L ___ _ _ __ _ _ _ P / __(_)_ __ ___| |_ / _\ |_ _ __(_) | _____ R / _\ | | '__/ __| __| \ \| __| '__| | |/ / _ \ O / / | | | \__ \ |_ _\ \ |_| | | | < __/ \/ |_|_| |___/\__| \__/\__|_| |_|_|\_\___| [We fade in as "Uprising" by Muse dissolves into a backstage shot somewhere at L-PRO Arena. Jesse DeCarlo is visible, wearing an L-PRO t- shirt and jeans, as well as a grin on his face.] JD: Hello wrestling fans, welcome to First Strike! I'm Jesse DeCarlo and we've got a special look at the world of Legacy Pro Wrestling half an hour before Breakout comes to you! For those who don't know or are just tuning in for the first time here online, we are your countdown to L-PRO Breakout with all the latest news and information leading up to the show. As well we've got some special matches lined up, which tonight involve a man known around the world, "Nighthawk" Michael Bonn, and the highly destructive newcomer, Amar'e Khalil! But up first tonight, let's hear from one of the participants in the main event of Breakout tonight and somebody who's hoping to snag the second slot in the upcoming Legacy Championship title match. Here's Liam Donegal with his thoughts. [The scene opens backstage at the L-PRO Arena as Liam Donegal stands in front of a marquee advertising the card for tonight’s L-PRO BREAKOUT. Donegal, dressed in black jeans, a pair of red canvas high tops, a red t- shirt with the words “Warp Spasm” emblazoned across the chest, and a black wool pea coat (hey, it’s December in Canada, remember?), mumbles under his breath as he paces back and forth like a caged animal until...] VOICE (off-camera): Mr. Donegal, you’re on. [Donegal stops pacing and turns toward the voice.] LD: Sorry. Just going over some things in my head. VOICE: Don’t tell me. Tell them. LD: Right, right. Sorry. [Donegal turns to face the camera.] LD: First things first. Angus Andrews, last week you won your watch and advanced to become the first participant in the Iron Survival Match, the match to crown the first ever L-PRO Heavyweight Champion, and there’s something I need to say to you. So, um, congratulations. You fought a hell of a fight and I look forward to being in that ring with you when the time comes. Because I want you to understand something, Angus, you and everyone else on the LEGACY Pro roster. I came to L-PRO with one goal and one goal only. I came to win…and I *will* win. Starting with my match tonight, I won’t let anyone or anything stop me from becoming the L-PRO Heavyweight Champion. I’ve worked really hard to get this far and I’m too close to stop now. Too... damn... close. Which brings me to Danny Holden. Danny, they’re calling us two of the stars of tomorrow, so I plan on lighting up the L-PRO Arena tonight like only a star can do. When that bell rings, you and I can give the fans a match the likes of which they’ve never seen before, and we can agree to let the best man win, or we can throw the rules out the window and beat the crap out of each other until just one of us is still standing. Either way, it’s my intention to be the man whose hand gets raised tonight. You’re good. Damn good. But I *need* to be better... So I will be. [Donegal looks at his watch.] VOICE: Something wrong? LD: MJ was supposed to be here by now. I wasn’t expecting to do this on my own. VOICE: Nervous? LD: Why would I be nervous? I just don’t see a good reason to stand out here and thump my chest to show people how great I am. The fans…they’re either going to love me or hate me, but they need to love me or hate me for what I do out there…in the ring... not for this. See, when I’m up here, on display like this, I’m no different than any other guy. I come out here, I make vague threats to the camera about my opponent for the night, and I go straight out to the ring or back to the locker room to suit up for my match. I could be a Shakespearean actor and I’m still going to say the exact same thing as the next guy unless I’ve got a crap ton of money to sink into a pre-recorded vignette. No, I prefer to do my talking out there, between the ropes, with the lights shining down on me and the fans either calling my name or telling me I suck. That’s where I’m different than every other guy because *that’s* where I excel…where Liam Donegal isn’t just a talking head spouting a bunch of bull crap that’s been repeated down through the ages by every other wrestler to ever step foot in a ring. So let’s just wrap this up right now, okay, and then we can both get on with our lives. You can interview the next guy who has nothing to say while I go and get ready to give the fans out there what they paid good money to see. And, no, I don’t mean *me* because my ego’s not that big. I mean wrestling. If they want sports entertainers…if they want a Great White Celtic Warrior with a bad haircut who’s never seen the sun before and can’t come up