Scene One – Desert Edge, Tucson – Twilight
The camera pans across the dusty Arizona horizon, the sun bleeding into shades of crimson and gold. Heat shimmers above cracked earth. In the distance, the glowing lights of the Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium glint like embers against the darkening sky. Justin Smith stands alone beside a chain-link fence, leather jacket half-unzipped, hood drawn low. The desert wind whips through the brush, carrying the faint echo of cicadas. He lights a match — the tiny flame flickers in the wind before he shields it with his hand, lighting a cigarette.
Justin (quietly):“It’s funny how heat makes people desperate. Out here, under the Arizona sun, everything dries out. Skin. Patience. Souls.”
(takes a slow drag)
“Logan Hunter thinks he’s gonna come into my desert and bury me. Nah…”
(smirks)
“The desert doesn’t bury the strong — it buries the unprepared.”
He flicks the cigarette into the dust, watching the ember fade.
Justin:“High Stakes XV. No rules. No mercy. Falls count anywhere. You couldn’t ask for a better setting — because in Tucson, the heat doesn’t just burn… it purifies.”
The wind kicks up dust around his boots. He turns toward the distant stadium lights.
Justin:“Logan… you’re walking into a furnace. And I’m the fire waiting inside.”
CUT TO BLACK.
Scene Two – Downtown Tucson Gym – Morning Before High Stakes XV
The sound of fists striking a heavy bag echoes through a sunlit gym lined with cracked windows. A single fan spins lazily overhead, barely cutting the heat. Justin, drenched in sweat, works the bag mercilessly — elbows, knees, and forearms blurring in rapid succession. The camera circles him, revealing old scars along his ribs and fresh tape burns on his wrists. He stops, steadying the bag, breathing heavy.
Justin (to himself): “You used to look up to me, Logan. You used to learn from me from a distance. And now you think you’ve surpassed me.”
He grins, wiping his face with a towel.
“Thing is… you can’t surpass a man who’s willing to sink lower than you’ll ever go.”
He grabs the chain of the heavy bag and yanks it down until it creaks.
“No DQ means I don’t have to pretend anymore. No rules. No code. Just instinct. And mine?”
(leans close to the camera)
“Mine’s sharper than ever.”
He slams a final punch into the bag, tearing it open — sand spilling across the floor like blood.
CUT TO:
Scene Three –TCC Arena– Empty Arena Afternoon
The Arizona sun glares through the open roof as workers adjust lighting rigs and roll cables across the ring platform. The faint echo of rock music tests the sound system. Justin walks alone through the empty aisles, dragging his fingertips along the steel guardrail. He stops ringside, staring up at the massive “HIGH STAKES XV” banner hanging over the stage.
Justin: “This ring’s seen a lot of wars. But tonight, it’s not just another fight. It’s the reckoning.”
He kneels beside the ring apron, pulling up the edge to reveal a steel chair, a crowbar, a length of chain.
“They call it ‘No Disqualification’ like it’s supposed to scare me.”
(chuckles)
“This is the kind of match I was born for. When the rules disappear, so do the pretenders.”
He rests the chair on his shoulder, looking directly into the camera.
“Logan Hunter, you’ve spent your career chasing respect. Me? I stopped chasing that a long time ago. Respect doesn’t win fights — fear does.”
Justin Smith: “You know what I love about a night like this? All these people… all these wannabe tough guys in the back… they actually think Logan Hunter stands a chance at High Stakes XV.”
(Justin smirks, pacing.)
“Oh, I’ve heard the whispers — ‘Logan’s the heart of the locker room,’ ‘Logan’s got the fire.’”
(leans forward)
“That fire? I’m the one who lit it, and at High Stakes… I’m the one who’s gonna snuff it out.”
(He kicks the steel chair over, metal echoing in the ring.)
“You see, Logan… this isn’t some friendly little wrestling match. This is a war — and I already brought the weapon.”
(holds up the chair)
“No rules. No mercy. Falls count anywhere. That means when I put you through that announce table, when I drag your sorry carcass through the crowd, and when I pin you right there in the front row next to some screaming fan — that’s not just victory…”
(grins) “That’s justice. You think you can survive me? You think that heart of yours can take another beating? You already tried standing up to me, and you couldn’t even stand up when it was over!”
(He kneels, staring into the camera.)
“At High Stakes XV, Logan Hunter, there’s no ropes to save you. No referee to call it off. Just me… my rage… and every ounce of pain I’ve been waiting to unload on your broken body.”
(Pauses. Cold smile.)
“You wanted a grudge match, Logan? You got it. But after High Stakes… the only thing you’ll be counting is how many bones I leave unbroken.”
CUT TO BLACK.
Scene Four – Flashback Montage
(Distorted, flickering footage plays — Logan Hunter raising Justin’s hand in a past tag match; Justin turning on him; chairs colliding, bloodied faces, security separating them.)
Voiceover – Justin:
“They called it friendship. I call it unfinished business.”
Clips show Logan’s victories over Justin — flash pins, near falls — followed by Justin’s savage retaliation: steel chair shots, powerbombs through tables, a defiant glare after every attack.
Voiceover – Justin:
“You think you know me, Logan? You think because you’ve stood across from me, you understand the fire I carry? No. You only saw the smoke.”
Scene Five – The Motel Room – Night Before the Fight
A neon sign buzzes outside, casting red light through the dusty blinds. Justin sits on the edge of a worn motel bed, taping his fists, his eyes cold and unwavering. A small TV plays footage of Logan Hunter’s recent interviews — his voice muffled, hopeful. Justin looks up, shaking his head with a quiet laugh.
Justin: “You talk about honor like it’s a weapon. But honor doesn’t mean a damn thing when I’m driving your head through concrete.”
He tightens the last wrap of tape, flexing his hands.
“No DQ means no excuses. No mercy. No salvation. You want this fight? You got it. But remember…”
(leans closer, voice low)
“You asked for it.”
He stands, pulling on his jacket.
Justin:
“Tomorrow night in Tucson, I end this story. And when the dust settles — you’ll still be lying in it.”
He turns off the light. The screen goes black.
Scene Six – Final Montage / SCW Hype Package
The promo cuts between roaring fans entering the stadium, camera flashes, close-ups of both men’s faces, fists clenching, weapons clattering to the mat.
Voiceover – Justin (final words): “The desert doesn’t forgive, Logan. It devours. And when that bell rings, it won’t be about pride or revenge. It’ll be about who walks out… and who gets left for the vultures. And should you beat me one more time, I will gladly leave my boots in the center of the ring and retire from wrestling for good!”
[Cue metal track as the SCW logo flashes.]
TEXT ON SCREEN:
SCW: HIGH STAKES XV — SMITH vs. HUNTER — GRUDGE MATCH —
NO DISQUALIFICATION — FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE — LIVE FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA
“The desert burns. Only one survives.”
FADE OUT.
