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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:47:40 GMT -5
Blade scrambles up the ladder and stands at the top, twenty-five feet from the ground. He signals that he is ready to deliver Thor's Hammer. Suddenly, Cage sneaks up and pushes the ladder. Blade falls down twenty-five feet and crashes on top of Gooey and Jonny, putting them through tables! Cage looks down at the motionless bodies at the bottom of the cell and laughs. Suddenly, V3 sneaks up and hits Cage with the Kamikaze. Cage lies on top of the cell motionless. Hunter notices him and gets angry. V3 walks to Hunter and Hunter quickly executes Hunter's Revenge. He drags V3's body right on top of the place where the Tag Team Titles are hanging. He then sets up the ladder at the top and yells. He climbs up, and leaps of, connecting with the Hunting Elbow.
Suddenly, the ceiling collapses and Hunter, Cage, and V3 fall down to the ring below. Midair, Hunter grabs the Tag Team Titles and holds them with dear life. He falls down, then unfastens the Titles from the piece of plexiglass, and then smiles in relief as he hears the bell ring.
Philip: Ladies and gentlemen, the winners, and NEW ACW Tag Team Champions, Hunter and Cage!
Hunter gets up and grins with relief and satisfaction. He walks over to Cage and gets him up. Cage gets himself on his feet, then looks at Hunter. Hunter hands him one of the Titles and watches for the first time as Cage smiles in joy. The brothers embrace and hold back tears. They walk out of the ring and start walking backstage. They then turn around, and their four adversaries are all looking at them. Hunter and Cage hold the Titles high above their heads and laugh.
Hunter: You can't beat us at our own game! Our reign has now started!
The camera fades away from the outside arena with Hunter and Cage holding the Titles to the normal ACW arena, where all of the fans in the arena are shocked, some from the results, others from the carnage.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:49:08 GMT -5
Segment: Deception? (Credit: Yoko)
Yoko Satoshi is laying down on the floor of the Demon Pit by herself, attempting to relax after the match. Ridley and Rose enter.
Rose: Did you do something to Kross?
Yoko: What do you mean?
Ridley: They're taking him away in a stretcher. It's a fantastic sight.
Yoko: What?
She gets up and sprints out of the Demon Pit, to Kross' locker room. Hospital staff are carrying him down a hallway in a stretcher, to the parking lot where an ambulance awaits. Various stars are gathered in the hallway to watch, and they all stare at Yoko as she gets there.
Yoko: ...What? Why are you staring at me?
Ginger walks out of the locker room holding two halves of a broken croquet mallet.
Ginger: They might be staring at you because you broke a mallet over Kross' head.
Yoko: But I didn't do anything to him.
Ginger: Then why is this in there?
Yoko: ...I don't know, but I swear I didn't do it.
She looks around and sees Rena standing there.
Yoko: You!
Rena: What?
Yoko: You wanted to hit him with it!
Everyone looks at Rena.
Rena: You're crazy! Do you really think I could attack someone and break something over their head? I'm delicate.
Everyone looks back to Yoko.
Yoko: But...But...
Ginger: I'll talk to you two on the next show, we don't have the time or the money to debate this right now. Everyone back to your locker rooms.
The crowd disperses slowly, leaving only Yoko and Rena.
Rena: I don't see why you would try to pin this on me, Yoko. You seemed better than that.
Yoko: But I didn't do it.
Rena: If I didn't, you're the only one who could have.
Yoko glares at her, and turns without a response and heads back to the Demon Pit. As she throws open the door, Rose is waiting for her, with Ridley standing a little way off.
Rose: What happened to him?
Yoko: Someone hit him with a croquet mallet.
Rose: And it wasn't you?
Yoko: No. It must have been Rena. They all think it was me, she FRAMED me.
Tears begin to stream down Yoko's cheek.
Rose: We tried to tell you that she wasn't your friend. Now you can see for yourself. We're your friends.
Ridley glances at Yoko in response to the crying.
Ridley: What have you become? A whiney teenager?
Yoko tries to stop crying.
Rose: Ridley, she doesn't need that right now.
He turns his head away from them.
Rose: Just calm down. You're the great Yoko Satoshi, the Flower of Carnage. You hurt people, it's what you're good at. So maybe you didn't hurt Kross, but you could have if you wanted. And if you want to hurt Rena, you can. We won't stop you.
Yoko stops crying, and seems to be thinking deeply to herself as the scene fades out.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:51:00 GMT -5
Match 7: Latino vs. RDK – ACW International Title Match
The crowd is still discussing the events backstage as the preparations for match 7 are completed, but they quickly come to order as Philip starts speaking.
Philip: This next contest is for the ACW International Title, and it is set for one fall. Introducing first, the challenger…..from New York, Victor “Latino” Laureano!
”I stand alone” hits, and the crowd boos Latino as he heads down to the ring. Latino climbs over the ropes and his expression is difficult to read; he looks around at the crowd, but he gets a major surprise as his eyes travel to the stage area; Angelo Giovanni has quietly made his way out from backstage, and he is not alone.
Angelo: Trust me, bella, you need to see this match. Don’t you want to support your man?
Alicia doesn’t respond; she is looking directly at Victor, who meets her gaze for only a second before he has to look away. Something nags at the back of his mind as he busies himself stretching, something he saw in Alicia’s eyes…but he has other more pressing things to think about, and he pushes it out of his head.
The crowd is already risen as “Macho Man” by the village people kicks in, and Philip has to yell over the din.
Philip: And his opponent, he is the current ACW International Champion…..from Yellowknife, Canada……the Macho Man RDK!
RDK beams with pleasure as he walks to the ring; the fans are threatening a crush at the barriers in their eagerness to see him, and huge chants of “R-D-K! R-D-K!” are resounding around the arena. RDK gets to the ring, and notes Angelo and Alicia on the outside; but all his attention is on Latino. RDK hands the belt to the referee, and then faces his opponent.
RDK: Bruda, this isn’t going to be pretty, but I’m going to slap you up and down until I find the real you under all that attitude. I can help you….
Latino: Thanks, but I don’t think anyone can help me now….let’s just do this.
RDK is confused at Latino’s apparent apathy, but he’s not the kind of man to give up easily; working on a gut feeling he gives Latino a hard smack around the face. Latino’s temper flares, he throws a punch back, and the ref waves for the bell as RDK successfully goads Latino into getting the match started.
Bell Rings.