with anything better than a bicycle kick for a finisher... they can DVR that crap on Monday nights. But if they want to see LEGACY Pro wrestlers in LEGACY Pro wrestling matches…if they want to see a real Celtic Warrior claim the next open spot in the L-PRO Iron Survival Match by taking down his opponent “Warp Spasm”-style, then they came to the right place. Out there is where it’s going to happen. Out there is where the action’s at. And out there is where Liam Donegal takes his next step toward being one of the biggest names in the business. So you can sit back here and listen to the bull crap…or you can buy a ticket and see history in the making. [Donegal smirks.] LD: Personally, I know where I’d rather be. [And, as Donegal turns to walk away, we FADE.] JD: You can tell just how much a win tonight means to Liam Donegal, let alone becoming the first ever L-PRO Heavyweight Champion. It's the prize everybody wants to get their hands on, and to be the first ever champion for this promotion will mark you down in history as an instant legend. Angus Andrews has his spot in the match already, but will it be Donegal or Holden who joins him tonight? Somebody else who no doubt has their eyes on the belt is going to be in action in our first extra match here on First Strike, the wrecking ball known as Amar'e Khalil. He's a man of view words, but the man who's guiding his career, Andre Browne is never short on words. Here's what he had to say just moments ago. [Fade in: The camera comes up on a dapper 40 year old man. To the fans of L-Pro they recognise him as Andre Browne. For those tuning in for the first time they’re treated to a smallish to medium sized man in a fancy navy pinstriped waistcoat and trousers with a brilliantly starched club collar shirt and wool bow tie. He wears tortoise shell spectacles (though probably for show.) He has neatly trimmed hair and mustache and a voice that is at once condescending and commanding.] AB: Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Andre Browne. I am the agent, representative and voice of the most malevolent and destructive force in professional wrestling today. If you were at all sentient. If you had any sense at all then you would have been witness to the coming of a Category 5 hurricane. If you did not have the sense to watch Breakout’s last episode then I urge you to search it out on the internet, stream it, save it and pretend that you saw it live so that you may have the singular pleasure of announcing to the world that you were there when the pits of Hell opened up and out strode an Angel of Destruction named Amar’e Khalil. My client, Amar’e Khalil, proved that he is not hype. He proved that he is not just empty words. He took a man. A human being with parents … with children … with a family and responsibility and he destroyed him from the inside out. He did it why? Because he could. He did it why? Because it made Amar’e Khalil a lot of money to do so. And me as well. He did it why? Because that is exactly who Amar’e Khalil is. He knows he doesn’t get paid by the minute. He gets paid by the match. So he is not about to extend the fight longer than it needs to be. And to Amar’e Khalil it never needs to be long. It is simply: Rend. Mangle. Destroy. And move on to the next so-called challenge. Ladies and gentlemen, gentle viewers … last episode of Breakout Amar’e Khalil hurt a man so badly that the braintrust at L-Pro decided it was too much for television and relegated Amar’e Khalil to the internet, hoping that there would be no complaints from mothers and fathers whose children were traumatised wondering why did Amr’e Khalil have to hurt that masked man so badly. We warned you … I warned you … this is not about wrestling. This is a fight. This is not about showing off. This is a fight. My client fights. And if you do not put him in the ring with fighters then there will be consequences … casualties. And tonight you insult him by putting him on an internet stream. Well, there are some things that just can’t be hidden and my client, Amar’e Khalil, is one of them. He cannot be hidden. He cannot be stopped. He cannot be denied. He will submit to being presented on the internet. But as a consequence someone is going to get hurt very badly. And someone else and someone else until my client, Amar’e Khalil, is given the respect and opportunity and compensation he deserves. And because my client, Amar’e Khalil, is competing on the internet tonight he feels no compunction … he feels no compassion within that six foot four three pound frame of his to have mercy on the soul of his poor opponent. He will make short work of him and he will end his career. Ladies and gentlemen, do not be afraid, but make sure you have strong stomachs. This will be ugly. Thank you. [Fade out.] ------------------------------ dARk mATCh AMAR'E KHALIL VS. JESSE