The X Camera flips on and shows Nick Stuart and Richard Parker sitting at the announcer's table, ready to start off another exciting ReVolution.

Nick: Welcome, folks, to ReVolution 235. After coming off a monumental ReVolution 234, we are here to start yet another Jewel in the Crown tournament.

Richard: Two new champions, one very pissed off boss, and a field of God knows how many ready to try their hand at capturing immortality.

Nick: You do know the field was released, right?

Richard: No shit, where?

Nick: On the PRIME website.

Richard: Psst, I only read that for the pictures.

Nick: And here to tell us all about the festivities, rules, regulations, and everything involved in Jewel in the Crown is Lisa Tyler.

The bitchier (well, at one point) of the LT's, Lisa Tyler, slides the curtain aside and steps out with a microphone to a warm reception from the Casper Event Center. She smiles and raises the mic to her lips.

Lisa Tyler: Welcome, fans of PRIME, to ReVolution 235, and the start of Jewel in the Crown 2010!

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Tyler: I will briefly go over the guidelines and state a few new rules that have been implemented specifically for this year. As you know, Jewel in the Crown is an open invitational tournament designed to determine the number one contender to the Universal Champion at Culture Shock. The individual who wins Jewel in the Crown receives a guaranteed one on one match against the champion in the main event of Night 1 of Culture Shock 2011. Unless, of course, that person happens to be the Universal Champion himself.

Nick: I read about this rule and find it to be very intriguing.

Richard: I'm all ears, spit it out woman.

Tyler: If our new Universal Champion, Hessian, is able to successfully go through all four rounds of Jewel in the Crown, he will be allowed to pick the stipulations for his next two title defenses. Although, there are some exceptions to the rule, such as retirement or banishment from the federation, Hessian will have free reign to decide should he make it through.

Richard: Oh God, can you imagine if that happens? Dude will make his opponents dress in medieval garb and fight with fucking warhammers.

Tyler: However, with reward comes an even greater risk, and this rule applies to all champions due to their inclusion. Devin -

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Richard: Geez, at least let her say his full name.

Tyler: - Shakur and I decided to spice up the action. Everybody involved in the federation is eligible to become the 2010 Jewel in the Crown, but champions have a special bounty on their head. If any champion is eliminated, they will be forced to defend their championship at some point between King of Kings and Culture Shock against the person who eliminates them. It does not matter if the champion is pinned or not.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Tyler: And the only exception to that rule is if two champions end up in the same match, no PRIME champion can face another PRIME champion for a belt. That would have to be orchestrated at another time and another place.

Richard: She just doesn't want another Jason Snow running around... And to that I say WHY? WE TAKE THIS SHIT SERIOUS!

Tyler: That being said, all first round matches are either going to be triple threat or four way matches. We have a grand total of 26 applicants involved in Round 1 of Jewel in the Crown, and I would like to show those who have chosen to make their names public right now on the PRIME*View.

Lindsay Troy
Roxy Phoenix
Jakob
Eddie O Neal
Tony Gamble
The Mysterious Doctor X
Christian Daniels
Castor Von Strife
Boda
Nitz Donnelly
The First
Hessian
Patterson Loch
Big Bear
Jacob McKail
Tchu
The Sentinel
Drake Daniels
Dr. Clay 'Chainsaw' Krueger
Katterina Wylde

Nick: A pretty nice looking field with a good amount of fresh faces.

Richard: Katterina Wylde, Roxy Phoenix... Holy shit dude, we're gonna get more women in this joint. FUCK YES! RICHARD HAS A SHOT TO BAG HIMSELF SOME ASS!

Nick: They are both friends of Tyler Rayne, or so I've heard.

The King of Gluttony slams his fist on the table.

Tyler: Now, there are a few things I need to address before revealing the matches, which will take place tonight and on ReVolution 236. Round 2 will take place on 237, with four people advancing to King of Kings. Desade is not on that list because she has a first round bye from the 2010 Dual Halo.

BOOOOOOOOOOOORAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHBOOOOOORAH

Nick: Mixed bag reaction to Desade there.

Richard: I bet she's a minx in the sack.

Nick: She might claw your balls off if you keep talking that way.

Richard: I like it like that.

Tyler: And the reason our... esteemed boss, Devin Shakur -

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Tyler: - Is not competiting this evening is because he has been medically suspended from in-ring activity until at least King of Kings, and I have direct orders from the Board of Directors to ensure he does not get involved physically with Jewel in the Crown in any capacity. His replacement is Christian Daniels.

Nick: I'll bet money Shakur tries to find a loophole around that.

Tyler: In addition, we have six mystery entrants who will all compete on ReVolution 236. We are thrilled to have these people with us and know they will each give their competition a run for their money. With that being said, I will leave you with the matches scheduled to take place, hope you have a pleasant evening, and enjoy the show.

Tyler turns on her left foot and walks back through the curtain while the matches pop up on the PRIME*View.

ReVolution 235

1. Hessian Vs Tchu Vs Katterina Wylde
2. The Sentinel Vs Drake Daniels Vs Boda
3. Nitz Donnelly Vs Big Bear Vs Castor V Strife
4. The First Vs Jacob McKail Vs Dr. Clay 'Chainsaw' Krueger

ReVolution 236

1. Roxy Phoenix Vs Mystery Entrant 6 Vs Jakob
2. Lindsay Troy Vs Mystery Entrant 2 Vs Tony Gamble
3. Mystery Entrant 4 Vs Christian Daniels Vs Mystery Entrant 1 Vs Mystery Entrant 3
4. Eddie O Neal Vs Patterson Loch Vs Mystery Entrant 5 Vs The Mysterious Doctor X

Those in the crowd who were a little stoned when they read on the Internet remember their intrigue while Nick and Richard bring it home.

Nick: Both the Universal and 5*Star Champions competiting this evening, and some of those new faces will show themselves. We will see if they can hang with the elite of PRIME right after this time out for the introduction.

An angry drumbeat mingles with heavy guitar riffs and the sound of ReVolution blasts through the speakers. The Sound of Madness.

The hulking chest of Big Bear fades back to a wider shot of him leaning against a turnbuckle, right arm extended, staring straight ahead at Tony Gamble. Big Bear charges forward and rocks Gamble’s world with a Chump Buster.

Yeah, I get it
You're an outcast.

The Big Bad Boda Daddy manhandles the Dual Halo, showing that even after four years away from the ring he is still one of the best in the world.

Always under attack.
Always coming in last,
Bringing up the past.

The First displays his acrobatics during a tryout match for the company. His philosophies might be a tad awkward, but there is no doubt the man can compete.

No one owes you anything.
I think you need a shotgun blast,
A kick in the ass,

The controversial Chainz stares into the camera with a sadistic glare.

So paranoid...
Watch your back!

Tony Gamble making Devin Shakur tap for the first time in his career atop a steel cage.

Oh my, here we go...
Jakob, one of the more evil men the wrestling world will ever encounter. His debut with PRIME is inevitable, and when it occurs, bad things will happen.

Another lose cannon gone bi-polar
Slipped down, couldn't get much lower.
Quicksand's got no sense of humor.
I'm still laughing like hell.

Katterina Wylde, an international superstar who can more than hold her own. She is shown in a photo from about five years ago with Tyler Rayne, both mugging for the camera.

You think that the cryin to me,
Looking so sorry that I'm gonna believe,
You've been infected by a social disease.
Well, then take your medicine.

Devin Shakur, loopy and spinning, manages to land a Good Times Painful Memories strike on Cozen to capture his first and only Universal Championship.

I created the Sound of Madness.
Wrote the book on pain.
Somehow I'm still here

Christian Daniels snarls to the camera and swigs from his beer. He's only wrestled four times, but try convincing a seven foot behemoth that he can't be in the introduction video. Especially one who has the ear of The Boss in Black. Not easy.

To explain,

Nitz Donnelly is the first man to enter the Dual Halo 2010. He takes the best shot of every wrestler and comes out with a Top 10 finish, solidifying his name as a PRIME superstar.

That the darkest hour never comes in the night.
You can sleep with a gun.

Tyler Rayne flashes the million dollar smirk toward the camera. It melts the hearts of every woman on the planet and a few guys too.

When you gonna wake up and fight... for yourself?

The Queen hath return to PRIME and that is good for absolutely nobody.

I'm so sick of this tombstone mentality,
If there's an afterlife,
Then it'll set you free.

The one time secretary of Devin Shakur, Lisa Tyler, has found herself back in a position of power. While she has remained quiet in certain regards, she’s more than capable of laying down the law.

But I'm not gonna part the seas
You're a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You think that cryin to me,

Matt Mills with a microphone in his hand. Yes, you better believe this gambling addict has finally worked his way into the introduction. He'll use the income from being featured in this to create a new online account at Full Tilt Poker. We believe the screen name will be isildur2.

Looking so sorry that I'm gonna believe,
You've been infected by a social disease.
Well, then take your medicine.
I created the Sound of Madness.
Wrote the book on pain.
Somehow I'm still here,

Tchu lands a Downfall on Chainz and captures the Intense Championship.

To explain,
That the darkest hour never comes in the night.
You can sleep with a gun.
When you gonna wake up and fight... for yourself?
I created the Sound of Madness.
Wrote the book on pain.
Somehow I'm still here

Patterson Loch. Not much is known about the kid, but one can expect him to make an instant impact.

To explain
That the darkest hour never comes in the night.
You can sleep with a gun.
When you gonna wake up...
When you gonna wake up and fight...

The blacklisted Jacob McKail has once again found a home in PRIME and captured a victory over Big Bear with his Fearless Freefall.

I created the Sound of Madness.
Wrote the book on pain.
Somehow I'm still here,
To explain,

Devin Shakur with his crazy eyes, staring up at Dan Ryan. He’s worked himself into this video twice just because he’s The Boss.

That the darkest hour never comes in the night.
You can sleep with a gun.
When you gonna wake up and fight... for yourself?

When you gonna wake up and fight... for yourself?

Hessian staring down at the Universal Championship, and achieving a status level he's been striving for his entire wrestling career.

When you gonna wake up and fight... for yourself?

PRIME...Number One by Definition.

"Remedy" by Seether welcomes the man that a week ago, wore some gold around his waist. A week ago, he was a champion, but this week, he's the former champ. Boda steps out from behind the curtains, and the chorus of boos almost drowns out the music. The fans inside the Casper Events Center show the love, or the lack there of, for the big man from Orlando Florida. Boda, whose dressed in his business attire, and not ring clothes, walks slowly to the ring as Nick and Richard banter about what ever it is they banter about.

Nick: Folks, in case you were under a rock last week....

Richard: Or smoking some rock......

Nick: Douche.... any how, in case you missed it last week.... Nitz Donnelly did the impossible, and beat
Boda to win his first single title here in PRIME.

Richard: You know what that means right Nick? Rematch. And that's why Boda's out here right now, to
revoke his rematch clause.

Nick: Well, Boda can do that, but he's also got a Jewel in The Crown match tonight to worry about.

Richard: First things first, let the man air his complaints about Donnelly stealing the title, and let the man get his rematch.

The Bastard of PRIME steps into the ring, and asks for a microphone. The fans continue to support their 'We Hate Boda Cause'. Boda raises his left hand, as if to tell the fans to give him it all. He waits them out, as the Wisconsinites seem more outspoken than other PRIME fans. Finally, the big man is allowed to speak.

Boda: It's true..... Donnelly outmaneuvered me, outplayed me and beat me for the Five Star Title. I'll give it to you kid.... you truly deserve the title.

