Uncensored Promo Thread

[The_Aviator_GB]

@theaviatorgb

Big talk, Clutch, but my name's not Dick, so keep it out of your fuckin' mouth. Once I win my championship back, if you want a shot, you're more than welcome...just don't anticipate it going any different than the last time we faced off. 

[The_Aviator_GB]

A klaxon sounds, and as a red light flashes three times, four silhouettes are seen...before a blinding light fills the background, revealing a smoky cement room. The four shapes of Death Squad are easily seen, Knight sitting in the middle as Balmer stands behind her, the two new members crouched to either side, both wearing their masks up over their faces. Knight begins speaking, slowly, calculated...but just as lethal as ever. 

Still...no answer. No invitation to compete, no...further invocation of Death Squad. We brutalized the Baxter Brothers, and what do we get for it? 

The silence hangs on the air. 

Nothing. They get an opportunity in the tag title gauntlet, and they challenge Hunter Killer in a sad, poor losing effort. They try to make something of themselves, and while they sully the name of this tag team division, your former tag team champions sit on the sidelines, watching and waiting. Silence on all fronts, no Jim Houston reaching out to admonish us for our return, no offer of a contract for our tag team titles...no, just radio silence. 

Again, there is nothing. Knight sighs, and Balmer pulls his mask down. 

Evan Rorsche cost my blood these tag team championships, and as Evan Rorsche was at fault, he offered himself up as a sacrifice so that Death Squad could flourish in our virtuous mission. We've come to bring glory to Freedom Pro Wrestling once again, as we had months ago, as we had when we defeated the Guardians of Strong Style to win the tag team championships, when we vanquished Marcus and Morgan before they could sully the All Star Tag Team Tournament with their name, when we vanquished the Bishops in a moment that would have been naught but a false win. 

Now, we sit in waiting. We'll be watching this gauntlet, of course, but we demand a challenge. Titles, no titles...we want a match to show that Death Still Comes Knocking. That Death looms in wait. 

Balmer smiles, a vicious grin. 

We're waiting, Houston. And we're getting far, far too hungry. 

[The_Aviator_GB]

We enter on a clip of Go Shihei standing in a ring, wearing a new pair of black and gold trunks with similar boots and kneepads. Shihei cracks his knuckles as a group of three trainees stare him down. Kate Mustang stands next to Shihei, a wicked smile on her face.

Any of you take Shihei down, throw him over the top rope, eliminate him in any fashion, well...you can consider yourselves paid double. If not, you get the standard rate. 

Mustang nods to Shihei, and he enters a fighting posture as the trainees ready themselves. In the next few moments, the trainees rush forward, but Shihei cuts two down with a twin clothesline. He grabs one and hauls him to the outside with a massive powerbomb, sending him crashing down onto the arena floor, before grabbing another trainee and hauling them over the top rope. The last one nails Shihei with a clothesline, sending him into the ropes, but as he tries to follow up with another, Shihei grabs him and launches him to the outside with a massive Belly to Belly suplex. Shihei rolls back into the center of the ring, crouching onto his knees and sitting in wait as Mustang chuckles, looking to a camera that recorded the entire endeavor. 

Freedom Pro Wrestling, your new Freedom Pro Champion, coming this Sunday...is Go Shihei. I want to keep my eggs in multiple baskets, and Graham Baker seems a little...preoccupied, so if he can't get the job done, I assure you that my Holy Fury certainly will. 

[Covenant]

hunted, killed

We open to the sound of padded fists colliding against a heavy bag with a high degree of force. Sooner than later, our frame illuminates with the source of this sound: a muscular, stocky individual sporting a pair of black jeans and black boots to go with black wrapping around his wrists and equally black MMA gloves unleashing a flurry of strikes into a heavy bag hanging from a wooden overhang in the backyard of an apartment in the warm Miami sun. Reclining behind the Dauntless Tommy Saxon on a lounger is his girlfriend, the Stargazer Ella Ripley, who dons a simple harpoon blue bikini and a pair of brown Ray Bans to shield her gaze from the sun beating down on the Suplex Sweethearts. While Tommy unloads fist after fist into the bag, the camera angles more toward his sultry sweetheart, who speaks without even acknowledging the presence of said camera.


