------------------------------------
SEGMENT"The Return."
------------------------------------
{ The crowd anticipates the arrival of the next scheduled combatant for the next match on the card; their murmuring is all that is heard as the camera pans throughout the arena to see a packed arena. The murmurs fall silent as the lights all begin to go out, and all eyes go to the entranceway. There is a long delay. }Terri Morasco: This is strange, ladies and gentlemen. We must be having some kind of technical difficulty. Did we lose our music?
Vasco Dias: This is unacceptable. Somebody sort this out!
{ Clicking can be heard, as if someone behind the scenes is trying to fix something. It is still pitch black, and beyond that sound rather quiet; the crowd has begun murmuring again amongst themselves while waiting for the show to get started. }
Terri Morasco: Iâm sure itâll be back to normal--
And never has my blood been shed,
In countless wars and fights,
This kenning is my true name,
They call me IronsideâŠ
Terri Morasco: What?
Vasco Dias: Ironside?
{ The words drift off. Following the words, there is another extended silence leaving the crowd and the announcers all in confusion. A hush has fallen back over the crowd, even the announcers are now speechless as they are visibly trying to connect the dots. The howling of the wind can be heard momentarily before the instrumentals to âRaise Your Hornsâ finally begin to play over the speakers and the crowd goes into a frenzy! The lights begin to come back up with a blue hue, and a brighter spotlight shining to the curtains. }
Raise your horns, raise them up to the sky,
We will drink to glory tonight,
Raise your horns to brave, fallen friends,
We will meet where the beer never ends!
Terri Morasco: It canât be!
Vasco Dias: No! No! Go back to where you came from!
{ The one and only Ulf Hednir emerges from behind the curtains with a curved drinking horn held up to the sky, a smile wide on his face as the crowd all begin to raise their hands into the air. Ulf stands at the top of the stage turning his head back and forth slowly, and nodding his head in appreciation of the warm response from the crowd. }Terri Morasco: Itâs him! Ulf Hednir is back in the Imperial Wrestling Federation!
Vasco Dias: Another failure! Another reject! Another baby who took his ball and went home, and needs to go back!
Terri Morasco: Ulf Hednir had his reasoning for leaving, but I donât think it was him being upset with any sort of outcome. But why has he come back?
Vasco Dias: Hasnât cried enough.
{ Despite not having a microphone, and throughout the roaring crowd, Ulf Hednirâs voice can be heard echo throughout the arena. }Ulf Hednir: SkĂ„l!!!
Crowd: SkÄl!!!
{ Ulf brings the horn to his lips and chugs the beer that had filled it previously! He flips the horn upside down to show that he did not miss a drop before placing it in its holder hanging at his waist. He walks briskly toward the ring and high fives many of the fans en route. Ulf excitedly slides under the bottom rope and is quick to his feet, rushing to the corner and jumping to the second turnbuckle -- he points out to the crowd and raises the âdevil hornsâ in exchange of his usual horn salute before completing a backflip to land back in the middle of the ring. }Vasco Dias: He shouldnât be here. He shouldnât be anywhere near this place!
Terri Morasco: Let him return! Itâs a nice surprise!
{ One of the ring crew members tosses a microphone to Ulf who catches it with his left hand, and is just all smiles as he gestures for the music to cut. The lights do go back to normal. }Ulf Hednir: Ladies og gentlemen! Ladies og gentlemen! Takk! Takk for de warm velkomme!
Vasco Dias: His English is just as bad as it was when he was here.
Terri Morasco: Will you stop it!
{ Ulf chuckles. He stops in the middle of the ring. }Ulf Hednir: It âas been a long time -- a long time since jeg ha stepped into de IWF ring! Og⊠jeg know⊠jeg know det people never thought de would see the day. Jeg beklager. Jeg⊠am⊠sorry. Life has a way of taking us hvor vi did not think vi would end up, og min life has been filled with many memories! Many challenges! Many accomplishments! Jeg ha always tried to live my life in one fashion.
