From Rose Garden in
CURRENT CHAMPIONS
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Sabu
defeated The Rock and Shawn Michaels in
last defense: defeated Sting on April 5, 1999
successful defenses: 1
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Test & Hakushi
defeated The Rock & Sabu in
last defense: defeated Kanyon in handicap match on April 8, 1999
successful defenses: 3
UNITED STATES CHAMPION: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair [2]
defeated Randy Savage in
last defense: defeated Sandman on March 28, 1999
successful defenses: 1
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Chris Jericho
defeated Ken Shamrock in
last defense: defeated Mike Awesome on April 5, 1999
successful defenses: 2
WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Michael Modest
defeated Curt Hennig in
last defense: none
successful defenses: 0
HARDCORE CHAMPION: Perry Saturn
defeated Raven in
last defense: defeated
successful defenses: 2
CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: VACANT
to be determined
CONFIRMED MATCHES FOR TONIGHT
THE MAIN EVENT
Eight-Man Tag War
DX vs. The Flock
World Tag Title Match
Test & Hakushi vs. Sandman & Rey Mysterio Jr.
No. 1 Draft Pick Match
Sabu vs. Wrestler of Roddy Piper’s Choice
World TV Title Match
Michael Modest vs. D’Lo Brown
Hardcore Title Match
Perry Saturn vs. Brian Clarke
Grudge Match
Owen Hart vs. Jeff Jarrett
Cruiserweight Battle Royal
We open with a black screen.
“THE END OF AN ERA” appears on the screen.
[FADE IN] to footage from CWF owner Mark Cuban at Base-Brawl.
Cuban: Every time you turn on a wrestling show, you see authority figures battling for control, like their administrative position is a title belt. Well, let me make it clear.
[CUT] to Piper and Hennig trading punches at the April 12 Warfare.
Cuban: [voiceover] That is NOT going to happen here.
[CUT] back to Cuban at Base-Brawl with Piper and Hennig in the ring.
Cuban: So I’m going to give each of you the opportunity you’ve been wanting. I’m giving each of you the chance to run a federation, by yourselves, without the other around to muck it up. And, since you guys obviously cannot get along, we’re going to start right away. So next Monday, we are going to have a full-fledged roster draft!
Styles: WHAT?! OH MY GOD!
Heyman: Did I hear him right?!
Cuban: [Points to Hennig] You’re gonna take Warfare… [points to Piper] you’re gonna take Adrenaline… and you’re each gonna draft talent from the group of guys around the ring. Everyone except referees is going to be available, including the talent in SMW! Wrestlers. Commentators. Even ring announcers like the Fink!
[FADE] to black.
“THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER” appears on the screen.
Hennig’s voice: [still in black] Roddy Piper, ever since you set foot in the CWF, you’ve second-guessed every decision I’ve made. [FADE IN to a close-up of Hennig] Laughed at me behind my back, claimed you could do a better job. Well you’re getting the chance. [Chuckles] You think it’s so easy? Well let’s see what happens when you’ve got some direct competition from yours truly—someone who grew up in this business. Wrestling isn’t just what I do, it’s in my blood! It runs through my veins! That’s why my show will dominate yours each and every week. And with this new era comes a new name… Mayhem! So get ready, Piper… every Monday night… Mayhem is going to destroy ANYTHING your demented brain can come up with.
[CUT to a close-up of Roddy Piper.]
Piper: Curt Hennig… You know, I’ve seen your pattern since coming into power here in the CWF. And, since you replaced Kevin Sullivan…
[CUT] to montage of black and white highlights from the past.
Piper: You have cheated…
[CUT] to Hennig stuffing a chloroform-soaked towel in the face of the Big Show.
Piper: Intimidated…
[CUT] to Hennig in the face of a referee.
Piper: And downright SCREWED OVER people with every chance you got!
[CUT] to Hennig laughing maniacally as Bam Bam Bigelow gets attacked.
[CUT] back to Piper, live.
Piper: Curt, you’ve manipulated and messed with so many people that I’M uncomfortable with it. Do you know how many lines you gotta cross before you offend the Rowdy Scot?!? There’s war criminals that committed less atrocities than you! See, that’s why my show is going to be different. On my show, the authority figure won’t be the center of attention, even though I do love the spotlight as much as anyone. I know what’s important—the wrestlers! So Curt Hennig, get ready. Because every Thursday, you’ll have to deal with my new show… ADRENALINE!
[FADE TO BLACK]
Words slowly appear on the screen.
TWO NIGHTS
THIRTY-TWO ROUNDS
ONE NEW ERA
Styles: My GOD, this company is never going to be the same!
[Opening credits and theme song]
[CUT to a wide shot of the Rose Garden, as pyro shoots off from the rigging above the ring and the stage. A podium has been set up on the stage, just to the right of the ramp leading down to the squared circle.]
JR: We are LIVE in the city of
[CUT to Jim Ross and Bobby Henean at ringside.]
JR: Hello folks, good ole JR here along with the Brain [Heenan flashes the A-OK] for the first night of this historic draft. Bobby, it appears as if Monday Night Mayhem is on the horizon, according to Curt Hennig!
Heenan: Hey, Mr. Hennig is of impeccable taste. That’s a damn fine name for a show if you ask me…
JR: Looks like someone’s already angling for where he ends up in the draft… Right now, though, let’s check in with the rest of our broadcast team for this very special event.
[CUT] to Joey Styles, standing by in an office. There is a huge chart on the back wall, with wrestlers’ names on it and furious scribblings all over the chart with a few names marked through.
Styles: Good evening everyone. I’m Joey Styles, and I’ll be reporting tonight from Curt Hennig’s war room. We’ll be bringing you the inside story, as Hennig assembles the roster for his new Monday Night Mayhem show. And, due to an edict from Mr. Cuban, war room coverage must NOT be interrupted under any circumstance. Now let’s go to the Roddy Piper war room.
[CUT] to Paul Heyman, who’s standing in another office. Stacks of files and papers are piled on the desk behind him. Heyman is wearing his always incongruous mixture of a suit and baseball cap.
Heyman: Paul Heyman here, promising to bring you the inside scoop from the inner sanctum of Rowdy Roddy Piper. I guarantee, the Rowdy Scot’s mind games won’t work on me. With that, here are Mean Gene and Jerry Lawler.
[CUT] to Mean Gene and Jerry Lawler standing in a hallway somewhere in the Rose Garden.
Gene: All right, Mean Gene Okerlund along with Jerry Lawler and King, tonight we’ll be getting reaction from CWF competitors as they get drafted to either Mayhem or Adrenaline. Each show will have a locker room reserved for its draft picks once they’ve been chosen, and the King and myself will be camped out waiting.
Lawler: It’s an odd night for everyone, Gene. These guys have worked for years to reach their positions here on the CWF roster. Now, their entire professional futures are up in the air! It’s a scary situation for everyone, including you and me, Mean Gene!
Gene: Look for our reports throughout the night, as the first 16 rounds of the draft take place.
[CUT] back to a wide shot of the arena.
JR: We’re going to kick things off with the No. 1 Draft Pick Match! Let’s just—
JR is cut off as “Exodus” starts to play over the PA.
Heenan: He’s here!
Curt Hennig steps through the curtain onto the stage, resplendent in a three-piece designer suit. Hennig poses a bit, then does his patented gum swat before making his way down the aisle. Hennig reaches the ring area, shaking hands with the few fans who outstretch their hands. Hennig walks around to the broadcast table, and Heenan promptly jumps to his feet to shake the commissioner’s hand.
JR: And now I suppose we’ll be joined by Curt Hennig on commentary for this match…
Heenan: Good to see you, Curt!
Hennig: Good to be here, Brain! I just wanted to come out and get a close look at Sabu’s victory over whatever schlub Roddy Piper dredged up from the depths to represent him. Because, let’s face it, no competitor of any quality’s gonna fight for a man wearing a skirt.
JR: Actually, it’s a kilt…
Heenan: Hey, if Curt says it’s a skirt, it’s a skirt!
JR: Now, as we aw—
JR gets cut off again as a snare drum roll begins on the PA system. It’s followed by the distinctive blare of bagpipes.
JR: OH MY!
The fans stand and cheer loudly as Roddy Piper steps out onto the stage! Piper is wearing his usual kilt, boots and leather jacket, but also has donned a tuxedo T-shirt in commemoration of tonight’s big event.
Hennig: Who invited this guy out here?!?
Piper heads down the aisle, high-fiving many of the fans bordering the aisle.
JR: And it looks as if the Rowdy Scot is headed this way!
Piper heads toward the broadcast table, then pauses, giving a BIG smile and wave to Hennig. The Rowdy Scot takes the timekeeper’s chair, then sits on JR’s side, with the play-by-play man sitting between the two authority figures.
JR: Well this is awkward… Roddy, I believe we’ve got another spare headset somewhere around here.
Piper: Fellas, good to be here! How ya doin, Curt?
Hennig: Oh, I’m doing FINE, Roddy. In fact I plan on spending tonight just like I plan to spend the indefinite future: dominating your pitiful excuse for a federation!
Piper: Well aren’t we full of piss and vinegar tonight? We shall see, Captain Ponytail, we shall see…
JR: With that, fans, we’re going to begin the No. 1 Draft Pick Match. The stakes are high: the man who wins, earns the first overall draft pick for his representative, and a strategic advantage throughout this 32-round draft.
Hennig: That’s right, and it’s gonna end like any competition between me and Piper. With Mayhem as the winner!
1. No. 1 Draft Pick Match
Sabu (7-1-1) vs. Wrestler of Piper’s Choice
No time limit; referee: Senior Referee Earl Hebner
[CUT] to a wide shot of the arena as “Crazy Train” begins.]
A quick-cutting montage of highlights of Sabu committing various perilous offensive maneuvers is spliced in with shots of Sabu in agonizing pain or bleeding profusely. As the first verse begins, Sabu strides through the curtain, grasping the World Heavyweight Title belt in one hand.
JR: Here comes our world champion! The only question is, which show will he take that title to?
Hennig: You know where it’s headed, JR! It’s headed to my show, because what better way to confirm Mayhem as the flagship brand of the CWF, than by starting things off with the reigning World Heavyweight Champion!
Sabu slides into the ring under the bottom rope and springs to his feet, going into a crouch and pointing at the sky, before pointing at Hennig at the broadcast position.
Heenan: An unspoken bond between the commissioner and the champ…
Piper: Quick, somebody gimme a tissue… Ha!
JR: You’ll notice a McMahon-free landscape at ringside. That’s because Mark Cuban has laid down the law. This match will be fought one on one! It’s just too important to have the possibility of outside interference. Not only that, Cuban has instructed referee Earl Hebner to show some latitude in this one. He doesn’t want a countout or disqualification if it can be helped. He wants a definitive finish! And with that, let’s go to Howard Finkel for the introductions…
Finkel: Ladies and gentlemen, this is the No. 1 Draft Pick Match! It is scheduled for one fall with no time limit. Your referee for this contest is Senior Referee Earl Hebner.
Hennig: That’s right, and he—and every other official on tonight’s show—will be reffing the matches on Mayhem on a weekly basis…
Finkel: Introducing first, now in the ring, representing Curt Hennig… a member of the Corporation… hailing originally from Bombay, India, he stands 6-feer tall and weighs in at 220 pounds… with a record of seven wins, one loss and one no contest… he is the reigning Heavyweight Champion of the Wooooooorld… SAAAABUUUUUUUU!
Sabu goes into his crouch again, and again points at the sky as the fans boo loudly.
Finkel: And his opponent…
The announcer then pauses and turns toward the broadcast position, giving an awkward shrug toward the commentators and commissioners.
Piper: Oh! Silly me…
Piper gets out of his chair and heads to Finkel, handing him a slip of paper, then returns to the announcers’ table and leans back, putting his feet on it.
JR: Well the Rowdy Scot certainly APPEARS confident…
Heenan: And get a look at Finkel!
Indeed, the Fink seems a bit surprised by whatever he sees on the paper.
Finkel: And… wow, I… And his opponent…
Suddenly, the house lights go out.
And creepy, yet very familiar, organ music begins to play.
Heenan: WHAT THE HELL?!?
Pyro EXPLODES on the stage in four pillars of flame.
JR: OH MY! CAN IT BE?!?
The fans ERUPT, as a masked behemoth in red and black walks through the smoke and starts down the aisle.
Heenan: IT IIIIIIS!
Finkel: From parts unknown, standing 7 feet tall and weighing 315 pounds… making his return to active competition in the Charlottesville Wrestling Federation… KAAAANE!
JR: IT’S THE BIG RED MACHINE! KANE IS BACK IN THE CWF!
[CUT] to Curt Hennig, sitting slack-jawed at ringside in the dim red light.
Sabu stands his ground in the ring, as Kane steps in over the top rope. The Big Red Machine looks around at the cheering fans, then raises his arms and JERKS them down, setting fire off from all four turnbuckles. The explosion makes Sabu jump and turn ion a quick 360, before he whirls back to face his mammoth foe.
JR: My GOD, Roddy Piper has found a monster to represent him!
[CUT] to Piper, who’s leaning back in his chair with a big smile on his face.
Piper: I guess the plot thickens, doesn’t it, fellas? Hey, Curt! Still feelin’ so confident?
JR: How in the world… The… the last time we saw Kane he was being dragged off to the insane asylum! And now he’s back! But how?!
Piper: Hey, who better to face Sabu than someone fresh out of the home for the criminally insane?
Hennig: You’re not gonna get away with this, Piper.
JR: Roddy, does this mean you plan on taking KANE with the No. 1 pick?
Piper: Well, I think that all depends, JR. Kane’s a team player. He’d understand if I chose someone else… perhaps I’ll take Sabu, that world title would look mighty nice on Adrenaline every Thursday night.
Sabu is looking left and right, the title belt clenched in his hand, as Kane heads to center ring. The big man tilts his head as he stares at Sabu, who glares right back at him with a fierce, almost savage, unblinking gaze. The fans are buzzing as Hebner calls for the bell.
DING DING DING!
Sabu flings himself forward, connecting on a basement dropkick to the knee.
Hennig: Yes! Take it to him!
The dropkick hobbles Kane, and Sabu kips up, unloading a roundhouse right to the side of the head. But Sabu ends up only hurting his hand by striking the mask.
JR: Oh my… that ain’t good for the champion!
Kane lunges with surprising quickness, grabs Sabu and flings him into the northwest corner. Kane charges in and waffles him with a nasty running clothesline!
Piper: YES!
JR: How do you like 300-plus pounds sandwiching you against three turnbuckles?!?
Kane drills Sabu with a stiff punch to the gut, followed by a back elbow smash to the side of the head, then unloads with a wicked uppercut!
JR: He’s treating Sabu like a punching bag!
Heenan: A demented, heavily scarred punching bag…
Sabu’s legs start to buckle, but Kane grabs him and connects on a big hiptoss out of the corner. Sabu stays down after the impact, clutching at his tailbone.
Piper: I think Kane almost sent Sabu into orbit, heh heh…
Hennig: THIS ISN’T FUNNY, DAMMIT!
Kane stays right on top of Sabu, lifting him into the air for a one-handed scoop slam, then hits a measured elbow across the throat. Kane covers.
One…
Tw—Sabu kicks out.
Heenan: It’s gonna take more than that to beat Sabu.
Hennig: That’s right, Brain.
Kane stays right there, grabbing Sabu by the hair with both hands. He turns, tossing the champ across the ring with a huge Beal! Sabu writhes on the canvas afterward, grabbing at his head.
[CUT] to a close-up of Kane, now holding a clump of Sabu’s hair in one of his gloved hands!
JR: Good God almighty, he just ripped Sabu’s hair out by the roots!
Piper: I tell you, moments like that make me proud!
Heenan: I think I might be sick…
Kane strolls across the ring and grabs the band of cloth extending from Sabu’s waistband. He yanks on it, delivers a clubbing forearm to the back, then hoists Sabu with one arm for a side slam. Sabu fights in Kane’s grip, but the monster holds on with seemingly no effort.
JR: Kane just strolling around the ring with Sabu in his grasp!
Kane starts to walk a bit faster, gets a running start… leaping side slam!
Piper: SPLAT!
Kane covers, hooking a leg.
One…
Two…
JR: And Sabu just squirrels a shoulder free.
Hennig: C’mon, Sabu!
Heenan: Are you sure you shouldn’t have picked The Rock, Curt?
Hennig: That’s not helping, Brain!
Kane hoists Sabu for a two-handed choke… then tosses him HARD into the northeast corner of the ring.
Piper: Is anyone else enjoying this? Because I know I am!
Sabu’s knees start to sag, as Kane charges in for a running clothesline. But Sabu sidesteps him and hits a drop toehold, sending Kane headfirst into the turnbuckles.
Heenan: OH!
JR: Sabu with the nice counter there…
Sabu struggles to his feet. Kane starts trying to stand but Sabu leaps, bringing his entire body weight crashing down across Kane’s upper back and neck.
Hennig: YES!
Sabu holds onto the ropes and does the same thing, eliciting a grunt of pain from the Big Red Machine. And again, this time driving both knees down into the back!
JR: Good LORD! Sabu brings all his weight down across the upper back of Kane three times, and I don’t care how big and bad he is, Kane’s still human. That’s gotta hurt, and Kane looks in a bad way right now!
Indeed, Kane is still down, with his head half hanging out through the ropes. Sabu stands and vaults himself to the outside, hitting Kane with a legdrop that snaps his neck down into the apron.
JR: OH MY!
Hennig: YES!
Sabu falls after hitting the move, but quickly gets to his feet and goes into his patented crouch, pointing at the sky as Hennig gets out of his seat.
Hennig: Stay on him, Sabu! STAY ON HIM!
Piper: You wanna borrow some pom-poms from Flip, Curt?
Hennig: Keep laughing, Piper. You see what’s happening—your boy’s getting annihilated by the champion!
Sabu grabs Kane and starts trying to pull the big man out to the floor. Kane, however, pushes off with his right arm, sending Sabu careening back into the announce table and then follows the champ out to the floor.
Heenan: Look out, they’re coming near us!
Kane adjusts his glove and rocks Sabu with a big uppercut, knocking him up onto the broadcast table. The two announcers and authority figures scatter, as Kane lays in a blatant choke on Sabu as he lies prone on the table. Sabu catches Kane with a couple of swift kicks to the side of the head to break the choke. Then Sabu stands on the table, leaps and drives Kane into the floor with a modified Fameasser!
Hennig: THERE WE GO! Now finish him!
JR: Boy, I tell ya, when you see two guys like Kane and Sabu heading your way, you clear outta Dodge!
Heenan: There’s no shame in a strategic retreat, JR!
JR: Kane is in a bad way after getting driven facefirst into the floor… and Sabu is looking to fly again!
The champ is on the apron, leaps to the middle rope and springs off… but brings his knees up to catch Kane with a double knee to the back!
JR: BRUTAL double knee by the champion!
Sabu gets up with an obvious limp, but still has enough left to hit another leaping legdrop across the back of Kane’s head.
Heenan: Sabu is relentless!
Sabu gets to his feet and poses again, bringing Hennig out of his seat to applaud.
Hennig: Beautiful!
JR: He’s giving up a foot in height, about 100 pounds in weight and a truckload of strength, but right now Sabu is showing why he’s the World Heavyweight Champion!
Hennig: You’re mighty quiet over there, Piper!
Piper: Ya know, I could be screaming at every move and getting out of my chair to cheer like an idiot. But you know what good that’d do in this match? Absolutely none…
Sabu is up, still limping a bit. He ducks under the ring and pulls out a steel chair.
JR: Oh my…
Piper: Now hold on just a second!
JR: Mark Cuban wanted latitude from Earl Hebner, but I think that applies to being bludgeoned with a steel chair!
Instead, though, Sabu gets into the ring, setting the chair up near the southeast corner, which is the one closest to Kane. Many of the fans come to their feet as the crowd starts to buzz.
Heenan: This is gonna be nasty!
Sabu jogs to the other side of the ring, gets a running start, leaps to the top of the chair, springs to the top rope … TWISTING SENTON DOWN ACROSS KANE! The fans EXPLODE at the impact as Sabu rolls off Kane, clutching at his tailbone, his face contorted in agony. Hebner promptly hustles out of the ring to check on the condition of both men.
JR: GOOD GOD! GOOD GOD! SABU PUTS HIS BODY AND HIS LIFE AT RISK AND DESTROYS KANE WITH A HIGH-RISK MOVE THAT DEFIES DESCRIPTION!
Hennig: It’s over! Just get him back in the ring, Sabu!
Heenan: I don’t think Sabu’s in a condition to wipe his own ass, much less get a guy like Kane back in the ring.
Apparently satisfied as to the condition of both men, Hebner gets back in the ring and starts a 10 count.
