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WELCOME HOME." ====================================================================== _____________________________ |_____________________________| ___ ___ ___ ___ / /\ \ \ / / / / T H E R E 'S / / \ \ \ / / / / / / \ \ \ \ /\ / / / / J U S T / / \ \ \ \/ \ / / / / / / \ \ \ \ V / / / N O /__/ \__\ \__\___\/ /__/ _____________________________ S U B S T I T U T E |_____________________________| ====================================================================== : Last Week [Daki] Now, I know, many of you may have little idea who I am ... my name is Daki Chamberlin, and I *am* the standing President of Allied Wrestling International. I would like to clarify that, with no confusion: *I* am the standing President of the Allied Wrestling Board of Directors. >>>--[Forward Cut]--------------------------------------------------|> [Daki] BUT ... but, given time to heal, time to reflect on the nature of what had happened and what had caused it, I now understand that mistakes were made. Mistakes were made that can not and will not be repeated. And foremost among those mistakes is the realization that this company is not ABOUT my son's principles. It is not ABOUT tact, about honor, about diplomacy, or showmanship. The AWI is about BUSINESS ... it is about making *money* ... it is about making ME money. >>>--[Forward Cut]--------------------------------------------------|> {The crowd begins to stir in audible unrest, sensing swerve.} [Daki] I warned a man once, the man responsible for my absence: This is the AWI, this is my HOME, THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. I say that again, and I want every athlete in this company to understand just what that means. >>>--[Forward Cut]--------------------------------------------------|> [Daki] Now, Jerry Straite seems to have shown straying eyes as well ... so, as tonight you receive a World title bout, so next week you will see HIM defend his North American championship against a worthy contender ... the Master of the Northern Lights Suplex, Maurice Jackson! >>>--[Forward Cut]--------------------------------------------------|> [Daki] Very well, Hector, Jaysen ... next week, I say -- and therefore, I promise -- you will receive the ultimate in championship consideration. Next week, YOU will face Scott Bradley and Toshiaki Hasegawa for their North American Titles, in Masters and Straite's place ... AND you will face Mike Kirwan and John Smith -- >>>--[Forward Cut]--------------------------------------------------|> {He begins to step down the platform, stops, and a hint of a smile crosses his face.} [Daki] Oh, and -- enjoy the show. {Daki exits to an enthusiastic, but decidedly mixed response from the crowd, which seems split down the middle between cheering his match selections and booing his Gordon Gecko impression. Fade to black.} ====================================================================== {The sound of whistling wind and the familiar guitar lick of Golden Earring's "Twilight Zone" accompany the scene of a pair of gloved hands in front of a black background loading a round into a rifle, then snapping the chamber shut. The gun turns towards the screen, and almost at the same time the camera view turns with it, to end up behind the sight.} [Music] It's 2am (it's 2 am)/Fear is gone (fear is gone) I'm somewhere where/The Gun's still warm Thinking my connection/Is tired of taking chances {The black background is interrupted by a roaming "gunsight" view, within which AWI action can be seen; the sight moves across the screen, every so often cutting to change directions (and video footage).} [Music]: Now I'm steppin' into the Twilight Zone ... {Sight moves from left to right; Danny Boy McGill cinches the McGill Leglock on D.A. Bookthrower.} [Music]: This is a madhouse/Feels like being home ... {Sight moves from bottom upwards; Robbie Stevens mugs on the mic with Corey Bonham close in tow.} [Music]: My feet they can't move/Under moon and star ... {Sight moves from lower left to center and back to upper left (in a ">" pattern); Reverend Jeremiah James hoists Steve the Insane into a Cross of Burdens powerbomb onto a table.} [Music]: Where am I to go Now that I've gone too far ... {Sight moves from lower right to upper left in broad arc; Tank Bradley subjects Justice to the Nail in the Coffin.} [Music]: You will come to know/when the bullet hits the bone. {Sight moves from left to right, jagging up and down erratically; Steve the Insane throws Nick Vorpal into a Frontal Lobotomy.} [Music]: You will come to know ... when the bullet hits the bone ... {Cut to a scene of four simultaneous "gunsights" (without the internal video), converging on slightly wobbly paths towards the lower left corner. As the four intersect, a loud drumbeat corresponds with the crack of a gunshot; the screen flashes bright white, then fades into the logo: ====================================================================== __ __ __ __ ____ =================== /\ \ /\ \ /\ \/\ \/\ _\ /~/\ \~\ /~/ /~/ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \ `\\ \ \ \L_ / /\ \ \ \/\/ / / / \ \ \ \ \ \\ \ , ` \ \ _\ /_/ \_\ \_\_\/ /_/ \ \ \__\ \ \\ \ \`\ \ \ \L_ =================== \ \___\\ \_\\ \_\ \_\ \___\ \/___/ \/_/ \/_/\/_/\/___/ __|__ / | \ ___ ____ __ _____ ____ { /|\ } /'___\ /\ _\ /\ \ /\ __`\ /\ _\ ---+-|-O-|-+--- ___ /\ \__/ \ \ \/_\ \ \\ \ \L\ )\ \ \L_ { \|/ } / __`\ \ ,__\ \ \ _\\ \ \\ \ , / \ \ _\ \__|__/ /\ \L\ \ \ \_/ \ \ \/ \ \ \\ \ \\ \ \ \ \L_ | \ \____/\ \_\ \ \_\ \ \_\\ \_\ \_\\ \___\ \/___/ \/_/ \/_/ \/_/ \/_/\/_/ \/___/ ====================================================================== : Kiel Arena, St. Louis, MO >>-AERIAL VIEW-<< {The camera takes an obligatory pan around the crowd , showing off the cheering fans. More than one "Welcome Back AWI" (or similar) signs can be seen, mixed in with several Super-Bowl brags. The camera eventually zooms in towards the ringside announcer's table. >>-PRESS TABLE-<< [Justin Escobar] OLA, aficianados! This IS Line of Fire 2000, and as you've just seen, we have an amazing set of matches tonight -- though perhaps an event not constructed under the most admirable of circumstances ... [Chad Swayze] Hey, don't hold back, Justino -- let it all out, tell the Big Guy what you REALLY think ... I can see it now: CHAD'S ROADHOUSE 2000!!! [Mike Marone] He may have a point there, Justin -- maybe we'd better be a bit more diplomatic. Like, not hitting him and stuff. [Escobar] Diplomatic or not, the fact of the matter is, Intensity will be facing not one, but TWO champion tag teams tonight! And as if that wasn't enough excitement for one Line of Fire, we've got a North American title match pitting the champ, Jerry Straite, against Checkmate's compact demolition king, Mr. NLS, Maurice Jackson ... AND we'll have part 2 of the 3-match series between Looking 4 A Fight, and Perfection! [Swayze] In case you weren't here last week, the Yappian yahoo and his punchdrunk partner got their HEADS handed to them! Perfection walked away one-zip! [Marone] Only because of those brain-dead rules! [Escobar] The fairness *was* somewhat questionable, but Chad's correct, the result was not -- Looking For A Fight will be looking for redemption tonight. [Marone] And some serious bruising, too -- this match is going to be right up their alley. Falls count anywhere, no DQ ... no rules to speak of, really! [Escobar] Before we get to that, let's get some words from one of the newer faces in this league, a man who's more than ready to take the AWI through the new millenium -- on standby with our backstage man Paul Stone, the "Wild Thing", Kanaida Sharpe! ====================================================================== {Cut to Paul Stone standing next to "Wild Thing" Kanaida Sharpe, who is all smiles.} [Paul] OK. Thanks Justin, I'm here with Kanaida right now ... thanks for your time, Kanaida. [Kanaida Sharpe] No problem, Paul. I gotta tell you, this is just the beginning. I'm making my way to the top. It continues with every opponent I meet -- I gain the victory and I keep moving. And there's a long list of guys in front of me too. I realize that. Some great ones, and some lame-ass guys too. We got us a group of superstars here in the AWI: Ed Carr, Justice, the War Machine, my buddy Karl, and a couple of other guys out there too. Not to mention the lovely ladies! This is the prime spot to be and the Wild Thing's gonna dance the dance until he's on the top of pile! {As Paul and Kanaida converse, a closet door opens quietly behind them, and Dominic Nightshade appears, the shadow from his hat half-obscuring the unpleasant grin on his painted face. He does an exaggerated sneaky tiptoe up behind the Wild Thing and executes a savage crescent kick to the back of his head. Chickenwinging his arms from behind, Nightshade manhandles Kanaida into the closet, closes the door, and quickly locks it.} [Stone] WHAT THE--?!? Oh, no… {Paul starts to run away, but Nightshade reaches out one long arm and hauls him back by the collar of his jacket. Kanaida begins pounding on the closet door.} [Scarecrow] {In his usual whispery voice} Now, let's begin *my* interview, shall we? {Nightshade puts his arm around Paul's neck in an exaggerated "hiya buddy" fashion, and slowly bends him down into a "gentle" side headlock. As Paul twists around ineffectually, Nightshade begins strolling leisurely down the hall, Paul trotting along reluctantly with him. Fading into the background is the sound of Kanaida landing blows upon the locked door.} [Stone] Actually, I *was* interviewing 'The Wild Thing' Kanaida Sharpe. {Nightshade stops and leers down into Paul's face.} [Scarecrow] You can waste time with worthless punks like Sharpe later. My time is valuable -- and I say we do my interview *now.* {He pats Paul on the cheek; Paul goes a little pale and swallows hard.} [Paul] All righty, then… {Nightshade resumes strolling down the hall, with a reluctant Paul in tow.} [Nightshade] Now that the AWI is once again in motion, and I've sent yet another feckless reject to the emergency room, I've been looking back on my tenure here. And you know, I have to say my brief time in AWI has been very ... rewarding. {chuckle} Although I was slightly distracted by Streetcrawlin', Cockroachin' Joe *WALKER!* {His grip around Paul's neck momentarily tightens.} -- but I don't consider that matter closed just yet. Also, I have other goals to consider. {He relaxes his grip again, and Paul gasps in relief.} [Paul] And what are those goals, Mr. Nightshade? [Scarecrow] Stone, you *know* that no one can know the mind of the Scarecrow -- not you, not Walker, not punks like Sharpe, not the AWI Executive Committee -- no one. It's pointless to ask. [Paul] Of course. How silly of me. [Nightshade] Expect the unexpected, Stone. It's always Halloween when the Scarecrow's around. [Paul] So I understand. {Frederic Holland can be seen walking down the hall towards the pair, towel wrapped around his neck. Upon seeing The Scarecrow, he drops his gaze and sidles up against the wall to get past him, while Stone pleads with his eyes for help, in vain.} [Nightshade] Now where was I? Oh, yes. Very rewarding ... do you remember Steve the Inane, laying face down on the concrete, tasting arena dirt? I wonder if he and Streetwalkin', Shoeboxin' Joe are thinking of changing their name to 'Looking For a Doctor?' {lurid chuckle} [Paul] Well, I don't-- [Nightshade] Yes, very rewarding indeed… {He steers Paul down a side hallway that leads to a loading area filled with various stacks of boxes and crates.} [Nightshade] ... and now, a new season is here: winter. And let me tell you, it's going to be a very, very cold winter ... {He tosses the closet key up in the air and catches it} ... and you must be wondering who will be the first to feel the deep freeze. [Paul] Actually, I was wondering if you were going to let Kanaida Sharpe out of that closet. {Nightshade stops and stares at Stone, a wicked smile (accentuated by his black face paint) slowly splitting his lean face.} [Nightshade] I'm not going to let him out ... YOU ARE! {Releasing Paul, Nightshade turns and hurls the key across the loading area, where it disappears with a faint tinkle amidst a maze of boxes} Trick or Treat. {Braying with laughter, Nightshade leaps off the dock and disappears into the darkness.} [Paul] Aw, for the love of -- guys, back to you. I'm going to see if I can find this key. {He hands the mic to the cameraman and walks over to the tumble of boxes, muttering "Son of a --" before the mic is cut off.} ====================================================================== {The lights go out, and the arena remains dark for several moments.} [Escobar]: Eh-- uh, it seems we're ready -- in a manner of speaking -- for the appearance of one of the AWI's more eccentric *and* sadistic stars ... [Swayze]: You mean, for the appearance of someone WAY more interesting than Canada Dry, right? [PA SYSTEM] {woman's voice} Yeah, I remember her saying "I'm already dead… I'm already dead… I'm already dead… I'm already dead…" {As this nihilistic mantra continues, an orange spotlight finds the Scarecrow on a small platform, slumped against a wooden crossbeam. His pants, shirt, and coat are raggedy and black, except for a pair of dirty white work gloves. A large floppy hat partially hides his face, which is painted in a twisted mockery of a scarecrow. As the voice and the drums continue, attendants in brown robes wheel the platform to ringside and then retreat up the aisle.