Bang Bang!
[Wrr.]
[Click.]
[Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.]
[Cold open.]
[EXT. THE TEMPLE — NIGHT.]
[Rain lashes against the stone exterior of the arena. Thunder rolls somewhere over Molvania.]
[Fans gather outside the Temple, umbrellas shaking in the storm, unaware that history is seconds away from changing.]
[A black car pulls up.]
[The door opens.]
[Marvolo steps out.]
[No entourage. No security.]
[Just the owner of Old School Wrestling, collar turned against the rain, moving quickly toward the entrance.]
Signal:"Folks, welcome! We are live at Pandemonium and—"
[A figure steps from the shadows.]
[Deadeye.]
[The cowboy stands beneath the flickering Temple lights, unmoving, revolver already drawn.]
[Marvolo stops dead.]
[The rain drums harder.]
Black Scar: "…No."
[Deadeye slowly cocks the hammer back.]
[The sound cuts through everything.]
[Marvolo raises his hands slightly.]
Marvolo: "Wait."
[Deadeye says nothing.]
[His eyes never leave the target.]
Signal: "Somebody stop this!"
[Marvolo takes one cautious step backward.]
Marvolo: "We can make a deal—"
[BOOM.]
[The gunshot EXPLODES through the night.]
[Marvolo’s head snaps violently backward.]
[His body collapses onto the wet pavement.]
[The world stops.]
[Fans SCREAM.]
[Chaos erupts instantly.]
Signal: "OH MY GOD!"
Black Scar: "HE SHOT HIM!"
[Deadeye lowers the smoking revolver slowly.]
[Emotionless.]
[Rain spatters across Marvolo’s motionless body, blood beginning to run across the ground in thin crimson streams.]
[EMTs and security burst through the Temple entrance in a panic.]
[People are shouting over one another.]
[One EMT drops to their knees beside Marvolo.]
[Another screams for equipment.]
Signal: "MARVOLO’S BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD!"
Black Scar: "This can’t be happening!"
[Deadeye holsters the revolver calmly.]
[No rush. No panic.]
[Like a man finishing a job.]
[He turns and walks away into the storm.]
[The crowd meanwhile is in total hysteria.]
[EMTs desperately work over Marvolo’s body as blood mixes with rainwater.]
Signal: "Somebody get control of this situation!"
Black Scar: "Pandemonium just became a crime scene!"
[The camera shakes amidst the panic.]
[Sirens begin to echo in the distance.]
[The final words spoken are haunting.]
"He's dead."
[Cut.]
Bad Influence
[We cut to the Ring, where Glitter stands with a microphone in hand.]
Signal: “Glitter and Dolly Daydream have had somewhat of a romance brewing since Invasion.”
Black Scar: “Sure… Obsessing. Kidnapping. That sound like most of your relationships, Signal?”
Signal: “Well, no. But one cannot deny that Glitter has seemed concerned about Dolly since Silas came onto the scene.”
[Venomous Touch fades out as they raise the microphone to their lips.]
Glitter: “Dolly… I know you are listening back there.”
[A pause. Glitter looks concerned.]
Glitter: “I’m worried about you, Dolly. I’ve had my eye on you, but you’ve been ignoring me…”
[The statement hangs in the air. Moments later, Dollhouse Rumble hits and neon lights flash throughout the Temple. Dolly skips out and makes her way to the ring.]
[She moves to speak, but Glitter cuts her off.]
Glitter: “Nice to see your pretty face. But I’m not the only one watching it. That Silas. His vibe is… not the influence you need.”
[Dolly simply shrugs her shoulders to Glitter’s concern.]
Dolly Daydream: “We can all be friends. You can’t have me all to yourself, silly.”
[Glitter’s jaw tenses in frustration.]
Glitter: “Who knows what would have happened if I didn’t take you away that day. Yet you seem so… unappreciative. What else do you need?”
[Glitter pauses. Dolly seems confused about why Glitter is so upset with her.]
[Then Glitter moves forward, planting a kiss on Dolly’s lips.]
Signal: “Glitter just stole a kiss!”
Black Scar: “I don’t think Dolly was expecting that.”
[Before Dolly can respond, the temperature noticeably drops. All the colour drains from the world as Silas enters.]
Signal: “Oh, this again? I don’t like this part.”
[Greyscale only makes Dolly’s flushed cheeks all the more prominent. Her and Glitter become the only colour in a melancholy world.]
[Silas watches on from the entranceway.]
Dolly Daydream: “You…”
[She speaks with equal parts bewilderment and accusation.]
Dolly Daydream: “You stole that! I’m taking it back!”
[Dolly plants a kiss on Glitter out of frustration more than anything. Glitter smirks.]
[Silas draws nearer, strumming slowly, but both are unaffected. The emotion continues to radiate from within the ring.]
Signal: “Dolly isn’t affected by Silas, her emotions continue to bubble over.”
[Her eyes widen as Dolly steps forward. She slaps Glitter cleanly across the cheek. Glitter merely smiles.]
Black Scar: “I don’t know how we’re supposed to feel right now. But Dolly looks ready to slay dragons.”
Signal: “Cue dragon… Here comes the ruleador!”
Signal:We have a surprise championship match here tonight folks. Both of these competitors only had Lambs to worry about tonight but thanks to Glitter's ambush of Pixelshift last week, their new allegience may well be tested in the name of hardcore gold.
Black Scar: Not only that but the presence of that creepy bastard is at ringside. Silas found someone in Dolly his songs seemingly don't affect and now it seems like he's following her like a bad habit
Signal: From the look on Glitters' face, he doesn't like that at all but will that distract the Sinful One from retaining his championship here?
[Glitter stares at Silas at ringside, a scowl on his usually composed face, taking his eyes off Dolly for a minute as Daydream rushes forward]
[RUNNING BASEMENT DROPKICK!]
[Glitter's knees are taken out from under him as he crashes to the mat jaw first. Glitter staggers up into a flurry of hard kicks before Daydream leaps to the ropes, springboarding off.]
[TORNADO DDT SPIKES GLITTER INTO THE MAT!]
[Dolly pulls Glitter up, looking to finish this early with another DDT but Glitter slips out, SPECIAL SAUCE! ]
Signal: Dolly got a facefull of well...Glitter. The poor girl's blinded as the Sexual Messiah powders to the outside.
Black Scar: That shit gets everywhere.
[Glitter grabs a chair from the outside, sliding into the ring with it as Dolly manages to finally wipe her eyes free. The Guru of Lust rushing forward]
[Dolly ducks the chair shot though, Glitter nearly taking his own head off from the rebound as he turns around]
[KNEE TO THE GUT! SLEEPWALKER SPIRAL NECKBREAKER!]
Signal: A big corkscrew neckbreaker takes Glitter down to the mat, Dolly noticing the chair as she shrugs, fairs fair in this type of contest.
[Dolly picks up the chair, waiting for Glitter to get to his feet before rushing forward. Glitter manages to duck underneath, rushing to the ropes as Dolly turns]
[BUKKAKE BULLET TRAIN! Glitter nails Dolly with a huge Big Boot, sending the chair right back into her face before staying on it, grinding the steel into Dolly's face with a wide, pleasureable grin on his face.]
[Glitter backs up, Dolly slowly pulling herself up by the ropes in the corner as Glitter grabs his ass, rubbing and slapping it a few times in a gyrating motion before rushing forward.]
[ASS! HIP ATTACK! Dolly falls down into the corner, Glitter smiling as he rubs his ass once more before backing up]
[TO MOUTH! Glitter gives Daydream a rather long winded Stink Face, getting himself all up in there.]
Signal: I knew it, he claims to be a gentlemen but that damn pervert can't help himself when he gets in the ring.
Black Scar: Hey, I'm not saying he's right but I'm not saying I wouldn't do the same thing.
[Glitter finally pulls away, Dolly coughing and blubbering as Glitter looks down, slightly ashamed for a moment before he smiles and licks his lips. He backs up, rubbing himself down for a moment before he chops his crotch and rushes forward.]
[DOLLY GRABS THE FALLEN CHAIR AND CHUCKS IT AT A RUNNING GLITTER RIGHT IN THE FACE!]
[Glitter is out on his feet for a moment, Dolly staggering up to her feet as Glitter stumbles forward]
[DROP]
[TOE]
[HOLD!]
[Glitter's face slams hard into the bottom turnbuckle, the Sexual Messiah managing to turn himself over only to see Dolly do a crotch chop of her own as she rushes forward]
[IMAGINATION STATION! BRONCO BUSTER! Dolly bounces on Glitter's face, the Sovereign of Sex looking like he enjoys it way more then he should.]
Black Scar: That should've been me damnit!
[Dolly bounces one last time on Glitter, slamming down hard on his chest before using the ropes as a springboard. HARD DROPKICK TO THE SKULL!]
[Dolly pulls Glitter out of the corner, dragging him backwards before she looks to the corner. Rushing forward as she slingshots upwards, diving off]
[DREAMWALK...NO! Glittler manages to get the knees up as the corkscrew slingshot Moonsault hits nothing but knees.]
[Dolly staggers to her feet right into a kick to the gut as Glitter lifts her up before rushing forward]
[BUCKLE BOMB! Dolly staggers out as Glitter lifts her up again, GUTWRENCH POWERBOMB! Glitter doesn't let go as he powers Dolly up high, before planting her down nearly through the mat with an Elevated Powerbomb.]
[GLITTER IS FOR EVERYONE! TRIFECTA POWERBOMB! ]
[Glitter stays down, pulling himself forward in a very suggestive pinfall while the ruleador slides in to count the very first fall of this contest.]
[ONE]
[..........]
[.............]
[TWO]
[..........]
[...............]
[THR....]
[................]
[DOLLY SOMEHOW GETS THE SHOULDER UP!]
Signal: Dolly somehow is still in this and Glitter does not look happy here.
Black Scar: He thought he had it there but Dolly has stamina for days, it's going to take something a lot bigger then that to take her out.
[Glitter gets himself up, rolling to the outside as he pulls the apron up, looking for something underneath. He grabs a small cloth bag and rolling into the ring with it.]
[He drops it to the mat, Dolly getting to her feet as Glitter grabs her from behind.]
[ORGASM...NO! Dolly flips out of the Pussyplex, landing on her feet behind Glitter as she grabs him.]
[ORGASM BUTTON! DOLLY LANDS THE BALLSPLEX ON GLITTER! ]
[Glitter flies across the ring, Dolly getting to her feet as she opens the bag, before pouring its contents out onto the canvas.]
Signal: Is that...legos?
'YOU SICK FUCK! YOU SICK FUCK!' [The crowd erupts at Glitter upon seeing what he put into the bag. Dolly reaches down, trying to pull Glitter up to his feet but he kips up, leaping up onto her shoulders]
[AS HE LOCKS IN THE FIGURE FOUR NECKLOCK!]
[HARDER MOMMY!]
Signal: Glitter has the hold locked in tight, Dolly's trying to fight but Glitter has that locked in tight, his hands digging a little too hard into her scalp as he's loving this.
Black Scar: Look at Dolly though, she doesn't look in pain or agony, she looks pissed.
[CHOMP]
[Glitter immediately loosens the hold as Dolly scrambles her way to her feet, blood dripping from her mouth as Glitter's thigh is also bleeding. ]
Signal: Well that's one way to get out of that hold.
[Glitter looks pissed, Dolly rushing at him right into]
[A MASSIVE FUCK OFF LARIAT THAT TURNS DAYDREAM INSIDE OUT!]
[Glitter composes himself for a moment, grabbing Dolly by the hair as he drags her up to the nearby turnbuckle. Slamming her head into it as he sets her up on the top rope before climbing up himself. ]
[Another hard strike dazes Dolly as both competitors are on the top rope, Glitter lifting her up into the air]
[DRIVER...HURRICANARANA! Dolly counters at the last second, driving Glitter forward, back first onto the pile of legos. Dolly looks backwards, before slingshotting herself forward]
[DREAMWALKING! STARSHIP PAIN HITS FLUSH! Dolly collapses onto Glitter, the ruleador sliding in to count.]
[ONE]
[..........]
[.............]
[TWO]
[..........]
[...............]
[THR....]
[................]
[THREE!!!]
Black Scar Dolly does it! We have a new Hardcore Champion but while Dolly can celebrate the end of her night, Glitter may well have a brutal round two coming up
Signal:: Lambs is still wide open for him but judging from his condition, can he even compete let alone pull out a miracle and win?
Winner & NEW Hardcore Champion: Dolly Daydream
Play Time I
[Static.]
[The feed cuts away from the arena to a dark roon. The camera slowly pushes forward onto a steel stable, where one object sits alone.]
[A glass vial.]
[Inside glowing liquid swirls softly.]
[Bright. Unnatural.]
[Beside it sits a loaded syringe.]
Signal: “Uh…”
Black Scar: “What the hell are we lookin’ at?”
[The camera inches closer.]
[The liquid pulses faintly.]
[Almost breathing.]
Signal: “That’s not medicine.”
Black Scar: “No kidding.”
[A beat.]
Signal: “Do you think this has something to do with Dr. Vinell? Or maybe DeMasq?”
Black Scar: “Whatever it is, you don’t inject something glowing unless you got serious problems.”
[The room hums as the camera remains fixed on the vial.]
[Then a shadow falls across the table.]
[The announcers go quiet.]
[Slowly…]
[A hand enters frame.]
[It picks up the vial.]
Signal: “Who is that!?”
[The figure says nothing.]
[The syringe is grabbed next.]
[The chair behind the table slides backward.]
[SCREECH.]
[Footsteps begin walking away.]
[Heavy.]
[Deliberate.]
Black Scar: “Somebody’s planning something tonight…”
[The figure disappears into darkness.]
[Only the empty table remains.]
[Static.]
Signal: “I don’t like that one bit.”
Black Scar: “Me neither.”
Wanted
[FLASHBACK — MOLVANIA.]
[EXT. GOLDMAN’S SALOON — NIGHT.]
[Wind sweeps dust through the empty street.]
[The neon sign of GOLDMAN’S SALOON buzzes weakly overhead, flickering between life and death. A figure approaches the billboard outside.]
[Marvolo.]
[Alone.]
[He glances over his shoulder once before pulling a folded poster from inside his coat.]
[Marvolo smooths the paper against the wood.]
[The camera slowly pushes in as he hammers it into place.]
[THUNK.]
[THUNK.]
[THUNK.]
[Finally revealing the words—]
WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE
MARVOLO — OLD SCHOOL WRESTLING
[Rain begins to fall lightly.]
[Marvolo stares at the poster for a long moment.]
[Not proud.]
[Not confident.]
[Resigned.]
[Marvolo steps away from the billboard, disappearing back into the darkness of Molvania.]
[The poster flaps violently in the wind.]
[Time passes.]
[The rain grows heavier.]
[Then—]
[A gloved hand reaches into frame.]
[Grips the poster.]
[Pulls it free.]
[Revealing Deadeye beneath the brim of his hat.]
[Still. Calm.]
[Reading.]
Deadeye: "Dead or alive…"
[A faint smirk beneath the mask.]
Deadeye: "Don’t make much difference to me."
[He folds the poster slowly.]
[Tucks it into his coat.]
[Then pushes through the swinging doors of Goldman’s Saloon.]
[The doors creak shut behind him.]
[The wind continues to howl through the empty street.]
[Cut.]
Broadcasting
Voices: “Obey. Submit. Believe… Obey. Submit. Believe…”
[Propaganda's message is spreading. His believers seem to be everywhere.]
Signal: “After scattering from last week's bullfight, Propaganda's forces sure seem to have multiplied.”
Black Scar: “It sounds like the whole Temple is subscribing to his podcast.”
[Santiago Del Toro walks the hallways of the temple, but the voices call out to him.]
[Even in the silence, they fill his head.]
Santiago Del Toro: “You cannot break me. Get out of my head!”
[The voices only seem to magnify. Del Toro pushes through doorways with one destination in mind.]
[Inside the Temple, The arena drops to black.]
Signal: “Here comes Santiago Del Toro, but I don't think he knows what he's walking into…”
[A single bullbell echoes.]
[Red light spills across the ramp as fog crawls outward, whispers filling the air. A low Spanish guitar growls beneath heavy, hoof-like drums.]
[From the smoke steps Santiago Del Toro.]
[He stands still. Head bowed. Cape resting at his side.]
[He looks up.]
[But before him is a sea of Believers spanning between Del Toro and Propaganda, who stands tall in the ring.]
Signal: “They're everywhere. Like a moving, breathing sea.”
Black Scar: “This Temple has heard the broadcast. Either that or they've been brainwashed.”
[The believers chant, their numbers split in half as they echo and answer each other.]
Voices: “We believe… One voice…”
[Del Toro eyeballs Propaganda, cracking his knuckles and swishing his cape. He starts marching towards the ring.]
Signal: “Del Toro is ready to fight his way through.”
[Propaganda holds his arms up. His voice booms above the noise]
Propaganda: “Let him pass.”
[His followers part ways, allowing a narrow alley for Del Toro to pass between.]
Propaganda: “Very good. An example must be made.”
[Del Toro stops, just short of the ring. He looks Propaganda dead in the eye.]
Santiago Del Toro: “Your soul… is mine.”
[With that, he charges.]
Signal: “Propaganda’s broadcast has reached a fever pitch, and Santiago Del Toro is looking to shut the broadcast down.”
Black Scar: “He’s stepping right into the heart of the lion’s den tonight and shows no fear. But will the Ultraviolent Champion make a spectacle of Del Toro in front of the Temple tonight?”
[Del Toro is straight into action, sliding into the ring and charging straight at Propaganda. But Propaganda is ready for him, weathering the flurry of Del Toro’s blows with seemingly minimal effect.]
[Propaganda ducks out of the way of an incoming fist, grabbing Santiago by the wrist and twisting his arm awkwardly. He tosses Del Toro into the corner turnbuckle. With his disciples surrounding the ring, he unloads a holy barrage on the Matador.]
“BE-LIEVE!”
“BE-LIEVE!”
[The whole arena seems to chant along as the ECHO CHAMBER barrage hits home. Propaganda backs away, circling across the ring and leaving Del Toro crumpled in a heap in the corner.]
[Del Toro claws himself to his knees, using the bottom turnbuckle for support. Propaganda charges back at him.]
[THE BROADCAST!]
[NO! DEL TORO SLIPS OUT OF THE WAY AND PROPAGANDA’S KNEE SLAMS INTO THE STEEL!]
Signal: “Propaganda was mere inches away from forcing Santiago Del Toro to hear his broadcast.”
Black Scar: “Del Toro was inches away from getting his skull caved in. There’s still time.”
[Del Toro pulls himself back to his feet as Propaganda writhes in pain, clutching his knee. Del Toro spies the weakness and pounces, literally onto his opponent.]
[LEAPING STOMPS! HE’S TARGETING THAT KNEE!]
[DEL TORO GETS IN A FEW DECENT SHOTS TO THE KNEE BONE BEFORE PROPAGANDA ROLLS TO THE RING APRON!]
[Propaganda pulls himself up using the ropes. Both men stand eyeball to eyeball, the ring rope separating them. Del Toro swishes his cape, throwing it over Propaganda’s head.]
[SINISTER MULETA! PROPAGANDA CAN’T SEE A THING!]
[BUT NEXT MOMENT, DEL TORO IS LIFTED INTO THE AIR! HE’S THROWN BACKWARDS OUT OF THE RING AND INTO THE FLOOD OF BELIEVERS AT RINGSIDE!]
Signal: “I don’t think crowd-surfing the sea of Propaganda’s followers was part of Del Toro’s plan here tonight.”
Black Scar: “That sea of crazed, brainwashed maniacs? They’ll tear him limb from limb while Propaganda watches.”
[Santiago Del Toro struggles against the mass of people clawing at him, but they drag him further away from the ring, further away from safety. Then, slowly, he begins to sink into the mass of believers.]
[All that remains is a single, defiant fist poking out of the mass of people. Soon, that too sinks beneath the ocean. There’s a flurry of action as Propaganda’s believers turn on their foe.]
[Propaganda watches on, arms folded.]
[Soon, he holds up his arms.]
Propaganda: “Enough.”
[With a single word, the action subsides. The sea parts. A battered and barely conscious Santiago Del Toro is revealed, crawling his way back to the ring.]
[A swish of Propaganda’s hand sees several followers grab Del Toro and fling him back into the squared circle. Propaganda wastes no time dragging him into the centre of the ring and standing atop his chest for a pinfall.]
[ONE!]
[...]
[...]
[TWO!]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[THR-SHOULDER UP!]
Signal: “There’s still life in the Matador of Souls!”
Black Scar: “Send him back into the horde. They’ll finish him off.”
[Propaganda growls as he scoops Del Toro up. He grapples his foe and marches him towards the ropes.]
[STALLING SUPLEX! HE HOISTS SANTIAGO HIGH UP INTO THE AIR!]
[Propaganda shouts out a single word, which is then echoed in the chanting of the masses at ringside.]
Propaganda: “Obey!”
[HE RELEASES THE SUPLEX, DROPPING DEL TORO ONTO THE TOP ROPE!]
“O-BEY! O-BEY!”
[The voices rise as Propaganda grabs hold of Del Toro by the neck, stretching him out horizontally.]
[ROPE HUNG NECKBREAKER! MESSAGE RECEIVED! NO!]
[DEL TORO TWISTS AND GETS A THUMB TO THE EYE OF PROPAGANDA! PROPAGANDA DROPS HIM!]
[DEL TORO SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE ROPE, REVERSING THE NECKBREAKER INTO A HURRICANRANA OF HIS OWN!]
[BOTH MEN COME CRASHING DOWN!]
Black Scar: “Message NOT received, Signal. I don’t think Del Toro is tuned in.”
Signal: “The odds are stacked against him, but The Matador isn’t going to bow down to Propaganda.”
Black Scar: “He’s going to have to get ugly to overcome these numbers though.”
[Del Toro claws his way to his feet first, but a toll has clearly been taken on his battered body. He creates some distance between the pair by moving towards to the corner. Propaganda soon stands and locks eyes on the Matador.]
[Santiago smirks, beckoning Propaganda forward.]
[Propaganda strides over with a head full of steam, grabbing Del Toro by the scruff of the neck. Only… Del Toro isn’t there. Propaganda clutches only thin air as Santiago dodges suddenly.]
[SNAP DDT! SPECTRAL PASSADA!]
[PROPAGANDA IS DOWN AND HIS BELIEVERS ARE NOT HAPPY!]
[Del Toro doesn’t waste time, he leaps right onto Propaganda, locking in his patented COBRA CLUTCH! ETERNAL SILENCE!]
[IGNORING THE CHANTS FROM THE BELIEVERS, DEL TORO STARES COLDLY INTO THE LIGHTS OF THE TEMPLE ROOF.
[PROPAGANDA BEGINS TO FADE!]
[The ruleador kneels to check on him, but Propaganda pushes them away. Spurred on by hundreds of voices, he grabs at the ropes.]
[He pulls himself to his feet, with the hold still locked in. Propaganda swipes, catching Del Toro in the face. Enough to loosen the grasp.]
[A second strike breaks the hold.]
[A third sends Del Toro staggering backwards.]
[In the centre of the ring, the pair stand toe to toe. Propaganda hits Del Toro with a right fist, and Del Toro sends one right back.]
[Propaganda slings another, and Del Toro matches him again.]
[Then Del Toro hits Propaganda with a second strike. A Third.]
[He rocks Propaganda to the core with a wicked Haymaker. Propaganda staggers and Del Toro leaps to the air…]
[DROPKICK TO THE KNEE! PROPAGANDA BUCKLES AND COLLAPSES TO THE CANVAS!]
Signal: “Del Toro goes after the knee again. He’s trying to cripple Propaganda.”
Black Scar: “Smart psychological warfare from The Matador. Hard to stand on your soap-box if you can’t stand.”
[Propaganda’s believers begin climbing up onto the ring apron. Del Toro limps towards the corner, clobbering a few believers off the apron. They fall, swallowed by the sea of other followers.]
[Del Toro clears enough room to climb the turnbuckle, and does so with all the energy left in his battered body.]
[In amongst the chaos surrounding the ring, Santiago Del Toro remains eerily calm. He lines Propaganda up and leaps…]
[BUT HANDS GRAB HIM FROM OUTSIDE THE RING! HE TOPPLES OFF THE TOP TURNBUCKLE!]
[DEL TORO SMASHES INTO THE CANVAS, LANDING AWKWARDLY!]
[Propaganda rises in the wake of the Matador’s destruction. He makes his way over to his fallen foe.]
[OBEY…. SUBMIT… BELIEVE! THE ACCOLADE IS LOCKED IN!]
Signal: “Not like this! Propaganda only has Del Toro where he wants him because his believers pushed him off the turnbuckle!”
Black Scar: “Are you going to head out there and complain? It was nice knowing you.”
[Santiago Del Toro screams in agony. Propaganda only pulls the hold tighter.]
[Del Toro’s hand hovers, ready to tap… but tap he does NOT.]
[His body is broken, but his will is strong. No matter how much force Propaganda puts into his hold, DEL TORO ONLY SEEMS TO GET STRONGER!]
[WITH A FLICK OF HIS BODY, HIS CAPE FLASHES OVER THE HEAD OF PROPAGANDA!]
[DEL TORO GRABS HOLD OF THE ENDS OF THE CAPE, WRAPPING IT AROUND PROPAGANDA’S NECK!]
[HE’S CHOKING HIM WITH THE DAMNED CAPE!]
[As the choke gains strength, Propaganda loses his own grip on his hold.]
[Soon enough, Del Toro is able to slip away, to the ire of the Believers on the ring apron.]
[Some start to pull their way into the ring, but Del Toro is there in a flash.]
[CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!]
[IT’S CLOBBERING TIME!]
[DEL TORO BEGINS LAYING WASTE TO ANY AND EVERY ONE OF PROPAGANDA’S BELIEVERS HE CAN FIND!]
[The bodies drop clean and fast, but no matter how many Del Toro clobbers, there are ten more to take their place.]
[Behind him, Propaganda rises. He sees his opportunity to strike a fatal blow.]
[PROPAGANDA CHARGES AT DEL TORO!]
[BUT DEL TORO SLIPS ASIDE! CURSED CHARGE! HE LEVELS PROPAGANDA WITH A VICIOUS KICK!]
Signal: “Santiago Del Toro lured Propaganda in by attacking his Believers. He’s functioning on adrenaline alone, and he’s taking the war to every single one of Propaganda’s believers.”
Black Scar: “He doesn’t care who he’s hitting right now. He’s just splitting skulls, I can respect that.”
[Del Toro moves to the center of the ring. He raises one hand towards Propaganda. He curls his fingers slowly, as if summoning Propaganda’s soul.]
[The movement, the power. It stops all of the Believers dead in their tracks.]
[Slowly, Propaganda rises to one knee.]
[SANTIAGO DEL TORO CHARGES! A BRUTAL KNEE STRIKE ECHOES OUT ACROSS THE SEA OF FOLLOWERS!]
[CRACK!]
[PHANTOM CORNADA! PROPAGANDA DROPS LIKE A SACK OF FUCKING CONCRETE!]
[AND DEL TORO DROPS TO HIS KNEES BESIDE HIM, HEAD BOWED, BEFORE HOOKING HIS LEG INTO A PINFALL!]
[ONE!]
[...]
[...]
[TWO!]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[THREE!]
Signal: “Santiago Del Toro has done it. In front of all of Propaganda’s followers, he has silenced the broadcast and stands as your NEEEEWWWWW ULTRAVIOLENT CHAMPION!”
Winner & NEW Ultraviolent Champion: Santiago Del Toro
Next Level
[Backstage — deep within the Temple.]
[The lighting flickers faintly from exposed wiring. Arcade code scrolls across portable monitors set up haphazardly around the corridor.]
[Respawn kneels beside an open arcade cabinet, tools scattered around him, fingers moving rapidly across a keyboard.]
[PixelShift approaches cautiously.]
Pixelshift: "You said you had something."
[Respawn doesn’t look up immediately.]
Respawn: "I do."
[He presses ENTER.]
[The arcade screen flickers violently before stabilizing into an unfamiliar map — darker, bigger, unfinished.]
[Textures half-rendered.]
[Platforms appearing and disappearing.]
[The words LEVEL UNDER CONSTRUCTION blink overhead.]
Signal: "What are we looking at?"
Black Scar: "Looks broken."
[Respawn finally stands.]
[Excited. Focused.]
[PixelShift steps closer to the cabinet.]
[The screen reflects in his mask.]
Respawn: "I’ve been building something."
[A pause.]
Respawn: "A new level."
[He gestures toward the unfinished world.]
Respawn: "Something bigger than Skybound."
[A beat.]
Respawn: "A place that might actually get you home."
[PixelShift’s posture changes instantly.]
Pixelshift: "Home-home?"
Respawn: "Full universe access."
[A pause.]
Respawn: "No fragments. No isolated frames."
[PixelShift stares at the screen like it’s salvation.]
Respawn: "But there’s a problem."
[The cabinet glitches.]
[A monster sprite flickers briefly in the background before vanishing.]
Respawn: "It’s unstable."
[A beat.]
Respawn: "I need it beta tested."
[PixelShift looks at him.]
Pixelshift: "Meaning?"
[Respawn folds his arms.]
Respawn: "I need a combat sequence."
[The monitors hum louder.]
Respawn: "A real one."
[A pause.]
Respawn: "I need you to drag somebody into the game."
[PixelShift hesitates.]
Pixelshift: "Okay…"
[A beat.]
Pixelshift: "Who?"
[Respawn’s expression hardens slightly.]
Respawn: "Not just anybody."
[The unfinished level flickers again.]
[Dark corridors generate briefly inside the game world.]
Respawn: I need someone dangerous."
[A pause.]
Respawn: "Someone strong enough to stress-test the system."
[He steps closer.]
Respawn: "Somebody capable of surviving it."
[PixelShift slowly begins to understand.]
Signal: "Oh no…"
Black Scar: "Respawn’s not building a game anymore."
[The arcade cabinet emits a low digital growl.]
[The level continues building itself on-screen.]
[Waiting.]
Revelations
[INT. THE TEMPLE — RAFTERS — NIGHT.]
[The camera shakes violently as it rushes through the backstage area. Staff scream in the distance. Something terrible has happened.]
Signal: "We’ve got chaos backstage inside the Temple—!"
Black Scar: "Not again…"
[The camera bursts through a maintenance door.]
[Darkwish stands frozen beneath the rafters.]
[Looking upward.]
[Horrified.]
[The camera slowly tilts up.]
[And finds him.]
[The Lost Boy.]
[Hanging from the rafters by a thick rope around his neck.]
[His body sways slowly above the Temple floor.]
[One shoe missing.]
[Arms limp.]
[Dead.]
Signal: "OH MY GOD…"
Black Scar: "The Lost Boy…"
[The entire arena seems to fall silent.]
[Darkwish slowly lowers his gaze toward the floor beneath the body.]
[Painted there.]
[In thick crimson strokes.]
[The letter A.]
Signal: "There’s another letter…"
Black Scar: "D…"
[A beat.]
Black Scar: "M…"
[Another.]
Black Scar: "And now A."
[Darkwish stares at the painted symbol.]
[Thinking.]
[Calculating.]
[The realization slowly crawls across his face.]
Darkwish: "D."
[A pause.]
Darkwish: "M."
[His voice lowers.]
Darkwish: "A."
[The rope creaks overhead.]
[Darkwish looks up once more at the body of the Lost Boy.]
[Then back to the painted letter.]
[And suddenly—]
[He knows.]
Darkwish: "…I know who’s doing this."
Signal: "What?!"
Black Scar: "Then say it!"
[But Darkwish says nothing more. He simply stares ahead, expression darkening. The camera slowly pulls back.]
[The Lost Boy hanging high above the Temple floor.]
[The painted A beneath him.]
[And Darkwish standing between them.]
[Cut to black.]
Signal: “The Gift of the Gods Championship is on the line, folks! Remember: 5 successful defences earns the Champion a future World Championship opportunity!”
Black Scar: “This is numero three-oh for the reigning champeen, Pixelshift!”
Signal: “One has to wonder whether Academius's DeMasq running buddy, Jack Standard, will remain an innocent bystander, or try to influence the proceedings…”
Black Scar: “They sent a message at Masked & Dangerous, Sig: they're comin' for Pixelshift's mask!”
[The bell rings, and Academius invites Pixelshift to a tie-up. The Champ obliges, only to be bodied to the canvas!]
Signal: “Academius uses his 25-pound weight advantage to ground Pixelshift!”
[Standard claps for the mat technician, who spins round into a front facelock. Pixelshift quickly rises, fighting the hold. He breaks free and tears into the ropes, sending Academius out of the ring with a front dropkick!]
Signal: “We know Academius can fly, but Pixelshift flies higher! That’s what he needs to count on for defence tres!”
Black Scar: “The only countin’ he’ll be doin’ is sheep, when The Professor puts him to sleep with the Lecture Lock!”
[Academius goes to roll back in, but he eats a baseball slide from Pixelshift! He scrambles to his feet–]
[PLANCHA!]
[Neon Player One takes him out with a slingshot splash to the outside!]
[The Ruleador warns Jack away, then starts a ten-count as Pixelshift picks the challenger up…]
[ONE!]
[Academius rams him back-first into the edge of the ring!]
[The intellectual tosses Pixelshift into the barricade opposite!]
[TWO!]
[Academius puts the boots to him, angrily brushing off the fans’ hands.]
Black Scar: “Don’t sully him with your unwashed mitts, you filthy peons!”
[THREE!]
[The challenger sends the Champion crashing into the steel stairs!]
[RUMBLE!]
[Standard cheers from afar.]
[FOUR!]
[He peppers him with lefts and rights–]
[PIXELSHIFT FIGHTS BACK!]
[The fans pop as their hero dukes it out with The Scholar.]
[FIVE!]
Signal: “They’re getting tunnel vision. They could get counted out!”
[Academius cuts him off with a knee to the gut, then whips him–]
[PIXELSHIFT COUNTERS!]
Black Scar: “Hey, wait–!”
[ACADEMIUS IS FLUNG OVER THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!]
[SIX!]
[Signal and Black Scar narrowly get out of harm’s way, as Academius flips over their chairs and lies in a tangle of cables.]
[Pixelshift reaches over the booth, but can’t get him free!]
[SEVEN!]
[With his title on the line, he looks back at the ring, and reluctantly heads back.]
[Jack approaches Academius, but the Ruleador warns him not to interfere.]
[EIGHT!]
Signal: “Hello, am I still on?”
[Academius crawls out from behind the desk…]
[NINE!]
Black Scar: “–That stupid, reckless move by Pixelshift!”
[ACADEMIUS BREAKS THE 10-COUNT!]
[Standard breathes a sigh of relief.]
[Pixelshift is genuinely happy; he wants to win legitimately - not by a technicality!]
[The Save Point Saint offers Academius his hand.]
[Sir accepts…]
[BUT TRIPS INTO THE RULEADOR–]
[LOW BLOW TO PIXELSHIFT!]
Signal: “That dirty, rotten son of a bitch!”
Black Scar: “Hey, Pixelshift just tried to take us out, Siggy!”
[Pixelshift sinks to his knees, clutching his Poké Balls, as Jack laughs at ringside.]
[The Ruleador rounds on Academius, who feigns innocence.]
Academius: “–So sorry, dear boy! Must’ve been my bootlace!”
[HE KICKS PIXELSHIFT IN THE FACE!]
[The Champ goes down, and Academius dives on him–]
[HE GRABS HIS MASK!]
Signal: “ACADEMIUS IS TRYING TO DEMASK PIXELSHIFT!”
[The Ruleador goes to pull him off, but Standard hops onto the apron!]
[With the official distracted, Academius paws away at Pixelshift’s visage.]
Black Scar: “Unmask that criminal, Academius! He attacked unarmed civilians!”
[Pixelshift’s visor suddenly lights up, displaying–]
Signal: “Cherries...!?”
[Academius stops, frowning in confusion…]
[LOW BLOW BY PIXELSHIFT!]