Latino ploughs his frustration from the last few weeks into his assault on RDK, and the champ has to take an unusually defensive stance in the opening moments of the match. Latino gets in a lucky blow and pulls off a suplex; he drops down to cover, but his eyes catch those of Angelo and he’s secretly relieved when RDK kicks strongly before the 2 count. The pair stand back up and circle; now Latino is more hesitant and RDK has to make all the running, with Latino seemingly content just to defend even when RDK slips up and leaves room for a quick jab or two. RDK frowns and steps up the pace; he whips Latino to a corner and runs in for a splash, but Latino steps forward and blocks with his shoulder. RDK staggers back a few steps and Latino’s instincts again override his brain – he powerslams RDK and elbow drops without really thinking, but he stops himself from making a cover. Instead he heads to the corner, and doesn’t seem to be in that much of a hurry to get there. He finally arrives, and Latino seems to be readying for the Houston Hangover; he stands at the top of the turnbuckle, but RDK is up and he rushes forward to stop the move. RDK jumps up to Latino and looks to hit a superplex – but Latino gathers his strength and the crowd cries out in surprise as Latino uses a back body drop to lift RDK over him and drop him to the outside. Latino then backflips off the turnbuckle to try and strike RDK, but the Macho Man has moved away in time and Latino too has a hard landing on the thin crash mats.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:52:11 GMT -5
Inwardly, Latino’s keen to keep the battle on the outside – he can’t win from this position, and a countout would be an ideal way for him to lose the match whilst retaining his own sense of honour. Until then, Latino is determined to put in as strong a performance as possible; he meets RDK’s attack and reverse an attempted whip into the safety barrier. With RDK so close to the barrier it’s an opportunity he can’t pass up; Latino runs in and clothes lines RDK over the barrier, scattering the fans, and then leaps from the barrier into a frogsplash. Pleased with the results from this, Latino picks up RDK and drapes him over the barrier close to the ring; he runs to the ring, rolls in (resetting the count without thinking about it) and then goes for a second splash. This time though RDK slips aside and Latino hits the metal barrier, making the crowd audibly wince. RDK gives Latino a Samoan drop and then picks him up again; with excellent balance RDK hops up on to the barrier and amazes those in the front with a close – up view of a piledriver. The pair tumble back to the padded floor on landing, and RDK rolls Latino back into the ring; he pins, and Latino kicks at 2.5. The fans are chanting “Moonsault! Moonsault” and RDK hears them clearly; it’s risky, but he loves to give the fans what they want and he heads to the corner. But as he’s getting into position, he stands and straightens up….to see Latino run in, leap from the ropes closest to the post and hit him with a hurracanrana that drops both men to the outside once again. It’s a hugely impressive feet and the crowd pops for it; Latino feels a frisson of pleasure at their reaction, but one glance from Angelo quickly kills off any thoughts that might have been stirring deep in his subconscious.
Latino drags his feet when moving back in on RDK to try and give his opponent time to recover without giving the game away. But he can’t dally about for too long, and fortunately RDK picks himself up and blocks an attempted kick without too much difficulty. The pair grapple together, and RDK pushes Latino back to the apron; but Latino has a burst of inspiration and grabs RDK by the neck before dropping to the floor and driving his head against the edge of the ring. Latino rolls RDK back inside and pins, getting just past the 2 count; RDK regroups, but as Latino looks at him he can see that maybe, just maybe….he has a real shot at winning the belt. But this thought must have been etched across face, because he sees Angelo staring coldly at him from one side of the ring; Angelo stays silent, but he draws a finger across his throat – a clear message to Latino that the match has gone far enough. Latino sighs, and as RDK comes forward again he “accidentally” mis – times his block so that he takes RDK’s punch right in the face. Latino goes down, and the fans cheer for RDK; the Macho Man heads to the top, and this time his Moonsault is on target. With the fans going berserk, RDK makes the cover, 1…2…. – the cheering becomes a sound of confusion, and Angelo stares in disbelief – Latino still has his shoulders on the mat, but RDK has broken the pin of his own accord. RDK kneels on one knee, and Latino, not sure what to do, sits up. RDK looks him in the eye.
RDK: Look bruda, I don’t know what’s got into you lately……but I do know you aren’t putting 100% into this match. And I want to know why. I’ve known you since Day One, and no one’s put more effort into chasing these titles than you have! So what gives?
Latino looks at RDK, then at the mat.
Latino: Does it matter? You’ll still be the champ, so what’s the problem?
RDK: The problem? The problem is, jabroni, a champ’s only as good as his last defence, and I know you can do better than this. But you have to believe in yourself…..I believe in you, bruda, I always did. You can pretend you’re someone else if you want, that you’re something you’re not….it won’t change who you are or what you feel inside.
Latino stands up and paces; the audience is still and quiet. Alarmed by this sudden turn of events, Angelo hisses at Latino from the sidelines.
Angelo: Victor, don’t throw away what you’ve worked to protect…..just do the right thing, and this will all be in the past.
Victor looks at him, then at RDK….and finally at Alicia. He turns back to RDK.
Latino: RDK, I’m sorry……but I have to do this.
Latino turns away again; RDK looks disappointed…..until Latino spins and blasts forward, clotheslining him to the ground. It’s a roll up, 1-2-thr- RDK breaks out just in time, and is grinning as he springs back to his feet.
RDK: OoOoOoOoH Yeah! Now that’s what I’m talking about, so bring it bruda!
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:53:12 GMT -5
The match has exploded back into life, and now Latino puts 100% into the match. But RDK isn’t about to hand his title over just like that, and Latino is dizzied by a storming barrage of punches before RDK hits him with a textbook full nelson slam and gets a 2 count as his reward. Both men are back up, and they clash again; RDK is on a roll and the fans roar as he goes for the Rock Bottom….but Latino has a counter prepared, and switches the move into a Flatliner. Latino pins and also gets 2; RDK wags a finger at him and then rushes in for a super fast bulldog. Latino rolls out of the ring to stop another pin taking place; Angelo is staring daggers at him, but Latino doesn’t notice him now as RDK is in hot pursuit. Latino turns retreat back into attack, rushing and hitting a baseball slide that scrunches up a section of the outer mats before he ploughs into RDK; as the pair try and get up, Latino sees the exposed concrete and an idea comes to him. He lines up and hits RDK with a superkick, and then picks him up before hopping on to the safety barrier. With the fans watching in amazement Latino sets up and delivers the Razor’s Edge straight on to the unprotected floor; RDK’s eyes roll at the impact, and Latino quickly bundles him back into the ring, checks his proximity to the ropes, covers, and….. the fans go ballistic as RDK kicks just before the 3 count is made. RDK’s tenacity is awe inspiring, and Latino again begins to doubt himself; but as he catches his breath and tries to think he sees Alicia watching him, from the corner of his eye. To this point she’s been quite nonplussed by the whole thing, but now she can’t hide her feelings – deep down she’s still cheering for him, and along with a fresh pang of guilt Latino feels the tiniest shoots of hope starting to push their way up toward daylight.
