(FADEIN: The outside of the Pacific Coliseum.)
JIVE (V/O): “Well .. all I see is a bunch of people.”
GHEORGHE (V/O): “Welcome back ladies and gentleman … we are looking outside in the parking lot as we’ve heard there’s a bit of commotion..”
(The camera catches Jason Payne exiting the building with his car keys in hand.)
JIVE (V/O): “Look, there’s Jason Payne .. finally found his keys it seems.”
GHEORGHE (V/O): “Well he’s heading towards where all the people are standing .. let’s see if we can get the cameras to follow him.”
(The cameras do follow him. They also catch him as he stops short. Payne shakes his head in astonishment as his eyes turn stony. Payne starts walking again, picking up the pace with each step.)
GHEORGHE (V/O): “Wait a minute .. Jason Payne looks a little engaged by the … OH MY…”
(The cameras catch a glimpse of what has caused the commotion. We see flames poking up above some people’s heads. Payne breaks through the crowd.)
JIVE (V/O): “Something’s on fire, Tom!”
(Something indeed. As Payne cuts through the crowd, the cameras follow closely. Payne gets to the front of the crowd and stops. His hand falls to his side and opens, releasing the keys. They fall to the ground as Payne tightens his hands into fists.)
GHEORGHE (V/O): “THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!”
(The camera focuses in on the fire … Jason Payne’s rental car, the one paid for by New ERA of Wrestling because his other one was destroyed in a vicious car accident just a week beforehand, is ablaze. The windows begin cracking as Jason Payne turns and bursts through the crowd. The camera closes in on a message left on the car hood: “GO HOME LUSH!” The message is accompanied by the symbol belonging to DREDD.)
JIVE (V/O): “They’ve done it again!”
(CUTTO: Back to ringside as Tom Gheorghe is red in the face.)
GHEORGHE: “DREDD continuing with this stupid JIHAD ploy .. now setting Jason Payne’s rental car on fire … and WHY? Because he came down and stopped DREDD from cheating their way into the finals of the Television title tournament?!”
JIVE: “Doe said that they’d attack wherever and whenever they want … I think Jason Payne made a bad choice in getting involved in the Cameron Cruise / John Doe match on RAPTURE.”
GHEORGHE: “ Jason Payne looked pretty pissed off, Nick. As a former member of the Armed Forces, I doubt he’d just lay down and take it..”
JIVE: “Well speaking as a military man myself…”
GHEORGHE: “Playing real-time strategy games online does not qualify you as a military person, Nick.”
JIVE: “Well still .. numbers usually wins out .. and Jason Payne is just one guy. Just like his car was just one car.”
GHEORGHE: “Where is President LaRoque? Vice President Marceau in all this? They can fine Chaos for attacking John Doe, but where are they when DREDD destroys New ERA property?”
JIVE: “Good question … hmmm..”
(Jive shakes his head as Tom Gheorghe takes a few deep breaths. He finally stops and straightens his tie.)
GHEORGHE: “Let’s head up to Carl Jacobs for the introductions…”
(CUTTO: Carl Jacobs in the ring. The lineup for the match comes on screen.)
JACOBS: “The following match is scheduled for ONE FALL and has a thirty minute time limit! Introducing first …”
(CUEUP: ‘Wake Up’ which is being played by a strumming guitar. Strobe lights hit the arena and Jack Durden comes out to almost no reaction. He walks down the rampway and nods at some fans as they give some words of encouragement.)
JACOBS: “He stands six foot six and weighs 274 pounds …. Hailing from Los Angeles, California ……. JACK DURDEN!”
(Durden gets in the ring and raises his arms as the fans give a little more reaction.)
JIVE: “Durden looks to be a fine specimen… but Trevor Cane looks to have had a fire, pardon the use of the term after what just happened, under his ass.”
JACOBS: “And his opponent..”
(CUEUP: ‘Unkind’ by Destrophy. Trevor Cane comes out from behind the curtains after a few seconds to jeers. As he walks down the ramp a spotlight shines on him, following him until he reaches the ring. He gets in and stares up at the rafters, before looking over at Durden.)
JACOBS: “He stands six foot five and weighs 263 pounds … hailing from Sarasota, Florida … he is THE MESSENGER ………. TREVOR CANE!”
(SFX: Bell rings.)
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane has not taken his eyes off Jack Durden since he got in the ring and Durden is staring right back at him.”
