Post by BonnieBlue on Jan 7, 2020 22:15:18 GMT -5
All of the arena lights blast to full white as the opening guitar riff of Linkin Park’s “Waiting For The End” shatters the silence. The guitar is soon followed by that haunting double piano note as the lights slowly fade to darkness, leaving only the plain, white tron to cast a white glow over the audience. The music continues as the screen dissolves to a shot of Smith Jones standing in front of the APW logo on the interview set backstage. He is dressed in a gray suit with a gray tie over a white button-down and carrying his Alpha Pro Wrestling World Champion of the Year trophy in his right hand. With a hint of arrogance in his smirk, he takes a deep breath and he speaks.
Smitty: Yes, I know that I am not officially the current World Champion, so me coming out here and doing some big speech about the championship isn’t really my place, is it? I am, however, the current number one contender AND the Alpha World Champion of the Year. I'm very proud of how I carried myself in twenty-nineteen. Feud of the Year, Match of the Year, Wrest-- yeah. That too. Four awards in all. But, that was LAST year. This year, I've got my work cut out for me.
The camera sweeps over the crowd as every eye is locked on the tron. Smith gets a slightly tighter wrinkle in his forehead as he thinks about the year ahead.
Smitty: I realize that by helping APW reach out into the wrestling world to bring even more top level talent into an already action-packed locker room, I am setting myself up for an even more difficult year than the one I just had. Not that I didn't crush said year. Heck. Why don’t I just do it again. This time with even more people in the field. Even with all of the added pressure. I'll be ready. People have come from far and wide to sign APW contracts for the chance to compete for a shot at the Alpha Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. Both of our current singles champions are involved in this Rumble. Even they can see past the blinding glimmer of their own belts how important this--
Jones freezes for a moment. He then grows a gracious grin as he sees someone passing nearby. He calls out to the person who is for now still off camera.
Smitty: Hey! I’ve been meaning to stop by your locker room! Welcome to Alpha Pro Wrestling!
??: Aw, hell. I bet you say that to all the fresh meat.
The hand is the first thing that's visible, extended for a shake and there's a very distinctive heavy silver skull ring on his finger as a clue to the man's identity before he steps fully into frame. Smith Jones and Lex Collins shake hands. It's been a hot minute since Lex Collins has been in front of a crowd as large as the APW fan base but he's still well-known enough to draw a sizable pop from the crowd. The men stand face to face.
Smitty: Lex Collins. You have no idea how excited I am to see you standing here in front of the APW logo. I have no idea why it’s taken so long for us to work together, but I am really looking forward to see what two experienced journeymen like us are going to do here in twenty twenty.
Lex: Like I said on social media: the future's unwritten.
He winks, letting out a soft chuckle.
Lex: The onus is on us to make it count. Feel the itch though...to create something great. It's been too long.
Jones looks down at the concrete beneath their feet. He thinks about some of the incredible stories he’s been involved with over the years. He reflects on some of the amazing victories he’s had. He considers some of the crushing defeats and how they’ve shaped him. Jones looks again at Collins.
Smitty: I heard you say in your first APW promo that you want to be The Architect of something great. So… do… I. Lex Collins and Smith Jones are about to take steps in the appropriate direction towards achieving that lofty goal. You have all the tools to win that Rumble and show the wrestling world why you deserve a shot at the Alpha Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. Then you and I can decide which one of us will proudly carry The World Title into this fresh decade.
Lex: With you 100% on this, brother.
It’s a stark contrast between the two as Collins stuffs his hands in the pockets of his worn jeans, looking around for a moment before his gaze settles back on Jones. As different as they may be, they’ve got identical expressions before Collins nods slowly, that look of determination changing to a smile.
Lex: The Architects. Does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Smitty: We were here in the trenches building this business up when so many of these people were still stuck behind the retaining wall wearing our merch. We truly are The Architects. We built this biz. You ready to Rumble?
Collins nods.
Lex: Ready as I'll ever be.
He turns to go and then stops before moving off camera completely.
Lex: Wanna grab a drink after? Talk more on this without all the eyes an’ ears. Sound good?
Jones nods. As Lex exits, Smith turns to camera and stares down the centre of the lens with a ridged browline and ice in his eyes.
Smitty: The game is about to change. Let’s play.
Fade to black.
January 6th, 2020
A wide shot takes in the 14-thousand strong crowd in the pit, on their feet, cheering, singing along with the Metal theme, unheard in over a month. Pan down to ringside, Mike Clearwater and Jonah St. Remington already seated at the commentary table.
