Welcome to VCW Monday Night Wrestling, continuing a whirlwind international tour by coming to you tonight live from the Deutchlandhalle in Germany! We have some HUGE matches for you tonight! Dean Sanders and Rob Solomon, two VCW athletes who have been on the injured list for a few months, will make their return to athletic competition tonight... by going one-on-one against each other! In addition, "The California Crippler" Ken Collins defends the VCW Intercontinental Title against Bass Rogers, and the VCW World Champion, Crimson, will go one-on-one with Julian Page in a non-title match!

But hold on... "Denial" by Sevendust begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd explodes into deafening boos as Gabriel Black, the VCW Television Champion, comes out of the backstage entrance. He walks to the ring with a knowing smile on his face, then climbs inside and grabs a microphone. He paces around in the ring, waiting for the crowd to die down, then raises the microphone to speak.

G. Black: Last week, Crimson failed to even acknowledge my challenge for the VCW World Title. Perhaps last week I was too busy to concern myself with his avoidance of me, but now that the Grave Digger has been disposed of, that's not the case now.

The crowd boos loudly. Who does he think he's fooling? The Grave Digger challenged Gabriel Black and Lance Errington to a Handicap Casket Match tonight, and now Gabriel Black's doing just what he accuses Crimson of doing--he's not even acknowledging that challenge!

G. Black: But I understand that Crimson may be a little threatened by me. Comparing Crimson to Gabriel Black is like... perhaps like comparing an American car to a German car. Crimson's large and heavy and smelly and ugly... but when the time comes for him to go the distance, he'll break down just like any random collection of scrap metal that rolls off the assembly line in Detroit. But me... I'm a little bit smaller, but I'm sleek, streamlined, and efficient, just like a state-of-the-art German automobile. And long after Crimson's left in the repair shop in a twisted heap, I'll still be moving ahead at top speed.

The crowd actually gives Gabriel Black a few cheers after his praise for German automobiles. He smiles and nods as he looks around at him.

G. Black: Yes... you Germans make some fine cars and good beer. It's just unfortunate that you stupid krauts aren't good for anything else.

The crowd turns on Gabriel Black in an instant, booing him loudly. Gabriel Black singles out one fan who appears ready to jump the guardrail into the ring, and focuses on him.

G. Black: If you're thinking of getting violent with me, I must urge you to reconsider. We Americans spent the first half of the twentieth century proving that your people can't stand up to mine in a fight. How pathetic. And to think... you sauerkraut-stuffed Teutonic twits had the nerve to call yourselves the master race.

The crowd continues booing, and a few random pieces of garbage come flying at Gabriel Black from the stands. He's getting a little tasteless here.

G. Black: I know Crimson will probably ignore my words this time, as well. But after he defeats Julian Page tonight, he had better...

Hold it, "Wait and Bleed" by Slipknot just kicked on, and the crowd explodes into cheers! The former VCW World Champion and SMCW Triple Crown World Champion, the Grave Digger, steps out from the backstage entrance, holding a microphone and giving Gabriel Black a venom-filled stare! He raises the microphone.

G. Digger: I think you're forgetting something, Gabriel. If you'll recall, I'm coming for you. I have a date with vengance approaching. A Handicap Casket Match, against you and Lance Errington.

Gabriel Black gives the Grave Digger an annoyed stare for several seconds, as if he can't believe his nerve.

G. Black: I've not forgotten your challenge, Digger. I've simply disregarded it. There is simply no reason I should even consider facing you tonight.

G. Digger: You're wrong about that. You should be thinking a great deal about facing me tonight, because there's no way out of it. You can either agree to the match here and now... or try your hardest to flee when I come charging down the ramp to exact my vengance personally.

Gabriel Black's face remains calm, but he takes a step back.

G. Black: If I were you, I'd go back behind the curtain and get on a plane back to the States now. You're endangering your life. If you step into this ring while I'm here... you won't be leaving on your feet.

Hold on, the Grave Digger just threw aside the microphone! Gabriel Black looks worried, as the Grave Digger begins striding down the ramp... but someone's coming out of the backstage entrance, from behind the Grave Digger! LANCE ERRINGTON!! And he has a pipe wrench! The crowd boos loudly... and the Grave Digger turns around and kicks him square in the face, knocking him flat to the ramp! Gabriel Black slides out of the ring, and Lance Errington gets up and takes a swing at the Grave Digger, but the Digger blocks it, then NAILS him with a huge right hand! Lance Errington sprawls on the ramp!

But Gabriel Black's running up the ramp, and he has the VCW Television Title belt in his hands! He comes from behind and clobbers the Grave Digger in the back of the head with it... but the Grave Digger doesn't even flinch! He slowly turns around, and Gabriel Black stares in horror, then swings the title belt at his head again, but this time, the Grave Digger catches it and jerks it out of his hands! Gabriel Black throws a punch, but the Grave Digger just absorbs it and draws back the title belt for a swing... but now Lance Errington's up with the pipe wrench, and he nails the Grave Digger in the back of the head with that! The Grave Digger crumples forward to his hands and knees, and Gabriel Black drives a knee into his skull, then hooks a leg over his head as he starts to stand, and brings him down with a Rocker Dropper on the ramp!

Gabriel Black and Lance Errington begin stomping at the Grave Digger in unison, but that's not going to stop him from getting up! They hook him for a double vertical suplex, then lift... but they can't seem to get him up! The Grave Digger holds his ground, on his feet, then lifts them... and the Grave Digger suplexes BOTH Lance Errington and Gabriel Black on the steel ramp, at the same time! The crowd explodes into cheers, and all three men begin getting up, but Lance Errington and Gabriel Black seem a bit disoriented. They bump into each other as they stand up, then turn to look at the Grave Digger, but he grabs them both by the throat! But someone else is coming from backstage... DEREK COLE! Damn it, it's Lance Errington's manager, Derek Cole! The Grave Digger lifts both Lance Errington and Gabriel Black for a double chokeslam, in an amazing display of power... but Derek Cole comes from behind and gives him a low blow to stop it!

The Grave Digger doubles over, and Gabriel Black quickly clobbers him with an elbow to the back of the head, then brings him down with a DDT on the ramp! They all turn him over, and Lance Errington holds down one of the Grave Digger's arms, and Derek Cole holds down the other, as Gabriel Black grabs the pipe wrench, straddles him, and starts hitting him in the head with the wrench repeatedly! Damn it, once again, it takes three men armed with weapons to bring down the Grave Digger! Does Gabriel Black think this three-on-one ambush impresses anyone!? This is grossly unfair!

Finally, here comes the H.A.R.P. Squad. Nearly a dozen of them pour out of the backstage entrance, grabbing Lance Errington, Gabriel Black, and Derek Cole, and pulling them off of the Grave Digger. They're struggling, trying to get back at him... but THE GRAVE DIGGER SITS UP!! He just sat up like a zombie, and now he's getting up, showing no ill effects after being hit in the head with the wrench several times! Now Gabriel Black, Lance Errington, and Derek Cole are struggling to get past the H.A.R.P. Squad and get further away from the Grave Digger! They break free and scurry backstage through the entrance, and the H.A.R.P. Squad gets between the Grave Digger and them... but the Grave Digger's just wading through the H.A.R.P. Squad, totally unhindered, and heading backstage after them! They can't contain him! What will he do when he finally catches up to Lance Errington, Gabriel Black, and Derek Cole!?

Wow... what a way to open this show! What will happen tonight between the Grave Digger and these three men!? Will we get the Handicap Casket Match? We'll find out soon, but right now we're going to get to our opening match. "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC begins playing over the arena sound system, and that brings out Jack Norman and Butch Manson of Hell's Bikers. Jack Norman is wearing a T-shirt with a Three Musketeers candy bar logo across the front, and eating a candy bar on the way to the ring. He finishes it and tosses the wrapper into a trash can as Butch Manson grabs a microphone.

B. Manson: Gabriel, the boss heard what you had to say just now. You want a shot at his title... it's your funeral, bub. That's all I'm gonna say.

Jack Norman enters the ring and grabs the microphone from Butch Manson.

J. Norman: Before we get started here, I got one thing to say, too. Everybody... from American badasses like me, to people from foreign nations like all you Germans... EVERYBODY can enjoy the rich, chocolatey taste of a Three Musketeers candy bar. In fact, Three Musketeers is the OFFICIAL candy of Hell's Bikers, and if anyone's got a problem with that, I'm gonna give 'em the worst butt-whooping they're ever gonna receive!!

Jack Norman tosses aside the microphone, and Butch Manson stares at him like he's taken leave of his senses, as the crowd gives him a confused round of boos. But now "Riders On The Storm" by Creed begins playing, and that brings out the New Immortals, "Magnificent" Moy Lazzario and "Beautiful" Bobby Danson, along with Nicole and Steve "Mongo" McMichael. They come to the ring and grab microphones, and Hell's Bikers groan and roll their eyes.

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 great tag team. With us, as always, are the beautiful Nicole and the beastly Mongo.

The crowd boos, and Jack Norman and Butch Manson exchange an impatient glance, then rush forward and attack the New Immortals before they can speak any longer! Referee Bobcat McGavin enters the ring and calls for the bell, and that begins our opening match!

New Immortals
w/Nicole & Steve "Mongo" McMichael

The New Immortals hit a few impressive tandem spots in between their time spent goofing off, but for the most part, Hell's Bikers control the majority of this match. The New Immortals regain the advantage a few times, first when Nicole trips Jack Norman from the outside, then later on when Butch Manson goes up to the top turnbuckle for a moonsault on Bobby Danson, but misses. Later still, a pair of tags bring Bobby Danson and Jack Norman in as the legal men, and a pier-six brawl erupts, with the New Immortals taking the early advantage. Bobby Danson knocks Jack Norman down with some nice clotheslines as Moy Lazzario takes Butch Manson down with the Thesz press, punches, and Ace Crusher.

Moy Lazzario goes for the Slingshot Suplex, but Butch Manson counters it with a front layout suplex, then spikes Moy Lazzario with a piledriver. But as he does, Bobby Danson sets Jack Norman up on the top turnbuckle, then brings him down with a BIG superplex! Bobby Danson and Butch Manson go up to opposite top turnbuckles, and both come off at the same time! Butch Manson hits his Flying Legdrop on Moy Lazzario as Bobby Danson gives Jack Norman the Minnesota Jam!! They both get up to face each other, and Nicole distracts Bobcat McGavin, as Mongo slides into the ring and rushes Butch Manson with a clothesline! But Butch Manson ducks, and Mongo wipes out Bobby Danson with a clothesline! Mongo stares down at him in dismay, then turns around, into a MANLY elbow to the face by Butch Manson that sends him toppling to the mat!

As Mongo rolls out of the ring, Butch Manson pulls Bobby Danson up, knees him in the midsection, and goes for a vertical suplex... but Bobby Danson slips out behind him, then grabs him from behind and gives him a belly-to-back suplex! He's getting up... but Jack Norman's up on his feet now, and he whirls Bobby Danson around and grabs him by the throat! He lifts... CHOKESLAM!! Bobby Danson just got driven down! But Moy Lazzario is getting up, and he spins Jack Norman around and hooks him for the Ace Crusher... but Jack Norman shoves him away, then runs and mows him down with a big boot when he turns around! Jack Norman goes for the cover on Bobby Danson... and gets three! This one's over!

The crowd boos, and Hell's Bikers are declared the victors as Moy Lazzario and Bobby Danson roll out of the ring to regroup with Steve "Mongo" McMichael and Nicole. Jack Norman goes to stand on the second turnbuckle, and pumps his fist into the air as he bellows "ALL FOR ONE, AND ONE FOR ALL!!", getting another puzzled stare from Butch Manson, but now the Bikers are going to head backstage with their victory. As they do, let's go backstage, to the office of VCW Commissioner James Applebee!

VCW Commissioner James Applebee is in his office, waiting with a stern frown on his face. As he does, the H.A.R.P. Squad escorts Lance Errington, Gabriel Black, and Derek Cole into his office, and he stands up angrily. But before he can speak, Derek Cole speaks first.

D. Cole: Who in the hell do you think you are, having us hauled in here like that?

J. Applebee: You know who I am. I'm the VCW Commissioner. And this business of the three of you triple-teaming the Grave Digger is getting just a little bit old.

G. Black: Then I suggest you send the Grave Digger back to the minor leagues where he belongs, before I'm forced to remove him from VCW personally.

J. Applebee: Well, how about this. I'm not suggesting, I'm ORDERING you, Gabriel, and you, Lance Errington, to face the Grave Digger in a Handicap Casket Match, TONIGHT.

L. Errington: What!? I don't deserve that. I deserve a title shot. In case you don't remember, I BEAT your VCW Intercontinental Champion, Ken Collins, two weeks ago. I deserve a title shot at HIM, not this sham of a Handicap Casket Match. You're teaming me with the man who screwed me over and stole my girlfriend a year and a half ago, against a big loser I already BEAT at Survival of the Fittest, when I DESERVE a shot at the VCW Intercontinental Title... this is NOT fair.

J. Applebee: That doesn't have a damn thing to do with the price of tea in China right now. The reason you're in here is because of your attacks on the Grave Digger. You WILL be held accountable for those attacks. Any more questions?

L. Errington: No questions. Just a statement. I want to tell you right now: you'll be sorry. Your Intercontinental Champion, Ken Collins, will be sorry. And most of all, the Grave Digger WILL BE SORRY.

G. Black: I have one question for you, Commissioner. What makes you think that YOU can tell ME what to do?

J. Applebee: Simple. If you don't, then I'm going to suspend both of you for ONE HUNDRED and FIFTY days. You won't be getting a title shot at Crimson or a match with Troy Black any time soon, Gabriel... you'll be sitting back in Arizona, watching "The Young and The Restless" and helping your wife change diapers!

