FPW All Star Tag Team Classic Match Promos

[Jim Houston]

The following video has been posted to freedomprowrestling.com

[Jim Houston]

OOC:

Thanks for all the great promo work leading up to today. Here are the cards for the show (full details on above video). I've put my name next to the matches that I'm going to write and am looking for volunteers to write the rest. I definitely can't write the whole show this time round, so I'd appreciate people volunteering for one or possibly more matches. I'll send out finishes and any details that I want included on Saturday 28th April, meaning that you all have two weeks to promo to build the story of the match. Match writers will then have one week to get their matches to me (the deadline will be the end of the day on Friday 4th May). If any match isn't submitted to me by that time, there's a good chance I'll only be posting a brief outline of the match as, like I say, I won't have time to rewrite the matches.

Please message me if you're willing to write one or more matches. They will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so if there's one you really want to write, please let me know ASAP. If we have more people than matches, I can give up a couple of the ones I currently plan to write. However, I'd rather people not write their own matches if possible.

Night One:
QF1: Nick Jameson and Graham Baker v Jeremiah Johnson and Partner [MDE]
QF2: Anarchy v TJ Cole and Jerry Bishop [MDE]
QF3: Jack Sevren and Bobby O v The Hardcases [Jerry Bishop]
QF4: Sons of Cerberus v Azazel and Davey Jones [Match Writer Needed]
MDE v Graham Baker: 'I Quit' Match. If either man uses a weapon or voluntarily leaves the ring, they will be fired from FPW. [MDE]
TJ Cole and TakeOver v Matt Dwyer, Adam Thompson, ?? and ?? [MDE]

Night Two:
Semi Final One [MDE]
Semi Final Two [Match Writer Needed]
Nick Jameson v James Saturn: Hardcore Title [Baker/Karlson]
Marcus Allen Jones v Elizabeth Karlson v Matt Dwyer [Baker/Karlson]
Final [MDE]

[Jim Houston]

Jim Houston is sat in his office scrolling through something on his tablet.

"Well that doesn't look good..."

He puts the tablet to one side and pulls out a piece of paper, crossing off something.

"So we can't do that there... I suppose I can shelf it until later. But what do I do instead..."

A knock on the door snaps Jim out of his musings.

"Come in."

Dasha Banks enters.

JH: Dasha! Hello and welcome. What can I do for you?

DB: Well, I thought it would be good to ask a few questions about the upcoming card. I've heard a few rumblings and wanted to hear answers directly from the horse's mouth so to speak.

JH: Ask away.

DB: Well... the first question people have been asking is about Clutch. He's not on the show so people are wondering if he's ok.

JH: Sadly I've just had some bad news about Clutch. He's been diagnosed with a concussion and sadly the symptoms are showing no signs of going away. He's very unlikely to be declared fit to compete at the Tag Classic and I certainly don't want to put him at risk. Clutch will be back when he's ready.

DB: Any ideas on the identity of Jeremiah Johnson's partner?

JH: A few, yes, but that would be speculation. Until I know for sure, I'm not willing to say.

DB: And there's a few people a little unhappy with how you've allowed MDE to pick such an extreme stipulation for his match and how you're allowing Jeremiah not to reveal his partner. They're saying you lack a little control. What do you say to that?

JH: I'm running this show. At times, I give some people certain amounts of freedom, which should be expected from a company named Freedom Pro Wrestling. I use my judgement as to when that is in the best interests of our roster members and our fans. In the case of MDE's match, it was certainly in our best interests to see him and Graham Baker face each other once more. However, MDE has earned an advantage with two wins. With Jeremiah, I think a bit of mystery is always interesting. I just hope he's chosen someone he's a little happier with than last time.

DB: We also have a few names not in the Tag Classic that we might have expected. Is there a reason for that?

JH: I picked out four teams who I thought deserved a chance. Well, three plus one team I was very intrigued by. I then gave an opportunity for the rest of the roster to put themselves forward. Those who stepped up got what they earned. Those who didn't will have to step up next time. FPW is a place where hard work and commitment is rewarded. It's not, and never will be, jobs for the boys.

DB: Thank you for your time.

JH: Dasha, it's always a pleasure. As a matter of fact, I do have something I'd like from you. I believe there's someone you know who might be a great help to me with one of the matches for the Tag Classic.

Jim looks at the camera.

JH: I'm sorry, but this one is going to stay private I think. He walks over to the camera and it goes dead.

[Jim Houston]

MDE is seated in his office at his gym, with the closing moments of the freedomprowrestling.com video playing. Rachel is sitting behind him. He turns with a smile on his face.

MDE: So our GM is true to his word. One more chance to finally beat Baker exactly how I want to.

Rachel: So... we need to start preparing then.

MDE: Indeed. Now that my cuts are properly healed I can get back to one on one training. This one will be simple. He has one major weapon which he'll certainly work towards. If I can stop him doing so then I'll have negated his biggest threat. We need people to come in and do everything they can to work my arm over so I can be prepared to counter whatever Baker tries.

