~As the shot slowly comes up, we can see the bright near-summer sun shining in the blue sky. The camera begins to lower downwards, leaving the scorching sun to show us what appears to be an old-time Western scene. Two men are walking away from each other on a dusty street, eventually reaching the required paces and turning to face each other. One is wearing a white cowboy hat and what appears to be a sheriff's badge. The other is in all black, his hand drifting over to his side.~
Sheriff: We've had far too much trouble from you for too long. Your days of law-breaking and causing havoc are over!
~The man in black raises his head, allowing us to see his face as he continues to keep his hand at his side.~
Peter Vaughn: Some things never end, Sheriff.
~The sheriff prepares himself, taking a deep breath. Between them, a tumbleweed drifts across the road, bouncing to the other side.~
Sheriff: I won't let an evil man like you destroy my town, Vaughn.
Peter Vaughn: You act as if you have a choice, Sheriff. You also act like this is YOUR town. It's all mine, Sheriff. But you're right about one thing: I am an evil man. Goodbye.
~Vaughn draws his pistol, with the sheriff reacting at the same time. Both men point and fire, the shots echoing throughout the street. The sheriff staggers back, holding his arm, dropping his gun to the ground. But it's Vaughn that falls backwards, lying flat in the middle of the street. The crowd gathered to the side gives a loud cheer, celebrating the demise of the 'villain'. The sheriff nods to them, retrieving his gun, and then walks over to Vaughn's prone body.~
Sheriff: Time to take your bows, boss.
~After a moment, Vaughn sighs, then pushes himself off the ground, standing up next to the 'sheriff'. The two men give short bows to the crowd, with the sheriff going over to talk to the crowd. Vaughn, meanwhile, walks away, to where Sadie Anderson, his fiancé, is waiting. She gives him a mock applause of her own.~
Sadie Anderson: You died very well there, sweetheart.
Peter Vaughn: I really wish Trent would let me stay 'dead' a little longer, though. It spoils the illusion to get up so quick.
Sadie Anderson: I think Trent just wants to get it over with. But you're a natural. You should really consider those acting proposals you keep getting in the mail.
Peter Vaughn: Eh, all they want is for me to be the sinister villain, and usually the most disgusting one they can find. I mean, really, they have all the characters of the X-Men, and they offer me a rebooted Toad? That's just insulting. I could pull off Mimic if they let me, it'd be awesome, having all of those powers at once.
Sadie Anderson: Well, who knows, maybe something else will come in. At least we're making people happy here today.
~Vaughn shakes his head, stepping further to the side and making sure none of the crowd is too close to them before continuing.~
Peter Vaughn: I still don't get why we're doing this. I mean, are we really getting much from turning my ranch into a western for a day?
Sadie Anderson: Trust me, Peter, we need the positive news stories right now. After the lawsuit that nearly cost us the PMV Ranch and the destruction that burned down two of our barns, it was a blessing to get offered this opportunity. The people of Dallas need to see you as more of a benevolent ranch owner, so that they'll support us in the future.
Peter Vaughn: I don't know if my being the villain getting shot is going to help with that reputation.
Sadie Anderson: They DID offer for you to be the sheriff.
Peter Vaughn: Eh, I look terrible in white.
~Sadie laughs, before dusting Vaughn off. She smiles at him, tipping his cowboy hat back so she can lean in and give him a kiss.~
Sadie Anderson: To me, you'll always be my Sheriff, Peter.
~Sadie then walks off, as Vaughn removes his hat, scratching at his head.~
Peter Vaughn: I'm not even sure what that means...
Cameraman: Hola, Mr. Vaughn!
~Vaughn turns, hearing the shout of his faithful cameraman. It's a little bit of an "Inception" effect, seeing the cameraman on camera, approaching with his camera, but we soon get through it, as the shot shifts from whatever was shooting previously (a drone, perhaps?) to the cameraman's angle. He focuses on Vaughn, making sure to get a good shot as Vaughn places a slightly fake smile on his face.~
Peter Vaughn: Hello there. You enjoying yourself there... partner?
