Post by EXODUS Office on Mar 24, 2014 17:09:45 GMT -6
The bell rings, signaling the start of Darlington vs. Hanneman the newly appointed senior official of (R)Evolution Wrestling looms across the ring from Darlington. She grins at him and motions gor him to come over for a test of strength. He meets her in the center of the ring and she shoots her hand into the air. Darlington looks up at it, then at Hanneman and bsck up to her outstretched hand. He takes the bait and attempts to overpower Hanneman. Hanneman wastes little time in bringing Darlington to his knees. Darlington attempts to crawl away, but Hanneman climbs on top of him and attempts to force a pony ride out of him. Darlington attempts to buck her off, but Hanneman laughs loudly and smacks his behind playfully, urging him to move on. Darlington reaches the ropes, invoking a hesitant, unsure count from the referee. Hanneman climbs off willingly and reaches into her bra, pulling out one of her infamous sock puppets. The fans cheer wildly as Hanneman goes for through the stages of the #StopDropandSockPuppet: sliding on the puppet with the slightly rapey duck face, poking Darlington in the eye, she and the duck twerking for a moment before applying the Mandible Claw. Darlington taps quickly and the bell rings.
Winner: Katie Hanneman
When we start our scene, it’s dark.
Maybe not dark, but dim.
It’s a small room, looking like a tiny little meeting room in a warehouse. It’s evening, just the light over the table illuminating our vision. One chair seems empty, the other filled by one man, sitting in a black dress shirt and red tie, dress pants and sleeves of the shirt rolled up as he kicks up his feet.
The unmistakable presence of EXODUS Pro’s Director, Jonathan Collins.
Jonathan Collins: Christum, you and I are beyond these dramatic entrances. Have a seat and let’s have this talk.
The camera pans around to show the EXODUS World Champion, Christum Furor. Draped in his ominous burlap sack, a G&M hooded sweatshirt, and with his aforementioned championship lying on the table in front of him the Michigander stares at the man he has despised for over a year. His eyes contain an inhospitable hatred, a hatred that as felt as he seethes in frustration.
Christum Furor: Jonathan… Jonathan… Jonathan, what we are beyond is talking. I’ve been talking for an entire year, yet you have not been listening to one single word. You’ve ignored all of my warnings, and every single bit of sound logic, and nugget of knowledge that I have dropped in your lap, and the laps of the incoherent masses. And now you think you deserve a peaceful resolution? Now you think you deserve to determine fate on your terms? You will get no such thing. The cards are now in my hand, and you will play the hand that you are dealt.
Jonathan Collins: You know, I really started thinking about this for the past two weeks. I thought about what you did to one of my students. I thought about how a year ago, you and LEGION put me in a coma, trying to kill me and end the very creation I put my heart into. I kept thinking to myself about how every time I’ve had to bristle in this company, it’s because of you.
Jonathan pauses and brings a hand to the bridge of his nose, rubbing it before he continues to talk.
Jonathan Collins: And then I started to wonder why it’s so personal with you. You talk about how it’s me that makes the matches, me who pulls the strings, and how dissatisfied you are with the fact that everything you have asked for, I’ve given you. I’ve put you in main events, I’ve put you in these featured matches despite my own personal feelings for the safety of my wife, and how I’ve even put myself in the ring with you. I have never run from you, “Christum Furor,” nor have I denied who I am. I am a man trying to be a businessman now. I’ve done some real bad things, my friend, but the only one who can judge me is my maker...and I have told you a million times before that you cannot kill what you didn’t create. So really, champ, why is it you want me to walk away? What really sticks in your craw about me that keeps you up at night and drives you to madness?
Collins smirks and leans forward, bringing his feet down from the table.
Jonathan Collins: And please, spare no detail.
Furor leans back in his seat, clenching his fist, unclenching, then clenching again as a means to alleviate his stress. He shakes his head, finding everything Jonathan just relayed to him to be utterly preposterous.
Christum Furor: Why Jonathan, you ask why?
He begins to cackle now, as Collins is now the one hissing in frustration. Neither man seems able to suppress their ill wills for the other, yet Furor continues on.
Christum Furor: It’s because everything you say is a falsehood and fabrication. It’s because everything you claim to stand for and believe in is a facade. Its because you think you’re some sort of sage who must save professional wrestling with his idea of right and wrong, his idea of inherency which is primitive way of thinking. You pass on your ethics and your principles, and act like they are the be all, end all, and everyone who rejects them are vilified. You dehumanize those who will not stand with you, those who choose to think for themselves and act according to their own personal doctrines. I hate that sort of hypocrisy. I HATE it, Jonathan. I hate how you pretend to be noble, pretend to have the best intentions for people at heart. I hate how you have created this illusion of right and wrong, this illusion of morality, its a notion that you preach but do not follow with your actions.
Furor begins to tap the table now, somewhat irking the man sitting across from him.
Christum Furor: You have not given me ANYTHING, Jonathan. In fact, you have done the absolute OPPOSITE. The reason I am standing across this table, standing in front of you holding YOUR company’s top prize is because I backed you into a corner. I backed you into a corner just like I did last year. My rivalry with your wife left you with no choice but to put me in Main Events, to put me in these premiere spots in these shows. You had no choice because you HATED me, and believed I would fail, just like you did back in Tennessee. You don’t remember do you Jonathan? You don’t remember how you hogged the spotlight, and put people down because you were the great and noble JONATHAN COLLINS. You WERE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING. I remember it like it was yesterday Jonathan. I remember how you told me I would never amount to anything, how you couldn’t see me. I was invisible… I continued to be invisible until the day I blasted your beloved wife in the face with a steel chair. THEN you saw me. THEN the great Jonathan Collins saw the maggot feasting on the flesh of decayed bodies.
Angered, the World Champion begins to claw the table with his fingernails. He balls his hands back into fists, slamming them on the piece of furniture, continuing to feast his steely glare on the Saint of Violence.
