EPISODE 7: Uh oh...

APRIL 26, 2010
THE VENUE; HORSESHOE HOTEL & CASINO
HAMMOND, INDIANA
10:55 PM LOCAL TIME


"THAT COUNT WAS SLOW, PARIAH!"

Terrence Thompson rolled his eyes in disgust as the obviously inebriated fan rose to his feet, shaking his fist in outrage. Of course the count was slow! He'd probably purchase an electric car before John Pariah ever willingly gave Danny Szatkowski a win in a match.

The fan continued to scream imprecations down on the PWX legend, and Terrence looked down at his half-full cup of Mountain Dew. For a second, he considered winging it at the fan's head, but ultimately rejected the idea. The idiot was probably too drunk to realize that picking a fight with him was a bad idea, and he doubted that JPO would look favorably on his wrestlers brawling with fans- especially during the main event of a pay-per-view.

Instead, he leaned against the wall of the entrance tunnel, and turned his attention back to the ring. Danny was screaming at Pariah, giving him a piece of his mind.

"Stay on him, you idiot," Terrence muttered as Ojeda began to stir, unseen by Danny.

"Hey," a female soprano voice rang behind him, forcing Terrence to turn around. He smiled as Wendy walked up next to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. She had changed into her street clothes, just like he had, although the green and black print ruffled blouse and black pants she wore were considerably classier than the IMS T-shirt and jeans he wore.

"Hey," he answered back, giving his wife a glance and a smile, then turned his attention back to the ring.

Wendy followed his gaze, her pleasant demeanor evaporating as she watched Ojeda roll a pizza cutter over Danny Szatkowski's forehead. "Lovely" she scoffed with disdain.

"You shoulda seen the bit with the sandpaper," Terrence chuckled, watching his wife stare angrily at the ring. "Ah," he remarked as Ojeda grabbed a barbed-wire baseball bat. "This oughta bring back memories."

Immediately, he realized that the offhand comment had not been well received, as Wendy turned away, shaken. He knew immediately the bat had reminded her of Lucifer, the trademark weapon of Rick "Ulfric" Logan. Apparently the wound of her friends death wasn't healing nearly as quick as he thought.

"These idiots are going to end up just like him." Wendy said quietly.

Terrence nodded absent-mindedly, wincing as the cruel barbs dug into Danny Szatkowski's skin.

"Jake told me this is what really killed Rick," Wendy continued, gesturing down to the ring.

Terrence nodded again, although he wasn't exactly sure how a wrestling match would cause someone to blow his brains out. Well, unless you lost to somebody like Grayson Willis...

Still, it was nice to see his wife not blaming herself for Logan's death anymore, and he told her so.


"I know," Wendy said, "although I'm not without blame. But, Terry, Rick could barely move at the end. He couldn't hear out of one ear, he could barely see out of one eye. He lived his life in constant pain, and was so addicted to painkillers..." she paused. "He was never going to wrestle again, and there was nothing left for him in his life. So he took it."

"But how many out there are just like him? How many people are so crippled and disfigured by the time they're thirty because of this idiotic notion that these deatchmatches bring glory?"

Terrence shrugged again. "I suppose, but its a part of wrestling, now."

"Its not wrestling!" Wendy snapped angrily. "What technical ability do you need to swing a bat at somebody? How many years of training and dedication does it take to throw another human being through a board of fluorescent light tubes? Its not wrestling... its an excersise in barbaric sadism."

"That looks like wrestling," Terrence commented, as Danny drove Ojeda through a board with a Death Valley Driver.

"That's because Danny Szatkowski, as stupid as he is for taking this match, is a wrestler. A good one at that. And he doesn't need this novelty show to prove it. Ojeda, on the other hand, no wonder he wanted this match. Its all he honestly knows."

Terrence almost chuckled, knowing that his wife had to be pretty steamed to openly insult another wrestler. He silenced himself, though. He had a feeling his wife would not respond well to being laughed at.

"At least the fans like it." He settled for saying.

"So did the fans back in ancient Rome, as men hacked each other to death with gladiuses." Wendy replied disdainfully. "Is that what's next? The fed president sits at ringside to decide the loser's fate?"

"This really bothers you, doesn't it?" Terrence asked quietly.

Wendy nodded. "Everytime I go out there, I know there's a chance I could be... that something could happen. I love wrestling, Terrence, and I know that injury is a risk with any sport. But I don't want to be a disfigured cripple when I'm thirty-five, and I don't want to be dead before I'm forty. And I don't want you to be, either."

