NFW Collision #138! 07/05/2022!

The fans come to life as the opening dialogue from "Triumph of the King Freak" by Rob Zombie blares across the arena and Jansen Myrrh's graphic appears on the tron.

Jim Reynolds: Of course, we start things off with the new World’s Heavyweight Champion.


Jansen Myrrh appears on stage, the championship around her waist. It doesn’t stay there long as she unfastens it and holds it high in the air as the fans go crazy. She hurries down the ramp and tosses the title into the ring before rolling in after it. She gets to her knees and picks up the belt, planting a big kiss on it before getting to her feet.

Nick Hanson: Who’d have thought that Jansen Myrrh would be standing here today as the Heavyweight Champion?

Jim Reynolds: Me. I knew all along she’d be the champ.

As the music fades out, Jansen asks for a microphone and she sets the title over her shoulder.

Jansen Myrrh: You know what, Chicago? We fucking did some shit last week!

The fans pop as Jansen raises the title high again. She soaks in the cheers and as they start to fade, she places the title back on her shoulder.

Jansen Myrrh: When you get in the ring with someone like Dona Rotten, you never know what’s going to happen. I’d been looking forward to facing her in the ring for quite some time because I know she’d give me a fucking fight. What I didn’t know is that when I did get in the ring with her, it’d be for the goddammed World Heavyweight Championship! I’ll say this, Dona can have a rematch any fucking time she wants. She’s fucking earned it.

The crowd pops and chants, “One more time! One more time!”

Jansen Myrrh: I’m not one for sappy speeches but this win means a lot to me. I’m gonna thank a few people starting with my uncle, Dandy Myrrh who is the one who inspired me to want to be a professional wrestler. My father, who I lost a few months ago, because despite my obsession with wrestling, he didn’t try to squash it. Ain’t saying he liked it or nothing, but he knew that I had to choose my own path. Biff Franklin and Paul Banter, for training me to become the wrestler that I am today. I ain’t made a lot of friends in this business, but I’ve a few. Gabriel Ohio. Alastair Frost. Solomon Caine. Huruka and Muriko Ihari. Kan Tai. I can’t forget my aunt Candi Bratton and my cousin Lara.I absolutely cannot forget my manager, Seo-hyung Kwon who makes sure I get to where I need to be and that my contracts are perfect. Last but certainly not least, if there’s someone I’d consider to be a best friend, it would be this person…

“Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine starts to play across the arena, interrupting Jansen who looks towards the ramp as “War Queen” Leah steps onto the stage. She marches down to the ring and rolls underneath, leaping to her feet. The other members of SCRS are not with her and as her music fades out, Leah gets face to face with Jansen Myrrh.

Jansen as the microphone down as the two seem to be having some sort of conversation when suddenly, Leah wraps her arms around Jansen and the two embrace in the center of the ring as the fans pop at this Coven/Kwonspiracy reunion taking place.

As they pull apart, Leah pats the championship across Jansen’s shoulder and nods, then raises Jansen’s hand into the air.

“Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine starts to play for the second time, but this time Layla Diaz and Jed Coffey walk down from the stage. Leah seems confused as she walks over to the edge of the ring and yells that she told them to stay in the back, however, the two ignore her as they enter the ring. Layla seems upset as she’s yelling at Leah and pointing at Jansen.

Nick Hanson: Layla seems pissed that Leah is out here celebrating with Jansen Myrrh.

Jim Reynolds: Even as members of the Kwonspiracy, Jansen and Layla never did see eye to eye. I was wondering if those two were ever going to come to blows.

Leah is trying to get her tag team partners to leave the ring, but Layla goes over and gives Jansen a push. Even without a microphone, the crowd oos as Layla yells at her that she ain’t “da real champ!” and a rumbles goes through the crowd.

Jansen drops the belt, boots Layla in the midsection and hoists her up into the air.

Nick Hanson: Oh shit! Jansen’s going to drop her with a Myrrh-driver!.

But that doesn’t happen as Jed Coffey lariats the hell out of Jansen Myrrh, sending her down to the mat. Layla is up quickly and her and Jed begin to put the boots to Jansen, who’s down on the mat.

Leah seems beside herself as she isn’t sure what to do, but as things start to look really bad for Jansen, she suddenly leaps into action. She pulls Layla back and shoves her hard to the mat and Layla looks up at her, eyes wide, not believing what just happened. She scrambles to her feet and gets right up in Leah’s face, asking her straight out if she’s choosing Jansen over them.

When Leah hesitates in answering that question, Layla and Jed head back to go after Jansen, when Leah suddenly grabs Layla and tosses her over the top rope and to the floor outside. Jed is watching, mouth open and he charges at Leah, only to be blindside by Jansen, who clotheslines him over the top rope and out of the ring.

Officials swarm the ring, trying to keep this from getting out of hand as the two members of SCRS try to get back into the ring to fight Leah and Jansen who are more than happy to take them on. Jansen picks up the microphone.

