All Star Tag Team Classic II Promos

[Jim Houston]

Sato stands with an ice pack held to his head. Dasha Banks walks up to him.

DB: Sato... The Guardians of Strong Style were pinned for the first time in FPW and are no longer Tag Team Champions. How are you feeling?

S: How I feeling? I feeling angry. Death Squad fight with no honour. Death Squad cheat. Death Squad not worthy to hold titles that were ours for so long. Guardians of Strong Style still best team in FPW.

DB: And how are you after the chair shot you took?

S: I will recover. But more important is recovering titles. Houston said if champions win tournament, he find solution for number one contender. If Death Squad win tournament, Guardians challenge. Guardians win. Guardians return honour to Tag Team Championships.

DB: How will you make sure the same thing doesn't happen again?

S: We find a way. Guardians of Strong Style will show Death Squad meaning of strong style and meaning of karma. Death Squad... soon be dead.

Sato walks away with grunts as he takes each step.

[Jim Houston]

Dasha Banks walks behind MDE as he heads towards the arena exit.

DB: MDE, can we have a few words?

MDE: Fine. What do you want?

DB: We saw you meeting Jim Houston earlier tonight discussing a change of role in FPW. What exactly is that change of role?

MDE: I've opened a wrestling academy in the UK. Consider it the Harvard of wrestling academies. I'll take the best- and only the best- and give them the tools to become great. I'm partnering with FPW as the promotion in America that I point trainees to when they show they're ready to break out of the UK.

DB: Are you still planning to be an active wrestler here?

MDE: At the moment, no. I plan to be here as I have... business to attend to. But I don't plan on being active in the ring.

DB: Can I ask why?

MDE: I don't know. Can you?

DB: May I ask why?

MDE: You may.

DB (sighing): Why?

MDE: My reasons will be revealed in due time.

DB: And what exactly is your business? Does it have anything to do with what you're doing with The Bishops?

MDE: It does. Jerry Bishop has to change. Only I can help him. Not his sister. Not his former friends. Not his fans. Only me. In time, he'll accept that. It will come soon enough. When it does, Jerry will become what everyone wants him to become.

DB: Some of us lo- um... like Jerry as he is.

MDE: Some of you are idiots. I have to go.

MDE walks off as Dasha looks at him angrily.

[ticktock]

A sweeping shot of an empty ring is shown on a handheld camera. The camera shakes for a bit before being turned to show Aaron Williams, who appears to be sat on the edge of the ring.

"So tonight, the team of Aaron Williams, A plus, and Jace Mason, The Eternal Student, was part of a TakeOver takedown as The Bishops took out the other half of the group. Just like Jace and I said we would, we stepped into the ring with The Invaders and we stepped out with our arms raised. You all saw it. I don't need to go on about it... but what I do need to go on about is how fucking hyped I am for the semi-final. Jace and I face Jerry and Berry Bishop. Now I may not have been here long but I'm a quick learner. Jerry Bishop was the first guy Freedom Pro Wrestling signed, and he's been the heart and soul of this place for a long time now. And Berry... she's not been here as long as him, but she's good- she's really good. When I first signed here, one of the first guys who said they'd like to face me was Jerry Bishop. Facing Jerry is a bit of a dream match for me to be honest. I watched his matches towards the end of last year in fucking awe. And in two weeks, me and Jace get to step into the ring and be a part of something which is sure to be very, very special.

"But don't get me wrong. I don't just want to wrestle Jerry and Berry Bishop. I fully intend on beating them and for me and Jace to make the final and win the tournament. Now that we have new Tag Team Champions in the form of Death Squad, the cheating little bitches, I really want to have the chance to take them down. And when we do, we'd be happy to give The Guardians of Strong Style their first true defeat. You see, Jace and I are here to stay. We've formed a bond over these past few weeks and I don't plan for that bond to break. We're here to win this tournament and then win those titles. And nobody is going to stop us. Nobody."

[The_Aviator_GB]

On FPW's website, a digital skull appears in a video screen, interlaced with cuts of the Death Squad/Guardians of Strong Style title match. The screen flickers a few times, skull, Balmer nailing Sato, skull, Rorsche nailing Takahara, skull, Balmer dropping The Ender and pinning the Guardians to win the tag team championships, skull, the image of Death Squad holding the belts high. The digital skull appears, and, quietly, a digital bell rings.

