Bending forward at the waist, Lindsay Troy sat hunched over her knees while her taped fingers threaded the bootlaces through their proper holes. Her curly hair hung wild and loose around her face, not yet restrained by the hair tie that would, eventually, come next in her pre-match preparations. The dress she had worn upon arriving to the arena and greeting Richard Farnswirth was draped across the back of an armchair, having been traded in for her trademark tights and custom T-shirt. Creatures of habit, even the ones who stared into full-length mirrors as a child, dreaming their reflections saw anointments as Princesses whose fair beauty and unrivaled diplomatic skills would slay Utopia in the name of equality, as more than fairy tales, and wistful thinking. 

Ten years of this same routine and she hadn't yet grown tired of it. Her hands moved methodically from her left boot to her right, her eyes peering through the curly locks in front of her face to gaze at the EPW World Title. The newest addition to her routine would be the last preparation of the night. Too bling to be considered fashionable, the company’s belt was a second skin to Troy now. A film of validation and trust she loved shielding her insecurities with as the time to unfold her talents upon the masses arrived each show. Through the distant rumblings of an arena’s infrastructure and plaster, Lindsay could hear the primal echoes of the man’s world she’s obliterated in the last year, the muted calling for a second stake in the heart of an old-as-time belief that a man could always perform a skill job better. The ghosts were always there on the dumbstruck faces, and novelty act slurs thrown at her feet. Lindsay sat at the foot of her childhood bed and imagined her steps one day being lit with rose pedals. Never this. Never stealing vindication from the Beast only to realize it’ll never be enough. 

And if it were, what would be left to do? 

Troy savored the quiet moment alone, letting her mind wander and picturing the preparations toward World Title defenses to come: the strap affixed snugly around her waist as she stood, full of conviction and hunger to walk into the Lion’‘s Den where the volume of tradition and disapproval increased its climb into her ears the closer she stepped back into the office. 

But this was not the scene for tonight. Tonight, the Queen’s quest would be taming a Dragon. Why should the knights of medieval folklore have all the fun? 

Her hands were shaking as she continued lacing. Would she tremble before her tenth title defense? The thought called a smile to Lindsay’s face, as did the presence standing silently in the doorway watching. 

“You’d make an awful ninja, Joey,” Lindsay chided as she finished tying the double-knot then looked up to see her lover. 

“I’m past the point of caring if you know that I’m watching you.” Melton, ever the assassin, threw a smirk in Troy’s direction with pinpoint accuracy while letting himself inside, Lindsay’s last preparation’s be damned. Joey was fresh off his match with Marcus, the effects of which were apparent. 

“You’re ready to admit now that you were God-awful in your ability to hide your feelings from me?” Troy stood, threw her hair back in a pony-tail and limbered up, the EPW title folded neatly on a coffee table in front of her. As the champ ordered the blood flowing, Melton remembered why he first fell in love. Nimble minx. Totally. Was Troy really a woman or a gift from the God Joey rejected once Randalls introduced him to the High Elder's inner circle...and beautiful, just-barely-legal daughters some ten years ago. 

“Just that I hit on you shamefully.” 

“Ah, I see.” 

Melton stopped his measured walk a foot from the table; the EPW title lay as a medium between them. She was too focused to entertain his advances, and Joey knew the line between business and pleasure better than most. He just wanted to…see her as champ one more time. 

It’s been a lifetime since a company chose Melton to front them. Too many years, but the role he plays now has paid him handsomely. One day Lindsay won’t be able to sniff the Main Event picture, let alone be a million dollar company’s repeating Employee Of The Month. He loves how she looks this second. Happy. In awe of where she stands, but aware of the hopes piggy backing on her soft shoulders. 

“I guess its time,” Lindsay says, a joyful notch above a whisper. Her pink cheeks and dumb-luck laugh at herself break the stare between she and Melton. “Would you? I mean…” Troy fiddles with her hair, her knees buckling. “Do you mind, baby?” 

“Never do,” responds Joey, laughing at her orgasmic mood change. “Every Queen needs her crown.” 

He bends enough to reach the EPW World Title and slowly wake it from its slumber. Title in hand Melton reaches for Lindsay’s waist, his hands grazing the hips that continue to enslave him, and a championship earned is fastened securely. 

Queen for a day. 

