With a loud bang and a flash of blue, green, and white pyro, the first broadcast of EWI Collision is on the air. The arena is packed with several thousand rabid wrestling fans, waving signs and banners and cheering as loud as they can throughout the impressive opening display. As the noise dies down and the smoke begins to clear, the face of play-by-play announcer Blake Underwood can be seen on the giant video screen above the entrance way. The crowd goes quiet as he begins to speak over the public address.
Underwood: Ladies and gentlemen, this is Elite Wrestling International, and we're about to see a Collision! Some of the greatest talents from around the world have finally been brought together under one banner, the banner of EWI, and they are all here tonight for this history making broadcast. We've got names from a number of defunct federations in EWI, as well as some of the most promising newcomers in our game today. I still have no word on....what's this....
The words "I am the Greatest Man Alive" lead into Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" as Mr. Marvellous, the founder of High Society and former two-time world champion makes his way down the ramp. A deafening chorus of boos comes down from the crowd, which obviously recognizes the veteran from Toronto, but it doesn't phase him. He calmly walks over and takes a seat alongside Underwood at the announce table.
Underwood: Don't tell me YOU'RE going to be my broadcast partner...
Marvellous: God Blake, I was hoping you would give the OWA real world champion a better welcome than that. And wipe that smirk off your face before I show you what greatness is all about. Just take your time and watch me. I have done this a million times and perfected this announcing job, so watch the pro and learn. Let's bring in the curtain jerking match.
Underwood: I can already tell this is going to be a long night. Actually, you know something Mr. Marvellous, not even your presence can dampen this evening for me. This is the most exciting night on which to be a wrestling fan in quite some time, and I intend to enjoy it. Three big matches as well as Commissioner Owens making what I understand will be several huge announcements regarding EWI's first pay per view event and it's championships - what more could a fan ask for? We're going to go right up to the ring where our first contest will pit Lucas Coleman against "The Blueprint" Russel Jones in a match that has become very personal over the past few days. Both men come from similar street upbringings, but both seem to feel that the other has been disrespecting not only their opponent here tonight, but street culture as a whole. This should be an exciting match as both men look to earn the distinction of earning the first victory ever in EWI. Let's go to the ring!
Lucas Coleman
~VS.~
"The Blueprint" Russell Jones
Russel Jones came to the ring first, accompanied by his partner in Criminal Nation Heavy D and D's massive bodyguard-turned-wrestler Rukuss. The familiar sounds of DMX then blared through the arena, meaning only one thing, the arrival of Lucas Coleman and his brother Malcolm. Malcolm Coleman walked over and took a seat with Underwood and Marvellous at the announce position as his brother Lucas entered the ring and went right up to "The Blueprint", extending his hand in an act of sportmanship. The gesture clearly came as a surprise to Jones, as it did to many of the fans, and while Jones stood center ring with a look of uncertainty on his face, Coleman grew impatient and floored Jones with a powerful running clothesline. The bell rang to signify the start of the match, and the referee was quick to admonish Coleman for the cheap shot early in the match. Jones quickly pulled himself to his feet but was met right away with some rock solid punches from his adversary, who then stunned him with a quick kick to the midsection and a DDT. Despite the underhanded tactics many fans took to Coleman and cheered as Coleman got to his feet with a satisfied expression on his face. From the outside Heavy D shouted words of encouragement to his tag team partner. This quickly caught the attention of Coleman, who walked over to the edge of the ring near where Heavy D stood on the outside and began cursing at him. Heavy D quickly jumped up on the apron and got right in Coleman's face, but before the two men came to blows the referee hurried over and got between them, ordering D back to the floor. The distraction gave Jones the opening he needed, and while Coleman had his back turned he nailed the man with a hard forearm across the back of the head. Jones then grabbed Coleman by the arm and pulled him out