The show opens to the sounds of “Hope” by Apocalyptica. We are in the Academy. A large hall-cum-gymnasium, three thousand or so fans seated on stands either side of a wrestling ring, weaponry and training equipment off at the other end of the hall. A black carpet makes a path leading from the ring back to the changing rooms; the rest of the floor is bare wood.
The walls are decorated with murals and frescoes, astrological and alchemical symbols, slogans and sigils, obscure quotes interspersed with psychedelic paintings. At regular intervals, the chaos is broken up with posters advertising Evolution and Hellbound, and images of various CWF superstars and legends.
The crowd murmurs in anticipation, waiting for the show to start.
As the music fades, a familiar figure comes bouncing out onto the carpet, bat slung over her shoulder, bouncing from one side to the other.
Omega: Guten abend, one and all. And welcome, for the first time to some and the eleventy-billionth time to others, to - The Academy!
The crowd cheers, a small “Omega” chant breaking out.
Omega: Tonight, we have the opening rounds of the Academy Championship tournament, with eight of the Academy and CWF’s finest going head to head. The next round takes place on the 8th of October.
And then the final, the most finalist final that ever there was, will be on the 22nd of October. Not here. But all the way down south to darkest Londinium, for the very first Uprising!
She claps and a pair of posters unfurl at either end of the hall. The text reads simply:
​
UPRISING: THE ROAD TO HELL
London, England: 22/10/17
​
Omega: Find for me to make like a banana and fuck off. See you soon, kiddywinks!
She blows the audience a kiss and bounces out of the ring, out to the changing rooms.
Jace Valentine is shown on the screen, shuffling and shambling his way through the backstage area. He does not carry the crutches with him, but his knee is clearly wrapped in thick tape with a large, bulky brace covering over top.
He stumbles past a few weight bench stations until he finds the catering area. A wide array of choices line the ala carte, an entire buffet table arranged for such an occasion.
Jace glances over the options, looking to get something to eat before his match tonight. At the end of the table stand Rayne and Tristan Kancer, who stand side by side whispering to themselves.
Jace Valentine: "I want some of the fried fish, some fruit, and some fuuuuu---"
When Jace locks eyes with Rayne's wrestling attire, his jaw just about drops to the carpet floor. Ever the egomaniacal womanizer, Jace does not hesitate to go up behind Rayne and give her a little tap on the backside.
Jace Valentine: "I want a bite of that!"
Jace flashes a wink at Rayne before Tristan Kancer steps between the two, clearly offended. Rayne flashes Jace a coy smile back.
Tristan Kancer: "Heh, you are such a blithering buffoon. You better watch your step, because I know all about your knee problems, Jace. If I wanted to, I could arrange it so you never make it to that ring tonight. I could arrange it that you never make it home."
Jace Valentine: "You mean I can stay with Rayne?"
Rayne giggles.
Tristan Kancer: "You can stay in another hospital bed, if you're lucky. How'd that go for you last time? Don't you know who we are?"
Jace smirks, further infuriating Tristan.
Jace Valentine: "I know who she is... girl of my dreams. Who are you? Her butler? Her babysitter? Her agent? Makeup artist? Manager, maybe? Are you her little submissive? Cause I like to get involved in some kinky shit too sometimes!"
Tristan pushes Jace up against the wall.
Tristan Kancer: "Like I said, watch your step. You might just stumble on a bee's nest or a bear trap. You came here looking for a safe place? You'll realize there is no where save from the grasp of Chaolin Sahn and the Eternals. I would have thought you would have learned that after we blew up your Cadillac..."
Jace looks stunned.
Jace Valentine: "Shitttt -- That was you!?"
Tristan grins. Jace looks over at Rayne.
Jace Valentine: "And you?"
Rayne Kancer: "Tee hee...yup."
Jace leans in close, looking Rayne right in the eyes.
Jace Valentine: "You cunt."
Jace walks away as the screen fades to black.
