Welcome to VCW Monday Night Wrestling, coming at you live from the Alamo Dome in Texas! Two exciting main-event level matches have already been announced! Pauline Vietjohn will team up with Troy Black against Melissa DelArmeggio and the VCW Intercontinental Champion Lance Errington, and "The California Crippler" Ken Collins will team up with Russel "The Muscle" Taylor against Desmond and the VCW World Champion Crimson! And we still have a lot more to come! We... hold on!

"Denial" by Sevendust begins playing over the arena sound system, and it sounds like we'll start off the show with an overly long self-promotion session. The crowd boos as Derek Cole walks out of the backstage entrance, Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon! A few steps behind them, Gabriel Black steps out, and... oh, for God's sake, in addition to the VCW Television Title, he's wearing a white cowboy hat and leather cowboy boots and a business suit with a Southern-style string tie fastened with a miniature golden cowskull! What the hell's gotten into him!? At least Lance Errington, Melissa DelArmeggio, and "Superstar" Sean Black seem to be absent from this gathering, so maybe it won't run quite so long. They all walk to the ring, and Derek Cole grabs a microphone.

D. Cole: Ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to present to you the next VCW World Tag Team Champions, Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon, and the greatest VCW Television Champion of all time, Gabriel Black! Give them a hand!

Jacob Idol looks at Gabriel Black as if seeking approval, and Gabriel Black nods. Jacob Idol takes the microphone and smirks as he looks around at the crowd.

J. Idol: You hear that, Owen? We're the next VCW World Tag Team Champions. A few people have cheated their way to unfair fluke victories against us in the past week, but make no mistake about one thing: we're STILL the number-one contenders to the VCW World Tag Team Titles. You know why? Because at Spontaneous Combustion, the Ontario Colour Show couldn't beat us. They had to stall for time and run down the clock. But as you watch the conclusion of that match, you can see: another thirty seconds, and those titles would've changed hands.

Evidently, Jacob Idol's claiming that they deserve a rematch because they didn't technically lose the match at Spontaneous Combustion. He might have a point, but there are several other top VCW tag teams who are waiting for a shot too.

J. Idol: Everybody knows we've beaten the Ontario Colour Show dozens of times, and the simple fact is, there is no other competition. Anybody with a brain can see that the Tough Customers are just a fat old hillbilly and a dumb jock. You think Darren Michaels is a tough customer? Even now... even TODAY, in 2001, put that son of a bitch on an amateur mat with Verne Gagne or Harley Race, never mind that they're thirty or forty years past their prime, and just see how long he lasts. Tough Customer, my ass! Maybe it's just the way I was trained, but I was always under the impression that wrestlers had to be able to kick somebody's ass!

The crowd boos, and the boos only get louder as Gabriel Black takes the microphone. A toothy, wide-eyed, stupid-looking grin immediately creeps onto his face, and he waves to the crowd in a friendly fashion.

G. Black: Wayyll, howdy, pardners! Ahh shore am glad VCW came down here to Texas! Ahh'm a-gonna whoop me some yellah-bellied polecat tonight, and then ahh'm gonna stomp around in cow manure, eat me a buncha batter-dipped deep-fried steak, drink me some weak-ass lukewarm draft beer, chew me a big wad of tobacco, then mosey on back to mahh double-wahhde and beat mahh wife fer mouthing off! Ahh'm a-gonna have a rootin'-tootin' good time down here in Texas! YEEEE-HAWWW!!

The crowd boos loudly and throws some rubbish into the ring, and Gabriel Black stops and looks around at them angrily. Derek Cole quickly takes the microphone and raises it.

D. Cole: People, PLEASE! You should be HONORED that none other than Gabriel Black is trying to lower himself to your level and follow your customs to fit in down here in this filthy, Godforsaken state! Please, show some respect!

Oh, please. Gabriel Black is laughing with Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon in a corner of the ring, and the crowd just keeps booing. Finally, Gabriel Black grabs the microphone, then takes off his cowboy hat, throws it to the mat, and stomps it flat with his cowboy boots. He looks down at it in disgust, then looks around at the crowd with the same expression on his face.

G. Black: We should have given this deplorable hellhole back to Mexico a long, long time ago. ... And actually, there's no reason why we still couldn't. I'm sure most of you people are illegal immigrants from Mexico anyway. It'd be like a fond homecoming for you! And no matter how squalid, how miserable the conditions are back in Mexico, they COULDN'T be worse than they are here in Texas.

The crowd's boos get even louder, and more trash comes sailing at Gabriel Black. He just looks around at them and smirks.

G. Black: Please, at least consider the idea. Do you realize that you people are the reason why your home country never places well in the Summer Olympics? I mean, after all, how is Mexico supposed to earn a gold medal in any Olympic event when all of the Mexicans who can run, swim, or jump are over here!?

The crowd's boos remain at a deafening volume, and more trash comes flying into the ring. A cup filled with cola sails at Gabriel Black's head, and he narrowly ducks in time to avoid it, causing it to explode with a huge splash on the canvas. He looks up, and now his smirk is replaced by an angry snarl!

G. Black: If you throw even ONE more thing into this ring, I'm going to call the INS and tell them to do a citizenship check on every last one of you! Then you'll ALL be making a run for the border!!

A few more pieces of trash come flying into the ring, but it actually appears that the crowd has already thrown most of their trash into the ring and doesn't have much left. The smirk returns to Gabriel Black's face.

G. Black: I really should have expected this. I mean, I know that most of you can't afford a television with your fifty-cent-an-hour jobs picking lettuce and shoveling cow dung, so you probably aren't in a position to properly appreciate the greatest VCW Television Champion in history. That's entirely understandable.

Gabriel Black paces in the ring for a few seconds, then raises the microphone again.

G. Black: But you know, it's true, although there have been some doubters. They said I wasn't a fighting champion. They said I never successfully defended the title. But last Friday in Florida, that's exactly what I did when I dominated Dean Sanders and beat him in the middle of the ring!

That's true; Gabriel Black did defeat Dean Sanders to successfully retain the VCW Television Title last Friday. But what's he getting at?

G. Black: I'm not just the greatest VCW Television Champion in history, I'm the greatest WRESTLER of ALL TIME. I've proved it time and time again, and at Deck the Halls I'll prove it again by facing Johnny Smiles and destroying him for sixty straight minutes in an Iron Man Match. And I'll prove it again tonight. I'll prove that I AM a fighting champion by defending the VCW Television Title in an epic confrontation in the main event, right here, tonight!

The crowd continues to boo. They don't trust Gabriel Black one bit, as well they shouldn't.

G. Black: I've hand-picked an opponent tonight who is a top-quality athlete. He's a young man with limitless potential and endless reserves of raw ability. Everyone who's laid eyes on him has said that he has a bright future, full of fame and prestige, in the professional wrestling business. But tonight, the FUTURE is NOW. Because my opponent, the first-rate challenger who I have chosen to offer a shot at the VCW Television Title in tonight's main event, is none other than "SKYHAWK" QUINN HARPER!!

The crowd boos, and Gabriel Black grins to himself as Jacob Idol, Rob Solomon, and Derek Cole all laugh in the corner. Quinn Harper is a great young athlete who probably does have a bright future, but at this stage in his career a match with Gabriel Black has to be considered a serious mismatch! And... uh-oh, "Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive just kicked on, and the crowd cheers loudly as VCW Commissioner James Applebee comes out of the backstage entrance and begins walking to the ring! He climbs inside and quickly grabs a microphone.

J. Applebee: Gabriel... maybe you've forgotten something, but you're not the one who makes the main events around here. I am. Do you really think I'd let you make some phony, trumped-up challenge to just anyone with the VCW Television Title on the line?

Gabriel Black gives James Applebee a puzzled look.

G. Black: Hey! What're you trying to say, that Quinn Harper's not a worthy adversary?

T. Bell: Yeah, Applebee... what are you trying to say?

Hold it, Tim Bell and "Skyhawk" Quinn Harper just walked out of the backstage entrance, and Tim Bell has a microphone! He stands at the top of the ramp and looks down into the ring.

T. Bell: See, I'm very familiar with the VCW Television Title myself, Gabriel. I'm sure you all remember that I've held that title on four separate occasions.

Rob Solomon takes Gabriel Black's microphone...

R. Solomon: Not really. I mean, everything you're involved in is so boring, I'm sure people just block it out of their minds.

Gabriel Black quickly takes back his microphone, and he seems to say something in an angry tone to Rob Solomon, who just gives him a sheepish grin in response. Undaunted, Tim Bell continues to speak.

T. Bell: The point is that the VCW Television Title isn't locked away in some trophy case and brought out only on pay-per-view. It's a fighting champion's title, and it's supposed to be defended on a weekly basis on TV. Now, up until a short time ago, Gabriel hasn't exactly been a fighting champion. But tonight, it seems to me that we have a situation where the champion has made a challenge, and all that's left is to accept it. So, Commissioner, I'll ask you again... just what ARE you trying to say?

James Applebee looks a little uncomfortable as he looks at Gabriel Black, then stares down the aisle at Tim Bell and Quinn Harper. Nonetheless, he raises the microphone.

J. Applebee: With all due respect, Quinn... you don't have anything close to the in-ring experience that Gabriel Black does. And you've been back less that two weeks from a severe neck injury... and now you're considering a challenge from the man with the Destiny Driver, a man who specializes in causing severe neck injuries. Your time will come, Quinn. You DO have a bright future. But--

Hold it, Quinn Harper just grabbed the microphone from Tim Bell!

Q. Harper: You heard Gabriel. The future is NOW. You say he can't make a challenge to just anyone? Well, he didn't make a challenge to just anyone. He made a challenge to ME. And I think it's my right to decide whether or not to accept it.

Gabriel Black nods and grins.

G. Black: See? He's a smart guy. Come down here, Quinn. Come on in here, and let's talk this over face-to-face.

Quinn Harper starts walking down the ramp with no hesitation, and Tim Bell walks with him. They make their way to the ring and climb inside, looking around warily at the Unholy Alliance. Rob Solomon steps forward with a smile and starts saying something to them... and without warning, Tim Bell just LAYS HIM OUT with a lightning-quick right hand! In a flash, Rob Solomon's on the canvas, clutching his face and grimacing! He bolts up to his feet, looking ready to kill, but Jacob Idol and Derek Cole stop him and start talking to him. Gabriel Black just gives him a stern look and raises the microphone.

G. Black: You had that coming. Now let me talk to them, okay?

Gabriel Black stops and looks Quinn Harper up and down.

G. Black: You know, you're taller than I thought you'd be. You may have some real potential. If you just gain a little more experience and find a good growth supplement so you're not so scrawny, you could be a force to be reckoned with.

Quinn Harper smiles and shakes his head.

Q. Harper: I already am. You just don't know it yet.

G. Black: Oh, you're a fine athlete, to be sure. You've already turned a few heads with your quickness. But you know what? You're not as quick as me, and you're not as athletic as me. In fact, on every level, you're just not as good as me. And you never will be. But don't take it personally, since nobody else ever will be either.

Q. Harper: That's where you're wrong. I AM quicker than you. And we'll just find out tonight if I'm better than you.

Gabriel Black smiles, and gives Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon a look as if to say "get a load of this guy."

G. Black: Really? What gives you the idea that you're quicker than me?

Q. Harper: If I wasn't... I'd never get away with doing THIS.

Quinn Harper slaps the taste out of Gabriel Black's mouth and swiftly slides out of the ring to the floor before Gabriel Black can react! Gabriel Black reaches for him, furious and stunned, but Quinn Harper's already well out of reach, watching him up at him with an amused grin! James Applebee watches, and looks at Tim Bell, then Gabriel Black.

J. Applebee: All right, I see how it has to be. You've got it, Gabriel. You can have your title defense with Quinn Harper. But everyone makes a good point that the VCW Television Champion should be a fighting champion. So I'm also offering every last worker in the building who's not already booked tonight a chance to sign up for a fifteen-man battle royal. And whichever one of you walks out of here with the VCW Television Title will defend it against the winner of that battle royal!

Gabriel Black shrugs.

G. Black: So what you're saying is that after I beat him tonight, then next week I have to fight whoever wins this little enhancement talent battle royal tonight. Splendid.

J. Applebee: I said everybody who's not booked. And yes, that includes unproven workers like the Green Dragon or Tom Guycot... but it also includes people like David Wright Hubbard, Lars Coverdale, and Brujah. It also includes your two friends there, Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon. And it also includes the man you tried to cripple at Spontaneous Combustion, the man who's already booked to face you for one SOLID HOUR at Deck the Halls, JOHNNY SMILES!!

Wow! The crowd cheers loudly! If and when Gabriel Black makes it out of here tonight with the VCW Television Title, he'll have to face the winner of that battle royal next week! And it could be one of his two allies in the Unholy Alliance, or it could even be Johnny Smiles! The VCW Television Title scene just got a hell of a lot hotter! Gabriel Black stops and turns a worried look at Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon, who exchange a glance and then both quickly begin to reassure him. Quinn Harper smiles and raises the microphone on the outside...

Q. Harper: Don't worry, Gabriel. None of that matters. If Johnny Smiles beats all fourteen other guys in that ring, including your two cronies there... I'll be the one defending the VCW Television Title against him. Not you.

The crowd cheers loudly, and "Takin' Care of Business" starts playing again as Gabriel Black stops to talk to Derek Cole, Jacob Idol, and Rob Solomon. Tim Bell leaves the ring and begins heading backstage with Quinn Harper, and what an announcement! We have our main event, and it's certainly possible that we could see Quinn Harper walk out of here with the VCW Television Title, or see one of fifteen other men challenge for it next week!

As this segment wraps up, we're going to go to backstage to take a look at the VCW World Champion, Crimson, who will team with Desmond tonight against Russel "The Muscle" Taylor and "The California Crippler" Ken Collins! And then we're going to take a look at the Knights of the Squared Circle. As far as we know, they're not booked tonight, so we might see them preparing to put their names down for the fifteen-man battle royal later on tonight. Let's go backstage now!

Crimson is standing backstage and leaning on the wall, with the VCW World Title around his waist. He looks somewhat bored and annoyed. Ziggy Adderloaf is standing near him, but seems hesitant to approach him. Crimson just gives him a disgusted look.

Crimson: I know why you're here. You're here because you wanna ask me a bunch of stupid questions and put it up on the TV. But you've got this little feeling deep down somewhere, some kind of primitive survival instinct that's telling you you'd better just back off. Ain't that right?

Ziggy Adderloaf hesitates and swallows.

Z. Adderloaf: Yeah, sort of--

Crimson: Shut up, you pathetic son of a bitch. If I wanted shit from you, I'd scrape your tongue. See, you're right to listen to that little feeling. I don't feel like listening to a bunch of your stupid questions right now.

Z. Adderloaf: Okay, then I'll just--

As Crimson interrupts Ziggy Adderloaf, Desmond quietly wanders up next to them.

Crimson: You'll just shut up, if you know what's good for you. Listen... we're in Texas tonight. A few years back, I was riding through Texas, and at high noon my Harley took a shit on me in the middle of the desert. As I started walking down that deserted dirt road, the sun was beating down on me, a hundred degrees or more, and I was sweating so hard it ran down in my boots and filled 'em up. It was the kind of heat that can kill a man by dehydration in a few hours, and I didn't have any water on me. But I grabbed every rattler and scorpion I found along the way, and I squeezed the poison right out of them, and I drank that.

