gasp notes that Celtic is almost to the door!))

Eddie: It's a race! Can Celtic get out the door before Lucien Drops to the floor?

Travis: Damn, this is getting interesting! Just when you think he's done, Big Irish reaches down and pulls a little more outta his gas tank!

Eddie: But wait a minute...Lucien isn't climbing down...he's climbing AROUND the top of the cage...What is he doing?

((A moment later, Eddie's question is answered. Celtic is almost to the door, and the referee opens the door. As Celtic reaches to pull himself out, Lucien, is now sitting astride the top of the cage...right next to the door. He pulls back his right leg and soundly kicks the door, which hits...you guessed it, Celtic's injured hand! This time, Celtic DOES scream, and his progress out the door is stopped. Lucien swings his other leg over the top of the cage, effectively blocking the door with his body, and, to the resounding boos of the fans, drops to the floor, and the bell rings, followed shortly by "Call of Ktulu" over the PA.))

Jean: The winner of this match...LUCIEN MERRIUCI!

Eddie: Well, Lucien has pulled out the win here, but it sure as hell wasn't because Celtic didn't do his best!

Travis: Lucien knew he couldn't math brawling with Celtic, so he did the next best thing..he beat him with his mind! Not everybody would have thought to kick that door back on Celtic!

Eddie: You may be right, but the result is that Celtic's arm may be shattered...And now the proud Irishman is refusing to be helped to the back...and the fans are applauding him for his gutsy efforts!

((The opening strains of an unfamiliar song ripple across the airwaves, silencing the crowd and making them look around. Then they can hear the vocalist... "What makes you think that you have won When the battle has only just begun? Let the punishment fit the crime... Bad things come to those in all good time." Then a lone figure appears at the top of the ramp, minus his usual pyro, fog or other trappings...))

Eddie: It's Jericho Dylan!

Travis: What's he doing out here? He's not scheduled until later!

Eddie: He's the World Champion... He can do whatever he wants. But he seldom does.

((Jericho makes his way down the ramp, the unfamiliar song playing as he goes. When he gets to the ring, he walks up the steps like he's carrying a terrible burden. Stepping between the ropes, he gets handed a microphone. The music cuts off when he gets to the middle of the ring, leaving the arena totally silent. They can't see it, but Jericho's eyes are full of tears again. They're never too far away these days...))

Jericho: Two weeks ago on Slaughter, the world bore witness to something shocking. You all saw Jarred, a man loved the world over for his big heart and gentle nature, turn on me. He said he was sick of me having all the power. I still don't get what he meant by that... But I digress. I'm not here to bring that up again. No, I'm here to say something else. I made a promise to Jarred last week before we defended our tag team titles. I told him if we won, I'd find a way to fix what was wrong with him. I also told him if we lost that I'd...

((He stops in mid-sentence to gather his composure. The fans are stunned. This is what the World Champion has become? A gibbering wreck? But you'd be upset too if you were in his shoes. Trust me.))

Jericho: I told Jarred if we lost, then I'd dissolve the tag team and we'd go our separate ways. And... We lost.

Eddie: WHAT? He's dissolving the team?

Travis: Good. That means Jarred can shine for once.

Eddie: Travis, you idiot, Jarred's current frame of mind means he'd have no qualms about pounding the living hell out of you!

Travis: So? He won't touch me.

Eddie: I wouldn't count on that. He's about as dangerous as Jericho. If not more.

Jericho: Without a pure soul, the heart can't function as it should. Therefore, effective immediately, the Dylan brothers tag team is no more. Jarred, you wanted to go your own way... You got your wish.

((The fans sit there in stunned silence. They can't believe what they just heard!))

Jericho: HOWEVER! I will not hesitate to break your back if you cross my path after tonight, so beware. YOUR TIME IS NEAR!

((He throws the microphone down, eyes blazing with anger for the first time since Jarred turned on him. The anger washes away all traces of pain and leaves the fans with an image they'll never forget as long as they live... Jericho is standing on the top turnbuckle, World Heavyweight Championship held high above his head, eyes sparkling in a way they've seen before. They saw it the night he defeated Blood Dragon for the very title he now holds. They saw it when he turned on the Black List. They saw it after Kash Flagg broke his arm. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the real Jericho Dylan. He's not afraid to do what is necessary to get the job done... And he's going to start with that turncoat brother of his! Jarred, you're in big trouble now!))

Hardcore Title Match
The Creeper(c) vs Ghost

((Cut to the ring for a moment, where metal trash cans filled with various dangerous objects sit waiting, then cut to Eddie & Travis.))

Eddie: Well Travis, it's time for one of your favorite things!

Travis: (rubbing his hands together) Oh boy, lesbians with cotton candy!

Eddie: Er, no...

Travis: Lesbians with corn dogs?

Eddie: No, you pervert, I'm talking about the Hardcore Title match!

Travis: Alright! Why didn't you just say so?

Eddie: (shaking his head and looking towards heaven) Give me strength...(puts a hand to his headphones) Wait a minute, I'm being told that we're going backstage!

((Camera cuts backstage, where we see Ghost, with a kendo resting on his right shoulder, walking down a corridor and opening doors.))

Ghost: (sticking his head into a door) Yo Creeper, my homie! Where you at? Let's do this, yo!

((Getting no response, he continues down the corridor, and opens another door, which Ghost fails to notice is labeled "Women's Locker Room". He sticks his head in, and is rewarded by a chorus of female screams.))

Ghost: Damn! My bad, yo! I just lookin' for my homie The Creeper! Don't mind me!

((Various female voices are heard telling him to get lost, and he closes the door, with a slight grin and continues on down the corridor, until he reaches what appears to be the maintenance area. It looks like any arena maintenance area, with a chain-link-fenced tool area, stacks of tables and chairs, a couple of golf carts, and various supplies. Ghost slows his approach and raises his kendo stick off his shoulder, holding it at the ready.))

Ghost: Yo Creeper, I know you around here! Bring your weird ass out here!

((Ghost gets a response. From above, in a storage loft, Creeper drops down, wielding a lead pipe. as his feet touch the floor, he cracks Ghost soundly in the back of the head, and Ghost goes sprawling, but somehow holds on to his kendo stick. Creeper grabs Ghost, hauls him bodily to his feet, and slams him face-first into the chain link fence. Ghost bounces off the chain link, and Creeper whips him across the way, into a stack of tables. Ghost hits hard, knocking the stack of tables around. Ghost crumples to his knees, and Creeper, suddenly inspired, grabs a table and leans it against the brick wall. He again hauls Ghost to his feet, and whips him, but Ghost suddenly reverses it, and it's Creeper that goes crashing into the table!))

