It's all come down to this. Two men will vie for the right to be called the first WLCW World Champion at Ascension. The wrestling world will have eyes on this ladder match.

"I have no problem proving my worthiness.."

It's the questioning of whether or not he even belongs in this match that irks him the most.

Cody paces restlessly back and forth in a straight line, turning on his heels after seven paces and walks back the same line. Given enough time, there'll be worn spots on the dark carpet lining the floors of his private dressing room. Sharply dressed in a red suit with a black necktie and pocket square, Cody clutches rolled up papers, presumably tonight's speech, and recites a few sentences repeatedly, making specific edits, until he hits the perfect nuance.

"..When we look back at the greatness that is WLCW years from now, you can mark down tonight, this moment with you all, as the beginning of the Rhodes that Led Us.."

This rally is important. Winning back trust is VERY important.

Becoming Champion.. Surpasses all of that.

Dustin Rhodes sits down with the camera crew. The elder Rhodes, soft-spoken and polite, has been asked a question from the off-camera interviewer. Without hesitation, he answers assuredly.

DUSTIN RHODES: The booing pisses me off. Who's more active than Cody? He's one of the first ones to the arena, and everything he does is done for his family and fans. Just because you don't "get" him ain't no reason to boo. Don't like 'em? Come beat 'em then. 'Cause I saw 40 guys get beat fair and square. Cody, I'm proud as hell of you, my brother. Go win the title and give the people someone they can believe in!

"You believe Cody won fair and square?"

DUSTIN RHODES: Cody's in the main event, isn't he?

Dustin frustratingly removes his microphone from the collar of his shirt.

DUSTIN RHODES: I think we're finished here.

Quick cut.

Stephen Amell has seen better days than the one he had on Vengeance. Still in the hospital but now with a full-body cast and machines beeping in the background.

STEPHEN AMELL: Cody, I wish you the best of luck at Ascension. Look at what Miro did to me, an innocent bystander. I never asked for this. Thanks to Miro, doctors say I may never act again. The press caught wind of this and Arrow got canceled!

Arrow ended in 2020?

STEPHEN AMELL: Win this for me, Cody. And for the fans that love you.

He begins gasping for air. The machine's beeping races faster.

STEPHEN AMELL: Avenge me, your best friend, television's Stephen Amell.

His eyes begin rolling in the back of his head even though he was perfectly fine 45 seconds ago. Give this man an Emmy.

STEPHEN AMELL: Jesus.. Is that you? Open the pearly gates...

The beeping stops. He flat lines. Stephen Amell is dead.

Because of Miro.

People are scattered as far as the eye can see. As regular fans flock to their seats, the Nightmare Family begin greeting the more VIP-level guests. The Family's immaculately dressed and have "CODY 2022" buttons prominently displayed. Cody's sister, Teil, has even shown up. It's all hands on deck for a large rally like this.

BRANDI RHODES: Look at this crowd. It's insane.

Dustin slings his arm around her shoulders, admiring the crowd. He's proud as hell of what his brother's doing to further professional wrestling. Dustin received the wrestling skills of Dusty whereas Cody received the ability to inspire those around him.

DUSTIN RHODES: What did I say? It's always the vocal minority makin' the most noise.

Entering the VIP area is Cody's co-hosts of the Go Big Show - Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles, and T-Pain. Brandi greets them with hugs.

BRANDI RHODES: So glad you guys could make it! I'll have Preston show you to your seats.

Vance ushers the crew to their seats, as Dustin leads in random members of CW shows we've never seen along with the cast of Heels. Teil sighs and ponders out loud.

TEIL RHODES: Who are these people?

Brandi's agitated.

BRANDI RHODES: Stephen's friends.

She throws her hands up in submission.

BRANDI RHODES: "Hey, you guys need some celebrities? Cool. I happen to know entire casts of TV shows!"

She sarcastically puts two thumbs up, continuing her mocking tone.

BRANDI RHODES: "The downfall, nobody will know who the hell they are 'cause nobody's watched CW since Gossip Girl."