[The crowd bursts into laughter as Academius gets a taste of his own medicine.]
[On the apron, Jack is apoplectic.]
Jack Standard: “He’s cheating! Turn around, dammit!”
[He hops down and slaps the apron in frustration. The Ruleador turns around just in time to see Academius slump to the mat.]
Black Scar: “I can’t believe it, that was a blatant low blow!”
Signal: “Academius did it first!”
Black Scar: “You heard the man, he tripped!”
[Pixelshift gets back to his feet. A pair of pixellated wings flickers across his visor.]
Signal: “We know what that means!”
[He heads up top…]
[DIVING SENTON BOMB - THE SKY DIVER PRESS!]
[He covers Academius.]
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[KICK OUT!]
Black Scar: “Academius showing the heart of a true champion, right there!”
[Pixelshift motions for him to get up!]
[A groggy Academius rises, then turns round–]
[A, B, DOWN, UP, DOWN, UP, X, Y!]
Signal: “That’s a button-mashing, 8-BIT COMBO of kicks and chops!”
[The Champ rears back to deliver the final blow…]
[JACK STANDARD GRABS HIS FOOT!]
[The Ruleador was busy checking on a woozy Academius!]
[Pixelshift wheels round and snatches the air, but Jack backs off.]
Signal: “Dammit, Standard, will you get the hell outta here!?”
[ROLL-UP BY ACADEMIUS!]
Black Scar: “Shoulda paid attention, Pixelshift!”
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[TWO-AND-A-HALF!]
[Big pop as Pixelshift rolls out and gets to his feet–]
[CROSSFACE!]
[Academius floors him with the submission hold!]
Black Scar: “That’s the LECTURE LOCK, Sig! He’s gonna teach Pixelshift all about pain receptors!”
[Indeed, Pixelshift screams out and reaches for the ropes in vain.]
[Academius ramps up the torque, as Standard laughs on from ringside.]
Signal: “The faithful fans inside The Temple are rallying behind their hero!”
[They stamp their feet and clap their hands, willing Pixelshift on.]
[He scratches and claws, dragging them towards the ropes…]
Black Scar: “Crank that thing, Academius!”
[Pixelshift fights through the pain–]
[ROPE BREAK!]
[The Ruleador calls it, but Academius keeps the crossface locked in.]
Signal: “Break it up, dammit, break it up!”
[The official turns to him and starts a five-count.]
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[THREE–]
[JACK SOCKS PIXELSHIFT IN THE MOUTH!]
[The audience grills Standard, who mugs them off.]
[Academius releases a dazed Pixelshift, then backs into the corner and pulls his kneepad down…]
Black Scar: “Oh, boy - you asked for this, Pixelshift!”
Signal: “He’s fighting a damn handicap match, Scar!”
[Pixelshift slowly gets to his hands and knees–]
[KNEE TREMBLER TO THE TEMPLE - that’s the EXPULSION!]
Black Scar: “Say goodnight!”
[Academius slides into the cover.]
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[NEW CHAMPION!?]
[THREE!]
[NO!]
[Pixelshift barely kicks out!]
[The audience collectively breathes a sigh of relief. The Living Glitch is still the Champ - for now.]
[The Professor slaps the mat. He hauls Pixelshift to his feet.]
[He spins him round, hooks his leg, then lifts him up–]
Signal: “Pixelshift COUNTERS the A-PLUS belly-to-back suplex!”
[Flipping onto his feet, he kicks Academius in the gut, then hooks his leg instead!]
[The crowd chants in unison…]
Crowd: “POW-ER UP, POW-ER UP, POW-ER UP!”
[Pixelshift plants him with a FISHERMAN SUPLEX!]
Signal: “POWER-UP PLEX!”
[He bridges it!]
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[THREE!?]
[SHOULDER UP!]
[The fans groan as class remains in session.]
[Both men recover on the mat.]
Signal: “Oh, what the hell is Standard doing now!?”
[The second-half of DeMasq slides Academius’s trademark wooden ruler to him under the bottom rope.]
Black Scar: “He just needs him to measure something, Sig. I admit he could’ve picked a better time!”
[They get to their feet - the Ruleador unaware of the foreign object.]
[They turn to face each other–]
[ACADEMIUS SWINGS AT PIXELSHIFT!]
[HE DUCKS!]
[STAND-OFF…]
[WAIT–]
[PIXELSHIFT IS LAGGING!]
[HE’S FROZEN IN PLACE!]
Black Scar: “Take his freakin’ head off, Academius! Picture one of your snot-nosed pupils!”
[ACADEMIUS STEPS FORWARDS–]
[THE RULEADOR GRABS THE WEAPON!]
Signal: “The Ruleador rules that the ruler is against the rules!”
[ACADEMIUS AND THE RULEADOR PLAY TUG OF WAR…]
[THE RULEADOR PRIES THE RULER OFF OF HIM!]
[ACADEMIUS TURNS ROUND–]
[RIGHT INTO A CUTTER!]
Signal: “Academius gets the LAG SPIKE!”
[Before Pixelshift can cover him, however…]
[Jack freakin’ Standard is on the apron once more!]
Signal: “Please, will the Ruleador eject his ass already!?”
Black Scar: “Why!? He didn’t do nothin’!”
[Reading Signal’s mind, the Champ intervenes–]
[PIXELSHIFT BRINGS JACK IN THE HARD WAY!]
[Standard scrambles to his feet–]
[ANOTHER CUTTER!]
[LAG SPIKE!]
[BIG POP!]
Signal: “FINALLY!”
[The Ruleador shoes Jack’s limp body under the ropes.]
Black Scar: “That was a totally unprovoked assault!”
[The 1UP Wonder waits for Academius to get to his feet.]
[GAME OVER flashes across his visor.]
[The challenger turns round groggily–]
[CODEBREAK–NO!]
Signal: “Academius BLOCKS the HARD RESET!”
[He threads Pixelshift’s arms, then lifts him overhead–]
[BUTTERFLY SUPLEX!]
Black Scar: “CHALK DUST - and he’s dustin’ his hands off, just like he’s about to dust off Pixelshift’s title reign!”
[The challenger puts up an X, then throws his arms down.]
Academius: “DIIIS-MISSED!”
Signal: “Uh-oh - he’s going for it, Scar!”
[Academius scales the turnbuckle.]
[He fixes the crowd, then his opponent, with a stern glare, and calls for silence–]
Academius: “Shhhhhh!”
Black Scar: “Quiet, Sig!”
[HE LEAPS…]
[TOP-ROPE DIVING KNEE DROP!]
[BUT THERE’S NOBODY HOME!]
Signal: “CLASS is NOT DIMISSED!”
[Academius rolls through and spins round–]
[COOODEBREEEAAAKEEERRR!]
Signal: “Pixelshift hits the HARD RESET!”
[Pixelshift collapses into the cover…]
[ONE!]
Signal: “Pixelshift to retain!?”
[TWO!]
Black Scar: “Sometimes, the bad guys win!”
[...]
[THREE!!!]
[PIXELSHIFT HAS DONE IT!]
Signal: “What a contest! Through sheer determination, Pixelshift defends his Gift of the Gods Championship for the third time!”
Black Scar: “I hope he’s proud of his cowardly antics! Someone check on Jack Standard!”
Winner & 3rd Defence: Pixelshift
Sweet & Sour
[After the bell, Pixelshift leans on the ropes…]
[DRAGON TWIST CUTTER!]
Signal: “Academius just hit the PUNCTUATION MARK! Come on, the match is over!”
Black Scar: “I think Pixelshift’s night is just beginning!”
[Academius unloads on Pixelshift with lefts and rights.]
[A revitalised Jack Standard puts the boots to Neon Player One!]
Signal: “This is a mugging!”
[The Ruleador tries to call DeMasq off, but gets shoved aside.]
[Subduing Pixelshift, Academius looks up at Standard.]
[He nods.]
[ACADEMIUS GRABS PIXELSHIFT’S MASK!]
Signal: “This is exactly what DeMasq promised they’d do!”
Black Scar: “Pixelshift’s mask will look mighty nice on their mantelpiece, alongside that bible-thumper’s, Reverend Blackheart!”
[ACADEMIUS STARTS TO REMOVE THE VISOR!]
Signal: “Remember what Respawn said, Scar: he didn’t program anything under that mask!”
Black Scar: “Will he be as lifeless as an unplugged arcade cabinet!?”
[IT’S COMING OFF–]
[♩SUGAR IN THE WALLS sweetens the speakers!]
Signal: “WHAT THE–!?”
[THE CANDY MAN RUSHES TO THE RING!]
Black Scar: “Is he coming to help, or...!?”
[Abandoning their efforts, Academius and Standard look at each other uncertainly.]
[Candy Man rolls in and goes toe-to-toe with both men!]
Signal: “This could go off!”
[...]
[CANDY MAN THROWS POWDERED SUGAR INTO STANDARD’S FACE!]
Signal: “Jack’s feelin’ that SUGAR RUSH, Scar!”
Black Scar: “Poor Jack’s septic eyes!”
[Academius lunges–]
[SAMOAN DROP!]
Signal: “That’s a SOUR DROP for The Professor!”
[Candy gets up as Standard wipes his eyes…]
[TILT-A-WHIRL SLAM!]
Signal: “He calls that THE BIG WHIRLY!”
Black Scar: “The WHAT!?”
[Candy Man drags Jack on top of Academius and climbs the corner post…]
[THREE-HUNDRED-POUND TOP-ROPE SPLASH!]
Signal: “That’s a DOUBLE-DECKER GLASS JAR!”
[Having laid out DeMasq, Sugar Crash looks down at Pixelshift.]
[Candy Man rolls under the ropes–]
[THEN PULLS PIXELSHIFT OUT BY HIS ANKLE, AND DRAGS HIM UP THE RAMP!]
Signal: “I think you were right when you said Pixelshift's night is just beginning, Scar!”
Dinner
[Thap.]
[Thap.]
[Thap.]
[The scaly footsteps of The Jurassic Colossus slap against the concrete in The Temple’s parking lot.]
Black Scar: “Did he drive here!?”
[Jurassic stops.]
[Dr. E. Vinell blocks the way, surrounded by orderlies.]
Signal: “They might not make it to Lambs to the Slaughter…”
[Colossus licks his lips.]
Jurassic Colossus: “You bought me dinner!”
[One orderly looks at the others, quivering.]
[Vinell chuckles.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “We have different tastes. You favour human meat. I prefer lamb.”
[Jurassic’s tail swishes.]
Jurassic Colossus: “From where I’m standing, you’re the one lining up to be slaughtered.”
[Doc replies in his silky bedside tone.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “You must be looking in the mirror, as you did in my laboratory.”
[Colossus scoffs.]
Jurassic Colossus: “You’re no doctor. You’re a butcher.”
[The Good Doctor Butcher sighs.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “When your blood pumped through my circulatory system, it was… Intoxicating.”
[Jurassic snarls.]
Jurassic Colossus: “Then I oughta feel drunk off my ass when I paint the ring with your blood!”
[Doc drops his warm facade for his naturally icy tone.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “I need another sample from you. Should I enter Lambs to the Slaughter, I’ll take every advantage I can get…”
[The Last Dinosaur stands his ground.]
Jurassic Colossus: “Over my dead body.”
[Vinell rubs his hands together.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “That’s the plan.”
[THE ORDERLIES RUSH JURASSIC–]
[TAIL WHIP! HEADBUTT! CLAWS!]
[WHEELBARROW FACEBUSTER - SHARPTOOTH SHATTER!]
Signal: “Jurassic Colossus is fighting for his life!”
[More goons pile on top of The Last Dinosaur, burying him under a human pyramid!]
[Vinell cackles as he approaches the fleshy monument.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “Fossils are formed under immense pressure…”
[BODIES FLY THROUGH THE AIR!]
[THE JURASSIC COLOSSUS STANDS TALL!]
Jurassic Colossus: “ROOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!”
[Doc reaches for his trusty taser—]
[COLOSSUS DISARMS HIM!]
[ZZZZAAAAAP!]
[JURASSIC TASES VINELL!]
Jurassic Colossus: “That shit hurts, don’t it?”
[He drops the taser onto Doc’s chest and walks away, laughing.]
Play Time II
[The Temple lights dim. “March of the Iron Sovereign” HITS. Warlord Mars storms through the doors. This is the moment we've all been waiting for - the OSW World Heavyweight Championship at Pandemonium.]
Signal: “It’s time for the World Championship Triple Threat!”
Black Scar: “And these three men wanna tear each other apart!”
[Suddenly—]
[BZZZZZT.]
[Small drones flood into the arena.]
Signal: “What the hell!?”
[The drones circle Mars.]
[Then begin forming a shape around him.]
[A cube.]
[Mars stops.]
[The drones project footage.]
[PixelShift.]
[The arcade.]
[The monster.]
[Mars being dragged into the game.]
Pixelshift: “...That thing doesn’t exist in Skybound.”
[Mars’ face twists.]
Warlord Mars: "PIXELSHIT!"
[He swings at the drones.]
[Misses.]
[The footage keeps playing.]
Warlord Mars: "TURN IT OFF!"
[BZZT.]
[Mars suddenly slaps at his shoulder.]
Warlord Mars: "STUPID BEE—!"
Signal: “Did something hit him?”
Black Scar: “I think one of those drones stung him!”
[The drones scatter as Mars reaches the ring.]
[Then Mariachi trumpets.]
[Santiago Siniestro emerges…]
[…and the drones return immediately.]
Siniestro: "...No."
[The cube reforms around him.]
[New footage.]
[Ziggy Robbins.]
[Still standing.]
[Still breathing.]
[Dr. Cube’s voice echoes through the arena.]
Dr. Cube: "You couldn’t even beat him."
[Siniestro’s jaw clenches.]
Siniestro: "Enough."
[The drones continue.]
[Again.]
[And again.]
[Siniestro snatches one out of the air and crushes it.]
[Then—]
[BZZT.]
[Siniestro grabs his neck.]
[Small puncture.]
Signal: “Another sting!”
Black Scar: “What are those things injecting into them!?”
[Siniestro joins Mars in the ring. Both furious. Both looking ready to kill.]
Dr. Cube: “Game Over.”
[Dr. Cube stands behind them. World Title over his shoulder. Two empty injectable vials in his hands.]
Signal: “THAT’S THE VIAL!”
Black Scar: “The one from earlier!”
[Mars and Siniestro turn.]
Dr. Cube: "Did you truly believe I wouldn’t prepare for betrayal?"
[He lifts one vial.]
Dr. Cube: "A fascinating concoction."
[He tilts his head.]
Dr. Cube: "Slower reflexes."
[Second vial.]
Dr. Cube: "Muscle fatigue."
[A grin.]
Dr. Cube: "Sluggishness."
[Mars lunges a step—]
[Then stumbles.]
[Siniestro steadies himself on the ropes.]
Signal: “Oh my God…”
Black Scar: “Cube poisoned them!”
Dr. Cube: "You’ve had your fun tearing apart War Machine."
[He steps between them.]
Dr. Cube: "Now…"
[A slow smile.]
Dr. Cube: "…I have mine."
[Mars swings.]
[Too slow.]
[Cube ducks it easily.]
[Siniestro charges.]
[Stumbles again.]
[Cube laughs.]
Dr. Cube: "The Game Master’s design remains."
[He points.]
[The Ruleador calls for the bell.]
[DING DING DING.]
Signal: “This is brilliant!”
Black Scar: “Cube outsmarted both of ‘em!”
[Mars and Siniestro glare at Cube.]
[Furious.]
[Weakening.]
[Cube raises the World Championship high.]
[The crowd goes BANANA.]
[The bell rings as Dr. Cube immediately goes on the attack against his two former, now heavily sedated allies.]
[Double clothesline from Cube takes both Siniestro and Mars down!]
Black Scar: “The Game Master has outplayed both his opponents here tonight, Sig. They might’ve survived Cube’s stipulation on Slam, but they let their guard down when it mattered.”
Signal: “Hate to say it, Scar, but their frequencies were definitely off. They should’ve known Cube was going to pull a stunt like this, and now it’ll possibly cost them the gold.”
[The crowd boos as the Doctor begins to stomp away on the heads and necks of his foes.]
[Both Santiago and Warlord’s reaction times are so slow, they can’t even defend themselves properly.]
[Cube pulls El Frio up to his feet slowly, basking in the jeers and savoring the advantage he has over his opponents.]
[Siniestro slowly throws incredibly soft shots at the Game Master’s abdomen, but they don’t register with him.]
[A DDT from Cube drops El Frio square on his dome!]
[The Doctor nonchalantly covers Santiago!]
[One!]
[...]
[...]
[Two!!]
[...]
[...]
[Cube lifts El Frio off the mat and stops the count!]
Signal: “The Doc’s just playing with his food right now, and the crowd absolutely hates it.”
Black Scar: “Cube has this game just about won. Why not have a little fun before confirming the kill?”
[The Game Master proceeds to roll El Frio onto his stomach and locks in a rear chinlock.]
[The hold is noticeably loose, as if it’s mostly for show rather than to inflict any real harm.]
[While Cube maintains the “submission”, he looks over to Warlord Mars, who is half consciously fiddling with his belt.]
Signal: “Whatever was in that syringe, it seems to be making Mars a little hot and bothered.”
Black Scar: “I hope hyperarousal isn’t a side effect with that concoction of the Game Master’s. The last thing anyone wants to see is the Bringer of War showing off his red rocket in the ring.”
[The Doctor releases the chinlock on Santiago and walks over to the Warlord with murderous intent.]
[Cube proceeds to kick Mars in the ribs to get him to turn onto his side!]
[It doesn’t work, so the Doc proceeds to kick him again, but harder!]
[And a third time!]
[Mars finally rolls onto his side after a fourth, stiff kick, allowing the Game Master to trap the bigger man’s arm behind his head.]
[He then pulls back the chin of the Warlord, trapping him in the PUZZLE LOCK!]
[The Bringer of War keeps reaching for his belt, despite being locked in the submission.]
[He’s fingertips away from the last pouch he has yet to open, but can’t quite reach it.]
[Just when it looks like the Warlord is about to pass out, Cube suddenly lets go of the hold!]
[Why?]
[Santiago crawled his way over and placed a hand on the Doctor!]
Black Scar: “Siniestro still has a bit of fight left in him, it seems. I admire his spirit, even if he doesn’t seem to recognize where he is.”
[The Doctor slowly rises to his feet before grabbing El Frio by the mask.]
[Cube pulls the Assassin towards the ropes, draping his neck across the middle one before planting a foot on Siniestro’s back!]
[The Doctor chokes out Siniestro, basking in the jeers from the crowd once more.]
[Meanwhile, Mars manages to reach inside the last pouch and pulls out a syringe with a glowing liquid within!]
[The Warlord makes sure the Doctor is distracted before stabbing it into his leg!]
Signal: “Looks like Mars whipped up something of his own, Scar! But what could it possibly be!?”
[Mars is only able to inject most of the serum into himself before Cube stops his assault on Siniestro.]
[By that point, the Warlord is forced to throw the syringe outside of the ring before the Game Master notices it.]
[The Doctor slowly saunters towards Mars, hoisting him up by the head-]
[WAR HEAD!]
[The headbutt knocks Cube for a loop as Mars gets back to his feet, looking completely rejuvenated!]
Black Scar: “Well I’ll be damned, Sig! The Bringer of War had the wits about him to make an antidote to Cube’s concoction!”
Signal: “That was unexpected, but it seems to have evened the odds and eliminated any advantage the Game Master had previously!”
[Mars charges at the Doctor and levels him with a big meaty clothesline, returning the favor from the start of the match!]
[Cube rises quickly, but gets taken down with a massive shoulder tackle by the Warlord!]
[The Game Master sits up, only to get grabbed around the waist by the Bringer of War and gets German suplexed from that position!]
[Mars beats on his chest like a gorilla as the crowd unexpectedly starts cheering for him!]
[The Warlord doesn’t acknowledge the audience’s approval, however, instead turning his attention towards the Doctor.]
[Cube tries to get back to his feet as the Bringer of War stomps towards him, looking to inflict further punishment.]
[Siniestro, meanwhile, slips out of the ring while holding his throat, unseen by his opponents and the majority of those in the arena.]
[As Mars continues to pummel Cube with heavy punches, El Frio makes his way towards the syringe the Warlord tossed aside earlier.]
[Crawling on his belly, Santiago makes his way towards the needle, hoping to get back into contention for the title.]
[Back in the ring, the Bringer of War sets the Doctor up in a torture rack!]
Signal: “He’s looking to end this match with the WAR MACHINE, Scar!”
[Mars pulls down on the back of the Game Master a couple times, before spinning out with the Argentine powerbomb!]
[He sits out with it and holds the Doctor’s leg!]
[One!]
[...]
[Santiago injects himself with the needle on the outside!]
[...]
[Two!!]
[...]
[The antidote starts to take effect as he notices the pin being counted in the ring!]
[...]
[Three!?]
[...]
[NO!]
[The Ruleador was pulled out of the ring at the last second by El Frio!]
Black Scar: “I can’t believe it, Sig! Siniestro managed to avoid being seen by anyone and saved the match for himself just as Mars had this thing won!”
Signal: “I’m shocked, Scar. However, I’m nowhere near as surprised as the Warlord looks right now!”
[Siniestro slides back into the ring and comes face to face with a stunned Bringer of War.]
[Both men stand up nose to nose, their breathing steadily faster paced and more aggressive as they rise.]
[Mars shoves Santiago into the ropes, who comes back on the attack with a running dropkick to the knee of the Warlord!]
[The Bringer of War clutches his leg as he stumbles backwards, giving Siniestro enough time to bounce off the ropes again for a second low dropkick!]
[Mars drops onto a knee as Siniestro looks to put the big man down with a springboard rana!]
[But the Warlord keeps hold of El Frio as he leans back!]
[The Bringer of War hoists Santiago up high and plants him down with a regular, but still powerful powerbomb!]
[Siniestro rolls onto the apron as Mars looks to follow him, but Cube is back up, and he stops the big man in his tracks with a hammerlock!]
[The Warlord attempts to throw a back elbow, but the Doctor ducks it and snags the head of Mars!]
[RUSSIAN ROULETTE!]
[The Hammerlock DDT plants the Bringer of War!]
[Before Cube can go for the pin, however, Santiago leaps onto the top rope and hits a downed Game Master with a HERMOSO RUIDO frog splash!]
[Cover!]
[One!]
[...]
[...]
[Two!!]
[...]
[...]
[The Doctor gets a shoulder up, hitting Siniestro in the dick in the process!]
[El Frio covers his family heirlooms as he rolls off Cube!]
[The crowd are on their feet, thunderously applauding after all that’s transpired.]
Signal: “Now this is the type of match the crowd were hoping to see!”
Black Scar: “What did you say!? I can’t hear you over all the cheering!”
[After a minute of respite, Mars is up to his feet first, clutching his head as he uses the ropes for support.]
[As he gets up, he walks over to Santiago, pulling him up by the back of his neck.]
[The Bringer of War throws Siniestro into a corner, looking to follow it up with a running avalanche!]
[But El Frio moves out of the way, leaving the Warlord to hit the turnbuckles hard!]
[Mars backs away from the corner as Siniestro runs up to the top of that same corner, jumping off with a moonsault that takes the big man down!]
[Santiago follows it up by grabbing the arm of the Warlord and twisting it to where he has a hammerlock applied around the Assassin’s leg.]
[El Frio then turns the Bringer of War onto his stomach before lifting his leg up in a half crab!]
Signal: “He’s got the TEQUILA SUNRISE locked in at the middle of the ring! Mars has nowhere to go!”
[Mars screams in agony as the Ruleador checks on him, asking him if he wants to quit!]
[The Warlord shakes his head no, causing Siniestro to lean back, locking the leg in tighter!]
[For a moment, through the howls of pain, it looks like the Bringer of War might just give up!]
Black Scar: “I’d say this one’s over, but Cube is back up to his feet!”
[CHECKMATE!]
[Spinning back elbow to the head of Siniestro causes him to release the hold!]
[Santiago flops to the mat face first as Mars clutches his sore leg, yelling obscenities all the while.]
[With both opponents down, Cube tilts his head from side to side, calculating who to go for next.]
[After a few seconds of deliberation, he decides to go after El Frio.]
[The Doctor forces Siniestro up to his feet before kicking him low and trapping him in a package position.]
Signal: “This could be GAME OVER for Santiago!”
[The Game Master tries to lift up his opponent, but he can’t get Santiago off the ground!]
[He clubs El Frio in the back a couple times before trying again, but the Assassin is still fighting with everything he has!]
[He wriggles free from the package lock and back body drops Cube onto the mat!]
[The Doctor gets up quick, but Siniestro rushes at him with an EL ULTIMO ADIOS!]
Black Scar: “¡Dios mío! The Mexican Destroyer hits flush!”
[He attempts to cover Cube again, but Mars is back on his feet, intercepting Santiago with a massive punt kick!]
[Siniestro collapses onto the mat as the Warlord drags his limp body over to Cube’s.]
[The Bringer of War looks to end this war in a massive way as he drapes El Frio over the Game Master before making his way to a corner.]
[He slowly pulls himself up to the top rope as the ropes bend and creak under the massive four hundred and sixty four pound frame of the Warlord.]
[Just as he makes it up to the second rope, he’s clubbed in the back by a half conscious Dr. Cube!]
[He slides under Mars and climbs to the top rope with his back facing the crowd.]
[He sets the Warlord’s head in between his legs as he looks to go for an avalanche GAME OVER!]
Black Scar: “There’s no way, man…”
Signal: “He’ll kill Siniestro if he hits this!”
[Cube somehow hoists the Warlord in a package piledriver position before pushing off!]
[The piledriver sees Mars land head first onto the abdomen of Santiago!]
[The crowd reacts loudly with a collective OOOOOOH as the commentators are rendered speechless by what happened!]
[The Warlord flops onto his side, eyes glazed over and nearly rolling into the back of his head.]
[El Frio clutches his stomach in pain and writhes like a fish out of water.]
[Cube can only press down on Siniestro’s shoulders to make an exhausted cover!]
[One!]
[...]
[...]
[Two!!]
[...]
[...]
[Three!!!]
Signal: “Cube managed to even and then defy the odds here tonight. He’s still your world champion, but my God did he have to put up a heck of a fight!”
Winner & STILL OSW Champion: Dr. Cube
The Stash
[EXT. THE TEMPLE — ROOFTOP — NIGHT.]
[Wind screams across the top of the Temple. Rainwater glistens across the stone rooftop beneath the neon glow of Molvania below.]
[PixelShift dangles over the edge of the building.]
[Hundreds of feet in the air.]
[Kicking helplessly.]
[The Candy Man holds him one-handed by the throat over the abyss.]
[His bright, twisted colours feel even more unnatural against the darkness of the skyline.]
Signal: "OH MY GOD!"
Black Scar: "Candy Man’s gonna throw him off the Temple!"
[PixelShift claws desperately at the hand around his throat.]
Pixelshift: "I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!"
[The Candy Man tilts his head slowly.]
[Almost childlike.]
[Almost playful.]
[Which somehow makes it worse.]
The Candy Man: "You took my stash."
[PixelShift shakes his head frantically.]
Pixelshift: "No I didn’t!"
[The Candy Man squeezes tighter.]
[PixelShift chokes, legs kicking over empty air.]
The Candy Man: "Don’t lie to me."
[A pause.]
[His voice lowers.]
The Candy Man: "That makes me sad."
Signal: "Somebody get up there!"
[The wind howls harder around them.]
[Far below, the lights of Molvania blur beneath PixelShift’s dangling feet.]
The Candy Man: "I want it back."
[PixelShift struggles to speak.]
Pixelshift: "I—I can find it!"
[A gasp.]
Pixelshift: "I swear!"
[The Candy Man stares at him silently.]
[Studying him.]
[Trying to decide if the fear is real.]
[Then suddenly—]
[He throws PixelShift.]
[But not off the building.]
[Back onto the rooftop.]
[PixelShift crashes hard against the stone, coughing violently, scrambling away on all fours.]
Black Scar: "He spared him…"
Signal: "For now!"
[The Candy Man slowly approaches.]
[Rain drips from the edge of his mask.]
The Candy Man: "One chance."
[A beat.]
The Candy Man: "You bring my stash back to me…"
[He crouches slightly.]
The Candy Man: "…or next time…"
[A long pause.]
[He points over the edge of the Temple.]
The Candy Man: "You fall."
[PixelShift nods desperately, still gasping for breath.]
Pixelshift: "Okay— okay! Cool! Yeah! I’ll find it!"
[The Candy Man rises.]
[Steps backward toward the darkness of the rooftop.]
[And disappears into it.]
[Leaving PixelShift alone at the edge of the Temple.]
[Shaking.]
[With the city sprawling beneath him.]
Signal: "PixelShift’s in serious trouble…"
Black Scar: "And now he’s gotta find a stash he says he never stole."
[The wind continues to roar across the rooftop.]
[Cut.]
An Amicable Resolution
[FLASHBACK.]
[INT. MARVOLO’S OFFICE — NIGHT.]
[The room is dark except for the green glow of a banker’s lamp on the desk. Rain taps softly against the windows of the Temple.]
[Marvolo sits alone in his chair, the red phone pressed tightly to his ear.]
[He doesn’t look angry.]
[He looks tired.]
Marvolo: "I know."
[A pause.]
[He slowly leans back in the chair.]
Marvolo: "I know you're coming for me."
[Silence answers him from the other end of the line.]
[Marvolo rubs his temple.]
Marvolo:"Which means we’re out of time."
[A beat.]
Marvolo: "So let’s stop pretending this can still be managed from the shadows."
[The rain intensifies outside.]
[Lightning briefly illuminates the office.]
Marvolo: "We should meet."
[A pause.]
Marvolo: "Face to face."
[His grip tightens around the receiver.]
Marvolo: "And resolve this amicably. Once and for all."
[He listens.]
[Expression slowly hardening.]
[Then—]
[Click.]
[The line goes dead.]
[Marvolo lowers the phone slowly.]
[The office suddenly feels much larger.]
[Much emptier.]
[Outside, thunder rolls over Molvania.]
[Fade.]
Signal: Here we go folks... the moment we've all been waiting for.
Black Scar: WHO'S FIRST!?
The slow rumble of “The Riddler” is quickly followed by the incredible trumpets that lead to Edward Newton stepping out through the doors into The Temple.
He saunters his way to the ring with arrogance, tapping his forehead to signal his superior intelligence before rolling under the bottom rope into the ring.
Edward smiles, soaking in the boos.
[The lights dim to deep purple and red hues as feedback hums through the arena. A slow blues riff kicks in as Ram Jam steps through the smoke, cape shimmering, head nodding to the rhythm.]
Signal: Ram Jam and Edward Newton is one hell of a pairing to kick this off!
Black Scar: They couldn’t have picked two weirder bastards to start us off with.
Signal: Twenty souls enter Lambs to the Slaughter… but only one survives the slaughterhouse.
[He pauses halfway down the ramp, spreads his arms, and lets the crowd soak him in before rolling into the ring and climbing the turnbuckles – horns raised high.]
[The bell sounds as Edward Newton and Ram Jam slowly circle one another. Newton’s cold, analytical stare never leaves the masked showman, while Ram Jam sways side to side to a rhythm only he can hear.]
Ram Jam: Jam’s in session, baby!
[Ram suddenly bursts forward with surprising speed, THROWING a wild discus lariat that Newton barely ducks under.]
[Riddle Me That! Newton instantly grabs Ram by the mask and BOUNCES his skull off the top turnbuckle repeatedly.]
Signal: Newton wasting absolutely no time putting down a marker in this match.
[Newton twists the arm viciously.]
[NEWTON’S LAW!]
[The Armbreaker nearly snaps Ram Jam’s shoulder apart as the Soul Shaman writhes in pain on the canvas.]
[Eddie pulls him back to his feet.. but Ram Jam suddenly fires back with a brutal Psychedelic Headbutt right to the jaw!]
[Newton Stumbles.]
Black Scar: GOOD LORD, I think Newton’s teeth just changed zip code.
[The Riddler stumbles backwards into the ropes as Ram starts to FEEL the rhythm, rolling his shoulders before exploding forward.]
[ELECTRIC AVENUE! Running clothesline nearly folds Newton inside out, but over the top rope!.]
[Ram turns, playing to the crowd as he drums against his chest.]
Ram Jam: FEEL IT!
[WOMP!]
[Edwards pulls his feet out from underneath him, dragging him quickly to the outside.]
[He quickly strikes him with a hard right hand before whipping him hard back first into the barricade. The Riddler smirks, tapping his forehead in mockery.]
Signal: Always thinking.
[The Riddler grabs him by the head, thrusting right hands into his skull until the audible countdown timer grabs his attention.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The arena goes dark, an eerie fog filling the ringside to hushed murmurs before the ominous rev of an engine announces Mr. Grimm's arrival.]
["Ride With Mr. Grimm" follows the revving, blaring through the arena speakers.]
[He rides his motorcycle through the entrance doors. Wisps of souls wicking off him as he arrives.]
Signal: Here he comes… the being that demanded The Newton Boys beat some answers out of him.
[LIGHTNING STRIKE! SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!]
[LUKE STORM! LUKE STORM!]
[LUKE STORM SUPERKICKS HIM IN THE SKULL, SENDING HIM FLYING OFF THE BIKE, WHICH SKIDS ACROS THE FLOOR WITH THE IMPACT!]
Black Scar: THAT LITTLE BASTARD JUST JUMPED THE REAPER!
[Storm rains down stomps on Grimm at the entrance before dragging the dazed specter up and THROWING him under the bottom rope into the match.]
Signal: Luke Storm isn’t even in this match!
Black Scar: Since when has that stopped him?
[Newton meanwhile has slid back into the ring, just in time to meet Mr. Grimm who rolls back to his feet.]
[He spins him…]
[BUT GRIMM GRABS HIM BY THE THROAT… AND BACKS NEWTON INTO THE CORNER.]
[THUD.]
[THUD.]
[THUD.]
[The Reaper crushes Newton against the buckles until Luke Storm attacks him from behind with a Double Axe Handle to the back of the head. Eddie quickly sidesteps in escape to stand alongside his brother.]
Edward Newton: …You. Where is she!?
[Grimm slowly turns his head toward Newton.]
Mr Grimm: You can’t outrun the Reaper and if I wanted her soul, neither could she.
[Newton fires first with a desperate right hand.]
[Grimm doesn’t budge.]
[DEATH’S DOOR! Skull-laden headbutt drops Newton flat on his back.]
Signal: Just tell them what they want to know, Grimm!
Black Scar: I think he just did?
[Suddenly, Ram Jam grabs Grimm from behind, trying to muscle the bigger man into a Full Nelson.]
[Grimm breaks the grip with brute force before spinning around.]
[SOUL HARVESTER! DISCUS LARIAT NEARLY TAKES RAM JAM’S HEAD OFF!]
Black Scar: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!
[Ram crashes to the canvas in a heap as Grimm stands motionless in the center of the ring. Newton slowly crawls backwards toward the ropes, suddenly far less eager to engage.]
[Meanwhile Luke Storm’s eyes are focused on The Reaper, stood across with vengeance in mind. Did he just say Scarlett was dead?]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!?
["Chariots on Fire" blasts throughout the arena as the energy instantly shifts from dread to fear for his safety.]
[Ziggy Robbins bursts out onto the stage with an enormous grin, pointing into the crowd and high-fiving fans on the way down.]
Signal: I’m not sure this is the best environment for positivity.
Black Scar: This idiot’s walking into a murder scene smiling.
[Inside the ring, Luke Storm and Mr. Grimm stand opposite one another while Edward Newton cautiously watches from the corner. Ram Jam is still recovering in the ropes.]
[Ziggy hops onto the apron and enters the ring.]
[Immediately walking directly BETWEEN Grimm and Storm.]
Ziggy Robbins: Okay! Okay fellas! Listen here! I think we all just need to calm down and have a productive conversation because I need some answers too!
[Storm blinks.]
[Newton looks utterly baffled.]