Eddie: Wow! I guess our hardcore match is already underway! They better get a referee back there, and quick!

Travis: YES!!! THIS is what a hardcore match is supposed to be! Anything goes!

Eddie: You are correct...no disqualification, and falls count anywhere in the entire city of Honolulu! So this match could end up on Waikiki Beach, or on the top of Diamond Head!

Travis: And with these two involved, even the middle of a pineapple field isn't out of the question!

((Creeper extracts himself from the wreckage of the table, only to have Ghost start wailing on him with the kendo stick. Creeper staggers around as blow after blow rain down on his head and back. At one point, as Ghost goes to lay a might hit on him, Creeper ducks under the swing and charges into Ghost, driving him backwards and into the chain link fence, as referee Walter Powell finally arrives on the scene. Ghost drops the kendo stick, and he & creeper proceed to roll around on the concrete floor, pummeling each other! Creeper comes out on top in this exchange, and gets shakily to his feet. He looks around quickly, spies a fire extinguisher, and plucks it off its hanger as Ghost Levers himself back to his feet. Creeper charges, but Ghost sees it coming, and ducks. Creeper goes flying past, and crashes face-first into a concrete support and dropping the fire extinguisher, which elicits a "OOOOHHH!" from the fans.))

Travis: OWWW! HOLY SHIT!!!!

Eddie: Creeper may have done himself some serious damage there! And Ghost isn't wasting his time!

((Ghost leaps to his feet, and, seeing Creeper's disadvantaged state, grabs him by the hair and proceeds to ram his face repeatedly into the concrete support. 5...6...7...8 times Creeper's face slams into the unforgiving concrete before Ghost flings him to the floor and goes for a cover...1...2...Kickout by Creeper, but just barely! Ghost hauls Creeper back to his feet, and, after making sure Creeper is more ore less balanced, unleashes a deadly Capoeira kick, which sends Creeper backwards, again into the concrete post! Creeper slumps against the post, and Ghost starts looking around, then suddenly darts off-camera.))

Eddie: What a beating the Creeper is taking! I don't think he expected anything like this from someone as relatively inexperienced as Ghost!

Travis: You're not joking! This Ghost kid is really showing me something here....but where did he go?

((Travis' question is answered a moment later, by the high-pitched whine of an electric motor. Creeper, just barely on his feet, throws himself aside just in time to avoid being smashed by the golf cart driven by Ghost. The cart hits the post, but only takes a bit of cosmetic damage. Ghost curses to himself, then hops out of the cart and goes over to Creeper, who is once again back on his feet but wobbly. Ghost manhandles Creeper over by the golf cart, positions him carefully by the cargo area, and hits a kung-fu style roundhouse kick, which knocks Creeper into the cargo area of the cart. Ghost, looking satisfied, scoops up his kendo stick, whacks Creeper a few times for good measure, then gets behind the wheel of the cart and starts driving.))

Eddie: This is getting strange! Where in the world is Ghost taking Creeper?

Travis: Well it definitely isn't the walking tour of downtown Honolulu!

Eddie: Wait a minute...they're headed this way!

((The fans begin to stir and cheer as a spotlight stabs through the air, centered on the golf cart driven by Ghost, which gradually makes its way through the entrance, down the ramp, and eventually stops beside the ring. Ghost hops out, whacks Creeper a few more times with his kendo stick, then hauls him out of the cart and manhandles him into the ring, under the bottom rope. Before climbing in himself, he walks around the ring, tossing in the trash cans full of weapons, some of which hit the Creeper, who is beginning to show signs of life. Ghost finally rolls into the ring, selects a broom handle, and starts pounding on Creeper. But something is happening...Creeper suddenly seems to not feel the blows raining down on him. Slowly, painfully, Creeper begins to get to his feet!))

Eddie: My God, Creeper seems to be getting his second wind!

Travis: This could be trouble for Ghost, if he doesn't finish Creeper off here real quick like!

((Creeper is now on one knee, and Ghost's blows with the broom handle become more frantic. Finally, as Creeper pulls his other knee up, Ghost discards the broom handle in favor of a trash can. He raises it again and again and again, smashing the can to a pulp, but having no other apparent effect. The fans are now actually CHEERING for Creeper, and some are even chanting his name!))

Eddie: Can you believe this? The fans are actually CHANTING for the Creeper!

Travis: This is unreal! And Creeper is back on his feet!!!

((Ghost now has a faint look of fear on his face. He grabs up another trash can and charges, but Creeper raises his foot and kicks it into Ghost's face! Ghost bounces off the rope, and Creeper kicks him in the midsection, doubling him over. He then does a Powerbomb lift, pops the guy into the air, dropping him in a high-impact Rock Bottom-type move!))

Eddie: The Death Rattle! My god, after the horrendous beating he took, he was still able to hit the Death Rattle!

Travis: And he's not done yet!...YES!!! KING'S WRATH!!!

Eddie: The Cover...1...2...3!!! Creeper retains the Hardcore title!

((Suddenly, "King Nothing" plays, Austin strolling to the ring soaking up imaginary cheers. Austin slides into the ring, grabbing a mic, glaring at the fans in attendance as they boo him, and then lifting the mic to his lips.))

Austin: A few weeks ago, a young man came to me, and asked for a shot against the HWC's Hardcore champion, The Creeper. He seemed confident to no end that he'd beat the champ, and earlier tonight, you saw his effort. So, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to bring out the HWC's Hardcore Champion at this time.

((The crowd pops loudly, in expectation of seeing The Creeper appear, but, instead of "Go 2 Sleep", "Juggalo Homies" plays as Ghost walks to the ring, the crowd booing madly, Ghost looking barely conscious, seeming to be moving on sheer will alone. Ghost gets into the ring, and raises his arms over his head.))

Austin: You see, last week, The Creeper attacked an innocent, defenseless man, and, to prevent a lawsuit that could force the HWC to release a number of their present talent, I have to make a judgement call. As of right now, I am effectively stripping The Creeper of the Hardcore title, and all rights and privileges contained therein. Furthermore-

((Austin jumps nearly ten feet into the air at a huge explosion a few feet to his left, the flames disappearing without harming anyone, leaving a thick black cloud of acrid smoke behind, the smoke blowing away, revealing The Creeper standing in the ring.))

Austin: What are you doing here?!

