Dead Man's Chest Promo Thread

[kingclutch]

From the Twitter of Clutch McCloud

*a video starts up, Clutch and Russ come into view*

RB: You know Jace, if my skin were a little thinner I might have something to say about your dog remark, but I'll cut through the bullshit and just get to the heart of it. You wanna know why I am came back and tagged with Clutch? It's because he and I have a friendship that goes above these little squabbles. He was there for me when my wife died, just as I was there for him during his substance issues. You don't turn your back on that, not in my book you don't. And I get why Clutch did what he did. Sometimes at Miami as well as in the NBA, you had these times you just wanted to smack the living dogshit out of your teammate because they weren't getting it. Well rest assured, I get it now. Like Clutch, I am PISSED OFF for greatness! We're not gonna sit on our asses anymore and wait for opportunities to come. We will TAKE those opportunities. And we don't care whose expense it comes at anymore.

CM: When all of the pieces come together, you have something truly extraordinary. Jace, you'll get what's coming to you and more. And Aaron, you have put your nose where it doesn't belong. And for that, I am truly sorry for what is about to come your way. And I want to apologize in advance to Mr. Houston for what we're going to do to two of his golden boys. After we decimate Mason and Williams, we are taking the opportunities that are so long overdue. When I signed with FPW, I thought there was a certain gravitas and status that came with being an Intercontinental Champion, but I've realized how little that gets you outside of McMahon's world. After Dead Man's Chest, Russ and I are going for all the titles we can. And you know what? Danica has proven to be a strong competitor, just as she always has been, let's get her in the ring more. Whether you like it or not, The Dynasty is here to stay and we will play host to the REAL TakeOver in FPW.

A short while later, Danica Jane retweets this video clip with the following:

"Something to discuss, perhaps?" She tags FPW as well as Jim Houston.

[noname1525]

A video is uploaded to the FPW website, appearing at first to be a highlight reel hyping the Dead Man's Chest ladder match, with clips of all the wrestlers in the match.

"Destiny is in the air, can you feel it?" a generic voice asks. "A new age is dawning in Freedom Pro Wrestling, an age where the Monarch will ascend to her throne." Mid-sentence, the voice changes to the unmistakable sneer of Artemis Evans. The video undergoes a transformation has well, focusing now exclusively on highlights from various Artemis Evans matches as the former Women's Champion continues to provide voice-over. One week ago, I 'earned' a spot in the Dead Man's Chest match, a spot the was practically gift-wrapped for me when I was told I had to face Danica Jane (the video shows Artemis scoring the pinfall in her qualifying match) and one week from now, I will secure the next step in my rise to the top of FPW. The first step happened within months of my debut, when I made history by becoming the first ever Women's Champion )the video shows her hoisting the title above her head). The second step should have been a victory in the Free-1, but due to unforeseen circumstances plans were forced to change. But the greatest of rulers is able to adapt, and after gaining revenge against the one who wronged me, (the video shows highlights from her victory over Clutch), I was able to chart a new path the the top, one that will take me through five pretenders to the throne, and solidify my position as the best damn wrestler in this place."  The video fades out on a shot of Artemis standing atop the turnbuckle with her arms outstretched, confidently staring into the distance.

[marileeg17]

BO: The ends justify the means...You talk about my diction being telling. I think that's the most telling thing of all and maybe the most true to who you really are type of thing you've ever said.

The ends justify the means. I gotta tell you MDE, that's not exactly original and I've got my guesses to who you picked that up from. Because in the brief time I've known you, but from everything I know of you, your career has been focused on one end: you. You call me selfish? I watched your documentary to get inside your head once before and it worked. And I learned all about the way you only cared about showing up, wrestling your match and to hell with everyone else. You may have brought something out in Jerry with your training but I've gotta tell ya, that's one thing I know you can never change. Because Jerry cares. He cares about everyone, top to bottom. And no amount of techniques you show him or moves you add to his arsenal is ever going to change that.

The ends justify the means. I wonder how Berry feels about that. Jerry loves his sister more than anything else in the world. Do you think he really shrugs his shoulders, understands as you say, what you did when what you did was to his flesh and blood? Again, calling me the selfish one, but you made this about yourself the second you decided to play mind games with him using his sister as bait. Sure, your ends may justify the means in your mind, and sure maybe you really did do it to bring out Jerry's best side. But if you really were doing something in his best interest, you would have stayed the hell away from his sister.

