Night 3

The first two nights presented us with drama. Intrigue. Unpredictability.

It seems the deeper we dig into this journey the more that latter word comes into effect.

Tonight we say good bye to the predictable nature of land. The surface we evolved to handle. It’s where we’re most comfortable. It’s where we’re most dangerous. It’s where things are most predictable.

We leave the comfy confines of dirt behind after tonight as we set sail for the remainder of our journey. Not only choosing the capricious nature of water to act as our base moving forward, but inserting ourselves into it’s most notorious zone. And why is this sounding sexual all of a sudden?

After tonight we venture into the most unpredictable coordinates our great planet has to offer – The Bermuda Triangle.

But, we still have tonight. A final evening of stability – or so we expect.

Vhodka Black has been the most stable wrestler in TRIAD. She started this competition out as a favorite and her purview from atop the board has never really been threatened. Tonight she steps back into the ring with one of her closest allies, Sarah Wolf. Last week these two joined forces to take down Penelope. And, even when Wolf was presented with sure fire victory via a Team Welsh attack...Wolf chose Vhodka over all else. An act that wound up costing her points.

One might think this could create some division between the two women, especially with how vocal Marcus Welsh has been about Wolf’s team allegiance. And, in any other match up scenario, it might...but not given the third member of this party. Matt Knox has made himself enemy #1 in the circle Vhodka and Wolf so proudly belong to.

He attacked Stephen Stratford from behind one week ago, hoping to cost Stratford the match. Knox also had to deal with the distraction of Demi Stratford at ringside during his Main Event on Night 2. Long story short, Knox and the Stratford/Black/Wolf circle do not like each other. A factor that should ensure Wolf and Vhodka are as loyal as ever in tonight’s opening match.

Can Vhodka clinch at least a tie of the Team TLS trophy? Can Sarah Wolf claw her way to the top of Team Welsh? Or, will Matt Knox do the unthinkable...the unpredictable and put down two members belonging to his circle of enemies, challenging Catalina for the prize of Team PIC? We won’t have to wait long to find out.

After Night 1 it appeared as though Thad Duke was on the fast track to winning Team Welsh. He was then struck by the scheduling gods, forced to face Catalina Cortes not once but twice in consecutive weeks. And while Thad is more than capable of defeating Catalina, it’s the type of feat that is usually reserved for the main course rather than a round of appetizers. Alas, such is life within TRIAD.

Thad suffered a narrow defeat last week when Catalina once again stole opportunity and pinned Helena. This week the two meet once more with Duke looking to return the favor. Catalina, like Vhodka, has looked incredibly strong since the beginning of the Trials. But, a loss tonight at the hands of Thad could make things very dicey for Cortes heading into Night 4.

And then we have LCP. The underdog of all underdogs. He appeared to be way in over his head after Night 1. So much so that he showed up to compete in the wrong match on Night 2. Then, the unpredictable struck, when LCP snuck in and got the pin on Alexander Raven, earning two points and keeping his hopes of winning Team TLS alive.

LCP has had arguably the toughest run of anyone so far. Two main events. And now this, a match against Thad and Cat. A tough road can lead to failure but it also provides ample opportunity. If LCP is able to pull off another stunning upset he would have beat 3 of the top names in all of TRIAD making him one of the favorites to win the Trials. Would it be unexpected? Absolutely. But is it possible? Yes.

We move to the southern portion of the island, right on the edge of the Devil’s Triangle for our final two match ups. Stephen Stratford control the spotlight in our third match. The #1 overall pick looked to be shaky heading into Night 2, from a points perspective. But, from the Stratford camp, the loss on Night 1 was all part of a bigger plan that would reveal itself and reveal itself it did. Stratford did what he had to do by defeating both MERICA and Lachlan Kane on Night 2 keeping him solidly in contention to win Team Welsh.

This week, he faces a familiar foe in MERICA. MERICA would probably be the first to tell you that he had no right to be drafted into these Trials but TLS took a chance on the unknown patriot. It looked like a mistake after Night 1. But, on Night 2, we saw a far more focused MERICA. A far more improved MERICA. And now, with his mentor, Chet Dakota, he appears ready to continue his ascension from unknown to pro wrestling star. If he can do the unthinkable and win this match not only will he have defeated two of the biggest names in wrestling, but he just might stay alive in winning Team TLS.

But there’s a third problem to this equation – Penelope. Penelope has yet to win a match in TRIAD but she’s also yet to lose. Hanging back, ever so quietly, one big win away from becoming a real threat to win Team PIC. Last week, Penelope managed to survive the onslaught of Vhodka and Wolf, walking away with a precious point. This week won’t get any easier as she will have to deal with the machinations of Stratford and the patriotism of MERICA. But, if there’s one thing we’ve come to learn about Penelope...it’s going to take a herculean effort to put her down.

The obvious choice here is Stratford. An argument could be made for Penelope. But what if the unthinkable happens? What if MERICA continues his rapid ascension and takes them both out? It could happen.

And that takes us to our main event. Another pro wrestling first – The Bermuda Shorts Match. Purchase a pair of Bermuda Shorts and stuff them with as many weapons as they can hold. Those weapons are then legal in the match.

Things haven’t gone the way Helena Handbasket wanted. Night 1 saw her take a chair shot to spare her father only for her father to be the one that pinned her. Night 2 saw a more focused Helena give it everything she had only for a distraction by Demi to lead to another Helena inadvertently costing the original Helena the match. She now sits with zero points despite being, arguably, the star of the entire Trials.

Things haven’t gone the way Alexander Raven envisioned. Raven took a chance, stepping out of his circle to compete in the Trials. He was rewarded by being drafted on Team Welsh...or, so he thought. It’s been nothing but frustration through the first two nights. On Night 1, he was about to drop Vhodka on her head, ensuring victory only for Kane to interrupt, leading to Raven eating the pin. On Night 2, Raven actually dropped Knox on his head, victory guaranteed...until LCP ran in and stole the match by pinning Raven. Alexander sits, anxiously, with zero points despite looking as dominant as any other wrestler throughout the Trials.

Things haven’t gone the way Lachlan Kane hoped. He admitted to being thankful for merely being drafted but, like all competitors, once included in the conversation he no doubt had a burning desire to let his voice be heard. Things started off fine, earning a point on Night 1. But Night 2 saw a big stumble as Kane, despite his incredible heart and endurance, succumbed to being pinned by Stratford after plenty of distractions from Demi and MERICA’s teammate, Vhodka. Now, on Night 3, Kane rests with the lone point he earned on Night 1 despite displaying the most grit of any competitor in the Trials.

Three wrestlers in desperate need of a win. One will get it, who will it be? And, how will the unpredictable element of hidden weapons play into the result?

It’s Night 3. Our final night on land. Heading into the evening, every wrestler still has a chance to win their Team. But, after tonight, that list will be considerably shortened.

It will turn to Team supremacy for those once this night is over.

So, while the stars continue to ride their wave of success the underdogs trudge along the grind of improvement. The bottom is narrowing the gap from the top. This competition is growing increasingly fierce. Upsets are ripe for the taking.

Who will hold on? Who will make up ground? To try and predict tonight’s results would be nothing short of foolish.

It’s time for Night 3.

Let the Trials Begin.

~We cut to the LIVE location of Night 3! We’re in Bermuda!! Fort St Catherine is our specific location! Fans are packed tightly atop the roof...most of them cheering...some, however, holding up signs, looking like protesters. Signs that read ‘TURN BACK!’ ‘SAVE YOURSELVES!’ We see TRIAD officials being fed intel through their ear pieces...intel we overhear that orders “Remove the disturbances!” They rush to work, yanking the protesters from the regular fans. It’s a tall order, there’s a lot of them. The ring is settled right on top of the roof with a metal barricade around it, feeding through the fans, creating an aisle for the wrestlers to walk through. It ends at a stage placed up on top of the roof that leads down into the Fort where the wrestlers are preparing for their match. The sides of the Fort have giant flat screens and trons placed on them for all the fans standing at ground level to view the action! Helicopters fly over...boats litter the sea...this is the place to be!! The TRIAD logo suddenly appears on the mat via laser projection and each ring post shoots off pyro as the ring apron releases, falling to the ground revealing the TRIAD name and logo on each side of the ring!! The fans go wild “TRIAD! TRIAD! TRIAD!” We locate MoMo and Hood who are stationed on the roof near the ring~

MoMo: Hello again everyone and welcome to Night 3 LIVE in Bermuda! We will bring tonight’s action to you from two different locations...starting off on the North side of the island right here at Fort St Catherine!

Hood: I once knew a Catherine. She was a real bitch.

MoMo: Given that bit of information I doubt she’s the one this fort is named after. After our first two matches we will then be whisked away to the Southern portion of the island...specifically Sinky Bay Beach where wrestlers will compete inside a Triad ring floating out over the water!

Hood: Classic stuff, man. Maybe we’ll see a shark.

MoMo: This feels like the most pivotal night thus far in TRIAD action. Up to this point wrestlers have been finding their footing...feeling their stride...but tonight, tonight we start to make that turn into the home stretch. Tonight is the first night where wrestlers can lock up their individual divisions.

Hood: Yep, Vhodka and Catalina can both lock up their spot in the Main Event on September 10th tonight.

MoMo: Wild to think, isn’t it? Feels like we just got started. The one team that cannot be decided tonight is Team Welsh. Strat and Thad are tied for the lead so no matter what they do or what the other does...both can still win the division heading into Night 4.

Hood: That Welsh, he sure likes his drama.

MoMo: Glad you brought that up...plenty of intrigue surrounding the points and overall team race. But the real juice is in the drama. Matt Knox has had constant issues with Stratford and his allies. Tonight he faces two of them in Sarah Wolf and Vhodka Black. Thus far Knox has yet to land a significant blow against them...will that all change this evening?

Hood: Dude is persistent. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t make an impact on those peeps either way.

MoMo: Meanwhile, Helena...she’s had some major issues since Night 1 when she sacrificed herself to save her father only for her father to pin her. Last week, she gave it her all only to come up short...will she put it all together tonight or continue her descent into self doubt?

Hood: For her own sake...let’s hope so. These Trials are brutal but they’ve been exceptionally so for Helena.

MoMo: Folks, there’s so much more to get into but we’ve only got so much time...so let’s all sit back, crack open a beverage and get comfortable because Night 3’s in ring action is going to start in just a minute!

~We cut just outside Fort St Catherine on the North Side of Bermuda, the location of Night 3’s opening match featuring Vhodka Black, Matt Knox, and Sarah Wolf. A small building, several decades old, has been rented out by Team Welsh. The door is shut and guarded by some nameless TRIAD employees. Standing near them is Martina Richards. Richards looks ready to fight. A golf cart pulls into view. Welsh is behind the wheel. He has trouble locking the brake. He curses and kicks at it really hard. Finally, he says ‘fuck it’ and steps out…the cart starts to slowly wheel backward~

Welsh: Martina…

~He exhales, placing a hand on her shoulder~

Welsh: You have no idea how refreshing it is to work with someone who actually listens.

~A ‘crash’ sounds behind them. That’s gotta be the golf cart. Oh well~

Welsh: Is she in there?

~Richards nods~

Welsh: Alright, I’m going in.

~Martina moves alongside Welsh~

Welsh: Whoa. You stay out here. She sees you she’s liable to instantly lose her shit. I wanna try to get through to her before we explore Option B. So just stay out here and if that building starts a rockin by all means come a knockin.

~Richards doesn’t like it. She wants to go in there and confront Sarah Wolf but, she’s a team player. So she hangs outside. Welsh enters~

Welsh: Well, well, well…

~Wolf is seated on the other end of a small, plastic table. This isn’t so much a building as it is a shed. There’s a singular light hanging from the ceiling providing ample sight. Wolf stares straight ahead, at the wall~

Welsh: You don’t wanna look at me? That’s fine. You can sit there and pretend like I’m not here. Feel all awkward and shit. But you are gonna hear my words. It’s up to you whether or not you actually listen.

~Wolf just stares~

Welsh: Ha, fine. You see I took a chance when I drafted you. It was a risk. A risk I was willing to take. You seem to think because you have a connection with Vhodka, with Stratford that you are automatically viewed in the same league. Well, you’re not. Do you hear me? You are not!

~Nothing from Wolf~

Welsh: You haven’t earned a thing. At least not in our eyes. The truth? Most people had you going undrafted! Maybe they knew what they were talking about after all, huh? I was warned…WARNED about drafting you. Did I listen? No. Why? Because I saw something in you. I saw something in you that goes beyond what Vhodka and Stratford possess. It was my goal, my desire to draft you and bring that out of you. To turn you into the star they both are and, potentially, beyond.

~Wolf’s silence turns Welsh up. He leans forward, bending over…still careful not to get too close~

Welsh: But, instead of listening and fulfilling your destiny you’ve decided you want to make me look like a fool. You just want to mock and deride your way to another underwhelming performance that rests atop wasted potential. Well, I’m here to tell you that I will not be made to look like a fool. Do you hear me?

~Sarah’s head seems to bob a bit, but it’s barely noticeable. Her eyes and focus remain where they’ve been this entire time. Welsh pounds the table with his fist~

Welsh: It will not happen! So help me you had better go out there in a few minutes and represent Team Welsh the way you’re supposed to or I will sick Martina on you. I will sick security on you. I will line the pockets of every dangerous character for hire on this god forsaken island ensuring that they get after you. You fuck up one more time and that’s it, Wolf. That is it. No more Team Welsh. No more TRIAD. Because in this world…right here, right now where we both exist…I own you. And the sooner you get that through those wretched teeth and up into that warped brain of yours, the better. Do you understand?

~Nothing~

Welsh: Are we clear?!

~Wolf’s eyes gain some focus. She finally moves her eyes in Welsh’s direction. Reaching up with her left hand she runs her fingers through her hair, removing a wig to reveal her bald head underneath. Welsh rears back, surprised. With her right hand, she removes one ear bud and then the other. She crosses her arms, wig in one hand, ear buds in the other, and leans forward, flashing her teeth~

Sarah Wolf: I’m sorry, were you speaking?

~Welsh’s eyes widen. A giant vein sticks out in his forehead. His entire face turns red. He tries to speak but is so hot only saliva and spit comes out of his mouth…he reaches for the door knob, missing a few times before finally snatching it, yanking the door open and storming out. He slams the door shut. Outside we hear him yell, “MARTINA, GET YOUR FUCKIN GEAR!” We cut back to the live feed~

MoMo: Oh wow.

Hood: I know…she’s bald.

MoMo: Not that! The total disrespect she showed Welsh. I mean, have you ever just laid into someone only for them to no sell it like that?

Hood: No. I don’t really care enough about people to get that angry. There’s only one person that could make me that mad…Alice Knight.

MoMo: Yea, well, let me tell you…it’s the most frustrating thing you can imagine. A meeting that was supposed to ease tensions between Welsh and Wolf has seemed to only exacerbate things. I hate to say it but I’m not sure there’s any coming back after that.

Hood: She’s bit him one time too many. Looks like he’s done.

MoMo: It certainly looks that way. Wow…alright fans, that was earlier today. I don’t know where everyone’s head is at right now, all I know is we’ve got a match coming up and it’s next. Sarah Wolf is back in action with only one point. She needs a win here to realistically stay in the hunt with Stratford and Thad.

Hood: And prevent Welsh from throwing her off the boat.

MoMo: But, in order to win, she’ll not only have to defeat her best friend, Vhodka Black. But she’ll also have to take down one of the greatest wrestlers in this business, Matt Knox.

Hood: Let’s just be honest…she ain’t winning. Maybe she can just keep from getting pinned this time.

MoMo: Vhodka has a chance to lock up Team TLS...but more importantly than that, she has a chance to get Team TLS closer to the lead.

Hood: TLS is tied with Welsh right now at 7. They both trail Team PIC which has 10 points.

MoMo: Yep. On the Team PIC side of things, Knox opened Night 1 with a huge victory. He scored 1 point last week while Cortes scored 2. He’s one point behind Cortes heading into tonight. I’d say he at least needs 1 point out of this...but two would be optimal if he wants to keep the pressure on Catalina.

Hood: Cortes hasn’t shown any sign that she’s going to slow down so, yea, Knox needs some points.

MoMo: It’s a match that would headline any other promotion in this industry. Three world championship level competitors all vying for personal and team success. Let’s head on down to ringside for what I’m sure will be a dramatic affair.

Hood: I’m as hard as a diamond in an ice storm.

MoMo: Okay.

Vhodka Black (4 PTS) vs. Sarah Wolf (1 PT) vs. Matt Knox (3 PTS)

~And so it begins again. Another night of Trials. Opportunity seized. Opportunity lost. We begin this evening with perhaps the most important match in TRIAD’s short history. Three of the most talented wrestlers in the world. Team supremacy at stake. But, more importantly than that – rivalries. Oh, the rivalries. Vhodka Black and Sarah Wolf represent a circle that has made it their mission to fuck with and distort Knox’s typically cool demeanor. Thus far it’s been working. Last week Knox found himself in the frying pan with Demi lurking...this week he’s being thrown straight into the fryer, forced to face both Vhodka and Sarah. And if that weren’t enough...Sarah has been at the center of all the controversy surrounding Team Welsh. She refuses to go ‘along with the plan’. Her relationship with Welsh on the brink of destruction. Is tonight the night it all falls apart?...~

“Obsession” by Glitch Factor hits.

~The fans rise to their feet, in shock~

MoMo: Uh oh.

Hood: Yep, here we go.

~Stepping from the curtain is Marcus Welsh! Right behind him is Martina Richards. She’s dressed to compete. A Team Welsh band around her right wrist. The fans boo! A few lean over and yell, “YOU’RE LEADING THESE PEOPLE ON A DEATH MARCH!” Welsh ignores the negativity, heading to the ring, eyes focused. Reaching ringside, he takes a sharp right and parks himself along that side of the ring with Richards right by his side~

MoMo: Marcus Welsh is out here! It appears as though he’s going to watch this match from ringside!

Hood: If you want something done correctly then you have to do it yourself. Although, knowing what I do about Welsh and this situation...this cannot be a good thing for the team.

MoMo: If there were any hopes of the escalating situation between Wolf and Welsh being tempered for the sake of competition tonight this development, well, it completely crushes that.

~Belvedere, inside the ring, looks down at Welsh. Welsh motions for him to get to work~

Belvedere: Ladies and Gentlemen...welcome to Night 3 of the Bravery Trials!

~A mixed reaction. Fans are in the crowd, going wild...but there are still those who are anxious, nervous...who are trying to reason with the TRIAD crew to cancel this mission they seem dead set on exploring~

Belvedere: The following match is a triple threat and it is scheduled for one fall!!! Introducing first…

~A woman’s voice sings out over the PA system while the words flash in white lettering on the black tron screens that surround the ringside area and a giant one displayed on the side of the fort~

Who you talkin' to man?
Who you talkin' to man?

~The music fully kicks in as Vhodka emerges from the backstage area with a small lit torch in her left hand. She is dressed in high waisted latex briefs that are attached to a studded latex halter top through a harness that travels up her midsection. Her legs are covered by torn fishnet tights with studded straps working their way down like garters to attach onto studded knee pads. Her hair is orange, snarled and hanging down her back, with bangs braided back and pinned underneath to keep them from her eyes. A smile plays across her lips as she nods her head with one hand in the air before she emits a spray of fluid that is ignited by the torch in her hand~

MoMo: Whoa! I love this entrance!

Hood: You act like you’re seeing it for the first time.

MoMo: Maybe it’s the tension of the moment. Just feels so visceral.

~After discarding the torch behind her she pauses and looks down the aisle way at Welsh and Martina. Richards is staring back at her as Welsh refuses to look~

MoMo: No love loss there. Welsh isn’t a fan of either of the opposing teams but I think he holds a special amount of animosity toward Vhodka.

Hood: She’s a huge threat. And she, in his mind, has more control over Wolf than he does. Unfortunately for him, nobody controls Wolf. Sooner he realizes that, the better.

MoMo: It will be interesting to see if Wolf and Vhodka remain as tight tonight as they did on Night 2. I have a...hold on!

~The crowd pops as Sarah Wolf steps out from the curtain. Richards yanks on Welsh’s arm. He turns and looks and sees Wolf alongside Vhodka! Welsh’s eyes bulge...he points and yells, ‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SHE’S NOT YOUR TEAMMATE! SHE’S THE FUCKING ENEMY!’ Vhodka and Wolf exchange a look like, ‘This guy is pathetic.’ Together, they head to the ring~

MoMo: Sarah Wolf is coming down to the ring with Vhodka! A show of solidarity!

Hood: And a huge fuck off to Welsh.

~Welsh points at Wolf and looks at Richards, “I’ve had enough. Get her.” Martina responds, “With pleasure.” She turns to attack Wolf. Wolf steps in front of Vhodka, ready to battle Richards. The fans lean forward, anxious~

MoMo: Wolf has been wanting to get her hands on Richards for two weeks!

Hood: Fuck me. Team Welsh is fried.

~CRACK!! The crowd gasps! Richards stops in her tracks. Wolf looks around like ‘wtf’. She turns and CRACK!!! A second crack!! Wolf hits the concrete, hard! Standing over her is Matt Knox!! He’s holding a chair! Our view pans over to find Vhodka face down...he’s laid them both out with a chair shot~

MoMo: Matt Knox just laid both Vhodka and Sarah out with a chair!

Hood: The thot plickens!

~Knox surveys both women and makes his choice. He rears back with the chair and BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! He lays into Vhodka over and over with the chair...shot after shot, slamming the steel into her body with nothing underneath it but hot, unyielding concrete. Fans boo! They scream at Knox to leave her alone. Wolf remains down, eyes shut but starting to move a bit. Richards looks back at Welsh who motions for her to come back to his side. Knox finally rears back with the chair and CRACK! He delivers a concerto into Vhodka’s head against the concrete...her body goes completely limp. The crowd is quiet. Knox looks at the chair...it’s warped and bent beyond repair...he slings it into the crowd before lifting his leg and stomping on Wolf to keep her down~

MoMo: Knox has taken all his frustrations out on Vhodka. I don’t know if she can compete after that.

Hood: Dude, she’s done.

MoMo: The last time we saw Knox he was in bad shape. But two weeks to recover and repair and he appears in fine condition...with the violence still ratcheted up after that Street Fight in Aguadilla.

~Knox snares Wolf by the hair and he drags her to the ring. She’s stumbling, legs wobbly...it’s clear the chair shot hasn’t worn off yet. Knox rears back and SLAMS Wolf’s head into the apron...her legs give out as her body falls to the hot concrete. Knox pauses, he looks around and raises both arms to a chorus of boos. He smirks like, ‘whatever’. He’s on a mission and that mission does not include ‘please the people.’ He pulls Sarah back up and slings her into the ring. Richards looks over at Welsh. She motions to see if he wants her to help Sarah...Welsh holds her back, “Nah, let’s see if she’s as tough as she pretends to be.” Richards nods, holding back as Knox slides into the ring~

MoMo: And no help from Team Welsh. For someone who is all about the team he sure does pick and choose which team members he wants to help.

Hood: Yea, I mean he’s staring a loss right in the face right now. Kicking Night 3 off with zero points and he’s cool with that? I get you don’t like Wolf but c’mon, man. You can’t control everyone.

MoMo: This feels like a truly pivotal moment in the Trials and for Team Welsh.

~Knox steps onto the apron and through the ropes with Wolf down, in pain. We get a quick shot of Vhodka as some TRIAD personnel are now checking on her. Fans nearby looking concerned...a few saying “Take her away! Away from this certain death!” A TRIAD official immediately removes this fan. We cut back to the ring...Knox stomps on Wolf, keeping her down. He keeps Welsh and Richards in his peripheral. They don’t seem eager to move...so his comfort increases. He boots Wolf in the ribs, sending her over, front facing against the mat...he hits the ropes, bounces off and gets tremendous height with a leg drop across the back of Wolf’s head~

MoMo: Knox is in the driver’s seat at this point. Vhodka appears to be eliminated and Sarah Wolf...I don’t know. Physically she may be unable to compete much longer.

Hood: Dude went out and took it. That’s why he’s one of the best this business has to offer.

MoMo: I would have personally rather seen him compete the old fashioned way, rather a steel chair sneak attack, but to each their own.

~Knox makes a smooth transition onto Wolf’s back...he locks his hands under her chin and pulls up, wrenching her spine in a Camel Clutch! The fans groan...seeing Wolf under this much duress with Vhodka already badly beaten isn’t a fun watch. Knox yanks back, trying to break her neck, spine or, ya know, induce a tap out. Wolf grimaces...she refuses to yell...she’s still conscious, but her movements have slowed. Knox rears back even further...Wolf grunts, her hands reaching up, trying to break Knox’s grip. Again, Richards turns to Welsh but he is in no hurry to help Wolf out. Tony crouches down, asking Wolf if she wants to give it up...but there’s no way in hell. Knox moves his hands around, trying to get a stronger grip...but this puts them in a dangerous spot...Sarah opens her mouth and bites down on his right hand...Knox yells out! The fans pop! He immediately breaks the hold, pulling his hand back~

MoMo: Sarah’s teeth are fashioned to do damage...whether that was her decision or not.

Hood: She’s a biter! We’ve got ourselves a biter!

MoMo: Knox entered this match throwing the rules out the window so I can’t blame her for doing what she must.

~Wolf tries to get up but Knox remains seated on her back. He reaches down, angered, and grabs her by the hair...he slams her face into the mat repeatedly...over and over until her body once again goes limp. He has one, final face slam prepared for good measure...he yanks back as hard as he can on her hair and...he falls over! Wolf’s hair comes off! It’s a wig! Knox hits the mat and immediately sits up, looking at the wig in his hand and the now bald Wolf on the mat~

MoMo: Her wig is off!

Hood: We’ve got a bald woman in the ring!

MoMo: I don’t think Knox was expecting that!

Hood: She bit his finger so he snatched her bald headed. Makes sense.

~Knox slings the wig into a corner and looks at his right hand...a couple of bite matches between the thumb and index finger...one close to producing some blood. He shakes it off and gets back to his feet. Wolf begins to push up but Knox sends her crashing back to the mat with a stomp into her back. He bends over and snares her by the ears, yanking Sarah to her feet. Grabbing her by the wrist he slings her into a corner...she hits hard. Knox charges in and crushes her with a huge clothesline!! He backs away...Sarah stumbles out...Knox spins and drops Sarah with a perfectly executed Spinning Heel Kick!! Wolf is down...looking worse for wear. Knox then casts a glance over his shoulder to see TRIAD personnel motioning that they need a stretcher for Vhodka~

MoMo: Wolf is down. Vhodka is out. Knox is very close to earning these two points.

Hood: Wolf looking at another goose egg.

MoMo: You gotta think the lack of team chemistry is hurting her. She’s too talented to struggle this much.

~Knox pulls Wolf to her feet by the ears again...he shoves her into the center of the ring...she stands, weak in the legs. Knox leans into the ropes, shoots off and throws Little Drop of Poison at Sarah’s head. But Sarah drops to her knees! Knox misses!! He stumbles forward, hitting the ropes...he bounces off...Sarah turns around and lunges at his waist, wrapping her arms around him. Knox immediately pounds Sarah with double axe handle after double axe handle until she releases her grip. He grips her by the back of the neck with his right hand, pulling her up and slinging her into a corner...she slams face first into the top buckle and remains there, lurched forward, face buried in the buckle. Knox backs up...he measures Wolf and charges in...he flies through the air and hits a huge Splash!!! Sarah stumbles...Knox backs into the corner and fires forward before Sarah can fall, nailing her with Little Drop of Poison!!! Sarah turns inside out, landing on the mat! Knox drops to his knees...he makes a nonchalant cover as Tony slides in~

1!

2!

SHOULDER UP

MoMo: Sarah with the shoulder up!

Hood: Hook the leg, Knox. C’mon, bro...you’re seasoned enough to know this.

MoMo: Perhaps looking to sprinkle a little insult into potential injury...an decision that might have cost him the three count.

Hood: That’s fine. Just stay on top of her and don’t let her catch her wind and you’ll be fine.