} [PA SYSTEM] … gonna get up and burn an X in your head… {As White Zombie's guitars begin pounding out "Solution #9," the Scarecrow springs to life, discards his coat and hat, shakes out his straight blond hair, and leaps into the ring. After leering at the crowd for a moment, he slumps "lifelessly" into a corner.} [Marone]: You know, I have this urge to say something like "this guy is wierd", but there just doesn't seem to be a good time TO say it. Everytime I start, he does something MORE wierd. {The bell rings, and Digger looks around, clapping to the fans a bit, then glances back to see that Dominic is still in the corner. Confusedly, he steps tentatively towards the corner, finally reaching out a hand towards Nightshade -- who reaches out, grabbing him by the neck, and says "Boo!"} [Swayze]: I'll tell you what *I* know ... I know I ain't gonna burn six buckaroos on that Neve Campbell flick when I can get the same thing right here earning my PAYCHECK! {Dominic pushes Digger, back, raking his face with his other hand, then grabs him by the arm and knocks him down with a short-arm clothesline. He drops a leg across his throat, then starts choking him on the ground.} [Escobar]: That's undoubtedly the sentiment Dominic Nightshade is looking to see in the AWI, Chad -- this is about fear, pure and simple. {He breaks off damn close to five, and stands up, only to put his boot on Douglas's throat to choke him some more. Dominic merely smiles at the referee's protests, breaking it off with a stomp.} [Swayze]: Hey, he's got MY vote, then ... if you're NOT scared of this guy, you've either got a screw loose in your head, or you're Tank Bradley. [Marone]: So Tank's crazy? [Swayze]: Look, there was an "or" in there, man -- you trying to get me deep-sixed with my set or something? {Digger staggers up, clutching his neck, and Dominic grabs him in a headlock, pulling him in tight for a moment before thrusting a thumb into his throat, turning around to keep his back towards the referee.} [Marone]: Maybe there's some kind of logic to this. Scarecrows don't like fire ... fire needs air ... ergo, Dominic doesn't like air. Does that make sense? [Swayze]: No, but don't let that stop you. Took the lungfish centuries, they tell me. {He releases the hold, holding his hands outspread in a mockingly innocent gesture to the referee, then snags Digger back into a headlock -- and repeats the thumb to the throat.} [Marone]: No, scratch that -- I think he's just an SOB. {This time, the referee manages to see it, and orders a break. Dominic complies only long enough to drag Digger over to the ropes and reach under them to pull his head down, throttling him. He holds this for a few seconds, then shoves him into the corner, leaning in to choke him with a forearm.} [Swayze]: Man, this is wrestling talent! Douglas hasn't even had a CHANCE to attack! [Marone]: You NUTS? Douglas hasn't even had a chance to BREATHE! I mean, I'm no Greco-Roman maniac, I kinda like seeing guys getting wild in there -- but this is just ... [Swayze]: Winnitude, Mike, the word is "winnitude"! {He lets Digger stagger off, climbing the corner instead to spread his arms overhead as if absorbing "cheers" from the crowd, then hops down with a laugh. Douglas gets off a couple weak punches as Dominic approaches him; Dominic slaps him across the face, and shoves him down on his rear. Nightshade grabs Douglas's arms and tangles them into the ropes, then begins alternating chops, slaps, kicks, and stomps, while the referee tries to pull him away.} [Escobar]: I've seen many wrestlers bending the rulebook, even throwing it away -- but I swear, I don't think Dominic Nightshade has attempted one LEGAL maneuver tonight! This isn't a match, it's assault and battery! [Swayze]: Hey, see that chick in the striped shirt, Escobo? She makes it a MATCH. {Mulroney finally manages to get between Dominic and Digger, and Nightshade backs off long enough for her to get Douglas untangled. He then steps back in, dragging Digger to his feet and throwing him to the ropes, catching him off the rebound with a powerslam.} [Escobar]: Brandie is definitely doing her *best* to make a real match out of this, but she's fighting an uphill struggle -- as I said before, this isn't about winning, this is about *fear*. {He picks up Digger and drops him into a gutbuster, then wraps him into an abdominal stretch. He reaches out to grab the ropes, pulling hard for leverage -- but when Brandie leans down to check for a submission, he releases it.} [Escobar]: Dominic Nightshade isn't worried at all about pinning Digger Douglas -- he just wants to make this night a living nightmare. [Marone]: Yeah, if anything, he's trying NOT to win -- he had the guy right there, I mean. {Dominic gutpunches Digger to double him over, then lifts him up for a sitdown piledriver.} [Escobar]: I think you've hit it exactly, Mike -- Dominic is stretching this match out as long as he can, just-- [Swayze]: Just for the FUN of it, right? Look, I'll tell you what this is REALLY about -- he's sending a message to the rest of this league's jokers, guys like Steve, Joe, and that newbie Sharpe: "this is my idea of a GOOD TIME". How the heck do you fight a guy like THAT, huh? {Standing up, he kicks him under the ropes, then steps out through the ropes himself. He watches Douglas stagger back to his feet, then dives off the apron with an axehandle smash.} [Marone]: Hey, have you seen STEVE'S idea of a good time? [Swayze]: Yeah, she tags with Brenda Storm, right? {Dominic scoops up the stunned Douglas, hoists him over one shoulder, and runs at the corner, slamming him down over the steps.} [Escobar]: MADRE DIOS! He's trying to KILL the man! {Brandie slides out under the ring, getting in Dominic's face, and he once again merely laughs her off. He grabs Digger by the hair, "compliantly" tossing him back inside, and rolls in himself.} [Marone]: It's like he's DARING her to ring the bell on him or something ... see what I mean about him being more than wierd? {Dominic sets Digger up on the top rope, climbing up himself; he hooks both arms butterfly style and leaps off backwards "Pedigree" style.} [Escobar]: The Pumpkin Smasher! That HAS to be the end for Digger Douglas, perhaps a *merciful* point at last ... {Indeed, Dominic makes a cover: 1 ... 2 ... 3.} [Escobar]: The absolute ruthlessness, the sadism of this man may know no-- what is he doing??? {Dominic picks Douglas up and props him on the turnbuckles again, facing outward.} [Swayze]: Maybe he doesn't think that pumpkin's smashed enough? He's gonna do it again! {Dominic steps up to the ropes, and fires a crescent kick to knock Douglas to the floor outside. By this time, a group of more referees and medical-types are starting to scramble down the aisle, as Dominic steps out to the stairs. The lights dim again.} [Swayze]: Mark my words, that man is championship material! Have you ever seen that kind of showmanship! If there's any belts in this federation left over from the Team Stevens Trust, there's the first guy in line for them! {There's a flash of white and a puff of smoke as the lights undim -- Dominic has now disappeared.} [Swayze]: WOW! How DOES he do that? [Marone]: He's probably got the arena engineers locked in a closet, too. [Swayze]: Hey, man, you're giving away the mystery! ====================================================================== WHEN WE RETURN: A word from INTENSITY! ====================================================================== >>-THE SNIPER'S NEST-<< {Chad Duncan stands on the platform in front of the TeleScape with Jayson "Fury" Michaels and Hector "Power" Martinez.} [Duncan] I'm here with Hector Martinez and Jayson Michaels of Intensity ... gentlemen, this is a big night for you, as you get set to face not one, but TWO of the toughest teams in the AWI, Agony and Ectasy AND Intensive Care. Gentlemen, do you have any words? [Jayson] {laughs to himself a bit, before beginning softly} I don't know if exactly how to describe the way I'm feeling right now. Intensity is all about competition and challenge ... and this has got to be the biggest challenge in my career. I'd love to say that we'll walk out of here with two wins over the two best teams in the business ... but let's be honest, that's unrealistic. So I will say that Tank Bradley, Joey Hasegawa, Mike Kirwan, and John Smith are going to know they've been in a fight, and we'll see what God wills from there. [Duncan] Hector, you're unusually quiet right now. What's going through your mind? [Hector] {sighs looking away from the camera} Chad ... I've been in this business for 16 years. I've seen it all, and done quite a bit of it. One thing I recognize is a suicide run. I don't know why Chamberlin wants us taken out just because we ask for matches ... {begins focusing directly at the camera} but whyever he's mad ... {begins breathing heavily, before going into full-blown, volume-at-10-plus, rant mode} IT AIN'T GONNA WORK! YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE US OUT? AND THAT'S /ALL/ YOU PUT IN OUR WAY? HELL ... WHY DON'T WE WRESTLE PERFECTION TONIGHT TOO! ADD HEADBANGERS 2001 WHILE YOU'RE AT IT! THAT'LL BE GOOD FOR A MINUTE OR TWO! AND WE CAN GO BACK AND GET MEGATON! AND CRY HAVOC! AND THE DAMN SUPER TITANS TOO!!! BRING EVERY DAMN TEAM YOU CAN FIND! YA KNOW WHY, CHAMBERLIN? CAUSE FOR ALL THE RESPECT WE HAVE FOR A-AND-E ... AND AS BADASS AS INTENSIVE CARE IS, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU TONIGHT ... THEY AIN'T GONNA BE ENOUGH TO TAKE OUT INTENSITY! [Jayson] Chamberlin ... this isn't about titles. Intensity has never been about titles. As far as Intensity is concerned, we can make both of these matches non-title. We're not begging for attention in that way. We want competition. We want to prove ourselves against the best. By virtue of being the World and North American tag champs in the AWI, the two teams we face tonight are the best in wrestling today. So we'll take your two matches tonight, understanding that we'll probably be hurt, and they are going to be out there to take us out. I just hope you understand this, Mr. Chamberlin ... BOSS ... No matter what, this is going to be hard ... it's going to be brutal ... and it's going to be intense. {They step off the platform accompanied by a reprisal of their music and a roar from the crowd.} [Escobar]: Strong words from a couple of VERY strong men ... let's take a look at another strong man making his way into the AWI this very night ... ====================================================================== {Open to a scene of a large black male. He stands around 6'8", 270 or so lbs. He wears a black business suit, with white dress shirt, and a black and white patterned tie. He is walking at night, through what looks like a fairly "bad neighborhood". As he takes his first steps, "World's Most Dangerous" by Ja Rule begins to play in the background.} [Ja Rule] (I can see it in your eyes...) Y'all others is scared of us Declaring us... the World's Most Dangerous! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<| Fade to New Clip |>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ {The same man appears now sitting down, possibly for an interview. He is wearing a blue business shirt, with no tie and the top button unbuttoned.} [Man] How would I introduce myself? Fancy names are for the marketing types to come up with. As far as I'm concerned, "Jamal St. Claire" is all anyone needs to know. ------------------------<| Wipe to New Clip |>------------------------ {A panoramic scene of a major metroplex, and a swirl of city streets and sounds, as the volume of the lyrics become dominant again.} [Ja Rule] For what it's worth, everything that I believe in, my Lord If they saw where a 's been, would they applaud My achievements, I'm killin' these for a reason Layin' 'im down ain't nothing for now, while /I'M/ breathin'... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<| Fade to New Clip |>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ {Fade back to JSC, again sitting down behind an AWI logo} [JSC] I did alright in the FWA. It wasn't a run to sneeze at ... FWA World champion ... unpinned in my time there ... never made to submit ... fastest win over a ranked opponent in FWA history. That doesn't matter though, since (a) most of it really wasn't done /RIGHT/, and (b), this isn't the very-dead Frontier Wrestling Association -- this is the very-alive Allied Wrestling International ... so it's a whole new ball game. ------------------------<| Wipe to New Clip |>------------------------ : Copyright 1998 FWA, Used by permission {Jamal heads to a ring, dressed in black boots, black loose fitting pants, and a white and red t-shirt which shows his muscled form. The front of the t-shirt has the letters "JSC" on the lapel; the back has the words "The Biggest Baddass" on it. He is flanked by FWA wrestlers E. W. Dream and William Richmond Lee. The music continues.} [Ja Rule] ... ride with me, get a feeling on how this world did me Was curious until it all hit me But it's clear now, though it's a narrow hall that I stare down I'm hugging the bars, kissing the ground... ------------------------<| Wipe to New Clip |>------------------------ {JSC being interviewed.