No Church In the Wild

We cut to a video package, very similar to one we've seen before. This time, unlike the last time we saw it, the package is in black and white, a familiar female voice doing the reading of the speech.



It starts with her fighting off both Magnus Gunner and Omar Wise, using her old Expecto Patronum finisher to defeat Gunner and become the first International Champion.



Next comes a victory over Johnny Cannon and then a flash of the Shinigami used to pick up a victory over Abby Park in the Winter Road tournament.



Next comes her old "Last Star to the Left" piledriver to beat Daisuke Iwakuma, the multiple Shinigamis used to defeat Omar Wise for the Title, followed by her Expecto Patronum off a ladder to draw against Magnus Gunner.



Then the Yawarakai-Te to tap out Katherine Stryfe, the variation she used to turn away Magnus Gunner, along with shots of her starting to leave her locker room to step to the entrance.



Next are montages of each victory where she's held up the EXODUS Pro World Title. The first one, the third defense against Jerry Matthews, the shot of her staring down KJPW's best and brightest during her tour of Japan.



Slow motion shots of her Shinigami kick and her Expecto Patronum double rotation moonsault, all as the camera cuts to a dark hallway and a quick zoom up to the smiling face of the very person it's been showing off.

Fiona Rourke: And we will not be denied.

Cut to the graphic...



We cut back to ringside with Dick and Seth, Dick nodding in agreement.

Dick Morosi: You saw it here first! Fiona Rourke, on pace to come back soon enough!

Seth Ericson: She's coming back to a whole new landscape though, Fiona's got a whole new EXODUS to deal with.

Dick Morosi: Coming up next--

Seth Ericson: It's BEAUUUUUUUTIFUL!

Dick Morosi: The wait is over! Selena Alexander meets Prince Kam--

Seth Ericson: DON'T SAY IT!

Dick Morosi: You know who it is, and it's next!



We come back to find Selena Alexander already in the ring, awaiting her opponent, the highly hyped debut of Prince Kamijo. There is a bright shining light omitting from the entrance way as a frantic guitar piece strikes up. The crowd gasp as out from the light Prince Kamijo emerges as a sensual saxophone solo blares out. But rather than striding out as he usually does, he is sat upon a mighty pale white stallion. Upon the stallion’s saddle is embroidered the name “Former MWA World Heavyweight Champion CJ Osborne”.

Giratsuku neon ni kusare koneko
Bisuchu wo matotta koshi wa hayaku ah
Aegu koe sae high ni nareba slowly
Baby
Tokeru you ni afuredasu ravu juusu
Motto hageshiku shinu made koko de ikasete!

Kamijo is decked out in his traditional purple velvet jacket, a white ruffled shirt and shining black wrestling tights. Sat in front of him, holding the reins is his favourite sidekick, Blowjob dressed in his butler’s uniform and trademark purple turban. Kamijo himself his holding a very expensive looking ornate sword that he points towards the ring as Blowjob shakes the reins excitedly, spurring ‘CJ’ onwards. The horse elegantly trots down the entrance way as “Eros” by Lycaon echoes in the background. He ignores the torrid reception, merely soaking it in as he basks in its glory, arms outstretched. His head is tilted back in ecstasy as cherry blossom descends from the rafters washing over him.


Scandalous ni kowaresou ni
Midara ochiru atashi wo mite ai wo motto
Scandalous ni kowaresou ni
Senaka ni tsumeato tsukete ai wo sotto
Amai kajitsu no atashi wo tabete
Ah ah ah anata no atsui no ga hoshii
Demo sore dake ja mou mitasarenai no darling konya dake wa


There is a huge commotion as yet more figures begin to emerge from the back. A group of geisha girls rhythmically begin to dance to the music joined shortly afterwards by a selection of scantily clad ladies twerking to the beat. A white donkey with ‘Bradley’ sprayed on the side of it in pink paint trots out from behind the curtain with the fabled Potato strapped to its head and the Prince’s personal interviewer Badgerface is dragged out with a dog collar around his neck. The black clad make-up artists that follow Kamijo around constantly are holding up various signs such as ‘#Zerijo’, ‘Follow The Bosoms’, ‘Don’t Put Blowjob In A Corner’ and ‘Chris Marks Has Blue Waffle For Breakfast’. They begin handing out these signs to members of the audience, who gladly take them and begin holding them up.

Moeru you ni atashi no oku wo tsuite
Motto hageshiku no toriko ni sasete!
Scandalous ni kowaresou ni
Midara ochiru atashi wo mite ai wo motto
Scandalous ni kowaresou ni

Kamijo dismounts the horse and strides out and into the ring. Blowjob attempts to follow, but clumsily falls off of ‘CJ Osborne’ and comes crashing to the floor. The Prince ignores this and carries on, as the crowd begins laughing at the midget. Blowjob dusts himself and sheepishly follows his master up the steps and into the ring.

Senaka ni tsumeato tsukete ai wo sotto choudai...
Nee hora dakishimete
Nee mou ai shite nai no
Ato mou sukoshi dake
Soba ni mou ichido furimukasete ageru

Blowjob takes a microphone from ringside and stands in the middle of the ring, calling for silence. The music cuts out with a screech and the crowd, who have been giving a negative reaction to The Prince give the opposite reaction to his man servant.

Blowjob: HELLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO!!!

The crowd respond with an impression of Blowjob, letting out a high pitched ‘Hello’ in return.

Blowjob: PLEASE ALLOW ME TO TAKE THE HONOUR OF INTRODUCING TO YOU… IN HIS DEBUT MATCH IN EXODUS PRO WRESTLING… THE UNDEFEATED… UNDENIABLE…UNLEASHED… UNTOUCHABLE…UNSTOPPABLE…UNDERPANTS…

The crowd giggles at this comment, as Kamijo whispers something in his servants ear.

Blowjob: OOOH… THE SUPREME BEING IN ALL OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING, THE DESCENDANT OF THE ROSE, THE MASTER OF THE BATERS, THE MOST… BEAUUUTIFUL CREATURE IN ALL OF CREATION… MAY I PRESENT TO YOU, FROM HIROSHIMA, JAPAN… WEIGHING IN AT A DELIGHTFUL TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY NINE POUNDS AND STANDING AT SIX FEET FIVE INCHES… WITH TWELVE POKING OUT… THE UNDEFEATED CHAMPION OF THE MILLENIUM AND CURRENT REIGNING CHAMPION OF ANOTHER WORLD… THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE K—

Kamijo cuts Blowjob off once more, whispering something else in Blowjob’s ear that makes the midget giggle with glee.

Blowjob: THE PRINCE HAS DECREED YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF HEARING HIS NAME. HE ALSO SAID THAT WOMAN IN THE FRONT ROW LOOKS LIKE NELSON MANDELA…!

The crowd boos this comment as Blowjob exits the ring. The camera cuts to the crowd and there is in fact a woman who is the spitting image of Nelson Mandela sat there in the front row with a hot dog in her mouth.

The bell rings, and we’re off. Selena begins to approach Kamijo, who quickly steps back anytime she gets close to him. After a few moments of this, an approach by Selena is not met with backstepping from Kamijo, who instead to the shock of Selena lashes out, backhanding her.

Kamijo: Don’t touch me, you filthy swine!

This Pym-like backhand sends Selena to the mat in pain and confusion, as Kamijo carefully pulls his glove off, taking care to not touch even one fiber of the glove that touched Selena. He tosses it to the referee.

Kamijo: Burn that posthaste!

Kamijo then pulls another, identical, extravagantly expensive glove from his pocket and puts it on. He walks over to Selena and throws a kick to the back of her head, clearly trying to avoid actually touching her. Finally, realizing he has to, he reluctantly drops a knee onto the back of her head, immediately jumping up and brushing at his pants knee to try and get the Selena off of it.

Seth Ericson: I can understand that, if I owned a pair of pants worth several peoples’ entire lives, I wouldn’t want any shellfish on it either.

Dick Morosi: ...makes sense.

Suddenly, to the surprise of everyone, Selena leaps to her feet and lunges at Kamijo, going to grab him by the collar! Strangely enough, the iPPV freezes at this image, holding it for several moments before coming back, with Selena on her back and Kamijo standing tall and confident.

Dick Morosi: Er...we’re sorry fans, our iPPV provider had a bit of a hiccup, so you missed a few moments of action.

Seth Ericson: And what action it was!

Dick Morosi: Indeed, Seth! Selena tried to get to the Prince, only for him to counter it! And it was truly amazing, one of the greatest counters I’ve ever seen in wrestling, it was positively-

Seth Ericson: No no no no do not do not DO NOT!

Dick Morosi: Beaaaaauuuuuutttttiiiiiifuuuuuullllll.

Seth Ericson: I hate my job.

Kamijo goes to take a step forward, only for his mask to come off. He immediately drops down, scrambling to get the wonderful mask back onto his fragile, beautiful face, only for it to seemingly keep slipping from his hands. He yells for the referee to help, who surprisingly does so, dropping down to help the lovely man. At ringside, meanwhile, Blowjob is putting together a fake arm.

Seth Ericson: Wait, what.

Dick Morosi: I don’t know. I don’t want to know. I want to close my eyes and not find out.

Blowjob places a towel into the hand of the arm and walks over to the other side of the ring, to where Selena is attempting to get her head back on straight while Kamijo and the referee have their heads turned. Blowjob reaches the arm into the ring and, to the confusion of the cosmos, pushes the hand down the front of her pants.

Seth Ericson/Dick Morosi: Wait, what.