~Richards looks toward Welsh. He nods, surprised at the kick out but impressed, almost begrudgingly. Knox, on his knees, holds three fingers up to Tony but he responds with two, signaling the shoulder up. Knox curses and grabs Sarah by the head, slamming the back of her skull into the mat, keeping her down. He returns to his feet. Again, he looks toward Vhodka...the stretcher is out and the TRIAD officials are looking to get her on it. Wolf fights...she manages to get to one knee before reaching her feet...as she does, Knox spins and drives a kick right into Wolf’s gut. He then delivers a stiff shin kick to the side of her knee, forcing her to genuflect. Knox measures Wolf and he jumps up with an Axe kick to the back of her head...but she tumbles forward!!! Knox misses!! His foot hits the mat, awkwardly, jamming it up! He reaches for his knee, wincing. Wolf struggles to her feet, stumbling around...the crowd cheers her on~

MoMo: Knox’s kneed jammed into the mat! Wolf’s got an opening!

Hood: Well I’ll be damned.

MoMo: You say you’re damned too loud and Wolf might take a liking to you, Hood.

Hood: I don’t date bald women.

~Knox turns around...Wolf does the same...she throws a kick into Knox’s gut!!! The fans are on their feet! Knox doubles over! Wolf grabs him by the head, she’s looking to Hybrid Moment DDT!!! She pauses, wincing...her head still ringing from that earlier chair shot. Knox breaks free and smashes Wolf in the face with a forearm...she spins around...he leaps up with a lungblower!!!! They both fall to the and he immediately locks her into Katahijame (The Mercy, The Murder)!!!! The momentum that grabbed the fans is stymied as Knox looks to choke Sarah out or, at the very least, inflict so much pain she has no choice but to tap out. Tony is in position, ready to end the match~

MoMo: These fans are surprisingly behind Wolf in this one. Knox took his revenge but I think it backfired on him, as far as the fans go.

Hood: Yea, they like Vhodka...for some reason.

MoMo: Plus, I just think they were eager for a competitive triple threat and, instead, Knox’s actions have turned it into this...a hectic, broken singles match.

Hood: Mhm

~Wolf winces...she’s in pain. Tony asks if she wants to quit...her eyes open and they shoot daggers at Tony. He backs away like, ‘Okay, chill, I was just askin.’ Wolf’s left arm is over her head...Knox’s right arm is around her neck. It’s not the best situation, at all. Looking around, she tries to find help…she sees Welsh and Richards. They aren’t even close to lending a helping hand...fuckin figures. She looks down the aisle and sees a sight that bothers her...it’s Vhodka being placed on a stretcher. The memory of the attack becomes fresh in her mind once again. She snarls...frowns...spits...she yells out and leans forward. Knox looks around, feeling a monumental shift~

MoMo: Uh oh...Wolf just saw her ‘sister’ Vhodka being placed on a stretcher. She’s not gonna like that.

Hood: But can she do anything about it?

MoMo: I think she’s about to try.

~Wolf gets her free hand on the mat...she yells out, finding her powerful base. Yelling out, she rises to her feet with Knox on her back...the fans cheer! Knox looks around, stunned. He squeezes the hold as hard as he can...Wolf stumbles back and throws her body into a corner, squashing Knox!!! She staggers forward, holding her throat, shaking her head...Knox immediately recovers and hurries forward, locking Katahijame back in!!! Wolf drops to one knee...is this it?! Nope! She fires back up...stumbling back into the corner...this time her legs giving out, causing her to fall on top of Knox...the back of his head slamming into the middle buckle, awkwardly...he lets go and is wrecked, on the mat, holding his head! The fans cheer! Wolf crawls away before leaning her head against the mat, coughing, holding her neck with her right arm while protecting her left~

MoMo: She broke the hold! That second fall seemed to really hurt Knox.

Hood: No shit...the first was a squash. That second was a full on crash. Dude’s neck might be injured.

MoMo: Amazing strength internally and externally by Wolf to fight through that. I’m impressed.

Hood: But is Welsh?

~Knox pulls himself up using the ropes...his neck stings...he reaches for it, wincing. Wolf gets to her knees...Knox sees opportunity...he hurries forward, from behind Wolf, looking for that Axe Kick! His heel comes down toward Sarah...but she reaches up and catches it!! She sweeps Knox’s other leg, sending him face down to the mat! Sarah secures the ankle and, from one knee, twists and turns Knox’s ankle with an Ankle Lock!! Knox yells out in pain! Tony is like ‘wow, this changed’ and drops down, asking Knox if he wants to give it up. Sarah’s pretty zapped of energy right now, her bald head coated in sweat...but she’s trying her best to break his ankle~

MoMo: Sarah Wolf fighting back! Giving Knox a bit of his own medicine!

Hood: Okay, I’ll go ahead and say it, I’m impressed.

MoMo: I’ve been impressed with Wolf the entire Trials. She’s just had some tough luck.

~Wolf is far from 100%...this allows Knox to flip over onto his back and boot her in the face! She loses her grip, stands and stumbles back into a corner. Knox gets to his feet...his right leg hurting at the knee and now the ankle. He shakes it off and charges in at Sarah...but she moves! Knox narrowly missed slamming into the buckles! Sarah takes him over with a school boy roll up but doesn’t try the pin. She just pops to her feet...Knox rolls through, onto his knees. Sarah jumps up, driving both knees into Knox’s chest, sending him backward with a standing Meteora!! Her weight collapsing onto Knox with a heavy impact!! Knox rolls around, holding his shoulders. Wolf gets back to one knee...she looks over and sees Vhokda being carted off atop the stretcher. Her eyes flare...she yells out and gets to her feet, stomping around, fired the fuck up~

MoMo: I can’t believe I’m about to say this but Wolf is rolling! She’s got Knox in trouble!

Hood: Maybe it was the fuckin wig holding her back. She’s aerodynamic now.

MoMo: I mean, anything is possible.

~Wolf hits the ropes...she bounces off and throws all her weight onto Knox with a Senton!! Knox holds his midsection, rolling around in pain. Wolf pops back to her feet...she sees Knox struggling to his, knowing he’s got to get off the mat. Wolf hits the ropes, bounces off and takes Knox over with a Thesz Press!!! She pummels him with forearm after forearm shot from the mount position. Knox tries to cover up, shoving his hand in Wolf’s face...but she takes his arm and immediately transitions into an armbar!!! The crowd is on their feet...Knox is in trouble! His arm stretched, his shoulder looking ready to pop~

MoMo: Armbar!! She’s trying to tear Knox’s rotator cuff!

Hood: Shit, man. That’d ruin him for the remainder of the Trials.

MoMo: It’s not looking good.

~Knox’s left arm is free...he struggles, reaching out, trying to grab something. He snares Tony by the shirt, out of desperation...but Tony pulls away. He waits for Knox to tap...but the old man is belligerent. Let her tear the fuckin thing off. If she’s able. Sarah is completely aware that a tap out via armbar is a tough ask...she looks down at his right hand and sees her two bite marks from earlier...it’s like a dinner bell...she dives in and sinks her teeth right into his hand. Knox yells out, “GEEZUS FUCK!” Tony is caught off guard until Knox points at Wolf...he sees her biting into his hand and dives in, trying to get her to let go~

MoMo: She’s tearing into his hand with those jagged teeth!

Hood: Well, Welsh did refer to her as a ‘feral bitch’. Might be some truth to that.

MoMo: I’d watch what you say!

~Tony issues a count. He gets to five and warns of a DQ. Wolf lets go...she isn’t completely buying the DQ warning but it’s not worth the risk. Knox immediately pulls his arm in and rolls away, toward the ropes. We get a look at his hand and it’s covered in blood...her teeth having torn a good portion of the tender part between his thumb and index finger open. Wolf gets back to her feet...behind her we see Welsh leaning in, his interest growing. Richards stands by him, ready to act. Knox pulls himself up using his left hand...Wolf reaches out for him but Knox slings his right hand at her...blood flying in her eyes!! She stumbles back...Knox rises up and boots her in the gut! She doubles over...he leans into the ropes, shoots off and hits her in the back of the head with an Axe Kick!! She drops to her knees...he then FINALLY nails the Axe Kick to her head, sending her falling forward, to the mat. He drops to his knees, rolls her over and hooks the leg!! Tony slides in~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!!

MoMo: Knox turning lemons into lemonade by using his injured hand to stun Wolf!

Hood: Almost got him the win, but not quiet.

MoMo: He hit a variation of To The Guillotine...and, if you’ll notice, he hooked the leg that time.

~Back on his knees, Knox raps his left hand around Wolf’s throat, choking her out. Tony doesn’t show any favoritism, giving him the same five count he gave Sarah before ordering him off. Knox releases before the threat of a DQ and grabs Sarah by the ear, pulling her to her feet. She gets to her feet and fires up with a forearm shot to Knox’s chin! Knox responds back with a knife edged chop from his bloody hand...a blood mist hitting the air, a red streak left across her chest. She delivers another forearm...he delivers another chop...they trade back and forth back and forth back and forth with the fans going wild!! Sarah rears back with everything she’s got, nailing Knox!! He leans back, his arms swaying...but he remains on his feet...he rears back with everything he’s got and chops the shit out of Wolf!! She stumbles back, nearly falling over...but she maintains her balance...Knox then lunges forward, taking her down with a clothesline. She hits the mat...he doubles over, grabbing at his legs, trying to catch his breath~

MoMo: These two giving it everything they’ve got here to open Night 3 out here under the Bermuda sun!

Hood: Sarah Wolf is hanging with one of the best this business has to offer, very impressive.

MoMo: Unfortunately, without a win, I doubt it’ll be enough for Welsh.

~Knox remains doubled over. It’s hot and he’s exhausted. Wolf, on her back, suddenly lifts her legs up and wraps them around his head!! The fans rise! She’s trying to get Knox locked in a Triangle Choke! Knox tries to pull out but is unsuccessful (what a shock!). She’s got it locked in!!! Tony tries to get into position. Knox, realizing the danger he’s in, uses all the energy he has left to pull Sarah up off the mat and slam her into the corner with a Buckle Bomb!! She hits hard, releasing the hold. Knox stumbles back...Sarah remains in the corner, gathering herself. Knox catches his wind and rushes in...Sarah ducks and hurries out of the corner...she spins around, as does Knox...Knox catches her with Little Drop of Poison!! Wolf’s body falls to the mat! The fans groan. Knox leans over the top rope, his right continuing to leak blood. Fans start to clap and stomp...trying to urge the two on. It works for Knox...he gets off the ropes and heads for Sarah, snaring her by the hair...but there is no hair...he curses and grabs her by the straps from the top of her ring gear, pulling her to her feet. He then hoists her up onto his shoulders~

MoMo: Into the Void! Knox is going to try to end this!

Hood: Good night Sarah Wolf.

~Knox just has to locate the hard camera so he can show off those looks of his. He then tosses Sarah up, off his shoulders for Into the Void...but on the way down she grabs his leg!!! She sweeps the other leg, snares it, ties them up and within seconds she’s got him locked in a Sharpshooter! The fans are on their feet! Knox yells out in pain, scratching, scraping at the mat, trying to get free. Sarah rears back, bending Knox’s spine at a dangerous angle. He pushes up with his hands, trying to get some leverage. He reaches back, trying to pull on Sarah’s hair but, again, that bald fuckin head. He curses women who shave their heads. Tony drops to one knee, asking Knox if he wants to give it up~

MoMo: What a reversal! Wolf is looking to injure Knox’s back with this high angled Sharpshooter!

Hood: Well people do call him Old Man Knox. Now he’ll have the gait to prove it.

MoMo: Back pain is no joke.

Hood: It is if you don’t have any.

~Knox pushes up with his hands...he manages to lift his body up a bit...he leans forward and then kicks back with his legs as hard as he can...Sarah tumbles off him, losing her grip and rolling forward. Knox scrambles for the ropes. Wolf lands on one knee...she gets to her feet and spins around. Knox leans on the ropes, his back to Wolf. She rushes his way...he turns around and she throws her hand forward, looking to lock him up with Devilock!!! But Knox catches her arm...he stares down at her hand...the danger it’s looking to cause. His eyes wide, imagining what that hand might do to his mouth, tongue, throat, jaw, teeth, etc...he slings it back, spinning her around...he grabs Wolf, lifts her up and drops her with an Atomic Drop!! She stumbles, turns around...he hoists her up and hits her with INTO THE VOID!!!! Bermuda pops!! Sarah falls onto her back, flat on the mat! Knox nurses his leg for a second...his knee wounded from the Sharpshooter. Sarah is down...he needs to cover her...he crawls over and throws his arm across her chest...Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3!!!

NO!!!

MoMo: Shoulder up! Sarah got the shoulder up!

Hood: Got damn! I don’t think anybody was expecting that.

MoMo: Definitely not Welsh.

~We see Welsh looking on, eyes wide. Martina gripping the apron with her hands, looking more than ready to spring into action. Knox can’t believe it...he sits up, arguing with Tony. But Tony won’t entertain the argument. There’s only one thing Knox knows to do...hit it again. And again. And again. However many it takes to keep her down. Back on his feet, he pulls Wolf by the straps of her top, almost like someone walking a dog...he gets her to her feet and hoists her up onto his shoulders. Into the Void, part 2! Sarah wiggles and throws an elbow at Knox’s head. She finds his right hand and reaches for it, tearing at the cut...Knox stumbles toward the ropes...Wolf grabs onto the ropes with her hands...Knox then tosses her over the top rope with an Attitude Adjustment...but she lands on her feet atop the apron. Her safety is short lived as Knox flies in with LITTLE DROP OF POISON! Right into her face, sending Sarah flying off the apron and down to the harsh, hot concrete! She tumbles and winces, holding her shoulder. Knox drops to the mat and rolls onto the apron...he remains there for a minute, catching his breath~

MoMo: Ouch...Wolf giving it all she’s got after kicking out only for Knox to deliver a big boot sending her crashing into that unforgiving surface of Fort St Catherine.

Hood: That St Catherine was a hard bitch.

MoMo: I personally couldn’t say.

~Knox slides off the apron and onto his feet. Wolf remains down, holding her shoulder. Knox flips the apron cloth up, revealing what’s under the ring. He reaches in and grabs another chair...the fans yell and plead with Knox to put it back. Tony hops through the ropes and gets in Knox’s way… “Knox, no! Put it back!” Knox pie faces Tony to the ground with a look on his face that say, “Your breath reeks, get your fuckin hands off me.” The fans get kind of a chuckle out of this. Knox taps the top of the chair against the hard, rock surface of the Fort, waiting for Sarah to get to her feet when, suddenly, the fans go wild! Knox looks around like ‘wtf’...he catches a flat screen hanging near ringside and sees VHODKA marching down to ring! She’s pulling something behind her! The fans are on their feet~

MoMo: It’s Vhodka! She’s alive!

Hood: Just when you think you’ve kicked alcoholism...here it comes, raging back.

MoMo: Knox is in trouble now!

Hood: What is she pulling behind her? Don’t tell me it’s a wagon full of Knox’s kids!

MoMo: I hope not!

~Knox turns his focus from Wolf and walks around the ring to the aisle just as Vhodka reaches ringside...he’s got his chair and warns, “You want another one?” Vhodka stops pulling whatever is behind her...she puts her hands up, begging Knox off. He hesitates...she turns around...pauses and then spins around throwing her stuffed UNCLE EARL at Knox!!! The taxidermied body crashes into Knox...he stumbles back, gets a good look at the mangled face of Uncle Earl and hurriedly tries to get it off him, slinging it to the ground...Knox is more shook than hurt. Vhodka charges forward, leaping through the air and slamming into Knox with a crossbody...the impact sends him backwards, his back bending against the edge of the apron! He drops to his knees, reaching for his back as Vhodka remains standing...shes’ got some red in her hair from being busted open...the hair is disheveled and messed up but, other than that, she looks fine. The fans chant ‘VHODKA! VHODKA!’~

MoMo: Knox’s actions, basically, gave Vhodka most of the match off...she’s fresh and ready to go!

Hood: She looked dead, man. How is she so lively?

MoMo: I...I don’t know. But I’m told we have footage!

~We cut to moments earlier. Vhodka being wheeled away from the ring...right by Uncle Earl’s statue. The minute she passes by it...she sits up on the stretcher and awakens! Everyone around her drops to their knees, doing the sign of the cross. Vhodka snatches Uncle Earl who’s feet are attached the skates for some reason...and she heads back to the ring, dragging him along. We cut back to the live footage~

MoMo: Well, there ya go. She can thank her mamma for this when the Night is over.

Hood: That might be the spookiest thing that’s happened in TRIAD.

~Vhodka snatches something from Earl’s hands...it’s glued to them but she rips it right off. A few men in the front row are both disturbed and aroused. It’s a golden chalice filled with wafers. Vhodka takes the chalice and smashes Knox in the head with it, knocking him down. The wafers fly everywhere...we’re not sure how sacrilegious this is but we won’t ask. See no evil, hear no evil. Vhodka heads around the ring toward Sarah. Sarah is still holding her shoulder...she sees a hand in front of her face, extended. Wolf looks up and takes it...Vhodka pulls Sarah to her feet...the fans cheer! Welsh is seen on the other side of the ring slapping the mat out of frustration~

MoMo: Friendship!

Hood: Gross.

MoMo: Knox is hurt. He had trouble trying to put Wolf away...now he’s got to try and put Wolf AND Vhodka away. It isn’t looking good for Pro Wrestling’s Sperm Donor!

~Knox is on his knees, head bowed. Vhodka and Wolf stand over him. Tony leans through the ropes, trying to get some order restored in this one. But, it’s clear these three don’t give a shit and, what’s he gonna do? DQ all three of them? Vhodka and Wolf reach down to grab Knox...but he suddenly reaches up, snaring them both by the throat! The fans are shocked. Knox rises, gripping each woman by their throat...he hoists them up for a double chokeslam...but the kick him in the knees on the way up, causing him to stagger back and let them go. Vhodka dives at Uncle Earl, removing a couple of thick, wooden crosses from his stuffed body. Knox, holding his knee, retreats into the ring. Wolf hops up onto the steps and lurks behind the ring post. Vhodka, with both crosses in her possession, sneaks around the ring, to the other corner, crouching by the steps. Knox looks up, trying to find the two women...Vhodka and Wolf look at one another and then move! Vhodka rushes up the steps...together they leap up onto the top buckle...Vhodka tosses Wolf a crucifix from across the ring...she catches it...Knox is on his feet...they leap off and drive their crosses into Knox’s head, sending him to the mat!!! Knox is down!! Vhodka and Sarah look at each other...who’s gonna take the pin? Welsh yells out, ‘PIN HIM, WOLF! FUCKIN IDIOT, PIN HIM!” Wolf turns, glaring at Welsh~

MoMo: A little uncertainty there between friends.

Hood: Yea, Welsh did not like that and, I mean, who can blame him? Sarah needs the points more than Vhodka.

MoMo: Yea but I don’t think Welsh’s outburst is going to do him any favors.

~Wolf looks at Vhodka and says, “You pin his ass.” She then heads toward Welsh. Vhodka drops down on top of Knox. Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3!!

NO!

MoMo: Knox with the shoulder up!

Hood: Well, it’s official, Knox has reached god tier status.

~Wolf leans through the ropes and points at Welsh, threatening him. Welsh back ups, telling Wolf to calm down. Behind them, Vhodka collects the two crucifixes and pops back to her feet. She measures Knox up...crouched, smiling...her tongue sliding along her lips...Knox slowly gets to his feet, dazed. Vhodka charges with a crucifix in each hand, looking to smack Knox in the head with both...but Knox catches Vhodka, hoists her up and DRILLS her into the mat with a Spinebuster!!! The fans pop for the move!!! Vhodka arches her back in pain...Knox, on his knees, holds his head...and his back...he sees the two crucifixes and angrily slings them out of the ring~

MoMo: Knox rising from the dead! Unbelievable!

Hood: Vhodka is down. If Wolf would take her focus off of Welsh then she might be able to win this one.

MoMo: You gotta blame Welsh for cultivating the current mindset.

~Wolf really lays into Welsh. We can’t hear exactly what she’s saying but it’s brutal and it’s threatening. Finally, Martina reaches up and she punches Wolf in the face!!! The fans are shocked!!! Wolf pulls back, on her feet, stumbling...Knox quickly takes her over for a roll up!!!! Tony slides in!! The fans count along!~

1!

2!

3!!!!!!

NO!!!!

MoMo: Wolf with the kickout! Unbelievable!

Hood: Holy shit. Had Richards actually cost Wolf ANOTHER match...I shudder to think of the fall out.

MoMo: Ya know, if Welsh wants Wolf to thrive...how about he just leave her alone!

~Wolf BARELY kicks out. Knox is back to his knees, hurrying to his feet. Wolf scrambles for the ropes...she pulls herself up, turns around and gets clotheslined over the top!! She lands on the apron before hitting the floor outside. Knox then turns his focus to Vhodka...he has a slight limp and his back is bothering him but he’s gonna fight through it. Vhodka is crawling away from Knox...he reaches down and grabs her by the orange, blood soaked hair...he yanks back and...HER HAIR COMES OFF! He looks at the orange wig in his head and then down at Vhodka’s bald head. “WHAT THE FUCK” he yells, slinging the wig into a corner where it rests alongside Wolf’s wig. Vhodka pulls herself up in the corner...Knox refocuses and charges in...Vhodka jumps up and kicks both feet into the back of Knox’s head, sending his face crashing into the top buckle...he stumbles back and lands on the mat...Vhodka slips through the ropes and hurriedly climbs to the top...she reaches the top buckle and leaps off with ON THE ROCKS!! She connects!! The ring shakes from the impact...Vhodka hooks the leg! Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3...NO!

MoMo: Wow, so close!

Hood: Hey! Vhodka didn’t exactly consult Wolf on that pin, did she?

MoMo: Oh stop trying to make something out of nothing.

~Vhodka is quickly back on her feet...she points at Knox and waits for him to get up. She looks kinda weird with this bald head, not gonna lie. Knox struggles to his feet...Vhodka measures him up and runs forward...she dives at Knox with Screwdriver (Corkscrew Stunner)!!! But Knox holds on, tosses her up in the air...he catches her on the way down and spikes her into the mat with a Tombstone!!!! Vhodka goes limp, on the mat!! Knox lays on top of her for the cover...Welsh leans in, looking like he’s hoping for the three count...Tony dives in~

1!

2!

3...NO!

MoMo: Vhodka with the shoulder up!

Hood: Holy shit, man. I’ve never seen a counter like that ever. Warriors, all of them.

MoMo: And it’s just the opening match!

~Welsh throws his arms in the air, frustrated. Knox isn’t happy, either. He’s on borrowed time with Wolf looming on the outside. He heads for the nearest corner and takes a seat, catching his breath...he closes his eyes for a moment...he reopens them and sees Wolf back in the ring...she’s on all fours, staring at him. He then sees Vhodka start to get up...Knox utters, “Fuck me.” He feels something underneath him...reach down he finds the two wigs...Knox pulls himself up. Vhodka and Wolf get to their feet...Knox grips a wig with each hand...he heads for the two women. They unload on him with rapid punches into his midsection as he throws heavy handed, wig wrapped fists down at them...it’s a two on one brawl and these fans are loving it!~

MoMo: It’s a brawl for all!

Hood: We got fists and we got wigs! Not to mention we got bald women!

MoMo: Who knew Knox would be the one with the best hair in this match.

Hood: Knox probably knew.

~Knox’s heavy wigged fists are doing damage...Vhodka and Sarah both drop to their knees...but, when they do, they grab onto his legs and take them out from under him!! Knox falls back, the wigs flying out of his hands and out of the ring. Vhodka and Wolf reach their feet each one holding a leg...together they fall back, catapulting Knox up and over into the corner!! But Knox lands on his feet on the middle buckle!! He jumps up onto the top buckle...Vhodka and Wolf return to their feet...they turn around and Knox leaps off taking them both down with a Moonsault!!! He covers them both...Tony flies in with the count~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!!

MoMo: Unbelievable! Say what you want about Matt Knox and there’s a lot that can be said but he is an amazing wrestler.

Hood: No shit, man. He wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t.

MoMo: You’re talking two on one...he facing two of the greatest wrestlers in this sport and he’s not backing down. He might win it, Hood!

~Knox hurries to his feet...he reaches for Vhodka, who is on all fours, he grabs at her bald head...his finger gets stuck under her scalp...he’s confused...he yanks and...he pulls off a bald cap!!! He looks at the weird, skin colored material hanging from his index finger...he then turns and looks at Vhodka rising to her feet, her natural hair exposed, displaying the wound on her scalp from the chair shots at the beginning of the match. “WHY SO MANY LAYERS” he bemoans, throwing the cap out of the ring. Wolf stands next to Vhodka...Knox charges at them with a double clothesline! They duck. Knox stops and spins around with a Spinning Heel Kick...they both duck, avoiding his giant leg. He grabs Knox from behind and lift him up, setting him on the top buckle. Wolf beats on him from behind as Vhodka slips through the ropes and climbs to the top buckle where Knox rests~

MoMo: Uh oh...what do they have planned…

Hood: There should be a rule that a wrestler can’t wear more than one wig and or bald cap during a match.

MoMo: Oh relax.

~Vhodka stands on the bar between the buckle and the post...she grabs Knox by the head and then leaps off, flipping over...Wolf simultaneously grabs onto Knox and powerbombs him down!! They deliver a combo top rope powerbomb/top rope neckbreaker!!! BOOM!!! Knox lands hard and is out! Wolf frantically looks at Vhodka...Welsh yells, “PIN HIM, WOLF! FUCKS SAKE!” The two women hurry through a paper rock scissor game...Vhodka pulls out scissor and Wolf has paper...Vhodka dives on top of Knox. Welsh yells out, furious. Tony slides in with the count~

1!

2!

3...NO!

MoMo: HOLY SMOKES

Hood: Wow. You have to think the time it takes for them to decide who pins Knox is preventing them from getting the fall.

MoMo: It isn’t helping.

~Vhodka and Wolf are back on their feet...Vhodka points at Wolf’s hand. She nods. Vhodka snares Knox by the hair and pulls him off the mat...she then throws him at Wolf...Wolf throws her hand at Knox...but he ducks! They pass each other...they turn around and Knox slaps the shit out of Wolf’s face with his bloody hand!! She falls to one knee, her face displaying the giant red hand of Knox. Vhodka runs at Knox, leaping at him…but he catches her and throws her into the mat with haphazard fury...she lands, hard. Knox falls into a corner...his body aching, his mind struggling, his wind ailing...but he fights...he perseveres...he stays the course~

MoMo: Knox is leveling up!

Hood: Sarah now bears the mark of Knox.

~Wolf stumbles to her feet only to get hit in the face with a right hand. It sends her falling into the middle rope where she is left hanging. Knox then reaches down, grabbing Vhodka by her real hair...he pulls on it extra hard to make sure it’s legit...Vhodka yells...blood starts to seep from her wound. Knox smiles and rears back on her hair, yanking her to her feet. He then hoists her onto his shoulders~

MoMo: Into the Void!

Hood: Oh shit! Vhodka’s out of wigs to save her!

~With Vhodka on his shoulders, Knox steadies his legs...he reaffirms his grip and...Wolf rushes in, snatching his mouth with Devilock!!!! Knox stumbles...he’s got Vhodka on his shoulders and Wolf’s hand in his mouth. She cranks hard, pulling down on his jaw, trying to separate it. Vhodka slips off his shoulders, dropping to one knee behind him. Knox falls to his knees...his arms start to hang...his head begins to bow...Sarah yells out, giving it as much pressure as she can...Tony looks in...is Knox out? Is he OUT?!~

MoMo: I think Knox has been choked out!

Hood: No way.

MoMo: He’s not moving!

~He leans into Wolf. It appears if she moved he’d fall to the mat, unconscious. Tony grabs his arm and holds it up...a final check. He lets it go and...IT STAYS UP! Knox yells out...a gutteral, saliva soaked roar with Wolf’s hand in his mouth...he rises to his feet and using both hands breaks Wolf’s arm at the elbow (NOT LITERALLY). She loses her grip and stumbles back...Knox lifts his leg and smacks her with LITTLE DROP OF POISON!! Sarah falls to the mat and rolls onto the apron. Knox coughs and spits a bunch of blood out of his mouth onto the mat. He turns, looking for Vhodka...she leans against the ropes, still shaken. Knox charges at her and clotheslines her over the top rope...she flips over but holds on, using the momentum to slide back into the ring under his legs!!! The fans rise! Vhodka is on her feet...she hits the ropes...bounces off and leaps through the air with a flying forearm! BOOM! Right into Knox’s wounded jaw...he staggers around~

MoMo: Knox is rocked!

