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A loud crash of broken glass echos in the darkness as the camera makes its way down a narrow hall with a flicker of light coming from the last door on the right. Screams and roars of anger rattle the walls between the sounds of destruction. The camera pans around the door frame to see a room turned to rubble with fire creeping up the curtains and dancing across the furniture. A stained glass window is left with only the metal frame as a cool wind whispers through the room giving voice to the night sky. Rhett Holiday stands in the middle of the wreckage, his suit and tie torn and blood stained. He downs the last shot of whiskey and tosses both the glass and his cigar into the fire as his erie green eyes settle on the camera.


" Nemesis.... Nemesis.... NEMESIS! I told you I would collect the debt that is due and you refused me... I sent you out on a stretcher to retire the Ancient Rex and take your place upon the pile of broken corpses... You returned! "

Rhett begins to pull his hair out as he paces back and forth talking to himself in a mixture of whispers and screams.

" What do we have to do to you Rex? WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO?! Why can't he see we just want to help him? WHY!?! We can save him from the Hell he's been living... But he doesn't want our help.. We can send him to green pastures where he can bar hop till his feet rot! But he doesn't see what we see..."

He continues talking to himself then stops just outside of the flames that have continued to grow and at the same time pick up a green tint. Rhett walks up to the camera with a stone like stare.

" Walk with me through Hell. Dance with me in the Devil's Playground. Nemesis Rex, I challenge you to a Steel Cage match! Just me, you, and whatever we care to bring with us to our last stand.. At King of Death Match, PWA's last outlaw won't be riding off into any sunset.. He'll be drowning in his own blood as The Chosen One stands above him, with the debt collected."

The all familiar smirk creeps across Holidays face as the camera fades to black.

A cameraman is walking down the hall after Assault...like they do...when a nearby door opens and Nick Spoils steps out, holding a Microsoft Surface in his hand. He looks around, sees the camera, and points directly at it.

SPOILS: YOU! Get over here, now. Did you see the travesty that happened tonight? The absolute horrendous miscarriage of justice? I know you're just a cameraman, I don't give a <EXPLETIVE DELETED>. I have something that needs to be said, and you're the closest one here to broadcast it to the PWA Armada. You set? Good.

Nick Spoils adjusts his suit so that he appears a bit more put together, and angles himself slightly so that the sign on the door behind him can be seen - "MEDICAL".

SPOILS: Attention, PWA Armada. Tonight, on Assault, you bore witness to one of the greatest mockery of legitimate competition that this sport has ever seen. Trust me, I know most of you believe that "we deserved it" or that we're the bad guys in this whole affair. But after tonight, if you still believe that you are deluded, ignorant, or perhaps just blind and deaf. But just in case you didn't happen to see it yourself, and for the benefit of the slow, allow me to illuminate you as to the...the farce that just occurred.

He taps on the Surface for a couple moments, then turns it around to show the camera.


SPOILS: We started off the evening with one hell of a match. Former Heavyweight Champion Kevin Starr taking on the Divine Psycho Nakamura Yamasaki. We all know how these matches go. Nakamura takes his opponents to depths they have never experienced, allows them to experience terror and see their own ghosts...then he lets them go, with the knowledge that they will never be the same again. But Starr had other plans. Starr wanted to injure Nakamura. He TRIED to injure Nakamura. This move is a simple figure four leg lock. Tried and true. One of the safest ways to put a hurt on someone, to get them to submit, without actually putting them in danger of injury--unless you WANT to hurt them. Push this move the wrong way, and you can cripple a man. Starr knew this. He knew how to hurt Nakamura. And he did. I've reviewed this tape. The popping sound when Nakamura's knee was damaged was obvious. Bill White had no choice but to end the match for fear that Starr wouldn't stop.

