Waste of Time:
The pre-game show starts with Jimmy Page's "Wasting My Time" blaring over the intro! It's time again, VCW fans, for the least exciting pre-game show in professional sports, the Waste-of-Time! We're bringing you the hottest event of the holidays, Deck the Halls, from the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington, a mere TWO nights before Christmas! We have some of the biggest matches in VCW history on this card... but right now, we have a half-hour to kill with throwaway matches and video packages! If you want more than that, get on the phone or use your remote to contact your cable or satellite provider and order VCW's Deck the Halls, live on pay-per-view!
One of the most emotional matches we're going to see pits Troy Black against Lance Errington, with the VCW Intercontinental Title on the line. But though the VCW Intercontinental Title is a huge prize for any competitor, there are other factors at stake here too. For one, Lance Errington is lately the closest friend of Troy Black's brother, Gabriel Black, who has promised to end Troy Black's wrestling career in retaliation for Troy's actions at Wrestlewar III, nearly one year ago. But another complicating factor is the presence of Melissa DelArmeggio, who was once closer to Troy Black than anybody, but is now by the side of Lance Errington. Though Melissa DelArmeggio joined Gabriel Black's Unholy Alliance upon her return to VCW, this particular situation developed after Lance Errington interrupted Troy Black and Melissa DelArmeggio's Hardcore Cage Match at Spontaneous Combustion with a shocking revelation.
From Spontaneous Combustion 2001 (match joined in progress):
Troy Black jumps down from the top turnbuckle as Melissa DelArmeggio begins to get up, then kicks her in the midsection and hooks her arms... DOUBLE ARM DDT!! The crowd cheers loudly, but Troy Black buries his face in his hands for a few seconds before he gets up! He looks resigned, but unhappy, and he climbs to the top turnbuckle... then starts climbing the cage!! Troy Black climbs to the top of the cage, with a look of dread on his face, and slowly raises his right fist in the air!! He's going to end it! He knows what it has to take to end this, and he's going to get it over with, but he doesn't look happy about it!! The crowd cheers, and camera flashes go off all around the arena...
L. Errington:
Stop! Don't do it!! You can't do it!What the... Lance Errington just walked out of the backstage entrance, carrying a microphone! He's hobbling down the aisle as fast as he can, taped across the ribs and shoulder after that brutal match immediately before this one! He looks like death warmed over after the grueling Ladder Match, and he probably won't be able to offer Troy Black much of a fight... but that doesn't seem like it's his intention! Troy Black stops and stares at him, and Lance Errington raises the microphone again as he draws near.
L. Errington:
Look, Melissa made us all promise not to interfere, but I... I can't do it. I mean, I can't watch YOU do it. Somebody has to end this, Troy, and right now you're the only one who can.Troy Black's actually stopping to hear Lance Errington out, and that could be a mistake, but Melissa DelArmeggio isn't really showing any signs of stirring in the ring. If he waits any longer, though, he might not want to do it on the basis that she'd be likely to move out of the way!
L. Errington:
I know you weren't always like this, Troy. Somewhere, deep down, I'm praying that there may be some decency left in you. At least part of you knows who Melissa really is, and what you're doing. What you're doing is inflicting more pain, scars, and abuse on a woman who is the most virtuous, most beautiful, most wonderful person that either of us has ever known. But you can stop it at any time, and I'm PLEADING with you to stop it NOW. You've made your point.Think about Melissa. She already has enough scars and lasting injuries to live with without you adding more. Think about yourself. Do you think you can live with the knowledge that you took the low road and hurt her again? And if you can, what does that say about you? ... And if it makes any difference to you, Troy, if you give a damn at all... think about ME. Think about me... because Melissa's the most perfect woman I've ever met, and... I'm in love with her.
What!? The crowd boos loudly, and Troy Black stares down at Lance Errington for a second, as you can practically see the thread that his sanity's hanging by fray and snap! And Troy Black leaps off of the cage... ONTO LANCE ERRINGTON ON THE FLOOR!! Lance Errington drops the microphone and goes down under Troy Black, and Troy Black begins raining punches down on his face in a blind rage! He's beating the hell out of Lance Errington!!
Fresh off his VCW Intercontinental Title victory, Lance Errington dropped the bombshell that provoked Troy Black's aggression. Five days later, he would be booked to face Troy Black, as well as the VCW World Champion Crimson, in the main event of This Friday in Florida. But before the match ever even took place, Lance Errington made his feelings known to Melissa DelArmeggio, who cautiously accepted them. But the apparent spark growing between the two ignited an inferno beneath Troy Black.
From This Friday in Florida:
L. Errington: So Melissa... you're on after the next two matches against Pauline. I've been meaning to talk to you... about your strategy in these kinds of matches and everything, you know. Think you'd mind having a word alone with me?
M. DelArmeggio:
Could you? I've been meaning to talk to you... alone, like you said. About strategy, and stuff.Everyone else is giving them strange looks, but Lance Errington gives Gabriel Black a glance. Gabriel Black catches it, and nods.
G. Black:
That's a good idea. Why don't you do that while I go to the limo and get my gear? The rest of you should come with me as well. I want to discuss your match with Johnny Smiles and Ken Collins with you as we go.R. Solomon:
Can I bring the champagne?Gabriel Black glares at him.
G. Black:
Yes, you can bring the damned champagne. Now come on.Gabriel Black leaves the room, followed by Rob Solomon, Jacob Idol, and Derek Cole. Jasmina Chastity lingers behind, plainly hoping to stay and remain unnoticed, but Gabriel Black reaches back in, grabs her wrist, and pulls her out through the door. Once they're alone, Lance Errington turns to Melissa DelArmeggio.
M. DelArmeggio:
This is about what you said at Spontaneous Combustion... right?Lance Errington lets out his breath and flashes a quick, nervous-looking smile.
L. Errington:
Yes. Now, granted, that was during a pretty emotional moment, but I still meant it when I--Melissa DelArmeggio interrupts Lance Errington and puts a hand on his shoulder.
M. DelArmeggio:
Look, I'm sorry, but... you freaked me out a little bit there, you know? I don't want to be used and hurt again. ... Not that I'm saying you'd do that, necessarily, but I just can't take a chance right now. And... I know it sounds like I don't trust you, and that's ridiculous after the way all you guys have been so supportive of me and everything, but... I don't know. Maybe I'm just crazy or stupid or something, but I can't--L. Errington:
No. You're not crazy or stupid.M. DelArmeggio:
Really?Lance Errington nods.
L. Errington:
I understand, and I'm not offended. I'm sorry for getting all weird and emotional and scaring you. It just... slipped, when I saw him about to come off the cage and drive his fist through your throat. And I'd like to say that I'm sorry that I interfered in the match, because I know it was your personal chance at revenge... but I'm not. I can't be sorry, because you made it through mostly all right, and that's what really matters to me.Melissa DelArmeggio looks at Lance Errington and opens her mouth to speak, but she can't seem to say anything. Lance Errington sighs.
L. Errington:
There I go again. Sorry. Look, I really don't want to keep freaking you out like this. I'm trying not to... a-and for God's sake, you'd better close your mouth, because you look so beautiful staring at me like that that it's all I can do not to kiss you.Melissa DelArmeggio stares at Lance Errington, her mouth still open and her eyes wide, for another second. She begins to lean forward ever so slightly, but the door suddenly swings open, and Troy Black steps into the room and immediately turns his gaze on Lance Errington. Lance Errington quickly stands up.
L. Errington:
Troy! How'd you... I mean, I, uh--T. Black:
I saw the others leave. I didn't see you leave. And I owe you a visit.Troy Black upends the catering table, sending the refreshments all over the floor, then grabs Lance Errington by the collar of his jacket and shoves him against the wall.
T. Black:
I don't know WHAT you were trying to accomplish by trying to play with my mind during the Hardcore Cage Match, but it WORKED. Are you happy? It's not enough that Gabriel wants to break my neck at every living moment, that my father and sister are both crazy, and that I was forced to be in that horrible match? You had to come along and play your games with me? I--Lance Errington squirms and begins talking frantically, intimidated by Troy Black's intense behavior.
L. Errington:
Look, Troy, Gabriel would just let you retire, he doesn't really want to hurt you! And you saw Rebecca and your dad last Monday! She's fine! She's--Troy Black silences Lance Errington by shoving him against the wall again, then leans in more closely. Melissa DelArmeggio is standing back, looking on in horror.
T. Black:
I saw Dad and Rebecca, all right. It was the most horrifying thing I've ever seen. You've been around long enough to know how Rebecca is normally. What do YOU think he had to do to her to make her act that way? Use your imagination, and feel free to lay awake at nights thinking about it. I know I have.L. Errington:
So what're you saying? That things'd be better off if you'd just decided to fuck her after all--Troy Black knees Lance Errington in the midsection, driving the wind out of him, and shoves him up against the wall.
T. Black:
Let me explain where I was going with all this before you finish that thought. I have made a solemn PROMISE to myself never to hurt the people I love again. That means my family, and Melissa... and Brujah, now that I think about it. That does NOT extend to you. Are we clear? The hang-ups that I have about facing Gabriel in a match where one of us is guaranteed to walk out crippled DO NOT APPLY to you, Lance. In fact, right now, I'd be HAPPY to accept a match like that with you. Do you understand me now? Do you know how I feel about this?Lance Errington starts to sink to the floor in Troy Black's grasp.
L. Errington:
Oh, God, Troy... look, I'm sorry. I swear, I didn't--M. DelArmeggio:
Let him go, Troy.Troy Black actually releases Lance Errington, who crawls away from him and slowly stands up. Melissa DelArmeggio steps forward to confront Troy.
M. DelArmeggio:
Your promise is a lie, Troy. You DID hurt me at Spontaneous Combustion.T. Black:
And I hate myself for it. I tried to avoid--M. DelArmeggio:
You know what hurt, Troy? That you tried to cheat me of my revenge. You rolled me up from behind, tried to get away, and did everything you could to make that match a joke. I was there to wash my hands of you forever and move on with my life, Troy, but that didn't happen.T. Black:
I didn't know what to do. Really. I still don't. Is there anything at all I can do, besides retiring or letting Gabriel break my neck, that would--M. DelArmeggio:
I'm still trying to put my own life back together after you broke it. I don't have time to find all the answers for you too, Troy. But I can give you this one: no, there's nothing you can do. You've done too much already. That's the problem.Lance Errington slowly takes a step closer to them, but a glance from Troy Black freezes him in his tracks. Melissa DelArmeggio frowns.
M. DelArmeggio:
I can tell you one thing you can STOP doing, though, and that's trying to drag him into it. You've made a fine mess of our lives already, and you can at least leave his alone.T. Black:
Drag him into it? Can't you see that he's using you to play mind games with me?M. DelArmeggio:
You sound awfully sure of that. Because everything's about you, right? There's no possibility that this is just about us, and his feelings are real, is there?L. Errington:
I thought you'd say that, Troy. You know, just because it's obvious that YOU never loved Melissa doesn't mean that I don't feel--T. Black:
You've got a deathwish, you bastard. I warned you.Troy Black grabs a bottle of champagne by the neck and raises it to strike him, but Melissa DelArmeggio quickly grabs his arm.
M. DelArmeggio:
STOP IT, Troy.Troy Black sets the bottle down, but doesn't take his eyes off of Lance Errington.
M. DelArmeggio:
Here's another possibility for you. Remember when I said that I'd make you miserable if you ruined our match? When I said I'd hurt you if you cheated me of my revenge? It seems to me, Troy, that you did your best to make a fool out of me in that match and cheated me of my revenge. Have you thought about that?T. Black:
Wait. What are you trying to say?Melissa DelArmeggio locks eyes with Troy Black, and her next words come in a deliberate, practiced tone.
M. DelArmeggio:
I'm gonna put it so simply that there's no way you could misunderstand it. Troy... there's somebody else in my life now.Before Troy Black can reply, Melissa DelArmeggio grabs Lance Errington and nearly smothers him in a rough, intense kiss. Lance Errington is stunned for an instant, and then he folds his arms around Melissa and kisses her back. Troy Black watches in silence for several seconds before the kiss breaks. Melissa DelArmeggio looks back at him again, with a blank expression on her face.
M. DelArmeggio:
So now you know how I feel.T. Black:
I suppose I do.Lance Errington smiles, looks at Melissa DelArmeggio, and then looks back to Troy Black.
