[ DCU Center ] Worcester, Massachusetts



PRESENTS ....

TRIPP: "Well .. here we go! Michael Montgomery and Cameron Cruise .. a fight for the right to stay in New ERA!"

JULIUS: "I think it is absolutely ridiculous that Marcus LaRoque has decided to punish Cameron Cruise like this."

NEWMAN: "He broke the rules!"

JULIUS: "He didn't! Cameron Cruise scored the three straight wins that he needed to bank a championship shot!"

TRIPP: "The First laid down for him! They were in cahoots!"

JULIUS: "But he still got his shot as the rules provide for! LaRoque is just upset that the First has once again outsmarted him."

NEWMAN: "Michael Montgomery hasn't had a stellar career in New ERA .. and LaRoque must have figured that maybe the threat of losing his New ERA contract would finally spur the Magnificent One into action."

TRIPP: "Either way .. with their careers on the line .. you can bet both men will be in top form."

JULIUS: "What we can all take from this … if you don't get on your knees and submit yourself to LaRoque's will … you could be out the door on your ass in no time flat."

NEWMAN: "He brought it on himself to ally with New ERA's most despicable Champion, Dean."

JULIUS: "Blame the victim, why don't ya?"

NEWMAN: "Let's send this to the ring."

LINKS: "The following match is set for one fall ... and is a CAREER versus CAREER match!"

(CUEUP: "Killing in the Name Of" by Rage Against the Machine. The crowd jeers as Cameron Cruise emerges from behind the curtain. He jogs down to the ring, slides in and pumps a fist in the air.)

LINKS: "Standing six foot four and weighing 264 pounds …. He hails from Jacksonville, North Carolina …… "the Crippler" CAMERON CRUISE!!"

JULIUS: "Look at these fans … So young and impressionable … they should really look up to Cruise .. he knows what he wants and he takes it!"

NEWMAN: "Cameron Cruise fell victim to the First's ploy … and rightfully so, Marcus LaRoque was none too pleased. Now he's fighting for his career here in New ERA against Michael Montgomery."

(CUEUP: "Vertigo" by U2. After his music cues, Michael Montgomery walks through the curtains. Wearing his shades to the ring, Montgomery extends a hand out to a fan, but at the last moment he pulls it back, laughing as he walks by. When he gets to the ring, he takes off his shades and places them underneath the turnbuckle.)

LINKS: "And his opponent… he stands six foot two and weighs 255 pounds …. Hailing from Portland, Maine … "the Magnificent" MICHAEL MONTGOMERY!"

(SFX: Bell rings.)

NEWMAN: "Montgomery in the ring now and he charges Cruise with a knee to the gut that backs him up into the corner, followed by several kicks to the lower leg of 'the Crippler'… and we're off to a hot start in this match!"

JULIUS: "Montgomery knows his career is on the line, too … of course he's going to start off hot!"

TRIPP: "Montgomery working over Cruise's leg … and he sends him to the corner!"

NEWMAN: "Cruise REVERSES and sends Montgomery into the corner instead …. and CRUISE EXPLODING WITH FOREARM SHOTS TO THE FACE OF MONTGOMERY! Cruise grabs the arm …. And sends him FLYING to the opposite buckle… AND HERE COMES CRUISE WITH THE SPLASH!"

TRIPP: "Cruise waiting for Montgomery to come out.... DROPKICK TO THE KNEE!"

JULIUS: "I wonder if Cruise would have accepted First's help if he knew that only one show later he'd be fighting for his life."

NEWMAN: "He's certainly wrestling like it is. Cruise pulling Montgomery out of the corner leg first... OOH, vicious kick by Montgomery right to the face of "the Crippler" to back him off."

TRIPP: "Montgomery getting up … and he needs to slow this thing down before he makes a mistake that could cost him his career."

NEWMAN: "Cruise up and charges in with a shoulderblock … Montgomery sent crashing to the mat … and "THE CRIPPLER" TRYING TO HOOK IN THE STF, but Montgomery kicks him away!"

TRIPP: "Cruise not letting up at all.. dragging Montgomery by the leg to the ropes, and draping it on the bottom rope.. Cruise with a drop knee to the leg, and another one...OOH, that was close."

JULIUS: "Cameron Cruise is a man on a mission .. the First and his associates are likely watching from the back .. just in case."

TRIPP: "I'm sure Marcus LaRoque would have a field day getting rid of all of them."

JULIUS: "He wouldn't dare!"

NEWMAN: "Cruise with the double stomp …. But Montgomery able to avoid it! Montgomery crawling to the center of the ring as Cruise grabs him…"

TRIPP: "And Cruise again going for the STF, but this time Montgomery is too close to the ropes, and he scrambles to get there before Cruise cinches it in. But Cameron Cruise continues to go for the hold!"

