DT: We’re back... and Beast and Jessica are finally making it to their feet, surrounded by ring crew and medical personnel... but the big man’s waving off any help. You can't deny that Beast's drive to reclaim the title has been phenomenal, guys. DM: The man's a machine, Dave Thomas. He's got his sights set on the prize and he's not letting his attention waver one bit.
(As "Figured You Out" continues to play, Beast gestures to the crowd for a moment, then rolls out of the ring and starts up the ramp. Abruptly, however, everything goes dark, evoking a gasp from the surprised crowd... and then raucous boos as a familiar song begins to play.)
(Cue up: "Dark Machine" - Paul Oakenfold)
DT: Wha-WHAT?!
MN: NO WAY, IT CAN'T BE!
DM: I THOUGHT HE WAS GONE!
(As the song cues up, a shadowed figure gazes down on the arena from the EPW-tron at the thunderously booing crowd, dimly lit as if by car headlights through a window. A soft, echoing voice resonates through the arena.)
"He exists in a world... beyond your world..."
(Cue up: Thudding bass, booming through the stadium, thundering in a haunting beat behind ghostly chanting - high, then rapidly low and long, then a long medium note, repeat.)
"We only fantasize. He does."
"He lives a life where nothing is beyond him."
"Nothing is beyond him."
(As heavier bass kicks in, the curtains at the head of the ramp part. Spreading his arms at his sides, Christian Sands stands amidst a sheet of mist curling at his feet, his muscular frame illuminated by the flickering red strobe lights that flash on and off to the beat, pulsating in a bloody rhythm.)
DT: MY GOD, I can't believe it - Christian Sands is back in Empire Pro Wrestling after a hiatus of several months!
MN: Geez, I thought he was on sabbatical!
DT: So did I, Mike Neely, but there he is, right before our very eyes! The first Empire Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion in history is BACK right here on Aggression!
DM: Beast doesn't look to happy about this.
(The music slowly fades out, the lights returning to normal. Cut to: A smirking Sands standing at the head of the ramp draped in faded jeans and an Ottawa Senators hockey jersey, eyes locked on the blond man at the ramp's foot. Cut to: Beast standing at the foot of the ramp, glaring intensely at his old rival.)
MN: This doesn't look good...
(Cut to: Sands continuing to smirk. He begins to lift a microphone... then slowly lowers it, chuckling deeply to himself and shaking his head at Beast. Cut to: Beast shouting something inaudible up at Sands. Cut to: Sands chuckling even more heartily as he turns and walks slowly to the back, leaving a visibly irritated Beast standing at the foot of the ramp. After a moment, Beast smacks his fist into his palm and stalks up the ramp.)
DT: What was THAT all about?
MN: I don't know, but I think Sands got a kick out of it.
DM: He's trying to get into Beast's head over something, I can tell that much.
DT: It's probably safe to say that Beast isn't happy to see Christian Sands back here in EPW. These two have been rivals since day one.
DM: You can never tell with Beast.
MN: Sure you can. It's Big Loafy! He's about as subtle as a jackhammer to the neck.
DM: Sure, Mike. Sure.
DT: Well, that match had the beginnings of another Beast/Benjamin classic, but it quickly deteriorated from there. I never thought I'd see Adam Benjamin pull something like that.
MN: The man's discovering himself, Thomas! And I happen to like what he's found! Maybe he'll keep it up! Besides, what about Christian Sands man??
DT: Definitely a lot to keep our eyes on... but coming up next, we've got a match with a guy that's got his own issues.
DM: I'm telling you guys, when Cross lets it all hang out, I don't think there's anyone here that can touch him.
DT: Absolutely! Cross is a multiple time World Heavyweight Champion. I expect nothing less from him.
The announce team is interrupted as "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin begins to blare over the PA.
TF: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, heading down the aisle, hailing from Greensboro, North Carolina... standing at six feet, five inches tall, and weighing in at two hundred and sixty pounds... he... is... TROY DOOOOOUUUUUUGLAAAAAASSSSSSS!!
MN: My God! Unbelievable!
DT: What is it, Neely!
MN: Douglas found the arena!
DM: OH SNAP!
DT: Troy WAS rather quiet in his promotional spots.. er, lack of... this week. Here's hoping he's ready to turn it up a notch to face Cross.
Troy enters the ring, and heads to a neutral corner.
TF: And, his opponent!
"Jesus Walks" by Kanye West fills the arena, and the arena gets to their feet. There's a loud mix of boos and cheers, although the crowd seems to be more pro than against.
