___ ______ __ _, _, _ ___ _,_ __, _ _ _ __, __, / _ \/ ___/ | /| / / / \ |\ | | |_| |_ | | | |_) |_ / , _/ /__ | |/ |/ / \ / | \| | | | | |/\| | | \ | /_/|_|\___/ |__/|__/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ Thursday 24 August 2006 ["Bodies" by Drowning Pool plays as the titles fade through to the RCW studio set, panning down from the large blue RCW logo mounted on the set past the large plasma screen on the set backdrop behind the trademark glass-topped desk, in front of which stands the voice of RCW, Don Ditka, wearing an open-necked shirt with the RCW logo stitched onto the breast pocket. As the lights in the studio rise, Ditka looks up from the sheath of papers in his hand with a smile.] DD: Good evening, everybody, and welcome to RCW On The Wire! My name is Don Ditka, and over the next hour we'll be looking back at what was, looking ahead to what will be, and hearing from all the great superstars of Rip City Wrestling. It's the world of professional wrestling in sixty minutes -- so let's get started! ___ ______ __ / _ \/ ___/ | /| / / / , _/ /__ | |/ |/ / << << << << << << REWIND << << << << << << /_/|_|\___/ |__/|__/ [Ditka is now seated behind his glass-topped desk, and the RAMPAGE logo appears on the screen behind him.] DD: It was another wild night in the Rose Garden last Thursday night, as live wrestling action returned to Portland after a brief hiatus. We've got plenty to talk about -- but before we get onto the *real* action, let's dwell for a moment on what happened when Owen and Eddie Curtis made an unwelcome interruption to proceedings. [Cut to footage captioned, "August 17th, 2006", showing Owen and Eddie Curtis making their way down to ringside while Lord Byron and Orin LeBlanc look on from the ring. The Curtises unseat Don Ditka and Billy Shakespeare from the announce table, the two commentators heading up the aisle as the Curtises make themselves comfortable. Over these scenes we hear Ditka's voice-over.] DD: According to Owen Curtis, the settlement reached with the RCW Board of Directors some months ago over Curtis's so-called "wrongful" suspension after his brutal, unprovoked attack on the legendary "Lone Wolf" Brody Thunder allows Curtis -- and whomever he should like to accompany him to ringside -- to provide his own "show" on RCW programming. Apparently that extends to Curtis now "promoting" his own matches under the Ring of Truth banner... and the first match was the Lord Byron vs. Orin LeBlanc match on last week's RAMPAGE. [Cut back to the studio.] DD: I've been trying to reach the RCW President for comment since last Thursday's show, but his assistants have simply referred me to RCW's counsel, who won't give me any comment on this matter, because it is in some sense sub judice. But I hear a whisper from the front office that Curtis has overstepped his mark this time. Tune in to RAMPAGE next Thursday night to see what happens! [The screen behind Ditka now shows the faces of RCW Champion Johnny Pleasence and Vinny Carmazzi.] DD: There was some incredible action between the ropes live in the Rose Garden last Thursday night, topped off with a hard-hitting main event that pitted RCW World Heavyweight Champion Johnny Pleasence against submission specialist Vinny Carmazzi. Things got out of hand. [Cut to footage captioned, "August 17th, 2006", showing Pleasence and Carmazzi wrestling in the ring. Carmazzi makes his way down to the ring, looking very uncertain of himself... Pleasence takes advantage of Carmazzi being off his game, kicking him and planting him with a DDT... Pleasence with a sit-out facebuster on Carmazzi... Pleasence goes to drop the Pleaseantries from Manchester elbowdrop on Carmazzi -- and Vinny dodges out of the way, locking in the Kimura Armbar out of nowhere! Matilda enters the ring and dives onto Carmazzi, forcing him to break the hold. Over these scenes we hear Ditka's voice-over.] DD: Vinny Carmazzi finally got the opportunity to wrestle for a world championship for the first time in his twelve year career -- but he was overcome with, uh, performance anxiety going into the biggest match of his life. That all changed in the blink of an eye as Carmazzi locked the Kimura Armbar on the arrogant champion after Pleasence attempted that disgraceful lazy elbowdrop on his opponent. Luckily for Pleasence, Matilda wasn't coy about getting into the ring and beating on Carmazzi to prevent Pleasence from having to tap out -- and head official Juan Morales was remarkably flexible about the rules, refusing to disqualify Pleasence for this and a number of other infractions. [Carmazzi rallies, hitting Pleasence with a discus punch and a top rope legdrop, then a Death Valley Driver, each time Pleasence kicking out... Dave Bryant and Ryan Faith make their way down the aisle... Carmazzi launches himself at both men! Paul Driscoll comes down the aisle and slides into the ring to face Johnny Pleasence -- but is dragged from the ring by Dave Bryant, allowing Pleasence to fly out of the ring with a suicida, laying out Driscoll and Carmazzi! Mark Coleman makes his way out to attack Dave Bryant, only to get jumped from behind by Ryan Faith, allowing Pleasence to hit Coleman with the Johnny Spike!] DD: As I mentioned, things got out of hand as Pleasence's cronies, Dave Bryant and Ryan Faith, came down to throw Carmazzi off his game. Paul Driscoll -- who has unfinished business with Pleasence after Wild Summer Night -- and Mark Coleman -- who is set to take on Dave Bryant next Thursday night -- both made appearance to even the score. [In the ring, Carmazzi applies the Kimura Armbar on Pleasence again, only for Driscoll to send Ryan Faith flying into Carmazzi and Pleasence, breaking the armbar, and allowing Pleasence to pin Carmazzi after the Manchester Driver! Pleasence, Bryant and Faith retreat up the aisle as Driscoll stares down after them, and Carmazzi bores a hole in the back of Driscoll's head with a fierce glare. Cut back to Ditka in the studio.] DD: In spite of everything, Carmazzi had a real shot at forcing Pleasence to tap out and taking his title. First time out, Matilda intervened. Second time out, it was Driscoll who -- inadvertently? -- sent Faith crashing into Carmazzi and breaking up the submission hold, allowing Pleasence to hit Carmazzi with the Manchester Driver for the one... two... three. Carmazzi and Driscoll don't see eye to eye at the best of times -- but this is certain to make an already antagonistic relationship considerably more so. [The screen flashes on to a closeup of "Pistol" Paul Driscoll. The camera slowly pans back and spots the former number one contender leaning back against a chainlink cyclone fence. Dressed in blue jeans and boots, the Driscoll family scion rubs the side of his face most recently pummeled by Johnny and the Funky Bunch.] PD: I was _this_ close to winnin' that title at Wild Summer... an' it made me want it _that_ much more. [Driscoll shakes his head, somewhat dejected.] PD: Funny enough, I ain't got no bad words fer Johnny P. He beat me, that's all there is to it. No use cryin' 'bout it, 'cause it ain't the first time I counted lights for the three... but you can be damn sure I got my pound o' flesh. Only problem is... 