Christum Furor: And when you saw me Jonathan, you saw that I was everything you were not, and everything you could never become. I was the outlier, the anomaly. I was the one that sparked radical change every single time I spoke into a microphone. I was the one that made the people start to question you. The moment I began to lift the veil and blinders that you situated over the eyes of the public, your hatred for me grew deeper. And so you became determined to destroy me, to undo every one of my accomplishments, to tear down my hopes and dreams and send me back down to the totem pole so you could sneer and mock me from your self-righteous pedestal. So you TOOK things from my life Jonathan, just like you took Haven from me. You turned me into THIS… this monster, this walking monstrosity because you destroyed my life, just like you’ve destroyed the lives of countless people in this business without remorse or guilt. You gained satisfaction from it, you enjoyed it. It’s all been systematic to pad your ego and assuage your sadistic thirst for blood and power. You deliberately corrupted my best friend Kliff Ulysses. YOU forced him to betray me. YOU made him stab me in the back with your alluring lies, and your beautiful lucid dreams which were nothing more than intricate fabrications. YOU turned Zack Lifer against ME. You made him believe that he could not achieve self-fulfillment without submitting to your illogical, antiquated codes of ethics. YOU are the one that has taken from ME because you want me to bow to you.
Furor begins to almost hyperventilate, as Jonathan merely looks on, shocked and unable to fathom the degree of animosity his nemesis has for him. The man formerly known as Magnus Gunner grabs the EXODUS World Championship, looking at it with a deep rooted fascination, before directing his gaze back in the direction of the Director.
Christum Furor: You have caused me tremendous grief and unspeakable pain, Jonathan. Your hatred, your narcissism, and your fraudulence has ruined my life. But the truth is Collins, I don’t even blame you anymore. No, I thank you really. Thanks to you I have ascended to this status. Due to your antipathy, due to your countless efforts, and your heartless dream of putting your foot on my throat be it in the ring, or from behind the scenes I have become a GOD. With my life in shambles, with my relationships ruined and all of my bridges burned down I had no choice but to face my demons. Insanity was my only alternative, but it was in that abyss, in that dark place in the recesses of my mind that I found total enlightenment. And now with my increased knowledge, now with total and ABSOLUTE clarity I can see the gruesome truth. And the truth is that THIS world, this world of professional wrestling is a massive ball of hatred that consumes all of us. It promotes us to live our entire lives in constant physical and emotional agony, seeing one another only as obstacles that we must destroy to obtain superficialities instead of human beings . It has turned YOU into the Saint of Violence, and me into CHRISTUM FUROR. Long ago when I was a member of LEGION I conversed with Daisuke Iwakuma. He made it clear to me how he felt about this business. He didn’t believe change or peace was necessary or attainable, he sought only to be a symbol of destruction and misery, and be the bridge to continue this vicious cycle of hatred. THAT was his purpose. He harnessed his madness, he saw the writing on the wall, but he chose a dark path. He chose to embrace this hate, and continue this sad, nightmarish existence that consumes everyone in this wretched cesspit. I however, have not.
Jonathan takes a moment, pauses, and...nods.
Jonathan Collins: You’re right. I think that you’re absolutely right. There’s a lot of things you’ve said that aren’t inaccurate. I have chosen to reject this monster in me, and you can take that as you will. The truth is I choose to do that, because you don’t realize that we have choice. We choose who we become. Our actions make us who we are at the end of the day, and we have no one to blame but ourselves, really. If you need a scapegoat, feel free, that’s fine...but I know your secret, Magnus.
He grins and leans in, raising an eyebrow at the World Champion and the man who has ranted and raved at him.
Jonathan Collins: You hate me because I found the answer to everything you wanted. See, when you grow up and you realize that we all have to take responsibility for our actions, you’ll realize that I had nothing to do with these actions. I didn’t make this happen. When you open your eyes from this dream and you get back to being Magnus Gunner, you’ll realize that the person you longed to be was me. I found peace in this industry. I found love, I found happiness, but most importantly, I found hope. I found hope, and that is why you want me out of EXODUS Pro, Christum. While you go on, spouting off despair and the ravings of a man who would dare consider himself a god amongst men, I found hope! I found promise, and because I inspire people to find the things they’ve been missing, you blame me for the things you don’t have, and you blame me for being the person you just don’t have the courage to be!
Collins remains surprisingly composed when he looks at his company’s champion, nodding for a moment before he takes a deep breath and exhales, resuming what he needs to say.
Jonathan Collins: You gave me two weeks to decide if I’d march. Two weeks to decide if I would fade into the sunset and abandon EXODUS Pro. Now I could do that, but for what? Your witch hunt would turn me into a symbol, not of your power, but that would let you make a martyr out of me, and I simply just don’t want you to do that. Not because I choose it, but quite simply...I don’t need to be sacrificed to show those kids greater heights. Tonight, when your New Era comes to a grinding halt, they’ll realize that the hope they were looking for resided in them all along. Time is coming, Christum. I’ll fade off into the sunset. I’ll go put my daughter through college, and maybe I’ll have another one with my wife, but this industry won’t need me. More importantly, I’ll know that this industry was in good hands because I had hope and faith...and you’ll realize something.
Jonathan reaches down under the table and comes back, a tattered novel in his hands as he slides it over to show it to Furor.
Jonathan Collins: Take it, it’s yours. It’s one of my favorite novels, American Gods. It’s by Neil Gaiman, a hell of an author. I think you’d like him, personally. I’d read it, because you’ll learn one thing from it. Sometimes, Gods lose their power. Sometimes, after enough time and a lack of belief, they simply just cease to mean anything. Tonight, you lose your power. Tonight...you’re just a man, just like me.
Jonathan smiles and nods.
Jonathan Collins: You’ll find that the view from mortality is just as nice.
The EXODUS World Champion picks up the novel, flipping through the pages with disinterest before setting it back down onto the table.
Christum Furor: Competing for superficial championships and trophies with the hopes that these small accomplishments will fill voids in our lives… experiencing pain that never heals… fading into obscurity or dying like trash to have your contributions made null and void in a world of never ending hatred… this is professional wrestling Jonathan. You understand this, you know of this harsh truth, but you must accept the fact that I am the one who is going to break this cycle. I am the one who is going to be the bridge to peace, the symbol of hope that changes this terrible world. That’s why my power will never dwindle. That’s why my New Age will never be destroyed. You see, the New Age is merely an ideal, an ideal that I have created, and that people with unlocked minds and a thirst for change have adopted. It’s an ideal we share because we are one. Gods & Monsters is one, one unified ideal of men and women who have been brought together by pain. It is our pain that has driven us to pursue change, to risk our lives and our reputations in the hopes that we can purify this diseased world and make it better for our predecessors.
