Season Three Launch Party Promo Thread

[Jim Houston]

Here are the cards for the next two shows:

Road to Season Three Launch Party (Sunday January 13th):

Artemis Evans v Ava McGuinness: Non-Title Match (Houston to write)
Jerry Bishop v Zachary Bates (Mason to write)
Clutch McCloud and Russ Bolt v Hunter Killer (Baker to write)

Season Three Launch Party (Sunday January 27th):

Azazel v ?? (Bishop to write)
Elizabeth Karlson v Lia Ness (Baker to write)
Jace Mason defends the Hardcore Championship (Baker to write)
MDE v Berry Bishop (Houston to write)
Marcus Allen Jones v Jack Sevren (Mason to write)
Graham Baker v James Saturn: FPW Championship (Houston to write)

Please can I have volunteers to write matches. With there being more matches, ideally we'll have  a couple more volunteers. Don't worry if you've not written a match before- it would be good to have some new blood on the team! If you're writing a match for the Road To... show, I'll give you the details by next Sunday. If you're writing a match for the Launch Party show, I'll send the details by the 20th.

[noname1525]

Jace was walking backstage after his match when he was approached by Dasha Banks.

"Jace, even though you came out on the losing end of your match, congratulations on putting in such a great performance, especially against the World Champion."

"You know what Dasha?" Jace replied. "I'll take that. I gave it everything I had, but tonight, Graham was the better wrestler. And there's nothing wrong with that. But [turns to face the camera] I told you Graham. I said I'd learned a lot from our previous match, and I almost had you with that Ejection Seat."

There's a a slight pause before Dasha speaks again.

"And since this is our final show of 2018, I have to ask, what kind of plans do you have for the new year?"

"Well, in general I plan on holding onto this title for as long as I can, and learning something new from each match I have. But in the more immediate future, I've made my intentions clear. I want to give Tommy Storm a rematch for this title, both because I'm a fair guy and because I want to even the score between us from last June. So if you're listening Mr. Houston, you know what I want to happen."

"Jace, Jim Houston has announced that you will be defending the Hardcore championship at the season three Launch Party, but he hasn't announced your opponent."

"Well that's interesting. I guess I'll have to keep a eye out to see if he does announce an opponent. But for now, it's been great talking to you Dasha, but I need to go take a shower, and possibly a quick nap, so if you'll excuse me."

"Of course. Thank you for your time Jace."

[Jim Houston]

Dasha Banks stands with the FPW Tag Team Champions, The Guardians of Strong Style, and their manager Sato.

DB: At the end of year show, you retained your Tag Team Championships against Hunter Killer. What are your reflections on that match?

S: Hunter Killer gave Guardians of Strong Style tough challenge. Sarah Daniels and George Jackson are both high level wrestlers. Hunter Killer are high level tag team. But Guardians of Strong Style are champions. Still champions. Every match we face tough opponents and we prove superiority. This match not different. We have some scares but we still champions.

DB: Now that you've beaten Hunter Killer, what's next for the team? You're not on the next shows...

S: We not on next shows. No. There no teams worthy to challenge us. What next? When Bobby O ready to wrestle, we give Bobby O and Jack Sevren rematch. Get them out of our way. After that? Who knows? We continue to be dominant tag team.

DB: Will you be keeping a close eye on the Clutch McCloud and Russ Bolt match coming up? They had a big win over The Invaders at Judgement Day and seem poised to challenge you soon.

S: They have one win. We have only wins. If they beat Hunter Killer, perhaps they face us. We see. But now Guardians of Strong Style return to Japan. We have big matches in holiday season.

Sato beckons the Guardians of Strong Style to follow and they leave, taking their belts with them.

[Jim Houston]

MDE sits in his office with his feet up on his desk, Berry Bishop's most recent match playing on his computer screen. After she gets taken down hard by Artemis Evans, MDE snorts with derision and turns towards the camera.