TONY SCHIAVONE: I tell ya', and this is true, but Lois and I love sitting down on a Friday night, nice cup of coffee, and watching Supergirl. Great show. Melissa Benoist is phenomenal and I really think if people just forget about how bad Flash got and gave-

BRANDI RHODES: Tony, don't you have an emcee gig to prepare for? Because if you don't, I'm about to Chris Benoit your Melissa Benoist story.

TONY SCHIAVONE: Although it's two different last names, I appreciate your dedication to proving a point.

BRANDI RHODES: Tony. God bless. Go the fuck away.

Tony counts his losses and vacates from the area. Shaquille O'Neal and Papa John arrive simultaneously, with Papa attempting to shake Shaq's hand.

PAPA JOHN: Shaq! My brother! How have you been?

Shaq towers over the disgraced entrepreneur, giving time for Dave Batista to cut in between, moving on to his seat. Shaq looks at Brandi, motioning to Papa.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: Brandi, who invited this guy?

PAPA JOHN: I'll have you know I was personally invited by Stephen Amell!

Aggrieved, Brandi runs her hand down her face. She signals for Vance and Dustin to come assist.

BRANDI RHODES: Fellas, I'm going to need you two show Papa to his seat. His very SPECIAL seat.

Papa John looks back and sticks his tongue out at Shaq.

PAPA JOHN: Look who's thriving now, big guy!

Before Dustin and Preston get to him, DDP randomly comes out of nowhere with a Diamond Cutter on the racist pizza entrepreneur!

DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE: BANG!

And Papa John was never seen again.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: He never saw it coming.

BRANDI RHODES: Shaq, sorry about that. Come on in and Teil will lead you to your seat. I'll tell Cody that you're here.

Shaq gives Brandi a side hug and walks away. Brandi turns and takes a long look at the sea of supporters that have gathered. Maybe Dustin was right. Maybe Cody truly is well-loved and adored more than ever. It isn't Cody who's doing something wrong, it is the people. Yes! That's it.

It's now Brandi's turn and is mettlesome with her rant. You will never find a more supportive and defensive spouse as she is for Cody.

BRANDI RHODES: And that's what drives me crazy. There's this unexplainable divide in WLCW right now and it sure as hell isn't because of my husband showing up and securing his spot in Ascension's main event in his first match. This isn't something he's caused, hell no, absolutely not. This is jealousy. This is insecurity.

She hesitates for a beat to compose herself.

BRANDI RHODES: This is why "Cody 2022" is so important. Plenty of wrestlers have previously used Hollywood and political aspirations as stunts. This isn't a stunt. This isn't fake. This is a legitimate campaign for the betterment of not only WLCW, but professional wrestling as a whole. When I started that video off by making a case as to why my husband deserves and NEEDS to be the first WLCW Champion, it wasn't for attention. God knows I can get enough of that on my own.

A devilish smirk escapes her lips. Mark it down, in minutes there will be a scantily-clad Instagram post that gets 10,000 likes to remind everyone of this.

BRANDI RHODES: No offense to Miro, but it's what's best. Cody HAS to become champion if WLCW wants a chance of succeeding and not falling to the wayside as another failed experiment like companies before. Cody is willing to carry that cross for everyone whether they appreciate it or not. If you think for one second Cody didn't truly win that match, then I suggest you go back and look at whose hand was raised in the air. Cody's character is true and his heart is pure. Cheating is what you do when you don't have what it takes to win. Seizing an opportunity is what you do when it presents itself, and Cody is going to seize another opportunity when he becomes World Champion.

Fade.

"..You will never catch me because I do not rest on my laurels and I do not have time for being anything other than THE best.."

Interrupting his preparation is a knock. Cody looks back towards the door and huffs. He tosses the speech in the seat of a nearby folding chair. To his surprise, it's Brandi and baby Liberty. Cody's miffed attitude immediately melts as he takes his baby in his arms and gives her a kiss on the cheek.

He'll never understand. The mixed reactions, the cries that he's not 'real'. How can anyone boo a man who loves his family? From being Dusty's kid, Rhodes to the Top, appearances on WWN, and his online presence, Cody presents his authentic self 24/7.

But none of that matters right now.

CODY RHODES: Look at what we have here!

BRANDI RHODES: Someone just wanted to come by and wish daddy good luck on his speech!

