MN: Awwww, how GREAT. Haven't see seen enough of John Dwarf tonight?

DT: Be quiet, Neely. This is the night a lot of people have been waiting for, folks. John Doe has made a name for himself as a mainstay in EPW' and tonight he's going to tell us his real name.

DM: He oughta thank Megatron for all the help. Troy Douglas has done wonders for Doe.

[Doe grabs hold of a microphone he looks at the crowd as he starts to speak]

Doe: One month ago, I started on a quest to find out my name. I faced off with Christian Sands, and lost, faced off with JA and lost, and then faced off with Adam Benjamin (crowd cheers) and won (crowd cheers louder). In the quest to find my name I hit a bump in my road....the path was not complete, there are patches that have to be fixed, and one of them is going to be settled tonight. I promised Troy Douglas, my mentor a gift for every hour he spent training me. So, Troy if you will please come out to the ring.

[CUEUP: “Kashmir” By Led Zeppelin as the crowd starts to cheer louder. Troy Douglas steps out on the ramp way as he walks down the ring a smile on his face as John is handed a manila folder from Tiffany Marais. Troy slides into the ring as he gives John a little hug]

Doe: Now, Troy, before I tell you and everyone my real name. I wanted to give you a gift. Troy you were like a father to me in the ring, and when we were training. And I want you to know, no matter what happens, I will always be there for me. But father, please forgive me...for I have sinned.

MN: What? I don’t get it?

DT: Neither do I.

DM: I do. It’s a way for John to apologize for the hard times he gave Troy.

MN: Oh.

Doe: Troy, as it says in the good book, thou shall respect his father. But Troy, the end of the road was near, and I have to fix some patches in my path.

[John kisses Troy on the cheek.]

Douglas: Why John. I didn't know you cared-

[Apparently Doe doesn't care after all - as he slugs him in the mouth to a gasp of shock from the crowd, knocking his mentor down! John slides out the ring, grabbing a chair. He slides back in, lifting the weapon and slamming it down onto Douglas over and over, each resounding crack drawing another wave of boos from the shocked and enraged Oklahoma fans. John stops dropping the chair.]

Doe: That Troy was the kiss of death.

DT: MY GOD! WHAT THE HELL IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!?! WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO JOHN DOE?!?!

MN: What is WITH this psycho?!

DM: I knew it! It was a trick!

Doe: You were like a father to me Troy, you were never there for me, you weren’t there in my match with Benjamin, you weren’t there in my match with Karl Brown, you never let me stand ringside to see my teacher wrestle. This is your end of the road Troy. You want to know my real name?!

Doe: It’s JOHN DOE. I just came out of Dan Ryan’s office, yeah the man who screwed you out of a title shot. And this is what I came out with. This contract says it all. Let me read it to you Troy.

“The following is a unbreakable contract that has been issued according to the owner of Empire Dan Ryan. Under my authority I have granted John Doe, a match at the next Pay Per View. This match will be with Troy Douglas. A teacher versus student match. The match type was decided under John Doe. The choice of match John has chosen is an Inferno Match. Which in order to win a wrestler must set his opponent one fire. The ring will have fire surrounding it as John has requested.”

Signed Dan Ryan.

DOE: So there you have it Troy our match the Pay Per View. Seems, as your end of the road as come. See you then my old friend.

(Doe walks out of the ring dropping the contract on Troy’s chest)

DT: Oh my dear sweet lord.

MN: This is nuts! Dan Ryan can’t do that! I mean it’s an Inferno match, we never had one of those!

DM: Are you seriously gonna get up in Dan Ryan's face and tell him what he can and cannot do?

DT: Someone is going to get killed -- John Doe has totally gone overboard on this!

DM: He's insane. Are you THAT surprised.

DT: I thought Douglas had helped him through that!

MN: Apparently noooooot!

DT: Oi... Let's just move on.

TIFFANY MARAIS: The following contest is a first round match in the Russian Roulette Tournament!!

[CUE UP: “Til’ I Collapse” by Eminem. Bathed in a brilliant white spotlight, Cross stands on the stage, the crowd half cheering, half booing, as he stands steely eyed, his focus on the ring. He keeps his eyes on the ring as he makes his way over to the wheel]

TIFFANY MARAIS: From Los Angeles, California, and weighing in at two hundred and eighty five pounds, CROSS!!

DT: Cross has been on a tear of late, and he looks to carry it on here in the Russian Roulette Tournament. Who knows what the draw’s going to come out like?

DM: Quite right, Dave. Cross is a multi-time champion with titles across many feds, but even for him it’s going to be tough not knowing the stipulation until the wheel stops turning. And against Clapper it’s going to be even harder.

[CUE UP: “South of Heaven” by Slayer. The lights cut out, being replaced by a faint red glow, as out through smoke steps Clapper, clad in his typical black gear and smoking a cigarette. A smirk on his face, he saunters to wheel, tossing his cigarette towards Cross, who just stands stoically]

TIFFANY MARAIS: And his opponent, weighing in at two hundred and fifty eight pounds, he hails from Chicago, Illinois... CLAPPER!!