"How does the old saying go? I taught her everything she knows... but not everything I know. On the so-horribly named Season Three Launch Party Show, I face Berry Bishop because our 'esteemed' General Manager Jim Houston wanted to appease the fans. It doesn't take a genius to see why the fans wanted to see me wrestle Berry. By any moral measure, what I did to her to get to her brother was wrong, immoral, despicable even. But you all know me well enough by now. Do I seem like a man who makes decisions based on moral measures? Not even one decision. I make decisions based on what I want. And what I wanted was to see Jerry Bishop reveal his true self. In that regard, I didn't get what I wanted. But in another, I did. After that match, that victory, I was offered a match against Graham Baker whenever I wanted one. I assure all of you who have nothing better to do with your lives than to keep refreshing this pathetic website to see what your favourite wrestlers- and me of course- have to say that I will be taking up that match very, very soon.

"As for this match with Berry... Jimmy, I'll make a suggestion to you out of the goodness of my heart. Rethink this decision. Berry Bishop is an inexperienced girl who I will eat alive. If she steps into a ring with me, I will expose each and every one of her flaws and I will take her apart bit by bit until the match is stopped. Houston, you do not want to be the man who signs off on this match. You think that you're giving Berry the chance to get revenge on the man who so sickeningly manipulated and violated her. You think you're going to be the hero. You think you're going to see Berry Bishop give hope to those woken warriors of the world by defeating her male oppressor. But all you're going to do is to watch her squeal and squirm as I stretch every single part of her body until it's barely recognisable. Houston, if you sign off on this match, you'll get home, you'll kiss your wife, turn off the lights and then lie there wrestling with your conscience all night long as images of Berry being ripped apart flash through your mind. There's still time. Save Berry from this and I'll consider it ended.

"But if you make me step into a ring with her, it'll be on your head. Don't say I didn't warn you."

[The_Aviator_GB]

We enter on Graham Baker, who has his Freedom Pro World Heavyweight Championship strapped around his shoulder, and his ALPHA tag team championship strapped around his waist. He cracks his neck, breathes out, and looks toward the camera.

Don't mean to cut my props short and I want to give credit where it's due-Mason, you put up a hell of a fight and you almost had me, and that was an impressive Ejection Seat you pulled off...but in the end, I still had you. Looking forward to a rematch one day, mate, and maybe my belt will be on the line for you to get a shot at. Until then...keep doing what you're doing, and make the hardcore division proud.

Baker then returns his glance to the camera, and adjusts the FPW championship before speaking.

James Saturn. You handed me my first loss in FPW, although I'm not sure how much of that loss was me and, well, how much of it was you. Since then, we've crossed paths a couple times-you and I got betrayed by both our partners in the All Star Tag Team Classic. You and I teamed up to defeat Jameson and Johnson, and you teamed up with the Renegades a couple months later when you went after Artemis Evans and The Queendom. When I first challenged you to a title match for my hardcore title, you ducked out. Now, however, that i've raised the stakes and brought with me the FPW World Heavyweight Championship...you've come out of the shadows to face me. 

Saturn, you're the one loss I've yet to take back, and honestly? I'm excited that I get to do it when the stakes are this high. You and I, we're of the same cloth-indie guys who had no backing going in and have carved a path for ourselves here. Now, we get a rematch of one of the best matches of the last year, and we've got the prize of prizes on the line as we go to bat with one another. My mind's clear of MDE, and now yours is clear of Evans, so the only thing that either of us should be thinking about...is the man across the ring from us, and the belt that hangs in the balance.

I won't lie to you, James, I'm scared. That Saturnsault you have is fucking deadly, perhaps even moreso than my Emergency Landing, and you've got more in your arsenal that you've never broken out against me. I'm sure you'll take me to the limit and back, but I didn't come so far and cut my way through everyone in the Free-1, through Saturn and Sevren, and finally through MAJ to lose to my first true challenger. I'm going to bring all I have, and I can only hope you do the same...

...because James, if you don't? You haven't a chance in hell of getting close to this title ever again. 