JR: Hebner now counting, and neither man is moving… we might have a double countout here, folks.
But at six, Sabu begins to stir. He crawls forward, pulling himself up with help from the ring apron.
Hennig: Get in the ring, Sabu!
Piper: C’mon, Kane!
Sabu gets in the ring at nine, but that forces a break in the count. He crawls on hands and knees to the other side of the ring, as Hebner begins another count.
Hennig: There we go, count! Faster!
Kane quickly starts to stir… but collapses again, rolling onto his back.
JR: Oh, no…
[CUT] to a close-up of Piper, who gets a stunned expression on his face as Kane collapses again.
Hennig: This is it! Someone get me a microphone so I can announce the first pick!
JR: Looks like we’re going to have a countout, and these fans don’t like it!
Six…
KANE SITS UP!
Heenan: WHAT THE HELL?!?
JR: KANE SITS UP!
[CUT] to Hennig, sitting slack-jawed at Kane.
Seven…
Kane swivels his head, staring right at Sabu, who is glaring at Kane in disbelief.
Piper: Get him! You hear me, Kane?! GET HIM!
Eight…
Kane easily gets to his feet!
Nine…
Kane climbs into the ring over the top rope! Sabu promptly launches forward with a flying leg lariat, but Kane catches him! Kane sets and throws Sabu backward over the top, and he tumbles end over end to the floor!
Piper: YES!
JR: My God, Kane throws Sabu headlong to the floor! Showing no regard for the safety of the World Champion…
Kane grabs the top rope and leans back, flipping backward to the floor and landing on his feet as Sabu writhes at his feet, clutching at his ribs and back. Kane pulls Sabu to his feet by two handfuls of hair, picks him up for a slam… then charges the corner, driving his spine into the ringpost! Kane keeps hold of Sabu, shoving his carcass back in under the bottom rope. Kane immediately pulls Sabu up and fires him into the ropes. He catches him on the rebound and plants Sabu with a tilt-a-whirl slam!
JR: Another big impact!
Sabu arches his back after the impact and stays down, even twitching a little bit.
[CUT] to Curt Hennig, who’s now silent, with his face buried in his hands.
Heenan: Sabu’s taking a worse beating than Portland Trail Blazers at the hands of the cops!
JR: Oh, really nice, Brain! That—wait…
Piper is now on the ring apron as Sabu sloooowly starts struggling to his feet. He gets Kane’s attention, and makes a throat-slitting gesture.
JR: Roddy Piper communicating with the Big Red Machine. He wants Kane to end it!
Kane nods and turns to Sabu, holding up one massive gloved hand. The World Champ turns around… Kane’s got him by the throat! Using only his right arm, Kane hoists Sabu and DRIVES him to the mat with a big chokeslam!
Hennig springs out of his chair, running to the apron.
Kane drops to his knees, folding Sabu’s hands on top of him.
JR: REST IN PEACE! There’s the count!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE—SABU KICKS OUT!
Heenan: How can you not hook the leg there?!?
Kane makes a more standard cover, this time hooking the leg.
One…
Two…
JR: And Sabu gets a shoulder up at two and a half!
Heenan: Yeah, because he had time to recover! What a stupid cover by Kane. You’ve GOT to hook the leg in a match like this! Even I know that!
Piper pounds the apron in frustration, while Hennig has his hands raised over his head.
JR: Piper is beside himself, and Hennig is celebrating like he won the match single-handed! You can see how badly both of these men want that No. 1 pick, and the advantage throughout this 32-round draft…
Kane, to his credit, goes right back to the attack. He scoops Sabu up over one shoulder for a
Heenan: Right in the Tombstones!
Sabu steps in front of Kane, and hits a jumping DDT! Kane gets driven headfirst into the mat and rolls onto his back. Sabu turns, beckoning to Hennig. The Commissioner nods and…
JR: Hold on, Curt Hennig heading back to our table now… hey, wait!
Hennig grabs his chair and tosses it into the ring! Piper heads over to confront Hennig, and meanwhile Hebner tries to stop Sabu, who shoulders past the official and sets the chair up near center ring.
JR: Meanwhile Piper and Hennig are in a shoving match out on the floor right in front of us!
Piper wrests free of Hennig’s grip, BIG right hand knocks him for a loop!
Heenan: HEY!
JR: DOWN GOES HENNIG! DOWN GOES HENNIG!
In the ring, Sabu applies a blatant choke on Kane as Hebner makes the count. Sabu breaks at four, then hooks the choke yet again. Sabu releases at four and a half, and sets the chair up at center ring.
Heenan: Time for the triple jump moonsault?
Sabu runs into the far ropes, bounces off… but Piper kicks the chair out of the way!
Heenan: HEY!
JR: Piper’s in the ring!
Sabu pulls up short, glaring at Piper, and now Hebner gets into the fray, yelling at Piper for interceding in the contest. Piper goes nose-to-nose with the referee, but meanwhile Sabu has the chair again!
Heenan: There we go, Sabu! Cheat to win! That’s what I call the attitude of a champion…
Piper’s trying to get the ref’s attention, but Hennig yanks Piper’s legs out from under him, then pulls Piper out to the floor. Hennig starts pounding on Piper! But the Rowdy Scot answers with some wicked punches to the head and the body!
JR: HENNIG AND PIPER ARE BEATING THE HELL OUT OF EACH OTHER!
Hebner is distracted by the brawl, while Sabu measures Kane with the chair as he struggles to his feet. Kane stands… Sabu bounces the chair off his skull, leaving Kane teetering.
Heenan: How in the world is he still standing?!
Sabu charges in for a follow, but Kane LEVELS him with a vicious running lariat!
Heenan: OHHHHHHHH!
Sabu lands right on the back of his head, before flopping over on his face. On the outside, the two authority figures finally have been separated by a swarm of referees and security. They stand between Hennig and Piper to prevent any additional fisticuffs. Hebner gets back into the ring, as Kane staggers a bit.
JR: Kane might have broken Sabu’s neck with that clothesline! There’s the cover!
One!
Two!
Th—SHOULDER UP BY SABU!
Kane rolls off, obviously a bit woozy after eating the chair, and Sabu rolls for the ropes. Kane tries to grab him, but Sabu kicks out of his grasp and reaches the ropes, wrapping his arms and legs around the bottom rope. Kane tries to get at Sabu, but Hebner steps in the way as the fans boo.
Heenan: These fans may not like seeing Sabu in the ropes, but that’s some smart strategy… Forces a break in the action.
Kane is still trying to get at Sabu, and shoulders past Hebner. Sabu struggling to his feet…
JR: Hey wait, Sabu’s got that chair from the outside!
Heenan: No wonder he wanted to get to the ropes. Brilliant!
Kane gets close, Sabu whirls and throws that chair, BUT KANE PUNCHES IT BACK IN HIS FACE!
JR: AND DOWN GOES SABU!
Hennig immediately gets on the apron, screaming at the referee.
Hennig: DQ! DQ!
JR: Curt Hennig wants the disqualification…
Heenan: And he should get it!
JR: I don’t know about that… Sabu wouldn’t have got hit with that chair if he hadn’t thrown it at Kane in the first place!
Hebner shakes his head at Hennig, and makes an arm motion that the match would continue.
JR: Good call by Earl Hebner in my opinion… but how much does Sabu have left?
Heenan: JR, look!
Kane heading to the top rope! He climbs up… motioning for Sabu to stand. Sabu reaches one knee.
JR: Kane measuring Sabu for that clothesline off the top…
Sabu stands, but before Kane can launch, Sabu dives forward into the ropes! They shake but Kane’s just able to keep his balance! Sabu starts shaking the ropes desperately, and Kane gets crotched!
Heenan: What a counter! The classic Greco-Roman turnbuckle chain to the nuts!
Sabu turns and charges that corner. He hooks the bent-over Kane in a front facelock… DDT!
Heenan: OHHH!
JR: HUGE DDT! Kane has all 300-plus pounds acting as extra force as he is driven headfirst into the mat!
Sabu rolls Kane over and covers.
ONE!
TWO!
THRE—KICKOUT!
JR: MY GOD HE KICKED OUT! HOW IN THE WORLD?!?
Heenan: But what’s he got left?!
Sabu stands and hits a leaping facebuster. Then he backs up, grabbing that chair again. Sabu springs to the top of the chair… perfect triple jump moonsault!!
Heenan: BEAUTIFUL!
Sabu struggles to his feet after the impact, clutching at his ribs. Still he makes a cover, hooking one of Kane’s legs in a deep grapevine.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
WIN: Sabu by pinfall in 9:34 (Mayhem gets No. 1 pick)
Hennig thrusts his arms into the air, screaming in triumph as the bell rings.
JR: That’s it! Sabu has beaten the monster Kane! And just like that, Curt Hennig and Monday Night Mayhem have earned the No. 1 overall pick for this draft!
Heenan: What a battle, JR. What a match! Sabu was facing someone so much bigger, so much stronger… but he used that reckless offense of his to even the playing field!
JR: Man, you’ve got to tip your hat to Kane, though. That big man took more from Kane than TWO regular wrestlers probably could sustain. The senton off the top… that vicious DDT… steel chairs to the face… but finally that triple jump moonsault was enough to end it.
Hennig is in the ring now, raising Sabu’s arm in victory. Piper, meanwhile, is on the outside with his hands on his hips.
JR: And now Hennig asking for a microphone!
Hennig beckons for the mic from Howard Finkel, as Kane rolls to the floor. He glares back at the ring, as Piper gives him a pat on the back then starts to head up the aisle. The big man follows the Rowdy Scot.
Hennig: You know… it’s poetic justice that Sabu won this match tonight. Because it’s a preview of what you’re gonna see every week—Monday Night Mayhem dominating and destroying Piper’s Adrenaline show! We WILL have the top brand in all of professional wrestling, and I will start assembling that roster right… now!
Hennig nods as his statement is met with a very mixed reaction—cheers from those eager to see the draft begin, boos from those who loathe Hennig. He and Sabu start to leave the ring, heading for the podium near the stage.
[ON SCREEN] a ticker now appears at the bottom of the screen. “CURT HENNIG’S NO. 1 PICK NEXT!” scrolls across constantly.
JR: Well fans, once this draft begins, Roddy Piper has a maximum of five minutes to make his next pick. That interval will continue throughout the evening, although picks can of course be made at any time. We’ll have some picks made live here in the arena, at that podium by the stage. Others will take place during the rest of tonight’s matches, and we’ll announce those on the Titantron as they happen. Plus, you’ll note the ticket at the bottom of the screen. It’s gonna keep track of the draft results as we head through tonight’s first 16 rounds…
[CUT] to a sizable floor area backstage, partitioned off by black curtains. Under normal circumstances, such a location might contain the staff catering spread prior to a sporting event or concert. This evening, it is full of chairs. The entire CWF roster is sitting in rows. Predictably, rivals are well separated. The Flock and DX are at opposite ends of the room, as are Brand X and the Horsemen. Nearly everyone in the room has their attention focused on the big-screen television that has been set up against one wall.
JR: There you see the entire CWF roster, anxiously awaiting their fate. You also might notice Sid is not in attendance tonight. He’s at home in accordance with that one-month suspension handed down by Mark Cuban at Base-Brawl…
Heenan: Curt’s at the podium!
Hennig steps to the podium, adjusting the lapels of his suit.
Hennig: With the number one overall pick in this draft… I select for Monday Night Mayhem the man who represented me tonight. He is suicidal… homicidal… genocidal… and the reigning World Heavyweight Champion… SABUUU!
Sabu is standing right there, and promptly shakes Hennig’s hand. Sabu raises the title belt over his head.
JR: A huge acquisition for Mayhem!
Heenan: Definitely. Not only is Sabu a great talent in his own right, but more importantly, with that pick Mayhem claims the World Heavyweight Championship!
Hennig and Sabu are still celebrating when Roddy Piper’s music hits again. Piper comes out wielding a microphone.
Piper: Excuse me… will you two please vacate the podium area? I’ve got a draft pick to make!
Hennig smirks and rolls his eyes, then steps away from the podium as Sabu does the same. Piper walks by without a second glance at Hennig, then rubs his jaw a bit.
Piper: Quite a right you’ve got there, Curt! Did your husband teach you how to punch like that?
Crowd: OOOOOH!
Piper: [smiling] Hey, I kid! I kid! Don’t be so dramatic… Besides, you’ll need a sense of humor as I introduce my next pick. He’s a man you know quite well, Sabu! You might even say he deserves that title more than you…
Heenan: Well that could be one of several guys…
JR: Who is it?!?
Piper: With the first pick for Adrenaline, I select… THE ROCK!
JR: OH MY GOD!
Heenan: ROCKY! THE ROCK HEADED TO PIPER’S SHOW!
[CUT] to the draft pool room, where ALL the wrestlers are talking about the pick. [ZOOM IN] on The Rock, who’s standing up in his seat, which is part of a cluster occupied by the Corporation.
JR: Roddy Piper has split up the two top stars in the Corporation!
Heenan: And he’s separated Rock from what he wants most, the World Heavyweight Championhip!
JR: The CWF Draft is under way! What else is gonna happen tonight?!?
[FADE OUT] as the clock ticks down awaiting Curt Hennig’s second pick.
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN to a wide shot of the stage and podium.]
JR: Folks, welcome back to this historic evening.. We’re holding the CWF roster draft, with the federation forever splitting into two distinct brands. New shows, new alliances, new rivalries and even new sets of rules can be expected! We’ve already seen Sabu and The Rock selected. And now Curt Hennig is coming back out for his second pick…
Hennig: So, Roddy Piper thinks he can screw with me by selecting The Rock. Well, you’d think a veteran like Hot Rod would understand the importance of tradition. You can’t create that tradition overnight. But, thanks to Sabu’s win, Adrenaline will be WITHOUT the World Heavyweight Championship. And now, Piper’s got to create a little more fake tradition… because with my next TWO picks, I take the reigning World Tag Team Champions, Test and Hakushi!!
Heenan: Wow…
[CUT] to the draft pool room. Test and Hakushi stand, grabbing their title belts. They look at each other and touch fists, before walking out of the room. On the way out, D’Lo Brown is staring a hole through the 7-footer Test.
JR: So Hennig lays claim to the World Heavyweight AND Tag Team Titles for Monday Night Mayhem… Man, he’s right, Piper’s got to create new singles AND tag titles for his show now. That’s not gonna look good in comparison to what Mayhem has right now…
Heenan: It’s a gamble, though. Remember, tag champions are the only ones allowed to be drafted as a set. So that means Roddy Piper gets to make two consecutive picks now!
JR: Plus, don’t forget Test and Hakushi defend those belts later tonight! But in the wake of that pick, who will the Rowdy Scot choose? We’ll soon find out. Right now, though, let’s go to Jerry Lawler, who is standing by with The Rock!
[CUT] to Lawler, standing in a locker room somewhere in the Rose Garden, with The Rock.
Lawler: I’m here in the locker room for the Adrenaline draftees, with that show’s No. 1 pick, The Rock. I gotta ask, Rock, what are your thoughts about getting separated from the World Heavyweight Title?
Rock smiles briefly, then removes his sunglasses.
Rock: Thoughts? You want The Rock’s thoughts… OK… To be honest, The Rock’s a little unhappy. The Rock’s a little pissed off. Because The Rock knew it was just a matter of time before that World Heavyweight Title went back where it belonged. [points at his own chest] But on the other hand… The Rock gets a chance at a fresh start. The Rock gets a chance to make damn sure that everyone in this federation, and in the world, knows who the prime-time player is. That’s right, Roddy Piper, you might be calling the shots and making the draft picks, but as of now you can guaran-damn-tee that THE ROCK will be the man who runs the show! The Rock will be the owner, the proprietor, the judge, the jury AND the executioner… the butcher, the baker, the poontang-PIE maker! Quite simply, The Rock will be Babe Ruth’s New York Yankees, Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and my Miami Hurricanes all rolled into one… Adrenaline is the Rock’s show now, jabronis. [whips off his sunglasses as the camera ZOOMS IN for a tight close-up] That’s not a promise. It’s a fact. If ya SMELLLLLLALALALALALALAAAA! What The Rock! Is… Cookin’…
Lawler: Let’s go back to the arena, where Piper’s getting ready to make his next TWO picks!
[CUT] back to the arena, where Piper is greeted with a solid round of applause as he makes his way to the podium.
Piper: You know… Curt Hennig’s probably feelin’ pretty good right about now. He probably feels like everything is all set for his big debut Sunday night, at the Redemption pay-per-view. Well, that feeling… is about to change. We all saw the big match Thursday night, to determine who would face Sabu at Redemption for the World Heavyweight Title. The Rock battled to a draw… against my next pick! The Canadian Crippler, Chris Benoit!
The crowd EXPLODES in cheers at this.
JR: WOW!
[CUT] to Chris Benoit, who gets up with a sneer on his face.
JR: There’s the Rabid Wolverine himself, and he doesn’t look too happy, Brain.
Heenan: Of course not! His whole purpose since coming to the CWF has been to beat Sabu, and now they’re on different shows. Sabu might as well be living on the moon, as far as Benoit’s concerned!
JR: Another bombshell pick from Rod—wait a second…
Hennig: YOU CAN’T DO THAT! YOU CAN’T DO THAT!
[WIDE SHOT of the stage area as Hennig storms out to confront Roddy Piper.]
Security run out and stand between the two authority figures to prevent another brawl.
Hennig: What do you think you’re doing, huh?! You trying to sabotage my pay-per-view? Huh!? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!
Piper just stands there, with a big smile on his face.
Hennig: You think these security drones are gonna keep me from kicking your ass?
Piper: No…
Hennig: So what will?
*FOOOM!*
Hennig cringes as pyro shoots off behind him on the stage, and KANE walks through the smoke.
Piper: MEET MY NEXT PICK!
Hennig turns as the Big Red Machine approaches. He takes a long look at Kane… then backs off, pointing back at Piper.
JR: Piper adds Benoit and Kane to the Adrenaline roster! Hennig’s got all the champions, but you could definitely argue that the Hot Rod has assembled more star power!
Heenan: This is gonna be a wild night!
JR: Well fans, let’s go live to Mean Gene, standing by with the World Tag Champs!
[CUT] to Mean Gene, with Test and Hakushi in another large locker room. Sabu is actually pacing in the background, the World Heavyweight Title in his grip.
Gene: All right, we have definitely entered the shank of the evening, as the CWF draft is now in full swing! I’m here with the newest members of the Monday Night Mayhem roster, Test and Hakushi… gentlemen, congratulations.
Test: Good to be here, Gene.
Gene: Now, as of now, you gentlemen are the champions. But later tonight, you’ll be facing Sandman & Rey Mysterio Jr. for the tag titles. Not to mention the scheduled titles in a three-way dance at Redemption against Hostile Takeover, and D’Lo Brown and a partner of his choice. But there’s the chance neither team could survive the draft intact!
Test just smirks.
Test: So? I must’ve missed the part where that’s our problem. Look… who we face Sunday… honestly, it doesn’t matter to us. Because since winning these belts? Hakushi and I have been willing to defend against anyone if they’ve earned a legitimate shot—even a whiner like D’Lo Brown. Personally, I hope Mr. Hennig does draft D’Lo, if only so I can shut his mouth once and for all.
Hakushi starts to speak in Japanese, tugging on Test’s shirt sleeve.
Test: What? What do you mean you’ve got to go?
Hakushi answers with more Japanese.
Test: Hey, if you qualify, who’m I to stop you? I know you’ll be there when it counts. Just don’t forget what we’ve got to do later tonight.
Hakushi nods, bows and jogs out of the room.
Gene: Um, where’s he going?
Test: You’ll see, Gene… You’ll see…
Gene: We’ll be back right after this.
COMMERCIALS
[CUT] back to an overhead shot of the arena as Kurt Angle’s theme music is playing. Flip steps out onto the stage and does a backflip. He screams “GO KURT” in synch with the horns in his boss’ theme music as he heads down the aisle.
JR: Well fans, it’s time for our Cruiserweight Battle Royal. As you know, the Cruiserweight Title is currently vacant, as Michael Modest basically renounced the belt.
Heenan: He did more than that, JR. He spit in the eye of all the authorities here in the CWF, and basically said their title didn’t matter. Then, he ended up facing Curt Hennig for the World TV Title Monday, Roddy Piper got involved, Hennig lost the match and Hennig and Piper ended up beating the hell out of each other! So, if you ask me, every guy who is upset with his place in this draft can blame Michael Modest for that!
JR: That may be true, but what’s done is done. And Curt Hennig apparently intends to keep the Cruiserweight Title alive on Monday Night Mayhem, so I guess he wants to get a good look at the talent available for that division.