{ Ulf walks to one end of the ring, looking to the crowd and to the camera. }Ulf Hednir: Jeg ha always tried to live my life without regrets. Ingen anger! No regrets!
{ He shouted momentarily. }Ulf Hednir: But jeg do ha⊠oneâŠ
{ Ulf raised his index finger to the camera. }Ulf Hednir: ⊠regret. Det regret is det jeg ha never won the IWF World Championship! Det is det jeg ha never walked out as a champion in de IWF! Det is why jeg am back! Jeg ha watched for quite some time, og jeg would like to say: Caleb Lockwood, gratulere! Congratulations, friend! Congratulations on becoming de IWF World Champion, og jeg know det du ha your hands full. Jeg know det jeg cannot simply walk back into de IWF and demand to have a title match. Jeg understand!
{ He pauses. }Ulf Hednir: Jeg vil earn my way to de top of de mountain. Og to de fans! De greatest fans det anybody could ever ask for, those of dere det follow me on de social media og know hva jeg ha been up to -- this is for you! Jeg vil not disappoint dere! Jeg vil gÄ ute og prove min worth. Jeg vil gÄ against any of de likes of de people, og jeg vil make sure det dere are pleased with every single one of my encounters! Jeg er back! For de World Championship -- to not live with min regret. But not only for de World Championship. Jeg er back⊠for good. SkÄl!
{ Ulf Hednir drops the microphone and raises a fist back to the sky. âRaise Your Hornsâ by Amon Amarth comes back over the speakers. Ulf steps out of the ring and rather than going up the ramp, he gestures for the crowd to make a hole and people in the front row make room for Ulf as he steps over the barricade and walks away through the crowd. }------------------------------------
SEGMENT"1001."
------------------------------------
Fateful Danger is shown sitting on two chairs with an end table between them and a coffee table in front. The two are chatting as Draco notices the camera and gets serious.â Defeating the Chosen Idiots and watching them turn on their elitist owner was hilarious as hell. Almir has no business in the ring anyway.âNick laughs.â Hell yeah, Draco! Watching those sons of bitches implode was funny.âDraco leans forward.â This World Cup is ours. Our impromptu team work has been top notch. The ability to communicate has been big between us. And now we can totally focus on the World Cup. How much you wanna bet the Abusers of Power end up in the finals?âDraco looks over to Nick.â One thousand dollars.âDraco fist bumps Nick and looks back at the camera.â I canât see anyone beating us. We have the size, skill, and determination to obliterate the competition!âDraco and Nick fist bump again as they both pop up and leave.------------------------------------
SEGMENT"Just begun"
------------------------------------
{The camera comes on to Rowan standing in front of a burning building.}
Rowan: I took a belt. I threw down your hero and defeated her. I was victorious.
{A couple shifting clips of a flower growing and then dying.}Rowan: But I have just begun.
------------------------------------
SEGMENT
"Wanted."
------------------------------------
{To the back, where Caleb Lockwood sits perched on an equipment crate, his eyes narrowed and the IWF Menâs World Championship over his shoulder. He speaks with a low, controlled tone to his voice, though the glint of bloodlust in his eyes is unmistakable.}
Caleb Lockwood: I know Iâm a wanted man. I know the target I wear on my shoulder. But to all of you who would take what I fought so hard for?
{Caleb beckons to the camera with one hand, smirking coldly.}
Caleb Lockwood: Iâve dug enough graves to get here. Iâve got no problem putting you away too. Come one, come all. Thereâs enough fun for everyone, kids. So you better come with your affairs in order, and you better be ready to get some blood on your hands, because if you want this title, youâre going to have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.
{He winks at the camera, grinning.}
Caleb Lockwood: See you soon. Especially you. You know who you are, big boy.
------------------------------------
IWF TAG TEAM WORLD CUP
GROUP A MATCH
LockMore vs Fateful Danger
------------------------------------
{ A pre-recorded video clip shows James Gilmore as he prepares to board a Southwest Airlines flight at Dallas Love Field. He smiles at the camera before handing his boarding pass off to a gate attendant. }
James Gilmore: Tag Team World Cup? LockMore?! Unconscious!
