HD: Hoff vs. Tony

[Tony149 0]

We return from our final commerical break with TONY BRANNIGAN already in the ring, shirtless, his fists taped, and looking sharpe in kaki pants. 

* DING * DING * DING *

BUFFER
LLLLadies and gentlemen, this is our HeldDOWN~! main event of the eve--

Tony RIPS the microphone out of Buffer's hand. 

TONY
Cut the pomp and circumstance! Hoff, get your ass out here now! Show me the passion you say you have. Just you, me, and 18,000 people who will see you get your ass kicked!  You took your ball and went home once already, this time I'LL BE TAKING YOUR BALLS and sending you home permanently! 

COACH
You know, Brannigan may be an Orginal, and as a representive of The Upstarts, we hate all Originals, but I thought Tony Brannigan was supposed to have the most class out of the bunch. And who wears kaki pants to a street fight?!

CABOOSE
You don't think Tony actually wears his tights on the streets, do you? 

COACH
Well, no. I can understand going to a street fight in a shirt and jeans, but kaki pants -- no way. 

COLE
That was our last break, ladies and gentlemen, we'll be staying with this the rest of the way. We're currently awaiting the arrival of Hoff. We know he's here somewhere. 

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The fans rise as one as they stare in the direction HOFF is entering from. No security around him whatsoever, Hoff maneuvers his way through the crowd, not at all timid to shove those blocking his path to the ring, including a fan who sticks an "OFF WITH HOFF" sign in his face. Hoff, in a plain black t-shirt and jeans, climbs over the guardrail and locks eyes with Tony. 

COLE
Moments away from perhaps the biggest main event in HeldDOWN~! history. The expression has been used before, I know, but it's not about titles tonight, ladies and gentlemen, it's about pride. Hoff gave up the richest prize in all of wrestling, the OAOAST Championship -- a title held by such greats as Anglesault, Zack Malibu, Tony Brannigan, and my broadcast partner Caboose -- because his ego wasn't fed to his liking. Hoff's game ends tonight. Tony Brannigan has called his bluff. Let's see what Hoff delivers. We all know what Tony Brannigan is going to deliver. 

CABOOSE
Look at this. Hoff acting like a primadonna again, asking the referee to keep Tony back so he can enter the ring. Act like a man for a change. Just go in there. 

COACH
You Originals are one in the same. Obviously none of you have ever heard of a little something called professional courtesy. 

COLE
What Hoff did when he left was unprofessional. 

COACH
This is why The Upstarts are running the show. We know how to put the past behind us. 

Caboose scoffs as Hoff paces outside, working the crowd into a frenzy with his stalling tatic. Senior offical Earl Hebner comes over to have a word with Hoff, sticking his head between the ropes to find out what the problem is. The camera microphones pick up Hoff reinerating his request for Earl to keep Tony back so he can enter the ring. As the two continue to talk things over, Tony has enough, leaping over Hebner and hitting Hoff with a PLANCHA! 

COLE
The last thing [i]anybody[/i] expected from Tony. A plancha! Wow! 

Brannigan holds onto the guardrail with his right hand as he puts the boots to Hoff, stomping him repeatedly in the heart. Then with complete disregard for Hoff's body, but to the delight of the fans, Tony hurls Hoff into the guardrail, his back scraping the cold, rusty steel rails. Hoff nearly trips over his own two feet as he's brought back up, but recovers fast enough to reverse an Irish whip from Tony, who crashes into the 10,000 POUND STEEL STEPS ringside! His opponent slumped over the steps, Hoff grabs Tony by the hair and viciously slams his face into the steps. Hoff toys with Brannigan, kicking him around in the head before getting serious, picking him off the floor and sending the multi-time tag team champion into the ringpost...but Tony blocks it with his right hand, and uses his free arm to deliver a series of elbow strikes to the ribs, capping it off by posting Hoff! 

COACH
If the early going of the match is any indication, this is gonna get real ugly. Fortunately for Hoff, he was able to take the blunt of the blow on the shoulder rather than the head. 