SPOILS: And what happened after that? Well, you all saw it. Armageddon, the 3-Time Tag Team Champions, my OTHER clients, came to the ring to check on their friend. Like I said, it was obvious that Starr was attempting to hurt Nakamura. So, of course they came out to check on his well-being. Well, it seems that Starr wasn't satisfied, and he started attacking THEM. One after the other. So OF COURSE they defended themselves. And just when they manage to get the man down so they can make sure everyone's ok? The <EXPLETIVE DELETED> Coldsnakes get their panties in a twist and come down to attack. Look, I understand how they can be upset about how badly they got played, but they DID in fact get played. It's over and done with. But no, they have to try to make their presence felt. And that's when the second travesty occurred. Right...here.

Spoils taps on the Surface a couple more times, and brings up a shot of Anaconda holding Ragnarok in the Anaconda Vice.

SPOILS: You can see after security finally pulls the Pathetic and Whiny Coldsnakes away that Ragnarok is in pain. Anaconda hurt him. A cowardly and retributional attack on the Tag Team Champions even before their defense leaves one of the members at less than 100 percent. At this point, the title match should have been taken off the card, pushed to the pay-per-view. I told Damion Black as much to his face. You know what he said? Basically nothing--"The match stands." Something tells me he hand a hand in what happened tonight.

SPOILS: So, now let's fast forward a bit. To the Tag Team Championship match that should NEVER have occurred. And here we see the dastardly plan start to come to fruition. We start here.

Spoils taps the Surface and shows another shot.


SPOILS: Does that look familiar? It should. That's Awakening the Serpent. You know it. I know it. And sure as hell Bokrug knew it. Stealing another man's move is just plan unprofessional. But I know how it is. Try to get into your opponent's head. Make them lose their confidence. Fine, whatever. If that's all it was, if that's all they did, I wouldn't be this pissed off. Let's move on. Just over five minutes later, and what do we see?



SPOILS: The challengers, the so-called "good guys" in this story, are the ones to cheat. THEY pull out the steel chair. Cassidy Cray here is blantantly attacking the LEGAL MAN at the time with a steel chair. Not only that, he's doing it in FULL VIEW of the referee. I gave Bill White credit earlier for stopping the match when Kevin Starr attempted to hurt Nakamura. Right here, at this point, he plain and simple screwed up. Right here, this is first fall for Armageddon. This is a disqualification in every match I've ever managed. Except this one, for some reason. But let's move on.



SPOILS: Earlier in the match, we saw Bokrug stealing Ragnarok's move. Here, we see Cassidy Cray stealing one of Gehenna's signature moves. And being fairly blatant about it, as well.

SPOILS: But even with all of this...this horrible excuse for a wrestling show, I could have excused it as just a bad day for my boys. Until THIS happened.

Spoils hits the Surface quite forcefully, then turns and shoves it basically directly in the camera.



SPOILS: This...once could be a mistake. Twice in one night? There is no doubt in my mind. There is no doubt in Ragnarok's mind. There is no doubt in ANY member of the Union's mind. And there should be no doubt in anyone in the audiences mind that right here, at this point in the match, Cassidy Cray tried to deliberately injure his opponent. He dropped Ragnarok directly on his head. Spiked him to the ground. HE TRIED TO BREAK THE BIG MAN'S NECK.

SPOILS: And here again, is where I must criticize Bill White. Earlier in the evening when he stopped Nakamura's match? That was the right thing to do. Starr was attempting to injure him, and had no one else there to defend him. This...this is a tag team match. Not only that, but Ragnarok is RIGHT THERE in his own corner. Gehenna could have easily reached over and tagged himself in, but no, White immediately calls for the bell, giving Alpha Omega the first fall.

SPOILS: If you haven't been paying attention, let me spell it out for you at this point. The match shouldn't have happened to begin with because Ragnarok was already wounded by an attack--an attack pinpointing the spine and neck area, no less. Bill White ignores an obvious disqualification, then awards a fall to Alpha Omega prematurely when Cassidy Cray blatantly attempts to injure Ragnarok by dropping him on his already wounded neck. That's a two-fall advantage for Alpha Omega in a two-fall match. Right here, my boys and I knew the fix was in.

