"You're the best!"

[Cliff Cook]

Before you are graced with any kind of visual, you can hear the opening guitar riff of “You’re The Best” by Joe Esposito – just as the opening chord hits, the visuals fade into place to unveil Cliff Cook standing front and center, looking directly toward the camera, while being surrounded by six masked people, three female figures, and three male figures…from head to toe, the people are wearing ski masks, long black sweaters:

Just as well, they are also wearing black cargo pants, and combat boots to finish up their appearance. The whole septet, with Cliff in the center, just looks forward – some have their arms crossed, and others just do their best to look like absolute badasses. They stand inside of a vacant wrestling gym with few lights on…the wrestling ring in the background has the primary light.

Try to be best
'Cause you're only a man
And a man's gotta learn to take it
Try to believe
Though the going gets rough
That you gotta hang tough to make it
History repeats itself
Try and you'll succeed
Never doubt that you're the one
And you can have your dreams

The opening verse of the song is playing, and the camera transitions to the inside of the ring where the crew of masked people surround Cliff; one of them is holding his feet down, and Cliff has his arms crossed over his chest as he continuously does sit-ups despite an apparent struggle.

You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

The scene transitions to show the inside of the ring with Cliff Cook holding two ends of a jump rope, and jumping at a rapid pace…none of the masked figures are present for this scene.

You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

One of the figures walks onto the scene, and although you can’t see their face, you can tell they’re confused as Cliff stops jumping and they take the ropes…the handles aren’t even attached. The figure throws his arms into the air, holding both ends of the broken jump rope, and Cliff shrugs.

“What?! I was still jumping!” Cliff protests, his voice barely audible over the music, as the scene transitions to the next scene.

Fight 'til the end
'Cause your life will depend
On the strength that you have inside you
Ah, gotta be proud
Standing out in the crowd
When the odds and the game defy you
Try your best to win them all
And one day time will tell
When you're the one that's standing there
You'll reach the final bell

Cut to the inside of the ring, and one of the masked people has Cliff in a sleeper hold as Cliff is shaking rapidly to try to get free from the grasp of the masked man…he reaches desperately, and eventually takes off the mask of the masked person, and the person releases Cliff in response and starts throwing his arms out. The camera fixates on none other than DENZEL PORTER, the legendary interviewer who had been part of the 2022 Night of the Immortals pre-show panel. “What the hell, man?!” Denzel says.

The scene shifts to another angle inside of the ring, where Cliff is shadow boxing, and the remaining five masked people as well as Denzel Porter are cheering him on.

You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
Oh-oh

Oh, You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

The camera transitions a couple more times, showing Cliff running the ropes as if he were a professional and all of the people cheering him on all the while. The next clip shows Cliff and one of the female figures doing jump rope side by side, rotating by ninety degrees every so often, and although the first time we saw Cliff doing this, the handles weren’t attached, it’s clear as day that they are this time around. We cut to another jump rope scene where now two of the masked figures are swinging two ropes in the middle for a game of double dutch as Cliff jumps into the middle and is absolutely impeccable with his timing.

Fight 'til you drop
Never stop
Can't give up
'Til you reach the top (fight)
You're the best in town (fight!)
Listen to that sound
A little bit of all you got
They'll never bring you down

Cut to the inside of the ring, with Denzel Porter making scary faces at the camera…until it pans out, and it shows Cliff standing and an easel behind him; one of the masked figures turns Cliff to face the easel, and hands him a paint brush. Cliff tries to glance over his shoulder for another glimpse of Denzel Porter, but the same masked figure grabs the top of Cliff’s head and turns it back to the canvas.

“No peeking!” the distorted voice says.

You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
You're the best around
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

The next series of clips has the camera going around Cliff and you would swear you were watching an action movie, as each of the masked people and Denzel are swinging foam swords at Cliff, and Cliff parries, deflects, blocks, bobs, and weaves, taking seemingly no damage from the foam swords. As the music is starting to wind down, we finally see Cliff sitting on the ring apron, sweating and heaving; now only the one masked figure sits beside him.

“Do you think I’m ready to take on Randon?” Cliff asks.

“You’re ready,” the distorted voice answers, “But hey, I totally need you to do me a favor, if you don’t mind!”

Cliff and the masked figure hop down from the ring apron, and walk side by side to the entrance – they’re the last two in the building, and with the camera watching them walk away, their conversation carries on, “Anything,” Cliff answers.

“So I need–” the distorted voice trails off as the scenery fades to black.