Fans: RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Boda: Cheer for him...... he does deserve it. But he won't be champion for long. Between my rematch clause, and a locker room full of hungry players...... he'll have to be on his guard. But enough about your Five Star Champion. Let me talk about me for a minute.

Nick: As usual.

Richard: Shut up Nick, let the man speak.

Boda: I came back to PRIME back in January to find closure. I'd walked away 4 years ago, with out even letting anyone know why. But what did I get when I returned? Nothing? Not one ounce of respect from the boys in the back, or you fans in those damn seats. Sure, Snow, Youngblood and I did our little Bastards thing..... but we didn't mesh. I was shown not one ounce of respect by either of them guys. Every suggestion I made, was shot down by their fucking egos. If they'd listen to me, a LEGEND..... they'd both still be here, instead of sitting at home crying in their Wheaties because they could co-exist on the same planet, let alone company.

Nick: What the hell is he going on about? Has he lost his mind?

Richard: Shut up, I want to hear this.

Boda: And then, Bastards folds and what happened to me? I was a 'marked man'. Somebody tried to make a name for themselves, by playing games with me. They forgot I am a legend, that I've had more matches of the year candidates than anyone on this roster, yet they tired to fuck with me. I lost to some curtain jerking Jersey Shore wanna-be because of you Lindsay Troy. You and your fucking half bred brother in law Dan Ryan. The entire time you tried to make me look bad, what did these fans do? Boo me. They got behind someone they had no idea who it was, and cheered you. And at UltraViolence, I overcame the odds of you and Ryan, and these fans spit in my face and cheered for you.

Richard: These fans of ours have no idea how to treat a legend.

Nick: I think Boda has fallen off the wagon. He's out of his mind.

Boda: For years, I was cheered. You fans loved me. But since my return, nothing by disrespect. I don't deserve it. I became a champion, and won it for the fans, but you all booed me. My brother was believed to be dead, and you all booed me. Even when David turned up to be alive, not one 'Thank God for the Slobodas'. No matter what I did, you fans hated me. And dammit, I did nothing to make you hate me. I came back to this business to prove I can still go. And dammit I did. With out you god damn fans.

Fans: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Boda: Boo me all you want, that's all I've heard the last 10 months. You are all like a broken record....'BOO BOO BOO BOO BOO BOO BODA SUCKS, FUCK YOU BODA BOO BOO'

Fans: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Nick: Someone needs to stop Boda, he's seem to have absolutely lost it tonight. He loved being the Five Star Champion, and something inside him has snapped because he lost it. And he's blaming it all on our fans.

Richard: He's right though.... he's gotten nothing but chorus of boos everytime he's out here since his return.

The big man paces around the ring. He's turning red in the face. And he's about to explode. The fans continue to grate on his nerves, as PRIME officials are seen entering the ringside area, to prevent anything from happening. Boda continues to pace the ring.

Nick: I don't think this tirade was what was planned tonight. Folks, I want to apologize for what Boda has said about the fans of PRIME.

A few of the officials enter the ring, and Boda chases them off, swinging wildly at them.

Boda: GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY RING. HOW DARE YOU COME DOWN HERE, DURING MY TIME, AND INTERUPT ME. I DESERVE MORE FROM YOU. YOU'RE JUST AS BAD AS THESE SOULESS FANS.

Lisa Tyler has now appeared at ringside. She realizes the potential explosiveness of this situation. Lisa produces a microphone, but makes the wise decision to talk to Boda from the ringside area.

Lisa: Chris..... calm down. Listen to yourself.

Boda: No Lisa.... Listen to the fans.... they show me no respect. Hell, you show me no respect. I am a legend and a household name in this business, and you've done nothing but try and keep me down. At least Shakur had the balls to put me over.

Lisa: Chris.... you have a shot at being over. You can get a rematch for the title, and if you win the Jewel in the Crown tournament, you have a title shot.

Boda: I shouldn't have to be a part of a tournament. I should be the man on top of the mountain, but you wont allow it, these fans won't allow it.

Boda walks over toward the side of the ring Lisa is standing at, and looks down at here.

Boda: You know what Lisa?.......PRIME made it without me for the four years I was gone, right?

Tyler nods yes.

Boda: They did. While I was home getting better, and these fans did not care about me, PRIME survived.... so guess what...... FUCK THE REMATCH WITH DONNELLY, FUCK THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN TOURNAMENT, AND FUCK THESE FANS....I QUIT.

The fans, the staff at ringside, the color commentating team all are in stunned silence. The big man tosses the microphone to the ringside area, breaking it in pieces. Boda steps over the top rope and out of the ring. He walks up the ramp and disappears from the view of the fans.

Nick: Folks.... I really don't know what to say.

Richard: I do..... The best big man in this business just quit because he has not gotten the respect he is deserving of. He busted his ass for years to entertain the fans, and they chose to ignore him upon his return to PRIME.

Nick: What this does for the landscape of the Jewel in the Crown Tournament is yet to be seen, as I am sure Lisa Tyler will have something to say about this.

Backstage.

"You don't have to go in there, you know."

These are the words spoken by a teenaged girl outside the Casper Events Center. The girl is a tall and lanky, with a head of long, dark hair and sea green eyes protected by black, cat's-eye glasses. It's a brisk night in Wyoming, and the girl's black-and-red SCCW jacket is the first thing that draws some semblance of grumbling from the small crowd packed into the building.

Her name is Quinn Gregory, and they call her the Devil's Daughter for a reason. We pan slightly to the left to find the girl's mother, her hands folded behind her back and her head down. In the Dual Halo, Alexandra Pierce earned a bye in the first round of the Jewel in the Crown tournament, but that trip isn't what brought the palpable scorn of this crowd. Her sins might be some two years old, but PRIME fans have long memories.

Quinn: They have HBO at the hotel. You can watch the show there.

Pierce: I know, it's just... I have to do this.

Quinn: You don't. These people don't know you. They don't know who you are. Don't make yourself miserable for them.

Despite the teen's words, the Spider in the Web steps forward resolutely, her head high. The blue Wrestlers and Guests Entrance is manned by one of the Enemigos, and Alex imagines a sneer behind the yellow luchador mask. Pierce clears her throat, forcing her smile onto her lips as she nods to the man.

Pierce: Good evening.

The comment only gets her a soft snort, the security guard making no attempt to open the door. The teen does so instead, holding it open for her mother.

We shift to a long view down the hallway, making it seem even further to the locker room. The disturbance of the door opening draws a flurry of furtive glances as staffers and technicians swiftly look away. Boomerang back to outside the building as Alexandra nods to herself, hands lifting to smooth back her hair.

Pierce: It's no problem. I just have to—

"Didn't I tell you to wait?"

The second redhead jogging up is unlikely to make things any better. Amy "Aimz" Campbell – not only the most successful Universal Champion in the history of SCCW, but the most successful "Universal Champion" ever – is Pierce's on-again, off-again girlfriend, only recently moving from a détente that always threatened to boil over into something far uglier. Words were exchanged, tensions rose, but that is (mostly) over now.

Pierce: You may have.

Aimz: Pretty sure I did. I still think this is stupid.

Pierce: If I can't face them now, how can I face them when it matters?

Aimz: Easy answer - by being better than them. You're kinda good at it, y'know.

Quinn: I've been trying to tell her that, but you know how she gets.

The other two women share a droll glance born of too many years together. The taller redhead straightens her back, stepping briskly into the building, all business. Her heels snap on the tiled floor. There are few people – fewer women – who can pull off the icy façade quite like Alexandra Pierce, but there are cracks, tiny fractures that spread as she walks. Conversations mute themselves as the three women pass, frowns deepen, scorn drips from hard gazes.

Alex pretends that it doesn't affect her; she keeps her head back, her eyes forward, and her thin lips pressed together in a line. Her daughter keeps pace, her small hand wrapped around her mother's forearm in a gesture of solidarity. Campbell follows, and it's Alex's hot-tempered ex who's taking offense at the scorn.

Aimz: Wow. Could they be bigger dicks?

Pierce: Can you blame them? The last time we were here, we—

Aimz: Made them look like handicaps? I remember. That was kind of—

Pierce: I was going to say, "Injure one of their most beloved employees."

Aimz: Oh, yeah.

Campbell scuffs the toe of her sneaker against the ground.

Aimz: That.

Quinn: You really think they're still bent up about that?

The GTT7 Champion pushes into the locker room she's been assigned; it's far from the confines SCCW's most notable duo are used to, with hard metal chairs and a single, long wooden bench bolted to the floor. It's not dirty, just cramped and confined – and it's barely bigger than a breadbox.

Quinn: Okay, maybe they are.

Aimz: Really? This is where they stick you?

Pierce: It's fine. It's just for a few hours.

Aimz: A few hours in a hamster cage just because they're still crying over some stupid shit from two years ago? Yeah, not like you've worked your ass o—

Alex dips her head, depositing her bag on the bench.

Pierce: Would you have forgotten so easily? We came here – I came here – with the express intention to hurt someone who wasn't part of my issue with Troy. I can't blame them for hating me.

Quinn: Then go out there and let them boo you. That's never been a problem for you.

Pierce: I'm not interested in being booed or cheered. This is about the Jewel.

Campbell finds a comfortable bit of wall to lean against, folding tattooed arms.

Aimz: You know it'll just get worse.

Quinn: Yeah, you're just here to scout. What happens when you wrestle? What happens when you win your Round Two match? What happens if you win the tournament?

Pierce: Then I'll deal with it.

Alex sat heavily on the bench, pushing her fingers through her hair. When she looks up, her smile is small, but it's there.

Pierce: Thank you again for coming. Both of you.

Quinn: Oh, sure, no doubt.

Campbell shifts uneasily, shrugging one shoulder, trying to look super-casual.

Aimz: It's on the way home, and our company's paying me not to sleep on a floor tonight. Seemed like a good idea.

The Spider pushes to her feet, unzipping her duffel.

Pierce: Then let's do this.

Cut away.

Angelica Brooks: Ladies and Gentlemen, joining me at this time is the NEW PRIME Universal Champion..."The Murder Show" Hessian!

Stood in front of the PRIME backdrop with the giant by her side, the mood seems lighter than past instances with Matt Mills. There's no awkward defensive stance or flitting glances at the man who could crush your skull with a gentle squeeze or grind your bones to make his bread. With the gold around his waist like bindings on a slave the giant simply stands, arms folded, staring ahead with steely eyes. Something's on his mind.

Angelica Brooks: First off congratulations are in order after you defeated Castor V. Strife at last week's Two-Thirty-Four super show for the Universal Title. Your thoughts?

The giant mulls on the subject for a moment, running his hands over the gold and holding them over the plate bearing his name.

Hessian: What is there to say? Ten years in this business and I finally achieved what I set out to do so long ago. I'm the Universal Champion. It didn't happen at a prestigious event like Colossus, or Culture Shock or even off the back of a Jewel in the Crown. It's testament to my hard work and ability that I should swoop in on a low key event like ReVolution and take what was rightfully mine for so long. No fireworks or confetti, just me and the belt and ten thousand screaming fans. And now I have the title...

His answer warrants a cocking of the eyebrow from Brooks, and the way he trails off on his sentence leaves his meaning open to interpretation of any kind. He seems almost sombre as he fingers the title, picking at the engraving and feeling it against his skin.

Angelica Brooks: Well It looks good on you in any case Hessian, but now on the dawn of your run as Champion you face a horde of hungry opponents looking to take it from you in the Jewel in the Crown tournament which starts tonight! In a brilliant twist by the board this year will see all of PRIME's champions including yourself competing in the tournament this year. What do you hope to achieve in the tournament and what will you do if, God willing, you make it to the final to pull out the win?

