Resurrection Promo Thread

[ticktock]

Only a dark silhouette can be seen in a gloomy room. A distorted voice begins to speak.

"I have remained silent for some time. But now my roar will be heard once more. The sacrifices have pleased The Great Huntress and I feel her strength growing. I am becoming stronger by the day. Two more sacrifices loom. Elizabeth Karlson. You have been sacrificed once before. But now the ultimate sacrifice. Last woman standing? I accept. But heed this warning. The Great Huntress knows no mercy. You will be hunted, mauled and your carcass picked apart. And then... Artemis Evans... the jewel to complete the next stage of the becoming. It shall be mine and The Great Huntress shall take her first steps upon this earth. A new order will soon become. The sacrifices should be honoured. The sacrifices will be made. The Great Huntress will become."

[ticktock]

🎤I STILL BELIEVE!
(I still believe)
In the sound,
That has the power to raise a temple
and tear it down!🎤

Freedom Pro Wrestling
Sunday April 21st

[ticktock]

[The_Aviator_GB]

We enter on a solemn Graham Baker facing a camera, with his head down as he holds the FPW title upon his shoulder.

"Ninety-eight days."

He looks up toward the camera.

"In ninety-eight days, I have done more with this title than anyone in this company. I have defended the belt more times than Adam Thompson in his record setting reign. I have held this belt in every promotion I've gone to, holding it up above my head like the honorific trophy that it is. I have put FPW more on the map than anyone else, more than Marcus Allen Jones, more than Adam Thompson, more than MDE and Azazel and any other competitor who's come and gone, no, I've done more than put his company on the map, I've put it on my back and carried it into the mainstream. I'm not claiming to be the only man responsible for this, but with me at the helm, business has been fucking booming. 

I've buried many old ghosts on my path to the top, as well. I buried Jack Sevren to get to the title match at Judgment Day in a defense of my briefcase that took all I had, and then some. I buried the haunting spectre of Marcus Allen Jones' title reign when I tapped him out in front of his home crowd in Chicago, despite claims that I couldn't bring him down with a pinfall, let alone anything else. I buried the challenge that I'd set out to James Saturn months ago when I defeated him at the Season Three Launch Party, and I, most recently, buried the last loss I took to MDE when I tapped him out with the Baker Lock at the finals of the Young Lions' Cup.

Now, James Saturn seeks to rise from the grave like some fucked up creature of the living dead, and Marcus Allen Jones has taken something so dear to me that he feels it'll cause me to give him a rematch for this belt. Marcus wishes to incense me enough that I'll give him the rematch he wants when he wants, but let me make something abundantly clear-Marcus Allen Jones will get no such thing as long as I have this belt. I've come to a few terms in my head, and I'll get to them soon, but I feel that I should first address something else that's been kicking around in my head, a thought that James Saturn put in when he challenged me to a ladder match after ambushing me from behind like a coward at the Young Lions' Cup.

James, I've racked my brain for so long now thinking of what I could've done to incense you as much as I clearly have. I treated you with respect, I put you over as an excellent competitor, one of the best in this company, but despite all that, you come at me. You've beaten Azazel, sure, but if you look into your heart, you know just as well as I do that you are not on my fucking level. You wouldn't accept my challenge for the Hardcore Title, and now that I see that you've performed poorly against me leading into the Young Lions' Cup, I can see why. You were an honorable man, but now you have to bend the rules to put yourself on a level playing field. You call me a coward, yet pick a stipulation that benefits you. You say I'm a snake, yet you ambush me from behind because you know you'd have no chance to hit me to my face.

Rest assured, James, I am going to partake in your match under your conditions, but I do not think you will find them to your advantage when the two of us are done brawling. They call me The Aviator for a reason, after all-you're just not used to it quite yet. I'm going to bring all I have, all the ladders and tables and chairs and weapons I can find, and I'm going to drag you down from the high you're flying on, because maybe smashing you down from a twenty-foot ladder will knock some sense back into you. 

