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[TKOW Board]

With the low rumbling beginning of Disturbed’s “Hell” a special montage begins, highlighting great moments in the TKOW histories of all the stars slated to appear at the event. The first 30 seconds is in black and white, and shows each star at pinnacles of their careers, in victory poses, bleeding, hurt, burned, but victorious nonetheless.

As the guitars blare into existence, flames consume the screen.

Rrwoooaaaw!

A jumpy, quick-moving circular shot of Phoenix in the brutality cage on the ladder, holding up the TKOW “Fiery” title.

Ahh, Ahhh
Burning now I bring you Hell!
Ahh, Ahhh
Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Burden dropkicks Phoenix in the chest, staggering the champion. Matt fights off of Phoenix's shoulders and both men attack, clubbing Phoenix down to one knee! Carpenter drops off the ropes and throws his hands up in annoyance, and advances on the mugging... The lights go out. The lights come back on. Phoenix and Carpenter are on the ramp. Matt is laid out. And Tobias is holding Phoenix's bat!

Read me tonight, when the warnings said leave a shudder upon you
Running from all that you feared in your life

Carpenter continues with the offence by locking in an STF. Bob fights like he is holding on to dear life while doing the best he can to reach the bottom rope. Carpenter reflects on this by repeatedly headbutting Bob while still in the hold.

Soul of the night, when the sun mislead paint a horror upon you
Marking the moment, displaying in my
ghost of a life!

Aello yells and charges Carpenter, spearing him through the glass door!! As they land inside, Aello blindly strikes out, wailing away on Carpenter with both barbed wire gloved hands. A guttural laughter rises from the masked man as his metal mask begins smearing with blood.

And I can't get round the way you left me out in the open
To leave me to die!
So how can I, forget the way you lead me through the path into Heaven
To leave me behind!

Aello's eyes go wide and she screams, breaking the Bodyguard's grasp, and jumps at Carpenter. Phoenix takes a step in and grabs her by the throat just inches away from Carpenter while still holding Mike at bay with the bat. Carpenter motions, and Phoenix roughly throws her to the ground, then slowly backs away following Carpenter.

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance
Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Burning, now I bring you Hell!

At the top of the ladder Griffen and Phoenix each think the same thing, connecting with right hands that would have staggered any other man at any other time. They each reel, slightly, and fire off a second shot, then a third, each blow threatening to knock them each off the ladder.

Ahh, Ahhh
Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Shot of Phoenix taking Matt off the ladder with the ClaDAMN.

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance
Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Burning now I bring you Hell!

Slow motion footage from MegaBowl V of Griffen taking Phoenix off the top of the brutality cage with his Bad Habit Drop and them hitting, bouncing, and breaking the mat.

Free me tonight, as the animal kings breathe their terror upon you
Caught in the moment, engaging in my
Bloodlust tonight, now I can't control my venom's flow
Get back from me demon, or be exorcised!

Quick flashes and short clips of Bob Lancelot, Adrian Tanner, Jr, Jace Mingla, Kid Styles, and others in the Submission Invitational at Megabowl V that lead up to the finals and ending with Bryant McCoy tapping out to Jace Mingla intermixed with the First Blood Invitational at the last Holiday Hell, ending with Carpenter drawing his own blood from his chest with a piece of glass.

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance

Shots of Tobias Burden downing Jace Mingla at MegaBowl V.

Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Burning now I bring you Hell!

Shot of Soulfly and Tyrenus broken and unconscious on the floor and Carpenter setting the room on fire.

All my emotion and all my integrity
All that you've taken from me

Shot of Bob Lancelot defeating Carpenter in the first of the 2 out of 3 series.

All my emotion and all my integrity
All that you've taken from me

Shot of Bob Lancelot defeating Carpenter in the second of the 2 out of 3 series.

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance

Carpenter nailing Lady Hawke in the back of the head with a bat during the Firestarter tournament and her slumping over.

Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Soul of the night, I know

Flashes of quick stills from the TKOW shows from Megabowl V up until the present.

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance
Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!
Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!
Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Quick clips of the first Prince of Hell, jumping to various points in the match, detailing the blood, the burns, the near death experiences. The clips get faster and faster and end with the music and the Holiday Hell 2007 banner appears on the screen...



only to be burned away to an interior arial shot of the packed HPWA Arena. The crowd is going wild and there are shots from many different angles within the arena. Many in the crowd hold up signs, "Phoenix can 'hurt' me anytime!" "I've gone through Hell to get here!" "Carpenter can kiss my ass!" "Lancelot can pierce me anytime!" "My <3 was hijacked by the Revolver!" and many others.

The camera finally settles on the announce teams who are just sitting down at the table. All are in suits... Tito Poppi dressed in dark blue, Mark Majors dress in a dark green with a shamrock lapel pin, and Quadir... decked out in red, laying his (Alucard style) hat on the desk next to a red heart-shaped box.

Tito: Holiday Hell has finally arrived!

The crowd roars in satisfaction.

Mark Majors: That's right, Tito. It's been long in coming.

Quadir: Too long is right! I ain't got to give my fav titty her Valentine's Day gift yet!

Mark Majors: Titty? I thought that box of candy was for Kid Styles...

Quadir: Shaddup!

A guitar chord begins.

WEEEEEEEEE...

SWWEEEEE... EMOOOOOOO...

SWWEEEEE... EMOOOOOOO...

SWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTT EMOOOOOOOOOTION...

SWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTT EMOOOOOOOOOTION...

The "8" logo bounces around the KhaosTron, jumping around the HPWA logo as T.H. Power emerges from the backstage area to "Sweet Emotion".

You talk about things that nobody cares
Youre wearing out things that nobody wears
Youre calling my name but you gotta make clear
I cant say baby where Ill be in a year

Power 'Style and Profile' struts down the ramp, his metal briefcase in hand, a smirk across his face. In pure Bret Hart style he takes off his sunglasses and puts them on a kid at ringside before climbing the steps and stepping through the ropes.

Quadir: Can't we just get this started without him?

Tito: I don't care how much Johnny paid you to aggravate me, if you start acting like him, I'll break that box of chocolates over your head!

Mark Majors: Remember the secret weapon, Tito.

T.H. Power addresses the arena.

T.H. Power: Let's hear it for Disturbed, our musical entertainment tonight!

The crowd gives a HUGE pop to the band on the stage. Power lets the cheers die down before continuing.

T.H. Power: Alright, now let's hear it for me. How many of you out there hate me?

The crowd hoots, yells, and whistles in response as T.H. grins.

T.H. Power: Let's see... that was everyone but you three cute ladies there *points* in the front row. I'll be talking to you later.

Power looks around the packed arena.

T.H. Power: T. K. O. W.

The crowd cuts loose like it did at the start of the program.

T.H. Power: They said it couldn't be done, but you know what? Holiday Hell is here! The Prince of Hell match has returned and this time we're really going that extra extra mile! The winner still walks out with the TKOW Title in hand tonight. If you thought the last Prince of Hell was good, wait until you see the added twist in this one!

The crowd cuts loose cheering again.

T.H. Power: But first, we all have to get through a little thing called... "Got Wood?"

Another huge pop with people screaming out the names of their favorite entrants.

T.H. Power: Hey! I don't hear any "Power"s out there!"

The crowd boos.

T.H. Power: That's better. I thought I was losing my touch...

Power grins and exits the ring and the camera does another quick view of the entire arena before cutting back to Tito, Mark Majors, and Quadir.

Tito: We'll be starting the Got Wood? Gauntlet Invitational in a few minutes, but Adrian Tanner, Jr. wanted to address someone before we get into the thick of things... so... here we go!

The shot fades to...

[TKOW Board]

We open to the dark, ruined remains of what was once a great technological powerhouse of a city. The sky is dark, yet the townspeople are happy and lively. That is, until a new band of people enter the large corridor before the largest building still standing. One familiar presence, walks and talks with the obvious leader of the group, (who looks strikingly like 5-star Productions co-founder, and former SWAT: Arizona head “Sensational” Shane Michaels) as they rear the steps to the top of the large building’s outer surface and come face to face with the rulers of this city, King Adrian the 2nd, and his bride, the lovely Queen Melody.

Sir Jeremiah: My King…

They are all dressed similarly, long robes, the kind that the ancient Grecians would wear, only King Adrian wore a large red cape as well, along with his custom-made ‘Revolver-‘style GunBlade, strapped to the holster on his side. The King smiled a half-hearted smile down at his loyal servant and the messanger. The King second in command, Captain Brandon Young, stood by their side as well.

King Adrian the 2nd: And what message do you bring us today, Persian?

Messenger: Earth..and water..

King Adrian the 2nd: Earth and water, eh?

King Adrian the 2nd slowly backs the messenger unknowingly towards a giant hole in the middle of alley.

King Adrian the 2nd: Hmph. Earth and water…

King Adrian the 2nd reaches down and draws his Revolver-blade from it’s sheathe, pointing at the messenger’s throat!

King Adrian the 2nd: You’ll certainly find plenty of that in there...

Messenger: You…You’re mad! You dare challenge the GodKing? Your world will burn! He has a million men at his disposal!

King Adrian the 2nd: Let them come…

King Adrian the 2nd glances back at Queen Melody, then back at the messenger..

King Adrian the 2nd: This…is…SPARTA!!

Really? It looked more Midgar to me…

…

King Adrian the 2nd: Quiet you.

Me? But I’m the narrator. If I’m quiet then I can talk for you and describe the action-y..stuff. If I don’t talk then…who…I…what do you…I…I…I…

*Boom!*




Kaycee Tanner: Uh…sorry to interrupt guys, but the uh…the narrator guy…He, uh…He…Well, he…I mean…

Adrian: Exploded?

Kaycee: Well, yeah, more or less…

Shane: Exploded?!

Adrian: Damn it!

Brandon: Eh, what are you gonna do?

Shane: Why the hell are we just standing here? A man just…exploded!

Jeremy: Relax man. I doubt he actually ‘exploded’ exploded. It’s usually just their heads that do that.

Shane: …..Is this a usual occurrence, or something?

Brandon: It doesn’t happen that often, but yeah…it happens.

Adrian: We usually just blame it on Syb, and start looking for a new one.

Jeremy: What’s the number at now, Adrian? 8? 9?

Adrian: 14.

Shane: 14? How the hell…? Are you friggen kidding me?

Kaycee: I wish.

Shane: …

You're all outta your minds, you know that?

Melody?

Melody: Don’t look at me, I’m just a spectator here..

Brandon: Hey, it’s not like we don’t warn ‘em that this might happen or anything.

Adrian: Yeah, it’s even in their contracts.

Jeremy: Actually, it’s not. The lawyers made me take that part out, something about huge liability issues or something.

Shane: Why? The dead guy can’t sue you.

Jeremy: No, but his family could.

Shane: Ah, good call then.

Jeremy: Yeah, I thought so too.

Adrian: Wait, I thought we told this guy in person anyhow?

Brandon: No, we didn’t. Remember we were going to, but then we got caught up watching that Monty Python marathon on BBC and forgot about it.

Adrian: Oh, that right. ‘Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!'

Heh, those crazy Brits.

Kaycee: Uh, guys…The camera’s still rolling.

Adrian: Oh yeah…Alright, look, we can play this game all week. But I’d rather not. I have to go through Dark Pretzel, Cypher, Kiddo Styles and whoever…But we both know its coming down to you and me Nick. We’re both going into this thing with the same goals. We both want the same thing, to climb back up to the top of the mountain. To be King of the Hill like we each were at SWAT.

Adrian takes a deep breath, before continuing.

Adrian: The difference, Nick…

Brandon: Hey wait a second! Where’d he come from?

Shane: Who?

Who, me?

Brandon: Yeah, you.

The Agency sent me over.

Brandon: Oh, ok then.

Adrian glares at his best friend.

Brandon: Don’t glare at me, bitch.

Kaycee: Ahem.

Brandon: Er..sorry. Carry on.

Adrian: Thank you.

Yes, thank you.

Adrian: …

Adrian casts another glare at….wait a tic, you’re glaring at me, aren’t you?

Adrian: Yep.

My bad, go ahead.

….

Adrian: The difference, Nick…is that you already have something that I want. A World Heavyweight Championship. We both want the same thing here, but_I_want_it_more!

You talk about breaking someone’s neck, Nick? Do. Your. Worst. It won’t stop me. Because I’m not going to stop, Nick. Not when there’s still life left to give, I won’t. I will Rage against the rising of the tide, I will not go gently into that good night!

And all that other poetic crap.

Adrian pulls his left arm back up, pointing his GunBlade directly at the camera.

Adrian: So I leave you with these final words, Nick. You win this match, over my dead body!

My aim never falters.

I don’t_shoot_blanks!

And

I.

Don’t.

Miss!

Adrian pulls the trigger, and a nerf dart nails the camera, dead center.

Brandon: Score!

Adrian: …Damn it, Brandon!

Brandon: Sorry.

Adrian: I’ll see ya Sunday, Nick. May the best man win.

Just too bad it’s gonna be me and all…

Fi-zade to yo’ momma.

[TKOW Board]

The scene cuts back to the announce table where Tito Poppi, Mark Majors, and Quadir are seated with an empty chair remaining.

Mark Majors: Well, folks, the start of Holiday Hell is finally here. Tito, are you ready for this?

Tito: I sure am. I'm ready to see Johnny get his ass put through a table.

Mark Majors: Adrian Tanner is confident he'll be in the finals and that Collyer will be there to face him. The only way to find out is...

Yuri Testkov: THE FOLLOWING MATCH IS FOR ONE FALL... TABLE ONLY... AND WILL BE BE EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN TWO RINGS WITH THE SURVIVORS OF EACH ADVANCING TO THE GAUNTLET FINALS!!!

Tito: As Yuri announced and everyone can see, the gauntlet will be split up into two different rings side by side with tables stored between the mesh cage walls and the ropes on the apron. There are even one or two tables strapped to the cage walls!

Mark Majors: Those could make for some interesting spots.

Quadir: Some high flyin' action, blud!

Mark Majors: Remember, folks, to be disqualified in the Gauntlet, the participants have to be put through the tables with an offensive maneuver, meaning put through it by someone else, not going through a table on his or her own.

Tito: I'll be calling Ring One until Johnny gets his ass handed to him. Meanwhile, Quadir and Mark will be commenting on Ring Two.

Yuri Testkov: ANNOUNCING FIRST... THE FIRST COMPETITOR FOR RING ONE... DAAAAAARK SCHNIIIIITZEEEEELLLLLLL!!

"Beelzbub" by Kenichi Tsuchiya plays and Dark Schnitzel comes down the ramp and is directed to enter the ring designated as Ring One. He sets up a table in the middle of the ring while waiting for his opponent.

Yuri Testkov: THE FIRST RING TWO “GOT WOOD?” GAUNTLET COMPETITOR… “THE DEMON FOX”…. BRAAAAAANDOOOOOON YOOOOOOOUUUUNNNG!!!

"Viva Rock" by Orange Range blares. Brandon Young hurries to the ring and plays a bit to the crowd.

Mark Majors: Just a little info for people, The Demon Fox” Brandon Young is a long-time friend of Adrian Tanner and his sister Kaycee Tanner.

Quadir: Dat be one hawt bitch!

Young sits up a table leaning in the corner of the ring, then slides another into position inside at the adjacent corner and sets it up.

Mark Majors: Tanner or Young?

Quadir: What you talkin’ bout? Kaycee! I like da fine chicks!

Mark Majors: With your history, I thought it best to ask first.

Quadir: …

Yuri Testkov: THE NEXT COMPETITOR FOR RING ONE.... KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDD STYYYYYYYLLLEEESSSSSSS!!!!

"Shiver" by Maroon booms through the speakers as Kid Styles runs down the ramp, stopping near the ring. The refs open the cage door for Styles who slips inside. Schnitzel and Styles begin to brawl.

Yuri Testkov: THE SECOND COMPETITOR FOR RING 2! CRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMM!!!

Metallica’s “Unforgiven Part 1” hits as Crim rushes down the ramp to the ring. The bell rings. Young turns as Crim slides under the bottom rope and kips up only to fall straight away back to the mat as Brandon nails him with a standing dropkick.

Mark Majors: Crim rushing out to prove himself tonight, especially after his bevy of losses in the TKOW ring, and walked right into a ready “Demon Fox.”

Back in Ring One, Schnitzel grabs Styles by the throat and throws him onto one of the cage walls with a closed table tied to it. Styles hits the wall with a loud thud, but the table doesn't break. Schnitzel attempts to pick up Styles, who punches him in the gut a few times in order to get out of his hold. Schnitzel charges Styles, who hits him with a drop toe hold, causing Schnitzel to tumble and crash his head into the table on the wall. The wobbly Schnitzel takes a few steps backward, and leans on the table he set up earlier. Styles tries to capitalize this, as he jumps on the ropes, and bounces back with a front dropkick.

Tito: Looks like Styles is going to smash Schnitzel's head through the table!

Quadir: Styles got tha bling bling and the shindig boo boo.

Tito: Which means?

Quadir: Kick his ass, dawg!

Schnitzel, however, rolls aside and Styles' legs hit the edge of the table. Styles grabs his legs in agony. Schnitzel utilizes this and… locks in an STF, much to the dismay of the crowd. Styles screams in pain and Schnitzel lets go of the hold after a while. Schnitzel picks up Styles and sets him on the table. Schnitzel then takes another table and places it upside down on top of Styles. Schnitzel climbs the top turnbuckle and jumps off with a splash, and receives the upside down table thrown into his face while Styles rolls off the second one. Schnitzel goes through the first table, which breaks in half!

Tito: Hasta la vista, das Schnitzel!

Mark Majors: Don't be so hasty, Tito. Schnitzel isn't eliminated yet. Remember, offensive move. He has to be put through a table by Kid Styles in order to get eliminated.

Quadir: Get outta here motherbanger!

Upon rising in Ring Two, Crim goes on the offensive, laying into Young with a few kicks to the legs and shins and an occasional right to the head and gut. Young retaliates with chops. The two lock up and Crim gets the advantage with a knee to the gut and nails Young with a jumping DDT. Crim rises and pulls Young up, moves over to the table and sets him for a powerbomb, but at the last moment Brandon swings around on his shoulders and brings him down to the mat in a modified rana to a loud crowd pop!

Quadir: Dat’s some action from the Young dude.

Mark Majors: He’s quick thinking, that’s for sure.

Quadir: Wiley like da fox! Can’t wait for the foxy bitch to get her ass out in da ring!

Meanwhile, Kid Styles slowly gets up and throws another table on Schnitzel. Styles picks up Schnitzel and hits a piledriver. Schnitzel grabs his head and bangs it on the mat. Styles picks up the table he threw at Schnitzel and sets it up.

In Ring Two, Young stands, rolling his neck, and when Crim gets to his feet, Brandon goes for a spinning heel kick… only Crim catches his foot! Brandon counters with the enziguri! With Crim stunned, Young pulls him up and over to a table a bends him over it, afterwards wasting no time, quickly heading for the ropes. He hops up on the second then top rope and springboards off with a Phoenix splash… only to crash through the table by himself as Crim throws himself backward in the nick of time!

Quadir: No WAY, blud!

Mark Majors: Young nearly had Crim there.

Quadir: Now I gots to wait longer!

Back in Ring One Kid Styles attempts to pick up Schnitzel, but Schnitzel gives him a low blow. Schnitzel quickly picks up Styles and hits him with a brainbuster on the ruins of the table Schnitzel crashed through. Schnitzel slams his fist into the cage and cries out:

Dark Schnitzel: Assimilation has been deemed a failure!

Quadir: Whast dis fool talkin' about?

Tito: I have no idea. Wait... what is he doing?

Schnitzel takes another table from behind the ropes and sets it up. He stands on it, and then jumps on it, breaking it easily.

Tito: Is that idiot trying to eliminate himself?

Schnitzel rips out the table attached to the wall, and sets it up. Schnitzel then climbs it, but before he can jump, Styles appears out of nowhere, clutches onto him in mid-air, and Tornado DDTs him through the table!

Yuri Testkov: EEEEEELLIIIIIIMMMIIINNNNAAATED FROM RING ONE.... DAAAARK SCHNIIIIITZEEELLLLLLL!

Tito: We have our first elimination of the Gauntlet!

