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Post by Shaun Hart on Apr 24, 2023 20:16:52 GMT
( Fred and Scotty will clash to decide whose respective team will gain the War Games number advantage at Worlds Collide. With so much on the line in this match, which former Champion will rise to the occasion and secure the victory? ) Match Five Standard Singles Match Fred Debonair vs Scotty Adams
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Post by Scotty 'Silver Bullet' Adams on May 6, 2023 14:46:03 GMT
Scott sits on the edge of his bed, having just finished a teleconference with the hospital regarding a floating bone in his left knee. For now, they don't know if surgery will be required or not, but should know more when he meets with him in person. Importantly for the IIW and in particular the impending WarGames match, it won't affect his wrestling career - for now.
That is the operative part of it, but it is also the part that matters the most in this context. The most pressing question that he had asked the doctor during the call.
"Sometimes, it is worth it to go out there and make the endgame yours. No matter what others might believe."
"I know there are some who probably think I am stupid for doing this. That I am putting myself in danger of further screwing up my knee but what they seem to ignore is that I have wrestled my entire career with this. It's not new to me - I'm well aware that it could worsen at any given moment, yet I am willing to accept the risks. If it happens, it happens. I will cross that bridge when the time comes to do so."
He pauses, exhaling.
"For now though, the task is right before my eyes. The pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fall into place and it is up to me to make sure that everything comes to pass. That Mecca is once and for all expunged; purged. Just as the shrine has commanded for them to be."
A slight smile crosses his lips. Not quite his usual half-smile but not a standard smile either. It's a happy mid point between the 2.
"A task that Shaun has begun to do himself, by driving away the one force that may have been able to save them from what is to come. The man who held their keys to their hopes. Their aspirations to evade the machine. The tidal wave that is about to crash upon them."
He ponders the events that played out at Mayhem, having watched them when he returned home. Usually, such a divide wouldn't bother him - what others do in their search to fill their own ego and create their own special echo chambers doesn't affect him in the slightest, until they make it. This time though, it does. The reason he even donned the mask in the first place was to keep Shaun in check - ensure that he did not gain an iron rule over the company and its fabric.
WarGames was supposed to be where it all came to a head and he ended this once and for all, but Shaun has already begun to do the job for him. It isn't what he had intended to occur, but he cannot say that he didn't expect this would play out. He could see the fractures bubbling under the surface, waiting to reveal themselves to the world. Even when he was simply Mr. Intensity.
"Joe was your key. He was the one that would have kept you alive, even after everything had been taken away from you, yet you couldn't keep yourself from letting it slip away. You couldn't help but hold the false belief that you had power. Control."
"I had told you that you never held the cards, Shaun. I told you that the power you held was merely an illusion, but you chose not to listen. You chose to ignore it in the hopes you could avert the downfall. Keep things quelled until you saw fit to handle them--- even as your foundations burned behind you."
"It is the game that you played that did this. That led to Joe believing he was nothing more than a pawn and forming a hostile takeover. Nobody else is responsible. Not even us--- not matter what you might wish to convince yourself."
He sighs.
"Yet what I and the rest of Team Osh will be responsible for, is the final strike upon your ego. The one that shall cut off your head and strip the last sense of self worth you have come worlds collide, when the final piece of this little puzzle is slotted into its place and the cogs begin to turn."
He pauses, remembering the statement he made a few weeks back, about how what is coming, isn't just about WarGames or Mecca, regardless of what people might think. That there is something bigger than they realise waiting to arise. Waiting for the moment it is called upon.
"This isn't solely about you. It never was. You simply had a part to play within it. The avenue in order for it to begin taking hold, and for that--- I thank you for being the catalyst. Now though, the seeds have been planted. Your role is no longer required and as such, it is time for you to be cast away."
"Left to rot within the mire."
He chuckles.
"This week, is just another step toward making that play out."
He cracks his neck, wriggling himself slightly forward.
"This isn't just about the advantage for WarGames. I care not for it--- for it doesn't matter whether we are behind the 8 ball. It is merely a formality, an act that must be done in order to see who wishes to have some semblance of leverage. This is about ensuring that the desires of the shrine. Fulfilling the commands that it has given and ensuring that purity rises once more."
