(CUTTO: The office of New ERA President Marcus LaRoque. LaRoque is on the phone as the camera focuses in on him.)
LaROQUE: “I saw him earlier tonight..”
(LaRoque listens intently, curing the phone wire with his right pointer finger.)
LaROQUE: “What do you mean his lockerroom is cleared out? He has a match in a few minutes!”
(LaRoque’s intent look quickly turns to anger and distress.)
LaROQUE: “Did anyone see him leave? … Then he still has to be here, right?”
(He sighs.)
LaROQUE: “Then find him. I don’t care if you need to send security into the rafters, I want him out there wrestling.”
(LaRoque hangs up the telephone and leans back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. CUTTO: The announce table.)
JULIUS: “Seems like LaRoque has misplaced some talent..”
GHEORGHE: “He doesn’t seem too pleased about it either..”
JIVE: “I bet it was the Masked Man.. he’s been ducking in and out of arenas evading all cameras .. he has probably decided that since Rabesque has left, his job is done..”
GHEORGHE: “We’ll keep e..”
(CUEUP: ‘Unkind’ by Destrophy. The fans all look to the rampway.)
GHEORGHE: “Why is his music playing??”
(The fans begin to jeer as ‘the Messenger’ Trevor Cane comes out from behind the curtain in full gear. He walks to the ring and slides in.)
JULIUS: “Maybe he’s coming down to verbally trash Chaos and John Doe .. he said he wanted to make a point..”
(Cane grabs the microphone out of the hand of Carl Jacobs and walks over to one of the ring ropes before leaning on it.)
CANE: “I know what all you out there are thinking … and you can shove it. I am not going to stand idly by and let two men who haven’t wrestled a match in New ERA for almost six months amongst themselves come out here and steal television time that should be mine!”
(The crowd jeers as one fan throws a cup into the ring. It sails by Cane’s head and lands at the feet of Carl Jacobs.)
JULIUS: “Jacobs might want to get out of the ring before heavier things start getting thrown..”
CANE: “No, no, no… While I should be the one out here right now opening the eyes of millions to the travesties that go on in this promotion, people like Alex Borden and Steve Johnson get to bore the living daylights out of them. Well that won’t be happening tonight.”
JIVE: “What’s he talking about, Gheorghe?”
GHEORGHE: “I wish I knew!”
CANE: “So Marcus … you can look all you want for Alex Borden throughout the arena.. you won’t find him.”
GHEORGHE: “WHAT?”
CANE: “I made sure that Mr. Borden is on the first bus back to whatever hell hole it is he came from..”
JULIUS: “I think Trevor Cane has been dipping into the Jesus Juice again..”
JIVE: “Or maybe there’s some sort of disease spreading throughout the lockerroom… first Jason Payne goes nuts, now Cane is trying to take over the back!”
CANE: “I should have been out here tonight .. instead of stuck in that dark match.. I already won once tonight .. and now .. now I’m going to teach this Steve Johnson a lesson… Chaos .. John Doe .. take a reeeeeeeeal good look tonight .. because soon you two will be hearing from me.”
(Cane tosses the microphone to the mat as the referee comes over to argue with him. He waves him away and stands in the corner. Carl Jacobs picks up the microphone and looks confused as what to do.. the referee confers with him and he nods..)
GHEORGHE: “Is the referee going to let him take Borden’s place?”
JIVE: “Well … Alex Borden apparently isn’t here .. and Steve Johnson is suppoed to be out here!”
(CUTTO: Lineup for the match flashes on screen..)
GHEORGHE: “Nick!”
JIVE: “Oh come on, Juliet is the only one with any pull around here. Everyone knows they can walk over LaRoque.”
JULIUS: “Speaking of that hot piece of ass, where is she? I haven’t seen her all night.”
GHEORGHE: “I’m sure Juliet is out back warming Turk up for his match tonight … but right now we’ve got a rematch from last RAUCOUS as Victoria Hawke tries to extract some revenge on Foxx!”
JIVE: “I wonder if either one of these two women need some .. warming up..”
GHEORGHE: “Oh come on! Let’s head to Carl Jacobs for the ring introductions.”
(CUTTO: Carl Jacobs in the ring as the lineup for the match comes on screen.)
JACOBS: “By the referee’s decree, the following match is scheduled for one fall and has a thirty minute time limit … introducing first … standing 6’2 and weighing 243 pounds….. ‘the Messenger’ TREVOR CANE!!!”
GHEORGHE: “He is!”
JULIUS: “Cane seems pretty adamant about getting his point through…”
(CUEUP: ‘Won’t Back Down’ by Tom Petty.. Steve Johnson comes out through the curtain and runs down to the ring as the fans pop!)
JACOBS: “And his opponent… hailing from Columbus, Ohi…..”
(Jacobs stops short as Johnson races past him and attacks Trevor Cane in the corner. SFX: Bell rings.)
JIVE: “Johnson didn’t even wait to be formally introduced!”
GHEORGHE: “The fans already know who he is, Nick .. and he looks to have taken Cane’s claims a little personal!”
JULIUS: “That’s one thing you can’t do in this business .. let things get too personal.”