Blowjob keeps it there for a moment, the groggy Selena not completely aware of it, before he pulls it out. The little man holds it as far from him as he can as he goes around the ring again, attaching a twisting handle to the arm. Meanwhile in the ring, Kamijo and the referee have managed to finally get a hold of Kamijo’s inexplicably slippery mask, and he’s fixed it back to his face, rising to his feet to meet Selena’s challenge. Blowjob, meanwhile, moves the handle to that the arm is above the referee, and drops it slightly, thus thrusting the Selena’s scent-infused towel into the referee’s face, whose eyes immediately roll up and he drops to the mat.

Dick Morosi: Oh my God! That man had dreams! He had hopes! He had a family! DAMN THAT B.J. MANDEEP!

Seth Ericson: Well, at least we know where Syria was getting their chemical weapons.

Selena gets to her feet, only for Kamijo to spit a white mist into her face, with the referee unable to see it! Selena immediately drops to the mat, screaming in agony at it!

Dick Morosi: Good God what was in that!?

Seth Ericson: Well...she was a lesbian, so...

Dick Morosi: ...oh. Oh. Oh! Oh God!

Seth Ericson: Mmhmm....

Kamijo hits the ropes, coming back and nailing Selena with his Aristocrat’s Symphony! He clearly does not want to cover her, instead barely touching her chest with his foot. The referee, despite the horrors visited upon him. manages to shakily raise a hand, bringing it down one...twice....a third time...and never again.

Dick Morosi: And Kamijo puts an end to....this...and maybe Selena Alexander.

Seth Ericson: And THAT was a...beautiful debut!

Dick Morosi: A huge, disturbing, confusing statement made by the Pr--

Seth Ericson: DON'T SAY IT!

Dick Morosi: Let's just go backstage.

Winner: Kamijo

A full medical crew rushes to the ring to check on the referee as Kamijo poses in the ring, as cherry blossoms and women’s lingerie falls from the skies around him.

We come to the back after that momentous match to find Nicholas Gray, one arm wrapped in a sling, and Papa Arino walking down the hall. Both men have a very serious expression upon their faces as they stalk down the corridor. They stop in front of a door with a nameplate on the front marked “Edward Nair.” They stand at either side of the door, pausing for a moment before nodding to one another. Gray steps back, and goes to kick the door open, only for the door to turn out to be slightly cracked, thus the door just kind of swings open at Gray’s foot. Regardless, both men storm in, with Gray pointing his free hand at Nair.

Nicholas Gray: YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

Edward Nair looks up at the two gentlemen, puts down the document that he was reading back down on his desk as well as his reading glasses, and interlocks his fingers in front of him on his desk as he calmly responds.

Edward Nair: Did it really take you this long to react to this news? You knew about this arrangement for nearly two weeks now.

Nicholas Gray: I’ve known about it, and I’ve been getting ready for FIGHTING it! Things might not be looking very good for my ownership right now, but I know why that is. Don’t we, Papa?

Papa Arino: EVERYTHING! We know it all now!

Nicholas Gray: Exactly. We know why, but do you, Nair?

Edward Nair: Because your management skills and legal counsel are as competent as your wrestling abilities.

Nicholas Gray: Only 75% right! The lawyer EXODUS did have was about as good at law as you are at raising children!

Edward Nair: Sorry, I could have sworn my child was kicking your lawyer’s ass.

Nicholas Gray: Oh how proud you must be, your kid kicked a retarded kid’s ass.

Edward Nair: It’s called social Darwinism. Survival of the fittest. Be useful or get out of the way, I always said.

Nicholas Gray: You know what? I agree. That’s why I fired that guy. I upgraded our legal counsel. Before, we were flying half-mast, now we’ve got a battleship.

Edward Nair: And we’ll sink that like we did your submarine, carrier, cruiser…

’
Nicholas Gray: The game’s not done until every piece is sunk, and we’re unsinkable now.

Edward Nair: They said the same thing about the Titanic.

Nicholas Gray: Oh a Titanic reference. Big, well-funded, arrogant...someone’s looking into a mirror instead of the icebergs ahead, buddy.

Papa Arino: AND WE’RE COLD AS ICE!

Edward Nair: Pretty sure I’m the cold blooded one in this room. Do you have a purpose for coming here, Mr. Gray, or did you come here to hear my sarcasm?

Nicholas Gray: ...gee, all those references to our amazing new legal counsel that I kept making, and you just completely missed it all? That’s really sad.

Papa Arino: Explains why he can’t see his son’s father problems.

Edward Nair: Oh I caught it. I just don’t care.

Papa Arino: More insight into why his son is so sad.

Nicholas Gray: I’d feel bad for him if he wasn’t trying to ruin me right now. Speaking of which, HEY! YOU CAN COME ON IN NOW!

And into the room comes...exactly what one would expect from these two. A man in an obnoxiously loud golden tiger print jacket and similarly shiny gold pants, a heavy beard on his face with his black hair pulled into a ponytail, and a necklace around his neck with a censored golden thing hanging from it that, even behind the censorship, seems to be a naked Lady Justice.

Lawyer: ‘EYYYYYY NICKY! HOW’S IT GOIN’?!

The man embraces Gray, Gray’s face twisting in pain at the contact to his injured collarbone, Gray dropping to his knees and muttering in pain when he’s released, as Papa and the man embrace next.

Lawyer: And this ball of serious must be Eddie, huh? How ya doin’?

He extends his hand with a giant grin on his face.

Lawyer: Harvey Birdman. An’ don’t say it, I hear it enough ya know? Last guy that brought it up, I filed so many suits they found him buried under legal papers! Hah Hah!

Edward Nair: Edward Nair, and I still don’t care. You see, I’m in the middle of going over this contract for my newest signing and making sure it is good to go before getting it finalized. And you see, this is why I got back into EXODUS Pro in the first place, Mr. Gray. While you’re sitting there, hiring strange lawyers and getting your spokesperson to make fun of my son and making it rain, I’ve actually been doing work. Something you seem to be allergic to. So if you have a purpose for interrupting my work with your lawyer here, please speak now or get out of my office.

Harvey Birdman: Yeah sorry, I didn’t even hear half’a dat. I grew up with an ability to filter out alla da bullshit, ya know? I’m like one of them X-Men mutants, except they would never let me join cause all their women’d be going for me ya know? Hah Hah! But nah, Eddie, I’m here because of dat poor rulin’ da Judge made a few weeks back, ya know? We needs to get this settled up, to where everyone, mainly my client, is happy. So let’s talk turkey, okay? ‘Cept let’s use a different bird, turkey makes me break out inna hives, hah hah!

Edward Nair: You have to be the most idiotic lawyer I have ever met. And my son graduated law school with some oddballs. If you want to discuss legal terms, I want Stephen in the room. Maybe Mr. Gray can get his ignorant spokesperson to fetch him.

Harvey Birdman: Only heard the part about the kid. ‘Ey Papa, ya mind?

Papa shrugs, reaching into his coat and producing a loudspeaker. He steps outside, holding it to his mouth and bellowing out.

Papa Arino: OI! WILL THE BOY WITH DADDY ISSUES PLEASE COME TO HIS UNCARING FATHER’S OFFICE? WE MAKE IT RAIN YOUR COLLECTIVE SADNESS.

Edward Nair: I am so glad I tune out everything that idiot Asian man says.

Harvey Birdman: Hey now, be careful how ya phrase things, discrimination always looks good in lawsuits!

Edward Nair: Sorry. Did you not like me using the word “idiot”? Get him to stop bullying my son and I’ll be more polite. And speak of the devil!

Stephen Nair enters the now very crowded office. Quite surprising we’re able to fit a camera crew considering Edward Nair’s office now contains both Nairs, Papa Arino, Nicholas Gray, and Harvey Birdman. Stephen Nair sets his briefcase on the desk next to his father’s paperwork.

Stephen Nair: Next time that man calls me “Daddy Issues Boy”, I will be finding a way to sue him.

Harvey Birdman: ‘Eyyyy, Daddy Issues Lad! Sidekick to Parental Negligence Man! Let’s get to talkin’ business, eh? I’ve been spendin’ dese last two weeks lookin’ over all your paperwork you put in to that lawsuit you filed against my buddy here, an’ ya know what I found?

Edward Nair: Alright, I’ll humor you. What did you find?

Harvey Birdman: This!

Harvey takes a step back and pulls his jacket open, revealing that the jacket’s inside is lined in legal papers, all with Harvey’s name at the top and both Nairs’ names at the bottom indicating them as the recipients, the jacket actually being made of them. He reaches into his pockets and pulls more of them out, dropping them onto the desk. He then shakes his arms, with MORE falling from the sleeves.

Harvey Birdman: LOOPHOLES! All kinds of lovely loopholes, all of them from your papers, Laddy! Not only that but typos, misquoted references, incorrect punctuation! I’ve got enough of these to make a coat out of with plenty to spare!

He lifts one of his legs up over the desk and gives it a shake, with a few more papers dropping from the pantsleg onto the desk with the rest.

Harvey Birdman: An’ I do mean plenty. Now I want ya ta imagine. All these gettin’ filed at once. Ya got spare time, Laddy? Cancel it, this’ll keep ya under for YEARS. An’ those’ll be years that keep the ownership tied up so bad that ya daddy won’t know what he can do an’ can’t, an’ how can he do a job like that, huh?

Stephen Nair: That will be years for your client as well to have to suffer through the exact same problems. So is that your grand plan? Intimidate us with loophole appeals?

