((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. The image fades as the voice of Fred Drust is head saying, "If only we could fly!" Shots of Panthro, and Jericho, and Kidd are seen as My Generation starts to play followed by a shot of BloodLust Slayerz delivering the Slayerz Spear to Ace. As the song gets hard so does the images, such as The Tiger nailing Autumn, Panthro, Sarafan, and Jarred with a chair follwing by the beat down of The Tiger at the hand of Bad News. The song slows showing The Creeper and Blood Dragon staring each other down just before they go blow to blow with the song speeding up again. The shot changes to that of Celtic standing in the ring with his fist raised and another of him delivering a big boot to Vivian. Before the song ends shots of Jericho getting brutal with a cane, and B.D. beating away on Lucien are seen. As the song fades the images fade to black as a small spot light pans over a tattered broken blood covered belt, then back to black.))

((Raise Your Hands hits the PA. Strobe Lights go off as the main lights are cut off. A familiar figure makes his way down to the ring alongside 3 other men. Once in the ring the strobe lights cut off and the main lights come back on to show Matthew Montey standing in the middle of the ring.))

Matthew Montey: What's up!!?

((The crowd answers back with a What's up of it's own.))

Matthew Montey: You all remember me right?

((The crowd lets out another cheer.))

Matthew Montey: Alrighty well it's time to get down to business. You all remember way back when, about 4 months ago, when I abrubtly left the HWC? Well, I had to get my head back in the game after Moon Ravyn filed for a divorce. During the time I was gone, not only did I get my head back in the game, but I also started a fed of my own. Xtreme Allied Wrestling. I talked to HWC Owner Autumn Lewis and it is agreed that the XAW and HWC become affiliates. Behind me are 3 men from the XAW. The XAW VP Ed Smart, President of Promotions Jeff Moreland, and the former HWC Veteran and now XAW Legend. The Scorpion.

((The crowd lets out a loud boo as they hear the name Scorpion and start "Traitor" chants.))

Matthew Montey: Shut up. Do you think he gives a damn what the HWC fans think? Hell no. He came to the XAW looking for work and found he likes it more then he did HWC.

((The crowd starts up a "Fuck you fuck you" chant. The Scorpion grabs the mic but XAW President Montey calms him down by whispering something in his ear.))

Matthew Montey: You fans think we give a damn what you say? You think the XAW is going to be phased by a bunch of morons such as yourselves? You see, this affiliatoin not only marks the start of a new era, but the start of a battle of the feds. I am back on the HWC Roster and this time I am here to stay. My new attitude will be shown very soon. I would also like to make known, The Sadistic One both on the XAW and HWC Rosters, has a match against The Creeper tonight. May God have mercy on Creeper as he takes on one of the best in the XAW. You'll find out tonight who The Sadistic One is. Until then I leave you with this.

((XAW President Montey drops the mic as a recording is heard over the PA.))

We are what they call Xtreme.......Sadistic.......Evil.

But no matter how hard they try to knock us down.......We will always be around. It's time for the world to see what Xtreme really is. Come and get some HWC.

((The XAW members head off to the back as Raise Your Hands plays over the PA.))

Standard Match
Ghost vs Vivian

Eddie: Well, Travis, what do you think of tonight so far?

Travis: So far, it's absolutely sucked.

Eddie: I'd watch what you say, Travis... Jericho Dylan has been spotted in the arena.

Travis: The World Champion!? HERE?

Eddie: Yes. And I do believe the match that's next will make you change your mind about how the night's gone... It's between the newcomer who cost Klaus von Hammer his job, Ghost, and a person who's vicious in her own right, Vivian.

Travis: Vivian? Are you sure?

Eddie: Very sure.

Travis: Well, we'll wait and see how things go.

Jean Fortello: The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, from Seattle, Washington... Weighing in at 247 pounds... GHOST!

((A dark and thick grey smoke starts to roll in as Juggalo Homies starts to play. Through the smoke a pale figure makes his way through, once clearing the smoke Ghost raises his hands in the air and continues on down to the ring. On reaching it he climbs in and crosses the ring to climb up a turnbuckle. He swings his arms, starts jamming with the music and lip synchs with the chorus. After Ghost points to each side of the crowd calling them "His Homies" as they boo him, he jumps down.))

Eddie: The fans showing no love for this young man, Travis...

Travis: Why should they? He cost Klaus von Hammer his job!

Eddie: Does your opinion have anything at all to do with who brought Ghost into the HWC in the first place?

Travis: I don't know what you're talking about.

Eddie: You know exactly what I'm talking about... The fact that Austin Pierremont hired him.

Travis: Now that you mention it, that is the reason. I hate Austin Pierremont!

Eddie: You're not the only one. He and Commissioner Novak have crossed paths on more than one occasion... And I doubt there's anyone in the back that actually likes him. He reminds me of Victor Black... Only a lot smarter.

Travis: Don't remind me!

Jean Fortello: And his opponent... From the Compound... Representing the Dark Ascension... VIVIAN!