The video feed picks up, and both Balmer and Rorsche sit, the FPW Tag Team Championships mounted upon their shoulders. They look at the belts, and Balmer nods, slowly. 

"They said," Balmer notes. "That we were cheaters. Deceivers. That we came and wrought destruction when we stepped into this company, that when we destroyed The Queendom and the Guardians of Strong Style, that we were nothing but lucky. That we weren't anything to fear, anything to worry about, but we've proven otherwise." 

"They said," Rorsche continues, looking at his belt. "That we were untalented. That we lacked finesse, that our strikes weren't as crisp as others, that we didn't hit with enough pizzazz to impress the fucking idiots in the crowd. They said that we didn't look as impressive as the others, that our ring gear wasn't as flashy, that we'd never hold anyone's attention if we kept fighting like we did. After tonight, certainly, we've proven otherwise." 

"They said," Knight speaks, her facepaint still on, a wicked smile curling on her face. "That I made a bad decision, keeping up with these two. That after I got hurt, I should drop the business and go, because we weren't getting anywhere. That I wouldn't make a cent so long as Balmer and Rorsche were at my side. They said that I was a fool for trying to keep my hands in this dirty fucking business, but after tonight, after all of this, we've proven them very, very, wrong."

"Call us what you want," Balmer notes, standing up, holding the belt over his shoulder. "Call us cheaters. Savages. Brutes. Ne'er-do-wells, delinquents, criminals, the whole fucking pot and kettle and every fucking name you can think of, but you must call us champions, because that's what we fucking are. You'll call us the winners of the 2019 All Star Tag Team Classic, too, and after we've challenged whichever piss-poor team impresses us the most, you can call us with a bigger fucking contract, or we'll do what we do best, and we'll kill all your sorry fucking asses." 

"We've gotten your attention, now we intend to keep it." Rorsche cackles, his title clipped around a belt on his waist. "Every tag team in this company, in any fucking company, is on notice. We're undefeated since we started with ALPHA, we're undefeated here, and we're the fucking tag team champions. Sato made this call, he offered the match, we took it, and we fucking won. We're the new tag team champions for a good goddamn reason, and no Jace Mason nor no Aaron Williams can stop us from being what we already fucking are. That's a fucking fact."

"Sato made a mistake, he did, getting involved. He knew what was coming for him, and so did his fucking boys, but they took the match nonetheless." Knight chuckles. "Now, we've simply proven all we said-that we'd come, we'd see, and we'd conquer." She laughs, a wide smile on her face. "As it is, as it always has been, when Death Squad arrives..."

"...everyone dies. That includes you, too, Guardians, if you work your way back to a title match." Balmer chuckles, and the three resume sitting as the scene fades out...

[noname1525]

Artemis was backstage, getting ready for a Sixty Minutes of Freedom match when Dasha Banks walked up to her. 

"What do you want?" Artemis asked when she noticed her.

"Well, I wanted to ask you if you'd seen Elizabeth Karlson's challenge to make your title match a two out of three falls match, and if you had seen it, what was your response?" 

Artemis smiled. "Yes, I've seen Karlson's challenge. I was actually planning on addressing it after I destroy whoever I'm facing tonight, but since you decided to bring it up now, I might as well give you your scoop. Karlson wants to face me in a two out of three falls match? Fine, she's on. But Karlson's not fooling anyone. She can say whatever she wants about how I didn't beat her, but she can't hide how much that loss gutted her. She just can't accept the fact that she wasn't good enough to take this title from me. I'm sure the whole reason she wanted this match is so that she still has a fighting chance when I pin her this time. Hell, nothing else will have changed since our last match, I'm just going to beat her twice in one night this time. But let's make this a little more interesting shall we? Karlson, when I defeat you again, you don't get another rematch, you'll have to budge up and let someone else get a shot. I'm getting bored of facing you at every single show."

[veggieleezy]

*Camera comes up on the Bishop family walking the streets of Chicago the day after the show eating ice cream; Berry happily half-skipping along with her chocolate, Jerry uncharacteristically quietly and slowly eating his strawberry, and Fozzie Bishop with a small cup of vanilla in a holder around his collar trotting alongside.*

BB: C'mon, Jer-bear! We won! YOU won! Your stone cold streak is over!