} [JSC] Don't get me wrong, if somebody steps to me OUTSIDE of competition ... well ... as much as I admire and respect Justice or Greg Gardner, I ain't them. I don't want to have to /GO THERE/, but I damn sure will ... and I don't think many people can go there with me. But, as long as you keep it within the limits of competition, /I'LL/ keep it strictly competition. ------------------------<| Wipe to New Clip |>------------------------ {More FWA footage, now of him giving a running powerslam to a series of opponents, including FWA superstars Unknown Soldier and X-Cutioner, as well as a series of jobbers. The music fades up again during these scenes.} [Ja Rule] (I can see it in your eyes...) Y'all is scared of us Declaring us... the World's Most Dangerous! ------------------------<| Wipe to New Clip |>------------------------ {The music fades back down, as we go back to one final shot of Jamal being interviewed.} [JSC] AWI ... I hope you're ready for Jamal St. Claire and the St. Claire slam ... 'cause both are ready for you. ====================================================================== {We back away from the same image, now on the TeleScape, as the Ja Rule music can be heard starting fresh again, this time on the PA system.} >>-ENTRANCE-<< {Jamal St. Claire appears makes his way down the aisle.} [Escobar]: Jamal stepping into the ring tonight against Brick Banyard-- uh, it appears that *Banyard* actually has some words for us tonight. [Brick Banyard] {leaning into a microphone held by Rod Allen} Hey, you-- yeah, you, Mr. "Biggest Badass", right here, that's right, look me in the eye ... I heard about you, they've been talking about you in back -- Frontier Wrestling's big bad champion, s'long as you got those other jokers watchin' your BACK, huh? You think I don't know why you're here instead of totin' a belt around on the West coast? It's cuz they didn't WANT you anymore, ain't it! Ha! {Jamal regards Brick with a coldly intense expression.} [Escobar]: This is a long step for a proud man to take -- from the champion of Frontier Wrestling to a fresh start in Allied Wrestling International -- but Jamal St. Claire shows very little concern over starting again at the bottom. And somehow, I for one don't see him taking long at all to make his way back to the top! [Swayze]: Hey, making it to the top of the AWI is EASY ... just find Robbie and sign your name on the dotted line! Anyone can manage that, even THIS musclehead! [Brick] You ain't a champ no more, and you ain't gonna BE a champ here, cuz here we WRESTLE, and I am gonna WRESTLE you tonight -- I am gonna outHOLD you, I am gonna outSLAM you, and I am gonna KICK YOUR ASS. You got a sound bite for THAT? {He motions Rod Allen over to Jamal, who looks ready to speak -- then Brick lunges past Rod to slap Jamal across the face, following it in quickly with a knee lift.} [Escobar]: Ola! Cheapshot by Banyard -- a desperate attempt for an early advantage, in my opinion. {Banyard whips Jamal to the corner, but Jamal practically bounces out with a hard clothesline. He drops a fist, then pulls Banyard back up, whipping *him* into the corner, and charging in afterwards to collide in an avalanche.} [Escobar]: Jamal has had enough of this, and he's ready to make Brick eat his words! [Swayze]: It's OK, you can still pull this one out, Brick -- poke him in the eyes! Chop him in the throat! Kick him in the-- [Escobar]: THAT'll be enough from you, Chad! {Pushing him back to keep him in the corner, Jamal hammers Brick with a kick-punch-headbutt combination, then hoists him onto his shoulders, falling backwards for a slam.} [Marone]: I don't know if Jamal is outHOLDing or outWRESTLing him -- but I'd definitely say that ass is not being kicked. {Jamal sits up for a moment, looking about for a moment as if to regain his bearings, then stands up, dragging Brick with him; he slings Brick over one shoulder, running in a sloping arc before leaping down to slam him to the mat.} [Escobar]: Here it comes -- THE SAINT CLAIRE SLAM!!! You can practically feel the ring shake from that, and the count seems almost arbitrary -- the foot in Brick Banyard's mouth has just taken the first step for Jamal St. Claire's climb to the top! Let's check in with Paul Stone. Any luck finding that key, Paul? ====================================================================== {Cut to the loading dock and Paul Stone, his clothes somewhat smudged, peering down into the depths of a stack of boxes.} [Paul] ... could be *anywhere* in this f-- ah. Hi, Justin. No, no such luck finding the key -- OR a maintenance man, for that matter. The only thing I've found so far is splinters. [Escobar]: Well, we'll keep trying to get some help for Kanaida Sharpe, and in the mean time, Paul, we're sure you'll keep looking ... [Paul] {sounding a little exasperated} Yeah, like I've got a *choice* ... ====================================================================== WHEN WE RETURN: Agony, Ecstasy, & Intensity! COMMERCIALS COMMERCIALS COMMERCIALS ====================================================================== {Outside in the parking lot, we see a pickup truck. Joe Walker is in the pickup bed rummaging around, while Steve the Insane leans against the side, reading the Big Big Book of Wrestling Moves. Angela stands to the side, apparently just sort of supervising.} [Steve the Insane] {following along with a finger} Clothesline, jumping clothesline, top rope clothesline, springboard clothesline, handspring clothesline, catapult clothesline, short-arm clothesline, spinning clothesline, necktie clothesline ... you know what these all have in common? [Joe Walker] April freshness? [Steve] Right, none of them are illegal. I mean, if I'm gonna get dq'ed, let me get my moneys' worth. Hell, let me use a chair ... the guardrail ... the flamethrower. [Joe] You're not gonna drop the flamethrower thing, are you? {He grunts as he lifts out a metal garbage can, apparently now full of stuff, out of the pickup bed to the road} Buck up, Steve -- that was then, this is now. {addresses the camera} OK, I admit it, you Perfection punks got lucky. Joe floated like a buttefly, Joe stung like a bee, Joe kicked your pansy rear ends across that ring ... but you walked away with a win, because we couldn't keep up the Tyson two-step. Before you start bragging, boys, just try to bear in mind: in the end, you didn't BEAT Steve and I. You BORED us. {He hops out of the pickup bed, dusting off his jeans. Steve can be heard continuing to mumble to himself in the background about clotheslines.} [Joe] Now I may be the hardest working man in the AWI, 25 hours a day, 8 days a week -- but all work and no play makes Joe a dull boy. And you know, Joe doesn't do dull -- that's your thing, KayJay. So tonight, tonight is fun. It's Saturday, it's special -- and seeing as tonight is so special, just this once ... ONCE ... Joe Walker is going to succumb to a little dash of nostalgia. {Joe lugs out a big sport-duffelbag from the pickup bed, with the word "SLAMMO!" silk-screened on the side; he looks at it and mimes wiping a tear from his eye. The camera turns back to Steve, who seems to have abandoned his "clothesline fugue" and returned to the world of the alert.} [Steve the Insane] Kim, Jill, Marsha, Jan, Ingrid, whatever you boys call yourselves ... I'll be honest, I don't even totally remember why I'm supposed to be so ticked at you anymore. Chances are it involves Angela. It could be because of the dry cleaning bill for my tuxedo that you messed up. Maybe I didn't appreciate the lustful looks you were giving me in the locker room. {Joe tips up a finger in a questioning gesture, and Steve holds up a palm, mouthing "Work with me here." Steve then looks up at the sky speculatively, before readdressing the camera.} [Steve] Hell, maybe this all comes down to that AWI tour of the upper midwest yeas ago, during that dry spell. {Joe groans slightly, putting a hand on his head.} [Steve] You boys remember that, don't you? We ended up sharing that rental car ... you two, me, Joe, Vinnie the Mouth, and Digger Douglas ... and I was kinda thirsty, so I'm like "Joe, can you pass me a Pepsi?" Joe couldn't pass me a Pepsi though, because they were all gone. We had a case, but it was all gone. 250 miles to go, we were running late, and no more Pepsi. {raising his voice} I mean, all I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi, but you couldn't give it to me. JUST ONE PEPSI, BUT-- [Angela Dante] Steve-- STEVE! {Steve calms down visibly, looking at her.} [Angela] That was Vinnie. {Steve glances over to Joe.} [Joe] Yeah, man. {He turns to Angela, shrugging as he mouths "I don't even LIKE Pepsi ..."} [Steve] Oh. Well, maybe I'm mad because of Angela or that clothesline thing then. See, it just doesn't *matter* why I'm angry at you -- and tonight, the rules don't matter either. Anything goes, from clotheslines to flamethrowers. Have fun, guys -- we know we will. Besides, just think, next week -- after you get out of the hospital -- we get to do it all again in the mystery match from hell *cough* pleasevotelastmanstandinginacage. [Joe] That about says it all -- Steve and I are Looking for a Fight ... and Perfection is gonna FIND one. {Steve goes back to his book, then mutters to himself, "Hey, this may come in handy after all ..."} ====================================================================== {We come back to the sound of a very negative crowd, the reason for which quickly follows an aerial pan of the fans -- namely, the presence of Tank Bradley and Toshiaki Hasegawa stepping into the ring at one corner.} : Agony & Ecstasy (w/Robbie Stevens) {The fans' attitude picks up as "People of the Sun" by Rage Against the Machine starts to play.} >>-AISLE-<< {Hector and Jayson can be seen walking briskly down to the ring} [Escobar]: As deeply as I respect this pair, I have to say they have a long hard road ahead of them tonight. First, to get past these two, or should I say, *three* -- no doubt Robbie Stevens will do his best to make this an unbalanced confrontation... [Swayze]: Unbalanced? You want to talk unbalanced, how about Daki Chamberlin giving these two nobodies this match tonight? THAT'S unbalanced! [Escobar]: Intensity has *more* than proven themselves as contenders in this division, and there's not a shadow of a doubt in MY mind that they'll prove it again tonight. >>-RING-<< {Jayson starts against Toshiaki. Collar-elbow tieup, which Fury gets the better of -- scoop bodyslam. He drops to one knee and applies a full nelson.} [Swayze]: Right -- and how much do they pay you to play publicist, huh? {Toshi shakes free of the hold, and fires an elbow back into Jayson's face, then stands up and kicks him in the midsection.} [Escobar]: Let me understand this -- *you're* undermining *my* impartiality? {He whips him to the ropes and dropkicks him on the rebound.} [Swayze]: Hey, no, Justino -- I just want to compare it to MY paycheck! You know, you might be able to get a better DEAL -- Robbie'd love to hear a unified voice on his programs, you know? {A stomp to the leg is followed by a half-crab attempt, but Michaels slaps him off, then gets to his feet; as he stands, he grabs Toshiaki and lifts him up into a press slam.} [Escobar]: No, and I'm not even going to *consider* it. {Michaels puts on a full nelson lock.} [Escobar]: Impressive display of power from Fury -- and now he gives Toshiaki a taste of his own approach, doing his best to wrench that neck into a submission! [Swayze]: Good luck, pal -- Toshiaki's neck is atomically reinforced! [Marone]: I don't think you can do that. [Swayze]: Sure you can -- I'd show you the paperwork, but it's in Japanese. {Toshiaki breaks the hold, only to get stuffed in a headlock; Jayson drags him to his corner, and tags in Hector. They lift up Toshiaki laterally, and fall forward in a double slam. Hector makes a cover: 1 ... Toshiaki puts a leg on the ropes. Hector pulls Hasegawa halfway up, then DDTs him. He pulls him back up again, and lifts him into a Canadian backbreaker.} [Marone]: Hec doesn't seem to have a lot of focus here, but that's not really important I guess -- this looks to be more about just chipping these guys away than really wringing out the "I quit". [Swayze]: Oh, please, shoot me NOW-- >>-RINGSIDE-<< {Steve the Insane and Joe Walker have appeared, carrying picket signs. Joe's reads "MAKE KIM & JILL/EARN THEIR WAGE/LAST MAN STANDING/IN A CAGE". Steve's reads "1-900-AWI-RING/SAY LAST MAN STANDING IS THE THING" with "INACAGE" scrawled at the limited space at the bottom. They're shaking hands with the fans in the front rows as they "picket".} [Swayze]: --what ARE those idiots up to? [Escobar]: {chuckling} It would seem Looking For a Fight has chosen to take a more active hand in the selection of their next bout with Perfection. [Marone]: Now they're Polling For a Fight, I guess. >>-RING-<< {Hasegawa manages to tug himself free, and drops shakily to the mat. Hector locks on a half nelson, and pulls Hasegawa over to the Intensity corner to tag off, then switches to a waistlock; he suplexes Toshiaki overhead, releasing him to be caught by Jayson who finishes into a German suplex.