“Some tag teams,” she begins calmly. “After having their tag team titles taken from them... They’d be spending all of their time stressing about it, wasting all of their time thinking about it. But we’re not gonna’ do that. We’re not gonna’ spend our time stressing or thinking. Instead? Instead, we’re gonna’ spend our time acting. We’re gonna’ spend our time running through each and every tag team ALPHA Wrestling’s got to offer, and y’know what? We’re gonna’ spend our time running through each and every tag team Freedom Pro’s got to offer.” Ella grins, still having yet to turn her head or eyes toward the camera. In fact, her eyes might be closed beneath her sunglasses. “While my Tommy here visualizes the faces of our opponents on the Road to Uncensored on that heavy bag, I’m here soaking up some sun before my skin has to soak up the blood we’re gonna’ spill from George of the Jungle and his sidekick, if she’s even gonna’ bother taking her head out of Ana Somnia’s ass long enough to show up. I’m here resting up and getting my body right, because after the matches my Tommy and I have been put through? The nearly five months of defending our ICW Tag Team Championships while also embarrassing the ALPHA World Tag Team Champions again and again, it takes a toll, you know… But soon enough? Soon enough, my Tommy and I are gonna’ walk into the building, watch as every tag team in Freedom Pro’s jaws drop and they drool over what a real tag team looks like, and then we’re gonna’ dismantle the tag team division one Suplex at a time. And it’s gonna’ start with our opponents, who won’t be able to call themselves anything but Hunted, Killed once we’re through with ‘em.”

A smirk spreads across Ella’s tanning visage before a particularly noteworthy strike from Saxon into the heavy bag usurps the focus of the camera. Tommy turns from the bag and cocks his head to either side to crack his neck before wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. He narrows his eyes into the camera and allows his upper lip to twitch and then curl in contempt before he speaks for the first time to the FPW universe.


“I can already bloody tell,” he spits. “I can already tell there isn’t a single sodding person or tag team in this rubbish company that I’m not gonna’ want to send my fist through their teeth. We came here to Freedom Pro to bring the tag team division back to life, and sure enough, before the ink on our contracts was even dry, everybody and their uncle decided to follow us here to the tag team division. It’s no bother, though, is it, pet?” Ella nods without looking over at Tommy or the camera. Tommy turns back to the camera with a cocky grin. “A proper tag team division is what this company’s needed since the beginning, mates. And filling the division with these teams for us to knock out in proper fistfights, it’s a start. Once my Ella and I have the Freedom Pro Tag Team Championships ‘round our waists, we’ll be even closer to havin’ a real tag team division here. And that all starts with us taking on the so called Hunter Killers. Whether it’s that Capetown cunt Sara Daniels or her partner from the armpit of America, which is an armpit itself… It’s not goin’ to bleedin’ matter who Jim Houston puts in front of us… We’re going to wrap our fists in brass knuckles and shut ‘em all up, and then we’re going to Suplex them until our backs hurt. And once we’ve thrown ‘em all around the ring like they’re nothin’? They ARE nothing, babe. You’re not wrong, love. Once we’ve thrown ‘em all around the ring like that? We’re going to take this division to new heights, those titles to new heights.”

Tommy nods, satisfied with his words, before turning around and returning to his working frustrations out on the heavy bag. At this point in time, the Colby Kid sits up on her lounger and swivels her frame around, crossing her muscular and glistening legs one over the other. Removing her sunglasses, she places them on the small table beside the piece upon which she sits and narrows her eyes at the camera. She puckers her lips ever-so-slightly before snickering and speaking.


“Something you guys are gonna’ learn about us,” starts the Stargazer. “Is that we’re gonna’ prefer to let our fists, our Suplexes do our talking for us. We’ve done it our whole careers, and we’re not about to stop doing what earned us the ICW Tag Team Classic, earned us the ICW Tag Team Championship for nearly five months. We’re gonna’ keep doing it until we get our titles back and until we get the ALPHA World Tag Team Championships AND the Freedom Pro Tag Team Championships... And once we’ve got all three belts around our waists?” Ella chuckles imperiously before rising to her feet and strutting sultrily over to Tommy, wrapping herself around him and kissing him rather passionately. When she breaks the kiss, she flicks her gaze back to the camera. “After some serious celebration, we’re gonna’ keep on Suplexin’ anyone and everyone in our way. Because we are the single best tag team in any company in the ICW. The best bloody tag team in the industry, pet. And we’re never gonna’ stop breaking our opponents’ bodies and minds with our technical ability in that ring, our brute force in that ring. And we’re gonna’ show the world what real tag team wrestling looks like.”

Ella turns to face Tommy, who looks affectionately into her eyes before supplying one last qualifier to Ripley’s confident diatribe.


“One Suplex at a time.”

With this, he plants another passionate kiss on Ella’s lips, though the kiss seems to transition into something in the realm of heavy petting. We fade to black on the image of the Suplex Sweethearts kissing each other like they intend to make Hunter Killer’s backs kiss the floor again and again and again...

[The_Aviator_GB]

We enter on Liz Karlson, without her Undisputed Freedom Championship, looking to be furious. She looks dead into the center of the camera, still bearing bruises and bumps from her sixty minute classic against Ana Somnia this weekend as well as her ambush from Danica Jane just mere weeks ago. She laughs, a harsh, grating thing for a moment before she begins speaking. 

