From a distance, we see Mike and Jessica Haggar walking through a graveyard.  Dressed in black, the two approach a pair of gravestones.  The two place flowers on both of the graves.  Jessica bursts in to tears.  Her father grabs her, hugs her in an attempt to console her.  Still, as he holds his daughter tight, Mike Haggar cannot control himself.  He begins to cry as well, fighting it back as much as possible, trying to be brave for his daughter.

Our camera fades away to a shot of the ground near the graveyard.  Panning along, the camera then shows the two grave markers the Haggars were standing in front of.

Susan Katherine Haggar
Devoted mother and wife loved by all
May she finally find her peace
July 12th 1900 to April 5th 1984

Rachel Ellen Haggar
Devoted mother and wife
Her memory will live with us always
August 7th 1957 to April 5th 1984

---

April 5th, 1999
From The Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois

    We now know what Scorpion was referring to last week.  This is indeed an important day for Mike and Jessica Haggar.  Fifteen years ago today, his wife and mother passed away.  It is a day he should spend mourning.
    Instead, he's here to discover the secret hatred of the Scorpion.
    Scorpion knew what today was.  He pretty much alluded to it last week.  So why on earth has this man, who has been obsessed with tormenting Mike Haggar, decided to be so cruel as to bring Mike Haggar to Illinois today?
    We were about to find out.

    Here come the answers we've been waiting for.
    The Rosemont Horizon filled with boos as Scorpion walked down the aisle.  Alone.  This wasn't about Major Force or the Counterstrike.  It was about Scorpion and Mike Haggar.  As Scorpion grabbed the microphone, we anticipated finding out what Scorpion and Haggar are all about.

SCORPION:  It's been three years.  Three years since my campaign to destroy Mike Haggar began.  Believe me, people.  I'm close.  VERY close.  But I'm not here to brag about my impending victory.  I'm here to tell a story.  A story about a man who everybody thinks is a hero.  I'm here to shatter the lie that is Mike Haggar.

    We could hear the crowd beginning to pick up their boos once more.  Still, everybody wanted to hear what Scorpion was about to say, no matter what it could be.

SCORPION:  This is a tale of two families.  One that claimed to represent law and order.  Another that represented success.  And the events that nearly destroyed them both.  It's a story of New York City.  My father was a businessman.  I never knew my mother.  She wasn't important.  I lived well, went to the best schools, got all the nicest things.  My father was my hero, but he wasn't safe.  Mike Haggar saw to that.

    What is Scorpion getting at?

SCORPION:  We all know what a major player Mike Haggar was in New York.  One of the top law enforcers in the country.  His little group, L.E.A.G.U.E., believed my father was operating illegally.  Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't, but Mike Haggar saw fit to try to shut him down.  He might have succeeded, too, if he didn't have such a hard time dealing with the unfortunate deaths of his wife and his mother... fifteen years ago today.  Am I ringing any bells for you, Haggar?  Is this sounding familiar?

    Scorpion's voice was getting increasingly harsh and violent.  You could feel the heat of the words, his hatred for Haggar seething through.

SCORPION:  Why would I hate you for that, you ask?  Well, Mike, I don't.  I hate you for what went on after.  My father was done with you.  You started wrestling.  You had found your new life.  But you just couldn't stay out of New York, could you?  No.  Your career ends and you come back and run for mayor.  You, the mayor.  You started cracking down on crime once more, being the policeman, and my father's business suffered.  You knew it.  The deaths of your wife and mother meant nothing to you, apparently.  Neither did the disappearance of your daughter.

    What?

SCORPION:  The media didn't know much about that, did they, Mike?  You were withholding the facts.  They never knew that you risked her life after she disappeared, leading an unsanctioned, unauthorized assault on my father's businesses.  Here was Mike Haggar, Mr. Law and Order, breaking the law, acting like a common vigilante.  It didn't end with the businesses, though, did it, Mike?  You brought the attack to my home.  You invaded our penthouse.  I was taken away by my father's associates, hidden from your rampage.  But they told me what happened.  They told me about your assault on an eight two year old man.  About how you destroyed my future.  About how YOU KILLED MY FATHER!!!

    Oh my...  Haggar a murderer?  What was Scorpion saying?  This couldn't be true... could it?
    Scorpion grabbed his mask... HE PULLED IT OFF, REVEALING HIS FACE TO THE WORLD!!!

SCORPION:  My name is Marcus Belger.  My father ran New York City until you showed up, Mike Haggar.  So what did you do?  You took an eighty year old man in a WHEELCHAIR and killed him!  You threw him out of a twenty story penthouse window!  It was illegal, cold-blooded murder, Mike Haggar.  So you wanted to know why I'm here?  I'm here to avenge the death of my father.  I'm here to destroy the man who robbed me of my life.  I'm here to show everybody that their hero, their icon of truth and justice, is nothing but a cold-blooded, murdering vigilante.  A sham!  A killer!

    The arena fans were shocked.  Was the Scorpion telling the truth?  What was happening.

SCORPION:  Where are you, Haggar?  Come on, I brought you here on that very special happy day.  You kill my father and don't have the f*cking balls to show up!  Where are you, Mike?  Get out here now!  Come on!  Get out here, you bastard!

    Mike Haggar came alright.  He blasted right out from the back and stormed the ring.  Immediately, he and Scorpion began fighting like no two men had ever fought before.  Officials quickly ran out from the back.  It took about twenty of them to even separate Haggar and Scorpion.  They were joined by building security, who got in the fray.  The force got Scorpion from the ring first.  He went by the announcers table and grabbed a microphone.