The bell sounds to start off the very first match in the Academy tournament, and the intimate crowd of just over a thousand cheer vibrantly as Rayne Kancer and Kaylan El lock up in the middle of the ring, her older brother and mentor Tristan accompanies her on the outside. Rayne making her professional debut, surprisingly looks well trained right off the get go, moving behind Kaylan and placing her into a headlock, before turning it into a running bulldog. She swings in for a clothesline attempt but Kaylan ducks under, bouncing off the ropes and coming back to fall victim to a Hurricanrana!
Rayne Kancer clearly has the fans that bought shows to the first Academy show in her hands now, as an echoing “RAYNE!” chant starts up, a smile coming across her face as she lifts up Kaylan El just long enough to suplex her back to the mat. Kancer now drags El over to the corner, laying her down onto the pads backfirst and driving her knee into the side of her head viciously. The Kancer of the Academy cackles as she slaps Kaylan El across the face. Rayne pulls the legs of Kaylan to separate her from the corner, and goes up top. Moonsault! Rayne hooks the cover. 1….2..No! Kaylan gets her shoulder up just in time.
Slapping the mat in a bit of frustration, Rayne gets up to her feet and immediately locks eyes with her brother Tristan Kancer who mouths the words “focus” back to her. She nods her head to him, turns around and picks Kaylan El up, placing her head underneath her arm for a crunching DDT. Rayne waits for her opponent to get to her feet before attempting an irish whip, Kaylan reverses it though and sends Rayne into the ropes, catching her with a cross body as she comes back. Rayne Kancer is undeterred however, getting right back to her feet and hitting a roundhouse kick to El. Finally, she grabs her by the right arm, yanking Kaylan El to the ground headfirst right into her outstretched boot, RAYNING DOWN! Cover. 1….2….3!
Tristan Kancer meets his sister in the ring as “Sweet Child of Mine” plays up, garnering a few boos from those in the Academy who follow the regular CWF shows and know that the Kancers recently joined the Eternals. Tristan pushes the referee out of the way, raising his sister’s hand in victory in the first round of the Academy Title tournament.
Omega is shown standing backstage momentarily as she watches the show on a monitor. Jace Valentine bursts onto the scene, exasperated, incensed and indignant.
Jace Valentine: "What the hell are THEY doing here?"
Omega: "Well, hello there Jacerino. You seem to be in a particularly pleasant mood!"
Jace Valentine: "Cut the shit, Omega. You lied to me. You said that this was a safe haven from Sahn's forces. You said that I would be free to rehabilitate my injuries here. But that was all bullshit and you know it. Tristan Kancer... Rayne Kancer... they are forces of Sahn's and they wander the halls of the Academy waiting to pounce on me or anybody else that opposes them."
Omega: "You think we hadn't noticed? And I didn't lie to you. I just didn't tell you the whole truth. I -"
Jace gets up in the face of Omega in a heated exchange.
Jace Valentine: "Why? Why in the fucking world would you let these vile wastes of humanity in your building?"
Omega: "Calm your tits, Senor Valentino. We did what we had to do. For your good and ours."
Jace Valentine: "Bullshit, you crazy bitch! You wanted me here! You practically begged me to come here! You knew you needed some star power to push your propaganda machine."
Omega: "I offered you a proposal that benefitted all of us. Nothing less, nothing more. See, Jace, we made a prior arrangement with the CWF CEO J Rish. Our doors stay open to everybody, and in return, our ranks can come and go freely through the CWF. Our fates are interlocked. And whether it was by choice or not, Jaiden and Sahn have chosen to continue that arrangement. Our hands are tied here, the repercussions of cutting that off are far more severe than protecting the feelings of one immature little Canadian."
Jace spits at the feet of Omega before turning away.