Furor slides the novel back across the table.
Christum Furor: The sad thing is Jonathan, we’re no different. We each act according to our own sense of justice, our own sense of peace, our own idea of how to change professional wrestling. The thing is, your way does not alter anything, it only continues this cycle. My vision transcends your comprehension. My vision is radical and yields results. My idea of a NEW AGE can bring true peace to professional wrestling, but it is only possible through pain. Through enduring this pain. Through sharing our pain. If you don’t share someone’s pain, you can never understand them Jonathan. But just because you understand them doesn’t mean you can come to an agreement. That’s the truth. That’s why we cannot co-exist, and that is why I will continue on my quest. That’s why it doesn’t matter if I’m World Champion at the end of tonight, or World Champion for the next 365 days. All that matters is that I continue to be the architect of the future. I am the existential hero, Jonathan. I have finally realized my purpose in the grand scheme and have discovered the tools to create change.
Furor stands up from the table now, draping the EXODUS World Title over his shoulder as he points at his enemy, and polar opposite.
Christum Furor: And with these tools I will create something that can never be destroyed. For that everything I’ve done will have been rectified. There’s no paradise, no pearly gates awaiting either of us due to the things we’ve done, the things we’re doing, and the things we’re going to do in the future. Our fate in the next life is purgatory, and I accept that. I accept that this path will lead to my demise, but its necessary. I am willing sacrifice myself for the REAL greater good. THAT is why we will never see eye to eye. You only look to preserve your way of life, while I look to improve and better our existence. And I will. Just watch me. Watch me change the world and live on forever as the beacon of hope and the light that illuminated this cloud of darkness.
And with that Christum Furor bids the Director adieu, swiftly walking off to leave Jonathan pondering where the two of them are to go from here...and with that, we go to Dick & Seth.
And we finally join Dick and Seth at the commentary booth.
Dick Morosi: Hello fans and welcome to the Downfall of Us All! Boy do we have a stacked night of action for you tonight! All titles are on the lines! We're gonna crown a new San Diego Bay champion as Nate Soto takes on Tyrannosaurus Sex, Tiffani Stearns!
Seth Ericson: What could go wrong for the little white girl!
Dick Morosi: And then Jerry Matthews' disgusting actions over the last few weeks have consequences as the woman he laid out so viciously, Lexy Chapel, gets a rematch with the International championship on the line!
Seth Ericson: What could go wrong for the little white girl!
Dick Morosi: After smashing Steve Lenton with a sledgehammer and putting him out with a concussion, Lenton is back and with his partner Wulf Erikssen, TROUBLE takes on DESTROY ALL HUMANS in a FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE match!
Seth Ericson: What could go wrong for the little...uh...girls...at ringside! YEAH!
Dick Morosi: We have an EXODUS first, as we have our Brightest Day Cibernetico to determine the next Number 1 Contender to the EXODUS Pro World Title! 10 competitors will face off in a tug of war kind of tag match where they have to tag in a set order! one team captained by Fiona Collins of the Seikigun, the other captained by the Scalpel of Gods & Monsters, Kira T. Zeppeli!
Seth Ericson: There's a lot of little white girls in that!
Dick Morosi: ...and finally, the Morning Star gets his hands on Christum Furor himself as Andreas Lasiewicz takes on Magnus Gunner with the Exodus Pro World Title on the line, and that's sure to be a bloodbath!
Seth Ericson: What could go wrong for the....uh...
Dick Morosi: For the little white boy that inadvertently insults Andreas or Furor?
Seth Ericson: YEAH! ...wait....shit.
Dick Morosi: Mmhmm. Why don't we move onto the first match of the night, Adrien Cochrane taking on the Big Bad Justin Brooks, a match that's been held world over to acclaim each time?
Seth Ericson: Perfect! Take it away David...please!
David Zinkus: This match is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first...
David Zinkus: Now coming to the ring...hailing from Atlanta, Georgia...standing at 6'4" and 267 pounds, he is Justin Brooks!
A large chorus of cheers erupt from the E-Pro faithful as Justin Brooks appears from the curtain and stands there with a smile on his face as he places his hands on his waist. “Monster” by Paramore continues to blast through the PA system as he keeps his eyes on the middle of the squared circle as he slowly makes his way towards the ring, sliding underneath the bottom rope and quickly standing to his feet and looks amongst the crowd with a large smile on his face. Justin just leaps to the second turnbuckle and throws his hands in the air before leaping down from the turnbuckle.
Dick Morosi: Justin Brooks is back! This has been something a lot of people have been looking forward to, the Big Bad Brooks in an ExPro ring once again!
Seth Ericson: I'm ready. Are you ready? You're probably not as ready as I am. I'm so ready.
Dick Morosi: I get it.
Seth Ericson: Do you? I have a pie chart showing how ready I am right here.
Dick Morosi: Jesus Christ.
David Zinkus: And introducing his opponent...
The lights in the arena dim as smoke starts to fill up the entrance way and ramp as a piano begins to play. With the sign of smoke comes fire on the EXOScreen and then as the music stops, up on the giant video wall...
Suddenly, the music kicks back in for the remainder of the intro of "Through the Fire" by Day of Fire!
As the chorus begins, out from the back, standing amidst the smoke and simulated fire is "The Dropkick King" Adrien Cochrane!
David Zinkus: Coming down the aisle, from New Orleans, Louisiana...HE IS THE DROPKICK KING, ADRIENNNNNNNN COCHRANE!
Adrien surveys the crowd, nodding and he finally pumps his fist, looking like he's slamming it down toward the ground, eliciting huge sparks of pyro that ignite from the top of the entrance way in time with his gesture! Starting to walk down the ramp, he nods his head in time with the music as he reaches his hands out, starting to slap hands with the fans who are cheering for him. Getting to the ring, he instantly hops up and practically slides across the apron before climbing up to the top turnbuckle to raise his arms to the crowd!
Dick Morosi: The past few months haven't been the best for Adrien. He's gone from being the EXODUS World champ to opening the show, but a big win against Brooks tonight could change all of that!
Seth Ericson: That's IF he can get past Brooks, and he's gonna be wanting to make an impact quickly too, to get his own career back on track!
