[The camera pans past posters adorning the walls of a building, showing rock acts headlining shows over the past decades in the prestigious concert hall, the Fillmore, San Francisco. With each new poster comes a snippet of the music of the headlining act -- until the camera comes to rest on a poster bearing the IIWF's logo. The regular intro music kicks in as the opening titles mix through from the poster:] ##### ###### ### ########## ########## ########## #### ## ########## ########## ########## #### # #### ######## ##### ##### #### ## ##### #### #### #### #### ### #### #### #### #### ############# ######### #### #### ########### ######### #### #### #### #### #### ######### ######### ### #### #### ######### ######### ### ## #### ######## ######## ## # #### =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ## =-=-=-= INTERNATIONAL INTERNET WRESTLING FEDERATION ================================================= "COUNTDOWN TO SATURDAY NIGHT" - May 30, 1997 ================================================= [The credits fade through to an interior shot of the poster room of the Fillmore. Fans bedecked in IIWF merchandise crowd around a makeshift desk set, behind which are seated Larry Morton and new IIWF announcer Jackson Witt.] LM: Welcome everybody to "Countdown to Saturday Night", coming to you live from the poster room of the Fillmore. What an honour it is to be here inside this venue, where, I am told, bands such as Skunk Anansie and Toad the Wet Sprocket will be playing over the coming summer. Bring back Jefferson Airplane, that's what I say! I'm Larry Morton, and I'm here with my co-host, Jackson Witt, for a look back at the action of Wednesday night's action and a look ahead to the incredible card coming up in the venerable Cow Palace tomorrow night, live from San Francisco. JW: It's great to be here on tour with the IIWF, Larry. California is a beautiful part of the States, and the Fillmore is a legendary venue for all kinds of musical acts for nearly one hundred years. I'm certainly glad to be here, among all these incredible posters detailing the history of this great venue, meeting all of the IIWF's great fans. [Some of the gathered fans break into applause for Witt, who nods and smiles at them.] LM: Mixing with the fans is certainly one of the most rewarding aspects of going on tour, and, along with my colleague, Becky LaRue, I certainly got an opportunity to mix with the fans on Wednesday night as the IIWF hit the Pacific Coast Sports Gymnasium in Hayward, California. In just a moment, we'll take you back with our Wednesday Night Rewind for a look at those results, but first, I have an interesting soundbite for you. This was taken from the Seton Hall University radio station, WSOU, and since the suspension of Steve "the Fury" Kowalski at Birthday Bash, we haven't been able to get a word with him. Hopefully this will shed some light on the absence of one of the IIWF's most maniacal wrestlers. [Some extremely hardcore music fades out to the sound of the DJ's voice.] DJ: ...And that was "Control" by Biohazard. I played that one for Cynthia in Staten Island, who wanted to tell me that she was a huge Tony Starks fan. Since we are on the subject of the IIWF, what the hell does Steve Owens think he is doing to the bastard son of New Jersey? Yes, I _am_ a Fury fan and yes, I love my wrestling wild. But whether you love or hate the New Jersey Nightmare, he was the most talked about man in pro-wrestling today. For VP Steve Owens to ban the bad man from the Jersey land was a complete flub. So he lied on his weight, so what. I remember reading on SCOOPS months ago, that it was Owens that told Fury to turn it up a notch for the ratings. How come Janois never investigated Steve Owens after those accusations? Kind of makes you wonder huh? I paid my money for the Birthday Bash and do remember old Janois clipping Kowalski from behind, allowing a Petrow win. And before any of you loser federation fans call up, the Petrow/Kowalski match was the match of the year!     Anyways, I have an article here from the Star Ledger that has some     interesting info on the Fury. I'll just read you guys the meat and     potatoes of it. Blah blah blah, oh, here we go...     'Its seems that respected law firm Simon & Tapper, of Hackensack, have gained a new and "unique" client. The world reknowned professional wrestler and all around tough guy Steve Kowalski has hired the firm to represent him in suing the IIWF. Sources haven't revealed the exact objective of the case, but it is speculated that he will be demanding reinstatement in the #1 professional organization going today...'     It looks like you can't keep a bad man down. This is Zeus giving a     shout out to the Fury and his journeys. 89.5 - the hardest rock! I'll leave you guys with some El Dopa from their latest album, "United in a Nation of Narcoleptics"...     [Fade out back to Larry and Jackson in the Fillmore. Some Fury fans cheer rabidly and butt heads with one another.] LM: No word from the IIWF's legal department -- now headed up by Brenda Hawkings, formerly manager of Night Patrol -- about this law suit. Jackson? JW: There are no precedents for a legal proceeding such as this one, Larry. If Kowalski is really intending to sue the IIWF, he's treading new ground. It'll be interesting to follow this story. LM: Okay, let's get to our recap of Wednesday night's action: ======================================================================== ------------------------ WEDNESDAY NIGHT REWIND ------------------------ ======================================================================== - Serge Annis def. Casey C. - Cold Spell def. Barnacle Brothers - Last Resort def. The Rotundos - Jumpin' Jack def. Deathbringer [forfeit] - Billy Shakespeare def. El Super Gecko - Scott Rogers def. Ike Sampson - Duncan Macbeth def. Tiger Claw - Dark Disciples def. Rising Sun Revolution - IIWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Prophets of Rage [c] def. High Plains Drifters - "Dangerous" Danny Dynamite def. Chris Herforth [forfeit] ======================================================================== LM: I tell you, Jackson, it was quite an experience to be there, amidst the nine hundred or so excited fans. Quite a different atmosphere to the Coliseum back in Portland, Oregon. JW: I don't doubt it. It's always a good thing to take wrestling back to its roots, in the school gyms and small-town coaching schools that produced so many of the legends of our great sport. LM: The battle between the "old" and "new" generations of the IIWF continues to steal the headlines, Jackson. What did you make of the events on Wednesday night? JW: Well, perhaps most strikingly we saw Cold Spell join forces with Genesis, the alliance of Requiem, Highwayman and Nightwing, and Cold Spell finally secured a small measure of revenge against newcomers Violence Unlimited, who have dogged them since they arrived a few weeks ago. LM: Icehawk didn't seem too pleased with the idea of the team joining up with Genesis, but we'll hear from them later on. JW: I have to believe that Fitz was acting in what he believes to be the best interests of Cold Spell, but I have my doubts, Larry. Genesis may well be a great collective of some tremendous athletes, but they're taking a very confrontational approach, fighting the entire IIWF head-on. I'd predict some kind of backlash, and soon. LM: It wouldn't surprise me to see that backlash come from some of the other new stars, such as Ike Sampson or Scott Rogers. JW: Indeed. Those two had their differences on Wednesday night, but it's conceivable that they could unite against Genesis. Let's hear from both of them now: [SCENE: Ike Sampson is standing on the front porch of his home in Minneapolis. He is wearing an old T-C style Twins Hat, and his sunglasses.  He stares at the camera for a long while, and then begins to speak, removing the glasses as he does so:] IS: Rogers... you talk a good game.  You promised the fans a fair match. You promise me a fair match... and then you win it with a cheap blow like that.  Win at all costs, is that it, my friend?!  