away from the ropes where he used an armbar takedown to drive his opponent into the canvas, with the brunt of the blow being absorbed by Coleman's shoulder. Not wanting to give Coleman even a second to recover Jones yanked him to his feet only to armdrag him right back down to the canvas, where he applied a second armbar hold. After a few moments of holding Coleman in the painful armbar it was clear that he was not about to give up, so Jones released it and held Coleman's arm flat against the canvas. He then drove a series of kneedrops down right into the shoulder and elbow joints, causing Coleman to scream out in pain. On the outside of the ring Malcolm Coleman got up from his seat at ringside and started banging on the table and waving to the crowd, trying to get them to rally behind his brother. The crowd started responding and it seemed to give Coleman a quick burst of energy, as he reached up and poked Jones in the eyes after the next kneedrop. "The Blueprint" staggered back temporarily blinded as Coleman pulled himself to his feet, but Jones was able to shake it off and once Coleman was up "Blueprint" floored him with a thunderous clothesline. Coleman hitting the canvas deflated not only the crowd but Malcolm as well, as the cheering came to an abrupt stop. Jones then walked over to the side of the ring near the announce table and shouted at Malcolm that his brother was finished and that no amount of crowd support could help him. Just as Jones was carrying on Coleman pulled himself to his feet behind him. He crouched down and waited for Jones to turn around. Heavy D and Rukuss tried to tell Jones that Coleman was up behind him but Jones didn't hear them, and when he turned he was driven to the mat with a spear from Coleman that brought the crowd back to it's feet. Just then, a voice started yelling over the public address. The owner of the voice then showed his face as Rave came out from the backstage area out into the entrance way.
Rave: I can't believe you did this Owens! Here I am expecting to be in the main event tonight and when I arrive at the arena to discuss things with you, you're nowhere to be found. I was okay with that, you're a busy man and you have shit to do. Fine. But then I hear from other guys around the locker room that not only am I not in the main event tonight, that I'm not even booked for the damn show!
The crowd starts booing loudly to show their disapproval of Rave's interruption of what had been a very solid opening match.
Rave: Shut the hell up! Don't you know who I am? I am Rave, former EWO World Champion. I am the one man party. I am who you came here to see god dammit...I want to know why I'm not in the main event tonight! I want to know why my mechandise isn't available for all the fans to buy! I want to know why there wasn't any bottled mineral water in my dressing room! Why am I being treated like a third rate mid-carder when I'm a main event superstar?
Before Rave can finish, two men in green EWI security t-shirts came up the ramp and grabbed him, one under each arm. They escorted Rave back to the dressing room area, allowing the fans to refocus on the action in the ring. The distraction from Rave gave Jones a chance to gather his senses and charge Coleman with a clothesline, but Coleman saw him coming, ducked the move, and hooked Jones in a waistlock which he quickly turned into a German suplex. The back of Jones' head slammed off the canvas and Coleman quickly pulled him back up and whipped him across the ring to the turnbuckle. Jones hit the corner hard and was caught almost immediately with a running clothesline from Coleman, who then hoisted his dazed opponent up to the top turnbuckle. Coleman followed him up and took Jones down with a belly to belly suplex all the way from the top rope, bringing another loud cheer from the audience. Rather than going for the cover, though, Coleman dragged Jones out to the middle of the ring and applied the No Escape Deathlock. Jones only held on for a few seconds before tapping out, giving the win to Lucas Coleman.
Underwood: An impressive debut for Lucas Coleman in EWI, picking up the win over another man who I don't know very much about, Russel Jones. Mr. Marvellous, you've been around Lucas Coleman more than I have, does tonight's outcome surprise you?
Marvellous: Oh my God, I can not believe what I just saw. Someone tapping out to a Coleman move? I know this sounds weird but it was almost like watching a different man out there. The Coleman I used to know was terrible and did nothing but bore us with crap about Compton. Now that he has gotten away from scum central I think he has improved. But, he is no Marvellous.