Jansen Myrrh: First of all, you…

She points at Layla.

Jansen Myrrh: You’re not even tall enough to ride most of the rides at Disneyland, so get the fuck out of here.

The fans pop. She points at Jed.

Jansen Myrrh: And you. Some zoo has probably reported their missing gorilla so you might want to get your ass back there. You two wanna jump me? Next week, you two motherfuckers can come fight me next week. I’ll fight you both at the same time…

Leah takes the microphone from her, shaking her head.

Leah: Fuck that. Diaz, you’ve been running your mouth for quite some time and as of late you’ve been out of line. I’m starting to think you two have overstayed your welcome. You two think you’re hot shit? It’ll be me and Jansen, taking on the two of you next week. What do you say, partner?

The fans chant, “Do it! Do it!” as Leah looks over at Jansen. Layla and Jed are beside themselves at this turn of events. After a moment, Jansen offers a hand to Leah, and the two shake before Leah pulls her in for another hug and Jansen’s music begins to play as the officials escort Layla and Jed to the back.
The cameraman is walking along the backstage area. He passes by a taller man, and a young woman, who is doing some workout with a resistance band. The cameraman stops, then looks at the man, and then nods to him. Ciaran nods back, then invites him over, as he sits down on the box beside him. The cameraman moved to in front of him.

Ciaran Page: So, tonight Darcy makes her next move, with NFW. I believed she would do great things, and with this, she will start to make a name for herself. With a win, or a loss, she then shows that she would be a force to be reckoned with. Azurine Vebbins, it has been a pleasure exchanging with you. Tonight you face your reckoning.

Ciaran laughs as he pushes the cameraman over focusing on Darcy who has stopped doing her workout picking up the chain off the box. She glares over, then looked at her dad. She steps to him and crosses her arms.

”Bas” Darcy Graves: You know Azurine, you and I have never been properly introduced. It is a better thing, to meet your opponent in combat, in order to better understand them. Tonight, is all about that moment where you and I, meet for the first time, and I’ll be the one to present you with two options, Tap Out or knockout. Either way I will learn about you, and you will learn something more

Darcy laughs, and puts her hand up, Ciaran high fives her. She then turns to the cameraman, laughing a bit.

”Bas” Darcy Graves: The reaper cometh, and don’t worry Azzy I won’t take your soul, just the piece.

Darcy heads off towards the staging area. Ciaran gets up offering his hand to the cameraman, whom shakes his hand. Ciaran catches up to Darcy, giving her some last minute advice.
The beeps and bumps, the flourishes and chants of the crowd… and the echoing shouts of the announcer. It’s all about the Smash in the locker room right now as Danni Anderson is in a heated match with Carmen Viviana Esquivel on Super Smash Brothers Ultimate while Leina Rael-Anderson, along with Juan and Javier Cortez, cheer them on! Danni is clearly having the time of her life while Carmen looks even more intense than usual… though there IS a smile under all that controlled fury!

Juan Cortez: Yo, you sure you ain’t played this before, hermana?! ‘Cause them some slick moves ya got there!

Wincing as Terry Bogard, controlled by Danni, whales on her Samus Aran, Carmen shakes some hair out of her face and grimaces, retorting through clenched teeth.

Carmen Viviana Esquivel: I’m a fast learner!

Leina Rael-Anderson: Dang sure is! Momma ain’t no joke and you’re hangin’ in!

Even Danni’s semi-permanent smile is turning more… tense, is it? Carmen is getting the hang of things, pushing Danni’s skills to the limit. Yes, we all know they should be getting ready for their match against Crystal Zdunich and the Foundation, but camaraderie and teamwork are part of that! Plus getting some stress out beforehand! That’s important, too!

Carmen Viviana Esquivel: I also dislike losing!

Juan Cortez: Then why ain’t ya backin’-

Javier Cortez: Yo, shut that shit up, bro! Don’t go pushin’ her when she’s in the zone!

Must have been for his benefit more than Juan’s own. After all, Javier’s the one engaged to Carmen. He has to live with this wild woman! Danni giggles at this, shaking her head as time runs out on the match, causing a draw. Leina looks surprised while the Cortez brothers look impressed.

Danni Anderson: That was fun! We gotta do this more often. Damon isn’t a huge challenge since he isn’t too good at this game, but you picked things up fast! I love it!

Looking between the two, the Cutest Little Badass carries a thoughtful look before she leans forward on the black leather couch between the two.

Leina Rael-Anderson: I guess that means we gotta have ourselves a tie-breaker!

Glancing back at her daughter, the Semper Fairy smiles and looks over at Carmen.

Danni Anderson: What do you think?

Carmen Viviana Esquivel: For certain. But… business first. Speaking personally, I don’t like this Crystal woman. Too much mouth. Danielle, you need to spank her something fierce tonight. Remind her and all of Collision who you are. You defeated Milisandre at Reckoning Day. It’s time to keep stepping up.