The Murder Show sighs, squeezing the leather strap around the gold and giving no more thought to it than he would a toy for stress relief.

Hessian: Speaking as the Universal Champion, it's my duty to power through this tournament to the end, taking out whosoever gets in my way to show them just how dominant I am. There isn't a name on the list of competitors that concerns me, not when I'm the one holding the gold. Either I win this thing and show everyone why I'm Universal Champion...or I lose and at the very least – should I face the eventual winner – take away an idea of who I'm dealing with and prepare accordingly...

Angelica Brooks: Spoken like a true-

Hessian: However, that's the Universal Champion. Me? I couldn't care less about this two-bit tournament.

The comment draws a concerned breath from Brooks, and many watching in the arena.

Hessian: I've got the title. I did my work and now it's mine. Ten years it took me, and now here I am. Do you really think I care about winning a tournament? Tournaments have a habit of disagreeing with me, no matter how many times I try to conquer them there's always someone else hungrier for the prize at the end. No, I work better solo. I've been two-time PTC champion and now I'm the MAN here in PRIME. So what do I care if some punk beats me and gets a shot at my belt. I've worked too long and too hard all these years to drop this thing to some prick that thinks winning four matches in a row is enough to claim dominance here in PRIME. Hell, I lost three times to Tony Gamble and where is he now? Guy's a footnote at best. Nobody's taking this title from me, because I'll be damned if I end up a statistic on a record somewhere like Tchu or Nova. No, no, no. I'm in this for the long haul, I'm not letting it go. By God I'll give Snow's regime a run for its money if I can help it. This is the peak of my career. There is no greater prize, no greater glory. Once I lose this belt...that's it, nothing left to do. So to anybody out there that thinks they're going to just take this belt from me? You can guess again because I will kill before I lose this title. This belt isn't just the symbol of a champion, it's a metaphor for life, for my life, for the life of any man who has strived as long as I have to achieve a moment like this. To be able to stand here the Champion of the company, of the people...it's not a privilege. It's a God given right.

Angie is taken aback by the sincerity in Hessian's words, that he truly believes this moment belongs to him.

Angelica Brooks: With that in mind, do you have any comment for your first round opponents tonight, Katterina Wylde and Tchu?

The giant stares into the camera, a look of determination so strong in his eyes it could very well breaks the lens.

Hessian: Tchu. You had your shot at the title and from the research I've done you were the poorest champion PRIME had. Dusk's blood smear stained the canvas longer than you had this belt, and you are the example which I intend to avoid. I don't care if you or this Wylde character pin me tonight, I've already got the prize you're all fighting for. Hell I could go out there tonight and put my back to the canvas and watch the two of you kill yourselves to get the pinfall. What matters to me is the Universal Title, and when I'm standing across the ring from the number one contender I'll show them pain that they never imagined came part and parcel with the shot. Everything else is just bloodsport to me now. All men must suffer.

With that the Murder Show fixes the title around his waist and storms off out of shot, leaving Brooks on her own.

Angelica Brooks: There you have it folks, your Universal Champion has spoken. Hessian versus Tchu versus Katterina Wylde in tonight's main event. Be there or be sorry!

The Sentinel Vs Drake Daniels

With Boda's departure announced minutes ago, some in the crowd were still reeling when his opposition made their way to ringside. However, The Sentinel made them focus entirely on his wrestling ability once the bell rang. He stormed out of the corner with reckless abandon and once he got a hold of Daniels, it was hard for him to find breathing room. Sentinel unloaded with a barrage of forearm smashes, uppercuts, and elbow strikes, leaving the smaller Daniels to cover up. When Daniels crouched in the corner and anticipated Sentinel relinquishing his hold. Max Newall tried coming in and breaking Sentinel away, but he blatantly showed his disregard for the ref, and shoved him away, continuing with stomps, a vicious kick that almost caught Daniels in the head, and a 12 to 6 elbow that caused Daniels to shove away and fall underneath the bottom rope onto the floor, dazed.

Richard: I don't want to overstate the obvious, but … I've got an erection in my pants watching Sentinel right now.

Nick: How would it be overstating the obvious if we can't see the obvious?

Richard: … Fuck you, Nick. Don't you have an e-mail to read from Shakur since he can't come out here tonight?

Sentinel drops down to the floor, barely giving Daniels anytime to catch his breath. He gets behind Daniels and locks him around the waist, hooking his left leg out and running him groin first into the ring post.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Nick: Our crowd is a bit less immune to groin shots after 234, but still I haven't seen that move in quite a while.

Sentinel scoops Daniels and violently swings him around, back first into the ring post. He recognizes Newall's count and rolls in and out of the ring to stop from being counted out. Daniels has a hand on his back while trying to gather himself. A veteran of the ring knows when another wrestler temporarily has the better of him and needs to collect for a breath. If only Sentinel was allowing him such a privilege. He drops an elbow across the back and then takes Daniels by the shoulders. He locks him around the waist and tosses him overhead in a belly to belly suplex, back first now across the ring steps.

Nick: He's so violent, so aggressive, and doesn't appear to care if Newall counts them both out.

Richard: That's the kind of passion we're lacking in PRIME.

Nick: Daniels ring rust might be showing apparent here, but Sentinel is bringing the fight regardless.

Continuing his adrenaline fueled offense, Sentinel darts around to the north side of the ring and lifts Daniels from the ringside mats. He tosses Daniels under the bottom rope and follows in close pursuit up to a standing position in the far side corner. Sentinel grabs hold of the wrist and goes for an Irish whip, but Daniels hangs on, and in turns Sentinel does the same, bringing Daniels close and going for a short arm clothesline. Daniels ducks underneath, runs up the ropes, and arches backward with a moonsault that lands him on top of Sentinel.

Richard: AHHHHHHH!

ONE

TWO-

Nick: Sentinel almost getting caught by surprise there. Daniels has got an opportunity.

Richard: He can't win this! Sentinel... HE'S AMAZING!

Sentinel powers out of the pinfall attempt and tries to will his way to a standing position. Daniels, having regained his composure, is all but happy to accommodate him, bringing him up and whipping him into the ropes, catching him on the comeback with a running high knee. Sentinel bounces off the west side ropes like a pinball into a step up enziguri. Sentinel stumbles over while Daniels grabs hold of his mask and throws him backward in a reverse side Russian leg sweep into the turnbuckle. Sentinel clutches the back of his head while Daniels pulls him away from the ropes and covers.

ONE

TWO

T-

Richard: Whew! He kicked out. Good man. Now get back in the match and show 'em who is boss.

Nick: Daniels getting a bit of momentum rolling here. Sentinel's adrenaline could have worn off and it could come back to bite him with the in-ring presence of Daniels.

Richard: Aren't you forgetting Sentinel's veteran prowess? Geez, always quick to jump against the guy I like.

Daniels grabs hold of Sentinel and lands a solid knee strike to the forehead on the way up, an elbow across the back and then spins him around. He reverse military presses him into the air and displays deceptive strength for someone only 230 pounds. Walking around with Sentinel above his head, Daniels releases Sentinel and hits the mat quickly, extending his knees for Sentinel to be driven down. It would be the perfect prelude to a Wake Up Call or Cattle Mutilation, but Sentinel is able to turn over, block the hold, and roll flawlessly into a kneebar.

Richard: WOO! SENTINEL!

Nick: Sentinel has Daniels in a very painful submission hold.

Aware, and respective, of Sentinel's reputation as a submission specialist, Daniels is able to get his hands on the ropes. The immediate threats of disqualification quell Sentinel's attempt at furthering the kneebar beyond the five count. Both wrestlers make their way up to a standing position and look to trade. Daniels gets the worse of the exchange and is fired into the ropes. Sentinel comes forward and is able to attack with a spinebuster . A new surge of adrenaline coursing through him, Sentinel pulls himself up and hooked on the Elevated Boston Crab. Daniels tapped out and Sentinel advanced.

Winner: The Sentinel

Lisa Tyler loves the peace and quiet that PRIME has been experiencing lately. Shakur has problems of his own to deal with, Michael Sloan has been missing since Colossus, no faction is trying to take over, and she's back in power atop of PRIME. Everything is as it should be. She's had it good the past few months; across from her is a polar opposite. Fresh off her confrontation in the ring she wanted nothing more than to lean back and relax, but that won't be happening now.

Lisa Tyler: Mrs. Sloan, what can I help you with?

Tracy Sloan sits across from Lisa Tyler with a frown on her face. Her golden locks are gone replaced by shoulder length black hair. Her clothes, once bright pink and girly, are much more conservative and dark. Even her cheerful smile is gone as if she'd aged ten years in a matter of months. The soft tone with which she once spoke is replaced by a low and sad tone.

Tracy: I'm going just by Tracy now, or Tracy Stanton.

Lisa Tyler: Oh, since when?

Tracy: Since now. My husband and I are currently separated and I'd prefer not to be referred by his last name.

Lisa Tyler: Very well. Where is your husband by the way... not that I care.

Tracy: I don't know and frankly, like you, I don't care either.

Lisa smiles a bit. She'd never had a problem with the woman other than her taste in men.

Tracy: I know you're a busy woman so I'll get straight to the point. I want to work. I need to work and I'm sure I can be of some use to PRIME.

Lisa Tyler: Wait, you want to wrestle?

Tracy cracked her first smile of the night.

Tracy: Of course not, I have no dreams of ever getting into that ring. I don't think I'd last 10 seconds with anyone on the roster. I'm just looking for a job, any job really. It doesn't have to be on air, it can be anything in the corporate office. I can be an assistant, or work for the administration department, or maybe even a secretary. I just need a job and PRIME's all I've known.

Lisa could see the desperation in the woman, but she wasn't a charity case.

Lisa Tyler: I see, well, do you have a college degree or any specialization?

Tracy slunk back in the chair, looking smaller than ever before.

Lisa Tyler: I see, so don't think this rude of me, but what could you possibly bring to our organization?

Tracy: I'll level with you Lisa. I don't bring much right off the bat, but I can learn. I know it's common knowledge around here that I'm some bimbo who can't tie her own shoes, but that simply is not true. The rumors spread and I just went along with them, but I'm not an idiot. I can learn and if someone teaches me I'm sure I can do well in any position there is. I just need a job and something to do. I don't like asking for a handout and I'm not. I'll put in the effort and earn my keep.

Lisa sighed, knowing she would regret her decision in the future.

Lisa Tyler: Alright I'm sure we can find something for you to do. Just hang around for a while and I'll let you know where we need you.

Tracy extended her hand.

Tracy: You won't regret this.

Lisa Tyler: See to it that I don't. I haven't had a whole lot of luck with the Sloan family.

Tracy: Luckily for you we're not family anymore.

With a bright smile she shook her bosses hand and strolled out of the office.

Lisa Tyler: Well, let's just hope she doesn't develop a crush on me like her husband did.

Devin Shakur. Proprietor of PRIME's day to day operations. Worse for the wear after the hellacious beating delivered by one Lindsay Troy. Shakur sits behind the largest desk in the world, head buried in his hands. His empty stare reflects his computer monitor, a listing of wages for PRIME's superstars.

Just on the other side of his desk, sitting on the table's edge was Christian Daniels. Daniel's flips a coin in the air with a nonchalant flare. He catches it without checking which side it lands on before repeating the process. He looks over his shoulder to Dametreyus whose arms are crossed over his chest. He stands guard just to the side of the office's entrance. Daniels turns his attention back to Devin Shakur and smiles. "I coulda helped last week."