[DING!]
{ We transition to live action as the aforementioned LockMore takes on Nate Fate and Nick Danger, who have dubbed themselves the Fateful Danger. However, this match was relatively one-sided as IWF Men's World Champion Caleb Lockwood chose Nick Danger as his target, and he had no qualms about pouncing on the latter with a wide variet of vicious maneuvers. After firing off some Muay Thai knee strikes to Danger's ribs, Lockwood sends his hapless victim for the ride and plasters him with a running somersault neckbreaker. Yet he only gets a two count as Draco Wolfe steps in to break up the pin! }
Terri Morasco: Caleb's as vicious as he's ever been!
Vasco Dias: Being World Champ can do that to you!
{ Caleb single-handedly fights off both Fate and Danger as James Gilmore can only watch from his corner. Trying to stay within the confine of the rules, the Islander alum seems pretty antsy as Draco Wolfe tags himself into the match. Caleb pummels Nate with a few Muay Thai knee strikes -- much like a few minutes ago -- before sending him head over heels with a trio of snap suplexes, the third being trnsitioned into a bridge that scores another two-count from Blue Shoes. Caleb, his disdain for Gilmore clearer than ever, taunts him as he watches Danger tag back into the match. }
Terri Morasco: Caleb just wants to be a showoff! He doesn't care that his own partner is waiting to get into the game!
{ Eventually, Nate and Danger start double-teaming Caleb, working in concert as they apply a double vertical suplex. A double hip toss is then followed up by a Fate headscissor takedown that gets the Fateful Danger a two-count! Nick Danger sends Lockwood crashing into his own corner...which turns out to be a blessing in disguise as Gilmore tags himself in! }
Vasco Dias: On, man...!!!
Terri Morasco: JJ is in the match -- and he's on fire!
{ James goes right to work on Nick Danger and Nate Fate, taking them both down with short-armed clotheslines before tossing the latter to the outside! He then spots Nick Danger and nails him with his backshoot lariat dubbed the Power Wave! Yet as JJ goes for the pin, Blue Shoes begrudgingly gives him some bad news -- during the sequence, Caleb had hot-tagged himself back into the match! }
Vasco Dias: Serves him right!
Terri Morasco: Oh, gimme a break!
{ Gilmore retreats to his corner, shaking his head as he tries to come up with an idea. Meanwhile, Lockwood continues pounding on Nick Danger with rights and lefts before sending him head over heels with his Poison Pill reverse frankensteiner! But as Lockwood goes for the pin, Blue Shoes points to Gilmore in their corner, saying that the Islander alum had tagged himself back into the match! Caleb his pissed and starts to charge towards JJ...only for Nate Fate to come in and deck him from behind with a clothesline! As Nate and Caleb keep each other busy on the outside, James flips Danger onto his back with his patented SHELLSHOCKER reverse hurracanrana and scores the three-count! }
------------------------------------
IWF TAG TEAM WORLD CUP
GROUP A MATCH
Warren Kane and Nick Knight vs The Disciples
------------------------------------
Alison Valance: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is a part of the Tag Team World Cup. Introducing first hailinging from London, England Warren Kane!!!!!!
{The lights go out and the snow steady beat of New Divide by Linkin Park plays and the crowd gives a good cheer for Warren Kane as he emerges from behind the curtains wearing a simple leather jacket, with his hands at his hips and a smile on his face. He then heads towards the ring, stopping to touch hands with members of the crowd before stopping in front of the ring. Closes his eyes, takes a breath before jumping up onto the apron, climbing the turnbuckle on the outside and raising his arms in the air getting a positive reaction from the crowd. The music dies down and the lights return to normal as he drops into the ring.}
Terri Morasco: The last time we saw Warren in action it was in a triple threat match for a spot in the Extinction Event, which his partner won. Do you think that will effect the pairâs chemistry at all?