She nods firmly as if that’s that and it has already been decided. Then she turns to the brothers and smiles a little.

Carmen Viviana Esquivel: And as for you two?

Juan Cortez: ’Ey, whoa… us two?

Javier Cortez: Cool it, bro.

A nod from Carmen before she continues.

Carmen Viviana Esquivel: We have spent FAR too much time on the bench since coming here. I will not stand for us being some flash-in-the-pan, one-and-done, flavor-of-the-week. Got it? The Foundation needs to be shaken down and shown what it’s like to take on the streets.

Leina is super-into the pep talk here, almost bouncing. Danni smiles a little but seems to be wondering if maybe Carmen is TOO pumped. Perhaps she should have picked Pit or Meta-Knight instead of Terry Bogard… y’know, maybe gone a bit easier on the newbie? To their credit, though, the Cortez brothers are just as psyched.

Juan Cortez: Step one towards the grandes cinturones de oro, hermana!

Javier Cortez: Don’t matter who’s in our way. They ain’t stayin’ in our way. Tonight, with old business done put away, we take our first steps towards bein’ champs. The Foundation? Just the first step, ya heard?

Leina Rael-Anderson: But we ain’t messin’ with the Astro Creeps!

For a moment, everyone in the room turns to look at the upcoming fifth-grader. Leina steps back from leaning against the couch and shoves her hands in her pockets.

Leina Rael-Anderson: Seriously… they’re creepy as fuck.

Danni Anderson: Language!

As per tradition, Danni’s right on cue. Her daughter puffs up her cute little cheeks.

Leina Rael-Anderson: For real! Don’t mess with them… or Nathaniel Dixon. Think that guy’s a notch or two away from absolute psychopath. We don’t mess with crazy, okay? We just don’t.

Juan Cortez: Business before anything else, muchacha. Don’t fret none.

Meanwhile, Javier comes over and gets on Leina’s level, looking her in the eye.

Javier Cortez: But if they come our way? We’ll make ‘em regret steppin’ up. Nothin’ scares us, fuega pequeña. Them creeps gonna want gold, same as us. And Dixon? Well, we know his type. Don’t we, Carmen?

Carmen Viviana Esquivel: We do. That’s why we’ll be ready.

La Lealtad es Todo rises up, the brothers knocking knuckles as Carmen gestures to Danni.

Carmen Viviana Esquivel: Lead the way, Reina Daniela..

So Leina was “little fire”... and Danni was “Queen Danielle”. They’d already earned nicknames. Adorable… and meaningful. Of course, the Sweetheart Esper smiles sweetly. She rises from the couch and bounces up and down. She claps her hands and giggles.

Danni Anderson: My curse finally ended at Reckoning Day. I overcame my fears, worked through my triggers, and defeated Milisandre. Now I can go forward without any worries. I can wrestle for the love of the industry! I know Crystal and the Foundation are gonna give us a good fight, so let’s go out there and give it our all! Hey, c’mon, cmon!

She offers the camera Terry Bogard’s signature taunt! Her daughter mirrors this! The brothers grin and knock fists while Carmen folds her arms and nods approvingly with a firm smile.

Danni Anderson: OOH RAH!

Leina Rael-Anderson: OOH RAH!

Juan Cortez: Time to take ‘em down a few notches, eh?!

Javier Cortez: S’right! Time to go make a mess of some fools!

And with that, the quintet heads out of the locker room, ready to take the fight to their opponents in mere minutes!
As the cameras return to ringside, the silence in the crowd is suddenly shattered by…


Nick Hanson: OH MY, WHAT?!

Jim Reynolds: THE ACE IS HERE, NICKY!!

The lights go out, shrouding the arena in darkness as the opening riff to "Thank You For Hating Me" tears through the speakers. As soon as the guitar riff starts, the video wall comes to life with the "BEHOLD THE KINGDOM" banner while the back wall screen comes to life with a combined static and barbed wire design.


From the tunnel, Morgan Payne emerges in her street clothes: black jeans with holes in the knees, black Timbs, a cut-off Kingdom t-shirt bearing their new logo, her black jacket and a skullcap. The cropping of her t-shirt clearly shows the taping around her ribs. She bears a few visible bumps and scrapes from her hellacious Reckoning Day match but, in spite of all this, she has a tiny smirk on her face. In her hand, she carries a steel folding chair.

Nick Hanson: Looking like she came out the other end of Hell with a smile on her face, folks!

Jim Reynolds: Despite last week’s circumstances, at that. Has me curious. And what’s she got that chair for?


As the first verse finishes and the chorus kicks in, Morgan comes down the steps and makes a beeline right for the ring with a brisk pep in her step. To the surprise of many, she accepts the extended hands of the front row with her free hand before reaching ringside and sliding her chair in. She moves up the steps, enters the ring and climbs the turnbuckle, striking her pose to a more positive response from the audience.