Ziggy Adderloaf nods, paralyzed with terror, but Desmond just stares in rapt admiration, then begins to applaud. Crimson whirls around and sees him standing there, and scowls.

Desmond: If you don't mind my saying so, that was a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Crimson: What the hell are you doing here?

Desmond gives him a sincere grin.

Desmond: My favorite part is where you squeeze the poison out of the scorpions and snakes and drink it.

A short awkward moment passes in which Crimson stares at Desmond, clearly at a loss for words. Desmond just grins back at him earnestly.

Crimson: Listen, I... let me tell you, uh, first of all... fuck it. ... Look, even if you're a big overgrown mask-wearing freak, what I was telling this punk still applies to you. Don't piss me off, or you might not make it to see another day. Later on, we're in a tag team match against Ken Collins and Russel "The Muscle" Taylor. Now I just don't know what Ken Collins is all about, but he ain't nothing compared to me. Russel, on the other hand, I know him real well. And I know one other thing: you pull your weight in this match, and it'll go real easy on both of us. But if you drop the ball and I have to break a sweat beating both their asses myself, I'm coming for you when I'm done. You get what I'm saying?

Desmond: Don't worry. I won't let you down... because I like you.

Crimson stares up at Desmond with another awkward stare. Desmond grins at him for another second or two, then turns away shyly.

Desmond: It's okay. You don't have to talk right now if you don't want to. I'll see you when it's time for our match.

Desmond walks away, and Crimson stares after him for a few seconds, then shakes his head.

Crimson: That son of a bitch has some problems.

Crimson glances over at Ziggy Adderloaf, and his eyes narrow in annoyance.

Crimson: There any particular reason you haven't gotten the fuck out of my sight yet?

Ziggy Adderloaf takes the hint and quickly runs off down the hall, and the camera fades out as Crimson looks disgusted and goes back to leaning on the wall.

All three members of the Knights of the Squared Circle are backstage. Jockey Oldcastle is sitting down watching a monitor, but Monty Pompous and Jacques Normandy are standing up.

J. Normandy: Hearken well to what I'm about to tell y'all, my true and brave companions! Truly, we must make great haste and get our butts down to the booking office to sign up for that fifteen-man battle royal!

J. Oldcastle: You may go, good musketeer. I have grander concerns before me.

Monty Pompous seems confused, and puts a hand on Jockey Oldcastle's shoulder.

M. Pompous: The apathy in your voice confounds me, brave knight. I should believe that you, of all people, would have the greatest advantage in this battle royal. The eliminations are accomplished by throwing an opponent over the top rope to the floor, and I daresay that all fourteen other warriors working together could not hope to achieve that feat against you.

J. Oldcastle: You are very probably correct, and yet it is not to be. The woman who loves me will soon make her appearance, and I am determined not to miss it.

Monty Pompous grins.

M. Pompous: What's this? Has your great heart truly been stricken by love? Truly, I had oft feared that such a cruel moment would come, but in my imaginings of the future it was cardiac arrest, not love, that plagued your noble heart.

J. Normandy: By the pearls of Venus, is there truly a divine and resplendent creature who's so goddamn hot you just can't wait to fuck her? What is the name of this exquisite and worthy maiden with the killer ass and huge tits?

J. Oldcastle: Friends, the beautiful Vivacia has fallen in love with me, and I intend to return her affections ere long. You surely witnessed our passionate embrace last Friday in Florida, and there have been other signs. Her gaze of white-hot, amorous lust has shone upon all the parts of my body, from my handsome face and mighty biceps to my broad chest and round belly.

Monty Pompous turns and talks to Jacques Normandy in a low tone of voice.

M. Pompous: The sun's radiance may also shine down upon a foul heap of refuse, and that signifies no more than this.

Monty Pompous and Jacques Normandy exchange a chuckle, but Jockey Oldcastle doesn't notice them as he continues speaking.

J. Oldcastle: Therefore, my fellow bravos, make haste to the offices where you might find entry into this battle royal, but I will remain here, to await the arrival of the one who adores me.

Monty Pompous draws back to speak to Jacques Normandy in a low tone again.

M. Pompous: It may be for the best that he does not come with us. He would lose his breath in the walk to the booking office, and be a long time in finding it again.

As Monty Pompous and Jacques Normandy chuckle to one another again, Hasan Gilden walks past them, with his arm around the waist of La Princesa Lobo.

J. Normandy: You have the right of it, sir. But may his yearning heart not keep us from hauling ass down to the booking office and getting signed up for that battle royal!

Hasan Gilden stops.

H. Gilden: The fifteen-man battle royal tonight? You guys are too late! Hot Stuff just got the last spot a minute or two ago. What are you thinking? You losers really need to get with the program, you know?

Hasan Gilden and La Princesa Lobo walk away laughing, and Monty Pompous and Jacques Normandy exchange a frustrated glance.

J. Normandy: Truthfully, my most noble friends, this is a bunch of bullshit! My mind is astounded and my warrior spirit is shattered for want of an opportunity to get us a spot in that battle royal and kick ass and take names!

Monty Pompous and Jacques Normandy sit down with Jockey Oldcastle as the camera fades out on the backstage scene.

We're back, and ready to go ahead with our first match! "Riders On The Storm" by Creed begins playing, and the crowd boos, with a few cheers and catcalls thrown in, as Nicole makes her way out of the backstage entrance. She's wearing a generic black sports bra and black spandex shorts as she makes her way to the ring and climbs inside. She'll be facing Nurse Vivacia, who has been her enemy since the bikini contest at Horror Show, in a one-on-one match tonight. Nicole looks around at the crowd and then smiles and waves to them, but they boo her anyway.

And now "Calling Dr. Love" by KISS begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd gives another round of boos with some cheers and catcalls mixed in. Under normal circumstances, neither of these two women is well-liked among the crowds, primarily for the company they keep and their somewhat self-centered behavior. Since this is going to be a plain wrestling match, and not a sexy gimmick match, the crowd's not exactly thrilled to see them. It doesn't help that neither of them have much in the way of wrestling ability. Nurse Vivacia walks to the ring and climbs inside, then turns to the crowd and feels herself up while doing a hip swivel... but Nicole clobbers her in the back with a forearm! Jerry Rogers enters the ring and calls for the bell, and that'll get this match started!

In between pulling hair and exchanging meaningless strikes, Nicole and Nurse Vivacia use a few basic, often sloppy wrestling maneuvers. Unlike Nicole, Nurse Vivacia seems to actually know how to throw a punch, and her wrestling skills seem somewhat superior as well, but Nicole somehow stays in the match with a few dirty tricks. After a few minutes, Jockey Oldcastle wanders out of the backstage entrance to boos, and stands at ringside leering at Nurse Vivacia. When Nicole goes for a running kneelift, Nurse Vivacia dodges out of the way and Nicole tumbles awkwardly through the ropes, falls gingerly to the apron, flops gently down to the floor to a chorus of boos from the crowd.

With Nicole on the outside, Nurse Vivacia turns and distracts Jerry Rogers. With the referee's attention elsewhere, Jockey Oldcastle goes over and just CRUSHES Nicole with a huge BIG SPLASH!! He just dropped four hundred pounds down across the chest of a hundred and twenty pound woman! The crowd boos loudly, and Jockey Oldcastle pulls Nicole's limp body up and rolls her into the ring! Nurse Vivacia stops her distraction, drags Nicole into the middle of the ring, and crouches over her, then places one hand on each of her breasts for a rather disrespectful and disturbing cover! Jerry Rogers makes the academic count, and Nurse Vivacia is the winner!

The crowd boos, and Nurse Vivacia gives Nicole's chest a generous squeeze, then stands up to celebrate her victory. But then Jockey Oldcastle enters the ring and scoops her up in his arms, then plants a big, slobbery kiss on her! The crowd boos and groans in disgust, and Nurse Vivacia pulls away and puts a hand on his shoulder, then smiles and begins to say something, but Jockey Oldcastle grabs her and kisses her again! Nurse Vivacia wriggles free again, then says something with a smile, gives Jockey Oldcastle a somewhat hesitant kiss on the cheek, and quickly waves goodbye to him and slides out of the ring! It seems she was glad for the help here, but not so much for the post-match affection. But Jockey Oldcastle's still staring after her with a big grin on his woolly face.

Nicole's still down and not moving. Some trainers or maybe even a medical team may have to come out for her. She's not built to dish out or receive much punishment, and she was splashed by a huge, huge man moments ago. As trainers come out to check on Nicole, we're going to take a look backstage at Quinn Harper and his friends as they prepare for their matches tonight!

Quinn Harper is backstage with Tim Bell, Heather Dannon, and Tommy Hustle. He's standing and listening as Tim Bell talks to him.

T. Bell: Now, Gabriel Black's going to come at you to finish you off with one of three moves: the Destiny Hammer, the Destiny Driver, or the fisherman suplex. You need to watch for those moves and counter them any time you see one coming. Especially the Destiny Driver. It'll make that Mongo Suplex you took four months ago look like a swandive onto a cloud.

Quinn Harper nods.

T. Hustle: Yeah. I heard some guys actually let themselves get hit with the fisherman suplex and lose so they don't make him mad enough to bust out the Destiny Driver.

Q. Harper: I won't be one of those guys. He'll never catch me in any of those moves.

T. Bell: Now, as far as your overall strategy--

Q. Harper: Hey, I appreciate the advice. Don't get me wrong. But I'm still so pumped up on adrenaline right now that it's going in one ear and out the other. When they had that debate, Gabriel talked about knowing how a match would go before it even started... but that's just not my style. I can't wrestle out of a playbook. When the time comes, I'll go out there and make him wrestle MY style and throw him off his game. That's how I'll win.

Heather Dannon smiles and puts a hand on his shoulder.

H. Dannon: I know you can do it, Quinn. You're great!

T. Hustle: Yeah, but you better watch it, man. I got myself in that fifteen-man battle royal, and after we both win, next week I'm coming to strip you of that title.

Tommy Hustle nudges Quinn Harper and grins at him, and Pauline Vietjohn walks into the room.

P. Vietjohn: Hey, Heather. I have some... uh, news for you.

Heather Dannon looks over at her.

H. Dannon: Really? What kind of news?

P. Vietjohn: Um... bad news. You're booked in a tag team match, and since I'm booked with Troy against Lance and Melissa, I can't be your partner.

H. Dannon: Oh. Hey, who am I fighting?

Pauline Vietjohn smiles weakly.

P. Vietjohn: Well... you're wrestling Mary Cohen and Sadako Momotani.

Heather Dannon screams in terror and jumps up in Quinn Harper's arms, Scooby Doo-style.

H. Dannon: Oh my God! Th-they're both nuts, they're gonna kill me, they're both crazy and Sadako Momotani's even a really really good wrestler too--

Quinn Harper laughs and sets Heather Dannon down, then tousles her hair.

Q. Harper: Hey, it's not that bad. We've all got your back! Besides, your partner will be there for you too!

H. Dannon: Yeah, you're right. Who is my partner, anyway?

Pauline Vietjohn tries to smile again, but can't quite seem to do it.

P. Vietjohn: Well, actually, that's the other part of this situation...

The door swings open again, and Sophie walks into the room and goes over to Heather Dannon.

Sophie: Hi, Heather. We're supposed to be in a tag team tonight. And I know you lose all the time, and you're kinda dorky and weird, but I've saved the entire Universe before, so I'm sure that I can make this team work.

Heather Dannon stares at Sophie for a second, speechless and indignant, before she manages to speak.

H. Dannon: Hey! Who are you to call me dorky and weird? You're the one who ate a sandwich that some guy put his penis on!

Sophie: And I don't regret it a bit! That sandwich was delicious! Besides, I have issues with food that's been ruined due to vulgar events, ever since my eighth birthday party when my brother farted into the candles on my birthday cake to make a fireball.

Tim Bell rolls his eyes as Tommy Hustle and Quinn Harper chuckle in the background, but Pauline Vietjohn gives Sophie a questioning look.

P. Vietjohn: And that was enough to ruin it?

Sophie: Well, no, but it looked like so much fun that I started doing it too. And I had really bad gas that day and just couldn't stop and then the paper streamers hanging over the table caught on fire and started burning up and the fire spread to the confetti that was scattered everywhere and the building fire alarm system kicked in and the sprinklers on the ceiling started spraying water everywhere and ruined my party. Ever since then my parents said that I had to have lollipops stuck into my cake instead of burning candles, which actually was better because you could eat them but you couldn't eat the candles. Well, I guess you COULD eat the candles, but they wouldn't let me because they were made of wax--

H. Dannon: So... wait. What does this have to do with anything?

Sophie: Well, this match is kinda like my party, that's all. Just don't ruin it, okay?

Heather Dannon looks hopelessly confused by now.

H. Dannon: But... the match doesn't have anything at all in common with your party. Not only that, from your story it sounds like YOU were the one who ruined your own party--

Sophie: You're missing the point, okay? Don't ruin the match. I can't make it any simpler for you than that. Now I've gotta go, because there's an old WWF Wrestlefest game machine in the arena lobby, the one where you could be Earthquake or Mr. Perfect or anybody, and I'm gonna go play it until the match is ready to start. I like playing as Ted DiBiase, because he's RICH!

Sophie turns and walks out of the room, and Heather Dannon turns to Pauline Vietjohn in horror.

H. Dannon: Oh, God, Pauline, I'm gonna DIE!! I have to fight two bloodthirsty maniacs with THAT as my partner and they're gonna KILL me!!

Heather Dannon starts sobbing into Pauline Vietjohn's shoulder, and Pauline Vietjohn gives her a sympathetic look and pats her on the back. Then Quinn Harper comes over and puts a hand on her shoulder.

Q. Harper: Hey, hey. Don't worry. I already told you, I've got your back. If things get too scary out there, you've got a guardian angel looking out for you. One who's tried and proven to be quicker than Gabriel Black. One who's leaving this place with the VCW Television Title.

Heather Dannon looks up at Quinn Harper and smiles tearfully.

H. Dannon: Thank you so much. I... t-thanks.

The camera fades out on the backstage scene.

Except for possibly Tommy Hustle, who has a shot at winning a title shot in a fifteen-man battle royal tonight, none of them is exactly in an enviable position. Quinn Harper is literally risking his previously injured neck for the VCW Television Title tonight, Pauline Vietjohn is teaming with the somewhat emotionally unstable Troy Black against Lance Errington and Melissa DelArmeggio, and perhaps worst of all, Heather Dannon has to team up with Sophie to face Mary Cohen and world-class competitor Sadako Momotani tonight! Not withstanding Quinn Harper's support, her position isn't a good one.

But back in the ring, we've got something else going on! The New Immortals, "Beautiful" Bobby Danson and "Magnificent" Moy Lazzario, are in the ring, and so is Steve "Mongo" McMichael! Nicole has just been taken away on a stretcher, and Bobby Danson looks uncharacteristically angry and animated! He calls for a microphone, and he gets one, but so does Moy Lazzario!

M. Lazzario: Hi, I'm "Magnificent" Moy Lazzario.

B. Danson: No. We're NOT doing the ring intro tonight, ladies and gentlemen. ... Jockey Oldcastle, you big dumb son of a bitch, you've done it now. You think that because I goof around in most of my matches and put a big happy face on my career that you can come out here and SQUASH the woman I love like that? Let me tell you something. I'm one of the strongest men in this company. I was a VCW World Tag Team Champion in the Immortals with "The California Crippler" Ken Collins. I'm normally a pretty happy-go-lucky guy, with a twinkle in my eye and a song in my heart and all that good stuff, but there are some lines you don't cross. And you not only crossed a line, you took your big, boiling, pimple-covered belly and WALLOWED all over it!