Latino jumps back to his feet; all his muscles ache, but he gathers his strength and forces RDK back to the ropes before executing a Diamond Cutter over the ropes. Latino moonsaults from them, but RDK holds up his arms, catches Latino, and throws him off before regaining his feet. But Latino has plenty more ideas to use; a little more fighting precedes Latino Atomic – Dropping RDK on to the ropes (making all the guys in the audience wince), and then as RDK tries to extract himself Latino delivers a powerful missile dropkick, using the corner post as a takeoff point. RDK slumps back into the ring, and Latino goes back to the post; with the audience roaring, Latino leaps up and perfectly delivers his Houston Hangover. He pins and his heart rate is at near – coronary speed, 1,2,thr-No! Somehow RDK kicks out, and Latino suddenly feels very tired. The crowd is becoming divided; RDK’s fans are as vocal as ever, but some of the more sensitive souls recognise that Latino is trying to force himself to face the consequences of his actions, for better or worse, and they applaud his efforts. RDK himself can see that Latino doesn’t have much left; he has little problem delivering the Jabroni buster with its pin finish, and he holds Latino down – but Latino just barely breaks free before the 3 count, and RDK is genuinely, pleasantly surprised. He’s even more surprised when, on trying to lock up, Latino pulls off a vertical suplex, and Latino holds on to go for the second of a possible three. It’s a struggle but he makes it, and now the crowd is on its feet as the pair battle each other, entwined together….it seems to last for hours, but it’s really no more than 10 seconds before Latino tips the balance and hits the third suplex. Part of the crowd is shouting “Pin! Pin!”, but Latino looks at RDK and instinct tells him it just won’t work; he needs to pull out that extra, special something if he wants the win. RDK is slowly trying to rise, and Latino sees Angelo staring, impoling him….. but what Latino also sees is the ropes, and a though pings into his mind. Before RDK can get up, Latino drags RDK to the ropes and drapes his legs over the middle rope; with RDK face down, Latino uses one foot to apply pressure to RDK’s neck and wrenches back on his legs; the ref isn’t sure about the legality of this move, and is inspecting it carefully….but RDK’s eyes are almost popping, and he groans with pain. The flow of oxygen to RDK’s brain is being cut off, and Latino decides to take the risk; he releases RDK, jumps over the ropes to the apron, and waits…….RDK stands up, and with a yell Latino springboards into a sunset flip. With his head already spinning, RDK can’t comprehend his situation quickly enough, and as the ref slaps the mat for 3 the two separate and lie still on the canvas.
Philip: Here is your winner…….and NEW ACW International Champion……Latino!
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:54:07 GMT -5
The crowd goes absolutely mental; neither man in the ring can move for several moments, so great has been the effort that they have put into the match. The referee puts the belt into Latino’s hands as he lifts himself up on to one elbow, and Latino gazes at the gleaming metal of the title he’s chased for so many months…..but then his eyes track past the gold, and meet the stare of Angelo who has not moved an inch from his watching position during the entire match. Angelo doesn’t in fact look angry; his anger will probably come to a head later, when he gets around to calculating just how much money he’s lost. But for now, he just looks disappointed, and when he glances to his left at AK, who is applauding the match with everyone else, he seems a little sad too.
Angelo: Oh, Victor……I really did not want to do this, and that’s the truth. But no one screws with the Don and escapes the consequences.
Angelo doesn’t have to say another word; within seconds, the titantron flicks from showing the arena to a familiar shot of a motel parking lot…..
The thunderous reaction of the crowd is cut off almost at once, and then the sound from the tape can be heard even more clearly. Though the broadcast pictures omit the details, the fans in the arena aren’t spared any of this, and most people are made extremely uncomfortable by the home video “performance”.
But this, of course, is as nothing compared to the look of horror on Victor’s face; even though he was well aware of what would happen if he won, the reality of it is still terrible to behold. He doesn’t want to look at AK, doesn’t want to watch the slow realisation dawning, and so his eyes stay rooted to the damning evidence. The audience, however, see what he does not; that Alicia turns, very slowly, on hearing the video start up, and she only just manages to keep herself calm as she sees the events described by Jasmine in glorious technicolor. She doesn’t look at Angelo, but her mind quickly puts together the pieces and Latino’s behaviour in the lead up to and during the match suddenly makes perfect sense. Still unable to tear his eyes away from the scene, Victor is paralysed until a voice slices through the air, soft and yet razor – edged at the same time.
AK: Turn that off, please.
The director in the booth does so. Mic in hand, AK walks out so that she’s facing Latino in the ring from the edge of the entrance ramp. There’s only a few feet of distance between them, but at this moment they’ve never been so far apart. A few more moments pass before Alicia is able to speak again, and when she does it’s with a tone only just balancing on the edge of an abyss.
AK: Start talking.
There’s absolute silence in the arena; with every single pair of eyes on him, Victor realises that he has just one chance to salvage something from the situation, and that no speech or promo he’s ever cut is as critical as what he will say now. The seconds drag by, and, with nowhere left to retreat to, Victor bends down and picks up the mic which has been rolled into the ring next to his feet. He straightens up, and when he finally starts to speak, at first his tone is flat and two dimensional.
Victor:……Her name is Jasmine. She was almost my very first girlfriend. We’ve known each other for a long time and we dated many times, but we drifted apart, and I hadn’t seen her for years….until…..
Guilt gnawing at his insides, Latino has to pause and compose himself before he can continue.
Victor: She just called my mom, one day, completely out of the blue…..she left her number, said she was coming to town and did we want to meet up? And I thought…..I thought…..
Another pause; it’s getting harder with every syllable.
Victor: I had no intention of anything happening, chula, not for one second did I believe that she was still interested in me, otherwise I’d have burned that note on the spot. So I met her in a bar, you know, just to talk over old times.
He’s reached the point where he can’t skirt the edges any longer, and Victor takes a deep breath.
Victor: I still don’t remember how it happened…..I asked her where she was staying, and she told me, and somehow I offered to…..see her safely back, it was dark and she didn’t know the area…so we got to the motel…and….
A tear runs down his cheek; the floodgates are close to failure, and his voice begins to falter and break with guilt and shame.
Victor: Oh, chula, I’m so sorry….
