Voltage

(EAW intro plays.)

(The camera opens to a recap of last week’s Voltage, which highlights the major events of the night before fading to the 3A Arena in Dublin, Ireland, where tonight’s Voltage is taking place. The fans in attendance are seen cheering as the opening pyro shoots out, and after the camera pans around the crowd, it fades to the commentary table where Rich Russillo and Persephone are seen.)

Rich Russillo: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final Sunday Night Voltage before Grand Rampage! I’m Rich Russilo and with me is Persephone Tsitsipas, and needless to say, this is gonna be a special night.

Persephone: Why?

Rich Russillo: Well… It’s the last show before Grand Rampage.

Persephone: Who cares about that?

Rich Russillo: I’m sure the thousands of people watching do.

Persephone: Well I don’t. Just start the show.

(The camera pans over toward the stage as “Everybody Knows (Unstoppable)” by Royal Deluxe plays. Adam Lucas exits through the curtain, wearing his street clothes, and looks around the 3A Arena before walking down the ramp, skipping any theatrics as he appears focused.)

Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… ADAM LUCAS!

Rich Russillo: Adam Lucas is here, and marching to the ring with a purpose. Perhaps something to get off his chest ahead of Grand Rampage.

Persephone: You don’t say.

Rich Russillo: Last week, Adam Lucas competed in a match against Bea Valentine, but he didn’t go into said match at one-hundred percent. No, because Caroline and Jake Smith would attack him before, of course, Bea herself interjected to make the save.

Persephone: Oh, God. Don’t remind me of last week, having to sit through that god awful match. But I’ll admit, the aftermath made it somewhat worth it. Seeing Jake Smith fall flat on his face is always a good thing.

Rich Russillo: Yes, what Persephone’s referring to: is both Jake and Caroline causing the match to be thrown out, but getting left laying by both Lucas and Valentine. It had to feel good for Adam Lucas, but the fun doesn’t end for him yet as Jake Smith will be part of the Grand Rampage match as well.

(Adam Lucas grabs a microphone from the steel steps while going up them, and enters the ring as “Everybody Knows (Unstoppable)” slowly fades in the background. Adam stands in the center, and speaks into the microphone.)

Adam Lucas: So, Grand Rampage is coming up-

(Adam pauses as the crowd cheers, looking forward to the event.)

Adam Lucas: Yeah, that’s exciting for you, but it’s equally as exciting for me, because Grand Rampage means two things. First, it means to secure my spot at Pain for Pride, and compete for the World Championship, a title that has eluded me for a while now. Though, I have one man to blame for that, which brings me to my next thing. Jake Smith.

(Adam Lucas gives an intense stare into the camera as the crowd can be heard booing in the background heavily for the mere mention of Jake’s name.)

Adam Lucas: Jake, it’s obvious everybody in this arena hates you, and with good reason. I mean, what’s there to like about Jake Smith exactly? You’re the literal textbook definition of an asshole. Not to mention, both entitled and delusional, which last week put on full display. Seriously, Jake came out here to waste everybody’s time, and announce… he was turning Machina versus Kinkade into a triple threat?

(Adam shakes his head.)

Adam Lucas: Yeah, right. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and he’s still going to be involved with the Grand Rampage match, which means he’ll have to outlast 29 other Elitists on the roster, and that includes me. Jake’s done a good job of running away. He’s made an entire season out of it at this point, but this is the one fight he can’t, and at Grand Rampage, I’m going to get my hands on him, whether he likes it or no-

(“Bad Bitch” by Bebe Rexha plays to a negative reaction from fans as Adam Lucas turns toward the stage area, both slightly annoyed and confused at the intrusion.)

Persephone: Oh, brother. Give me a break.

Rich Russillo: Can’t say this is who I was expecting to interrupt.

(Bridget Bridget makes her way onto the stage, and poses for the camera briefly as her personal cameraman circles around her. Suddenly, “Bad Bitch” by Bebe Rexha cuts out as Adam Lucas speaks up, putting an end to her posing for viewers as well.)

Adam Lucas: Excuse me, can I help you?

(Bridget begins walking down the ramp.)

Bridget Bridget: Oh, Adam, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Bridget Bridget-

(The crowd boos, prompting an annoyed look on the face of Bridget.)

Bridget Bridget: Ugh, rude. Anyways… you might have heard of me, seeing as I’ve been making quite the waves on Voltage. But like you, I’m also in the Grand Rampage match, and with that being said… any pointers for someone entering the first time?

(Adam seems a little caught off guard with being asked that question.)

Adam Lucas: Uh-

Bridget Bridget: Actually, hold that thought.

(Bridget looks down at her phone in the other hand, likely having searched up about Grand Rampage.)

Bridget Bridget: You know what? Just throwing people over the top rope sounds easy enough, and Adam? I have no problem making you one of the names. Because at Grand Rampage, no one will stand in my way of main eventing Pain for Pride.

(Bridget stops at the end of the ramp, and Adam Lucas remains totally unbothered inside the ring.)

Adam Lucas: My apologies, Bridget. But I’m not exactly worried about having to share a ring with you.

Bridget Bridget: Well, you should be. Especially after what I did to that hashtag loser, Chiyo Ged-

(Bridget Bridget scampers over to the announce table area, creating space between herself and Chiyo as “Red Criminal” by Oral Cigarettes hits. Chiyo marches down the ramp with a microphone in hand, speaking into it as his theme song quickly fades in the background.)

Chiyo Gedo: Oh, don’t mind me. Go on and finish that sentence, Bridget.

(Chiyo takes a brief pause, but Bridget doesn’t seem as keen to speak anymore.)

Chiyo Gedo: Or don’t. But to me, it sounded like you were about to bring up last week where we competed in a no disqualification match, which you won. So, congratulations. Even though you had to pull my tights to do it.

(Chiyo Gedo walks up the steps, and enters the ring.)

Bridget Bridget: It was no disqualification anyways, so who cares! I won, you lost. End of story.

Chiyo Gedo: Fair enough. I won’t take that victory away from you. But tell me this: who looked like the winner after that match had concluded? Because it certainly wasn’t you.

(Bridget folds her arms, annoyed on the outside.)

Chiyo Gedo: And there’s plenty more where that came from, because Grand Rampage presents more than an opportunity to main event Pain for Pride. It’s an opportunity for vengeance too, which I plan to take. That is if we cross paths again. Oh, and Adam?

(Chiyo then turns his attention over to Adam Lucas, also inside the ring.)

Chiyo Gedo: I don’t have a personal issue with you. But at Grand Rampage, it’s strictly business. Something I’m sure you can understand. So, don’t take it personal when I throw your ass over the top rope, and secure my spot.

Adam Lucas: Really? I’d like to see you try.

Chiyo Gedo: I wouldn’t mind demonstrating right now.

(Chiyo and Adam begin to bicker back and forth off-mic with Bridget Bridget watching from the outside, leaned back against the announce table, intrigued at the prospect of these two fighting before Grand Rampage even commences. But that thought is cut short as ‘Rhapsody in Pink’ by Stela Cole plays next.)

Persephone: Great. More interruptions.

Rich Russillo: Everybody has something to say ahead of Grand Rampage it feels like.

(Candice walks down to the ring with a microphone in hand, and speaks into it while her theme song fades in the background.)

Candice Blair: Adam, while it isn’t personal for Chiyo, it’s certainly a bit personal for me, because I haven’t forgotten about everything you and your wife put me through. Including where I was stabbed in the neck by you at Midsummer Massacre, and the whole world saw who Adam Lucas really is.

(Candice hops on the apron, and enters the ring.)

Candice Blair: But it isn’t all bad, because those encounters definitely changed my approach for the future where I’m no longer going to allow myself to be anyone else’s doormat. We saw that approach with Ashlynn, who thought she could cheat me out of victory, and get away with it. But Selina and I both made her pay the price.

(Candice cracks a smirk.)

Candice Blair: Speaking of Selina, our friendship has done nothing except grow over the past few months, and while she’ll no doubt become Specialists Champion at Grand Rampage, that leaves me to find my own path to Pain for Pride. So, what a better way than to win a Championship of my own?

(Bridget chimes in from ringside.)

Bridget Bridget: Which will absolutely never happen, Candice.

(Candice cocks her head over towards Bridget, amused.)

Candice Blair: Funny. Because aren’t you the same woman I pinned recently?

(This clearly irritates Bridget on the outside, who yells words at Candice off-mic.)

(‘Catch Me if You Can’ by Runblebee cuts this interaction short.)

Persephone: Oh look another one.

(Akari Kiyoko slowly walks out to the ring with Luna Adeline behind him. He stares down the other competitors but stays standing on the outside.)

Akari Kiyoko: Neither of you have path to Pain for Pride. There is no road for anyone standing here tonight. Except for me that it is. After all, who among you made it the semi-finals for King of Elite this year? Chiyo I knocked you off in the very first round. And Jake?

(Adam Lucas scoffs and interjects.)

Adam Lucas: Jake was the guy you beat because I choked him out. He was also the guy who pinned you two weeks ago.

Bridget Bridget: Why don’t you deal with your love triangle first, okay?

Akari Kiyoko: Do yourself a favor. Shut your mouth. First of all Adam, does that matter? I was the one who took the opportunity and ran with it. What matters is the result. It does not matter what I have to do to win Grand Rampage, just that I am going to do so.

Chiyo Gedo: Do not be so sure.

Akari Kiyoko: Why not? I am very sure that I can beat you. I have done it before. Anyone who I have not…it is simply a matter of time.

(Everyone seems to start bickering off mic. ‘Rubber Man Band’ by T.I. now plays and the crowd begins to cheer. Akari turns around to face him but Adeline steps between them.)

Damien Kutcher: I’m so glad everyone out here is confident that they’re going to win this thing. We got a full house here, huh? Everyone seems to have something to say about everybody else. You know what I got to say?

Adam Lucas: Let me guess, you’re going to tell us that you’re winning Grand Rampage?

Damien Kutcher: Almost.

(Damien climbs up onto the apron taking the high ground above Kiyoko. He looks at the crowd.)

Damien Kutcher: I want to tell everybody here in Dublin tonight…THAT THEY’RE LOOKING AT THE 2025 GRAND RAMPAGE WINNER!

(There’s a cheer from the audience and everyone races to say their piece. Akari moves quickest.)

Akari Kiyoko: They saw him a few moments ago when I came out here. Damien, what is this? Pandering to these people? Interrupting me? Damien, I thought we were focusing on this separately.

Damien Kutcher: Oh I’m focused. You and the she-devil on your shoulder got your own thing going on. I’m not out here for you. I am out here for every single one of you. I know you think you’re special. I know she got you thinking you’re the star here. But my road to Grand Rampage goes on, with or without you.

Akari Kiyoko: The same insults. Perhaps if you were capable of taking advice, you could win this. But you are thick-headed. You are not go-

(Bridget Bridget lets out an exaggerated sigh on the microphone.)

Bridget Bridget: The toxic yaoi is great and everything but it’s getting boring.

Chiyo Gedo: Much to my own surprise, I agree with Bridget. I have been dealing with both of you all season. Neither one of you is worthy. Standing together, you have little chance. But this…house divided? Barely a threat.

Damien Kutcher: You think I need him to beat you Chiyo? Try again. I dare you.

Candice Blair: Oh my god. It’s so sad seeing you guys fall apart. Selina and I are still going strong. Yet, we’re not parasitic like you two. I am g-

(She’s cut off as “Just Close Your Eyes” by Waterproof Blonde plays.)

Persephone: Is there no end to this?

Rich Russillo: I don’t think there is. This is the final Voltage before Grand Rampage after all.

(Octavia walks down to the ring and immediately rolls in. She looks around at all the competitors with a smirk before speaking.)

Octavia: It’s so funny seeing all of this play out. Look at all of you. Bickering back and forth. Seriously, it’s like I walked into a high-school hallway. Akari, Damien…please don’t tell me that either of you actually think you’re competition. None of you are actually.

Candice Blair: Are you serious?

Octavia: Deadly I’m afraid. See, there is no one here except yours truly that could be mistaken for the future of this company.

Bridget Bridget: Oh look, a nepo-baby. Not even a good one either like Jack Quaid.

Octavia: Okay, do any SERIOUS wrestlers have an opinion? No? Then let the only serious person in this ring continue, okay? Eden made a good point last week. This is my chance to begin building my legacy. I already one opportunity pass me by and this one will not.

Adam Lucas: You’ll have plenty of other opportunities Octavia. But this one? No. Like I said before everyone started coming out and interrupting me…this is my chance to get the title that eluded me. So forgive me if I have to kick over the building blocks here kiddo.

Chiyo Gedo: There is only legacy that is going to be built here. M-

(Akari immediately interrupts.)

Akari Kiyoko: MINE. Octavia, you are full of yourself. The same way everyone else here is just full of themselves. But me? I know what I’m capable of. I may not have been the King of the Elite…but I am going to have this.

Damien Kutcher: The hell you are. If anyone here is the future of Elite Answers Wrestling, it’s me. Now, I get you all have to come out here and sell us…but nobody is buying.

(Candice Blair rolls her eyes.)

Candice Blair: Oh please. You’re a terrible salesman. Everyone in Dublin knows that The Hot Commodity has this. This is MY year.

Adam Lucas: It’s always “someone’s year.” You all can say whatever you want. Actions always speak louder than words.

(Just as his sentence ends ‘Stop Breathing’ by Playboi Carti plays.)

Persephone: Okay, this has to be the last one, right?

(Jake Smith walks down to the ring looking smug as ever. He walks right past everyone on the outside and right into the ring. He looks at Lucas.)

Jake Smith: Actions speak louder than words? I think yours would say that you’re a coward Adam.

(Bridget Bridget raises up her mic to speak but Smith points a finger at her.)

Jake Smith: You had your six-seconds of fame but now a real star is in the ring. Sit back, shut up and listen. Adam, I don’t want to be here. I don’t be in this ring but you dragged me into it. Why can’t you just admit it? You are obsessed with me.

(Chiyo Gedo now goes to talk but Adam Lucas immediately speaks over him.)

Adam Lucas: Obsessed? Jake, you don’t get to run away this time. We have been doing this dance all season long. You think it ends when you say it does? No. See, this doesn’t end until you get what is coming to you.

Jake Smith: Nothing is coming. But because you wouldn’t let sleeping dogs lie, I have no choice but to win this match. Something that let’s face it…is easy for someone like me. I mean look at this crop out here. All of them are just waiting to be mowed down by The GOAT.

Octavia: Is that so? You know what I think?

Adam Lucas: I don’t care what you think. Jake, there is nothing that would make me happier than taking you out at Grand Rampage. I want to be the one that throws you out of that ring. I want to earn that World Title match by eliminating you. If you even survive until the end.

(Damien Kutcher and Akari Kiyoko both now go to speak but once again, Smith takes center stage.)