Hood: Vhodka rocked him...WHAT A PUN

MoMo: She’s looking to get to 3-0!

~Vhodka measures him up...she charges in and leaps into the air with SCREWDRIVER! Knox, however, is ready...he catches her and throws her up in the air for another Tombstone! He catches her on the way down...but this time Vhodka locks her legs around his head and takes him over with a Headscissors throw!! Knox flips over, landing on his back!!! The fans are on the edge of their seats cheering, holding their breaths. Knox struggles to his feet...he stands turns and Vhodka flies at him with SCREWDRIVER!!!! She hits it!!!! Knox staggers back against the ropes!! They keep him up! Vhodka takes her focus off him, lowering her head to catch her breath...Knox, like a zombie stumbles forward and grabs Vhodka...he throws her onto his shoulders...the crowd can’t believe it! He’s got her up and he tosses her forward and hits INTO THE VOID!!!!!! Vhodka’s body crashes backward, slamming into a corner...she falls on her ass and lays against the bottom buckle. Knox continues to stumble...he’s out on his feet but he refuses to go down~

MoMo: Unreal! UNREAL

Hood: None of them will go down. That’s how much this shit means to them.

MoMo: It’s everything!

~Wolf steps into view! The fans yell and scream...she’s behind Knox, waiting. He staggers around and she reaches out for Devilock!!!! But Knox ducks and hoists her onto his shoulders!!! She’s in trouble!! He’s got her gripped tight...she reaches around...she finds his right hand and tears into the bite wound!!! Knox is losing his grip...he has to hurry so he tosses her up and forward...she holds onto his head and takes him down with a Small Package!!!! Tony slides in!! The fans count. In the background we see Vhodka looking on...she leans her head back and shuts her eyes~

1!

2!

…

3!!!!!!

MoMo: She did it!

Hood: No fuckin way!

MoMo: Wolf got it!

~The bell rings~

Belvedere: Here is your winner...SARAH WOLF!!!!!

MoMo: Wow...you talk about monumental moments.

Hood: Insane.

MoMo: I dare anybody to show me a match this year more competitive than that one.

Hood: Unpossible.

~Wolf rolls onto all fours, leaning forward, her forehead pressed to the mat. Knox rolls out of the ring, dropping to one knee, holding his head...he’s still thrown from the 2 on 1 beating he took. With Wolf down, catching her breath, having her moment we see Vhodka pull herself up and approach Wolf from behind. Wolf gets to her knees and looks over at Vhodka...Vhodka helps her up and raises Wolf’s hand to a huge ovation from the fans~

MoMo: She may not like these fans but tonight they got behind her.

Hood: I don’t think she likes many people...not sure she’s really ever in a good mood...but tonight, she’s gonna be everyone’s best friend, maybe.

MoMo: Maybe.

~Knox looks into the ring from outside...he rips some of his tape off and slings it to the ground. Staring at his wounded hand, he curses. TRIAD officials are quickly around him, trying to head off any attack. Knox grabs the top portion of the stairs and slings it to the ground in disgust before turning and heading back~

MoMo: That is one frustrated man.

Hood: Dude, he was the favorite to win these Trials after Night 1. But Stratford got into his head. Since? He’s 0-1-1. Last week it was Demi Stratford who messed with his match. Tonight? Tonight he had to fight the two devil sisters in Wolf and Vhodka. That entire crew is fucking up his run in these Trials.

MoMo: He’s got some thinking to do, there’s no doubt about that. I’m also sure he’s going to return on Night 4 with something up his sleeve.

~Back inside the ring Wolf and Vhodka continue to celebrate. Vhodka lets her hand down and they share a half hug...then Welsh enters the ring with Martina. Wolf and Vhodka go from happy to pissed in an instant. Welsh is clapping and pointing at Wolf, “I knew you could do it! All it took was a little inspiration from the ole team coach, right? See what happens when you listen??”~

MoMo: Uh oh

Hood: Yea, this isn’t good.

~Welsh reaches out to hold Wolf’s arm up but she pulls it away from him. Welsh is like, “Hey, we talked about this.” Wolf then lunges forward and grabs Martina Richards with Devilock!!! The fans pop!! Vhodka hooks Welsh from behind in a straight jacket, making him watch as Wolf takes Richards down to her knees! The fans are going wild!! Welsh’s eyes are wide as Wolf stares right at her team leader as she makes Richards suffer. Martina falls to the mat...Wolf lets her go...Vhodka shoves Welsh down to his knees, next to Martina...then, together, they exit, leaving Welsh alone with his unconscious muscle~

MoMo: Well, there’s a message if I ever saw one.

Hood: Swimming a little too close to shark infested waters, Welsh. Might wanna head back to shore.

MoMo: No doubt.

~Wolf and Vhodka leave together...they grab Uncle Earl and place him in between them as they leave to a strong ovation from the fans. Welsh remains on his knees looking more than a little terrified~

MoMo: Huge win tonight by Sarah Wolf. A major statement to everyone in the Trials, including Marcus Welsh.

Hood: I know she hates him. I know he’s a dick. But somehow, someway...the shit they’ve been through had to aid in what took place tonight.

MoMo: Maybe it did. All I know is that Sarah Wolf has broken through and won her first TRIAD match. With that, she earns 2 points...which, for the moment, ties her with Stratford and Thad at the top of Team Welsh.

Hood: Right back in it, just like that.

MoMo: Vhodka, despite suffering her first defeat, still walks away with one point. That puts her up at 5...the most points of anyone in TRIAD for the moment. She still extends her lead ensuring that no matter what LCP does, she will have a lead heading into Night 4.

Hood: She’s in very strong position, no doubt.

MoMo: Meanwhile, Knox gets a goose egg tonight. That leaves him at 3 points. The same as Sarah but, unfortunately, he’s got Catalina with 4 points in his division and she doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. If Catalina wins tonight that’ll officially eliminate Knox from being able to catch her.

Hood: Yep...but if she doesn’t he’s still in it. It’s not like LCP and Thad are pushovers.

MoMo: Nope. She could very easily walk out of her without any points, as well meaning it’ll all be on the line next week.

Hood: Crazy!

MoMo: Alright fans...feels like we’ve had an entire event but it’s just one match! Let’s all take a breather and when we return we’ll find out if Catalina can lock up Team PIC.

Hood: If LCP can gain ground on Vhodka.

MoMo: Or, if Thad can regain a lead on Sarah Wolf and Stratford...we’ll be right back!

EARLIER IN THE DAY

The most talked about scene on the island is our location. And, no, I’m not referencing that beach where a massive orgy was recently reported. I’m talking about the Team Welsh locker room. Yea, I bet you wish we were at that orgy right now. Welsh stands outside the door, his shoulders slumped. He leans forward, pressing his forehead against the door.

“Everything is fine,” he mutters, “everything is fine.”

He overhears a voice on the inside, “Is someone talking to themselves out there?”

Welsh perks up and opens the door. Instantly, his sales face is on. “Hey there, Team! Great to see you all!”

Looking over, he spots the Stratfords. He points at Stephen, “You got this, #1.” His attention turns to Demi, “M’lady, this island is your oyster. Crack it wide open.”

Welsh continues to walk, turning to his right. He sees Thad, “Well if it isn’t my favorite wrestler in the whole world. Thad! The man!” Welsh holds up a fist at the man with which he has so much history, “This ain’t nothing, Thad. It ain’t nothing. You just go out there and do your thing.”

A few more steps forward, Welsh ignores the empty spot meant for Sarah Wolf.

He reaches the back of the locker room and Alexander Raven. Raven leans forward, his elbows on his knees, head down. Welsh pats him on the back, “OG, perk up.”

Raven sighs and looks up. Welsh sees a piece of paper in his hand, he takes it, “I told you, I’ll cover all your expenses.” Welsh reads the bill, “Dry cleaning expense for white suit…” his eyes pop at the price. He hands the paper back to Raven, “Traveling expenses only. We only cover travel expenses.” “Okay, team,” Welsh speaks out to everyone, “Tonight is huge. We have a great opportunity to take this thing by the throat. Stratford, you’re the clear favorite in your match. So you just go in there and pin that goofy MERICA. Don’t fool with the ghost woman. Thad…you’ve already danced with Catalina so you know what to do. She can’t beat you twice. And as for LCP well, been there done that, am I right?”

He pauses, reaching the point in the pep talk where Sarah Wolf should be mentioned, “And, eh, umm…” he turns to Raven, “OG Raven’s match! The main event! Now, Raven, look, I know these Trials haven’t gone your way thus far. But, look…we all still believe in you, don’t we?”

Not much of a response. “Okay c’mon, team…let’s give Alexander some words…who wants to go first?”

Disappointed was one way to describe how he felt. Despondent, despairing, lacking enthusiasm. Delusional though he may be, some truths were hard to ignore. He didn’t care for the white suit. Deep in thought, he really hadn’t been paying much attention. Things had felt hazier than normal. Something about all of this, it was plaguing his mind more than usual. Hands on his knees, he slipped the paper back into his pocket.

His eyes raised to meet Welsh’s. Something about the man was beginning to unnerve him more and more. Truth was a gold coin for those who had only dirty silver, and Welsh. Marcus Welsh was a peddler of fool’s gold. He knew how to spot a deceiver, because he was one too.

“Don’t all jump at once. Wouldn’t want to hurt ourselves.” Another sigh, keeping up the facade of sorrow.

“Kindness doesn’t run in any of our veins. Wouldn’t want to force it out of them.”

"If you'd just change your name to Xander Crow–" Thad began before Alexander curtly interrupted him.

"I'm not changing my name!"

"Okay! Look, I'm just sayin' there's how many Ravens out there now, Third Bird–"

The look of disgust on Raven’s face toward Thad as he interrupted again

"Oh…. GEEE!"

"Fine, fine," Thad said. "All I'm sayin is if I was you… which you're not… You could never be this good looking or this talented, but… I'd have made a huge star out of myself… sorta the way I did…"

Raven rolls his eyes at Thaddeus.

“If only more of us were so humble.” Raven rubbed his brow in exasperation. It seemed that Thad was actually beginning to get under his skin.

"Hey I learned a long time ago, whatever you are… own it," Thad concluded.

Thad looks at Welsh. Welsh looks over at the Stratfords. “So, we good?”

Stephen and Demi look at Thad. Then they look at Welsh. As they do, the locker room door opens and a TRIAD employee enters with a large white box, tied together via a white bow. A card is attached to it. Welsh accepts the gift. “Thanks, employee.” He flips open the identification tag on the box. “OG, this is for you.”

Welsh hands the box to Raven. Raven sits down, carefully undoes the bow and removes the lid. Inside he finds a pair of Bermuda shorts. They have Welsh’s face all over them. Raven lifts them up...they are shockingly heavy and loaded with weapons. He finds a card inside, opening it up.

“Don’t fuck up,” - Team Welsh.

Raven looks at the rest of his teammates,

“Uh, thanks.” We cut back to the live feed.

MoMo: Team Welsh providing Raven with is gear for tonight.

Hood: Man, so much love on that team.

MoMo: Well, they are off to a 1-0 start!

Hood: Yea, and the winner is the only one who wasn’t in that locker room.

MoMo: Alexander Raven will put those shorts to good use later this evening in the Main Event. However, we’ve got another massive bout set to take place. Alright fans, it’s time for our second match of the evening...another big one as, like Vhodka, Catalina looks to potentially CLINCH the Team PIC division.

Hood: Yep, but to do it she’s gotta beat Thad for a second time.

MoMo: That she does. On Night 2 Catalina faced Thad and Helena and left the victor. Tonight, she faces Thad once again...only this time, LCP is added to the equation.

Hood: Dude is the ultimate wild card.

MoMo: Thought to be in over his head, LCP shocked everyone by defeating Knox and Raven in Night 2’s Main Event! If he can win tonight, he’ll only be one point behind Vhodka.

Hood: Yep, he’s got a chance.

MoMo: Thad, meanwhile, is currently tied with both Stratford and Wolf...so he really, really needs at least a point in this one.

Hood: Let’s not forget...Team Welsh is suddenly only 1 point behind Team PIC.

MoMo: Yep. Thad’s already pinned LCP so, like Catalina, he has to do something that is very, very tough to execute...beat an elite competitor twice in one season.

Hood: So, you’re saying LCP is gonna win?

MoMo: I’m ruling nothing out. Team PIC has 10 points. Team Welsh has 9. Team TLS has 8. It couldn’t be any closer! Let’s head down to ringside!

L.C. Pinkston (2 PTS) vs. Thad Duke (3 PTS) vs. Catalina Cortes (4 PTS)

~We return to the scene of the crime and by crime I mean our opening bout. What was criminal about it? I’m not sure but given the three participants I’m sure some crime was being committed. Anyway, here we are, back at Fort St Catherine. The fans continue to exude their unnaturally anxious attitude. Sure, they are here. Sure, they are trying to have fun. But the stench of dread hangs thick just above their heads threatening to strangle the eclectic TRIAD vibe. Belvedere is standing in ringside unaware, or too professional to appear otherwise, of the island anxiety that continually threatens to take hold of the event~

Belvedere: Ladies and Gentlemen, the following contest is a triple threat match and it is scheduled for one fall!

~Holding the mic out he gets something much different in return from the crowd. ‘DON’T GO!!’ He stares at the mic and then at the fans, a little befuddled. But he regains his equanimity and pushes forward~

Belvedere: Introducing first…

~An alarm blares, splitting ears and making faces wince. The several flat screens on the roof of the fort along with the massive screen on the side of the structure, it flashes with !!!NEW CHALLENGER APPROACHING!!!~

~POP/STARS vs MEGALOVANIA by Dj Cutman kicks in, an unholy marriage of club-pop and chiptune. Catalina Cortes steps through the curtain, be-hoodied in metallic red, with SUPER SMASH CAT emblazoned on the back. Her ring gear is a nightmarish swirl of orange and black, the only decipherable symbol being a C for Carnage Wrestling on the right knee pad(specifically her Kinshasa-ing knee). She fires a knee strike into the air and yanks the hood down to unleash a dark brown bob with a side cut~

~Her walk to the ring is quick and eager, ending with a dash up the ring steps. One arm hooks under the top rope, leaving the other free to assist with a dramatic hair flip. Bounding off the bottom rope, Catalina backflips over the top to land on her feet in the ring, before dropping to one knee and welcoming any accompanying adulation. It’s a good strong mixture of cheers and shouts warning Catalina to stay back. “DON’T DIVE INTO THE TRIANGLE!” one voice yells, drawing a somewhat confused look from Catalina~

Belvedere: From Pasadena, California...standing 5’2 and weighing in at 119lbs...she represents Team PIC...she is Catalina Cortes!!!

MoMo: Catalina is one of only two TRIAD competitors coming into this evening with a 2-0 record. But, like Vhodka earlier, she faces the undesirable task of having to beat a world class competitor for the second time in as many weeks.

Hood: They don’t make them any better than Thad. She squeaked one out against him two weeks ago in Puerto Rico. He’s aloof. He’s got higher ideals. But don’t forget he’s still a competitor and competitors like to win.

MoMo: If she didn’t have his complete focus on Night 2 you can rest assured that she does here on Night 3.

Belvedere: Introducing next…

~'My Name Is Human' by Highly Suspect hits! The fans all turn and go quiet...whether it be shouted warnings or yearning cheers...they shut their mouths because an aura of prestige eviscerates the previous temperament. Thad Duke emerges from behind the TRIAD curtain, splitting the triangular logo. Stepping down from the temporary stage, he calmly makes his way to the ring. He looks to remain in tremendous shape, despite the previous two wars. Walking down the aisle way, people look on, taking in the moment. He reaches ringside and looks up into the ring at Catalina, who has risen to her feet, keeping her focus on Thad. Each step measured, he takes his time ascending the steps. Each impact feeling heavier in significance than actual weight. Thad finds the apron...he calmly wipes his feet before stepping in through the ropes to a strong ovation~

Belvedere: From New York City!! Standing 6’1 and weighing in at 223 lbs...representing Team Welsh...he is Thad Duke!!!!

MoMo: Nothing speeds this man up. He’s got the composure of a veteran three times his age.

Hood: He’s experienced enough to be a veteran threes times his age, MeauxMeaux.

MoMo: Ya know, it takes most wrestlers months, maybe even years, if ever, for an opportunity at payback. Thad only had to wait two weeks for another crack at Catalina Cortes.

Hood: The greats may miss once but they rarely miss twice.

~Thad leans into a corner, arms hanging over the top rope. He looks across the ring at Catalina, who leans back against the ropes~

Belvedere: And, their opponent…

~-LOCO- By MGK hits! The fans stir. They get some bounce in their legs. They don’t know what LCP has in store only that it’ll be unique and, in its own LCP way, entertaining. Shorter people get on their toes to look over the taller ones obstructing their view. Catalina leans forward, staring through the ropes at the entrance while Thad casually looks over his shoulder~

“Hated the Most, So I keep tha Burner Close”

MoMo: And here he comes! The biggest surprise of Night 2...the man who, according to Knox, keeps falling upward...it’s LCP!

Hood: He almost got swallowed up by an entire damn ocean. If anybody might listen to the pleas from these people it’d be...nevermind. He won’t.

~People keep watching. Waiting. Hoping. Looking~

MoMo: It appears LCP is taking his time. The mind games on full display here.

Hood: I don’t really think that’s the realm he should investigate. Not really his forte.

~People continue to watch and wait. Still nothing. The TRIAD curtain moves...people get excited until they realize it’s just a breeze~

MoMo: Really playing the long game, here. The slow burn.

Hood: If he’s going for fashionably late he’s going to be fashionably hated real soon.

~Belvedere looks around like ‘wtf is going on?’ A TRIAD attendant heads toward the ring...he hops onto the apron. Belvedere leans in, getting an update. As he does, we cut to the ‘backstage’ area. A temporary set up near Fort St Catherine. TRIAD officials are heading toward another small building, designed to house a wrestler. On the outside it reads ‘LCP’. The fans pop. The TRIAD official rattles it with his knuckles, “PINKSTON!” he yells. He gets no reply~

MoMo: Wait...are you telling me this wasn’t by design?

Hood: Fuckin figures.

MoMo: Is LCP missing?

Hood: Don’t tell me we’ve got another big stupid mystery on our hands. GEEZUS

~Belvedere returns to the center of the ring, bringing to the mic to his mouth. Thad looks just about over this. Catalina continues to stay spry, ready~

Belvedere: I have just been informed that LCP is running late. The TRIAD officials were contacted for a vote and by a 2-1 vote they have decided that the match go ahead and start without LCP. When or if LCP shows up he can immediately participate.

~The fans ‘ooohhh’~

MoMo: Wow, an impromptu vote that the match should start without LCP!

Hood: I bet I know who the guy that got voted down is.

MoMo: Probably pretty obvious.

~Belvedere exits the ring. Thad looks around like, ‘are we doing this?’ He hears the bell ring and a nice sized pop from the fans. Catalina reacts, pavolovian response, almost, taking off after the bell rings at Thad. Thad ducks out of the way, narrowly avoiding an attack. Catalina lands on the middle buckle...she leaps off, spinning around with a reverse cross body...Thad ducks...she flies over him, trying to grab his arm but he pulls it from her reach...she tumbles, safely across the mat, landing on one knee. She pops back to her feet...so does Thad...they are facing away from each other. They immediately spin around...Thad proving to be almost as quick as Catalina...at least quick enough to prevent her from sneaking in for some attack. She holds up...leaning against the ropes, surprised by his quickness. Thad can only respond with a smirk...it might have taken him a match, but he’s ‘up to speed’ on Cortes~

MoMo: And I guess we’re underway!

Hood: No shit. That bell rang and Catalina shot off like a virgin’s dick a porn convention.

MoMo: Thanks for the visual.

Hood: Better than a facial.

~We cut back to LCP’s ‘locker room’. TRIAD officials continue to knock...via the magic of TV we slip through the crack between the door and the wall and into LCP’s room. He’s standing in his boxers, ear buds applied, watching something on his phone. Rotating around and zooming in we see it’s his match against Thad from Night 1. Thad throws a Heat Seeker...LCP pauses it and mimes like he’s catching Thad’s foot...he then jumps up with CHRONIC KICK!! His body lands hard on the very, very thin carpet that exists between hard earth and LCP’s body. He groans and emits a ‘fuck!’ We cut back outside. The TRIAD officials look at one another...they hear the thud and the sounds of pain. TLS enters the picture, “Well?” “He’s inside...it sounds like he’s hurt.” TLS stares into the sun, “Team Welsh must be behind this...quick, we need to get in there!” They pound on the door, trying to break it down. We cut back to ringside~

MoMo: Nice to know LCP is okay.

Hood: Define ‘okay’.

MoMo: Alive.

Hood: Yea, he’s okay.

~Inside the ring, Thad and Catalina circle each other. Cortes tries to find an opening...but Thad is very much on his toes. If she’s gonna beat him tonight it won’t be because of quickness. She’ll have to resort to a backup option. Catalina springs forward for a superman punch...Thad blocks it but it was a trick, she dives in, at his legs. Thad leaps up, hoisting his knees into his chest. She slides under his feet...he brings them down hard for a double stomp but she tumbles out of the way. His feet slam into the mat. Catalina is already back on her feet...she hits the ropes, bounces off and charges...Thad spins around with a discus lariat but Cat ducks it! She hits the ropes again but this time dives through the top and middle rope, landing on the apron. Thad spins anticipating a charging Catalina but there’s nothing...she runs across the apron, scaling the corner with record speed. Thad’s thrown...he looks around trying to find her...she leaps off throwing her legs at Thad for a hurricanrana...she hooks him by the head...spins around and around and around..he holds on, grabbing her legs and widening their grip so he can slip his head free! Knowing she’s in danger, she kicks off his chest and flips over, landing on her feet in front of Thad. Thad is doing everything he can to keep up...he staggers forward...he’s wide open for an enziguri but she performs a spin first before throwing it!! The extra second aids Thad in recovering...he catches her leg and locks it under his arm! Cat, hopping on one leg, looks up at Thad...he looks down at her...he’s panting, catching his breath...but his smile indicates ‘I got you’~

MoMo: Unbelievably quick. Had she not gone for that extra bit of pizzazz on that enziguri she’d have clocked him.

Hood: Sheer fuckin hubris.

MoMo: Or maybe just underestimating Thad’s ability to adjust. Either way, he’s not where she wants to be...held in place.

~We are back at LCP’s locker room. TLS and the TRIAD officials are still locked out. They lean in, listening. “I don’t hear anything,” a TRIAD official reports before continuing, “my gosh you don’t think he’s…” TLS doesn’t like the sound of this...he forces everyone back, braces his shoulder and dives forward, crashing through the door!!! The fans at ringside pop! He gets up, holding his arm, wincing...he stands and sees...nothing. “Where the hell is he?” The TRIAD official wonders. We cut back to ringside~

MoMo: And now he’s gone.

Hood: Classic LCP

MoMo: I don’t know what TLS had flash before his eyes but he felt a sense of urgency to break in there to save his guy.

Hood: Team TLS doesn’t have much, alright? But it does have LCP who does have a main event win. I think he knows they need that guy to have any shot at winning these Trials.

~Catalina isn’t going to just let Thad toss her around. She springs off her free leg, looking to hit Thad with an enziguri...but he ducks!! He holds onto her leg as her body turns around...she remains hopping on one foot...she jumps up and throws a mule kick into Thad’s chest with her feet leg! But he catches it!! He turns her over and hooks both legs under his arms with Catalina flat on her back! The fans are consumed with anxiety. Catalina extends both arms, trying to beg Thad off...he looks like he’s thinking about it...her youthful face showing its acting chops, looking very sympathetic. But, just as quickly as he thought about it, he hits the mat, driving an elbow into her right knee!! The fans groan...Catalina grimaces...Thad pops back to his feet and immediately drops another elbow...he does this again and again and again until finally wrenching her leg under his arm, twisting and turning it via a leg lock! Catalina bites down on her hand rather than yelling out in pain but it’s clear...she’s going through it~

MoMo: And here we go. Thad doing what any pro wrestling prodigy would. If you can’t out quick someone, take it to the mat.

Hood: Clip a bird’s wing and they’ll cease to fly. If she stays grounded, it’s over.

MoMo: It just might be.

~Back inside LCP’s locker room...TLS and the TRIAD security are baffled. Until, they hear a noise coming from the back of the room. Right from inside the bathroom. They exchange a look like ‘uhh’...neither person wanting to be the one to personally investigate the matter. But, TLS knowing points are at a premium, takes the plunge. He marches toward the back and rips the door open to find LCP seated on the toilet, staring down at his tablet, watching Thad vs Cortes from one week ago. The noise is LCP verbalizing the mental notes he’s taking. “She jumps!” “He kicks!” TLS clears his throat. LCP can’t hear him. TLS kicks LCP in the foot...LCP turns and quickly tries covering his lower half up, removing an earbud “This is not what I had in mind when you mentioned team bonding!” TLS pulls out his phone and logs into the TRIAD broadcast...he shows the ongoing match. We see Thad wrenching Catalina’s knee. LCP shoots TLS a sarcastic look as he holds up his phone, “Yea, I know. I’m already watching the footage from Night 2.”~

MoMo: Not great communication on Team TLS.

Hood: Hey, at least LCP is doing his homework. If he ever makes it to the ring...look out!

~LCP tries to shoo TLS away. TLS points at the ‘LIVE’ caption at the top left corner of the feed. LCP squints and leans forward. He utters ‘live’ and looks down at the clip he’s watching. There is no ‘live’ caption. He looks at the live feed and his feed...the live feed and his feed…the live feed and his feed...he pauses, putting it all together. Or, well, sorta. “Wait, so...we’re already at the Main Event? How long have I been in here…” he trails off, “do I need a colonoscopy?” TLS kicks the toilet, startling LCP, “No! It’s the second match! You aren’t in the main event!” LCP finds this odd, “But I’m Mr. Main Event.”~

MoMo: Oh boy. The longer they argue the bigger advantage they are giving Thad and Catalina.

Hood: I will say about the colonoscopy. Shit’s no joke. If you’ve got digestive issues, look up some nice middle aged man so he can put a tube up your ass to give it a look.

MoMo: Appreciate the advice.

~LCP looks at the live feed. Thad finally releases the hold. He gets to his feet, holding onto Catalina’s right leg. He drags her back toward the center of the ring...she kicks at him with her left leg. It isn’t doing much until one leg clips his knee, causing a stumble. She pops to her feet, still on one leg with Thad refusing to let go. She fights through the pain, preparing to throw a kick but Thad immediately spins to the mat with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip!! He pops back to his feet, dragging her up and he drops her with another...another...and another!!! He’s twisting and tearing at her knee!! She finally yells out, trying to get him off his knee as he returns to his feet, holding her right leg. The fans grow restless, urging Thad to let her leg go. But, he’s tactical and goal oriented. He spins around her right leg, snaring her left and falling back to the mat with a Figure Four!!! Catalina yells out, palms on the mat, pushing herself up, trying to take some of the pressure off her right knee, but it’s impossible. Her face riddled with pain...the Bermuda sun beating down. She grinds her teeth, winces...tries to find someplace to go, mentally, to help push the pain aside. Tony is down on one knee, ready to end the match, should she give it up. We pull back out to see LCP, wide eyed. “Shit, I’ve got to get out there!” TLS throws his hands in the air, “Finally!” LCP starts to get up but he pauses and looks at the door...TLS and the TRIAD security member look confused. “You guys mind? Little privacy?” They back out and shut the door. Outside, TLS looks at the TRIAD member, “So, you know PIC is a bitch, right?” Before the TRIAD security member can respond, the door is kicked open, knocking him out. TLS blocks it with his hands...LCP stumbles out, pants on...he sprints for the front door, kicking it out of his way before slipping and tripping outside while taking a sharp left turn...TLS yells out, “RIGHT!” We wait a second before he goes sprinting by the opened door in the proper direction. We cut back to ringside~

MoMo: He’s finally on his way out here!

Hood: Yea, but he’d better hurry. Catalina’s about to give it up.