Harvey Birdman: Ta make you see that this right here, what ya plan with the company, it just ain’t as worth it if it takes ya years upon years ta get anything from it. But hey, I’m a nice guy, so I can make an offer of my own ta square this all off.

Stephen Nair: We’re listening.

Harvey Birdman: Split da ownahship. 60/40, my client wit’ da 60 cause possession is 9/10ths, ya know? But ya get 40, ya get your say in da company, an’...ya get rights ta sign people. Dat’s a big thing for ya isn’t it?

Edward Nair: Can I fire people? Such as Adrien Cochrane?

Harvey Birdman: His contract says only certain people can, an’ ya ain’t one of ‘em. Ya can put in ta fire someone, but it needs approval from da 60% ownah.

Stephen Nair: Dad, take the deal.

Edward Nair: You sure?

Stephen Nair: This is about as good as we can get even if we did fight this for years upon years. Take the forty and you can work from there.

Edward Nair crosses his arms and gives it some thought.

Edward Nair: We accept your terms.

Harvey Birdman: Bootyful! I’ll send ya people da papers tomorrow, everythang’ll be golden by ExPro #4. Pretty doin’ business wit’ ya all!

Harvey waves and steps out of the room, leaving the rest of them together. Gray smiles as he looks at Nair.

Nicholas Gray: I’m looking forward to a wonderfully chaotic business relationship, 40%-Buddy. Have a good night.

Gray starts to walk to the door with Papa, but pauses, looking back at Nair.

Nicholas Gray: By the by, what you were saying earlier about me not doing any work? Watch later on tonight, I got an announcement bigger than any of the ones you’ve made. Ta-ta, Eddie.

After the Graytourage walks out, Nair says one last thing.

Edward Nair: Co-owners or not, I’m not any percent his buddy. And we’ll have to see how much his signing compares to the big one I’ve gotten tonight.

Backstage, Exodus Pro interviewer Tom Matheny stands in front of a monitor proudly showing the ‘No Church In The Wild’ logo in a variety of rotations and zooms. Walking just off camera is the retreating back of some member of the Exodus Pro roster having just finished an interview or a promo, or something of the sort.

Tom Matheny: And with that said, it’s time to get back to the action. Back to you, Di-

Before he can throw back to the commentators, a figure wearing a grey hoodie, hood up and the bill of a hat sticking out, walks directly in front of him, and the camera, effectively ruining his shot. His live shot. The hooded figure, carrying a duffel bag slung behind their shoulder and a manila envelope in their free hand, keeps walking past a clearly annoyed Tom Matheny.

Tom Matheny: Hey, excuse me, you just walked right in front of the camera. We’re broadcasting! Didn’t they tell you never to walk in front of a live camera? You must be an intern or something.

The hooded figure stops and cranes their head back towards Tom. The camera only picks up the side profile, the face cannot be made out, only the side of the hood and the bill of the hat.

Hooded Figure: Sorry. I’m in a hurry and didn’t notice. They’ll handle it in post.

The figure gives a very slight bow, as best one could do when shouldering a bag and holding an envelope, and turned to continue walking. Tom followed after, the camera following him, as he tapped the figure on the shoulder.

Hooded Figure: Tom, look, I was serious when I said I was in a hurry.

Tom Matheny: This area is for staff and roster only. I need to see some credentials.

The figure sighs and drops their bag to the ground. Tom steps to the right, placing his back in front of the camera while the hooded figure removes the hood from their head. The camera picks up medium-length black hair trailing down from the hat. Quickly, Tom turns to face the camera, obscuring the identity of the hooded figure more.

Tom Matheny: Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve got some breaking information.

Tom motions his head and returns back to the interview area in front of the monitor, the camera follows.

Tom Matheny: It appears as if a…special guest has come to see the action tonight first hand, completely unannounced. And said guest has given me a generous two minutes of their time. Ladies and gentlemen…

The hooded figure walks into frame, their head pointed down towards the floor. The hat-wearing head lifts itself as it comes into the shot. The hat’s logo is a large red ‘C’ with cartoon eyes in the opening of the letter, the logo of the minor league team, the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Audience members with slightly more savvy begin clapping.

A hand comes up, obscuring the identity of the hat-wearing previously hooded figure. With one quick motion, the hand removes the hat; black hair plops down, longer than it had ever been before, but still kept at a shorter cut than most. The hat removed, the figure now looks into the camera, eyes having a twinkle in the iris, mouth curved into a grin, familiar facial features right down to the slightly puffy nose. A familiar face to Exodus Pro.

Tom Matheny: Ladies and gentlemen, we are being visited by none other than one half of the former Exodus Pro Tag Team Champions, Abby Park!

The crowd can be heard cheering their approval and genuine applause for the Korean-American firecracker herself.

Abby Park: Thanks, Tom. And hello out there to all Exodus Pro fans and first time viewers.

Tom Matheny: Abby, I think the question on everyone’s mind is, what brings you here tonight?

Abby Park: Really? I would’ve thought the first question would be “Hey, Abby, how are your injuries faring? You really looked in pain after that match with Andreas Lasiewicz, is everything fine?”

Tom Matheny: Of course, so…Abby…how are your injuries-

Abby Park: Tom, I’m here tonight as a fan. I figured that my past employment gave me a ticket backstage, where the view is just spectacular. I’m running a bit late, but the match I want to see most hasn’t started yet, so I’ve got some time.

Tom Matheny: Err, and what match would that be?

Abby Park: Oh, who can say, there are so many matches tonight that I want to see all of them; how can I choose one to be more excited about? I will say that it’s good to see the other Short Change Hero doing well for himself and I’ll also say that I hope that no one gets too badly hurt in that Shattered Dreams deathmatch. You know, we really should’ve called ourselves the Short Lived Heroes.

Tom Matheny: Pardon?

Abby Park: Nevermind, Tom, just thinking aloud. Anyway, I’m eating solids again and I can move around without pain, so I’d say my injuries are coming along. In fact, I was on my way to talk to someone about that very thing.

Tom Matheny: You were? Does that mean-

Abby Park: It means nothing, Tom, it just means that if I am cleared that I may be interested in trying for it again.

Tom Matheny: ‘It’?

Abby Park: I’ll simply say this, Tom. If I was able to do so, I would’ve been kicking myself when I saw Heather Halliwell do what I never did. What I always wanted. Hell, what everyone wants. And yeah, if I’m medically cleared…well, I’m not the type of person who lets something like broken bones stop me from reaching the finish line. By my watch, Tom, that’s two minutes. Sorry again about the whole camera thing.

Abby puts her baseball cap on her head and gives a thumbs up to the camera, grinning widely. Without another word, she leaves the frame, picks up her bag and envelope, and continues walking backstage.

Tom Matheny: Well, ladies and gentlemen, that may not exactly be a confirmation, but it appears as if Abby Park is no longer content with sidelining. Who knows what Exodus’ response will be to those words. Anyway, for real this time, back to you guys at ringside and, wait, no, I'm told we have a camera crew out...in the crowd?

The camera pans to the crowd where a eager Zack Lifer dressed in a simple open black and red sweatshirt and a yellow undershirt makes his way down the stairs among the crowd, taking his place at the front row with a bag over his shoulder. He smirks as he takes his seat before looking around, wondering if Lassie chose to switch seats like he asked him to before.there is a collective gasp and commotion from the audience as another figure begins to make his way through the crowd. The figure is dressed in full ring attire, gold and crimson tights and a matching leather jacket with the hood pulled over to shroud his face. In his hands is a large amount of drinks and snacks recently purchased from the concession stand, popcorn, Coca Cola and even a bright stick of candy floss. The figure marches past the fans, not bothered if they move or are simply barged out of the way. The figure arrives next to a bewildered Zack Lifer and jabs the candy floss in Lifer’s face. Zack shakes his head as he pushes away the candy and sits down. The golden clad figure sits right next to him, pulling back his hood to reveal none other than Andreas Lasiewicz, just as he promised. He flashes a sly grin at Lifer as the fans respond to his arrival.

Zack Lifer: You don’t look like Jon Collins.

Lifer rolls his eyes and opens his bag, revealing a red Nintendo 3DS XL. He turns it on before scooting to the furthest end of the chair he can, trying to have as much distance between him and Lasiewicz as humanly possible. Lifer begins to play on the handheld console and tries to ignore the Krakow Native sat next to him. Andreas looks over at Lifer, disappointed that he is in the front row for a major wrestling event and playing computer games.

Andreas Lasiewicz: What’s that button do?... What’s that button do?... And that one? What about that one?

Lasiewicz keeps leaning over and attempting to press the buttons on Lifer’s 3DS. Lifer continuously shrugs off Lasiewicz, obviously frustrated at the Pole’s attendance. After awhile Andreas seems to give up, only to tip the entire contents of his box of popcorn over Lifer’s head whilst leaving the box on his head. At this we return to ringside, where a cage is set up, all set for our next match!

Dick Morosi: Well, I didn't expect to see Zack Lifer tonight.

Seth Ericson: Just like he didn't expect to see Lasiewicz?

Dick Morosi: Quite right. And folks, it's time for a steel cage match! There seems to be a lot of bad blood brewing btween these two that's going on with them that stems from some of the earliest encounters they've had in EXODUS.

Seth Ericson: That being said, I do not want to be little Blake Jones in this match.

Dick Morosi: It's Blake Jones and Ryuji Kamigawa in a steel cage match...next!