Rachel (making a note on a pad of paper): I'll search your database as soon as I get back to my desk. Usual schedule?

MDE: Yes, usual schedule. We have 20 days until the match. I have two other commitments in that time so I have to prepare for those too, plus individual training plus rest days. If we go with the usual structuring that gives us six days of intensive wrestling training, which should be enough.

Rachel: Does anyone spring to mind for me to get in touch with straight away?

MDE: A few yes. One obviously. Give me a list of names from the database and we'll go from there. I'd like to get three in each day with a good mix of styles.

Rachel: Three a day for six days. I guess some will be available for more than one day so... maybe twelve different guys. I'll get as many names as I can. What kind of budget are we looking at for this?

MDE: I'd say we can stretch to two flights if there's anyone we really think will help.

Rachel: You really want this one. don't you?

MDE doesn't respond, merely turning back to the screen. Rachel is walking out when MDE speaks.

MDE: See what Zack's doing.

The video ends with a shot of Rachel's face, smiling a knowing smile.

[The_Aviator_GB]

Graham Baker sets up a camera in front of a ring with Elizabeth Karlson standing inside. They're both wearing pretty standard exercise gear, and the ring appears to be private-somewhere away from the rest of FPW's trainees. Baker's recording a tape of his practice to watch, something that's not going to be leaked out anywhere and likely kept somewhere decently private. Baker rolls into the ring, and he begins speaking to Karlson.

Baker: Emergency Landing's not gonna work. As much as I love the maneuver, I need something else, because MDE's going to see it coming from miles away. I need something new, something that can fuck him up and take his mobility out. Simply Great Stretch uses the legs...let's focus on them. 

Karlson: You're the captain, Aviator. I've found good success with the Indian Deathlock, but...you could get a little experimental with it.

Baker and Karlson go at it, with Karlson getting the advantage quickly on Baker, but Baker breaking out of her hold before she can lock a kneebar in on him. The two circle one another, and go into another hold, with Baker forcing Karlson down to the mat. He tries to lock in a Deathlock, but she breaks the hold quickly, giving Baker a stiff kick to the chest for his trouble. Baker hops back to his feet, and the two lock up once again, ending up in a stalemate that Karlson takes advantage of, locking Baker in a triangle choke. Baker struggles to get out, eventually lifting Karlson up and letting her hang for a moment before he reaches the ropes. She breaks the hold, and the two share a smile before taking a moment. Baker leans against the turnbuckle while Karlson feels the ropes, looking back to him.

Karlson: Two losses to MDE, and you go back for more. Booked for it, but you don't put up a protest or refuse. I'll never understand you, Graham. You've taken loss after loss here, you let this guy inside your head...and you keep running back to him. Now your career's on the line if you step out of the ring or use a weapon-what were you thinking? 

Baker leans away from the turnbuckle, testing the ropes with his foot.

Baker: Honestly, I just need to beat him. I had him at New Breed, but I let him slip. I had him in New Orleans, but I didn't go for the kill. MDE, he'll claim to be more dominant because he has more wins, which is only half-true. He beat me by pinfall and then by roll-up, and I know for a damn fact that the second one probably set him off. He had to handcuff me and catch my tights, and he went in thinking he'd be dominant and submit me. Now? He has no choice. He's got to beat me with that Stretch, or he doesn't beat me at all. No pinfall. No disqualification. No nothing. For me? This match is everything. This is my proving ground-what Temple of Doom should've been. This is my need for victory. Either I make MDE quit...or I don't know where I go from here. 

Baker pauses for a moment.

Baker: How about you? Triple threat with two established guys here-you think you've got a shot?

Karlson: Absolutely. Marcus overlooked me and Dwyer's got a blood feud on the mind. They'll tear eachother apart and i'll pick whichever one happens to walk into my crosshairs apart and stay out of the action as long as I can. When one of them comes into range or takes the other out, they're done. No one escapes the Execution...except for you, and that was my own fault. Maybe i'll think of some other way to innovate it.

Keeping Baker on his feet, Karlson suddenly rushes in for a lockup, but Baker is ready and throws her to the mat. He goes for a kneebar of his own, locking Karlson's knee in place and tweaking it before she can finally kick away. Baker's quick, however, attempting to innovate the move and taking her down before she can get back up. He locks in an Indian Deathlock, but once again Karlson gets away before he can fully seal the deal. She grabs Baker's arm and imitates the Emergency Landing, locking in a near perfect cross armbar before Baker manages to get away with minimal damage. He whips Karlson into the ropes as she gets back to her feet, and dodges her responding clothesline, grabbing her leg as she hits the mat and once again attempting a deathlock, but Karlson once again avoids it. She responds with a stiff knee to Baker's face, before she locks in a triangle choke on him.

Karlson: Poor form, Baker! Lots to learn still-good thing we've got a few weeks! 

Karlson wrenches Baker's arm to add to the hold, but Baker fights his way out before his airway is totally cut off. He holds his throat for a moment, and gives Karlson an opening to take advantage of. As she does so, however, he locks in a snap Emergency Landing and attacks Karlson's arm, eventually forcing her to submit once again. The two break the hold up, and Baker helps Karlson to her feet. 

