Millennium LXIX

Backstage warming up before the opening contest of the night are the Eldon Family including younger sister Erika. Clyde is hyping himself in the mirror screaming at it, angrily.

Clyde Eldon Jr:
Tag team belts we are coming for you! Let’s gooooooo!

Not exactly the brightest bulb Clyde slaps himself to get hyped a few times meanwhile his mother has a much more relaxed vibe as she fixes her makeup in the mirror. Erika the most mousey of the group pipes up, rare for her.

Erika Eldon:
You guys got this.

Clyde Eldon Jr:
Of course we do, I am unstoppable. Just make sure that you get the GrubHub order right for after the match.

Dismissing his sister a bit she seems a bit offended as he walks off towards the ring as Karen smiles tapping her daughter on the shoulder.

Karen Eldon:
You know how he gets. Don’t let that worry you. One day it’ll be you out there. But right now it is about me...Well...us! Bye sweetie. Wish me luck...Oh who am I kidding! These girls are awful. Byeee!

Having lastly tightened up her top Karen turns heading to the ring herself leaving Erika alone to clap on her family as they look to continue with their momentum from their debut.

We cut to the backstage area and it is there where we are able to see Kate Steele. Her long blonde hair is slick back. She has a very disgusted expression on her face as her arms are crossed. She looks deep into the lens of the camera and she isn’t alone as her husband Teddy is right by her side. He takes a long deep breath as he begins to speak.

Teddy Steele:
Ladies and gentlemen let me introduce to you the greatest woman in all of wrestling. A woman who is beyond amazing! A woman who has all the talent in the world and yet she hasn’t gotten what she rightfully deserves from this company and that is respect! So with that in mind I give to you my lovely wife Kate Steele.

With that Kate Steele smiles as she looks right into the lens of the camera.

Kate Steele:
Cheers to all of you piss ants wherever you might be watching this. Now I know what all of you are probably thinking. Here is Kate Steele. She is absolutely worthless. She isn’t amazing by any means. She is nothing more than a jobber and whenever I see her booked I can only expect her to drop the ball because she isn’t worthy of taking up my television time.

Kate laughs as she shakes her head and continues to speak.

Kate Steele:
If that’s honestly the first thing on your mind by all means you can simply go fuck yourselves. I don’t need to listen to any of that. You think I give a shit on what the masses think of me?! If anything you all should be giving me the respect that I rightfully deserve because at the end of the day I know for a fact that I am better than most of the people on this roster. I am one of the longest tenured people in this company and I get treated like shit and for what purpose exactly?!

Teddy nods his head as he looks back at his wife.

Teddy Steele:
Everybody should be praising my wife. After all when she was the Lockdown Champion every single match was contested under Siren Rules. It was all about fighting in Submission matches and trying to establish who the best technical wrestler is in the company. She was the little engine that could. She took down opponent after opponent. She was such an amazing champion. She might have been one of the smallest on the roster but that never really affected what she did because she still came out with the heart of a champion. She fought anybody and everybody. She should be acknowledged for the great run she had.

Kate Steele:
But instead when people see me being booked against them they immediately assume that I am terrible. They see me as this jobber who doesn’t have any ability and they probably aren’t expecting to get anything in return. Well guess what this week is definitely full of surprises because not only am I standing here in front of this camera but I am personally going to show the world that you should take what I say for real. I know I might have been paired up with my husband quite a bit but I have never been one for being part of a tag team. I am quite awful at it. Where I really succeed at is stepping in the ring on my own and beating the hell out of people. So with that said it brings me to what’s about to happen to Drew Dream… How’s it going Drew?!

Kate chuckles as she continues to speak.

Kate Steele:
I bet you really thought that this match was going to be a walk in the park. I bet you thought I wasn’t going to care and none of this even matters to me but this match means everything because it’s my steps to getting right back on track.

