Liberation: Episode Fifty-Seven, January 12th, 2021

BACKSTAGE
Backstage the cameras catch up with Caine Ellis who is showered and changed after his match with Honey earlier. He has his bags with him and is looking to leave the arena. He gives an intense smirk before turning to the camera.

Caine Ellis: The world once again witnesses exactly what kind of a force I am in that ring. My first night here I tore through Freddie, leaving little doubt that you will see him any time soon. Then tonight I took the best shot that a former champion could give with Honey and all she was left with was pain and shame. Though I doubt that will even register with her since all leading up to this match she was more interested meeting new twitter friends rather than focus on this match. She is a simple minded person whose night just ended in pain. And I will continue to walk through each and every member of this roster, leaving nothing but pain and sorrow on my way to the very top of this company and industry. Don't say you haven't been warned.

Just as he finishes speaking, Jenna Sharpe opens the door to the outside and motions for him to come to the car as the scene fades out.

BACKSTAGE
We cut backstage and find Hope Williams lying unconscious in the hallway. Sean Callaghan, GM of Liberation, walks onto the scene.

Sean Callaghan: Woah! What the fuck!? Who did this?

He kneels down and checks on Hope, who is OUT COLD.

Sean Callaghan: Yo! Someone come help with this shit! Get some medical people here!

It doesn’t take long for the medical crew to appear and start to look over Hope. Sean stands up and sighs, shaking his head.

Sean Callaghan: First night in charge and I already gotta cancel a match. Motherfucker!

The new GM looks clearly frustrated as Hope is tended to. The second match of the night has now been cancelled, which includes the debut of Ashton Taylor. The scene cuts away.

BACKSTAGE
Backstage we see Ava Ryan, who had a tough break at Festivus against Alex Reeves. Not looking too thrilled, Ava stops for the camera.

Ava Ryan: Let me guess, you guys want to know how I feel? After saying I would NEVER quit, only to scream those words a little bit later, right? I'm not one to make excuses, I said those words...but I'm also not one to sugarcoat things: If it wasn't for Jade Night telling Alex my family deal? I would have never quit. No matter what she did to me, and if you don't believe me, watch the match back. She put me through hell, and I wasn't saying it. Not until she whispered in my ear. The threat of revealing that Nate is my deadbeat dad.

Scoffing a bit, the blonde rolls her eyes.

Ava Ryan: So I've also been asked if I feel badly for Jade, or if I miss her, and the answers to both questions are no. Why would I? Not only did she screw me over, but she attempted to play games with the entire roster and finally, someone much more talented and dangerous than her put her in her place and now she's at home recovering, gone from Liberty forever. I won't lose a wink of sleep over it. The only regret i have about the entire thing is that Xavier was able to put her down before I got my chance to get my hands on her for what she did to me. But now that she's out of the way, tonight is about Derrick and getting myself back in the win column. I know I have a ton to prove still, and I'm going to do whatever it takes...the right way. Derrick is the favorite, there's no need in bullshitting anyone about it, but if he or anyone thinks I'm going to lay down and give him this win? They are sadly mistaken. D, I hope you're ready to work out there. And Jade...enjoy this from your hospital bed. Bitch.

BACKSTAGE
Backstage at the first Liberation of 2021, and Derrick La’Bell is standing backstage in front of the generic wrestling promo area all wrestling promotions have. The big man had a rollercoaster finish to 2020 last time we saw him in a Liberty Pro ring, but he’s back and ready to start that old “new year, new me” cliche everyone does around this time of year. He looks at the camera with that goofy boy scout smile he has and begins to speak.

Derrick: I’m going to start this off by saying I’m over Festivus. It was a rough and wild ride, losing my briefcase and the tag title match to three emo punks who still lurk on 4Chan because they think they’re revolutionaries…

Struggling to keep that smile up, he makes it even bigger to compensate, because he wants to prove he’s past 2020’s craziness.

Derrick: Now I’m looking to the future. Honey and I got drafted as a team to liberation, but here I am in a singles match against Ms. Ava Ryan, which means Liberty Pro still sees me as an asset in both types of competition.

His smile is back to being genuine as he looks towards the future… metaphorically…

Derrick: And I’m going to prove them right. I am an asset to Liberation and Liberty Pro as a whole. Honey and I are going to be gunning for Rotten, and they will get what is coming to them, but right now I have to focus on putting Beast Friends Forever in the right direction as well as myself.

“That’s why I gotta beat Ava tonight. Ava is a great talent, and I know she will come at me with her best, but tonight her best can’t and won’t be enough. Tonight, I’m going to get some left over frustrations out, and I’m going to start 2021 on the right foot!”

