As Osbourne "materializes" in the dream world we are right there with him. The scene we open to is that of the first ever Zoo TV Championships. It is the first evening of the competition. The year is 1998. The Federations represented are the EWA, the MWWF, and the UWL. The much hyped interpromotional tournament of champions against champions is set to begin in just a few short hours.
The UWL, represented by Champions M.O.D., Gravedigger, Power n Glory, and "The Enforcer" David Clay also had their mid carder and curtain jerkers there backstage for support.
Representing the MWWF were Maniac, Pain Inc, and Johnny Ringo.
From the EWA were Pledge Alligence, Rain Storm, Darklight Warrior and "The Nitemare" Rob Osbourne.
Most of the EWA and MWWF guys all knew each other and caught up backstage on old times and common friends.
The UWL guys, the younger promotion with the less talented performers, all seemed to be star struck. Especially the mid carders and curtain jerkers that were there with the Champs.
As Zoo TV Promoter The Edge calls the respective bottom tier singles champions in for a press conference the waiting area of the arena concourse is left filled with the tag team champions, all in one area.
On another side is all of the mid level champs. Called different titles in different promotions all grouped sort of mingling between both groups of champs, sort of playing out their roles as the middle round guys.
Over in a far corner keeping away from the press and the rookies, were the top tier champions from each promotion.
The Master Of Disaster...otherwise known as MOD, the World Champion of the UWL was the only real talent to come out of the place aside from the masked cousin of Rob Osbourne, the Gravedigger a.k.a. Matt Osbourne.
Johnny Ringo there barely in front of Maniac because of a controversial call the evening before at an MWWF PPV, looking very unsure of himself, was flanked by MWWF owners Mo Shirazi and Hotshot Mike Stewart.
Finally, in the front of that pack was the EWA Universal Champion and the man who would leave this very tournament as the Zoo TV Elite Champion, "The Nitemare" Rob Osbourne.
Osbourne was busy talking with the mid level champions from each promotion, laughing loudly with the man that would eventually become his arch nemesis, and who also would be revealed to be his half brother...Pledge Alligence. They were joking about the way the EWA had been born when Osbourne had defeated Maniac for the MWWF World Title then threw it in the garbage.
As they laugh about old times, they are approached by a man that was easily ten years their senior...not even a champion represnting a promotion, but one of the star struck curtain jerkers from the UWL appraoches them and begins to speak....**
NRO: Oh yeah? What's the kid's name old timer?
OCJ: His name is Danny. Danny Hudson. He's such a good boy. He washes his hands over and over and over and over and over though. They say he may have the AIDS...
Pledge: Don't you mean OCD gramps?
OCJ: Oh he has that too, that's why he washes his hands over and over. But they say he may have the AIDS too.
Pledge: Do you work for the press or one of the other promotions or for the arena maybe??
NRO: Dude, he's the custodian, right? I did see you chatting it up with the two guys at the taco stand.
OCJ: Who Elmo and Earl? Those guys are with our travelling concession stand in the UWL. I'm not a champion or anythng, but I have been around the ring a few times. Names Blair. Paul Blair.
NRO: That your ring persona or real name?
Blair: No, that's my rela name. But like yourself, I do have a monicker I am called by. "The Ruler"
NRO: So how do you measure up?
Pledge: Oh, that was funny, hahaha, get it ruler...measure up?
Blair: Yeah....it's supposed to be Ruler as in Royalty...King...Duke....
NRO: Grand Pubba? No seriously, I'm sorry old dude. Hey, let me ask you, after you run the gauntlet and get to your age, do they still pay you half way decent to jerk the curtain....and if so, how do you handle the humility of where you once were?
Blair: What do you mean?
Pledge: You know...like you were this great hallowed legend of lore from the anals of the squared circle and your age has forced you to be a guy who jobs in opening matches for a crapfest like the UWL?
Blair: I'm sorry fella's but you must have me confused with Mike stewart over there. I am no legend on his downward spiral. I'm an up and comer. One day, I'll face off with both of you with our name in the lights. You'll see!
NRO: For real? Do you think you'll win old man?
Blair: Your full time occupied being a smart mouth aintcha? Well I got news for you whipper snapper....
So, I heard from your mom that you may be able to come to Orlando for Spring Break this year. Yeah I know, you guys are in Deland at the convention center next week. Awesome. I will definitely make it out to see you son. Who knows, maybe I'll call in some favors and have xamin come down and take a look. No I know, you don't need my help kid. I know you don't want to live on the name. Yeah...i know. Your Uncle Chris should have listened to listened to me and just kept that bastard locked away. No, I don't think anyone realizes who he is, not even him. That therapist is dong a pretty good job keeping him lucid. Oh yeah, I hear ya kid, When he finds out what he is....who he is...he will live up to that name I'm afraid and do something drastic.
WHAT?!?!? Adams said what? no I don't watch shitty ass public access late night talk shows from Texas......I NEVER BEAT HIM?!?!?! Three different times I put him out.
First time, I was in a six man tag match in the CWF. It was me, Pledge and Shawn Hillard against Adams, Jimmy Luciano, and T-Money. T-Money turned on them, joined us and we won the match. No...I didn't pin him but....well yeah but we won. So it doesn't count huh? Hmph,
The second time, and you should remember this, you were there. Was the Blair-Jericho Wrestling hour. Yeah....the 20 man battle royal..welll....no...no i didn't eliminate him....but i won the overall match so I defeated the other 19 guys....yeah that was when i handcuffed myself to the bottom ropes. Yeah...but....seriously/ Kid your killing me. So that one didn't count either?
Ok, well what about in the IoA? I beat him there. Oh yea, I forgot, Mike Van Pro did the flashy MIB thing and made us all forget about the card when I finally beat Adams....really?I thought....oh yeah.....damnit. That was Reinhardt....well whadayaknow? yeah yeah, so I'll finally take care of that no wins against him soon enough.
HE SAID WHAT?!?!?! So i have never had any of the hardware in the CWF? Big fucking deal. like that's the measuring stick in the world of professional wreslting. Brother, let me learned ya. I have had championships in the GeWA, the MWWF, the EWA, the UWL, the TWO, the TWO2, the AIW, the SAW, the IoA, and the AWF. I have been there and done that kid. There is nothing Adams can bring at me that will sway me from a victory should he ever get the sac to face me.
Yeah I know. Blair first, then Jimmy Jugs. Hey kid....I'm proud of you. See you soon.
**Scene fades to black as Osbourne closes his phone and drifts back to sleep.**