Cameraman: I guess. Your guy over there is charging too much for the burgers, though. And why burgers? Why not something more Western-themed?
Peter Vaughn: Everything cost more nowadays, not sure what else I can tell you. Plus, who doesn't love a good burger from a ranch?
Cameraman: Wait... are they from one of your... cows?
~The cameraman sounds a little concerned, as he turns the camera over to show further down the street... where it appears some of Vaughn's cattle has been brought in to be a sort of 'petting zoo' for Dallas youngsters. But Vaughn just laughs it off, as the camera comes back to face him.~
Peter Vaughn: Would it matter either way? You know where they come from, after all. Unless it's an "Impossible Burger" or something, it involved cattle at some point.
~It's a truth a lot of people try to avoid in their minds, and the cameraman is no exception. He clears his throat, opting to change the subject instead of continuing to talk about it.~
Cameraman: So how are you feeling this week, after getting yet another victory over Matthew "The Raven" Knox in the SCW Blast From The Past Tournament?
~Vaughn's smile fades somewhat, as he remembers how the match went down two weeks ago.~
Peter Vaughn: If I'm honest... it really wasn't that satisfying. Knox and I have had some great battles in the past, and I know when he's fully invested in the war. This time, it felt clear that he wasn't in the right state of mind. As pleasurable as it is getting a clean pinfall on him, I didn't feel like celebrating that much afterwards. It's like thinking you're going to play Michael Jordan and you end up facing Michael Vick instead.
~The camera shakes for a second, probably due to the cameraman's confusion.~
Cameraman: I think you mixed up a couple of sports there, Mr. Vaughn.
Peter Vaughn: Exactly.
Cameraman: But... I.... well, okay. So you at least made it to the Quarterfinals of the tournament with Bobbie Dahl. That's a step up from last year, wasn't it?
Peter Vaughn: True. Of course, it also means that now Bobbie and I have to defend our championships in the tournament. But we knew that was coming, as it's part of the risk of wanting to win it all. I just wish the higher-ups weren't against us.
Cameraman: Against you? What are you talking about?
Peter Vaughn: Come on, man. Don't let yourself be blinded. Do you really think that Knox was randomly chosen as my opponent, after signing up specifically to face me? And then you really believe that the team that was 'randomly' put together two years in a row, the "favorites" of the tournament going in, just happened to get selected as our opponents in the next round? And it involving another Raven, to boot? I don't think so. This is a ratings maneuver, pure and simple, which is really a shame. We would have made a great Final pairing.
Cameraman: I'm pretty sure it was a random draw, Mr. Vaughn.
~Vaughn just shakes his head as if saying to himself, "You poor little sheep". He then steps to the side, leaning his back against the post of the building behind him.~
Peter Vaughn: Well, it doesn't matter either way. Bobbie and I were put together as a dream team, so we're going to have to take down every squad in our path to make it to the end anyway. I have plenty of experience defeating Ravens, so I don't mind taking that trip one more time. I'm sure Bobbie has no qualms about smacking down Callaway as well, proving once and for all that WE should be considered the true favorites of this tournament. This is ours to win, and we're not going to let this opportunity get away from us.
~He looks down at his waist, as if picturing the Internet Championship belt sitting there. Of course, he wouldn't wear it to an event like this... well, more accurately, Sadie wouldn't LET him wear it to an event like this.~
Peter Vaughn: I will say this. I'm glad it's someone like Alexander competing for my belt. I faced a lot of unworthy challengers when I continued my epic Roulette Title reign, and I was hopeful that it wouldn't be the same in the Internet Division. Clearly, it's not going to be, as only the best of the best will be moving forward throughout the tournament. And I thrive on competition. It makes me a stronger wrestler. It makes me more dangerous wrestler. It makes me... a little more of a devious wrestler. There's something about having to put out all the stops against the top competition, isn't there? Well, I guess you wouldn't know, would you?