There's one thing I hate more in this world than basic bitches like Vanessa Scott who think that the world should be handed to them on a silver platter because they were so fuckin' lucky to be born with their eyes and nose in the right fuckin' spot, and that's people like Danica Jane who cling to their boyfriends' jocks to try and get anything they want in the whole fuckin' world. Danica, that was a cute little trick you pulled on me, y'know, taking my fuckin' belt and laying me out before I could get to the ring to rip a pound of flesh off Vanessa Scott's pretty little ass, but now you're gonna realize that suchI an action has consequences. 

Karlson holds a finger up, pointing to herself. 

In the event that your boyfriend didn't tell you that it was alright to look into, y'know, who I am, or your little eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing, I am, in fact, one hundred percent that bitch. I've gone ass-to-grinder against one of the top women's wrestlers in the world twice, I was the inaugural Nike Pro Combat Champion, and I beat not one but two people to unify the championship that you've stolen from me. I was planning on turning Scott's cute little face into ground beef with a series of uncomfortably sharp tools, but now that you've gone and pissed me off, I can easily redirect my anger just from her and split it into both you motherfuckers. Trust me, Little Lizzy might be small, but I've got enough hate to go around. Now, Danica, that you've made such an egregious error in judgment, I'm going to beat the fucking brakes off of you, I'm going to batter you senseless, I'm going to throw fucking chairs and tables and doors and ladders and anything I can get my fucking hands on at you, and then, once you've had enough, I'm going to pin you and take my fucking championship back. 

Vanessa Scott, well, she'll be there, but after she sees what I'm doing to you i'm sure she'll understand it's smart to just stay out of my fucking way after I start the match off by slapping half the teeth out of your mouth. You might think you've got an ace in the hole, that you've got an advantage, that you're in my head, but really, you've just put yourself in my crosshairs, and I'm looking to cause some fuckin' damage, nah, not just that, I'm gonna get my anger out by beating the shit out of you. 

That's a promise, Danica. It's one I intend on keeping.

Karlson pauses for a moment, looking back to the camera.

Oh, and, 'Nessa, Danica, the game's changed a little bit...because I'm gonna be defending my belt at Uncensored in a fucking deathmatch. Good luck.

Karlson gives a half-hearted wave before she walks off screen, clearly bubbling up with fury. 

[Jim Houston]

Jim Houston stands outside his office with Dasha Banks.

DB: I have Jim Houston with me. Mr. Houston, we have a new FPW Champion. Is he who you expected?
JH: I didn't know what to expect. MDE is the FPW Champion and he earned it by winning that match. I won't dispute that. I offer MDE my congratulations and also my expectations. I expect him to represent FPW and the FPW Championship in a manner befitting the prestige that Championship has earned over time. I don't expect to be let down.
DB: And now we're two weeks away from Uncensored. At the start of the show you said that the new FPW Champion would defend the title against a deserving challenger at Uncensored. Who do you plan to have MDE defend the title against?
JH: Well there were two left at the end of the match. MDE didn't pin Berry Bishop. Instead he threw her over the top rope. So I think it's only fair for Berry Bishop to get the chance at the FPW Championship that she has earned. That will be main event of Uncensored.
DB: ... Wow. Um... W-

Dasha pauses as Botiatus limps up to Jim Houston.

B: I went into that match at one. I lasted through everyone. If not for Death Squad, I'd have been the one holding that title. That was bullshit and you know it. What are you going to do about it?
JH: Bo- you did a wonderful job as the first entrant. I agree that you could well have been standing here as the FPW Champion if not for Death Squad. So here's what I'm going to do about it. At Uncensored, you'll have a match against Death Squad. Now I'll let you find two partners if you want to- or if you can- but you don't seem to have made too many friends since you came here. I don't mind whether it's three-on-one, three-on-two or a six-man tag. That's up to you. But if you want to get revenge, you've got your chance.

Bo stares at Houston for a few moments before nodding.

B: Thank you.

Botiatus walks away as Houston turns back to Dasha.

DB: That's a big match. What else do you have for us for Uncensored?
JH: Well we have the two matches I've made tonight, plus we know we have the next round of the Tag Team Number One Contender Gauntlet Series. We also have Elizabeth Karlson facing Vanessa Scott and Danica Jane in a deathmatch for the Freedom Championship and we know that Jace Mason will defend his Judgement Day main event berth against Aaron Williams. But we still have several top-level FPW wrestlers without a match. So-

Houston is interrupted again, this time by Adam Thompson.