Teddy Steele:
When we see Drew Dream we see an old man who has no business being in the ring with my wife. My wife is a legend. She deserves to get all the attention and if you truly ask me she deserves so much more. I see her being further up the card and eventually main eventing.

Kate Steele:
Which means that Drew Dark will merely be nothing more than a stepping stone to getting to where I need to be. I was an amazing Lockdown Champion at one point in this company but I deserve better. It’s my dream to one day finally wear that Cloud Gate Championship. That has been the goal and you better believe I am going to do everything to eventually get it. Drew Dream you are step one but I know there’s a brighter future out there for me. it’s time to be that Siren. It’s time to shipwreck the rest of the competition. One way or another after tonight people will take me seriously especially when I make him tap out like a little Bitch. Now if you would excuse me.

Teddy Steele:
My wife has a match to get ready for…

With that being said the married couple walks away as we go to elsewhere.

Summer Collins is backstage standing in front of a camera. She isn’t dressed in her finer attire tonight, instead she is dressed for war as she and her tag team partner Jessica Lasiewicz will go up against Bad Boyz. Even in her wrestling gear, the filthy rich heiress looks ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS and the winning smile spells confidence on the part of Summer Collins.

Summer Collins:
How many damn hurdles must we leap over? How many more obstacles must Jessica and I overcome before the tag team division in MWE finally recognizes the true pecking order around here.

She holds her right hand high up in the air and her left much lower.

Summer Collins:
There’s Fabulous at the very top….and then there’s everyone else beneath us.

She giggles.

Summer Collins:
Jess and I don’t mind overcoming any obstacle put in our way, because we have passed every single test with flying colors. We do not mind another match, because we already know that we are the best and that we can beat any other tag team in the division. So I echo my tag team partner’s call to just make it simple. Everyone who feels that they were wronged or deserve this tag title opportunity, put them all in one match and Fabulous will beat them all, then beat APE, and become your new MWE World Tag Team Champions. But is that what Bad Boyz want?

She shakes her head.

Summer Collins:
You two BOYS...emphasis on BOYS...would prefer to cry, whine, and moan until you are given what you want. You sound like a bunch of entitled children and that, BOYS, is just not fabulous. You know what else isn’t very fabulous? Attacking us from behind. Taking a cheap shot, that’s not very smart. You see, BOYS, I am a businesswoman to the core, but Jessica? Well, there is a reason she is known as The Archangel. You BOYS have provoked The Archangel. And what happens tonight is all on you. I will not stop Jessica what she feels is necessary and I will sleep with a clear conscience even if Jess does end up maiming you.

She points a finger at the camera.

Summer Collins:
You did this to yourself. And that is an absolutely FABULOUS truth!

The scene opens to the backstage area where we see Keelan Jayce entering the building, a pair of neatly shaped sunglasses adorn his face though the tinting of them is light enough to still see his eyes as he removes them, tan lines abridging his face to show recent sun exposure as he smiles wholesomely to the camera.

Keelan Jayce:
Miiiilllleeeenniiiuuummm, say ‘ello and give your favorite mate a welcome back. Its greet to be here truly!

He measured being sure to enunciate his verbiage with his best crocodile dundee impersonation before he eases up a bit on the extras and reels it in.

Keelan Jayce:
The summer was great and full of anticipation and now we’re back to our regularly scheduled showings. I know. . .I know. . . its not the first show back, but I’m a fortunate wanderer and had some traveling to do prior to making my way back to our regularly scheduled programming.

A chuckle immersed before he shook his head.

Keelan Jayce:
Lets just say we’ve had a lot of time to relax, unwind, and think about the future all in an instant. As you know, I’ve come up a little short in my last few contests ever since I cashed in my shot at Megan Monroe’s Intercontinental Championship. It was a testament to her skill regardless of how you feel about her tactics, but you have to take the shots you get and I certainly did just that. Since then though, it seems we’re on a downward spiral here, but you know me.

A gentle shrug of the shoulders erupted before he continued speaking.