MoMo: How do you know?

Hood: I can just tell. She looks like a quitter.

MoMo: I think you might be surprised.

~Catalina’s shoulders fall back onto the mat. Tony counts...but she pops back up. She knows she’s got to do something before she either loses or so much damage is done to her knee that she’s worthless moving forward. She digs her palms into the mat and tries her best to perform the most painful crabwalk ever. Thad, at first, smiles...there’s no way she can move his body. But, he starts to budge. The fans rise. She yells out, digging in and pushing back...he moves some more...and more! “CAT-A-LINA!” the fans clap and stomp, filling the Bermuda air with the first unanimous show of positivity we’ve seen all night. With one loud, roar...Catalina pushes back as hard as she can before reaching back and snaring the middle rope!! Huge ovation!! Thad looks shocked...he can’t believe it. She holds onto the middle rope and urges Tony to get Thad off her. Tony looks at Thad...Thad’s about to break when an idea hits him...he shoves his legs forward, violently! Cat’s body is thrust through the middle and bottom rope! She hangs down, her legs still locked with Thad’s...her upper body upside down outside the ring...she screams in pain, an unimaginable amount of pressure pounding her right knee~

MoMo: Oh come on, Thad!

Hood: Hey, winners do winning things. This isn’t illegal. Tony has to get in there and break that shit up.

MoMo: Unethical, then.

Hood: This is war, man. There are no ethics in war. Only winners and losers.

~Tony yells at Thad to break the hold, hearing Catalina’s screams. Thad doesn’t argue. He complies, leaning forward and unhooking the legs...as he does, Tony’s eyes widen as he turns and reaches for Catalina’s legs...but it’s too late, once she’s free her weight sends her falling HARD on the outside!! She lands on her shoulders and neck...her head avoiding the blow. She immediately curls up, one hand holding her knee while the other reaches for the back of her neck. Thad calmly returns to his feet...the fans staring at him, wondering why. Thad shoots a look into the camera that explains it all. He’s here to win, plain and simple. And, with that, he heads toward the ropes, seeking to collect Catalina~

MoMo: These fans love Thad as much as anyone but I don’t think they like to see face on face crime.

Hood: Yea and that’s why most pro wrestling fans are about as successful as a mouse climbing mount everest to fight a woolly mammoth.

MoMo: What?

Hood: Have you ever heard of a mouse successfully doing that?

MoMo: Of course not.

Hood: Exactly.

~Thad yanks Catalina off the concrete and slings her into the ring...she rolls in under the bottom rope. He hops back onto the apron, sliding through the ropes. Cortes, knowing she’s got to keep fighting, even if she’s a bit broken at the moment, fights to her feet...her right leg bent and holding no weight...she stands on her left leg, unaware. Thad is in the corner...he’s got her measured...he gets into position for Heat Seeker!! The fans lean forward with suspense. We then see LCP running through the fans...he sees what’s going on...he seems to utter ‘just like the simulations!’ as he picks up speed and hops over the barricade around the ring. He runs up the steps and pulls himself onto the top rope. Thad harnesses all his energy and moves to release Heat Seeker!!! LCP leaps off the top rope head first, tumbling forward with a senton!! Thad pulls up as LCP can’t make it all the way to Thad and, instead, lands right on top of Cortes! The crowd, at first ready to explode, just kinda exhales. Thad grabs LCP and slings him through the ropes out of the ring...he then dives on Cortes, hooking her good leg. Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3...NO!

MoMo: LCP flew in for the save...only he was a little short.

Hood: Not if his target was Catalina.

MoMo: Pretty sure he wanted to hit Thad.

~Catalina winds up front first on the mat after kicking out. Thad grabs her right leg, lifts it up and slams the knee into the mat! She immediately reaches for her knee, rolling away. Thad returns to his feet, looking for LCP. We get a shot of LCP crouched down by the ring...Thad heads over there and sticks his head through the ropes, looking down. But LCP is gone! He then pops up behind Thad, having snuck under the ring to the other side...he gets into the ring and hooks Thad around the waist! Thad raises up and reaches down, trying to pull LCP’s hands apart...but the guy has a surprisingly strong grip. Gaming can have its advantages. Thad decides to throw an elbow...LCP ducks and Thad spins around with LCP still holding on…the two men are now basically nose to nose. LCP has a look of surprise while Thad’s look quickly turns into anger...LCP releases his hold and ducks down, crawling through Thad’s legs and into a corner. Thad spins around and throws a HEAT SEEKER at LCP...but he dives through the ropes, onto the apron. Thad’s leg hits the top buckle, nearly eviscerating the padding. LCP stares at the devastated buckle and is like “Wow, yea, I forgot how much that hurts.” LCP jumps up and springboards off the top rope...Thad backs up...LCP dives at him with a springboard cross body...but he kinda overshoots. Thad tries to catch him but gets a knee to the face!! The two men hit the mat with LCP rolling off a pain filled Thad. LCP gets to one knee and sees Thad holding his face...he pumps his fist in the air...somehow, someway he got the man down~

MoMo: LCP is the epitome of experimentation in motion.

Hood: He’s the guy that goes around saying he’d rather ask for forgiveness than permission.

MoMo: The expert of diving in head first.

Hood: The king of fucking around and finding out.

~Thad, holding his noise, hurries back to his feet. LCP is already standing...he greats Thad with a wild flurry of punches. Lefts and rights that all find their individual marks...spraying all over Thad, casting a wide net more than a precise one. Thad stumbles into the corner. LCP hops onto the middle buckle and grips Thad by the hair with his left hand...he slings his fist into Thad’s face...once, twice...but Thad grabs him by the legs and steps forward for an inverted Atomic Drop...LCP wiggles and writhes, managing to slip a knee up into Thad’s chin. Thad lets LCP go...he lands on the mat and hits the ropes...Thad spins around with a lariat but LCP dives to the mat and lays there for a second. Thad turns and drops an elbow...LCP moves! Thad’s elbow hits the mat! LCP crawls for the ropes, through them and onto the apron...he pulls himself up. Thad gets back to his feet, holding his arm. LCP flips over the top rope for a variation of Thad’s Legend Certified...but Thad is ready for it...prepared to take LCP’s head off once he lands. LCP, however, can’t stick the landing and hits his ass...Thad stumbles, awkwardly, missing his clothesline...LCP pops back to his feet and runs into the ropes...he bounces off...Thad turns around and LCP throws his body into the air, crashing into Thad, taking him down!!! if we had to describe the move we’d call it...maybe a corkscrew spinning heel kick cross body? I don’t know. But it works!~

MoMo: The most awkward fast paced action I can ever remember.

Hood: Ya know, if you’ve ever played enough blackjack then you’re familiar with the idea of playing a few hands recklessly when you’re at a bad table to ‘change the cards up’. That seems to be LCP’s style.

MoMo: How do you mean?

Hood: Well, I mean these veterans know all the moves. They know all the counters. So, when they are in there with LCP...he’s so raw at this that it throws them off. Half a step here...an extra rotation there and they don’t know how to react.

~LCP winds up on top of Thad and throws fists down at Thad’s head as fast as he can, keeping him down. In the background we see Catalina pulling herself up, reaching down for her right leg. LCP turns, spotting her...she takes off, relying on instinct. She kicks off her right leg for something...we’ll never know cause it gives out and she falls onto her back. The fans let out a cry of disappointment and concern. LCP heads her way, snaring her right leg~

MoMo: That right leg isn’t ready for the flips and twists Catalina throws into each of her moves.

Hood: If she’s not careful she’ll make an already tough injury even worse.

MoMo: And now she’s drawn LCP’s attention to her wounded leg. Not good.

Hood: Yea, I mean you don’t have to be the guy who invented mat wrestling to know how to work over an injured body part.

~LCP drops an elbow across her knee...same idea as Thad, sloppier execution. He holds onto the knee, twisting it. She grimaces in pain...he’s got the right idea, again...but he forgot one key element. Secure the other leg, keep it inactive...something Catalina realizes quickly as she begins kicking him in the head with her left leg...over and over and over and over until LCP lets go and rolls away, holding his head. Catalina crabwalks away, into a corner, reaching for her right leg. Thad, meanwhile, is back on his feet...he sees LCP slowed down. He pulls LCP up and whips him across the ring...LCP shoots forward, slamming into the corner...Thad is right behind him with a clothesline. Thad backs up...LCP stumbles right into his arms...Thad spins around with a spinning scoop slam! He drives LCP right into the mat. Thad pops back to one knee...he’s got some serious momentum going now. LCP, to his credit, fights back to his feet, too. Thad snares his arm and whips him into the ropes...but LCP reverses! Thad hits the ropes...LCP drops to the mat...but he doesn’t go low enough and his body gets in the way, tripping Thad up as he tries to skip over him...Thad falls to the mat, hard, holding his leg. LCP reaches for his ribs, grimacing...all three wrestlers are down~

MoMo: Once again, as Knox calls it...LCP falls upward.

Hood: Yea, but he took a pretty tough shot to the ribs. There’s not much meat around that midsection to protect them.

MoMo: Nope...meanwhile you’ve got Catalina trying to reconfigure.

Hood: Oh no a match without a million flips whatever will she do.

~Thad crawls for the ropes, pulling himself up. His left leg a little ginger but alright. LCP holds his ribs, kneeling...he then charges to his feet, running at Thad...he dives at Thad...Thad moves! LCP flies through the ropes...but he hangs onto the middle rope to keep from crashing head first into the rock hard surface outside...he comes to rest on the apron. Thad goes after him, reaching over the top rope to get him...but, from out of view, Catalina pushes herself over the top rope, using her left leg to spring upward and she wraps her legs around Thad’s arm with a rope hanging armbar!! Thad yells out in pain, his shoulder being pulled and potentially torn. Catalina, hanging outside the ring, yanks and twists as hard as she can. LCP, on the apron, looks directly up at Thad’s arm and over at Catalina’s back and hair hanging down and immediately scrambles to get out of the way. Thad sees the right leg of Catalina, vulnerable...he begins punching at it with his free hand...fist after fist into the knee...Catalina is losing her strength...she’s got to make a choice...in a flash, she gives up the arm bar, wraps her legs around Thad’s head and takes him up and over the top rope all the way to the outside with a hurricanrana!! Thad’s body is yanked over the top rope...he lands on his back HARD on the outside!! The fans pop for the move!! “CAT-A-LINA!” Only problem is, she slams her knee into the apron after pulling Thad out! She winds up on the apron, holding her knee, curled up in pain~

MoMo: Thad takes a terrible fall! But Catalina’s knee is still bothering her.

Hood: She’s fighting, I’ll give her that. Was wondering what she might look like when she faced some real adversity.

MoMo: I think she’s already faced adversity.

Hood: Dude, she’s been flying around like there isn’t a care in the world. Tonight? Tonight she’s gotta call some audibles and fight through some real shit.

~Cortes doesn’t have long to nurse her wounds as LCP drags her back into the ring. She fights to her feet but she’s got a good hold on her right leg. He punches at the knee...each punch rendering a painful reaction from Cortes. He punches it again and again and again...growing increasingly confident. He’s probably never worked over a body part before...so, ya know, this is kinda fun. He rears back, shows his mighty fist of knee cap destruction and brings it forward...SMACK! Before he can, Cat jumps off her good leg and hits LCP with an Enziguri...he spins around, stunned...she rolls him up! Tony slides in~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!

MoMo: Don’t get too confident, LCP. She may have one good leg but with one leg she’s still better than 90% of the wrestlers in this industry.

Hood: Maybe she should amputate that right leg. Make this more of a challenge for herself.

MoMo: I would never recommend self mutilation to anyone.

Hood: I would.

~LCP hurries to his feet...Catalina does the same but her right knee gives out on her, keeping her kneeled. LCP runs into the ropes, he bounces off and he returns the favor with CHRONIC KICK!! Catalina goes down. LCP remains on one knee...he looks out and sees Thad’s head rising...he’s recovering from his fall...so LCP pops to his feet...he hits the ropes, charges forward and leaps over the top rope yelling out “FOR THE SWITCH!!!” LCP stretches his body out for a cross body over the top rope!! But his feet catch the top rope, causing his body to flip over which, as fate would have it, sends him landing right on top of Thad with a somewhat competent looking corkscrew plancha!!! He lands on top of Thad, taking him back down to the unforgiving surface! The fans go wild, chanting “LCP!” He pops back up, his eyes tell that he’s a little shaken by clipping his leg against the top rope...however, the end result was pretty much what he wanted...so he throws his arms in the air and begins talking shit as though it was all planned~

MoMo: For what he lacks regarding in-ring acumen he more than makes up for with that unshakable confidence and bravado.

Hood: Confidence will get you a whole hell of a lot further in life than any skills.

MoMo: Can’t argue that.

~LCP turns his focus back to the ring and the wounded Catalina who is now standing, gingerly with her back to the action. He rushes forward, diving in under the bottom rope and lunging forward, clipping the back of her right knee, taking her down. The fans grow unsettled, disgruntled...not enjoying what they are seeing with Cortes. LCP pops back up and snares her right leg...he lets out a loud ‘WOO!!!’ and spins around, looking for a Figure Four...but he gets confused...crossed up...he pauses for a moment, his back to Catalina...she kicks him in the ass with her left leg. He stumbles forward, releasing her right leg. LCP turns around...Catalina nips up, landing on her left leg...she leaps at LCP, snaring him by the head, spinning around and dropping him with a Tornado DDT!! The fans go wild!! LCP’s head hits the mat...he sits up for a second before collapsing back to the canvas...Catalina dives on him for the pin~

1!

2!

SHOULDER UP!

MoMo: Look at the fight in Cortes!

Hood: Remember, young wrestlers, just cause you’ve seen a move on TV doesn’t mean you know how to execute it.

MoMo: Gotta practice.

~Catalina sits up, her back to LCP...she’s frustrated. She looks at her knee. She’s not going to have many other opportunities to win this. Something catches her eye...it’s a spot of blood on the mat. She looks around and follows a slight trail that leads her to LCP’s head...he’s still down. She sees the sun reflecting off a few staples in his head from last week’s match. She balls up her right fist and begins pummeling at his wound! LCP yells out~

MoMo: Doing what she must...those staples were well hidden but they are there.

Hood: He’s pretty well healed up after only two weeks. Guess that gash was pretty deep.

MoMo: Well, he did get DDT’d through a thick glass surface inside a Puerto Rican knock off Subway shop.

Hood: Yes, I know. I tried to get a sub the next day before we left and they were closed. I was extremely disappointed.

~LCP rolls over, trying to protect the wound in his head. With his back exposed, Catalina climbs on it, trying to lock something in...she gets her arms around his head, but struggles wrapping her legs around his waist...LCP powers up to his knees...then to his feet with Catalina on his back...her right leg not cooperating with locking in this Coquina Clutch! Blood runs down LCP’s forehead as he reaches up, trying to pry her off him...the fans rise...LCP looks up and says ‘oh shit’ as Thad is back in the ring and smacks him with HEAT SEEKER!!!! LCP falls backward on top of Catalina...Thad goes for the pin...Tony slides in and makes the count~

1!

2!

3!!

NO!

MoMo: Catalina’s shoulder is up!

Hood: He has LCP pinned but not Catalina!

MoMo: Nope, technically she’s the one being pinned.

~Catalina’s arm is high in the air right before the three! Thad looks down at LCP who is still out. He curses and slings him off of Catalina. Thad then dives on top of LCP for another pinfall attempt. Tony dives in with the count~

1!

2!

3!!

NO!

MoMo: Catalina breaks it up!

Hood: Whew. I think Thad had the win there if it weren’t for that unlucky twist of fate with LCP landing on top of Catalina.

MoMo: How many lives do cats have?

Hood: Too many.

~After breaking up the pin, Catalina quickly snares both of Thad’s arms before he can react and has him locked up in Nook’s Cranny (Rings of Saturn)!!!! His arms are pulled back...his shoulders ready to snap, pop out of their joints. Thad yells out in pain...Catalina gives it all she’s got...her left leg doing most of the work, the right leg acting as merely a locking mechanism to keep everything in place. Tony immediately shifts his position to see if Thad wants to give it up...LCP rolls away, sitting up in a corner, wiping some of the blood from his eyes. He sees Thad having his shoulders pulled back...the pain on his face and he takes a moment to enjoy it~

MoMo: Thad beat LCP on Night 1 something LCP has wanted to avenge and right here, right now, he’s going to let this moment linger for a bit.

Hood: And, ya know, let Catalina wear Thad down some. Just get in there before Thad taps or passes out.

MoMo: Yep, it’s sound strategy.

~LCP has seen enough...Thad is fading and he’s not gonna risk this any further. He pulls himself up...runs forward and hits Thad in the face with CHRONIC KICK!! Thad goes out! LCP immediately grabs Catalina by the hair, pulling her off of Thad and slinging her through the ropes to the outside. His focus turns back to Thad…he gets him off the mat, kicks him in the gut and drops him on the mat with PLACENTIA Born!!!! He rolls Thad over before returning to his feet and heading to the nearest corner...he begins the climb~

MoMo: He’s going for PLACENTIA RAISED!

Hood: Here we fuckin go!

MoMo: He wants to beat Thad. I think that’s his mission tonight. Win the match by defeating Thad.

Hood: I wouldn’t doubt it...revenge is always a big factor in competition.

~LCP reaches the top...he turns his back to Thad for his patented Moonsault...but Catalina hops up and shoves his foot forward! LCP falls and crotches himself on the top! The fans go wild!! Catalina, gutting through the pain, pulls herself up onto the top rope...she turns her back to LCP before jumping backward, off her left leg, wrapping both legs around his head and taking him off the top rope with Cata-Rana!!!! LCP flips backwards off the top all the way to the mat landing on top of Thad!!! Cat’s right knee slams into the mat after the move...she reaches for it, instinctively. LCP is on top of Thad...Tony dives in with the count...the fans freak out, yelling for Catalina to pay attention...but her knee is in so much pain~

1!

2!

3!!!

NO!!!

MoMo: Shoulder up! Shoulder up! Thad got the shoulder up!

Hood: Geezus Malone I thought that was it!

MoMo: Now THAT would have been the epitome of falling upward.

Hood: No shit.

~LCP rolls off of Thad, not entirely sure what just happened. Thad crawls away, toward the nearest corner, pulling himself up. Catalina sits up, holding her right knee, back to Thad and LCP. LCP struggles to his feet, worse for wear. Thad measures him up and charges at him with HEAT SEEKER...but LCP ducks!!! Catalina is on her feet...she turns around just in time to catch it...only she ducks as well, hopping off her left foot, grabbing Thad by his weakened arms and taking him over in the blink of an eye with Cat’s Cradle!!!! Tony dives in~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!!

MoMo: Thad with the kick out!

Hood: Man, LCP has that Heat Seeker scouted.

MoMo: That he does. Thad might need to come up with something else if he’s going to pin LCP...or Cat, for that matter.

Hood: Well he had a discussion with Stratford earlier in the week. I think Team Welsh would prefer it if he pinned Catalina.

MoMo: Easier said than done.

~Thad and Catalina rush to their feet...only Catalina stumbles on her right leg. Thad takes her over with an arm drag, slamming her body into the mat. LCP charges in, kneeing Thad in the ribs. He knees him again and again and again and again, weakening Thad as Cortes rolls away, onto the apron. LCP grabs Thad’s arm and twists it...he heads for a corner...the fans rise. LCP climbs, reaching the top...he starts to walk across the top rope...it’s treacherous...not at all graceful...he nearly falls once or twice...he reaches the midway point of the top rope with Thad’s arm locked and twisted. “NEW SCHOOL” he yells out...he immediately loses his balance, falls forward, grabs Thad by the head, spins around and drops him with a DDT!!!! LCP sits up, his face covered in blood...his eyes wide with a look of ‘whew’~

MoMo: It worked!

Hood: He just gets it done, man. Respect.

MoMo: Cat’s wounded. Thad is down. This is LCP’s chance!

~LCP returns to his feet, standing over Thad...he hesitates. Something doesn’t feel right...he turns around and BAM! He gets hit in the face with forearm shots from Catalina, standing on one leg! She hits him over and over! The fans are going wild!! LCP is staggered, backing up into the ropes...Catalina shoves him into the ropes and whips him off...LCP fires across the ring, hitting the ropes, bouncing off and charging at Catalina. She musters all she’s got to leap into the air, spin around and SMACK LCP in the face with Blaze Kick (540 Reverse Kick)!!!!! LCP collapses to the mat...Catalina is down, holding her knee...her face etched with pain...the fans cheer her on “CAT-A-LINA!” They stomp and clap, rocking Fort St. Catherine~

MoMo: She threw caution into the wind to pull that one off!

Hood: She said fuck them ligaments. She’s here to win!

MoMo: But she’s got more work to do...only question is does she go the safe route or does she risk it all?

~Catalina feeds off the fans, struggling to her feet, limping severely. She finds a corner and backs up...she breathes in and out, rapidly...she summons the energy. She prepares for the pain. LCP gets to his knees...Catalina yells out and charges in, leaping into the air and hitting him with her right knee, right in the face with Marlowe Massacre!!!!!! LCP collapses to the mat, unconscious. Catalina yells out, reaching for her knee, down...she can’t make the cover, her knee in too much pain. Tony looks on, prepared to make a count, should a pin attempt happen. Fans grow quiet, concerned~

MoMo: She could’ve used her left knee but given how tough these Trials are I think she knew she needed to use her strong knee. The knee she’s used to delivering that blow with.

Hood: A risk for sure...looks like it might backfire.

MoMo: Precious time is wasting. And that knee is only getting worse.

~Catalina fights through it...what heart! Amazing! She crawls for LCP...she throws her arm up in the air and prepares to drape it over LCP...but Thad drags her away!!! She yells and claws at the mat, trying to get back to LCP...but it’s too late, Thad’s got her. He hooks her around the waist, deadlifts her off the mat and throws her over his head with a Release German Suplex!! She flips over the top rope and lands on the apron, somehow sticking the landing on her left leg. Thad, however, delivers a hook kick right into her head, knocking her off the apron and to the floor...he heads through the ropes, unfinished business. With Catalina down he grabs her right leg and drives that knee into the unforgiving, rock comprised surface...he does it several times before tossing her aside. Catalina is down, clutching her knee...the fans won’t boo...but they won’t cheer, either. Thad slides back into the ring~

MoMo: Brutal. I hate it but that’s what it takes to win these Trials.

Hood: He started the match working her knee over and that might just be the way he ends it.

MoMo: All he’s got to do is pin LCP and he’ll earn his two points.

~LCP is on one knee...he might be concussed. He’s definitely leaking more blood. Thad is back in the ring. LCP reaches his feet...Thad rushes at him with HEAT SEEKER!!! But LCP ducks and this Thad with a LOW BLOW!!!! Thad falls to both knees...LCP runs into the ropes, bounces off and CHRONIC KICK!!!! Thad goes down!!! LCP dives on top for the cover! The fans count along~

1!

2!

3!!!!

NO!

MoMo: WOW! Shoulder up!

Hood: Thad can’t hit that Heat Seeker on LCP...not when he isn’t being restrained, anyway. He’s scouted it out.

MoMo: He needs to go with something else, that’s for sure.

~LCP staggers to his feet...he sees Thad down and dives on top of him. He’s got a mount position on Thad and starts hitting Thad in the face with Thad’s own hands while groggily saying “Stop hitting yourself!”(Big Brother)!! LCP’s blood dripping down onto Thad...Thad immediately frees his legs and locks LCP in End Game!!! His Hell’s Gate submission! The fans pop and rise~

MoMo: End Game! Nobody gets out of this!

Hood: Here we go!

~LCP knows he’s fucked...unless. He opens his mouth and bites Thad...we can’t tell if it’s the groin or inner thigh...all we know is Thad immediately lets go of the hold! The fans boo the act...but LCP isn’t sweating it. He’s on his knees gasping for air as Thad rolls away, instantly checking his inner leg and groin...reaching down his pants...he looks at his hand...no blood. Whew. Really pissed off, he returns to his feet and goes after LCP...but LCP leans forward with a headbutt into Thad’s lower abdomen!! Thad doubles over. LCP pops back to his feet, grabs Thad and drives him into the mat with another PLACENTIA BORN! Thad is down and LCP crawls out of the ring~

MoMo: Where’s he going?

Hood: To pin Catalina?

MoMo: Hmm, maybe.

~LCP sees Catalina nearby and he stomps on her right leg several times, for good measure. The fans boo. She remains down. He then reaches under the ring and pulls out at TABLE! The boos turn to cheers...gotta love wrestling fans. He slides the table into the ring and follows closely behind. He struggles with it at first but, give the man credit, he quickly figures out how the legs work and sets it up in the center of the ring. Thad is moving...so LCP kicks him in the head, keeping him subdued. He then picks Thad up and tosses him on top of the table...LCP heads for the nearest corner~

MoMo: PLACENTIA RAISED through a table!

Hood: Well, this’ll surely do it.

~LCP reaches the top...he turns his back to Thad and he leaps off with PALCENTIA RAISED!! But he totally overshoots the table, landing on his feet with the table in front of him...he’s stunned, stumbling back into a corner! Thad rises off the table...the fans are on their feet! Thad gets off the table and heads after LCP, punching him in the head in the corner...LCP is rocked. He whips LCP out of the corner into the ropes, avoiding the table. LCP hits the ropes...Thad stands in front of the table, waiting for him...LCP slides between Thad’s legs and under the table! He pops back up on the other side...he gets back to his feet, hits the ropes, steps up onto the table and propels forward, throwing a shoulder block into Thad, who is backing up!! Thad falls through the ropes onto the apron!!! He’s down!! LCP is back on his feet, bloodied and fired up!~

MoMo: LCP is one step ahead of Thad!

Hood: Unbelievable...dude is hanging with the best of the best!

MoMo: That’s why he was drafted into these Trials!

~LCP walks by the table...he slaps it and heads for the ropes, stepping through them and onto the apron. He waits for Thad to get to his feet on the apron across the ring. The table is set up between them. LCP points at the table and then his leg~

MoMo: Chronic Kick!! He’s going to springboard off the top rope, step up off the table and hit Thad with a Chronic Kick.

Hood: Holy fuckin shit. If he pulls this off...legendary!

~LCP jums up! He springboards off the top rope, flying toward the table...he steps up off the table and lunges at Thad...but Thad flips over the top rope and DRILLS LCP with LEGEND CERTIFIED!! The move takes both men CRASHING through the table!!! LCP first with Thad following! The crowd EXPLODES!! “HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!” Tony looks down and sees Thad on top of LCP...he dives in with the count~

1!

2!

3!!!!

~The bell rings~

Belvedere: Here is your winner...THADDEUS DUKE!!!!!

MoMo: Holy smokes! I can’t believe it!

Hood: What a fuckin counter. Thad couldn’t use Heat Seeker cause LCP had it scouted. He couldn’t use End Game cause LCP is a biter...so he countered the move LCP has hit on him all night with Legend Certified...through the fuckin table. WILD

MoMo: That’s the second time in these Trials that Thad has pinned LCP. Although this time was far more difficult than the first.

Hood: Yep. And, he got one back on Catalina.

MoMo: Poor Catalina.

~Thad rolls away from the pile of destruction...his face wilding out a bit...everything having happened so fast with such high stakes. LCP remains down. Tony extends his hand...Thad takes it and gets to his feet, his arm raised in victory to a huge ovation from the fans~

MoMo: Huge win for Thad! Sarah won the opener tying him and Stratford...this win puts her two points back, along with Stratford...for the moment, anyway.

Hood: And he showed that Catalina can be beat.

MoMo: That he did.

~Riddled with pain, Thad pats Tony on the back and exits the ring. He sees Catalina down, still holding her knee. He pauses on whether or not to help her...but before he can make that call, PIC appears on the scene. He drops down, checking on Catalina. Thad backs up...this is Team PIC business...he’s going to do his own thing. With that, he exits~

MoMo: Catalina gets out of here with a point, keeping her at the top of the standings. Despite her loss, she actually extends her lead over Knox.

Hood: Guaranteeing at least a tie.

MoMo: Yep. The bigger question is that knee. How fast can they heal it before Night 4?

Hood: Considering who she’s got to face on Night 4...she’d better hope pretty damn fast.