"Don't talk." Shakur says, one hand raised. "I feel like I woke up with the worst hangover. Like I just watched something with Dusk in it."

Daniels shrugs. "I'm just saying. I took care of mines."

"Don't." The phone on his desk rings, startling Shakur. He winces to reach the phone, but has to stand to his feet to reach. He wobbles and falls back to his chair empty handed. "JEEVES!"

Out of the shadows appears the butler once devoted to Union Jack. Without a word, he picks up the receiver and hands it over to Shakur. Jeeves nods and returns to the shadows. Devin squints his eyes and sighs, answering, "Shak."

A LOUD piercing alarm bell sound is heard through the phone's handset. Shakur winces and pulls the phone away from his ear as he hears, "CONGRATULATIONS! You've won a family vacation for four, plus any Mexican Day Laborers you currently employ to your destination of the NORTH POLE!"

This perks the attention of the Enemigos, who were currently making a human pyramid over in the corner of the room. Their pyramid quickly collapses unto itself.

The alarm bells quiet, as Shakur groans. He puts the phone back to his ear. "This isn't funny." Shakur sneers. "Who gave you this number."

"Uh..." the voice crackles. "T-Tyler Rayne."

Shakur covers the bottom of his handset and calls out, "Dam?" Dam raises his head by the doorway and takes a few steps toward Shakur's desk. "Dam Smash."

Without hesitation, Dam slams a double ax handle onto the phone's receiver, shattering it into pieces. Small rubber buttons and circuit board lay in rubble. Shakur squints at the loud SMASH, but then breaths a sigh of relief.

"Ah... silence."

He tosses his end of the phone down onto the rubble and leans back in his desk. Jeeves quickly rushes out from the shadows and replaces the phone on the desk's edge. He then starts to sweep up the mess caused by Dam as PRIME cameras fade elsewhere.

Embarking upon new journeys is something Castor Strife is an expert on. He's ventured into the world of eccentric film, being somewhat of a cult leader, and made the trip to professional wrestling. Now, he's got to make an unflattering and arduous journey after falling from grace. Once the Universal Champion, and now a contender, Strife is set to compete momentarily against Big Bear and Nitz Donnelly.

Strife struts through the corridors with an aura of confidence. He reached a mountain in a quicker amount of time than either in this company, and feels that his natural talent is more than capable of taking down the freakish power of Big Bear and the athleticism of Nitz Donnelly. He could also get a banked 5*Star Championship shot out of the deal. Even though it isn't something which interests him a great deal, who knows, he could be considered in the same vein as Jason Snow and hold both the Universal and 5*Star Championships at the same time. And, he'd have held the Universal strap twice, something Snow never accomplished.

He rounds another corridor and gets a three finger signal from the stagehand, indicating he's going to be entering third. It doesn't come as a surprise even with Donnelly as a champion.

Entering the main corridor, Strife goes into some light stretching, warming himself up for the match.

He doesn't hear the deceptively quiet footsteps of a man who has been following him from locker room to gorilla.

While Strife thinks about what would happen if Adler had sex with a flying monkey while Pacman Jones made it rain to 70s porn music, that man waits for him to turn around. When he notices Strife stuck in thought, going so far as to stop his stretching, he figures a loud sound will bring The God of Snuff out of his trance.

So he cracks his knuckles.

It's the trademark of one wrestler, or rather not really a wrestler as he doesn't wrestle much.

Strife's head perks up and he spins around, but he doesn't even get a full 180 degrees before getting popped across the jaw by the man's right hand.

The God of Snuff's knees become wobbly and he stumbles down the hall. A camera switch gets a glimpse of the man attacking Strife.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick: Daniels!

Richard: Christian Daniels. We've got two of those fuckers with the same name around here now.

Nick: Why in the hell is he attacking Strife?

Richard: He probably lied too.

Nick: Oh get off your horse about that. We're lucky Mills hasn't dropped a lawsuit already.

Strife is a tad confounded, but tries to get away by fighting back. He quickly realizes throwing a loopy punch against Daniels isn't the smartest strategy, as the man is well-versed in boxing. He swats Strife's hand to the side and lands a brutal shot to the body, just under the sternum, and drops Strife to a knee. Daniels comes down with an overhand right, crumbling Strife to his left side.

Nick: What is the meaning of this? Shakur was Strife's benefactor in getting to the Universal Championship!

Richard: Maybe Daniels doesn't approve of that.

Nick: It took him this long to file grievance?

Grabbing him under the shoulders, Daniels slings Strife back into the wall and puts a forearm at his throat. He uses the unfair advantage to knee Strife below the belt and cause Strife to drop into a defensive stance. Daniels then takes Strife and pops him with an elbow across the side of the head. The former Universal champion tries to avoid falling down, but the incoming presence of Daniels, plus being unable to sustain balance makes that difficult.

While moving closer to the janitor's room, Strife gains hold of a pipe and stops. It causes Daniels to be suspicious, but not enough to stop him from moving and walking directly into the shot. Strife goes for a shot across the back and catches The Biker in the spine, dropping him to a knee. Strife goes for a third, knockout blow, to the back of his head. Daniels shoots up quickly, the top of his head colliding underneath Strife's chin.

Daniels grabs hold of Strife and slams him back into the wall. This time the elbow is more precise, landing between the forehead. A knee into the liver drops Strife to the ground. Daniels looks down and is about to deliver the go home line, but notices the pipe next to Strife and decides to deliver one final message. He bends down, picks the pipe up, and swings it around in his hand, waiting for Strife to stop staring at the black mat on the ground and look up at him.

Nick: This is gonna be bad, and security isn't going to be as inclined to stop this as they were last time.

Richard: Strife was more than capable of handling himself against Daniels.

Nick: He got friggin suckerpunched!

Richard: Hey, Daniels waited for him to turn around and then he got clocked. You can't blame him for Strife being unprepared for a fight.

Strife's head slowly rises from the concrete and he tries to gather his surroundings.

Strife: The horror...the HORROR...

Daniels continues swinging the pipe while moving around Strife. He puts the pipe over his head, holds it for a dramatic pause, and slams it across the top of Strife's skull. Whatever energy remained in Strife is sapped out and Strife is flat on his face. Daniels drops the pipe to a thud and crouches down next to The God of Snuff.

Christian Daniels: I 'ont know much bout'cha Hollywood vocabulary'n fancy cliches, but how we say'is down South's... ya done been kicked off'tha wagon.

Rising to a standing position, Daniels walks back up the main corridor and out of sight while officials flock to Strife.

Nick: Folks, I think we just saw Strife being kicked out of Shakur's good graces, but what does this mean for his upcoming match? He's set to compete in about five minutes.

Richard: Unless he's got a stunt double on stand by, this one isn't going to work.

Nick: Daniels might have just ruined Strife's chances of becoming Universal Champion for the second time!

Richard: Well, that's how Shakur rolls. If this doesn't indicate Shakur is back and ready to stop playing games, I don't know what does.

Nick: He's cutting ties with even more of the roster and backing himself into a corner.

Richard: With enforcers like Hessian and Daniels, you are never backed into a corner entirely.

Nick: We need to get some medical help for Strife and hopefully he's got some energy left to compete.

Richard: You would be cheering for Donnelly anyhow.

Dr. Clay 'Chainsaw' Krueger Vs The First Vs Jacob McKail

Krueger got himself involved in the ruckus right away, going after McKail with a collar and elbow, backing him into the corner. McKail summoned Roberts for the clean break and got a shove on the way out from Krueger. McKail responded by blasting him under the chin with a kick, causing him to spin around into a hurricanrana from First. McKail sought to take advantage of First having his back turned and went for a Fearless Facebuster, but First had enough sense of mind to avoid the bulldog and let McKail crash to the canvas. A dropkick to the back of the head by First to McKail led to the first cover.

ONE

TWO

Nick: You can expect an incredibly fast pace in this match. You aren't going to be seeing many rest holds here.

Krueger swung around behind First and was able to catch him in a German suplex, taking him back for a cover. McKail pulled Krueger's legs out and went for a cover of his own. First rolled back over and took hold of McKail's left side, swinging him around into a pinning combination. Krueger landed a drop down European uppercut and stole the cover from him.

ONE

TWO

McKail kicked out while First waited for Krueger to get up before peppering him with right elbow strikes. A boot to the midsection followed while First ran near side, landed a knee lift, and went for a swinging neckbreaker, but McKail appeared from no where to land a spear on First, taking him down and going for a cover. Krueger took the opportunity to punt McKail in the ribs and land a standing shooting star press for his own cover.

ONE

TWO

TH-

Nick: All three men are flying around so fast. It is hard to keep up with this kind of action.

Richard: I'm keeping up with it just fine.

Nick: Your eyes have been shut the entire time.

Richard: Precisely

With fast and furious action, McKail was the next to fall victim to Krueger, who went after him with a few right hands before whipping him far side. McKail came back off the rebound and was victim to a Samoan drop. Krueger bounced off near side ropes and landed a jumping knee drop on McKail, before First interjected on the roll through and took Krueger over the ropes with a vicious clothesline. The Painted Up Freak focused his attention on McKail, bringing him up and landing a monkey flip that carried himself over in the process. On the comeback, First spit mist into McKail's face.

Richard: So we're just going to let shit like that go?

Nick: Referee didn't see it.

Richard: Bullshit he didn't see it.

First hopped between the second and third rope, scaling up and looking for his Cut the Thread to bring the match to a close. Unfortunately, McKail had enough ring awareness to stumble back and crotch First across the top rope. At the same instance, Krueger came charging in from behind, leapfrogged McKail and showed great athleticism by flipping First over in a hurricanrana on McKail, which then turned into First landing a hurricanrana on McKail.

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Nick: A rana into a rana. Now I've seen everything.

Richard: You know what I want to see?

Nick: No. I swear to God if you start with that DJ Assault -

Richard: Ass and titties. Ass and titties. Ass. Ass. Titties. Titt-

Nick apparently cut Richard's microphone. The crowd continued to give a reception to all three superstars, even though they were a tad loopy from the action. Krueger seized the opportunity by landing a Northern light suplex on McKail, who was victim to an automatic cover.

ONE

TWO

First performed the classic Bret Hart headbutt that nobody could ever distinguish whether it was in the groin or lower abdominal area. Krueger let McKail go to the apron while the two fought it out. First was a step faster than Krueger, landing a backflip body press, taking Krueger over with him in the process. It seemed First was going to get the cover, but McKail snuck himself back into the match by landing a Fearless Freefall. First crumbled under the weight and rolled out of the way for McKail to sneak a victory on Krueger and advance in Jewel in the Crown.

GOD SAID THAT A MAN SHOULD WORK WITH HIS HANDS

And here come the boos in 3... 2... 1...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Those were actually milliseconds and not seconds. He gets booed that quickly.

Nick: Well, I wonder what we're going to hear from him now.

Richard: You know what I'd tell him to do if I was him?

Nick: This frightens me on a Strife level, but what?

Richard: Make Lindsay Troy have a sex change so she becomes a man, and thus has to endure getting her balls STOMPED ON in a match. I mean COME ON!

Nick: Folks, if you didn't see 234, then you missed one of the more violent encounters in the game. Troy and Shakur both suffered a plethora of injuries, but Shakur is now -

Richard: The man is in a goddamn wheelchair, Nick.

Indeed he is. The curtain is thrown open by Devin Shakur's agonized left leg, because the curtain guy refused to open it for him. Even though he's unable to walk, The Boss in Black is rolled out onto the ramp by elder brother Christian Daniels.

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Richard: And these no good sacks of shit are applauding Shakur being hurt. I heard a rumor he could be out until February and they are treating him this way.