Keelan Jayce:
Go to the extreme, take your chances, and see the outcome. It may not always work out in your favor, but you continue to try anyways. That’s what being an extremist is all about after all. Free-Climbing mountains, glacier runs, Long-distance runs. Anything I can do to go that extra mile even if I don’t make it all the way to the end is exactly my motif and I do it bloody-well if I do say so myself.

He smirked now as he put the sunglasses he was wearing back on and walks forward some.

Keelan Jayce:
Speaking of cashing in your shots, my opponent tonight Brookford knows all about the rewards, and he’s earned his fair share in matches against some of the best. Whether that be from taking them out or putting them down for sport. Either way, the cash advances at least that I’m aware of aren’t in the cards in this one and seeing as we’ve been on the downward trend here I’m not exactly sure how I’m a problem that needs solving. At least. . . not . . . yet.

A wryly smirk appears to his cheeks there, clearly just running off at the mouth at the moment before he reels in it.

Keelan Jayce:
Nevertheless, I could easily become a problem for anyone on this roster, anytime that I’d like if I truly wanted to. Nevertheless, we’re going to stick with what we do best here on Millennium and that is giving you the trickster show you’ve come to expect. Have an Aussie Awesome Day!

He laughed out now brushing by the camera leaving you to ponder on just what in the hell that meant.

The scene opens in the hallway of the Enterprise Arena. BROOKFORD, in his wrestling gear, is leaning against the wall. With his arm folded into his chest, he opens his mouth to speak.

BROOKFORD:
It’s not often that the Problem Solver has a... problem.

Twice I was screwed out of the Intercontinental Championship. Once by Seth, that I know of. The second by someone who went to great lengths to conceal their identity. I have my theories on who did it. The who doesn’t matter without concrete evidence. Bottom line is TWICE people have gotten in my way of me netting a championship bonus. Anyone who affects my bottom line is a problem that needs to be solved. What that means for you Keelan Jayce? You’re collateral damage. Point blank period. Nothing personal.

BROOKFORD, saying what he felt he had to, walks off as the scene fades to black

Peyton Holland: "This definitely makes the top five of the weirdest ending I witnessed."

Ambra Monroe: "It's rare to see someone give up a granted win like this. A true class act, one you don't see often."

Peyton Holland: "What about BROOKFORD, instead? Twice he's been knocked out, same M.O. no clues on who the attacker could be..."

Ambra Monroe: "You heard him before, the Problem Solver has a problem... And I'm afraid it won't be just HIS problem unless we find out who did it."

The scene opens backstage in the hallway next to a television monitor. Kyle Butler can be seen looking at the monitor. He has no match tonight. Shouldn’t stop him from enjoying the action. No match is happening at the moment so he is waiting for the action to pick back up. What Kyle doesn’t notice is a man in a hooded maroon and gold attire walk up behind him. All of a sudden sensing a presence, Kyle turns around to sport a smile on his face. The man pulls down the hood to reveal himself to be Neil Newman, the Golden Era portion of the Glorious Golden Era family back together on MWE television since the summer tour.

Kyle Butler:
I am so glad you’re here, bud. Was starting to feel a little lonely.

Neil and Kyle give each other a fist bump.

Neil Newman:
The girls driving you crazy?

Kyle Butler:
Nah, nothing like that. Figured it was the right thing to do to give Jessica and Summer space so they can get into their Fabolous mindset to take care of Fabolous things. Does Summer know you’re here.

Neil shakes his head.

Kyle Butler:
Ah. Well. I appreciate you stopping by all the same. Have you figured out what’s next? Business picking up on Riot. You’re not exactly Junior Heavyweight material, unless you lose a few pounds. Glory is Riot Champion. That Donovan creep has a case for the MENTV Championship.

Neil shrugs.

Neil Newman:
I didn’t come all this way to talk about that.

Kyle Butler:
Dude! You need to get the ball rolling. And fast. Isn’t that what you always told me?