SPOILS: And if you thought the story ended here, boy howdy are you naive. See, Ragnarok should have been led directly back to medical after that horrendous attempt at ending his career. The match SHOULD have been called right there, a no-contest at best, a disqualification victory if we're being honest. But no, word comes down from on high that the match will continue. I tell my boys to let them count us out, we'll go to medical with or without PWA's blessing. But no, word says that a countout will STILL see the title change hands.

SPOILS: Be honest. Did you really think you'd see Ragnarok back in the ring after that spike? I begged him not to. It wasn't worth it at this point. Damion Black had made it abundantly clear, loser after loser after loser doing his dirty deeds, that we weren't leaving Assault with those belts. We should have taken the countout. But no, he's a best. A man with heart and with passion. And he got right back up there, injured neck and all, and fought against the inevitable.

SPOILS: And then...then there was Pennyworth. I've seen the videos, but I'll let Akira speak to that. But for the mentally challenged out there, let me sum up what we saw tonight. We saw a hit. A honest to God attempt at ruining the careers of not one, but two members of this roster, of the Union. We saw a theft, plain and simple, of the PWA Tag Team Championship from their rightful bearers. And we saw Damion Black's handiwork plain as day weaving through the whole thing.

SPOILS: So make no mistake. There will be retribution. Alpha Omega, keep those belts shiny for us. We will be coming back for them. But it's time to finish what we started first. It's time to clear the detritus that lies before us. I have personally ensured, at the request of my boys, that BOTH Nakamura and Ragnarok will be cleard for competition at King of the Deathmatch.

SPOILS: So, if you dare to show your face again after the horrific events of tonight...Kevin Starr, Junior Cobra, Giant Anaconda. Face us again, knowing that we know what you did. Six man tag. Be there, or be known throughout the entire PWA Armada as the cowards that you are.

SPOILS: Trying to end the career of two men in a single night. You--all of you--ought to be damned ashamed of yourselves. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a couple of medical situations I need to be observing.

***The scene opens in the halls of the PWA Arena shortly after the conclusion of Assault. Akira Wyld limps through the curtain into the backstage area, one hand pressed gingerly to the back of his head and the other clutching his NWC Championship belt. In the arena, fans can be heard cheering wildly as Richard Pennyworth’s music plays over the loudspeakers. Akira turns toward the curtain and sneers. He shakes his head and continues plodding his way toward the Union locker room. Suddenly, PWA Reporter Ronnie Stockholm approaches the champion with a microphone and camera crew in tow. Akira gives Stockholm a disgusted look as he approaches.***

STOCKHOLM: “Akira Wyld, we just witnessed a shocking scene on PWA Assault. After tapping out to Robert MacElroy in your champion vs champion match, you and your opponent were savagely attacked by an intense and motivated Richard Pennyworth. What are your thoughts after being handed such a definitive defeat?”

***Wyld glares at Stockholm for several seconds before reaching out and snatching the microphone from the reporter’s hand.***

WYLD: “Give me that you jackass. Now shut up and listen good. What you saw out there... was NOTHING. Nothing but another proof-positive example of how Damion Black doesn’t give a rip about the health and safety of his talent. What you saw out there was a damn TRAGEDY... another yet another vindicating reason why the Union is NECESSARY here in PWA. I’ll bet that cap-toothed, slick-haired suit Black actually SENT Richard Pennyworth out there injure me tonight! Damion Black would love nothing more than to end my career and see the NWC World Title handed to one of his Yacht Club buddies.”

***Wyld winces and touches his finger tip to a rising bruise on his cheek.***

WYLD: “And as for my so-called ‘defeat’...”

***Wyld holds up his NWC Championship and slaps it with his free hand.***

WYLD: “Any championship match in a PWA ring is two out of three falls. MacElroy may have gotten his little ‘moral’ victory tonight but he didn’t prove ANYTHING! Yeah, I tapped. I’m man enough to admit that! But guess what... I’d have to be a fool not to! This was a non-title match on the eve of the biggest title defense of my career Stockholm! You think I’m going to risk suffering a debilitating back injury at a time like this for some... inconsequential pissing contest? No! I’m Akira Wyld. I’m a champion through and through and you had better damn well believe that in a match with my belt on the line I’d have powered out of that MacElroy’s half-assed submission game in a heartbeat. Because that’s what champions do!”

