HH NS: MAIN EVENT- 3 Way SH Title Iron Man Match

[Ben Jacobs]

Post RPs Below

10 pt. rp bonus for each person's FIRST rp that scores higher than 50 and is posted prior to Friday, November 27th @ 4:00pm (Board Time).

RP DEADLINE:
FRIDAY DECEMBER 11th, @ 11:59pm (Board Time)

Match & Segment DEADLINE:
Monday, December 14th @ Noon (Board Time)

[Alexander Rose]

Begin Transmission...

Begin scene: Time, date, location logged. 4:09PM November 25th, 2009. Ocean Club Gym, Manahawkin, NJ.

We come in to see a large gym, four stories high. A light rain falls outside. On the bottom floor of the gym, there is the weights and free weights, as well as apparatus for various exercises. We see a couple of guys bench pressing and curling. The camera pans to a large open part of the weight room, where on a black mat, Ase is doing push-ups as Tarja counts out in Finnish. The camera zooms in on Tarja, who paces back and forth as Ase continues doing push-ups.

Tarja Turunen: Continue.

Tarja whips her hair out of her face, and smiles smuggly into the camera.

Tarja Turunen: Nothing like being surrounded by a bunch of sweating peons. But, when he insists on something, there's nothing that will change his mind. So here we are, getting in our final training sessions in some gym out in the middle of nowhere. There isn't a two story building for five miles in any direction, yet here stands a four story gym for no apparent reason. And this is where Ase's final preparations are to take place.

The camera pans down to Ase, still punching out push-ups, breathing in a strange rythym.

Tarja Turunen: Of course it looks simply like Ase is doing push-ups, but in fact he is cardio training. Ase has been doing push-ups for the past 20 minutes without a break. He is training his body and mind for the upcoming battle. A sixty minute match. With two of the best RCW has to offer. Point in fact- the only two men to hold singles victories over Ase. Ase keeps this in the back of his mind during this exercise. He has something to prove at Never Surrender.

The camera pans back to Ase, whose steady stream of push-ups begins to slow.

Tarja Turunen: And that point is simply- just when you think you can count Ase out...

Tarja walks over to Ase, and proceeds to stand on his back, as Ase continues to do push-ups

Tarja Turunen: ... he keeps going, against all the odds. That's what Hollywood and Gavelon misunderstand about this match. This match is about who wants it most. Because as time wears on, under those bright, hot lights, and the body begins to give out, it will be passion and desire that carries them on in this match. It is called the Iron Man match. Only the strongest willed will survive.

Tarja steps off of Ase's back as he continues to do his push-ups, Tarja moves her hair out of her face and crosses her arms before continuing.

Tarja Turunen: And when it comes down to it, what will these men have to feed them when their bodies give out? Gavelon will call upon his mindless zombie fans. Hollywood will call upon his lust for vengance, and his quest for the belt. What will Ase call upon?

Tarja lets the question linger as she raises her eyebrow in an inquisitive way.

Tarja Turunen: Ase will dig down deep within himself, and call upon the monster behind the man. He will call upon the patience of a man who wrestled under a mask for six months just to prove a point. The sacrificing man who put himself out of the wrestling game with an injury putting him on the shelf for a year and half, and almost risking his life in the process. The cunning of a man who put Hollywood out of comission in the first place. And the will of a man who wrestled Mikey in three seperate falls after going through his entire faction in the previous weeks.

Tarja sighs before continuing.

Tarja Turunen: Doug Gavelon, you want to claim you are the only wrestler that matters. Yet up until our last arena event, you didn't matter at all. You were a nothing who kept the Natural title warm for somebody with real talent. You also claim you don't involve yourself in other people's business, yet Ase and Phil were the men who were supposed to battle in Steel Cage, yet you somehow involved yourself in that. By beating two nobodies at that. So, both of you arguments are null and void. If you were the only wrestler that matters, you wouldn't even have to defend your title, which I'm sure is your grandest wish. You would just be champion while everybody else was scrambling around mid-card like peons. But instead, both title matches you've been involved in are triple threat matches, and both those matches involved my man Ase. So, what exactly does that tell you? It tells me that the RCW staff doesn't hold you in high enough regard to main event an arena event like Hog Heaven or School of Hard Knocks without a REAL star in the mix. Hell, they are so unconfident in you, they put TWO huge stars in your matches just to make sure when you drop the ball, the other stars keep the fans interested.

Tarja continues pacing back and forth, looking at the floor, thinking out her next words.

Tarja Turunen: And so Ben Jacobs and AJ Supreme threw Jeffery Hollywood back into the mix. Oh joy. Jeffery Hollywood makes his big comeback, and gets handed a title shot. Handed. What has he done since he's been back? Wrestled my Ase to a draw, and jumped in on a tag match? Ase has main evented Southern Dynamite four times since School of Hard Knocks II. Douglas has done next to nothing, and Hollywood has done even less. So what exactly gives Jeffery Hollywood the right to a title shot? He isn't carrying the company like my Ase is, he isn't selling merchandise like Douglas is. Hell, he isn't even working. He comes on with his little talk segment every couple weeks, and everybody is supposed to believe he is a title contender? Give me a break.

Tarja's attention snaps to Ase, and she shouts a command in Finnish, and Ase slowly stops his push-up routine, and forces himself to his feet. Out of breath, and looking like he can barely stand, Ase stares deep into the camera.

Ase: Hog Heaven... Iron Man match... who wants is most?... You'll soon see.... I do...

Ase turns away from the camera and grabs a nearby towel and throws it over his head and walks away, Tarja following him.

::FADE TO BLACK::

[Doug Gavelon]

[Inside a small training facility, the lights, although dim, shine down upon the wrestling ring at the main room’s center. The water and blood that stain the mat indicate that someone had been occupying it recently. Then, through the entranceway, enters one of those occupiers: the RCW Southern Heritage Champion Doug Gavelon. He stares out at the ring in his casual clothes; cracking his knuckles as he does so.]

[After he finishes, he rests his hands at his side and thinks to himself “A few more days like this and I’ll be ready.” Suddenly, someone walks through the entranceway behind him. Doug turns around to see his cousin Nate Sipes enter; a blood-soaked tissue stuffed into his right nostril. Nate runs his right hand through his newly shaven head; seemingly trying to wipe the cobwebs out.]

NS: We’d better start back up early tomorrow because I owe you for that last kick you nailed me with.

[Doug just smiles at his disheveled cousin. He soon lets it fade from his face as he’s unsure if Nate, in his current state of mind, is joking or not.]

DG: You got it, man. We should just keep training our a**es off anyway. We both have major stakes in this show.

NS: D*mn right, we do. I’m not letting some cheap shot artist walk away with my belt, especially one who’s had a ton of chances at the RCW titles before and always came up empty. It’s like I’m facing Page again or something.

DG: Nope, Carl and Beavis get that honor this time around.

NS: Good for them; they need to get back into the swing of things.

[Nate finally lowers his hand to his side and shakes his head a bit as he seems to finally collect himself.]

NS: So what’s your next plan of action?

DG: The camera crew’s supposed to be here in a few minutes so I’ll still be here for awhile. You?

NS: Probably get in a few minutes over in the weight room and then head for the hotel room?

DG: Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay with Tiffany and me while you’re down here? I can’t imagine it’s too cheap staying in a hotel for a few weeks.

[Nate holds his hand up as if to say “Don’t worry about it.”]

NS: Like I said before, I really just need some time to myself so I can concentrate.

[Doug shrugs his shoulders.]

DG: Alright, Nate, but the offer’s still there if you ever want to take it.

NS: I’ll keep that in mind. Look, stop worrying about me and start focusing on Ase and Hollywood. You’ll be needing all of your attention and determination to get through this one.

DG: I know. Of course, I’m a no talent hack with no real chance of winning, right? At least that’s what Tarja says for her man when he’s busy winning a one man push-up contest.