ROUCKA ------------------------------ It was a slaughter from the opening bell, as the monster Khalil punished the wrestling journeyman Roucka with a devastating clothesline that took the smaller athlete off of his feet and then never let up on him the rest of the way. A series of deadly forearm smashes brutalized the youth, and an irish whip into the corner used so much force that it seemed to move the ring an inch. A stagger from the corner backwards left Roucka open to a german suplex that ragdolled him halfway across the ring, and by this point the only person who didn't know the match was already over was Roucka himself. On the outside of the ring Andre Browne looked on with satisfaction as his charge kept up the assault with a series of suplexes, Khalil just toying with poor Jesse by this point. A series of three non- released powerbombs led into the finishing sequence, with Amar'e deadlifting Roucka up across his shoulders before tossing him up into the C-5 Hurricane for the mere formality of a three count. As the crowd erupted into boos for the decision, Browne joined Khalil in the ring and raised his arm in victory. WINNER: Amar'e Khalil (via C-5 Hurricane) JD: There is a frightening amount of rage and anger in Amar'e Khalil, you have to think anyone who faces him in the future is going to be second guessing themselves. Which leads me into the next person you're about to hear from. Billy Slice, the manager of Black Mass Forever has taken issue with L-PRO fining his team a sizeable amount of money for their destructive tactics at the last edition of First Strike. If you missed what happened... [We fade into footage from the last episode, showing the BMF leaving their opponents laying in a heap post-match] they not only tore into their own opponents, the Brothers Russo, to the point that their victory was reversed, but then stormed back out [Cut to footage of Ushitani and Verhoeven standing over the beaten and bloodied Locke] and left Drew Locke laying in a pool of his own blood. Needless to say it was a wanton disregard for the rules as well as for the well being of everyone here in L-PRO. The company fined the team a total of ten thousand dollars, and as you're about to see that decision has not sat well. [Scene: Billy Slice is sitting behind a desk. Behind him, on a giant- sized flatscreen, we see slow-motion footage of Black Mass Forever in action. Billy, wearing a lime green track suit, licks his thumb and index finger before he uses them to straighten his drooping Fu Manchu. He then winks at the camera and starts to rant in his manic, somewhat shrill voice:] BS: Fans, devotees ... worshippers of the Black Mass Forever! It is me, the Crown Prince of Vice, Billy Slice, bringing you an update straight from my lips to your TV sets. As you may have heard, L-Pro has seen fit to fine us for our ... ahem ... "blatant disregard for the rules, lack of respect for both officials and competitors and wanton violence outside of the match itself". End quote of some pencilpusher. [The amount of the fine, $ 10,000, flashes in bright red numbers on the screen behind him, over footage of Bruno Verhoeven bombarding Ellis Russo with devastating strikes.] BS: I have to say: Are you [BLEEP] kidding me? What are you going for here? Would you fine an earthquake after it cracks your foundations? Would your harsh little letter prevent a hurricane from hitting your shores? [He cackles and shakes his head.] BS: We will pay. The Black Mass Dojo is more than willing to take these lumps. We are not here to earn money, you know? We want to spread the word. We want to prove that _our_ way, our philosophy, our _gospel_, are the future of professional wrestling. _That_ is the big picture! [He jabs his index finger in the direction of the camera.] BS: _That_ is what the Gunslingers, and every other team in this promotion, are confronted with. By the way ... Gunslingers. If these guys don't bring a couple of Magnums or AKs with them I don't see it ending well for those dudes and their little peashooters. They sound like some Texan country boys who worship John Wayne, Gary Cooper and all those long-buried, bumbling idiots who sold America on the idea of a glorious past. Do you know who doesn't like those old Western movies? [His nod indicates the screen behind him, where we see Shingen Ushitani hitting a springboard axe kick on an opponent.] BS: My friends, the German Hellspawn and the Japanese Oni King. Bringing up the classic American iconography to those two is liking poking already raging bulls with a pointy twig. So ... shine up your spurs, put on your dumb five gallon hats and ride on down to ringside to make your last stand. But in the end, mercy is no virtue, cruelty is no vice and your desperation will be our ... _salvation_! [Slice puts his index finger to his temple and "pulls the