Vasco Dias: I donât think so.
Alison Valance: His partner hails from Los Angeles, California he is the reining World Television Champion âThe Unholy Sonâ Nick Knight!!!
{Reach Out and Touch Faith appears on the tron as Personal Jesus by Lollipop Lust Kill begins to play as red lights begin to flash slowly before lights come up on the stage. As the music swells, dim light begins to come up on the stage, now shrouded with smoke as four silhouettes fade into view. As the guitar kicks in hard, the lights flash onto the stage revealing the members of the The Deciples in their masks, The Unholy Son, and Lucipher Crosse in full, gazing into the crowd and taking in their reaction - Lucipher as he spreads his arms wide as though welcoming the audience to a religious service. The Disciples and Unholy Son walk slowly to the ring as Crosse stands at the top of the stage with his arms spread until the lights go out, leaving the three men to do his dark work}
Terri Morasco: This is something Iâve never seen before, opponents entering together.
Vasco Dias: Itâs a new one on me also, but it makes perfect sense. Just because theyâre on the opposite side of the match doesnât change the fact that they are The Church of Crosse.
{The three members of The Church of Crosse climb into the ring and go to their corners. Nick and Warren greet each other with a fist bump and begin discussing strategy. Over at the announce table Lucipher Crosse has sat down and put on a headset.}
Terri Morasco: It looks like weâre going to be having a guest on commentary for the match.
Lucipher Crosse: I hope you donât mind.
Vasco Dias: Of course not, you are âThe Voiceâ after all.
Lucipher Crosse: Have you been listening to my podcast, Vasco?
Vasco Dias: I have listened to a couple of episodes. Itâs quite interesting.
{Back in the ring the teams have decided that it will be Warren Kane starting off against Disciple Two. The two lock up and it is Two getting the quick advantage and locking on a side headlock. The masked man really torques on Kaneâs head and neck as he works his way over to the corner to tag in One. The other masked man climbs between the ropes and lays in a few boots to the midsection before locking on a headlock of his own. Disciple One transitions the headlock into a hammerlock before making another fast tag.}
Teri Morasco: The Disciples are looking like a classic tag team. Cutting the ring in half and tagging often.
{Disciple Two climbs up onto the middle turnbuckle and comes down with an axe handle smash to the shoulder. One follows it up by Irish whipping Kane across the ring so the team can hit a picture perfect double drop kick. One leaves the ring and Two once again whips Warren across the ring and follows him hitting a Cactus clothesline that sends both men crashing to the floor.}
Vasco Dias: I have to admit that I am quite impressed with The Disciples so far.
Lucipher Crosse: One and Two spend hours training to be the best tag team that they can be Vasco. Being a Disciple is about more than reading from The Book of Crosse, it is about living the word.
{Staying on the attack One whips Warren into the guard rail and is looking to follow up when he eats a wicked lariat from Nick Knight that sends the masked man up and over the guard rail. A sick smile comes across the face of âThe Unholy Sonâ as he climbs over the bike rack and into the front row of the crowd. Knight lifts his follower up and sits him in a chair and begins to headbutt him over and over until blood begins to drip from the scarred forehead of âThe Hollywood Butcher.â}
Terri Morasco: What is wrong with Nick Knight?
Lucipher Crosse: We all must be our very best self, Terri.
{Knight sends One back into the ringside area where Warren Kane is waiting. A little worse for the wear Kane rolls the Disciple back into the ring. Lift the nearly unconscious man up off of his feet Warren then drives him skull first into the canvas with an Implant DDT. Hooking the leg, Warren makes the coverâŠ
OneâŠ
TwoâŠ
ThrâŠ
Disciple Two makes the save!}
Teri Morasco: That was close!
Lucipher Crosse: Three months ago it would not have been. Three months ago it would have been over, because they were jobbers. The Church of Crosse has changed that.
