Millennium CVI

Here in the locker room for the former Tag Team Champions turned manager and wrestler combination. We find Olly getting prepared for a match that many would not have expected him to be involved in later tonight. While he is getting his ring gear ready we find Karen Eldon behind him pacing not seeming the most excited about this match or the fact Olly is teaming with someone else.

Karen Eldon:
You know, is this really a smart idea? I mean Nine and E.M.P. aren’t anything special. But helping Trinity of all people? This girl has been nothing but a nuisance since the Academy. And now you're helping her?

While supportive of Olly in most things, helping someone like Trinity or really helping anyone else for that matter doesn’t seem to sit well with Karen. Olly’s answer comes with a shrug and a smirk.

Olly:
One thing I learned in my life is that it’s never a bad thing to have people owe you one. You never know when you might use a favor.

As it was to be expected, there’s nothing noble in his decision to help Trinity.

Olly:
Besides, it’s another booking, another check flying straight into my bank account. Hearst last week, Thompson tonight.. I could get used to this “tag partner for hire” thing.

Seeming a tad jealous of that remark despite being retired.

Karen Eldon:
I mean, none of them compare to your original tag team partner right?

Olly:
We had a great run, it’s a real shame that you had to retire so early. Tag team or not, wrestling could’ve really used more Karen Eldon.

The Academy graduate replied with a smirk, resting his hand on his former partner’s shoulder.

Olly:
I may have lost the perfect tag team partner, but I earned the best manager in the business. K2O is still running strong, just in a different shape.

Karen Eldon:
I may not agree with you teaming with Trinity, helping that little twirp isn't ideal. But you are right, more paychecks is never a bad thing. And if you can carry her to a win? Then you really are the best.

Taking a shot at his partner, but still supportive of her former partner turned client.

Karen Eldon:
Just whatever you do, don't get attached to this charity case. I don't want to have to deal with her more than a week.

Olly:
You won’t have to. This is a one-time only, I promise you that.

He smiles back at his manager.

Olly:
Actually, you don’t have to deal with her this week either. No chance in risking you getting injured at ringside tonight. Besides, there’s something else I need you to do…

Olly glances at the camera, telling them to shoo as he leans in to whisper something in Karen’s ear.

Backstage for Millenium we see the team of Tiff Rollins and Clyde Eldon Jr getting prepared to go out to the ring here later in the night. Clyde is checking to make sure his elbow pads are tight as he looks over at Tiff.

Clyde Eldon Jr:
I know we have been on a bit of a skid but I think a win tonight gets us right back on track heading for those titles.

Looking confident, the duo that came together somewhat out of necessity have grown to be a rather formidable duo. Tiff responds to Clyde with a look of equal confidence.

Tiff:
Exactly. I know I could just use my title shot whenever, but if we earn this opportunity, that will shut everyone up.

Clyde Eldon Jr:
Yeah, I think we can earn it ourselves that way you can use that shot for a shot at a singles title. Maybe you can be two-title-Tiff?

Clyde smiles enjoying the idea of her having success as well as they themselves doing so as well. Tiff however is a little uncertain about it though.

Tiff:
I think I'm a long way from that right now. Let's just focus on our match tonight.

Clyde Eldon Jr:
For sure, I’ll meet you back here in a few.

Heading out of the area they are in down the hall when Faizah exits from a nearby door, nearly bumping into Clyde. He stops in his tracks, suddenly struggling with eye contact.

Clyde Eldon Jr:
Oh um, hey Faiz…

Faizah twirls around like she is auditioning to enter a pageant.

Faizah Marshall:
Hey Clyde. Are you as excited about tonight as I am. It’s not everyday you have the pleasure of manhandling me, stud.

Faizah winks playfully.

Clyde Eldon Jr:
I mean…I just…

Struggling for words to say given what she just said to him. Looking down at the ground rather than actually at Faizah. The Cloud Gate Champion rests her hand on Clyde’s chin. She forces his head straight so he has no choice but to look into her eyes.

Faizah Marshall:
You’re nervous, I get it, never in a thousand years did you see the day management would put us in the ring. Honestly, this breaks my heart BUT this is friendly competition at the end of the day, it’s a shame you stand in my way of becoming hashtag Two Belts Faiz. Look at the bright side bestie of mine.

Faizah leans in so her lips are right next to his ear.

Faizah Marshall:
Who says you have to be a loser? Me and Millie will win, that’s a given, so you won’t feel so bad, how about after me and Millie rise to the occasion...

Faizah licks her lips.

Faizah Marshall:
I bought some lingerie earlier today. You could be the very first person to see me try it on. What do you say stud? Does that appeal to you? Now... who’s world is this?

While he seemed to be doing his best to remain focused on the match, that offer is a bit too much for him not to get excited at.

Clyde Eldon Jr:
Oh wow. Um yeah it is Planet Faizah! Best of luck! See you later!