Hoff rolls inside the ring, the stars still hovering overhead, yet he's able to greet Brannigan sliding on the way in with kicks to the back of the head. He brings Tony up to his feet and rocks the former World Champion with a fury of rights to the jaw. Tony quickly turns things around, putting Hoff on the defensive as he tosses him in the corner and wails away!

"YEEEEAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

COLE
The fans loving what they're seeing, as I'm sure Dan Black is watching in the back. This is a street fight, ladies and gentlemen. You won't see any take-- Hoff with a double-leg takedown. 

The two former World Champions roll around the ring, each peppering the other with closed fists, until they reach the ropes, where Tony pushes down on the bottom rope to CHOKE Hoff, who responds by GOUGING THE EYES. Brannigan gets up, his back facing Hoff, momentarily blinded. Hoff walks over and thrusts Tony between the middle and top turnbuckles, ramming his shoulder into the ringpost! Tony staggers out of the corner and is driven face-first into the canvas, his face rubbed into the mat insultantly afterwards. Hoff returns to his feet, flicking the sweat on his forehead down onto Tony, much like Brannigan does to his opponents. Hoff measures Tony and kicks him in the ribcage with such force it flips him over near the ropes. As Hoff nears, the wily veteran grabs the top of his jeans and tosses Hoff to the arena floor. He rolls out on the apron and dives off, connecting with a forearm smash to the back of the neck, sending Hoff tumbling over the guardrail and onto some of the fans seated ringside, one of whom looks a lot like Stephen Joseph. Wait a minute. It is STEPHEN JOSEPH!  

"YEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!"

COACH
What's he doing here?

COLE
Throwing a cup of beer on Hoff, that's what! 

Indeed he does. And for that, arena security escort Mr. Joseph out of the building. The former OAOAST Champion throws his hands up in the air and leaves peacefully, as another former World Champion is back in the driver's seat. Tony shoots Hoff into the guardrail, following him in and driving the forearm into the midsection. Doubled over, Hoff is shoved to the ground, as Tony walks over to the timekeeper's table and grabs ring announcer Michael Buffer's STEEL CHAIR!

"YEEEEAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

Tony waits for Hoff to get up, his back towards him and...

* BOOM * 

...unleashes a devastating chairshot that sends Hoff stumbling into the ringpost. His body sweaty from the intense action, Hoff sticks to the post, breathing heavily. Brannigan holds the chair up, which gets a pop, and swings for Hoff's head...

* CLANK *

...but Hoff moves out of the way, the reverberation from the chair striking the post causing Tony to drop the object, leaving Hoff open to SPEAR TONY INTO THE STEEL STEPS! 

COLE
Crashing into 10,000 pounds of steel did Tony. Oh, my! 

COACH
I can honestly say I have truly never been apart of anything so wild. Well, I have, but this has lived up to everything it was billed as. Nothing more than a fight. 

CABOOSE
Hoff knew what he was doing when he challenged Tony to a street fight. He knew he wasn't in ring shape, so a street fight allows him to hide the rust anybody would have from not wrestling on a regular basis. 

His body aching, Hoff slowly picks the chair back up, lifting it overhead...only to have Tony pull Hoff forward and send him crashing into the ringpost! Hoff's head bounces off the chair, which he smacks into when he instinctively put his hands up to prevent himself from going into the post face-first. He and Tony remain down as the fatigue is noticably setting in on both. Tony takes a deep breath before picking up the TIMERKEEPER'S TABLE and SLAMMING it down over Hoff's back! 

COLE
Tony Brannigan with the first pin of the match!

ONE...

TWO...

KICKOUT!

Tony tosses Hoff back inside the ring, not knowing Hoff grabbed the RING BELL as he was brought back to his feet. As Tony steps through the ropes...

