A table is set up in the middle of the ring, covered with a black tablecloth. A fancy leather chair rests on either side of the table. PWA Correspondent Terry Schneider is in the middle of the ring with a microphone.

TERRY: Tonight, I have the honor of hosting a contract signing for a PWA Heavyweight Championship match. As we’ve seen on recent weeks on Assault, the champion Richard Pennyworth the Third has made it clear he didn’t believe anyone currently active in PWA was worthy to challenge for the title. On the last Assault, Damion Black informed the champion that he was incorrect, and he would in fact be required to meet Brian Fury in a match with the title on the line. Tonight, those two men go face to face right here at this table to share their thoughts on the upcoming match, and to sign on the dotted line. So, without further ado, let’s bring out the challenger, from Harlem, New York–BRIAN FURY!!!

Shook Ones starts playing, and Brian Fury stalks to the ring. His face grim, he rolls under the bottom rope, climbing each turnbuckle in turn to pose for the crowd. That done, he grabs one of the chairs, sitting in it and leaning on the table, staring daggers at the entrance ramp.

TERRY: And now the current PWA Heavyweight Champion, representing Wall Street, I give you Richard Pennyworth III!

The classical strains of Handel play, and the Modern Aristocrat enters the arena dressed to the nines, with the championship belt draped over his right shoulder. He pauses at the top of the ramp, glancing on either side to the crowd assembled there. Finally, he taps the belt a couple times and turns his eyes towards Brian Fury, who still glares at him from inside the ring. Pennyworth smirks, and makes his way to the ring slowly, taking his time climbing the stairs. At the top of the ring steps, he deliberately turns his back to Fury, holding the belt high above his head. After a moment of soaking in the boos, Pennyworth returns the belt to his shoulder, gives a genteel bow to the crowd, and turns back to the ring, stepping between the top two ropes. Taking the free chair, he leans back in a casual manner, crossing his feet at the ankle on the table itself while availing himself of the free microphone lying there.

TERRY: Welcome, gentlemen. I hope this can be a civil moment between two of PWA’s top competitors. Now we’ve set aside time for each of you to speak to the other about the forthcoming match. This time, the champion can go first. Mr. Pennyworth?

Pennyworth goes to speak, but then the arena goes dark. A moment later a video begins playing.

The camera opens in what appears to be an industrial freezer. The fog and steam from the cool and warm air mixing swirls around making small vortex on the metal floor. A blue candle lights and then an image of a gold watch with a shattered face, then the camera goes back to the freezer now with the sound of footsteps echoing. A second blue candle lights and the image of a bloodied and torn Tigers Mask is displayed before flashing back out. These images continue to cycle now with the sound of children laughing as each item is more damaged than before with each flicker.

The lights come back up, and all three men in the ring are on their feet, though Pennyworth and Fury are both in cautious defensive stances rather than anything aggressive. At Terry Schneider’s mic-less cajoling, both men eventually return to their seats.

TERRY: Apologies for the interruption, gentlemen. I’m going to get to the bottom of this as soon as we’re done here. Hopefully we can continue without any more interruptions. Mr. Pennyworth, please continue.

PENNYWORTH: Brian Fury. The master of the Tap Out or Knock Out. Tell me, Brian — when was the last time you knocked anyone out in this ring? Made them tap out? I can tell you this much — it hasn’t happened in a PWA ring. You are past your prime, Brian. You no longer have what it takes. You are certainly not someone who deserves to be in the main event of a pay-per-view. I’m not sure you ever were.

PENNYWORTH: Don’t get me wrong, here. You’re one hell of a competitor. A fierce foe. But a champion? Look, I gave you an opportunity to prove my doubts wrong. To show me, to show Damion Black, and to show the PWA armada that you deserved a shot. And you turned your back on that opportunity. You turned your back on me. You turned your back on this title. And disrespect like that doesn’t deserve a shot at winning the championship.

PENNYWORTH: If it were up to me, we obviously wouldn’t be out here right now. But unfortunately it’s not up to me. And somehow, despite your disrespect towards me, towards this belt, and towards the prestige it brings, Damion Black has decided that you are worthy of challenging me. He’s decided that you are worthy of the main event.