Underwood: And I'm sure he'd be very happy to hear that. I must admit, based on the scouting reports I'd heard from people who had seen Lucas Coleman in the NWF and the MMP, I wasn't expecting very much from him tonight. He turned his game up a notch, though, and showed that he could very well be a force to be reckoned with in EWI. A big win for Lucas Coleman tonight here at Collision. Our next match is a tag team encounter, between two of the teams expected to play a big role in deciding the EWI tag team championship when the time comes around. The more experienced of the two teams would have to be Psychotic Sam and The Saint, members of The Family, who have been teaming together for years, most notably in the MMP where Sam was a former world champion and member of the Hall of Fame. On the other hand you have the team of Ronin and Punisher who, while they don't have as much experience as a team, both have a number of individual credentials worth mentioning. Punisher's wife Heavenly was the commissioner of the recently liquidated Outlaw Wrestling Alliance, and Ronin is a multiple time world champion, having held titles in the OWA and in International Championship Wrestling, just to name a couple. This should be a.....wait, I'm being told there's something going on backstage....can we get a camera back there? Is there....
The scene cuts backstage where Criminal Nation is heading back to their dressing room after Russel Jones' disappointing defeat in the opening match. They enter the room and loud rap music starts to play from behind the closed door. The door of the room next door then opens, and out walks Rave, with steel chair in hand. Rave pounds on the Criminal Nation dressing room door and yells for them to turn the music down, but to no avail. After a moment the door opens and out walks Russel Jones, who promptly receives a chair shot to the back of the head courtesy of Rave. Rave begins stomping Jones, but before Rave can do much damage Heavy D intervenes and nails Rave with a forearm smash. Rave staggers back and attempts to respond with a right hand but D blocks it and nails Rave with a hard punch to the jaw. As Rave turns away Heavy D locks him in a full nelson and delivers the D-Drop on the concrete floor! He then gets right down in Rave's face and begins screaming at him.
Heavy D: Had enough? Huh? HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH? YOU LIKE THAT? That's what you get when you fuck with Criminal Nation, punk. Let that be a lesson to ya. Never, and I mean NEVER think about taking one of us out, because the rest will take YOU out.
Security runs in and breaks up the fight, leaving both Rave and Jones laid out on the cold concrete floor.
Marvellous: OH MY GOD! What is going on back there? Rave, check your food stamps! I think they were going for your food stamps!
Underwood: That didn't have a thing to do with food stamps and you know it. Rave and Criminal Nation have been exchanging words for a week now, I'm not surprised that it escalated to this. Hopefully security has things under control backstage and we can get on with our next match. Psychotic Sam and The Saint taking on Ronin and Punisher in a tag team match.
Psychotic Sam & The Saint
~VS.~
Ronin &
Punisher
"March of the Dead" began to play and a white spotlight came down on the entrance way, introducing Psychotic Sam and The Saint to the EWI fans for the first time. Sam was carrying Marbels, his dead, stuffed, mounted cat, down to the ring with him while Saint, in a long robe, had a Bible in one hand and a long staff with a cross on top in the other. As the two veterans stepped into the ring Ronin and Punisher made their way out, accompanied by Ronin's valet Kachiko and Punisher's longtime manager Donovan Black. These four men wasted little time going at one another, as Ronin went right after Saint, hammering him with rights and lefts that backed the big man into the ropes. While the ref ushered Sam and Punisher to their respective corners Ronin whipped Saint off the ropes and caught him coming back with a hard right hand that knocked the big man down. Ronin then connected with a legdrop across the throat. He then stood back and waited patiently as Saint struggled to his feet, and once Saint was upright Ronin charged in with an attempted scissor kick. Saint, however, ducked under the jumping Ronin and turned and hammered Ronin with a clothesline to the back of the head before Ronin could even land back on the canvas. The veteran took advantage of the opening right away and made the tag to Psychotic Sam, who quickly jumped in the ring and mounted Ronin, biting him right on the bridge of the nose. The referee had to intervene and pull Sam off, but not before Ronin's face was smeared with his own blood. As Ronin