* DING *

...Hoff rings his bell, knocking Tony out on the apron. Brannigan managed to absorb most of the blow by putting his hand up, but the edge of the bell stuck him in the temple. Hoff tries pulling Tony inside the ring, but it's nothing more than dead weight at this point. So Hoff lets Tony straddle between the ropes as he goes up to the middle turnbuckle and drives the knee into the back of Tony's head, spiking him head-first into the mat! 

COACH
That did it right there. 

COLE
You may be right. Tony is out cold. 

ONE...

TWO...

THREE! 





NO!

The ROAR of the crowd causes the hard camera to shake, as Tony Brannigan kicks out. Hoff can't believe it. He grabs Earl Hebner by the shirt collar, his fists cocked, but Earl defiantly points to the stripes on his shirt, telling Hoff he'll send him right out of here if he physcially attacks him. Hoff shoves Earl away to re-focus his attention back on Tony. Hoff drops the knee right down on Brannigan's groin, popping right up afterwards to remove the BELT from around his waist, and begins WHIPPING! Brannigan is helpless as he's still reeling from the low blow, taking his licks curled in a fetal position. Hoff stands over Tony, slapping him around before violently slapping the belt across Brannigan's face, saying "There's my passion!" 

COLE
Oh, my! What brutality! 

COACH
:lol: Hoff said it -- there's his passion. Tony Brannigan wanted it, he's getting it...in his face. 

Hoff wraps the belt around Tony's neck and HANGS HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE!!! Earl Hebner pleds with Hoff to let Tony go, his eyes beginning to budge out of his eyes, saliva spewing out of his mouth, but Hoff still holds on. 

COLE
DAMN YOU, YOU BASTARD! This is over the line! That son-of-a-bitch is trying to choke the life out of Tony Brannigan!  

"YEEEEEEAAAHHH!"

DAN BLACK arrives, branishing a STEEL CHAIR. 

* BOOM *

That causes Hoff to let go. Hoff falls straight back to the mat, while Tony goes to the floor. The crowd EXPLODES as Dan Black abuses Hoff with the chair, bashing and jabbing it across the former champion's back. Having cooled down just a bit, "The Ice Heart" throws his blazer in the crowd and loosens his tie as Tony Brannigan returns to the ring, Hoff's belt still wrapped around his neck. Tony removes the belt as Black does the same, removing the belt around his waist. Doing what any good referee would do, Earl Hebner tries to put an end to the mayhem...and eats a punch from both Dan Black and Tony Brannigan, who then proceed to put the leather to Hoff! 

"YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

COLE
Whip him, guys! Hoff, that big baby, getting what he's deserved for a long time. 

CABOOSE
Welcome back to the OAOAST, Hoff, you wanker! 

Tony wraps the belt around Hoff's neck and gives him a RUDE AWAKENING! He points to Dan, who gives the throat slash. Black steps out on the apron and climbs the turnbuckles. TOP ROPE DIVING HEADBUTT! 

"3-B!"
"3-B!"
"3-B!"

Hoff laid out dead in the middle of the ring, Black T play up to the chanting crowd. 

CABOOSE
The fans want to see it. Give it to them. 

COLE
Ask and you shall receive. 3-B, Black Body Bag, coming right up!

"3-BEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

As Black T prepare to hoist Hoff into the air for the 3-B, they suddenly hear a booming voice coming from the AngleTron at the top of the ramp.

“Hey Tony! Look this way!”

With a confused glance, Tony Brannigan averts his eyes around the ringside area, trying to uncover where this voice is coming from. Upon realizing he is hearing someone on the AngleTron, he releases his grip on Hoff’s neck and lets him collapse to the mat. He focuses his attention on the screen, but all he can see is the close-up shot of a black wifebeater.

“You too, Dan!

Just as cautiously as Tony, Dan Black slowly turns his eyes towards the AngleTron, completely taking his attention away from Hoff.

“You two with me? Hope so!”

The person blocking the video camera takes a huge step back, giving the fans a clearer shot but not quite giving away his identity. The cameraman gradually starts to raise his view, moving past the chest. The shoulders. The neck. Until he finally moves to the face…

…and reveals a grinning Hoff much to the surprise of the crowd!

