Millennium CXVII

We open backstage where we find MWE roving reporter and interviewer Camille Bellamy. The journalist is joined by none other than “The Dragon” Angelica Jones, who stands to her right in a one piece crimson red and black dragon print catsuit ring attire and black kick boots and a crimson red trenchcoat. A confident smirk is etched across her face.

Camille Bellamy:
Ladies and gentlemen I am joined at this time by Angelica Jones, one of the four who qualified to face Ahalya Patel for the Chicago Way Championship. But tonight, Ms. Jones, it isn’t about the championship, it’s a six person tag and you will have to TEAM with one of your future opponents, Brittany Lohan, as well as Nate Krelle, to face the champion Ahalya Patel, Till Schlotterbeck, and Alex Andrews in a six person tag.

Angelica Jones:
First of all, working together with Brittany Lohan won’t be a problem for me. What the MWE faithful may or may not realize is that Britt and I go way back. We’ve been fighting together and against each other for a long time now throughout our careers in many companies. Motor City Wrestling, Millennium Wrestling Alliance, Independent Wrestling Cartel, Supreme Championship Wrestling, Global Division of Wrestling, Global Championship Wrestling…we’ve been everywhere and have done everything together and now here we are, in MWE, ready to do it all over again. And before you ask…yes, Britt and I can easily go from fighting each other tooth and nail to working together like a well oil machine just like that…

She snaps her fingers as an illustration.

Angelica Jones:
…for Britt and I, violence and bloodshed, fighting, beating the crap out of one another, that’s our flirting. It may sound strange but it makes sense to us. And as strange as it is, remember, Kim Williams is my daughter. She gets her insanity honestly.

Camille Bellamy:
Apparently so. What about Nate Krelle?

Angelica Jones:
He’s new to MWE, he wants to make an impact. There’s no better way to make an impact than to get your hands on a champion. This is his chance so I’m certain he’ll be on our side tonight. We don’t have to like each other in order to get the job done. It’s all about working together to achieve a common goal and our common goal is victory tonight. We all have our reasons to achieve victory. Me and Britt want to soften up the opposition ahead of the Chicago Way Title Match. Nate just wants to make an impact, pick up a win, and advance his career. I think the three of us can accomplish that goal at the expense of Patel, Till, and Andrews.

We see Alex Andrews sitting alone, sitting on a production crate somewhere back stage,, she has a couple rolls of white tape sitting next to her as she is seen wrapping her wrists, flexing her hand, trying to see if things feel right.  She begins speaking not looking to the camera.

EARLIER TODAY

Entering through the back entrance of the Resorts World Arena, Duke Andrews was flanked by Tiffany Lynn Page. The two were in mid conversation as the doors closed behind them. Wearing a black in color Carhartt hooded sweatshirt and a Carhartt brown hat, Duke dragged his small hard side case behind him on its wheels before coming to a stop.

Duke Andrews:
Hah, hundred bucks says nothing happens.

As the two stopped, he pointed to Olly standing with his back turned to them. The sound of Duke’s voice must have resonated with Olly as he slowly turned around. Isolated away from any other members of The Division.

Duke Andrews:
The fact that he’s alone gives me better odds on knowing nothing will come of this.

Duke continued to roll his suitcase as the two worked their way even closer to Olly.

Olly:
Guess they let anyone in here these days. A washed up clown and his trashy side piece.

This caused a chuckle from the two as Duke let go of his suitcase. Holding his hands up to show that he was not looking to attack Olly.

Duke Andrews:
That’s a good joke, kid. Reminds me of everything you’ve ever said to and about me. Mostly behind the screen of your phone because everyone around these parts know that you can not say anything or do anything to my face, and your daddy just have some big plan in store and I know you don’t want to upset your daddy.

Duke holds his hands up, acting as if he’s scared.

Duke Andrews:
You keep mentioning APE and everything that we did. Yet you twist how it all went down.

At this point Duke throws his arm around Olly’s shoulder as he begins to walk further into the arena. Tiffany grabbed Duke’s bag and followed close behind. Olly was quick to act disgusted at what was going on.

