JABolich
League Member
Tag-team match.
Have fun, boys.
Have fun, boys.
Second Coming vs. Crimson Calling
- Thread starter JABolich
- Start date
SCENE BEGINS
(The expansive Fear Estate stands majestically against a darkened Seattle skyline. Under a foray of decorative exterior lighting, a sleek black limosuine pulls around in the circular driveway before the mansion, coming to a stop at the front door. It is followed by a van painted in an equal shade of midnight. Quickly, the chaffeur steps out of the driver's side of the limo and opens the door. Nathan Fear steps out, looking to the van, which he signals to go around. The driver pulls it into drive and cuts between those standing near the limo and the camera as it purrs by. On the other side of the limosuine, Erik Black's head appears as he comes out on his side. The vehicle suddenly elevates a few inches as Ivan Dalkichev comes out as well. Fear signals to the chaffeur, who hops behind the wheel again and follows the van. The three men look at each other for a moment or two, wordless. Fear then steps between them and enters his home, followed by the former tag team champions.)
(Cut to an interior shot of Nathan Fear's large study, where more than one man is waiting. The room is occupied by a number of gentlemen in well-tailored suits, most of whom smoking cigars and of various ethnicities. The double doors on the far wall open, and the Crimson Calling enter; Black and Dalkichev flank a calm Nathan Fear as they come into the room. Many of the men seated in Fear's own plush leather chairs turn slightly to see, but none welcome them.)
Nathan Fear
Gentlemen... I'm glad you all made it here tonight to be a part of this meeting. We all know why we're here, so let's cut the formalities and get straight to business. Erik...?
(Black crosses over to a podium against one wall, and presses a button somewhere on the glowing monitor there. The lights in the room dim as a screen comes down from the ceiling behind Fear. A second later, a projector pastes an image onto screen. It's the EPW logo.)
Nathan Fear
This... is our current prospective federation... Empire Professional Wrestling. I can't say much for the people involved, but... it is one of the top federations in the circuit at this time. There's a lot of money in that. Next slide, Erik...
(The next image is an out-dated photo of Cameron Cruise and Joey Melton, bearing their newly won Tag Team Titles on the night of victory.)
Nathan Fear
This is the target: The Tag Team Titles. Lately, the division has been doing pretty well, taking in about 30% of all federation revenues. If these belts are taken, WE will tap into those profits. The two you see here are meaningless at this point... but these next two...
(The slide changes to Lindsay Troy and Christian Sands.)
Nathan Fear
...currently hold the belts. But we'll worry about that when we get to it. For now, our opposition is the following...
(Slide changes to the Second Coming.)
Nathan Fear
Matt Johannson and Bryan Storms… also known as “The Second Coming.” All we have to do is get through these guys… through Cruise and Melton… and finally through Sands and Troy to get what we need.
Then, my friends… we’re on easy street. We’ll milk the federation for every cent we can gain with no remorse.
…now that the plans are on the table, I believe this meeting is adjourned.
(At this, the lights brighten and the screen rolls back into the ceiling. Some of the high rollers come to their feet.)
Nathan Fear
Have a safe trip home, gentlemen…
(In single file, they exit the room, Fear shaking hands with many of them as they say something in Albanian, Russian, Chinese, or something else… until finally he is alone in his study with the other two men. Erik Black comes near him, speaking quietly as the door closes.)
Erik Black
With all due respect, Mr. Fear … you’re making this out too easy.
Nathan Fear
What’s the problem now, Erik?
Erik Black
I think you’re not taking this seriously enough. You’re acting like taking these belts back will be a walk in the park.
Nathan Fear
Why shouldn’t it be? Do you doubt your own abilities?
(Ivan, seemingly disinterested, falls into a large-sized chair that fits him nicely. He sits with a pleasant smile on his face, being able to relax.)
Erik Black
Of course not, Nathan… but call it a hunch, because I don’t think this will be easy.
Nathan Fear
I don’t go by hunches, and you know it. So unless you have some valid proof that this will be a difficult task—and knowing you two, it will not—I would suggest you stop questioning my plans.
Erik Black
Then consider this: At Wrestleverse, Cruise and Melton lose the titles to Troy and Sands.
Nathan Fear
Yes… and?
Erik Black
Following that, the Cruise Project did that backstage promo… and now, at Aggression, Cruise and Sands are booked to meet in a street fight. Now I might be wrong, but common logic would suggest that there’s something brewing in the heads of the guys in charge.
(Fear nods quietly, listening to every word.)
Erik Black
It’s pretty obvious that they’re building toward a feud between the Cameron Cruise Project and the pairing of Lindsay Troy and Christian Sands. Wouldn’t you agree?