((The driving intro to "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" by Megadeth cuts through the crowd, silencing them all as one. The lights dim, to flicker in a strobe light's haze. Walking down, eyes fixed on the ring itself, she nears, clipboard in hand, entering the ring extremely slowly. The fans erupt in a tumult of cheers for Vivian, having decided long ago that she's worth cheering about. The bell rings and Vivian tosses her clipboard out of the ring so it can't be used as a weapon. Ghost charges in and goes for a savate kick, only to hit air. Vivian's standing behind him, waggling her finger at him. Then she hits him with a clothesline. He goes down hard and she nails him with several vicious kicks to the ribs. He rolls out of the way and gets to his feet and smirks, then calls her one of his "homies". That earns him a raised eyebrow and a kick to the stomach. Ghost doubles over, then stands up and sneers before going for a kick to the jaw. Vivian leans back, giving the fans a good look down her shirt, then straightens up and hits him with a kick of her own. Ghost drops like a ton of bricks. Vivian watches him dispassionately, not allowing her emotions to show. He gets to his hands and knees and Vivian kicks him in the ribs. She kicks him so hard, she lifts him off the mat a few inches. He falls to the mat, holding his ribs and gasping for breath. Vivian lifts him up and hits a flawless DDT. Then she goes for a cover. 1... 2... Just barely does Ghost kick out.))

Eddie: He almost lost there, Travis...

Travis: Too bad he didn't get pinned. He sucks, and so does Austin Pierremont.

Eddie: I refuse to vocalize my sentiments regarding Mr. Pierremont, but I think you know how I feel.

Travis: Yup. But you're going to tell me on the commercial break.

Eddie: (chuckling) All right.

((Ghost has now recovered enough to launch a minor offensive assault, shoving Vivian back against the ropes. Then he nails her with a kick to the stomach that... does no damage? She's still standing there! And now she appears to be laughing! That's never a good sign, because the only time a person like Vivian laughs is when someone's about to get seriously hurt. Ghost moves in to kick her again and she catches his foot. But instead of holding it, she shoves backward, pushing him out of range so he can't try an Enziguri. He's still struggling to regain his footing when she hits him with a clothesline that has him spinning around before crashing to the mat. She picks him up by the neck and slings him over her shoulders.))

Eddie: She's not...

Travis: What?

Eddie: It looks to me like she's setting up for a Samoan Drop, Death Valley Driver or...

Travis: Or what?

Eddie: Or an F5.

Travis: She wouldn't.

((She would, Travis... She spins him around and nails a flawless F5 that's only rivaled by Peter's. Ghost lays motionless on the mat as she stands there with her hands on her hips. Then she turns him over and goes for a cover. 1... 2... 3! The bell rings and the referee lifts her hand in victory.))

Jean Fortello: Here is your winner... VIVIAN!

((Vivian nods to the crowd as she steps through the ropes to head to the back. As she's walking by, she notices someone's duffel bag sitting in the hallway outside one of the offices. Which of the administrators is here tonight? The names flit through her mind and she subconsciously rejects Peter Blankenship and Cherisse Novak, as they're at home dealing with family issues. Then she sees the name on the door and laughs quietly. The name tag reads, "Autumn Lewis". The fans erupt in cheers when they see that name, knowing damn well the president of the HWC is in the building. But whose duffel bag is that? The door opens and a hand reaches out, grabbing the duffel bag. On the arm is a black and silver wristband. Vivian recognizes it and laughs, then goes to the Dark Ascension's locker room.))

Eddie: I wonder who that is.

Travis: I wonder why they're talking to President Lewis.

Eddie: Vivian seemed to recognize them.

Travis: Be that as it may, Eddie, we're going to take a commercial break right now. So stay tuned.

Eddie: We've got a lot more action ahead, so don't miss it!

(Blood Dragon is sitting at a Wendy's with Zoe. He's eating one of the new Wendy's salads.)

Zoe: What'cha got?

Blood: A Wendy's salad.

Man at next table (laughing): The big bad wrestler is eating a salad? (Laughs harder.) What a wimp! Only wimps eat salad!

(Suddenly we see the man flying across the Wendy's screaming, followed by a thud as he lands on the floor. Cut back to Zoe brushing her hands off.)

Zoe: No one calls my husband a wimp except me!

Blood: Thanks hon...HEY!

Announcer: Now Wendy's has great salads with under 5 grams of fat. Come to Wendy's. It's better here.

((The HWC cameras follow a long stretch limo as it comes into the arena parking structure quickly, then screeching to a halt, Austin Perremont appearing from the back of the limo, to many rousing boos from the crowd.))

((The camera cuts to ringside, where Eddie and Travis are sitting with slightly pleased expressions on their faces.))

Eddie: And now, ladies and gentlemen, we are going live via satellite to New York, the home state of our own Assistant Commissioner.

Travis: What city, if you're so smart?

Eddie: We're going live to Peter's home in Buffalo, New York... Peter, can you hear me?

Peter: Loud and clear, Eddie.

((The image fades to one of Peter sitting in an elegant New York mansion, one leg folded over the other. The fans erupt at the sight.))

Eddie: The fans sure are happy to see you, Peter!

Peter: That's no surprise. Most of em are indy kids. They know my reputation.

Travis: We have a few questions for you, if we could.

Peter: Ask away. I do reserve the right to refuse to answer.

Eddie: Understood. First question... Where's Jessie?

Peter: Didn't you know, Eddie? She's there in St. Louis!

Travis: The fans are almost deafening me here...

Peter: Good.

Eddie: *laughing* Good one.

Peter: Thank you. I try.

Travis: Why is she here in St. Louis?