Jake Smith: You really, really don’t have to worry about that. You are never going to make it to that last stretch anyways. You’ll be back in catering watching me celebrate inside that ring. Hell, you’ll probably have stress-eaten ten plates of fish and chips by then.

Adam Lucas: Wrong. When we get to Liverpool, it is on sight. I am going to be in that ring, waiting for you to crawl inside it. I pray that you’re actually good enough for us to be in there at the exact same moment. I am going to build the next chapter in my story off your cowardly ass.

(Everyone outside of the ring is looking on during this interaction. They seem fairly frustrated as this exchange goes on. They then begin to look at one another and nod.)

Jake Smith: Okay buddy, think whatever you want. In the e-

Persephone: OH SHIT! AKARI AND DAMIEN TAKE OUT BOTH LUCAS AND SMITH FROM BEHIND! It looks like everyone else has decided to cut this back and forth short! AND EVERYONE ELSE IS PILING ON THEM TOO! It’s like a two on six right now!

Rich Russillo: It seems like taking over the spotlight did not pan out for either of them! They put themselves in the crosshairs! BUT NOW ALL HELL HAS BROKEN LOOSE INSIDE THE RING!

(A massive brawl has broken out between the competitors. Everyone is attacking everyone, trying to get the last jab in.)

Persephone: Oh no…is that security? BORING. I say let them fight!

(Security now makes their way into the ring, restraining the competitors, dragging Akari and Kutcher to the outside. The other still standing competitors are dragged into separate corners.)

Rich Russillo: They could not let this chaos go on! These competitors still have to compete next weekend! But you can tell that all of them want to win this! The question is…who among them could win the Grand Rampage match?

(The final shot is of Jake Smith and Adam Lucas being helped up by officials. They stare each other down, pure hatred in their eyes. The camera fades elsewhere.)

(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where the Grand Rampage match will take place.)

( Sunday Night Voltage continues as ‘RUNITUP’ by Tyler, The Creator ft. Teezo Touchdown begins to blast through the P.A System as Cosmo Goldworthy comes out to the stage with a chorus of boos coming from the Voltage faithfuls here tonight. He takes in the reaction as he begins his walk down the aisle and towards the ring… )

Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… COSMO “MONEY MO” GOLDWORTHY!!!

Rich Russillo: Two days ago on Dynasty we saw Cosmo Goldworthy get the better of Effy McAvoy in that ring when we all thought he was in Guatemala where the Pacaya Volcano is located as he landed the ‘Gold Rush’ Front Flip Lariat to the New Breed Champion! I guess that’s payback for our champion coming out on top last week here on Voltage wouldn’t you say so Persephone?

Persephone: I mean sure I guess? I don’t know how visiting a Volcano is going to help Cosmo but hey… anything to get the better of that annoying child.

( Cosmo continues making his way down the ramp as he soon slides into the ring and gets tossed a microphone by an official standing ringside. Cosmo’s music soon begins to fade out as Cosmo begins to speak towards a hostile crowd here tonight on Voltage. )

Cosmo Goldworthy: I bet Effy didn’t see that coming did she??

( Cosmo cracks open a laugh as that garners a negative reaction from the crowd. After this, Cosmo continues to speak. )

Cosmo Goldworthy: I mean I thought Effy was smarter than that? Did she really think I wouldn’t be in the arena after she got the better of me last week on Voltage? She let her guard down and I capitalized by nailing her head with the Gold Rush and I knocked her head so hard she was probably wondering where the hell that goof Ahren was again. Like I said when I was on vacation visiting Guatemala, this is the most important match for me thus far in EAW. I’m taking this opportunity and I’m running it with me when the smoke settles at Grand Rampage. I’m leaving with the New Breed Championship and that is a promise that I intend to keep. What I did to Effy on Dynasty isn’t going to be anything compared to what I’m going to do when that championship is on the line and the moment to have my name in those headlines emerges. To have my name with the rest of the holders of the New Breed Championship, because my name belongs in that damn lineage. What you saw on Dynasty was a preview to what’s coming her way at Grand Rampage because she doesn’t have much time left before we see a new champ that has gold in his veins.

Cosmo Goldworthy: When I win that championship at Grand Rampage it’s going to be a sad day for the rest of you who attend these Voltage shows because that title isn’t going to be seen here for a while. Effy’s time as champion is running out, and at Grand Rampage we’re gonna see exactly what I’ve been saying this entire time it’s MY time-

( Before Cosmo could say anything else, ‘Psycho’ by That’s Outrageous begins to hit through the speakers. Effy McAvoy can be seen standing behind the barricade, and she makes her way over the barricade and to ringside while wearing the New Breed Championship around her waist. )

Rich Russillo: I think the champion has heard enough from her challenger as Effy McAvoy is now making her way down to confront her challenger for the last time before they square off at Grand Rampage. Like we mentioned, while Cosmo may have gotten the better of Effy two days ago on Dynasty, she had gotten the better of him last week driving that New Breed title right on his face!

Persephone: That’s maybe why Cosmo had to try and trick into thinking he was still on vacation but my god, do we have to hear Effy now?

Rich Russillo: Yes of course Persephone, whatever your feelings are we have to hear what the champ has to say to her challenger before their big collision course at Grand Rampage.

( Effy continues making her way to the ring as she climbs the steel steps and enters through the ropes as she was given a microphone by a ring side official. Her music begins to fade out as Effy begins to respond to Cosmo, all while Cosmo doesn’t all too happy… )

Effy McAvoy: Who do you think you are Cosmo? Do you really think you can just make an example out of me all because you believe your name belongs with the rest of the Elitists who’ve held this title? You think you can just ruin everything for me all for the sake of being another New Breed Champion? You know how much this championship reign means to me and if you think I’m going to let someone like you dedicate that my time is running out, then you should have just stayed in Guatemala and sat out Grand Rampage.

( Cosmo has a grin on his face as he responds back to Effy by telling her… )

Cosmo Goldworthy: If you’re so mad right now Effy… why don’t you take a shot at me huh? Go ahead. We don’t need to wait for Grand Rampage, we can do this right now and find out which one of us is really making the mistake.

( Effy responds quickly to Cosmo’s challenge of hitting him now by saying… )

Effy McAvoy: Oh don’t worry… When my championship is on the line at Grand Rampage I’ll do far worse than anything I’d do to you right now. As much as I want to make you pay for what happened on Dynasty I know what’s most important here, and that means stopping you from getting what you want. Your deluded dreams will be shattered for you Cosmo because like I said before you can have all the money in the world, but that won’t be enough for you to be a champion over me.

Cosmo Goldworthy: It’s deluded dreams to you but it’s destiny for me Effy. I should be wearing a championship around my shoulder right now but things have exactly gone my way yet, and that’s cool. Grand Rampage will be a story for the next generation to tell. I’m not the only one that plans to deliver because when the lights are bright for Money Mo Goldsworthy, I will shine through like a diamond and I’ll be walking out of Liverpool as New Breed Champion. If you were smart, you would have realized that destiny on Dynasty because trust me, I’m not walking out the same way I walk in.

Effy McAvoy: I actually agree with you Cosmo, you won’t be walking out the same way you walk in… and that’s because I’m going to leave you as a broken mess at Grand Rampage. Humbling won’t be enough, humbling someone as deluded as you with the opportunity that is your fingertips just simply won’t be enough. You need to be destroyed, you need to have your confidence shattered and that’s what I’ll do when you step in that ring with me at Grand Rampage. What I did to Octavia was humbling for her and since you felt the need to try and make an example out of me the way you did on Dynasty… I’ll leave you not just empty physically but mentally too.

Cosmo Goldworthy: You think that scares me? You think I’m going to be left broken at Grand Rampage and that’s it? Nah, that’s not what’s going to happen. There is no regret for me coming after you taking this title and I certainly don’t regret making an example out of you on Dynasty. You got what was coming to you and it’s a glimpse of what the future will be in a week’s time as you look up into the sky the same way you did on Dynasty. Your name doesn’t hold the same power as mine does Effy, your name shouldn’t be the one associated with that championship. It’s my title to claim, and Grand Rampage is where my destiny will be realized.

Effy McAvoy: I don’t care how much power you think your name has Cosmo. It won’t matter in the grand scheme of things when this championship doesn’t come home to you as you are left with absolutely nothing after shooting your shot at something that just wasn’t attainable. Your destiny isn’t taking this from me at Grand Rampage, it won’t be your title to claim, it will be your time to lose. I already know what’s coming my way but right now you’re in my way. You’re interfering with Ahren’s legacy, but after Grand Rampage is all said and done… you’re not going to be in my way much longer.

( Effy McAvoy drops her microphone as well as Cosmo as the two stare each other down as Effy holds her championship up high in the air… )

Rich Russillo: Statements being made from both sides here tonight, determined to walk out of Grand Rampage as New Breed Champion so will that competitor be? It will be a captivating one to say the least.

Persephone: Praying it’s not Effy, only so much I can take from hearing her talk.

( The final moments of this segment sees the two competitors still staring each other down, sharing some words off the microphone as the crowd shows their anticipation for the bout that’s going to go down in Liverpool. The segment fades off as we transition elsewhere on the show. )

(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Effy McAvoy defends the New Breed Championship against Cosmo Goldworthy.)

(Sunday Night Voltage returns as ‘Mr Rager’ by Kid Cudi is heard playing through the speakers of the arena. The crowd is cheering loudly as both Saturday Night Showdown’s Bronson Daniels and Jon Kelton are seen making their way around the ringside area, as Elysium high-fives the fans in the front row, making their way toward the commentary booth. There, two seats are allocated for them to sit at the timekeeper’s area as they watch what’s coming next.)

Rich Russillo: Well, this is certainly interesting as we have Bronson Daniels and Jon Kelton at ringside here, seemingly looking to get a scouting report on the matchup that they have next week at the Grand Rampage Marquee Event. Both of them will be fighting for the Unified Tag Team Championships as their opponents, The British Invasion, will be in action tonight.

Persephone: As long as they’re not on commentary, the last thing that I need to hear are their annoying ass voices, I’m so good.

(The camera then goes over and focuses on Bella Braxton as she’s seen standing by with a smile on her face.)

Bella Braxton: The following TAG TEAM MATCH is scheduled for…

Crowd: ONE FALL!!!

Bella Braxton: Already in the ring, the team of Brad and John Stevens… The Stevens Brothers!

(The enhancement talent at one of the corners of the ring is seen smiling as they raise their hands high in the air, the crowd not giving much of a reaction as they do. Then they get loud as ‘Refuse/Resist’ by Sepultura is heard beginning to play through the speakers of the arena. The camera goes over to show The British Invasion as Halsey Neel and Pandora Paisley are both seen confidently making their way out to the stage with their titles over their shoulders. They take a look at each other, smirks briefly showing on their faces, before they then begin to make their way down the ramp and toward the ring.)

Bella Braxton: And their opponents… they are the EAW UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!! THE TEAM OF PANDORA PAISLEY AND HALSEY NEEL… THE BRITISH INVASION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rich Russillo: Well, here comes the Champions, and they’re certainly looking to make one hell of an impression ahead of Grand Rampage against these two up-and-comers. Do you think that it’s going to fair well for them, Persephone?

Persephone: Are you fucking stupid?

Rich Russillo: My bad, but one thing doesn’t change and that is the fact that Elysium is watching on, let’s see what these two teams have to bring to the table as we’re in for tag team action coming up next! You won’t want to miss it!

Persephone: More like blink and you’ll miss it.

(DING! DING! DING!)

Rich Russillo: Here we go, Pandora Paisley is starting for her team, and Brad Stevens is starting for his. It looks like Brad is making his way over for a handshake, BUT PANDORA HAS WASTED NO TIME AS SHE STEPS FORWARD AND NAILS HIM WITH A BOOT STRAIGHT TO THE CHEST THAT SENDS HIM STAGGERING BACKWARD!

(TAG!)

Persephone: And that pussy immediately tags out to his brother, as John Stevens enters into the ring, looking to get his best shot at Pandora as well. John rushes over, BUT PANDORA IMMEDIATELY GRABS A HOLD OF HIM AND KNEES HIM RIGHT IN THE ABDOMEN! She then grabs him by the head and begins to drag him toward one of the corners!

(TAG!)

Rich Russillo: And here comes Halsey Neel as both of them set something up here, looking to go for something big…

Persephone: ‘LONDON FALLING’! THE ASSISTING BACKBREAKER! THIS MATCH MAY BE OVER FASTER THAN IT STARTED! THANK THE LORD!

Rich Russillo: Brad Stevens is trying to enter into the ring, BUT PANDORA EYES THIS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY!

Persephone: AND WIPES HIM OUT WITH A HARD RIGHT HOOK TO THE JAW! ‘PANDORUM’ CONNECTS WHILE HALSEY IS SETTING UP JOHN!

Rich Russillo: ‘THE WALL’! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB CONNECTS! AND HALSEY GOES RIGHT FOR THE PIN!

OOONNNEEE!!!

TTTTWWWWOOOO!!!!

TTTTTHHHHHRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

(DING! DING! DING!)

(‘Refuse/Resist’ begins to play through the speakers once more as the crowd has a loud reaction to the dominant match that they’ve just seen. Both Pandora Paisley and Halsey Neel, not having broken a sweat, collect themselves at the center of the ring while the referee makes their way over and hands them their Championships, which they raise in the air. At ringside, Elysium is seen watching on the outside, both of them applauding as they stand up from their chairs.)

Bella Braxton: Here are your winners… the EAW UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!!!! THE BRITISH INVASION!!!!!!!!!!

Persephone: Well, I didn’t expect it to be that overwhelming if it meant anything.

Rich Russillo: Well, The British Invasion just came out with this victory, and it seems like that Elysium is not only impressed by that, but they also have something to say as they make their way into the ring.

(Kelton and Bronson have both grabbed their microphones from the timekeeper’s area and made their way into the ring as they tap it, with ‘Refuse/Resist’ beginning to come to a close as Champions and challengers meet face-to-face. After some time, Elysium then began to say what they had to say toward them.)

Jon Kelton: Not too bad if we do say so ourselves.

Bronson Daniels: But let me just say right now, if it wasn’t apparent before, that it’s not going to be that easy with the two of us. While they have relatively no experience inside of an Elite Answers Wrestling ring, out of the four of us, Elysium trumps you in terms of that. What we bring to the table is second to none, and we’ve already proven just how valuable of an asset that we can be to our brand. You understand just as much what we bring to the table, and the question is whether or not you’re going to be ready for that. While I expect that you’re going to put up a fight, as you always do, in my right mind, I can’t see it.

Jon Kelton: While I do want things to keep going well, especially for Pandora’s sake, we saw what happened on Showdown, we all know what transpired, we talked it out, and we both know that’s not the main priority. We’re able to put what we have going on the side to talk exclusively on business, and right now for us? That’s getting one step closer to becoming a Grand Slam Champion in my own right and that’s only going to come if we beat you two for the Unified Tag Team Championships. And I don’t even need to go through what Bronson has been through in his own right, just know how much it means to the two of us.

