The video opens up to a man covered from head to toe in nothing but darkness.
A man in black trenched enticed with skulls and a slim mask covering his face. He has skeletons at his feet and it doesn’t seem to stop there it leads slowly into a trail.
Hardy: Let the games begin. Game on here tonight in Cape Town, South Africa at Sahara Park Newlands!!! But let’s look at what I found kids.
The video feed cuts and moments later it opens again.
The scene opens up inside large funhouse, oddly deserted despite being in good condition. Perhaps it was past closing time or maybe the carnival had finished its scheduled stop and was in the process of packing up to move to the next town. The only thing that was known however was that the otherwise empty funhouse was indeed occupied as the camera’s panned around, as the man slowly emerged wearing black slacks and shirt to go with a silver tie and his signature black coat and a mask upon his face. He had his back turned to the camera as he stood in front of a revolving barrel, commonly known as a “barrel of fun" meant to disorient people as they try to walk through.
Hardy:
“Hot Stuff International, some say you are a relic of the days long past. As this business grows it also changes with the times, never quite remaining just the same as it once was while still managing to stay true to its roots. As far as I’m concerned tonight you learn a little more about my deeper mind and more about The Creature’s Way, you tonight I am not this “Michael Hardy you all know and love “make no mistake I still fight for the creatures, but I am a deeper part of Hardy’s subconscious like an old friend as you might say”.
He turns around to face the camera slowly, a grin prominently on his face as he takes a few steps forward towards the camera.
Hardy: So you could imagine my delight when SCW Management booked you and I Duke Ata Topai in my own invention a barbed wire street fight or as I like call Anarchy Rules. Back in 2002, I won my very first championship back in Japan in a match of this very creation and I have waited and waited for the opportunity to put it to use, if anything this is very familiar territory to me. Mr. Duke, you may have just opened Pandora’s Box without even realizing it.
Hardy chuckles as he radiates confidence through his grin. He walks through the “barrel of fun” as the camera follows him as several ladders with several types of weapons hung above the ceiling can be seen lining the corridor to the left. Hardy grabs one of the smaller ladders as he unfolds it and begins climbing it before taking his perch at the top as his finger tips glide along not one, but two . An Umbrella and a Crowbar but both seem to be laced in barbed wire, grimmiously he looks upon them
Hardy: In the eyes of most a ladder is just a simple tool to get from Point A to Point B, to reach heights a man may not ordinarily be able to reach otherwise unassisted but to me? It’s an instrument of precision not unlike a surgeon’s scalpel or a sniper’s rifle. But let’s show what we have here folks, a barbed wire umbrella and crowbar…old friends as they are have helped me win many a match back in my day in hardcore matches such as this…Now come Sunday they can be used after being gone for so long.
Hardy gazes down from the ladder in deep thought nodding his head. The reflection in his eyes showed a mind hard a work studiously analyzing the situation at hand, his fingers moving along his face.
Hardy: Sunday Night, You have to pick your spot and calculate your shots with the utmost precision, even a slight miscalculation can be the very difference between victory and defeat. Anyone can climb this ladder and leap off or reach for that belt but if you pick the wrong moment you’ll come crashing back down to earth, but to have razor sharp barbed wire surrounding the ring and every weapon we touch how is that the ladder can be any use.
Cackling so evil like. He simply replied “I think of a few”.
He’ll point out towards the camera extending his index finger with his thumb extended, mimicking the appearance of a gun as a wry smile forms. Finally he’ll shoot the imaginary bullet from the imaginary gun, making a recoil motion with his hand as if he just gunned an opponent down.
Hardy: Just because this is match that we have on Sunday, doesn’t mean I won’t be taking my sights off of Hot Stuff International alone . Oh, no sir indeed. You see on this very card every individual has a Extreme Stipulation on their matches. Let’s talk about each of them shall we, but Hardy will leave out my special match with you Duke for last. I have a special story for us oh yes I do”.
Clearing his throat we have
“First off we have a three way SCW Roulette Contender Match between a good buddy oh so very high risk Matthew Crash Carson, The Sith Gangster Horace Jackson and Wrath”. “Crash I can see pulling out all the stops and risks in this match. The two powerhouses Horace and Wrath will most likely try to see who’s stronger and beat on the lil guy”. “Wrath make no mistake your strong but I would keep one eye open for my friend the crowbar tonight, one eye open…”.
