[Darkness.] "POWER" [The smiling face of Chris Schukar is plastered to the darkness as stirring music races through the speaker. The clear voice of Marcus Harden provides commentary.] Marcus Harden (MH): In the beginning, there was Schukar. Riding the high on the creation of the National Wrestling Council's and its birth, Chris took power where it came and prestige where it was deserved. Some said his ego ran roughshod, some said he was crazy. [The NWC logo fills the screen, proud in its majesty.] MH: None could deny his success. Schukar alone built the NWC body, fighting off challengers and growing more and more demanding, more controlling in his grip on the Council. People were fired, people were sacrificed... but one name has stood in his way. [Six letters of glimmering silver stamp themselves to the logo.] MH: Pierce. From the arrogance of Raymond to the intelligence of Andrew, the Pierce name has been synonymous with takeovers and control. Now faced with perhaps his greatest challenge in the enigma known as Alex Pierce, the NWC's very fate hangs in the balance. [Faces appear on the screen. Hunter Sabuani. Eugene Robinson. Maxton Rainstone. Ben Van Iten. Hyuk Suh Kim.] MH: These next two nights, sixteen men will compete for the future, for the right to find out which hand guides the ship. The NWC hangs between Heaven and Hell and heroes will be forever made and villains never forgotten as the National Wrestling Council presents... [BOOM!!!] MH: PURGATORY! [And with fireworks galore and explosions that rock the very Complex we're dropped into, we head to the Purgatory Complex across the Piazza San Marco in Venice. The fans are rocking, the shell is stable on the water, and the announcers are excited.] MH: You are looking LIVE at the Purgatory Complex in Venice, Italy, where tonight, we present Night One of the extravaganza known as PURGATORY! Tonight is NIGHT ONE: MALEVOLENCE! FB: Uh.. whassat mean? MH: I'm Marcus Harden and with me as always are the Al-Mighty, Al Lucente! And The Major, Frank Barr! [Big pop for Barr. After ALL these years, still the best at not giving a f[bleep]!] Al Lucente (AL): That's right, Marcus! And tonight, we've got twelve great matches including the entire first round of the Road to Purgatory tournament! Frank Barr (FB): Which is a setup , so let's get on with it. MH: We've got GCW sensation Hyuk Suh Kim facing the steadfast Outcast Michael Bold! Coterie member Colby Fairchild will take on former NWC champion Damon Hayes! Eugene Robinson defends the NWC United States Title against Lee "Starman" Clark and the Mystery Entrant will be in action! FB: Plus, you'll get the honor of seeing two lousy scumbags beat each other to hell as Hunter Sabu-whatever takes on Ben Van Eeyore! [Barr amuses himself.] MH: And the Mystery Entrant will be in action! The Bluegrass State Wrestling heavyweight title will be on the line in a three-way match! Jerome Jenkins and J.W. Oswald will battle twenty feet in the air in a scaffold match! Plus, later tonight... [Flash to a cathedral, dark and imposing, somewhere in the vicinity.] MH: Later tonight, the Demigods and Malignance will go through hell in order to see which team survives to be called NWC tag-team champions! AL: That's right, but to start it off, we've got a match where the very careers of these gentlemen will be on the line! GCW's Trent Prophet, fresh off a sound smashing at the hands of Collin Montgomery, will take on BSW's Wise Ass, Wilde Tanke in a match that's sure to -- [The sound of a thunder clap suddenly fills the wrestling area, cutting Lucente from whatever he was saying. The sound of thunder continues rolling, as the fans look around, not sure what to expect. Some assume it's real, others can tell it's purely sound effect. A drizzle of rain sprays out from tubes set up around the wrestler entrance. The fans turn, and immediately start booing, but the hatred soon turns to confusion, as "Wise Ass" Wilde Tanke walks through the entrance.] [Gone is the grey streaked yet black hair. Instead, it's a slicked back, oiled up, grayish look. The rest is as expected; the glittering gold tights he saves just for big events, with the words "Wise Ass" up one side, and "Vendetta" down the other, and a yellow, pink, white, lime green, and bright orange "YouthFul Image" t-shirt under a "Chicago Bulls" jacket.] [He's still got an arrogant smile on, but it looks somewhat. different. More focused and serious than ever.] [Wilde looks around at the strange environment, then over the barge