~PIC gets Catalina up and helps her to the back as the fans give her a standing ovation. This just leaves LCP who sits up amidst the pile of rubble. Tony checks on him. LCP looks up at Tony, “Did I win? I won, didn’t I?” Tony doesn’t know what to say. LCP gets to his feet, staggering around...he looks kinda like Rick Moranis in Ghostbusters at the end of the movie after being broken free from the fried dog statue...or whatever that thing was called. Staggering, confused. The fans give him a standing ovation, as well. Regardless of what you think...the man fought his guts out~

MoMo: LCP gives a herculean effort but, sadly, leaves with zero points. I think that means Vhodka has officially clinched Team TLS.

Hood: Nope, not yet. If MERICA can win the next match he’ll have a shot to tie her.

MoMo: Ah, good eye. MERICA must win Match 3 or else Vhodka has clinched the Team TLS spot in the Ghost Ship Main Event.

~Tony helps LCP out of the ring and to the back...as they exit our view pulls up and over the scene...fans stand and cheer while others continue to warn, urging the TRIAD crew to turn back. Abandon the mission~

MoMo: That does it for this portion of our event. Fort St Catherine was a great host!

Hood: For some.

MoMo: Now we inch closer to The Bermuda Triangle as we are about to board a helicopter and head to Sinky Bay Beach for the final two matches of the evening.

Hood: I just love inching closer to certain death.

MoMo: Folks, after two matches, Team Welsh has seen a major surge. They are now tied with Team PIC at 11 points each. Meanwhile, Team TLS sits three points behind with 8.

Hood: Team Welsh 2-0...halfway to fulfilling that prophecy he tweets out every damn week.

MoMo: As far as individual standings go. Catalina still has work to do. Knox can tie her next week. If Penelope earns a point, she can tie Catalina as well. If Penelope wins, she can win the division for herself on Night 4. And, if Kane wins tonight, she’ll have a shot to tie Catalina.

Hood: Catalina is in great shape but more work to do on Night 4 than she probably wanted.

MoMo: Yep. And Knox definitely missed a big opportunity in that opener. But, he’s still in it! Team TLS, meanwhile, is close to being settled. LCP and Helena cannot catch Vhodka at this point. MERICA is the only one who can...but, to do so, he must win his upcoming match against Stratford and Penelope.

Hood: Whew, that won’t be easy.

MoMo: No, it will not. And Team Welsh..well, it’s about as clear as mud. Wolf is up to three points. Thad is up to five. Stratford sits at three with his match coming up. If he wins he’ll tie Thad. If he gets one point he’ll be right between Wolf and Thad. All three competitors can win or tie this division heading into Night 4. The only one eliminated is, sadly, Alexander Raven.

Hood: All good...Raven can still put his team over the top. Earn his spot in the Illuminatus.

MoMo: That he can. Alright fans, we’ve gotta hustle to the south side of the island...let’s take a quick break and when we come back we’ll see you all at Sinky Bay!

~MoMo takes off his headset. Hood has already done the same. We follow the two men as they hustle toward a temporary helipad where a TRIAD chopper is waiting. Belvedere and Tony are already inside. MoMo and Hood hop in and lock in. The chopper activates and begins to take off...fans look on, wishing the TRIAD crew well. Until someone yells out, “LOOK!!” They all turn and freak out as a giant, angry man sprints for the chopper...it’s...MATT KNOX! He rushes over and leaps up, snaring one of the ‘legs’ hanging down from the chopper. Utilizing all the strength he has left, he pulls himself up and wraps his legs around the metal bars, securing his position. MoMo and Hood look down, wondering what that bit of turbulence was...but they shrug it off as the chopper flies across the island toward Sinky Bay with an unknown passenger hanging on underneath...we cut away~

Earlier today…

Matthew Knox stood outside the large, almost gaudy resort while nursing the last of the camel non-filter, his third since arriving. He was dressed in slacks, stacey adams, a red waistcoat and a black dress shirt. He stood leaning his weight from one foot to the other, his nerves vibrated with the rest of him, everything on edge. He knew this was going to be a semi-fruitless endeavor, but he also knew that if he didn’t make the attempt? He’d never sleep right again.

Not that he did now.

One final exhale of the noxious fumes, a flick of the butt into the street, and into the hotel he strode. He’d called ahead, gotten the room number under the guise of being from talent relations for the Triad. Clearly, Bermuda wasn’t quite so concerned with security it would seem. He’d be locking and blocking his room door that night.

The elevator ride, the walk, all a blur lost in the maelstrom of a battered old brain combing over the finer details of what was to come, or doing its very best to. Eventually, he stood before the appropriate door. He produced his phone, sending off a text or more likely a tweet before raising one pale hand and knocking on the door three times.

He didn’t have to wait near as long as he would have liked to.

In a second, the door was open and the form of Demi Stratford was before him. Equal parts repulsive and alluring to his eye, but much more one sided to most others he was sure of it.

Demi Stratford: Well, if it isn’t the concerned father…

Matt Knox: Mrs Stratford, I was h-

Demi threw a hand up, cutting him off and offering a venomously pleasant smile.

Demi Stratford: Let’s keep it cozy, shall we? Call me Demi. With our history, it feels like we’re practically family.

The big man hesitates a moment, clearly not wanting to give any ground and make them anymore familiar than need be. That need in his opinion being next to zero.

Matt Knox: I’ll keep it formal on my end, if you don’t mind. Do feel free to call me as you like, most do. May I come in?

Demi Stratford: I suppose it wouldn’t hurt, briefly.

After a moment, Demi stepped aside to let Matthew in. The Raven took a moment to look around the room, maybe for some kind of look into the mind of these two or maybe just stalling because he wanted to bolt out of this viper’s den. Eventually he turns to find Demi already staring him down. His face cracks into his best and worst charming smile.

Matt Knox: I was hoping to appeal to your sensibilities, Mrs. Stratford.

Demi Stratford: And what sensibilities would those be, Mr. Knox?

Matt Knox: To cut to it…..this whole thing between me and your husband? All it's going to do is make this affair bloodier than it needs to be.

Demi Stratford: Blood has a way of making things more… interesting, don’t you think?

He cautions a step toward her, bringing his hands from where they’d been clasped behind his back to now clasp before him. He brings them up to his lips, exhaling once before continuing while simultaneously dropping his hands to his sides.

Can’t look like you’re pleading. Even if you are.

Matt Knox: This whole thing is a farce, Mrs. Stratford. There’s no need for it to go any further. He threw me off my game. He won. These Trials aren’t worth the cost to me anymore… there’s no need to keep making my children suffer for the insolence of their father. God knows I do that enough.

He steps forward once more, one hand shooting out to brazenly take one of hers.

Matt Knox: I don’t want to send you home with a broken husband anymore than I want to go home broken with two bloody children..So i’m asking you, on behalf of my family and for the sake of them both? End this.

He felt the hope drain from his face along with color as he stared into the dark eyes before him for a spark of reason, hope, and a reception of the message. He found the last one, but found it to be as dark as the rest of the pools he was searching.

Demi Stratford: Regret is a fascinating emotion, isn’t it? Especially when it's about something.. irreversible.

Demi removes her hand gently, her tone as even, calm and menacing as the rest of her movements. Graceful and deadly like any other viper. Matthew listened intently, his face doing its best to remain flat despite the persistent twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Demi Stratford: Oh, Matthew, life is about choices, and every choice has its repercussions. Perhaps it's time for you to realize the extent of yours.

Matthew’s fingers curl once into a fist before snapping back open, going to slide into the pockets of his slacks as he allows a small sigh, nodding before heading to the door. He stops short, turning over his shoulder and adding.

Matt Knox: You will remember though, that I tried this first?

Demi leans against the doorframe, a coy smirk forming beneath her words.

Demi Stratford: Of course. I always remember the ones who come begging.

Matt Knox turns his gaze back forward, nodding to nobody but himself and stepping back into the hallway of the hotel. Once he’s alone outside of the room he slides his hands from his pockets, bringing them up to stare at them as they trembled. He let out a slow breath, curling his fingers into fists and turning to leave.

He did try.

~We cut back to the live feed~

MoMo: Wow...tensions rising.

Hood: Yea, and that was BEFORE the great fuckening Knox endured in the opener.

MoMo: The Stratfords like to play games with the highest of stakes. They choose to gamble with the highest of rollers. Only problem is, when you gamble...when you play...sometimes you lose.

Hood: Hey, so far they are winning, in case you weren’t paying attention.

MoMo: For now. But with each week Knox grows increasingly dangerous. What was once a lead to protect is now a deficit he needs to overcome. That means he’ll take more chances.

Hood: I mean, you’ve got a point.

MoMo: We’ll have to see how this unfolds...in the meantime, we’re en route to Sinky Bay Beach for our third match of the evening.

Hood: Beach time, baby!

MoMo: Stephen Stratford is back in action and a lot...A LOT has happened since the night began. He started Night 3 tied for the lead. Now? Now he finds himself tied for second with Wolf. The match means more now than ever before.

Hood: Yep. Thad just earned two points, defeating Cortes. Stratford might have to win out to keep up with him.

MoMo: Yep. On the other hand, we’ve got MERICA...he is the last person left with the ability to catch Vhodka. To do so? He needs to win this upcoming match...something people would have laughed at earlier in the Trials...but, after Night 2? He might just do it.

Hood: He’s made the most improvement of anybody. That’s the thing about being a rookie...you’ve got a shit ton of room to grow.

MoMo: Yep, but he’ll have to take a phenomenal leap if he wants to beat Stratford and Penelope. Penelope, the third person in this match. Cortes rests at 5 points. Knox at 3. She has 2. If she can win this match she’ll be right in the thick of things for Team PIC.

Hood: Again, that Thad win was massive. It gives everyone on Team PIC a shot at catching Cortes who, let’s be honest, we all kinda thought was unbeatable heading into tonight.

MoMo: That it did. Don’t look now, folks but Team Welsh is TIED for the lead with Team PIC at 11. Team TLS rests in last place with 8. Let’s head down to ringside to see what will go down!

MERICA (1 PT) vs. Stephen Stratford (3 PTS) vs. Penelope (2 PTS)

~As the back half of our programming begins we are taken across the island to its southern most border. Right outside the Devil’s Triangle. Fans gather around the selected cove. The final landing spot for TRIAD and its competitors before they set sail into the unknown from which there is no turning back. It’s Sinky Bay Beach. A TRIAD ring is out over the water, set up to remain floating, anchored to the shallow ocean floor beneath it. The sky is still lit. The water is crystal clear. Fans are all along the beach in anticipation...some warning, others cheering. Outside the bay...the cover are numerous boats with fans looking to get a view inside the cove at the action. Fans stand atop the small cliffs that nearly form a full circle around the cove, looking down on the action. A metal ramp extends from the beach, over the water, to the ring. The metal ramp splits, going around the entire ring, providing about 5-6 feet of space for wrestlers to land and stand without plunging straight into the water. The wind suddenly picks up...the water dances...sand fills the air. Fans look to the sky as a TRIAD helicopter descends, landing on the beach. Fans scatter, giving it room. They cover their faces, trying to hide from the manufactured sand storm. With the helicopter down...we see Hood, MoMo, Tony, and Belvedere all step out. Tony and Belvedere make their way to the ring as Hood and MoMo find a temporary announce table on the beach to observe and call the action...the fans cheer when they see the TRIAD personnel. It’s just about TIME! A couple of giant flat screens hung up on the sides of the two cliffs come to life airing a pre-match promo featuring Stratford, MERICA, and Penelope. Belvedere and Tony march across the metal ramp way atop the water before entering the ring~

MoMo: And we’re just about situated out here.

Hood: Last time I called a match from the beach we had a zombie trying to eat Dangerous Dan.

MoMo: Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

Hood: Yes, I think we can all agree we don’t want to see Dan wrestle tonight.

Belvedere: Ladies and Gentlemen...welcome to Sinky Bay Beach!!!

~Huge ovation. Belvedere is now center stage with Tony finishing off a bag of cheetos in the background~

Belvedere: The following contest is a triple threat match and it is scheduled for one fall!

~Caught up in the pageantry of it all, the fans yell back ‘ONE FALL!’ A suspicious breeze responds by rolling through, sending a bit of a chill through everyone. Except Belvedere who, despite spending the entire summer in tropical climates, remains fully clothed in the finest brown suit money can buy. He clears his throat~

Belvedere: Introducing first…

~MERICA - by Granger Smith hits! The fans stand and turn...a patriotic air has filled the southern coast of Bermuda. RED, WHITE, AND BLUE lights flash from beyond the beach, out over the water as MERICA appears! Stepping forward, across the sand he is proud. He looks around at the fans who all nod, giving him a show of respect. This is MERICA’s proud moment. Inhaling, he seeks to make the most of it~

MoMo: MERICA showing more poise than we’ve seen thus far. He keeps coming, Hood.

Hood: Ew, what?

MoMo: Coming on, I meant!

Hood: That’s not really any better.

~MERICA’s music is suddenly drowned out. As, out from the ocean, a mega speaker blares at ear crushing decibels the theme to Air Force One. A boat makes its way toward the cove. A group of dolphins swimming around get run over, crushed and chewed up by the massive boat’s bottom and propeller. Atop the boat is the Dakota Tower! Standing large and proud is none other than 50 time World Champion and 9 time medal of honor winner, Chet Dakota. Everyone turns, facing Chet, forgetting about MERICA~

MoMo: It’s Chet Dakota! Back for another night in MERICA’s corner!

Hood: And stealing the entire limelight.

MoMo: I don’t think MERICA minds, Hood. He has one point since aligning with Chet. He had zero before.

~The boat comes to a stop at the entrance of the cove, spitting out a bunch of thick, black exhaust that floats into the atmosphere. A dangerous looking trail of oil can be traced behind the boat, all the way out to sea. Chet brings the megaphone to his mouth~

Chet Dakota: Please arise as the national anthem plays honoring the arrival of Chet Dakota, pro wrestling icon.

~The fans are like ‘We’re already standing.’ The national anthem plays with a giant holographic image of Chet Dakota displayed in the sky. He brings his hand to his forehead with a salute. MERICA, meanwhile, walks to the ring, saluting at the holographic image. He crosses the metal aisle over the water to the ring, singing along with the anthem. The song ends and the image of Chet slowly vanishes. MERICA is in the ring, looking up at Chet~

Belvedere: From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...standing 6’2 and weighing in at 225lbs...representing Team TLS...he is...MERICA!!!

~The spotlight is finally back on MERICA. Or, for a few seconds anyway, before Chet speaks out, “Win this one for ole glory, MERICA. Win this one for Chet Dakota.” MERICA, whose eyes are slightly visible under his mask appear glassy, ready to leak tears...salutes Chet one more time~

MoMo: Well, whatever works, right?

Hood: This is not going to work. I can promise you that. Chet is a fraud and MERICA is too fuckin naive to see it.

MoMo: Maybe. We’ll know a lot more at the conclusion of this match.

Belvedere: And, introducing next…

~Penelope walks out as her haunting music plays to the crowd. She looks out at the people surrounding the ring, to a fairly mixed reaction. She grins beneath the wide brim of her hat in her devilish way as she surveys the crowd~

Belvdere: "Making her way to the ring, by way of the Hotel California...she is...Penelope!"

~Penelope, carrying a dead flower in her hands, plucks the black, withered petals off the flower one at a time as she walks and lets them fall to the sand. This leaves a bizarre trail behind her as she goes~

~As she nears the ring, she drops the naked step on the metal awning at the end of the aisleway. She slides into the ring under the bottom rope. She crawls to the middle of the ring, before sitting back on her haunches~

~She looks up, and spits out a cloud of fine black mist before she lets out an ear splitting shriek. Penelope turns and gestures towards the crowd maniacally. She gets to her feet, slowly removing her hat and shawl handing them to a TRIAD employee at ringside. She makes her way to one of the corners and turns her focus onto MERICA~

MoMo: Perhaps the most terrifying member of TRIAD...Penelope back in action.

Hood: She’s earned a point in both of her first two matches. People aren’t talking about her as much as they should. With a win tonight she would very much place herself in the thick of things.

MoMo: Yep. She’s been very consistent.

Belvedere: And, their opponent…

“DRAG ME DOWN TO THE HELLHOLE”

~The now infamous opening line to Stephan Stratford’s entrance theme shakes Sinky Bay. Our camera pans. It looks for the most powerful duo in TRIAD. We follow the scattering people as the locals want nothing to do with anything that befalls someone getting in Stratford’s way. And, sure enough, there they are...Demi leading Stephen Stratford across the beach, toward the ring. Demi’s eyes locked on the ring. Stephen looks around, getting a sense of his surroundings, picking up the aura that exists in this moment~

Belvedere: From New Orleans, LA via Canberra, Australia...standing 6’0 tall and weighing in at 185lbs...being accompanied to the ring by Demi Stratford...representing Team Welsh...he is Stephen Stratford!!!

~Boos from the fans. Uncertainty from uninformed locals. The Stratfords make their way down the metal aisle, toward the ring. Demi reaches ringside and steps to her side. Strat gets up tight with her and leans in, sharing a kiss. MERICA stands in the ring, bouncing around. Penelope waits. “Alright, break it up,” Chet is heard yelling from his tower. This only encourages Demi to pull Strat in tighter and longer. The fans start to boo...tired of the PDA and ready for some in-ring action. MERICA gets a little antsy~

MoMo: Getting more than we bargained for right here.

Hood: Alright!

~ “Patriot, there are kids watching,” Chet yells from his tower. MERICA leans through the ropes to break Strat and Demi up...which results in Strat thrusting his hand up, smashing MERICA in the throat!!! MERICA falls backward onto the mat, coughing and holding his windpipe. The fans boo!! Demi releases Strat from her vicious lips and smiles. Strat hops onto the apron and slips in through the ropes, looking down at MERICA who is holding his throat and coughing~

MoMo: I guess MERICA just learned you never get between a man and his wife.

Hood: Yea, that could be the lesson. Or the lesson could be not to listen to the man in the high tower.

~Belvedere exits the ring, walking past Demi. She stares at him as he gives her a quick glance before turning away, not wanting to get in the cross hairs of the Stratfords. With all three wrestlers in the ring we see Tony sling a cheeto stained finger in a random direction and the bell sounds! The fans pop as we are underway! Strat immediately drops to his knees and continues choking MERICA as the fans cheers immediately turn into boos~

MoMo: And we are underway with Stratford going right after MERICA’s throat.

Hood: MERICA avoided being pinned by Strat two weeks ago. He might not be so lucky this go around.

MoMo: Nope. MERICA had a great showing on Night 2. We’ll find out if that was just the start of an amazing ascension or an anomaly.

~ “Fight back, patriot,” Chet orders. MERICA is struggling...Strat’s grip around his throat is too tight. Strat might choke him out if it weren’t for the third member of this equation, Penelope. She walks up behind Strat and snares him with a sleeper! Strat rises to his feet, finding Penelope’s grip a lot stronger than he anticipated. MERICA rolls away, onto the apron for some respite. Strat plants his feet into the mat and pushes back, finding the process of moving the 135lb Penelope around the equivalent of someone twice her size. He manages to push her back into a corner. Her grip does not cease. So, Strat leans forward before firing his head backward, right into Penelope’s face! She’s stunned, her grip loosening...Strat is able to break free, stepping forward and turning around to get Penelope in front of him~

MoMo: Stratford is going to discover what others have had the misfortune of finding out...Penelope is not what she appears to be.

Hood: No shit. Most of the time it’s ‘looks like Tarzan but hits like Jane’ this one looks like Jane but smashes like Tarzan.

~Penelope does not size Stratford up or hesitate in anyway. She moves straight for him. Strat responds by locking up with the soulful member of Team PIC. Surprisingly, she manages to bully Strat across the ring into a corner. Strat holds his arms up looking toward Tony, appealing for a break. Tony gets in there and manages to get Penelope off Strat. Strat pats Tony on the back with one head while thumbing Penelope in the eye with the other! The fans booo!!!! Penelope spins around, turning her back to Strat, holding her face, shaking her head. Strat rushes forward, leaping forward and driving a knee into Penelope’s back, sending her stumbling forward, headfirst into the middle buckle! She drops to her knees, face buried in the buckle. Strat saunters her way...with an open hand he reaches in, snaring Penelope by the hair, yanking her up...as he turns her around he sees her eyes wide open! Strat is stunned. Penelope leans in, headbutting Strat in the chin, knocking him back. She backs up into a corner and charges forward with a shotgun dropkick into his chest!! Strat hits the mat and rolls to the apron, exiting the ring, landing on the metal awning. Demi makes her way over to him...Penelope looks at Strat and gears up for something big. The fans rise~

MoMo: Penelope might be looking to take a dive!

Hood: PIC won’t like the sound of that.

MoMo: Literally! She’s going to dive outside.

Hood: Well be clearer next time. We have a fuckin sportsbook, man. Dives are always going to be possible.

~Penelope hits the ropes, bounces off and BAM!! MERICA comes out of nowhere, slamming his body into Penelope and sending her crashing into the ropes!! She tumbles through them, wildly...landing on the apron. Chet speaks out, “Tremendous burst, Patriot. Now, head to the apron and stay active. And while I’d never lay aggressive hands on a woman you feel free to do what you must in the throes of battle.” MERICA reaches through the ropes to get Penelope...but she’s already recovered, throwing a knee up into his face. He rears up, leaning over the top rope...she spins around and wraps her legs around his head, trying to take him over the top rope with a head scissors...if she’s able, he’d be tossed into the ocean. Strat hits the ring! He sneaks up behind MERICA, leans in and hoists him up onto his shoulders!! MERICA holds onto Penelope and brings her along for the ride as well! The crowd ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ as they see Stratford with MERICA on his shoulders in the Electric Chair position and Penelope on his shoulders, in a powerbomb position~

MoMo: Wow! Penelope is WAY up there.

Hood: Stratford showing some of that old man strength. Beast mode!

~MERICA throws Penelope all the way down...BOOM!!! She slams into the ring, hard! Her mouth opens wide as she gasps for air! Stratford falls back, dropping MERICA with an Electric Chair slam!!! BAM!! He this hard, arching his back in pain! The fans cheer the action!! Stratford crawls forward and covers Penelope...Tony slides in with the count~

1!

2!

NO!

MoMo: Close but not quite. As we all saw last week it takes a monumental effort to keep her down.

Hood: Well, unless your Gina Van Zyl.

MoMo: I’m surprised you know that name.

Hood: Hey, I do some homework.

~Stratford sees Penelope moving to get back to her feet despite the tough fall. So, he grabs her and helps her up before slinging her through the ropes to the outside!! She lands on the metal awning, narrowly avoiding going into the water. Strat then turns his focus to MERICA. “Look out, Patriot. Give him that surprise spinning clothesline I taught you!” Chet directs from his tower. MERICA rises to his feet with Strat in pursuit from behind. MERICA spins around with that clothesline but Stratford, like everyone else, heard Chet...he ducks and hoists MERICA onto his shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry! He then drops MERICA right on his head with a Death Valley Driver!!! MERICA is on his back...Strat goes for the cover...Tony slides in~

1!

2!

NO!

MoMo: Penelope just reached in and pulled Stratford off of MERICA and out of the ring!

Hood: Gonna have to chain that woman to something.

MoMo: I don’t think Strat would have got the three count but she wasn’t going to risk finding out.

~Penelope yanks Stratford out of the ring. The two stand, facing each other...the fists follow. Penelope nailing Stratford...Stratford responding back. Punch after punch...neither giving an inch. Start finding it unbelievably hard to put a dent in Penelope physically or mentally. Tired of going toe to toe with Penelope, Stratford delivers a double thrust shot into her throat. She takes a step back. Strat looks to rest...but he doesn’t have near as long as he figured as she’s right back after him, wrapping her hands around his neck! The fans pop~

MoMo: Has Stephen Stratford met his match?

Hood: If he leaves Demi for Penelope then I might have to get off the Stratford hype machine.

MoMo: Not romantically...I mean in terms of in-ring malice, danger. I’m not sure he can out plot someone like Penelope.

Hood: Won’t stop him from trying.

~Penelope’s grip won’t loosen. Strat drops to one knee, losing all his air. He’s in trouble...but, from behind we see Demi approaching. The fans yell and try to get Penelope’s attention. Demi raises her hand to hit Penelope but she immediately let’s Strat go and turns around, facing Demi down. Demi puts her hands up, eyes widening with that ‘oh shit, oh no’ look. She’s suddenly at the mercy of Penelope. They’re all the way on the other side of the ring, furthest from the beach. Penelope backs her up against the post and ringsteps. She reaches out to grab Demi...but Strat snares Penelope by the head and drops her down...back of her head into the metal awning with an inverted X-factor!!! The fans BOOOO!!! Penelope is down and this time...for the moment, she stays down. Strat gets to his feet and exchanges a look with Demi...Demi gets away from Penelope while Stratford slides back into the ring~

MoMo: Demi once again making an impact.

Hood: Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Is Penelope really down?

MoMo: For the moment.

Hood: All it took was a high impact blow of the back of her head against metal. Good to know.

~Strat is back on his feet inside the ring, immediately he looks to make sure Penelope is still down. By doing so, he takes his eyes off MERICA. MERICA, back on his feet, buries a few forearms into Strat’s back. He spins Strat around and wraps his arms around Stratford...he then lifts him up and takes him over with a Belly-to-Belly! The fans yell out ‘RED!’ He holds on, getting back to his feet...hoisting him up he drops him to the ring with a second Belly-to-Belly...the fans scream “WHITE!” He maintains his hold...his ribs heaving in and out, sucking down air. His body starting to shine with sweat. But he fights through it...Chet yells out, “ONE MORE, PATRIOT!” MERICA gets up, pulls Strat along with him and slings him up and over for a third Belly-to-Belly suplex! Chet, along with the fans, scream out ‘BLUE!!!’ It’s a tremendous moment for all of 1.4 seconds...until Penelope re-emerges and puts MERICA down with a dropkick! The BLUES immediately turn into BOOOOS!!!!! Penelope is back on her feet with both MERICA and Startford down~

MoMo: Didn’t keep her down for long.

Hood: Fuckin unreal.

MoMo: You’re telling me. I’ve been watching her for three nights now and I’m still amazed.

~MERICA fights back to his feet...Penelope shoves him back, into a corner. She runs in and buries her shoulder into MERICA’s midsection. Our shot pans around, giving us a view from over the corner...in the background we see Demi reaching into the ring, grabbing Strat’s hand and helping him slide out of the ring. Penelope buries her shoulder into MERICA’s midsection a few more times. Chet is heard yelling, “Fight her off, Patriot! Fight her off like I fought off the foreign invaders during ‘Operation Atlantic’!” MERICA is inspired, slamming his fists into Penelope’s back. She rises up and stumbles back. He runs forward with a clothesline, taking her down. He doubles over, trying to catch his wind...through his peripheral he sees her getting back to her feet. No rest for the weary. He turns around and hits her with a Rolling Elbow Strike!!! Penelope is slowed. He kicks her in the gut...brings her in and takes his time getting the grip right before picking her up and spiking her into the mat with a Gotch Style Piledriver!!! Penelope’s body goes stiff as she falls to the mat! MERICA makes the cover!! Tony hops in for the count~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!

MoMo: He dropped her right on her head and still couldn’t get the three count!

Hood: MERICA needs to look to the heavens for some advice. And I don’t mean the fraud at the top of that tower.

MoMo: Last thing he needs is to doubt himself right now. He’s in the process of building something really strong. Stay the course!

~MERICA struggles back to his feet, staring up at Chet. Chet shouts down, “Give her that move I taught you. While I’d never lay these aggressive hands on a woman, you go ahead and show her what you’ve got, patriot!” MERICA pulls Penelope up and hooks her head under his arm...he extends his arm...Chet barks out, “Now, spin around, Patriot!” Everybody on earth hears this...MERICA does as instucted...but, when he does, Penelope shoves him forward!! He hits the ropes, staggers back and Penelope takes him over with a Snap German Suplex!!! She bridges for the pin! Tony slides in with the count~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!!

MoMo: Whoa! That was close!

Hood: No shit. Chet might need to teach MERICA how to do hand signals. I don’t think calling out your spots for everyone to hear is wise.

MoMo: Yea, I have to agree with you on that one.