[Saturn]

James Saturn sits in the middle of an empty gym, watching the announcement of his title match with Graham Baker and Graham's following promo. The video eventually ends and James puts his phone down to his side. He closes his eyes and breathes several deep breaths before walking straight at the camera and beginning to talk.

"Right. Okay. For the first time, in what will hopefully soon be many times, I'm main eventing an FPW PPV. But even more important than me being in the main event, I'll be fighting for the FPW world championship... And it will be against the Aviator, Graham Baker."

James reaches the camera and throws the towel over his neck.

"This, as of right now, is almost definitely the most important moment of my career, so I need to make sure I tell the people watching, Baker especially, exactly how I feel. Graham, honestly, I like you, a lot, and I appreciate what you've done for me. But let me make things very clear, when we get in that ring at the Launch Party, you won't have to worry, I'm not going to hold back at all. I'm going to do everything I can to beat you. I'm going to torture you, I'm going to try to snap every bone in your body, and I'll probably break some rules, cause you're right, Graham, if I don't beat you now, I'm probably never going to get another chance."

James leans against the ring, taking a moment to relax before getting right back into it.

"Since both of us started in the FPW our paths have been endlessly intertwined, and honestly, this match feels like the culmination of... Something I haven't figured out yet. Throughout my time here, I've been constantly compared to you, overshadowed by you, I'm the guy who's just not quite as good as the best guy, and well I may have been fine with being that a couple months ago, I'm not
anymore. This match is about more than just the FPW title, it's about me showing everyone that I am the best FPW has to offer. When we first met, I beat you, and it wasn't because you botched a move, and it wasn't because MDE distracted you, it was because I was plain and simple, the better man. And I'm still the better man."

James flashes his signature grin and mimics an Ejector Seat.

"I'll see you at Launch Party, Graham, get ready to have the best match of your life."

[The_Aviator_GB]

We enter on Hunter Killer standing in front of the same shed they made their challenge for the Guardians of Strong Style in front of. Sara Daniels holds her head while Jackson crosses his arms menacingly behind her, leaning against the shed. Something cooks on the spit on the fire in front of the cabin, but neither Daniels nor Jackson pay much attention to it. It's a moment later when Daniels finally pulls her hands away from her head, and her eye and part of her forehead are bandaged from where the Guardians of Strong Style hit their tag finisher.

Small bruise, but nothin' major to keep me down. Gotta admit-disappointed that George and I didn't walk out with those titles, but sometimes you're just...not good enough on the first try. Guardians, you took the win this time, and you hit harder than anyone else we've faced. I can respect that. I can respect hard fists and high impact, I thrive for that shit, I live for it...George does too, but he's a little miffed over the fact that you tried to pop my skull like a champagne cork, so he's not in too much of a talkative mood. Right, big guy?

Jackson grunts from the shed, flicking a bug off of his shoulder and crushing it underfoot. 

Anyway, glad to see that FPW liked us enough to bring us back, because even if they hadn't, well, we'd have shown up and stomped out any fucks in our way anyway. Second on the list to face, and first to receive the righteous fury of my fucking boot to their fucking face are Clutch McCloud and Russ Bolt. Clutch and Russ, well, y'all are really cute with your wins over The Invaders and claiming you deserve a shot at those tag titles, but look at what happened to us, look at what happened to Bobby and Jack...you'd only serve as another proving point to show how superior the Guardians are. If anyone's taking those titles, it's us, and we might have to play a bit dirtier to get there, but by God, we fucking will. 

For now, though? We'll be satisfied just to stomp the two of you out. After that, whatever happens is anyone's guess...but hell, maybe i'll take a look into some other pastures. Artemis Evans has got a fancy title that'd make a nice little accessory for me to walk out with, Jace Mason's got another fancy title that George could take a little shot at, too. Maybe we'll just take those and the tag titles as well, eh? Without those flights of fancy, however, let's confront the reality of the situation-Clutch, Russ, Danica, that old fuck, y'all are on notice, because when you step in the ring with us, well, it's gonna make The Invaders look like the fuckin' B-Team.

You've been warned.