pulled himself to his feet Sam stood back and waited. Once the man was up Sam dove at him with a flying bodypress, but luckily for Ronin he saw Sam coming in the nick of time and was able to catch Sam and drive him into the mat with a powerslam. With Sam temporarily incapacitated Ronin crawled to his corner and made the tag to Punisher. Punisher came in just as Sam was getting to his feet and drove him right back down with a running bulldog. This brought a cheer from the crowd, as the underdog fan favourites retained the advantage. Punisher then pulled Sam to his feet and whipped him into the ropes, catching him on the rebound with a devastating spinebuster. With his team in control Punisher pulled Sam up and readied him for a belly to back suplex, but before he could drive Sam down he became the second victim of Sam's jagged teeth as Sam leaned over and started biting Punisher, this time across the forehead. Punisher fell to the mat with Sam on top of him, allowing Sam to grab him by the ears and begin slamming his head off the canvas. After several blows Sam got up and went to his corner to tag in Saint, but in a startling turn of events, Saint refused the tag! He dropped down off the apron, grabbed his staff, and started walking back to the dressing room, leaving Sam alone in the ring. Sam shouted at Saint to come back, but while his back was turned Punisher was able to get to his feet and catch him from behind with a flying forearm to the back of the head. Punisher then whipped Sam across the ring into his and Ronin's corner, sending him in with such force that Sam bounced back out from the buckle and fell to the canvas. Ronin then tagged in and sent Sam flying across the ring with a martial arts throw, much to the delight of the crowd. At this point Saint was still slowly making his way up the aisle so Sam, seeing this, rolled out under the bottom rope and tried to chase after him, but just has he turned the corner he was caught by a running clothesline from Punisher, who had been ducking down and waiting for him. Punisher quickly tossed Sam back into the ring where Ronin was waiting. Ronin pulled him up, whipped him off the ropes, and went for a clothesline as Sam rebounded, but Sam ducked and the momentum carried him into the ropes on the other side. In the meantime, though, Punisher had gotten into the ring, and when sam rebounded the second time he ran right into a double thrust kick from both of his opponents. The ref ordered Punisher out of the ring as he was the illegal man while Ronin pulled Sam's badly beaten body over to the corner. Once there Ronin climbed to the top rope and lept off with the Scorpion Bomb. The move caught Sam flush across the chest, and after being double teamed for most of the match, he was in no condition to fight back any more. Ronin covered him and scored the three count.
Underwood: A shocking turn of events here tonight as it appears that The Saint has left Psychotic Sam! What could this mean for the rest of The Family as....
As Underwood continues, Sam goes running by with Marbels in hand screaming at Saint. The cameras cut backstage as Sam runs up and down the halls looking for Saint. He finally finds his tag team partner, who is once again wearing a long robe, and grabs him by the arm.
Sam: WHAT YOU DOING GOD BOY?
Saint: Samuel, God has spoken to me. He has told me that YOU ARE A USELESS SACK OF SHIT THAT HAS BEEN HOLDING ME BACK FOR YEARS!
Sam looks confused and pets Marbels.
Saint: Don't get me wrong, Samuel. I like you, you're a great boy but the time has come in my life where I have decided to do what I want to do most of all in life and it has nothing to do with you.
Sam: And what is that?
Saint: I want to dance!
Just then, a disco ball shattered over Sam's head! Sam collapses to the floor and Saint began jamming his staff down into Sam's throat. Sam's first attacker then entered the view, and it's former MMP Canada wrestler Hip Hoppin' Ron. Ron was dressed in a loose Hawaiian shirt and baby blue polyester pants. Saint continued pounding on Sam while Ron went into a nearby dressing room and grabbed a stereo. He turned the stereo on and it began playing Abba's "Dancing Queen" as the attack continued. Officials finally ran in to break up the attack, and as Saint and Ron were being backed away Saint dropped his robe, revealing a black and white leisure suit underneath.
Saint: Hey, when I was talking about God telling me all that stuff I was talking about Hip Hoppin' Ron, the God of Soul and Love. And you may now refer to me as Disco Pete, 'cause I have all the right moves.
Pete and Ron then began dancing as paramedics rushed over to check on Sam, who was having trouble breathing after the repeated shots to the throat. Cameras then cut back to the arena.
