*Match Three*

~Half-Cage Match: 5150 Championship~

Special Guest Referee: Bram Connan

Ricky Rhodes Vs. Drake Nygma Vs. Blackthorne Vs. April Dimter

Inside a small smoke filled bar in the heart of Texas. We hear country music playing, see a few people shooting pool while others play poker or dance. At the bar we see Ricky Rhodes drinking out of a bottle of bourbon as he talks to an older man who was working behind the bar. 

 

Rhodes: “ You ever feel like your stuck in Deja vie or maybe ground hog day?” 

 

Bartender: (laughs) “Yeah Ricky I think we all have those days.Ive been running this bar for 30 years now & a lot of days seem the same”

 

Rhodes:”Yeah old man I understand that. I started wrestling years ago so I didn’t get the SAME SHIT DIFFERENT DAY routine, but damn it here lately in the AWS that’s exactly what has happened. I got told i had to prove myself to get my shot at the guys on the top. How can I get to the sharks & prove myself when im forced to swim in the shallow end of the pool with guppies? I’ve heard of LAZY BOOKING in other companies hell I’ve even got the t shirt, but never expected that in AWS. It seems like every match is like a bad dream or a repeat of the week before with the same names coming up. 

 

First there is this guy called Drake Ngyma. I swear he’s like a little wart I can’t get rid of. Everytime I turn around there he is like were attached at the hip. It seems like every match I’m in so is he, but he refuses to meet me ONE ON ONE. I think it’s because he knows he’s not capable of coming close to my level. I have to admit at times though he’s impressed me & I thought he was under the “learning tree” when he helped me attack Vin Halsted but it quickly proved that wrong. (Laughs evil) now it’s my turn to once again to take him to school & beat him once again within an inch of his life.”

 

Bartender:(laughs & brings Rhodes another bottle) “You better be careful with guys like that, he may like it. You know some 50 shades or BDSM kinda shit” 

 

Rhodes:”I never thought about that(laughs & drinks from bottle). Then there is this huge supposed to be monster called Blackthorne. He has potential to be a shark in this business if he stops being a pawn for the Fiegels. Our first meeting in the ring was in a title match & here we are again in a title match with him magically involved. I just hope the big fella remembers that the bigger they are the harder they fall. The only new thing at all in this match is the new 5150 Champion a woman none the less named April Dimter. Give me a damn break”. 

 

Bartender:5-1-5-0 what is a po po title? Hmmm Dimter I think I’ve heard that name before”. 

 

Rhodes:(smirks at bartender) Yeah apparently she’s related to Mike Dimter. I’ve known him from years back but this April is new to me. ASW management has yet again put me in a bad spot for July 27th in Warwick. I swore I’d never hit a woman but in this case I may not have a choice. I only hope Mike has educated her that Ricky Rhodes isn’t someone to FUCK with. I’d hate to have to teach the little girl why they should know there roles & stick to looking pretty outside the ring while the real wrestlers work. I also gotta wonder what Bram Connan is gonna do in this match. Is he gonna be a fair referee or just another uneducated product of AWS. I’ve been in a match that ended in a triple count out. What the fuck! Then was in a Ironman match & lost despite it being a tie. Can you say dirty politics? BRAM show the world your not a dumb bastard like the rest of these referees you know something about wrestling & can count to 3”

 

Ricky looks down & says “Same Shit Different Day” continuing drinking as it fades out. 

[The scene opens in a dimly lit room, the shadows dancing across the walls. In the center stands Blackthorne, wearing his signature dark, gothic attire and a long black trench coat. His face is partially obscured by shadows, but his malevolent grin and piercing eyes are clearly visible. The camera zooms in slowly as he begins to speak in a deep, ominous voice.]

Blackthorne: "Welcome to my realm, a place where light fears to tread and shadows reign supreme. Ricky Rhodes, Drake Nygma, AJ Flare... you have all been summoned to the darkness, and here, you shall face your deepest fears."

"Ricky Rhodes, the cowboy who rides high on his ego. You believe that your Round Up can tame any beast, but you forget, Ricky... a true predator cannot be tamed. Your bravado is nothing but a facade, hiding the fear that gnaws at your very soul. When you step into the ring with me, you will come to understand that your strength is but an illusion, shattered by the crushing weight of true darkness."