Is that why you invited your boys from Genesis down to help you out?! Don't give me that crap about you didn't want 'em there.  You sure didn't do much to keep 'em away.  I tried... I tried to play by the rules... keep it good and clean... but you didn't want it that way... you people want to fight dirty. The Big Dog can fight dirty. And I got one more thing to say:  Steve Roberts, you crossed the line this time.  I know you like to "shoot", and tell people what's really on your mind.  But you pointed your mouth in the wrong direction this time.  You had to go and play the race card.  The Black Pack?!  Don't knock what those boys are about.  They're doin' some good things... in the ring... and outside of it.  It don't make no difference what color they are.  I tell you what:  it's a shame you're a washed-up has-been who's hung up the boots for good.  I'd love to get you in the ring and teach you a thing or two about respect.  But since that would be taking candy from a baby, I'll let you slide this time.  But don't cross the line again... I'd hate to have to break you in half. [Sampson puts his sunglasses back on, and turns to walk back into his house. Cut back to the set.] LM: Ike Sampson not only taking objection to Scott Rogers' actions, but also to Steve Roberts' comments there with regard to the so-called "Black Pack", Jackson. JW: Speaking as an observer, it's not hard to see why Sampson would get riled up by inflammatory comments such as those made by Steve earlier in the week, but I also must say that I see definite possibilities in an alliance of this kind. It's early days yet, but there's a bond there. We've already seen Mad Dog Watkins, Creed and Tony Starks fight beside one another -- perhaps Sampson will be the next to join in? LM: Let's hear from Rogers as he responds to Sampson's allegations: [SCENE: Scott Rogers stands before an IIWF backdrop wearing a pair of pale blue jeans. His chest is covered in globules of sweat. He also wears a pair of round sunglasses. His face is sombre as he looks into the camera.] SR: Ike, I know we've already discussed this in the locker rooms, but I just want everyone to know that when I raised my knee, my intention was _not_ to directly injure you -- if you feel that way, for that I apologise most sincerely; it was simply to try and warn you off while I tended to matters outside the ring, namely Genesis. How dare you offer me a place in your little stable? You don't seem to understand that although you still claim to wrestle to the crowd, they don't like you or your stinkin' tactics. The crowd want men they can look up to. People who show them the difference between right and wrong. Sure you think you showed them that on Wednesday night but believe me you didn't. Attacking two men who'd just been involved in one of the most passionate battles of recent weeks is not the act of decent individuals. Requiem, Nightwing, Highwayman -- you are nothing in the great scheme of things. You may think that you rule the roost around this place. You don't and never will. Requiem, when I was merely a spectator of this federation, and not a competitor, I used to watch your matches and see you wrestle with great pride. That pride has gone now. Nightwing, you are the same. Don't let your people down by turning against them. You are a great athlete and I urge you not to side with Requiem and the Highwayman, who's always been a bad egg just waiting to hatch. There are a number of men in this federation who can prove that breaking the rules gets you nowhere. I'm talkin' about Ike, the Chrisses, the Q-Man, and Herforth, The Psycho, Ronnie Paris who's going all the way to the top of his weight division and Luke. Luke Steele. These men are all athletes at the top of their profession. Yeah, Marty should be in that list but right now he's having some kinda confidence crisis. He'll be back on side in no time. Trust me. Even though they aren't champions at the moment, they've been screwed out of obvious title victories. But they -- we -- gain a lot of respect for that. Winning isn't everything. It's a lot, but not everything. Casey James don't got no respect. The longest reigning World Champion ever? Pah. He won't go down as one of the greats, like Dan Kauffman has. You see my point? There's no comparison. Nightwing, I'm askin' ya, beggin' ya even; we'll meet up next week either Saturday or Wednesday. Just me against you. Tell your buddies to stay away just this once. I'm not gonna tell ya if I win you come back to our side. I'll just put our case forward and let ya make ya own decision. Try anythin' ya like -- steel chairs, tables, anythin'. It won't get ya the win. I promise you that much. [Cut back to the studio.] LM: So an appeal there from Rogers for the "good guys" to stick together against the "bad guys" -- namely, Genesis. What do you make of that, Jackson? JW: There's something I don't quite trust about Scott Rogers, Larry. He's building up quite a large fan base with his no nonsense attitude and wrestling style -- but I can't help but feel that those low blows on Wednesday night weren't as accidental as he claims. LM: And Wednesday night was also the last scheduled appearance of one Chris Herforth, formerly Cheshire, who didn't even make it to California. He was called away at short notice to be at his ailing father's bedside, and may not return to the IIWF at all. JW: Herforth's IIWF career had barely begun, Larry. He'll be missed. LM: Indeed. But one thing you shouldn't miss, folks, is the incredible action in store this Saturday Night, live from the historic Cow Palace in San Francisco. ======================================================================== ---------------------- IIWF SATURDAY NIGHT PREVIEW --------------------- ======================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IIWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Casey "Blackheart" James vs. "Lone Wolf" Brody Thunder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: What a main event we have in store tomorrow night! Casey James puts his title on the line against the "Lone Wolf", the man who has saved James' bacon more times than I can remember over the past few months. JW: He has indeed, but I think it would be doing James a grave disservice to say that the sole reason he has held the World belt longer than any other man in the IIWF is simply because of Thunder's assistance. James is a tremendous athlete, a powerful man who can mix it up on the mat or in a fist-fight, and tomorrow's match is by no means a foregone conclusion. Never underestimate the wiles of the Syndicate -- or its raw talent. LM: Thunder's got a great deal of inside knowledge about the Syndicate, Jackson. I think he could be the man who knows just how to beat James, and finally end that record-breaking reign. Let's hear from an intense Brody Thunder right now: [The shot opens with a tight close-up of an hourglass. As the camera  pulls out we see that a spotlight eerily illuminates a wrestling ring. The IIWF logo can be seen clearly on the ring apron though dimly lit. On the ring apron is the hourglass, its sands slowly sifting from the top to the bottom. The sound of slow, steady footsteps can be heard coming closer to the ring. A cold, raspy voice begins to speak.] BT: Time. Can't rewind it. Can't change it. Can't stop it. It's always there... waitin' fer someone ta grab it. [A figure emerges from the darkness and stands at ringside. He reaches into a pocket and lights up a cigar. The match lights up the face, revealing it to be Brody Thunder.]     