[Grimm slowly tilts his head downward toward Ziggy.]
Ziggy Robbins: See! Progress already. Eye contact is VERY important—
[GRIMM WRAPS A HAND AROUND HIS THROAT.]
Black Scar: Ah. There it is.
Signal: Ziggy may have picked the worst possible moment to become a mediator!
[Ziggy’s feet kick helplessly as Grimm lifts him high into the air.]
Ziggy Robbins: O-Okay! Little aggressive! BUT WE CAN WORK THRO—
[TO THE GRAVE—]
[SUPERKICK IN MID AIR!]
[LUKE STORM COMES FLYING IN WITH A VICIOUS SUPERKICK THAT CRACKS ZIGGY ACROSS THE JAW ON THE WAY DOWN FROM THE CHOKESLAM!]
Black Scar: GOOD LORD!
[Ziggy folds like paper upon impact, bouncing awkwardly across the canvas.]
Black Scar: ThE motivational speaker just got motivated straight into the afterlife.
[Storm turns and immediately stares at Grimm.]
Luke Storm: Tell me where Scarlett is. Tell me everything you know…
Mr. Grimm: Already? We’re just beginning to have fun.
[Storm rushes him instantly, unloading with furious strikes as Newton sees an opening – the bike. He quickly exits the ring and heads towards the Pale Rider, still revving disconcertingly on the floor.]
[Grim looks towards him.]
Mr Grimm: Don’t…
Luke Storm: My brother could take that thing apart, Grimm. You know precisely what he’s capable of. He could dismantle it before your very eyes. The intricacies of that machine are nothing compared to the mind of my brother.
[Newton looks at it, perplexed.]
[AND BEGINS STOMPING ON IT!]
Luke Storm: Uhh…
Signal: That’s not what he had in mind.
Black Scar: Relax, Newton forgot to bring his tools, that’s all.
[In the confusion, Grimm pushes Storm away with a Powerful Uppercut. He stumbles… NATURAL CAUSES! DIVING HEADBUTT!]
[The Reaper quickly slides out of the ring, heading towards The Riddler who stands stomping violently at the Pale Rider.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
[The arena lights dim to a blood-red glow as ominous chanting echoes throughout the building.]
Belivers: OBEY. SUBMIT. BELIEVE.
["Obey" begins to blare through the speakers as Propaganda slowly emerges onto the stage in his hooded robe, disciples flanking him carrying banners high above their heads.]
Signal: Oh no… this situation is about to get even worse.
Black Scar: Grimm’s got history with this lunatic too. The Reaper’s making all kinds of friends tonight.
[At ringside, Mr. Grimm storms toward Edward Newton, who still stands beside the Pale Rider stomping awkwardly at the bike while Luke Storm recovers nearby.]
[But Propaganda suddenly steps directly into Grimm’s path.]
[The Reaper stops.]
Propaganda: The truth always reveals itself.
Mr Grimm: Move.
Propaganda: Obey. Submit. Believe.
[THE BELIEVERS SWARM HIM.]
Signal: Propaganda just unleashed his followers onto Grimm!
[The disciples hammer Grimm with stomps and strikes, overwhelming the Reaper through sheer numbers before dragging him toward the still-revving Pale Rider.]
[Newton watches on in stunned confusion.]
Edward Newton: What the hell are you doing!?
[Propaganda grabs Grimm by the skull mask.]
Propaganda: He seeks answers. You will provide them.
[The followers FORCE Grimm’s skull mask against the scorching hot engine.]
[FSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
Black Scar: They’re burning the damn mask into his face! Wait, does he even have a face under that thing?
[Smoke rises from the contact point as Grimm finally ROARS in pain, struggling violently against the disciples.]
[Luke Storm groggily joins them at the bike.]
Luke Storm: Tell us where Scarlett is!
Mr Grimm: SHE… LIVES!
[Storm freezes.]
[Newton does too.]
Mr Grimm:She has not passed over. Wherever she is… I have no claim to her soul.
[Newton’s expression shifts instantly from rage to confusion.]
Edward Newton: Alive…?
[PROPAGANDA GRABS GRIMM BY THE BACK OF THE HEAD.]
[CURB STOMP INTO THE ENGINE!]
[CRACK.]
Signal: SWEET JESUS!
[Grimm collapses beside the Pale Rider in a heap as Propaganda stands motionless above him.]
Propaganda: Resistance is futile.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Ziggy Robbins slowly crawls toward Ram Jam, getting back to his feet whilst still clutching his jaw.]
Ziggy Robbins: Hey buddy… quick question… have you seen my brother?
[Ram blinks.]
[Then suddenly rolls Ziggy up.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO—KICKOUT!]
Black Scar: Smartest thing anybody’s done all match.
[Ziggy pops back up immediately despite the near fall.]
Ziggy Robbins: Great effort! Way to capitalize on opportunity! That’s the mindset we LOVE to see!
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[“Moretti’s March” blares throughout the arena.]
Signal: Oh boy… business is about to pick up.
[Blackhand Moretti steps onto the stage marching toward the chaos with cold purpose.]
[Propaganda remains standing near the fallen Grimm and the smoking Pale Rider.]
[The Believers turn toward Moretti.]
Black Scar: Uh oh.
Propaganda: Another lost soul arrives.
Blackhand Moretti: Move.
[Propaganda doesn’t.]
[MORETTI DOES.]
[RIGHT HAND STRAIGHT TO THE JAW!]
Signal: Moretti just decked Propaganda!
[The Believers swarm immediately but Moretti starts THROWING bodies aside as the entranceway erupts into a full-on brawl.]
[Propaganda fires back with The Signal! Running knee catches Moretti flush in the face.]
[But Moretti barely stumbles.]
Blackhand Moretti: My turn.
[MADE MAN!]
[Short-arm lariat… STRAIGHT INTO A HEADBUTT that lamps him to the floor.]
Black Scar: The Don just folded that cult leader in half!
[Meanwhile at ringside, Edward Newton grabs Mr. Grimm by the legs and begins dragging the barely-conscious Reaper back toward the ring.]
[Inside the ring, Ziggy Robbins and Ram Jam trade wild shots.]
Ziggy Robbins: Great hustle buddy! GREAT HUSTLE!
[Ram responds with a brutal body shot.]
[Ziggy doubles over before Ram scoops him up.]
[RAM JAM SLAM!]
Signal: Spinebuster with authority!
[Ram Jam rises, pounding his chest rhythmically as the crowd rallies behind him.]
Ram Jam: FEEL THE RHYTHM!
[But the crowd suddenly ROARS louder.]
[Ram slowly turns.]
[Blackhand Moretti now stands in the ring.]
[Moretti cracks his neck, eyes locked directly onto Ram Jam.]
Signal: Ohhhhhh boy.
Black Scar: History just walked back into the room.
[Ram Jam grins mask.]
Ram Jam: Well damn… now THIS is a jam session.
[Moretti smirks slightly.]
Blackhand Moretti: Everybody pays.
[The two men step forward slowly, nose to nose in the centre of the ring as the crowd buzzes with anticipation.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The arena lights dim before flickering violently in uneven bursts.]
["Sugar in the Walls" echoes throughout the building.]
Signal: Oh no… not him.
[For several long seconds, nothing happens.]
[Then The Candy Man slowly steps onto the stage, staring into his palm as though something invisible rests there.]
[Propaganda has just returned to his feet with help from his Believers when Candy Man suddenly lifts his head.]
[HE CHARGES.]
Black Scar:MOVE!
[Candy Man barrels down the ramp like a runaway truck, absolutely PLOWING through the Believers.]
[Bodies scatter everywhere.]
[Believers get THUNDERED over the barricade.]
[Belivers get flattened with a shoulder block.]
[Propaganda tries to stop him—]
[JAWBREAKER! Running forearm smashes Propaganda flat onto the stage.]
Signal: He just ran through them all!
[At ringside, Edward Newton is still dragging Mr. Grimm toward the apron when Candy Man suddenly grabs him by the back of the head.]
[SMASH!]
[Newton’s skull bounces violently off the steel steps.]
[SMASH!]
[SMASH!]
Edward Newton: AGH!
Black Scar: Jesus Christ!
[Newton collapses beside Grimm as Candy Man suddenly goes calm again, fixing his jacket before climbing into the ring.]
[Inside, Ram Jam and Blackhand Moretti are moments away from exploding into violence—]
[WHEN CANDY MAN CRASHES INTO BOTH MEN WITH A DOUBLE LARIAT!]
Signal: GOOD GOD WHAT IMPACT!
[The collision sends BOTH Ram Jam and Moretti tumbling violently through the ropes to the floor below.]
[Candy Man stands alone in the centre of the ring as the crowd rains boos down upon him.]
The Candy Man: EAT IT!
[He roars wildly.]
[Then slowly turns.]
[Ziggy Robbins stands there nervously smiling.]
Ziggy Robbins: Hey! Uh… weird question… my brother loved candy so I was just wondering if maybe you’d seen—
[Candy Man’s face twitches.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[Ziggy crumples instantly.]
Signal: Oh no.
[Candy Man grabs Ziggy by the shirt and drags him back up.]
[HARD CANDY!]
[Short-arm lariat nearly turns Ziggy inside out.]
[Ziggy somehow stumbles back to his feet groggily.]
Ziggy Robbins: Y-You can’t have a rainbow—
[SOUR DROP!]
[Samoan Drop crushes him into the canvas.]
[Candy Man mounts Ziggy and begins raining down violent punches while screaming incoherently.]
Black Scar: Somebody stop this lunatic!
[Candy Man suddenly stops punching.]
[Perfectly calm.]
The Candy Man:: …Momma said nobody cared.
[He wipes blood from his mouth as the countdown begins.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The lights die completely.]
[An acoustic guitar begins softly playing through the darkness.]
Signal: …Oh no.
Black Scar: Great. The human rain cloud’s here.
[Cellphone lights slowly begin illuminating the arena as a lone spotlight reveals Silas standing at the top of the stage, slowly strumming his blackened guitar.]
[Black bile drips behind him as he drags the instrument slowly along the ramp.]
Signal: Listen to this place… nobody’s even making noise anymore.
[The chaotic energy around ringside seems to die instantly beneath Silas’ suffocating aura.]
[Propaganda’s Believers sit slumped against the barricade in silence.]
[Even Candy Man pauses in the ring, slowly turning toward the stage while still mounted over Ziggy Robbins.]
[Silas never looks up.]
[He simply keeps walking.]
[Strumming.]
[Dragging the guitar.]
Black Scar: I suddenly miss the psycho candy murderer.
[At ringside, Ram Jam slowly pulls himself up using the barricade while Blackhand Moretti hangs his head nearby.]
[Edward Newton meanwhile crawls away from the steel steps while Mr. Grimm remains motionless on the floor, smoke rising from his mask.]
[Silas reaches ringside.]
[Still playing.]
[Candy Man slowly rises to his feet inside the ring, staring down at him.]
The Candy Man: …Momma liked music.
[Silas finally looks up.]
Silas: She’s dead too.
[Silence.]
[Candy Man’s eye twitches violently.]
Signal: Uh oh.
[Candy Man storms forward toward the ropes—]
[SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS!]
[Silas suddenly SPRINGBOARDS into the ring with a trust fall plancha that CRASHES directly into Candy Man.]
Black Scar: HE JUST THREW HIMSELF AT HIM!
[Both men slam hard into the canvas as Silas immediately rolls through to his feet.]
[Candy Man stumbles upright—]
[FACE DOWN! X-Factor plants Candy Man face first into the mat.]
[Ziggy slowly crawls nearby, bloodied and groggy.]
Ziggy Robbins: Y’know… music is actually a really healthy emotional outlet—
[Silas slowly turns his masked face toward him.]
Ziggy Robbins: …I’m gonna stop talking now.
[Outside, Mr. Grimm has finally risen. He enters the ring, stepping onto the apron and then over the top rope.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOO'S NEXT!?
[An eerie calm suddenly settles across the Temple as “Into The Vines” begins to echo throughout the arena.]
Signal: The Huntress has entered the slaughter.
[Aranza steps through the gates of the Temple adorned in her feathered headdress and bison pelt, her eyes immediately scanning the chaos around ringside like a predator surveying wounded prey.]
Black Scar: Look at those eyes. She ain’t entering a match, she’s picking targets.
[Inside the ring, Silas slowly rises back to his feet after planting Candy Man with Face Down.]
[But black bile suddenly drips beside him.]
[Mr. Grimm stands before him.]
Signal: Grimm’s back up!
[Silas slowly tilts his head.]
[Silas swings his guitar.]
[DISINTEGRATIO—NO!]
[GRIMM CATCHES THE GUITAR WITH ONE HAND.]
Black Scar: Uh oh.
[Grimm yanks Silas violently forward.]
[DEATH’S DOOR! Skull-laden headbutt rocks Silas backwards into the ropes.]
[Silas rebounds wildly—]
[ONE ARMED SCISSOR!]
[Turnaround lariat catches Grimm flush across the jaw.]
Signal: Silas just took the Reaper’s head off!
[Grimm staggers as Silas rushes the ropes.]
[SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS!]
[Springboard trust fall CRASHES into Grimm and sends both men spilling awkwardly through the ropes to the outside floor.]
[Aranza watches it all silently from the apron.]
[Then leaps.]
Signal: Here we go!
[CLEAN SHOT!]
[Running single-leg dropkick blasts Silas into the barricade the second he rises.]
[Grimm grabs Aranza instantly by the throat—]
[PARTING SHOT!]
[The spinning roundhouse kick cracks against Grimm’s skull and forces him backwards a step.]
Black Scar: The Huntress ain’t scared of Death!
[Aranza and Silas exchange a quick look.]
[Then both attack Grimm together.]
[Silas unloads wild strikes while Aranza hammers Grimm with vicious forearms and kicks.]
[Silas hooks the arms—]
[LAST RITES—NO!]
[Grimm powers free.]
[GRABS SILAS BY THE THROAT.]
[GRABS ARANZA BY THE THROAT.]
Signal: Oh no…
[DOUBLE TO THE GRAVE!]
[Grimm hoists BOTH competitors high into the air before CHOKESLAMMING them simultaneously onto the ringside floor.]
Black Scar: SWEET LORD WHAT IMPACT!
[Grimm rises slowly amidst the wreckage while inside the ring Candy Man sits in the corner muttering to himself, Ziggy cautiously keeping his distance and Ram Jam and Moretti beginning to climb back onto opposite aprons.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The Temple falls dark once more.]
[THUMP.]
[THUMP.]
[THUMP.]
[A slow heartbeat echoes throughout the arena.]
Signal: Oh no… not this psychopath too.
[“Heart Beat Rhythm” begins playing softly as Dr. Eric Vinell emerges onto the stage, flanked by grotesque chimeras shambling beside him.]
Black Scar: We got monsters, cults, mobsters and now a mad scientist. This match is becoming a damn apocalypse and I’m here for it!
[Vinell calmly adjusts his gloves while staring toward the ring with visible disgust.]
Dr. E. Vinell: Fascinating… such wonderfully damaged specimens.
[At ringside, Mr. Grimm grabs Silas by the mask and hair, dragging the dazed Sorrow toward the apron.]
[He rolls Silas beneath the bottom rope back into the ring.]
Signal: Grimm just threw him back into the slaughterhouse!
[Inside, Candy Man slowly turns toward the barely-moving Silas.]
[Candy Man tilts his head.]
Candy Man: …You’re sad too.
[Silas slowly pushes himself upward.]
[JAWBREAKER!]
[The running forearm nearly caves Silas’ face in.]
Black Scar: GOOD LORD!
[Candy Man drags Silas back up by the mask.]
[HARD CANDY!]
[Short-arm lariat folds him inside out.]
[But Candy Man grabs him immediately, pulling him back to his feet.]
[SOUR DROP!]
[Samoan Drop plants Silas violently into the canvas.]
Signal: This has gotta be it!
[Candy Man suddenly climbs the ropes.]
Black Scar: Oh no… that big bastard’s going airborne!
[He steadies himself up top.]
[GLASS JAR!]
[The massive diving splash CRUSHES Silas beneath him. Into the cover…]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Silas has been eliminated!
[The Candy Man rises slowly over the fallen Sorrow, breathing heavily as officials begin dragging Silas from the ring.]
[Meanwhile Dr. Vinell finally reaches ringside.]
[Ziggy Robbins approaches cautiously.]
Ziggy Robbins: Hey! You seem smart! Maybe you can help me find my broth—
[OCULAR ASSAULT!]
[Vinell suddenly throws a vile substance directly into Ziggy’s eyes.]
Ziggy Robbins: AHHHH MY EYES!
Dr. E. Vinell: Pain is merely data collection.
Black Scar: Yeah I love this guy.
[Vinell calmly steps into the ring, pulling on a fresh pair of gloves as Candy Man slowly turns toward him from across the canvas.]
[The Good Doctor smiles.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The lights of the Temple flicker violently before dimming into darkness.]
[Hissssssssss.]
[Thump.]
[Hissssssssss.]
["Cold Alloy" begins to pulse throughout the arena as thick purple haze spills from the entrance.]
Signal: What the hell is that smell?
Black Scar: Whatever it is, I think it’s stripping my lungs.
[Fans near the stage begin covering their mouths as a hulking silhouette slowly emerges through the haze.]
[SUJETO CERO.]
[Behind him walks Bryce Sterling calmly adjusting his cuffs.]
Bryce Sterling: Proceed.
[Sujeto slowly tilts his head before marching toward the ring.]
[Inside, Candy Man charges first.]
Signal: Uh oh.
[JAWBREAKER—NO!]
[SUJETO DOESN’T EVEN FLINCH.]
Black Scar: HE ATE IT?!
[Sujeto grabs Candy Man by the throat with one hand.]
[PRESION TOXICA!]
[The extended choke lifts Candy Man completely off his feet before Sujeto SLAMS him into the canvas.]
Signal: Good God what power!
[Ziggy Robbins rushes in desperately throwing punches.]
Ziggy Robbins: Hey buddy! Maybe we can—
[BIOSHOCK!]
[Sujeto reverse gorilla presses Ziggy high overhead before snapping him violently across his knee with the backbreaker.]
Black Scar: That man just got folded like laundry.
[Ram Jam and Blackhand Moretti both slide into the ring simultaneously.]
[Ram fires first.]
[ELECTRIC AVENUE!]
[Moretti follows immediately.]
[OMERTA!]
[The double impact finally staggers Sujeto backward into the ropes.]
Signal: It took BOTH men to move him!
[Sujeto suddenly ROARS through the mask before charging forward.]
[DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE TURNS BOTH MEN INSIDE OUT.]
[Meanwhile at ringside, Aranza slowly rises behind Dr. Vinell.]
Signal: The Huntress is stalking her prey.
[Aranza leaps.]
[PARTING SHOT—]
[OCULAR ASSAULT!]
[Vinell suddenly throws chemicals directly into her eyes mid attack.]
Aranza: AGH!
Dr. E. Vinell: Remarkable reflexes. Let us test the nervous system further.
[Aranza swings blindly.]
[VINELL DUCKS.]
[PATIENT ZERO!]
[The awful waffle SPIKES Aranza directly onto the top of her head at ringside.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
Black Scar: That woman’s dead!
[Vinell calmly rolls her lifeless body beneath the bottom rope before entering straight into a pinfall.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Aranza has been eliminated!
[Vinell calmly rises and adjusts his gloves while Sujeto Cero stands dominant in the center of the ring, surrounded by bodies.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[Fog spills throughout the Temple as the cries of “King of the Cretaceous” echo around the arena.]
[Then comes the roar.]
Signal: Oh you have got to be kidding me.
[The Jurassic Colossus bursts through the fog and onto the stage, roaring toward the heavens before immediately charging down the ramp.]
Black Scar: Business is about to pick up in a BIG way.
[Inside the ring, Sujeto Cero stands dominant over the field of bodies while Dr. Vinell calmly observes from the corner.]
[The Colossus slides into the ring.]
[The ring shakes.]
[Sujeto slowly turns.]
[The two monsters stand nose to nose.]
Signal: Ladies and gentlemen…
Black Scar: WE GOT TWO BIG MEATY MONSTERS SLAPPING MEAT!
[COLOSSUS FIRES THE FIRST CHOP.]
[CRACK.]
[Sujeto answers with a forearm.]
[THUD.]
[Colossus HEADBUTTS him.]
[Sujeto HEADBUTTS back harder.]
[THUNK.]
Signal: Good GOD!
[The two monsters begin absolutely battering one another with chops, forearms and headbutts in the center of the ring.]
[Ram Jam tries to intervene.]
[DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE FROM BOTH MEN.]
[Ram Jam flips inside out and rolls beneath the ropes clutching his chest.]
Black Scar: Wrong place, wrong damn time.
[Sujeto roars through the mask before grabbing Colossus by the throat.]
[PRESION TOXICA—NO!]
[COLOSSUS BREAKS FREE.]
[DDT!]
[The DDT spikes Sujeto hard into the canvas.]
Signal: He planted the monster!
[But Sujeto immediately rises back to one knee.]
[Sujeto and Colossus stare at one another again.]
[Then both men roar simultaneously before charging.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[Neither man drops.]
Black Scar: THEY’RE TRYING TO KILL EACH OTHER!
[Colossus grabs Sujeto by the mask and launches him into the corner.]
[PALEO CRASH!]
[The leaping splash crushes Sujeto against the buckles.]
[But Sujeto explodes out of the corner.]
[THUNDEROUS CLOTHESLINE!]
[The Clothesline doesn’t down the Dino!.]
Signal: HOW ARE EITHER OF THESE MEN STANDING!?
[The Colossus swings wildly.]
[Sujeto swings back.]
[The two giants brawl violently through the ropes and out onto the floor, still throwing bombs at one another.]
[HEADBUTT AGAIN.]
[FOREARM.]
[CHOP.]
[They crash against the barricade still fighting as officials scatter for safety.]
Black Scar: Let them fight forever for all I care!
[Meanwhile inside the ring, Ziggy Robbins has a question for Dr. Vinell.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The sound of spurs jangling echoes throughout the Temple.]
Deadeye: I don’t miss.
["Walk Like Thunder" begins to play as Deadeye steps onto the stage, eyes locked firmly on the ring ahead.]
Signal: Here comes the Gunslinger.
[Deadeye begins his steady walk down the ramp—]
[RIGHT INTO A BRAWL.]
[Mr. Grimm and Propaganda are violently trading shots beside the stage while Believers swarm around them.]
Black Scar: There’s carnage everywhere!
[Grimm hurls a Believer through a banner while Propaganda answers with The Signal, the running knee cracking Grimm across the jaw.]
[Deadeye calmly pauses.]
Deadeye: …Y’all done?
[Neither man even acknowledges him.]
[Deadeye simply walks past them as Propaganda continues battering Grimm on the stage with stomps.]
Signal: Smart man. Don’t get involved in THAT.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Dr. Vinell slowly removes another glove while Ziggy Robbins cautiously approaches him.]
Ziggy Robbins: Look, I know this sounds weird but… have you seen my brother?
[Vinell slowly smiles.]
Dr. E. Vinell: Ah yes. Subject retrieval case seventy-two.
Signal: …What?
[OCULAR ASSAULT!]
[Vinell throws toxins directly into Ziggy’s eyes again.]
Ziggy Robbins: AHHHH!
Dr. E. Vinell: Your brother no longer exists… but do not concern yourself. The remnants of him will fuel my research for years to come.
[The Temple falls into horrified silence.]
Black Scar: What the HELL!?
[Ziggy swings wildly through tears and blindness.]
Ziggy Robbins: WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!?
[Vinell effortlessly steps around each desperate punch.]
Dr. E. Vinell: You searched all this time for a man already dissected by progress.
[Ziggy lunges blindly again.]
[Hitting nothing but air.]
[Vinell laughs.]
Signal: This is sickening.
[Deadeye suddenly slides into the ring unnoticed behind Vinell.]
[Ziggy swings again wildly—]
[DEADEYE DROPS.]
[SMALL PACKAGE!]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: VINELL’S BEEN ELIMINATED!
Black Scar: The Gunslinger stole one!
[Vinell’s eyes go wide in absolute disbelief as Deadeye releases the pin and rises.]
[Ziggy suddenly spins around blindly.]
[TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND!]
[Desperate Slingblade WIPES OUT Deadeye by complete accident.]
Signal: HE DIDN’T EVEN SEE HIM!
[Deadeye wheezes in pain beneath Ziggy as the motivational speaker lands on him and rolls away, still blinded.]
Ziggy Robbins: I’M GONNA FIND YOU BROTHER! I PROMISE!
[At ringside meanwhile, Sujeto Cero and Jurassic Colossus continue murdering each other against the barricade while Candy Man slowly watches Deadeye from the corner of the ring.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The Temple suddenly floods with blinding white and gold light as “Lightkeeper” erupts throughout the arena.]
Signal: Lux Bellator has arrived!
[Out from the light emerges Bellator—but something is wrong.]
Black Scar: Whoa… hold on. He really ain’t doing so hot.
[The Light Warrior stumbles forward clutching at his chest, his breathing ragged beneath the mask.]
Signal: Padre Venganza’s virus… Bellator still struggles.
[Lux tries to push onward down the ramp, refusing to fall as sweat pours from his body.]
Lux Bellator: Lumen… Acci—
[HE COLLAPSES TO BOTH KNEES.]
Signal: Bellator’s down!
[The crowd murmurs as officials rush toward him, but Bellator violently waves them away before dragging himself forward inch by inch toward the ring.]
Black Scar: This idiot’s literally dying trying to get to the fight.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Ram Jam and Blackhand Moretti finally stand face to face once more.]
[The crowd buzzes loudly.]
Signal: Here we go.
[Moretti slowly cracks his neck.]
[Ram Jam slowly raises his hands.]
Ram Jam: Before we jam, boss… I got somethin’ to show ya.
[Ram reveals a flashlight hidden behind his back.]
Black Scar: …Are you kidding me?
[Ram clicks it on.]
Signal: RAM JAM WAS THE ONE WHO KIDNAPPED HIS GOONS!
[Moretti’s face changes instantly.]
Blackhand Moretti: You stupid son of a—
[MORETTI CHARGES.]
[CRACK.]
[Ram Jam SMASHES the flashlight directly across Moretti’s skull.]
Signal: Sweet Jesus!
[Moretti collapses like a tree.]
[Ram quickly drops into the cover and hooks the leg.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: BLACKHAND MORETTI HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
Black Scar: The Boss just got set up!
[Ram Jam rises breathing heavily.]
[DEADSHOT!]
[Deadeye suddenly springs forward with the rolling stunner out of nowhere.]
Signal: DEADSHOT CONNECTS!
[Ram slams into the canvas, stunned—]
[DEADEYE GETS BACK UP AND TURNS RIGHT INTO CANDY MAN.]
[Candy Man catches him.]
The Candy Man: EAT IT.
[SOUR DROP!]
[Samoan Drop CRUSHES Deadeye into the canvas.]
Black Scar: HE JUST FLATTENED THE GUNSLINGER!
[Candy Man hooks the leg.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Deadeye has been eliminated!
[Inside the ring Candy Man rises roaring wildly while outside, Lux Bellator finally drags himself onto the apron, pale, shaking and barely able to stand.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The arena drops to black.]
[CLANG.]
[A single bullbell echoes throughout the Temple.]
Signal: Santiago Del Toro is here.
[Red light spills across the ramp as fog crawls outward. “Echoes of the Arena” growls through the arena while Santiago Del Toro slowly steps through the smoke, cape dragging behind him.]
Black Scar: That man looks like death learned how to fight bulls.
[Santiago calmly walks forward—]
[UNTIL PROPAGANDA BLASTS HIM FROM THE SIDE OF THE STAGE.]
Signal: Propaganda just jumped Del Toro!
Black Scar: Payback for earlier tonight!
[Propaganda hammers Santiago with furious strikes while Believers swarm around the fallen Matador.]
Propaganda: You stole what belonged to The Message!
[Santiago fires back with vicious forearms before twirling the cape directly into Propaganda’s face.]
[SINISTER MULETA!]
[Forearm smash cracks Propaganda across the jaw.]
[Santiago grabs him by the throat of the robe.]
Santiago Del Toro: Surrender your soul.
[The two men continue brawling violently around the entranceway as officials desperately try separating them.]
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Lux Bellator finally drags himself through the ropes, barely able to stand.]
Signal: Bellator’s finally made it into the match!
[Edward Newton immediately pounces.]
[SMALL PACKAGE!]
Black Scar: Sneaky little bastard!
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO—KICKOUT!]
[Nearby, Ziggy Robbins slowly rises and sees Newton getting back to his feet.]
Ziggy Robbins: Eddie! Hey buddy… rough night huh?
[Newton stares at him.]
[Then suddenly kicks him straight between the legs. LOW BLOW!]
Signal: Oh come on!
Black Scar: That’s the Edward Newton experience, baby.
[Ziggy collapses forward in agony.]
[NEVERMIND!]
[Jumping Implant DDT spikes Ziggy directly into the canvas.]
[Newton hooks both legs.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Ziggy Robbins has been eliminated!
[Newton rises smirking—]
[JAWBREAKER FROM BEHIND!]
[Candy Man nearly caves Newton’s skull in with the running forearm.]
Black Scar: HE JUST MURDERED HIM!
[Candy Man grabs Newton immediately.]
[But Newton suddenly rolls through.]
[INSIDE CRADLE!]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: WHAT?! Candy Man’s been eliminated!
Black Scar: Newton stole another one!
[Candy Man freezes.]
[The Temple goes silent.]
The Candy Man: …No....
[Then he SNAPS.]
[He grabs Newton by the throat even AFTER elimination and hurls him across the ring.]
[HEADBUTT TO BELLATOR.]
[FOREARM TO RAM JAM.]
[He’s attacking EVERYTHING THAT MOVES.]
Signal: He’s lost his mind!
[Referees swarm the ring trying to restrain him.]
[Candy Man throws officials aside violently.]
[Meanwhile Newton crawls beneath the ropes desperately escaping while Candy Man continues screaming incoherently as an army of referees and security finally begin dragging him from the ring.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[Security and referees continue dragging Candy Man backward up the ramp while he screams and thrashes violently.]
The Candy Man: NOBODY CARED! NOBODY!
[At the entranceway, Propaganda and Santiago Del Toro are STILL fighting, trading brutal shots amongst fallen Believers.]
Signal: This place has completely fallen apart!
[Candy Man suddenly breaks free from security.]
Black Scar: OH NO!
[He barrels straight into BOTH men.]
[JAWBREAKER TO PROPAGANDA!]
[HEADBUTT TO DEL TORO!]
[Propaganda collapses into the stage lighting while Del Toro crashes hard against the barricade.]
The Candy Man: EAT IT! EAT IT! EAT IT!
[The familiar trumpets of a mariachi band suddenly blast throughout the Temple.]
Signal: Wait a second—
[The lights flash vibrantly in the colours of Mexico before darkness falls again.]
[A single spotlight illuminates Santiago Siniestro.]
Black Scar: Oh that is NOT who you wanna meet right now.
[Siniestro slowly raises both hands in pistol gestures.]
[Bang.]
[Bang.]
[He walks calmly toward the chaos as Candy Man turns toward him foaming at the mouth.]
The Candy Man: YOU DON’T CARE EITHER!
[Candy Man charges.]
[Siniestro ducks underneath. Kick low!]
[EL ULTIMO ADIOS!]
[MEXICAN DESTROYER SPIKES CANDY MAN STRAIGHT INTO THE STAGE.]
Signal: SWEET JESUS WHAT IMPACT!
[The Temple erupts as Candy Man finally lies motionless while referees swarm him again.]
Siniestro: Time to meet God.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Sujeto Cero and Jurassic Colossus are once again battering each other senseless.]
[FOREARM.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[CHOP.]
[HEADBUTT.]
Black Scar: THESE TWO ARE GONNA GO EXTINCT KILLING EACH OTHER!
[Sujeto roars through the mask before lifting Colossus.]
[BIOSHOCK—NO!]
[COLOSSUS ESCAPES.]
[SAUROPOD SWEEP!]
[Sujeto crashes hard onto his back.]
[Both monsters stagger upright at the exact same time.]
Signal: Neither man can even stand properly anymore!
[They roar simultaneously before charging one final time.]
[DOUBLE HEADBUTT.]
[CRACK.]
[Both men collapse instantly to the mat beside one another.]
[One arm draped over the other.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: THEY ELIMINATED EACH OTHER!
Black Scar: Two giant bastards just headbutted each other into extinction!
[Officials rush the ring while both monsters remain completely motionless beside one another.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The Temple suddenly ERUPTS in neon colour.]
[Cyan. Magenta. Purple. Yellow.]
[“PRESS START” flashes across the tron in giant arcade font as “Skydiver” by meganeko blasts throughout the arena.]
Signal: Oh this place just got significantly weirder.
Black Scar: After everything tonight, THAT’S saying something.
[Pixel-shaped pyro explodes across the stage as PixelShift bursts out energetically, visor flashing wildly.]
[NEW PLAYER CONNECTED.]
[PixelShift marches down the ramp in exaggerated side-scroll movements, throwing fake combo punches toward the crowd.]
Pixelshift: Player One… READY!
[Inside the ring, Edward Newton is recovering in the corner while Lux Bellator kneels in prayer trying desperately to fight through Padre Venganza’s virus.]
[Santiago Siniestro slides into the ring behind Bellator.]
Signal: Bellator doesn’t even see him!
[SUPERKICK TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!]
[TEQUILA SUNRISE!]
[Siniestro traps Bellator in the submission hold dead center of the ring.]
Lux Bellator: AGH!
Black Scar: The Light Warrior’s in deep trouble here!
[Bellator desperately claws forward, shaking violently as blood begins dripping from beneath the mask.]
[Siniestro cranks back harder.]
Siniestro: Time to meet God.
[But suddenly—]
[LAG SPIKE!]
[PixelShift fake-freezes beside Siniestro before suddenly springing into a cutter.]
Signal: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?
Black Scar: I think the videogame kid just broke physics!
[Siniestro slams into the canvas violently! He bounces back up to his feet..]
[PixelShift pops up pointing skyward.]
Pixelshift: COMBO STARTER!
[8-BIT COMBO!]
“A!”
[Kick to the leg.]
“B!”
[Chop to the chest.]
“DOWN!”
[Low dropkick.]
“UP!”
[Enzuigiri rocks Siniestro backwards into the ropes.]
[The crowd loves chanting along.]
Signal: This kid’s got the whole building syncing with him!
[Outside the ring meanwhile, Del Toro and Propaganda are getting back to their feet at the top of the entrance.]
[In the ring, Newton suddenly charges PixelShift from behind.]
[RUNNING BULLDOG!!]
[The Riddler pops back to his feet and grabs Pixel by the head, pulling another former “friend” with him.]
[PixelShift freezes.]
Pixelshift: ERROR… DETECTED?
[Newton smirks and rises—]
[RIGHT INTO HARD RESET!]
[JUMPING CODEBREAKER OUT OF NOWHERE!]
Signal: GAME OVER CONNECTS!
[Newton collapses backwards stunned while PixelShift’s visor flashes violently.]
[I WIN!]
[Meanwhile Bellator slowly drags himself back upward in the corner, still coughing violently while Siniestro wipes blood from his mouth and grins.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The beginning piano notes echo softly throughout the Temple.]
[The lights die completely.]
Signal: No… no no no…
[Heavy fog coats the entranceway as masked members of The Family slowly emerge and line the ramp.]
Black Scar: Business just picked up in the worst possible way for everyone inside that ring. Here comes The Virus.
["Welcome To The Family" rises as Padre Venganza finally steps through the fog, arms spread wide and smiling warmly.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome home.
[At the entranceway, Propaganda immediately rushes him.]
Signal: Propaganda’s not waiting!
[THE BROADCAST! Running knee cracks Padre across the jaw.]
[Padre barely moves.]
[The Family SWARMS Propaganda instantly.]
Black Scar: They got him!
[Propaganda fights desperately but the numbers overwhelm him as Padre calmly grabs him by the throat.]