Nathan Fear
…I would.
Erik Black
It’s not that Ivan and I can’t do it—that shouldn’t be a problem. But if there’s a feud, the office is going to throw up road blocks. I think no matter how hard we try, it will be a while before we take those belts.
(Fear nods again.)
Nathan Fear
I think you’re right, Erik. Good thinking. But what do you propose we should do?
(Black merely shrugs.)
Erik Black
You got me, Mr. Fear. I don’t think that far ahead. Though maybe…
Ivan Dalkichev
Domination!
(Nathan and Erik turn to the booming voice of the large Russian man, smiling proudly from his chair. Fear nods.)
Nathan Fear
Yes… domination, Ivan. We have to set our grip on this federation. We need a foothold. That way, when those teams are done playing they’re little games, will be in the perfect position to sweep in and take the tag titles. They won’t even see it coming.
Erik Black
Sounds great, but we’re only two guys, Mr. Fear. That’s not enough manpower for the job…
Nathan Fear
True, but it should be a problem to find an ally or two. We merely need to look in the right places. In other words… it’s not about needing THEIR help, but they needing OUR help.
Erik Black
Who do you have in mind?
(Fear thinks for a moment, and crosses over to the podium. He presses a few buttons, and the screen descends again as the lights dim. Footage of a title match at Wrestleverse begins to play.)
Erik Black
…wait, are you thinking of the same person I’m thinking of?
Nathan Fear
Yes… the very man you see here.
Erik Black
…and you’re sure he’ll be up for it?
Nathan Fear
I’m positive. I can see it in his eyes.
Erik Black
Okay then… that’s the plan.
(The image on the screen blinks out. Fear comes before Erik yet again.)
Nathan Fear
We’ll worry about it later. The issue now, of course, deals with the Second Coming.
Erik Black
We can handle it.
Nathan Fear
I have no doubt that you can, but that doesn’t satisfy me. I want you to tear them apart at Aggression… putting out a message to everybody else in Empire Pro, especially the tag teams. We ARE back, and we WILL dominate this federation the same way we did before we left… and more so this time around. Undertsood?
Erik Black
Yeah…
Nathan Fear
Ivan?
Ivan Dalkichev
Clear as crystal!
Nathan Fear
Good. You two do what you may for the rest of the night. We have work to do tomorrow…
(Fear exits the lounge as we fade to black. Erik and Ivan exchange glances, then carry on.)
SCENE ENDS
(The expansive Fear Estate stands majestically against a darkened Seattle skyline. Under a foray of decorative exterior lighting, a sleek black limosuine pulls around in the circular driveway before the mansion, coming to a stop at the front door. It is followed by a van painted in an equal shade of midnight. Quickly, the chaffeur steps out of the driver's side of the limo and opens the door. Nathan Fear steps out, looking to the van, which he signals to go around. The driver pulls it into drive and cuts between those standing near the limo and the camera as it purrs by. On the other side of the limosuine, Erik Black's head appears as he comes out on his side. The vehicle suddenly elevates a few inches as Ivan Dalkichev comes out as well. Fear signals to the chaffeur, who hops behind the wheel again and follows the van. The three men look at each other for a moment or two, wordless. Fear then steps between them and enters his home, followed by the former tag team champions.)
(Cut to an interior shot of Nathan Fear's large study, where more than one man is waiting. The room is occupied by a number of gentlemen in well-tailored suits, most of whom smoking cigars and of various ethnicities. The double doors on the far wall open, and the Crimson Calling enter; Black and Dalkichev flank a calm Nathan Fear as they come into the room. Many of the men seated in Fear's own plush leather chairs turn slightly to see, but none welcome them.)
Nathan Fear
Gentlemen... I'm glad you all made it here tonight to be a part of this meeting. We all know why we're here, so let's cut the formalities and get straight to business. Erik...?
(Black crosses over to a podium against one wall, and presses a button somewhere on the glowing monitor there. The lights in the room dim as a screen comes down from the ceiling behind Fear. A second later, a projector pastes an image onto screen. It's the EPW logo.)
Nathan Fear
This... is our current prospective federation... Empire Professional Wrestling. I can't say much for the people involved, but... it is one of the top federations in the circuit at this time. There's a lot of money in that. Next slide, Erik...
(The next image is an out-dated photo of Cameron Cruise and Joey Melton, bearing their newly won Tag Team Titles on the night of victory.)
Nathan Fear
This is the target: The Tag Team Titles. Lately, the division has been doing pretty well, taking in about 30% of all federation revenues. If these belts are taken, WE will tap into those profits. The two you see here are meaningless at this point... but these next two...
(The slide changes to Lindsay Troy and Christian Sands.)