} [Escobar]: COAST-TO-COAST SUPLEX BY INTENSITY!!! [Swayze]: NO!!! [Escobar]: YES! This could be it! Wait -- {Robbie distracts the referee, and Hasegawa kicks out on a 4-count.} [Escobar]: Robbie Stevens on the apron, and Keyes shoving him back down, and now he's making the count ... 1 ... 2 ... Hasegawa out, with just a LITTLE help from his manager. [Swayze]: Of COURSE he got help! Training, sweat, advice, dedication, and rumination! How else could Joey find the fortitude to break that pin? [Marone]: I think he meant the extra time. [Swayze]: So? Team Stevens pays ME to think, not Escobo. {Jayson tries to pick up Toshiaki, and gets a shot between the legs for his effort. Hasegawa stumbles over to tag in Bradley, holding his back; Bradley steps in, then charges at the half-crouched Michaels with a clothesline. Jayson steps aside, pushing Bradley into the turnbuckle as he passes, then locks on a sleeper.} [Escobar]: I doubt they're getting their money's worth ... [Marone]: Joey isn't wasting a lot of time playing fair, is he? [Escobar]: Makes the tag, and here comes Tank ... but Fury's ready for him! {Bradley presses out of the hold, and Fury bodyslams him. He tries to apply a full nelson, but Bradley headbutts him in the face, then slaps on a chokehold and shoves him backwards hard into the corner. Tank whips him into the opposite corner, and follows in with a clothesline. Fury shakes it off quickly and slams Tank, then slaps on a full nelson.} [Swayze]: Sleepers only make Tank MAD, Mr. Michaels! [Marone]: Except, of course, when they make him asleep. [Swayze]: That never happened! And it was a fluke! And I think drugs were involved! [Escobar]: Whatever the case, Bradley NOW seems to have control -- but NO! Fury right back, and locks on the full nelson! >>-AISLE-<< {Steve and Joe are handing out placards to folks along the aisle, nodding and giving a "thumbs up" gesture every so often.} [Swayze]: I see the strategy here -- he's going to force Tank to watch those two morons until he goes crazy. >>-RING-<< {Tank frees one arm, and Fury drags him to his own corner to tag off. He releases the hold, as Hector grabs Bradley from behind; Hector throws Tank into a release belly to back suplex right into Jayson's grip, and Jayson finishes it with a German suplex.} [Escobar]: Tank is under the gun right now -- and it's a COAST TO COAST SUPLEX! This could be the end-- no, there's ROBBIE on the ringside, pulling Tank's boot to the ropes. Another typically cheap tactic for Team Stevens. {Hector grabs Tank about the neck as he's standing, and DDTs him. He then locks on a Boston crab.} [Swayze]: What, you'd recommend just losing? I think throwing a match is against regulations! {Tank manages to push his way out of the hold; Hector approaches to pick him up, and takes a punch to the gut, then a whip into the corner.} [Escobar]: Chad, your view of reality is beyond comment. {Tank whips him again, to the ropes, and bounces off the near side, only to be surprised with a clothesline from Martinez. Hector lets Tank stand up, and snaps a belly to back suplex, quickly scrambling over for a cover: 1 ... 2 ... Robbie again pulls the foot to the ropes.} [Escobar]: {sigh} Robbie AGAIN protecting his men from the dangers of a *fair* match ... {Hector gets back to his feet, and wraps Tank in a figure four.} >>-RINGSIDE-<< {Joe and Steve hand off their picket signs to fans at each corner of the aisle, who hoist them loyally. The pair then head back down the aisle.} [Swayze]: You know, if this was an political election, there'd be laws about this -- tampering with the polls and stuff! [Marone]: That was last week -- we already said, this week there ARE no rules for these two. >>-RING-<< {Tank reaches the ropes and the referee forces a break. Martinez puts on a half nelson to control Tank as he heads back to his corner; Tank shakes it off, and Hector bodyslams him, then makes the tag. Jayson steps in, and the two set up another "assembly line" suplex. Once more, Robbie pulls Tank to the ropes before the three count.} [Escobar]: Once MORE Tank Bradley takes a ride Coast to Coast -- and once MORE Robbie intervenes! [Marone]: Man, he might as well just tie a ROPE or something between him and Tank ... {Jayson lifts up Tank and attempts a German suplex by himself, but Tank blocks it, then grabs him by the head and tosses him over the ropes. He heads back to his corner to tag in Hasegawa, as Robbie nails Jayson outside with a high thrust kick, then rolls him back in.} [Escobar]: Jayson outside in No Man's Land-- [Swayze]: Wrong, he's in the MAIN Man's land! WICKED AWESOME, bay-bee! [Marone]: Dammit -- wasn't busting pins enough?!? {Toshiaki drops down to lock on an STF.} [Escobar]: The Fashion Victim! Toshiaki Hasegawa has locked on the Fashion Victim, and Jayson looks to be in extreme pain! The referee is checking his condition -- he's submitted! Agony and Ecstasy has taken another win -- you might say STOLEN, given the circumstances of this bout ... [Swayze]: You MIGHT, if you want to be less than honest -- the FACTS are, A&E are the team to be, end ... of ... story! ====================================================================== WHEN WE RETURN: Looking for a Fight -- nuff said! ====================================================================== >>-RING-<< [Rod Allen] Ladies and gentlemen, our next bout is NO DISQUALIFICATION, FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE ... introducing first, from the city of Hollywood, California ... {"Perfect Strangers" by Deep Purple plays on the PA, and the crowd begins to boo.} [Rod Allen] ... weighing in at a combined total of four hundred seventy-three pounds ... Kim "Tiger" Lee and Jilliam Bole ... PEEERRRFECTION!!! >>-AISLE-<< {Lee and Bole make their way to the ring carrying steel chairs, looking less than heartbroken over their unenthusiastic reaction. They're dressed in silvery abestos suits.} [Escobar]: Perfection is on their way to the ring, and they look prepared for the WORST ... [Swayze]: PERFECTLY prepared -- they've seen what can happen when those two nutbars decide nobody's watchin' them! [Marone]: Ohhh-- you set ONE guy on fire, and ... >>-RING-<< [Rod Allen] And ... their opponents tonight ... weighing in at a combined total of five hundred fifty-seven pounds ... Mike Marone's favorite tag team, the boys who do NOT play well with others-- >>-TELESCAPE-<< {A old cinema-style film countdown begins, going from 6 to 5 to 4, then stopping as an animated fist bursts out of the image, pushing the "4" forward; words drop from top, left, and right to finish the logo "Looking/4/A Fight". This image then pixel dissolves to a scene of a group of men dressed in luchador masks (apparently) standing in a garage, all carrying electric guitars (except for one in the back behind a drum set, whose large bass drum sports the legend "Juan Violentes/y/Los Huracarans/del Amor" over a big heart painted on a lightning-cloud pattern).} [Center Figure] Ladies -- and -- gentlemen: Elton Juan! >>-ENTRANCE-<< {The band kicks into a heavily rearranged version of "Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting", accompanied by a burst of flashpots at the entranceway -- the crowd bursts into cheers as Steve and Joe emerge from the clamor, each also carrying a chair; Joe has the SLAMMO! bag slung over one shoulder, while Steve drags a plastic rolling garbage can behind him. They pause midway down the aisle, facing each other and do a "fist bump" with the steel chairs, flashing thumbs up at each other -- then snap into a charge at the ring, sliding under the ropes.} [Escobar]: A quick show of confidence from Looking for a Fight and-- AND HERE WE GO!!! {Jilliam's able to put the boots to Steve as he slides in, but Kim's not quite as fast, and takes a stiff chair-shot. Jilliam whips Steve into the ropes, and catches him with a back body drop onto the chair on the ground; Kim, meanwhile, ducks a second chairshot and sweeps out Joe's legs.} [Escobar]: Steve and Joe taking the fight right to Perfection -- but maybe getting the worst of it themselves! {He puts a headlock on Joe, while Jil bounces off the ropes himself to drop an elbow into Steve.} [Swayze]: Hey, just because these two don't LIKE the whole "no rules is good rules" approach doesn't mean they're not GOOD at it ... they're Perfection -- they do EVERYTHING well. [Marone]: Yeah, but can they do it good? {Kim punches Joe and follows it up with a kick and a legsweep, as Jil heads into the ropes again, this time to drop a knee on Joe -- but Joe manages to roll out of the way at the last second ... Steve's taken the opportunity to slide out of the ring, and he drags the grounded Jil to join him, as Joe kicks away at Kim; Jil avoids a whip into the railing, however, moving behind Steve and locking on a chicken-wing.} [Escobar]: That didn't take long -- the action is already heading OUTside the ring here! [Marone]: Hey, if I know Steve -- and believe me, I KNOW Steve -- we'll be lucky if these four keep this in one STATE, let alone one ring. {Joe wails on Kim with a backspin punch, then scoops him up for a bodyslam onto one of the scattered chairs, as Steve pulls out of the hammerlock; Jil keeps up the offense with a dropkick, however.} [Escobar]: That's quite an exaggeration, but no matter HOW far this match strays from the ring, aficianados, we'll be sure to keep our cameras on it! {Jilliam tries to throw Steve back into the ring, but Steve knocks him down with a clothesline. He then looks at the referee with a challenging expression; Joe, meanwhile, dumps Kim over the top with a crescent kick.} [Marone]: Call me crazy, but I don't think this one's gonna lose the match for them. {Joe heads for his duffel bag, and pulls out a keychain and a pair of SLAMMO! brass knuckles, which gets a surprising pop from the crowd, moreso when they connect with Kim's forehead. Jil isn't much luckier, getting whipped down the aisle by Steve.} [Marone]: Man, that's history -- Joe's old "tag team partner" pitching in a hand, passin' on the torch to the new guy! {Joe winds up a second time and sends Kim tumbling over the railing into the crowd -- only to get pulled INTO the crowd when Big Poppa reveals himself and lays several HARD lefts and rights onto Joe's head.} [Swayze]: No, THAT'S history -- it's Big Poppa! Joe really DID tag with this guy, AGAINST Steve! And they *lost*! He's come back to give Joe what for, for sellin' him out! {Steve, meanwhile, has retrieved a 2x4 from his trashcan'o'tricks, and pounds Jilliam with it.} [Escobar]: That may be the case -- Big Poppa is definitely looking for *some* kind of retribution on Joe ... oh, no-- he's going to try a Poppa Bomb! [Swayze]: Hey, yeah! Not only did Joe run out on him to join the other side, he STOLE POPPA'S MOVE! This is gonna be-- hey! {Poppa plays to the crowd as he sets up for the Poppa Bomb, then staggers back almost as if shot.} [Escobar]: Big Poppa looks *totally* taken aback -- I think I see why! It's a stungun! Joe had a stungun in his pocket! [Marone]: Oh, boy, you don't want that quoted out of context. {Joe jolts Poppa a second time with the keychain-taser, before ringside personnel show up to deal with Big Poppa. Steve grabs a gasoline can from the trashbin, and Jilliam makes a big show of covering his head with his flame retardant-arms, only to eat the (apparently empty) can in the solar plexus. Joe finds Kim again, and starts punching away.} [Escobar]: Jilliam in a bad situation, one would think -- he can't really be secure in predicting what Steve will try, and when he's wrong-- [Marone]: BOOM! He gets perfect bruises. {Kim manages to shove away more Joe offense, as Steve drags Jil up the ramp and flings him through the entrance curtains.} [Escobar]: Steve is taking this fight out of the arena proper -- we're getting a camera backstage right now, so you don't have to miss any of this! >>-BACKSTAGE-<< {Jil regains his bearings and starts to head back out, only to meet Steve coming through with his Big Book of Wrestling Moves, wrapped in barbed wire ... after bashing Jil in the head with it, he rakes Jil's back with the barbed-wire textbook.} [Marone]: When he said he'd put that book to good use, he MEANT it! It isn't just a book OF wrestling moves, it IS a wrestling move! {From a door behind Steve, Tiger Z, Alliyah Johnston, and Talia Yamahara emerge, and head out to ringside.} [Escobar]: That was-- that was Checkmate -- and they're coming out HERE now. Alliyah Johnston was the woman who originally brought Perfecion to the AWI, you realize -- I don't think this is going to be good ... [Swayze]: You've got three women who look like *that* coming out to play, and you don't see anything good about it? {He does an exagerrated growl/purr.} {Back out at ringside, Joe kicks Kim into the railing ... Angela's got the trashbin, and wheels it to the back for Steve -- but she's met and floored by a Tiger Z surprise clothesline.} [Escobar]: What I don't see is what fuels your optimism-- OLA! Angela Dante has just been *hacked* by the Women's World champion! {With the help of Talia and Alliyah, she begins laying a series of stomps and kicks into Dante. Joe, meanwhile, has pulled his duffel bag over the railing, and grabs a bike-chain from it, drilling Kim with it.