Karlson: Worked on me, but it won't on MDE. You need more practice on your form.

Baker: And you need to go for the kill when you can. Don't fuck around with triangle chokes, twister-lock me and break my back. You're going to need a quick kill on someone like Dwyer or MAJ.

The two stare one another down, and the tape continues with Baker and Karlson locking up once again...

[Saturn]

The camera opens on James sitting in the gym watching and rewatching lots of Nick Jameson matches, after a while he calls over a young lion and shows him the video.

James: So can you do this?

Young lion: For sure.

They get into the ring and brawl for a minute before the young lion for a devil driver, James counters into a hurricanrana. As the young lion stumbles to his feet James spears him. The young lion rolls out of the ring and is approached by Dasha Banks.

DB: Hey James, approaching your upcoming match with Nick Jameson at the all star tag team classic, mind if I ask you some questions?

JS: Shoot

DB: Nick Jameson has been talking lots of trash about you lately, saying specifically that the one win you have over him has elevated you to a place he doesn't think you actually deserve to be. Do you have any thoughts on this?

JS: Yeah, actually. I think he's a hypocrite. When he arrived in FPW he immediately got a hardcore title shot. Then he won that match at temple of doom the other week piggybacking off the hard work of the other wrestlers and now he's hot shit? He's only wrestled four matches in FPW and two of them were for the hardcore championship. How in the hell is that fair.

DB: So I take it you don't think very highly of Nick Jameson.

JS: Not at all. I think all the hardcore stuff has damaged him so much he's just a bumbling idiot who can only yell the word "FUCK". Either that or he already was a bumbling idiot, which actually now that I think about it might be more likely.

DB: Speaking of hardcore stuff, the match that you're going into is for the hardcore championship, but you don't have a great lot of experience in hardcore matches do you?

JS: I'll admit, hardcore matches are not my forte at all, even outside of FPW I've only ever wrestled a couple, but I have been training hard, trying to adapt to Jamesons style. I believe by the time the all star tag classic rolls around I'll be totally ready for him.

Dasha gestures forwards James's arm.

DB: Your left arm was seriously hurt during your last match with Nick Jameson, how is it recovering?

JS: Fine. Don't know if it'll be entirely 100 percent by the all star tag team classic but it will at least be 98. I'm not worried too much.

DB: Ok, finally, what are your thoughts going into this match?

JS: I'm pretty cool, calm, and collected right now. Jameson will either be a lot harder or a lot easier to beat than he was at 60 minutes of freedom, but knowing how stupid he is it'll probably be easier.

DB: That's... All?

JS: Don't have to much to say I guess.

DB: Okay. Thanks James, talk to you later.

JS: See ya.

James Saturn begins watching Nick Jameson matches again and once again calls of a young lion.

James: You think you can do this...

[Deleted]

Headline: Jeremiah Johnson goes Crazy at Bullseye Dept Store.

The video is shot in vertical mode. An overweight, medium height, white lady, is at the front of the customer service line in the background. In the foreground, Jeremiah Johnson is posing for the camera, his hands in the shape that he uses for his entrance. He puts his hands down, “Alright you want to take a picture together or what?” Johnson isn’t coordial.

“Can I speak with your manager?” the way the overweightr lady is talking to the working woman behind the counter catches Johnson’s ear, his head turns. The camera rolls. Johnson approaches the scene.

“Excuse me. Why do you want to see her manager?”

“Well, if you must know, I’m trying to return this item and she says I can’t. But it’s none of your business.” The woman clutches a 2 liter bottle of soda. The label is familiar, though it’s a bit outdated.

“How old is this bottle of soda?”

“That’s besides the point. Now, excuse you, sir. Have a good day.”

The cashier behind the counter is frozen, her eyes as wide as wide as the fat lady’s waist. Johnson smirks, his mouth closed, it pulls up tight into the corners of his face. “No. Excuse you. You obviously bought this soda a loooong time ago. And what kind of over-privileged piece of work returns soda? You remind me of the average FPW fan, disgusting, annoying; and I’m pretty sure that smell is coming from you.”

The overweight lady stammers. The cashier smiles. The person recording giggles. “I’m sick and tired of people like you. They always think that they’re entitled to taking shits all over other people. Look at you, you cow, you don’t need any more soda, looks like you drink at least a liter a day. Take your head out of your ass!” Johnson turns to the phone, “You posting this on the internet?” the camera nods, “Well then tell those smarky pieces of trash AKA FPW fans, that the same logic applies to them. They’re worse than that idiot Clutch McCloud. Tell them to just leave.” Johnson turns to the fat lady, “Just leave. Gather up your annoying attitude and self-entitled ways and get the fuck out. In fact…” Johnson turns back to the camera, “That’s what I want every fan to do. When my match comes on, just leave. Leave and watch my match from a recording. I know you’re all wondering who my tag team partner is; well tough luck shitstains! I won’t reveal until it’s time. And don’t forget the cracker and the whiskey bitches. I don’t care how much they’ve trained. I don’t care how much they think they know about me. I won’t stop until I hear them SNAP or make them TAP!”