"Drake Nygma, the man of a thousand riddles. You thrive in chaos, delighting in the confusion you sow. But chaos is my domain, and I am its master. Your riddles are child's play in the grand theater of shadows I command. You will find no solace in your mind games when confronted by the abyss of my psyche. Every riddle you pose will be met with the harsh truth of your own insignificance."

"And then, AJ Flare, the AWS 5150 Champion. You shine brightly, a beacon of defiance and pride. But even the brightest flames are extinguished in the void of darkness. Your title, your accolades, they mean nothing in the face of true fear. The weight of that championship will become a burden, a chain that drags you deeper into the abyss. You will come to realize that your reign is but a fleeting moment, destined to be eclipsed by the eternal night."

"In this battleground of shadows, I am the harbinger of despair. Each of you, with your strengths and your weaknesses, will be laid bare before me. I will delve into the recesses of your minds, exposing the fears you hide even from yourselves. The ring will become a stage for your unraveling, and I, the puppet master, will pull the strings."

"Prepare yourselves, for in the darkness, there is no escape. You will face Blackthorne, and you will fall. One by one, you will succumb to the psychological torment that awaits you. And when the final bell tolls, the only thing that will remain... is darkness."

[Blackthorne's malevolent grin widens as he takes a step back into the shadows, his presence lingering like a cold, dark mist. The camera fades to black, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.]

 

A flicker of distaste appears on the facial expression of one Drake Nygma. The set of his eyes display a steadily building fury. A fury that comes from a time older than this mortal world. This is the purest of all truths known in his mind. His lips turn in a scowl, a darkening burst of feral anger. His mind is spinning, spinning, spinning, out of control, an event that has never before happened in his lifetime.

Voiceover of Ricky Rhodes:” First there is this guy called Drake Nygma. I swear he’s like a little wart I can’t get rid of. Everytime I turn around there he is like we're attached at the hip. It seems like every match I’m in, so is he, but he refuses to meet me ONE ON ONE. I think it’s because he knows he’s not capable of coming close to my level. I have to admit at times though he’s impressed me & I thought he was under the “learning tree” when he helped me attack Vin Halsted but it quickly proved that wrong. (Laughs evil) now it’s my turn to once again take him to school & beat him once again within an inch of his life.”
 

Drake’s scowl deepens, taking on a harder, icier edge. Akin to that of a blade in human form. Or more accurately the form of a deity who grows more unhinged by the days that pass. Breathing slowly, Drake begins to speak, his tone dripping with disdain, dripping with aggression.

“A wart am I?. No. I am much worse than a wart. I am the new face of darkness. We are the new face of darkness. Continue on with your childish insults, reveal just how much you are underestimating us. You’ll regret doing that Mr Rhodes. You won’t be the first to underestimate us, to think us nothing more than a fool. By all means, keep assuming you know us. It’ll make your defeat that much sweeter in the end.”

Turning his head, Drake refocuses on the camera, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. A gleam that seems out of place in this modern world.

Voiceover of Blackthorne: "Drake Nygma, the man of a thousand riddles. You thrive in chaos, delighting in the confusion you sow. But chaos is my domain, and I am its master. Your riddles are child's play in the grand theatre of shadows I command. You will find no solace in your mind games when confronted by the abyss of my psyche. Every riddle you pose will be met with the harsh truth of your own insignificance."

“You are correct. I delight in the confusion wrought by my actions, wrought by our hands. You claim the role of master, and yet you have not earned that right. Insignificance? You and Ricky share a common flaw, namely that your ego won’t allow you to see the threat that is staring you right in the face. You’ll learn the error of your ways soon enough, naturally it’ll happen the hard way. This is the way forward, educating AWS one mind at a time, revealing the true strength of the ancient world.”

A pause is taken here, a reflective almost contemplative look residing in Drake Nygma’s eyes.

“And finally we have one more name to be laid out before us, one more soul to meet their judgement. Make your peace, cherish the time you have left before the might of ancient Egypt wipes you all out, removing the stench of your mortality from AWS. Buckle up mortals, for what's to come is far more than a simple match. This is a lesson, a teachable moment, a word of warning. Should any of you be responsible for the events following that open invitational match, I will personally make sure you regret your foolish actions.”

Drake bared his teeth in a feral snarl, a rumbling roar bursting through the air as the camera blacked out from the violent energy rolling off of Drake Nygma in this moment.