Jace Valentine: "You've opened up a can of worms here, Omega. I thought you were smarter than that. Despite it all, I thought Elijah was smarter than that. You'll see what that immature little Canadian can do tonight when I step into that ring with Tala Sugay. You'll see her broken and maimed, you'll see me victorious. Cause that's what I do. I fight and I win. It doesn't matter if my enemy is Tala, or you, or Elijah or Sahn, or a Kancer or whoever..."
Omega: "You should totes write that on a greetings card. Make enough of a fortune that the lot of us can escape to a desert island far from Sahn and his chicanery. Until then I'm afraid you're stuck here. With us."
Omega smiles. Jace smiles back.
Jace Valentine: "Be seeing you."
Jace winks. The scene goes black.
Rayne Kancer is seen backstage, wiping off sweat after her match, she begins to speak.
Rayne: Yeah, so I won my match, now I'm just waiting around for Jace to win. Sooner or later in this tournament, I feel that we will face each other, I can't wait for that. Jace, you think you are holier than thou and can take down me and the Eternals. The fact of the matter is this, you can't take down anything that we don't want you too, we rule CWF and you will rue the day that you made me an enemy. What me and Tristan did to you was just the beginning of a dominating regime that can't be destroyed.
CWF is in for a rude awakening at the hands of two wrestling gods. Me and Tristan, we will never be overshadowed, we are the force that makes the wrestling world go around. The end is near for all of you wannabes here in CWF, from that guy that showed up at the end of Golden intentions all the way to Jarvis King. Jarvis you team with Sahn at Evolution, good luck, you won't need it, Sahn will single handedly carry you through the match, and you will win. After that affair though, you will be systematically annihilated by the hands of true warriors and will never see the light of day.
Jace, you got one thing to remember and it's this. When we step into the ring, it won't be fun, it won't be nice and jolly, it will be hell. The Kancer is in CWF. And the Kancer is terminal.
The scene goes back to ringside.
As the match begins, Ry Drake is immediately curious to go up against Eris. He has a peculiar look on his face but they come to the middle of the ring anyway, calling the former World champion in so many different places over. Drake shakes his head no however, instead staying in his corner. This causes Eris to giggle slightly, before they sprint at full speed and front flip into the air to cannonball Ry Drake into the corner turnbuckles! Immediately the crowd is on their feet for the Academy native, an “ERIS!” chant breaking out through men, women, and children alike.
After a few shivering knees, Eris brings Ry Drake back to his feet, whipping him right back into the opposite corner. They now run back at him, leaping into the air to hit a big splash that leaves him reeling. Drake, looking to be in bad shape already, is taken down by a back drop from Eris. Looking to get a breather in what has been a one-sided affair thus far, Ry Drake slides out of the ring and takes in heavy breaths. But when he turns back towards the ring he sees Eris going through the top and middle rope, seconds too late however as they connect with an amazing Suicide Dive!
Eris shows off a smile as the fans inside the Academy are going crazy now, they clap two or three hands rather quickly before picking up Ry Drake, walking him up the ramp a few feet and executing a spinning neckbreaker right on the steel entrance ramp. With the referee in the ring now counting both competitors out, Eris quickly picks up Drake and re-enters the squared circle. They are hit with a few chops to the chest by Drake, but come right back with knife edge chops of their own. Eris grabs Ry Drake by the right arm and walks him into the corner, sidestepping up the turnbuckles like a wall before finally catwalking across the ropes, and springboarding off for a flying headscissors takedown. With Drake dazed, Eris easily picks him up over their shoulders and obliterates him with the Apple of Discord crucifix powerbomb! It’s academic, literally, as Eris goes for the cover. 1….2….3!
The fans inside the Academy complex are on their feet, cheering aloud as “Rebel, Rebel” by David Bowie once again plays over the sound system. Eris gets to their feet, somewhat exhausted, but incredibly proud as the official raises their hand in victory. Eris celebrates the win by climbing up the corner and raising a singular arm in the air, before heading back up the ramp to prepare themselves for the next week’s semi-final round.
Earlier Tonight...
