Liberty & Empire Present... FFTROS III, Night Two

PREVIOUSLY RECORDED
The scene opened inside the MSG, hours before the beginning of night 2 of Festivus. Oddly enough, there was a ladder standing in the middle of the ring.

Leanne Jones: So who is it going to be, huh? My guts say Tyson, of the three of you he seems to be the horse Savell would bet on, if anything because they go back a long way. Bad Boys For Life, right?

The voice came from atop the ladder. As the camera looked up, we found Leanne Jones sitting there, just like she will aim to do later tonight in order to win the Liberty In The Bank Ladder Match. In her left hand, she held a briefcase, similar to the one that usually gets hung in this type of match.

Leanne Jones: Don't get me wrong, I believe it's a smart strategy. Using the numerical advantage to help one of you win the Liberty In The Bank, I probably would've done the same back in the day, but I don't have that luxury anymore. Nor do I want it.

Jones paused.

Leanne Jones: I don’t know if management is trying to send me some kind of message by constantly putting me against The Division, but I want to stress once again that this is not my war. I wish Melissa the best of luck against them, but I didn’t come to LPW to partake in some kerfuffle against Julian and his minions.

The Valiant Chaos champion rested the briefcase on her lap, clicking the lock open.

Leanne Jones: I came here to wrestle, to win titles, to prove myself. I know this is not what you’d expect considering my history in Valiant, but that’s the whole point. I know my… Attitude there precludes me opportunities I could and should get, and I’m fine with that. I accepted my role in that company, I embraced it even.

She opened the briefcase, pulling out what looked like a canvas.

Leanne Jones: But just like Frank Sinatra once said, I want to make a brand new start in old New York. I want a place where I can fight people inside a ring, not those in positions of power. I want battles that start and end when the bell rings, not long wars that have no end in sight. I want to worry about myself and myself alone, not about the good of all. And yes, I realize that this sounds selfish, but the truth is that all wrestlers are. It’s why groups like the Division, like the Society always have and always will thrive. Because nobody gives a shit until it directly affects them.

Pulling out the content of the briefcase, she hung it on the hook where, later tonight, the Liberty In The Bank will be dangling from.

Leanne Jones: And seeing how, despite their attempts at making this my problem, a bunch of puppets and the narcissist with a Messiah complex pulling their strings are not my concern, I’ll stick to my original plan.

Leanne started to climb down the ladder, finally letting the camera see what she was carrying in that briefcase.

Liberty is a bitch who must be bedded on a mattress of corpses.
Neil Gaiman, American Gods.

Leaving the ominous message hanging above the ring, Leanne left the scene, her footsteps echoing in the empty Arena.

BACKSTAGE
Backstage, the camera catches familiar faces roaming the halls: The Smartest Man in Wrestling is here, dressed casually, nothing like one might expect from the owner of Empire Pro. There’s an echo of boos from the arena, fans making their opinions known when they see Chuck Matthews on their screens.

Lauren Parker: “You’re certainly not in Toronto anymore.”

The boos increase; it’s apparent that people aren’t much more fond of Parker than they are of Matthews. Neither of them seem particularly bothered by this, but despite the short travel time between them, the crowd in New York has a much different opinion of Chuck than wrestling fans in Canada.

Chuck Matthews: “Wrestling is a different beast in Canada.”

Lauren Parker: “I keep learning things about you.”

Chuck Matthews: “I should hope so.”

The two of them reach a door; Chuck knocks, but before an answer arrives, he’s already reaching for the handle.

Robb Hardy: “It’s op-”

Chuck has already swung open the door. Jade Night is sitting across the desk from him, but stands to shake Chuck’s hand upon his arrival.

Jade Night: “I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure you’d be able to make it.”

Chuck Matthews: “My flight came in last night. I had some free time.”

Robb’s smile has faded when he spots Lauren enter the office behind Chuck.

Robb Hardy: “Ms Parker… I didn’t expect you here. Surely you’re not here to take your old job back?”

He eyes Chuck as he says it, as though Chuck himself would wave his hand and fire Robb on the spot for no other reason than because he could, but Chuck waves him off.

Chuck Matthews: “Not at all. Lauren’s here as an invited guest.”

Lauren Parker: “I thought I might poke around… see what you all have done with my old company.”

Robb Hardy: “We’ve got everything under control, thank you.”

Chuck looks from Robb to Lauren.