JULIUS: "First taught him well! Beat your opponent down until they submit!"

NEWMAN: "THE MAGNIFICENT ONE WITH A BOOT RIGHT INTO CRUISE'S GROIN!!!!"

JULIUS: "Where's the DQ, ref?!"

TRIPP: "With two careers on the line, I'm betting the referee will be a bit more lax tonight."

JULIUS: "If Montgomery truly was Magnificent, The First would have offered HIM the chance at the New ERA Championship."

TRIPP: "Or maybe it's because Cruise is weakminded?"

JULIUS: "Blasphemy! You're questioning the First's choices?!"

NEWMAN: "Montgomery back up … and he hooks the head of Cruise and drops him to the mat with the stunner!"

JULIUS: "Cruise's jaw crashed into the mat .. good thing we have a dental plan in New ERA."

TRIPP: "… actually, we lost our dental plans when New ERA closed in September."

JULIUS: "WHAT!"

TRIPP: "I hope you didn't have the dentist do too much work …"

JULIUS: "Jesus Christ.. I need to call them!"

NEWMAN: "Well, you can do that when PrimeTime is over, Dean .. because right now we're smack dab in the middle of this!"

TRIPP: "Cruise too close to the ropes, though, and Montgomery not able to lock on the chickenwing …. Montgomery on his feet ... but Cruise with a forearm to the back of the knee! Montgomery almost drops to the mat …. AND NOW CRUISE ON HIS FEET AND CONNECTS WITH A SPRINGBOARD SUPLEX!!"

NEWMAN: "Cruise pulling the Magnficent One to his feet … sends him to the ropes.. but Montgomery reverses! Cruise off the ropes… on his way back and he jumps over the prone Montgomery!"

TRIPP: "Now Montgomery up BUT GETS SQUASHED BY THE LOU THESZ PRESS!!!"

JULIUS: "Beautiful move!"

TRIPP: "Cameron Cruise on fire … and if he wins tonight he could take credit for ending the Magnificent One's career here in New ERA!"

JULIUS: "And now Cruise is locking on a Boston Crab!"

NEWMAN: "Cruise has the fingers intertwined … and now the referee asking Montgomery if he wants to give in … but Montgomery refuses! Montgomery is trying to force out of it... AND HE DOES!!!"

TRIPP: "And he sent Cruise flying FACE FIRST into the corner… Cruise bounced off the turnbuckle pad and he's down now."

JULIUS: "Come on, Cameron! Make First proud!"

NEWMAN: "Montgomery getting to his feet and he looks like he's got a second wind! Montgomery walking over to Cruise in the corner… and Montgomery rakes his boot across the head of "the Crippler!""

TRIPP: "Cruise in a world of trouble now."

JULIUS: "World of trouble? He's letting Montgomery feel good … then he's going to come out and boot him from New ERA for good!"

NEWMAN: "Montgomery picks Cruise up to his knees and fires a right hand into the face … and another.. and now Montgomery brings Cruise to his feet!"

TRIPP: "Cameron Cruise has been in New ERA for eons … I can't imagine what would happen if he loses tonight."

NEWMAN: "Not a great way to end a career, if, in fact, this is Cruise's last match."

TRIPP: "'Cruise showing some life as he fights back!"

NEWMAN: "Cruise and Montgomery both on their feet ... MONTGOMERY WITH A DDT!"

JULIUS: "Well that stopped Cruise…"

TRIPP: "The Magnificent One pulling Cruise into the center of the ring …"

NEWMAN: "AND HE CATAPULTS HIM RIGHT INTO THE TURNBUCKLE! Montgomery follows in and grabs Cruise ... locks his hands …. AND TAKES CRUISE OVER WITH THE FULL NELSON SUPLEX!"

JULIUS: "Hmmm."

NEWMAN: "What, Dean?"

JULIUS: "Montgomery IS putting on a good show … this is the first time I've actually seen him focused… of course, Cameron Cruise is probably to thank for that."

TRIPP: "Montgomery walking over to Cruise … AND HE LOCKS ON THE CAMEL CLUTCH!!!! Referee asking Cruise if he wants to give!"

NEWMAN: "Cruise shouting no … but he's turning bright red!"

TRIPP: "Montgomery yanking on the head of Cruise."

JULIUS: "He's trying to pop his head off!"

NEWMAN: "The referee down … CRUISE …. CRUISE LOOKS LIKE HE's OUT OF IT!"

JULIUS: "Where's First?! Where are the associates?!"

NEWMAN: "Cameron Cruise's eyes are shut … and the referee lifts the arm ….. AND IT FALLS! The referee checks again …. And it falls!!!"

TRIPP: "Cameron Cruise's illustrious career here in New ERA is all but over.."