(The British Invasion taking a moment, looking over to one another before they head over and take microphones from the ringside area themselves. After a moment, they look over at the two of them, raising their microphone and beginning to respond to what Elysium had to say.)

Pandora Paisley: We’ll admit to you both that this is not just going to be any other match. We know the sentimental connection that we all seem to have with one another, and while that’s just bloody lovely, one thing for certain is that for The British Invasion in particular, this is something that is going to be a change of pace for us. Yes, we know how valuable the two of you are, you don’t need to say it for us to hear it loud and clear, but we have faced bigger and badder wolves before and we know that no matter what they try to say in terms of what THEY bring to the table, somehow, someway, they all manage to fall to The British Invasion. So while I am certain that you are going to bring what is potentially our toughest challenge yet, it’s not going to make a difference compared to what’s already happened during our reign.

Halsey Neel: We still are fully intending to keep our Championships, so let’s make this clear right now that we’re not going to bring anything less than our best at Grand Rampage. We are more than happy to stand here and give you the credit that you deserve. You’ve been at the top of your game all season long, and this is going to be one of the toughest fights that we’ve had for multiple reasons. But that doesn’t mean anything other than the fact that we’re not going to have a choice but to make sure that we bring everything that we’ve got. When this ends, we not only plan to exceed Grand Rampage but also go all the way to Pain For Pride as well.

Bronson Daniels: We get that, and we know how much this means to you, but you should understand how much this means to us as well. Elysium is getting their second tag title shot and considering we weren’t able to defeat the team you two did beat in the Jaded Hearts, that should tell you both just how seriously we are taking this. So we’re going to make the best of that, and the last thing that Kelton and I are going to do, especially after all the struggle and the turmoil that we’ve faced this season, is come up empty-handed.

Pandora Paisley: And I feel awfully bad that we’re going to have to be the ones to put a wrench in your plans, but it’s something that is going to be necessary if we want to get ahead and nine times out of ten, no matter how we may feel about the two of you, we are always going to choose us.

Jon Kelton: At some point you’re going to realize that the decision was never in your hands in the first place. Sure, the two of us haven’t had the opportunity to truly show that we’ve the best tag team in this company, but that doesn’t mean that it’s entirely out of the picture. When we beat you, I hope the two of you receive the message loud and clear.

Halsey Neel: Oh, we hear you, but at Grand Rampage, no matter what you say, your words are going to mean nothing, especially when the lasting image, when it is all said and done, is The British Invasion standing tall with these titles raised high into the air.

(Both Halsey and Pandora raise their Championships, Elysium not backing down in the slightest despite the threats that were being made. The two teams are seen staring a hole into one another as it’s the very last shot seen before Sunday Night Voltage then begins to fade out to elsewhere.)

(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where the British Invasion defend the Unified Tag Team Championships against Elysium.)

(Sunday Night Voltage returns to show a shot of the 3A Arena, with the crowd here in Dublin bustling in anticipation of what’s to come. And it’s not long before ‘Somebody Get Me A Doctor’ by Van Halen is heard beginning to play through the arena’s speakers. The crowd begins to give a loud reaction as the camera goes over to the stage to show Dr. Bethany Blue, who is seen making her way out from the backstage area. She has an unhappy expression on her face as she takes a look around before then beginning to make her way down the ramp.)

Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… DR. BETHANY BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rich Russillo: Well, here comes Bethany, who certainly isn’t happy about what transpired last week with Hardcore Champion Solomon Stane. After a heated back and forth, a brawl ensued where ultimately it would be Solomon who ended up getting the upper hand and standing tall over his future challenger. And now Bethany is making her way to the ring, just one week before their match at Grand Rampage, with something on her mind.

Persephone: Well, I certainly don’t want to hear it. Usually when someone wants the “lAsT WorD” their opponent usually interrupts, so let’s hope that Solomon Stane has some dignity for the sake of this broadcast and just doesn’t show up, the last thing that I need is to hear more incoherent rambling for the next 10 minutes like I did last week.

(Bethany makes her way up the steps and onto the apron as she makes her way into the ring. She heads over and takes a microphone from the ringside as ‘Somebody Get Me A Doctor’ then begins to fade out. Heading toward the center of the ring, she takes a moment before looking out to the crowd as she begins to speak.)

Dr. Bethany Blue: In one more week, I will fulfill something that I should have done a long time ago. I will win a title that I have never won in my illustrious career so far, and I will do so in a dominant fashion. So many people have had questions of whether or not I can do it, whether or not I’m capable of setting out and doing everything that I promised to do, and why that is something that is even in consideration is beyond me. Contrary to belief, I am still one of the very best that Sunday Night Voltage has to offer, absolutely NOBODY can match what I bring to the table in terms of talent, and time after time again, when that was put into question, I have consistently knocked it out of the park. That’s what won me the Ultimate X match at Shock Value, and that’s what’s going to help me win next week at Grand Rampage. Remember a few years ago when I vowed to hold EVERY title this company has? Looks like I’m about to get another one.

(The crowd reacts loudly as Bethany paces around, nodding her head with a determined expression on her face before she raises her microphone and continues.)

Dr. Bethany Blue: This is something that I said years ago when I first became a member of the Sunday Night Voltage roster. And since then, I have become an Interwire Champion, a Specialists Champion, a Unified Tag Team Champion, and a Universal Women’s Champion. I have already done more than what most people can say they’ve done in a lifetime, but I haven’t done one thing yet. What I haven’t won yet is the Hardcore Championship, and that’s exactly what I plan to do come Grand Rampage. Despite everything going against me, despite me consistently fighting against the current time after time again, I still deliver and I promise that, no matter the challenge, no matter the level of competition that is going to come my way, I am going to do just that and NOBODY is going to have a say in it-

(‘The World is Gonna End Tonight’ by Dan Romer, Peter Harper begins to play through the speakers of the arena as the crowd begins to boo loudly once more, the camera going to the stage as a disgusted Bethany is briefly seen before it focuses on the Hardcore Champion. Solomon Stane is seen making his way out with his title over his shoulder, the look on his face seemingly taking offense to what she had to say about the match next week before he then begins to make his way down the ramp and toward the ring.)

Rich Russillo: Well, I figured it wasn’t going to be very long before we heard from the Hardcore Champion himself-

Persephone: NO! NO! NO!

Rich Russillo: :comeagain:

Persephone: I don’t want to hear from this idiot. :noah:

Rich Russillo: Well, that might not be something that you have much of a choice in. Solomon is making his way to the ring and he’s certainly going to hold his ground in terms of what his challenger has been spewing toward him. One thing for certain is that it’s gotten heated very quickly, and I could only imagine what is going to transpire between these two tonight.

Persephone: Hopefully, they kill themselves and we get this over with.

(Solomon makes his way up the steps and onto the apron as he enters through the ropes and into the ring. He heads over and takes a microphone from the ringside area while ‘The World is Gonna End Tonight’ then begins to fade out from there. Making his way over and approaching Bethany, he raises his microphone and begins to speak.)

Solomon Stane: If there’s one thing that I’m not going to do, it’s stand around and watch you drag my name through the mud. The Hardcore Championship is something that means the world to me. God put me on this earth for a purpose, and one of them was to uphold every single thing that I do with the utmost dignity, and this is one of them. I am not going to let this title that I have sacrificed everything, blood, sweat, and tears for to be used for vanity. I’m not going to let it be used for the sake of you accomplishing something that you fought for solely to add to your pitiful legacy. I became the Champion for the sake of bringing about a new era and changing this brand. To do that, I have no problem with taking out someone like you, Bethany, especially considering everything that we’ve already gone through with each other.

(The crowd continues to react negatively as Solomon approaches Bethany closer, the challenger not phased by these threats in the slightest.)

Solomon Stane: All you’ve done by accomplishing your goal of winning the Ultimate X match was set yourself up for failure, and come Grand Rampage time, in just a week before your fate is sealed, you are going to experience something far worse than anything that may have happened the last time that we crossed paths, let that be my promise to you.

Dr. Bethany Blue: Do you honestly think that I’m intimidated by anything that you’ve said, Solomon? That’s the last thing that I’m going to believe is that you are going to play a part in ruining my legacy in terms of everything that I’ve accomplished? Let me make this clear right now: that is not going to happen. I stand by the fact that I have nothing to worry about if I face the likes of you, we’ve been through this same song and dance before, and the last thing that I’m going to do is entertain a reality where you’re seemingly “better” than me just because you’re the Champion in this situation. I’ve been on the chase before, I know how it feels, and I’m certainly not going to be phased if someone takes offense to my words because one things for certain is the fact that I can fucking back it up.

Solomon Stane: Nothing that you say intimidates me either, Bethany. Your fate has long been determined the moment your opportunity was announced for this match. You think that it might be an easy way to the title that you surely want, but it’s not going to be the ending that you anticipate, no matter how much you try. I do not believe you in the slightest. I think you are hiding your inabilities with this big confidence that you’re boasting, and just like it has in the past, just as you’ve reached roadblock after roadblock this entire season, you are going to fail again. What happened last week was only a taste of what is to come at Grand Rampage, but I promise that you are going to regret ever trying to push me the way that you’ve done now.

Dr. Bethany Blue: I am going to crush you, Solomon, and when it’s all said and done, your Children of Sanity aren’t going to be digging a hole for me, they’re going to be digging a hole for you. And once you’re six feet under, there’s one thing that you’re never going to deny, and that’s that I? My success? It’s inevitable.

Rich Russillo: AND I DON’T THINK SOLOMON IS GOING TO BE HEARING MUCH OF THAT ANYMORE! HE JUST TOOK HIS MICROPHONE AND BASHED IT AGAINST THE FACE OF BETHANY AS SHE STUMBLED BACK! AND NOW HERE WE GO! BOTH OF THEM ARE TRADING FISTS BACK AND FORTH, GOING HAM ON EACH OTHER!

Persephone: YES! GO AT IT! SOLOMON HAS BETHANY AGAINST THE ROPES AND HE’S PIECING HER UP RIGHT NOW! JUST JABBING AWAY! HE THEN TURNS HIS BACK ON HER LIKE AN IDIOT AND RUNS TO THE ROPES AND BACK, BEFORE GOING FOR A BIG BOOT STRAIGHT TO THE FACE- BUT BETHANY MANAGES TO DROP THE ROPES DOWN AND SEND HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE AND OUT OF THE RING!

Rich Russillo: AND NOW BETHANY HAS GRABBED A HOLD OF THE ROPES, AS SHE LEAPS OVER AND CONNECTS WITH A SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODY TO THE OUTSIDE! BOTH OF THEM ARE CONTINUING TO GO AT IT, AS OFFICIALS ARE QUICKLY COMING IN TO TRY AND BREAK THIS UP!

Persephone: BUT SOLOMON SAYS FUCK NO! HE GRABS A HOLD OF BETHANY BY THE HEAD AND SLAMS A KNEE RIGHT INTO HER ABDOMEN, GRABBING HER AND SENDING HER TUMBLING DOWN TOWARD THE RAMP AREA! SOLOMON MAKES HIS WAY OVER AND BEGINS TO HAMMER AWAY WITH REPEATED STRIKES, AND THIS IS FORCING BETHANY TO BACKPEDAL AS BOTH OF THEM ARE MAKING THEIR WAY UP THE RAMP AND TOWARD THE STAGE AREA!

Rich Russillo: AND THIS COULD GO WRONG VERY QUICK! BETHANY MANAGES TO NAIL A HEADBUTT AGAINST THE FACE OF SOLOMON STANE AS SOLOMON STAGGERS TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STAGE! HE’S TRYING HIS BEST NOW TO HOLD ON BUT BETHANY IS QUICK TO GRAB A HOLD OF HIM, AS SHE’S TRYING TO SEND HIM OFF THE STAGE-

Persephone: BUT SOLOMON DOESN’T WANT TO DIE JUST YET! HE KNEES HER IN THE ABDOMEN BEFORE THROWING HER TOWARD THE EDGE OF THE RAMP! BETHANY MANAGES TO CATCH HERSELF JUST IN TIME, BUT SOLOMON-

(BOOM!!!)

Rich Russillo: OH MY GOD! SOLOMON JUST SPEARED BOTH OF THEM OFF THE STAGE AND INTO THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT! SPARKS FLY AND BOTH OF THEM ARE COMPLETELY OUT! OFFICIALS ARE RUNNING TOWARD THEM AND TRYING TO CHECK IN ON THE SITUATION! WHAT A BRAWL!

Persephone: Well… that’s certainly one way to kill yourself if I have to say so myself.

(Officials are seen checking in on Bethany and Solomon, as both of them have not moved an inch since they made contact with the electrical equipment. The last shot seen is the medical team quickly running in, trying to assess them and taking out a large stretcher as well to put them on, as Sunday Night Voltage then begins to fade out to elsewhere.)

( Sunday Night Voltage transitions to the backstage area as Candice Blair goes through her phone in the hallways of the arena here in Dublin, Ireland. She is seen wearing what she was wearing earlier in the night when all the Voltage participants meet in the ring a week before they’re all competing in that ring with the other Grand Rampage participants. Candice looks to be sitting down on a production crate as suddenly we see a hand creep on Candice’s shoulder. This immediately catches the attention of Candice, who turns to her side. She quickly stood up, swatting the hand away as she got off the production crate and says… )

Candice Blair: What’s your deal?

( The camera pans over to reveal that it’s none other than Octavia as she has a grin on her face as she goes face to face with Candice Blair. Octavia is also seen wearing what she was wearing earlier in the night from when they were both in the ring. She stares at Candice for a moment with the same smile on her face, and she has a crazed look in her eyes as begins to speak to Candice. )

Octavia: I know we were in the same ring earlier tonight when talking about the Grand Rampage and I heard what you have to say and quite honestly… I needed to take the time to approach you myself and ask… Why are you even bothering to compete in a Grand Rampage?

( Candice appears to have confused expression on her face as she responds to Octavia’s question by saying… )

Candice Blair: Excuse me?

Octavia: No, I’m serious! Why are you even investing your time and energy into competing in this match when you never have been able to capitalize on opportunities like this? To me it looks like Eden Sinclair threw you to the wolves, because if anyone can actually win the Grand Rampage match here it isn’t you.

( Octavia begins to laugh, meanwhile Candice only finds herself annoyed as she begins to speak. )

Candice Blair: You have the gall to say something like that to me when you have already undermined the rest of the field last week all because Eden Sinclair didn’t mention your name initially as someone that could win this type of match?

Octavia: OH…. believe me Candice… I already made my thoughts clear regarding my chances in the Grand Rampage. I think we’re in two very different spots right now, because quite frankly you have been in this company for how many years at this point? Wouldn’t someone else be better in this spot…? Someone like… Selina?