Meanwhile, Crim shakes out the cobwebs and pulls Brandon up and puts him right back with a pedigree in the remnants of the table. Not to be deterred, Crim yanks Young up, but Brandon whips Crim into the ropes. However, on the rebound Crim catches Young with the Scorpion Death Drop, receiving a mixed pop from the crowd!

Mark Majors: Crim’s not giving up at all in this thing.

Crim jumps to his feet and stomps the Demon Fox a few times, following with a moonsault. Crim drags a slightly stunned Young over toward the remaining table and pulls him up for another powerbomb. Brandon comes to his senses and punches Crim in the head and tries for another rana conversion. Crim is prepared, but staggers away from the table and falls into the ropes. Young is thrown into the cage wall and onto the tables stacked against it. He grabs for his back when he hits the apron and slides back into the ring.

Mark Majors: I don’t like the looks of that for Young. Crim might have just gotten the advantage.

The refs open the cage door to Ring One and attempt to help Schnitzel to exit, but he leaves slowly on his own forces. Kid Styles slowly gets up while holding his back. He cries out for more tables as they had apparently used up what were there.

Tito: Schnitzel has been eliminated and we are now awaiting the next entrant.

Quadir: The baby looks worn out, but he's still da shiznit.

Yuri Testkov: THE NEXT RING ONE ENTRANT.... SPAAAAAANKYYY MCPIIIIPEBOOOOOOOOMMMMB!!!!

"Danny Boy" by Dropkick Murphys plays as Spanky rushes to Ring One.

In Ring Two Crim untangles himself from the ropes and grins. He pulls Young up for ANOTHER powerbomb attempt… and this time succeeds! Young rolls around on the mat, clutching his back. Crim yanks Brandon up and nails him with a spinning kick to the head, stunning him.

Meanwhile, several of the ring crew run a couple tables into the cage of Ring One, shoving them along the apron, nearly getting run over by McPipebomb as he enters. Kid grabs a table and lifts it over the ropes. Spanky enters the ring without a second's waste. Just as Styles balances himself and turns to face Spanky, the latter explodes into him with a body tackle, sending Styles crashing (with the table smashing into his face) into the near cage wall!

Crowd: *chanting* Holy Shit!

Tito: Spanky used his awesome strength to crush Kid Styles between the cage and the table! Ouch!

Quadir: My momma felt dat shit, fo' real.

In the other ring Crim drags Brandon over to the turnbuckle and sets him on the top rope, then climbs to the second himself. Crim then delivers a T-Bone Suplex right through the table!

Mark Majors: Crim just eliminated Brandon Young with his Sky Dragon!

Yuri Testkov: ELIIIIIMIIINAAAAATED FROM RING TWO….“THE DEMON FOX” BRANDON YOUNG.

Quadir: Yo Yuri! Bring on da titty!!!

In Ring One, Spanky wastes no time and quickly picks up Kid Styles, who is now busted up, and pins him to the cage wall. Spanky then lets off with a series of knife edge chops, which make Styles flop like a fish out of water. Spanky backs away and Styles collapses to the mat. Spanky taunts the crowd for a bit, and then sets up a table.

Yuri Testkov: NOW ENTERING RING 2… THE “KATASTROPHIC” KAAAAAAYCEEEEEE TAAAAANNEEEERRRRR!!!

"Oasis" by Bennie K hits and Kaycee rushes toward the ring, but Brandon stops her for a moment to speak to her on his way out. She nods and climbs into the cage and up the steps as Crim finishes setting up another table in the ring

Quadir: *grinning large enough to show off his grill* Yeah Yuri!! Tits and Ass! Tits! And! Ass!

Mark Majors: Would you calm down? It’s not like you’re going to get it from her.

Quadir: Who says?!

Mark Majors: Kaycee, Adrian Tanner Jr., Brandon Young and the multitude of family Tanner out there?

With Crim still turned away from her, Kaycee rushes over to him and leaps up and slides over the table, reaching up and catching Crim at the back of the neck and…. ~CRACK!~ slams his face HARD into the table.

Quadir: Dat gal likes it rough!

Mark Majors: Crim just got a broken nose or teeth or both.

Quadir: *popping his grill* Have to send da boy over to see da man dat fixed mah pearly whites!

Crim staggers back holding his face and nose, blood pouring out between his fingers and running down his arms.

In the other ring, Spanky picks up Kid Styles, who in a burst of new strength, punches Spanky in the gut. Spanky simply replies by grabbing Kid Styles' balls and headbutting him. Spanky lifts up the dazed Kid over his head, circles the ring in order to show his strength, and then drops Kid Styles behind him onto the table, which breaks.

Yuri Testkov: EEEEELLLLIIIIIIIIMMMMIIIINNNAATTTTED FROM RING ONE... KIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDD STYYYYYYLLLESSS!

Tito: Kid Styles' agility and tenaciousness was no match to the fresh and powerful McPipebomb at this point.

Quadir: Yo... what's dis McPipe? Can I smoke it dwak?

Mark Majors: I'd prefer you didn't, Quadir.

Kid Styles is helped out of the ring while Spanky prepares for his next opponent.

Yuri Testkov: THE NEXT RING ONE COMPETITOR.... DAAAN "CYYYYPHEEERR" KIIIILLLBUUUURRNN!!

"Remember the Name" by Fort Minor plays as Cypher slowly walks down the ramp, much to the discontent of the fans. Facing the formidable Spanky, Cypher takes a steel chair from one of the audience members before he enters the ring.

Meanwhile, Kaycee pulls the table away from the corner in Ring Two, runs Crim into the turnbuckle, and pushes him out, spinning him. She climbs the turnbuckle, jumps and grabs Crim’s head bringing him down almost in a flipping diamond cutter type move right through the table to a loud roar of approval from the crowd!!

Quadir: HOT DAMN!

Mark Majors: And Crim is taken Back to the Future by Kaycee Tanner via a table instead of the Delorian!

Yuri Testkov: EEEEELIIIINAAAATEEEED FROM RING 2…... CRIM!!!

Kaycee gets to her feet, adjusting her headband, kicking the remnants of a table out of the way as the ref assists Crim to his feet and signals Testkov to announce the next participant. Several of the medical team arrive outside the cage and wait for Crim to exit.

Quadir: Dat girl gonna win it all.

Mark Majors: She did make an impressive start, but Crim wasn’t paying attention. We’ll have to see how she does against her next opponent.

Spanky takes a step toward Cypher, who in response swings the chair. Spanky backs off and grabs one of the tables. He then charges Cypher with the table, who quickly evades him and hits Spanky's back with the chair. Cypher then clangs Spanky over the head with the chair, which causes Spanky to fall down.

Tito: Cypher is using the great equalizer here to its full potential here, by taking down the monster Spanky.

Quadir: Spanky sounds like a dawg's name man. Is he a biatch?

Tito: I'm pretty sure he's someone's bitch, yes.

Cypher hits the fallen Spanky a couple more times with the chair.

Yuri Testkov: THE NEXT PARTICIPANT TO ENTER RING 2…. “THE SUPERSTAAAAR” JOOOOOOOOHHHHNNNNYYYYYYY STYYYYYYYLEEEESSSS!!!

"Don't you wish you were me" by Fozzy hits and Johnny Styles struts down to Ring Two, making a huge play to the crowd who only boo him. He mouths off to a few at ringside before stepping inside the cage and sliding in the ring and to his feet, smirking at Kaycee.

Tito: C’MON KAAAAYCEEEEEE!!! PUT HIM OUT LIKE YOU DID CRIM!

Johnny turns and flips off Tito. Kaycee rushes him, but he IS paying attention and dances to the side, taunting her as she runs under his outstretched arm.

Mark Majors: Do I sense some hostility there, Tito?

Tito: You better believe it, Mark. Let’s see how well his big mouth helps him now. All I’ve heard from him is how tired he is at this desk and how great he is in the ring. I want to see him lose and lose badly.

Quadir: Kaycee gal… save me some of dat fun for later!

In the other ring Cypher sets up a table in the corner and puts Spanky on it. Cypher unfolds the chair and puts it in front of Spanky. Cypher measures up and then runs towards Spanky. Cypher attempts an Air Sabu, but Spanky catches him in mid-air. Spanky tries to slam him through the table, but Cypher resists, so he slams him into the cage instead. Cypher falls to the mat and cries out in pain. Spanky tries to pick up Cypher, who kicks him away with each attempt. Spanky gets annoyed and finally throws a table at Cypher.

Tito: Because Spanky couldn't bring Cypher to the table, he brought the table to Cypher!

Quadir: That's wrestling, blud.

Spanky picks up Cypher and gives him a suplex. This gives time for Spanky to recuperate. Spanky signals for the end. He sets up a table and sets Cypher on it. On the table, Spanky grabs Cypher and attempts a 'Pipebomb' piledriver, but Cypher gets out of his hold. Cypher rolls off the table, and pushes Spanky off the other edge. Spanky attempts to grab Cyher, who ducks and crawls underneath the table. Spanky lifts up the table, which was enough for Cypher to trip him. Cypher sets up the table and stalks Spanky.

Back in Ring Two, Johnny quickly kicks Kaycee in the gut as she turns, driving her into the ropes. He follows up with some hard right and left punches. He jerks Kaycee out of the ropes and drop toe holds her and immediately locks in a half Boston crab, earning more hatred from the crowd. He eats up the attention, wrenching back to get the crowd to respond. Kaycee grimaces and fights the hold slowly pulling herself to the ropes, just barely reaching them as Johnny notices how close. She uses the ropes as leverage and quickly twists her body, making Styles either let go or trip and fall. He lets go, stomping Kaycee in the legs several times before turning away from her.

Mark Majors: The senior Styles working on Kaycee’s leg. She likes to kick and fly, so he’s playing it smart from the start.

Spanky gets up, Cypher hits him with The Freezer, causing to lean on the table. Cypher then quickly climbs the top turnbuckle and goes for a Crucifix Moonsault, but Spanky catches him again in mid-air and hits a fallaway slam, which sends Cypher flying to the other side of the table.!

Tito: Cypher just missed the table a couple of inches, but if Spanky keeps up with the offense, Cypher will have his luck run out pretty soon.

Quadir: That homeboy don't need no bath.

Spanky picks up the chair and swings at the pained Cypher, who evades it just in time and rebounds with an explosive superkick that sends Spanky staggering towards the table. Cypher hits a mule kick on Spanky and sets him up on the table. Cypher goes for another Crucifix Moonsault, but this time Spanky rolls off, and Cypher crashes and burns through the table.

Tito: Close, but no cigar.

Quadir: Hollow man did it, he eliminated Cypher.

Both men lay exhausted in the ring.

Meanwhile, Johnny smirks as he moves a table in the ring, keeping an eye on Kaycee as she pulls herself up with the ropes and tests out her leg. Johnny finishes setting up the table and turns back toward Kaycee, pointing at her and then the table.

Quadir: Dat white boy dun think he gonna put the titty through the table!

Mark Majors: That IS the point of the Gauntlet…

Johnny walks up within arms reach and mouths off to Kaycee, then turns way in disgust when she doesn’t answer him… only to spin back with the Stylish kick! Kaycee ducks it and nails Styles in the gut with her own kick. When he doubles over, she steps back and then runs forward, smashing his face with her knee! The crowd pops in approval with “Kay-Cee” chants starting in the arena. She whips Johnny into the turnbuckles and rams into him with a running shoulder block to the midsection.

Tito: Lay into him Kaycee! Kick him once for me!

Kaycee grabs Johnny and sits on the top turnbuckle, pulling him up, choking him. She wrenches hard at his neck as he did her knee.

Quadir: Dat a gal!!

The first one to get up in Ring One is Spanky. He asks for another table and waits for one while Cypher also slowly gets up, scrambling for the chair. After a ring hand slides in some more tables, Spanky takes on and sets it up. When he turns to face Cypher, however, he finds nothing but steel, as Cypher hits Spanky with the chair repeatedly until he falls on top of the table. Once more Cypher goes for a Crucifix Moonsault, this time nailing it!!! The crowd pops!

Yuri Testkov: EEEELLLIIIMMMMIIIINNNAAATEED FROM RING ONE.... SPAAAAANKYYYYY MCPIIIIIPEBOOOMMMMB!

Tito: Third time's the charm as Cypher has finally managed to eliminate Spanky, but it looks like he exhausted himself doing so!

Quadir: Ya... next entrant should eat out God for giving him such easy pickings.

The refs enter and pulls Cypher off of Spanky. A couple of refs drag Spanky outside, while another ref checks Cypher to see if he can continue.

Yuri Testkov: THE NEXT ENTRANT TO RING ONE... JJAAAAACK SULLLLIIIIIVAAAAANNNN!!

"Hate Me" by Blue October plays as Jack Sullivan runs down the ramp, eager to take advantage of his opportunity. Jack gets to the ring and quickly enters the ring through the door the refs left opened. Jack kicks aside the ref who is attending Cypher and gets to work on Cypher with a flurry of punches and kicks. Jack backs away and then hits a running legdrop. Sullivan taunts the crowd and then gets out of the ring and acquires a table. Jack comes back to ring and begins to choke Cypher out using the table. Sullivan stops choking Cypher with the table and sets it up. Jack tries to drag Cypher in the table's direction, but Cypher grabs on to the ropes, refusing to let go.

Tito: Cypher is holding on for dear life here and you can see just how much he wants to win this thing.

Back in Ring Two Johnny struggles with the choke and finally drops unexpected to his ass in the corner, over turning Kaycee, who lets go and lands a bit awkwardly, but quickly rolls to her feet, slightly favoring the tender leg. She smiles and adjusts her "headband," putting it across her forehead and securing it… before stepping forward and pulling Johnny out of the corner and more into the ring. She runs at the ropes and springboards off at Styles… connecting with a diving headbutt!! Kaycee rolls on the mat afterward, clutching at her forehead and curling up a bit. Johnny lays motionless on the mat.

Tito: Did she kill him?!?!

Mark Majors: Do you think you could be so lucky?

Tito: … no.

[TKOW Board]

Quadir: Yo, Tito, I noticed something.

Tito: What is it?

Quadir: Both o' dem cocksuckers are part Japanese.

Tito: So?

Quadir: Dem fools probably think dat makes dem certified badasses.

Tito: They're mostly right, Quadir. Can you name one Japanese man who ISN'T badass?

Quadir: ….

Jack stomps on Cypher's hands, causing him to let go of the ropes. Jack picks Cypher up and puts his feet on the ropes. Sullivan then grabs Cypher's head and drops down with a DDT. Jack puts a table on Cypher's head and the drops a legdrop, crushing Cypher's head underneath. Jack picks up Cypher, who's back head is now bleeding, and lifts him up for a suplex. Cypher's feet touch the steel mesh before he is dropped back to earth. Sullivan gets up and starts flexing his muscles for no other good reason than to piss off the crowd.

Quadir: Ya know, sometime ya gatta wonder if all Mexican luchadors are gay.

Tito: What does this have to do with the match at hand?

Quadir: Michael Cole's gay.

Mark Majors: If they're all gay, then you should have good luck in finding you a new bitch.

Quadir: ...

Tito and Majors low five one another.

Kaycee finally rolls to her knees in Ring Two. Her face is wet with tears, but she wipes her face dry as she gets to her feet. She drags Johnny by his heels over to the table he’d prepared earlier. She pulls him up and lays him on it. She makes her way to the turnbuckle and climbs up, stepping out onto the top rope, springing off with moonsault just as Johnny rouses… but it’s too late as she lands it and crashes through the table with him beneath her to a HUGE crowd pop! The ref calls the elimination.

Yuri Testkov: EEEEELIIIIMINAAAATED FROM RING TWO....... JOHNNY STYLES!!

Quadir: Dat’s my gal!!! Whooooo! Who’s da shiznit now?!?!

Tito: YES!!! Next time he opens his mouth it’s going to be all about Kaycee driving him through the table! Mr. “Superstar” my ass…

Back in Ring One, Jack looks around and finds the chair. The chair, however, is too dented. Sullivan throws it to the side. Jack tells the ref to open the cage door. When the ref refuses, he uses his strength to bash it open before the ref can get reinfocement. Jack takes another chair from the one of the crowd opens. When he attempts to return to the ring, nevertheless, the cage door is slammed in his face by Cypher! Cypher crawls out of the cage and slowly gets up, he then clotheslines the dazed Sullivan and both go over the barrier. A cameraman runs to the barrier and both men are visible, lying debilitated on the concrete floor.

Tito: This match just turned no holds barred!

Quadir: *Burp* Dat ain't nothin'. Wait till da Church gets out here. Dis shiz is watchin' da hot foxy gal right now.

Kaycee climbs out of the rubble of the table and rests against the ropes, while Johnny takes his time, still laying there. The ref finally comes in to check. Styles shrugs him off and moves toward Kaycee, but the ref pushes him away and toward the door, signaling Yuri again.

Yuri Testkov: COMING TO RING TWO… “THE BUTCHER OF BAKERSFIELD” ….. NIIIIIIICK COOOOLLLLLYYYYEEEEEEERRRRR!!!

“God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash plays and Collyer hurries to Ring Two with a nearly maniacal expression, shoving Johnny Styles out of his way when their paths cross. Johnny turns around to mouth him, but Collyer is already inside the cage and between the ropes. Kaycee is alert and steps away from the ropes where she was resting, standing ready. Collyer immediately attacks with a running dropkick to the knee on Kaycee’s injured leg. She falls back, but just barely manages to stay on her feet, grabbing the ropes and using them to stand.

Mark Majors: Collyer must have been watching from the back to know to attack Kaycee’s weakened leg.

In the front row, Cypher is the first to get up. He throws Jack over the barrier back into ringside. Cypher rolls him back to the ring, but not before smashing his head on the cage door again. Back in the ring, Cypher whips Sullivan into the cage wall. As Jack rebounds from the impact, Cypher catches him from behind and gives him a german suplex, sending him flying into a nearby wall. Cypher stops and grabs the back of his bleeding head, while Jack is seen grabbing his back and rolling on the floor. Cypher sets up a table at the center of the ring. He goes to pick up Sullivan, who kicks him straight in the family jewels.

Tito: The crowd would have normally booed Sullivan's cheap tactic, but the thing is that they hate both contestants and want them to die!

Quadir: Bah Gawd, someone stole mah Green Day album!

Cypher falls to the ground as Sullivan desperately searches for another table.

In Ring Two, Collyer jumps back up and Kaycee bounces into the ropes and shoots at him, taking him down with a swinging neckbreaker. She scrambles to lock in an armbar immediately after, leveraging as best she can to keep him down on the mat. The two struggle for a full minute, Collyer moving and trying to free himself.

Over in Ring One Sullivan takes a table set near the cage door and leans it on the ropes. Jack then picks up Cypher and Irish Whips him towards the table. Cypher counters, though, with a whip of his own. Sullivan manages to stop himself in the time before he crashes into the table. Jack sighs in relief and turns to face Cypher, who spears him through the table!

Yuri Testkov: EEEEELLLLIIIIIINNNAAAATEEEDDD FROM RING ONE... JAAAACK SSUUUULLLIIVVAAAANNNN!!

The refs enter the ring to remove Jack Sullivan and attend Cypher. They pick up the two deadbeat wrestlers, and one of them unintentionally lifts Cypher's arm. Cypher notices this and immediately bursts into victory fanfare.

Johhny: Look at that idiot! Cypher thinks he's already won, when there's one more entrant left!

Kaycee loses her hold with all the struggling and Collyer pulls free and swiftly advances to her on the mat. She rolls to the side and to her knees then a quick leap over him to avoid a hold and to get some space between them.

Collyer kips up and, as Kaycee turns to face him, he lands two quick punches to her ribs, a Uraken Back Fist, a right Thai Roundhouse to the face, a left Thai Roundhouse, then another right Roundhouse. She staggers backward and turns toward the closer ropes. Collyer runs to the ropes and springs off them back into Kaycee with a Shotay Palm Strike to her forehead, driving Kaycee several feet back and dropping her to the floor. He follows with a half crab on her injured leg, causing her to cry out, drawing a huge roar of boos from the crowd who start a "KAY-CEE" chant.

Quadir: Dat’s no way to treat da titty!!

Johnny: *snarling and rubbing his neck* Shut up about it! She deserves everything she gets!