The clip cuts off after a fumbling of the phone.

[Deleted]

We arrive outside of a building with a sign saying "Constellation Coffee" on it as people walk across the sidewalk in front of it. We then cut to inside, where we see Nick Jameson sitting at a table with a cup of what we must presume is coffee in front of him. Jameson is smiling a bit, wearing a sleeveless black shirt as his jacket hangs from the back of his chair. He is leaned back, looking pretty relaxed.

Nick Jameson:
Oh.. Oh, hey! Come, come have a seat you pile of used condoms, you! Go ahead, have a seat, it's been a long time, man!

The camera floats on over and becomes stationary in front of where Jameson is sitting.

Nick Jameson:
You abortion loving son of a bitch, what are you doing in a hipster shithouse like this!?

Jameson waits for a moment and then folds his arm, snickering a bit and nodding his head.

Nick Jameson:
Yes, yes, that's a fair fucking question, what the hell am I doing here!? Okay, you sly fox, I guess I'll answer your question.

You see, between you and I... you being a phone with a camera, and me being the FPW Hardcore champion, I'm here because I'm preparing for a match. I'm trying to get inside of the head of my opponent, you see. This opponent of mine, he beat me. Once. It was a lucky shot, I fell over, he barely held me down and I just kind of beat myself, but whatever, they called it a win for him, and I'm totally over it... it's fine. No big deal.

But here we are. The Tag Team All-Star Tournament is coming up, I'm tagging up with fucking Graham Baker, we're going to win that thing, no problem, but then I've got this guy who thinks he got one over on me. He's getting a shot at my title for me pretty much handing him a win, and I'm just trying to understand what makes an obvious loser... a guy who is completely over matched and inadequate in every way, think he's got a shot at beating me legitimately. For my title.

So here I am, sitting among the idiot masses, the sheep, the delusional flock, and I try to place myself in the shoes of James Saturn. James Saturn, a man looking to have his cup of coffee in the big time. A man who thinks it is his time to rise to the top... but unfortunately for him, that's all it will be. A quick stop, and it'll be very short lived and anti-climatic.

James, I don't have to go "hardcore" to beat you. But I'm going to. And I am going to enjoy every second of it, and maybe, for your own good, you'll be humbled by this experience. And if not, I guess I'll just have to keep beating you down until you stay down. Where you belong.

Jameson lifts the coffee to his lips, taking a sip only to make a face of repugnance, spitting it out and tossing it to the side, spilling it all over the floor and breaking the mug to the shock of many around him, before standing and exiting the building.

[Jim Houston]

MDE sits very close to the camera, with just his face and the top of his shoulders showing. He begins speaking slowly and precisely.

"Well, well. When I first got here, I did a lot of my talking with my actions. I brought a camera into my private gymnasium and showed everyone how I prepared for matches. I talked while picking my training partners apart piece by piece, explaining very clearly what I was going to do to my future opponents. I showed how I found strengths and trained to diffuse them, how I found weaknesses and trained to exploit them and how I trained to make myself the wrestling machine that keeps on getting better and better and better. When I checked into freedomprowrestling.com this morning as part of my daily check-ins, I find not one but two videos coming from wrestlers showing them training with training partners. What can I say? Greatness begets greatness and I am unmistakably great. I don't come here so that others can learn from me, but clearly they are. Let me make one thing very clear. Anyone can copy my methods, my training, my focus, but no one can do it like me. There is no one else who can pick people apart like I can. There is no one else who can formulate perfect gameplans like I can. There is no one else who can produce the consistently high level wrestling that I can."

MDE gets up, walking a few paces to showcase a wall filled from top to bottom with DVD cases, all labelled with names and dates. He pauses and picks one out, smiling as he looks at it.

"Graham Baker versus Joey Janela, CZW, February 27th 2016. Janela won in 13 minutes via pinfall. Janela won because he was able to counter the Emergency Landing as Baker was too keen to lock it in and gave up his leverage by letting his hips slip. I transition from that position into a Simply Great Stretch in two seconds. The match is over between 10 and 25 seconds later."

MDE puts the DVD back and moves a step further. He picks out another, smiling again as he checks the label.

"Graham Baker versus Axel Dieter Junior, Progress, May 6th 2017. Dieter won in 7 minutes via pinfall. Dieter won because Baker's foot was too far forward for a German suplex, allowing him to hook his leg, block the suplex and roll him up. I transition from that position into a Simply Great Stretch in three seconds. The match is over between 7 and 28 seconds later."

MDE puts the DVD back and picks up the one next to it.

"Graham Baker versus Jack Sexsmith, Progress, May 7th 2017. Sexsmith won in 8 minutes via pinfall. Sexsmith won because Baker overshot on a flying lariat and left himself open. I transition from the missed lariat into a Simply Great Stretch in one second. The match is over between 8 and 22 seconds later."

MDE puts the DVD back.