Neil places a hand on Kyle’s shoulder.

Neil Newman:
Can’t spending time with my best friend be enough for now?

Kyle nods.

Kyle Butler:
You’re right dude. Lets enjoy the rest of the show.

Neil Newman:
I guess.

Neil cracks a smile as The Golden Era both stare at the television monitor as the scene fades to black.

Backstage we find Summer Collins walking the busy hall. She is dressed in her wrestling gear and appears prepared to go for her tag team match tonight against Bad Boyz. But she is just missing one important element; her tag team partner, “The Archangel” Jessica Lasiewicz. Summer rounds a corner and finds The Archangel standing in a dark corner all by herself. She is dressed in her wrestling gear as well but is also complimented with a hooded jacket. The hood is pulled over her head so one cannot see her face.

Summer Collins:
Jess?

Collins slowly approaches Jessica. She waves a hand in front of her face.

Summer Collins:
Yoo-hoo? Jess?

The Archangel suddenly throws the hood off, revealing a rage and intensity that Summer Collins is all too familiar with. She takes a slight step back.

Summer Collins:
Oh, there you are! I just wanted to make sure you’re ready!

Jessica Lasiewicz:
jestem gotowy

Collins furrows her brow in confusion.

Summer Collins:
You know I don’t speak Polish, Jess.

Jessica Lasiewicz:
And you know what it means when I start speaking Polish.

A wry grin forms upon Summer’s lovely face. Jessica’s native tongue is English but she is fluent in French and Polish as well. Summer knows better than anyone what it means when Jessica starts throwing out the Polish. It means she is ready to tear someone’s head off.

Summer Collins:
Save all of that intensity for Karib and Dre. We have a match to win.

Jessica Lasiewicz:
No, we do not have a match to win. We have beaten everyone that there is to beat. We have proven ourselves time and time again as the best in this tag team division. And now these fools come along and think they can lay claim to our top spot? I heard what you said earlier, Summer, and you are right, it is time that we reminded everyone of the pecking order around here and it begins by making the Bad Boys our personal bitches.

Jessica storms off. Summer smirks as she follows closely behind.

We then head backstage to where one of the more dangerous presences in professional wrestling is populating the room. The veteran and one of the two briefcase holders is putting on the bulky knee brace on that left knee that is as much a hallmark of anything he does verbally or in the ring. There isn’t a smile on his face but his tone is relaxed as he’s sitting on that chair putting that black brace over his black and red gear.

Seth Iser:
So Matt Stone then…

It’s a neutral tone but he seems completely at ease as he’s finished tightening the knee brace on that left knee. We then get a better view of his left hand that’s taped far more than normal, the parting shot of a skirmish he had with Owen Gonsalves. He balls that hand in a fist briefly and throws a left jab and you can see him grit his teeth to hide his discomfort as if he’s confirming something with his hand real quick.

Seth Iser:
You made all of these big proclamations and plans, brother. You want to be a champion again. Grandiose idea...the thing all of us in the locker room want to be at the end of the day or you’re in the wrong damn business. You put the champions on notice but when you were spouting off at the mouth...were you fully aware of who might be listening? You’ve been around the game long enough to know better as well…but if you’re ill informed...I heard you loud and clear.

He just shakes his head briefly before brushing some of his long black hair away from his eyes so we get a better look at him. He’s starting to turn up the intimidation factor a bit with that glare but he briefly golf claps from that seat.

Seth Iser:
Two wins and a draw so far then here you are...congratulations. The main event bravado you started barking up came to pass. Yes you are a name that’s buzzed around in different promotions. I know the reputation you came here with...but Matt...you know who you’re dealing with now right? You aren’t the only one who has built up a certain reputation and I’ve been building it longer than you have.

He had stopped clapping after he said the word congratulations but he’s still looking relatively relaxed sitting on that folding chair of his even if his eyes are starting to bring in some of the intimidation. But his face is contorting into a frown as he’s mauling over something.