Nick: Some could say karma is definitely a bitch, and Shakur has had it coming for quite a long time.

Richard: Just wait. He was brought down to this peg once back in the 170 days and then rose like a phoenix. If you thought that was bad, wait until you see his second comeback after this heals.

The Boss raises a microphone to his lips.

Devin Shakur: As a great man is about to say... Fuck all of you, and fuck all of the heroes you stand for.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Shakur: The senselessness of what Lindsay Troy did is not, and will never, be lost on me. I mean, for fuck's sake I'm sitting here in a wheelchair because that maniac beat me senseless.

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Shakur: Oh yeah, I forgot, you bunch of front running hack off pieces of shit enjoy watching me get my brains beaten in, don't you?

YEAH!

Shakur: I'm sorry, what was that?

YYYYYYYYEAH!

Shakur: At my old age, my hearing must be going. COME ON! SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT! YOU ALL LOVE TO WATCH ME SUFFER!

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Shakur: Well... you know... I'm glad you do, I really am. Because if it wasn't for me, your lives would suck worse than they already do. You PAY to come here and see me suffer. I make no mistake when I say I do it for the money. YOUR money. Every cent you've spent on a ticket to see people like Lindsay Troy, Tyler Rayne, Big Bear, Chandler Tsonda, Jason Snow, Brandon Youngblood, Hessian, Chainz, McKail, First, Strife, Gamble, Olsig, and on and on and on all goes directly in one place... My pocket. It all goes in my goddamn pocket and no where else. You really think I'm paying those pieces of shit like Dana White pays a Lesnar or Liddell? You think they get Pay-Per-View cuts? You think just because they fill a 60,000 seat arena that they get some of the live ticket revenue? No.

Shakur points to himself.

Shakur: I GET ALL OF THAT MONEY. Those fuckers aren't living it up in rich mansions because of your love. They aren't driving fancy cars because of your support. Hell, how many times have you actually seen any of these self-righteous decrepit assholes out there supporting you, supporting your charities, supporting the things you believe in? Answer: Zero. But if you asked them, they'd change. They'd make an empty promise and say they'd show up. They might once, put a smile on your face, but they aren't committed. They aren't committed with the passion I am to hate your fucking guts. I'll openly admit it. You aren't going to see me anywhere near a goddamn charity to support anything other than MY. SELF.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Shakur: And that, among many other reasons, is the reason that I'm invoking the following clause, considering... you know... I have more power than anybody else in this company. If ANYBODY in that locker room touches me until my medical clearance is up, they are FIRED. ON. THE. SPOT.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick: Now that is just unfair!

Richard: It's fucking genius. What'd I tell you? The man has a plan, always.

Shakur: I was sitting back there after getting pranked by some whogivesafuck, and I thought to myself... Dev, what are you doing? Why are you putting yourself out there like this? These people are disgusting animals who want nothing more than to see you thrown out the back door like an old newspaper and never seen again. I'm the only son of a bitch in this company who has fallen victim to, as Richard Parker so eloquently put it, The Elliott Rule, TWICE.

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Shakur: Where the referee THOUGHT in his best interest to stop the match, even though I didn't want it stopped. So, Elvis Nixon -

Nick: Oh no.

Shakur: I put forward a lot of good words about you because I saw you at an independent show and figured you had what it took to be on the main level. I figured you knew how to hang in PRIME, and even if you hated me, you would respect me enough never to pull such stupid shit. So, effectively after 235 goes off the air, I'M SUSPENDING YOU FOR 90 DAYS!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick: FOR SAVING SHAKUR IN THAT MATCH?

Richard: He saved nothing!

Nick: TROY WOULD HAVE LIT HIM UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND DAMN NEAR DID IT ANYWAY!

Richard: It's the politics.

Nick: Politics are bullshit, Richard, and we both know that!

Shakur: We're going to find someone who actually has an ounce of integrity FOR AN INTENSE TITLE MATCH!

Nick: That's just wrong. He stripped a man of his paycheck.

Richard: He stripped Shakur of a third Intense Championship.

Shakur: And while we are on the subject of Jewel in the Crown, just because I'm not in it doesn't mean I'm not going to have my hand in the cookie jar. If you fuckers think I'm going to let all the good people advance in this tournament then you've got another thing coming. If the likes of Lindsay Troy and Big Bear make it through, you better bet your last fucking bottom dollar I'm going to put them in a match against each other. If Katterina Wylde gets through, and oh yeah bitch, I know who you are friends with, I got another brother who told me about that connection, then you bet I'll throw you to them. And if any of these mystery entrants are anybody from the past that I don't like, then they'll get stuck against other people I don't like. It won't be as random as you'd think. Why the fuck would it be? You'll pay to see it anyway, you fuckers are stupid enough.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Shakur: And before I depart and leave you insipid morons to the rest of your program, let me leave a final thought for one Lindsay Troy.

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Shakur: If you THINK that this is over, you are dead wrong. Like I've said more times than I care to count, nothing is ever over until I say it is over. I might be unable to move around, but if you think that we're through, then you are even dumber than the fuckers who are gonna realize that beer and merchandise prices just went up by 300 percent effective of this promo ending.

Shakur puts a finger across his throat and, to an incredibly loud array of boos, exits through the curtain. He screams to the sound people to go to the next segment and not even let Richard or Nick get a word in edgewise.

When the door bursts open and slams shut again Lisa Tyler jumps with a start, angry but thankful pen wasn't touching paper on the contract she was about to sign. Before her stands the Universal Champion, glaring at her as he pulls up a seat without even being asked. Tyler puts documents to the side and clasps her hands calmly, already in the confrontation zone with the giant.

Lisa Tyler: Bit quieter next time if your ego will let you.

Hessian: What ego? You called me, and you got a nerve about it Lisa.

Lisa Tyler: Oh, on first name terms now that we're the champion? What ego, my ass.

Hessian: So let's have it then.

Lisa Tyler: You already know fine and well what this is about. I don't know if you know this but after last week we got a massive numbers spike, and you and Castor were at the head of that. I want that momentum to carry through December and into Two-Thousand-Eleven, but it won't have a chance of fruition if you're talking the JitC down like it's a, as you said, "two-bit tournament".

Hessian: What do you want me to say? It's the biggest opportunity of any wrestler's career? Why should I care when I've already got the belt and any effort I put into the tournament is rewarded with what? Two title stipulations of my choosing?

Lisa Tyler: A generous offering considering that former opinion of yours.

Hessian: Then if I win I'll be naming "I Quit" stipulations, and you can be responsible for two careers being ended by my hand.

Lisa Tyler: Doesn't work like that.

Hessian: Oh, so I can't even name stipulations?! What kind of morons do you think are watching that would appreciate me dominating this thing only to name a goddamn cage match or last man standing match? That's crap Lisa and you know it.

Lisa Tyler: Well tough BS, it's the named prize for the Universal Champion and it's sticking. There isn't even any guarantee you'll make it to the next round never mind the final, and even if you do you are not retiring anyone.

The giant thumps the desk and lets out a guttural growl. Lisa Tyler pauses for a moment and regards Hessian as he slumps back in the chair and pings the gold plate of the title with his middle finger before sighing and looking off into a corner of the room.

Lisa Tyler: What's this about?

Hessian: What?

Lisa Tyler: This attitude of yours. I would have thought you'd be over the moon being Universal Champion, especially after talking so much about how long it took you to achieve and so on and so forth.

Hessian: Yeah well...maybe there's more to it than I first thought.

Lisa Tyler: Like what?

Hessian: If I need to repeat myself to you then you're no use, are you?

Lisa Tyler: Okay...(she pauses to collate her thoughts)...so you're worried about where you go from here? This rollercoaster ride of yours has just climbed to the highest peak and now the only way is down. Correct?

Hessian: Stupid analogy but, yeah.

The boss lady sighs into her hands.

Lisa Tyler: Do you know how many heavyweight champions there have been? Do you know how many of them have won and lost titles like the Universal and simply picked themselves up and shot for the top again? If you're depressed because you're worried you'll lose the title then you'll get no sympathy from me. Titles are meant to be won and lost, and the only thing you can do is work your way back to the top. This sport isn't a conveyor belt where you just ride along once and then you're done. In fact, my "stupid" analogy fits perfectly here because the industry is exactly like a rollercoaster; full of highs and lows and a constant adrenaline rush that keeps on going until-

Hessian: Until the machine breaks down?

The giant's interruption is Tyler's biggest clue, and pausing once more she realizes the worry behind Hessian's blue eyes and where it's rooted.

Lisa Tyler: Look, you're fighting fit Von Kelsig. You're Universal Champion for God's sake. Whatever worries you have are unfounded, and what you need to do is focus on the tournament and upholding the prestige of that belt you're wearing. Do not drag down the good name of JitC or anything PRIME because you're worried you might lose the title.

Hessian: I'm forty next year Lisa. This business doesn't take too kindly to that side of life. Bumps hurt for longer, scars take longer to heal...

Lisa Tyler: So what are you saying?

Hessian: I'm Universal Champion now. So either I play it safe and give the fans a mediocre title run...

Lisa Tyler: Or...

Hessian: Or you know all those past times you told me not to go overboard?

Lisa Tyler: How could I forget?

Hessian: Well, let's just say if I'm going out...I'm going out with a bang.

Lisa Tyler: ...You know I can't advocate something like that, and anyway you're only doubting yourself. You're reading into this too much. Just go out there and enjoy being Champion.

It doesn't matter what Lisa says to him however, because Hessian is already out of his seat and leaving the room, his back to Tyler and his ears closed to her opinion. Only the reverberation of the echo of every disgusting weapon he can think of smashing flesh fills his head as he leaves the office with a new-found twinkle sparkling in his eyes.

Nick: Welcome back, fans. In just minutes, thousands of PRIMEates across the world are in store for a treat as --

Richard: Wyomingonese, Nick. These people are Wy-o-ming-o-nese, son.

Silence fills the airwaves. Ringside, Nick tries everything in his bones to contain the faceslap he wants to bestow upon his making-up-words co-host.

Nick: In one ring, we’re going to see newly crowned PRIME 5 Star Champion, Nitz Donnelly --

Richard: Don’t forget about former PRIME Champion Castor V. Strife!

Nick: I didn’t, I was getting th --

Richard: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know who you were going to say next.

Nick: The third and largest piece of the three-way fiasco will be Big Bear.

Richard: Blah Bear, more like it. Dude lost to that new guy, McCloud!

Nick: He’s still improving, Richard, don’t forget that.

Richard: IMPROVING!? Let’s skip all that shit, Strife doesn’t need to improve. He’s perfect, he’s flawless. There’s nothing wrong with his game.

Nick: I bet The Murder Show would beg to differ. Plus, Nitz took down the Big Bad Boda Daddy last week to capture the 5 Star Championship. He’s going to be a lot for Strife to handle, tonight.

Richard: Puh-lease, bitch. Strife is gonna chew on Nitz’s twig ‘n berries, spit ‘em out, and pin the Big Bear -- who can’t win, I reaffirm – well on his way to King of Kings and sending those two back to the showers. Together.

Nick: Sometimes, you just know how to say it all don’t you, partner?

Richard: I’ve made a living of it, Nick. I’ll give myself some job security real quick. Fans of planet Earth, trust me when I say… BIG BEAR IS NOTHING! HE SUCKS, HE SMELLS, HE WAS BORN TO LOSE, HIS MOMMA’S SO FAT --

"YOOOOOO CHUMP!"

