Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Hello
wrestling fans and welcome back to another installment of the HCW Wrestling
Newsletter! We are LIVE tonight from the Columbia Coliseum for another huge
edition of HCW Live Wire!”
A massive
wall of red-and-gold pyro erupts across the stage as the sold-out crowd roars
with excitement. The camera sweeps throughout the arena, catching signs for
Jett Sterling, Duke Knight, Avery St. Claire, and several homemade signs
reading: WHO IS TERRIBLE HERSE?
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Mike,
this place is absolutely rocking tonight! The Contract-in-a-Case Battle Royal
is still to come later tonight and every active man on the HCW roster wants
that opportunity!”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“One
victory can completely change a career, Johnny. But before we get there, it
looks like Truth Wayne has decided to begin tonight’s show his own way.”
The camera
cuts toward ringside where production staff wheel unusual props toward the
ring. A long black carpet is carefully rolled out down the center while several
dark wooden chairs are positioned around a podium displaying THE TRUTH HURTS
logo.
One
stagehand pauses while adjusting an old lantern near the corner of the ring
before quickly stepping away.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“You know…
I’ll say this much. Truth Wayne definitely knows how to make an entrance.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“I’m not
sure ‘entrance’ is the word I’d use here.”
The crowd
buzz grows louder as more production crew quietly leave ringside.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Come on,
Mike. You gotta admit this is different. We hear all these rumors about
Terrible Herse for weeks and now Truth Wayne’s the first guy getting a sit-down
interview with him? That’s ratings right there.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Well from
what we understand, Terrible Herse officially debuts tonight in Proving Grounds
competition immediately following this interview.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“And I
think Truth Wayne loves every second of this. He’s probably been waiting all
week to stir this thing up.”
Suddenly,
distorted guitar feedback blasts throughout the Columbia Coliseum.
The crowd
erupts into a mixed reaction as Truth Wayne confidently steps onto the stage
wearing a flashy purple suit jacket and dark sunglasses. He spreads his arms
wide while smirking toward the audience before beginning his walk toward the
ring.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“There he
is! The man who somehow manages to annoy everybody in the building and still
enjoys every second of it!”
Truth
slowly circles the ring, admiring the setup.
He taps
one of the wooden chairs approvingly.
Truth
Wayne:
“Oh yeah…
now THIS is atmosphere.”
The crowd
boos loudly while Truth laughs to himself.
He climbs
into the ring and adjusts the lantern near the podium.
Truth
Wayne:
“See, this
is what I’m talking about. Style. Presentation. Mood.”
Truth
looks around the arena with a grin.
Truth
Wayne:
“Most of
these people out here don’t appreciate the art form, but I appreciate effort.”
Mixed
reactions continue from the crowd.
Truth
grabs a microphone and casually leans against the podium.
Truth
Wayne:
“Ladies
and gentlemen… welcome once again to the ONLY talk show in professional
wrestling brave enough to have actual personality…”
He smirks.
Truth
Wayne: “…THE
TRUTH HURTS!”
The crowd
erupts again with loud boos and cheers.
Truth
slowly paces around the ring while looking toward the entrance tunnel.
Truth
Wayne:
“Now
usually my guests are loud. Arrogant. Desperate for attention. Real locker room
politician types.”
Truth
chuckles.
Truth
Wayne:
“But
tonight? Tonight’s different.”
He points
toward the entrance stage.
Truth
Wayne:
“Because
tonight HCW gives us a man people have been whispering about for weeks.”
Truth
lowers his sunglasses slightly.
Truth
Wayne:
“A man
with a name that honestly sounds more like a warning than a wrestler…”
The crowd
buzzes louder.
Truth
Wayne:
“Terrible Herse.”
Truth
smiles.
Truth
Wayne: “Now
personally? I love it. Finally somebody around here understands presentation.”
The lights
inside the Columbia Coliseum dim several shades darker.
Not black.
Just
enough for the mood in the building to noticeably shift.
A low
mechanical hum echoes faintly throughout the arena speakers as the crowd noise
softens into uncertain murmuring.
Inside the
ring, Truth Wayne slowly lowers his microphone while staring toward the
entrance stage.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Okay… now that’s different.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“I think we’re about to meet Terrible Herse.”
The
strange hum grows louder.
Slow.
Rhythmic.
Almost
like distant machinery grinding against metal.
Then—
A deep
church bell echoes throughout the building.
…BOOOOOONG…
Gray fog
slowly spills across the entrance stage.
No music.
No pyro.
Just the
grinding hum… the bell… and the fog.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Fans may remember Terrible Herse was originally scheduled to debut earlier
this month before an incident involving ring announcer Tony Calibur.”
A replay
flashes across the Omegatron showing Tony Calibur mistakenly introducing “The
Terrible Herse” before Herse violently shoves Tony backward into the
turnbuckles.
The replay
ends quickly.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“And apparently adding one word was enough to set this guy off.”
