[Cut to the ring where Tony Fatora stands tall.]

TONY FATORA: The following contest is set for one fall, with no time limit, and it is for the Empire Pro Wrestling WOOOORRRRRRLLLLLDDDDD.... HEAVYWEIGHT... CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!

[The crowd go crazy at the announcement. CUE UP: “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin. The music plays, but Douglas doesn't appear.]

[The music continues to play as Fatora motions to someone at ringside trying to find out what's going on. After a few moments, the EmpireTron flickers to life and a collective gasp goes across the crowd. On the screen is the tangled remains of an office. As the picture pans down, we see Troy Douglas lying prone on the floor writhing in pain. Dan Ryan comes from around the desk with a casual expression on his face and tosses a baseball bat the the side. He comes over to Douglas and violently drives the toe of his boot into Douglas' ribs.]

Ryan: "Good luck tonight, Troy...."

[The screen flickers back to black.]

DT: MY GOD!! THE OWNER HAS TAKEN OUT TROY DOUGLAS!!!

DM: I guess Dan-o wasn't impressed with that lawsuit!

MN: Can he do that??

DT: I think he just did!!

[A few more moment pass by as the music dies down and the ring crew scrambles around trying to figure out what to do next. A confused buzz in the crowd is suddenly replaced by an eruption of cheers as Troy Douglas, fatigued, walks from behind the curtain clutching his ribs, trying his best not to show any pain. He walks with purpose to the ring, the crowd willing him on as he steps through the ropes. He stands simply in the corner, his eyes steely except for momentary wincing]

DT: Troy’s had a hard road to get here, and it was made even harder tonight by that vicious attack by Dan Ryan. To be honest I don’t know if he has it in him to go all the way against a man the calibre of Beast.

DM: Those ribs are still hurting him, and he’s going to find breathing difficult. A near impossible task got made a lot harder you’re right.

[“Kashmir” fades into the monks chanting which always precedes “Figure You Out” by Nickelback. The crowd are still cheering as Beast walks through the curtain with the title belt over his shoulder, a lone spotlight falling on him, following the champion to the ring. He stands in the centre of the ring, lifting the belt high over head, mouthing off at Douglas, as the ref takes the belt from him, checking him for foreign objects]

TONY FATORA: The rules of this match are as follows. The title can only change hands on a pinfall or submission, with one fall deciding the outcome. In the corner to my left is the challenger, a man who cemented his right to be here by defeating Karl “The Dragon” Brown at Unleashed! He weighs in at two hundred and sixty pounds, and stands in at six feet and five inches tall. Hailing from Greensboro, North Carolina, he is the number one contender to the world title... this... is... TRRRRROOOOOOOOYYYYY...... DOOOOOOOUGLAAAAAAAASSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

DT: The fans seem really into Douglas here. Just listen to those cheers.

MN: Loafy better be careful, or Megatron’ll go all tanky on him.

DT: Megatron was a gun, the first series was much better.

MN: Huh?

TONY FATORA: And in the corner to my right is a man who has reigned as champion since defeating Christian Sands inside a steel cage at Unleashed. He weighs in at two hundred and eighty seven pounds, standing in at an impressive six feet six inches, he hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada... he is the reigning world heavyweight champion.... BEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSST!!!!!!

DT: The referee calling both men over as Tony leaves the ring, and it’s go time. They circle each other, looking for an opening. The crowd are going nuts here as they lock up, pushing hard against each other, looking for the advantage. Beast slowly pushing Troy back to the corner... the ref calling for the clean break, and he gets it.

DM: That attack earlier on Douglas is going to play a huge part here. Beast’s a top class competitor and Troy would’ve liked to have been at full strength going up against him. Now, though, he’s got another barrier in front of him, his own tiredness and pain from Dan Ryan.

DT: Beast and Troy step back to the centre of the ring, locking up again. This time Troy quickly switches it to a wrist lock, but Beast quickly reverses into a hammerlock... LIFTING Troy off the mat to put more pressure on.

DM: Nice move there, wrenching on the shoulder and wrist at the same time. Pushing him away into the slam like that is another good strategy, as Douglas’ own weight comes down on the arm in a move similar to one the great Arn Anderson used to use.

MN: Damn, Megatron in trouble.

DT: Indeed. He’s holding his shoulder now as he gets to his feet but Beast doesn’t give him time to think, charging in with the clothesline there. Beast picking Douglas up... HUGE slam there as he drops the knee onto the injured ribs of Douglas. Beast lifting Douglas up again, whipping him into the ropes... shoulder tackle on the rebound, followed up with a big elbow drop, again on the ribs. Beast focusing his attacks here.

DM: Even injured like this Douglas isn’t going to be a pushover, and Beast knows this. He’s going to focus on where Troy’s suffering, and if you can hinder a man’s breathing it makes them so much easier to beat.

DT: Beast dropping another elbow down, as he lifts Douglas up again. He hooks him up and brings him back down with a powerful vertical suplex. Douglas bounced off the mat there, clutching his back as Beast calmly drops the knee to the ribs. He takes the arm he was working on earlier, leaving his knee in the ribs of the challenger as he pulls back in an arm bar.