} [Swayze]: It's military genius, Justino -- cut off the supply lines! Steve's nothing without his toybox, not against a real wrestler like Jilliam Bole -- we saw that last night! >>-BACKSTAGE-<< {Back in the back, Steve wails some more on Jil ... Brenda Storm emerges from a dressing-room door, heading for the curtains after shouting something at Steve.} [Escobar]: What we *saw* is how well Perfection can perform with the odds twisted in their favor -- and it's obvious they've cashed in every favor they can manage to do JUST that again! {Apparently catching that Angela's in trouble, Steve heads for the curtains, but has to pause to drop Bole with a clothesline when the latter charges him.} [Escobar]: Brenda Storm, Angela's own tag team partner, was apparently watching backstage on the monitors, and I believe she's on her way out here to help ... >>-RINGSIDE-<< {Shift to ringside again ... Joe pulls out a pair of tonfa, performing a quick spinning kata with the nightstick-like weapons before using them upside Kim's head.} [Marone]: Y'know, Chad, I'm hoping what you said about supply lines and stuff was right ... because I'd hate to think this was just about using Steve's girl as a weak spot again. {Brenda Storm comes out to try and save Dante, but gets headed off by Alliyah and Talia, which gives Tiger Z enough time to take Angela off the left side of the ramp and into a table with a Tiger Bomb.} [Marone]: Cuz, man, she's NOT a weak spot -- these girls can take care of themSELVES, man, and that's just going to mean you ed of Steve for NOTHING. [Swayze]: Yeah, she's taken care of all right -- Tiger just took care of her PERMANENTLY! {Storm and Talia brawl to the right side of ramp; Alliyah starts to move to join them, but is interrupted when Steve re-appears, looking steamed; Alliyah backs away with an obvious "you wouldn't hit a woman" act, but her question's made moot when Jil comes tearing out of the back, knocking Steve down with a dropkick.} [Marone]: Hey, Chad, you remember what it's like to off Steve, right? [Swayze]: Huh? Hey, I'm just, like, reporting the action and stuff, you know, journalistic integrity, Mike-o -- hey, there's Steve! Uh, go Steve! Yeah! [Escobar]: Weak, Chad. Steve the Insane is back to put a stop to this backstabbing -- and for once, I honestly think Alliyah is facing a move she hasn't planned on-- JILLIAM BOLE TAKES HIM DOWN! {Away from the ramp debacle, Joe's martial arts demonstration continues, as he pulls a set of nunchaku from his duffel and strikes a Bruce Lee-ish pose, spinning them in one hand while holding the other arm straight out, then bashes Kim with them ... he goes to the bag again, this time coming up with ... a crude wooden 'play-sword', which he grips in both hands and zealously pounds the Tiger with ...} [Escobar]: Joe seems to be getting the better of things now against Kim ... he's displaying some of the more esoteric martial arts training -- and ... [Marone]: And some stuff that *I* can understand, too! {Jil tries to slap a headlock on Steve, but the Insane One quickly breaks free and runs his head into the entrance archway ... Storm, meanwhile, tosses Yamahara to the floor on the right side of the ramp, and follows it up with a flying leg lariat ... Dante's alone now with Z, however, and takes a crossface hammerlock suplex, as Alliyah slides down to join that fray.} [Escobar]: Storm now in control of Talia, and SHE goes flying off that ramp -- and Brenda follows, with a modified Thunderstorm! Steve trying to rid himself of Jilliam to get to Angela's aid, and Jil with a NASTY shot right into the structure ... [Marone]: He better hurry -- Z's got Dante up ... oh, man, Tiger Suplex Ninety ... um ... I forget which year, but it wasn't a really good year for Angie there. [Swayze]: It was a VERY good year for the Chadmeister, let me tell you! Remember this rule, bay-bee: NEVER get into a catfight with a man-eater! [Marone]: But Angela's a woman, so why's she taking all this stuff? [Swayze]: MET-a-PHOR. Look it up. {Johnston takes over for Z, hitting the Mindblower on Dante, as Steve jumps down to try and stop the attacks ... Jil's not ready to give up the fight, however, and floors Steve with a bodypress off the ramp ... back up the aisle, Joe dumps Kim into an empty seat a few rows in, then climbs back over the railing with his duffel bag ... he pulls out a Thermos, opens it, and starts pelting Dante and Steve's attackers with the contents: snowballs?} [Escobar]: Checkmate continuing a RELENTLESS assault on Angela right now, even as Brenda and Steve try and make their way to stop it ... and by the way, Chad, while you've got that dictionary out, try "class-less" -- [Swayze]: No need, Justino: it means "Team Stevens ain't thy compadre." [Escobar]: I give up for now ... Jil NOT giving up, and IN THE SKY with that plancha! Things look really bad -- wait, Joe's got something, he's throwing at Angela's attackers -- que?? [Marone]: YEAH! PELT 'EM GOOD, JOE!!! [Swayze]: Oh yeah, snow balls, that'll scare 'im off. I think the Colorado Rockies are them stones in that boy's head. [Marone]: Hey, the slushy ones can hurt a lot, man. {The confusion buys Dante and Steve a few moments, and Storm's able to help Dante to the back, before Steve rejoins the fight against Jilliam ... Kim's back up by now, however, and he's gotten his hands on a discarded pair of SLAMMOs, as Joe finds out the hard way, as Jil dropkicks Steve yet again.} [Escobar]: It may not have hurt their hides, Chad, but it's hurt their pride, and it hurt their time, as Brenda manages to get Angela out of harm's way for now ... [Marone]: Look out now, Perfection -- Looking For A Fight'll be looking for you guys again. [Swayze]: Lucky for them, Kim's found Joe first -- and hey, look -- ANOTHER of Joe's old tag team partners just turned on him! Isn't that always the way? [Marone]: Just see if he ever gives THOSE guys airtime again. {Jil puts Steve in a headlock, as Kim whips Joe into the railing towards the ring ... he drops Joe with a savate kick, and goes for a cover, getting a 2-count.} [Escobar]: We've got a cover ... Perfection possibly with a MAJOR upset here ... uno, dos, and -- NO! [Swayze]: Why won't that idiot stay down? [Marone]: Because he'd lose. [Swayze]: Oh, brother ... [Marone]: You didn't know that? Jeez, no wonder your record was so lousy. [Swayze]: I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU!!! {Joe manages to punch his way free of Kim, but Steve falls victim to a Bole bulldog ... Joe tosses Kim onto the announcer's table, bowling over Swayze.} [Swayze]: Oh, no, cra-- [Escobar]: OLA! Joe just pitched Kim Lee right through Chad Swayze, and I'm afraid the Team Stevens "official representative" has lost his feed for the moment. [Marone]: Yeah, millions weep. {Jil attempts a sunset flip, but Steve ducks; Jil's able to land on his feet, and dropkicks Steve. He lines up for another running attack, but is forced to leapfrog again, and this time Joe's there, nailing him full-on with a bag of powder, which gives Steve the chance to dump Jil into the trashbin.} [Marone]: Steve and Joe take out some garbage! And I mean OUT -- look at them go! >>-ROAMING CAMERA-<< {Looking 4 A Fight takes off with the trashbin willy-nilly down the aisle, up the ramp, through the curtains and down the hallway, their Earnhardt impression coming to an end when the trashbin crashed into the wall as the hall turns a corner.} [Escobar]: And Bole does a HIGHLY unintentional impression of a crash test dummy! [Marone]: Remember, kids, don't try this at home. This a *professional* arena -- it's trained to take those kinds of whacks. Your house ain't. {Joe pulls Jil out of the bin, and Steve grabs a dessert cup of some sort out of the bin, smashing it into Jilliam's face.} [Escobar]: Steve getting a bit of revenge for that "dessert cup" insinuation made by Perfection in regards to their previous match-up! [Marone]: Man, talk about eating your words ... hey, we got any pudding around here? >>-RINGSIDE-<< {Back in the ring, Kim's recovered from his entanglement, and heads out full-tilt to find his partner.} [Swayze]: {stumbling noises} I'm sure YOU two enjoyed that ... why doesn't anyone ever come from the left? [Marone]: Because I'm bigger than you. [Escobar]: And I'm mucho thankful of that on a weekly basis. [Swayze]: Conspiracy, man -- I told you, it's all a conspiracy ... R.S. is gonna hear about THIS, I guarantee! >>-RING-<< {Steve grabs an inflatable "4" souvenir from the bin, and breaks it over Jil's head, drenching him with water; Joe follows up by sending him crashing into a pair of double-doors further down the hall. He then savate kicks him through the doors, and we're out in the St. Louis evening ... Steve jogs past him, heading further out into the parking lot.} [Marone]: Hey, cool way to plug the merchandise. [Escobar]: I don't think Perfection will be making any purchases in the future ... and it looks like we're -- si, we're now OUTSIDE the Kiel Center! [Swayze]: Where the heck is that idiot going NOW? [Marone]: That's for him to know and for Jilliam to wish he wasn't gonna find out. {Quick shot of Kim reaching the corner of the hall, overlooking the busted "4" and the tumbled-over bin, before heading on down the hallway.} [Escobar]: Lee in hot pursuit, but he still has a ways to go to catch up ... {Joe tosses Jil into some bushes separating the walkway from the parking lot, then drops him onto the asphalt with a side suplex ... he then scoops up Jil for a bodyslam -- but Kim's made it out the door; he legsweeps Joe as Jil hits an awkward high-kick to complete the double-team.} [Escobar]: Joe doing some impromptu gardening with his opponent, and then it's a road treatment for Jilliam! [Swayze]: Oh-wow-you-have-a-million-of-them-don't-you. [Marone]: Jil better HOPE not -- he looks like hell NOW, and Joe's only done a couple. [Escobar]: Joe getting ready -- here comes Kim, and it's a VICIOUS double-team move! And now Perfection may have turned the tables! [Marone]: Tables? Where? {Perfection's up first, and Jil whips Joe towards Kim; Kim sends him into the air with a back body drop, and Jil follows, leapfrogging his partner to land an elbow on Walker.} [Escobar]: Joe Walker may consider himself the hardest working man in the AWI tonight, but Perfection is going to make him EARN that title. [Swayze]: Yeah, he's getting his head handed to him -- and his whacko buddy is NOWHERE to be seen! He ran out like a chicken! [Marone]: Chicken ... say, I'm hungry, does anybody have any -- [Swayze]: Yeah, yeah, chicken, I know. [Marone]: No, I was gonna say pudding. {As the pair pick up Joe again, a blue '76 Chevy Nova comes screeching down the parking lot ... for a moment, it looks like it's going to drive over the combatants.} [Escobar]: I have to say, I DO wonder where the Insane One has-- oh, no, this would be TOO much, even for HIM! Madre Dios-- {It comes to a halt right beside a startled Kim, the sign "Mom's Taxi" clearly visible in the window -- and then the door swings open hard, knocking Kim over.} [Swayze]: NOOOO!!! [Escobar]: --er, I may have spoken too soon ... but that definitely IS Steve the Insane, aficianados, back in the fight! [Marone]: Y'know, that CAR looks familiar, too ... [Swayze]: THAT'S THE BOSSMAN'S CAR!!! [Escobar]: Um, I think Daki gets limousine service, Chad-- [Swayze]: Not YOUR boss, Escobo -- ROBBIE! How did Steve get his hands on OUR car?! [Marone]: But it says it's Mom's car in the window ... {The trunk of the car pops open, as Steve the Insane emerges from behind the car door. Jilliam locks Joe into a hammerlock, but Joe shrugs it off fairly quickly.} [Escobar]: Steve out, and Joe seems to have picked up a second wind from his partner's return! [Marone]: So, you guys make Robbie's mom drive a taxi? [Swayze]: DROP IT! Somebody call security -- this is grand theft auto! {Steve scoops up Kim and deposits him on the car's hood, then climbs up after him; he sets up Kim for an electric-chair facedriver powerbomb, driving him into the hood, then without letting go of Kim's legs turns it into a wheelbarrow suplex to leave Kim sprawled across the car's rooftop.} [Escobar]: Steve taking Kim Lee for a ride, as it were ... it's the DOWN AND OUT! I almost don't know who got the worst of that, Kim or the car! [Swayze]: Oh, man ... the insurance guys are NOT gonna believe this ... [Marone]: Why wouldn't a taxi be yellow? I mean, nobody sees a blue car and yells, "hey, taxi?" And -- [Swayze]: I SAID DROP IT! {Joe, meanwhile, regains control with a backspin fist against Jil. Steve grabs Kim, makes a "hook 'em horns" sign with his hands, before flying off the car with a super headsmash onto the asphalt; Joe drops Jilliam with a short-arm punch.} [Escobar]: Does this look familiar to you fans? YAPPIAN BULLDOG SUPREME, RIGHT onto the parking lot surface! [Marone]: I gotta think that was unnecessary. [Swayze]: You BET it was-- hold on, you're cuttin' down your own "favorite team"? [Marone]: Well, yeah, I mean, it's one thing to beat these guys up, but to introduce a fighting topic into their partnership ... from now on, Kim and Jill are gonna be arguing, "Which is worse -- YBS on asphalt, or YBS through a table?" {Joe drags Jil to the back of the car and Steve sets up for a stungun, but Perfection fights back, Jilliam dumping Joe onto the trunk with a hiptoss and Kim chopping away viciously.