Dick Morosi: Good point. Either way, it should be a hell of a match, and it's starting now!
As the second time through the chorus starts, Adrien steps into the ring and moves across from where he enters, coming over to salute the other side of the audience! Continuing to salute the audience, Adrien finally hops down and starts to remove his shirt, looking intensely at the other side of the ring as he starts to mentally prepare for the match.
The bell rings and Adrien CHARGES at Brooks, leaping and nailing him with a dropkick straight to the face, sending him back into the turnbuckle!
Dick Morosi: Adrien taking it STRAIGHT TO BROOKS! He really wants to make up for the down streak he's been on!
Seth Ericson: He'll run out of energy at this rate, and then what?
Dick Morosi: I've never seen that happen to Adrien Cochrane and I don't expect to now!
He leaps onto Brooks while he's in the corner and begins to throw rights at him, the crowd going crazy at this new agression the Dropkick King is showing. He then drops down and runs to the opposite corner, Brooks too dazed to get out of the way before Adrien sprints back across the ring and leaps, nailing Brooks with a knee to the face! Adrien shoves the whoozy Brooks down to the mat and nails a standing moonsault onto the big man. He then begins to ascend the top ropes, yelling at Brooks to get up.
Dick Morosi: Oh man, I think Adrien is wanting a top rope dropkick here! That could put Brooks down for the count easily!
Seth Ericson: If he can do it.
Dick Morosi: we're gonna find out, Brooks is getting to his feet, Adrien's off the ropes an-OH MY GOD!
Seth Ericson: BROOKS CAUGHT HIM! SPINEBUSTER! SPINEBUSTER!
Dick Morosi: OH MY GOD!
Seth Ericson: He's dead!
Dick Morosi: Justin Brooks showing why he is ALWAYS one to watch! That was amazing!
Brooks lets out a roar to the shocked crowd, before picking Adrien up and whipping him into the ropes, smashing into Adrien with a clothesline when he comes back around that flips him in the air. He then pulls Adrien to his feet, only for Adrien to shove him back and nail him with a kick to the skull that sends him reeling. He takes a run and leaps, likely for a crossbody, only to find himself caught by The Big Bad Brooks, who hefts him onto his shoulders and quickly nails the Hook n Ladder! The cover!
1...2....3!
David Zinkus: And here is your winner, JUSTIN BROOKS!
Dick Morosi: That was crazy. Adrien tried his best, coming out of the gate as aggressive as he did, but Brooks would not be denied, and now he's taken a big step in getting his EXODUS career back on track!
Seth Ericson: If I saw his name next to mine on the card, I'd bolt. The Big Bad Brooks is a scary man.
Dick Morosi: We can both agree on that. Now, let's head backstage!
WINNER: JUSTIN BROOKS
William Darlington sits in his locker room, changing back into his street clothes, following his rough loss earlier tonight. There's a knock at the door. William pauses, eying it for a moment before finally calling out.
William Darlington: It's open.
The door creaks, and Chuck Matthews walks in, a stack of paper in his hand. William scowls and opens his locker, only to angrily hurl his wrestling boots inside.
William Darlington: What do you want now?
Chuck Matthews: Hello to you too.
William doesn't so much as acknowledge Chuck's remark. Matthews leans against the locker next to William, and slides the papers into William's own locker, right under Darlington's nose.
Chuck Matthews: Check that out.
William hesitates, but steals a glance at what Chuck has just given him.
Chuck Matthews: That right there is an official EXODUS Pro contract. Just a standard-issue rookie contract, nothing major. Your trial period's up, and they've decided they'd like to keep you on board.
William Darlington: You're joking.
Chuck shrugs.
Chuck Matthews: I don't know if it's their smartest move, but apparently you've shown some promise, and they're willing to gamble that you'll get better with time. Nice job, you've impressed some very important people.
William looks down at the contract. A smirk slowly spreads across his face. Chuck circles around William, giving him a congratulatory slap on the back as he passes. The moment he does, however, Chuck turns around, grabbing William by the neck and smashing him face-first into the locker door. William is rocked by the blow, and falls, stunned, to the floor. He clasps a hand to his nose, which is already bleeding from a sizeable gash on the bridge.
Chuck Matthews: Unfortunately, I was not one of those people.
He kicks William hard in the ribs, knocking the wind out of him and keeping him grounded. William backs against the lockers, leaning heavily against them and keeping himself in a seated position. Chuck smiles, and drives his knee into Darlington's head, smashing it, once again, into the locker doors. Chuck crouches down next to Darlington, who groans in pain, trying to catch his breath while simultaneously working to stop the bleeding of his broken nose.
Chuck Matthews: It's real simple, alright? See...I've got this plan. This idea, right? And it was a good plan. A brilliant plan, one of my best, really. The only problem with it was that I had to rely on you to carry it out.
Chuck shrugs, looking at William. He playfully slaps William's shoulder.
Chuck Matthews: Lesson learned though, right? But hey. You gave it a good shot, Willie. But let's be honest: You're really not cut out for this sort of thing, are you?
He shakes his head sadly, and makes a move to stand. Something forces him to pause, however. Chuck eyes the contract, now lying on the floor in front of William's locker. He picks it up, accidentally smudging a fleck of blood on the first page.
Chuck Matthews: You know, I was reading this earlier, and the strangest thought came into my head. See...there's no name actually written anywhere on this thing.
Chuck flips it over, frowning as he glances at the blank backs of the pages.
Chuck Matthews: In theory, any random asshole could saunter in here with a pen, and if he would just sign his John Hancock right across this line, he'd be a contracted member of the EXODUS roster. Or, you know...instead of any random asshole...
Chuck looks at William, and gives him a knowing wink. He slides a pen out from behind his ear and scribbles his own name across the page.
Chuck Matthews: Thanks for warming up the crowd, buddy, but I'll take it from here. You have yourself a pleasant evening.
He smiles at William, and tips his fingers to his head. He takes a long look at the contract in his hands. Chuck nods, and with a small chuckle, heads out of the room, leaving the bloody and hurt Darlington alone in front of his locker.
Winner: Katie Hanneman
When we start our scene, it’s dark.
Maybe not dark, but dim.
It’s a small room, looking like a tiny little meeting room in a warehouse. It’s evening, just the light over the table illuminating our vision. One chair seems empty, the other filled by one man, sitting in a black dress shirt and red tie, dress pants and sleeves of the shirt rolled up as he kicks up his feet.
