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- 3 January 2031
The capacity crowd is rabid, held back by a chain-link barricade in the fog-filled arena. A ramp leads down from a stage with two big screens displaying the letters P S W in red, purple and blue, respectively, to the ring. The ring is completely white save for the steel-grey ropes and the words "FIGHT PIT" splattered on the apron in blue.
SDS: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome everybody to the first episode of Psycho Style Wrestling's Friday Night Fight Pit. "Striking" Darryl Stroligo here with the "Carnival King" Diogo Santos, and we are LIVE from the Tenamaxtli Stadium in the town of Tequila!
DS: "Tequila", my ASS, Darryl! Have you tasted the stuff they got here? It's like drinking horse piss, companheiro. They should change the name!
SDS: How do you know what that tastes like?
SDS: Suit yourself. We have an incredible night ahead, but first we have to go back to Sunday at Ascension! 2 new titles introduced! 4 titles defended!
DS: And only one REAL champion! The man, the myth, the MONSTER!
SDS: Paul Grizzly, the World Dominion Champion, the only champion to walk in and walk out with the gold.
DS: After he made short work of that arruaceiro, Vito Montani!
SDS: Oh, come now. It was a hard-fought challenge.
DS: Hard-fought? He got his ass whooped all over Sambuca and had his little chihuahua, Cody K. Olwagen, nipping at the champ's heels! And then Grizzly made an example of him, too.
SDS: He almost killed Olwagen, Diogo!
DS: As he damn-well should have! You don't poke the bear over and over and get away with it.
SDS: Well then, it's a good thing Johnny Cyclone intervened when he did.
DS: What the hell was that kid thinking? He was the what, 20-somethingest pick at the draft-
SDS: 24th.
DS: Exactly! He's got no business putting his hands on the champion! And now he's a dead man walking! Is he stupid or something? Or just suicidal?
SDS: Perhaps brave? Impulsive? Maybe even opportunistic? We'll find out shortly and- (holds headset).
DS: What's up?
SDS: I just received word from our General Manager, Jeffrey Campbell, that Paul Grizzly will meet Vito Montani in a World Dominion Championship rematch in our main event, TONIGHT!
DS: What?!
A graphic shows up on the two big screens to confirm Stroligo's words, and the crowd explodes with excitement.
DS: Oh, hell no! There is no way! Is Campbell stupid?
SDS: Apparently, Montani demanded a rematch! He wants revenge for what Grizzly did to his partner, Olwagen, who was rushed to the hospital on Sunday with no clear timeline of recovery.
DS: So he wasn't content with sitting at his bedside? He wants a bed right next to him? Fine, whatever. Without his little buddy, he's history.
SDS: We'll see, partner, but for now. We turn now to Katrina Petrov.
The camera cuts to the backstage area. A tall, slender and sharp-featured Slavic woman with long blonde hair and a black dress stands in front of a chain-link fence and a TV monitor, mic in hand.
Petrov: Ladies and gentlemen, my guest at this time, Johnny Cyclone.
The towering young Cyclone, clad in an aqua-green singlet with a white Tornado symbol on the front, comes into view. He smiles at the camera and gets a sizeable pop from the crowd.
Petrov: Johnny, thank you for joining me.
Cyclone: The pleasure is mine, Ms Petrov.
Petrov: Katrina.
Cyclone: Understood, Katrina.
Petrov: You are about to make your Psycho Style Wrestling debut against the Moscow Machine, Kruscher! How are you feeling about that?
Cyclone: I'm feelin' all sorts o' ways, but right now, I'm focused, ya hear? Now, Kruscher, he's one mean hombre, and back last November, at that Super Fight, he was just a hair's breadth from bein' the very first Dominion Champion. We all know how that panned out. Some folks reckon he got a raw deal. But the way I see it, he's gonna be fired up somethin' fierce. But if I can hold my own with him tonight, I'll be right there in the talk 'bout that title-
Petrov: Since we're talking about the World Dominion title, we can't overlook what happened at Ascension. You rushed down from the stands, leapt over the barricade and went toe-to-toe with the champion, Paul Grizzly. What was going through your mind? What was your motive?
Cyclone: Motive, you ask? Well, my motive's plain as day. He was fixin' to squeeze the very life outta that fella right there in the middle of that ring. Now, I don't cotton to how Vito and Cody do things, but Grizzly was way outta line and outta control, so I... Katrina, I'm going to need you to take a step back.
The huge, hairy frame of Paul Grizzly comes into view, dwarfing Cyclone, a big man in his own right. The crowd loudly boos. Katrina nervously holds the mic up to the champ's face.
Grizzly (hair casting a shadow over his eyes): I bet you think you're some kind of hero, eh? Out of line? Out of control? Kid, I'm in full control. It's why you're able to stand here, running your mouth. In fact, the CEO, Sanka Williams himself, called me on the phone and BEGGED ME not to rip you limb from limb. So, I'm doing him a solid by giving you this ONE pass. (gets in real close) If you ever try to make a name for yourself at my expense again, it will be the last thing you ever do. Do you understand me?
DS: Tell him, Champ!
Cyclone (inches closer until they are nose-to-nose): I understand you perfectly, Mr Grizzly. Just as I hope you understand me. You are the World's Champion. I respect that, I do. And if you're still wearin' that gold tonight, then I aim to EARN the right to come after ya. If not, I'll still meet you in that there ring, come what may!
The crowd pops.
Cyclone: And understand this. What you do 'tween them bells is ya own bidness. But outside o' that? If I catch you hurtin' folks, throwin' yore weight around, doin' more damage than need be, I'm gonna I am going to STOP YOU! Every. Single. Time!
An even louder pop.
Cyclone (walks past): I suggest you get used to it.
SDS: Wow.
Grizzly watches him leave for a moment; his shaggy hair and beard hide most of his expression, but the twitching of his lip area suggests seething anger. He turns around and comes face-to-face with Kruscher. Petrov, her job done, exits stage left.
DS: Uh oh.
The machine and the monster have a staredown for an uncomfortably long time before Kruscher walks past in pursuit of Cyclone.
SDS: The top of the mountain is a lonely place. Cyclone. Kruscher. Next!
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