Bobby Danson is livid! He paces in the ring and actually gets some amount of cheers from the crowd! For the first time in months, he's actually legitimately fired up!

B. Danson: So I'll tell you what. I know I'm not getting a fair fight as long as you have Normandy and Pompous backing you up. But I have two of my own guys backing me up here: "Magnificent" Moy Lazzario and Steve "Mongo" McMichael. So go ahead and bring everybody out, and we'll settle this three-on-three. But I'll promise you this... it will be one-on-one, and I'm gonna make you pay for what you did right here, RIGHT NOW.

The crowd actually cheers a little bit again... and hold it, "Minstrel In The Gallery" by Jethro Tull just kicked on, and the crowd boos loudly as Jockey Oldcastle steps out of the backstage entrance, flanked by Jacques Normandy and Monty Pompous! He also has a microphone.

J. Oldcastle: In my pursuit of true love, perhaps I have wronged you. But within this great bosom of mine, and my emotional and sympathetic heart... I cannot find the room to care one whit, you fool. Do you truly wish to do battle with the Knights of the Squared Circle?

B. Danson: You're damn right I do. Or, to put it in terms you'll understand: Yea, verily, by my troth, you hairy, fat piece of shit.

The crowd gives a decent-sized burst of cheers, and Jockey Oldcastle glares at the New Immortals in the ring! The Knights of the Squared Circle begin walking to the ring, and Moy Lazzario and Mongo step back as Bobby Danson takes the center of the ring and motions for Jockey Oldcastle to bring it on! Jockey Oldcastle stops at ringside and points at him, shouting something! His cheeks begin shaking and he starts looking all fired up... but then he just motions for Monty Pompous to go in instead, and the crowd boos loudly! Bobcat McGavin enters the ring and calls for the bell, and this match will begin!

The New Immortals actually step their game up and dust off a number of impressive tandem moves early in the match that have Monty Pompous reeling. A cheap shot by Jacques Normandy puts Moy Lazzario in trouble, however, and for a few minutes the Knights of the Squared Circle work him over, as the crowd actually somewhat gets behind him. When Monty Pompous goes for the Swashbuckler, Lazzario counters with a jawbreaker, then crawls to his corner, and tags in Steve McMichael, which kind of kills the crowd's hot tag enthusiasm dead on the spot.

Jockey Oldcastle comes in to face Mongo in a test of strength, and actually manages to overpower him by a slight margin. The match gets downright ugly as Mongo and Oldcastle go at it for a minute or so, and then Mongo dodges an avalanche in the corner and hits a clothesline to knock him down, and tags in Bobby Danson! The crowd comes alive as Bobby Danson comes in, all fired up, and staggers Jockey Oldcastle with a few big dropkicks and clotheslines as a pier-six brawl breaks out around the ring. After a big clothesline leaves Jockey Oldcastle pinwheeling his arms to try to keep his balance, Bobby Danson points at him, makes a "raising the roof" motion with his hands, and then performs an incredible feat of strength to lift Jockey Oldcastle and give him a huge BODYSLAM!!

Bobby Danson goes up to the top for the Minnesota Jam, but on the outside Jacques Normandy has out-brawled Moy Lazzario, and he shoves him off the turnbuckle. The crowd boos, but then cheers when they see Butch Manson come out of the backstage entrance, carrying a baseball bat! He runs to the ring area, and Jacques Normandy sees him coming and roars in terror, then runs away! Butch Manson chases Jacques Normandy all the way around the ring, and then Jacques Normandy begins running up the ramp to head backstage! Butch Manson's running him right out of the ring area!

Monty Pompous puts Mongo in a standing headscissors for a piledriver on the ramp, but without Jacques Normandy to stay on him, Moy Lazzario is able to crawl over to them and grab Mongo's legs! That prevents Monty Pompous from properly lifting him, and enables Mongo to counter it with a big backdrop! Back in the ring, however, Jockey Oldcastle has dropped Bobby Danson, and he prepares to come off the ropes for his Big Splash!! But Mongo reaches in and trips him!

Jockey Oldcastle turns around and starts talking trash to Mongo... but Moy Lazzario slides into the ring behind him! Jockey Oldcastle turns around again, and Moy Lazzario kicks him in the midsection, then gives him the ACE CRUSHER!! Jockey Oldcastle goes down... and while this was going on, Bobby Danson managed to get up and get to a corner, and he goes to the top turnbuckle and comes off with the MINNESOTA JAM!! The crowd erupts! Monty Pompous is getting up on the outside, but Moy Lazzario rushes forward and dives onto him with a TOPE CON HILO!! Inside the ring, Bobby Danson goes for the cover, and gets three! He did it! He beat Jockey Oldcastle just like he said!!

Thanks to a serious game plan, a burst of intensity from Bobby Danson, and the timely arrival of Butch Manson to make the match a three-on-two affair, the New Immortals and Mongo are standing tall! Bobby Danson leans over Jockey Oldcastle and talks a little more trash, then gives him one last kick before celebrating with his partners. He goes up close to a camera and says, "Nicole, baby, that was for YOU!" and then they all continue celebrating. Jockey Oldcastle rolls out of the ring and leaves with Monty Pompous, and after a few more seconds the New Immortals and Mongo all leave as well.

Without any further delay, we're going to push straight through with our next matchup. "What'chu Lookin' At?" by Uncle Kracker begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd cheers as Brian Rivera comes out of the backstage entrance! He's wearing a cowboy hat, an old El Gigante T-shirt from about 1990 in WCW under a purple velvet tuxedo jacket, bright red bell-bottoms, and a pair of cowboy boots! He climbs into the ring and grabs a microphone...

B. Rivera: San Antonio!! B-R be representing in the Rivera-Silvera Era up in the Lone Star State, yo! I done took it out west, sucka, because I wanna be a COWBOY, BAYYY-BEEE!! We finna do battle like the Alamo! HAAAYYYYLL YEAH, BUBBA!! Dropping plates on yo ass, BITCH!! Where my dogs at!?

Brian Rivera barks like a dog, and a portion of the crowd barks along with him.

B. Rivera: Anyway, we--

Hold it, "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam just kicked on, and the crowd boos as Jeremy Tellier comes out of the backstage entrance! He looks angry about something, and he walks to the ring, then grabs a microphone and climbs inside! Brian Rivera smiles and gestures to him in greeting as he comes in...

B. Rivera: Word up, Malcolm in the Middle! You here to get join the party with Brian Rivera and San Antonio!? We could have us a good time, my friend. Me and you, boy, we could be like Kid Rock and Joe C! Drinking bottles of Jack, getting our mack on with some fine-ass women in these San Antonio strip clubs--

J. Tellier: First of all, I'm not old enough to drink or get into a strip club.

The crowd boos a little, and Brian Rivera gives Jeremy Tellier a confused look.

B. Rivera: Hey, that's cool, that's cool. I got a couple of boys that can hook you up with a fake I.D.--

J. Tellier: No, man. I mean, "that's cool, that's cool," and all, but you're missing the point. Our nation has these laws for a reason: because ignorant people like you and all these Texas morons are too dumb and too selfish to live respectable lives by yourselves!

The crowd boos, and Brian Rivera looks even more confused.

J. Tellier: See, there are laws that say I can't drink or get into a strip club yet. Those laws are protecting me from poisoning myself in one of these hellhole back-alley San Antonio bars or getting VD from some filthy San Antonio slut who smears her pus-dripping, yeast-infected crotch all over me during a lap dance!

The crowd boos loudly again.

J. Tellier: Now, as you pointed out, there are ways around these laws. Laws aren't perfect. If laws were perfect, then this state's former governor's wife... this NATION'S current First Lady, Laura "I can't drive fifty-five" Bush would be up on charges for vehicular homicide! But instead, because somebody thought it'd be a good idea to put someone from TEXAS in charge of this country, we've got an alcoholic cokehead cowboy for a President and a vehicular murderer as First Lady, and--

Jeremy Tellier's microphone dies in the middle of his diatribe, and that's probably a good thing. No doubt the office will be busy mailing out written apologies for his behavior tomorrow morning. Jeremy Tellier stares at his microphone like it's defective, then looks up... just in time for Brian Rivera to punch him in the face! Jeremy Tellier goes down, and the crowd cheers as Harold Brusco calls for the bell!

Brian Rivera assaults Jeremy Tellier with a flurry of quick offense, culminating in his series of punches, followed by a jiggy dance and a big right hand routine. Jeremy Tellier goes bouncing and flopping all over the ring for all of his offense like a human ping-pong ball. A thumb to the eye gets Jeremy Tellier the advantage, and he hits Brian Rivera with a few dropkicks, a jawbreaker, and a flying cross bodypress. But none of these moves do much damage to Brian Rivera, so Jeremy Tellier puts on a camel clutch to wear him down. That proves to be his undoing, as Brian Rivera easily powers out, then hits a bodyslam and goes to the top turnbuckle, yells "I'M GOING PLATINUM!" and jumps off with a FLYING LEGDROP!! Surprisingly, Jeremy Tellier kicks out of the ensuing cover just before three, but Brian Rivera just pulls him up and gives him the Bitch Slap. Jeremy Tellier flies up in the air from the impact and lands flat on his back, but he doesn't kick out after that.

The crowd cheers as Brian Rivera gets up and raises his hands in celebration! He helps Jeremy Tellier up and offers him a post-match handshake. Jeremy Tellier, still somewhat groggy, accepts, and Brian Rivera gives him some sort of weird gangster handshake! Jeremy Tellier offers a weak smile, and it looks like he might have changed his attitude on Brian Rivera! Brian Rivera pats Jeremy Tellier on the back, then motions to the crowd! A tall, shapely blond woman comes forward, dressed in leather chaps and an open leather vest, with a skimpy bikini top and thong worn under them, and a cowboy hat and cowboy boots! She steps over the guardrail and climbs into the ring!

Brian Rivera greets the scantily-dressed cowgirl and does a stupid little dance, and she starts dancing with him! Brian Rivera steps back and gestures to Jeremy Tellier, then nudges him forward so he can dance with her! Jeremy Tellier looks a little uncertain, but when the woman reaches over and strokes his cheek he grins, then actually starts dancing with her! Brian Rivera smiles and turns around to the crowd, and it seems he may have given Jeremy Tellier a change of attitude! Brian Rivera raises his hands again... but behind him, Jeremy Tellier suddenly pulls the woman into a kneelift, then hooks her head and gives her the DDT!! Brian Rivera turns around, but Jeremy Tellier hits him with a low blow! Brian Rivera drops, and the crowd boos! Come on!!

Jeremy Tellier rolls out of the ring and gives Brian Rivera and the fallen dancing cowgirl-stripper a double middle finger. Even after Brian Rivera tried to warm up to him after the match, Jeremy Tellier just waited for his chance and stabbed them in the back! What a guy. At least he's leaving now. As this situation clears out, we're going to take a look backstage where we understand there's another perspective to be had on the match that pits Mary Cohen and Sadako Momotani against Heather Dannon and Sophie! Let's take a look!

VCW Commissioner James Applebee is sitting at a table in the backstage catering area, with a clipboard and a bottle of grapefruit juice in front of him. His attention right now is focused on the clipboard as he checks off a few things on it with a pen. Mary Cohen approaches him while he's working, dressed in her ring attire and carrying her gym bag.

M. Cohen: Hi, Commissioner?

James Applebee looks up.

J. Applebee: Yes? What can I do for you, Melanie?

Mary Cohen gives him a dirty look.

M. Cohen: My name's Mary. You're my boss. Don't you even know my NAME?

J. Applebee: Oh. ... I'm very sorry about that. It's just that... you're new here, and I've got a million things on my mind right now and I'm not as sharp as I should be. Not that that's any excuse. I'm terribly sorry. My apologies.

Mary Cohen continues to frown at him.

M. Cohen: Right.

J. Applebee: Anyway, what can I do for you, Mary?

M. Cohen: I just want out of this tag team match, that's all. Can't I just do a singles match with Sophie or something?

J. Applebee: Why would you want that?

M. Cohen: I've... had a few problems with Heather, for one thing. She has the wrong idea about me. A lot of people do. And I don't think having Sadako Momotani as my partner helps that any.

J. Applebee: I understand. Well, you make a valid point, but sometimes we all have to do things that are hard for us, you know? I know you're new here. But there'll be a lot of uncomfortable situations in any wrestler's career, and you just have to learn how to handle them. I don't really think this is a good basis to make an emergency change to the show. Things'll be just fine if you calm down and just go out to wrestle.

M. Cohen: I see. ... I really don't matter much to you, do I?

J. Applebee: I beg your pardon?

Mary Cohen gives James Applebee an icy glare.

M. Cohen: I'm not very important in the grand scheme of things. You know I'll never headline a pay-per-view in a big cage match or anything, and nobody would ever buy any Mary Cohen T-shirts or foam fingers, so I don't really matter much, do I? I'm expendable.

J. Applebee: Mary, you have to understand...

M. Cohen: I ALREADY understand. I understand that I'm a source of revenue for you, not a person with hopes and feelings. I understand that you're paying me so little that I sleep in my car every night instead of getting a hotel room. And I understand that that doesn't matter as long as I'm a warm body in the ring for a few minutes. But I've understood for a long time now, and I'm used to taking the crumbs when the pie's already gone. I'll go out there and be a warm body in your ring tonight, and I hope you just LOVE my match. Oh, yeah... I'll give it my VERY best effort, you EXPLOITATIVE SON OF A BITCH!!

Mary Cohen grabs the bottle of grapefruit juice and flings it as hard as she can into the wall of the arena, where it explodes in a shower of glass and juice, then stalks away from the table.

J. Applebee: Mary. ... Mary, wait!

Mary Cohen ignores James Applebee and storms out into the hall. When the camera view shifts to see her coming out into the hall, Lady Erica Whitmore and Sadako Momotani are standing there waiting for her just outside the door of the dining hall.

L.E. Whitmore: Hello, Mary. I saw your tirade there.

M. Cohen: Yeah? What do you want? Does Sadako Momotani have some sort of sick, violent plan she wants to bring me in on or something? Because I'm not like that.

L.E. Whitmore: No, actually. But let's get one thing straight. I don't care if you can't control yourself in front of the Commissioner, but you had better straighten up for the match. You should be HONORED to be Sadako Momotani's tag team partner tonight. Quite honestly, Sadako Momotani is insulted that they would pair her with someone like you. You're not a great wrestler by any means. You're barely even adequate. Pairing you up with Sadako Momotani is like pairing a junior-varsity football player from a middle-of-nowhere high school with the St. Louis Rams. It's an insult.

Lady Erica Whitmore walks away, and Sadako Momotani looks Mary Cohen up and down with an expression of utter disgust, then walks away as well. Mary Cohen stares after them, breathing heavily, and reaches into a side pocket of her gym bag. She pulls out a battered piece of paper and unfolds it and looks back at the direction Lady Erica Whitmore left.

M. Cohen: He'd hurt you for me. I know he would, and she couldn't save you. ... You're lucky I'm such a NICE and COMPASSIONATE person. They're ALL lucky.

