HD: Todd Cortez vs. ???

[King Cucaracha 0]

As we return to the arena, "Oh No" by Mos Def, Nate Dogg, and Pharoah Monche hits. Through the sparkles left behind by a quick burst of pyro, Todd Cortez marches out ready for action.

COLE
Todd Cortez coming off a big victory in War Games, AGAINST the group of which he is contracted, Cucaracha Internacional. And against his supposed boss, Landon Maddix.

COACH
Cortez shouldn't even be here after he used that Riot Act Plus at The Great Angle Bash!

COLE
But as we found out, the deal is off. Landon made the agreement with AngleSault but was never put into writing. The Riot Act Plus is reinstated in the OAOAST, mainly because Landon was all too willing for Cortez to use it three days before on Zack Malibu! That voided the deal in Josie Baker's eyes. And now the power has shifted at the top, things have changed for Todd Cortez.

COACH
But one thing hasn't changed, he's STILL a member of Cucaracha Internacional, like it or not!

Cortez enters the ring and removes his bulletproof vest and gold cross as the introductions finally begin.


BUFFER
The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first...


MADDIX
CORTEZ!

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

And the introductions are abruptly interrupted. The fans howl derision as LANDON MADDIX appears on the AngleTron, bandaged up after the damage done in War Games. Landon wears a scowl on his face as Megan stands at his side, hand comfortingly on his shoulder.

MADDIX
Todd Cortez, I must ask... what in the HELL is wrong with you!? Huh!?

In the ring, Cortez stares up at the big screen.

MADDIX
Another month, another betrayal of trust. I am sick to death of this! I continue to give you second chances to make something of yourself and you continue to keep throwing it back in my face. There's only so much one man can take Cortez.

Landon scowls again, milking the injuries from War Games.

MADDIX
Cortez... once again you have crossed the line with me. You've crossed it such a way that there is no turning back now. See, I'm sure you feeling pretty proud of yourself. You've got your 'move' back. You got your win. You got one over on me in War Games. And you feel like you got away with it. Well there couldn't be anything further from the truth.

"LAN - DON SUCKS!"
"LAN - DON SUCKS!"
"LAN - DON SUCKS!"
"LAN - DON SUCKS!"

MADDIX
Just what in the hell are you expecting to happen as a result of all this? You think that if you keep turning your back on me, sooner or later I'll let you be the 'superstar' you want to be? You really think it's that easy? Cortez, you are NOTHING without me. It's all about freedom in that thick skull of yours. Yet you don't realise what 'freedom' is going to mean for you in this cold, harsh environment. Maybe one day you'll finally get what you want. Miracles happen, after all. Maybe one day you'll FINALLY cast off the shackles, step out of my shadow, you'll go out and you'll make fortnightly appearances on this show, maybe win a meaningless title somewhere down the road. Is that what you want? You want me to let you be your own man, survive on your own mistakes? Keep toiling away until one day you reach that holy grail when the OAOAST trawl through 10 years of footage to scrape together a DVD for ya? Because you know what, when they do, they're gonna have to call it Todd Cortez: The Landon Maddix Story!

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Cortez, leant over the ropes, rolls his eyes.

MADDIX
Let me spell this out to you one more time and rest assured, this WILL be the last time. It's not... going... to happen. Give it up already. You're worse than Hilary Clinton for god's sake!

COLE
There's a fresh reference.

COACH
Shh!

MADDIX
People like you are a dime a dozen. You just got lucky by getting tangled up in La Cucaracha's coattails! It could have been any number of people leeching off of my popularity, my talent. I was four-time SWF Tag Champion, I could have picked any number of followers. Hell, I STILL could. The common denominator is La Cucaracha. You are just a warm body. I could take anybody, ANYBODY AT ALL, and make them twice the man you are. I... hey, you, get over here! Come on...

Landon motions off screen and calls over a rather confused looking MR. BORICUA.

MADDIX
How do you fancy being a somebody? A right-hand man, somebody I can trust, you fit the bill, all you've gotta do is listen and learn from yours truly. Engage brain, not mouth. Understand? What do you say?

Boricua kinda shrugs and Landon promptly sends him on his way.

MADDIX
You see Cortez, it would be THAT simple to replace you! Now I don't have a clue who that was, but he could be everything you're not.

Hardly able to believe this mad rambling, Cortez continues to watch on.

MADDIX
You may have the right to do your little fancy flip piledriver back. And you may well have caused me to lose War Games... again. (Landon pauses, gritting his teeth) But that is going to be the very LAST high-point in your life until you finally see sense and admit that I am your superior!! See, at War Games, I saw you for what you really are. An ANIMAL! You stood over me with that spike in your hand... and I looked at the sadistic look in your eyes. You're a sick man. A disgrace. You've lost my respect in many ways Todd Cortez, for your lack of gratitude, for your insubordination. Sunday, you lost my respect as a human-being. Which is why you are STILL the lowest man in the Cucaracha Internacional pecking order, you will REMAIN the lowest man in the lowest man in the Cucaracha Internacional pecking order... and Cortez, unlike the past, I will have NO regrets about seeing your career waste away until you do something to redeem yourself to me! So with that said, as your contract holder, your match tonight is officially cancelled!

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

COLE
What!? Can he do that?

COACH
Apparantly he can.

Cortez holds his hands on his hips, seemingly asking the same question Michael Cole just did. Referee Mike Chioda seems confused as well having been assigned this match and not told about any cancellations.

COLE
Well... I'm hearing through my headset, we are infact going to a break! I guess Maddix HAS cancelled this match, I can't believe this!

COACH
Well you know what they say Michael. A...


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