The booming bass of Big Bear’s voice crashes over the Casper Events Center, sending ninety-seven hundred Wyomingonese into fan frenzy. Parker is visibly upset, slamming the fat part of his fists on the table. The curtain flaps up and Big Bear steps out, in ring attire, and causes enough commotion in the crowd to replicate a 6.8 earthquake on the Richter scale.

ONE!TWO!THREE!FOUR!

"Survival of the Sickest" picks up as Big Bear stands atop the stage for a few seconds, boasting to the crowd. He strolls to the left, bringing his arms up and turning the arena into a Casper civil war. Confederates on the left. Yankees on the right. Big Bear plays Abe Lincoln and brings them together when he reaches the middle, pounding his chest before he slaps his forearm.

BUST! THAT! CHUMP!
BUST! THAT! CHUMP!
BUST! THAT! CHUMP!

One hundred lucky Boy Scouts from Casper line up along the guard rail. On his way to the ring, Big Bear slaps their mini paws with his heavy hands and offers a few an All-American thumbs up. He shuffles up the steps hastily and crawls through the ropes. The music quickly dies out, compared to previous entrances by the big man. He draws the mic just below his mustachio. A hush comes over the crowd, hungry for some Big Bear banter.

Big Bear: People of Casper, Wyoming!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

Big Bear: Tonight, in the Cowboy State, PRIME begins the long road to King of Kings as round one of the Jewel in the Crown tournament will pit me against two of PRIME’s finest in this very ring. Now, you all might see this as the Boss stacking the deck against me, ensuring I don’t reach the Finals. Personally?

HE TAPPED OUT! HE TAPPED OUT! HE TAPPED OUT!

The corner of Big Bear’s mouth curls up, smiling at the world and him having common enemies. He shakes his head, waving his hands around to quell the awesome chanting.

Big Bear: I'm excited to put my skills to the test against the former Uni Champ and new 5 Star Champ. Two titles I've never held, people wonder why I'm in this match to begin with. Can Big Bear hang with the Porndog and Nitzy? I'm not here, tonight, to prove that I can I hang. Big Bear's here to show the lovely, lovely planet Earth that I can beat them. Both. If you don't like that, Shakur, you should quit stacking the deck against me.

HE TAPPED OUT! HE TAPPED OUT! HE TAPPED OUT!

Big Bear: But the fact remains -- no matter who Shakur puts me against, no matter who I have to beat, no matter the odds against Big Bear -- this tournament isn’t about odds, enemies, or even friends. When the Jewel in the Crown tourney comes along, all that petty bullshit goes on the back burner. I’m gunnin’ for the Finals and nothin’ less. When King of Kings is over... I'll be sure to make that little emo prick remember Big Bear's face.

The man from Alaska passes the mic to his free hand and takes a few seconds, shuffling his big boots on the ring mat. He raises a finger and directs it toward the entrance area.

Big Bear: So bring Strife out here. Bring Donnelly out here. I’m ready to roll. Give that bell a ringadingding. I’m on my way to King of Kings. I’m winnin’ the JAY-EYE-TEE-SEE.

He pauses, briefly, much like the beat dropping out of a Eminem song just before it comes back with a smacksmack.

Big Bear: Tonight I'm gonna show the world that Big Bear will be the Crown Jewel, the new King of Kings, and the face of PEE-ARE-EYE-EM-EEEEEE!!!!

PRIME! PRIME! PRIME! PRIME!

Big Bear flips the mic to the ring announcer and begins stretching his long limbs, preparing for the toughest and most important match of his career.

Big Bear Vs Nitz Donnelly

With the premature demise of Castor Strife (that's what she said), Big Bear and Nitz Donnelly were left an opportunity to fight it out one on one, and neither man disappointed. Both men came forward at the beginning and shook hands with one another before going into their fighting stances. Big Bear wanted to go straight for a melee, while Donnelly decided to step back a few paces and let Big Bear find his range while at the same time finding Big Bear's range.

Richard: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick: This isn't a UFC fight, Richard.

Richard: No, I noticed Boo Weekly in the audience. Did I ever tell you his best Jim Rome story? This one time...

Nick let Richard talk with the microphone cut off. He didn't notice until the punchline of his story. Big Bear was finally able to corner Donnelly after much movement and get him in a collar and elbow, which Donnelly was forced to back into, against the corner. An elbow from Big Bear sent Donnelly for a loop, not to mention Donnelly getting tossed across the ring probably did as well. Big Bear steamrolled across and landed a big splash in the opposite corner before throwing Donnelly back out with a belly to belly suplex.

Richard: … Laced it. HAHA. Wasn't that a great story man?

Nick: Yeah, sure was, you even have any idea what's been going on in the match?

Richard: That? Oh, no, I wasn't paying attention again.

Donnelly scurried across the ring, looking for salvage, while Big Bear moved forward with his attack, landing a big time elbow across the top of the forehead. Donnelly stumbled in place while Big Bear wound up with a left jab, a second, third, and then rolled his arms around before landing another elbow that took Donnelly down.

Nick: Shades of The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.

Richard: DWEEM.

Nick: Yeah, that joke went out in about 1993.

Donnelly got back up and walked into a body slam. Big Bear bounced off the ropes, came far side and gave Donnelly a big splash. He then went for a cover.

ONE

TWO

TH-

The Ego slid a shoulder out and then brought himself outside the ring to gather his thoughts. He got on the wrong side of the early exchange and needed a moment to recuperate. Big Bear gave his opponent the respect, which in hindsight might have been a bad idea. Donnelly hopped back on the apron and got back into it with Big Bear, using his speed and some leg kicks to keep the big man at bay. Big Bear grumbled while Donnelly continued to elude, throwing kicks and trying to get Big Bear off his game. When Donnelly got backed into a corner, he dove his lower body under the middle rope and came over top side with a kick to Big Bear's head. Donnelly transitioned into a springboard onto the middle rope and spun around into a Tornado DDT. Donnelly then went for a cover.

ONE

TW-

And was launched across the ring by Big Bear. The Ego was persistent, diving forward with a front dropkick and following that up with a double stomp across the sternum. Big Bear definitely felt it, rolling into the corner. Donnelly decided to take advantage, running far side and landing another dropkick on the back of Big Bear. Big Bear now was the one who needed to get outside and gather his thoughts, but Donnelly wasn't exactly obligated to return the same courtesy from earlier, instead opting to leap over the ropes onto the floor with a somersault plancha.

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Richard: I don't care much for Big Bear, but Donnelly might have just made him a bit angrier than he should have.

Nick: That is, if Big Bear can even make a mark and get himself back in a dominant position.

Richard: I don't think a plancha is going to be all she wrote for a man of that size. Unless Donnelly follows it up with a big time move out of the gate.

Either Donnelly and Richard think on the same wavelength, or Donnelly just had enough presence to roll Big Bear underneath the ropes and go up top with the intent of hitting his Flashing Exuberance finishing maneuver. Big Bear wisely rolled out of the way, while Donnelly landed on his feet. The Ego moved forward, as did Big Bear, and both ended up colliding. Big Bear got the advantage, swinging Donnelly around 720 degrees before planting him on his left knee. Then, like Donnelly was his own personal playtoy, Big Bear swung him around and flipped him overhead in a fallaway slam. Big Bear ran off nearside and landed a big elbow to try and put the contest away.

ONE

TWO

THRE-

Big Bear grunted in frustration when he wasn't able to pick up the victory. Donnelly huffed and puffed, not gassed out, but definitely showing signs of the beating. Big Bear picked him up and backed him into the corner. He delivered a knife edge chop across the chest before stepping up onto the second rope and calling out to the crowd that he was going to deliver ten punches. They eagerly counted along.

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

Donnelly came out of the corner, stumbling, and about ready to drop. Big Bear ran off far side, charged ahead, and went for the Chump Buster. Donnelly eeked out of the way at the last minute and landed a spinning wheel kick to the head. It connected flush, dropping Big Bear before he could grab hold of the ropes. Donnelly then exited the ring and went for his Flashing Exuberance, knowing now was the time. He reached the top, flew through the air and connected with the maneuver to advance into the second round of Jewel in the Crown.

Backstage.

Shit's about to get awkward.

On your screen, the adorable, perky, and kind-hearted head PRIME interviewer, Ms. Angelica Brooks. Take a moment to bask in her hotness.

Angelica Brooks: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time... the GTT7 Champion... SCCW's Spider in the Web, Alexandra Pierce.

Pan slightly to the left, and hear the murmurs of discontent from the crowd. The last time Alex and Angie were in the same building, it ended when the Medusa ordered the young announcer powerbombed on the roof of Tyler Rayne's car, an injury that Brooks is just recovering from.

To say that Angie looks a tad uncomfortable in the Spider's presence would be a bit of an understatement.

Let's review: Alexandra Pierce is tall, lean, in a white singlet with a cutout of a Templar's Cross, limned in a deep, rusty red. Her eyes are a cold, frozen shade of gray, like cobblestones on a winter morning, though they've thawed somewhat since the last time she was on PRIME television.

Pierce: Good evening.

To her credit, she doesn't try to smile or apologize – anything would sound weak and half-hearted. Angie's smile is tremulous, and if she's taking deeper breaths than normal, well, you can probably only tell because you're staring at her boobs.

Brooks: ...yeah. So. You've got a bye into the second round here at the Jewel in the Crown, and you'll be competing at ReVolution 237 for a spot in the finals. Thoughts?

Pierce: It's an honor, really.

Brooks: Really? An honor? I mean, I get that you're a "nice guy" and all, but—

Pierce: But... it is an honor.

Her smile might lose a few degrees of temperature, but it doesn't fade.

Pierce: Truly it is. My career has never been about championships or accolades, and I am not about to pretend otherwise. I perversely enjoyed my time in the Dual Halo, and I'm gratified that I've been given another opportunity to compete again in a PRIME ring.

Brooks: What do you say to those people who might wonder what you've done in PRIME to deserve a shot at the Universal Championship?

There's a spot here where Alex takes a breath, visibly controlling herself.

Pierce: I point them to Cataclysm, when I pinned Nova and Tyler Rayne—

Bless Angie for her interruption coming so quickly.

Brooks: With a lot of help. It's not like you went out there and dominated them. And the last time you faced Hessian, he did sort of manhandle you.

Pierce: Both of those things are true. I'm not here to question Hessian's size or to claim I've won every match clean, Angelica.

Brooks: Isn't it true that you've hardly won any match "clean" in your career? Isn't it true that SCCW shows have been plagued with screwjob after screwjob as you've cheated your way to the top?

The façade doesn't quite shatter, but it comes awful close.

Pierce: I didn't cheat to win the GTT. I didn't cheat to beat a game Christian Matthias, nor the woman competing for the GCW United States Championship nor the reigning SCCW Gateway Champion. I did not cheat to defeat known quantities like Alias and Violence Jack and Garbage Bag Johnny. I did not cheat to win the SCCW Expect the Unexpected match, which gives me a shot at the SCCW Universal Championship in the coming weeks. Your information is out of date, Ms. Brooks.

Angie takes a soft breath out, her cheeks puffing.

Brooks: Maybe, but you can't expect the PRIME fans to embrace you. Not after what you've done.

Pierce: No. I can't. I know what I've done to Troy. To Rayne. To... to you. I'm hardly expecting to be embraced as a liberator. But know that it doesn't matter who I face in the second round at ReVolution 237 in a few weeks – they are in for a fight. I consider myself the best wrestler in the world.

Her smile tightens rictus-like against her skull.

Pierce: But perhaps I have an ego problem. I think my résumé speaks for itself, and if anyone in PRIME thinks I'm going to roll over just so you forgive me for what mistakes I have made in my past, they are sorely mistaken. If someone in PRIME does not want me to become the Jewel in the Crown, they will have to beat me for it.