Well, Saturday night... is _my_ time. Saturday night, James, I'm gonna make ya a former champion, my "friend". I shoulda known from the start this... "arrangement"... wouldn't work between us. I'm useta folks carryin' their weight an' not bankin' on me ta bail 'em out everytime the goin' got a little tough. Now ya might be Lau's bread-n-butter man but you an' I both know ya wouldn't be holdin' that strap o' yers if I hadn't been there fer ya. It's a fact... look it up. Ask yerself this... "champ". Why do ya think I saved yer hide all those times? Well lemme jus' put that question ta bed fer ya right here an' now. I didn't want that strap ta be on anyone else but you,James, cuz I want you ta be the man I beat fer that gold belt. I owe ya James. Fer the windshield deal. Fer all yer snide remarks. Fer that heartpunch ya so kindly delivered. Yeah... I owe ya. An' tomorrow night I'm repayin' that debt in spades. I've seen what ya got an' I know what ya can do. I studied yer every move while I protected yer ass. Ya don't get ta wear the gold by bein' unprepared... an' believe me, James... ...I _am_ prepared. Ya may have Lau an' the rest o' the Syndicate convinced yer sumthin' but ta me yer jus'another pretty-boy punk surroundin' himself with folks who'll do his dirty work fer 'im. Ya don't impress me, an' more importantly, James... [Thunder smiles an evil grin.]      ...ya don't scare me. When that bell rings, ya better be ready fer the toughest fight o' yer flea-ridden career. You an' me. Straight up. It ain't jus' the title that's on the line here. It's the chance ta shut yer trap once an' fer all. Fer that alone I'd kick the Devil's own teeth in. [Thunder reaches for the bottom rope and gives it a slight tug.] Yer time's runnin' out, James. The clock keeps tickin' closer an' closer ta that openin' bell. An' when the final bell rings, yer lookin' at the man who'll not only have ended yer title reign... [Cut to a full shot. Thunder drops the cigar, picks up the hourglass and drops it to the ground where it shatters in slow motion.]    ...I'll have ended yer career. {Thunder walks off into the darkness as a low rumble of thunder is  heard in the background. The camera closes in on a tight shot of the broken hourglass laying strewn on the floor. Fade to black.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IIWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Lord Byron vs. Tony Starks ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: Tony Starks took another beating at the hands of the European Alliance last Saturday Night, after having been whipped by the leather belt of Otto Verhoeven at Birthday Bash some weeks ago. Tomorrow night, he gets the opportunity to sting the Alliance right back by taking Lord Byron's Intercontinental Championship. JW: I'm not sure that Starks is really even interested in the belt, Larry. I've been doing a little digging on Starks' background, and I discovered that his rough upbringing on the streets of Staten Island included a great deal of illegal backstreet fighting. This man knows how to hurt you a hundred different ways, Larry, from submission to brutal knockout kicks. He may be going into the ring in the Cow Palace tomorrow night with the intention of taking far more than Byron's belt: [SCENE: New York, midnight, a beat-up building in a seedy part of town. A mean looking pair walk into the building, the camera follows them in. They say something to the man working the desk and he lets them through a door in the back. They go through the door, down a set of stairs and come out in a chamber that is full of people. They look to be placing bets. In the middle of the room is a cage, suddenly the focus of the crowd changes to two men entering from opposite corners of the room. The are both rugged-looking men. They enter the cage and begin to fight. The battle is quick and violent. One man takes the other down, pins him on the ground and begins to lay into him with a flurry of swinging elbows to the face. The man's face quickly becomes red as blood pours everywhere. The man is out quickly and the victor raises his hands in triumph. The camera finds Tony Starks in the crowd, dressed in baggy camouflage fatigues. He has a black doo-rag on his head and over that is his towel, no longer white; it is stained with the blood of his match with Otto Verhoven, in reminder of the beating he took. He speaks with calm and intensity, staring into the camera:] TS: Otto and Byron, I had no problem with losing that match, but what you did afterwards -- that is going to be your ass. That little beating you gave me, that woke me up. Remember, payback is a bitch...   ...Do you know how I got into fighting? It was in that very ring before us. You two see the brutality? That is how I learned to fight. You two silver spoons have no idea of what it is like. The pain, the level of intensity and brutality. All you two aristocrats do is sit on high and look down low, play cricket and let your two ho's gas your heads up.   Otto, you run your mouth how you beat me at my own game. So what? I have been beaten at it before and it will happen again. You think you are special because you beat me? You go ask Hardin for some advice on me, did he tell you that I never go away? I can't, especially now...   ...The whole purpose of me colming back to the IIWF was to win the title. But that is getting put on hold for a while. That belt doesn't mean a damn thing to me, nothing does. Not my well being, the world title, the IC title, and especially you or your whore's well being. My whole purpose right now is to prove to you that Hell is on this earth and that I am its gate keeper. When we are done, you will be believers.   Do you know what I learned in that cage when I used to fight? I learned viciousness, I learned how to hurt people, killer instict. Something you don't learn in a mansion. You know why I used to fight? For money, staright up. I didnt care about my opponent, all I knew is that I had to win to get my money and the best way to win is to make sure your opponent don't get up. That little incident we had last week, that is only the beginning. You can call me names, threaten me, beat me down and get in my matches all you want, but I ain't goin' nowhere, not when I got to get all you back. All you are doing is making me more focused on hurting you.   The reason I got out of these fights is because I found more money in the pro ranks. When I first became a pro, a fews ago in upstate New York, I carried all I learned with me as a fighter to the ring and I was inhuman in the ring. I laid waste to people. I forgot that somewhat, with all my injuries and all. But that whipping reminded me, it told me to go back to my roots.   Sleep well tonight, know that I am coming for you. I am going to do whatever it take sto erase you and your families. It has only just begun... [Starks stares from under his bloody towel with intensity. Fade.] LM: Another man with an interest in this huge IC title match is the red-gloved rookie, Creed, who has been on the injured list since Birthday Bash with knee troubles. JW: You're right, Larry. After stealing Byron's cane last weekend in the Coliseum, I don't think he's going to be able to resist being at ringside in front of his home-town crowd tomorrow night for this one. This past Monday, on Memorial Day, Creed attended a special charity event and gave a speech to some underprivileged, inner-city kids. We sent our cameras along to catch the scenes: [SCENE: Memorial Day, 1997. Following another stirring 9th inning comeback victory by the National League West leading San Francisco Giants, a large group of excited inner city youths heads in a refurbished, luxury school bus down the interstate to the suburban town of Burlingame, California and the airport Hyatt Regency, in which there is a restaurant called Players' Sports and Spirits. Normally, Players' is the pre-eminent sports bar in the Bay Area; tonight, however, a group called San Francisco Cares (a broad based community outreach partnership of local politicians, businessmen, celebrites and athletes) have rented the building for their bi-annual awards dinner, in which the one man who has "given back" more to the local community than any other is honored. Tonight, that man is Creed. Creed is seated in his wheelchair, his customary all-black ensemble and newly shaved head has obviously made an impression on many of the young men who are in attendance - some of whom even sport blood red left gloves - and all of whom listen in rapt attention as the powerful rookie concludes his remarks...] CREED: ...I know the temptations.  I know what's out there.  Your friends maybe droppin' out of school.  Goin' to the streets.  The drugs. Maybe gettin' the fast money.  Maybe the girls too.  