Maybe then, you'll realize that you've been in the wrong."

Baker looks at the belt one final time.

"As for Marcus Allen Jones...you claimed you could get under my skin in three months, and I'll admit-more than anything, I'm frustrated. You expected me to be furious, but...my emotions have calmed since the incident. Raging and ranting would do nothing but feed your ego, and as such, I refuse to sink to that level. I will, however, grant you what you want, under two conditions;

One, you will immediately vacate the CZW Wired TV Championship and return it to its rightful owners;

and two, you, nor the rest of your TakeOver goons, will not interfere in the Freedom Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship match at Resurrection. 

You follow those conditions, and this rematch for the title is yours...under my rules, of course.

Saturn, Jones, I'll see you both at Resurrection."

Baker gives a peace sign as the camera fades out...

[Jim Houston]

@fpwgmjh
Be careful @aviatorbaker. Marcus Allen Jones gets a rematch when I say so and only when I say so. Until he earns it, he doesn't get one. I'll address the situation at #roadtoresurrection #fpw

[Saturn]

The highlights of Graham Baker's recent promos on James Saturn play intercut with the Paragon of FPW entering a dark, quiet, gym and removing his things from a duffle bag. The gym is old and small, it has clearly been decaying over time, but Saturn barely seems to acknowledge it's instability.

The final clip of Baker's words play, "You, Saturn? I don't respect you."

James grabs a chair out of under the apron of a nearby ring and sets it up inside. Saturn slumps down against the chair and cracks his knuckles, his arrogant smirk barely visible in the shadow.

"Oh man, I made you mad didn't I?"

James leans forward so that his face is further illuminated.

"Graham, I'd like to think I come from simple beginnings, that I'm a pretty simple guy. Even my story isn't that interesting if we're being honest. I always had a passion for wrestling since I was a young boy, I began wrestling before I was even out of high school, working the indie circuit, living paycheck to paycheck, and I was already main eventing every single show I appeared at. It wasn't as big as FPW, mind you, nothing I've ever done has been, and I doubt anything I ever do afterwards will be. And let's be honest, even when I was putting on some of the best matches every year at those shitty unknown shows in the middle of nowhere with more people in the back than out in the audience, places like these..."

James looks around the old gym with admiration and stamps his foot against the ring.

"...I knew I was destined for greater things, greater things like FPW. And like I said, I'm a simple guy, I just wanted to put on a good show for the fans and be remembered for it, and as much as it may surprise you, I didn't want things to go down like this. But after months of putting on the best performances in all of FPW every night and coming up with absolutely nothing, I realized that in order to cement my legacy in this company, make sure that I am remembered for years to come, that I had to assert my self and take what I want to truly be recognized. So, Graham, the revelation that you don't respect me means, in a word, absolutely nothing to me."

"See, this isn't about what you think of me, or what the fans think, or anything. They want to hate me? That's fine, I could not give less of a shit, I'm tired of being your shadow and I'm tired of being of overlooked, and if I have to burn this whole place to the ground to take my rightful place in FPW, I will."

James lifts himself off of the chair and approaches the camera slowly.

"But, don't get me wrong. This means so much more than just that. While it may have started as just putting myself on the map and getting revenge on the guy who had stolen my thunder for so long, this is now just about me putting you, Graham Baker, in your place. Every single time you talk, your cocky egotistical demeanor leaks out just a little bit more. First of all, you lie all the time. Just in your last promo you accused me of not answering your challenge for the Hardcore title when in fact I did, but Houston wouldn't let me face you, possibly for fear that I just might take the championship off of his precious golden boy. You find it necessary to belittle every single opponent you have under the guise of complimenting them, and everytime you speak you always come to the same conclusion. Your opponents, they're good, but they aren't on your level. Me, MDE, Jones, Mason, apparently none of us are anywhere near where you are, you never even consider the possibility that one of us can beat you."