Nick Hanson: Morgan Payne was hospitalized after a brutal House Of 1,000 Light Tubes match. She was unsuccessful in winning back, you could say, the consciousness of Lilith Meadows–

Jim Reynolds: Yeah, thanks to outside interference FROM SOMEONE NOT EVEN ON THE FUCKING BRAND!!!

Nick Hanson: --Yes, from Nathaniel Dixon. Dixon had his words to say on this past Trauma. Said he felt overlooked and disrespected by NFW staff. He feels that he should have been the Captain for Team NFW at Invasion against Zion. That his rightful place against Kai Morgan was stripped from him because of favoritism, you could even say nepotism?

Jim Reynolds: Nepotism?! Favorit— Nicky, do you even remember how…? You know what? Let the Ace cover that. It’s the only reason I can think for her being out here right now.

Right on cue, Morgan comes to the ropes to ask for a microphone which she politely accepts from Roger Arden. The timekeeper, practically “trained” at this point, sulkingly starts bringing his chair over but Morgan waves her hand and offers a warm smirk as he sits back down. As the music fades, Morgan picks up the chair she brought to the ring, unfolds it and places it down in the center of the ring. As she takes her seat, and waits for the crowd to quiet down, she leans back to ease up pressure on her ribs. All the while, grinning genuinely. She raises the mic up…lowers it for a second and chuckles…then raises it up again…

Morgan Payne: ...Hey, whatchinz up to?

CROWD POP!!!

Jim Reynolds: WHATCHINZ UP TO, NICKY!!!!

Nick Hanson: I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve seen the McKeesport Mauler like this, Jim! It’s endearing!

Morgan shifts in her seat a bit, wincing just a little before lifting the mic and continuing to speak.

Morgan Payne: I’mma be real. Doc didn’t want me comin’ here tonight on account of obvious reasons but I wasn’t about t’sit on a satellite for dis. A’ight first up…

She runs a hand down her mouth with a sigh and her expression turns somber.

Morgan Payne: I’mma get a couple things outta da way first before I get dahn to brass tacks. I ain’t been da easiest person t’be around past few months. Ahnno dat. I went through my shit dat I went through an’ I burned alotta bridges dat prolly din’t need burnt.

She shakes her head.

Morgan Payne: I ain’t gonna try an’ rebuild ‘em. Not alla them. Da ones I care ‘bout rebuildin’, I’ll get to ‘em but for starters, I’mma come aht an’ say dis much: Cass Baumer!

There’s a pop from the crowd for mention of the Perseverance Champion. Others in the crowd “oooooooh”, wondering what Morgan’s going to say. Morgan stares directly into the hard cam.

Morgan Payne: ...I’m sorry, Cass. For errything. I’m sorry for takin’ aht my anger on you. I’m sorry for sayin’ you wasn’t ever good enough. I’d like to think we buried dat hatchet. I mean shit, we tore it up on Super Smash Bros Ultimate da other day. She beat my ass, bee tee dubs, just like she did at Ascension. So, I owe ya for dat one.

She manages a small grin and winks at the camera again. Her smile fades then and she gets serious.

Morgan Payne: Now then! Let’s talk about Reckoning Day. Yinz wanna talk about dat? Yeah, let’s talk about dat.

Oop. There it is. That flash in her eyes where the smiley happiness is replaced by the borderline unhinged look she’s often known for. Alas, there’s that smile. But now it looks unnerving.

Morgan Payne: I stepped into dis ring with a personal goal in mind. I had some family business to handle. An’ I almost had it too. I was dis close to bringing our Faerie home.

She throws an arm up in the air with her index finger extended. The crowd joins her in–

Morgan Payne: & CR1 HOWEVER, COMMA!!

Morgan lowers her arm and places her hand on her knee, chuckling a little.

Morgan Payne: Dat plan went South din’t it? Din’t it? Yeah. Totally did. Went South on account of someone who had to stick they nose up into personal Kingdom business. Yeah, dat’s right, Nathaniel Dixon. I’m talkin’ to you, ya smug, self entitled, ass chapped lil CUNT!

Gritting her teeth, Morgan pushes up out of her chair and approaches the ropes, grabbing onto it with her attention on the hard cam.

Morgan Payne: Ahnno I fucked around a bit, I told you I might not even give you da time of day but let’s be real, my guy. You got somethin’ to say to me? I’mma listen. And I heard errything you said, jagoff. Problem is, half da shit ya said, ya asked questions dat you, in turn, answered yourself.

She steps away from the ropes, beginning to pace calmly around the ring.

Morgan Payne: Ya said da Kingdom’s got egos and superiority complexes…

Morgan shrugs as if she’s unable to disagree with Nathaniel Dixon’s statement.

Morgan Payne: Yeah…ya ain’t wrong. Why’s dat, though? Ya answered dat.

She turns towards the closest camera that’s focusing on her again.