The camera opens up to a shot of some dark woods. There are two figures standing in a clearing, one is holding a torch, which lights them from the front, so you can't see who it is. The smaller of the two figures is holding a bag, and a shovel. The camera moves closer to them, spanning around revealing that it is Hayden Allister and Edgar Mitchell. Edgar is holding a torch, lighting the scene.
Edgar: Hayden, it's time....
Hayden: I know...
Edgar: The past doesn't matter. You aren't a product of that. You are your own man. You are Hayden Allister. Never forget that.
Hayden: I understand....
Edgar: SET IT ABLAZE BOY!!!!
The camera pans around to a pile of wrestling belts, shirts, trophies. Hayden pulls out a can of lighter fluid, spraying it over the items as Edgar continues.
Edgar: As these relics burn, your past burns with it. You become your own man. You cast your own shadow. Your own darkness. Rather it be over the CWF or the world. They will all soon bow at your feet....
Hayden pulls out a Zippo lighter. The camera focuses in on the lighter but only two letters can be found, I and F. Hayden flicks the lighter and drops it on the pile. The flames erupt. Hayden and Edgar turn and walk around as a crow calls flying over the flames as the camera fades to black .
With Edgar Mitchell directing him from the outside, Hayden Allister goes straight in for the attack as soon as the bell sounds the beginning of the match. Valentina is not ready for such a straightforward offense, as Allister shoots in immediately with several chops, a front kick, before sending her flying to the canvas with a spinning roundhouse kick. He whips her hard into the ropes and goes springing into the opposite ones himself, Slingblade! The Devil’s Reject now lifts Connie Valentina up to her knees by her lengthy hair, laughing sadistically at her as he looks to Mitchell for guidance. Allister places Valentina’s head under his arm, and hooks both arms, spiking her down with a nasty Double Arm DDT!
The fans inside the Academy are beginning to turn on Hayden Allister now, who garnered more of a mixed response when he first made his way to the ring. Allister doesn’t seem to mind it however, picking Valentina right back up for a fireman’s carry. He brings her over to the corner, where she attempts to fight out with a few jabs, and a European Uppercut, but a hard clothesline leaves her stunned. A second one leaves her reeling. Hayden Allister now backs up, before running at her at full speed and leaping up, nailing a third Miz-style clothesline! Allister now with the cover, looking back at Edgar Mitchell the entire time. 1….2….No!
Valentina does not kick out, but instead it is Hayden Allister who rolls off the cover and once again yanks her abruptly to her feet with a evil smirk coming across his face. He smashes her across the chest, then the face with open hand palm strikes, before taking her back down to the mat with a suplex. Allister grabs Connie Valentina as she struggles to get back to her feet, turning her neck backwards to place her into a dragon sleeper. After nearly a minute, she looks to tap out, but instead out of desperation scoops her legs into the air to send him flying with a headscissors!
Allister is done fooling around however, as he gets to his feet and double chops Valentina four times, before placing her up on the nearest corner. He climbs after her, once again hooking in the dragon sleeper on the top rope. Holding it tight, he leaps off, and crashes the back of Valentina’s head to the canvas with a crunch. SINS OF THE FATHER! It’s all over as Allister goes for the cover. 1….2….3!
“The Devil’s Rejects” by Rob Zombie starts to play aloud again, and Edgar Mitchell enters the ring to raise his competitors hand in victory in the first round of the Academy Title tournament. Suddenly, the lights begin to flicker and finally go out inside the Academy arena. Allister frantically looks around to both his right and left sides, as flames erupt across the ramp. The sound of crows calling can eerily be heard coming through the speakers, clearly spooking out Hayden Allister a bit, but his mentor Mitchell places a right hand on his shoulder and mouths a few words into his ear. Allister seems to calm down a bit as the lights once again return, leaving nothing but emptiness on stage.
