Liberation: Episode Seventy-Eight, July 29th, 2022

BACKSTAGE
Kendrick is standing at his podium with a smirk on his face. He clears his throat and looks directly at the camera.

KENDRICK KROSS: This week I am in a tag match with Jace Mitchell as my partner. Well okay I can deal with that, our opponents…Nina and Lukas. Those two I can’t wait to stand across the ring from. Not because I respect them, no. Nina has what I want and Lukas? Well he failed at what he should’ve done. He beat me in a match no doubt about that but Lukas. You didn’t finish me. I’m still here and you are in for a rude awakening thinking that just beating me in a match is good enough.

Kendrick chuckles and shakes his head.

KENDRICK KROSS: Nina, you think that just because you hold that title that it makes you the best in the division. News flash…you aren’t. It’s always been me and I’m gonna end up claiming my title back. One where if you ask people they’ll tell you I never lost. Liberty went on break, I was still champion. Only reason I wasn’t champion? I didn’t come back right away. But here I am Nina and you better be ready to be in that ring with me.

Anarchy rules is my playground, this is my world, my division you just happen to be in it. You just happen to be the unfortunate two that are in my way of what I want. Jace? You stay out of my way as well. This may be a tag match but I’ll be damned if you cause us to lose.

Kendrick taps his fingers on the wooden podium, eyes still glued ahead.

KENDRICK KROSS: I hope your wife isn’t out there this time Lukas. She might just get another slap….or worse. Last thing we’d want is her to get injured right?

Kendrick winks quickly.

KENDRICK KROSS: Tonight I will show you why this is my division. I’ll do what you couldn't do. Prove to you that you don’t belong. I’ll finish the job Lukas. Nina…I’ll do the same to you. This tag match is going to end badly for both of you. I’ll be laughing when it does.

Kendrick walks off the podium and out of sight.

NARRATOR: THIS HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY KENDRICK KROSS AND THE SLAP TO SOPHIE.

BACKSTAGE
The Triple A trio are standing side by side next to each other in a line backstage. Behind them looks to be a giant flag with a large ant with an obnoxiously large gold necklace, its mandibles twisting into a snarl as it holds an assault rifle high. In front of the three women, the Furby known as Peanut sits on a table, himself decked out with a gold chain of his own and a black bandana covering the top of his head with holes cut out for his ears of course.

Ashley Sands: We tried to do things the nice and cuddly way, the way that had us talking about how glad we were to be here and that we wanted to make a difference in Liberty. But you know what, that way really sucks when you’re fighting against people that don’t follow any rules. A wise war hero named John Rambo once said “to survive a war you’ve gotta become war,” and I couldn’t agree more. And we know now that’s exactly what we’ve got on our hands here, a war.

Reaching behind her, Ashley retrieves a folded piece of paper from a pocket and starts unfolding it. It looks to be extremely complicated and looks to get larger and larger the more she opens it until it is reaching the floor. Lines, circles and crosses dot it sporadically all over.

Ashley Sands: We’ve got our battle plan and we’re clearly in the endgame of this. So we’ve got a little bit of a proposition for you Society freaks. Name whatever stipulations you want, us three against you triplet of schemers, winner takes all.

AMC is pacing around obviously not in the best of moods.

AMC: I said it last week that I wanted Becky in that ring in any type of match so yeah I am fine with whatever type of match you freaks come up with. As long as I get Becky’s blood I do not care! Just like the great War Hero Thanos did in Infinity Wars I will snap the Society’s sorry asses out of existence.

AMC then strokes her chin

AMC: Then when we win I will gladly accept that Liberty Championship! It is about time the Era of Chase began around her anyway.

Ant scowls at this

Ant: Hey that belt is mine!

AMC: Says who? I may have been hit by a truck last week by Brianna Lee Clark but I am obviously the singles wrestler of the group now considering how comfortable you looked teaming with Sully last week.

AMC smiles at Ant

Ant: No Fair!!

The former Liberty Champion looks at her friends before shaking her head. Her face looks serious, despite the joking around her friend was doing. Given the nature of the scene, Antoinette paces back and forth before looking up.