TF: He hails from Los Angeles, California! Standing at six feet, nine inches tall, and weighing in at two hundred and eighty five pounds... THIS... IS... CRRRRRRROSSSSSSSSSSS!!
Cross finishes coming down the runway, and he slides into the ring under the bottom rope, and as he does, Troy Douglas explodes and rushes Cross, as he begins to stomp away at Cross' back, keeping the big man from getting to his feet. Douglas continues to stomp in with the boots, and the official calls for the bell!
DT: Douglas is attacking early to get the advantage over Cross! Can't say I like it, but that IS a smart strategy!
Douglas continues to pound away, but Cross begins to fight to his feet. Douglas lets out a massive chop that draws a "WHOOOOO!" from the crowd, and sends Cross back into the ropes. Douglas fires Cross across the ring to the far ropes, where Cross rebounds and Douglas lands a big back body drop! Cross gets back to his feet, but Douglas manages to boot him in the guts, and wipe him out with a big time swinging neckbreaker!
DM: I think I just felt Cross' 6th and 7th vertebrae fusing together.
DT: That certainly was crisp, Dean, and Cross has got to feel that one.
Douglas pulls Cross up by the arm and fires him across the ring and HARD into the corner, and Douglas takes off to charge at Cross in the corner...
DT: Douglas looking for a big splash in the corner... BUT CROSS GETS THE FOOT UP AND NEARLY TOOK DOUGLAS' HEAD OFF!
Douglas stumbles backward away from the corner holding his mouth, and Cross explodes out of the corner and levels Douglas with a stiff clothesline! Douglas goes down, and Cross scrambles over for a pin!
ONE!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!
DT: Douglas gets the shoulder up there!
DM: Those were a couple big time connections from Cross, but it's much too soon. He's gotta put more into this,
Cross pulls Douglas to his feet and whips him to the ropes. Douglas rebounds, and Cross takes his opponent down with a massive spinebuster! Cross gets back to his feet, and pulls Douglas up after him, before lifting him up into the air, and then dropping Douglas over a knee into a gut buster! The crowd cringes and lets out an "OOOOOOOOOOOOO" as Douglas bounces off of Cross' knne and hits the mat, curling up and clutching his midsection!
MN: Now what the hell is Cross doing?
DM: Looks to me like he's heading for the top rope!
The crowd buzzes as Cross reaches the top in the corner, and he leaps off towards Douglas...
DT: Massive elbow drop from Cross, deep into the heart of Troy Douglas! It's all about the high impact offense tonight, folks!
DM: And there's a pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR.... KICKOUT!!
DT: And Douglas isn't ready to give up yet!
Cross pulls Douglas to his feet, and fires him across the ring into the corner, and follows him in, nailing Douglas with a hard clothesline! Douglas doubles over in the corner, holding on to the top ropes for support, and Cross steps back, before driving a huge uppercut into Douglas' face! The official warns Cross about using the closed fist, but Cross just ignores him and plants Douglas into the mat with a double arm DDT, and makes a cover!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!!
DT: Cross gets Douglas back up to a vertical base, and whips him to the ropes. Douglas rebounds, and Cross absolutely NAILS him with a sidewalk slam! There's another cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DM: NO!! DOUGLAS GOT THE FOOT ON THE ROPES!
Cross takes a moment to question the official, thinking that he should have had the match won, but the official confirms with Cross that he did indeed see Douglas get his foot on the ropes. Cross shakes his head and turns around to pick Douglas up again, but as he does, Douglas manages to take Cross down with a jaw buster!
MN: DOUGLAS LIVES!
Douglas gets to his feet and shakes out the cobwebs, before pulling Cross back to his feet. Douglas boots Cross in the guts....
DT: Diamond Cutter!
DM: NO WAY! Cross shoved Douglas off to the ropes!
DT: There's a boot to the guts by Cross! He hooks him in!
MN: GOLGOTHA!!!
DT: Cross just nailed Troy Douglas with Golgotha! This one's gotta be over!
Cross makes the pin, and the official makes the count!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!
The official calls for the bell, and "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West blasts over the PA!
TF: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match by pinfall... CROSS!!!
DT: And overwhelming victory for Cross and just in time too.
DM: Yeah, Cross has had some bad luck for sure lately with this Dis 2 character chasing him around while trying to get prepared for a shot at the World Title.
DT: Well, speaking of that title, the World Champion is still set to make her appearance tonight, but when we come back, we'll see some more action from prospective Television title holders!
(Cue up a commercial for EPW Russian Roulette on DVD!)