He's going to risk falling off a ladder to better her future. Baby Lib will never want for anything as long as her daddy's around. Just like Cody had everything thanks to Dusty. Dusty promised Cody his prized Rolex when he won his first World Championship. Unbeknownst to anyone, Dusty had long since pawned it to pay for Cody's acting lessons when he stupidly shunned his wrestling destiny to pursue Hollywood. No sacrifice is too great for a father's love.

BRANDI RHODES: Are you still going over it? You know it by heart. You recited it in your sleep last night.

CODY RHODES: There's a lot of pressure.

BRANDI RHODES: Cody, you're cut from a different cloth. You got this. There's no way Miro is taking this as seriously as you.

CODY RHODES: Exactly.

He hands Liberty back to Brandi and turns to the oversized mirror underneath bright lights, giving his necktie an adjustment. He sticks the "CODY 2022" button on and picks up a black armband.

BRANDI RHODES: Yeah, Amell "died" in his video. Put it on.

Cody stretches the armband around his left bicep, allowing the camera to pan over and see "AMELL <3" in bold, white letters.

CODY RHODES: Miro isn't taking it as serious as I am because the stakes aren't as high for him as they are me. I've made a lot of comments and Tweeted out a list of goals to not end up backing it all up in a few days. There's a lot riding on this.

These people would change their tune if they only truly knew how much all of this meant to him. This is literally driving him crazy.

CODY RHODES: Did Dave come?

Brandi nods.

CODY RHODES: Shaq? Rosario?

BRANDI RHODES: All accounted for. Even the cast of some CW show nobody has seen.

Then she remembers.

BRANDI RHODES: Oh! And Papa John.

Cody lets out a sigh and snaps his jacket into place.

CODY RHODES: Who the hell invited Papa John?

He knows.

BRANDI RHODES: I think it's time. There's quite a crowd.

One last check in the mirror.

Cody kisses Liberty on the forehead and grabs her little hands.

CODY RHODES: Daddy's about to go change the world.. Again.

It's all for her, for the Nightmare Family.

For WLCW.

For us.

He has to be World Champion.

Tony Schiavone is in the middle of addressing the crowd. The camera pans, displaying the vast sea of fans on their feet with "Kingdom's" prelude already beginning its epically long slow build.

TONY SCHIAVONE: ..Allow me to introduce to you the future WLCW Champion, CODY RHODES!

Cody Rhodes emerges from the back and waves to his adoring public. He greets Tony with a big hug and the empty stage becomes his. Microphone in hand, Cody stands dead center on the stage that's raised high off the ground, with the crowd below him. "Kingdom" blasts throughout until he raises his hand, almost instantly silencing it.

CODY RHODES: Thank you for coming.

Cody swallows hard and rubs the memorial armband.

CODY RHODES: Before we get started, can we have a moment of silence for Stephen Amell? As we reflect, remember what the dastardly Miro did to a harmless soul.

Cody bows his head and a hush falls upon the audience momentarily.

"WE LOVE YOU, STEPHEN! KICK MIRO'S ASS, CODY!" is randomly blurted out, cutting the silence like a knife.

CODY RHODES: Stephen, I'm going to climb that ladder for you, buddy!

Now he panders to the crowd.

CODY RHODES: And Brodie Lee!

Wait, what?

CODY RHODES: BRODIE LEE FOREVER! NEVER FORGET THOSE GONE TOO SOON!

Multiple fist pumps follow and the crowd's fired up.

CODY RHODES: When climbing that ladder, I'll have a decision to make - do I simply grab the title and become WLCW Champion..

He's noticeably conflicted.

CODY RHODES: ..Do I keep climbing towards Heaven so that I can give Stephen.. and my dad.. and Brodie Lee.. One more big hug?

Remaining inquisitive, Cody parlays the question further.

CODY RHODES: Or do I both?

The crowd encourages "BOTH!", causing Cody's chest to puff.

CODY RHODES: Decisions. Decisions are why we're here today, ladies and gentlemen.

He brings the speech from his pocket even though it's memorized. The tone quickly changes. Playtime's over.