Backstage, a man dressed in a blue leather onesie is quickly pacing down the hallway, clearly in a hurry. As the camera pans up to show the patriotic markings on the man’s face, we see that it is my hero and yours, YEDAH~! Your Every Day, Average Hero pushes past a female stagehand, hurries past Yusuf and James Skelton in conversation with each other, and finally stubs his toe on the edge of a snacks table, bringing him to his knees just as he was about to sprint down the hallway.
Yedah: Damn it. Now I’m going to be late for my very first Academy match. I need to get out there and show all these fans that the Title belong around my super duper waist!
Sharon Carling, one of the interviewers assigned to the Academy from Little Miss O herself, comes to check on Yedah. She lowers herself a little, helping our hero to his feet.
Sharon Carling: Are you okay..sir? I heard a loud noise from down the corridor, and sure enough a man dressed in a mask is here on the ground. Let me guess, you’re in a hurry?
Yedah: Well yes, my lady, as a matter of fact I am. You see, I have my debut match set for the Academy tonight!
This leaves Sharon with a peculiar look on her face.
Sharon Carling: Oh, you do? What did you say you’re name was again?
Yedah: Your Every Day, Average Hero, YEDAH, at your service.
Sharon raises an eyebrow.
Sharon Carling: And who was your opponent set to be for tonight, Mr. Yedah?
Our masked hero shrugs his shoulders.
Yedah: Not really sure miss, our president Jaiden Rishel just told me to come out here to the Academy, and they would have a match ready for me.
Sharon cannot help herself from laughing, no matter how hard she tries to hold it back.
Sharon Carling: Well I hate to tell you this, buddy, but as far as I know you are not booked for the show tonight. There are four quarterfinal matches set for the Academy Title tournament, and you’re in neither of them. I’m sorry, maybe someone was playing a practical joke on you?
Yedah looks completely deflated, and sighs aloud. He looks down at the cement floor.
Yedah: Damn it.
Fade to black.
We cut backstage. We are in Omega's office - decorated in explosions of red, white and black, the occasional purple and green. A large desk is set at one end, barely visible beneath a mass of notepads, crayons, action figures and crisps. A large bat, labelled Batty McBatface, rests precariously against the wall.
Omega sits behind the desk, feet up, sipping red wine from the bottle through a crazy straw.[ She coughs and sits up as the door opens without warning, revealing Damion Kirkson.
Omega: Aha! Mister Kirkson, I presume?
Damian: You have the paperwork?
Omega: I do. As part of the agreement between CWF and the Academy, Academy performers are entitled to appear on CWF shows and vice versa. And compete for titles and all the things. Just need to record your details. So if you could just sign here…
He does.
Omega: and then we're -
Without warning, Kirkson smacks Omega at full force directly in the face, sending her tumbling to the floor, blood pouring from a gash in her forehead. He dives over the desk, landing knees first on her chest, and begins to pound her in the face.
Kirkson stands, yanking Omega to her feet, then shoves her face first into the wall with a sickening crunch. She turns, goes to punch him but he uses her momentum to send her crashing into the desk, her ribs taking the brunt of the impact.
Kirkson goes to grab the baseball bat, but -
Eris: What the FUCK do you think you're doing?
Eris swings the bat at him, once, twice, three times, forcing him back away from Omega. They jump, bouncing off the desk and tackling Kirkson to the ground before battering him with a brutal series of rights and lefts, leaving his face a mess of bruises and blood.
Eris: Now!
They roll off him. Suddenly, two slim wires strike Damien Kirkson's chest and he begins to convulse as the electricity flows through his body. The camera pans up, and we see Robby the Robot, hovering around five feet in the air, a homemade taser held together with duct tape and strapped to his front.
Robby: Is that enough, my liege?
Eris: Enough. Get him out of here. I'll tend to her.
The taser withdraws. A hatch opens on Robby's front and shoots out a slim, yet strong, white rope. Eris ties the rope round Kirkson's feet and Robby starts to slowly, painfully, drag him out of the room, his prone body scraping over the debris.