Daniels gets up and returns to the cabin as Jackson adjusts his jackson, walking by the camera. Instead of saying something, however, he simply grunts and walks off with Daniels, leaving the camera to film the desolate cabin... 

[Jim Houston]

MDE leans against the ring post in his gym, a wad of gum in his mouth.

"Well it's been a few days since I made my offer to Jim Houston for him to cancel my match with Berry Bishop, and he hasn't even bothered to respond. So I guess that means the match is going ahead. Houston- I told you the consequences. I'm not going to repeat myself. I just hope you'll be able to live with them.

"So let me use this time to address a certain Miss Berry Bishop directly. Berry, I understand why you think you want to face me. I understand why, when you think of me, your stomach turns. I understand why, when you think about our few weeks together, you feel anger bubbling up throughout your body. I understand that. I'm sure you do want to face me and kick me over and over and over to release some of that anger and that embarrassment. But let me assure you that facing me would be the biggest mistake you could make right now. You may not understand but let me lay it out for you like I always used to. Who here in Freedom Pro Wrestling knows you better than I do? Karlson, Evans? No chance. Matt and Che? Not even close. Jerry? I'd wager even he doesn't know you like I do. Sure he's your brother but he's not spent half the time in the ring with you that I have, not to mention the rest of the time we've spent together. I know you like nobody else. I know your strengths- I've felt the force of those kicks. I also know your weaknesses. I've exploited them time and time again. I've given you just enough to paper over them but trust me when I tell you that o know how to tear down every piece of paper I gave you. If you step into the ring with me, you might be thinking that you're getting your revenge, but believe you me, you'll just be getting humiliated once again.

"You see, Berry, you're not actually a bad wrestler. In fact, you have a lot of potential. And you showed just how much better you could get over the few weeks we trained together. Over time, I think you could become one of the best here. Think about how much better things would be for you if you went after someone like Mason and his Hardcore Title or Henry Harrison or any one of a number of guys. You pick up a nice win and move slowly up the ladder. Maybe you even come into real title contention after a few wins. Now imagine what happens after you lose to me. You drop right back down to the bottom. You go back to barely being on shows, being added as a token participant in a match that was never really meant for you. Think about which of those scenarios would suit you better. If Houston won't change the match of his own accord, I'm sure you can help him change his mind.

"After all Berry, I only want what's best for you."

MDE gives a smirk before the video ends.

[The_Aviator_GB]

We enter on Graham Baker, who cuts a promo from the FPW training gym. He's sweating, intense, and still appears to have a great, deep fire in his eyes.

The better man, eh? You beat me, Saturn, because you were the better man? Because you're still the better man?

Baker chuckles, and shakes his head.

Saturn, you are a phenomenal wrestler, one of the best in this-or any-company, for that matter. You're a monster on the mat, you're an ace high flyer, and you can do things that very few others can try and replicate. You have an amazing Saturnsault, an arsenal of high-flying manuevers, and some brilliant submissions as well. However...you're not the better man, not by a longshot.

You know why, James? Because I know you too well. 

The second time you and I faced off, it was in the first round of the All Star Tag Team Classic alongside Jameson and Johnson. We both came out of that match with a knob on our heads, of course, but when we faced off I felt that you were still the same man who'd faced me during the Young Lions' Cup. You were the same man again, when the two of us had a tornado tag match against Jameson and Johnson, a match that, despite you being the better man, was won by me. 

And after that match, of course, I took on Jameson in a 2/3 falls match for the Hardcore Title, a match that I would finally dethrone Jameson in, a feat that you were unable to accomplish. You had a run in the Free-1 of course, but you took losses to Marcus and others, showing exactly how much of a better man you were in comparison to my record. Saturn, you may think that you were unbeatable, that you and I are at the same level, but we are so far from it. I went into the Free-1 and came out unpinned, unsubmitted, unbeaten. I won the B-Block, and maybe, if you were indeed as good as you think you are, you would've faced me down in the Free-1 final...but you didn't. Jerry Bishop did, and I beat him to win the whole goddamn thing.