Gotta be thinkin' "when do I get mine... when's it my turn?" I know I did. I ran wild in this town for a long time, ran with a pack... takin' what I wanted... doin' what I pleased.  'Til one day I realized that if you run with a pack -- that just makes you a rat.  Dirty, disease covered, rat. I ain't no rat - tell you that.  Wanted to be a lion.  Walk straight and proud - king of the jungle.  Look at these pictures on the wall... look at these pictures... [Creed points to a back wall filled with photographs of legendary Bay Area bred sports figures, such as Joe Dimaggio, Frankie Albert, OJ Simpson, Jim Plunkett, Ray "The Crippler" Stevens.] ...these men walked the same streets I walked - they walked the same streets that some of you all walk today.  Yeah, they coulda all taken the shortcuts, the easy way... they coulda all walked the easy road... coulda been hard guys... bad guys... rats. Look at the men up here with me, seated up here dressed all nice tonight.  There's the Mayor, Willie Brown - there's 49er fullback, William Floyd - there's that "Ole Dog"... yeah, that's Mad Dog Watkins right there.  Thanks for comin' tonight, Dog. [Watkins gives a nod and a small smile as Creed acknowledges him.] Every one of these guys coulda gone out the easy way - but then they wouldn't be here... they wouldn't be with you all today.  Successful. Proud.  Each one a lion. [The young men now cheer Creed, many standing and yelling his name...but he waves them down..] Lot of people say I oughta take the easy road right now...stay in the chair.  Maybe take 6 months off - kick back - protect my record while I'm under 100%.  Maybe I oughta let somebody else fight the Europeans... maybe someone else shoufl fight my battles - should fight Lord Byron, "the best wrestler alive". That would be easier -- sure would be easier.  And maybe I'll do it... maybe I'll let someone else take it on up... maybe now it's Creed's time to take the easy road - to relax for awhile. Or maybe it ain't. Maybe it damn well ain't! Maybe I got a little surprise for everybody tomorrow night at the Cow Palace... [The young fans are now on their feet, all of them, standing in a chant of "Pay - Back! Pay - Back! Pay - Back!"] And maybe next week, next week I gotta bigger surprise for all y'all... maybe I got a bigger surprise for Lord Byron - for everyone who said I'd quit... for everyone who said Creed wasn't good enough... that Creed was too young... that Creed couldn't make it. 'Cause I damn well will make it - just like all of you here tonight will make it... Because we want it!  Because we need it!  Because we are damn lions and we gotta have it!  We gotta have all of it... That's the type of man it takes to get outta the streets... that's the type of men we are... and that's damn sure what Lord Byron's gonna find out the next time he gets in the ring with Creed and sees that Crimson Tide chokeslam drive him all the way back to England! And I will come back here again... I will go over that bridge... I will come back to Oakland... and when I do... when I do... I will be bringin' with me what belongs to me... what belongs to my late momma... and what belongs to each and every one of you lions out here tonight... and that's the IIWF Championship Belt!! [Creed thrusts his left glove into the air as many of the young fans swarm over the dais, each chanting "Creed! Creed! Creed!" as the red-gloved rookie accepts the overwhelming affection of his fans with a near smile as the shot fades.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subway Psycho vs. "Sychosys" Joe Petrow ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: Joe Petrow just continues to get stranger and stranger. The "Sychotic" one, who tomorrow night faces the Subway Psycho, has declared himself independent of the IIWF, and refuses to step onto any of its premises. JW: Petrow is certainly one of the more unorthodox characters in the IIWF, Larry, but in the ring, he's all business. We've seen Petrow pull off some crazy stunts in the past, but underneath it all, he's a solid wrestler and he would be well-advised to go back to basics when he faces the Psycho tomorrow night. The "People's Champion" is a powerful, intense opponent, and Petrow could get more than he bargained for from the Psycho. LM: "Sychosys" has taken to hanging about in the underground transport network here in the Bay Area this week, perhaps in an effort to scout the Subway Psycho's particular mentality, and we sent a camera crew down there to get his comments: [It is the middle of night, somewhere in the catacombs of the BART -- Bay Area Rapid Transit -- system.  In a dim haze of light stands Sychosys, masked by several random smears of eye black on his face, and clothes tattered to the point of rags hanging off his body.  He seems more at home than he's been in months...] JP: They say the Psycho rules the subways of New York City.  But my man,     you don't know San Fran like Joe Petrow does.  A little over a year     ago, this is where he made his stand, tried to make his dreams come     true.  This was the place where HE was the man behind the desk,     scrimping to try and keep the checks from bouncing, and still     finding time to kick Danny Dynamite's ass on a frequent basis.     And this was the place where his dreams died.  And so did he...     But obviously, the shell of Sychosys still reminds people of the man     it used to represent.  When Sychosys joined the IIWF, he was promised only one thing:  a fair shot.  I ain't had NOTHING handed to me on a silver platter in this league, like some people seem to think.  I started at the bottom, and I worked.  I slaved night after night on the undercards, against guys I knew had no business in the same ring as me.  I took a drunken loser and carried him to a match that people were saying was the best and most innovative in years.  The entire Age of Rage and 19 men both tried to stop me;  they couldn't.  And then I took the beating of a lifetime against the toughest man in the world today, and I fought back to finally prove to the world that Sychosys was every bit the champion the man before used to be.  After all was said and done, he proved himself the old fashioned way.     But then the IIWF forgot their promise.  They starting thinking about the man before.  They said, "Hey!  We can't let him keep that belt! You know what happens when Joe Petrow gets a belt!"  So the unbeaten champion gets sent back to the undercards, while reformed criples like Tony Starks, over the hill glory seekers like Tiger Claw, and AA rejects like Unique Allah leapfrog over me to shots at the belts I should be wearing.  The Sychopaths and I know that that's never gonna change as long as I'm in the IIWF.     So I ain't in the IIWF anymore.  Like I said before, I'm with the     boys.  The Sychopaths.  It's MY game now!  It's MY rules now!     Everything you thought you knew in this sport no longer holds true     when you are in the ring with Sychosys!  Because there's nothing     left to hold back, nothing left to save anymore!  They've curdled     the milk from the breasts of like, now this league, and all of it's     titles must be Pasteurized, Sychostyle.  Subway Psycho, you're     gonna find out just what happens to people with no business in my     business! [Petrow turns, takes a step to walk away, then faces back again] JP: Oh, on the subject of Joe Petrow... the Sychopaths want their $11.95     back, Dross. Maybe Saturday Night, I'll come to collect it. [Petrow now does turn to head back down the dank corridor, and fades out of sight.