GHEORGHE: “Steve Johnson spins Trevor Cane around in the corner and starts putting the boots to him … Cane trying to block his midsection, but Johnson kicking right through his hands … and now he has Cane … AND IRISH WHIPS HIM CHEST FIRST INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER! Johnson charges in … AND CLOTHESLINES HIM FROM BEHIND!”
JIVE: “He hasn’t even let Cane gather his bearings! This isn’t fair.”
GHEORGHE: “Cane turned around again … and now Steve Johnson climbs on the second turnbuckle and starts wailing away!”
FANS: “ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT! NINE! …… TEN!”
JULIUS: “I hate when they do that.”
GHEORGHE: “Johnson hops down .. and Trevor Cane takes a few steps out of the corner before falling flat on his face!”
JIVE: “Johnson should really watch himself … he doesn’t want to piss off ‘the Messenger’..”
GHEORGHE: “I don’t think Cane could do anything right now even if he wanted to! Steve Johnson grabs the leg of Trevor Cane … AND HE DRIVES A KNEE RIGHT INTO THE THIGH!”
JULIUS: “Charlie Horses are extremely painful .. and would impede on Cane’s ability to be mobile in this match..”
GHEORGHE: “Steve Johnson backs into the corner … and he comes out .. and nails Cane in the face with a knee drop.. Johnson with a quick cover… ONE .. TW—but Cane kicks out.”
JIVE: “You’re not going to get a classy wrestler like Trevor Cane that easily!”
GHEORGHE: “I would highly call Cane a classy wrestler, Nick. He attacked Chaos when he had a locker holding him to the floor for God sakes.”
JIVE: “Trevor Cane is as classy as it gets in New ERA … he’s trying to clean up the backstage politics!”
GHEORGHE: “I’ll believe that when I see it… Steve Johnson slowing down a bit as that initial stamina wears off .. and now we’re going to see a more methodical Steve Johnson … something that he’s been known to be over in World’s Finest Wrestling.”
JULIUS: “That’s nice and all, but Steve Johnson hasn’t faced very many of the wrestler’s on our roster… and he definitely didn’t prepare for Trevor Cane tonight!”
GHEORGHE: “Johnson brings Cane to his feet and spins him around … he’s got the waist hooked for the German Suplex … but Cane with an elbow to the face stops him right there! Cane with another shot with the elbow and Johnson’s grip is loosened… and Cane brings Johnson to the mat with a drop toe hold!”
JIVE: “Now we’re going to see how a real man’s wrestler works.”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane back to his feet and he’s stomping a mudhole in Johnson … Johnson tries to roll to the ropes, but Cane grabs him by the arm, yanks him to his feet and grabs ahold of him …. Cane drives Johnson to the mat with a Side Slam! Cane back to his feet … and now HE grabs onto Johnson’s leg and drives a knee into the thigh!”
JIVE: “I can just see it now .. two men with Charlie horses wrestling each other in the World’s Slowest Moving Match…”
GHEORGHE: “Cane grabs both legs of Johnson now …. AND DROPS THE HEADBUTT DANGEROUSLY LOW!”
JULIUS: “That was in the lower abdomen, Gheorghe .. don’t even try to play it off as anything else.”
GHEORGHE: “I know what I saw, Dean … and Trevor Cane came awfully close to a low blow… Johnson rolls on the mat as Cane gets back to his feet … and now Trevor Cane is yelling at the fans …”
JIVE: “He almost got beat earlier in the night during the dark match against Matthew because he was mouthing off to the fans … he shouldn’t let those bozos get to him … all they ever do is hurt you!”
GHEORGHE: “Some wrestlers beg to differ, Nick.”
JIVE: “They’re the weak ones!”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane is now heading up top!”
JULIUS: “It takes an incredible athlete to come back after wrestling one match to come out and do another…”
GHEORGHE: “Cane waiting perched on the top rope as Steve Johnson gets to his feet .. Johnson turns … AND CANE FLIES OFF WITH THE CLOTHESLINE ……. BUT JOHNSON DUCKS!!! Trevor Cane hits the mat full force … and he might have dislocated his shoulder!”
JIVE: “Steve Johnson could only wish.”
GHEORGHE: “Johnson grabs Cane by the hair and brings him to his feet … and now he rams his head into the top turnbuckle pad! And again!”
FANS: “THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT! NINE! TEN!”
JULIUS: “Steve Johnson has got to stop doing that!”
GHEORGHE: “Johnson .. JOHNSON PLACES TREVOR CANE ON THE TURNBUCKLE PADS … AND HE’s CLIMBING UP WITH HIM!”
JIVE: “Oh great…”
GHEORGHE: “Johnson steadies his footing as he brings Cane up ……….. AND HE HITS A HUUUUUUUUUGE SUPERPLEX!!!!”
(SFX: Fans pop crazily.)
GHEORGHE: “Steve Johnson and Trevor Cane both lying on the mat …. And Johnson throws his arm over…. ONE ………… TWO ………….. THREE!”
JIVE: “Cane kicked out! Cane kicked out!”