"I could go on. In fact, I have gone on. I've seen every match. I've seen the positions where Baker can lock in the Emergency Landing perfectly. I've seen the positions where he tries to lock it in but isn't able to get it properly. I've seen every mistake that has cost him a match and every escape he knows. The summary is this. Baker can train however much he likes, but he won't be able to out-do me with just three weeks to do it and without my sharp wrestling mind. However good he may be, he's not simply great. The outcome for our match at the All Star Tag Team Classic will be just the same as the outcomes of our other two matches. Graham Baker gives his all, comes close and pushes me hard, but ultimately ends up disappointed. For all of his heart, energy and determination, one fact remains forever true. Graham Baker isn't good enough to beat me."

MDE turns, walks out and the camera zooms in on his computer monitor, which shows a paused video with Graham Baker standing with his arm raised.

[The_Aviator_GB]

Graham Baker sits, winded, looking into a camera at the same non-FPW gym he'd been practicing with Karlson in his first recording. He runs his hands back through his hair, sweat dripping down his face and torso, but he shakes it off and looks dead into the center of the camera.

"MDE, you are one tricky bastard, i'll admit that. You take all the footage you can find like some goddamn supercomputer and synthesize it, you find every advantage you can take, and you take it. You're an animal, one of the best technical minds and one of the most proficient submission wrestlers on the face of the planet, let alone on this continent. You're strong, you're a master of the ring, and i'm walking into your battleground with a mission on my mind and a plan to execute it. I know the odds aren't in my favor, as in a submission match like this, I lose the advantages that I usually use to my own benefit. You...you've got the high ground here, and i've simply got to play along."

Baker puts his head in his hands for a moment, not out of shame, but exhaustion.

"What you haven't considered, MDE, is that i've never once 'quit'. You can watch all the matches you want, all the men who i've ever fought across CZW, across Progress, across any indie in and out of the states and on this earth, and you can see that i've never, not once, lost by submission. I've never given up in a deathmatch, a hardcore match, an 'I Quit' match, extreme rules or not. I've never once faltered in my pursuit, my fire's never burnt out. You can look high and low, but I have never known a defeat on the receiving end of a submission. This match won't change that, and if you want to break down your analysis about how you can lock in the Simply Great Stretch and how you've analyzed every submission i've ever used, i'll do the same to you. You're going to need to outlast me, and you're going to need to protect your legs, because you need them for that fucking manuever, aye?"

Baker cracks his neck, and looks at his own arms and legs.

"You've prepared for the Emergency Landing, but much like you, MDE, I have plenty of tricks up my proverbial sleeves. I didn't become a submission specialist by learning a single move and perfecting it. Sure, the Emergency Landing's my calling card...but trust me, MDE, you're in for a surprise. I'll let you figure out what that means exactly, i've got work to do." 

Baker gets back up, and is about to leave to return to training, when he suddenly looks back to the camera.

"Almost forgot, Jeremiah. Keep your eyes on the FPW feed...you might find something special very soon."

[marileeg17]

Jim Houston is sitting at his desk when he suddenly hears pounding at the door. However, before Houston can get up to answer, Haych kicks the door off its bearings, revealing Dario and Marcus on the other side.

MAJ: Is this a freakin’ joke? Is this how you treat your Young Lions Cup champion?

Houston takes a deep breath before proceeding to clean up the papers that he dropped as a result of the interruption.

JH (surprisingly calm): Haych, Dario, would you give us a moment?

The Invaders don’t leave right away but rather look to Marcus to make sure it’s okay. He looks back at Jim before turning to the pair and telling them to go. The Invaders nod and disappear, leaving Marcus and Jim alone.

MAJ: You may be their boss but those two take orders from one person and that’s ME!

JH: I suppose that’s good to know…So Marcus, what brings you by?

Marcus looks livid.

MAJ: What, what brings me by? What the hell do you think? You booked the match after I specifically said I ain’t facing no girl. So Houston, we’ve got a problem. And you’re gonna have an even bigger one if you don’t cancel this match.

JH: Technically, you said you didn’t want to face Elizabeth but you never said anything about a triple threat so the way I see it, everybody gets what they want.

MAJ: How the hell do I get what I want? And enough of this everybody nonsense. You should know by now I’m the only person you need to please around here. Might I remind you I could “takeover” your job if I wanted.

JH: Well, if that time comes I’m sure you’ll be a, not good, but what's the word I'm looking for? I suppose I'll just say you'll be a general manager. But for now, I still have control of this company and my decision on matches is final. Dwyer wants his hands on you and I can’t blame him. And Elizabeth wants a debut worthy of her history. I thought you’d be honored that she’s chosen you to make a name off of. And this way, you can win the match…or lose…without having to wrestle a woman which you seem so against. Win, win, win.

Marcus is still furious. He pushes back against Jim’s desk but Jim doesn’t budge.

MAJ: You will regret this. So will Dwyer. So will that bitch.

Marcus begins to walk away but Jim chuckles causing him to turn back around.

MAJ: Something funny?