Chuck Matthews: “Play nice, you two… Lauren’s just here as an invited guest. Now, there WERE a few things I wanted to discuss with you, specifically-”

He’s interrupted by a knock at the door that he’d just closed behind him. Chuck looks to Robb and Jade, who exchange confused glances, and Chuck opens the door.

Chuck Matthews: “Ah.”

He steps aside, perhaps wisely, as the new guest is Chloe Collins, flanked by Sgt. Madeline Mason and the mighty Reaper.

Chloe Collins: “So it’s true then… you ARE in attendance tonight.”

Chuck Matthews: “That surprises you?”

Chloe Collins: “Maybe it shouldn’t. But you’re a busy man. I’ve heard you’ve been out of the country a lot lately.”

Chuck Matthews: “Business.”

Chloe forces a smile.

Chloe Collins: “Of course.”

Robb Hardy: “Was there something you needed, Miss Collins?”


Chloe looks past Chuck, to the GM sitting behind the desk. She looks from Robb, to Jade, to Lauren, and finally back to Chuck.

Chloe Collins: “No… only to warn our esteemed owner here.”

Chuck’s face lights up with amusement.

Chloe Collins: “You mentioned, some weeks ago, that you were building an empire. That made us realize… reopening Empire wasn’t a coincidence, was it?”

Chuck opens his mouth to respond, but Chloe continues.

Chloe Collins: “You’re a wrestling legend. Everything you’ve done for this business, they know it and they respect it, and for years Canada is the one place outside your home city where you’re still a hero… except you can’t run shows in Chicago without going head-to-head with your old baby.”

She motions to Lauren.

Chloe Collins: “And this personal business can’t be coincidence either… she was the old Empire GM, wasn’t she?”

Lauren frowns, and eyes Chuck, reading his face for any indication of disloyalty.

Chloe Collins: “Good plan. Every week, we’re treated to a nationally televised show where you can appear to thunderous applause. That’s good publicity, isn’t it? Huge crowds all cheering your name, and all of it televised for the world to see?”

Chuck Matthews: “Is this going anywhere, Chloe dear?”

Chloe winces, like his manufactured pleasantness physically hurts her ears. Once upon a time, she’d admired him, just as the people of Chicago, just like the people of Canada admired him. Never meet your heroes.

Chloe Collins: “Only that we’re not in Toronto anymore. You don’t have the crowd on your side in New York… a lot can happen here.”

Chuck Matthews: “Are you threatening me?”

Reaper and Jackal step forward, prepared to intercept the mastermind if he makes any sudden moves. Chuck’s watchful eyes dart up to the giant, and he takes a small step back, raising his hands in surrender.

Chuck Matthews: “May need to watch your dogs, Chloe… the big one looks like he may be rabid.”

Reaper looks annoyed.

Chuck Matthews: “You know, after all these years, I thought you might have learned: It never really turns out well for the people who threaten me.”

He eyes the two SABER troops, then looks back to Chloe.

Chuck Matthews: “Be very careful how you proceed next.”

Chloe smiles, and says nothing more, instead looking up to Reaper and Jackal, who lead her from the office. Lauren walks up to Chuck, slipping her arms around his in an uncharacteristic sign of support. Chuck stares out the open doorway, a small frown etched into his face.

Lauren Parker: “Well that was silly… they alerted you to their whole scheme, why bother coming here to give a warning?”

Chuck Matthews: “Because it’s what I would have done.”

He grunts, but the corner of his lips curve upwards. He looked almost… proud, in an unusual way.

Chuck Matthews: “Clever as they come, that girl.”

He looks back to Robb and Jade, who look ready to act should anything take place.

Chuck Matthews: “Business as usual. We have nothing to worry about.”

BACKSTAGE
There was a somber look of expression on the face of the former Liberty Pro US Champion Kaia Grainger. The Light Bringer for weeks now hadn’t seemed like herself in the culmination of events that led to this match between herself, Dex Morant, and the Noir Champion Rayven Hardy. Tonight dressed in her prestigious white, she looked somber as she carried herself down the hall of the Arena, While Several of the Festivus matches had concluded from both Night One and Part of Night Two, she seemed preoccupied to say the least glancing off into the distance, before she paused as if she finally realized the cameras were there. She gave a half-smirk, seemingly the best that she could muster under the circumstances.