Mary Cohen stares after Lady Erica Whitmore for a few more seconds with temptation and hatred burning on her face, then reluctantly wads the paper back up and stuffs it back in her bag as the camera fades out on the backstage scene.

It looks like really nobody's happy with the team arrangements in that match! But it will still go ahead as planned, just as we're going to go ahead as planned with the fifteen-man battle royal! The participants are already in the ring, and they are Brujah, Butch Manson, Chris Champlain, "Dastardly" Dave Adams, David Wright Hubbard, the Green Dragon, "Hot Stuff" Hasan Gilden, Jacob Idol, Johnny Smiles, Lars Coverdale, Marylin Silvera, Rob Solomon, the Super Giant Ninja, "The Chief of Governors" Tom Guycot, and Tommy Hustle. Each of these men must leave the ring over the top rope and have both feet touch the floor in order to be eliminated.

Everyone has been informed that no violence is to take place before the bell sounds, and any violators will be suspended without pay for one month, so everybody is in the ring peacefully. But it's not hard to tell who wants a piece of who, as Lars Coverdale and David Wright Hubbard stare at one another, Jacob Idol's vision locks in on Johnny Smiles, and Marylin Silvera gazes longingly at Jacob Idol. On the other side of the coin, Tom Guycot has curled up on the canvas and appears to be catching a pre-match nap. The tension is thick as referees Bobcat McGavin and Brendan Powers get in position on the outside and call for the bell!

Fifteen-Man Battle Royal:
featuring
Brujah, Butch Manson, Chris Champlain, "Dastardly" Dave Adams, David Wright Hubbard, Green Dragon, "Hot Stuff" Hasan Gilden, Jacob Idol, Johnny Smiles, Lars Coverdale, Marylin Silvera, Rob Solomon, Super Giant Ninja, "The Chief of Governors" Tom Guycot, & Tommy Hustle

All hell breaks loose when the bell sounds, and everybody begins brawling wildly. Lars Coverdale rushes David Wright Hubbard, Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon assault Johnny Smiles, and Marylin Silvera ends up distracting Jacob Idol by coming over to feel him up. Hasan Gilden and the Green Dragon start going at it as well, and Dave Adams yells out "PIRATE VERSUS NINJA!" and starts attacking the Super Giant Ninja with furious punches! That proves to be a bad idea, as the Super Giant Ninja kicks him in the face and eliminates him in short order. (Dave Adams was eliminated in 0:00:37.)

The Green Dragon is the next to go as he trips over a still-sleeping Tom Guycot and tumbles into the ropes, where Chris Champlain and Hasan Gilden work together to throw him out. (The Green Dragon was eliminated in 0:01:35.) Brujah comes to the rescue of the endangered Johnny Smiles to tear into Rob Solomon, and the Super Giant Ninja assails Butch Manson with a flurry of weak-looking chops. Chris Champlain hits Lars Coverdale from behind with a low blow, then stands back and chuckles as he watches David Wright Hubbard take the advantage and start beating the hell out of him. Hasan Gilden lifts Tommy Hustle over his head and goes to throw him out, but Tommy Hustle slips out behind him and knocks him out over the top rope with a dropkick! (Hasan Gilden was eliminated in 0:02:21.)

The match rages on as everyone keeps fighting, but then "Superstar" Sean Black comes out of the backstage entrance! He walks down to the ring and goes over to where Brujah is fighting Rob Solomon, then reaches in from the outside and trips him! Brujah goes down, and Rob Solomon nails him with a lariat as he gets up! The crowd boos, and Sean Black laughs as Rob Solomon throws Brujah out over the top rope! Brujah catches the rope and lands on the apron, but Sean Black grabs him and pulls him off of the apron to the floor, eliminating him! (Brujah was eliminated in 0:04:38.) He yells in anger and starts brawling with Sean Black, but Desmond comes out of the backstage entrance!! The crowd boos as Desmond comes up from behind Brujah and clobbers him in the back of the head, then grabs his hair and takes him head-first into the steel ringpost!

As Desmond assaults Brujah on the outside, inside the ring Chris Champlain is now assaulting Johnny Smiles! With Johnny Smiles on the ropes, Chris Champlain raises a forearm and charges at him, but Johnny Smiles backdrops him over the top! The crowd cheers, then boos when Chris Champlain catches the top rope and actually lands on his feet on the apron. but they cheer again when Johnny Smiles nails him with a SUPERKICK!! Chris Champlain flies off of the apron and lands back-first on the hard arena floor! (Chris Champlain was eliminated in 0:05:23.) And seconds later, Rob Solomon knocks Tommy Hustle out of the sky with a lariat, then throws him over the top as well! (Tommy Hustle was eliminated in 0:05:35.) Fortunately, the H.A.R.P. Squad comes out to contain Desmond shortly, ending his assault on Brujah on the outside.

The match continues for another minute or two, and then Lars Coverdale ducks a lariat by David Wright Hubbard and knocks him out over the top rope with a superkick! (David Wright Hubbard was eliminated in 0:07:19.) The crowd goes absolutely WILD for that one, and David Wright Hubbard is incensed as he gets up on the outside! He points at Lars Coverdale, talking trash, and Lars Coverdale runs at him and dives out between the second and third ropes with an ELBOW SUICIDA!! And since he didn't go over the top, he's still in the match! Lars Coverdale attacks David Wright Hubbard on the outside with a furious rain of punches, and the match continues!

The free-for-all continues for another minute or so without incident. Then, inside the ring, Marylin Silvera has cornered Jacob Idol and is leaning towards him making a kissing face, but Rob Solomon comes in with a forearm smash from behind to save his partner! Together, Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon throw Marylin Silvera out of the ring! (Marylin Silvera was eliminated in 0:08:37.) But also outside the ring, David Wright Hubbard just took the advantage on Lars Coverdale with a low blow! David Wright Hubbard assaults Lars Coverdale, taking him head-first into the steel ringpost, then grabbing a chair and whacking him in the back with it several times! He rolls Lars Coverdale back into, but the Super Giant Ninja is there and he grabs him and throws him back out! (Lars Coverdale was eliminated in 0:09:06.)

Johnny Smiles charges the Super Giant Ninja and assaults him, intending to gain some revenge for his partner, but the Super Giant Ninja takes the upper hand! The Super Giant Ninja backs Johnny Smiles into the ropes and starts strangling him for several seconds, then backs up and lashes out with a high martial arts kick! The kick would have gone over Johnny's head anyway, but Johnny Smiles side-steps and the Super Giant Ninja stumbles forward and ends up straddling the ropes! Johnny Smiles stares at him as he teeters on the top rope, then tumbles forward and lands on the floor! (The Super Giant Ninja was eliminated in 0:09:50.) Johnny Smiles didn't even touch him!

We're down to five, and all of the sudden Johnny Smiles, Rob Solomon, Butch Manson, and Jacob Idol all look over and see that Tom Guycot is STILL sleeping on the mat! They go over and each grab one of his appendages, and he wakes up and begins struggling wildly! But it's no use as they force him over the top rope! He lands on the apron and tries to hang on, but Jacob Idol punches him in the face when he gets up and he loses his grip and tumbles to the floor! (Tom Guycot was eliminated in 0:10:24.) Johnny Smiles and Jacob Idol begin going at it, as Rob Solomon fights Butch Manson, and the match continues!

After a few more minutes, Butch Manson starts to get the upper hand on Rob Solomon, but as he does "Hell's Musketeer" Jacques Normandy strolls out of the backstage entrance! He missed the boat on getting into this match, but he's still coming to the ring! Butch Manson sees him and turns around to yell at him, but when he does Jacques Normandy throws a chain over his head into the ring! Rob Solomon catches the chain and wraps it quickly around one fist, then knocks Butch Manson down with it! Manson goes down, and Rob Solomon wraps the chain around his right arm! Butch Manson slowly gets up, and Rob Solomon charges and KILLS him with a chain-loaded LARIAT!! The crowd boos, and Rob Solomon tosses Butch Manson out of the ring as Jacques Normandy walks away with a smirk. (Butch Manson was eliminated in 0:13:16.)

Rob Solomon smiles and charges Johnny Smiles from behind with another chain-assisted lariat as Johnny Smiles brawls with Jacob Idol, but Johnny Smiles ducks and Solomon nails Jacob Idol!! The crowd erupts, and Rob Solomon looks mortified, then turns around, and Johnny Smiles tags him with a SUPERKICK!! Rob Solomon's down, and Johnny Smiles hoists him up on his shoulders, spins, and plants him with the SMILEDRIVER!! The crowd explodes as Johnny Smiles scrapes Rob Solomon off of the canvas and chucks him out of the ring! (Rob Solomon was eliminated in 0:13:58.)

Jacob Idol's just starting to stir, and Johnny Smiles goes to pull him up, but Jacob Idol hits him with a low blow! The crowd boos, and Jacob Idol takes the upper hand over Johnny Smiles for a few minutes, attacking him and wearing him down, cutting off his attempts at comebacks, but unable to throw him out over the top turnbuckle! Jacob Idol seems to get worried after a while, and he backs Johnny Smiles into the ropes, then comes off with a big running clothesline! But Johnny Smiles suddenly ducks and pulls down the top rope, and Jacob Idol sails over the top... and manages to tumble off of the apron in such a way that he lands on one foot!

Jacob Idol starts hopping up and down on his foot as he looks at the referees and points to the other foot, screaming "IT DIDN'T TOUCH!!" The crowd boos, but the referees exchange a glance and nod, and Jacob Idol rolls back onto the apron and starts to stand up! Johnny Smiles hammers him with a big right hand, and Jacob Idol teeters back on the apron, only saving himself by grabbing the ropes with one hand! Johnny Smiles hammers him again, and again Jacob Idol rocks back, this time grabbing the ropes with both hands to keep himself from going over! Johnny Smiles draws back for another punch, but this time Jacob Idol pulls himself forward with the ropes and drives a shoulder into his gut! Johnny Smiles doubles over, and Jacob Idol pulls him close by the hair, then hooks him in a front chancery and VERTICAL SUPLEXES HIM TO THE FLOOR!! Jacob Idol lands with his feet in the air, and the referees call for the bell!! Damn it!

The crowd boos loudly as the referees come over and raise Jacob Idol's hand, and Jacob Idol gets up and raises both his hands in the air, then starts jumping up and down and yelling "I DID IT! I DID IT!" excitedly. Johnny Smiles writhes in pain on the floor for a few seconds, then gets up, and Jacob Idol goes over to him and shouts "SCREW YOU, JOHNNY, I WON THIS MATCH! I JUST KICKED YOUR ASS!!"

Johnny Smiles just stares at Jacob Idol for a second, then kicks him in the midsection and picks him up in a fireman's carry lift! The crowd comes to its feet, expecting a Smiledriver, but instead Johnny Smiles spins Jacob Idol around and around in an airplane spin!! The crowd cheers wildly, and after several seconds Johnny Smiles sets Jacob Idol down on his feet again! Jacob Idol stumbles around a little, then turns and starts to stumble away from Johnny Smiles, so Johnny Smiles runs up behind him and kicks him square in the buttocks! Jacob Idol falls forward onto his hands and knees and begins rapidly crawling on the ramp away from Johnny Smiles! Johnny Smiles chases after him and kicks him in the butt a few more times, then turns and poses for the crowd as Jacob Idol crawls backstage!

The crowd cheers, and Johnny Smiles raises his hands at the top of the ramp. He didn't win the VCW Television Title shot, but he just got the last word in here by literally kicking Jacob Idol's ass! As Johnny Smiles disappears backstage, we now know that it'll be Jacob Idol going one-on-one with Gabriel Black or Quinn Harper next week, for the VCW Television Title. If it's Quinn Harper, we should have every reason to expect a fast-paced match where both men give it their all; but if it's Gabriel Black, it's hard saying what will happen as two Unholy Alliance members face each other for the first time.

But now, we're going straight ahead with our next match! "Halfway Decent" by Audio Karate begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd cheers as Heather Dannon and Sophie make their way out of the backstage entrance! We know they're not thrilled to be partners tonight, but they're out here to make the best of it anyway! They make their way to the ring, and Sophie shows off a few flashy martial arts kicks for the crowd when they step inside.

And then "No Remorse" by Metallica starts playing, and that brings out Sadako Momotani and Mary Cohen, along with Lady Erica Whitmore! Mary Cohen looks a little bit uncomfortable, but Sadako Momotani is just looking into the ring with a cold, calculating stare. Lady Erica Whitmore is carrying something large covered in a red cloth with her. It's hard saying what it might be, but whatever it is couldn't be good for the opposing team. They make their way to the ring, and Sadako Momotani climbs inside, gesturing for Mary Cohen to get out on the apron, while Lady Erica Whitmore leans her cloth-covered object on the ringsteps. Jerry Rogers enters the ring and calls for the bell, and we'll get this match started!

Sadako Momotani & Mary Cohen
w/Lady Erica Whitmore

Despite some early energy shown by Sophie and Heather Dannon, Sadako Momotani easily takes control of both of them in turn and gives them a sadistic beating. She stays in the ring herself, refusing to tag out to Mary Cohen, and actually manages to get the best of Sophie and Heather Dannon in a handicap-match type situation. Though her opponents get some moves in and have a chance to tag out to each other on several occasions, each time Sadako Momotani retakes the advantage quickly. But when she prepares to put Heather Dannon away with a Tombstone, Heather Dannon blocks the gutwrench lift with an elbowsmash, then counters with a fireman's carry lift into the HALFWAY DECENT EXPOSURE!!

The crowd explodes into cheers, and Heather Dannon goes for the cover... and gets one and a half. She hits Sadako Momotani with some desperate, frantic offensive moves, but Sadako Momotani slips out of a second Halfway Decent Exposure attempt, then takes Heather Dannon down with a belly-to-back suplex! Sadako Momotani takes a deep breath, and seems to be trembling as she stares down at Heather Dannon with venomous anger and hatred! Sophie comes in, but Sadako Momotani grabs her foot on an attempted kick, spins her around, and nonchalantly lifts her and PLANTS her with a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!!

Sophie is down, and Sadako Momotani exchanges a glance with Lady Erica Whitmore. On cue, Erica jumps up on the apron, and she seems to be complaining about Sophie's presence in the ring to Jerry Rogers. But while she's doing that, Sadako Momotani leaves the ring and pulls the cloth off of the mysterious object, revealing that it's a chair with nails driven through the seat!! Sadako Momotani slides into the ring with it and raises it as Heather Dannon starts to get up! She's going to hit her with that chair with nails driven through it... but Mary Cohen yells "NO!" as she steps into the ring, then comes from behind and jerks it away from her!

Sadako Momotani whirls angrily on Mary Cohen, but begins backing up when she realizes that Mary Cohen's holding the deadly chair. Sadako Momotani shouts something at Mary Cohen, and Mary Cohen swings the chair at her, but Sadako Momotani ducks! Mary Cohen's chairshot misses, and nearly hits Heather Dannon, who's just getting up now! Heather Dannon screams, looks up, and while Mary Cohen's stunned she jerks the chair away from her! It doesn't seem like Heather Dannon saw any of the rest of that; all she knows is that Mary Cohen nearly hit her with a chair with nails driven through it! Mary Cohen starts backing up, trying to explain, and Heather Dannon raises the chair and NAILS her with it! Mary Cohen goes down... but Jerry Rogers just turned around, and he calls for the disqualification!