The arena lights fade to black, and soon, the only light in the arena is that of cell phones, small pinpricks of light in the darkness. After a few moments, though, it becomes clear that there's a clustered concentration of them in the upper deck of the arena.

If there's any doubt who's on the way to the ring, the words of Ryuji Kamigawa, echoing over the speakers, eliminate it.

“Gods and monsters dwell inside us all...”

With that proclamation, the angry, aggressive opening beats of Five Finger Death Punch's cover of Will Smith's classic “Mama Said Knock You Out” hit the speakers, and the arena lights return, to reveal the God in White, Ryuji Kamigawa, standing with his arms spread out in the G&M trademark crucifix pose. As per his new style, he wears only his sunglasses and white tuxedo pants, standing shirtless to show off his tattoos -- both yakuza and Gods & Monsters in nature.

Don't call it a comeback!
I been here for years!
Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear!
Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon!
Listen to the bass go BOOM!

Standing to his left is his self-appointed Messenger, Shinji Uchikawa, clad in his black suit. Uchikawa exhorts the G&M faithful to make noise, and they oblige with as loud a ruckus as they can manage in the upper decks.

The rest of the arena, however, isn't so welcoming of the Sekigun's traitor, greeting him with loud jeers that do their level best to drown out the G&M fans.

Explosion, overpowerin',
Over the competition, we're towerin'!
Wreckin shop, when I drop these lyrics that'll make you call them cops!
Don't you dare stare, you betta move!
Don't ever compare
Us to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced!
Competition's payin' our price!

The pair of Japanese men power-walk towards the squared circle, Kamigawa and Uchikawa ascending the stairs to enter the cage as Ryuji takes center ring, folding his arms over his chest, forcing David Zinkus to move to make his ring announcement even as the song's famous chorus hits.

I'm gonna knock you out!
Mama said knock you out!

David Zinkus: Accompanied to the ring by God's Messenger -- Tsukai no Kami, Shinji Uchikawa -- he hails from San Diego, California by way of Osaka, Japan!

I'm gonna knock you out!
Mama said knock you out!

David Zinkus: Standing six feet five inches tall, he weighs in at three-hundred and fifteen pounds!

I'm gonna knock you out!
Mama said knock you out!

David Zinkus: Representing GODS & MONSTERS, this is the Bakemono Express! The God in White...

I'm gonna knock you out!
Mama said knock you out!

David Zinkus: KAAAAAAMIIIIIGAWAAAAA RYUUUUUUJJIIII!

Kamigawa settles back into his corner in the cage as the song fades out, shadowboxing as Uchikawa whispers words of encouragement in his ears, rubbing his mentor's shoulders in preparation for the task at hand. Suddenly, the crowd starts to look toward the entrance as the lights dim to the sound of strings and piano!



The music kicks in for "Superstar Pt. 2" by Richy Nix, and the crowd notices Blake Jones stepping out from the back! In a sleeveless blue hoodie, hood over his head and the now-famous Blue Lantern logo on the back with EXODUS written through it, he nods his head to the beat of the music as the lyrics kick back in!

David Zinkus: AND HIS OPPONENT! HAILING FROM PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA...weighing in at 184 pounds...BLAKE JONES!

Jones comes down the aisle, slapping a few hands, looking at the structure in front of him. Knowing what's waiting for him, he looks as referee D'Artis Johnson motions for Uchikawa to step out from the ring. Jones watches and slowly steps into the cage after shaking off his hoodie, starting to take a deep breath and step into the ring while he looked at the situation around him. The referee on the outside, Chris Dawson, locks the cage and Johnson calls for the bell for the match to get underway!

Dick Morosi: Blake Jones might be having second thoughts at the moment.

Seth Ericson: Wouldn't you?

Jones steps forward as Kamigawa meets him in the middle of the ring. The two start to exchange words, but Kamigawa piefaces him to make his point and assert dominance in the match. Blake gets up and instead of coming back to jaw at Kamigawa, he responds with a loud slap across the face! Kamigawa seems taken off guard at Blake's desire to take the fight to him, and he goes immediately to him, Blake holding his own as he starts trying to hammer him with rights and lefts! Kamigawa starts trying to lift him up as Blake continues to beat on his back with his fists, Kamigawa carrying him toward the corner, but an elbow to the back of the head from Blake gets Kamigawa to drop him before he leaps up with a massive dropkick to send the monster reeling back! Jones lets out a scream of anger and frustration over the past month, leaving Blake to leap forward and nail a HUGE shining wizard, bringing the big man down to his knees! Blake starts to leap up and look for the Jones Equation, but Kamigawa clips him down immediately with a huge spear, bringing him down. It's just for a chance to recover though, as Blake's opening salvo has disoriented the mountain of a man.

Dick Morosi: Blake Jones is already not looking good here.

Seth Ericson: Well...I wouldn't say that. He gave a good run there to start.

Kamigawa walks over slowly, reaching to pick up Blake by the hair, but Blake swats his hands away and starts firing rights and lefts again, all before Ryuji whips him into the corner and backs up, all before running forward and dropping him down with a huge running avalanche. With Blake slumped in the corner, he grabs him and lays him down on the mat before grabbing the ropes and leaping up, dropping down upon Jones with a Vader Bomb! Jones rolls around the canvas in pain and Kamigawa looks at him with an almost indifferent glance before starting to walk toward the cage door. It's clearly a shot at Blake and how easy he thought the Young Gun would fall, taking his time in his walk, but barking at Dawson to unlock the door for him. Dawson starts unlocking the door, and as Kamigawa gets to the door, Blake starts to get up and run toward Kamigawa, hitting a high knee to his back which sends Kamigawa's face into the cage! Kamigawa is stunned, and Blake grabs his head and slams it into the cage again, sending him down! Jones sighs as he backs up and leaps up onto Kamigawa's back with a double stomp, before using him as a step up ladder to get halfway up the cage! The kid starts trying to climb up, but Kamigawa grabs him by the legs....POWERBOMB! Blake is down, and Kamigawa pulls him up by his hair, looking at him before hoisting him up...JIGOKU NO JITTE! Blake looks absolutely wrecked in pain as Kamigawa looks down at him with disdain.

Dick Morosi: This can't be good for Blake Jones.

Seth Ericson: I don't deny the kid's been good, but...I think Kamigawa's got his number.

Kamigawa looks down at Jones, starting to lift him up again as he shakes his head at Blake's tenacity and fight. Without a second thought, he hoists Blake up to lift him into the BAKEMONO-666, sending waves of pain down the back of the Philly Young Gun. Blake is screaming in pain, but he continues to elbow and fight out of the bear hug, knowing what the name means in the scheme of Blake's career and the career of his mentor, Jonathan Collins. Finally realizing that Blake has too much fight, he puts Blake down before backing up and charging at him...BUT BLAKE DUCKS AND KAMIGAWA GOES INTO THE CAGE! Blake looks absolutely angry at this point and as he looks at Kamigawa, he leaps up and nails a huge hurricanrana! He whips Kamigawa to the corner with all the force he has before coming in with a massive knee! With the crowd behind him, Blake starts to call out to them before delivering 3 chops followed by 3 massive kicks! Kamigawa steps out of the corner, almost stumbling, and Blake comes back with a spinning heel kick! He looks down at the fallen monster, and Blake starts beating his chest to tell the world he's done being a stepping stone!

Blake Jones: ALL! WILL! BE! WELL!

Making a point to remind Kamigawa of his beliefs, Blake looks around and reaches for Kamigawa's arm before....ECHO-16! BLAKE JONES HAS LOCKED IN THE ECHO-16! He's got Kamigawa screaming and wincing, but he can't do anything!

Dick Morosi: Blake Jones has turned the tide!

Seth Ericson: This kid's got real fight in him, but can he get it?

Kamigawa starts trying to use his size for an advantage to bring him up, but Blake simply refuses to let go of the move. Uchikawa reaches for the side of the cage and starts shaking it in the hopes of rallying his mentor, but Kamigawa is barely able to get the man up. Finally, after one last ditch attempt to get him up to break the hold, Kamigawa simply collapses, falling down and seemingly just passing out from the pain. Realizing there is absolutely nothing left in Kamigawa's tank, Jones slowly starts to let the hold go, crawling over to the door.

Dick Morosi: COME ON, KID!

Blake starts to crawl, the agony on his face as he realize how close and yet how far he is. With the door starting to open, he sighs as he looks back on the downed Kamigawa, making the roll out of the ring...AND ESCAPES! "Superstar Pt. 2" by Richy Nix starts to play again, and the crowd goes ballistic for his victory!

David Zinkus: Here is your winner....BLAKE JONES!

The music continues as the ref comes over to raise his hand in victory, Blake's agony of shortcomings finally over tonight.

Dick Morosi: The Cardiac Kid has risen to the occasion again!

Seth Ericson: It's hard to believe, but every iPPV, this kid has risen to the occasion. Three Eon Cutters and survived at Desperate Times. The winner of War Games. Now, this kid has just done his job and pulled off a huge victory.

Dick Morosi: Take a bow, kid, you've earned it!

Blake is walking up the ramp, thanking the fans ringside for applauding and cheering for him. He flashes a couple of smiles towards a few of the fans and even walks over to high five a couple of them before heading back up the ramp. As he makes it to the top of the stage, the Philly Young Gun turns around and looks out at the audience waving once more. As soon as he turns around, he is brought down to the ground with a vicious spear!

Dick Morosi: What the hell?!