Terrence smiled at his wife. "It won't be you, Wendy. You're smart, you're good, and you're careful."

Wendy nodded, looking down at the ring. "I hope so." She paused, looking over at Terrence. "Where's Pollaski?"

Terrence shrugged. "He left about three minutes before you came by. Said he had to use the bathroom. I figured he'd be back by now."

A chorus of boos rocked the arena, and both Birdz looked back at the ring. John Ojeda was standing on scaffolding, while Danny tried to climb up after him. "Oh, this is gonna hurt."

Wendy gave another disdainful scoff, but as she did so, Terrence noticed her wincing, and rubbing her back.

"Speaking of being hurt... are you okay?"

Wendy nodded, remembering the bearhug that had nearly caused her first loss. "For being squeezed like a tub of toothpaste, I'm fine. The medical examiner said my ribs aren't even bruised. I'm just glad I didn't get a bloody thumb driven into my throat," she finished with a chuckle.

Her chuckle was cut short as the crowd roared, and again both Birdz turned their attention to the ring. Ojeda had hit a capture suplex, sending Danny plummeting. Even from this distance, they could see half a dozen thumbtacks sticking out of Danny Szatkowski's face.

"I'm going back to the locker room," Wendy said as she turned away in disgust.

Terrence hesitated for just a second, then followed. This match was over, near as he could tell. No way Szatkowski was going to kick out after that.

"You know, I honestly thought you were done for during that bearhug." Terrence admitted. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

Wendy laughed. "Honestly, I thought I was done for myself... and I think I blacked out for a second. But then, it didn't seem to hurt so bad, and I knew how to get out of it."

Terrence started to say something, but the crowd roaring cut him off. He was surprised to not hear the ring bell admist the throng. Szatkowski must have kicked out.

Wendy noticed her husband's hesitation, and tried to smile. "You can go back and watch if you want, I don't mind."

Terrence paused for just a second, then shrugged. "Nah, I'm good. Just seems I'm underestimating everyone today."

"Well, at least you didn't underestimate the one who really mattered today." Wendy responded. "How was she, anyways?"

"Who?" Terrence asked. "Valerie?"

Wendy nodded, so Terrence shrugged. "She's not the most difficult opponent I ever beat. But she's actually pretty tough. Stronger than you, no doubt. But I think in terms of technical ability and speed, you're better."

Wendy nodded. "Its what i figured."

Terrence grinned. "Why the need for a scouting report? Think you'll face her?"

Wendy shrugged. "I think its an inevitability. Its a natural match-up, and I'm certain it will happen sooner than later. I just hope I can win when it does."

"Ah, well, maybe you'll face her in the tournament." Terrence said.

"I just hope I get in. You guaranteed yourself a spot today," Wendy admitted. "I don't know if my three wins will be enough."

"It will," Terrence said reassuringly, swinging open their locker room door. "The champ is here!" He announced the the two occupants of the room.

Cassie DeSlair looked up from her book, smiling as the WhirlyBirdz entered the room. "Who won?"

"Still going," Terrence remarked, plopping down in a chair of his own. "Szatkowski went face first into a bed of thumbtacks, and Wendy had enough."

Cassie stared at Terrence, obviously appalled. "They do that?"

"Only if they're stupid enough to agree to the match," Wendy muttered.

Terrence ignored his brooding wife, and shrugged. "I've been in a couple like that. They're not THAT bad, but I wouldn't wanna make a career of it. But its not something I'd ever want Theresa to see."

Wendy nodded vehemently in agreement, and looked down at her daughter, coloring in a book. "I'd like her father to live long enough to attend her wedding."

"Well, if we're not going to finish watching the main event, we should probably try to beat the traffic," Terrence proclaimed, standing up. "I'm gonna go find Pollaski"

Terrence turned to exit the locker room, but was nearly killed as the door flung open, Pollaski bursting into the room, looking upset and out of breath.

"There you are!" Pollaski panted. "I thought you guys ditched me!"

"The thought DID cross my mind," Terrence admitted. "I decided to go back and check on the ladies. Is it over?"

"Yup, new champion. Ojeda shot Danny up with a tazer, and threatened to shoot Pariah too if he didn't count."

"Disgusting," Wendy muttered, shaking her head. "Had it been a real match, Szatkowski would have destroyed him."

Pollaski looked as if he was about to argue whether or not it was a "real match", but Terrence staved off the argument.

"Where did you go, anyways?"