DT: The ref checking over both men before the match, as he leads them over to the wheel outside the ring to see what type of match this is going to be. Looks like Clapper gets to spin first.

MN: Round and round and round it goes, where it stops, not even I know.

DM: And Clapper looks happy with it, as it comes to rest on Chain Match. We’ve had one chain match before tonight, when Brown beat X, and these two can be even more sadistic than Brown was that night, so the chain is going to cause a very nice twist. Cross starts his spin, and he used a lot of force, it’s going to take a while to slow down.

DT: Clapper and Cross are two names that everyone has to go far in EPW and in this tournament, so whoever wins tonight will definitely have earned it. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these two made it to face Beast at the PPV.

MN: Aw man, sweet. First Blood spun by Cross and with a chain too... this is gonna be good.

DT: The ref now linking the two men together with the chain and we’re just about ready to go in this first round tournament.

DM: And they’re not even waiting for the bell, as Clapper takes Cross down with a hard right hand. Cross back up quickly, and he’s rocked by another right from Clapper. Cross retaliating with a right hand of his own, and the ref signals for the bell to start things off properly.

DT: Cross blocking the right from Clapper there, catching him with a knee to the gut. Cross now with the chain, he’s wrapping it around Clapper’s neck!! Lifting him up over his back, he’s actually trying to carry Clapper to the ring!!

DM: I don’t think Clapper expected this, as he tries to kick Cross in the back to release the choke. Remember, the only way to win this match is to make your opponent bleed.

DT: Clapper manages to land an elbow to the kidney there and free himself, blasting Cross right between the eyes with a straight right. Cross wheeling back, as Clapper whips him into the security railing. I knew this would be a bit of a brawl but I didn’t expect it to turn that way this quickly.

MN: Cross went hard into the railing there, as Clapper wraps the chain around his own fist, looking to bust him open. A swing

DT: And a miss as Clapper ducks under, picking Clapper up and PLANTING him with a spinebuster on that thin layer of padding there. Cross now with the advantage, dropping a fist onto Clapper’s forehead. The Los Angeles native now picking Clapper up by the head, and drilling him with a DDT on the outside!

DM: The best place to try and make someone bleed unless you’ve got barbed wire ropes in wrestling is the head, where the skin’s thinnest. Cross knows that, as long as he’s been in the business, so expect a lot of headshots to try and bust Clapper open. Not that he’ll go down easily, he’ll be aware of that too.

DT: Cross looks to be trying to get this match into the ring, as he rolls Clapper under the bottom rope. Cross rolls in after him, but Clapper uses the chain to whip Cross right across the chest before he can get up.

DM: Referee Pat Jones trying to keep away from the chain whilst looking to see if any blood has appeared on Cross, but Cross sweeps the legs out from under Clapper with a nice feat of quasi-breakdancing there, spinning himself round.

MN: Dawg!

DT: Cross now whipping Clapper off the ropes, connecting with a had clothesline there.

DM: If I were Cross I’d try to take Clapper out quickly; the longer this match goes on the better, I’d have to say, it is for Clapper, who’s more used to non-wrestling brawls than Cross is. But Cross still with the advantage, as he wraps the chain round Clappers neck again, hoisting him up...and a high angled back suplex from the six foot nine self-professed conscious of professional wrestling.

DT: It looks like Clapper doesn’t know what to do, almost as if he didn’t expect Cross to be able to keep up with him like this. Clapper trying to get to his feet, but Cross slugs him down with a clubbing blow to the back of the neck. Lifting him up, he sends him into the corner with a snake eyes.

MN: Gambling in the ring? How un-Christian from Cross.

DT: Regardless of Mike’s comments, Cross is really taking it to Clapper here, trying to cut him open on the ropes, raking his eyes across the top strand as Pat Jones tries to watch for any sign, even a slight trickle, of blood. He’s half way along the ropes... OW... an elbow to the gut there from Clapper, followed by a forearm uppercut to snap the larger man down to the mat.

DM: Smart move here from Clapper, who’s always thinking how to hurt his opponent in there, taking it now to the knees of Cross with those hard stomps. Lifting him up now, he whips him to the ropes. Cross ducks the clothesline on the rebound, but can’t avoid the charge there as Clapper takes him out over the tope rope. Clapper now trying to choke out the big man, using the chain to hang him.

MN: Better than being crucified. I’m sure the Lord could tell you that.

DT: Jesus?

MN: Yeah. You know, John Doe’s kid.

DM: Clapper really pulling back on the chain, and Cross is having trouble. The heavier you are the more weight you have to pull down on you, and when you’ve got a chain or rope around your neck it actually helps your opponent. Weight can be a HUGE disadvantage at times.

DT: True there, as Cross tries to relieve some pressure by leaning back onto the ring apron, trying to rest his weight somewhere. Looks like he’s... YES, Cross taking a loop of that chain

MN: A honey nut loop?