Walking off quickly his mind clearly was not as focused on what it should be tonight. Instead heading off to get ready for a match that seemed like the second most important thing on his docket today. Faizah has a mischievous smirk on her face as the scene fades to black.

Inside of the CURE Insurance Arena we see the feet as the camera begins to come into focus. The fresh snake skin square toes should give away who is coming into view. The jeans slowly reveal more until the tattoos of Duke Andrews come into view. Turning to face the camera, he grabs a small black leather bag, tossing it over his shoulder. The sleeves of his black new APE shirt, the hat on backwards.

Duke Andrews:
This should have been the easiest choice of my life. Elsa, somehow finds herself booking a match for Riot. The premium show on the Network. But the match took a twist that I didn’t even see coming.

It didn’t take long for two more people to come into view. Both ready for their match that was coming up next.

Duke Andrews:
As we can all expect…

Duke adjusted the bag over his shoulder as he nodded in the direction of Redd Thunder and Alan Envy.

Duke Andrews:
The toughest Texan. The Technical Texan. The bad motherfucker Alan Envy. The first of the four. And the mean son of a bitch. The freak of nature. A man this big shouldn’t move like a lucha, Redd Thunder coming in at number two.

Duke smacked Redd on the shoulder as he gave the two of them an approving nod.

Duke Andrews:
Take care of Devin and RAZE. Do what needed to be done last week. Redd…

Duke leans in and bumps his forehead against Redd’s.

Duke Andrews:
You’ve been gone for too long. Understand that Devin never wanted you when he convinced Constantine to turn his back on what we built. Devin replaced you with Dusty. Devin wants nothing to do with you and had you taken out because he knew the threat you possessed to his goal of brainwashing everyone out there.

A headbutt from the next MWE World Champion to the monster that is Redd Thunder. He turned his attention to Alan Envy.

Duke Andrews:
Everything that we have talked about for the last two weeks. Bringing Alan back to the level that Alan needs to be continues tonight. What started in Iowa continues tonight in New Jersey. Do not listen to the trash that fills the stands. They don’t want you to achieve your goals. They want Devin to come back. Shut them up and then we can get the Bad and Boujee girls for you.

The crowd began to boo at the fact that Duke called them trash. A smile formed on Dukes face as he gave Alan the same treatment as Redd, a headbutt before the two of them turned to head to gorilla.

Duke Andrews:
The third spot was another no brainer. My friend that deserves better treatment than she gets here. A phenomenal talent that is on the verge of really breaking out…

Duke had continued his walk down the hallway when he stopped. The camera found Nina perched in her street clothes. He handed her a bag and unzipped it. The contents included a couple fifths of Wisemen Distillery bourbon.

Duke Andrews:
The Viper. My former con-artist pal Nina. The one that enjoyed getting into mischief when she was underpaid and under appreciated by management.

Duke grabbed her shoulder before continuing down the hallway.

Duke Andrews:
The three choices there were absolute nobrainers. Easiest picks I have ever had to make. But this fourth selection has to be calculated. I could….

Duke is stopped when Olly walks past him, heading to the locker room area. Barely resisting the urge to punch him in the face, Duke continues down his way.

Duke Andrews:
I could get Dusty, Tank, Megan or Tiffany. I could grab Simon and get his ass out there but I need someone that has a dark side that has my best interest in mind. Someone that understands that when I win my title back, I won’t be hiding in catering. Someone that’s been overlooked and stuck in mid card purgatory that deserves the spotlight.

Duke stops as he nods his head in the direction of Billy Danielson.

Duke Andrews:
The final selection for my lumberjacks is the most overlooked, one of the most talented son of a bitches on this roster. The man who single-handedly sent the Mannings in a tailspin.

Duke smacked Billy on the shoulder before giving him another nod.

We open on nothing but darkness, but the audio is kicked in with the unmistakable crackling of a fire. When the visual comes into view, there is indeed a fire front and center covering the entire screen. As fire does, it burns at an ever changing pace, always switching directions and height levels as it burns. We slowly begin to see the camera shot widen, until a figure stands on the other side of the flames. None other than The Anomaly, RAZE.

RAZE:
I enjoy some chaos as much as the next bloke, but it’s also a tellin’ factor.

RAZE drops into a crouching position, leaning against his knees and putting his face closer to both the flames and the camera shot. He reaches out with his right hand, covering high enough above the flames so that at times it looks as if the flames almost jump up and touch him.

RAZE:
When I went up against Devon Slayton, I may have lost me footin’ for a moment but in the end it was me fist in his face and the Atomic Bomb destroyin’ him! I controlled the match at my pace…despite Hearst comin’ down at decidin’ he wanted a front row seat.

The shot widens again just as RAZE walks away from the fire. There’s some shuffling off screen, before RAZE comes back into view, tossing a huge armful of firewood onto the fire. For a few seconds the fire is smothered, but the flames peak through and then engulf the new wood.