[ZOOM OUT] as the Hardys reach the ring, which already has some competitors awaiting. The Hardys, Kid Kash,
JR: You’ll note some of the faces in the ring might look a bit unfamiliar. You’re looking at some of the best and brightest talent from Smoky Mountain Wrestling, including former CWF wrestlers Lash LeRoux and Eddie Guerrero, and the newly crowned SMW Television Champ, Kid Kash! Just a reminder, folks, Smoky Mountain Wrestling competitors are available to be drafted as well… This is a great opportunity for those guys to grab the attention of the powers that be.
The Hardys’ theme cuts off as Rey Mysterio Jr.’s music hits, and the masked man leaps out onto the stage and heads down the aisle, greeting the fans.
JR: Taka Michinoku and Mike Sanders could not compete in this match due to injury, so Rey Mysterio prepares to do a little double duty! Rey has had a very tough go in the CWF so far. Quite frankly, he might be a guy with borderline status for this draft. He really needs a strong showing tonight to make sure that Hennig or Piper select him.
Heenan: I’m not sure wrestling twice in one night and risking a title shot is the smart way to do that.
[CUT] to a wide shot of the arena, as the Titantron suddenly cuts to a black screen. “NEXT PICK” flashes on the screen a few times in huge red letters, before the following words appear.
MAYHEM
ROUND 4
CHRIS
Heenan: WOW!
JR: Curt Hennig takes Chris Jericho! Talk about a match made in hell! Those guys cannot stand each other.
Heenan: But
Back to the ring, as “Trust” by Megadeth starts up, and Jerry Lynn heads down the aisle.
JR: Here comes the New F’n King!
Heenan: This could be a big distraction for Jerry Lynn. He’s still in the Above and Beyond tournament, don’t forget that!
JR: Jerry Lynn’s probably the biggest longshot in that tournament, but he’s still one heck of a competitor…
The Horsemen’s theme music starts up, and Dean Malenko and Chris Candido head down the aisle side by side.
JR: And here comes another semifinalist in the Above and Beyond tournament!
Heenan: Dean-o’s got some serious momentum, too! Remember he won that tag match involving Kurt Angle and RVD at Base-Brawl.
JR: Dean-o?
Heenan: Yeah. That’s my nickname. He likes it. We’re tight like that…
The music fades as the competitors size up one another.
JR: A reminder this is a standard battle royal. You’re only eliminated when you’re thrown over the top, with both feet hitting the floor. I—
JR gets cut off as Hakushi’s music hits!
JR: Wait a second!
The crowd erupts as the Tag Team Champion walks out, now wearing an
Heenan: What is HE doing out here?!?
JR: Well, Hakushi does meet the 230-pound weight limit! I guess this is the business he wants to take care of… Who knows? Maybe Hakushi has duel titles on his mind—adding the Cruiserweight Title to the tag belts…
Heenan: He may not have either if he gets exhausted during this battle royal.
Hakushi climbs into the ring, and everyone else stares at him… until Hakushi unloads with a spinning back kick off the jaw of
Heenan: HERE WE GO!
2. Cruiserweight Battle Royal
Participants: Dean Malenko, Chris Candido, Flip, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Jerry Lynn, Kid Kash,
The crowd erupts as all the competitors start whaling away on each other. Malenko and Candido predictably team up, swarming Christian with a barrage of punches, kicks and forearm shots. The Hardys also unite, focusing their attention on Lance Storm.
JR: And predictably the two tag teams in this match combine forces…
Lynn and Eddie are trading punches at center ring, while Lash tosses Rey into the southeast corner. Tajiri and Kash start to go at it, while Hakushi pulls Lane up and hits a headbutt, then a leaping chop to the head and a crisp spin kick to the side of the head.
JR: Good grief!
Heenan:
Lane reels drunkenly back against the ropes, and Hakushi quickly ousts him!
JR: Just like that,
Flip tries to sneak up on the tag champ, but Hakushi turns and stops Flip dead in his tracks!
Heenan: Hey now… You respect him, Hakushi. He’s royalty, he’s the Prince of Pep!
Flip starts to beg off, finally going into a bow… Hakushi bows back, then unloads with a backflip kick!
JR: OH!
Flip goes sprawling back into the ropes, and Hakushi charges with a running clothesline to send him end over end to the floor!
JR: So much for the Prince of Pep!
Heenan: Our Nielsens just dropped a half point, JR. Remember, he’s Ratings Gold!
JR: Right…
The crowd erupts at the ouster of the Prince of Pep, when Lash LeRoux clobbers Hakushi from behind. Lash trying to eliminate him and Hakushi hangs on for dear life. Kash heads over to assist Lash.
JR: These competitors are gunning for the World Tag Team champion…
Meanwhile, Lynn and Eddie are tied up and jockeying for position against the ropes, until Eddie goes to the eyes! Malenko and Candido are working on Christian, as the Hardys fire Storm into the corner next to Lash and Hakushi. Matt drops to all fours.
JR: Poetry in Motion, maybe…
Jeff gets a running start, but Rey runs at Matt, springing off his back and drilling Jeff with a midair dropkick! Both men crash to the canvas.
Heenan: WHOA!
JR: That’s what happens when you get this many cruiserweights in one place. Something exciting is bound to happen!
Matt stands and goes to help his brother, but Eddie grabs Matt from behind and hits a nasty belly to back suplex. As he hits, Malenko and Candido hit Christian with a double suplex, dropping him across Matt. Eddie starts stomping Matt as Malenko and Candido start working over Christian. Meanwhile, Tajiri yanks Jeff up… kick to the ribs, and another!
JR: Tajiri utilizing those educated feet…
Heenan: If they’re smart, how come they don’t speak English?
JR: Feet don’t speak…
Heenan: Blast, you know what I mean!
As the announcers banter, Tajiri throws Jeff into the northeast corner. Tajiri unloads with a kick to the side of the head! And another! He backs up looking for more and gets waffled from behind by
Heenan: OHHH!
Lash drops to the floor in a heap!
JR: So much for the Ragin’ Cajun!
Rey is on his feet, albeit on rubber legs, and
Heenan: Time for another draft pick…
ADRENALINE
ROUND 4
“NATURE BOY” RIC FLAIR
JR: OH MY GOD! THE NATURE BOY HEADED TO ADRENALINE!
The crowd responds with a near-deafening chorus of WHOOOOO’s, leading Malenko and Candido to look up and around till he reads the truth on the Jumbotron.
Heenan: And now poor Dean Malenko and Chris Candido read the truth. What’s that pick mean for the Horsemen, JR? They might have to—uh oh!
JR: The Iceman, driven right on his head!
Heenan: Not Malenko!
JR: Jerry Lynn gets a measure of revenge from the finish of the tag match on Base-Brawl.
As
JR: Kid Kash sent packing! The eliminations are fast and furious so far…
Storm stands and pumps his fist in celebration, until Hakushi hooks Storm from behind, and Storm’s mouth forms a perfect “O” right before Hakushi pops his hips and dumps him on the back of his head with a vicious German!
Heenan: Hey, Christian’s got the right idea!
Christian is lurking in the northwest corner of the ring, watching the action from a crouching position.
Heenan: Yeah, that’s a Bobby Heenan-style strategy… Uh oh!
Candido charges in from Christian’s right. He sees it and tries to stand, but Candido DRILLS him with a running knee to the side of the head. Candido starts pounding on him, until Christian catches him with an uppercut below the belt.
Heenan: Right in the Body Donnas!
Meanwhile, Eddie catches Matt Hardy with a spinning boot scrape across the eyes, followed by a leaping kneedrop to the head, while Rey has Jeff Hardy on the ropes. Tajiri waits for
JR: That’ll clear your sinuses!
Heenan: And make your dentist a very happy man, if you’re not careful…
Hakushi has Storm up and maneuvers him over to the ropes, going for the elimination.
JR: Storm might be out on his feet, and Hakushi trying to take advantage and elimninate him… and Lynn trying to do the same with Tajiri!
But Tajiri is doubled over with a death grip on the middle rope. Eddie picks Matt up in a fireman’s carry and heads over near the ropes.
Heenan: OHH!
JR: Lance Storm clutching that bottom rope with all his strength,
Tajiri charges and tries to get rid of
Heenan: Jerry Lynn’s in trouble!
Suddenly Jeff Hardy springs to the top rope in the near corner, taking off with his Whisper in the Wind twisting moonsault press!
JR: Look OUUUUUT!
Hardy LEVELS Rey and Tajiri with a nasty impact, which sends
JR: And BARELY,
JR: Christian drives Eddie facefirst into the mat after Guerrero cherry-picked the elimination of Jerry Lynn.
Heenan: Actually, JR, I think his people pick more than just cherries…
JR: Oh, that’s really nice! Come on! Show some class!
Storm rakes Hakushi’s eyes and is able to get back on his feet. They start trading chops. Christian gets up and goes to get rid of Eddie, but Candido hooks him from behind and hits a Russian legsweep.
JR: Now Christian gets dropped! Man, it’s like you’ve got to have eyes in the back of your head to get through this battle royal unscathed.
Heenan: Eyes in the front of your head help, too…
JR: Yeah. [long pause] Wait, what?
Candido has Christian into a front facelock and fires away with some nasty forearms across the back, then hits a DDT! Jeff Hardy is struggling to his feet, clutching at his ribs. Candido runs up and tosses him out over the top.
JR: Jeff Hardy gone!
Christian is trying to stand, and woozy. Candido hooks him from behind for a belly to back suplex, turns and dumps him head over heels backwards to the floor!
JR: OH MY, and there goes Christian in a dangerous fall to the concrete!
Heenan: And that floor’s got NO give… None…
Matt gouges Eddie’s face blatantly to escape the fireman’s carry. He drops down behind Eddie, hooks a sleeper then drives the back of his head into the mat. Hakushi has Storm up for a slam or elimination attempt, but Tajiri saunters across the ring toward them and unloads with a wicked kick to the ribs on the tag champ!
JR: Tajiri saves Storm!
Hakushi drops Storm, and Tajiri then catches Storm with a hook kick to the side of the head!
Heenan: Or not…
JR: This is every man for himself!
Heenan: I love it that way! That’s the same way holidays work in the Heenan household, I can tell you that much…
Meanwhile, Matt slams Eddie and heads to the second rope in the near corner.
Matt: AHHHHHHH!
But before he can leap off, Rey springs into the corner. he monkey flips Matt out of the corner, and he hits the canvas right after Eddie rolled from that spot. Candido turns to see the rest of the field split off in groups of three… simply shrugs, and leans back against the ropes.
Heenan: See? SEE?!? That’s the winning strategy!
Eddie says something to Rey as Matt stands, favoring his back. They move up behind Rey, and hoist him in a double fireman’s carry. They walk over to the ropes… and pitch Matt out to the floor! He hits HARD on his back.
JR: Good LORD, Matt Hardy sent sailing to the floor!
Meanwhile, Tajiri and Storm are trying to get rid of Hakushi. Now here comes Candido! He grabs Tajiri’s legs and pushes forward, and both Tajiri and Hakushi end up spilling to the floor.
JR: And Candido with a double elimination!
Heenan: There we go! He’s my pick, JR. When in doubt, jump somebody from behind. Then kick him! That’s my motto!
JR: I thought it was win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat.
Heenan: I’m allowed to have multiple mottos…
As the announcers banter, the Jumbotron flickers to life again.
MAYHEM
ROUND 5 & 6
KURT ANGLE & HAKU
Heenan: WHOA!
JR: Are you ready for this? Curt Hennig selects the United States Tag Champions for Mayhem! And Brain, that means that Roddy Piper will receive two picks in a row.
Heenan: Big deal, JR. Curt Hennig now has BOTH sets of CWF tag titles, in addition to the World title and the Intercontinental title! He’s got an obvious game plan, and so far it’s working out perfectly in my opinion…
Storm crawls away from the scrum and stands… turning to see Candido standing there. The two men go nose to nose, until Candido piefaces Storm.
JR: Oh man, there’s a lot of history here, back from ECW… AND THERE THEY GO!
Candido and Storm start slugging it out!
Rey and Eddie see the fight and look at one another.
JR: And meanwhile those two have lots of history as well…
Rey shrugs, Eddie shrugs back… and Rey catches Eddie with an enzyguiri!
Heenan: YEAH! More betrayal, I love it!
Eddie staggers, Rey runs behind him and hits a dropkick to the back. Eddie goes sprawling forward into the ropes on his knees. Meanwhile Storm and Candido are still beating the hell out of each other! They’re on the mat, pounding away! Rey runs into the far ropes and comes off grabbing the ropes and trying to swing his legs into Eddie’s face… but Eddie gets out of the way and Rey spins back into the ring. As he does, Eddie kips up!
Heenan: Hey!
But Rey catches Eddie with a stiff kick to the chest. He leaps for a huracanrana, but Eddie turns toward the ropes, sending both men spilling over the top. Eddie and Rey both grip the top rope and end up hanging side by side. But they start kicking at one another! Rey loses his grip and he’s gone!
JR: Eddie eliminates Rey after some sensational lucha-style action!
Meanwhile Storm is standing over Candido. He pulls the Horseman up… superkick… No! Candido blocks it! Storm turns, Candido lowers his shoulder and picks Storm up for a possible double-leg spinebuster. Instead Candido tosses Storm up into the air… IMPLANT DDT! The crowd ooh’s and ahh’s at the impact.
Heenan: OHHHOHOHO WOW!
JR: CANDIDO WITH THE HARD KNOCK! And Lance Storm has got to be unconscious!
Candido pulls Storm up and tosses him from the ring! He pauses, talking a bit of trash to his former partner… when Eddie runs up behind him! He dumps Candido! EDDIE GUERRERO WINS!
Heenan: All right! I told you, JR! My pick, Eddie Guerrero, wins this match!
JR: I thought your pick was Chris Candido!
Heenan: Everyone knows who my pick was!
JR: Uh huh. Well, this victory certainly will raise Guerrero’s stock in the draft. Speaking of the draft, let’s go backstage to Joey Styles in Curt Hennig’s war room.
WIN: Guerrero in 10:23
[CUT to the Hennig war room.]
A few referees are assimilating information in the background. Curt Hennig is sifting through the contents of a manila folder when Kurt Angle walks up.
Angle: Mr. Hennig… Sir, on behalf of myself and my partner Haku, THANK YOU for drafting us to Monday Night Mayhem. Truly, from the bottom of our heart. We’re bound and determined to prove ourselves as the best tag team in the business.
Hennig: Well, since we’ve got BOTH sets of tag titles, that won’t be hard. All kidding aside, thank YOU, Kurt. We’re honored to have the only Olympic gold medalist in pro wrestling history as part of Mayhem!
Hennig and Angle shake hands, with Angle sporting a Cheshire cat-like grin. He leans in close to the Commissioner.
Angle: Um… there is just one thing, sir. I was hoping you could do me a favor.
Hennig: Go on.
Angle: Well I was wondering if you could be sure to draft… [whispers in Hennig’s ear.]
Hennig: What? Are you CRAZY?!?
Angle: C’mon, we both know he’d be a GREAT fit on your new show… I guarantee you he’ll help pack ’em in every Monday night.
Hennig: I don’t know…
Angle: Well if you do this, sir, you’ll have myself and Haku at your beck and call. We’ll do anything you want, DESTROY anyone that gets on your bad side. You’ll have an Olympic champion and a Samoan monster ready to defend you against anyone and everyone! All you have to do… is make… the right call.
Hennig stands there, pondering Angle’s offer as the scene [FADES OUT]
COMMERCIALS
[CUT to a close-up shot of the podium in the arena after the commercial break.]
JR: Welcome back to night one of the CWF draft, and it appears Mr. Piper is ready with his two draft picks for Adrenaline…
Piper: [clears his throat] I’d be lyin’ if I said tonight was working out like I planned. But, like Cowboy Bob Orton always says, life gives you lemons… and you squirt the juice in your opponent’s eyes, and knock ’em out with a right cross to the jaw! [pause] I guess Cowboy Bob was never much for sayings… Anyway, I’m sure Captain Ponytail feels pretty good about his spot right now. I’m sure he feels pretty good about Sunday night’s pay-per-view. Sure, I took both the top contenders for Sabu’s title, but he’s still got the Above and Beyond tournament finals. Or at least he DID. Because my next two picks… are Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn!
Heenan: HEY!
JR: Piper takes The Whole F’n Show and the New F’n King in one fell swoop! They were supposed to face each other in the semifinals of the Above & Beyond tournament Sunday night!
Heenan: The Rowdy Scot just wrecked the card for Redemption in one fell swoop!
Piper walks off the stage, with a huge grin on his face.
JR: Let’s go to the Hennig war room to see how he’s taking it…
[CUT] to Hennig, slamming his fist down on his desk repeatedly as Angle and the Mayhem referees look on uneasily.
Hennig: Dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit DAMMIT!
With the last dammit, Hennig picks up his fax macine and throws it against the wall. It shatters, and the pieces clatter to the floor. He sits at the desk, burying his face in his hands.
Angle: You’ve still got the Olympic champion, sir!
Hennig pivots to glare at Angle, who takes a step back.
Hennig: You just better live up to your end of the bargain!
Angle: Hey, remember the second I, sir. Integrity!
Angle gives Hennig a thumb’s-up and big cheesy grin as Hennig scowls.
Hennig: I gotta go get ready for my next pick...
[CUT] to the Mayhem locker room, where Mean Gene is standing by with Chris Jericho. Hakushi is in the background, pressing an icepack against his lower back as he speaks with Test.
Gene: All right fans, are you ready for this? I’m here with the reigning Intercontinental Champion, Chris Jericho. Chris, you’ve had lots of trouble with Curt Hennig recently. How do you think you’ll coexist with Hennig still your boss?
Gene: He is Chris Jericho, and he is proud to be the Intercontinental Champion. What more can you say? Let’s go to the Adrenaline locker room!
[CUT] to Lawler, standing by in the same large locker room from before. The Rock is in the background.
Lawler: This is the King, and I’m awaiting the arrival of the latest draft picks for Adrenaline—the Nature Boy Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam and my protégé, the “New F’n King” Jerry Lynn! This is the first current CWF titleholder drafted by Roddy Piper so far, so…
Rock: [looking off-screen] You got a problem with me?
[QUICK PAN LEFT] to see Chris Benoit standing there.
Benoit: Maybe I do. Because we both know I had you beat Thursday night.
Rock: Oh, dream on, midget, you couldn’t beat an ant in a high jumping contest!
Benoit heads across the room and starts slugging it out with Rock!
Lawler: Hey, guys! Come on, break it up!
The door opens and Van Dam enters the room. RVD joins Lawler in trying to separate Rock and Benoit. At that point, the door opens and Ric Flair enters the room.
Flair: You boys ready to—
Flair trails off, and his eyes bulge… before he takes off down the hall. KANE storms into the shot, barreling through Rock, Benoit and those trying to separate them.
Lawler: Hey, wait!
The King extricates himself from the fight and heads into the hall. [CAMERA FOLLOWS] Lawler to the door. [PAN LEFT] down the hall. Kane and Flair are gone, but the swath of destruction left by the Big Red Machine is evident in the scattered debris, and a couple of anonymous staff members peeling themselves up off the floor after getting caught in the monster’s path. Lawler shakes his head and starts back inside when…
Lawler: Hey!
[PAN RIGHT] to see Jerry Lynn heading down the hall, dressed in street clothes and pulling a suitcase behind him.
Lawler: Jerry! Right in here, pal…
Lawler holds the door open for
Lawler: Hey, Jerry, I—
Lawler: Jerry?!
Lawler stands there, confused, as the scene [FADES OUT]
[CUT] to a wide shot of the arena.
JR: Well, you can already see how this draft is shaking up things in the CWF! Rock and Benoit are going at each other’s throats…
Heenan: Who cares about that, JR? We need to call security… call the police… call the Marines to protect Ric Flair from that monster Kane! He’s an athlete and a finely tuned champion, he can’t be… be SULLIED by that behemoth!
JR: Are you forgetting that Flair had Kane committed to the insane asylum?
Heenan: You can’t live in the past, JR. Even if you’re a gigantic, superhumanly strong burn victim. Those are words to live by, partner.
JR: Meanwhile don’t forget about the reaction from Jerry Lynn. Remember, he is in the semifinals of the Above and Beyond tournament—an event that is now taking place on Redemption, a pay-per-view for the OTHER show, Monday Night Mayhem! So, just like that, Lynn and RVD have lost their spots!
Heenan: Hey, Kurt Angle was gonna win that tournament anyway… Oops! Here comes Curt!
[CUT] to a close-up of the podium as Curt Hennig steps behind it.