'at ain't enough. I still want that title. But it seems 'at young Coleman wants his turn at it, an' God bless 'im. I hope he does me proud. Even ol' Vinny Carmazzi got hisself a shot at the tin. An' b'lieve it or not, I tried to help that man tonight 'cause one thing's been made crystal clear to me, since the moment I heard the long three... ...Johnny Pleasance has got to go. [Driscoll shakes his head in contempt, and spits off to the side.] PD: Yer the lesser o' two evils, Vinny, an' I sure wish I coulda helped ya take that title off o' Pleasence. But if ya want things done right, ya gotta do it yerself, that's what my Dad always said. An' when it comes to the task o' knockin' Johnny Pleasence off his perch, the only person I'm trusting in 'at regard is me. It was jus' business before, but now I owe 'im one. An' I will make you _this_ promise, Johnny Pleasence: you had a front row seat fer Wild Summer Night, one o' the worst nights o' my life. I'm gonna make it my business to be front row center fer yers. [We spin-cut to a plain black RCW backdrop. From off to the side enters Vinny Carmazzi. His unkempt dirty blonde hair falls onto his shoulders and in his face. He grabs a handful and pulls it out of his dark brown eyes. It reveals an intense anger. No secret about at whom it's directed.] VC: I wanna make this real clear. [His voice is almost a low growl.] VC: Nothing to distract you. Nothing to confuse you. Nothing to get in the way of these words and your thick Texan skull. [Carmazzi gives Driscoll a taste of his own condescending attitude.] VC: Real simple for ya. [Pause. Carmazzi is seething.] VC: This ends next Thursday. [He continues glaring a hole into the camera.] VC: Not waiting for the December Pay-Per-View. Not even waiting for you to get the courage to sign a contract. [His teeth grind together as he speaks.] VC: First thing on RAMPAGE, I call your ass out. You miserable son of a bitch. Don't care what you want to say. Just gonna beat you into the ground. [Vinny points to his eyes. The cameraperson complies and goes in for a close-up shot on them.] VC: You took your title loss out on me, now I'm going to do the same to you. But my grudge is bigger. Got a score to settle with you from way back. [Though not visible, Vinny's scars from Florida haven't healed.] VC: I assure you, we're gonna end this once and for all. The moment RCW TV hits the air again will the moment you're screaming for me not to end your sorry career. Did I mention I'm not good at listening? [The bloodshot eyes all that are in view.] VC: You helped make your name at my expense. Come Thursday you pay the price for all that you've cost me, you smug bastard. [The veins outside the eyes bulge from the tension.] VC: One of us doesn't walk away from RAMPAGE. You can count on that. [Vinny shifts and walks off. The camera zooms back out, but only reveals the backdrop. Cut to more footage captioned, "August 17th, 2006", showing Mark Coleman wrestling Ryan Faith. Faith has Coleman rocked with puro move after puro move: a rolling elbow smash, a Tiger suplex... Coleman weathers the storm and slows the pace down with a half Boston crab, but Dinah helps Faith to escape by pushing the rope into his outstretched hand... Faith drops Coleman with a Hangman's neckbreaker, then a Northern lights bomb, but every time Coleman kicks out... Faith locks Coleman in a Buffalo sleeper as Dave Bryant makes his way down the aisle. We hear Ditka's voice-over.] DD: We've already seen how Tennessee rookie Mark Coleman is in the sights of RCW Champion Johnny Pleasence -- and his match against Ryan Faith earlier in the evening explains why. After Coleman's impressive win at Wild Summer Night, the RCW front office has ruled that if Coleman is able to defeat Ryan Faith and Dave Bryant, he will earn a title shot against Johnny Pleasence. But Faith was in no mood to be a mere stepping stone for Coleman last Thursday night, using some offensive manoeuvres we've not seen before, hard-hitting Japanese-style strikes and throws. Coleman was in trouble, but the presence of Dave Bryant at ringside galvanised him, and the cheers of the fans spurred him on. [The match continues, Coleman forcing his way out of the sleeper hold, hitting a powerslam on Faith, then a delayed vertical suplex, then a kneebreaker followed by a clothesline. Coleman attempts the Southern Cross Bomb, but Faith slips out, and rolls Coleman up for a schoolboy that nearly wins him the match... but at the second attempt, Coleman gets Faith up and brings him *down* with the SCB, and scores the pinfall. But just as soon as the official has raised his arm, Dave Bryant knocks Coleman down with the Call Me In The Morning superkick, bending over the prone form of the Tennesseean. Cut back to Ditka in the studio.] DD: In the end, Coleman scored an impressive victory over Ryan Faith with the devastating Southern Cross Bomb -- and next Thursday night, Coleman faces a former world champion, Dave Bryant, in what could be the sternest test of his young career to date. That's going to be one heck of a match -- and we'll talk more about that later on. It's time for us to take a short commercial break. Don't go away! [Fade to commercials.] [Fade back from commercials to Ditka, still seated behind the desk in the studio.] DD: Welcome back to On The Wire, folks! Last week on RAMPAGE, two