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- 30 December 2030
The crowd roars in anticipation. The stage is decorated with chains, iron bars and grey walls with sliding doors that will open when a wrestler makes their entrance. The ring mat is designed to look as though it is stained with blood. The apron has the word "MADHOUSE" splattered on it. The titantron displays the letters P S W in red, purple and blue, respectively.
A.B.: We are LIVE from the sold-out Salamanca Dome in Singani City! Hello and welcome everybody, I'm Alf Balducci, along with my broadcast team, Dominga Alvarez to my right and Aazif Shamoon to my left!
Shamoon: I'm so excited!
Dominga: It doesn't get any better than this! Well, maybe if Shamoon had taken the wrong train...
Shamoon: Love you too, Dom.
Dominga: Never call me that again!
Nalah Shabani stands in the ring with a polite smile: Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to formally and officially welcome you to the first episode of Psycho Style Wrestling's number 1 show, the Monday Night Madhouse!
The crowd pops.
Nalah Shabani: We have an action-packed evening planned for you, capped off by what I refer to as the Madhouse Showcase.
Shamoon: Wonder what that's gonna be?
Dominga: Maybe, she's going to tell us, genius.
Nalah Shabani: Now, I could stand here and explain it to you... (holds up finger) or... I could give the floor over to one of the participants. So, please, join me in welcoming your new (the crowd slowly gets louder), reigning, defending, undisputed Jewell's Champion... EMPRESS NGOZI!!!
The crowd lets out another roar as the bombastic royal theme echoes throughout the arena. The Empress steps onto the stage clad in a white robe and her signature orange visor. The Jewell is wrapped tightly around her waist.
A.B.: They are on their feet in Singani! Basking in the glory of the Empress after her hard-fought victory over Queen Cobra!
She spreads her arms, and golden sparks rain down on the stage and on the ramp which she walks down. Shabani claps respectfully as Ngozi makes her way down with a noticeable stiffness in her right arm.
Ngozi enters the ring and shakes the GM's hand before the latter hands her the microphone.
Shamoon: Seems like they're getting along now.
Dominga: Winning a title does tend to make the boss like you more.
As the GM takes her leave, the Empress stands looking around at the crowd chanting her name.
Ngozi: Singani...
The crowd pops at the mention of their city.
Ngozi: Your Empress has arrived.
The pop even louder.
Ngozi: She brings good tithings and... (places hand on her title belt) good news. Last night, at Ascension, a mistake, of which I make few, was corrected when I took what was mine and became the Bearer of the Jewell.
Another pop.
Ngozi raises her right arm and pulls back the sleeve to reveal her taped-up elbow: It did not come without cost. In fact, I was told by Dr Sharma and her team that I should take 2, maybe 3 weeks off, to recover.
The crowd boos.
Ngozi (raises her finger and frowns): Don't. Boo. The doctors. They do fine work and have put up with far more than you can imagine. With that said, I flatly refused.
Shamoon (looking at Alf): Really?
A.B.: Couldn't talk her out of it.
The crowd pops again.
Ngozi: There was absolutely no way I was going to miss the inaugural edition of the Madhouse. To bear the Jewell is to bear the responsibility of setting a standard for all the women in the back. And that standard will be set in tonight's main event, the Madhouse Showcase, as our esteemed General Manager called it, where I will team with the former Blind Archer, Zadie Chen...
The crowd cheers.
Ngozi: ... and the number 1 overall pick at the draft, Sarah Esposito...
Shamoon: Wow!
A.B.: That is a dream team, right there.
The crowd's reaction to Esposito is mixed, but slightly positive, to which the Empress responds with a raised eyebrow before continuing.
Ngozi: ... against the former champion, and I use the term loosely, Queen Cobra,...
The crowd boos.
Ngozi (speaks softly and through gritted teeth): ... my... "old friend"... Jessie Moore...
The reaction is once again mixed. Some boo Moore, some cheer out of respect for the veteran Outlaw.
A.B.: Oh no...
Dominga: Oh, yes! With respect.
Ngozi: ... and a woman who, at that same draft, wrote a very large cheque with her mouth, a cheque she is going to have to cash tonight, Shay Maharaj.
The boos are quiet.
Ngozi: The marketing team pitched this six-woman tag as the perfect showcase of the Past, Present and Future! (smiles) But strangely, when I asked them what category I fall under, the room went silent.
Some people in the crowd laugh.
Shamoon: I'm not even going to say anything.
A.B.: What exactly is there to say?
Shamoon: NOTHING!
Ngozi (walking over to the ropes overlooking the commentary desk): Alf, dear! What category do I fall under?
A.B.: Whichever one you want, Honey!
Dominga: Smooth.
Ngozi: Wise words from a wise man. (looks out at the crowd) What about all of you? What category do I fall under?
The crowd just cheers loudly, some on their feet, even more of them bowing. Ngozi simply chuckles, until she doesn't.
Ngozi (takes off visor, deathly serious): The truth is, I fall under the only category that matters (unhooks belt and raises it to another pop): Champion. And tonight, those five women are going to have the opportunity, and privilege, of sharing the ring with the champion. (looks into the hard camera) I suggest they do not waste it.
She sets down the microphone as her music plays once again.
A.B.: An authoritative statement by the Empress, who we will see in action later tonight!
Shamoon: Guys, there's a lot of unknowns and combustible elements in that match. Do you think-
Dominga: Don't.
Shamoon: What?
Dominga: Don't say it. We're better than that.
Shamoon: I was just going to ask if they can co-exist.
Dominga (throws her hands up): There it is. First episode, and you've already ruined it.
A.B.: Knock it off, you two! It's time for some tag team action to kick us off. The Track Queens vs JabbarTV. NEXT!
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