Padre Venganza: You can never trust reason… but you can always trust us.
[Padre drags Propaganda down the ramp and rolls him violently beneath the bottom rope into the ring.]
[Padre steps in after him.]
[PixelShift immediately springboards.]
[SHADOW CONTAGION!]
[Padre catches him midair with the leaping stunner.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
[PixelShift bounces violently across the canvas, visor glitching wildly.]
[ERROR.]
[Padre kneels beside him smiling warmly.]
Padre Venganza: Rest now.
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: PixelShift has been eliminated!
Black Scar: The game just got unplugged.
[Propaganda suddenly spins Padre around.]
[SIGNAL! Running knee to the skull.]
[Propaganda tries to hook Padre immediately into Obey. Submit. Believe—]
[VIRAL INFECTION!]
[PADRE LEANS UP AND SPEWS!]
[Black tar-like mist sprays directly into Propaganda’s face.]
Signal: GOD WHAT IS THAT?!
[Propaganda staggers blinded.]
[INFINITE CHAOS!]
[Kick.]
[Kick.]
[Kick.]
[KNEE.]
[Padre backs away smiling before charging.]
[DEVASTATING SIDEKICK TO THE HEAD!]
[Propaganda collapses unconscious. Padre covers…]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Propaganda’s been eliminated too!
[Across the ring Lux Bellator slowly rises, barely able to stand.]
[Blood drips steadily beneath the mask.]
[Padre slowly turns toward him.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome back to the Family. Are you ready to submit?
Lux Bellator: Never…
[Lux swings weakly.]
[Padre catches the arm.]
[BLACKENED JUSTICE!]
[Arm-trap Crossface locked in brutally.]
Signal: Bellator can barely even move!
[Lux screams in agony trying desperately to fight free.]
[Padre releases the hold only to drag him back upward.]
[MIDNIGHT SHADOW! STO INTO SNAP DDT.]
[Lux collapses limp.]
Black Scar: He’s torturing the poor bastard!
[Padre slowly kneels beside Bellator.]
Padre Venganza: We made you weak so you could finally understand strength.
[BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!]
[Leaping sidekick crushes Bellator against the turnbuckles.]
[Lux collapses forward unconscious. Padre turns him over and covers..]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Lux Bellator has been eliminated! That’s three quick fire eliminations for the Virus. Holy crap, Padre has come to play!
[Padre rises slowly in the center of the ring surrounded by bodies while The Family kneels outside the ring worshipping him.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[Orange lights pulse violently throughout the Temple like muzzle flashes in a warzone.]
[Dry ice floods the entrance as “March of the Iron Sovereign” begins booming through the arena.]
Signal: Oh no… business is about to pick up again.
[Warlord Mars emerges through the smoke like a walking tank, beating his chest and roaring toward the heavens.]
Warlord Mars: THIS… IS… WAAARRR!!!
[At the same time, PixelShift is being helped up the ramp by officials, visor flickering weakly.]
[GAME OVER.]
[Mars stops beside him.]
Warlord Mars: HAH! You’re a puny excuse for a “video game hero.”
[PixelShift looks up weakly.]
Warlord Mars: Watch this.
[Mars storms toward the ring.]
[At ringside, Santiago Del Toro is recovering against the barricade after his war with Propaganda.]
[Mars grabs him immediately by the throat and mask, dragging him to the ring.]
[HE THROWS HIM INTO THE BARRICADE.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[SHORT-ARM LARIAT.]
Signal: Mars is mauling Del Toro!
[But Del Toro suddenly snaps alive.]
[SPECTRAL PASSADA!]
[Snap DDT spikes Mars onto the floor.]
Black Scar: Outta nowhere!
[Santiago rises, eyes glowing. He slides into the ring… Siniestro turns toward him.]
[Santiago charges.]
[Cursed Charge!]
[Siniestro rushes in wildly only for Del Toro to slip aside gracefully before blasting him with a vicious kick.]
[Siniestro crashes into the corner.]
[CLEAN RUNNING KNEE.]
[FALLING SHADOWS!]
[The flying headbutt crushes Siniestro into the canvas.]
Signal: Del Toro’s taking over!
[The Matador slowly rises, spreading his arms as mist coils around him.]
Santiago Del Toro: Surrender your soul.
[GRIMM GRABS HIM BY THE THROAT.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
[TO THE GRAVE!]
[The Chokeslam plants Del Toro violently into the mat.]
Black Scar: Death just shut the lights out!
[But Grimm barely has time to stand—]
[WAR CRIME!]
Signal: NO WAY!
[MARS MOONSAULTS OFF THE TOP ROPE AND CRUSHES DEL TORO BENEATH HIM.]
Black Scar: THAT RING JUST MOVED!
[Mars hooks the leg.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Santiago Del Toro has been eliminated!
[Grimm immediately grabs Mars from behind furious.]
Mr Grimm: You interfere with Death.
[Mars laughs.]
Warlord Mars: I interfere with EVERYTHING!
[WARHEAD!]
[Brutal headbutt rocks Grimm backwards.]
[Mars scoops him up.]
[WAR MACHINE! Torture Rack into Argentine Powerbomb.]
Signal: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!
[Mars stacks Grimm up.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Mr. Grimm has been eliminated!
[Mars rises roaring triumphantly.]
Warlord Mars: WHO’S NEXT?!
[Siniestro slowly rises nearby, cracking his neck.]
[Siniestro and Mars lock eyes.]
Black Scar: Oh boy…
[Siniestro throws the first punch.]
[Mars answers with a forearm.]
[The two former War Machine allies begin absolutely battering one another in the center of the ring.]
Signal: These two know each other better than anybody!
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOOOO'S LAST!?
[Darkness swallows the Temple whole.]
[A single spotlight slowly searches through the crowd.]
Signal: Number twenty… the final entrant in Lambs to the Slaughter.
Black Scar: And look who it is.
[Darkwish emerges slowly through the crowd, marching deliberately down the steps toward the ring as “Terror of the Night” echoes ominously throughout the arena.]
Signal: We are down to the final six. Darkwish. Padre Venganza. Santiago Siniestro. Warlord Mars. Ram Jam. Edward Newton.
Black Scar: One of these six men is headin’ to Ring of Dreams for a shot at the World Championship.
[Darkwish never takes his eyes off the ring.]
Signal: Look at that stare. He’s not walking to a match… he’s walking to judgment.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Warlord Mars and Siniestro continue absolutely battering each other.]
[FOREARM.]
[SUPERKICK.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[LARIAT.]
[Mars swings wildly—]
[Siniestro ducks.]
Signal: SUPERKICK RIGHT ON THE BUTTON!
[Mars staggers backward dazed.]
[Siniestro grabs him.]
[EL ULTIMO ADIOS—NO!]
[Mars muscles free.]
[WARHEAD!]
[The brutal headbutt rocks Siniestro but the Sicario stays standing.]
Black Scar: HOW IS HE STILL UP?!
[Siniestro spits blood onto the canvas and smiles.]
Siniestro: Time to meet God.
[He double finger guns and runs…]
[MEXXXXIICCAAAANN DESTROOOYYYYEERRR!!!]
[Meanwhile Darkwish finally reaches ringside.]
[He calmly steps onto the apron.]
[Ram Jam suddenly bursts into frame.]
[PSYCHADELIC HEADBUTT!]
[Darkwish flies off the apron!.]
Black Scar: RAM JAM JUST WIPED HIM OUT!
[Ram turns through and immediately grabs a rising Siniestro.]
[RAM JAM SLAM!]
[RUNNING SPINEBUSTER WITH EXTRA TORQUE!!!]
[HE COVERS…]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: SINIESTRO’S BEEN ELIMINATED!
Black Scar: Ram Jam put away the Sicario!
[Siniestro rolls to the outside while Ram Jam pounds his chest.]
Ram Jam: THAT’S THE RHYTHM, BABY!
[Meanwhile Darkwish slowly rises behind him unnoticed.]
[He spins him.]
[V-TRIGGER!]
[DAWN!]
[Ram Jam stumbles back into the ropes. But wait a minute, that’s Blackhand Moretti! Moretti whips his feet out from underneath him and he slams face first into the canvas.]
[Blackhand pulls him outside.]
Signal: He shouldn’t even be here!
Black Scar: Ram Jam deserves this!
[CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL!!!!!]
[SLEEP WIT’ THE FISHES!]
Black Scar: HE TOOK HIS HEAD OFF!!
[Moretti immediately rolls him back into the ring. Ram Jam is on jelly legs. He has no idea where he is.]
[NIGHT TERROR]
[PACKAGE FISHERMAN BUSTER!]
[HE PINS…]
[ONE…]
[TWO…]
[THREE!!]
Signal: Ram Jam is outta here folks, quite literally, because Moretti has dragged him from the ring again!
Black Scar: Wherever he’s going, do not be surprised if he takes a long walk off a short pier.
[As Moretti drags Ram Jam up the ramp, we’re left with the final four.]
[WARLORD MARS.]
[DARKWISH.]
[EDWARD NEWTON.]
[PADRE VENGANZA.]
[The Temple falls into a tense silence.]
[One man stands in each corner.]
[Darkwish crouches low beneath the turnbuckles, perfectly still.]
[Edward Newton calmly adjusts the tape around his wrists, eyes never leaving the other three.]
[Padre Venganza kneels with his arms spread wide, welcoming the chaos.]
[And Warlord Mars paces in his corner like a starving animal, beating his fist against his chest.]
Signal: Four men remain. One of them is going to Ring of Dreams for a shot at the OSW World Championship.
Black Scar: And look at the mix we got here. A monster. A vigilante. A psychopath genius. And whatever the hell Padre is.
[Mars suddenly roars.]
Warlord Mars: THIS… IS… WAAARRR!!!
[PADRE CHARGES.]
[Viral Infection!]
[Black mist sprays toward Mars but the Warlord storms straight through it, eating the cloud as he crashes into Padre with a running lariat.]
Signal: HE RAN RIGHT THROUGH IT!
[Padre flips violently onto his back.]
[Darkwish instantly sprints from his corner.]
[DAWN!]
[V-Trigger cracks Mars square in the jaw.]
[Mars stumbles.]
[Darkwish unloads.]
[Right hand.]
[Forearm.]
[Body shot.]
[Kick to the knee.]
[Another forearm.]
[SUPERKICK—CAUGHT.]
[Mars snatches the leg.]
Black Scar: Uh oh.
[Mars yanks Darkwish clean off his feet and LAUNCHES him overhead with a release belly-to-belly suplex.]
Signal: Good God what power!
[Darkwish crashes hard across the ring and rolls beneath the ropes trying to recover.]
[Newton immediately sees the opening.]
[He slides outside the ring.]
Black Scar: There’s the scavenger.
[Newton pulls a kendo stick from beneath the apron.]
[Inside the ring, Padre rises behind Mars.]
[BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!]
[Leaping sidekick catches Mars behind the ear.]
[The giant stumbles into the ropes.]
[CRACK.]
[Kendo stick across the spine by The Riddler on the outside.]
Signal: Newton just lit him up!
[CRACK.]
[Another shot.]
[CRACK.]
[Mars finally drops to one knee.]
Edward Newton: Even monsters break.
[Newton jams the kendo stick across Mars’ throat through the ropes and pulls backward violently, choking him.]
[Mars snarls and rises anyway, dragging Newton piggyback-style off ground and onto the ring apron, forcing the ropes to break the hold on the kendo.]
Black Scar: That’s four hundred and sixty pounds of pissed off future meat right there.
[Edward scoots through the ropes and leaps onto the Warlords back. Mars stumbles forwards and then falls backward, crushing Newton beneath him against the mat.]
Signal: Newton may be broken in half!
[Padre grabs the kendo stick.]
[SHOT TO MARS.]
[SHOT TO NEWTON.]
[Darkwish slides back into the ring and ducks beneath a swing.]
[GERMAN SUPLEX TO PADRE.]
[Padre lands awkwardly on the back of his neck.]
[Darkwish keeps hold.]
[SECOND GERMAN.]
[Scarred Justice gets up for another, but Newton chopblocks the knee from behind.]
[Darkwish collapses, releasing Padre.]
[CHECKMATE ROLL!]
[Eddie scoots inside.]
[Inside cradle rolled immediately into the ankle lock.]
Signal: Newton’s got him trapped!
[Darkwish claws desperately toward the ropes, but there’s no breaking the hold..]
[Mars suddenly boots Newton directly in the face.]
[The hold breaks.]
[Padre though rolls Mars up.]
[ONE…]
[TWO…]
[THREE!]
[NO!]
[KICK OUT!]
[Frustrated, he pops up out of the roll up and looks towards Newton, who gets back to his feet sluggishly]
Padre Venganza: You never did join the family, did you Edward? It’s never too late.
[Padre drags Newton upward.]
[MIDNIGHT SHADOW.]
[STO swung directly into the snap DDT.]
[Newton bounces hard and rolls toward the corner clutching his head.]
[Padre slowly rises and spreads his arms.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome to the Family.
[BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.]
Black Scar: Creepy bastard’s enjoying this way too much.
[Mars suddenly explodes back to life.]
[DISCUS CLOTHESLINE.]
Signal: HE TOOK PADRE’S HEAD OFF!
[Mars drags Padre upward immediately.]
[Military press.]
[Padre struggles wildly.]
[Mars THROWS him clean across the ring.]
[Padre crashes chest-first into the turnbuckles before tumbling over the top rope, smashing off the apron and collapsing to the floor outside.]
[Darkwish and Mars lock eyes.]
Signal: Here we go.
[Darkwish fires first with stiff forearms.]
[Mars answers with brutal clubbing blows.]
[Darkwish kicks the knee.]
[Mars clubs the back.]
[Darkwish heads to and rebounds off the ropes.]
[DARKNESS FALLS!]
[Superkick finally rocks Mars backward.]
[Darkwish immediately hits the ropes again.]
[SECOND SUPERKICK.]
[Mars staggers.]
[THIRD SUPERKICK.]
[The giant falls to one knee.]
Black Scar: He’s chopping the giant down!
[Darkwish charges for Dawn again—]
[WARHEAD.]
[Mars lunges forward with the brutal headbutt.]
[THUNK.]
[Darkwish crumbles instantly.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
[Mars grabs him.]
[POWERBOMB.]
[Deadlift POWERBOMB.]
[And another.]
[Mars roars louder with each slam.]
Warlord Mars: WAR!
[WAR!]
[WAR!]
[The final powerbomb leaves Darkwish folded motionless near the ropes.]
[Newton suddenly rushes in from behind with the kendo stick.]
[SHOT TO THE KNEE.]
[Mars buckles.]
[SHOT TO THE HEAD.]
[Mars drops fully to both knees.]
[Newton tosses the stick aside.]
[He hits the ropes… LUKE STORM INSPIRED SUPERKICK!]
[DOWN GOES DARKWISH! NEWTON GRABS HIM BY THE LEGS!]
[RIDDLE BOX.]
[Sharpshooter locked dead center.]
Signal: Newton’s trying to take the giant apart piece by piece!
[Mars screams in fury, clawing at the mat.]
[Padre slowly returns to the apron outside.]
[He reaches beneath the ring.]
Black Scar: Oh no.
[Padre pulls out a TABLE.]
[The crowd erupts.]
Signal: Business is about to change in a hurry!
[Padre slides the table into the ring.]
[Newton immediately releases the hold.]
Edward Newton: Bad idea.
[Newton stomps Padre repeatedly as he tries to slide under the bottom rope, before trying to set the table himself.]
[Darkwish suddenly springs back to life.]
[DAWN!]
[V-Trigger blasts Newton through the ropes to the floor.]
Signal: Newton just got knocked out of the ring!
[Darkwish turns.]
[Mars grabs him by the throat.]
[CHOKESLAM THROUGH THE TABLE.]
[CRAAAAAAAAASH.]
Black Scar: SWEET LORD!
[Darkwish writhes amongst the wreckage.]
[Mars pounds his chest triumphantly and drops into the cover, laying in the wreckage of the table.]
[ONE….]
[….]
[TWO….]
[….]
[THREE!]
Black Scar: Mars eliminates Darkwish! We’re down to three!
[The Bringer of War gets back to his feet.]
[Padre spins him around.]
[BLACKENED JUSTICE.]
[Arm trap crossface locked in.]
[Mars roars in agony as Padre tears backward violently.]
Padre Venganza:Let us in.
[Mars begins fading.]
Signal: Mars is trapped! The giant’s trapped!
[HE TAPS OUT! HE TAPS OUT! WARLORD MARS TAPS OUT!!!]
Signal: I can’t believe this… Padre Venganza has… he’s just eliminated Warlord Mars. The Big man tapped out.
Black Scar: And we’re down to two. Edward Newton – the once undefeated former OSW multi-time World Champion and Padre Venganza!
[Newton suddenly slides back into the ring with handcuffs.]
Black Scar: WAIT A MINUTE WHAT THE HELL!?
[Newton smirks.]
Edward Newton: I came prepared.
[Newton cuffs one of Padre’s wrists to the bottom rope.]
Signal: That’s disgusting!
[Newton grabs the kendo stick again.]
[CRACK.]
[CRACK.]
[CRACK.]
[Repeated shots rain down across Padres’ exposed skull and ribs.]
[Padre Venganza hangs from the bottom rope by the cuffed wrist as Newton rains down merciless kendo stick shots.]
[CRACK.]
[CRACK.]
[CRACK.]
Signal: Newton is absolutely dismantling him!
Black Scar: He ain’t wrestling anymore, Sig. He’s surviving.
[Padre’s body slumps against the ropes as Newton finally tosses the kendo stick aside.]
Edward Newton: You wanted followers.
[Newton kneels beside him.]
Edward Newton: Let’s see how devoted they are now.
[Outside the ring, members of The Family scream and pound the apron trying desperately to reach their leader.]
[Newton grabs Padre by the jaw.]
Edward Newton: No salvation. No miracles. Just pain.
[Newton begins stomping repeatedly at Padre’s shoulder and elbow, targeting the cuffed arm.]
Signal: He’s trying to tear the arm apart!
[Padre grimaces through the punishment but slowly begins laughing.]
Padre Venganza: We forgive you.
[Newton’s expression darkens.]
[He grabs the handcuff chain.]
[AND YANKS IT VIOLENTLY.]
[Padre screams as the shoulder wrenches backward against the rope.]
Black Scar: OH THAT’S SICK!
[Newton drags Padre outward.]
[SHORT-ARM KNEE TO THE FACE.]
[Then another.]
[And another.]
[Padre’s mask begins staining black and red.]
Signal: Newton smells blood!
[Newton quickly unhooks the handcuff with a key from his tights.]
[He unlocks Padre.]
Black Scar: Why free him?
[Newton answers instantly.]
[RIDDLE ME THIS!]
[Sit-out piledriver spikes Padre directly onto the crown of his head.]
Signal: THAT’S IT! THAT HAS TO BE IT!
[Newton hooks both legs deeply.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THR—NOOOOO!]
Signal: PADRE KICKED OUT!
Black Scar: HOW!?
[Newton sits up stunned.]
Edward Newton: Impossible.
[Padre lies motionless for a second before slowly sitting upright.]
[Still smiling.]
Padre Venganza: We endure.
[Newton immediately mounts him and begins unloading vicious punches.]
[Left.]
[Right.]
[Right.]
[Forearm.]
[Elbow.]
[Newton drags him upward again.]
[NEVERMIND!]
[Jumping Implant DDT.]
Signal: He drilled him!
[Cover.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!]
[NO!]
Black Scar: HE KICKED OUT AGAIN!
[Newton’s calm composure finally begins cracking.]
Edward Newton: STAY DOWN!
[Newton slides outside the ring.]
[He grabs the broken table remains.]
Signal: Oh no…
[Newton drags half the shattered table and wedges it upright into the corner. There’s the metal bar that holds it all together, bent and exposed.]
[Padre slowly rises behind him.]
[VIRAL INFECTION!]
[Black mist sprays directly into Newton’s face.]
Edward Newton: AGHHH!
Signal: Newton’s blinded!
[Padre grabs him.]
[LIFE FLASHER!]
[Snap German.]
[Roll through.]
[Snap Dragon Suplex.]
[Roll through again.]
[SNAP MURDER BACKDROP.]
Signal: WHAT A COMBINATION!
[Newton folds violently onto his neck.]
Black Scar: Padre just dumped him like garbage!
[Padre kneels beside Newton.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome… to the Family.
[BLACKENED JUSTICE!]
[Arm-trap crossface locked in dead center of the ring.]
Signal: Newton’s trapped!
[Newton screams instantly.]
Edward Newton:NO! NO!
[Padre cranks backward viciously.]
[Newton claws desperately across the mat.]
[His fingers scrape the canvas.]
[Padre pulls harder.]
Black Scar: He’s gonna tear the arm clean off!
[Newton reaches desperately toward the ropes.]
[Still inches away.]
[Padre drags him backward.]
Signal: Newton might tap!
[Newton’s hand shakes.]
[The crowd rises.]
[Newton suddenly rolls THROUGH the hold.]
[PINFALL!]
[Padre’s shoulders are down.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[PADRE RELEASES THE HOLD AND KICKS OUT!]
[Both men scramble upward.]
[BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!]
[Leaping sidekick catches Newton flush.]
[Newton stumbles backward directly toward the broken table shard in the corner.]
[Padre charges.]
[MIDNIGHT SHADOW—NO!]
[Newton shoves Padre forward.]
[Padre crashes chest-first into the broken table remains.]
Signal: OH MY GOD THAT METAL BAR JUST WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH HIS BLOODY SHOULDER!
[Padre stumbles backward dazed, metal bar sticking out.]
[LOW BLOW.]
Black Scar: THERE’S THE RAT BASTARD!
[The crowd rains boos.]
[Newton hooks the arms.]
[NEVERMIND!]
[JUMPING IMPLANT DDT! HE JUST SLAMMED THAT FUCKING BAR THROUGH HIS SHOULDER AND OUT THE OTHER GOD DAMN SIDE!!]
Signal: THAT SPIKED HIM!
[Newton collapses into the cover.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[THREE!]
[—NOOOOOOO!]
Signal: HE SURVIVED AGAIN! HE HAS A METAL BAR STICKING OUT OF HIS SHOULDER AND SOMEHOW… THE VIRUS… SOMEHOW KICKED OUT!
Black Scar: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PUT THIS MONSTER DOWN!?
[Newton looks horrified.]
[Padre slowly rolls onto his side coughing violently.]
Padre Venganza: We… are eternal.
[Newton backs away shaking his head.]
Edward Newton: No… no you’re not.
[Newton grabs the kendo stick again.]
[He stalks forward.]
[CRACK TO THE RIBS.]
[CRACK TO THE SPINE.]
[CRACK TO THE HEAD.]
[Padre seems unconscious.]
Signal: Newton is trying to beat the life out of him!
[Newton tosses the stick aside.]
[QUESTION MARK!]
[Crippler Crossface locked in.]
Signal: THERE IT IS! THE QUESTION MARK!
[Padre screams as Newton traps the damaged arm and cranks backward violently.]
Black Scar: This is how Newton ends people!
[Padre claws desperately toward the ropes.]
[Newton pulls him backward.]
Edward Newton: There’s no congregation coming to save you.
[Padre reaches.]
[Still inches short.]
[Newton screams while wrenching harder.]
Edward Newton: TAP!
[Padre’s hand rises.]
Signal: He’s fading!
[The hand shakes.]
[The crowd erupts.]
[PADRE SUDDENLY GRABS THE BAR FROM HIS SHOULDER AND STABS IT VIOLENTLY INTO NEWTONS RIBS!!!]
[Both men scream in agony.]
[Referee’s rush into the ring. There’s carnage, blood and Newton is now connected by tether to Padre Venganza.]
Signal: This is sick. It’s not worth this…
Black Scar: They’ve removed Newton from it, he’s a stuck pig, but he’s no longer attached. Maybe we can get a winner.
Signal: You condone this?
Black Scar: Where I come from, you do what you gotta do to get the job done.
[Newton stumbles back to his feet and crashes shoulder-first into the turnbuckles, bleeding from his ribs, holding them in agony.]
[Meanwhile the referee’s are pulling the bar THROUGH Padre’s shoulder and out the other side.]
[He kneels, oozing black blood.]
Signal: How.. in the FUCK is he conscious?
Black Scar: There he is. Welcome to the World of OSW, Sig.
Signal: I’m sorry for my language folks but Padre Venganza is NOT human.
[Suddenly, Padre immediately springs forward as The Riddler turns around.]
[SHADOW CONTAGION!]
[Leaping stunner out of nowhere.]
Signal: HE CAUGHT HIM!
[Newton bounces backwards into the corner, collapsing in a heap.]
[Padre crawls desperately into the cover.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[THR—KICKOUT!!!]
Black Scar: I THOUGHT THAT WAS IT!
[The Temple is thunderous.]
[Both men lay exhausted.]
Signal: These two are throwing absolutely everything they have at one another! Edward Newton went on a seventy plus match undefeated streak. He may have been beaten here in OSW, but IF that is Jensen Cussen under that mask… IF…
Black Scar: Who cares who’s under the mask? Padre Venganza is going toe to toe with a legend!
[Newton slowly crawls toward the ropes.]
[Padre drags himself upward in the opposite corner.]
[Both men stare at each other through blood and exhaustion.]
Edward Newton: You’re not a god.
Padre Venganza: No.
[Padre smiles.]
Padre Venganza: We are much worse.
[Both men charge simultaneously.]
[BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!]
[Padre’s leaping sidekick catches Newton across the side of the skull!]
Signal: BOTH MEN DOWN!
[Newton collapses backward into the ropes while Padre crashes onto his knees clutching the ruined shoulder.]
Black Scar: They’re running on fumes now, Sig! Pure instinct!
[Newton drags himself upright first, one arm wrapped around his bleeding ribs.]
[Padre slowly rises opposite him, black blood running down his chest.]
Edward Newton: You should’ve stayed dead, Jensen.
Padre Venganza: And you should not presume to know who’s about to put you down.
[Newton snarls and rushes forward.]
[FOREARM.]
[FOREARM.]
[FOREARM.]
[Padre answers with brutal body shots, targeting the ribs.]
Signal: Smart strategy! He’s targeting the wound!
[Newton slams repeated elbows into the shoulder with surgical precision.]
Edward Newton: You feel that? That’s mortality.
[Padre suddenly grabs Newton by the throat.]
[Viral Infection!]
[Black mist explodes into Newton’s face.]
Edward Newton: AGH!
[Newton stumbles blindly.]
[MIDNIGHT SHADOW!]
[STO INTO SNAP DDT.]
Signal: HE PLANTED HIM!
[Padre crawls into the cover.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!]
[NOOOOO!]
Black Scar: NEWTON SURVIVES!
[Padre sits back breathing heavily, exhaustion finally beginning to show.]
[Newton coughs violently, dragging himself toward the ropes.]
[Padre follows.]
[He grabs Newton by the mask.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome… to the Family.
[Newton suddenly rakes the eyes through the mask.]
Signal: Oh come on!
[Padre recoils.]
[LOW BLOW.]
Black Scar: There’s the Edward Newton we know!
[Padre drops to both knees.]
[Newton hooks both arms.]
Edward Newton: CHECKMATE.
[RIDDLE ME THIS!]
[The sit-out piledriver SPIKES Padre directly onto the top of his head.]
Signal: THAT’S IT! THAT HAS TO BE IT!
[Newton hooks both legs deeply.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[THREE!!!!
[—NOOOOOOOOO!]
Signal: HE KICKED OUT AGAIN!
[The Temple absolutely erupts.]
[Newton stares at the referee in horror.]
Edward Newton: COUNT FASTER!
Referee: IT WAS TWO!
[Newton slams the mat in frustration.]
Black Scar: He doesn’t know what he has to do anymore!
[Newton slowly rises and backs into the corner, breathing heavily.]
[Padre rolls onto his side.]
[Then slowly… starts laughing.]
Signal: Listen to this lunatic!
Padre Venganza: We told you…
[Padre drags himself upright.]
Padre Venganza: We are eternal.
[Edward slides to the outside and grabs a steel chair, ambling back into the ring.]
[Newton rushes him in fury.]
[CHAIRSHOT TO THE SKULL!]
[He drops the chair as Padre falls.]
[CRIPPLER CROSSFACE LOCKED IN.]
[THE QUESTION MARK!]
Signal: THERE IT IS! NEWTON’S GOT IT FULLY CINCHED!
[Newton screams while wrenching backward violently.]
Edward Newton: TAP! TAP YOU SON OF A BITCH!
[Padre screams in agony, trapped dead center of the ring.]
[His hand rises.]
Black Scar: He’s gonna do it!
[The hand trembles.]
[Newton grins.]
[Then Padre suddenly rolls violently sideways.]
[Newton loses balance for just a split second.]
[His shoulders are down.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[THREE!!!!
[—NOOOOOOOOO!]
[IT’S A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER!!]
[Both men spring back to their feet.]
[SHADOW CONTAGION!]
[LEAPING STUNNER OUT OF NOWHERE!]
Signal: HE CAUGHT HIM! HE CAUGHT HIM CLEAN!
[Newton bounces backward stunned against the ropes, stumbling forward about to face plant the ground.]
[Padre roars.]
[INFINITE CHAOS!]
[Kick to the ribs.]
[Kick to the leg.]
[Kick to the chest.]
[Spinning backfist.]
[KNEE TO THE FACE.]
[Newton collapses to one knee barely conscious.]
Signal: Padre’s unloading everything he has left!
[Padre stumbles backward across the ring.]
[The Family are screaming at ringside.]
Padre Venganza: WELCOME… HOME!
[He charges.]
[FINAL SIDEKICK STRAIGHT TO THE SKULL.]
[Newton collapses instantly.]
[Padre falls across the body.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: HE GOT HIM! HE GOT HIM! PADRE VENGANZA WINS LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER!
Black Scar: I DON’T BELIEVE IT!
[The bell rings repeatedly as the Family flood ringside.]
Signal: Edward Newton threw everything imaginable at him! Weapons, submissions, handcuffs, piledrivers, metal poles… and somehow Padre Venganza survived ALL OF IT!
[Padre rolls slowly off Newton’s body and rises shakily to his knees.]
[The Family kneel around the ring worshipping.]
[Padre spreads his arms wide despite the hole torn through his shoulder.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome… to the Family.
Signal: And now… Padre Venganza is headed to Ring of Dreams for the OSW World Championship. May God have mercy on us all.
Winner of Lambs 2026: Padre Venganza
I Know What You Did
[Molvanîa.]
[The docks.]
[Late at night…]
[Cranes and containers fill the wharf. Solid and blinking lights of different colours twinkle in the dark like stars. Mechanical whirring fills the air. Hi-vis jackets march like worker ants.]
[Away from the hustle and noise, the soft, red glow of taillights bathes the concrete, as the sound of an engine approaches.]
[A dark, luxury sedan backs up to the edge of the quay.]
[The engine stops and the driverside door opens...]
[Blackhand Moretti steps out.]
[The Boss looks around cautiously.]
[He pops the trunk and looks down.]
[Muffled groaning.]
[Blackhand reaches inside his breast pocket and takes out a switchblade!]
[Flick!]
Blackhand Moretti: “If you scream, I’ll cut your lips off your face. Capisce?”
[Silence ensues.]
Blackhand Moretti: “Good.”
[He closes, then pockets, the knife.]
[He tears the tape off of his victim’s mouth.]
Ram Jam: “Why ya gotta do me like this, brotha!?”
[The unmistakable voice of The Grooveador pleads with his captor, who growls.]
Blackhand Moretti: “You had this comin’, cazzo.”
Ram Jam: “I told you, I dunno where your boys are at!”
Blackhand Moretti: “Plead your innocence to the fish.”
[Moretti heaves the bound Ram Jam out of the car.]
Ram Jam: “Please, man - don’t do this!”
[Blackhand scoffs.]
Blackhand Moretti: “Huh, wonder if rams can swim?”
Ram Jam: “NO—!”
[BLACKHAND SHOVES HIM IN!]
[SPLASH!]
[The Psychedelic Ram breaks the surface of the glassy water. He thrashes desperately and takes water into his airways.]
Ram Jam: [panicked] “H-HELP!”
[The Don of Destruction, however, sneers.]
Blackhand Moretti: “That’s for Tony and Freddy, you fuck.”
[Spit.]
[With that, Moretti closes the trunk, hops back in the driver’s seat, then peels away - leaving Ram Jam bobbing in the cold water!]
Alpha & Omega
[Somewhere else. Our cameras open on an a huge set of double doors in a place we've seen before, but quite can't place.]
[The doors BURST open.]
[Marvolo storms inside.]
[Angrier than we have ever seen him.]
[The vast hall is illuminated by candlelight, the enormous oak table still occupying the center exactly as it did on the very first night of OSW.]
[Seated around it—]
[The hooded figures.]
[Red cloaks.]
[Still.]
[Watching.]
[Several rise immediately at the sight of him.]
Signal: "…No way."
Black Scar: "We’re back here? Marvolo is... alive?"
[Marvolo points furiously toward them.]
Marvolo: "Enough."
[His voice echoes through the chamber.]
Marvolo: "Decloak."
[The hooded figures exchange glances.]
[Tension thickens.]
[Then slowly… one by one… they remove their hoods.]
[Revealing—]
[Marvolo.]
[Again.]
[And again.]
[And again.]
[Eighteen more versions of him sit around the table.]
Signal: "WHAT THE HELL?!"
Black Scar: "They’re all Marvolo!"
[Among them—]
[Marvolo II.]
[And tiny Marvolo Junior.]
[Both staring silently.]
[The Leader rises slowly from the head of the table.]
[Another Marvolo.]
[Older. Sharper.]
The Leader: "You were not expected."
[Marvolo scoffs bitterly.]
Marvolo: "Please."
[A step forward.]
Marvolo: "I knew you met around Wrestle Heroes."
[A beat.]
Marvolo: "I knew you called me an imposter."
[He slams his hands onto the table.]
Marvolo: "So tell me."
[A pause.]
Marvolo: "Why?"
[The Leader remains calm.]
The Leader: "Because you acted out of turn."
[The room stills.]
The Leader: "We did not sanction this."
[A gesture outward.]
The Leader:"We did not approve bringing Old School Wrestling to our home."
[Marvolo’s expression darkens.]
The Leader:"And now everything is accelerating."
[A beat.]
The Leader: "Where is Alpha?"
[Silence.]
[The name hangs heavily in the room.]
The Leader: "He came to OSW to meet you…"
[A pause.]
The Leader: "As agreed."
[Marvolo slowly begins to smile.]
[Cold.]
[Triumphant.]
Marvolo: "Alpha?"
[A faint laugh.]
Marvolo:"Alpha is dead."
[Several around the table react instantly.]
Signal: "WHAT?!"
Black Scar: "Marvolo had him killed?!"
[The Leader steps forward.]
The Leader: "Impossible."
[Marvolo shakes his head.]
Marvolo: "No."
[A beat.]
Marvolo: "Planned. I knew you'd send someone to come for me."
[Another step.]
Marvolo: "So I got ahead of it."
[A pause.]
Marvolo: "I put the poster up. I set the whole thing in motion."
[He grins.]
Marvolo: "Deadeye was unknowingly working for me the entire time."
[The Leader’s composure finally cracks.]
The Leader: "You arrogant little—"
Marvolo: "The Order belongs to me now."
[He stops at the head of the table.]
[Where Alpha once sat.]
Marvolo: "I am the new Alpha."
[Silence.]
[Dangerous.]
Marvolo: "And if any of you disagree…"
[A slow creak echoes from behind the chamber doors.]
[Everyone turns.]
[The doors open.]
[Santiago Siniestro enters.]
[Two pistols drawn.]
[Calm.]
[Deadly.]
Siniestro: "Entonces hablamos."
[A beat.]
Siniestro: "Then we talk."
[The chamber freezes.]
[Marvolo smiles.]
[Cut.]
[Wrr.]
[Click.]
[Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.]
[Cold open.]
[EXT. THE TEMPLE — NIGHT.]
[Rain lashes against the stone exterior of the arena. Thunder rolls somewhere over Molvania.]