of the most exciting competitors in RCW hooked up one-on-one. In one corner, the most innovative high-flyer of his generation, "Golden Boy" Nolan Dorado. In the other, the first hobo of wrestling, "The Jersey Drifter" Liam Cassidy. Let's take a look. [Cut to more footage captioned, "August 17th, 2006", showing Nolan Dorado and Liam Cassidy wrestling, joining the match in progress. Dorado aims a shining wizard at Cassidy -- who drops forward, ducking the move and causing Nolan to tumble towards the ropes. Nolan turns around and charges back at Liam, but Cassidy is up and lifts Dorado and uses the momentum to send him up high into the air with a back body drop! We hear the original commentary:] DD: PIKEY LAYOVER!!! PIKEY LAYOVER!!! [As Dorado crashes to the mat, Liam reacts fast by hitting a huge uppercut on the Golden One! Dorado crumbles to the mat in a heap as Jodee Burwick goes berserk on the floor at ringside! As the official checks on Dorado, Jodee Burwick quickly digs down deep into the cleavage of her dress and pulls out an object. She calls for Liam and tosses him the object.] DD: What the heck is that? [Liam instinctively reaches out and catches the object, with a confused look on his face. Bright stands back up, and Jodee quickly scrambles up onto the apron and calls for Jim's attention.] DD: What on earth is going on here? BS: Nolan Dorado's been knocked out, that's what, Don! Liam, cover him! Cover him! [Covering him would be futile at this moment, because Jodee Burwick screams at Jim Bright to check Liam over. Opening his palm, Liam sees that Jodee Burwick has tossed him a set of golden brass knuckles.] BS: What the heck is going on? [Burwick continues screaming. "Check him! Check him!". Bright turns around to face Liam who quickly clues in to what is going on, and immediately hides his hands behind his back.] DD: She can't be serious! She's ordering Jim Bright to check Cassidy for a foreign object! [Bright demands to see what is in Liam's left hand. Naturally, Liam says nothing, but Bright demands that he see his hand. Liam slowly moves his hand forward and shows it. It's empty. Big pop from the crowd.] BS: I can't believe what we are seeing! Nolan Dorado is having a chance to recover! [Bright then demands to see the other hand. A wide-eyed, panicked look sets in on Liam as he knows exactly what will happen if shows Bright his hand. Jodee continues to scream from the apron. "Do it! Check him! He cheated!". Bright has had enough and grabs Liam by the hand and pulls it forward, showing the set of brass knuckles in his palm. Bright quickly confiscates the weapon and turns to the timekeeper.] * DING! DING! DING! * [Cut back to Ditka in the studio. Ditka shakes his head.] DD: Folks, we've seen time and time again just how devious Jodee Burwick is -- and last Thursday night was no exception. Certainly Liam Cassidy didn't take kindly to the manner in which victory was stolen from him -- and later in the evening he confronted Dorado again. [Cut to Dorado and Cassidy squaring off in the parking lot, by the open door of Dorado's car.] ND: Well, how about *this* for your rematch! [Dorado swings what could best be charitably described as a feeble swat that barely grazes Cassidy's chin. Cassidy frowns as if Dorado had just attempted to brush imaginary flies away from his face.] LC: What the hell was that?! [The "Golden Boy" holds up a clenched fist although the threatening gesture is somewhat diminished by the fact that he's not doing a particularly good job of it.] ND: I just punched you! Now back off before I do it again!! [Cassidy's expression is clearly one of derision.] LC: *THAT* was a punch? ND: Uh... yeah. [Dorado begins to look a little concerned as he suddenly realizes that his best punch might not be all that good.] *KRACK* [With devastating swiftness, Cassidy's right fist lashes out in a swift jab that smashes directly into the point of Dorado's chin, knocking the "Golden Boy" flat onto his back. Looking on in dismay from the back of the cab, Jodee Burwick shrieks in alarm. Big pop from the fans in the arena!] LC: No, *THAT* was a punch. [Dorado's eyes are firmly closed as he lies on the ground, clearly knocked out with one devastating blow. From the back of the taxi, Burwick clambers out and holds her hands over her mouth in shock as she looks down at her unconscious boyfriend. Suddenly, Cassidy bends down and Burwick scrambles back with a squeal of terror as the "Jersey Drifter" hauls Dorado up and tosses him lifelessly into the back seat of the taxi.] JB: Oh my God! What are you doing? LC: Well, the lad said he had a plane to catch! And when he wakes up, you tell him that in two weeks, I'll be waiting on him if he wants to say anything about it. [Burwick quickly scrambles into the back of the cab as Cassidy closes the door behind her, tipping his derby hat as the taxi drives off with a squeal of tires. Cut back to Ditka in the studio, the smiling face of Cassidy frozen on the screen behind him.] DD: It takes just... one... second for Cassidy to lay you out, as Dorado found to his cost last Thursday night. Will Dorado be there to answer Cassidy's challenge in the Rose Garden next week? Let's hear from him, and the conniving Jodee Burwick, right now. [The scene switches to the generic Rip City Wrestling interview room where the organization's logo is prominently displayed on the fabric wall hanging suspended in the background. In front of this, "Golden Boy" Nolan Dorado stands with a bag of ice pressed to the side of his jaw as he glares furiously into the camera's lens. Dorado is wearing jeans and an RCW T-shirt while beside him, Jodee Burwick poses in a shiny golden microskirt and a matching tube top that barely restrains her ample chest. Burwick sneers while Dorado swallows and immediately winces in pain as he presses the ice against his jaw more firmly.] JB: On behalf of my boyfriend, the incredibly talented Nolan Dorado... [Burwick's speech is interrupted as she is nudged by Dorado.] JB: ...the incredibly talented "GOLDEN BOY" Nolan Dorado, I mean. I... ummm... I have something to say. [Burwick smiles broadly as an awkward pause follows for a moment before Dorado nudges her once again. As she resumes speaking, Burwick's eyes can be seen flicking from left to right as