Quadir: Shaddup white boy, she put dat ass of yours through da table.

Johnny: *snarling* You want me to put you through this one?

Mark Majors: Calm down, you two, and call your matches.

Johnny: I'll fuckin' calm down wh-

A huge chunk of the crowd cheers loudly in anticipation for the final ring one entrant, drowning out Johnny.

Yuri Testkov: THE LAST ENTRANT FOR RING ONE... COMING TO RING ONE... "THE AAAARIIIIZOOONNNAAA AAASSSAAAASSSSIIIIINNNN"..... AAAAAADRIAAAANNN TAAAANNNEEEERRR... JUUUUUNNNIORRRRR!

Quadir: And dere dat mothfucka is!

"It's Yours" by Khz hits and the crowd explodes in appreciation of the returning "Arizona Assassin." Adrian takes his time going down the ramp, slapping hands with some fans on his way.

Mark Majors: Adrian Tanner, Jr. has returned to TKOW!

Tito: The last time we saw Adrian in a TKOW ring was back in his MegaBowl IV match against TKOW fave, Dave Rave!

Meanwhile, Collyer releases Kaycee's leg after he's taunted the crowd enough with her pain. He pulls her up and lands another Shotay Palm strike to her forehead. He steps back and attempts a Thai roundhouse kick. However, Kaycee stumbles back a step as he does the kick and he just misses her head by millimeters!! Her eyes get wide and she shakes her head to clear the cobwebs. While he’s regaining his balance after the maneuver, Kaycee lunges forward and grabs his head and takes out his weight-bearing leg with her own knee, dropping him to his. She wrenches back on his head and neck with a neck lock.

Mark Majors: Kaycee got a lucky break there and is using it to her advantage.

The crowd pops hard for Kaycee and her brother.

Tito: Cypher is thinking that the crowd is popping for him!

The crowd reaction is so loud that Cypher apparently didn't hear Adrian's name being announced or his music playing, and still celebrates while keeping an eye on what's going on in Ring Two. The camera focuses on Cypher standing near the table he set up earlier in the middle of the ring, raising his arms high and enjoying the cheers. Suddenly, Adrian enters the frame from above, flashes in the audience going off like fast strobe lights, crashing into Cypher and through the table!

Tito: What the fuck?!

Quadir: Holy smokes dog!

Crowd: *chanting* Holy Shit!!

Johnny: Let's see that again! Cypher never knew what hit him!

A replay flashes on the Khaostron, showing Adrian climbing the cage from outside, measuring up Cypher, and then jumping off the top of the cage and onto Cypher. The shot is played again from different angles.

Johnny: Tanner's fucking crazy! He didn't have to do that, but man... what an entrance!

Quadir: Whatever blud, he fuckin' won the Ring One part of the Gauntlet.

Yuri Testkov: EEEELLLLLIIIMMMIIINAAATED FROM RING ONE.... DAN "CYPHER" KIIIIIILLLBBUUURRRNNN.... AND...... YOUR RING ONE SURVIVOR...... AAAADDRRIAANNN TANNNEERRRR JUUUNIORRRR!

The crowd lets out a deafening roar.

Back in Ring Two, Collyer elbows Kaycee's leg hard several times, enough to make her cry out, but she hangs tough and wrenches back even further on his head and neck. He scratches and claws at her and finally gets his leg under him and pushes himself up and back, throwing them both to the mat! He breaks free of Kaycee and gets to his knees, jerking her up with the front of her shirt and lands a couple European uppercuts. He drops her back to the mat and reaches through the ropes, pulling in a table. He gets to his feet and leans it propped up at an angle in the corner and turns back to Kaycee only to find her flying at him in a springboard crossbody!

Quadir: Try and stop THAT titty!

Collyer catches Kaycee, although he’s driven nearly back into the ropes. He steps out and lets her momentum spin him. He continues to spin faster and lets her go…. slamming her toward the table in the corner where she lands with a loud ~CRACK!~ The table gives and deforms, but doesn't break! Before Kaycee can slide down to the mat Collyer hops up on the top rope and splashes her on through the table! The ref calls it!

Yuri Testkov: EEEEELIIIIMINAAAATEEEED FROM RING 2…..KAYCEEEEE TANNNEEERRR!!

Mark Majors: Kaycee made a valiant effort here tonight, but it just wasn’t enough to get a win over Collyer and advance to the finals. That leaves only one last entrant for the Ring Two part of the gauntlet. Care to guess who that is?

Quadir: Dis shiz don’t need to guess!

The Khaotron focuses on Adrian Tanner Jr.'s paining, but satisfied face as he rolls off Cypher in Ring One. The Khaostron then shows Cypher lying in the ruins of the table, not moving.

A med team rushes out from under the stage and climbs into Ring One with a stretcher to attend Kilburn, putting him in a c-collar after carefully checking his vitals and neck.

Yuri Testkov: THE FINAL RING 2 GAUNTLET PARTICIPANT…”DA MAN” “THE BOSS”… T… H… POOOOOWWEEEEEEERRR!!!

"Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith blasts through the arena as T.H. Power power struts down toward the ring. He sees a couple fine looking ladies in the front row and stops to chat with them for a moment as Kaycee limps out of the cage. Collyer yells at him to get in the ring, but Power waves him off. This only infuriates “Sick Nick.” Collyer moves toward the cage door, but the ref shuts it and is ready with reinforcements to keep it closed as Collyer rams it several times with a shoulder.

Quadir: Da Boss gettin’ him some titty for later!

Mark Majors: Seems so. He’ll have better luck than you will with Kaycee, that’s for sure.

Quadir: …

In the other ring, the med team quickly assess Cypher, apparently radioing to someone. The medics log roll him onto the stretcher and carry him out to gurney that they had wheeled down with them on their arrival. Another team heads for Tanner, but he waves them off and climbs to his feet and leans against the ropes to watch Ring Two.

Collyer finally gives up trying to go out the cage door. At this point he sees Adrian alone in Ring One watching him. Collyer's expression is overtaken by a maniacal grin. He rushes over to the side next to Ring One and screams at Tanner to come on over, but Adrian merely grins and points to Power, taunting Sick Nick. Collyer hops up onto the top rope and grabs onto the cage wall and starts to climb, yelling a few words that can't be heard over the crowd. Tanner leans back on the rope, grinning as...

Johnny: What the fu-

T.H. Power’s voice booms out “SECURITY” over the speakers and Alien Ant Farm’s cover of “Smooth Criminal” hits as Mike Oates leads out the TKOW security force, who rush to Ring One and inside between the cage walls and Adrian Tanner, Jr.

Power jerks Johnny's mic away from him and addresses Collyer.

T.H. Power: *in his Boss voice* Hold it Collyer. You want to face Tanner? Well, bad boy, you gotta go through me, because if you climb on over that wall before our part of the Gauntlet is over, I WILL disqualify you. You want him... you take me out first.

Collyer bitches and yells, but he drops back into Ring Two, pointing and taunting both T.H. and Tanner, drawing a huge set of crowd boos and trash thrown at the ring. Satisfied, T.H. drops Johnny's mic on the announcer's desk and resumes his talk to the ladies as security withdraws to ringside.

Meanwhile, Collyer looks around and prepares, yelling for more tables in addition to the couple left and the one lightly strapped to the cage wall. While waiting, he leans one table low in a turnbuckle and sets up another in the opposite corner. Power finishes up his conversations, gets a hug from one of the ladies, and moves over to the cage door and inside. Collyer yells loud enough to be picked up on the mics as the crowd noise is dying down in expectation of the match up.

Nick Collyer: It’s about fuckin’ time you got your fat ass in here!

He spins around, sailing part of a broken table at Power. Power attempts to dodge, but isn’t quick enough and gets hit in the upper arm and chest. It’s followed by a rolling elbow from Collyer, who had swiftly closed the gap after throwing the object at T.H. He furthers his attack with some European upper cuts and some knife-edge chops. T.H. retaliates with a few rights. Somehow for his size, he manages to skirt around Collyer and drop him with a front Russian leg sweep, immediately landing on Nick with a standing Bonsai drop. Some in the audience wince and groan.

Mark Majors: Having 300 plus pounds drop on you like that has to hurt…

Collyer pushes and shoves Power, grabbing his arm and biting it. Power clubs Collyer with his free arm and rolls off. Nick rolls away to his knees and onto his feet, crouching, and spits out a piece of flesh. Power moves to stand. Collyer springs at him with the Destiny Bomber, taking him down to the mat hard! He straddles T.H. and lays into him with some Uraken backfist punches.

Mark Majors: Collyer is really taking it to Power; first the Destiny Bomber and now a number of Uraken backfist punches. He appears to enjoying it, too. Reminds me of Carpenter in a freaky way.

Quadir: Ain’t no boy better than mah masked maniac and his 1-8-7!

Power catches Collyer’s fist and with his other hand he grabs the same arm near the shoulder and jerks Nick down, throwing his own torso up at the same time, landing a hard headbutt! Power throws Collyer off and wipes some blood from his face from the wounds he’d just received. He rolls to his knees and gets a foot under him as Nick jumps back up to his feet and goes for a kick to Power’s head… but as Power rises, he reaches down to the side, grabs and throws up half of a previously demolished table as a shield and blocks it! Collyer hops a couple times to regain his balance and puts his foot back down on the floor, as he lets out a yell of rage.

Mark Majors: The Boss saving himself there at the last second!

Johnny: Power doesn't stand a chance in the ring with Collyer. He should just let him win already. I give him 2 minutes, tops.

Power rises to his feet and jumps up and ~SLAMS!~ the piece of table over Collyer’s head with a huge ~CRACK!~ Collyer is momentarily stunned. Power immediately swings the piece of table again from the side, knocking Nick away from him and into the table leaning against the turnbuckle. T.H. drops the table piece and heads for Collyer.

Quadir: Sick Nick is one tough shiz and it’ll take more ta take him out of dis match den dat.

Power sets Collyer up for a power bomb onto the table and goes through with it… only Collyer lands with a hard thud, the table still intact with him tightly gripping the top ropes with both hands!!!

Mark Majors: I can’t believe that! Collyer should have broken the table. Let's see a replay!

The Khaostron flashes to a slow motion replay with a clear angle at ringside. T.H. lifts Collyer for the powerbomb and begins the downward descent. Collyer's arms shoot up and his hands catch the top ropes near the turnbuckle. He locks his ankles around Power's neck, halting his momentum enough to only thump the table! The Boss obviously can’t believe it from the expression on his face, but Collyer wastes no time. He unhooks his ankles, spins to face the table, putting his hands on it to brace himself, and draws back his feet and mule kicks T.H. hard in the groin! Power doubles over from the force of the kick, turning immediately pale. Collyer jumps to his feet and grabs Power and puts The Boss through the low table with an Exploder ’98 suplex to a bevy of camera flashes!! The ref calls it!

Yuri Testkov: EEEEELIIIIMINAAAATED FROM RING TWO….. T.H. POOOWEERR!!! AND YOUR RING 2 “GOT WOOD?” GAUNTLET SURVIVER….”THE BUTCHER OF BAKERSFIELD”…. NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK COOOOOOOLLLLLYYYYYYEEEEEERRRRRR!!!

Mark Majors: Nick Collyer has survived the Ring 2 “Got Wood?” Gauntlet and will advance to the Invitational Finals against Adrian Tanner, Jr.!!

Johnny: I told you under 2 minutes!

Tito: A practically fresh Adrian Tanner, Jr. and a two-encounter worn Nick Collyer advance to the Gauntlet Finals!

Mark Majors: Care to remind everyone of the prize, Tito?

Tito: The prize is a one time open match against anyone in TKOW who the Invitational winner wants to challenge.... but that isn't all! Any title held by the named opponent will be on the line and the challenge is good up until the next Holiday Hell!

Mark Majors: Well, folks, it looks like it will be a minute or two before the Gauntlet finals begin as the ringhands are bringing in several more tables to Ring Two since they finally used up the ones in that ring except for the one strapped to the cage wall... and T.H. still isn't up.

Medics slip into the ring to check on Power, but he waves them off and pulls himself up with the ropes out of the broken table to a round of applause and limps out as Collyer begins to taunt Tanner, who is taking his time leaving Ring One.

[TKOW Board]

A “TAN-NER” chant begins and grows in intensity in the crowd as he steps out of the cage of Ring One and onto the floor of the arena.

Tito: It’s obvious who the crowd favors in this match up. They’re remembering how he and Dave Rave went at it. They expect the same from him here tonight.

Collyer becomes annoyed and mouths off to the audience when Adrian jumps up on the barrier and plays up to the arena, whipping them up into a frenzy. Nick finally has enough and shoves his way out of Ring Two and onto the floor.

Quadir: Dat boy ain’t waitin’!

Johnny: It’s about damn time. Tanner’s nothing but Syberus’ bitch.

Tito: Really… you better hope Adrian didn’t hear that.

Collyer dashes at Tanner, but Adrian turns and sees him coming and drops down off the barrier toward him. Collyer attacks with European uppercuts and Tanner retaliates with chops. Suddenly Tanner is hit with a Shotay Palm strike, forcing his upper body back. Collyer immediately follows with a quick dropkick, driving Tanner back against the barrier, just shy of falling over it. Collyer scrambles to his feet and goes for a Roaring elbow. Tanner dodges to the side at the last moment and grabs Collyer around the waist, lifting him off his feet and, using Collyer’s momentum, turns and slams him backfirst onto the barrier to a huge pop from the crowd!

Mark Majors: Tanner getting out of a possibly nasty predicament with that backbreaking side-slam onto the barrier.

Collyer clutches at his back and slides off the barrier to sit in the floor… with a grin on his face, which is snapped back with a dropkick from Tanner! Collyer shakes his head violently and pushes himself up from the floor using the barrier and grabs a rising Adrian from behind, hitting a straight jacket suplex to a chorus of boos!

Quadir: Didn’t take da Butcher long ta come back.

Collyer’s a little slower than Tanner on regaining his feet, and Adrian takes advantage with a swift headlock takedown.

Tito: Tanner is still fresh from his quick win over Kilburn.

Collyer reaches out and trips up Tanner, keeping him from rising. Nick gets to his knees and drops back down, connecting with an elbow to one of Tanner’s knees. He rises for another, but Tanner rolls away from him and Collyer’s elbow hits the floor! Tanner stands, working out the knee slightly. Collyer gets his feet under him, shaking out his arm… and springs at Tanner, driving him into the ramp with a Destiny Bomber! He straddles Adrian and grabs his head, slamming it into metal ramp several times and landing two Uraken back fists after.

Johnny: That’s it! Beat the sumbitch to a pulp!

Collyer rocks back onto his heels and to his feet, pulling Tanner up with him and lifting him into a fireman’s carry. He walks several more feet up the ramp opposite the announce table…

Mark Majors: CALIFORNICATION off the ramp to the floor!

With Tanner sprawled out next to the ramp on the floor, Collyer moves back down the ramp and walks back to Ring Two with a grin, climbing the steps and going into the ring after a table. Apparently the legs of the table he chose were half open and were entangled in the legs off another. He yanks on the table a bit, cursing the entire time, and finally gives up and moves over to table already opened up, lying on its side further into the ring. He sets it upright and notices a sudden cheering response from the crowd. Collyer turns to look behind him, shoving the table away, as Tanner hits him with a flying body press! Both men end up under the table!

Tito: Tanner nearly had Collyer through the table with that move!

Johnny: But Nick saved himself. Now he can finish beating the shit out of Tanner and win this sorry excuse of an Invitational.

Tito: *under breath* Sorry because you didn’t get anywhere.

Johnny: What was that?!

Tito: I said, let’s see if Collyer can get anywhere.

Tanner locks in a full nelson hold on the downed Collyer, pulling back for all he’s worth, while the crowd cheers him and Collyer curses him.

Mark Majors: There’s not much Collyer can do in this situation except make himself hurt more.

Quadir: Dat dawg will.

Sick Nick ignores the pain and draws some strength from somewhere and gets one of his knees drawn up beneath him. Adrian notices and decides to release the hold, rolling out from under the opposite side of the table away from his opponent and getting to a knee, rising to his feet. Meanwhile, Collyer, rolls the other way and gets to his knees, rolling out his neck and shrugging his shoulders, glaring at Tanner. Shaking out his arms, he stands and moves toward Tanner, leaping and sliding over the table to him. Collyer throws a right, which Tanner catches, and a left, Tanner catching it as well. Nick jerks his hands away, kicking one of Tanner’s knees, then his stomach, again the knee and then nails Adrian with a swinging neckbreaker! The crowd boos heavily.

Johnny: Smart move, Collyer! Keep it up! Make him think you’re gonna do one thing and trick him!

Collyer turns and gets to his knees and grabs the legs of a broken piece of table to stand. He waits for Tanner to get partially up before laying into him with it with several hard swings. Tanner staggers back with each blow. Collyer goes for a fourth swing, but the table slips out of one hand and Tanner barely manages to defend himself, grab it, and rip it out of Collyer’s hand.

Mark Majors: That full nelson submission Tanner had on Collyer earlier is showing its effect.

Collyer reacts with back heel kick, knocking Tanner into the turnbuckle. Adrian tries to shake it off. Collyer advances, kicking the table scrap away from him, and pulls him out of the corner into a belly-to-belly suplex. Both men lay on the mat for a minute or two afterwards.

Tito: Both men are starting to feel the effects of this match up.

They both stir. Tanner uses the upright table to pull himself up while Collyer goes to his knees and then feet. Tanner bursts away from the table with some unexpected speed and huracanranas Collyer back down to the mat, earning cheers from the crowd. Tanner pulls a struggling Collyer up for a snap suplex and somehow manages it. He pulls Collyer up and hits a second and then a third! Another “TAN-NER” chant echoes in the arena.

Mark Majors: Adrian is not giving it up to Collyer.

The two are slow to get off the mat and to their feet. Collyer watches Tanner, but also takes a quick glance at the ring and what remains. The two lock up in a grapple, each struggling to overpower the other and bump into the table, shifting it closer to the ropes in the process. Collyer breaks free and Russian leg sweeps Tanner into the turnbuckle. Nick pulls Tanner out and quickly follows up with a German suplex, rolls and repositions his hold and carries through with a Dragon suplex, rolls up again and this time takes Tanner back down with a straight jacket suplex to another chorus of boos, but this time some applause mixed in.

Quadir: Dat boy paying Tanner back. Three for three.

Mark Majors: I believe he calls that the Pride Cycle.

Collyer pauses for a moment, catching his breath, then pulls Tanner up onto the table… which just happens to be positioned below the table strapped to the cage wall just above the top rope. Collyer hops up onto the table and pulls Tanner up in front of him, wrapping one arm around his waist and grabbing the back of Tanner’s near leg with his other arm. Tanner begins to struggle and the table wobbles. However, Collyer still manages to get Tanner on his shoulder. Tanner struggles with his free leg and elbows Nick on the top of his head. Collyer kicks backward off the top of the table, topping it forward and driving Tanner’s head into the hanging table!

Johnny: Yeah! Rammed Tanner’s head with a Teardrop suplex!

Adrian falls to the apron, Nick caught on the top rope, but falls on over on Tanner and one end of the table comes loose, swinging down and hitting Collyer. The other end snaps loose and it slams down onto Tanner and teeters over onto the ropes covering both men!

Tito: Holy Shit! Collyer got more than he’d bargained for!

Mark Majors: I think it will be a minute or two at least before either one of them comes out from under that.

Tito: You can say that again. I thought the match would be over by now, but these two haven’t really seriously tried to put the other through a table yet and I don’t think they want to!

The ref enters to ring to check on the two.

Quadir: Dose boys just wanna put a hurtin’ on each other.

Johnny: They’ve done that, but they better start trying to finish this thing. They won’t have the strength to do it for much longer.

Chanting starts throughout the arena, getting louder and louder.

Crowd: TAN-NER! COLL-YER! TAN-NER! COLL-YER!

Tito: The fans are trying to get the men up and going again, letting both know they appreciate what they’ve been doing out there tonight.

The ref reaches them just as the table begins to move and an arm reaches out, followed by its opposite and then Collyer pulls himself out under the ropes and into the ring. He wipes some blood from his forehead and gets to his hands and knees. Cheers erupt and then the chants continue again.