[Fans gather outside the Temple, umbrellas shaking in the storm, unaware that history is seconds away from changing.]
[A black car pulls up.]
[The door opens.]
[Marvolo steps out.]
[No entourage. No security.]
[Just the owner of Old School Wrestling, collar turned against the rain, moving quickly toward the entrance.]
Signal:"Folks, welcome! We are live at Pandemonium and—"
[A figure steps from the shadows.]
[Deadeye.]
[The cowboy stands beneath the flickering Temple lights, unmoving, revolver already drawn.]
[Marvolo stops dead.]
[The rain drums harder.]
Black Scar: "…No."
[Deadeye slowly cocks the hammer back.]
[The sound cuts through everything.]
[Marvolo raises his hands slightly.]
Marvolo: "Wait."
[Deadeye says nothing.]
[His eyes never leave the target.]
Signal: "Somebody stop this!"
[Marvolo takes one cautious step backward.]
Marvolo: "We can make a deal—"
[BOOM.]
[The gunshot EXPLODES through the night.]
[Marvolo’s head snaps violently backward.]
[His body collapses onto the wet pavement.]
[The world stops.]
[Fans SCREAM.]
[Chaos erupts instantly.]
Signal: "OH MY GOD!"
Black Scar: "HE SHOT HIM!"
[Deadeye lowers the smoking revolver slowly.]
[Emotionless.]
[Rain spatters across Marvolo’s motionless body, blood beginning to run across the ground in thin crimson streams.]
[EMTs and security burst through the Temple entrance in a panic.]
[People are shouting over one another.]
[One EMT drops to their knees beside Marvolo.]
[Another screams for equipment.]
Signal: "MARVOLO’S BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD!"
Black Scar: "This can’t be happening!"
[Deadeye holsters the revolver calmly.]
[No rush. No panic.]
[Like a man finishing a job.]
[He turns and walks away into the storm.]
[The crowd meanwhile is in total hysteria.]
[EMTs desperately work over Marvolo’s body as blood mixes with rainwater.]
Signal: "Somebody get control of this situation!"
Black Scar: "Pandemonium just became a crime scene!"
[The camera shakes amidst the panic.]
[Sirens begin to echo in the distance.]
[The final words spoken are haunting.]
"He's dead."
[Cut.]
Bad Influence
[We cut to the Ring, where Glitter stands with a microphone in hand.]
Signal: “Glitter and Dolly Daydream have had somewhat of a romance brewing since Invasion.”
Black Scar: “Sure… Obsessing. Kidnapping. That sound like most of your relationships, Signal?”
Signal: “Well, no. But one cannot deny that Glitter has seemed concerned about Dolly since Silas came onto the scene.”
[Venomous Touch fades out as they raise the microphone to their lips.]
Glitter: “Dolly… I know you are listening back there.”
[A pause. Glitter looks concerned.]
Glitter: “I’m worried about you, Dolly. I’ve had my eye on you, but you’ve been ignoring me…”
[The statement hangs in the air. Moments later, Dollhouse Rumble hits and neon lights flash throughout the Temple. Dolly skips out and makes her way to the ring.]
[She moves to speak, but Glitter cuts her off.]
Glitter: “Nice to see your pretty face. But I’m not the only one watching it. That Silas. His vibe is… not the influence you need.”
[Dolly simply shrugs her shoulders to Glitter’s concern.]
Dolly Daydream: “We can all be friends. You can’t have me all to yourself, silly.”
[Glitter’s jaw tenses in frustration.]
Glitter: “Who knows what would have happened if I didn’t take you away that day. Yet you seem so… unappreciative. What else do you need?”
[Glitter pauses. Dolly seems confused about why Glitter is so upset with her.]
[Then Glitter moves forward, planting a kiss on Dolly’s lips.]
Signal: “Glitter just stole a kiss!”
Black Scar: “I don’t think Dolly was expecting that.”
[Before Dolly can respond, the temperature noticeably drops. All the colour drains from the world as Silas enters.]
Signal: “Oh, this again? I don’t like this part.”
[Greyscale only makes Dolly’s flushed cheeks all the more prominent. Her and Glitter become the only colour in a melancholy world.]
[Silas watches on from the entranceway.]
Dolly Daydream: “You…”
[She speaks with equal parts bewilderment and accusation.]
Dolly Daydream: “You stole that! I’m taking it back!”
[Dolly plants a kiss on Glitter out of frustration more than anything. Glitter smirks.]
[Silas draws nearer, strumming slowly, but both are unaffected. The emotion continues to radiate from within the ring.]
Signal: “Dolly isn’t affected by Silas, her emotions continue to bubble over.”
[Her eyes widen as Dolly steps forward. She slaps Glitter cleanly across the cheek. Glitter merely smiles.]
Black Scar: “I don’t know how we’re supposed to feel right now. But Dolly looks ready to slay dragons.”
Signal: “Cue dragon… Here comes the ruleador!”
Signal:We have a surprise championship match here tonight folks. Both of these competitors only had Lambs to worry about tonight but thanks to Glitter's ambush of Pixelshift last week, their new allegience may well be tested in the name of hardcore gold.
Black Scar: Not only that but the presence of that creepy bastard is at ringside. Silas found someone in Dolly his songs seemingly don't affect and now it seems like he's following her like a bad habit
Signal: From the look on Glitters' face, he doesn't like that at all but will that distract the Sinful One from retaining his championship here?
[Glitter stares at Silas at ringside, a scowl on his usually composed face, taking his eyes off Dolly for a minute as Daydream rushes forward]
[RUNNING BASEMENT DROPKICK!]
[Glitter's knees are taken out from under him as he crashes to the mat jaw first. Glitter staggers up into a flurry of hard kicks before Daydream leaps to the ropes, springboarding off.]
[TORNADO DDT SPIKES GLITTER INTO THE MAT!]
[Dolly pulls Glitter up, looking to finish this early with another DDT but Glitter slips out, SPECIAL SAUCE! ]
Signal: Dolly got a facefull of well...Glitter. The poor girl's blinded as the Sexual Messiah powders to the outside.
Black Scar: That shit gets everywhere.
[Glitter grabs a chair from the outside, sliding into the ring with it as Dolly manages to finally wipe her eyes free. The Guru of Lust rushing forward]
[Dolly ducks the chair shot though, Glitter nearly taking his own head off from the rebound as he turns around]
[KNEE TO THE GUT! SLEEPWALKER SPIRAL NECKBREAKER!]
Signal: A big corkscrew neckbreaker takes Glitter down to the mat, Dolly noticing the chair as she shrugs, fairs fair in this type of contest.
[Dolly picks up the chair, waiting for Glitter to get to his feet before rushing forward. Glitter manages to duck underneath, rushing to the ropes as Dolly turns]
[BUKKAKE BULLET TRAIN! Glitter nails Dolly with a huge Big Boot, sending the chair right back into her face before staying on it, grinding the steel into Dolly's face with a wide, pleasureable grin on his face.]
[Glitter backs up, Dolly slowly pulling herself up by the ropes in the corner as Glitter grabs his ass, rubbing and slapping it a few times in a gyrating motion before rushing forward.]
[ASS! HIP ATTACK! Dolly falls down into the corner, Glitter smiling as he rubs his ass once more before backing up]
[TO MOUTH! Glitter gives Daydream a rather long winded Stink Face, getting himself all up in there.]
Signal: I knew it, he claims to be a gentlemen but that damn pervert can't help himself when he gets in the ring.
Black Scar: Hey, I'm not saying he's right but I'm not saying I wouldn't do the same thing.
[Glitter finally pulls away, Dolly coughing and blubbering as Glitter looks down, slightly ashamed for a moment before he smiles and licks his lips. He backs up, rubbing himself down for a moment before he chops his crotch and rushes forward.]
[DOLLY GRABS THE FALLEN CHAIR AND CHUCKS IT AT A RUNNING GLITTER RIGHT IN THE FACE!]
[Glitter is out on his feet for a moment, Dolly staggering up to her feet as Glitter stumbles forward]
[DROP]
[TOE]
[HOLD!]
[Glitter's face slams hard into the bottom turnbuckle, the Sexual Messiah managing to turn himself over only to see Dolly do a crotch chop of her own as she rushes forward]
[IMAGINATION STATION! BRONCO BUSTER! Dolly bounces on Glitter's face, the Sovereign of Sex looking like he enjoys it way more then he should.]
Black Scar: That should've been me damnit!
[Dolly bounces one last time on Glitter, slamming down hard on his chest before using the ropes as a springboard. HARD DROPKICK TO THE SKULL!]
[Dolly pulls Glitter out of the corner, dragging him backwards before she looks to the corner. Rushing forward as she slingshots upwards, diving off]
[DREAMWALK...NO! Glittler manages to get the knees up as the corkscrew slingshot Moonsault hits nothing but knees.]
[Dolly staggers to her feet right into a kick to the gut as Glitter lifts her up before rushing forward]
[BUCKLE BOMB! Dolly staggers out as Glitter lifts her up again, GUTWRENCH POWERBOMB! Glitter doesn't let go as he powers Dolly up high, before planting her down nearly through the mat with an Elevated Powerbomb.]
[GLITTER IS FOR EVERYONE! TRIFECTA POWERBOMB! ]
[Glitter stays down, pulling himself forward in a very suggestive pinfall while the ruleador slides in to count the very first fall of this contest.]
[ONE]
[..........]
[.............]
[TWO]
[..........]
[...............]
[THR....]
[................]
[DOLLY SOMEHOW GETS THE SHOULDER UP!]
Signal: Dolly somehow is still in this and Glitter does not look happy here.
Black Scar: He thought he had it there but Dolly has stamina for days, it's going to take something a lot bigger then that to take her out.
[Glitter gets himself up, rolling to the outside as he pulls the apron up, looking for something underneath. He grabs a small cloth bag and rolling into the ring with it.]
[He drops it to the mat, Dolly getting to her feet as Glitter grabs her from behind.]
[ORGASM...NO! Dolly flips out of the Pussyplex, landing on her feet behind Glitter as she grabs him.]
[ORGASM BUTTON! DOLLY LANDS THE BALLSPLEX ON GLITTER! ]
[Glitter flies across the ring, Dolly getting to her feet as she opens the bag, before pouring its contents out onto the canvas.]
Signal: Is that...legos?
'YOU SICK FUCK! YOU SICK FUCK!' [The crowd erupts at Glitter upon seeing what he put into the bag. Dolly reaches down, trying to pull Glitter up to his feet but he kips up, leaping up onto her shoulders]
[AS HE LOCKS IN THE FIGURE FOUR NECKLOCK!]
[HARDER MOMMY!]
Signal: Glitter has the hold locked in tight, Dolly's trying to fight but Glitter has that locked in tight, his hands digging a little too hard into her scalp as he's loving this.
Black Scar: Look at Dolly though, she doesn't look in pain or agony, she looks pissed.
[CHOMP]
[Glitter immediately loosens the hold as Dolly scrambles her way to her feet, blood dripping from her mouth as Glitter's thigh is also bleeding. ]
Signal: Well that's one way to get out of that hold.
[Glitter looks pissed, Dolly rushing at him right into]
[A MASSIVE FUCK OFF LARIAT THAT TURNS DAYDREAM INSIDE OUT!]
[Glitter composes himself for a moment, grabbing Dolly by the hair as he drags her up to the nearby turnbuckle. Slamming her head into it as he sets her up on the top rope before climbing up himself. ]
[Another hard strike dazes Dolly as both competitors are on the top rope, Glitter lifting her up into the air]
[DRIVER...HURRICANARANA! Dolly counters at the last second, driving Glitter forward, back first onto the pile of legos. Dolly looks backwards, before slingshotting herself forward]
[DREAMWALKING! STARSHIP PAIN HITS FLUSH! Dolly collapses onto Glitter, the ruleador sliding in to count.]
[ONE]
[..........]
[.............]
[TWO]
[..........]
[...............]
[THR....]
[................]
[THREE!!!]
Black Scar Dolly does it! We have a new Hardcore Champion but while Dolly can celebrate the end of her night, Glitter may well have a brutal round two coming up
Signal:: Lambs is still wide open for him but judging from his condition, can he even compete let alone pull out a miracle and win?
Winner & NEW Hardcore Champion: Dolly Daydream
Play Time I
[Static.]
[The feed cuts away from the arena to a dark roon. The camera slowly pushes forward onto a steel stable, where one object sits alone.]
[A glass vial.]
[Inside glowing liquid swirls softly.]
[Bright. Unnatural.]
[Beside it sits a loaded syringe.]
Signal: “Uh…”
Black Scar: “What the hell are we lookin’ at?”
[The camera inches closer.]
[The liquid pulses faintly.]
[Almost breathing.]
Signal: “That’s not medicine.”
Black Scar: “No kidding.”
[A beat.]
Signal: “Do you think this has something to do with Dr. Vinell? Or maybe DeMasq?”
Black Scar: “Whatever it is, you don’t inject something glowing unless you got serious problems.”
[The room hums as the camera remains fixed on the vial.]
[Then a shadow falls across the table.]
[The announcers go quiet.]
[Slowly…]
[A hand enters frame.]
[It picks up the vial.]
Signal: “Who is that!?”
[The figure says nothing.]
[The syringe is grabbed next.]
[The chair behind the table slides backward.]
[SCREECH.]
[Footsteps begin walking away.]
[Heavy.]
[Deliberate.]
Black Scar: “Somebody’s planning something tonight…”
[The figure disappears into darkness.]
[Only the empty table remains.]
[Static.]
Signal: “I don’t like that one bit.”
Black Scar: “Me neither.”
Wanted
[FLASHBACK — MOLVANIA.]
[EXT. GOLDMAN’S SALOON — NIGHT.]
[Wind sweeps dust through the empty street.]
[The neon sign of GOLDMAN’S SALOON buzzes weakly overhead, flickering between life and death. A figure approaches the billboard outside.]
[Marvolo.]
[Alone.]
[He glances over his shoulder once before pulling a folded poster from inside his coat.]
[Marvolo smooths the paper against the wood.]
[The camera slowly pushes in as he hammers it into place.]
[THUNK.]
[THUNK.]
[THUNK.]
[Finally revealing the words—]
WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE
MARVOLO — OLD SCHOOL WRESTLING
[Rain begins to fall lightly.]
[Marvolo stares at the poster for a long moment.]
[Not proud.]
[Not confident.]
[Resigned.]
[Marvolo steps away from the billboard, disappearing back into the darkness of Molvania.]
[The poster flaps violently in the wind.]
[Time passes.]
[The rain grows heavier.]
[Then—]
[A gloved hand reaches into frame.]
[Grips the poster.]
[Pulls it free.]
[Revealing Deadeye beneath the brim of his hat.]
[Still. Calm.]
[Reading.]
Deadeye: "Dead or alive…"
[A faint smirk beneath the mask.]
Deadeye: "Don’t make much difference to me."
[He folds the poster slowly.]
[Tucks it into his coat.]
[Then pushes through the swinging doors of Goldman’s Saloon.]
[The doors creak shut behind him.]
[The wind continues to howl through the empty street.]
[Cut.]
Broadcasting
Voices: “Obey. Submit. Believe… Obey. Submit. Believe…”
[Propaganda's message is spreading. His believers seem to be everywhere.]
Signal: “After scattering from last week's bullfight, Propaganda's forces sure seem to have multiplied.”
Black Scar: “It sounds like the whole Temple is subscribing to his podcast.”
[Santiago Del Toro walks the hallways of the temple, but the voices call out to him.]
[Even in the silence, they fill his head.]
Santiago Del Toro: “You cannot break me. Get out of my head!”
[The voices only seem to magnify. Del Toro pushes through doorways with one destination in mind.]
[Inside the Temple, The arena drops to black.]
Signal: “Here comes Santiago Del Toro, but I don't think he knows what he's walking into…”
[A single bullbell echoes.]
[Red light spills across the ramp as fog crawls outward, whispers filling the air. A low Spanish guitar growls beneath heavy, hoof-like drums.]
[From the smoke steps Santiago Del Toro.]
[He stands still. Head bowed. Cape resting at his side.]
[He looks up.]
[But before him is a sea of Believers spanning between Del Toro and Propaganda, who stands tall in the ring.]
Signal: “They're everywhere. Like a moving, breathing sea.”
Black Scar: “This Temple has heard the broadcast. Either that or they've been brainwashed.”
[The believers chant, their numbers split in half as they echo and answer each other.]
Voices: “We believe… One voice…”
[Del Toro eyeballs Propaganda, cracking his knuckles and swishing his cape. He starts marching towards the ring.]
Signal: “Del Toro is ready to fight his way through.”
[Propaganda holds his arms up. His voice booms above the noise]
Propaganda: “Let him pass.”
[His followers part ways, allowing a narrow alley for Del Toro to pass between.]
Propaganda: “Very good. An example must be made.”
[Del Toro stops, just short of the ring. He looks Propaganda dead in the eye.]
Santiago Del Toro: “Your soul… is mine.”
[With that, he charges.]
Signal: “Propaganda’s broadcast has reached a fever pitch, and Santiago Del Toro is looking to shut the broadcast down.”
Black Scar: “He’s stepping right into the heart of the lion’s den tonight and shows no fear. But will the Ultraviolent Champion make a spectacle of Del Toro in front of the Temple tonight?”
[Del Toro is straight into action, sliding into the ring and charging straight at Propaganda. But Propaganda is ready for him, weathering the flurry of Del Toro’s blows with seemingly minimal effect.]
[Propaganda ducks out of the way of an incoming fist, grabbing Santiago by the wrist and twisting his arm awkwardly. He tosses Del Toro into the corner turnbuckle. With his disciples surrounding the ring, he unloads a holy barrage on the Matador.]
“BE-LIEVE!”
“BE-LIEVE!”
[The whole arena seems to chant along as the ECHO CHAMBER barrage hits home. Propaganda backs away, circling across the ring and leaving Del Toro crumpled in a heap in the corner.]
[Del Toro claws himself to his knees, using the bottom turnbuckle for support. Propaganda charges back at him.]
[THE BROADCAST!]
[NO! DEL TORO SLIPS OUT OF THE WAY AND PROPAGANDA’S KNEE SLAMS INTO THE STEEL!]
Signal: “Propaganda was mere inches away from forcing Santiago Del Toro to hear his broadcast.”
Black Scar: “Del Toro was inches away from getting his skull caved in. There’s still time.”
[Del Toro pulls himself back to his feet as Propaganda writhes in pain, clutching his knee. Del Toro spies the weakness and pounces, literally onto his opponent.]
[LEAPING STOMPS! HE’S TARGETING THAT KNEE!]
[DEL TORO GETS IN A FEW DECENT SHOTS TO THE KNEE BONE BEFORE PROPAGANDA ROLLS TO THE RING APRON!]
[Propaganda pulls himself up using the ropes. Both men stand eyeball to eyeball, the ring rope separating them. Del Toro swishes his cape, throwing it over Propaganda’s head.]
[SINISTER MULETA! PROPAGANDA CAN’T SEE A THING!]
[BUT NEXT MOMENT, DEL TORO IS LIFTED INTO THE AIR! HE’S THROWN BACKWARDS OUT OF THE RING AND INTO THE FLOOD OF BELIEVERS AT RINGSIDE!]
Signal: “I don’t think crowd-surfing the sea of Propaganda’s followers was part of Del Toro’s plan here tonight.”
Black Scar: “That sea of crazed, brainwashed maniacs? They’ll tear him limb from limb while Propaganda watches.”
[Santiago Del Toro struggles against the mass of people clawing at him, but they drag him further away from the ring, further away from safety. Then, slowly, he begins to sink into the mass of believers.]
[All that remains is a single, defiant fist poking out of the mass of people. Soon, that too sinks beneath the ocean. There’s a flurry of action as Propaganda’s believers turn on their foe.]
[Propaganda watches on, arms folded.]
[Soon, he holds up his arms.]
Propaganda: “Enough.”
[With a single word, the action subsides. The sea parts. A battered and barely conscious Santiago Del Toro is revealed, crawling his way back to the ring.]
[A swish of Propaganda’s hand sees several followers grab Del Toro and fling him back into the squared circle. Propaganda wastes no time dragging him into the centre of the ring and standing atop his chest for a pinfall.]
[ONE!]
[...]
[...]
[TWO!]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[THR-SHOULDER UP!]
Signal: “There’s still life in the Matador of Souls!”
Black Scar: “Send him back into the horde. They’ll finish him off.”
[Propaganda growls as he scoops Del Toro up. He grapples his foe and marches him towards the ropes.]
[STALLING SUPLEX! HE HOISTS SANTIAGO HIGH UP INTO THE AIR!]
[Propaganda shouts out a single word, which is then echoed in the chanting of the masses at ringside.]
Propaganda: “Obey!”
[HE RELEASES THE SUPLEX, DROPPING DEL TORO ONTO THE TOP ROPE!]
“O-BEY! O-BEY!”
[The voices rise as Propaganda grabs hold of Del Toro by the neck, stretching him out horizontally.]
[ROPE HUNG NECKBREAKER! MESSAGE RECEIVED! NO!]
[DEL TORO TWISTS AND GETS A THUMB TO THE EYE OF PROPAGANDA! PROPAGANDA DROPS HIM!]
[DEL TORO SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE ROPE, REVERSING THE NECKBREAKER INTO A HURRICANRANA OF HIS OWN!]
[BOTH MEN COME CRASHING DOWN!]
Black Scar: “Message NOT received, Signal. I don’t think Del Toro is tuned in.”
Signal: “The odds are stacked against him, but The Matador isn’t going to bow down to Propaganda.”
Black Scar: “He’s going to have to get ugly to overcome these numbers though.”
[Del Toro claws his way to his feet first, but a toll has clearly been taken on his battered body. He creates some distance between the pair by moving towards to the corner. Propaganda soon stands and locks eyes on the Matador.]
[Santiago smirks, beckoning Propaganda forward.]
[Propaganda strides over with a head full of steam, grabbing Del Toro by the scruff of the neck. Only… Del Toro isn’t there. Propaganda clutches only thin air as Santiago dodges suddenly.]
[SNAP DDT! SPECTRAL PASSADA!]
[PROPAGANDA IS DOWN AND HIS BELIEVERS ARE NOT HAPPY!]
[Del Toro doesn’t waste time, he leaps right onto Propaganda, locking in his patented COBRA CLUTCH! ETERNAL SILENCE!]
[IGNORING THE CHANTS FROM THE BELIEVERS, DEL TORO STARES COLDLY INTO THE LIGHTS OF THE TEMPLE ROOF.
[PROPAGANDA BEGINS TO FADE!]
[The ruleador kneels to check on him, but Propaganda pushes them away. Spurred on by hundreds of voices, he grabs at the ropes.]
[He pulls himself to his feet, with the hold still locked in. Propaganda swipes, catching Del Toro in the face. Enough to loosen the grasp.]
[A second strike breaks the hold.]
[A third sends Del Toro staggering backwards.]
[In the centre of the ring, the pair stand toe to toe. Propaganda hits Del Toro with a right fist, and Del Toro sends one right back.]
[Propaganda slings another, and Del Toro matches him again.]
[Then Del Toro hits Propaganda with a second strike. A Third.]
[He rocks Propaganda to the core with a wicked Haymaker. Propaganda staggers and Del Toro leaps to the air…]
[DROPKICK TO THE KNEE! PROPAGANDA BUCKLES AND COLLAPSES TO THE CANVAS!]
Signal: “Del Toro goes after the knee again. He’s trying to cripple Propaganda.”
Black Scar: “Smart psychological warfare from The Matador. Hard to stand on your soap-box if you can’t stand.”
[Propaganda’s believers begin climbing up onto the ring apron. Del Toro limps towards the corner, clobbering a few believers off the apron. They fall, swallowed by the sea of other followers.]
[Del Toro clears enough room to climb the turnbuckle, and does so with all the energy left in his battered body.]
[In amongst the chaos surrounding the ring, Santiago Del Toro remains eerily calm. He lines Propaganda up and leaps…]
[BUT HANDS GRAB HIM FROM OUTSIDE THE RING! HE TOPPLES OFF THE TOP TURNBUCKLE!]
[DEL TORO SMASHES INTO THE CANVAS, LANDING AWKWARDLY!]
[Propaganda rises in the wake of the Matador’s destruction. He makes his way over to his fallen foe.]
[OBEY…. SUBMIT… BELIEVE! THE ACCOLADE IS LOCKED IN!]
Signal: “Not like this! Propaganda only has Del Toro where he wants him because his believers pushed him off the turnbuckle!”
Black Scar: “Are you going to head out there and complain? It was nice knowing you.”
[Santiago Del Toro screams in agony. Propaganda only pulls the hold tighter.]
[Del Toro’s hand hovers, ready to tap… but tap he does NOT.]
[His body is broken, but his will is strong. No matter how much force Propaganda puts into his hold, DEL TORO ONLY SEEMS TO GET STRONGER!]
[WITH A FLICK OF HIS BODY, HIS CAPE FLASHES OVER THE HEAD OF PROPAGANDA!]
[DEL TORO GRABS HOLD OF THE ENDS OF THE CAPE, WRAPPING IT AROUND PROPAGANDA’S NECK!]
[HE’S CHOKING HIM WITH THE DAMNED CAPE!]
[As the choke gains strength, Propaganda loses his own grip on his hold.]
[Soon enough, Del Toro is able to slip away, to the ire of the Believers on the ring apron.]
[Some start to pull their way into the ring, but Del Toro is there in a flash.]
[CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!]
[IT’S CLOBBERING TIME!]
[DEL TORO BEGINS LAYING WASTE TO ANY AND EVERY ONE OF PROPAGANDA’S BELIEVERS HE CAN FIND!]
[The bodies drop clean and fast, but no matter how many Del Toro clobbers, there are ten more to take their place.]
[Behind him, Propaganda rises. He sees his opportunity to strike a fatal blow.]
[PROPAGANDA CHARGES AT DEL TORO!]
[BUT DEL TORO SLIPS ASIDE! CURSED CHARGE! HE LEVELS PROPAGANDA WITH A VICIOUS KICK!]
Signal: “Santiago Del Toro lured Propaganda in by attacking his Believers. He’s functioning on adrenaline alone, and he’s taking the war to every single one of Propaganda’s believers.”
Black Scar: “He doesn’t care who he’s hitting right now. He’s just splitting skulls, I can respect that.”
[Del Toro moves to the center of the ring. He raises one hand towards Propaganda. He curls his fingers slowly, as if summoning Propaganda’s soul.]
[The movement, the power. It stops all of the Believers dead in their tracks.]
[Slowly, Propaganda rises to one knee.]
[SANTIAGO DEL TORO CHARGES! A BRUTAL KNEE STRIKE ECHOES OUT ACROSS THE SEA OF FOLLOWERS!]
[CRACK!]
[PHANTOM CORNADA! PROPAGANDA DROPS LIKE A SACK OF FUCKING CONCRETE!]
[AND DEL TORO DROPS TO HIS KNEES BESIDE HIM, HEAD BOWED, BEFORE HOOKING HIS LEG INTO A PINFALL!]
[ONE!]
[...]
[...]
[TWO!]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[THREE!]
Signal: “Santiago Del Toro has done it. In front of all of Propaganda’s followers, he has silenced the broadcast and stands as your NEEEEWWWWW ULTRAVIOLENT CHAMPION!”
Winner & NEW Ultraviolent Champion: Santiago Del Toro
Next Level
[Backstage — deep within the Temple.]
[The lighting flickers faintly from exposed wiring. Arcade code scrolls across portable monitors set up haphazardly around the corridor.]
[Respawn kneels beside an open arcade cabinet, tools scattered around him, fingers moving rapidly across a keyboard.]
[PixelShift approaches cautiously.]
Pixelshift: "You said you had something."
[Respawn doesn’t look up immediately.]
Respawn: "I do."
[He presses ENTER.]
[The arcade screen flickers violently before stabilizing into an unfamiliar map — darker, bigger, unfinished.]
[Textures half-rendered.]
[Platforms appearing and disappearing.]
[The words LEVEL UNDER CONSTRUCTION blink overhead.]
Signal: "What are we looking at?"
Black Scar: "Looks broken."
[Respawn finally stands.]
[Excited. Focused.]
[PixelShift steps closer to the cabinet.]
[The screen reflects in his mask.]
Respawn: "I’ve been building something."
[A pause.]
Respawn: "A new level."
[He gestures toward the unfinished world.]
Respawn: "Something bigger than Skybound."
[A beat.]
Respawn: "A place that might actually get you home."
[PixelShift’s posture changes instantly.]
Pixelshift: "Home-home?"
Respawn: "Full universe access."
[A pause.]
Respawn: "No fragments. No isolated frames."
[PixelShift stares at the screen like it’s salvation.]
Respawn: "But there’s a problem."
[The cabinet glitches.]
[A monster sprite flickers briefly in the background before vanishing.]
Respawn: "It’s unstable."
[A beat.]
Respawn: "I need it beta tested."
[PixelShift looks at him.]
Pixelshift: "Meaning?"
[Respawn folds his arms.]
Respawn: "I need a combat sequence."
[The monitors hum louder.]
Respawn: "A real one."
[A pause.]
Respawn: "I need you to drag somebody into the game."
[PixelShift hesitates.]
Pixelshift: "Okay…"
[A beat.]
Pixelshift: "Who?"
[Respawn’s expression hardens slightly.]
Respawn: "Not just anybody."
[The unfinished level flickers again.]
[Dark corridors generate briefly inside the game world.]
Respawn: I need someone dangerous."
[A pause.]
Respawn: "Someone strong enough to stress-test the system."
[He steps closer.]
Respawn: "Somebody capable of surviving it."
[PixelShift slowly begins to understand.]
Signal: "Oh no…"
Black Scar: "Respawn’s not building a game anymore."
[The arcade cabinet emits a low digital growl.]
[The level continues building itself on-screen.]
[Waiting.]
Revelations
[INT. THE TEMPLE — RAFTERS — NIGHT.]
[The camera shakes violently as it rushes through the backstage area. Staff scream in the distance. Something terrible has happened.]
Signal: "We’ve got chaos backstage inside the Temple—!"
Black Scar: "Not again…"
[The camera bursts through a maintenance door.]
[Darkwish stands frozen beneath the rafters.]
[Looking upward.]
[Horrified.]
[The camera slowly tilts up.]
[And finds him.]
[The Lost Boy.]
[Hanging from the rafters by a thick rope around his neck.]
[His body sways slowly above the Temple floor.]
[One shoe missing.]
[Arms limp.]
[Dead.]
Signal: "OH MY GOD…"
Black Scar: "The Lost Boy…"
[The entire arena seems to fall silent.]
[Darkwish slowly lowers his gaze toward the floor beneath the body.]
[Painted there.]
[In thick crimson strokes.]
[The letter A.]
Signal: "There’s another letter…"
Black Scar: "D…"
[A beat.]
Black Scar: "M…"
[Another.]
Black Scar: "And now A."
[Darkwish stares at the painted symbol.]
[Thinking.]
[Calculating.]
[The realization slowly crawls across his face.]
Darkwish: "D."
[A pause.]
Darkwish: "M."
[His voice lowers.]
Darkwish: "A."
[The rope creaks overhead.]
[Darkwish looks up once more at the body of the Lost Boy.]
[Then back to the painted letter.]
[And suddenly—]
[He knows.]
Darkwish: "…I know who’s doing this."
Signal: "What?!"
Black Scar: "Then say it!"
[But Darkwish says nothing more. He simply stares ahead, expression darkening. The camera slowly pulls back.]
[The Lost Boy hanging high above the Temple floor.]
[The painted A beneath him.]
[And Darkwish standing between them.]
[Cut to black.]
Signal: “The Gift of the Gods Championship is on the line, folks! Remember: 5 successful defences earns the Champion a future World Championship opportunity!”
Black Scar: “This is numero three-oh for the reigning champeen, Pixelshift!”
Signal: “One has to wonder whether Academius's DeMasq running buddy, Jack Standard, will remain an innocent bystander, or try to influence the proceedings…”
Black Scar: “They sent a message at Masked & Dangerous, Sig: they're comin' for Pixelshift's mask!”
[The bell rings, and Academius invites Pixelshift to a tie-up. The Champ obliges, only to be bodied to the canvas!]
Signal: “Academius uses his 25-pound weight advantage to ground Pixelshift!”
[Standard claps for the mat technician, who spins round into a front facelock. Pixelshift quickly rises, fighting the hold. He breaks free and tears into the ropes, sending Academius out of the ring with a front dropkick!]
Signal: “We know Academius can fly, but Pixelshift flies higher! That’s what he needs to count on for defence tres!”
Black Scar: “The only countin’ he’ll be doin’ is sheep, when The Professor puts him to sleep with the Lecture Lock!”
[Academius goes to roll back in, but he eats a baseball slide from Pixelshift! He scrambles to his feet–]
[PLANCHA!]
[Neon Player One takes him out with a slingshot splash to the outside!]
[The Ruleador warns Jack away, then starts a ten-count as Pixelshift picks the challenger up…]
[ONE!]
[Academius rams him back-first into the edge of the ring!]
[The intellectual tosses Pixelshift into the barricade opposite!]
[TWO!]
[Academius puts the boots to him, angrily brushing off the fans’ hands.]
Black Scar: “Don’t sully him with your unwashed mitts, you filthy peons!”
[THREE!]
[The challenger sends the Champion crashing into the steel stairs!]
[RUMBLE!]
[Standard cheers from afar.]
[FOUR!]
[He peppers him with lefts and rights–]
[PIXELSHIFT FIGHTS BACK!]
[The fans pop as their hero dukes it out with The Scholar.]
[FIVE!]
Signal: “They’re getting tunnel vision. They could get counted out!”
[Academius cuts him off with a knee to the gut, then whips him–]
[PIXELSHIFT COUNTERS!]
Black Scar: “Hey, wait–!”
[ACADEMIUS IS FLUNG OVER THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!]
[SIX!]
[Signal and Black Scar narrowly get out of harm’s way, as Academius flips over their chairs and lies in a tangle of cables.]
[Pixelshift reaches over the booth, but can’t get him free!]
[SEVEN!]
[With his title on the line, he looks back at the ring, and reluctantly heads back.]
[Jack approaches Academius, but the Ruleador warns him not to interfere.]
[EIGHT!]
Signal: “Hello, am I still on?”
[Academius crawls out from behind the desk…]
[NINE!]
Black Scar: “–That stupid, reckless move by Pixelshift!”
[ACADEMIUS BREAKS THE 10-COUNT!]
[Standard breathes a sigh of relief.]
[Pixelshift is genuinely happy; he wants to win legitimately - not by a technicality!]
[The Save Point Saint offers Academius his hand.]
[Sir accepts…]
[BUT TRIPS INTO THE RULEADOR–]
[LOW BLOW TO PIXELSHIFT!]
Signal: “That dirty, rotten son of a bitch!”
Black Scar: “Hey, Pixelshift just tried to take us out, Siggy!”
[Pixelshift sinks to his knees, clutching his Poké Balls, as Jack laughs at ringside.]
[The Ruleador rounds on Academius, who feigns innocence.]
Academius: “–So sorry, dear boy! Must’ve been my bootlace!”
[HE KICKS PIXELSHIFT IN THE FACE!]
[The Champ goes down, and Academius dives on him–]
[HE GRABS HIS MASK!]
Signal: “ACADEMIUS IS TRYING TO DEMASK PIXELSHIFT!”
[The Ruleador goes to pull him off, but Standard hops onto the apron!]
[With the official distracted, Academius paws away at Pixelshift’s visage.]
Black Scar: “Unmask that criminal, Academius! He attacked unarmed civilians!”
[Pixelshift’s visor suddenly lights up, displaying–]
Signal: “Cherries...!?”
[Academius stops, frowning in confusion…]
[LOW BLOW BY PIXELSHIFT!]
[The crowd bursts into laughter as Academius gets a taste of his own medicine.]
[On the apron, Jack is apoplectic.]
Jack Standard: “He’s cheating! Turn around, dammit!”