NS: Isn’t that the knock they kept trying to put on you the last time?

DG: No, it was Ase saying that the last time; it’s Tarja this time around.

NS: At any rate, it’s getting old and is just stupid bullcrap. I mean, they’re so stupid with their reasoning that it’s just comical now.

DG: Exactly. I mean if I were a nobody, a hack or a peon then what does that make Ase for losing to one?

[Doug finally forces a smile from Nate. Nate realizes this and soon it dissipates from his face.]

NS: That’s a good point. If any of his crap were true, he’d be losing to a loser. I don’t think he thought that one out.

[Suddenly, beeping noise comes from Doug’s pants pocket. He reaches down and pulls out his cell phone to see who texted him. He can’t help but smile as he sees the picture on his screen.]

[Underneath it reads “Hurry home soon, daddy. Mommy and baby miss you. Doug then takes the phone and puts it back in his pants pocket.]

NS: Tiffany bugging you again?

DG: Something like that. She always texts me stuff like this when she’s tired and getting ready for bed.

NS: I see…Must be nice.

[Doug nods his head as he realizes that his cousin isn’t fully over Maya yet.]

DG: Yeah, it is, man.

[Finally, the camera crew walks into the room. Nate allows a smirk to form on his face as he goes to leave.]

NS: Well, see you tomorrow.

DG: Yeah, I’ll see you, Nate.

[As Nate walks out the door, his cell phone starts ringing. His conversation is inaudible to Doug’s ears and the double doors close before Doug can hear anything. He shrugs it off and watches as the crew sets up their equipment. The director quickly walks up to Doug to talk to him.]

Director: So are you about ready then?

DG: Yep, let’s do this.

Director: Good, we’ll be ready in a few seconds.

[The director walks over to the crew to help finish setting up as Doug looks back towards the ring. Doug starts thinking back to the night he won the title; the slams into the cage; the painful holds; finally falling to the mat in triumph and holding up the title belt in his hands. As he finishes, the director yells that he’s ready and the camera starts rolling; Doug speaking while still staring at the ring with an almost amused look on his face.]

DG: You know, as I continue on with my career, the question that everyone asks me is a simple one…”Why?” As in “Why continue on when you’ve already accomplished everything?” I’ve held the top title in every company I’ve ever had the privilege to wrestle in, I’m the reigning RCW Southern Heritage Champion, I’m working alongside my good friends and family in the 7DA, I have a loving girlfriend and will soon have a child with her. So, why should I keep competing? Why shouldn’t I just step aside and let the egos of Ase and Jeffrey Hollywood crush each other at Never Surrender for the title that I clawed my way to the top for?

[Doug chuckles; lowering his head as he does. He quickly raises it back up; licking his lips in anticipation for his response.]

DG: The answer is also a simple one anytime I’m asked this question…

[As Doug continues, he develops a serious look on his face and turns his head to stare into the camera.]

DG: …validation. I want to prove that I am the only wrestler that matters; to validate myself. And the only way to do that is to successfully defend my title against these two men at Never Surrender. You see, it occurred to me that at almost every major show, the Southern Heritage Title has changed hands. Only the Phil and Hollywood have had successful title defenses at a Hog Heaven or SOHK event. However, let’s look at the opponents for these two instances, shall we? Adam Troy had a lot of potential as an athlete but he was never the same after his long layoff and Hollywood nearly beat him to death in their I Quit Match. Eno Redrum is certainly a man with a successful background. I remember him holding a version of the nEw World Heavyweight Title during his short tenure in World Pro. However, it seems that time and injuries finally got to him once he came to RCW. I know; I defeated him on my way to becoming the #1 Contender for the Natural Title in my second match in this company. Eno gave Phil a decent run but he came up short. Sadly, I doubt that Eno will ever gain the glory that goes with holding a championship belt in RCW. I pray that I’m wrong and he finally breaks through but I just don’t see it happening.

[Again Doug lowers his head; this time taking a deep breath.]

DG: In order to become one of the “lucky few” to have a successful title defense at a major RCW show, I have to beat two of the top men in the business today. At different points last year, both men held the belt that I now, honorably, hold. Neither man is a youngster trying to make a name for himself; neither man is an old pro who’s looking to make one last run at the title. They’re both at the top of their game and are looking for a second title run. That part of their personality I can respect. It’s their attitude that I simply hate.

[Doug thinks back to the previous Southern Dynamite show and how his two opponents seemed to revel in the knowledge that he despised them so much. Now, Doug can’t help but chuckle. He lifts his head back up to look into the camera.]

DG: I think it’s funny that you two are so amused by the fact that I hate you. It’s hilarious that you can love being hated so much. How quickly you forget what I can do to people that I hate. Back in ETW, I beat a wrestler by the name of Krow so bad and he became so incapable of fully using his knees that not only did he get arthritis by the time he was 30 but was also forced to leave wrestling behind. Before I did that, I told him exactly how I felt about him; he laughed. In World Pro, I nearly choked Ego Mike’s running mate, Slayback, into the next life with the barbed wire that I had just used on the then-noble Havoc. Sure, Slayback recovered but he had transformed and turned his life around thanks to the beating that I gave him. When I had told him how I thought he was nothing more than Ego Mike’s b*tch, he laughed. This past May, I finally beat Havoc into retirement when I choked him into unconsciousness. He won’t come back because he knows what I’d do to him again if he did so. He and his so-called Family knew how much I hated their guts for how they put me on the shelf for months and they were all laughing it up in Juvinal’s mansion.

[Doug’s smile widens before he finally lets out a long laugh that seems to echo throughout the room. He flicks his hair back as he calms himself down with a deep breath.]

DG: Now, I’ve got a freak show and a pretty boy; staring straight at me; laughing in my face. Both of you should realize that this is an Iron Man Match; not a one fall match. That means, if I wanted to, I could bash you in the head with a chair to lose a fall by DQ before making the cover and getting the pin. Sure, I’d be giving up a fall for one of my own and I’m sure there’d be some detractors in my fan base but it would not only keep the score close but it would make you two that much weaker than me down the stretch. And don’t try to say that such an act’s not in my nature. Everyone’s seen what I can do when angered and while I’ve wiped the blood from my hands since that time, it doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how to slice through my opponents like a finely-tuned surgeon.

[Doug now turns his entire body towards the camera. As he does, the camera man zooms out to show Doug’s entire frame; his head held high; his hands in his pockets; fully confident in himself.]

DG: Again, Ase, the best you could do to try and get to me is saying that I don’t matter; that I’m a nobody; that I can’t beat you. But that’s just it, Ase: I DID beat you. It was I, not you or Phil, who made it to the floor first in the cage match and it was I who walked away with the belt. So, I just have to ask you something, Ase: if I’m a loser and you lost to me, what does that make you? If I’m a nobody then why could you not beat this “nobody” for the title? Go ahead and make the excuse that your foot was caught. Go right ahead because it shows just how stupid you are under pressure. If you’re such a powerful wrestler who’s more machine than man then why couldn’t you slip your foot out of the cage and drop to the floor? No, Ase; I beat you and you beat you because at the end of the day, I became champion and you became a laughing stock for getting your foot caught in the cage. I hope you enjoyed the people’s disparaging reaction to your failure because you’re about to hear plenty more of it once I take you sixty minutes to your defeat. You can do all the push-ups you want because I’ll just kick you in the ribs until you can’t even stand. You can run your mouth when you let your woman stop doing the talking for you and I’ll knock your teeth down your throat. You can try and get a pin or make me submit but you’ll be frustrated at every turn and will wind up on the short end of the stick for a second straight supercard to the only wrestler that matters.

[Before Doug moves onto Hollywood, he breathes deeply through his nose; showing the disdain he has for the man.]