ANTOINETTE: All of us deserve gold, and we will get what we deserve. For a while now we’ve been dealing with their nonsense and it’s time this comes to an end! You see, we’ve already proved that we are the more respectable team but after you band of jerks accept our challenge the entire WORLD will know once and for all that you all don’t stand a chance against the good guys!

Antoinette shouts, before a smirk creeps on her face.

ANTOINETTE: You attacked everything about me to my good heart to even lowering yourselves down to physically abusing my FATHER. You tore into my family and now? My family and I are going to tear you all apart and take what means the most to you all! And that? Seeing you cry babies whine and moan after we do that? That will be the best revenge and even sweeter than seeing Warren get dragged away in that cop car!

Antoinette shouts, this attitude and heat coming new from the fire ant, but well deserved after everything.

ANTOINETTE: Pick whatever stipulation you want, get all the help you need. Whatever it is you pick won’t save you from the annihilation you are about to receive! Liberty has been in a dark era ever since I..I… I was outsmarted. I was outsmarted and Warren took advantage of an opportunity…I wish I could stand here and say he was the better man and took my championship like a man from me. But he proved that night that he was nothing more than a coward of a boy who is pulled a bitch move!

Her teammates are shocked by the former Champion’s language as Antoinette is never one to be foul like that, and on camera especially, but she was fuming and it was showing.

ANTOINETTE: Bring whatever stipulation you feel will help you, because it won’t matter as the fate will be the same.

AMC smirks.

AMC: Well now, I like this new Fire Ant. We go out, kick their asses, take their titles and go home. Sounds like a plan!

Antoinette smiles and nods her head before crossing her arms over her chest.

ANTOINETTE: Well punks, balls in your court so name your price. Whatever the stipulation may be? It doesn’t matter.

Antoinette says with a stern tone before she looks at her girlies, giving her squad a nod of approval and confidence before they menacingly, yet somehow adorably, stare into the cameras ready for the war that was about to come.

BACKSTAGE
The scene opens to a medium closeup shot of Lukas York with that signature smirk of his on his face despite looking like he hadn’t slept last night. Yet there was an aura of full confidence coming off him as he pointed to the camera.

Lukas York: Kendrick Kross, we meet again. Seems like this Anarchy division you so desperately wanna be known as the leader of is actually very small. You and I got beef, Nina’s here ‘cause you wanna be champ again and I figured Jade wanna test the waters further, but Jace, why are you in this match? No offense, guy, but you lost your shot last week. I can definitely see why Nina’s frustrated with the competition here. It’s the same few faces and if it’s not you two, she either wrestles a match that’s got nothing to do with the Anarchy championship or gets a night off. Yet Kendrick is still so determined to be the champ and that’s even before I stepped through those doors. If I didn’t know any better, Kendrick, did you want an easy job being in the least exciting division of this company?

That brought out a chuckle from him.

Lukas York: Hey, I hate to say it, but it is the least exciting division of the company. But that doesn’t mean I think it should be. And maybe Kendrick, you think so too. Maybe you’re just as frustrated as Nina with the hardcore scene here. When you look at the top people of Liberty, hell, just see the recent Twitter conversation among The Society, Jack Graves, Jade and Xavier where they’re talking about elevating their supershow match with hardcore stipulations. But what about us? What about the Anarchy division, the Anarchy Rulez, the Anarchy championship? We’re the ones who wrestle hardcore almost every other week. Why don’t we get the same attention, the same investment from the higher-ups? What even sets us apart from the rest of the roster? You talk too much about wanting to become the Anarchy champion, Kendrick. You even lectured me about not going any further after I got the 3-count. After I speared you right through the fucking barricade.

He paused.

Lukas York: But maybe… You had a point.

His jaw tensed as he looked down at his fists, curling and uncurling.

Lukas York: On day one, I came strolling in here with a game plan to feel things out and gradually find my place. But instead, you knocked me straight into my rightful spot in this division.

He slowly looked up at the camera again, his eyes darkening with seriousness.

Lukas York: And this is where I’m no longer holding back. I’m not taking anymore time to be a fly on the wall. I already took that leap in my personal life when I married my wife. I didn’t realize I haven’t done the same in my professional life. So consider this a quick reset. And you best be ready, Kendrick. ‘Cause I’m coming down hard on you tonight.