Seth Iser:
Some people have called me a legendary figure or a living legend. But I hate both of those titles. They imply that my best days are behind me...that I’d have nothing more to give. And everyone knows that’s a falsehood. It wasn’t that I was bad when I was twenty-nine but I had some glaring holes in my game then. I’m a far superior wrestler at thirty-nine...approaching the evil forty even...than I was in my youth. Hell, I think I’ve proven the last few years I’ve done some of the best work of my career time and time again. It’s why I’m finally a World Champion in FGA. It’s why I’m the holder of the briefcase here. It’s why I’ve got four separate reigns with singles titles in IYH. And even if the fans don’t want to give me that kind of respect...most of the locker room does. I’m one of the most proven wrestlers in a world filled with dreamers and youth.

Then the trademark sneer is fully on the veteran as he reaches behind him and pulls that briefcase that he’s shown to not be afraid to weaponize of late. He even stands up as he taps the briefcase.

Seth Iser:
You might have proven it elsewhere but right now...you’re the former Matt. Great technical wrestler but with what you’re spouting off right now...until you prove yourself all over again...you’re a dreamer, brother. Looking to find that break to get where you need to be and you see this opportunity right in front of you. Biggest match in this company for you...no disrespect to anyone else you’ve fought. Just to get yourself in position to be where I’m at now…

And then that arrogant smirk shines in for a moment before it’s back to his normal self.

Seth Iser:
But considering who you just faced...are you sure they won’t try to get even considering the target you’ve already put yourself in? I don’t know if West Long is the type of person who would just stay away considering you have very unfinished business with him and pulling a stunt against you would do it. Pour a little salt on the wound right?

And then Seth again looks at his left hand for a moment with that sneer etched on his face, a little bitterness and anger now creeping in.

Seth Iser:
But we have one thing in common...a loose end in your case but in mine it’s a wound. And don’t worry about that either. I’ll mend that old wound in time. We have things we need to settle anyway. But Matt...you might also be thinking what I could do with this briefcase right?

Then there’s a smirk that creeps onto his face as he lifts it in full camera view.

Seth Iser:
You should be worried...I’m not just the Greatest Mind in the sport...I’m also the greatest rule breaker. And this briefcase has given me even more power to manipulate those rules. If you haven’t thought of all the possibilities...despite your talent you’ll remain a dreamer for now.

With that last word Seth spins the briefcase in his hand for a moment before going to his locker to start to put on his red robe for the evening to wear down to the ring and then walk out and do what he said he was going to do.

Peyton Holland: "Once again Seth used the briefcase to help Megan. It's starting to become a pattern."

Ambra Monroe: "Their partnership is estabilished now. I wonder if it was Seth who attacked BROOKFORD at Anniv3rsary."

Peyton Holland: "But why would he have attacked him again tonight? It makes no sense.."

Ambra Monroe: "To muddy the waters, maybe?"

The camera rolls into Joey Leclair’s locker room where he is seen taping his wrist getting ready for his upcoming match.

Joey Leclair:
Tonight I face Hammerstein in which the audience gets a special champion versus champion match, but it goes much deeper than that, because you see? Hammerstein has been on a role here lately, and recently has new momentum from winning the lockdown championship.

Joey shifts his body to face the camera directly.

Joey Leclair:
Hammerstein you are bigger than me, and possibly stronger than me.. Hell I learned this personally over the summer than you are a monster of a man, and it annoys me the fact that I have had a flawless title reign except that one triple threat match over the summer in which you had me, and Kimberly in the palm of your hands until Duke got involved.

Joey shakes his right index finger at the camera in annoyance.

Joey Leclair:
Don’t get the wrong idea though Hammerstein, because tonight isn’t a triple threat match, and I have faced opponents bigger and stronger than you in the past, and I have learned that everyone goes down when you hit them in the face enough times! Tonight there will be no third party distractions which means my sole focus will be on you Hammerstein, and you do not want that, because I am smarter and more resilient than you will ever be, and you will learn why the commentators always say “Who can stop this man” at the end of everyone of my matches.