[He hops down and slaps the apron in frustration. The Ruleador turns around just in time to see Academius slump to the mat.]
Black Scar: “I can’t believe it, that was a blatant low blow!”
Signal: “Academius did it first!”
Black Scar: “You heard the man, he tripped!”
[Pixelshift gets back to his feet. A pair of pixellated wings flickers across his visor.]
Signal: “We know what that means!”
[He heads up top…]
[DIVING SENTON BOMB - THE SKY DIVER PRESS!]
[He covers Academius.]
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[KICK OUT!]
Black Scar: “Academius showing the heart of a true champion, right there!”
[Pixelshift motions for him to get up!]
[A groggy Academius rises, then turns round–]
[A, B, DOWN, UP, DOWN, UP, X, Y!]
Signal: “That’s a button-mashing, 8-BIT COMBO of kicks and chops!”
[The Champ rears back to deliver the final blow…]
[JACK STANDARD GRABS HIS FOOT!]
[The Ruleador was busy checking on a woozy Academius!]
[Pixelshift wheels round and snatches the air, but Jack backs off.]
Signal: “Dammit, Standard, will you get the hell outta here!?”
[ROLL-UP BY ACADEMIUS!]
Black Scar: “Shoulda paid attention, Pixelshift!”
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[TWO-AND-A-HALF!]
[Big pop as Pixelshift rolls out and gets to his feet–]
[CROSSFACE!]
[Academius floors him with the submission hold!]
Black Scar: “That’s the LECTURE LOCK, Sig! He’s gonna teach Pixelshift all about pain receptors!”
[Indeed, Pixelshift screams out and reaches for the ropes in vain.]
[Academius ramps up the torque, as Standard laughs on from ringside.]
Signal: “The faithful fans inside The Temple are rallying behind their hero!”
[They stamp their feet and clap their hands, willing Pixelshift on.]
[He scratches and claws, dragging them towards the ropes…]
Black Scar: “Crank that thing, Academius!”
[Pixelshift fights through the pain–]
[ROPE BREAK!]
[The Ruleador calls it, but Academius keeps the crossface locked in.]
Signal: “Break it up, dammit, break it up!”
[The official turns to him and starts a five-count.]
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[THREE–]
[JACK SOCKS PIXELSHIFT IN THE MOUTH!]
[The audience grills Standard, who mugs them off.]
[Academius releases a dazed Pixelshift, then backs into the corner and pulls his kneepad down…]
Black Scar: “Oh, boy - you asked for this, Pixelshift!”
Signal: “He’s fighting a damn handicap match, Scar!”
[Pixelshift slowly gets to his hands and knees–]
[KNEE TREMBLER TO THE TEMPLE - that’s the EXPULSION!]
Black Scar: “Say goodnight!”
[Academius slides into the cover.]
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[NEW CHAMPION!?]
[THREE!]
[NO!]
[Pixelshift barely kicks out!]
[The audience collectively breathes a sigh of relief. The Living Glitch is still the Champ - for now.]
[The Professor slaps the mat. He hauls Pixelshift to his feet.]
[He spins him round, hooks his leg, then lifts him up–]
Signal: “Pixelshift COUNTERS the A-PLUS belly-to-back suplex!”
[Flipping onto his feet, he kicks Academius in the gut, then hooks his leg instead!]
[The crowd chants in unison…]
Crowd: “POW-ER UP, POW-ER UP, POW-ER UP!”
[Pixelshift plants him with a FISHERMAN SUPLEX!]
Signal: “POWER-UP PLEX!”
[He bridges it!]
[ONE!]
[TWO!]
[THREE!?]
[SHOULDER UP!]
[The fans groan as class remains in session.]
[Both men recover on the mat.]
Signal: “Oh, what the hell is Standard doing now!?”
[The second-half of DeMasq slides Academius’s trademark wooden ruler to him under the bottom rope.]
Black Scar: “He just needs him to measure something, Sig. I admit he could’ve picked a better time!”
[They get to their feet - the Ruleador unaware of the foreign object.]
[They turn to face each other–]
[ACADEMIUS SWINGS AT PIXELSHIFT!]
[HE DUCKS!]
[STAND-OFF…]
[WAIT–]
[PIXELSHIFT IS LAGGING!]
[HE’S FROZEN IN PLACE!]
Black Scar: “Take his freakin’ head off, Academius! Picture one of your snot-nosed pupils!”
[ACADEMIUS STEPS FORWARDS–]
[THE RULEADOR GRABS THE WEAPON!]
Signal: “The Ruleador rules that the ruler is against the rules!”
[ACADEMIUS AND THE RULEADOR PLAY TUG OF WAR…]
[THE RULEADOR PRIES THE RULER OFF OF HIM!]
[ACADEMIUS TURNS ROUND–]
[RIGHT INTO A CUTTER!]
Signal: “Academius gets the LAG SPIKE!”
[Before Pixelshift can cover him, however…]
[Jack freakin’ Standard is on the apron once more!]
Signal: “Please, will the Ruleador eject his ass already!?”
Black Scar: “Why!? He didn’t do nothin’!”
[Reading Signal’s mind, the Champ intervenes–]
[PIXELSHIFT BRINGS JACK IN THE HARD WAY!]
[Standard scrambles to his feet–]
[ANOTHER CUTTER!]
[LAG SPIKE!]
[BIG POP!]
Signal: “FINALLY!”
[The Ruleador shoes Jack’s limp body under the ropes.]
Black Scar: “That was a totally unprovoked assault!”
[The 1UP Wonder waits for Academius to get to his feet.]
[GAME OVER flashes across his visor.]
[The challenger turns round groggily–]
[CODEBREAK–NO!]
Signal: “Academius BLOCKS the HARD RESET!”
[He threads Pixelshift’s arms, then lifts him overhead–]
[BUTTERFLY SUPLEX!]
Black Scar: “CHALK DUST - and he’s dustin’ his hands off, just like he’s about to dust off Pixelshift’s title reign!”
[The challenger puts up an X, then throws his arms down.]
Academius: “DIIIS-MISSED!”
Signal: “Uh-oh - he’s going for it, Scar!”
[Academius scales the turnbuckle.]
[He fixes the crowd, then his opponent, with a stern glare, and calls for silence–]
Academius: “Shhhhhh!”
Black Scar: “Quiet, Sig!”
[HE LEAPS…]
[TOP-ROPE DIVING KNEE DROP!]
[BUT THERE’S NOBODY HOME!]
Signal: “CLASS is NOT DIMISSED!”
[Academius rolls through and spins round–]
[COOODEBREEEAAAKEEERRR!]
Signal: “Pixelshift hits the HARD RESET!”
[Pixelshift collapses into the cover…]
[ONE!]
Signal: “Pixelshift to retain!?”
[TWO!]
Black Scar: “Sometimes, the bad guys win!”
[...]
[THREE!!!]
[PIXELSHIFT HAS DONE IT!]
Signal: “What a contest! Through sheer determination, Pixelshift defends his Gift of the Gods Championship for the third time!”
Black Scar: “I hope he’s proud of his cowardly antics! Someone check on Jack Standard!”
Winner & 3rd Defence: Pixelshift
Sweet & Sour
[After the bell, Pixelshift leans on the ropes…]
[DRAGON TWIST CUTTER!]
Signal: “Academius just hit the PUNCTUATION MARK! Come on, the match is over!”
Black Scar: “I think Pixelshift’s night is just beginning!”
[Academius unloads on Pixelshift with lefts and rights.]
[A revitalised Jack Standard puts the boots to Neon Player One!]
Signal: “This is a mugging!”
[The Ruleador tries to call DeMasq off, but gets shoved aside.]
[Subduing Pixelshift, Academius looks up at Standard.]
[He nods.]
[ACADEMIUS GRABS PIXELSHIFT’S MASK!]
Signal: “This is exactly what DeMasq promised they’d do!”
Black Scar: “Pixelshift’s mask will look mighty nice on their mantelpiece, alongside that bible-thumper’s, Reverend Blackheart!”
[ACADEMIUS STARTS TO REMOVE THE VISOR!]
Signal: “Remember what Respawn said, Scar: he didn’t program anything under that mask!”
Black Scar: “Will he be as lifeless as an unplugged arcade cabinet!?”
[IT’S COMING OFF–]
[♩SUGAR IN THE WALLS sweetens the speakers!]
Signal: “WHAT THE–!?”
[THE CANDY MAN RUSHES TO THE RING!]
Black Scar: “Is he coming to help, or...!?”
[Abandoning their efforts, Academius and Standard look at each other uncertainly.]
[Candy Man rolls in and goes toe-to-toe with both men!]
Signal: “This could go off!”
[...]
[CANDY MAN THROWS POWDERED SUGAR INTO STANDARD’S FACE!]
Signal: “Jack’s feelin’ that SUGAR RUSH, Scar!”
Black Scar: “Poor Jack’s septic eyes!”
[Academius lunges–]
[SAMOAN DROP!]
Signal: “That’s a SOUR DROP for The Professor!”
[Candy gets up as Standard wipes his eyes…]
[TILT-A-WHIRL SLAM!]
Signal: “He calls that THE BIG WHIRLY!”
Black Scar: “The WHAT!?”
[Candy Man drags Jack on top of Academius and climbs the corner post…]
[THREE-HUNDRED-POUND TOP-ROPE SPLASH!]
Signal: “That’s a DOUBLE-DECKER GLASS JAR!”
[Having laid out DeMasq, Sugar Crash looks down at Pixelshift.]
[Candy Man rolls under the ropes–]
[THEN PULLS PIXELSHIFT OUT BY HIS ANKLE, AND DRAGS HIM UP THE RAMP!]
Signal: “I think you were right when you said Pixelshift's night is just beginning, Scar!”
Dinner
[Thap.]
[Thap.]
[Thap.]
[The scaly footsteps of The Jurassic Colossus slap against the concrete in The Temple’s parking lot.]
Black Scar: “Did he drive here!?”
[Jurassic stops.]
[Dr. E. Vinell blocks the way, surrounded by orderlies.]
Signal: “They might not make it to Lambs to the Slaughter…”
[Colossus licks his lips.]
Jurassic Colossus: “You bought me dinner!”
[One orderly looks at the others, quivering.]
[Vinell chuckles.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “We have different tastes. You favour human meat. I prefer lamb.”
[Jurassic’s tail swishes.]
Jurassic Colossus: “From where I’m standing, you’re the one lining up to be slaughtered.”
[Doc replies in his silky bedside tone.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “You must be looking in the mirror, as you did in my laboratory.”
[Colossus scoffs.]
Jurassic Colossus: “You’re no doctor. You’re a butcher.”
[The Good Doctor Butcher sighs.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “When your blood pumped through my circulatory system, it was… Intoxicating.”
[Jurassic snarls.]
Jurassic Colossus: “Then I oughta feel drunk off my ass when I paint the ring with your blood!”
[Doc drops his warm facade for his naturally icy tone.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “I need another sample from you. Should I enter Lambs to the Slaughter, I’ll take every advantage I can get…”
[The Last Dinosaur stands his ground.]
Jurassic Colossus: “Over my dead body.”
[Vinell rubs his hands together.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “That’s the plan.”
[THE ORDERLIES RUSH JURASSIC–]
[TAIL WHIP! HEADBUTT! CLAWS!]
[WHEELBARROW FACEBUSTER - SHARPTOOTH SHATTER!]
Signal: “Jurassic Colossus is fighting for his life!”
[More goons pile on top of The Last Dinosaur, burying him under a human pyramid!]
[Vinell cackles as he approaches the fleshy monument.]
Dr. E. Vinell: “Fossils are formed under immense pressure…”
[BODIES FLY THROUGH THE AIR!]
[THE JURASSIC COLOSSUS STANDS TALL!]
Jurassic Colossus: “ROOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!”
[Doc reaches for his trusty taser—]
[COLOSSUS DISARMS HIM!]
[ZZZZAAAAAP!]
[JURASSIC TASES VINELL!]
Jurassic Colossus: “That shit hurts, don’t it?”
[He drops the taser onto Doc’s chest and walks away, laughing.]
Play Time II
[The Temple lights dim. “March of the Iron Sovereign” HITS. Warlord Mars storms through the doors. This is the moment we've all been waiting for - the OSW World Heavyweight Championship at Pandemonium.]
Signal: “It’s time for the World Championship Triple Threat!”
Black Scar: “And these three men wanna tear each other apart!”
[Suddenly—]
[BZZZZZT.]
[Small drones flood into the arena.]
Signal: “What the hell!?”
[The drones circle Mars.]
[Then begin forming a shape around him.]
[A cube.]
[Mars stops.]
[The drones project footage.]
[PixelShift.]
[The arcade.]
[The monster.]
[Mars being dragged into the game.]
Pixelshift: “...That thing doesn’t exist in Skybound.”
[Mars’ face twists.]
Warlord Mars: "PIXELSHIT!"
[He swings at the drones.]
[Misses.]
[The footage keeps playing.]
Warlord Mars: "TURN IT OFF!"
[BZZT.]
[Mars suddenly slaps at his shoulder.]
Warlord Mars: "STUPID BEE—!"
Signal: “Did something hit him?”
Black Scar: “I think one of those drones stung him!”
[The drones scatter as Mars reaches the ring.]
[Then Mariachi trumpets.]
[Santiago Siniestro emerges…]
[…and the drones return immediately.]
Siniestro: "...No."
[The cube reforms around him.]
[New footage.]
[Ziggy Robbins.]
[Still standing.]
[Still breathing.]
[Dr. Cube’s voice echoes through the arena.]
Dr. Cube: "You couldn’t even beat him."
[Siniestro’s jaw clenches.]
Siniestro: "Enough."
[The drones continue.]
[Again.]
[And again.]
[Siniestro snatches one out of the air and crushes it.]
[Then—]
[BZZT.]
[Siniestro grabs his neck.]
[Small puncture.]
Signal: “Another sting!”
Black Scar: “What are those things injecting into them!?”
[Siniestro joins Mars in the ring. Both furious. Both looking ready to kill.]
Dr. Cube: “Game Over.”
[Dr. Cube stands behind them. World Title over his shoulder. Two empty injectable vials in his hands.]
Signal: “THAT’S THE VIAL!”
Black Scar: “The one from earlier!”
[Mars and Siniestro turn.]
Dr. Cube: "Did you truly believe I wouldn’t prepare for betrayal?"
[He lifts one vial.]
Dr. Cube: "A fascinating concoction."
[He tilts his head.]
Dr. Cube: "Slower reflexes."
[Second vial.]
Dr. Cube: "Muscle fatigue."
[A grin.]
Dr. Cube: "Sluggishness."
[Mars lunges a step—]
[Then stumbles.]
[Siniestro steadies himself on the ropes.]
Signal: “Oh my God…”
Black Scar: “Cube poisoned them!”
Dr. Cube: "You’ve had your fun tearing apart War Machine."
[He steps between them.]
Dr. Cube: "Now…"
[A slow smile.]
Dr. Cube: "…I have mine."
[Mars swings.]
[Too slow.]
[Cube ducks it easily.]
[Siniestro charges.]
[Stumbles again.]
[Cube laughs.]
Dr. Cube: "The Game Master’s design remains."
[He points.]
[The Ruleador calls for the bell.]
[DING DING DING.]
Signal: “This is brilliant!”
Black Scar: “Cube outsmarted both of ‘em!”
[Mars and Siniestro glare at Cube.]
[Furious.]
[Weakening.]
[Cube raises the World Championship high.]
[The crowd goes BANANA.]
[The bell rings as Dr. Cube immediately goes on the attack against his two former, now heavily sedated allies.]
[Double clothesline from Cube takes both Siniestro and Mars down!]
Black Scar: “The Game Master has outplayed both his opponents here tonight, Sig. They might’ve survived Cube’s stipulation on Slam, but they let their guard down when it mattered.”
Signal: “Hate to say it, Scar, but their frequencies were definitely off. They should’ve known Cube was going to pull a stunt like this, and now it’ll possibly cost them the gold.”
[The crowd boos as the Doctor begins to stomp away on the heads and necks of his foes.]
[Both Santiago and Warlord’s reaction times are so slow, they can’t even defend themselves properly.]
[Cube pulls El Frio up to his feet slowly, basking in the jeers and savoring the advantage he has over his opponents.]
[Siniestro slowly throws incredibly soft shots at the Game Master’s abdomen, but they don’t register with him.]
[A DDT from Cube drops El Frio square on his dome!]
[The Doctor nonchalantly covers Santiago!]
[One!]
[...]
[...]
[Two!!]
[...]
[...]
[Cube lifts El Frio off the mat and stops the count!]
Signal: “The Doc’s just playing with his food right now, and the crowd absolutely hates it.”
Black Scar: “Cube has this game just about won. Why not have a little fun before confirming the kill?”
[The Game Master proceeds to roll El Frio onto his stomach and locks in a rear chinlock.]
[The hold is noticeably loose, as if it’s mostly for show rather than to inflict any real harm.]
[While Cube maintains the “submission”, he looks over to Warlord Mars, who is half consciously fiddling with his belt.]
Signal: “Whatever was in that syringe, it seems to be making Mars a little hot and bothered.”
Black Scar: “I hope hyperarousal isn’t a side effect with that concoction of the Game Master’s. The last thing anyone wants to see is the Bringer of War showing off his red rocket in the ring.”
[The Doctor releases the chinlock on Santiago and walks over to the Warlord with murderous intent.]
[Cube proceeds to kick Mars in the ribs to get him to turn onto his side!]
[It doesn’t work, so the Doc proceeds to kick him again, but harder!]
[And a third time!]
[Mars finally rolls onto his side after a fourth, stiff kick, allowing the Game Master to trap the bigger man’s arm behind his head.]
[He then pulls back the chin of the Warlord, trapping him in the PUZZLE LOCK!]
[The Bringer of War keeps reaching for his belt, despite being locked in the submission.]
[He’s fingertips away from the last pouch he has yet to open, but can’t quite reach it.]
[Just when it looks like the Warlord is about to pass out, Cube suddenly lets go of the hold!]
[Why?]
[Santiago crawled his way over and placed a hand on the Doctor!]
Black Scar: “Siniestro still has a bit of fight left in him, it seems. I admire his spirit, even if he doesn’t seem to recognize where he is.”
[The Doctor slowly rises to his feet before grabbing El Frio by the mask.]
[Cube pulls the Assassin towards the ropes, draping his neck across the middle one before planting a foot on Siniestro’s back!]
[The Doctor chokes out Siniestro, basking in the jeers from the crowd once more.]
[Meanwhile, Mars manages to reach inside the last pouch and pulls out a syringe with a glowing liquid within!]
[The Warlord makes sure the Doctor is distracted before stabbing it into his leg!]
Signal: “Looks like Mars whipped up something of his own, Scar! But what could it possibly be!?”
[Mars is only able to inject most of the serum into himself before Cube stops his assault on Siniestro.]
[By that point, the Warlord is forced to throw the syringe outside of the ring before the Game Master notices it.]
[The Doctor slowly saunters towards Mars, hoisting him up by the head-]
[WAR HEAD!]
[The headbutt knocks Cube for a loop as Mars gets back to his feet, looking completely rejuvenated!]
Black Scar: “Well I’ll be damned, Sig! The Bringer of War had the wits about him to make an antidote to Cube’s concoction!”
Signal: “That was unexpected, but it seems to have evened the odds and eliminated any advantage the Game Master had previously!”
[Mars charges at the Doctor and levels him with a big meaty clothesline, returning the favor from the start of the match!]
[Cube rises quickly, but gets taken down with a massive shoulder tackle by the Warlord!]
[The Game Master sits up, only to get grabbed around the waist by the Bringer of War and gets German suplexed from that position!]
[Mars beats on his chest like a gorilla as the crowd unexpectedly starts cheering for him!]
[The Warlord doesn’t acknowledge the audience’s approval, however, instead turning his attention towards the Doctor.]
[Cube tries to get back to his feet as the Bringer of War stomps towards him, looking to inflict further punishment.]
[Siniestro, meanwhile, slips out of the ring while holding his throat, unseen by his opponents and the majority of those in the arena.]
[As Mars continues to pummel Cube with heavy punches, El Frio makes his way towards the syringe the Warlord tossed aside earlier.]
[Crawling on his belly, Santiago makes his way towards the needle, hoping to get back into contention for the title.]
[Back in the ring, the Bringer of War sets the Doctor up in a torture rack!]
Signal: “He’s looking to end this match with the WAR MACHINE, Scar!”
[Mars pulls down on the back of the Game Master a couple times, before spinning out with the Argentine powerbomb!]
[He sits out with it and holds the Doctor’s leg!]
[One!]
[...]
[Santiago injects himself with the needle on the outside!]
[...]
[Two!!]
[...]
[The antidote starts to take effect as he notices the pin being counted in the ring!]
[...]
[Three!?]
[...]
[NO!]
[The Ruleador was pulled out of the ring at the last second by El Frio!]
Black Scar: “I can’t believe it, Sig! Siniestro managed to avoid being seen by anyone and saved the match for himself just as Mars had this thing won!”
Signal: “I’m shocked, Scar. However, I’m nowhere near as surprised as the Warlord looks right now!”
[Siniestro slides back into the ring and comes face to face with a stunned Bringer of War.]
[Both men stand up nose to nose, their breathing steadily faster paced and more aggressive as they rise.]
[Mars shoves Santiago into the ropes, who comes back on the attack with a running dropkick to the knee of the Warlord!]
[The Bringer of War clutches his leg as he stumbles backwards, giving Siniestro enough time to bounce off the ropes again for a second low dropkick!]
[Mars drops onto a knee as Siniestro looks to put the big man down with a springboard rana!]
[But the Warlord keeps hold of El Frio as he leans back!]
[The Bringer of War hoists Santiago up high and plants him down with a regular, but still powerful powerbomb!]
[Siniestro rolls onto the apron as Mars looks to follow him, but Cube is back up, and he stops the big man in his tracks with a hammerlock!]
[The Warlord attempts to throw a back elbow, but the Doctor ducks it and snags the head of Mars!]
[RUSSIAN ROULETTE!]
[The Hammerlock DDT plants the Bringer of War!]
[Before Cube can go for the pin, however, Santiago leaps onto the top rope and hits a downed Game Master with a HERMOSO RUIDO frog splash!]
[Cover!]
[One!]
[...]
[...]
[Two!!]
[...]
[...]
[The Doctor gets a shoulder up, hitting Siniestro in the dick in the process!]
[El Frio covers his family heirlooms as he rolls off Cube!]
[The crowd are on their feet, thunderously applauding after all that’s transpired.]
Signal: “Now this is the type of match the crowd were hoping to see!”
Black Scar: “What did you say!? I can’t hear you over all the cheering!”
[After a minute of respite, Mars is up to his feet first, clutching his head as he uses the ropes for support.]
[As he gets up, he walks over to Santiago, pulling him up by the back of his neck.]
[The Bringer of War throws Siniestro into a corner, looking to follow it up with a running avalanche!]
[But El Frio moves out of the way, leaving the Warlord to hit the turnbuckles hard!]
[Mars backs away from the corner as Siniestro runs up to the top of that same corner, jumping off with a moonsault that takes the big man down!]
[Santiago follows it up by grabbing the arm of the Warlord and twisting it to where he has a hammerlock applied around the Assassin’s leg.]
[El Frio then turns the Bringer of War onto his stomach before lifting his leg up in a half crab!]
Signal: “He’s got the TEQUILA SUNRISE locked in at the middle of the ring! Mars has nowhere to go!”
[Mars screams in agony as the Ruleador checks on him, asking him if he wants to quit!]
[The Warlord shakes his head no, causing Siniestro to lean back, locking the leg in tighter!]
[For a moment, through the howls of pain, it looks like the Bringer of War might just give up!]
Black Scar: “I’d say this one’s over, but Cube is back up to his feet!”
[CHECKMATE!]
[Spinning back elbow to the head of Siniestro causes him to release the hold!]
[Santiago flops to the mat face first as Mars clutches his sore leg, yelling obscenities all the while.]
[With both opponents down, Cube tilts his head from side to side, calculating who to go for next.]
[After a few seconds of deliberation, he decides to go after El Frio.]
[The Doctor forces Siniestro up to his feet before kicking him low and trapping him in a package position.]
Signal: “This could be GAME OVER for Santiago!”
[The Game Master tries to lift up his opponent, but he can’t get Santiago off the ground!]
[He clubs El Frio in the back a couple times before trying again, but the Assassin is still fighting with everything he has!]
[He wriggles free from the package lock and back body drops Cube onto the mat!]
[The Doctor gets up quick, but Siniestro rushes at him with an EL ULTIMO ADIOS!]
Black Scar: “¡Dios mío! The Mexican Destroyer hits flush!”
[He attempts to cover Cube again, but Mars is back on his feet, intercepting Santiago with a massive punt kick!]
[Siniestro collapses onto the mat as the Warlord drags his limp body over to Cube’s.]
[The Bringer of War looks to end this war in a massive way as he drapes El Frio over the Game Master before making his way to a corner.]
[He slowly pulls himself up to the top rope as the ropes bend and creak under the massive four hundred and sixty four pound frame of the Warlord.]
[Just as he makes it up to the second rope, he’s clubbed in the back by a half conscious Dr. Cube!]
[He slides under Mars and climbs to the top rope with his back facing the crowd.]
[He sets the Warlord’s head in between his legs as he looks to go for an avalanche GAME OVER!]
Black Scar: “There’s no way, man…”
Signal: “He’ll kill Siniestro if he hits this!”
[Cube somehow hoists the Warlord in a package piledriver position before pushing off!]
[The piledriver sees Mars land head first onto the abdomen of Santiago!]
[The crowd reacts loudly with a collective OOOOOOH as the commentators are rendered speechless by what happened!]
[The Warlord flops onto his side, eyes glazed over and nearly rolling into the back of his head.]
[El Frio clutches his stomach in pain and writhes like a fish out of water.]
[Cube can only press down on Siniestro’s shoulders to make an exhausted cover!]
[One!]
[...]
[...]
[Two!!]
[...]
[...]
[Three!!!]
Signal: “Cube managed to even and then defy the odds here tonight. He’s still your world champion, but my God did he have to put up a heck of a fight!”
Winner & STILL OSW Champion: Dr. Cube
The Stash
[EXT. THE TEMPLE — ROOFTOP — NIGHT.]
[Wind screams across the top of the Temple. Rainwater glistens across the stone rooftop beneath the neon glow of Molvania below.]
[PixelShift dangles over the edge of the building.]
[Hundreds of feet in the air.]
[Kicking helplessly.]
[The Candy Man holds him one-handed by the throat over the abyss.]
[His bright, twisted colours feel even more unnatural against the darkness of the skyline.]
Signal: "OH MY GOD!"
Black Scar: "Candy Man’s gonna throw him off the Temple!"
[PixelShift claws desperately at the hand around his throat.]
Pixelshift: "I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!"
[The Candy Man tilts his head slowly.]
[Almost childlike.]
[Almost playful.]
[Which somehow makes it worse.]
The Candy Man: "You took my stash."
[PixelShift shakes his head frantically.]
Pixelshift: "No I didn’t!"
[The Candy Man squeezes tighter.]
[PixelShift chokes, legs kicking over empty air.]
The Candy Man: "Don’t lie to me."
[A pause.]
[His voice lowers.]
The Candy Man: "That makes me sad."
Signal: "Somebody get up there!"
[The wind howls harder around them.]
[Far below, the lights of Molvania blur beneath PixelShift’s dangling feet.]
The Candy Man: "I want it back."
[PixelShift struggles to speak.]
Pixelshift: "I—I can find it!"
[A gasp.]
Pixelshift: "I swear!"
[The Candy Man stares at him silently.]
[Studying him.]
[Trying to decide if the fear is real.]
[Then suddenly—]
[He throws PixelShift.]
[But not off the building.]
[Back onto the rooftop.]
[PixelShift crashes hard against the stone, coughing violently, scrambling away on all fours.]
Black Scar: "He spared him…"
Signal: "For now!"
[The Candy Man slowly approaches.]
[Rain drips from the edge of his mask.]
The Candy Man: "One chance."
[A beat.]
The Candy Man: "You bring my stash back to me…"
[He crouches slightly.]
The Candy Man: "…or next time…"
[A long pause.]
[He points over the edge of the Temple.]
The Candy Man: "You fall."
[PixelShift nods desperately, still gasping for breath.]
Pixelshift: "Okay— okay! Cool! Yeah! I’ll find it!"
[The Candy Man rises.]
[Steps backward toward the darkness of the rooftop.]
[And disappears into it.]
[Leaving PixelShift alone at the edge of the Temple.]
[Shaking.]
[With the city sprawling beneath him.]
Signal: "PixelShift’s in serious trouble…"
Black Scar: "And now he’s gotta find a stash he says he never stole."
[The wind continues to roar across the rooftop.]
[Cut.]
An Amicable Resolution
[FLASHBACK.]
[INT. MARVOLO’S OFFICE — NIGHT.]
[The room is dark except for the green glow of a banker’s lamp on the desk. Rain taps softly against the windows of the Temple.]
[Marvolo sits alone in his chair, the red phone pressed tightly to his ear.]
[He doesn’t look angry.]
[He looks tired.]
Marvolo: "I know."
[A pause.]
[He slowly leans back in the chair.]
Marvolo: "I know you're coming for me."
[Silence answers him from the other end of the line.]
[Marvolo rubs his temple.]
Marvolo:"Which means we’re out of time."
[A beat.]
Marvolo: "So let’s stop pretending this can still be managed from the shadows."
[The rain intensifies outside.]
[Lightning briefly illuminates the office.]
Marvolo: "We should meet."
[A pause.]
Marvolo: "Face to face."
[His grip tightens around the receiver.]
Marvolo: "And resolve this amicably. Once and for all."
[He listens.]
[Expression slowly hardening.]
[Then—]
[Click.]
[The line goes dead.]
[Marvolo lowers the phone slowly.]
[The office suddenly feels much larger.]
[Much emptier.]
[Outside, thunder rolls over Molvania.]
[Fade.]
Signal: Here we go folks... the moment we've all been waiting for.
Black Scar: WHO'S FIRST!?
The slow rumble of “The Riddler” is quickly followed by the incredible trumpets that lead to Edward Newton stepping out through the doors into The Temple.
He saunters his way to the ring with arrogance, tapping his forehead to signal his superior intelligence before rolling under the bottom rope into the ring.
Edward smiles, soaking in the boos.
[The lights dim to deep purple and red hues as feedback hums through the arena. A slow blues riff kicks in as Ram Jam steps through the smoke, cape shimmering, head nodding to the rhythm.]
Signal: Ram Jam and Edward Newton is one hell of a pairing to kick this off!
Black Scar: They couldn’t have picked two weirder bastards to start us off with.
Signal: Twenty souls enter Lambs to the Slaughter… but only one survives the slaughterhouse.
[He pauses halfway down the ramp, spreads his arms, and lets the crowd soak him in before rolling into the ring and climbing the turnbuckles – horns raised high.]
[The bell sounds as Edward Newton and Ram Jam slowly circle one another. Newton’s cold, analytical stare never leaves the masked showman, while Ram Jam sways side to side to a rhythm only he can hear.]
Ram Jam: Jam’s in session, baby!
[Ram suddenly bursts forward with surprising speed, THROWING a wild discus lariat that Newton barely ducks under.]
[Riddle Me That! Newton instantly grabs Ram by the mask and BOUNCES his skull off the top turnbuckle repeatedly.]
Signal: Newton wasting absolutely no time putting down a marker in this match.
[Newton twists the arm viciously.]
[NEWTON’S LAW!]
[The Armbreaker nearly snaps Ram Jam’s shoulder apart as the Soul Shaman writhes in pain on the canvas.]
[Eddie pulls him back to his feet.. but Ram Jam suddenly fires back with a brutal Psychedelic Headbutt right to the jaw!]
[Newton Stumbles.]
Black Scar: GOOD LORD, I think Newton’s teeth just changed zip code.
[The Riddler stumbles backwards into the ropes as Ram starts to FEEL the rhythm, rolling his shoulders before exploding forward.]
[ELECTRIC AVENUE! Running clothesline nearly folds Newton inside out, but over the top rope!.]
[Ram turns, playing to the crowd as he drums against his chest.]
Ram Jam: FEEL IT!
[WOMP!]
[Edwards pulls his feet out from underneath him, dragging him quickly to the outside.]
[He quickly strikes him with a hard right hand before whipping him hard back first into the barricade. The Riddler smirks, tapping his forehead in mockery.]
Signal: Always thinking.
[The Riddler grabs him by the head, thrusting right hands into his skull until the audible countdown timer grabs his attention.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The arena goes dark, an eerie fog filling the ringside to hushed murmurs before the ominous rev of an engine announces Mr. Grimm's arrival.]
["Ride With Mr. Grimm" follows the revving, blaring through the arena speakers.]
[He rides his motorcycle through the entrance doors. Wisps of souls wicking off him as he arrives.]
Signal: Here he comes… the being that demanded The Newton Boys beat some answers out of him.
[LIGHTNING STRIKE! SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!]
[LUKE STORM! LUKE STORM!]
[LUKE STORM SUPERKICKS HIM IN THE SKULL, SENDING HIM FLYING OFF THE BIKE, WHICH SKIDS ACROS THE FLOOR WITH THE IMPACT!]
Black Scar: THAT LITTLE BASTARD JUST JUMPED THE REAPER!
[Storm rains down stomps on Grimm at the entrance before dragging the dazed specter up and THROWING him under the bottom rope into the match.]
Signal: Luke Storm isn’t even in this match!
Black Scar: Since when has that stopped him?
[Newton meanwhile has slid back into the ring, just in time to meet Mr. Grimm who rolls back to his feet.]
[He spins him…]
[BUT GRIMM GRABS HIM BY THE THROAT… AND BACKS NEWTON INTO THE CORNER.]
[THUD.]
[THUD.]
[THUD.]
[The Reaper crushes Newton against the buckles until Luke Storm attacks him from behind with a Double Axe Handle to the back of the head. Eddie quickly sidesteps in escape to stand alongside his brother.]
Edward Newton: …You. Where is she!?
[Grimm slowly turns his head toward Newton.]
Mr Grimm: You can’t outrun the Reaper and if I wanted her soul, neither could she.
[Newton fires first with a desperate right hand.]
[Grimm doesn’t budge.]
[DEATH’S DOOR! Skull-laden headbutt drops Newton flat on his back.]
Signal: Just tell them what they want to know, Grimm!
Black Scar: I think he just did?
[Suddenly, Ram Jam grabs Grimm from behind, trying to muscle the bigger man into a Full Nelson.]
[Grimm breaks the grip with brute force before spinning around.]
[SOUL HARVESTER! DISCUS LARIAT NEARLY TAKES RAM JAM’S HEAD OFF!]
Black Scar: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!
[Ram crashes to the canvas in a heap as Grimm stands motionless in the center of the ring. Newton slowly crawls backwards toward the ropes, suddenly far less eager to engage.]
[Meanwhile Luke Storm’s eyes are focused on The Reaper, stood across with vengeance in mind. Did he just say Scarlett was dead?]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!?
["Chariots on Fire" blasts throughout the arena as the energy instantly shifts from dread to fear for his safety.]
[Ziggy Robbins bursts out onto the stage with an enormous grin, pointing into the crowd and high-fiving fans on the way down.]
Signal: I’m not sure this is the best environment for positivity.
Black Scar: This idiot’s walking into a murder scene smiling.
[Inside the ring, Luke Storm and Mr. Grimm stand opposite one another while Edward Newton cautiously watches from the corner. Ram Jam is still recovering in the ropes.]
[Ziggy hops onto the apron and enters the ring.]
[Immediately walking directly BETWEEN Grimm and Storm.]
Ziggy Robbins: Okay! Okay fellas! Listen here! I think we all just need to calm down and have a productive conversation because I need some answers too!
[Storm blinks.]
[Newton looks utterly baffled.]
[Grimm slowly tilts his head downward toward Ziggy.]
Ziggy Robbins: See! Progress already. Eye contact is VERY important—
[GRIMM WRAPS A HAND AROUND HIS THROAT.]