( Candice raises her eyebrow towards Octavia. Candice already knows what Octavia is doing, and she doesn’t look amused as she responds back by saying… )

Candice Blair: Well first Octavia, if you’re going to attack me and say that I don’t deserve the spot that I’m in, maybe say someone else who isn’t in a major championship match like Selina. She has the Specialist Championship to focus on. I’m sure you know a thing or two about title opportunities like that and I have to ask where that championship is? You want to parade around the skills that you have and yet I don’t see the title or something that makes someone like you a contender to win here. The fact is Octavia… you don’t have any place criticizing me for missing out on opportunities, especially when you had the chance to become New Breed Champion against Effy McAvoy and failed.

( Octavia’s crazed eyes continue to stare, as she lightly bites her lip. After a moment, Octavia bursts out laughing at Candice’s words, before beginning to speak once more. )

Octavia: You’re quite funny Candice hahaha… I didn’t know you were such a comedian! I think you’re looking over the fact that I’m still early into my EAW career. The road for me is still long while you have been stuck on the same trajectory since you first arrived. Of course I was disappointed in myself for not winning the New Breed Championship. It severely annoys me that I couldn’t take the championship away from Effy but as one pathway closes… another one opens for me and the Grand Rampage match is the perfect spot for me. Unlike you and your thousands of chances that have resulted in nothing for you, this is a match that I could actually win. This match is perfect for me Candice but for you…. The same can’t be said since you have been here for so many years…

( Candice rolls her eyes as she responds right back to Octavia as Candice says to her… )

Candice Blair: That’s your excuse? That I have been here for so long that I just can’t win matches like this? You can try to be cute with your words, and try to get into my head of deserved to be in this position all you like, the fact is Octavia you’re still an elitist that thinks that this match is going to yours to win, that after months after debuting you were suddenly going to win this grand rampage and deem everyone else is irrelevant compared to you. That we’re all just a number to be thrown out compared to someone who’s the “future” of this company. If you’re our future then it will be utter toxic wasteland. You’re not special Octavia, and I don’t believe you’ll be the one to stop me at Grand Rampage.

Octavia: I don’t expect the future to be so pretty for everyone else… I mean I’m not expecting for it to be glamorous as you wish it could be Candice. What you think is a toxic wasteland, is what will be my domain as I set everything in motion but not only throw you over the top rope, but to everyone else that also feels the same way as you do. Winning this match will cast the legacy that I’m building towards as while I’m sure on some level you might be able relate to that… sadly I don’t think so. Your legacy is pushing further and further away from you… and being in this Grand Rampage, especially with someone like me is just not going to change anything for yourself.

( Candice is starting to feel frustrated with Octavia who has another sly look on her face, a similar one she was giving Eden Sinclair last week. Candice responds right back to her by saying… )

Candice Blair: Legacy huh? Is that what this is for you Octavia? I’m sure someone out there cares about that but I certainly don’t and I don’t think anyone else in this match cares all too much as well. You’re a woman that has already positioned herself as someone with prominence, someone that can lead to the future of the women’s division and yet all you have been doing is focusing on why I’m in this match when you really should be focusing on not just the other participants but yourself as well. Despite being here for a number of years, this is my first Grand Rampage match just like you, and with the Grand Rampage, anything and everything can happen. So if you want to annoy Eden Sinclair again feel free, if you want to annoy Chiyo Gedo, go right ahead but if you’re going to pursue me like this again… I promise you sweetheart it’s not going to go well for you.

( Octavia has an even more vicious smile on her face as she responds back to Candice by saying… )

Octavia: HAHAHAHAHA! I’m surprised you had that in you Candice. Usually you’re a lot more disappointing. Trust me, I am very much focused on winning this entire match and whoever stands in my path. Besides, I have already beaten someone like Chiyo Gedo and I have beaten your partner before as well. I am very much capable of being a woman that could make it to the very end of this match and having the opportunity that comes with it… after all, I am the future.

Candice Blair: Well I guess we’ll see how long you’ll last. It may be in your best interest not to try and get on my bad side…

Octavia: Oh Candice… if there’s anyone whose bad side you don’t want to be on right now, It’s mine. If I were you I’d just stick to doing what you do best, which is standing in the corner while Selina Reyes does all the work! You’ve been at ringside for many of her matches lately, haven’t you? You may be better off being a manager than a wrestler, especially if this us all you have to offe—

( WAM! )

( Before Octavia says anything else, Candice punches her right in the face as she was about to finish her sentence. Octavia falls right to the ground as she holds her jaw, breathing heavily after being punched like that. Candice goes right down to her and says… )

Candice Blair: Don’t even try your mind games on an Ava… Cleo will tell you that doesn’t really work.

( Candice gets right up to her feet as she leaves the scene as the camera goes right back to a very furious Octavia is still holding her jaw as she looks towards Candice, and her once sly look turns into a look of rage. Octavia gets right up and stares at Candice for a while longer, before finally she walks off the scene herself. After this the camera fades as we continue along here on Sunday Night Voltage. )

(‘My Own Summer’ by Deftones blares throughout the arena, garnering a mixed, but mostly positive reaction from the crowd as Selina Reyes walks onto the stage area in street clothes. Reyes maintains a stoic expression as she looks around before flashing her signature pose, and sauntering down the ramp afterwards.)

Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… SHE IS THE ORYX QUEEN… SELINA REYES!

Rich Russillo: Selina has a big match ahead of her at Grand Rampage, getting to challenge Brianna Hill for her Specialists Championship. Will Selina be leaving with the gold?

Persephone: Hm. I’ll get back to you on that… once I actually give a fuck.

Rich Russillo: Which I assume is…?

Persephone: Never.

Rich Russillo: :kyrie: Fair enough. Are you at least rooting for Selina to bring the title home over to Voltage?

Persephone: Uhm, sure. Go Selina, go… or something.

Rich Russillo: Well, I appreciate the effort. But this match is far more exciting than your cracking it up to be. Probably the most exciting for Selina Reyes, despite that cold expression on her face. The nerves must be bubbling up.

Persephone: Uh-huh.

Rich Russillo; I mean, she can become champion in her very first season with EAW. Not many people can say th-

Persephone: Alright, I get it. Shut up, and let her speak already damn.

Rich Russillo: :francis: …sorry.

(Selina enters the ring, and walks over to the right hand, sticking her hand through the middle rope before a stagehand gives her a microphone from ringside. Afterwards, Selina walks back to the middle as ‘My Own Summer’ by Deftones slowly fades in the background. Reyes holds a while before she finally decides to speak into the mic.)

Selina Reyes: With Grand Rampage around the corner, and my Specialists Championship match approaching… naturally, the champ and I have found ourselves at each other’s throats. And on Showdown, I’d like to think I sent Brianna a message. One that states: not only am I taking her title, but actions have consequences, and if you’re confused over what I’m talking about, then take a look at the tron to see.

(Selina points to the titantron, which recaps events from last week where she’d lose her match to KASAI, and while Candice Blair was helping her up afterwards… Brianna Hill slid into the ring, smashing Candice in the back of her head with the Specialists Championship, then cracking Selina in the skull with it as well.)

Selina Reyes: Of course, Brianna would strike after I’m through with a hard fought match, and while Candice had her back turned as well.

(Selina shrugs.)

Selina Reyes: Then again, I’d have done the exact same thing myself, so who am I to play moral police? Regardless, the big story came after that whole attack, because Brianna said: if I want her Specialists Championship, then I’m welcome to try and take it at Grand Rampage, and Brianna? All I have to say is…

(Selina pauses a bit before cracking a slight smirk.)

Selina Reyes: Thank you. Thank you for granting me such an opportunity, because I promise to not let it slip through my fingertips, despite whatever tricks you’ll no doubt attempt to pull at Grand Rampage. Because let’s be honest, I’m not solely facing Brianna Hill, am I? No, because Silas Mason will be ringside, and we’ve seen the lengths he’ll go to in order to ensure victory for his clients.

(The crowd boos, being reminded of the multiple matches Silas Mason has interfered in before.)

Selina Reyes: I mean, Silas is the sole reason you’re even Champion right now. But come Grand Rampage, it’ll take a lot more than just him for you to retain this title against me, and it’ll take a lot more than your group as well. Because on that night, I will be unstoppable in my chase of the gold. So unstoppable that Silas World could have 700 members, and I would still take that Specialists Champion from you.

(Selina gives an intense stare into the camera, speaking directly to Brianna Hill. But Selina snaps her head toward the stage area as ‘Homecoming’ by Lil Uzi Vert plays to a negative reaction from fans.)

Persephone: Oh, great. 🙄

Rich Russillo: It appears that the Specialists Champion is going to join us. Things are certainly heating up.

Persephone: Wake me up once it’s over, thanks.

(Brianna Hill walks onto the stage in street clothes, and the Specialists Championship slung over her shoulder as she has a microphone in her other hand. Brianna doesn’t seem phased by the words from Selina Reyes, and looks quite confident actually as she slowly walks down the ramp, speaking into said microphone she brought with her as ‘Homecoming’ by Lil Uzi fades out in the background.)

Brianna Hill: Great speech, Selina. Honestly. In fact, I love your confidence, despite it being a little unearned. I mean, you defeating me for the Specialists Championship at Grand Rampage?

(Brianna scoffs as she gets to the end of the ramp, and starts heading up the steel steps.)

Brianna Hill: Please. Not after I’ve scratched and clawed heavily to get to this point, putting every ounce of my blood, sweat, and tears into this. I won’t let it end in what’s only my first defense. Sorry, not sorry.

(Brianna Hill enters the ring, and stands across from Selina, who simply crosses her arm as she continues to listen.)

Brianna Hill: Actually, I plan to be Specialists Champion for a long time, and while you’re not the woman to end my reign, Selina… you’re certainly the first head I’ll use to step on, so I can cement it.

(The crowd ooo’s a bit from the strong words by Brianna, but Selina has the exact opposite reaction as she stares at Brianna with a slight grin on her face, having an unshaken confidence to her.)

Brianna Hill: Oh, and about last week. Sorry about what happened to Candice, but it wasn’t personal. It came down to who was going to strike first, and at the end of the day, that person was me, who you shouldn’t be thanking just yet. Because while Grand Rampage will be the most eyes on you since you’re arrival to Elite Answers Wrestling, it’s going to be while I’m-

(Selina finally has enough, rolling her eyes before deciding to clap back.)

Selina Reyes: Shut up.

(Brianna looks a little upset from the disrespect, and grows even more irritated as the fans cheer on Selina Reyes for saying what were all thinking.)

Selina Reyes: Seriously, shut up. Because from the way you talk about our match, it sounds as if you think it’ll be easy pickings. But you and I both know, Brianna, it won’t be that simple. Besides, I find it a bit rich with you of all people underestimating someone, especially knowing the dangers that tends to present.

Brianna Hill: Oh, Selina, I’m not underestimating you. Just not selling myself short. Because let’s be honest, I’ve been on a roll lately, and it’s been that way for a while now. I’d say, Road to Redemption was the real turning point, and remind me. Who was one of the names in that match I outlasted to win the 24/7 Battle Royal, huh?

(Selina chuckles to herself briefly before responding back.)

Selina Reyes: Nice one, Brianna. But outlasting someone in a battle royal is way different than beating them in an actual match, and while we’re at it… it annoyed me to see you win that match, Brianna. Because I badly wanted it to be my night, which it wasn’t, but that’s fine. Because in turn, a fire was lit underneath me, and this fire you just can’t put out at Grand Rampage. I’ve made my intentions clear since day one, I’m chasing what everybody else is, that being success, and success starts with your Specialists Women’s Championship.

Brianna Hill: Is that so?

(Brianna nods at first, but suddenly throws her microphone down-)

Rich Russillo: WHOA! BRIANNA TAKES A SWING WITH HER CHAMPIONSHIP!

(Selina Reyes ducks underneath it.)

Rich Russillo: BUT SELINA DUCKS UNDERNEATH, AND HIT A SUPERKICK AS HILL TURNS BACK AROUND! BRIANNA PULLS HER IN, GOING FOR THE ORYX AWAKENING!

Persephone: Should have just stuck to talk.

Rich Russillo: NO!

(Brianna Hill drops down, and rolls out of the ring before Selina could hoist her up for the styles clash.)

Rich Russillo: Brianna escapes by the skin of her teeth there, but Selina almost had her for that Oryx Awakening.

(Selina gestures to Brianna she was extremely close to hitting her with the Oryx Awakening while Hill looks on from ringside, irate that things backfired for her. ‘My Own Summer’ by Deftones begins to play in the background, but something does catch Selina’s eye as she glances over her shoulder at the Specialists Championship in the ring, which Brianna had dropped.)

Rich Russillo: Uh-oh.

(Selina approaches the Specialists Championship, despite protest from Brianna ringside, and picks it up. Looking down at the title before she raises it high while staring directly at Brianna ringside.)

Rich Russillo: Will this be the scene come Grand Rampage?

Persephone: Part of me hopes so. That title deserves better than a Silas World lackey.

(Selina throws the title back down to Brianna, who catches it, and stares Selina down with anger from ringside. The two continue trading words off-mic as the camera fades elsewhere.)

(We fade back into the backstage area. The camera finds Damien Kutcher. He is currently leaning against the wall, looking distracted. He seems tense at the moment.)

???: Hey, Damien.

(As soon as he hears the voice, he is brought back into reality. Halsey Neel now enters the frame. There is a look of concern on her face as she approaches Kutcher. He seems slightly relieved to see her but he still cannot mask his nerves.)

Damien Kutcher: Hey.

Halsey Neel: How are you doing?

Damien Kutcher: Fine I guess.

Halsey Neel: Really? Listen, I know there’s been a lot going on with you, Akari and Luna. The whole situation is a mess.

Damien Kutcher: It is, isn’t it?

Halsey Neel: Last week was a mess. But you made some damn good points. Luna’s been pointing fingers at you, like you’re the only one to blame. You and Akari were supposed to be a team…win together, lose together. Then she swoops in, acting like she’s the authority on what went wrong. Like it’s all on you. That’s bullshit, Damien. And then Akari… man, that guy had the nerve to check you for venting? After everything? After all you went through at King of Elite? Who is he to stand there and tell you that you should’ve done more? You fought. You gave everything. You have every right to be pissed off. If I were you? I wouldn’t just be frustrated…I’d be furious. And I wouldn’t have stopped at just throwing hands.

Damien Kutcher: Trust me, I wish I didn’t care. I really do. But everything about this is just… stupid. We are a team. Akari and I. Not her. Not this weird trio she’s trying to force. Just us. But now? Now she’s gotten inside his head, whispering a bunch of bullshit like I’m the problem, like I’m some kind of weak link. The fact that she even implied that? It’s insulting. It’s absurd. Like you just said, right? Akari and I…we fight together, we lose together. That’s how it should be. That’s what a team is. Any blame for what happened at King of Elite, or hell, even the last few weeks, should be split right down the middle. Fifty-fifty. But that’s not what’s happening, is it? Nah. Feels like there’s been a whole lot of finger-pointing in one direction. My direction. Like I’m the one who has to eat the sins for all of this. And you know what? It doesn’t feel right. Because it isn’t right.

