He's out! Ring the bell!
Ding Ding Ding
A spotlight shines down on a single pupil. It blinks once hit by the light and slowly adjusts itself to take in more. The camera pans out and we see "Showtime" David Cougar lying face down in the middle of the ring. The new WZCW Champion Barbosa walks around the ring holding his newly won title belt. The crowd is on their feet cheering the beast that has just left the former champion lying unconscious. He circles the ring several times as medical staff continue to check on Showtime. At their request Barbosa finally exits the ring, the crowd continuing to chant his name. Barbosa exits behind the curtain and the fans begins to file out of the arena as Showtime slowly sits up. EMTs slide him under the ropes and help him slowly walk to the back. They step through the curtain and a crowd of wrestlers are standing there congratulating Barbosa on his big victory. A couple wrestlers give their condolences to Showtime, asking if he's alright and telling him he had a good match, as the EMTs help lead Showtime to the medical room. They sit Showtime on a cushioned bench as another doctor examines him. The results will show that Showtime has sustained a concussion, one of many he has suffered throughout his career. The medics leave the room and Showtime sits there all alone. Showtime looks up through the door and standing there appears to be Barbosa. He is not looking at Showtime, but instead is looking down at the WZCW Title.
Showtime: It will become your life.
Barbosa does not react to the statement. Showtime speaks up a little louder and repeats himself. Medics enter the room and Barbosa is now gone, perhaps never having been there at all. Showtime remembers almost nothing about what happened after the bell rang. All of this was recreated by him after the fact and some of it may not be true, but it was at this moment that everything changed about him.
----------
Scene reopens the following morning inside Showtime's hotel room. He is up and moving around like normal, showing little signs of any physical or mental discomfort. Showtime's cell vibrates on the end table and he quickly ends the call. Although he appears in high spirits he is in no mood to talk to anyone in depth, even his own wife and family. Showtime exits the hotel room and makes his way to the front desk. He smiles politely at the girl behind the desk and goes about paying his bill. He offers her his autograph, but she politely declines. She does give Showtime a message from Titus, wishing him a speedy recovery and apologizing for not being there today. Showtime smiles and thanks her as he makes his way to the dinning area where a couple of other wrestlers are finishing up their breakfast. He makes small pleasantries with them and they joke about his memory of last night. The PPV is playing on a TV in the room and Showtime's match happens to be showing. He stands and watches it for a bit, wincing a little at the punishment Barbosa dished out to him. He sits down and watches the end of the PPV and shakes his head about something. Showtime then grabs his bags and carries them outside to a waiting limo where the driver quickly loads them into the vehicle. Showtime walks back into the hotel and finds Vance Bateman waiting in the lobby. The two shake hands and sit down for a minute.
Bateman: First off, I want to personally thank you for your years with the company. I think we can both agree that we've done a lot of good business together and that WZCW has helped launch your budding acting career as you have helped launch WZCW into mainstream and pop culture. I hope that we can continue to work together somewhere down the road.
Showtime nods his head. Vance looks over at his former champion and senses something might be off with him.
Bateman: So, how are you feeling?
Showtime: My head feels like a glass ketchup bottle after somebody has smacked out the last few drops from the bottom.
Bateman: Yes, the doctors did tell us you suffered another concussion. Couldn’t have picked a better time to let that happen... eh, right?
Bateman chuckles while Showtime stares blankly back, not realizing that this would affect Showtime’s ability to perform on set for his upcoming movie. Bateman coughs to clear the air before speaking again.
Bateman: Where are you off to now?
Showtime: Back to the doctors for more tests to get an idea on the type of damage those non cushioned elbows caused to my head. I would look into the long term affects of allowing somebody as physically strong as Barbosa to do that. Imagine losing somebody half as important as me to that move.
Bateman: Absolutely, that’ll be one of our top priorities after the break.
Showtime: I’d say you guys were lucky you knew I was leaving, otherwise you would’ve lost your biggest star and all the plans you had for me. Something like that could cripple a company.
Bateman nodded his head.
Bateman: Again, thank you for everything and sorry about what happened in the ring.
Showtime stood up and adjusted his jacket.
Showtime: That’s alright, I get to spend an extra day here before they let me fly back home, so I’ll try to enjoy my brief retirement before I get to Hollywood and back to work again.
Bateman stands up as well and the two shake hands.