He flashes a grin before returning his mouth to its usual state of stoic.
"Fred, I know you likely wished for it to be your son in this position. Make this a family affair so that you could prove to him why you were justified in making the choices that you did--- yet it is me who is standing before you."
"I am not here to condemn you for your actions, however. I will leave that for Tyler to do as he sees fits when we go to war, for it is his story. His judgment to execute. Nor am I here to tell you that you are walking blindly into a path you do not understand. That is something you will see for yourself when the time is right."
"What I am here to do, is lead you into the battlefield, then show you that you are merely a pawn. A small fragment within a bigger cause. One that does not need you to unfold, but one that you wind yourself engulfed within regardless. All because of who you have elected to put your faith within. A man who cares not what happens to you."
He stands, beginning to walk outta the room.
"I don't need to win this, Fred. You do. You know that too. That is why you're afraid. That is why you know that you cannot afford to fail--- and it is why you are destined to make what shall be a fatal error. One that will leave Shaun with no choice but to look deep inside the mirror and understand what has led him to this point."
"It is that desperation that shall spell your demise. To some, a desperate man is a dangerous man, but to me- it is when you are at your most vulnerable, that you blindly play into my hands."
He walks down the hall, his eyes looking at the pictures hung up. Pictures that he has seen 1000s of times before, but ones that provide a snapshot of his life to this point.
"And I won't have to do a single thing."
Entering the lounge, he looks at Bianca, who is watching TV after dropping Lucina off at kindergarten.
Bianca: How was the call?
"It was good. They said they dunno if it is worth surgery just yet. Wanna meet in person before making any decision on it."
She looks at him, as he realises what she is about to ask.
Bianca: What about wrestling? They say anything about that?
He nods.
"Yes, they said it's okay to still wrestle, but to let them know if it worsens."
She notes that. Normally, she would warn him to follow the doctor's advice, but knows that it is unlikely he will listen. He has always been stubborn in that regard. Sitting down on the other couch, Scott continues to glance at her.
Bianca: Alright. Make sure you actually do.
"I will, promise."
Bianca: You better.
She then exhales, remembering that she had been asked to pass on a message to him by Shanae.
Bianca: Shanae said she wanted to tell you the attire is ready, and to meet with her Wednesday
Scott nods. He had figured she would wanna catch up with him when he flies back from England and Mayhem. He intends on debuting the attire at World's Collide and knew she would come through.
She always does.
"Let her know I will."
He then stands once more, this time walking towards the spare room.
"This week, is where you see the beginning. Where the first stanza is revealed."
He continues his walk, reflecting upon some words he had heard Max mention to him when they last talked.
"Just as I have been for Team Osh, I am the commander of the storm that is approaching. One that will ensure everynody understands who is the one truly in control."
"Ensuring they see just who has held all the cards in his hands. Lurking. Waiting to make the shot that counts the most. Just as it always has been."
He enters the spare room, sitting down.
"Max, Tyler. You 2 have played your roles perfectly. Come World's collide, I promise it will be all worth it."
"I just hope you're ready."
He smirks.
"And Fred--- I will see you at Mayhem. Where it all comes to pass."
END.
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Post by Devlin Knight. on May 6, 2023 22:50:56 GMT
Sweet Home… Arizona??
As the scene slowly opens, we find ourselves situated on a very red, dusty hill, looking at a black 2023 Buick Enclave… As we close in, we find ourselves looking at Fred Debonair and… Fred Debonair, otherwise now known as Dante and Devlin Knight. Just behind the Buick sits a sign that reads “WELCOME TO SEDONA. Population, 9,896. Soon to be twinned with Parikkala, Finland.” Fred, looks over at Dante in the driver’s seat and extends all fingers on his left hand, except the one holding the blunt outside of the window…
Fred: ”Okay I’m so confused…”
Dante: ”What is there to be confused about, Dev?”
Fred: ”I'd still rather you called me Fred, man… It’s all still quite strange to me.”