Creeper: You want my title, tiny? Take it. (The Creeper pulls the title from under his cloak, holding it up with his left hand. Austin reaches for the title, only to have The Creeper pull the title back, and snap his right hand around Austin's throat, leaning close, staring into Austin's eyes.) Get it through your head, tiny. This is my title, because you cannot find anyone to take it from me. But, if you wish this maggot to have the title, fine. But learn this well, maggot. The Hardcore title means that, at any time, at any place. . . BAM! You'll feel the cold touch of steel on flesh. And if you can't take that, then you'll just lose. Ghost, by the time you lose the title again, you'll learn that your title reign holds on by a small, simple thread. You want the title? Take it. (The Creeper suddenly flings the title into Ghost's face, before tossing Austin to the side, and following the title in, with a fierce right hand, cracking the title where the metal rests against Ghost's face, the title specially reinforced, as it was the Hardcore Title.)

Austin: Who do you think you-

((The Creeper cuts Austin off with a simple glare. Before Austin can react, The Creeper catches him with a kick to the midsection, instantly drilling Austin with the King's Wrath, before standing, glaring at the two fallen men, then glancing up at the crowd, raising an eyebrow at the cheers, before walking out of the ring, and up the ramp. Instantly afterward, B.D. appears, wild eyed, bloodstained chair in hand, bolting to the ring, and sliding into the ring, hiding in a corner, in a low crouch. After several moments, Austin gets to his feet, speaking shakily.))

Austin: I want The Creeper barred from the building for the rest of the night! He won't get away with-

((Austin's cut off by one of B.D.'s trademark maniacal giggles. Austin turns around, only to get blasted with a Chair Drive, B.D. sliding out of the ring, new bloodstain on his bloodstained chair, getting to the top of the ramp, and waiting. As Ghost regains his footing, looking around, then up at B.D., pointing at B.D. threateningly, B.D. responds simply. By pointing at Ghost, then to the chair, then giggling maniacally again, before skipping merrily backstage.))

Ladder Match for the World Title
Jericho Dylan(c) vs Jarred Dlyan

Eddie: This has to be the hardest match for me to watch, Travis. Out of everything we've seen tonight, this is by far the most disturbing.

Travis: Why do you call it disturbing?

Eddie: Because Jarred Dylan is facing his brother. That isn't right.

Travis: Right, schmight... It's fun!

Eddie: Only you, Travis... Only you.

Travis: What can I say? I'm who I am!

Eddie: Yes... You're totally biased!

Travis: Deal with it.

Jean Fortello: The following contest is A LADDER MATCH and is for the HWC World Heavyweight Championship! Introducing first, the challenger. From New Orleans, Louisiana... Weighing in at 225 pounds... JARRED DYLAN!

((An unfamiliar song starts to play over the PA, causing the fans to fall silent. Softly at first, then ever louder, the song reaches a crescendo at the chorus. "Stand alone. Hear what I say. Stand alone. You will seize the day!" rips across the airwaves, revealing a man standing at the top of the ramp. He looks around with casual disdain, then snorts and starts down the ramp. Ignoring the fans reaching out to him, along with the boos, Jarred Dylan makes his way to the ring. The look of derision on his face makes the fans boo even louder as he climbs between the top and middle ropes. Standing in the middle of the ring, he spreads his arms as a look of smug superiority makes its way across his face.))

Eddie: What a rotten thing he did to his own brother.

Travis: It's about damn time! Jericho was holding him back!

Eddie: Travis, you jackass, they were totally equal!

Jean Fortello: And his opponent... Also from New Orleans, Louisiana... Being accompanied by Jessie Blankenship and his sister Melissa... Representing the Dark Ascension... Weighing in at 225 pounds... He is the HWC World Heavyweight Champion... JERICHO DYLAN!

((The same haunting song from earlier comes across the airwaves, bringing the fans to their feet. Jericho, Jessie and Missy come out together, Jessie glaring daggers at Jarred the whole way. Missy is just shaking her head sadly, showing disappointment in her little brother's actions. Jericho sprints ahead, sliding under the bottom rope and coming up on his feet. He's just watching Jarred, eyes full of rage. He's had enough of Jarred... The bell rings and Jarred slams Jericho with a shoulder block that sends him reeling.))

Eddie: This is terrible to see. I can't understand what drove Jericho to agree to this.

Travis: It's simple, Eddie. He knows Jarred is the better athlete!

Eddie: You're a moron, Travis. Everybody knows that Jarred and Jericho Dylan are two of the most gifted athletes in the HWC today.

Travis: You soil Jarred's name when you mention it with his inferior brother's in the same sentence.

((A hand reaches out and slaps Travis soundly across the face. He looks up to see Missy DeLioncourt standing there, eyes flashing with the same anger that's in Jericho's. Eddie laughs and tips his head in thanks as Jericho bounces off the ropes, hitting Jarred with a cross body that knocks him to the mat. The fans rise up in a cheer, showing their support for the World Champion. Jessie and Missy clap along with them, supporting the older of the two men in the ring. Jarred gets to his feet, slower than usual, and glares at Jericho. Jericho, for his part, is watching him with barely concealed compassion. That compassion is going to be his undoing... Jarred rises up and hits Jericho with a chopblock, taking out his right knee. The same one The Enforcer attacked so long ago. Jericho only drops to one knee, however, so Jarred hits him with a standing dropkick. Jericho hits the mat face-first, drawing a gasp from the capacity crowd. Jarred wipes his hands off, then slides out of the ring and rummages under it for a ladder. Finding one, he slides it out and onto one shoulder. He's trying to keep the ladder balanced, so he doesn't see Jericho fly out of the ring until his feet connect with the ladder, sandwiching Jarred against the ring barrier. Jericho gets up and throws the ladder into the ring, then slams a right hand into Jarred's ribs. Jarred folds over toward that side, allowing Jericho to slide back into the ring. Jericho lifts the ladder and sets it up, but doesn't go for his belt. No, he turns to look at Jarred on the outside! Jarred is clutching at the ring barrier in an effort to stay upright... Jericho's eyes light up and he flies out of the ring, hitting a Corkscrew Swanton on Jarred! They both collapse, Jericho's knee dinging the barrier on the way down.))

Eddie: This is what I'm talking about, Travis! Jarred's actions are so reprehensible, Jericho has totally forgotten they're brothers!

Travis: Big whoop. Jarred is still the better athlete!

Eddie: If he's the better athlete, Travis, why is Jericho the first one on his feet?

((Jericho looks down at Jarred, then shakes his head and slides into the ring. Standing by the ladder, he looks up at the belt he went through so much to earn. Shaking his head, he starts to climb, going after what is rightfully his. The fans are solidly behind him on this. They don't see Jarred get into the ring and put his hand on the ladder... Until he PUSHES IT OVER! Jericho goes flying out of the ring, landing in the middle of the audience!))