JH: Adam. You got a great reception tonight. I'm glad you agreed to come here for another match.
AT: I said I'd do one more match. But I meant what I said in the ring. There was one man I didn't beat when I was here and I want the chance to put that right. If you'll have me for another match- and this will definitely be my last- I want that chance at Uncensored. I faced Graham Baker once and I couldn't beat him. I respected him for that and for what he did afterwards. But he's lost that respect from me because of who he's become lately. Give me the chance to beat some respect back into him and put my record right.
JH: Adam Thompson versus Graham Baker? That's a match I'd be delighted to add to Uncensored. And if you win, maybe you'll consider rejoining us on a more permanent basis?
AT: Maybe.

Thompson walks away and Houston turns back to Dasha.

JH: I wasn't expecting to be able to sign off on that one.
DB: It's a hell of a match. It's set up to be a great show. And-
JH: Sorry to interrupt you, Dasha, but I do have two more matches I want to include. Artemis Evans was eliminated from the Rumble by Go Shihei. In my eyes, that means Shihei deserves the chance to show what he can do against her. I won't put the Dead Man's Chest on the line as I don't want it to become something that is defended, but a win for Go Shihei would go a long way to him getting certain opportunities in the future. And finally, there is one more match I want to add. TakeOver have been somewhat dominant recently and they were for a period in the Rumble. Between them they eliminated more than anybody. But there is a man who has been desperate to see the end of them. So at Uncensored, we will have Jack Sevren going one on one with Marcus Allen Jones.
DB: Wow. As we're on the way to Judgement Day, we've got a show which will take some beating. Thank you for your time.
JH: No problem. I look forward to seeing just how good this show becomes.

[Jim Houston]

MDE, FPW Championship in his hand, walks down the corridor after the end of the Royal Rumble match. Ted Crewmember stands with mic in hand halfway down the corridor. As MDE looks up from the belt, he smirks slightly.

MDE: You again?
TC: Yes. Me again.
MDE: She still couldn't-
TC: Let's just get this done. So you're the new FPW Champion. How do you feel?
MDE: Just give me that.

MDE takes the mic and pushes Ted out of shot. He looks straight down the lens of the camera while holding up the FPW Championship.

"Finally... finally I've won this. For a long time in my career, I talked about championships with disdain. I talked about them as a sparkly, glittery prize handed out by people who didn't know anything about what true wrestling is. Opportunities to win championships were given to people who played to the crowd and sold lots of t-shirts while the true best wrestlers who didn't lower themselves to such things were consistently overlooked. And Freedom Pro Wrestling was exactly the same. Until now. On the rare occasions I've been given the chance to win titles, I've almost always managed to win them and hold them for a very long time. When I finally got this chance, I did just that. And now I plan to hold this belt for longer than Baker. For longer than Jones. For longer than Thompson. This FPW Championship is finally around the waist of a man who is a true wrestler, a pure wrestler. And I will not lose this belt until... how did one man put it... until it is prised from my cold, dead hands.

"I don't care who I defend it against. Berry Bishop first? Fine. I've faced Berry before... but that was a very different time. That was a very different Berry. And that was certainly a very different MDE. Back then I was tired. I was burning myself out. But now? Now I'm rejuvenated. Now I'm a new man. Now I plan to hold this belt for a long time and Berry is the first to fail to take it from me. I know Berry better now than I did before. I know how desperate she is to beat me. She may be desperate, but it's not about how much you want something; it's about how capable you are of taking it. Berry... and all of the people in the arena... will be desperate to see me defeated, but I will disappoint her and I will disappoint them because Berry Bishop is not good enough to take this from me. The FPW Championship finally has a worthy champion and there's no way I'll allow anybody to change that.

MDE walks away, but then turns back to the camera.

"Oh... one more thing. When I defend this against Berry Bishop in two weeks' time... I'll have my new partner, Jerry Bishop, by my side."

MDE then turns and walks away, continuing to eye the belt as he walks up the corridor.

[marileeg17]

After the Road to Uncensored goes off the air, cameras follow Bobby O back behind the curtain. His fist is balled up and shaking, hiding something. As Bobby reaches the hallway by the locker rooms, he unfurls his fist, revealing the torn mask of Jerry Bishop. Bobby sighs heavily and begins talking to himself, or rather, to the mask in his hand, unaware the cameras are on him.

BO: Maybe I...maybe I went too far. The mask, there's nothing more sacred to a luchador...or to a Friendmigo...I knew that. And yet, I took that from you anyway. And a small part of me doesn't regret it. A small part of me knows I did the right thing. The person you've become, he doesn't deserve this mask and all that it stands for. People might say it wasn't my choice to make but I feel like it was. Maybe you'll wake up now. Maybe you'll hate me, but if it brings you back it's worth it. I told you I'd never quick on you and I meant it. I just, it's out of my hands now...

Bobby goes to throw the mask in the trash but then thinks twice as he looks up to see he's stood in front of Berry Bishop's locker and sitting outside is Fozzie. The bear initially bristles at Bobby but soon recognizes him and warms up to be petted. Bobby grabs a pen and paper, oddly enough, from Fozzie, and jots down a note before rolling it up like a scroll and tying the mask around it.