Halsey Neel: It isn’t right.

Damien Kutcher: But see, here’s the thing…I have every damn right to voice my frustrations. If I have a problem with how Luna is treating me, then I’m going to speak up. I don’t care if people wanna call it ‘tough love.’ At the end of the day, it’s just disrespect. And I don’t care if she’s Akari’s friend. That doesn’t give her a free pass to push me around, to put the blame on me. And Akari? He was out there trying to justify it. Standing there, nodding along like she had a point. Where the hell was my backup? Shouldn’t he have my back? I get that they’ve known each other since the dawn of time or whatever, but we’re the team. We’re the ones putting in the work, going through hell out there. And yet somehow, I’m the one left standing alone in the fallout?

Halsey Neel: You’re not wrong. But I won’t lie to you, Damien…I’m concerned. You’ve got all this weighing on you, and Grand Rampage is right around the corner. I just need to know… are you sure you’ve got this under control?

Damien Kutcher: (coldly) I can handle my business.

(Halsey nods in agreement. There’s a moment of silence before Damien finally cools off. He pushes himself off the wall and turns fully towards Halsey.)

Damien Kutcher: Anyways, enough about me. You got plenty on your plate too. Let me ask you something. I got the Grand Rampage match that I’m in. You are out there defending those tag titles against Kelton and Daniels.

Halsey Neel: Yeah, it is a big match, isn’t it? I am confident that Pandora and I are still going to be champions at the end of it.

Damien Kutcher: I believe in you. Not so sure I believe in your partner. The whole situation seems like mine, right?

Halsey Neel: Not so sure I follow.

Damien Kutcher: See, Pandora and Kelton have their own thing going on right? From the way I see it, that is a liability in a tag title match. Hell, it would be a liability in any match. Feelings can get in the way sometimes. Hate someone enough, you get reckless. Love someone enough, you might hesitate in pulling the trigger when the time comes. Now, your partner has a certain relationship with one of your opponents. One moment of hesitation could be the difference between keeping those titles and losing them. People have their priorities. Akari has chosen his. What if Pandora chooses the wrong one?

Halsey Neel: That…that is not going to happen. The situation with you and Akari is completely different.

Damien Kutcher: Is it? I know she’s your friend. She has had your back for a long, long time. But look at what’s happening with Akari and I. It just takes one person to come in and mess with people’s heads. The vision gets blurry. Priorities get skewed. That is just a fact. You have to think that she might just…not be able to finish the job. What if it comes down to just her and him? Here’s the hypothetical. You are taken out. You’re lying at ringside, out of the picture for the time being. She’s in there with just Kelton. Is she going to beat down that man? Is she going to take him out for you? Or is she going to crack underneath that pressure? That’s what you’re dealing with here. Doubt. Hesitation. And I just don’t want to see you lose everything that you have worked so hard for because of something like that. You don’t deserve to lose it like that.

Halsey Neel: I hear what you are saying here Damien. I do. I get from your perspective how it might seem like that’s the likely outcome. But that is not who she is. What’s going on with Kelton and her is not going to change a damn thing. There is an entirely different level of stakes here. See, you and Akari don’t have titles to defend. That’s not your fault of course. Our bond is also…far more solid. Again, that is not your fault either. Pandora and I have worked our asses off to become the Unified Tag Team Champions. We have gone through so much together for these and with them. She might have feelings for Kelton, but this is a business.

Damien Kutcher: And I get that. Akari and I haven’t been partners for nearly as long. We haven’t been through the same stuff you two have. Maybe things would be different if we were champions. If we were, then there might be all these problems with Luna. I believe you when you say that you trust her. I just hope that you aren’t let down.

(Halsey Neel profusely shakes her head in disagreement. She seems rather frustrated by this line of questioning. She looks Kutcher straight in the eyes.)

Halsey Neel: There is no chance of that happening. No, at Grand Rampage the two of us are going to win. Elysium are tough challengers. There is no doubt about that. But we are the British Invasion. I have her back, and she has mine. She can trust that I will do whatever it takes to keep being champion. I know that she is entering this with the exact same mindset. If she has to run through Kelton, then she will. She can make up to him after. But when it comes to this business, all that matters is winning. And that is what we are going to do.

(Damien lets out a smirk. He seems convinced by her now. It works to defuse the slight tension that began to build.)

Damien Kutcher: Well, you seem confident enough. I could use some of that. You know what, despite everything going on…I still got Grand Rampage. That is what I should be focusing on. You see, you are going to keep those titles. I’m sure you and Pandora are going to wipe the floor with Elysium. And then we can celebrate together. You with another successful title defense. And then I of course will be the winner of Grand Rampage, coasting right into Pain for Pride.

Halsey Neel: Ah, of course. That is what your focus should lie. You are correct. I think the two of us could be celebrating a lot after this weekend. Just remember what is important.

Damien Kutcher: Oh please. I always know what’s important.

(Damien Kutcher then takes Halsey Neel and goes in for a kiss. It lingers for a few moments before they break it up. Kutcher then takes her hand and head offscreen. The camera fades elsewhere into the arena.)

(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Solomon Stane defends the Hardcore Championship against Dr. Bethany Blue.)

(Sunday Night Voltage returns to show the backstage area of the 3A Arena, with the camera focusing on a pair of bubblegum pink high heels clicking through the halls. The shot pans up as it shows an unbothered Ashlynn Quinn, a smug expression on her face as she’s seen typing away on her phone, seemingly on a social media platform, and minding her own business. After some time she stops herself, taking a moment to think.)

Ashlynn Quinn: Omg, my fit is just so on fleek today! Lemme take some photos!

(Ashlynn takes her phone and holds it up into the air, taking selfies of herself repeatedly with a bright smile on her face while she does.)

Ashlynn Quinn: 📸 Oh yeah! 😁✌️📸 They’re going to love this! 😘📸 I’m totally- AH!

(After some time, Ashlynn cartoonishly jumps into the air, her phone flying out of her hand, as she turns around and notices a pair of eyes in the shadows. With the sounds of footsteps briefly being heard, coming out of it… is Caroline. She has a serious expression on her face as she stares down Ashlynn, who has begun to slowly scoot backward, cowering away from the situation, knowing exactly what someone like Caroline could do to her. After a brief moment of silence, Ashlynn finally manages to muster the courage to say something to her.)

Ashlynn Quinn: Haha, that was a funny joke, see I’m laughing, right? You scared me! You got me! April Fools!

(Ashlynn throws her hands up in the air, clearly trying not to antagonize her, but Caroline isn’t saying anything. This doesn’t calm down the situation, and begins to frustrate Ashlynn, because she doesn’t know what in the world she would want out of her.)

Ashlynn Quinn: Alright, playtime’s over, it’s time to get down to business. What in the H-E double hockey sticks are you doing here??? Do you want something from me?! Because if you do, you can stop being a weirdo about it and say it.

(Once again, Caroline doesn’t say anything, keeping her silence, as this causes Ashlynn to facepalm herself, shaking her head in frustration.)

Ashlynn Quinn: See? This is the problem with all these uggos: they’ll never tell you what the deal is. Everyone backstage is just SO weird, and they’ll do nothing but bully you and beat you down. I swear, everyone except Cornelius and Miss Valentine is so harsh-

(After a moment, after saying the name of the Universal Women’s Champion, Ashlynn has a lightbulb in her head, pointing to Caroline like she has come to some sort of astute realization in terms of the situation that has gone down here.)

Ashlynn Quinn: I see what’s up here, you’re trying to send a message to Miss Valentine. Let me make one thing clear to you right now: you’re not going to survive when you step into the ring with her. I know you have “intimidating aura” or something, but it’s certainly not something that is going to help you against the very BEST women’s wrestler in the entirety of EAW and that’s something that I can promise. You have done nothing but consistently get in the way of her and her body of work, and even though I merely watch from a distance, I’ve been waiting for you and me to cross paths so I can finally say something about it. You think that you’re going to get in her head after what happened at Shock Value? You think that you’re going to make her hurt and struggle after what you’ve committed! No, uggo, what you’re going to do is pay for it, because you have absolutely no idea what is coming for you!

(Ashlynn expected Caroline to say something at this point, but that’s not the case, and Caroline has continued to keep silent as she stares at her.)

Ashlynn Quinn: I can’t speak for Miss Valentine, but one thing I can say is that she refuses to lose to the likes of you. You don’t deserve the Universal Women’s Championship, and what you certainly don’t deserve is to come in and try and take away all the hard work that Miss Valentine has done in this place. She has worked tirelessly to get to the position that she’s in right now and I’m not going to accept that you think that you can just dictate the narrative around here, because it doesn’t work! I’m going to stand up for what’s right, and what’s right is Bea Valentine continuing to be the Universal Women’s Champion after Grand Rampage is said and done! You get that?!

(Ashlynn is infuriated, and right now, she’s pouring her heart out in defense of the woman who has saved her this entire season on the Voltage brand. With passion in her eyes, she continues to scold Caroline, but on the otherhand, it doesn’t seem like Caroline has budged too much from their initial meeting. She has been completely stone cold, like a statue, continuing to stare at her with absolutely nothing to say. Ashlynn is completely over it at this point, shaking her head furiously once more as she begins to speak again.)

Ashlynn Quinn: You know what? I see what the issue is now. I finally understand why you envy Miss Valentine so much, because you could never be half the competitor that she is. You’ll forever be devoid of personality, sulking around for the rest of your life with absolutely nothing to show for it, while she’s the star of the show, the Eternal Empress, the Universal Women’s Champion! You think that you’ll be half of who she is if you beat her at Grand Rampage, but just know someone like Bea Valentine is irreplaceable! So the last thing that I’m going to do is entertain someone who is not going to listen to me, you can just see for yourself what is going to happen at Grand Rampage when you get your butt whooped like the absolute uggo that you are. I am out of here, you don’t deserve my time, you don’t deserve Miss Valentine’s time either-

(As Ashlynn begins to turn around and make her way out of the scene, Caroline finally moves, she reaches her hand out and turns around Ashlynn Quinn swiftly.)

Ashlynn Quinn: Wha-

(In one swift motion, Caroline spits out the black mist, as it immediately covers the face of Ashlynn Quinn!)

Ashlynn Quinn: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY BEAUTIFUL FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Caroline doesn’t waste anytime getting on the attack, with her actions fully compensating for the lack of words that she spoke toward Ashlynn. She clobbers her against the back of the head, sending her down to the ground as she begins to stomp her repeatedly! Ashlynn is defenseless as she’s too busy covering her eyes, having been blinded by what has occurred. She continues to get battered to no end, with Caroline looking to make a statement not just toward the likes of Bea Valentine, but to the people surrounding her as well. She looks to get one step closer to that goal, and she does as a sound is heard.)

???: HEY! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!

(The camera goes over as Cornelius storms into the frame, having witnessed everything that has transpired from a distance and deciding to take a stand for Ashlynn.)

Cornelius: I AM NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU ABSOLUTE HEATHEN TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF MISS QUINN! ENOUGH ALREADY!

(Cornelius grabs hold of Caroline and begins to drag her away from Ashlynn. With the obvious strength advantage between the two, it seems like just for a moment that the butler is getting his way and helping out of his own.)

Cornelius: GET AWAY FROM THE SCENE RIGHT THIS INSTANT-

(But it only means so much, as just like Ashlynn, Cornelius meets the same fate as Caroline hits him with the black mist across his face as well!)

Cornelius: AGHHHHHHHH! I HAVE BEEN BLINDED!

(Caroline grabs Cornelius by the head, nailing him with a vicious forearm shot, which immediately drops him down to the ground, the butler completely defenseless as he’s blinded right now. Ashlynn is seen staggering up, trying to make her escape, but unfortunately, she lands right against Caroline, having been blinded, and her fate is sealed quite quickly as she’s planted down onto the concrete with ‘A Song of Ice & Fire’! Caroline stands up to her feet, and as she looks down at both Ashlynn and Cornelius, who are both completely out of it… the camera cuts to somewhere else.)

(Deep down, in the boiler room of the 3A Arena, there’s a large metal pipe against a brick wall. There, tied up against it, is the Universal Women’s Champion Bea Valentine. She is just beginning to stir herself awake, but as she tries to break herself free or say anything, she realizes that she’s not only been restrained, but gagged up as well. As she tries to struggle herself free from what Caroline has done to her, the shot begins to pan out as from there, Sunday Night Voltage then begins to fade out to elsewhere.)

(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Bea Valentine defends the Universal Women’s Championship against Caroline.)

(The camera fades backstage, and Captain Charisma can be seen sitting inside of his office working. He appears to be focused, but this does not last long as the door to his office swings open, and someone is seen storming in. Captain Charisma notices this, and immediately he isn’t amused.)

Captain Charisma: What is it now?

(The person that stormed into the office is none other than Jake Smith, who is furious following the events that occurred earlier in the night, where Jake and Adam Lucas would both be attacked by the rest of Voltage’s Grand Rampage participants. The fans are booing seeing Jake once again, but Jake quickly begins to speak.)

Jake Smith: What do you mean “What is it now”??? Did you see what happened earlier!? All I wanted last week was to announce that I’ll be backing out of the Grand Rampage match and Adam Lucas ruined that, now I go out there and EVERYONE in the Grand Rampage match jumps me!? That’s not okay! I don’t even want to be in the Grand Rampage, so why should I have to keep going out there and keep getting attacked by everyone in the match??? You’re the Commissioner, aren’t you!? Do something about this!

Captain Charisma: …What exactly are you expecting me to do?

Jake Smith: :skip: What do you think?? Take me out of the Grand Rampage match!

Captain Charisma: Why would I do that?

Jake Smith: Why wouldn’t you!?

Captain Charisma: Because you said you wanted to compete in it. I didn’t add you to the match, Jake. I didn’t even have the opportunity to talk about the Grand Rampage match when you came out and interrupted me, all because you weren’t satisfied with what happened at Shock Value. You decided you wanted to be in the Grand Rampage after I told you that you weren’t getting another shot, so I’m not sure why you’d expect me to take you out of the match a week before the show.

Jake Smith: Because I don’t want to be in it! Who cares about what I may have said a few weeks ago? That doesn’t matter now. What matters is what’s happening right now, and right now I don’t want anything to do with the Grand Rampage. A match like that isn’t my kind of thing. Maybe Adam Lucas still wants to be in the Grand Rampage after what happened tonight, but me? I don’t want any part of that. That’s just not for me, and if you’re really a fair Commissioner that cares about doing what’s best for the brand, I think it’s only fair that you put me in a match that’s more suited for me. Y’know, like the EAW World Championship match! We both know Daryl Kinkade isn’t good enough to win a World Championship anyway, and Michael Machina shouldn’t even be holding the title right now! The least you could do right now is add me to the match. It’s the right thing to do and you know it.

(Captain Charisma doesn’t respond as he goes back to his work, and after a few seconds it becomes clear to Jake that he’s being ignored. This only annoys Jake further however, as he continues to speak.)