CABOOSE
What in the hell?!

COLE
I….I don’t understand this!

Tony and Dan quickly look down to reassure that Hoff is still in the ring and, sure enough, he is. Just as speedily, they turn their attention back towards the AngleTron and the beaming smile from Hoff.

HOFF
Now, now. Calm down. The both of you….take deep breaths.

Hoff takes a few seconds to laugh quietly to himself as Black T continue to look up at the screen.

HOFF
First off, I just want to make it clear to the both of you that this is not a trick. The guy I’m going to guess you have been beating up for the past few minutes is undoubtedly me. I decided to cut this interview only minutes before I was to step out into the ring, so what you’re watching right now is simply a recording.

COLE
….a recording?

COACH
Keep listening, Cole.

HOFF
You see, I’m not a stupid guy. I didn’t win the OAOAST Heavyweight Title twice by walking around here like a dumb ox. I knew exactly what was going to happen as soon as I challenged Tony to this street-fight last week. Dan, I knew you wouldn’t be able to help yourself from interfering. Even though Tony and I agreed to keep this between the two of us, I knew the temptation of you providing help would just be too strong. I am 100 percent positive that, right now, you’re standing into the ring next to Tony wondering what the hell is going on.

Brannigan and Black shoot each other wary glances for a second but continue to watch the screen.

HOFF
Okay. So my point is that I knew Black was going to interfere, and I knew that with the hatred you two have for me, there was a very distinct possibility of my career being ended tonight. So….I took out an insurance policy. Just in case. I knew there was NO WAY I was stepping into the FedEx Forum tonight without at least having the odds evened. And what do you know? It turned out I was right! Good thing for me that I didn’t waste a phone call on flying this guy out into Memphis to have my back, huh?

COLE
Hoff flew somebody here? Into Memphis?!

CABOOSE
I don’t like where this is going.

HOFF
So let me cut to the chase. Without further ado, let me introduce you two to my partner in crime. You thought you could try to trick me and take me out of the OAOAST permanently? Well, I guess Hoff was just one step ahead of you. Again. Turn out the lights.

Immediately upon Hoff’s request, the entire FedEx Forum turns black as the lights are turned off and the video is taken off the AngleTron. Seconds of silence tick by as the fans loudly begin to buzz with anticipation.

Until the faint musical strains of an organ can be heard.

A golden spotlight appears over the top of the entranceway as the notes from the organ continue to play.

Then a low beat of drums begins to echo from the loudspeakers.

At the same time, the golden spotlight begins to pulse with quick flashes.

After a few seconds, the base of the song gets considerably deeper. Suddenly a number of fans start to cheer loudly, coming to a conclusion that not everybody else has reached yet.

COLE
That music sounds so familiar!

CABOOSE
Don’t you know why?!

COACH
….I’m starting to get the idea.

CABOOSE
This…this can’t be who I think it is. There’s no way.

….

Oh, but it is.

….

A huge burst of silver fireworks shoots into the sky from the top of the ramp as the song suddenly reaches its opening line.
[i]
Woke up this morning…[/i]

A DEAFENING roar rises up from the fans in attendance as they suddenly figure out who is coming out to defend Hoff.

[i]Got myself a gun….

Mama always said I’d be…

The chosen one![/i]

COLE
IT CAN’T BE!

COACH
OH PLEASE TELL ME IT IS!

[i]She said I’m one in a million…

I’ve got to burn to shine….

But I was born under a bad sign…

With a blue moon in my eyes![/i]

The crowd amazingly starts to sing along with the song as it continues to play.

[i]I woke up this morning…

All the love was gone…

My papa never told me…

About right and wrong.[/i]

CABOOSE
HE BETTER NOT THINK ABOUT STEPPING FOOT BACK INTO THAT RING AGAIN!

[i]But I’m looking good, baby…

I believe you’re feeling fine…

Born under a bad sign…

With a blue moon in my eyes![/i]

As the beat of the song starts to truly pick up and the lead singer’s voice starts to get louder, none other than DREK STONE steps out of the curtains to a RAUCOUS cheer!