Eddie: GOOD GOD!

Travis: Told ya so, Eddie!

((Jericho immediately climbs out of the crowd, face contorted with a look of rage. He gets into the ring and looks at Jarred climbing the ladder. Without hesitation, he hits the ladder with a standing dropkick, sending Jarred spilling out of the ring! But Jarred hits the mat instead of going into the crowd like Jericho did. He gets up slowly, holding his ribs with one arm. He can see Jericho slide out on the other side, rummaging for a second ladder. When he finds one, he whistles as he brings it out. The crowd goes wild at the sight of a twenty foot ladder!))

Travis: HEY! Who put that there?

Eddie: It could have been anyone. This IS a Ladder Match, Travis!

((Jericho slides the ladder into the ring, then goes in after it. Jarred times it perfectly... Sliding across the ring, he hits the ladder, sending it crashing into Jericho's face! Jericho goes down amid a gasp from the fans. Missy races over and crouches beside him, talking in an anxious whisper. Then she helps him up, blood trickling down his face from a broken nose. He wipes it off and slides into the ring. Missy backs off to stand beside Jessie, wisely moving out of harm's way.))

Eddie: A wise move by Missy, moving out of the way... These two brothers of hers are totally fearless flyers.

Travis: Jarred's better than Jericho.

((A clipboard gets smashed over Travis's head, held in the very capable hands of one Michael DeLioncourt! Eddie laughs and takes it from him. Michael grins and hops the barricade to stand beside Missy and Jessie. Jericho sees Michael there and winks before turning around to face Jarred's hate-filled gaze. Jarred kicks Jericho in the knee and Jericho drops down. Jarred kicks him in the ribs, then starts climbing the ladder. Jericho looks up and sees Jarred going after his belt. Eyes filling with hate, Jericho starts up the other side!))

Eddie: YES! Go, Jericho!

Travis: Come on, Jarred! Take what's yours!

((Jericho soon catches up, and they're climbing at the same pace and speed. Two hands, equally capable of gentle caresses or brutal punishment, reach up for the belt. Jarred swings out with his other hand and catches Jericho in the jaw. Jericho pulls back and slugs Jarred so hard, he slips back a few rungs on the ladder. Jericho stretches up, fingers straining to catch his belt.))

Eddie: Come on, Jericho, you can do it...

((But it's not to be. Jarred quickly regains his footing, even going two rungs higher than Jericho. He looks over at his big brother, then... HE PUSHES JERICHO OFF THE LADDER! The fans scream as Jericho plummets twenty feet to hit the mat with a thud that shakes the ring.))

Eddie: MY GOD! JARRED DYLAN HAS DONE THE UNTHINKABLE!

Travis: That's my boy!

((Jarred calmly reaches up and undoes the strap on the belt, not caring what he's just done to his brother. The bell rings, signaling the end of the match. But nothing else happens. Everyone is in shock. Jarred climbs back down the ladder, belt slung over his shoulder, a light smirk on his face. Only then does anything happen.))

Jean Fortello: Here is your winner, and new HWC World Heavyweight Champion... Jarred Dylan!

Eddie: My God... Travis, Jericho isn't moving.

Travis: What are you talking about?

Eddie: He is totally motionless!

((That he is, Eddie. The fall from the ladder rendered him unconscious. Missy screams and slides in to check on Jericho, frantically calling his name. But he doesn't respond. Not even shaking him violently does anything. Michael quickly joins her, calling his brother's name. Jarred stares at them with flat uncaring eyes, belt slung over his shoulder. Travis is, for once, totally speechless. Jarred buffs the belt with a frown, not seeing Jessie back up to stand by the announce table. He's so pre-occupied with his new belt that he doesn't see Jessie come flying off the turnbuckle to hit him with the Shadow Wave! The fans erupt in a tumult of cheers, applauding Jessie for doing something. Missy looks back and sees Jarred lying on the mat, Jessie standing over him with one hand shut in a fist. The camera catches any commentary, despite no microphones in the ring.))

Missy: Jessie, he's not responding!

((Jessie shakes it off and runs to crouch beside her father's best friend. All she's seen... Everything she's heard... It's just too much. A steady stream of silvery tears pours down her face, revealing that which she will never tell. Jericho is more than her father's best friend. He's almost part of the family.))

Jessie: Come on, Jericho, don't give up.

Jericho: *groaning loudly* Wouldn't dream of it! Now help me up!

((Three sets of hands reach out and tug the former champion to his feet, fans cheering rabidly. Jericho leans on Michael, seeing Jarred sprawled on the mat. He raises an eyebrow, and Michael points to Jessie. Jessie gives Jericho a cheeky grin that has him smiling despite the pain he's in. Slowly, the four of them leave the ring, Jarred left behind. He rolls over and sees them walking Jericho to the back. Grabbing his belt, he rolls out of the ring and heads for the back himself, bypassing the Dark Ascension's locker room and going elsewhere to lick his wounds.))

Eddie: That was the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen in my life.

Travis: For once, I have to agree with you. I still can't believe Jericho got up from that fall!

Eddie: I can understand Jessie doing what she did... Lord knows Jarred certainly deserved it!

Travis: He did not! He's the new champion! He deserves more respect than that!

Eddie: Travis, may I remind you that Jericho's sister is still in the arena?

Travis: Big deal. She couldn't hurt a fly.

Voice: But I can!

((Travis turns around and gulps audibly at the sight of Peter's bandmates standing behind the ring barrier. Every single one of them is fit to be tied... The speaker is Josh Silver, keyboardist for Type O Negative. The fans cheer the sight, but it's subdued. No Peter, no deafening bellows. That's how it's always been. They're all wearing jackets identical to the one Jessie picked up off the ramp...))

Eddie: I told you your mouth was going to get you in trouble one of these days.

Travis: Who are those guys?

Eddie: If you'd do your research, you'd know this. They are Josh Silver, Johnny Kelly and Kenny Hickey. Otherwise known as the other three members of Type O Negative.

Travis: Hoo boy.

Eddie: That's putting it mildly. Thanks, guys.

Josh: Hey, no problem.

((They sit back down, chuckling at Travis's sudden silence. Having your life threatened by a non-wrestler isn't that scary a proposition... Unless that non-wrestler happens to be as violent as Josh Silver. Then you're in trouble! The camera catches up to Jessie, Missy and Michael as they come out of the locker room. They're all troubled by Jericho's unusually slow responses and reactions.))