~Vaughn glances at the cameraman, who says nothing, although he probably didn't appreciate the comment. Vaughn takes no notice, though, as he's returned his view to the street... focusing on a man walking away from him. The man is adjusting a white cowboy hat on his head, making sure it's not going to fly off in the Texas wind. Vaughn watches him go, his eyes narrowing, before he turns back to the camera.~
Peter Vaughn: Well, my friend, it looks like I should probably get back to work. Sadie's going to have her hands full with a bunch of junior high kids bussing in for the event. I suppose I should definitely help her out.
~The cameraman nods, which we can see in the image, and Vaughn hurries off... heading away from where the man earlier came from. The cameraman follows Vaughn for a second, as if puzzled.~
Cameraman: But, uh, Mr. Vaughn... the parking lot's the other way! Mr. Vaughn?
~Vaughn doesn't stop, heading off, as the cameraman confusedly waits there. He starts mumbling to himself.~
Cameraman: I do TOO know the thrill of competition... every Thursday at Trivia Night. It's intense...
~Having bolstered his own confidence, the cameraman heads off, shutting down his feed.~
So let's talk about details.
You and I, Alexander, have faced in a singles match exactly one time, I believe. Yes, we also fought in a cluster of a match at Summer Xxxtreme XI, but considering neither of our teams came out ahead in that one, I think it's best just to focus on that singles contest. It's an interesting one, no doubt, as you were the #1 Contender to the Sin City Heavyweight Title at the time, and you thought you could use me as an example to make J2H quiver in his boots.
It didn't work that quite that way, did it?
No, you took your eyes off the ball. You decided to have a little stare-down with J2H. It was a fatal mistake. One Keyholder later, and I added another Raven to my List of the Vanquished. And I'm sure you said to yourself that the win didn't matter, because you were distracted. It didn't matter, because you still got to move forward and lose to J2H at December 2 Dismember. It didn't matter, because you moved on.
But it mattered to me, Lex.
You see, my defeating of the #1 Contender to the Heavyweight Title should have been a monumental moment. It should have been the boost that put me into the main event, possibly making it a Triple Threat. But instead, it became me getting placed in a match with J2H with less than a week to prepare. And did you return the favor? Did you come down to distract J2H, trying to get under his skin like he did yours? No. You stayed away. You cowered in the back, and I ended up taking a clean loss to J2H.
I'm still bitter about it.
Not about the loss, because that night, J2H was the better man. No, I'm bitter because I was focused on leaving the Roulette Division behind and jumping into the Heavyweight battles. I was ready to launch myself into the stratosphere and go for another World Championship. But my confidence admittedly got shaken by that loss, sending me in a mild tailspin. I lost to J2H. I dropped the Roulette Title after 288 days. I even lost to Finn Whalen in the tournament, taking another hit to my confidence.
And I truly believe that none of that would have happened if you hadn't pulled me into your little head games with J2H.
But as you can see, Lexi, I've recovered. I'm now the Internet Champion, having taken down poor Milo to claim his gold. I've gotten myself respectable again. I found a great tag-team partner in Bobbie Dahl, with the two of us primed to make a run the likes of which nobody has ever seen before. I've restored myself to glory, even if to do that, I had to drop down one division for the rebuild. But that's fine. I didn't fall back into the depths of Roulette. I moved forward. I bettered myself.
But what have you done, Alex?
Have you recovered at all since losing to J2H, just like I did?
Let's look at the tapes and see.
Well, you lost in the first round of the tournament to Goth, getting knocked out earlier than I did. You lost the Blood Bath Brawl to Ben Jordan at My Bloody Valentine. Then after making a big deal out of your battles with Jordan, trying to act like a conspiracy bully, you got your ass beat by him yet again. Really, your only notable wins as of late involved your tag-team partner saving your bacon and getting the pinfalls. Honestly, Alexis, I'm not seeing many signs of a rebound here. I think the PTSD of losing to J2H is still haunting you.
Which I can understand. Losing to him stings.