Johnny: The bad boy himself is up. Hopefully Tanner’s out like a light and Nick can put him through that last table and end this.

The ref moves in to check on Adrian, but he backs off as the table shifts and Tanner slides out from under it and back in the ring, using the ropes to pull himself up, the crowd bursting into a huge round of applause.

Tito: Tanner’s not out of this yet!

Collyer uprights the table and heads for Tanner… who superkicks him out of nowhere! The crowd roars as Collyer staggers back, leaning against the table, appearing stunned.

Tito: The Daytripper! This could be it!

Tanner quickly climbs the ropes to the turnbuckle nearest the table and Collyer and leaps off with 450 leg drop.

Tito: The Wake-up Call!

Flashbulbs go off as Tanner descends… to crash and burn through the table by himself as Collyer rolls out of the way the last moment!

Johnny: God damn it! Get this shit over with!

Collyer nails Tanner with a cranium kick. Adrian rolls to the side clutching his head. Collyer looks down at Tanner then heads across the ring and through the ropes to the door.

Johnny: What’s the idiot doing? All he has to do is set up the damn table and put Tanner through it!

Tanner struggles to his feet, getting through the ropes as Collyer exits the door. Tanner staggers into a run and dives off the apron and through the cage door and off the apron with another flying body press off the apron onto Collyer, both hitting the floor hard!

Mark Majors: That should take the wind out of Collyer. I know it did me and I’m just watching.

Tanner rolls off Collyer, sits up and tries for another full nelson submission, but Nick turns over and fights him off, landing a few elbow strikes. The two struggle to their knees exchanging blows.

Johnny: Would you two losers hurry it up! I wanna see the April Playboy centerfold!

Collyer and Tanner finally get to their feet and look at the announce table, then each other.

Johnny: C’mon! What are you waiting for! Get ‘er done!

Tito: Uh… Johnny… I don’t like the looks we’re getting.

Collyer and Tanner both head for the announce table.

Quadir: Shit! I don’t like da looks of dis! I’m gettin’ out!

Quadir grabs his hat and vacates his chair, Tito and Majors following as Collyer and Tanner reach the table, lean over and grab Styles, jerking him over it. Collyer immediately nails Johnny with a Gamenguri (jumping roundhouse to the face) and Adrian follows through with the Revolver! The crowd roars. The other three commentators return to their seats as Adrian regains his feet, only to be hit with a European uppercut!

Collyer goes for another Uraken backfist punch, but Tanner dodges it, knees Collyer in the stomach and grabs his head jerks it into knee several times, then double axe-handles him over the upper back and neck. He throws Collyer onto the announce table as Tito, Mark and Quadir scoot back again as Tanner climbs up and pulls Collyer up into a reverse DDT hold.

Tito: Here we go again! Not only did they take Johnny out, but they’re going to take out the announce table, too!

Quadir: Dat’s life, homeboy.

Tanner lifts Collyer up on his shoulder as if for a neck breaker

Quadir: WAIT! Dat’s her candy!!

Quadir makes a grab for the box of candy…

Tito/Mark Majors: The Sharpshooter!

~CRASH!~

The announce table breaks and Quadir appears heartbroken as the crowd roars!

Tito: IT’S OVER! TANNER WON!

Quadir: Da candy…

The ref calls the match and signals Yuri.

Yuri Testkov: THE HOLIDAY HELL “GOT WOOD?” GAUNTLET INVITATIONAL WINNER…. AAAAAADDDRRIIIAAAANNNNN TAAAANNNNNEERRRR, JUUUUUNIOOOORRRRRR!!!

The arena is filled with such a roar, Tito nor Mark can be heard as they try to speak. Quadir salvages what’s left of the box of candy as Tanner regains his feet, smiling from ear to ear. Quadir opens the smashed box and finds a single piece of candy not ruined… and Adrian picks it out of the box, pops it in his mouth and heads for the ramp, holding up his arms in celebration. Finally Mark and Tito can be heard over the noise.

Mark Majors: Well, folks now the Gauntlet is over and we have our winner, we’ll have a short break so the Prince of Hell structure can be put together. We’ll get Johnny and Collyer taken care of while Disturbed entertains us.

Tito: But first, we’ll hear from Claire Matthews. She’ll be giving us a preview of her Playboy cover and center fold.

A tired Adrian Tanner, Jr. works the crowd a little more and then allows himself to be directed backstage via the lower exit next to the ramp.

Johnny struggles to his feet as a med team runs out to attend him and Nick Collyer. Johnny shoves them off and looks around as some ring hands clear away the broken table and bring them another one. Johnny grabs Quadir's mic and earset.

Johnny: It's over?

Tito: Yep.

Johnny: Hot damn! Now is the time we've all been waiting for!

Tito: The Prince of Hell match?

Johnny: No, Claire Matthews' Playboy cover unveiling, of course!

The medics attempt to help Collyer backstage, but he walks out on his own power to a round of applause and a "COLL-YER" chant. Johnny limps back to his spot at the new table and sits.

"All my life" by the Foo Fighters plays over the speaker systems as Claire makes her way out on stage, dressed in a white bathrobe. Already on stage is a large poster board with a pair of red curtains covering it. Claire tiptoes over to it as the guys in attendance are going wild. Claire waves at the crowd and then takes a microphone out of her chest of the robe.

Claire: Hey guys, I'm out here to announce something that I'm very proud of, and that I want you all to know about.....next month, April sees my debut as a Playboy Magazine covergirl!

The male popullation in the crowd errupts at hearing this, and we get alot of wolf whistles and cat calls.

Claire: So without further adeu, lets me unveil the cover!

Claire walks over to the posterboard and pulls the curtains apart. The male portion of the crowd explode in cheers as parents cover their childrens eyes. We see April's cover of Playboy Magazine, Claire is on the cover and is totally naked appart from a few strategically placed pink feathers.

Claire: I hope ya'll will buy a copy of the magazine when it hits news stands next month, but I got a special preview for you all now!

Johnny: Oh yes! I knew tonight would be special!

Claire begins to dance seductively as she slowly takes the robe down off her shoulders, she takes the robe down off her arms and displays her breasts for the whole crowd, and they pop like they'd just seen Hulk Hogan! Claire then takes the robe down to her mid section as she continues to seductively grind her waist....but she stops before the drops the robe completely. The crowd start to boo her heavily, as she pulls the robe back on.

Johnny: Damn what is Claire doing!? Show me more baby!

Claire: But you losers in New Jersey are too ugly to see what lies bellow my midsection! If you really want to see it that bad you can wait until April!

The crowd begin to throw beer cups at Claire as she drops the mic and leaves the stage to a chorus of boos. Stage hands run out to clean up the mess.

Johnny: Damn that woman! She's nothing but a tease!

Tito: Well... I'm more interested in what's up next.

Johnny: You're a sick man, Tito, if you prefer a band over Claire Matthews.

Tito: Not as sick as you...

Johnny stands up and jerks Tito up by his shirt.

Johnny: I've had enough of your mouth, so I'm going to shut it up!

Mike Oates taps Styles on the shoulder and Johnny turns his head to see himself surrounded by the security team that had come out earlier. The light dims in the arena and the stage lights up. The PowerTron comes to life and the video runs on the PowerTron of "10,000 Fists" split with live shots from different angles of the stage.

Mark Majors: Appropriate to start off the music entertainment of the evening as the Prince of Hell structure is being constructed!

Survivor!!
Survivor!!

One more goddamn day
When I know what I want
And my want will be considered tonight RAH! RAH!
Consider tonight RAH! RAH!
Just another day
When all that I want
Will mark me as a sinner tonight RAH! RAH!
I'm a sinner tonight, yeah!

People can no longer cover their eyes
If this disturbs you then walk away
You will remember the night you were struck by the sight of
Ten Thousand fists in the air!!

Power unrestrained
Dead on the mark
Is what we will deliver tonight RAH! RAH!
Deliver tonight RAH! RAH!
Pleasure fused with pain
This triumph of the soul
Will make you shiver tonight RAH! RAH!
We'll make you shiver tonight, yeah!

Evil can no longer cover their eyes
If this disturbs you then walk away
You will remember the night you were struck by the sight of
Ten Thousand fists in the air!!

We are the ones that will open your mind!
Leave the weak and the haunted behind!
We are the ones that will open your mind!
Leave the weak and the haunted behind!
We are the ones that will open your mind!
Leave the weak and the haunted behind!
We are the ones that will open your mind!
Leave the weak and the haunted behind!

Evil can no longer cover their eyes
If this disturbs you then walk away
You will remember the night you were struck by the sight of
Ten Thousand fists in the air!!


Ten Thousand fists in the air!!
Ten Thousand fists in the air!!

Disturbed pauses only for a moment before beginning their next number as a large number in the arena are on their feet.

(Perfect Insanity)

You're inside of me

afraid to discuss the mess I've made

If you take a look now you will find

Perfect insanity

I go away not right

Done away with paradise

See what's going on inside my mind

Please let me out

Please let me out

Please let me



(Chorus)

Branded like an animal

I can still feel them burning my mind

You believe that you made your message clear

Never been enough to really know that I feel

Leaving me with images I know are not real

Are those words of condemnation that I hear



Come inside now I implore

Do you think you can restore

Crucial feelings missing from my brain

Perfect insanity

What seems to be the matter dear

Do you cry or shake with fear

I only have the best of me insane

Please let me out

Please let me out

Please let me



Branded like an animal

I can still feel them burning my mind

You believe that you made your message clear

Never been enough to really know that I feel

Leaving me with images I know are not real

Are those words of condemnation that I hear




Don't know how much I can take

Secret thoughts inside me

Pray God I've lost what it was within me

That was deep inside of me

Don't know how much I can take

Secret thoughts inside me

Pray God I've lost what it was within me

That was deep inside of me

Don't know how much I can take

Secret thoughts inside me

Pray God I've lost what it was within me

That was deep inside of me

Now I'm trying again to find

The thing that was my mind

Behold the other side

Cause then I've lost my mind

Try again to find

The thing that was my mind


I've lost my mind
I've lost my mind
I've lost my mind
I've lost my mind
I've lost my mind
I've lost my mind
I've lost my mind
I've lost my mind

The Prince of Hell ladders are now up and the catwalk is being lowered. Workmen are scurrying around the ring and starting to climb the ladders to work on attaching the catwalk to each one.

(Awaken)

Stripped of life, alone
In the midst of something that I
Want to play with your evil inside
wanting, letting go, of what never could be again
Lost and alone
Imprisoned now inside your mind
With the way you tried
To destroy me again
You were waiting and living for no one
With the way you tried
To completely refuse all your life

Feed on nothing
You'll never live up to me

Awaken you
With a little evil inside
Feed on your nothing
You'll never live up to me
I've stricken you
Feed on your nothing
And you'll never live up to me

There isn't a thing that I can do
Watching the whole thing just wash away
Making me long
Making you strong

Awaken you
With a little evil inside
Feed on your nothing
You'll never live up to me
I've stricken you
Feed on your nothing
And you'll never live up to me

Workers scurry over the Prince of Hell catwalk making final adjustments and connections.

(Violence Fetish)

Bring the violence
It's significant
To the life
If you've ever known anyone
Bring the violence
It's significant
To the life
Can you feel it?

How do you sleep
When you live with your lies
Out of your mouth
Up from your mind
That kind of thinking
Starts a chain reaction
You are a timebomb ticking away
You need to release
What you're feeling inside
Let out the beast
That you're trying to hide
Step right up and be a part of the action
Get your game face on
Because it's time to play
You're pushing and fighting your way
You're ripping it up

How do you live without playing the game
Sit on the side and expect to keep sane
Step right up and be a part of the action
Come get a piece of it before it's too late
Take a look around
You can't deny what you see
Were living in a violent society
Well my brother let me show you a better way
So get your game face on because it's time to play
You're pushing and fighting your way you're ripping it up

So tell me what am I supposed to be
Another goddamn drone
Tell me what am I supposed to be
Should I leave it on the inside
Should I get ready to play

[TKOW Board]

The lights dim on the stage after a huge ovation. A few workers can still be seen on the Prince of Hell structure, but only as shadows as the arena lights are still low. A spotlight shines on the announce table where Tito Poppi, Mark Majors, and Quadir have resumed their seats.

Tito: It’s almost time!

Mark Majors: If you folks are still wondering why we're still here, Quadir and I have been asked to sit in until Johnny comes back from being checked out by the med team backstage.

Quadir: Diz shiz is stayin’ even if he does come back out. Not givin’ up mah front row seat, specially with mah dawg, Carpenter, havin’ fun!

Tito: From what little I can see, it appears there’s only one person left on the Prince of Hell structure. Odd. It’s not quite the way I remembered from last year…

Mark Majors: What do you mean, Tito?

Tito: It doesn’t look right, but that could just be because it’s so dark in here. I’m sure we’ll see soon.

The stage lights rise on Disturbed once more. They take their accolades and then begin the low rumbling start of “Hell.” The KhaosTron switches from a shot on Disturbed to a video package.

A montage begins, highlighting great moments in the TKOW histories of Phoenix, Bob Lancelot, Matt Griffen and Carpenter. The first 30 seconds is in black and white, in victory poses, bleeding, hurt, burned and then recaps the first Prince of Hell.

Rrwoooaaaw!

A shot of Phoenix climbing the Prince of Hell structure. He steps out onto the scaffolding and removes his bat from his trench, as well as lighter fluid. Soaking the heavy end of the bat, he puts away the fluid and pulls out his zippo, lighting the bat up as a torch. He holds it high over his head, listening to the cheers, and, getting a signal from the crew below, lights each row of flames one by one.

Ahh, Ahhh
Burning now I bring you Hell!
Ahh, Ahhh
Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Kid runs at Matt and jumps up for a hurricanrana but Griffen tosses him back over his head, assisting him into hitting Ghalleon with it instead.

Read me tonight, when the warnings said leave a shudder upon you
Running from all that you feared in your life

Carpenter climbs the nearest ladder up to about 10 or 12 feet and dives off with a flying headbutt to Styles.

Soul of the night, when the sun mislead paint a horror upon you
Marking the moment, displaying in my
ghost of a life!

Matt jerks Salazar back and picks him up, spins 180 and nails him with the Toss Bomb on the mesh hard enough to shake the Cross and putting him further away from center. Meanwhile Ghalleon and Carpenter are hard at it with Carpenter attacking with his brass knuckles, but Ghalleon hits him with a hard European uppercut, knocking him a few steps back.

And I can't get round the way you left me out in the open
To leave me to die!
So how can I, forget the way you lead me through the path into Heaven
To leave me behind!

Carpenter heads back for Griffen who goes for the Claw Crush, but Carpenter manages to change his momentum and catch his feet on the pipe supports in the flames and pushes off, pulling Matt off balance and off the scaffolding. Screams deafen the arena and flash bulbs go off as both men tumble around one another in the air toward the Nippon table, which breaks on impact with a sickening ~THUD-CRACK!~ with Griffen on bottom.

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance
Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Burning, now I bring you Hell!

Ahh, Ahhh
Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Both hanging to the scaffolding from below, suddenly Kid hits Duke with a double-footed kick in the shoulder, causing him to lose his grip with one hand and he swings, unable to pull up with the other. Kid nails him with another double-footed kick in the other shoulder. More flash bulbs go off as Duke grabs Kid’s legs as he drops. Kid tries to free himself of McFilthy, but the added weight is too much, his hold slips and they both plummet to the mat opposite Griffen and Carpenter, who are finally starting to move and get to their feet.

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance
Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Burning now I bring you Hell!

Carpenter taps Matt on the shoulder, getting the big man to turn, grabs him by the head and slams his head into Matt’s face, staggering him. Matt plows through, pins Carpenter and rips off his blood-stained mask, which drops to the ring below and bounces out onto the floor. He begins pounding Carp’s bandaged face with vicious rights.

Free me tonight, as the animal kings breathe their terror upon you
Caught in the moment, engaging in my
Bloodlust tonight, now I can't control my venom's flow
Get back from me demon, or be exorcised!

Carpenter drops the cloverleaf and starts beating Matt about the head both fists until he sees Ghalleon moving towards the center. He leaves Matt, takes a few steps on the run, and jumps off the fire-pipe, just as the flames jump to six feet, flies across the open gap, and slams into Ghalleon with full force, toppling him through the flames, off the cross, bouncing him off the crossbar, and dropping him back to the mat below!

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance
Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Burning now I bring you Hell!

Matt gets up and ties up with Salazar, moving him just enough that he stops gaining time. Both men struggle against each other, trying to gain the advantage, but Carpenter rushes them both, shoving them and knocking them off balance onto a walkway, dancing into the flames, and both men fall off! They each grab hold of the sides of the walkway, but before Salazar can gain a better handhold, Matt swings forward on his left arm, twisting, grabs Salazar’s head with his right arm, and falls, pulling Salazar with him into a super stunner!!

All my emotion and all my integrity
All that you've taken from me

The Khaostron switches to a triple split screen. On the right a live shot of a spot lit Lady Hawke climbing one of the Prince of Hell ladders; On the left a live shot of a spot lit masked Trine climbing another ladder on the Prince of Hell structure. In the center section the prior Prince of Hell montage continues. Kid Styles regains his balance on the catwalk and sees the time ticking away, and Ghalleon, wide eyed, watching the clock. Kid forward rolls, hops up out of the roll and lands squarely on the tops of Ghalleon’s boots!

All my emotion and all my integrity
All that you've taken from me

The Advanced Human yells out as his Advanced Toes are crunched, and seeing Kid’s timer now rising with his own! Both competitors pass Salazar’s time, but Ghalleon holds onto a second lead over Kid. Kid reaches up and boxes Ghalleon’s ears, then grabs his head and drops to a sitting position, crushing Ghalleon’s jaw against the top of his head. Kid rolls onto his back and slams both feet into Ghalleon’s guts, shoving him back off the center. He quickly stands, pulling his time up to and just past Ghalleon’s before the leader of the Order strikes back with a Ragnarok, sending Kid flat on his back on the mesh.

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance
Upon you, to killing more than I can tell
Soul of the night, I know

Ghalleon’s expression starts to calm as his time climbs, second by second, extending his lead on Kid Styles. He starts to smile, and raise his arms, and succumbing to the fatigue, drops to his knees with ten seconds left on the clock and a twenty eight second lead on the K.I.D.. Suddenly, Kid Styles rolls his legs back, hops to his feet long enough to dropkick Ghalleon in the face! Ghalleon flips backwards over himself, rolling into the fire, as Kid pulls himself to the center with two seconds left. At one, he’s standing in the center, and then the buzzer sounds!

Now I can't stay behind
Save me, from wreaking my vengeance

Phoenix takes off his headset and picks up the TKOW Title by one strap. Kid Styles, holding on to the ladder bars for support, looks down at his stablemates, and watches Phoenix hoist the title up over his head, and they both start to smile. The center shot disappears leaving only the split screen of Trine and Hawke reaching the top of the Prince of Hell structure at the same time.

Upon you, to killing more than I can tell

Hawke and Trine light a double set of sparklers on top of the structure.

Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Hawke and Trine advance toward one another, each holding a burning sparkler in both hands.

Tito: That’s it!

Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Hawke and Trine pause an equidistance from their respective ladders and turn to face the way they came, kneel, and extend the sparklers to the pipes on both sides of the catwalk and light the path they had each just walked. The flames run from each sparkler back toward the ladders. The crowd murmurs.

Tito: They’re too far apart!

Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Hawke turns to her right, Trine to his left and a dual double line of flames ignite and run to the next set of ladders opposite the stage. The crowd gets louder and a few cheers erupt as a few people are understanding what they’re seeing.

Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Mark Majors: It’s not just a one-intersection catwalk…

The Birds do a 180 and another dual set of flames run their course to the ladders of the stage side of the structure.

Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

Tito: It’s TWO!

Hawke and Trine face one another, nod and lower the sparklers a final time. The flames race toward one another. When the dual lines of fire meet, the flames flare up and pyros shoot up and away, revealing Mike Oates standing at the spot with the belt. The lights come up revealing the flaming 2007 Prince of Hell structure in its entirety as he hangs and secures the belt.

Oh, burning now I bring you Hell!