Showtime: Do you have any plans for the shows when you guys get back to work? Would you like me to fly in for Meltdown 95 and make an appearance?
Bateman: We’ll give you a call when we figure something out to do. We won’t be back on TV for another month, but your legacy is something that can never be forgotten.
Showtime at last cracks a smile and nods. Bateman walks with him to the doors and they shake hands one more time before Showtime steps through the doors, the bright light from outside creating a glare that Showtime disappears into as the scene ends.
----------
Scene resumes the night of Meltdown 95. Showtime is at home with his wife and son, a rare day off for the big movie star. The family has just finished eating and Showtime is helping Brenna clear the table. He’d been so busy this past month that he almost forgot Meltdown was that evening. He then began to wonder why nobody had called or checked up with him the day after Redemption. Nobody from management and none of the wrestlers he worked with had been in contact with him since that day, not even Titus who Showtime regularly spoke with. No matter he thought; he gave his farewell speech to kick off Redemption, so he didn’t really need to be there again to say goodbye. He figured the guys on the production team would put together a very nice video package highlighting his career. He would’ve like to have some input, but accepted the fact that he no longer worked there and he had been extremely busy this past month. Showtime pours himself a rum on the rocks and makes his way to his lounge room and turns on the TV. Several hours later he turns off the TV in disgust. Aside from the opening video recapping Redemption there was no mention of Showtime on the program. No look back at the career that was. Nothing to remind that audience that Showtime even existed in WZCW. How could they forget about him so fast he thought.
Brenna: Maybe they’re saving the tribute for Ascension?
She was trying to be supportive and encouraging, but Showtime knew better. If it wasn’t on Meltdown it wasn’t going to be on Ascension. WZCW was moving on, and while Showtime knew he shouldn’t feel slighted by it, he felt insulted that nothing was being made of his career. No more attention received than a Chris Beckford or a Sam Smith. Is this what they think of me he thought.
Showtime: Maybe he was right.
----------
Scene reopens a couple weeks later. Showtime is once again at home, this time watching One Last Stand: Total Mayhem. WZCW did call a few days after Meltdown 95. Wanted Showtime to film some segments regarding the Mayhem Title. He begrudgingly accepted, but could feel a change in the way he was being treated there. No one from management spoke to him about a possible DVD or in-depth interview or anything. Now sitting at home, he was not watching the event to see those segments, but to watch his good friend Titus... er Red Mask try to win the Mayhem Title in its final match. The ever changing expressions on Showtime’s face show when Titus is doing good and when Vega strikes. Showtime stands up as both man straddle the top of the cage, only to sit down in disappointment as Vega wins the match. Showtime shakes his head at the TV and continues watching, his face growing more angry.
----------
A few days later Showtime receives a phone call from a very unexpected person.
Mr. Banks: Showtime, Kenneth Banks here. I’m sorry that we are speaking for the first time over the phone and not in person. It was my intent to speak to you last week, but was held up in meetings.
Showtime: It’s a pleasure to finally get to speak to you Kenneth, and congratulations on your acquisition of WZCW. I’m certain a media mogul such as yourself will be able to help take that company to new heights.
Mr. Banks: I’m sure that I will too, but as of right now I can’t help but look at the numbers and be disappointed. That’s why I want to lock you up right now. Two years, double the money that was on the table. What do you say, do we got a deal?
Showtime: Not interested.
Mr. Banks: Huh, I would’ve guessed that you were an “in it for the money” type guy. Well, you’re still contracted to WZCW till Feb 12, why don’t we put aside retirement and make good use out of these dates. Would kick over an extra ten grand for every point one increase to our ratings.
Showtime: Still not interested.
Mr. Banks: Not even to compete on Meltdown 100. My goal is to make that show the biggest wrestling event on cable TV and I want all the legends there to make history. You can’t tell me you don’t want to help make history too?
Showtime: You got me there Kenneth. I would like to appear at Meltdown 100.
Mr. Banks: That’s why I want to get you back inside the ring right away to prepare for this. Here me out first, this week on Ascension 72, I want you teaming up with Titus to take on Magnitúdinis.
Showtime:...
Go on.
Mr. Banks: You see I was thinking maybe you guys team up for a few shows, one of you issues a friendly challenge and we make that match happen at Meltdown 100. I’m even willing to make this match for the tag team titles if that’s what it takes to get you inside the ring.
