NFW Trauma #110 - 06/03/2023!

The show opens up to “Swamped” by Lacuna Coil playing over the speakers and LeeAnn Viskan standing in the middle of the ring with a microphone in hand. The camera zooms in on her as the music fades out.

LeeAnn Viskan: Chicago, how’s it going tonight?!

The crowd gives her a pop as LeeAnn grins, looking around at the crowd for a moment.

LeeAnn Viskan: Last Saturday, we had a fantastic super show with Manifest Destiny. I’m proud of each and every one of those men and women back there for putting on one hell of a show, but with July just around the corner, that comes with what I’ve enjoyed as my favorite show of the year, Sudden Death and the match that my predecessor brought here in the Guardians of the Pyramid, but before we get to that, I want to bring out the person who will be defending her New Frontier Wrestling Championship in the match. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the NEW New Frontier Wrestling Champion, “Unbreakable” Stacy Jones!

“Unbreakable” by Kingdom Collapse blasts out of the PA system bringing the fans to their feet and as soon as Jonathan Norris belts out the word Unbreakable, “Unbreakable” Stacy Jones bursts out through the curtain proudly wearing her New Frontier Championship over her shoulder. She makes her way over to one side of the stage looking out to the fans and raises her championship over her head while displaying the devil’s horns with her free hand before doing the same thing on the other side of the stage. Walking back to the center of the stage, when the word Unbreakable is sung again, she along with the fans yell it out too before she begins to make her way down the ramp, slapping the fans hands on the way down.

Seth Ernst: I think I speak for us all when I say that this is a wonderful sight! After a hard fought battle with her career on the line, Stacy Jones is our brand new NFW Champion!

Miranda Augustino: It was certainly a nail biter of a match, Seth… and there was a couple of times where I thought it was over for Stacy… but she proved that she truly is “Unbreakable”.

Lucas Knox: And we are now officially in The Unbreakable Era!

Once she reaches the bottom of the ramp, she continues slapping the fans hands who continue to scream out the words of the song with Jones. She then hops up onto the ring apron and climbs through the ropes before scaling the turnbuckle and with a closed fist she pumps it into the air along with the drum beat, holding up her championship with the other hand, with the fans pumping their fists along with her. Jones hops back down off the turnbuckle and calls for a microphone and is handed one before she turns to face Viskan who is applauding, the two share a handshake and a brief hug while exchanging a few words with one another before the Trauma GM takes a few steps back to give the NFW Champion the floor as “Unbreakable” fades out.

Crowd: YOU DESERVE IT!!! <clap> <clap> <clap clap clap> YOU DESERVE IT!!! <clap> <clap> <clap clap clap> YOU DESERVE IT!!! <clap> <clap> <clap clap clap>

Jones soaks in the fans’ reaction and her face curls up slightly as she is overcome with emotion but she manages to hold her composure.

Stacy Jones: Thank you. And as much as I appreciate you all chanting that to me? It’s all of YOU that deserve it! Because I made a promise to you all leading up to my match with Kai Morgan at Manifest Destiny that once I walked out of there as YOUR NEW NFW Champion… that I would restore honor and respect and be a champion YOU can all be proud of… and I intend on making true to that promise!

The fans cheer as she paces the ring a little, adjusting the title over her shoulder.

Stacy Jones: It’s surreal to think that this time last year… I was sitting at home and not even sure if I would ever be able to wrestle again. And now? Today? I am standing here in this ring… in the greatest wrestling company in the world… in front of the greatest wrestling fans in the world… as YOUR NEW NFW CHAMPION!

She yet again raises the championship high above her head and the fans cheer wildly.

Stacy Jones: Now I’m not going to take up much more of your time or Ms. Viskan’s time as I know she has a huge announcement to make… one that I am VERY interested in myself, hence why I asked if I could be present for it. But I just want to quickly thank Mr. Brody and Ms. Viskan for taking a chance on me and awarding me this opportunity… I want to thank Ms. Santiago for awarding me the opportunities she did before taking her leave to have her little one, who I can’t wait to meet by the way. And of course, I want to thank all of my friends and family… and every single one of you fans here tonight and watching at home for always believing in me and supporting me. This is the beginning of The Unbreakable Era… so let’s bring on the challengers!