Gabriel Black grimaces at James Applebee, but Derek Cole leans forward and whispers something to him.

G. Black: If you insist upon putting the Grave Digger up against such overwhelming odds, that's your decision. But I promise you... I swear, upon the life of my daughter... that this will be the LAST that you will ever see of the Grave Digger in VCW.

J. Applebee: Those are some bold words, Gabriel. But you may want a chance to retract that statement, because I'm not done talking yet. There's just one more thing. This won't be a three-on-one Handicap Casket Match... and to be sure of that, Derek Cole... I'll have to ask you to leave the building.

Derek Cole just smirks at James Applebee and folds his arms across his chest.

D. Cole: I'm glad you asked, Commissioner, so I'll answer: I'm not going anywhere. Thanks for asking, all the same.

J. Applebee: Let me rephrase that. I'm TELLING you to leave the building. And if you don't, I'm gonna have the H.A.R.P. Squad THROW you out.

Derek Cole cracks his knuckles and steps forward, getting in James Applebee's face.

D. Cole: Let me tell you something... "boss". You don't have enough men on your H.A.R.P. Squad to throw me out. I'm a third degree Tae Kwon Do black belt. I've been studying Aikijutsu independently for the past six years. And a few years ago, I competed in some deadly underground Thai kickboxing tournaments. I've beaten up dangerous men who can break a baseball bat in half by kicking it with their shins. And now you're threatening to call your Rent-a-Cops on me? Don't make me laugh.

J. Applebee: I was hoping you wouldn't be this way. I'm really a little disappointed in you...

Without warning, James Applebee suddenly punches Derek Cole in the face, knocking him off his feet, as Gabriel Black and Lance Errington stare in shock. James Applebee quickly slams his fist down on an intercom button on his desk.

J. Applebee: Get the H.A.R.P. Squad in here and throw this man out of the building!

Two members of the H.A.R.P. Squad quickly enter the office and grab Derek Cole as he begins to get up, then begin dragging him away as he struggles and kicks and squirms.

D. Cole: That was a cheap shot! A cheap shot!! You just TRY doing that when I'm ready for it! I'll kick your head clean off!!

Derek Cole is dragged out of the room, struggling and yelling the whole way, and Lance Errington and Gabriel Black turn incredulous stares back at James Applebee.

L. Errington: What the hell was that? You can't do this! This is crazy!

J. Applebee: I DID just do that. You're going to fight the Grave Digger, in a Handicap Casket Match, and THAT is FINAL! Now I suggest you get out of my office and prepare for your match tonight. I suspect you'll need to be well-prepared indeed.

As they leave, Gabriel Black turns back to James Applebee with a fierce glare.

G. Black: I hope you enjoyed the Grave Digger's time as an active, healthy member of the VCW roster. Because that ends... and it ends TONIGHT.

Gabriel Black turns and stalks out of the office with Lance Errington, and James Applebee sighs and leans back against his desk.

J. Applebee: Boy, I'm glad I got THAT over with...

He pushes the intercom button again.

J. Applebee: Okay, send in the Masked Avenger now.

A few seconds pass, and then the Masked Avenger walks in, dressed in her black mask and black leotard.

M. Avenger: Hi, Commissioner Applebee. You wanted to see me?

J. Applebee: Yes, I did... Heather. I know it's you, and you're not fooling anybody with that ridiculous mask. And I know you remember that you're no longer employed by VCW.

M. Avenger: Heather? I don't know what you're talking about. I'm the Masked Avenger.

J. Applebee: I know who you are. You're Heather Dannon, and you USED to wrestle for VCW, before I fired you. As in, you DON'T wrestle here anymore. So I'm going to have to ask you to leave. But despite all of the trouble you've caused me, I'm going to do you a favor... I'm going to pay for your plane ticket back home, out of the company account, so you won't get stuck in Germany. I think that's being MORE than generous.

M. Avenger: I'm afraid you're greatly mistaken. I'm not Heather Dannon. I just really want to be like her, because she's a great wrestler. Unfortunately, I'm not nearly as smart or pretty or talented as she is.

J. Applebee: You must be pretty dumb and ugly and incompetent, then...

M. Avenger: What!?

J. Applebee: Never mind. The point is, I've heard about enough of this. Here, take this check and buy a plane ticket back to America... and then, for God's sake, I NEVER want to see you in at a VCW show again, unless you're a paying customer!

James Applebee hands the Masked Avenger a signed check, which she stuffs into her leotard.

M. Avenger: I appreciate the generousity, Mr. Applebee, but--

Suddenly, the door to James Applebee's office bursts open, and "Doctor" Dave Adams and "The Chief of Governors" Tom Guycot burst into the room. Dave Adams looks quite angry.

D. Adams: Hey, Commissioner, what the hell's with the booking for the next match!?

J. Applebee: I'm in the middle of something right now. Can it wait!?

Dave Adams pushes past the Masked Avenger, to stand in front of James Applebee's desk.

D. Adams: No, it can't wait. Some smart guy on the booking committee made me tag team partners with this idiot Tom Guycot tonight. What the hell's up with that!?

J. Applebee: I figured you'd like the chance to work as a team tonight. You two have really showed some great chemistry together, making those promotional videos and talking to each other backstage, so it seemed natural to team you up.

D. Adams: No, you idiot!! I don't WANT to team up with this bone-faced bastard! I hate his guts! He's an incompetent son of a bitch who dresses up in a stupid skeleton costume and acts like a goofball all the time!

J. Applebee: Right, and you're a long-haired womanizer from the minor leagues in Northern California, who pretends he's a gynecologist in his off hours. Like I said, you guys'll make a great team.

Tom Guycot steps forward, talking loudly and waving his arms excitedly at his sides. As he does, the Masked Avenger sneaks out of the room and runs away.

T. Guycot: You don't understand! Dave Adams is my ENEMY!! I want to do VIOLENT things to him! There are bones in his body, and I want to BREAK most of them! By the claws of the White Cat Felinar, I hate him with a purple passion!!

D. Adams: See what I mean about him?

James Applebee sighs.

J. Applebee: Look, if you don't want to be a tag team, you don't have to wrestle together again after this. But it's too late to change the booking now. You'd better get out to the ring, because you're up next!

D. Adams: Fine. Let's get this over with.

Dave Adams and Tom Guycot storm out of the office, and James Applebee rolls his eyes and sighs again. He grabs some antacid tablets from his desk and chews them up, then begins looking through the drawers, muttering to himself.

J. Applebee: It's gonna be a long night... where did I put my blood pressure medication, anyway?

The camera fades out on the Commissioner's office.

It looks like the head that wears the crown is especially uneasy tonight, as chaos reigns in VCW. But right now, "Tziganne" by Bozzio, Levin, and Stevens is playing over the arena sound system, and that brings out the team of Monty Pompous and Jockey Oldcastle, to boos from the crowd. They enter the ring, and Monty Pompous strips down to his wrestling trunks and poses, while Jockey Oldcastle raises his arms and shouts a battle cry. And now Monty Pompous grabs a microphone...

M. Pompous: Greetings, Germany! You look upon the two greatest gentlemen warriors in VCW, Monty Pompous and Jockey Oldcastle... a pair of worthies you may refer to as the Knights of the Squared Circle. You may recall a rather embarrassing spectacle two weeks prior, in which that base deceiver, that coarse ruffian in stolen finery, that very ape of all which is noble and honorable, Dean Sanders, tried to match wits and fisticuffs with us. But never fear, my good people... that episode will not be repeated. If it is, we assure you, Jockey Oldcastle and myself will assist Dean Sanders in taking measure of his length upon the mat at once! Isn't it so, brave knight!? What say you, my bully rook?

Jockey Oldcastle takes the microphone.

J. Oldcastle: Right, Monty. If he comes at me again, nipping at my heels like a feist after scraps of bacon, I shall kick him away at once. His punches land on my portly frame like flies on a mutton pie. Many's the good time and often that I have eaten in one meal a delicious joint of beef of greater width than his arms or legs, and his puny, boyish chest contains not half the constitution and power of my great belly.

M. Pompous: To say half is a bit generous, my valiant. I would take odds that his chest does not equal a third of your middle. The width of Dean Sanders's chest would, perhaps, even be hard-pressed to equal a quarter portion of the enormity of Jockey Oldcastle's waist.

J. Oldcastle: In any case, if Dean Sanders hears me now, I would heartily dissuade that gallant from seeking further battles with me. But if he is so desirous to lie with his mother earth that he will challenge me, he will never go unaided by crutches again. And I will not be sorry for the deed, for when he is beaten, there will be but one shamed who was never gracious; if crippled, then but one retired who deserves nothing more than to be so. I would end his career, for in VCW he but fills up a place that would be better supplied when he has made it empty.

Jockey Oldcastle sets the microphone aside, and it looks like the Knights of the Squared Circle, as Jockey Oldcastle and Monty Pompous are now calling themselves, are issuing a challenge to Dean Sanders! We know he won't back down from these two... but right now, here come their opponents! "Calling Dr. Love" by KISS begins playing, and that brings out "Doctor" Dave Adams and "The Chief of Governors" Tom Guycot, accompanied by Nurse Vivacia! They're arguing and clearly not getting along as they come to the ring, but it appears they're going to at least give it a try! Jerry Rogers enters the ring and calls for the bell, and that'll get this match started!

"Doctor" Dave Adams & "The Chief of Governors" Tom Guycot
w/Nurse Vivacia

Dave Adams and Tom Guycot are utterly unable to work together in this match, and they wrestle with no thought to teamwork, making tags by slapping each other or otherwise making rude contact. Under better circumstances, one could hope that they'd be able to make an effective game plan, but they seem more distracted by their animosity for one another than they are eager to compete in this match. As a result, the superior strength and power of the Knights of the Squared Circle enables them to dominate the match. After some boring, slow offense from Jockey Oldcastle and Monty Pompous going through the motions of his typical offense, Jockey Oldcastle comes crashing down on Tom Guycot with the Big Splash... but instead of coming in to break up the pin, Dave Adams just looks at Nurse Vivacia, shrugs, and jumps off the apron to begin heading backstage as Jerry Rogers counts to three.

The Knights of the Squared Circle are victorious in their first match as a tag team here, though they can't take much satisfaction in the victory, since Tom Guycot and Dave Adams were never truly working together as a team. As they celebrate their victory, we're going to go backstage, where Lars Coverdale and Johnny Smiles hanging around, killing time until their matches!

Johnny Smiles and Lars Coverdale are hanging around backstage together, at a table, with bowls of Lucky Charms in front of them.

L. Coverdale: Man, I wish Ken and Stacey didn't take so long getting to the arena. I mean, it's like they'd rather spend time in their hotel room together, ALONE, than hang around with us! What's up with THAT!? I mean, we're not that annoying, are we?

J. Smiles: Maybe we ARE that annoying. Lots of people don't like us, you know. Here comes somebody who doesn't like us now...

Sure enough, Jasmina Chastity walks onto the scene, and looks over Johnny Smiles and Lars Coverdale with a superior smirk on her face.

J. Chastity: Johnny Smiles. This is my first close-up look at you... the LOSER that lucked his way into winning the Survival of the Fittest Tournament.

Johnny Smiles greets Jasmina Chastity with a wave and a smile.

J. Smiles: Yep, that's me. What can I do for you?

J. Chastity: I'm just here to tell you, you have a match against the greatest technical wrestler in VCW, Jacob Idol, tonight.

J. Smiles: Jacob Idol... he's the guy who always used to get beat by Owen Addison, right?

Jasmina Chastity scowls at Johnny Smiles.

J. Chastity: He's the best wrestler in the company, who DEFEATED Owen Addison at Survival of the Fittest.

J. Smiles: Right, that's him. Yeah, I know him! Yuri and I beat him in the Intergender Super Ladder Fat Cat Scramble! Remember that?

J. Chastity: I remember, Johnny. And he remembers, too. He's still mad at you. He'd want to hurt you even if Julian Page hadn't told him to.

J. Smiles: I don't see what he's so mad about. The black cat wasn't half as good as Sumiko is. It had fleas and everything--

J. Chastity: Forget about the cats for a second, you idiot! The only reason I came here is to tell you that you'll be getting your ass kicked later on tonight by Jacob Idol. Oh, and he wanted me to give you something before he meets you in the ring. Here you go...

Jasmina Chastity reaches into her pocket as if to pull out something, but when she pulls her hand out, her middle finger is extended. She holds the finger right in Johnny's face for a second, and Johnny stares in confusion.

J. Smiles: He wants you to give me one of your fingers? I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. I barely know what to do with the ten I already have!

Lars Coverdale smirks, and Jasmina Chastity loses her temper, glaring at Johnny Smiles, clenching her fists, and stamping one foot down on the floor as she yells at him.

J. Chastity: It's an obscene gesture, stupid! It's the sign language equivalent of saying "fuck you"!

Johnny Smiles still appears to miss the point, his brow wrinkling in confusion.

J. Smiles: So... are you offering to have sex with me, then?

J. Chastity: NO! You... you are the STUPIDEST son of a bitch I've ever met! I hope Jacob Idol kills you later on tonight, and as far as I'm concerned, you can kiss my ass! No, wait, I don't mean that literally! You do NOT actually have my permission to kiss my ass! It's a FIGURE of SPEECH! And I shouldn't have to explain that, but I DO, because you're a FUCKING IDIOT!! GAAAHH!! Stay away from me!

Jasmina Chastity turns to storm out of the room, but as she does, Johnny Smiles grabs his cereal bowl and sloshes its contents onto her back. She whirls on them, trembling with rage, and a profanity-filled tirade appears to be forming as she opens her mouth, but Johnny Smiles points to Lars Coverdale.