JH: Oh I’m sorry, that wasn’t very professional of me. I was just imagining “that bitch” pinning your shoulders flat to the mat in front of your oh-so adoring Chicago marks. And of course, by that, I mean the crowd which would rather spit in your face than shake your hand.

Marcus’ face turns red and he seethes as Jim just smirks.

JH: Did I strike a nerve?

Marcus just shakes his head.

MAJ: I’m going to destroy her. I’m going to prove what I’ve been saying all along. Women don’t belong in any ring especially mine. They belong in the kitchen. And when I end her career, when I leave her writhing in pain on that mat, alongside that pathetic Dwyer, their blood, it will be on YOUR hands!

Marcus storms out as Jim just turns back to his paperwork, seemingly unfazed from the confrontation.

[The_Aviator_GB]

Looking through the halls of the FPW training facility, the FPW interview crew come across Elizabeth Karlson, practicing a variety of submission manuevers on a few Young Lions. She switches effortlessly from hold to hold, eventually tapping the Young Lion out on a modified kneebar/armbar combo before releasing the hold. She looks at the camera crew, and takes a second to consider approaching them before whipping another Young Lion into the ropes and catching him in a leaping cross armbar as he goes down. She knees the lion in the face repeatedly, dazing him before she yanks his arms back and pulls him into a Creeping Death, tapping him out moments later. She releases him, and looks for another trainee, but most have backed off out of fear. She leaves the ring, looking to the camera crew.

DB: Elizabeth, anything to say about your debut at Freedom Pro Wrestling or your upcoming match with Marcus Allen Jones and Matt Dwyer?

Elizabeth: What is there to say? Marcus was a fool, Dwyer seems...more reasonable, but still foolish. If Jim Houston will have the match as a triple threat...well, i'm happy enough with it. A debut is a debut, be it one-on-one or a three-way. I still intend on proving my superiority to Marcus, if I need to go through Dwyer to do that as well....so be it. 

DB: Any anxiety going in? You're facing two established competitors-wouldn't you be just a little worried about what might happen if the two decide to team up on you? Or if you can't outpace one of them? This is quite a proving ground-some might say similar to the one that your friend Graham Baker faced when he went into his first match against MDE.

Elizabeth wears a cocky smile throughout, but at the last question she simply laughs and shakes her head. 

Elizabeth: I respect Baker immensely, but to compare the two of us? We're on two different levels. Baker's an intense competitor and he's incredibly talented, but every time we've met outside of FPW, i've beaten him easily. No, this would be comparing the debut of someone like Keith Lee to PWG-an intensely talented competitor coming into a ring of intensely talented men and still coming out on top, dominating every single person in their way. I'm a submission machine, a monster, a vicious competitor. I am Black Death, and I'm coming for anyone who dares stand across the ring from me. Marcus Allen Jones fears me because he fears things that he doesn't understand-he doesn't understand how a woman like me can stand across the ring from a man like him and still beat his ass, break his back, and tear his body apart until he just taps out. Matt Dwyer...I have more respect for him, but he'll learn as well as Jones that i'm nothing to trifle with. He wants me to sit in the backdrop of this feud of his between Jones and himself...he'll understand too why Black Death comes for all.

DB:...So anyway, you came into FPW with a bit of an unorthodox promo style and some vague introductory videos, as well as challenging Marcus straight-off. Are you afraid that others will think you haven't paid your dues since you've appeared on the scene? 

Elizabeth: I paid my dues. Not here, but outside, working every indie that I could get gigs at. I didn't build my reputation by sitting around and waiting for a big break like some people in this company did, I built it by showing how fucking good I am. That's not going to change, and i'm not going to falter and let someone take my momentum from me. Marcus and Dwyer, they're both going down, and people are going to see why I deserve everything I ask for in this company. No more questions.

Karlson steps from the cameras, rolling below the bottom rope and beckoning an unaware Young Lion in. The match begins and he rushes her with a clothesline, but Karlson rolls-up the Young Lion before dropping her knee on his head. While stunned, Karlson picks the Young Lion up and whips him into the corner, lifting him up on the top rope and hitting him with a brutal inverted Frankensteiner before locking in the Triangle Choke. She works the arm and neck, and the Young Lion passes out, allowing Karlson to finally relent...

[Jim Houston]

The video begins with a shot of MDE sat opposite Dasha Banks in a studio. He is dressed in workout gear and checks his watch a couple of times.

DB: MDE. Thanks for joining us here today. You have a big match coming up at the All Star Tag Team Classic but before we get to that, I couldn't help but notice you were one of the few roster members who didn't show an interest in the tournament. Can you explain why that is?

MDE: I don't do tag team wrestling. When you wrestle in a tag team, you have to rely on someone else doing their job. There's a chance that I might do my job perfectly, execute my game plan perfectly, and lose the match because of someone else's mistake. I'm not interested in that. All I want is to get in the ring as often as possible and prove to myself that I'm better than the man standing opposite me.

DB: Interestingly, you said 'man' there. There's been a lot of discussion around the debut of Elizabeth Karlson recently with Marcus Allen Jones not wanting to face a female wrestler. Would you be happy to step into the ring with Karlson.