JB: *deadpan* Phrasing.

BB: That wasn't naughty?

JB: No, but you simultaneously made a play on words involving the names of both a well-known frozen treats franchise and a well-known professional wrestler in the context of my recent inability to achieve a victory in my contests within the ring.

BB: Right. Stop. Hold on. You're being grumpy.

*They stop, Berry reaches into her purse and withdraws a Snickers.*

BB: Have a Snickers. You become Sheldon Cooper when you're grumpy. And that's worse than anything.

*Jerry snaps into the candy and visibly cheers up.*

BB: Better?

JB: Better. Well, for the most part.

BB: Oh no, don't tell me you're Leonard now?

JB: God, I would sooner jump into the river than be compared to that show. No, no. It's just that we did win, but it kinda feels like the biggest thing I contributed to our match was eating Daniels' Killing Blow. What good was I in that match? You picked up the win.

BB: Only because you saved me, ya doof! Jerry, there are many reasons why I wouldn't be here without you. But now that we're a family, you've been looking out for me since Day 1. I'm proud of you, and everyone else was proud of you too. They still are. They saw you put yourself on the line to help me, and that's because you've got something most'a those chuckleheads in the back don't have.

JB: A signed 8x10 of Jerry Lewis?

BB: Obviously. But you've got heart, Jerry. You've been the heart of FPW since before they even opened their doors! Houston signed you before even got the commentary guys together! He signed you before Dasha!

JB: That is true... You're right, I'm overthinking again. My fatal flaw. That and the charms of Da-

*Jerry stops in his tracks, Berry leans in with a "do go on" expression.*

JB: Daaaaaeeeeeeeemi Lovato. Demi Lovato. Is what I was going to say.

BB: Mm hmm.

*Berry skips away humming to herself, Jerry struggles with his words.*

JB: What? She's pretty, she's almost my age, it wouldn't be weird!

BB: And she looks like someone we know, doesn't she?

JB: I hadn't even noticed!

*Jerry looks down at Fozzie, Fozzie gives a little shrug.*

JB: Oh, hush, you do so know what she's talking about. Come on, let's make sure she doesn't skip into traffic again.

[noname1525]

A video is uploaded to the FPW website, opening on a completely black screen, with no audio. After a moment, a voice is heard saying "we did it" before the video changes to a shot of Jace Mason standing on a balcony, staring off into the distance with a smile on his face, his eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. He removes the glasses as he turns to face the camera. "We did it." he repeats, his smile growing wider. "After only one round of this year's All Star Tag Team Classic, TakeOver has been removed from the competition. We're no longer faced with the prospect of another reign of terror over the tag team division. And there's a couple people that I have to thank for that."

"First, Jerry and Berry. You two had a hard task in front of you, outlasting Hunter-Killer. But the two of you rose to the occasion and eliminated TakeOver's last chance at winning this thing. I'll be honest, while training for this tournament, I'd been thinking in terms of worst-case scenario, that Aaron and I were going to have to face both of TakeOver's teams. Don't take it the wrong way, it wasn't that I didn't think you could win that match, it was just that I had to prepare myself for all possibilities. So it was a pleasant surprise to see that instead of another match against a crafty, dangerous team that would be willing to take any and all shortcuts, I get to look forward to a respectful match against a pair of competitors I’d like to consider my friends. I’ll see you both on June 2nd.”

“And now to address my partner, Aaron Williams. Aaron, I want to reiterate how thankful I am that that you stepped up when I announced I was looking for a partner for this tournament. With Marcus and MDE manipulating the talent on this roster, and people like Clutch McCloud and James Saturn showing their true colors, I was worried I didn’t have any friends here. So the fact that someone, anyone, was willing to go up against TakeOver was heartening. But you aren't just anyone, you’re a legend of the independent scene. My focus on being “the eternal student” has faded in recent months as I try to bring the fight to TakeOver, but I have learned so much in teaming with you. And as a way of saying thank you, both for helping me achieve my goals of eliminating TakeOver and for providing my the opportunity to learn so much, I’ve got a proposition for you. After the finals of the Tag Team Classic, whether we win, lose, or draw our next two matches, the two of us meet in the ring, and I put my Freedom Championship on the line. What do you say?”