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:55:12 GMT -5
Alicia hasn’t made a sound since the start of Victor’s confession; as his words die away, she gazes at him with an unfathomable expression and then raises her own mic once more.
AK: So was it good? Did the earth move, so to speak?
The question is almost matter-of-fact in its bluntness, and Victor is knocked back for a second before he can even think about answering.
Victor: No! It wasn’t like that, it-
AK: Please, Victor, unless that really is the truth, don’t tell me she meant nothing to you….because that makes it worse, not better.
AK’s own voice is splintering, just a little. Victor shudders a little and then speaks again, his honestly making every word painful to him.
Victor……. It was great, just like it always was before……….
AK nods. Time is still dragging, and it seems like an age before she speaks again, but when she does so her question rocks Latino to his core.
AK: So…….. Do you love her, Victor?
Latino’s eyes flare at her words; he seems about to begin shouting, but he restrains himself and thinks very carefully before answering.
Victor: When I was younger, yes, I did….I cared for her very much. And when we were…together again, for a little while I wondered if I could love her again.
Victor straightens up, and now there’s more conviction in his voice. He’s about to go for broke.
Victor: But now I know, I’m absolutely certain, that those days are over. I’ll always have a…fondness for Jasmine, and I won’t lie to you and pretend that isn’t the case, but there is only one woman whom I love and cherish, with all my heart and soul. And I’m more sure of that now than I have ever, ever been before.
There’s a bit of a cheer for this; Alicia’s stare seems to soften a little, and Victor feels a tiny flame of hope. But there’s a canker still in this particular flower.
Angelo: Superb speech there, Victor, I was totally moved by it. But I still personally prefer this one….
Victor’s expression shatters as the second audio tape is heard throughout the arena. As his silver tongue charms Jasmine, he has no words to undo the damage; Angelo smirks and Latino balls up his fists in fury both at Angelo and at himself. The crowd is booing both Angelo and Latino, and only a few of them notice AK pace over to the Don. Angelo himself only notices when AK roars into her mic next to his ear.
AK: Turn that CRAP off RIGHT NOW!!
Angelo reels back from the sonic blast, and AK grasps his costly Armani shirt, pulling him close before delivering her instruction.
AK: Angelo, I suggest you make yourself scarce. I think you’ve done enough for one night.
Alicia’s tone of voice suggests that Angelo should comply if he wants to remain intimately familiar with his testicles, and since Angelo is no fool he extracts himself and makes a quick exit, recognising there’s no further gain to be made on his part. Once he’s gone, Alicia steps up to the ring and enters it for the first time; she and Latino are the only ones now within the ring as RDK and the referee have made the sensible decision to watch this from the safety of outside. AK walks right up to Latino; no one’s quite sure what will happen, and Latino subconsciously braces himself for a mighty slap. But that doesn’t happen.
AK: Victor, now I want you to watch something. Guys, roll the tape.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:56:27 GMT -5
The titantron flares into life; the scene on is dimly lit, but the audience recognises it as the room they saw earlier. The camera shakes a bit as it’s moved and then set on the table, and there’s a soft gasp as Jasmine is shown once more. But this isn’t the brash, proud woman from earlier; her eyes are dark – ringed, her hair limp and straggly, and she twitches at every tiny sound or flicker of the lamp light. There isn’t a single bruise or mark of violence on her body, save one; she presses her nails into her hands and arms constantly, as if checking for something, and there are livid red scratches where she seems to have clawed at her own flesh. As she sits there, AK’s voice is heard from off camera.
AK: Now Jasmine, I just want you to repeat what you told me to the camera here. Take your time, and as soon as you’re done I promise you can go.
Jasmine: The light…..please, the light…..they’ll come back…..
AK: The light’s on you, Jasmine, it’ll stay on as long as you tell the truth, like I said. Once you’ve done this, it’ll all be all right again.
Jasmine’s eyes dart from the light to the camera, and then she begins to speak.
Jasmine: Victor….I want to say sorry. I haven’t been totally open with you…..you see, when I contacted you, it wasn’t what it seemed.
She glances fearfully at the light, then continues.
Jasmine: Since we broke up….I’ve had many relationships, none of them permanent….but I have two children. It hasn’t been easy raising them, we’ve never had much as a family….and then one day I saw you on an ACW show at a friend’s home. I remembered that I still had your mom’s number from when we were going out, and so I had an idea. I called her, and when you phoned me back….I…I…<br> She falters, and a vague hint of her normal personality comes through.
Jasmine: I won’t do this! You have no right to keep me here, you sadistic…..
The light is abruptly cut off; there’s no night vision this time, and just as suddenly there’s a piercing scream, and it continues to chill the blood of everyone listening until the light returns. Jasmine has fallen off her chair, so it’s only as she gets up that the crowd can see where she’s torn into the skin on her arms and cheeks, leaving blood under her fingernails. She’s crying now, and AK appears on the screen for the first time as she helps her back on to the chair.
Jasmine: Oh, god, please…..these things….under my skin….make them go away….
AK: Remember, Jasmine, the roaches are there because of your lies. All you have to do is tell the truth, and they will be gone forever. I know you can do this if you want to….only you have the ability to make it stop.
Jasmine nods, the tears streaming down her face, and now she can barely get the words out fast enough; her mind has been totally overwhelmed.
Jasmine: Victor, forgive me…..I needed money, and the wrestling press would have paid me a fortune for the story of our affair. I enjoyed our times together, but for me it was just business….I’m sorry if I hurt you, but you seemed happy when you were with me…..
AK: Jasmine, do you truly love Victor Laureano?
Jasmine (emphatically): No, no, not like that. Victor was just……convenient.
Back in the arena, it’s hard to tell whether Victor is more shellshocked by his lover’s confession, or what she’s been reduced to by Alicia’s psychological manipulation. On screen, Jasmine seems to sag with relief at having “unburdened” herself. AK returns to view and puts her hand around Jasmine’s shoulder.
AK: Well done, Jasmine. You’ve done it, it’s all over now. So, what are you going to do?
Jasmine’s voice is quiet and dull, very slightly trance – like.
Jasmine: Leave this city and go home to my family, and never do anything like this again.
AK: A very wise decision. Come on, you’ve had a long day; the cab’s waiting outside to take you wherever you want to go.
Jasmine stands up, still a little unsteady on her feet, and Alicia assists her out of the camera’s view before the titantron switches off.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 14:58:02 GMT -5
The crowd is dumbstruck by what they’ve just seen; Victor doesn’t seem able to take it all in. All the time the tape’s been playing, AK has watched his reaction, and now when she speaks, for the first time she allows her immense pain and anger to charge her words so that they’re almost fired, bullet – like, at him.