DM: Ordinarily this move just focuses on the shoulder, but the way Beast’s pressing his weight down onto the ribcage means Douglas is having to deal with the pain in his ribs and not being able to breath fully.

MN: Come on, Megatron, you can’t let Loafy beat you this easy.

DT: Douglas trying to fight back here in the early going but Beast’s got that armbar locked in. Douglas trying to get to his feet, using his free arm to try and push the knee of Beast away from his ribs. He manages it, and Beast cranks back on the arm, as Douglas rolls through, pulling his arm free. Douglas up, charging in... BIG knee to the face there, as Douglas takes Beast down. Douglas waits on Beast, and connects with a hard forearm to the face, setting him up... swinging neckbreaker there takes the champ down. Douglas with a fist drop, as he sets himself up on the second rope.

DM: Douglas looking to hit the big moves early. The longer this match goes on the more it’s in Beast’s favour.

DT: Douglas leaps... HARD powerslam reversal there, as Douglas went for it too early there. Beast picking the challenger up now like a child.

MN: A two hundred sixty pound child?

DT: You know what I mean. Beast now with Douglas on his feet, as he whips him into the corner. Following in... tackle straight into the ribs there. Beast ramming that massive shoulder of his into the ribs of the challenger, and if Dan Ryan’s attack didn’t break Douglas’ ribs earlier tonight then this onslaught will do. Beast now lifting Douglas to the tope rope, following him up... SUPERPLEX from the top rope!!

DM: Beast is going after the weakest point on his opponent, which is precisely what you’d expect of a champion.

DT: Beast with the first cover of this match...

TWO...

No, as Douglas manages to get his shoulder up at two and a half. Beast now applying a straight jacket on Douglas, pulling back on both arms across Douglas’ throat as he puts his own knee square into the back. Beast wrenching back as Pat Jones the senior referee asks Troy if he wants to call it quits.

MN: Megatron’s gonna need the Constructicons, yo.

DM: OK, I used to think it’d be fun working with him, but he’s really annoying isn’t he?

DT: Yes. Very. Beast now wrenching back even more, as Douglas tries something... bridging back... THE COVER!!

TWO!!

THRNOOO!! Douglas ALMOST springs a surprise there with an innovative counter to the straightjacket, rolling back for the pin and forcing Beast to break the hold. Beast is up first, and he takes Douglas down with a hard clothesline. Quick cover... kickout by Douglas before two.

DM: Beast going for another cover, no fall. Big slam and another cover. Two... kickout. He’s trying to wear Douglas down by making him kick out in quick succession. Now Beast locking in a sleeper on the mat, leaning his weight onto Douglas, but Troy manages to roll through for another cover!!

DT: TWO!! And a powerful kickout by Beast. Douglas raking the champs eyes as he gets up to slow the bigger man down, as he runs the ropes... nice flying forearm taking the champ down. Douglas looking to mount some offence here, connecting with some stiff chops, as he hooks Beast up... DOWN with the German suplex there. Douglas on fire here, as he looks to hook Beast again... NORTHERNNOOOO... Beast blocking the Northern Lights there with a clubbing blow to the back. Beast now picking up the challenger, lifting him up into a military press.

MN: And Loafy’s showing off!! What a show-off, pressing Megatron like that.

DM: Interesting to see what he’s going to do here, there’s a lot of different possibilities.

DT: OUCH!!!

DM: Like that one. Nice switch into a back breaker there, dropping Troy and catching him before driving him rib first onto the bent knee. That can certainly crack a few ribs, if Dan’s pounding didn’t powder them earlier.

DT: Douglas howling in pain as Beast stretches him over the knee now. Douglas has had a hard time here, barely able to land a blow. Pat Jones checking to see if Douglas wants to give it up, but Beast instead lifts him off the knee. Carrying Douglas round, he DRIVES him into the corner. Tree of woe here, as Beast puts the boots to the prone challenger. Jones gets to four before the champ backs away, as the ref now tries to free Douglas.

DM: It’s hard on Douglas, sure, but he did anger Ryan with that legal threat. And now he’s paying the price.

DT: Beast moving in with Douglas slumped on the mat. He picks the smaller man up and tosses him across the ring with a hip toss. He follows in with a cover, pressing his arm across Douglas’ face.

One...

TWO...

THRENOOO, Douglas JUST getting the shoulder up there. Beast now applying a sleeper hold on the mat, locking it in close to the canvas to stop Douglas rolling him into a pin, using his weight to secure the hold. Jones checking it’s not a choke hold, as the crowd start cheering Douglas on.

MN: Megatron’s run out of energon, he has to have done.

DM: Can I hit him?

DT: Sure.

MN: OW!!

DT: Thanks. Douglas trying to fight the hold, grabbing the champ by the hair, but the ref’s calling for a break whenever he does that. He’s going... going...

DM: Gone, as the ref starts to lift the arm. Pat Jones holding it there, as Beast keeps the pressure applied, cutting the blood supply to the brain. The arm drops once.

