MN: Wow, I haven’t seen Erik Black in a while. But if he’s back in EPW, then does that mean the Calling is back as well?
DT: Only time will tell, but if they are, then I wouldn’t be surprised if they were looking to reclaim the belts they were forced to give up when they left the federation months ago...
MN: At any rate, let’s get on with the show... and somebody get me another goddamn chair!
"I suspected I'd find you here, Xandor."
The man only known to EPW staff, talent, and fans as Cross lifted his head, as his deep meditation was broken.
The person who addressed him, however, knew him on a more personal level.
Lindsay Troy stood before him, absent-mindedly flicking a Zippo lighter on and off, as Cross sat in the center of a circle of candles. "Figured it was only a matter of time before you turned up again somewhere."
The mysterious former champion looked partially annoyed at his visitor who continued to flick the Zippo. Cross didn’t seem to be in the mood for these nonchalant antics from Lindsay. He had been gone from wrestling for 6 months after the death of the uncle who raised him. No one knew for certain if the former A1E World Champion still had in him or if he still wanted it.
Cross slowly stood up from his candlelit abode and stepped out to confront his visitor. He grabbed the Zippo from her hand in a quick movement that caught Troy by surprise. He slowly inched his way closer to her face until he had to look down on her. "Is this your way of welcoming me to EPW? I heard you’re more of a bitch around here. You don’t seem so tough from here, huh Lindz?
Cross knew just where to pick on his long-time friend. Lindsay gave Cross a snarl, then, just as quickly as Cross took her Zippo, Lindsay took her lighter back and put Cross in a behind the back armlock. Cross smiled cynically at the speed of his “opponent” then reversed the move. He held Lindsay close to prevent her from reversing his hold.
"It's good to see you, Lindz."
He released her and playfully pushed her away. Troy didn’t take too kindly to his playful gesture and got in his face. “You know me better than anyone else, kiddo. And you know when you say ‘bitch’, it’s an understatement.” A couple intense moments went by, before a rare small smile came to her face. “But, I'd be remiss if I said that I didn't miss you as well."
Troy chuckled, and Cross pulled her in for a hug. She patted his back as the two embraced. "So did you find yourself in the jungles? Or did you just miss the ‘civilized’ world of the professional wrestling business?"
“I found more than myself in the jungle. I could have stayed there forever. But that’s for another day.”
"We’ll have to share jungle stories then. I did make it through FW Survivor Season 1, after all.”
Troy broke from the hug and smirked. "So let me see...the last time I saw you was back in June, and you had just handed me my share of Uncle Xandor’s X-Corp before telling me that you didn’t want to come back to the business. Now if you didn't want to come back, then why are you standing in front of me dressed to crucify Douglas?"
“I shouldn’t have left the business without a championship,” Cross started, “You know that I was raised to be the best and I walked away to be selfish and mope that Xandor died.”
His eyes grew intense like lightning. Lindsay had only seen this look once before when the two of them were atop an arena on scaffolding trying to throw the other one off.
"I’m done pleasing the promotion brass! It’s time I did things for myself!"
"You're too hard on yourself. Always have been.” Troy flicked the Zippo again. "Now quit bullshitting me...are you really doing this for you, or are you doing it for your uncle because you feel you owe him something."
Lindsay had hit a sore spot with Cross. She knew it. But she was never the kind to back down, especially when it came to a family that accepted her as their own.
“I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I came back because of Xandor. But he lived to be the best and taught me to do the same. I want it because I want it. Nothing more. Nothing less. Troy Douglas is only the beginning. Win or lose, he will be the first to admit that I mean business in the ring. You know that crucifixion has and always will be my pleasure.”
“It’s your guilty pleasure, Xandor, and it’s your guilty pleasure because you’re still feeling guilty.”
Cross looked away, his jaw twitching.
“You know I’m right. Your uncle and I were always the ones who were able to figure you out the fastest and understand you the best.”
The silence hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst with thunder, lightning, and rain. They both could feel it.
“Look at me, Xandor.”
Cross whipped his head around, and Troy gently cradled his face in her hands. “You and I have had more than our share of ups and downs in the three years we’ve been friends. But you need to let go of this guilt and anger. I loved your uncle like a father, and I love you like a brother. You and I...your uncle told me we’re like oil and water...we’re still family.”