Derrick nods and cheers himself on as he steps away from the camera and the scene fades.

BACKSTAGE
Kendrick is sitting on a bench that is placed just on the outside of the building looking down at the ground and his hands on his knees.

Kendrick Kross: I get drafted horribly late. Something that personally, I feel is bullshit but hey whatever. Tonight is about one thing and that is a match with Cait...again. This time though? It’s for something I want so very much.

A smile from Kendrick crosses his face as he raises his head up and looks directly at the camera that is facing him.

Kendrick Kross: I want that shot for the Anarchy Championship. I know, I’m gonna get people telling me I don’t deserve it. That me getting it will be something that shouldn’t happen. Me? I don’t give a fuck what they think. I know my career as of late. Don’t think they I don’t know that I haven’t had the best of matches and luck. But does it look like I care? No.

Kendrick shakes his head a bit and let’s out a sigh.

Kendrick Kross: I don’t care because there’s no damn reason to. You want to tell me or act like I don’t matter? Want to look at me and say I’m just a fly on the wall and don’t deserve anything? Do it. None of it matters. What matters is Cait and that Anarchy Title shot. That’s the only damn thing that matters tonight and Cait...I’ll get it.

With a smirk Kendrick pushes himself off from the bench and walks away from the camera.

BACKSTAGE
Backdrops catch a glimpse of the Brooklyn Skyline, masked individuals walking around delusioned by the state of the world it seems. Dazed, Depressed, Catatonic. The expressions remain docile amongst each of the passing faces before a display of effects begins to captivate the screen. Swirling specks of color radiating in waves protrude around the passersby, each glimmering wave of color bending like snakes in vast hues to cycle through the individuals before that all starts to fade towards the left, the steady nature of those colors collaborating until the vignette to the left appears so bright that the cameras focus can’t help but be drawn that way.

In between skylines and buildings those bright spots of color all begin to slowly dissolve into a speckled imprint of bright white, before a singular frame comes through them. A woman, nonetheless, Her hair long and straightened, a black jacket and dark pants, all the way down into her boots. A hood pulled above her head before she lowers it, grinning that signature smile that most would’ve prominently remembered her for. Just before layering on her words in that accent that made little to no sense. A tinge of desi mixed with English and New York, it all rolled into one.

Ahalya Patel: “Liberty Pro, take your seats, or even a kneel because its time to bow down. The Queen of India just rolled into town!”

A smile upon her features she stepped forward, fingerless glove wrapped tightly around her hands as she ran a finger through her hair, confidently strutting forward.

Ahalya Patel: “For those who don’t know me, I’m Ahalya Patel. Its a name you should familiarize because everywhere I go, once I do my thing in that ring. The seats get packed. The matches get stacked, and it isn’t long until I get a sort of Midas Touch, if you will.”

She offered yet another bright smile before shaking her head.

Ahalya Patel: “Realistically though, its an honor to be brought into a company as a third round draft pick when you’ve just signed on the dotted line, but Sean ain’t dumb, he knew exactly what he was doing when he made that move and he did it with such grace too. Some say he’s volatile, but I say they just haven’t experienced enough of the world to understand hostility, he’s cool people and I damn well know he’s going to do right by me, but who wouldn’t really?”

She stepped forward now as the landscape that was once seen dissipated from the packed streets to a darker alleyway, the transition was seamless, but definitely the scene had changed from when it was first recorded.

Ahalya Patel: “Because knowing me, when you don’t do right by me I’ll make you regret it. . . Clearly, which leads me to my first match in Liberty at the Next Liberation.”

As she moves around a unique haze of flares begins to go off behind her, first a pink, then blue, yellow, and green. The colors uniquely swirl around her frame as she steps a bit closer making sure to be seen, Almost like she was setting up for a diss.

Ahalya Patel: “Precious Pepper Vain, where to start on that one? I’m all for having a unique name and sporting what it is you’re all about in your namesake. Ahalyabai was a Queen of India, I’m an Indian Queen, It works synonymous, but you? We’re talking about being Precious, Spicy, And Vain all in one. Your parents must’ve been on some ish with that one. Name aside though, you did some pretty big things heading up into 2021. You started a fashion haus, took it to new heights in three different companies, and showed you’re one of those work horse types that wants to prove she’s doing enough by trying to be everywhere. Bound to accomplish something if you keep giving it out to everyone yeah?”

A smirk appeared as she said this.