Nathan Fear
...currently hold the belts. But we'll worry about that when we get to it. For now, our opposition is the following...
(Slide changes to the Second Coming.)
Nathan Fear
Matt Johannson and Bryan Storms… also known as “The Second Coming.” All we have to do is get through these guys… through Cruise and Melton… and finally through Sands and Troy to get what we need.
Then, my friends… we’re on easy street. We’ll milk the federation for every cent we can gain with no remorse.
…now that the plans are on the table, I believe this meeting is adjourned.
(At this, the lights brighten and the screen rolls back into the ceiling. Some of the high rollers come to their feet.)
Nathan Fear
Have a safe trip home, gentlemen…
(In single file, they exit the room, Fear shaking hands with many of them as they say something in Albanian, Russian, Chinese, or something else… until finally he is alone in his study with the other two men. Erik Black comes near him, speaking quietly as the door closes.)
Erik Black
With all due respect, Mr. Fear … you’re making this out too easy.
Nathan Fear
What’s the problem now, Erik?
Erik Black
I think you’re not taking this seriously enough. You’re acting like taking these belts back will be a walk in the park.
Nathan Fear
Why shouldn’t it be? Do you doubt your own abilities?
(Ivan, seemingly disinterested, falls into a large-sized chair that fits him nicely. He sits with a pleasant smile on his face, being able to relax.)
Erik Black
Of course not, Nathan… but call it a hunch, because I don’t think this will be easy.
Nathan Fear
I don’t go by hunches, and you know it. So unless you have some valid proof that this will be a difficult task—and knowing you two, it will not—I would suggest you stop questioning my plans.
Erik Black
Then consider this: At Wrestleverse, Cruise and Melton lose the titles to Troy and Sands.
Nathan Fear
Yes… and?
Erik Black
Following that, the Cruise Project did that backstage promo… and now, at Aggression, Cruise and Sands are booked to meet in a street fight. Now I might be wrong, but common logic would suggest that there’s something brewing in the heads of the guys in charge.
(Fear nods quietly, listening to every word.)
Erik Black
It’s pretty obvious that they’re building toward a feud between the Cameron Cruise Project and the pairing of Lindsay Troy and Christian Sands. Wouldn’t you agree?
Nathan Fear
…I would.
Erik Black
It’s not that Ivan and I can’t do it—that shouldn’t be a problem. But if there’s a feud, the office is going to throw up road blocks. I think no matter how hard we try, it will be a while before we take those belts.
(Fear nods again.)
Nathan Fear
I think you’re right, Erik. Good thinking. But what do you propose we should do?
(Black merely shrugs.)
Erik Black
You got me, Mr. Fear. I don’t think that far ahead. Though maybe…
Ivan Dalkichev
Domination!
(Nathan and Erik turn to the booming voice of the large Russian man, smiling proudly from his chair. Fear nods.)
Nathan Fear
Yes… domination, Ivan. We have to set our grip on this federation. We need a foothold. That way, when those teams are done playing they’re little games, will be in the perfect position to sweep in and take the tag titles. They won’t even see it coming.
Erik Black
Sounds great, but we’re only two guys, Mr. Fear. That’s not enough manpower for the job…
Nathan Fear
True, but it should be a problem to find an ally or two. We merely need to look in the right places. In other words… it’s not about needing THEIR help, but they needing OUR help.
Erik Black
Who do you have in mind?
(Fear thinks for a moment, and crosses over to the podium. He presses a few buttons, and the screen descends again as the lights dim. Footage of a title match at Wrestleverse begins to play.)
Erik Black
…wait, are you thinking of the same person I’m thinking of?
Nathan Fear
Yes… the very man you see here.
Erik Black
…and you’re sure he’ll be up for it?
Nathan Fear
I’m positive. I can see it in his eyes.
Erik Black
Okay then… that’s the plan.
(The image on the screen blinks out. Fear comes before Erik yet again.)
Nathan Fear
We’ll worry about it later. The issue now, of course, deals with the Second Coming.
Erik Black
We can handle it.
Nathan Fear
I have no doubt that you can, but that doesn’t satisfy me. I want you to tear them apart at Aggression… putting out a message to everybody else in Empire Pro, especially the tag teams. We ARE back, and we WILL dominate this federation the same way we did before we left… and more so this time around. Undertsood?
Erik Black
Yeah…
Nathan Fear
Ivan?
Ivan Dalkichev
Clear as crystal!
Nathan Fear
Good. You two do what you may for the rest of the night. We have work to do tomorrow…
(Fear exits the lounge as we fade to black. Erik and Ivan exchange glances, then carry on.)