Morgan Payne: ’Cuz we back it da fuck up! Ya wanna talk about us bein’ egotistical? Superiority complexes? Side effects, my dude. Side effects of bein’, statistically, da best gahdamn group of wrestlers in dis company. An’ accordin’ to Denzel Porter, one of da best stables in professional wrestlin’ as a whole. Why’s dat, Nathaniel? Nathan? Nate? Why’s dat?

For a brief moment, Morgan puts on a cockney British accent.

Morgan Payne: ”Long reigns o’championship gold!”

Then drops the accent, switching back to her own voice.

Morgan Payne: S’all right there, dude. We’re confident ‘cuz we can be. We got egoes ‘cuz we can back dat shit up. What about you, Nate? Whatchu so entitled for? Whatchu done dat merits you to talk dahn to errybody, stick your nose up to errybody?

A silence falls over the audience as Morgan just tilts her head and raises her eyebrows as if waiting for an answer. Obviously, there is none. Nathaniel isn’t physically here but Morgan slowly smiles as she’s pretty certain he’s watching.

Morgan Payne: Dat’s right. Not a gahdamn thing. So what is it? Jealousy? Envy? Does it burn yer ass dat da “Intellectual Evolution” ain’t evolved passed da level of basic ass bitch? Dat a group of wrestlers from a lower social standin’ than yer family are pound for pound better at da craft than you?

There’s a buzz from the crowd as they all begin to converse among themselves about the points she’s trying to make before she continues.

Morgan Payne: And it’s got ya so fucked up dat you came aht here an’ started makin’ shit up to try an’ get people to believe you. So yanno what? We gon’ have us a lil Fact Check time - shout aht Cass Baumer! Nate, you claimed, and I quote - roll it!

Morgan turns and points at the tron which comes to life with footage of Nathaniel Dixon standing in the ring at this past Trauma.

Nathaniel Dixon: Invasion: NFW versus Zion… My war with Mr. Kai Morgan… It was the perfect harmony to designate me as the Captain of Team NFW in the Ultimate Battleground. Alas, the role was granted… to a sobering woman who lost the Silver Mountain Championship to Milisandre Crowthorne… and was out of the ring for months. The powers that be, Mr. Steven Brody, in particular, pushed her to the front of the line. They completely ignored us. They completely ignored me.

Kai was MY enemy. He was MY target. He was the Captain of Team Zion. Yet somehow, Morgan was his opposing Captain, his primary opponent… and I was forced to become a follower once again.

The shot freezes with the sound of a buzzer going off and the word–


-comes up across the screen. The screen cuts off and the camera cuts back to inside the ring. Morgan is, once again, sitting in the chair, now turned to face towards the tron and the stage. She’s got her elbow propped on her knee as she leans forward, strumming her fingers against her chin.

Morgan Payne: See…but you wrong, though, Nate. Team NFW? I got da call from Steven Brody to lead da roster of New Frontier Wrestlin’ in da fight against Zion. He told me to pick da very best from both Collision an’ Trauma. To put a team together dat could bring da fight to them. So dat’s what I did. I started pickin’ names I knew could thrown dahn when shit got real. Cass Baumer. Dona Rotten. Lana Corvin. The Titan, Atlas. You! Them lil announcements on Twitter? Erry time a name got called? Erry time one o’yinz got tagged? Ya seem to forget dat it was me dat called Mr. Brody an’ Luthor Callaway to let them know who was bein’ added to da team.

She sits back in the chair now with a quizzical look on her face like she’s, albeit mockingly, trying to work something out in her head.

MP! Now, hold up…wait a sec…didn’t…didn’t Kai Morgan…?

She snaps her fingers and points right at the camera.

Morgan Payne: Ah, yeah! He didn’t reveal himself as Zion’s Team Captain till a week before Invasion. He kept dat shit under lock an’ key just like Steven Brody did. Just like Luthor Callaway did. Just like Isabella Santiago did. So yeah…try again wif dat “woe is me, I got robbed” bullshit. While yer at it? Cry me a gahdamn river, build a bridge an’ get da fuck over it. Let’s move ahn! NEXT!

She looks up at the tron again as the shot jumps back and rolls footage from Trauma again.

Nathaniel Dixon: A thief in the night stole that leadership role from me and what has she done since then? Drama. All of the bloody drama with her and the Kingdom. How infuriating! Let’s face it. If it wasn’t for MY strategies? Morgan would have been utterly destroyed by Team Zion. They had her dead-to-rights in that cage. I was the one who conjured the brilliant idea to scale the cage alongside Ms. Lana Corvin and even the odds. I saved the team from failure. I saved NFW from shutting down!

Again, the shot freezes with the sound of a buzzer going off and the word–


-comes up across the screen. We jump back to inside the ring and Morgan’s sitting there with a dumbfounded, incredulous look on her face. You know Snowball from Pets? Yeah, that look. Slowly, hilariously slow, in fact, the microphone comes up again.