The
grinding hum suddenly stops.
Silence.
Then
slowly…
A tall
shadow emerges through the fog.
The crowd
buzzes nervously as Terrible Herse steps onto the stage wearing a long black
coat and dark gloves. His head hangs slightly downward while he surveys the
arena.
Truth
Wayne watches carefully from inside the ring.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“There he is.”
Terrible
Herse slowly walks toward the ring.
No
gestures.
No taunts.
Every step
measured and deliberate.
The old
lantern sitting beside the podium flickers slightly as Herse approaches
ringside.
Truth
notices immediately.
Truth
Wayne:
“Well now… THAT is presentation.”
The crowd
gives a loud mixed reaction as Herse climbs the ring steps and enters the ring.
Truth
carefully gives him space while still grinning confidently.
Terrible
Herse slowly removes his gloves and places them neatly beside the lantern.
Then he
stares directly at Truth Wayne.
Silence
fills the building.
Truth
Wayne:
“You know something? I already like you.”
Truth
smirks as the crowd boos.
Truth
Wayne:
“Everybody else around here wants to smile for the cameras. You? You understand
atmosphere.”
Truth
slowly circles around him.
Truth
Wayne:
“And after what happened to Tony Calibur earlier this month… I think everybody
wants to know the same thing.”
Truth
lowers the microphone slightly.
Truth
Wayne:
“Who exactly is Terrible Herse?”
Several
seconds pass.
Herse
slowly lifts his head.
Terrible
Herse:
“Consequences.”
A murmur
spreads throughout the crowd.
Even Truth
Wayne pauses for a moment.
Truth
Wayne:
“Short. Simple. Ominous. I respect that.”
Truth
gestures toward ringside.
Truth
Wayne:
“And tonight, O.P. Cunningham gets the honor of finding out exactly what that
means.”
Truth
steps aside as Tony Calibur cautiously approaches ringside with microphone in
hand.
Tony
Calibur:
“Ladies and gentlemen… the following contest is scheduled for one fall and is
an official HCW Proving Grounds Match!”
The crowd
cheers loudly.
Tony
pauses briefly before continuing carefully.
Tony
Calibur:
“Already in the ring… from Black Hollow Cemetery… weighing in at two hundred
and sixty-seven pounds…”
Tony looks
directly toward Herse.
Tony
Calibur:
“TERRIBLE HERSE!”
A low
mixed reaction rolls throughout the arena as Herse remains completely
motionless inside the ring.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Well Tony made absolutely sure he got that name right this time.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“And I can’t blame him after what happened earlier this month.”
Truth
Wayne slowly backs away toward the ropes, wisely giving Herse space while still
remaining inside the ring for the moment.
Suddenly,
upbeat rock music blasts throughout the arena.
The crowd
erupts into a strong babyface reaction.
Tony
Calibur:
“And his opponent… from Mayberry, North Carolina… weighing in at two hundred
and fifty-fice pounds…”
The crowd
begins cheering louder.
Tony
Calibur:
“O.P. CUNNINGHAM!”
O.P.
Cunningham bursts onto the stage slapping hands with fans on both sides of the
ramp. He points toward the crowd before locking eyes with Terrible Herse inside
the ring.
The smile
on O.P.’s face fades slightly.
Herse
hasn’t moved.
Hasn’t
blinked.
Truth
Wayne quietly exits the ring, microphone still in hand, while watching the
situation unfold from ringside.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“O.P. Cunningham may be one of the most positive men in all of HCW… but I don’t
think even he knows what he’s stepping into tonight.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Yeah, but O.P.’s tougher than people give him credit for, Mike. You don’t
survive in HCW by backing down from anybody.”
O.P. jogs
up the ring steps and pauses briefly on the apron while staring directly at
Terrible Herse.
The crowd
rallies behind him.
Herse
slowly tilts his head.
Still
expressionless.
O.P.
Cunningham stood on the apron staring into the ring while the Columbia Coliseum
crowd rallied behind him. Across the ring, Terrible Herse hadn’t moved an inch
since Tony Calibur finished the introductions.
Truth
Wayne quietly slipped out of the ring and backed toward the commentary desk,
wisely wanting no part of what was coming next.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“This is officially the in-ring debut of Terrible Herse here in HCW.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“And O.P. Cunningham may be one of the nicest guys in this company, but he’s
walking into a nightmare tonight.”
The bell
rang.
O.P.
cautiously circled while Herse slowly stalked forward. Cunningham attempted to
use his quickness early, landing a scoop slam and trapping Herse briefly in a
bearhug to a loud reaction from the crowd.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“O.P.’s not intimidated!”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“He’s trying to keep Herse from dictating the pace.”
Herse
suddenly exploded forward with a violent clothesline he called the Funeral
Procession, nearly turning Cunningham inside out. The entire tone of the match
changed instantly.