Peter: She had some business to take care of with Cherisse. Something about a contract?

((The fans go wild, thinking (correctly) that Jessie's talking to Cherisse about signing a contract with the HWC.))

Eddie: I see. Peter, we have to ask this... But what is the relationship between you being in that coma and what happened to The Lurker?

((Peter sits back and looks at the ceiling, then looks directly into the camera, a dangerous look in his eye.))

Peter: None. I had nothing to do with it.

((The sound of shattering glass is heard from somewhere behind him in the house. Peter's head whips around and he rises up with a concerned look on his face.))

Eddie: Peter? What was that?

Peter: The glass in my front door. Excuse me while I go take a look...

Travis: Sure.

((Peter heads for his front door, the cameraman bobbling along behind him. Glass is scattered all over the foyer, but there's no sign of an intruder. Peter crouches near the fragments, a confused look on his face.))

Peter: Now what the hell...

((After looking around and find nothing Peter slowly returns to the living room he was one in. But just before he sits back down the window behind him is clearly kicked in.))

Eddie: What the hell?

((Peter turns around and sees a shadow looming in the moonlight cast on the floor. He's the only one who can see anything... And nobody can see the look on his face.))

Travis: Peter? Peter, what's going on?

Peter: I seem to have an intruder. Perhaps you'd best suspend the feed until I get rid of him.

((The form of the figure darts away and the feed continues on. Peter breathes a quiet sigh of relief, then turns back to the camera.))

Peter: Now then, where were we?

Eddie: You'd just answered a question about The Lurker.

Peter: Ah, yes. I believe the next question is yours, Travis.

Travis: Right. What are your plans regarding Jessie's potential career in the HWC?

Peter: I'm going to support her in every possible way. I can do it, which means she can too.

((A moment later something large crashes through the window. The form of a large man lands quickly and slams Peter through a door to the next room, disappearing off camera. The cameraman stays put, totally shocked. The fans are screaming in shock, not knowing what's going on.))

Eddie: Peter! Peter, are you there?

Travis: This is bad, Eddie... Really bad. Who was that guy and what's he want with Peter?

((After a moment, the cameraman runs to where he saw Peter disappear. He focuses in on what he can see, if anything. The camera focuses the light from the living room illuminates the face of Peter as he struggles to breathe, a large hand is pressed to his throat and someone breathing hard can be heard. Peter's attacker can not be seen, as a deep rough voice of a man is heard, his words soft yet firm.))

Voice: You tried to cripple me. Well now I'm going to bury you!

Eddie: What the... Who is that?

Travis: The only person who was nearly crippled was... Oh, dear Lord.

Eddie: What?

Travis: I know who that is!

((Meanwhile, Peter's struggling to lift the hand off his throat so he can breathe. He gets the fingers up about a quarter of an inch, which is quite an accomplishment considering he's flat on his back! A forearm is slammed into Peter's head just as the cameraman turns on the light. The form of The Lurker is seen crouched over Peter. The sudden light catches the attention of the Lurker. Still holding Peter to the floor, Lurker reaches out with his free hand and grabs the camera. He pulls it roughly from the cameraman before smashing it against the floor. The screen fuzzes, then cuts to the HWC logo. Eddie and Travis are shaken to the very core with what they've just seen.))

Eddie: My God. Lurker thinks it was Peter.

Travis: I'm not sure if he's right or not. But I do know one thing... Peter is in a world of trouble.

Eddie: You're right, Travis. Folks, we'll be back after this.

((The steady beep of a severed satellite signal cuts off, leaving the fans silent in their seats. They can't believe what they just saw!))

(Two men are standing in a locker room.)

First man: Are you sure we should be doing this?

Second man: Of course. What could possibly go wrong?

First man: I don't know. This isn't what I had in mind.

(The door opens and Autumn Lewis sticks her head in.)

Autumn: You boys ready?

(They nod.)

Autumn: Come and get em girls!

(She throws the door open and Tiger and Harley charge into the room grabbing the men and are seen applying various painful wrestling holds on them. The men grunt and groan and Autumn and Martin Smalls are standing in the doorway laughing and drinking Mountain Dew Code Reds.)

Announcer: No cheap dates. Mountain Dew Code Red. Live by the code.

(Cut to a shot of Tiger with the Crossface on one of the men and him tapping out on the floor.)

Announcer: Now for a limited time, on specially marked bottles of Moutain Dew Code Red, you could instantly win tickets to a free HWC event and meet your favorite wrestler. Check the cap to see if you're an instant winner, or win hundreds of other prizes including HWC merchandise.

Standard Match
Jarred Dylan vs Lucien Merriuci

Eddie: Well, after that first match tonight, between Vivian and Ghost, now we have a match between Lucien Meriucci and Jarred Dylan.

Travis: Jarred’s got to be gunning for Lucien. Lucien beat Jarred once before.

Eddie: Jarred’s at the top of his game, now. You have to think that Jarred is more than aptly prepared for this match.

Travis: At least he hopes he is.

Jean Fortello: The following match is set for one fall. Introducing first, from New Orleans, Louisiana, weighing in at 225 lbs, being accompanied to the ring by Eric Taylor, he is one half of the HWC Tag Team Champions. . . JARRED DYLAN!!!