[Davey Jones]

Camera comes on, and we see a lightly wooded campground area. A bigger tent is set up, and a picnic table is off to the side. The camera pans over, from the table to the tent, where a panicked Dasha comes out

DB: What is going on? WHY DID YOU BRING ME HERE?
DJ: Because I'm ready to talk
DB (nervous): Ok, what do you want to talk about?
DJ (getting upset): I think it's clear why I want to talk
DB: Ok. Let me compose myself. Give me a moment?

A couple of minutes pass, as Dasha gets ready

DB: Ok, camera rolling? Good. In 5, 4, 3.... Hello everyone! I'm out in the wilderness with the American Lunatic, Davey Jones. Davey, you've been gone for a while, now. Why come back now?
DJ: Because there's a wrong that needs to be made right. I wasn't exactly gone for reasons that I controlled. I had to take care of some... Prior business dealings that should've been taken care of.

Davey moves from the table, towards the tent

DJ: See, There was someone that decided to take advantage of a deal that was made behind the scenes of Rising Phoenix that caused us to fold, well before our time.
DB: Who was responsible fo --
DJ (angered) DAMN IT DASHA! CAN'T YOU TELL THAT I WAS GETTING TO THAT? You have one job - if you could at least do it remotely close to an amateurish level, you'd be one of the best journalists in the business today!

Dasha skirts back, giving Davey the mic and a Slim Jim

DJ (much calmer): Mmmm! Thank you, that really hits the spot. Now, the person responsible for what happened, that person is here in Freedom Pro, and they will get what's coming. And I have a little friend for them to meet. See, I've made a deal... Rather, someone made a deal with the devil, so they say... 

Davey gets a sick, demented smile, and starts laughing profusely, as the camera fades out

[ticktock]

Aaron Williams holds his phone to record himself. He's at the end of a long road, in running gear and is panting hard.

"Ok... I'm good... Jace, I'll keep this short and sweet. We're in this tournament to win it. I didn't want to team with you to get a shot at your title... I'm not that kind of person. But you've offered it to me. Maybe one day, long after we win this tournament and once our Tag Team Championship reign is at an end, maybe then we'll face each other in the ring for one title or another... But until then... let's not allow ourselves to be distracted by challenging each other. I hope we have two matches to come next week and we need to be fully focussed on those matches, not on anything else."

[The_Aviator_GB]

We enter on Elizabeth Karlson sitting in a throne in what appears to be an old, dessicated throne room. An old, rusted crown sits upon her head.

"Artemis Evans...the last time I encountered you, you didn't beat me. The last time I encountered you, you may have impressed me, but you never put me down. The last time I encountered you, you walked out the champion, but you did not walk out unscathed, no, Artemis, you walked out with a blemish on your record, you walked out with a defense that was not that. Charon's Calling couldn't put you away, but until your goons came out and ruined it all, there was nothing that you could do to fucking stop me. Your Silver Bullets couldn't put me down, your Guillotine Strike couldn't decapitate me, you, Artemis, cannot beat me."

Karlson breathes. She sighs and shakes her head. 

"But here, you have. You tried to, and although you pinned me to the ground, you did not keep me down for good. At the All Star Tag Team Classic II, you will not beat me again. You will not put me down for the three. You, Artemis...sit on a throne of borrowed time. Your gold is aging. Your belt is rusting. Your time is running out, Artemis, and like so many queens of old, Black Death comes for you. Your Queendom will crumble...and when it's done, when it's ripped to pieces, you will be left alone, dessicated...unliving. I will see you soon, Artemis, and when I come for you, you will learn exactly how inevitable I fucking am." 

She stands, and the throne begins to crumble, the crown shattering. The room begins to fade as Karlson steps toward the camera. 

"The sun sets on your empire, Artemis. An eclipse is coming, and I'm glad to bring it." 

[veggieleezy]

*Camera comes up on Jerry Bishop entering his favorite haunt, Jilly's Diner, as the hostess approaches.*

Hostess: Table for two tonight, Jerry?

JB: No, just me tonight, thanks.

Hostess: Very good, your usual table is free and Jilly will be with you in a little bit.

JB: Thank you, and congratulations on your test, you earned that.

Hostess: *playfully* Oh, stop it, you.