Jake Smith: Hello??? Are you listening??? I’m talking about the future of your brand here! Unless you want another horrible World Champion then you should probably consider adding me to the match at Grand Rampage. I was the one carrying this brand for the entire first half of the season. Are you really not gonna give me another shot to make that Championship important again?

(Captain Charisma still doesn’t respond.)

Jake Smith: You know that I should still be the EAW World Champion right now, right? I shouldn’t have ever lost the title, and I would’ve gotten it back at Shock Value if Bea Valentine never got involved! I don’t know what you have against me or why you keep trying to save Michael Machina like this, but this is not how a show is supposed to be run and you know it. I’ve spent this entire season being mistreated by you despite the fact that I was the best EAW World Champion Voltage had ever had, and that’s not fair. You need to put me in the Championship match at Grand Rampage. Nobody cares to watch Michael Machina face Daryl Kinkade. We need someone people ACTUALLY care about. We need a Hall of Famer like myself. You’re the one that always talks about trying to have the best shows possible, so you should know better than anyone else that I should be in the World title match! Seriously, it’s not hard. I’m sure there’s someone you could replace me with for the Grand Rampage. If it becomes too much of a problem you could even give Daryl my spot for all I care, it’s not like he belongs in the title picture. All that matters is that I get my rightful shot, and-

Captain Charisma: YOU’RE NOT GETTING ANOTHER SHOT!

(Captain Charisma gets out of his seat as he says this, which surprises Jake.)

Jake Smith: I-

Captain Charisma: No, I’ve heard enough from you. You’ve been complaining every single week of this entire season because you’re not always getting your way. You complain because you have to defend your Championship, you complain because you have to earn opportunities like everyone else, and now you’re complaining because you’re not being taken out of a match YOU decided to enter! I didn’t tell you to enter the Grand Rampage match, Jake. That was YOUR decision! You did that because I didn’t give you another Championship match, and after what you did during your title reign you should be grateful that you got any more opportunities at all. You ran away from each of your title defenses, and even played dead to try and get out of the Extreme Elimination Chamber! You never wanted a real fight, and now you expect me to just hand you whatever opportunity you want!?

Captain Charisma: I already told you that you’re not getting another opportunity right now, and that’s final. You’re competing in the Grand Rampage match and if you win that, great. You have your ticket to another World title match. You have the opportunity to get what you want and you’ll be in the main event of Pain of Pride for a third time, but that’s the ONLY way you’re getting another opportunity at that Championship. If you don’t win the Grand Rampage match, that’s it. Don’t come crying to me for more chances. Don’t expect me to hand you even more opportunities. Don’t walk into my office again if you don’t have a good reason for it, because you had your shot and you couldn’t win. You can blame Bea Valentine but we all saw Caroline get involved in that match before Bea ever made an appearance, so as far as I’m concerned you had it coming. Michael Machina pinned you to retain that Championship at the end of the day, so there’s no reason for you to think you deserve another shot right now. If you wanted to be World Champion right now, you should’ve made the most of the opportunity you already had.

Captain Charisma: You’re not getting out of the Grand Rampage match, Jake. You wanted in, I gave you a spot, and that’s it. I’m not about to try finding a replacement a week away from Grand Rampage and I’m definitely not about to give you a World Championship match for no reason, so you might as well accept that you’re a Grand Rampage participant. You’re in the match, and that’s final. I don’t need to hear anything else from you right now Jake, so if I so much as hear you speak out of turn, you’ll be suspended without pay for the next six months. Now get out.

(Needless to say, Jake Smith looks flabbergasted after everything Captain Charisma had to say. He doesn’t say anything in response, too surprised to even say anything, and eventually just shakes his head before turning and beginning to walk out of Captain Charisma’s office. As Jake walks out of Captain Charisma’s office, he looks frustrated after everything that just took place. He remains in front of Captain Charisma’s office door for a moment, thinking about the upcoming Grand Rampage match…)

Rich Russillo: WAIT A SECOND! ADAM LUCAS JUST ATTACKED JAKE SMITH FROM BEHIND! JAKE IS DROPPED TO THE GROUND AFTER AN ELBOW TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD FROM ADAM, AND NOW ADAM GETS ON TOP OF JAKE BEFORE BEGINNING TO JUST PUNCH AWAY AT THE BACK OF HIS GRAND RAMPAGE OPPONENT’S HEAD! These two addressed their issues at the beginning of the night, but clearly Adam wasn’t satisfied seeing as he and Jake were attacked by the rest of the participants!

Persephone: Well I enjoy seeing Jake get hurt, so I guess this is good. Jake clearly didn’t see that attack coming and is struggling to fight back, and Adam grabs Jake by the back of his head and begins to repeatedly slam his face into the ground! Jake is finally able to push Adam off of him before stumbling back up- BUT ADAM CONNECTS WITH A BOOT TO THE FACE! Adam grabs Jake after that boot, AND HE SENDS JAKE INTO A WALL, BEFORE RUNNING IN AND KNEEING JAKE! Jake drops down to both knees, and honestly I think Jake had this coming. Adam is annoying in his own right, but I’m pretty tired of Jake finding new things to whine about too. I don’t know how he hasn’t run out of excuses yet.

(Adam Lucas grabs Jake, before slamming his head into the wall as hard as he can. He does it a second time, before doing it a third time and beginning to drag Jake back up to his feet. Adam continues holding onto Jake as he drags him away from Captain Charisma’s office, and after this he throws Jake head first into the corner of a wall. Jake drops down to the floor, and after all the shots to the head blood can be seen beginning to slowly pour from the side of his head.)

Rich Russillo: Adam Lucas has drawn blood, but it doesn’t look like he’s satisfied there! HE RUNS BACK IN AT JAKE, BEFORE CONNECTING WITH WOKE! THE PUNT KICK TO THE HEAD CONNECTS ON JAKE SMITH, AND JAKE IS JUST LIFELESS ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW AS HIS HEAD HAS BEEN BUSTED OPEN! They may be two of thirty participants in the Grand Rampage match, but things have definitely gotten heated between them, and knowing how unpredictable the Grand Rampage match is, this may have been the best chance Adam will get to get his hands on Jake!

Persephone: Ugh, security guards are showing up now! That sucks. It looked like Adam Lucas wanted to do more to Jake, and now that we finally saw some blood I was actually pretty interested in seeing what he would’ve done. It would’ve been perfect if he killed Jake, or at least gave him some serious injury so I never had to see him again.

Rich Russillo: Well, the security guards are here to prevent something like that from happening, as they are still members of the Voltage roster. Jake and Adam should both be able to make it to Grand Rampage, but seeing what happened just now, I don’t think there’s any telling exactly what’s gonna happen in the Grand Rampage match.

Persephone: It better be something like this. Otherwise, there’s nothing I’d like less than to sit through an entire Grand Rampage.

(Security guards begin to surround Jake, preventing Adam Lucas from getting to him as he’s finally forced to slowly walk away. Some of the security guards check on Jake to make sure that he is okay, but blood continues to pour out of the side of his head. From there, Voltage fades away from the backstage area.)

(The camera cuts to the ring where Eden Sinclair is standing with a microphone in hand. Behind her, multiple security guards can be seen lined up.)

Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… Voltage Consultant… EDEN SINCLAIR!

(Eden smiles as the crowd cheers for her briefly, but the reaction soon simmers down, allowing her to get down to business as she speaks into the microphone.)

Eden Sinclair: Ladies and gentlemen, it has gotten to this point. The rivalry between Limmy Monaghan and Xander Payne has spiraled out of control, but at Grand Rampage, it will finally come to an end under a Last Man Standing stipulation!

(The crowd cheers even louder, excited at the prospect of seeing Limmy Monaghan and Xander Payne go at it again, especially with the added stipulation, which guarantees both men will put out all the stops.)

Eden Sinclair: Which guarantees the match will be barbaric as there are no pinfalls, submissions, countouts, or even disqualification. The only way to win is to incapacitate your opponent to the point they cannot stand, and answer the count of ten. Both Captain Charisma and I have put our heads together, and thought this would be the most fitting end to such a hate-filled rivalry, because it’s clear both men want to absolutely destroy each other, and who are we to deny them? But Limmy Monaghan and Xander Payne will both get their chance at Grand Rampage, which isn’t until next week in Liverpool, England. But as for tonight? We’re in Dublin, Ireland.

(The crowd cheers.)

Eden Sinclair: You guys have been electric, and are in for a treat as both Limmy Monaghan and Xander Payne have agreed to meet each other face-to-face inside this very ring… but under one condition. There will be no physical contact, hence the security standing behind me.

(The crowd boos, but Eden Sinclair gestures for them to settle down.)

Eden Sinclair: I know, I know. But with Grand Rampage being only a week away, we can’t risk either man getting hurt. You’ll have to understand. But while neither man can battle each other physically, they will have the opportunity to joust verbally, getting to fire off a few shots ahead of their highly anticipated match up. So, without further ado, allow me to welcome both men down to the ring. First, The Ace of Elite Answers Wrestling… LIMMY MONAGHAN!

(‘Number One’ by Shirō Sagisu & Hazel Fernandes plays to a mixed reaction from fans as Limmy Monaghan steps onto the stage, wearing an expensive suit, along with a bandage on his forehead after Xander Payne attacked him last week with a barbed wire bat. Regardless, Limmy Monaghan looks collected, and saunters down to the ring.)

Rich Russillo: You hear that? A mixed reaction from fans, which I’m sure Xander Payne will receive himself, because the truth is: there hasn’t been a real right and wrong throughout this rivalry. Some can understand why Xander Payne has acted in such a way while others understand why Limmy Monaghan has himself.

Persephone: Sure, you can consider it a little overboard that he decided to electrocute the fat fuck and his wife in front of both their little brats. But I found it fucking awesome!

Rich Russillo: I… uh… that’s one way of looking at it, Persephone.

(Limmy Monaghan goes up the steps, entering the ring before he marches to the right hand side, sticking his hand through the middle rope for a microphone, which he quickly receives from a stagehand. Limmy turns toward the stage area, awaiting the arrival of Xander Payne as ‘Number One’ by Shirō Sagisu & Hazel Fernandes fades out in the background.)

Eden Sinclair: Next, he is an EAW Hall of Famer. Please join me in welcoming… XANDER PAYNE!

(“It Follows” by Cane Hill plays, and Xander Payne marches down to the ring, dressed more casual in comparison to Limmy, but has a focused expression on his face as he heads down the ramp.)

Rich Russillo: Look into the eyes of Xander Payne. He means business, and the hatred for Limmy is obvious, given he’s barely taken his eyes off The Ace during his whole walk to the ring.

Persephone: How fitting since it’s obsession that Xander Payne has to blame for why he’s in this situation to begin with.

(Xander picks up a mic he finds resting on top of them, and goes up the stairs before entering the ring, standing across from Limmy as the two stare daggers into one another. The crowd are electric as “It Follows” by Cane Hill slowly fades out in the background with Eden Sinclair deciding to speak up one last time.)

Eden Sinclair: Gentlemen, the floor is yours.

(Eden stands back with the security, ready to watch this thing unfold. Both Limmy and Xander continue staring each other before Xander slowly brings the microphone up to his lips.)

Xander Payne: Eden’s right. Limmy, this rivalry between us has spiraled out of control-

Limmy Monaghan: Yeah, and who’s fault is that, Xander? Huh?? Because it isn’t mine-

Xander Payne: Really? Because your actions at Wicked Games say another thing! You left me high and dry in that match with The British Invasion.

(Limmy shakes his head, an amused grin forming on his face.)

Limmy Monaghan: You’re right, Xander. I did. But that’s only because you became a liability. Instead of working with us, you started working against both Cameron and I. Why is that, Xander? So, you could settle your own personal vengeance? See, I thought this was about family, and leaving a legacy they’re proud of. But I guess that was a lie.

Xander Payne: Believe me, it wasn’t. After Wicked Games, I had planned to be done with this place, and ride off into the sunset. Though, that was only after I got through with British Invasion. But after your actions, you made it so that they got away scot-free, which I wasn’t going to stand for. Limmy, you brought this upon yourself, and if I had to give a reason why, I’d say it was from jealousy.

Limmy Monaghan: Sure, Xander, I’m jealous of you. Whatever helps you sleep at night.

Xander Payne: Deny it all you want, but it’s obvious that’s where this stems from. You’re jealous, because your ego couldn’t handle taking a backseat to me.

Limmy Monaghan: Right. I wish you could hear yourself, and understand how stupid you sound currently. Seriously, I’d expect better from an EAW Hall of Famer. But at the same time, I get it. You’re weak, Xander. Both mentally and physically.

(Xander shakes his head.)

Xander Payne: “Weak.” But I’ve never walked away from a fight when the going got tough.

Limmy Monaghan, And it’s your refusal to walk away, Xander, which is we are in this mess to begin with.

(Xander grows irritated with Limmy’s words seemingly.)

Xander Payne: Limmy, I tried to walk away after Road to Redemption. But what happened? You made that difficult for me, because you decided to invade my home, and laying hands on me is one thing, but laying hands on my wife? That’s an entirely different story, and no man… no loving husband would be able to walk away after something like that had occurred.

Limmy Monaghan: Great, keep playing the victim card, Xander. Look, I understand that my actions might be seen as reprehensible to some, and I never expected everybody to understand. But if anybody should, it’s you, Xander. Because what did you expect after continuously poking and prodding? I tried my best to ignore it at first, but it gets to a point, but remember. I’m not the one who made this personal at first. Xander, you tried to end my career. Wrestling is my livelihood, and you tried to make sure I could never do it again.

(Xander stares daggers into Limmy Monaghan, hatred filling his eyes.)

Xander Payne: Well, it’s what you deserved, Limmy. But I’ll tell you what, my kids never deserved to witness their father get beat up on the front lawn of his home, nor did my wife deserve to eat an elbow to her mush. But guess what? It happened, and since then, there’s been zero remorse on your end, which makes me want to go over there, and reopen that wound in your forehead right here, right now.

(Limmy shouts at Xander, daring him to off-mic. The crowd can be heard cheering, wanting to see an altercation between both men. But Xander darts his eyes over towards Eden Sinclair, who gives a stern warning toward both men, and they ultimately decide to calm down with Xander resuming his speech after collecting himself.)

Xander Payne: But I’m not going to, no. I’m going to save it for Grand Rampage, which carries the same theme of: you brought this upon yourself. Because it’s bad enough to go after my family, but to keep doing it? Not only to electrocute both me and my wife in front of our kids, but to follow that up with an assault on my brother? Limmy, you should be ashamed.

(Limmy raises an eyebrow slightly.)