DT: NO!! Cross taking a loop of the chain and whipping it straight into the leg of Clapper, who’s moved forward to try and push Cross off the apron. Clapper showing some pain as he lets go of the chain, allowing Cross a moment to breath. This has been a quick paced match, and I’m sure neither man will throw in the towel just yet.

DM: Cross now getting back into the ring over the tope rope, but Clapper meets him with a back elbow. Clapper now with a headlock on Cross, a rare wrestling hold in this mans arsenal, as he takes down Cross and starts trying to wear him down on the mat, trying to cut the blood supply off to the brain and in the longer run give himself more time unopposed to make him bleed.

DT: Cross isn’t letting this match go that easily though, as he rolls through and puts Clapper on his back. Cross now breaking the hold with a nice hard shot to the gut, and now back on his feet he stomps away on the Chicago-based hit-man. He lifts him up now, slamming him hard on the canvas. Lifting him up... looking for... NO!! Clapper slips out of there before Cross could connect with what looked like it was going to be Golgotha, and Clapper now planting Cross with a DDT.

DM: Neither man is really able to get the advantage, and it looks like Clapper’s getting frustrated. He’s actually removing one of the corner pads, which could be a huge disadvantage if Cross manages to drop him on it first.

DT: Cross is slowly getting up, those hard shots earlier from Clapper finally catching up with him. Clapper with another hard shot to the face, as he whips Cross into that exposed turnbuckle. Cross almost bouncing out of the corner there as Clapper comes in with a running knee to the face, dropping the big man back down to the mat. Clapper with two hard stomps there, but Cross manages to roll out of the ring under the bottom rope. Gathering himself out there, he’s using the length of the chain to keep away from Clapper a little... no, he pulls on it to wrench the arm of Clapper there. He pulls Clapper to the outside, whipping him into those hard steel steps... this is a brutal beating, as none of these punches or blows has been anything less than full strength.

DM: Neither man wants to lose with so much on the line; Priest, Brown and Golem are all out already, and neither of these two names wants to join them.

DT: Clapper now holding his back, as Cross lifts him up over his shoulder... GOLGOTHA!!! GOLGOTHA ON THE FLOOR!!

MN: Looks like the Sign of the Cross has it in the bag. At least he would if this were a pinfall match rather than first blood.

DT: Quite right, Mike. Golgotha, that BRUTAL neckbreaker, might have been enough in a normal match to put Clapper away, but here I think he was using it to buy himself some time. Cross is breathing hard, as is Clapper, but neither man has been able to make the other man bleed.

DM: Cross now using the chain as a weapon again, practically flogging the smaller man with it. Those aren’t whelts being raised, those are massive bruises which are going to smart for a while to come.

MN: I take it he isn’t one of the eleven saintly shrouded men silhouetted against the sky, huh?

DT: Iron Maiden songs aside, Mike

MN: You know of Iron Maiden? Wow. Wonders will never cease.

DT: Like I was saying, Cross is trying whatever he can to take Clapper out now.

DM: And Clapper’s having a tougher time than I think he’d have expected, his back taking a pounding and I’m surprised he hasn’t started bleeding there yet. Pat Jones is checking to make sure but he ain’t bleeding.

DT: Cross throws the loop of chain away, picking Clapper up... HUGE push here from Clapper taking both men out into the crowd!!!!

DM: This is nasty; we could be facing a lawsuit if that chain hurts anyone except the wrestlers out there; what on EARTH was Clapper thinking?

DT: I don’t know, but these two are trading blows in the crowd now, the fans being held back as best as security can do. Pat Jones is following them but he’s having a hard time keeping up with them. They’re already a fair ways back as Cross throws Clapper headfirst into some chairs!

DM: I PRAY that they don’t hurt anyone... Ryan would be PISSED, and you don’t want him mad at you.

MN: Clapper’s doing something... he’s reached inside his tights.

DT: Cross now trying to press the advantage, picking Clapper up over his shoulder, and he’s charging into the wall with him!! Clapper’s fighting him.... No, he gets DRILLED into the wall. Pat Jones coming over and... WAIT A MINUTE!! CROSS IS BLEEDING!!

DM: What on EARTH?

DT: Senior referee Pat Jones is calling for the bell, but I have NO idea how that could’ve happened; Cross was in complete control and somehow started bleeding profusely from the forehead.

[sfx: *DING* - Bell rings.]

DT: Pat Jones going over to tell Tiffany his decision now... let’s get a verdict, as Clapper now is slowly getting to his feet.

MN: Hey, he’s...

TIFFANY MARAIS: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner due to First Blood... CLAPPER!!!!

DT: I can’t believe this!

MN: Clapper just reached into his tights again, and I think I saw something in his hand!!

DT: What?!?!

DM: Can we get a replay?

[CUT TO: a split screen replay, close-up of the action. As Cross runs Clapper into the wall, we get a quick glimpse of reflected light near Cross’ forehead]

MN: THAT’S IT!! He used a knife!!

DT: I don’t know what to make of this, but we’re out of time folks. For Mike Neely and Dean Matthews, I’m Dave Thomas, and I hope we can clear up this controversy next time!! Goodnight!

[Fade to credits, then to black.]