Black Scar: Ah. There it is.
Signal: Ziggy may have picked the worst possible moment to become a mediator!
[Ziggy’s feet kick helplessly as Grimm lifts him high into the air.]
Ziggy Robbins: O-Okay! Little aggressive! BUT WE CAN WORK THRO—
[TO THE GRAVE—]
[SUPERKICK IN MID AIR!]
[LUKE STORM COMES FLYING IN WITH A VICIOUS SUPERKICK THAT CRACKS ZIGGY ACROSS THE JAW ON THE WAY DOWN FROM THE CHOKESLAM!]
Black Scar: GOOD LORD!
[Ziggy folds like paper upon impact, bouncing awkwardly across the canvas.]
Black Scar: ThE motivational speaker just got motivated straight into the afterlife.
[Storm turns and immediately stares at Grimm.]
Luke Storm: Tell me where Scarlett is. Tell me everything you know…
Mr. Grimm: Already? We’re just beginning to have fun.
[Storm rushes him instantly, unloading with furious strikes as Newton sees an opening – the bike. He quickly exits the ring and heads towards the Pale Rider, still revving disconcertingly on the floor.]
[Grim looks towards him.]
Mr Grimm: Don’t…
Luke Storm: My brother could take that thing apart, Grimm. You know precisely what he’s capable of. He could dismantle it before your very eyes. The intricacies of that machine are nothing compared to the mind of my brother.
[Newton looks at it, perplexed.]
[AND BEGINS STOMPING ON IT!]
Luke Storm: Uhh…
Signal: That’s not what he had in mind.
Black Scar: Relax, Newton forgot to bring his tools, that’s all.
[In the confusion, Grimm pushes Storm away with a Powerful Uppercut. He stumbles… NATURAL CAUSES! DIVING HEADBUTT!]
[The Reaper quickly slides out of the ring, heading towards The Riddler who stands stomping violently at the Pale Rider.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
[The arena lights dim to a blood-red glow as ominous chanting echoes throughout the building.]
Belivers: OBEY. SUBMIT. BELIEVE.
["Obey" begins to blare through the speakers as Propaganda slowly emerges onto the stage in his hooded robe, disciples flanking him carrying banners high above their heads.]
Signal: Oh no… this situation is about to get even worse.
Black Scar: Grimm’s got history with this lunatic too. The Reaper’s making all kinds of friends tonight.
[At ringside, Mr. Grimm storms toward Edward Newton, who still stands beside the Pale Rider stomping awkwardly at the bike while Luke Storm recovers nearby.]
[But Propaganda suddenly steps directly into Grimm’s path.]
[The Reaper stops.]
Propaganda: The truth always reveals itself.
Mr Grimm: Move.
Propaganda: Obey. Submit. Believe.
[THE BELIEVERS SWARM HIM.]
Signal: Propaganda just unleashed his followers onto Grimm!
[The disciples hammer Grimm with stomps and strikes, overwhelming the Reaper through sheer numbers before dragging him toward the still-revving Pale Rider.]
[Newton watches on in stunned confusion.]
Edward Newton: What the hell are you doing!?
[Propaganda grabs Grimm by the skull mask.]
Propaganda: He seeks answers. You will provide them.
[The followers FORCE Grimm’s skull mask against the scorching hot engine.]
[FSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
Black Scar: They’re burning the damn mask into his face! Wait, does he even have a face under that thing?
[Smoke rises from the contact point as Grimm finally ROARS in pain, struggling violently against the disciples.]
[Luke Storm groggily joins them at the bike.]
Luke Storm: Tell us where Scarlett is!
Mr Grimm: SHE… LIVES!
[Storm freezes.]
[Newton does too.]
Mr Grimm:She has not passed over. Wherever she is… I have no claim to her soul.
[Newton’s expression shifts instantly from rage to confusion.]
Edward Newton: Alive…?
[PROPAGANDA GRABS GRIMM BY THE BACK OF THE HEAD.]
[CURB STOMP INTO THE ENGINE!]
[CRACK.]
Signal: SWEET JESUS!
[Grimm collapses beside the Pale Rider in a heap as Propaganda stands motionless above him.]
Propaganda: Resistance is futile.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Ziggy Robbins slowly crawls toward Ram Jam, getting back to his feet whilst still clutching his jaw.]
Ziggy Robbins: Hey buddy… quick question… have you seen my brother?
[Ram blinks.]
[Then suddenly rolls Ziggy up.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO—KICKOUT!]
Black Scar: Smartest thing anybody’s done all match.
[Ziggy pops back up immediately despite the near fall.]
Ziggy Robbins: Great effort! Way to capitalize on opportunity! That’s the mindset we LOVE to see!
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[“Moretti’s March” blares throughout the arena.]
Signal: Oh boy… business is about to pick up.
[Blackhand Moretti steps onto the stage marching toward the chaos with cold purpose.]
[Propaganda remains standing near the fallen Grimm and the smoking Pale Rider.]
[The Believers turn toward Moretti.]
Black Scar: Uh oh.
Propaganda: Another lost soul arrives.
Blackhand Moretti: Move.
[Propaganda doesn’t.]
[MORETTI DOES.]
[RIGHT HAND STRAIGHT TO THE JAW!]
Signal: Moretti just decked Propaganda!
[The Believers swarm immediately but Moretti starts THROWING bodies aside as the entranceway erupts into a full-on brawl.]
[Propaganda fires back with The Signal! Running knee catches Moretti flush in the face.]
[But Moretti barely stumbles.]
Blackhand Moretti: My turn.
[MADE MAN!]
[Short-arm lariat… STRAIGHT INTO A HEADBUTT that lamps him to the floor.]
Black Scar: The Don just folded that cult leader in half!
[Meanwhile at ringside, Edward Newton grabs Mr. Grimm by the legs and begins dragging the barely-conscious Reaper back toward the ring.]
[Inside the ring, Ziggy Robbins and Ram Jam trade wild shots.]
Ziggy Robbins: Great hustle buddy! GREAT HUSTLE!
[Ram responds with a brutal body shot.]
[Ziggy doubles over before Ram scoops him up.]
[RAM JAM SLAM!]
Signal: Spinebuster with authority!
[Ram Jam rises, pounding his chest rhythmically as the crowd rallies behind him.]
Ram Jam: FEEL THE RHYTHM!
[But the crowd suddenly ROARS louder.]
[Ram slowly turns.]
[Blackhand Moretti now stands in the ring.]
[Moretti cracks his neck, eyes locked directly onto Ram Jam.]
Signal: Ohhhhhh boy.
Black Scar: History just walked back into the room.
[Ram Jam grins mask.]
Ram Jam: Well damn… now THIS is a jam session.
[Moretti smirks slightly.]
Blackhand Moretti: Everybody pays.
[The two men step forward slowly, nose to nose in the centre of the ring as the crowd buzzes with anticipation.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The arena lights dim before flickering violently in uneven bursts.]
["Sugar in the Walls" echoes throughout the building.]
Signal: Oh no… not him.
[For several long seconds, nothing happens.]
[Then The Candy Man slowly steps onto the stage, staring into his palm as though something invisible rests there.]
[Propaganda has just returned to his feet with help from his Believers when Candy Man suddenly lifts his head.]
[HE CHARGES.]
Black Scar:MOVE!
[Candy Man barrels down the ramp like a runaway truck, absolutely PLOWING through the Believers.]
[Bodies scatter everywhere.]
[Believers get THUNDERED over the barricade.]
[Belivers get flattened with a shoulder block.]
[Propaganda tries to stop him—]
[JAWBREAKER! Running forearm smashes Propaganda flat onto the stage.]
Signal: He just ran through them all!
[At ringside, Edward Newton is still dragging Mr. Grimm toward the apron when Candy Man suddenly grabs him by the back of the head.]
[SMASH!]
[Newton’s skull bounces violently off the steel steps.]
[SMASH!]
[SMASH!]
Edward Newton: AGH!
Black Scar: Jesus Christ!
[Newton collapses beside Grimm as Candy Man suddenly goes calm again, fixing his jacket before climbing into the ring.]
[Inside, Ram Jam and Blackhand Moretti are moments away from exploding into violence—]
[WHEN CANDY MAN CRASHES INTO BOTH MEN WITH A DOUBLE LARIAT!]
Signal: GOOD GOD WHAT IMPACT!
[The collision sends BOTH Ram Jam and Moretti tumbling violently through the ropes to the floor below.]
[Candy Man stands alone in the centre of the ring as the crowd rains boos down upon him.]
The Candy Man: EAT IT!
[He roars wildly.]
[Then slowly turns.]
[Ziggy Robbins stands there nervously smiling.]
Ziggy Robbins: Hey! Uh… weird question… my brother loved candy so I was just wondering if maybe you’d seen—
[Candy Man’s face twitches.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[Ziggy crumples instantly.]
Signal: Oh no.
[Candy Man grabs Ziggy by the shirt and drags him back up.]
[HARD CANDY!]
[Short-arm lariat nearly turns Ziggy inside out.]
[Ziggy somehow stumbles back to his feet groggily.]
Ziggy Robbins: Y-You can’t have a rainbow—
[SOUR DROP!]
[Samoan Drop crushes him into the canvas.]
[Candy Man mounts Ziggy and begins raining down violent punches while screaming incoherently.]
Black Scar: Somebody stop this lunatic!
[Candy Man suddenly stops punching.]
[Perfectly calm.]
The Candy Man:: …Momma said nobody cared.
[He wipes blood from his mouth as the countdown begins.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The lights die completely.]
[An acoustic guitar begins softly playing through the darkness.]
Signal: …Oh no.
Black Scar: Great. The human rain cloud’s here.
[Cellphone lights slowly begin illuminating the arena as a lone spotlight reveals Silas standing at the top of the stage, slowly strumming his blackened guitar.]
[Black bile drips behind him as he drags the instrument slowly along the ramp.]
Signal: Listen to this place… nobody’s even making noise anymore.
[The chaotic energy around ringside seems to die instantly beneath Silas’ suffocating aura.]
[Propaganda’s Believers sit slumped against the barricade in silence.]
[Even Candy Man pauses in the ring, slowly turning toward the stage while still mounted over Ziggy Robbins.]
[Silas never looks up.]
[He simply keeps walking.]
[Strumming.]
[Dragging the guitar.]
Black Scar: I suddenly miss the psycho candy murderer.
[At ringside, Ram Jam slowly pulls himself up using the barricade while Blackhand Moretti hangs his head nearby.]
[Edward Newton meanwhile crawls away from the steel steps while Mr. Grimm remains motionless on the floor, smoke rising from his mask.]
[Silas reaches ringside.]
[Still playing.]
[Candy Man slowly rises to his feet inside the ring, staring down at him.]
The Candy Man: …Momma liked music.
[Silas finally looks up.]
Silas: She’s dead too.
[Silence.]
[Candy Man’s eye twitches violently.]
Signal: Uh oh.
[Candy Man storms forward toward the ropes—]
[SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS!]
[Silas suddenly SPRINGBOARDS into the ring with a trust fall plancha that CRASHES directly into Candy Man.]
Black Scar: HE JUST THREW HIMSELF AT HIM!
[Both men slam hard into the canvas as Silas immediately rolls through to his feet.]
[Candy Man stumbles upright—]
[FACE DOWN! X-Factor plants Candy Man face first into the mat.]
[Ziggy slowly crawls nearby, bloodied and groggy.]
Ziggy Robbins: Y’know… music is actually a really healthy emotional outlet—
[Silas slowly turns his masked face toward him.]
Ziggy Robbins: …I’m gonna stop talking now.
[Outside, Mr. Grimm has finally risen. He enters the ring, stepping onto the apron and then over the top rope.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOO'S NEXT!?
[An eerie calm suddenly settles across the Temple as “Into The Vines” begins to echo throughout the arena.]
Signal: The Huntress has entered the slaughter.
[Aranza steps through the gates of the Temple adorned in her feathered headdress and bison pelt, her eyes immediately scanning the chaos around ringside like a predator surveying wounded prey.]
Black Scar: Look at those eyes. She ain’t entering a match, she’s picking targets.
[Inside the ring, Silas slowly rises back to his feet after planting Candy Man with Face Down.]
[But black bile suddenly drips beside him.]
[Mr. Grimm stands before him.]
Signal: Grimm’s back up!
[Silas slowly tilts his head.]
[Silas swings his guitar.]
[DISINTEGRATIO—NO!]
[GRIMM CATCHES THE GUITAR WITH ONE HAND.]
Black Scar: Uh oh.
[Grimm yanks Silas violently forward.]
[DEATH’S DOOR! Skull-laden headbutt rocks Silas backwards into the ropes.]
[Silas rebounds wildly—]
[ONE ARMED SCISSOR!]
[Turnaround lariat catches Grimm flush across the jaw.]
Signal: Silas just took the Reaper’s head off!
[Grimm staggers as Silas rushes the ropes.]
[SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS!]
[Springboard trust fall CRASHES into Grimm and sends both men spilling awkwardly through the ropes to the outside floor.]
[Aranza watches it all silently from the apron.]
[Then leaps.]
Signal: Here we go!
[CLEAN SHOT!]
[Running single-leg dropkick blasts Silas into the barricade the second he rises.]
[Grimm grabs Aranza instantly by the throat—]
[PARTING SHOT!]
[The spinning roundhouse kick cracks against Grimm’s skull and forces him backwards a step.]
Black Scar: The Huntress ain’t scared of Death!
[Aranza and Silas exchange a quick look.]
[Then both attack Grimm together.]
[Silas unloads wild strikes while Aranza hammers Grimm with vicious forearms and kicks.]
[Silas hooks the arms—]
[LAST RITES—NO!]
[Grimm powers free.]
[GRABS SILAS BY THE THROAT.]
[GRABS ARANZA BY THE THROAT.]
Signal: Oh no…
[DOUBLE TO THE GRAVE!]
[Grimm hoists BOTH competitors high into the air before CHOKESLAMMING them simultaneously onto the ringside floor.]
Black Scar: SWEET LORD WHAT IMPACT!
[Grimm rises slowly amidst the wreckage while inside the ring Candy Man sits in the corner muttering to himself, Ziggy cautiously keeping his distance and Ram Jam and Moretti beginning to climb back onto opposite aprons.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The Temple falls dark once more.]
[THUMP.]
[THUMP.]
[THUMP.]
[A slow heartbeat echoes throughout the arena.]
Signal: Oh no… not this psychopath too.
[“Heart Beat Rhythm” begins playing softly as Dr. Eric Vinell emerges onto the stage, flanked by grotesque chimeras shambling beside him.]
Black Scar: We got monsters, cults, mobsters and now a mad scientist. This match is becoming a damn apocalypse and I’m here for it!
[Vinell calmly adjusts his gloves while staring toward the ring with visible disgust.]
Dr. E. Vinell: Fascinating… such wonderfully damaged specimens.
[At ringside, Mr. Grimm grabs Silas by the mask and hair, dragging the dazed Sorrow toward the apron.]
[He rolls Silas beneath the bottom rope back into the ring.]
Signal: Grimm just threw him back into the slaughterhouse!
[Inside, Candy Man slowly turns toward the barely-moving Silas.]
[Candy Man tilts his head.]
Candy Man: …You’re sad too.
[Silas slowly pushes himself upward.]
[JAWBREAKER!]
[The running forearm nearly caves Silas’ face in.]
Black Scar: GOOD LORD!
[Candy Man drags Silas back up by the mask.]
[HARD CANDY!]
[Short-arm lariat folds him inside out.]
[But Candy Man grabs him immediately, pulling him back to his feet.]
[SOUR DROP!]
[Samoan Drop plants Silas violently into the canvas.]
Signal: This has gotta be it!
[Candy Man suddenly climbs the ropes.]
Black Scar: Oh no… that big bastard’s going airborne!
[He steadies himself up top.]
[GLASS JAR!]
[The massive diving splash CRUSHES Silas beneath him. Into the cover…]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Silas has been eliminated!
[The Candy Man rises slowly over the fallen Sorrow, breathing heavily as officials begin dragging Silas from the ring.]
[Meanwhile Dr. Vinell finally reaches ringside.]
[Ziggy Robbins approaches cautiously.]
Ziggy Robbins: Hey! You seem smart! Maybe you can help me find my broth—
[OCULAR ASSAULT!]
[Vinell suddenly throws a vile substance directly into Ziggy’s eyes.]
Ziggy Robbins: AHHHH MY EYES!
Dr. E. Vinell: Pain is merely data collection.
Black Scar: Yeah I love this guy.
[Vinell calmly steps into the ring, pulling on a fresh pair of gloves as Candy Man slowly turns toward him from across the canvas.]
[The Good Doctor smiles.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The lights of the Temple flicker violently before dimming into darkness.]
[Hissssssssss.]
[Thump.]
[Hissssssssss.]
["Cold Alloy" begins to pulse throughout the arena as thick purple haze spills from the entrance.]
Signal: What the hell is that smell?
Black Scar: Whatever it is, I think it’s stripping my lungs.
[Fans near the stage begin covering their mouths as a hulking silhouette slowly emerges through the haze.]
[SUJETO CERO.]
[Behind him walks Bryce Sterling calmly adjusting his cuffs.]
Bryce Sterling: Proceed.
[Sujeto slowly tilts his head before marching toward the ring.]
[Inside, Candy Man charges first.]
Signal: Uh oh.
[JAWBREAKER—NO!]
[SUJETO DOESN’T EVEN FLINCH.]
Black Scar: HE ATE IT?!
[Sujeto grabs Candy Man by the throat with one hand.]
[PRESION TOXICA!]
[The extended choke lifts Candy Man completely off his feet before Sujeto SLAMS him into the canvas.]
Signal: Good God what power!
[Ziggy Robbins rushes in desperately throwing punches.]
Ziggy Robbins: Hey buddy! Maybe we can—
[BIOSHOCK!]
[Sujeto reverse gorilla presses Ziggy high overhead before snapping him violently across his knee with the backbreaker.]
Black Scar: That man just got folded like laundry.
[Ram Jam and Blackhand Moretti both slide into the ring simultaneously.]
[Ram fires first.]
[ELECTRIC AVENUE!]
[Moretti follows immediately.]
[OMERTA!]
[The double impact finally staggers Sujeto backward into the ropes.]
Signal: It took BOTH men to move him!
[Sujeto suddenly ROARS through the mask before charging forward.]
[DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE TURNS BOTH MEN INSIDE OUT.]
[Meanwhile at ringside, Aranza slowly rises behind Dr. Vinell.]
Signal: The Huntress is stalking her prey.
[Aranza leaps.]
[PARTING SHOT—]
[OCULAR ASSAULT!]
[Vinell suddenly throws chemicals directly into her eyes mid attack.]
Aranza: AGH!
Dr. E. Vinell: Remarkable reflexes. Let us test the nervous system further.
[Aranza swings blindly.]
[VINELL DUCKS.]
[PATIENT ZERO!]
[The awful waffle SPIKES Aranza directly onto the top of her head at ringside.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
Black Scar: That woman’s dead!
[Vinell calmly rolls her lifeless body beneath the bottom rope before entering straight into a pinfall.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Aranza has been eliminated!
[Vinell calmly rises and adjusts his gloves while Sujeto Cero stands dominant in the center of the ring, surrounded by bodies.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[Fog spills throughout the Temple as the cries of “King of the Cretaceous” echo around the arena.]
[Then comes the roar.]
Signal: Oh you have got to be kidding me.
[The Jurassic Colossus bursts through the fog and onto the stage, roaring toward the heavens before immediately charging down the ramp.]
Black Scar: Business is about to pick up in a BIG way.
[Inside the ring, Sujeto Cero stands dominant over the field of bodies while Dr. Vinell calmly observes from the corner.]
[The Colossus slides into the ring.]
[The ring shakes.]
[Sujeto slowly turns.]
[The two monsters stand nose to nose.]
Signal: Ladies and gentlemen…
Black Scar: WE GOT TWO BIG MEATY MONSTERS SLAPPING MEAT!
[COLOSSUS FIRES THE FIRST CHOP.]
[CRACK.]
[Sujeto answers with a forearm.]
[THUD.]
[Colossus HEADBUTTS him.]
[Sujeto HEADBUTTS back harder.]
[THUNK.]
Signal: Good GOD!
[The two monsters begin absolutely battering one another with chops, forearms and headbutts in the center of the ring.]
[Ram Jam tries to intervene.]
[DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE FROM BOTH MEN.]
[Ram Jam flips inside out and rolls beneath the ropes clutching his chest.]
Black Scar: Wrong place, wrong damn time.
[Sujeto roars through the mask before grabbing Colossus by the throat.]
[PRESION TOXICA—NO!]
[COLOSSUS BREAKS FREE.]
[DDT!]
[The DDT spikes Sujeto hard into the canvas.]
Signal: He planted the monster!
[But Sujeto immediately rises back to one knee.]
[Sujeto and Colossus stare at one another again.]
[Then both men roar simultaneously before charging.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[Neither man drops.]
Black Scar: THEY’RE TRYING TO KILL EACH OTHER!
[Colossus grabs Sujeto by the mask and launches him into the corner.]
[PALEO CRASH!]
[The leaping splash crushes Sujeto against the buckles.]
[But Sujeto explodes out of the corner.]
[THUNDEROUS CLOTHESLINE!]
[The Clothesline doesn’t down the Dino!.]
Signal: HOW ARE EITHER OF THESE MEN STANDING!?
[The Colossus swings wildly.]
[Sujeto swings back.]
[The two giants brawl violently through the ropes and out onto the floor, still throwing bombs at one another.]
[HEADBUTT AGAIN.]
[FOREARM.]
[CHOP.]
[They crash against the barricade still fighting as officials scatter for safety.]
Black Scar: Let them fight forever for all I care!
[Meanwhile inside the ring, Ziggy Robbins has a question for Dr. Vinell.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The sound of spurs jangling echoes throughout the Temple.]
Deadeye: I don’t miss.
["Walk Like Thunder" begins to play as Deadeye steps onto the stage, eyes locked firmly on the ring ahead.]
Signal: Here comes the Gunslinger.
[Deadeye begins his steady walk down the ramp—]
[RIGHT INTO A BRAWL.]
[Mr. Grimm and Propaganda are violently trading shots beside the stage while Believers swarm around them.]
Black Scar: There’s carnage everywhere!
[Grimm hurls a Believer through a banner while Propaganda answers with The Signal, the running knee cracking Grimm across the jaw.]
[Deadeye calmly pauses.]
Deadeye: …Y’all done?
[Neither man even acknowledges him.]
[Deadeye simply walks past them as Propaganda continues battering Grimm on the stage with stomps.]
Signal: Smart man. Don’t get involved in THAT.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Dr. Vinell slowly removes another glove while Ziggy Robbins cautiously approaches him.]
Ziggy Robbins: Look, I know this sounds weird but… have you seen my brother?
[Vinell slowly smiles.]
Dr. E. Vinell: Ah yes. Subject retrieval case seventy-two.
Signal: …What?
[OCULAR ASSAULT!]
[Vinell throws toxins directly into Ziggy’s eyes again.]
Ziggy Robbins: AHHHH!
Dr. E. Vinell: Your brother no longer exists… but do not concern yourself. The remnants of him will fuel my research for years to come.
[The Temple falls into horrified silence.]
Black Scar: What the HELL!?
[Ziggy swings wildly through tears and blindness.]
Ziggy Robbins: WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!?
[Vinell effortlessly steps around each desperate punch.]
Dr. E. Vinell: You searched all this time for a man already dissected by progress.
[Ziggy lunges blindly again.]
[Hitting nothing but air.]
[Vinell laughs.]
Signal: This is sickening.
[Deadeye suddenly slides into the ring unnoticed behind Vinell.]
[Ziggy swings again wildly—]
[DEADEYE DROPS.]
[SMALL PACKAGE!]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: VINELL’S BEEN ELIMINATED!
Black Scar: The Gunslinger stole one!
[Vinell’s eyes go wide in absolute disbelief as Deadeye releases the pin and rises.]
[Ziggy suddenly spins around blindly.]
[TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND!]
[Desperate Slingblade WIPES OUT Deadeye by complete accident.]
Signal: HE DIDN’T EVEN SEE HIM!
[Deadeye wheezes in pain beneath Ziggy as the motivational speaker lands on him and rolls away, still blinded.]
Ziggy Robbins: I’M GONNA FIND YOU BROTHER! I PROMISE!
[At ringside meanwhile, Sujeto Cero and Jurassic Colossus continue murdering each other against the barricade while Candy Man slowly watches Deadeye from the corner of the ring.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The Temple suddenly floods with blinding white and gold light as “Lightkeeper” erupts throughout the arena.]
Signal: Lux Bellator has arrived!
[Out from the light emerges Bellator—but something is wrong.]
Black Scar: Whoa… hold on. He really ain’t doing so hot.
[The Light Warrior stumbles forward clutching at his chest, his breathing ragged beneath the mask.]
Signal: Padre Venganza’s virus… Bellator still struggles.
[Lux tries to push onward down the ramp, refusing to fall as sweat pours from his body.]
Lux Bellator: Lumen… Acci—
[HE COLLAPSES TO BOTH KNEES.]
Signal: Bellator’s down!
[The crowd murmurs as officials rush toward him, but Bellator violently waves them away before dragging himself forward inch by inch toward the ring.]
Black Scar: This idiot’s literally dying trying to get to the fight.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Ram Jam and Blackhand Moretti finally stand face to face once more.]
[The crowd buzzes loudly.]
Signal: Here we go.
[Moretti slowly cracks his neck.]
[Ram Jam slowly raises his hands.]
Ram Jam: Before we jam, boss… I got somethin’ to show ya.
[Ram reveals a flashlight hidden behind his back.]
Black Scar: …Are you kidding me?
[Ram clicks it on.]
Signal: RAM JAM WAS THE ONE WHO KIDNAPPED HIS GOONS!
[Moretti’s face changes instantly.]
Blackhand Moretti: You stupid son of a—
[MORETTI CHARGES.]
[CRACK.]
[Ram Jam SMASHES the flashlight directly across Moretti’s skull.]
Signal: Sweet Jesus!
[Moretti collapses like a tree.]
[Ram quickly drops into the cover and hooks the leg.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: BLACKHAND MORETTI HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
Black Scar: The Boss just got set up!
[Ram Jam rises breathing heavily.]
[DEADSHOT!]
[Deadeye suddenly springs forward with the rolling stunner out of nowhere.]
Signal: DEADSHOT CONNECTS!
[Ram slams into the canvas, stunned—]
[DEADEYE GETS BACK UP AND TURNS RIGHT INTO CANDY MAN.]
[Candy Man catches him.]
The Candy Man: EAT IT.
[SOUR DROP!]
[Samoan Drop CRUSHES Deadeye into the canvas.]
Black Scar: HE JUST FLATTENED THE GUNSLINGER!
[Candy Man hooks the leg.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Deadeye has been eliminated!
[Inside the ring Candy Man rises roaring wildly while outside, Lux Bellator finally drags himself onto the apron, pale, shaking and barely able to stand.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The arena drops to black.]
[CLANG.]
[A single bullbell echoes throughout the Temple.]
Signal: Santiago Del Toro is here.
[Red light spills across the ramp as fog crawls outward. “Echoes of the Arena” growls through the arena while Santiago Del Toro slowly steps through the smoke, cape dragging behind him.]
Black Scar: That man looks like death learned how to fight bulls.
[Santiago calmly walks forward—]
[UNTIL PROPAGANDA BLASTS HIM FROM THE SIDE OF THE STAGE.]
Signal: Propaganda just jumped Del Toro!
Black Scar: Payback for earlier tonight!
[Propaganda hammers Santiago with furious strikes while Believers swarm around the fallen Matador.]
Propaganda: You stole what belonged to The Message!
[Santiago fires back with vicious forearms before twirling the cape directly into Propaganda’s face.]
[SINISTER MULETA!]
[Forearm smash cracks Propaganda across the jaw.]
[Santiago grabs him by the throat of the robe.]
Santiago Del Toro: Surrender your soul.
[The two men continue brawling violently around the entranceway as officials desperately try separating them.]
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Lux Bellator finally drags himself through the ropes, barely able to stand.]
Signal: Bellator’s finally made it into the match!
[Edward Newton immediately pounces.]
[SMALL PACKAGE!]
Black Scar: Sneaky little bastard!
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO—KICKOUT!]
[Nearby, Ziggy Robbins slowly rises and sees Newton getting back to his feet.]
Ziggy Robbins: Eddie! Hey buddy… rough night huh?
[Newton stares at him.]
[Then suddenly kicks him straight between the legs. LOW BLOW!]
Signal: Oh come on!
Black Scar: That’s the Edward Newton experience, baby.
[Ziggy collapses forward in agony.]
[NEVERMIND!]
[Jumping Implant DDT spikes Ziggy directly into the canvas.]
[Newton hooks both legs.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Ziggy Robbins has been eliminated!
[Newton rises smirking—]
[JAWBREAKER FROM BEHIND!]
[Candy Man nearly caves Newton’s skull in with the running forearm.]
Black Scar: HE JUST MURDERED HIM!
[Candy Man grabs Newton immediately.]
[But Newton suddenly rolls through.]
[INSIDE CRADLE!]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: WHAT?! Candy Man’s been eliminated!
Black Scar: Newton stole another one!
[Candy Man freezes.]
[The Temple goes silent.]
The Candy Man: …No....
[Then he SNAPS.]
[He grabs Newton by the throat even AFTER elimination and hurls him across the ring.]
[HEADBUTT TO BELLATOR.]
[FOREARM TO RAM JAM.]
[He’s attacking EVERYTHING THAT MOVES.]
Signal: He’s lost his mind!
[Referees swarm the ring trying to restrain him.]
[Candy Man throws officials aside violently.]
[Meanwhile Newton crawls beneath the ropes desperately escaping while Candy Man continues screaming incoherently as an army of referees and security finally begin dragging him from the ring.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[Security and referees continue dragging Candy Man backward up the ramp while he screams and thrashes violently.]
The Candy Man: NOBODY CARED! NOBODY!
[At the entranceway, Propaganda and Santiago Del Toro are STILL fighting, trading brutal shots amongst fallen Believers.]
Signal: This place has completely fallen apart!
[Candy Man suddenly breaks free from security.]
Black Scar: OH NO!
[He barrels straight into BOTH men.]
[JAWBREAKER TO PROPAGANDA!]
[HEADBUTT TO DEL TORO!]
[Propaganda collapses into the stage lighting while Del Toro crashes hard against the barricade.]
The Candy Man: EAT IT! EAT IT! EAT IT!
[The familiar trumpets of a mariachi band suddenly blast throughout the Temple.]
Signal: Wait a second—
[The lights flash vibrantly in the colours of Mexico before darkness falls again.]
[A single spotlight illuminates Santiago Siniestro.]
Black Scar: Oh that is NOT who you wanna meet right now.
[Siniestro slowly raises both hands in pistol gestures.]
[Bang.]
[Bang.]
[He walks calmly toward the chaos as Candy Man turns toward him foaming at the mouth.]
The Candy Man: YOU DON’T CARE EITHER!
[Candy Man charges.]
[Siniestro ducks underneath. Kick low!]
[EL ULTIMO ADIOS!]
[MEXICAN DESTROYER SPIKES CANDY MAN STRAIGHT INTO THE STAGE.]
Signal: SWEET JESUS WHAT IMPACT!
[The Temple erupts as Candy Man finally lies motionless while referees swarm him again.]
Siniestro: Time to meet God.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Sujeto Cero and Jurassic Colossus are once again battering each other senseless.]
[FOREARM.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[CHOP.]
[HEADBUTT.]
Black Scar: THESE TWO ARE GONNA GO EXTINCT KILLING EACH OTHER!
[Sujeto roars through the mask before lifting Colossus.]
[BIOSHOCK—NO!]
[COLOSSUS ESCAPES.]
[SAUROPOD SWEEP!]
[Sujeto crashes hard onto his back.]
[Both monsters stagger upright at the exact same time.]
Signal: Neither man can even stand properly anymore!
[They roar simultaneously before charging one final time.]
[DOUBLE HEADBUTT.]
[CRACK.]
[Both men collapse instantly to the mat beside one another.]
[One arm draped over the other.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: THEY ELIMINATED EACH OTHER!
Black Scar: Two giant bastards just headbutted each other into extinction!
[Officials rush the ring while both monsters remain completely motionless beside one another.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The Temple suddenly ERUPTS in neon colour.]
[Cyan. Magenta. Purple. Yellow.]
[“PRESS START” flashes across the tron in giant arcade font as “Skydiver” by meganeko blasts throughout the arena.]
Signal: Oh this place just got significantly weirder.
Black Scar: After everything tonight, THAT’S saying something.
[Pixel-shaped pyro explodes across the stage as PixelShift bursts out energetically, visor flashing wildly.]
[NEW PLAYER CONNECTED.]
[PixelShift marches down the ramp in exaggerated side-scroll movements, throwing fake combo punches toward the crowd.]
Pixelshift: Player One… READY!
[Inside the ring, Edward Newton is recovering in the corner while Lux Bellator kneels in prayer trying desperately to fight through Padre Venganza’s virus.]
[Santiago Siniestro slides into the ring behind Bellator.]
Signal: Bellator doesn’t even see him!
[SUPERKICK TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!]
[TEQUILA SUNRISE!]
[Siniestro traps Bellator in the submission hold dead center of the ring.]
Lux Bellator: AGH!
Black Scar: The Light Warrior’s in deep trouble here!
[Bellator desperately claws forward, shaking violently as blood begins dripping from beneath the mask.]
[Siniestro cranks back harder.]
Siniestro: Time to meet God.
[But suddenly—]
[LAG SPIKE!]
[PixelShift fake-freezes beside Siniestro before suddenly springing into a cutter.]
Signal: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?
Black Scar: I think the videogame kid just broke physics!
[Siniestro slams into the canvas violently! He bounces back up to his feet..]
[PixelShift pops up pointing skyward.]
Pixelshift: COMBO STARTER!
[8-BIT COMBO!]
“A!”
[Kick to the leg.]
“B!”
[Chop to the chest.]
“DOWN!”
[Low dropkick.]
“UP!”
[Enzuigiri rocks Siniestro backwards into the ropes.]
[The crowd loves chanting along.]
Signal: This kid’s got the whole building syncing with him!
[Outside the ring meanwhile, Del Toro and Propaganda are getting back to their feet at the top of the entrance.]
[In the ring, Newton suddenly charges PixelShift from behind.]
[RUNNING BULLDOG!!]
[The Riddler pops back to his feet and grabs Pixel by the head, pulling another former “friend” with him.]
[PixelShift freezes.]
Pixelshift: ERROR… DETECTED?
[Newton smirks and rises—]
[RIGHT INTO HARD RESET!]
[JUMPING CODEBREAKER OUT OF NOWHERE!]
Signal: GAME OVER CONNECTS!
[Newton collapses backwards stunned while PixelShift’s visor flashes violently.]
[I WIN!]
[Meanwhile Bellator slowly drags himself back upward in the corner, still coughing violently while Siniestro wipes blood from his mouth and grins.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[The beginning piano notes echo softly throughout the Temple.]
[The lights die completely.]
Signal: No… no no no…
[Heavy fog coats the entranceway as masked members of The Family slowly emerge and line the ramp.]
Black Scar: Business just picked up in the worst possible way for everyone inside that ring. Here comes The Virus.
["Welcome To The Family" rises as Padre Venganza finally steps through the fog, arms spread wide and smiling warmly.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome home.
[At the entranceway, Propaganda immediately rushes him.]
Signal: Propaganda’s not waiting!
[THE BROADCAST! Running knee cracks Padre across the jaw.]
[Padre barely moves.]
[The Family SWARMS Propaganda instantly.]
Black Scar: They got him!
[Propaganda fights desperately but the numbers overwhelm him as Padre calmly grabs him by the throat.]
Padre Venganza: You can never trust reason… but you can always trust us.
[Padre drags Propaganda down the ramp and rolls him violently beneath the bottom rope into the ring.]