Kaia Grainger: “You know normally, I would be here to tell you about all of the things I plan to do in this match. To remind you of how I have access to a special plane of understanding known as the light, and that the light tells me that tonight is going to be something . . . special.”

She gave a brief pause barely audible in her speech.

Kaia Grainger: “That is what I would normally do, yes, but tonight is about normality. This match for the Noir Championship is far from how I would normally approach anything truly, because not only has one of the competitors crossed the line more than once, but the other has taken the virtuous demeanor of believing she can speak for me, simply because I choose not to give in to the childish antics. Quite frankly, it is alarming how often one believes they can speak for you in situations and automatically think your opinion aligns with their own simply because you don’t correct them on it.”

She laughs at that though it is hardly with any sense of humor, instead it is dry and rather crass as she shakes her head.

Kaia Grainger: “The truth is, I am tired of the both of them. Dex, because he doesn’t know when to quit and when to stop pushing and Rayven because she feels she needs to be fulfilled via others feelings about her. She needs you to know she is intensifying her workouts before a big match, even though we all know having muscle fatigue before a big match is actually a no-no, but I digress, the principle being that she needs you to think this is what she is doing because she thinks it makes her look good. She’s a fighting champion after all, one that garners your respect so she regurgitates the same rhetoric she’s spilt every other time she’s gone to defend her championship and blah, blah, blah the cycle continues. Dex on the other hand is a little more original, but I’ve still not forgotten the amount of disrespect you’ve shown me throughout your entire charade. Thinking that you can do and say whatever you want without consequence because you suddenly have the balls to come out from under every one else’s shadow.”

With that she gave an actual smirk.

Kaia Grainger: “People will never let you forget where you came from though Dex, that’s what they’re good at, you may throw my past up in my face, you can mock my religion which quite frankly is none of your god damn business, and you can even pretend you’re imitating me by taking pictures of yourself walking on the moon, but the fact of the matter is all of that is a child-like take on a match you aren’t truly ready for.”

She paused once further.

Kaia Grainger: “You want to know who is truly ready for this match though? You want to know who’s worked her ass off day in and out for the past year even after capturing gold in Liberty before? Me! I didn’t need to intensify my work outs, I didn’t need to bark some meaningless drivel, because I was prepared for this type of match the minute I stepped foot back in Liberty Pro. I knew the stakes of what I was getting into and I chose this match because I knew exactly what the stakes were. I didn’t need to pay a referee to earn my spot, and while I can respect what level of prestige Rayven has brought to the Noir Championship, there is nothing that tells me I shouldn’t be the one holding that belt right now, but much like any good story may unfold, is it better to show than to tell, and thus that is exactly what I am going to do. Tonight, The Noir Championship leaves with me and if I happen to break your neck well consider it just a little Starshine on the way down.”

With that she winks to the camera. Before walking out of scene.

BACKSTAGE
Festivus For The Rest Of Us III continues as we fade to some pre-recorded comments from TJ Techniques. The Funky Technician stands in front of a warehouse with a sign that signs "5BBA" on the front. A couple of seconds later, TJ nods his head as the memories come flooding back. There wasn't anything flashy about this building. It would be easy to drive right past it and not give it a second glance. But behind those doors was where magic was made. These were his humble beginnings. The fundamentals, the building blocks, the tools that he used to get him to where he is today? It all started right here inside this very building. Instead of bringing us inside, TJ turns to the camera and thumbs behind him.

TJ Techniques: I don't expect any of y'all to recognize the place that's currently behind me. It never served as a developmental pipeline for one of the top companies in the game. It was never run by some famous old timer. It never had any big name guest trainers. But this right here? This was the trenches. This is where I got it out the mud. This is where I learned my craft.

TJ lets a couple of seconds pass before continuing.

TJ Techniques: Let me take y'all back a couple of years. About six or seven years, to be exact. There was this well known fed that was based out of New Jersey not too far from here. It's still runnin' to this day. Anyway, this company had started it's own little developmental joint a year prior. They had a pretty good track record of developin' talent. As a young cat at the time who was a fan of wrestlin', I naturally wanted in. So I went to they tryout and I did my thing. I did all the drills. I did the interviews. I got in front of the class and cut my little promo. I thought I killed it out there. But one by one, I saw every person that was in that tryout with me get signed. If they didn't get signed by that place, they got brought in to somebody else's developmental. Every single person in that tryout got signed... except for one.

TJ thumbs to himself.