"The can," Pollaski said crudely. "Then I stopped by JPO's office to see if he had our matches for next week."

"Oh," Wendy said, forgetting her indignation in her intrigue. "Who are we facing?"

"Well, I got good news and bad news. The good news is that you're both in the tournament."

"Ha! Told you!" Terrence pointed at his wife triumphantly. For her part, Wendy broke into a wide smile, but she looked at Dan in apprehension.

"What's the bad news?"

"Only one of you will be advancing to the second round."

"Huh?" Terrence asked, confused, but Wendy caught on immediately.

"We're facing each other?"

Pollaski nodded solemnly, and Terrence and Wendy looked at each other. Terrence looked grim, but excitement was dancing behind Wendy's eyes.

"You wanna do this, don't you," Terrence said quietly.

Wendy stared back at her husband solemnly, then nodded. "I'm sorry, but yes, I do."

Terrence paused for just a second, then shrugged, smiling. "Then I hope PWX has insurance, because next week, we're tearing the house down."

Wendy laughed, but cut herself off immediately. "Oh God," she whispered, suddenly. "What are we going to tell Theresa?"

All four adults in the room turned to stare at the little girl, who remained coloring in her book, oblivious to her parent's sudden dilemma.

===============
MAY 1, 2010
INTERSTATE 65
NEAR BATTLEGROUND, INDIANA
4:12 PM LOCAL TIME

(RV, cockpit, moving. High speed.)

(Terrence Thompson sits in the driver's seat, alternating his glance between the dashboard mounted camera and the road. Next to him, the co-pilots seat is empty. In fact, outside of Terrence, the entire RV appears to be empty. Although Pollaski's probably somewhere in the back, sleeping.)

(As for the Mechanical Mayhem himself, he's in a pretty good mood today. He's got his Indianapolis Colts 2010 AFC Champions T-shirt on, and his Next Generation Championship is draped over his shoulder.)

Twister- Well, whadya know?

(Just in case you hadn't figured out what Terrence is talking about he taps the belt hanging over his shoulder)

Twister- Yes, folks, I, Terrence Andrew Thompson, have downed the great and mighty Valerie Belmont. Last Lap, ichi, ni, son, and yours truly is the second Next Generation Champion in the current PWX incarnation.

(And in his third match, too!)

Twister- And the best part about it all is... I did exactly what I said I was going to do. I said I would be the hardest opponent Val's ever faced, and I was. I said she was going to be frustrated, confused, and flat out beat, and she was. And I said in the end, I'd win, and I did. And I got me some bling out of the deal too.

(Another tap of the belt)

Twister- Of course, this isn't the belt I really want... that'd be the one around Jacob Wright's scrawny little waist. But the Next Generation title does have a purpose. If anything, it's going to help me figure out how best to wear the PWX Championship when I do end up winning it.

(Twister says this all like its an inevitability)

Twister- And as luck would have it, I am now entered in an eight man tournament to become the number one contender to the PWX title.

(Go figure)

Twister- Now, oddly enough, the person I drew for this match is none other than my better half, my beautiful wife, Wendy.

(Twister's jovial mood disappears somewhat here.)

Twister- Now, I'm sure everyone's been wondering if it's really going to happen. Will the WhirlyBirdz really get into the ring and fight each other, just for a chance at the PWX Championship?

(Just a slight pause)

Twister- You're damn right we will.

(Shrug)

Twister- Honestly, I don't want this match. There's enough people in the PWX for me to beat up without my wife having to be one of them. But this match is going to happen, whether I want it or not.

Twister- But I also know that Wendy DOES want this match. I think she views this as some sort of trial for her. In fact, this match is so important to her she's moved out of the house for a week, just so she can train without any distractions. I would do anything for Wendy, and if she wants to face me in the ring, then so be it.

Twister- Now, I love my wife, and four years ago, I took a vow that I would honor her in everything I do. I'd like to think that I've done a good job of upholding that vow. And I intend to keep it Monday night.

Twister- Wendy, you want to face me? Then so be it. I would do anything for you, and we both know that if you asked me to lose, I would lie down in the middle of the ring for you.

Twister- But I also know that you're not that kind of girl, and if I held back anything in this match, you would never forgive me. You want me at my best, and that's what you will get. I would say be careful what you wish for, but I know you're too damned stubborn.

(Small smile)

Twister- So, Wendy, Monday night, you and me. Let's tear the house down. Just remember, though. No matter what happens, I still love you, and when this is over, we'll be back to normal.

(Pause)

Twister- See you Monday, hon!