A battle raged within Cross. His body wanted to release the volcanic emotions, but his mind and spirit became the impenetrable dam. His face grew cold. Cross took Lindsay's caring hands and set them down.
"I didn't come here to relive the past or reopen wounds with you, Lindsay. I have work to do."
Cross turned away from his "adopted" sister and returned to his candlelit circle. For what seemed like an eternity, Cross stood there with his back to her.
“There was a time, not so long ago, when I wanted you to turn your back to me, and you adamantly refused.” Troy walked toward the circle. “Yet you do it now, willingly, because you’re trying to repress the turmoil inside you. But you were never good at that...repression.”
She stopped right behind him, and flicked the Zippo once more. “Your uncle gave me this...I always thought he meant it in jest, since I don’t smoke, but now that I’ve had some time to think about it, I’m pretty sure he meant it as a warning. I only wish I could have heeded it. Do you want to know what it says?”
As much as Cross wanted to ignore Lindsay, he couldn't. She had a special relationship with his uncle Xandor that not even he understood. Somehow he knew the warning wasn't just for her, it was for him too.
"Damn you, Lindsay. Go ahead."
He couldn’t see it, but the tone of her voice denoted a smirk. “Ah, damn me indeed...if only you knew just how much. But I digress. The inscription says, ‘the wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. Psalm 37, Line 32’.”
She grabbed ahold of Cross’s balled fist, pried his fingers open, and slapped the Zippo into his palm. “I’m afraid I’m too far gone to be saved now, Xandor. You need this more than I do...your uncle would have understood.”
Closing his fingers around the lighter and releasing her grip on his wrist, Troy let Cross’s hand drop back to his side. “Good luck, Xandor. Knowing you though, I don’t think you’ll need it.”
She turned from him, and headed across the room to the door. No sooner had her hand grasped the handle, she was stopped by Cross's voice.
"Though you were once despised and hated and rebuffed by all, you will be beautiful forever. You will be a joy to all, for I will make you so. Isaiah 60, Verse 15."
She sighed and shook her head. Then she left Cross without saying another word.
DT: An interesting meeting between Lindsay Troy and the former A1E World Champion Cross. And bear in mind that we'll see Cross making his debut later on in the evening, when he goes one-on one with Troy Douglas.
MN: I wish I could get a hug from Troy.
DM: Troy Douglas?
MN: NO! I mean, um-
DM: Neely wants Troy Douglas, folks. You heard him say it.
MN: Why you-
DT: Ahem! Moving on! The war of words between the men involved in this next match have been extremely heated as of late.
DM: Definitely, Dave. Karl Brown, whose aggressive streak has really come out lately, has taken exception to a lot of the claims John Doe has made about his ability recently. Brown seems to think that Doe is nothing but a fluke, while Doe believes his training under Troy Douglas has elevated him to a whole new level.
DT: Thanks, Dean. Any comments, Mike?
MN: Ehhhhhh.....nope.
DT: Brilliant as always. Tony?
[CUT TO: Kenny Lombardo, standing outside the dressing room of “The Dragon”]
KL: I’m here outside the dressing room of Karl Brown. He arrived a few minutes ago, and pushed straight past me, locking himself in his room. I can tell you guys, he looked like a man with a lot on his mind.
[Behind him, the door swings open. Karl Brown stands in the doorway, his face clean shaven, dressed to wrestle. His eyes piece the camera, before he turns to Kenny Lombardo. Without so much as blinking, Karl walks past Kenny, bumping against him shoulder to shoulder. Kenny spins into the doorframe, looking rather disturbed about what happened]
KL: It looks like we’re going to get our answer soon enough. Back to you guys.
TONY FATORA: Th’ following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit. Introducing first...
[CUE UP: “Rainmaker” by Iron Maiden. The crowd rises in cheers as “The Dragon” makes his way to the ring, a look of complete seriousness on his face.]
DT: Denver seems to love the Dragon!!!
TONY FATORA: He hails from Nottingham, England. Standing 6’ tall and weighing 211 lbs, he is KARL ... “THE DRAGOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNN” ... BROOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWNNNNN!!!!!!!! His opponent...
[CUE UP: “Hypocritical” by Methods of Mayhem as John Doe comes out from the back to a fairly large response.]