PENNYWORTH: You may have him fooled, Fury. But make no mistake. In this ring, right now? I’m the top dog. I am the man the experts are high on. My stock is rising, Fury. Yours is falling. And if you set your pen to this paper, all that will happen is that I will have the chance to demolish you on one of the biggest stages in this business. I will prove that your time is done, Brian. Whether you’re under the mask or wearing your own face, you can no longer hang with the best of the best in this ring. You know it. I know it.

Pennyworth leans forward, grabs one of the pens, and signs with a flourish.

PENNYWORTH: And when this is all said and done, the entire PWA Armada will know it. This is your last chance to save face, Brian. Walk away, and we forget this ever happened.

Pennyworth drops the microphone on the table, and once again makes himself lazily comfortable, leaning back in the chair.

TERRY: Bold words from the champion. Mr. Fury, if you have anything to say?

Brian Fury stares daggers at the champion for a long moment before raising his own microphone.

FURY: I’m not gonna come out here and BORE the fans with a bunch of talking like you just did! I do my talking in the ring. I had to bleed, sweat, and sacrifice just to GET this shot while you just walked in and threw your money around. I’ve always had a title shot dangled in front of me like a carrot and no matter what I did or who I beat I never got the opportunity to prove that I was the best! I kept getting told to wait my turn, that my time was coming, to keep working hard. I was told that while wrestlers that couldn’t carry my jockstrap got the title matches!

Brian Fury stands up, and walks to the ring apron. After a quick glance at Pennyworth to ensure he’s still sitting, Fury leans on the ropes and talks towards the crowd.

FURY: NOW I have my shot and you better damn well believe I’m gonna get the job done! I’ve beaten Akira Wyld, Robert MacAlroy, Kazuma……the list goes on and on. Wanna know who I also beat……YOU! We trained together a long time ago in PWS but I didn’t show you everything. I’m too smart for that. The ONLY smart thing I’ll give you credit for is for coming up with EXCUSES for not getting in the ring with me! You bought yourself a few extra weeks of time. But now your time is up! When I sign this contract and make this match official, I won’t leave any doubt who the better man is! I’ll be walking out with the title……you won’t be walking out at all!!

As Fury finishes up the thought, the lights once again go dark. The sound of a piano begins to play in a low and eerie tone. The images from before of the broken watch and tattered bloody Tiger Mask begin to flicker across the screen again. Suddenly the piano begins to play backwards as well as the images. The freezer door from before slams shut interrupting the sounds and images as well as blowing out the candles.. After a moment of silence, a match is lit directly in front of the camera as it moves up to light a cigar. A cloud of smoke rolls from the mouth and reveals only a sinister grin as the screen cuts out.

The lights come back up moments later, showing that Pennyworth and Fury have backed to the turnbuckles, the belt is abandoned on Pennyworth’s chair…and Rhett Holiday stands at the table, pen in hand. Before anyone can react, Holliday signs the contract, then launches himself at Pennyworth. Holiday nearly locks on the Crossroads Armbreaker as Pennyworth contorts himself in a panic when Fury grabs Holiday in a rage. Fury points to the contract, and despite there being no microphone to pick up his voice the meaning is clear — Holiday stole Fury’s title match, and Fury isn’t going to have any of that.

Fury and Holiday go face to face while Pennyworth grabs the belt and slides out of the ring. Pennyworth slowly backs up the ramp when Brian Fury throws the first punch. Holiday and Fury trade vicious blows back and forth for a moment before Holiday manages to take the advantage…and Fury eats a horrendous powerbomb through the table. With Fury down and out, Holiday walks to the ring, points towards Pennyworth, who is still on the ramp…and the lights go out once more. When they come back, Pennyworth is scrambling on all fours towards the entrance, Fury is still writhing in the wreckage of the table, and Holiday is nowhere to be seen.

Terry Schneider slowly makes his way into the ring, looking around with wild eyes the entire time. He manages to free the contract from beneath Fury, looking at it before shaking his head. He slowly moves his microphone up to speak.

TERRY: There you have it, folks. At our next supercard, we will see Richard Pennyworth III defending the PWA Heavyweight Championship against…Rhett Holiday, I guess. What does this mean for Brian Fury’s championship prospects? Keep tuning in to Assault to find out.

He walks out of the ring as medics slide in, moving up to tend to Brian Fury as we fade to black.