L. Errington:
I might suggest that you go crawling back to Amy now, Troy... but the last I'd heard was that now she has a different boyfriend with a shot neck and history of betrayal, so she doesn't need you.Melissa DelArmeggio frowns and elbows Lance Errington.
M. DelArmeggio:
Stop it. That's not funny.Troy Black looks back and forth at both of them.
T. Black:
I guess I should leave now.M. DelArmeggio:
I think so.T. Black:
All right.Troy Black starts to turn away, but then looks up at Lance Errington.
T. Black:
We're both still booked in the main event tonight, Lance. You can be SURE I'll see you in the ring.Lance Errington just swallows and takes a deep breath, and Troy Black walks out of the room, closing the door behind him. With Troy Black gone, he relaxes and actually smiles, putting an arm around Melissa DelArmeggio's shoulder.
L. Errington:
Wow. I, uh, didn't think you--Melissa DelArmeggio smiles back at him.
M. DelArmeggio:
There's a time and a place for everything. I had to save it for the right time and place... you understand.Lance Errington's smile spreads into a full-fledged grin.
L. Errington:
Did I already tell you that I love you?Melissa DelArmeggio pulls Lance Errington close and snuggles her head into his shoulder, smiling. But after a few seconds, her smile fades and she steals a glance back at the door. The camera fades out on the wreckage of the backstage scene.
Troy Black's inner fury and single-minded focus on Lance Errington ultimately led to a victory for Crimson in that main-event match, when Troy Black used all of his own focus to wipe out Lance Errington. It was clear in the coming weeks that Troy Black believed that Lance Errington was simply using Melissa DelArmeggio to play mind games with him. Though that was never proven, if that was the case, it worked, and perhaps a little too well. Formerly without a firm direction, Troy Black dedicated himself from saving Melissa from being a pawn in the Unholy Alliance's vendetta against him. But this single-minded focus left him blind to other dangers, as was the case when Desmond walked in on a private moment between Lance Errington and Melissa DelArmeggio.
From VCW 149:
Lance Errington and Melissa DelArmeggio are sitting backstage in the VIP dressing room. The catering table appears to have had some of the best stuff taken off of it by now, but that doesn't seem to concern them as they sit on a leather sofa, snuggled together.
L. Errington: You know, it was really touching the way you went out there to protect Yuri. I think you'll win her over yet.
M. DelArmeggio: I hope so. She's really a nice person. I hate to see her used by people who don't have her best interests at heart.
L. Errington: The future's looking really bright, you know? Yuri will come around, we'll finally stop Troy from causing any more pain, and everything will be all right. I really believe that. We can really have it all... money, prestige, our wonderful careers, our friends supporting us... and each other.
M. DelArmeggio: I really hope so. I mean... I've had my hopes up before, but I hope this is different.
L. Errington: I believe it is. ... You know something? I don't know if I've ever told anyone this, but over the summer I was having a pretty rough time. I'd lost my faith in humanity, including myself. Especially myself. But I saw you, and... something slowly changed in me. I saw the way you stood against Amy and the Black Plague, never backing down, never compromising your values, and... it touched me. The strength and nobility you showed convinced me that there was plenty of good in the world, and even in myself, if I'd only look for it. What I'm saying is... you inspired me, Melissa. More than that... you SAVED me.
Melissa DelArmeggio stares at Lance Errington, wide-eyed and fascinated.
M. DelArmeggio: Really?
L. Errington: Really. To be perfectly honest, I owe you my life. And there's not a day that goes by when I'm not grateful that I can be close to you and share your strength. ... I just hate it so much that Troy has caused you so much pain, that you've endured so much abuse, completely undeserved, and--
Melissa DelArmeggio puts a finger to Lance Errington's lips.
M. DelArmeggio: Don't worry about Troy now. When the time comes, we'll have to do what we have to do to remove him and keep him from hurting other people like he hurt me. It won't be fun or pleasant, but it has to be done. But let's not worry about it now. We have this moment, right now, and we have each other. For now, let's let that be enough. All right?
L. Errington: All right.
Lance Errington pulls Melissa DelArmeggio close and kisses her, then eases her back so she's on her back on the sofa as their make-out session continues. After a few more seconds, he unbuttons her blue jeans and slides his hand down the front of them. Melissa pulls away sharply and looks up at him in surprise.
M. DelArmeggio: Lance... what are you--
L. Errington: Don't worry. I just want you to enjoy yourself. You don't have to do anything you don't want to.
After hesitating, Melissa DelArmeggio relaxes somewhat and allows Lance Errington to ease his hand down the front of her jeans again as she resumes kissing him. But after another few seconds, the door to the room opens suddenly, and Desmond steps in, with an unfocused, deceptively benign grin on his face. Lance Errington and Melissa DelArmeggio quickly pull apart and turn to look at him, and Desmond gives them a good natured smile and bow.
Desmond: How do you do?
M. DelArmeggio: Desmond!? What--
L. Errington: Hey. What gives you the right to come barging in here like this?
Desmond: I just came to see Melissa again. That's all. I mean, after we parted so tragically at Blood and Thunder, I'd say we have a lot of catching up to do, you know?
L. Errington: What are you talking about!?
M. DelArmeggio: Desmond, this isn't a good time. If you need to talk about what happened at Blood and Thunder, I... I'd be happy to, just a little bit later.
Desmond: That won't be possible. I took "no" for an answer at Blood and Thunder, and we saw where that got me. Now I know what I want... and I'm here to get it.
M. DelArmeggio: What's... that supposed to mean?
Desmond: I lost you once, you know. But now I've found you again, and no force on Heaven or Earth will pull us apart this time. I'll make CERTAIN of it.
Lance Errington angrily steps between Melissa DelArmeggio and Desmond.
L. Errington: Listen, you crazy freak, if you think for one miserable second that you can just barge in here, sling her over your shoulder, and carry her off like some kind of caveman, you're making a huge mistake. I've seen you since you came back. You're a maniac. You're sick. You're a menace to everyone around you.
Desmond just smiles shyly.
Desmond: Well, I try, anyway. But you're missing my point. No force, Heaven or Earth. You're a force on Earth. That means not you either. Please... go away now.
M. DelArmeggio: No, Desmond... come on. What happened to you WAS terrible, but... calm down. Things can be set right again.
Desmond: Of course, and I'm going to set them right. And one of the things that needs setting right is us. We've been apart for too long already. Come here.
L. Errington: I think we've heard about enough of this. You came into the wrong dressing room, asshole.
Lance Errington steps forward and blasts Desmond with a big right hand, but Desmond doesn't even flinch. Lance Errington stares at his hand like it's defective.
Desmond: That wasn't kind of you.
Lance Errington panicks, grabs a bottle of champagne, and breaks it over Desmond's head in a spray of champagne and broken glass as Melissa DelArmeggio screams. Desmond just goes down to one knee, then gets back up. This time, there's a hint of madness to his earnest grin.
Desmond: Do that again, and I'll rip out your eyeballs and floss my teeth with your optical nerves.
L. Errington: Oh my God...
Lance Errington backs off in stark terror of Desmond this time, and begins edging for the door.
Desmond: Ready to leave us alone now?
M. DelArmeggio: Oh God... Lance, you're not going to leave me here with him, are you!?
L. Errington: I... I... maybe the others are still in the building! Hang in there, Melissa, I'm going to look for them!
Lance Errington runs out of the room, and Melissa DelArmeggio stares after him in horror.
M. DelArmeggio: No, Lance! Don't leave me alone with him! He's going to... no, wait!! Come back!!
Melissa DelArmeggio tries to run past Desmond and escape as well, but Desmond grabs her and pushes her back against the wall.
Desmond: Now where are you going? I really think you've been very rude to me. I'll forgive you, of course, but all the same I wish you'd be more civil.
M. DelArmeggio: Desmond... what do you want from me?
Desmond smiles and runs a hand through Melissa DelArmeggio's hair.
Desmond: Simple enough. I wanted to look at your beautiful face again... to bask in the warmth of your radiant personality... to FINALLY SEE THOSE BIG FUCKING TITS OF YOURS!!
With a primal shout, Desmond rips Melissa DelArmeggio's T-shirt open in front, exposing her white bra. She screams in terror and cowers in the corner. Desmond grins sheepishly.
Desmond: Oh, my. My apologies. I get like that sometimes, you know. Still, I must say... that's a lovely chest you have there.
M. DelArmeggio: Please... leave me alone...
Behind them, Troy Black rushes in through the door and begins approaching Desmond from behind.
T. Black: Take your hands off of her.
At the sound of Troy Black's voice, Desmond looks up like a ferocious animal and whirls around to face him.
Desmond: YOU. You RUINED MY LIFE, YOU SELFISH, MANIPULATIVE SON OF A BITCH!
T. Black: You're right. I did, and I can't change that now. But if you don't leave Melissa alone right now, I'll END your life.
Desmond: Oh, certainly. Melissa can WAIT. But I can't wait to make you PAY for what you did.
T. Black: I'm right here. You don't need to wait any longer.
M. DelArmeggio: Oh, God, Troy... look out!
Desmond rushes at Troy Black with a fierce snarl, but Troy Black blocks a punch, kicks him in the midsection, then grabs him by the hair and takes him head-first into the wall near the door. Desmond stumbles out of the door, and Troy Black follows him, as Melissa DelArmeggio stares after them in shock.
The camera view shifts to a scene in the hallway, and Troy Black continues to punch Desmond, but Desmond grabs him and doubles him over with a knee to the midsection, then presses him high over his head and drops him onto a wheeled cart that has a rack that is meant for folding chairs, but is currently empty. Troy Black lands on the cart slumped over the rack, and Desmond grabs the cart and pushes it down the hall at a brisk run, picking up speed until he willfully crashes it into a cinderblock wall when the hallway makes a ninety-degree turn! Troy Black smacks into the wall and tumbles to the floor, and Desmond grins, then grabs him by the hair.
Desmond proceeded to annihilate Troy Black in a match that can best be described as thirteen minutes of violent hell. Lance Errington couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome, but after the dust had cleared, Troy Black wasn't the only one doubting the sincerity of Lance Errington's feelings for Melissa DelArmeggio.
From VCW 149:
Lance Errington and Melissa DelArmeggio are huddled on the leather sofa in their dressing room, watching one of the monitors. Melissa DelArmeggio looks horrified, but Lance Errington's smiling to himself.
M. DelArmeggio: It... looks like Troy's going to be able to get up somehow. God, that was...
L. Errington: It was great. I never thought I'd be glad to see Troy Black, but wouldn't you know it? He was the first person I see in the hallway when I ran out to get help. He came in and got Desmond off of you, and Desmond just took him apart. Things couldn't have worked out better.
Melissa DelArmeggio turns to Lance Errington in shock.
M. DelArmeggio: I... I don't believe you. How can you say that!?
Lance Errington puts a hand on her shoulder.
L. Errington: I know Desmond traumatized you and tried to hurt you. I'm not saying I'm glad that happened or anything. But--
M. DelArmeggio: But when I needed you the most, you RAN out of the room!
L. Errington: I was going to get help! Come on, think about it! He was... I don't know, he must be on some kind of PCP or something, because he's a freak! He doesn't even feel pain! I couldn't get him off of you! ... And look, I got Troy in here, Troy drew his attention away, and Desmond beat him half to death out there. Look, we want to take Troy out anyway, right? Even if Desmond didn't finish the job for us, he sure made it a lot easier for us to finish it, wouldn't you say?
Melissa DelArmeggio looks down at the ground, then stares blankly ahead at the wall, with a look of profound sadness on her face.
M. DelArmeggio: But... Troy protected me. When I didn't have anybody else, when even you had abandoned me, he... he was still there for me.
L. Errington: I didn't abandon you, Melissa. I saw him in the hallway, and sent him to you.
M. DelArmeggio: Then... why didn't you come back with him? Why didn't you help him fight Desmond off?
Lance Errington hesitates, looking uncomfortable, and swallows visibly.
L. Errington: I... I... Melissa, there were still things that needed done. Someone needed to tell security what happened, someone needed to tell the Commissioner. I knew Troy would keep you safe. I knew everything would turn out fine. And it did.
M. DelArmeggio: But how could you know that, unless you knew Troy really did still care about me enough to put himself in such great danger?
Lance Errington sighs and puts his hand on Melissa's shoulder again.