STOCKHOLM: “Well you’ll have a chance to prove that in two short weeks when you face off against MacElroy AND Pennyworth in a match where your NWC title WILL be on the line. How does it feel to know that on PWA’s largest PPV ever, in one single match, will have to face off against both the man who made you submit tonight, and the man who you have, thus-far, been unable to beat?”

***Wyld’s eyes go wide for a moment and he takes a minute to collect himself.***

WYLD: “Stockholm... I’m... I’m not going to even dignify that with a response. I’m Akira FREAKIN’ Wyld. I’m the NWC World Champion. It doesn’t matter how you stack the deck against me. And at The King of Deathmatch, I’m going to do what I always do. Mark my words... when that curtain falls at the end of the evening... I GUARANTEE that I’ll still be holding this title proud over my head. And there’s not a thing that Pennyworth, MacElroy, OR Black can do about it.”

STOCKHOLM: “How do you respond to critics who say that the Union’s days as a threat are numbered? Tonight you saw the Union brutalized by The Coldsnakes and Kevin Starr... Armageddon lost their tag-team titles... you were assaulted by Richard Pennyworth... has the tide finally turned against the Union here in PWA?”

***Wyld gives Stockholm a disgusted look and shoves past him down the hall.***

WYLD: “I don’t need to take this from a stuffed suit like you. Get out of my way. I’ve... I’ve got to call my attorney and straighten some of this bull crap out!”

***Wyld trudges down the hall, cursing under his breath. End scene.***

Th e duo known as aMx are discussingvtheir plans

Ecks: yo man lookin like triple thrwat is on the plate this comin PPV.

Mj1: yo B! I finally got a shot at the title B!

Ecks: about samn time you did. Lookin like Snow also has his shot! But ain no thang baybee! Just deal wid it and win it! Then we go for double gold! Tag belts are comin home to us soon!

Mj1: yo B, what about them Snakes mang?!

Ecks: I ain't forgotten them fools. Just remember the plan, win it all. No matter what!

Mj1: you got it B! I will do my best. It is time for a socal to be champeen again B!

But what aboutchu mang? Can you handle them fools you fightin wid?

Ecks: dawg! I am the Heartthrob Kid! The scene stealin, dude who had 5 girlfriends at the same time! And I wrestled four times in one night, then I had a promo to end all promos when Iblocked away your boy Alex Prime's title! Remember?

Mj1: yo B that was yer Suicide Kings days mang,and you also was flirtin wid Diana over at the taco shop off of Mira Mesa! I remember them days foo! A man as tough as you should not have a problem. I just hope I can win too.

Ecks: you will! Believe in yahself man! Let's go train!

Mj1: let's do it B! I am down!

Ecks: yeah man!

Scene fades to black as the boys are seen walking towards 24 hour fitness in Miramar!

***The scene opens with Crusher Sato and the Imperial Assassin standing in front of a King of Deathmatch backdrop. A camera crew is filming as Sato stands behind Assassin rubbing his hands menacingly. The Imperial Assassin paces back and forth with a stern look on his face and a microphone in hand. The Imperial Assassin stops and look at the camera.***


Assassin: King of Deathmatch is now upon us and both Crusher Sato and I have much to accomplish. Crusher Sato has been in demand from promotions all over the globe. I have taken him all over the world looking for the best challenges and he has met them.....however this has left him vulnerable here in PWA.

Sato and I have a long discussion and have agreed that we must limit our outside interests for the time being. We must both focus on each and every wrestler in PWA in order to prove our superiority!

*** The Imperial Assassin turns and slaps Crusher Sato on the chest and then points at the camera. ***

Assassin: Sato will face both Johnny Ecks and Tiger Gold at one time. Both men are formidable competitors but both will be vanquished! Sato is too big, too strong, and too powerful for any effort that either man could muster. This will be a statement match that will get Sato where he needs to be. And as for me.....