J. Smiles: Hey, it wasn't me! Lars is throwing stuff!

Lars turns an incredulous, shocked stare at Johnny Smiles.

L. Coverdale: What, me!? Come on, dude!

Jasmina Chastity stands and stares at them for a second, speechless, then lets out a wordless scream of outrage and whirls around, running down the hall away from them, with milk dripping off of her and bits of cereal falling off of her back. Johnny Smiles turns to Lars Coverdale and grins, and they exchange a high five.

L. Coverdale: Dude, that was SO awesome. She was all screaming at you and stuff...

Johnny Smiles smiles and shrugs dismissively.

J. Smiles: Heck, and you didn't think we were annoying. We've got annoying down to an art form...

The camera fades out on the backstage scene as Johnny Smiles and Lars Coverdale continue hanging out together.

We're back, and we're moving on to what could be a rather stupid match. "What'chu Lookin' At?" by Uncle Kracker begins playing over the arena sound system, and Brian Rivera comes out of the backstage entrance to a chorus of boos from the crowd, and begins striding to the ring, as Stormy Weathers trails after him, apparently trying to talk him out of something. He enters the ring, and Stormy Weathers grabs a microphone, still trying to talk to Brian Rivera...

S. Weathers: Listen, Brian, you don't gotta do this, boy. Haigeikobai's a good tag team partner! He's a killing machine, and if you get in the ring with him tonight, I can't promise you that he ain't gonna tear you up good. You don't wanna do this, son!

B. Rivera: Man, Stormy, don't even trip. Haigeikobai ain't nothing but an egg-sucking chump-ass pussy, and I ain't gonna put up with his shit no more, bubba. Get ol' Captain Japan out here, because I'm finna lay some country justice down on his greasy ass!

Stormy Weathers rolls his eyes and stomps the mat, fists clenched in frustration... but now "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas begins playing, and the crowd boos as Haigeikobai comes out of the backstage entrance! He's wearing a cheap bathrobe with Japanese calligraphy painted on it, and a Kabuki mask, and he's dancing his way to the ring with bizarre, disco-like motions. Brian Rivera might be a moronic redneck gangster, but he's onto something; Haigeikobai is, without question, the singularly most useless man in the history of VCW. He has never done anything of note here, besides losing a record number of matches and disgracing the VCW World Tag Team Titles by holding them, with Melissa DelArmeggio as his partner, for about a month.

Haigeikobai continues dancing in the aisle, very slowly making his way to the ring... and it looks like Brian Rivera may have lost patience with him! He slides out of the ring, rushes down the aisle, and grabs Haigeikobai, then drags him kicking and squirming to ringside and rolls him inside! He climbs in after him, and Brendan Powers enters the ring, calling for the bell to begin the match!

Brian Rivera
w/Stormy Weathers

As Brian Rivera stands up, Haigeikobai goes into a martial-arts stance, waiting for him. Brian Rivera turns to face him, and turns right into the BROOKLYN DEATH GRIP!! He's got it locked in good... but unfortunately, it's having absolutely no effect on Brian Rivera, who just glares at Haigeikobai impatiently, then kicks him in the midsection, hooks his head, and brings him down with a DDT!! Haigeikobai flops into a limp heap on the mat, and Brian Rivera goes up to the top turnbuckle... but wait a second! Someone's coming out of the backstage entrance! It's an aging, morbidly obese Asian man with bleached blond hair... it's YOKO FARGO MOTO!! He was formerly one of Haigeikobai's teammates in the Oriental Express... and he has a chair! And he's shirtless, with his massive belly jiggling wildly as he runs to the ring! Oh no!! He begins waddling to the ring... but now Brian Rivera yells "I'M GOING PLATINUM!" and leaps off the top turnbuckle... FLYING LEGDROP!! Haigeikobai convulses on the mat, and Brian Rivera covers and hooks the leg! Brendan Powers counts... and Yoko Fargo Moto is too slow and fat to make it anywhere near the ring before the three count!

Brian Rivera just picked up the victory, and he gets up to celebrate... but now Yoko Fargo Moto climbs into the ring! He's gasping and panting, out of breath from his run to the ring, but as Brian Rivera turns around, Yoko Fargo Moto whacks him with the chair!! Brian Rivera staggers back, then crumples into a seated position against the turnbuckles! And now Yoko Fargo Moto is... taking off his pants? No!! Please, GOD, NO!!!! The crowd lets out a unanimous groan of revulsion as Yoko Fargo Moto takes off his pants, revealing that his blubbery, bulbous posterior is left uncovered by the tiny thong that he's wearing underneath it!

This is terrible... Yoko Fargo Moto must weigh nearly five hundred pounds, and he's standing in the ring wearing nothing but a little thong! Now he stands with his back to Brian Rivera, and begins smacking the two quivering globes of his enormous butt... and suddenly he backs up, shoving his elephantine behind into Brian Rivera's face, and rubbing it up against him! God, this is disgusting!! The crowd's booing loudly... they don't want to see this! Who in their right mind wants to see a big, fat oaf in a thong rubbing his ass in another man's face!? Any wrestling promoter who thinks having this nonsense on their show is a good idea deserves to have his damn company fold!!

Finally, Yoko Fargo Moto pulls away, and Brian Rivera rolls out of the ring, retching and gagging, as Stormy Weathers gets in the ring and helps Haigeikobai to his feet. Brian Rivera's backing up, wiping at his face with disgust, and now he grabs a microphone.

B. Rivera: Aw, that's it, bubba. You sure enough gonna be sorry now, fat man. Next week, I'm finna bring my new tag team partner on down, and he's gonna kick your big, fat ass!

Brian Rivera throws aside the microphone and storms backstage in disgust... who could his new tag team partner be? In the ring, Stormy Weathers, Haigeikobai, and Yoko Fargo Moto don't even seem to care, as Stormy Weathers pulls a pair of sunglasses out of his pocket and hands them to Yoko Fargo Moto, who puts them on. Then they all stand in a line, facing the crowd, with Yoko Fargo Moto in the middle... and as "Kung Fu Fighting" begins playing and the lights go dim, they all begin dancing together! This is just stupid... who in the world wants to see two worthless chumps and a fat man in a thong dancing in the ring!?

Finally, some H.A.R.P. Squad members come pouring out of the backstage entrance to pull these jokers out of the ring and take them backstage. The crowd cheers loudly for that; fortunately, they won't have to sit through that any more tonight.

Neither Owen Addison nor Paul Canyon or Tim Bell is booked to wrestle tonight, but the Technicians have been the center of speculation among many fans. At Gang Wars earlier this year, the Ontario Colour Show wrestled together for what Owen Addison claimed would be the last time on VCW television. Since that time, Paul Canyon has been pressuring him to change his mind and reform the team, but with no success. Earlier in the week, on the heels of a heartbreakingly close loss in his Intercontinental Title match with "The California Crippler" Ken Collins, Ziggy Adderloaf tracked down Owen Addison in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and conducted this interview.

Ziggy Adderloaf and Owen Addison are sitting in the comfortable, medium-sized living room of Owen Addison's house. They're watching the closing moments of last week's VCW Intercontinental Title match on Owen's television, in which Owen Addison is flattened by a top-rope gutwrench power bomb, and Ken Collins leaps down onto him with a flying elbowdrop and covers for the three count. At the end of the match, Owen Addison turns the television off and turns to Ziggy Adderloaf.

Z. Adderloaf: We've just seen the closing moments of your match against Ken Collins last Monday night, Owen. I have to say, in terms of pure skill, you are one of the best wrestlers in the company. But looking back--

O. Addison: I know. For the best pure technician in the company, I do a lot of losing, don't I? Not only to Jacob Idol at the pay-per-view, but also to Julian Page in the tournament, and then to Ken Collins last week. When it comes to in-ring wrestling, you can be honest with me, because I'm gonna be honest with you, even if it's something you don't want to hear. And the truth is that my won-loss record--the sheer numbers, anyway--is pretty hit and miss in singles competition so far.

Z. Adderloaf: Obviously it's not what you've hoped for.

O. Addison: Instant results are pretty hard to come by. I tried really hard to be a Bret Hart, to catapult myself into a title run immediately after going solo, but it didn't happen. That's fine. What gets me is that I see people who aren't as good as me, who I know aren't as good as me, going further than I am.

Z. Adderloaf: What do you mean?

O. Addison: Can I be honest here? Some people aren't gonna like what I have to say.

Z. Adderloaf: Go ahead.

O. Addison: Okay, then. Let me say, first of all, that there's no shame in losing to Ken Collins. And Jacob Idol... heck, he's really damn good. I don't know that he's the best, but he's really good. Even Julian Page... you won't find more than a handful of rookies in this generation who can wrestle like him. So I won't make excuses for myself, even though I didn't necessarily lose all those matches without some outside circumstances. But if you want to see someone with much more success than talent to their name... just look at Brujah.

Z. Adderloaf: Brujah? I know the Technicians have had their run-ins with him before... is this about the Jennie thing?

O. Addison: Not really. As far as I'm concerned, if she wants to leave us, she knows where she can go. I'm not upset about that. But... let me get this straight. Brujah comes right into the company with no credibility, but he gets a shot at Tim Bell, and beats him somehow for the VCW Television Title. Then he gets six months of title defenses against Tommy Hustle and Dave Adams, loses the belt the second he sets foot in the ring with a great wrestler, and then gets a tag title shot just handed to him out of the blue two weeks later.

Z. Adderloaf: To his defense, Brujah has managed to capitalize on every opportunity that's come his way--

O. Addison: You saw last week's match. He cheated. Let me tell you my problem with Brujah. It's bad enough when a guy comes to wrestle, and he has no skill, but he's like 6'8" so he wins all the time anyway. That's Brujah, except he's not even big. He tries hard--he tries REALLY hard--but he just can't wrestle. Maybe some people will understand when I say if you take Kevin Nash, shrink him about a foot, put him in fast-forward, and give him a lariat and a top-rope headbutt that he ripped off of a couple more famous wrestlers, you've got Brujah.

Z. Adderloaf: You're certainly giving us a very honest opinion. But I have to ask... do you think you can back it up?

O. Addison: I'd keep my mouth shut if I didn't.

Z. Adderloaf: You'd probably like to take the VCW World Tag Team Titles from him, I'd assume. You're very familiar with those titles. Do you think there's any chance of an Ontario Colour Show reunion now, to go after the titles again?

O. Addison: I've thought about it. I've also thought about looking for a partner who I see a little more eye-to-eye with. Paul Canyon... he's a great wrestler, but we don't have the same priorities. He wants to impress the fans. I like to give them a show myself, but I also want to win the match. So I'm considering other people. Dean Sanders is a great wrestler. No-nonsense, really intense. Like Brujah, but with talent. Maybe, if he ever gets his priorities straight, I could work with a guy like Bobby Danson or Lars Coverdale. Then you've got Ken Collins. He beat me, so he must be good. Then, Tim Bell... he's had at least one match-of-the-year candidate to his name every year for the past decade or so. There's a lot of great potential partners out there.

Z. Adderloaf: Then you haven't made a firm decision yet as to where you're headed with your career.

O. Addison: Not really. I've hit a few roadblocks on the singles road, and maybe I'm giving some thought to tag team matches again. I've saved some money, and really if I wanted to check out now and retire young, I could probably find and train some good guys... but it's hard saying. I don't want to speculate about it now. That's why I'm not booked tonight; I need a little time to think. Next week, though... I may just have an answer for you.

Z. Adderloaf: Whatever the future holds for you, good luck with it. VCW and all of its fans will be watching you.

O. Adderloaf: Thanks, Ziggy. I hope I can give them something they'll like to see.

With that, the camera fades out on Owen Addison and Ziggy Adderloaf.

So, what does the future hold for Owen Addison? Not all of his comments just now will be popular ones, but everyone's no doubt watching to see just where he's going to head with his career.

Right now, we're going to our next match, where we'll see not one, but TWO returns of injured VCW competitors! "War Machine" by KISS begins playing, and the crowd cheers as Dean Sanders comes out of the backstage entrance, dressed to wrestle for the first time in months! He went down in the line of duty about two months ago, but now he's ready to return to the ring! He climbs inside and grabs a microphone...

D. Sanders: I'm certain you'll all recall that it's been some time since I've been in the ring. But despite that, I don't lack for enemies upon my return... those two loutish oafs calling themselves the Knights of the Squared Circle have seen to that. But in doing so, they have only given themselves an occasion for future hardship. I am a former VCW World Tag Team Champion, a former member of the Golden Society, and one-half of Stiff Competition, and I shall NOT be laid low by a pair of lumbering young twits who aspire to greatness by aping their betters.

The crowd cheers, and Dean Sanders pauses for a second, pacing in the ring.

D. Sanders: Now, as for my opponent, Rob Solomon--

Hold it, "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin just started playing, and the crowd explodes into boos! Here he comes... Rob Solomon steps out of the backstage entrance, carrying his hockey stick over his shoulder, and a microphone in the other hand! He pauses for a second to look around at the booing crowd, then turns to Dean Sanders in the ring.

R. Solomon: As for your opponent, Rob Solomon, he's gonna kick your ass tonight and jump back into the tag team title picture while you waste your time fighting matches against Arthur Justice and a big, fat slob.

The crowd boos.

R. Solomon: Y'know... I've enjoyed a little time off, to tell the truth. Hell, my buddies in the Hammer of the Gods didn't even NEED me. They took out Tim Bell and put Owen Addison in his place without my help. But now that I'm back, things are gonna change around here. We're DONE screwing around with losers like you and the Technicians.

