[CCW] NOVEMBER REIGN (Parts 1 and 2)
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Wrestling's CEO and Mastermind Preston Everett Pressley, III, looks disturbed.
He stands next to a buffet table of foot, a clipboard in his hands. Tonight's
line-up is printed on it, and he is scrawling notes in the margins. His Armani
suit, possibly the finest of his collection, speaks volumes for the man. He is
money. He is class. He is . . . the President of CCW. However, his face tells a
different story. He is angry and frustrated--about what, we cannot tell. Just
minutes from the beginning of his wrestling organization's first pay-per-view
broadcast, it could be any number of things. Finally, as a production assistant
scurries past, the CEO grabs him.
PEP: Have you seen Gunn?
[The assistant looks alarmed.]
ASSISTANT: Uhm, no sir . . . I haven't.
[PEP releases him, his face flushed with anger.]
PEP: Dammit, Tommy . . . What in the hell has gotten into you lately?
[As PEP's frustration mounts, the camera cuts to the "Main Strip" in Las Vegas,
Nevada--home to tonight's Pay-Per-View extravaganza. A white Lexus stretch limo
is causing quite a stir. Then again, it's more likely the fact that
Championship Caliber Wrestling's World Heavyweight Champion "The Natural" Tommy
Gunn is standing up--his World Title draped across 1 shoulder--as the vehicle
slowly pulls into the parking lot outside one of the brightly lit hotels. On
the marquee above the opening of the driveway, it reads, "CCW Wrestling: Tommy
Gunn vs. Dazz for the World Heavyweight Title. 8 p.m. Tonight!" Another sign
indicates that the show is: "SOLD OUT!!" A throng of women surround the limo as
the back door opens and former CCW World Champion Brett Hunter unfolds himself
from within. As the screaming fans are forced back from the champ by security
and the 7-foot monster in Raybans, Tommy Gunn slides out. After playing to the
crowd for a minute, he heads toward the door.]
GUNN: C'mon, Brett . . . We've got some business to take care of . . .
[Brett simply nods--and the duo disappear inside.]
Meanwhile . . .
[In the backstage area, PEP storms down the hall--passing a number of CCW
competitors including Los Diablos Satanicos (ALREADY banging away on the door
marked "The Dark Alliance"--and barges into The Stud Stable locker room. Tyler
Boyd and Brendan Blade both look up from their bags--a bit startled. Blade is
already wearing a referee's shirt so tight it appears to have been made of
spandex. The sleeves have been cut off, and Blade's muscular physique shows
beneath. Boyd, who has his ring attire in his hand, is chatting on his cellular
phone to someone--possibly his wife.]
PEP: Have either of YOU seen Tommy?
[Boyd whispers good-byes and snaps the phone shut.]
BOYD: No, Preston, I haven't.
[As Blade eyes himself in the mirror, grumbling under his breath about the
outfit, he shakes his head 'no.']
PEP: Brendan, would you PLEASE cooperate here? I asked if either of you know
where Tommy is?
BLADE: Listen, PEP, I haven't talked to him in a couple of hours. He said he's
meet me here for the show. Now, I'm asking you again: Do I HAVE to wear this?
[PEP looks red-faced with fury.]
PEP: YES, Brendan. YES! YES! YES! Dammit, I can't find the World Heavyweight
Champion, and YOU are worried about a damn shirt?
BOYD: PEP, listen, Tommy is going to show up. Now, I want to talk to you about
what is going on with ME. I'm in the opening match? Preston, I thought you . .
.
[Just then, the door to the dressing room opens and Brett Hunter fills it. The
giant blond has everyone's attention--but it's the music that can be heard from
the arena--and the screaming of the fans--that takes center stage. LL Cool J's
"Phenomenon" can be heard blasting--and PEP's eyes widen.]
PEP: What the hell is going ON here?!
[As Brendan flips the monitor in the dressing room on, it picks up the packed
arena on its feet--as "The Natural" makes his way toward the ring. As PEP
stares at the monitor, utterly confused, cut to the NOVEMBER REIGN credits.]
Championship Caliber Wrestling
Presents
Live on Pay-Per-View
NOVEMBER REIGN
Broadcast from Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, November 27, 1999
MAIN EVENT
"The Natural" Tommy Gunn
vs.
Dazz
World Heavyweight Title Match
CO-MAIN EVENT
"Bad Boy" Bobby Kamakazee
vs.
"The Magnificent" Dr. MID-Nite
The Finals of the International Title Tournament
SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE:
"The Professional" Brendan Blade!