{Nick Knight hit the ring like a bat out of hell and began to lay into Two with a series of knife edge chops. Two is giving just as good as he got and the sound of flesh on flesh echoes throughout the arena. A few feet away Warren pulls One up from the prone position and lands a chop of his own. The chop seems to wake something up in One and he returns fire.}
Vasco Dias: Blue Shoes has got to get control of this match!
{Nick is the first to escalate the violence by landing a roaring elbow that leaves Two on dream street. Looking to put him there for a long time Knight gets wrist control and levels him with Welcome to Hollywood! Turning his attention to one Nick locks on a half Nelson and underhook combination. 'The Unboly Son' says something to his partner and Warren smiles and nods.
Kidd Kick! Non-Dairy Creamer!}
Teri Morasco: That has to be it!
{Warren Kane makes the coverâŠ
OneâŠ
TwoâŠ
Three!!!}
Alison Valance: Your winners, the team of Nick Knight and Warren Kane.
{Blue Shoes raises the winner's hands, but the celebration is interrupted when a pissed off three hundred pound Viking blasts Nick in the back of the head with a big boot. Warren Kane smartly takes a powder as Gregor buries Knight with a Viking Funeral. The big man tells at Alison Valance to give him a microphone and the TV Championship belt.}
Gregor Winter: The last few months The Church of Crosse has made my life hell. I can't eat at restaurants out of fear of one of your minions poisoning me. I sleep with my eyes open and a baseball bat at my side in case someone tries to break into my house. I am constantly having to peek over my shoulder to see who's behind me.
No more! I am taking back my life by taking the fight to you Nick. Know that you are never safe from me. You might be out with your pretty girlfriend and get your head kicked in by a big boot. You might be walking on the beach when I behead you with a lariat. Learn to drive with your eyes in the rear view mirror because I'm coming for you and I want my belt back.
{Winter tosses the belt down across Knight's chest and stares down at the champion, before spitting in his face.
The scene cuts to commercial.}
------------------------------------
SEGMENT
"Overshadowed."
------------------------------------
{The lights in the dim at the opening twangs of the acoustic guitar. Some in the audience enhance the sound by clapping along to the music as Abigail walks alone out under a soft white spotlight to a mixed reaction. The lights flash sand yellow and soft orange in time with the rhythm. The lyrics of âOutlaws & Outsidersâ by Cory Marks (ft. Travis Tritt, Ivan Moody & Mick Mars) accompany her walk down the ramp, the IWF Womenâs World Championship, hanging from her right hand. The crowd give her a mixed reaction, and she clenches her jaw before pausing in the middle of the ramp, and looking heavenward. She flings her arms out either side of her offering herself up to a Lord she knew to be no longer there...the lights flicker briefly...enough to catch Abigailâs attention but not unnerve her.}
Terri Morasco: Here she is Vasco, our reigning IWF Womenâs World Champion, who eight nights ago at Survival of the Fittest, overcame the toughest test of her mettle when she managed to do what many of her harshest critics said she wouldnât be able to do, walk out of the Extinction Event with her Championship...
Vasco Dias: Virginia Stepanov is no slouch, and nobody wins a match against Rowan MacDonnough, you merely survive it, and anybody who can do that has my respect. Love her or hate her, I think youâd be a damned fool to not at least acknowledge that Abigail stepped up to the toughest fight of her career resurgence so far and earned her stripes in one of the toughest matches IWF hosts as an annual tradition. Now sheâs secured her place as one half of the main event at Diamonds Are Forever next month. She will face the first woman ever to win the prestigious Heiress to the Throne tournament not once, but twice...Eternity...
Terri Morasco: Which in a lot of ways is like stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire. The list of women whoâve been able to win a one on one encounter with the single most decorated competitor we have in the history of the company is an incredibly short one indeed. A four time Womenâs World Champion in her own right, and the woman who redefined what it meant to be an Openweight Champion as well as winning the Iron Maiden and Heiress To The Throne twice, the Hall of Famerâs resume speaks for itself. It will be a hell of a mountain for Abigail to climb in a matter of weeks at Diamonds Are Forever, thatâs for sure...