Marvellous: I am speechless. I can not believe what just happened here. Can you actually believe Disco Pete is wearing that outfit?
Underwood: I think the bigger story here is the beating that Psychotic Sam just took at the hands of his former best friend. He may have suffered a concussion from the shot with the disco ball that he took from Hip Hoppin' Ron, and I didn't like the sounds he was making after taking so many shots to the throat from, well, I guess it's Disco Pete.
Marvellous: Oh yeah, that must have sucked for him too. Not only did Sam lose to Ronin and Punisher, but he took one hell of a beating from Disco Pete and Hip Hoppin' Ron. Did you see this coming at all? I know I didn't. Poor Sam is probably ten times more confused than any of us right now.
Underwood: Well, I usually assume that's the case, but your statement holds true now more than ever.
Suddenly, the lights in the arena went out. The rapturous sounds of "Carmina Burana" then filled the arena. Part of the crowd booed at the interruption, while others jumped to their feet, signaling the entrance of The Cult!!! A spotlight shined down on the entrance way as several hooded Cult minions began their procession, followed by the feral Harbinger, the massive Destroyer, and the leader of The Cult, the enigmatic Cult Master!!! The Cult Master sat atop a makeshift throne, and was carried by several Cult minions. They slowly made their way to the ring. Harbinger and The Destroyer entered first, with The Cult Master following soon after. His minions set down His throne to allow His entrance into the ring. The Cult Master then produced a microphone and began to speak, The Destroyer and Harbinger at His side, the crowd giving a mixed reaction.
Cult Master: Ah, my little lambs, The Cult Master and His Cult RETURNS!!!
Some of the crowd cheered maniacally while others booed with severe intensity.
Cult Master: So many of you must have wondered where I have been. Following my........unfortunate defeat to Virus Richards at MMP Final Judgement, I rose again!!! No mortal can ever defeat GOD Himself!!! I have defeated death!!! I defeated death and rose to prominence in the Outlaw Wrestling Alliance. After my resurrection I grew to dominate the fledgeling organization, quickly becoming the North American Championship Grail Holder. My Destroyer also dominated all he met, becoming not only the OWA Extreme Champion but also the JDF Extreme Suicide Champion!!!
The Cult Master looked back at "His" Destroyer with pride, and The Destroyer simply nodded back to Him with little emotion. The Cult Master continues...
Cult Master: But, sadly, that organization died. And so here we are, in the EWI, a realm in which only the elite of the elite shall do battle. I and my fold were quick to join, but beholding all of the glorioious talent that resides in this realm, I felt the need to bring in another minion........another member of my fold. Introducing to thee, a Favorite Son of mine.........SOUJIRO!!!!
The lights went out once more with a lone spotlight shining down on the entrance. A solitary man, standing about 5'9" and weighing just over 200 pounds slinked down to the right and joined The Cult Master at His right.
Cult Master: This, my little lambs, is Soujiro! He has been trained and taught in my Holy Truth since he was a boy, and where my Destroyer and Harbinger have been the hammer, Soujiro shall be the scalpel!!! All shall fear The Cult.......all shall fear THE CULT MASTER!!!!
The lights went out again but almost instantly came back on. The Cult had disappeared. The only remnant of their presence was on the canvas, in the form of hundreds of arcane, alien symbols tattooed to the mat. The insane laughter of The Cult Master echoed through the arena, gradually fading into nothing.
Underwood: What in the world was that? Have you ever seen anything like that, Mr. Marvellous?
Marvellous: Great, more clowns for the circus. Is it me or did EWI go out of their way to find every crazy out there. Let's get to the main event. I want to see my brother-in-law, one half of the unbeaten tag team champions smack around that paper champion. Did I ever tell you about the time I smacked around Ryno at one of the OWA pay per views to win that title?
Underwood: No, but I and our viewers will be treated to that story more than once in the weeks to come. And Wolverine is certainly no paper champion. Although the OWA world title is not officially recognized by EWI, there's no denying that Wolverine went through a lot to earn that championship. It took several years in this business working his way up the ladder for Wolverine to finally reach it to the top and achieve the greatness he sought for so long.