The Specialists
vs.
The Dark Alliance
CCW World Tag Team Title Match
Axl Blaze
vs.
Alex Libido
CCW TV Title Match
Cameron Brunt & The TV Title
in a Cage Over the Ring!
Doctor Pain
vs.
"The Franchise" Reon Wilson
CCW X-Treme Title Match
HELL IN A CELL!
Nigel Payton/"STEEL"
vs.
Hunter Cole
Former Best Friends Collide
Death Warrant
vs.
Chris Bailey
GRUDGE Match
"The Magnum" Michael Marksman
vs.
The Rebel Youth
GRUDGE Match
***PLUS***
Over-The-Top Rope Battle Royal
The Winner Gets a TV Title Shot!
"Violent" Brad Frost
Syrux
Mikey Sipplewits
"Thunderbolt" Jason Leonard
"Hot Shot" Justin Sakar
"The Ripper" Steve Talon
Los Diablos Satanicos
"Cujo"
"Wild Thing" Darren Knight
Brandon Loving
"The Main Attraction" Tyler Boyd
Daggon
[We return to ringside, where Cassandra Randall and Mikey "The Mouth" Munson
are seated, ready for the start of tonight's telecast. Cassandra, her hair
spilling around her shoulders in fiery-red spirals, is decked out in an emerald
green evening gown--complete with a plunging neckline that displays that this
woman is not only a brain--she's a beauty, too! Beside her, his sandy-blond
hair combed for the first time in recent memory and sporting a tuxedo (!!!), is
"The Mouth"!]
CASSANDRA RANDALL: Fans, welcome to Las Vegas and Championship Caliber
Wrestling's premiere Pay-Per-View extravaganza! Mouth, tonight we have nearly
3,000 fans on hand at the sold-out Debbie Reynolds Hotel for our first foray
into simulcast: CCW's NOVEMBER REIGN!
THE MOUTH: Cass, you'd THINK that PEP would have gotten us a better location
than this! That washed up old hag, Debbie Reynolds, is running a friggin' DUMP!
I mean, this place is the pits!
CR: It's really NOT that bad, Mouth. Besides, what does it matter? Tonight
Championship Caliber Wrestling is turning Las Vegas into a warzone--so to
speak.
MM: Yeah, just don't let that organization up in Stamford hear you say that. .
.
CR: Fans, we have a HUGE show for you tonight as . . ..
[Cass is cut off as the pulsing beat of LL Cool J's smash single, "Phenomenon,"
rip through the speakers and immediately brings the crowd to its feet in a
mixture of mostly booes, and surprisingly some cheers, as the CCW World
Champion steps into clear view.]
MM: Oh, man! What a surprise! It's the CCW World Heavyweight Champion to start
the show!
[The 226-pound phenom soaks in the atmosphere as he spins, playing to the
crowd, with 20-pounds of gold wrapped firmly around his waist. Gunn's not yet
dressed in his wrestling attire. He's wearing a pair of loose-fitting jeans and
a white sleeveless "Heartbreaker's Lounge" cut-off that show off his chiseled
biceps.]
CR: Fans, I can only IMAGINE what is going through this young superstar's mind
tonight. He's facing quite possibly the TOUGHEST challenge of his entire tenure
as World Champion tonight as he takes on Dazz--the man that has been on a
collision course with "The Natural" since their first day in CCW!
MM: The question is what will be going through Dazz's head later tonight--but I
have the answer.
CR: And what might THAT be?
MM: Tommy Gunn's foot!
CR: Ugh.
MM: Get it? Tommy Gunn's FOOT will be going through Dazz's head later tonight?
CR: I GOT it, Mouth--but that doesn't make it FUNNY.
[In the aisleway, the 23 year-old heartthrob World Champion gyrates down the
aisle as the noise level never decreases, dancing along the ring ropes, playing
to the females with a million-dollar smile on his face. The intensity is in the
air, you can feel it.]
CR: The World Champion is in the ring, fans--and he's got a microphone.
MM: Then shut up and let him speak!
[Tommy flips over the top rope, and points to the entrance. His entrance music
fades. "The Natural" takes the microphone with a wry grin.]
GUNN: Las Vegas!
[The crowd responds in full.]
GUNN: Tonight, in front of a WORLD-WIDE audience watching at home on
pay-per-view, Championship Caliber Wrestling takes center stage. Check that.
Tonight, "The Natural" takes center stage.
[Tommy pauses as a chorus of booes reign in.]