AK: It’s not pleasant to find out you’ve been played like a cheap fiddle, is it Victor?
Victor tries to think of a response, but AK’s fuse has finally burnt right out, and her fury explodes there and then into full - on verbal GBH.
AK: VICTOR LAUREANO, YOU TOTAL AND UTTER BASTARD!! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME, YOU GOBSHITE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS? I’VE BEEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH ALL KINDS OF CRAP, FRETTING OVER WHETHER I CAN FIGHT OFF MY DARKEST INCLINATIONS, AND ALL THE WHILE YOU’VE BEEN HUMPING THAT SCHEMING LITTLE MIDNIGHT COWGIRL BEHIND MY BACK?! DO I HAVE A BLOODY TATTOO ON MY FOREHEAD THAT SAYS “I’M FACE – I’LL LET YOU GET AWAY WITH IT”?!
Victor physically reels back at every barbed phrase; most of the male audience members also look to feel some pain in sympathy, while the ladies are behind this all the way, and in the back some wag starts up a chant of “Go Jerry! Go Jerry!”
AK: YOU DESERVE TO BE CASTRATED WITH A RUSTY WEEDWHACKER, YOU SLIMY, DECIETFUL TOSSER! I SHOULD STRAP YOU NAKED TO YOUR SODDING LOWRIDER AND SEND THE WHOLE LOT OVER THAT BRIDGE, JUST LIKE YOU DID TO BK! BUT SINCE I DON’T FANCY 20 YEARS OF FORCED LESBIANISM IN A STATE PRISON, I’LL JUST HAVE TO SETTLE FOR EXPOSING YOU ON NATIONAL TELEVISION AS THE CHEATING, WEAK, DICK-FOR-A-BRAIN WANKER THAT YOU ARE! AND I HOPE YOUR MOTHER IS WATCHING THIS, SO THAT SHE CAN TAKE THE CREDIT FOR BEING THE FIRST WOMAN TO GIVE BIRTH TO A MAGGOT IN HUMAN FORM!!
At this point AK has to stop to catch her breath; Victor has gone extremely pale, and AK gives him one last furious glance before she spins on her heel and storms away to the edge of the ring. She’s halfway through the ropes when she stops.
AK: And yet…..
Slowly she pulls back and stands at the edge of the ring; she turns around, and the rage melts away from her features as she looks at Victor once more.
AK: For all of that, Victor….. god knows why, or how…..I still love you.
There’s another crowd pop as AK walks back over to Victor, she looks down at the mat, and then back to him.
AK: You have such a way with words, Victor…..but how can I trust them? This isn’t the first time we’ve been in this situation. So I need to know from you, right now…..one good reason, just one, why I shouldn’t walk away and get on with my life. I know that’s not a fair thing to ask of you, but I’ve come to understand in the last few months that life isn’t fair or reasonable, and we just have to make the best we can of it. So it’s down to you, Victor.
The crowd is literally on the edge of their seats, waiting to see what will happen. Victor turns away for a moment, concentrating all the emotion in him into a tight ball, to infuse his response.
Victor: Alicia…..you’re right. You didn’t deserve any of this, and I don’t deserve forgiveness for it. But I need you, chula…..even though we fight, and hurt each other, even though sometimes you scare the shit out of me with the things you do and put my nerves through a grinder…..I’m not complete, I don’t truly exist, unless I’m with you and a part of you. And I think that….you need me in just the same way.
Latino has abandoned all of his defences; he’s now, at last, being completely honest. He picks up the International title belt, which has been lying on the mat the entire time.
Victor: Alicia, do you remember the first time I fought for this belt?
AK nods, and the crowd also recalls the match at Uncensored, now five months distant.
Victor: I was so close, but it wasn’t to be. I was devastated….you were at ringside for that match, like this one, and you came to me while I was kneeling here. We held each other, and we were both crying, do you remember that?
AK nods again, and a tear rolls down her face at the memory.
Victor: Alicia, I understand now…..I wasn’t crying about the title. I was crying because you were sad, because I felt I had let you down. Just like I’m feeling now.
His cheek, too, is jewelled by a single tear.
Victor: I want you to be happy, chula…. I still believe that I could do that, but if you can’t…… then I hope you can find someone who will.
There’s a murmur from the crowd; AK and Latino stare at one another. The decision has to be made, AK is faltering a little, when the silence is broken by someone’s mobile going off in the front row. The fan digs around and pulls it out – only to have it snatched from him by RDK, who’s been surprisingly quiet during this whole episode. RDK holds it to his ear and “answers” it.
RDK: Yeah, Hello? What? Could you say the last part again? OK, I’ll tell them.
RDK hops up on to the apron.
RDK: Guys, that was Ridley, he says could you hurry up and get back together before he dies of old age so he can rape Skurai with the weedwhacker?
Everybody laughs, including the pair in the ring. As they see each other smile, the last of the ice between them is melted away, and the crowd’s laughter turns into cheers as they embrace one another. RDK tosses the phone back to the fan, and grins.
RDK: OoOoOoOH Yeah! That’s the real Latino, Bruda!
Latino and AK hug a little more before parting; Latino picks up the belt and puts it over one shoulder before walking over to RDK. He offers his hand; RDK takes it, and the handshake quickly becomes a manly hug of mutual respect, as Latino thanks RDK for helping him.
So it is that the three leave together, and the fans applaud the new champion, who is at last back to his “old” self, all the way back to the locker rooms.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 15:00:40 GMT -5
Segment: A lesson in Life (Credit: Ridley)
Yoko walks into the Demon Pit with a dejected look on her face, head down. As she sits down on the steps next to the throne, the door to the inner sanctum opens and Ridley steps out. It's not entirely clear what's been going on in there, but he's a little flushed from exertion. He notices Yoko there, and heads over close to her.
Ridley: Now do you see?
Yoko nods, her eyes filling with tears at not having seen Rena's deception coming. Ridley sits down next to her and puts a hand on her shoulder.
Ridley: Sometimes, people are going to do that to you. You trust them, you carry on thinking they'll be there whenever you need them....and when you least expect it, they knife you between the shoulderblades.
Yoko: ....mm-hm....
Ridley: Look....you don't let it get to you. It'll always happen; not many people turn out the way you think they will. And you have to roll with the punches when it comes to that.
She looks up at him, a bit confused, but is silent as he continues lecturing his protege.
Ridley: There's only one thing left to do when that happens, obviously.
Yoko: Brutal revenge?
He stands and helps her to her feet, flashing a fanged grin.
Ridley: I think you're ready.
Yoko: Ready? For what?