Marvellous: Hey look! Speaking of greatness, there is the hottest body on the planet - my brother, Big Daddy Cash!
The camera pans over and shows Big Daddy Cash, being accompanied by a beautiful blond-haired woman, taking a seat in the front row just down from the broadcast position.
Underwood: What in the world is Big Daddy Cash doing here tonight? He isn't scheduled to compete! I can only hope that he is only here to watch the action and isn't planning on getting involved, because it's time for our main event. Two title holders from the now defunct Outlaw Wrestling Alliance do battle as Wolverine takes on Suicide King the Hollywood Dream.
OWA World Champion
Wolverine
~VS.~
OWA Tag Team Champion
Suicide King the Hollywood Dream
"East Coast West Coast Killaz" came over the loudspeaker and a red spotlight came down on the entrance as Suicide King the Hollywood Dream made his way out. He stopped after only a few steps to pose for the crowd, which was met with a loud chorus of boos from the EWI fans. When Suicide King finally made his way into the ring he stood and posed a little longer, but this time the boos quickly turned to cheers - not because the fans had a sudden change of heart for the man in the ring, but in response for the man running towards the ring through the crowd. With Suicide King still posing Wolverine hopped over the safety rail and quickly climbed to the top rope. Just as Suicide King turned around Wolverine dove off the top and nailed King with a flying clothesline that knocked the big man head over heels. Wolverine didn't hesitate even for a moment, mounting his opponent and hammering down on him with repeated right hands. He then yanked King, who was still wearing his robe, to his feet, kicked him in the midsection, and rammed him face first into Wolverine's knee. The crowd cheered even louder as King rolled over near the ropes to regroup, and Wolverine took a moment to stop and soak in the adulation of the EWI audience. This proved to be a mistake, though, as it gave King some much needed seconds to catch his breath. The big man quickly got out of his robe, and when Wolverine turned around he tossed it right in his face to distract him before nailing a running clothesline. With Wolverine down King put the boots to him, stomping him repeatedly all over the upper body before getting down over him and choking him with the robe. The referee began his five count almost immediately, and King broke just before five. King didn't stop, though, and went right back to another chokehold as soon as the count was broken. The referee finally pulled the robe away from King, prompting an argument between the massive superstar and the considerably smaller official. While this was happening Wolverine was pulling himself to his feet but King turned before Wolverine could get a shot in and caught the OWA champion with a boot to the midsection. King then began hammering Wolverine with repeated forearms across the back, sending Wolverine staggering into the ropes. Once there King whipped Wolverine across the ring and caught him coming back with a hard knee to the midsection, sending Wolverine back down to the canvas. With his opponent down Suicide King took even more time to pose, climbing to the second rope and flexing for a crowd that by this time was completely fed up with the Hollywood Dream's antics. Wolverine stumbled to his feet as King turned around and King dove off the rope with a flying shoulderblock, but Wolverine moved out of the way and drove King down hard face first into the canvas. This was the momentum shift that Wolverine needed. He capitalized quickly and dropped two elbows down on Suicide King before pulling the man to his feet and nailing an impressive German release suplex on the 7-footer. King was reeling, using the far ropes to pull himself to his feet. Wolverine bounded off the near ropes, but something caused him to fall flat on his face. The camera panned down and showed Mr. Marvellous, who had gotten up from his position at the broadcast booth, holding onto Wolverine's leg. Marvellous turned and started bragging to the fans in the front row about his accomplishment, but the only person who was impressed was his brother Big Daddy Cash. Wolverine, however, was not impressed. He shot back to his feet and turned to yell at Marvellous, giving Suicide King the opportunity to nail a running clothesline from behind that sent Wolverine over the top rope. While the referee scolded Suicide King for knocking his opponent out of the ring, Marvellous began laying the boots to Wolverine, nailing him with repeated kicks to the ribs. After a series of shots Marvellous turned to gloat to the crowd again, but when he turned back around Wolverine was back to his feet. Wolverine grabbed Marvellous and whipped him hard into the ring post, knocking Marvellous nearly unconscious. He then began stomping Marvellous against the safety rail, but behind his back Big Daddy Cash hopped out of his seat and over the rail and nailed Wolverine from behind with a double axhandle blow. He then slammed Wolverine head first into the ring steps before sending him back into the ring. Suicide King had been distracting the referee the entire time so the official saw none of the interference from the Marvellous family, only the end result. As Cash helped Marvellous back to the announce table Suicide King picked up Wolverine and delivered the Overdose! He then made the cover, hooked the leg, and scored the three count to earn the victory. Once the match was over Suicide King got out of the ring quickly and made his way up the aisle, stopping to pose only once he reached the entry way.