The unmistakable presence of EXODUS Pro’s Director, Jonathan Collins.
Jonathan Collins: Christum, you and I are beyond these dramatic entrances. Have a seat and let’s have this talk.
The camera pans around to show the EXODUS World Champion, Christum Furor. Draped in his ominous burlap sack, a G&M hooded sweatshirt, and with his aforementioned championship lying on the table in front of him the Michigander stares at the man he has despised for over a year. His eyes contain an inhospitable hatred, a hatred that as felt as he seethes in frustration.
Christum Furor: Jonathan… Jonathan… Jonathan, what we are beyond is talking. I’ve been talking for an entire year, yet you have not been listening to one single word. You’ve ignored all of my warnings, and every single bit of sound logic, and nugget of knowledge that I have dropped in your lap, and the laps of the incoherent masses. And now you think you deserve a peaceful resolution? Now you think you deserve to determine fate on your terms? You will get no such thing. The cards are now in my hand, and you will play the hand that you are dealt.
Jonathan Collins: You know, I really started thinking about this for the past two weeks. I thought about what you did to one of my students. I thought about how a year ago, you and LEGION put me in a coma, trying to kill me and end the very creation I put my heart into. I kept thinking to myself about how every time I’ve had to bristle in this company, it’s because of you.
Jonathan pauses and brings a hand to the bridge of his nose, rubbing it before he continues to talk.
Jonathan Collins: And then I started to wonder why it’s so personal with you. You talk about how it’s me that makes the matches, me who pulls the strings, and how dissatisfied you are with the fact that everything you have asked for, I’ve given you. I’ve put you in main events, I’ve put you in these featured matches despite my own personal feelings for the safety of my wife, and how I’ve even put myself in the ring with you. I have never run from you, “Christum Furor,” nor have I denied who I am. I am a man trying to be a businessman now. I’ve done some real bad things, my friend, but the only one who can judge me is my maker...and I have told you a million times before that you cannot kill what you didn’t create. So really, champ, why is it you want me to walk away? What really sticks in your craw about me that keeps you up at night and drives you to madness?
Collins smirks and leans forward, bringing his feet down from the table.
Jonathan Collins: And please, spare no detail.
Furor leans back in his seat, clenching his fist, unclenching, then clenching again as a means to alleviate his stress. He shakes his head, finding everything Jonathan just relayed to him to be utterly preposterous.
Christum Furor: Why Jonathan, you ask why?
He begins to cackle now, as Collins is now the one hissing in frustration. Neither man seems able to suppress their ill wills for the other, yet Furor continues on.
Christum Furor: It’s because everything you say is a falsehood and fabrication. It’s because everything you claim to stand for and believe in is a facade. Its because you think you’re some sort of sage who must save professional wrestling with his idea of right and wrong, his idea of inherency which is primitive way of thinking. You pass on your ethics and your principles, and act like they are the be all, end all, and everyone who rejects them are vilified. You dehumanize those who will not stand with you, those who choose to think for themselves and act according to their own personal doctrines. I hate that sort of hypocrisy. I HATE it, Jonathan. I hate how you pretend to be noble, pretend to have the best intentions for people at heart. I hate how you have created this illusion of right and wrong, this illusion of morality, its a notion that you preach but do not follow with your actions.
Furor begins to tap the table now, somewhat irking the man sitting across from him.
Christum Furor: You have not given me ANYTHING, Jonathan. In fact, you have done the absolute OPPOSITE. The reason I am standing across this table, standing in front of you holding YOUR company’s top prize is because I backed you into a corner. I backed you into a corner just like I did last year. My rivalry with your wife left you with no choice but to put me in Main Events, to put me in these premiere spots in these shows. You had no choice because you HATED me, and believed I would fail, just like you did back in Tennessee. You don’t remember do you Jonathan? You don’t remember how you hogged the spotlight, and put people down because you were the great and noble JONATHAN COLLINS. You WERE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING. I remember it like it was yesterday Jonathan. I remember how you told me I would never amount to anything, how you couldn’t see me. I was invisible… I continued to be invisible until the day I blasted your beloved wife in the face with a steel chair. THEN you saw me. THEN the great Jonathan Collins saw the maggot feasting on the flesh of decayed bodies.
Angered, the World Champion begins to claw the table with his fingernails. He balls his hands back into fists, slamming them on the piece of furniture, continuing to feast his steely glare on the Saint of Violence.
Christum Furor: And when you saw me Jonathan, you saw that I was everything you were not, and everything you could never become. I was the outlier, the anomaly. I was the one that sparked radical change every single time I spoke into a microphone. I was the one that made the people start to question you. The moment I began to lift the veil and blinders that you situated over the eyes of the public, your hatred for me grew deeper. And so you became determined to destroy me, to undo every one of my accomplishments, to tear down my hopes and dreams and send me back down to the totem pole so you could sneer and mock me from your self-righteous pedestal. So you TOOK things from my life Jonathan, just like you took Haven from me. You turned me into THIS… this monster, this walking monstrosity because you destroyed my life, just like you’ve destroyed the lives of countless people in this business without remorse or guilt. You gained satisfaction from it, you enjoyed it. It’s all been systematic to pad your ego and assuage your sadistic thirst for blood and power. You deliberately corrupted my best friend Kliff Ulysses. YOU forced him to betray me. YOU made him stab me in the back with your alluring lies, and your beautiful lucid dreams which were nothing more than intricate fabrications. YOU turned Zack Lifer against ME. You made him believe that he could not achieve self-fulfillment without submitting to your illogical, antiquated codes of ethics. YOU are the one that has taken from ME because you want me to bow to you.
Furor begins to almost hyperventilate, as Jonathan merely looks on, shocked and unable to fathom the degree of animosity his nemesis has for him. The man formerly known as Magnus Gunner grabs the EXODUS World Championship, looking at it with a deep rooted fascination, before directing his gaze back in the direction of the Director.