Stacy lets out a guttural scream and raises her title over her head again before then placing it back over her shoulder and taking a few steps back herself to allow LeeAnn to take center stage for her announcement. LeeAnn flashes a smile as she looks back at Stacy before stepping up.

LeeAnn Viskan: Now, as you all know, Sudden Death is home to the most brutal gauntlet in all of wrestling, all for a chance to hold the NFW Championship. Seven men and women will fight for that honor, pouring their blood, sweat, and tears on this mat in the process. Now, this year, things are going to look different. Miss Santiago left us all with one final gift before she took her leave, so without further adieu, I present the new Guardians of the Pyramid structure.

On the tron, we see what looks to be a four story tall glass pyramid with six rings inside, moving up the structure. The camera pans around the structure giving us all a good look at it before we move inside and hear LeeAnn's voice again.

LeeAnn Viskan: Four stories, six rings. The first two competitors will face each other at the entrance while the next opponent waits in the ring at the other side. Win there, a door opens up and you climb to the next level where the next one is waiting. Each win, you climb higher until you reach the summit. Conquer the summit, you become New Frontier Champion.

As LeeAnn speaks, the camera moves around on the inside, moving up the structure, showing the hidden drop doors and ladders to move up.

Seth Ernst: Leave it to LeeAnn and Isabella to come up with such an awe inspiring structure for such a brutal match.

Miranda Augustino: This just took my favorite match in NFW and made it even more brutal and exciting.

Lucas Knox: I can't wait to see these people go to war inside of this.

The camera comes back to LeeAnn as the crowd is giving a "Holy shit" chant and she can't help but laugh. She looks back at Stacy who's looking up at the structure almost in awe at it.

LeeAnn Viskan: We already know Miss Jones will be one of the competitors in this match, but we need six more and starting tonight, we'll be having qualifying matches over the course of the next few weeks. Alexandra Calloway, the woman with the most defenses of the Genesis Championship and Atlas, your match tonight will be for that first spot in the match. Good luck to both of you and I can't wait to see how the rest of the field plays out.

"Swamped" once again begins to play as the camera fades out.
The scene comes up in the middle of the ring, and people are still going nuts even though the matches haven't started yet. The crowd went crazy as they heard "Still Unbroken" by Lynyrd Skynyrd going off throughout the P.A system.


Nakita walks out of the curtain while having some of the effects from Tanja at Manifest Destiny. She's wearing a black leather jacket, black leggings, and a pair of black heel boots. She has her NFW Genesis championship on her shoulder. She stops on the stage and holds it up as the fans went crazier and crazier for her. She brings her belt down and proceeds to walk off the stage and head down the ramp. She finally gets to the steel steps and walks up them. She walks alongside the ring before entering and having her music fade as she grabs a mic. She gets in the middle of the ring while looking at all the fans.

NAKITA NILES: What can I say about Manifest Destiny? Tanja brought everything she had, and in the match, she went after my knee. It was like she smelled blood in the water and went after that part of my body. But anyone who gets in the ring with me knows that I won't go down without a fight. And that is what I did against Tanja at Manifest. I didn't give up and continued to fight. I have never been one to quit, and that's why I was able to walk out of there still has NFW Genesis champion.

CROWD: NAKITA! NAKITA! NAKITA!

NAKITA NILES: And yeah, I heard what Alexandra said at Manifest about me and saying that I would have my band of friends backing me up. And what happened? None showed up, and I beat Tanja on my own. But that's enough of that. Right now, I want to know who'll be the next opponent. Who'll be the next person to stand up to face me for my Genesis Championship?

She lowers the mic to her side and starts to think about it. She walks from side and side to really think about it.

NAKITA NILES: Honestly, there are so many people in the back that's it hard to pick who'll step up and face me. But whoever wants to fight, I ain't hard to find. I'm still feeling the effect from Tanja at Manifest, but you better believe that I'm not going to go down with putting up a fight. Anyone who wants to stand up and fight me, I'll be waiting.

She lowers the mic again while she holds up the belt in the air as the scene fades to a commercial.
When Trauma returns from a promotional break, cameras are on the announce team sitting at ringside. They’re wearing expressions more on the serious side as Seth starts to address the fans watching at home.

