Toxxic

"So explain something to me." Alex Zenon stops packing his stuff away and looks around. There, standing in the doorway of his office, is the familiar spiky-haired shape of the Straight-Edge Sensation. The card for Storm has only just gone up, Zenon reflects; Toxxic must have charged up here as quickly as he could to be sure of catching the Commissioner still in his office. "What's that?" Zenon asks, turning to face the Brit and shutting his case on the desk. "Grand Slam," Toxxic responds, leaning against the doorframe. "Why?" "I thought you'd be pleased," Zenon tells him with just a hint of bitterness. The last thing he wants is for Toxxic to gloat over the booking that he's been forced into_ but then again, Toxxic doesn't sound like he's gloating. He just sounds curious. "That's not what I asked," the straight-edger replies. "You know me. You know what I can do - and have done - to people I don't like. What happened to Bowers was an accident. What happened to Kibagami wasn't... but it suited you. You like Mark, and you're well aware of my feelings for him." One eyebrow quirks upwards quizzically. "So why?" "You were at Ground Zero," Alex replies wearily, "you heard what King said. He's on the roster, and I have to book him. Against tough opponents." The Commissioner turns away and picks up his case. "Now, I'm going-" but Toxxic is suddenly in the room and clutching his elbow. Zenon turns around to stare into a pair of steel-grey eyes that are very interested in searching his face. "Why me?" Toxxic persists. "I can't believe that you'd book Mark against me, no matter what King said. Not unless he's threatening you with something." "And what if he is?" Zenon fires back. "You think I can't handle myself? Since when did you care about anything that doesn't concern you or your precious Revolution, anyway?" "Oh, but it does," Toxxic tells the Commissioner. "You see Alex, as a wrestler you were mediocre. As a person, you're stuck in a hero-worship timewarp two years in the past when your precious Midnight Carnival might have actually meant something. But as a Commissioner..." The Straight-Edge Sensation relaxes his grip and stands back. "As a Commissioner you have always treated me fairly, something I couldn't hope for from Stevens. You let me and Kibagami sort out our issues without interfering. You gave me the chance for a World Title shot. Spike and Sean both won singles titles and have had their chances at the Tag Titles as well. I may have issues with the fact that Drazon and Dace got World Title shots before me, but hey," Toxxic shrugs, "I'll get it back soon enough. But if King is threatening to remove you, I want to know." Zenon stares at the straight-edger. Arrogant, conceited, self-interested and without much respect for anyone... but also a very unlikely potential ally. And, Alex realises, someone who would be just as horrified at Suicide King's threat as he is himself. "He wasn't threatening me with my removal; I could deal with that," Zenon tells Toxxic. "He was threatening me with my replacement." "Go on," Toxxic says, eyes narrowing. "Kibagami?" Toxxic's eyebrows rise in disbelief. "Flesher?" The eyebrows go up further. "Or Janus?" The Straight-Edge Sensation blinks in shock. It takes a moment for him to speak, and Zenon knows why. One man he crippled, one man has been an enemy for months, and one is a psychopath whose World Title he took. On this fact, at least, Alex and Toxxic see eye-to-eye. "None of those three men can be allowed to run the SWF," Toxxic states flatly, and Zenon nods. The straight-edger looks thoughtful before continuing. "And if the price for that is Mark Stevens..." Zenon braces himself. "King wants me to hurt him, doesn't he?" Toxxic asks. "He wants me to humiliate him in the ring." "Don't tell me you wouldn't enjoy it," Alex bites out. Toxxic looks at him for a moment... and then the trademark lopsided grin creeps up the right-hand side of his face. "Not any more." The grin disappears as abruptly as it came, and Toxxic turns away. "I don't think you know quite how much Grand Slam pissed me off, Zenon. Suffice to say that after making each other's lives miserable for a few weeks, he booked me in my first ever SWF tag match with a partner who was about as much use as a chocolate kettle... against two former World Champions, in himself and Tom Flesher." The Straight-Edge Sensation wheels back around, and now Zenon can almost see the angry fires burning behind the grey eyes. "Now he comes waltzing back in, and he's trapped by the Suicide King. That one match against me forces him to compete as and when King dictates. This is my chance to get some bloody revenge on that bastard - but I don't want it." "Why not?" Zenon asks, completely confused. "Because I want to humiliate `Grand Slam' Mark Stevens, former World Champion, retired but still a well-conditioned workhorse. The man who teamed with Tom Flesher to beat me," Toxxic tells him. "Not Mark Stevens the family man, the ageing, out-of-shape ex-wrestler who when he goes to the ring against a credible opponent is thinking about how to survive, not how to win. There's no satisfaction in that." "Well... I guess I could tell King you refuse to compete..." Zenon says, at a loss. "No, I'll compete," Toxxic replies, "but I'm not going to do what King wants, I'm going to do what I want... just like always." He smiles again, mischievously. "I'll be going out there to win. But like I've always said, I don't enjoy hurting people, I just enjoy winning. And against someone as old and slow and out of shape as Stevens, I won't have to hurt him to win." "You know Toxxic," Zenon tells the Brit, "even when you're trying to be nice, you're still an asshole." "You can give Mark a message from me," Toxxic replies, ignoring the Commissioner's comment. "This doesn't have to go hard for him. King pissed me off with that whole Landon thing, and I don't dance to anyone's tune. As long as Mark doesn't try anything cute, he can get through this without getting carried out on a stretcher again." "You just might find that `old man' has got a lot more left in him than you think!" Alex snaps, but Toxxic merely grins. "Zenon - prepare to be proved wrong."