From
there, Terrible Herse slowed everything down.
Every
movement deliberate.
Every
strike heavy.
Every
pause uncomfortable.
Herse
punished O.P. with a series of brutal attacks including the Casket Drop
bodyslam, the Burial Rotation waterwheel slam, and repeated Last Breath throat
thrusts that left Cunningham gasping for air.
Still,
O.P. refused to stay down.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“You have to admire the toughness of O.P. Cunningham.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Yeah, but every time he starts building momentum, Herse shuts him right back
down.”
Cunningham
continued fighting back with clotheslines, an exploder suplex, and several
desperation bursts that brought the crowd to life. More than once, Herse
attempted to end the match only for O.P. to narrowly kick out.
The
Columbia crowd began rallying hard behind Cunningham as the match crossed the
ten-minute mark.
But
Terrible Herse never showed frustration.
Never
showed exhaustion.
Only
patience.
Late in
the match, O.P. attempted another big offensive push, but Herse cut him off
with a devastating Closed Casket. Cunningham crashed to the mat as Herse slowly
rolled into the cover.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“That may finally do it!”
Tony
Calibur:
“One…! Two…! Three!”
The bell
rang.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“An impressive — and frankly unsettling — debut victory for Terrible Herse here
tonight.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“I don’t think this guy came here to entertain people, Mike. I think he came
here to hurt people.”
Terrible
Herse slowly stood over O.P. Cunningham as the crowd gave a loud mixed
reaction.
No
celebration.
No
emotion.
Herse
simply stared down at Cunningham before calmly retrieving his gloves from the
corner of the ring.
One finger
at a time, he slowly put them back on.
Then
Terrible Herse exited the ring and disappeared back through the fog without
ever looking back.
The camera
cuts backstage where Candace Hart stands beside an irritated Jett Sterling
already pacing back and forth in front of an HCW Live Wire backdrop.
Jett
shakes his head angrily while adjusting the tape around his wrists.
Candace
Hart:
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time… Jett Sterling.”
The crowd
inside the arena gives a mixed reaction.
Candace
Hart:
“Jett, last Wednesday on Shockwave, many people were shocked when Diego
Estrella pinned you in the center of the ring—”
Jett
immediately cuts her off.
Jett
Sterling:
“Whoa. Stop right there.”
Jett
points directly toward the camera.
Jett
Sterling:
“I am already sick of hearing people say I lost that match.”
Jett
laughs bitterly.
Jett
Sterling:
“I didn’t lose anything. Diego Estrella stole a win because the referee missed
what everybody else saw.”
Jett steps
closer toward Candace.
Jett
Sterling:
“The guy hooked the tights. Plain and simple.”
The crowd
boos loudly from inside the arena.
Jett
Sterling:
“Oh boo all you want. Deep down, every one of you knows I’m right.”
Jett
smirks arrogantly.
Jett
Sterling:
“Diego got lucky for three seconds. Congratulations. Hope he enjoys his little
miracle moment because that’s the closest he’ll ever get to this level again.”
Candace
Hart:
“Well regardless of how it happened, tonight you enter the Men’s
Contract-in-a-Case Battle Royal against virtually the entire HCW roster—”
Jett
Sterling:
“And that’s exactly why tonight matters.”
Jett
straightens his jacket and stares directly into the camera.
Jett
Sterling:
“Because when I win that contract tonight, everybody stops talking about Diego
Estrella.”
Jett’s
expression darkens slightly.
Jett
Sterling:
“And maybe while Owen Zestwell’s out in Hollywood pretending to be a movie
star… somebody around here can finally start acting like the real future of
this company.”
The crowd
gives another loud mixed reaction.
Jett
smirks confidently before walking off-camera, leaving Candace standing alone as
the segment fades out.
A heavy
bass-driven rock theme blasts throughout the Columbia Coliseum as Trinity
Bowman steps onto the stage to a loud chorus of boos.
Dressed in
black-and-silver gear with a confident sneer across her face, Trinity slowly
scans the crowd before throwing her arms outward arrogantly.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“You know, Trinity Bowman may not make a lotta friends around here, but she
backs up that attitude in the ring.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“She’s dangerous anytime she gets an opportunity to slow the pace down and
frustrate an opponent.”
Trinity
climbs into the ring and casually stretches against the ropes while waiting for
her opponent.
Suddenly,
upbeat pop-rock music explodes throughout the arena.
The crowd
erupts into a strong ovation.
Coach
Randall steps out first wearing a huge grin while proudly pointing back toward
the entrance curtain.
Avery St.
Claire confidently steps onto the stage in sparkling silver-and-pink gear as
camera flashes light up the arena.
Avery
smiles confidently while Coach Randall applauds beside her like a proud mentor
showcasing the future star of the division.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“There’s no question Avery St. Claire has become one of the fastest-rising
stars in the women’s division.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“And Coach Randall has made sure everybody notices it.”