((Thick clouds of white fog billow out and engulf the top of the ramp, hiding everything from view. The music plays softly, getting louder and louder until you hear "Well, I won't be the one left behind... You can't be king of the world if you're slave to the grind. Tear down the rat-racial slime... You can't be king of the world if you're slave to the grind!" The fog dies down, revealing two figures: Jarred Dylan and Eric Taylor. They walk down the ramp, slapping hands with the fans. Jarred slides under the bottom rope, Eric taking a place outside the ring with his arms crossed.))

Eddie: Jarred primed, and waiting, for his opponent, Lucien Meriucci tonight.

Travis: He’s had a whole week. He should be primed and ready.

Jean Fortello: And his opponent, from Prague, in the Czech Republic, weighing in at 275 lbs. . . LUCIEN MERIUCCI!!!

((The arena goes pitch black as "The Call of Ktulu starts. Lucien slowly methodically walk to the ring as the lights come up to a dim. Lucien stands on the outside piercing a hole through his opponent with his eyes(metaphorically speaking of course). The lights return to normal as Lucien steps into the ring, getting floored by a thunderous clothesline from Jarred, the clothesline sending both men over the top rope, outside the ring. Jarred picks up Lucien, slinging him toward the ring steps, Lucien reversing the throw, Jarred crashing into the steps hard enough to send them skittering into the guardrail. Jarred remains unmoving.))

Eddie: That move may have backfired, and cost Jarred significantly, here.

Travis: Well, these two men are attempting to take each other apart.

((Lucien picks Jarred up, sliding him into the ring, and then following him in, picking Jarred up, and then setting Jarred up for an Unmaking, only to have Jarred lunge forward, spinning around, and turning the setup into a school boy. 1. . . 2. . . kickout. Lucien gets to his feet quickly, stomping, hard, into Jarred’s stomach, driving the wind out of Jarred’s lungs, and, again, hauling Jarred into the air, going for another Unmaking, this time getting Jarred into the air, only to have Jarred drop through with a sunset flip. 1. . . 2. . . kickout. Jarred rolls outside the ring, Lucien vaulting over the top rope. Jarred falls to the side, Lucien hitting the concrete between the rampway and the padding around the ring. Jarred gets up, jumping onto the apron, and waiting. As Lucien begins to get to his feet, Jarred jumps up, planting his feet on the middle rope, and flying back, with an Asai moonsault, catching Lucien by surprise, and driving Lucien back-first into the concrete, Jarred sliding up the ramp slightly. Both men lie still for several moments, then begin to get to their feet.))

Eddie: Jarred and Lucien are both fairly evenly matched, here, tonight, ladies and gentlemen. It looks like it’ll come down to whoever makes the bigger mistake.

Travis: Looks like they’ve taken their last match into consideration, and studied each other almost to a literal map.

Eddie: That was very intuitive, Travis.

Travis: I do that sometimes.

((Lucien catches Jarred with a kick to the midsection, hauling Jarred into the air, then pushing Jarred up and over his head, toward the ring, Jarred landing, hard, facefirst, on the apron. Lucien moves to Jarred, grabbing a handful of Jarred’s hair, then pulling Jarred’s head back, driving Jarred facefirst into the apron again, then pulling back again to do it once more, Jarred catching Lucien with a back elbow to Lucien’s unprotected middle, then another, and a third, before driving Lucien facefirst into the apron, moving behind Lucien, and shoving Lucien onto the apron, before sliding into the ring, catching Lucien with a kick to the midsection, forcing Lucien to rely on the ropes to hold him up, Jarred rebounding from the far ropes, then jumping up, handspringing over the top rope where Lucien rested, falling toward the outside of the ring, bringing Lucien down in a sunset flip style move, Lucien’s head cracking against the concrete.))

Eddie: What was that?!

Travis: Crazy! Jarred’s been hanging out with B.D. for too long.

Eddie: You might be right.

((Jarred, after a few moments, gets to his feet, sliding into the ring, and simply waiting there. Lucien takes more time than previously, then sliding into the ring. Jarred catches Lucien with a knife edge chop, then hauls Lucien into the air as though going for a belly to back suplex, then placing Lucien on the top turnbuckle, going through the ropes near Lucien, standing on the apron, then firing off a number of right hands to Lucien, before dropping from the apron, backing up, and jumping forward, doing a handstand on the apron, then rolling up to rest on Lucien’s shoulders as if going for a hurracanrana.))

Eddie: What is Jarred doing?!

Travis: Getting ready to get powerbombed to the outside, it looks like.

((As Travis had intimated, Lucien begins to stand, climbing up the turnbuckle support beams. Jarred catches Lucien with a series of right hands after Lucien’s gotten to the top turnbuckle, then a hurracanrana, sending Lucien sailing, to land, back-first, on the guardrail. Jarred quickly scales the turnbuckle again, making an all too-familiar signal to the crowd.))

Eddie: He wouldn’t!

Travis: He would!

Eddie and Travis(Together): LONG ARM OF THE LAW!!!

Eddie: Onto Lucien, who was helpless, on top of the guardrail!

Travis: Sucks to be him.

((Jarred gets to his feet, holding his back, then pulls Lucien off of the guardrail, sliding him into the ring, and following him in, hitting a 450 splash with high altitude. 1. . . 2. . .3!!!))

Eddie: Jarred’s won this match, and, after that Long Arm of The Law into the guardrail, I really don’t see how Jarred could have lost.