RAZE:
Hearst told me he wanted to get a better look. Well I hope he found what he was lookin’ for. I figured it was only fair if I got a front row seat meself, so I took Hearst up on our unspoken offer. Good thing I was there too, considerin’ I got to mix it up with an old enemy of mine, REDD Thunder. The way I see it, Hearst, that bit of help I gave ya in that tag match was just me returning the favor when you helped me at Dark Web. Debt repaid, plain and simple. Not entirely your fault but ya couldn’t pick up the win. You couldn’t quite use that chaos, that carnage, to your advantage.

He unfolds an iron grate, propping it up over the fire and smacking a pan smack dab in the middle of the flames.

RAZE:
Unfortunately now that closeline lead us to where we are now, didn’t it? I went and got meself partnered with Hearst on Millenium CVI. Lookin’ to the positives of this clusterfuck, ain’t no closer seat in the house than the apron, eh mate?

RAZE chuckles before tossing a slab of unknown meat onto the now heated pan.

RAZE:
Negatives bein’ that we ain’t got too much trust between us besides a couple favors we’ve paid to each other now. Besides that, if anything we’ve been on that road to knocking our blocks off in an attempt to see which of us is the top bloke. But for this here tag match, I know how they work. I know better than most, bein’ apart of the Murder City Saints. I’ve held tag belts, and if we can co-exist, Hearst, then should be nothin’ stoppin’ us from knockin’ them out!

The Anomaly holds his fist up to the camera, before turning and picking up the heated pan. He takes a second to place it onto a nearby tree stump, away from the fire.

RAZE:
As for APE? I don’t know Alan very well - but whaddup REDD, long time no see! Last time I saw ya you were tapping out as your partner walked out on ya. That’s not entirely true, but that was our last match. I know you’ve probably blocked it out of your memory, or lost it completely with your resurrections, but I know how ya work in tag matches, REDD. I wouldn’t put too much into your partner, and that lariat I gave you last week? It was only a taste of what I can give to ya. If you’ve forgotten, I’ll do ya a favor and jog your memory tonight. Hearst and I may have our own things to take care of, but if you had watched us in the Dark Web battle royal, you’d know that together - we’re murder! We control the chaos! And if we wanted, we could put it out.

Next to the tree stump, was a bucket of water being kept for this specific moment. RAZE picked it up by its handle, dousing the fire out. A large plume of smoke rose into the air, the scene fading out.

Cut backstage where we find Olly leaning against the wall right outside Trinity locker room.

Olly:
What's taking you so long? You're not getting cold feet, are you?

The former tag team champion bumped his head backward against the doorframe, looking impatient.

Trinity Thompson:
Wait, you're still here? I thought you bailed on me already.

A light chuckle escaped Olly's lips.

Olly:
Oh come on now, Trin. Am I that untrustworthy?

The door opened and out came Trinity. The look on her face gave Olly the answer to his question. Olly didn't seem to mind it, quickly pressing with another zinger.

Olly:
And yet, here you are, begging for my help...

Trinity Thompson:
You're really gonna throw that in my face for the rest of my days, aren't you?

This time it was Olly's turn to answer without opening his mouth. That smirk across his face gave Trinity the answer she was looking for. Not one she liked it, but the one she was expecting.

Olly:
But hey, you got one half of the longest reigning tag team champions in MWE history in your corner. That's way better than that ungrateful little twerp you usually team with, your useless sister or your emo girlf...

She had to step on her tiptoes, but Trinity literally got in his face, staring a hole through him.

Trinity Thompson:
Keep their names out of your mouth, Olly.

After leaving a moment to let her threat sink in, she stepped back.

Trinity Thompson:
There's a reason why I chose you over them. And no, it has nothing to do with their matches tonight or Sunday, they would've happily pulled double duty for me, just like I would've for them. The reason why you're my team partner tonight is because I don't expect we will even make it to the ring. Ad while I could never forgive myself if Tiff, Millie or Tiana get injured because of me, I couldn't care less if Nine and her minions leave you in a puddle of your own blood.

For some reason, this caused Olly to explode in a loud laughter.

Olly:
Haha Trin... Believe it or not, your brutal honesty is the one thing I always appreciated in you. Which, by the way, it's more than I can say for any of our fellow year one students. But see, as much as I'm keen on believing you when you say that, I know that there's more to it.

After a brief pause to build some suspense, Olly continued.

Olly:
I'm here because you NEED ME. I'm not asking you to admit it, I understand how awkward, maybe even scary this is to you. You may not trust me, but tonight I'll have your back.

That sly smile on his face was not the most reassuring, but he seemed to mean his words. Of course, it would't be Olly if he didn't end the conversation without pissing his own partner off. He reached down for Trinity's right arm, grabbing her by the wrist and lifting it as he stared at the heavy bandage covering the infamous Mark Of Nine.

Olly:
Oh cool, you got a new tattoo?  Can I see it?

The look on Thompson's face immediately shifted as she pulled away her arm and walked away, bumping her shoulder into that of her partner on her way to the Gorilla Position.