*** The Imperial Assassin closes his eyes and inhales. At he exhales, his eyes open and narrow. ***

Assassin: After all these years I will finally get The Masked Shooter in the ring! I have the match that I want, the match that has been eating at me for such a long time....but there’s still something missing.

*** The Imperial Assassin trembles with rage. ***

Assassin: Understand that what happens to The Masked Shooter will be on YOUR heads, PWA Armada!! I came to PWA and called out The Masked Shooter! I was forced to use tactic after tactic to get his attention and YOU CHEERED for him! I could have ended Ronnie Lassiter’s career and you still stood behind him! I expect that you will support him at King of Deathmatch. I expect that I will be booed even though I made my intentions clear!

This speaks to your pathetic American values! You know nothing of honor! You know nothing of bravery! Know this....at King of Deathmatch your hero, The Masked Shooter, will leave the ring a broken and defeated man!! I will end him just as I ended all of his friends in the wrestling business. And when The Masked Shooter is carried out on a stretcher and can’t wrestle anymore understand that this is YOUR FAULT Armada! At King of Deathmatch it will be the death of the legend of The Masked Shooter!!

*** Scenes fades to black. ***

*** Tiger Fury sits in a folding chair inside of a locker room. His elbows rest on his knees as his eyes focus on the camera. ***


Fury: Respect is the currency of professional wrestling. We fight for titles, we fight for prestige, we fight for money.....but at the end of the day all wrestlers want respect. We want respect from the fans, respect from other wrestlers, and respect from the promoters.

I entered The King of Deathmatch tournament looking for respect. I was willing to put myself in matches against the best talent in PWA. I didn’t even care what type of match it was......I knew that I would make it to the end and here we are. The respect that I went in looking for was is one match away. Ronnie Lassiter and myself outlasted everyone and earned the right to main event the biggest pay-per-view in PWA history!

*** Tiger Fury shakes his head. ***

Fury: Imagine how pissed off I was when I found out that PWA now made this a DOUBLE main event! The name of the show is King of Deathmatch but another match gets to headline the show!! Now the management might try to rearrange the card after they hear this but I got the message loud and clear. They STILL don’t think I’m at that level....

Let’s talk about this “other” main event. You have Richard Pennyworth vs. PWA Champion Robert MacElroy vs. NWC Champion Akira Wyld. You have lots of people talking about this match but let me tell you what I see.

*** Tiger Fury’s voice grows louder and he trembles with anger. ***

Fury: I look at Pennyworth and he is a great wrestler BUT he just walked in off the street and gets put in a title match and I don’t ever get one? I also see a man in Pennyworth that I beat when the stakes were the highest. Robert MacElroy, The PWA Champion....I whooped his ass too! I’ve already pinned the champ in the ring but somehow I can’t get a title shot. Akira Wyld.....I beat him TWICE! I pinned him right after he won that NWC title. I eliminated his from this tournament but they place him higher on the card than me?

*** Tiger Fury rises and flings the folding chair that he was sitting in violently off camera while still looking into the camera. ***

Fury: I see another match being called the “main event” full of guys that I ALREADY BEAT! That’s not the main event.....I AM THE MAIN EVENT! I’m the best wrestler in this promotion! I’m the man around here!! I’m putting all three of the “main event” guys on notice! Whatever is left of you after the show is over belongs to me. I don’t give a crap about The Union, money clips, kendo sticks, drinking beer....none of that matters to me. You three and this promotion are gonna give me the respect I EARNED! If I have to interrupt every segment that you’re in, if I have to break your arms or legs, just know that I have those titles in my sights and nothing’s gonna stop me from taking care of business!!

Speaking of business, I have some business with Ronnie Lassiter. I saw that he got jumped last week and he’s banged up, but he’s a competitor. The man has heart. He’s one of the best young wrestlers that I have seen in a LONG time....but now with all of this happening I have to not only BEAT him but make an EXAMPLE out of him!!