The crowd boos, and Dean Sanders grimaces in outrage and slides out of the ring, then rushes down the aisle at Rob Solomon... but Rob Solomon nearly beheads him with his hockey stick as he comes forward!! He baited Dean Sanders into charging right into that, and it worked! He does a crotch chop at Dean Sanders's fallen body, then kicks him in the head a few times, hauls him up, and carries him down the aisle, then rolls him into the ring. Linda Peterson calls for the bell to begin the match!

Rob Solomon immediately goes for a pin on the semi-conscious body of Dean Sanders, and gets a near fall. He complains to Linda Peterson about a slow count, then begins to pummel Dean Sanders, determined to keep him from ever getting the advantage. But many of his moves, including his trademark kicks, are unusually sloppy due to his long absence from the ring, and he finally decides to wrestle a simple, basic match, immobilizing Dean Sanders with an abdominal stretch, then a rear chinlock. The crowd boos, bored stiff by Rob Solomon's tactics, and though Dean Sanders fights back and eventually escapes both holds, he can't quite manage to gain a clear advantage.

Finally, Dean Sanders makes a comeback by countering a sitdown faceslam by rearing up and shoving Rob Solomon away. He unloads on Rob Solomon with a kick to the midsection and a few clotheslines, but Rob Solomon doesn't seem to be feeling the effects of them much, popping right up after each takedown like he was barely fazed. Dean Sanders gets visibly angry and begins hitting Rob Solomon harder, giving him a bloody lip with a wicked punch to the face, then power bombing him so hard that Linda Peterson has to tell him to back off for a second so she can check in with Rob Solomon and make sure he's all right.

Dean Sanders backs off obediently, then goes in for the kill and pulls Rob Solomon up by the hair when Linda Peterson gives the okay... but Rob Solomon catches him with a low blow when he does, then grabs him and dumps him to the outside of the ring! But now some people are coming out of the backstage entrance... it's Monty Pompous and Jockey Oldcastle! Rob Solomon sees them out of the corner of his eyes, then begins distracting Linda Peterson... and as Dean Sanders gets up, Monty Pompous grabs him and takes him head-first into the ringpost! Dean Sanders collapses to the floor, and Jockey Oldcastle runs forward and leaps onto him with the Big Splash!! They back off, and Rob Solomon stops distracting Linda Peterson, but the damage is done. Dean Sanders can't do anything but writhe in agony on the outside, as Linda Peterson administers the ten-count.

The crowd boos, and Rob Solomon smirks as he raises his hands in victory. He's made a successful return to in-ring competition, but he owes a lot of this victory to his use of the hockey stick before the match and the interference of Monty Pompous and Jockey Oldcastle. As he celebrates his ill-gotten victory, we're going to go backstage, where Pauline Vietjohn is preparing for her role in a six-person tag team match!

Pauline Vietjohn is preparing for her upcoming match, stretching on the floor of a dressing room. As she stretches, the Masked Avenger walks onto the scene. Pauline instantly stands up and glares at the Masked Avenger.

P. Vietjohn: Damn it, Heather... NOW what do you want?

M. Avenger: I'm not Heather. But... are you okay and everything? I mean, I got worried about you, after you got Chokeslammed last week...

Pauline Vietjohn glares at the Masked Avenger, scarcely seeming to believe her gall.

P. Vietjohn: Yeah, I'll make it. No thanks to YOU, Heather. You sent that thug after me intentionally!

The Masked Avenger steps back, holding her arms up to protest her innocence.

M. Avenger: I'm NOT Heather! But besides that... I never meant for him to hurt you. I just wanted to make you miss your match.

P. Vietjohn: Look, I'm sorry I got a VCW contract instead of you, okay!? If it was up to me, you'd have one. I think you really ARE a halfway decent wrestler. But I just wish you wouldn't be so mean to me!

M. Avenger: For your information, the Masked Avenger DOES in fact have a VCW contract. That's why I'm here. I think your sentiments are directed toward Heather Dannon, that poor, deserving girl who DOESN'T have a VCW contract, thanks to you.

P. Vietjohn: Come on, this is the stupidest--

M. Avenger: No, it's all on the up-and-up. Just ask Commissioner Applebee. He signed my contract, fair and square.

Pauline Vietjohn rolls her eyes and turns away from the Masked Avenger.

P. Vietjohn: I don't even want to talk about it. You can talk to me when you're willing to tell the truth.

M. Avenger: But... but...

The Masked Avenger seems to be wavering, and finally she gives in.

M. Avenger: Aw, hell, you know... you're right, Pauline. It's foolish of me to keep this up... and it's wrong of me to take this all out on you. I suppose I'd better just go home and accept my lot in life, working at Burger King until I get promoted to assistant manager and get enough of a raise to move out of my parents' basement. I'll always be able to live vicariously through you, and I'll always have my dreams... the tattered remains of my broken, shattered dreams.

The Masked Avenger seems to be holding back sobs as she finishes speaking. Pauline Vietjohn's anger quickly softens, and a sad look crosses her face.

P. Vietjohn: Hey... it's not all that bad. I'm sure there are plenty of promotions that'd love to hire a halfway decent wrestler like you! And you'll always have a friend here in VCW... and if it's EVER in my power to get you a job here, you'll have one.

The Masked Avenger looks up at Pauline.

M. Avenger: Promise?

P. Vietjohn: Promise.

M. Avenger: This means a lot to me. Really. So... we're... still friends? After all I've done?

The Masked Avenger offers a hand to Pauline Vietjohn uncertainly, and Pauline smiles warmly and takes it.

P. Vietjohn: We'll ALWAYS be friends, Heather. Best friends forever. And that's a PROMISE.

As Pauline Vietjohn clasps the Masked Avenger's hand in her own, the Masked Avenger suddenly produces a pair of handcuffs from her leotard with a flourish, and slaps them on Pauline's wrist. Before Pauline Vietjohn knows what's happened, the Masked Avenger slaps the other end of the cuffs on around a pipe coming out of the wall, handcuffing Pauline to the locker room wall.

M. Avenger: HA!! Sucker! You fell for it hook, line, and sinker! And by the way, I'm STILL not Heather! I was just pretending to be Heather so that you'd fall for my trap!

Pauline Vietjohn shrieks in outrage as she struggles against the handcuffs.

P. Vietjohn: Damn it!! Heather, you bitch, this isn't funny! Give me the key to these handcuffs right now!!

The Masked Avenger pulls a small key out of her leotard and steps away, holding it up for Pauline to see.

M. Avenger: First of all, I'm not Heather. Second of all... you mean this key? I've got OTHER plans for it.

The Masked Avenger opens her mouth, sticks out her tongue, and places the key on it, then closes her mouth on it and swallows.

P. Vietjohn: When I get out of these handcuffs, Heather, you'll be halfway DEAD!

M. Avenger: I'm not Heather. And you're in NO position to be making threats, Pauline. Maybe you'll realize that when I make your situation a little more ridiculous...

The Masked Avenger grabs a second pair of handcuffs out of her leotard, grabs Pauline's other wrist, and cuffs her, then forces that end of the handcuffs to the pipe on the wall as well, despite Pauline's struggles. Then she moves around behind Pauline and unbuttons her cargo pants, and pulls them down to bare her posterior, exposed almost completely by the tiny red thong that she wears. The Masked Avenger pulls the pants off, then slings them over her shoulder and laughs.

M. Avenger: I see Germany, I see France, I see Pauline's underpants!

P. Vietjohn: Shut up, Heather!! It's not funny! Get me out of here, RIGHT NOW!!

M. Avenger: I'm not Heather. And I'm not done with you yet, either...

The Masked Avenger next produces a permanent marker from her leotard, then begins to draw on Pauline's butt. On one side, she draws a goofy smiling face with its tongue sticking out, and on the other she writes "PLACE YOUR AD HERE".

P. Vietjohn: Stop that! What the hell are you doing to me!?

M. Avenger: Okay... someone'll probably be heading this way to look for you soon, and I'd better be gone. They're trying to throw me out of the arena, you know. They have this fool notion that I'm Heather Dannon, and that therefore I'm not supposed to be here, you see. Also, swallowing that key was probably a bad idea, and I'd better go get that taken care of, so I'm off to the hospital to get my stomach pumped. So long for now, Pauline!

The Masked Avenger skips on out the door of the locker room, as Pauline Vietjohn continues to struggle, seething with rage.

P. Vietjohn: HEATHER!! Get back here and help me get out of here! This isn't funny!!

The Masked Avenger's voice echoes back at her from down the hallway.

M. Avenger: I'm not Heather!

Pauline Vietjohn continues struggling, and in a few moments Lars Coverdale and Russel "The Muscle" Taylor enter the room. They don't seem to take notice of her situation immediately.

L. Coverdale: Hey Pauline, aren't you coming to our ma... WHOA!! Look at THAT!!

Lars Coverdale's face spreads in a grin as he tries to fight off a bout of laughter. He quickly loses that fight, doubling over in hysterics as he stares at Pauline. Of course, that only makes her even angrier.

P. Vietjohn: It's NOT funny, Lars! Get me out of here!

Lars Coverdale falls to his knees, incapacitated by laughter, but Russel Taylor approaches Pauline with grave concern and worry on his face.

R. Taylor: She's right, Lars! This must be totally humiliating for her... and she has to be our partner in the next match, too! We have to do something!

Lars Coverdale seems to recover, with great effort, enough composure to speak.

L. Coverdale: Dude... you're SO right. I'll go get Johnny right away.

R. Taylor: Does he have some bolt cutters or something we could use to get these cuffs off?

L. Coverdale: No, but he's GOTTA see this, man. This is the funniest, coolest thing that I've EVER seen in my LIFE.

Lars Coverdale hurries out of the room, and Russel Taylor turns a sympathetic glance back to Pauline Vietjohn.

R. Taylor: I'm so sorry... how'd this happen?

P. Vietjohn: Heather came in, and tricked me... I don't want to talk about it.

R. Taylor: Heather Dannon? That figures. You know, as crazy as this may sound, I'm beginning to suspect that the Masked Avenger is really Heather Dannon, using a clever disguise!

Pauline Vietjohn stares incredulously for a split second, then rolls her eyes, groans, and slumps forward against the wall.

P. Vietjohn: ... Why me!? WHY is my life so bad? What on earth did I ever do wrong?

R. Taylor: Don't worry... it'll all turn around soon enough. Because you're a good person, and our Lord Jesus doesn't let good things go unrewarded for long. It's like the story in the Bible about Job... if you have faith through the bad times, good times will come!

P. Vietjohn: PLEASE don't start laying some religious trip on me right now, okay? That's the LAST thing I need.

R. Taylor: Actually, it may be the FIRST thing you need. Accepting the love of Jesus Christ can turn your entire perspective around, and before you know it, the rest of your life will follow! And, while you're at it, you might want to reconsider your choice in underwear. If you weren't wearing such a... er... scandalous piece of underwear there, she could never have drawn those embarrassing images on your bottom.

Pauline Vietjohn's eyes widen in renewed horror.

P. Vietjohn: She drew PICTURES on my ASS!?

R. Taylor: And you might want to work on your language, too. Impure words are a reflection of an impure--

Pauline Vietjohn grits her teeth and bangs her head against the wall.

P. Vietjohn: I don't wanna hear it right now, okay!? ... Could things GET any worse?

Lars Coverdale walks into the room, leading Johnny Smiles behind him.

L. Coverdale: Dude, you've GOTTA see this...

Johnny Smiles takes one look at Pauline Vietjohn and collapses to the floor, overcome with wild laughter. Lars Coverdale joins him on the floor, and the two of them howl in hysterics as Russel Taylor gives them a sharp glare.

R. Taylor: It's not funny, guys!

Pauline Vietjohn just sighs, and looks up at Russel Taylor.

P. Vietjohn: I've got my own religious belief now, Russel.

R. Taylor: Oh? What's that?

P. Vietjohn: It's simple. I must have been a horrible person in my past life, and already died, because this can only be Hell.

R. Taylor: Oh, no! Don't think that! Things WILL get better!

Russel Taylor turns back to Johnny Smiles and Lars Coverdale, who are just now starting to regain their composure.

R. Taylor: What's wrong with you two? Can't you see the situation this poor woman is in?

L. Coverdale: Yeah, dude. That's why we can't stop laughing!

R. Taylor: I'm ashamed of you guys! Can't you see how utterly serious this situation is? Stop laughing at other people's misfortunes and DO SOMETHING!

J. Smiles: He's right, Lars. Stay here... I've gotta go get something.

R. Taylor: Good thinking! Find some bolt cutters, and we can cut her free!

J. Smiles: I'll do that next. But first, I HAVE to go get my camera... this HAS to go in my scrapbook.

Johnny Smiles darts out of the room.

P. Vietjohn: While you're at it, get me a loaded .38 Special or a bottle of arsenic. I can't bear this any longer.

R. Taylor: Oh, NO!! Don't even THINK that way! I know these are trying times, but suicide is NOT the answer!

A man from the backstage crew comes into the room, giving them all a casual glance at first without paying much attention.

Man: Hey, Russel, Pauline, Lars... you guys are on. Quit fooling around and get out to the ring, or Applebee's gonna be pissed.

R. Taylor: This is a very serious situation! This woman has been cruelly abused and humiliated, and now she's contemplating suicide!

The man takes a closer look at the situation, and his hand goes over his face as he tries not to snicker.

Man: Riiiiiiiight. But seriously, though, if you're not in that ring in thirty seconds, our whole show's gonna be thrown outta whack. He'll probably dock your pay or suspend you or something.

R. Taylor: Well... Lars, I guess we have no choice! We'll have to fight against three-on-two odds tonight! But you... please help us! Stay here with Pauline. Comfort her with soothing words and wise counselling, and whatever you do, DON'T let her take her own life!

Man: Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Russel.