'storyline fertiliser?' I would say 'Ooh-arr' if anyone apart from the Brits would recognise it as stereotypical farmer-talk.

You know what I always hate about wrestling? The fact that the faces and heels stick together as faces and heels for NO DAMN REASON. Toxxic doesn't do what anyone wants, so it makes no sense for him to blindly acqeuiese to King's wishes, especially when he KNOWS there must be a reason for Zenon to make this match... and it just so happens that King's threat worries him just as much if not more so than Zenon, because Toxxic hates all three people mentioned. And Johnny - I know I'm involved in a lot at the moment, but I'm just trying to kickstart a bit more activity in the fed. Don't worry though, there'll be enough left of me for you to receive your whuppin' at Genesis

OK, how can Mike be the leader of the Urban Empire? He's the least sympathetic character and it was Todd who held the belts all that time while he was on vacation, not to mention effectively unified Mike and Mask (unless that was us. Shit). Regardless, seeing as I now have at least four storylines on the go that directly involve me, I'll get around to Mike... when I get around to him. Yeah. *checks schedule* So... that'll be sometime after Genesis then...

So here they are instead. The first one was for before the 6-man, the second was for after: “I said no more mistakes.” Sean Davis and Spike Jenkins look uneasily at each other. Both of them are bigger than Toxxic - Sean more notably so, admittedly - but neither of them fancy catching his eye this evening. “It’s quite simple, really,” the Straight-Edge Sensation continues, pacing up and down and apparently talking to the floor. “It all comes down to Mike Van Siclen. Spike, you shouldn’t have tried using his own damn move against him-” “-dude, I was using the Defying The System, and that like falls forward instead of dropping them on their head-” Spike begins. “I don’t give a damn what it does if the setup’s the same!” Toxxic snaps, fixing Hollywood with a glare that causes the junior straight-edger to shut his mouth. “And Sean,” Toxxic carries on, “I’d have thought you’d know by now that you can’t trust that bastard in the ring. If he goes limp, hit him a few times more anyway to make sure.” Sean Davis just nods. “We need to stay focused tonight,” Toxxic says, half to himself. “Forget the other two - you beat the crap out of Cortez last wednesday, so keep him isolated if you get half a chance. Work his head this time, not his ribs - that didn’t get us anywhere.” The other two nod again. “And what the bloody hell’s up with you tonight, anyway?” Toxxic asks, stopping his pacing to look at them. “You look like someone’s walked over your bloody graves!” Sean and Spike look at each other. “Dude... didn’t you hear?” Hollywood asks. “Hear what?” “Justin Bowers,” Sean rumbles. Toxxic continues to look blank. “Man... they took him to the hospital...” Spike says, almost unwilling to complete the sentence in the face of Toxxic’s impassive stare. “...and... well, he didn’t come out again.” “...and?” the Brit asks impatiently. “You broke his damn neck!” Sean bursts out. “You tryin’ to tell me that you didn’t know? He won’t be wrestling again! Ever, probably! Jesus Christ man, you just ended a guy’s career!” Toxxic’s expression doesn’t change. For several seconds he stares blankly at - or possibly through - Sean Davis, before suddenly snapping out of it. “He got up on my shoulders,” the Straight-Edge Sensation tells them levelly. “That’s the equivalent of someone hanging upside down, chest-to-chest in front of Janus and asking him what that move called the Rage Unleashed is. You’ve got to know I didn’t set out to do that, but once he was there...” Toxxic smiles briefly, humourlessly. “Still, if it’s spooked you guys then hopefully it’ll be playing on the Urban Empire’s nerves too.” He points to the door. “Come on, it’s pretty much time. You guys go on ahead and find Marcus and Jet. I’ll... catch up with you in a minute. And remember...” he finishes, as Sean and Spike reach the door, “...no mistakes.” Toxxic turns away as they leave, but his hearing is sharper than his stablemates realise and he can hear their conversation