Hennig: Are you proud of yourself, Piper? Are you amused? Do you think it’s funny to mess with the Above and Beyond tournament, and sabotage plans that were in place before this draft was even announced? WELL IT’S DAMN SURE NOT FUNNY TO ME! You want to play dirty, Piper? You want to take this past competition… past rivalry… and make it a war? Well then war it is! My next pick… is the finest play-by-play announcer in professional wrestling today, Jim… Ross!
Heenan: Hey!
[CUT] to a close-up of JR seated at the ringside broadcast table.
Heenan: Congratulations, JR! I told you Curt Hennig recognizes quality!
JR: Well, I… I guess I’ll be staying here on Monday nights, folks!
Hennig: Because what better way to confirm this as the flagship show of the CWF, than by acquiring the flagship commentator. There’s just one problem. Brain, you know I respect you, but I’m afraid that with this pick I must request Mayhem-ONLY talent on the commentary team. You’ll need to head to the draft pool room with everyone else.
A few fans boo at this, but Heenan shrugs and stands.
JR: Well, Brain, looks like this is the end!
Heenan: Don’t sound so happy about it, ya dumb Okie. After all I’m sure Piper will take me with his next choice to prevent getting totally besieged by humanoids. Catch ya later, JR.
Heenan does a little salute then heads for the back.
JR: My God, I feel as if a gigantic weight’s been lifted from my shoulders. Quoth the Weasel… nevermore! And we’ll be back right after this.
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN] to JR, now sitting all by his lonesome at the ringside broadcast position.
JR: Welcome back, folks, and you’ll notice that Bobby Heenan is conspicuous by his absence. That’s because yours truly was just taken by Curt Hennig, in the seventh round of this already-historic CWF draft! You’ll notice the ticker at the bottom of the screen; that’s going to provide a running tally of who’s gone where tonight, as we—[holds a hand over his ear] Hold on! Fans, we’ve got to go to the back!
[CUT] to outside the building, as a cameraman is hustling through a parking lot. He’s running toward a rather plain looking luxury sedan, with Ric Flair behind the wheel. He’s frantically trying to start the car as Kane runs into view! Kane rears back and punches through the passenger’s side window. Before he can reach through, Flair floors it and speeds away from the Big Red Machine.
Kane stands there, breathing heavily after the Nature Boy’s escape. Then, he sees the camera.
Cameraman: Hey, hold on… Hold on! HOLD ON!
The cameraman starts backing up frantically as Kane approaches. The big man reaches out with one gloved hand and
[STATIC]
[CUT] back to the arena, as Roddy Piper walks out onto the stage to a round of cheers.
JR: Ric Flair beating a hasty retreat! Meanwhile, listen to the reaction from these fans for their fellow Oregonian, the Hot Rod!
[CUT] to close-up of Piper at the podium.
Piper: Um, I’d just like to make an announcement. Will any other Horsemen in the building please collect their rental cars before Kane destroys them? Thank you… [Laughter from the crowd] All kidding aside, maybe I should make something clear. Anybody else in my locker room planning on some unsanctioned action better think again. Because anyone else who gets caught brawling in the building during this draft will be dealt with harshly. And as for Jerry Lynn, Jerry, if you value your job you will NOT walk out of Thursday night’s show early. That’s not a threat, that’s a promise! And with that, it’s time for my seventh pick. He is a former WCW World Champion, and like Kane, he also despises Ric Flair. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the newest acquisition to Adrenaline… this… is… STING!
JR: OH MY!
The crowd erupts as the house lights go dark and “Seek and Destroy” hits. Sting walks through the flickering strobe light onto the stage as the fans go NUTS. He levels his baseball bat, pointing it at the crowd as they cheer wildly.
JR: Roddy Piper adds Sting to the Thursday night lineup! He’s come up short on reigning champions and established titles, but the Rowdy Scot is putting together one hell of an impressive roster!
Piper goes to shake hands with Sting. They do so, and then start to walk back off the stage. But instead, Sting pauses and turns back toward the podium.
JR: My God is… Is Sting going to speak?
Sting steps behind the podium and holds up his baseball bat clearly for the first time tonight. He grabs it toward the handle and rotates it so it’s seen lengthwise by the camera. “THE ROCK” has been written on the barrel of the bat in broad white letters. With that, Sting merely smirks, puts the bat over his shoulder and walks away.
JR: Sting is a man of few words, but what he just did spoke volumes! That baseball bat literally has Rock’s name written all over it!
[CUT] to Hennig, sitting at his desk as Kurt Angle stands beside him. Angle is bouncing from foot to foot like an eager 10-year-old.
Angle: C’mon.
Hennig: No.
Angle: C’mon.
Hennig: No.
Angle: Please?
Hennig: No.
Angle: We’ll back you up…
Hennig: No.
Angle: Promise.
Hennig: NO.
Angle: Cross our heart?
Hennig: KURT…
The threatening tone makes Angle take a wary step back, as Joey Styles moves into the shot and thrusts a microphone into the face of the Mayhem commissioner.
Styles: Mr. Hennig, you’ve shown a definite strategy of drafting champions, trying to acquire as many of the existing CWF championships for your show as possible. Now, we see Piper take another bona fide superstar. Your thoughts, and your next move?
Hennig: My next move? What do you take me for, some kind o’ dope? You better be glad Mr. Cuban said I’ve got to keep you guys in here, otherwise I’d have you thrown out on your butts.
Angle: YEAH!
Hennig: Kurt… [turns and makes a half gesture to the Olympian] please. I’ve got this covered. Why don’t you… why don’t you head to the locker room?
Angle: Yeah, good idea. Just remember my suggestion.
Hennig: I’ll take it under advisement.
Angle: Oh yeah, I know you will, haha. Woo!
Angle leaves, pumping his fist at apparent good news, when Hennig’s cell phone rings.
Hennig: Hello? Yes, put him on. … Hello? … Yeah. … That’s right. … Well you’d BETTER, or there’ll be hell to pay. [hangs up]
Styles: Um… what was that all ab—
Hennig: Mind your own business, Styles!
3. World TV Title Match
Michael Modest (C) (8-6-1) vs. D’Lo Brown (3-4-1)
10 minute time limit; referee: Scott D’Amore
[CUT] back to the arena.
PA: You better recognize!
D’Lo Brown’s theme music begins, and he steps out onto the stage, head bobbing.
JR: The World TV Title up for grabs, and here comes our challenger…
D’Lo pauses at the top of the ramp, extends one arm… then the other. That cues the pinwheel pyro effect from overhead as Brown does his patented head shake! Brown does a little dancing in place a la Muhammad Ali before heading for the ring.
JR: One of the most electrifying entrances in the entire CWF! As of now, D’Lo has a World Tag Title shot waiting at Redemption. It’s supposed to be Test and Hakushi, against Hostile Takeover, against D’Lo and a partner of his choice. But D’Lo might get drafted by Adrenaline. Plus, Test and Hakushi still have to defend those belts later tonight, and they’ve already been drafted to Mayhem!
As D’Lo climbs into the ring, his music fades and “Natural One” starts up. Michael Modest stalks out onto the stage, all business, to a strong and mixed reaction. The Television Title belt is strapped around his waist, and Modest has a bandage on his head—a memento of last week’s title victory over Curt Hennig.
JR: The Brain touched on it earlier, and he made a good point. In a lot of ways, if you’ve got an axe to grind about this draft, you can blame that man Modest for this entire process. Modest’s vacating—his disrespect of the Cruiserweight Title—led Hennig to challenge him for Hennig’s World TV Title. And the brawl between Hennig and Piper after that match was the ugly incident that sparked the momentous decision from Mark Cuban to split this federation in two… In fact, that’s why D’Lo challenged Modest to this match last week. So, here we go, as Michael Modest makes his first defense…
[CUT] to a wide shot of the ring, as the pudgy referee stands at center ring with the title belt.
Finkel: Ladies and gentlemen, this match is for the World Television Championship! It is scheduled for one fall with a 10 minute time limit. Your referee for this match… making his CWF debut, welcome to Mayhem, Scott D’Amore!
JR: A rookie referee gets a title match right off the bat! This must be that official from the independents we heard had been assigned to Mayhem…
Finkel: Introducing first, the challenger [CUT to close-up of D’Lo, pacing back and forth in his corner like a deranged bull] from
D’Lo extends his arms and tilts his head back for his patented head shake to a solid ovation.
Finkel: And his opponent… [CUT to a close-up of Michael Modest, who is stretching against the ropes in the northeast corner] Hailing from
JR: A definite lukewarm reaction for the new World TV Champ.
DING DING DING!
Modest and D’Lo stay in their corners for a second. D’Lo takes advantage and starts to stomp his foot, trying to get a clap going. As the fans pick it up, the two circle, then hook up in a collar and elbow.
JR: And here we go… As of now, D’Lo has a World Tag Title shot. Could a win here maybe make him a double champion?
Modest lowers his shoulder, trying to bull D’Lo backward, but Brown holds his ground and catches Modest with a forearm smash across the back. D’Lo escapes Modest’s grip and hits another forearm, then a double axehandle. D’Lo scoops Modest up and drops him with a slam, following immediately with a jumping legdrop across the face!
JR: D’Lo Brown taking the fight right to him… and right away Modest goes to check that bandage!
D’Lo yanks the champ up, tossing him into the northeast corner. Front kick to the gut as he heads in, then D’Lo winds up and blasts Modest across the chest with an overhand chop.
Crowd: WHOOOOOOOOOOO!
JR: Good grief!
And another!
JR: Modest is cringing! And that one might’ve been for everybody in that locker room who was unhappy about the idea of this draft.
The ref starts a five count and D’Lo starts to back off, before unloading with a WICKED right hook to Modest’s forehead.
JR: D’Lo targets that forehead again! And remember that was a nasty cut last week, folks. An injury like that can’t heal in just seven days’ time…
D’Lo backs away fully as Modest reels against the ropes.
Meanwhile, the Jumbotron flickers to life.
MAYHEM
ROUND 8
D’LO BROWN
JR: Whoa!
A roar goes up from the crowd, and D’Lo obviously takes notice. When he turns back, Modest explodes out of the corner and drops D’Lo with a spear! He mounts Brown UFC-style and starts firing away with forearms to the head… but D’Amore pulls him off?!?
JR: Wait, what is this?!
Modest gets up, confused, as D’Amore holds up a closed fist and shakes his head.
JR: I think the referee is admonishing Modest for using a closed fist… but those were forearms. Brutal, but legal!
Modest shakes it off, turning to face D’Lo… who clocks Modest with a flying heel kick.
JR: Again D’Lo goes to the head, and there’s a cover!
One.
Two.
T—Modest with a desperation kickout.
JR: Boy did that seem like a quick count!
Brown rolls to his feet, but Modest kips up! He catches the surprised D’Lo and hits an Exploder, dropping Brown hard on his left hip!
JR: A brilliant kip up and counter, and just like that the champion has control again.
D’Lo is slow to get up after the impact, as Modest shakes off the cobwebs. Brown stands and Modest charges, leveling him with a clothesline. He bounces off the near ropes, comes off with a corkscrew elbow to the sternum. Modest covers.
One…
.. Two…
Brown kicks out.
JR: It might just be me, but that count seemed mighty slow… one factor here, folks, if D’Lo wins, the TV title goes to Mayhem! I’ve got to wonder if maybe Curt Hennig hasn’t given this referee some “special instructions!”
Modest gives D’Amore a dirty look as the chubby official holds up two fingers with a big smirk on his face. Modest goes to pick D’Lo up… Brown yanks him down to the mat.
JR: D’Lo going for that Fujiwara armbar!
He locks in the hold! D’Amore gets right down in Modest’s face, checking for the submission. Modest, meanwhile, is trying to reach past the official and get to the ropes…
JR: D’Lo made Test tap out last week. But that was after working on the arm the entire match!
But D’Lo is wrenching back on Modest’s right arm with all his might, and Modest is in obvious pain. Modest trying to pull himself forward with his left arm, while also kicking for the ropes with his legs. The kicking has more progress, and soon, Modest’s able to get his right foot against the bottom rope. D’Amore starts a deliberate five count.
JR: This referee almost seems unhappy that Modest forced the rope break…
D’Lo up, and now he’s giving the official a funny look.
JR: I think D’Lo is starting to question these refereeing tactics as well!
The ref merely tugs at his shirt and points at Brown to keep wrestling. Meanwhile Modest is down, grabbing at his right shoulder. D’Lo bends to go for the Fujiwara armbar again… but Modest squirms free and ensnares D’Lo in a go-behind. But D’Lo breaks with an elbow to the face. D’Lo goes for a standing switch, but before he can cinch the waistlock, Modest sits down, bringing Brown over with a modified snapmare. Modest with a chop to the back, stands… dropkick to the back of the head, but D’Lo rolled out of the way.
JR: What an exchange!
Brown goes right back to it, pulling Modest up and hooking him for the Sky High… but Modest counters with a double smash across both trapezius muscles. Double ear clap! Modest bends and picks D’Lo up… he drapes Brown back over his body, hooks his head…
JR: SURE THING! Modest hits the Sure Thing out of nowhere! But his right arm took a lot of that impact!
Indeed Modest stays down, cradling his arm and is slow to follow up. Modest finally covers.
One!
Two!
Three!
JR: Michael Modest retains the title! Boy, I tell you, D’Lo Brown seemed to be in control, but Modest hits his Sure Thing and knocks D’Lo out. And it doesn’t matter when he hits that move, once he does, the match is OVER… Wait, hold on…
Modest is in the ring, TV Title over one shoulder, is staring at the referee. Modest points his finger at D’Amore, who tries to stand his ground…
As the fans start to cheer.
[CUT] to the stage as Roddy Piper strolls out.
JR: Looks like the Rowdy Scot is ready to make his eighth pick!
WIN: Modest by pinfall in 4:43 (retains title)
[ZOOM IN] to a close-up shot of the Rowdy Scot.
Piper: I’m not gonna beat around the bush. My next pick is… [points to the ring] YOU.
JR: Wow… so the World TV Title is headed to Adrenaline!
[CUT] to the ring, where Modest simply shrugs at the news.
Piper: And let me make a promise to you, Michael. I expect—I DEMAND—the best from you. And that’s why I plan to hold as many World TV Title defenses on my show as possible. You want to throw down the Cruiserweight Title as part of some claim as to how good you are? Well, you’re gonna prove it, pal!
Again, Modest shrugs.
Piper: But, I gotta say, now that you’re my newest employee, I couldn’t help but notice some monkey business with the referee in your match. Quite frankly, seemed like he might be about as crooked as the letter S! In fact, if I could be so bold—and I WILL—it seemed like he’d been directed by some… egomaniacal… unfair… ponytailed authority figure, to make sure you lost that title! And if you ask me, actions like that deserve a real beating! However… he IS a referee, and on my new show Adrenaline, I do not tolerate physicality against officials, of any kind! Do you understand, Michael?
Modest is simply glaring at Piper while D’Amore seems to be gloating a bit at the situation.
Piper: But then again, that fat boy in the ring isn’t an Adrenaline referee. He’s a MAYHEM referee. So technically… if a brawl was to break out right now… why, there’s not a thing I could do about it!
The grin quickly fades from D’Amore’s face as Modest turns and waffles him with a big roundhouse right to the jaw!
JR: OH MY!
Modest drops his title belt and yanks D’Amore back up, immediately positioning him for the Sure Thing.
JR: Now hold on a second… I know he did you dirty but he’s still a referee! OH!
The “OH” comes as Modest spikes D’Amore squarely on his head. The referee is left twitching on the mat like a freshly caught fish, as Modest picks up his championship belt again.
JR: By God, a VICIOUS Sure Thing from Michael Modest! He got the message from Roddy Piper loud and clear… and D’Amore is going into damn convulsions! I’m not sure what to make of this. If this is the way Piper’s going to run his show with respect to Mayhem, this
[FADE OUT]
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN] from the commercial break to D’Amore being extricated from the ring by security and one of the CWF trainers. D’Amore cannot even stand, and is literally dragged back up the aisle.
JR: Fans, welcome back, and you’re witnessing the aftermath of the brutal assault by Michael Modest on Mayhem referee Scott D’Amore. Now, did D’Amore officiate the match right down the middle? Maybe not, but there’s no call for Modest to injure a referee like this. And he did so with the BLESSING of his new boss, Rowdy Roddy Piper! I understand Paul’s got Piper backstage. I want to hear him answer for this!
[CUT] to a hallway, where Paul Heyman has a microphone in Piper’s face.
Heyman: Mr. Piper, I believe you have some explaining to do. In the past, you have spoken about the importance of authority, and respecting authority. So how do you explain the BLATANT disrespect of authority we just witnessed, as you exhorted your new draft pick Michael Modest to drop a CWF referee on his head?
Piper: A CWF referee? Take a look around, Paul. I’ve got news for you, there IS no CWF anymore! Mark Cuban did his best David Copperfield impression, and he split that sucker right down the middle! So there’s no CWF anymore, Heyman. There’s Mayhem [gestures with one hand] and Adrenaline. [gestures with the other hand, before clenching both fists and smashing them together] And they’re gonna be doing battle from here on out! That wasn’t my referee, Paul, plain and simple. You talk about how I think authority should be respected? Well, I do. But I refuse to respect ANY authority associated with that ponytailed backstabber Curt Hennig! I…
Piper trails off as Chris Benoit walks up and interrupts the interview.
Benoit: Roddy… I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got something to say. I understand that you’re the man who hired me here to the CWF, and for that, I’ll always be in your debt. But I came here with one goal, and one goal only: and that’s to take the heavyweight title away from Sabu. So I’m asking you, Hot Rod. Please. Trade me to Mayhem.
Piper: I really don’t have time for this, Chris, I—
Benoit: And I don’t have time to wait around, and get treated like a bargaining chip in your battle with Curt Hennig. Besides, I know for a fact one star who would love to jump shows.
Benoit leans forward and whispers something in Piper’s ear. His eyes bulge as Benoit whispers.
Piper: You’re sure?
Benoit: Absolutely.
Piper: C’mon, let’s go talk about this. [turns and points to Heyman] Hey. Cut that feed NOW.
Heyman: But Mr. Cuban said—
Piper: I SAID CUT IT!
[CUT] to black.
[QUICK CUT] back to the arena, as Curt Hennig strolls out on stage to a chorus of boos from the Oregon crowd.
Hennig: Now… I see that my opponent in this little draft is operating a bit unseemly. He’s not trying to draft the best roster possible; no, he’s practicing blatant sabotage! Well let me remind YOU, Hot Rod, that two can play at this game! And to insure that practice does not continue… my next pick… is the Iceman, Dean Malenko!
JR: There it is!
[CUT[ to Malenko in the draft pool room, standing up with a lingering look at his mates in the Four Horsemen stable.
JR: We have officially seen our first stable ripped asunder by this draft. Ric Flair goes to Adrenaline, and Dean Malenko heads to Mayhem… wow, the Nature Boy isn’t gonna like that one bit. Assuming he hears about it while driving 80 miles an hour to escape Kane.
[CUT] back to a smirking Hennig.
Hennig: Congratulations, Dean! Because due to Roddy Piper’s unscrupulous practices, you’ve received the opportunity of a lifetime. As of now, the scheduled semifinal of the Above & Beyond tournament between Kurt Angle and Dean Malenko will be the FINAL—and the winner will earn an automatic title shot against Sabu after Redemption!
JR: A masterful move by Curt Hennig, protecting the integrity of his tournament and picking up one hell of a wrestler to boot… and I’m not just sayin that because he’s my new boss! I… wait, hold on a second.
The fans are murmuring as D’Lo Brown steps out onto the stage, headed for Curt Hennig at the podium.
Hennig: Er… ladies and gentlemen, please welcome another new addition to the Mayhem brand, D’Lo Brown!
Hennig turns toward D’Lo with a smile and an outstretched hand, but the smile fades and the hand retracts when he sees the look on Brown’s face. D’Lo reaches forward and yanks one of the microphones off the podium.
D’Lo: Man, what the hell are you tryin’ to do? You draft me, then send that fatboy referee out to GIVE me the title? Well, D’Lo Brown doesn’t play that way. Everything I got in this business, I earned. And I ain’t about to start taking handouts now! Now, I know your pride got hurt last week, when Michael Modest kicked your ass…
[CUT] to a close-up of Hennig, who grits his teeth and glares at D’Lo.
D’Lo: But I don’t give a damn about that! And you betta recognize that!
Brown accentuates his last words with his patented head shake, before spinning on his heel and walking away from his new boss.
Hennig: You just made a career mistake, D’Lo! You understand me? YOU JUST MADE A CAREER MISTAKE!
[ZOOM IN] to a close-up of the livid authority figure as the scene [FADES OUT]
[FADE IN] to a dimly lit shot of a man’s pair of hands. One hand is wrapping the other in white athletic tape. “Earlier Tonight” appears in the bottom right corner of the screen in bright red letters.