Russel Taylor and Lars Coverdale bolt from the room, hurrying towards the ring so as not to miss their match. The man from the backstage crew just looks at Pauline and shakes his head.

Man: Geez. It's not bad enough that you're hung up like this... you were stuck in here with THAT joker? You DO have it rough.

P. Vietjohn: Oh, you weren't even here for the worst of it. Trust me, it's bad.

Man: Well, I don't have the tools to cut you down, and I don't want to leave you here alone like this with a bunch of macho bikers and gynecologist wannabes roaming the halls. I don't know that I can help you much until I can flag down somebody to watch over you while I go looking for some tools.

P. Vietjohn: Well, I appreciate the gesture, I guess.

Man: Actually, wait... I know what might help you.

The man reaches into his hip pocket and pulls out a large metal flask.

Man: Drown your troubles with a little brandy?

P. Vietjohn: No thanks. My dad always says that only a coward crawls into a bottle when things get rough. Besides, I'm not even twenty-one yet, and the last thing I need right now is to get busted for underage drinking...

From down the hall, footsteps can be heard, and Johnny Smiles's voice echoes to them.

J. Smiles: Hey, Pauline! Are you still in there!? I've got my camera now...

Pauline looks back up at the metal flask, then at the man from the backstage crew.

P. Vietjohn: Germany has different drinking laws than the United States, doesn't it? Pass me that flask, NOW.

The man places the flask in Pauline's hands, and she puts it to her lips and swallows rapidly for several seconds. Then she drops the flask to the floor, where it clatters with a hollow sound, as the camera fades out on the backstage scene.

We're back at ringside, and Chris Champlain, David Wright Hubbard, and Michelle Hubbard are already in the ring, waiting for their opponents. Finally, "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler begins playing, and the crowd cheers as Russel "The Muscle" Taylor and Lars Coverdale begin jogging to the ring together. It looks like this match will be three-on-two, with Michelle Hubbard as an extra member of her team! Lars and Russel slide into the ring, and we're already running late, so Bobcat McGavin wastes no time in calling for the bell!

Lars Coverdale and Russel Taylor dominate the early goings of this match surprisingly well, with their youthful energy and boundless enthusiasm. David Wright Hubbard and Chris Champlain are frustrated several times early on by the quickness of their opponents, with the power of Russel Taylor nicely complimenting the speed of Lars Coverdale. But being two tough, crafty, mean men, David Wright Hubbard and Chris Champlain keep looking for an opportunity to take the advantage, and they get it when Russel Taylor telegraphs a backdrop, allowing David Wright Hubbard to just kick him in the head. That knocks him down and changes the advantage rather sharply.

David Wright Hubbard begins using his high-power brawling offense on his opponents now, alternating with Chris Champlain, who seems to favor a sadistic, pain-inflicting style whereby he tries to work over Russel Taylor's right knee. They tag in Michelle Hubbard and let her get in her licks several times as well, and she actually does pretty well for herself, though unlike her male partners she seems to be more focused on winning the match than on administering a brutal beating. It doesn't hurt her odds that Russel Taylor is extremely reluctant to strike a woman, and Lars Coverdale seems more interested in flirting with Michelle than wrestling her, and doesn't take the hint when she takes him down or punches him in the face.

For several minutes, Lars Coverdale and Russel Taylor are on the losing end of the match, though they get in their share of offense. Russel Taylor's leg is nearly shot as Chris Champlain's focused, sadistic offense takes its toll, and it's only by a supreme act of will that he manages to make the ropes after Chris Champlain puts him in the Texas Cloverleaf. Sensing victory, Chris Champlain stops his assault on the knee to slam Russel Taylor down, then go up and try for his Split-Legged Moonsault... but Russel Taylor gets his knees up! He hollers in pain as Chris Champlain lands stomach-first on his bad knee, but that drives the wind out of Chris Champlain as well! Both men are seriously stunned after that!

They both get up at about the same time, and Chris Champlain kicks Russel Taylor in the kneecap for the early advantage, then backs into the ropes and comes off with a cross bodypress... but Russel Taylor counters it by catching him and turning with his momentum to bring him down in a spinning powerslam! Instead of going for the pin, he rolls over, clutching his knee... that may have taken the last of his strength. Both men are down, and Chris Champlain starts to stir, then staggers to his corner and tags David Wright Hubbard... but Russel Taylor rolls over and makes the tag to Lars Coverdale!

Lars Coverdale comes in loaded for bear, bringing David Wright Hubbard down with a tour de force of quick takedowns, dropkicks, and other such moves that begin to tire him out and work him into a careless, frothing rage. Even their injuries aren't enough to keep Russel Taylor and Chris Champlain down for long, and as Lars Coverdale hits some big moves on David Wright Hubbard, Chris Champlain begins brawling with Russel Taylor, in a fight that ends up making its way up the ramp and backstage, leaving Lars Coverdale alone in the ring! Meanwhile, a Rocker Dropper gets a count of two and a half on David Wright Hubbard for Lars Coverdale.

It seems like David Wright Hubbard's dazed, and Lars Coverdale steps back, stomping his foot as he warms up for his superkick! Michelle Hubbard rolls her eyes and mutters something to herself, then slides into the ring and grabs David Wright Hubbard, thinking to pull him out of the way of the superkick... but as Lars comes in for the kill, David Wright Hubbard pulls Michelle Hubbard INTO the superkick!! Lars Coverdale catches her on the chin, sending her sprawling to the mat, and immediately stares down at her, horrified... and David Wright Hubbard snarls, then rushes forward and nearly beheads him with a HUGE lariat! He covers Lars Coverdale, hooking the tights, and that gets him the three-count and the victory!

The crowd boos, but David Wright Hubbard gets up, smiling triumphantly, and points to his brain as he stares down at the writhing form of Lars Coverdale. He may have used his head, but it was a pretty heartless thing to do to pull his own wife into a superkick! Lars Coverdale's starting to get up, but David Wright Hubbard clobbers him with a forearm to the back, pulls him in a standing headscissors, lifts him, and drives him HARD to the canvas with a massive power bomb! Lars has been flattened, and David Wright Hubbard slides out of the ring... and he grabs a chair! The match is over, but he wants to hurt Lars Coverdale!!

Lars Coverdale slowly begins to stand, and David Wright Hubbard raises the chair to whack him... but Michelle Hubbard's up now, and she pulls the chair out of his hands, then begins arguing with him! He yells something at her, grabs the chair, and pulls it back away from her again, then turns back to Lars... but she grabs him by the shoulder and turns him around, then kicks him in the groin and grabs the chair! David Wright Hubbard doubles over, and Michelle Hubbard raises the chair and lays into him with it! He staggers back a few steps, and she sprints forward, then nails him with a second chairshot to the head, dropping him to the mat! Lars Coverdale gets up and smiles broadly at what he sees, then goes over to Michelle and puts an arm around her... and she pulls away from him, gives him an angry glare, and hits him in the head with the chair as well!

But now David Wright Hubbard's up, and he doesn't look happy. Michelle Hubbard turns around, and he rushes at her and kicks the chair into her face with a big boot! She goes down hard, and David Wright Hubbard stops to flex his knee, then grabs Lars and Michelle by the hair, pulls them both up, and bangs their heads together. They both go down, and David Wright Hubbard grabs Michelle and lifts, Gorilla Pressing her high over his head... and he tosses her out over the top rope to the floor! He smiles and talks trash to her prone form on the outside... but Lars Coverdale's up now, and David Wright Hubbard turns around right into a superkick!

David Wright Hubbard goes down, and Lars Coverdale slides out of the ring, going to help Michelle Hubbard up and see if she's all right... but she stands on her own and just shoves him away. She's half-limping, half-staggering backstage, in quite a bit of pain, but she doesn't want any help. We know that her knees are nearly destroyed after a career of insane hardcore matches in Japan, and she may have blown out a knee when she was thrown over the top rope, but she's determined to walk backstage on her own. Lars Coverdale again tries to offer assistance, but she shoves him away and yells obscenities at him that the cameras don't quite pick up.

As the carnage dies down around the ring, we're going to go backstage to Johnny Smiles again, right before his match with Jacob Idol!

Johnny Smiles is sitting at a table now, with a very inebriated Pauline Vietjohn, who is now unhandcuffed and wearing her Hello Kitty pajama bottoms. He has a large stein two-thirds empty of chocolate milk, and she has a large stein with a little bit of dark beer in it, and they appear to be talking like two old friends.

J. Smiles: Sorry again about that scene backstage. I guess I got caught up in it and things went a little too far.

Pauline Vietjohn is obviously far too drunk now to worry about her earlier humiliation. She's also slurring her speech pretty heavily.

P. Vietjohn: Don't'cha worry 'bout a thing. I mean, it was pretty funny, when I look back at it, with the handcuffs 'n' stuff and everything being so weird... you'll just have to, you know, gimme those pitchers when you get 'em developed. In a few years, I know I'll be laughin' or something when I look back at this.

J. Smiles: I'll do that. You know, it's a shame Marty isn't here...

P. Vietjohn: You wish he coulda been here to see it all?

J. Smiles: Well, yeah. But more importantly, seeing that gave me all kinds of new ideas for neat tricks I could play on him...

As they talk, a dark mood suddenly comes over the area as Jacob Idol approaches the table, dressed to wrestle and glaring at Johnny Smiles.

J. Idol: Hey, Johnny, our match is up next. But before we go out there, I want you to know something. Julian told me to take you out tonight, and Jasmina told me what you did to her earlier tonight. I've got every reason to hurt you very, very badly tonight. It seems like you've been having a good time tonight at everybody's expense... but that comes to a stop NOW. I suggest you enjoy the next few seconds as much as you can... because they'll be the last few seconds you'll have without one of your arms in a cast for quite some time.

Jacob Idol smirks down at Johnny Smiles and shakes his head.

J. Idol: At the heart of it, you're an entertainer... but me, I'm a wrestler. I don't go out to impress those idiots in the stands. I go out to cripple idiots like you. ... So I'll see you in the ring.

Jacob Idol walks away, and Johnny Smiles looks back at Pauline Vietjohn as she drinks the last of her beer.

J. Smiles: Y'know, I liked him better when he was wrestling against the Wrecking Crew in Indecent Exposure Matches. ... Oh, well, wish me luck!

Pauline Vietjohn raises her empty mug in a salute to Johnny Smiles, and he sets his own mug down and gets up, then leaves the area. As he leaves, the Masked Avenger crawls out from under a nearby table and sneaks up on Pauline.

M. Avenger: Nyaah ha!

The Masked Avenger tips Pauline Vietjohn's chair back, sending her toppling to the floor, then grabs Johnny Smiles's mug of chocolate milk and dumps it over her. Pauline Vietjohn is too drunk to even register what has happened right away as she stares up at the Masked Avenger, drenched with chocolate milk.

M. Avenger: Ooh, you've been DRINKING, Pauline! I'm gonna tell your parents, and they'll take away your car! Another victory for the Masked Avenger!!

The Masked Avenger strikes a super hero-like pose over Pauline's fallen body. Pauline Vietjohn just groans and tries to stand up, and as she does the Masked Avenger drops her stolen cargo pants in front of her.

M. Avenger: Here, you can have your pants back. I hope you don't mind, I took five dollars out of your wallet so I can buy myself supper after the show. They even have McDonald's in Germany... isn't that crazy? Anyway, I'll pay you back when I get my allowan--er, my paycheck next week. Actually, better yet... no, I WON'T! I just STOLE five dollars out of your wallet, and you'll NEVER get it back!! Suffer in poverty, you bitch!

Pauline Vietjohn takes her pants back and stares at the Masked Avenger through a drunken haze, then takes out her wallet and looks inside it.

P. Vietjohn: Well, thanks for not taking the other two hunnerd in there, I guess.

M. Avenger: You're welcome. I figured you'd get mad if I took too--HEY!! Give me that back! I need to steal the rest of your money!

The Masked Avenger lunges for Pauline's wallet, but stops suddenly as she looks off into the distance.

M. Avenger: Uh-oh, that's the H.A.R.P. Squad! I gotta go. See you later, Pauline!

The Masked Avenger turns and darts away, and seconds later several members of the H.A.R.P. Squad rush by, chasing after her, as the camera fades out on the backstage scene.

We're back, and we're ready to move along with our next match! "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin begins playing, and the crowd boos loudly as Jacob Idol comes out of the backstage entrance, accompanied by Jasmina Chastity. By this time, Jasmina has changed into some dry, clean clothes, but she still has a severe frown on her face, and she's talking to Jacob Idol as they walk to the ring, no doubt urging him to show no mercy in this match. They come to the ring, and he holds the ropes open for her, then gets in the ring himself and poses for the crowd, which just boos more.

And now "Degenerated" by the Lone Rangers begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd goes wild cheering as Johnny Smiles comes out of the backstage entrance, and begins heading for the ring! This match was born of Julian Page's jealousy towards Johnny Smiles, and there's a lot he can be jealous of. In the past year, Johnny has really prospered, first winning the Big Fight battle royal and the VCW Intercontinental Title, and then winning the Survival of the Fittest tournament and the coveted title shot at Wrestlewar IV! He runs down the aisle, slapping hands with the fans, and slides into the ring... and Jacob Idol immediately begins stomping away at him before he can stand! Jerry Rogers calls for the bell, and this match is on!

Jacob Idol
w/Jasmina Chastity

Jacob Idol makes good use of his cheap early advantage, working over Johnny Smiles's right arm and shoulder. He's employed this tactic successfully against many wrestlers such as Tim Bell and Owen Addison, and it could make a big difference in this match. And it's no secret that Jacob Idol's not just here to win the match, either; he has both Julian Page and Jasmina Chastity crying out for Johnny's blood, and he probably won't be satisfied if Johnny Smiles can walk away from this match uninjured, whether he wins, loses, or draws the match! Johnny Smiles fights back as well as he can, getting a number of good offensive moments in, but Jacob Idol is significantly more talented as a technical wrestler, and the first several minutes of this match are mostly his.