JIVE: “This is the first time we’re seeing Durden in a one-on-one match ..”
GHEORGHE: “This is true, Nick .. and now both men are walking towards the center of the ring … they lock up and both men are trying to get the upperhand early.”
JIVE: “These two are pretty well matched up as Cane is just an inch shorter than Durden and about ten pounds lighter.”
GHEORGHE: “Durden gets the first break as he rings the arm of Cane behind him … Trevor Cane tries to grab Durden’s head … but Durden keeping Cane subdued … Durden rings the arm again … and now he releases the hold and grabs ahold of Cane’s foot and brings him to the mat!”
JIVE: “Trevor Cane won’t stay on the mat long though.”
GHEORGHE: “Right you are as Trevor Cane quickly gets back to his feet … Cane over to Durden, but Durden with a drop toe hold brings Cane back down! Jack Durden floats over and locks on a side headlock and Cane now struggling to get out of this hold!”
JIVE: “Jack Durden might be able to use Cane’s newfound tension against him. Trevor Cane might be so focused that Durden could easily throw him off his game by using moves like that.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane kicking his feet now as Durden rides high on the headlock … and Trevor Cane slips out! Durden up to his knees and Cane greets him with a left hook right to the jaw!”
JIVE: “Cane really popped him with that one!”
GHEORGHE: “Cane uses this time to get to his feet and Jack Durden finally regains his senses and grabs ahold of Cane’s tights …. And Durden with a shot to the gut … Trevor Cane backs up and comes in again … and Durden responds with another shot to the gut …. BUT THIS TIME CANE KICKS DURDEN AND NAILS HIM RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE CHIN!”
JIVE: “Durden was caught offguard and he falls to the mat! Trevor Cane must have put a lot of force behind that one..”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane picks Jack Durden off from the mat and he hooks the head … Trevor Cane tries to get Durden up with a suplex but Durden is fighting it! Durden reverses the hold and now he’s trying to get Trevor Cane up! BUT CANE WITH A RAKE OF THE EYES! Trevor Cane now with the arm of Durden and he sends him into the ropes … Durden on the rebound heads back towards Cane …. AND TREVOR CANE TAKES HIS HEAD OFF WITH A CLOTHESLINE!”
JIVE: “Trevor Cane showing off his power by taking Durden down.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane made an appearance on RAPTURE and attacked Travis Smith .. and now he’s continuing that mean streak here tonight against Jack Durden.”
JIVE: “Although I’m sure Travis Smith would much rather have had a one on one match with Cane rather than him attacking him from behind.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane saunters over to Durden now …. And Cane stomps on the back of Durden as he was trying to crawl to the ropes! Durden starts crawling again … AND AGAIN Cane stomps on him! Trevor Cane picks Durden up by the tights … AND HE SENDS HIM OVER WITH A BELLY TO BACK SUPLEX! Trevor Cane with the pin … ONE ……… TW—NO! Jack Durden kicks out before the two count.”
JIVE: “It’s still a little early for Cane to attempt to get the pin, but I guess he felt as if he could get Durden.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane is an odd character if you ask me. He heads back to work on the torso of Durden … an elbow to the lower back …. AND NOW HE GRABS THE LEGS OF DURDEN …… AND LOCKS ON A SURFBOARD!”
JIVE: “I haven’t seen this move used very much here in New ERA … but it happens to be one of my favorites.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane has to be careful not to have his shoulders hit the mat because the referee could very well count him down.”
JIVE: “Cane is very aware of the ease in which he could be pinned, so I doubt he’s going to let it get that far.”
GHEORGHE: “Durden is in a lot of trouble if he can’t find a way out of the hold.”
JIVE: “Cane is setting up his finisher, the Light, which is that sitdown powerbomb… I’m sure he’s going to work over the back and shoulder area of Durden a lot more.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane rocking back and forth … and he releases the hold as I’m guessing he thought Durden had enough. ‘The Messenger’ now picks up Jack Durden … AND HE DROPS HIM DOWN ON THE KNEE WITH A BACKBREAKER!”
JIVE: “And he’s keeping him stretched out over his knee!”
GHEORGHE: “Cane keeps Durden over his knee and is now pushing the head forward … applying more pressure to the neck area… BUT DURDEN GRABS AHOLD OF CANE’s HAIR!”
JIVE: “That’s something I thought that only the women did!”