DG: Hollywood, like I said before, you did hand me my first one-on-one defeat in RCW. However, I would like to point out one, basic fact: I underestimated you on that night. I didn’t take into account what kind of dedication you had found in your tenure for RCW. I pictured you back in your…”alter egos”…from World Pro. I remember you painting a star over your eye and wearing a bandana; looking like a cheap Bulk Logan knockoff. Then, you shaved your head and became a “Sinner.” You won the TV Title, that’s for certain, but you never made it to the next level in that place and never made a real impact. That’s why you tucked your tail between your legs and ran off to your condo, Hollywood. You knew you had failed and you had to lick your wounds. That’s the person I saw when I stepped into the ring with you last year. And in the end, you beat me; pinning my shoulders to the mat. Obviously, we’ve all seen what you can do when you actually try to be competitive. Then again, other than getting involved in my matches, whether with me or against me, and acting like a cheap Jimmy Fallon knockoff on your little, retro talk show set, you haven’t done much since coming back. Again, we hear a lot about the “high and mighty” Jeffrey Hollywood but we haven’t seen any results. You had a draw with Ase to “earn” your way into this match and you, practically, rode my coattails to victory in the tag match that finally ended Alex Crowe’s tenure in RCW. The point is, Hollywood, that we’re two very different people since our first encounter. Whereas I have worked my way to the top by plowing through the best that RCW could put in front of me, you’ve gotten your shots in on those who were on their way out the door or didn’t have the “it” factor to begin with. You want to make a new impression by regaining the Southern Heritage Title but it isn’t going to happen; not now; not as long as I am champion. So, go ahead and try to get under my skin; verbally attacking me and my family. In the meanwhile, I shall prove the better man in the ring and continue holding onto something that you’ll never have again and that’s the Southern Heritage Championship.

[Doug unzips his jacket and reveals the Southern Heritage Title belt around his waist. He then slings his jacket back to his waist.]

DG: I’m going to vindicate myself as champion, end any speculation in Ase’s mind and avenge my loss to Hollywood. They will be the George Foreman to my Muhammed Ali; the Miguel Cotto to my Manny Pacquiao; the two former champions who will NEVER be champion again to the Burning Hammer himself…DOUG GAVELON!

[The camera cuts and the director makes his way back over to Doug to shake his hand.]

Director: Thanks, Doug. We got some great stuff here.

DG: Thanks for coming. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get home to see a hot, little number.

Director: Does Tiffany know?

[Doug just smiles as the director laughs. They wave to each other as Doug walks past everyone and out through the double doors.]

Later that night…

[As Doug walks into his apartment, he’s surprised to still see the light on by his computer. He’s even more surprised to see Tiffany still awake. He closes the door behind him as he walks over to her; wrapping his arms around her and kissing her on the cheek.]

DG: Hey Tiff.

[She carefully turns herself to face him, puts her hand along his jaw to pull him in and passionately kisses him. When she lets up, she’s smiling right at him.]

Tiffany: Hey honey.

DG: What are you doing up?

Tiffany: Well…

[Tiffany looks down and cradles her stomach with her hands.]

Tiffany: …”the little one” wouldn’t let me get some sleep so I decided to put the finishing touches on my drawing.

DG: Oh really? I didn’t know you were drawing again.

Tiffany: Yeah, I can’t wrestle for almost a year so I have to do something.

DG: Can I see it?

[Doug leans over and picks the picture up. He smiles as he does so.]

DG: It’s beautiful. Who is she?

[Doug gives her a smart a** look before Tiffany punches him in the side but never losing her smile.]

Tiffany: That’s how I wish I’ll look after the birth.

[Doug sets the drawing back on the table as he wraps his arms back around Tiffany.]

DG: You always look that great. Child birth isn’t going to change that.

Tiffany: I wish my stomach would agree with you.

[Doug puts his hand to her belly and feels a kick.]

DG: Wow! He’s an aggressive, little guy!

Tiffany: SHE is just happy that her daddy’s home.

DG: Daddy’s definitely happy to be home because now he can get some sleep.

Tiffany: And mommy hopes she can enjoy that herself.

[Tiffany slowly stands up as she lovingly embraces Doug again. They kiss again before turning around to walk into the bedroom.]

Tiffany: So how do you feel for the match?

DG: I feel great. I don’t think there’s anything they can say or do to beat me.

Tiffany: That’s a good attitude to have.

DG: In fact, there’s only one thing I’m unsure about.

[Tiffany stops in front of him with a concerned look.]

Tiffany: What’s that?

DG: What do we name this supposed he-she you’re carrying around?

[Tiffany just shakes her head and laughs as they walk into the bedroom with Doug closing the door behind him.]

[Alexander Rose]

Begin Transmission:

Begin scene: Time, date, location logged- 7:04PM EST December 8th, 2009. Eastern State Penetentary- Pennsylvania.

We come into a dark room. The camera lens adjusts to the light slowly, focusing on a single window beaming in moonlight. The window is barred. There are more bars in front of the camera. There is a rustling in the corner on the other side of the bars, and then a flicker of light. Another flicker of light as Ase lights a cigarette with a lighter, revealing his face in the flame before it goes out, leaving only the moonlight and the cherry of the cigarette. Ase audibly exhales, blowing smoke towards the window. The smoke swirls in the moonlight, and settles near the top of the room.

Ase: Eastern State. A prison that has claims of torture, claims that it drove men to madness. Claims even... that it is haunted.

Ase huffs before taking a long drag from his cigarette.

Ase: So, a place so dark and full of despair is where I have chosen to spend my final days before Never Surrender. To mentally prep me for the war to come. And don't be fooled, it will be a war, but not the normal war everybody is used to seeing. Normally in a match, the wrestlers are always looking for that big knockout punch to end it. In this match, that big knockout punch does you no good until the clock hits sixty minutes. So sure, in the first ten minutes, I could choke out both of my opponents, but in the end, what good will it do? I will have to sit around waiting for them to get back up just to put them back down again until the time runs out. This is a war of atrition. You see, Doug. The reason this match will be different than the cage match is simple- a lucky shot can't guarantee a win for you this time. You win, I admitted that before. You can't admit you simply got lucky. I was 3 feet from the ground when you rammed my own mace into my skull and my foot got caught. Unlucky break for me. You don't have the chance to do that at Hog Heaven: Never Surrender. You can get another lucky shot, most definately, but then you've got to FIGHT to keep it. You don't get to just sneak up on me with a Burning Hammer and win the match. I'm sure we will see more than a couple Burning Hammers, Highlights of the Night, and Killotuses at Hog Heaven- but not a single one of them is a lock for the belt this time. The only way to win this time is to get wins and survive to the bitter end. And again, the body WILL give out. Thus all this-

Ase waves his hand around his empty, paint-chipped, concrete broken, rusted bars cell.

Ase: Mental constitution is the key to this match. If I can survive days of this- complete silence, no human contact, long dark nights, and quiet cold days, I can survive sixty minutes of red hot lights, slams, kicks, punches, thousands of fans cheering and jeering. My body is at it's peak. There is nothing more I can do except keep it at this point until Never Surrender. So, resting the body, and preparing the mind is the plan now. You claimed in the cage match, that the key to victory was in the mind and the heart, and that I didn't have the heart for this business. I didn't have the heart to beat you. If I didn't have the heart to wrestle in this business, then five years ago when I woke up from a year and a half COMA because of this business and couldn't even walk, and was told the chances of me walking were so ridiculously slim the doctors didn't even bother trying with me. I had next to nothing. I forced myself to take my first steps with nobody's help. I retaught myself to walk, then I retrained my muscles and bones back to as best as I could, and eventually made my way back into a no-name organization in the Northeast. I didn't have an invulnerability complex- I went nowhere because if I couldn't do it, I wasn't going to do it in front of millions of people.

Ase pushes himself up, and steps into the moonlight as he tosses his cigarette out the barred window.