CODY RHODES: Think about your decisions to bet on yourself and where they've led you. My journey started when I bet on myself at nineteen. Leaving Waffle House one morning in Marietta, I told Dusty that I wanted to become a wrestler. Minutes felt like hours until Dusty relented - under one condition - "if you're going to do it, be the best."

Polite applause from the crowd. Shaq wipes away a tear.

CODY RHODES: I'm the original man who sacrificed everything to bet on himself, becoming a revolutionist. I declined guaranteed money by refusing to settle. 10,000 followed by going ALL IN, nor did I blink by doubling down, leaving my "Club" and becoming ALL ELITE. I created the blueprint and those shockwaves are still felt today! Every road I take turns into gold and Ascension will be no different when I continue flourishing while Miro wishes he could keep pace!

Passion oozes from his core.

CODY RHODES: Granted, I was gifted a head start with my last name. But while others nip at my heels, I keep working and proving worthy of the lead I've maintained. You will never catch me because I do not rest on my laurels nor do I have time for being anything other than the best. I owe it to those who support me - my entire Nightmare Family and all of you.

Even acknowledging the low-hanging fruit, Cody doesn't shy from it. A head start doesn't last forever.

CODY RHODES: But tonight isn't about Dusty or the past. However, it IS about the American Dream, the future. Miro, you're living it, aren't you? Came from Bulgaria and made something of yourself no matter the misconceptions. You're right on the cusp of making that dream a reality. Nobody loves a good underdog story as much as a Rhodes, so it's apropos we're facing off at Ascension. But..

But.

CODY RHODES: But unfortunately, I am the American NIGHTMARE! YOUR Nightmare! I'm sorry.. Because Miro, you WANT to be champion, while I HAVE to be WLCW champion!

He's energized. He CARES. The crowd feeds from it.

CODY RHODES: I was given an ultimatum from one of the best ever all those years ago that if I was going to do this then I had to be the best and I don't plan on disappointing. All the roads I've taken over the last 17 years have lead to Ascension.

"CODY! CODY!" Finally, a unified front who pulls the rope in the same direction.

CODY RHODES: The roads that led me here involve everything you want your story to entail and there's nothing wrong with that. You just need to recognize who did it first and who's doing it better. I'm the forefather of not settling. And Miro, remember, Daddy ALWAYS eats first. That clear path you're walking was blazed by me just like WLCW's path to being the premier promotion in the world is being meticulously carved out right now by.. ME!

Are you listening, Miro?

CODY RHODES: I'm the one who went from undesirable to un-goddamn-deniable and I have no problem proving myself ONE MORE TIME!

His face turns red and voice begins cracking before collecting himself.

CODY RHODES: I respect Miro. Honestly. He's freakishly strong, looks like a million bucks, and he's formidable inside that ring. I look forward to the challenge when we do the beautiful dance that ends with one of us climbing that ladder to success. However, I do not fear Miro, nor anyone else in WLCW who thinks I am unworthy.

The camera zooms in close.

CODY RHODES: Because my hatred for losing is second to only the size of my ego.

Nobody works a room better.

CODY RHODES: Fortunately, I get to dictate my own destiny when that bell rings and my talents create separation from everyone else. I will feed off your energy and allow it to carry me up those ladder rungs to claim that championship. I need the title. WE need the title. WLCW needs me to be champion. Ascension will be.. for US!

Cody courageously fights off tears forming in his eyes.

CODY RHODES: May we always do the work. Because we never know the butterfly effect decisions create and the roads they lead us down.

He beams.

CODY RHODES: And when we look back at the greatness that WLCW becomes years from now, you can mark down tonight, this moment with you all, as the beginning of the Rhodes that Led Us Here..

They're in the palm of his hand as the message concludes

CODY RHODES: ..And concluded with me becoming WLCW Champion.

He's overcome with pure conviction.

CODY RHODES: Thank you.

"Kingdom" hits and his family comes out on stage to join him in celebration of this successful night. Praises and applause echo as confetti and multicolored balloons descend from the ceiling. He passionately kisses Brandi then waves to the crowd.

Life is perfect.

It'll get even better at Ascension when the 'Rhodes' lead to the World Championship.

Decisions.