[ZOOM OUT] to show Raven taping his hands, with a haunted, vacant look in his eyes.
Raven: Where were you when the Challenger exploded? Where were you when Kennedy was shot? When the atomic bomb was dropped? These are the moments that society defines as watersheds. Tonight, for wrestling fans, another moment is imminent. You see, I understand this draft as what it is—a facade. It is a dog-and-pony show, intended solely to break up the Flock, the most dangerous collection of talent ever assembled in professional wrestling. Probability dictates that the chances of our surviving this draft intact… range somewhere between slim and none. So we have merely one option. To head into oblivion… taking as many of the enemy down as possible.
Raven beckons into the shadowy darkness that nearly envelops him. Kanyon, Christopher Daniels and Vampiro step into view. All three are wearing street clothes. They walk up and stand behind their leader.
Raven: Degeneration X, tonight you have the misfortune of being the final opponents the Flock will face as a group. Triple H, you especially have incurred a debt that demands to be repaid. Billy Gunn… X-Pac… tonight it is not about who you know… but how you fight with everything on the line. And Roaddog… [chuckles] tonight is your glorious return! Well it also might be the shortest return in wrestling history, if we have anything to say about the outcome tonight. DX, tonight, your disrespect and misdeeds in past weeks will be paid back tenfold. You do what you do best. Go ahead. Make your jokes. Act out your little skits. Play dress-up. Myself and the Flock? We will continue to do what WE do best. Inflict… pain. Where were you when Degeneration X was decimated? Where were you when the Flock stood tall for the final time? Where were you… when we drowned four of the CWF’s own—four clowns, four misfits—in their own blood? Quoth the Raven… nevermore…
One by one, the members of the Flock step backward into the darkness as the scene [FADES OUT]
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN] from the break to see Roddy Piper back at the podium.
Piper: Y’know… maybe it’s just me, but is anyone else here sick and tired of hearing Curt Hennig LECTURE before every draft pick he makes? [The crowd cheers] Is that a yes? [Crowd cheers again] I mean, is this guy running a wrestling show, or is he running for office?! It’s the wrestlers, the guys on the roster, grinding it out night after night in the ring. THEY’RE the ones who matter! And to prove that… I’m gonna let my next draft pick speak for himself.
Piper steps back from the podium and folds his arms.
JR: Well, who’s it gonna—
*CRASH!*
JR: Wait a second! Can it be?!?
[CUT] to a crowd reaction shot as many fans leap to their feet, cheering.
[CUT] back to the stage as Mankind walks out onto the stage, raising an arm to the roaring masses. Foley heads right for the podium, shaking hands with his new boss.
JR: Mankind has a new permanent address on Thursday nights! Roddy Piper continues to collect starpower rather than titleholders.
Piper gestures to the microphone, and Foley steps right in front of it.
Mankind: Well thank YOU, Hot Rod… So Mankind is headed to Adrenaline. And we all know what that.means. Every single week, the Thursday night audiences are gonna have the privilege of watching me get beaten up. They’re gonna watch me get hurt. Get hit with chairs! Bleed! I might even get set on fire… and the sickest part is, I’M GONNA LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT!
The last few words come out as a tortured screech, and draw a sadistic roar from the fans.
With that, Mankind simply nods his head, turns and leaves the podium.
JR: Short but I damn sure wouldn’t call what Mankind just said sweet! Let’s now head backstage, where I understand Mean Gene has cornered the Sandman.
[CUT] to a hallway, where Mean Gene is standing by with the Sandman and Rey Mysterio Jr. Rey is pacing back and forth in the background, while Sandman stands there, swinging his cane back and forth in midair.
Gene: All right, this is Mean Gene Okerlund here, taking a little break from talking with the draft picks, to get a word with tonight’s challengers for the World Tag Team Titles. Rey Mysterio Jr., young man, if we could get a word…
Rey walks up closer to Gene.
Rey: Mean Gene, let’s be honest. I’ve been stuck in a losing streak for weeks now… hell, almost MONTHS. You’ve got no idea how bad I want this win… how bad I need it! I hear the whispers. People saying, Rey Mysterio’s lost a step. Rey Mysterio, he’s nothing but a second-rate luchador. Well tonight, with the Sandman by my side, I WILL shock the world!
Gene: All right, Sandman? Please, some thoughts on the match.
Gene sticks the microphone in Sandman’s face, but the Hardcore Icon simply glowers at it.
Gene: Well, um… what about Chastity? How is she doing after that reprehensible attack by Ric Flai—
Sandman snatches the microphone out of Gene’s hand and the look on his face sends the bald little man backpedaling.
Sandman: Flair, you mo(BLEEEEP)! I look in the mirror… I see your face. I close my eyes… and I see HERS. Test, Hakushi, you sonsabitches, I PITY you. Because everything I want to do to Flair… I. Will do. To YOU.
Sandman spikes the microphone down and stalks off, with Rey right behind, as “Enter Sandman” starts to play.
4. World Tag Title Match
Test & Hakushi (C) (8-1) vs. Sandman & Rey Mysterio Jr. (2-0)
One hour time limit; referee: Mike Chioda
[CUT] back to the arena floor, as the crowd is clapping and stomping and rocking right along with the Metallica classic. Fans are looking around everywhere for Sandman to make his appearance… and finally he appears coming through one of the floor sections of the crowd, with Rey right behind. Sandman does not have a cigarette in his mouth, isn’t drinking beer and doesn’t stop among any of the fans. Instead, Sandman heads right through the crowd, climbing over the rail and into the ring. Rey takes a bit more time, slapping hands with some of the fans. As soon as they reach the ring…
PA: Test… test… this is a test.
Test’s music hits, and the champions emerge on stage. Hakushi, who already wrestled, is sans hometown sports jersey for this one. They touch fists and head for the ring side by side.
JR: Here come the champs! And a makeshift team that formed out of a shared hatred for Vince McMahon and the Corporation has really come into its own. Each week they look a little crisper, a little more fluid. And with the draft threatening to break up every other top contender, we might be seeing a dynasty for these two as tag team champs on Mayhem… IF they can survive tonight.
[CUT] to a wide shot of the ring. Mike Chioda is collecting the title belts as Howard Finkel steps to center ring for the boxing-style intros.
Finkel: Ladies and gentlemen, this next match… is for the World Tag Team Championship! It is scheduled for one fall with a 60 minute time limit. Your referee is Mike Chioda. Introducing first, the challengers… from—
Finkel gets cut off as Sandman hustles across the ring and whacks Test in the head with the cane. He turns and catches Hakushi in the gut, then pitches the tag champ out over the top!
JR: Well we heard Sandman earlier; he’s been itching to get a match since Base-Brawl, and I guess he decided he’d waited long enough!
DING DING DING!
Chioda gets the cane away from Sandman. Meanwhile Test is getting to his feet, and he’s pissed! Test walks up to Sandman, who unloads with a sudden and wicked left to the side of the head then opens up with a barrage of lefts! Test answers with roundhouse punches of his own, and the two men start slugging it out at center ring!
JR: Just like that, we’ve got a Grade-A slobberknocker broken out!
Sandman quickly gains the advantage! He unloads with left after left, each punch snapping Test’s head back—his long hair flying with each impact. Sandman batters Test in a semicircular path toward the neutral northeast corner of the ring. Now, with Test stuck in the corner Sandman really lets loose, hammering Test with rights and lefts and battering the champ down to a seated position in the corner. Sandman completely ignores the count from Mike Chioda, finally backing away with a smile on his face when the ref inserts himself.
JR: Sandman’s not looking for a wrestling match. He’s lookin for a fight!
Chioda leans in to check on Test, who’s still sitting and glassy eyed. Rey, meanwhile, gets into the ring. As Chioda backs away from Test, Rey charges, catching Test with the Rough Rider! The ref starts to berate Rey, as Sandman launches himself to the corner with a somersault smash!
JR: That was 270 pounds just smashing into the face of Test!
Test’s head gets driven back into the turnbuckles before he sags forward. Sandman gets Test down and grapevines a leg.
One…
Two…
Test’s other leg gets under the bottom rope.
Sandman goes right back to it, pulling Test up into a modified front facelock, then hammering away with punches to the back and back of the head.
JR: Test’s a big bad man, but even he can’t stand up to this kind of onslaught. He’s not used to taking a beating like this…
Suddenly Test scoops Sandman up around the waist. He charges the far corner, driving Sandman against the turnbuckles! Then he does it again! Test sets Sandman on his feet in the corner and rocks him with an elbow smash to the side of the head, then a forearm uppercut and a measured right fist to the jaw.
JR: Now Test has Sandman on his heels… these are two heavy hitters, folks.
Test fires Sandman to the opposite turnbuckle… but Rey Mysterio hustles down the aisle and blocks the top turnbuckle with his own body to save his partner. Rey smirks a bit… but suddenly Hakushi goes hustling down the apron, catching Rey with a running thrust kick to the head!
JR: Good LORD!
The impact leaves Rey sprawled over the top rope in that corner. Test chuckles and strolls across, arrogantly flipping Rey to the floor in a heap. He turns back to Sandman, and takes a running knee to the kidneys! Test’s face contorts in pain, and Sandman hooks him for….
JR: DDT!
Test gets driven down right on top of his head. Sandman goes for the pin.
One…
Two…
Hakushi runs in and breaks it up with a kick to the head.
Test is still down, favoring his head with one hand and the other head with the other hand, as Sandman glares at Hakushi.
JR: Hakushi makes the save, but Test badly needs to make the tag.
Sandman pulls Test up and goes for a body slam, but Test’s bulk allows him to block. Test answers with a wicked forearm smash across the back, then drops Sandman with a short-arm clothesline as the Jumbotron flickers to life.
MAYHEM
ROUND 10
RAVEN
JR: I’m not sure if I believe what I just saw! Curt Hennig took Raven?!? Those two can’t stand each other!
Test tags Hakushi, who remains poised on the apron. Hakushi prepares for a springboard, when suddenly Rey pops up behind him on the floor. As Hakushi sets to leap, Rey yanks his feet out from under him, bouncing Hakushi’s head off the apron! Test charges Rey, who yanks down the top rope and sends the big man tumbling out to the floor in a heap!
JR: Head’s-up counter by Mysterio! He’s still not legal… but I think he’s looking to fly!
Now Rey up on the apron, and Sandman’s staggering toward the nearest corner. Sandman’s headed to the apron as well, heading to the far post. Test and Hakushi stand, and Rey leaps with a springboard over-the-shoulder cross body. Test and Hakushi catch him, but then Sandman barrels in with a running somersault senton off the apron! All four men go down in a heap!
JR: Oh my! What a collision!
The crowd is going apeshit at the aerial derring-do by the Sandman, while all four men remain down.
JR: He might be a cane-swinging, beer-chugging, cigarette-smoking SOB, but he’s also willing to put his body on the line to try and win these World Tag Titles! Wait, we’ve got a replay…
[REPLAY airs of the train-wreck collision, with Sandman hurling his body into the other three men.]
Mike Chioda surveys the carnage as he issues a 20 count. Sandman starts to stir first. He reaches his feet while the other three are still down and raises a defiant clenched fist as the fans in front of him cheer. Sandman helps Rey up. They pull Test and Hakushi to their feet, then run them simultaneously headfirst into the steel railing. And again!
JR: I can’t help but think back to the match where Test and Hakushi won their belts. They had a lot of trouble going against Sabu. And Sandman and Rey, both of them share that kamikaze mind-set. It’s like facing two Sabus at once!
Sandman and Rey grab Hakushi, flinging him back into the apron. Then they muscle him into the ring. Rey heads for his corner, and Sandman hooks Hakushi in a half nelson as he makes the tag. Hakushi, however, counters with a sharp elbow to the ribs and a judo throw to escape the hold. Meanwhile, Rey springs to the top behind Hakushi, leaps off… JR: BULLDOG!
Hakushi jerks once upon impact then lays still. Rey rolls Hakushi over and covers.
One…
Two…
Hakushi gets a shoulder up.
JR: One second away from new champs, and meanwhile Sandman and Test are brawling right out near me!
Sandman has Test up against the rail, and is laying into him with some more wicked lefts to the side of the head. Rey pulls Hakushi up into a front facelock, delivering three forearms across the back, and hits a still shaken Hakushi with a swinging neckbreaker as Test blocks a Sandman punch and answers with a vicious right. Test picks Sandman up in a bearhug… then runs him back into the ringpost.
JR: Test goes after that lower back again…
Test throttles Sandman a bit in the bearhug, then throws him headfirst into the rail. Test looks up to see Rey running right at him! Test ducks, but Rey grabs the top rope and swings back into the ring. Test stands, and the minute his head appears, Rey grabs the top rope and swings his legs through, bashing Test in the face with both feet! Rey goes to skin the cat… but Hakushi catches Rey in the face with a baseball slide dropkick while he’s hanging upside down. Rey collapses to the floor!
JR: BAH GAWD REY MYSTERIO JUST GOT HIS CLOCK CLEANED!
Hakushi climbs to the top rope in the nearest corner as Test and Rey stands. Sandman is still down, as Test tags Rey with a wicked knee to the gut, then grabs him by the arms from behind. Hakushi proceeds to walk down the top rope to its middle, flying off with a karate chop to the top of the head! Rey sags in Test’s arms but the big man shoves his carcass in the ring. Hakushi follows Rey into the ring, and hoists him in a gorilla press slam! Hakushi hits the slam, then follows with a power elbow to the sternum. Cover.
One…
Tw—Rey kicks out.
JR: And somehow Rey escapes!
On the outside, Sandman is up and woozy near the rail. Test charges with a clothesline… Sandman lowers a shoulder and flips Test into the crowd!
JR: TEST GOES FLYING INTO THE SECOND ROW!
Hakushi gets Rey back up, shot to the throat, then a leaping headbutt. Hakushi positions Rey, then climbs to go for the second rope splash. As he gets to the second rope, Sandman charges into the ring and waffles Hakushi with a forearm to the kidneys. Sandman turns his back, hooks Hakushi… reverse neckbreaker off the second rope!
JR: OH MY! Sandman brings Hakushi’s entire body weight crashing down neck-first against his shoulder…
The referee is livid, but Sandman grabs Rey by the wrist and drags him back toward his corner. Sandman reaches out and tags himself in. He comes into the ring, pulls Hakushi up into a short-arm clothesline, yanks him up into a scoop slam and follows with a leaping fist to the forehead as the Jumbotron again flickers to life.
ADRENALINE
ROUBD 10
SATURN
JR: And as the Hardcore Icon dominates, Roddy Piper plucks the Hardcore Champion for his show! We’ll try and get a word with these individuals drafted during matches at some later point in the show…
Hakushi seems a bit woozy, and Test is only now clawing his way back over the rail. Sandman shoves Hakushi into a standing headscissors, picks him up… JUMPING PILEDRIVER!
JR: Big piledriver! Test’s still down outside! This could do it… !
One…
Two…
JR: HE KICKS OUT! That was so close… And look at Sandman’s face, he knows how close they just came to winning tag team gold.
Sandman gets up, frustrated, and sets Hakushi on the top rope in the challengers’ corner. Now Sandman starts to climb… but Hakushi starts firing away with some chops to the head, then an open-handed shot to the throat. Sandman bends over, and Hakushi sets for a powerbomb, but Rey reaches in and tags his partner.
JR: Blind tag…
Hakushi tries to lift Sandman but cant, and the challenger goes for a backdrop reversal. Hakushi lands on his feet under Sandman and powerbombs him to the mat! Flips forward into a bridge! But before the referee can break the illegal pin, Rey breaks it up himself with a springboard senton off the top rope! Rey starts to his feet, and gets DESTROYED by a running clothesline from Test!
JR: WHAT A CLOTHESLINE! Rey might’ve just broke his damn neck!
Rey’s left folded up on the back of his head! Test picks Sandman up and dumps him out over the top rope. Hakushi stands, cradling his ribs, but has enough to drill Rey with a backflip kick. Test then drops Rey with the big boot!
JR: Kuso Kick! Forget about it!!
Hakushi covers.
One…
Two…
Three!
Test pumps his fist as Hakushi rolls off Rey Mysterio’s carcass and the champs’ theme music hits. Hakushi cradles his ribs a bit, but otherwise seems fine as Mike Chioda raises their hands in victory.
JR: Boy, I tell you, these guys get better with each and every match. And as they get more comfortable as a team, it’s gonna get that much tougher to get the belts off them. That’s what Sandman and Rey Mysterio Jr. just learned!
Sandman is in the ring now, tending to Rey. Hakushi turns and bows to the challengers, and Test gives them a nod of respect before the champions leave the squared circle.
JR: Get a good look at ’em, folks. They’re the World Tag Team Champions and we’ve got ’em exclusively here on Mayhem. And they might be holding those belts for a long, long time… we’ll be back after this.
Test and Hakushi are walking up the aisle with their belts in hand as the scene [FADES OUT]
WIN: Test & Hakushi by pinfall in 9:31 (retain titles)
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN back from the break to see Curt Hennig now standing at the podium.]
JR: Welcome back, folks, and Commissioner Hennig—my boss on Mayhem—is ready with his 11th pick in this draft.
Hennig: Mayhem is shaping up to be the next great force in professional wrestling. We have every major title in the CWF, including the Cruiserweight Title, which remains in my possession after that ungrateful coffin-carrier Michael Modest vacated it. And Piper, if you want a selfish turncoat like that, you can keep him! As for the Cruiserweight belt, I am scheduling a first for the CWF… the first ever Six Man Mayhem match to crown the new champion.
JR: What in the world is that?
Hennig: And I am confident that match—and every match—will be a classic, because I’ve got the best play-by-play man in the business, Jim Ross! But you see, Piper… you’ve done your best to make a decent roster for your show, in spite of my superior drafting strategy. But this draft is also about taking assets away from the competition. And that is why, with my next pick, I am selecting… Joey Styles!
JR: What?!?
Styles strolls out onto the stage, adjusting the buttons of his suit coat. He heads for the podium, where Hennig extends his hand. After the two men shake, Hennig gestures to the ring area. With a shrug and a nod, Styles heads for the squared circle.
JR: Well folks it appears as if I’ve got a broadcast partner. Although getting two play-by-play men makes about as much sense as my Sooners playing two quarterbacks at once! Gotta admit, though, it’s a brilliant move by Curt Hennig, who now has both lead commentators in the CWF on his roster…
Meanwhile, Styles reaches the ringside broadcast position. JR stands to shake his hand.
JR: Well partner, welcome to the show…
Styles dons his headset and sits down behind JR.
Styles: Thank you, JR, it is great to be here!
JR: Good to have you, Joey. So…
Styles: And don’t worry, JR, I am more than happy to let you take the lead role. Who knows, maybe I can learn something along the way…
JR seems a bit dubious, as Styles starts scribbling something on a notepad in front of him.
JR: Well, we’ll try and get situated here. Right now, though, let’s go backstage where Jerry Lawler is standing by…
[CUT] to Lawler, in the Adrenaline locker room. There’s some debris in the back, evidence of the brawl between the Rock and Chris Benoit.
Lawler: Well, you can see what’s left after the altercation earlier tonight. And in fact, Roddy Piper has since dismissed the Rock and Benoit from the building, to make sure those guys don’t start brawling again… But right now, I’d like to bring in one of the new additions, “Mr. Pay Per View” himself, Rob Van Dam!
[ZOOM OUT] a bit as RVD walks up besides Lawler.
Lawler: And Rob, the question’s gotta be asked. How do you feel about getting drafted to Adrenaline and, because of that, losing out on your chance to win the Above and Beyond tournament?
RVD: You know what, King? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t bummed. I mean, I was really looking forward to winning that tournament. Because you know I woulda won the whole deal. But I know I’ll get the same opportunities on Adrenaline. Why? Because I’m Rob… Van… Dam. I’m the guy people pay their cash to see. I’m the guy people click away from network shows to watch wrestle. Forget about Friends, right? Must See TV is all about R… V… D. And every Thursday night, Adrenaline fans are gonna learn what that means.
RVD smirks, gives Lawler a thumb’s-up and strolls off camera.
[CUT] to the Mayhem locker room, where Kurt Angle is throwing a fit while Hennig peruses some documents.
Angle: I can’t believe that! How can he go and talk that crap?!? He says he’s better than me! There’s no WAY he’s better, sir! Just ask Haku…
[PAN LEFT] to see Haku pillaging the complimentary catering spread in the room. Ranch dressing drips from his mouth like blood from a vampire who had just finished feeding.
Angle: On second thought, it’s best not to bother him when he’s eating.
Hennig: You know, Kurt, we’ve got a perfectly nice Mayhem locker room waiting for you guys.