COLE
OH MY GOD! IT’S DREK STONE!

COACH
I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!

The noise continues to thunder as Drek Stone steps to the top of the ramp for a few moments with his hands on his hips, staring into the ring at Black T who are clearly furious at seeing this man make his return into the OAOAST.

COLE
It’s been SEVEN MONTHS since we’ve even SEEN Drek Stone on OAOAST programming! Now he’s suddenly shown up here tonight completely unannounced!

CABOOSE
How DARE HE try to crawl back into a company that he chose to walk out on! He’s a piece of garbage!

COACH
Say whatever the hell you want, Caboose! But these fans are beyond excited to see him and so am I!

[i]I woke up this morning…

The world turned upside down…

Things ain’t been the same…

Since the blues walked into town.[/i]

Drek slowly starts to walk towards ringside with a pleased grin on his face. It’s clear to everyone watching that he’s incredibly pleased with being so warmly accepted in his return. However, neither Tony Brannigan or Dan Black has allowed themselves to divert their attention away from the man that chose to spit on the legacy of a federation they have worked so hard to keep afloat.

[i]But I’m one in a million…

I got that shotgun shine…

Born under a bad sign…

With a blue moon in my eyes.[/i]

Once Drek gets to the bottom of the ramp, he stops his march and locks eyes with the two men staring daggers at him in the center of the ring. His music stops playing as the fans start to loudly buzz at the prospect of Drek Stone possibly rushing into the ring to take on the legendary tag team.

CABOOSE
So Drek, you want to make your huge return, do you? Step into that ring and see what happens to TRAITORS!

Clearly, the fans are dying to see Drek Stone do the exact same thing Caboose suggested. With a deep breath, Drek takes a large step towards the ring, which sends the fans into a frenzy!

COLE
Wait, what about Hoff?!

Sure enough, just as Michael Cole mentions his name, Hoff bounces to his feet and charges forward, knocking Dan Black over the top rope to the arena floor!

“OHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

As Dan Black falls to Drek Stone’s feet, Tony turns around and starts bouncing hard lefts and rights off Hoff’s head. Meanwhile, on the outside, Drek stares down at the fallen body of Black. He runs his hand through his hair for a moment, almost as if pondering what he should do here.

COLE
What is Drek Stone going to do?!

A scowl suddenly crosses Drek Stone’s face without warning, surprising a fair number of fans in attendance. He shoots an arm downward and grabs a huge handful of Dan Black’s head. Boos start to rise up from the crowd as Drek harshly attempts to yank Black up to his feet.

COACH
YES! DO IT! DO IT!

CABOOSE
This is sickening!

Once he forces Black up to his feet, Drek grabs his head and places it in a front-facelock position.

COACH
SEVEN MONTHS, WE’VE GONE WITHOUT THIS! AND NOW WE’RE ABOUT TO SEE IT AGAIN! IT’S…

COLE
THE STONECUTTER!

Sure enough, Drek jumps in the air….and SPIKES Dan Black’s head into the concrete with the StoneCutter! The reaction from the crowd in the FedEx Forum suddenly becomes more mixed with a rowdy combination of cheers and boos!

“LET’S GO DREK STONE!”

“DREK STONE SUCKS!”

“LET’S GO DREK STONE!”

“DREK STONE SUCKS!”

Meanwhile, in the ring, Tony has Hoff cornered against the turnbuckle and continues to hit him with massive forearms to the head. As Hoff tries to sit down against the corner and cover himself up, Tony keeps the offensive onslaught strong. He fires off dozens of forearms until Hoff is left a quivering mess in the corner, which sends the fans into another frenzy.

“T-BOD!”

“T-BOD!”

“T-BOD!”