The crowd goes wild as an aerial shot from above shows Hawke standing at the intersection of one cross and Trine at the center of the other. The belt hangs at the point where the two catwalk inside ladders touch—centered smack dab above the two STILL open-topped caged rings beneath, with the ladders kissing all the way to the top between the small gap separating the two cages.

Tito: HOLY SHIT!

Mark Majors: This must be the twist T.H. was talking about at the beginning of Holiday Hell. It’s a twinned Prince of Hell structure and the rings are just as they were left from the Gauntlet.

Trine and Hawke head toward the ladders facing the stage. Oates walks over to Hawke’s intersection and follows her after giving the belt a final tug. The Birds step down onto the ladders, sparklers still in hand, and start their climb down, both kicking out their feet at about 10 feet down from the top, free sliding down to the floor, landing in crouches.

Quadir: Damn… It’s gonna be DA SHIZNIT!

They both cross the barriers and give the sparklers to children near or in the front rows. Oates reaches the floor about the time the Birds reach the ramp and Hawke waits for Oates, then they disappear backstage using the below-stage accesses.

Tito: It’s TIME!!!

Yuri Testkov: AND NOOOOOOWWWWW…. THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING…. FOR THE TKOW TITLE….THE PRINCE… OF… HHHHEEEELLLLLL!!!!!!

The crowd cuts loose once more. Signs wave in the audience again. “Phoenix’s fire is unextinguishable!” “Hardcore Prince of Hell!” “Griffen’s time is NOW!” (double sign) “Send Carpenter back to hell…or the hospital!” and “Can I be the Princess of Hell?!” as just a few.

The lights dim in the arena and "Hardcore" by FEEL blasts through the loud speakers. Bob Lancelot walks through the curtain near the side of the stage. He wear black tights with orange lightning bolts on them and no shirt. Claire Matthews follows Bob out to the ring. She is now clothed, wearing one of her promotional "Weapons of Mass Distraction" T-Shirts and a short black skirt.

Yuri Testkov: FROM OXFORD ENGLAND, STANDING FIVE FOOT TEN AND WEIGHING TWO HUNDRED THIRTY POUNDS PLUS A FEW FORKS… YOUR TKOW TV CHAMPION……BOB… LANNNNNNCELOOOOTTT~!

Bob holds up the “hardcored” TV title, showing it off as he makes his way down the ramp, mostly boo’d by the crowd. He flips them off and points to the top of the Prince of Hell structure, tossing his TV title over one shoulder, then pointing at his other shoulder, indicating he would soon have two titles. He reaches the ring and climbs a few rungs of one of the ladders and mouths off, then jumps down and waits.

Tito: Lancelot is confident he’ll be leaving here tonight with that TV Title AND the TKOW Title.

Quadir: Dat boy has a chance. Slim chance! Ha! He ain’t gonna beat the masked maniac!

Backlit smoke rolls out onto the stage and down the ramp as the lights once again dim. Green and purple lights flash across the arena.

(Elvish chanting)

Galadriel: I feel it in the Earth.

(Elvish chanting)

I smell it in the air.

(Elvish chanting echo)

I feel it in the water.

(Elvish chanting echo)

The world has changed…

The intro of Eagleheart by Stratovarius blares over the arena as Griffen walks through the fog to a large ovation.

All through the night he is lying awake
Wond'ring how much more can he take
Watching the walls where the shadows dance
Drifting away into a trance
And his eyes are blazing with fire

Griffen walks over to one side of the stage and works the crowd, as Lady Hawke follows, carrying a large satchel. He takes a few balls from the satchel and throws them into the audience after motioning for who wanted them.

Dreams burnt to ashes so many times
Highest of mountains, still he climbs
Ready to fly, cause he just can't stay
Flame burning brighter with every day
And his eyes are blazing with fire
Longing for the deepest desire

Griffen and Hawke move to the other side of the stage and throw more out on the other side.

Heart of an eagle
He flies through the rainbow
Into a new world and finds the sun
Spreading his wings
Above all the sorrows
The glory of Eagleheart

Yuri Testkov: COMING TO THE RING, FROM BOWLING GREEN KENTUCKY, STANDING 6 FEET 8 INCHES AND WEIGHING 325 POUNDS… THE MAN WHO HAS YET TO MARRY LADY HAWKE… MAAAAAATT……. GRRRRRRIIIIIIFFEEEEEENNNN~!

The crowd pops louder and Griffen moves down the ramp, green and purple pyros arching up and over him as he tosses out more of the balls, which by now have been shown to be Griffen t-shirts.

Fever is burning in his veins
Determined with courage, breaking the chains
Back against the wall under blood red skies
Prepared to fight until he dies
And his eyes are blazing with fire
Longing for the deepest desire

Hawke and Griffen walk around the ring at the barrier with Griffen throwing t-shirts randomly to the crowd, some close, some far.

Heart of an eagle
He flies through the rainbow
Into a new world and finds the sun
Spreading his wings
Above all the sorrows
The glory of Eagleheart

Upon reaching the stage side again, Claire makes a move toward Hawke, but halts when Hawke motions for her to bring it. Instead, Claire turns back to Bob and makes over him. Hawke reaches for Griffen, who plays to the crowd a bit more. He grins and hugs her, lifting her up, then kisses her forehead and sets her back down.

Heart of an eagle
He flies through the rainbow
Into a new world and finds the sun
Spreading his wings
Above all the sorrows
The glory of Eagleheart

Hawke leaves as Griffen moves to stand near the ladder of the other ring, away from Lancelot and Claire.

Mark Majors: Griffen is looking that structure over. He knows what it’s like, having been in the Prince of Hell last year.

Tito: This time, though it’s different. The cage walls are there and no safe intersection to stand in.

"Freak" by Flipp kicks in over the speakers...

{Jack Nicholson}
(Yeah. Wait'll they get a load of me...)

A shot of Carpenter, The Metatron, and Phoenix sitting on the stone throne appears on the 'tron.

GO!

A large circle of fire lights on the right side of the stage.

{Flipp}
I remember my high school teacher
She used to say I was a high school creature
And now my boss, says I am a lost cause
Some things are not what they seem
That's why they call me a freak
Yeah I don't wanna be like anybody else
That's why they call me a freak
Yeah I don't wanna be like everybody else
That's why they call me a freak
I asked my therapist if there was a cure
For people scared and actin' insecure
They treat me like a virus
They beat me to my knees
They treat me like a social disease

A throne begins to rise from circle. Phoenix is sitting on it, hands clasped underneath his chin. The Metatron stands to his right, the TKOW Title around his waist and holding his Rosary, while Carpenter is on the left, carrying Phoenix's bat.

I was always afraid of walking home everyday
Those creeps would beat me up and take my money away
They make me feel like a loser
No matter what I did
I was just your average fucked up kid
That's why they call me a freak
Yeah I don't wanna be like anybody else
That's why they call me a freak
Yeah I don't wanna be like everybody else
That's why they call me a freak
FREAK!

Carpenter jumps over the flames, holding the bat up to the heavens, taking in the jeers of the crowd.

FREAK!

The 'tron shows Phoenix and Matt Griffen going through the mat at MegaBowl V.

FREAK!

The 'tron shows Phoenix stretching out Tobias Burden with The Rings.

FREAK!

The 'tron shows Carpenter punching out Celine Dion.

(There is nothing worse than the sound)
(Of the tears of a clown)
(When there is no one around)

The 'tron shows Phoenix and Carpenter on the stage at MegaBowl V holding the TKOW Title.

That's why they call me a freak
Cuz i don't wanna be like anybody else
That's why they call me a freak

I'm all alone in a crowd
I want to shout it out loud
The voices inside my head
Don't hear a thing that you said
They tell me where you can go
I think you already know
That you're the one who is weak
That's why they call me a freak

Yuri Testkov: COMING TO THE RING, FROM RED BANK NEW JERSEY, STANDING 6 FEET 2 INCHES AND WEIGHING 210 POUNDS, THE CRAZIEST BASTARD IN THIS ARENA…. CARARRRRRPENTERRRRRR~!

Carpenter pulls his mask from his belt and puts it on, afterwards threatening some of the audience with the bat from the stage as they boo him.

Quadir: Dat’s da man!!! He and da Firebird gonna take that belt back home with dem tonight after showing Griffen and Shorty how it be done!

Mark Majors: It sure doesn’t look good when it’s 2 against 1 and 1.

Tito: Last year Griffen had that advantage with Kid Styles as they teamed up against the other four. I can’t see Lancelot putting aside differences to do some damage like Griffen and Burden did last Mass Khaos.

Yuri Testkov: FINALLY… COMING TO THE RING… YOUR CURRENT REIGNING TKOW CHAMPIIOOOOOONNNN….. ‘THE LORD OF FIRE!’….. PHHOOEEEEEEEENNNNIIIIIXXXXX!!!

Phoenix rises from his throne. The Metatron follows him with Carpenter leading the way. Once they’re on the floor, Carpenter makes a dive toward the barrier, swinging the bat wantonly as the crowd throws trash at him. Phoenix heads straight for Griffen, stopping only a foot or two from him and they have a stare down.

Tito: This is going to be great!

Mark Majors: You know it when it comes to a showdown between Phoenix and Griffen.

Quadir: Da Firebird gonna take it all from Griffen again, just like always!

Tito: Not true, Quadir! Phoenix lost to Burden two shows back. That's encouraging for Matt.

Mark Majors: That's right. Besides, it's all about who has hold of the title for the longest amount of time in this match and if you remember at the last Mass Khaos, Matt would have had the title if Carpenter hadn't low blowed him as he and Phoenix were struggling to get the belt.

Without dropping his gaze, Phoenix unfastens and hands off the belt to the Metatron. Kent gives it to the ref, who takes it and holds it up over his head for all to see.

Carpenter turns back toward the others. Bob hands his title to Claire, who keeps Bob, Matt and Phoenix between her and Carpenter as she moves away from them.

The time/scorekeeper sets the clock as the ref lays the TKOW title on his table.

[30:00]

~DING~

[TKOW Board]

Phoenix and Matt immediately fire staggering huge blows to each other, right and left. Carpenter swings the bat at Bob, but Lancelot dodges, with the bat just missing the gas pipe on the ladder and instead hits the mesh cage and rebounds. Lancelot low blows Carpenter, DDTs him and follows by attempting to lock in an armbar. The crowd explodes.

Tito: Holy shit!

Quadir: Hot. Fuckin’. Damn! Diz IZ gonna be good!

Carpenter scrambles on the floor, but Bob keeps pressing with trying to lock in that armbar. Carp drops to his chest and swings the bat back and over several times, finally connecting with Bob’s head. Bob releases the hold attempt and Carpenter rolls over and to his knees and then feet. Bob springs up and spears Carpenter back and over the barrier, both men tumbling over into the front row.

Phoenix and Griffen lock up, but Griffen breaks free. He grabs Phoenix by the back of the head and runs him face first into the cage. When Phoenix turns around, Matt goes for a big boot, but The Champ steps to the inside, grabs Matt’s right thigh while grabbing him at the throat and chokeslams him into a sitdown powerbomb!

Quadir: Go Firebird!

Mark Majors: Xing Crusher!

In the front row, Carp has gotten to his feet behind Lancelot and pulls him up in front of him, choking him with the bat. Bob elbows him hard several times as he turns slightly blue in the face. Getting nowhere, Bob draws his legs up and kicks them back off the barrier, driving Carpenter into the second row as they both fall. Bob gets free, gulping in air and looks around. He shoves a fan out of his chair, takes it, and lays into Carpenter, the clangs of metal chair upon metal mask ringing throughout the arena.

Tito: Bob is giving it to Carpenter for all he’s worth!

Meanwhile, Phoenix gets to his feet and stomps Matt a couple times and starts to do a fistdrop, but doesn’t follow through and stumbles slightly before he can catch his balance as Griffen rolls to the side to one foot and knee. He glares up at Phoenix as he stands. Phoenix runs at him as for a Yakuza kick, but Matt ducks just enough to avoid the kick and swiftly rises back up, grabs Phoenix and nails him with the Claw Crush to a large crowd pop!

Mark Majors: A Crush for a Crusher! Griffen right back into the action!

Carpenter throws up the bat to counter and protect himself. He swings the bat low after blocking a chair shot and lands a hard blow to one of Bob’s knees. Yelping, Bob reaches down, grabs the bat and jerks it out of Carp’s hands and pitches it over his shoulder… right over the barrier and back onto the floor where it bounces and skitters toward Griffen and Phoenix. As Bob swings the chair again, Carp draws his legs up and kicks Lancelot in the groin, doubling him over. The crowd groans.

Phoenix takes a moment before getting back up, only to be taken back down with a strong lariat from Griffen! He lands on the bat, unbeknownst to Matt.

Carp grabs the chair and positions it in front of Bob’s face and kicks it into him with both feet. Bob is thrown backwards from the force and runs into the barrier, falling back over it! Carp climbs to his feet, adjusts his mask, pulls on his brass knuckles, grabs the chair and tosses it over the railing. He then climbs up on the barrier and dives off with a flying headbutt to Lancelot! The two stay down on the floor for a few moments as Carpenter’s laughter is caught on the announcers’ mics.

Quadir: Da masked maniac takin’ it to ‘em!

Phoenix is pulled up by Griffen, who afterward receives the working end of the baseball bat rammed into his gut for his assistance! Phoenix clocks Griffen in the jaw with the flat end of the bat handle and follows with an overhead swing towards Matt’s skull… but Matt steps and leans forward, taking blow across his broad shoulders instead. Matt reaches around and pulls Phoenix up for a tilt-a-whirl powerslam!

Tito: Griffen and Phoenix going toe to toe at the moment, both taking some punishment, but keeping on the offense.

Carpenter and Lancelot regain their feet. Carp picks up the chair. He turns right into a hurricanrana from Bob, being thrown into the nearest Prince of Hell ladder! Carpenter grabs the rungs to straighten and pull himself up.

Crowd: *chanting* LAN-CE-LOT! LAN-CE-LOT!

Bob gets up and grabs the chair Carp had dropped. He lifts it up as he walks, slamming it over the back of Carp’s head, denting the chair. Carpenter keeps hold of the rungs and pulls himself back up. Bob swings again, landing another hit and deepening the dent in the chair. However, Carp hunkers down, getting mostly hit over the shoulders. He stands and releases the rungs. Bob connects with another over-the-head shot… only to hear Carpenter’s laughter start up again. This infuriates him and he tosses the chair away and rams Carp into the ladder with a spear.

Matt moves to pull Phoenix up, but the Champ grabs the bat again, getting it between Matt’s feet and using it to trip him, dropping him to the floor. Phoenix uses the time to get to his feet ahead of Matt and gets in a few swings before Griffen has enough of it. On the next swing a loud ~SMACK!~ is heard as Matt catches the wood with his hand and jerks it away from Phoenix, tossing it to the floor.

Tito: *wincing* That had to burn…

Phoenix immediately lays into Matt with palm heel strikes. Matt catches one hand, but can’t the other immediately. Phoenix steps in and lands a knuckle throat thrust, causing Matt to back up and release Phoenix in order to avoid a second.

Carpenter stomps Bob’s foot hard, elbows him, driving him back a couple feet. He steps around behind Bob and takes him down with a half-nelson suplex. As both start to get up, a sledgehammer slides up within Bob’s reach. He grabs it and swings at Carpenter, landing a blow to his thigh! Claire moves out of the way, a malicious smile on her face and the TV title in hand.

Quadir: Whadda fuck?!

Tito: It’s Claire! She supplied Bob with the sledgehammer!

Phoenix steps in to Matt again and lands a belly-to-belly suplex! He helps Matt up, steps back and connects with a Yakuza kick to a huge jeer from the crowd! Matt staggers to the side and Phoenix lays into him with punches and palm strikes and an occasional hammer punch. Matt takes the abuse and tries to defend himself and land a few of his own strikes.

Bob swings at Carp several times, but misses as he jumps back or dodges out of the way. After a swing, Carpenter steps in with a Russian leg sweep. They both go down, but Bob still has the sledge. As they start to rise, Bob immediately swings the sledgehammer and lands a shot to Carpenter’s back as he’s getting up, driving him back to the floor. Bob moves in for another swing and lands it. He gets to his feet and moves to stand up by Carpenter’s head. He takes on a golf stance (as best one can with a sledge hammer instead of a club) and lines the head of the hammer up with the top of Carp’s head.

Tito: Bob’s going to drive the sledge hammer into Carpenter’s head! That could kill him!!

Bob draws back the hammer in a swing.

Bob Lancelot: *yelling*FOUR!!!!

Bob swings… but Carpenter rolls out of the way! As Bob is spun around by the force of his miss, Carp gets to his feet and spears Bob into the cage, jerks him back and rams his head into the side of the ladder a time or two, afterwards jerking the sledgehammer from Bob and landing a blow to his back with it, laughing the entire time. He connects with second before tossing the sledgehammer away.

Phoenix slows slightly in his punching and dodging and Matt throws a hard right, which Phoenix catches and goes for a palm strike to the face. Matt throws his head back to avoid it. Phoenix follows through, stepping in and applying the right armbar.

Mark Majors: Phoenix going for his P-X stunner and Matt’s trying to counter it!

Phoenix goes for the elbow strike to the face, but Griffen’s face isn’t there! Instead, Matt has bent down and he grabs Phoenix around the thigh, lifting him off his feet, and falls back to the floor for a sloppy suplex attempt! Upon landing, Phoenix still has hold of Matt’s arm. After the initial shock, before Matt can pull all the way free, he quickly locks in an armbar with his legs and one arm and begins punching it with his free hand!

Carpenter laughs even louder, shoves himself and Bob away from the ladder, turns and nails Bob with a standing dropkick to the chest. Carp scrambles over to him and commences alternately punching him in the face and body with his brass knuckles. The crowd counts along.

Quadir: Da Hardcore Fork is gettin’ a Pummeling!

One!

Two!

Three!

Matt is in pain and tries to free his arm. However, Phoenix grabs Matt’s arm with both hands, frees a leg and starts kicking Matt in the ribs.

Four!

Five!

Six!

Griffen grits his teeth and looks around for anything to get free of Phoenix. He sees the bat lying just out of his reach. He stretches for it.

Seven!

Eight!

~CLANG!~

Tito: Claire just clobbered Carpenter with Bob’s belt!

Carpenter pauses and cracks his neck after the blow to his mask. Claire stands to the side with the TKOW TV title in hand and draws it back for a second shot. Carpenter turns his head in her direction and she hesitates. He quickly jumps up at her.

Carpenter: *shouting* BOO!

Claire scrambles backward with a squeal, nearly tripping over her own feet. She runs back around the caged rings a distance, drawing chuckles from some in the arena. Carpenter takes a few steps as if to follow her and Claire mouths off, but keeps a fair distance between them. Unseen by Carpenter, Bob has rolled to the apron and digs underneath it.

Quadir: Da shiz iz havin’ some fun!

Meanwhile, Matt’s fingers finally reach the bat. Phoenix notices and kicks Matt’s ribs even harder and twists his arm, causing Griffen to cry out. However, he grits hit teeth and gets his fingers on the bat, pulling it towards him. Matt grabs it and with all his might rolls toward Phoenix as much as possible and swings it into Phoenix’s kicking leg. The Champ gives a final hard twist to Griffen’s arm and one last kick, then releases and rolls away, quickly getting to his feet and heads for the nearest ladder. Matt rises to his knees, gingerly testing out his right arm. He keeps the bat in his left and uses it to stand. He shakes out his arm and follows after Phoenix. Matt throws the bat into Phoenix’s legs in an attempt to trip him up, but it only slows the Champ and he turns around to find Griffen nearly on him. He flapjacks Matt to the floor next to the ladder and follows it with a fist drop.

Having finished scaring Claire for the moment, Carpenter turns around only to find Bob dropping a metal trash can over him. Bob grabs the sledgehammer again and beats the can with it four or five times before shoving Carpenter over the barrier again can and all! Bob wipes some blood off his face where he was busted open from the knucks, spits at the trash can, drops the sledgehammer, turns and walks back to the side ladder, starting the climb.

Tito: Lancelot is making the first attempt to get to the belt and gain some time on the clock!