Angle: Uh uh, Mr. Hennig. There’s still our little deal that has to be finished… Unless, of course, you don’t want me to take care of… that… thing.
Angle starts looking awkwardly at the camera in the room as Hennig sighs.
Hennig: All right, all right. But first I’ve got to take care of something…
Hennig picks up his cell phone and starts to dial as the scene [FADES OUT]
COMMERCIALS
Back from the break, to see Roddy Piper standing at the podium.
JR: Fans, welcome back to Mayhem. Good ol’ JR here—
Styles: And I’m Joey Styles!
JR: Um… right. Anyway, you can see the Rowdy Scot at the podium. Let’s see who his next pick’s gonna be.
Piper: Curt, Curt, Curt… I guess you think you’re pretty clever yanking both play-by-play men out from under me, don’t you? Well I wonder what they’ll be broadcasting, since the top two contenders for the world title are on MY show? See, you can snatch up all the champions, but my show will be all about the competition. The top wrestlers in the world, doing what they do best! And my next pick fits perfectly in that environment. Ladies and gentlemen, the leader of D-X… Triple H!
[CUT] to a camera backstage in the draft pool area. Triple H stands slowly, as the rest of DX sit dejected. Several other guys in the room are laughing.
JR: Triple H headed to Adrenaline!
Styles: It might truly be the swansong for DX tonight, JR…
Piper turns and starts to leave the stage, as Jeff Jarrett’s music starts. Jarrett steps out onto the stage, trademark guitar in hand, and goes to shake the hand of the Rowdy Scot. Jarrett says something, then points to himself and makes the always popular “I want the belt” motion around his waist. Jarrett then heads for the ring, as Piper rolls his eyes before stepping back through the curtain.
JR: A little bit of lobbying from Double J before he takes part in this Grudge Match…
Styles: That’s right, Jim. Former tag team partners are about to collide! But first let’s take a look at how this match came about.
[CUT to highlights from the Base-Brawl tag match between the Hardys and Canadian Country.]
We begin with Jarrett standing dominant over Matt Hardy, but waves Hart into the ring then goes for his guitar.
Styles: Looks like we might have a visit from El Kabong!
Hart pulls Matt up… but Matt catches him with a reverse mule kick below the belt.
Heyman: YOWCH!
Matt gets free of Hart and runs across the ring, hitting Jarrett with a dropkick to the back!
Styles: And Jarrett drops the guitar to the outside!
Matt goes for a roll-up, but the ref is now busy getting Owen out of the ring! Matt lets go of Jarrett, and heads for the official… when Jarrett catches him with a blatant chop block to the knee!
Heyman: Figure four time! He’s set up perfectly for it!
Jarrett grabs Matt, pulls him up for a Russian legsweep, then drives him facefirst to the mat!
Styles: Jarrett with the Stroke! That should be all…
Jarrett covers but Patton is busy shooing a stricken Hart out of the ring, and Debra is frantically trying to get the ref’s attention, as Jeff climbs to the top in the far corner!
Heyman: Jarrett needs to turn around!
Jeff Hardy flies… SWANTON ACROSS JARRETT! Hardy bounces off, cradling his ribs, but has enough presence to roll Matt on top and scoot out of the ring as Patton turns.
One!
Two!
Three!
Styles: THEY DID IT! The Hardys have won their first CWF match!
[CUT] to after the match, as Debra is in the ring holding Jarrett’s guitar as a wincing Owen helps Jarrett to his feet. Double J starts barking at Hart about the outcome. Owen holds his hands out, trying to calm Jarrett.
Heyman: Jarrett is blowing this all out of proportion. He’s acting like Owen’s an umpire, and just blew a call in the World Series!
Jarrett is now jabbing a finger in Owen’s chest. Owen knocks the finger away, and Jarrett gives Hart a quick shove. Hart shoves back! The two partners go nose to nose as the fans ooh and ahh. Debra drops the guitar and gets between them, trying to separate the two men. She does so successfully, and Jarrett seems to relax a bit.
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Styles: Looks as if Debra defused this situation…
Heyman: If every diplomat had a set like her, there’d be world peace!
The group starts to exit the ring, but Jarrett scoops up the guitar off the mat, whirls and SMASHES IT OVER OWEN’S HEAD!
Styles: OH MY GOD!
[CUT to a close-up of Jarrett]
Heyman: He… He just… he KABONGED HIS OWN PARTNER!
[CUT] to Debra kneeling over Owen, as Jarrett storms out of the ring in disgust.
5. Grudge Match
Owen Hart (3-4) vs. Jeff Jarrett (0-5-1)
30 minute time limit; referee: Billy Silverman
Back to the ring, and the fans are booing at the highlight package. Jarrett just shrugs, glancing at the camera and saying “He had it coming!”
JR: And that sets the scene for this match between former partners. Owen Hart is gonna be out for revenge from the opening bell, or maybe even before, Joey!
Styles: Not much doubt about that. After getting double-crossed, Owen Hart cornered one of our cameramen backstage and demanded this match. It was originally going to take place Thursday, on night two of this draft, but the issue here was so hot that Curt Hennig wanted to book this match tonight, when he had control over the card…
PA: Enough… is enough… and it’s time for a change!
Owen Hart steps through the curtain, pausing with head slightly bowed and staring directly at the ring. Suddenly, he breaks into a dead run and sprints down the aisle. Owen slides in under the bottom rope, springing to his feet as Jarrett bails out to the floor. Owen heads over and opens the ropes for Double J, motioning for his former partner to get into the ring. Jarrett, however, is screaming for referee Billy Silverman to get him back.
JR: A little bit of bait and switch by Jeff Jarr—hey, wait!
As Silverman pulls Owen away, Jarrett slides into the ring. He tries to blindside Owen, but Hart blocks Double J’s punch and fires back with a shot to the jaw! Jarrett staggers as Silverman calls for the bell.
DING DING DING!
Hart spins Jarrett around and hits a kick to the gut and a wicked forearm uppercut. Jarrett goes reeling, and Hart yanks off his jacket vest. Hart slips the vest over Jarrett’s head and starts throttling him with it!
JR: Owen Hart showing a very aggressive side!
Styles: Jarrett might get jabbed in the throat by a rhinestone if he’s not careful…
Double J thrashes and flails as Silverman issues a five count. Jarrett breaks it up with a reverse mule kick! Silverman turns as Owen crumples to the mat.
JR: And Jarrett with the shortcut!
Styles: Right in the Maple Leafs! … Thought I’d mimic that patented Brain delivery for you, JR…
Jarrett immediately turns and starts stomping Hart as Silverman tosses the vest out of the ring. Jarrett yanks Owen up and hits a knee lift, then shoves him back into the corner and starts hammering away with some measured rights to the face.
JR: Jarrett trying to slow the match down a little now…
But Owen blocks the third punch and flings Jarrett into the corner. Wicked overhand chop across the chest, followed by another forearm uppercut. He turns and tosses Double J across the ring by his hair.
Styles: Hair mare by Owen Hart!
Owen picks Jarrett up and sets him on the top turnbuckle. He takes a step back and leaps, catching Jarrett in the torso with a dropkick! Double J gets sent sprawling to the floor!
JR: Owen Hart with an impressive dropkick!
Owen gets up and pumps his fist, as the crowd cheers his offense. Meanwhile, some of the cheers turn to boos as Jarrett is crawling toward the aisle. Double J struggles to his feet, makes a disgusted gesture at the ring and starts staggering to the back.
JR: And Jarrett’s had enough!
Styles: But Owen Hart hasn’t!
Owen heads by the referee and runs up the aisle after Double J. He spins Jarrett around and Double J delivers a thumb to the eye. With Owen staggered, Jarrett throws him headfirst into the rail, then Beals a woozy Owen back toward the ring.
Styles: What a Beal!
JR: That’s a good way to break your tailbone.
Jarrett approaches Owen, rolling in the ring then right back out to break the count. Jarrett bends down and peels back the thin mat at ringside to expose the concrete. Jarrett immediately stands on the concrete and shoves Owen into a standing headscissors.
JR: Now hold on a second… I understand this is a grudge match, but this is above and beyond! Jeff, you could seriously hurt Owen!
Styles: I think that’s his plan…
But before Jarrett can hit the piledriver, Owen counters with a backdrop. Jarrett lands right on the exposed concrete, as Hart turns, glaring at his former partner. Owen yanks Double J up by two handfuls of hair, hoists him for a scoop slam… then starts to walk to the adjacent corner… then the next corner.
Styles: Have a nice trip, Jeff...
Owen walks around the complete perimeter of the ring, then slams Double J hard to the floor!
Styles: See ya next fall!
Jarrett sits up after the impact, an agonized expression on his face, but Owen immediately yanks Jarrett to his feet and muscles him into the squared circle. Owen climbs back in as Jarrett tries to crawl to his feet, but Hart catches Jarrett with an elbow across the back of the head. Hart pulls Jarrett up into a front facelock, hoists him for a vertical suplex, then holds him upside down.
JR: Look at this display of power!
Hart keeps Jarrett upside down in midair for 10 seconds…
20 seconds!
[CUT] to a close-up of Jarrett in the hold, and his face rapidly turning red.
30 seconds! Owen drops the hammer, immediately floating over for the pin.
One…
Two…
Owen lets him up!
Styles: What the…
Hart shakes his head as he kneels over Jarrett in a shoulder mount.
Owen: More punishment, Jeff! More punishment!
Hart starts paintbrushing his former partner when the Jumbotron flickers to life.
MAYHEM
ROUND 12
BRIAN CLARKE
JR: Mayhem picks up one-half of Hostile Takeover!
Styles: They’d be a definite boost to the tag division…
As the fans react to the pick, Owen goes from paintbrushes to blatant punches to the face. Since they’re open-handed, Silverman can only watch as Hart assaults his former partner. Owen Owen picks Jarrett up and hits a side backbreaker. Owen holds Jarrett across the knee, then shifts, rolling Double J into a bow and arrow!
JR: How bout that combination?
Styles: Owen Hart has a textbook bow and arrow locked at center ring! This might be it!
Jarrett groans in pain as Owen rocks back and forth, torturing his ex-ally in the hold. Silverman is right there, and Owen’s teeth are clenched as he yanks back on Jarrett’s legs and neck, bending Double J’s body around the fulcrum of his knees.
JR: Jarrett can’t take much more! The human body’s just not meant to bend like that! I think he—wait…
Owen suddenly releases the hold, shoving Double J facefirst to the mat. Jarrett is in obvious pain, but starts crawling for the ropes again. Owen stands, watching Jarrett crawl.
JR: I think it’s obvious Owen Hart could put this match in the books anytime he wants. Jeff Jarrett’s been beaten from pillar to post, he’s been stretched, he’s been slammed on concrete. But Owen isn’t satisfied. I think he wants to end the issue between these two men once and for all!
Jarrett’s near the ropes, when Owen strolls over and stomps squarely down on his hand. As Jarrett starts to raise up favoring the hand, Hart unloads with a kick right between the shoulder blades.
Styles: OH! Brutal front kick!
Jarrett crumbles back to the canvas, and Owen connects on a measured elbow across the neck, then yanks up from underneath the chin, with the elbow still planted into the back of the neck. Owen grins somewhat maniacally as he applies further pressure to the hold.
Meanwhile, Jarrett starts trying to kick for the ropes. Owen seems to release a bit of the pressure, allowing Jarrett to reach the ropes with one of his feet.
JR: And again Owen Hart lets up!
Styles: There’s no doubt he’s been the better man so far tonight, but you don’t want to keep giving Jarrett a chance to get back in this match.
Hart lets him go, then promptly drags Jarrett back to center ring by the hair. Owen shoves Jarrett into a standing headscissors.
JR: Now Owen going for a piledriver…
Instead Owen hoists Jarrett for a powerbomb then drops him down across one knee with a modified backbreaker! Jarrett rolls around on the mat after the impact. Owen stands, immediately grabs Jarrett by the legs and…
JR: Sharpshooter! Owen trying to hook it!
Styles: But look at Jarrett fight!
Jarrett is kicking and twisting like mad as Owen bends to try and get a better grip, when Double J reaches up and goes right for the eyes.
JR: Oh come on!
Hart releases Jarrett, blinking and trying to regain his vision.
JR: If it wasn’t for eye pokes, Jarrett wouldn’t have had a damn bit of offense tonight!
The ref starts berating Jarrett as he starts hobbling toward Owen. Silverman follows, still reading Double J the riot act, when a half-blinded Owen goes for a superkick… AND PLASTERS THE REFEREE!
Styles: OH MY GOD!
Owen is still addled from the eye gouge, and a smirking Jarrett steps behind Hart and delivers on a blatant chop block to the right knee!
JR: Chop block!
Silverman is sprawled on his back after the kick, completely motionless.
Hart collapses to the mat, and Jarrett stands, now kicking at the right knee. He plants a foot against the back of the knee, raises the leg then drives it back down into the mat. Now a kneedrop into the back of the knee! Grabbing the wounded leg, Jarrett rolls Hart onto his back then hits an elbow across the knee.
JR: Owen is in some serious pain!
Styles: Double J focusing on the knee like a shark that smells blood in the water!
Jarrett stands, grabs Owen’s leg and…
JR: Jarrett going for the figure-four leglock!
And he does so! Jarrett drops back, fully cinching the hold… then reaches back to grab the middle rope with both hands!
JR: Hey wait!
With no referee, Jarrett cries out in triumph, rocking back and forth as he yanks down on the ropes for additional leverage.
Styles: Jeff Jarrett yanking down on the rope with all his strength, and with Silverman down that gives Jarrett the license to torture Owen with some illegal leverage in this figure-four!
JR: But he’s used to physical pain! He’s a product of The Dungeon, the place you learn first-hand how to torture your fellow man with your hands and feet!
Owen thrashes in the hold, grabbing his hair with both hands and screaming in pain. Meanwhile Jarrett is laughing and loving every minute of it as Hart continues to flail. He starts trying to reverse it, but there’s no way to turn Jarrett with his deathgrip on the middle rope. Owen tries to lift his body off the mat and alleviate some of the pressure, but ends up slumping back to the canvas. And Owen taps out!
Styles: He taps out! Owen Hart taps out!
JR: But it doesn’t mean a damn thing with no referee…
And it doesn’t stop Jarrett from screaming in triumph. In fact, he lets go of the ropes and starts to pump his fists in victory. When suddenly Owen sits up! Immediately he starts trying to turn the hold!
JR: Hart showing signs of life! I think he caught Jarrett by surprise!
Jarrett reaches back for the middle rope, but by then Owen is already has the hold halfway turned. Jarrett reaches for the rope with one hand, but Owen lets out a scream and keeps trying to turn it. Jarrett’s hold on the middle rope shakes… he loses his grip! Owen Hart reverses the hold!
JR: He did it!
Owen slumps forward, exhausted, with the reverse figure-four.
Styles: And now Jarrett feels the pain! Just by laying there, he can torture Jarrett with the pressure on his knees and lower legs!
Jarrett reaches forward and wraps his arms around the bottom rope. But, again, there’s no referee! Finally, Owen looks back and extricates himself from the hold. And both men are down grabbing at their right knees as the Jumbotron flickers to life.
ADRENALINE
ROUND 12
BRYAN ADAMS
JR: And as Owen Hart fights off the figure-four, Roddy Piper drafts the other half of Hostile Takeover!
All three men are down, but the fans get a clap going for the Canadian. Jarrett starts to stand then slumps back to the mat. Hart starts to stand and he collapses as well, but he lunges forward and grabs the ropes.
JR: Both these guys are in a hell of a bad way now...
Hart is gritting his teeth as he pulls his body up to a vertical base with the help of the ropes!
Styles: Look at Owen Hart fight back to his feet! He’s got to be in agony with every step he puts on that right knee after what Jeff Jarrett has done to it tonight, but he keeps fighting…
Owen slowly turns to face Jarrett and starts hobbling across the ring. Jarrett rolls onto his back to see Owen approaching.
JR: Jarrett looks like he’s seen a ghost!
Double J starts backing up as Owen hobbles across the ring and pulls Jarrett up by the hair. Hair mare across the ring! Owen limps across, pulls Jarrett up, another hair mare!
Styles: Owen Hart is gonna send Jeff Jarrett after a Rogaine prescription at this rate!
Owen half-runs, half-limps across the ring and catches Jarrett with a running kick to the ribs then fires him into the ropes. He ducks for a big back body drop… but instead Owen steps away, letting Double J crash facefirst to the mat! As Jarrett cringes and clutches at his face and sternum, Owen hooks him from behind and hits a release German suplex! Jarrett gets dumped onto the back of his head right in front of Double J’s own corner.
JR: Jarrett getting decimated! How much more can he take?!?
Jarrett starts struggling to his feet, slumping forward into the corner. [CUT] to the camera near Owen as he measures Double J! He charges across the ring, suddenly Jarrett whirls and KABONGS HART WITH THE GUITAR!
JR: GOOD GOD!
Styles: Owen runs headlong into an El Kabong!
Jarrett teets then drops back to a seated position, dazed by the beating he’s taken. Then he crawls forward on hands and knees, tossing pieces of the shattered guitar out of the ring. Jarrett stands and staggers to Silverman, who’s finally showing some signs of life. He shakes the referee awake, then hobbles over to Hart, still flat on his back. He covers as the fans boo loudly.
One!
Two!
NOOOO OWEN KICKS OUT!
JR: YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!
Jarrett sits up in shock!
Styles: I don’t think Jeff Jarrett can believe it either!
JR: I thought Owen Hart was finished! But somehow, someway, this match is continuing! But how much can the Canadian have left?
Jarrett’s look of shock turns to a snarl, and he starts trying to yank Hart to his feet. He does so, hooking
Jarrett sits up and he’s in disbelief! Immediately Jarrett starts trying to yank Owen up. Double J goes to hook Hart from behind for a Russian legsweep…
Styles: Here comes the Stroke!
Owen makes a standing switch! Jarrett barely has time to look astonished before Owen pulls his head back and down into a dragon sleeper!
JR: WHAT A REVERSAL!
Owen yanks back on Jarrett’s head all the way. Veins are bulging in Double J’s neck! Jarrett’s left arm flails back and forth trying to escape… and then he taps out!
JR: HE DOES IT! OWEN HART WINS!
Hart keeps the hold hooked for another few seconds, then drops Jarrett’s carcass to the mat. He staggers back into the ropes, gripping them to take weight off his injured leg as Silverman raises his hand. Several fans are standing and applauding Owen’s victory.
Styles: And a somewhat surprising reaction for this victory by Owen Hart!
JR: Folks might not like his tactics or who he aligns himself with, but you’ve got to respect Owen Hart for his athleticism, his heart and his tenacity, and he showed all three tonight.
Owen Hart gives his former partner a long look as he stays sprawled on the mat, then leaves the ring. He starts hobbling back up the aisle without a second glance at Double J, but the cheers for Owen quickly turn to boos as Curt Hennig walks out onto the stage.
JR: Our new boss is back out, Joey!
WIN: Hart by submission in 10:50
[CUT] to a shot of Hennig on the stage, standing there and applauding Owen Hart, who just looks at Hennig as he hobbles to the back. Hennig just shrugs and steps to the podium.
Hennig: Roddy Piper… I tried to keep this draft on the up and up. Yes, there was strategy involved, but I tried to keep it honorable. And what do you do? You turn around and deliberately make a draft pick to break up Hostile Takeover, and screw up my three-way dance for the tag titles at Redemption this Sunday! I should’ve known not to expect anything more out of a lifelong cheater and scumbag like you! I tried to take the high road, Piper!
Hennig is interrupted as many of the fans start to boo.
Hennig: And so my next pick… I don’t make it just for me or my show. I make it to SAVE this person from Roddy Piper, and from the untalented thugs he now calls his friends and partners! My next pick… is
Styles: What did he just say?!?
JR: My God, Curt Hennig just drafted Shelton Benjamin!
Hennig: Let’s see you hold your little tag title match now, Piper!
The commissioner of Mayhem smirks as he strolls away from the podium.
JR: Curt Hennig just broke up another tag team! Alliances are disintegrating before our very eyes, and we’ve still got more than half of this draft to go!
[FADE OUT]
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN] backstage to see a very nervous Mean Gene standing between Bryan Adams and Brian Clarke, both of whom look considerably upset.
Gene: All right, we are back here on Mayhem and, well, the results of this draft can be a great opportunity for some… and devastating for others. I’m here right now with the now-FORMER members of what was a tough tag team, Hostile Takeover. Gentlemen, how do y—
Mean Gene pauses for a couple of seconds before scurrying out of the camera shot.
Voice off screen: Whoa whoa whoa whoa WHOA!
Shane McMahon runs into the shot, putting a hand over the microphone.