BO: Make sure Berry gets this, okay Fozzie?

Fozzie nods, taking the task he's been given very seriously.

BO: Good bear.

Bobby smiles as he pets Fozzie's ear.

BO: It may not seem this way but I really am doing all of this for him. But right now...I know I went too far tonight. It's Berry's now. She'll take good care of it. Hopefully sew it back together. Because one day, he'll be ready for it again...I know it.

Bobby sighs again as he pats Fozzie one last time before continuing on his way.

[marileeg17]

Shortly after Jim Houston's announcement of the Uncensored card, Marcus sends out a tweet:

HisMAJesty: Thank you @fpwhouston. Thank you Freedom Fighters. Thank you FPW. On January 29, 2018, I insinuated myself in a title match, stole the belt and held it hostage. A month later, I introduced the guys to my left and right, who helped me that night. I gave us a name: TakeOver. God created this world and didn't hesitate to destroy it, saving only a few and two of each animal. At Uncensored, I finally get my hands on the jackass and unlike God to Noah, I won't be so kind. No one gets spared. I created this monster and now, I start my journey to destroy it. One by one, they'll all...fall...DOWN!

[botiatus]

Bo is back in the gym with J. They sit at a table off to the side as J pulls out a laptop.

J- "Let's go over the roster. I'm sure there's someone we can find for you to tag with at Uncensored"

Bo scoffs

Bo- "Houston isn't slick. He knows I don't have any friends here. And why should I? This roster is 90 percent assholes"

J flips open the laptop

J- "Is that including you?"

Bo- "Touche"

J- "Look man I know how much you hate to have to rely on anyone else. But let's be serious even as good as you are you can't win a three on one fight. Not against Death Squad anyways. So as much as it might pain you to do this I don't see any other way. Now about those partners..."

J looks back to the laptop but Bo quickly closes it

Bo- "I don't need to look at the roster. I know exactly who I need already. The card is already pretty stacked which limits my options of available partners to begin with. So picking was pretty easy"

J- "Well that's great! But if you already picked your partners then why are we talking right now instead of training with them?"

Bo- "Yeah that's the problem. I haven't exactly asked either of them yet"

J- "So let's go ask em. I know you haven't rubbed everyone here the right way but you just went for longer than anyone in the Royal Rumble and you had the most eliminations too. I'm sure everyone here at this point respects your talent in the ring and would feel confident with you as a tag partner"

No- "Thanks J but that's the OTHER problem. I'm sure that I could convince either one of them to tag with me. I'm just not sure I can get them to tag with each other. Well, one of them at least"

J looks confused but Bo gives him a knowing look and the realization washes over him

J- "You can't be serious. You want THOSE TWO"

Bo- "I'm House Rules serious. Death Squad has already been scoffing at me in interviews since I first got here. And now they cost me the title. They break every Rule in the book and they do it with a smile on their faces. They have a serious lesson coming in the form of an ass kicking and I'm going to make sure they get it. So I don't really care about the beef between those two guys, I want them on my team"

J- "I hear you bro believe me. And I agree that the three of you would make a great team. But you saw what happened between them. You were in the ring for that shit. There's just no way you'll get them both to agree to work together. It's a shame too cause like you said I'm sure individually that either of them would tag with you"

Bo jumps out of his seat, a lightbulb going off in his head

Bo- "J this is why you're my Ace. You have genius ideas and you don't even know it sometimes"

Bo begins to walk off quickly but J calls out

J- "Where you going?"

Bo- "To get some dinner. And my tag partners"

Bo walks off quickly with the gym for slamming behind him

[veggieleezy]

*Camera comes up inside Jerry Bishop’s home as he returns from the Rumble match. Bishop opens the door, holding a hand to his maskless face with his gear bag over one shoulder. He drops the bag at the door with a hand still at his face.*

JB: Fozzie? You here, partner?

*Silence. Bishop nods in realization.*

JB: That’s right, he told me he’d be staying with Berry for a while. ...and I can’t really blame him. So I guess I’m on my own.

*Bishop drifts into the kitchen and opens the fridge.*

JB: Again.

*Bishop grabs a Dr Pepper before replacing it and walking off*

JB: As usual.

*Bishop sloughs into the living room. He absently arrives at his record player.*

JB: ...sure, might as well put a soundtrack to all of this.

*Bishop searches through his collection, of which many albums were passed down from his (and Berry’s) father.*

JB: No... No... No... Hang on, what’s this?

*Bishop withdraws an album entitled “The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd”, which has his father’s initials marked on it. Bishop looks the album over*

JB: Huh, how come I haven’t spun this one before? I mean, Dad’s a big musical theatre guy, I thought I’d heard them all before. Why haven’t I heard this one?