L. Errington: He doesn't care about you. Not like I do. Melissa, I love you more than anyth--
Melissa DelArmeggio suddenly stands up, and her voice cracks as she speaks.
M. DelArmeggio: Don't touch me.
L. Errington: Hey... where are you going?
M. DelArmeggio: To be alone. I need some time to think.
Melissa DelArmeggio walks out of the room, and Lance Errington calls after her.
L. Errington: Don't do anything rash! Just... come talk to me, when you're ready! We can work this out!
Lance Errington stands up and stares after her for a moment, then frowns and kicks a leg of the table sharply.
L. Errington: Damn it.
Despite the horrible injuries that Troy Black sustained at Desmond's hands, he was still determined to confront Lance Errington. Next week, it became clear that neither man was going to back down, and that a collision between the two men was inevitable.
From VCW 150:
T. Black: Last week, I didn't have
any problem with putting myself in harm's way, with diverting Desmond's
attention from Melissa to me. I don't regret it even for a second, and I'd do it
again if I had the chance.
The crowd gives a small, puzzled round of cheers. Desmond absolutely destroyed Troy Black last week, to the point where it's amazing that he's even here and able to compete tonight!
T. Black: I paid a price for it,
though. I just have to be pleased that this match was over as quickly as it was,
because I don't know if I could have survived a longer fight. Doctors are
telling me that it's time to call it a career, that to get in the ring with
Lance Errington and take the beating that I know I will is bordering on suicide.
... But honestly, at this point, the only thing that worries me is that with the
tips of my fingers being numb, I can't be certain my fists are clenched as
tightly as I want them to be when I beat Lance Errington within an INCH of his
miserable life.
Troy Black smiles weakly and looks around at the crowd, which offers another small, confused cheer.
T. Black: I have a lot to think about
where Gabriel's concerned. I still remember too well what I allowed myself to do
to him at Wrestlewar III, and I hate it. But where Lance Errington's concerned,
I don't have any doubt in my mind. He's using me, and more importantly, he's
using MELISSA, for his mind games in the name of some selfish, personal agenda
to raise his standing with my brother Gabriel. Last week, when he ABANDONED her
in the face of real danger... that became abundantly clear. But as savage and
brutal as Desmond is, when Lance comes face-to-face with me at Deck the Halls...
he'll find himself in danger that's EXPONENTIALLY greater than anything Desmond
could have done to him.
The crowd cheers, but then "Perfect Strangers" by Dream Theater begins playing, and Lance Errington walks out of the backstage entrance, dressed in a sporty Italian silk suit! The crowd boos loudly, but he's coming out alone, with a grave look on his face! Troy Black just stands there, staring a hole through him, and Lance Errington grabs a microphone and cautiously steps into the ring.
L. Errington:
Lance Errington looks intensely into Troy Black's eyes, and after several seconds, Troy Black just shakes his head.
T. Black: I have one problem with
that. ... I don't BELIEVE you.
The crowd cheers, and Lance Errington looks around for a second, then down at the mat. After a few seconds, he looks up at Troy Black solemnly and raises the microphone.
L. Errington: That doesn't matter.
Melissa DOES believe me, and THAT's what matters. You think you were gonna win
her back from me? You think you were gonna play hero and jump in front of the
train for her last week, then show up this Sunday, take me out, and suddenly
she's yours again? She HATES you,
Or what about Tony Garcia, huh? You reel him
in, telling him that you're not like Gabriel, that you'll give him the
opportunity he deserved. Well, you're right... you're NOT like Gabriel, because
you turned on him and ENDED his CAREER just for holding you to your word! And
what about Amy Lin? She found out what a repulsive excuse for a human being you
were, and she RAN back to
The crowd boos, and Troy Black and Lance Errington exchange an intense stare for a few seconds before Lance Errington speaks again.
L. Errington: But in spite of that,
as Gabriel said, we're willing to offer you clemency. You have a way out. The
doctors say it's time for you to retire? Here's a thought... LISTEN to them.
Don't make me or Gabriel step in and do what must be done. Because if you force
me, I'll do it. You think I'm afraid of you, saying you'll hurt me worse than
Desmond would have? I'm a lot of things,
Troy Black raises his microphone again.
T. Black: I can't. Not yet. You say
everyone hates me, and I suppose they have a right and reason to. I don't need
to be forgiven. But I need to know, even if it's just in my own mind, that I
didn't leave things the way they were after I ruined them. I need to know that I
did SOMETHING to set things right. And if that something is taking you out so
you can't use Melissa in your mind games any longer... then so be
it.
L. Errington: You can believe
anything you want to,
Lance Errington stares at Troy Black for several seconds, then finally pulls himself away with a disgusted expression and leaves the ring to head backstage, as Troy Black stares after him the whole way. The feelings here are running at an all-time level of intensity. These two guys HATE each other, and come Deck the Halls, we're no doubt going to see some serious damage done!
It's all come to a head tonight, and we have some serious questions ahead. Whether they've intended to or not, Troy Black and Lance Errington have each gotten DEEP into the other man's head, and tonight the actual physical confrontation between these two men is simply the culmination of a mental and spiritual battle that's been ongoing for the past month. Add to that that we still don't know the degree of sincerity behind Lance Errington's feelings--or, for that matter, Troy Black's--and we're looking at a heated match between two of VCW's most accomplished mainstays. Troy Black's sanity, Lance Errington's VCW Intercontinental Title, and Melissa DelArmeggio's future may all hang in the balance depending on what happens in this match, where the stakes could scarcely be any higher!
But before we see that, we're going to check out a match where the stakes could scarcely be lower. "The Battle of Evermore" by the Lovemongers begins playing, and the crowd offers a weak, near-silent mix of cheers and boos as the Green Dragon comes out of the backstage entrance. He takes on "Hot Stuff" Hasan Gilden in this upcoming match, and let's not mince words here: whichever of these two jokers wins this match will have the dubious honor of saying he's only the SECOND-worst wrestler on the VCW roster. To make matters worse, the Green Dragon is fighting for the honor of his sister, the Green Princess (even though she turned on him for Jeremy Tellier recently) and his good friend the Unlucky Tiger, another jackass in a stupid costume. Pathetic, isn't it?
Both of these underachievers are an executive's whim away from getting their walking papers, but that doesn't seem to weigh on the Green Dragon's mind as he climbs into the ring, then climbs up on one of the middle turnbuckles! Somebody hands him a flask and a burning torch, and he takes a drink from the flask, then spews its contents out at the torch... which extinguishes it. The Green Dragon stares at the steaming, but no longer burning torch with dismay as the crowd boos, then drops it and the flask in disgust. Oh, great! He couldn't even breathe fire properly before the match! Honestly, fans, we have to ask... what good is he!?
But then "Jump" by Van Halen begins playing, and the crowd boos as "Hot Stuff" Hasan Gilden comes out of the backstage entrance, arm in arm with La Princesa Lobo. He's dressed up in his usual pink vest and gaudy gold bling-bling, and one thing you can say for him is that he's got a sense of style. In fact, his lack of success in VCW could be attributed to taking on more than he can handle, rather than any innate lack of ability; while he hasn't won a lot of matches, throwing down challenges to luminaries such as "The California Crippler" Ken Collins, Darren Michaels, and Troy Black isn't exactly a good way to pick up easy victories. If that's true, then despite the Green Dragon's size advantage, he could be in trouble here! Hasan Gilden swaggers to the ring, then climbs inside and holds the ropes open for La Princesa Lobo. She helps him take off his vest and jewelry, then folds it neatly and kisses him on the cheek. She steps down, and Bobcat McGavin enters the ring and calls for the bell to begin this match!
Green Dragon
vs.
"Hot Stuff" Hasan Gilden
w/La
Princesa Lobo
The Green Dragon rushes Hasan Gilden as soon as the bell sounds, hammering him with a series of right hands that back him into a corner of the ring! The Green Dragon whips Hasan Gilden to the other side, and he crashes back-first against the turnbuckles, so the Dragon runs in after him and catches him with a jumping avalanche in the corner! Hasan Gilden staggers out of the corner, and the Green Dragon takes him across his shoulders and brings him crashing down with a huge Samoan Drop! The ring shakes, and the Green Dragon pops up and roars triumphantly to a small pop from the crowd! Then he drops down and covers Hasan Gilden, and Bobcat McGavin counts... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... And only two and a half, before "Hot Stuff" Hasan Gilden throws a shoulder up! The Green Dragon's surprisingly dominant in the early goings of this match!
With Hasan Gilden down, the Green Dragon steps out to the apron, then begins climbing the turnbuckles! La Princesa Lobo rushes over and jumps up on the apron, but before she can trip him he extends a foot and shoves her away with it, then takes his balance on the top! Hasan Gilden's starting to stir, but the Green Dragon comes off the top anyway with a FLYING BODYPRESS!! But Hasan Gilden rolls out of the way, and the Green Dragon wipes out chest-first on the mat! The crowd boos, and Hasan Gilden grins slightly as he gets back up! The Green Dragon was off to a good start, and then the dumb son of a bitch threw it all away by coming off the top and wiping out on the canvas!
The Green Dragon gets back up too, and Hasan Gilden throws a punch, but the Green Dragon blocks it! He hammers Hasan Gilden with a series of right hands, backing him into the ropes, then whips him to the other side, but this time Hasan Gilden reverses it! The Green Dragon hits the ropes running and comes off with a clothesline, but Hasan Gilden ducks! Undaunted, the Green Dragon runs past him into the ropes on the opposite site, but when he starts to come off, La Princesa Lobo reaches into the ring and trips him! The Green Dragon staggers forward, and Hasan Gilden flattens him coming in with a DISCUS CLOTHESLINE!! The crowd boos, and Hot Stuff leaps up, does the splits in mid air, and comes down with one leg forward and one leg back as he yells, "DAMN, I'M GOOD!!"
The Green Dragon's starting to get up again, but Hasan Gilden lifts him in a rear gutwrench, hooks his arms under his armpits, and then... buckles under his weight and nearly drops him! He stops, sets him down, and then lifts again, this time getting him up into position for the NEON SUNSET!! "Hot Stuff" Hasan Gilden has the Green Dragon right where he wants him, AND HE NAILS IT!! The Green Dragon flops limply to the canvas, and Hasan Gilden bolts up and yells "OH YEAH!!" as he thrusts his pelvis out at the crowd! Then he drops down and drapes one arm over the Green Dragon's chest in a reclining position for the arrogant cover! Bobcat McGavin counts... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!! Hasan Gilden puts away the Green Dragon, and we can damn sure hope that this'll be the end of this trivial and moronic rivalry!
Hasan Gilden pinned The
Green Dragon with the Neon Sunset in 0:03:05.
Rating: DUD
Hasan Gilden stands up and raises his hands in victory, and La Princesa Lobo slides into the ring and comes up behind him, then snakes her hands around to the front to begin feeling up his sweaty chest. But Bobcat McGavin just nudges them and says something, pointing to the backstage area; he's running them off! Hasan Gilden and La Princesa Lobo will have to continue their celebration backstage, because we're not giving this nonsense one minute more of our time! As they leave, Bobcat McGavin grabs the Green Dragon by the back of his tights and the scruff of his neck and likewise ejects his sorry carcass from the ring.
One of the most highly-anticipated matches on our show also has to be the Iron Man Match pitting Johnny Smiles against Gabriel Black. They'll be facing each other for sixty minutes, and after that time, the man who scores the most victories over his opponent will be awarded the victory for the entire match. This will be a tremendous test for both men; however, they've already gone forty minutes during their last meeting at Spontaneous Combustion. This match grew out of that encounter, when Gabriel Black was unable to accomplish his goals of defeating Johnny Smiles and injuring his neck within the confines of that match.
From Spontaneous Combustion 2001 (match joined in progress):
Johnny Smiles turns Gabriel Black around and tries to roll him back into the ring, but Gabriel Black puts his hands on the apron to block it, then gives him an elbow to the midsection! Gabriel Black rolls Johnny Smiles into the ring, then goes down to one knee, leaning on the apron and trying to recover somehow! But inside the ring, Johnny Smiles is up, and he leans out of the ring to grab Gabriel Black by the hair! He pulls him up to the apron and starts to drag him back into the ring, but Gabriel Black grabs Johnny Smiles by the hair and drops back off of the apron, pulling him throat-first across the top rope! Johnny Smiles flops back into the ring, and the crowd boos loudly!!