*** Tiger Fury points at the camera. ***

Fury: Ronnie, I’m on the path to greatness and you’re in my way. No one...not YOU, not the PROMOTERS......NO ONE is gonna stop me from coming out on top! Wrong place, wrong time bro. At King of Deathmatch be ready to take that ass whooping like a man!

*** Scene fades to black. ***

The following was recording immediately after Assault went off the air. Pennyworth is still in the ring, holding both belts high as his music plays. Eventually, he gets off the turnbuckle, moving to the side, and calls for a microphone, trading the belts for it. As Akira Wyld and Robert MacElroy are helped to the back by medical staff, Pennyworth paces the ring. A smattering of both boos and cheers rain down as Pennyworth soaks it all in.

PENNYWORTH: Listen to you all. You can't decide if you like me or not. And I can already hear Terry's questions when I go back behind that curtain. "Mr. Pennyworth, sir, could you explain your actions here today?" Well, hypothetical Terry, I sure can.

PENNYWORTH: See, in my time here, Akira Wyld has, time and time again, insinuated that Damion Black and I are, as he calls us, yacht club buddies. Time and time again, Akira Wyld has insinuated that it's only because of my admittedly not insubstantial amount of money that I've become one of the top faces in this company. Time and time again, Akira Wyld has failed to defeat me in this ring, only to turn around and attack me outside of it.

PENNYWORTH: Well, enough is enough. See, what Akira fails to mention is that this company, this sport, is a business. And like any business, it exists primarily to make money. And the way it makes money is by putting all your butts in those seats. While we, as competitors, have to work our asses off to kick the shit out of one another for twenty to thirty minutes in the hopes of making a pinfall or a submission. All to get that W. And another. And another. In the hopes that enough wins will get you noticed by management. In the hopes that you'll be given a title shot. All in the hopes that one day, you'll be near the top of the card, headlining pay-per-view shows.

PENNYWORTH: Now, like I said, I'm a rich bastard. I make no secret of that. But to believe that the only reason I'm up here is because I've bought my way in? If my kicking Akira's ass all over this ring wasn't bringing all you folks into this arena, even I wouldn't have enough money to help Damion Black keep this place afloat.

PENNYWORTH: No, in this business, there are exactly two ways to rise up a card. One is through hard work, dedication, and training. You work your ass to the bone, and climb up the hard way. And yes, I'll admit that my money helped out there. I was able to hire the best trainers, get the best medical support money can buy. But I still put in the work. I've been in the trenches of the curtain jerkers. I've paid my dues.

PENNYWORTH: But there is another way to the top. A way to bypass a lot of the hard work. And that way is by having a recognized name. To be a legacy. To share a name with a famous father. A father like, say, Greco Wyld? Akira Wyld never spent time opening a show. Akira Wyld never had to put in the hours to get recognized. Akira Wyld's talent was assumed from the moment he laced up his boots. From the moment he started working in this industry, Akira Wyld was being handed title shot after title shot.

PENNYWORTH: And now he has the gall to come out here with his rent-a-thugs and claim to represent the rank-and-file worker in this company. Well, I've had just about enough of that. So tonight, I stood up for myself. For every worker in the back who doesn't give a shit about the Union. And I showed Akira just how much his legacy is worth.

PENNYWORTH: But I don't want all of you to think that puts me on the side of the so-called 'PWA' representatives. As far as I'm concerned, they're just another group who thinks they can control everyone else. And Robert MacElroy? Well, Mac...wrong place in the wrong time. I wouldn't have come after you specifically, but as a target of opportunity? I wasn't going to pass it up. Just like you didn't when you attacked me, right?

PENNYWORTH: Which brings us to King of Deathmatch. Where yours truly faces off against Akira Wyld and Robert MacElroy in a double championship match. I walk into that ring the only man who has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Neither Akira nor Robert can gain a damned thing in that match. In fact...in this match, a devious competitor would see a pinfall on the other man as an opportunity. Why prevent me from pinning Akira, Robert? You lose nothing, and you take him down a peg. Akira--you have no reason to keep me from getting the PWA Heavyweight Belt should I get Mac in the Money Clip. You'd keep your belt.