TJ Techniques: A couple of months later, I get put on to this place called RISE Wrestling. It's servin' as a developmental for this placed called Hard Knox Wrestlin'. I figured if that first place didn't want me, then surely I could get put on here. I mean shit, gettin' to sit under the learnin' tree of the legends they had runnin' that place would be a huge opportunity. So once again, I go down there and send in my joints. I send in my headshots and my pre-tapes. I do the interviews. I do the drills. I feel like I'm killin' it. Yet once again, another door gets slammed in my face because apparently I wasn't good enough.

TJ let's out a smirk. Now, he can laugh at all this.

TJ Techniques: People down there didn't see the potential in me. I wasn't good enough. But apparently, people with the last name Banks were good enough. People with the last name Vialpando were good enough. People with the last name of Sands... were good enough.

Another smirk.

TJ Techniques: Antoinette, this match here tonight has been a long time comin'. Truth be told, this match shouldn't even be our first time goin' one on one against each other. That tag match from a couple of shows back? That shouldn't have been the first time we shared a ring. See, you and I should've been comin' up through the ranks together ages ago. I was just as good as Jordan Parker, Alex Kaiser, Elijah Redmayne, Felix Vialpando, Ashley Hamilton, yourself, your man, your bro, Boaz Kennedy, JZ Crowns and everyone else on down the line. Time has shown that while a lot of those names and many others that were in RISE have had start and stop careers at best and faded into obscurity at worst, yours truly has been the one that's been on a consistent, gradual rise over the last six years. Time has also shown us that the decision makers down there made a bad bet because they let a generational talent slip through they goddamn fingers. I wasn't like you. I wasn't given a major platform to start out my career like you did. I didn't have 50 famous cousins like you did. I didn't get put on because of my last name like you were. And that ain't me throwin' shade. That's me keepin' it a buck. Now, credit to you for finally sheddin' the famous last name... years down the line after you already got put on.

TJ shrugs before continuing.

TJ Techniques: But credit to you for makin' somethin' out of yourself. As we stand here in 2023, you deserve everything you currently have. I can't hate. You busted that ass to win that championship not once, but twice. You put in the work. You've showed and proved that you are somebody. Antoinette don't gotta flex that last name to stand out anymore. Antoinette stands tall on her own name. And I salute that. I truly do.

TJ holds up a finger, indicating that a "BUT..." is coming.

TJ Techniques: But you ain't the only one that's been puttin' in the work. I took the long road to get to where I'm at right now. And it wasn't because I was some screwup that couldn't keep his nose clean, literally, and couldn't stay out of trouble. It's because it was the only road that was given to me. I went to some hole in the wall in Colorado, then down to the southwest and Mexico, then down to Australia, then over to Scotland before finally makin' somethin' for myself here in the U.S. in Liberty Pro. While this company was gettin' clowned on and shat upon all over Twitter a couple of years ago, people like me where the ones that were puttin' in the work, puttin' this place on our backs and buildin' it back up to respectability to make it a viable destination for people like yourself and many others. I'm the man that took the Freedom Champion and took it to new heights while defendin' it against the Helena Noirs and the Emery Laytons of the word.

The Funky Technician takes a second to collect his thoughts before continuing.

TJ Techniques: April 11, 2022. That was my last night as the Freedom Champion. For the past 271 days, I have been scratchin' and clawin' to get to this very moment. To get to this very moment tonight where I can once again call myself a top champion in this company. This one on one match between you and me, Ant, has been a long time comin'. Me challengin' for another top championship in this company has been a long time comin'. I know you're fired up. I know the past couple of shows haven't gone the way you wanted them to and on tonight, of all nights, you want to turn all your bad fortunes around against me. You've got your friends over here and the ones over in Empire that rock with you cheerin' you on. You've got the Ant Nation on your side. But you gotta understand that this is New York City, baby. This my my backyard. These are my stompin' grounds. This.... is my house. The Ant Nation? Yeah, they'll be in effect tonight. But they ain't about to outnumber my people in the buildin'. Not by a long shot.

TJ points directly at the camera.

TJ Techniques: Ant, you've got talent. You've got work ethic. You're an amazin' wrestler. I won't take any of that away from you. The only thing I will take away from you, though, is that Liberty Championship. And I will. 2022, I started off the year over on Freedom as the Freedom Champion. 2023, I'll usher in a new era over here as the new Liberty Champion. Now peep that..