GHEORGHE: “The referee warns Durden about grabbing the hair of Cane, but ‘The Messenger’ has already responded by driving the elbow into the face of Jack Durden! Trevor Cane now picks up Jack Durden off the mat …and he locks on the sleeper!”
JIVE: “With the punishment Durden has already taken, I doubt he can last very long before he’s out like a light.”
GHEORGHE: “WAIT! Durden grabs the head of Trevor Cane .. AND HE FALLS TO THE MAT AND RAMS THE JAW OF CANE INTO THE TOP OF HIS SKULL!”
JIVE: “Cane could have bitten off his own tongue!”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane falls to the mat and holds his mouth … and Jack Durden quickly rolls into the ropes!”
JIVE: “That’s one way to get out of the sleeper … make Cane hurt before he has a chance to really lock it on!”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane is back to his feet and he’s walking over to Durden .. but the referee steps in the way before he gets to him. Durden still in the ropes as he’s trying to catch a breather …. BUT TREVOR CANE BOUNCES OFF THE FAR ROPES AND CHARGES AT THE REFEREE!”
JIVE: “This can’t be good!”
GHEORGHE: “THE REFEREE JUMPS OUT OF THE WAY AND TREVOR CANE BASEBALL SLIDES RIGHT INTO THE BODY OF JACK DURDEN!!! DURDEN FALLS TO THE OUTSIDE!”
JIVE: “Durden probably doesn’t know where the hell he is.”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane is now making his way to the outside!”
JIVE: “Here comes the referee…”
GHEORGHE: “The referee now yelling at Cane telling him to get in the ring … but CANE IGNORES THE REFEREE AND GOES TO THE OUTSIDE!”
JIVE: “Trevor Cane has no respect for the referee after he tried protecting Durden…”
GHEORGHE: “One has to wonder if he had any respect for the referee when the match even began.”
JIVE: “You know these referees … they preach one thing, but then go home to their whores and crackhouses..”
GHEORGHE: “I’m not even going to try to pretend to understand what you just said… Cane picks Jack Durden off the arena floor and slams his head into the ring apron! Cane now with an iris… NO! DURDEN REVERSES THE IRISH WHIP AND SENDS CANE INTO THE GUARDRAIL! BUT CANE BRACES HIMSELF AGAINST HITTING THE GUARDRAIL ….. DURDEN CHARGES IN AFTER HIM ….. AND TREVOR CANE TAKES HIM OUT WITH A REVERSE CRESCENT KICK!”
JIVE: “If I were Cane, now would be the perfect time to get this thing over with.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane picks up Jack Durden … and he rolls him into the ring .. BUT NOT BEFORE DRIVING HIM BACK FIRST INTO THE STEEL POST! Cane rolls Durden into the ring and he rolls in after him … and now Cane with the pin … ONE …….. TWO ……… THREE—NO! Jack Durden got his shoulder up RIGHT before the three!”
JIVE: “That’s amazing… I thought for sure he would have been finished after the crescent kick and being introduced back first to the steel post. Those posts are VERY unforgiving.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane now with Durden on his feet … he sends him into the ropes … ‘The Messenger’ with a HUGE tilt-a-whirl suplex!! He covers Durden again …. ONE ……. TWO ……. THREE!”
JIVE: “No! He kicked out again!”
GHEORGHE: “Durden manages to sneak out again and look at the look on Cane’s face.”
JIVE: “Cane looks about ready to pull off one of Durden’s arms and beat him to death with it. Hell, he looks like Chaos!”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane now with Jack Durden ….. he sends him to the ropes AGAIN! Jack Durden comes back … Cane with a clothesl.. NO! DURDEN DUCKS! Durden puts on the brakes …. Cane turns around … AND JACK DURDEN WITH A BOOT TO THE GUT!”
JIVE: “CANE CAUGHT HIS FOOT!”
GHEORGHE: “TREVOR CANE HAS THE FOOT OF JACK DURDEN …. AND HE SWEEPS HIM TO THE MAT! Trevor Cane now drives the elbow into the forehead of Jack Durden! AND TREVOR CANE IS CHOKING DURDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING!”
REF: “ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FI..”
GHEORGHE: “Cane releases the chokehold … and now he’s got Durden back up..”
JIVE: “Cane has utterly dominated this match .. this surely isn’t how Jack Durden wanted to start his New ERA career, I can tell you that much.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane has Durden by the hair … AND HE PICKS HIM UP ….. HE’s GOING TO TOMBSTONE HIM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING!”