That smirk of his now returned.

Lukas York: And I bet you will too. You wanna be the Anarchy champ so bad? Time to beat ME to it. I won’t rest easy just ‘cause I’ve got the champ on my side. And I know you won’t either with Jace on yours ‘cause now YOU need to rise up to MY level.

He beat his chest, feeling more energized.

Lukas York: I don’t care how anyone feels about being in a tag team match. What’s more important is the Anarchy Rulez and the chance to fucking outshine every other match on this goddamn show.

He brought up a sledgehammer onto his shoulder and showed his brass-knuckled hand in full of the camera.

Lukas York: So gear up, motherfuckers. See you all out there!

BACKSTAGE
We’re zoomed in on an old chalk board, like the ones that used to be in classrooms. On the board, there are various math problems written, the majority having to do with fractions.

Wade Manson: Math was never my strong suit growin’ up, but I’m going to take a wild guess and say that our Gotham Champion is in that same boat.

Manson turned around, picking up a single piece of chalk.

Wade Manson: With Atticus and myself facing off against one another for the number one contendership, Markus was set to face the winner. That means he had a 50% chance to winning his next title defense. But now he’s gotten himself into this pickle where if me and Atticus win this handicap match, then Markus’ probability of a successful title defense goes down to 33%. So tell me, why would Markus effectively diminish his chances?

As he spoke, he began filling in random problems on the board in front of him.

Wade Manson: I even tried to ask him myself, but to no avail. I understand there are certain factors that would change that percentage, it’s not so cut and dry. However, for anything Markus has going for him, it’ll swiftly be taken away. I imagine he didn’t quite think that one through, seeing as how in a triple threat he won’t have to be pinned in order to lose the Gotham Championship. No matter how you look at it, his chance of keeping that title diminishes. I’m not too thrilled about it personally. On one hand, my chance diminish if I no longer have to be pinned to lose, right? But it also means I have two people I have the option of pinning, so my chances go back up, correct?

He scribbled through all the numbers, before placing the chalk back in it’s slot.

Wade Manson: Math it up all you want, I’m betting that at the end of it, Markus isn’t going to like what a low probability he had not only walking into this match, but the next one. I could care less what Atticus wants, I only care what I want, and that involves the Gotham Championship. Cassian and myself may not be on the same team, but I’m sure he’d also like to see YOU lose at this point. I’ve got such a higher purpose than the both of you, it’s only a matter of time before you BOTH fall victim to a power you haven’t known before.

Manson grinned at the camera.

Wade Manson: This is your warning, fellas.

And fade.

BACKSTAGE
We fade in on #TheSociety. All of them. Liberty’s most dangerous group. Together, there was no force in the history of this company with as much hatred aimed at them. They have claimed numerous championships, ran off leadership figures and talent alike, and through everything, here they were.

Warren Corbett, The Liberty champion. Becky Balfour and Seth Lawless, the tag team champions. Of course Becky’s ‘little sister’ Fantasia and the newest recruit to the family, Dex Morant were next to ‘the big three’.

Becky Balfour: Challenges are funny, aren’t they? The ego is a fragile thing. It can only take so much until it eats away at our core. Of course greed is just as sinful. To see others holding the object of your affection.

With those words, Becky looks down at the tag team championship over her shoulder with a grin.

Becky Balfour: We recognize the challenge from the three of you. All of the gold on the line. We have everything to lose, and nothing to gain. That’s how it looks from the outside. On the contrary, there’s always something in it for us. In this case, it’s the chance to rid Liberty of the three of you, because you made the mistake of granting us the choice of stipulation.

Fantasia literally begins to snarl and growl at the camera as Becky pats her head to calm her down. L

Becky Balfour: In granting us the choice of stipulation you open yourselves up to more harm and punishment than you could have ever imagined. That’s the thing about us. Say what you will, but we’ve never backed down from a fight, and if you want to wrestle away the championships you lust over, you’re going to be in for the fight of your lives.

Warren grew a smirk across his face, moving his head from side to side.