Ase: I was twenty-six when I woke up and was told by several of the best doctors in the world that my life, for all intents and purposes, was over. I'm thirty-one now, and while I found a better passion in the regional feds since my wrestling return, I am still the best where-ever I do. Now you tell me, Doug- do I have the heart for this business? Would you have been able to come back, Doug? Don't talk to me about heart. You know nothing about me outside of this company. I've wrestled all over the world, and in EVERY single match it's in the back of my mind that this match could be my last. And still I leave EVERYthing I am in that ring, whether it's some filler mid-card match against Alex Crowe, or a main event Southern Heritage Title match at School of Hard Knocks. You see Doug, I think you have a lot of heart. Until you face something terrible. Havoc came into RCW, and you couldn't handle it. So you brought in every clown and joker you could find to surround yourself. To give you the illusion of support. Like Nate Sipes. You honestly think Sipes cares one lick about you? He'd knock you off in half a second if he thought he could get ahead doing so. Anybody smart in this business would, and Sipes seems like a smart kid. And one day he, just like the reast of your army, will get tired of you. When things in this business get too dark for you, you cower behind others. When things get dark in this business for me, I take it all in and use it to my advantage. The hatred and darkness feeds me. I turn it on people. So, yes, Doug, I laugh at you when you say you hate me. And you go on bragging like you're the only person to retire somebody. Give a call to Masata Fujiwabasha in Japan, and ask him about how Ice Kold snapped his back in three places just to win a Deathmatch.

A sickening smile crosses Ase's face, and he looks to be in heaven, before turning away from the camera, and lighting another cigarette. He faces the window, and puts his arms through the bars.

Ase: That was twelve years ago, Doug. In my first year wrestling professionally. The power I felt when I heard that succession of cracks. There is no other feeling in the world. You see, you can end careers because somebody gets under your skin, and- again- you can't handle it. I end careers because I can and I want to! Because there is no greater power on this earth than ending somebody's livilyhood. So you can brag about the list of people you put on the shelf to settle a vendetta, and I'll give you a list twice as long of people I put on the shelf for sport. Just to be another notch in the ringpost. So yeah, Doug, I laugh at the fact you despise me, and I laugh at the fact that you try to injure people you despise. Because, simply put, I've already had my second chance, and I loved every second of it. We go to Never Surrender, and you end my career, then that's that. I was on borrowed time anyway. If it isn't you, it'll be somebody eventually. So, threaten that all you want. I'm fully prepared to hang my boots up when it's my time to. I won't wrestle until I'm sixty with seventy-five percent of my body made out of replacement parts.

A cloud of smoke swirls around Ase's face as he turns to face the camera again, silhouetting himself in shadow, only the cherry of the cigarette visible.

Ase: Again, Doug, I say- you never pinned me. You never made me submit. In fact, there hasn't been a wrestler in RCW that has pinned my shoulders to the ground nor made me submit save one. And that was under questionable circumstances. Come Hog Heaven: Never Surrender, we will see if you can pin my shoulders to the mat. Nobody in this business has ever made me quit, and nobody in this business ever will. So, Doug, I can claim you don't matter til I'm blue in the face, and we can go back and forth with who we put on the shelf, why, when, and how. You can keep saying that you're the only wrestler that matters, even though if you were, there wouldn't be THREE men in all your title matches. You see, you threw yourself into me and Phil's business. And you won. Now you are the champion. Now, if AJ and Ben believed you were the only wrestler that matters, they would have let me and Hollywood go into sudden death and you'd face a single opponent. But they don't think you're the only wrestler that matters. You know how I know? Because twice now, they have put you in the middle of me and one of my rivalries. They don't trust you to draw like Ase does. Like Hollywood or Phil does. Everybody was hyped for Ase/Phil II, and they threw you in as a side-gag. Well, the side-gag surprised us all, and sure, the fans support you because, frankly, you're the only freaking "good guy" in this company. So then, you should be the champion. But instead, you need TWO huge superstars to match your matches even watchable. But, in the end, Ase will carry you, Hollywood, and everybody in the RCW to a spectacular match. In the end, Gavelon, I will win the belt at Never Surrender because I will give everything I have in this match. While you've got to put some of yourself into your pregnant girl, your broken-hearted friend, and your whack-job stable, all I'm focusing on is this title match. We saw it in your promo, you were more concerned with Sipes and Tiffany it consumed forty percent of your promo.

We see the cherry of the cigarette hit the floor, and get grounded out. Ase's form receeds back into the shadows of the corner of the cell. Only his voice is heard, but he is unseen.

Ase: Now would be the time I would talk about Hollywood, but since he is too busy for RCW right now, so I'm not going to waste my breath on him. So, Doug- keep that title nice and close at night when you are snuggling up to your pregnant honey. While you sleep very well at night until Never Surrender remember I am sitting in here, mentally preparing for war. While you go through the motions of training at a nice facility, I will be doing basics in a 5' by 8' cell, without so much as a bed in it. And think about who has the heart to really train for this match, and whose heart may not truly be in this match. THEN look me in the eyes and say I don't have enough heart to beat you.

Silence. No birds, no crickets, utter, complete, devouring silence.

::FADE TO BLACK::

[Jeffrey Hollywood]

- Here We Go Again

[Jeffrey Hollywood]

- The Curse

[Doug Gavelon]

[As the night turns to day and the sun peaks through the window shades of the all-too-familiar apartment complex, Doug starts to stretch and wake up in his bed. The clock reads “7:55” which means he’s woken up five minutes earlier than the alarm setting. He rolls over and out of bed; grabbing his sweatpants off the floor before standing up and slipping them on. The time continues to tick away as Doug slips on a workout shirt and makes his way over to the closet; gathering up a clean, metal t-shirt and a pair of jeans. As he finishes packing his bag, the alarm goes off and Tiffany carefully reaches over to shut it off. She wipes the tiredness away from her eyes before looking up and seeing Doug standing over her; smiling as she does so.]

Tiffany: You woke up early, didn’t you?

DG: Only by five minutes.

Tiffany: Well, you’d better manage your time wisely because I know what all you have planned today.

DG: You know about the strippers?

[Doug flashes a sly smirk as Tiffany responds with throwing her pillow at him. Doug just laughs as Tiffany sits up in bed.]

DG: What? Ase thinks I spend too much time with you so I figured I’d go off somewhere else.

Tiffany: You’re lucky I’m pregnant and that I know you’re kidding because I’d take you down and beat you up if that wasn’t the case.

DG: Yeah, but I might like that.

[Tiffany giggles and Doug’s smile grows wider as he looks at her; reveling in making her laugh.]

Tiffany: Keep joking and making me laugh; it won’t get you to the arena any quicker for that interview.

DG: It isn’t for another four hours and I’m training before then anyway. I think I’ll be fine.

Tiffany: Alright, but don’t come crying to me when it takes you fifty-nine minutes of the iron man match before you get the winning fall.

DG: The way the other two talk, you’d think it would be impossible anyway. I mean, Hollywood’s back and talking out of his a**; as usual. Meanwhile, Ase is off in some little box of a room; basically comparing d*ck sizes by trying to show me up with how many people he’s put on the shelf.

[Tiffany stretches her arms in the air as she listens.]

Tiffany: Well, I’ve never seen that jerk up close enough but I think you have him beat in both departments.

[Doug responds by climbing back onto the bedspread and inching his way up to Tiffany. He makes his way up until he’s right over her; leaning in and kissing her. She throws her arms around him as she responds with an even more passionate kiss. They soon pull away and stare deeply into each other’s eyes. Doug takes a moment to move next to her as he starts to caress Tiffany’s occupied belly.]

Tiffany: By the way, how did you get this interview?

DG: Nate helped out. I guess he still has some close connections from his college days who work there because he just had to say one word and everything was set.

Tiffany: With all of these appearances, you may end up going into the movie business.

[Doug just rolls his eyes.]

DG: I’m a wrestler; not a Bulk Logan knockoff. When he tried it, the best he could come up with is that space assassin movie.

Tiffany: I know; that was a TERRIBLE movie.