Fade to black…

 

Backstage at Asylum from Central State Hospital yelling is coming from the locker room. Our cameras open the door & the entire room is destroyed with lockers bent, chairs, clothes & towels thrown all over the place. The cameras look inside the bathroom only to find a bigger mess with water shooting out of the floor & walls where toilets or sinks should’ve been. It’s then when they see where the yelling is coming from & who was responsible for the damage. Ricky Rhodes is going up & down halls of hospital pushing staff, attempting to destroy anything he could get his hands on & yelling. 

 

“WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU VINNY!!! YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!! YOU THINK THIS IS OVER!!! DAMN YOU CHARLIE,I DONT KNOW HOW BUT KNOW YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH TONIGHT. COME OUT YOU FUCKING COWARDS!!!TONIGHTS NOT OVER” 

 

AWS interviewer Laura Andersen nervously comes around corner noticing Rhodes angry,yelling like a mad man wearing only a towel around his waist & cowboy boots. She then sees the camera crew already in position so makes a brave decision walking up to him. 

 

Laura: “Ricky Ricky, calm down I know you’re upset about tonight but can I talk to you a second” looking at him smiling. 

 

Ricky Rhodes:”Damn right I’m upset that bastard Vin does it again. He doesn’t step up & do his part to participate for this federation but ole Charlie still lets him get away with murder & walk around wearing my legacy title. Both those bastards can hide from me but there is a payday coming. They’ve awakened a beast, they’ve opened the door to a hell no one has ever saw & I can promise no one in the AWS is safe” 

 

Laura:(steps back being cautious) “ No one?” (Asks nervously) “How is tonight’s loss gonna affect your match at Synergistic? Is this gonna change how you prepare or are you even gonna be ready for such a big match in a few days?” 

 

Ricky: (Steps Toward Laura angered) “WHAT THE FUCK YOU MEAN am I gonna be ready? I’m always ready! I was born ready! When I was born & doctor slapped my ass I was ready so I punched his nose!! To answer your question HELL YES tonight changes everything for my match the 27th & nobody in that half cage is going to know what hit em” 

 

Laura:(Steps back) “ Sorry Ricky just asking questions people wanna know. I’m aware you’ve faced a few of this wrestlers before but this is a title match in a half cage with a special referee. I’m sure that makes this different” 

 

Ricky: “Listen Laura…I don’t care if it’s half cage, whole cage or what kinda cage. I don’t care about who the damn ref is or who I’m even facing at this point. I could give two shits about this 5 1 5 0 title it doesn’t mean nothing to me but this match means a lot. I will destroy everyone in Warwick. I will show Kore fans what Ricky Rhodes is all about. Drake Ngyma likes to run his mouth & now calls himself “us” well son I’ll beat the darkness outta you in just a few more days. Blackthorne you may be a man mountain but you get between me & Drake you’ll be a mole hill. April Dimter all I can say to you little girl you can keep that tiny piece of tin you call a title just stay the hell outta my way or I will hurt you & enjoy it. Laura I promise you after this match all people will able to talk about is the destruction & chaos they watched as I punish anyone who crosses my path. Charlie & Vin you better be watching because the blood will be on your hands & ITS NOT OVER” 

 

Rhodes then walks away still yelling & destroying everything he comes across flipping over camera & sound equipment, throwing chairs & punching holes in walls. 

[The scene opens in a dimly lit room, the shadows dancing across the walls. In the center stands Blackthorne, wearing his signature dark, gothic attire and a long black trench coat. His face is partially obscured by shadows, but his malevolent grin and piercing eyes are clearly visible. The camera zooms in slowly as he begins to speak in a deep, ominous voice.]

Blackthorne:

Welcome to my realm, where shadows reign and light dares not enter. Ricky Rhodes, Drake Nygma, April Dimter... you have all been summoned to face the darkness, and here, you will confront the true essence of fear.*

Ricky Rhodes, the rugged cowboy who believes his strength is unbreakable. You ride high on your bravado, but your confidence is a fragile shell. You think your Round Up can conquer any foe, but you will find that true power lies not in brute force, but in the depths of the mind. When you step into the ring with me, Ricky, you will be stripped of your illusions and left bare before the abyss.

Drake Nygma, the enigmatic trickster who revels in chaos. Your riddles and games are your armor, shielding you from the harsh realities you refuse to face. But chaos is my playground, and I am its master. Your mind games will crumble in the face of my psychological warfare. You will be forced to confront the truth of your own insignificance, as your riddles are met with the unforgiving darkness of my psyche.