Duke Andrews:
You talk like you were in this locker room when APE was running the show. Yet you weren’t even in the Academy at that point. You saw things on TV and your brain has it all twisted. You act like I was the one that was always jumping people for Constantine. You act like it wasn’t my fucking group. But let me pull the curtain back for you…

Duke trailed off. His slow steps were keeping Olly in an uncomfortable position. His hand gripped down firmly on Oliver’s trap.

Duke Andrews:
APE was my brainchild. It was my security blanket after I kicked McMillions head off his shoulders. A part of history and how it repeats itself, I’ll give you a tape library from 2005 of ICWA and my first big time show and you can watch and learn what I mean. But it wasn’t Duke always being the one to jump people. Why do you think we had Redd and Hammer in our pocket? Why do you think that we added Alan to the group? Was there times I needed to do what was best for the betterment of the group? Of course. But it was all a bigger picture that was between Chris and myself. But see, where you are, old friend, you’re nothing more than a pawn for Savell. You’re doing his dirty work and you think that some day it’ll come back to help you. And tonight, as much as I hate to admit that Seth will rip you apart, you’ll get your first dose of reality when Savell, and Jack and RAZE leave you for dead and don’t step up until it’s too late. Until it’s time to save face and keep you around just a little longer.

They finally had reached the door that would lead them to the locker room. Duke released his clutch from Olly as he turned to face him, back to the door as TLP stood behind Olly.

Duke Andrews:
I know we are face to face and I know you don’t have the nuts to hit me when I can see it. But just know that if and when you decide to strike tonight during my match with Sophie, there will be payback coming to you. As I said the other night, I’m going to cut the head off the snake and let the division die in front of everyone’s eyes. Tell Julian that. Let him know that I don’t need to take his title, I don’t need to take him out. But I want to. I want to end this knock off version of APE. You guys are nothing more than a white trash version of what Chris and I created. You’re just edgy and cool cause you have no filter and think that dropping fuck in every sentence makes you tough. But as you cast your stones, rewatch the APE days and tell me you’re different.

With that Duke gave Olly a strong Pat on the shoulder as he pushed through the door, leaving Olly with hopefully something to think about. The former Academy student, who had thoughtfully listened to every word Duke said without batting an eye, all of a sudden began to chuckle, shaking his head at the former World Champion.

Olly:
Nice speech, Duke. But as you bask in the memory of your glory days, start watching what the Division does and tell me we’re the same.

Without adding another word, Olly turned on his heels and walked away.

Backstage we find the reigning MWE Intercontinental Champion Sophie O’Brian standing near the ready area. She is wearing her two piece teal and black wrestling gear. She has her Intercontinental Championship title belt wrapped around her waist. O’Brian, not a very well-liked individual, receives a mixed reaction from the fans in the background. The Northern Irish native could care less about how they feel and, in fact, she seems to be rather agitated herself. A scowl is formed upon her lovely face.

Sophie O’Brian:
Duke Andrews…we may come from two vastly different backgrounds, our personalities may be more contradictory and in more contrast than any other personalities could…and yet I see within you a kindred spirit. In you I see someone who, like me, cannot stand the constant interference of buffoons and clowns in our private affairs.

She points towards the curtain that leads to the entrance and the ringside area.

Sophie O’Brian:
Out there is the ring…the proverbial squared circle, if you will…out there is the wrestling ring. The man who trained me, Glenn Braddock, he drilled into my skull a philosophy of respecting this sport. I was taught that the wrestling ring and this sport is sacred. I was taught that this sport, at its core, is about two competitors stepping through those ropes and competing to see who is the very best. I have beaten countless individuals in MWE during my tenure and most recently I made that cowardly buffoon Kenzie tap out, symbolically admitting her inferiority to me. In the process I became MWE Intercontinental Champion.

O’Brian pats the championship belt that is wrapped around her waist.