DG: Then again, he had a terrible career to begin with. I remember him getting his a** kicked every time you turned around in World Pro.

Tiffany: Maybe you could do better?

DG: If and when I’m retire, I’m just going to help the guys with their stuff, maybe make an appearance or two. Besides that, I’m just going to spend my time with you and the kid.

[Tiffany’s smile grows wider and she nods her head in agreement.]

Tiffany: I could go for that.

[Doug leans down and they passionately kiss again. After the pull away, she nudges him in the shoulder.]

Tiffany: Now go get ready for that interview so you can concentrate on the match again.

DG: Yes, sir.

[Doug gives a smart a** salute as he stands up.]

Tiffany: And give me back my pillow!

[Doug reaches down and tosses it to her before walking out of the bedroom.]

11:55 a.m. EST

[Having completed his training regime for the day, grabbing a quick shower and changing into his street clothes. He makes his way into the Verizon Arena; the place where his first title defense shall take place. As he does so, surrounded by the now-empty chairs, he can’t help but take note at the spotlight shining down on center-ring. It brings a smile to his face. He walks to the production crew that’s waiting for him at ringside. Doug makes sure to shake hands with all five men who have the name “ESPNEWS” printed on their polo shirts.]

Crewman: Thanks for coming early.

DG: Thanks for having me.

Crewman: Alright, we’ll mic you up, Anish will do his intro in the studio and then we’ll get the interview rolling.

DG: Works for me. Do you guys have any time limit for this thing?

Crewman: No, not at all. We know it’s a really important match and we’ll give you as much time as you need. Just don’t take sixty minutes or anything like that though.

[Everyone gives a slight laugh as Doug nods in agreement.]

DG: Don’t worry; I’ll save the sixty minute performance for the match.

Crewman: Good. Let’s get set up then.

[The crew places the microphone on Doug’s shirt as he takes a seat in front of the camera. There’s a TV monitor at the side so that Doug can see when he’s on the air. After doing so, the crew members speak into their headsets; making sure the studio back in Bristol, CT, is all set. When they get the “all go” signal, the countdown begins and as the camera turns on, the ESPNEWS logo appears on the screen.]

[It then transitions to the anchor in-studio, Anish Shroff, as he conducts his intro.]

AS: In the world of professional wrestling, Razorback Championship Wrestling has been the company on the rise since it’s inception in 2007. Now, over fifty shows and thousands of fans later, they stand just a few days from one of their biggest shows of the year entitled Hog Heaven: Never Surrender. Joining me at this time to discuss his main event title match is the RCW Southern Heritage Champion, “Burning Hammer” Doug Gavelon. Doug, thank you for joining me at this time.

[The monitor cues to Doug in the Verizon Arena.]

DG: Thanks for having me, Anish.

[The monitor then shows a split screen between Doug and Anish.]

Anish: It’s certainly my pleasure. Now, this certainly isn’t your first time on national TV as you’ve not only wrestled on a national setting with World Pro Wrestling but have conducted a few interviews on Conan. So, tell me, what made you decide on ESPN for this match?

DG: Obviously, this is a big match for me. Like I’ve said on RCW television, holding onto this title is a lot harder than winning it. Very rarely has there been a successful title defense of this belt that I hold.

[Doug slings the belt onto his shoulder.]

DG: And I wanted to get the point across to everyone across the nation who follows RCW and isn’t able to attend this match in Little Rock just what kind of a match and what kind of a show they’ll be missing.

Anish: Speaking of this supposed “curse” that’s associated with holding the Southern Heritage Title, that was a focal point of Jeffrey Hollywood’s latest promo. Doug, how much does that thought rest on your mind?

DG: I could sit here and say “it doesn’t effect me” but I’d be lying. Just like anyone else who gains some amount of power, the biggest fear is losing it. The only difference between me and the past champions is this: I don’t have my head shoved so far up a certain body cavity that I can’t see straight and am not familiar with the history of this company. Take a look at the past champions for this belt…

[Doug holds up his right index finger.]

DG: …the Phil. This guy is always off in Imagination Land; his head off in the clouds as he thinks he’s always the top guy no matter if he’s on the shelf or not.

[Doug raises his right middle finger.]

DG: Ase, one of my opponents for Never Surrender. He thinks that just because he trains ALMOST as much as I do, that he spends his time in rooms the size of a cubicle, that nobody likes him and that his brain is still swelled from spending all this time in a supposed coma. But I’ll save more on that pr*ck for later.

[Doug raises his right index finger.]

DG: Of course, Jeffrey Hollywood. His ego won’t even let him admit that he got beat by the Phil in the first place. He’s like the Americanized version of another RCW wrestler: Jonathan Page. Whenever they win, it’s nothing of note because “it was supposed to happen.” When they lose…let the conspiracies happen! Oh, the referee was in the other guy’s pocket. Oh, I didn’t take the other guy seriously. Oh, my shoe came untied. Oh, I’m a whiny b*st*rd who can’t admit when he’s wrong.

[As Doug places his hands back together as his waist, he adjusts the belt so that it hangs down from his forearm.]

DG: Sure, Hollywood is a great competitor. He wouldn’t have won this belt in the first place if he wasn’t. However, this claim of being the greatest of all-time just comes off to me like Jeffy’s been watching too many Muhammed Ali promos. Just because you watch it, doesn’t mean you are it, Jeff, and I’ll prove that in the ring behind me in just a few days.

Anish: Now, Hollywood also mention that when you two last met one-on-one, in which he won, that he didn’t really try. What do you think about that?

DG: Well, all the power to him then. He did beat me…in a one fall match. All three of us have mentioned how it isn’t about who gets the first fall but gets the deciding fall in one hour. Hell, if it makes him feel better, I’ll give Hollywood the first fall because I’ll crack him in the skull with a chair before I drop him on his head with a Burning Hammer and get that fall back. That’s the kind of power you can wield in an Iron Man Match as one fall just won’t cut it. You’re in it for the long haul and even if you get pinned in the first five minutes, that still leaves another fifty-five to make a comeback.

Anish: You spoke earlier of Hollywood’s claim to being the best of all-time. Do you believe that to be true?

[Doug just smiles and gives a silent laugh as he lowers his head and shakes it “no.” He raises his head back up; the smile still on his face.]

DG: That better not have been a serious question, Anish, because that’s the funniest thing I’ve been asked all day.

[Doug sits back up in his chair before continuing.]

DG: Hell no! He isn’t even close to being the greatest of all-time. When he came back, I didn’t see everyone roll out the red carpet for him. Nobody cared because he’s insulted everyone with whom he’s come into contact, so why should they care about him? In fact, if memory serves, after he’d lost the belt, he was getting laid out from behind so much that it became a running joke. How could someone be so great and not even defend himself, even with the lights off? In fact, if he was truly so great, why didn’t Ben and AJ just give him the title shot instead of making him face Ase; a guy who’d already had his chance at redemption and lost…to me?

[Doug’s smile slowly turns back to serious as the “stupid” question wears off.]

DG: Hollywood, and Ase for that matter, have gone on record that they hate the fans; they consider them leaches and scum and all that junk. What they fail to realize is that those “leaches” are what pay their salary. If not for them, they’d just be doing a million push ups and flexing their six packs for two cows and a chicken out in a barn. Knowing how stupid these two guys are, they’d probably insult them then, the cows would run excrement all over them and the chicken would bite at their ankles. I don’t just respect the fans because it brings me joy to make them stand and cheer but because I also know how important they are. Without the fans, our company is nothing. You want to know why business picked up when I won the belt? Because no longer were there heels trading the belts back and forth at each show and the people finally have a champion that they love and respect; not some schmuck who badmouths them all day. Hollywood doesn’t like it and I know Ase would never admit it but the fans are the reason they’re here today. They should remember that.

Anish: Do you think that’s why you’ve been facing two heels the last two super shows? So the fans would have someone to cheer?