TONY FATORA: Hailing from Parts Unknown, he stands 6’1” and weighs in at 210 lbs...JOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHNNNNNN DOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
[SFX: Bell Rings]
DT: And, we’re off!
MN: This is wrestling, not the Kentucky Derby!
DT: Brown and Doe into the lockup, and the Dragon drives a quick knee into Doe’s abdomen. Brown with the irish whip, and a quick elbow to the sternum drops John Doe to the ground!
DM: Just seconds in, and you can already see Karl’s aggressive streak coming out. Brown’s normally a very patient wrestler, waiting for openings, and he looks like he’s got a “take no prisoners” attitude out here.
DT: Doe seems shocked, but he’s up and calling for another collar-and-elbow. They lock up again, and Brown just shrugs Doe away and sends him to the mat! Doe tries to get up, by Karl BASHES him with a forearm smash and John’s back down face first. Brown brings Doe to his feet, irish whip, and a BIG back body drop! The pin...and a kickout at one and a half by John Doe!
DM: I don’t think Troy Douglas’ teachings prepared Doe for THIS Karl Brown.
MN: Downtown Hardcore Dragon is bringing the A-Game tonight, boys. He’s gonna slaughter Johnny Dwarf.
DT: Brown back on the prowl, setting Doe up. Looking for the clothesline...and Doe drops out of the way! Brown hits the turnbuckles hard and bounces off! Doe from behind...GERMAN SUPLEX WITH A BRIDGE!!!!
ONE...
TWO...
KICKOUT BY BROWN!!!! John Doe finally woke up and caught Brown with that suplex from out of nowhere and almost ended this quickly, and Karl Brown is incensed! He is not going to let John Doe get the better of him here in Denver!
DM: Brown looks really desperate here tonight, he’s been down recently and will look for anything to turn his luck around.
DT: Doe trying to take advantage of the momentum now. Irish whips Brown, looking for the backdrop but he telegraphed it, and Brown kicked him right in the jaw! He brings Doe to his feet, Samoan Drop! He pulls him back up, snap suplex! Up again, and he hits a second!! Brown with the pin...
ONE...
TWO...
NO! Doe got his right shoulder up just in time, but he’s being thrown around like a rag doll here in the early going.
MN: Like I said, stupid mystic “Path” or not, Doe sucks. Big Daddy English had bigger things on his mind last week, and Johnny got lucky. Tonight, he goes DOWN-town.
DT: Thank you, Mike. Brown remains on the offensive, whipping Doe into the corner. He charges...and nails him with a running forearm! He stands Doe up in the corner, and hits a wicked knife edged chop!
MN: Whoo!
DT: And another!
DM: Whoo!
DT: And another!
MN & DT: WHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
DT: This is why I hate my job.
MN: And why I LOVE mine.
DT: Doe staggers around, and Brown is right behind him. Charging is Brown...and a facebuster!! Doe slams into the mat real hard on that one!
DM: Brown’s using a lot of high impact moves, setting up for the Dragon’s Bite as he usually does.
DT: Brown stays on the attack, and he works in a lying full nelson on John Doe, grapevining both of Doe’s legs and bridging back!
MN: Duuuuuuude, that just looks WRONG.
DM: Modified Saturday Night ride by Brown here, putting a lot of strain on the back and neck. The grapevine keeps Doe from being able to push off, and adds a comedic look to the hold.
DT: The Dragon is wrenching back on that full nelson, trying to wear the man from the Black Water Institute down. Doe is writhing, shaking in pain, and Brown is not letting up! Doe is using his elbows to inch ever closer to the ropes, but the pressure on him right now has to be overwhelming!
MN: Yeah, ‘cause he’s getting it up the a-
DT: FAMILY PAY PER VIEW!!!!
MN: Huh?
DT: Yeah. Doe still fighting, but that right arm is coming closer, closer, and closer still to slapping that mat!
MN: He tapped!
DM: He didn’t!
MN: DID!
DM: DIDN’T!!!
MN: DIDN’T!!!!!
DM: DI....what?
DT: DOE GETS TO THE ROPES!!! What a display of resilience by this young man!
DM: I’m impressed.
DT: Doe is wobbly getting up, and Brown clips him in the back of the knee! Doe falls again! Doe tries to rise, and Brown grabs him...DIAMOND CUTTER!!! Doe’s jaw just snapped!!! The pin...
ONE...
TWO...