Avery
slaps hands with fans along the ramp before jogging toward the ring.
Inside the
ring, Trinity Bowman rolls her eyes impatiently while leaning against the
corner.
Coach
Randall climbs onto the apron, loudly encouraging Avery while pointing toward
Trinity.
Avery
confidently enters the ring and immediately locks eyes with Bowman as the crowd
buzzes with anticipation.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“This should be a very interesting matchup right here.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“And you know Leslie Grimes has to be watching this somewhere tonight after
everything that’s happened these past few weeks.”
The bell
rang and Avery St. Claire immediately took control, using her speed to
overwhelm Trinity Bowman in the opening moments. A rolling fireman’s carry sent
Trinity tumbling across the mat before Avery followed with a quick bridging
back rack that forced Trinity to scramble toward the ropes.
Coach
Randall applauded loudly from ringside while Avery confidently soaked in the
crowd reaction.
Trinity
finally halted the momentum with a sudden flying elbow smash that caught Avery
flush across the jaw, immediately slowing the pace of the match.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Trinity Bowman needed that opening badly.”
Trinity
began dragging Avery into a rougher fight from there, using short strikes and
grinding holds to frustrate the faster St. Claire. Avery repeatedly answered
back with bursts of offense, including a hard pop-up Samoan drop and a
flatliner that nearly put Trinity away midway through the contest.
The
Columbia Coliseum crowd erupted when Avery connected with the Prettiest
Moonsault Ever, but Trinity barely survived the impact and rolled desperately
toward the ropes to avoid a cover.
Coach
Randall pounded the apron, urging Avery to stay aggressive.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Avery’s been one step ahead most of this match, but Trinity keeps surviving.”
Late in
the match, Trinity trapped Avery in the Bow-Flex submission hold for the first
time. Avery screamed in pain while clawing toward the ropes before finally
forcing the break.
The crowd
rallied behind Avery as she fought back into control with another pop-up Samoan
drop that left Trinity staggered near the corner.
Coach
Randall climbed onto the apron shouting encouragement while Avery prepared to
finish the match.
Then
suddenly—
The crowd
erupted into boos.
Leslie
Grimes snuck in to ringside holding a steel chair.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Oh no… not Leslie Grimes!”
Leslie
circled around ringside unnoticed before smashing Coach Randall from behind
with the chair, knocking him hard to the floor.
Inside the
ring, Trinity immediately rushed toward referee Honest Abe, pointing and
shouting toward the opposite side of the ring to distract him from the chaos
outside.
Avery
turned toward ringside just in time for Leslie to slide into the ring and drive
the chair across Avery’s back.
The crowd
exploded with outrage.
Leslie
quickly rolled back out of the ring while Trinity pounced immediately, dragging
the stunned Avery into the Bow-Flex submission hold in the center of the ring.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“That’s the opening Trinity needed!”
Avery
fought desperately to crawl toward the ropes while Coach Randall tried pulling
himself back up outside the ring.
The pain
finally became too much.
Avery
tapped out.
The bell
rang as Trinity immediately released the hold and rolled out of the ring with a
smug grin across her face.
Leslie
Grimes slowly backed up the ramp, smirking proudly while staring directly at
Avery.
Inside the
ring, Coach Randall slid in beside Avery as the crowd loudly booed Leslie’s
interference.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Leslie Grimes may have just changed the entire direction of Avery St. Claire’s
night.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“She did indeed!”
A
hard-driving southern rock theme blasts throughout the Columbia Coliseum as the
crowd erupts into cheers.
Son of
Drew storms out onto the stage first, throwing his fist into the air while Son
of Brody follows close behind, slapping hands with fans near the entrance ramp.
The Sons
of Anarchy pause at the top of the stage, staring toward the ring with intense
focus before marching down the aisle together.
Tony
Calibur:
“The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall!”
The crowd
cheers loudly.
Tony
Calibur:
“Introducing first… at a combined weight of four hundred and seventy-two
pounds…”
Son of
Drew points toward the crowd while Son of Brody pounds his chest confidently.
Tony
Calibur:
“SON OF DREW… SON OF BRODY… THE SONS OF ANARCHY!”
The crowd
gives the popular team another loud ovation as they circle the ring and climb
onto opposite aprons.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“The Sons of Anarchy know they’re walking into a dangerous situation tonight,
but they’ve never backed down from a fight.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“And honestly, they may need every bit of toughness they’ve got tonight.”
The arena
lights suddenly dim.
A low
mechanical hum begins echoing faintly throughout the building.
The crowd
reaction quickly shifts from excitement to uneasy anticipation.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Oh boy… here we go again.”
A deep
bell echoes once throughout the arena.
…BOOOOOONG…
Gray fog
slowly spills across the entrance stage.
Then
another sound cuts through the arena—
Heavy
marching drums.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Cold.
The crowd
erupts into loud boos as Iosef Koloff slowly steps onto the stage dressed in a
dark military-style coat.