When the lights stop flickering, she cracks her neck slightly and continues her journey down the ramp under her own power. She throws the title across her shoulder at the foot of the ramp and collects a microphone from a stagehand at ringside. She walked up the steps, not to heaven, but into the ring. Ready to defend her position in life, as fiercely as she once defended her faith. Under the spotlight, in the middle of the ring, she drops to her knees and lets out a rebellious yell heavenward....
The music cuts abruptly. Abigailâs spotlight dies. A deathly hush falls over the gathered crowd. The temperature in the arena falls and a chilling female laughter fills the darkness for more than a few moments. When the lights do finally return, they are forever changed. Now a deep purple blankets the canvas. Abigail is still on her knees with her Championship over her shoulder and the microphone in her hand but...
Stood directly behind her in an ornately fashioned white Victorian ball gown, painted snowy face and a multicoloured feather headdress is her challenger for Diamonds Are Forever, the dual Heiress To The Throne Eternity. Her green eyes are wide yet vacant and she stands deathly still. Like a magnificent white marble statue overshadowing the reigning Womenâs World Champion...}
Terri Morasco: What the hell is Eternity doing out here? Standing there like a creepy doll over Abigail...
Vasco Dias: I donât know...protecting her investment? She probably wants to make sure nothing happens to jeopardise her opportunity at Diamonds Are Forever...
Terri Morasco: Or sheâs out here to remind Abigail that deathâs shadow looms largest...a subtle mind game?
Vasco Dias: Whatever it is, rather her than me...
{Abigail watches Eternity over her shoulder for a few moments, before adjusting the red spider lily nestled in her hair with her free hand. Satisfied that Eternity hasnât moved and is unlikely to pose any immediate threat to her, Abigail takes a deep breath and does her best to carry on. She came out here to address the fallout of the biggest accomplishment of her career so far, and if she had to do it with the eyes of her next challenger upon her, thatâs what she would do. Half of any fight with Eternity was a mental battle against your own apprehension, after all...}
Abigail: Well...I did it. I did what so many of my critics, and even a little voice in the back of my mind kept insistinâ Iâd never be able to do...walk out of this yearâs Extinction Event havinâ survived an encounter with the Fiend of Fear herself, Rowan fuckinâ MacDonnough. Some will insist on puttinâ an asterisk next ta that claim of course anâ swear blind that I only made it out alive âcause Astrid Hall made a warriorâs sacrifice, anâ while that may well be true, it doesnât diminish the fact that I survived the Devil herself...again. Last time it took me two years to claw my way back. This time, Iâm still here eight days later, still the reigninâ Womenâs World Champion. Gotta be honest, beinâ able ta sit here anâ say that feels pretty sweet, honestly. Itâs an accomplishment Iâll always look back on fondly, anâ a moment in my career Iâll never forget...
{Another deep breath, a small smile.}
Abigail: A moment made all the more sweeter by the fact that it just so turned out that the final decision of how I retained the privilege of beinâ able ta call myself the absolute best womenâs wrestler in the world today came at the expense of my biggest anâ loudest critic in this whole damn company...Virginia Stepanov. Anâ whilst I could go on about how the most legitimate athlete in the womenâs division today is also a huge bitch who apparently canât accept her losses and setbacks, I wonât...because if I did that, it would be disrespectful to the next great challenge to my position as the reigninâ defendinâ IWF Womenâs World Champion...
{A moment to collect herself, refocus, not on Virginia but on the fight for her life that she was in for at Diamonds Are Forever. A fight she would face head on, unafraid...well mostly...
Abigail takes a moment to stand. Another moment to face her destiny, looking up at the slightly taller Eternity. The two women stand face to face, under the shadow of the Diamonds Are Forever banner in the distance beyond them.}
Abigail: The single greatest challenge to the rest of my career since Rowan MacDonnough, the woman who has been in my position more than any other woman in history, holding the Championship Iâve scratched and clawed my way to over the last two fuckinâ years a record four times already. A woman who unlike Virginia is defined by the scope and grandeur of her every loss, anâ a woman who unlike I do with Rowan, I do not fear absolutely. Folks have told me I should be afraid, hell, all four of my brothers have tried ta warn me ta be careful ever since the world found out that youâd be next in line for me at the most important show of the year we ever get as female performers in this company anâ in this business, Diamonds Are Forever...