as they walk away down the corridor. “So, does he do that Dangerlust thing every time he loses a match?” “Recently... yeah.” “We are winning tonight, aren’t we?” “Dude, what’re you worried about? He can’t lift you!” *click* The door to the Revolution Zero lockeroom shuts, and Toxxic is left alone with his thoughts. The Straight-Edge Sensation looks up at himself in the washbasin mirror, and remembers his train of thought just before he won the World Title. End the career of an established legend: check. Hello, Silent. Break the neck of a promising rookie: check. So now I’m Edwin too. “No,” Toxxic tells himself as he reaches in his bag for his T-shirt. “No, I’m not. Yeah, I went into 13th Hour wanting to hurt Kibagami. I wanted him gone. But I didn’t want to hurt Bowers. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time... and he must have landed funny. Christ, I didn’t cripple Blazenwing with it... or Rickmen, and he took it off a ladder and through a bloody table.” The Straight-Edge Sensation pulls the shirt over his head and stares at himself in the mirror, as if daring the reflection to start looking like some departed legend of the SWF. “I’m not anyone else,” he says softly. “I am not a retread, I am not some bloody copy. I am me, and no-one else.” Toxxic turns, and walks out of the door. The corridor is deserted, but he knows his way to the main arena. Tonight, he and the rest of Revolution Zero go head-to-head with the Urban Empire; three men who have promised to stop the Revolution, one way or another. I am me, and no-one else. And you bastards are going to have to live with that. “Guys, we so rock!” Spike Jenkins is almost dancing up the corridor with excitement, although it is only Sean Davis’ subtle support that is stopping Hollywood from collapsing after the battering he took in the 6-man tag match. “I couldn’t have done it without you man,” Spike tells Sean as the Perfect Storm fields him again, “you kept me in it, dude!” Hollywood turns to Revolution Zero’s leader. “And Toxx - I don’t know what it was you did to Todd, but I know I got the pin off it! Man, we are an awesome team!” “Yeah, you really kick ass at lying down on people...” Jet murmurs with a sly smile, which causes Marcus Washington to snigger behind his hand. “Spike-” Toxxic begins. “-I mean c’mon dude, we totally outclassed them!” Spike continues. “They didn’t have a damn chance!” “Spike, this means shit!” Toxxic snaps at the junior straight-edger, causing his reverie to suddenly cease. “Yeah, we beat them, with Jet and Marcus running interference - but it wasn’t for the tag belts, was it? You two still aren’t tag champions, are you? And I don’t know how many more shots you’re going to get, no matter how many times we paste them in 6-mans.” “So what’re we going to do about that?” Davis rumbles. Toxxic looks thoughtful. “I dunno. I’ll think of something. But Sean, you did great out there tonight,” he tells the big man, “you were exactly where you needed to be when you needed to be there, and you used your strength really well.” “Dude...?” “Yes Spike, you did well too,” Toxxic tells the other team member. “I was about ready to choke you when you tried the Clean Living on Mike when he used to use the move himself, but it worked out OK in the end.” “Alright!” Jenkins whoops, eyes still slightly unfocused from all the shots to the head. “Party!” “Uhh... Spike?” Jet asks. “Yo!” “...why are you holding that briefcase?” Spike looks down at the briefcase in his hand, then holds it out to Marcus Washington. “Sorry dude - my bad, I forgot what with all the knocks to the head,” Spike grins. “I found it by the ring, guess you must have left it there after you hit Masked Man with it.” “Spike,” Marcus says, holding up his steel briefcase in his right hand, “this is my briefcase. I hit Van Siclen with it too.” “Oh.” Spike deflates, and looks again at the case he’s holding. “Uhh... so whose is this then?” All five members of Revolution Zero suddenly take a very firm interest in the apparently innocent rectangular object clutched in the hand of the ex-stoner. “You found it by the ring?” Toxxic asks Spike. “Uh-huh.” “Masked Man has a briefcase,” Toxxic says thoughtfully, “doesn’t he...”