The man who has out of nowhere speared Blake Jones is much larger in size, at about 6'4 and 250-ish pounds. He is wearing a dark blue pair of jeans and a black hoodie with no label or anything on it. The hood is over his head as a black mask like the ones robbers wear blocks his face from allowing any of us to know the true identity of the man. Suddenly, the man begins to drive a bunch of lefts and rights onto the skull of Jones before getting up to his feet and curb stomping Blake's head.

Seth Ericson: Looks like someone decided to teach this Jones punk a lesson!

Dick Morosi: After such a draining steel cage match against Ryuji Kamigawa, Blake Jones has been blindsided by this mysterious masked man!

The masked man begins to move away from Blake as referees and medical staff come out and try to get the masked man away from Blake. The man asks for a microphone from one of the EXODUS workers nearby and one quickly runs down the ramp and heads over to David Zinkus, asking for a mic. As the crew member goes and grabs a mic, the masked man pushes a few of the medical staff out of the way before grabbing Blake by the head, lifting him up, and planting him down with a spinebuster that continues the chorus of boos from the audience. The crew member makes his way back up the ramp with a microphone and quickly hands to the masked man before getting the hell away from him. The masked man begins to speak, his voice sounding fake as it's very deep pitch makes it's way throughout the arena.

Masked Man: I told you I was coming at No Church in the Wild! I told you I would make a certain impact and I just did on Blakey over here!

The masked man places his boot on Blake's chest, but does not put any force upon it.

Masked Man: I told you I was coming! I am B, after all!

More boos from the San Diego audience.

Masked Man: Now, I know I promised I would reveal myself here tonight, but I think it would be better if I don't, that way you can all imagine who your hero is. Me, the man who will get rid of scum like Blake Jones, Sylar Drake, and even Adrien Cochrane. One at a time, those who hide behind a figurative mask will be revealed their true faces! Starting with Blakey over here...

The masked man removes his boot off of Blake's chest.

Masked Man: I will not reveal my face or my name here tonight, but should you feel the need to call me something, just call me...Big Brother, for I see and hear all. Good bye for now...

The masked man drops the mic and looks down at Blake once more before hurrying off away from the oncoming security.

Dick Morosi: Who the hell is this masked man?!

Seth Ericson: Who cares? He's a smart man!

Winner: Blake Jones

We return to the ring, camera focused on the stage as ‘Rocket Dive” by hide hits, as the now 60% owner of EXODUS, Nicholas Gray, steps onto the stage to a roar of applause. Gray, still in his arm sling, raises his free hand to wave to the crowd as he walks to the ring. He slides into the ring and takes the microphone from Zinkus, pausing to let the crowd get the cheers out of their systems.

Nicholas Gray: ...hi.

The crowd goes wild again, as Gray grins.

Nicholas Gray: Are you enjoying the show!?

The crowd goes wild, Gray nodding along.

Nicholas Gray: That’s what I thought! Now I know you’re damned ECSTATIC to see Chris Strike FINALLY get his thunderous fists into Christian Kane’s face!

More cheering.

Nicholas Gray: But before we get to that, I have a special announcement! A new signing! Mr. Suit wants excitement? He wants big names? He wants someone to bring in the ratings?! Well I’ve got someone special! And it didn’t even take me any work. One phone call, all it takes, when everyone else couldn’t even get a word in to the man. This is what I bring to EXODUS. So come on out, my mysterious old friend!

As Nick awaits the appearance of the new mystery signing, the crowd is stirring with anticipation, cheering and chanting as they watch the stage for them to appear. Whoever they are, they love to keep the crowd waiting. It’s another half minute or so and nothing has happened, though Nick Gray still has a smile on his face, ribbing with the ring announcer about how they love to keep the crowd waiting. He looks out to the crowd and laughs a little as they continue to wait for the new member of EXODUS.

Dick Morosi: Well, whoever this person is, they like to keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

Seth Ericson: Yeah, I’m starting to get bored already. If they’re not even going to....hey, what the...?

The lights in the RIMAC Arena suddenly cut out, the whole arena filled in darkness, the crowd cheering this lightly...and still nothing happens. Eventually the crowd fill the time by clapping and stamping their feet, all the whole Nick Gray waits patiently in the middle of the ring.

Then, the sound system comes to life, with the opening of ‘Cochise’ by Audioslave beginning to play. The crowd begins to stir as the intro continues to play. Then, when the drums kick in, the video comes to life on the big screen. It starts out like the first reel of a movie, counting down from 5 to 1, playing like an old reel of film, marks and tears, cigarette burns etc, before cutting to the landscape of an unknown city, passing over the buildings, the roads, the streets, the people. Then, as the song is about to hit its main riff, a name is scrawled onto the screen, as if scratched on by hand.

‘NAPIER’

Dick Morosi: No way!

Seth Ericson: Oh....crap....

The crowd roars to life as the lights begin to flicker blue and white and a spotlight hits the stage to reveal JACK NAPIER! He’s looking out to the crowd with a wide smile on his face, his hair cut short, his trademark makeup adorned on his face, and dressed in a white t-shirt with a blue shirt over, a black hoodie unzipped, slim black jeans and grey Converse trainers. The crowd is going wild, Nick Gray applauding his friend as he begins to walk down to the ring.


Dick Morosi: Ladies and gentlemen, Nick Gray promised a surprise, and he delivered in spades! Jack Napier is in EXODUS! The Wild Card is in EXODUS!

Seth Ericson: I can’t believe it! Has Nick Gray gone nuts?! He knows who this guy is, right?!

Dick Morosi: More than you know, these guys go back to THW! It probably didn’t take much for Napier to sign the deal if his friend made the offer!

Jack takes his time coming to the ring, soaking in the huge response from the Californian crowd with a wide smile on his face all the way. When he gets to the ring, he takes a long look out over the crowd, photo flashes going off as he does so, before stepping through the ropes and over to the nearest corner, scaling to the top. More photo flashes go off as Jack scans the crowd slowly, who cheer him back loudly. He jumps back down and heads over to the opposite corner, walking past Nick Gray, but not without exchanging a cheeky grin, before scaling up top in the corner. He scans over the opposite side of the crowd before raising his arms up high, the crowd cheering him even louder.

Jack jumps down as the lights come back up. He turns to face Nick Gray, who’s smiling at him, gesturing as if to say ‘I told you so’. Then the two men laugh, Nick handing Jack the microphone and exchanging a warm handshake and pleasantries, before he steps out of the ring and begins to walk up to the back. Jack paces around the ring as Cochise slowly fades out, leaving the Californian crowd to cheer his arrival with great enthusiasm. Jack smiles and laughs as the crowd start up a ‘NAPIER’ chant right before he’s about to speak. Jack allows this to continue as the chant turns into another loud roar.

Dick Morosi: Jack Napier made his mark in THW, but he’s been off the radar for over half a year. One has to wonder what he’s been doing all this time.

Seth Ericson: Well it looks like we’re gonna find out, whether we like it or not!

Jack takes a deep breath, raises the mic and says something he hasn’t said for a very long time.

Jack Napier: Good evening, EXODUS. I am Jack Napier.

The crowd roar once again in approval, Jack smiling slightly before he begins his address to the crowd.

Jack Napier: Now that’s said, I have a few things I’d like to clear up first of all. I’ve been hearing in my absence rumours and hearsay about where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing all these months. From starting up my own wrestling business, to drinking myself to a stupor. Well, me standing right here in this ring, speaking to all of you right now, should put a lot of those rumours to rest. Jack Napier is alive and well. Jack Napier is back in the wrestling business. But most importantly, Jack Napier has decided to come to EXODUS, and I’m gonna be here for a long time, I can assure you of that!

The crowd cheer loudly again as Jack sets that in stone.

Jack Napier: Now, I imagine right now you all have two questions one your mind.

1) What the hell took you so long? 2) What made you decide to come to EXODUS at long last?

Jack Napier: The truth is, my beautiful people, is that the answer to both of those questions are very much connected to each other.

Jack Napier: Anyone who knows me, or anyone who follows me, knows that this year has been the hardest year of my life. I was hit harder than ever before, by many people, and by many events, and at one point I didn’t really see myself coming out of 2013 in any fit shape. In fact, I didn’t really see me coming out in any shape at all. But with the help of some of my good friends and family, I got myself back on track, I got back up and fought off all that was dragging me down and holding me back, ready to take on the world, whatever it took! And then, just when I was hitting my stride, just when it was looking like I was going to climb the mountain all over again, the place I called home for more than four years decided to close its doors, never to be opened again.

Jack Napier: You all know the place I’m talking about. THW. True Honor Wrestling. A name that has been tainted forever. When the doors slammed shut, I was gutted. THW gave me the chance that no other company did, allowed me to develop and thrive, gave me the chance to be a household name, and I did exactly that. When I started, I was written off as a nobody, a guy that liked dressing up as a clown just to get his kicks. But when I started making waves, when I started doing all the things that so many promised to do and never did, then everyone started taking notice. Soon I was the one everyone was watching, soon I became the International champion, won the Gateway To Heaven match and subsequently won the World title. I became everything they said I could never be. So when THW shut up shop and I was left with nowhere to go, I’m not gonna lie; I sank back down, unconfident in what to do, where to go.

Jack Napier: And then, when that happened, it all came out. The whole conspiracy that we all at THW suspected but didn’t want to acknowledge, because we were too afraid to. We didn’t want our image, our memories of THW to be shattered. But eventually, we had to see it for ourselves. THW, the company that prided itself on being the ‘most honourable company in wrestling’ turned out to be another NSWA or WCW. Not that it started that way. I want to stress that when I joined THW, near its inception, it was the best damn company around. It thrived on building up the small names into big superstars, to give them the chance no one else did. But the last two years...