she is clearly reading cue cards off-camera.] JB: Oh! Right... what I want to say is this... President Spreadbury? Consider this your official notice that we are hereby submitting a formal protest concerning the actions of one Liam Cassidy at last week's RAMPAGE broadcast. [Another pause becomes fascinating for the male viewers as Burwick inhales deeply, causing her cleavage to expand and contract in very interesting ways.] JB: Due to the fact that Mr. Cassidy was defeated in his match by my Nolan, he decided to assault us in the parking lot behind the arena! This sort of thing should not be tolerated and we demand that President Spreadbury do something about it! [Dorado lowers his ice pack and tries to speak... which is a mistake.] ND: I... OW! [Forced to remain silent, Dorado sulks as he presses the ice pack against his jaw once more.] JB: As compensation for this injury and the blatant disregard for the security of his employees as well as the safety of his workplace, we fully expect President Spreadbury to discipline Mr. Cassidy and... uhhh... grant my Nolie a title match! Yes, that would just about do it! [Burwick grins once more, bouncing up and down in excitement which once again results in attention-grabbing motion on the part of certain portions of her anatomy. Frustrated and visibly in pain, Dorado groans and marches out of view. Burwick looks a little surprised by this sudden exit and stares into the camera's lens like a deer caught in the headlights.] JB: Uhhh... I guess that's it for this interview. Good bye! [And with that, Burwick walks off after her boyfriend as the scene switches back to Ditka in the studio.] DD: If I were Jodee Burwick, I wouldn't be holding my breath for a call from the RCW President arranging that championship match just yet. But I think Dorado may well get a call from Liam Cassidy next Thursday night. [Ditka turns to face another camera.] DD: Another rivalry that is quickly getting out of hand is that between Lord Byron and Derek Rage. Even before Wild Summer Night, Byron had interjected himself in Rage's business, planting a big kiss on Pizzazz two weeks before Wild Summer Night. Then at the pay-per-view itself, Byron cost Derek Rage his match against Dave Bryant. With tensions already running high, Rage was determined to send a message to Byron when he faced Nathan Herod last Thursday night -- and Byron was on hand to receive that message in person, and return it... with interest. [Cut to more footage from last week's RAMPAGE, captioned "August 17th, 2006", showing Derek Rage battling Nathan Herod. Rage wraps up Herod's legs before reaching forward and wrapping up the smaller man in a prone sleeperhold. We hear the original commentary:] DD: THE ARISTOCLUTCH! THAT'S LORD BYRON'S ARISTOCLUTCH! BS: Derek Rage is sending a message here, Don, and at Nathan Herod's expense! [Mick Silvestri looks as if he's about to intervene, but he quickly retreats as Pizzazz races around to cut him off. Herod seems powerless to resist as Rage locks in the infamous submission hold even tighter. The referee steps over to the side of the ring to order Silvestri and Pizzazz apart -- taking his attention away from the entrance curtains where a loud roar of protest from the fans can be heard. Byron is wild-eyed and furious as he races down the aisle toward the ring. Seeing him coming, Rage releases the Aristoclutch he'd trapped Nathan Herod with, but it takes him a moment to free himself. At ringside, Byron grabs a metal garbage can and tosses it into the ring as he rolls underneath the bottom rope. On the opposite side of the ring, Silvestri spots this going on and grabs Pizzazz, sparking a shoving match that keeps the referee's attention away from the ring.] DD: We don't know why Lord Byron is targeting Derek Rage but... [Ditka's commentary is interrupted as Byron raises the garbage can high overhead and brings it smashing down onto the top of Derek Rage's skull, dropping the big Canadian with a mighty crash as garbage and debris go flying.] *CRASH!* [Still holding onto the garbage can with both hands, Byron then rolls out of the ring as the referee turns around to investigate.] DD: ...OH NO! Derek Rage just took a vicious shot to the head from that garbage can and... now what is Lord Byron doing? [Screaming in protest, Pizzazz charges toward Lord Byron but ends up eating the garbage can as the Englishman drives it into the beautiful woman's face. To add insult to injury, the wild-eyed Byron upends the garbage can over top of the stunned Pizzazz, showering her with trash and refuse as the crowd boos loudly.] DD: He's attacked Pizzazz too! What the hell has gotten into Lord Byron, Billy Shakespeare? BS: I would venture to guess that this has something to do with his losing that match against Liam Cassidy at Wild Summer Night. But as to why he's decided to take his frustrations out on Derek Rage and Pizzazz? That I can't venture to guess. [Derek Rage lies unmoving on his back in the middle of the ring, blood trickling down the side of his face from a nasty-looking cut in the middle of his forehead. A delighted Mick Silvestri begins shouting at the dazed Nathan Herod who woozily manages to crawl over and drape an arm across Rage's chest as Bobby Belshee drops down and counts the pinfall! Cut back to Ditka in the studio.] DD: So Lord Byron cost Derek Rage another match -- and what a victory for Mick Silvestri's dangerous rookie, Nathan Herod! But Lord Byron himself was scheduled for action in the very next match on the card, and he can't have been expecting Rage to take his actions lying down. [Cut to footage captioned, "August 17th, 2006", showing Lord Byron wrestling Orin LeBlanc. Byron is choking LeBlanc as official Jim Bright gets wise and starts counting to five. Byron breaks it off at 4 and 15/16. He shoots a look at Bright, then knees LeBlanc in the "midsection." Commotion in the aisle, as a thousand heads rise and crane to see. It's Derek Rage, head bandaged, and security trailing in his wake. Security holds Derek Rage back, but they're not the only ones who notice him. Lord Byron is leaning out over the top rope, barking away! The crowd pops as LeBlanc is on his feet, behind Byron, sizing him up for the Cobra Clutch -- and then *drives* the distracted blueblood to the