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IIWF CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Ronnie Paris vs. Dirt Dog Unique Allah ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: Quite a battle between the unorthodox Dirt Dog and the IIWF's first third-generation superstar, Ronnie Paris, tomorrow night. JW: Indeed. Both men were impressive in last week's Four Corners matches, in which they won out against an impressive field to earn the right to contest the vacant title tomorrow night. I know that Paris has been carefully studying videotape of the Dirt Dog all week in an effort to scout his opponent as well as possible, but in the end, I don't know how effective that scouting will be. The Dirt Dog is a very unpredictable wrestler, inside and outside the squared circle. He's a good deal cagier than he looks, and I believe he already has a plan to keep Paris off-balance tomorrow night. In his favour, Paris is a highly adaptable athlete who's used to thinking on his feet. He's grown up in this sport, and he wants nothing more than to crown the early part of his career with a title win. LM: Let's hear from the Dirt Dog now: [SCENE: "Snakes" by Ol' Dirty Bastard plays in the background.  The camera focusses in on Unique Allah, standing in a head and chest shot.  He's wearing a gold sequin vest, bare-chested underneath, reflective sunglasses and a gold sequined bandana around his newly coiffed afro.] DDUA: This here's a message for all you out there in TV land.  Some of y'all must be drunk!  Some of y'all must be stupid if you done fell for the notion that the Dirty bastid himself, the Unique Allah, was gonna go give up that shot. [DDUA smiles, baring gold fronts in his mouth.] Ronnie Paris, you must be in the dressin' room expectin' to hear me ramble about some sh... ain't you?  Well, muhfuh, you's in the ring with the man who made muhfuh a household word in this here business!  Whatcha thinkin', baby?  That I'm just gonna throw this chance away.  Let me tell you something really really important.  I got a secret that nobody knows. And it's this.  Well, I guess it ain't a secret no more.  The Dirt Dog has always, will always be a nasty muhfuh first and foremost.  I wanna be a champ as bad as the next man.  But y'all see somethin' right here.  I'm a role model!  How many, how many alkaholiks do you see wrasslin' and winnin'?  Huh, I'm taking us back to the old school of wrasslin'!  Paris, baby, where's ya gimmick?  We's about to go back to the mid-80s, get a little funky on you.  See, I even broke out the spandex and sequins. Couldn't get my hair dyed in time, though.  Damn near killed myself messin' with the konk!  See, I intend to be the first Brooklyn Zoo champion this federation ever done had!  It's time I got taken seriously around here!  Some dumb monkeys wanna act like muhfuhs all they days. Well I ain't one of 'em.  Sure, I love to hear a child laugh.  I love to hear somebody say "Mommy, that drunk bastard's a funny muhfuh ain't he?" But look what done happened?  People done made me a joke y'all.  I ain't no joke.  I ain't about to be a laughing stock.  So, you, Ronnie Paris are gonna get a focussed Dog.  Not a Junkyard Dog.  I don't do nuthin' that brings black people into caricature.  You think you know wrasslin'?  I'll bust you armbar for armbar, whizzer-for-whizzer, cross ankle pickup for cross ankle pickup.  You think you got a chance?  Who was the openin' bout and who was the main event.  You think on that, muhfuh!  You think on that!  Where all my doggies at!  YEAHHHHHHHHHH! [Fade out with DDUA baring his snarling fangs to the camera.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pain Inc. vs. Violence Unlimited ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: Dethroned World Tag Team Champions Pain Inc. have a good deal to be complaining about at the moment, when their stablemates, the Dark Disciples, cost them the straps last Saturday Night, but Mr. Mic has sent his men to the gym to train for this big match against newcomers Violence Unlimited. I expect Pain Inc. to do their talking in the ring tomorrow night. JW: It's an awkward situation between the Disciples and Pain Inc., Larry. It's hard to see quite where the loyalties of the Syndicate lie -- does Brian Lau support Pain Inc. or the Disciples? It's particularly a valid question now that _neither_ team has the World Tag Team gold, which was the reason that Lau brought Mr. Mic into the Syndicate in the first place. I would imagine that we'll see more of this unfold tomorrow night in the Cow Palace -- a scenario from which Violence Unlimited could well benefit. LM: The newcomers have been silent since their arrival, save for a pair of brutal attacks on Cold Spell. However, after they received a surprise at the hands of the newly-augmented Genesis this past Wednesday, they saw fit to break their silence: [SCENE: We open to a scene of destruction.  It is the set of the now released movie "Volcano".  The fake lava is everywhere, and the place looks like a real disaster scene.  Suddenly, walking through the lava come the IIWF's newest and hottest tag team, Violence Unlimited.  Mutilator walks out on the right, wearing a pair of blue jeans, a white IIWF Logo t-shirt, and a pair of Nike shoes.  On his right, the left of our screen, is his muscular partner Jaguar.  Jaguar is attired with a black Violence Unlimited t-shirt, black jean shorts, and a pair of Reeboks.  They walk into the close area of the camera's range, and Mutilator cues the start by speaking:] M: We've been rather silent in the IIWF, the first thing any of you heard from us was that we were coming. J: That was the last thing you heard from us also. M: [sarcastically] Hey, Cold Spell, we're here.  Hi! J: We haven't talked much for one reason.  Actions speak louder than words, and you don't win a wrestling match by talking the guy's ear off, in the IIWF at least.  We've shown some action... and it spoke. M: Cold Spell found the wrath of Violence Unlimited.  I don't think they want it, to tell the truth.  Coming up this Saturday night, however, we have the first match of ours that will fully be televised coming off our _action_ packed win over the Hangmen. J: They got hung. M: Pain Incorporated.  Former IIWF World Tag Team Champions.  That Mr. Mic guy.  And the thing is, normally we would be intimidated by a team that has been a champion, taking on a pair of rookies who haven't wrestled ANYWHERE in a while.  But you see, we're VIOLENCE UNLIMITED. J: And that makes things just a LITTLE different.  Pain Inc.'s accomplishments speak for themselves, all their actions have been amazing here in the IIWF, and we congratulate them on their success.  However, we must warn you, success in the past does not carry over to the ring.  After all, if that happened we'd still be elsewhere.  But we're in the best fed in the world right now, and we're about to teach something to you, Pain Inc. M: We're going to teach you RESPECT.  And _that_, is something we DESERVE! We are Violence Unlimited... we WILL be a force.  Pain Inc., be prepared to learn the TRUE meaning of Violence. J: Bring lots of bandages, blood stoppers, tourniquets, whatever you may have, because it's all gonna be needed... we have to teach you a lesson. M: Violence Unlimited will teach you... [Close up on Jaguar's intently evil look] J: _Pain_. [The scene stays as VU turn their backs to the camera and walk away through the fake lava and off the screen out of view. Fade.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cold Spell vs. The Harlequins ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: Cold Spell, as we discussed earlier, have joined Genesis, at least partly to get some backup and support -- and almost certainly to even some old scores. Fitz and Icehawk already laid a beating on Violence Unlimited midweek, and tomorrow night, they get a chance to exact some revenge on the Harlequins in the Cow Palace. JW: Icehawk was burned by a fireball from Harlequin Comedy some weeks ago, and he's not forgotten that attack in a hurry. Young Steve Summer went to get his comments earlier this week: [Steve Summer and Icehawk are sitting in the stands at the Palace of Auburn Hills, watching Game One of the IHL Finals between Detroit and Long Beach.] SS: Well, this is a strange place to do an interview. Why did you want to meet here instead of your training camp? IH: Well, growing up in Finland, you almost have to be a hockey fan. And these guys aren't prima donnas making millions of dollars, they are playing because they love the game. So I've become a big fan of the Vipers since we started training in Michigan. As you might say, Sergei Samsonov is the bomb. SS: So where's Fitz? I know he's a huge hockey fan. [Icehawk grimaces slightly] IH: Meeting with Requiem. SS: Cool! You guys joining Genesis rocks! They've already been the best thing in the IIWF, and now they have the best tag team in the world! Genesis is the stuff! IH: Steve, calm down! SS: Sorry. I get excited about the New Generation. Heck, with you guys joining, we might as well call it the Genesis Generation! IH: I know you get excited -- so do I. I just wish Fitz had told me that we were joining. After what Requiem did to Deathbringer, I thought they were going to punk us Wednesday night. Between Violence Unlimited beating the hell out of us and the Harlequins turning me into a toaster waffle, I'm paranoid at the moment. SS: Everyone saw you and Fitz arguing after the match. What did he say to you? IH: He pointed out that, for once, it was Violence Unlimited heading to the back with their tails between their legs instead of us. And I guess he's right. Everyone _has_ been taking advantage of us. That's why we still don't have any titles. I just hope the fans aren't angry at me... {Icehawk's voice trails off, and he stares at the game. Steve pauses for a minute before asking the next question.