PENNYWORTH: At this point, I don't care which of you I take the title from. At the end of the night, I will hold one of your belts. The only question you two have to answer is this--which one of you will go home a loser?

PENNYWORTH: Until then...rest up, and dream of steel chairs.

Pennyworth drops his mic, and his music hits again, as he celebrates in the ring for a few moments more, before the shot fades to black.

***The scene opens in the hidden ‘lair’ of the FIERCE and DEADLY Coldsnakes (hiss...). Bathed in eerie green light, Giant Anaconda sits on a folding chair, leafing through a program for the upcoming PWA King of Deathmatch supercard. Suddenly, the door to their lair (maintenance closet) bursts open and an enthusiastic Junior Cobra comes bounding in screaming. Anaconda flails his arms in surprise, sending the loose pages of the program fluttering in the air like confetti.***

COBRA: “OKAY big guy, listen up and listen good! I am hot and bothered and mad and motivated and mildly aroused! Assault was just the beginning! It’s a new era and the Coldsnakes are done being everyone’s doormat! We are LARGE and IN CHARGE and I have a plan to take us into the stratosphere! And it all begins at the King of Deathmatch!”

***Anaconda picks up a page of the program from the ground and shakes it enthusiastically at Cobra.***

COBRA: “Dang right brother! Now here’s my plan. Ok... so last week at Assault we totally got the best of Armageddon. We knocked ‘em silly and basically cost them the tag-team titles. You and me and Kevin Starr knocked Nakamura and Armageddon for a loop and cleared the ring! The fans were chanting our names and for the first time in too long it really felt like the Coldsnakes were getting the respect we deserved.”

***Anaconda claps his meaty hands and nods in the affirmative.***

COBRA: “So... now we’ve gotta keep that momentum going. And looking at how Assault played out, there’s only ONE thing for us to do at King of Deathmatch!”

***Anaconda pumps his fist and slaps his leg in agreement.***

COBRA: “I know you’re feelin’ me big guy! So here’s what we do. At King of Deathmatch... we challenge... KEVIN STARR to a match!”

***Anaconda stops mid-fistpump.***

COBRA: “That’s right! That big idiot thinks he can steal our thunder? Well we’ll show him! You and me vs that big-handed meathead in a handicap match! Really show him who’s boss! Wipe that stupid perma-grin off his oversized, beach-bimbo head!”

***Anaconda holds his hands palm-up and slowly shakes his head in bewilderment.***

COBRA: “And after we totally kick the ass of the former world champ, The Union will HAVE to take us back! You and me and Armageddon and Nakamura can all be best buds again!”

***Anaconda slaps his forehead and sighs.***

COBRA: “This is a foolproof plan Stan. PWA can suck an egg! We’ll show that man-tan dorkus Stinkeye Starr that NOBODY can beat the Union!”

***Anaconda grunts and thrusts the playbill for King of Deathmatch into Junior Cobra’s face, pointing a sweaty, gloved finger vigorously at the page-two graphic clearly listing The Coldsnakes and Kevin Starr in a 6-man tag match AGAINST Armageddon and Nakamura Yamasaki. Cobra stops mid-sentence, his mouth hanging open as he reads the listing for the match.***

COBRA: “...”

ANACONDA: “...”

COBRA: “Uh... is... EXACTLY what those losers in the Union would say! But... uh... WE know better right big guy?! We’re the FIERCE and DEADLY Coldsnakes and we are PWA through and through! And... and... with our GOOD FRIEND, the HANDSOME and MUSCULAR Kevin Starr by our side, we will make those backstabbing losers Armageddon and Nakamura pay!”

***Cobra grins and puts his hands on his hips. Anaconda takes a deep breath and rubs the back of his head.***

COBRA: “Yep... The Coldsnakes bleed purple and gold amiright? Damion Black for president! Akira Wyld... he is... uh... he is off my Christmas list, ya feel me?”