mat with the Beast's Burden! LeBlanc makes the cover, and scores a pinfall over Byron! We hear Ditka's voice-over.] DD: Thanks to Derek Rage's presence in the aisle, a decidedly off-colour Byron was hit by the Beast's Burden and pinned by Orin LeBlanc. What a pinfall victory for the Lynx! Byron just hasn't been the same since his defeat at the hands of Liam Cassidy in that bloody and brutal street fight at Wild Summer Night, and for some reason Derek Rage is the focal point of Byron's fury. [Post-match, Rage pounds on Byron, backing him to the ropes, then whipping him across. He nails the rebounding Byron with a flying lariat! When both men rise, he follows that with an exploder suplex! Byron's back up, out of instinct as much as anything, and runs smack dab into an overhead press! All 7 feet 2 inches of Derek Rage hold Byron more than eight feet above the surface of the ring, when one considers arm length! Rage looks to the crowd to find out in which direction to launch the English nobleman! The crowd screams its approval! Rage goes to throw Byron out to the floor, but Byron hangs on to the wrist, and wraps his legs around the top rope as he flies over. His leverage propels Rage over, out and down to the outside mat! Byron picks up the ring steps and smashes Rage in the head with them, with a sickening metallic *thwack*! The crowd responds with thunderous boos! Byron lays the groggy Rage down chest first on the floor, near the bottom half of the ring steps, and sets Rage's right hand on the bottom of the steps. He goes back for the top half... Byron raises the ring steps over his head -- then smashes them down right onto Derek Rage's hand! And if that's not enough, he hops up to the apron, jumps, and legdrops the top half of those steps, smashing Rage's hand further! Rage clutches his hand with extreme anguish as Jim Bright motions for medical help. Cut back to Ditka in the studio, where Rage's face, contorted in pain, is frozen on the screen behind him.] DD: What is it that's driving Lord Byron to target Derek Rage in this way? We've been unable to get any comments from Byron at all. He simply will not grant us any interviews. But he's due to be in the Rose Garden next Thursday night to face Derek Rage one-on-one in the squared circle -- will we get any answers then? [The screen behind Ditka shows the face of Mick Silvestri.] DD: Before we leave last week's RAMPAGE, just what was Nathan Herod's manager Mick Silvestri doing at ringside for most of last week's show. He was furiously making notes in each of the night's matches. Is Silvestri scouting for a new recruit to grow his stable? [And now the grinning visage of "Your Hero" Danny Daniels appears.] DD: And finally -- do we have a new championship here in RCW? Last Thursday night, "Your Hero" Danny Daniels announced that he had captured the brand new RCW Supreme Championship in a thirty-two man tournament in -- of all places -- Vancouver, *Washington*. Needless to say, no such event took place, and as of right now, it's pretty clear that the so-called Supreme Championship is nothing more than the invention of Danny Daniels's fevered imagination. But don't believe for one moment that it will prevent Daniels from crowing about it at every available opportunity! [Ditka turns to face another camera.] DD: Folks, it's time for us to take another short commercial break. When we come back, we'll look ahead to next week's RAMPAGE. Stay right there! [Fade to commercials.] [Fade back from commercials.] ___ ______ __ / _ \/ ___/ | /| / / / , _/ /__ | |/ |/ / >< >< >< >< >< RAMPAGE RUNDOWN >< >< >< >< >< /_/|_|\___/ |__/|__/ [The RAMPAGE logo appears on the screen behind Ditka.] DD: Welcome back, folks! Another hour of the hardest-hitting, highest-tempo wrestling action anywhere will be coming your way next Thursday night, live from the Rose Garden. If you hurry, you can still be there in person: call the Rose Garden box office or click onto www.ticketmaster.com to be sure of a ticket. Otherwise, tune in to KPDX-49 next Thursday night at 10pm to take in the action from the comfort of your home. [The screen behind Ditka shows the faces of Mark Coleman and Dave Bryant.] DD: So let's talk about next Thursday night's main event. Tennessee rookie Mark Coleman continues to run the gauntlet: if he can defeat Dave Bryant, a match against RCW World Heavyweight Champion Johnny Pleasence awaits! Will the Big Bad be at ringside to get a closer look at his possible next challenger? Let's hear from that man, Mark Coleman, right now. [The camera opens on Mark Coleman. Coleman is sitting in a metal chair backstage at the Rose Garden. One elbow rests on a table, letting Coleman rub his jaw, while the other holds an ice pack to the top of his head. A look of discomfort is evident on his face as he winces slightly. The Tennessee rookie is wearing a pair of khaki pants and a red t-shirt, and his short hair is slightly wet from just stepping out of the shower. After a few seconds, Coleman looks up at the camera, and smirks slightly.] MC: There's a joke in here somewhere 'bout takin' two and callin' in the mornin', damned if I could find it, though. Damn sure know I got hit with both a Call Me In the Morning AND a damn Johnny Spike. Not a lot of guys out there been on the end of both in the span of, oh, thirty minutes. Still standin', though. Well, sittin'. But you get the point. Hell of a kick you got there, Bryant, I'll give you that much. Gonna be feelin' this tomorrow mornin'. Might have to do what I did when Ogawa crushed my throat and suck down a milkshake or two to avoid chewin'. Can't right blame you, Bryant, though. For doin' what you did. Least you had the common courtesy to wait until AFTER I was done tellin' Ryan Faith "See? Told you so." Appreciate the patience you showed, lettin' me teach your friend a lesson before blasting me in the chin with your superkick. Also need to thank you, Bryant, for teaching me a lesson too. As I was lyin' there lookin' up at the lights just a few seconds after beatin' your colleague, havin' gone from total elation to total elimination, one thought crossed through my mind. That thought being that not only did I look like a fool, damn sure felt like one too. Mainly because I forgot one very important thing. Should have been