Joey finishes taping his wrists and stands up.

Joey Leclair:
Hammerstein you say that you are going to kick my ass, and give me the level of competition I desire? Well to me you are nothing more than just another victim! Memento Mori.

Joey shoves the cameraman out the door as the scene comes to an end.

The MWE Lockdown Champion, The American Monster Jacob Hammerstein sits in a darkened section of the empty Enterprise Arena that no longer seats fans. He is leaned over, elbows on knees, with his head bowed. The Lockdown Title hangs from his left hand.

Hammerstein:
Joey LeClair…The Death Dealer. Catchy nickname there, pal. I mean, it's not The American Monster, but it's catchy nonetheless. My question to you, though, is this...have you earned that name or is it really nothing more than a catchy nickname that looks good on a t-shirt?

Hammerstein waves his finger at the camera, still not raising his head.

Hammerstein:
I'm sure you haven't actually killed anyone, at least not that we know of. Perhaps you read Tarot cards and constantly bring up the death card.

The American Monster shrugs his shoulders.

Hammerstein:
Who knows?

The thing is, usually a nickname is a reflection of the person who wears it. Now I came by "The American Monster" honest. I didn't give myself that name to make me sound spooky or like a "slasher." It was given to me by the Japanese fans who ran from me like I was Godzilla storming through Tokyo. It was earned by terrorizing my opponents, whether it was in the ring, in the back, or out back in the parking lot.

Hammerstein scratches his head and chuckles softly.

Hammerstein:
I've left a path of destruction across six of the seven continents, and the only reason I haven't done it in Antarctica is because the cold hurts my joints.

I've shed more blood, broken more bones, kicked more asses, and shattered more dreams than most of the self proclaimed badasses in this company, including you, Death Dealer.

The Lockdown Champion raises his head. He holds the belt up, his eyes never leaving the camera.

Hammerstein:
That's why I beat Duke Andrews for this Lockdown Championship, and that's why I'm kickin'your ass tonight.

You wanna make good on that nickname. You got your chance, tonight, but you better come at me all guns blazin', because that's how I'm comin' for you.

The Lockdown Champion stands up and walks away as the show switches back to ringside.

We come backstage where we see Matt Stone standing in front of a podium, wearing a suit and tie and the Canadian flag embroidered on the podium.

Matt Stone:
Fear not, my fellow wrestlers, for there has been a big change in the world of politics this week and I’ve seen so many people celebrating in the streets since it was announced over the weekend. So many people were overjoyed with the news that finally, the oppression has ended. Yes it’s true, there’s no need to recount or for challenging the results, it’s official and there’s no taking it back now. I, Matt Stone, have finally entered the main event of Millenium! I won’t lie to you, it’s been a hard three weeks here but I’ve suffered through it with the courage of more than your average person but my sacrifices have finally paid off.

Stone bangs his fists on the podium while he gives this impassioned speech.

Matt Stone:
Now last week didn’t go according to plan, I’ll be the first to admit that but no one is perfect, everybody takes a misstep but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to stop fighting for you people. You deserve a leader who’s willing to tell it like it is, someone who can carry you into the new year and beyond that someone is me! I’ve made it known already that I want championship gold around my waist before the year is up and I’ve got my shot tonight when I step into the ring with Seth Iser in the main event. He’s a big guy like my last opponent and while I was able to out maneuver West fairly easily nevertheless he was able to keep me from reentering the ring and took the coward’s way out! My fellow wrestlers I assure you that won’t happen again! No one will build a wall around the squared circle and keep me out! I will walk in a winner and I will walk out the same way, of that I assure you. And my fellow wrestlers, one last thing, no one, especially Seth Iser, will ever SHUT! ME! UP!

With that, Matt walks out from the podium, takes a bow and heads off screen.