James begins to talk faster, his grin growing as he continues to tear into Baker.

"And here's what I think. I think that in all of your narcissistic macho rants that you call "promos" that you've made over the course of the past year, you've actually convinced yourself that you're some unstoppable warrior hero who can't be beaten. But Graham, the truth is that you aren't tough, and you aren't the hero of any damn story, you're just an insane, insecure, piece of shit who cannot for the life of you consider the idea the you might fucking lose and be wrong for once in your goddamned life, because the only, and I mean the only reason you're still even on the FPW card is because Houston likes you. So at Resurrection, I'm going to prove once and for all, one last time, that I am the true ace of the FPW and knock you off your pedestal so hard you won't even be able to stand. That's a promise."

James then leans back against his chair.

"And Marcus Allen Jones, I've put up with your bullshit story that I'm your underling this entire time without putting your sorry ass down, but if you even try to get involved in MY match at Resurrection, I will make you sorry you ever joined the FPW in the first place."

Saturn then points his hand at the camera, mimicking a gun, and firing it as the camera cuts to black.

[The_Aviator_GB]

Baker slings the FPW belt over his shoulder as he watches Saturn's response promo. He cracks his neck, adjusts the title, and looks at the camera. He plays back a line from Saturn's promo. 

"I'm tired of being overlooked. If I have to burn this whole place to the ground to get my rightful spot in FPW, I will."

He pauses the line, sighs, and shakes his head.

"And, you see, James-that's exactly why I said what I said. Why I don't respect you."

Baker adjusts the belt on his shoulder.

"When I came into this business, James, I was a nobody as well-I understand what it's like to be rejected, to work for nothing but respect, to have to prove yourself to get where you are-and trust me, mate, I did. I managed, despite upheaval, to rise above the office my trainers had placed myself in and make something of myself. It wasn't easy, of course, and at times I felt downtrodden and out of it when I wasn't booked, when I was passed over for opportunities in favor of nepotistic pricks, when I would have to pick up an odd job to pay rent because i'd missed out on pay for another show-but Saturn, the difference between you and I in those circumstances?

I never took it for granted. I never felt that I deserved better.

It just pushed me to work harder-and it did. In a six man tag match, I pinned the CZW Wired Champion, earning myself a title match. The next show, I gave it all to win the belt, and after that, I'd carved out a niche. There were no more missed bookings. There was no more twitter deadpool on whether or not I'd quit before I made it into ToD. There was no wanting on my part, Saturn, it was all hard work and pushing myself to be better. I was noticed by FPW shortly afterward, and my career went up, but here, once again, I experienced great loss. I experienced bullshit, but never once did I feel that I deserved better. 

James Saturn, you are the prime example of a man who feels that the world owes him everything, that this sport owes him everything. FPW owes you nothing. In the Free-1 last year, on a playing field more level than any other, you couldn't beat your block to make it to the final. I could. After the Free-1, you couldn't win the Dead Man's Chest to secure yourself a title shot, but I beat a man with twice the experience I had to secure my title shot. At Judgment Day, you beat Azazel in a mat classic, but I won the fucking FPW title. I ended Marcus Allen Jones' reign, not because I'd begged to be there. Not because I'd played politics, but because I'd earned my shot, I'd defended it, I'd proven that I was the hardest worker in this company. Day in and day out, Saturn, I'm out there representing FPW. I don't hide my face nor do I blindside my enemies.

You? You do. That's all you know how to do, it seems. You had to blindside me to attack me after I won our FPW title match, fair and square. You had to blindside me to send a message after I defeated MDE in the hardest match of my life. You tried to cut a promo on me without me being there to defend myself, presumably so you could sell this mentality that you're the hero in all of this, coming to save Freedom Pro from my tyranny, but there is no tyranny here, Saturn. The only thing there is is respect. The only men speaking otherwise are delusional. You, MDE, Marcus Allen Jones-you all sing the same song, and yet, you wonder why you find yourself in their company.