trigger". Barely able to suppress a grin he sticks out his tongue, rolls up his eyes and slumps back in his chair. A few strings of "Black Mass" by Danzig start to play before we cut to static, then return to Jesse.] JD: Maybe it's just me but I don't think that ten thousand dollar fine is the last time L-PRO is going to be forcing the Black Mass Forever to pay up. With their mindset going into tonight's match against the Gunslingers we may have another riot on our hands. But in the meantime, we're about to go down to the ring for the second contest here on First Strike, as "Nighthawk" Michael Bonn will be in action. Let's hear from the man who's quickly become one of the most popular wrestlers here in L-PRO. [Cut to Stan Thomas backstage with "Nighthawk" Michael Bonn and his manager, the ever-lovely Virginia St. Ursula. Ginny is wearing a short- sleeved blouse with lavender flowers and a black skirt -- perhaps odd for this time of year usually, but it's been a mild December. Bonn, however, is dressed ready for the ring in his electric blue tights, black boots and stern expression.] ST: Impressive first match here in Legacy Pro against Derek Martin, Michael. That's got to make you the early odds favorite in the Heavyweight tournament here! [A rare smile from the Nighthawk.] BONN: I can't lie -- it felt good taking down Derek Martin, especially after all our history together back in the UWF. To start off my L-PRO tenure with a win against him, it's like settling old accounts. But when you talk about the tournament... [He shakes his head a little.] I mean, I don't know who I'm facing yet -- I can't overlook ANYONE! VSU: LEGACY Pro is fronting a wide derth of talent, Stan. From promising rookies like Elijah Little and second generation stars in the making like Eddie Kirkpatrick to blowards like Pablo O'Connor and Danny Holden, Michael is ready and willing to fight and beat who he has to! [A brief flicker of disgust on Stan's face when Ginny mentions Holden's name, but it drops quickly.] ST: Well, the unpredictable Angus Andrews already has the first slot in that Iron Survival match. Holden will be facing Liam Donegal for that next spot on Breakout. Michael, is there an opponent you're looking to face in the tournament? [Bonn's blue eyes narrow thoughtfully for a moment. Then...] BONN: Anyone. Everyone. [A brief chuckle as he shakes his head again.] I've got a match of my own in a few minutes -- I can't overlook that either! ------------------------------------------------------- dARk mATCh "NIGHTHAWK" MICHAEL BONN vs. "MARVELOUS" MICHAEL TAYLOR ------------------------------------------------------- The match started out with a handshake, surprising given Taylor's showy attitude and penchant for rulebreaking in the past. The ex-ACW wrestler and one half of the Glamour Boys went for the lockup to begin, only to catch Bonn with a swift knee to the stomach, doubling him up. Bonn's fury was on display early though, making Taylor pay with a jawbreaker counter off of an irish whip and then focusing on his opponent's legs early on. A dragon screw legwhip into the mat left him open for a spinning toe hold, and repeated backbreakers helped to keep the tag team wrestler on his back. When he finally did return to his feet he was able to counter a Bonn suplex with one of his own, rolling to the camera side and informing the home viewers how much of a travesty it was that the Glamour Boys had been kept out of the tag team title tournament. Turning to Ginny on the outside of the ring, Taylor gyrated his hips at her and when Bonn's manager turned up her nose it infuriated him, causing Taylor to screw that she "didn't know what she was missing out on". That bit of bragging cost him however, as Bonn met him with a beautiful standing dropkick to the face to shut Taylor up. A back suplex kept up the pressure, and a superkick for good measure kept him down long enough for Bonn to head to the top rope and score with the Hawkwind 450 splash for the pinfall. Following the match, Michael rolled to the outside and went around the ring shaking hands with the ringside crowd as chants of "Night-hawk! Night-hawk!" rose. WINNER:"Nighthawk" Michael Bonn (via Hawkwind) [Cut back to Jesse again.] JD: And it's another victory for Michael Bonn here in L-PRO, he's made no secret that he wants that L-PRO Heavyweight Championship too. Lots of heated competition here over the privilege of becoming the first to wear the ten pounds of gold, and this win certainly has to help his case too. We're almost out of time here on First Strike, and as we leave you we've got words from Eddie Kirkpatrick, who's going to be in action later tonight on Breakout, when he faces off with the veteran "Dead End" Derek Martin. We'll see you later, enjoy the show! [We fade in to a hotel parking lot at what is either late at night or