Dante: ”As you wish, but not sure why? You’ve known you were adopted for decades, despite what you’ve seen and been part of lately, it’s not like I’m telling you, WE’RE the ones from another dimension…”
Fred shoots his twin brother a look, as if to ask “are you sure you’re not?” But Dante just laughs.
Dante: ”I’m really not telling you that, De… Fred.”
Fred: ”I just don’t get this whole town though, I mean you say we grew up here and when we discussed it, I just pictured this Wild West Town and I wasn’t wrong but… These houses man?! Built into the rock?! The size of them, with gyms, swimming pools and all of that?!”
Dante: ”Oh I know brother but it wasn’t always like that, believe me. When you disappeared and it was just me living with mom and dad, we had a modest little shack with two beds, a bathroom the size of Harry Potter’s cupboard and a small living room with a radio, no TV either for a while… But these bad boys? Oh yeah. But I bet you’ve lived in places like this your entire life eh?”
Fred: ”Are you kidding?! My entire childhood I lived in a twelfth floor crushed apartment in Hell’s Kitchen with zero AC and a Landlord who, like my “dad” and most of his associates, worked for the Mafia… It wasn’t until I got away from all that, started Wrestling and built my own business up that I could afford the house I’ve got…”
Dante: ”Houses…”
Fred: ”Hmmm?”
Dante: ”Brother I’ve been following your life for a while now, I know you own like three houses, no need to cover it up!”
Fred: ”Nah, I guess not… But, what about yours? Do I get to see it??”
Dante: ”Oh hell yeah, but a word of warning before we go in there ok? My wife knows about you, but my kids? Not so much.”
Fred: ”Hold up! You’ve got a wife and kids??”
Dante: ”Yeah, Rachel is my wife and I’ve got Jackson who’s twenty-two and lives in Tucson, Beverly who’s twenty and is a singer out in LA, then we’ve got Tyson who’s fifteen and Ellie who’s eleven. Those two obviously live at home.”
Fred: ”Really? I figured you were gonna tell me Tyson ran a big Fortune 500 over in Silicon Valley or something!”
They both laugh as Dante pulls the Buick into the drive, Fred hops out and waits by the front door as Dante moves some of the trash cans out of the way, to park up properly, suddenly the door opens and Fred is spun around by an absolutely stunning model of a woman who tries to kiss him. He jumps back quickly.
Woman: ”Welcome home ba… Hey, what’s wrong??”
Fred: ”Erm, ohhh… Rachel I presume??”
Rachel Knight stands there in confused shock for a moment and then it hits her and she slaps her hands over her mouth in sheer horror that gets Fred chucking.
Rachel: ”Oh my God you’re Dante’s brother right? Devlin, or sorry, Fred??”
Fred: ”Yeah, that’s right, but don’t sweat it, it happens to the best of us.”
Dante comes shuffling by with a couple of bags and smirks at them both, making his way into the kitchen.
Dante: ”Watch out man, she’ll probably try and kiss you and pretend like she thought you were me…”
He laughs as Fred just looks at Rachel who mouths “Oh my God” and shakes her head causing Fred to laugh again. They follow Dante into the kitchen as Rachel locks the door behind them.
Fred: ”Damn this is a sweet place, man…”
Dante: ”Here sit down, stay there I’m gonna do something…”
Fred and Rachel look at one another, wondering what Dante is going to do…
Dante: ”HEY, Tyson! Ellie! Come down here in the living room and see your old man!”
Thuds can be heard coming down the stairs as both children head into the living room not even giving the kitchen a second glance, saying hi excitedly to their dad, hugs and kisses all around.
Dante: ”Alright kids wanna see a magic trick? I bet I can stand right here, but if you go into the kitchen, you’ll see me sitting right there! Go!”
Fred: ”Oh boy…”
Both kids excitedly run through the house and into the kitchen, stopping in their tracks when they see Fred sat at the table, Rachel trying hard not to laugh.
Fred: ”Hey kids…”
Ellie: ”DAAADDDYYY?!?!”
Tyson: ”Oh my God! Cool! We’ve got Fred Debonair in our house!!”
Dante comes walking in behind the kids, looking startled whilst Fred looks quite impressed.