Sadako Momotani just looks disgusted at the whole mess and slides out of the ring, leaving with Lady Erica Whitmore. Mary Cohen's down, and she's bleeding from the forehead now! Sophie starts to get up, sees Heather Dannon with the chair standing over a bloodied Mary Cohen, and just slides out of the ring and slinks away. She doesn't want any part of this! Mary Cohen starts to get up, and Heather Dannon stares at her in dread for a second again, then raises the chair and hits her with it again!! Mary Cohen goes down again, and Heather Dannon drops the chair, then slides out of the ring and begins running backstage!

Mary Cohen's down and alone in the ring... but someone's coming out of the backstage entrance! Chris Champlain walks calmly out of the backstage entrance and makes his way to the ring, then climbs inside. He kneels over Mary Cohen's fallen form, lifts her head, and kisses her gently on the forehead, then lifts her up and starts carrying her backstage. It looks like Chris Champlain is actually tending to Mary Cohen's wounds and carrying her out of the ring!

We don't know what to make of this, but right now we're going to go backstage and look in on Jacob Idol, the man who won the fifteen man battle royal and earned a VCW Television Title shot next week in the process!

Jacob Idol is standing backstage with Jasmina Chastity in a secluded hallway. He grins at her and traces a finger down her cheek.

J. Idol: You're a lucky woman, Jasmina. But I'd like to get lucky too. After a victory like this one, there's nothing I feel like more than taking you back to our room tonight and giving us both the night of our lives. You think you want some action from the next VCW Television Champion?

Jasmina Chastity looks thoughtful for a second, then shrugs as a smile creeps onto her face.

J. Chastity: Mmmmmaybe...

J. Idol: Maybe!? What do you mean maybe? After a performance like that one in the ring, what more could you possibly want from me?

J. Chastity: It's not that simple. You're asking me to give up some of my purity and innocence to you. You're asking for a piece of my SOUL. Naturally, that comes with a high price. And you'll notice I said maybe. If you show proper love and affection to a maybe, then it might just turn into a yes.

Jacob Idol rolls his eyes and sighs. He begins to say something, but then Derek Cole walks up to him and puts a hand on his shoulder.

D. Cole: Hello there, you two. I just wanted to come out and congratulate you. It's great...

Derek Cole trails off as Linda Peterson comes walking up to them with a concerned expression on her face. Derek Cole sees her and rolls his eyes.

L. Peterson: Derek, there you are! I've been trying to get in touch with you for the past eight days. But I couldn't reach you on your cell phone, and I couldn't make it all the way out to Florida on Friday--

D. Cole: Hey, I threw you the brass knuckles in the pay-per-view match, okay? I couldn't do a damn thing about you being too damn weak to knock somebody out with them.

L. Peterson: I-I'm sorry. But she's a wrestler, and I'm not, and... I... I didn't have a CHANCE from the beginning, Derek. It's ALWAYS been this way. Stacey's richer than me because her daddy's Jimmy Lockman. Stacey's more popular than me even though she has the personality of a rat terrier on crack. Everyone thinks Stacey's prettier than me even though she's a fat cow and I have a perfect body. I've looked like shit next to her ALL of my LIFE. Couldn't you have sent Gabriel in to give her the Destiny Driver or something?

Derek Cole looks at Linda Peterson in disbelief.

D. Cole: You really expect us to send Gabriel Black in to give his dad's best friend's daughter a career-ending injury. All so that some referee can keep her job.

L. Peterson: So I'm just "some referee" to you now? After all I've... done for you? Look, the whole reason things ended up like this is because I put my job in jeopardy for you.

Derek Cole gets a phony, sympathetic smile on his face.

D. Cole: Look, Linda. You knew up front how I work. You scratch my back, and I scratch yours. Well, I'll hand it to you, you're a pretty good backscratcher. I haven't had my back scratched like you did for me in a long time. You really know how to scratch back. Now we paid you, and we gave you your chance to show Stacey up, so we've done our part. And to answer your question: no, you're not just some referee to me now. Because, see, you're not a referee any more. You're just a garden variety slut who's wasting my time.

L. Peterson: You USED me, you bastard! You--

J. Chastity: Shut up already, will you? Look, you've outlived your usefulness and you're too dumb to realize it. This is the part where you go home and cry, then start waiting tables at a Hooters restaurant. Okay?

L. Peterson: You bitch! I--

Linda Peterson grabs Jasmina Chastity by the shirt, but Jacob Idol quickly grabs her wrist and pulls her hand away.

J. Idol: Touch her again... and I'll BREAK your wrist. Understand?

Linda Peterson tears free from his grasp and runs away sobbing, and Jacob Idol looks over at Derek Cole.

J. Idol: Jesus, Derek. You're a real bastard.

Derek Cole grins.

D. Cole: Oh, no. I'm something even worse than that. I'm a good businessman.

Derek Cole walks away, and Jacob Idol turns and puts an arm around Jasmina Chastity's waist and smiles. They exchange a lovey-dovey stare for a few seconds before he speaks again.

J. Idol: So where were we? Oh, I remember. I was going to see what kind of love and affection might be best to turn this maybe of yours into a yes. Perhaps the kind of yes that has an "Oh, God" thrown in before it, and a "please, Jacob, don't stop" coming in behind it. So...

Jacob Idol trails off again suddenly as Gabriel Black walks up to them, still wearing the VCW Television Title.

G. Black: Derek told me I might find you here. Congratulations on your victory out there tonight. I'm impressed... but this is you we're talking about here, so you'll understand that I'm not surprised.

Gabriel Black and Jacob Idol share a smile, and then Gabriel Black grows serious.

G. Black: Unless the impossible happens, it's you and me next week for this title. Now it can go two ways. First of all, if you want a shot--a REAL shot at this title--I'll give it to you. I mean, you've earned that opportunity, and you have every right to ask for it... if that's really what you want. But here's the way I see it: you might put up a decent fight going down, but I think we know how that would end. And furthermore, I can't promise you for certain that it won't get messy. If I have to, I'll do whatever it takes... WHATEVER it takes to defeat you. You see where I'm going with that?

Jacob Idol just frowns and nods.

G. Black: On the other hand, if you just want to do what's right for both of us in the big picture, we can work things out a little bit differently. The Unholy Alliance has a vast array of mutual enemies. Johnny Smiles, my brother Troy, the Ontario Colour Show, Marylin Silvera... individually, none of them are as good as we are, but we must remain focused on them. I see nothing but big things in your future, but you have to understand, this is not the time or place for us to waste our energy against each other. So if you were to, say, walk into a fisherman suplex in the first few seconds, we could both save our energy and focus for where it matters. It's the right thing to do for both of us. But the choice is yours.

Jacob Idol smiles.

J. Idol: There's no choice to make, Gabriel. I'm a smart guy. I want to do what's right.

G. Black: Glad to hear it.

Gabriel Black sticks out his hand and shakes hands with Jacob Idol.

G. Black: Come on back to the catering room when you're ready. Rob's already drinking several toasts to your victory, and it might be nice if there was a glass of champagne left for you.

Gabriel Black walks away, and Jasmina Chastity turns to Jacob Idol in disgust.

J. Chastity: You know, I think I've made up my mind. You can touch me all you like tonight, or you can go down on me if you want. But obviously you can't fuck me, because you just handed your dick over to Gabriel Black.

Jacob Idol's smile spreads into a full-fledged grin.

J. Idol: Oh, no, I haven't, baby. He just thinks I have.

Jasmina Chastity gets a stunned look of realization on her face, then smiles widely and gives him a big hug. As Jacob Idol hugs her in return, the camera fades out on Jacob Idol and Jasmina Chastity.

It appears that we could be looking at a very interesting situation when Jacob Idol gets his VCW Television Title shot next week! Of course, it's still in question who will emerge as the champion, but if Gabriel Black retains, as many people expect him to, his defense against Jacob Idol next week could indeed be one to watch!

We're going to see another match that should be a big one to watch now. "War Machine" by KISS begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd cheers as the Tough Customers, Bass Rogers and "The Star Player" Darren Michaels, come out of the backstage entrance with Dean Sanders! All of these men will team up for a big six-man tag shortly against another great pairing! They make their way to the ring, looking rough and gruff and businesslike apart from a little pre-match showboating from Darren Michaels. No doubt about it, these are three of VCW's best.

But then "Achilles Last Stand" by Led Zeppelin begins playing, and three more of VCW's best are headed this way! The crowd cheers even more loudly as the VCW World Tag Team Champions, the Ontario Colour Show, Owen Addison and Paul Canyon, begin making their way to the ring, accompanied by Devaccio Pola! The Ontario Colour Show recently retained their titles in a close-fought encounter with the Tough Customers, and Devaccio Pola and Dean Sanders have been at odds ever since the night after Spontaneous Combustion! They enter the ring, and Bobcat McGavin climbs inside to call for the bell!

Aside from a nice opening of mat wrestling in which Owen Addison shows a very slim advantage over Dean Sanders, this match is primarily the Ontario Colour Show trying to stay out of the Tough Customers' grasp while wearing them down, and Devaccio Pola brawling like a madman with any opponent in his reach when he's in the ring. The Ontario Colour Show display a lot of athleticism and skill in this battle in several impressive spots, including one where they and Devaccio Pola dive out of the ring onto their opponents and wipe everybody out at once! But the presence of Devaccio Pola and Dean Sanders seems to throw them off a little, especially since Devaccio Pola's style doesn't mesh well with theirs.

Nevertheless, the match remains surprisingly even until the Ontario Colour Show manage to isolate Darren Michaels and keep him away from his corner. Paul Canyon looks a little worried, and his concerns turn out to be well-founded as Owen Addison slips into dickhead bastard mode and cuts the ring in half, wearing Darren Michaels down and exploiting his lack of experience and wrestling know-how. The crowd, formerly pro-Ontario Colour Show, is now split halfway as Owen Addison and Devaccio Pola gleefully grind Darren Michaels down, and Paul Canyon adds a halfhearted contribution. Without ever quite cheating or taking an unfair advantage, they still do their best to keep him grounded and wear him out.

But after several minutes of this, Paul Canyon's hesitation costs them the advantage, as Darren Michaels finds the strength to backdrop out of a piledriver attempt, then tags in Bass Rogers! Paul Canyon tags in Owen Addison, but Rogers comes in with a head of steam, taking down both members of the Ontario Colour Show with big clotheslines! Bass Rogers starts brawling with Devaccio Pola, but soon Dean Sanders comes in and takes over for him on that front, and the match breaks down into a pier six brawl!

Here in the ending sprint Paul Canyon begins to shine again, taking to the air and working fluidly and seamlessly with Owen Addison. Devaccio Pola is too caught up in the intensity of a brutal fight with Dean Sanders to add much, and they just end up on the outside of the ring beating the hell out of each other with stiff blows and kicks. With the advantage once more, the Ontario Colour Show try for their elevated flying somersault neckbreaker on Darren Michaels that took him out in their last meeting, but Dean Sanders is able to pull his attention away from Devaccio Pola just long enough to reach in and trip Owen Addison!

Owen Addison goes down under Darren Michaels in a heap, and when he gets up Bass Rogers comes in and mauls him with a lariat! But then when he turns around, Paul Canyon comes off the top and takes Bass Rogers down with a big FLYING DROPKICK!! But Darren Michaels is up, and he tackles Paul Canyon to the mat, then unloads on him with big right hands! Owen Addison gets up, and now Darren Michaels turns and charges at him! Owen Addison dodges a spear attempt from Darren Michaels, but he's not quick enough to evade a second time as Bass Rogers hammers him down to the mat with a second lariat! Bass Rogers chucks Paul Canyon out of the ring, and then he and Darren Michaels lift Owen Addison and give him a DOUBLE POWER BOMB!! Owen crashes to the canvas, Bass Rogers covers, and that gets the three count!

The Texas crowd gives a huge round of cheers as Bass Rogers gets up and raises his hands, bellowing in victory! All six of these men are respected by the fans, but here tonight the Tough Customers have won them over! Devaccio Pola and Dean Sanders are still brawling up the aisle, and Bass Rogers looks at them, laughing and shaking his head, then goes over to Owen Addison and helps him up to his feet. Paul Canyon also gets into the ring, and Darren Michaels shakes his hand and pats him on the back. In spite of whatever mysterious trouble Owen Addison seems to be embroiled in, the Ontario Colour Show worked well together tonight, but all the same the Tough Customers managed to come away with the victory!

Bass Rogers looks at Owen Addison, and a camera catches him saying, "I told you I was gonna kick your ass next time," but then he smiles and sticks out a hand! Owen Addison shakes it, and these two teams are leaving here on good terms! But the same can't be said for Dean Sanders and Devaccio Pola, who are still brawling as they disappear through the backstage entrance! The difference that cost the VCW World Tag Team Champions the match may have been in these extra partners. Dean Sanders worked with his close allies tonight like an efficient machine, but Devaccio Pola doesn't exactly work well with others, and that may have tipped the scales in the favor of the Tough Customers tonight.

As they all head backstage, we're going to take a look backstage with Troy Black and Pauline Vietjohn, who will unite against Lance Errington and Melissa DelArmeggio in our next match! Let's look at that now!

Troy Black walks up to Pauline Vietjohn in a hallway backstage.

T. Black: We're up next. You ready for our match?

P. Vietjohn: I am. The question is, are you?

Troy Black looks at Pauline Vietjohn strangely.

T. Black: What?

P. Vietjohn: Okay... I know. I've only been here a few months, so where do I get off questioning Troy Black, right? ... But it seems to me that you're pretty mixed up over this whole thing with Lance and Melissa. I saw the cage match at Spontaneous Combustion. And... I'm a little worried about you.

T. Black: Don't worry. I can hold up my end of the match.

P. Vietjohn: I know. I'm sure we'll do fine out there. But I'm still worried about YOU. It's none of my business, I know, but you still have this... fixation with Melissa that's pulling you headlong into disaster. They're using it against you every step of the way. They're doing everything they can to cause you as much pain as possible.

T. Black: I know.

P. Vietjohn: But... why do you let it happen? Look, you did some bad things. But she's crazy and self-centered, and there's nothing you can do about it now that you haven't already done. You have bigger problems than her, and she won't LET you make things right. You need to move on.

T. Black: I'm sure that's very easy to say when you're completely outside of the situation.

Pauline Vietjohn smiles sadly at Troy Black.

P. Vietjohn: You know I'm right, though. The healthiest thing you could do for yourself is to forget about her. And... it's not like there aren't other girls out there... you know?

Pauline Vietjohn puts a hand on Troy Black's arm, and he turns and looks at her for a few seconds. Then he looks away and shakes his head.

T. Black: No. I already made this mistake once, and that's what started me on this path. Not again. Not now.

P. Vietjohn: But it doesn't have to happen like that next time!

Troy Black remains silent for a few seconds.

T. Black: So. You're ready for the match?

P. Vietjohn: I think so. ... Look, you've been doing this longer than I have. You know how they fight. Tell me, what should I do out there?

T. Black: Keep Melissa off of me for a few minutes.

P. Vietjohn: ... And what are you going to do?

T. Black: Rip Lance Errington's head off.

P. Vietjohn: Troy...

Pauline Vietjohn reaches for Troy Black, but he turns and begins walking away.