Sophie O’Brian:
I suppose that makes me one of the very best in this promotion? But regardless of any championships I may win, and regardless of what I may believe about this business, regardless of what my late trainer Glenn Braddock may have believed about this business, I am also not naive. I am not ignorant to the inner workings of the human soul. The notion that wrestling, the squared circle, should be sacred, that is an ideal. Alas, ideals are not often upheld. You need perfect human beings in order to uphold an ideal and human beings are far from perfect. Thus I have always prepared myself for the inevitable. I have prepared myself for when the time comes that my enemies will decide that they will throw respect and the spirit of competition out the window. Thus I would have no qualms breaking or bending a rule or three. Throwing a fireball in the face of an enemy. The doctrine of preemptive strike. I would attack my enemies before they got the chance to attack me.

She chuckles softly.

Sophie O’Brian:
Duke, I am certain that you and I could have a great match tonight. You, a former MWE World Champion against me, the reigning MWE Intercontinental Champion. It would no doubt steal the show. But let’s be honest with ourselves, you know as well as I do that the idiots in management and the fools in the locker room won’t let us have our match. The question is, who will be the person to interfere? Will Kenzie interfere because she’s still that spoiled brat who can’t move on from the fact that she tapped out like a little bitch? Will it be that hooded idiot who attacked me in Kenzie’s rematch? Better yet. Perhaps the entire fucking Division will come down? Why? Well, the same lame ass reason they give for every other idiotic action they take…because, THE DIVISION! And don’t forget the stupid hashtag…

O’Brian rolls her eyes.

Sophie O’Brian:
I suppose I’ve resigned myself to the fact that some clowns will decide to stick their nose where it doesn’t belong. We can have our match for as long as it will last. Perhaps they’ll be kind enough to wait until after we have fought to a clean victory before jumping us from behind? Though I doubt it. Gang warfare seems to be the only story this promotion can properly work out. So good luck, Duke. May the best competitor win. And when the inevitable strike happens, I will have your back if you have mine.

O'Brian is in the ring, gesturing to the ramp and the empty stage. Duke Andrews was pre-disposed, and because of this? It was set to be a short night for Sophie. She reaches for her Intercontinental Championship back from the referee, but as soon as her fingers clasp onto the leather and gold, a huge spotlight turns to the stage! The Birmingham fans are buzzing with anticipation as an unfamiliar theme takes over the sound system.

Open your eyes up, step in the ring
Float like a butterfly, bee I sting
I'm like Snow White with a gun
shoot you down, bang bang
You're done

Stepping into the blinding light is a small figure in all black. A black hood is popped upwards, obscuring their face. There's little pomp and circumstance. The walk is straightforward, an unnerving march from a featureless figure directly parallel to Sophie.

Did you miss me?
Did you really think that I was gone?
So baby tell me, did you miss me?
Did you really think that I was done?

Every move she made, every step the blonde took was mirrored by the person on the ramp. Not letting the champion out of immediate sight and lunging distance. Sliding into the ring and easing onto one knee, then one foot, then the other. Standing across the ring from Sophie with two fists balling at each side: tensing, clenching, releasing, and repeat. It's tense, even without seeing the eyes of the person who stands a clear head and shoulders shorter than O'Brian.

It's a possessed type of throwing their body around, marching towards the stagehand. Yanking a microphone from their hand and pulling it close to the chest. Their head is still hung low, slips of dark brown falling from beneath the hood.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN:
Heh... you look like you've seen a ghost...

That voice gets a mixed reaction: cheers, boos... the hood is removed, and it's none other than Melody Lennox! A woman who's been away over a year. Sophie's expression is a mix of both shock, and disgust. The two women experiencing a brutal rivalry before Sophie had put her on the shelf. A glossy shine is on the face of Melody: a clear, black strap holds the transparent burn mask to her face. The skin under the mask is not discolored or scarred, but to convince Lennox of that would be an incredibly tall task.

MELODY LENNOX:
I think that's something you'd prefer compared to what stands before you.

Melody said, snarling.

MELODY LENNOX:
It's funny Soph... because, you wanna know what I've seen? A fireball coming at my face! You know what I've smelled? Singed hair, and flesh burning off the bone! Yet you have the audacity, the NERVE, the GALL... to stand there, and whine about a little kick to the face? I showed you mercy when I stopped you from further getting the shit kicked out of you in Belfast, because if anyone is going to kick the shit out of you? It's GOING TO BE ME! You took a year off my career! You took my husband from me when caring for me became too difficult. You took my confidence. You took my pride. You took my swagger. The only thing that seems fair to me is taking something that matters from you!