paramount in my mind takin' on Faith. Faith, Pleasence, and you, Bryant. Always been one thing. The numbers game. Ain't just takin' on you this week, Bryant. I know, got Ryan Faith waitin' in the wings, probably dead set on avengin' the ass kickin' gave him last Rampage. And know, I just know myself, that Mr. Big Bad himself, Johnny Pleasence, if he's got any sense at all, gonna be keepin' an eye on the match so he knows just who the hell Mark Coleman when he wrestles him for the RCW Heavyweight title after I'm done with Bryant. [Coleman sits up a little straighter, stretching his neck a bit before continuing] MC: Dave Bryant... long resume you got. GFWA. GLCW. EMWC. And now RCW. Not a bad list of federations there, Bryant. Know for a fact you were champion in several of them, with one title or another around your waist at some point. So trust me, I ain't takin' you lightly when we tussle next week. You're still quick, you're still a technical wizard, and as I'm still feelin', hell of a superkick you got there. One thing, though, makes me wonder a bit. You know, Bryant... you don't have to be here in RCW. Know you made a good bit of cash during your younger days. Know you got some property out in Vegas. Hell, know you own a bar and don't even need to work for a good long while, you choose to. But here you are, Bryant, right here in RCW, putting your body back on the line again when you don't have to. Sat down and pondered it for a spell, though. And realized. Know exactly why you came back, came to RCW, came here to Portland. You just love to humiliate people. [Coleman smiles a bit, removing the ice pack from his head and moving it to the side of his jaw.] MC: Dave Bryant has to be better then anyone else. EVERYONE else. It's not enough to take your talent and beat someone. Gotta make sure THEY know it, that everyone else knows it, that you just utterly and completely embarrass them in front of the entire wrestling world, so in the end, Dave Bryant comes out on top. I mean, between you and me, only way I can explain hittin' a guy with a catfish. That's what it is, Bryant. You look at RCW, you look at Mark Coleman, and you see a whole new bunch of people to feel superior to. Hell, far as I'm concerned, your little thrust kick, aside from attemptin' to knock out some of my teeth, was your way of saying "Hey! Rookie! Don't even think about it." Course, you said it in front of millions of viewer, for just that little added "oomph." Well, while I appreciate the lesson, Bryant, gotta tell you, it didn't do you much good. See, aside from a slight blushing, the only thing you gotta out of me was anger. Call Me In the Morning, and trust me, it won't be a happy phone call. [Coleman tries to grin, but then grimaces.] MC: Ah, damn, sorry. Sometimes you try to force a line and it just don't come out right. Anyway, Bryant, you gotta realize, you just can't embarrass, intimidate, or humiliate me, no matter what you do. Because you and I both know, in the end, I'm going to beat you in a week. Yeah, call me cocky, but it's true. You may be good, Bryant, but I'm better. A lot better. Just ask Akitoshi Ogawa. Just ask Ryan Faith. Hell, you and I have tusseled in the ring a time or two before Wild Summer Night. So you KNOW I'm talkin' gospel here and not just flappin' my lips. What you did, superkickin' me...well, while I hurt like hell, just note that I hurled your sorry butt into the ring barrier without breakin' much of a sweat. Just for your info. You came back and had an easy time so far, Bryant. But trust me, in a week, on Rampage, it's all gonna come to a sreechin' halt, and it'll be YOUR turn to look up at the lights as I'm pinnin' you. And, of course, that means, finally, I'll get my shot at the RCW Heavyweight Champion. Not the championship, though that'll be nice. I'm talkin' the Big Bad himself, Pleasaece, Johnny. Johnny, been lookin' forward to this since the spring. Yeah, could say I'm overlookin' Bryant at you, and maybe I am just a bit. But come on, Johnny. You're the champion. You're the Big Bad. And your title reign is a joke. Here's why. For a man who talks about "the rivers running red" and "giving everyone what they want to see," you keep fallin' back on your two cronies, Faith and Bryant, to save your limey behind. Against Vinny Carmazzi... which, no offense to Vinny, but come on, it's VINNY CARMAZZI... you needed your butt hauled out of the fire. It goes back to what I've been saying. It's a numbers game that's keepin' that title around your waist. And, it's gonna be a numbers game come RAMPAGE. I know Bryant's gonna have Faith, and maybe Pleasence, right there to make the 1-on-1 odds lean in my their favor. Well, boys... [Coleman, finally, smiles, that easy grin that's familiar to the RCW faithful.] MC: ...mayhaps I'll get a numbers game of my own going. I mean, Johnny, your little reign of blood has rightly pissed off a good many people 'round here. Sure if I looked hard enough, could find someone willin' to watch my back and keep me and Bryant square and on the level. Then again... [Coleman leans back, and, with two fingers, makes the sign of a pistol, and points it right at the camera.] MC: ...probably won't have to look too hard at all. See ya in the ring, Dave. Just you and me, Doctor. Just you and me. [And with a whispered "bang," Coleman shoots the camera, and we cut back to the studio, where the faces of Lord Byron and Derek Rage now appear on the screen.] DD: The legendary Lord Byron seems to have gone off the rails since Wild Summer Night. He brutally attacked both Derek Rage and Pizzazz two weeks ago -- leaving Rage with a badly injured hand. Now Byron and Rage are set to lock up in the ring one-on-one. Will Rage be able to compete with only one good hand? To what lengths will Lord Byron go to put Rage out of action -- and where does this animosity come from? Will we get answers in the Rose Garden? [Fade in: Derek Rage and Pizzazz sit in their lockerroom. Pizzazz is wrapping his right hand in bandage. She examines her work.] P: Cheri, you can flex your fingers? [Derek wriggles his fingers and flexes his hands.] DR: That'll work. Thanks, baby. [He leans into her for a kiss. After they break the liplock Derek's glance moves sideways to the ever-intrusive camera that always finds