T. Black: Come on. Let's go.

The camera fades out as Pauline Vietjohn walks after Troy Black.

We're back, and "Perfect Strangers" by Dream Theater is playing over the arena sound system! The crowd boos loudly as Lance Errington and Melissa DelArmeggio come out of the backstage entrance, dressed to wrestle and accompanied by Derek Cole! Lance Errington, as usual, is wearing the VCW Intercontinental Title under his robe, and Melissa DelArmeggio's in her usual T-shirt, blue jeans, and combat boots attire. This time, the T-shirt is an old Country Joe and the Fish concert T-shirt.

They make their way to the ring, and Lance Errington holds the ropes open for Melissa DelArmeggio, then climbs in after her. Once inside, Melissa DelArmeggio helps him take off his robe, then kisses him on the cheek and smiles. This is getting to be a little too much... and now Lance Errington has a microphone! Oh, great. We weren't spared after all when he didn't show up in the opening segment!

L. Errington: You know, they say the course of true love never runs smooth, and I can believe it. Especially not when the lovers in question are always getting hurt and beaten within an inch of their lives. Ken Collins suplexed me on a ladder and nearly TORE my arm off in the Ladder Match at Spontaneous Combustion, and then Troy Black comes flying twenty feet off of a cage onto me in that injured state. Then, less than a WEEK later, I'm put in a match with both him and Crimson, and he tries to end my career. And now, three days after THAT, I have a match with him tonight. But I'm not the only one he's hurt.

Melissa DelArmeggio takes a microphone as well, and the crowd boos. She glares around at them.

M. DelArmeggio: After all I've sacrificed in front of you, you should have more respect for me than that. But every last one of you is just like Troy, just like Christina Ellis... selfish and insincere. Troy and Christina both use people and manipulate their feelings. I used to be close to both of them, but then I saw the truth. Christina's still hiding in Japan, taking all of the credit for Yuri's hard work when they defend their titles, and stepping in to lend a hand only when it's easy and looks good to everyone watching. As soon as she comes back, I'm putting that to an end. But unlike them, Troy's here right now... so we're gonna deal with HIM tonight.

M. DelArmeggio: I don't know how anybody can respect him after all he's done. He CHEATED me out of my chance at closure and justice at Spontaneous Combustion, and in spite of his lying promises, he DID hurt me. I'm STILL suffering lasting injuries from that match. I was beaten over the head with a nightstick, thrown into barbed wire, and driven to the mat repeatedly. I had a bed of NAILS driven hard into my chest. I have lacerations and puncture wounds in my NIPPLES like you've never SEEN in your LIFE!!

Melissa DelArmeggio turns and kisses Lance Errington firmly on the lips, and the crowd explodes into a huge round of boos and begins a "BULLSHIT!" chant... but then cheers when "For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Metallica begins playing over the arena sound system! Troy Black walks out of the backstage entrance, carrying a microphone, and Pauline Vietjohn is with him! Lance Errington and Melissa DelArmeggio stop the kiss to turn and look at him, and Troy Black stops at the top of the ramp and raises the microphone...

T. Black: This isn't about jealousy. It's not about me. It's about YOU. When you talk about being selfish and insincere, you're describing everything Lance Errington has said and done since he came to VCW. This is no different. He's USING you to get to me. And whether you believe it or not, I DON'T want to see you hurt, ever again. Maybe it's all that I CAN do for you right now... but I'm going to see to it that he NEVER has a CHANCE to hurt you.

Troy Black throws down the microphone and rushes to the ring, and the crowd cheers loudly! He slides inside, and Lance Errington takes a swing at him when he stands, but Troy Black blocks it, then begins opening up on a series of punches to Lance Errington! But Pauline Vietjohn's a few steps behind him, and before she gets in Melissa DelArmeggio circles around behind Troy Black and hits him with the BACK BRAIN KICK!! Troy Black goes down at Lance Errington's feet, the crowd boos, and Harold Brusco enters the ring and calls for the bell to begin this match!

Unholy Alliance (Lance Errington & Melissa DelArmeggio)
w/Derek Cole

Lance Errington starts the match off with a strong assault on Troy Black, but after a minute or so Troy Black suddenly stops responding to his attacks! Troy Black shrugs off some forearms and punches to give Lance Errington a malignant stare, then retaliates with an onslaught of his own, administering an intense beating to Lance Errington. Melissa DelArmeggio watches with concern on her face, and after a few minutes she steps into the ring without a tag and gets in Troy Black's face, telling him to stop hurting Lance Errington! Troy Black starts to argue with her, but Pauline Vietjohn gets a disgusted look and leaps up onto the top rope... but instead of springing off, she slips and falls face-first to the canvas awkwardly! Melissa DelArmeggio and Troy Black both turn and stare at her in an awkward moment, but Lance Errington takes advantage of the distraction to come up behind Troy Black and hit him with a low blow!

Lance Errington begins to work Troy Black over with methodical offense, targeting his legs and to a lesser extent his back to set up the Scorpion Deathlock. Troy Black counters some of his moves and makes several resurgences in which he'll hit Lance Errington with a number of nice moves, but each time Lance Errington is able to take control of the match again by means of either a skillful counter, a cheap shot, or a distraction from Melissa DelArmeggio. As the match goes on, Lance Errington even tags Melissa in and lets her get in a little offense on Troy Black, which she takes obvious pleasure in doing. Finally, with Troy Black seeming weakened, Lance Errington goes for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Troy Black kicks him away!

Lance Errington seems angry and goes to pick Troy Black up for more abuse, but Troy Black cuts him off with an elbow to the midsection, then comes alive with a big string of offensive moves on Lance Errington! At one point, Troy Black crouches over Lance Errington and chokes him until Harold Brusco has to pull him aside and threaten to disqualify him... and with Harold Brusco's attention turned, Pauline Vietjohn goes to the top turnbuckle, then leaps off with the LEAP OF FAITH!! The crowd erupts as she connects with the prone Lance Errington and rolls out of the ring before Harold Brusco sees anything! Lance Errington slowly gets up, but he's dazed as Troy Black turns his attention back to him, and he walks right into a DOUBLE ARM DDT!!

On the outside, Derek Cole is going crazy shouting at Harold Brusco about Pauline Vietjohn's Leap of Faith, but Troy Black is going up to the top turnbuckle for the Black Dagger! Melissa DelArmeggio stares at him in dread, seems hesitant for just a second, and then goes over and violently shakes the ropes adjacent to the turnbuckle he's on! Troy Black falls crotch-first on the top turnbuckle, and Harold Brusco was distracted by Derek Cole, so he didn't see a damn thing! The crowd boos loudly! Pauline Vietjohn gets into the ring and goes over to confront Melissa DelArmeggio, but just now Harold Brusco turns his attention back to the match and shoos her out again!

Lance Errington gets up, sees Troy Black crotched on the top turnbuckle, and grins deviously. He climbs up with him and hooks his head... and brings him down with a TOP-ROPE ACE CRUSHER!! The crowd boos, and Lance Errington sits up from the mat, then folds his arms across his chest and swings them out as if to signal "he's DONE!" as he looks proudly at Derek Cole! Lance Errington has a cocky grin on his face as he starts to turn over... BUT TROY BLACK SITS UP!! The crowd cheers, and Lance Errington's face washes over with dread when he hears that, before he even turns around!

Troy Black gets to his feet, and Lance Errington turns around on his knees and looks up at Troy Black in sheer terror! Troy Black points directly at Lance Errington with wide eyes and an intense expression, looking strangely like Hulk Hogan on a big comeback, and Lance Errington actually screams in fright and begins backpedaling into his corner! He tags in Melissa DelArmeggio, then literally hides behind her as she steps into the ring! Lance Errington is so frightened of what Troy Black might do to him that he's hiding behind Melissa!

Melissa DelArmeggio, on the other hand, seems eager to confront Troy Black, and she begins advancing on him threateningly. Now Troy Black is the one who looks hesitant, and he looks around in dismay, not wanting to hurt Melissa. But Pauline Vietjohn yells "TAG ME!" and Troy Black turns and sees her with her arm outstretched, shaking with intensity and desire to be tagged in! Troy Black makes the tag, and the crowd erupts as Pauline Vietjohn comes in and takes Melissa DelArmeggio down with lightning-fast high flying offense! After a number of takedowns, Melissa DelArmeggio rolls out of the ring to catch her breath, and Pauline Vietjohn runs at her and barrels into her with a TOPE SUICIDA!!

Pauline Vietjohn wastes no time in ramming Melissa DelArmeggio head-first into the apron and rolling her back into the ring! Derek Cole starts to advance on her, but Pauline Vietjohn suddenly turns and knocks him on his ass with a jumping thrust kick, then climbs up on the apron! Melissa DelArmeggio gets up, and Pauline Vietjohn springs onto her with a SPRINGBOARD CROSS BODYPRESS!! She only gets two in the ensuing cover, but then she takes Melissa DelArmeggio down with a Russian legsweep, goes to the top turnbuckle, and comes off with the LEAP OF FAITH!! She covers after that move, and Troy Black comes in to cut off a save from Lance Errington, but Melissa kicks out at two and three-quarters anyway!!

Undaunted, Pauline Vietjohn heads to the top turnbuckle again, this time facing the crowd! Melissa DelArmeggio gets up, and Pauline Vietjohn comes off at her with the TWISTING MOONSAULT DROPKICK!! It's slightly off-target... but for some reason, Melissa DelArmeggio quickly stumbles to the side and actually moves into it, and it connects SQUARELY on her face!! Melissa DelArmeggio goes down, bleeding from the mouth and muttering something to herself as she checks her face to make sure it's all there! Pauline Vietjohn shoves her down, covers, and hooks the leg... but Derek Cole is up on the apron now, distracting Harold Brusco! After a few seconds go by without a count, Pauline Vietjohn rushes over and knocks him off the apron with a big dropkick!

Meanwhile, Lance Errington and Troy Black are fighting on the outside of the ring, but when Harold Brusco turns his attention back to the match, Lance Errington hits Troy Black with a LOW BLOW!! The crowd boos, and the boos get louder as Lance Errington goes over to the fallen Derek Cole and takes something out of his leather jacket! It's that damn pipe wrench!! Troy Black gets up slowly, but Lance Errington stalks towards him, then CLOBBERS him upside the head with the pipe wrench!! Harold Brusco didn't see that, of course, and back in the ring, Pauline Vietjohn only gets a near fall on Melissa DelArmeggio, thanks to the delay in the pinfall count caused by Derek Cole!

Pauline Vietjohn pulls Melissa DelArmeggio up, kicks her in the midsection, and then hits a Rocker Dropper, but when she goes for the pin after that it still only gets two and three-quarters. Looking a little frustrated, Pauline Vietjohn whips Melissa DelArmeggio into the ropes... but she made the rookie mistake of whipping her close to Lance Errington, who's up on the apron again, and he tags himself in on Melissa's back! The crowd boos loudly, and Lance Errington enters the ring and advances on Pauline Vietjohn, pointing at her with an evil grin and saying "You're SCREWED!"

Pauline Vietjohn shouts back at him in defiance, then rushes forward and hits Lance Errington with a big dropkick! He staggers back a step but doesn't go down, and Pauline Vietjohn rushes him and hits him with a second dropkick! Still Lance Errington stays up, and Pauline Vietjohn rushes him a third time, but this time Lance Errington side-steps, then darts forward and grabs her legs! Pauline Vietjohn struggles frantically, but she can't escape Lance Errington's superior strength as he turns her over into the SCORPION DEATHLOCK!! Troy Black is getting up on the outside, but Melissa DelArmeggio jumps off of the apron with a double axhandle to his back, and he goes down again as Pauline Vietjohn screams in agony and begins tapping out!!

The crowd boos loudly, and Lance Errington quickly gets up, helps Derek Cole to his feet, and begins retreating backstage, calling for Melissa DelArmeggio to join him! Melissa breaks away from Troy Black, and they both make haste in leaving the ring area and heading backstage. Troy Black gets up and stares after them with clenched fists, and then Pauline Vietjohn rolls out of the ring and starts complaining to him about something. They didn't fare too well in this match tonight, but there may yet be another day for Troy Black to get his hands on Lance Errington. After a short time, they head backstage.

And we're going straight ahead to our next match now! "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler begins playing over the arena sound system, and Russel "The Muscle" Taylor comes out of the backstage entrance with "The California Crippler" Ken Collins! They're accompanied by Stacey Lockman as they make their way to the ring, touching the hands of the fans in the aisles on their way. Soon they climb inside and pose for the crowd briefly, and then Russel Taylor grabs a microphone.

R. Taylor: Tonight's match is a very important battle in the war against evil. Not only is tonight another chance to bring down the mean, nasty VCW World Champion, Crimson, but we're also facing Desmond. Desmond has always had issues with his temper, but until Blood and Thunder he was a decent human being. Well, Desmond, you CAN be a decent human being again! You know the true rules of humanity in your heart. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." And you can do it if you try, because your "I will!" is more important than your I.Q!

The crowd cheers, and Ken Collins takes the microphone with a smile.

K. Collins: Russel has a good point. But there's another rule in effect tonight, Crimson and Desmond... when I get one of you in the California Crossface or the ankle lock, your "I quit!" equals my "I win."

Ken Collins makes a motion with his hand as if tapping out... but then "Walk" by Pantera kicks on, and the VCW World Champion Crimson and Desmond make their way out of the backstage entrance! Crimson gestures to the belt around his waist, then points to Ken Collins and Russel Taylor and motions for the Chokeslam, and they both begin walking to the ring! They climb inside, and Ken Collins and Russel Taylor keep a respectful distance as Crimson takes off the VCW World Title and hands it to the timekeeper, then turns to face them! Brendan Powers enters the ring and calls for the bell, and that'll get this match started!

"The California Crippler" Ken Collins & Russel "The Muscle" Taylor
w/Stacey Lockman

The early goings of the match seem to be a stalemate. Although Russel Taylor is able to match power with both his monstrous adversaries, and Ken Collins is able to stay ahead of them with his wrestling prowess, Crimson and Desmond seem to be so tough and hard to hurt that it's difficult for them to get anywhere! Ken Collins manages to get in a decent string of offense working Crimson's shoulder, softening him up for the California Crossface and doing his best to take away the Chokeslam, but Crimson's harder to damage than a 1960s vending machine, and he just keeps coming back!

The match gets bleak when Russel Taylor goes down to a Crimson big boot, and Crimson and Desmond isolate the match in their corner to work him over with hard-hitting power offense and plenty of restholds. Being an experienced tag team wrestler, Ken Collins bides his time on the apron, refusing to be lured into the ring by Crimson and Desmond, and waits for Russel Taylor to find an opening to make a tag or a comeback. As the minutes wear on and the abuse continues, however, that seems less and less likely.

After several minutes of abuse, Russel Taylor is fading when Desmond grabs him and puts him in a bearhug. The crowd boos as Russel Taylor fights weakly for a while, then goes limp. Ken Collins and Stacey Lockman urge the crowd into cheering Russel Taylor on, and when Brendan Powers raises his arm for the third time, it stays up! Russel Taylor miraculously remembers that you can punch somebody in the face to break a bearhug, and after several hard right hands to the jaw, Desmond's iron grip is broken! Desmond is stunned, and Russel Taylor runs into the ropes and comes off to nail him with the MIRACLE ELBOW SMASH!! The crowd explodes into cheers, but both men are down now and Russel Taylor can't make the cover!