Warren Corbett: Interesting that you three come to us, wanting a six man tag match of sorts. Are you afraid, Ant? Are you afraid that a one-on-one between us could end your dreams of ever holding the Liberty Championship again? What about you, Ashley, and you, AMC? Are you fearful of coming up empty handed the way you did the last time you tried challenging for the Tag Team Championships?

He chuckles slightly, tapping first the Tag championship on Becky’s shoulder, and then the one on Seth’s shoulder.

Warren Corbett: Whatever the reason, you’ve just made a grave mistake. Apart from one another, we’d easily find ourselves atop the pack of any roster. But together? Together we are a force so unstoppable that we are the most decorated group in Liberty HISTORY. If anything, you should be terrified to face us as a unit.

His arms stretched outward, his hands pointing backwards at #TheSociety as a whole.

Warren Corbett: What do you think, Bex? Something like a three stages of hell match? Seth, what are you most in the mood for? How about an exploding ring of some sort? OH! I got it, how about an ambulance match, because that’s where you three are headed regardless!

Seth smiles a bit as he looks at the tag team title.

Seth Lawless: No, no do you know what we need?

He smirks as he looks into the camera.

Seth Lawless: The one match we’ve never fell in. The one match where the ring is surrounded by people. The one match where the ring is by itself no fans.

He laughs as he knows what he’s about to say.

Seth Lawless: That’s right a warehouse match. So you want to end us…

He laughs.

Seth Lawless: Try it.

The “Big Three” hold the three championships up to the camera. Within moments, the gold plates engulf the lens before the fade.

BACKSTAGE
Nina: Hey Liberty, it’s me ya girl.

Hours before the show started, the Anarchy champion was sitting alone in the middle of an empty ring, looking down at the title resting on her lap, almost trying to mirror herself in it.

Nina: I was gonna open up with the classic “your favorite Anarchy champion” but then I realized I’m nothing in comparison to the TRUE GOAT, Kendrick Kross.

Needless to say she was being sarcastic. But if that wasn’t obvious already, the exaggerated eye roll was a dead giveaway.

Nina: You know, I get it. Confidence really goes a long way in a line of work like this, if you don’t believe in yourself, who will? and all that jazz, But Double K? Man he’s just so full of himself. And he’s shit. So you can just put two and two together, do the math and figure out where I’m going with this…

She smiled for the briefest of moments, before turning once again serious.

Nina: So yeah, I’m looking particularly forward to shutting him up. Thankfully I have a reliable partner on my side. Lemme spend a minute to talk about Lukas York, since I haven’t addressed him ever since our match a couple of weeks ago,

The Viper looked straight into the camera.

Nina: You’re a good kid, Lukas. And most importantly, you’re talented as fuck. On any other occasion, I would’ve loved to team with you. I would have signed up to fight by your side whatever battle you found yourself in. You’re one of the few people in this company I can stand, one of the few who are worth fighting for and with…

The cadence of her words portends a but.

Nina: But this… I don’t know man, it just looks like drama we could have avoided. In my eyes, and I would hope in management’s eyes too, you are the next in line for my title. You proved it to me, you proved it to the fans.

The Chicago native stood up and placed the title on her waist, giving it another glance.

Nina: I would’ve rather put this on the line against you tonight than being the third wheel in this bromance of yours. But it is what it is, I don’t get to book the matches and neither do you. But whoever does should be more careful not to give undeserving folks a chance to weasel themselves into a potential title opportunity.

Nina shrugged her shoulders before continuing.

Nina: We still have a chance to throw a wrench in their plan. You didn't let me down so far, Lukas. Don’t start tonight, ok?

Turning around she left the ring, heading backstage for the last preparations for her match.





Nina: Well, at least I get to defend my title, so there’s that.

The Anarchy champion was caught chatting on the phone backstage, and by the look and the smile on her face, she was talking with someone she held dear.

Nina: I mean, it’s still pretty random but not as much as being thrown in a battle royale, right?

Despite the words coming out from her mouth, the eye roll was a dead giveaway that the recent booking left her quite perplexed.