[Padre steps in after him.]
[PixelShift immediately springboards.]
[SHADOW CONTAGION!]
[Padre catches him midair with the leaping stunner.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
[PixelShift bounces violently across the canvas, visor glitching wildly.]
[ERROR.]
[Padre kneels beside him smiling warmly.]
Padre Venganza: Rest now.
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: PixelShift has been eliminated!
Black Scar: The game just got unplugged.
[Propaganda suddenly spins Padre around.]
[SIGNAL! Running knee to the skull.]
[Propaganda tries to hook Padre immediately into Obey. Submit. Believe—]
[VIRAL INFECTION!]
[PADRE LEANS UP AND SPEWS!]
[Black tar-like mist sprays directly into Propaganda’s face.]
Signal: GOD WHAT IS THAT?!
[Propaganda staggers blinded.]
[INFINITE CHAOS!]
[Kick.]
[Kick.]
[Kick.]
[KNEE.]
[Padre backs away smiling before charging.]
[DEVASTATING SIDEKICK TO THE HEAD!]
[Propaganda collapses unconscious. Padre covers…]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Propaganda’s been eliminated too!
[Across the ring Lux Bellator slowly rises, barely able to stand.]
[Blood drips steadily beneath the mask.]
[Padre slowly turns toward him.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome back to the Family. Are you ready to submit?
Lux Bellator: Never…
[Lux swings weakly.]
[Padre catches the arm.]
[BLACKENED JUSTICE!]
[Arm-trap Crossface locked in brutally.]
Signal: Bellator can barely even move!
[Lux screams in agony trying desperately to fight free.]
[Padre releases the hold only to drag him back upward.]
[MIDNIGHT SHADOW! STO INTO SNAP DDT.]
[Lux collapses limp.]
Black Scar: He’s torturing the poor bastard!
[Padre slowly kneels beside Bellator.]
Padre Venganza: We made you weak so you could finally understand strength.
[BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!]
[Leaping sidekick crushes Bellator against the turnbuckles.]
[Lux collapses forward unconscious. Padre turns him over and covers..]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Lux Bellator has been eliminated! That’s three quick fire eliminations for the Virus. Holy crap, Padre has come to play!
[Padre rises slowly in the center of the ring surrounded by bodies while The Family kneels outside the ring worshipping him.]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOO'S NEXT!?
[Orange lights pulse violently throughout the Temple like muzzle flashes in a warzone.]
[Dry ice floods the entrance as “March of the Iron Sovereign” begins booming through the arena.]
Signal: Oh no… business is about to pick up again.
[Warlord Mars emerges through the smoke like a walking tank, beating his chest and roaring toward the heavens.]
Warlord Mars: THIS… IS… WAAARRR!!!
[At the same time, PixelShift is being helped up the ramp by officials, visor flickering weakly.]
[GAME OVER.]
[Mars stops beside him.]
Warlord Mars: HAH! You’re a puny excuse for a “video game hero.”
[PixelShift looks up weakly.]
Warlord Mars: Watch this.
[Mars storms toward the ring.]
[At ringside, Santiago Del Toro is recovering against the barricade after his war with Propaganda.]
[Mars grabs him immediately by the throat and mask, dragging him to the ring.]
[HE THROWS HIM INTO THE BARRICADE.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[SHORT-ARM LARIAT.]
Signal: Mars is mauling Del Toro!
[But Del Toro suddenly snaps alive.]
[SPECTRAL PASSADA!]
[Snap DDT spikes Mars onto the floor.]
Black Scar: Outta nowhere!
[Santiago rises, eyes glowing. He slides into the ring… Siniestro turns toward him.]
[Santiago charges.]
[Cursed Charge!]
[Siniestro rushes in wildly only for Del Toro to slip aside gracefully before blasting him with a vicious kick.]
[Siniestro crashes into the corner.]
[CLEAN RUNNING KNEE.]
[FALLING SHADOWS!]
[The flying headbutt crushes Siniestro into the canvas.]
Signal: Del Toro’s taking over!
[The Matador slowly rises, spreading his arms as mist coils around him.]
Santiago Del Toro: Surrender your soul.
[GRIMM GRABS HIM BY THE THROAT.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
[TO THE GRAVE!]
[The Chokeslam plants Del Toro violently into the mat.]
Black Scar: Death just shut the lights out!
[But Grimm barely has time to stand—]
[WAR CRIME!]
Signal: NO WAY!
[MARS MOONSAULTS OFF THE TOP ROPE AND CRUSHES DEL TORO BENEATH HIM.]
Black Scar: THAT RING JUST MOVED!
[Mars hooks the leg.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Santiago Del Toro has been eliminated!
[Grimm immediately grabs Mars from behind furious.]
Mr Grimm: You interfere with Death.
[Mars laughs.]
Warlord Mars: I interfere with EVERYTHING!
[WARHEAD!]
[Brutal headbutt rocks Grimm backwards.]
[Mars scoops him up.]
[WAR MACHINE! Torture Rack into Argentine Powerbomb.]
Signal: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!
[Mars stacks Grimm up.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: Mr. Grimm has been eliminated!
[Mars rises roaring triumphantly.]
Warlord Mars: WHO’S NEXT?!
[Siniestro slowly rises nearby, cracking his neck.]
[Siniestro and Mars lock eyes.]
Black Scar: Oh boy…
[Siniestro throws the first punch.]
[Mars answers with a forearm.]
[The two former War Machine allies begin absolutely battering one another in the center of the ring.]
Signal: These two know each other better than anybody!
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
[BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]
Black Scar: WHOOOOOOOOO'S LAST!?
[Darkness swallows the Temple whole.]
[A single spotlight slowly searches through the crowd.]
Signal: Number twenty… the final entrant in Lambs to the Slaughter.
Black Scar: And look who it is.
[Darkwish emerges slowly through the crowd, marching deliberately down the steps toward the ring as “Terror of the Night” echoes ominously throughout the arena.]
Signal: We are down to the final six. Darkwish. Padre Venganza. Santiago Siniestro. Warlord Mars. Ram Jam. Edward Newton.
Black Scar: One of these six men is headin’ to Ring of Dreams for a shot at the World Championship.
[Darkwish never takes his eyes off the ring.]
Signal: Look at that stare. He’s not walking to a match… he’s walking to judgment.
[Inside the ring meanwhile, Warlord Mars and Siniestro continue absolutely battering each other.]
[FOREARM.]
[SUPERKICK.]
[HEADBUTT.]
[LARIAT.]
[Mars swings wildly—]
[Siniestro ducks.]
Signal: SUPERKICK RIGHT ON THE BUTTON!
[Mars staggers backward dazed.]
[Siniestro grabs him.]
[EL ULTIMO ADIOS—NO!]
[Mars muscles free.]
[WARHEAD!]
[The brutal headbutt rocks Siniestro but the Sicario stays standing.]
Black Scar: HOW IS HE STILL UP?!
[Siniestro spits blood onto the canvas and smiles.]
Siniestro: Time to meet God.
[He double finger guns and runs…]
[MEXXXXIICCAAAANN DESTROOOYYYYEERRR!!!]
[Meanwhile Darkwish finally reaches ringside.]
[He calmly steps onto the apron.]
[Ram Jam suddenly bursts into frame.]
[PSYCHADELIC HEADBUTT!]
[Darkwish flies off the apron!.]
Black Scar: RAM JAM JUST WIPED HIM OUT!
[Ram turns through and immediately grabs a rising Siniestro.]
[RAM JAM SLAM!]
[RUNNING SPINEBUSTER WITH EXTRA TORQUE!!!]
[HE COVERS…]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: SINIESTRO’S BEEN ELIMINATED!
Black Scar: Ram Jam put away the Sicario!
[Siniestro rolls to the outside while Ram Jam pounds his chest.]
Ram Jam: THAT’S THE RHYTHM, BABY!
[Meanwhile Darkwish slowly rises behind him unnoticed.]
[He spins him.]
[V-TRIGGER!]
[DAWN!]
[Ram Jam stumbles back into the ropes. But wait a minute, that’s Blackhand Moretti! Moretti whips his feet out from underneath him and he slams face first into the canvas.]
[Blackhand pulls him outside.]
Signal: He shouldn’t even be here!
Black Scar: Ram Jam deserves this!
[CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL!!!!!]
[SLEEP WIT’ THE FISHES!]
Black Scar: HE TOOK HIS HEAD OFF!!
[Moretti immediately rolls him back into the ring. Ram Jam is on jelly legs. He has no idea where he is.]
[NIGHT TERROR]
[PACKAGE FISHERMAN BUSTER!]
[HE PINS…]
[ONE…]
[TWO…]
[THREE!!]
Signal: Ram Jam is outta here folks, quite literally, because Moretti has dragged him from the ring again!
Black Scar: Wherever he’s going, do not be surprised if he takes a long walk off a short pier.
[As Moretti drags Ram Jam up the ramp, we’re left with the final four.]
[WARLORD MARS.]
[DARKWISH.]
[EDWARD NEWTON.]
[PADRE VENGANZA.]
[The Temple falls into a tense silence.]
[One man stands in each corner.]
[Darkwish crouches low beneath the turnbuckles, perfectly still.]
[Edward Newton calmly adjusts the tape around his wrists, eyes never leaving the other three.]
[Padre Venganza kneels with his arms spread wide, welcoming the chaos.]
[And Warlord Mars paces in his corner like a starving animal, beating his fist against his chest.]
Signal: Four men remain. One of them is going to Ring of Dreams for a shot at the OSW World Championship.
Black Scar: And look at the mix we got here. A monster. A vigilante. A psychopath genius. And whatever the hell Padre is.
[Mars suddenly roars.]
Warlord Mars: THIS… IS… WAAARRR!!!
[PADRE CHARGES.]
[Viral Infection!]
[Black mist sprays toward Mars but the Warlord storms straight through it, eating the cloud as he crashes into Padre with a running lariat.]
Signal: HE RAN RIGHT THROUGH IT!
[Padre flips violently onto his back.]
[Darkwish instantly sprints from his corner.]
[DAWN!]
[V-Trigger cracks Mars square in the jaw.]
[Mars stumbles.]
[Darkwish unloads.]
[Right hand.]
[Forearm.]
[Body shot.]
[Kick to the knee.]
[Another forearm.]
[SUPERKICK—CAUGHT.]
[Mars snatches the leg.]
Black Scar: Uh oh.
[Mars yanks Darkwish clean off his feet and LAUNCHES him overhead with a release belly-to-belly suplex.]
Signal: Good God what power!
[Darkwish crashes hard across the ring and rolls beneath the ropes trying to recover.]
[Newton immediately sees the opening.]
[He slides outside the ring.]
Black Scar: There’s the scavenger.
[Newton pulls a kendo stick from beneath the apron.]
[Inside the ring, Padre rises behind Mars.]
[BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!]
[Leaping sidekick catches Mars behind the ear.]
[The giant stumbles into the ropes.]
[CRACK.]
[Kendo stick across the spine by The Riddler on the outside.]
Signal: Newton just lit him up!
[CRACK.]
[Another shot.]
[CRACK.]
[Mars finally drops to one knee.]
Edward Newton: Even monsters break.
[Newton jams the kendo stick across Mars’ throat through the ropes and pulls backward violently, choking him.]
[Mars snarls and rises anyway, dragging Newton piggyback-style off ground and onto the ring apron, forcing the ropes to break the hold on the kendo.]
Black Scar: That’s four hundred and sixty pounds of pissed off future meat right there.
[Edward scoots through the ropes and leaps onto the Warlords back. Mars stumbles forwards and then falls backward, crushing Newton beneath him against the mat.]
Signal: Newton may be broken in half!
[Padre grabs the kendo stick.]
[SHOT TO MARS.]
[SHOT TO NEWTON.]
[Darkwish slides back into the ring and ducks beneath a swing.]
[GERMAN SUPLEX TO PADRE.]
[Padre lands awkwardly on the back of his neck.]
[Darkwish keeps hold.]
[SECOND GERMAN.]
[Scarred Justice gets up for another, but Newton chopblocks the knee from behind.]
[Darkwish collapses, releasing Padre.]
[CHECKMATE ROLL!]
[Eddie scoots inside.]
[Inside cradle rolled immediately into the ankle lock.]
Signal: Newton’s got him trapped!
[Darkwish claws desperately toward the ropes, but there’s no breaking the hold..]
[Mars suddenly boots Newton directly in the face.]
[The hold breaks.]
[Padre though rolls Mars up.]
[ONE…]
[TWO…]
[THREE!]
[NO!]
[KICK OUT!]
[Frustrated, he pops up out of the roll up and looks towards Newton, who gets back to his feet sluggishly]
Padre Venganza: You never did join the family, did you Edward? It’s never too late.
[Padre drags Newton upward.]
[MIDNIGHT SHADOW.]
[STO swung directly into the snap DDT.]
[Newton bounces hard and rolls toward the corner clutching his head.]
[Padre slowly rises and spreads his arms.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome to the Family.
[BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.]
Black Scar: Creepy bastard’s enjoying this way too much.
[Mars suddenly explodes back to life.]
[DISCUS CLOTHESLINE.]
Signal: HE TOOK PADRE’S HEAD OFF!
[Mars drags Padre upward immediately.]
[Military press.]
[Padre struggles wildly.]
[Mars THROWS him clean across the ring.]
[Padre crashes chest-first into the turnbuckles before tumbling over the top rope, smashing off the apron and collapsing to the floor outside.]
[Darkwish and Mars lock eyes.]
Signal: Here we go.
[Darkwish fires first with stiff forearms.]
[Mars answers with brutal clubbing blows.]
[Darkwish kicks the knee.]
[Mars clubs the back.]
[Darkwish heads to and rebounds off the ropes.]
[DARKNESS FALLS!]
[Superkick finally rocks Mars backward.]
[Darkwish immediately hits the ropes again.]
[SECOND SUPERKICK.]
[Mars staggers.]
[THIRD SUPERKICK.]
[The giant falls to one knee.]
Black Scar: He’s chopping the giant down!
[Darkwish charges for Dawn again—]
[WARHEAD.]
[Mars lunges forward with the brutal headbutt.]
[THUNK.]
[Darkwish crumbles instantly.]
Signal: OH MY GOD!
[Mars grabs him.]
[POWERBOMB.]
[Deadlift POWERBOMB.]
[And another.]
[Mars roars louder with each slam.]
Warlord Mars: WAR!
[WAR!]
[WAR!]
[The final powerbomb leaves Darkwish folded motionless near the ropes.]
[Newton suddenly rushes in from behind with the kendo stick.]
[SHOT TO THE KNEE.]
[Mars buckles.]
[SHOT TO THE HEAD.]
[Mars drops fully to both knees.]
[Newton tosses the stick aside.]
[He hits the ropes… LUKE STORM INSPIRED SUPERKICK!]
[DOWN GOES DARKWISH! NEWTON GRABS HIM BY THE LEGS!]
[RIDDLE BOX.]
[Sharpshooter locked dead center.]
Signal: Newton’s trying to take the giant apart piece by piece!
[Mars screams in fury, clawing at the mat.]
[Padre slowly returns to the apron outside.]
[He reaches beneath the ring.]
Black Scar: Oh no.
[Padre pulls out a TABLE.]
[The crowd erupts.]
Signal: Business is about to change in a hurry!
[Padre slides the table into the ring.]
[Newton immediately releases the hold.]
Edward Newton: Bad idea.
[Newton stomps Padre repeatedly as he tries to slide under the bottom rope, before trying to set the table himself.]
[Darkwish suddenly springs back to life.]
[DAWN!]
[V-Trigger blasts Newton through the ropes to the floor.]
Signal: Newton just got knocked out of the ring!
[Darkwish turns.]
[Mars grabs him by the throat.]
[CHOKESLAM THROUGH THE TABLE.]
[CRAAAAAAAAASH.]
Black Scar: SWEET LORD!
[Darkwish writhes amongst the wreckage.]
[Mars pounds his chest triumphantly and drops into the cover, laying in the wreckage of the table.]
[ONE….]
[….]
[TWO….]
[….]
[THREE!]
Black Scar: Mars eliminates Darkwish! We’re down to three!
[The Bringer of War gets back to his feet.]
[Padre spins him around.]
[BLACKENED JUSTICE.]
[Arm trap crossface locked in.]
[Mars roars in agony as Padre tears backward violently.]
Padre Venganza:Let us in.
[Mars begins fading.]
Signal: Mars is trapped! The giant’s trapped!
[HE TAPS OUT! HE TAPS OUT! WARLORD MARS TAPS OUT!!!]
Signal: I can’t believe this… Padre Venganza has… he’s just eliminated Warlord Mars. The Big man tapped out.
Black Scar: And we’re down to two. Edward Newton – the once undefeated former OSW multi-time World Champion and Padre Venganza!
[Newton suddenly slides back into the ring with handcuffs.]
Black Scar: WAIT A MINUTE WHAT THE HELL!?
[Newton smirks.]
Edward Newton: I came prepared.
[Newton cuffs one of Padre’s wrists to the bottom rope.]
Signal: That’s disgusting!
[Newton grabs the kendo stick again.]
[CRACK.]
[CRACK.]
[CRACK.]
[Repeated shots rain down across Padres’ exposed skull and ribs.]
[Padre Venganza hangs from the bottom rope by the cuffed wrist as Newton rains down merciless kendo stick shots.]
[CRACK.]
[CRACK.]
[CRACK.]
Signal: Newton is absolutely dismantling him!
Black Scar: He ain’t wrestling anymore, Sig. He’s surviving.
[Padre’s body slumps against the ropes as Newton finally tosses the kendo stick aside.]
Edward Newton: You wanted followers.
[Newton kneels beside him.]
Edward Newton: Let’s see how devoted they are now.
[Outside the ring, members of The Family scream and pound the apron trying desperately to reach their leader.]
[Newton grabs Padre by the jaw.]
Edward Newton: No salvation. No miracles. Just pain.
[Newton begins stomping repeatedly at Padre’s shoulder and elbow, targeting the cuffed arm.]
Signal: He’s trying to tear the arm apart!
[Padre grimaces through the punishment but slowly begins laughing.]
Padre Venganza: We forgive you.
[Newton’s expression darkens.]
[He grabs the handcuff chain.]
[AND YANKS IT VIOLENTLY.]
[Padre screams as the shoulder wrenches backward against the rope.]
Black Scar: OH THAT’S SICK!
[Newton drags Padre outward.]
[SHORT-ARM KNEE TO THE FACE.]
[Then another.]
[And another.]
[Padre’s mask begins staining black and red.]
Signal: Newton smells blood!
[Newton quickly unhooks the handcuff with a key from his tights.]
[He unlocks Padre.]
Black Scar: Why free him?
[Newton answers instantly.]
[RIDDLE ME THIS!]
[Sit-out piledriver spikes Padre directly onto the crown of his head.]
Signal: THAT’S IT! THAT HAS TO BE IT!
[Newton hooks both legs deeply.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THR—NOOOOO!]
Signal: PADRE KICKED OUT!
Black Scar: HOW!?
[Newton sits up stunned.]
Edward Newton: Impossible.
[Padre lies motionless for a second before slowly sitting upright.]
[Still smiling.]
Padre Venganza: We endure.
[Newton immediately mounts him and begins unloading vicious punches.]
[Left.]
[Right.]
[Right.]
[Forearm.]
[Elbow.]
[Newton drags him upward again.]
[NEVERMIND!]
[Jumping Implant DDT.]
Signal: He drilled him!
[Cover.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!]
[NO!]
Black Scar: HE KICKED OUT AGAIN!
[Newton’s calm composure finally begins cracking.]
Edward Newton: STAY DOWN!
[Newton slides outside the ring.]
[He grabs the broken table remains.]
Signal: Oh no…
[Newton drags half the shattered table and wedges it upright into the corner. There’s the metal bar that holds it all together, bent and exposed.]
[Padre slowly rises behind him.]
[VIRAL INFECTION!]
[Black mist sprays directly into Newton’s face.]
Edward Newton: AGHHH!
Signal: Newton’s blinded!
[Padre grabs him.]
[LIFE FLASHER!]
[Snap German.]
[Roll through.]
[Snap Dragon Suplex.]
[Roll through again.]
[SNAP MURDER BACKDROP.]
Signal: WHAT A COMBINATION!
[Newton folds violently onto his neck.]
Black Scar: Padre just dumped him like garbage!
[Padre kneels beside Newton.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome… to the Family.
[BLACKENED JUSTICE!]
[Arm-trap crossface locked in dead center of the ring.]
Signal: Newton’s trapped!
[Newton screams instantly.]
Edward Newton:NO! NO!
[Padre cranks backward viciously.]
[Newton claws desperately across the mat.]
[His fingers scrape the canvas.]
[Padre pulls harder.]
Black Scar: He’s gonna tear the arm clean off!
[Newton reaches desperately toward the ropes.]
[Still inches away.]
[Padre drags him backward.]
Signal: Newton might tap!
[Newton’s hand shakes.]
[The crowd rises.]
[Newton suddenly rolls THROUGH the hold.]
[PINFALL!]
[Padre’s shoulders are down.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[PADRE RELEASES THE HOLD AND KICKS OUT!]
[Both men scramble upward.]
[BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!]
[Leaping sidekick catches Newton flush.]
[Newton stumbles backward directly toward the broken table shard in the corner.]
[Padre charges.]
[MIDNIGHT SHADOW—NO!]
[Newton shoves Padre forward.]
[Padre crashes chest-first into the broken table remains.]
Signal: OH MY GOD THAT METAL BAR JUST WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH HIS BLOODY SHOULDER!
[Padre stumbles backward dazed, metal bar sticking out.]
[LOW BLOW.]
Black Scar: THERE’S THE RAT BASTARD!
[The crowd rains boos.]
[Newton hooks the arms.]
[NEVERMIND!]
[JUMPING IMPLANT DDT! HE JUST SLAMMED THAT FUCKING BAR THROUGH HIS SHOULDER AND OUT THE OTHER GOD DAMN SIDE!!]
Signal: THAT SPIKED HIM!
[Newton collapses into the cover.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[THREE!]
[—NOOOOOOO!]
Signal: HE SURVIVED AGAIN! HE HAS A METAL BAR STICKING OUT OF HIS SHOULDER AND SOMEHOW… THE VIRUS… SOMEHOW KICKED OUT!
Black Scar: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PUT THIS MONSTER DOWN!?
[Newton looks horrified.]
[Padre slowly rolls onto his side coughing violently.]
Padre Venganza: We… are eternal.
[Newton backs away shaking his head.]
Edward Newton: No… no you’re not.
[Newton grabs the kendo stick again.]
[He stalks forward.]
[CRACK TO THE RIBS.]
[CRACK TO THE SPINE.]
[CRACK TO THE HEAD.]
[Padre seems unconscious.]
Signal: Newton is trying to beat the life out of him!
[Newton tosses the stick aside.]
[QUESTION MARK!]
[Crippler Crossface locked in.]
Signal: THERE IT IS! THE QUESTION MARK!
[Padre screams as Newton traps the damaged arm and cranks backward violently.]
Black Scar: This is how Newton ends people!
[Padre claws desperately toward the ropes.]
[Newton pulls him backward.]
Edward Newton: There’s no congregation coming to save you.
[Padre reaches.]
[Still inches short.]
[Newton screams while wrenching harder.]
Edward Newton: TAP!
[Padre’s hand rises.]
Signal: He’s fading!
[The hand shakes.]
[The crowd erupts.]
[PADRE SUDDENLY GRABS THE BAR FROM HIS SHOULDER AND STABS IT VIOLENTLY INTO NEWTONS RIBS!!!]
[Both men scream in agony.]
[Referee’s rush into the ring. There’s carnage, blood and Newton is now connected by tether to Padre Venganza.]
Signal: This is sick. It’s not worth this…
Black Scar: They’ve removed Newton from it, he’s a stuck pig, but he’s no longer attached. Maybe we can get a winner.
Signal: You condone this?
Black Scar: Where I come from, you do what you gotta do to get the job done.
[Newton stumbles back to his feet and crashes shoulder-first into the turnbuckles, bleeding from his ribs, holding them in agony.]
[Meanwhile the referee’s are pulling the bar THROUGH Padre’s shoulder and out the other side.]
[He kneels, oozing black blood.]
Signal: How.. in the FUCK is he conscious?
Black Scar: There he is. Welcome to the World of OSW, Sig.
Signal: I’m sorry for my language folks but Padre Venganza is NOT human.
[Suddenly, Padre immediately springs forward as The Riddler turns around.]
[SHADOW CONTAGION!]
[Leaping stunner out of nowhere.]
Signal: HE CAUGHT HIM!
[Newton bounces backwards into the corner, collapsing in a heap.]
[Padre crawls desperately into the cover.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[THR—KICKOUT!!!]
Black Scar: I THOUGHT THAT WAS IT!
[The Temple is thunderous.]
[Both men lay exhausted.]
Signal: These two are throwing absolutely everything they have at one another! Edward Newton went on a seventy plus match undefeated streak. He may have been beaten here in OSW, but IF that is Jensen Cussen under that mask… IF…
Black Scar: Who cares who’s under the mask? Padre Venganza is going toe to toe with a legend!
[Newton slowly crawls toward the ropes.]
[Padre drags himself upward in the opposite corner.]
[Both men stare at each other through blood and exhaustion.]
Edward Newton: You’re not a god.
Padre Venganza: No.
[Padre smiles.]
Padre Venganza: We are much worse.
[Both men charge simultaneously.]
[BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!]
[Padre’s leaping sidekick catches Newton across the side of the skull!]
Signal: BOTH MEN DOWN!
[Newton collapses backward into the ropes while Padre crashes onto his knees clutching the ruined shoulder.]
Black Scar: They’re running on fumes now, Sig! Pure instinct!
[Newton drags himself upright first, one arm wrapped around his bleeding ribs.]
[Padre slowly rises opposite him, black blood running down his chest.]
Edward Newton: You should’ve stayed dead, Jensen.
Padre Venganza: And you should not presume to know who’s about to put you down.
[Newton snarls and rushes forward.]
[FOREARM.]
[FOREARM.]
[FOREARM.]
[Padre answers with brutal body shots, targeting the ribs.]
Signal: Smart strategy! He’s targeting the wound!
[Newton slams repeated elbows into the shoulder with surgical precision.]
Edward Newton: You feel that? That’s mortality.
[Padre suddenly grabs Newton by the throat.]
[Viral Infection!]
[Black mist explodes into Newton’s face.]
Edward Newton: AGH!
[Newton stumbles blindly.]
[MIDNIGHT SHADOW!]
[STO INTO SNAP DDT.]
Signal: HE PLANTED HIM!
[Padre crawls into the cover.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[THREE!]
[NOOOOO!]
Black Scar: NEWTON SURVIVES!
[Padre sits back breathing heavily, exhaustion finally beginning to show.]
[Newton coughs violently, dragging himself toward the ropes.]
[Padre follows.]
[He grabs Newton by the mask.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome… to the Family.
[Newton suddenly rakes the eyes through the mask.]
Signal: Oh come on!
[Padre recoils.]
[LOW BLOW.]
Black Scar: There’s the Edward Newton we know!
[Padre drops to both knees.]
[Newton hooks both arms.]
Edward Newton: CHECKMATE.
[RIDDLE ME THIS!]
[The sit-out piledriver SPIKES Padre directly onto the top of his head.]
Signal: THAT’S IT! THAT HAS TO BE IT!
[Newton hooks both legs deeply.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[THREE!!!!
[—NOOOOOOOOO!]
Signal: HE KICKED OUT AGAIN!
[The Temple absolutely erupts.]
[Newton stares at the referee in horror.]
Edward Newton: COUNT FASTER!
Referee: IT WAS TWO!
[Newton slams the mat in frustration.]
Black Scar: He doesn’t know what he has to do anymore!
[Newton slowly rises and backs into the corner, breathing heavily.]
[Padre rolls onto his side.]
[Then slowly… starts laughing.]
Signal: Listen to this lunatic!
Padre Venganza: We told you…
[Padre drags himself upright.]
Padre Venganza: We are eternal.
[Edward slides to the outside and grabs a steel chair, ambling back into the ring.]
[Newton rushes him in fury.]
[CHAIRSHOT TO THE SKULL!]
[He drops the chair as Padre falls.]
[CRIPPLER CROSSFACE LOCKED IN.]
[THE QUESTION MARK!]
Signal: THERE IT IS! NEWTON’S GOT IT FULLY CINCHED!
[Newton screams while wrenching backward violently.]
Edward Newton: TAP! TAP YOU SON OF A BITCH!
[Padre screams in agony, trapped dead center of the ring.]
[His hand rises.]
Black Scar: He’s gonna do it!
[The hand trembles.]
[Newton grins.]
[Then Padre suddenly rolls violently sideways.]
[Newton loses balance for just a split second.]
[His shoulders are down.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[THREE!!!!
[—NOOOOOOOOO!]
[IT’S A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER!!]
[Both men spring back to their feet.]
[SHADOW CONTAGION!]
[LEAPING STUNNER OUT OF NOWHERE!]
Signal: HE CAUGHT HIM! HE CAUGHT HIM CLEAN!
[Newton bounces backward stunned against the ropes, stumbling forward about to face plant the ground.]
[Padre roars.]
[INFINITE CHAOS!]
[Kick to the ribs.]
[Kick to the leg.]
[Kick to the chest.]
[Spinning backfist.]
[KNEE TO THE FACE.]
[Newton collapses to one knee barely conscious.]
Signal: Padre’s unloading everything he has left!
[Padre stumbles backward across the ring.]
[The Family are screaming at ringside.]
Padre Venganza: WELCOME… HOME!
[He charges.]
[FINAL SIDEKICK STRAIGHT TO THE SKULL.]
[Newton collapses instantly.]
[Padre falls across the body.]
[ONE!]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[TWO!]
[........]
[........]
[........]
[THREE!!!]
Signal: HE GOT HIM! HE GOT HIM! PADRE VENGANZA WINS LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER!
Black Scar: I DON’T BELIEVE IT!
[The bell rings repeatedly as the Family flood ringside.]
Signal: Edward Newton threw everything imaginable at him! Weapons, submissions, handcuffs, piledrivers, metal poles… and somehow Padre Venganza survived ALL OF IT!
[Padre rolls slowly off Newton’s body and rises shakily to his knees.]
[The Family kneel around the ring worshipping.]
[Padre spreads his arms wide despite the hole torn through his shoulder.]
Padre Venganza: Welcome… to the Family.
Signal: And now… Padre Venganza is headed to Ring of Dreams for the OSW World Championship. May God have mercy on us all.
Winner of Lambs 2026: Padre Venganza
I Know What You Did
[Molvanîa.]
[The docks.]
[Late at night…]
[Cranes and containers fill the wharf. Solid and blinking lights of different colours twinkle in the dark like stars. Mechanical whirring fills the air. Hi-vis jackets march like worker ants.]
[Away from the hustle and noise, the soft, red glow of taillights bathes the concrete, as the sound of an engine approaches.]
[A dark, luxury sedan backs up to the edge of the quay.]
[The engine stops and the driverside door opens...]
[Blackhand Moretti steps out.]
[The Boss looks around cautiously.]
[He pops the trunk and looks down.]
[Muffled groaning.]
[Blackhand reaches inside his breast pocket and takes out a switchblade!]
[Flick!]
Blackhand Moretti: “If you scream, I’ll cut your lips off your face. Capisce?”
[Silence ensues.]
Blackhand Moretti: “Good.”
[He closes, then pockets, the knife.]
[He tears the tape off of his victim’s mouth.]
Ram Jam: “Why ya gotta do me like this, brotha!?”
[The unmistakable voice of The Grooveador pleads with his captor, who growls.]
Blackhand Moretti: “You had this comin’, cazzo.”
Ram Jam: “I told you, I dunno where your boys are at!”
Blackhand Moretti: “Plead your innocence to the fish.”
[Moretti heaves the bound Ram Jam out of the car.]
Ram Jam: “Please, man - don’t do this!”
[Blackhand scoffs.]
Blackhand Moretti: “Huh, wonder if rams can swim?”
Ram Jam: “NO—!”
[BLACKHAND SHOVES HIM IN!]
[SPLASH!]
[The Psychedelic Ram breaks the surface of the glassy water. He thrashes desperately and takes water into his airways.]
Ram Jam: [panicked] “H-HELP!”
[The Don of Destruction, however, sneers.]
Blackhand Moretti: “That’s for Tony and Freddy, you fuck.”
[Spit.]
[With that, Moretti closes the trunk, hops back in the driver’s seat, then peels away - leaving Ram Jam bobbing in the cold water!]
Alpha & Omega
[Somewhere else. Our cameras open on an a huge set of double doors in a place we've seen before, but quite can't place.]
[The doors BURST open.]
[Marvolo storms inside.]
[Angrier than we have ever seen him.]
[The vast hall is illuminated by candlelight, the enormous oak table still occupying the center exactly as it did on the very first night of OSW.]
[Seated around it—]
[The hooded figures.]
[Red cloaks.]
[Still.]
[Watching.]
[Several rise immediately at the sight of him.]
Signal: "…No way."
Black Scar: "We’re back here? Marvolo is... alive?"
[Marvolo points furiously toward them.]
Marvolo: "Enough."
[His voice echoes through the chamber.]
Marvolo: "Decloak."
[The hooded figures exchange glances.]
[Tension thickens.]
[Then slowly… one by one… they remove their hoods.]
[Revealing—]
[Marvolo.]
[Again.]
[And again.]
[And again.]
[Eighteen more versions of him sit around the table.]
Signal: "WHAT THE HELL?!"
Black Scar: "They’re all Marvolo!"
[Among them—]
[Marvolo II.]
[And tiny Marvolo Junior.]
[Both staring silently.]
[The Leader rises slowly from the head of the table.]
[Another Marvolo.]
[Older. Sharper.]
The Leader: "You were not expected."
[Marvolo scoffs bitterly.]
Marvolo: "Please."
[A step forward.]
Marvolo: "I knew you met around Wrestle Heroes."
[A beat.]
Marvolo: "I knew you called me an imposter."
[He slams his hands onto the table.]
Marvolo: "So tell me."
[A pause.]
Marvolo: "Why?"
[The Leader remains calm.]
The Leader: "Because you acted out of turn."
[The room stills.]
The Leader: "We did not sanction this."
[A gesture outward.]
The Leader:"We did not approve bringing Old School Wrestling to our home."
[Marvolo’s expression darkens.]
The Leader:"And now everything is accelerating."
[A beat.]
The Leader: "Where is Alpha?"
[Silence.]
[The name hangs heavily in the room.]
The Leader: "He came to OSW to meet you…"
[A pause.]
The Leader: "As agreed."
[Marvolo slowly begins to smile.]
[Cold.]
[Triumphant.]
Marvolo: "Alpha?"
[A faint laugh.]
Marvolo:"Alpha is dead."
[Several around the table react instantly.]
Signal: "WHAT?!"
Black Scar: "Marvolo had him killed?!"
[The Leader steps forward.]
The Leader: "Impossible."
[Marvolo shakes his head.]
Marvolo: "No."
[A beat.]
Marvolo: "Planned. I knew you'd send someone to come for me."
[Another step.]
Marvolo: "So I got ahead of it."
[A pause.]
Marvolo: "I put the poster up. I set the whole thing in motion."
[He grins.]
Marvolo: "Deadeye was unknowingly working for me the entire time."
[The Leader’s composure finally cracks.]
The Leader: "You arrogant little—"
Marvolo: "The Order belongs to me now."
[He stops at the head of the table.]
[Where Alpha once sat.]
Marvolo: "I am the new Alpha."
[Silence.]
[Dangerous.]
Marvolo: "And if any of you disagree…"
[A slow creak echoes from behind the chamber doors.]
[Everyone turns.]
[The doors open.]
[Santiago Siniestro enters.]
[Two pistols drawn.]
[Calm.]
[Deadly.]
Siniestro: "Entonces hablamos."
[A beat.]
Siniestro: "Then we talk."
[The chamber freezes.]
[Marvolo smiles.]
[Cut.]