Matter-of-factly Troy reaches for Melton’s neck, leaning in to kiss him. “Don’t get too comfortable, I’ll be back shortly,” said Troy as she threw her weight back, walked to the door and out to meet her doubters; the common thieves who still had to be won over. Made to buy the company line, or shot tragically and taken out with the rest of the trash. 

“Be careful,” said Melton to no one in particular, perhaps himself, as he casually stares at the World Title’s imaginary imprint on the table.

[Cut backstage where we see Empire Pro Owner Dan Ryan rounding a corner and heading toward the catering area. Paul Freeman approaches as Ryan draws some water out of a large cooler.] 

PF: Hey Dan, glad I caught up to ya. 

DR: What can I do for ya, Paulie? 

PF: Well, Frankie Scott was in my office earlier looking for you. He was a little frustrated that he can’t pin you down for a chat or something, I dunno. 

DR: Oh? Well it’s not like I’m hard to find. I’m at every show. 

PF: Well yeah, I know. But…well, anyway he said if I saw you to say he was looking for you. 

DR: Well, tell him I’ll be in my office until the show’s over checking out the main event but I’m leaving right after so if he wants to catch me he’ll have to get crackin’. 

PF: Will do, boss. 

[Freeman walks off and Ryan stands there drinking his water. Ryan chuckles and walks off toward his office.] 

[Cut to the broadcast booth]

MAIN EVENT
Non-Title
"Queen of the Ring" Lindsay Troy (c) vs. Karl "the Dragon" Brown


DT: Well folks, this has certainly been one hell of a night here on Aggression, and now it all comes to culmination with our main event as the World Champion, Lindsay Troy, gets set to take on the Intercontinental Champion, Karl Brown. 

DM: Definitely one that I’ve been looking forward to all night, but I’m not too sure if they can top what we just saw between JA and Troy Windham. 

MN: Are you kidding? Troy Windham just put on a clinic. There’s no way a woman and some guy off his Prozac can top a world champion like Troy Windham. 

DM: But Neels, Lindsay Troy is the actual EPW World Champion. You’re saying she can’t put on as good of a show as Troy Windham, who just had his first match here in EPW? 

MN: Exactly. 

[CUE UP: “Rainmaker” by Iron Maiden. Karl Brown enters to a good pop with his I-C title wrapped around his waist.] 

DT: Well Neels, I guess there’s only one way to find out if these two can top JA and Troy Windham, and it’s coming up right here in front of us. 

MN: No, the real way to find out is to know. And I know that they will not top it. 

DM: Neels, The Original Kings of Partial called. They can’t do the show without you. 

[CUE UP: “Money, Power, Respect”. Lindsay Troy enters the arena to a much louder pop as she struts out with her EPW World Heavyweight Title lying on her shoulder. She gives a smirk to Brown as she makes her way down the ramp.] 

MN: You’re telling me that she can put on a better show than Troy Windham? I’d wager that she can’t even beat Karl Brown. Let alone Troy Windham. 

DT: Neels, she’s the EPW World Heavyweight Champion. 

MN: But she cheated to get there. Didn’t you listen to Beast whining about that last week when Steven Shane threw it in his face that he couldn’t even beat a woman? 

DT: She didn’t take the highest road, but she did defeat Beast. 

MN: And who is Beast compared to Troy Windham? 

DM: Are you getting paid to plug Troy Windham every two seconds? 

MN: I don’t need to be paid to speak about greatness. 

DT: You are, aren’t you! 

MN: Guys, the match is starting. 

DT: Well, we’ll cover this later, but as Neels says, let’s get to this match. Troy and Brown are both in the ring and the ref is calling for the bell. 

[DING DING DING] 

DM: Troy is actually towering over Brown here, at least for a woman-to-man perspective. 

DT: That’s not going to stop him from locking up with her in that collar and elbow though as he does manage to get the upperhand and back her into the ropes. Brown doesn’t want to give Troy any types of openings as he delivers a hard chop right there! And another as the ref pulls him off! 

MN: A chop? Seriously, is that the best he’s got? Troy Windham would’ve… 

DM: Brown stays on the attack here as he whips Troy into the ropes. I’m sorry; did I interrupt you, Neels? 

MN: Actually- 

DT: Arm drag by Brown! He now locks the World Champion in an armbar. 

DM: But Troy is going to quickly utilize her agility and flexibility. She has her leg wrapped around Karl Brown’s head… 

MN: What kind of wrestling match is this exactly? Should we be telling the parents to put the kids to bed? 