Limmy Monaghan: Wow, Xander, I had no idea you cared this deeply for Wilhelm, nor did I realize he’d care enough to confront me. I thought the two of you weren’t on good terms, but oh well. I’m not going to apologize for my actions, because one thing you’re right about is: I’m not sorry. Xander, I told you what would happen if you showed your face around here again, didn’t I? Someone has to keep their word around here, because it certainly isn’t you. If your showed your face around here again, it was simple. I was going to end things between us. I promised that, and I’ve kept my promises since Shock Value. It didn’t matter that Wilhelm got in the way, nor did it matter that Peyton did either. They should have stayed out of my way, but since they didn’t, look what happened. But fear not, because soon… all the pain and suffering comes to an end.

(Xander cocks his head sideways, curious.)

Limmy Monaghan: At Grand Rampage, Xander, I’m going to do what I missed out on at King of Elite, and end your career once and for all. I’m going to do your family a favor.

Xander Payne: What? By sending me home?

Limmy Monaghan: Bingo.

Xander Payne: Well, Limmy, I’m fine with going home, and being a father to my children. But I’d feel incomplete without knowing I made you pay first, and at Grand Rampage, I’m going to do exactly that. Sure, the point is: to beat the other down until they cannot answer the count of ten. But I’m not going to stop there, Limmy. No, I’m going to finish the job I started, the one I never got to finish, which was ending your career.

Limmy Monaghan: And many people have made similar threats toward me, Xander, but only one man’s actually been able to follow through, and it isn’t you. I’m not shocked you’re going to try, and end my career. After all, it’s been what you’ve tried to do all the way back when this whole thing started between us, but I’m still here. After Grand Rampage, you won’t be. Again, Xander, one of us actually follows through on our promises, and just like Shock Value, that person is going to be me.

(Xander’s head drops down briefly before slowly bringing the microphone to his lips as he looks back up at Limmy.)

Xander Payne: Limmy… despite whatever idea you have of me in your head, I genuinely do this for my family, and you’ve gone out of your way to harm them. You’ve shown absolutely no remorse for your actions either, so at Grand Rampage, I’m going to feel no remorse for mine. Because I take back what I said about ending your career. At Grand Rampage, Limmy… not only will I fight with everything I have, I’m not going to leave the arena that night… until I end your life.

(Xander tosses the microphone aside, and Limmy does the same with both men trading off-mic, prompting security to quickly jump in, keeping the two separated. Though, there isn’t much fight from either Limmy or Xander as they continue yelling to each other off-mic, intensity in their eyes ahead of Grand Rampage as the camera fades elsewhere.)

(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Limmy Monaghan and Xander Payne face off in a Last Man Standing match.)

(The camera returns to ringside, and ‘The End’ by Lil Uzi Vert and BABYMETAL hits. This causes a loud mixed reception to come from the crowd, and before long KASAI begins to make her way out to the stage. KASAI is seen holding a microphone in her hand as she walks out, and she has a grin on her face as she looks towards the fans in attendance, thinking about her upcoming match against Methuselah at Grand Rampage. KASAI begins to make her way down the ramp.)

Rich Russillo: KASAI is on her way to the ring, and seeing that smile on her face, I’d say she looks pretty ready for her upcoming match against Methuselah. This definitely won’t be an easy match by any means, but I’m sure KASAI is still feeling good about the damage she did to Methuselah back at Shock Value.

Persephone: I don’t really care about this match, but it would be pretty nice if KASAI electrocuted Methuselah like that again. Then again, I’m not so sure if she’ll have the opportunity to at Grand Rampage. It’s not like this has some sort of stipulation, and even if it did, we already saw Methuselah get back up last time. I don’t think she will get away with the same trick twice, and that sucks.

(KASAI makes her way up the steel steps, and onto the ring apron. ‘The End’ begins to fade out after this, and KASAI remains on the apron as she stares at the fans in attendance. After a moment, she begins to speak.)

KASAI: I have quite the opportunity, don’t I?

(Hearing the loud response from the fans, the smirk on KASAI’s face widens. KASAI enters the ring, and after this she continues.)

KASAI: Of course, I’m not merely referring to a victory. I’m speaking on the opportunity to live up to my own promises and take Methuselah out. This is my chance to pick up where I left off, and for that I have to admit, I’m grateful. I’m very glad that Methuselah went out of his way to make this match happen. I’m glad that he could hand me the chance I needed to leave him with a lot more than a few burns. Methuselah for whatever reason thinks that he’ll be able to simply do whatever he pleases once we enter the ring at Grand Rampage, but that’s not the kind of fight he’s getting himself into. That’s not what he asked for when he made this match official. This is meant to be a war, isn’t it? This is supposed to be our chance to settle our differences once and for all, and let me tell you this. When this ends, the last thing Methuselah will need to worry about is being left shocked!

(KASAI laughs as she paces around the ring, stopping at the ropes as she stares at the camera in front of her.)

KASAI: Know this Methuselah, your time is coming. It was stupid for you to think that I wouldn’t understand what I’m getting myself into simply because my actions at Shock Value didn’t take you out for good. You surprised me, yes, but that surprise only gave me the chance to get back in the ring and keep fighting, which is why I welcome it. If your inability to stay down means that I can continue to put you down then I’ll gladly accept the challenge this brings. All this means is that I can keep repeating this process until you slowly lose the ability to do what you did after Shock Value. I can keep dropping you in the center of this ring. I can keep fighting, and by the time this ends you will regret ever even putting out this challenge.

(KASAI stops speaking, but soon after this, ‘Praise Gawd’ by Kanye West hits. Loud boos come from the fans in attendance as KASAI slowly turns towards the stage, and Methuselah can be seen beginning to make his way out to the stage. He has a calm look on his face, seemingly not bothered by what he heard from KASAI. Methuselah can already be seen holding a microphone in his hand, and he slowly begins to walk down the ramp as KASAI waits for him to enter the ring.)

Rich Russillo: Well it looks like KASAI caught the attention of her Grand Rampage opponent, who as we all know made an appearance last week to watch the match KASAI had against Selina Reyes. We got to hear him a bit on commentary, but it looks like he has more to say tonight as he has a microphone in his hand.

Persephone: At least he’s gonna be doing all the talking in the ring this time. It’s annoying having to sit through this at all, but I’ll take anything over having to deal with Methuselah sitting over here for an entire match.

(Methuselah makes his way down the ramp and to ringside, and as he makes his way up the steel steps into the ring KASAI begins to speak, causing ‘Praise Gawd’ to fade out.)

KASAI: I’m glad you could join us, Methuselah! We’re only a week away from Grand Rampage after all, and it’d be a shame if you-

Methuselah: That’s enough. I’ve heard enough from you KASAI and quite frankly, you have yet to say anything remarkable regarding this match. I’m well aware of what you want KASAI, but what’ll actually happen at Grand Rampage will have absolutely nothing to do with your desire to destroy me. You’re not the first nor will you be the last to want to get rid of me, but much like everyone before you you’ll prove to be unsuccessful. However, you may prove to be one of the greatest failures yet. You have spent the last few weeks making many promises but not a single one of them will actually be kept KASAI, as you’re not walking into a winnable battle. You’re not walking into a war. You’re walking into your own execution, and this was set the moment you took it upon yourself to try to end me at Shock Value. You failed KASAI, and the worst mistake you could’ve made was not making sure that I couldn’t get back in the ring to begin with. The moment you allowed me to return from the Ultimate X match, you set yourself up for your own end.

Methuselah: You won’t be able to fight your way out of this one, KASAI. It’s not as simple as competing for the Specialists Championship or facing other Elitists you may have gotten on the bad side of. You did not think this through, and that has been evident ever since I made my return to the ring. Laughing it off won’t save you, because you won’t be facing a broken down, withered version of myself at Grand Rampage. I understand that you care more for the battles themselves than the outcomes but maybe you should’ve placed more importance on the opportunity you were presented with at Shock Value, because thanks to your decision to prioritize your failed goal of killing me, you won’t be seeing another opportunity like that anytime soon. You missed your chance KASAI, and while the Doctor will be challenging for the Hardcore Championship at Grand Rampage, you’ll be walking into the event to accomplish absolutely nothing. What an incredible waste of time this was for you, KASAI. You paved the way for this match to happen. I may have made it official but we wouldn’t have made it to this point without your horrible decision making, so with that in mind I need to understand exactly what went through your mind. Why would you put yourself in harm’s way knowing that it could very easily cost you everything?

(The fans boo hearing these words from Methuselah, but KASAI is quick to respond.)

KASAI: Isn’t it obvious? I’m not afraid of you. I’ve heard this all before, Methuselah. The idea that I don’t know what I’m getting myself into, and that I won’t be able to get out of the mess I made. This isn’t anything new to me, and Methuselah, it’s not like you’re a new opponent for me, either. I’ve had all season long to pay close attention to your work, and that’s not even mentioning all the matches we’ve actually shared. I know what I’m getting myself into Methuselah, so you don’t need to waste your time with warnings because I’m ready for Grand Rampage. I’m not walking into this match to allow you to do whatever you please. I’m not just going to hand you the chance to get what you want. I’m here to finish what I started, because it may have been a mistake for me to think that my actions at Shock Value would keep you down, but a mistake like that can very easily be corrected. I don’t intend to make the same mistake twice.

Methuselah: You won’t need to worry about making that mistake twice KASAI, because you won’t have the opportunity to. That’s the part you’re failing to understand, and truthfully KASAI it doesn’t matter to me whether or not you do grow to understand it. You called it a warning but it’s far more than that. I’m giving you a direct look at what’s to come in a week’s time. I’m telling you exactly what the future holds. I’m not telling you this because I want you to think twice about facing me, because running away from this is not an option. Avoiding your fate isn’t possible. I’m simply telling you exactly what that fate is, and no KASAI, it’s not you getting rid of me. It’s not you walking out of Grand Rampage with your head held high. That was never in the cards for you, because for you to ever return to Voltage having achieved your goal you’d have to somehow find a way to put me down for good, and that’s far more than you’re capable of. You treat your actions at Shock Value as if it was something you could very easily outdo, but in reality it was all you had. You did that out of desperation. You did it because if you didn’t, the Ultimate X match was mine. That desperation won’t get you anywhere at Grand Rampage.

KASAI: What makes you think it was desperation? I knew what I was doing. I may not have won the entire match, but it was funny seeing just how badly you were electrocuted.

Methuselah: And do you believe you’ll be laughing once Grand Rampage is over?

KASAI: Of course.

Methuselah: Why’s that? You’re not going to defeat me, and if you can’t even do as much as that, how could you accomplish anything else at my expense? “Putting me down” isn’t possible when I’m standing over your unconscious body with my hand raised, and KASAI you should already understand by now that I don’t intend to be merciful. It isn’t difficult to tell that you’re getting yourself into far more trouble than you’re worth, but it seems you’re comfortable remaining ignorant to the very end. If that’s the case so be it KASAI, because I’ll gladly stomp over your hopes of ever getting rid of me. Not only did you fail to take me out of the picture. Not only did you fail to derail my career, but you failed to even derail my season. If you believe you’ll change that at Grand Rampage, I’ll allow next week to serve as the reality check you need.

(The fans boo, and there is a staredown between the two Elitists inside of the ring as tensions appear to be high. KASAI has a serious look on her face as she stares at Methuselah, and after some time she begins to speak.)

KASAI: I’ll allow my actions at Grand Rampage to silence you once and for all. Until then, I hope you understand that I knew exactly what I was doing at Shock Value, much like I do now. You may have made this match official, but you’re still the one being hunted.

(KASAI stops speaking after this, and she slowly begins to walk past Methuselah, making her way towards the ropes to exit the ring. Both Elitists have a focused look on their faces, but as KASAI makes it to the ropes, she stops…)

Rich Russillo: KASAI JUST THREW HER MICROPHONE AT METHUSELAH! IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE WASN’T GONNA AVOID GETTING PHYSICAL AFTER ALL!

Persephone: METHUSELAH BLOCKED THE MICROPHONE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE EXPECTED THAT! WHAT AN IDIOT!

Rich Russillo: YEAH, BUT KASAI JUST RUSHED AT METHUSELAH AND CONNECTED WITH A RUNNING ELBOW! THAT MICROPHONE CLEARLY WORKED AS A DISTRACTION AS METHUSELAH STUMBLES BACK, AND NOW BOTH ELITISTS BEGIN TO FIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE RING AS METHUSELAH COMES BACK WITH AN ELBOW OF HIS OWN! BOTH ELITISTS ARE FIGHTING IN THE CENTER OF THE RING, WHO’S GONNA GET THE UPPER HAND!?

Persephone: METHUSELAH SWINGS AT KASAI, BUT KASAI DUCKED UNDER IT BEFORE KICKING HIS LEG OUT FROM UNDER HIM! Methuselah just dropped to a knee! Hurry up, go get a weapon!

Rich Russillo: KASAI runs the ropes- BUT BEFORE SHE COULD GO FOR WHATEVER SHE HAD PLANNED, METHUSELAH WAS ABLE TO SURPRISE HER WITH A BIG BOOT! KASAI DROPS TO THE MAT, AND METHUSELAH BACKS INTO THE CORNER FURTHEST AWAY FROM KASAI AS SHE BEGINS TO STUMBLE BACK TO HER FEET!

Persephone: I think it’s pretty obvious what he’s going for!

Rich Russillo: I’ll have to agree, AS METHUSELAH CHARGES IN FOR THE SPEAR!

Persephone: IT DIDN’T CONNECT!?

Rich Russillo: NO, IT DIDN’T!! KASAI GOT OUT OF THE WAY, CAUSING METHUSELAH TO CRASH SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE RING POST! METHUSELAH STUMBLES OUT OF THE CORNER, AND NOW KASAI IS ABLE TO DROP METHUSELAH WITH URAI’S CURSE!!!! URAI’S CURSE CONNECTS ON METHUSELAH, AND THE CHAIRMAN IS DOWN AND OUT IN THE CENTER OF THE RING!

Persephone: That’s disappointing. No blood, no weapons, what’s the point of them even fighting if they’re not gonna do anything fun?

Rich Russillo: I don’t think they get into these brawls just for fun. Tensions have been running high for weeks, and they’ve already thrown some serious threats at each other following what KASAI did at Shock Value. This is about taking out the opponent, and tonight it looks like it was KASAI who was able to do it!

Persephone: Whatever.

Rich Russillo: This is a heated Grand Rampage match, and at this point I can only wonder how things are gonna end once Methuselah and KASAI finally face each other one on one.

(‘The End’ begins to play as KASAI stands over Methuselah in the center in the ring. While she initially has a focused look on her face, she stares at Methuselah on the mat, and begins to laugh seeing him laid out on the mat. With this final shot of KASAI standing over Methuselah, Voltage fades away from ringside.)

(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Michael Machina defends the EAW World Championship against Daryl Kinkade.)

(Voltage returns to ringside, where Bella Braxton can be seen holding a microphone.)

Bella Braxton: The following contest is scheduled for ONE FALL!!!

Crowd: ONE FALL!!!