{Abigail guides Eternityâs gaze to the sign. Eternity turns her gaze to follow Abigailâs, taking in the sign of their almost immediate future.}
Abigail: But for the life of me - anâ donât ask me why âcause I donât fuckinâ know, I canât find it in my heart, in my soul, ta be afraid of you like so many others are. Like so many others have been. Anâ Iâll prove it to ya, right here anâ now with the only message I know youâll understand, loud anâ clear. Youâve made a career over the last seven years out of makinâ statements in this very ring, well, allow me Your Highness ta make one of my fuckinâ own. Ya see today is very special, today is the one hundred anâ twenty-seventh day of my World Championship reign, anâ I know you know exactly why that means I am so much more than my flesh anâ blood. I know you know it ainât just a fancy T-Shirt slogan or pithy catchphrase. It is somethinâ that has redefined my whole life, just as surely as all the grief anâ sorrow youâve endured has redefined yours. It is somethinâ that is more important ta me than even this title...
{Abigail drops her title at Eternityâs feet, distracting Eternity again for a moment. And a moment is all she needed as Abigail reaches for and hooks her opponent up much to the cheers of the crowd, who are pleased to see Abigail not backing down from the challenge before her.
With Eternity in her embrace, Abigail takes a moment to kiss her on the temple and seal their fate...before hitting her with the loudest proclamation of Blind Faith she could. As Eternity hits the canvas, laid out flat, the lights returned to normal for a moment. The crowd falls silent again. A few moments pass, moments in which Abigail escapes with her title. With it casually hanging by her side, Abigail leaves ringside and walks back up the ramp. Halfway there, the lights flicker, Abigail looks back over her shoulder and sees a gentle wisp of purple smoke linger where Eternity lay only a few moments before...
The sight clearly unnerves her, as she looks suddenly hesitant. With a slow shake of her head, Abigail walks the rest of her journey to the back. The World Championship still in her hands, but all alone once more. No longer overshadowed by her fate.}
------------------------------------
SEGMENT
Powers The Be
------------------------------------
{Angel and Dean are sitting backstage discussing their up coming match quietly when Tiffany Jones knocks on the door.}
Tiffany Jones: Hi, I was wondering if you two had a moment to discuss what you think will take place with the Tag Team World Cup?
{Angel got up and smiled at Tiffany who took a step back.}
Angel Blake: We will win. We have come to save this company and that is what we will do.
{Angel slams the door closed.}
------------------------------------
SEGMENT
Unholy Sons
------------------------------------
{Warren Kane is standing outside the medical exam room backstage, gives a hesitant smile to the camera.}
Warren Kane: Yeah, Nick got jumped after our match tonight. But he'll be right as rain for our next match. We might not always agree on everything but we're a team and we're not out of this tournament yet.
------------------------------------
IWF TAG TEAM WORLD CUP
GROUP B MATCH
Abraxes and Locke vs DuckBill
------------------------------------
{The match is explosive to start off. True to his word, Locke starts off the match while Abraxes perches on the ring steps like some large vulture. Billy tries to start for DuckBill, but Ducky blind tags himself in. Locke shows renewed aggression, laying into his opponents. Billy is doing what he can, and Ducky is fighting like a mad beast to prove himself, but together the two of them have no hope in facing down this extremely aggressive side of Locke who hits Ducky with the Gunslinger DDT, meets Billy with a Dirt on my Boots when he tries to go for the save before getting the cover and the victory.}
------------------------------------
SEGMENT
"My Time."