Missy: It's got to be tied in with Jarred.

Michael: What makes you say that, sis?

Jessie: That's a simple one, Michael... Jarred and Jericho are unusually close, even in the symbiosis of identical quadruplets. What hurts or disturbs one, has the same effect on the others. Like when Daemon came back. You three were echoing him, even if you weren't aware of it.

Michael: Now it makes sense... And Jericho's disorientation and slurred speech are from Jarred.

Jessie: Exactly. But also, vice versa, Jarred's lack of sensory ability is having an effect on Jericho. He's slower than he used to be. He gets hurt easily. He's easily distracted. Before he got attacked, he was on equal footing with Jericho. But now...

Missy: But now he's feeling vulnerable.

Michael: And that feeling is manifesting in Jericho. The tears, unusually foolish acts... All that stuff. That was Jarred's handiwork before!

Jessie: Exactly. The sooner we solve this problem, the better.

Jericho: That's for me to do. You three watch him and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid.

((They turn to see Jericho standing there like he wasn't hurt at all. But that's not the only thing that has them staring... He's wearing his black cloak!))

Eddie: Oh, dear Lord... That's the cloak he wore when he first started in the HWC! That can only mean one thing...

Travis: What, that he forgot to pay his dry cleaner?

Eddie: No, you idiot! It means he's gone back to his roots!

Travis: You don't mean...

Eddie: I certainly do, Travis! The Soulveyer is back!

Travis: The HWC is in trouble now!

Eddie: That's right, and there isn't a damn thing anybody can do about it!

((Jericho nods to them and starts off down the hallway, cloak snapping and flaring behind him, even without a wind. Jessie nods gravely to her companions and goes to prepare for the Battle Royal for the DisasterPiece Title. Everyone in the HWC is in it... Even Jarred and Jericho.))

XAW vs HWC Six man Elimination Match
The Saint & Sandman & Charlie Tyson vs The Tiger & Jessie Blankenship & Palaemon

Eddie: Ladies and gentlemen, a matchup that almost everyone in or around this business has wanted to see for a number of months, recently, is about to happen.

Travis: I like some of the guys on both sides. And the XAW guys are in the ring already.

Eddie: We received no answer from the XAW offices, apparently, so, they’re out here without any music or pyros. And here comes the HWC guys.

Jean Fortello: In the ring at this time, representing the XAW, Sandman, Charlie Tyson, and The Saint!!! And their opponents, representing the HWC, introducing first, from St. Louis, Missouri, weighing in at 180 lbs, she is the reigning HWC Intercontinental Champion. . . THE TIGER!!!

((The lights go out as a low bass is heard playing. Lights start to flash like a strobe light once the drums kick up. This is followed by a massive explosion of pyro. The Tiger, then slowly steps out just before “St. Anger” speeds up. Standing in the middle of the stage with her head lowered but her eyes looking up and focused, she throws back her arms (like Triple H) and shakes her head violently. The lights come up when the music slows and Tiger stalks to the ring. Once reaching the ring, she starts to climb up, but pauses grinning in a twisted manner. After a moment, she climbs the outer side of the ring post throwing her head back and shaking it violently again. From there, she climbs over the top rope, and into the ring. The referee keeps the XAW guys from attacking Tiger, Tiger smiling broadly, and goading all three of them on at once, Tyson finally getting around the referee, bolting forward, the referee completely missing Tyson’s charge, and Tiger’s subsequent kick square into Tyson’s crotch, dropping Tyson like a stone.))

Eddie: Tiger already using her considerable ability to taunt people into making stupid mistakes to her advantage.

Travis: Well, you had to see it coming. Tiger doesn’t believe in fair play. I should know. I played a game of golf with her once.

Eddie: Are you intimating that she cheated?

Travis: No, she flashed me, and I forgot what I was doing.

Eddie: Travis, an ironing board with a bra could flash you and you’d forget what you were doing.

Travis: I resemble that remark.

((The opening works to My Plague are displayed on the HW-Tron along with clips of Palaemon doing array of High Flying moves. A slight pause comes in the song, but just before it picks up, Palaemon drops ten feet from behind the Tron onto the stage. A blast of fire erupts all around the stage and ramp just as Palaemon’s feet touch the floor. Palaemon then lets out a bellow like roar before beating him self in the head. As the fire continues to burn, Palaemon takes of running to the ring before sliding in. Rolling to his feet Palaemon goes to the nearest ring post and jumps up on it and letting out another yell. Both Tiger and Palaemon charge forward, attacking the remaining two, Jessie bolting to the ring without music, singling out Tyson. Eventually, the referee retains order, Palaemon and Sandman starting in the ring. Both men circle each other for a few moments, before locking up, Palaemon sending Sandman into the ropes. As Sandman comes back, Palaemon goes for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, only to have the move turned into a swinging head scissors, Palaemon sliding across the ring. Palaemon gets to his feet, rushing forward with a clothesline, only to get stopped short by a kick to the midsection, and a flowing DDT, Sandman moving to the corner, tagging in Tyson. Tyson comes into the ring, dropping a leg across Palaemon’s throat, Palaemon getting to his feet, both men locking up, Palaemon going for a suplex, Tyson slipping out of Palaemon’s grasp, Palaemon reacting by jumping forward slightly, hitting a back dropkick, sending Tyson into the ropes, Palaemon hitting a stalling suplex to Tyson.))

Eddie: Palaemon seems entirely prepared for this match. And, after all, Sandman, apparently, was the man that attacked him to begin with, so you know that Palaemon wants to get more of a piece of Sandman.

Travis: Palaemon needs to make a tag.

Eddie: Keeping a fresh man in the ring is a good theory, but it rarely gets put into place.

((Palaemon gets to his feet, tagging in Tiger, Tiger walking into the ring, waiting for Tyson to get to his feet, only to hit a german suplex with an INCREDIBLE release, causing Tyson to have a few moments of hangtime before crashing, hard, to the ground. Tiger moves to the corner again, tagging Palaemon, Palaemon jumping to the top turnbuckle, hitting a picturesque 450 legdrop from the top turnbuckle, then pinning Tyson, Tiger and Jessie bolting into the ring to prevent any attempt to break up the pin. 1 . . . 2 . . . 3!!!))

Jean Fortello: Charlie Tyson has been eliminated! Team XAW is down to 2 athletes now!.

Eddie: Tyson falling victim to quick tags from two experienced ring veterans.

Travis: But they haven’t tagged in Jessie yet. Are they afraid she’ll suck?