***Anaconda calmly folds his program and stands. He gently places the program on the folding chair, rubs his temples with his hands, sighs, and leaves the room.***

COBRA: “Uh... good thinking big guy. We’ve got a lot of training to do. Best... uh... best to get started right away. You head to the gym and I’ll be right behind you.”

***Anaconda slams the door behind him, leaving Cobra alone in the green-tinted lair. Cobra rocks back and forth on his heels and exhales.***

COBRA: “Ah jeez, that was embarrassing. It’s a good thing nobody was around to see...”

***Cobra pauses mid-sentence. Slowly he turns to face the camera... realizing for the first time that Ronnie Stockholm and an entire PWA camera crew has been standing five feet to his left the entire time.***

COBRA: “WHAT THE FU-?! Um... ahem... I mean... have you guys been here EVERY time we’ve cut a promo from the lair??”

STOCKHOLM: “Um... well... yeah we have. I mean... you always send out about a dozen Evites and tag us on Facebook every time you come down here. Just an hour ago you sent me a Snapchat saying ‘Get your honky ass down to the green room pronto or I’ll use your nuts for...’”

COBRA: “...for bongo drums... right... right... ah, good times.”

STOCKHOLM: “...”

COBRA: “...”

CAMERA CREW: “...”

COBRA: “Whelp... looks like it’s about time to hit the old dusty trail. Lots to do before our epic 6-man tag match with our good buddy Kev. Yep... lots to do...”

STOCKHOLM: “...”

COBRA: “...”

***Junior Cobra puts his hands in his pockets... pauses... giggles at the realization that his tights have pockets... and saunters extra-casually out the door and down the hall. Stockholm and the camera crew exchange a glance as the scene fades to black.***

Snow is seen arriving at the arena for King of Deathmatch, gear bag over his shoulder. He is quickly stopped by Terry Schneider.

TERRY: Snow, you're facing off against your tag team partner Pantaro and the Mysterius jAi for the Light Heavyweight title tonight. Can you tell me your mindset right now?

SNOW: It's simple, Terry. Gold is on the line, and it has been oh so long since I've tasted it. Tonight, for the first time in a long time, I actually have a chance to earn myself championship gold again. I'm eager. I'm anxious, and I'm ready to go.

TERRY: Now, some might say that jAi is at a bit of a disadvantage tonight, facing off against both members of the Blood Brothers. Have you and Pantaro been discussing any tactics to eliminate him early?

SNOW: Terry, I'm a competitor. But more than that, I'm an honorable competitor. Pantaro is the same way. This match tonight is everyone for themselves. I'll shake his hand before the match, and win or lose, we'll meet up after the match. But I haven't spoken to Pantaro since we made the decision to allow jAi to join this match. No discussions of tactics. Mind you, we've been tagging a long time. I'm not saying we won't fall back on habits in the ring, but it's not a plan going in. And I don't see any way that I wouldn't attack Pantaro to get the win if I have the chance, regardless of whether or not jAi is still in the match.

TERRY: Now, you've had some harsh words for jAi earlier this season. Yet, you and Pantaro decided to grant him this shot tonight. What prompted that decision?

SNOW: He beat me. Look, I may not be a big fan of AMX and the way they do things, but there's no denying their talent. I claimed the title shot at the beginning of the season with a claim of having beaten everyone in the division. Jai joined the division at Circus Maximus, came in this season, and defeated me. He may not have defeated everyone in the division, but he proved that he was capable of doing so. Whether we gave him the shot now, or later, it was going to happen. And AMX made it abundantly clear that they would keep hounding us until he got his shot. This way, we contain him where we can see him, so to speak.

TERRY: Thank you, Snow. One final question before I let you go. How do you see your chances tonight?

SNOW: Any competitor being given a title shot at the biggest show of the season should have just one answer to that question. Tonight, I'm going in that ring, I'm going to defeat my competitors, and I'm going to prove I'm the best Light Heavyweight in PWA.

TERRY: Thanks again, Snow.

Snow walks off, and the shot cuts to black.