[24:37]

Bob makes good time up the ladder to a mixed reaction from the crowd. Getting to his feet, Phoenix glances up and sees Bob climbing. He makes for the ladder next to him and starts his own climb. Bob reaches the top but pauses before stepping out onto the scaffolding. He turns his head and looks around and then looks down and finds Phoenix on his way up. Bob steps out onto the catwalk, taking a few steps to get used to the structure, then smiles. Phoenix is nearly to the top, only a few rungs from stepping on the catwalk himself. Bob hurries, passing by the intersection and heading for the belt where the two structures meet. Phoenix takes the final steps up and immediately moves toward the intersection. By now Lancelot has reached the belt and grabs hold of it, turning to watch Phoenix approach.

Mark Majors: Bob Lancelot is the first to accrue time in this Prince of Hell match and Phoenix is right on his trail!

Quadir: Da Firebird ain’t gonna let Forkboy get away wid it.

Phoenix reaches the intersection and turns to face Bob. He takes his time approaching the TV Champ.

On the floor Matt has gotten to his feet and puts a foot on the bottom rung of the ladder when he’s ripped away from it with a spear to the floor by Carpenter! The crowd boos heavily. Carpenter straddles Griffen and lays into his face with his brass knuckled fists. Griffen manages to grab Carp’s arms after a few blows. Carp tries to headbutt him, but Matt turns his head and rolls with Carpenter on the floor until he’s able to throw him to the side. Carpenter is up immediately and goes right after Griffen again. Matt watches him as he gets up and catches him with a tilt-a-whirl sideslam! Griffen quickly looks up to see Phoenix nearly to Bob.

Tito: I hope Griffen knows that’s not going to keep Carpenter down.

Mark Majors: I’m sure he does, Tito.

Matt turns back to Carp, stands him up. Carpenter grabs Matt’s arm and wrenches it, causing Matt to cry out.

Tito: Carpenter unknowingly picked the one Phoenix worked over just a few minutes ago!

Quadir: Da big boy is in trouble now. Mah man won’t let up on it.

On top the structure, Bob takes the initiative and throws a hard European uppercut into Phoenix while still holding onto the belt. Only Phoenix’s head moves to the side and he cracks his neck afterward.

Mark Majors: Bob hitting Phoenix with a European uppercut, but he’s restricted while trying to hold onto the belt. A blow like that from Bob isn’t going to do much, especially after the way Phoenix and Matt were going at it from the start.

On the floor Carpenter quickly follows with an arm breaker. Matt grabs his arm in pain and Carpenter takes advantage with a swinging neckbreaker to a huge chorus of boos. Carp gets up, stomps Matt a couple times then walks over to Ring 2 and goes inside, getting a table and bringing it out and setting it up near Griffen, who is climbing to his feet, using the front Ring 1 ladder. Matt decides to head up top and starts climbing.

Up top, Lancelot looks a mix of frustrated, mad, and worried. Phoenix reaches out and grabs the wrist of the hand Bob is using to hold the belt. Bob struggles with Phoenix, but the Champ forces Bob to release the belt with pressure to his wrist. Bob knees his opponent hard in the groin, causing him to bend forward, but he doesn’t let go of Bob’s wrist. Bob knees Phoenix in the face. Suddenly Phoenix rams into him and throws him several feet into the air. Bob is flung back several feet, landing on his back almost at the second intersection, his arms stretched out and in the flames. At that moment the jets of fire flare up under Bob’s arms. Phoenix straightens and moves back to the belt, grabbing it and accruing his own time on the clock. Bob jerks his bare arms out of the flames and is heard yelling.

Bob Lancelot: FUCK!!

Quadir: Da Hardkore Fork ain’t dat hardkore now iz he? He’s learnin’ wut it iz to fight da Lord of Fire!

Below, Matt gets up nearly 6 to 7 feet before Carpenter turns back to him. Carp pulls the table closer to the ladder and climbs up after Matt, grabbing one of his feet. Griffen kicks at Carpenter, but Carpenter climbs up nearly to his side trying to get an arm around Matt’s neck. Matt sees the table, back elbows Carp, twists and locks in an inverted DDT hold on Carpenter. Matt leaps off, pulling Carp off the ladder and both go through the table! The crowd pops!

Mark Majors: Bad Habit Drop off the ladder and through the table!

Above, Bob gets to his feet, his arms already starting to blister up. He glares at Phoenix and runs at him… and takes him down with a hurricanrana causing a few in the audience to scream as Phoenix lands precariously stretched at an angle out over the open area between two sections of the catwalk at the intersection. He quickly rolls out the flames and onto the intersection itself. Bob himself is having trouble keeping his balance, somehow landing awkwardly back on his feet and in an effort to avoid falling, leaps across the open space to the adjacent section, landing on his stomach and chest, his legs hanging off and over the flames. His tights smolder as he digs his fingers into the grilled surface and pulls and rolls himself over onto the grilled-mesh walk just a few feet from Phoenix.

Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!

Tito: Oh my god!! I can’t believe Bob did that!

Back on the floor, Matt climbs out of the table and lifts Carpenter out and into a capture suplex. Matt lifts and slams him over his knee. Carp drops to the floor his back arched and reaching back for it.

Mark Majors: Griffen just nailed Carpenter with the Prey Basher! Between that and the Bad Habit Drop, hopefully that will give Matt a chance to get up top and get in a few points.

Indeed, Matt leaves Carpenter laying, shakes out his arm again, flexing his hand and wrist. He heads for the stage side Ring 1 ladder and starts climbing, making fairly good time.

Quadir: Ain’t nothin’ gonna keep mah boy down for long. Hey, hold on, here comes da loser.

Johnny Styles arrives at the desk, a few bandages here and there, and looking the worse for wear. Tito immediately gets up and moves to the seat on the other end of the desk next to Mark. Johnny glares at him while putting on his headset.

Johnny: The Superstar is back, bitches. Let me show you how to call it.

On the catwalks Phoenix regains his feet and steps toward Bob, who has his back to him. Bob turns around and Phoenix hits a Mongolian chop. Bob backs up a step trying to avoid others when Phoenix attacks with some palm heels. Bob reaches inside his tights and pulls out a fork and stabs at Phoenix’s hands and arms with every punch. Phoenix slowly backs Bob toward the ladder behind him. Meanwhile, Griffen has reached the top and nearly to the belt. Bob goes for another European uppercut… and leaves the fork in Phoenix’s face, the lower part of his hood caught in it! Bob looks a bit surprised at first, but his expression changes to one of confidence.

Johnny: Instead of calling Phoenix fuckface, now I can call him fucking fork face! Ha!

Tito: …

Quadir: Shut up about da shiz! He’s gonna whip dat fork boy up and down for dat!

Johnny: You're just jealous because he won't give you the time of day.

Mark Majors: Bob is keeping Phoenix busy at the moment and neither one has seen Matt is at the belt and getting in some time on them!

Quadir: Booooooooooo!

Meanwhile, Carpenter has finally crawled out of the table wreckage and staggers toward Ring 2, looking up at Bob and Phoenix. He starts setting up the remaining tables inside.

Phoenix pulls the fork out of his jaw and drops it off the structure. Bob immediately goes on the offense raking, striking, kicking at Phoenix. When Phoenix takes a swing at him, Bob grabs his arm and bites him!

Johnny: It’s official. Lancelot has gone feral, ladies and gentlemen. He’s going to do whatever it takes to win this thing. I admire that. That’s what’s going to win this match. You’re looking at the new TKOW champion in action you losers!

Phoenix has enough, grabs Bob up into a bearhug and shakes him so hard the structure sways slightly and creaks. Below, Carpenter sees Matt at the belt and yells up to Phoenix. The Champ tries to slam Bob off the structure, but Bob grabs hold of Phoenix’s chains and pulls Phoenix over with him! The crowd screams again as Bob is hanging in mid air, hanging onto the chain and Phoenix halfway hanging off the catwalk in the flames, doing his best not to fall off as his hood starts smoldering!

Crowd: HOLY SHIT!

Tito: First a fork to the jaw and now he’s nearly pulled off the structure by Lancelot and soon his hood is going to catch fire, let alone all the burns he’s getting now!

[19:43]

Carpenter yells up to Phoenix, but it’s too late at Matt grabs Phoenix’s legs and attempts to roll him off the catwalk with Bob! Phoenix punches at Bob with one hand and holds to the grilled-mesh catwalk with his other while he kicks at Griffen, who decides a different tactic and steps over the Champ and stomps Phoenix’s hand. Carpenter sees what’s going on and moves out of the ring and to a ladder as fast as he is able. Bob takes the blows and his wrist and hand into the chains on Phoenix, holding on tight, and punches him right back!

Quadir: Dat’s not right! Da Firebird is gettin’ double teamed!

Tito: I don’t think he will for long, Quadir. Carpenter is on his way up top! He’s certainly not going to let Phoenix fall if he can help it.

Matt punches the back of Phoenix’s head a few times then tries to pry his fingers loose from the catwalk, without success. Griffen stands up, jumps up into the air and lands with both feet on Phoenix’s forearm, shaking the catwalk! Regaining his balance, he does it again! The crowd cuts loose with cheers for Griffen, and yelling out to throw Phoenix off.

Mark Majors: My god! Would you look at that? Is the structure strong enough to stand up to that?

Matt jumps on Phoenix’s arm AGAIN.

Tito: Matt looks like he’s trying to break Phoenix’s arm! That’s 300 plus pounds each time!

Phoenix lets out a roaring yell, stops punching Bob, tries and actually begins pulling himself back onto the catwalk.

Quadir: Dat Griffen iz in biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig trouble now. Da Firebird is pissed!

Matt jumps up and lands double feet on Phoenix’s side, apparently aiming for his ribs.

Mark Majors: Matt paying Phoenix back for the ribs kicks he got back at the beginning of this.

Griffen loses his balance, falling ass first on Phoenix’s legs. His spins around and grabs one of Phoenix’s ankles and starts twisting away at it! Phoenix roars out again and lifts his torso up a bit more! Bob begins to swing his body, trying to catch a foot on the gas piping or catwalk through the flames.

Johnny: Griffen’s nasty side coming out. That’s the only good thing about that piss poor wrestler. He doesn’t deserve being in the Prince of Hell. He’s been up against Phoenix how many times now and can’t get a win over him? It’s time he faced facts. He’s a nobody who’ll never amount to nothing in wrestling.

Griffen gives the ankle one last hard twisting wrench, then switches to the other ankle and starts wrenching it! About this time Carpenter’s head pops up at the ladder and Bob gets in a big swing and catches his foot on the catwalk. He begins to pull himself up through the flames as Phoenix finally gets his free arm under and begins a push up, pulling Bob up in the process as well.

Quadir: Daz mah man! Gettin’ dat fiery ass up so youz can kick dat Section 8 wannabe you to da floor!

Johnny: Go BOB!

As the jets flare up, Phoenix’s hood smokes even more and suddenly bursts into flames.

Tito: Phoenix’s hood is on fire!

Carpenter gets on the catwalk and throws himself into a run right at Griffen. Matt sees him coming and drops the ankle and gets to a knee when he’s hit by a dropkick in the chest by Carp. The crowd groans and then looks confused as surprisingly Matt doesn’t go anywhere except for one side of his body being whipped around.

Johnny: How the hell!?!

Tito: Look! He’s got hold of the catwalk!

Johnny: God damn it! I was ready to see him fall!

Matt gets to his feet, turns around grabs the chain on Phoenix and pulls him up, along with Bob, who takes the opportunity to get on the catwalk and rest a moment. Phoenix smothers the fire of his hoody as Matt throws him up, nailing him with a Samoan neckbreaker that rocks the structure!

Tito: Shit! At this rate they’re going to end up breaking the catwalk or something!

Bob and Carpenter both kneel to keep their balance, then Carpenter goes after Griffen, punching him anywhere and everywhere with his brass knuckled fists.

Mark Majors: Griffen did tell Phoenix if he wanted to fight hard enough to shake the structure, that’s what he’d do.

Phoenix rouses up and shakes out the cobwebs, his hood slipping down from his head, revealing his hair and mask. He gets to his knees and then his feet, testing out his knees and ankles. He stares at Bob, who backs away, grabs the ladder extension rods and starts down the ladder behind him.

Johnny: What the hell is Bob doing?

Phoenix turns around to see Matt down and Carpenter punching away. Phoenix pulls Matt back up into a seated position then has Carp hold him while he kicks him repeatedly in the back of the head. The crowd jeers and boos.

Mark Majors: Holy cow! Matt’s got no chance at getting away from those two at all!

Phoenix hauls Griffen up and spins him around. Phoenix lands a hammer punch to his ribs. Matt attempts a right, but Phoenix catches it, hits the palm strike to Matt’s face, turns into the opponent, taking the right arm into an armbar with his own right arm, then back elbows Matt’s face, grabs his head and…

Quadir: P-X Stunner on the catwalk!

The crowd boos as yet again the structure shakes from the impact. Matt ends up landing with an arm and leg in the flames… and they flare up. Griffen instinctively rolls over out of the flames to safety. Meanwhile, an obviously burned Bob appears over on the far side of the second structure on the catwalk in line with the belt and makes a run for it.

Johnny: So that’s what Bob was doing. He’s sneaking back to the belt! He must have been taking lessons from the Superstar!

Carpenter sees Lancelot and moves to head him off. Meanwhile Phoenix stomps at Matt’s head, driving it into the grilled mesh of the catwalk. Matt struggles to get up, but Phoenix is determined to keep him down, stomping and kicking him. Carp is a few feet way when Bob reaches up and grabs hold of the belt.

Johnny: More time for Bob!

Carpenter punches Bob in the gut and Bob releases the belt as he doubles over. Carpenter starts to hit Bob with a double handed blow to the shoulders and neck, but that ends abruptly as Bob punches him hard in the balls.

Quadir: Damn… I felt dat all da way down here!

Bob starts to raise up, but Carp grabs him by the back of the head knees him in the face… twice!

Tito: I’m glad I can’t!

Johnny: *sarcastically* That's because you don't have anything.

Meanwhile, Matt has finally managed to fight his way to a knee, although groggily. He instinctively defends against Phoenix’s strikes as best he can. He lets out a roar of rage and lets fly with a right that nearly sends Phoenix spinning off the catwalk! The arena gasps and several screams go out as Phoenix windmills his arms in an attempt to not fall!

Mark Majors: Is he going to fall?!

Carpenter spins Bob around and locks in a standing Katahajimi (Tazzmission).

Tito: Carpenter’s going for Death Row!

Bob struggles with Carpenter, though, keeping him from taking him down to the catwalk.

Matt steps forward and grabs Phoenix by his chain and yanks him back to safety and lands a hard back-handed fist to his face, followed by a second. Phoenix retaliates with another hammer punch and some palm strikes.

Mark Majors: Phoenix and Griffen look like they’re tiring. Their punches are much slower than before and they look like they’re starting to stagger. Phoenix is favoring that arm Griffen jumped on and Griffen isn't quite as strong with the one Phoenix abused earlier. I'd say it won't be long before one of them is going to fall off!

Tito: I hope it’s Phoenix!

Bob falters in the hold as the struggle wears him down. Carpenter gives up trying to take him down and just tightens the hold, choking out Bob.

Johnny: Fight it, Bob!

Tito: For some reason, with all these Bob remarks, I keep thinking I should be saying, “ReBoot!”

Johnny: How about I end your program for you then?

Phoenix tries another kick, but Griffen catches his leg and grabs him with a capture suplex…

Mark Majors: Griffen going for the Prey Basher!!!

Phoenix struggles and fights to get out of it. He throws Matt off balance and he stumbles and goes off the structure! The side of Phoenix’s head hits the catwalk and gas piping and the two tumble awkwardly through the air! Phoenix lands on the mat, hitting the back of his head on a piece of a previously broken table and bouncing up a foot from the force of impact. Matt lands (upper back and head) on the edge of the table Carp had set up before, flipping it up into the air! It slams back down top first on both him and Phoenix!

Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!

Tito: OH MY GOD! They have to be DEAD!

Johnny: Good riddance! Now the real talent can make himself felt in TKOW!

Quadir: Mah man says no way!

Bob appears to droop in Carpenter’s hold. Carp laughs, releases the hold, and throws Bob off the structure into Ring 1… but he goes over as well as Bob pulls him off with him!

Mark Majors: Good God!

Bob lands hard in Ring 1 in the remains of a broken table. Carpenter, though, is slammed into the tops of the cages and slides down in the gap between them, eventually getting stuck and actually hooked on a cage wall with his belt. He begins cursing as he’s having difficulty moving from the odd way he’s fallen into the gap, facing up, parallel to the floor.

Mark Major: Let's get replays of both falls!

The Khaostron split screens, the right showing the Phoenix/Griffen fall, the left showing the Lancelot/Carpenter one. Just as Carpenter tosses Bob off, Bob grabs and wrenches Carpenter's arm, jerking him off as well. Carp is slung forward and he slams into the top railing of the Ring 1 cage as Bob continues to fall inside the ring. Carpenter slides off the rail and sideways and upward. He slowly slides a few feet down between the cage walls, his arms pinned his arms to his sides, although one a bit higher and the other a bit lower. Bob finally lands in the remains of the table as Carpenter is jerked to a halt as a hook on his belt hangs and hooks in one of the cage walls.

Tito: Three of them appear to be out and Carpenter is trapped for the moment!

Quadir: Get oudda dat trap!

Carpenter struggles, finally getting an arm loose, and his body drops sideways, only held by the hook on his belt…when the hook snaps and he plummets the rest of the way to the floor between the rings!

Johnny: I’d say that would have killed any normal man, but we know Carpenter’s not normal, so we’re just shit out of luck.

[15:59]

[TKOW Board]

Mark Majors: It’s going to take a few minutes before one of them recovers enough to do anything. Hell of a pay-per-view so far, eh?

Johnny: I would rate it somewhere between mediocre and “the tits.”

Mark Majors: “The Tits?”

Johnny: Yeah, it’s a synonym for awesome. Kind of like how Tito Tito is a synonym for “desperate virgin.”

Tito: I’m not desperate…

Johnny: But you never said you weren’t a virgin! HAHA…you just pwned yourself. That’s the tits…

Tito: Johnny’s tits aside…

Johnny: Ooooh…burn…

Tito: While we're waiting for the guys to recuperate and continue the Prince of Hell… I just got word that up next is a special announcement from Julia Chill, Benedikt Krauss’ former manager. I hear she plans to address Benedikt’s tragic accident.

Johnny: Calling what happened to Benedikt an accident is like saying Paris Hilton isn’t a walking jizz receptacle…you must be living in fantasy land Tito because the rest of us grounded here in reality smell the stink from that one from miles away.

Tito: The dirtsheets would agree with you there Johnny. There has been a lot of speculation about Benedikt’s incident, speculation that has been fueled by mysterious comments Benedikt has been making shortly before the accident, and the fact that just before he was struck he seemed like he had to talk to TH Power about something very important.

“Joy” by VNV Nation hits the speakers and the crowd pops for Benedikt’s theme music. Julia Chill makes her way onto the stage. She looks like she’s dressed for a funeral, wearing a black suit and slacks combination and with a black lacy veil drawn low over her face. Julia gets to the edge of the stage and asks for a mic, which is provided by a stagehand. Isolated parts of the crowd are turning to boos, clearly having believed the rumors about Julia’s involvement in Benedikt’s incident at Mass Khaos. Despite this, Miss. Chill begins to speak.

Chill: Please….if you would allow me to speak…

She waits for the crowd to die down before continuing.

Chill: There have been a number of accusations and aspersions cast against me since Benedikt’s accident. And at this point I want to lay them all to rest. Nobody was more shocked and appalled by what happened than me…

There are a few isolated “bullshit” chants in the audience.

Chill: (toning up her voice) …but what is more appalling than even that is the viciousness with which the wrestling community has turned against me since Benedikt was injured. You see, many people have been quick to accuse me of striking Benedikt…my own client and lover….down. That’s simply ridiculous, and I can conclusively prove that at the time of the incident, I was in Europe. These same people base their “reasoning” on Benedikt’s strange comments he made leading up to Mass Khaos.

Julia sighs and it seems like what she has to say is quite difficult for her.

Chill: The fact is….Benedikt was really quite mentally ill…

Tito: What…? Strange maybe….but mentally ill…?

Many of the fans aren’t buying it either, and Julia is met with some insults and protest from the audience.