Travis: If he had fallen down, maybe.

Eddie: Maybe.

Standard Match
The Tiger vs Hans Kuhmann

Eddie: Well, ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a match between Tiger and Hans that was put together last week by our illustrious VP, Austin Perremont.

Travis: Illustrious? Yeah, right. Try deluded.

Eddie: He is backstage, Travis.

Travis: So? He’s too busy fantasizing about Autumn to notice anything important.

Jean Fortello: The following match is set for one fall. Introducing first, from Frankfurt, Germany, weighing in at 220 lbs. . . 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.))

Eddie: Hans looking ready for this match, which is something of a punishment match, one would think.

Travis: Well, this is all thanks to our moron of a VP, Austin Perremont.

Eddie: Travis, don’t get yourself into any trouble you can’t get yourself out of.

Jean Fortello: And his opponent, from St. Louis, Missouri, weighing in at 180 lbs. . . THE TIGER!!!

((King of My World plays followed by a explosions of fire like pyro around the stage. Smoke fills the stage from the fire and out from the smoke walks The Tiger. She broods as she walks slowly to the ring, climbing it she enters threw the middle rope, and, instantly, bolts across the ring, spearing Hans into the turnbuckle. Wasting no time, Tiger hauls Hans out of the turnbuckle, and goes for the Click Click Boom. Before the final shot, however, Hans falls back, for whatever reason, catching Tiger with a boot to the midsection, then coming off of the ropes with a clothesline. Tiger staggers backward, Hans following up with a dropkick, then, as he begins to rise, a spear. Tiger staggers backward further, but, at the spear, simply pulls Hans out of the air, drilling him with a powerbomb. Tiger picks Hans up, again going for a Click Click Boom, this time Hans dropping a low dropkick at Tiger’s right knee her bad knee, throwing off her balance, then getting to his feet, floors Tiger with a huge clothesline. Hans steps back slightly, waiting. Tiger begins to get to her feet, Hans going for a spinning wheel kick. Tiger catches Hans in midair, then, hauling Hans into the air further, drives him into the mat with what appears to be a modified powerbomb. Tiger goes for the pin quickly. 1. . . 2. . . kickout. Hans rolls outside the ring, resting.))

Eddie: Tiger’s been on a tear in this match.

Travis: She must have gotten busy before the match.

Eddie: How do you figure?

Travis: After I get busy, I can’t feel anything for a while myself.

Eddie: Which is different from the normal only in the fact that you feel dead everywhere, instead of just the neck up?

Travis: I plead the fifth.

((Tiger follows Hans, tossing him into the steps, and then tossing Hans onto the ground, pulling the steps up, placing Hans’ upper torso on the lower set of stairs, and bringing the upper part of the stairs into the air. Before impact, Hans slides backward, the stairs landing on his arm only. The thud is sickening. The referee calls for the bell.))

Jean Fortello: The winner of this match, as a result of a disqualification, HANS!!!

((“Seek and Destroy” begins to play again, Tiger simply shrugging, and continuing the assault on Hans with the stairs. Referees flood the ring, and, after several moments, finally get Tiger away from Hans. Tiger smiles, walking up the ramp, as the referee’s begin to put Hans on a stretcher, and wheel him out of the arena.))

((The camera is shown backstage where The Sadistic One and The Saint are going at it. The Sadistic One breaks a 2X4 over The Saint's back. The Saint crumbles to the floor.))

TSO: We may be in the XAW together, but make no mistake about it Saint, when it comes to me being booked for an HWC show, you and the rest of the XAW are the enemy. Tonight Saint you are the enemy and so help me, by the God you profess your love in, tonigh you will be injured by my hands.

((The Sadistc One, gives The Saint one last kick for good measure before walking off towards the locker room area.))

(Jericho Dylan walks into a sports memorabilia store and heads to the wrestling section. Several people stare in awe at him as he starts picking out some items with his image on them. Pictures, posters, action figures, etc. He walks up to the cashier.)

Cashier: A Jericho Dylan fan are we?

(She looks up at him.)

Cashier: Oh.

Jericho: Is it okay if I pay by check?

Cashier: Sure. I just need some ID.

(Jericho looks astounded.)

Jericho: Okay...(pulls out ID)

Cashier: Are you sure this is you? I have to call this in.

(Jericho rolls his eyes and waits drumming his fingers on the counter. The camera cuts to scenes of him nodding off, signing autographs, having his action figure fight with Tiger's, pacing, stretching.)

Jericho: How much longer is this gonna take?

Cashier: Just a minute.

Jericho: You said that two hours ago.

(More scenes of Jericho being bored, fighting a demon, watching HWC on TV.)

Eddie (from TV): And surprisingly Jericho Dylan is not here tonight!

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

Cashier: I'm sorry. Do you have another form of ID?

(Jericho looks exhausted and faints.)

Announcer: Next time use the Visa check card. It gets you in, out and on with life.

(The scene cuts to Harley Quinn with a bunch of her wrestling memorabilia.)

Harley: Can I write a check for this?

((Camera opens up with a clip from Christmas Chaos, the words in red at the bottom right corner read, "Last Week."))

Handicap Match in a Steel Cage
XAW's The Saint & Jamie Hart vs B.D.

Eddie: This next match is the kind of match only a sick minded freak would sign into effect.

Travis: Our VP.