Eddie: Maybe.

((Sandman bolts into the ring, hitting a powerful facecrusher from behind, then picking Palaemon up, hitting an F5, quickly going for the pin. 1 . . . 2 . . . 3!!!))

Eddie: And just like that, the sides are even!

Travis: That Sandman guy just screwed Palaemon over twice! Once to get him into this match, and once to get him out!

((Tiger steps into the ring, Sandman and Tiger locking up, Tiger seeming to shrug, sending Sandman flying across the ring, into the corner, Tiger smiling broadly. The Saint tags himself in, catching Tiger with a clothesline, followed by two more, then going for another one, Tiger catching The Saint, and hitting a quick tombstone piledriver. Tiger gets to her feet, only to get drilled with a spinning wheel kick from Sandman, Sandman stepping back, drilling Tiger with a superkick that nearly decapitates Tiger, Sandman leaving the ring quickly. The Saint goes for a pin, the referee sliding into position quickly. 1 . . . 2 . . . th-kickout!!))

Eddie: Where did Tiger pull up that energy?! She just kicked out from a superkick that would have floored a bear!

Travis: Maybe she’s too batty to realize she got hurt?

Eddie: That might be it.

((Tiger gets to her feet, Saint grabbing her foot, and yanking her into the center of the ring, locking her in an ankle lock, Jessie springboarding off of the top rope, hitting Saint with a front dropkick, breaking Saint’s hold easily. Jessie quickly leaves the ring, Tiger getting to her feet, firing off a Click Click Boom, Saint ducking under the third shot, rolling Tiger up with a school boy, putting his feet on the ropes. 1 . . . 2 . . . 3!!!))

Eddie: Tiger just got pinned!

Travis: Crap. We might end up having to go apply for jobs with the XAW here.

Eddie: You may have a point. It seems the entire fate of the HWC rests in the hands of young Jessie Blankenship.

((Jessie steps into the ring, The Saint charging in, Jessie hitting Saint with a drop toehold, then picking Saint’s ankles up, facing the center of the ring as Saint rests, facefirst, on the middle turnbuckle. After a moment, Jessie jumps up, flipping around, landing in a seated position on The Saint’s back, her extra weight bearing Saint down to the mat, Jessie dragging Saint to the center of the ring, holding onto the Boston crab style maneuver. Sandman bolts into the ring, drilling Jessie with a boot to the face, Jessie getting to her feet fairly quickly, turning Saint over, and locking him in a Triangle Scorpion Deathlock. The referee turns around, Sandman coming into the ring again, this time not getting near Jessie before Saint taps, Jessie dropping the move instantly, drilling Sandman with an impressive spear. Behind her, however, The Saint gets to his feet, rubbing his back softly, turning to look at Jessie and Sandman. After a moment, The Saint smiles, shouting Jessie’s name. Jessie turns, seeing The Saint, Sandman shoving her into The Saint, then rolling her up. 1. . . 2. . . pin broken up.))

Eddie: What the hell?! The Saint just broke up a pin that could very easily have won his team the match!

Travis: Maybe he doesn’t like Sandman?

Eddie: That could be it.

((The Saint hauls Sandman to his feet, kicking him in the stomach, then stepping back, drilling Sandman straight under the chin with a superkick, Jessie draping herself over Sandman, hooking the leg. 1 . . . 2 . . . 3!!!)) Travis: I think it’s safe to say Saint is no longer apart of XAW.

Battle Royal for the DisasterPiece Title
Everyone

Eddie: Well, ladies and gentlemen, next up, we have ourselves a match to decide the new DisasterPiece champion. This match was, originally, slated to be a battle royal, but, from what I’m being told from the back, this match has changed into a Rumble style matchup. So, Travis, who are you betting on, here?

Travis: I have no idea. The only person we truly know is going to be in this match is Kidd Rock. The rest of the entrants have been kept a secret even from us. Although, there is a rumor floating around that a legend or two is going to show up tonight.

Eddie: Good point. Well, it’s time for the match to begin, here, people.

Jean Fortello: The following matchup is a Rumble style contest, and will decide the DisasterPiece champion. Introducing first, from Louisville, Kentucky, weighing in at 230 lbs. . . KIDD ROCK!!

((Jean Fortello ducks out of the ring as the lights dim, "Bahwidabah" starting on the PA. On the HWC Tron, scenes of a deserted wrestling arena, with a solitary figure standing in the center of the ring, then fades to a dim gym, with the same figure working out hard and heavy. When the song reaches the part that goes "My Name Is KIIIIIIIIIIID", the lights go out, and "My Name Is" flashes across the HWC Tron. Then, when the song bursts out with "KID ROCK!", a HUGE blast of pyro rocks the arena, and the lights flash around the arena in gold and white. Kidd Rock steps out, striding back and forth across the stage, pumping his fists at the fans, then strides down to the ring. He slides in under the bottom rope, then mounts each corner, raising his fists.))

Eddie: Well, Kidd looks amped up, here, and, all things considered, he might need that tonight.

Travis: Yeah, but who’s next?

((In answer to Travis’ question, the lights cut off to black. No music starts, however, but, after a moment, a spotlight comes onto a man in the center of the ring, head hung low. A moment later, the lights as one come up, as does the head of the lone man.))

Eddie: That’s Sephiroth!

Travis: Hah. Can’t be. Sephiroth was killed in the ring, remember? Even if he was able to come back to life, someone would have to sit there with a bottle of rubber cement and try to piece together all his ashes.

Eddie: Good point. But he looks like Sephiroth.

((Kidd Rock flies at the Sephiroth-looking man, only to have Seph pivot on his heel, sending Kidd flying toward the ropes, turning his back to Kidd, again. Kidd grabs the top rope, planting his feet on the apron, and springboarding into the ring, hitting Sephiroth with a front dropkick, then picking him up, and firing off a hard right hand, sending Sephiroth staggering backward, into the ropes. Kidd follows Seph into the ropes, then tossing Seph from the far ropes, and back tossing Sephiroth over the top rope. The crowd, as one, gasps, as Sephiroth, in midair, grabs the top rope, spinning, and landing in the ring, before hitting Kidd with the Fallen Angel DDT. Sephiroth picks Kidd up, and dumps him, unceremoniously, over the top rope, as another set of music begins to play.))

Jean Fortello: Kidd Rock has been eliminated!