} [Swayze]: Mike, you're sick. And I mean that in a BAD WAY. [Escobar]: Here comes the Frontal Lobotomy-- no, that shakes some life into Kim! {Jil climbs the car, and comes moonsaulting off, but Steve tumbles out of the way, and Jilliam crashes into Kim instead.} [Escobar]: Steve looks stunned, and they're going to try the Perfect Tag Team Finish -- NO! Steve leaves them with nothing but each other for targets! {Despite the setback, Jil and Kim still manage to get the advantage against Joe and Steve as things turn into a 4-way brawl ... punching their way free, Perfection heads for the doors ... inside the hallway, Steve and Joe catch up, but Kim kicks Joe away and Jil dropkicks Steve.} [Escobar]: They seem to be on their way back, and neither team is ready to give the other side any quarter! {Perfection continues to head back inside, as Steve and Joe give chase ... as they pass the trashbin, Steve gathers it up, and Joe grabs a chain from inside it, wrapping it around his hand.} [Escobar]: Perfection looking for a retreat here, and Steve and Joe apparently looking for reinforcements ... [Marone]: I have a whole new respect for my garbage man right now. >>-AISLE-<< {Perfection emerges from the back, heading down the entrance ramp ... Joe comes out after them, Steve a bit behind him, and nails Kim with a chain-wrapped fist; Jil leapfrogs the trashbin, however, and rolls up Steve in a sunset flip, getting a one-count from the ref.} [Escobar]: And we've got ourselves a fight again, as Joe introduces Kim to some of his best friends from the metal-link set ... Jil with an UNBELIEVABLE desperation move, and we've got a count -- no, Steve's up! {Joe whips Kim down the entrance ramp, then follows it up with a charging back spin fist; Jil puts Steve in a headlock. Joe grabs a number of items from his duffel bag, most notably a barbed-wire wiffle bat, and heads back to Kim, adding insult to injury by wiffle-waffling the Tiger.} [Escobar]: Joe taking another trip back to his bag of goodies, as it were, and this time he has ... a Wiffle bat? [Marone]: Barbed wire on a hollow plastic bat -- man, is that twisted or what? It's like sweet and sour sauce at the Hunan Hut ... only not sweet. {As Joe finishes ruining the wiffle-bat, Dominic Nightshade suddenly emerges from beneath the ring ... he climbs the apron, and comes charging off to knock over Joe with a jumping shoulder tackle ... Jilliam takes Steve off the ramp with a bulldog, and goes for a cover, but again only gets a 1-count.} [Escobar]: Joe looks just about done with tha-- IT'S THE SCARECROW!!! [Swayze]: Trick or treat, baby! [Escobar]: Dominic Nightshade FLOORS Joe Walker -- he must have been hiding under the ring the whole NIGHT, since his match with Digger Douglas! {Dominic rolls Joe into the ring, and traps him in the ropes; Jilliam's attempts to continue the offense on Steve are derailed when the Insane One backdrops him onto the entrance ramp again.} [Swayze]: You heard his voice talking to Stone earlier -- he HATES Joe! When he's through tonight, Looking for a Fight is gonna be a SO-LO effort! {He climbs up himself, crawls to the bin, and pulls out ... Senor Tomas, wrapped up in barbed-wire, which Steve proceeds to grind into Jil's head. Kim, meanwhile, is in the ring, kicking away at a helpless Joe.} [Marone]: Yeah, I thought there was only So Low you could go, to, but ... [Escobar]: Whether this, too, was a premeditated alliance or just the results of the envy and hostility lurking among the ranks against Looking for a Fight, we can't say -- but Perfection is not going to pass up an opportunity, regardless of the source! {Jil's attempts to get away from Tomas and Steve send both men (and PlushPal) tumbling over the trashbin; Dominic pulls a jack-o-lantern out from under the ring, and climbs the turnbuckle. He comes flying off to plaster Joe with the pumpkin.} [Escobar]: What now-- PUMPKIN IN THE FACE!!! That wasn't to hurt Joe physically as much as it was to hurt his PRIDE ... [Marone]: I guess that's his little taste of what it's like to be left laying in a pile of orange goo in your own haycart ... or something like that. Anyhow, he doesn't like Joe. [Escobar]: Understatement to be sure-- here comes JAMAL ST. CLAIRE!!! {Jamal can be seen running down the aisle towards Joe and Dominic. Dominic slides out of the ring as he approaches, doing an eerie dead-man's-fall backflip over the railing and disappearing into the crowd.} [Escobar]: Jamal St. Claire is stepping over the railing, pushing his way through the crowd -- he said he wanted to see things kept in the limits of competition, and apparently he MEANS it! [Marone]: You normally wouldn't think he'd have much trouble finding a guy in orange facepaint in that crowd -- but I think Dominic's GONE again, man. [Escobar]: Thank god -- Dominic Nightshade FINALLY seems to be finished with Walker, though Joe doesn't look any better for his disappearance -- he still has to deal with Kim "Tiger" Lee. {Steve locks up Jilliam for a stungun onto the railing, even as Kim undoes Joe and hoists him up for a powerbomb. Steve tugs Tomas on top of Jilliam for a "tandem" cover.} [Escobar]: A HARD powerbomb, and Joe Walker is down -- and Steve with the FRONTAL LOBOTOMY!! BOTH teams have a man down -- BOTH teams have a pin to count! And the referee isn't even bothering to move, he's just making the count right there at ringside on the apron for both-- UNO! DOS! TREY! [Marone]: JOE'S UP! JOE'S UP! THAT ONE DOESN'T COUNT!!! [Escobar]: The referee is signaling the timekeeper ... [Rod Allen] {from the corner} Ladies and gentlemen, the winners of this match ... JOE WALKER and STEVE the INSANE -- LOOOKING FOR A FIGHT!!! {The crowd busts into cheers, as Joe rolls out of the ring to join Steve again.} [Escobar]: That was an AMAZING finish, and Looking for a Fight evens the score with Perfection -- leaving the final decision in their private "best of all" series for next week's bout, determined by YOU! We'll be back in a moment, so stay tuned! ====================================================================== {The scene is an Industrial club where hundreds of people, dressed as the dregs of society with piercing all over their bodies, strange hairdos, and unusual clothing are dancing to the driving beat of a Nine Inch Nails tune. The camera pans in on the crowd, and sweeps the room.} [Voice Over]: "Rant" -- To scold vehemently. To talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner. {The camera stops on a small group, that isn't dancing. It appears two of the boys are shouting at each other. Both look angry.} [Voice Over]: "Rave" -- To talk irrationally, as if in delirium. To speak out wildly. {The two boys begin trading shoves, as they continue to scream at each other. The crowd, by this time, begins to part, and give them some room.} [Voice Over]: "Irate" -- Roused to ire. Arising from anger. {The two no longer seem content with insults, as they simultaneously launch at each other, and start brawling on the dance floor.} [Voice Over]: IR8 - Time to kick some ass. {Fade to a black background, then a barely visibile off-black effect dissolves in to fill the screen: "I R 8". [Voice Over]: Are you sure you're ready? Don't get mad -- get IR8! ====================================================================== WHEN WE RETURN: The North American title is up for grabs! ====================================================================== {Jerry Straite sits in a lockerroom, leaning back against the lockers, watching a monitor. He's wearing jeans, but his shirt is off, and he's barefoot. He looks up, with a wide smile.} [Jerry Straite] Hey, all ... good to see you again. Been a long looooooong time. Too damn long. Anyway, this is going to be unique from me. A short talk. Daki is disappointed in me, apparently. Doesn't like me trying to make a living. Hey, Dak, if you happened to have a fed operating in the last year, maybe I wouldn't've had to go moonlighting with Premier. Just bad luck that you finally got going so soon after I got bored. But don't worry, old man. I'm still AWI-contract-bound, and I'm not doing anything to mess that up. Once the stint in Premier is done, I'm back here, hale and hearty, full-time. But in the meantime, Kerry's out. That's a bit of a shame, but y'see, that restaurant of his sucking up all his money. Why d'you think he's writin' newspaper articles now? Me, I got savings; I can afford to be patient now and again. But that means no tag title match for me. But that's okay, too. See {Jerry sits up and leans toward the camera} Robbie ... listen up, son. I still don't like you. And one of these days, I'm going to hurt you very, very badly. I thought that the Danse might be one step in that direction. You're very proud of the gold you get, and taking some of it from your boys would be a heck of a pain for you, wouldn't it? But I don't get to do that right now. But don't worry, Robbie ... I ain't forgetting about you ... {leans back again} So, instead, I have to put *my* title on the line against Alliyah Johnson's li'l boy-toy, Mo-rice Jackson. Mr. Not-Looking-Sharp. And I do mean little. Jackson's last match was a lambasting from Greg Gardner, which he barely survived with the use of Brass Knuckles. Of course, Maurice, you realize that if you use them against me, that just makes them fair game, don't you? In any case, I guess this is my punishment match. Geez, Dak ... if you want to punish me, make me watch a Tom Carr match or something. {fade out} ====================================================================== {Cut to a shot of a secluded locker room. In fact, looking closely, it might even be an abandonded locker room. Panning left, we see a figure sitting on a bench, a steaming towel over his head. As he looks up, we recognise him as "Mr NLS" Maurice Jackson.} [Jackson] Straite ... Jerry Straite. You call yourself a legend. I'm not impressed. You have a long career behind you. You have a very short career in front of you. I hope you got your friends together, I hope you asked around for advice, and I hope you got it. Because if you did, it would simply be ... (He stands up) Watch your head. (Fade out.) ====================================================================== {The instrumental "Superpredator" by Massive Attack begins to play on the PA system, as Maurice Jackson (flanked by Alliyah Johnston, Talia Yamahara, Tiger Z, and Riverboat.) [Escobar]: It looks like a show of unity from the members of Checkmate -- perhaps also an attempt at intimidating the champion ... [Marone]: I don't think it's going to work -- getting knocked around in a fight surrounded by characters like that? That's a bar bender for the crowd Straite hangs with. I mean, this is a guy who shares beer with Steve the Insane! [Escobar]: Um, you're friends with Steve as well, aren't you Mike? [Marone]: Yeah? [Escobar]: Uh, never mind-- oh, wait, it seems not *all* the Checkmate players are making it to the ring ... >>-PRESS BOOTH-<< {Talia Yamahara enters the view, parting from her companions.} [Talia] Good evening, America ... despite your limited knowledge of superior wrestling technique, I'm here to help you follow a REAL athlete like Maurice Jackson. [Swayze] YES! At long last, class to match the Roadhouse! {The crowd erupts into cheers as "Here on Earth" by the Crash Test Dummies starts on the PA. Moments later, Jerry Straite appears from behind the curtains in a flash of fireworks.} [Escobar]: This is it, the man himself! The North American Heavyweight champion, and arguably the most seasoned master of the game -- Jerry Straite! [Talia}: He's also the most untalented master of the game ... nothing at all which can compare to the superior Japanese style! [Marone]: Yeah, well -- he's also great at curling! Wonder why nobody ever talks about that? [Swayze]: Oh, right, point to Madman. NOT. {The camera follows Jerry down to the ring; he gives the Checkmate members a wary but confident look as he climbs into the ring.} [Escobar]: Senior Referee Curtis Keyes is on hand, since this *is* a title bout ... and we seem ready to go ... [Marone]: Wow -- do you see his face going into this? Moe really enjoys his work ... I mean, last time I saw that smile was on an IRS guy picking up the tax checks. {They lock up into a collar-elbow tieup. Jerry twists it to a headlock position, but Maurice quickly snaps into a belly-to-backsuplex.} [Talia]: A texbook reversal! Excellent display! {He lets Jerry get back to his feet only to armdrag him back to the mat, then applies a leg grapevine hold.} [Escobar]: We've seen this methodical approach from Maurice in many matches -- he likes to keep the pace controlled until his opponent begins to slow down. [Talia]: And again, we see the superior technique win out despite Straite's size difference. I can't help but wonder how much Japanese background Straite possesses! [Escobar]: I think you might be surprised at the depth of Jerry's technical training ... {Jerry pushes free, and Maurice drags him up, laying a pair of kicks into him; Jerry strikes back with a headbutt and a pair of jabs.} [Marone]: I don't think he wanted to do that -- it's like he's primed Straite's engine! [Talia}: Look at those closed fists! Typical Canadian LACK of technique! [Escobar]: Well, that may be exaggerating the point a bit ... {Straite whips Maurice into the ropes, rebounding from the opposite side with a clothesline.