Sure, I'd lose to Tommy Storm and drop the Hardcore title, but I'd defend my briefcase against Jack Sevren and go on to defeat MAJ at Judgment Day while you managed to score a win over Azazel, a win that, at that point, meant little. I tapped MAJ out, clean, in the center of the ring. No interference from my Renegades. No bullshit. Just an Emergency Landing, and that was that.

Now, I've beaten Jace Mason, and chosen to challenge you, and you consider yourself to be the better man between the two of us? James Saturn, as I said, you are phenomenal, but you are not at my level because you have not evolved. You are the same man who came into Freedom Pro months ago, and that same man may have beaten Graham Baker then, but he cannot beat Graham Baker now. 

So I invite you. Bring your spirit and all you have as you said you would. Try to break my bones and turn me into dust, because when you face me, if you dare hold back for a second, I will lock in the Emergency Landing and I will tear your arm clean fucking off. 

Do not test me, James. I didn't get to call myself the Ace by letting people walk all over me, and i'm sure as hell not about to start now. 

[noname1525]

A video opens on Artemis Evans sitting in a darkened room, leaning back in her chair with her feet on the table in front of her, the FPW women's championship displayed on the table.

"In one week, I will have my first singles match since becoming champion. Artemis Evans vs, wait, who's my opponent again?"

Artemis pulls out her phone and looks for information.

"Oh that's right, Ava McGuinness. An untested, unrefined, unknown rookie. Since this match was announced, I've been trying to figure out why Houston would waste one of the best wrestlers on his roster, much less one of his champions, in such a throwaway match. I get that he doesn't really like me that much, but I thought that would mean he puts me in as many title defenses as possible in the hopes that I eventually lose my championship, not give me an easy match that's not even for the title. And then I began to realize. When I thought of how much I'd enjoy proving him wrong by retaining my title, I realized that's exactly what he's afraid of. He wants to believe that I can't back up what I say, when in fact I know I can say whatever the hell I want and back it up in the ring because I'm just that good. That's why he's given me Ava McGuinness, because let's face it, anyone could beat her, it doesn't prove anything. But if he gave me a threat, someone like Karlson or Ness, when I inevitably walk out of that match with my title held high, it means I've proven everything I ever said about my abilities. So by giving me McGuinness, he denies me that chance to prove myself."

"But if I can't prove my skills against an actual challenge, than I'll prove myself in other ways. Ava, you've said that you're looking to learn from the FPW roster? Well in seven days, you're going to learn what absolute domination looks like. Too bad you'll be the one being dominated, that might make it a little difficult to take notes."

[The_Aviator_GB]

We open up on a shot of a lion stalking prey in a field, high grass all around it as it pounces on and takes down a gazelle. A voice begins speaking over the clip.

The lion...an apex predator, the Alpha of whatever dessert or field it makes its home in. A creature so immense and powerful that it immediately seeks control wherever it goes-a place where it can find that control. The lion has few natural predators, and fewer successful. The King of the Jungle so to speak...or in this case, the Queen, in reference to the newest arrival to FPW, Lia Ness.

The clip changes to a lion continuing to hunt various prey, before it begins to slow down, growing older. At one point, the lion collapses, letting out a pathetic mewing noise.

The lion, however, succumbs in time to greater threats. To age, to the weather, to exposure, to...disease. Rest assured, Lia Ness has had a strong debut, avoiding punishment and conflict from myself, Artemis, and Berry to avoid taking the pinfall in the inaugural women's championship mach...but I assure you, this was merely luck. Had I not taken a brainbuster from her, I would've stood tall with that belt in my hand. I would've claimed my rightful throne.

Now, I'm simply left to correct this mistake. 

Lia Ness, you may be at your prime, the Apex of FPW's women's division, but trust me...your time runs short. When I get my hands on you at Season Three's Launch Party, when I break your pathetic limbs, when I choke you out and introduce you, first-hand, to oblivion...you'll know that your time is done. 

Your debut will have been the highest point of your career here.