*takes credit for his own run-in, which he suggested* Heh. Gotta love that SPORTZ ENTERTAINMENT~!

Err... what about right after From The Fire, where we had all of about four heels (which is what led to me turning). Seriously, there was the Unnamed and Sacred... and that was pretty much it.

IL's back? Christ. i thought he was in Romania or something.

Well... unless anything else comes up, I call dibs on the Slammer for Storm. *chuckles evilly*

MAIN EVENT WORLD TITLE MATCH HELL IN A CELL Jamie Drazon vs Johnny Dangerous© SINGLES MATCH Austin Sly vs "The Notorious" John Duran SIX-MAN TAG OF SHOCKING PROPORTIONS! The Urban Empire (The Masked Man, Mike Van Siclen© and "Urban Legend" Todd Cortez©) v. Revolution Zero (Toxxic, "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis) USJL TITLE MATCH TRIPLE IMPACT MATCH Candace vs David Cross© SINGLES MATCH NON-TITLE BOUT "The Icon" Max King vs "The Superior One" Tom Flesher© TAG TEAM MATCH Nathan Xavier & Manson vs Petey the Irish Penguin & Brian Levy SINGLES MATCH Ace Lezaire vs Justin Bowers SINGLES MATCH Ced Ordonez vs Munich©

MAIN EVENT WORLD TITLE MATCH HELL IN A CELL Jamie Drazon vs Johnny Dangerous© ~Tricky. I think Drazon's bloodthirstyness might just pull him through though. ~Smackdown:Here Comes The Pain dictates that Johnny wins via the Cover-Up SINGLES MATCH Austin Sly vs "The Notorious" John Duran ~I think that if Duran writes, he probably has it. But that's IF he writes. ~SD5 says the Notorious One wins with a chokeslam SIX-MAN TAG OF SHOCKING PROPORTIONS! The Urban Empire (The Masked Man, Mike Van Siclen© and "Urban Legend" Todd Cortez©) v. Revolution Zero (Toxxic, "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis) ~This should be interesting USJL TITLE MATCH TRIPLE IMPACT MATCH Candace vs David Cross© ~Cross, i think. ~SD5 says Cross hits the Black Mass for the win SINGLES MATCH NON-TITLE BOUT "The Icon" Max King vs "The Superior One" Tom Flesher© ~Taamo all the way. TAG TEAM MATCH Nathan Xavier & Manson vs Petey the Irish Penguin & Brian Levy ~Whoever writes. SINGLES MATCH Ace Lezaire vs Justin Bowers ~Justin is GONE~! (thanks to me), so I don't think this is even taking place SINGLES MATCH Ced Ordonez vs Munich© ~Whoever shows. So, DNS

I'd just like to point out that a WWE brainbuster is a vertical suplex where we are told it's a brainbuster. If you want to see a brainbuster, see 'Dr Death' Steve Williams from circa 91 WCW. THAT'S a brainbuster.