Chill: What most captivated me about Benedikt wasn’t his body…but the man’s mind! It was so easy to become lost in his exquisite view of the world. That man thought like no other…his passion was like no other! But…in retrospect….I should have realized it was all too much and that Benedikt was slowly sliding downhill. It’s ironic that the very reason I fell in love with him would be his undoing…but the fact remains….in the end the stress of this new career for him was too much. He became paranoid and anxiety ridden. Benedikt said that I had left him behind for Europe, but the truth is that he had left me behind even before that. That’s why I left…because the man I fell for was slowly slipping away from me, and being devoured by this new world he had stepped into. Wrestling was becoming his “everything”. He was bound and determined to prove himself to the world, and to spread his message that people with alternative lifeJohnny and eccentricities should not be shunned, but be embraced.

The reality of the situation is…while people have been so quick to bestow upon Benedikt the role of the victim…I was victimized by him the moment he stepped foot in a TKOW ring! I was abandoned by him from his very first match!

Tito: This isn’t adding up…it was clear from the segments Benedikt had with her that he still loved her…

Johnny: Shaddap Tito… I love the fucking drama.

Chill: Consequently, I want nothing to do with this world. One thing has become crystal clear to me as of late….that the wrestling world is everything its detractors have made it out to be…a callous, idiotic, and superficial place. TKOW was NEVER a place for Benedikt Krauss, and it sure as hell isn’t a place for me either. I’m done with TKOW….save for one last piece of business…

Julia lifts her veil, and emblazoned on her face is a vicious smile.

Chill: When I first signed a TKOW contract, I left myself a “failsafe”. I invested a GREAT deal of money into this venture, and if anything should happen to Benedikt I wanted to ensure I had a back-up plan here in TKOW. Therefore, I specified that if anything should ever happen to Benedikt, I could, if I so chose, bring in ANOTHER client to represent. Now, while I’m not going to remain in TKOW, I still have the right to exercise this clause and bring in another talent before I leave. And I didn’t have to search long to find just the right person…my legacy to TKOW for the misery it’s caused me!

Julia gestures to the top of the ramp as the lights cut abruptly. The arena becomes deathly quiet as the audience tries to piece together just what they’re going to see here.

The ‘Tron flickers to life as the music cues to life simultaneously. The sound is like a synthesized banjo, a strange sounding “twang” that one gets the sense is building to something ominous. Some might recognize the song as “The Devil’s Rejects” by Rob Zombie. Suddenly, the top of the stage is bathed in massive gouts of blue and black flame. The ‘Tron shows grainy black and white images of militia and military shocktroopers marching in lockstep…from Communist Gestapo to Nazi SS are shown, all interspersed with each other and serving as a tribute to flagrant abuse of power. That’s when the lyrics kick in…

I am the bad one,
Distant and cruel one,
I am the dream that,
Keeps you running down,
With distraction,
Violent reaction,
Scars of my actions,
Watch me running out,

The song gets harder and by now the fire is creating a great deal of smoke at the top of the ramp way. Nonetheless, a large figure can be seen inside it, partially obscured…

Hell doesn't want them.
Hell doesn't need them.
Hell doesn't love them.
The Devil's Rejects [x2]

The video on the big screen is slowly getting more and more violent, slipping back and forth between the historical stock footage mentioned before and scenes of modern violence amidst the urban landscape. Yet, there is still more, because to the keen eye…interspersed amongst this collage of tragedy are brief flashes of other unrelated images…

….images of the devil…

Yeah, I am the brains,
Some say insane,
Blood is the rain,
That's what life's about,
In the great wide,
Head split and tongue tied,
Watch the sun die,
When you're running out,

The man in the smoke is starting to step to the fore, and the closer he gets the more obvious it becomes how powerfully built he is…

Hell doesn't want them.
Hell doesn't need them.
Hell doesn't love them.

The Devil's Rejects
The Devil's Rejects

With a massive explosion of fire, the blue and black flames create a wall of pyro, a twisting morass of heat and sickly looking fire. As soon as it flashes to life the wall fades…leaving a man standing visible at the edge of the smoke….

Yeah I am the knuckle,
Bow down and buckle,
Hold your breath,
Your world is running down,
Live for the family,
Die with the family,
All is the family,
My gun is running out,

Johnny: (shocked) HOLY F’ING SHIT!

Tito: (surprised and sounding slightly appalled) JESUS! This cinches it, Benedikt was screwed!! I can’t believe this rotten bastard has dared to show his face again!!

….Jace Mingla steps out from the cloud, trailing tendrils of smoke just behind him and giving the illusion that he has just stepped out of darkness itself. He’s shirtless, and wearing red Aikido pants with the image of dragons biting into each other making the figure-8 infinity symbol. His blond hair is gone, shaven down to a bald sheen, and perhaps most shocking is are the pentagrams tattooed onto each forearm. The crowd is a mixture of “Holy Shit!” chants and outright boos and hatred. Undaunted, Jace walks with confidence a short distance down the ramp, his menacing icy eyes betraying nothing, allowing everyone to see just who he is, then joins Chill onstage.

Hell doesn't want them.
Hell doesn't need them.
Hell doesn't love them.
This world rejects them.
This world rejects them.
This world rejects them.
This world rejects them.

Jace asks for a mic. The lights have returned as the song is starting to die down, and Julia Chill looks on at Jace with an expression that could only be described as lust. She backs off toward the side of the stage and watches him for a moment as he takes a mic and prepares to address the crowd.

The Devil's Rejects
The Devil's Rejects…

The music peters off into nothingness, and Jace is placid, glaring out at the assembled throngs, waiting…calculating…

…and then he strikes. He rushes to the edge of the stage and leans over, his face suddenly contorted in fury, stabbing his finger at the crowd as he gives into the legendary hate that made him a TKOW staple.

Jace: GIVE IT TO ME YOU FUCKERS! GIVE ME YOUR HATE! ALL OF IT!! GIVE IT TO ME!!

And the fans give it to him….the haters in the audience take over, and some garbage starts to hit the stage. Its clear that Jace isn’t wanted, but Jace steps back and spreads his arms wide, gazing up at the lights and soaking in every bit of anger and bitterness that is channeled at him.

Johnny: He’s home Tito…he’s back home…

Jace slowly looks back at the crowd and smiles.

Jace: Ahhhhh….yes…..it feels so good….to be so reviled in my place of birth….your usefulness to me is now at an end. Sit your asses down and listen to me!

The crowd bellows out some more and Jace waits, staring at them, slowly silencing them in turn.

Jace: (sarcastic and menacing) That’s right….wrestling is fake…none of you really have anything to fear from me….right…? But maybe…maybe….you should take your seats just to make sure….just on….the off chance….that there is something I’ll do about your insolence…I’m sure you all remember that hurting people in mass quantities is one of my hobbies…

Large numbers of the crowd start sitting.

Jace: Terribly sorry for making some of you uncomfortable…I know you expected to come to a non-threatening entertainment experience here tonight. But I have news for you…I’M BACK! And from henceforth no TKOW program is going to be a “non-threatening entertainment experience.” Now, more so than ever…because now…

…I’m here to do the Devil’s work…

Jace’s voice dips low at this last comment, making him sound hollow and menacing.

Jace: I’m sure some of you are confused. Why…oh why….would the man who declared TKOW on life support last he was here…bother to return? Well, the answer is simple. You see, if I’m going to do the devil’s work, I need to start somewhere. And it would seem fitting that the place that birthed me should be murdered by me. I entered this world via TKOW’s womb….and now….I’m going to rip that womb out and render this whole miserable hellhole sterile and dead!

Some boos sound from the audience.

Jace: Oh no, believe it fuckers! BELIEVE IT! Because the fact is the wrestling world….just like everything else…is founded in the almighty dollar, and the fact is…I bring controversy to the fore…you sick bastards who hate me publicly just LOVE me privately!! I draw viewers in…I always have and I always will, because I represent every single rotten, dark fantasy that lurks in the back of your feeble, decrepid minds! I am the personification of YOUR evil…and make no mistake….TKOW is LITTERED with evil! The ego…the blind stupidity…the sloth…TKOW is dying from the inside out, as its remaining ego’s fail to let go and rip it to shreds like so many starved wild dogs…dying for attention and recognition

Oh yeah….the Devil loves TKOW…the devil loves TKOW like a diseased whore…the perfect fuck toy with a limited shelf life as it rots from the inside out.

In Ring 1, Bob rolls over and gets to his knees, shaking his head as if to clear it.

Jace: TKOW…I’m here…and now its time to get on your back and let me fuck you. Because if you don’t…I’m going to force you to…! I’m here to stay because TKOW needs me! IT NEEDS ME BACK TO SURVIVE…its just too bad I’m here to destroy it…

I know….I know…that there are some out there though…that feel like this is just “the Iceheart” being the same old “Iceheart” he ever was. So let me give TKOW this little warning…I’m not. The old Jace Mingla had goals….the old Jace Mingla had dreams…he dreamed of ascending the ladder in the wrestling world…using this business as a medium for displaying his dominance over the common man…proving to everyone that Jace Mingla is not just a man…but damn near a God.

In Ring 2 the upturned table shifts and Griffen rolls out from under it and sits back on his heels, squinting at the stage for a moment before climbing to his feet, wincing slightly and rubbing his reddened back.

Jace: I’m not here this time to be a God. I’m not here this time to win titles…to dominate… to step over your bodies on my way to the top…

…no….no….no….this time….I’m stepping over your broken bodies…FOR THE SAKE OF STEPPING OVER YOUR BROKEN BODIES!

Newsflash kids….THE DEVIL IS REAL! Unfortunately, so is God….BUT GOD IS A FUCKING PRICK! God is trying to take from me the only person I have truly cared about in my whole life…he’s trying to take my son! My son is dying, and God refuses to help him….

Lancelot gets to his feet and he and Griffen spot one another. Bob staggers toward the door, his steps getting stronger with every one, a mirror of Griffen. The table shifts again and Phoenix lays on the mat for a few moments, then rises to a seated position as Griffen steps out of the cage, heading for the ladder the door. Bob does the same out of Ring 1.

Jace: ….but the devil will. No quest for titles…no glory….no demi-God fanatasies…not from me anyway….because now I am LITERALLY here to do the devil’s work. Every pint I spill….every bone I break…every bit of suffering I reign down on this diseased organization…is a tribute to the power that can save my son. Your blood is not my blood…it’s my SON’s blood…and through me….he will feed….he will get stronger…

…I’m going to kill you all to save what I love…

Matt Griffen: DEAD
Phoenix: DEAD
Carpenter: DEAD
Bob Lancelot: DEAD
Tobias Burden: DEAD

Phoenix gets to a knee, then stands as Carpenter crawls out from under the two rings on the side opposite the stage. Phoenix heads for the door as by now both Matt and Bob are over halfway up their respective ladders.

Jace: ….are we getting the picture? Is this message sinking in?! It’s not about me this time…it’s about that which means the most TO me. It’s about that one person that I will not and cannot lose…do not take that as weakness. This time, victories and titles are but the barest sub-note…I’m not here for your baubles, I’m here for your souls and your lives. And so is the devil. He walks in my footsteps and I in his…encircling you all now as we speak.

For the first time in a while, Jace stops speaking. He turns to Julia and turns to her, smiling. She returns his smile and gets her own mic.

Julia: Hearing you like this…it almost makes me want to stay here with you….God, you are…you are…beautiful…your power, your menace….your tragedy….Benedikt would have loved you as much as I do…

Jace: Ah…lest I forget my silver-tongued princess…

Jace reaches over to her and embraces her. She falls into his embrace.

Jace: ….you…you gave up so much to make this possible for me…

Jace leans in and kisses her deeply. Julia moans with pleasure and she drops her mic, surrendering to his kiss. But before long, its clear that something is wrong, Jace’s kiss becomes more savage, more violent and he starts invading her for lack of a better term. Julia’s eyes start to register concern and she tries to break from the kiss but Jace is holding her too close. Blood starts trickling from their interlocked lips and Julia starts crying. Finally, Jace breaks from her lips and Julia starts sobbing.

Jace studies her, looking her up and down like a piece of meat and grabs her by her hair. Suddenly, he spits Julia’s own blood into her face, along with a piece of flesh he bit off her lower lip. Jace spins her, locks her up and brings her crashing into the stage floor onto the back of her neck with the Martyr Maker! Jace slowly gets to his feet and picks up his mic again.

Jace: Your blood….to feed my love….sorry Julia. But you were AWFULLY convenient.

The crowd has been shocked into horrified silence and Jace casually drops the mic as medics are already rushing out onto the stage. Jace never takes his eyes off Julia’s downed body, taking perverse joy in what he has just done. His music hits and Jace slinks to the back, walking backwards and gazing on the arena until he disappears back behind the curtain.

[09:21]

Tito: I just don’t know what to say…

Both Matt and Bob have reached the top, but Bob has gotten a bit ahead of Matt and reaches the belt a few steps ahead of him. Bob glances at the Khaostron to watch his time speed past Phoenix and Matt’s. He grins, but then sees Matt’s time chase his and turns around to find Matt in his face! Bob goes for an eye rake, but Matt grabs his hand. Both hold onto the belt. Matt’s expression changes and he pulls the belt back toward him and shoves Bob backward until his grip is lost. Matt’s clock gains on Bob’s.

Johnny: You should say Griffen is playing keep-away with the belt from Lancelot! That fucker! He’s got height and reach advantage over Bob!

Tito: What?!

Quadir: While you two fools waz watchin da stage, da Masked Maniac and da Firebird gettin’ ready to do da shiznit.

Bob tries to spear Matt, but he’s pretty much ineffective with Griffen so much larger and bulkier and ready for him… until he decides to shove him sideways off the catwalk! He runs and shoulder blocks Matt, hitting him low and knocks the big guy off balance. Griffen grabs the belt with both hands, trying to keep his balance, but he can’t do it and he comes off the catwalk and through the flames to a chorus of screams… only he doesn’t fall! He swings out over the ring a bit then back in to between the cages several feet out from the ladders and catwalk. Griffen catches his feet on the top bar of one cage to get his balance as some of the fasteners on the belt begin to release. Matt gets a foot on each rail and carefully stands straddling the cages. He motions to Bob that if he wants the belt, he has to come out on the cages to take it.

Tito: Holy shit! That was a close call for Matt! If the cables supporting the belt were less strong or the belt had become unfastened, he’d have taken a nasty fall!

Johnny: He still will if Bob has anything to do with it!

Mark Majors: One misstep and he’ll be a splattered on the mat or perhaps stuck between the cages.

Carpenter pops up on the back side of the Prince of Hell structure as Phoenix reaches the top from the front. The Champ looks at the times, then at Matt and then to Carp. The Church moves onto the catwalk as Bob decides to risk it and steps out on the cage rails. Matt... who steps in toward Bob and swings the belt down hard into his face, knocking him down! Bob lands right at the double ladders on his back, his legs dangling between the cages! Matt grabs hold of the cable supporting the belt, steps back and pushes off, swinging with feet forward toward Phoenix on the catwalk!

Johnny: Who does Griffen think he is? Tarzan!?

Phoenix drops flat on the structure and Matt misses, swinging out over Ring 2 again.

Meanwhile, Carpenter reaches Bob and grabs him by his hair. Bob reaches up grabs his arm and jerks, swinging his legs up to lock them around Carpenter’s head! Carpenter starts punching Bob’s legs, hips, and only frees himself once he lands two shots Bob’s groin.

Phoenix is back to his feet as Matt swings back in. Phoenix uses him as a large punch bag, kicking and punching Matt in the gut and sides, keeping him just off balance and unable to get his footing on the structure. Matt finally swings with a right, which Phoenix catches and steps into it, pulling Matt forward, and hits an arm breaker! However, it allows Matt to get back on the catwalk. He lets go of the cable and grabs the back of Phoenix’s head with his free hand and smashes his face into his knee as the belt gently swings back over the ladder junction above Carpenter and Bob.

Carpenter pulls Bob up, but Bob gets an arm behind Carp’s feet and jerks, taking his feet out from under him. He lands on his back on the catwalk. Bob rolls, getting one foot on the cage rail for leverage, and gets to his knees. He grabs Carpenter’s legs and twists them together and over, forcing Carp to roll over into the flames! Keeping hold of Carp’s legs with an arm, he moves onto his back and grabs the back of Carp’s head, forcing his metal masked face over into the fire!

Johnny: Bob has learned how to play with fire! Go Bob!

Tito: The paint is bubbling on his mask!

[07:51]

Phoenix grabs Matt’s knee, reaches for his throat with his other hand and slams him down to the walk with a Xing Crusher! He kneels over Matt and commences a string of hard rights with his manriki-gusari wrapped hand.

Carpenter struggles with Bob as the paint burns off his mask and smoke begins coming out from beneath it.

Tito: If he can’t get free of Bob, Carpenter’s bandages are going to catch fire!

Matt throws up his arms to block Phoenix’s rights and attempts to knee him. The Champ steps back, pulling Matt up with him. Griffen tries to go for a belly-to-belly, but Phoenix won’t have it and headbutts him, breaks free and hits a spinning back heel to Matt’s head. Phoenix catches him by the neck in the crook of his ankle, under the shin, then front hook kicks up and around, spinning 360 degrees, flips Matt over, slamming him 180 degrees from where he started in a sort of leg chokeslam!!! The crowd roars in jeers.

Mark Majors: DOWN IN FLAMES!

Quadir: Datz da shiznit I was talkin’ bout!

Tito: How the hell did they manage to stay on the thing?!

Phoenix gets up and rolls Matt off the catwalk to the ring below to a huge crowd roar of boos and jeers and screams. Griffen hits the mat on his back in the one clear spot in Ring 2 and bounces up a half foot before lying still.

Hearing the roar, Bob glances back to see Phoenix heading his direction. This allows Carp the moment he needs and he rolls over unexpectedly, taking Bob over with him, throwing him over and off the structure! However, Bob manages to grab hold of the cage rail and hangs on! He attempts to pull himself back up as Phoenix takes hold of the belt and starts accruing time. Carpenter immediately jerks his mask off, revealing the smoking scorched bandages on his face. A flame suddenly erupts from the bandages and he attempts to smother it out!

Tito: Carpenter’s face is on fire!

Johnny: C’mon Bob! Get your ass back up there and take Phoenix out!

Mark Majors: Phoenix’s is catching his time up. If he can stand there a bit longer, he’ll pass Matt’s time!

Bob gets a foot up over the rail and pulls himself back up, getting on all fours on the cage rails, then standing. He risks it and makes a move for Phoenix! He leaps at the Champ from the cage tops! Phoenix lets go of the belt just seconds below Matt’s time to reach for Bob. He attempts a flap jack, but Bob grabs him around the neck and flips them both off the catwalk! They crash into the top of the cage and plummet down inside of Ring 1, hitting the ropes and falling to the mat in separate heaps!! The crowd roars!

[06:01]

Carpenter finally gets the fire out and looks down. He jumps off the catwalk, catches hold of the cage top and then quickly climbs down the cage wall to his brother and jerks him up, pointing at the clock. By this time Matt has roused in Ring 2 and is getting to his feet. Carpenter shoves Phoenix toward the cage door and turns around to finish off Bob… only to get rammed headfirst into a padless turnbuckle! Bob runs him into it several times, before throwing him down and heading out of the cage after Phoenix. Matt heads outside for the nearest ladder. Phoenix had stumbled out and had already started climbing with head start on him. Bob is a bit faster than Matt and Phoenix, heading around to the next ladder and going for all he’s worth toward the top.

Tito: It’s a race with just over 5 minutes to go!

Phoenix and Matt try to speed up, but Bob makes it to the top first. However, he doesn’t head for the belt!

Johnny: What the fuck is he doing!

Bob looks at the remaining time left and then looks at Carpenter below. He makes his mind up and leaps off with a Shooting Star Press! Flashes go off all the way down as he lands on Carpenter!

Johnny: The fuckin’ idiot! He had this won if he’d just gone for the belt!

Tito: Maybe he thought he’d have time? A lot can happen in 5 minutes. Besides, those 2 have a lot of history and it's possible Bob could take him out of the picture entirely.

Quadir: No way, blud.