} [Escobar]: Jerry Straite is one of the most veteran men still active in our sport today, and he's seen it ALL -- but somehow I don't doubt that he feels MOST at home when fists start flying! [Talia}: Well, since punching and clotheslines are the only techniques INVENTED when he was being trained, I'm not suprised! [Marone]: Oh, AGE joke, THAT's hot. {Jerry tries an elbowdrop, but Maurice rolls aside. Maurice applies an armbar, lifts Jerry to a stand, and steps in front of him.} [Escobar]: Badly mistimed maneuver from Straite gives Jackson an opportunity, and he's measuring it out now ... {A kick to the midsection doubles Straite over in place for a DDT.} [Escobar]: ... and THERE'S the payoff! {Jackson rushes to the ropes as Straite staggers back up; he tries a clothesline only to be lifted into a sidewalk slam.} [Escobar]: Jackson with a fierce clothel-- NADA! Jerry Straite hauled him up like a sack of salt and just LAYS him into the mat! {Straite hops into a legdrop; Maurice manages to keep him on the mat with a headlock. Straite twists free, and Maurice switches to a wakigatme armbar.} [Marone]: I've been watching Moe for a while, and I gotta say, he almost seems like two different guys in the ring. One minute, he's tossing the other guy around like a basketball, the other it's this clinch and crunch stuff. [Talia]: Superior technique again ... Jerry may be able to try to exchange power, but he is LOST on the mat! >>-RINGSIDE-<< {Alliyah stands on the apron, pointing into the crowd while talking to the referee.} [Escobar]: I don't quite understand this -- the Mastermind is doing her best to-- [Swayze]: It's Steve and Joe! You remember how Jerry won this belt, right? With the help of his two drinkin' buddies holeing up in the stands, that's how! She's just making sure Curtis doesn't forget, Straite's got his little army out there -- watching, waiting, ready to strike! [Talia}: Well, I need to make sure there's no interference! [Escobar]: That's *ridiculous* -- there's *nobody* in the crowd where she's pointing ... wait, where are you-- >>-PRESS TABLE-<< {Talia can be seen removing her headset and departing the table.} >>-RING-<< {Maurice breaks and rolls over, grabbing Straite around the waist as he gets up.} [Marone]: This is just off the top of my head, but I've got a funny feeling I KNOW where she's headin'. {Talia rolls into the ring, grabs Straite by the arm, and spins into a wristlock before finishing with an enziguri kick. Maurice falls on top for the cover, as Alliyah hops off the apron. [Escobar]: {tone of disgust} I should have KNOWN -- a Dragon's Bite from Talia who will no doubt have some *infallible* reasoning for why that shouldn't be the end of the match right now! [Swayze]: Why should she? That IS the end! 1-2-3, bay-bee! {1 ... 2 ... Straite kicks out.} [Marone]: Nope -- it kinda works against them, see ... they couldn't let Curtis see her stepping in, but that means giving Jerry just a LITTLE more time to shake it off before the count starts. [Escobar]: Count or no count, she certainly looks more pleased with herself than she has any right to be ... [Marone]: Oh, man, but HE don't! >>-ENTRANCE-<< {Jamal St. Claire is pacing briskly down to the ring, looking very irritated. Talia sees him approaching, and starts walking away from the ring; Jamal stops just at ringside, watching her return to the press table, then begins a slow circle around the ring.} [Swayze]: I don't like this one bit! Look at him, he's like a SHARK! He's gonna just stalk around until he finds JUST the right moment to RUIN Mr. NLS's big break! [Escobar]: I'm not convinced he's out to ruin anything other than the streak of *cheating* which seems to be a habit for Johnston's stable! [Swayze]: Hel-LO, Escobo! They don't call him the Biggest Badass because he likes sunshine and smiles! He's out to make someone miserable, and that someone is Maurice Jackson! >>-PRESS TABLE-<< {Talia returns to the table, carefully redonning her headset.} >>-RING-<< {Maurice lifts Straite back up, and delivers a belly-to-belly suplex.} [Escobar]: Textbook suplex from the Master of the Northern Lights ... you realize, don't you, Talia, that the kind of tactics we've seen from your group tonight is really *demeaning* to the kind of talent a man like Maurice Jackson could be? [Talia]: What tactics? I have no clue what you're talking about ... [Marone]: Yeah, right, no one here but us chickens, huh? {He pulls him up again, but Straite fights back with a knee to the gut, followed by a pair of punches; he bounces off the ropes to knock Maurice down with a running punch.} [Marone]: Oh, boy, he's woken Jerry up again ... {Straite continues past to rebound from the opposite ropes and hit a clothesline as Jackson is standing back up. Jerry stomps away at Maurice on the ground, then drops to his knees to begin punching at him.} [Escobar]: Jerry Straite is on a mad streak, to be sure! [Talia}: What kind of referee is this? Maurice should be GIVEN the title for those tactics! [Marone]: Uh -- what tactics? Winning? {Maurice blocks a second punch and lunges up with a headbutt. Scrambling to his feet, he grabs Jerry by the head for a DDT.} [Marone]: Jackson looks like he's got a little barroom left in him, too-- OUCH! [Escobar]: DDT from NLS! Almost more of a desperation counter than anything else -- but the damage has been done! {Maurice hoists Straite up onto his shoulders, then pushes him over to land sideways on Jackson's knee. [Escobar]: Jerry Straite may have his work cut out for him tonight -- Maurice Jackson, even *outside* of the interference of his companions, has one of the most respectable technical arsenals in the AWI-- [Talia]: WHAT interference? Are you gaining Straite's Alzheimer's also? {Jerry gets back up, Jackson tries to whip him to the corner, but Jerry reverses it and follows up with a clothesline.} [Escobar]: --but Jerry Straite just won't stay down for long! {Straite picks up Maurice and delivers a shortarm clothesline.} [Swayze]: Heyheyhey, let's not give away more than we have to, Justino -- this isn't about Straite! It's about that legbreaker he probably bought off, lurking around in the shadows out there! Maurice has to watch TWO men! [Talia]: Yes! That THUG St. Claire should be ARRESTED for his interference! {He stomps away at him while Jackson tries to stand, then pulls him the rest of the way up and smashes his head into the turnbuckle.} [Marone]: Yeah, and Jerry's got to watch two and three women -- we've SEEN how that works. {He tries it a second time, but Jackson blocks against the ropes, then reaches up to grab Straite's head, dropping to his knees for a cravat bulldog.} [Escobar]: Block, and a STUNNING reversal by Jackson! [Talia]: Maurice makes American technique look GOOD! Why can't more Americans use that style! {Maurice pulls Jerry back up and sets for a belly to back suplex, but this time Jerry blocks and smashes his head into the turnbuckle again. Jerry throws Maurice into the ropes, but Maurice hits him with a clothesline on the rebound. Jackson bends down to pick him back up, but Straite punches him in the gut and puts on a headlock. Maurice pushes out, and Straite starts a series of punches; Maurice ducks inside one punch, waistlocks Jerry, and arcs into a belly to belly suplex.} [Escobar]: Suplex from Maurice, and he's calling for Keyes! Hooks the leg, one, two, Jerry's up! {Maurice sits up, looking a little frustrated. He waits for Jerry to get to his feet, then pulls him across his shoulders for another fireman's carry ribbreaker.} [Marone]: You can see, he's not smiling so much like the beginning -- he wants to END this, and ending a Jerry Straite match just ain't that *easy*. Well, unless you're gonna lay down and stuff. {Jackson picks Straite back up and whips him to the corner, but Jerry keeps a hold on Jackson's arm and instead pulls *him* in for a shortarm clothesline; without letting go, he pulls Maurice back to his feet, and then whips him hard to the corner.} [Escobar]: Whatever the case, Jerry seems to be showing off a little of his own shortening temper ... he doesn't want to give Maurice any more than a moment's rest! [Talia]: A moment's rest will allow a SUPERIOR wrestler like N-L-S to finally put away this elderly excuse for a wrestler! {He slams Jackson's head into the turnbuckle, then prepares asuplex.} [Escobar]: Maurice is looking on the ropes in more ways than one -- and Jerry's ready to try Straite Down! He's-- no, he's let go! {Alliyah Johnston hops on the apron, jawing at Straite, who drops his grip on Jackson to confront her.} [Escobar]: I don't believe this! That woman doesn't trust her own man enough to leave ANYTHING to chance! [Talia]: C'mon ... N-L-S can take three or four of any move from Straite. Alliyah was pointing out those brass knuckles in his tights ... typical Canadian technique! [Marone]: Man, that all-shimer's thing must be contagious. I'm glad Chad's between us. {Jackson shakes off a daze and heads after Jerry; Jerry turns around just in time to cut off an attack with a punch, then hooks up the suplex setup again.} [Escobar]: This looks ugly, Jackson's back on his feet and he's going to-- no! Jerry stays on his toes! Alliyah looks even more agitated than before, and she's moving aside to get in KEYES'S face now-- {He lifts Jackson up, then drops him down piledriver style.} [Escobar]: --STRAITE DOWN!!! Jerry Straite is ready to cover -- but now that the Mastermind has Curtis Keyes's attention, he can't see the fall! This is a farce! [Swayze]: Hey, she's just trying to point out the unsafe and unfair working conditions her man is suffering! [Talia]: Yes ... he should not be forced to have to deal with his inferior technique! [Marone]: Oh, I can see that, you mean-- [Swayze]: She's under the gun! You can't be expected to fight a championship calibre match with the Biggest Badass stalking around outside of a leash! [Marone]: I thought you were going to say being in the ring with Jerry. [Talia]: Again ... how can the referee allow such BLATANT interference! {Alliyah turns her attention to the referee.} [Escobar]: This could have *easily* been a three-count ... but now it's ONLY a 'could have been', Jackson having managed to push Straite off. {Both men get back to their feet; Jackson lunges up to catch Straite in a cravat bulldog.} [Escobar]: Mr. NLS not wasting ANY time siezing the advantage again -- he's seen the wrong side of the Straite Down and does NOT to risk it again! {Jackson pulls Jerry back up to his feet, throws an arm over his head, and hooks a leg before flexing into a suplex.} [Escobar]: Cradle Northern Lights Suplex! And NOW, wouldn't you know it, Alliyah has NOTHING to say about Keyes making the count -- one! Two! THREE! [Swayze]: It's magical! It's a miracle! It's a MasterCard moment! [Talia]: It's the first victory for TRUE technique since ... since ... Tiger Z returned to greatness! Yes! [Escobar]: What it IS, is an surgical removal of any hint of sportmanship in this contest! We have a new North American champion, but undoubtedly NOT an "uncontested" one-- what now?!? {Riverboat slides into the ring and lays a big elbow drop onto Straite as Jackson releases him. The two then start punching and stomping on him.} [Escobar]: This is INSANE! They've WON the belt, but apparently Alliyah isn't satisfied with that -- Checkmate is assaulting Jerry Straite for the hell of it! {By this time, Tiger Z and Talia have also entered the ring, and add in chops and kicks to the festivities.} [Swayze]: Correction, Justino -- for the FUN of it! "Kicking Jerry's can" is gonna be the next big extreme sport, mark my words! [Marone]: It's gonna need a referee -- I nominate THAT guy. {Jamal St. Claire slides into the ring, and lays a clothesline on Jackson, then scoops up Riverboat for a powerslam.} [Escobar]: CaSTIgo! Jamal St. Claire has had ENOUGH of this -- and he just slams three hundred and forty pounds of Mississippi enforcer to the mat! [Marone]: And here comes Steve the Insane to boot! >>-RINGSIDE-<< {We see a brief view of Steve running down the aisle with a 2x4 in hand.} [Escobar]: And Checkmate has determined they don't like these odds at all ... they're heading for safer ground! ====================================================================== WHEN WE RETURN: The INTENSE Rematch! ====================================================================== {Mike Kirwan is sitting in the locker room staring intently at a watch.} [Mike Kirwan] {looking up at the camera} Time. They may not realize it, but time is the one thing Intensity has in its favor in its career here in the AWI. Very simple: they're still here. That's why they get their shot tonight ... not cause of their talent, simply because they've survived. Every other team we've faced, defeated, battered, bruised, and gone. Intensity, I've heard you two -- you seem to take pride in the fact that we didn't defeat you. You're right, we didn't. Time was on your side that night, and it ran out before we could get the pin. Enjoy that feeling ... you're not gonna have it tonight. You want to use your earlier match as an excuse -- you know what, I don't care. {standing up, throwing the watch aside} Tonight, Intensity, your time is up. No more being able to say we didn't defeat you ... that time's over. So is your time in the AWI ... you can't handle us on full rest, you sure as hell can't after wrestling once already. You're done ... end of story. ====================================================================== >>-RING-<< [Rod Allen] Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for tonight's MAIN EVENT! Introducing first, weighing in at a combined total of five hundred and fifty pounds ... Hector "Power" Martinez and Jayson "Fury" Michaels ... INNNNNNNNNTENSITYYY!!! >>-AISLE-<< {We're treated to a reprise of "People of the Sun" by Rage Against the Machine, as Intensity comes back to the ring.