Underwood: What a travesty! Suicide King literally stole that match away from Wolverine! It took Suicide King, Mr. Marvellous, and Big Daddy Cash to beat one man here tonight in our main event on Collision. Marvellous, what the hell were you doing getting...
Before Underwood could finish his question, the combined sound of Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra blared over the loudspeaker. Wolverine, who was trying to shake the cobwebs in the ring, got to his feet and looked out at the runway. Out to the ring, accompanied by his manager Ray Brewer and bodyguard Jamaal came Diamond King, a former HWA, MMP, and CWA world champion. Diamond King was dressed in an all black suit with a black and silver tie. He had the MMP world title belt around his waist and the CWA title over his shoulder. A microphone was in his right hand.
Diamond King: So this is what passes for a world champion these days?
The crowd's boos are deafening.
DK: I guess it's true after all. The wrestling business really can't survive without me. For the ignorant among you, and judging from the response you gave these nobodies out here tonight that's most of you, you now have the priviledge of seeing, up close and in person, the REAL world champion. You see this belt around my waist? Up until last October, this was the Midwestern Mayhem Promotion's world heavyweight championship belt. Last October, that company was closed down. On their final night I proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was the greatest champion that that company, a company that many say is the best wrestling promotion there has ever been, ever saw when I captured this belt for third time. I heard The Cult Master talk about his so-called unfortunate defeat at that very event against a kid named Richards. What that zombie failed to mention was that I went on to defeat Richards myself, after nearly two years away from the ring, to win this title very title that he wasn't good enough to hold onto.
Fans began showing their disgust with Diamond King by littering the aisle with debris.
DK: And as for this belt over my shoulder, this was once the Continental Wrestling Alliance's world heavyweight title. That was the last company I worked for, where I went undefeated throughout the entire time the company was open. I was the first man to win this title, and I was the only man to ever win this title. Despite all their best efforts, the staff there couldn't find anyone capable of beating me for this belt. Now, sadly, both of those promotions are but distant memories, and their championship belts are now but a symbol of the wrestling mastery you see before you in me. I was a champion. I am a champion. Until someone, somewhere can beat me, I will remain a champion. And for me to come to an arena like this and see someone like you, Wolverine, the personification of mediocrity, being billed as a world champion, quite frankly, it makes me physically ill. I am here in EWI for one reason and one reason only - to amuse myself, and I intend to do exactly that by humbling each and every one of these average athletes that EWI is trying to pass off as superstars that you people have seen here tonight and reaffirming my position as the only true world champion. In my world, Wolverine, average is not good enough. To be a champion, you have to be the best. Tonight you proved that you are not the best. Tonight you proved that you are not a champion. What you're looking at right now is what a champion looks like. If you or anyone else in EWI doesn't like that, you're just going to have to try and do something about it. Just please don't be too disappointed when you fail just like everyone else who has tried before you.
"Sad But True" started up again as Diamond King dropped the microphone in the aisle and made his way back to the dressing room with Jamaal and Brewer following closely behind.
Underwood: What's the matter, Mr. Marvellous? You seem a little less than thrilled to see your oldest rival here in EWI.