Shane: Look, guys… this draft isn’t over yet, if you understand what I’m saying. Just don’t do anything else. And for God’s sake, don’t SAY anything else. C’mon…
Shane leads the two big men out of the shot.
[CUT] to the Adrenaline war room, where Roddy Piper is standing with Paul Heyman. New Jack can be seen pacing behind the Rowdy Scot, muttering to himself.
Heyman: I’m here with the commissioner of Adrenaline, and Hot Rod, I understand you’ve got an announcement regarding the pick Curt Hennig made just before the break.
Piper: I sure do, Paul. Now, everybody knows by now that I made a match for Thursday night’s show in
New Jack: [still pacing] They think they can do this to ME?!? Got another thing comin, that motherf—
Piper: Jack! You mind?
New Jack glares at Piper, but the murderous intent seems to fade after a couple of seconds.
Piper: Now, Mark Cuban gave each of us total authority to book our portion of the draft. Hennig got tonight, and I got Thursday’s show. So, the way I see it? Just because Curt Hennig drafted one of the challengers for my U.S. Tag Title Match… doesn’t mean the match is off. See, Curt, it’s like I always say. Just when they figure out the answers, I change the questions! So my next draft pick… is New Jack!
Piper gets to his feet and turns to face the hardcore gangsta.
Piper: And I’m making you an offer. You go find a partner—any partner you want—and I’m gonna uphold that title shot. [A maniacal grin creeps onto New Jack’s face as Piper speaks.] But I don’t wanna know who your partner is. I don’t want ANYONE to know until match time. So that way, Hennig can’t draft him before the match starts. You get me?
New Jack: Get that camera on me!
[QUICK PAN LEFT] as the cameraman, perhaps fearing for his life, obeys.
New Jack: Ya know, one day it was that juvenile judge. Another time it was some fatass cop, whuppin my ass in the back room at a police station! Then it was the warden! Then it was the parole officer! You think you’re the first authority figure to bring the hammer down on me, Curt?!? You think you’re better than all them others?!? You ain’t safe in another office… another show… another network… another COUNTRY if you cross me. I’ll take that red tape you love so much and choke you to death with it, son! But the best revenge… the BEST revenge… is gonna be takin those titles off your show, Curt. And when I do it? [chuckles] I’m gonna laugh! [Laughs a little louder] I see you in
New Jack is still laughing as he walks out of the shot and, apparently, out of the room.
[PAN RIGHT] to see Heyman standing by Piper.
Heyman: So lemme get this straight, Hot Rod. You’re gonna let HIM choose his own partner for Thursday night?
Piper: Yeah… I can’t wait to see who he picks, can’t you?!
Piper has a big smile on his face, reveling in the chaos, as the scene [FADES OUT]
[CUT] to Curt Hennig, now with Jerry Lawler replacing Joey Styles as the war room correspondent.
Lawler: Curt, Roddy Piper just drafted New Jack AND upheld the U.S. Tag Title Match for Thursday night! He’s not under your authority anymore, and I guess he’s taken that to heart…
Hennig: You better watch what you say, Lawler. I won’t hesitate to draft you, only to make your life a living hell. Put that camera on me. Piper, you can take all the shortcuts you want, but I won’t stoop to those tactics. I don’t need to use some bag of tricks. Because I have something you don’t.
Hennig glances at something out of the shot. [PAN UP AND LEFT] to see Kurt Angle standing there, feigning innocence.
Hennig: [clears his throat] That being said, I’d like to go ahead and announce my next draft choice now. [nods to his right, perhaps to Angle] Mayhem selects… Flip.
Voice off-screen: YES!
[PAN LEFT] quickly to see Flip hop up into the air in celebration. Angle claps the Prince of Pep on the back, and Flip promptly stands at rigid attention.
Flip: Give me a C! [he starts to clap and do a little shimmying dance] Give me a U! Give me a R! Give me a—
Hennig: ENOUGH!
[ZOOM OUT] to get the commissioner in the shot, as well as Lawler, who is biting his lip and trying not to laugh.
Hennig: All right, Angle, I upheld my end of the deal. You better take care of yours!
Angle: Hey, Curt, what would I be… without integrity?
Angle smiles and gives Hennig a big thumb’s-up before heading out of the room. The Olympian is followed by Flip and Haku, who is eating a sandwich of Dagwoodian proportions as he walks.
Lawler: Curt, what’s this deal you’re ta—
Hennig: I’ve got no comment on that.
Hennig slumps back in the chair, massaging his temples.
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN from the commercial to see an EXTREME CLOSE-UP of a green DX logo on a black T-shirt. ZOOM OUT to see the shirt on the broad chest of Triple H, who is surrounded by the rest of DX.]
HHH: Take a good look, people. Before you, you see one of the great collections of talent in the history of professional wrestling. But tonight… tonight, there’s a good chance you’re going to see DX take its curtain call. That’s right, because thanks to this draft, D-Generation X is probably gonna get its light snuffed out.
Roaddog: You see, me, Triple H, the Bad Ass and X to the PAC can beat just about anybody you put in front of us. Big and small, fat and tall we can beat them all. But what we can’t do… is beat the odds. And it don’t take a math wizard to see that DX probably ain’t gonna make it through this draft intact.
Gunn: Now we damn sure know that’s gonna make some people around here real, real happy. We know most of the guys in that locker room would like nothing better than to see this—
HHH: Don’t call it a clique, Billy. You’ll get in trouble.
Gunn: This COLLECTION…
HHH: There ya go.
Gunn: … of phenomenal talent get shut down, split and ripped apart before it’s time! But it ain’t over yet, fellas.
X-Pac: Ya see, tonight… myself and my friends, we have an opportunity. We have an opportunity to go out as winners, to ride into the sunset after uniting… together… AND KICKING THE FLOCK’S ASS!
HHH: So Raven… get all your cronies ready. Because tonight, the time for jokes, skits and costumes is over. Tonight… DX makes its final statement… [steps closer to the camera] in the ring.
[FADE OUT]
[CUT] back to a shot of the stage as Roddy Piper strolls out in front of the podium.
JR: Fans, the commissioner of Adrenaline is back out and looks abundantly pleased with himself.
Styles: Pleased? Looks like the cat that swallowed the canary!
Piper: You know… the ole Rowdy Scot is the first to admit when he\’s made a mistake. I’m willing to change my opinions—provided I’ve got reason to change ’em. And that happened tonight. Ya see, in my war room, I’ve got a list of all the talent available for this draft. And, as the night’s gone on, some names have moved up my list… and some moved down. But there’s one name… that’s moved way, WAY up the list! And right now, that individual’s gonna receive his big break. Ladies and gentlemen, with my 14th pick in this draft… I select… Owen! Hart!
Styles: Wow!
JR: Looks like Owen Hart is headed to Thursday nights!
Piper turns with a big smile on his face as Owen Hart walks out onto the stage. Hart is wearing street clothes, and is limping a bit following his grudge match earlier in the night against Jeff Jarrett. Hart shakes hands with Piper, gives a quick wave to the crowd then starts to leave the stage when…
Piper: Whoawhoawhoa! Hold on a second there, Owen. As your new boss, I’m afraid I can’t let you leave just yet.
Hart turns back around, frowning somewhat.
Piper: Ya see, like I said earlier tonight… I’ve got complete control over the card for Thursday night’s show. Zoom in on me, cameraman. [Beckons as the camera ZOOMS IN] COMPLETE control, Curt. And so, tomorrow night… we’re going to have a very special match. It’s going to be Sabu… [mixed reaction from the fans] defending the World Heavyweight Title… [more cheers] against OWEN HART!
Hart looks up, slightly bewildered, and then a smirk spreads across his face as the fans go nuts.
Styles: Did I just hear him right?!?
JR: You damn sure did! Roddy Piper’s just given Owen Hart a shot at the title! Curt Hennig took Sabu with the No. 1 overall pick, but he might lose the World Heavyweight Title before the draft is over!
Styles: So I guess it’s official. Owen Hart takes his turn against the suicidal, homidical, genocida—
JR: Joey, hold on! We’ve got to go to Mean Gene right now!
[CUT] suddenly to a dimly lit shot as a camera reels back and forth.
Voice offscreen: You!
A hand covers the lens of the camera, jerking it violently to the left then withdrawing to reveal a tight shot of…
The Rock.
Rock: You see, the Rock has been banished to the parking lot by the Rock’s new boss, Rowdy Roddy Piper. But Piper, there’s something you need to learn. Wherever The Rock is—whether it’s the ring, the locker room, on commentary… [pauses and gestures to the cars behind him] or in the parking lot… The Rock is the franchise player! You see, Piper, it’s like any great professional sports franchise. The only thing that matters… is what the star says. And whether you admit it or not, your star is The Rock. And The Rock says this. Sting… last month, at WrestleMania, you tried to kill The Rock. And so The Rock doesn’t call what went down during your title shot a travesty, The Rock calls that justice! But The Rock doesn’t want justice, Sting. That’s too noble… No, what The Rock wants… is revenge! So, Sting, The Rock says this. Piper might have banned The Rock from the rest of this draft, but IT DOESN’T MATTER what Piper does! The Rock doesn’t care about how you feel, Sting. Or Chris Benoit! Or any other candy-ass in that locker room… So, Sting… come to
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN from the break to Curt Hennig’s war room.]
The McMahons are confronting Hennig, and Sabu stands behind them, looking as menacing as usual.
Vince: Is this what you call running a promotion? You take Sabu, see our Corporation break in two… and now you’ve left the door open for Sabu to lose his title on Thursday. WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!?
That brings Hennig into Vince’s face.
Hennig: You better BACK OFF, McMahon! I don’t work for you anymore. So you get out of my face, or I’ll draft you next, and put you in the Doink the Clown outfit until DOOMSDAY!
Vince does his patented slow gulp, then takes a couple of steps back.
Hennig: What exactly are you saying here, Vince? You don’t have confidence in your man Sabu? Isn’t he the World Champ? You expect a champion not to defend his title? If you don’t think Sabu can beat Owen Hart, it seems like the one Sabu should have a problem with is you. [Vince glances back at Sabu, then stares straight ahead at Hennig.] I don’t have time to deal with you, McMahon. Get out of my sight… Now, you. That’s right, you, come here!
A very young man in a sport shirt and slacks walks up to the commissioner’s desk.
Hennig: I want you to go deliver that message. Understand?
The man scurries out of the room as Hennig leans back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling.
6. Hardcore Title Match
Saturn (C) (3-0) vs. Brian Clarke (0-1)
No time limit; referee: Chad Patton
[CUT] to the ring.
JR: Fans, welcome back, and Joey Styles, as we get ready for this next match, you can see the stress that the two authority figures are under as this draft takes place…
“No Chance In Hell” starts up, and the Hostile Takeover’s entrance video begins on the Jumbotron as Clarke steps out onto the stage. The fans boo the big man, who is dressed in a tank top, jeans and heavy boots and wielding a steel chair as he approaches the ring. Clarke throws the chair over the top rope into the ring, then climbs in after the weapon.
Styles: As if a 6-foot-6 monster needs additional help, Clarke’s got a chair and just one goal for it: to scramble Saturn’s brains and take his Hardcore Title!
JR: And if Saturn loses, the Hardcore belt would go to Mayhem. I guarantee you that means both Piper and Hennig will be watching this match very closely…
Air raid sirens go off, and many fans stand as Saturn’s video starts. Clarke turns to face the stage, holding the chair in one hand and going into a crouch as he awaits the champ.
JR: Wait, look!
[CUT] to a wide shot of the ring, to see Saturn on the apron behind Clarke. He springs to the top rope and flies off, clobbering the big man in the back of the head with a wicked forearm shot.
DING DING DING!
Saturn stands and picks up the chair, measuring Clarke… as the Jumbotron flickers to life.
MAYHEM
ROUND 15
THE BIG SHOW
Styles: WHOA!
JR: He’s the largest athlete in professional wrestling, and he’s officially a part of the Mayhem roster!
The big man starts to stand and Saturn whacks him across the back. Saturn blasts him again. And again! And again and again and again!
Styles: It’s like he’s chopping down an oak tree!
Clarke is cringing on the canvas after the assault, and Saturn holds up the slightly twisted chair to a bloodthirsty roar from the fans. Clarke, meanwhile, is slowly trying to stand. Saturn rears back with the chair… then thinks better of it and drops it on the mat. Saturn slides under a standing Clarke, hoisting him for a fireman’s carry…
JR:
Clarke starts gouging Saturn’s face. Clarke lands on his feet, knees Saturn in the gut then roughly pulls him up onto one shoulder. Leaping powerslam onto the chair!
JR: OH MY!
Styles: Brutal slam onto the edge of that chair!
Saturn jerks and twists after the sick impact, and Clarke stays on top for the pin.
One…
Two…
Th—
JR: Saturn kicks out, but just barely!
Styles: Wasn’t a very authoritative kickout…
JR: You gotta hook the leg in a title match, Joey. I don’t care if it’s a Hardcore match or not. Fundamentals still apply…
Referee Chad Patton leans in to check on Saturn, who is down and in obvious pain. Clarke kneels over Saturn, wrapping one of his big hands around the champ’s throat. Clarke throttles the champ, leaning in close to talk some trash as he does it. Clarke then starts firing away with some deliberate and nasty punches to the forehead.
JR: Now Clarke has the advantage and he’s using it. Just pummeling Saturn and capitalizing on his superior size and strength.
Saturn starts to twitch a bit after the sixth or seventh blow, and the referee can only watch the beating. Clarke yanks Saturn up by one arm, firing him into the ropes. The champ bounces off and Clarke tags him with a bicycle kick! Saturn spins away after the impact before collapsing facefirst to the mat.
Styles: I think Saturn saw that coming and tried to turn, but it still dropped him…
Clarke immediately yanks Saturn up, and sets him for the Death Penalty. But Saturn fires back with repeated elbow thrusts to the side of the head! He’s about to fight free of Clarke’s grasp when the big man hits him with a knee to the ribs. Clarke goes for a short-arm clothesline, Saturn ducks it and immediately whirls, catching Clarke around the left thigh and pulling him back into a schoolboy!
JR: Saturn with a rollup…
One!
Two!
Handful of tights!
Three!
Styles: HEY!
JR: He got him!
Styles: With a handful of tights … which is completely legal in a CWF Hardcore Match!
WIN: Saturn by pinfall in 2:37 (retains title)
The crowd isn’t sure quite how to react after the sudden outcome. Clarke rolls to his feet, bewildered, while Saturn stays down, grabbing at his back.
JR: Saturn caught the big man napping!
The sirens go off as Clarke protests to the referee, who simply holds up three fingers. The big man merely stands there and stews as the ref turns and hands Saturn the belt.
Styles: A quick, unconventional and decidedly non-hardcore finish, fans… but… JR, I think Saturn may be hurt.
JR: I think so… We’re going to get our hardcore champ some medical attention and come back right after this.
[QUICK CUT] to…
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN from the break to see Saturn still down in the ring. A few referees are helping Saturn from the ring. Saturn stands to a solid ovation, but the champion is in obvious pain. Some EMTs are waiting at ringside with a stretcher.
JR: Fans, we’re back for the first night of the CWF draft. And as you can see Saturn is being helped from the ring.
Styles: JR, the initial diagnosis appears to be a back injury of some sort… perhaps a torn muscle in the back…
JR: That’s bad news right there.
The fans’ applause builds as Saturn is helped to a reclining position on the stretcher. The EMTs strap him in just so as a couple of referees speak to the champ. Slowly, the EMTs start to push Saturn back up the aisle. He says something and they stop at the top of the stage. Saturn holds a thumb’s-up to the fans and their applause builds…
When suddenly…
JR: What the hell?!?
Mike Awesome is out! He shoulders past the referees and EMTs… and lays across Saturn’s upper body in a laterall press?!? The referees just stand there. Al Snow gets off, angrily motioning to Saturn and mouthing… “Twenty-four, seven.” He covers Saturn again, pinning the injured man’s arms down. Chad Patton counts. One… Two… Three.
JR: OH COME ON!
Awesome lets out a triumphant roar as Patton reluctantly raises his hand. Awesome turns to grab for the Hardcore Title.
JR: Thanks to the 24/7 rule, we’ve got a new Hardcore champion!
Saturn grabs the other end, but Awesome pulls it out of his weakened grip with ease. Awesome holds the newly won belt over his head with both hands and walks back and forth on the stage as Saturn wheels him off.
Styles: Mike Awesome might be an alumni of ECW, but there is NOTHING extreme about the way he just won this championship!
Awesome stands there celebrating as Piper walks out onto the stage. The Rowdy Scot gives the new champion a long, dirty look as he leans over Saturn, speaking briefly with the injured competitor. Piper then makes a beeline for the podium as Awesome starts to walk to the back.
Piper: Hold on a minute there, big man. C’mon back here.
Awesome starts back toward the podium, and Piper’s head swivels to face him.
Piper: I bet you’re pretty proud of yourself, Mike. Coming out here… and pinning a man while he’s strapped to a stretcher. That’s extreme, pal. THAT… that is hardcore!
Awesome rolls his eyes, then focuses his gaze on the faceplate of the Hardcore title belt.
Piper: Well, I’ve got good news and bad news for you, buddy. The good news… is that you’re the 15th pick for Adrenaline in this draft. Now, call me crazy, but I’ve got a feeling that’s not too big a shock. After all, I drafted Saturn because I wanted the Hardcore Title on my show. And now… you have that title. And I’m sure that has absolutely NOTHING to do with me drafting your buddy Ric Flair earlier tonight. But it makes me wonder whether this whole thing… your gutless win included… is part of a Horseman conspiracy! Well maybe it is, but maybe it ain’t, but either way you’re gonna EARN that title. Which leads me to the bad news… at least for you, Mike. Because next week, on the first ever episode of Adrenaline, you better get ready, Mike. Because I’ve got 10 days to design a match for you. And you can bet your ass you’re gonna earn that title! Now… get outta my sight.
Awesome gives Piper a long look then walks away.
Piper: Now I’d like to make another announcement. Curt? Care to join me?
The Adrenaline commissioner waits a few beats before his counterpart strolls out onto the stage. Hennig walks toward the podium with a big scowl on his face.
Piper: Hey there, Curt. You wanna announce the big news? Or shall I?
Hennig rolls his eyes and makes a dismissive hand gesture to the Rowdy Scot.
Piper: I’d be glad to, Curt! Thanks for asking… Ya see, not too long ago, I got a message from some young pup sent to me courtesy of you, Curt. And what he brought… was a trade proposal. And it’s a proposal that I accepted! So, effective immediately… I’ve sent Chris Benoit, Rob Van Dam and Bryan Adams to Mayhem. And, in exchange, Chris Jericho, Joey Styles and Raven are coming to Adrenaline!
The crowd roars at the announcement.
JR: Man, that’s a blockbuster!
Styles: I guess our partnership isn’t gonna last long, Jim…
JR: A very good trade for both sides. Hennig is able to protect the integrity of some of his biggest matches for Sunday’s pay-per-view. And meanwhile, Piper gets some big names in return!
Hennig then steps before the podium.
Hennig: Just don’t get any ideas, Piper. You might be getting
Many of the fans cheer, and Hennig smirks with confidence as he backs away from the podum, making an arrogant gesture to the microphone.
Styles: Nice…
JR: Eddie Guerrero comes to Mayhem! That’s gonna be a tremendous boost to the Cruiserweight division.
Piper: Nice pick, Curt. And good luck with that Intercontinental Title. It means so much to have all those belts when you arbitrarily crown champs with no history… And, since we’re both out here… I thought I’d go ahead and make my next pick if ya don’t mind. Because MY final pick of the night… is the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn! Michaels!
The crowd goes crazy.
JR: OH MY GOD!
Styles: My new boss just picked up HBK, the first-ever CWF world champion!
JR: Mark Cuban said anyone and everyone is eligible in this draft, and Piper just poached Michaels, even though HBK is on the injured list indefinitely. That doesn’t seem to matter to Curt, who is throwing a FIT!
Hennig is extremely upset, cursing a blue streak as he starts stomping off the stage.
Piper: Whoawhoawhoawhoawhoa. Curt! Curt! Don’t run off just yet. Ya see, I’ve got one more announcement… As we’ve said, you had control over tonight’s card. And I have control over Thursday’s card. And, have I got a match for you. You’re gonna LOVE this, Curt. Because as big as Sabu’s title defense against Owen Hart is gonna be—and it IS big—it won’t be the main event. Because in the main event, it’s gonna be the first-ever Rowdy Roddy’s Rules Match! And if ya know the Hot Rod, brother, you know you can expect the unexpected… And in this historic match, it’s gonna be Chris Jericho… one… on one… [whirls] AGAINST CURT HENNIG!
[CUT] to a close-up of Hennig, whose jaw drops at the announcement as the crowd erupts.