*Bishop places the record on his turntable and drops the needle onto the vinyl. He hears the opening bars of a song and heads to his liquor cabinet.*

JB: Screw it. I’ve been through enough. I need some kind of strength.

*As Bishop pours his drink he hears the first lyrics of this track and stops in place*

JB: Oh... oh... Now I get it, Dad...

*Bishop pours himself a few fingers of bourbon before settling into his chair. As the song proceeds, he sips deeply and feels the burn, but he also pulls out his phone. Bishop opens his photos and looks at a picture of himself, Berry, and Dasha Banks in front of a lively Freedom Fighter crowd.*

JB: Dear God...

*As the song fades, Jerry reaches his free hand toward his face but withdraws as the song reaches its climax. Instead, he looks at the picture of one of the highest points of his life and drops it to the floor as the track fades.*

JB: ...no matter what happens, I love you, and I always will... But now... I need to turn to myself and become who I need to be. Who they need me to be. Who they deserve.

*Bishop slits the sides of his mouth as he would to call for the Chelsea Smile submission.*

JB: They need me to put a smile on their faces.

*Smash cut to black*

[noname1525]

Backstage at an FPW house show, Dasha Banks stood with Artemis Evans, who was carrying the Dead Man's Chest.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here with the winner of the 2019 Dead Man's Chest match, Artemis Evans. Artemis, aside from appearing in the rumble match for the FPW championship, you've been gone from FPW since winning that ladder match. It was requested that I do this interview to find out just where you've been."

"You want to know where I've been Dasha? Well it's quite simple. I've been away, wrestling for other companies, companies that properly recognize and respect my talent. I made the time to compete in the rumble because I couldn't just turn down a title opportunity, but aside from that, I've had better things to do than show up here. But now I've returned, and I'm here to do what I do best, which is be the best wrestler here."

Artemis turns to walk away, but stops as Dasha continues speaking.

"Well I'm sure you know this already, but you'll have a chance to prove that next Sunday, when you go one-on-one with Go Shihei-"

Artemis whirls around and cuts her off. "What! Why do I have to face that oaf?"

"Well, since he eliminated you from the rumble, Mr. Houston thought it was appropriate to put the two of you in a match."

"Bloody hell." Artemis mutters as she glared in to the distance for a moment. "I'm assuming that this is on the line in that match?" she asked, holding up the Dead Man's Chest.

"Er, no. Mr. Houston said that the Dead Man's Chest wasn't something he wanted defended."

"Good, it turns out Houston still has a few brain cells remaining. I defeated him in the Free-1, throwing me over the top rope shouldn't be seen as evening the score. Anything else I need to know about?"

Dasha thinks for a moment. "Well, the Freedom championship match is now a deathmatch, Graham Baker has a match with Adam Thompson, Berry Bishop is challenging for the FPW championship-"

Dasha stops talking as Artemis looks up sharply, a dangerous look in her eyes. There's a slight pause before Artemis speaks again.

"This interview is over get out of my face." She shoves Dasha back before turning and walking down the hall. Before the cameras fade to black, they catch her saying "I need to talk with Thea and Myra..."

[kingclutch]

*At Clutch McCloud's private gym just outside of St. Louis. It looks like it's primarily for general fitness and basketball, but the court area has been fitted to accommodate a wrestling ring. Clutch, Russ, and Crowley are on the outside. Danica is in the ring with trainees, each one brandishing a weapon*

Danica wrests the kendo stick away from one, sending her to the ground. Crowley leans toward Clutch and whispers something in his ear. Danica sees this and becomes annoyed.

Danica: "You have something you want to say Crowley?"

Crowley: Nothing you would want to hear, I'm afraid.

DJ: No, go ahead. Let's hear what (in mocking British accent) the great Sir Richard Crowley has to think.

RC: Cute....You want to know what I think? I think you're committing professional suicide. And stealing Karlson's belt? That's something a right amateur would do. You poked the bear but you have yet to find out how hard the bear bites back.

DJ: I saw a shot and I took it. I did what anyone would have done. What Steve SHOULD be doing. *looks at Clutch* Are you just going to let MDE sit there and take what's yours?

CM: This isn't about me Dani. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have the same concerns, but I have no doubt you can take the fight to Liz. And that Freedom Championship will be fully yours.

RC: Dealing with Ms Karlson would be bad enough on a regular day, but Vanessa Scott is in on it too.....

DJ: Are you going to have anything positive to say? Like, at all?

At this point, it becomes unintelligible what they're trying to say because Crowley and Jane both are trying to talk over each other. After several seconds, Clutch intervenes.