BACKSTAGE
It’s post match time and Rylee Robinson is running up to Dex Morant with a mic.

Rylee Robinson: Dex! What was that about!? Can you explain? Are you and Kaia in alignment?

A grin runs over Dex’s face as he shrugs.

Dex Morant: Are we? Or did I make everyone reveal their true colors tonight?

He shrugs again.

Dex Morant: I need a shower. Unless you wanna join me, I’ll give you the interview you’ve been wanting next week. Got it?

He winks at Rylee and walks off as she stands there shocked.

BACKSTAGE
It’s the second night of the highly anticipated two night Liberty Pro event Festivus for the Rest of Us III. We are live from Madison Square Garden in New York and the scene cuts backstage to show the current Liberty Champion, Antoinette standing backstage. Dressed in her ring gear covered with her Catch Sports Academy hoodie, she has her FGA Legacy Championship draped on her left side with her Liberty Championship draped on her right. It has been an intense two nights so far…but things aren’t over yet.

ANTOINETTE: “Madison Square Garden..can you feel it?”

Antoinette takes a deep breath before closing her eyes. She takes in the moment before nodding her head with her large smile lighting up the room.

ANTOINETTE: “It’s the night we’ve been waiting for ANNNTNAAATION! Finally the time has come for your local Alien Queen to put up or shut up and defend my Liberty Championship against my good friend TJ…despite the rocky road we’ve had recently. You see, we’ve had a little misunderstanding a couple weeks prior to this match where things weren’t as they seemed. I thought he had…done something with ill intent when in reality he was indeed being a good friend and making sure Markus and I didn’t get clobbered by attention seeking bums!”

The Champ shakes her head and sighs out before looking up.

ANTOINETTE: “TJ…for that I am truly sorry. I should have known better and not assumed the worst…but what I’m not sorry for? Is what I’m going to do out there tonight to keep my Liberty Championship. I’ve been through hell and back to get here in the first place. The first time I lost it? It was a wild ending that shouldn’t have happened. Make no mistake about it, things won’t be the same this time. I know better and I’ve learned. I heard you loud and clear when you gave your little warning and I am fully prepared to go to war..”

Antoinette says with a look of confidence as she adjusts both her championships.

ANTOINETTE: “Winning the Liberty Championship changed my life forever. It made people see me in a different light and take me more seriously. People for once in my life looked at me as an individual and a threat to this industry for top spots. I’ve been blessed with opportunities and I’ve been given the chance to take this company and launch it to the top of our industry forever as we know it and I will not take a single moment for granted no matter who is in my way… starting with tonight.”

Antoinette starts to pace back and forth, licking her lips before she looks up with seriousness.

ANTOINETTE: “TJ I love and respect you. We’ve been following each other for a bit now in our careers and I’ve looked up to your skill for the longest time. But because I have that love and respect for you doesn’t mean that I’m going to let you take what changed my life forever. There is still so much left I have to do…and it just isn’t time for the fire ant season to be done. I invite you and welcome you to bring every single thing you got because tonight I’m not going out like the first time I lost this. I just hope you understand…this is strictly business, pal…”

The Liberty Champion stares into the cameras, letting those words sink in before she takes a deep breath in, clutching on her championship hard before hoisting it up to her lips kissing the face of it before turning to head to her match.

BACKSTAGE
Outside of MSG, The West Indian Whirlwind stares at the skyline, admiring the cityscape backdropped against the night sky. For a few moments, he seems to be still as stone. Barely breathing, barely moving, an utter statue. He isn’t even dressed in his usual ring gear yet, perhaps having stood there since he got to the arena and not moving. His lips parted briefly as if to put something into words but he stayed silent for just a bit longer.

Sparrow: How many enemies have you made in your career, Blyss? How many people have you made despise you? I know of a few, a few people who seemed to be haunted by you, who have never forgotten you...But I just wanted to know if you ever thought about how many you made. Maybe for you it ain’t even that big a deal. Another day at the office. What does all the enmity mean if you weren’t Freedom Champion. If you weren’t Empire Pro Champion. You do what you have to do to survive, even if it follows everyone else as a casualty.

He blinked.

Sparrow: Well Dante is my casualty now. Maybe I can let go of whatever enmity I have--had for Ryan and Lily. Maybe I can put some of that behind me but you...? You specifically, Blyss? I will never stop hating you.