A nearby camera catches Gabriel Black muttering "I can't deal with this..." to himself, and he goes over to the timekeeper's table! What's he doing!? Gabriel Black shoves the timekeeper out of his chair, then grabs the steel chair, folds it up, and slides inside with it! Johnny Smiles is starting to get up, and Jerry Rogers goes over to Gabriel Black, admonishing him to put the chair down! But Gabriel Black ignores him, charges Johnny Smiles, and leaps at him to nail him with a huge JUMPING CHAIRSHOT!! Johnny Smiles goes down in a heap, Gabriel Black crumples to his hands and knees, and Jerry Rogers calls for the bell! Damn it!! After over forty minutes of intense action, what a disgusting, disappointing way for this match to end!!
The following night, Gabriel Black made it plain that he wasn't finished with Johnny Smiles. He wanted a decisive victory, and another chance to give Johnny Smiles a severe neck injury courtesy of the Destiny Driver. For that reason, he was quick to throw down a challenge that led to tonight's Iron Man Match, confident that sixty minutes would be more than enough time for him to put an end to Johnny Smiles.
From VCW 146:
G. Black: Another thing I'd like to address is Johnny Smiles, and my match last night against him. I'll give him all the credit in the world. He truly surprised and impressed me by hanging in there and surviving against me for over forty minutes. Of course, the match would have ended much sooner if I'd actually been trying to win it, but the fact that he even SURVIVED against me for forty minutes was pretty impressive.
The crowd boos loudly. Of course he's going to offer us these lame excuses; the fact is, Gabriel Black didn't beat Johnny Smiles last night!
G. Black:
See, I said that I meant to take Johnny Smiles out for good last night, and I meant it. I knew I could beat him; that wasn't the issue. That's why I never once went for a cover, never once attempted my fisherman suplex--which nobody in this company has EVER kicked out of--and never once had any regard for a victory in that match. The only thing I was interested in last night was giving him the Destiny Driver, and folding his spine up like a telescope until he no longer has a neck.Gabriel Black stops to pace around in the ring, and the crowd boos. These guys DO have a match up next, so maybe somebody will cut this short pretty soon.
G. Black:
But because of the nature of the match, I wasn't able to accomplish that goal within the confines of the match. So--since I really didn't care about winning--I simply struck him down with a chair, and then prepared to finish him. But, again, he was saved, because that meddling imbecile Russel Taylor came in to help him. Now, Russel Taylor is really and truly beneath my notice; he has a losing streak even longer than my old winning streak, and I haven't the time to waste on him. And as far as Johnny Smiles is concerned, I haven't failed to destroy him. I simply haven't succeeded yet.The crowd boos him again. That's a nice way of putting it. If you read between the lines, the fact is that last night, Gabriel Black couldn't get the job done against Johnny Smiles!
G. Black:
But now, all of the uninformed spectators that saw me lose that match by disqualification are actually wondering if I can really defeat Johnny Smiles. I hadn't thought that anyone would be so stupid, but it appears that I've given the doubt some credibility. So I want to invite Johnny Smiles to face me in a match where I'll not only end his career, but I'll settle the issue of who is the superior wrestler once and for all. A match where a fluke victory is meaningless, and time will tell who is the better man. I want Johnny Smiles to go one-on-one... with ME, Gabriel Black... in a SIXTY-MINUTE IRON MAN MATCH.The crowd actually explodes into cheers for that challenge! What a match that'd be! Their last match went forty minutes... could Johnny Smiles survive for sixty minutes against Gabriel Black, in an Iron Man Match!?
G. Black:
Johnny, this is what it means to be the one in the spotlight. This is what it means to have your name on the marquee. If you want to show ANYBODY that you're ready for the main events... you have to prove you're able to hold up in a main event match. You wouldn't have lasted TEN minutes against me if I'd been going for a pinfall last night. But if you believe your own hype, if you really think you're good enough to be in the same ring with me... then step up and PROVE it. Step up and go through an hour of pure HELL before I end your miserable career. You can't take me!! You're not in my league!! Gabriel Black DOES... NOT... LOSE!!Wow, he's really getting intense! Will Johnny Smiles accept this challenge? And if he does, can he do it?
Johnny Smiles went on to accept the challenge, setting himself in place for a collision course with Gabriel Black that ends tonight. However, the following week, he gave Gabriel Black a further reason to want to do him harm when he prevented Gabriel Black from using the VCW Television Title as a weapon in his last title defense against Quinn Harper, which some may say was the deciding factor in Gabriel's huge upset loss in that match.
From VCW 147 (match joined in progress):
The crowd boos loudly, and Gabriel Black rolls out of the ring and grabs the VCW Television Title belt. He slides into the ring with it as Quinn Harper begins to get up, then runs and dives forward and NAILS him in the head with the belt! Quinn Harper goes down, the crowd boos loudly, and Gabriel Black turns to them and smiles, raising the belt up high! And then he turns back to Quinn Harper and raises the belt again, and a camera in the corner catches him saying "Come on, get up, I have another one for you..." as he prepares to strike!
Quinn Harper's slowly pulling himself up off of the mat... but someone's coming out of the backstage entrance! It's JOHNNY SMILES!! The crowd cheers wildly, and Johnny Smiles runs to the ring and jumps up on the apron! He grabs the VCW Television Title and tries to pull it out of Gabriel Black's hands, but Gabriel Black keeps a hold on it, refusing to let it go! Johnny Smiles is trying to stop him from cheating and bashing Quinn Harper's brains out with that belt! Gabriel Black's desperately hanging on... but Jerry Rogers is starting to stir, and Quinn Harper's up behind him! As Gabriel struggles for the belt, Quinn Harper grabs him from behind and pulls him away into the QUINNTESSENCE!! The crowd shakes the rafters with cheers!! Just like he said, Gabriel Black never saw it coming! Quinn Harper covers Gabriel Black, and the crowd and Johnny Smiles both count along with Jerry Rogers... TO TWO AND NINE-TENTHS!! Damn it, Gabriel Black kicked out after the Quinntessence!!
Following that match, Gabriel Black was outraged, and the following week he challenged Johnny Smiles and Christina Ellis to an Intergender Super Ladder Fat Cat Scramble. Though Gabriel Black, alongside Melissa DelArmeggio, was ultimately victorious in that match, it did nothing to cool the fires between he and Johnny Smiles. It did, however, provide a new toy for Gabriel Black's daughter Molly, and in the process, showed a different layer of perspective for why Gabriel Black felt so strongly that he must defeat Johnny Smiles.
From VCW 149:
The camera shows a young child's nursery, with various toys and children's books scattered all around. In the center, propped up against the wall, is the large plush cat that Gabriel Black and Melissa DelArmeggio won in the Intergender Super Ladder Fat Cat Scramble. Gabriel Black's infant daughter, Molly, is sitting propped up against one of the legs, touching its soft fur and making fascinated giggling noises. Gabriel Black is lying on a plush rug in a lavishly decorated nursery, wearing track pants and a tank top, with his hair down, watching his daughter play.
G. Black: You like the big kitty that Daddy brought home, don't you? Well, it's yours, sweetie. All yours.
Gabriel Black smiles at his daughter, then looks into the camera and speaks softly to it.
G. Black: It's hers, Johnny. And it'll never be yours. You see, when Melissa and I defeated you last week at the Intergender Super Ladder Fat Cat Scramble... we did it for her.
Gabriel Black gives an affectionate glance to Molly before continuing.
G. Black: Everyone knows that I take a lot of pride in being the best at everything I do. That's why I'm the greatest professional wrestler of all time. But I also take a lot of pride in being the best father my little girl could ever have. I want to be there for her always; that's why I'm at home this week, because being with her is much more important than appearing in front of a crowd of numbskulls and entertaining them. They're not worth my time. Not like she is.
Gabriel Black stares into the camera and clears his throat, then keeps speaking softly.
G. Black: But listen. There's more to it than that. I want to give her more than just my time and affection. I want to give her everything. They say money can't buy happiness... maybe not, but it can help you afford it. The stuffed cat's just the beginning. Knowing that my little girl's getting the best private school education possible... seeing the look on her face when I hand her the keys to her dream car when she turns sixteen... paying the tuition for her to attend any college she chooses... all of these are more important than any wrestling title could ever be. But it all comes at a price.
Part of that price is one I have to pay. I have to accept the fact that people will want to hurt me every time I enter the ring, and the toll it will take on my body. But I can accept that. When I watched her being born from a wheelchair, with a broken back, I prayed to God that I could be strong again, that if my body was whole again I would give everything left in it to Molly. And my prayers were answered beyond my fondest hopes and expectations: I have an angelic, beautiful daughter, and I'm healthy enough to continue fighting for her, to pay that price. But the other part of the price has to be paid by people like you, Johnny.
You know the reason I make so much more money than you, Johnny? It's not because I deserve it more than you, or because I NEED it more than you, although both those things are true. It's because I'm the greatest professional wrestler of all time. You'll never have a wonderful family like mine. I doubt you'll ever have any children, and if you do, God help them; you'll never be fit to be a father. You don't have the maturity, the patience, or the selflessness that it takes. But I do. And in order to provide Molly with everything that should be hers, I must remain the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Your blood and your pain pays for the quality of life that my daughter deserves.
Gabriel Black sits up, and shortly later the door to the nursery opens and Charlotte Black walks in, dressed in an evening gown and wearing many layers of makeup and an assortment of fine jewelry. She looks at Gabriel Black and Molly, then at the camera and frowns.
C. Black: Home movies?
G. Black: You could say that. We were playing with the cat. Think I should wait until she can talk and let her name it, or just give it a name now?
C. Black: Oh. The cat. That thing. It doesn't matter what you call it.
G. Black: Well, we're having a wonderful time playing with it. Here to join us?
C. Black: Here to remind you that we're due at the dinner party in an hour, and we're supposed to meet the Garcias along the way. I'm certain you're not going dressed like that.
G. Black: Very well. I suppose you're right. I'll be ready in a minute. There's something I must finish.
Charlotte Black rolls her eyes and makes an annoyed sound under her breath.
C. Black: Try to hurry. I know you enjoy spending time with Molly, but this is important.
Charlotte Black leaves the room, and Gabriel Black sighs, then turns back to the camera, frowning.
G. Black: Johnny, at Deck the Halls, I've promised you one solid hour of pure hell. One hour is enough time to do a lot of damage, and I know you'll give me a tough fight too. Make no mistake about it; we're going to endure more abuse than the human body was meant to take. Just by taking part in this match, we're shortening our careers and sacrificing our bodies. But it's a sacrifice I'm happy to make. See, Johnny, I'd GLADLY walk through Hell for my daughter. And after the first mistake you make, I'm going to END your career. Just like I promised Troy... the next time I meet you in the ring will be the last time you set foot in it. And now we have a time and a place set for your meeting with destiny. Deck the Halls. One-on-one. One HOUR. And YOU are NOT ready. Gabriel Black... DOES... NOT... LOSE.
A small smile crosses Gabriel Black's face, and after just a second or two he reaches out to take Molly in his arms, as the camera slowly fades out on the nursery scene.
At that point, we knew the stakes were high in Gabriel Black's mind, even beyond the immediacy of his personal rivalry with Johnny Smiles and his anger over his recent frustrations. But later that night, Johnny Smiles and all of the VCW fans watching were given a startling announcement. Johnny Smiles was suddenly fighting for more than pride and survival: he was also fighting for the one big chance that would allow him to fulfill his potential. He would be fighting to recapture his opportunity to challenge for the VCW World Title at Wrestlewar.
From VCW 149:
J. Smiles: Now that we've got THAT out of the way... I actually have a few important things on my mind. In a little under two weeks, I have a sixty-minute Iron Man match against Gabriel Black. The same Gabriel Black who's telling everybody that he's the greatest professional wrestler of all time... and you know what? He probably is. That means I've got a tough match ahead of me, but it ALSO means that this is a BIG chance for me.
See, here's the way I see it. The winner of the Big Fight's supposed to get a VCW World Title shot on pay-per-view. I WON the Big Fight, by eliminating the guy who's currently champion, no less, and I didn't get any title shot. But whatever. The winner of the Survival of the Fittest Tournament's supposed to get a title shot at Wrestlewar--the biggest event of the year--and I won THAT too! Still no title shot. But hey, that's how it goes. But now I'm going to Deck the Halls, and if you ask me... if I can not just survive for sixty minutes, but if I can actually BEAT Gabriel Black, the greatest professional wrestler of all time... then that makes a pretty good case for me going to Wrestlewar as the number-one contender, wouldn't you say?