But this isn't about Berry and frankly, you've made it so it's not even about Jerry. Face it MDE, this go back to the one blemish in your win column. It goes back to the fact that you've never beaten me and that eats at you. It eats at you so much that what could have just been a match between you and I, you dragged Jerry into it. For what? To try to break him down even more? To force him to choose quite literally between you and I? When it's been you who forbid him from seeing me, you who have punished him for being himself. No, you've got it all wrong. Your sick, selfish choices and yours alone are what has led us here.

And you barely even care. You are so focused on building this carbon copy MDE clone that you've failed to see what this is doing to Jerry. But I have. And it breaks my heart. So I'm willing to do what you never will and that's think of someone else's needs. On Sunday, you'll have your chance to climb out of the losing column against me. But as I've said before, I'm fighting for a lot more than a perfect record. What I'm fighting for is worth something real, tangible. It's a fight I can't lose. You've lost to me twice before, third time won't be the charm because unlike back then when I fought for titles and power, now I'm fighting for Jerry. And he is worth more to me than that stuff will ever be.

The ends here are simple. I win and you stay away from the Bishop family. Stay in FPW or not, I don't care, but your influence over Jerry stops on Sunday. That is the only end I'll accept, and one that will no doubt justify my means. Everything to this point and everything from when the first bell rings to when I have my hand raised high in the air. 3-0 in wins and 1-0 with the biggest victory of all, saving Jerry from you.

Sept 26, 2019 17:59:57 GMT Jim Houston said:

MDE sits in the same pose, in the same ring, in the same state as he was yesterday. Once again he addresses the camera directly.

“Orton, I heard what you had to say after my last message. I’ll keep this fairly short. I want to examine a couple of things you said because I think they’re very telling. You said ‘I got Jerry into the Free-1’. You said ‘I wasn’t going to let someone else ruin that opportunity for him’. Once again, you’re making this about you. You say you’re choosing to do something for Jerry... I fail to see how. He’s standing in front of a mirror tearing himself in two because your choices forced this match to happen. You chose to join us in the Free-1. You chose to cost Jerry the B Block. You chose those things because you needed to be in the spotlight. And now you’re choosing to force the issue and to turn Jerry’s redemption and development into a story all about you. But guess what, this story doesn’t end well for you. This story ends with you seeing the man you’re trying to hold down fly off to meet his potential with someone who truly cares supporting him to get there.

“How about my choices? You bring up one of them that I made regarding Berry Bishop. I’ll admit that it was morally questionable, but I’ll stand my the fact that the ends justify the means. I needed Jerry to be so desperate to beat me that he reached a level that he didn’t even know he could reach. I saw it in him before anyone else did, including you. What I did wasn’t popular, and I know Jerry resents it in many ways, but I know he appreciates that I had my reasons and that those reasons were to help him. I almost accomplished that and would have done if you didn’t stick your nose in where it had no place. So my choice now is simple: demonstrate first hand to Jerry that only with me, by my methods and with my expertise can he be the man he knows he can be. Your way won’t cut it, just like his way and the way of his ridiculous group of friends. I choose to show Jerry that and after he sees it, he won’t need to choose anything. He’ll simply know.

“You may not like the truth I’m telling, but you know that it is just that- truth. And what’s more, you know Jerry knows it. Come next Sunday, you’ll see that Jerry knows it. And then you can watch as Jerry continues to rise, takes the FPW Championship from whoever holds it when he finally gets the chance and dominates this place like nobody has before. And when he does, even you will be forced to admit that I was telling the truth all along.”

[Jim Houston]

MDE stands in a ring surrounded by six trainees. He nods at one and they leap up in the air, looking to hit an RKO. MDE blocks it and counters into a dragon sleeper, hooking his legs around the trainee’s midsection and wrenching for a moment before they tap out. He then stands and nods to another, who comes in with another RKO. MDE catches him and counters into a backbreaker onto his knee. The next comes in for an RKO too and MDE blocks him before delivering a German suplex. Another comes in and MDE catches the arm, taking him down and locking in a crossface which makes him tap out. The fifth comes in and is countered by MDE shoving him away and driving him into the ropes, coming off with an O’Connor roll as MDE counts to three himself. The final trainee comes in and seems to catch MDE this time, but MDE only drops to a knee, blocking the full impact and quickly locking in the Simply Great Stretch, which elicits a verbal submission straight away.