Dante: ”Wait, you know who he is??”
Tyson: ”Well yeah, duh! Anyone who watches IIW does dad! He looks just like you too!”
Dante: ”Yeah so about that… Kids, I’ve got something to tell you. So Fred Debonair here has a real name, that’s a stage name…”
Fred: ”Ahh yeah kids, my real name is actually… Devlin, Knight…”
Ellie: ”Knight? Like us…?”
Dante: ”Yeah, you see guys Devlin, Fred… Is my brother, your uncle…”
Ellie: ”REALLY?! Wow!”
Tyson: ”Aw man! This is awesome!”
The kids surround Fred at the table, asking him a hundred and one questions as Dante moves close to Rachel and wraps an arm around her. They talk animatedly among one another before Rachel looks at the clock on the wall and nods, Dante pushes away from the kitchen side and motions to Fred.
Dante: ”Hey Fred, as you’re staying for dinner and I won’t take no for an answer on that, did you wanna come visit Mooney's before it’s ready? It’s an Irish pub and burger bar… I mean it’s cool if y…-“
Fred: ”Do they have a pool table?”
Dante: ”Three.”
Fred: ”Let’s go.”
Fred smirks as he stands, saying bye to the kids and heads out of the door with Dante. But no sooner had they closed the door than three blue Sedans with lights flashing pulled up quickly outside the house… One of the doors opens in a Sedan and Colonel Foster steps out, looking at both men. Fred smirks and points at himself and Foster quickly snaps to attention directing her words at him.
Colonel Foster: ”Fred, you need to come with me quick…”
Fred looks at Dante and smiles apologetically.
Fred: ”Rain check?”
Fred and Dante fist bump and Fred shakes his head, walking past Colonel Foster and gets into the Sedan, as the scene begins to fade out…
I found myself in a long, dark tunnel…
As the scene slowly reopens we hear the door clicking shut on Fred as he looks around the facility made of marble walls and flooring. Computer monitors and huge servers line the walls, but Fred knows this isn’t what he’s looking for. He spies a half open door ahead of him that’s leads down a corridor and instinctively understands that’s the route he should be taking and starts to head through the door, closing it behind him…
Fred: “So that’s how the world ends, eh? Not with a bang, but with a whimper… Ultimately that whimper you hear is J Mont‘s whining ass because Shaun Hart decided on saying no to Joe and Thaddeus gunning for the IIW Tag-Titles… So what does he do? Snatches up Kim Pain and Mac Bane just as I express my respect for the man and creates some WISH Stable called “Hostile Takeover”, man that shit’s about as hostile as a Poodle with its ears up! What’s worse about all this is the fact that Joe Montuori and Fred Debonair have a friendship, or at least we did and now he wants to go throwing that all away and pushing me down because he has an issue with Shaun Hart? Nuh-uh hoss you see it doesn't work that way…
You wanna turn your back on friends Joe? On family? Oh that’s okay brother but just know that if you cut the cords without a backup then you’re going to be the one falling flat on your face! Take this situation with Mecca and Osh’s little group, Joe… This was supposed to be something we all worked out together, the game plan was in place and had shit ready to roll but no; just like usual Joe Montuori had Twizted Thoughtz about where this was going next! And speaking of family, a little bird tells me J Mont isn’t finished with his little plan… Joe allegedly has some people lined up to join himself, Mac and Kim and you can bet your bottom dollar it’ll be a couple of individuals I’ve likely had somewhat of an interaction with previously but never directly and this little bird tells me that J Mont is pooling all his resources in order to take on not just Osh, but Mecca too…
Oh Joe, Joe, Joe. Here I was thinking that Max Stone and perhaps my delinquent son were going to be the biggest nuisances I was going to have to deal with, in these coming months, but it turns out that it’s been you! All this time J Mont has been that broken toothpick in the pocket, that stray hair found on the brush, the dog shitting on the rug whilst you’re looking out for the bad cats in the yard! You know Joe, I really should have figured it out because it’s just like you, to want to shine and who can blame you bud? You’re sharp, witty, talented, one of the most underrated I’ve seen holding a Championship in my lifetime! But you always seem to pick the wrong side of the coin son. That’s okay though, we’ll rectify that situation…”
Fred continues to walk along the pitch black corridor, a small spotlight following his every step.