*Bishop sits at his usual table by the window and contemplatively looks out at the city around him. After a while, he stirs, feeling someone close by.*

JB: Yes, hi, I'll have a- OH, hello!

*Bishop looks up to realize that a kid has approached him wearing FPW merch, their parent close at hand.*

Parent: Sorry, Jerry, but we're big fans of yours and-

Kid: And I really wanted to get your autograph, Mr. Jester Sir! *Kid presents a program from a recent FPW event*

JB: *enthusiatically* Well, I'd be honored, li'l Freedom Fighter!

*Bishop makes his mark on the program and turns to the kid rejuvinated.*

JB: So, have you been watching FPW for a while?

Kid: Yeah! I've been watching since the Free-1 tournament!

Parent: We're big fans of sports tourneys at our house.

JB: I don't blame you, tourneys are good stuff!

Kid: Yeah, so when are you gonna win a match again?

*Bishop freezes in place. All emotion drops from his face. He drops eye contact with the kid and looks off into the middle distance.*

Parent: Oh my goodness, they didn't mean that, Jerry, of course. You won your last match-

Kid: Yeah, Berry won it, when are *you* gonna win a match?

JB: I- ...I, um... you know it's harder than... There's a lot to...

Parent: I'm sorry, Jerry, we shouldn't have bothered you in your private life. Thank you for the autograph, though!

*Bishop vacantly nods and waves as the kid and their parent leave. Jilly herself approaches.*

Jilly: What can we get ya today, hon?

*Bishop looks solemnly ahead.*

JB: An old-fashioned and a prime rib.

Jilly: Ooh, hungry tonight, are we, Jer?

JB: Yeah, hungry sounds right.

Jilly: Okay, puddin', I'll put this in. And I know you didn't ask for it, but because we love ya, I'll bring ya some fries and a strawberry milkshake, like usual. Back in a jiff, sweets.

*Bishop half smiles before returning to the window and sighing.*

[Deleted]

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

[/SIZE]

The Scene opens up showing a draped curtain. As the camera pans down the curtain we see the ALPHA World Tag Team Champions, Tyler Morgan and Marcus. They hold their titles firmly over their shoulders and they smile at the camera with nothing but confidence. Marcus then holds his hands up in confusion as he begins to speak.




"So.... we seem to be missing something."
 
The camera pans down to show Marcus and Morgan with their Alpha World Tag Team Titles. 

"It seems we didn't become double champions. It happens, I guess... but at least we still have these."
 
Marcus and Tyler have the title shine against the light, showing just how pretty it is. 
 
"Plus... it's not like we were the ones that got pinned, right?"
 
Marcus looks to Tyler, who agrees.



Suplex Sweethearts you need to know that Ascendence was not the last time we will square off. You guys got lucky this time with Saxon’s Brass Knuckle Shot to my jaw. Next time I’ll put a dent in the both of your skulls.



"But you know, it's interesting that the Death Squad are one of the teams to attack us after that ICW Tag Team title match. Seems they're not just content with that first set of Freedom Tag Titles they just won from the Guardians of Strong Style. They want ours too. I guess they took inspiration from us in wanting to be double champions? well, we're not going to allow that, and that starts this Sunday, when we face you in the Semi Finals of the All Star Tag Team Classic. We may not have won the ICW Tag Titles, but that doesn't mean we can't be crowned the best tag team in the world by winning that."



It is interesting Marcus. The Death Squad wanted to try to eliminate us before our match for the All Star Tag Team Classic. Well unfortunately they couldn’t get the job done. Which is exactly how our match will go. We learned from our mistakes in the ICW Tag Team Tournament and this time we’re walking out of The All Star Tag Team Classic as the winners.



"It may not be a title, but winning that trophy will look good on my trophy cabinet with all the other titles I've won. Heck, we can still bring it with us and show it off alongside our World Tag Team title. That'd be pretty cool, it'd basically be a second title anyway. Heck, we could defend it against other teams! maybe in an open challenge!"
 
Marcus looks to Tyler and the two seem to get an idea. Marcus carries on.

"Anyway... interesting you mention they wanted to take us out before our semi final match, and you know, I know it's more than that Tyler. Allow me to explain."
 
Marcus puts on a nerd act, even pulling out a pair of glasses.
 