I think Revolution Zero are overdue for beating down another veteran. Care to volunteer? We've already taken out Judge (after a dark match, no less).

Nah, I'm not seeing it. Look at boxing. In boxing, you are meant to hit the other guy in the head in order to score more points or (prefereably) knock him out to win. BUT YOU ARE NOT MEANT TO CRIPPLE HIM. People are meant to be temporarily KO'd, but OK to fight again. Is it a stupid sport? Yes. Is it ridiculous to assume that people can be hit in the head time and time again without risking major injury? Yes. But that's what's MEANT to happen. Same with wrestling. To briefly plug the SWF e-fed, my wrestler has several times explained to people that he doesn't enjoy hurting people, but he enjoys winning and in order to do that he has to hurt people. And he's a heel. It's not about really hurting people, it's supposed to be about disorientating/winding/knocking them out long enough for the three-count. So I reckon the proposed storyline would work.

You know, I really can't fault that.

Did I mention that next show I'm coming out to 'Rock The Casbah' by the Clash and turning on Revolution Zero? I didn't? Guess it won't be happening then. Oh, yeah, Landon... nice promo to keep the whole thing going, but your disappointment at Spain losing in basketball still pales in comparison to Toxxic's outburst when England went out of Euro 2004 I like the fact that Suicide King is still taking an 'interest' in your well-being though...

I call opening promo. This can also feature Johnny and/or Drazon, depending on what we work out. It might not even feature me, who knows. But the opening promo WILL concern the World Title in some respect. Now you two, let's get in touch and work out who's saying what when.

'With classic matches and celebrity guests' That don't sound like Raw to me.

Landon, turning face does not mean you can mock Flesher. And I'd be careful if I were you, or I'll start claiming the rights back to the Shooting Star Legdrop WHICH WAS MINE WAAAAAAAAY BEFORE YOU USED IT AS A FINISHER, SUNSHINE. I'll read the show properly and fully later. But now, I have to feed the kitchen and hoover the cats. Or possible the other way around. And Spike - if the war IS over, we just start another one, got it?

i can't believe you guys used a fucking robot referee. That is all

I'll have to ask Judge to confirm, but I think Bowers is out of wrestling for good after that Dangerlust i gave him. Everyone involved in the 6-man - I'll be cleaning up and slightly editing my stats soon, so watch out for them.

Whatever. I'm not going to be the one showered with sparks when Kane's army of bucket-wielding broomsticks WITH ARMS drench Tomko and cause his circuits to fry. It's just basic safety precautions, people. ALWAYS waterproof your time-travelling cyborgs in case of attack from animated household implements. See, Bischoff wouldn't have thought of that.

Ok, Ok, so maybe Dusty FUNDED it. I'm still pulling for Bischoff as the evil genius behind it though. Besides, let's be sensible here - why would Dusty send Tomko back when Dusty's capable of doing the job himself? What's that? He's NOT capable? Think that's stopped him before, do you?

Ah, come on. What's Dusty doing involved with this? No, it was Bischoff. He's got twisted and bitter (yep, more so) in his old age because Kane's extended paternity leave gave him no 'KAAAAAAAANE!' to book people against and ruined his show, forcing him to get by on Just For Men adverts and Celebrity Fear Factor.

The only problem with Tomko is that he looks like the guitarist from System of a Down on steroids. No, I lie. That's not the only problem with Tomko. Regardless, if that angle should come to fruition, why would Kane need to fight when he can use magic? Unless, of course, he accidentally animates broomsticks to fill a cauldron with water and then drops off... only to find to his horror that all of the Dark Mansion ™ is flooded! He desperately tries to stop them by chokeslamming stick after stick, but they keep sitting up! Finally order is restored when the Undertaker returns, snatches the now bent and damp sorcerer's hat from Kane's head and removes Kane's magic powers for good.