Several
steps behind him emerges Krueger Kruschev, towering over nearly everyone around
him with an emotionless stare locked directly on the ring.
Neither
man acknowledges the audience.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“There is something deeply unsettling about this pairing.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“They don’t even look like a tag team, Mike. They look like an invasion.”
Iosef
slowly raises one arm toward the ring while Krueger cracks his neck and begins
walking forward.
The two
men march toward ringside in complete silence as the boos grow louder
throughout the Columbia Coliseum.
Tony
Calibur:
“And their opponents…”
The crowd
boos heavily.
Tony
Calibur:
“Accompanied to the ring by Iosef Koloff… at a combined weight of five hundred
and thirty-four pounds…”
Iosef
slowly removes his gloves while Krueger stares coldly toward the Sons of
Anarchy.
Tony
Calibur:
“IOSEF KOLOFF… KRUEGER KRUSCHEV…”
Tony
pauses dramatically.
Tony
Calibur:
“THE IRON SYNDICATE!”
The crowd
erupts with boos as Krueger climbs over the top rope and steps into the ring
beside Iosef.
Across the
ring, Sons of Anarchy stand ready while Krueger stares directly at them without
blinking.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“This feels less like a wrestling match and more like a warning to the rest of
HCW.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“And I don’t think the Iron Syndicate came here tonight to make friends.”
Before the
referee could even call for the bell, Iosef Koloff suddenly pointed toward the
ring.
Krueger
Kruschev exploded forward.
The
Columbia Coliseum immediately erupted into boos as the Iron Syndicate stormed
across the ring and blindsided the Sons of Anarchy.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Oh come on! The match hasn’t even started yet!”
Krueger
leveled Son of Drew with a brutal forearm smash while Iosef dragged Son of
Stache into the corner and hammered him with repeated stomps.
The crowd
roared angrily as the Syndicate completely overwhelmed both men before the
opening bell.
Krueger
grabbed Son of Stache by the throat and hurled him through the ropes to the
floor while Iosef continued pounding away on Drew inside the ring.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“This is a setup! They came in here looking to injure somebody!”
Outside
the ring, Krueger ripped the protective covering off the commentary-side table
while Son of Stache desperately tried pulling himself back up.
The crowd
screamed as Krueger hoisted Stache high into the air.
CRASH!
Krueger
drove Son of Stache violently through the table while debris exploded across
ringside.
The
Columbia Coliseum erupted.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Good Lord!”
Officials
immediately rushed toward ringside as Son of Stache rolled among the broken
wreckage clutching at his back.
Inside the
ring, referee Honest Abe attempted restoring order while Iosef restrained
Krueger near the ropes.
Son of
Drew slowly pulled himself back up using the corner turnbuckles.
Referee
Abe approached him, clearly asking if he wanted the match stopped.
Drew shook
his head angrily.
Son of
Drew:
“Ring the bell!”
The crowd
exploded into cheers.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“I don’t know if that’s bravery or insanity!”
The bell
finally rang and Drew immediately charged at Iosef, firing away with punches
and an armdrag takedown that caught Koloff off guard.
The crowd
rallied hard behind Drew as he fought through the early assault.
But the
momentum didn’t last long.
Once the
Iron Syndicate cut the ring in half, the match became a systematic beating.
Iosef
repeatedly trapped Drew in the wrong corner while Krueger delivered crushing
hanging suplexes and brutal forearm smashes that slowly wore the battered Drew
down.
Several
times the Syndicate bent the rules with aggressive double-teaming while referee
Honest Abe struggled to maintain control.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“The Sons of Anarchy never had a fair chance after that ambush.”
Still,
Drew refused to quit.
Even while
injured and fighting alone, he continued battling back every chance he got,
drawing loud support from the crowd.
But midway
through the match, Krueger caught Drew with a devastating overhead double smash
that visibly injured him even further.
Drew
collapsed awkwardly to the mat clutching at his ribs as the crowd grew
noticeably concerned.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Son of Drew is hurt bad now.”
Krueger
immediately targeted the injury with cold precision while Iosef barked
instructions from the apron.
Despite
the punishment, Drew somehow continued kicking out of repeated pin attempts as
the Columbia crowd tried desperately to rally behind him.
But the
damage had already been done.
Late in
the match, Krueger drove a vicious kick into the groin of the injured Drew
before immediately hooking the leg.
This time
there was no escape.
The
referee counted the three as the Columbia Coliseum showered the Iron Syndicate
with boos.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“A dominant — and disturbing — victory tonight for the Iron Syndicate.”
Krueger
slowly stood over the injured Son of Drew while Iosef entered the ring beside
him. Iosef has a microphone.
IOSEF
KOLOFF:
“Look at
this place… look at these people. This
is supposed to be the future of wrestling?
This… is HCW?”
[Crowd
boos loudly.]