Satisfied with his progress, Tony walks off to the other side of the ring. With Hoff helpless in the corner, Brannigan is free to do anything he wants. And that he will. With a primal yell, he CHARGES towards Hoff sitting against the turnbuckle…

[b]*CLANG*[/b][color=#FF0000]

…AND IS SMACKED IN THE HEAD WITH A CHAIRSHOT FROM DREK STONE!

COLE
Oh my God! Drek Stone just came out of nowhere with that steel chair!

COACH
He really clobbered T-Bod! What a shot!

Tony Brannigan collapses to the mat instantly holding his head as Drek stares at him defiantly with the steel chair in his hand. Once again, the reaction is mixed to the carnage taking place. Meanwhile, Hoff uses the ring ropes to struggle and pull himself up in the corner. Trying to catch his breath, he sits on the top turnbuckle, placing his feet on the middle rope.

CABOOSE
I can’t believe this street fight has turned out like this.

COACH
Tony thought he had the odds working for him with Dan Black by his side! But if he learned ONE SINGLE THING in his stint with the OAOAST, it should have been to NEVER take things for granted!

Much like he did with Dan Black earlier, Drek grabs a handful of Tony’s hair and forces him up to his feet. However, this time he has a different plan in mind. He quickly places Brannigan’s head in a standing headscissors position and lifts him up for a powerbomb.

COLE
Is this going to end it?!

Drek holds Tony up in the air for a few seconds as the fans in Memphis starts to scream. However, he chooses not to throw Tony against the mat. Instead, he stumbles backwards towards Hoff who is now standing on the middle rope. Hoff immediately catches T-Bod and lifts him up in a bearhug position.

COLE
Uh-oh!

The crowd into the FedEx Forum begins to loudly yell as Hoff stands on the middle turnbuckle with T-Bod firmly in his grasp. With Drek staring on with a grin on his face, Hoff JUMPS UP IN THE AIR –

-- AND SLAMS T-BOD INTO THE MAT WITH AN AMAZING SPINEBUSTER!

COACH
OH SNAP~!

COLE
NO! HE MAY HAVE JUST BROKEN TONY BRANNIGAN IN HALF!

At this point, all Hoff has to do is roll over and hook the leg.


ONNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEE~!~!


TWWWWWWOOOOOOOO~!~!


THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~!~!

[b]
*DING DING DING*[/b]

A collective roar immediately rises up from the crowd as the bell rings.

BUFFER
Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this street fight…..HOFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!

The huge mixed reaction for these two superstars continues as “Black” starts to blast over the loudspeakers.

COLE
Can you BELIEVE what we have just witnessed here tonight?

CABOOSE
This is disgusting! This is god damn disgusting! I would have been happy never even SEEING these two again….and now they both just took out the most powerful tag team the OAOAST has ever seen! Sickening!

With a wide smile, Drek Stone hops onto the middle turnbuckle and raises his arms in the air. The fans greet him with an equal number of cheers and jeers as he cockily shrugs and jumps back onto the mat. Waiting to confront him face-to-face is none other than Hoff!

COLE
Maybe this relationship isn’t as strong as we first thought!

The two superstars immediately engage in a tight staredown. There is such a history between these two men. The wars that have been fought. The blood that has been shed. The titles that have been contested for. Hoff and Drek Stone have had one of the most competitive rivalries the OAOAST has ever known.

And now they’re hugging!  

Hugging!

COACH
This is BEAUTIFUL! Hoff and Drek Stone are hugging in the center of the ring!

COLE
I never thought I would ever see something like this! Not in my WILDEST dreams!

The reaction in the arena gets louder as Drek Stone and Hoff congratulate each other and raise one another’s arms victoriously.

COACH
This is it, Cole! Look at it, Boose! Feast your eyes on the most powerful tandem the OAOAST has ever seen! Drek Stone and Hoff!

Dan Black is passed out on the arena floor. Tony Brannigan is unconscious in the center of the ring. And Drek Stone and Hoff, bitter enemies from their beginning days in the OAOAST, are congratulating each other on a job well done.

The road to AngleMania is a bumpy one indeed.

[b]Fade to black.[/b]