Showtime: No, you don’t have to make it for the tag team titles, I’ll compete in the match under one condition. I want you to not announce me as Titus’ tag team partner. I want it to be a surprise for him and everybody.
Mr. Banks: Done and done. So can we start booking you for the remaining shows in-between.
Showtime: Let’s start with this one and take it from there. Can’t guarantee I’ll be able to compete all nights.
Mr. Banks: I understand. Great to be doing business with you Showtime. These people have no idea what they’re missing.
Showtime: No they don’t.
----------
The crowd boos furiously as Showtime flips backwards, taking Titus with him for ANOTHER DEVASTATING FINAL ACT! The two men hit the mat and Showtime rolls to his feet as stares at Titus. He reaches down and grabs the fallen microphone.
Showtime: I didn't finish my sentence. Titus, I have just one thing to say to you.
He pauses for a moment.
Showtime: F--- you.
The crowd gasps in shock and returns to booing Showtime with even greater fury as a team of medics and security hit the ring and force Showtime away. Showtime backs up and watches them look over Titus as he slowly leaves the ring.
The scene pauses and the camera pans out to reveal the set of The Show. Showtime David Cougar is seated behind his desk looking at the TV screen behind him. He turns around to face the camera and then speaks.
Showtime: Why did I do it, that’s what everyone wanted to know. Well, a funny thing happened a few months back. I decided to step away for the ring for a prolonged period of time, try to do something different in my life and see if I’d be any good at it. Challenge myself to be the best that I could be at something else, because I think it’s safe to say I did that in WZCW. I was the very best at it, awarded it in 2012 and 2013 by the writers, I was the biggest name in wrestling. So I decided to step aside and let someone else carry that while I attempted to be the biggest name in Hollywood, but those disrespectful WZCW viewers they turned on me over it. They all slowly started to boo me and cheer for my opponent Barbosa, and by the time Redemption rolled around, it was 50/50 between the crowd over me and Barbosa. That’s fine if you’re the type of fan who likes deranged, drooling, half mentally challenged lunatics, but this was my last match, my swan song, as the best WZCW had ever bared witness. Everybody should’ve been in support of me, but my final show was ruined anyway when I was defeated by that lunatic. Maybe things would’ve been different if I was able to beat him that night, but it turned out to be a real eye opener of things. Prior to the event Barbosa said something that normally I wouldn’t take for a grain of salt from him, but as the weeks went by after the event I really began to take notice of it.
Barbosa: despite being the only three time WZCW champion in company history, Showtime Dave Cougar is not mentioned in the same breath as WZCW legends like Everest, Titus or Ty Burna.
Showtime: And he was right, despite all my titles and awards and everything that I have accomplished, I’m not given the respect you people shower over washed up has beens like Everest, Big Dave, and Titus. I bet you all would poop your pants if a nobody like Gordito returned to WZCW.
Showtime stands up and walks away from his desk. The audience does in fact cheer when Gordito is mentioned.
Showtime: Shut up. That’s why I came back to WZCW. To remind you all of what you have been missing. Since I’ve left the intelligence of the common wrestling fan has gone way down. You cheer for masked weirdos and cardboard robots. You root for old veterans like Titus because you've heard legends about them. Tell me all that Titus has done lately. Nothing! Watching Titus lose again made me realize how far he's fallen. It's been years since Titus has picked up any meaningful wins, yet he continues to hold a spot over others because you people still cheer for him, because you people believe that he is a legend.
I am a legend. The most decorated champion in WZCW and the best wrestler in this company, and the one you should all be cheering and wishing to come back, and for one night only at Unscripted I'm going to come back prove that I am the best against Titus in a pure rules match. After the savage beatings Titus took from Vega and Chris K.O., I'm not surprised that Titus would want to compete in a tightly officiated match. His body may not stand another beating like that, but I can guarantee you that his spirit will be crushed beyond repair when he faces me. I will embarrass and humiliate him to the point where hopefully he will realize that it is indeed time to hang up boots because it is right thing to do. Titus needs to step aside for the future and step down for a true legend like me. Titus was my friend and I don't consider none of this personal, it's professional and it's business. Titus didn't make me sign a match contract, he signed away his career and at Unscripted I will end it for him.
Showtime's own crowd boos him loudly. Showtime lowers his mic and walks