But you can't just force your tag-team partner to do all your fighting for you, Raven. You have to take some responsibility for the fighting ahead of you. I've done that, by pinning Knox's shoulders to the mat in the first round. But you, you couldn't even keep your hands tight on Jamie Dean, letting him slip away from you after he nearly got the pin. Really, Jamie should have stayed in there. Maybe his team could have won.
After all, it's pretty clear that you're the weak link on the team, Alex.
That's why I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you in there. I'm going to hit you with everything I've got, and try every fast pin I can manage, because I want to make sure that we take full advantage of your weaknesses. I want you to have to apologize to Calloway afterwards, saying that you should have never tagged yourself in.
You're the key to our victory, Raven.
Because until you can finally put December 2 Dismember out of your head and move forward in life, like I have... you're just going to continue to fail. And I plan on enjoying the fact that I'll be making that happen.
~As we return to the ranch, aka the 'western town' today, we see Sadie Anderson making her way down the street. She's looking in both directions, searching for someone, and it's pretty easy to guess who she's looking for. After a few moments, she pulls out her radio and makes a call to the rest of the staff.~
Sadie Anderson: Hello, this is Sadie. Has anyone seen Peter? Or Trent? The kids are here, and I've got them doing some quick arts & crafts in the cafeteria, but I'd really like to set up the next show.
~Sadie clicks off the radio, although she did the cardinal sin of not saying "Over". Then again, not too many people worry about that nowadays, and neither do the staff.~
Man's Voice: I saw Trent near the parking lot smoking earlier. He was talking with this big guy in a suit. But I haven't seen him since.
Woman's Voice: Mr. Vaughn probably went for a beer at the little 'tavern' we set up.
Man's Voice: No, this is Cliff. I'm there now, and there's no sign of Mr. Vaughn here.
~Sadie shakes her head, looking a little concerned.~
Sadie Anderson: Well, everyone keep an eye out for them, okay? They have to be around here somewhere. I'm going to head back to the kids before they start to get out of control. Maybe they'll appreciate doing some calf roping...
~With that, Sadie connects the radio back to her belt, walking off as we hear a few more people say okay. She moves back up the street, slipping into the main building of the ranch hands, where the small cafeteria is located. She half-expects to see a food fight going on, but all of the children are sitting quietly to the side, listening to the man telling the story in front of them.~
Peter Vaughn: ... And then the hero rose up, managing to survive all of the evil plans that had been thrown against him. He climbed his way to the top of the ladder... and he claimed his prize.
Girl: A princess???
~All of the girls' eyes are lighting up, while most of the boys are less enthused. Vaughn thinks about it for a moment.~
Peter Vaughn: Well... let's just say something as precious as a princess, okay, dear? Oh, and speaking of a princess, hey, Sadie.
~Vaughn waves Sadie over, and she steps forward, very confused now.~
Sadie Anderson: Peter... what are you doing?
Peter Vaughn: Oh, you know, I'm just keeping these children occupied. Class, are we having a good time?
~There's a standard cheer you always hear from classes at events like this. Vaughn chooses to take the cheer at face value.~
Peter Vaughn: That's great, guys and gals. Hey, it's about that time, isn't it, Sadie? Time for the shootout?
~This gets the attention of many in the class, both boys and girls, as the majority want to see something exciting. Sadie clears her throat.~
Sadie Anderson: Well, uh, yes, it's around that time... but Peter, I...
Peter Vaughn: Shall we head out to the street, gang? Don't forget what I told you, okay? Be ready! Let's go!
~The kids cheer and head out, moving past Sadie, with a few teachers carefully moving in the background to stay with them. Vaughn watches them go, smiling, as Sadie steps up next to him.~
Sadie Anderson: Okay, Peter, we've got you, but I haven't been able to find Trent. I don't know if we can still stage the shootout again.
Peter Vaughn: Don't worry about Trent. He's in the medic's tent.
Sadie Anderson: The... the medic's tent?!?!