Marvellous: What is this bullshit? Have people not had enough of this fat has-been? No one cares about what Grandpa Simpson has to say. Call the nursing home and get somebody over here to take this man back to his room in the has-been wing.
The EWI Collision theme song then blared over the loudspeaker, and Commissioner Thomas Owens appeared in the entry way holding a small stack of papers in his hand.
Underwood: Looks like the moment we've been waiting for is here. We were told a week ago that Commissioner Owens was going to be here tonight to make several big announcements. Mr. Owens is on his way to the ring, so I'll turn it over to him.
Owens politely took the microphone from the ring announcer and got in the ring to a rousing ovation from the crowd.
OWENS: Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the first ever EWI Collision!
The crowd cheers louder still.
OWENS: I hope you all enjoyed tonight's matches. I can promise you that is just the beginning of what is to come from Elite Wrestling International. We are currently in negotiations with top talent from all over the world, and are signing new wrestlers every day in an attempt to bring you, the EWI fans, the absolute best wrestling possible. We are the Elite, and we intend to live up to that.
Owens pauses as the applause becomes so loud that he can't be heard over the audience.
OWENS: I'm here tonight to make five, that's right FIVE huge announcements regarding the immediate future of EWI. For starters, beginning on next week's show, we will begin the process of crowing the first ever EWI tag team champions. A round robin tournament will begin next Monday night, with matches continuing each and every week until all teams in the tournament have faced every other team one time. The team that compiles the best record over those matches will be the EWI tag team champions. And, in the event that there is a tie atop the standings, the championship will be decided on live television in a steel cage match! So for all the wrestlers in the back, you're hearing this for the first time, but the time to find yourselves tag team partners is now, because we aren't wasting any time. EWI fans want to find out who is the best tag team in EWI, and we begin that process next week on Collision.
OWENS: This brings me to my next announcement, and that is that on Thursday, January 3, 2002, Elite Wrestling International will be on pay per view for the very first time. That night, EWI Gold Rush will come to you live from the historic Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA. And it will be on this night that we crown the first ever EWI hardcore, universal, and yes, world heavyweight champion. At Gold Rush you will see the first ever hardcore attrition match. In this match, the EWI hardcore championship will be suspended above the ring. The only way to win the match will be to climb a ladder and grab the belt. However, all participants in the match, and this match will be open to as many men as think they have the guts to compete in this gruelling match, will begin outside the arena. There will be one referee assigned to the match for every two participants. When the bell rings these men will battle outside the Cow Palace and work their way through the building, with each man trying to be the one to get to the ring, climb the ladder, and claim the hardcore championship. In their quest, though, they must avoid being eliminated by their opponents. Elimination can occur anywhere inside or outside the building via pinfall, submission, by driving an opponent through a table, or by incapacitating an opponent to the point where he is unable to answer any referee's ten count. The one man who can survive this match will truly be deserving of winning the EWI hardcore championship.
OWENS: The EWI world championship will be decided in a 16-man single elimination tournament that, like the tag team competition, will begin on Collision next Monday night. Half of the opening round matches will be contested at Collision and the other half will be held on a special EWI Prime Time holiday special on Thursday, December 20 as our way of saying thank you to you great fans who are lending your support to a new, yet unproven promotion. Matches will continue on the two subsequent Collision cards, with the semi-finals and finals taking place at Gold Rush, live from San Francisco. The universal championship will be decided that night in a special four corners elimination match which will be contested between the four men who make it to the quarterfinal round of the world title tournament but who do not make it to the semi-finals.
The crowd cheers extra loud one last time as Owens finishes his remarks.
OWENS: This is truly an exciting time to be involved in the wrestling business. I believe, our staff believes, our wrestlers believe, and most importantly by your attendance here tonight I can tell that you fans believe that Elite Wrestling International is the wave of the future of wrestling. I'm glad to see you all out tonight, I hope you'll tune in next week on Collision as we begin our quest to crown the first set of EWI champions, and I know you'll join us on January 3 from San Francisco as those championships are awarded. Thank you, and good night!
Owens drops the microphone and the scene fades to black.