Eddie: And it has, quite possibly, the most insane individual in the entire HWC involved.

Travis: B.D.

Eddie: You’re full of helpful information tonight, aren’t you?

Travis: I’m full of helpful information every night!

Eddie: Liar.

Jean Fortello: The following match is a Handicap Cage match. In the ring at this time, at a combined weight of 466 lbs, from San Diego, California, and Detroit, Michigan, representing the XAW. . . THE SAINT AND JAMIE HART!!!

((The crowd has a mixed reaction to the two men in the ring, both men reacting differently, The Saint playing up the crowd, and Jamie Hart shouting at the fans.))

Eddie: Well, there you can see this visibly mismatched team in the ring. You have to wonder if these two will even be able to function as a viable team, here.

Travis: That Saint guy looks boring and dull. I like that Jamie Hart kid, though.

Jean Fortello: And their opponent, from the Second Tier of Hell, weighing in at 260 lbs, representing the Dark Ascension. . . B.D.!!!

((As “Super Charger Heaven” fades in, the lights fade, and the HWC-tron shows a very distinguished looking gentleman, in an elaborate study, his hands resting on his left knee, folded over his right. As the song proceeds, the man's voice cuts in. "Look, I know the supernatural is something that isn't supposed to happen, but it does happen." the HWC-tron then fades to black, and two large red dots appear on the Tron, only to flow down, and leave behind two letters made from the red liquid, in B.D. Smoke fills the entranceway and the ring, after a few seconds obscuring both, the lights come back up, the smoke flowing from the ring, showing B.D. waiting, in a low crouch, for the match to start. Before either man can register the presence of B.D. in the ring, Jamie is summarily speared into one of the support poles of the cage with a level of force that wouldn’t appear possible from someone of B.D.’s build. B.D. gets up, taking a kneelift from The Saint, staggering backward. The Saint rushes forward, B.D. dropping into a drop toehold, dropping The Saint throat-first onto the top rope. B.D. giggles maniacally, then runs up The Saint’s body, jumping up, and quickly ending up on the top of the cage, only moments away from being out of the cage itself.))

Eddie: B.D. might have this match won, right here!

Travis: Holy crap! That was, what, two seconds?!

((B.D. looks around, on top of the cage wall, giggles maniacally, and drops into a low crouch. The Saint steps back from the ropes after a moment, then spins, his back to B.D.))

Eddie: What is this madman planning?!

Travis: I don’t know. But it can’t be good for The Saint.

Eddie: DON’T TURN AROUND, SAINT!!!

((The Saint, either not hearing Eddie, or ignoring him, turns around, B.D. jumping as The Saint begins his turn, hitting a front dropkick to The Saint, the recoil sending B.D. headfirst into a support pole behind him. B.D., as per his norm, giggles maniacally, and proceeds to kickflip to his feet, looking around, then climbing on top of the turnbuckle. Before anyone could think otherwise, B.D. simply begins skipping along the top rope, as if he was taking a leisurely stroll down the street. The Saint gets to his feet, B.D. skipping past him, and then, suddenly, B.D. jumps off of the top rope, and hits The Saint with a flying crossbody. Saint rolls through, and begins firing off right hands to B.D.’s face.))

Eddie: Someone tell that Saint guy that B.D. doesn’t feel pain, at least not in his head.

Travis: No way. That’d mean being closer to B.D. than anyone who knows him would want to be.

Eddie: Good point.

((The Saint steps back slightly, then dropping an elbow into B.D.’s throat, standing up again and dropping a leg over B.D.’s throat, before walking to one of the turnbuckles, mounting it, and beginning to pull himself up the cage. As quickly as he had fallen, B.D. gets to his feet, again, but, instead of attempting to grab The Saint, B.D. simply runs at the ropes, jumping onto the top rope, and bouncing up onto the top of the cage, kicking The Saint in the stomach as he ascends, then hooking The Saint’s arms over his head, before swinging The Saint out over the ring, and dropping.))

Eddie: HOLY SHIT!!! B.D. just hit a Plague to The Saint from the top of the cage! Someone stop this match! The Saint might be dead, now!

Travis: Hey, he’s the one that always talks about being a man of God. B.D. just arranged the meeting.

((B.D. lies on the ground, as does The Saint, both men about as mobile as rocks. And then, suddenly, B.D. giggles, again, before kickflipping to his feet, glancing at The Saint, then to the rising Jamie Hart, and then simply drilling Jamie with a vicious superkick, B.D. waiting, in a low crouch.))

Eddie: Shades of Obake! He’s waiting for The Saint to get to his feet, and then, who knows, with B.D.?

Travis: When The Saint gets up, B.D.’ll eat his brain.

Eddie: That’s disgusting.

Travis: Can you put it past B.D.?

Eddie: Good point.

((The Saint gets to his feet, turning around, B.D. charging forward with another spear, this time hitting The Saint and continuing on, before dropping The Saint just shy of the cage. B.D. picks The Saint up, kicks him in the midsection, steps back, and, again, charges forward with another spear, this time drilling The Saint into the cage, B.D. stepping back, and then, with another one of the maniacal giggles that seemed to unnerve everyone, B.D. steps back, as The Saint rests on the ropes, and charges forward, again, hitting a spear a bit higher than normal, the force of the blow driving both men through the cage itself, the cage falling between the ring and the guardrail, both men slowly getting up, to stand on the fallen cage.))