CM: Guys....GUYS......HEY!! (Danica and Crowley both turn). I appreciate the intensity, but we NEED to get back to the task at hand. And that's getting Danica ready for uncensored. Now we've been training every day, but that's not a substitute for in match experience. Crowley, why don't we see if we get Danica some type of match before then, just to prepare for the situation.

Crowley: Very well sir.

CM: Russ, you and I need to regroup and figure out where we go from here. We'll go ahead and take care of that now. *Clutch climbs on the apron and beckons Danica over. They share a small kiss before Clutch gets down* See you at home Dani.

*Clutch and Russ leave*

Crowley makes sure Clutch is gone before he turns to Danica

RC: You came really close to undermining me there. Something I would strongly advise against. Respectfully, don't give him career advice. The fact you two screw doesn't give you the qualifications to do so.

Danica takes extreme offense to this.

DJ: Just get me the damn match, Rich.

RC: Very well. But know I'm only doing this at Clutch's request. My allegiance is to him, not to you. I'll see what I can do about the match.

Crowley takes out his phone, making a call as he walks away. Before he gets out, all you can hear him say is "I have a favor I need to ask of you."

Danica, now angry, takes to the heavy bags. She quickly gets gloves on and starts punching with wild abandon.

[botiatus]

The dinner rush is clearing up at Jilly's diner and Jerry Bishop sits at his usual table. He stares blankly at the menu in front of him as he's oblivious to the world and entrenched in thought. Suddenly the music changes to Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66. Rhythmic bongos and melodic piano soon fill the air. Jerry begins to unconsciously nod his head to the music when a voice snaps him out of his fog

"I'm glad you like the song"

Jerry looks up to see Bo standing beside him in a white and blue sweat suit flashing a smile

Jerry- "Well if it isn't Mr. Unpronounceable. How'd you even find me here? Wait, don't tell me..."

Both men simultaneously say

"Ted"

Bo- "The locker room is a different animal but most of the FPW staff seem to like me. Well, except for that chirping crumpet Deville"

Bo gets Jerry to crack a slight smile to the comment

Bo- "Ted said I could probably find you having dinner here. He also said this place makes a mean grilled cheese and fries"

"Best in town let Jerry here tell it"

Both men look over to see Jilly walking up

Jilly- "Brought another one of your work friends with you huh hon?"

Jerry takes a deep breath as he resigns himself to the moment

Jerry- "Jilly this is Bo. It's his nickname because his real name is a tongue twister. Bo this is Jilly, proprietor of this fine establishment"

Bo ignores the shade from Jerry as he extends his hand

Bo- "That ain't the only thing that's fine. It's a pleasure to meet you"

Jilly- "Well don't you know how to flatter. Can I interest you in that meal perhaps?"

Bo- "Absolutely! But I have a small request. Could you add some spinach and bacon to the sandwich? I'm from Cali and I'm really craving a taste from back home"

Jilly- "Sure thing hon. I'll bet you could go for an Iced Tea too"

Bo lights up

Bo- "You just read my mind"

Jilly- I'll go ahead and let you boys chat while I put this in. He just ordered himself a couple mins ago so your food should be ready about the same time"

They both thank her as she walks away. Bo slides into a chair as Jerry exclaims slightly under his breath

Jerry- "I didn't say you could sit..."

Bo- "I believe in being up front and not beating around the bush. It's House Rules after all. So i'll get straight to the point. I was hoping you would tag with me at Uncensored to take on Death Squad"

Jerry looks completely uninterested but Bo continues

Bo- "I was this close Jerry, THIS CLOSE to beating Davey and I failed. I know you know how that feels"

Jerry's expression softens

Bo- "But the rumble was my chance to right that wrong. I went in there for over an hour and gave it everything I had. And then Death Squad stole it all away. They broke House Rules in a major way and they cost me the belt. I have to make sure that they pay for that. But as good as I am I probably can't beat them by myself. So I need help"

Jerry looks sympathetic for a moment but seems to quickly shake it off

Jerry- "I understand where you're coming from. But even if I wanted to help you I'm not sure I'd have the time. I have a lot on my plate right now"

Bo- "Ahh c'mon now Jerry. I know you've got things going on outside the ring and I'm not trying to get myself tangled in any of that. I'm just asking you for your help for one night. You don't have a match yet for Uncensored and I know you don't want to be left off of one of the biggest PPV's of the year. Plus if you do this for me then I'll owe you one. It's House Rules of course"

Jerry mulls over Bo's words

Jerry- "So let me get this straight. You want me to tag with you to take on Death Squad 2 on 3?"

Bo- "Oh no, we'll have a third partner. I just haven't figured out exactly who that'll be yet. I've got people in mind but I haven't made many friends here so I can't say for sure who will agree. That's why I decided to come to you first because I at least kind of know you already. Once I have the 3rd person we'll all meet up to train at my gym..."