The clip finally shows the lion dying, and time speeding up to show it rot away until it's a skeletonized corpse with whisps of hair floating atop of it.

I'll see you soon...Lia...

[ticktock]

We begin with the closing shot of Elizabeth Karlson's video, with a dying lioness and a time lapse of its corpse rotting away. A distorted voice begins speaking.

"The lioness. The mightiest huntress. The queen of the jungle. No matter how powerful, a lioness will one day meet her maker. Through weather, exposure, disease or betterment by a more powerful lioness. But there is one lioness who will never be bettered. The Great Huntress is eternal, a being of such power that she can never fail, never be bettered. The Great Huntress is the one and only elite being in the universe. It is through her that we live and through her that we die. For thousands of years, knowledge of the Great Huntress has been lost. But not now. The Great Huntress has reappeared in this world through her truest disciple. Her truest disciple, the being known as Lia Ness, is slowly becoming more and more powerful. For years she has worked to become more powerful, to become..."

Suddenly the footage reverses, slowly at first and then more quickly, until it returns to the start of Karlson's video. In ultra-slow motion, the lioness gears up to hunt.

"I am become The Great Huntress. My sacrifices are making me stronger. With each sacrifice that I make, I come a step closer to truly revealing the power of the Great Huntress. Elizabeth Karlson, you think you can overcome Lia Ness? You may be right. But you'll never overcome the Great Huntress. In time, you will be sacrificed and you will fall as the becoming continues. Karlson, you are truly in might sights."

The video lurches forward to a pouncing lioness and her deadly bite, looping over and over again on the moment of the kill.

[veggieleezy]

*Camera comes up on Jerry Bishop packing away his Santa gear and bag. Dasha Banks approaches wearing the scarf Jerry gave her, ever-so-slightly blushing*

DB: Jerry, I was wondering if I could get a quick word from you?

JB: For you, Dasha, I can give you any kind of word you want. Quick, prolonged, multisyllabic, onomatopoeia, nonsense words. Like the song says, a bottle of red, a bottle of white, whatever kind of mood you're in tonight.

DB: We're all quite familiar and fond of your way with words, Jerry, but do you have anything to say about your place on the Season Three Launch Party show, or lack thereof?

JB: I understand, I getcha. To be entirely honest, I've had a very rough year. Not to diminish the "Road To..." card, but these matchups are fresh, they're just getting started. The "Launch Party" card has some fights that have been brewing for quite a while. Both have their value, whether it's giving the Freedom Fighters something new that they haven't seen before, or whether it's giving them something that they hadn't realized they wanted yet. As for my place, well, that British sadist and I have had our fill of each other for the time being, and that's all I would like to say about that, if you don't mind. I'm ready for some fresh competition, a new challenge, and to be honest I'm quite looking forward to facing Bates. He's a bright young talent with an impressive arsenal, and I'm always happy to face a fellow flippy-dude. I'm looking forward to what the Human Chainsaw can bring against the Jester.

DB: I'm glad to hear you aren't bearing any ill-will towards Mr. Houston and MDE-

JB: *unconsciously cutting her off* You're half right there, but I'm sorry, please continue.

DB: Well, the elephant in the room, I suppose, is that Berry is set to face MDE at the Launch Party event. Might the Freedom Fighters expect to see the Bishop siblings join forces?

JB: Berry and I have gotten to know each other quite well in the relatively short time we've been in each other's lives, Dasha. And one of the things we've learned is that the three most important things in our lives are: Family, Friends, and Fun. You put those three things at the forefront of your thinking, and you'll be a happier person. What that philosophy means for us as competitors, though, (albeit not necessarily for the same championships)-

DB: How did you just pronounce a parenthetical thought-

JB: -is that Berry and I will always support each other. If she wants me to be in her corner against her opponent, I will more than happily get as close to the ring as I can without getting my sister disqualified. But that decision is entirely hers. She knows my feelings towards that man, and I know that Berry has more than a six-pack of Whoopass to open up on him. If she wants to make it a twelver or a forty-rack, I'm more than happy to assist. But I have absolute faith and confidence in my sister to take him on by herself. If she wants me there, I will be there with bells on. Possibly literally. All she has to do is ask. No pressure, no expectation. Berry can make her own decisions, and I'll respect anything she does in that ring.