Eddie: HOLY CRAP!

Travis: B.D. is insane. But also surprisingly strong.

((B.D. pulls The Saint to his feet, only to get caught by an oddly distinctive move.))

Eddie: I believe he calls that God’s Hand.

Travis: He finally had an offense!

((The cage dents downward at impact. The Saint begins walking toward the side of the fallen cage wall, B.D. grabbing him before he can step off the edge, The Saint too close to the edge, falling lower than normal, and cracking his head on the mat.))

Eddie: This match can’t be won by your head hitting the ground, so, as odd as it seems, this match has to continue until someone puts their feet on the ground.

Travis: This match is crazy.

((B.D. gets The Saint to his feet, Jamie Hart having left the ring already by this time. B.D. smiles, spearing The Saint again, both of them falling off of the cage wall, hitting the ground at the same time. The referee goes to make a call, then stops, and goes over to watch the replay of the last part of the match. After a few moments, the announcement is made.))

Jean Fortello: The decision of the referee is that both The Saint and B.D. hit the ground at the same time, and, as a result, this match is a draw.

Eddie: A draw?!

Travis: This match should be restarted! We need a- What the-?!

((B.D. grabs his chair, having landed outside the ring during his entrance, moving over to the retreating Jamie Hart, rearing back, and hitting Jamie with a Chair Drive on the rampway, then moving and waiting on The Saint. After a moment, The Saint gets to his feet, only to suffer a Chair Drive of his own, B.D. walking back up the ramp holding his chair with his new bloodstains on it high.))

Eddie: B.D., always with the pursuit of those Bloodstains.

Travis: That is one scary, scary man. Simply because he doesn’t seem to be the least bit bothered by pain. And that he wants to make people bleed.

(A man is walking down the street and he sees a massage parlor. He rubs his sore back and walks inside.)

Woman: Can I help you?

Man: My back is killing me!

Woman: Right this way.

(We cut to the man laying on a massage table facedown with a towel covering him from the waist down. A masseuse walks in showing a generous amount of cleavage.)

Masseuse: Just relax, sir.

(The man sees her and smiles laying his head down. The man suddenly opens his eyes and groans as his back cracks. We see Draven Masters working over the man's back with pounding blows while the masseuse massages his shoulders. The camera gets a closeup of Draven grinning as he continues to work over the man's back, as we hear the man grunting and groaning and the sound of his back cracking. Finally we see Draven walk away and pull a Snicker's Cruncher bar out of his pocket. He takes a bite and grins.)

Announcer: There's no crunch more satisfying than that of a Snicker's Cruncher.

(Behind Draven the man comes walking out bent over and groaning in pain. The masseuse comes up and gives him a Snicker's Cruncher too. He takes a bite and grins as he walks off.)

Announcer: Snicker's Cruncher. A satisfying crunch.

Hardcore Title Match
The Creeper(c) vs The Sadistic One

Eddie: And now we come to our main event, Travis... A Hardcore title match.

Travis: Ooh... Blood! Who's the victim this time?

Eddie: Matthew Montey, who is now calling himself The Sadistic One.

Travis: Hey, wait a minute, wasn't he Lone Goth?

Eddie: He was. Apparently he's found his gimmick.

Travis: Score another one for The Creeper.

Eddie: I wouldn't be so sure, Travis... I mean, we don't know what Montey is capable of. Not any more. It's been too long.

Travis: Hey, I said score another one... I didn't say it'd be an easy one!

Eddie: That's true, you didn't. I wonder how this is going to turn out.

Jean Fortello: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the HWC Hardcore Championship! Introducing first, the challenger. From St. Paul, Minnesota... Weighing in at 235 pounds... 'THE SADISTIC ONE' MATTHEW MONTEY!

((The lights in the arena go out. Church bells begin to play over the PA. As the bells fade into the background the lights begin to flicker. And out of the darkness the Sadist did fall, true pain and suffering be brought to them all. Away was the Roster to hide in the halls, for fear that the Sadist would chop off their balls. The Church bells slowly grow over the speaker. A blast of fire shoots out of the ringposts. A spotlight hits the ring and we see Matt 'The Sadistic One' Montey standing in the spotlight.))

Eddie: Another man who's being booed soundly by the fans here, Travis... They remember him, and apparently some of them don't want to.

Travis: They need to cut him some slack. I mean, he may not be the same guy we saw before.

Jean Fortello: And his opponent... Hailing from the Second Tier of Hell... Representing the Dark Ascension... He is the HWC Hardcore Champion... THE CREEPER!

((The lights die, A loud, booming, demonic voice laughs throughout the building, then segueing into "Go 2 Sleep". Lightning strikes the turnbuckles, all four bursting into pillars of flame, then dying, The Creeper standing on one of the turnbuckles, arms folded over his chest. The Hardcore title belt glitters on his shoulder as he hops down from the turnbuckle. He hands the belt to the referee, who holds it up to signify what the match is for. The bell rings and TSO hits The Creeper from behind, trying to gain the upper hand. The Creeper just laughs as he turns around to face him. TSO blinks, then goes for a running clothesline. But he's the one who gets floored...))

Eddie: The fans justified in their feelings about him, Travis...

Travis: So it would seem. I wonder how long it'll take The Creeper to dispose of him.