Morgan Payne: So climbing the cage to get inside is fuckin’ rocket science now? Dat says alot more about yer level of intelligence than you might wanna think there, jagoff. Apparently da Intellectual Evolution didn’t evolve past da third grade. You act like someone else wouldn’t have thought o’dat. See, here’s da thing, Nate.

She sits forward in her chair again, thoughtfully rubbing her mouth and narrows her eyes at the camera.

Morgan Payne: Yer so butthurt over having never won any accolades in yer ten years of bein’ a professional wrestler. Yer so obsessed wif titles and awards, you think dat’s what it’s all about. Yer self entitled. Yer so self entitled, so manipulative, dat it’s downright pathetic. You didn’t save NFW. We did. We, da rosters of Collision and Trauma, saved NFW. ‘Cuz we worked together. We did it as a team. But here you are…throwin’ a tantrum like a baby back bitch who ain’t gettin’ his way. Like a little…whiny…brat. You might scare some people. You might scare some people backstage. You might scare some in yer family. But’chu don’t scare me. Nah, see, Nate, you done somethin’ a lot worse. What’chu done…is piss me off. What’chu done…is you got my attention. You wanna play games? You want attention? Lil spoiled boy wants my attention?

Morgan lowers the microphone. She stands up out of her chair and takes a moment to fold it up and pick it up in her other hand. She turns back towards the camera and steps towards it, until she’s right up in the lens. Her telltale smirk slowly creeps across her face again.

Morgan Payne: You got it.

“Thank You For Hating Me” comes on again as she lets the microphone drop to the mat and calmly exits the ring. She walks back up to the stage and disappears through the tunnel.

Nick Hanson: What does she mean by that, I wonder?

Jim Reynolds: No telling, Nicky, but I have a feeling this isn’t over.
The scene opens up showing the backstage area of the Colosseum. A very soft, higher than normal pitched voice is heard humming a random song as the cameras back up catching Lorna walking aimlessly. She makes stops randomly messing with various pieces of equipment laying about as well as stands and carts. Among everything, Lorna finds a wrench and attempts to pick it up, but drops it chasing it as it skitters across the ground.

She finally catches up to it, bending down, snatching it up, and putting it into a small pouch in the front of her outfit. She gets back up and is standing next to a production crate where we see “The Bellevue Banshee” Sylvia Lopez sitting cross-legged atop of said production crate. Lopez doesn’t appear to have noticed the commotion being caused by Lorna as she just sits there with her head down, her long dark brown messy hair covering her face as she rocks back and forth. Lorna looks confused at her at first then walks from one side of the crate to the other keeping her eyes on Sylvia the whole time. She even slightly rocks on her feet in unison with Sylvia a few times.

Lorna is totally puzzled not really knowing how to read or react to her, but ultimately decides to reach into her pocket pulling out the wrench. Lorna then extends her arm out holding it toward Sylvia while making a quick humming noise with the inflection being the same as someone asking another if they want what is being offered. Lopez then slowly lifts up her head and makes eye contact with Lorna before then looking down at the wrench and then looking back at Lorna.

Sylvia Lopez: Who are you?! And why are you offering a wrench to Sylvia?!

Lorna shifts her smile to the side of her face and puts the wrench away.

Lorna: My name is Lorna and I saw you shifting. I suppose a wrench is not uplifting. Unknown to you, my manners seem drifting. It was the only thing I found for gifting.

Lopez glances back down and begins to pull at her hair slightly.

Sylvia Lopez: You caught Sylvia at a bad time, Lorna! Sylvia would like to be left alone!

Lorna's eyes get wide and she jumps back a little in reaction to the response. She mouths the words she heard to herself silently a couple of times before responding back.

Lorna: You're in a crowded arena so that attempt may be blown. Unless this fact to you was unknown. I'm here right now with my plans on postpone. What is it you hide causing you to bemoan?

The Bellevue Banshee’s head rises again and she’s not looking best pleased, however there was something about Lorna that forced the look of displeasure on Lopez’s face to soon leave.

Sylvia Lopez: Sylvia feels lost! She feels abandoned! It is difficult to explain!
Lorna nodded with Sylvia's words and once again mouths to herself what she heard.

Lorna: Someone leaves and you want them to refrain. A smile on your face is hard to maintain. Feelings of anger, of sadness, of pain. You want to destroy and be hard to contain. I was left on my own, yes, I too felt this rain. They wanted me to mind well and so they would train. To become something harnessed and not so insane. Keeping me down, they tried to constrain.

Lopez stares at Lorna after she says these words, cocking her head to the side.

Sylvia Lopez: Sylvia suffered like that too! Sylvia was locked away from the rest of the world! Was forced to conform to what society wanted Sylvia to be! People in white coats would inject Sylvia with sedatives when she refused to do as they asked! Sylvia never thought she would ever find anyone who cared out in the world! But she did! Now, it doesn’t feel like it though!

Lorna smiles nodding before speaking.