You want to know why i'm still here? Because I'm representing this company, day in and day out. It never was about just me, or my respect-it was about Freedom Pro. I could be anywhere in the world if I wanted to, have a contract signed in a day and be on national television, but Saturn, I choose not to out of love for this company. You may believe that I've said these men aren't on my level, but I sure as hell respect them, every single fucking one except those who blindside and betray me. You act like I've overshadowed you-but Saturn, remember, I gave you the opportunity to prove yourself in a title match with me, and you let me down. 

If you want to take my mantle up, if you want to prove that I'm not the best competitor in this company, then you'd best aim for the head, because if you don't, or, God willing, if you miss, you won't get another chance. I'll bury you under a hail of metal and wood. I'll put you in the ground like I've put down any other competitor who's faced me in the match. No rules means no rules, James, and there's no chance for you to ambush me, to take me out-in this ring, it's just me, you, and a pile of tables, ladders, and chairs-maybe then, we'll see who the top dog is-maybe then, we'll see if you really are what you claim to be-and if you really do deserve my spot, and this belt.

So bring your game face, James. I'll see you soon."

Baker adjusts his title on his shoulder as his promo cuts to black. 

[ticktock]

🎤 And I still believe.
(I still believe!)
In the need,
For guitars and drums
And desperate poetry.

And I still believe.
(I still believe!)
That everyone,
Can find a song for every time they've lost,
And every time they've won.

So just remember folks,
We're not just saving lives,
We're saving souls,
And we're having fun. 🎤

Freedom Pro Wrestling.
Sunday April 21st.
I still believe...



Throughout the video, the lyrics are spliced with artistically edited crowd shots.

[noname1525]

On a 60 Minutes of Freedom live event, 'Afterlife' began to play between matches, and Jace Mason emerged, carrying the Freedom championship. He walked down the ramp, high-fiving the outstretched hands before climbing into the ring. He accepted a microphone from one of the crewmembers, but paced the ring a few times before raising the mic and beginning to speak. 

"Alright Marcus, what's going on here? I'm detecting a bit of hypocrisy from you. You claim that you want to win every single title that means something to Graham Baker, and yet when I lay down a challenge to defend the Freedom championship, you say nothing. Maybe you missed this with your head so big it's up in the clouds, but Graham Baker held this championship, actually set a record with it."

Jace started pacing the ring again.

"So I'd say that this title has a fair bit of meaning to Graham, which means it should be high on your list of titles to win. But like I said, you haven't accepted my challenge for this title, and I can't figure out why. Surely Marcus Allen Jones isn't scared of losing to Jace Mason, is he? And let's get one thing out of the way. I'm sure that you're going to respond to this with something like "Oh, I didn't realize you were being serious, you're not on my level." We all know it's coming, save us the time and cut the bullshit. Just tell us if you're going to answer the challenge or not. Or don't, it doesn't matter to me. I'm scheduled to defend this title against someone, and as great as it would be to defend against you, it doesn't have to be you. So if you want to ignore this chance and prove yourself a hypocrite, go ahead, keep doing what you're doing. But if not, if you do decide that you want this chance, well, I'll see you at Resurrection."

[The_Aviator_GB]

We enter on a backdrop of an empty plain, filled with wilted plants and the skeleton of a long-dead lion. There is a whispering of wind as it whips through the scene, and suddenly, a shadow appears atop the lion. It whispers, softly.

"Lia Ness...your goddess will find herself...disappointed."

The shadow runs its hands across the skull and face of the lion, feeling the crevices in the bones from malnutrition and rot.

"Lia Ness...your sacrifices will end on the Road to Resurrection. Your suffering began when we faced off at the Launch Party...but, Lia, you and I, our story is not done. 