Brooks: And you don't think they can? You don't think—

Pierce: I think they will have to work at it. Now if you will excuse me... I am interested in seeing our Elite Champion face your Universal Champion.

With that and nothing more, the Spider in the Web, turns on heel and toe, exiting the frame, leaving the fuming reporter behind.

Brooks: Well, there you have it. Alexandra Pierce bold in her predictions for the Jewel in the Crown tournament. It remains to be seen if she doesn't in fact get run over in a couple weeks at ReVolution 237. Back to you, fellas.

Cut away.

The Universal Champion stretches in the back in anticipation for his main event triple threat match. The title sits neatly beside him on a chair; no one would be stupid enough to take it anyway. A pair of slender fingers trace up and down the gold as Hessian looks up into the sad eyes of the former Mrs. Sloan, taking in the new look she's got going on.

Hessian: Tracy. What a pleasant surprise. I like what you've done with your hair.

Tracy: I like what you've done with your belt.

Her eyes grow wide as she stares intently at the gold. A slightly worried feeling falls over the giant as he stands to his full height.

Hessian: My belt is right.

Tracy: I'm not going to steal it, damn, what would I even do with it anyway.

Hessian: Well beautiful women and gold go together like...me and the Universal Title.

An uncomfortable silence falls between them.

Tracy: So umm, where is...

Hessian: I thought we agreed not to discuss that.

Tracy: Oh, that's right I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking.

Hessian sighs, it's clearly obvious that the woman is going through a rough time. He's been through his own fair share to know how hard it can be.

Hessian: I don't mean to be rude but what are you doing here anyway, now that your "managerial" services are no longer required.

Tracy: It's all I know Von Kelsig. What am I supposed to do? I've got to work now and provide for myself. The world didn't stop, at least not for everyone else.

Hessian: I know things are rough for you now but they'll improve with time. You're stronger than you look and you'll make it. We're a lot alike you and I, you know. I went through shit over the last year and overcame it and now I've got this title and all the glory in the world. You'll get yours.

She begins to cry and buries her head in the giant's shoulder. Hessian looks around uncomfortably.

Tracy: I'm not strong like you or him. I've been so dependent for so long that I don't even know how to be self reliant any more. I'm a fool for not seeing the truth so how can I expect to succeed in anything out here.

He grabs her by her slim shoulders and pushes her away slightly.

Hessian: Look, all that's in the past. We're all moving on and this is just your first step. Of course it'll be hard at first, it always is...but you'll get there, you'll succeed.

Tracy: And if I don't?

Hessian: Let's hope you do. Sorry to cut short but I've got to go. I think it best that we don't talk to each other any more. Just forget everything that's happened and start fresh and you'll be fine, okay?

Tracy: I... I understand.

Hessian pats her on the back and disappears down the hallway and for the first time Tracy glares at him, hatred spewing out of her eyes.

Angelica Brooks: Ladies and gentlemen…

The much better looking version of Matt Mills smiles with a microphone in hand, standing in front of a barren white wall in one of the backstage corridors of the Casper Events Center. Towering over her, fists taped for battle, a cold stare on his face, is the PRIME Hall of Famer, the Inhuman Being.

Brooks: …I’m joined now by the reigning Elite Champion in PTC, Matt Ward.

She turns her head, looking up at the champ, her reflection picking up in the surface of the Elite Title that rests across his shoulder.

Brooks: Matt, we’re just moments away from the main event, an absolutely huge match for you, and quite the added bonus with the Universal Championship Bounty up for grabs here in Round 1. What are your thoughts heading into yet another huge match with so much at stake?

The Inhuman Being takes a deep breath, the first movement of any sort to indicate that he’s even alive.

Ward: You can say it’s pressure-filled, so much at stake, but the truth is, Angie, the only weight I’m carrying on my shoulders is this Elite Championship strap. Tonight is very simple. If I win, I get a guaranteed shot at the Universal Title in the opening weeks of 2011. End of story. No strings attached. So there’s no pressure. And these moments, they’re never too big for me. I’ve proven that throughout my career. This match tonight? I’ve been here a thousand times before. I know a thing or two about winning tournaments.

Ward looks down at the Elite Championship.

Ward: In fact, I even know a thing or two about winning this specific tournament. But this time, none of that even matters. Cuz the plain and simple truth is, all I have to do is go out there and win one match. I can pour it all into this twenty minute sprint. But, Hess? Not you, bud. For him, it’s a marathon. He’s got be on his game, knowing full-well that even if, by some miracle of Hoyt, everything goes his way tonight, he’ll just have to up-and-do it again in a couple weeks. And then again, and again. And any way you slice it, when this whole thing is said and done, no matter how many superstars he might tear through, somebody’s still gonna get a shot at the Universal Title he’s got around his waist.

The Inhuman Being takes a short breath as he moves his belt from one shoulder to the other.

Ward: By the end of tonight, that somebody… will be me.

The Inhuman Being steps toward the camera and cuts in front of Angelica, disappearing from sight as he heads to the Gorilla Position.

From two looks that could kill, the backstage scene transitions to a third--although this one is quite foreign to the PRIME fanbase. The woman that the camera seizes in its lens is on the thin side, average height, long, black hair taking on a veil-like quality as it flows down her back. She playfully winks to the camera as she pulls a pair of black, fingerless leather gloves out of the pockets of her baggy pants (also black, and leather--we're sensing quite the theme here).

Katterina Wylde may have been away from the wrestling world for awhile, but it's quite apparent that the PRIMEates are going to take to her nicely. She slips the gloves over her hands and flips her over one shoulder, satisfied that she's now fully ready for combat. There are audible whistles and catcalls coming from the ringside area--she's not too far from her destination.

Wylde: I told you they'd like me.

The camera picks up a chuckle from someone who, until now, had not made themselves seen or heard. The shot is widened and the crowd roars once Lindsay Troy is revealed to be walking beside the Dark Angel.

Troy: Most PRIMEates tend to like a pretty face when they first see one, since you haven't actually been inside a ring in--how long has it been?

Wylde: Five years.

Troy: And considering who you're going up against, the odds of approval are in your favor.

The Intense Champion didn't have to be in Wyoming tonight. In truth, she would rather have been spending the tail end of the holiday weekend with her family in Florida. But this was Katt's first foray back into action, and since the pesky matter of Tyler Rayne's firing had yet to be settled, the Underground Pimp had asked her if she'd be in attendance for his longest, and best, friend's match.

It's very hard to say no to Tyler Rayne.

Wylde: Hmm. Yes. Von Beardenstein and McSneezy.

Troy: Hess can't decide between being nice and humble or nasty and smashing your face in, and Matt's still clinging to whatever relevancy he has left after I bested him a second time for a title. You come away with a win tonight, and you'll get a crack at that pretty bauble Hessian took away from Strife.

Wylde (grinning): Goody for me.

Troy: Goody for you, indeed. And you can start by bashing his face in.

Matt Ward stands in front of a tech station by the gorilla position, running his hands around his taped-up wrists, and looks up at the two women who have come to a stop not ten feet from him. The Inhuman Being locks eyes with Troy, who returns his gaze with a sneer.

Wylde (amused): So this must be Matty.

Troy: At one time. Who he is now--I don't know anymore.

Ward turns his body so he's facing Lindsay and Katt, but the Queen simply pats the Dark Angel between her shoulders and starts to backtrack down the hallway from which they came.

Troy: Go get 'em, sugar bear.

Katt tilts her head as she eyes PRIME's Wrecking Ball. A smile creeps along her lips.

Wylde: With pleasure.

~**~**~**~**~

Troy's sneakers tap the tiles softly, nimble feet carrying her back to her co-habitated locker room. The sneer she wore moments before has faded, having been replaced with her normal amused smirk. She interlocks her fingers and brings her hands under and forward, cracking the knuckles with satisfying pops. There's nothing left to do for the night, except watch Katt's match as promised. She makes a tight left turn down an intersecting corridor and immediately puts in the brakes.

Not very far up the hall is an approaching Alexandra Pierce.

It's on instinct that her muscles contract and she wishes for all the world she had any number of sharp, blunt, or mortally heavy objects to beat the Spider to death with.

She also wishes Dan was here to get his licks in. Cecilia's father is not one to forget such crimes against his family, and were he in Casper, he would most assuredly see that Pierce get all forms of payback that are due to her.

Instead, the Queen spreads her arms wide, plants her feet, and waits for Pierce. There are no hallways to dart down. No doors to open and duck into. There's only forward, or backward, and Troy knows that Desade won't run.

Troy (severely): Red rover, red rover, send the Marquis right over.

It hasn't been a particularly good night for the Spider, either. She looks... exhausted, more tired than she did the night she survived the GTT finals. Her gray eyes are sunken in, cheeks hollow, shoulders down.

All of that passes the moment she hears Troy's voice. She looks up, eyes narrowed, but her anger appears to be self-inflicted, irritation that she let anyone – her least of all – this close. Her arms fall to her sides, hands bound behind her. Her steps are silent as she crosses the distance to her old nemesis.

As always, Alex must look up to Lindsay (most women do), but she never quite looks it. Troy doesn't loom, doesn't tower. Pierce's narrowed gaze and pursed lips carry their own weight.

Pierce: And here I thought I might just miss out on our reunion this evening.

Troy: Wouldn't that have just been the cherry on top of that delightful little sundae you've set up for yourself.

Pierce: I'm not certain we've been watching the same show, Lindsay. You're not the only person who seems unhappy to see me. I'm fairly certain that if I were to step in front of a truck tonight, there would be a parade.

Her hands unfold, arms swinging to her sides.

Pierce: But feel free to take your potshots now, because we both know that the acid tongue is where you excel.

Troy: Don't flatter yourself. We'd throw the parade after the truck backed over you ample times. For good measure, you see, since you deserve all that and so much more. Even Lisa Tyler might crack a genuine smile.

Pierce: I'll be sure to add your name to the list of people who want some form of recompense, though you may be quite a ways down the list. Not that you're unused to—

Alex breaks off with a sigh, glancing away from the Queen's imperious stare with no small amount of irritation.

Pierce: This gets neither of us anywhere, Lindsay. You don't particularly like me? Well, you have cause, and I don't blame you for it. I will not insult you by apologizing, when we both know I would not mean it in any event. But I am a different person now than I was then, and I'd have thought you would understand that.

Troy: Really. Because here's the thing--there's not one person with any allegience to this company who believes you've changed at all. You've done nothing here tonight to prove it. You've shown nothing outside of that ice queen exterior that you so excel at. Nobody here knows or cares about what you've done elsewhere. Nobody thinks you've lost any of your venom. Nobody here wants anything from you---

She brings her arms in toward her body and slowly brings them back out, waving them lightly over the floor.

Troy: Except to see you fall. No apologies, no bullshit, no "I was a bad person then, but I've changed, I swear." Just you, broken, for the circle to come 'round fully.

Pierce: I know this. I knew this when I came to the Halo. I'm not asking for people to believe me. I'm not on my knees to beg forgiveness. I went into that godforsaken place, and I earned my spot. You can hate me for it, but I will not roll over and die just because it would be a more compelling story, and you really don't want me to, do you?

The antagonism is comfortable for her; though these two women's rivalry sparked a war between two federations, it's easier for Pierce to deal with than the quiet scorn.

Pierce: It's better for you if I'm as strong as ever, if I'm still the despicable, vile figure I was when we stood here two years ago. It's better for you if I'm the villain, because that makes you the hero, and that – that – is what you want to be. I'm sorry to take that away from you, but if you wanted your victory over the vile, vindictive, vicious Desade, you're a year-and-a-half late for that. Longer still if you ask some of my former colleagues.