Christum Furor: You have caused me tremendous grief and unspeakable pain, Jonathan. Your hatred, your narcissism, and your fraudulence has ruined my life. But the truth is Collins, I don’t even blame you anymore. No, I thank you really. Thanks to you I have ascended to this status. Due to your antipathy, due to your countless efforts, and your heartless dream of putting your foot on my throat be it in the ring, or from behind the scenes I have become a GOD. With my life in shambles, with my relationships ruined and all of my bridges burned down I had no choice but to face my demons. Insanity was my only alternative, but it was in that abyss, in that dark place in the recesses of my mind that I found total enlightenment. And now with my increased knowledge, now with total and ABSOLUTE clarity I can see the gruesome truth. And the truth is that THIS world, this world of professional wrestling is a massive ball of hatred that consumes all of us. It promotes us to live our entire lives in constant physical and emotional agony, seeing one another only as obstacles that we must destroy to obtain superficialities instead of human beings . It has turned YOU into the Saint of Violence, and me into CHRISTUM FUROR. Long ago when I was a member of LEGION I conversed with Daisuke Iwakuma. He made it clear to me how he felt about this business. He didn’t believe change or peace was necessary or attainable, he sought only to be a symbol of destruction and misery, and be the bridge to continue this vicious cycle of hatred. THAT was his purpose. He harnessed his madness, he saw the writing on the wall, but he chose a dark path. He chose to embrace this hate, and continue this sad, nightmarish existence that consumes everyone in this wretched cesspit. I however, have not.
Jonathan takes a moment, pauses, and...nods.
Jonathan Collins: You’re right. I think that you’re absolutely right. There’s a lot of things you’ve said that aren’t inaccurate. I have chosen to reject this monster in me, and you can take that as you will. The truth is I choose to do that, because you don’t realize that we have choice. We choose who we become. Our actions make us who we are at the end of the day, and we have no one to blame but ourselves, really. If you need a scapegoat, feel free, that’s fine...but I know your secret, Magnus.
He grins and leans in, raising an eyebrow at the World Champion and the man who has ranted and raved at him.
Jonathan Collins: You hate me because I found the answer to everything you wanted. See, when you grow up and you realize that we all have to take responsibility for our actions, you’ll realize that I had nothing to do with these actions. I didn’t make this happen. When you open your eyes from this dream and you get back to being Magnus Gunner, you’ll realize that the person you longed to be was me. I found peace in this industry. I found love, I found happiness, but most importantly, I found hope. I found hope, and that is why you want me out of EXODUS Pro, Christum. While you go on, spouting off despair and the ravings of a man who would dare consider himself a god amongst men, I found hope! I found promise, and because I inspire people to find the things they’ve been missing, you blame me for the things you don’t have, and you blame me for being the person you just don’t have the courage to be!
Collins remains surprisingly composed when he looks at his company’s champion, nodding for a moment before he takes a deep breath and exhales, resuming what he needs to say.
Jonathan Collins: You gave me two weeks to decide if I’d march. Two weeks to decide if I would fade into the sunset and abandon EXODUS Pro. Now I could do that, but for what? Your witch hunt would turn me into a symbol, not of your power, but that would let you make a martyr out of me, and I simply just don’t want you to do that. Not because I choose it, but quite simply...I don’t need to be sacrificed to show those kids greater heights. Tonight, when your New Era comes to a grinding halt, they’ll realize that the hope they were looking for resided in them all along. Time is coming, Christum. I’ll fade off into the sunset. I’ll go put my daughter through college, and maybe I’ll have another one with my wife, but this industry won’t need me. More importantly, I’ll know that this industry was in good hands because I had hope and faith...and you’ll realize something.
Jonathan reaches down under the table and comes back, a tattered novel in his hands as he slides it over to show it to Furor.
Jonathan Collins: Take it, it’s yours. It’s one of my favorite novels, American Gods. It’s by Neil Gaiman, a hell of an author. I think you’d like him, personally. I’d read it, because you’ll learn one thing from it. Sometimes, Gods lose their power. Sometimes, after enough time and a lack of belief, they simply just cease to mean anything. Tonight, you lose your power. Tonight...you’re just a man, just like me.
Jonathan smiles and nods.
Jonathan Collins: You’ll find that the view from mortality is just as nice.
The EXODUS World Champion picks up the novel, flipping through the pages with disinterest before setting it back down onto the table.
Christum Furor: Competing for superficial championships and trophies with the hopes that these small accomplishments will fill voids in our lives… experiencing pain that never heals… fading into obscurity or dying like trash to have your contributions made null and void in a world of never ending hatred… this is professional wrestling Jonathan. You understand this, you know of this harsh truth, but you must accept the fact that I am the one who is going to break this cycle. I am the one who is going to be the bridge to peace, the symbol of hope that changes this terrible world. That’s why my power will never dwindle. That’s why my New Age will never be destroyed. You see, the New Age is merely an ideal, an ideal that I have created, and that people with unlocked minds and a thirst for change have adopted. It’s an ideal we share because we are one. Gods & Monsters is one, one unified ideal of men and women who have been brought together by pain. It is our pain that has driven us to pursue change, to risk our lives and our reputations in the hopes that we can purify this diseased world and make it better for our predecessors.
Furor slides the novel back across the table.
Christum Furor: The sad thing is Jonathan, we’re no different. We each act according to our own sense of justice, our own sense of peace, our own idea of how to change professional wrestling. The thing is, your way does not alter anything, it only continues this cycle. My vision transcends your comprehension. My vision is radical and yields results. My idea of a NEW AGE can bring true peace to professional wrestling, but it is only possible through pain. Through enduring this pain. Through sharing our pain. If you don’t share someone’s pain, you can never understand them Jonathan. But just because you understand them doesn’t mean you can come to an agreement. That’s the truth. That’s why we cannot co-exist, and that is why I will continue on my quest. That’s why it doesn’t matter if I’m World Champion at the end of tonight, or World Champion for the next 365 days. All that matters is that I continue to be the architect of the future. I am the existential hero, Jonathan. I have finally realized my purpose in the grand scheme and have discovered the tools to create change.
Furor stands up from the table now, draping the EXODUS World Title over his shoulder as he points at his enemy, and polar opposite.
Christum Furor: And with these tools I will create something that can never be destroyed. For that everything I’ve done will have been rectified. There’s no paradise, no pearly gates awaiting either of us due to the things we’ve done, the things we’re doing, and the things we’re going to do in the future. Our fate in the next life is purgatory, and I accept that. I accept that this path will lead to my demise, but its necessary. I am willing sacrifice myself for the REAL greater good. THAT is why we will never see eye to eye. You only look to preserve your way of life, while I look to improve and better our existence. And I will. Just watch me. Watch me change the world and live on forever as the beacon of hope and the light that illuminated this cloud of darkness.