Ridley: If I'm still alive next Thursday, I'll tell you.
End segment.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 15:01:55 GMT -5
Match 8: Ridley vs. Skurai - Devil's Night Wonder Crush Steel City Flying Nimbus Caribbean Glass Fans Bring the Weapons Hellspawn's Goblet 2/3 Falls Deathmatch
The show is now running very late indeed, but the fans have totally lost track of the passing time; they’re too busy gawping at the extraordinary structure which has been assembled on the foundations of the normal ring. It’s certainly not the biggest or most complex that has been seen in ACW, but you could count the number of matches that rival it for sheer “pain potential” on the fingers of an amputee’s hand.
Once the construction crew has finished their labours, Philip steps though the narrow doors in the double cages and takes a look around before addressing the crowd.
Philip: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the…(he takes a deep breath)… Devil's Night Wonder Crush Steel City Flying Nimbus Caribbean Glass Fans Bring the Weapons Hellspawn's Goblet 2/3 Falls Deathmatch!
The crowd pops just for the fact that Philip can remember the match’s full title.
Philip: I shall now explain what exactly that tongue twister of stipulations means. First, Devil’s Night refers to the torches you can see mounted on the inner wall of steel cage.
About 20 large torches burst into flame; each one looks to be heavy as well as having a nasty looking point at one end.
Philip: “Wonder crush” is the reason for the existence of this inner cage, which is made from glass. There are explosive charges dotted all over; if any one is struck, the entire cage will shatter and collapse upon its occupants.
The fans look up at the clear glass roof, and a murmur goes through the crowd. Philip then stamps on the floor of the structure, and the ringing metal sound redirects everyone’s attention to it,
Philip: Steel City. The ring floor is a metal sheet, there are no turnbuckle pads, and as you can see, no apron. And that’s in addition to the steel cage itself.
Philip now steps out of the cages; the camera pans back, and it shows that there are special trampolines surrounding the ring on all sides. Philip looks at the nearest one, and then surprises everyone by lightly hopping on to it. He bounces with quite some skill, achieving a respectable height.
Philip (whilst in motion):…….Flying……Nimbus!
The crowd laughs, and then pops loudly as Philip pulls off a double somersault before bringing himself to a halt and jumping off to the outside. He walks a few feet from the ring to a very large crate, about six feet square and slightly more than waist height. The camera follows, and the entire thing is shown to be filled with broken glass….wet broken glass.
Philip: This is the “Caribbean glass” pit. Why Caribbean?
He carefully touches a finger to one of the larger shards, and licks it.
Philip: Soaked in lemon juice……and…..
He checks the flavour one more time.
Philip: A hint of Bacardi. Nice. Now, Fans Bring the Weapons….
There’s another rousing cheer from the crowd; in the front rows many people shout and wave as the camera follows Philip back to the ring, and all the things they’ve brought are shown strewn about on the route from the glass pit as well as in the ring itself. Philip re – enters the cages, and picks up something from the centre of the ring. It’s a large, deep gold chalice, and Philip has trouble holding it in one hand with his mic in the other.
Philip: Hellspawn’s Goblet. This comes into play if the score is tied at one fall apiece; before the third and final fall can be won, the goblet must be taken from here to the pedestal on the roof of the cage….
The camera pans upward and the chainlink cage roof is visible, with the solid pedestal on top.
Philip…..and it must be filled to the brim with blood, either yours or your opponent’s.
The crowd seems a little disturbed by this particular stipulation; Philip puts the chalice down again and then exits the two cages.
Philip: And that’s all there is to it! So, are you guys ready for the insanity?
The roof shakes a bit as the fans roar their response, and the arena is plunged into darkness; “New Noise” starts to scream, and the fans respond in kind…..
Philip: Introducing first, from Sacramento California……..Skurai!
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 15:03:45 GMT -5
The first thing everyone sees is Skurai’s entourage; he’s preceded by four red robed druids, bearing flaming torches of their own and chanting in a harsh tongue. With the lights down low little is visible of Skurai save for his silhouette with its flapping cape, but those close enough to see…..wish that they hadn’t. The procession reaches the ring, and Skurai ascends the steps as the lights are coming back up; there’s a collective cry of horror from the crowd at Skurai’s pale, deathly appearance and his molten gaze terrifies all that meet it, even for no more than a second. Skurai doesn’t speak – he has no need to, and he smiles with evil anticipation as his druids station themselves on one side of the ring.
The audience barely has time to catch their stolen breath before the lights fall once more……
GONG….
GONG…..
Philip: And his opponent, from Southeastern Birmingham, Alabama………..Ridley!
”Monochromatic Stains” hits at maximum volume, and the crowd flips out as the air in the arena is whipped up almost to storm force. As it dies down, the lights come up just a little and lasers kick in, and now a towering figure is revealed on the stage. Ridley walks to the ring at a stately pace; the camera follows him, and reveals that he’s chosen new attire for this occasion. His cape is still massive, with copious numbers of spikes, but it now wraps around his entire body so that he seems to drift along like a malevolent mist. The material is embroidered with pentagrams, various Elder symbols, and the ever – present Ankh. On his fists are the mighty gauntlets first glimpsed on Warfare, and apart from his blazing eyes the rest of his head is covered with a convincingly squidgy squid – like mask.
On reaching the steps to the ring, Ridley ascends to the door and then throws back his cape, snapping his arms up to raise the house lights. The arena is illuminated once more, and Ridley removes the cape and mask; he has one more little addition to reveal, an Ankh carved deep into the flesh of the bridge of his nose and forehead.
For the first time since the fateful night on the roof of the arena, Ridley and Skurai are within touching distance of one another. Ridley enters the cage, followed by the match referee, and the doors are locked behind him, leaving just the three – or technically, the four – of them trapped together. Ridley locks eyes with Skurai, and stares simultaneously at his lifelong tormentor and his human accomplice; the fans are about to explode themselves with all the hype, and the ref waves through the glass and steel to the timekeeper.
Bell Rings.
Skurai’s movement is so blindingly fast that even the slow – motion replay of the opening seconds is blurred; he gets behind Ridley, takes him over backward and has him rolled up before anyone knows what’s happening. The ref drops and counts more out of instinct than anything else, and there’s total shock in the arena as the ref holds up 3 fingers, indicating that the pin was successful.
Philip:….wha?! Er…..yes..the first fall is awarded to Skurai!