DB: Anything?

JB: Yes. Anything. Because that man deserves every ounce of pain, suffering, agony, discomfort, disillusionment, and misery that could possibly doled out to him.

DB: Um, I've noticed you're not addressing MDE by his name, is that-

JB: *interrupting, with his voice and gaze leveling coldly* It's because I refuse to acknowledge that disgusting, filthy, perverted, misguided, self-centered, self-aggrandizing, self-righteous sociopath by the name he's given himself. As soon as he starts recognizing his real, full, proper name, then I will address him as such, solely due to the fact that he has brought complete shame, dishonor, and downright villainy upon each of his family names. Once the "Initialized One" is willing to share his full and proper name, I will address him as such. And remind him until his dying days of what a perversion of a human being he is and what a stain he has created on our business, on his own family, and on humanity himself. As much as I am ready to move on from facing him in the ring, I wish him nothing but the pain he has caused to myself, my sister, and to the Freedom Fighters, raised to the power of ten.

*Dasha catches herself staring at Jerry's unusually cold expression as he says this.*

DB: ...Jerry... Are you going to be okay?

*Jerry starts to smile but drops his veneer for a moment.*

JB: I will be.

DB: I hope s- I mean, we all hope so, Jerry.

*Dasha takes Jerry's hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze before quickly letting go and exiting.*

[Jim Houston]

MDE sits in front of his computer screen, Jerry's interview playing. As the more critical part plays, MDE simply laughs. At the end of the interview, MDE turns his chair and gives the camera a somewhat patronising look.

"Jerry, Jerry, Jerry... so it's 'MDE who' now is it? My name? That's what you're going for? What's your endgame with this? We have a match and if you win I have to tell the world my name? This isn't a sci-if show and it isn't Saturday morning wrestling. Your pathetic attempt to keep yourself relevant by hanging onto my coat tails is just that- pathetic. It's the perfect word to describe you. You're nothing but a pathetic shell of what you could be. It's time, Jerry, for you to move on. Face Bates. Give it your all but not quite enough to win the match. Suffer a disappointing loss but make the paying public laugh and have a good time. That's the role you've created for yourself and that's the role you chose at Judgement Day. You could have beaten me if you'd really wanted to but you didn't. And that means that we're done. I'm only facing your little kid sister because she's too dumb to realise how big of a mistake it is. After that, I'm finished with Bishops of all kinds.

"Jerry, here's a free tip. You're not really mad with me. I'm no psychologist but it's plain for all to see. You're jealous. You know you could be as good as I am- far better in fact- but you can't bring yourself to flip that switch. You made a decision at Judgement Day to stay that way. One day, you'll have a chance to make that decision again. Maybe you'll make the same one and stay unhappy and unfulfilled. Maybe you'll choose a different path. Maybe you'll even find someone who can guide you to that path, but until then, you can go on as you are. But remember one thing Jerry and make sure you remember it well. I tried to help you at Judgement Day. Everything I did, I did to get you to see the light. You didn't fail. I failed. And now I'm moving on. The thing to remember is simple for us both.

"I'm done with you."

[marileeg17]

The Invaders are sitting in a random arena locker room as they prepare for a match at Ring of Honor against the team of Jonathan Gresham and Zack Sabre Jr., who have finally healed up from TakeOver's brutal attack a few months prior. Dario is sitting on a bench with headphones in, psyching himself up for his upcoming match when Haych walks over, throwing a book into his partner's lap. Dario pulls one earbud out as he reads the title, "How to Not Be a Dick for Dummies." 

H: Ya know, I read this whole thing cover to cover and honestly Dario, I don't think we're dicks.

Dario looks up confused and somewhat agitated.