MDE stands and looks into the camera, breathing a little heavily.

“Orton... I have to hand it to you... you make things a lot more interesting than most people around here do. As you say, the two of us have a history. We go back a long way. When you came to FPW a year and a half ago, it was for a match with me. It was the same time I came in actually. I wanted to wrestle you because I felt I needed to beat you for closure after everything we’d been through in 5050. How times change. I’ll gladly admit that that was why I first came here. But it wasn’t why I stayed. It certainly isn’t why I’m here now. To be honest Orton, you think this match is about me having some kind of need to beat you... I’d like to, obviously. I’d still like to prove to myself that I am as good as I always better- better, hopefully- and beating you would get me some way towards that. But to tell you the truth, I almost walked away from this place after I lost to Baker a second time. I certainly planned to walk away from being an active wrestler. I knew my future lay- and still indeed does lie- in training. I had the trainer I was looking for and I had him where I wanted him to be.

“And then you came along. And now here we are.

“This match isn’t about me beating you because I need to fix a blemish on my record. I’ve moved past that. This match is about beating you to get you out of our way. I know you don’t see it... either genuinely or by design... but you’re nothing more than an obstacle. To be honest, you’re not an obstacle for me. You’re an obstacle for Jerry. You’re the layabout who comes up to a family man in the street and tells him he used to be cool when he chooses to look after his kids instead of going out drinking at three in the afternoon like they did in the good old days. You want to good Jerry back from the man he’s slowly but surely becoming. I get it. Who else do you really have? The rest of that bunch of time-wasters left here a long time ago. Jack Sevren has rejected you. Jerry is the only person left who is even considering calling you a friend. I don’t really blame you for clinging to him like a limpet to a battered old rock. But the time has come for Jerry to move on and for you... to move aside. So I ask the same of you. When you see Jerry raising my arm, you will move on too. You won’t attempt to hold him back any longer. You’ll let him make his own choice, and that choice will be to stick with me. You’ll move aside, just as I will if you manage to beat me. For what it’s worth, I’ll give you my word on it.

“Now I’d love to leave it there... but there’s one more thing you keep bringing up. And that is Berry Bishop. I’ve explained what I did and why I did it. You say Jerry loved her more than anything... Jerry has known each of us for longer than he’s known her. I don’t want to claim that he doesn’t care for her, but their history isn’t as long as you’d make out. This Sunday Jerry will choose once and for all between the man he was and the man he will become... one day soon, he may well have to make a choice between the man he will become... and his sister. And his choice, Bobby... maybe it’ll be surprise you. The Jester. The Friendmigo. The clown. Sooner or later, each one will be snuffed out as a butterfly emerges from a chrysalis which will be cast aside and left to rot. You say this match is about me and you, Orton? You don’t know the half of it. This match is about one man and one man only and by the end... we’ll all know exactly who Jerry Bishop is.”

[Jim Houston]

Sato stands against a blank background.

“I hear about tag team gauntlet series. Guardians of Strong Style accept this will give worthy challenger. At Judgement Day II, Guardians of Strong Style defend Tag Team Championships against winners. Until then, no worthy challengers in FPW.”

[veggieleezy]

Cameras pick up on Bobby walking through the hallway. People are moving around him going about their days. As he walks, the plaques on the locker room doors remain blurred until Bobby comes across that of Jerry and Berry Bishop. He takes a deep breath and then knocks, unsurprised when Berry opens the door.

BB: Oh, hey Bobby! How's it going? You been well? I mean, how could you be with all...

Berry notices Bobby looking over her shoulder.

BB: Oh, right. You're not here to see me. But Bobby, I don't think it's a good idea for Jerry to see you before the match. I mean, hes not here anyway so it doesn't really matter but...am I rambling? I feel like I'm rambling. I'm just, this is taking such a toll on Jerry. I'm not sure what to do.