} >>-RING-<< [Rod Allen] And their opponents tonight ... weighing in at a combined total of four hundred ninety-nine pounds ... from the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they are the A-W-I WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ... >>-AISLE-<< {The crowd starts booing *loudly* as the lights dim and red and blue spotlights circle around in imitation of emergency lights, accompanied by the sounds of ambulance sirens.} [Rod Allen]: This is ... INTENSIVE -- CARE!!! {Mike Kirwan and John Smith step through the curtain, Mike practically stomping his way down to ringside, while John tries to play up to the fans with mixed success.} >>-RING-<< [Rod Allen] I have been asked by Allied Wrestling International President Daki Chamberlin to inform you all that, as per the request of the challengers, Martinez and Michaels, this is a *non-title* bout. {A low boo of disappointment rumbles from the crowd, although Intensity themselves don't seem very taken aback by the announcement. The bell rings, and Mike Kirwan steps forward to confront Hector Martinez; they lock up in a collar-elbow tieup.} [Escobar]: Daki Chamberlin, apparent bottle imp of AWI 2000, has taken Intensity at their word, which explains the somewhat unexpected presence of Tom Neuman in the ring rather than our senior referee Curtis Keyes. {Hector twists around, and locks a half nelson on Mike, swinging him overhead as he falls back into a suplex.} [Swayze]: Hey, it's only logical, Justin -- if they'd won the North American championship, this wouldn't have been a title match ... and since they *didn't* win, they obviously don't DESERVE a title shot! {He grabs Mike by the head as Kirwan is standing and spikes a DDT.} [Marone]: Come ON, man -- they HAD that match won, three times over! They oughta be getting three title shots by that! {Hector tags in Jayson, and they pick up Mike, pressing him overhead together before slamming him down.} [Swayze]: Hey, man, not a bad idea -- just put 'em on the docket right after this one! Daki, you listening? {Hector leaves the ring, as Jayson waits for Mike to stand, then tucks his head under Mike's arm and rocks backwards for a northern lights suplex; Mike kicks out before the referee can make a count.} [Escobar]: Quick pin attempt by Fury Michaels -- no count! {Both men stand, and Mike gets scooped up for a bodyslam. Jayson tags Hector, and they pick up Kirwan for a double front fallaway slam. Hector pulls Mike back up and whips him into the ropes, catching him as he returns with a sidewalk slam.} [Escobar]: You can say what you want, but I think that Intensity has displayed almost flawless skills against the champions tonight -- it's been some time since Intensive Care has seen a challenge of this magnitude! {Hector tags Jayson back in, then grabs Kirwan in a waistlock as he's standing back up. Hector belly-to-back suplexes Mike right into Jayson's grip, and Michaels completes the arc with a German suplex.} [Escobar]: Both men in the ring -- and the COAST TO COAST SUPLEX -- one of the most creative combinations in tag team wrestling today! One -- two -- Mike's up! {Mike and Jayson both get to their feet; Mike scoops Jayson up and slams him down sideways to land on his arm.} [Swayze]: That makes them like, what, O for lots with that move tonight? Creative, but USELESS ... [Escobar]: That's hardly due to Intensity's lack of merit -- you couldn't pin someone with a FORKLIFT if Robbie was there to interfere with the referee! {He then heads to his own corner and tags in Asylum. Smith climbs up top and jumps off to hit Jayson with a flying fistdrop.} [Swayze]: You mean, THESE guys couldn't pin anyone with a forklift -- BOOM! Blue bomb from the skies! {Asylum waits for Michaels to stand up, then whips him into the ropes; bouncing off the other side, he knocks Jayson down with a leg lariat kick. Getting up quickly, he jumps up and drops a fist on Jayson, then pulls him up and sends him to the ropes again. This time, he rebounds off the opposite side to bodypress Jayson; Michaels throws him off before the referee can start a count, though.} [Escobar]: The contrast between the members of Intensive Care perhaps never so well-drawn as in this match -- Stretcher, a man of single-minded focus and surgical execution; Asylum provides the reckless energy that keeps their opponents from achieving a similar focus. {Michaels locks a half nelson on Smith from the mat, then stands up, completing a full nelson hold.} [Marone]: I think the big guys have locked on to that, Justin -- they're probably thinking they're in good shape if they can keep Asylum from MOVING. Keep him pinned down in one place -- a John at rest might tend to stay at rest, or something like that. {Asylum manages to twist free; Jayson scoops him up and slams him, then pulls him over to Intensity's corner. He makes a tag, but as Hector enters the ring, Smith headbutts them both in quick succession. He heads to his own corner and tags Kirwan back in.} [Escobar]: Both teams are trying to keep to short terms inside, keeping themselves as well-rested as they can manage ... {Kirwan wraps an approaching Hector into a hammerlock. He presses it down for a bit, then adds a crossface hold.} [Swayze]: Right, but let me tell you, anything you got back sitting outside goes away REAL fast when you're in a grip like that! [Marone]: Hey, I believe you. You've probably got a doctorate in getting stuck in holds like that. {Hector breaks free of the hold, and slams Kirwan to the mat. As Kirwan is getting up, Hector powerbombs him.} [Escobar]: Hector isn't stuck though -- LOOK at that power! [Marone]: Something you guys haven't brought up ... this isn't the first time Hector's been in a ring with Mike, you know. They actually fought a match *alongside* each other once, at a Knock Around the Clock ... They've trained together before, you know? Hector may not be the world's greatest mat wrestler, but he *knows* Mike Kirwan. {He tags in Jayson again; they lock up Kirwan in a double half nelson and tandem suplex him. Jayson cinches up Kirwan again and snaps him back in a German suplex: 1 ... 2 ... Kirwan barely manages to get a shoulder up.} [Escobar]: ANOTHER close count! Mike Kirwan definitely is on the worst end of this powerhouse combination! {Jayson pulls Kirwan up and slams him, then steps over to tag Hector back in. Kirwan rolls over to his own corner and tags in Asylum; Smith hops over the ropes and rushes the entering Hector, surprising him with a back elbowsmash, then ranas him while he's stunned.} [Swayze]: Yeah, right -- you can just see the FEAR in them, Justin! They're afraid to spend more than a minute in the ring with this guy! OR his partner ... and THAT'S part of the reason why! {Both men rise, and Smith ruses Hector for a clothesline, but Hector catches him in a sidewalk slam. He reaches over to start undoing Asylum's glove; Smith punches him with the other hand, then follows up with a shot from the glove.} [Escobar]: BIGTIME reversal from Hector Ramirez -- and now he's going after that glove! He's trying to take the glove off Asylum -- but Asylum has something to say about it! [Swayze]: Yeah, like, "You want it? Here--" WHA-BAM! {Smith stands up, and whips Hector to the ropes after he gets to his feet; he scores a palm thrust to the face on the rebound, then jumps up for a rana, but Martinez reverses it into a powerbomb.} [Escobar]: Another hurricarana from--CASTIGO!!! Hector slaps him down to the mat! {Hector drops to the mat to apply a wakigatme armbar.} [Swayze]: Oh, man, one lucky shot and this guy's whole day could be ruined ... I mean, just think -- what if he actually got John MAD? I mean, trying to steal the glove and all -- what was he THINKING? {Smith manages to tug himself over to the ropes and force a break.} [Marone]: He was thinking he was sick of getting smacked with it? {As Hector steps back, letting Asylum back on his feet, Smith turns around and punches him, then tags to Kirwan.} [Swayze]: Uh-huh -- that's a MEDICAL guard, man! Are you gonna go up to a cripple and steal his wheelchair? His cast? His crutches? [Marone]: If he whacks me in the face with it, yeah. {He rushes into the ropes as Kirwan applies a hammerlock-and-half nelson hold; Kirwan flexes backwards into a suplex as Smith rebounds, and Asylum spikes it with a leg lariat kick. Kirwan rolls over for a cover: 1 ... 2 ... Hector manages a kickout.} [Escobar]: Kirwan wrapping Hector up -- and a combination suplex from the champions! Intensive Care isn't the best-known team in the AWI when it comes to this kind of double-team action, but when they do, it's nothing less than amazing! {Kirwan slaps on a crossface armbar.} [Swayze]: That there is the dilemma these two put you in -- stay down and take a fall, or get up and take another five minutes of a Stretcher clinic ... it's a bet with no payoff, baby! [Escobar]: Aficianados, we're running past our timeslot here, I know -- I'd like to take this time to say, our AWI watchers will want to stay tuned for the rest of this CBS Action Saturday, with _Martial Law_ and _Walker, Texas Ranger_-- [Marone]: --who, despite also knowing karate, is apparently not related to Joe. {Hector pushes himself up to a standing position, then shrugs off the hold; he turns around and slams Kirwan.} [Escobar]: Yes, I would assume that is the case ... and also, be sure to tune in *next* week, when we'll have the conclusion to Looking for a Fight's series with Perfection, AND the first public words with the AWI's NEW World Heavyweight Champion, JUSTICE! {Taking a moment to rest as Kirwan returns to his feet, he moves in and scoops him onto a shoulder, rushing forward for a powerslam.} [Escobar]: THAT could end the match right there! I'm surprised he didn't make a cover, Mike Kirwan looks absolutely rattled by that slam! [Marone]: Joe's from Colorado, you know, not Texas. {Standing up, Hector tags in Jayson, then returns to grab the rising Kirwan; he and Jayson repeat the relay suplex.} [Escobar]: It's another Coast-to-Coast suplex -- John Smith is scrambling up the ropes, he does NOT like this ... Neuman is making the count, and-- HE GOT IT! THREE COUNT! INTENSITY HAS BEATEN THE CHAMP-- MADRE DIOS!!! {Smith flies off the turnbuckle and scores a fistdrop on Jayson, then stands up and starts laying punches into Hector, reeling him back enough to shove him over the top rope with a jumping clothesline, following him down.} [Escobar]: Call it frustration, call it guilt, call it an insane fury over this loss, but Asylum seems to have LOST it! Fans, we're out of time, but we'll be back next week! This is Justin Escobar, with "Roadhouse" Chad Swayze and "Madman" Mike Marone, saying Adios! ====================================================================== >>-BACKSTAGE-<< {Stone returns to the original hallway find the closet door broken down, and looks around, appalled at the scene.} [Stone] Well, I guess he's-- {Sharpe comes storming down the hall, shouting.} [Stone] --out? [Kanaida Sharpe] Where is that freak job?!? {Stone shakes his head and Sharpe grabs the mic.} [Sharpe] Okay, Mr. Scarecrow, Mr. If-I-Only-Had-a-Brain. You wanna play games with me? That's fine. Let's play. You'll find out that I'm the Fred Astaire of mind games. We can go round and round, but eventually, Strawman, I'll catch you. And if you've got the guts to get in the ring with me you'll find I'm a lot less of a worthless punk when my back isn't turned! Unless of course, you're scared. Because to be honest you strike me as more the lark than the nightingale. Well, keep your head on and hold on to your stuffing, Nightshade, because you're going to know what being wild is all about! [Stone] What're you going to do? [Sharpe] Paul, if you've got a VCR, you better keep it set to tape Line of Fire 2000. As for you Nightshade, I'll catch you on the wild side. {Sharpe walks away.} ====================================================================== This work copyright © 2000 by Allied Sports Enterprises. Allied Wrestling International is a member of the Summit Wrestling Alliance; permission is given to distribute or rebroadcast AWI footage in cooperation with Summit Wrestling events. Executive Producer: Lyle Galbraithe Production Director: Bryant Berggren Script Director: Bryce Berggren Writing Staff: Ran Hardin, Iain Macnair, Jerone Mitchell, Steve Pillmeier, Ashe Richards, David Tiemroth, Chris Wimberly Special Musical Appearance By: Juan Violentes y Los Huracarans del Amor "CBS Eye" is a registered trademark of Columbia Broadcasting System, used without permission for purposes of parody; no actual association between the writers and CBS should be inferred. "Promotional" trademarks likewise used without permission or affiliation for purposes of parody. ======================================================================