The crowd gives a thunderous response of cheers as affirmation, and Johnny Smiles seems a little bit surprised at first by the strength of the reaction. He looks around and gives them a weak, almost nervous smile.
J. Smiles: You know, in a way, I have a hard time believing what I'm doing. There's a part of me saying that even if I do somehow beat Gabriel by some miracle, I'll just get killed in the Wrestlewar main event. I'll just be the embarrassment to the main event that some people say I'll be. But I have to thank all of YOU... because seeing the way you all believe in me, I can't HELP but believe in me! You've been behind me all this time, and waiting for this for so long... and this could be our only chance, so I know I've gotta make this one count. And no matter what the odds, no matter what's at stake, I'm gonna go to Deck the Halls, kick Gabriel Black's ass all the way back to Arizona for one solid hour, and then go to Wrestlewar and become the VCW WORLD CHAMPION!!
The crowd cheers loudly enough to shake the rafters, and then "Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive begins playing! The crowd gives a mixed reaction of apprehension and anticipation as VCW Commissioner James Applebee comes out of the backstage entrance, carrying a clipboard! He walks to the ring, grabs a microphone, and steps inside to address Johnny Smiles!
J. Applebee: So, without consulting me, you seem to be taking it as a given that if you beat Gabriel Black at Deck the Halls, you're going to get the VCW World Title shot at Wrestlewar. Am I understanding you correctly here?
The crowd boos, and Johnny Smiles hesitates a little bit before nodding. It looks like he didn't clear this with the boss...
J. Applebee: Well, Johnny, I'll tell you this up front... you're damn right! I'll make it official RIGHT here and now! After the way Gabriel screwed you out of the title shot in the first place, it's only poetic justice; if you beat him at Deck the Halls, then it doesn't matter WHAT happens, if Bruno freaking Sammartino comes out of retirement just to sign a VCW contract, looking for a shot at the title... you are LOCKED IN to a guaranteed match with the VCW World Champion, no matter who that is, at Wrestlewar!!
The crowd explodes into cheers, and James Applebee nods, then paces around in the ring.
J. Applebee: Now you're probably wondering who your opponent will be, should you indeed be victorious against Gabriel Black. And I can't make any guarantees, because the title could change hands at any time. But if I was a betting man, I'd bet on it being one of two people. One of those people is the reigning VCW World Champion at this time, Crimson.
The crowd boos for the mention of Crimson's name.
J. Applebee: But two weeks ago, we saw something very significant when Crimson tapped out to the California Crossface, albeit behind the referee's back. Crimson claims he was just playing mind games, trying to trick Ken Collins, because he'd never give up. But I know a good way to find out if that's true. And that's why the other person you might face at Wrestlewar is your buddy, "The California Crippler" Ken Collins... because at Deck the Halls, he's got a shot at Crimson, one-on-one, with the VCW World Title on the line, in a SUBMISSION MATCH!!
The crowd cheers wildly! "The California Crippler" Ken Collins will challenge Crimson for the VCW World Title in a Submission Match! What a main event that'll be! Johnny Smiles nods, then raises the microphone.
J. Smiles: You know... I wouldn't mind a chance to finally win one against Crimson, but I have to admit... nothing would make me happier than challenging my best friend, Ken Collins, for the VCW World Title at Wrestlewar in a classic match. And I really want to thank you so much for giving me--
James Applebee raises a finger to interrupt Johnny Smiles!
J. Applebee: Hey, let's get one thing straight. I'm not GIVING you anything. Johnny, if you want the Wrestlewar main event, with the VCW World Title on the line, then you HAVE to beat Gabriel Black in this Iron Man Match. You understand that? You talked about this being your last chance? It IS your last chance. There's no other pay-per-views between now and Wrestlewar. No more opportunities for redemption. If you DON'T win at Deck the Halls, then you don't go to Wrestlewar; I'll come up with a new top contender, and that's FINAL. Do I make myself perfectly clear?
J. Smiles: Crystal clear. Put me in, Coach... I'm ready to play.
J. Applebee: Glad to hear it. Just remember, this is Gabriel Black, not a paper boy or a fry cook or a guy in a skeleton suit. So you'd better come with your working shoes on, and be ready to FIGHT. In this business, when you get right down to it, the World Title and the Wrestlewar main event are EVERYTHING. A lot of our wrestlers dedicate their LIVES for the chance that they might make it that far someday. Remember that, Johnny... for one solid hour against Gabriel Black, at Deck the Halls, perhaps in more ways than one... you'll have to FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE.
"Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive begins playing, and as James Applebee leaves the ring, Johnny Smiles grins and goes up to one of the second turnbuckles to pose for the crowd. But when he steps down, his smile lessens a little bit and he takes in a deep breath. What an opportunity... but at the same time, what an immense amount of pressure! Johnny Smiles has one shot, and only one, to recapture what some say is his rightful place in the Wrestlewar main event, but to do it he has to defeat Gabriel Black in an Iron Man Match! Let's face it, with Gabriel Black's evil intentions that's a match he'll be lucky to make it out of without a severe injury, let alone win! How in the world can he possibly pull it off?
With more at stake than ever, both men were focused on the impending confrontation. However, when Gabriel Black's father, the legendary "Superstar" Sean Black, joined Gabriel Black in his criticisms of Johnny Smiles, Johnny was quick to come out and reply. Gabriel Black's wife, Charlotte, was present for this confrontation, and the situation escalated to a level that none of the men involved thought it would reach.
From VCW 150:
"Degenerated" by the Lone Rangers begins playing over the arena sound system, and Johnny Smiles steps out of the backstage entrance, carrying a microphone!
J. Smiles: HEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRE'S
JOHNNY!!
The crowd cheers loudly.
J. Smiles: Y'know, I was perfectly
willing to stand back and let Gabriel Black take up all the airtime telling us
about his storied career and immortal legacy and everything... but when the
Superstar says he's stepping into the ring in a match with ME in it, I just have
to come out and say something. It's true that some fans of this sport will tell
you that Sean Black's a legend... and granted, maybe he will be remembered for a
lot of exciting matches in his career. But it's also true that everybody knows
there's a dark side to his career. Everyone knows about his personal demons in
the past.
Sean Black scowls at Johnny Smiles.
S. Black: You better think REALLY
fucking carefully about where this is going, boy.
J. Smiles: I'm just spreading the
truth. And the truth is that the Superstar's life may not be as free from
personal demons as you think. He's just moved on to new ones. See, when he was
younger, he used to stick a needle in his butt to inject STEROIDS... now, the
medication that goes on his butt is to treat HEMORRHOIDS. He used to be hooked
on ALCOHOL... now, he's replaced it with GERITOL. And he also used to be hooked
on COCAINE... but now, he's switched to ROGAINE.
The crowd laughs, and "Superstar" Sean Black is staring at Johnny Smiles with burning rage, but Johnny Smiles holds up a finger as if to indicate he should wait.
J. Smiles: Now, that's not to say
there hasn't been a change. See, in the old days, the Superstar was a respected,
successful wrestler whose personal life was shady and destructive. But now,
after time has given us a chance to appreciate his career and his lasting impact
on professional wrestling, after all these years... he's nothing but an
over-the-hill, self-important HORSE'S ASS!!
The crowd cheers, and Sean Black shakes his head and raises his microphone.
S. Black: Johnny, haven't you been
paying attention when all the kids who think they know what's what say that I
have friends in the executive offices? I could have your job for talking like
that. But instead, I'm gonna give you a little payback in the ring, like a man.
I'm gonna hit you SO DAMN HARD that after you wake up, you're gonna think back
and remember all the other times you got hit... and you're gonna think, "Man,
before, I THOUGHT I knew what it felt like to get punched in the face, but I had
no IDEA how it really felt."
J. Smiles: So you've got hands of
stone to go with your face of leather? I'm not worried. All I've seen you do
lately is talk big and strut around in those tight pants like some wanna-be rock
star. You really think you're the best, don't you? But I've fought people who
think they're cool before. I beat Marty Jannetty, and he was a Rocker! I beat
Rex Richards, and he had more juice in him than a crate of oranges! I beat
Arthur Justice, and HE could make his pecs dance! Compared to THAT, what can YOU
do, Superstar?
Sean Black stares down the aisle with cold anger.
S. Black: Come down here, Johnny, and
I'll SHOW you what I can do, damn it.
Johnny Smiles doesn't seem to need any more encouragement; he drops the microphone, runs to the ring, and slides inside! Sean Black balls up a fist, raises it dramatically, and draws it back as Johnny Smiles gets up... he swings, and Johnny Smiles ducks under and past him! Sean Black turns around... and EATS A SUPERKICK TO THE FACE!! Sean Black goes down and rolls out of the ring, and the crowd nearly shakes the roof off the arena with cheers!
Gabriel Black shouts angrily and rushes Johnny Smiles with a punch, but Johnny Smiles blocks it, kicks him in the midsection, and whips him into the turnbuckles! Gabriel Black hits hard back-first, grimaces in agony, and staggers out clutching his back, and Johnny Smiles rushes him and takes him to the mat with a big SPEAR!! Johnny Smiles crawls on top of Gabriel Black and starts unloading on him with a series of big right hands, and the crowd goes wild!
But Charlotte Black slowly walks up behind Johnny Smiles, looking rather hesitant and disgusted. She reaches out and grabs him by the hair from behind, making a half-hearted attempt to pull him off of her husband... and Johnny Smiles flails around wildly without seeing who he's grappling, manages to get a handful and a half of her evening gown, and clumsily shoves her down to the mat... and as she falls, the evening gown rips and COMES OFF IN JOHNNY'S HANDS!! The crowd cheers wildly as Charlotte Black stands up in just a small white bra and pair of panties and stares at Johnny Smiles with a look of utter disbelief and horror on her face... and for his part, Johnny Smiles is staring in shock as well! He didn't even realize who had grabbed him from behind, or what he was doing, until just now!!
But Gabriel Black rolls out of the ring, grabs a chair on the outside, and then slides back in, and he charges Johnny Smiles with a wild swing of the chair and a scream of outrage! Johnny Smiles quickly panics, drops the evening gown, and slides out of the ring, and Gabriel Black's swing narrowly misses him! Johnny Smiles begins retreating up the aisle, still half shocked by what he's just done, and Charlotte Black grabs the remains of her gown and tries holding it in front of herself! Gabriel Black quickly snatches up the microphone again...
G. Black: You just keep digging your
own grave, you son of a bitch. After I give you the Destiny Driver and break
your neck at Deck the Halls... I might just not be satisfied with one. I may
just have to do it again... and again. Next time I get my hands on you, you'll
never set foot in a wrestling ring again... and you'll DAMN SURE never lay your
hands on my wife again, you SICK BASTARD.
Johnny Smiles just disappears backstage as Gabriel Black continues to yell threats at him. The crowd boos loudly, and then a "SHOW YOUR TITS!" chant begins and quickly grows in volume. Charlotte Black looks like she's ready to cry, and quickly buries her face in Gabriel Black's shoulder.
G. Black: You idiots better shut up
and show some respect, or I'm going to head backstage and pull a few strings,
and this whole damn SHOW will pack up, leave the arena, and hit the road a few
hours early.
The chant only grows louder. Obviously, nobody really believes Gabriel Black has enough pull to get the show cancelled.
G. Black: You're just like Johnny.
You don't know when to quit. Listen... we're not going anywhere tonight. You
won't get rid of me that easily. But I PROMISE you... when I end that miserable
idiot's career, and I look around and see all the disappointed, upset faces in
the crowd... I'm going to remember this moment and LAUGH at all of you. ...
Let's get the hell out of here.
"Denial" by Sevendust begins playing over the arena sound system, and Gabriel Black does his best to hold the ruins of the evening gown in front of his wife as they leave the ring.
That, to Gabriel Black, was the final outrage. Before his match with "The Star Player" Darren Michaels that night, he made it clear that Johnny Smiles had just damned himself further. Going into their confrontation tonight at Deck the Halls, any last, fleeting thoughts of offering mercy to Johnny Smiles were out of Gabriel Black's mind.
From VCW 150:
The crowd boos loudly, and a chant of "JOHNNY!" starts up among them. Gabriel Black looks around with a smirk.