Styles: Piper just booked
JR: Hennig’s been making
Piper: We’ll see ya in the ring in
Styles: Well… I guess we’ll see ya later, JR.
JR: Yeah, good luck there, kid.
Styles gets up and starts walking up the ramp toward Hennig.
JR: Big leagues… Please.
Styles shakes hands with Piper and the two men head past Hennig, who’s still standing there, flabbergasted as the scene…
[FADES OUT]
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN] from the commercial to see Jim Ross at his ringside broadcast position.
JR: Folks, welcome back. And as you can see, this
ROUND 1
Mayhem: Sabu
Adrenaline: The Rock
ROUND 2
Mayhem: Test & Hakushi (picked as set as World Tag Champs)
Adrenaline: Chris Benoit (traded)
ROUND 3
Mayhem: forfeited as part of tag team pick
Adrenaline: Kane
ROUND 4
Mayhem: Chris Jericho (traded)
Adrenaline: Ric Flair
ROUND 5
Mayhem: Kurt Angle & Haku (picked as set as United States Tag Champs)
Adrenaline: Rob Van Dam (traded)
ROUND 6
Mayhem: forfeited as part of tag team kick
Adrenaline: Jerry Lynn
ROUND 7
Mayhem: Jim Ross
Adrenaline: Sting
ROUND 8
Mayhem: D’Lo Brown
Adrenaline: Michael Modest
ROUND 9
Mayhem: Dean Malenko
Adrenaline: Mankind
ROUND 10
Mayhem: Raven (traded)
Adrenaline: Saturn
ROUND 11
Mayhem: Joey Styles (traded)
Adrenaline: Triple H
ROUND 12
Mayhem: Brian Clarke
Adrenaline: Bryan Adams (traded)
ROUND 13
Mayhem:
Adrenaline: New Jack
ROUND 14
Mayhem: Flip
Adrenaline: Owen Hart
ROUND 15
Mayhem: Big Show
Adrenaline: Mike Awesome
ROUND 16
Mayhem: Eddie Guerrero
Adrenaline: Shawn Michaels
[FADE IN] to JR back at the desk.
JR: Folks, there you see it. A pretty even distribution of talent if you ask me. Curt Hennig, he’s been gunning for the reigning champions. Roddy Piper, he’s been responding by going for the veterans, the established stars here on the roster. I think we’re all gonna be very intrigued, and probably very surprised, with what shakes out Thursday night as this draft comes to an end. But right now… it’s time for our main event. It’s the Flock against DX in an eight-man tag match. The rivalry between these two factions hasn’t been long, but it’s sure been intense. It all started when Raven cheated to help Kanyon upset Triple H in the first round of the Above & Beyond tournament. DX got its revenge three nights later, spoiling Raven’s plan to poach the Hardcore Title from Saturn by countering interference from the Flock. But Raven got his revenge on Heat, when he beat X-Pac and Billy Gunn to a bloody pulp. Since then, we’ve seen brawls. We’ve seen blood. We’ve seen Roaddog make his return from that knee injury. Tonight Roaddog makes his official return to in-ring action. Think for a minute about this draft. The Horsemen, the Corporation and Brand X already have been split up. There’s almost no chance of the Flock and DX both surviving this process intact. That makes this, barring some shock, the final chapter of this short… and brutal rivalry. The time for talking is over. Let’s go to the ring for this huge tag match!
7. THE MAIN EVENT
Eight-Man Tag War
DX vs. The Flock
TV time remaining; referee: Senior Referee Earl Hebner
[CUT] to a wide shot of the arena as “When Nothing Else Matters” hits and the Flock’s Jumbotron video begins. The fans begin to boo even before anyone appears. They intensify as Raven steps out onto the screen. He does his classic arms-extended pose as Kanyon, Christopher Daniels and Vampiro walk out to flank their leader. Then, the Flock heads for the ring en masse.
JR: They are a collection of extremely talented, extremely athletic and extremely dangerous men. And they take their cue from the brilliant, twisted leader of this… this cult-like group… Raven. You heard Raven earlier, folks. He’s not just out for the win tonight. He’s out for blood!
The Flock hit the ring, still getting loudly booed, until…
The house lights go out.
PA: Are you ready??
The crowd GOES NUTS as the DX video begins to play.
PA: B-b-b-break it down!
The DX theme song starts up, and the fans’ cheers intensify as one by one the members of DX step out onto the stage.
JR: What an ovation for De-Generation X!
Triple H is at the center of the group, and advances a few steps, beckoning to the men in the ring.
[CUT] to a close-up of Raven, who is quivering with fury… before breaking out of the ring, with the Flock close behind!
JR: HERE WE GO!
DX charges down the ramp and meets the Flock at its base as a wild eight-man brawl breaks out! The eight men pair off, slugging it out as the
JR: These guys just didn’t wanna wait!
Triple H and Raven are trading some wicked punches. Vampiro and Billy Gunn are tied up with one another against the rail at the base of the aisle. X-Pac and Daniels tag each other with punches and overhand chops, while Roaddog slugs it out with Kanyon.
JR: Instead, the Flock and DX are beatin’ the hell out of each other right in the aisle!
X-Pac blocks a Daniels punch and answers with a wicked one of his own. The impact snaps Daniels’ head around and sends him staggering back down the ramp, but as X-Pac goes to charge in for more, Daniels lowers a shoulder and flings the cruiserweight high into the air with a back bodydrop!
JR: X-Pac gets tossed onto the unforgiving steel!
As X-Pac writhes in pain, Daniels goes to help Raven. Meanwhile, Kanyon has an electrical cord wrapped around the throat of Roaddog, while Gunn rams Vampiro headfirst into the railing. The tattooed man staggers before collapsing on his stomach.
JR: Triple H getting double-teamed!
Daniels is now holding HHH as Raven drills him with some nasty punches to the head. But Gunn runs into the fray and breaks it up! A wicked roundhouse right sends Raven reeling, as Triple H catches Daniels with a reverse mule kick. The two men grab Daniels and chuck him off the ramp!
JR: DANIELS SMASHES INTO THE RAIL!
The Fallen Angel smashes sternum-first into the barrier, then collapses. X-Pac comes to the aid of Kanyon, smashing him in the back of the head. Roaddog then picks up Kanyon for a slam, then dumps him over into the crowd!
JR: There’s something ya don’t expect from a front-row seat!
Roaddog and X-Pac follow Kanyon into the crowd as the fans start to cheer! On the ramp, Triple H and Gunn each hook Raven, and execute a double hiptoss. Raven goes FLYING through the air before smashing on his tailbone on the rail!
JR: Now it’s Raven’s turn to tase the ramp! And look at Triple H!
[CUT] to a close-up of Helmsley, who has a big smile on his face.
JR: He likes it, folks!
In the crowd, Roaddog is holding Kanyon’s arms as X-Pac blasts him with a chop across the chest! And another! And another! X-Pac winds up for a fourth chop… then pokes Kanyon right in the eye! Triple H is at the base of the ramp, stomping Raven. Meanwhile, Gunn is at the rail, and is gouging at Daniels’ eyes and face. In the crowd, Roaddog and X-Pac hook Kanyon… but Vampiro runs in and breaks up their suplex attempt. Vampiro grabs an unoccupied chair and blasts X-Pac across the back!
JR: Vampiro goes right after the back of X-Pac again!
Vampiro goes to hit Roaddog, but he blocks! Kanyon with a low blow… and Vampiro drills the staggered Roaddog in the head!
JR: Oh, welcome back to active competition, Roaddog!
Triple H is dragging Raven toward the ring by two handfuls of hair. He goes for an Irish whip into the steps, Raven reverses it and fires Triple H into the ropes. Triple H hits HARD, rolling over the steps and collapsing in a heap on the other side. In the crowd, Kanyon and Vampiro hook X-Pac… double suplex onto the concrete floor!
JR: Brutal suplex! And I think it hurt Kanyon and Vampiro just as much as X-Pac…
Back at the ring area, Raven has Triple H by a handful of hair and is ramming his head into the steps. But Gunn comes charging in and wallops Raven from behind! In the crowd, Kanyon and Vampiro now have Roaddog hooked…
JR: And Roaddog is busted open!
Vampiro’s set that chair up, and Kanyon has him hooked for a DDT onto it!
JR: HERE COMES GUNN!
He vaults over the rail, steps onto an unoccupied chair and leaps, taking out both men with a flying body attack! Daniels is staggering toward the ring area as Triple H stands and grabs Raven, only to have the Flock leader go to the eyes. Raven hooks Triple H for a Russian legsweep… back into the rail! Meanwhile the other four men are struggling to their feet in the gap between floor seating sections as Trips sags to a seated position. Raven is measuring Triple H, and he’s got a chair! The referee’s out but Raven shoves him down. He takes a swing, Trips avoids it and the chair bounces off the top of the rail. Raven turns and Trips EXPLODES forward, spearing him THROUGH the rail and into the crowd!
JR: OH MY GOD! TRIPLE H JUST TOOK RAVEN THROUGH THE RAILING!
Kanyon and Vampiro start focusing on Gunn, while Roaddog is up. He reaches up to wipe his head, and comes away with red-stained fingers. He starts to quiver in anger.
JR: Roaddog sees the blood and he snaps!
Roaddog starts pounding both men relentlessly! X-Pac leaps into the fray, as does Gunn! Meanwhile Raven is prying himself out from under Triple H… who appears to have taken the worst of that spear… Raven gets into the fight as well. Triple H is struggling to stand… and meanwhile Daniels is in the ring! He’s climbed to the top rope in the nearest corner! He turns his BACK to the brawling men… MOONSAULT INTO THE CROWD!
Daniels OBLITERATES DX and his fellow Flock members and leaves all eight men down in a heap!
JR: MY GOD WHAT A MOVE BY DANIELS! All eight men are DOWN!
Senior Referee Earl Hebner hustles into the crowd over the broken piece of railing and starts trying to check on the condition of the eight men.
JR: This main event hasn’t even started, but I don’t even know if we can have a main event right now! We’re gonna try to restore order and come right back!
COMMERCIALS
[FADE IN from the commercial to see a standard tag match apparently about to begin.] DX is grouped in one corner with Billy Gunn in the ring. The Flock is huddled on the apron in the opposite corner.
JR: Welcome back, folks, and it looks like we’re finally going to get our main event. But frankly, I don’t even see how Christopher Daniels is able to stand after what happened. Let’s go to the replay…
[CUT] to a shot from the hard camera of Daniels executing his moonsault that clears the rail and takes out the other seven men, who were grouped in the open space between seating sections in the crowd.
JR: Unbelievable… check out this angle.
[CUT] to another camera, and a slow-motion shot of Daniels’ moonsault. Daniels easily clears the railing on the move.
JR: Wow… folks, I can’t remember the last time I saw a move like that.
Meanwhile, Gunn has gotten a clap going among the fans. They’re clapping and stomping and the house is rocking! But suddenly Triple H calls out to Gunn and extends his hand. Gunn tags in the leader of the stable, who steps to center ring… and points directly at Raven. The fans roar in approval, and Raven steps through the ropes.
JR: Here we go! The climax of this feud is gonna start with the two faction leaders going head to head!
DING DING DING!
HHH and Raven stay completely motionless for a few seconds as the din from the crowd builds again. Suddenly, HHH springs forward and the two men start to trade vicious punches! Raven catches Helmsley with a blatant finger to the eye, then applies a two-handed choke and pushes Triple H back into the corner. Hebner starts a five count, Raven breaks at four and a half… and Triple H drills Raven with a thunderous right to the side of the head! And another! And another!
JR: Helmsley unloading on Raven!
Raven’s backpedaling but Triple H stays on top of him, each punch snapping Raven’s head around with greater force before a double-fist sledge drops him! Triple H stalks Raven, motioning for him to stand. Raven gets up to his knees and HHH moves in, but Raven grabs his waistband and yanks him forward into the corner. Triple H’s head bounces off the top turnbuckle and he teeters a bit as Raven crawls for the corner and tags Vampiro. Triple H starts to turn, but Vampiro catches him with a Yakuza kick knocking him back into the corner.
JR: Oh, and a big running kick by Vampiro…
Vampiro rocks HHH with a forearm uppercut, hooks a side headlock and walks down the perimeter of the ring, rubbing Triple H’s eyes against the top rope. Vampiro tags Kanyon, who catches HHH with a roundhouse kick to the ribcage while Vampiro has him in a half nelson. Kanyon shoves HHH forward against the ropes and hits a couple of closed fists to the kidneys, then hooks him from behind and executes a crisp Russian legsweep.
JR: Crisp teamwork by the Flock…
Kanyon yanks HHH to his feet after the move and hooks him for an apparent inverted Russian legsweep.
JR: Flatliner…
But HHH counters with rapid-fire elbows to the side of the head! Kanyon’s staggered and Triple H whips him toward the DX corner… where Gunn gets a boot up and catches Kanyon in the face! As he snaps backward, X-Pac drills him in the head, as does Roaddog… and a woozy Kanyon turns right into a high knee from Helmsley! Tag to Roaddog.
JR: And listen to these fans as Roaddog steps through the ropes in a match for the first time in three months!
Kanyon struggles to his feet, Roaddog spins him around into a jab! Another jab! Another! Roaddog does his little dance then drops Kanyon with a big right to the head!
JR: OHHH what a right by Roaddog!
Roaddog runs into the near ropes, and Gunn slaps his partner on the back for the blind tag as Roaddog comes off with his Crazy Legs kneedrop. As Roaddog rolls off, Gunn catches Kanyon with a big splash! Gunn pulls Kanyon into a front facelock, then hoists him for a suplex. Gunn keeps Kanyon up for several seconds, before slamming him back down to the mat instead!
JR: Billy Gunn with an impressive Jackhammer!
The fans applaud the feat of strength as a smirking Gunn gets to one knee and flicks some nonexistent sweat at the Flock’s corner. Gunn pulls Kanyon into a front facelock and maneuvers near his corner, tagging Roaddog, who catches Kanyon with a kick to the gut before they fling him back against the turnbuckles. They hook Kanyon, hoist him for a double suplex… and drop him gut-first across the top rope.
JR: Oof!
Roaddog tags X-Pac, who springs to the top rope and leaps off with a legdrop across the back!
JR: And a high-risk follow by X-Pac! DX is clicking on all cylinders right now…
X-Pac yanks Kanyon up into a half nelson and tags Triple H, who delivers a deliberate punch to the ribcage. Triple H yanks Kanyon into a side headlock and starts to deliver rabbit punches to his head until Hebner reaches four and a half. Kanyon reels back into the ropes, punch drunk. Triple H strolls over and slaps him. Kanyon takes a wild swing but gets leveled by a drop toehold. Triple H slips behind Kanyon and starts paintbrushing him, talking trash the whole time, then delivers a nasty elbow smash to the back of the head.
JR: Ohh, insult to injury! Remember this whole feud started when Raven interfered to help Kanyon beat Triple H in the Above and Beyond tournament…
Triple H wrangles Kanyon to a vertical base, and the Innovator tags HHH with a nasty forearm uppercut. Kanyon wriggles free and goes for a short-arm clothesline, but Triple H ducks it, reaches back and hits a reverse neckbreaker!
JR: Wow, nice counter there by Helmsley. Say what you will about his attitude, but this guy knows how to wrestle…
Helmsley immediately pulls Kanyon up and flings him into the neutral southwest corner. Kick to the gut, and HHH scales to the middle rope. Helmsley’s still talking trash as he starts driving both fists into his face, picking up speed until he’s pummeling Kanyon with piston-like regularity! Kanyon can barely stand, as Triple H backs up, then charges and hits a running clothesline in the corner. HHH strolls to his corner and tags Gunn, who runs into the adjacent corner and charges with a Stinger splash! The impact sends Kanyon to a seated position as Gunn hustles out of the corner and tags Roaddog, who sets and runs in with a charging ass smash to the face! Roaddog tags X-Pac, who comes in and starts to do a little rain dance as he sets up for the Bronco Buster. X-Pac gives a groggy Kanyon a few crotch chops and starts out of the corner… but a charging Daniels grabs him and hits a perfect STO!
JR: OHHH! The Fallen Angel breaks up a series of devastating corner attacks by DX…
Hebner is reading Daniels the riot act, but he scoots over to help a woozy Kanyon to the Flock corner. Vampiro tags himself in and hits X-Pac with a running kick to the ribs that bodily lifts him off the campus! Vampiro hoists X-Pac for a side slam… but instead drops him across extended knee in a backbreaker. Vampiro keeps X-Pac across the knee then picks him back up… and hits a second backbreaker. Vampiro shoves X-Pac belly-first to the mat, then hits a leaping elbow to the small of the back. He tags in Daniels, then steps between X-Pac’s legs from behind and grabs him around the waist. Vampiro hoists X-Pac with a wheelbarrow suplex, as Daniels springs to the top rope and comes off with a modified Hart Attack clothesline!
JR: Nice combination move by Daniels and Vampiro…
Daniels starts to go for the pin, but Raven calls him off. Raven grins toward the DX corner, and Daniels smiles as well as he pulls a weary X-Pac up… then spits toward DX! Gunn and Triple H come in, but Hebner cuts them off as Daniels hits a powerbomb. Daniels keeps X-Pac’s legs extended, and delivers a blatant stomp to the groin.
JR: COME ON!
Hebner turns around as Daniels backs away, feigning innocence. Meanwhile, X-Pac is curled up on the mat, eyes bulging in pain. Daniels drags X-Pac toward the Flock corner by two handfuls of hair, then tags Raven, who delivers a measured stomp to the sternum. Then another. Then another and another and another!
JR: Raven is relentless! This is the kind of nonstop attack that made him an ECW Champion…
Raven keeps up the assault of mudhole stomps, even as X-Pac reaches in desperation for the ropes. Raven drags X-Pac away from the ropes to center ring, kneels across him and starts hammering away with stiff punches to either side of the head. X-Pac tries to cover up as Hebner issues a five count. Raven backs off, sneering… and gets within reach of DX. Triple H grabs Raven’s arm and spins him around and they get tied up! Hebner starts trying to separate them, and meanwhile Kanyon’s back in the ring! He hoists X-Pac for a powerbomb… but instead drops back to the mat smashing X-Pac facefirst into the canvas!
JR: And again the Flock inflicts punishment on DX while the referee’s back is turned… they’re doing more harm than good by trying to help their partner.
That brings the Outlaws into the ring and Hebner cuts THEM off. Meanwhile, Daniels climbs to the top rope and hits a perfect flying elbow! The Fallen Angel squirrels out under the bottom rope as Raven strolls up to X-Pac, poking him with his toe. Raven yanks X-Pac to his feet and hits a short arm clothesline. He keeps hold and pulls X-Pac back up, moves behind him and hits a Russian legsweep. Raven gets up, shrugging at the apparent lack of effort.
Raven: It’s too easy… it’s just too easy!
Raven then hits a spinning boot rake across the face of X-Pac. Raven tags Kanyon, who catapults into the ring and hits X-P:ac with a picture-perfect legdrop. Kanyon springs to his feet and extends his arms in a grandstanding pose.
Kanyon: Who betta than Kanyon?!?
Crowd: EVERYBODY!
Kanyon turns and stomps X-Pac in the head. Kanyon pulls X-Pac up and shoves him into a standing headscissors. He goes for a snap powerbomb, but somehow X-Pac rolls through and rams Kanyon facefirst into the canvas! Both men are down.
JR: Big counter from X-Pac! And just like that the DX corner springs to life!
Triple H starts screaming for X-Pac to get to them, while Roaddog and Gunn are clapping their hands and stomping their feet. The fans quickly join in, and Daniels and Vampiro turn trying to shush the crowd. X-Pac crawling on hands and knees to the corner… but Kanyon grabs him by the leg and drags him back into Flock territory. With both hands on X-Pac, Kanyon extends his leg and Daniels slaps him on the boot for the tag. Daniels hits a running elbow across the back of X-Pac’s head. Daniels pulls X-Pac to his feet and into a standing headscissors. Daniels hooks both arms…
JR: Daniels sets for the Angel’s Wings!
… when suddenly Gunn heads into the ring. He CLOBBERS Daniels with a big lariat! Gunn drags X-Pac toward the DX corner and immediately steps out.
JR: Billy Gunn makes the save, and he does it inside of the five second double team. But he can only do so much! Now it’s in the hands of X-Pac… but he’s GOT to make that tag!
Daniels, meanwhile, starts to stand then slumps back on his butt. Vampiro slaps him on the back to tag… as X-Pac tags Gunn!
JR: THERE IT IS!
The biggest man in the match comes in and tags Vampiro with a frenzied series of punches to the head. Vampiro stops him with a rake of the eyes. Irish whip, Gunn reverses