Melody threw the microphone down, the fans that were uncertain now rallying behind the former "VIP of MWE" in support as she glared daggers at Sophie. Stripping the black hoodie from her body and throwing it to the canvas, revealing the ring gear she was wearing underneath.

Chris Sanderson:
Billy Danielson. Tonight, it’s you and me in that ring. Despite what some peanut gallery people have to say, I’m looking forward to it. You know why, Billy?

The second generation wrestler paused for a second as he stood near catering.

Chris Sanderson:
Because you’re just another message to Millennium Wrestling. Just like everyone I’ve come across in this company over the years, you’re just another guy lookin’ to recapture something. You said it yourself, right? Time to get back on track, no distractions. You’re 31 years, Bill. Think about that for a moment.

Another pause.

Chris Sanderson:
Most would go after low hanging fruit and say you’re over the hill despite you being 31 but I know better than that. Too many times people go after that low hanging fruit. They insult someone on something that has no real bearing on ability. The only thing you’re capturing tonight, my dude, is another loss.

Chris smirks for a hot second.

Chris Sanderson:
I’m going to drop you on that thick melon of a head, make you look up at those lights and continue on my merry way to that Millennium Championship. The only thing that matters to me in this promotion. I don’t give a single shit about anything but that title. People like Alex Andrews can piss and moan about me “cheating” to win but way I see it, if it gets me closer to being the first ever three time champion? Completely worth it.

Sanderson stares right into the camera.

Chris Sanderson:
You’re not anything you claim to be. Just another wasteful body on my way back to the top.

Fade.

We then see something that was taped earlier in the day judging by the timing as sitting in one chair in the interview room is Camille Bellamy, dressed professionally as you would expect someone in that position. Opposite Camille, we have the man who is the elder statesman of professional wrestling in Seth Iser and he too…is dressed how you’d expect for an interview in the three piece suit in a silver and black combination. Even seated though there’s an almost comical height difference between the two considering how much taller Seth appears.

Camille Bellamy:
Joining me here is Seth Iser and uh…I’d like to thank you for your time and if you don’t mind let’s just get right to it.

Seth Iser:
Sure. Go ahead and ask whatever you’d please.

There’s a hint of agitation bubbling through in Seth’s voice as his face contorts into a scowl but other than that, he’s leaning back on that chair.

Camille Bellamy:
The rumor was that after you made your challenge…there was a request for extended leave that has been granted for both Megan and Pierce Manning and there won’t be any match between you and Megan. It seems that has come to pass…and now your challenge has been ducked for lack of a better term. How are you feeling about that?

Seth’s face stays with that scowl as he shakes his head.

Seth Iser:
How do I feel? I’m not at my counselor's office…sheesh…

Seth shakes his head after delivering his own retort to that but that agitation is still bleeding over into his voice.

Seth Iser:
It’s not my place to pontificate on the well being of others. Not going to go into that part of it but I feel a bit disrespected she picked then and there to take the time off. This is what she claimed she wanted a match with me but I can’t help but think she didn’t want a piece of the consequences. She’s just like her mentor to the very end. And I take zero pleasure in saying that.

Camille Bellamy:
We can come back to what you’re doing at the pay per view later but I want to mention what’s going on with The Division and how they’ve spread out. The three on one handicap match on Riot put a beating to the champion…but he was cackling. Considering you have had your issues with Julian in the past…do you have any idea why?

Seth Iser:
He won in a different field and anybody who digs deeper knows that. Don’t think I’m not aware of how their numbers grow as well. It was less cutting the head off the snake and more Jean-Paul Marat got his message across by metaphorically being a martyr in Liverpool and it rang more true then ever from more points of view then you’d think considering how that played out. To bottom line it: he got exactly what he wanted out of that match and the glee Duke and Andrew showed in that situation just played into what he really wanted in the end.