G. Black: Yeah, you already saw
Johnny Smiles. And what you saw was the REAL Johnny Smiles... the guy who can't
make the grade in the middle of the card. That was no fluke, nothing unusual...
just more proof that he's not in my league.
The crowd boos, and a "WHAT'S ON RAW?" chant begins now.
G. Black: See, the fact is that
Johnny Smiles isn't very good at what he does. As a performer, maybe he can get
you people to yell and scream his name, but an athlete, he's only mediocre. ...
You know, earlier this year, there was a word going around that Johnny was
trying to add a few new moves to his arsenal, and all the analysts, the people
who spend their lives in front of a keyboard, all had their own ideas about what
they might be. But I had to laugh when I heard about this one guy, I think his
name starts with a Q, saying we might see the Johnnysault sometime soon. ...
That's one thing you're NOT gonna see, because Johnny Smiles doesn't have an
athletic bone in his body, and he couldn't do a moonsault to save his
life!
The crowd boos, and the chant switches now to a somewhat smart-assed "WE WANT AUSTIN!" as this segment continues to go pretty much nowhere. Gabriel Black cracks a smile, then scowls at them.
G. Black: If
The crowd boos loudly, and Gabriel Black laughs to himself, then grows serious and raises the microphone again.
G. Black: But the thing about Johnny
Smiles is... you know he's not very good, but you people cheer for him anyway.
And because you do that, because you buy his T-shirts and watch his segments
like a bunch of sheep, you've put him in a bad position. This mediocre athlete,
Johnny Smiles, has been pushed into a sixty-minute Iron Man Match with the
GREATEST PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER OF ALL TIME... Gabriel Black. And any thoughts I
might've had of sparing him, of letting him off with just a humiliating
ten-falls-to-nothing loss and a slap on the back, just vanished when he tore my
wife's dress off.
But he's still here, by YOUR popular demand, and the dumb son of a bitch is going to make the best of it. He knows he's not as good as I am. NOBODY is as good as I am. But he's still going to try, because he doesn't want to let all of YOU down. He's going to walk himself down to the ring at Deck the Halls, praying for a miracle the whole time, and condemn himself when the miracle never comes. I'm sure he knows he's walking into sixty minutes of HELL itself. But he doesn't realize that the hell's never gonna end. After I BREAK his NECK, when he's paralyzed and being taken away on a stretcher, his hell will just be beginning. Ask Julian Page what it's like. Ask the GRAVE DIGGER what it's like. And when he's being hauled away in that sorry state, I want you all to realize... YOU are the ones who put him here. YOU did this to him. ... May God have mercy on your souls.
There can be no doubt that this is Johnny Smiles's last shot at going to Wrestlewar and challenging for the VCW World Title. It'll be the biggest opportunity of his career, but also one of the biggest risks he's faced yet. Gabriel Black has the skill and the know-how to follow through with his threats, and one wrong move by Johnny Smiles, over the course of sixty minutes, could spell the end of his career.
We're going to see some more wrestling action at this point. "Riders on the Storm" by Creed begins playing, and the crowd boos as "Magnificent" Moy Lazzario and "Beautiful" Bobby Danson, the New Immortals, come out of the backstage entrance, accompanied by Nicole and Steve "Mongo" McMichael. They have confident smiles plastered across their faces, and we have to give them credit: they've been on a small winning streak lately! They'll be looking to keep that streak alive tonight in another Mystery Team Challenge, and nobody questions that they've got the tools to do it! They get into the ring and call for microphones.
M. Lazzario: Hi, I'm "Magnificent" Moy Lazzario.
B. Danson:
And I'm his tag team partner, "Beautiful" Bobby Danson. Together, we're the New Immortals... two great wrestlers, one incomparably amazing tag team. With us, as always, we have the sensationally sexy Nicole and the monstrously mighty Steve "Mongo" McMichael.Mongo bellows out some gibberish and holds up four fingers, and Nicole smiles and waves to the crowd, but the crowd responds with boos.
M. Lazzario: Well, it's that time again, for our mystery challenge. Now, I know we're zero for three on these, but you'll have to bear with us. We're on a winning streak these days, because we've discovered the secrets to success!
B. Danson: Right. Tonight, we'll be using such revolutionary strategies as "counter the opponents' moves before they can execute them on you," "not phoning in the match and then running back to the hotel to watch the complete set of pirated Beverly Hills 90210 DVDs I bought off the Internet," "always raise your shoulder up before three when somebody tries to pin you," and most importantly, "winning the match."
M. Lazzario: You sure? I'm really anxious to check out those 90210 DVDs. Is the winning streak really worth it?
B. Danson: Damn right, it is. ... Look, there's another guy on E-bay who's made a complete set of Suddenly Susan DVDs, and the auction's got like 20 hours left on it. If we win this match, I'll go ahead and place the winning bid on that auction, and then we'll get to watch those, too. Does THAT motivate you?
Moy Lazzario nods with a huge grin on his face.
M. Lazzario: Does it ever!
B. Danson: Right. ... Oh, and just on the record, for official sake and all that, I feel I should say to all you fans out there that I was lying about all this stuff about DVDs. Making illegal copies of a show is just outright wrong. We don't do it, and you shouldn't either.
M. Lazzario: I heard some kid asked Tony Garcia to autograph an illegal copy of Disaster Area 2001, and he broke the kid's fingers!
B. Danson: Can you blame him? Disaster Area sucked! If you're going to illegally copy a show, at least make it one where the best match on the whole card isn't a freaking Wrecking Crew match.
M. Lazzario: Not a fan of the Troy Black-Sandis Arlington cage match, then?
B. Danson: I'm sorry, but that match does NOT hold up well. I could do a shooting star press off the top of the cage if I was on the same drugs Sandis was on at the time. What a one-man stuntshow!
The crowd's just sort of staring in confusion right now. Nicole suddenly holds up a finger to indicate for everyone to wait, then pulls a cell phone out of her purse and answers it. After several seconds, she nods and steps forward.
B. Danson: Important call, baby?
Nicole: That was Mr. Applebee. He told me to tell you guys that if you don't quit running off at the mouth about nothing and provoking former talent to sue us for libel in the process, he'll fire all four of us.
M. Lazzario: Fair enough. Let's wrap this up.
B. Danson: Right, what was I saying before we got off on this tangent?
M. Lazzario: Don't illegally copy DVDs. Especially not Disaster Area.
B. Danson: Right. There's no need to be guilty of bad taste as well as video piracy.
M. Lazzario: If you're going to pirate copy any VCW show at all--and I strongly suggest you shouldn't--then at least copy the Big Fight. You'll get the bitchin' Troy Black-Falcon Hardcore Match, and a très underrated David Wright Hubbard versus Tony Garcia match.
B. Danson: But you shouldn't pirate any DVDs at all. If you pirate DVDs, the terrorists win. ... And on that note, I'd like to introduce our newest opponents for our mystery challenge! They're a respected veteran tag team, and THEY'D damn sure never stoop to video piracy, that's for sure! They've wrestled under a number of names, which we're hesitant to call them by due to potential for copyright infringement.
M. Lazzario: Yeah, we're already going to have all the major film studios and Sandis Arlington's lawyers breathing down our necks after this.
B. Danson: Well, rather than call them by those names and risk another lawsuit, we'll introduce them as COUSIN BUTCH and COUSIN LUKE... THE OUTBACKERS!!
The OUTBACKERS!? Oh, no! "Down Under" by Men At Work begins playing, and the crowd offers a number of boos and a number of nostalgic cheers as Luke and Butch, the Outbackers, come out of the backstage entrance and begin doing their Bushwhacker Walk all the way to the ring. Of course, these two are from New Zealand, not Australia, but everybody seems inclined to overlook that, even the newly-renamed Outbackers themselves! They waste little time in climbing into the ring, and Moy Lazzario and Bobby Danson jump them before the opening bell! Jerry Rogers enters the ring and calls for the bell, and that'll begin this match!
Outbackers
vs.
New Immortals
w/Nicole &
Steve "Mongo" McMichael
The New Immortals each hammer one of their opponents into opposite corners of the ring, then begin to whip them towards each other! But the Outbackers both reverse the Irish whips, and the New Immortals are sent crashing into each other! They both go down, and Luke puts a headlock on his cousin Butch to get into position for the Battering Ram! But then Nicole jumps on Luke's back to break up the move, and he staggers away, but Butch pulls her off of him, grabs her head, and begins licking the top of her head! She screams and squirms in disgust, but then Steve "Mongo" McMichael comes up from behind Butch, grabs his head, and starts licking HIS scalp!
Butch pulls away from Mongo, a horrified look of disgust on his grizzled face, and then both Outbackers rush Mongo and begin clubbering him with a barrage of fists! Mongo falls down from this treatment, and Nicole bails out of the ring, but both New Immortals are up now! They charge the Outbackers, but the Outbackers lower their heads and backdrop them both out over the top rope in stereo! Bobby Danson lands on the apron and tumbles almost gingerly to the floor, but Moy Lazzario goes flying, clears the apron entirely, and just EATS the concrete floor back-first! Mongo rolls out of the ring as well, and then the Outbackers start doing the Bushwhacker Walk all around the ring, yelling "YEEAAAYYY!!" and "WHOOOAAA!!" as they make their rounds!
The New Immortals stop and go into a huddle on the outside with Nicole and Mongo, and Nicole reaches into her purse and pulls out a can of sardines. She climbs up on the apron with it, dangling it in front of the Outbackers, and both of them come over eagerly, trying to snatch it away! But she hops down from the apron before they can reach her, and while they're distracted the New Immortals run around to the other sides of the ring, slide inside, then rush forward and clobber them from behind! They dump Luke to the floor, then begin double-teaming Butch! They give him a few kneelifts to the midsection, then hooks him in a double front chancery and execute a double vertical suplex on him!
But out on the floor, Luke gets up, promptly forgets about the match, and starts chasing Nicole around the ring, still hungrily grasping for the can of sardines! She screams in terror and begins to run, and then after a few laps around the ring, she passes it to Mongo! Mongo catches the can of sardines, then runs past Luke, dodging a tackle, and runs all the way up the ramp, where he spikes it down on the floor and then starts doing a touchdown dance! This big fool never scored a touchdown in his football career, and somehow his brain's reverted back to football mode, and he thinks he's just scored one here!
But while Mongo's dancing, Luke rushes up to him and bowls him over with a clothesline, then takes the slightly-dented can of sardines from the floor and starts heading back down the ramp! Back in the ring, Moy Lazzario just dropped Cousin Butch with an Ace Crusher, and now Bobby Danson's going up to the top, preparing for the Minnesota Jam! But by the time he gets there, Luke's back at ringside, and he climbs up on the apron and shoves Bobby Danson off! Moy Lazzario charges him, but Luke blocks a punch and floors Moy Lazzario with a right hand of his own from the apron, then climbs back inside!
Moy Lazzario's getting back up again, but now Butch is up again too, and Luke puts a headlock on him, and the Outbackers charge forward and crash into Moy Lazzario with the BATTERING RAM!! Moy Lazzario goes FLYING back after he's struck with the move, sailing into the ropes, then tumbling forward from the ropes head over heels, then head over heels again, and then flips over onto his feet, staggers in a spinning half-circle, and falls head over heels backwards and rolls back up to his feet again, from which he springs back and twists in mid-air to land stomach-first on the top rope, from which position he catapults himself out over the top rope to crash to the floor in dramatic fashion, where he starts convulsing wildly! By the time he's finished with this ridiculous oversell, Bobby Danson's getting up too, but the Outbackers are in position, and they charge and BOWL HIM OVER with the Battering Ram as well! Bobby Danson flies back and goes down hard!
But now Steve "Mongo" McMichael's charging forward, and he slides into the ring! The Outbackers get in position again, and they run into him with the Battering Ram, but Mongo staggers back a few steps, then stays standing! The Outbackers exchange a glance, but Mongo roars a challenge, pats his shoulder, and dares them to do it again! The Outbackers get into position again, and again they charge him and crash into him with the Battering Ram! Mongo staggers back desperately, pinwheeling his arms, and the Outbackers quickly take their position and charge forward to collide with him with a THIRD Battering Ram! That finally knocks Mongo off his feet, and he crashes to the canvas and rolls out of the ring! Bobby Danson gets back up, but the Outbackers rush him and knock him down with a double clothesline, and then Luke covers him! Jerry Rogers counts... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!! The Outbackers win, ending that rather pathetic winning streak by the New Immortals!