((TSO bolts to the ring, firing off a number of vicious rights to Sephiroth, staggering him, and then backing up, pulling something from his pocket, quickly revealed to be a lighter, and lighting Sephiroth’s shirt on fire. Sephiroth takes a moment to pat out the fire, stepping away from the ropes, only to have TSO drill him with a low blow, flooring Sephiroth. As if it were a giant game, TSO then does his best impression of a Russian, dropping to a low half-crouch, and beginning to fire off kicks to Sephiroth’s crotch. TSO backs up, finally, pointing and laughing at Sephiroth, Sephiroth getting to his feet slowly, charging at TSO with a clothesline, TSO hitting a drop toehold to Sephiroth, dropping Sephiroth throat-first onto the middle rope. TSO rebounds from the ropes, coming back, to drop a leg over Sephiroth’s neck, Seph pulling back slightly, TSO hitting the middle rope crotch-first, Seph pulling TSO off of the ropes, setting TSO for the Fallen Angel DDT, only to have TSO jump up, and over, and, as Seph turns, flooring him with a superkick, going to the top rope.))

Eddie: TSO’s going to hit the Mouth Shutter on Seph!

Travis: Not smart.

((TSO drills the Mouth Shutter on the rising Sephiroth, then picking Sephiroth up, tossing him toward the ropes, and following him in with a clothesline, Sephiroth holding onto TSO as he falls over the top rope, sending TSO sprawling to the ground, Sephiroth sliding into the ring under the bottom rope, another set of music playing as TSO goes over the top rope, Ghost bolting to the ring, instantly catching Sephiroth with the Possession Karate Rush, the move flooring Seph. Before Ghost can capitalize, a figure appears from backstage, visibly female, but wearing what looks like a gargoyle suit, with the exception of the arms, a mouth hole cut in the mask, arms covered in black fishnet.))

Jean Fortello: The Sadistic One has been eliminated!

Eddie: What the-? No music. . . is this not a legitimate entry?

Travis: Does it matter? Who is this?!

((The odd woman physically picks Ghost up over her head, tossing him out of the ring and nearly all the way up the ramp, before sliding under the bottom rope, and walking backstage again.))

Jean Fortello: Ghost has been eliminated!

Eddie: Well, whoever that woman was, she may have just cost Ghost what could legitimately be the biggest statement of his career, eliminating Sephiroth.

Travis: Well, this wannabe Sephiroth is definitely making an impact, here.

Eddie: Who’s next?

((A few moments pass, Sephiroth regaining his feet, and his consciousness, taking a few moments to breathe.))

Eddie: Is that it?

Travis: No one else is coming out here.

((As if to prove Travis wrong, “Black No. 1” plays, the crowd falling silent, looking to the top of the ramp. From the backstage area, Jessie Blankenship bolts to the ring, sliding into the ring under the bottom rope, Sephiroth regarding her with a patronizing smirk. At least up until she drills him with a huge clothesline, putting him on his back. Sephiroth scrambles hurriedly to his feet, surprisingly quickly, considering the damage he’d sustained, but not quick enough to dodge Jessie lifting him onto her shoulders, moving to the ropes, and swinging Sephiroth out, F-5ing Seph over the top rope, to the ground below, music playing again, as an unknown figure bolts to the ring, facing off with Jessie.))

Jean Fortello: Sephiroth has been eliminated!

Eddie: Jessie took out Sephiroth!!

Travis: Someone go tell her that she’s supposed to fall to these guys.

Eddie: The next athlete is in the ring.

((Again, the music continues, up until the unknown man drills Jessie with a kick to the midsection, and a DDT, dropping an elbow, before standing to his feet, taking his mask off, and throwing his head back.))

Eddie: THAT’S BLOOD DRAGON!!!

Travis: WHAT THE-?! BLOOD DRAGON’S BACK!

((Blood Dragon drills Jessie with a clothesline, then picking her up, locking her in a dragon sleeper, visibly the beginning of his finisher, only to have Jessie reach up, grabbing the back of Blood Dragon’s neck, and then jumping horizontal, dropping Blood Dragon with an elevated cutter-style move, “Stand Alone” playing over the PA as Jarred Dylan strolls arrogantly to the ring, the crowd, as one, booing the new World Champion. Sliding into the ring, Jessie gets to her feet, Jarred waiting for Jessie to get to her knees, then blasting her, hard, in the face with a boot, lifting Jessie from the ground, and depositing her a few feet away, on her back, clutching at her jaw. Jarred smirks, then turning to Blood Dragon, hauling Blood Dragon to his feet, only to get drilled with a low blow, Blood Dragon hooking one of Jarred’s arms, and spinning around him, hitting a beautiful Dragon suplex, sending Jarred sailing over the top rope, the crowd erupting into insanely loud cheers at the ‘dethroning’, of the World champion. Blood begins to turn, Jessie hitting a springboard rocker dropper, driving Blood facefirst into the mat.))

Jean Fortello: Jarred Dylan has been eliminated!

Eddie: Blood Dragon’s eliminated the champion!

Travis: What?!

Eddie: I said-

Travis: I know what you said, but I can’t believe it!

((Jessie hits a full layout suplex, music playing again, this time the music easily recognized as “Click Click Boom”, the crowd erupting as Draven Masters bolts to the ring, sliding into the ring, picking Blood Dragon up, then, in one move, turning, and flooring Jessie with a massive clothesline, Blood Dragon moving behind Draven, going for another Dragon suplex, Draven surprising everyone, including himself, apparently, by flipping out of the move, landing behind Blood Dragon, moving behind Blood, grabbing Blood in a standing waistlock, Jessie springing from a low crouch, hitting a dropkick to Blood, sending both Draven and Blood stumbling back toward the ropes, Draven reacting, near the ropes, as anyone would, hauling Blood into the air, and depositing him outside the ring with a german suplex.))

Jean Fortello: Blood Dragon has been eliminated!

Eddie: Draven attempting to honor the stable connection with Blood Dragon, but Blood Dragon seemed to remember that there are no friends in this match.

Travis: Nope. Just a bunch of enemies.

((Draven turns, firing off a huge clothesline toward Jessie, Jessie countering by turning the move into a crossface, pulling hard on Draven’s neck. Draven literally powers out of the move, moving to his hands and knees, and leaning over the top rope, loosening her fingers from around his chin. To Jessie’s credit, she hangs on tightly, Draven’s air supply flagging quickly enough for Jessie to regain her grip, Jessie nearly vertical, still yanking with everything she has on the crossface. Eventually, Draven sags to the mat, Jessie stepping into the ring, music playing again. Lucien bolts to the ring, sliding into the ring under the bottom rope, and coming up, launching forward with a clothesline, Jessie ducking under the clothesline attempt, grabbing Lucien’s arm, then ducking, and spinning, turning the move into a DDT. Jessie gets to her feet, picking Draven up, Draven firing off a right hand to Jessie’s stomach, only to have Lucien move around Jessie, appearing to either be checking on Jessie, or preparing to hit her with an UnMaking. From behind Lucien, Draven lurches forward, shoving Lucien, sending Lucien stumbling into Jessie, sandwiching her between Lucien and the ropes, Lucien backing away, then turning toward Draven. Draven flies forward, again, with another huge clothesline, Lucien ducking under the clothesline, Draven’s clothesline hitting Jessie, sending her flying over the top rope.))