(‘Kamikaze’ by RedHook hits, and the fans in attendance begin to loudly boo as Daryl Kinkade makes his way out to the stage. Daryl has an unimpressed look as he stares towards the ring, where another competitor can be seen standing inside of the ring. A smirk forms on the face of Kinkade, and he begins to make his way down the ramp as he ignores the boos coming from the crowd.)

Bella Braxton: Introducing first!… From Norwich, England… Weighing in at 225 pounds… DAAARRYYYYLLLLLLL KIIIIIIINNNNNNNKAAAAAADEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Rich Russillo: Daryl Kinkade is in action tonight, and it looks like this may be Daryl’s chance to make a statement ahead of his match against Michael Machina at Grand Rampage.

Persephone: Uh… I don’t know if this type of match will really say much.

(The camera pans to his opponent, who raises his hands to cheers from the fans in attendance. Daryl just shakes his head seeing this, but Bella begins to speak once more.)

Bella Braxton: And his opponent… From right here in Dublin, Ireland… Weighing in at 195 pounds… AIDAN SULLIVAN!!!!

Persephone: Who exactly is this?

Rich Russillo: Aidan is a competitor from right here in Dublin, and it looks like he’s been given a shot in EAW tonight against the number one contender to the EAW World Championship! Aiden clearly has the fans on his side. Maybe he’ll surprise us.

Persephone: Right…

(Ding! Ding! Ding!)

Rich Russillo: DARYL KINKADE RUNS IN, AND HE JUST LEAPED AT AIDAN SULLIVAN BEFORE DROPPING HIM WITH THE MONKĒ FLIP!!!!

Persephone: That didn’t take long.

Rich Russillo: The fans in attendance are booing, but Daryl Kinkade is just laughing seeing that Aidan is down and out in the center of the ring. Daryl slowly drags Aidan up before throwing him into the corner, AND NOW HE JUST BEGINS STOMPING AWAY AT HIM! Daryl probably could’ve ended the match after that Monkē Flip, but it looks like he isn’t satisfied just yet with what he’s done! Daryl keeps stomping away, forcing the referee to split things up!

Persephone: Aidan slowly falls out of the corner, and now Daryl just kicks and stomps on Aidan before Aidan rolls out to the apron. Why exactly isn’t this over yet?

Rich Russillo: It’s not over because Daryl clearly doesn’t want to end this yet. Daryl is dragging Aidan back up, AND NOW HE RUNS BEFORE SENDING AIDAN FACE FIRST INTO THE RING POST! AIDAN FLIES OFF THE APRON AND OUT TO THE RINGSIDE FLOOR, AND NOW DARYL ROLLS OUT OF THE RING TO RETRIEVE HIM, WALKING RIGHT UP TO THE BOOING FANS IN ATTENDANCE!

Persephone: Daryl lifts Aidan up as they keep booing, before dropping Aidan face first onto the barricade in front of some of the fans in the front row. Daryl sends Aidan back into the ring, and hopefully this means the match is about to end.

Rich Russillo: Daryl lifts Aidan up, BEFORE PLANTING AIDAN ON HIS HEAD WITH HAIL TO THE VICTOR!!! HAIL TO THE VICTOR CONNECTS, AND NOW THERE’S THE COVER TO END THIS!

ONE!
TWO!!
THREE-

Persephone: Why did Daryl just release the pin?

Rich Russillo: He did it because he seemingly has other ideas! Daryl notices that the fans in attendance are behind the hometown competitor, SO DARYL LOCKS AIDAN IN THE CROSSFACE!!! “SHUT UP, BRUV” IS LOCKED IN, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AIDAN IS FORCED TO TAP OUT!!!!! IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE IS OVER!

(Ding! Ding! Ding!)

Bella Braxton: Here is your winner… DAARRRYLLLLL KIIIIIINKAAAAAADE!!!!!!

Rich Russillo: Well, it looks like Daryl was able to get the win, and very quickly! Thanks for coming Aidan, but tonight just wasn’t your night.

Persephone: That was a waste of time.

(‘Kamikaze’ begins to play once again as Daryl returns to his feet and has his hand raised by the referee. However, instead of celebrating his victory, Daryl rolls out of the ring and walks towards the timekeepers area. He retrieves a microphone, and he returns to the ring before kicking at Aidan Sullivan, forcing him out of the ring. After this Daryl begins to speak, causing his entrance music to fade out.)

Daryl Kinkade: Machina, I hope you were watching that one, bruv. I know you think that because you’ve defended the EAW World Championship a few times that this is how all of your title defenses will play out, but in reality Grand Rampage is going to end for you exactly how this match just did. I don’t believe you know exactly what’s to come your way at Grand Rampage just yet, and I did my best to give you a bit of a preview just now but unfortunate my opponent was just a bit too pitiful. Still, seeing how our trios match ended a few weeks ago he’s clearly not entirely unlike you. Much like him you have all the fans in attendance on your side, and just like him you will end your night laid out at ringside, staring at the lights as I walk out with my hand raised. Difference is, when I walk out of the ring at Grand Rampage I will be carrying the EAW World Championship.

(The fans in attendance begin to boo once again, but Daryl continues.)

Daryl Kinkade: They can boo as much as they’d like, but your time is coming and there’s nothing neither you nor they can do about it. I already proved once that I have everything necessary in order to take you down, and at Grand Rampage there won’t be anything to distract the referee from what’s important. There won’t be anything to get in the way of me becoming the new EAW World Champion, so Machina I hope you enjoyed the few months you’ve spent as Champion, because it’s coming to an end very soon. It’s about time that I make good on the promises I made at the start of the season. This time I’m not getting screwed over, I’m taking what’s rightfully mine and coming back to Voltage as the NEW EAW World Champion!

(The fans boo, but the boos don’t last long as ‘Apostle’s Warning’ by Mobb Deep hits. Daryl Kinkade looks annoyed, but the fans in attendance are cheering as Michael Machina can be seen making his way out to the stage with the EAW World Championship around his waist. Machina is carrying a microphone in his hand, and he is staring directly at Kinkade with a focused look on his face.)

Rich Russillo: Michael Machina is making his way down the ramp, and from the look of it I don’t think Machina likes what he had to hear.

Persephone: Neither do I, but that’s because I didn’t like hearing Daryl speak at all.

(Michael Machina makes his way to ringside and jumps on the apron, before finally entering the ring. After this his entrance music fades out, and he begins to speak.)

Michael Machina: Daryl I’m just gonna get to the point here, I don’t care to keep arguing with you. Not about some trios match. If you really want to bank on one moment from that match being recreated at Grand Rampage then be my guest, but I’m here to defend my Championship and no that doesn’t just mean coming out here and telling you what I’m gonna do. It means getting in the ring and being able to destroy anyone that gets in my path whether it’s a Hall of Famer, a former World Champion or someone still scratching and clawing their way to the top. The last thing you need to do right now is get ahead of yourself, because I know what I’m getting into. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s on the line for me, but have you actually taken a sec to think about what’s at stake for you? If you lose, how long do you think it’ll take you to get another shot at this title?

(Daryl doesn’t immediately respond, thinking about the fact that with Grand Rampage coming up, the season is nearly over. Noticing his silence, Machina continues to speak.)

Michael Machina: This could be the last time you fight for a World Championship this season Daryl, and that’s not to say that I’d be against putting you down until you finally get the message, but once I’m done with you I’m gonna have a long line of people still trying to take this title from me and I’m sure they’re all gonna want you at the back of the line. I’m not the type of Champion that’s content with just holding the title and doing nothing with it. I’m here to get in the ring and fight, and sometimes that means shutting up Elitists who think they’re capable of far more than they really are. You’re convinced that you can put me down and keep me down and that’s great. You can think that, but once this title is on the line I’m not gonna be playing any games like you clearly are right now.

Daryl Kinkade: If you think this is a joke or a game, I’m not the one getting ahead of myself. I know how high the stakes are Machina, and that right there is exactly why I won’t be losing at Grand Rampage. This match means a lot more to me than just proving that I beat you in that trios match. It means finally becoming a World Champion for the first time in my career, and making the most of what could be my final major opportunity of the season. You don’t understand how much I want the EAW World Championship and I don’t need you to, but what that trios match proved was that you’re by no means unstoppable. It’s not that you can’t be put down, it’s that your previous challengers just weren’t good enough. You had it easy, and that’s a fact. You were lucky to be up against opponents who never had a shot at taking that Championship from you, but that luck has run out and now that title is coming with me. I’ve waited far too long for my chance to become a World Champion, and I won’t be letting that opportunity slip by me again. Not when I know and the entire world knows that I can beat you.

(The fans begin to boo Kinkade once again, but he has a focused look on his face as he stares at Machina.)

Michael Machina: I’m not about to be one of those Elitists that shames you for having failed to become a World Champion at this stage of my career, because that’s not the problem I have with you. I couldn’t care less about the fact that you’ve dropped the ball with every opportunity handed to you this season. What I care about right now is what you’re doing the one time you THINK you’re on the verge of getting the job done. Grand Rampage is still a week away and already it’s like you forgot about all the history we already have with each other all because of a match that didn’t even end with a decisive winner, and if that’s the kind of mindset you’re bringing to this then I don’t want to hear anything about you knowing how high the stakes are, because clearly there’s something you still don’t get. I’m gonna be holding this Championship for as long as I can, and if you want to be the one that ends my reign you need to do more than discredit the people I defended this title against. You need to be better than all of them, just like you need to be better than me. You have the toughest task of your career ahead of you, and right now it doesn’t look like you have a care in the world.

Daryl Kinkade: And who are you to decide that? I was here working to find my way to a World Championship before you even entered this company. I’m not going to deny the fact that you’ve made an impact, and in a short amount of time found your way to a World Championship, but I also won’t allow you to deny me of what I’ve been chasing after for a very long time. You don’t get it yet Machina, but you will at Grand Rampage. What you saw tonight is exactly what’s about to happen once we enter that ring, and you can try your hardest. You can fight back. You can do whatever you can to hold onto that title, but when that match ends, whether I have to drop you on the mat and pin you once again or force you to tap out just like I did to Aidan over there, that bell will ring and I will be crowned Champion. There’s nothing I won’t do to take that title from you, and between now and Grand Rampage you need to figure that out.

Michael Machina: You think I haven’t heard that before?

Daryl Kinkade: I don’t care what you’ve heard before, because none of the men that challenged you for that title were me. Methuselah has already been World Champion countless times, and we both know that he hasn’t been able to get the job done lately. Jake and Adam have been at each other’s throats all season long, but me? All I care about is that title. I already fought for the Hardcore Championship and had to be screwed over to lose. I wasn’t the Elitist that got pinned in that contendership match, nor did I lose against Ms. Extreme. Time and time different circumstances have gotten in the way of me getting what I deserve, and that won’t be the case at Grand Rampage.

Michael Machina: Right. It’s funny you leave the Extreme Elimination Chamber out of that, because that was the first time I had the opportunity to compete in one of those. I didn’t have the experience that everyone else did, and I easily could’ve made the same type of excuses that you are now. I didn’t do that, though. I didn’t back down and I definitely wasn’t afraid of any of my opponents. Instead I walked into that Chamber and I tore it to shreds. I left my first ever Extreme Elimination Chamber with the EAW World Championship, and now in just a few months I’ll be walking into my first Pain for Pride main event, because you couldn’t stop me. You could be right about one thing, Daryl. This doesn’t have to be about me being unstoppable. That’s the problem though, because history has shown one us thing and right now it looks like Grand Rampage is about to remind us of it. *You* can’t stop me. Not because I’m unstoppable, but because you just don’t have what it takes-

Rich Russillo: DARYL KINKADE JUST PUNCHED MICHAEL MACHINA IN THE FACE!

Persephone: I guess Machina hit a nerve, but that’s fine with me. At least I don’t have to hear them speak now.

Rich Russillo: MICHAEL MACHINA RESPONDS WITH A DOUBLE LEG TAKEDOWN, AND NOW WE HAVE A BRAWL ON OUR HANDS AS MICHAEL MACHINA IS ALL OVER DARYL KINKADE, THROWING ELBOWS AT THE CHALLENGER! DARYL IS ABLE TO TURN OVER AND GET ON TOP OF MACHINA THOUGH, ALLOWING KINKADE TO BEGIN PUNCHING AWAY AT THE CHAMPION AS THINGS HAVE QUICKLY GOTTEN HEATED BETWEEN THESE TWO! IT LOOKS LIKE WE’RE ABOUT TO HAVE ONE HELL OF A MATCH AHEAD OF US AT GRAND RAMPAGE!

Persephone: Machina pushes Kinkade off of him and both Elitists get back up- AND KINKADE SWINGS AT MACHINA BUT MACHINA DUCKS UNDER IT! Michael Machina kicks Daryl in the gut before pulling him in- AND I THINK HE JUST TRIED LIFTING DARYL FOR THE .50 CAL BUT DARYL IS ABLE TO JUMP OUT OF HIS GRASP! Michael Machina turns around, RIGHT INTO AN ENZUIGIRI FROM KINKADE! Kinda embarrassing for Machina seeing as Daryl just wrestled a match.

Rich Russillo: Well… I don’t exactly think that match took much out of Daryl. Daryl runs the ropes- BUT MACHINA CATCHES DARYL AND PLANTS HIM ON THE MAT WITH A SPINEBUSTER! Daryl rolls towards the corner of the ring before using the turnbuckles to pull himself back up, AND NOW MACHINA RUNS IN BEFORE DELIVERING A RUNNING SHOULDER THRUST! Machina uses all his power to Irish whip Daryl into the opposite corner, BEFORE RUNNING IN AND DELIVERING A SECOND SHOULDER THRUST! Daryl slowly stumbles out of the corner, AND MICHAEL MACHINA TAKES THE CHANCE TO RUN THE ROPES!

Persephone: MACHINA GOES FOR THE MONEY SHOT, BUT DARYL DUCKS UNDER WHILE HOOKING HIS ARM, ALLOWING DARYL TO PULL MACHINA IN AND DROP HIM WITH A BEAUTIFUL LIE!

Rich Russillo: A BEAUTIFUL LIE CONNECTS, AND THE EAW WORLD CHAMPION IS DOWN AND OUT!!!! Daryl came out here to make a statement, and it looks like an even bigger statement was made than expected as Daryl just took out the EAW World Champion only a week away from Grand Rampage!

Persephone: That was cool and all, but I’ve seen too many fights tonight for this one to also not have any blood, or literally anything entertaining. At least go get a chair or something.

Rich Russillo: Right now I think we know what Daryl is worried about, and that’s the Championship he just took off of Michael Machina. What he just hit Machina with was the move he feels should’ve gotten him the three count in that trios match, and if it connects at Grand Rampage, it could very well be the end of this title reign.

(Daryl Kinkade returns to his feet, having removed the EAW World Championship from Michael Machina’s waist. He stares at it for a while, before finally turning towards the fans and raising the title in the air. The fans are booing loudly, but Daryl stands tall over Michael Machina with the EAW World Championship in his hand, as this final shot closes out Sunday Night Voltage.)

(EAW logo buzzes.)