On the apron, Crimson goes ballistic, roaring and stomping; he knows how deadly that move is, because it's the move that handed him his only pinfall loss in the past couple months! He desperately reaches out for a tag, and so does Ken Collins! Russel Taylor crawls to his corner and makes the tag... but Desmond somehow gets up, then staggers over and tags in Crimson! Crimson charges in gamely, but Ken Collins goes on a tear, taking him down with repeated quick moves, then straining himself a little bit to give Crimson an amazing German suplex, then a shoulderbreaker! But it seems that the exertion was worth it, as for the first time in this match, Crimson seems dazed and vulnerable!

The match turns chaotic as Desmond and Russel Taylor also begin brawling on the outside, but inside the ring, Ken Collins unleashes a torrent of offense on Crimson! After a few high-impact moves, Ken Collins takes Crimson down with a bulldog, then goes up to the top turnbuckle! Crimson gets up, and Ken Collins comes off and nails him with a FLYING DROPKICK!! He covers, and Brendan Powers counts, but Crimson kicks out at two and a half! On the outside, Desmond has gained the upper hand over Russel Taylor, but he didn't even seem to think about coming in to save Crimson! Either he knew Crimson would make it, or he just doesn't care as long as he has Russel to beat on!

Ken Collins pulls Crimson up and tries to lift him for a German suplex, but Crimson brings a leg up behind himself and kicks Ken Collins in the crotch! That turns the tide in a hurry, and Crimson hits him with a full nelson slam, a big boot, and a gutwrench suplex, then hits a power bomb for a VERY near fall!! The crowd is stunned that Ken Collins made it out of that! Crimson glares at Ken Collins, then pulls him up and lifts him by the throat... but his right arm and shoulder are weakened, and his grip is shaky enough that Ken Collins manages to counter from mid-air in Crimson's grip and bring him down into the CALIFORNIA CROSSFACE!! The crowd goes CRAZY, but on the outside of the ring, Russel Taylor is beaten nearly senseless and Desmond just grabbed a chair!

Crimson begins struggling towards the ropes, and Desmond stalks over to Russel Taylor on the outside, holding the chair. His damn partner's trapped in the California Crossface, and Desmond STILL doesn't care about anything but mauling Russel Taylor! Russel looks up weakly, and Desmond raises the chair high and SCRAMBLES HIS BRAINS with a huge chairshot! Russel Taylor got one arm up to block it, but there's no way you can block all or even most of the impact from a chair swung by a man with Desmond's power! Russel Taylor's down, and he may be knocked unconscious! But Brendan Powers hears the impact, and he turns around and sees Desmond with the chair! Meanwhile, Crimson's still trying to pull himself to the ropes, but he's a long way away, and he seems to be slowly fading!!

Brendan Powers turns and begins questioning Desmond, asking the sound he heard was a chairshot, but Desmond doesn't even respond; he's still intently focused on Russel Taylor! Brendan Powers warns him not to do it again, but Desmond just looks up at him giggles... and behind Brendan Powers's back, Crimson STARTS TAPPING OUT!! The crowd goes ELECTRIC!! The VCW World Champion is tapping out... but Brendan Powers is still focused on Desmond! And now Brujah's running out of the backstage entrance! He's taped up and battered after Desmond's attack on him outside of the battle royal earlier, but he's here!

Stacey Lockman gets in Brendan Powers's face, trying to alert him to the fact that Crimson's tapping out in the California Crossface, but he's too intent on what's going on outside of the ring! Desmond looks over and sees Brujah, and now he turns to him and raises the chair instead... but Brujah runs forward and LARIATS THE CHAIR INTO HIS FACE!! Brujah goes down, cursing and cradling his arm in pain, but Desmond's down!! But all this happened in plain view of Brendan Powers, and he calls for the bell! Damn it, Ken Collins has Crimson tapping out in the middle of the ring, and the match is gonna end like THIS!?

The results will go down as a disqualification for Russel Taylor and Ken Collins, but that's a mockery of what actually happened in the match! Ken Collins yells in outrage as he gets up, spins Brendan Powers around by the shoulder, and motions that he had Crimson tapping out! Brendan Powers gestures to the outside, where Brujah and Desmond are down on the ramp, but Ken Collins and Stacey Lockman are insisting, yelling at him and arguing the call! The fans are booing loudly, and a "KILL THE REF!" chant starts among the crowd, but Ken Collins and Stacey Lockman just leave the ring, looking disgusted.

But on the outside, Desmond's actually getting up! After having the chair lariated into his face, he's up somehow! Brujah gets up, but his right arm's hanging limply at his side, and his lefts and kicks don't do anything but slow Desmond down as Desmond advances on him and starts beating the hell out of him! Desmond is attacking Brujah in a rage now, and incredibly he has shaken off the effects of the chair in the face moments ago! This is unbelievable! Since Desmond's return at Spontaneous Combustion, NOBODY has been able to hurt the man at all!!

But Russel Taylor's back up, groggy and battered, and he sees what's going on! He looks at Desmond, then looks down at the chair and hesitates a moment, then picks the chair up! He doesn't seem to like it, but he knows what he has to do, and he comes from behind and WHACKS Desmond square across the back with it! Desmond flinches a little bit, but then turns to Russel Taylor with a smile on his face, and wags his finger at him admonishingly! Russel Taylor draws the chair back and blasts Desmond with a chairshot right to the head, and Desmond rocks back, but he doesn't go down!! He starts advancing on Russel Taylor, and he ignores a third blow as Russel Taylor smashes him with the chair again!! He truly is indestructible!

Russel Taylor is starting to look downright terrified as he raises the chair to swing again... but this time Desmond cuts him off with a kick to the midsection! Russel Taylor doubles over, and Desmond grabs him and gives him the OUTCAST!! Russel Taylor goes down, flat on his back on the steel entrance ramp, and Desmond stands over him, laughing! But Brujah has somehow pulled himself up behind Desmond, and he rushes in from behind and nails Desmond in the back of the head with a LARIAT!! Desmond goes down to his hands and knees, and Brujah begins wildly flailing and kicking at him as he gets back up, but now the H.A.R.P. Squad is out to pull these two men apart!

It takes several guards to keep both of them separated, but finally Brujah and Desmond are contained. The VCW World Champion, Crimson, has reclaimed his title from the timekeeper's table and is leaving as well, and he just stares and shakes his head as Desmond and Brujah fight the H.A.R.P. Squad guards to try and get at each other. Desmond is out of control, and it's hard saying who can stop him! Can Brujah? Can Russel "The Muscle" Taylor? Can anybody, for that matter!?

Before our main event, we're going to take a look backstage with Ziggy Adderloaf, who's standing backstage with "Skyhawk" Quinn Harper as he prepares for what many people consider an impossible mission in our main event! Let's take a look now!

Ziggy Adderloaf is standing by with "Skyhawk" Quinn Harper. His friends are assembled nearby: Heather Dannon, Tim Bell, Tommy Hustle, and a freshly-showered and dressed Pauline Vietjohn.

Z. Adderloaf: Quinn Harper, it seems like you've been thrown into a raging river to learn how to swim. You've been VCW for less than six months now. You've been wrestling on a professional basis for less than two years. And now, tonight, you have a match that even hardened veterans would be wary of. Tonight, you're going to go one-on-one with Gabriel Black, a man whose claims of being the greatest wrestler who ever lived look more and more like the truth each time he steps into the ring. If somehow, some way you make it past him with the title, then you have Jacob Idol, one of the top technicians in the world, to look forward to next week. Are you feeling nervous?

Q. Harper: Some people would call it fear. But to me, it's energy. I am FULL of energy tonight. Gabriel has said that he sees the outcome of every match in his mind before he ever sets foot in the ring... but not TONIGHT. When the end comes to the match, one instant he'll be on his feet, and the next he'll be laying on the mat after a three count, wondering what happened. Gabriel, I WILL beat you tonight, and take your title... and you will NEVER see... it... coming.

Tim Bell nods and puts a hand on Quinn Harper's shoulder.

T. Bell: Nobody's questioning that Gabriel Black is a great wrestler, Ziggy. I'll freely admit, he's even better than I ever was. Let's be honest, when it's all said and done, they'll be calling him the greatest wrestler of his generation, if not the greatest of all time. But Quinn Harper's here, he's from the new generation, and Gabriel Black has one small, slight weakness. That weakness is a window of opportunity for Quinn Harper, and this is the kind of opportunity that can make a boy into a legend, and create a moment that lasts forever.

The others gather around him, and Tommy Hustle and Heather Dannon pat him on the back.

T. Hustle: Good luck, man. Don't get your fool ass killed out there.

H. Dannon: You can do it, Quinn!

P. Vietjohn: We'll be watching you.

Quinn Harper looks around at his friends, and a confident smile slowly spreads on his face.

Q. Harper: Yeah, go ahead and watch me... just don't blink, or you'll miss the title change.

Quinn Harper turns and walks away with Tim Bell.

Z. Adderloaf: Quinn Harper against Gabriel Black, for the VCW Television Title! Can he do the impossible? We'll find out, fans! Your main event is NEXT!

The camera fades out on the backstage scene.

We're back, and after a few seconds "The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band begins playing, and the crowd cheers as "Skyhawk" Quinn Harper makes his way out of the backstage entrance, accompanied by Tim Bell! They make their way to the ring, and Quinn Harper steps up on the apron, then vaults in over the top rope and lands on his feet! He poses for the crowd at the corners of the ring, and they cheer, as Tim Bell stands on the outside and applauds! He has a big opportunity tonight... but in order to capitalize, he has a big, big challenge ahead of him.

And now "Denial" by Sevendust begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd boos loudly as Gabriel Black steps out of the backstage entrance, flanked by Jasmina Chastity, Derek Cole, and "Superstar" Sean Black! He's dressed to wrestle, with the VCW Television Title around his waist, and he's headed for the ring with a confident but serious look on his face. They're coming down the aisle... and Tim Bell turns and starts walking up the ramp to meet them! He points to Sean Black, Jasmina Chastity, and Derek Cole, and then points to the backstage entrance... he's telling them to take a hike!

Sean Black just laughs, then steps forward and takes a swing at Tim Bell, but Tim Bell blocks it and knocks him down with a big right hand! Derek Cole steps forward and kicks at him, but Tim Bell catches his foot and brings him down with a single-leg takedown! As Derek Cole and Sean Black scramble to their feet, Tim Bell stands firm and yells "GET OUTTA HERE!!" at them! And they actually exchange a glance, then begin backing up the ramp with Jasmina Chastity, with Tim Bell stalking after them! Gabriel Black stares in disbelief, then shakes his head and keeps coming to the ring. Tim Bell just ran off Gabriel Black's entourage, and now it'll be a one-on-one affair!

Gabriel Black enters the ring and takes off the VCW Television Title, then holds it up for Quinn Harper to see, points to it, and says something. Quinn Harper just shrugs and rolls his neck and shoulders, then gets ready as Gabriel Black hands the title off to the timekeeper. Senior referee Jerry Rogers enters the ring and calls for the bell, and that'll begin this match!

Gabriel Black circles Quinn Harper in the ring a few times to start, facing off with him and jockeying for position, but then he suddenly drops to his hands and knees! Gabriel Black looks over with a grin on his face and actually invites Quinn Harper to come in and grab a hold on him! Quinn Harper takes the challenge and puts on a quick front facelock! Gabriel Black quickly struggles to his feet, then reaches down and brings Quinn Harper down with a double-leg takedown, mounts him, and starts slapping him in the face repeatedly!! The crowd boos, and Jerry Rogers tells Gabriel Black to get off of Quinn Harper, so he does.

Quinn Harper checks his face, then gets up, looking at Gabriel Black warily. That didn't work out too well for him... and now Gabriel Black reaches up to challenge him to a test of strength! Quinn Harper has a very slight height advantage, which might favor him here, and in any case he seems up for it as he comes forward and grabs Gabriel Black's hands! The two men strain against each other, but Gabriel Black steadily pushes Quinn Harper back, then forces him down to his knees, holds him there in a knuckle-lock while he grins at the crowd, and shoves him down to the mat! We might have suspected that Gabriel Black was stronger than Quinn Harper, and now we know for a fact that he is.

Quinn Harper gets up, and Gabriel Black locks up with him, grabs a headlock, and whips him to the mat with a headlock takedown. He squeezes down on the hold with a satisfied smirk, but Quinn Harper begins fighting his way back to his feet! As soon as he gets up to one knee, however, Gabriel Black slips behind him, grabs a half nelson, and sweeps his leg from under him to put him face-down on the mat! With his free hand, Gabriel Black slaps Quinn Harper in the back of the head a few times, and then he releases the half nelson to rub his face in the mat!

After a few seconds, Gabriel Black gets up again, and Quinn Harper stands up and rubs a hand over his face, then glares at Gabriel Black. Gabriel Black is a better wrestler, with a vast experience advantage, and he's making sure that everyone knows it. Gabriel Black comes forward for a lockup again, but this time Quinn Harper ducks past his grasp and takes him down with a dropkick! The crowd erupts, and Gabriel Black gets angrily to his feet, only to be taken down by a second dropkick from Quinn Harper! Gabriel Black gets up again, and Quinn Harper backs him into the ropes with a chop and two punches, then whips him to the other side and nails him with a spinning leg lariat when he comes off!

Gabriel Black gets up and charges Quinn Harper, but runs into a kick to the midsection! That stops him in his tracks, and Quinn Harper hooks Gabriel Black, then flings him down with a snap suplex! Gabriel Black sits up, holding his back and grimacing, and Quinn Harper sends him sprawling again with a dropkick to the back of the head! Gabriel Black gets to his feet again, but he stays doubled over for a second, and that second is all Quinn Harper needs to run at him and bring him down with a sunset flip! He holds him for the pin, and Jerry Rogers counts, but Gabriel Black kicks out at two!

Gabriel Black rolls to his feet now, and he looks angry. Quinn Harper gets up as well and grabs his head, but Gabriel Black cuts him off with a shot to the midsection, then whips him into a corner of the ring! Quinn Harper hits the turnbuckles and staggers out, and Gabriel Black catches him square in the chest with a picture-perfect dropkick when he comes out! Quinn Harper's down, and Gabriel Black runs to the ropes, springs up on the middle rope, and leaps back onto Quinn Harper with a QUEBRADA MOONSAULT!! The crowd boos, and Gabriel Black hooks the leg, but Quinn Harper kicks out at two and a half! It looks like Gabriel Black's trying to show off his own quickness here!

Gabriel Black gets up again, and he pulls Quinn Harper up by the hair, kicks him in the midsection, and rams him head-first into the turnbuckles in a corner. Quinn Harper slumps in the corner, and Gabriel Black draws back and gives him a stinging chop right to the chest! Quinn Harper cries out in pain and squirms in the corner, and Gabriel Black smiles and gives him another blistering chop to the chest! Quinn Harper is in pain again, but he lashes out in anger and desperation with a punch! Gabriel Black angrily returns fire with a punch of his own, Quinn Harper fires back with another one, and Gabriel Black punches Quinn Harper again, then punches him yet again, and kicks him in the midsection repeatedly until he slumps in the corner! Quinn Harper tried to slug it out with Gabriel Black, and it just didn't work out for him!