The Outbackers defeated
The New Immortals when Luke pinned Danson after the Battering Ram in
0:04:49.
Rating: -*
Well, at least they kept it short. Bobby Danson rolls out of the ring, and after he and Mongo gather up Moy Lazzario and Nicole and start heading backstage, the Outbackers leave the ring as well and do a few laps around the ring while doing the Bushwhacker Walk. At that point, they turn and depart up the ramp, still doing the Bushwhacker Walk, and then finally disappear backstage to a smattering of nostalgic cheers from the crowd.
With that nonsense out of the way, we're free to turn our attention to the biggest event of the evening: the VCW World Title Match between "The California Crippler" Ken Collins and the VCW World Champion, Crimson. This will be a Submission Match, which plays into Ken Collins's strengths, provided that he can stay away from Crimson's big offense long enough to wear the big man down. We're going to look back now on the seeds that were planted when this match came about.
From VCW 147:
(match joined in progress)
Brendan Powers turns and begins questioning Desmond, asking the sound he heard was a chairshot, but Desmond doesn't even respond; he's still intently focused on Russel Taylor! Brendan Powers warns him not to do it again, but Desmond just looks up at him giggles... and behind Brendan Powers's back, Crimson STARTS TAPPING OUT!! The crowd goes ELECTRIC!! The VCW World Champion is tapping out... but Brendan Powers is still focused on Desmond! And now Brujah's running out of the backstage entrance! He's taped up and battered after Desmond's attack on him outside of the battle royal earlier, but he's here!
Stacey Lockman gets in Brendan Powers's face, trying to alert him to the fact that Crimson's tapping out in the California Crossface, but he's too intent on what's going on outside of the ring! Desmond looks over and sees Brujah, and now he turns to him and raises the chair instead... but Brujah runs forward and LARIATS THE CHAIR INTO HIS FACE!! Brujah goes down, cursing and cradling his arm in pain, but Desmond's down!! But all this happened in plain view of Brendan Powers, and he calls for the bell! Damn it, Ken Collins has Crimson tapping out in the middle of the ring, and the match is gonna end like THIS!?
The results will go down as a disqualification for Russel Taylor and Ken Collins, but that's a mockery of what actually happened in the match! Ken Collins yells in outrage as he gets up, spins Brendan Powers around by the shoulder, and motions that he had Crimson tapping out! Brendan Powers gestures to the outside, where Brujah and Desmond are down on the ramp, but Ken Collins and Stacey Lockman are insisting, yelling at him and arguing the call! The fans are booing loudly, and a "KILL THE REF!" chant starts among the crowd, but Ken Collins and Stacey Lockman just leave the ring, looking disgusted.
Though the match ended in a disqualification, the enduring visual was the scene of Crimson tapping out in the California Crossface. That sparked speculation amongst many fans and analysts that if Ken Collins can make Crimson tap out once, he might be able to do it again, in a match with the VCW World Title on the line. It didn't take long at all for talk of a Ken Collins challenge to Crimson's VCW World Title reign to emerge. Nobody was more intrigued by that possibility than Ken Collins himself.
From VCW 148:
"Liquid Mercury" by Jimmy Page begins playing, and "The California Crippler" Ken Collins and Stacey Lockman come out of the backstage entrance and begin walking to the ring! The crowd cheers, and Ken Collins seems healthy and in high spirits as he makes his way to the ring, touching the hands of several fans as he walks, and climbs inside! He calls for the microphone, and the crowd continues to cheer...
K. Collins: Before I talk about this week, let's talk about last week. Let's talk about Ken Collins and Russel "The Muscle" Taylor against Crimson and Desmond. Let's talk about how I made Crimson, the VCW World Champion, TAP OUT in the California Crossface, in the middle of the ring.
The crowd cheers loudly. Ken Collins did indeed make Crimson tap out last week, but unfortunately the referee didn't see it, and instead the match ended in a disqualification.
K. Collins:
I know the referee didn't see it. Officially, it never happened. But it's on tape, and it DID happen. And I know one thing. I made Crimson tap out once... and whatever it takes, I'll get him in the ring and make him tap out AGAIN.
However, the VCW World Champion, Crimson, couldn't let this sort of talk go. His violent temper emerged, and after Ken Collins's match that evening he took it upon himself to set the record straight, and send a brutal and humiliating message to Ken Collins for daring to suggest he would submit.
From VCW 148:
Ken Collins helps Stacey Lockman up, and he looks at her with concern and says something to her. She just looks up at him and smiles, then jumps forward and embraces him with a big kiss! The crowd cheers for the public display of affection as Ken Collins returns the kiss... but WAIT!! Someone's charging down the ramp!! It's CRIMSON, the VCW World Champion, and he's got a damn shovel! The crowd boos loudly, and Ken Collins starts to release the embrace, but it's too late as Crimson slides into the ring, pops to his feet, and nails Ken Collins in the back with the shovel before he can turn around! Stacey Lockman screams and backs into a corner, and Ken Collins starts to get up, but Crimson raises the shovel, and brings it down hard on his back AGAIN!! The crowd boos, and Crimson calls for a microphone...
Crimson:
Listen, motherfucker. You come out here and talk about making me tap out? I think you had it right earlier, when you said "officially, it never happened". That's right. Because it DIDN'T happen. I never give up, you understand that? I'd die before I admit some little punk-ass son of a bitch like you is a better man than me.The crowd begins a "YOU TAPPED OUT!" chant, and Crimson stares around at all of them in disgust.
Crimson:
You better shut the fuck up unless you want this to turn ugly.The crowd boos, and the chant gets even louder.
Crimson:
All right, how about this. Every time you say that shit, I hit this motherfucker with the shovel. Here, I'll lead the chant. You tapped out... you tapped out... you tapped out...Each time after he says "you tapped out," Crimson drives the shovel hard into Ken Collins's midsection with his free hand! The crowd boos loudly, and the chant dies down to a faint level. Crimson looks smug, but Stacey Lockman is standing nearby, looking ready to cry as she screams at Crimson to stop. Crimson looks at her and grins.
Crimson:
Oh, you want me to stop hurting him? Why don't you try asking me real nice? Crawl over here on your knees and BEG for him.Stacey Lockman hesitates, and Crimson glares at her. This is disgusting! Does Crimson feel tough, bossing around a woman less than half his size!?
Crimson:
You hear me, princess? I said get on your KNEES and fucking BEG for this man's LIFE.The crowd boos loudly, and when Crimson raises the shovel again, Stacey Lockman drops to her knees, crying and begging Crimson not to hit him again. Crimson smiles and nods at her.
Crimson:
That's good. I like that. Now come on over here and give me a kiss.Stacey Lockman stares at Crimson in disbelief and anguish. She doesn't want to do this...
Crimson:
You come over here and give me a fucking kiss like it's your goddamn wedding night, or I put the blade of the shovel right through this sorry bastard's throat.Stacey Lockman hesitantly approaches Crimson, closes her eyes, and leans forward to kiss him... and he spits in her face, drops the shovel, and slaps her hard across the face, sending her sprawling to the mat! The crowd boos loudly, and Crimson stares at Stacey Lockman in contempt.
Crimson:
You're pathetic. You're an ugly, fat, worthless whore, and if I paid you twenty bucks to suck my dick, it'd be twenty-one more than you're worth. Now I'm gonna take this dumb motherfucker and shut his mouth... permanently.Ken Collins is just starting to pull himself to his hands and knees as Crimson turns back to him... but "Degenerated" by the Lone Rangers begins playing, and the crowd EXPLODES into a huge roar of cheers! Johnny Smiles and Lars Coverdale are running to the ring! They must have seen this happening on a monitor backstage, and now they're running out to stop it! Crimson just smiles and motions for them to bring it on! They slide into the ring... and Crimson grabs each of them by the throat! He's gonna give them a double Chokeslam... no, he's not!! LOW BLOW from behind by Stacey Lockman! Crimson doubles over, and Johnny Smiles and Lars Coverdale measure him, then FLOOR him with a DOUBLE SUPERKICK!!
The crowd erupts as Crimson goes down and rolls out of the ring, and Johnny Smiles and Lars Coverdale help up their fallen friend Ken Collins! Crimson starts to get up on the outside, checking his mouth for blood, and Ken Collins gets up and lunges at him, but Johnny Smiles and Lars Coverdale are trying to hold him back! Ken Collins roars in outrage and shoves Lars Coverdale aside, then flings Johnny to the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex, and then rushes at Crimson and dives out onto him with an ELBOW SUICIDA!!
Crimson crashes back-first into the guardrail, and Ken Collins goes down next to him, but only for a second before he gets up! Ken Collins starts hammering stiff punches into Crimson's face in a blind rage, rocking him back against the guardrail, but the VCW World Champion lashes out with a wild swing that knocks Ken Collins to the floor! But he doesn't stay down; instead, he pops right back up and rushes over to Crimson, rips his shirt open in front, and just CHOPS him in the chest as hard as he can! It rings out with a resounding smack, and Crimson yells in pain, and Ken Collins draws back and does it again!
Crimson shoves him away with desperate strength, and Ken Collins hits the apron back-first and cringes in pain, but shakes it off after a second to rush Crimson with another flurry of intense punches! Ken Collins is probably hurt, perhaps badly, after that attack with the shovel, but he's so angry that he's not feeling any pain!! He doesn't care about anything at all other than destroying the VCW World Champion after what he did to him and Stacey! Johnny Smiles, Lars Coverdale, and Stacey Lockman are just watching, awestruck, as Ken Collins assaults Crimson with a passion! Not since Lorenzo Vasquez attacked Stacey Lockman have we seen this kind of inner fury and fatal outrage from Ken Collins!!
Another big right hand from Crimson sends Ken Collins sprawling, and again he pops back up in a second and rushes back into the fray! This isn't gonna stop until one of these two men is leaving the arena in an ambulance... or maybe it will, as the H.A.R.P. Squad finally gets on the scene and runs out to contain the brawl. The crowd boos; they want to see Ken Collins tear Crimson apart!
Ken Collins's burst of rage made it clear that Crimson's attempts to intimidate him into submission had only driven him further. A confrontation now seemed inevitable, and later in the show Crimson would defend the VCW World Title against Ken Collins's close friend, Lars Coverdale. However, before that match, he had some strong words for Ken Collins.
From VCW 148:
Crimson pauses, and Ziggy Adderloaf backs up a step.
Crimson:
Same thing goes for Ken Collins. You think I was giving up the match when I tapped out in the California Crossface? Hell, no. I ain't a damn idiot; I SAW that the referee wasn't looking. I figured maybe I'd trick the son of a bitch, get him jumping up and down with his hands in the air thinking he won, then grab his throat when he turned around and stick him on his back. Now, I'll give him credit; he wasn't a damn idiot either, so he held onto the hold. But if the DQ hadn't happened, I was about ten seconds away from grabbing the ropes, getting up, and wringing his fucking neck.See, there's your little moral victory, Ken. So give yourself a big pat on the back, boy... you weren't stupid enough to let go of the hold when I tapped behind the referee's back. That don't mean you can make me tap out when it matters. You got your crossface, your ankle lock, and whatever else you use, but I might as well be built out of solid steel. You think you could bend a solid steel bar out of shape with one of your little moves? Look at yourself sometime, with your girly little arms and your neck so scrawny your head looks like a grapefruit on a toothpick. You really think your pathetic metrosexual two hundred pound ass can take me?
Crimson stops and smirks to himself.
Crimson:
Yeah, I guess you do. I know you're gonna try. You think you had me last week. You're pissed off after what I did to that dick-sucking slut you drag around with you. And you're GONNA be pissed off after what I do to your buddy Lars tonight. I know you're gonna get stupid and come after me... and that's fine. I ain't had the chance to put your name down on the Homicide Road Tour yet, and you're long overdue. Next time I see you, I'm gonna grab you around your little throat, pick you up, and slam you down through the ground you're standing on, clear down into Hell itself. And don't you worry about your little girlfriend; it won't take her long to find someone else to spread her legs for after you're gone... if she ain't got someone else already.Crimson steps away from the wall and starts to walk forward.
Crimson:
So just take a look at what happens to Lars tonight. It'll be a little preview of what you're gonna get.Crimson walks away, and the camera fades out on the backstage scene.