NEWMAN: "The referee lifts the arm one final time ….. IT STAYS UP!!! The former Television and Tag Team Champion's eyes shoot open... and CRUISE TRYING TO BREAK THE CAMEL CLUTCH!

JULIUS: "But Montgomery breaks the hold himself!"

TRIPP: "Cruise flops to the mat and Montgomery starts stomping on the back!"

NEWMAN: "Cameron Cruise brought to his feet by the Magnificent One … and he hooks Cruise around the waist… GERMAN SUPLEX! COVER! ONE ………….. TWO …………. KICKOUT!!!"

JULIUS: "Yes!"

TRIPP: "Montgomery on his feet.. and he does not look happy.. he is unable to put Cameron Cruise away!"

NEWMAN: "Montgomery drops to the mat and straddles the Crippler … BUT CRUISE ROLLS MONTGOMERY OFF OF HIM!!!! HE GETS MONTGOMERY OFF BALANCE!!!!"

TRIPP: "And Cruise rolls to the ropes... but Montgomery right on Cruise with a knee to the back. Montgomery now picking Cruise up..."

NEWMAN: "CRUISE YANKS MONTGOMERY INTO THE TURNBUCKLE PADS IN THE CORNER!!!!!"

JULIUS: "The Crippler won't be checking out of New ERA anytime soon!"

NEWMAN: "Montgomery is down in the corner!"

TRIPP: "Cruise needs to capitalize on this somehow, Montgomery is stunned .. this could be Cruise's chance to get back into this match."

NEWMAN: "Montgomery is the first to his feet, though..."

TRIPP: "The Magnificent One with a boot to the face of Cruise …. Cruise sent to the ropes … but ducks the clothesline on the return! Montgomery spins around … Cruise with a boot to the gut … BUT MONTGOMERY CATCHES HIS FOOT!"

JULIUS: "Right when …"

NEWMAN: "... ENZIGURI!!! AND MONTGOMERY IS DOWN!"

JULIUS: "See! I told you the First always picks winners."

NEWMAN: "Um…"

JULIUS: "What?"

NEWMAN: "Cruise lost against Mr. Entertainment…"

JULIUS: "Shush!"

TRIPP: "Montgomery's nose has been busted open!"

NEWMAN: "Both men getting to their feet slowly, but CRUISE DIVES INTO THE KNEE OF MONTGOMERY!!! Montgomery tries to get up, AGAIN CRUISE CHOP BLOCKS HIM. HE'S GETTING FIRED UP!!!!"

JULIUS: "Well with your career on the line, I'd hope you'd get fired up every chance you get!"

NEWMAN: "Montgomery up .. RIGHT INTO A HARD UPPERCUT BY CRUISE, AND ANOTHER!!! Montgomery sent to the ropes, and Cruise RIGHT IN THERE WITH A FLYING ELBOWSMASH!!!!!!"

TRIPP: "CRUISE DROPKICKS THE MAGNFICENT ONE HEAD-FIRST INTO THE CORNER!! And Cruise catches him on as he stumbles out.. BELLY TO BACK SUPLEX!"

JULIUS: "Cover him! ONE ……….. TWO ……….. Dammit!"

TRIPP: "The kickout .. a weak, weak kickout."

NEWMAN: "Cruise lifts Montgomery up .. and he plants him on the second rope.."

JULIUS: "Montgomery can kiss his future here in New ERA goodbye…"

NEWMAN: "Cruise wiggles behind Montgomery and is standing on the top... Montgomery up top now as well… Cruise hooks the waist ….. BELLY TO BELLY SUPERPLEX!!"

JULIUS: "Put him out of his misery!"

NEWMAN: "Cruise slow to his feet … but Michael Montgomery still down … Cruise grabs the leg … and he's dragging him to the center of the ring."

TRIPP: "CRUISE LOCKS ON THE FIGURE FOUR!!!"

NEWMAN: "NO! Montgomery shoves his foot into the back end of Cruise and sends him flying into the corner!"

TRIPP: "BUT CRUISE COMES ROARING OUT WITH LEGDROP!"

NEWMAN: "Cruise dragging Montgomery to his feet … AND THERE's THE IMPACT DDT!! CAMERON CRUISE CALLING FOR THE REALITY CHECK!"

TRIPP: "Cruise … he brings the Magnificent One up …. THERE IT IS!! THERE IT IS!"

(SFX: HUGE JEERS!)

JULIUS: "I don't understand why these idiots are jeering! Cameron Cruise will be in New ERA forever!"

TRIPP: "He makes the cover…. ONE …………. TWO ………….. THREE!!"

(SFX: Bell rings.)

NEWMAN: "Michael Montgomery's career in New ERA is over!"

JULIUS: "All thanks to the First!"