the wrestlers when they are in the arena. You would think that after what happened against Nathan Herod that the giant would be angry. Strangely, he is not. Instead, he simply waves the bandaged hand at the camera.] DR: Lord Byron, what happened to you? I mean, you're really not the guy I remember. You've lost it. Could it be the pull of irrelevance that has you going insane? Could it be that you look at me and wonder how I have everything that you think you should have? How come I can walk right up out of retirement, shake off the rust [he shimmies his shoulders] and pick up right where I left off and you... well, it's a bit of a struggle for you, isn't it? You've had to switch up because the people don't care about you any more. No more gentleman wrestler who would just prove that he's better than you on the mat. Maybe you don't got it like that no more, G. Maybe you're trying a little too hard to make me suffer for your sins. Maybe you realise something. Something that all the rest of us know. You ain't good. You ain't up to date. And you ain't man enough to beat me one-on-one. You think you're breaking me down by interfering in all my matches and hitting me with trashcans and canes so that I'm looking up at the lights? Think that's hurting me? It isn't. It isn't killing me. So it must be making me stronger, Byron. That's a shame. P: Monsieur, vous etes dans un monde du trouble. Maintenant, je ne suis satisfait sauf que ton sang coule dans les arenes partout du pays. [Derek smiles.] DR: I like that. There's a certain poetry to it. Byron, your blood will flow in the arenas. Matter of fact, it will start flowing the next time we meet. See, I've got eyes and ears. I understand that a match has been made between the two of us for the next show. The RCW apparently doesn't like you very much. Maybe Billy Shakespeare had his influence or something because they're giving me the chance to destroy you. Now I know what you're thinking. My hand isn't one hundred per cent, right? I mean Herod chewed on it and human bites are way worse than animal bites. You're right. My hand hurts. Thanks to Pizzazz, though, I've been cleared to wrestle with a cast. That's right, a cast. And you know how injuries go in this business. It may take years for that to heal. Good strategy, buddy. Real good strategy. [Cut back to the studio, where Danny Daniels and Christian Right are shown on the screen behind Ditka, with the big, shiny RCW Supreme Championship belt between them.] DD: Has "Your Hero" Danny Daniels lost his mind? Last RAMPAGE, he announced that he had been victorious in a single-night 32-man tournament to crown the new RCW Supreme Champion -- and he has the belt to prove it! Will RCW officials recognise this new belt? And will it therefore be on the line when Danny Daniels goes up against Christian Right? Tune in to find out. Let's hear from our so-called Supreme Champion right now. [The camera fades in to see the smiling visage of one Danny Daniels, wearing the RCW Supreme Title around his waist. He poses, in the exact same pose as the picture of him on the faceplate of the belt, before speaking.] D'YH'D: In the beginning, God said "Let there be light." Then he spent the rest of the week doing a bunch of other little stuff, and on the eighth day he rested. And then, on the ninth day, he decided, "Ya know, my creations -- all the men and women and children and animals and plants and everything -- they need some inspiration. Someone to look up to. Someone besides me, since I'm a little hard to comprehend." So on the ninth day, God created... ME! "Your Hero", Danny Daniels. And YOUR RCW Supreme Champion. And God looked down and said, "Now that's some of my finest work." [Danny folds his hands in prayer for a second, then points a finger up to the sky.] D'YH'D: Thanks, God! And I'll do my best to be the inspiration all of your people need. That's why, for my first RCW title defense, I'm going up against Chris Right. [Danny nods sagely] D'YH'D: Good man, Right. We worked together a while ago, and he knows all about the man upstairs. I'm sure he's going to be a tough tough challenger... after all, everyone wants to be the RCW SUPREME Champion! But only one person is. And that man is... ME! "Your Hero", Danny Daniels, a man so nice they named me twice. [Danny unstraps the belt and puts it over his shoulder.] D'YH'D: So, Christian Right, oh the time has come. And you know that you're the only one. To lose... to ME! "Your Hero", Danny Daniels, in my first RCW Supreme Title defense! So motor on in to Portland for our match, Chris! [Danny holds up the belt for the camera as it fades to black. Cut back to the studio, where the screen now shows the faces of Akitoshi Ogawa and Orin "The Lynx" LeBlanc.] DD: Former King of the Death Match Akitoshi Ogawa is still sore after his narrow defeat at Wild Summer Night at the hands of Mark Coleman. He'll be looking to take out his frustrations on the impressive Orin "The Lynx" LeBlanc in the Rose Garden. Will Mick Silvestri be on hand to scout either of these two superstars? [Fade in on a stairwell.] VO: It's quiet... [Pan over and up to where the voice is coming from. Orin "The Lynx" LeBlanc sits, watching the camera intently through the railing.] OL: ...an' as the old cliche goes, maybe it's too quiet. Nary a peep out o' Ogawa's mouthpiece after Wild Summer Night so far...no broodin', no bluster, no braggin' about reboundin'. Course, maybe those two are tryin' to play the "Too confident to need to talk" card instead. That whole actions versus words thing, y'know? [A wry smile crosses Orin's face.] OL: That bein' said, since confidence ain't lackin' on my part, why am I wastin' my time chattin' here? [A soft chuckle, and then he shakes his head.] OL: Been a disturbin' trend as o' late o' folks stickin' their noses in matters they haven't been contracted for. An' lil' Zeke the Mouthpiece's been quite the perpetrator himself on that issue. Now, you'd figure if your charge is supposedly an expert o' sorts in the art o' badassery, all you'd have to do is just sit back an' enjoy the show! An' yet there you are...throwin' yourself into the fight worse than a vicariously livin' father at a junior hockey game. Worried about "performance issues" with your man, maybe? [The Lynx flashes