He doesn’t look particularly happy with this revelation. If anything, the B.I.R.D. looks exhausted at the prospect even as it left his lips. His head dips back, dreadlocks swaying backward and behind his ears.

Sparrow: Whatever...Innocence I think I saw in the purity of this industry died the day I met you on the other side of the ring. It didn’t begin with you making an obsessive point of targeting TJ. It ain’t start being a thing in that brief time that we had a common goal for Lily. It was that moment, that moment that I beat TJ for the Freedom Championship and was proceeded to be picked apart by you, by Ryan, by Dante, all at Lily’s behest. A defunct championship that no longer exists, gone and faded into history. As if it never happened. As if my literal fifteen minutes of sitting on the top just...Gone. All of it, gone. It was that moment that began me on a slow, slow descent...But am I really to blame you? Is it all of what’s happened or...Was this just always me?

There’s a flicker of sadness in his voice before it gets swallowed up...Into a laugh. Dry and humorless.

Sparrow: I had a lot of people, a lot of wrestlers who I could feel a certain kind of way about but there was at least that baseline modicum of respect for who they were, what they wanted to be. Even on his worst day, Michael Marou...I had the slimmest bit of respect for him. Donovan Rich? Man loved his daughter. If nothing else, nothing else whatsoever, he wanted to provide. You...? There’s nothing redeemable about you. There’s nothing to admire, nothing to lock into, nothing to save. All I want to do is hurt you. Everything...Everything that I’ve done, all I’ve struggled with, is just so I could hurt you. There’s not a soul left to protect you, no one to pinch hit for you, no one to change rules in your favor. There’s just you, just me, and an Ambulance.


The West Indian Whirlwind seethed out through his grit teeth.

Sparrow: ...And after we’re done here tonight? That part of me that stays on you will linger forever, just like a piece of you will hang on me forever. I hope forever Blyss...Forever that you never forget me. You never forget that of all the people who hated you, one of them was willing to throw it all away, give everything, just to harm you and the most important person to you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give, nothing I wouldn’t have sacrificed to be standing here tonight. Tonight when I’m stomping your face in until you swallow your teeth? When I’ve got an Ambulance door and I keep bringin’ it down on your head again and again? I want you to remember that piece of you that has been left in me. Goodbye Blyss. Mel. Former Empire Champion. My worst enemy.

RECORDED LAST NIGHT
The camera opens up in a locker room. The monitors in the room are off, everything is eerily quiet. In the center of the room sitting on a chair is the man who narrowly managed to defend his Empire Championship: “The Kraken” Marcus Black. His Championship sits next to him as He sits still, his head down, his body beaten and bruised. His body is taped up and as he looks up to the camera you can see light impressions of the steel in his face.

Marcus Black: Tonight was a war. I knew it was going to be. Even so, knowing what is coming and going through it are two very different things. To Derrick’s credit he delivered on /almost/ everything he claimed. He was aggressive, violent, relentless. It is rare that anyone can match me in any of those factors, let alone all three. He entered that cage determined to leave as Empire Champion. This is the first time I have faced Derrick in the ring but having watched his previous work I have no doubt that I faced him at his very best.

And I won.

He shifts his position a little and winces slightly.

Marcus Black: While right now I cannot lift my championship above my head for emphasis, I still left that cage as Empire Champion, and I left Derrick a wreck inside of it. For all your claims of me overlooking you Derrick, it was very much the other way around. You were so focused on getting that title, on trying to prove you are just as good as you say you are that you just assumed you would win. You knew how good you were and just figured that would be enough. Let me say this again for you and everyone else on this roster.

This is my. Fucking. Empire.

Whether you are a guppie, a shark, a killer whale, or another supposed kraken, you all swim in /my/ fucking waters. But I see you all out all out there. Looking for a way to take me out. To take this Empire for yourself. To hang a Kraken on your wall.

Marcus smirks.

Marcus Black: Good. That is what I want. A conqueror is only as strong as the foes he vanquishes so I want the best to challenge me. To try and test me. Like Derrick did tonight. Just know that no matter what you bring or how hard you fight, the result is going to be the same as it was tonight.

Marcus slowly stands, picking up his duffel bag in one hand and his championship with the other, both down at his sides.

Marcus Black: This ocean that is Empire Pro is my domain and anyone who tries to swim against the tide and challenge that is going to find out what everyone else that has stepped to me has found out: When you try and fight a Kraken, you fucking drown.

With that Marcus leaves the shot as the lights go out.