Artemis Evans has stolen something from me. She stole my opportunity to prove myself, to prove to these people I was more than just Graham Baker's pity signing. To prove that I belonged here...and since then, she has done nothing but mock the face of Freedom Pro and the title she holds. She sought to degrade the reputation of our division before it even began. She's put down competitors like Berry Bishop who've beaten much more talented persons...and she's kept them from holding the gold.

It is time...for Artemis Evans to pay a blood debt. To return what she stole. To succumb to her coming fate.

If I must kill you to get there...then so be it."

The footage shudders for a moment, and moments later, the shadow and the skeleton have both vanished...

[ticktock]

🎤Hear ye, hear ye, friends and Romans, countrymen.
Hear ye, hear ye, punks and skins and journeymen,
Hear ye, hear ye, my sisters and my brethren.
The time is coming near.

Come ye, come ye, to soulless corporate circus tops.
Come ye, come ye, to toilet circuit touring snobs.
Come ye, come ye, to bedrooms, bars and bunker squats.
The sound is ringing clear.🎤


The song plays over footage of fans and small indy arenas.

Freedom Pro Wrestling.
Sunday April 21st.
I still believe...

[ticktock]

[marileeg17]

Mar 25, 2019 3:13:37 GMT noname1525 said:

On a 60 Minutes of Freedom live event, 'Afterlife' began to play between matches, and Jace Mason emerged, carrying the Freedom championship. He walked down the ramp, high-fiving the outstretched hands before climbing into the ring. He accepted a microphone from one of the crewmembers, but paced the ring a few times before raising the mic and beginning to speak. 

"Alright Marcus, what's going on here? I'm detecting a bit of hypocrisy from you. You claim that you want to win every single title that means something to Graham Baker, and yet when I lay down a challenge to defend the Freedom championship, you say nothing. Maybe you missed this with your head so big it's up in the clouds, but Graham Baker held this championship, actually set a record with it."

Jace started pacing the ring again.

"So I'd say that this title has a fair bit of meaning to Graham, which means it should be high on your list of titles to win. But like I said, you haven't accepted my challenge for this title, and I can't figure out why. Surely Marcus Allen Jones isn't scared of losing to Jace Mason, is he? And let's get one thing out of the way. I'm sure that you're going to respond to this with something like "Oh, I didn't realize you were being serious, you're not on my level." We all know it's coming, save us the time and cut the bullshit. Just tell us if you're going to answer the challenge or not. Or don't, it doesn't matter to me. I'm scheduled to defend this title against someone, and as great as it would be to defend against you, it doesn't have to be you. So if you want to ignore this chance and prove yourself a hypocrite, go ahead, keep doing what you're doing. But if not, if you do decide that you want this chance, well, I'll see you at Resurrection."

MAJ: Oh Jace. Oh poor, misguided Jace...You could not be more wrong about everything. For starters, your challenge, it wasn't that I didn't think you were serious, it was more like I thought you were pathetic. You challenged me to a match knowing I had no ability to even accept it. Or did you forget that Jim Houston has suspended me indefinitely? That his exact words were, "I don't intend to book him in a match." See Jace, that's why I decided to pay a little visit to the Combat Zone. I figured my FPW vacation could be beneficial to all parties involved. My mere presence there alone raised that garbage company's profile for a fleeting moment and my new championship has done even more. The internet has not been able to stop talking about Marcus Allen Jones, CZW Wired Champion. I'd say it's an honor, but it's really not. What you also fail to understand is the belt you hold, the Freedom Championship, is not the same physical belt that Graham Baker won. In many ways, Baker never won the Freedom title at all, he won the now retired hardcore title. Because see Jace, that's the key to his heart. Hardcore, garbage. If I decided I wanted the Freedom Championship, I'd have it by now. But my sights are set much higher and you would know that if you weren't content with being a solid midcard hand. Your Freedom title, it means nothing to Baker and therefore it means nothing to me. But...I suppose I have nothing but free time on my hands these days so I'll tell ya what, you want this match so badly? You're so desperate to prove to yourself you're every bit as good a wrestler you and only you believe you are? You convince Houston to lift my suspension for one match and I'll accept your challenge. And I'll even go one further and adhere to Baker's little demand. Myself, Hunter Killer, the Invaders...ALL of TakeOver, no one will interfere in the FPW title match at Resurrection. As for your other demand, I'm afraid I can't do that. In fact, I'm scheduled to defend it soon. Maybe if you're lucky I'll leave you a ticket so you can be there firsthand to watch and see just how hardcore I can get...