an ugly grin.] OL: Or maybe that's just foreplay for you two garbage fighters. Seems to me neither o' you can cut it solo-like an' that's gotta be gnawin' at you. Those who can, do. Those who can't, pretend they're a manager an' fail at it. How does your boy feel about how you're leadin' him around an' leechin' off anyways? [LeBlanc stretches himself out and leans back against the stairs.] OL: But go ahead... hold on to your little illusion that you're handlin' a pit bull instead o' a poodle, Zeke. Rail on about havin' nothin' to lose now anymore or the gloves are comin' off an' Ogawa's more dangerous than ever regardless o' the truth. Keep on cheapenin' his career by hangin' on his coattails. Two o' you together couldn't put down Coleman when he was battered about... [The Lynx stands up, steel now in his eyes, as his voice drops to a whisper.] OL: ...what chance do you have against me? [Cut back to the studio, where the screen now shows a still from the close of last week's RAMPAGE, showing Vinny Carmazzi standing behind Paul Driscoll, boring a whole in his head with a furious stare.] DD: Second-generation superstar "Pistol" Paul Driscoll got involved in Vinny Carmazzi's match against Johnny Pleasence on the last RAMPAGE. Did Driscoll cost Carmazzi the RCW World Heavyweight Championship? Submission specialist Carmazzi certainly thinks so. Will he call Driscoll out? [A still of Liam Cassidy tossing an out-cold Nolan Dorado into the back of a taxi is shown on the screen.] DD: Things got out of hand when the first hobo of wrestling "The Jersey Drifter" Liam Cassidy took exception to the manner of his defeat to "Golden Boy" Nolan Dorado, and how -- Cassidy laid Dorado out in the parking lot, and gave Jodee Burwick a message for the golden one: "see you in two weeks!" Now Cassidy is planning to challenge Dorado for a rematch in the Rose Garden -- but will Dorado answer the challenge? [Cut to another camera.] DD: Well, folks, that's going to do it for this week's edition of On The Wire. Thanks for welcoming us into your home this Thursday night. I'll be back in seven days with my broadcast colleague "Spotlight" Billy Shakespeare to call all the action in another huge hour of action on RAMPAGE. Until then, this is Don Ditka, leaving you with another vignette from the self-proclaimed "Global Superstar", Ronnie Paris. So long, everybody! [A grainy bit of footage you may recognize from the most recent RAMPAGE begins to play... it's the old fashioned countdown leader, starting from 8 and going down to 3, that announces another "documentary" about Ron Paris is about to begin. After the beep at the number 3, three seconds pass before a black and white title card pops up. The title shifts ever so slightly from side to side, and a thin line runs across it lengthwise, recalling the look of film from a very old style projector. In any event, our first subtitle pops up, and it reads:] "Global Superstar Productions Presents: RON PARIS in... The Return of a Legend, Part Two". [The sound, at the moment just a small series of pops and crackles in the background, now kicks in. After resting on the screen a few seconds, our title is replaced by a subtitle, the words spelled out in a slightly smaller white font on a still black background, all inside an ornate white border.] "RON PARIS on... Giving Back." [The subtitle, like the title before it, stays on screen just long enough to be read, before it gives way to a black-and-white image of Ron Paris. Paris is dressed as he was during the segment shown on the most recent Rampage, and as before he sits at a table, presumably facing an interviewer who is just off-screen. Paris smiles as the camera catches him in profile, and then he begins to speak to whomever is across the table from him.] RP: Absolutely, you have to give back. Part of being a Global Superstar, like I am, is giving back to the little people who idolize you. Let me give you an example. A few years ago, I was working a Southern territory, based out of Atlanta. I did some pretty good business down there, let me tell you! One night, when I was working the main event... [Paris stops himself, a big smile on his face as he reminisces about one of many stops during a long and successful career.] RP: ...but, I digress. Anyway, this one night I heard about a kid from out in Decatur who was a huge fan of mine. I think he must have been eight or nine... couldn't have been much older than that. Billy was his name. And poor little Billy, he'd just gotten out of the hospital after a round of chemo Ð- turns out he had leukemia. Billy's parents were barely able to keep up with the medical bills, and I guess things were starting to get grim. So, once I heard this, I decided to head on up to Decatur on my day off and surprise Billy. Man, what a time we had. [Again, Paris is smiling, and there is a far-away look in his eyes as he recalls the story of his young fan. His face is flooded with compassion.] RP: We hung around all day, me, Billy, and Billy's parents. I signed autographs, I met a few of Billy's friends, and at the end of it all, I gave Billy and his dad passes to our next show. That was a heck of a lot of fun too. I took Billy back into the locker room, introduced him to all the boys, and set him and his dad up in front row seats. Even dedicated my match to him. Man, the look on Billy's face the whole time was priceless. It's really what life is all about. And you know what? I only charged his parents a thousand bucks. Market value for that kind of time with Ron Paris is five, six G's easy. But when you're a Global Superstar, you have to give back. No way I could charge full price to a great kid, a little fighter like Billy. [Paris leans back in his chair, a look of supreme self-satisfaction on his face, as we switch away to a title screen in the same style as the ones that started this "documentary". It reads:] "Tune in again for more of RON PARIS!" [This stays on the screen for a few seconds, like the other titles, allowing us all time to read it. Then, we fade to black.] ____________________________________________________________________ / Copyright (C) 2006 Rip City Wrestling, Inc. All rights reserved. / / www.ripcitywrestling.com / /___________________________________________________________________/