Bo is cut off as Jilly returns with the food and drinks. Both men thank her as she makes sure they have everything they need before leaving again. Bo grabs his Ice Tea

Bo- "This food looks amazing and I can't wait to dive in so whataya say Jerry, do we have a deal?"

Jerry slowly reaches for his milkshake. He swigs it around in comically big circles as he thinks while somehow managing not to spill a single drop of the nearly overflowing beverage

Jerry- "The truth is I do need a match like you said. And maybe this will be a good distraction from everything else for me. Ok Bo, you got a deal"

They clink glasses and drink before tearing into their food. Suddenly Bo's phone vibrates and he pulls it out. On screen is a text that reads

"Got your message and I'm down. You were right about what happened in the Free-1 so this is the least I can do to help make things right. Let me know when and where and we can meet up to train"

Bo slides the phone back into his pocket with a smile on his face

[marileeg17]

Cameras come up on Jack Sevren, the Invaders and Hunter Killer in the TakeOver locker room, all licking their wounds from the previous night's defeats.

JS: Last night...Last night did not go the way we wanted, that's for sure. But I'm quite the optimist, a glass half-full kinda guy and what I saw tonight, was just the beginning. But first, let me set our boss straight. Jim, as I've said before, TakeOver has no leader anymore. It is merely a group of five equals who each have their own goals for the mark they want to leave on this promotion. Is it possible those goals might contradict each other? Perhaps. I do imagine a future where Hunter Killer and the Invaders engage in a friendly war over the tag team championships, and a not too far future at that...

Hunter Killer and the Invaders fist bump in the background.

JS: See. No issues here. No infighting here. That's because TakeOver is stronger together. We are a sum of all our parts, not just one. And that brings me to what happened last night. As a unit, we were dominating the rumble, but, I should have known...See, Jack Sevren these days is quite the popular man. Quite the "wanted' man you might say. And while I must say I'm quite flattered, this little infatuation members of our roster have with me, it proved problematic. Everybody wants a piece of TakeOver especially my old friend and this group's old leader. Let's start with Bobby though. Baby O, Orton Jr., I've called you many things over the years. And I use the word friend loosely because that word isn't one of them. See Bobby, and you know this already, I didn't come here to make nice. Maybe you did, but look where that's got you. You've always fancied yourself this knight in shining armor, even when you haven't been. But I get it, that's your MO. You feel you have to save everybody else, because you can't save yourself. Can't save yourself from the path that you and I both know is never far from your mind. And there I am, somewhat of a manifestation of those thoughts. Because I bring out the worst in you Bobby, and you bring out my best. You and I will settle this one way or the other, but it was good enough for me that you didn't win the rumble. Or the dead man's chest. Or even get to enter the Free-1. Hmm, maybe I was wrong, maybe I'm the one obsessed with you and obsessed with making sure everything you do or don't do here, has my mark on it. But you've got bigger problems than me and TakeOver at the moment, so I'll leave you to them while I shift my gears to the marquee.

And speaking of "marquee..."

Dario scoffs causing Jack to smirk.

JS: Marcus, Marcus, Marcus. Whatever to do about you? You didn't exactly make many friends here when you were running things. Seems that may be starting to turn around for you though, I still don't exactly see anybody jumping to your defense these days. Your friends were all in this room and now, they're my friends. And my friends can't be your friends. That would simply be an impossible paradox. So you've got no friends, you've got no allies. And I have four. It's just not fair, but you're the master of not fair. The way you treated the four in this room...That's why TakeOver has no leader. No ego. We're simply five individuals bonded in a few ideals. And as it would turn out, seeing to it that your career ends before it even has a chance to begin, is one of them. I suppose you got a modicum of revenge eliminating me, eliminating Baker. I didn't win the title, but you didn't either. And I don't know about these guys, but right now, that's good enough for me. Because at Uncensored, its 1 vs 5 and I'm not afraid to be upfront about it. Unlike you, hiding your plans in the shadows, TakeOver 2.0 is pretty simple. We hit hard, we hit often, we hit always. You don't need to look for us in the shadows, you'll find us in plain sight. So I'm giving you the courtesy of saying, you might want to find a few guys to watch your back. Because as good as you think you are, I'm better, and we're sure as hell better. I'll have a TakeOver member in every corner and you'll have nothing.

You picked this fight Marcus. I was willing to just step over you on my way to greatness. On our way to greatness. But you couldn't let it go. You claim you've got to destroy what you created, but we both know that's not really what you want. You just want people to think it is. Because you are what you claim to be, one of the smartest men in pro wrestling. I know you have an end game here. And I sure as hell know its not these peoples' respect. So maybe when all is said and done, I'll shake your hand and give you some advice. Because I see a younger me in you, Marcus. And that means you can be the best in the game one day...just not today.