"We were invited to take part in this All-Star Classic tournament as the Alpha Wrestling representative. And not only that, but we were also wrestling there in the ICW tourney as well. Me thinks the Death Squad didn't take kindly to us showing up, and beating up all their tag teams over in Freedom. And low and behold, after a few times, they show up here in Alpha, and want our titles. Do they want revenge for Freedom? are they jealous of us? I wouldn't blame them if they were, we fought blood sweat and tears to win this tag title, and we're not going to allow them to get it. They're going to wish they stayed in Freedom as the new tag team champions there, because whilst they might've been good enough to win the Freedom titles, we'll make sure they don't win the Alpha tag titles as well, and you know, their competition there is teams like the Bishops and the Baxter Brothers, and we already beat them in the ICW tag tourney. The Death Squad don't know what they're getting themselves into.
 
Speaking of the Bishops though... they're one of the two teams we could face in the final for this trophy to show who the best tag team in the world are, and like I said, we already beat them once before. Maybe it'd be fun to fight them again and see how much they've improved since the first round, but... I'm kinda routing for Aaron Williams and Jace Mason, we’ve never faced the before, so it’s kinda like a wild card choice, and could be more interesting since it’s a never before seen match up. Though I suppose we’re the true wild cards, being from Alpha. ...either way though, we’re hungry for gold, especially since we lost, whilst not being pinned mind, in our ICW Tag Title match, and don’t worry guys, we’re not gonna get ourselves counted out. Tyler just wanted me to retire Zakk instead, and there’s clearly no other reason.”
 
Marcus winks at Tyler. Though Tyler doesn’t seem to find that funny in the slightest.



I have my reasonings for walking out on that match against Zakk Night. Those reasonings are different from our matches in the All Star Tag Team Classic. Though you make a good point Marcus. Death Squad hasn’t shown up until partway through the ICW Tournament. It’s kinda fishy, it’s almost as if they don’t truly belong here. As if they’re here to make a statement. Unfortunately for them we aren’t going to be allowing them or anyone to make any statements. We are throwing down on Sunday and we are going to be globally known as the best Tag Team ever. Hell we are rolling through this tournament like a storm. Thunder and Lighting! So we’ll be ready for any match. Whether it’s the Death Squad or any other team that still remains. Soon, none shall remain!



"And once we have that trophy to add to our trophy cabinets, we'll go on to defend the tag titles at the biggest pay per view event in the world next month. We'll show everyone that we're not just the tag team champions, but the best team in the world. And then after that, maybe we'll go ask for a rematch for those ICW Tag Team Titles. Everybody saw it was the former Freedom Champs who took the fall, and they've been doing that a lot lately, since they also lost their titles to the Death Squad... so a rematch would blow all the walls down. The Suplex Sourhearts have a Superman Punch and Brass Knuckle to the face coming, and coming it shall come. We may not be double champions now, but when the times comes, our lightning will strike twice."

ALPHA’s Favorite Beast, Tyler Morgan stares into the camera with a look of someone who wants to cause some serious damage as he shifts his title before speaking.



A word of caution to our opponents this Sunday. First of the Death Squad. Do not underestimate us, we are a force not to be reckoned with. We’re a storm of Thunder and Lighting. We’re going to teach you a lesson you won’t ever forget. You attacking us at Ascendence was a big mistake! One that I hope you never make again. On Sunday we will make sure to cement that into your mind as I dent the both of your skulls in. You won’t be winning the All Star Tag Teammate Classic and you certainly won’t be winning our ALPHA World Tag Team titles. After that we will go on to the Finals. To whoever we face in the finals I say the same thing. We wish you the best of luck but we will break your Jaws because we sure do pack a damn punch. Good Luck to you all! You’re going to need it when your up against Thunder and Lignting!

With that Tyler Morgan and Marcus extend their fists forward in foreshadowing the punches they will be delivering at The All Star Classic Tournament on Sunday. With that lasting image of their fists extended and their ALPHA Tag Team Titles over their shoulders, the camera fades to black ending the video.[/center]

[marileeg17]

FPW.com Backstage Exlcusive

Immediately following the show’s closing, Dario, Haych, Sara Daniels and George Jackson are found sitting together in Marcus’ locker room, none really sure why they are there. As the four lick their wounds, both physical and otherwise while waiting, presumably for their boss, two separate arguments begin to break out as both members of Hunter Killer and the Invaders start discussing their matches and blaming both their teammates and TakeOver mates for the outcomes. Finally, the door slams open and Marcus Allen Jones walks in, fresh off of his confrontation with Graham Baker. All four suddenly shut up.