“No pride.
No discipline. No warriors. Only weak
men pretending to be fighters and fans begging for heroes that do not exist.”
[Koloff
smirks as Kruschev leans against the ropes staring into the crowd.]
“You
people cheered when management announced new stars were coming to HCW. You thought you were getting flashy entrance
music… social media clowns… little boys playing wrestler.”
“But
instead… you got us.”
[Krueger is
handed the microphone.]
KRUEGER
KRUSCHEV:
“We are
not entertainers. We are not here to
sell t-shirts. We are not here to slap
hands with your children.”
“We came
to HCW for one reason… To break this company down to its foundation and rebuild
it in our image.”
[Crowd
chants “HCW! HCW!”]
KRUSCHEV:
“CHANT ALL
YOU WANT! Your loyalty means nothing. Your heroes mean nothing. Every locker room leader in the back… every
champion… every so-called legend…”
[He points
toward the backstage area.]
“…they are
prey.”
[Koloff
steps forward again.]
KOLOFF:
“You call
yourselves hardcore? You glorify violence? Then understand this — violence is
not a game to us. Violence is culture. Violence is discipline. Violence is
survival.”
“And HCW
just invited two men who perfected all three.”
[Koloff
removes the chain from his neck and drops it in the center of the ring with a
loud metallic CLANG.]
“This
company has been soft for too long. The fans are soft. The wrestlers are soft.
The championships have become decorations for cowards.”
“But now…”
[He looks
directly into the camera.]
“…The Iron
Syndicate controls the forge.”
KRUSCHEV:
“And every
man who stands in our way…”
[Krueger
cracks his neck.]
“…gets
melted down.”
[The crowd
erupts in boos.]
KOLOFF:
“Tonight
was not a debut. Tonight was a warning.”
“HCW
belongs to The Iron Syndicate. And there is not a single soul in this company
strong enough… to stop us.”
They
simply stared down at the wreckage they had left behind before calmly exiting
the ring together as officials rushed to check on both members of the Sons of
Anarchy.
Officials
immediately rushed into the ring to check on Son of Drew while several more
trainers helped Son of Stache at ringside near the shattered remains of the
announce table.
Meanwhile,
Iosef Koloff and Krueger Kruschev calmly walked back up the aisle without ever
once looking behind them.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“The Iron Syndicate may have won this match tonight, but the bigger issue right
now is the condition of the Sons of Anarchy.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“You gotta wonder if either one of these guys is even going to be able to
compete in the Contract-in-a-Case Battle Royal later tonight.”
Inside the
ring, Son of Drew continued trying to push officials away while clutching at
his ribs.
At
ringside, Son of Stache was still struggling to sit upright after being driven
through the table before the match even officially began.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“And remember, every active male member of the HCW roster was expected to be
eligible for tonight’s Battle Royal.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“After what we just saw, that may not happen.”
The camera
lingers briefly on the injured Sons of Anarchy before cutting backstage.
CANDACE
HART::
“Tonight,
I am with Iosef Koloff and Krueger Kruschev.
Gentlemen… tonight, the entire HCW audience witnessed the debut of The
Iron Syndicate. What message were you trying to send?”
[Koloff
slowly turns toward the camera with a cold grin.]
IOSEF
KOLOFF:
“A
message?”
“No…
tonight was an introduction.”
“You
people in Heritage Championship Wrestling have spent years celebrating
mediocrity. You cheer for weak men who dance for your approval. You hand championships to frauds who care
more about popularity than power.”
[Crowd in
the arena can be heard booing from afar.]
“But
tonight… HCW met real fighters.”
[Krueger
steps closer, glaring directly into the lens.]
KRUEGER
KRUSCHEV:
“We walked
into Heritage Championship Wrestling and did exactly what we promised. We hurt people.”
“And the
funniest part?”
“We
enjoyed every second of it.”
[Krueger
smirks while cracking his taped knuckles.]
“You call
this company ‘Heritage’… but heritage means tradition. Honor. Pride. Legacy.”
[He shakes
his head.]
“There is
no honor here. Only soft men pretending
to be dangerous.”
[Koloff
takes over again.]
KOLOFF:
“From the
moment we arrived, the locker room watched us with fear in their eyes. Champions avoided eye contact. Veterans
whispered our names behind closed doors.”
“And they
should.”
“Because
The Iron Syndicate did not come here to fit in.
We came here to conquer.”
[Koloff
pauses, staring intensely into the camera.]
“You see,
HCW has become comfortable. The fans
became comfortable. Management became
comfortable.”
“But
comfort breeds weakness.”
“And weak
things…”
“…break.”
[Krueger
suddenly slams his fist into a nearby metal locker, denting it loudly.]
KRUSCHEV:
“So listen
carefully. Every tag team in HCW… every
champion… every self-proclaimed icon…”
“You are
now on borrowed time.”
“Because
this company no longer belongs to the fans.”