And then, April Dimter, the AWS 5150 Champion. You shine brightly, a beacon of strength and determination. But even the strongest lights are swallowed by the darkness. Your title, your accolades, they are but fleeting moments in the grand scheme of the abyss. The weight of that championship will become a burden, dragging you deeper into despair. You will realize that your reign is ephemeral, destined to be eclipsed by the eternal night.

In this battleground of shadows, I am the harbinger of your unraveling. Each of you, with your strengths and your weaknesses, will be laid bare before me. I will delve into the recesses of your minds, exposing the fears you hide even from yourselves. The ring will become a stage for your psychological disintegration, and I, the puppet master, will pull the strings.

Prepare yourselves, for in the darkness, there is no escape. You will face Blackthorne, and you will fall. One by one, you will succumb to the torment that awaits you. And when the final bell tolls, the only thing that will remain... is darkness.

[Blackthorne's malevolent grin widens as he takes a step back into the shadows, his presence lingering like a cold, dark mist. The camera fades to black, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.]

 

Voiceover: “Blackthorne. We’ve listened to your words, to your claims of having mastered the darkness. You speak with confidence, with intensity. That confidence, that intensity won’t be enough to save you when the true face of darkness presents itself. Soon enough you’ll see that everything you’ve said, everything you’ve claimed is set to become one with the dust.

The eerie voice that rumbled with an echo as if it were coming from somewhere deep, somewhere lurking beneath the surface, bounced around the walls of a heavily guarded crypt, a crypt that is sparsely decorated, as if the entity that calls this crypt home cares not for the material, cares only for the acts they perform.

Voiceover: “Ricky Rhodes. You are amusing. A brute who has seemingly lost his mind. Or the more likely explanation you are simply becoming that which you always were. A simple redneck who knows only to fight, knows only to swing out without thought. You can make whatever promises you like, use whichever words bolster your ego. In the end all that will happen is this… you’ll be lost, trapped inside in that insanity that you claim has woken up a beast.

Malevolent laughter surged through the air, a whip like crackle of electricity. Electricity that was presently taking on an unearthly aura. Torches bearing flames lit the walls, providing the first look at a book open to a page detailing The Sphinx.

Voiceover: “In ancient Egypt The Sphinx was a spiritual guardian, most often depicted with a crown astride his head. Legend states that The Great Sphinx was an avatar of destruction, of vengeance who walked both the physical realm and the realm of dreams. The Tomb that spawned The Sphinx remained sealed for a great many years, its darkness locked away. Until…. The moment of our return was set in place.”

A figure clad in a sharp black suit appeared, it’s form shimmering into view. This figure gave off an otherworldly vibe, power and chaos rolling off its frame.

Voiceover: “Ancient traditions illustrated The Sphinx as having wings, the tail of a Serpent. This is a legend that only further increases the dangerous, mystical aura around the noble Sphinx. The thing about legends, about stories is that all true. So, everything I’ve said, everything I will say is true. Just as the ancient Sphinx devoured all those who got its riddles wrong, so too do we aim to break and shatter all those who stand before us.”

Calm, relaxed breaths pulsed outwards, an impassive expression forming astride the face of the entity who lived in the body of Drake Nygma.

Voiceover: “Finally we have the 5150 champion. April Dimter, a gleaming light in the cold darkness. It will be a pity when you are destroyed, when you are laid low. Of that we are certain. There will be no apologies, no kindness shown in this battle of ideologies. Darkness pitted against darkness, against whatever Ricky Rhodes is, against a quiet light that shall be dimmed soon enough. This is not the first time we have been locked in a cage, nor will it be the last. Our eyes are open, we now are starting a siege of a new kingdom, a kingdom in disarray.”

That calm demeanour never once altered, pale hands trailing along the pages of that open book, lips moving as they read further about The Sphinx.

Voiceover: “There are two sisters, one gives birth to the other, who in turn gives birth to the first. Who are they?. Ponder this riddle, think on its answer. Make ready for the pending battle, for we are preparing the funeral rites for the victims we aim to claim. We are an Avatar, bent on destruction, on reminding the western world of the perils of provoking an entity who has lived for centuries, an entity that has had centuries to plan, to study, to learn the weakness of mortality.”

With no more words the torches exhausted the last of their flames, the icily controlled haunting laughter rippling through the darkness, a resolute and determined quality lingering in its sound.