Lorna: It's hard to just see someone you care about go. I'm glad this conversation you did not throw. Some personalities are dark like ours that don't glow. We both have been damaged from things long ago. Your pain, my pain, our pain similar we know. Finding like people is hard as onward we go. Moving on is impossible or just seems so.

The Bellevue Banshee slowly nods.

Sylvia Lopez: It has been pleasant to talk to someone who knows the kind of pain Sylvia has gone through! You have a match tonight, yes?! Sylvia wishes you luck! Sylvia shall be watching!

Lorna takes a few steps away from Sylvia and gets sadistic smile on her face realizing the truth in the statement.

Lorna: I do have a match, I didn't think you aware. It wasn't a fact that I did share. It should be a violent and bloody affair. I must be going now as I'll need to prepare!

With those words, Lorna takes her leave while Sylvia watches the Kill-waii Princess trudge away with unknown purpose.
Collision returns from a brief commercial break with the cameras focused on the stage. A few moments later, “Rise” by State of Mine starts to play, sans opening. Out to the top of the ramp walks the Redeemer himself, Damon Cross, still wearing wounds from his hellacious battle with Johnny Towers at Reckoning Day. The former World Heavyweight Champion is beaten and battered, but standing tall nonetheless.

Roger Arden: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Redeemer… DAMON CROSS!

Making his way somewhat slowly down the ramp, suited all in black, Damon makes it a point to interact with a few hands on his way to the ring, but the man… either his heart isn’t truly in it tonight or he’s simply tired and overwrought. The smile is genuine, yes, but it seems that the last several months are starting to weigh on him. That he’s on his way out alone, without Danielle, Leina, La Lealtad es Todo or even his fellow Crusaders is a bit telling as well.

Nick Hanson: Damon Cross is in the house, folks… but is it just me or does he look not all here, Jim?

Jim Reynolds: He’s lucky to be standing, and that’d be the case even if we were just talking about the Last Man Standing Match with Johnny Towers. If I were him, I’d be taking a couple weeks off.

Nick Hanson: I’m inclined to agree with you. Instead, he’s here in the Collision Center. Which means he probably has something on his mind.

Jim Reynolds: Then he should hire a shrink. People don’t want to sit here and here him pontificate.

Nick Hanson: Speak for yourself.

After entering the ring, Damon accepts the microphone from Roger Arden, then waits for him to leave the ring, gesturing for the music to be cut. Having gathered a chair on his way into the ring, he unfolds it and places it in the center before taking a seat. Leaned forward, arms resting on his knees, microphone held low, Damon takes a few slow, deep breaths. The fans are chanting his name but as far as the Redeemer looks right now, he might as well be the only person in the building.

It takes several moments, but he lifts his free hand, gesturing calmly for quiet, which he eventually gets. After that, he slowly brings the microphone up.

Damon Cross: It must feel good, they say…

A dry chuckle is heard, his breathing slightly raspy, his tone lowered. Damon’s black hair hangs loose in front of his face. He makes no move to push it aside.

Damon Cross: You put another notch on your cane, they say… another challenge met, head-on, and overcome. It must feel… good.

The microphone is lowered again, soft thumps reverberating throughout the arena as Damon taps the business end of it against his palm. He coughs slightly, then chuckles dryly once more.

Damon Cross: I don’t feel anything.

Confusion is expressed via the collected murmurs within the Collision Center.

Jim Reynolds: Oh, look. Angst. Yay.

Nick Hanson: This doesn’t sound good, Jim. I don’t like this tone at all.

Jim Reynolds: Then get him a fucking Snickers or something. He isn’t himself when he’s whiny!

Pushing a hand through his hair, tucking some of it behind his ear, some of the marks on his forehead are shown, not to mention a couple of stitches and a bit of a black eye. His smile is sardonic, his stare almost cold.

Damon Cross: Seems like ever since I’ve come to NFW, to Collision, nothing has changed. It started, I think, with Jansen Myrrh. You’ll have to forgive me; after a point, everything started blurring together. So much so that it has almost become routine. But, before I forget? Congratulations are in order, Jansen. Hold that title tightly, old friend, because you never know when someone is going to come and try to take it.

For a shadow of a second, his smile is genuine; he means his congrats to the new champ. But then it’s back to tired Damon. Angsty Damon.

Nick Hanson: Damon had his war with the current champion… all over her words and actions towards Danielle and her refusal to apologize.

Jim Reynolds: Stupid reasoning, awesome match. Damon came out with the win, if I recall. Which means his next comment will be wanting a title shot like the entitled jackass he can be!

But that isn’t it at all.

Damon Cross: Someone pops off at the mouth, either about me or my family. They make threats, they perpetuate attacks. I do my level best to warn them, to set them straight about the right way to get the fight that they so desire. Of course, it falls on deaf ears each and every time. See, when someone is consumed by lust for gold, blood or whatever else, reasoning becomes secondary… sometimes tertiary. They become akin to unreasonable children, to the point where unknowing toddlers have more tact and common sense. Yukiko Kusanagi, Johnny Towers, Kevin Hunter, Robert Saints… the list grows each and every day.