Slowly, Ridley stands back up and turns to face Skurai again. Skurai’s smile becomes a smirk, and the smirk a peal of laughter….which resonates with two voices, one human, one diabolical. Ridley glares at his foe, gives the briefest of glances to the camera – and then kicks Skurai in the gut at very close range while he’s in mid – gloat. There’s no way Skurai can avoid the high – end ejaculator, or kick out of the pin any more than Ridley could, and the crowd is beside itself as the referee indicates the second fall to the timekeeper.
Philip:….And the second fall goes to Ridley! The Hellspawn’s Goblet stipulation is therefore now in effect.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 15:04:48 GMT -5
Ridley dusts his hands off and grins at Skurai, who is also picking himself up. Their eyes meet again, and this time Ridley sees just the merest hint of the demonic presence looking back at him directly – and it is not pleased. Skurai speaks, for the first time, and it is with the voice of pure malice.
Asmodeus: THAT was foolish, my boy. You truly have no idea what we’re going to do to you…. You don’t stand a chance of defeating us. My servant, show him my real power!
Skurai dips, snatches up a lethal – looking sickle and slashes at Ridley, who backflips to avoid it; he kicks at Skurai in the air, but Skurai ducks the attack. Skurai comes in again, and Ridley backs up a bit – conscious of the proximity of the inner wall, he grabs the nearest weapon – a glass bottle covered with the obligatory thumbtacks – and busts it over Skurai’s head. Skurai takes a step back, but only one step, and laughs as he lunges and cuts a shallow slash across one of Ridley’s arms. Ridley glances about for another weapon, then changes his mind and brings Skurai down with one of his trademark Yakuza kicks. Ridley punts the sickle away with his foot and starts stomping away at Skurai; Skurai responds by grabbing a nearby electroshock baton and applying it to Ridley’s leg above the top of his boot. The shock makes Ridley’s muscles spasm for a second and gives Skurai a chance to escape; eyeing the glass cage, Skurai takes hold of Ridley and throws him with a released german suplex. He gets good distance, but Ridley stops just short of the glass wall. Rather pissed off, Skurai collects a barbed – wire wrapped sledgehammer and takes a swing at Ridley; Ridley rolls out of the way and tries to kick Skurai into the wall, but Skurai leaps over the kick and very nearly pulps Ridley’s head with a second huge blow. Unfortunately for Skurai, the hammer is heavy and slow to move, and while he’s getting ready for another shot Ridley has found a handy little green and white packet in a corner of the ring. He pours some of the contents on to his hands, crushes it a little, and then flings the crystalline salt into Skurai’s eyes as he rushes in. Skurai howls as the sharp little shards assault his eyeballs, and drops the hammer; Ridley reads the writing on the side of the packet.
Ridley: “Maldon Sea Salt. 100% Natural – the choice of the professional.” Meh. Works for me.
As Skurai wipes the salt from his face, Ridley balls his fists and introduces Skurai to his new accessories; the gauntlets add quite a bit of strength to Ridley’s already legendary punches, and though Skurai stands up to them far better than any mortal could he does start to waver and stagger a little. With the crowd shouting and yelling, Ridley signals for his T Bone Suplex; the move is executed perfectly, and everyone braces as Skurai hits the glass…..but although it cracks all over, there’s no explosion – there must be a faulty connection somewhere. Ridley is livid, and gets even more so as Skurai gets up, smirks and stalks him once more – he reaches behind him for a weapon, any weapon, and leers as he feels something in his hand. Ridley swings the item and Skurai rears back to avoid it; then Ridley sees what he’s actually got hold of, and snorts. It’s an electric cordless drill; Skurai sees it and both he and Asmodeus laugh.
Ridley:….Nah. Only women and fags use these. You want it?
Skurai stops laughing at this insult and swings a kick; Ridley drops the drill to defend himself….and Skurai’s foot connects with it for a rugby – kick that Jonny Wilkinson would be proud of. The drill hits the glass wall on the other side…..just millimetres from an explosive charge. The impact sets it off, and the crowd screams as a chain reaction of blasts collapses the whole structure, walls and roof, showering Ridley and Skurai with a nightmare of sharp broken glazing. Both instinctively drop and curl to protect themselves (as does the referee), but large pieces from the roof crash down and shatter on their backs, and it’s several seconds before they are able to pick themselves up once more. The ref seems to be better off than the superstars, which is baffling until a close - up of a tear in his shirt reveals a protective bodysuit – the refs at least seem to be learning from experience.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 15:05:55 GMT -5
The two foes move in close, watching each other carefully; neither seems keen to make the first move, until Ridley lashes out with a Right Hook – only to have it met with an identical blow from Skurai so that both men take a hit. Ridley carries on with an elbow strike, and the same thing occurs; becoming suspicious, Ridley launches a spinning back kick and takes the same thing to his solar plexus even as he’s delivering the blow to Skurai. Ridley steps back a bit and thinks; it’s clear that with Asmodeus controlling Skurai his normal plans of attack are useless, since his former master is intimately acquainted with them all. Ridley tuts, decides that he’ll just have to work it out as the match proceeds – but his short reverie leaves an opening for Skurai, who whips him into the exposed turnbuckles of one corner. Grinning viciously, Skurai hurtles in and lowers his head, headbutting Ridley in the chest as they connect; Skurai continues to kick and punch Ridley while he’s cornered, but Ridley kicks him back, delivers his black hole slam on to the piles of glass from the inner cage, and then tops it off with a split – legged moonsault. Skurai is a little stunned from all of this, and for the first time Ridley has a chance to think about how to go about winning the match; he notes the chalice, and decides that the first order of business is to get out of the steel cage. He’ll have to be careful once he does so though, as the fiery eyes of Skurai’s druids are fixed upon him and they look hellbent on ensuring their master is victorious.
Skurai is already back on his feet; he’s bleeding from cuts all over his body, but in his movements he shows little sign of fatigue or pain. Skurai gazes around him and then takes a leap sideways; he practically runs halfway up the cage to grab one of the flaming torches and then jumps down, forcing Ridley to roll aside. Ridley rolls to his feet, keeps moving and takes a running jump at the other side of the cage; he too grabs a torch, but instead of dropping down he keeps hold of the side of the cage and ascends to the roof. Holding on with one hand and his two feet, Ridley crawls across the chainlink roof; Skurai jumps and swipes with his torch, but it’s just a bit too high. Ridley laughs at Skurai, enraging him even more, and moves close to the cage wall; Skurai jumps up and climbs toward him – which is when Ridley drops his torch to the mat to free his hands, grabs the roof, and uses both feet to kick Skurai as hard as he can. Skurai smacks his torch into Ridley’s legs, but Ridley ignores the burns and keeps attacking Skurai until he loses his grip and slips off. Skurai bounces on the ring ropes, and Ridley kicks against the roof to drop into a somersaulting splash; Skurai though grabs a large shard of glass and holds it against his chest. The crowd screams as Ridley hits, and they scream even more as Ridley slowly gets up and pulls the pointed shard out of his abdomen.