------------------------------------
Backstage, the camera catches a shot of Stephen Terrella leaning against the outside wall of his dressing room with his hands wrapped around Portia's waist. She has one of her own hands pressed against his right bicep, and the other softly tucked behind the back of his head; their lips locked in a long, passionate make-out session. Their heads twist and circle into different positions, their bodies tucked partially behind the cover of a stack of stage crates brought in for the show.
IWF interviewer Grace Michell approaches from the cover-side, stopping short when they come into view. The gentle tap of Grace's shoes against ground had already given her presence away, however. Portia pulls away from Stephen, quickly moving to ensure her appearance is in order. Terrella comes off the wall a step, just enough to bring himself into a completely upright standing position, where he plants himself with the unwavering strength and stillness of a hundred year old red oak tree.
Grace Michell: "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I'm just here to give you the time you requested."
Portia gives her hair a final flip over her shoulder prior to responding, "We'll have plenty of time later at the Fleur-de-lys."
Grace Michell: "Ok... well... At Survival of the Fittest you picked up your second win here in the IWF on the pre-show over Phillip Deforrest. Maybe you could share with us what's next for the 'King of Clubs' here in the IWF in addition to whatever else is on your mind?"
"First off give me this," Portia says as she rips the microphone out of Grace's hand. "We asked for time- with the 'we' in that sentence meaning my man and myself. We never asked if we could also have Grace standing in our shot with her bargain store dress and three dollar press-on nails. So if you could just back up a little bit," she says while flipping her hand, gesturing Grace away, "I've got it from here."
"Now," Portia emphatically transitions, pivoting her attention toward the camera, "at Survival of the Fittest Phillip ignored my warning. He wanted a match oh-so-badly because he said, what, he hadn't been booked since June or something?" She halfheartedly laughs, mockingly. "I don't know, honestly his sob story isn't important. Phillip wanted a fight. Phillip tested my man. Phillip got his ass kicked. If the story once again seems short it's because it is. That's what happens when you step between my man here and our money. As tiny and inadequate as they probably are though, at least Phillip had a set."
"But Stephen and I... we have a bit of a gripe and we're going to make it very public. We've sat back and damn near drown in all the tears spilled around here over Viv Rodgers." Portia rolls her eyes. "We haven't fucked with any of the little goth club guys or the wanna be heroes here. We've shown up, minded our own business and collected our checks. Where is our fucking thank you, though?! I haven't heard it. Have you heard any, Stephen?"
Terrella shakes his head ever-so-slightly no in a slow, deliberate manner.
Portia continues on, "Why is that? Every week we sit on the sidelines is a week we miss a chance to continue to pad our bank account out there in the ring, too. My man, he's itching for a fight. He wants to hurt someone and hurt them badly. So I've started to think maybe some monetary appreciation from some of the other superstars here might be in order. Call it a tax on being allowed the privilege of doing business in what is our world now. Our patience and your peace... it has a price attached. Gentlemen, you're all going to pay one way or another..."
Terrella slowly raises his left arm, rotating it palm side up. He curls his fingers three times slowly, a silent request for the microphone. Portia places it in his hand. He closes his massive fist around the small handle, bringing it near his chin, adding in a short, gruff tone, "In fucking money... or in blood."
------------------------------------
SEGMENT
Heroes Still Exist
------------------------------------
{Astrid smiles at the camera.}
Astrid: I lost my belt. I am humbled by it. But I would do it again in a second. I would do it again and again. Because that's what Heroes do.
------------------------------------
IWF TAG TEAM WORLD CUP
GROUP B MATCH
Powers that Be vs Those Damn Gaijin
------------------------------------
{The match starts with AJ and Angel inside the ring together. Andrew and Angel put everything on the line trying to win. Ethan tags himself in, stepping into the ring taunting Angel. Angel steps back and tags his son in. Dean goes after Ethan with a pure unending aggression that seems to be spurred on by nothing more than his own rage. Ethan holds his own but Dean keeps Ethan on his side of the ring, tags Angel in for a few hits before tagging Dean back in. Andrew objects to this but can't get tagged in. Dean pins Ethan for the win.}
Well howdy there pardner.