The Redeemer can feel himself become agitated the more he talks about it, stopping himself and picking up a bottle of water from next to the chair and taking a grateful sip. Composing himself, he starts again.

Damon Cross: Earn their opportunity? Who would dare have the cheek to ask that of them? Keep it in the realm of business instead of making it personal? Who is anyone to instruct them in this? Someone else has something they want, therefore, there are no boundaries, to means that do not justify the ends. Threaten my wife? They’re fine with that. Scare my daughter? Acceptable pursuit. Degrade me, invade my personal space or try to put me on the shelf, despite my own retorts to all of the above remaining on a professional level? Who am I to cry foul?

Fans seem to be split on all this; what Damon says is 100% true, but he is dangerously close to preaching to them. To his credit, he seems to realize this and tones it down. He pauses again, takes another sip, and considers for a moment before speaking again. Rising from the chair, he folds it and places it in the corner. Every act is deliberate, undertaken with an economy of motion. Bringing his locks back with both hands, quickly binding them into a ponytail, Damon reveals the fullness of his face and the wounds of war. His body language indicates a man filled with pride.

Damon Cross: One time? Twice? I could understand. But the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and to expect a different result. Their efforts are diverse in specifics, but equal in tone. The smart warrior learns from the mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them in the future. And these clowns cannot feign ignorance, not with these wars live and in living color in front of the world. Did scare tactics avail Kusanagi? Why don’t you ask her how it all panned out and watch how her hand goes instinctively to her throat as she remembers me almost squeezing the breath out of her forever.

Nick Hanson: That’s… a bit dark.

Jim Reynolds: Yeah, but as much as I hate admitting it, he ain’t wrong.

Damon Cross: Ask Marilyn Matthews if gangland brutality and covert ops made a lick of difference. The most dominant World Heavyweight Champion in NFW history, bar none, and twice I took that title from her, AFTER fighting through the whole goddamn Kingdom for the opportunity! Did home invasions, career-threatening assaults and all else affect the outcome for Johnny Towers?!

He gestures firmly toward the big screen, showing the roughest moments of the Last Man Standing Match at Reckoning Day, including that nasty Weight of the World on concrete that finally laid out Towers and ended his war with Damon. The Redeemer is seething as he watches it, though WHY he is seething is up for conjecture.

Damon Cross: He should have kept my name out of his mouth! You EARN the right to say my name around here! He knew that, but decided to ignore it! And now he’s forgotten second grade and how to use a spoon! You’re fucking welcome!

Nick Hanson: ...I don’t like this.

Jim Reynolds: Huh. He has a backbone after all.

Another moment to compose himself, another sip of water. Damon sighs after, suddenly looking tired again.

Damon Cross: I’m tired, ladies and gentlemen. There’s no sense denying it. ”I get weary and sick of trying. I'm tired of living but afraid of dying.”

He pauses after quoting the old Sam Cooke song, considering briefly.

Damon Cross: And that… that’s why this is never going to happen again. EVER.

Nick Hanson: What does he mean by that?

Jim Reynolds: Maybe he’s quitting for real this time! This night just got a whole ton better!

Nick Hanson: Oh, shut up already!

There is no expansion on his meaning, though. No, Damon simply goes over to the corner of the ring and hands the microphone back to Roger Arden. “Rise” starts to play again and Cross leaves the ring, heading up the ramp and backstage without a word or gesture.

Nick Hanson: Whatever is going on, I feel like Damon Cross was changed at Reckoning Day. And perhaps not for the better.

Jim Reynolds: Guess we’ll see, eh?
The camera opens upon “Psycho” Saoirse Maguire sitting alone in a room that has nothing but the folding chair upon which she is sitting. Psycho looks into the camera and nods, looking slightly anxious.

“Psycho” Saoirse Maguire: This will bae me first haer match since whot ‘appened at th’ end o’ May wit th’ Astro Craeps.

She shakes her head.

“Psycho” Saoirse Maguire: Me first solo one in aeven longer…

Looking down, her gaze leaves the camera and moves to the floor.

“Psycho” Saoirse Maguire: I kinna baegin tae tell ye… whot tha was….

Taking a deep breath, Psycho nods to herself and looks up into the camera again.

“Psycho” Saoirse Maguire: I bae comin’ back tae th’ main event against Lorna an’ I kin only bae tellin’ ye one ting haer.

She stands up.

“Psycho” Saoirse Maguire: I bae haer an’ I bae ready! Lorna an’ I kin bae tearin’ down th’ house taenight! I willna bae raeturn in’ jes tae look like a shell o’ meself! I come back tae show tha I’m nay done an’ neither bae Gallus Mag! It may have tae bae in a different form now but it’s nay done an’ neither bae me!