~MERICA rolls through onto his knees...however, he seems a bit vacant, leaning forward, head hanging. Penelope gets back to her feet, her methodical pursuit unimpeded. Outside the ring we see Demi and Stratford watching, waiting. Penelope, standing over MERICA, grabs his arm and thrust her knee forward, right into his head with The Leuectomy!!! It produces a loud CRACK. MERICA leans back...he’d fall over if his legs weren’t underneath him. Penelope pulls him back to his feet, spins him around and hooks his head under her arm for an inverted DDT...she backs up into a corner and jumps up, placing her feet on the middle buckle...she kicks off...but MERICA holds steady! Chet yells out, “Hang on, Patriot!” He gets his base under him and with Penelope over his shoulder, tosses her over the top rope!! She flies over the top rope and pancakes on the metal awning outside! A huge crash that produces a bunch of water splashing up and over her, dousing her in the sea. The fans go wild!! MERICA stumbles around, dropping to one knee~

MoMo: Out on his feet, basically he found enough inside to prevent Penelpe from potentially ending this match.

Hood: Maybe the salt water will slow her down.

MoMo: Somehow I doubt it. But you can see MERICA’s instincts growing. He just keeps getting better.

Hood: A steep learning curve in TRIAD but he’s making the best of it.

~MERICA, on one knee, starts to receive the support from the fans. “MERICA! MERICA!” Chet Dakota yells out from his megaphone “CHET DAKOTA’ S PROTEGE!” MERICA fires up...he’s feeling it...he’s feeding off of it...the red, white and blue running through his veins...he gets to his feet and yells out as the fans respond with a huge ovation! And then Stephen Stratford flies in, bashing him in the head with Strategizer!!! MERICA collapses to the mat! The fans go silent! Strat makes the cover...Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3!!

NO!

MoMo: Wowowowow...that was friggin close.

Hood: Gotta hand it to Strat. Let MERICA deal with Penelope. Then, when you’ve got an opening, try to pin the rookie.

MoMo: Once again he’s working smarter rather than harder.

~From his knees, Strat punches MERICA in his masked face, keeping him down. He moves his punches lower, hitting MERICA with some precisely placed jabs into the area of critical organs. MERICA spasms and writhes around...each punch producing a violently visceral reaction. “Power up, Patriot!” Chet commands...MERICA hears it and fires up. He rolls onto all fours...Strat immediately secures a front face lock and sprawls out, trying to keep MERICA from getting to his feet...but MERICA is determined! Somewhere in the distance an EAGLE CRIES as MERICA fights to his feet!! Strat holds onto his head, twisting and turning...MERICA starts to break free!!! The fans go wild!! But Strat lifts a knee right into his ribs, stunning him...he then spins MERICA around and flips over with Halo!!!! MERICA is down! Strat goes for the pin~

1!

NO!

MoMo: Penelope just pulled Strat out of the ring!

Hood: One could argue that Penelope just saved America.

~Strat and Penelope are standing on the awning outside the ring. Strat punches her...she barely sells it, punching him back. He stumbles up against the ring post and steps. Taking a look at her, Strat sees that she’s been doused with water. Penelope throws a chop at Strat...he ducks, takes her by the waist and spins around, hooking her from behind. Her hand chops the ring post, making a sick PING sound. But, again, she barely sells it. Strat gets into position to lift her up...but she hooks his head under her arm...a side headlock! She steps up onto the ring steps and jumps up...but Stratford is able to slip his head free from under her wet arm and he pushes her forward! Penelope’s legs kick up and her back lands HARD on the top step!! Strat looks over at Demi...they both look at Penelope...she isn’t moving...did that do it? Is she down for good? He slides into the ring where MERICA is on all fours, slowly recovering~

MoMo: Terrible fall there by Penelope.

Hood: Strat noticed she was wet and he avoided...I guess a potential bulldog into those steps and turned into a potential match ending flub for Penelope.

MoMo: With her soul intact she’s been impossible to keep down throughout these Trials. Has Strat finally figured it out?

~Strat pops to his feet and reaches for MERICA but MERICA fires up and hits him in the midsection...once, twice, three times!! Strat stumbles back...MERICA gets to his feet and whips Strat off the ropes...Strat reverses!!! MERICA hits the ropes...Strat goes for a leap frog...but MERICA catches him for a Spinebuster!! The fans go wild!! Strat, however, rears back and thumbs MERICA through his mask eye hole!!! MERICA drops Strat and staggers...the fans BOOO!!! Tony is like, ‘C’mon, man, I’m right here!’ Strat just ignores him. He kicks MERICA in the back of the leg, sending him to a kneeled position...he knees MERICA in the back...MERICA lays out over the middle rope. Strat takes off...he hits the ropes, bounces off and leaps up, landing on MERICA’s back, pressuring his throat against the middle rope!!! MERICA rears back into the ring, rolling around, clutching his windpipe...Strat sits on the middle rope for a second, soaking in the boos...he glances up at Chet Dakota who looks down with a very disapproving nod of the head. Stratford calmoly re-enters the ring...he hears someone slapping on the apron...is it Demi? He turns around and Penelope is right there! She hugs him, hoists him up and takes him down with a T-Bone Suplex!!! Strat lands hard, arching his mat!! Demi slaps the mat in frustration...she tried to warn him but it was too late. Penelope goes after Strat but Demi reaches in, pulling him out of the ring...the fans continue to boo~

MoMo: Boy, it must be nice to have a second person out there to help you whenever you need it.

Hood: I’m not sure Stratford has faced anyone like Penelope. He’s got MERICA figured out, clearly. But Penelope...yea, he hasn’t mastered her yet. Not even close.

MoMo: She’s a complete unknown variable. I’m not sure you can figure her out...you’ve just gotta try to get her out of the way so you can, hopefully, pin the other person.

Hood: That’s how it seems.

~Penelope doesn’t hesitate, heading for the ropes to stay after Stratford. But, MERICA is back on his feet...he grabs Penelope from behind and tosses her over with a Release German Suplex!! She hits hard but gets back to her feet...MERICA rushes over, grabs her, and takes her over with a Side Suplex!! Again, she gets up...again MERICA hurries to his feet, “Stay at it, Patriot!” Chet yells. MERICA grabs Penelope from behind, locks a Full Nelson, lifts her up and tosses her over with a Full Nelson Suplex! The fans roar with applause. He gets to his feet...his skin almost orange from the setting sun reflecting off the sweat covering his upper body. He gasps for air and turns around seeing Penelope already returning to her feet...he shakes his head...this is ridiculous! He struggles back to his feet...Penelope heads his way...he lifts a heavy boot into her gut, brings her in, hooks the leg and tosses her over with a Fisherman’s Suplex bridged into a pin!!! Tony slides in~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!!

MoMo: MERICA is running down the entire list of suplexes to try and put Penelope away but she just keeps getting back up!

Hood: It’s fuckin exhausting watching this.

MoMo: Right? Imagine how MERICA feels!

~MERICA sits up, frustrated and fatigued. “Stay after it, Patriot!” He looks over his shoulder to find Penelope already back on his feet. He can’t believe it! He hurries to his feet but he’s overwhelmed by punches and kicks from Penelope, sending him stumbling into a corner...fatigue preventing him from competently fighting back. Penelope lifts a few knees into his midsection, doubling him over. She whips him across the ring...he charges and hits the opposite corner. Penelope rushes in and buries her shoulder into his gut. She grabs him by the arm and whips him across the ring again...again he sprints, showing major exhaustion...he hits the corner across the ring. Penelope rushes forward and buries another shoulder into his abdomen...again she grabs his arm and whips him across the ring...this time he stumbles and collapses to his knees, center of the ring. Penelope rushes up from behind and smacks him in the side of the head with a Shining Wizard!! He falls over, his body soaked in sweat...his chest heaving as he gasps for air~

MoMo: MERICA is exhausted.

Hood: Try lifting something heavy over and over only for it to continually roll back down the hill.

MoMo: You mean like Sisyphus

Hood: Hey, who you calling a sissy, bitch!

~“Patriot, let’s go! Chet Dakota, pro wrestling icon, would not stay down so easily!” Chet commands. MERICA hears it and he fights like hell to get up. He manages to get to one knee but it’s clear he is fuckin spent...as he does, Penelope snares him by the head. In the background we see Demi and Strat looking on, picking their spot. Penelope’s got MERICA’s head secured...she drags him back toward the ropes...he’s bent backwards, his face right under her armpit. She steps up and springboards off the middle rope with an Inverted DDT (Sudden Death)!!! MERICA is down!! Penelope goes for the pin...Strat goes to enter the ring but Demi holds him off...Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3...NO!

MoMo: So close!

Hood: Ballsy call by Demi.

MoMo: You’re not kidding. Some crazy intuition on that decision!

~MERICA is on his side, struggling. Penelope shows no concern over the nearfall...instead she latches onto MERICA and quickly applies The Lament Configuration (Scissored Armbar Crossface)!!!! The fans all rise! This could be it!!! MERICA is struggling! Chet calls out, “Break out of it, Patriot! She’s only a woman! Use your manly strength!” MERICA tries to break free but Penelope’s got it locked in deep...Tony is leaning in, looking for a tap out. Strat and Demi watch, conferring...looking for their chance. MERICA is losing steam...all that exhaustion...all this humid filled heat. Sweat pouring out of his mask, onto the ring. He’s gasping what appears to be his last few breaths. Tony looks on...he sees a man on the brink. He gets ready to call for the bell...Demi notices and motions to Strat...Strat slides into the ring and jumps on top of Penelope, pummeling her with right hands until she lets MERICA go...the fans get rowdy with their jeering~

MoMo: So let her do all the work and then try to steal it...what great sportsmanship.

Hood: Dude, she’s a literal ghost human that feeds off a soul that is somehow exiting alongside her. I think that calls for a little leeway. He’s not exactly fighting Harry The Honest Handyman in there.

MoMo: I guess.

~Strat gets a stunned Penelope to her feet and he slings her through the ropes! She lands on the metal awning...standing. She looks back into the ring. Strat prepares to fight her...but Demi gives Penelope a shove. She turns her focus to Demi and stalks her. Strat takes his eyes off Penelope and onto MERICA...it’s time to get busy~

MoMo: With Penelope distracted he’s got a clear path. This is his second bout against MERICA and he’s got him figured out.

Hood: Not to mention MERICA can barely stand he’s so damn tired.

MoMo: Yep. I hate it...but it’s another flawlessly executed strategy by the, um, appropriately named Stratfords.

~Stratford gets MERICA to his feet and punches him. He chops him. MERICA falls back into a corner, barely able to stand. Stratford hops onto the middle rope and punches him once, twice, three times...he keeps going. The fans boo louder and louder with each punch. After the 9th punch he trolls the fans by bringing his fist back only to reach in and give MERICA another thumb in the eye...BOOOO go the fans. Stratford drops down and backs up...MERICA stumbles forward...Stratford dips down and hoists MERICA up with a back body drop! MERICA lands HARD on the center of the ring...he’s down and barely moving. Strat looks to check on Demi. She’s leaning up against the ring post...Penelope is bearing down on her. Strat heads for the ropes, ready to aid his wife...Penelope reaches out and Demi reaches behind her and pulls out some cuffs! She slaps them on Penelope’s wrist and turns around, securing them around the metal cable connecting the bottom buckle to the post!! Penelope is trapped...she reaches out at Demi who hops over the steps to the other side of the ring. Penelope yanks back...she wiggles her arm...but she’s stuck...she can’t get out! The fans BOOO!!!~

MoMo: Oh come on!

Hood: MAGNIFICENT

MoMo: This is ridiculous. Step in, Tony! You DQ’d Sarah last week for less!

Hood: Yea and Welsh probably threatened to murder Tony’s cat and/or take away all his cheetos. Tony ain’t gonna DQ anybody tonight.

~Strat looks down at Demi as if to say, “Of course you brought some spare cuffs.” He turns around…Penelope cuffed and a weight lifted. He looks down to get MERICA...but MERICA rolls him up!!! The fans go wild!! Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3!! NO!

MoMo: He kicked out! Wow! Barely! MERICA nearly stole it!

Hood: Look, I get you know you can beat this guy. But stay focused...I’ve been calling matches for twenty years and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen idiots luck their way into a win.

MoMo: Pride acts as a receding tide warning of an impending fall.

Hood: Uh, sure.

~Strat gets to his feet, thrown by the unexpected nearfall. MERICA is on one knee. Strat reaches for him but MERICA gets Strat up onto his shoulders and he spins around...he drops Strat to the mat with MERICAN MADE!!!! The entire island of Bermuda goes wild!!!! Both men are down! Demi looks on, shaking her head...she can’t believe it! “MERICA! MERICA! MERICA!” chants threaten to call in a tsunami on the place. Tony looks around, both competitors on their backs. He looks to Penelope who is locked up...he throws his hands up as if to say, ‘Oh come on, now how did THAT happen!’ Demi throws him a seductive look and he chuckles, “Nevermind, it’s fine.”~

MoMo: Wow, some ref he is.

Hood: If you took every woman Tony ever hooked up with and by hooked up I mean got close enough to touch and added up their hotness score on a scale from 1-10...then, well, you’d be at a very strong and solid 3. Of course he’s going to melt when a perfect fuckin 10 throws some sex his way.

MoMo: Maybe we should just ban Demi from ringside.

Hood: YOU BITE YOUR TONGUE, SIR

~The fans rock the island of Bermuda by clapping and stomping...the water around the ring shakes...hell, the ring itself vibrates. Chet calls out, “LET’S GO, PATRIOT! GET UP!” He claps his hands together and MERICA sits up!! The people go wild! Demi frantically hits the mat, trying to get Stratford to do the same...but he’s still down. MERICA gets to his feet...he stumbles...his stumbling composes into stomping...his slouched posture straightens...he starts to fire up!! “MERICA! MERICA!” He’s got an entire island behind him!! He stands over Stratford. Chet yells down, “Finish him for ole glory! Finish him for Chet Dakota!” MERICA pulls Stratford up and onto his shoulders...MERICAN MADE!!!! He spins around...but Strat tries to pull his mask off!! MERICA is flustered...he lets Strat go. Strat slides off MERICA’s shoulders and onto the middle rope...he springboards off...MERICA turns around and Strat nails him with Silencer (Springboard Dropkick)!!!! MERICA goes down!! Strat sits up and slides into a corner, resting...gathering himself after the near shocking turn of events~

MoMo: There’s no quit in MERICA!

Hood: Not yet.

MoMo: Stratford got what he wanted but he’s yet to take advantage.

Hood: One more move and he’s got this.

~The crowd pops! Strat looks around, confused. Demi stares across the ring to the aisle...her eyes widen. We cut to what she’s looking at and we see Gina Van Zyl sprinting down to ringside!!! She’s carrying a pair of bolt cutters!! Demi and Strat exchange looks...it’s time to get moving~

MoMo: Here comes Gina! We knew she was in Bermuda and, well, she was content to let Penelope handle it...but not any longer!

Hood: Dear god they’ve all got their lovers out there.

MoMo: Don’t let Chet hear that!

~Strat pulls himself up. MERICA is on all fours...he gets to his knees and Strat flies in with Strategizer!!! MERICA falls over. Outside we see Gina making her way to Penelope. Demi hops over the steps and gets in their way...she walks right up to Gina, who looks ready to maul her. Demi doesn’t attack Gina, instead she reaches out and puts a tender hand on Gina’s arm~

MoMo: What is she doing?!

Hood: Uh oh, get the lotion and the tissues ready, guys! It’s about to be boner time!

MoMo: You don’t think…

~Demi steps into Gina...she’s giving her those ‘fuck me’ eyes. Gina seems to be contemplating it...Demi leans in...Gina leans in...closer and closer…and...Gina shoves her back!!! The fans go wild!! Gina swings at Demi’s head with the bolt cutters!!! Demi has no choice but to dive off the metal awning into the water! The fans pop! With Demi out of the way, Gina heads for Penelope and places the teeth of the cutters around the chain to the cuffs. Back inside the ring, Strat pulls MERICA up and grabs him by the head. “Wake up, Patriot!” Chet yells! But MERICA is out...Strat pulls MERICA forward, right on his head with Zero Sum!!! Direct hit!!! MERICA flips over, landing on his back!! Stratford crawls over and makes the cover...Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3!!!

NO!!!

MoMo: Penelope! She broke it up!

Hood: She’s free!

~Strat holds the back of his head, rolling off of MERICA. He looks up and sees Penelope standing over him, the cuff around her wrist and half the chain, severed hanging loose. He sees MERICA, down...maybe still ready to be pinned. But he’s got to get through Penelope. Strat tries a bull rush, right into her midsection...but she holds her base and beats down on him with both hands. She then grabs him by the waist...hoists him up and over with a Gut Wrench Suplex!! Strat lands hard, arching his back...the fans continue to cheer~

MoMo: I’m not sure who they want to win more...MERICA or Penelope.

Hood: I think it’s ‘Anybody but Stratford’

MoMo: Yea, I think you’re right.

~Strat gets to his knees...but Penelope is there...she grabs his arms, brings her leg back and CRACK!! She hits him right in the face with (The Leuectomy)!!!! Strat falls to the mat. Penelope reaches down to continue working on him but she gets picked up from behind by MERICA!!!! He’s looking to drop her with MERICAN MADE!! But she breaks free and lands behind him...he spins around with a back elbow, popping her right in the mouth!!! She stumbles into the corner...he runs forward, and unloads on her with right hands...we can hear him yelling “I-PLEDGE-ALLEGIANCE-TO-THE-FLAG-OF-THE-UNITED-STATE-OF-AMERICA!!!!!” The final punch on AMERICA rocks Penelope!!! The fans go wild!! She stumbles forward...MERICA lifts her up, spins around and hits MERICAN MADE!!!!! Bermuda erupts!! MERICA dives on top of her...Gina looks on, concerned but she’s not gonna interfere~

1!

2!

3!!!

NO!!!

MoMo: Stratford with the break up!

Hood: WOW! MERICA gave it all right there.

MoMo: I think he might have had Penelope pinned.

Hood: Looked that way.

~MERICA sits up. Stratford is sitting up...they look at each other, both wrestlers tired and frustrated. From their knees they begin brawling to the crowd’s delight!! Fists flying! They rise to their feet while continuing to brawl. Neither man gaining an advantage. It seems like this fight might go on forever until Penelope steps in and boots them both in the ribs. They turn her way, injured...she hooks them both for a suplex! But they block it...they hook her for a double suplex...but she blocks it!! They struggle...they battle...they jockey for position...and then, an amazing feat...Penelope brings them both up and over with a suplex!!! They hit the mat hard! The fans pop!! Penelope sits up...still looking like she could go all day at this pace~

MoMo: Unbelievable strength by Penelope!

Hood: No shit, man. She’s fuckin unreal.

MoMo: Almost...supernatural.

~Gina is cheering Penelope on when she suddenly disappears! We get a view and see Demi yanking on her feet from the water!! Gina falls into the water and slams her face into the metal, knocking her loopy!! The fans BOOO!!! Penelope is unaware. She pulls Strat to his feet and boots him in the gut...she hits the ropes, bounces off, and takes him down with a knee lift!! Strat hits the mat...she then turns to MERICA...he’s trying to get up...she heads his way and immediately locks in The Lament Configuration!!!! “Power out, Patriot!” Chet urges!! But he’s in trouble...this one is locked in deeper than the last. Fans clap and stomp...except for a few. They yell out, ‘HELP HER! SOMEBODY HELP HER!’ Our camera cuts and cuts until we get a view...we see Demi holding Gina’s head underwater~

MoMo: What...are you kidding me?!

Hood: She’s gonna drown her...got damn. Don’t ever reject Demi Stratford.

MoMo: We need help...she’s likely concussed from hitting her head on the metal...she can’t fight back!

Hood: Not to mention Demi is no slouch herself.

~Penelope has MERICA fading...it’s about over...until she sees one of the massive screens on the side of the cliff and Gina being drowned by Demi. She instantly lets go of the hold and pops to her feet! She heads for the ropes and hops over the top all the way to the metal before diving into the water. Demi sees her coming and is like ‘oh shit’ and lets Gina go, swimming away~

MoMo: Yea, I don’t blame Demi.

Hood: Penelope basically looked like The T-1000exiting the ring there.

MoMo: No kidding.

~Strat sees Penelope preoccupied and MERICA in a vulnerable state. Demi pulls herself out of the water and yells, ‘NOW!’ Strat gets to his feet, pulling MERICA up...but MERICA shocks everybody by firing up with punches!! Strat is staggered...how is he doing this?! “USA! USA!” the fans chant! He rears back and drills Strat with a right hand…he’s barely standing. Chet yells out, “Hit him with America The Beautiful...your patented Clothesline from Hell, Patriot!” MERICA nods. All the fans slap their foreheads. He just yelled that shit out. MERICA this the ropes...Demi, standing at ringside, soaked, reaches for his leg, but misses. He charges at a dazed Strat and throws AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL!!! But Stratford ducks!!! MERICA spins around, disorientated...Strat grabs him by the head and takes him down with ZERO SUM!!!!! MERICA flips over, landing on his back! Strat dives on top of him for the pin...Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3!!!!!

~The bell rings and the fans BOOOO~

Belvedere: Here is your winner...STEPHEN STRATFORD!!!!!

MoMo: Stratford did it! He pinned MERICA!

Hood: And survived Penelope.

MoMo: Boy, you said it.

~Strat is on his knees, gasping for air, winded, and sweaty. Demi urges him to get out of the ring. He turns and sees Penelope heading back to shore with a shook Gina at her side. Strat slides out of the ring...once his feet hit he metal awning he raises his arms in the air. Demi looks over at Penelope who is now standing with Gina’s arm over her shoulders...Demi, while staring at the duo, plants a long, passionate kiss on Stratford’s lips. The fans BOOO and chant “FUCK THE STRATFORDS!”~

MoMo: Disgusting. Gloating right in their face with that display of unabashed sexuality.

Hood: Hey, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. One thing you can’t say about the Stratford is that they don’t hustle. They worked insanely well together to get this win.

MoMo: I’d really like to see how this would have fallen if Demi hadn’t been at ringside.

Hood: Oh boo-fuckin-hoo

~Penelope grabs the bolt cutters Gina brought to ringside and heads for the Stratfords...seeing this, Demi ends her kiss and grabs Strat by the hand, together they walk, briskly down the metal aisle and back onto the beach, leaving the scene. Penelope is gonna go after them but a wounded Gina holds onto her arm, holding her back...another time. Penelope listens and embraces Gina as they make their way to the beach. This just leaves MERICA in the ring. Tony helps him to his knees as he looks down at the mat, disappointed. “You failed again, Patriot,” Chet says coldly from his tower, turning off his megaphone and ordering the ship holding his tower to turn around. MERICA looks up watching as Chet’s very tall tower turns away from him and sails out of the cover...out of view. MERICA is left in the ring, on his knees...hurt~

MoMo: He is giving it his all, Hood. And that man just...just disrespected him like that in front of everyone.

Hood: Chet Dakota is a 50x World Champion. He expects his protege to be able to at least win one fuckin match.

MoMo: Yea, you try being a rookie and entering this field and see how it goes. MERICA is winning these fans over with his heart and determination...something Chet...all Americans should be proud of.

Hood: Blah blah blah

MoMo: Whatever. These Trials are tough, folks. They take their toll. Regardless of where these wrestlers finish all of them will be stronger for having endured the physical and mental exhaustion that is TRIAD.

Hood: No doubt about that.

MoMo: As far as the points go...huge win for Stratford. He’s trying to stay at the top of Team Welsh and a win here does just that. He’s now sitting at 5 points.

Hood: Looking more and more like that #1 pick.

MoMo: Penelope for the third straight match collects one point. That brings her total to three.

Hood: Still looking for that breakthrough.

MoMo: And that leaves MERICA...after Night 3 he’s left with one point and can no longer win Team TLS.

Hood: Bummer. Feel for the guy...kinda.

MoMo: BUT...he can still help his fellow patriots win the overall Team competition. He’s improving match by match. If he can help his team win then he will have a spot in The Great Illuminatus and a shot at uniting the TRIAD.

Hood: Yep, he’s still fuckin in this thing.

MoMo: That he is! Alright folks...hold on...

~We are taken to a shot of the beach. Demi and Stephen are making their way back to transportation to get them to their room. Fans crowd them. Well, not fans, more like protesters. They get up in Demi and Stephen’s face, shouting at them to go away. To not go any further. To abandon the mission. Demi and Stephen try to hold onto each other but the anxious mob of protesters wind up separating them. Stephen looks out, trying to keep his eyes on Demi...as he does, he spots a tall, angry figure amid the protesters...it’s a familiar looking visage~

MoMo: We need to get those protesters off the beach!

Hood: Right? Don’t they realize that if you guys go into the Bermuda Triangle and get lost it’ll make for one hell of an Unsolved Mysteries podcast? THINK, PEOPLE

MoMo: There’s real danger down there! And who is that figure...is that…

Hood: I didn’t wanna say but I’d heard over the radio that members of Team Welsh requested transportation to this side of the island.

MoMo: We need people down there, now!! I don’t like the way this is shaping up!

~Stephen watches Demi...she disappears in and out amid the protesters. There’s so many of them. The dark figure lurks. Stephen moves toward Demi, but there’s no getting through this crowd without risking an injury or worse. Plus, he seems pretty content in letting Demi handle herself...so he stops and turns his attention toward the dark figure. His eyes lean back in Demi’s direction...he looks and suddenly...Demi is gone. He turns toward the dark figure and it’s gone as well. Stratford remains calm, not near as frantic as one might expect. He looks toward the ring and all he sees is MERICA. Penelope and Gina are gone...TRIAD officials rush in, beating back the protesters, getting them off the beach...but, for Stratford, it appears it’s too late. Demi is gone~

MoMo: Demi is gone! I think HE took her!

Hood: Well, shit. Things just got turned up to eleven.

MoMo: We need security on the case…we need to locate Demi right now! Someone get to Stephen...with the way things are going tonight, we can’t risk what might happen if this doesn’t get resolved...and soon!

Hood: Not gonna lie, this feels high stakes...but, as you said.

MoMo: Alright, folks. While we get these protesters removed and things situated out here...let’s cut to something a little less dramatic before our main event. We’ll be right back!

EARLIER TODAY

~Welsh returns to his bungaloo tucked away inside an exclusive Bermudan resort. Yoga on the beach was amazing. He felt connected with everything...the sand, the air, the sky, the sun, the crabs, the dolphins, the sperm whales...truly magnificent. Pineapple, Honey Dew Melon, and various other fruits were served afterwards. He then participated in some expert level meditation where he found an inner connection once thought lost. So, ya know, all in all, it was a pretty spectacular day~

Marcus Welsh: Today was spectacular.

~Standing out on his back balcony, he overlooks the amenities. A small tiki bar by the pool seems to be calling his name. He could use a drink to prepare for what’s to come~

Marcus Welsh: I sure could use a drink to prepare for what’s to come.

~Welsh hits up the tiki bar. He orders something fruity. It’s a beautiful day. But, something seems off...the pool, the surroundings...its all empty. He takes a sip of his drink and looks at the bartender who appears ready to end it all~

Marcus Welsh: You okay?

Bartender: No.

~He sighs~

Marcus Welsh: We’re in paradise. The weather is perfect. Why so glum?

~The bartender points at the pool as the lone person making use of it slowly floats into view. Atop an inflatable rubber ducky wearing an umbrella hat is none other than GLUM! He’s leaned forward, that sad expression on his face. His arms hang loose, fingers grazing the water. He looks so fuckin miserable. A tiny bird lands by the pool looking for some water...Glum lets out an extremely depressing sigh...the bird takes off and flies directly into a fan, killing itself. Welsh looks over at the bartender~

Marcus Welsh: Right...I’m gonna go back to my room now.

~He takes his drink and tries to avoid looking at Glum as he hurries away from the pool back into his room~

Marcus Welsh: I’m not gonna let you ruin this day for me, Glum!

~He speeds up and runs off leaving Glum behind with the bartender who looks to be sharpening a knife behind the bar. We cut back to the live feed~

MoMo: Well, it’s official...Glum is in Bermuda.

Hood: I was told not to go out to the pool earlier.

MoMo: You were?

Hood: Yes, but I was told it was because a dead body was in the pool.

MoMo: Considering Glum is dead inside that isn’t totally inaccurate.