He takes a few moments out, pacing the ring again looking angry and frustrated, the crowd cheering him to speak again, which he does soon after.

Jack Napier: I walked through the back of this arena, past the faces I’ve known from THW. Wulf Erikksen, Adrien Cochrane. And yes, Nick Gray. We all believed in THW, put our hearts into it, but those last two years, we were all fooled. I don’t know what it was. Whether it was us in denial or wanting to not say anything, but by the end, THW was a shadow of what it once was. It was being run by its own Kliq, a group of men and women who were all favoured to keep the company afloat whilst the rest were left to flounder. It didn’t matter how much we loved the sport, or the people, or the company. If were not deemed worthy enough, we never got anywhere. Sure, I was International champion in the last year, and a lot of other people were making ground. But we were never allowed to reach the same heights as those who were ‘selected’. And it was only when THW shut down that I finally came to realize this all. It hit me hard. It was another punch in the gut this year decided to throw at me, and it killed me that it had to end like that. Truth be told, I never wanted to wrestle again.

Jack Napier: So I went travelling around the country. Not wrestling, not performing, just traveling. Soaking in the sights, remembering the countless cities I’ve been to, and wondering if that was indeed what I should do; quit, throw in the towel and throw away everything I’ve worked for. But then I thought... ‘Why should I stop?’ Why should I stop doing what I love because I was being forced back by men and women who considered me unworthy of the same stature as themselves? Why should I stop now when I’ve come so far? Why should I allow those same people to keep making me think that I wasn’t worth shit anymore? That’s when I asked myself a question that made me decide that it was time to come back, that it was time to remind the world why I came into this sport in the first place.

‘Can a person be defined by the honor they give to their sport?’

“No.” Says Jay Swift. “They’re defined by how high they stand in the rank.”

“No.” Says Marina Valdivia. “They’re defined by how athletic they are.”

“No.” Says Miranda Rivers. “They’re defined by the way they act.”

“No.” Says Gabbi Sparks. “They’re defined by the powers they receive.”

“No.” Says Ryan Dangerous. “They’re defined by the power they hold.”

Jack Napier: These are all factors that contributed to the rise and fall of THW, because the very man who founded it forgot the whole reason why it was founded; to bring honor back to wrestling. Soon, these men and women were handed the reigns and drove the company into the ground, because they lost sight of their honor, and let their egos cloud their judgement. They left many men and women without a job, without a goal, but now...now we are on our way back. I asked myself this question because I truly believe that an athlete, a person, is defined by how much they gives to their profession, how much honor they give to it. That’s why I decided to come back to wrestling, why I decided to come back to EXODUS. Because I love my sport, I love everything about it, and I have every intention to give it the honor it rightfully deserves!”

The crowd roars in approval again as Jack looks determined to live up to his word as he always does. He goes to speak again.

Jack Napier: So I picked myself back up, I got back into training, and I got myself ready for my return to the ring. And when my old friend Nick Gray reached out to me when so many others tried, and offered me a position here in this company so I could fulfil that goal, I finally accepted, and I returned to the sport I hold most dear. And it’s here that I intend to stay. So what’s on the cards for Jack Napier? What am I going to be doing in my time here in Exodus? Well, again, if any of you know the kind of guy I am, you know that I always like to keep my cards close to my chest. I never reveal what my plans are, and I never have any intention to. You may have heard what everyone likes to call me. ‘The Wild Card’. There’s a reason why I’ve gone by that title for so long. It’s because you never know when that one card, that one game-changing card that no one will see coming is finally dealt, but when it is, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of what I’ll throw at you.

Jack Napier: See, that’s the one thing this company has clearly been missing; unpredictability. I’ve been watching EXODUS for a while now, and the people back there are damn good, I’ll give them that. But let’s be honest. It’s going to be a benefit to everyone when I get back into this ring. I’ve built my entire career being a man who can’t be predicted, who can’t be read, someone you’ll never guess what he’ll do next, and it’s an excitement this place sorely needs. So whilst I stand to my goal in bringing honor back to wrestling, I intend to do it in the only way I can; my way!

Once more, the crowd cheer loudly in approval, a ‘WELCOME BACK’ chant starting up just as Jack looks like he’s about to wrap up. Once that dies down, he indeed begins to do so.

Jack Napier: And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I’ve decided to come back to wrestling, why I’ve decided to come to EXODUS. So everyone out in the back should take note, because I am officially back in business, and business is looking good! So, to everyone out there that’s forgotten, and to everyone here to remember...


With that, Jack drops the mic to the floor to the huge approval of the crowd, who cheer loudly once again as Jack poses in the ring, pointing and gesturing to the crowd. ‘Cochise’ plays again as Jack continues to pose for the crowd, looking more ready than ever before to do what he does best.

Dick Morosi: Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it! Jack Napier is here to stay in EXODUS, and he’s here to leave his mark! Say what you will about Nick Gray, but he’s made a huge landmark in his tenure as owner with this signing! Things will definitely get interesting with Jack Napier around!

Seth Ericson: Sure, we’ve all heard the stories, we’ve all seen what he can do and how far he’ll go to do it! But one question remains; what is he going to do first?

Dick Morosi: We'll only see when he wants us to, I think. But next, we know what we've got coming. Chris Strike finally gets his chance at revenge against Christian Kane! Strike was taken out of wrestling for many months because of Kane, and he gets his shot at revenge right now!

Seth Ericson: This is gonna be amazing!


David Zinkus: The following contest…is a NO HOLDS BARRED MATCH!



The guitars and drums of the timeless Bon Jovi classic kick in throughout the arena as Christian Kane makes his way through the curtain and onto the stage. Pink and gold lights focus on the Canadian Sensation and flash rapidly, drawing attention to him as the lights quickly begin to illuminate his silhouette.

David Zinkus: Introducing first, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada…weighing in at two hundred and twenty-six pounds…he is “THE HANDSOME DRIFTER,” CHRIIIIISTIAAAANNNNNN…KAAAAAAANEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

With a smirk Kane instantly proceeds to strut down the ramp as he slicks back his hair. He stops at ringside, attracting attention to his black ‘It’s Britney, Bitch!’ t-shirt with her silhouette in hot pink and the fact he’s sporting a pair of denim blue jeans with a grin before smirking and pushing the camera to the side. The grin turns into a disgusted scowl as the fans in the RIMAC arena let Kane know exactly what they think of him as the music continues to play throughout the arena. Kane meanwhile waves a dismissive hand and makes his way around to the left side of the ring, walks up the steel steps then climbs the turnbuckle.

With one foot on the top turnbuckle and one on the second rope, Kane holds his arms out to his side and tenses his muscles, inciting an extremely loud negative reaction from the audience in attendance once more. His signature smirk now replaced by a frown, Kane now hops off the turnbuckle and into the ring.

Dick Morosi: Unusual attire for the very flamboyant “Handsome Drifter” here tonight, Seth.

Seth Ericson: It’s No Holds Barred, Dick. Quite frankly, Christian Kane didn’t come dressed to wrestle. He came here to fight. Also, pretty sure

Walking across the ring the Martyred Mercenary jumps on the second rope, blowing a sarcastic kiss into the crowd as jeers rain out from the die-hard EXODUS Pro faithful. As the music slowly fades, Kane hops off the rope and walks to his corner, preparing for the match ahead and staring right at the entrance ramp while the crowd begins to buzz at the events that are about to occur.

Seth Ericson: The anticipation is building…

Dick Morosi: It is a rivalry has spawned for more than a year and tonight, at No Church in the Wild, a new chapter is written in its pages.

The house lights in the arena go out completely, thunder and rain can be heard from a distance, all while the image of a large mountain complete with a temple atop the peak is seen on the LCD screen while the beginning of “March of Mephisto” by Kamelot blares out of the PA system. The shot zooms into the temple, as the crowd begins to clap along with the beat of the song, watching as a man rises from the throne inside of the temple and makes his way down the steps. Once he nears the camera, he looks up at the sky and makes his way over towards a pool of water. The man looks down into the water, and once he does…a shot of lightning hits the water! As the lightning hits the water in the video, streams of smoke shoot up from the ramp way area and high above, covering the entrance ramp as the song kicks into full motion, the fans clapping along with the song in full while white, yellow and blue spotlights swirl all across the arena.

Chris Strike emerges from the curtains and steps out into the limelight, drawing a loud reaction from the faithful inside the RIMAC as he stops in front of the entrance ramp and slowly raises his right arm up, hand open – sporting on a pair of gloves and a full-on tactical look with the black vest, pants, combat boots and a white t-shirt beneath the vest. Strike is showered by gold, white and black streamers as smoke appears from each side of the ramp before he makes his way down, having the occasional fans reaching out towards him from the rail, all while keeping his eyes solely focused on the ring and on Christian Kane.

David Zinkus: And his opponent, from S-

Strike, however, does not wait a second longer as he rushes the ring and slides under the bottom rope, immediately launching across the ring once on his feet and the bell is forced to ring right off the bat as him and Kane clash in the center, exchanging a series of wild punches with no intentions of stopping.

Seth Ericson: Well that escalated quickly!

Dick Morosi: After three hundred and ninety-two days, the rematch is upon us! Kane and Strike are going at it!