DT: I don’t think so, Neels, as Troy has now managed to somehow reverse out of that armbar with a headscissors! 

DM: But Brown quickly grabs the ropes as both competitors now get back to their feet after the ref calls for the break. 

DT: Brown reaches at Troy, but Troy ducks and quickly grabs Brown’s arm, placing him in a hammerlock. But look at Brown as he reverses it into a hammerlock of his own! Troy is looking for a way out of this… 

DM: Oh my! Lindsay Troy just ran right up the ring ropes and flipped over Brown’s head! Brown turns around, kick to the midsection… 

DT: Spinning fisherman’s suplex! She’s holds for the pin… 

…one… 

…two… 

…kickout by Brown! 

DM: Well, what do you think of the World Champ now, Neels? 

MN: A fisherman’s suplex? Are you kidding me? 

DT: Regardless, Lindsay Troy is staying on the attack here as she pulls Brown back up to his feet. She gives him her own knife-edge chop as she backs him into the ropes. She now whips him across the ring… 

DM: Spinning roundhouse kick right to the chops as Karl Brown hit the mat like a sack of potatoes! 

DT: And now a standing shoot star press by Troy! There’s another pin… 

…one… 

…two… 

…kickout! Man! That was a close fall here in the early going! 

MN: Troy Windham would’ve had him put away by now. 

DT: Like he did with JA? 

MN: Who got the win, Thomas? 

DM: I hate to break this party up, but Lindsay Troy has now pulled Karl Brown up one more time. She lines up for a kick to the midsection, but Brown grabs her foot! 

DT: Enziguri-NO! Brown ducked that blow as well! He now has Troy prone on the mat with that leg still in hand! 

DM: Half crab! He could easily pop that knee of the world champion right here and now! Listen to Troy screaming in pain! 

DT: She used her flexibility to get out of a predicament earlier, but I’m not sure if there’s really anything she can do to get out of this one. 

DM: Well, she prides herself on being one of the toughest on the circuit, but I’m not sure if even she can withstand this. Karl Brown is one of the best technical wrestlers we have here in EPW, and you can tell by the way he has that crab locked in! 

DT: Look at the torque! Troy is in a ton of pain! 

DM: She’s reaching for the ropes, but I’m not sure if she’ll be able to make it there. 

DT: Her arm is outstretched, but I can tell from here that it is not long enough to reach those ropes. 

DM: And now Karl Brown pulls her even further away into the middle of the ring! Troy has slumped to the mat! The ref is asking her if she’s alright… 

MN: World champion my rear. Ring the bell! 

DT: Well, the ref is checking her here. He lifts the arm… 

…one… 

DM: Wait a second! Karl Brown is taking it a step further now! He has just moved into position and locks Troy in an STF! 

DT: She’s not going to be able to get out of this! The ref lifts her arm again… 

…two… 

MN: It’s over! No one gets out of this move from the middle of the ring! 

DT: Well, if she doesn’t respond here, the ref will be forced to ring the bell. Here comes the last time… 

…three! 

DM: NO! Lindsay Troy is still alive in this match! Her hand was millimeters from that mat, but she sprung it up, and she’s still kicking here! 

DT: Listen to this crowd! They are going nuts! 

[Chants of “Lindsay! Lindsay! Lindsay!” erupt from all corners of the arena.] 

MN: She still has to get out of this hold! She can just as easily let that hand hit the mat three more times because she has nowhere to go! 

DT: Well, she’s trying like hell now, as she’s using those arms to carry not only herself, but Karl Brown to the ropes to break the hold. 

DM: She is still so far away though! That arm is pulling her, but ever-so-slowly. I don’t know if she has enough gas to make it that far. 

DT: The champ reaches out… 

MN: She’s still not there! Ring the bell and let’s get a real champ back out here. 

DM: She is not giving up though. You can see the determination on her face! 

DT: Wait! She slumps to the mat again… 

DM: But she’s quickly back up! She will not let this hold get the best of her! She gives another pull… 

DT: YES! Lindsay Troy has made it to the ropes and Karl Brown must now break this STF that he has had on her for several minutes! What determination by both competitors! 

DM: Brown has nothing to do but shake his head here! He can’t believe it either! He just gave her the time of her life! 