that will, of course, determine a J-Crown title contender. Wilde then pulls a microphone out of his back pocket, and turns back to the wrestler entrance. Next out are "Wildfire" Rebecca Tanke. Moose and Samantha Carter. All three women are dressed with Rebecca's look; black cowboy hat, leather jacket, t-shirt, dark blue jeans, and cowboy boots for Rebecca, high heels for the ladies. Interesting. Moose and Samantha are holding one half of Wilde's BSW Prime Time title, which is strung between them. Wilde waves the ladies towards him, and, as he does, he pulls a microphone from his back pocket.] "First of all, idiots. ." [Wilde's cut short, however.] MH: WHOA! Trent Prophet just nailed Wilde from behind out of nowhere with a bamboo stick!! Wilde staggering forward, not sure what hit him. He finally turns around, only to be AGAIN cracked over the head by Prophet and that stick!! FB: Alright! This looks like it might be a wonderful start to a wonderful evening! MH: I certainly hope this isn't setting the tone, though! FB: You know it is! Wilde's on his hands and knees, stunned. I wonder if that was the position he was in when he got Moose and Shelly Hollins pregnant? AL: [Disgusted] PLEASE! We do NOT need that mental image, Barr! MH: The fans letting out a round of cheers for the brutal act. Most seem in shock, though! AL: Not surprising, but this IS NWC, this is the big dance, and this is a loser retires match. MH: Wilde staggers to his feet, wondering towards the ring. Trent grabs him, spins him around, and flies through the air, catching Wilde with a flying head scissors that sends Wilde crashing into the steel barriers between the wrestlers and the fans! AL: He shoots Wilde into the ring post, nearly knocking Wilde out! And where's our guest referee for tonight? MH: I have NO idea! [Wilde struggles to his feet, as Trent goes to the top rope. Trent FLIES OFF, NAILING Wilde with a flying drop kick that sends Wilde staggering back! Wilde staggers towards the ropes, while Trent goes outside the ring, to the ropes on the adjacent side. He sees Wilde by the corner and springboards off the ropes into a drop kick on Wilde! Wilde staggers back through the ropes, definitely at a disadvantage!] AL: Now that was fast. MH: In and out of the ring before he knew where he was. AL: Wilde staggering around, I think Prophet knocked him senseless. er, moreso. MH: Prophet sees Wilde staggering outside the ring, and grabs a hold of the ropes. he slingshots over the ropes into a crossbody on Wilde, but Wilde deftly dodges it! AL: That's the speed of Wilde Tanke coming to the forefront! MH: He's still stunned though. The fans on their feet, lots of action early, as Wilde gains his bearing. Trent back on his feet, but Wilde POPS HIM with a left jab!! Another three stuns Trent. Wilde sets him up, standing in front of Trent, and using a drop toe hold to drive Trent chest first into the ring!! And we've still got no referee! Where's Justin Jameson?! [Wilde continues to keep up the pressure, picking Trent up, and nailing him with a forearm across the back as his sister Rebecca and Trent's ex girlfriend, Samantha, watch on approvingly. Wilde rolls Trent into the ring as the camera shifts towards the wrestler entrance. The lights die down as well, as he first guitar strums from "Break Stuff" by Limp Bizkit blasts throughout the arena.] #It's just one of those days# #When you don't wanna wake up# #Everything is f**ked# #Everybody sucks# #You don't really know why# #But you wanna justify# #Rippin' someone's head off# [The shot then turns back to the ring, where we see Wilde turning to see what's going on. Trent gets to his knees, though his attention is focused on the wrestler entrance as well. Both seem to know what's going on, however. Michael Buffer walks up the steps and stands on the ring apron to do his job.] [The curtains fly open; out walks the BSW superstar, Justin Jameson. He walks down the aisle slowly, jawing with some of the fans. He's got on his usual wrestling tights, and a faded blue NWC 80's style referee shirt. He rushes down to the ring, and quickly slides in, and pushes Wilde and Trent apart. Both fall back into their corners, deciding to wait for the introductions to start going at it.] #No human contact# #And if ya interact# #Your life is on contract# #Your best bet is to stay away mother f*cker# #It's just one of those days# AL: Jameson manages to calm down his stablemate and former stablemate, so let's go to Michael Buffer for the ring introductions.