GUNN: Tonight, Vegas... I'm going to erase all the doubt on WHO built this
small-time, tiny-California-federation-that-could. It wasn't "Oakland's Truest
Thug," OH NO... it wasn't--
[The World Champion has to pause as the crowd begins to chant, "Dazz! Dazz!
Dazz!" He only smiles and feeds off it.]
GUNN: It sure as hell wasn't Dazz... Hell, the guy might have a multi-platinum
rap album on the charts, but he just isn't Tommy Gunn. As many of you know...
and the rest of you will see first-hand tonight, it was "The Natural" who took
the CCW on his back and carried it to the national forefront. _I_ am the reason
that ALL OF YOU are here tonight, and you can all thank me right now for
everything that I've done, and I did it all... for YOU. [more booes]
MM: It's true, you know! It's been Tommy Gunn all along.
CR: I beg to differ, and I'm SURE that there are any number of people in the
back that would, too.
GUNN: You see, it wasn't easy, this path that I've carved out. Six months ago,
has it been that long? [smiles] Six months ago, when I left the USEW to
crumble--without its top star--who would have thought that we'd be here
tonight? We're in the world capital for legalized gambling, but I DOUBT that
any of you would have bet on it. But yet, here we are--and here I am--standing
before you as "The Man" once again... the CCW's ONLY two-time World Champion...
and the man who BUILT this damn federation--
[Gunn is visibly pissed off as "Hate Me Now," the theme song of the CCW
President, Preston Everett Pressley, III, shakes the arena to its core.]
CR: Uh-oh! Here comes The Boss, Mouth--and he doesn't look too happy!
MM: I don't see WHY?! Tommy and PEP did this together!
CR: Did they? It doesn't look like PEP approves of what Gunn has had to say!
[The President, wearing one of his finest suits, steps out into view trailed by
all three other members of the Stud Stable--"The Professional" Brendan Blade,
Brett Hunter, and "The Main Attraction" Tyler Boyd. PEP holds a cordless
microphone in his hand.]
PEP: Whoa, whoa, Tommy... Did I hear you say that YOU "built this federation?"
[The crowd livens. Gunn leans over the ring ropes facing the aisle with a head
of steam. His crystalline blue eyes burn with intensity as PEP begins to walk
towards the ring, followed by the Studs.]
PEP: Maybe you've forgotten WHO MADE YOU who you are today!
CR: Preston has been guiding Tommy's career for 2 years--since the phenomenon
STARTED in this sport, fans! There is a LOT of history behind these men.
MM: Thank you, The Learning Channel! Now ZIP IT, Randall!
CR: [sighs]
PEP: Just in case you don't remember, Tommy, you're LOOKING at him. But I
thought we'd covered this. I THOUGHT we'd worked through all of this. WHY are
you doing this, Tommy? And, moreso, WHY TONIGHT? I've built this federation,
and I've got a show to put on. I do NOT have time to be out here bolstering
your overblown ego at every turn!
[Tommy walks the ring like a caged animal as PEP steps through the ropes.]
GUNN: Stop right there, big man. [PEP halts.] YOU built this federation? YOU
have a "show to put on"? You know damn well that if it wasn't for me, right now
you'd be filing for bankruptcy beside Dazz's own Bay Area Wrestling
Federation... [PEP moves forward] I SAID STOP RIGHT THERE!
[PEP is visibly shaking in anger as Tommy publicly berates him. Brett Hunter
goes to take a step forward at "The Natural," but PEP holds him back.]
GUNN: That's right, PEPPER, keep the dogs at bay... because this is where we
draw the line. This is where we set the record straight. Tonight, there's no
looking back, Preston. We've reached that proverbial fork in the road.
MM: What is Tommy talking about, Cass?! What is going on here?
CR: I don't know, but the fans are certainly letting Gunn know what they think
of HIM!
[The capacity crowd begins to chant, "ASS-HOLE!" and for once, it isn't
directed at the President. Tommy remains unphased as he begins to appeal to his
fellow Stud Stable members.]
GUNN: You were never out for our best interests, PEP, were you? It's always
been YOUR business before OUR business, and that doesn't cut it with me. The
harsh reality of the situation is that if you were truly on OUR side, Brendan
and Tyler would still be the CCW World Tag Team Champions. Instead, barely even
received a return match. You tell me, PEP, where's the justice in that?