There’s no rest to be had; Skurai is terrifying in his relentlessness, and obviously taken with the idea of putting large holes in Ridley he turns his torch around and stabs Ridley with the pointed end in one of his arms. Ridley can’t suppress a roar of pain, but he turns it into a war cry and snatches up his own dropped torch before beating the seven shades out of Skurai with it – Skurai’s clothing starts to smoke and he’s extremely close to being set on fire. This isn’t actually what Ridley wants; rather, he just needs Skurai distracted enough so that he can pick him up. Ridley lifts Skurai above his head and his eyes scan the metal wall until he sees the point he’s looking for – the place where he attacked Skurai while hanging on the cage. Ridley has to act fast – he makes room for a run up, picks up all the speed he can, and then hurls Skurai at the weak point on the wall. The side of the cage creaks and bends, but it doesn’t break; Ridley kicks a pile of glass in frustration, certain that Asmodeus is influencing things. As he moves in to get Skurai up for another attempt, Skurai flashes a grin….and buries the sickle from earlier into one of Ridley’s shoulders. With the blade still impaled, Skurai takes hold of Ridley….and uses his own Torpedoes Away throw to send Ridley into the cage wall. This impact does the trick; the entire side panel of the cage collapses outward and slides to form a kind of ramp between the trampoline on that side (the one closest to the entrance ramp) and the floor.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Nov 20, 2004 15:06:50 GMT -5
Ridley doesn’t move as he rolls down the “ramp” and comes to rest at the bottom on the concrete floor; Skurai regards him from the inside of the steel cage and smiles. He steps to the edge of the cage and is about to exit, but then he remembers the Hellspawn Goblet; Skurai and Asmodeus aren’t in the least bothered about actually winning the match, but the idea of filling it with Ridley’s blood is right up Asmodeus’s twisted street, so Skurai collects it and casually tosses it to the outside. As Ridley stirs and tries to get up, the red robed druids close in and surround him; they mercilessly stomp and kick him as Skurai makes his way out of the cage, and the ref’s complaints are only heeded once Skurai is back on the scene and able to take over. Skurai waves the druids away and hauls Ridley to his feet; the huge glass pit is only a few feet away, and Skurai laughs as he whips the bruised and heavily bleeding Ridley into the side. At once, Skurai rushes forward to clothesline his foe; but Ridley snaps his head up, meets Skurai’s gaze, and lifts him up for a very high backdrop that brings Skurai down into the glass pit. Glass flies about and gets stuck in the safety barriers as Skurai thrashes, in real agony for the first time in the match from all the acid and alcohol. Ridley watches this for a moment or two, and then surprises everyone by leaping in after him. Up to their waists in glass and lemon juice, Ridley and Skurai brawl with one another; they knock each other back several times until they’re totally soaked in the acidic liquid, and probably in enough pain to knock out most of the audience on the spot. This goes on for 2 or 3 minutes until Skurai retreats; he snarls at his druids to finish his dirty work for him, but as Ridley gets out of the glass, from either side a quartet of his own druids materialise from the crowd to even the score. Skurai’s druids falter, and Skurai glowers at Ridley; he gestures to him to come forward, and the druids peel off to opposite sides of the cage to let their masters conclude their business.
Skurai is backing away up the improvised ramp, towards the cage. Ridley picks up the pace and closes the gap, spearing Skurai on to the trampoline; it bounces the pair about and they both right themselves to spring up high and attack one another in mid air. The crowd is enthralled as the pair trade spinning kicks and punches; they do not just stay on one side of the ring, but use the trampolines as pathways to circle it. With each jump they get higher, until finally they’re very close to the top; Skurai capitalises first and kicks Ridley backward so that he comes down and hits the outer floor, missing the trampoline. As Ridley’s druids hurry to assist him, Skurai is able to grab the top of the cage and scramble up; he turns across the roof to the side where his druids are, and shouts some orders. One druid throws Skurai a VCR brought in by a fan; Skurai moves back to the centre of the roof and listens until he hears the sound of activity on another side of the ring. Carefully Skurai sneaks closer; he listens again, and this time hears the sound of a trampoline being used. The time between bounces gets longer, and Skurai waits for the precise moment to reveal himself and bludgeon Ridley…..except that as steps forward and raises up the VCR, Ridley bounces up next to him and cracks a couple of lighttubes against the side of his head. Skurai shakes it off – but Ridley’s already back, this time with a barbed wire lighttube star discovered by one of his druids, and this too gets busted against Skurai. The fans cheer and the obligatory “Holy Shit!!” chant gets going as the druids pass Ridley a variety of items which he uses on Skurai with varying success – Boiiing – WHACK (hardcore chicken) – Boiiing – CRASH (lightube cactus) – Boiing -……..Skurai, fed up with this, sticks out an arm and the crowd gasps as he holds Ridley by the neck. Ridley dangles, and Skurai leers; Ridley leers back, snatches the VCR from Skurai’s free hand, and brains him with it. Skurai staggers backward and drops Ridley, and Ridley stands up – he looks about him, strokes his goatee, and then snaps his fingers. Perfectly on cue, one of his druids bounces up on the trampoline, hands him the golden chalice, and disappears downward with a quick bow (which gets a well deserved pop of its own.)
Ridley and Skurai’s combat has thrilled the crowd, but the pair of them seem to be no closer to overcoming each other. Blows are traded back and forth as they circle the roof, but neither man will admit to fatigue, and Skurai just won’t stay down long enough for Ridley to think about extracting enough blood from him to fulfil the final stipulation. Skurai scores a direct hit to Ridley and DDTs him to the metal floor, making the cage shake; he grabs the goblet and tries to smash Ridley with it, but Ridley blocks, punches Skuria with his armoured fist and then clocks him around the side of the head with the heavy chalice instead. Skuria rolls off, and Ridley has little time to act; he looks at the goblet, and then at the gauntlets he’s wearing…..the fingers have sharpened points. Ridley flattens his fingers like the sign for “Paper” and slowly draws his hand across his chest; the points slash open a deep wound, and Ridley holds the goblet in place until it’s completely filled, just as the stipulation requires. He places it on the pedestal as Skurai rises, and then turns to face his nemesis once more. Skurai and his master seem less than impressed.
Skurai / Asmodeus: You will never win….you must know that.
Ridley: No, but neither will you.
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