Fred: ”Oh but Scotty Adams my old friend, my old nemesis, my old comadre, enemy and cohort… Do not for one single solitary second think that you and Osh are getting out of this so easily oh hell no, brother! I know part of you probably believes that because things got a little sour with J Mont and Mecca last Mayhem it means that we won’t be ready for Wargames, but I can ASSURE you guys we are building something so eloquently put together and so electrifyingly good you’ll be wishing J Mont hadn’t gone into business for himself! You’ll be wishing that the IIW World Heavyweight Champion was still standing side by side with Fred Debonair because what we’re bringing to the table at Worlds Collide is going to have each and every one of you, shaking in your boots and looking behind you, twice at those you call friends…
Scotty Adams, a man who once considered himself “The Pinnacle of Purity” and yet despite the accolades you’ve brought to IIW Scotty, despite the fact you’ve made the IIW Hall of Fame before somehow dragging your ass out of retirement to return to Osh’s side, there’s absolutely nothing pure about you brother… Purity qualifies as being free from adulteration or contamination, it means freedom from immortality… Pinnacle meaning at the top, the furthermost region so essentially, Scotty Adams, I’m taking this to mean you believe yourself to be the most free individual in the IIW, of immorality and contamination and I’ve got to say to that I have never heard the most absolute bullshit in my entire life, hoss.
Are you really going to sit there inside that meat suit and call yourself the hot seat of morality, Scotty? Are you going to absolutely testify that you are indeed, all pure? Because boy, even my own dipshit of a son will attest that when he faced off against you in his second ever match here you weren’t even close to being ethical… You also like to refer to yourself as “The Silver Bullet” don’t you, Scotty? And what I gather from that is that you’re the guy Osh appears to call when there’s a problem he alone can’t solve. You’re the lightning at the end of the rod, eh? You’re the touch paper on the dynamite, Scotty Adams is the one who makes the big boom when nobody else has a lighter, you might say… But Scotty there’s one equation that hasn’t been factored into this match hoss, me.”
The last part was said through teeth biting down on something and as we hear the click of a lighter and see the warm glow of a spliff, floating between Fred Debonair’s lips… We realise why. He inhales stupidly deep and then blows out smoke as he continues walking.
Fred: ”You might be a problem solver, Mr. Silver Bullet but I’m a bigger problem than you’ve ever encountered in your entire career and perhaps Scotty, your entire life… You see hoss, I’m a conundrum, a shrouded mystery of an enigma you just cannot crack. You may think you’ve got me sussed my friend, but you haven’t got the first notion about who Fred Debonair is and oh, don’t worry because I can already see that smirk forming… You’re sitting there thinking but we’ve got Tyler on our side, we’ve got your son and he’s going to tell us every single deep dark secret you have… I’ve got to ask Scotty, will he though? What exactly do you think my boy has hidden up his sleeve about me, that nobody knows and he could share that will plunge Fred Debonair back into darkness and open him up for the taking? The answer Scotty, is nothing!
Tyler isn’t going to give up the ghost because there’s nothing he can tell you; trade secrets or whatever, that’ll give you the upper hand over me Scotty, that much I can guarantee you! You’ve got Max Stone and that little petulant child he carries in that cranium of his too, who has built quite a dossier on yours truly I’m pretty certain of that and Max has also beaten me, Scotty… So perhaps he’ll be of some service to you? Spoiler alert, he won’t be… No you need to figure this one out on your own Scotty, for the sake of your own sanity and for the sake of Osh Vaughan but the question is, will you be able to pull it off, Scotty? I don’t think you can, hoss… I really don’t.