Phoenix reaches the catwalk first and climbs up, and makes a run for the belt as Matt grabs hold of the supports on either side of the ladder and steps back up on the structure. Phoenix reaches the belt and gets his time going. Matt sees him and rushes toward him on the walk. Phoenix’s time moves up and lacks only a few seconds before it ties Matt’s score!

Quadir: Da Champ is gonna take it!

Matt reaches Phoenix and grabs him up with both hands at the throat and choke bombs him to the catwalk! As Phoenix’s hand is ripped away from the belt, it’s left hanging by only one fastener! Matt throws rights and lefts into Phoenix’s face and gut. Phoenix throws his own in response, but not as many.

Mark Majors: Looks like Matt’s finally gotten pissed off. He’s not letting up! Phoenix isn’t getting many in on Matt. He’s too busy trying to dodge and defend at the moment that last big move and then Bob taking him off the structure has taken its toll.

Jace Mingla slips out of the crowd and runs for a ladder at the back of the structure and swiftly climbs it!

Tito: OH NO! Mingla is going after Matt and Phoenix!

Johnny: Hot damn! I can’t wait!

A hooded form runs down through the audience and hops the barrier, hot on Mingla’s trail, as Lady Hawke sprints out from backstage and down the ramp, straight for a ladder.

Mark Majors: Looks like Lady Hawke isn’t planning on letting Mingla nor the other guy get away with messing with Matt’s chance at the title.

Johnny: She needs to keep her ass out of it and let Matt lose like he always does.

Griffen lands a hard right to Phoenix’s jaw, then reaches in and throws Phoenix up and nails him with a Toss Bomb that shakes both structures! The crowd goes wild and then a few begin screaming! Matt breathes heavily, bent over, resting his hands on his thighs before turning around to reach for the belt… to find himself face to face with Jace Mingla!

[04:31]

Mingla immediately begins attacking Matt with a series of vicious kicks.

Tito: That’s not right! Mingla’s fresh and taking advantage of Matt!

Johnny: It’s called being smart! Something you’ve never been.

Down below, Bob and Carpenter are starting to move and Bob rolls off to the side, getting to a knee, holding his stomach. He looks up at the clock and then above his head and staggers out of the caged ring toward the nearest ladder. As Carpenter pulls himself up, it’s apparent the turnbuckle shots injured him as his bandages are now red in places in addition to the scorch marks. He sees Phoenix down on the catwalk and yells up at him. Phoenix slowly sits up and sees Matt occupied with Mingla. He glances at the time, then gets to a knee and then his feet as Carpenter yells something else up to him. He nods. Carpenter heads outside the ring and moves for the remaining tables that are left unbroken.

Lady Hawke reaches the top of the ladder just in time to see Matt grab Mingla’s leg. Mingla makes a move for an enziguri… only to have the hooded person grab him from behind in a rear-naked choke hold! Matt steps back, jerking Mingla’s leg and the mystery person slams Mingla’s head down into the catwalk! The crowd roars! Matt gives the unknown person a nod while reaching for Mingla’s other leg. The hooded man grabs Mingla’s arms and they lift Mingla off the walk. They swing him back and forth, higher and higher, Mingla cursing both of them the entire time, trying to get free. They finally let him fly and he hits his back on the Ring 2 cage wall and tumbles heels over head down into the ropes and mat! The crowd pops hard and then goes crazy as the hooded man pulls his hood down, revealing himself to be none other than… Tobias Burden!

Tito: It was Burden! He wasn’t going to let Mingla have his way!

Bob reaches the top of the structure and sees Phoenix at the belt and takes his time carefully sneaking up behind him.

Mark Majors: It was said he might be here tonight. After all, he was scheduled to be in this. How could he stay away?

Matt immediately looks behind himself as the crowd cries out. He turns to face Phoenix, who has his hand on the belt and his time has passed Matt’s! Burden backs off to the intersection and heads toward a ladder as Hawke moves back down, obviously not needed. Phoenix spears Matt back and he staggers, falling to the catwalk near the Ring 2 intersection. Phoenix drops with a fistdrop to Matt’s groin! The crowd boos and groans.

Johnny: I don’t think any of these guys will be having kids after tonight. Hallelujah! The last thing we need are little Phoenixes and Griffens coming up in wrestling!

Quadir: Yeah… we saw da consequences of a Styles gettin it in da nuts too many times… ya lost to da foxy bitch and your son’s a loser just like you!

Matt kicks at Phoenix, catching him hard in the shoulder.

Johnny: You’re just upset Carpenter won’t do you!

Quadir: Daz for him and me to know! Sides… I like da bitches, not da butches!

Mark Majors: That’s exactly what my brother said.

Quadir: …

Johnny: Go Bob! Get that time and get that title!

Lancelot stands at the belt holding it, his time moving up as the other two are occupied. Carpenter, setting up a table out on the floor, yells to Phoenix, who gets to his feet and runs right at Bob as Lancelot’s time runs up past Matt’s and Phoenix’s! The Champ reaches Lancelot. Bob tries for a suplex, but Phoenix breaks free shoving Bob back. Bob moves back a bit more, then springs himself at Phoenix, kicking him in the side that Matt had worked over earlier. Phoenix locks his arm down over and around Bob’s leg. Bob’s eyes widen and he looks worried, then gets pissed, trying to jerk his leg free.

Quadir: Forkboy just messed up! Da Firebird gonna show him da shiznit!

Phoenix grabs Bob’s throat and…

Quadir: Xing Crusher!

Tito: That’s not all!! He pulling him up and… X DDT, too!

Johnny: NO!!!! C’mon Bob!!

Phoenix pulls Bob up and holds him over his head in a military press… and tosses him off the catwalk into Ring 1! Women in the crowd scream!

Johnny: *beating fists on the announce desk* No! No! No! Bob has to win!

Mark Majors: He’s fallen back behind. Look at the time. I don’t think he can do it. Besides, Matt’s just went past his and Phoenix’s. Griffen’s in the lead!

On the floor several feet out from a ladder, Carpenter stacks a second table on top the first then moves over to Kent, grabbing him by the back of the neck and putting his scorched face next to the Metatron’s ear. Claire rushes into Ring 1 to check on Bob, and in Ring 2 Mingla stirs, looking around. He looks above to Phoenix and Griffen.

[02:39]

Griffen wearily stands with his hand on the belt as he watches Phoenix, who stands apparently tired as well. Phoenix runs straight at Matt, faking for a punch, but carrying through with a Yakuza kick! Before Matt can move, he pulls him up onto his shoulder and hits the X DDT!

The crowd boos heavily.

Quadir: Da big boy iz a goner!

Phoenix hoists Matt up onto his shoulders to a chorus of boos! He walks a bit on the catwalk, slowly spinning 180 as the chorus of boos and jeers increase, then hops and falls sideways to the catwalk, driving Matt’s head, neck and shoulders into it near the edge, putting bend/dent in the walk and piping! Matt’s leather-clad legs partially hang off the opposite side through the flames.

Tito: PHOENIX DRIVER!!!! It's the PHOENIX DRIVER!!!

Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!

Phoenix gets slowly to his feet and unhurriedly walks back to the belt and grabs hold of it, watching his time run up. Down on the floor, Carpenter stacks a third table on the others and Mingla pulls himself up off the mat. Bob comes around in the other ring with Claire shaking him, trying to get him up. Griffen lays still on the catwalk.

Mark Majors: It’s possible Phoenix just wrapped up this match.

Quadir: Dats mah boys!

Tito: But Mark, you can’t say that until the clock reaches zero. There’s still time if Matt just wakes up! There’s a chance Bob could still get up there, too!

Quadir: Wish on, Tito. Mah blud's done got it done.

Phoenix watches his time go 15 seconds past Matt’s then turns to see Griffen moving his legs out of the flames and trying unsuccessfuly to sit up. Below, Bob, is trying to get up, leaning heavily on Claire. Phoenix yanks the title off the cable and hook and walks toward the Ring 2 intersection. The crowd boos loudly.

[01:45]

Tito: What’s Phoenix doing?! He can’t take off with the belt!!!

Quadir: Dats just what da shiz is doin’. You gonna tell him no?

Phoenix turns the intersection and walks to the ladder, yelling for Carpenter. Carpenter glances up and points at the triple stacked tables on the floor as Phoenix tosses the belt down.

Mark Majors: Phoenix is going keep anyone else from getting more time! There’s no way Matt can get down fast enough to get the belt to gain time!

Johnny: Bob might though!

As Carpenter moves to pick up the belt, Mingla dives out of Ring 2, taking him to the floor! The Metatron dashes in and grabs the belt and runs toward the barrier at full speed. Hawke dashes in hot pursuit after him. Kent gets over the barrier and takes off running up an aisle.

Tito: Lady Hawke trying to keep the Church from pulling a fast one!

[01:30]

LH hops the barrier like a hurdle and follows, catching him before he gets to an exit. She tackles him and jerks the belt out of his hands and hot dogs it back down the aisle only to be knocked into the crowd near the barrier by a redhead diving into her! The redhead lays into LH with some back fists!

Johnny: Who the hell is that redhead?! She’s been here before!

As the Metatron moves back down the aisle, Mingla pulls Carpenter up and hits an Osaka Street Cutter on him!

Tito: Mingla just nailed Carpenter with Vindication!

The redhead grabs the title from Lady Hawke and tosses it back to the Metatron who runs back up the aisle, nearly bumping into a large, kilted, angry looking man. The metatron runs back down and cuts in front of the front row… only to have Tobias Burden show himself, blocking his path. The Metatron clutches the belt tightly and climbs back over the barrier and runs along the back side of the rings and hops over it again, Burden in chase!

Mark Majors: Burden is trying to keep the Church from a cheating win.

Johnny: What the hell is McPipebomb doing up in the audience?! Shouldn’t the kilted lout be out drinking himself sick because he wasn’t man enough to win the Gauntlet?

Tito: That's what you usually do, isn't it.

Griffen finally rouses up on the catwalk, hearing all the noise and gets unsteadily to his feet. Phoenix has turned back, watching the Metatron from above and sees Matt up. The two men slowly walk along the structure toward one another with purpose.

In the crowd, Burden cuts the Metatron off from one exit and the priest turns and makes a dash back down toward the floor. On the other side of the arena the redhead is suddenly thrown up into the air and into the aisle… right into the arms of an awaiting Spanky… who calmly takes the three steps down to the barrier with the struggling female, steps up on it and piledrives the redhead into the floor!!

Tito: I don’t get it… is McPipebomb helping Section 8?

Mark Majors: I don’t think so. If he was, he’d have stopped the Metatron. He let him go. I think it has to do with the woman, who seems to be helping out the Church.

Tito: I remember! She’s the redhead who helped out Carpenter back during the lumberjack match!

At ringside Mingla looks up and the Metatron catches his eye as he once again hops the barrier, Burden only a few steps behind him. Mingla takes on a malicious smile and runs at the barrier, catching Burden as he hops over and slamming him into the floor face and chest first! Burden rolls over, clutching his chest, in obvious pain. The crowd boos! Mingla threatens a few in the front row then hops up on the barrier, coming off with a leg drop on Burden’s chest!

Across the floor, Lady Hawke leaps over McPipebomb and the redhead and again chases after the Metatron, who starts through the below-stage exit, but backs up, forced back out by Trine! He runs back toward the beginning of the ramp and sees LH heading for him. He jumps and climbs up onto the ramp and heads up toward the stage. Hawke closes in and dives at him again, clipping his legs and knocking him down a few yards from the stage. She pounces and they roll dangerously near the edge struggling for possession of the belt. Hawke pulls away, the belt in hand and stumbles to her feet and is tripped by the Metatron. She falls, kicks at him and manages to get to a 3-point stance and takes off in a stumbling, staggering run back down the ramp, nearly falling several times before she gets her balance.

Bob finally exits Ring 1, Claire helping him and urging him to climb the ladder again, not realizing the belt isn’t on top the structure any more. He makes an effort, gets up a rung or two, then falls back down on Claire and knocks her to floor. Carpenter moves on the floor, getting to his knees, using the tables to get to his feet.

[00:48]

On the top of the structure Phoenix and Matt lock up. First Phoenix backs Matt up, then Matt backs Phoenix up. Neither one gets very far. Phoenix finally power breaks out the hold and attempts to hoist Griffen up on his shoulders, but Matt fights him off and grabs him up into a bearhug, squeezing Phoenix with all the strength his worn body can muster.

On the floor, Lady Hawke gets down the ramp and has to run around the tables to get to a ladder… when she’s grabbed around the waist by Carpenter who spins around with her and lands a back-to-belly suplex to the floor! The belt flies out of LH’s hands and ends up near Burden and Mingla!

Matt takes the bearhug to a spinebuster, again shaking the structure from the force. He stomps Phoenix a couple times then stephops over him and makes the intersection and looks for the belt, wiping the sweat and blood from his face… when he realizes the belt isn’t there!

Mark Majors: Matt just realized he’s been screwed over again. The guy just can’t catch a break where Phoenix is concerned.

Johnny: He’s a loser. He’d be better off accepting that. I keep telling you, but you won’t believe me.

Tito: Yeah… we should believe you, just like you said Lancelot was going to win this thing. If Lady Hawke can just get that belt to him, he could still win. There’s time!

Mark Majors: Not much.

On the floor Mingla is working over Burden, pulls him up and hits the Martyr Maker! Carpenter raises up…

Tito: No!! Burden just got hit with the Martyr Maker and- TASER! Hawke just hit Carp with the Taser! Matt still might have a chance!!

LH rolls over and crawls a few feet before regaining hers. She runs into Claire, who had just seen the belt and was going after it. Hawke shoves Claire to the side and runs the few steps to grab the belt off the floor and just barely dodges Mingla’s grasp as he reaches for her when he sees her. On her way back, Claire tries to block her and Hawke just blasts her up side the head with the belt and runs to the side ladder, climbing as fast as she can, her whistles cutting through the crowd noise. On top, Matt looks around and then back to Phoenix who is back to his feet and heading for him. Hearing her whistles, Matt looks for Hawke, finally pinpointing her on his right. He heads for the ladder to meet her and Phoenix pushes himself to a run after him before Hawke can reach the top.

[00:31]

Matt makes it to the ladder when Phoenix catches up to him and tries to shove him off! Matt manages to grab hold of the rods on either side, barely able to hold on when his bad arm gives and he starts to fall! The crowd screams, but he kicks off, grabbing the one rod with both hands, swings around, getting both feet on the cage rail. He steps back on the catwalk, catching Phoenix by the throat and hoisting him up. He looks down at the floor, then up into Phoenix’s face. LH climbs the last few rungs and arrives with the belt. Matt runs along the catwalk and goes to chokeslam him when Phoenix kicks him hard in the ribs again! Matt’s grip falters and Phoenix kicks again. Matt quickly converts to a backbreaker, then pulls Phoenix up for a second.

Mark Majors: Matt quickly thinking and saving the opportunity before Phoenix could take advantage.

Tito: This could be it! It can still happen!

Quadir: Wish on, blud.

[00:19]

Hawke whistles at Griffen as she steps up onto the structure. She tosses him the belt. He catches it and quickly steps over Phoenix and moves to hang it back up when Phoenix trips him! The belt falls from his hands and dangles half on the structure in the flames! Matt grabs for it, but Phoenix stomps him and jumps over, snatching it out of his grasp, yelling for Kent. He folds the belt up and throws it off the structure!

Tito: NO!!! It’s not right!

The belt flies past the tables and lands nearly at the foot of the ramp. The Metatron runs the few feet to it, grabs it, and takes off up the ramp toward the stage! Matt sits back on his heels, his head down, his chest heaving. Phoenix sneers down at him. Matt gets to knee, then his feet. He looks at Phoenix, then rushes him, grabs him by his chains and headbutts him hard! He hauls back and backfists Phoenix so hard his head is snapped back. Hawke backs up to her ladder as the Metatron disappears backstage with the belt.

Quadir: It’s OVER! Da Champ stays da CHAMP!!!

[00:11]

Matt looks around wildly and spots the tables. He drags Phoenix with him and runs, nearly carrying him along the catwalk toward the front ladder with a roar! The women in the crowd scream… as Griffen hoists Phoenix up over his shoulder and runs off the structure, in mid air changing his position into an inverted DDT hold…

Tito: OH MY GOD!!! BAD HABIT DROP FROM THE TOP TO THE FLOOR!

Crowd: HOLY SHIT!

Except for a few screaming, the crowd goes silent in shock as the two men crash through the three tables to the floor below.

[00:05]

Hawke scurries down the ladder as the redhead rouses up from where McPipebomb had left her laying. She scrambles over toward the wrecked tables and starts throwing debris out of the way.

[00:04]

Mark Majors: *shocked* I can’t believe Matt went through with that. Hold on everyone, the medics will be out momentarily.

Mingla leans against the barrier, laughing. Several medical teams, Dr. Cliff Hawke included, run out from the under the stage, heading straight for the tables.

[00:02]

Carpenter gets up from his spot near the broken mess and staggers over to the timekeeper’s table.

[00:01]

Burden rolls over, gasping for air and Lady Hawke detours to him as the med teams are focusing on Griffen and Phoenix. She lets out a loud whistle to get attention for him as a second group of medics run out, splitting up between Burden and Lancelot.

[00:00]

~DING! DING!~

Yuri Testkov: YOOOOUUURRR WINNER... AND STIIILLLL TKOW CHAMPIOOOOONNNN…. PHHOOOOEEEEENIIIIIXXXXX!!!

Mingla steps over the barrier and disappears into the crowd as Carpenter makes his way back over to the broken tables and tosses the TKOW Title over his brother as the medics clear the debris and tend the two men. The crowd erupts with huge boos and jeers as the Khaostron zooms in from an overhead shot on the two men in the tables. The medics are carefully placing cervical collars on both men.

Quadir: I said mah boyz iz da shiznit!

Tito: We don’t know if Phoenix or Matt are even still alive and you’re gloating?!

Quadir: Dey ain’t doin da kiss of life so dey must be!

The medics log roll first Griffen and then Phoenix to place the long backboards... unfortunately facing each other...

Mark Majors: He does have a point Tito. It looks like Dr. Hawke is a bit relieved and is leaving Matt and Phoenix to check on Burden. Wait, Griffen just moved his arm! Shit, he’s trying to get to Phoenix! They’re having to restrain him!

Johnny: What the fuck?! Phoenix is trying to get to Matt, too! The redhead is there trying to hold him down while they get them on the backboards! They should be dead, not still fighting!

The redhead shows Phoenix he still has his title, but it does little to calm him as he struggles to reach Griffen. It takes several medics each to roll the men to their backs and strap them to the back boards.

Tito: Shit… I don’t think this is over. Not by a long shot. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought Matt was trying to kill Phoenix.

Mark Majors: Maybe each other. Makes you wonder what’s going to happen with the next Mass Khaoses, huh?

Tito: That’s right! By then we’ll have updates on everyone’s conditions and the announcement of who will be facing Bob Lancelot when he defends the TV Title. For Johnny Styles and guest HPWA commentators Quadir and Mark Majors, I'm Tito Poppi. We wish everyone a good night and we’ll see you in a couple weeks at TKOW’s Mass Khaos! Thanks for watching Holiday Hell!!

The camera focuses back at ringside where Burden is being wheeled backstage first, accompanied by Dr. Hawke. Phoenix and Griffen are both strapped on backboards and the gurneys, too, vocally going at each other since they can’t physically. Bob is being assisted to his feet by Claire and two medics.

“Hell” by Disturbed plays again as highlights of the night are recapped—from the beginning of the Gauntlet through the last minutes of the Prince of Hell, ending on a shot of Phoenix and Matt flying off the Prince of Hell structure.

**Fade to**

[TKOW Board]

CREDITS

OPENER
Kahlan

TEAM 7 SEGMENT
Havok

GAUNTLET RING 1
Dark Schnitzel

GAUNTLET RING 2/MERGER
Kahlan

GAUNTLET FINALS
Kahlan

CLAIRE MATTHEWS SEGMENT
Bob Lancelot

ALL MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT INTERMISSION
Disturbed

PRINCE OF HELL OPENING
Kahlan

MS. CHILL AND JACE MINGLA SEGMENT
Onslaught

PRINCE OF HELL ENDING
Kahlan

CLOSE
Kahlan