MWL Redline - November 7, 2007
With that, Panzer reached into the box and pulled out his number, showing it to Stevan, who turned and wrote it on the whiteboard. "What'd he get?" Michael asked.
"Seven." Stevan answered.
"Alright, Anthony Jacobs, you're next." Michael asked, as AJ approached the general manager, a smirk on his face.
"How're the Canadians?" AJ asked, with a sneer.
"They're out of action until Uprising." Michael answered. "Now, draw a number." AJ silently reached into the box and drew out a number, looking at it, and looking up to Michael. "Well?" Michael demanded.
"Five." AJ answered, setting the number down next to the box, as Stevan wrote AJ's name next to the number-five slot on the whiteboard.
"Nicholas Hunter." Michael called, as Nick stood and approached the box, as AJ returned to his seat. Nick reached in and pulled out his number.
"Two." Nick stated, as Stevan jotted down Nick's name on the whiteboard.
"Alright, go sit down." Michael stated. "Viper?"
"Yeah?" Viper asked.
"You're up." Michael answered.
"Oh, right!" Viper laughed, standing and approaching the box, drawing his number. "Three." Viper turned and sat back down, as Stevan wrote "Viper" next to the number-three slot.
"Scott Froelich, you're up." Michael called, as the Lightweight Champion stood and approached the small box before him. Scott reached in and drew his number, looking to Stevan.
"Four." Scott stated, handing Stevan the number and sitting back down.
"Jim Norris." Michael called, as Jim stood and quickly moved to the box, grabbing his number and showing it to Stevan.
"Eight..." Jim stated, before realizing who he would face in his match, as Stevan wrote Jim's name onto the board. "Are you serious?!" Jim shouted. "I have to face PANZER?!"
"Luck of the draw, Jimmy." Michael shrugged. "Now, sit down. Shane Warner, you're next." Michael called, and with that, Shane stood, and danced his way over to the box, reaching in, and pulling out his number.
"Yeah! Number one, baby!" Shane cheered, as Stevan wrote "Shane Warner" by the number-one slot.
"And, since it's the only spot left, it's a safe bet that David gets six." Michael stated. "Alright, Shane, Nick, the two of you have your match in a few seconds, so get out there, and let's see who moves on to the semi-finals!" Nicholas and Shane both nodded, before making their way out of the office and toward the arena. "Oh, right, and while I'm thinking about it, Jimmy, since you don't have a tournament match for a few weeks yet, I'm giving you a match against Spike Norton after the quarter-final match, so be ready."
Match 1: North American Championship Tournament Quarter-final - Shane Warner v. Nicholas Hunter
As Shane Warner stood in the ring, celebrating his advancement in the tournament, Yugo's theme interrupted Shane's music, and The X appeared on the stage, Yugo carrying his MWL World Heavyweight Championship belt, and Lino carrying both MWL World Tag Team Championship belts, with Melissa at Yugo's side, as the trio made their way to the ring, Shane stood, staring at them. Yugo stepped through the ropes and commanded Shane to leave the ring. When he refused, Yugo dropped his belt, hammered Shane in the gut, and threw him over the top rope.
Yugo walked over and picked his belt back up, grabbing a microphone from ringside, as his theme faded. "Alright, so, for some reason or another, Michael Jamborgh thought it'd be funny to put the Ssu-Ling against me and Lino in a tag match tonight. I guess he thinks having two of the greatest wrestlers in the MWL taking on hacks like the Ssu-Ling will draw ratings! Well, the match is only going to last a few seconds, but I suppose a quick spike in ratings means we get more money, so..." Yugo was cut off, as his microphone went dead, and the lights in the arena went black, the titantron above the stage being the only source of light.
On the titantron, a green cursor appeared, blinking, as Yugo's microphone came back to life. "What the hell is going on, here?!" With that, a low, electronic humming came in over the arena's speakers, as the cursor on the screen moved. The text "I'm coming..." appeared on the screen, accompanied by the sound of a keyboard clacking. "Who is doing this?!" Yugo demanded. After a moment's hesitation, "Cyber----" appeared on the screen, again, accompanied by the sound of clacking keys.
"Lino, what the hell is happening?!" Yugo demanded.
"I...I have no idea!" Lino answered. Again, a moment's hesitation passed, before text reading "Are you scared...?" appeared on the screen. Another moment passed, before the text continued. "c:\conquer-dead_heat.whc" appeared, as the text and cursor faded from the titantron's screen, and the lights turned back on. Melissa was clinging firmly to Yugo's arm as he and Lino looked on in a combination of both awe and confusion.
* * *
"Hello, Stevan Corber, here, with the winner of tonight's North American Championship Tournament Quarter-final match. Shane Warner, in your match against Nicholas Hunter, it looked like you were trying to use the Fox Arc, one of Hunter's own finishers, against him." Stevan stated.
"Yeah, the only problem was he reversed it! I mean, really, who knows how to reverse their own finishers?!" Shane demanded, as Michael Jamborgh approached.
"Shane, I have to see you in my office, quick." Michael stated, as Shane hurried off with Michael.
"Spike Norton and Jim Norris face off, NEXT!" Stevan announced.
Match 2: Spike Norton v. Jim Norris
"Shane, what the hell was that? I thought you only brought me Viper and AJ!" Michael demanded.
"Well, I wasn't informed that he'd graduated..." Shane stated, defending himself.
"Oh, boy..." Michael sighed, rubbing his temples.
* * *
The titantron above the stage flickered as The X's symbol appeared on the screen, fading into Lino and Melissa behind a pacing Yugo Ryan. "What the hell happened out there, earlier?!" Yugo demanded, as Lino shrugged in response. "Nobody makes me look like and idiot! NOBODY!" Yugo shouted. He huffed angrily and crossed his arms. "Alright, MWL, the time has come to let you all know that we have chosen our next two members. They've agreed, and all that's left is to make it known to the world. But not yet. You all will find out come Uprising." Yugo laughed.
"But we'll give you a little hint." Lino stated. "They're a tag team that you're all very familiar with, by now."
"But, either way, the time has come for our match, so Seiryu, Kouryuu, get ready!" Yugo growled, and with that, the image on the screen faded.
* * *
"Hello, Stevan Corber, here, with Seiryu and Kouryuu, who will face the former MWL World Tag Team Champions tonight, to prepare for their match against SYN at Uprising. Guys, what are your thoughts?" Stevan asked.
"Little needs to be said, Stevan." Seiryu answered. "We never technically lost our titles, and therefore, we are the TRUE MWL World Tag Team Champions. Not SYN."
"And you can count on it. At Uprising, we will take SYN down for the one-two-three, and we will walk out, once again, with the MWL World Tag Team Championship that we never lost." Kouryuu growled. "Let's go, Seiryu." And with that, the two made their exit, headed toward the arena.
Main Event: Seiryu & Kouryuu v. Yugo Ryan & Lino
Yugo hammered Kouryuu in the gut and hoisted him up for a Superiority Complex as Lino tossed Seiryu into the ring. Melissa hurried down the ramp, two steel chairs in hand, sliding into the ring and handing the chairs to Yugo and Lino. As the two raised the chairs, the lights went black, and after a moment, the theme of the Ssu-Ling began to play, as Genbu made his way down the ramp, the MWL-CAW Championship around his waist. He stepped into the ring, as Yugo and Melissa both fled.
Lino however, remained in the ring, tossing his chair aside as the lights came back on, staring down the undefeated Genbu. The two just stood, neither backing down, staring holes through each other.