PEP: Tommy, tonight isn't the time for this. I'm not going to let you air The
Stud Stable's dirty laundry for the world. What you don't get is that I have to
draw the line from time to time between running The Stud Stable--and OWNING
CCW. I have certain responsibilities that come with owning this wrestling
organization, Tommy.
CR: PEP is talking sense, Mouth. It's Gunn's ego that isn't listening!
GUNN: You're right, PEP. You OWN this operation. These two men were SCREWED out
of their belts at a goddamn house show and what do you do about it? Absolutely
nothing. Brendan and Tyler, they've fallen off the map. Tonight, it's not the
Stud Stable defending their tag team titles; it's The Specialists taking on the
Dark Alliance. Hell, Tyler's pulling the OPENING ACT.
MM: I don't know, Cass . . . Tommy's got a point! Brendan and Tyler were
shafted . . . and PEP didn't do a damn thing about it! And now Tyler's
practically a jobber!
[Tommy looks directly at "The Main Attraction."]
GUNN: You've BURIED him in this "special attraction" battle royal with some
guys who are lucky to even have a contract. He's not the only one. Brendan
isn't even cleared to wrestle. You're _supposed_ to be on top of these things,
Preston, you're _supposed_ to be looking out for OUR best interests. But where
are you these days, PEP? What's going on that we don't know about?
CR: Tommy Gunn is blowing this ENTIRELY out of proportion. Mouth, the
speculation that The Studs were about to seld-destruct appears to have been
true!
[Brendan and Tyler are talking amongst themselves, like some of Tommy's words
are having some impact.]
PEP: You're talking nonsense, Tommy. I have given each and every one of The
Studs AMPLE opportunity to advance in the CCW. Look what I did for you when
Kamakazee took the belt. Look at the hoops I put through before Dazz got this
shot at the belt?
GUNN: Yeah . . . LOOK at the 'hoops'. You signed the contract without batting
an eye--and without me even KNOWING about it! Is this what we've come to--that
you have to go BEHIND MY BACK to sign a contract--like tonight's main event? Is
that all that two years of blood, sweat, and tears guarantees me? The choice is
yours, PEP. What's it going to be? The CCW... or the Stud Stable?
[There is audible discussion in the crowd as they are stunned by the ultimatum
posed by the World Champion toward his manager. The Announcing crew shares
their surprise.]
CR: I can't believe my ears, Mouth! Tommy Gunn expects PEP to choose between
CCW and The Studs?!
MM: How can he do that? The Studs don't EXIST without PEP!
PEP: You're being ridiculous, Tommy! I will NOT make that decision. I am the
lifeline for both. Five years ago, I started The Stud Stable and took it to the
top of the game time-and-time-again! Six months ago, I put the CCW on the same
path! I will NOT choose between the two, Tommy. Not for you. Not for anybody.
GUNN: I've put MY LIFE into this business for you, Preston. What's it going to
be?
PEP: I told you, Tommy. I will NOT make a choice like that.
[The arrogant young World Champion narrows his baby-blue eyes. He nods his head
slightly, and then speaks.]
GUNN: Then _I_ am going to make that decision for you. Preston . . . YOU ARE
FIRED!
MM: WHAT?!
CR: I can't believe my ears!
[PEP lunges forward at his Champion, dropping his microphone--SPEAR!]
MM: Oh, my GOD! PEP has just attacked the CCW World Champion! Cassandra, this
is HORRIBLE!
CR: It's certainly a shock! THe President is going after the Champion, and Gunn
hits the canvas hard as the Stud Stable looks on. Mouth, the Studs look at a
loss for a reaction! Their leader and their manager are at odds!
MM: Dammit, they need to DO something! Oh, this is HORRIBLE!
CR: Finally the giant 'enforcer' of the group, Brett Hunter steps forward for
the save. Brett grabs the President off Tommy...
MM: WHAT?!?!
CR: Brett Hunter just LEVELED the CCW President with a clothesline! Mouth, it's
complete chaos in the ring, as Brett Hunter beats the living hell out of PEP.
MM: WHY is this happening? I can't BELIEVE The Studs are falling apart!
CR: They don't look like they're falling apart TO ME! They're quite unified!
Brendan Blade joins in on the activity, laying the boots to his former mentor,
as "The Natural" looks on.
MM: Not "The Breathtaking One", too?!
CR: It looks Tyler Boyd is going to stop the fiasco--as he steps in and tries
to stop the other Studs from attacking PEP.
MM: Thank GOD!
CR: NO! Boyd he receives a HUGE clothesline from Hunter!! The Studs have turned
on not only PEP, but "The Main Attraction", too?!