Nina: I know, I promised…I’m not… What the fuck? I’m not bitching… What do you mean I’m live on TV?

Made aware of the presence of the camera by her caller, she finally turned to the cameraman and mouthed the words “I’ll kill you” to them. Which was enough of a threat for them to take a step back, even though they didn’t stop filming the (not so) private conversation.

Nina: I actually like Jade, she is a level-headed boss… Something else is bugging me and you know what…

The person on the other side of the phone said something inaudible, causing Nina to stop.

Nina: I’m sorry but I can’t…

She let out a long sigh.

Nina: It would work better if you were here… I know, I’m just saying… I have so many things going through my mind, it’s hard to focus on the match. And you have a knack for keeping me straight.

Whatever was said by the other person caused Nina to burst out laughing.

Nina: Shut up, you know what I mean!

It took her a moment but eventually she regained her composure.

Nina: Yeah… I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll bring home the Anarchy championship as well.

With a big smile on her face, she closed the conversation and leaned back against the wall. She didn’t follow up on her threat to the cameraman, whoever she was talking to somehow calmed her down. Still, they weren’t taking any chances and, just in case she changed her mind, the cameraman left the scene.

BACKSTAGE
Thatcher was whistling as he walked around backstage, twirling a toy gun in his hand before he caught it in his hand and pointed at the camera.

Thatcher Ray Nash: Damn, I’m good. I’m going to look even better when I beat the shit out of Becky Bumfour in this bull rope match. I know she wanted a one on one with my boy, Jack Graves, but she’s gonna have to settle with fighting me.

He nodded confidently.

Thatcher Ray Nash: I know she’s all preoccupied with the Three A’s and all that, but right now? She needs to focus on me because if she don’t? Shit… She might not make it to Oblivion III. Because a Texas Bull Rope match ain’t no joke. This shit is right up my territory. We only get 14 feet of space with this rope separating us. There ain’t no runnin’, ain’t no games. It’s just an all out brawl. Let’s ride.

He walked out of the frame and it cut away.

BACKSTAGE
Talking to Tim Anderson, Melissa Reeves is backstage ahead of her match later tonight.

Melissa Reeves:
So, TJ huh? Looks like it’s us teaming up tonight, us against Jackal and Tyson. Now we’ve both got reason to want to score the pin tonight, but it’s also important to remember we need to be the ones winning. Picking the stipulation gives a clear advantage, we all know that.

She talks over Tim’s attempt to ask her his first question.

Melissa Reeves:
Jackal, you’ve been on a tear lately, not surprised to see you involved in all of this. I’m sure you fancy taking the win tonight for yourself, and I can’t blame you.

Shrugging, she remains stoic.

Melissa Reeves:
Thing is, can you trust Tyson as a partner?

She shakes her head.

Melissa Reeves:
Of course not, look at the man’s history. Time after time he goes and stabs people in the back, he goes and shows himself a coward and unwilling to put in the hard work. You’re smart enough to know all of this, though.

She scoffs next.

Melissa Reeves:
And Tyson, well, you don’t get much from me here. I’ll let my actions speak for me about you.

She finally turns to Tim.

Melissa Reeves:
It’s good to chat to you, Tim, glad we did this.

After patting his shoulder, she heads off. Yet again he’s not managed to ask even a single thing.

RINGSIDE
The lights go down in the arena as the strum of a singular guitar chord echoes throughout the building. It's followed by the click of a lighter. One, two, three times, until the megatron is illuminated by the dancing flame. The flame licks at the tip of a cigar, the cherry red ember glowing to life as the owner takes a few puffs. He exhales, the smoke dancing it's way toward the camera screen as a now growing soft ambient light ushers away the darkness to show the stoic face of "The Outlaw" Jack Graves.

For the first time since his arrival to Liberty, he's met with a mixed reaction. The Rayven fans in the crowd give him a loud rain of boos, but the faithful #OutlawNation manage to drown them out and this gets a smirk from Jack, who takes another couple drags of his backwoods. Setting the blunt aside, Jack begins to strum a song. He not only sings along in perfect pitch, but his emotions are injected into the song as performs a chilling rendition of "Loud and Heavy" by Cody Jinks.