MDE: Yes. In today's world where men and women are treated equally, the old adage of not hitting a woman is rendered moot. If she wants to face me, I'll happily accept a match against her.

DB: She's training at the moment with Graeme Baker, a man you know well and a man you'll face in two weeks time. With two wins over Baker, I'm assuming your confidence going into this match is high?

MDE: I'm always confident. Confidence- true confidence, not the confidence that most of these people have, which is nothing more than an ignorantly blind faith in what little ability they possess- comes from preparation. Nobody prepares like me. Most matches I have won before I enter the ring. All I need to do is execute my game plan. This match isn't that different. I know Baker well enough to know I'll have to perform well, and I know him well enough to know he's dangerous, but I also know him well enough to know that he's desperate. He's been beaten by me twice, and he's been beaten by some of the no-hopers here as well. He hasn't won a single match here and, quite frankly, he knows his place on the roster is on the line. If he doesn't beat me, he may never wrestle here in the FPW again. I can and will take advantage of that.

DB: You chose this match, a no-weapons 'I Quit' match. Why?

MDE: It's simple. After the two matches I've had against Graeme Baker thus far, he's been able to say that my wins were lucky. In fact, they were meticulously planned. My first win over Baker was a perfect execution of my game plan. My plan for that match was to wrestle within myself, not giving him a clear opening and to wait for him to make a mistake. When he made it, and it took a little longer than I expect but he did make it, I pounced and won. In our Bourbon Street Street Fight, I managed to avoid his hardcore attacks for a very long time. I knew that chances were I'd succumb in the end, so I made sure that I had a weapon of my own to use at the opportune moment. I found that moment and won the match. This time, however, I want no excuses. I want Baker to be in the middle of the ring and to give up, to admit that he can't beat me and doesn't have it in him to keep trying. I want him to have to walk away from our match with no delusions. He'll know that I'm the better man by the time we finish, and he won't be able to claim otherwise after he says those words.

DB: What are the chances of him forcing you to quit?

MDE: Slim to none. I've seen every single way he can lock on his submission move. I have two, three, sometimes more counters for every way he can conceivably trap my arm. He won't catch me.

DB: But he's a technical specialist. He may have more tricks up his sleve?

MDE: Dasha, do you know how long it takes to master a submission move? To really master it? Not just to learn it, because you can do that in an hour. To really master a move so that you can instinctively set it up from anywhere, so that you know exactly what it feels like when it's truly locked in, so that you can tell how someone will try to counter it just from the slightest twitch in their torso? It takes months, years even. The only way that someone can keep me locked inside a hold for so long that I give up is if they've truly mastered the move. Zack Sabre Jr. did it with his arm bar. He's the only one. I have counters, feignts, counters for his counters. Graeme Baker will never master another hold in the time that he has. The only way he can beat me is with his Emergency Landing and I guarantee you that I will find every possible escape and that he won't have an answer. He'll need Bernard's watch to beat me.

DB: You've been a little quiet recently. Is that an indiciation you feel you need to work harder before this match?

MDE: It's an indication that I don't want to give anything away. I've started a trend with my training videos. Half of the roster are doing the same thing now. I have no plans to give anything away that might help Baker in this match. So I'll do all of my work behind closed doors and you'll see the results when Baker and I meet for the third and last time.

DB: This is my final question. Assuming you do beat Graeme Baker, what do you hope for next in FPW?

MDE: A challenge.

MDE stands up and takes off his microphone, walking off camera.

[The_Aviator_GB]

Graham Baker's next promo picks up backstage at a show that's clearly nowhere near FPW's training arena. Baker has a cigarette between his lips, and is standing in a makeshift locker room. He looks into the camera, chuckling for a moment before he speaks.

"MDE, you're a clever bastard. You pick up footage of me training, you pick it apart, you discredit me and call me a fool. You think the Emergency Landing's the only tool in my arsenal, the 'only way I can beat you'. You might be right-it is my best submission finish, after all-but it's not the only submission move I know. Not by a long shot. If you've seen the footage of Karlson and I training, or you've swung by the ring when i've been going at some Young Lions...well, you know i've been training is all i'm saying. I know you've been training too, probably with some of the best in the world-that is, if you can get them to come to you. You've probably been running a gauntlet of any man who knows how to lock in an armlock to wear your arm down and learn every possible escape from a cross armbar, one like the Emergency Landing or otherwise." 

Baker takes another pull of his cigarette, and someone's theme music begins to play from behind him. He cracks his neck.

"As I said before, MDE, there are a great many differences between the two of us. You're mister business, the submission surgeon, the 'Oliver Cromwell of the Squared Circle'. You're a damn good hand, but you're also a damned asshole. You don't make friends, you make acquaintances that you face a time or two and then move on from once you feel that you've proven your superiority over them. I, on the other hand...I make friendships in this business. Every person I've ever faced has had something to teach me, be it about the moves they use, how to tighten up manuevers, how to clean up certain facets of my ringwork...but most importantly, how to counter people they've faced before."