Ahalya Patel: “I know exactly your type PPV, you’ve got this big ass thing to prove, that you are what you’re hyped to be. That everyone should keep their eyes focusing your way. Are you enough of this or that, do you equate to the level of relevance that you believe you do? You won’t post these questions out loud of course, most rarely do, but in truth all that tells me is you don’t really have the ‘tude. The Attitude to be the toughest chick in the room without having to shout it out and make it heard. Sure you throw some eloquent verbs together, offer us a nice little show, flaunt your Danger & Play, but you haven’t really played with a type of dangerous like me. I’m not going to march out with chairs and swing them in a tantrum like some of your other opponents you’ve faced in the past few weeks, I’m not going to degrade you because really females tearing down other females is whack, but I am telling you that you’re doing too much and against someone like me? That can be deadly!”

Pausing she turns further, a new life coming to the flares billowing together.

Ahalya Patel: “As for you Scotty, hey you’re going to be a dad soon, yeah? This must be your year to shine, only. . . wait your last year was supposed to be your year to shine too. You won that big battle royal, you had that shot to take down a real one like Helena Noir and then. . . nothing. Hard fail bruh, you said you wouldn’t be ignored, wouldn’t be denied, and then. . . hah you failed harder than a cut up credit card, kind of sad really because you kind of want to root for you, but then you see the actual performance and its like. . . damn. Completely disintegration. Its cool though Scotty, I’ll still root for you after I still this spot because that’s what I do, call me a charitable queen.”

She gave a light shrug before taking a few more steps forward letting the flaring smoke billow behind her.

Ahalya Patel: “The ideology is this, everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve been an instant hit. I don’t give a damn if you are the Anarchy Champion, the number one contender, or holding that belt for yourself, when Ahalya Patel is on the scene, she’s coming! Like a lionness stalking her mother fucking prey, I’m going to eat both of you alive in that ring and when you wonder why it is Liberty chose me in the draft when they did. You’ll find En Femina bliss, a knock out kick into your heavens where you finally make it to Svarga loka, and achieve Moksha, don’t say you weren’t warned.”

With that statement she takes a few steps back before raring kick directly at the lens as a glass shatter effect fills the frame and she steps back into the colorful smoke and it surrounds her.

BACKSTAGE
Precious Pepper Vain, the Italian beauty with the dark hair and the big dark eyes, walks so provocatively that every man in the hall is soon watching her.

The two time Anarchy champion is noticeably light on gold tonight. The loss of her Lionheart championship to a friend turned enemy is noticable to all. After all, she happily displayed her titles wherever she goes. Her immaculate Danger and Play dress was as green as her mood.

So arriving at her locker room, the homegrown Liberty star rolls her eyes at who she finds.

PPV: ”You’re still around, Otto?”

We need no great effort of memory to recall, in every detail, the rotund businessman. He spins round, looking rather smart. He beams at seeing just the woman he’s looking for.

Otto Jarkova: “Ah-ha! There you are Precious! I knew you would remember me. You have been giving me the runabout.”

PPV: “Ya think?”

Not hearing her, or perhaps, not hearing what he doesn’t want to hear, Otto glances at the gold-plated strap on PPV’s shoulder.

He shakes his head.

Otto Jarkorva: “It is tragic how you lost your Lionheart title. Your reign was a level above.”

PPV: “It was, but that’s neither here nor there. What do you want, Otto?”

Noting the girl’s impatience, the Slovakian straightens up.

Otto Jarkova: “Is it not obvious?! I am an art collector and you are a work of art that leaves gems in her wake. A match made in heaven, yes?! I wish to offer you my managerial services.”

An icy stare is the reply.

Otto Jarkova: “What?! I am the richest man in all the Slovakia. I have much to offer you.”

PPV: “Uh-huh. I had an agent last year and he barely did anything for me. He was dead weight so I cut him. I’ve got Gus when I need him at ringside. I’ve no use for an entourage.”

With a striking flamboyance, Otto wags a finger.

Otto Jarkova: “False! The Liberty does not appreciate your quality. You were the 9th person picked in the… what do you call them?”

PPV: “Draft.”

Otto Jarkova: “Yes! That! Compare you with the biggest stars in North America at your age. You are 21. You were a double champion with 7 defences with one of your titles. 3rd longest reigning champion in all of REBELLION! Yet eight people are picked over you?! They are pulling the sheep over our eyes!”

PPV: “The wool over our eyes, yes.”

Otto Jarkova: “That too! They are CRIMINALS! And their crimes do not stop there! DJ Techniques became Freedom champion last night. The X is GEW & Valiant champion. Yet half the roster is picked before them! Only foolish fools from a land of fools would do something so foolishly foolish.”