[Koloff
steps forward one final time.]
KOLOFF:
“It
belongs to The Iron Syndicate.”
“And soon…
Heritage Championship Wrestling will learn the same lesson every empire learns
eventually…”
[Both men
stare into the camera together.]
KOLOFF
& KRUSCHEV:
“IRON…
RULES ALL.”
[The
camera lingers as the two men walk off into the darkness while the sound of
distant boos echoes through the arena.]
Elsewhere
backstage:
Max
McGillicutty sits behind his desk reviewing paperwork when the office door
suddenly swings open.
Duke
Knight storms into the room with Biceps Bannerman close behind him.
Both men
look furious.
Max
McGillicutty:
“Well judging by the look on your faces, I’m guessing this isn’t a social
visit.”
Duke slams
his hand down on Max’s desk.
Duke
Knight:
“No. It’s not.”
Biceps
Bannerman:
“We’re done playing games, Max.”
Biceps
paces angrily while Duke points toward the camera.
Duke
Knight:
“Week after week, the Dynamic Duo run their mouths… jump people… cheap shot
people…”
Biceps
Bannerman:
“And then they run the second things stop going their way.”
Duke
shakes his head.
Duke
Knight:
“So let’s settle this the right way.”
Biceps
Bannerman:
“No excuses. No escape.”
Duke leans
forward.
Duke
Knight:
“We want the Dynamic Duo inside a steel cage.”
The crowd
inside the arena erupts loudly.
Max slowly
leans back in his chair while considering the request.
Max
McGillicutty:
“You two really want to do this?”
Biceps
Bannerman:
“Oh, we want it.”
Duke
Knight:
“And deep down? So do they.”
Max smirks
slightly before standing up from behind the desk.
Max
McGillicutty:
“Alright then.”
The crowd
pops loudly.
Max
McGillicutty:
“Tomorrow night on Voltage…”
Max points
toward both men.
Max
McGillicutty:
“Duke Knight and Biceps Bannerman versus The Dynamic Duo…”
He pauses.
Max
McGillicutty:
“…INSIDE A STEEL CAGE!”
The crowd
erupts.
Duke nods
confidently while Biceps cracks his knuckles with a grin.
Biceps
Bannerman:
“Now we’re talking.”
Duke
Knight:
“They wanted a fight.”
Duke turns
toward the door.
Duke
Knight:
“Now they’re getting one.”
Duke and
Biceps exit the office as Max watches them leave with a concerned expression.
Max
McGillicutty:
“…Those four are going to tear each other apart.”
The camera
cuts back to ringside where Mike “the Voice” Johnson and Johnny “the
Hammer” Harris sit at the commentary desk while officials continue clearing
debris from the destroyed table near ringside.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“What a chaotic night it has already been here on Live Wire… and somehow our
main event is still to come.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“The Men’s Contract-in-a-Case Battle Royal may end up being absolute survival
tonight after everything we’ve already seen.”
A graphic
flashes across the screen showing a large silver briefcase suspended high above
the ring.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“And as a reminder, every active male member of the HCW roster not currently
holding championship gold is eligible to compete tonight.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“That changes the strategy completely.”
The
graphic shifts to show several roster members expected to compete.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“World Champion Zack ‘the Commando’ Brown will not participate. Neither will
Hardcore Champion Jax Brenner… Television Champion The Rich Athlete… or any
current tag team champions.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Because tonight is about opportunity.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“And what makes this even more dangerous is nobody knows exactly what
championship opportunity that contract contains until the final competitor
remains.”
The crowd
buzzes loudly.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“That’s my favorite part right there.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“The contract adapts to the winner. If a tag team specialist wins, they receive
a future tag team championship opportunity. If a singles competitor wins…”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“…then somebody’s future changes overnight.”
The camera
briefly cuts toward the massive briefcase hanging above the ring structure.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“And after what we witnessed earlier tonight, we still don’t even know if the
Sons of Anarchy will physically be able to participate.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Meanwhile you’ve got guys like Jett Sterling coming into this thing angry…
Duke Knight and Biceps Bannerman wanting revenge on the Dynamic Duo… and now
the Iron Syndicate lurking around the locker room.”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“This may be one of the most unpredictable Battle Royals HCW has ever held.”
The crowd
roars loudly as the camera slowly zooms in on the suspended contract case
hanging high above the ring.
Main
Event
Men’s
Contract-in-a-Case Battle Royal
The
Columbia Coliseum erupted as dozens of competitors flooded the ring to begin
the Men’s Contract-in-a-Case Battle Royal.
Bodies
collided immediately from every direction as alliances formed and dissolved
within seconds.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“This place has completely broken down!”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“That’s the only way a match like this CAN start!”
Early in
the match, “Bad News” Marvin Barnes eliminated Waldo “Peter” Winchester with a
brutal dropkick to the head while Terrible Herse immediately made his presence
felt by launching The Bounty Hunter Jake Montrose over the top rope with a
devastating Casket Drop.