early morning, as LEGACY Pro up and comer Eddie Kirkpatrick wheels a small luggage cart while rubbing his face sleepily.] EK: Oh hey...let me guess, this is that 'life on the road' thing from the contract I signed, right? [The camera bobs up and down indicating silent agreement. Eddie sighs and nods, resigned to his fate.] EK: Good thing I've got room. Alright, you're paying for the coffee, and I choose the tunes. Driver's privilege. Now let's get going. It's eighteen hours to Toronto. [Cut to the inside of the vehicle, cruising down the highway. Eddie watches the road, as "Who" by The Sheepdogs plays in the background. He looks almost wistful as he drives.] EK: This house show schedule, man...it feels like it's been months since I've been in front of a camera. Dad said that was the hardest part of the grind for him. Big surprise, considering what a madman Caliban was whenever the red light was on. [The music is interrupted mid-song as a cellphone's ringtone chimes. Eddie smirks and hits a button on the dash.] EK: Speak of the devil... good morning Dad! You're on speaker phone, and I'm on camera, so no cursing and no promos. [The voice on the other end of the line is that of an older man. He speaks with a gravely edge to his voice, as if either a longtime smoker or has suffered damage to his voicebox. To those familiar with the UWF, it is the voice of Cameron Black, formerly known as Caliban. His voice is filled with dread.] CB: Everything has changed. He is there now. [Eddie purses his lips and narrows his eyes slightly. He takes a breath to compose himself before uttering the name.] EK: You mean Serge Annis. CB: Of course I do. You can't fight him, son. [Eddie stretches his neck, trying to weigh his words carefully...both for the camera, and his father.] EK: He's not even on the roster though, so for now it's a non issue. Besides, I have more important things to worry about. I have a match with "Dead End" Derek Martin to prepare for. CB: Derek Martin?! DEREK MARTIN?! EK: Easy, Dad...you promised no promos... CB: How DARE they put you against Serge's old running buddy! This is all a ploy! A plot! A sham! [Eddie's fists grip the wheel tightly.] EK: Hey, HEY. [Cameron goes silent on the other end of the line...a rarity in and of itself. As he does, Eddie pulls over to the side of the highway and parks.] EK: First off, you're one to talk about 'running buddies', mister Hand of Death. You tagged with that monster. Hell, you were tag team champions with him! CB: Yesbut- EK: Nuh-uh. I ain't done. You know and I know I've got just as much reason to hate him as you do. Maybe more. CB: Okay, but-- EK: No. With all due respect Dad, I love you, but for now, shut it. [Cameron sighs quietly and listens.] EK: Fifteen years ago I watched that monster torment my mother on a live pay per view. Then, just when you were about to defeat him and redeem yourself, like a dog in a manger he sent my mother down into an explosive cataclysm that almost killed her. [Cameron's voice is weak on the line. He sounds almost sick as he forces the words out.] CB: Descent Into Hell. Fright Night 2000. I know...I... I tried, son. EK: I know, Dad. Why do you think I named my Chokeslam the Descent Into Hell? So that every time I hit it, I'm reminded of that smug bastard's face as he maimed my mother. CB: But you can't-- EK: Dad, listen. I'm not going to fight him. Not now. He's got his hands full with Kyle Lee anyways. And like I said, he doesn't officially wrestle for LEGACY Pro yet. The issue I'll be focused on is Derek Martin. Namely, how to defeat a man of his calibre. After all, if I can't beat him, how can I defeat the Epitome of Evil himself? CB: Okay, but do you think I should come down there? I could come to ringside, I could help you train-- [Eddie softens his voice.] EK: Dad, no. I told you, I need to do this on my own. I'm glad you're looking out for me, but if you were at ringside, people would think I need you to fight my battles for me. And we both know that's not the case. CB: Okay...fair. EK: Besides, you'd be a walking target. You're not exactly in ring shape anymore, y'know. CB: HEY! [Eddie smirks.] EK: Heh. Listen. Just know I've got this, okay? CB: Okay, but if Derek calls on Serge for a little two-on-one --- EK: Then I'll hold them both off until Kyle Lee can come and even the odds. It's fine, Dad. CB: Okay, son. I love you, and bring me all the title belts! Or that crown thing if that joker gets his way. EK: Oh, lord...don't even get me started. Look, I've got a long road ahead and I've got to get driving. We'll talk soon, okay? CB: You know it. Bye, son. [A chime lets us know Cam has ended the call. Eddie takes a breath and grabs his phone. He steers back onto the highway with a look of grim focus on his face. We hear the opening strains of "Immortal" by Eve to Adam as we fade to black.]