Camille Bellamy:
And now you’re facing one of the members of the Division in Olly…does the dislike extend to every single person in that group?

Seth Iser:
No, believe it or not: I like Olly.

The interjection causes Camille to cock an eyebrow in Iser’s direction, shocked to hear that statement ever said about Olly. Seth’s face lightens slightly when he sees her quizzical look.

Camille Bellamy:
…Why?

Seth Iser:
He’s a bastard and honest about it. Look what the hell he did to JJ’s ankle for his commitment to both the plan and to win the Best of Five. And I know he’ll send his best damn shot at me tonight. Main event pay, prestigious name…whole nine yards. And he wants to answer the question that’s burning in his brain if he could beat me if the Mannings didn’t get involved in something that wasn’t their business. And I get to fully test where he actually is as a professional wrestler…before we were rudely interrupted there…

And then there’s that smirk that creeps onto his face and his eyes seem to have a bit more malicious intent than normal.

Seth Iser:
Just I intend on getting even as a pro here. He took advantage of a mistake I made because I had to eyeball those two for getting involved. Whatever ‘physical’ injury I could have had didn’t really factor into that part of it. He gets all the credit in the world for that as far as I’m concerned and from his own mouth…No Division. We’ll see where he truly stands with the man who is truly the Greatest Mind in Professional Wrestling.

Camille Bellamy:
Now…we have to get to the pay per view…what are your plans now that your card is open?

Seth Iser:
Seeing who wants a Brush with Greatness.

A hint of that old arrogance starts to creep in as that smirk loses some of its predatory air and it transitions into more of a smile on his face. It is almost as if that thought brings some enjoyment out of him.

Seth Iser:
Yes…I think after all this time I’m due for a little bit of enjoyment and fun…and what’s more fun to me then finding a different way to test my own abilities and become even better than I already am. So open challenge…whoever wants it can either go to me…or find Elsa and sign the contract. I’ll wrestle any human being who wants a piece. And you better bri—

Faith Savell:
What’s that I hear?

Faith scoffed as she walked into the frame.

Faith Savell:
A brush with what? Greatness? Please, Seth. The only person standing here right now that has true greatness? Is me. You? Your time has passed. Even so…

She paused for a moment as she scowled at Seth.

Faith Savell:
I still have a disgusting taste in my mouth from that draw that you and I had. You want a real challenge for the pay per view on the Agora Network? Then fight me again. You challenged someone who claimed to be the cornerstone of MWE and while I commend Megan for her accomplishments here? The real cornerstone is standing right in front of you. I’m the gold standard and best of all? I’m the Masterclass.

She pointed at Seth.

Faith Savell:
They say you can’t teach an old dog like you new tricks but don’t you worry, I’ll teach you in that ring because nobody can do it out there like I can. I’m the purest wrestler on this god forsaken roster.

Faith rolled her eyes.

Faith Savell:
But I digress. The challenge has been made. Just do me a favor, yeah? Don’t let Olly break you in half first. I’d rather not have the scraps of Seth Iser, even if it’s coming from Olly.

A frown creeps onto Seth’s face from Faith’s rambling as he just reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a pen as he stands onto his feet

Seth Iser:
Alright kid if you’re that froggy…go use this pen to sign the damn contract. Elsa’s still in her office and the papers are fresh.

He offers with his own eye roll before tossing the pen in Faith’s direction. She instinctively catches it with her left hand, not losing the eye contact though now the height difference between these two are shown.

Seth Iser:
But instead of teaching you a lesson…and you having that ‘terrible’ taste in your mouth in your own words, you’ll understand the difference between the two of us when I actually take the kid gloves off for you. Worst medicine of your life is coming up. Maybe you actually worked on your footwork compared to last time…it got a touch sloppy at the end…but I’ll see an example of that on Riot. I’ll pull a string or two to have something arranged there just for you.

He then briefly turns his eyes to Camille, his eyes lightening up ever so softly.

Seth Iser:
Sorry this interview got crashed but I think we’re out of time anyway, have fun with the rest of your day.

With that last remark he turns on his heel and walks off while Faith is palming that pen in her hand with a sneer.