Jerry Rogers orders Gabriel Black to back off for a moment, and he does as Quinn Harper gets up and stumbles out of the corner. Gabriel Black kicks him in the midsection, then suddenly pulls him into a front chancery and hooks his leg for the fisherman suplex!! But no, Quinn Harper counters it with a small package! He has Gabriel Black rolled up, and Jerry Rogers counts, but Gabriel Black kicks out at two! Quinn Harper starts to get up after that, but Gabriel Black pops up and takes him back down with a clothesline, then starts stomping away at him angrily! Gabriel Black thought he could fire off his fisherman suplex and end this one early, but Quinn Harper saw it coming!

Gabriel Black pulls Quinn Harper up, knees him in the stomach, and pulls him into another front chancery, and this time gives him a vertical suplex. Quinn Harper goes down and slowly starts getting up, but Gabriel Black pulls him up by the hair, snap mares him to a seated position on the mat, then leaps over him from behind with a jumping neck snap! Gabriel Black's obviously starting to work the neck now, and this is BAD news for Quinn Harper. He made Gabriel Black mad, and now he could be in for a Destiny Driver!

Quinn Harper gets up again, and Gabriel Black once again pulls him into a front chancery, and this time he lifts him and drops him face-first with a front-layout suplex! Quinn Harper is left face-down on the mat, and Gabriel Black carefully measures him, then drops a leg across the back of his head, and then gets up and does it again! The second time, Quinn Harper curls up after the impact and starts to roll out of the ring, but Gabriel Black stops that by mounting him and punching him in the face repeatedly! Jerry Rogers admonishes Gabriel Black about the closed fists, and after a four count he gets up again. But Gabriel's using a sound strategy here; while their agility and speed are nearly equal, he knows he can outbrawl Quinn Harper and outwrestle him, and that's what he's doing!

Gabriel Black pulls Quinn Harper up, grabs his head, and twists him into position for a reverse neckbreaker, but Quinn Harper slips his head free before Gabriel Black can get the move off! Stunned, Gabriel Black turns around to him, and Quinn Harper spins and nails him with a jumping side kick! Gabriel Black staggers back into the ropes, and Quinn Harper runs forward and knocks him out over the top rope with a dropkick!! The crowd cheers, and Gabriel Black tumbles off of the apron to the floor, then starts to get up, but Quinn Harper makes his ascent to the top turnbuckle, then leaps off with a MOONSAULT BODYPRESS TO THE FLOOR!! The crowd goes wild! Gabriel Black goes down under Quinn Harper!

On the floor, Quinn Harper crouches over Gabriel Black and rains right hands down on his face, then leaps up to the apron. Gabriel Black gets up and turns to face him, just in time for Quinn Harper to jump on the middle rope and spring back onto him with an ASAI MOONSAULT!! The crowd erupts again, and again Gabriel Black goes down! Quinn Harper pulls him up and whips him into the guardrail, and Gabriel Black hits the rail back-first! He staggers forward, clutching his back and wincing, but now Quinn Harper has jumped up to the apron, and he runs along the apron then leaps off to nail Gabriel Black with a flying forearm smash from the apron! Gabriel Black goes down again!!

Quinn Harper keeps right on going, and he scoops Gabriel Black up and actually BODYSLAMS HIM ON THE STEEL STEPS!! Gabriel Black yells in pain and falls off, putting his hand to his back! His back was severely injured less than a year ago, and those steps are solid, unforgiving steel, and they have a lot of ninety degree corners and edges on them that could end a career! Gabriel Black is writhing in anguish on the floor, and Quinn Harper pulls him up by the hair, then takes him head-first into the steel ringpost! Gabriel Black slumps against the apron, and Quinn Harper rolls him back into the ring again! Gabriel Black starts to get up, but Quinn Harper climbs up on the apron and bolts to the top, then comes off on him with a FLYING SUNSET FLIP! He holds Gabriel Black down, and Jerry Rogers counts... to two and a half!!

Quinn Harper gets back up, pulls Gabriel Black to his feet, and whips him back-first into a corner of the ring. Gabriel Black hits the turnbuckles and staggers out, and Quinn Harper hiptosses him to the canvas! Gabriel Black gets up, but he's facing the wrong way, and Quinn Harper boosts himself up onto Gabriel Black's shoulders and brings him down with a Victory Roll! He holds him down, and Jerry Rogers counts, but again only gets to two and a half! Gabriel Black gets up, and Quinn Harper hooks him for a DDT... but out of nowhere, Gabriel Black counters it with a Northern Lights suplex! Jerry Rogers counts, but at two Gabriel Black collapses and releases the bridge! After Quinn Harper's tour-de-force of offense, he was too exhausted to hold it!

Gabriel Black gets up, grimacing in noticeable pain, and Quinn Harper's getting up too. Gabriel Black walks forward, and Quinn Harper kicks him in the midsection, but Gabriel Black blocks and grabs his leg, then brings him down with a dragon screw leg whip! They both get up again, but this time Gabriel Black beats him to his feet and runs forward to catch him with a kneelift! The crowd boos as Gabriel Black pulls Quinn Harper into a reverse neckbreaker, and this time he hits it! Quinn Harper goes down, clutching his neck, and Gabriel Black floats over for a cover, but Quinn Harper kicks out at two. Gabriel Black doesn't seem the least bit surprised; no doubt he just wanted to make Quinn Harper kick out and give himself two seconds to regain some strength!

Gabriel Black pulls Quinn Harper up from behind and clobbers him with a few forearms to the back of the neck, then grips his waist. Gabriel Black lifts Quinn Harper, tilts him back, and just DRIVES him to the mat with a BACKDROP DRIVER!! Quinn Harper flops and spasms on the canvas for a second or two after the impact, then goes limp! That's the same move that put Quinn Harper out of action for four months! Gabriel Black knows that, and in the grin on his face as he sits up, it's obvious what his intentions are! He rolls Quinn Harper over, covers him, and hooks a leg... but gets TWO AND THREE-QUARTERS!! Somehow, Quinn Harper kicked out of the same move that put him out for four months last time!

Gabriel Black gets up and glares at him, but his glare turns into a smile. He points down at Quinn Harper, then motions for the Destiny Driver! If it hits, this'll end the match, and probably his career!! He pulls Quinn Harper up, lifts him in a rear gutwrench, and with only a slight effort pulls him into position for the Destiny Driver! Gabriel's back's hurting, but Quinn Harper's only a hundred and ninety pounds, and Gabriel still lifts him without much trouble!! He has him up... but Quinn Harper squirms and manages to counter it with a spinning headscissors!! The crowd goes wild!

Gabriel Black gets up and rushes at Quinn Harper with a clothesline, but Quinn Harper ducks, slips behind him, and lifts HIM for a belly-to-back suplex, then brings him crashing down! The crowd cheers wildly! Both men stay down for a second, but Quinn Harper's up a second earlier, and by the time Gabriel Black gets to his feet, Quinn Harper runs to the ropes, springs off of the second rope, and comes off just in time to send him back down with an Asai moonsault!! Gabriel Black goes down, and Quinn Harper scoops him up, then brings him down across a knee with a backbreaker! He's exploiting the injured back again! And now he leaps up to the top turnbuckle, turns to face Gabriel Black, and comes off with a 450 SPLASH!! The crowd cheers, Quinn Harper hooks a leg, and Jerry Rogers counts... to two and a half!! Damn it, Gabriel Black won't stay down!

Undaunted, Quinn Harper steps out to the apron and begins going up to the top again, but this time Gabriel Black gets up, and he rushes forward and catches him at the top with a punch to the midsection! Quinn Harper is stunned up there, and Gabriel Black climbs up to the top turnbuckle with him! Quinn Harper fights back with a few punches of his own, but Gabriel Black returns fire and pounds him into submission with a pair of right hands, then hooks him in a front chancery and brings him down with a SUPERPLEX!! The crowd boos loudly as Quinn Harper is brought crashing to the mat, and Gabriel Black floats over him for the cover! Jerry Rogers counts... and Quinn Harper throws a shoulder up at two and three-quarters! He won't quit!

Gabriel Black sneers at Quinn Harper, his contempt clearly growing by the second. He steps out to the apron, then goes to the top turnbuckle and waits for Quinn Harper to get up! He's poised to deliver the Destiny Hammer! Quinn Harper gets up, and looks up as Gabriel Black comes flying off the top with the DESTINY HAMMER!! But Quinn Harper dives and rolls out of the way with amazing speed, and Gabriel Black's knee collides with Jerry Rogers instead!! Gabriel Black tumbles to the mat, and Quinn Harper grabs his hair and pulls him forward, but Gabriel Black gives him a low blow!! Damn it!

The crowd boos loudly, and Gabriel Black rolls out of the ring and grabs the VCW Television Title belt. He slides into the ring with it as Quinn Harper begins to get up, then runs and dives forward and NAILS him in the head with the belt! Quinn Harper goes down, the crowd boos loudly, and Gabriel Black turns to them and smiles, raising the belt up high! And then he turns back to Quinn Harper and raises the belt again, and a camera in the corner catches him saying "Come on, get up, I have another one for you..." as he prepares to strike!

Quinn Harper's slowly pulling himself up off of the mat... but someone's coming out of the backstage entrance! It's JOHNNY SMILES!! The crowd cheers wildly, and Johnny Smiles runs to the ring and jumps up on the apron! He grabs the VCW Television Title and tries to pull it out of Gabriel Black's hands, but Gabriel Black keeps a hold on it, refusing to let it go! Johnny Smiles is trying to stop him from cheating and bashing Quinn Harper's brains out with that belt! Gabriel Black's desperately hanging on... but Jerry Rogers is starting to stir, and Quinn Harper's up behind him! As Gabriel struggles for the belt, Quinn Harper grabs him from behind and pulls him away into the QUINNTESSENCE!! The crowd shakes the rafters with cheers!! Just like he said, Gabriel Black never saw it coming! Quinn Harper covers Gabriel Black, and the crowd and Johnny Smiles both count along with Jerry Rogers... TO TWO AND NINE-TENTHS!! Damn it, Gabriel Black kicked out after the Quinntessence!!

Johnny Smiles drops the VCW Television Title belt to the floor and begins backing up the aisle, watching the ring with both disappointment and hope on his face. He stopped Gabriel Black from using that belt as a weapon, but it appears he's not going to interfere further in this match; the outcome of this contest is now up to Quinn Harper and Gabriel Black! Inside the ring, Quinn Harper looks devastated as he stares up into the arena lights in disbelief! He hit Gabriel Black with the Quinntessence, and it wasn't enough! After a few seconds, he steps out to the apron and begins going to the top turnbuckle, but his confidence is shaken now. He goes up to the top turnbuckle as Gabriel Black gets up, and comes off with a FLYING DROPKICK!! But he took a little too long to leap, and Gabriel Black dodges out of the way! Quinn Harper starts to get up, but Gabriel Black runs forward and brings him down with a swinging neckbreaker!!

The crowd boos, and Gabriel Black smiles to himself as he prepares to put the finishing touches on. He signals for the Destiny Driver again, then pulls Quinn Harper up and knees him in the midsection! He lifts him in a rear gutwrench... but Quinn Harper slips out behind him!! Gabriel Black turns around, and Quinn Harper grabs him for the Quinntessence, but this time Gabriel Black DOES see it coming, and he shoves him away! Quinn Harper turns around, and Gabriel Black kicks him in the midsection, then hooks him in a front chancery and grabs his leg for a fisherman suplex, but Quinn Harper blocks it and pulls his leg free! This time he grabs Gabriel Black in a fireman's carry lift, lifts him and pivots in one fluid motion, and brings him down with the SMILEDRIVER!! The crowd explodes again, and Gabriel Black damn sure didn't see THAT coming! Quinn Harper covers and hooks a leg! Jerry Rogers counts... TWO AND NINE-TENTHS AGAIN!! DAMN, THAT WAS CLOSE!!

Quinn Harper is shaking as he gets up, and he stares down at Gabriel Black in dread and surprise! He just can't beat him, no matter what he does! Then, he seems to get an idea, and he takes Gabriel Black over to a corner of the ring and sets him up on the top turnbuckle! He climbs up with him, and leaps up for a TOP-ROPE FRANKENSTEINER! That's the same move his mentor, Tim Bell, has used to win so many times in the past... but HE DOESN'T GET IT! Damn it, Gabriel Black catches him and comes off with him in a TOP-ROPE POWER BOMB!! That did it! That HAD to do it!! Both men are down!! After several seconds, Gabriel Black crawls over and drapes an arm on Quinn Harper's chest! Jerry Rogers counts... and Quinn Harper gets a shoulder up at two and nine-tenths!!

Gabriel Black pulls himself up on the ropes and takes a deep breath. He's weary and battered, but he's faring better than Quinn Harper at the moment. After leaning on the ropes for a few seconds, Gabriel Black pulls Quinn Harper up and lifts him in a rear gutwrench again... he's looking for the Destiny Driver AGAIN!! Quinn Harper's squirming frantically, but he has him! Gabriel Black has him!! NO, HE DOESN'T!! Quinn Harper slips out the back! He grabs a full nelson... DRAGON SUPLEX!! The crowd explodes, Gabriel Black's legs kick frantically in the air, and Jerry Rogers counts TO THREE!! NEW CHAMPION!! WE HAVE A NEW VCW TELEVISION CHAMPION!!

The crowd is going WILD as the bridge from the dragon suplex falls and Quinn Harper gets up, raising his hands in victory! This is the most UNBELIEVABLE thing in the history of VCW! Somehow, Quinn Harper just BEAT Gabriel Black, and the crowd can't believe it! Two or three articles of women's underwear come flying into the ring, and the whole arena is shaking with deafening cheers! But behind Quinn Harper, Gabriel Black gets up, and he charges forward with an outraged scream!! But Quinn Harper sees him on the ViolenTron, and without even turning around he ducks a clothesline from behind, then grabs Gabriel Black when he turns around and drops him with the QUINNTESSENCE!! Gabriel Black rolls out of the ring, clutching the back of his head, and flops down to the floor!

Tim Bell begins walking down to the ring, followed shortly by Tommy Hustle, Heather Dannon, and Pauline Vietjohn! Tim Bell takes the VCW Television Title from the timekeeper's desk and slides into the ring! He raises it up high to a chorus of cheers, and then steps behind Quinn Harper and buckles the title belt around his waist, then raises Quinn Harper's hands to an even louder burst of cheers!! Whatever Tim Bell taught Quinn Harper in his four-month absence, it certainly paid off here! Never in our wildest dreams could anyone have imagined Quinn Harper beating Gabriel Black before tonight!!

Tommy Hustle grins broadly and grabs Quinn Harper's head, then tousles his hair, but he backs off when Quinn Harper winces in pain from that treatment and clutches his neck. Instead, Tommy Hustle just pats Quinn Harper on the back, points to him, and says something with a grin. Pauline Vietjohn grabs Quinn Harper's hand and says something to him, and he smiles at her, but then Heather Dannon runs in from the side and jumps forward to give him a big hug!! Quinn Harper smiles and pats her on the back, and then all four of the others grab Quinn Harper and hoist him in the air, with Tommy Hustle and Tim Bell naturally doing the greater part of the hoisting. On the shoulders of his friends, Quinn Harper raises the VCW Television Title high in the air, and the crowd explodes with a renewed burst of cheers and camera flashes!! Quinn Harper is the NEW VCW Television Champion, and we'll leave you with that! Thanks for joining us!! See you next week!!

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