Peter Vaughn: Yeah, but he's okay. Anyway, let's go. I can't wait to see what happens at the shootout.
~Vaughn gets up, heading for the door, as Sadie takes a moment to pull on her hair for a moment, clearly stressed, before following after him. She may have no idea what Vaughn is up to, or what's going on... but she trusts him to find a way out of whatever's happening.~
Sometimes you just have to trust your partners.
I've had trouble with that in the past, I'll admit it. There's a reason I haven't had a great deal of success in the tag-team ranks. I've had to come to grips with the fact that I take some blame in that regard. But I'm working on it. I made 2024 the year of the tag, and I've had several victories in different feds, proving that it can be done.
Overall, though, I have to say I'm most confident now in having Bobbie Dahl as my partner.
Why, you may ask? Well, I think much of it should be fairly obvious. She's an SCW veteran now, set to go for her 30th victory this week in the fed. She's doing much like I did with my championship, as she's held the Bombshell Roulette Title since December 2023... when she defeated Alexandra Calaway for the belt at December 2 Dismember. The same PPV where you had your own disappointing loss, Raven.
From what I've seen lately, Bobbie's had Callaway's number.
In fact, wasn't it Bobbie's team who knocked you two out last year in the Blast From The Past Tournament? Wow, what a coincidence, right? Her partner then was Jack Washington, a man who I've taken down a few times now. Ergo, I'm an improvement over ol' Jack, which makes our team even more superior.
The odds just aren't in your guys' favor, are they?
But they sure were in mine when they randomly made Bobbie my tag-team partner. I guess, maybe that part WASN'T a conspiracy, huh?
Let's face it, Xander. Bobbie could easily handle her side of the match. In fact, I could probably let her take on Calaway like it was a singles match, and she'd most likely come out on top, even though I know it would be an extremely tough fight. I trust that she'd be able to complete that victory, knocking Calaway cold like she did when she won the title in the first place.
But I still see you as the easier path to victory.
I think it would take only a few near falls for you to start doubting yourself, losing that confidence that you claim to have in this tag-team. You'll let that uncertainty creep into your subconscious, lengthening your reaction, and then, when you least expect it... the Keyholder will fall. Maybe you feel the taste of Revenged... or you take the Plunge. Or, hell, maybe I just get you in a crucifix pin and hold you down long enough for the 3 count, just before your partner can get there to make the diving save.
I'm not pushy about how the victory happens, after all.
All that really matters, Raven, is that I make sure your team loses, knocking you from the tournament, preserving our championships... and sending us to the semi-finals. Will there be stronger teams ahead? Most likely. Will they be able to stop Dahl-Vaughn? Not a chance. The champs are going to continue to steamroll everyone like they're extras in an Austin Powers movie.
And for the second year in a row, you're going to just have to look Calaway in the eyes and say "I'm sorry. I wasn't good enough".
We'll have to see if she still trusts you after that, Alex.
~As we return to the scene, Vaughn has made his way out onto the street. He checks his pistol, turning it back and forth, before putting it back into his holster. Sadie is watching from the sidelines, knowing the kids are excited to see what happens. She looks back to the left, relieved at first to see a cowboy wearing a white hat walking forward. After a few moments, though, she squints in that direction, trying to see him clearer.~
Sadie Anderson: Hold on... that's not Trent!
~She quickly gets on the radio, moving to the side away from the kids.~
Sadie Anderson: Does anyone know who that guy is across from Peter? I don't recognize him.
~There is a chorus of No's that come through, as nobody seems to know who the man is. He's still playing the part of the Sheriff, though, as his badge can be seen, glinting on his vest.~
"Sheriff": Outlaw! Vaughn! Turn and face me!
~The man has a hand hovering over his pistol, as Vaughn looks his way, seemingly completely confident in everything that's happening.~
Peter Vaughn: If you insist... "Sheriff".
"Sheriff": We've had far too much trouble from you for too long. Your days of law-breaking and causing havoc are over!