} SS: With all the excitement over Cold Spell joining Genesis, and with your brawls with Violence Unlimited, tomorrow's match has gotten overlooked. But you must be excited to finally get a shot at the Harlequins. [As if someone flipped a switch, the light returns to Icehawk's eyes.] IH: Damn right I'm excited! It seems like I have been waiting for months to get a chance to beat the crap out of Tragedy for what he and Comedy did to me! I'm going to pin his scrawny little butt right in the middle of the ring, and show Comedy what a loser she married. Of course, that's assuming they show up this time. They'll probably duck us this time to get a divorce or something. [As Icehawk says that, Sergei Samsonov takes a pass from Jimmy Carson and scores to put the Vipers ahead 1-0.] IH: [yelling over the screaming fans] See! I told you he was the bomb! [Fade.] LM: The Harlequins, however, appear to have something in store for tomorrow night. The question is, if it's not for Cold Spell, who _is_ it for? Let's go to an interview conducted earlier this week by Tim Dross: [SCENE: Tim Dross once again enters the abandoned amusement park that the Harlequins call home.] TD: [to the cameraman] Now keep your eyes peeled. Lord knows what they could be up to! CM: [out of shot] Look, I better see something extra in my paycheck for this! I almost broke my ankle last time I was here! TD: Hey, I'm not exactly thrilled to... [A strange zapping sound is heard. The camera turns to see Comedy and Melody, wearing red and blue Star Trek uniforms. Melody is holding a toy phaser while Comedy is talking into her communicator using a flawless impression of William Shatner.] HC: Captian's log stardate... 3... 4... 56point2. After searching this desolate planet... my first officer and I... havestumbledupon... somelifeforms. They appear... they APPEAR... to be harmless BUT... wearetakingnochances. Comedy out. [closes the communicator] Alien beings! What... WHAT... isyourpurposehere? TD: Comedy, it's me, Tim Dross! [Comedy ponders Dross for a moment, then gets a mock surprised look on her face.] HC: Dross! I thought you were dead! Was it the... Genesis probe... thatbroughtyoubacktolife? Melody... your observation? HM: Damnit, Comedy, I'm a musician not a doctor! TD: Uh, ladies, can I have a normal conversation with you? HC: Why start now? TD: C'mon now! You have been very elusive since your wedding and... HC: By the way, thanks for the crock pot! TD: Huh? Oh uh, it was nothing! HC: Oh Timmy, you're so silly! I'm cooking some chili in it right now. You and your little friend should stick around for lunch. TD: I'd love to, but I have work to do. Where are Tragedy and Chaos? HC: Trag is training with his father, and Chaos is inside playing Tekken 2. TD: I see, well can I get any comments from you regarding tomorrow's match. HM: Ooh ooh! Let me! Let me! HC: Make it so, number one! HM: Timmy! I gotta secret! TD: And what would that be? HM: Well... let's just say that we are going to be settling a lot of scores tomorrow night! HC: HAHAHAHAHAHA! Damn right! HAHAHAHAHAHA! TD: Uh, thank you, ladies. [to the cameraman] Now let's get the hell out of here! [Fade] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Derek Mota vs. Marty Warnett ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: A battle of "old" versus "new" generations tomorrow night, Jackson. What do you make of this match? JW: It's not so much a battle of "old" versus "new" as a clash of styles. Both men are of similar weight and build, but their styles are very different. Mota is the high-flying risk-taker, arrogant and cocky; Warnett is the ground-based technician, a master of suplexes and leverage holds, a happy-go-lucky, party-crazy Welshman. It'll be interesting to see how well these two match up in the ring -- and it'll also be interesting to see what kind of involvement, if at all, Genesis have in this match. LM: Of course, Requiem was ringside for Mota's stint in the Four Corners match last Saturday Night, and speculation has been raging as to whether or not Mota will join -- or has already joined -- the swelling ranks of Genesis. I dare say that you're right, Jackson, and we'll get more of an indication from tomorrow night's action. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "KING OF HOLLYWOOD" MATCH: W & W Express vs. Zodiac Connection ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: The winners of this match will be given the honorary titles of "Kings of Hollywood". It's sure to be a hot match, with both of these teams looking to impress in front of their home-state fans. The Zodiacs have been slipping since dropping the World tag straps a few months back, and they'll be looking to use the fans' support tomorrow night to get them back into the thick of things. JW: But they're going against the "dark horse" team of the IIWF, Larry, a team which has proven itself to be more than capable of mixing it up in a brawl or a scientific match. I wouldn't bet against the Express tomorrow night, Larry -- and they're certainly very confident themselves, as they showed on a flying visit to Los Angeles earlier this week: [The camera shows footage of the W and W Express arriving at the L.A. International Airport.  They are greeted by fans sporting the new W and W Express "Here to Stay"  T-shirts.  The Paparazzi (wild media) is busy taking many pictures of this hometown tag team.  The camera then shows footage of the Express at a Hollywood party.  Many notable celebrities are in attendance.  Doug Wayne is dancing with Princess Diana as Clark Watson talks wrestling with Ozzy Osbourne.  The Express is constantly being asked for autographs by the people at the party.  Finally the Express is seen passing out tickets to Saturday's show to many Hollywood notables. The camera then goes to the W and W Express at a press conferance.  The media is barraging them with questions:] REPORTER #1: How does it feel to be back home in Hollywood ? WAYNE: It feels great to be back in the style capital of the world.  We haven't been able to go home much because we've been busting heads all over the globe. WATSON: It's been a huge party since we returned to California. But it's now time to start getting ready for our match in San Francisco REPORTER #2: Bill Apter, PWI, here.  How do you feel about facing the Zodiac Connection? WAYNE: They are one of those joke teams in the IIWF.  If you guys remember, the last time we faced them we gave them the beating of their lives. WATSON: The only reason they won, they had outside interference all over the place.  They had the damn Gemini twins communicating with radio from the sky box.  That is just one example of how pathetic some of these teams are. REPORTER #3: What do you feel about the current tag situation in the IIWF? WAYNE: I am not going to lie to you, it's mediocre at best.  A month ago the IIWF tag ranks were by far the best in the world.  Now all these so-called competitors can't take the heat so they have left for the bush leagues.  