Eris turns to Omega, assessing her wounds, murmuring under their breath.
Eris: What the fuck was THAT all about?
The match starts off with the head Academy official bringing Sugay and Valentine to the center to the ring, asking for a handshake that neither competitor abides by, instead choosing to trash talk each other as the bell sounds. Sugay goes in first, going right after the damaged knee of the former Host with the Most, kicking his leg several times to attempt to ground him. Jace Valentine is undeterred however, showing surprising strength in his footing and instead coming back with a shivering elbow. After backing up a few feet, Sugay sprints at Valentine and is taken down with an arm drag for her troubles, one that Valentine holds on to sinch in a deep arm lock. Tala Sugay is able to break free quickly however, right back to her feet.
The two competitors in the final first round match in the Academy Title tournament now circle each other, jocking for position as they eye up their opposition. Once again Tala Sugay makes the first move, and once again Valentine takes her down with an arm drag, this time whipping her down with much more velocity. Tala kips right back up to her feet though, before shooting both knees high into the air, nearly knocking Valentine over the top rope from the impact. She shows surprising strength by grabbing the former CWF World champion by his long hair, flipping him over her shoulder to the mat. Valentine angrily gets to his feet, and turns around right into a Spear! Sugay hurries for the cover. 1….2...Kickout!
​
Getting right back to her feet, Tala Sugay pulls Valentine up and knife edge chops him to the chest several times, bringing a few “woo!”s from the crowd each time. After about five chops, Valentine latches onto her arm, bringing her down to the mat for a third arm drag. He then attaches his body to that of Sugay’s, snapping her arm disgustingly backwards into an arm bar. She screams out in pain, trying to use her only free hand to attack her way out of the hold. Finally she is able to squirm her way over to the ropes, getting free. Valentine approaches to finish her off, but she surprises him with the J.T.B Just the Beginning Sitout Jawbreaker! Tala hooks Jace’s legs. 1….2….3? No! Valentine out at the last second.
Tala Sugay is not happy now, getting right to her feet and arguing with the referee about the count. This leaves Valentine enough time to get to his feet, rolling her up from behind before she can even gain her wits. 1….2...Kickout!
Both competitors are quickly back up to their feet, neither one happy to let the other take the offensive. Jace Valentine ducks under a lariat attempt by Sugay, and as both turn back towards each other flips over for a rolling senton kick. He scoops her between his legs and hooks both of her arms, Heartbreaker pedigree! Sugay is down and out, but Valentine, holding his knee wincing a little, is not quite finished yet. He eyes up the Sugay Sister as she finally tries to arise, before leaping onto her back and pulling her down with a Gogoplata, CUPID’S CHOKEHOLD! Tala struggles for just seconds, before rapidly tapping out against Jace’s body to signify the end of the match. The official calls for the bell.
“We’ve Had Enough” by Alkaline Trio starts back up and Jace Valentine is elated, a surprising mixed cheer with the several boos coming from within the Academy’s audience, as he gets to his feet to raise his arms in victory. Valentine soaks in the moment, before rolling out of the ring and slowly making his way up the ramp. Tala Sugay grabs onto the ropes, pulling herself up to her feet and looking on as Valentine walks the ramp, a singe of disappointment can be seen in her eye as she came so close to a Tournament victory.
Sugay starts to walk to the opposite side of the ring towards the ramp, but suddenly a man wearing all black with a skee mask slides in behind her. Before Sugay can even sense him coming, the man attacks her from behind, laying waste to her with a reverse spinning neckbreaker and then several stomps. He climbs up to the top rope, leaping off and corkscrewing into the air before landing a picture perfect elbow drop. The man finally stands over Tala Sugay, unmasking himself to be Freddie Styles! Styles, a man who hasn’t stepped foot in a CWF ring since Wrestle Fest 3, ends the very first Academy episode atop of the fallen Tala Sugay as the credits roll.