The RIMAC is at a fever pitch as Chris begins to get advantage in their brawl as he begins to throw a series of knife-edged chops to the chest of Christian Kane, forcing the Handsome Drifter to go on the defensive by raking Chris across the eyes before rolling outside of the ring! Strike rolls right out after him and takes him down with a running clothesline as he tries to get away. Kane is barely back to his feet before the champion introduces him face first into the ring steps, causing a loud crashing noise before Kane staggers backwards. Strike unhooks the top half of the steps, bringing him up with both hands and waiting as Kane brought himself back to his feet. With one mighty hurl, Chris throws the steel steps in a forward motion and on instinct, Christian dodges under them just in time to not get hit, immediately turning around to see the steps hit the ring post and then bounce back down on the protective mat on the outside of the ring.

Dick Morosi: He…just THREW…the steps at him! HE THREW THEM! And Kane better thank his lucky stars he got the hell out of dodge!

Seth Ericson: …Seriously, what the hell did Christian Kane really do to this man? No, seriously, can anyone get me an answer on this backstage? Anyone?

However, Kane’s celebration barely lasts as Strike is right back on him, raining down with lefts and rights on the side of his head. But given the nature of this match, Kane’s right arm shoots up and Strike gets caught a very, very low blow. Doubling back, Strike’s hands immediately go for his private parts and that gives Christian Kane plenty of time to take off on a run and connect with a MASSIVE Busaiku Knee Kick that knocks Chris Strike out cold, as the crowd reacts accordingly to the shenanigans.

Dick Morosi: STKO!!!

Seth Ericson: Used a hell of a lot earlier than expected, but given the nature of this match…NOT SURPRISING!

Dick Morosi: …And now, he’s coming over here.

As Morosi pointed out, Kane began to clear off the broadcast table, knocking water bottles and whatnot to the floor till he jerked up the monitor on Ericson’s side and looked at it for a moment before turning back to Strike on the floor. And as Chris sat up on his knees, Kane took off and crashed the front end of the monitor into Strike’s head. The screen shattered as sparks flew everywhere before Christian watched him fall face first onto the floor before he threw the monitor onto the back of Strike’s head, screaming a series of obscenities at him in the process while the referee inside of the ring was beckoning for them to get their butts in gear and back in the ring, the RIMAC Arena breaking out in a “HOLY SHIT!” chant.

Dick Morosi: …Does he realize how much it costs for those things?

Seth Ericson: Nevermind the cost of it! HE JUST USED ONE OF OUR TV MONITORS ON A HUMAN BEING WHILE IT WAS STILL ON, DICK! SERIOUSLY, WHAT THE HELL HAVE THESE TWO DONE TO EACH OTHER?!

The camera by the outside of the ring pans on Chris Strike’s face and there is no doubt that the man is busted wide open. Kane, after having some word choices with the referee, has reached under the ring apron and thrown inside a pair of small, white bags with some sort of goodies inside of it before reaching out for something else under the ring…that turns out to be a kendo stick. Kane’s eyes showed that of a furious man as he looked around at the sold out arena in the RIMAC. Chris Strike was barely moving on the floor before he began to crawl towards the apron, as Kane looked around, smacking the tip of the kendo stick against his left hand before pointing it at Strike. The “Golden God” finally noticed Strike reaching under the apron, trying to pull something out from it. Kane began his slow, methodical approach, firing a shot from the kendo stick to the back of Strike’s right knee, drawing out a scream from the former “God of Thunder.” He repeats the process three times but Strike’s right hand is still attempting to reach for something under the ring and Kane leans down and reaches out with his free hand to turn him around…he gets a faceful of green mist to the face!

Dick Morosi: GREEN MIST!!!!

Seth Ericson: Oh God, he’s not done yet! Look at Strike’s hand!!

As the “Golden God” screamed in agony, hands going over to his eyes, dropping the kendo stick while stepping backwards for a moment, Strike got back to his feet, bringing out an object he found under the ring and swinging…wait for it…A HUGE WRENCH to the side of Kane’s head, sending Christian to the floor in a heap before Strike collapsed to the floor as well. Even with blood obscuring his vision, the narrow glance that Strike now gave Kane’s fallen body that the camera was catching told the entire story, as another “HOLY SHIT” chant broke out amidst the EXODUS faithful as Strike gritted his teeth and stood back to his feet with the help of the apron and the bottom rope, using them along with slow steps to make his way down to the fallen Christian Kane.

Dick Morosi: …What they said!

Seth Ericson: I…sincerely hope we stocked up on emergency staff tonight. Because with the way these two are going…

Standing over Kane, Strike used his free left hand to wipe away some of the blood from his eyesight, noticing the gash on the side of Kane’s forehead where the wrench caught him starting to gush with blood as well. Chris raised the wrench up in the air, before the kendo stick just a few inches away caught his attention. Settling for tossing the wrench right onto Kane’s right knee instead, Strike reaches down and grabs the kendo stick, a sick smile appearing on his face as he gripped the kendo stick in his right hand and swung it, the tip smashing right against the open wound in Christian Kane’s head. Placing his left hand on the kendo stick as well, Strike begins to swing the kendo stick down with both hands against Kane’s face continuously, as Christian brings his arms up after the second shot to try and protect himself and while the forearms end up eating a lot of the shots, it’s still doing its fair share of damage to the face.

Dick Morosi: Strike’s just wailing away and that kendo stick looks like it’s going to end up breaking in half!

Chris dropped the kendo stick on the ground, settling for a few right hands to the gash to open it further before bringing Kane back up and tossing him inside of the ring. Strike carefully slides back in the ring, making his way towards the Handsome Drifter, bringing Kane back to his feet by his golden blonde locks. Chris places his palm onto the bloody spot on Kane’s face, screaming a few obscenities of his own at the Canadian Sensation as his now bloodied left hand runs across Kane’s hair before he pulls him into an inverted exploder suplex that sends Kane crashing down against the mat. Strike then decides to actually do what seems to be unthinkable for a moment…and that’s go for a cover.

ONE!

TWO!

THRE- NOOO!!! Kane gets the shoulder up.

Seth Ericson: Oh. Oh, so they DO remember how to wrestle!

Dick Morosi: Our first pinfall of the match…I have a feeling we’re not going to get all that many of those.

Taking a less chaotic approach for once, Strike fires a few more punches to the face of Kane before bringing him back to his feet and hitting his head against the top turnbuckle, backing him into the corner before nailing him with a massive rolling kesagiri chop to the head, keeping the Handsome Drifter at bay. Glancing down at his knee, Strike takes a few steps back and as he’s near the opposite corner, he takes off on a run and goes for it all with a rolling wheel kick…which ends up the hitting the turnbuckle instead, because Christian Kane somehow gets himself right the hell out of dodge on it. As Strike bounces back to the mat, Christian doesn’t hesitate to grab Strike by the right leg, dragging him further from the ropes and dropping his right knee down with a Leg DDT.

Dick Morosi: Strike went for it all there and he got nothing! And now Kane’s right back on the knee that he himself injured in their first encounter, the same knee where Strike had to get surgery on in December.

Seth Ericson: The same knee that’s likely going to get made into mincemeat if Christian Kane has something to say about it.

Lifting the leg, Kane begins to kick away at the back of Strike’s right knee, swearing under his breath as he blinks every few stomps, making sure that the blood coming down from his head doesn’t get in his eyesight. After dealing some damage to the leg and using another Leg DDT to keep things at bay, Kane begins to look around in the ring and eventually finds one of the two white bags that he brought to the ring, pulling one of them much closer to the center of it as he grabs something from within it and it’s revealed to be a chain, in which Kane wraps around his right fist before mounting Strike and beginning to punch away at the open wound on Chris’ head, screaming at him (and actually, the camera manages to catch it word by word this time around).

“YOUR WIFE IS STILL A DEAD WHORE, YOUR TWO CHILDREN ARE LITTLE CUNTS AND I WISH I COULD BRING THEM BACK TO LIFE JUST THIS ONCE SO THEY COULD SEE YOU FUCKING DIE!”

The referee’s screaming at Kane to watch it, but Kane shoves him aside before standing back to his feet, flipping Strike the bird and nailing him with a knee drop to the face before getting back to his feet again, grinning maniacally as he places his foot on Strike’s chest, screaming that he is the Goddamm Devil and telling the referee to fucking count the fall or else. Sighing, the ref does begin to count it.

ONE!!!!!

TWOOOOO!!!!!!

THREE- NO! Strike gets the shoulder up!

Dick Morosi: Lackadaisical cover by Christian Kane here but now, he’s just rubbing salt in the wound.

Seth Ericson: I have this feeling that kicking out of that might have annoyed Kane more than anything.

Grabbing Strike by his head and onto his feet, for good measure, Kane takes off on a run with a full on grip of Chris’ head and nails him with a one-handed bulldog, the bloodied head of Strike leaving a rather deep red stain on the mat with the impact. Following suit, Kane wipes his hands and signals to the crowd that this is over, the “Golden God” grabs on to Chris Strike’s right leg, placing Strike’s left foot on the back of his right knee and keeping his own right foot on top of Strike’s thigh before he leans back on the mat, hands wrapped around the right ankle as he begins to twist and turn, locking in the Canadian Maple Leaf!

Dick Morosi: CANADIAN MAPLE LEAF LOCKED IN!

Seth Ericson: It’s the same move that eventually forced Strike to go under the surgeon’s knife! It could happen again!