DT: Jones signals to the timekeeper, lifting the arm again... it drops. If it drops again, it’s all over. Jones lifting the arm... holding it there...

MN: It’s over for the Decepticons.

DT: The arm falls BUT DOESN’T STAY DOWN!!! Troy Douglas, fighting the pain in his ribs, lifts his arm up again, keeping himself in this match. The crowd trying to will Douglas back into this thing, as he starts to stir on the mat, relieving some of the pressure. Douglas slowly getting to his feet... SUPLEX out of the hold there, as both men are on the mat. Beast getting quickly to his feet, but he’s met with a hard shot to the gut by the challenger. Douglas trying to rally himself, a hard forearm smash rocking the champ. Douglas to his feet now, as the fans are going wild. Douglas staggering Beast with hard lefts and rights, and he FINALLY takes the big man down with a tornado punch!! Climbing the ropes, Douglas standing... CROSS BODY BLOCK by the challenger.

TWO...

NO!!! Beast kicks out, as Douglas quickly runs the ropes... SPINEBUSTER SLAM!!!

DM: That’s going to have knocked the air right out of Douglas there. Beast’s been in virtually total control of this match, but it’s not for lack of effort on Troy’s part. Beast’s been targeting those ribs like his career depends on it.

DT: Beast now picks the challenger up off the mat, locking in a strong bearhug. He’s slowing the match right down, wearing into those ribs. Pat Jones asking Troy if he wants to... HOLY COW!!!

DM: Wow!! Nice belly to belly suplex out of the bearhug there by the champ, drilling the challenger down hard on his head and neck. Douglas looks out of it now, it’s only a matter of time now.

MN: Sick... VERY sick...

DT: Beast now with a cover... this is surely academic?

Two...

NOOONOONNOONOO!!! DOUGLAS KICKS OUT JUST BEFORE THE THREE!!!

DM: Beast can’t believe it, he’s been hammering the poor guy without stop and he still can’t put him away!!

DT: Beast now picks the smaller man up. Kick to the gut and... ABSOLUTION!!! This has GOT to be it. Please, Troy, stay down.

One...

TWO....

THREE... BEAST WINS IT!!!!

[SFX: *dingdingdingding*]

TONY FATORA: The winner of the match, and STIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLL World Heavyweight Champion.... BEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSST!!!!!!!!!

DT: Thank God. I don't think Troy Douglas has anymore fight left in him.

[Beast is handed his belt in the ring and holds it up to deafening cheers. Suddenly they turn their attention to the ramp where Dan Ryan steps out and walks down to the ring stoically. Ryan climbs in and motions for a microphone as Beast narrows his eyes, but holds his ground.]

DR: Nice match. Oh yeah, real nice match. This is the match I missed out on at the pay-per-view when I put someone else in your spot eh, Troy?? I can't believe I passed up a technical masterpiece like this for Boogie and Adam Benjamin.

Oh, but I have to admit it Troy....

[Ryan stands right over Douglas and shouts down at him.]

YOU SURE GOT ONE OVER ON ME!!

I mean, congratu-f**king-lations, Troy Douglas!! WHOO HOO!! You outsmarted the great Dan Ryan and wormed your ass into the World Title shot you earned. What the hell can I say??

OH WAIT!!

I know what I can say. I can say that you're a f**king amateur who's gonna have a do a whole hell of a lot better than that if you think for one goddamned second that you have near what it takes to go toe to toe with me.

I can also say that you and your attorneys, while sticking closely to the letter of the original contract may have earned you your shot - but failed to address the possibility that I just may not like it and may choose to beat the living dogs**t out of you before you even step into the ring.

In case you're not following, let me make things perfectly clear.

THIS IS MY COMPANY!!

You may have had your fun pushing Paul Freeman around, but it's a new world you're living in now, punk. I've lived up to my contractual obligations and given you your shot, and you blew it. Now I think it's high time I take out the trash.

[Ryan viciously drags Douglas up by his hair, drives his head into a standing headscissors and lifts him up. With a yell, the owner runs to the ropes and drives Douglas all the way to the outside with a Humility Bomb.]

DT: I can't believe this!! Leave him alone!!!

MN: That's your boss, Thomas!! Show some respect!!

DT: Dammit, I don't care!! Troy Douglas has had enough!! A brutal match with Beast and now this!!!

DM: I'm not so sure Beast likes it either....check him out....

[Beast, having watched the scene from against the ropes goes over to Troy Douglas and gets in between him and Ryan. Ryan cocks his head to the side and mouths the words 'You got a problem with this, Marcus?'. Beast stands up tall and gets in Ryan's face. The two stare each other down as the crowd goes nuts. A 'BEAST! BEAST! BEAST!' chant breaks out. Beast sneers at Ryan for a moment, then inexplicably steps back, ducks through the middle rope to the floor and starts back up the ramp without looking back. Ryan looks down at Douglas and smiles, then back toward Beast - smirking - as we FADE TO COPYRIGHT.]