The pace
only became more chaotic from there.
Rex
Rampage dumped Dominic Marconi over the ropes.
Sterling
“the Silicon Tycoon” Silverman eliminated Lightning Ethan Hayes and later
Biceps Bannerman.
Adrian
Cipher showcased his technical precision by eliminating both Rafael Sandoval
and Outback Oscar.
Meanwhile,
Krueger Kruschev continued the Iron Syndicate’s violent night by throwing
Clover Fincastle out with a vicious low blow before later hurling Diego
Estrella directly into the crowd.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Krueger Khrushchev is treating this like a demolition site!”
The crowd
suddenly erupted midway through the match as Duke Knight somehow eliminated the
massive Krueger Khrushchev with a breathtaking shooting star press that sent
both men crashing over the ropes.
Duke
barely survived the landing while Krueger erupted in fury at ringside.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“I don’t believe it! Duke Knight just eliminated Krueger!”
Throughout
the match, several wrestlers continued targeting already injured competitors
from earlier in the evening.
The
battered Sons of Anarchy attempted to compete despite the damage suffered
earlier against the Iron Syndicate, but both men were eventually eliminated
after struggling to stay in the fight.
As the
field narrowed, several unexpected names began rising to the forefront.
Harrison
Marks went on an incredible run, eliminating Freedom Fighter Flash, Angus
McRae, Blake “Oak Tree” Hill, and Dirty Dick Albano in rapid succession.
Cassius
Onyx looked nearly unstoppable late in the contest after eliminating Muscles
Thorpe, Julius Squeezer, and finally Harrison Marks himself.
The crowd
buzzed loudly as the final competitors remaining came down to Cassius Onyx and
Terrible Herse.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“I don’t think anybody expected THIS final two!”
Cassius
attempted to overpower Herse immediately, driving him backward into the corner
before trying to force him over the top rope.
But Herse
refused to budge.
The crowd
rose to its feet as Herse suddenly exploded forward with a violent strike
combination before grabbing Cassius by the throat and forcing him over the top
rope to the floor below.
The bell
rang instantly.
The
Columbia Coliseum erupted into a stunned mixed reaction.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Terrible Herse just won the entire Battle Royal!”
Herse
stood alone in the ring completely motionless while officials brought the
silver contract case into the ring.
Several
seconds passed before Herse slowly accepted it.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“What championship opportunity did he just win?”
The crowd
buzzed loudly as Herse slowly opened the case.
Inside sat
a contract marked:
HCW
HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP
The
audience erupted.
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Oh no…”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“That means Terrible Herse has earned a future Hardcore Championship match
against Jax Brenner!”
Herse
slowly closed the briefcase before staring directly into the camera with the
same cold, emotionless expression he had worn all night.
No
celebration.
No
excitement.
Just
silence.
The camera
slowly zoomed in on Terrible Herse holding the Hardcore Championship contract.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“Jax Brenner has to be watching this somewhere right now.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“And if I’m the Hardcore Champion, I’m suddenly very nervous.”
Herse
slowly lifted the contract case before turning toward the entrance aisle.
The crowd
continued giving a loud mixed reaction as the eerie fog slowly began filling
the stage once again.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“In one night, Terrible Herse debuted… won a Proving Grounds match… survived a
Battle Royal featuring nearly the entire HCW roster… and now holds a future
Hardcore Championship opportunity.”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“And somehow I get the feeling this is only the beginning.”
Herse
disappeared slowly into the fog while officials remained at ringside staring
after him.
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“What a night it has been here on HCW Live Wire!”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Terrible Herse leaves with a Hardcore Title contract… Trinity Bowman steals a
controversial victory over Avery St. Claire… and the Iron Syndicate may have
injured the Sons of Anarchy before the biggest match of the night even began!”
Highlights
from earlier in the show quickly flash across the screen:
- Leslie Grimes attacking Avery St.
Claire with a chair
- Krueger Khrushchev driving Son of
Stache through a table
- Duke Knight eliminating Krueger
from the Battle Royal
- Jett Sterling attacking Diego
Estrella from the crowd during the Battle Royal chaos
- Terrible Herse eliminating
Cassius Onyx to win the contract case
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“And don’t forget — tomorrow night on Voltage, Duke Knight and Biceps Bannerman
collide with The Dynamic Duo inside a steel cage!”
Johnny
“the Hammer” Harris:
“Somebody may not survive that one!”
Mike
“the Voice” Johnson:
“For Johnny ‘the Hammer’ Harris, I’m Mike ‘the Voice’ Johnson saying goodnight
everybody… and we’ll see you tomorrow night on HCW Voltage!”
The final
image shows Terrible Herse standing alone at the top of the entrance stage
holding the Hardcore Championship contract case while fog surrounds him.
Fade to
black.
Great Show!
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