Clearwater: Wow! What a way to start the new year here in Alpha Pro! Smith Jones, the man who has for so long walked his own path -- could he be forging an alliance with newcomer Lex Collins? And if so, to what end?
Remi: More importantly, dude, with all these new names signed to the APW roster -- BIG names -- which of these fine men and women are going to make history tonight as the winner of the first-ever APW Rumble?
Clearwater: That’s anybody’s guess, Remi! There are the fan favorites, like FPV, Zombie McMorris, Zion Simmons, Jaice Wilds, Steven Osbourne, and Noble Savage!
Remi: Yeah, bro, and those competitors are getting the best odds, but there are bound to be surprises! Lazer Blazer! Jobber Dave! Alex Scott! “Jazzy” John McCarty! Lex Collins! Raging Dead! Even “The Provocateur” Arthur Pleasant!
Clearwater: We can’t overlook anybody in a match like this, with a shot at the grandest prize in the business on the line! Flop, Diakos, “The Ghost” Voshon Jackson, Road Dawg, John Blade, Gino “Big Nasty” Salbrini, Troll… And we know for a fact Ultimate Destroyer is in at some point. He may not care about titles, but we all know exactly what he’s about!
Remi: Plus, I hear rumors about some surprise entries! We have one returning superstar and one brand-new to our company, but a veteran of the industry with a list of accolades longer than Steven Osbourne’s --
Clearwater: Remi…
Remi: Rap sheet! What did you think I was gonna say, bro?
Clearwater: Nevermind.
Remi: Like I was saying, dude, this card is STACKED! And next week is gonna be just as HUGE!
Clearwater: That's right! Next week sees the return of the Big Brawl for the Hardcore Title! Anybody and everybody has a chance to seize the belt -- second only to the World Championship!
Remi: Yeah, bro! He's got big brawls, and she's got big brawls -- but Alpha's got the biggest BRAWLS of them all!
Clearwater: Not to mention, our first pay-per-view of the year is coming up at the end of the month! 2020 Ways to Die! Tonight is all about choosing a contender for the main event that night, but there is so much more potential!
Remi: I have it on good authority that 2020 Ways is going to be held in -- get this -- DEATH VALLEY! Every match with a hardcore stipulation, like Horrorkore, but with less zombies and radioactivity! And every single title will be on the line! Smith Jones will face the winner of tonight's rumble for the World Title! The Hardcore strap will be up for grabs again! ZMAC himself will have to defend his North American Championship!
Clearwater: But it all hinges on what happens here tonight! So, A-P-Dub faithful, without further ado -- Alpha Pro Wrestling proudly presents…
Smitty: Yes, I know that I am not officially the current World Champion, so me coming out here and doing some big speech about the championship isn’t really my place, is it? I am, however, the current number one contender AND the Alpha World Champion of the Year. I'm very proud of how I carried myself in twenty-nineteen. Feud of the Year, Match of the Year, Wrest-- yeah. That too. Four awards in all. But, that was LAST year. This year, I've got my work cut out for me.
The camera sweeps over the crowd as every eye is locked on the tron. Smith gets a slightly tighter wrinkle in his forehead as he thinks about the year ahead.
Smitty: I realize that by helping APW reach out into the wrestling world to bring even more top level talent into an already action-packed locker room, I am setting myself up for an even more difficult year than the one I just had. Not that I didn't crush said year. Heck. Why don’t I just do it again. This time with even more people in the field. Even with all of the added pressure. I'll be ready. People have come from far and wide to sign APW contracts for the chance to compete for a shot at the Alpha Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. Both of our current singles champions are involved in this Rumble. Even they can see past the blinding glimmer of their own belts how important this--
Jones freezes for a moment. He then grows a gracious grin as he sees someone passing nearby. He calls out to the person who is for now still off camera.
Smitty: Hey! I’ve been meaning to stop by your locker room! Welcome to Alpha Pro Wrestling!
??: Aw, hell. I bet you say that to all the fresh meat.
The hand is the first thing that's visible, extended for a shake and there's a very distinctive heavy silver skull ring on his finger as a clue to the man's identity before he steps fully into frame. Smith Jones and Lex Collins shake hands. It's been a hot minute since Lex Collins has been in front of a crowd as large as the APW fan base but he's still well-known enough to draw a sizable pop from the crowd. The men stand face to face.
Smitty: Lex Collins. You have no idea how excited I am to see you standing here in front of the APW logo. I have no idea why it’s taken so long for us to work together, but I am really looking forward to see what two experienced journeymen like us are going to do here in twenty twenty.
Lex: Like I said on social media: the future's unwritten.