When Johnny Smiles makes it to the ropes in an armbar submission, it frustrates Jacob Idol to see that he still seems to have so much energy, but we know to expect this from Johnny. He lasted over an hour against Troy Black, who was dissecting his right knee for much of the match, and he's not one to submit to a move like that without fighting it with everything he has. Jacob Idol angrily stomps down at Johnny and lifts him for a shoulderbreaker, but Johnny Smiles squirms and slides down his back, grabs him in an inverted facelock, and twists him around into an ACE CRUSHER!! He brought him down on the injured right shoulder, showing questionable judgment, and Johnny's incapacitated with pain for a moment, but that brought Jacob Idol down as well!

They both get up, and Jacob Idol throws a punch, but Johnny Smiles blocks it with his good left arm, then knees him in the midsection and whips him to a corner, and follows him in with a dropkick to the chest! Jacob Idol rocks back against the turnbuckles with the blow, then slumps into a seated position, so Johnny backs up, runs forward, and gives him a low dropkick that connects with his chest again! Then he grabs Jacob Idol by the legs, pulls him out into the middle of the ring, and flips over him into a jackknife pinning position, but only gets a two count before Jacob Idol kicks out. Johnny Smiles whips Jacob Idol into the ropes, then sends him sailing through the air with a big backdrop when he comes off! Jacob Idol gets up again, and Johnny takes him down with a Russian legsweep, then a swinging neckbreaker on the good left shoulder when he stands up again.

Jacob Idol's reeling, but when Johnny slams him to the canvas, then climbs the ropes and comes off with a flying bodypress, he still manages to kick out at two and three-quarters. Johnny pulls him up into a standing headscissors, lifts him, and gives him a power bomb, and while it wasn't as high elevation as David Wright Hubbard's or Crimson's, nor as stiff as Dean Sanders's or Brujah's, it's still enough that Jacob Idol just BARELY saves himself by throwing a shoulder up at the last instant. Sensing victory, Johnny steps back, taking aim for a superkick as Jacob Idol gets up... but when he goes for it, Jasmina Chastity reaches into the ring and trips him!

Johnny Smiles stumbles forward, and Jacob Idol grabs him by the hair and pulls him into a jawbreaker! Jerry Rogers didn't quite catch that, and he goes to Jasmina Chastity, asking if she did, in fact, trip Johnny Smiles... but while he's doing that, Jacob Idol just pulled a pair of brass knuckles out of his trunks! Johnny Smiles gets up... and Jacob Idol NAILS him with a punch to the face from the knuckles! Johnny goes down into a limp heap on the mat, and Jacob Idol quickly tosses aside the knuckles as Jerry Rogers turns around. Idol pulls Johnny Smiles up from behind, then pulls him back and drops him with an INVERTED DDT!! If the brass knuckles didn't do it, that had to; Johnny Smiles has to be unconscious! But Jacob Idol's not going for the pin... he just turns Johnny over, then holds his right arm out straight and starts driving his knee into the shoulder repeatedly!

Jerry Rogers stops Jacob Idol, and begins questioning whether he should just go for the pin and get this one over with. Jacob Idol seems to object, but finally he agrees, covering Johnny Smiles. Jerry Rogers counts... but at two, Jasmina Chastity puts Johnny Smiles's foot on the ropes, and Jacob Idol points that out to Jerry Rogers, stopping his count! They're prolonging the match intentionally so that Jacob Idol can do more damage to Johnny Smiles! Jacob Idol just looks at Jerry Rogers and shrugs, then continues his assault. Johnny is clearly conscious enough now to be in a lot of pain, and he cries out loudly each time when Jacob Idol picks him up and executes a shoulderbreaker on him, then does it again, and a third time! Jacob Idol puts on an armbar again... but Johnny Smiles still refuses to submit! He struggles in the hold for nearly a minute, but somehow manages to make his way to the ropes!

Jacob Idol doesn't seem to have any problem with that now; Johnny doesn't have much left, and his arm has to be nearly crippled by this point. Jacob Idol pulls Johnny Smiles up and hooks him for a single-arm DDT, but Johnny Smiles twists in it and shifts Jacob Idol across his shoulders, hauling him up in a fireman's carry position for the Smiledriver... but his right arm's too weak to hold him as he struggles, and Jacob Idol slips out behind Johnny and grabs him in a waistlock. Johnny Smiles takes a wild swing at him with his left elbow, but Jacob Idol ducks, and Johnny spins around in his grasp. Jacob Idol goes for a Northern Lights suplex, but Johnny stops that with a quick kneelift, then hooks his head and brings him down with a DDT!!

The crowd explodes into cheers, and Jasmina Chastity seems to be on the verge of going crazy on the outside... Jacob Idol had him, and now Johnny Smiles may have one more chance to turn things around! He's fighting with one arm, but at least now he has a fighting chance! They're both down for a few seconds after the DDT, and they both get up slowly. Johnny Smiles goes for a punch with his left, but it's obviously not his favored hand, and Jacob Idol blocks it easily, then kicks Johnny in the midsection. He hauls Johnny up on his shoulders and spins... he's going for the Smiledriver on Johnny Smiles!! But Johnny Smiles slips out behind him, hooks his head, and falls back... INVERTED DDT!! Jacob Idol tried to hit Johnny Smiles with his own move, but Johnny turned around and did the same thing to him! Jacob Idol's down, and Johnny goes for the cover... and gets two and nine-tenths!

Johnny Smiles backs up, this time staying clear of Jasmina Chastity as he waits on Jacob Idol to stand. When he does, Johnny rushes forward and NAILS him with a superkick! The crowd cheers wildly! Jacob Idol may be nearly out now, and Johnny Smiles rolls his right shoulder and rubs it, then pulls Jacob Idol to his feet! Using the strength on his good left side, Johnny lifts Jacob Idol in a fireman's carry and spins... SMILEDRIVER!! He just planted him, and the crowd's on its feet cheering, as Jasmina Chastity seems ready to tear her hair out at ringside! He goes for the cover... but someone's coming out of the backstage entrance! JULIAN PAGE!! Jerry Rogers counts, but before he can get to three, Julian Page reaches into the ring, grabs Johnny Smiles by the leg, and pulls him out, then drops him with a right hand! Jerry Rogers calls for the bell; Johnny Smiles has just won via disqualification!

This match is over... but it looks like Julian Page and Jacob Idol aren't done yet. Julian Page picks Johnny up and rams him shoulder-first into one of the steel ringposts, then rolls him into the ring, where Jacob Idol's just getting up. Julian Page is yelling at Jacob Idol, telling him to get up and work over Johnny Smiles's arm, and Jacob Idol immediately grabs him and puts on an armbar... it doesn't even look like Jacob Idol knows coherently that he's lost the match! He's looking at Jerry Rogers, and he seems to be confused as to why Jerry Rogers isn't asking Johnny Smiles to tap out! But the results are the same... Johnny Smiles is in a world of hurt, and he may be seriously injured!

But wait!! Three people are coming from the backstage entrance... Lars Coverdale, Stacey Lockman, and "The California Crippler" Ken Collins!! Julian Page sees them coming and immediately bolts, running around to the other side of the ring to get away from them. Jacob Idol gets up a little more slowly, and Lars Coverdale and Ken Collins slide into the ring as he stands! Jacob Idol hesitates for a moment, and Ken Collins runs forward, taking off the VCW Intercontinental Title, and nails him across the face with it! Jacob Idol goes down! And on the outside of the ring, Stacey Lockman kicks Jasmina Chastity in the midsection, then brings her down with a DDT! She grabs Jasmina's sweater and strips it off, revealing her ample chest barely contained by a black bra! Despite the pain and cobwebs in her head from the DDT, Jasmina Chastity still folds her arms over herself and begins to stand, staggering away.

Jacob Idol rolls out of the ring, and Ken Collins and Lars Coverdale stand guard over Johnny Smiles as Julian Page, Jacob Idol, and Jasmina Chastity retreat towards the backstage entrance, yelling threats into the ring. Johnny's getting up, with his right arm dangling limply at his side, and Lars Coverdale helps him out of the ring, then walks backstage with him.

Ken Collins is remaining in the ring, evidently, because he's going to be featured in the next match! "War Machine" by KISS begins playing, and that brings out Bass Rogers, to an explosion of cheers from the crowd! At Survival of the Fittest, Bass Rogers wasn't able to capitalize on his shot at the VCW World Title, but now he has a shot at Ken Collins's VCW Intercontinental Title! He storms to the ring with a rough-looking scowl on his face, and slides inside. He's not going to waste any time... they'll get right down to business! Brendan Powers enters the ring and calls for the bell, and that begins this match!

"The California Crippler" Ken Collins (c)
w/Stacey Lockman

They start off by trading chest-chops, and it quickly becomes clear that Ken Collins isn't going to win that exchange, as Bass Rogers cuts him down to size in short order. Bass Rogers attacks with bestial aggression, beating the hell out of Ken Collins. He knows better than to engage him in a technical wrestling match, and he's doing his damndest to make this match into a street fight instead. Ken Collins fights back, but Bass Rogers is a much more physically powerful man, and he dominates for a while, dumping Ken Collins to the outside of the ring and continuing the brawl there.

Outside of the ring, the momentum changes when Ken Collins reverses an Irish whip and sends Bass Rogers shoulder-first into the steel ringpost. That stuns him, and Ken Collins immediately hones in on his injured right shoulder, working it over to set up the California Crossface. They take the match back in the ring, where Ken Collins brings Bass Rogers down with quick hit-and-run tactics and wrestling takedowns, then works over his shoulder with a variety of moves. But Bass Rogers is far from being done, and the growing pain in his arm seems to wake him up and anger him. After enduring some abuse from Ken Collins, he fights his way back to his feet, no-selling all of Ken Collins's moves and bellowing loudly. He goes on the offensive, clobbering Ken Collins with a flurry of mighty offense, though his right arm's weakness seems to be hindering him somewhat.

With Ken Collins reeling, Bass Rogers plants him with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex, then goes for a big splash, but Ken Collins gets his knees up. Bass Rogers gets up, but he's doubled over, clutching his midsection... and Ken Collins gets up as well, then takes him down with a single-arm DDT! He has Bass Rogers down, and he goes up to the top turnbuckle! The crowd's cheering, and Bass Rogers gets up and turns around... right into the FLYING DROPKICK!! He goes down hard, and Ken Collins goes for the cover... but gets only two and nine-tenths!! Bass Rogers survived the Flying Dropkick! Ken Collins pulls him up, and with great effort lifts him for a shoulderbreaker... but Bass Rogers slips out the back, hooks him in a waistlock, and absolutely MURDERS him with a high-angle release German suplex! Ken Collins nearly lands right on his head, then folds up and crumples to a heap!

Bass Rogers gets up, rolling his right arm and smiling through the pain, as Brendan Powers checks on Ken Collins. Amazingly, Ken Collins is starting to get up after that move, and Bass Rogers is motioning for him to get up and bring it on! Ken Collins pulls himself up... and Bass Rogers charges in and CLOBBERS him with a lariat!! He bellows in pain, clutching his arm, but Ken Collins was just demolished by that huge move! Bass Rogers goes for the cover... and only gets a near fall! Angered, he pulls Ken Collins up into a standing headscissors, lifts him, and drives him down with a MASSIVE power bomb!! Stacey Lockman cringes on the outside, and Bass Rogers drops an elbow on Ken Collins with his good left arm, then goes for the cover! Brendan Powers counts... but somehow, Ken Collins throws a shoulder up at two and nine-tenths!!

Bass Rogers gets up, stalking around the ring and running his hand through his thick beard as he catches his breath and contemplates what to do with Ken Collins. Finally, he pulls Ken Collins up, then grabs him and flings him to the canvas with a belly-to-belly suplex. Ken Collins is down, and Bass Rogers pulls him up and whips him into a corner of the ring, then charges in with an avalanche... but Ken Collins gets a boot up into his face! Bass Rogers staggers back, and Ken Collins boosts himself to the top turnbuckle, preparing to take flight... but somehow, Bass Rogers finds the speed to charge forward and clobber him before he can! Ken Collins falls crotch-first to the top turnbuckle, and Bass Rogers climbs up after him! Bass Rogers hooks him for a superplex, and falls back with him... but Ken Collins slips out on the right side and turns horizontally, so he falls across Bass Rogers in a cross-body position! Brendan Powers counts... and Bass Rogers bellows in outrage and makes a BIG kickout at two!

Ken Collins gets up... but Bass Rogers bolts to his feet, running on sheer inner fury, and charges with a huge lariat! But Ken Collins ducks past it, grabs him, and sweeps him into the mat, fluidly hooking him in the CALIFORNIA CROSSFACE!! The crowd explodes into cheers, and Ken Collins has Bass Rogers in the California Crossface in the middle of the ring! Bass Rogers has never tapped out before that we can recall, but that doesn't mean much to Ken Collins... even Tony Garcia tapped out for the first time in the California Crossface!! He pulls back, increasing the strain on Bass Rogers's wounded shoulder... but someone's coming out of the backstage entrance! LANCE ERRINGTON!! And he has a pipe wrench! What's he doing here!?

Lance Errington runs to the ring and slides inside, and Ken Collins just noticed him! Ken Collins stands up... and Lance Errington DRILLS him with the pipe wrench! Ken Collins crumples to the mat, busted wide open, and Brendan Powers immediately calls for the bell!