“Next we have The big ol’ tag team match between four of the top tag teams in SCW. LUCIAN FROST and JOSHUA ACQUIN © vs GUNS FOR HIRE vs BOSOM BUDDIES (Despayre and Big
vs JON DOUGH and CONNOR MURPHY. Now as there is a tiny chance Josh and Lucian will retain and if it so happens they, they will be meeting a few friends along the night…Personally I see GFH or Jon Dough and Connor Murphy winning this match”.
“Next , we have the SCW Roulette Title as the champion defends against Kain..tonight Andrew let this loom over your head. Last Sunday you were knocked out by Kain. In the past I beat you to get my chance at that belt and now with you being the champ and should you retain my focus may just contend to you”.
“We have SCW Heavyweight Number One Contender Match between some dinosaur kid Geno Barton Jr and Max Burke…both men are impressive make no mistake but know this is if somehow Max makes it out in one piece my plans will fast forward and you, Mr.Burke will not see that Heavyweight Title Match because it was you who hit me with a baseball bat. It was you who cost me most of all in the ACW Heavyweight Championship Match and I will make sure your dreams are shattered”.
“Finally it’s gonna get heavy as Simon Jones and Sean Jackson have Title Unification Match and it’s the main event..Boys we can all say this you guys will tear the house down and by any way it can be called a war but tonight that no matter what the result, I am sure that it will be a fait fight as you can bet I will be waiting and watching and strike when it’s my time”.
“This leads me to us Duke Ata and Michael Hardy in an Anarchy Rules Match. The true main event of the night because not only will the show be stolen but bodies will lie ahead like skeleton’s to a trail and blood will run like a river”.
Clearing his throat, he begins to speak again.
“Where any maniac can swing a bat or lay out a bag of thumbtacks, to me this is about one thing only and that’s giving these fans their money’s worth and if that means hurting for them to take you out. Then so be it. The Main Event may be different but we are what they want to see. You are just a figment in the timeline of my path to getting the creatures a rightful champion who not only will defend it every week but every night”.
He’ll shake his head as he climbs off the ladder and begins walking down the corridor.
Hardy: I came here to write a new chapter in wrestling history, I came here to become one of the great pioneers of this sport! Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime and the chance to write my name personally into the history books in a territory that has no common ground and is going into utter chaos?
Hardy flashes a smirk as he walks into what appears to be a mirror maze as he extends his arms to his sides as his reflection radiates in all directions.
Hardy: Well that’s just icing on the cake! Michael Hardy is ready for Duke Ata. When Ready for War this Sunday and you Duke will know what lengths I will go to show you the error of your ways. Mark, Christian and Erik are smart men and they all realized not only do I have the skills and determination to get the job done but I have the opportunity to battle the top of the Topai family. They have the opportunity to sign two of the world’s finest to do battle on Sunday in my invention. Face me if you dare, because the crazy part of me comes out in this match and it loves to play.
Hardy continues walking down the mirror maze managing to find his way through the beginning of the maze. The mirror maze appeared to be quite lengthy for a simple funhouse. Unexpected turns went hand in hand with corners having seemingly no way out as the mirrors appeared to close in on all sides. Only the sharpest sense of perception and keen eyesight could spot the true path as Hardy managed to find his way with almost mystical precision. Despite his radiating confidence that shined through with each movement rested a deep seated inner fire that pushed him further and further. He was a motivated man with a passion for the business and while his actions would be considered deplorable by some it’s always about doing whatever it takes – by any means necessary to achieve his goals. It was almost an obsessive drive to be the very best that pushed him further and this reflected in both his physical conditioning and his mental sharpness, he was always looking to be better than he was the week prior.
Finally he reaches the end of the mirror maze. With a satisfied grin he steps towards the exit as a ladder can be seen which leads to a slide to the outside.
Hardy: While everyone else in this match appears to be lost for direction with no clear path forward I’ve found my way out of the abyss. As I may be a virus I will adapt to the situation at hand and just like this funhouse and all its tricks I will find a way to thrive within the madness. I will wait for that extraordinary moment when the fatal flaws are exposed within your techniques and just like I have countless times in my career I will be walking away with the prize.
Hardy pauses as he reaches into his coat pocket as he appears to be grasping a playing card. He stares at it feeling a sense of satisfaction before turning his attention back to the camera.
Hardy: …Creatures Prepare for War!!!!
With that Hardy flicks a card at the camera as it slides across the ground, the joker card reflecting off all of the mirrors. The scene slowly fades to black as the camera continues to focus on the joker cast upon the floor.