Seth Ernst: Welcome back to Trauma, fans. Allow us to take you back to Manifest Destiny and the United States Championship Match between Lana Corvin and Damon Cross.

Miranda Augustino: It was a hell of a fight but, thankfully, the champion retained the championship.

Lucas Knox: Still playing favorites, Miranda? I remember once upon a time you swooned a bit over Damon Cross.

Miranda Augustino: Yeah, and?

Seth interjects, shaking his head disapprovingly.

Seth Ernst: That’s enough, you two.

He turns back to the camera, as do Lucas and Miranda, as clips are played from the match in question. It was a hard-hitting affair, with Lana throwing everything in her arsenal against Damon. The challenger fired back with his own brand of hard-hitting offense and things got nasty in a hurry, from trash-talking to Ashe Corvin getting laid out. Courtesy of a Glorifier from the top rope, Lana escaped with her championship, but post-match, Damon attacked on the ramp, again striking Ashe and delivering Weight of the World to the champion atop her blood-smeared championship.

After the impact, Cross is clearly heard to address Corvin-

Damon Cross: That was for Gavin.

-before heading up the ramp to a chorus of boos. Cameras cut back to the announcers a moment later.

Seth Ernst: Under orders from the General Manager of Trauma, Damon has been instructed to explain his actions from Manifest Destiny. And we have him here tonight-

The show goes into split-screen, showing the announcers at the bottom of the screen and Damon Cross on top. Except he isn’t in the arena or the NFW studio this evening. From the looks of it, he’s remotely interacting with Trauma from his home in Fairview, North Carolina. It is, at the risk of sounding cliche, a different Damon that we’re seeing this evening. Calm, almost serene. He still wears the scars of his war with Lana, but were it not for them, he would appear quite normal, and even pleasant.

Seth Ernst: Damon, thank you for joining us tonight.

Damon Cross: When you say it like that, Seth, it almost sounds like I had a choice in the matter.

Despite the response being delivered calmly and evenly, it’s clear that Damon isn’t happy about having his home time interrupted by this.

Miranda Augustino: Did you expect there to be no consequences for your actions, Cross? You attacked Lana’s father and manager without provocation and assaulted the champion after the match! That sort of thing doesn’t slide around here!

He does his best to hold it in, but the laughter escapes regardless. Damon laughs quietly at Miranda’s comments, and her expression shows her utter distaste with his response. Only something whispered to her by Lucas keeps her from going on a tirade about it.

Damon Cross: You even said that with a straight face. Do you seriously believe that, Miranda, that all actions have consequences around here? You know that talk won’t wash. Go brush up on your NFW history and get back to me, okay?

Miranda is seething at this point, so Seth steps in.

Seth Ernst: Let’s get to the point, Damon: why did you attack Ashe during the match and both he and Lana after?

Damon Cross: Because they asked for it.

Seth Ernst: ...and?

Amused at first, Damon’s jaw sets and his expression tightens.

Damon Cross: There is no “and”. You’ve all known me for a long time, Seth. Nothing is more important to me than my family. Anyone who disrespects them is going to get the worst of me. If it were Danielle, she would brush it off because she’s got a kind soul and doesn’t like confrontation. Li would curse and threaten and poke fun at the speaker, because that’s her way and it is quite endearing. But they didn’t go that road, did they? They chose to insult my unborn son.

Miranda Augustino: And you think THAT warrants-

Damon Cross: Be quiet, Miranda!

Damon snaps off those words quietly but fiercely. Miranda is actually shocked into silence.

Damon Cross: They crossed a line. They were dealt with. LeeAnn Viskan fined me $25,000 for doing it as well, if it makes Miranda feel any better.

The color commentator folds her arms, looking both irritable and flustered.

Damon Cross: I think we all know it goes a lot deeper than that, though. But I’m not here for story time. You wanted to know why I tore a hole in Lana’s face and took a few years off her old man’s remaining existence. Now you know. We’re done here.

Lucas Knox: Hold up, now, Damon. You seriously gonna walk off on this? That’s not what people would call a satisfactory answer-

Seth Ernst: Forget it, Lucas.

He had been about to get up, and for a moment Li and Danni are shown in the background, in the area of the kitchen. There’s a lot of laughter and merriment between them. Such was the direction Damon was turning toward until the comments of Lucas and Seth were heard. He turns and sits back down for a moment, just glaring at them through the camera.