DG: That’s one reason. Of course, if you listened to Ase, he’d go on and on about how it’s all about him and how he’s always there to carry me to a great match. He wants to put doubt in my mind that I’m the only wrestler that matters. But I know the truth about our friend Ase: he’s jealous. All he has in this world is himself and his b*tchy wife. No kids; no friends; no other family; not even a title anymore. Hell, even Hollywood can buy a few friends now and again but not Ase. Ase sees me as the guy he always wanted to be: young, talented, and popular. He has the first two pretty well covered but not the last one. He hates me for the fact that he’ll never reach a level of popularity that I’ve come to. I go around town and people want an autograph; I walk down the aisle and people reach out to shake my hand; I go out for a night on the town with my beautiful girlfriend and it’s front page news. With Ase, if two people in Finland like him, it’s because he beat them into submission. Nobody takes notice of him when he walks the streets because nobody has nor will they ever like him. He spends all his time in a darkened room; doing push ups to get his wife off. Who could love a freak like that? That’s a cold sentiment but that’s that truth and after Never Surrender, that jealousy will grow because I will be the one with my hand raised at the end of the night, I will be the one still with the RCW Southern Heritage Title and I will be the one who will remain the only wrestler that matters; proof positive.

Anish: Now, Doug, we just have a few minutes left so I’ll open the floor and let you have these moments for your closing statements.

DG: Thank you.

[Instead of transitioning back and forth or split screen like has been happening during the interview, the camera is focused squarely on Doug’s face; the dark, long stare in his eyes; the determination expressed on his face as he begins.]

DG: In just a few days, all three of us will put each other through hell for an entire sixty minutes; one hour of brutality. The last man standing will be granted the RCW Southern Heritage Champion. The two losers will tuck their tails between their legs and run away. You two seem to think that just because I’m a popular champion, unlike you two were during your reigns, that I can’t possibly retain my belt. You think that it takes an egotistical loudmouth or a lowly scumbag to get the job done in the main event. That may have been true even as soon as last summer but that was then; this is now. A true champion is not only someone who will gladly step up to each and every challenge put in front of him but is also someone who is accepted by the people as the best in the business. Ase, keep trying to figure out a way in that I don’t matter because you’ll just make yourself look more and more foolish for losing twice to this supposed “loser” and not coming away with the belt. Next time, if there is a next time, that you get this chance, I hope you’ll realize that I’m not a flash in the pan, that I am a true champion and that this true champion is better than you in both a cage and a sixty minute endurance test. Hollywood, go ahead and continue to try and get to me by talking about Tiffany. Quite frankly, she thinks it’s funny nowadays because you think that’s a weapon you have to aim against me. In reality, you’re more like the guy who has no snappy comeback when he’s told off and has to resort to saying “yeah…well, you’re gay.” It’s stupid, offensive and nobody takes that guy seriously, just like none of the fans take you seriously anymore, Jeff. Get used to the feeling because I’ll beat you and embarrass you so bad that you’ll leave RCW for another half year; this time voluntarily because you finally realized that you aren’t the better man.

[Doug slings the belt back over his shoulder as he stands up. The camera just barely keeping up with him.]

DG: You gentlemen have taken me lightly and that will be your downfall because once we step into that ring…

[Doug turns around and points at the ring; the spotlight still shining down on center-ring. Doug then turns his head back to the camera.]

DG: …we will see who is the only wrestler that matters and I will continue to prove that his name is Doug Gavelon.

Anish: Sunday night, December 13th, RCW presents Hog Heaven: Never Surrender. Doug Gavelon defends against former champions Ase and Jeffrey Hollywood. Doug, thank you for joining me and good luck.

DG: Thanks, Anish.

[The TV monitor fades to black and Doug removes the microphone from his shirt. He gives one more round of shaking the crew members’ hands before exiting the Verizon Arena. Doug then proceeds out to the parking lot and his car. He gets in, starts the ignition and drives off; continuing to think about this upcoming match.]

~These guys just refuse to step out of their own world and see the truth: I’m better than them. I have the belt to prove that I was better than Ase in the cage and now not only do I get to prove it again but I get to prove it against Hollywood. We’ll see how cocky they are after this match. Hell, they probably will sound like Jonathan Page; he’s a cocky a**hole and nobody listens to him either. That battle royal had better find me a good opponent because I’m getting tired of beating the same guys or taking out two of the top guys each show and I’m sure Ben and AJ can’t afford for me to run through the top contenders like Carl and Beavis ran through the tag division. At any rate, they’ll both see that they’re the ones spouting bullsh*t about how good they are when I’m done at Never Surrender.~

[Doug makes his way down the road back to his place of rest; his apartment complex where he will continue to focus his mind and body for the match. He pulls into the complex’s parking lot, quickly grabbing his bag out of the car, running up the stairs and into his apartment; closing the door behind him.]

[Alexander Rose]

Begin Transmission:

Begin Scene: Friday December 11th, 2009. 8:37 PM. Eastern State Penitentary.

The camera comes to life right where it left off 3 days ago. Utter darkness. Complete silence. The barred window allows moonlight to beam into the cell, but Ase is not in the light, and is not seen. Snow swirls into the barred window, and floats slowly to the floor.

High heels clicking down the hallway are heard, and slowly get louder. The shadows reveal the slim, cut figure of Tarja. Metal clanks on metal as Tarja places a key into the cell, and the rusty crank of the cell door moving the side is heard. A rustling is heard, and then Ase's head ducks into the moonlight.

Ase: Friday night already?

Tarja: Indeed. Time to get ready to head to the Verizon Center. Are you ready?

A loud series of cracks is audible as Ase cocks his head from side to side, cracking his neck.

Ase: Any new developments?

Tarja: Hollywood came out of hiding, and Doug apparently is doing a book tour for ESPN. They are airing him on their shows.

Ase: Considering they don't air anything about wrestling unless somebody dies or is taking steriods, I guess we know how he got on there.

A brief silence.

Ase: He didn't die, right?

Tarja: Unfortunately not.

Ase: Well that's a relief, wouldn't want Gavelon sneaking out of this match.

Ase finally steps out of the cell. A dim light down the hall sillhouettes Tarja and Ase.

Ase: Well, I guess I'll get a shower and see what my opponents have to say this time.

The camera fades away as Ase and Tarja turn to walk away.

::FADE OUT::

::FADE IN::

Time, Date, Location logged: Saturday December 12th, 2009. Undisclosed hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Steam fills the entire hotel room, which is basic. A bed, a TV, and that horrible floral pattern that matches the wallpaper. The hotel room is empty, until Ase exits the bathroom wrapped to the waist in a towel. He is completely soaked, and apparently isn't bothering drying himself off. His body steams from the heat coming off of it hitting the cold air of the hotel room. Ase walks over to the end table, picks up a pack of cigarettes that lay next to the "This room is non-smoking" sign, and flicks the lighter to light his smoke. He inhales deeply from the cigarette, and slowly lets it exit his body in a long, slow exhale.

Ase: God, I do love hotel rooms. Fantastic showers.

The camera-man clears his throat loudly, and Ase spins around in a defensive stance.

Ase: What the hell is this?

Camera-man: Um... RCW? Your promo? Mr. Jacobs sent us.

Ase: Damn that Jacobs, he finds me everytime. I didn't even let him know I was in town yet. Listen... guy. Any chance you can come back tomorrow, right before the match? I'd prefer not doing my promo in a towel.

Ase motions down his sides at his towel, wrapped around his waist.

Camer-man: Yes, well, err... Mr. Jacobs insists that they won't be able to get the promo aired in time for the match, so it's tonight or not at all.

Ase sighs heavily, and motions for the camera-man to turn around.

When the cameraman turns back around, Ase has on a pair of loose fitting gray sweatpants.

Ase: Alright, you ready?

The camera moves up and down as the cameraman nods. Ase exhales deeply before he begins.