Troy: Of course I'm the hero. As if I would be anything else where you're concerned. I don't need to want for anything for it to be so. You won your prize in the Halo, but you earned no favor. I don't need to hate you for that when I have so much else to hate you for. There may not be a massive, encompassing structures for you to work your way through this time around, but should I--and I surely hope I do--get that chance to finish what you started, you'll be thinking back to the Halo and realizing wasn't as awful as this. You'll be the one saying "no" this time, and I'll be the one seeing a means to an end.

Despite herself, the Spider chuckles, quietly shaking her head.

Pierce: And that's it. It would kill you for it not to be you, wouldn't it? You, scoring the pinfall. You, leading the cheers. You, directing the faithful to sing me a Steam song on my way out. That way you can be the Dragonslayer as well. You can bring down the woman that tried to destroy PRIME, the woman who stood at the head of the legion who walked into Boston and crucified your federation.

There's another rumbling of discontent, approaching but not quite crossing over the threshold of a "boo". Alex doesn't seem to notice, but her smile turns quiet, stretching just past the point where the mask holds.

Pierce: You can shout from the rooftops that I am a villain for what I ordered done to Angelica, for how I won a match two years ago, or for the psychopath I sent after you – after your niece—

Troy: Don't.

Pierce: But it doesn't make it true anymore, Lindsay. I wish I could be that villain, that I could make it easy for you – for any of you – to bring me down, because I know that I deserve it. I know that I have done wrong. By you, by Angelica, by countless others I don't even remember the names of.

If Lindsay or these fans didn't know better, they might think there was the tiny, tiniest bit of moisture in Alex's stony gaze, a raindrop on the cobblestone.

Pierce: But I can't go back to the way things were, Lindsay. No matter how much it would be easier for you or for I if that were to happen. You don't have to believe it, you don't have to like it – gods know I don't, most of the time – but I am not the woman I was two years ago, and I could not become her, no matter how much we both wish I could summon her here and now.

Troy: I'm sure part of you actually believes that.

The Queen advances, lifting her hands and steepling her fingers against her mouth. Alexandra holds her position as Troy glides painstakingly toward her. She appears to walk past Pierce without another word or deed, but unexpectedly, and with utmost precision, Lindsay's arm deliberately collides with Pierce's shoulder and knocks her backwards.

Troy: Some of us, Alexandra, are not so easily assuaged.

She walks off, done with this unfinished chapter for the night. The few steps the smaller Spider staggers back don't seem to bother her, and she fires her razorsharp glare at the retreating Troy's back. The weapon is a dud, however, and the Queen of the Ring leaves the self-admitted Queen of Lies alone in the hallway, a stranger amongst the strange, more an outsider than she has ever been.

Cut away.

Initially, Ward, believing himself to be above both Hessian and Wylde, refused to emerge from his corner and beckoning his opposition to fight amongst themselves. Neither being the type to back away from fights, Hessian and Wylde stepped forward to brawl. Wylde showed quickness by kicking Hessian in the leg and moving away before The Murder Show was able to grasp hold of her. Another leg kick found its mark, but the kicks didn't seem to hinder Hessian's movements so much as raise his ire. Wylde came in again, and went for the same spot a third time. Hessian stuck his arm out, but Wylde pulled the leg back and rifled off a roundhouse kick to the head and then stepped up for an enziguri.

Only she didn't get it, and found out just how tall Hessian actually was when she was launched the entire length of the ring into a far side buckle.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Nick: That's what happens when you give up 200 pounds plus to Hess-

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Richard: AND that's what happens when you get splashed by a man who is 355 pounds.

Wylde drops like a bag of hammers. If she's not living it on Dream Street with Freddy Krueger, when Hessian lifts her up, she's about to enter into a nightmare. It's pretty much like a dream, but with Leonard Aarons doing shit impersonations of Krueger.

Wylde dropped like a bag of hammers. Hessian palmed her with one hand, brought her up to a standing position, and wrapped his arm around her throat. Wylde was hoisted into the air and chokeslammed to the canvas with authority. When Hessian turned around to confront Ward, The Inhuman Being was already steamrolling into action with a chop block to Hessian's damaged knee. The Uni champ almost hit the deck, but was able to maintain balance and charge at Ward. The Elite champ delivered a dropkick to the inner thigh, which made Hessian crumble to the canvas.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick: I'm very suspicious of that kick.

Richard: It was TSA approved. On the inner thigh.

Nick: Yeah, I heard about what happened with you at the airport on the way in here.

Richard: Hey, they picked me out for screening and decided to examine my junk. I can't help it if they thought my man region was so big it had a bomb in it... And boy when that cute little minx touched it, she got an explosion.

Nick: ReVolution, clearly not PG.

Ward gloated to the crowd, demonstrating his superiority to Hessian, before turning around to continue his assault.

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And walking straight into a shining wizard from Katterina Wylde. The Inhuman Being went onto the apron and dropped to the floor. He looked up with an appalled expression on his face, clearly offended that a newcomer would show him such blatant disrespect. Wylde didn't have empathy for The Inhuman Being, grabbing hold of the top rope and flipping over, connecting on a crisp hurricanrana that put Tchu into the barricade. A few stomps later and Wylde was set on returning for Round 2 with Hessian. The Murder Show extended his hand to the ropes for assistance, while Wylde grabbed hold of it and walked along. She leaped forward and went for a New School, but her Tornado DDT efforts were thwarted when Hessian planted her with a Black Hole Slam.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Richard: Look, I as much as anybody can appreciate a foxy woman who has the desire to come after a man, but Hessian is 7'2 and 355. He's an athletic 355. He's a fucking strong 355. This is not the way you want to come into PRIME.

Nick: It's either him or Ward.

Richard: Judging by the way he's acting, I think you have a better chance of catching him off guard.

Nick: You were just praising him a minute ago.

Richard: I've got a gene in me called honesty, Nick. I'll admit when I'm wrong.

Hessian went for a cover on Wylde, but didn't even get a one count as Tchu invaded his space with an elbow drop to the back of the head. Hessian growled and nudged Wylde aside, focusing his attention on The Inhuman Being. Ward clobbered Hessian with a right hand and went off far side. Ward tried a spear, but Hessian showed surprising reflexes and landed a snap DDT that almost took Ward out of his boots.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Nick: Devastating on the part of Hessian. COVER!

Proving her insanity, Wylde jumped into the match by double stomping Hessian on his back. The fully irritated Hessian threw his head up long enough to get blasted with a roundhouse kick to the head. The Murder Show finally recoiled, rolling away rather than forward. Hessian tried getting to his knees, but Wylde fired off far side and came in with a spinning heel kick. Hess almost timbered backward. Wylde got up and ran far side a second time, rushing forward and landing a dropkick to the face. Hessian teetered and the crowd demanded he go down in a timber. Tchu rose to his feet at the same time and agreed to a temporary allegiance with Wylde, both of them running forward and landing stereo superkicks on Hessian, sending him backward and onto the floor. The sight was a spectacle for many in the first few rows, snapping pictures as if they just saw Big Foot roaming through the woods. Wylde spun around and ate a Curtain Call from Ward, and then a cover.

ONE

TWO

THR-

Nick: Wylde might be the smallest one in the match, but she's got the heart to combat these larger men.

Richard: You do NOT even want me dissecting that line. We'll only be suitable for the Howard Stern Show.

An angry Hessian used the barricade, and almost ripped it apart, to get to his feet and roll underneath the bottom rope. Ward came over and impeded the threat, trying to go for a T-bone suplex on Hessian. Ward actually wondered aloud why Hessian wouldn't go over, he should to a legend such as Ward. Hessian wondered how far Ward would fly when he grabbed him and pressed him overhead, throwing him across the ring in a military press. He followed suit by running across the ring and landing a big body splash on Ward. Another cover.

ONE

TWO

THRE-

Hessian's misery with Wylde continued as she was able to land a top rope moonsault and break up the count. With The Murder Show down, Wylde figured it as good an opportunity as ever to look for a victory against someone she could at least complete half her moveset against, Ward. She picked him from the canvas and placed a brutal kiss on his lips, to which Ward appeared offended. He couldn't do much about it though, as Wylde spiked him into the canvas with a Kiss of Death Jumping DDT. A plethora of gasps rose from the crowd as many figured Hessian wouldn't get up in time and Wylde would get a Universal Title shot in her first match.

Nick: This would be Cozen like. COVER!

ONE

TWO

THREE-

Hessian interrupted the party by grabbing Wylde's legs and violently tugging her away from Ward and her hopes of stealing the match. Wylde was able to roll through, getting behind Hessian. She ducked under an attempted spinning Godsmack and ran off far side for a Lionsault. She tried getting over Hessian, but got caught on his shoulder. Hessian quickly tried transitioning into a Hellevator, but Katt squirmed away and managed to slide out of the ring, onto the apron, springboard up, and land a missile dropkick to Hessian. He stumbled backward and over an on all fours Ward. Wylde dove over Ward and went for another cover.

ONE

TWO

THR-

Now it was Ward's turn to yank Wylde away and try for his own cover.

ONE

TWO

THR-

Wylde yanked him away and tried for a cover.

ONE

TWO

TH-

Ward with another yank away. Wylde scampered back. Both made a cover.

ONE

TWO

THR-

And this time, Hessian shoved both of them off.

Nick: What an exchange there by the three competitors, doing anything they could to win the match.

Richard: Hessian just half arsed it, lying on his back there.

Nick: Since when did you speak with a British accent?

Richard: I've been sponsored by Limmy, and I'd just like to wish all the sweethearts out there a Happy REQUIEMMMMMMMMMMMM!

With all three competitors struggling to their feet, the Casper Event Center prepared for what appeared to be the final showdown. Wylde tried to get in Ward's way again, and give him another kiss, but he backed into the corner and shunned Wylde like a scared school girl. Hessian smashed both of them in the corner, and then displayed a bit of strength shocking to the Center. He grabbed both Ward and Wylde, Ward second, and went for a double Hellevator.

Nick: Oh my God, Wylde could end up dying if she gets crushed by that much weight!

Richard: Well, this would be Hessian taking care of another Rayne posse member.

Hessian dropped, but the weight difference felt different on the way down. He connected on a Hellevator to Katterina, but Ward dropped off at the last second. As Hessian got up to see about Ward, The Inhuman Being slithered himself behind Hessian and dropped him with a Downfall. He went over and covered Katterina for the pinfall victory.

Winner: Tchu

Nick: Hessian has been knocked out of Jewel in the Crown!

Richard: And that means...

Nick: It means Matt Ward gets a shot at the Universal Championship! He's got a chance to become a three time Universal Champion and make history.

Richard: All before Lindsay Troy!

Nick: I don't think she's going to be happy about that.

Richard: Who the hell cares, we've got four people set for Round 2. We're going to have four more people set up next week, and all six mystery entrants are going to finally be revealed.

Nick: 236 is shaping up to be a big card. At the end of the night, we're going to find out the entire playing field for that show. Right now, we've got Desade, The Sentinel, Jacob McKail, Nitz Donnelly, and Matt Ward.

Richard: A pretty stacked field any way you look at it, and 236 only guarantees it to get deeper.

Nick: First time all night you say anything worth agreeing with. Folks, for Richard Parker, I'm Nick Stuart saying so long from Wyoming. We'll be on the campus of Boise State next week.

Richard: Will the Blue Man Group be there?

Nick: …

Richard: Good night everybody!