Strike screamed in pain, his right hand reaching for the ropes, but they were far out of reach as Kane continued to pull back on the leg. The former Thunder God shrieked in torture as Kane kept the move locked in, as Strike’s hands went to his head while he shook it, refusing to go down his path again…and that was when Strike noticed one of the white bags that Christian Kane had thrown inside of the ring. Particularly, the fact that they bore his initials on it and that the bag was within reach. In desperation, Strike’s right hand, stained in both his and Kane’s blood, reached inside of the bag. Fingers fumbled around the inside of the bag, opening it and finally finding something that was seemingly solid enough to use. Without hesitating, Strike took the item out of the bag and swung it up, hitting Kane right on the side of the head…the one without the gash. The impact was enough to make Kane release the hold and SCREAM in agony as the camera caught sight of the blood beginning to come down from another open gash and eventually, it panned over to what exactly it was Strike brought out of the bag.

Seth Ericson: …What…in the…fu-

Dick Morosi: …It’s a railroad spike!

Strike’s eyes widen as he realizes the weapon in his hands, as Kane’s still reeling back, the rather nasty mix of blood and remnants of poison mist all over his face. Returning to his feet with the help of the ropes, Chris looks right across the ring as Kane comes circling back in his direction. Almost as if on instinct, Strike takes off – on one good leg – and with his good knee, he manages to nail a somewhat awkward but still painful version of the double knee face buster, flooring Christian in the process along with himself. The railroad spike, noticeably, was still somehow held in his right hand.

Dick Morosi: Narukami!!!

Seth Ericson: But how much did that take out of him?!

Chris eventually is back on one knee (his non-injured one, by the way) and he glances at the floored Christian Kane before looking over at the crowd in the RIMAC Arena, rooting fervently for him to go for the cover and end this match. However, he shakes his head. Staring down at the railroad spike, his grip on it tightens and he raises it in the air, parts of the crowd rooting while others began to look a little more…worried, if you will. Gradually, Strike stands back on his feet and he slowly begins to put weight on his right leg, wincing and grimacing in pain while planting the right foot against the mat but refusing to hop around on it. With his free left hand, he grabs a hold of the stained red blonde locks of Christian Kane, bringing the man up until he is on his knees, bloodied face with strains of green pigment on it, still half-dazed from the Narukami but conscious enough to realize exactly what Chris Strike has in his right hand as he raises it up, holding on to Kane’s hair in the process before leaning down and saying something loud enough for the cameras at ringside to pick up:

“…BITE THE PILLOW, BITCH!”

Strike jams the railroad spike right onto the center of Christian Kane’s forehead. And then again. And then, he does it a third time before finally letting the man drop to the mat.

Dick Morosi: OH MY GOD!!!!

There is a trifecta of open spots across the Handsome Drifter’s facial features, more blood gushing out from them, the cameras have to turn away almost immediately as Strike stares down at the fallen Kane, not even bothering with the referee that is practically SCREAMING at him that enough is enough before he finally drops the railroad spike on the mat, kneels down and covers Christian Kane:

ONE!!!!!!

TWOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seth Ericson: …IT’S FINALLY OVER!

“March of Mephisto” immediately begins to play through the PA system as Strike stands back to his feet and the crowd inside of the RIMAC cheers in between yet another “HOLY SHIT” chant as the referee eventually raises Chris’ hand and then immediately lets go of it, getting the hell out of sight while waving his arms for the EMT’s in the back to come on out already while Chris Strike glances right back at down at Christian Kane, hatred emanating from within him.

David Zinkus: Here is your winner…CHRIIIIIIIIS STRRRRRIIIIIKEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

Dick Morosi: After three hundred and ninety-two days, Chris Strike has finally gained a semblance of revenge over Christian Kane!

Seth Ericson: …A SEMBLANCE?! He BRUTALIZED Kane! There is going to be a new scale for wrestlers that bleed a lot named after the Handsome Drifter with all the blood that he just lost!

Dick Morosi: There is no doubt that both these men came with the purpose of damn near killing one another, but we can finally say that it is over…

Seth Ericson: …OR IS IT?! LOOK AT STRIKE!

While the EMTs were still making their way down, Strike had the railroad spike in his hands again and he was only inches away from Christian Kane. His left hand went to reach for the fallen “Golden God,” perhaps to instill more punishment upon him, a commotion across the screen being seen in the crowd as multiple robed figures seem to be tangling with the security inside of the RIMAC…

Dick Morosi: Whoa whoa whoa, wait a minute! WAIT A MINUTE!

…And that’s when he suddenly felt a sharp kick catch him at the side of his head. The crowd at the RIMAC booed almost immediately, as there were now two men in cloaks, laying the boots to Chris Strike where he stood. The men looked at one another, nodding as they took off the hood part of the cloaks and the hatred that rained down upon them was absolutely MASSIVE!

Seth Ericson: Wait a second, are those…?!

Dick Morosi: THAT’S THE SINISTRY! ALONG WITH DOUG E FRESH AND PARADOX MCSWEENEY FROM SIN CITY WRESTLING! THE CWC WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! WHAT IN THE HELL ARE THEY DOING HERE IN EXODUS PRO?!?!

Both Paradox and Doug lift Strike back to his feet and ‘Dox irish whips Strike right into the A+ superkick from Doug E. Fresh, sending Strike reeling back and into the grasp of Paradox, who quickly gets him up and puts him down with his “Shock and Awe” vertebreaker maneuver, as the crowd cringes at the impact. The two men look almost like they’re ready to do more, but they immediately slide under the bottom rope and hop the guardrail as it seems security’s finally gotten through the robed figures and is giving them chase, the cameras following as Fresh and McSweeney make their escape and both Strike and Kane are left lying on the mat, neither men moving as the EMT’s soon arrive on the scene.

Dick Morosi: …Folks, I don’t know what just happened or why, but the fact is…the two outsiders may have just saved Christian Kane from getting further demolished!

Seth Ericson: But that’s the problem right there! Strangers from different lands! In our friggin’ show! HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES CHRIS STRIKE PISS OFF ON A WEEKLY BASIS, SERIOUSLY?!

Winner: Chris Strike

The cameras eventually fade away to a different shot entirely. As the feed cuts backstage we find Magnus "Christum Furor" once again lurking by one of the RIMAC arena stairwells. Gunner is adorned in an entirely black ensemble of black trunks, black knee and elbow pads, black boots that come to the mid-shin, and a sleeveless G&M T-shirt exhibiting the various tattoos and scars on his arms. His hands are wrapped in white wrist tape - twice to maybe three times the thickness than usual, extending to his elbow pads rather than being cut off at the forearms. Sitting before him are two buckets and a plastic bag. The camera focuses on one of the buckets, revealing it to be filled with a thick-liquid substance.

Magnus Gunner: Kliff Ulysses, are you familiar with the term fratricide? According to most religions, it was the first type of murder ever. Cain was stricken with tremendous jealousy, incredible envy, and inhospitable rage, and through madness was driven to kill his brother Abel. In mythology, Romulus became Rome's first king, murdering his brother Remus in order to be coronated. So, I ask you my brother, what has driven us to this point? Why are we having this conflict, this dispute? Why are you pitting us against one another? For the fans, who months ago crucified you for standing against Jonathan Collins and his corruption - and now cheer for you because you've become the thing you hate the most - a sycophant! And you would fight your OWN brother to be accepted by THEM?

Magnus sighs, his facial expression appearing to be one of sadness and grief. He shakes his head, his mug contorted into a greater look of melancholy before he passes a hand over his face, trying to wash away his anguish.

Magnus Gunner: But... But you and your actions, your wayward ways... The way you have turned your back on ME... It has forced me in between a rock and a hard place. I don't want to do this Kliff... I never asked for this, but I know now with my mind freed and unlocked, and as the ONLY genius and truth-sayer in professional wrestling, that THIS is the burden of a hero! To save you from yourself, I must destroy you!

Magnus picks up the plastic bag before slamming it on the floor. The sound of glass being broken is immediately heard.

Magnus Gunner: THAT... That was the sound of your fate being sealed.

He commenced to empty the bag into the second bucket.

Magnus Gunner: And the tools to your demise... Pieces of broken glass... Bottles, glass panes and windows.. Objects from the glass house you live in... The house I have destroyed with wholehearted, indisputable truth... And the truth is you were right brother... I AM miserable, because misery is the burden of a hero... forced to hurt the ones you love... forced to live a lonely life... constantly vilified and crucified by the people you have honored and sworn to protect... And I accept this burden Kliff, as this company's ONLY HERO... I accept the fact that I am a MONSTER, that the only way I can uphold and adhere to the truth, to reject the falsehood, and to reveal the true nature, the true motives... And the FACES OF THESE MASQUERADERS... is to burn the world to the ground!

Gunner cracks his knuckles and kneels down before lowering each of his hands into the bucket of liquid, glazing his knuckles, backhands and forearms in what appears to be glue. He raises his hands, revealing them to be coated in the aforementioned substance, before lowering them into the bucket of glass, pressing them into the shards. With a quick shake, he raises them up to the camera upon returning to a stand, the glass now covering the majority of his taped fists.

Magnus Gunner: These are my fists of vengeance, the weapons of truth, the keys to your salvation, by beating you into oblivion. And I didn't want this Kliff. Deep down, I still DON'T want to do this... you are my BROTHER, so I beg of you... Present this ultimatum: You either kill me in this ring tonight... Give me THAT mercy killing, make me a NARTYR... Or force me to plunge into misery... By destroying YOU and everything you know!

Gunner looks straight into the camera, a detached, removed, blank expression on his face as he poses in his trademark crucifix in eerie homage.

Magnus Gunner: Because you either die the hero, or live long enough to be vilified by lesser minds...

We cut back to ringside, with Dick & Seth.