Ase: And so... the final countdown. Twenty-four little hours until Never Surrender, and then the big hour. I'm guessing now that Hollywood finally showed his face, I'm supposed to quake in my.... sweatpants.

Ase goes to flick his cigarette, and realizes there is no ashtray. He looks around, and finds a glass half-empty with water. He shrugs and flicks his cigarette into it.

Ase: So, training my body and mind have suddenly become the focal points of my opponents. I guess whining to my girlfriend or playing with myself in a night-club might work for you guys, so to each their own. Why does it seem like the same old song and dance with you, Hollywood? Yeah, you beat me in a ladder match. A match that favored me, and you got it done. One win doesn't solidify that you are the all-time greatest thing to blow through the doors of RCW. You couldn't beat me in the middle of the ring one fall to finish. It was a draw. So, does one loss and one draw simply mean that I just can't beat you?

Ase cocks his eyebrow to the side in a "are you serious?" expression.

Ase: Hollywood, you should know better than anybody that on any given night anything can happen in that ring. So, on that given night at School of Hard Knocks, you won. On that given night at Southern Dynamite, we went "broadway," so to speak. And, on this given night, tomorrow, we shall see if you truly are the greatest there is. It won't be as simple as dumping a ladder over and breaking my body through a table this time. This time, you'll have to use your wrestling ability to beat me, not your climbing technique. You talk of ratings as if you they mean something. Attendance was at it's peak in this business while you were sitting home with a colostomy bag. Nobody missed you. Nobody needed you. RCW carried on without you, and it can do so again. You've been "back" now for what, two months? Maybe three. You've been on less that five shows, and wrestled two matches. And, what? because you were SOOOO great last year, you are just going to waltz into a sixty minute Iron Man match with RCW's greatest, and waltz back out with the belt on your good looks? Hollywood, you're rusty, plain and simple. Your ego and your bravado hide it well, but the fact is simple- you don't stay out of action for seven months, come back and put in the bare minimum of effort, and then roll into a sixty minute Iron Man match sitting on a night club couch.

Ase exhales a puff of smoke, and watches it swirling around the room, and settling near the ceiling.

Ase: You hide behind the fact that I put you out in the dark. Yet I saw the fear in your eyes each time I struck at you. I heard you scream like a girl right before the pipe cracked your skull open. You were terrified, Hollywood. And you knew your assailant the whole time. You called me out, knowing who was behind the attacks, knowing how it would end. The fact was, you got scared. You figured you couldn't cut it anymore. After all, you lost to Phil, and were set to "use your rematch," but that seed of doubt had been planted. So, you asked, you damn near BEGGED for me to put you on the shelf. Phil loses the title, and suddenly you resurface. At Never Surrender, I get the chance to avenge my loss to you, and reclaim the Southern Heritage Title in the process. In essense, this is basically our rematch for the belt. Not under the perfect circumstances, but there it is nonetheless. And now you are sounding like Phil. You "allowed" him to beat you. You intentionally took a dive for Phil? Considering your character, Hollywood, and that there was no possible benefit from you diving for Phil, I find that story impossible to believe.

Ase scoffs and rolls his neck to the side, cracking it.

Ase: You keep saying you "deserve" the title. For what exactly? I didn't realize they handed out titles for the dullest talk shows, or long-distance couch sitting in RCW. Hollywood, face it, you haven't done a damn thing inside that ring since I laid you out in it. And, quite frankly, that's the most interesting thing you've done in a long time, was lay there with blood spewing from your face. And yet you "deserve" this title. You deserve nothing, Hollywood. You may have been the best in town last year, but times have changed. You know, deep in your soul, that you aren't the same man you once were. The Hollywood I know came after me week after week after week chasing the Southern Heritage title. The Hollywood now sits around doing absolutely f***ing nothing and claims he deserves the title.

Ase sits up, and looks dead into the camera, and drops his cigarette into the glass of now quite dirty water.

Ase: Yeah, Hollywood, it seems like in the two matches out of the three I've had involving the Southern Heritage I've come out on the short end. But, you see, Hollywood, I don't need to pretend, like you do, that I've never lost a match in my life. I've lost plenty, and I've won plenty. And like I said earlier, on any given night anything can happen. You seem to be of the impression that a) You've never lost a match, b) If you have lost a match it's because you intentionally took a dive, and c) You are utterly incapable of losing a match. To all of which I laugh at, Hollywood. That's exactly why I question your drive and determination in this match. If you can't just sashay into the match and be handed the title for showing up, you seem quite content with laying back and losing, and then claiming the very next week you "took a dive." So, yeah, Hollywood, I've lost tons of matches, but I've ALWAYS gone down fighting. If you've never given one hundred percent in this business, you're not really a competitor. I never once said I was underestimating you, Hollywood. But I'm always not going to focus all my attention on somebody who only wants the belt because they think it's their birthright or something. I know damn well Gavelon is damn near ready to die for that belt. Hell, he was ESPN, so he might. I know damn well I will die for that belt tomorrow. You... you don't have that aura about you. You have the "ehh... it'll just happen" hippy vibe going. Which is a complete change for you, Hollywood. Normally you are cocky and egotistical, but you also put up a fight. This go-round, you seem happy to sit back and do nothing and just HOPE the dominos fall like they should.

Ase stands to his feet, and gets right into the camera.

Ase: Last time we met, you kept saying to me I've got a voice in my head saying I couldn't beat you. I lost to you in the ladder match, yeah. But last go round, I might not have "beaten" you, but you certainly didn't beat me either. So who are you trying to convince, Jeff? You should already know I'm not easily psyched out, and yet you push and push that "Ase can't beat Hollywood." The true facts are Ase HASN'T beaten Hollywood. But, as you said, actions speak for themselves, and then I DO beat you, what will it be then? It was a fluke? I could easily say that about you beating me. Instead, I took my loss, licked my wounds, and came back in a vengence. I can accept when I lose. You just can't. You can't stand the fact that you just might not be perfect. It's sad, really.

Ase throws his hands in front of him, waving off the subject. He lights another cigarette as he sits back down on the bed.

Ase: And so, we come to the Champion. Parading around on ESPN is supposed to impress us all right? Look, the champion got on ESPN! Wow! Of course, this is only because I'm- (chuckle) jealous.......

Ase tries to hold back a laugh, but it escapes from him.

Ase: I'm sorry, that's just sad. You talk of Hollywood acting like the dumb "your gay" guy. Your that idiot A/V kid whose only comeback is "you're just jealous." I also find it quite funny you think you know who I am outside of this business. I keep my personal life out of this business for that reason. It would be easy for me to crack jokes about how your girlfriend, wife- whatever, is slowly turning into a whale. But that's pathetic. Who cares about Tiffany? She's not wrestling in this match, just as my kids, my friends, aren't wrestling in this match. My wife made the conscious decision to be involved in my career. My kids didn't make that decision, and neither did my friends. You talk of popularity like we are in high school. Of course, with the "your gays" and "you're just jealouses" flying around, seems kind of like we are. Popularity means next to nothing to me. My merchandise sells, or I wouldn't have a job. No, people don't stop me on the street. Not because they don't recognize me, but because they are simply scared of me. And I prefer it that way. You claim the fans pay the bills. That doesn't mean I have to sacrifice my whole life for them. That's just idiotic. As long as there are puppets like you to appease the fans, there is room for people like me who don't give half a crap about them. So, you can claim I'm jealous all you want. Until you were made a contender for the Southern Heritage title at School of Hard Knocks II, you weren't even a blip on my screen Gavelon. And maybe that was my downfall, but there's no taking it back now. There is tomorrow night, though. And I will prove that I don't get beaten easily twice in a row. So, continue rubbing coco butter on your girl's tummy, and continue pretending that you're the only one in this company. Because when I take that title from you, AJ and Ben will realize you're a bunch of hype, a little pandering to the fans, and a washed-up fraud whose been on a lucky streak. Being mostly Irish, Doug, I can say, that luck's about to run out.