Damon Cross: Unsatisfactory?

Lucas Knox: Now hold on-

Damon Cross: No. All of you shut the hell up.

Reaching forward, Damon adjusts the camera. Now it is fully showing his family in the background, though he’s still there, partially in the shot.

Damon Cross: Viskan interrupts my time with my family because the Corvins took their lumps and raised a stink about it. Do you know how hypocritical that is? For someone like me, who dug himself out of the dreck and rose to the top of this company and helped make its name mean even more, to be treated like garbage or, worse, forgotten entirely by the office, the locker room and the fans… THAT isn’t something worth consideration? But those two getting boo-boos is. I have given my all and more for this damn place, but the moment you’re not on top anymore, no one gives a shit about you. That’s the reality of this place. I could name six people off the top of my head who that has happened to, but I’m not naming names. If they want to make something of their situation, they can do it themselves. I know that I’m better than that, though. It has never been a matter of my deserving this or being entitled to that; I’ve earned every fucking accolade I’ve gotten in NFW. Yet they still treat me like I’m the flavor of the month from several months ago. That’s an insult to me not only as a wrestler, but as a man. That, and to witness the birth of my son, is why I’m home right now. Because if I’m not going to be treated with the respect I’ve earned, there’s no need for me to fucking be there. The Corvins insulted my son and they stood as an example of what’s wrong with this place. So they got what they deserved. What NFW deserves. That a good enough answer for you?

The feed is about to be cut, but before it can happen, someone else cuts in on the moment.

Ashe Corvin: Jesus wept, cry us a fucking river, Cross!

Screen’s back at full as Ashe Corvin walks out to some boos, making his way down the ramp and into the ring, turning to look at Damon as his video feed is now on the big screen. Ashe taunts the fans with a fake crying face, poking and prodding at Damon, who sits and stares at him, back fully in frame, with a cold expression.

Ashe Corvin: Back home in your safe space now, after realizing that your actions had consequences? It’s not that easy to run from your mistakes as a wrestler, Cross! Just like you won’t be able to run in a few months when your son realizes-

Damon Cross: Choose your words carefully, Ashe.

Ashe Corvin: Or what? You’ll block me on social media again? Whatever will I do with Damon Cross running from the truth?!

He mockingly laughs, again drawing ire from the fans.

Ashe Corvin: Face it, Cross: your time is up. Your entire wrestling career has been one long string of failures with brief bright spots to make you and those that follow you think that you’re worth a damn. You going home actually made the office breathe a sigh of relief: now their champions and the talents who deserve the spotlight don’t have to worry about you trying to take them out with violent tantrums. It’s a shame, though. I thought to myself after watching Lana embarrass you that maybe, just maybe, I’d like to take a crack at the so-called Unforgiven… show the world that I’ve still got it. Show them where Lana got it all from. But, then you ran like a bitch. Par for the course.

Shrugging in an overstated way, Ashe moves as if to leave the ring, but pauses and stays inside, holding up a finger as he lifts the stick again.

Ashe Corvin: Besides… getting beaten by me after Lana decimated you? They’d have to put you on suicide watch. Can’t have the kiddo entering the world without a daddy, can we?

Now the boos shake the rafters… and Ashe loves every moment of it.

Seth Ernst: That’s just distasteful!

Miranda Augustino: Hmph! Maybe Damon des-

Seth Ernst: Don’t go there, Miranda!

Lucas Knox: Seriously, what kind of person-

Damon had been sitting and watching, listening, the whole time as Ashe unleashed his verbal barrage. Perhaps staring, rather than watching, was the better word, though. Once Ashe is finished, though, Damon lowers his head slightly and turns to gesture behind him. Danni and Li come over to him, with Danni standing and listening to what Damon says. With his hand over the microphone it’s impossible to hear what’s being said. But whatever it is has Danni looking worried while nodding to Damon. Li, pounding her little fist into her palm, nods firmly. Damon puts a hand briefly on Danni’s swollen stomach, then brings Li in to kiss her forehead. As the women in his life move away, Cross returns his attention to the video feed.

Ashe Corvin: Got something to say to that, Cross? Don’t keep us in suspense? Or did you just not want us to hear you apologizing to your family for being a failure AND a coward? Frankly, I don’t blame you-

Damon Cross: Ashe.