TRIPP: "I don't even want to know how you came to that conclusion, Dean."

LINKS: "The winner of this match …. And STILL employed by New ERA of Wrestling …. "the Crippler" …. CAMERON …… CRUISE!!!"

(SFX: MASSIVE JEERS!)

NEWMAN: "Michael Montgomery has spent the last two seasons searching for consistency.. and unfortunately he's now out of New ERA … for good!"

JULIUS: "Thank God this is over… I'll be right back!"

TRIPP: "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

JULIUS: "I, uh … have business to do."

NEWMAN: "Can't your business deals wait, Dean? You're only here for premier events…"

TRIPP: "I think he means .. he's got to do his business……"

(Tripp winks at Natalie .. who finally gets what he's talking about.)

NEWMAN: "Well.. hurry back, Dean… we've got the I Quit match coming up next.. You don't want to miss marking for the First!"

JULIUS: "I'll be back as soon as possible."

(Marcus LaRoque sits in his office, calmly behind his desk, despite having a fuming, now-former New ERA Champion on the other side of it.)

ENTERTAINMENT: "You're just gonna sit there after what happened? Why the hell… what were you thinking? Did ya think putting the match on early was the right thing ta do? Did Larry put ya up to it? You've signed New ERA's death warrant!"

LaROQUE: "No, what I did was make a business decision. I did what was best for New ERA of Wrestling, and gave the fans what they wanted to see."

ENTERTAINMENT: "THIS IS BULLSHIT!! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU'VE JUST GIVEN LARRY TACT CARTE BLANCHE TA KILL THIS COMPANY! AGAIN!"

LaROQUE: "Calm down. I know you're upset but you knew the match was coming. The fans wanted it, and it's my job to give the fans what they want."

ENTERTAINMENT: "No, no no, Marcus, your job is ta give the fans what they need, what New ERA needs, an' New ERA needs ME – Mister Entertainment – as champion! New ERA needs a strong head, a strong leader in the ring an' there's no way that's Fanatic… you've got a duty ta the fans ta do what's right fer them. Give me a rematch. Put the belt back on the line, tonight, you can still fix this."

LaROQUE: "I can't make that return match tonight. You knew this match was happening tonight, at PrimeTime. But Fanatic, as New ERA Champion, has no advance notice for a rematch tonight."

ENTERTAINMENT: "I knew the match was happening TONIGHT! MAIN EVENT! Not opening match!"

(The former champion pauses, breathing slowly)

ENTERTAINMENT: "You could damn well be sued fer false advertising, ya know tha'? The fans were promised – by you – the championship match as the main event. I can hear them now, turning off their TVs, thinkin' Larry's main eventing. Make the right call, put the championship on the line, rematch from just now. New ERA needs this, Marcus, an' you know damn well it does!"

LaROQUE: "I can't do that. Not for a rematch."

ENTERTAINMENT: "Then I'll put BattleBRAWL ta use! Hell ya used my first banked shot ta open the season, I'll use my second tonight an' take the belt back!"

(LaRoque considers this. Off-camera, we hear a scoffing sound. Panning over, we see Larry Tact standing near the door, back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.)

TACT: "Come on, LaRoque. How can you listen to this tripe? The guy's just steamed over the fact he isn't so hot and wanted as he thought he was. Now that he's not the Champ, he's desperate. He knows just being the so-called 'most entertaining' isn't going to last. Don't indulge this desperation. Go hit the showers, EX-Champ."

LaROQUE: "Actually, Mister Entertainment has a valid point. Banked title shots don't require any notice at all. You may want to let Fanatic know … he isn't necessarily done tonight."

(Tact narrows his eyes at LaRoque, then stares knives at Mr. Entertainment.)

TACT: "You've got to be shitting me."

LaROQUE: "On the contrary. As long as Mr. Entertainment signs off on cashing in his banked title shot, the match is official."

(Tact walks right up to Mr. Entertainment, looking down at him with absolute fury in his eyes.)

TACT: "Fine. Fanatic already took your title. Now, he's going to smash any thoughts of getting it back, all in one night. And then you can call him the PrimeTime Enigma, too."

(Tact shoves Mr. Entertainment, then storms out of the office, almost unhinging the door as he slams it. Mr. Entertainment smiles, having out-foxed Larry Tact, and he sits against the edge of LaRoque's desk.)

ENTERTAINMENT: "Ya've made the right choice. But you better hope there's no more ref screw ups, Marcus, or New ERA might not survive one week as Fanatic's plaything."

LaROQUE: "Go get cleaned up, you've got another match… right … now."

(The former champion smiles, walking through the door. We see him closing it gently, a fitting counter to Larry's anger, before PANNING BACK to Marcus, who shakes his head and starts on the paperwork.)

( continued... )