Hood: Good point. I’d ask why he keeps following us but the obvious answer is he wants the sweet release of death that comes with venturing inside the Bermuda Triangle.

MoMo: Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

Hood: For us, anyway. I’m rooting for Glum to live out his dream.

MoMo: ANYWAY...how about we move on?

Hood: sigh Fine.

MoMo: Alright fans, it’s time for our Main Event! It’s been a wild and unpredictable Night 3 thus far and, well, it’s about to get wilder as we bring you the first ever Bermuda Shorts Match!

Hood: I’m just glad it wasn’t an ‘old guy speedo’ match.

MoMo: Maybe next summer when we’ve all aged appropriately. As of right now Vhodka has locked up the Team TLS division so Helena is looking to claim points for her team. And they need it. Team TLS, thus far, has earned only 1 point tonight falling drastically back in the standings.

Hood: Meanwhile Team Welsh is 3-0!

MoMo: That’s the other big story. Despite all the turmoil, Team Welsh is 3-0 with a great shot at getting to that desired 4-0 mark. Alexander Raven has zero points but he’s in a match with a fellow competitor with zero points and another competitor with just one point. So, the numbers would tell you he’s got a great shot at winning this.

Hood: Yep and Team Welsh is in the lead, aren’t they?

MoMo: Team Welsh right now holds an edge over Team PIC at 13-12 while Team TLS is stuck at 8 points. Raven cannot win the Welsh division but he can help give his team a larger lead heading into Night 4.

Hood: Let’s go, OG!

MoMo: And, that brings us to Kane. Kane, if she wins tonight, can catch Cortes on Night 4 and potentially tie up the division. She can also earn points to help get Team PIC back to a tie with Team Welsh or to overtake Team Welsh, reclaiming their lead. It’s important for everyone to remember...just because you cannot win your division does not mean you are out. Every member of the winning team will get a chance to unite The Triad!

Hood: Fuck yea. Let’s do this.

MoMo: It’s late and things could get spooky out here...so let’s get down to ringside for our Main Event!

Helena Handbasket (0 PTS) vs. Alexander Raven (0 PTS) vs. Lachlan Kane (1 PT)

~With the sun nearly set, we stare off into the dark, treacherous unknown that will soon become the Devil’s Triangle...once TRIAD officials venture far enough after tonight’s event. The anxiety of the fans increases. The ones truly concerned for the well being of the wrestlers know that the time to deter what they believe to be certain disaster is nearing an end. Protesters get louder. Anti-TRIAD signs more prevalent. The censoring can only do so much. Belvedere, standing in the center of the ring, stares out...it’s dark, it’s getting kinda chilly. He raises a hand and brings it down...at once, all the boats pointed toward the cove turn on their flood lights, giving us ample illumination~

Belvedere: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time for our Main Event of Night 3! This match is a triple threat match and it is the first ever Bermuda Shorts Match! In this match, competitors may use any weapon they are able to smuggle into the ring inside their Bermuda Shorts. The first wrestler to secure a pinfall, submission, or knock out will be declared the winner!

~The sweetening is turned up on the broadcast, making it seem like the entire island of Bermuda is going wild. In reality, we can see many people booing and while holding up signs that read ‘DISASTER!’ ‘GO HOME!’~

Belvedere: Introducing first…

~“Bones” by Imagine Dragons hits! The crowd doesn’t need much sweetening for this one as Helena makes her appearance on Sinky Bay Beach!! She appears rested and ready. At the moment, any and every scar she’s accrued throughout these trials have been thrust aside. It’s all about tonight and this match. A chance to get back in the race for The Triad. She’s sporting an extra baggy pair of Bermuda Shorts. They are yellow with tiny otters all over them~

MoMo: And here she comes...TRIAD’s favorite wrestler!

Hood: Do otters swim in the ocean?

MoMo: I think they can and do. But I doubt there are any out here.

Hood: Okay...so no home sea advantage for HHB.

MoMo: Not when it comes to otters, I don’t think.

~Helena marches across the beach, focused on the ring. She storms down the metal aisle way before taking off and sliding in under the bottom rope. She pops to her feet to a huge ovation. Chants of “HHB! HHB!”~

Belvedere: From Pandora’s Box…

~Belvedere points the mic to the fans and they scream out ‘BITCHES!’~

Belvedere: Standing 5’3 and weighing in at 120lbs...representing Team TLS...Helena Handbasket!!!

~Helena marches around the ring, waving her hands in the air, keeping the fans fired up. She hops onto a middle buckle, looking out into the flood lights, at the boats...then up at the fans standing atop the cliffs. She smiles as the “HHB!” chants get louder and louder~

MoMo: Bermuda is rocking for Helena Handbasket!

Hood: All she needs is a little bit of success and look out. She’s ready to take these Trials by storm.

MoMo: I couldn’t agree more!

Belvedere: Introducing next…

~As the lights from the boats dim, the speakers come to life with the sound of "Demon" by Savage Hands. Strolling out to another overwhelming chorus of cheers, Lachlan Kane smiles out at the crowd and throws a couple of phantom punches before making his way down the ramp over the water, pointing and signaling at fans along the way. He runs up the steel steps and bounces against the ropes on the outside of the ring on the apron's edge before stepping through the ropes into the centre of the ring. He grins again before throwing his hands up to the deafening roar of the crowd. As his music fades away, he takes off his jacket and hands it off to the ring announcer and throws a few more punches to ready himself~

Belvedere: From Waterford, Ireland...standing 5’11 and weighing in at 190lbs...representing Team PIC...Lachlan Kane!

~Behind Kane we see HHB hop off the middle buckle, turning to face him. He keeps his back to HHB, heading for the nearest corner where he jumps up, raising both hands to a huge ovation. We get a shot of his Bermuda Shorts...they are white with a bunch of green shamrocks all over them. They, too, look stuffed with items~

MoMo: Another massive ovation from these fans! They admire and respect the heart and fight in both Kane and Helena!

Hood: Yea and now they get to test their heart and fight against each other. What happens when two faces...face off?

MoMo: They compete with honor and respect.

Hood: Thank goodness Raven is in this match. That sounds boring as fuck.

Belvedere: And, their opponent…

~As all the boat lights dim once again, blue and red lights begin to flicker on the beach, images of ravens flying appearing on the screens secured on the side of the cliffs. 'Ladies and Gentleman' as these words fill the arena a loud bang of pyro is joined with blinding white lights. These flicker rapidly for a few moments, 'because the devil has my throat,' as these words of the song flow out, out steps Alexander Raven onto the beach. He gazes across the crowd, pulling his cloak tightly around his shoulders, his eyes opened wide a slight smile tugging at his lips. The flashing of the lights stops. 'I am the powers that be!' in sync with these lines he throws his hands up, basking in the reaction of the crowd, beginning to slowly walk down the ramp. He strolls towards the ring leisurely, crossing his arms across his chest, head tilted back, soaking in the world around him. Slowly he begins to ascend the stairs to the left of the metal aisle, once in the ring, spinning his way to the centre of the ring, dropping to his knees. He hunches over and places his fists on the canvas. 'I am the alpha! and the omega!' as soon as these words come out, he lifts himself backwards slightly, the cloak slipping from his shoulders as he extends his arms to the sky, staring upwards, soaking everything in once again. Slowly he raises to his feet, pushing his cloak from the ring slowly with his foot~

Belvedere: From Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...standing 6’2 and weighing in at 215lbs...representing Team Welsh...Alexander Raven!!!!

~Raven remains center of the ring. Kane hops off the middle buckle and turns around, facing him. Raven looks at Kane...he then turns around, looking at HHB...he’s caught in between the two. Belvedere exits the ring. We get a shot of Raven’s Bermuda Shorts...they are a pink base with tiny images of Welsh’s head all over them. They also appear to be massively loaded with weapons...damn near falling from his waist. He reaches down to keep them up~

MoMo: Raven is oh-so close to being 2-0 in these Trials. Some are saying tonight is the night he breaks through.

Hood: A lot of tough luck in this one, MoMan. Helena has had the toughest schedule so far and could easily be 2-0 herself...I mean, fuck man...she’s faced Knox, Stratford, Thad, and Cortes.

MoMo: Definitely the toughest draw of any competitor thus far.

Hood: And then you’ve got Kane. Ran with Vhodka on Night 1 and took everything Stratford could dish out on Night 2.

MoMo: One of these three will finally taste sweet victory...the other two? Well, sadly, will more than likely be eliminated from attaining a piece of the TRIAD. However, they will remain critical for Team performance.

~The full flood lights are back on the ring. Tony throws his hand in some arbitrary direction and the bell sounds! Fans gasp...fans cheer...Raven looks to his right at HHB. He looks to his left at Kane. He reaches for his shorts, for a weapon. But the shorts have been sewn shut to get as many weapons inside as possible. He curses. HHB and Kane share a look and they take off, charging at Raven. Raven turns, facing HHB and says ‘oh shit’...she takes him down with a clothesline right as Kane dives at his legs, taking them out! Raven’s body snaps back hitting the ring hard!!! The fans go wild~

MoMo: And we’re off! HHB and Kane working together to put Alexander Raven on the mat!

Hood: Can’t blame them. Team Welsh is desperate and knowing what a desperate Welsh is like I wouldn’t doubt it if they put a fuckin gun in those shorts.

MoMo: I get they were trying to load them up as full as possible but sewing them shut seems detrimental to the cause.

Hood: Classic Team Welsh.

~HHB hurries to her feet. Kane gets to one knee and sees the look on HHB’s face. She still doesn’t seem to quite trust people yet...at least not in TRIAD. Kane extends his hands as if to say ‘relax’. HHB backs up...Kane rises to his feet, slowly. He’s prepared for anything. HHB backs all the way up into her original corner...Kane realizes Raven won’t be down long and, given the distance HHB has backed up, he turns his focus to Raven, stomping on him~

MoMo: If there’s anybody in these Trials Helena can trust it’s Lachlan.

Hood: Easy for someone who hasn’t been betrayed by their dad to say.

MoMo: True.

~Raven rolls over, giving up his back to prevent the kicks from doing too much damage. Kane jumps up and double foot stomps Raven’s spine! Alexander yells out in pain. Kane snatches him by the hair, pulling back, getting Raven to his knees. Kane then kicks Raven in the chest once, twice, three times...finally, Raven catches Kane’s leg...but Kane simply responds with a shining wizard to the side of Raven’s head! He falls back to the mat, this time on his side...the fans respond by chanting “KANE! KANE! KANE!”~

MoMo: Kane has had Raven’s number every time they’ve stepped inside the ring against one another.

Hood: Yea, all I heard coming into these Trials was how Raven beat Kane for a title in some other promotion. That wasn’t the case on Night 1. Doesn’t appear to be the case on Night 2, either.

MoMo: Not yet, anyway. If there’s one thing we’ve come to know about Alexander Raven...he’s a hard person to keep down.

~Kane take a quick look HHB’s way...she remains in her corner, observing. Kane pulls Raven back to his feet...like the announcers, he know show dangerous Raven can be when given the chance. He shoves Raven back into a corner and boots him in the gut. Raven leans forward, wincing in pain. Kane whips Raven out of the corner, across the ring...but Raven’s super heavy shorts slide down his legs around his feet, tripping him up. He stumbles down to the mat...underneath the shorts he’s got a pair of old school ‘AR’ pro wrestling trunks on. The fans can’t help but laugh a bit...Kane walks up and kicks Raven in the ass, playing to the crowd. We get a close up of Raven...he does not appear to be enjoying the humor at his expense. Kane reaches forward, pulling Raven back to his feet by the hair...but Raven buries an elbow deep into Kane’s midsection! Kane doubles over...Raven pulls his Bermuda shorts up and slugs Kane across the face, knocking him to the mat… a punch powered by anger fueled via embarrassment~

MoMo: Again, as we said, you cannot underestimate Raven. Even if he is having trouble keeping his shorts up.

Hood: You’d think Kane, of all people, would’ve kept his guard up.

MoMo: Sometimes the moment just takes you away.

~Raven holds his shorts with one hand and uses the other to position his balance, lifting a leg, ready to drive it into Kane’s head when HHB comes flying from off screen!! She smacks Raven in the face with a flying forearm!!! He stumbles back!! HHB remains on her feet...she hits the ropes, bounces off and leaps into the air, taking Raven to the mat with a flying clothesline!!! Raven is down once again, a huge ovation! HHB pops back to her feet...like Kane, she stomps on Raven, keeping him down. We cut to a view from outside the ring, looking up at HHB stomping on Raven...from behind we see Kane get to his feet. He holds his jaw, working it back and forth...once he gets his bearings he sees HHB working Raven over and heads her way...HHB looks up and sees Kane heading her way...she immediately spins around, fists up. Kane stops and holds his hands up, trying to calm HHB down~

MoMo: He’s trying to help you, Helena!

Hood: How much is a person REALLY trying to help in a triple threat match, MoBro?

MoMo: I mean, that’s fair.

Hood: Helena’s been betrayed once. She isn’t going to let it happen again.

~Kane and HHB have a standoff. Kane doesn’t really wanna fight HHB...at least, not yet. But he will if HHB makes the first move. Raven gets to all fours, tired of being beaten on...he, like HHB, looks at the screen and sees what’s going on...he turns, grabs HHB and tosses her over for a roll up! But, because they are near the ropes, a simple roll up turns into Raven throwing HHB through the ropes and outside the ring!! She falls off the apron and slams into the metal awning on the outside! The fans boo! Kane rushes forward, throwing a kick at Raven...but he tumbles forward...Kane’s foot hits the middle rope, jarring every bone and joint in his leg. He falters back, reaching for his knee. Raven gets to his feet, holding his pants up...he hits the ropes, bounces off and LEVELS Kane with a lariat!! Kane hits the mat, hard. Raven takes his foot and jams it in Kane’s throat...his eyes looking very much like a man willing to commit literal murder after everything he’s been through~

MoMo: The miscommunication between Kane and Helena via Helena’s paranoia has given Raven a window of opportunity.

Hood: And people say Team Welsh is dysfunctional. Give me a break. They just want to win. Nothing wrong with a team full of individuals.

MoMo: I think some would beg to differ with that but you can’t argue the talent that has been assembled on Team Welsh.

~HHB picks herself up off the metal awning...water splashing up and through the grating due to the action going on inside the ring. She sees Raven all over Kane and hustles for the steps. Sprinting up the steps she finds the apron and places a foot on the middle buckle before leaping up onto the top. She leaps off...Raven can sense something coming...he turns around and gets caught by Helena…she grabs him by the head and spins around, taking him over with a Tornado DDT!!! Raven spikes on his head, flips over and lands on his feet, leaning forward against the ropes. Helena, back on her feet, rushes forward, grabs his legs and hoists them up, sending Raven over the top rope and to the outside where he, like HHB, lands hard on the metal awning! The fans go wild!! HHB stares down at him~

MoMo: Tremendous athleticism and quickness by Helena! Now, if she’ll just ease those nerves.

Hood: PTSD is a real thing, man.

MoMo: There’s nothing wrong with having a respectful match with Kane from this point forward. We don’t even need to bring weapons into this.

Hood: You should never book a wrestling event.

~Kane gets to his feet...he sees Raven is missing. He sees HHB staring down from the ropes. He struggles to his feet and stands next to HHB to get a view of Raven...this startles HHB...she reaches into her Bermuda Shorts, pulls something out and sticks it into Kane’s ribs!! Kane’s body shakes as he stumbles back, goes limp, and collapses to the mat! The fans gasp. HHB looks down, wide eyed at the potentially unconscious Kane...we zoom in on her hand to see a black ringed device around her right middle finger~

MoMo: It’s a Taser Ring! She felt threatened and reacted by tasing Kane!

Hood: Ah shit. IF Kane gets up from that I can imagine any sort of ‘deal’ is off the table.

MoMo: The gloves are officially off.

Hood: Might as well go for the pin. Raven AND Kane are gonna want revenge on ya very, very soon.

~HHB is on the same page as Hood. She dives onto Kane for the pin. Tony slides in with the count~

1!

2!

SHOULDER UP!!

MoMo: Kane has enough in him...or, well, enough physical instinct left to avoid being pinned after a taser shot.

Hood: And now Helena is in a bad, bad place.

MoMo: Her paranoia has cost her. A potential alliance with Kane to eliminate Raven leaving the two to battle it out, respectfully has been eviscerated. This will now likely deteriorate into a violent affair with all three competitors suffering the consequences of Helena’s actions.

Hood: Sounds rad.

~HHB, on her knees, rears back with the Taser Ring, looking to punch Kane in the face with it...but Kane immediately reaches up, catching HHB’s arm...there’s a struggle...HHB trying to shock Kane a second time. Kane finally rolls out of the way as HHB’s ring touches the mat, doing no harm. Kane hurries to his feet and hits the ropes. HHB rushes to her feet...Kane bounces off and catches HHB with Slingblade!!! HHB hits the mat hard. Kane pops back to his feet and steps on HHB’s wrist, pinning it to the mat...he bends over and removes the Taser Ring, tossing it away, into the water. It splashes atop the water, proving to be buoyant and floating along the waves. Kane then pulls HHB back to her feet and whips her into a buckle...she hits hard. He rushes in, hops on the middle buckle, lays in a few fists before falling back and tossing HHB over and to the mat with a Monkey Flip! He then nips up straight onto the middle buckle, jumps off and lands on top of HHB with a moonsault!! He hooks the leg for the cover~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!

MoMo: Lots of athleticism in that ring right now.

Hood: Kane with the smart play...get rid of that taser ring.

MoMo: No kidding. That thing is a heart stopper.

Hood: Literally!

~Outside we see Raven sit up...he reaches around his shorts, ready to put some of the good weapons his teammates handed him to use. He feels around...but there are no openings...whoever stitched this did a frustratingly good job. He looks under the ring for something. Back inside the ring, Kane has HHB back on her feet...he whips her into a corner...she hits hard and staggers forward...Kane jumps up and blasts HHB in the chest with a Shotgun Dropkick!! Her body shoots back, violently into the corner...she falls on her ass, seated up against the bottom buckle. Kane pops back to his feet...outside the ring we see Alexander Raven emerge with...BOX CUTTERS! He smiles, cutting slits open in his shorts so he can access his weapons. Once finishes, he tosses the cutters aside and slides into the ring, returning to his feet. “HEY KANE!” he yells. Lachlan turns around, facing his TRIAD nemesis~

MoMo: Uh oh. Raven is back in the ring and he has full access to the weapons Team Welsh gave him!

Hood: Kane is fucked. OG Raven on the rise!

MoMo: I can only imagine the horrors that are in those shorts.

Hood: You sound like the parent of a newborn.

~Raven digs into his freshly cut pocket and reaches in...he pulls out a Giant Red Plastic Shovel! The the type kids play with on the beach. The fans around the beach all laugh...Raven looks at it like ‘wtf?’ Lachlan is puzzled. Raven reaches into the pocket on the other side of his shorts, digging and digging...his face twisting with malice...this is the one! He digs and grasps something...he pulls it out and reveals...a plastic Spork!! More laughter from the fans. Raven looks at it and throws it aside...he digs into his pockets and pulls out another spork and another and another...Kane has had enough...he charges forward and hits Kane with a Shotgun Dropkick, sending him crashing into the corner, falling to the mat. Raven and HHB are both down. Kane looks at them...he takes off and leaps into the air with a delayed dropkick into HHB! He pops back to his feet and charges forward hitting Raven with a delayed dropkick!! The fans go wild! Kane pops back to his feet, center of the ring, soaking in their cheers~

MoMo: We’ve heard rumors of Kane feeling a darker presence within...but tonight he looks like the Lachlan Kane we’ve all come to know and love.

Hood: Yea, well, just wait until he gets knee deep in the shit.

MoMo: Meanwhile, Team Welsh did Raven no favors.

Hood: It’s tough being the OG.

~Kane, after taking a pause for the applause, goes for Raven again. Reaching down, he grabs at Raven but Raven responds with a classic Team Welsh tactic, thumbing Kane in the eye!! Kane staggers back, away from Raven. Raven pulls himself up, measures Kane and charges forward...but he trips and falls!! The shorts slipping down his waist again! Fans again, laugh as Raven sits up and rips his shorts off… “I HATE THESE FUCKIN SHORTS!!” He tosses them into the water...he’s now wearing only the underwear with his ‘AR’ initials sewed into them. He turns back around...Kane lunges at him with a clothesline...but Raven ducks, rushing to the ropes...HHB reaches up from her corner, she grabs the top rope and pulls it down...Raven flips over it and lands hard outside!! He crashes atop the metal awning and rolls a bit down the metal aisle~

MoMo: It just isn’t Raven’s night.

Hood: One thing after another for this guy. Hang in there, OG! You don’t need those weapons...use your fists!

MoMo: So far only Helena has effectively used a weapon. I’m not even sure if Kane brought any.

Hood: Good point, he fashions himself as such a good guy he might have left the pockets empty.

~HHB is back on her feet. Kane turns around, facing her...the two circle one another. Neither reaching for their shorts...Kane remembering the taser ring but, apparently, willing to let it go. They lock up! Kane gains an advantage with a side head lock...HHB shoves him off, into the ropes...he bounces off and HHB goes for a leap frog! But Kane catches her...he charges for a corner...HHB slides down his back, before they can hit the buckles...she pulls him over for a pin but Kane rolls through, gets to his feet, jumps up and tries to Shotgun Dropkick HHB….but HHB rolls out of the way...they pop back up to their feet, both ready for the other...the fans applaud the ‘up-and-up’ pro wrestling~

MoMo: No weapons. No unnecessary violent. Just two elite competitors trying to out wrestle each other. You love to see it.

Hood: QUICK, GET RAVEN BACK IN THERE

~As if on cue, we see someone running down the metal awning, breaking through security! He’s a man possessed! They can’t stop him and his passion! He charges forward and drops down next to Raven. Raven looks up, his eyes locking on the man. A shared kinship is show between the two as the unknown man stands up and takes off his Bermuda Shorts. As he does, the wind blows the hood cover his head back to reveal that he is a fellow Ginger~

MoMo: Another redhead! That explains the passion.

Hood: Gingers gotta stick together, man.

MoMo: Such passion and heart to get to Raven, he fought through, like, six security guards.

Hood: No ginger lets another ginger suffer alone.

~He hands his Bermuda Shorts to Alexander...the fellow ginger is left wearing only a black speedo with flames over the crotch. He salutes OG before being dragged away by TRIAD security~

MoMo: Interesting underwear.

Hood: Do I really need to explain it?

MoMo: No.

~Alexander takes the fellow ginger’s shorts and begins putting them on. Back inside the ring, HHB and Kane challenge one another to a battle of chops. The fans lean forward, always loving a good ole chop fest. Kane chops HHB! HHB chops Kane! Kane chops back! HHB chops back!! The fans cheering louder and louder with each chop. HHB rears back and sends a chop knifing right through Kane’s soul!!! Kane bends over, gasping for air, holding his chest...he then fires up, rears back and delivers a huge chop! But his hand catches HHB on the chin, knocking her a bit silly...she instantly fires up and shoves Kane, ‘What the feck was THAT?’ Kane didn’t mean to hit her in the face but he isn’t going to back down...HHB throws down! Kane follows suit! The two brawl in the center of the ring to the fan’s delight!! Kane is gaining the upper hand until Alexander Raven comes flying into view with a cross body...he crashes right on top of both competitors, taking them to the mat!! A strong ovation from the people of Bermuda~

MoMo: Tremendous action! Helena continues to think the worst of people...even someone as innocent as Kane.

Hood: She’s a ticking timebomb, man.

MoMo: Could be.

Hood: But glad to see Raven back in this. And those shorts look snug around his waist. His mobility is BACK!

MoMo: A total stranger was more help to Raven than his team.

Hood: They say there is no such thing as a ‘stranger’ when it comes to a fellow ginger.

~Raven is back on his feet, holding his midsection. He digs into the shorts the fellow ginger gave him and pulls out...Sunscreen! SPF 100! The strong shit. He pops the cap and waits for Kane to get to his feet...he does and Raven squirts him in the face with the sunscreen!!! Lachlan falls down, covering his eyes! This is evidently not eye sensitive sunscreen. Raven turns around and sees HHB on her feet...he throws a wild haymaker with the bottle of sunscreen in his right hand and SMACK!! He bashes the bottle into the side of HHB’s head with sunscreen flying everywhere. She collapses to the mat. Raven looks down at the crushed bottle of sunscreen and hears his fellow ginger yelling, “OG!!!” Raven responds by holding the bottle high and tilting it in his direction...he then tosses it out of the ring, drops to his knees and starts to choke HHB~

MoMo: A more useful weapon than plastic shovels and sporks.

Hood: Evidently. Sunscreen in the eyes, man. Oof that can hurt.

MoMo: This is probably an important time to remind everyone to Always Wear Sunscreen.

Hood: Also the premise, unofficial title to an interesting song. Look it up.

~With Raven choking HHB we cut to Kane who is seated in a corner, trying to clean out his eyes. He digs into his right pocket and pulls out some cotton swabs, solution, and wipes...he uses it to clear out his vision. Raven won’t stop choking HHB across the ring...she’s losing consciousness, her face turning a dangerous shade of red. He drags her into the corner, choking her up against the bottom buckle...Tony tries to get him off her...he refuses to release until he rears back and yells! He looks down at his arm and sees what looks like a tiny bite mark. Staring down he finds an otter standing on two legs, looking up at him~

MoMo: An otter?!

Hood: Remember when I asked if they swam in salt water? I FUCKIN KNEW IT

MoMo: Was it in her shorts the entire time?

Hood: Don’t ask me.

~The otter actually looks pretty cute. Raven disarms a bit...until the otter makes a threatening sound and leaps into the air at Raven!! He falls down, fighting the otter as it claws and bites at his face...Raven manages to pull the otter off him and he flings it out of the ring and into the water. The otter lets out a terrified scream as it flies through the air. The fans BOOOOO!!!!! Poor little otter. Raven sits up like, ‘wtf’. He’s suddenly pounced on by HHB...attacking him like an angry mother otter! She unleashes forearms and fists into his face from the mount position, much to the crowd’s delight~

MoMo: There goes the otter.

Hood: Fuckin rodents, man.

~Raven kicks his leg up, knocking HHB off him. She rolls forward and returns to her feet. Raven gets to his and turns around...HHB charges at him, leaping into the air...he backs up and she winds up splashing him in the corner. To the side we see Kane finished getting the sunscreen out of his eyes and returning to his feet, his eyes are red and irritated but they are functioning. He heads over to join the fray. HHB and Kane each grab an arm from Raven...they whip him out of the corner...but Raven reverses and yanks both Kane and HHB into each other!!! They knock heads and stagger back. Raven stumbles into the previous corner. HHB reaches for her head, the bruise from her injury in week 1 still there, she reaches into her shorts and pulls out a Hammer Fist!! She slings her arm around and SLUGS Kane right in the jaw with it!!! Kane falls back, through the ropes and out of the ring...the fans start to boo!! Kane didn’t deserve that! Kane is laid out, on the metal awning. HHB looks down at him, hammer fist still locked tightly in her right hand~

MoMo: Oh no!!

Hood: Helena be crazy. That might’ve broken Kane’s jaw.

MoMo: Kane’s let a lot slide in this match. At some point he’s going to give Helena some receipts.

~Raven seizes opportunity, taking HHB over with a roll up...but she kicks out instantly. Raven is back on his feet...HHB, from her knees, hits him in the shin with her Hammer Fist!! Raven yells out, limping away, toward the ropes for stability. HHB pops back to her feet and rushes at Raven, looking to knock him out...but he ducks and hoists her over the top rope...she lands on the apron. She swings at him with the Hammer Fist...but he blocks it and leans in with a headbutt! She’s staggered...he pulls the Hammer Fist off her hand and throws it into the ocean. It sinks to the bottom. He yanks HHB over the top rope...she flips over and lands on her feet! Raven reaches for her but she jumps back up and hits Supersonics (Code Breaker)!!! Raven tumbles to the mat, coming to rest center of the ring. Outside we see Kane get to one knee, holding his jaw...blood leaking out around the corner of his mouth...he can taste it. He peers inside the ring at HHB and a look comes over him...something sinister. He looks underneath the ring~

MoMo: Uh oh

Hood: Is this that dark side we’ve heard about?