Ken Collins has just been wiped out, and Lance Errington stomps down at him a few times! Bass Rogers is starting to get up now... and Lance Errington turns and nails him with the pipe wrench too! Bass Rogers is down, Ken Collins is down, and Stacey Lockman is terrified to get in the ring... and now Lance Errington's calling for the microphone! What the hell is he doing!? He kneels down close to Ken Collins, speaking to him almost in an intimate manner.

L. Errington: You'd like to forget about me, wouldn't you, Ken? Everyone would like to forget about Lance Errington. You'd like to forget that, two weeks ago, I beat you in the middle of the ring. But I haven't forgotten, and I'm not letting you forget either. I'm not letting you duck me. I'm not letting VCW sweep me under the rug for some pretty-boy crowd-pleaser like you. You and your pretty girlfriend, and your circle of idiot friends, and your Intercontinental Title... you remind me of the old Lance Errington.

Lance Errington stares down at Ken Collins for a few seconds, then starts to stand.

L. Errington: Ask yourself those questions, for your sake. But don't trouble me with it, because I really don't care about you. I'm looking ahead to myself... myself as the VCW Intercontinental Champion, after I defeat you. And there isn't anybody on the VCW roster who can...

Hold that thought!! "Wait And Bleed" by Slipknot just kicked on, and here comes the Grave Digger!! He charges down the aisle, and Lance Errington stares wide-eyed for a second! Finally, as the Grave Digger slides into the ring, Lance Errington slides out on the other side, then runs around and begins sprinting up the aisle! The Grave Digger slides out of the ring and chases after him in hot pursuit, and the crowd cheers the whole way! What was Lance Errington going to say? There's nobody on the VCW roster who can stop him? We may have just SEEN one man on the VCW roster who WILL stop him, tonight, in the Handicap Casket Match!

Bass Rogers and Ken Collins are coming around now. Both of them seem a little bit hurt, but they're not seriously injured. After a tense moment in the ring, they exchange a reluctant handshake, and begin heading backstage seperately.

But now "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin begins playing, and the crowd boos again as Julian Page comes out of the backstage entrance. We've already seen him once tonight, when he went after Johnny Smiles, and now he has a non-title match with the VCW World Champion! He's dressed somewhat oddly tonight, in a pair of green Army camoflage bell-bottoms, and he doesn't seem happy as he enters the ring and calls for a microphone.

J. Page: Johnny... you got a taste of what's in store for you already. Very, very soon, you'll never trouble me again. But tonight, I still have to prove something to you. I'm going to PROVE that I deserve the Wrestlewar IV title shot more than you do, and I'm going to do it by BEATING the VCW World Champion in a non-title match, right here, in the middle of the ring!!

The crowd boos again... then begins booing even more loudly as "Walk" by Pantera begins playing over the arena sound system! The VCW World Champion, Crimson, steps out of the backstage entrance, looking surly and vicious, and wearing the VCW World Title around his waist! This is a non-title match, but if Julian Page can actually defeat Crimson tonight, he will make a STRONG case for being deserving of a shot at the VCW World Title. Crimson stalks to the ring, glancing at Julian Page with arrogant contempt, then climbs up on the apron and steps over the top rope... but Julian Page rushes forward and pulls the rope up into his crotch! Crimson tumbles forward into the ring in pain, and Linda Peterson enters the ring, calling for the bell to begin the match!

Julian Page makes the most of his sneak attack by quickly going on an aggressive assault on Crimson's right leg, working it over single-mindedly. It may be his only hope, to take Crimson off his feet and weaken him like this, disabling his power offense; if this turns into a straight-up brawl, we KNOW Crimson's going to win easily. Julian Page shows impressive skill in keeping Crimson on the mat for a minute or so as he works over his leg, trying to keep the match on his own terms. It also bears mentioning that about thirteen months ago, Crimson blew out his right knee in a handicap match, and if that injury left any residual damage to his leg, Julian Page will be sure to capitalize on it.

But Crimson's too big and tough to keep down for long, and he manages to pull himself up on the ropes, then absorbs a dropkick to the knee from Julian Page! Julian Page begins getting up, but Crimson is still standing, and he clobbers Julian with a huge right hand as he stands! Julian Page goes flying back and lands in a heap on the mat, then quickly pulls himself up, but Crimson rushes him and mows him down with a lariat! He stops to flex his knee, then lifts Julian Page in a Gorilla Press and tosses him out over the top rope to the floor! Julian Page lands in a mangled heap, and Crimson casually steps out over the top rope to continue the abuse.

Crimson effortlessly brutalizes Julian Page on the outside of the ring, taking him head-first into unforgiving objects and beating the hell out of him. But as he gets careless, Julian Page finds a chance to stop the assault by reversing an Irish whip and sending Crimson into the steel ringsteps! Crimson hits the steps with his knee, and turns back to Julian Page, hobbling severely... and Julian Page measures him, then kicks him square in the crotch! Crimson doubles over, and Julian Page puts him in a standing headscissors, then hooks his arms... SWAN SONG ON THE FLOOR!! He might have a real chance now! That's the kind of offense he'll need to put Crimson away!

Julian Page pulls Crimson up by the hair, and rolls him into the ring, but instead of following him in, he grabs Crimson's legs and pulls him groin-first into the steel ringpost! Crimson bellows in pain, and Julian Page quickly rolls back into the ring to break Linda Peterson's count, then rolls out again and hooks Crimson in a figure-four leglock around the post! Crimson roars and thrashes around, trying to escape the hold, but he can't break it, and has to rely on Linda Peterson's count! Julian Page hangs on for every second he can squeeze out of it, then lets go just before his imminent disqualification. But as a parting shot, he grabs Crimson's right leg, rears back, and wraps it around the ringpost! Crimson bellows in pain again, and Julian Page reenters the ring to continue the assault.

He stomps and kicks at Crimson's wounded knee a few more times, and Crimson begins to fight his way to his feet. But Julian Page cuts him off with a swift kick to the knee, doubling him over, then hooks his head and brings him down with the DDT!! He just planted Crimson, and he goes for the cover... but Crimson kicks out at two!! Julian Page glares down at Crimson venomously, and the camera catches him saying, "If that's how it's gonna be, I'll cripple your big ass," and he grabs one of Crimson's legs, steps around, and slaps on a FIGURE-FOUR LEGLOCK!! Crimson roars in pain, and begins flailing about again. He's not anchored by the ringpost this time, but how much more can he take on his knee?

Julian Page has a sadistic grin as he keeps the hold applied, and Crimson begins trying to turn it over, ignoring Linda Peterson as she asks if he wants to submit... but Julian Page grabs the ropes! He's holding the ropes, preventing Crimson from turning the hold over! Crimson sees that, snarls in rage, and plants his hands firmly on the mat, then gives a HUGE shove backwards, pulling Julian Page away from the ropes and breaking his grip forcefully! What a huge display of power that was by Crimson! And now he begins trying to turn the figure-four. He's making slow progress, trying to turn it over, but after a struggle he gets it turned! Julian Page has to release the hold!

Julian Page gets up, kicking, punching, and stomping at Crimson as he tries to stand, but the blows are having no effect! Worried, Julian Page turns and climbs up to one of the top turnbuckles... but Crimson steps forward and grabs him! Julian Page's eyes widen, and he shakes his head "no" as he begs for mercy, but Crimson just flings him from the top turnbuckle with a huge press slam! Julian Page starts to get up, and Crimson mauls him with a big gutwrench suplex, then pulls him up in a full nelson, shakes him violently, and tosses him to the mat! He stops to flex his knee after that big power move, but Julian Page has just been flattened!

Crimson pulls Julian Page up, clobbers him a few times and whips him into a corner. Julian Page hits the turnbuckles back-first and staggers out, and Crimson grabs his throat!! But Julian Page blocks the Chokeslam attempt with a quick kick to the knee, then knees Crimson in the gut to double him over, puts him in a standing headscissors, and hooks his arms for the Swan Song... but Crimson backdrops out of it! Julian Page goes for a sunset flip to counter, but Crimson catches his balance, then bends down and grabs Julian Page by the throat, hauls him up to his feet, and lifts... CHOKESLAM!! That did it! Crimson just drove Julian Page down hard! He goes for the cover, and Linda Peterson counts to three!

Crimson is victorious, and though he's walking with a slight limp, the triumphant snarl on his face says it all. It doesn't look like Julian Page'll be getting a title shot on the merits of THIS match... non-title or not, he was just beaten cleanly in the middle of the ring! Crimson grabs him and tosses him out of the ring, then calls for a microphone... what's this about?

Crimson: There you go... I'm done fighting these rookies and little punks. I'm in the mood to break a sweat for once. Gabriel Black's been asking about a title shot, and maybe it's high time I answer him. So here's my answer... at Horror Show, in the main event, with the VCW World Title on the line... I'm gonna fucking MURDER Gabriel Black in the middle of the ring. How about that?

The crowd can't contain a few cheers for that announcement. They hate both Gabriel Black and Crimson, but that's one of the few unfulfilled dream matches in VCW right now.

Crimson: Gabriel, I know you think you're riding pretty high right now. You made the big comeback, you got your Television Title, your wife and kids, your big shot at whipping your brother's ass, but let me tell you something. You've got a bad back and a family to support, and running your mouth at me was the biggest mistake you'll ever make. You make it past the Grave Digger in one piece, and I'll GIVE you your title shot. But I hope you enjoyed your big comeback, because after Horror Show the only place anyone's gonna see you is on a list of the Homicide Road Tour's greatest hits.

Crimson drops the microphone and steps out of the ring, where Julian Page's motionless carcass is still laid out! As Crimson heads backstage, let's take a look at the Grave Digger, as he prepares to head to the ring for this match!

In the parking lot, there is a huge casket set out. Well over eight feet long, and unusually wide and deep, it looks big enough to contain two bodies, or one Grave Digger. The Grave Digger approaches the casket and places a hand on it, pausing for a second as he notices the camera.

G. Digger: The end draws near. The headstone is prepared, the earth is still fresh, and the fires of hell wait to claim two damned souls whose foolishness brings them to their death tonight. In a few moments, Gabriel Black and Lance Errington will meet their fatal doom, and the whole of their mortal being will be laid to rest in this casket. The hour of judgment has already come and gone. Now all that remains is the execution... and the BURIAL.

The Grave Digger turns and pushes the casket into the arena, then begins pushing it down the halls towards the ring entrance as the camera watches him go, fading out on the whole scene.

We're back... and the ring is cleared, and everything's ready to go for our main event! "Denial" by Sevendust begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd boos loudly as the VCW Television Champion, Gabriel Black, and Lance Errington, make their way out of the backstage entrance! Gabriel Black is wearing his VCW Television Title, and Lance Errington has his black and silver sequined robe on over his wrestling trunks. Both appear rather solemn as they walk to the ring; for all of their public confidence and bluster, they must know what they're in for. If the Grave Digger can defeat Troy Black and Tony Garcia in a Handicap Match, can any other two men be assured of victory? They enter the ring, and turn to wait for the Grave Digger.

And now "Wait And Bleed" by Slipknot begins playing, and the crowd cheers as the casket comes rolling out of the backstage entrance, with the Grave Digger pushing it! He stares ahead at the ring as he pushes the casket down to ringside, his eyes locked on Gabriel Black and Lance Errington. There's no way around it... whichever way this match goes, it's going to get violent and bloody. You won't get the Grave Digger in a casket without giving him a beating that would disable a main battle tank, and the Grave Digger won't spare one bit of physical punishment from Lance Errington and Gabriel Black. It's not just likely, it's definite... somebody's getting hurt tonight.

The Grave Digger pushes the casket so it's parallel to the ring on one side, then steps up on the apron and climbs in over the top rope. Gabriel Black and Lance Errington are staring at him cautiously, looking just a little bit frightened and upset... but Gabriel Black pulls off the VCW Television Title belt, and Lance Errington reaches into his robe and takes out a pipe wrench! Before the Grave Digger can react, Lance Errington swings the wrench into his midsection, doubling him over, and then Gabriel Black drops him with a shot to the head from the title belt! Bobcat McGavin enters the ring and calls for the bell, and we have a match!

The Grave Digger's down, and Lance Errington and Gabriel Black continue clobbering him with the pipe wrench and VCW Television Title! Unable to stand under this abuse, the Grave Digger rolls out of the ring. He gets out on his feet and reaches in, grabbing Lance Errington by the ankles and pulling him out as well! Lance Errington swings the pipe wrench at him, but the Grave Digger catches his wrist! With his other arm, he throws a forearm up to block a swing of Gabriel Black's VCW Television Title belt from above, then wrests the pipe wrench away from Lance Errington! Lance Errington begins backing off, but the Grave Digger steps forward and NAILS him in the head with the wrench!

The Grave Digger glares down at Lance Errington's fallen body, but Gabriel Black has taken this opportunity to climb to the top turnbuckle, and as the Digger turns back his way, Gabriel Black comes off the top turnbuckle to the floor and hits him in the head with the VCW Television Title! The Grave Digger drops the pipe wrench and crumples to one knee, and Gabriel Black knees him in the midsection, then whacks him in the head with the title belt again. Bobcat McGavin follows them out of the ring and quickly grabs the pipe wrench, then yanks the VCW Television Title away from Gabriel Black. Gabriel whirls around to argue with him, but it looks like Bobcat McGavin's adamant about not letting him use the weapons... and as Gabriel Black tries to get his belt back, the Grave Digger stands up behind him!

Gabriel Black grabs the title belt and tries to wrest it away, but before he can get it the Grave Digger clobbers him in the back, then rolls him into the ring and climbs in after him. Gabriel Black gets up and nails the Grave Digger with a dropkick, but he just staggers back a step! Gabriel starts getting up, but the Grave Digger reaches out, grabs him by the hair, and doubles him over with a massive kneelift! The Grave Digger clobbers Gabriel in the back a few times, then whips him back-first into a corner. Gabriel Black hits the turnbuckles and staggers out, and the Grave Digger catches him and flings him down with the GRAVE YARD SLAM!!