I think us and the Prophets are the only good teams left. WATSON: The suits better get us some more competition.  We are running out of people to beat. REPORTER #4: Speaking of the Prophets of Rage, when are you guys getting a title shot ? WAYNE: When these idiots in the front offices come to their senses.  We have torn apart all their so-called "great" teams.  They seem to want to ignore us.  WATSON: They are afraid we might bring some class back to the IIWF tag titles.  It's just a matter of time before the suits are forced to give us a shot and the whole world can watch us make mince meat out of their champions. REPORTER #5: This question might be out of place, but what do you think about Dan Kauffman's departure to the MLWO ? WAYNE: Another example of a guy who couldn't take the heat so he went to the bush leagues.  If I recall, Kauffman exited the IIWF on his back. WATSON: That minor league has left a ton of messages on our answering machine for us to wrestle there.  We just keep telling them that we don't want to wrestle in bingo halls anymore, we are in the bigtime. REPORTER #6: Any final comments for the Zodiac Connection ? WAYNE: Sorry we are going to have to embarrass you in front of all your little friends.  It's time for another beating from us. WATSON: If your managers want to get involved we'll have some punishment waiting for them too. As I always say, they are just victims to us, baby. [Camera fades out] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Showstopper" Simon Lebec vs. El Super Gecko ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LM: And starting it all off tomorrow night will be the long-awaited return of the "Showstopper" Simon Lebec to the IIWF's rings, against the man he humiliated at Birthday Bash, El Super Gecko. JW: Good as the Gecko is, Larry, and however much ring rust Lebec may have from his six or seven month layoff, I can't see the lizard getting past the Hollywood native in this match. LM: Indeed. And, of course, Lebec will also have his interview segment, "The Final Cut", on tomorrow's show, as he interviews Billy Shakespeare. That promises to be a very interesting segment. So that's how it lines up tomorrow night, folks. What a show it promises to be! Okay, we're running short on time, so let's get straight to tonight's Trash Talk, and hear from Requiem and the Last Resort: ======================================================================== ------------------------------ TRASH TALK ------------------------------ ======================================================================== [SCENE: Blackness. Quiet. Darker, quieter, than a tomb. Suddenly:] VOICE-OVER: From this day forth, until the end of time, there shall be             no mercy for the damned... [Suddenly the twilight darkness is disrupted as, some distance away, a fire noisily bursts into existence. The camera follows the flames, zooming closer and closer, until it can be seen that the fire forms letters: ANGEL OF DESTRUCTION] VOICE-OVER: At Birthday Bash, I meant what I said... [The camera, having pulled in so closely, now begins to pull back, the letters remaining in focus. As the camera pulls back further it can be seen that the letters blaze away on the back of a black leather biker's jacket. The camera pulls further back, revealing a tall figure dressed all in black with closely cropped white hair.] VOICE-OVER: At Birthday Bash, I said _exactly_ what I meant. [The figure turns, revealing himself to be Requiem. His eyes hidden by black sunglasses, his white vandyke beard and hair seeming to shine against the night-ebon background. The steady crackle of the flames on his back continue in the background, the crimson flame dimly, and eerily, illuminating the set] REQUIEM: Deathbringer, I have heard your words. Many times before I          have stood here, and I have said I was not impressed.          Deathbringer, your comments on the Wednesday War Room? I am          _still_ not impressed. But they attracted my attention. The way          you twisted my words was most impressive.          You ask if unnecessary roughness is my defence? No. Make no          mistake, Deathbringer, I did nothing I feel the need to defend.          You tell me I tried to make things look like an accident. No,          Deathbringer, I did not. My rage overcame me, but my attack upon you was no accident. My near complete _destruction_ of your body, before my friends even entered the ring, was no accident.          You ask me about honour, Deathbringer? I knew all about honour.          My sister told me that my honour was a weapon, a sword that could be used against me. I thought her wrong, but she was right, Deathbringer, she was right. Honour is indeed a two-edged sword. Cling to it too tightly, and your hand will be cut.          Deathbringer, you say that my acceptance amongst the fans has          diminished? Perhaps so. But there are those who are still loyal          to me  out amongst the crowd. They are loyal to me, and they          are loyal to Genesis, for they see that we are indeed the future of the IIWF. They _are_ the Genesis Generation, for which my friends and I strive to win the gold. They are loyal to us, and to us alone.          I need not defend myself to you, or to those who think like you, Deathbringer. I _explained_ why I did what I did, and everything I said was true.          Except for one small thing.          Deathbringer, I said I regretted what I did to you. That was a          lie. Let the truth come out: I enjoyed it tremendously. My only          regret is that your "immortal" body still breathes. That is a          mistake I will rectify, should you be foolish enough to cross my path again.          Deathbringer, when first I entered the halls of the IIWF I said          that I was here to redeem the souls of those who have moved from the light, and to destroy those souls that had moved too far.          And that I will do. When the IIWF accepts that it is Genesis that is the future of the IIWF, I will guide those souls who doubted us back to the light. All save for those souls that are already damned.          Souls such as your own, Deathbringer.          Heed these words, Deathbringer, heed them well: My business with you is concluded, unless you wish it otherwise. Believe me, Deathbringer, you would not wish that. At the Bash you experienced only a little of what Genesis is capable of. Since then we have learnt. We have learnt that our potential is unlimited.          Remember my warning, Deathbringer, for it is the only one you          will receive. Your time has past. It is now the time of Genesis, the future of the IIWF. It is now the time of Genesis, and the time of the Genesis Generation.          The fate of _anyone_ who gets in our way will not be pleasant.          _Your_ fate, should you stupidly choose to get in our way, will          be whispered to frighten small children for generations to          come...          