JIVE: “Durden is definitely not going to feel good tomorrow morning.”
GHEORGHE: “AND CANE NAILS THE TOMBSTONE! ONE ………… TWO …………. THREE – NO!!! Durden kicks out again!”
JIVE: “I think that was just an involuntary reflex due to his neck being bent .. there’s no way he could have consciously kicked out after the tombstone.”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane stands up … and he looks at Jack Durden … Cane now brings Durden up and places his head between his legs ……….. AND THERE IT IS!!”
JIVE: “JACK DURDEN HAS NOW SEEN THE LIGHT!”
GHEORGHE: “Cane with that running sitdown powerbomb ……. ONE ………….. TWO ………….. THREE!! Trevor Cane FINALLY gets Durden down!”
(SFX: Bell rings.)
JACOBS: “The winner of this match …….. ‘the MESSENGER’ TREVOR CANE!”
GHEORGHE: “Jack Durden with a poor showing here on RAUCOUS..”
JIVE: “Or more accurately, Trevor Cane with an awesome display of control as he dominated Durden tonight.”
GHEORGHE: “You could also look at it that way… ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got to take a commercial break .. but when we get back it’s the other first round match in the tournament to crown a new #1 contender to the Television title …. As JASON PAYNE takes on JAY!”
(CUTTO: The green room. The vending machines buzz as backstage workers continue to meet the set-up for the evening. The door then swings open to reveal from the floor upward, dressed in sneakers, jeans and a black belly-button version of a New ERA shirt, finally complete with New ERA's Women's Championship belt over one shoulder and hair about the other as Karla Starr enters, a smirk on her face.)
STARR: “Everyone must be getting ready.”
(She walks over to the table scanning the snacks with immediate disapproval. Disappointed, she resolves herself to a simple soda and walks over to the machines. Flinging her hair back, she fishes her jeans pocket with her free hand for some change for the machine.)
STARR: “Damn.”
(A few coins spill out from her hand and underneath the machine. She then crouches, attempting to retrieve the change but with minimum success. However while doing so she ignores everything else as the door opens and shuts loudly. Still fishing for change, the person coming in stands tall and right behind her, waiting patiently.)
VOICE: “Need some extra change?”
(Karla stops searching, newly interested in the offer and reaches for the proper change handed over her shoulder without looking.)
STARR: “Thanks chick.”
(Starr puts the change in and retrieves her soda. She starts to stand upright.)
STARR: “Make a note with someone in the office and I'll make sure they send you some merchandise, 'kay?? (no response) Helloooo.... (still no response) Screw you then, a girl tries to be nice an…”
(Starr turns around cuts herself off as the camera pans back upward with Starr to reveal the person to be none other than the person she hates the most, Caitlyn Daymon. Horrified at who stands before her, Starr jams her hand back in her pocket, retrieving two quarters.)
STARR: “If you'll just pardon me hon.... gotta make a phone call..”
(Starr sidesteps past Daymon and heads for the door. Daymon reaches back and grabs Starrs' hair. She pins her up against the wall with just enough force for Starr to drop the belt and soda.)
DAYMON: “I've had a complete migraine from BattleBRAWL that's not quite out of my system yet. Perhaps you'd like to know what it feels like?”
STARR: “Not really, but hey ya know that vending machine gives some Tylenol over there and (picks up the soda quickly) this soda will more than help ya I'm sur..”
(Daymon appears to think about it for a second and then out of nowhere kicks Starr in the stomach and grabs her by the hair and proceeds to hurl Starr into the vending machines, causing sodas to spit out everywhere. Then, as if on cue, the door swings open and four men with shirts labeled "New ERA Security" on the front come barging in, the taller one demanding to know what the commotion going on is about. Starr rests on the floor with her hands behind her neck in pain.)
STARR: “She's assaulting me for nothing you imbeciles! Arrest her!! I want her outta here!! You're not getting away with this, you tramp!! But before you go, I got one thing to say to you. Security, hold her fast!”
(Starr struggles to her feet and stands face-to-face as she grabs the Women's title and holds one end right in front of Daymon.)
STARR: “You're not only outta here, but say goodbye to your shot at the belt in tonight's match tramp, 'cause you're not going to be anywhere but around convicted felons for twenty-four hours! How's that for your headache?”
(Starr laughs as Daymon struggles to break free from security as Starr backs away, continuing to hold up the Women's championship. FADETO: Commercial.)