GHEORGHE: “‘The Messenger’ somehow kicking out after that tremendous superplex .. and Steve Johnson sits up and starts looking around the ring..”
JULIUS: “The exit is that-a-way buster..”
GHEORGHE: “He’s not looking for the exit, Dean!”
JULIUS: “Could have fooled me.”
GHEORGHE: “Steve Johnson over to Cane .. and he drags him over to the ring ropes … Johnson placing Cane’s leg on the second rope …. And he drops down on the knee! And again! Cane pulls his leg off the rope and holds onto his knee … and now Steve Johnson drops a fist! Steve Johnson quickly drags Cane to his feet … and Cane’s hopping on one foot!”
JIVE: “He’s just playing opossum..”
GHEORGHE: “Steve Johnson grabs him … and takes him UP and OVER with a belly to belly suplex! Johnson stays on the attack as Cane tries to pull himself into the ropes … and Johnson drags him into the center of the ring! Johnson yanks him up by his wrestling trunks…. And buries a fist deep into the midsection! Cane is doubled over … AND JOHNSON GRABS HIM BY THE HEAD AND HITS THE DOUBLE ARM DDT!! The cover … ONE …… TWO …. THREE—NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Trevor Cane kicks out at the last moment!”
JULIUS: “Cane’s still got plenty of fight in him. He’s not going to let Steve Johnson just walk away with a victory this easy!”
GHEORGHE: “Cane is definitely showing that he’s got fight .. but after wrestling earlier in the night, you have to wonder when his obstinacy turns against him..”
JIVE: “Johnson’s making a mistake here..”
GHEORGHE: “Steve Johnson walks away from Trevor Cane and runs into the ropes … he comes back .. and baseball slides right into the side of Cane!”
JIVE: “Well it could have been a mistake had Cane moved… If Johnson wants to win, and I’m not saying he’s going to mind you, he can’t leave Cane unattended.”
GHEORGHE: “Steve Johnson now with a handful of hair brings Cane up… and now he’s standing in the middle of the ring soaking up the cheers from the crowd …. Johnson with a swinging neckbreaker…. NO! Cane swings right through …. Cane hooks the arms … and drops down in a backslide! ONE …………… TWO …………….. KICKOUT BY STEVE JOHNSON!”
JIVE: “And just like that Trevor Cane can pull out a victory.”
GHEORGHE: “But he didn’t, Nick..”
JIVE: “I’m saying he could .. jeez, someone’s in a bad mood tonight!”
GHEORGHE: “Johnson back on his feet … but so isn’t Cane … Johnson charges at him .. and Cane ducks under the clothesline … Johnson spins around … AND GETS CAUGHT IN A JAWBREAKER BY ‘THE MESSENGER’… Cane now has Steve Johnson by the head … and hits a JUMPING DDT!”
JULIUS: “There’s my boy!”
JIVE: “Hey! He was my boy first… don’t be trying to hoard him Mr. Johnny-Come-Lately!”
JULIUS: “At least I came at all…”
JIVE: “That’s it…”
GHEORGHE: “Uh … guys .. it might interest you both to know that Trevor Cane … looks to be calling for the end of the match!”
JIVE / JULIUS: “FINALLY!”
GHEORGHE: “Okkkkayyy… Trevor Cane stands over Steve Johnson … and now he’s picking him up … AND HE PUTS HIM IN POSITION FOR HIS PILEDRIVER ……. Cane hooks the body… BUT JOHNSON BLOCKS! Cane tries again … AND JOHNSON BLOCKS AGAIN…. STEVE JOHNSON WITH A BACK BODY DROP AND CANE GOES TO THE MAT!”
JULIUS: “God dammit!”
GHEORGHE: “Trevor Cane back on his feet … and he charges at Johnson … BUT JOHNSON SIDE STEPS HIM AND SENDS HIM CHEST FIRST INTO THE CORNER!!! ….. AND NOW JOHNSON LOCKS ON A FULL NELSON……. FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME!”
JIVE: “For the Love of GOD… Stop him!”
GHEORGHE: “JOHNSON HITS THE FULL NELSON RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP DRIVER ….. THE COVER ………… ONE …………… TWO …………… THREEE!!!”
(SFX: Bell rings. Crowd pops huge!)
JACOBS: “The winner of this match via pinfall... STEVE JOHNSON!”
JIVE: “This isn’t right!! Johnson cheated! He used brass knuckles!”
GHEORGHE: “What?!”
JIVE: “I saw him!”
GHEORGHE: “I think YOU’RE the one whose been dipping into the Jesus Juice, Nick..”
JULIUS: “Was there any question about that?”
GHEORGHE: “Cane rolls out of the ring as Johnson celebrates.. and he looks pissed off!! Cane holding his head as he walks up the rampway … and congratulations are in order for Steve Johnson who put off a tough challenge in Trevor Cane … a man he wasn’t even supposed to wrestle!”
JIVE: “He should be booked and locked away for stealing that one!”
GHEORGHE: “Come on, Nick.. he won that fair and square… ladies and gentlemen up next we’ve got an incredible rematch … The number one contender match for the Television title .. three…. Wait! I am getting word that something is going on backstage!!! Our cameras have caught up…”