And with that Christum Furor bids the Director adieu, swiftly walking off to leave Jonathan pondering where the two of them are to go from here...and with that, we go to Dick & Seth.
And we finally join Dick and Seth at the commentary booth.
Dick Morosi: Hello fans and welcome to the Downfall of Us All! Boy do we have a stacked night of action for you tonight! All titles are on the lines! We're gonna crown a new San Diego Bay champion as Nate Soto takes on Tyrannosaurus Sex, Tiffani Stearns!
Seth Ericson: What could go wrong for the little white girl!
Dick Morosi: And then Jerry Matthews' disgusting actions over the last few weeks have consequences as the woman he laid out so viciously, Lexy Chapel, gets a rematch with the International championship on the line!
Seth Ericson: What could go wrong for the little white girl!
Dick Morosi: After smashing Steve Lenton with a sledgehammer and putting him out with a concussion, Lenton is back and with his partner Wulf Erikssen, TROUBLE takes on DESTROY ALL HUMANS in a FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE match!
Seth Ericson: What could go wrong for the little...uh...girls...at ringside! YEAH!
Dick Morosi: We have an EXODUS first, as we have our Brightest Day Cibernetico to determine the next Number 1 Contender to the EXODUS Pro World Title! 10 competitors will face off in a tug of war kind of tag match where they have to tag in a set order! one team captained by Fiona Collins of the Seikigun, the other captained by the Scalpel of Gods & Monsters, Kira T. Zeppeli!
Seth Ericson: There's a lot of little white girls in that!
Dick Morosi: ...and finally, the Morning Star gets his hands on Christum Furor himself as Andreas Lasiewicz takes on Magnus Gunner with the Exodus Pro World Title on the line, and that's sure to be a bloodbath!
Seth Ericson: What could go wrong for the....uh...
Dick Morosi: For the little white boy that inadvertently insults Andreas or Furor?
Seth Ericson: YEAH! ...wait....shit.
Dick Morosi: Mmhmm. Why don't we move onto the first match of the night, Adrien Cochrane taking on the Big Bad Justin Brooks, a match that's been held world over to acclaim each time?
Seth Ericson: Perfect! Take it away David...please!
David Zinkus: This match is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first...
"TO BEAT ME, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SUFFER."
You were my conscience, so solid, now you're like water
And we started drowning, not like we'd sink any further
But I let my heart go, it's somewhere down at the bottom
But I'll get a new one and come back for the hope that you've stolen
I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we survive?
Well now that you're gone, the world is ours
And we started drowning, not like we'd sink any further
But I let my heart go, it's somewhere down at the bottom
But I'll get a new one and come back for the hope that you've stolen
I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we survive?
Well now that you're gone, the world is ours
David Zinkus: Now coming to the ring...hailing from Atlanta, Georgia...standing at 6'4" and 267 pounds, he is Justin Brooks!
I'm only human, I've got a skeleton in me
But I'm not the villain, despite what you're always preaching.
Call me a traitor, I'm just collecting your victims
And they're getting stronger
I hear them calling.
(Calling, Calling)
I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we survive?
Well now that you're gone, the world is ours
But I'm not the villain, despite what you're always preaching.
Call me a traitor, I'm just collecting your victims
And they're getting stronger
I hear them calling.
(Calling, Calling)
I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we survive?
Well now that you're gone, the world is ours
A large chorus of cheers erupt from the E-Pro faithful as Justin Brooks appears from the curtain and stands there with a smile on his face as he places his hands on his waist. “Monster” by Paramore continues to blast through the PA system as he keeps his eyes on the middle of the squared circle as he slowly makes his way towards the ring, sliding underneath the bottom rope and quickly standing to his feet and looks amongst the crowd with a large smile on his face. Justin just leaps to the second turnbuckle and throws his hands in the air before leaping down from the turnbuckle.
Dick Morosi: Justin Brooks is back! This has been something a lot of people have been looking forward to, the Big Bad Brooks in an ExPro ring once again!
Seth Ericson: I'm ready. Are you ready? You're probably not as ready as I am. I'm so ready.
Dick Morosi: I get it.
Seth Ericson: Do you? I have a pie chart showing how ready I am right here.
Dick Morosi: Jesus Christ.
David Zinkus: And introducing his opponent...
The lights in the arena dim as smoke starts to fill up the entrance way and ramp as a piano begins to play. With the sign of smoke comes fire on the EXOScreen and then as the music stops, up on the giant video wall...
BELIEVE
Suddenly, the music kicks back in for the remainder of the intro of "Through the Fire" by Day of Fire!
Walk in the flame again,
I'll be there to hold your hand,
Keeping you safe until the end
And when the flood begins,
I'll be there with you to stand,
Walking in faith until the end...
I'll be there to hold your hand,
Keeping you safe until the end
And when the flood begins,
I'll be there with you to stand,
Walking in faith until the end...
As the chorus begins, out from the back, standing amidst the smoke and simulated fire is "The Dropkick King" Adrien Cochrane!
David Zinkus: Coming down the aisle, from New Orleans, Louisiana...HE IS THE DROPKICK KING, ADRIENNNNNNNN COCHRANE!
I'll see you through the flood,
See you through the fire,
See you through the storms-a-raging...
See you through the fire,
See you through the storms-a-raging...
Adrien surveys the crowd, nodding and he finally pumps his fist, looking like he's slamming it down toward the ground, eliciting huge sparks of pyro that ignite from the top of the entrance way in time with his gesture! Starting to walk down the ramp, he nods his head in time with the music as he reaches his hands out, starting to slap hands with the fans who are cheering for him. Getting to the ring, he instantly hops up and practically slides across the apron before climbing up to the top turnbuckle to raise his arms to the crowd!
Walking the darkest rain
I cover you by my name,
A shelter inside your world of pain
Step on the waters waves
Coming to me by faith
I am the light of better days...
I cover you by my name,
A shelter inside your world of pain
Step on the waters waves
Coming to me by faith
I am the light of better days...