At Birthday Bash I meant what I said: From this day forth, until the end of time, there shall be no mercy for the damned. [Requiem removes his sunglasses, to reveal two completely white eyes. Eyes that stare intently at the camera, seeming to bore deeply into the viewer's soul. The camera begins to zoom in closer and closer, and soon the screen is completely white]          Nor shall there be mercy shown to those who get in the way of          Genesis... [Fade] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [SCENE: El Diablo and the Masked Avenger sit on a bench in the gym after a punishing workout. Mr Friday is in the background talking into a mobile phone.] MA: Another one in the bag for the Last Resort, here we go marching up the rankings. You know what it's only gonna be a matter of time 'til we're number one, and then they'll eat their words! [El Diablo frowns at his partner.] ED: Everyone is probably wonder why we not speak so much recently, well I thought that it would be good idea for us to take advantage of break and go to Mexico to visit my old mentor Luiz Garcia. MA: And do a bit of partying as well! ED: It was good trip, and would have been even more fruitful if Avenger would have listened to what I have been trying to tell him. Basics first, _then_ fancy stuff. Anyways we now feel much happier and confident working as a team and we are looking to take on top ranked opponents. MA: Yeah, I'm fed up of having to fight people like those lard assed  Rotundos, I want some real competition 'cause I'm the best! [Masked Avenger stands up and does a sequence of poorly executed martial arts moves.] ED: Avenger does have valid point, if we are to move up rankings we   need to take on bigger and better opponents, teams like Dark Disciples or new team Violence Unlimited who seem to like to beat on people, but if they want to try the same on us then I'm sure we will show them a thing or two. MA: I'd prefer to kick the butts of those Dark Disciples! C'mon, you wusses! Bring it on, you can bring all your Sydicate girlfriends to the party as well! [Diablo frowns again, and Mr Friday walks over.] MF: Good news, I've just come off the phone from acting President Owens, and he assures me that he will set us up for the match that we want in the near future. ED: Is good news! It is about time. MF: Well, I think you boys ought to get back to training. [Mr Friday's phone rings and the Last Resort go back to training. As they walk off, Masked Avenger can be heard saying: "Go through that again, do I grab the left leg or right leg first...?" Fade.] ======================================================================== --------------------------- LATEST RANKINGS ---------------------------- ======================================================================== as at 28/5/97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name F/H Fought W L D Win% Ranking (old) new ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Casey James H 40 23 15 2 60% (WC) WC Lord Byron H 24 19 5 0 79% (IC) IC Vacant - - - - - - (CW) CW ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deathbringer H 34 23 8 3 72% (1) 1 Creed N 16 11 4 1 72% (2) 2 Subway Psycho F 35 24 9 2 71% (3) 3 "Enigma" Takezo Musashi F 31 22 9 0 71% (4) 4 Mad Dog Watkins H 16 10 4 2 69% (5) 5 Otto Verhoeven H 34 22 10 2 68% (6) 6 Chris Quigley F 30 19 9 2 67% (7) 7 Highwayman F 12 8 4 0 67% (8) 8 Requiem F 9 5 2 2 67% (9) 9 Billy Shakespeare F 40 26 13 1 66% (10) 10 "Sychosys" Joe Petrow N 15 9 5 1 63% (11) 11 Nightwing F 13 8 5 0 62% (12) 12 Mr. Damage H 33 20 13 0 61% (13) 13 Brody Thunder H 22 13 8 1 61% (14) 14 Marty Warnett F 40 24 16 0 60% (15) 15 Dirt Dog Unique Allah N 20 11 7 2 60% (16) 16 Ike Sampson F 5 3 2 0 60% (27) 17 Duncan Macbeth N 5 3 2 0 60% (28) 18 Ronnie Paris F 17 10 7 0 58% (17) 19 Serge Annis N 14 7 6 1 54% (20) 20 Tiger Claw H 49 24 23 2 51% (18) 21 "Real Deal" Luke Steele F 12 6 6 0 50% (21) 22 Derek Mota H 9 4 4 1 50% (22) 23 Tony Starks F 6 3 3 0 50% (23) 24 The Hangman H 17 6 7 4 47% (24) 25 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scott Rogers F 2 2 0 0 100% (25=) 26= Danny Dynamite H 2 2 0 0 100% (25=) 26= Simon Lebec H - - - - - (-) - ------------------------------ suspended ------------------------------- Steve "Fury" Kowalski H 21 15 6 0 71% (-) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ as at 28/5/97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name of team F/H Fought W L D Win% Ranking (old) new ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prophets of Rage H 12 11 1 0 92% (WT) WT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Last Resort F 5 4 1 0 80% (11) 1 Cold Spell F 11 8 3 0 73% (1) 2 Pain Inc. H 24 14 9 1 60% (3) 3 Rising Sun Revolution F 19 11 8 0 58% (2) 4 Dark Disciples H 18 10 7 1 58% (6) 5 The Harlequins N 12 7 5 0 58% (5) 6 High Plains Drifters H 34 19 14 1 56% (4) 7 W & W Express H 11 6 5 0 55% (7) 8 The Hangmen H 21 10 9 2 52% (8) 9 The Zodiac Connection F 26 13 13 0 50% (9) 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Violence Unlimited N 1 1 0 0 100% (10) 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================================================== -------------- TOMORROW NIGHT: Live from the Cow Palace! --------------- ======================================================================== [Cut back to Larry and Jackson in front of the gathered fans.] LM: Well, folks, that just about wraps it up for tonight here on "Countdown". Don't forget to tune in live for the hottest two hours of wrestling anywhere on the planet. JW: And we'll be back at you next Friday -- I understand that we may be coming at you live from Mexico. That's going to be quite an experience. LM: And of course, IIWF programming will run as normal throughout next week. Until then, this is Larry Morton, for Jackson Witt, leaving you with a special musical tribute to an IIWF superstar who we have recently welcomed back, one "Quickstrike" Chris Quigley. For now, so long, everybody. [The overplayed, yet familar guitar chords of "Don't Speak" by No Doubt begin to sound as footage of a younger Chris Quigley are displayed, him standing in the ring in plain blue tights with "Q-Man" written on the backside, looking tremendously proud over his first professional win, defeating a never-was in just a few short minutes...] "You and me... we used to be together... every day together, always..." [Footage of Chris Quigley signing autographs for eager fans... hugging a wheelchair bound young girl... high fiving an elderly man...] "I really feel... I'm losing my best friend... I can't believe this could be... the end... it looks as though you're letting go, and if it's real, then I don't want to know..." [Chris Quigley is shown with a scowl on his face, standing in the ragged jean shorts... then he's seen being pinned by Casey James at Birthday Bash... and then a shot of him grabbing his shades and walking alone back to the dressing room as some of his remaining fans are shown with tears in their eyes...] "Don't speak... I know just what you're saying... So please stop explaining... don't tell me 'cause it hurts... don't speak... I know what you're thinking... I don't need your reasons... don't tell me 'cause it hurts..." [During this time, and each time the chorus plays Quigley is shown in the ring with the microphone in his hand, as clips of a few of his tirades are shown, as fans hold up "Shut up, Quigley!" signs and a few fans plug their ears, as Quigley screams into the mic.] "Our memories... they can be inviting..." [Quigley is shown with Marty Warnett locked in the Quickstriker... hugging Dan Kauffman... doing a plancha dive with a chair in his hand onto Otto Verhoeven...] "But some are altogether... mighty frightening..." [Quigley being Tombstoned on the concrete floor by Deathbringer... Quigley walking down the aisle spitting on the floor after being deemed not fit to wrestle Otto Verhoeven for the World Title...] "As we die, both you and I... with my head in my hands I sit and cry...] [Quigley is carried out on a stretcher after being spike piledriven by Dan Kauffman and the Player's Club, while quick shots of unbelieving fans with tears flowing are flashed...] "It's all ending... I gotta stop pretending who we are..." [Quigley walks down the aisle in his jean shorts and brown leather jacket, ignoring the few fans who still want to slap his hands, leaving them shaking their head sadly...] "You and me... I can see us dying... are we?" [Quigley is on the receiving end of an Otto Verhoeven chokeslam, but gets to his feet.  A Marty Warnett flying dropkick, but gets to his feet.  Then the Cattle Buster DDT, which leaves him in a pile on the mat.  As the music fades out a dark shot of Quigley, head hung, walking down the aisle and past the curtain is shown, and slowly fades out itself, leaving just a black screen.  An animated "Quickstrike" logo flashes on the screen momentarily, before fading as well.] +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I * I * W * F =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+ | President: Daniel Spreadbury | Vice-President: Jim Jividen | | univ0322@sable.ox.ac.uk | brokeback@webtv.net | | iiwf@sisko.demon.co.uk | | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- http://www.sisko.demon.co.uk -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+