Ase tosses his smoked cigarette into the water glass, which is completely black now. Ase streches and cracks his neck again, and looks like he is about to say something else when Tarja's voice comes from the bathroom.

Tarja: You coming back, pet?

Ase smirks and stands up, the camera backs up to the entrance of the hotel as Ase opens the bathroom door. A smirk crosses his face and he shakes his head.

Ase: Fan...tastic... showers.

Ase steps into the bathroom, and shuts the door behind him.

::FADE TO BLACK::

[Doug Gavelon]

[Inside the bedroom of Doug Gavelon, night has fallen. With only the night lamp on, Doug sits in front of the camera; sitting at the edge of the bed; his hands resting on his lap; his hair hung over his face. His look is of determination and his voice is low but focused.]

DG: Gentlemen, the time for talking will soon be done. It seems already that we’ve done enough talking to last the span of twenty Iron Man Matches. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t get in the last word. Just like a champion, I’m going to finish this. Just like a champion, I’m going to prove why I’m on top. Just like a champion, I’m going to take care of my challengers and move onto bigger and better things.

[Doug takes his right hand and slides the right side of his hair up; away from his face.]

DG: Sorry to disappoint you, Ase, but no, I didn’t die and every drug test I’ve taken has come back negative for steroid use. I don’t know if you can say the same thing but I’m not about to play that kind of blame game. Why was I on there? Because they wanted someone on there for RCW who had presence, prestige and importance and the reigning Southern Heritage Champion certainly fits the bill. Because I was the World Pro champion and because I’ve accomplished so much in my career, I was the perfect candidate and so, off I went. Now, because I conducted that interview, more people will be aware of RCW. More people will realize that there’s still a great wrestling program out there. Most importantly, now more people will be able to see me outlast you and Hollywood at Never Surrender.

[Doug looks over at Tiffany; lying on the bed; sound asleep. He smirks before turning back to the camera.]

DG: You’ve questioned my resolve for this business; my heart, in fact, and what I’m willing to do to succeed. For her, for my love, and for the child that she carries, I’d not only travel through the depths of Hell, reach up and punch Satan himself in the face but would exchange my eternal soul just so she would never feel an ounce of pain or deal with an ounce of strife again in her life. I would give up my right arm if that’s what it took to save her left. I would go up against two worthy, yet overconfident and under prepared, opponents, destroy my body for an entire hour and manage to pull out the victory if that’s what it would take to give her and my child the life they deserve.

[Doug takes his left arm and flicks back the other side of his hair. He licks his lips before continuing.]

DG: You mentioned how you were Irish and how you believe that luck played the major part in my previous victory over you.

[Doug shakes his head in disagreement.]

DG: No, Ase, if it would’ve been luck, the side of the cage would’ve fallen off and I would’ve tumbled out. If it was luck, you and the Phil would’ve succumbed to some terrible disease before the match and I would’ve won by default. If the success rate for the cage match would’ve been based on luck, I wouldn’t have won. That victory was based off of hard work and dedication. The hard work of turning your own weapons against you and taking out the Phil and the dedication to see the victory through by climbing over the top and to the floor.

[Doug chuckles as he thinks back to that night.]

DG: Now, as then, you’ll have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide when the final result is handed down. Your supposed hard work that you’ve put into preparing for this match will all be for naught. In the end, this supposed “paper champion” will have beaten you, robbed you of your glory and left you remaining as an EX-champion.

[Doug laughs a bit longer and louder this time. He soon calms himself and continues.]

DG: You know, I think it ironic that you look a lot like Tyler Durden from “Fight Club.” For those of you who are unfamiliar with said film, Durden is supposedly the toughest son of a b*tch in an underground fight club. Him and his unnamed friend conduct underground fights so that these warriors can get away from the stresses of “real life.” Durden seems to be the best as he commands the respect and obedience of his followers. He holds so great of power that he’s able to destroy a city block of skyscrapers. But, in the end, it turns out that Durden’s really the alternate personality of the nameless friend; an office worker who was trying to escape from the tortures of his job. Because he couldn’t control “Durden,” it both consumed and destroyed him.

[Doug takes a deep breath and sits back a bit further on the bed.]

DG: That’s what I think you are, Ase: a “science experiment” gone wrong. For so long, you’ve been building yourself up as this no nonsense, “take no sh*t” kind of wrestler. You wanted people to believe it so bad that the personality consumed what once was Ice Kold. For awhile, that façade stood up…until the cage. The cage is where you were held in check; in fact, trapped. It left you wondering “if a common man, a hero to the people on the other side of the guardrail could beat someone supposedly as tough as me, am I really that strong?” So, you’ve continued to try and break me down but I simply refuse to budge. All your misbegotten words and failed attempts to prepare against the inevitable are just delaying the ending of your “character”: Edward Norton’s nameless character is lining up the handgun against his face. After I beat you at Never Surrender, he’ll pull the trigger and put you out of your misery.

[As the hair starts to fall into his face again, Doug takes a moment to wipe it back; behind his ears.]

DG: As for you, Hollywood, this has been a long time coming. Ever since you first defeated me, people have been waiting for the rematch and for me to finally shut you up. All the verbal attacks, all the threats, all the bullsh*t boasts will be thrown out the window after your dead and bloated corpse lies at my feet once the clock strikes zero. What you consider “your” title shall remain, comfortably, where it truly belongs: around the waist of someone who can truly appreciate it. Don’t worry, Hollywood, about staying in the spotlight after I beat you. I’m sure you can find enough scrubs to be on that little talk show of yours; keeping you in the public’s eye for a few more weeks before you fade away from memory.



DG: Believe me when I say that I will enjoy proving you wrong, Hollywood. Wrong that you are so great and so special and so deserving of the title. Every punch to your “pretty” face will make me smile. Every slam onto your back shall make me laugh. Every suplex onto your “gorgeous” hair shall be an even bigger notch in my belt. Every fall I record on you shall bring me that much closer to proving myself as the one and only champion. I hope you remembered the ending of the previous supercard when you were still sitting on your a** at home Hollywood. If not, not only will I paint a picture but you’ll get a ringside look at it after the Iron Man Match: a shot of me with Tiffany by my side; the Southern Heritage Championship draped over my shoulder; my arms victoriously raised in the air. The only difference is that you will be one of the slain instead of Phil. You, Hollywood, will lose to me; much to the fans’ delight.

[Doug slides forward and rests his elbows on his knees; his chin on his hands.]

DG: I wonder if either of you are praying men? In fact, as we all lay our heads down to sleep, preparing ourselves for our own, little, private war that’ll soon be upon us, are you two praying to whichever deity you believe in that victory will come to you? I, for one, am a believer. I believe that I shall witness His glory upon my death in the distant future. However, what happens now on Earth isn’t up to him; it’s down to us. We set our own paths; blaze our own trail; He is but a grand spectator of it all. On Sunday, December 13th, He will witness a match of brutal appeal and actions that would rival and skirmish witnessed at the height of the Battle of the Bulge. Like the Germans, you will come on strong at the beginning; throwing your tank-like power at me. Like the Allies, I will hold strong and wait for you to tire. Just like the Germans, you will be forced to fall back as your enemy comes on strong. Just like the Allies, I shall end your grip on this world; once and for all. Go ahead and pray for your God because, at the end of the day, He won’t be able to save you from me. Merry Christmas to all and to me, a good win. For I am the only wrestler that matters. I am the Burning Hammer. I am...Doug Gavelon.

[Doug reaches out and turns the camera off. As he does, Tiffany starts to startle.]

Tiffany: Hey honey, what are you doing?

DG: Nothing, just finishing something.

Tiffany: Good because you need your sleep. You have a big day coming up.

[Tiffany turns over as Doug nods in agreement.]

DG: Yes, I certainly do…and I’ll be ready for it.

[Doug reaches over and turns off the night lamp before laying his head down on his pillow.]