MM: I can't believe this . . . I'm stunned. Shocked, even. Oh, my GOD. What is
going on here?
CR: Boyd's on his feet--but Brett Hunter is waiting for him! HUNTER'S HEAT!
He's out in the middle of the ring.
MM: Brett Hunter is a 1-man wrecking crew, Cass! He's destroying the CCW
President--his now FORMER manager, I assume, PEP--and he's just laid out Tyler
Boyd in the center of the ring! This is absolute mayhem--and the fans here in
Las Vegas are so surprised that they have been stunned into silence!
CR: I'm utterly shocked myself! For YEARS The Stud Stable has been indominable,
but now it's leader, PEP, is battered in the ring . . . and the very structure
is in ruins!
MM: Brett picks PEP up by the hair and traps him in the ropes. He needs to get
out of there, Cass--but his attempts at escape are in vain.
[Tommy moves in, only inches away from PEP's face.]
CR: Fans, the World Champion has the microphone . . .
GUNN: You just didn't get it, did you PEPPER? This is OUR time. Let me spell it
out for you, we don't need you anymore. WE'RE TAKING OVER!
[Tommy stands over an unconscious Tyler Boyd in the center of the ring.]
GUNN: This is OUR legacy, and I sure as hell won't let anything stand in its
way. Not you... not Boyd... NO ONE...
[Tommy strides arrogantly over to PEP, who's red in the face--and BITCH SLAPS
him!]
CR: Oh, my! The World Champion has laid out the CCW President--and the abuse
and humiliation of the president have got to be overwhelming! PEP is a proud
man, and he's being humbled here as his long-time protege leads the assault on
him.
[The fans start chanting "ASS-HOLE" again, as the trio of Gunn, Blade, and
Hunter stand triumphant in the ring.]
MM: I don't know what to say--or who to support! Tommy made some valid points .
. . but this . . . this is so . . .
CR: Look out! Tommy turns his back for a moment, and PEP breaks FREE!
MM: The crowd actually CHEERS the President as he goes to attack "The Natural,"
but it's futile! OH, MY GOD!
CR: Gunn spins around and clocks PEP hard in the face with the CCW World
Championship belt. The CEO of CCW is unconscious! That was sheer brutality,
Mouth. Utterly uncalled for, and PEP is out cold! Brett drops the bloodied
President, and he falls over "The Main Attraction."
MM: I don't understand this . . . I just don't understand . . .
GUNN: NO ONE can stop us now... Dazz, you were right all along. PEP DOESN'T get
his way. But _I_ do. You'll learn that soon enough--because I'll see you,
Wesley Pepper, in the main event. Now... hit MY music...
[As "Phenomenon" fires up, Gunn, Blade, and Brett Hunter head toward the back
to a chorus of boos.]
CR: Fans, this is utterly unexpected! I knew we had a huge event on our
hands--THREE HOURS of action in the ring and out--but I had utterly NO IDEA
that this was going to happen.
MM: NOBODY did, Cass! You know that I'm the #1 fan of Tommy Gunn and The Stud
Stable--all of its many incarnations--but I had no clue whatsoever that this
was going to happen! I don't understand what has come over "The Natural"!
CR: The answer is as plain as the nose on your face, Mouth. Tommy Gunn has an
ego the size of the MGM Grand Hotel--and it has finally worked to sever his
ties to PEP.
MM: Thank God these people are out here helping "The Main Attraction" and "The
Pretty Boy" to their feet. This . . . Cassandra, tonight has gotten wild and
woolly already, and we're only 15 minutes into the action!
CR: You've never said truer words, Mouth! Fans, as Tyler Boyd and PEP are
dragging themselves to their feet in the ring, we're going to cut to the
back--where "El Guapo" Eddie Ramirez is standing by with some participants for
our first match of the evening--the Over-the-Top-Rope Battle Royal!
MM: Cass, my notes say that this match has been changed a bit. The winner won't
get a shot at the Television Title as originally announced. Instead, this has
been changed to a Hardcore Rules Match--and the winner gets a shot at the
X-Treme Championship!
CR: That's what my notes say, too, Mouth! Can you believe it? All of those men,
brawling with anything they can get their hands on, for a shot at the CCW
X-Treme Title? It is going to kick off an absolutely INCREDIBLE night of
action!
MM: It certainly will. Cassandra, I can't even believe what has happened to
date--let ALONE what is going to happen in a few minutes!
CR: Fans, "El Guapo" is standing by. Eddie, take it away!
*****