Ashe Corvin: Don’t you interrupt me!

Coldly, Damon gestures for Ashe to go on. Lifting a brow, unprepared to have his bluff called, Ashe mulls it over for a few moments then turns his back on Cross and makes a negligent gesture.

Ashe Corvin: Whatever. Say what you want.

Damon Cross: Challenge accepted.

Ashe Corvin: Excuse me?

Damon Cross: Trauma #111. You and me. One time only.

Ashe turns around to stare at the screen and a slow grin spreads on his face.

Ashe Corvin: Found your balls, did you? Good. Make sure the family is watching, though! Wouldn’t want them to miss-

But midway through his monologue, Damon closes the feed and the screen goes black before switching back to the Trauma logo. Ashe pauses, then laughs again and leaves the ring as the cameras cut away.
A camera comes up on Alexandra who is sitting against a gear crate backstage, she takes a deep breath and looks up seeing a camera there. She nods and starts to speak, Shiro standing at her side.

Alexandra Calaway: "So lately, I haven't been doing so well, since the loss of my Genesis Championship, but that's nothing to bat an eye at. I held that title for one hundred and twenty two days, I hold the current number of defenses. No one can hold a candle to that. And I can be proud of what I did. Do I care who holds it right now? No."

She shook her head.

Alexandra Calaway: "I have goals, a lot of them. I have my sights set on a title and I know exactly what I need to do. Now, for tonight, I just need to focus on beating Atlas. I'm not going to stand here and pretend that I'm going to walk out there and win, but let's face it, it's me. Win or lose, I'm still the best god damned wrestler on Trauma and I will do whatever it takes to show that to you all again, DESPITE someone running her mouth about me."

She shrugged.

Alexandra Calaway: "Oh wow.. the Soldier won.. congrats, now STOP running your mouth about me unless you want to face me again. Is that what it is? You needed ME to make you feel important? You needed ME to feel good about yourself? Well too fucking bad. I've moved on and you are left in midcard hell. Enjoy that, but I know that there is someone coming for that title and I can't WAIT to see them tear you apart."

She paused.

Alexandra Calaway: "Now to my opponent. Atlas, you and I will stand toe to toe in that ring in just a few minutes and when I am done with you, you can once again, disappear into the void."

She gets up and walks off the screen, Shiro following behind her.
The scene opens with the familiar figure of Gregory Murphy, standing in front of a Trauma logo's backdrop.

Gregory Murphy: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Heroes for Hire are at your service. And Your Hero, and Mine, is your main event for this evening."

Murphy clasps his hands together in excitement, licking his dry lips before opening them.

Gregory Murphy: "Destiny, has a funny way of working itself out, doesn't it? At Manifest Destiny, we saw multiple stars align and stars were born, fulfilling their destinies... but Your Hero, and Mine, his destiny still awaits. His destiny is coming and when it does it'll be glorious!"

As Murphy finishes his sentence, he lingers into the background, allowing Your Hero, and Mine, to step into the forefront of the frame.

Mark Storm: "You wanna talk about destiny... you wanna talk about the facts, well the fact is, since I've been back I haven't lost a match. I've been tearing through everything that's been thrown in my directionand tonight, it'll be no different. If Cherry Blackman wants to step up to the challenge, I'm all for it. This is the shit I live for... but Cherry, you're not gonna be treated any differently to anybody that came before you, or anybody that's gonna come after you, for that matter. To me, you're all cogs in the wheel, obstacles in my journey that I have no intention of tripping over, no."

He pauses, pacing a little as he does.

Mark Storm: "If you wanna get to the mountaintop then you have to become, something else... and that's what's been happening. I've had to evolve. I've had to adapt because things are changing and I know, that the competition is getting tougher by the day. And as it does, it's either you sink or you swim, and I ain't sinking, not now, not ever.

Tonight, I'm swimming right in the deep end, in the main event but that to me, that's just another day at the damn office. Main event, Mark, back at it again with another classic for the books! Now, it's the question of whether you can keep up. But even if you can, there's only one of us that's gonna make it out the victor, and I'm gonna do everything in my power to ensure that it's Your Hero, and Mine."

The scene gradually fades out.