~Vaughn raises his head up, still smiling.~
Peter Vaughn: Some things never end, Sheriff.
~The man takes a deep breath, steading himself. He's ready to draw his weapon. But Vaughn suddenly goes off-script.~
Peter Vaughn: Have you ever heard the story of the Wild Boar and the Fox, Sheriff?
"Sheriff": I... I don't...
Peter Vaughn: You should look into it. It's a good fable. It's all about... being prepared for your enemies.
~The man crooks his head, then reaches down, grabbing his pistol. But before the 'sheriff' can draw his gun, Vaughn lets out a yell.~
Peter Vaughn: Show him what you built, kids!!
~From both sides, the kids from the school rush forward, cheering. The man looks startled, leaving his gun away in the face of so many youths. They spin around him, quickly showing him that they put together a rope they all put together earlier!!! The man rocks for a second, stunned, but he starts to pull the weak rope apart in order to get free. Before he can manage it, though, he's knocked backwards by a flying Vaughn, who ko's him with a dropkick to the face!! The man is down, with Vaughn quickly wrapping his arms in what remains of the rope. Vaughn then looks around at the kids, smiling at them.~
Peter Vaughn: We did it! Way to go!!
~The kids all cheer, as Vaughn stands up, making sure to pull the man's pistol from him as he does so. The kids are doing a victory dance around the 'sheriff' now. Vaughn leaves them, walking over to Sadie, who still looks lost.~
Sadie Anderson: What was that? WHO was that? What's going on, Peter??
Peter Vaughn: We just had ourselves a little imposter is all, Sadie. He tried to take Trent's place. He should have brought his own hat. I got Trent that hat, it's custom-made. I recognized the symbol on it immediately.
Sadie Anderson: So... you knew that Trent was in trouble?
Peter Vaughn: I found him pretty quickly. He was out in the back of a pick-up. His cigarette was still smoking. So I got him to the medic's tent. I figured the guy was up to something, and I wanted to see what it was.
~Vaughn then shows Sadie the gun, with Sadie's face going pale.~
Sadie Anderson: He... he was going to shoot at you for real??
Peter Vaughn: I thought that was a possibility, but no, these are still blanks. I think he was actually just going to try and make us look bad... maybe by firing wildly at the crowd or something. Whatever it was, the kids and I put a stop to it.
Sadie Anderson: Wait... so you're saying you didn't know if he had live ammunition... and you sent the kids in anyway?
Peter Vaughn: ... You make that sound like a bad thing. Everything worked out, Sadie.
Sadie Anderson: Sometimes, Peter... I just don't know what to say.
Peter Vaughn: Just say that you love me as always. Oh, and say you'll call the police, I want this guy off of my land.
~Vaughn gives her a kiss, then walks off, possibly to go check on Trent. All Sadie can do is stare at the downed man for a moment before pulling out her radio to contact the security monitoring the event. Vaughn, for his part, just looks pleased with himself. He makes sure to scoop up Trent's hat off of the ground, knocking the dust off of it, as he walks away.~
All's well that ends well.
And Climax Control will end exactly how Bobbie and I expect it to go. You're going to falter, Raven, and you're going to watch him fall, Calaway. And after the 1-2-3, I hope you two agree to never partner together again. It should be clear after two consecutive tournaments that it's not worth the effort.
Bobbie and I are winning this tournament. We are taking down every team that stands in our way, from Sean Parker & Luna Pasilno to Mark Cross & Eiley. Even if it's Bobbie's husband, Artie, I won't let our team falter in our quest to lock this tournament down. I'll just let Bobbie beat the hell out of Kallie Reznik and we'll go on from there. We are going to earn the greatest accomplishment of my tag-team career, putting a tremendous trophy in my case. And from there, the eyes will turn towards the top of Sin City.
Because once I accomplish what you never could, Raven, winning the Blast From The Past Tournament, I'm going to continue to show you up... when I become the Sin City Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
I hope you'll appreciate the view from where you'll be sitting in the stands.
See you on Sunday, boyo.