[veggieleezy]

*We see Dasha Banks approach the locker room for an interview. Jerry Bishop approaches from around a corner and taps her on the arm.*

JB: Hey, Dasha!

*Dasha startles*

DB: Good grief, Jerry! You scared me half to death!

JB: Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!

DB: It’s okay, I know. It’s just that no one has seen you for days. We were starting to worry about you.

JB: What, that I wouldn’t show up? Don’t be silly, Dasha. Being silly is my job. Not that you can’t be silly. Or that you’re not allowed to be silly or-

DB: Jerry, I mean it. Berry wasn’t even sure where you were.

JB: I’m sorry. I kind of, um... I shut myself into my house. Well, locked. I locked myself in.

DB: You locked yourself *in*?

JB: Yeah. I told Fozzie to lock me in and not to let me out until I had watched all of my old matches.

DB: Fozzie locked you in.

JB: Of course he did. He has a key, after all. And like the good boy he is, he listened. I watched all of my old matches, even back to when I was training. And you know what I remembered, Dasha? I remembered that no matter whether I won or lost, the fans would cheer me on. I had forgotten that they’ve been with me for so long. They’re still with me, even if I’m not completely with myself. Like I have been.

DB: Well, we’re glad you’re still kicking, Jerry.

JB: Eh, Berry’s more of the kicker than I am.

DB: You know what I mean.

*Dasha chucks Bishop’s arm, he pretends it hurt.*

JB: I’m sorry I got everyone worried. I don’t like to have people be concerned about me, I’d rather me worry about making other people happy.

DB: Maybe you should let someone worry about you for a change.

JB: Yeah, maybe so.

DB: Look, I need to go prepare for the show, but since I have you, any thoughts about your match?

JB: You go ahead, we can talk about that later. Come find me when you have time.

*Bishop smiles and exits, whistling “Entry of the Gladiators”. Dasha smiles herself before continuing with her tasks*

[Jim Houston]

Dasha Banks stands with Jim Houston following the conclusion of Road To Resurrection.

DB: Mr. Houston. Can we begin with the All Star Tag Team Classic. How many teams do you have entries for currently?
JH: Well, tonight The Invaders, Hunter Killer and Bobby O and Jack Sevren all expressed their interest. I assume that The Guardians of Strong Style will wish to enter and there are two Alpha teams that will be revealed in due course. I expect a handful more entries before I can determine the final eight.
DB: And what do you make of Clutch McCloud's actions tonight?
JH: I think they were unnecessary and I will he speaking with Clutch and his management about my expectations of his conduct moving forward.
DB: You suggested that Jerry Bishop not face Clutch. Should you not be showing a bit more faith in Jerry?
JH (chuckling): You're fond of Jerry, aren't you?
DB: I... he...
JH: Maybe I was hasty. But Jerry is vulnerable at the moment. I wanted him to know what he was getting himself into.
DB: We also saw two debutants tonight. What do you have to say about Go Shihei and Aaron Williams?
JH: I signed Williams because I'd have been stupid not to. I've signed a match between him and Zachary Bates for Resurrection as that match could be absolutely incredible. Shihei is an interesting case. He signed on excursion from Japan actually but I know he expects to be here for some time. He could be very good here.
DB: And finally, how about Marcus Allen Jones and TakeOver?
JH: We all know my feelings towards them. One way or another, this has to end soon. Thank you Dasha, as always.