Dick Morosi: The past few months haven't been the best for Adrien. He's gone from being the EXODUS World champ to opening the show, but a big win against Brooks tonight could change all of that!
Seth Ericson: That's IF he can get past Brooks, and he's gonna be wanting to make an impact quickly too, to get his own career back on track!
Dick Morosi: Good point. Either way, it should be a hell of a match, and it's starting now!
As the second time through the chorus starts, Adrien steps into the ring and moves across from where he enters, coming over to salute the other side of the audience! Continuing to salute the audience, Adrien finally hops down and starts to remove his shirt, looking intensely at the other side of the ring as he starts to mentally prepare for the match.
The bell rings and Adrien CHARGES at Brooks, leaping and nailing him with a dropkick straight to the face, sending him back into the turnbuckle!
Dick Morosi: Adrien taking it STRAIGHT TO BROOKS! He really wants to make up for the down streak he's been on!
Seth Ericson: He'll run out of energy at this rate, and then what?
Dick Morosi: I've never seen that happen to Adrien Cochrane and I don't expect to now!
He leaps onto Brooks while he's in the corner and begins to throw rights at him, the crowd going crazy at this new agression the Dropkick King is showing. He then drops down and runs to the opposite corner, Brooks too dazed to get out of the way before Adrien sprints back across the ring and leaps, nailing Brooks with a knee to the face! Adrien shoves the whoozy Brooks down to the mat and nails a standing moonsault onto the big man. He then begins to ascend the top ropes, yelling at Brooks to get up.
Dick Morosi: Oh man, I think Adrien is wanting a top rope dropkick here! That could put Brooks down for the count easily!
Seth Ericson: If he can do it.
Dick Morosi: we're gonna find out, Brooks is getting to his feet, Adrien's off the ropes an-OH MY GOD!
Seth Ericson: BROOKS CAUGHT HIM! SPINEBUSTER! SPINEBUSTER!
Dick Morosi: OH MY GOD!
Seth Ericson: He's dead!
Dick Morosi: Justin Brooks showing why he is ALWAYS one to watch! That was amazing!
Brooks lets out a roar to the shocked crowd, before picking Adrien up and whipping him into the ropes, smashing into Adrien with a clothesline when he comes back around that flips him in the air. He then pulls Adrien to his feet, only for Adrien to shove him back and nail him with a kick to the skull that sends him reeling. He takes a run and leaps, likely for a crossbody, only to find himself caught by The Big Bad Brooks, who hefts him onto his shoulders and quickly nails the Hook n Ladder! The cover!
1...2....3!
David Zinkus: And here is your winner, JUSTIN BROOKS!
Dick Morosi: That was crazy. Adrien tried his best, coming out of the gate as aggressive as he did, but Brooks would not be denied, and now he's taken a big step in getting his EXODUS career back on track!
Seth Ericson: If I saw his name next to mine on the card, I'd bolt. The Big Bad Brooks is a scary man.
Dick Morosi: We can both agree on that. Now, let's head backstage!
WINNER: JUSTIN BROOKS
William Darlington sits in his locker room, changing back into his street clothes, following his rough loss earlier tonight. There's a knock at the door. William pauses, eying it for a moment before finally calling out.
William Darlington: It's open.
The door creaks, and Chuck Matthews walks in, a stack of paper in his hand. William scowls and opens his locker, only to angrily hurl his wrestling boots inside.
William Darlington: What do you want now?
Chuck Matthews: Hello to you too.
William doesn't so much as acknowledge Chuck's remark. Matthews leans against the locker next to William, and slides the papers into William's own locker, right under Darlington's nose.
Chuck Matthews: Check that out.
William hesitates, but steals a glance at what Chuck has just given him.
Chuck Matthews: That right there is an official EXODUS Pro contract. Just a standard-issue rookie contract, nothing major. Your trial period's up, and they've decided they'd like to keep you on board.
William Darlington: You're joking.
Chuck shrugs.
Chuck Matthews: I don't know if it's their smartest move, but apparently you've shown some promise, and they're willing to gamble that you'll get better with time. Nice job, you've impressed some very important people.
William looks down at the contract. A smirk slowly spreads across his face. Chuck circles around William, giving him a congratulatory slap on the back as he passes. The moment he does, however, Chuck turns around, grabbing William by the neck and smashing him face-first into the locker door. William is rocked by the blow, and falls, stunned, to the floor. He clasps a hand to his nose, which is already bleeding from a sizeable gash on the bridge.
Chuck Matthews: Unfortunately, I was not one of those people.
He kicks William hard in the ribs, knocking the wind out of him and keeping him grounded. William backs against the lockers, leaning heavily against them and keeping himself in a seated position. Chuck smiles, and drives his knee into Darlington's head, smashing it, once again, into the locker doors. Chuck crouches down next to Darlington, who groans in pain, trying to catch his breath while simultaneously working to stop the bleeding of his broken nose.
Chuck Matthews: It's real simple, alright? See...I've got this plan. This idea, right? And it was a good plan. A brilliant plan, one of my best, really. The only problem with it was that I had to rely on you to carry it out.
Chuck shrugs, looking at William. He playfully slaps William's shoulder.
Chuck Matthews: Lesson learned though, right? But hey. You gave it a good shot, Willie. But let's be honest: You're really not cut out for this sort of thing, are you?
He shakes his head sadly, and makes a move to stand. Something forces him to pause, however. Chuck eyes the contract, now lying on the floor in front of William's locker. He picks it up, accidentally smudging a fleck of blood on the first page.
Chuck Matthews: You know, I was reading this earlier, and the strangest thought came into my head. See...there's no name actually written anywhere on this thing.
Chuck flips it over, frowning as he glances at the blank backs of the pages.
Chuck Matthews: In theory, any random asshole could saunter in here with a pen, and if he would just sign his John Hancock right across this line, he'd be a contracted member of the EXODUS roster. Or, you know...instead of any random asshole...
Chuck looks at William, and gives him a knowing wink. He slides a pen out from behind his ear and scribbles his own name across the page.
Chuck Matthews: Thanks for warming up the crowd, buddy, but I'll take it from here. You have yourself a pleasant evening.
He smiles at William, and tips his fingers to his head. He takes a long look at the contract in his hands. Chuck nods, and with a small chuckle, heads out of the room, leaving the bloody and hurt Darlington alone in front of his locker.