D: That's what you're focused on? Being a dick or not? Haych, is your head even in the game? We've got a huge match tonight against Baker's little bitch boys and neither of us have seen Marcus in weeks. You gotta focus dude, I need you right now. You and I gotta be prepared to handle things and hold down the fort for TakeOver.

Haych shrugs.

H: Dario, I've always got your back and I guess Marcus too. I mean him and I haven't always seen eye-to-eye but I'm in this, whatever he has planned, I'm in. As for tonight, I'm not worried. We're the best tag team in the world, whether people respect us or not. This year in FPW, we'll show it. And we'll show it tonight. But speaking of the boss, he texted me the other day.

Dario sits up seemingly shocked.

D: He texted you the other day? Why the hell didn't you tell me?

Haych shrugs again.

H: Because you get like, well, like how you are now when you hear from him. 

D: Haych its been weeks since the last show, since he gave us that message. 

H: He gave us another one. Wants us to deliver it tonight after the match. Said it will make sense when we get out there.

Haych pulls out his phone to show Dario the text. Dario smiles.

D: Tonight's the start of it all. This is what he meant. Go out there, win the match, let the rest fall into place.

H: Sure, let's do that. I've been wanting to kick that scrawny British guy's ass again ever since I did it the first time. 

Dario and Haych bump fists as they leave the locker room.

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In the ring...

Dario tags in Haych who just takes out both Gresham and Sabre before the former can make a tag. The match continues with Sabre and Dario but just as it looks like Sabre is about to have Dario tap out, the lights go out. When they go back on, Marcus is standing at the top of the ramp, creating a huge pop in the crowd. As everyone looks at Marcus, unsure what to expect, two men in hoods emerge from behind the ring to lead another assault on Gresham and Sabre. A third man shows up on the stage behind Marcus but he never lifts his hood. Meanwhile, the two men in rings do, revealing themselves to be Jay and Mark Briscoe. The Briscoes and Invaders continue their assault until several ROH officials break up the fight.

Marcus lifts up his mic.

M: For those of you who have been living under a rock and who don't know who I am, my name is Marcus Allen Jones and I am the future of professional wrestling and the future is now. I've been telling people that this moment was coming. That the TakeOver was coming. I suppose most assumed I meant Freedom Pro Wrestling. Oh no. I mean, I do in fact have my change agents, my sleeper cells in place as it were, but the TakeOver I alluded to goes far beyond that little company. Cody and the Young Bucks, you remember them right? They left you. They left ROH because they wanted to change the world. Good for them. I don't have such aspirations and to steal a line from one of my favorite songs, "I don't want to change the world, I just want to leave it colder." I realized a long time ago that I won't bow to anyone's demands. I'll create my own. I'll rebuild not just FPW but all of wrestling in my image and that starts tonight. My first change agents, my first soldiers in this war are right here in ROH. And might I say they are quite the impressive duo. But, it's not the guys in the ring. In fact, Haych, Dario, time to take out the trash.

Just like that, Dario and Haych turn on the Bricoes and take them down, leaving them lying alongside Gresham and Sabre much to the shock of the crowd.

M: Oh, oh did you think, oh boy, this is awkward...Did any of you idiots honestly think I'd show up in this hell hole of a promotion and reveal my handiwork? Ring of Honor, once again you've been duped. Oh, but make no mistake, this doesn't mean I don't have cells here, there, everywhere, ready to strike when I snap my fingers. It just means I'll never tell who they are until the time is right for you to find out. And when that time comes, it will be too late to do anything about it.

Marcus laughs as the crowd boo him and begin to throw things in the ring at the Invaders. All the while, the hooded figure behind Marcus still hasn't moved or revealed his identity. He doesn't say a word, just follows Marcus and the Invaders as the four disappear behind the curtain.

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After the match, a tweet appears on Marcus' page.

@hismajesty: Tonight I unleashed my ultimate weapon on Ring of Honor, the weapon of unpredictability. What's that saying? Walk softly and carry a big stick. The soldiers are out there, lying in wait, just like my hooded friend, who kinda reminded me of someone I know from FPW. But I'll never tell...