Jean Fortello: Jessie Blankenship has been eliminated!

Eddie: Lucien almost seemed willing to be something other than a religious jerk, with Jessie, there.

Travis: It was a plan. Lucien shuns any kind of personal relationship. I mean, he was married, for a while, and never touched his wife. Something is seriously wrong with that man.

Eddie: Because he’s not controlled by his libido?

Travis: I’m glad you agree.

((Lucien looks down at Jessie for a moment, then turns, getting drilled with a spear by Draven, Lucien seeming nearly destroyed by the spear, Draven hauling Lucien to his feet, military pressing Lucien overhead, and moving toward the ropes, Lucien grabbing Draven’s left arm, pushing himself up, and swinging out, and down, almost as if to go for a sunset flip, only not, simply falling to the mat, Lucien bringing his feet up, planting them both soundly in the seat of Draven’s pants, sending Draven over the top rope. Lucien has no time to recover, however, as “Seek and Destroy” plays over the PA, Hans in the ring before the song has really started, firing off quick right hands to Lucien, staggering Lucien. Hans steps back, going for a spinning wheel kick, Lucien catching Hans in midair, and hitting an inverted fallaway slam to Hans, intended to eliminate Hans, only to have Hans hold onto the top rope, and slide into the ring using the momentum to carry him under the bottom rope, his slide low enough that he takes Lucien’s feet out from under him. Hans quickly bolts to the top turnbuckle, going for the Luftwaffe Dive, only to find Lucien standing, again, and, as Hans descends, Lucien plucks Hans out of midair, hitting a standing powerslam to Hans.))

Jean Fortello: Draven Masters has been eliminated!

Eddie: Lucien having a hand in eliminating both Jessie and Draven.

Travis: How many more people are there?

Eddie: Getting bored already?

Travis: Got that right. Where’s the blood?!

Eddie: You’re a sick individual.

((“My Plague” plays as Palaemon bolts to the ring, sliding into the ring, running at Lucien. Lucien reacts by simply firing off a superkick, which Palaemon sidesteps without slowing, quickly grabbing Lucien, pivoting slightly, and hitting a belly to belly suplex, sending Lucien the entire length of the ring, into the opposing turnbuckle.))

Eddie: Holy crap! Incredible show of strength from Palaemon, there.

Travis: Palaemon must have been doing a lot of weight training to throw Lucien around like that.

((Palaemon waits, and, as Lucien gets to his feet, hurtles across the ring, for a spear, Lucien sidestepping, Palaemon colliding shoulder-first into the turnbuckle post. Palaemon staggers out of the turnbuckle, Lucien kicking Palaemon in the stomach, going for the Unmaking, Hans cracking Lucien in the face with a superkick, Lucien staggering backward, Palaemon sliding from Lucien’s hands, Palaemon grabbing the top rope, landing on the apron. Lucien growls, slinging Hans into the ropes, apparently intending to knock Palaemon off of the ropes with Hans. Palaemon ducks, grabbing the top rope, Hans spilling over the top rope, to the floor.))

Jean Fortello: Hans Kuhmann has been eliminated!

Eddie: Well, this night has been incredibly filled with all varieties of surprises, and we- (Eddie is cut off by “Click Click Boom”.)) Wait. We’ve already seen Draven. So who can this be?

Travis: Are you daft?!

((Jeff Wylde bolts to the ring headlong, sliding into the ring under the bottom rope, instantly flooring both men with a simply awesome clothesline, then stepping back, picking Lucien up, tossing Lucien over the top rope, then turning to Palaemon. Behind Jeff, Lucien grabs the top rope, rolling into the ring, then, after a moment, rolling back out, walking off into the crowd, Jeff hitting Palaemon with a Wylde Ride, before tossing Palaemon out of the ring.))

Jean Fortello: Palaemon has been eliminated!

Eddie: Where did Lucien go?!

Travis: He’s running like a coward!

Eddie: The fact remains, Lucien didn’t get eliminated, and that might end up being a very intelligent tactic, here.

((“St. Anger” plays as Tiger bolts to the ring, the crowd booing madly. Tiger slides into the ring, launching a clothesline at Jeff, Jeff ducking, hitting Tiger with a bulldog, then picking her up, slowly, taking a jab to the face, followed by a second, and, finally, the right, of the Click Click Boom, Tiger backing up a bit, waiting. Jeff gets to his knees, Tiger sending him off of the far ropes, hitting Jeff with a Rider’s Hell, then picking Jeff up, tossing him over the top rope, eliminating him.))

Jean Fortello: Jeff Wylde has been eliminated!

Eddie: So, does that mean that Tiger’s won?

Travis: I guess.

((From the crowd behind Tiger, however, Lucien appears, sliding into the ring behind her, running at her from behind, and shoving her over the top rope, then celebrating as if he had won a match over everyone in the HWC. Lucien continues celebrating, Tiger, a scowl etched on her face, sliding into the ring, hitting Lucien with the first two punches in the Click Click Boom combo, but stopping shy of the third, stepping back, and hitting the basic impact of the Rider’s Hell, before sliding outside the ring, dragging Lucien outside the ring as well, powerbombing Lucien into the stairs in such a way that the back of Lucien’s skull cracks against the corner of the stairs, Lucien instantly curling up into a ball, clutching his head, Tiger smiling evilly, before grabbing the steel steps from their moorings, raising them high over her head, bringing them down, hard, into Lucien’s ribs, breaking at least one on impact, before tossing the steps onto Lucien’s body, walking off backstage, the camera following her, catching a bit of interaction backstage. The camera pans to the left, finding Jarred standing over a bloodied figure, easily seen to be his brother, under all the blood.)

Jarred: You’ve stolen the spotlight for too long! You’re not going to steal my spotlight tonight, like you’ve done every night before! I’m the champion now! It’s MY title! You’re just another foolish former champion!

((The scene dies as the transmission fades. Copyright Hardcore Wrestling Corporation, 2004))