Eddie: Not very long, I wouldn't think.

((Creeper reaches down and lifts TSO to his feet by the simple expedient of a handful of hair. He nails TSO with an uppercut that sends him back into the ropes. TSO reaches back and grabs a kendo stick as he bounces off the ropes. He's holding it in front of him as he moves toward The Creeper... WHACK! Right across the chest!))

Travis: And that's legal! This is a hardcore title match!

Eddie: That it is. But it didn't seem to have any effect on him...

Travis: He's just like B.D. I mean, that insane freak didn't even notice when he broke the cage!

Eddie: I do believe he speared The Saint through it and over the guardrail.

Travis: My point exactly, Eddie... He didn't even care!

Eddie: It's been a strange night, that's for sure...

((The Creeper hits TSO with a clothesline and the kendo stick hits the mat right beside him. Creeper lifts TSO off the mat and hits a beautiful scoop slam. A sudden disturbance at the top of the ramp draws the crowd's attention to see someone coming down to ringside...))

Eddie: Jessie, what are you doing here? I thought you'd be on your way home by now.

Jessie: Why would I want to go home?

Travis: To be with your parents.

Jessie: There's no reason for me to go home... I just got off the phone with my mother.

Eddie: What exactly happened?

Jessie: As far as we can tell, the Lurker was outside the house the whole time. When he broke in and assaulted my dad, the cameraman was so spooked, he let him take the camera. Mom looked all over the house, but she couldn't find any trace of them. All she found was broken glass and a pool of blood in his study.

Travis: Wait a minute. Are you telling us your father was kidnapped?

Jessie: That's exactly what I'm saying. Dad wasn't even the one responsible for what happened to the Lurker...

((She rubs her eyes with a tissue and tries to keep her composure. Meanwhile, in the ring, TSO has managed to drive The Creeper to one knee with the business end of a fire extinguisher. He lifts it up and brings it crashing down on The Creeper's back, then grins sadistically. The Creeper is still on his knees as TSO rolls out of the ring to rummage under it. When he finds what he's looking for, he laughs and sets a plastic red container on the apron.))

Eddie: Hold on, is that what I think it is?

Travis: It sure looks like it... We haven't seen one of those since Palemon forced Beowulf to retire!

Jessie: This may be a hardcore match, but that doesn't mean he can use one of those! Excuse me, gentlemen...

((Jessie throws down her headset and flies over the announce table to hit TSO in the chest with a missile dropkick that sends him crashing backward into the steel steps. The Creeper gets to his feet in time to see Jessie grab the gas can and throw it into the crowd with the order "Get rid of that thing!" He sees TSO slumped over the steps and laughs softly, mockingly, then leans over to pull him back into the ring by his hair. Jessie gives TSO a glare, then moves back to the announce table.))

Eddie: That was an amazing display of agility, Jessie...

Travis: Definitely. You've inherited your father's talent for innovation, it seems.

Jessie: Thank you, gentlemen. And even though my dad isn't here to keep things from getting out of hand, he's still one of the toughest SOB's in the world of professional wrestling.

Eddie: That he is, Jessie... That he is.

Travis: I hope he turns up safe and sound.

Jessie: *whispered* So do I, Travis.

((Back in the ring, The Creeper has TSO up in position for a severe beating... In the form of the Death Rattle! He goes for a nonchalant cover. 1... 2... 3. The bell rings, briefly, then falls silent. Something's wrong. The match is over, but there's no music playing. Jessie looks at the timekeeper, who points to The Creeper as the winner. The referee lifts The Creeper's hand, but even he can tell something isn't right. Jessie stands up, headset resting on the table, staring at the top of the ramp. Standing there is Jesse Madison and he has something in his hand. He waits until Jessie is about a foot away, then throws that something to the ground at her feet. She looks down and does an incredulous double take, then falls to her knees. Hands shaking badly, she reaches out and picks up her father's black leather jacket. The one he never takes off when he's at an arena. The one with the neon green heartbeat line on the front. The one she gave him when she found him again. The fans see the neon green heartbeat line and start to scream, partly in fear, partly in shock. She stands slowly, holding the jacket to her chest, and turns around. TSO is on his feet at this point, and he and The Creeper can see the expression on her face. The Creeper is the first to leave the ring, heading right for where she's standing. When he gets close enough, he asks her a question.))

Creeper: What is the significance of that item, Jessica?

Jessie: This is my dad's jacket... The one he's never without. This is just proof that the Lurker... He...

Creeper: He what?

Jessie: He did kidnap my father from the house earlier.

Creeper: Come, we will find out what happened.

((Jessie clutches the jacket tightly as they walk backstage to the Dark Ascension's locker room. The door swings shut from within, untouched by any hand. Voices raised in shock can be heard before the door shuts all the way. One of those voices belongs to Peter Blankenship's best friend, Jericho Dylan. The camera catches his commentary...))

Jericho: What the HELL?

((Then the door is closed and all sound from within is contained. The camera cuts back to ringside where Eddie and Travis are sitting.))

Eddie: This is terrible. If Peter has been kidnapped, then the Lurker is in serious trouble.

Travis: Not just trouble with the law either. I know Jessie and Jericho are going to want a piece of him for this.

Eddie: Most definitely. Folks, for Travis Best, I'm Eddie Daniels... We'll see you on WarZone.

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