DT: But he’s going to stay on the attack as he now picks her up off the mat by that leg before slamming it into the canvas! Troy screams out in pain! Brown now pulls her to the middle of the ring… 

DM: Figure four! 

DT: No! Troy pushes him off with her good leg! Brown rebounds off the ropes… 

DM: Inside cradle! 

…one… 

…two… 

…but Troy can’t hold on as that leg would not allow her to keep the full pressure on Brown! 

DT: Brown bounces up. He charges at Troy… 

DM: Low blow by Troy! 

MN: Disqualify her ref! Strip her of that title! 

DT: Well, he’s telling Lindsay she better tone it down, but he’s not going to disqualify her yet. 

MN: This is crap! Karl Brown is getting screwed because Troy promised a favor to the ref if he didn’t disqualify her! 

DM: I find that hard to believe, Neels. 

MN: Believe whatever you want, but I’m just saying that’s what happened. 

DT: Both competitors are slow to get up here as Troy still clings to that knee desperately. Brown is going to get up first with the help of the ropes. He walks to Troy, who gives him a shoulder to the midsection! 

DM: Bulldog by Troy as she gains herself some time to get back into this thing. 

DT: Troy is up as Brown slowly rises. Troy now grabs him from behind… 

DM: Reverse underhook DDT by Troy! She’s going to go for the pin… 

…one… 

…two… 

…kickout by Brown! 

DT: Well, Troy gets back up here. Wait. What’s she doing? 

DM: I’m not sure, Dave. 

DT: Are you kidding me? I don’t believe this! Lindsay Troy, injured knee and all, is heading to the top rope! 

DM: She’s going for the 720! 

DT: No! Brown moved out of the way! Troy just SMACKED the mat! And this match has once again become a foot race! 

MN: I’m going to give it to Brown if this is a race, because he has two legs. 

DT: Come on, Neels! 

DM: Well, he’s speaking the truth, Dave. Brown is now up while Troy is still struggling up here. Brown perches himself behind the rising Troy… 

DT: Release German Suplex! Lindsay Troy just folded up like an accordion! Brown’s going for the cover… 

…one… 

…two… 

…kickout by Troy! How did she manage to do that? 

DM: I’m not sure, but Brown is really getting frustrated here. He now stands up and waits for Troy to arise one more time here. 

MN: No Karl! Don’t go to the well one too many times! 

DT: Troy is up… 

DM: Dragon’s Bite! Karl Brown just nailed Lindsay Troy with the Dragon’s Bite! Here’s the pin… 

…one… 

…two… 

[DING DING DING] 

…three! 

DT: Did the bell just ring early? Karl Brown has his hands raised in victory. 

DM: Wait, Dave. Tony Fatora is speaking with the ref here… 

TF: Ladies and gentlemen, the result of this match is a TIME LIMIT DRAW!!! 

DT: Are you kidding? Karl Brown is beside himself! He cannot believe he was that close to beating the World Champion, and now the clock has defeated both of them! 

MN: A draw? That’s like kissing your sister! I would not settle for this if I was Karl Brown. He defeated that wench right in the middle of that ring! 

DM: Rules are rules, Neels. And this match just went over the fifteen minute time limit that was given to it. Karl Brown just needed to close it out faster. But you can’t take anything from the World Champion, because she did not allow him to do just that. 

DT: Nonetheless, the Intercontinental Champion has made a hell of a statement here tonight, guys. Folks, we’re out of time here for Aggression this week! Don’t forget to tune in next time for even more action like what you just saw tonight! 

[As the crew signs off, we cut backstage as a stagehand knocks on the door of “Phenomenal” Frankie Scott. Scott opens up the door and seems ready to leave, with his bags strapped over his shoulder and street clothes on. The crew member, however holds out a piece of paper.] 

FS: What’s this? 

Crew member: Mr. Freeman told me to make sure you got this before the main event was over, but I uh…kinda got held up. Sorry bro. 

[The stagehand goes back down the hallways and Scott opens the note and reads. Frankie’s eyes go wide and he breaks into a dead sprint down the hall. In moments he arrives at Dan Ryan’s office in the arena and knocks on the door to no answer.] 

FS: Come on…..come on…. 

[No answer….finally Frankie opens the door slowly. The room has been vacated already, no one home. Frankie slams his bag down in anger.] 

FS: SON OF A *****!! 

[The EPW logo flashes across the screen before fading to black.]


FIN