The first theme ends, and a second, far more familiar one begins to play. At this point, Baker cracks a sneer.

"MDE, you're adamant on the fact that only one man's ever beaten you with his armbar. You're adamant on the fact that you were superior to this man, but you still tapped out to him. You might have a way to contact him, but even with your fancy assistant, there's no promise that he reaches out to you. This man might feel a little slighted by the fact that you've treated some of his home promotions like shit, that you've treated some of his friends like shit. That you're simply there to go out, win a match, and leave as if there's nothing more for you to do. You've seemingly left out the consideration that someone like me-someone who a company can hitch their wagon to, someone who has proven time and time again that, despite a string of bad luck, he is worth an investment. You've seemingly left out the consideration that by bending a stipulation to your own benefit because Jim Houston sees you as such a commodity, as such a valuable implement, you've made yourself look like a coward. You were unwilling to face me in a straight-up street fight, and you had to resort to shitty tactics to beat me. Some competitors might see that as being cowardly, not the least of whom include myself...and another. Now, you implement an 'I Quit' match that's basically a glorified submission match, and you take away pieces of my arsenal that I use so that you can dominate me once again because you're afraid to do it on average terms."

The ring announcer begins to speak, introducing the first competitor-Kit Osbourne, a CZW perennial high-flyer.

"Before I get back to you, MDE, because I have a surprise for you, I'm going to touch on Jim Houston. Houston, MDE may be a valuable investment, but you're burning money by throwing all of these benefits to a man who's said, time and time again, that he's going to leave if he doesn't get what he wants. He hasn't tapped me out, he won by roll-up and broke a rule that you set in place by not displaying weaponry. If you want to back his horse, then fine, but when he takes your belt from anyone worthy and walks out of your company, and you look like a fucking fool, that's the dumpster fire you'll have to deal with. Once I finally beat MDE and get this fucking monkey off my back, I want a competitor on terms that aren't shaken up by you and whatever game you're playing. I want matches that I set the stipulation in, or at least ones that don't have a fucking caveat like 'oh, bring your weapons for a street fight to the ring ahead of time and let me know in a notarized list so MDE can sneak a pair of handcuffs in around his groin' or 'if you use a suicide dive, you're fired'. I want fair competition-and I want to be booked with people at my experience level rather than repeatedly killed by a man who's proven he's better than me."

The ring announced begins to announce the next competitor, listing off a wave of accolades before going to the man's full introduction.

"Fighting out of London, England, weighing in at 187 pounds..."

"Now MDE, if you're so absolutely smart, perhaps you shouldn't have given me the one key to success I needed. The one person who's taken you down with a manuever i've adapted. The one man who happens to be very closely related to a company that I carried on my back for a year and a half."

"He is a former Revolution Pro and EVOLVE World champion..."

"Because now, i've used those 'good relationships' i've had to pull a few strings, to invite someone out for a few beers to talk wrestling, and to maybe have a few days of ring work that i'm sure you weren't anticipating. Karlson's good, and i've learned a lot from her-a lot of toys to touch on you with-but this guy? He's something else..."

"...Ladies and gentlemen, Zack Sabre Junior!"

The crowd goes wild, and Baker wears a cocky grin on his face.

"...I'll see you in Chicago, MDE. Better bring some kinesio-tape, because once I get a hold of your arm, or your leg, or anything, i'm not letting go til you tap."

[Jim Houston]

MDE is pacing his office with Rachel sat at a table with a notepad.

MDE (angry but not overly aggressive or loud): He got Zack? Zack? Did you even call him? Are you worth any of the money I pay you?

Rachel: Yes, I called him-

MDE: They why isn't he here? I'm the guy who's trained with him. I'm the one who's had match after match with him. I'm the one who he said was his biggest technical rival. I'm the one with the mutual respect going back years. If you called him he'd have been here. How much did you offer him?

Rachel: It didn't get that far, I-

MDE: You didn't even offer him any money? Do you know how this works? People come here to train and I give them money for their time. Surely we don't have to go over that?

Rachel (firmly): Look. Zack is over in the US. When he leaves the US, he's going to Japan. He'll be there for the next two weeks. Did I ask him to come here? Yes. Would any offer have changed his mind? No. He has a schedule. He has to keep it. The guys we've got here are putting you through your paces just fine-

MDE: Just fine? So just fine is how I prepare for a match now? I prepare better than anyone else. I win because of my preparation. Since when is just fine better than anyone else? If I-

Rachel: Calm down. We still have a week and three of those days are booked in for in-ring training. Who else do you want? We still have enough to cover travel from anywhere in the U.K. and for a good day of training. Tell me who you need and I'll make it happen- if I can.

MDE: Fine. I'll let you know soon. Get in touch with Dragon Pro and tell them I can't make it tomorrow.

Rachel: Why not? You've been booked for that seminar for months.

MDE: I don't want to do it. Tell them I had a scheduling conflict.

Rachel: Fine...

Rachel leaves and MDE turns back to his screen.

MDE (quietly to himself): If Baker learns something from Zack that costs me, she's finished.