MoMo: It might be. That blow to the head may have summoned something from deep within.

~Kane emerges with a steel chair! The fans yell out, “NO!” They are urging Kane to stay within himself. Don’t go down that dark path! He stands, chair ready. HHB, inside the ring, looks down at Raven...she takes off, hitting the ropes...she bouncers off, skips over Raven and runs at the ropes where Kane is situated, outside. He rears back with the chair...she hits the ropes and...he holds up! He stops himself!! The fans cheer! HHB leaps into the air, using all her momentum, for a standing Shooting Star Press! She connects!!! She hooks Raven’s leg and Tony counts~

1!

2!

KICK OUT!!

MoMo: Raven with the kickout! However, what’s important to note is that Kane decided NOT to use the chair.

Hood: That’s some real inner strength, man. I’d have pancaked that bitch a long time ago.

MoMo: That’s why he’s beloved. The man has more strength in him than most.

~Kane throws the chair down and slides back into the ring. HHB pops to her feet, expecting an attack from the bloodied Kane. Instead, he reaches into his right pocket and pulls out another wipe, to clean the blood off his mouth. He then turns down to Raven and begins kicking him. HHB seems surprised but joins in the fun, putting the boots to Raven as well. Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! The fans go wild! Together they pull Raven off the mat and irish whip him into the corner...he hits with such velocity that he flips over the top buckle and tumbles all the way to the outside, landing HARD on the metal awning! The fans groan...that was a rough one. Raven is face down, not moving. HHB looks to go after him, but Kane restrains HHB and spins her around. He extends his arms and says, “You wanna do this the right way now?” HHB thinks~

MoMo: I think Kane just wants to have a straight up match with Helena.

Hood: Yea, but he’s pretty aggressive about it.

MoMo: His patience is wearing thin. He just wants to see who the better wrestler is, I think.

Hood: A nice thought, in theory. But this shit feels like it could go sideways in a hurry.

~HHB responds with, “Well, come on!” They lock up once again! This time it’s HHB with the side headlock! Kane tries to shoot HHB off but she won’t let go...so, Kane hoists HHB up...HHB flips backward, landing on her feet behind Kane. Lachlan spins around, HHB leaps up looking to pop Kane with Supersonics...but Kane holds on!!! Kane raises back up with HHB in his arms...he’s looking for a powerbomb...HHB splits her legs and wraps them around his head, trying to throw him over...but Kane refuses...he yells out, he gathers all his strength and he slings HHB off him...her body SLAMS into a corner, dangerously!! She collapses to the mat, looking like she might be injured. Fans go quiet as Kane looks down at her...that same scary look in his eye~

MoMo: Kane just kinda hulked up there.

Hood: He might have injured Helena.

MoMo: No kidding. He threw her like a sack of potatoes right into that corner.

Hood: The way he threw her...I’d say he’d have been more careful with a sack of potatoes. He is Irish, you know.

~Kane stays angry...he goes after HHB and grabs her by the hair, yanking her into a seated position in the corner. He then jams his foot into her throat. Tony looks on like, “Kane, what’s gotten into you?!” Which holds him back from administering a count. Outside we see Raven slowly lifting his head and looking out over the water...a familiar looking fin breaches the surface...it’s got a black tip. It’s not very big. The smallish shark raises up and eats the Taser Ring! Everyone in attendance is like ‘well, that’s not good.’ The shark goes underwater before immediately floating up to the surface, dead. Raven’s eyes widen as he stares at the dead shark for a bit. Back inside the ring, Tony tries to get Kane off of HHB...he shoves Kane back...Kane stumbles and seems to get in touch with his previous self. He shakes his head and stares at his foot...then at HHB~

MoMo: We’ve got a dead shark...murdered via the taser ring. And, we’ve got Lachlan Kane coming to his senses.

Hood: Yea and once Helena comes to hers she’s going to let loose on Kane.

MoMo: No doubt.

~HHB starts to wake up...she pulls herself up, coughing. She reaches for her throat...she looks over at Kane and is incensed. She trusted him, in her mind, anyway...and he betrayed her. Kane tries to calm her down, explaining he hasn’t been himself. HHB isn’t gonna hear it. She yells out and runs at him...Kane braces himself...another brawl between the two breaks out...this one much nastier than the previous. Gut punches are thrown. Attempted eye rakes. Attempted eye gouges. It’s a fuckin street fight inside the ring atop the water in Bermuda. The fans don’t know who to cheer for...it’d usually be Kane but he’s showing dark tendencies and given HHB a reason to wild out...on the other hand, HHB has been so paranoid that she’s given Kane a reason to get a little ‘dark’. The fans are torn...but not for long as Raven emerges! He re-enters the ring carrying the 3-4 foot dead body of the black tip shark!!! He begins swinging it like a limp club, beating HHB and Kane back with it!~

MoMo: Look out! Raven is swinging a dead black tip shark!

Hood: Is that even legal?

MoMo: I’d ask Tony but he’s over there ducking down in the corner.

~Tony is, indeed, hiding from the dead shark being swung by Raven. He beats on HHB and Kane with it, both giving up their backs to absorb the blows. He pounds away on them, the shark’s body slapping hard into their flesh. They drop to their knees...then to all fours...until finally they are face down on the mat. Raven continues to wail away on them until the shark’s head starts to kinda fly apart...he stops, looks at it and then throws it back into the ocean...he drops to all fours and rolls Kane over, hooking the leg. He yells at Tony to come over...Tony rushes in and makes the count~

1!

2!

3...NO!

MoMo: Shoulder up by Kane! He kicked out of that Shark beating!

Hood: Another first for me. That shark took a beating, though.

MoMo: That it did.

~Pissed off, Raven gets to his feet and grabs Kane...he slings Kane into a corner, head first...Kane’s shoulder RAMS into the post. He remains there, laid out, clutching his arm. Raven then looks toward HHB...she’s trying to get up but that shark beating was rough. Raven hoists her off the mat and immediately drops her with a Double Hammerlock DDT! HHB is down! Raven pops back up...he grabs Helena and slings her out of the ring! She tumbles onto the metal awning. He then turns his focus back to Kane~

MoMo: Raven wants to pin Kane.

Hood: Was there any doubt?

MoMo: I get the urge...but win these matches however you can, Raven. Now is not the time to be selective!

~Raven pulls Kane out of the corner...hooks his arm and spins him around and drapes him across his back!! The fans rise! He’s looking for Raven’s Spine!!! He gets into position for a running start...but Kane, very familiar with Raven, starts kicking his leg down and into Raven’s head!!! Raven stumbles...he loses his grip...Kane breaks free and sits up onto Raven’s shoulders...he’s in the Electric Chair position...he dives forward, rolls Raven over and hooks both legs!!! Tony slides in~

1!

2!

3!!!

NO!

MoMo: Raven barely BARELY kicked out of that one!

Hood: I dunno, OG. Kane might just have your number.

MoMo: It’s clear Lachlan is very well aware of Raven’s Spine. Much like LCP earlier with Heat Seeker...it’s going to be hard to catch him with it.

~Both wrestlers hurry back to their feet...Lachlan reaches for his back as he stands...the wear and tear of Nights 1 and 2 combined with the shark beating. This gives Raven an opportunity to hammer away at Kane, pummeling his head with right fists, knocking the Irishman back into the nearest corner. He rocks him with a haymaker. Raven then reaches into his new Bermuda Shorts for one final weapon...he reveals...a thick book titled “World Domination”. He shrugs and then SLAMS the book into the side of Kane’s head!! Kane’s body falls against the ropes...he’s barely standing, arms draped over the top...Raven SLAMS the book into Kane’s back!! Lachlan stands upright, wincing...Raven then SLUGS Kane in the face with the book a second time...Kane spins around and falls to the mat!! The fans boo!!! Raven slides the book out of the ring, he’ll grab it later and give it a read...he dives on top of Kane for the pin...Tony counts~

1!

2!

3...NO!

MoMo: Shoulder up!! Shoulder up!

Hood: Well, so much for World Domination.

MoMo: To be fair, he didn’t read the whole book...or one word, for that matter.

Hood: Figures a Ginger would carry that around.

~Raven gets to his knees, frustrated. He looks down at Kane wondering how he’s gonna keep him down. CAN he keep him down? Kane’s already busted mouth is starting to swell from Helena’s hammer fist and Raven’s book. His jaw beginning to puff out. Raven grabs him by the hair, yanking him to his feet...he knees Kane in the gut and hooks him for a suplex. Outside we see Helena’s head rising up over the apron and looking inside. Raven hoists Kane up for a suplex...but Kane drops to their feet behind Raven...they hit the ropes...Raven turns around and Kane takes them down with Slingblade!!! The fans pop!! Raven and Kane are down...Helena reaches for the bottom rope to get in but stops...she pauses...she stays and watches~

MoMo: Helena hesitating to get back in!

Hood: Maybe she learned something from Stratford.

MoMo: You think?

Hood: If she did it’d make Stratford more of a father to her than Knox ever was.

MoMo: That is RUDE and UNFAIR...not to mention, UNTRUE

Hood: Calm your twitties, MoMo.

~Kane slowly gets to his feet. Raven sits up, groggy. Kane stumbles around...Raven stands...Kane heads toward Raven and leaps up, clocking him with a Jumping Corkscrew Roundhouse Kick!! Raven drops to the mat! Kane heads through the ropes, looking to climb to the top. Helena watches from outside, ready to move if she needs to. Kane gets to the top...he looks down at Raven and leaps off with Lach-Down!!! But Raven moves!!! Lachlan hits the mat and tumbles forward. Raven scrambles to his feet. Lachlan pops up and hits the ropes, bouncing off, keeping his momentum...but he’s met from Raven with a HUGE lariat!!! The flesh on flesh impact is huge! A mixture of blood and sweat flying through the air, being enhanced by the flood lights shining out on the ring. Kane turns inside out, landing on the mat. Raven drops to a knee, trying to gather his strength~

MoMo: Kane was close to finishing it off!

Hood: Yea, but Raven knew what was coming and got out of the way.

MoMo: These two know each other so well.

~Kane pushes himself up...the fans are solidly behind him. Blood continues to leak from his mouth. His jaw continues to swell. Raven sees Lachlan getting up and he does the same...both men are on their feet, staggering. Outside we see HHB reach into her shorts, removing something. Raven and Kane size one another up and begin to trade punches! Right hand after right hand!! “KANE! KANE! KANE!” the people cheer! But it’s Raven who appears to be gaining the upper hand...the anger and fury of weeks of frustration building up...his right hands pick up pace...they increase in impact...Kane drops to one knee...Raven continues to unload, punishing that already injured jaw. Raven yells, “GO DOWN! GO DOWN!” He rears back and CRACKS Kane in the jaw! Lachlan falls over...the fans quiet down...some start to boo. Raven shakes his hand and looks at his fists...they red and irritated~

MoMo: Wow, Raven let it all out there.

Hood: A brutally cathartic act.

MoMo: He’s just got to...wait a minute!

~Raven, like everyone else, thinks he’s done it. He thinks he’s put Kane down. But Kane starts to growl...his growls increase in volume, turning into yells. He slams his fists into the mat and begins to push himself up. Raven looks down at him, shocked. HHB looks on, staying outside. Kane gets to one knee, his jaw coated in a mixture of saliva and blood. His eyes filled with hate and anger. Raven leans into the corner, trying to make sense with what he’s seeing. Kane reaches into his left short pocket...the one he’s ignored the whole match. He reaches in and pulls out a metal shamrock...a metal shamrock in the shape of brass knucks...brass knucks painted green. He slides his fingers through the device, gripping it tightly. Raven sees the weapon and knows one punch with that and he’s fucked. Fans begin to murmur, wondering what has come over Kane~

MoMo: Brass knucks painted green and in the shape of a shamrock!

Hood: Raven’s luck is about to run out!

MoMo: Meanwhile Helena is just watching.

Hood: Let’s just call her Lil Strat.

~Kane gets to his feet...Raven rushes forward and hits Kane...Kane doesn’t sell it. He hits Kane again! Kane doesn’t sell it. Raven is like ‘wtf is going on in Bermuda?!’ He throws a wild haymaker...Kane ducks. Raven takes off, hitting the ropes...he bounces off and throws a clothesline from hell at Kane...but Kane ducks. Kane spins around...Raven spins around and Kane delivers a strike with his shamrock knuckles...Raven ducks it! Raven hooks Kane from behind! Kane strikes with a sharp elbow...he spins around and DRILLS Raven in the head with the Shamrock Knuckles!!! Raven falls to the mat! He looks knocked out. Kane drags him to the center of the ring and heads for a corner~

MoMo: He connects! Shamrock Knuckles to the jaw! Raven is down!

Hood: Kane should pin him!

MoMo: He’s got one move left to hit!

~Kane reaches the top and looks down at Raven...he prepares to jump but pauses...he feels something at his feet...he looks down and sees Helena with a paracord! She already has it secure around the top buckle and ties manages to secure it around Kane’s ankle!!! Kane tries to break free but falls forward...he hangs from the top rope, his palms on the mat, pushing himself up so he can look across the ring...as he does, he sees HHB slide back in~

MoMo: Helena just tied Kane to the corner!

Hood: Oh shit...she is using that brain of hers!

MoMo: Kane needs to break free otherwise Helena is gonna steal it!

~HHB bends down and grabs Kane’s hand...she rips the Shamrock Knuckles from his grip and thanks him for the ‘gift’ before placing them on her hand. She looks at Raven...he’s on all fours...he fights and fights to his feet, stumbling. Helena charges at him and spins around with a spinning back fist via the Shamrock Knuckles!!! But Raven ducks!!! Raven gets her onto his back, jumps up and drops HHB with RAVEN’S SPINE!!!! HHB IS DOWN! RAVEN IS DOWN! The fans are on their feet! Kane digs at the mat with his hands, trying to pull himself free...he turns and sits up, working at the paracord around his ankle~

MoMo: What a counter by Alexander Raven!

Hood: He’s just got to make the cover and Team Welsh goes 4-0!

MoMo: I cannot believe we are on the precipice of that actually happening.

~Raven, holding his wounded jaw, rolls over and covers HHB!! Tony slides in!! Kane, still stuck, looks on~

1!

2!

3!!!!

NO!!

MoMo: HHB with the shoulder up!

Hood: THAT FUCKING CLOSE TO 4-0!

MoMo: He’s got to hit it one more time, I think!

~Raven can’t believe it...he catches his breath and looks over at Kane who is seething, staring back at him. Raven gives Kane a middle finger along with a smile, showing his own blood stained teeth. Kane’s eyes are consumed. He reaches out for Raven. Raven gets to his feet and walks over to Kane, talking some shit. The fans rise~

MoMo: Attention of Kane, Raven!

Hood: Behind you!

~Raven turns around and HHB throws a haymaker with the Shamrock Knuckles!!! Raven ducks!! He hoists her up again for Raven’s Spine but this time HHB slams the Shamrock Knuckles into his ribs!!! He lets her go and she flips over, landing on her feet!! Raven, holding his side, turns around...HHB hits the ropes, she bounces off and clocks Raven with Screw U!!!!! Raven falls back, HHB dives on top!! Tony slides in, the fans count along. Kane looks on, furious, blood oozing from his mouth~

1!

2!

3!!!!!

~The bell rings~

Belvedere: Here is your winner...HELENA HANDBASKET!!!!!

MoMo: Helena did it!

Hood: Holy shit.

MoMo: Raven had her down, dead to right but he had to enjoy mocking Lachlan Kane a little too long.

Hood: Welsh was THAT close to 4-0.

MoMo: Kane, meanwhile, remains tied to the corner. Unable to do anything but watch.

Hood: He looks like a beast, man. And not in that ‘wow, he’s really impressive’ form of the term...but more in the ‘I think this dude is possessed’ kinda way.

~HHB pops to her feet...she lets out a guttural yell of joy...finally, after Night 1 and all it’s pain. Night 2’s disappointment...finally, victory!! The fans pop, showing their appreciation for her efforts. She stumbles for the ropes and steps through them...as she does, she release the paracord from the corner, sending Kane falling to the mat. She then hops off the apron and heads down the metal ramp, exiting~

MoMo: This win gives Helena two points. Sadly, it’s not enough to catch Vhodka.

Hood: Hey, that’s alright. Team TLS really needed those points.

MoMo: They really did.

~Kane, freed, slides out of the ring. He snares that chair he had earlier and slides back in. He pops to his feet and holds it up, ready to demolish Raven. Raven is face down, holding his head. Kane rears back with the chair...the fans yell out ‘NO!’ They don’t want to see him descend. Not this deep~

MoMo: Is Kane about to snap?

Hood: Looks like it.

MoMo: These fans are pleading with him to spare Raven. Not to cross over.

~Kane hears the fans...his body starts to relax...his face unraveling, untwisting...going back to his normal, fan pleasing demeanor. He takes the chair and tosses it down. Turning, he exits the ring...the fans applaud and cheer him but he doesn’t respond much. There’s apparently a lot going through his mind~

MoMo: Happy to see he made that decision. But it appears these Trials are wearing on him.

Hood: Yea, he didn’t break tonight. That doesn’t mean he won’t break once you guys leave land.

MoMo: Kane exits tonight with another point, bringing his total to 2. Unfortunately, like Helena, he is unable to catch Cortes.

Hood: Vhodka’s got Team TLS locked up. Cortes is in great position, guaranteed a tie. It’s just Team Welsh that’s all fucked up.

MoMo: Yea, the only thing we know for sure about Team Welsh is that Raven cannot win it.

~Raven crawls to a corner and sits up. He checks his mouth and his jaw, working it back and forth. He looks across the ring, down the metal ramp at the fans...he takes in the sight. He shakes his head, slapping the mat, cursing. Another frustrating Night for OG~

MoMo: There’s not much one can say to soothe the pain Raven is going through...the only thing I can tell him is that his team is currently tied for the lead in these Trials. If his team wins, he’ll earn a spot in the Great Illuminatus...even if he finishes with zero points.

Hood: He’s close to breaking through.

MoMo: Yep. He’s still in this with everything on the table. If his team wins and he gets in The Great Illuminatus Alexander Raven has a shot to unite The Triad.

Hood: No doubt.

~We hear a loud horn blast out from the sea. Everyone turns. Tension fills the air. Raven pulls himself up, staring out beyond the boats in the cove, shining their lights onto the scene. What’s that noise coming from? What’s happening?~

MoMo: What was THAT?

Hood: I don’t know, but it’s coming straight from the direction of the Bermuda Triangle.

MoMo: I’m afraid it is.

~TRIAD officials tell the boats to turn down their lights so they can see. They do...but all we see is darkness. A shade so void of color that it goes deeper than black. The entire area is hushed...until that loud horn sounds again, causing people to panic...a few begin to scream. Locals yell out, ‘WE WARNED YOU! STAY AWAY!’~

MoMo: We might wanna head for cover. I don’t know what’s going on but it sounds terrible.

Hood: Yea, horns are warnings. Especially deep, loud ones that shake the entire landscape...like that one.

MoMo: Be on your guard, Hood.

Hood: Fuck, I knew I shouldn’t have followed you guys out here.

~The water starts to rise...waves pick up. The TRIAD ring rises and falls. Raven looks at Tony...together they bail out of the ring and hustle around the metal awning, down the aisle to the beach where all the other fans are huddled. Everyone gathers together, staring from the beach...fans run from the two cliffs...boats near the entrance to the cove scatter. The clouds in the sky start to churn...the wind picks up~

MoMo: Here we go!

Hood: You know any prayers?

MoMo: Not off the top of my head...it’s been fun!

Hood: Last thing I’m gonna do in my final moments is say some stupid lie like that one.

~Off in the distance, deep into the sea. The clouds churn. The wind picks up. The water rises...lightning starts to strike...as it does, we see the giant, haunting outline of a ship. We can’t tell if it’s coming for us. Each strike reveals it’s presence. Everyone on the beach comes together, terrified of what’s coming...the waves pick up, the ring nearly flips over. The metal awning starts to break apart~

MoMo: We need help out here!

Hood: Help? Who the fuck is going to help with this!

~The giant screens attached to the cliffs fall into the water. Another flash of horrible lightning...but this time, the ship is gone! All we are able to make out is a the dark core of what we’re looking into and it’s in the shape of a triangle~

MoMo: Is that what I think it is?

Hood: The Triad?

MoMo: Or just the Devil’s Triangle?

Hood: I don’t fucking know!!

~Lightning flashes twice more, giving us three distinct looks at this dark triangle before everything finally starts to calm. The clouds return to their innocuous stature. The wind settles. The water stalls. Everyone looks at each other...Raven down at Tony. All wondering what the hell just happened~

MoMo: Oh, thank goodness.

Hood: I am never coming out here again. Fuck this place and fuck this TRIAD shit.

MoMo: But what if we don’t find Leo before Night 4?

Hood: I don’t give a fuck. I’m out.

~The entirety of Sinky Bay is left to wonder what they just witnessed. Locals rushing forward, pleading with Tony and Raven and other TRIAD officials to call off the mission. Our view looks out back into the sea...it appears dark and settled for now. But what have we just witnessed? What does the next two Trials have in store? Is the mission worth exploring?~

MoMo: Well, Hood is gone, folks. And I can’t blame him. I’d insinuate that we might second guess where we’re heading but given the players involved, I don’t think that’s going to happen. So, it’s with a lump in my throat and an irregular beat inside my chest that I inform you all we set sail into The Bermuda Triangle later this week.

~We get a shot of MoMo who looks extremely concerned...his trembling hands try to shuffle some papers as he attempts to remain professional~

MoMo: I...I guess I should run down things here real quick before we go off the air. Umm...let’s see...okay so Vhodka has locked up Team TLS...she will compete for a piece of the TRIAD on September 10th. Catalina has secured at least a tie with Team PIC...Knox and Penelope can tie her if they win and she loses on Night 4. And then there’s Team Welsh...Stratford and Thad are tied at the top with 5 points. Sarah Wolf can catch both Thad and Strat if they lose and she wins. So that division is very much in play.

~He reaches for some water~

MoMo: As far as team competition is concerned...Team Welsh with a big night tonight, nearly doubling their total from 7 to 13. Team PIC notched 3 points tonight so they are up to 13 and tied with Team Welsh at the top of the team standings. Team TLS also scored 3 points, bringing their total to 10. So, heading into Night 4 Team PIC and Welsh are tied at 13 points with Team TLS only 3 points behind with 10. Team play is far FAR from over...all three teams are right in the thick of things.

~MoMo receives a signal from TRIAD personnel that they’ve been told by local authorities to pack up and get the hell off that beach~

MoMo: Right, okay, I’m being told it isn’t safe to be here right now which, no shit, right? So I’m gonna sign us off...we’ll see you all, hopefully, in two weeks aboard an Aircraft Carrier inside the Bermuda Triangle. Keep us in your thoughts, fans. We are about to hit uncharted waters.

~MoMo gets up and exits. TRIAD personnel rush in to disassemble the desk. We promptly cut out~

But we’re not done.

The Cameras cut to the interior of the resort from earlier today to find Stephen Stratford walking in as if he’d just returned from a casual evening stroll and a cigarette. Any discomfort from the affairs of earlier don’t seem to have left a lasting impression on him, or he was an expert at not showing any sort of hand. That sort of question was best left up for debate to you, dear viewer.

With the same eagerness of a housecat answering a summons, Stephen makes his way to the hotel bar. It doesn’t take long for him to spot his query, seated at the bar in his ring gear nursing a drink next to an empty stool with an unclaimed drink before it. Stratford’s face remains placid as he approaches the bar, taking his seat and gently pushing the drink an extra inch away from himself. Matt Knox and Stephen Stratford sit next to one another in silence for a moment, before Matthew sets his glass down.

Matt Knox: I wondered if you’d come, honestly.

Stephen opens his mouth to answer, only for Knox to interrupt, as he was apt to do.

Matt Knox: Just…listen. For a minute. Shouldn’t be too big an ask, this is like porn to you after all isn’t it? Don’t answer that.

Matthew shifts in his seat, reaching down to pluck a smart phone from his thigh, where a second one was left resting. He opened the phone, the screen obviously opening to an unsent tweet, and after a few swipes he set the phone between them. Stratford’s gaze moves to see what was presented.

Demi Stratford, tied to a chair sitting in the middle of their suite with a device strapped to her chest. Knox’s eyes move to stare at Stratford, honing in on the small smile that’s come to his face.

Stephen: May I speak?

The ask only served to bring a scowl to Knox’s face, as if the sound of the voice was enough to bring his drink back from his belly.

Matt Knox: Not yet..Soon, but..This isn’t my first so i’d like to not forget my point any more than I already have…

He raised his drink, a chuckle leaving him.

Matt Knox: I tried to end this, leave it as what it should have been you know? Like…Make no mistake, I'd leave and be bitter for it but my children would be safe and I'd have one less psychopath breathing down my neck…maybe salvage this into being the nothing burger I wanted it to be…

He let out a sigh, shifting.

Matt Knox: You’re smarter than me, Stephen. You’re more cunning, more intimidating, all that. You know what I am, and you are aware of what you are…something that escapes my understanding. But I'm rambling..

He leans toward Stephen, bringing up the second phone and revealing it to be opened to a black screen, save for one red button in the middle.

Matt Knox: You know that i’m just angry fucking iron. Easy to mould into whatever you want once you heat it up, mould it, then once its fire dies..it is what you’ve beaten it into. And what else is a Dragon good for, but to burn?

A smile on his face now.

Matt Knox: Your fires don’t burn that hot, Stephen…but mine do. In fact..maybe I should show you just how hot they do? Or, rather….your wife. How are you doing, dear?

Demi Stratford: Really, Matthew? I've had spa treatments more alarming than this. But please, do continue with your little performance.

Matthew chuckles, eyes shifting to Stephen.

Matt Knox: Spirited. You’re a lucky man. See though…I can’t take full credit for this one. The bomb itself - sorry.. Incendiary device was wired by Catalina. You’d be surprised what she’s capable of…well, maybe not you. You pay attention, far better than Thaddeus Duke anyway…

He leans back, taking Stephen’s unclaimed drink and downing it once.

Demi Stratford: Well, aren’t we all learning new talents? Do tell me, Matthew, if Catalina’s craftsmanship is as dramatic as your showmanship. Go on. Do it. Press the button. Let’s see if I end the night with a tan or just another laugh at your expense.

Matt Knox: You shut up or I'll burn you mid-monologue!

Demi Stratford: Such impatience, Matthew. Perhaps you should learn from Stephen. After all, it's the anticipation that's the real killer, isn't it?

Stephen Stratford: Demi isn’t afraid, truly. And this? This entire setup? It's but a theatrical sideshow. So, if you'd indulge us, do conclude your performance. After which, I'll attend to my wife, and you can saunter back to your hotel suite, basking in the glow of your 'achievement'.

Demi’s chuckle resonates from the phone as Matthew’s gaze stays fixed upon Stephen.

Matt Knox: You think that little of me?

Stephen Stratford: No, of course not…I just know you. You have this peculiar affinity for drawing lines in the sand and then theatrically toeing them, yet never truly stepping over. And that button? I'd bet it plays a whimsical tune.

A pause, Matthew tilts his head at this.

Matt Knox: How much?

Demi begins to say something disparaging, Stephen goes to interject when suddenly and without warning Matthew’s thumb falls onto the red button.

The sound is deafened if only slightly by the phone audio, the screen temporarily filled with indistinguishable chaos. Stephen Stratford shifts in his seat, leaning toward the screen ever so slightly and staring at the screen with a face still trying to sell what his body language had betrayed. As the chaos clears, it reveals the scene before it…

Demi Stratford, hair ruined from the concussion of the blast and covered in an array of glitter, along with the rest of the suite.

Demi Stratford: Mistook this for one of your countless children’s birthday surprises, did you, Knox? Though I have to admit, the glitter is a touch more original than I’d expect.

Demi’s laughter rises from the phone until Matthew kills the screen, standing from his stool he stares down at Stratford, holding what's left of his drink in his hand.

Matt Knox: Best laid plans…controlled infernos…machinations…they’re all fine tools, and you wield them perfectly Stephen…but sometimes, Iron? Bludgeoning something with that hunk of metal? Works out better than a thousand best laid plans…

He pats him on the back, adding quietly between them before pushing off of Stratford’s shoulder and walking away.

Matt Knox: I could have.