SCENE ENDS
Last edited:
CuseTroy
League Member
FADE IN...
Open on Matt Johansson and Bryan Storms, the latter in much more casual garb than usual, in the parking lot of Gates Barbecue in Kansas City, Mo. Johansson leans calmy against the hood of the duo's rented Lexus SUV, staring blankly into the KC skyline. On the other side of the car is Storms, wearing his yellow tinted sunglasses at night, smirking as always.
STORMS:
Oh, goody. Yet again Second Coming is consistently shuffled to the back of the EPW tag team deck, serving only to usher in some high-priced quasi-free agents whose asses we kicked when we made our debut back at Black Dawn several months back. A few months later, before we'd gotten our rightful shot at them, Nathan Fear had his boys, the Crimson Calling, put their tails between their legs and run away.
Coincidence? Well, that's what Nate'd tell you.
That would be, of course, if he realized we were facing Erik and Ivan at all this week. Apparently, in the minds of their megalomaniacal manager, the number one contenders to the tag team championships are not important enough to be a part of his ridiculously circuitous master plan, which I'm surely will be revealed slowly, piece by piece over the next few weeks.
Cause, ya know, you wouldn't want to hurt the ratings by giving away anything at once.
Now, I'm not one to criticize, but it seems to me that the tag team that hasn't wrestled a match on television in a number of months should, somehow, be concerned with their immediate opponents. Especially considering that we are the immediate contenders to Christian Sands, Lindsay Troy, and the Empire Pro World Tag Team Titles.
So, even though we're assured a shot with that contract we pulled from atop that ladder, Matt and I are still taking this contest very seriously, because we know that the boys we're facing never actually lost these tag team titles, and we're sure that they want to get them back just as badly as we finally want to take them.
Of course, we plan to get there first.
This match has no special significance to us. No title or title shot is on the line, and we have no brilliant master plan to rule the world to further with a victory. We just want to go out and prove, once again, that there is no team in this company as talented, as cohesive, and as intelligent as the Second Coming.
We don't just claim to be great. We prove it, because no matter the competition, we always come to play, and we do it right.
So Nathan, bring your robots out of their boxes for Aggression, and we'll give you every reason to send them right back out of the company, just like we did in March at MSG. We'll show you just what tag team wrestling is all about.
And we'll end you plan at Step 1. Sorry, Nate.
It's just...business. Later.
...FADE TO BLACK
Open on Matt Johansson and Bryan Storms, the latter in much more casual garb than usual, in the parking lot of Gates Barbecue in Kansas City, Mo. Johansson leans calmy against the hood of the duo's rented Lexus SUV, staring blankly into the KC skyline. On the other side of the car is Storms, wearing his yellow tinted sunglasses at night, smirking as always.
STORMS:
Oh, goody. Yet again Second Coming is consistently shuffled to the back of the EPW tag team deck, serving only to usher in some high-priced quasi-free agents whose asses we kicked when we made our debut back at Black Dawn several months back. A few months later, before we'd gotten our rightful shot at them, Nathan Fear had his boys, the Crimson Calling, put their tails between their legs and run away.
Coincidence? Well, that's what Nate'd tell you.
That would be, of course, if he realized we were facing Erik and Ivan at all this week. Apparently, in the minds of their megalomaniacal manager, the number one contenders to the tag team championships are not important enough to be a part of his ridiculously circuitous master plan, which I'm surely will be revealed slowly, piece by piece over the next few weeks.
Cause, ya know, you wouldn't want to hurt the ratings by giving away anything at once.
Now, I'm not one to criticize, but it seems to me that the tag team that hasn't wrestled a match on television in a number of months should, somehow, be concerned with their immediate opponents. Especially considering that we are the immediate contenders to Christian Sands, Lindsay Troy, and the Empire Pro World Tag Team Titles.
So, even though we're assured a shot with that contract we pulled from atop that ladder, Matt and I are still taking this contest very seriously, because we know that the boys we're facing never actually lost these tag team titles, and we're sure that they want to get them back just as badly as we finally want to take them.
Of course, we plan to get there first.
This match has no special significance to us. No title or title shot is on the line, and we have no brilliant master plan to rule the world to further with a victory. We just want to go out and prove, once again, that there is no team in this company as talented, as cohesive, and as intelligent as the Second Coming.
We don't just claim to be great. We prove it, because no matter the competition, we always come to play, and we do it right.
So Nathan, bring your robots out of their boxes for Aggression, and we'll give you every reason to send them right back out of the company, just like we did in March at MSG. We'll show you just what tag team wrestling is all about.
And we'll end you plan at Step 1. Sorry, Nate.
It's just...business. Later.
...FADE TO BLACK