PPV nods as though that were obvious.

Otto Jarkova: “Talent such as yourself should have someone fighting your corner. To make it all too clear of what you bring to the table. So that you cannot be denied. To help fools see through the nonsense clouding their eyes!”

PPV: “Well, I’m pretty outspoken about such things, but as much as I can talk about us being in clown world, I’m off to face two people who were picked ahead of me. And that’s another thing.”

She raps the centrepiece of her Anarchy title belt.

PPV: “The draft doesn’t matter. I’ve come to find the true worth of a draft pick comes to light long afterwards. One year from now. Heck, even six months from now. We’ll find out who really brought value to their brand then. Who were the flops and who were the steals. In the meantime, I’ll just do what I’ve always done. Make my opponents cry. And when it comes to Old Man Latimer, I can do that in my sleep. As for Patel? She’s new here, but she’ll learn not to step on my turf real quickly. Now if you’ll excuse me...”

PPV turns to enter her locker room, but Otto puts his hand over hers.

Otto Jarkova: “Wait!”

Pepper snatches her hand back. She’s quick to sanitize her hand, and not for fear of the ongoing pandemic. Reaching into the pockets of his trench coat, Otto pulls out a paperback.

Otto Jarkova: “Take my book. Free of change.”

Bemused, PPV’s gaze wanders betwen the book and Otto with a raised eyebrow.

PPV: “What? Why would I want your book?”

Otto chortles.

Otto Jarkova: “ A book is the best business card in the world. Read it and you will see my brilliance for yourself. I wrote it and it is full of my hard earned business knowledge from the last 30 years!”

Filled with confidence, Otto takes his leave, clearly confident his book will speak for itself. PPV eyes the book in her hand. Shrugging her slim shoulders, she enters her locker room and prepares for the night ahead.

BACKSTAGE
Coral and Nami, the most decorated tag team in Liberty Pro history (just ask them) and for the moment former Liberty Pro Tag Team Champions are seen standing with their arms linked and slightly disapproving looks on their faces as they face their personal cameraman, Calvin. Their gear is shiny, sparkling purple and silver tonight and of course perfectly matches.

Coral and Nami: Right.

Coral: Hello boys. Tonight we get to face a pair of wrestlers who actually get it, who understand things that just seem to fly over the heads of lesser people.

A deadpan stare from Nami gives a very unsubtle hint as to who Coral means, before she points a finger at the camera.

Nami: Don’t forget your past, Xavier. We saved your ass once. Sure, it was purely business and we weren’t going to let Liberty get disrespected in that process, but the results were the same. So in light of that?

Coral: Just wrestle. We don’t need garbage, and neither do the pair of you. You want to put us down for that three count? You’re going to earn it just like anyone else, and we’re not going to ask you to throw the match on account of what we did before. We’ve never been like that, never once asked to have anything handed to us despite the facts that we damn sure could have.

The two unlink their arms and high five each other before giving that serious stare again.

Nami: It’s still Endless Summer, until we say it isn’t and if we have to tear through impossible odds to prove it?

Coral: Not like it’d be the first time. As far as those that have what’s ours? Don’t worry! We won’t forget and your time is coming.

The pair throw the ‘call me’ sign and head out at a fast pace, the camera following them a bit before the feed cuts.

BACKSTAGE
We cut to reveal the duo of 'The Antagonist' Gabriel Laroux and 'YOUR Favorite Drug' Xavier Laroux, collectively known as Cause and Effect. The two of them were putting the finishing touches on their gear, in preparations for their tag team match against The Girls of Summer later this evening.

A flash of annoyance showed in the features of Gabriel as he looked over his shoulder at the person holding the camera. Slowly, he turned to face them only to bring his arms up to cross at his chest. His head tilted to the side as he spoke up while Xavier taped up his fists.

Gabriel Laroux: I'm going out on a limb here and saying you want our thoughts ahead of this match.

Xavier Laroux: Please don't even answer that, it's one of those rhythmical questions.

Gabriel Laroux: Rhetorical.

Xavier Laroux: What the fuck everrr.

The younger Laroux rolled his eyes before going back to the taping of his fists. Suddenly, there was a pounding heard from the other side of that door. Xavier couldn't help but to laugh out, shaking his head.

Xavier Laroux: I still ain't got my pants on yet, sorry Kassi.

The sigh heard from Kassi Taylor was almost echoed by Gabriel shaking his head.

Kassi Taylor: Liar, the cameraman just went in there.

Xavier Laroux: Do you really wanna risk it?