MAJ: Oh please, don’t stop on my account. Because I’d love to hear how once again, all four of you FAILED me. How many times is it now? How many times is it going to be? You had two jobs tonight: win your matches and beat Baker to a bloody pulp. And you did NEITHER of them! If I wanted incompetence, I would have chosen, well, as it turns out, the four of you!

Marcus begins to pace around the room, extremely frustrated, finally stopping as he slams his fist hard against the table. He turns to face the four members of TakeOver, with particular attention on Hunter Killer.

MAJ: You stupid, stupid idiots! From day one, this has been nothing but trouble. You’ve been nothing but trouble. I was told Hunter Killer was the best. I was told you two were ruthless and all I’ve gotten are two individuals who can’t seem to wrestle their way out of a paper bag. So much of what happens next hinges on this steel cage match and I wouldn’t want you two there to fuck it up even if you could be ringside. Get out.

GJ: Get out?

MAJ: You heard me. GET OUT. And don’t bother coming back. At least not until you can prove yourselves worthy of my presence.

SD: Ya know what, we’re gonna leave but we’re not coming back. You’ve pushed George and I around for the last time.

Sarah takes off her TakeOver shirt and George follows.

SD: Keep it and find some other unsuspecting minions to do your business. We’re done.

Marcus watches as Hunter Killer exit and slam the door behind them. He then turns his attention to the Invaders.

MAJ: And you…When I first recruited you for TakeOver, you two were the best tag team here. You were my ticket, you were how I was going to rule this place. I actually had faith in the two of you that together, we’d be the three headed dragon. FPW was ours for the taking, but the two of you, you proved to be more useless and more problematic than you’ve been worth. Get out.

Haych gets up to leave seemingly unfazed and Dario, uncharacteristically silent, follows behind. As the two approach the door, turning the knob, Marcus stops them, his back turned to the duo.

MAJ: Wait…Dario, from this point onward you do EXACTLY what I say. You follow my advice to the damn letter do you hear me?

Dario nods his head as Haych looks disgusted.

MAJ: Don’t nod. When I ask you a question, you answer. So let’s try this again: DO. YOU. HEAR. ME?

H: How about you fuck off?

Haych turns to Dario.

H: We don’t need this and we don’t need him. Never did. Would probably be a hell of a lot better off.

MAJ: Control your dog Dario.

Haych looks ready to kill but Dario holds him back much to Haych’s annoyance.

D: Trust me. This is what’s best.

Haych throws his hands up in frustration before flipping the bird to both Dario and Marcus.

MAJ: You have one last chance. If either of you fuck this up for me at the All Star Classic, there will be hell to pay.

Dario begins to nod again before he stops. D: Yes, sir.

Dario catches up to Haych on the outside and the cameras follow them.

H: You’ve got to stop being his little bitch or else this isn’t gonna work with us.

D: It won’t be much longer. I promise. He said it himself, the ends justify the means. No matter what happens, this whole journey will have been worth it, everything we’ve done, everything he’s put us through…The ends justify the means Haych and we’re right there at the finish line.

[The_Aviator_GB]

Graham Baker approaches a camera in a warehouse, holding the FPW title in one hand. Blood stains the front of the belt, and blood runs down Baker's face. 

"You know what separates me from all of the other champions who've ever held this belt? It's not workrate, it's not pedigree, it's not entirely talent, because if I were to speak on the talent in this belt's lineage, I'd honestly say it's one of the best titles in this entire fucking sport. Adam Thompson carried this belt for a few months, he had some bangers, then Marcus, despite my personal feelings, went on a run where he had some of the best matches in the entire fucking world at the time with the belt around his waist, concluding when I ripped it from him in Chicago after Judgment Day. And then, you have me.