He winks, letting out a soft chuckle.
Lex: The onus is on us to make it count. Feel the itch though...to create something great. It's been too long.
Jones looks down at the concrete beneath their feet. He thinks about some of the incredible stories he’s been involved with over the years. He reflects on some of the amazing victories he’s had. He considers some of the crushing defeats and how they’ve shaped him. Jones looks again at Collins.
Smitty: I heard you say in your first APW promo that you want to be The Architect of something great. So… do… I. Lex Collins and Smith Jones are about to take steps in the appropriate direction towards achieving that lofty goal. You have all the tools to win that Rumble and show the wrestling world why you deserve a shot at the Alpha Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. Then you and I can decide which one of us will proudly carry The World Title into this fresh decade.
Lex: With you 100% on this, brother.
It’s a stark contrast between the two as Collins stuffs his hands in the pockets of his worn jeans, looking around for a moment before his gaze settles back on Jones. As different as they may be, they’ve got identical expressions before Collins nods slowly, that look of determination changing to a smile.
Lex: The Architects. Does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Smitty: We were here in the trenches building this business up when so many of these people were still stuck behind the retaining wall wearing our merch. We truly are The Architects. We built this biz. You ready to Rumble?
Collins nods.
Lex: Ready as I'll ever be.
He turns to go and then stops before moving off camera completely.
Lex: Wanna grab a drink after? Talk more on this without all the eyes an’ ears. Sound good?
Jones nods. As Lex exits, Smith turns to camera and stares down the centre of the lens with a ridged browline and ice in his eyes.
Smitty: The game is about to change. Let’s play.
Fade to black.
January 6th, 2020
Live From: University Arena, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Seating capacity: 15,411
Exclusive to NETFLIX
A wide shot takes in the 14-thousand strong crowd in the pit, on their feet, cheering, singing along with the Metal theme, unheard in over a month. Pan down to ringside, Mike Clearwater and Jonah St. Remington already seated at the commentary table.
Clearwater: Wow! What a way to start the new year here in Alpha Pro! Smith Jones, the man who has for so long walked his own path -- could he be forging an alliance with newcomer Lex Collins? And if so, to what end?
Remi: More importantly, dude, with all these new names signed to the APW roster -- BIG names -- which of these fine men and women are going to make history tonight as the winner of the first-ever APW Rumble?
Clearwater: That’s anybody’s guess, Remi! There are the fan favorites, like FPV, Zombie McMorris, Zion Simmons, Jaice Wilds, Steven Osbourne, and Noble Savage!
Remi: Yeah, bro, and those competitors are getting the best odds, but there are bound to be surprises! Lazer Blazer! Jobber Dave! Alex Scott! “Jazzy” John McCarty! Lex Collins! Raging Dead! Even “The Provocateur” Arthur Pleasant!
Clearwater: We can’t overlook anybody in a match like this, with a shot at the grandest prize in the business on the line! Flop, Diakos, “The Ghost” Voshon Jackson, Road Dawg, John Blade, Gino “Big Nasty” Salbrini, Troll… And we know for a fact Ultimate Destroyer is in at some point. He may not care about titles, but we all know exactly what he’s about!
Remi: Plus, I hear rumors about some surprise entries! We have one returning superstar and one brand-new to our company, but a veteran of the industry with a list of accolades longer than Steven Osbourne’s --
Clearwater: Remi…
Remi: Rap sheet! What did you think I was gonna say, bro?
Clearwater: Nevermind.
Remi: Like I was saying, dude, this card is STACKED! And next week is gonna be just as HUGE!
Clearwater: That's right! Next week sees the return of the Big Brawl for the Hardcore Title! Anybody and everybody has a chance to seize the belt -- second only to the World Championship!
Remi: Yeah, bro! He's got big brawls, and she's got big brawls -- but Alpha's got the biggest BRAWLS of them all!
Clearwater: Not to mention, our first pay-per-view of the year is coming up at the end of the month! 2020 Ways to Die! Tonight is all about choosing a contender for the main event that night, but there is so much more potential!
Remi: I have it on good authority that 2020 Ways is going to be held in -- get this -- DEATH VALLEY! Every match with a hardcore stipulation, like Horrorkore, but with less zombies and radioactivity! And every single title will be on the line! Smith Jones will face the winner of tonight's rumble for the World Title! The Hardcore strap will be up for grabs again! ZMAC himself will have to defend his North American Championship!
Clearwater: But it all hinges on what happens here tonight! So, A-P-Dub faithful, without further ado -- Alpha Pro Wrestling proudly presents…