There was a pause, a silence shared by every person involved in this whole situation. It didn't last long as that door swung open, Kassi walking into that room and letting the door close behind her. She looked to Xavier before scoffing rather dramatically, her hand moving to rest on her waist.

Kassi Taylor: I knew you were lying.

That smirk of Xavier's grew as he shrugged his shoulders a bit. Tearing the tape, he tossed that roll to the side only for Gabriel to speak up.

Gabriel Laroux: Are you two done?

Kassi and Xavier looked at one another before laughing out. Gabriel shook his head as he turned his attention fully back to the official.

Gabriel Laroux: The landscape of Liberty has been changed entirely. With change come opportunities. What started as bailing this one out has grown into something much more. How much more? Watch what we do to Coral and Nami.

Without another word, Gabriel turned his back to finish up his own preparations. Xavier slipped into center view with that oh so arrogant smirk plastered across his features.

Xavier Laroux: I know y'all remember what happened last time I was suppose to team against y'all. Lemme tell ya, it's bouta be a whole new experience for y'all. It's simple really. You get the power of tall, dark, and broody back there. You get the sheer badassery of yours truly? And I guess Kassi contributes somethin.

Kassi Taylor: The looks.

Xavier Laroux: Hey, hold up. I thought I had that covered.

Another of those loud scoffs emitted from Kassi but as soon as she parted her lips to speak, Xavier cut in.

Xavier Laroux: I digress~ Coral, Nami, everyone knows the situation y'all are in but there's one thing I'm pretty fuckin curious bout. Either one of y'all been DP'd?

Gabriel Laroux: We're not calling it that.

Xavier Laroux: Too late, already submitted the paperwork. But hey look, that's all the time we got now. We gots shit to talk bout and ohshit, look at that. Two more ears than needed.

Xavier began to scoot the cameraman back towards that door. There was no resistance as the cameraman made his exit from the room, the picture cutting away.

BACKSTAGE
After her failure the night before, Alex was more determined than ever to make an example out of Sean tonight.

“ everyone knows why after this match tonight, Jade is someone who has had endless facing me, she has shown a belief in me that I didn’t think anyone aside from my sister would have. I’m only here because of Jade, only continue to push forward because of what she has inspired in me. When I won The right to choose any match at all? I could’ve chosen a title match, I’m sure many would have and Ava herself was quick to say that she knew I wouldn’t be a question match against her when I would request a championship match… But I’ve never been about being handed something. Last night I had a chance to become a champion and I let that slip through my fingers, I can’t and I won’t let that happen again tonight. Because this isn’t for me, this isn’t about me getting a championship, this isn’t about some accolade to hang on the wall. This is about what’s right, Sean knew exactly what he was doing and I would hope, he’s had the common sense to know exactly what’s coming for him because of that.”

And with few words, unlike her usual camera time. Alex has said all she has to say. Tonight is a night where her actions will speak for themselves.


Cage match.

BACKSTAGE
CVO: "Man, oh fuckin' man!"

Cue our favorite purple clad avenger hopping on screen, with Revy her vampire bat in hand! A wide grin on her face, those blue eyes of hers as wide as could be. She did a one-turn-spin before stampin' her foot down and pointing Revy at the camera!

CVO: "I went from the mid card to the main event in one show! Title shot ala carte! I'm in the big leagues! One night I'm beating the brakes off of Julio Banks, and now it's me and Tamsin, going toe to toe! Imagine that, Bro! I gotta fight the Liberty Champion! Why? Well, I'll tell you why I'm the one fighting this gnarly bitch instead of someone else."

She stepped forward, putting the bat 'head' down, idly resting her hands atop the bottom of the hilt, leaning in to make 'eye contact' with the camera.

CVO: "Because there's a bunch of fucking cowards here who're content to sit idle and do jack shit. There's so many people on this roster, on both rosters, that are fuckin' terrified of going for what they want and failing. They're scared to look stupid, well y'know what Baby? CVO is here on her dumb bitch shit, drinking her dumb bitch juice, ready to beat the dumb bitch champion. A call was put out there and I answered that shit. No one else had the balls."

Cue her swinging that bat up and resting it on her shoulder, using her other hand to make a fingergun, pointing it at the camera.

CVO: "I'm not here to fight Tamsin. I'm here to beat Tamsin. I'm here to beat everyone that put in front of me. This one though? The moment I take that belt, bitch, I'm gonna make it a world title again, I'm gonna make it matter, I'm going to make Liberty matter, because it's high goddamn time that someone fuckin' does! CVO, OUT!"

And WHAM! She smashed that bat into the camera just like she did last time!