Despite a strong showing by Lars Coverdale in that match, Crimson was indeed victorious after an assist from his former nemesis, David Wright Hubbard. Crimson and Hubbard apparently put aside their differences after that, and though James Applebee announced the following week that Crimson would defend the VCW World Title against Ken Collins in a Submission Match at Deck the Halls, their physically dominant union of redneck aggression threatened to offer an insurmountable obstacle to Ken Collins and Lars Coverdale.
From VCW 149:
"Walk" by Pantera begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd boos loudly! Here comes the VCW World Champion, Crimson, along with his tag team partner for the evening, David Wright Hubbard! Crimson's wearing the VCW World Title and staring ahead with a surly expression! He walks to the ring and climbs inside, and grabs a microphone. It's a little odd that the VCW World Champion would come to the ring first, but evidently he's done so because he wants to say something! David Wright Hubbard stands at his back as Crimson raises the microphone...
Crimson: A few minutes ago, I heard the same thing you did. They put me in a Submission Match with Ken Collins at Deck the Halls. They wanna see if he really can make me tap out, and this time the VCW World Title's on the line. The only way to win is to make your opponent tap. And I'm gonna say something that might surprise you: I don't think I'm gonna win this match.
What!? The crowd's stunned by that admission from Crimson! Could he really be doubting his abilities for the first time? Somehow, it doesn't seem that's the case, as a smile creeps onto his face.
Crimson: No, see... I think that match is going to a time limit draw. You got a sixty minute time limit on that match, and I'll tell you how it's gonna be. It's gonna be five minutes of me MURDERING that scrawny punk before he even gets a chance to give up, and fifty-five minutes of me sitting back, eating hot dogs, and looking over at his dead carcass.
The crowd boos loudly, and Crimson laughs to himself. He might have a point: he's not much of a submission wrestler, but it's easy to see him giving Ken Collins such a traumatic beating that he can't continue! Then what would happen? You'd have to think the referee would stop the match, unless the stipulations prevented that from happening!
Crimson: And after that, I tell you what... I've got an idea for Wrestlewar. The boss said Johnny Smiles gets the shot if he wins at Deck the Halls, but that ain't happening. No way in hell he wins that match. So I got a better idea. To tell the truth, I'm pretty sick of VCW by now anyway. You've got a bunch of doctors and skeletons and dragons and knights and shit running around, and everyone brings their damn girlfriend to the shows and gets pissed off when they get caught in the crossfire, and the whole thing's retarded. The only thing keeping me here is this title. It's MY title, and I'm gonna keep it FOREVER.
So I tell you what. At Wrestlewar, you take everybody who's left on the VCW roster, have them walk their little asses down the aisle, and send them to the ring one-by-one. That's right... give me a gauntlet match against EVERY miserable motherfucker in this whole damn place. I'm making Wrestlewar the final stop on the Homicide Road Tour, and I'm gonna level this WHOLE fucking COMPANY to the ground. I'm gonna singlehandedly close up this two-bit sorry excuse for a wrestling show by crippling every last son of a bitch on the roster in one night. Hell, after we run out of wrestlers in the back, start pulling people out of the crowd. I'll fuck their shit up too. It makes no difference... I'm gonna DESTROY this whole fucking place and ride off into the sunset with MY belt, and there's NOBODY who can do a damn thing about it.
This is crazy! Crimson can't be serious! Does he really think, even if he beats Ken Collins at Deck the Halls, even if Johnny Smiles doesn't earn the title shot, that he can fight the entire company in one night? Crimson seems to actually believe that he's bigger than VCW now, that he can destroy it if he chooses to! The crowd boos loudly, and he just looks around at them and smiles!
Crimson's big talk seemed almost too outlandish to be true, although his intent was plain: he seriously intends to dismantle VCW one competitor at a time if Ken Collins can't stop him! "The California Crippler" Ken Collins led his team with Lars Coverdale to a victory in the ensuing match, earning a submission victory over David Wright Hubbard that certainly spoke well of his odds tonight, but the shadow of Crimson's threats loomed over the challenge from that point forward. There could be no doubt that if Crimson truly set his sights on destroying VCW man by man, he could do a tremendous amount of damage.
The following week, however, Ken Collins and Stacey Lockman were booked in a potentially dangerous match against Crimson and Komachi. Despite the clear danger, Ken Collins remained focused on Crimson, and confident in his ability to wear the big man down enough to achieve a victory.
From VCW 150:
Ken Collins and Stacey Lockman are standing by backstage with Ziggy Adderloaf. Both of them are dressed to wrestle, and both look focused and determined.
Z. Adderloaf: All right. In six days,
Stacey Lockman takes on Komachi for a measure of revenge from the insults she
endured from Komachi, and "The California Crippler" Ken Collins faces Crimson
with the VCW World Title on the line, and so much more. But tonight, the two of
you have a tag team match against your two rivals on this program. What are your
thoughts?
S. Lockman: I think I'm gonna be
scraping Komachi's face paint off my knuckles after this match is
over.
K. Collins: You know... it's not much
different from what's happening with Johnny and Gabriel Black. For month after
month after month, you've had the same few guys calling the shots and saying
they're the greatest of all time. The time's finally come to put these people in
their place and shut them up for good. And when I set out to shut somebody up,
they STAY shut up. Have you heard from Lorenzo Vasquez
lately?
Z. Adderloaf: That's a good point.
And actually, there are a lot of parallels between Crimson and Lorenzo Vasquez.
The titles on the line, the attacks they've made on you and Stacey, their
remorseless and destructive natures... it all looks very
similar.
K. Collins: Crimson should've learned
from history. He saw where this road leads, and he's gone down it anyway. Now
we're looking ahead to a Submission Match, which plays right into my hands. He
says he's never tapped out before? Whether you believe that or not, at Deck the
Halls he'll have no choice. He'll HAVE to submit, or I'll literally dissect him
in the middle of the ring. It doesn't matter HOW big and strong he is... there
are certain points on every human body that are weak. I know where those points
are, and I will not hold back one BIT in trying to hurt him. At Deck the
Halls... Crimson is facing FOCUSED DESTRUCTION.
Z. Adderloaf: It's a chance not only
for you to gain your revenge, but the VCW World Title.
K. Collins: That's true. Because
after I beat Crimson, after I make him pay for what he's done to us... he just
won't matter any more. I'll be VCW World Champion, and after Johnny Smiles beats
Gabriel Black in the Iron Man Match--and I, for one, believe he WILL--then I
guarantee you that Johnny and I will give you a Wrestlewar main event that will
go down as the greatest match in VCW history. I know a lot of people have
enjoyed my matches with Lance Errington, Chris Champlain, Troy Black, and even
Lorenzo Vasquez over the past year. But I firmly believe that, in the main event
of Wrestlewar, Johnny and I can top them all.
The match went ahead, and Crimson ended up alone in the ring with Stacey Lockman. He couldn't pass up the chance to brutalize her, but in doing so he gave Ken Collins enough time to recover, as well as throwing tremendously strong fuel on his already white-hot rage. Though Ken Collins snapped and lost the match via disqualification, it may have been a fatal mistake for Crimson in the long term.
From VCW 150:
Crimson bends down and pulls Stacey Lockman's lifeless body up up, drags her to a corner, and sets her up on the top turnbuckle, facing the crowd! Crimson raises a hand in the air and signals for the Chokeslam, then steps out to the apron! He's going to Chokeslam her off the top turnbuckle, and you have to think that's very likely to put her in a wheelchair once again!! He walks along the apron and starts climbing the turnbucles! But Ken Collins is up, and he grabs a chair! Before Crimson can get up to even the second turnbuckle, Ken Collins charges forward with a desperate scream and WHACKS HIM RIGHT IN THE KNEE!! Crimson falls off of the turnbuckle and tumbles to the apron, and Brendan Powers immediately calls for the disqualification!
The match is over, but this situation may be just beginning! Crimson rolls off of the apron and lands on his feet on the floor, but Ken Collins draws back and whacks him hard in the knee with the chair, and that takes his leg right out from under him! Crimson drops to the floor, clutching his knee and roaring in pain, and Ken Collins grabs him and rolls him back into the ring, then slides inside! Komachi starts to come in, but Ken Collins charges and swings wildly at her with the chair, and she quickly dodges back and bails out of the ring! She grabs Minako's hand and begins walking up the ramp; she's taking off! Komachi wants no further part of this!
Ken Collins drops the chair and helps Stacey Lockman down off of the top turnbuckle, then gently sets her down on the mat, leaning against the corner. Then he looks down at her, and down at Crimson as he gets up, and picks up the chair again to a huge burst of cheers from the crowd! Crimson pulls himself to his feet, and Ken Collins rushes at him and NAILS him square in the head with the chair! Crimson goes down hard, and Ken Collins steps out to the apron and begins going up to the top turnbuckle! Crimson gets up and staggers groggily towards him, and Ken Collins leaps off with a TOP-ROPE CHAIRSHOT!! Crimson collapses to the mat!
With Crimson on the canvas and not moving, Ken Collins raises the chair up high in the air, then goes down and folds it around Crimson's ankle! With the chair around Crimson's ankle, Ken Collins heads up to the top turnbuckle again, then leaps off with a FLYING DOUBLE STOMP ON THE CHAIR!! Crimson comes alive with a huge roar of pain, thrashing around on the mat and clutching his leg! His violent struggles dislodge the chair from his ankle, but Ken Collins just walks over to him, grabs his leg, and puts him in an ANKLE LOCK SUBMISSION!! Crimson roars in pain again, and the crowd cheers loudly!
Crimson keeps struggling in desperation, but Ken Collins has snapped, and he's keeping the ankle lock submission applied! Crimson flails around, howling in pain, trying to find some way to escape the hold, but Ken Collins has it locked in good! Finally, Crimson raises a hand and begins tapping the mat, but even that doesn't cause Ken Collins to release the hold! Ken Collins has Crimson in the ankle lock, and he's not letting go for anything! Crimson keeps tapping out, but Ken Collins just won't let go! He's out of control!
Finally, the H.A.R.P. Squad begins pouring out of the backstage entrance, and the crowd boos their arrival; the fans have no problem with what's going on in the ring right now! But the H.A.R.P. Squad hits the ring, and two of them grab Ken Collins and forcibly pull him off of Crimson, as others check on the well-being of Crimson and Stacey Lockman. Six days before Deck the Halls, Ken Collins is out of control with this savage assault on the VCW World Champion! Crimson finally pushed him too far, and he paid the price for it tonight!! Will he continue paying at Deck the Halls?
After that savage attack, reports indicate that Crimson's leg is far from a hundred percent. Moreover, in a Submission Match, there are no disqualifications, and therefore nothing to stop Ken Collins from using the exact same tactics he used to break Crimson down here! Crimson has never been more vulnerable, and late in the year Ken Collins has been coming into his own as a world-class wrestler on par with Lance Errington, Gabriel Black, and Troy Black. Once this would have been considered a mismatch, but looking at all the factors, one might almost get the impression that Ken Collins has a slight advantage going into this match!
However, it's hard to ever count Crimson out. A little over a year ago, at Blood and Thunder 2000, he came to the ring on a horribly injured knee and still managed to hand Johnny Smiles an embarrassing and decisive four-minute loss. What he lacks in submission wrestling ability, he makes up for with his right hand, his vast reserves of raw power, and his bone-shattering Chokeslam. If Crimson can keep his vertical base and fend off Ken Collins's attempts to damage his leg further long enough to hit one or two really big offensive moves, then he may win the match sheerly by beating Ken Collins into jelly until he HAS to submit. Conversely, if Ken Collins wants to win this match, he has to keep the VCW World Champion on the mat and in pain until his ability to deal damage has been neutralized.
One thing's for sure: neither man will quit easily. "The California Crippler" Ken Collins is driven by inner fury, seeking the biggest honor of his career at the same time as he seeks revenge for Crimson's disgusting attack on him and Stacey Lockman. Crimson, on the other hand, is as apathetic and disrespectful as they come, but we know there are two things he cares about very strongly: his pride, and the VCW World Title. To submit tonight would cost him both. Whoever wins this match will do so by breaking both his opponent's body and his spirit. For either man, that will not be an easy task.
You know what's at stake now, ladies and gentlemen! There's still time to catch this great show, with so much at stake in so many matches! Make sure you join us! Contact your cable provider now, and order Deck the Halls, live on pay-per-view!
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