The Grave Digger pulls Gabriel Black up into a cobra clutch, going for the Cradle to Grave, but Lance Errington climbs into the ring behind him and nails him with a low blow! The Grave Digger doubles over, and Lance Errington steps around, hooks his head, and gives him a DDT! He goes up to the top turnbuckle as the Grave Digger gets up, then comes off to nail him with a flying double axhandle! The Grave Digger staggers back, but Gabriel Black's up behind him, and he grabs his head and pulls him down into a reverse neckbreaker. Gabriel Black exchanges a smile with Lance Errington... BUT THE GRAVE DIGGER SITS UP!! Lance Errington jumps back in fright, but Gabriel Black reacts quickly, kicking the Grave Digger in the back of the head, then grabbing his head and flipping over him with a jumping neck snap! Gabriel Black has had a lot of experience fighting opponents who sit up like that...

Together, Lance Errington and Gabriel Black pull the Grave Digger up, lift him in a front chancery, and take him down with a double vertical suplex. But the Grave Digger gets to his feet even more quickly than they do, and when they stand up he cuts them both down with a double clothesline! He pulls Gabriel Black to his feet, tosses him into a corner of the ring, then draws back and blasts him with a massive punch that rocks him back in the corner so hard that he flips over the top rope and tumbles to the floor, next to the casket!! Lance Errington gets up and charges the Grave Digger, but the Grave Digger flings him up with a HUGE backdrop! Lance Errington flies over the top rope, and crashes back-first against the casket at a very unhealthy angle!

The Grave Digger steps out over the top rope and stands on top of the casket as Gabriel Black gets up. He kicks Gabriel Black in the face from the top of the casket, and Gabriel Black staggers back, so the Grave Digger leaps from the top of the casket to cut him down with a flying clothesline! Gabriel Black goes down, and the Grave Digger pulls him up, lifts him high in the air, then drops him throat-first on the steel guardrail! Lance Errington gets up, heavily favoring his back, and the Grave Digger lifts him up as well, then drops him throat-first on the rail too! They're both down, and the Grave Digger picks them both up by the hair, then bangs their heads together and lets them drop again! With the weapons out of the picture, he's dominating two of VCW's top competitors!

The Grave Digger pulls Lance Errington up, stuns him with a kneelift, and whips him into the steel ringsteps. Errington hits hard, knocking the steps over, and crumples to a heap at ringside! Gabriel Black's starting to get up, and the Grave Digger clobbers him with a huge blow to the side of the head, then tosses him up on the announcers' table! The Grave Digger goes up with him and starts to pull him up, but Gabriel Black catches him with a low blow! The Grave Digger doubles over, and Gabriel Black crawls off of the table, then grabs a steel chair and whacks the Grave Digger in the head with it! The Grave Digger crumples to the table, and Gabriel Black takes a moment to shake off the abuse he's taken, then shoves the edge of the chair into his throat, choking him!

Lance Errington's up now, and he joins Gabriel Black in pressing the chair into the Digger's throat... but Gabriel Black eases up on him! He says something to Lance Errington, and Lance Errington tosses the chair aside and begins hammering the Grave Digger with right hands as Gabriel Black climbs up on the apron and goes to the top turnbuckle! Lance Errington sees him up there and stands aside, and Gabriel Black leaps off with a SHOOTING STAR PRESS TO THE OUTSIDE!! He connects with the Grave Digger, sending him crashing through the announcers' table, then rolls off of him, clutching his own ribs. Gabriel Black just took flight like a junior-heavyweight and put the Grave Digger through the announcers' table!

Lance Errington pulls the Grave Digger up and rolls him into the ring, then quickly climbs in after him. He grabs the Grave Digger's legs, steps through, and puts him in the Scorpion Deathlock!! The crowd boos, and everyone knows this won't win the match for Lance Errington; he has to put the Grave Digger in the casket to do that, not make the Grave Digger tap out! He's being purely sadistic here, but the Grave Digger's just getting mad! He grimaces and puts his hands to the mat, using his strength to push up out of the Scorpion Deathlock... but now Gabriel Black is up on the apron, and he leaps up on the top rope, then springs off with a springboard legdrop to the back of the Grave Digger's head! That sends him crumpling back down to the canvas, and the crowd boos loudly.

Gabriel Black rolls out of the ring again and grabs a steel chair, then slides inside with that as Lance Errington releases the Scorpion Deathlock. Lance Errington pulls the Grave Digger up in a full nelson, and Gabriel Black charges with the chair... but the Grave Digger throws a massive boot up and kicks the chair right into Gabriel Black's face, then breaks the full nelson with ease and whirls around to cut Lance Errington down with a huge clothesline! Lance Errington starts to pull himself to his feet, but the Grave Digger lifts Gabriel Black up in a Gorilla Press, then tosses him down onto Errington! Gabriel Black starts getting up, but the Grave Digger grabs the chair up off of the mat, raises it, and KILLS Gabriel Black with a brutal chairshot! Gabriel Black is left in a comatose heap on the mat!

Lance Errington starts to stand now, and the Grave Digger jabs the edge of the chair into his midsection, doubling him over, then grabs him by the throat! Lance Errington struggles and squirms, but the Grave Digger lifts him... CHOKESLAM ON THE CHAIR!! He's down! Now the Grave Digger sets the chair up, pulls Gabriel Black to his feet, and scoops him up with a rear gutwrench, then gives him a SIDEWALK SLAM ON THE CHAIR!! The seat of the chair bends under Gabriel's back, and he collapses to the mat, writhing in pain! And now the Grave Digger's sliding out of the ring!

Lance Errington and Gabriel Black are both incapacitated on the inside of the ring, and the Grave Digger reaches under the ring and pulls out a table! He slides it into the ring and sets it up, then places Lance Errington on it. Then he pulls Gabriel Black up, gives him a huge backbreaker, then tosses him onto the table atop Lance Errington! He has them both stacked up on the table, and he steps out to the apron and climbs to the top turnbuckle, and leaps off with a FLYING ELBOWDROP THROUGH THE TABLE!! He just put BOTH Lance Errington and Gabriel Black through the table with that huge move!

But the Grave Digger's still not done! He slides out of the ring and grabs the steel ringsteps, then slides in under the bottom rope with them as Gabriel Black and Lance Errington start to stir. Lance Errington gets up first, and the Grave Digger just FLATTENS him with a blow to the head from the steel ringsteps! The Grave Digger turns and rushes Gabriel Black now... but Gabriel brings him down with a drop-toe hold that causes him to fall face-first onto the steps! That brought the Grave Digger down! Gabriel Black gets to his feet again, wincing in pain as he puts a hand to his lower back and leans on the ropes for support. The Grave Digger has beaten the hell out of him tonight!

The Grave Digger's getting up now, so Gabriel Black grabs the chair, boosts himself up to the second turnbuckle, and leaps off to nail the Digger in the head with a chairshot. The Grave Digger goes down to one knee, and Gabriel Black draws back and hits him with the chair again, then gives him another shot to the head that finally crumples him to the mat and busts his forehead open! Gabriel Black stands over him and drives the edge of the chair down repeatedly into the back of his neck! Damn it, he's trying to decapitate him with the edge of the chair!

After several jabs to the back of the neck, Gabriel Black steps back and whacks the Grave Digger in the head with a couple chairshots, then sets the chair down. He pulls the Grave Digger into position for a piledriver on the chair, but he can't manage to lift him! Lance Errington's starting to get up, but the Grave Digger counters the piledriver with a huge backdrop that sends Gabriel Black crashing to the mat, then rushes Lance Errington and knocks him off his feet with a Yakuza kick! They just can't keep the Grave Digger down for more than a moment! He's bloody and battered, and he's taken enough damage to sink a battleship, but he's not slowing down a bit!

Gabriel Black and Lance Errington both begin getting up... and the Grave Digger grabs each of them by the throat! He lifts... DOUBLE CHOKESLAM!! Lance Errington and Gabriel Black are laid out, side by side, and a snarl crosses the Grave Digger's bloody face as he draws his thumb across his throat! He pulls Lance Errington up and lifts him... BURIAL!! Lance Errington has been buried!! Now he lifts Gabriel Black for the Burial... but Gabriel Black counters it with a spinning headscissors somehow! They both get up, the Grave Digger a little bit ahead of Gabriel, and the Digger charges... but he runs right into a kick to the midsection! He's stunned momentarily, and Gabriel Black boosts himself up to the second turnbuckle, then leaps off with a flying cross bodypress... but the Grave Digger catches him, then turns him down into position and gives him the BURIAL!! He got Gabriel Black with it as well!!

Gabriel Black and Lance Errington are both flattened, and it's time to put this match to an end! The Grave Digger rolls out of the ring and opens the casket... and a hand shoots up out of it, holding a can of pepper spray, and sprays the Grave Digger in the eyes!! He staggers back, clutching his face, and Derek Cole emerges from the casket! No, come on!! He's not even supposed to be in the building, damn it!! He steps out and tosses the pepper spray aside, and it rolls to a corner of the ring. then goes to the timekeeper's table and grabs the ring bell! The Grave Digger's staggering around, blindly swinging at anything near him, and Derek Cole creeps up on him, then nails him in the head with the ring bell! The Grave Digger's staggered a bit, but he doesn't go down... in fact, he swings and catches Derek Cole with a wild backhand that knocks him to the floor!

Derek Cole pulls himself to his feet and nails the Grave Digger with a snap kick to the side of the knee, then a kick to the ribs, and follows that up with a quick straight punch to the nose. But the Grave Digger just ignores all that and grabs Derek Cole by the throat, then lifts him... CHOKESLAM!! He wiped him out! He rubs at his face, trying to clear his eyes, then climbs back into the ring! Even Derek Cole's interference didn't derail the Grave Digger for long!

Lance Errington and Gabriel Black are starting to stir, and the Grave Digger immediately begins stalking towards Lance Errington. Lance Errington scoots backwards into a corner, desperately backing up to avoid the advancing Grave Digger. But one of his hands finds the can of pepper spray, and he quickly raises it and sprays the Digger in the face with it! The Grave Digger clutches at his face and staggers away, blinded again, and now Gabriel Black's up, and he goes to the top turnbuckle! The Grave Digger staggers towards him, blinded... and walks right into the DESTINY HAMMER!! That knocked him flat on his back!!

The Grave Digger's down, and Gabriel Black says something to Lance Errington, then begins trying to lift the Grave Digger. Lance Errington comes to help him, and the two of them together seem to be just BARELY able to lift the massive Grave Digger upside-down! Gabriel Black's holding him in an upside-down belly-to-belly position, with Lance Errington's help. No, don't do it... is he going to... DESTINY DRIVER!! HE GAVE HIM THE DESTINY DRIVER!! DAMN IT!! The crowd explodes into boos, and the Grave Digger crumples to the mat and deflates! Gabriel Black just hit the Grave Digger with the Destiny Driver!! That move broke Steve Austin's neck! It broke Troy Black's neck! And now, the Grave Digger just had all of his nearly four hundred pounds driven straight down on his neck in the Destiny Driver!!

Gabriel slumps back against the ropes, spent from the effort of lifting the Grave Digger even with Lance Errington's help, and a weary, cruel smile slowly spreads across his face as he looks down at the fallen body of the Grave Digger. He promised... he SWORE upon the life of his daughter that he'd destroy the Grave Digger, that this would be the LAST we see of the Grave Digger in VCW, and he just used the one move that'll make that promise a reality! Gabriel stares down at the motionless Grave Digger with an evil smile, and Lance Errington falls to his knees and bows down in front of Gabriel Black as if worshipping him.

The crowd's boos are deafening as Lance Errington and Gabriel Black slowly lift the Grave Digger and carry him to the open casket. The Grave Digger needs medical attention now, and should probably be placed on a stretcher, and not in a casket, but Gabriel Black and Lance Errington want to put the finishing touches on this match! They roll him into the casket, and Gabriel Black spits on his motionless form, then slams the lid shut and locks it!! Bobcat McGavin calls for the bell, and this match is over!!

The crowd boos loudly, and Lance Errington raises his arms in victory, then rushes forward and gives Gabriel Black a big, enthusiastic hug. They seperate and exchange a double high-five, and from the camradarie we're seeing here, it looks like no matter what they've said, they were in this together all along! Gabriel Black reaches under the ring... and grabs a can of spray paint!? He walks over to the casket, opens the can, and spray paints "S-M-C-W" on the side of the casket, then chucks aside the can. And now Gabriel Black and Lance Errington grab the casket, lift at one side, and tip it over on its side with a big shove, as the crowd continues booing loudly!!

Gabriel Black rolls into the ring and calls for a microphone, and he quickly gets one. Weary and battered, he slumps against the ropes, and begins to speak in a breathless, but loud and commanding voice.

G. Black: Make no mistake... the Grave Digger is no more. You saw me face the biggest... the most dominant man in this company... and I DESTROYED him. I utterly ANNIHILATED him. So Applebee... Brujah, Troy... even Crimson... ANYONE who crosses me... if I can do THAT to the Grave Digger... just IMAGINE what I'll do to YOU.

Gabriel Black throws down the microphone, then goes up to the top turnbuckle and poses with arms raised high, and the crowd responds with a deafening round of boos and a hail of garbage. Gabriel Black and Lance Errington have destroyed the Grave Digger... is anyone safe now? Can Gabriel Black do that to Crimson? What's in store for the future!? We're out of time now!! Join us next week!!

Link to Welcome Page.