Bobby takes one last glance over Berry's shoulder before shutting and locking the door. He gently puts his hand on Berry's shoulder.

BO: I actually didn't come here to see Jerry. I came to see you. I know we don't know each other all that well but we have something in common. Your brother. And I was hoping we could talk.

Berry seems apprehensive at first, but nods as she and Bobby take a seat.

BB: Okay. If you really think it’ll help Jer-Bear. Fozzie and I have been worried sick, and I can’t imagine how this is all affecting D- da Freedom Fighters, you know?

BO: Da Freedom Fighters? ...Oh, oh yeah, “da Freedom Fighters”... I kinda know a little bit about that. Did Jerry ever tell you about the time I helped him and Che, mostly Che, set up this perfect date for Missy?

BB: We’ve talked about the early days of the Friendmigos, yeah. We even discussed whether or not I should get a mask and become a Friendmiga! But as much as I love my brother and I appreciate him bringing me into this business, that’s something I couldn’t just “get”, ya know? It’s something ya gotta earn. That’s what he taught me, anyway.

BB: Yeah, that's actually how Matt got his mask and I got my honorary Friendmigo status...But that's uh, that's a story for another day. As I've been accused of making this all about me...You know that's not why I got involved with Jerry right? I didn't do this for any reason other than to keep him out of MDE'S sphere of influence. I mean, if anyone understands that, it would be you.

BB: That’s true. It’s really hard to get used to it, and my skin still feels like it’s crawlin’ in worms whenever I look at him, but Jerry’s been winning and that’s what he wanted, isn’t it? But he’s also really unhappy. I can tell. Fozzie’s been staying with me at my place these days because Jerry won’t even come out of his room for game night anymore. Have you ever played two-player Clue? It’s bad enough Fozzie always wins, but playing Clue with two people is just ridiculous!

BO: So that's why I'm here. I don't want to open up old wounds for you, but I mean, have you heard what that jackass has been saying? That a time could come when Jerry needs to make a choice between the man he's becoming and you? His own sister? That's sick. And if MDE thinks for one second Jerry is going to choose him over you, he clearly doesn't know Jerry the way we do.

BB: I appreciate the concern, Bobby. And you’re probably right. At least I hope you are. But I can’t get involved in this. If Jerry wanted my help, he would have asked me himself. I want Jerry to be happy just as much as you and everyone else, but he’s chosen not to involve me in this fight. And if that was his choice, then he made it on purpose, and he made it for a reason. I’m sorry, Bobby, but I can’t get involved in this.

BO: You're probably right. I just thought...I guess I don't know what I was expecting. But I know the kind of position that would put you in and I don't want that. I just want to help your brother and I feel like, I feel like I'm on an island. Maybe I went too far. Maybe I meddles where I shouldn't have. I just couldn't let MDE brainwash Jerry the way he...Nevermind.

*Berry gives Bobby a cold look.*

BB: You’re lucky I like you right now, Bobby. I’m glad you’re trying to help. You’ve been trying to preserve the Jerry you knew and that the Freedom Fighters love. But people change. You know that as well as anyone. Jerry’s told me about the pipes, Bobby, and I don’t mean playing Super Mario Brothers. You embraced something in yourself that you found you needed. You changed. And right now Jerry’s trying to find that thing inside himself. I appreciate you trying to help him find it, but this isn’t something I can do. I just can’t.

BO: I, I was a different person back then. Someone I'm embarrased to say was part of me. I embraced the darkest parts of myself and I regret it to this day. That's why I'm trying so hard here. I just don't want Jerry to go down the same path I did. But I get your position, I do. And even if I didn't, I have to accept it. I'm going to make you a promise though. At Dead Man's Chest, I'm going to leave everything I have in that ring. Winning is all that matters. Winning for Jerry, not for me. I wish I could sit back and watch but I don't have that luxury. I've been where that bastard wants to take your brother and I can't just sit back and let him do it

Berry remains silent and Bobby gets the hint.

BO: Wish me luck.

BB: I just want Jerry to be happy.

BO: When I win, he will be.

BB: That’s for him to decide, isn’t it?

Bobby gives her a smile and then leaves. As the door closes behind them he pulls out a piece of paper with Che, Matt and now Berrys names crossed off.

BO: Guess I'm going to have to do this alone.