And that isn’t just because I always back myself to get the job done my man, although I do… But I just don’t think you’ve got enough in you to do it. I don’t think Scotty Adams, IIW Hall of Fame legend, has what it takes to put Fred Debonair down and please understand something Scotty, all those rumours you’ve heard about me, all those things that people have reportedly said? About Fred Debonair being egotistical, Fred Debonair being arrogant? Fred Debonair being so sure of himself that if all else fails at least he is his own backup plan? Yeah Scotty, every single bit of that, is true. Because whilst the eyes of the world have been watching the likes of John Cavanagh losing the world title to the J Mont‘s of this world, whilst J Mont’s pretty little International belt has fallen into something that needs to be contested by a tournament, one I’d have won if not for Max Stone I might add and now being contested by… Mac Bane, Enigma, Maverick Tatum and… Deandre Williams. Me? I’ve been making waves elsewhere…”
Fred comes to the end of the dark corridor as he takes another draw on the spliff and reaches what appears to be a steel door, with a dog attached… No, not a canine, a dog is what those handles on submarines are called… Fred spins on the dog and the door begins to click open. As he steps through the cherry on his spliff flickers and we can see his hair move slightly, signalling air at the end of the corridor.
Fred: ”The last time I remember having any connection with Scotty Adams, was when he was the cause, or at least part of the cause, of my old friend Darius falling from the rafters of the arena. Now fair enough he apologised for that but Darius never managed to get any kind of payback, so perhaps I’ll use this opportunity to do that on his behalf eh? All I can promise Scotty is that you won’t be leaving the IIW Arena, or Manchester in one piece brother… It’s nothing personal of course hoss, Osh has picked you to take seat on his council and why not? You’re a master of manipulation in that ring, right? Or at least you like to think so. But the truth is your mind games are complete fugazi! You, Scotty Adams are a fraud and I was going to ask why on Earth you’d agree to represent Team Osh, but thinking about it you guys are a match made in heaven.
As I say it’s not personal Scotty, it’s just business. Osh has chosen you and I’m on the other side and the outcome of this match is simple, the winner gives his team the advantage going into World’s Collide and the War Games match! Clearly the group with an advantage will have that the entire way through the match until the last person has climbed into that ring. It could be two on one, three on two, four on three and five on four until every man or woman is in the ring and only then does it become somewhat level… Somewhat balanced! But that’s why this match is so important, Scotty because God forbid I’m standing on the other side of the ring to you and my boy or you and Max Stone or someone like that… No I’d much rather one of you be standing in the ring against me and… Well , we’ll have to wait and see won’t we?
Doesn’t it ever make you wonder Scotty, why you and I have never been in a ring together? Have you ever noticed how protected you’ve been in IIW? How much Osh keeps you from the true tests and real challenges that otherwise would have probably had you retired long before now? I mean sure you’ve faced Jake E… Brandon Hendrix… Russell Wayne… Ova hell, even Darius and Tyler… But until now you’ve never set foot in the ring with yours truly, you’ve never moseyed on up to the gates of The Kingdom but for some reason now, Osh has found this time a little different, he must be a glutton for punishment since almost getting blown to smithereens in his limousine…”
Fred finishes the last draw on his blunt, drops it and steps on it, scrubbing it out with his heel. As he moves along the solid tunnel walls begin to crumble into what looks like granit, quartz and limestone… Fred carries on whilst feeling along the wall, closing his eyes as he stops and takes a big breath in.
Fred: ”Worlds Collide has a rich history behind it, Scotty, as does WarGames and I’m pretty sure you’re aware of that, I sure am… But what you’ve got to understand is that this Monday night on Mayhem, it isn’t just a regular old match against good ol’ Fred Debonair of CCPE and The Mecca…. No you are taking on The whole freaking Kingdom! You are taking on The Sole Schematic, you are taking on what will be your worst nightmare… In fact Scotty after Monday night I’m pretty certain in the notion that you’re going to pay Osh a little visit, letting him know you won’t be taking part in WarGames and will in fact, be re-retiring…”
Fred pulls the pair of Oakley shades from the neck of his tee-shirt and puts them on as we see he’s beginning to walk through to daylight. As we swiftly pan back and up we watch as Fred makes his way out of what appears to be a cave opening carved halfway up a huge cliff face, somewhere in the Arizona desert… He stands there as the angle swarms around him from above, slowly beginning to fade - to - black.
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