One hundred and sixty eight days, I've been Freedom Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion. Six defenses, more than anyone in the history of this championship. Seven matches with the belt on the line, counting my match against Marcus. In my first challenge, I won the fucking thing. I beat James Saturn at his own game-twice. I beat Tommy Saxon after he pinned me, Kai Stevens couldn't beat me in the middle of his landmark ALPHA World Heavyweight Championship reign, MDE couldn't beat me after doing it so easily so many times before, I made him tap out again. I have brought a belt that was high caliber to begin with to the highest mountaintop in all of professional wrestling. I have made this belt one of the biggest prizes in the world-and I'm not fucking done yet. 

Marcus, our paths have been aligned for ages, from the beginning of our conflict here to this fucking day. You thought you could spite me by grabbing my belt, taking my championship, tarnishing my legacy as I did to you, and it fucking worked. You're getting your match, Marcus, you're getting the second opportunity at this belt, your rematch...but you're not walking out the same man you come in. At this point, I'm almost certain i'm not, either."

Baker cracks his neck and lowers the belt. 

"On Sunday, Marcus, I'm going to end this feud between us, once and for all. All roads lead to Rome, and brother, Rome is burning. The two of us have one last faceoff, one final conflict, and only one of us is walking out on our own two fucking feet. I'm going to go further than i've ever gone before, Marcus, I'm going to fucking destroy you. I'm going to run you through cell walls, powerbomb you through the fucking ceiling if I have to, because Marcus, this is it between us. All the bullshit, the interference, the blindsiding...it ends tomorrow, and it ends with Graham Baker walking out, STILL Freedom Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion.

I'll see you Sunday, prick."

Baker walks off in a huff, his fury still present as he walks off. 

[marileeg17]

From a dark room, a voice speaks up: The ends justify the means...

Suddenly, light illuminates Marcus' face and all around him we see weapons of all varieties.

MAJ: From the first day I laid eyes on you Graham Baker, I knew you were the one. A garbage wrestler from a garbage town, I knew who you were. Perhaps more than I initially let on.

Marcus begins picking the weapons up, one by one, swinging and moving them through the air with a flow of ease.

MAJ: The Marcus Allen Wrench. June 2012. Best of the Best. I believed you used this to club Joey Janela's face in. Left him out of action a few months.

Marcus reaches for a fistful of barbed wire next, squeezing his fist around it until his figures bled. He smiles.

MAJ: December 2010. Cage of Death. Hell of a battle that was. And to see it live...Oh, I suppose I never told you that before. Yes, I was just a young boy then. Oh how things have changed.

Marcus throws a couple weapons aside before he grabs something peculiar, a small blunted object that is carved almost like a spear on one end.

MAJ: You won't recognize this one. It's something I had made special for the occasion. Inspired by a true hero of mine. I wonder if I'll get the chance to use it. Either way, I'll draw your blood and lots of it. I should say my time living in your world has given me a bit of an acquired taste for the blood of my enemies. And of course there will be blood. I'm stepping inside a steel cage with the king of hardcore. Stepping in a cage with a man who wants to see me bleed more than he's wanted anything else in his life.

Marcus pauses as he changes the focus.

MAJ: It's all led to this. Win, lose or draw, this is our final chapter. Everything we've done, every battle we've waged, every chapter of this story we wrote...Sunday, the ends justify the means. Because everything I've done since the day you stole my title was plot to get it back. I knew you'd never give me a rematch. I had to make you think you wanted it, had to manipulate past your breaking point and I've done just that. See, you spend so much talking about how long you've been champion, how you've defended the belt far and wide. But with each of those defenses, a piece of you lost. Like you said, neither of us will walk out of that cage the same. Me, no longer naked as the title will be back around my waist. You, your career hanging on by a mere string. Sunday, we both get what we want. Only, you've lost focus. What you want is to see me suffer. And ultimately, that will cost you your championship. My championship...

Marcus leans back, grabbing one last weapon, a set of brass knuckles. He punches the brick wall beside him.

MAJ: Contrary to popular belief, I actually respect you. Again, not something I've ever said to you before. But I respect you because you've committed yourself to who you are, to who you think you need to be. And that's the person I'll happily bring to his knees. When you beat me before, you beat a boy who admittedly, was a bit naive. Sunday, you face the man. And you have no idea the lengths I'll go to in order to completely shed that identity. You've shown me what it will take to beat you and I'm prepared to do it all. Bring your best. And pray to whatever diety you believe in that it will be enough.

Marcus smirks briefly but confidently.

MAJ: The ends justify the means Graham Baker.