SCORPION:  Let's end this tonight, Haggar.  I'm going to make you regret every single thing you've ever done, hero.  Tonight!

    Haggar fought his way free of the officials in the ring and stormed after Scorpion.  The two started fighting again and once again had to be separated.  Both men were led away separately.
    Was Scorpion telling the truth?  Is Mike Haggar a murderer?  Is Scorpion the son of Aldous Belger, the now-dead New York crime lord?
    We need some answers.

    We're inside the Counterstrike locker room, which is being torn apart by Mike Haggar.  Jack Slade is trying to unsuccessfully talk him out of his rage.  Jessica Haggar is teary eyed in the corner.  Alexander "The Grater" watches on, a stunned, disgusted look on his face.

HAGGAR:  That God Damn monster...

SLADE:  Mike...

HAGGAR:  This was done.  Done, DAMMIT!

SLADE:  Mike calm down!

JESSICA:  Dad, please...

HAGGAR:  Please?  You know what he was saying out there, Jess?  You know who his father was... You know what he did... For God's sakes...

    Jessica Haggar, not longer able to hold back, broke down in tears.  Mike Haggar, realizing what he had done, walked to his daughter and embraced her.  Grater still hadn't reacted.  There was a moment of silence, broken by Jack Slade.

SLADE:  So it's true.

    Slade didn't mean that to be a question.  He looked right at Haggar when he said it.

HAGGAR:  The bastard killed my mother... my wife!

SLADE:  So you killed him.

HAGGAR:  Jack...

SLADE:  No, don't give me "Jack".  You killed him.

HAGGAR:  I used to be a cop, Jack...

SLADE:  You weren't then.

HAGGAR:  He had my daughter...

SLADE:  So you killed him.

    There was a long pause.  Mike Haggar looked at his daughter.  The two made eye contact, and Jessica buried her head into her father's shoulder.  Haggar looked back up at Jack Slade.

HAGGAR:  Yeah...  I killed him.

    We quickly cut to what appeared to be the same scene, but from a television monitor.  Our cameraman swung around and saw an unmasked Marc Belger, The Scorpion, sitting down and watching television.  A devious smile crossed his face.  The rest of Major Force, standing in the background, were absolutely stunned.
    We went back to the arena, where John Lee and Tony B were on the mics.

LEE:  Folks, I don't know what to say.  By now, you've heard it all and, well...

B:  Mike Haggar just admitted to murder, John.  He admitted it!

LEE:  It runs deep, folks.  This is Mike Haggar's past catching up to him in a big way.  Scorpion pretty much implied that his father was responsible for the deaths of Mike Haggar's wife and mother.  Now, Mike Haggar has admitted to... well...

B:  Murdering the same guy!

LEE:  Well... yeah.  Fans, we're going to try and sort some stuff out here...  Wait a second... Something else is happening in the back....  Hold on...

    We could hear yelling from the inside of the Counterstrike dressing room.  Suddenly, the door swung open and Alexander "The Grater" stormed out.  Jack Slade was quick to follow.

GRATER:  I aint dealin' with this damn crap.

SLADE:  Dammit, Al, get back here!

    Jack Slade is still pursuing Alexander "The Grater" in the back.

SLADE:  Stop, Al!

GRATER:  I aint dealin' with this crap, dammit!

SLADE:  What?

GRATER:  Damn Haggar and Scorpion's damn revenge.  You think I'm tossing myself in some damn blood feud?

SLADE:  You're backing out?

GRATER:  I'm doin' this the way I should have... MY WAY!

SLADE:  Yeah, that worked SO well.

GRATER:  You think I give a damn about what you think, Slade?

SLADE:  Things get a little rough and you back out?  You little puss.

GRATER:  Excuse me?

SLADE:  You heard me, chickensh*t.

    Grater slugged Jack Slade right in the face, knocking him down.  Slade grabbed his jaw and, as Grater turned around, Slade was off the ground.  He jumped onto Grater's back and started pounding on the top of his head.  Grater got Slade off his back and the two started trading punches.  Grater threw Slade into a wall.  Slade grabbed a steel pole and cracked it on Grater's shoulder.  Security was soon out in force, trying to separate these two.
    The Counterstrike is falling apart before our very eyes.

    Maybe we're not going to be thinking about matches as of yet, but we do have a tag team debut tonight.  Over the weekend, BC-2000 was attacked by the Overcompensators after a match with BC-2000.  Making the save for BC was Ultimate Spider.  We weren't sure why at first, but we've been informed that these two have been considering forming a team ever since El Stingray was put on the DL a few weeks back.  As such, the Raiders, V.2 have been born.

    Wally B started this one off against Ultimate Spider.  Using his slight size advantage, B managed to push around Spider for a small while.  Unfortunately, he lost his focus WAY too early.  Thinking Spider had been tossed to the outside, B turned around and started to dance.  When he turned around, Spider was springing off the top ropes, nailing B in the chest with a dropkick.  The tag was made to BC-2000, and the V.2 Raiders went to work.  They took B down with a double back suplex.  Spider nailed a senton and then BC dropped on B with a slingshot legdrop.  Wally B was subject to some tremendous double teaming until he finally made the tag to The California Kid.  Unfortunately, for everybody's least favourite surfer boy, he didn't fare much better.  The Raiders had OA's number until a mistake.
    Spider had just flattened the Kid with a springboard DDT.   He went up top for a moonsault, but the Kid managed to get his knees up, taking the breath out of the Spider.  The Kid tagged to Wally, and OA had a good run for a while.  Using their own aerial expertise, the kids weren't dominating like the Raiders had, but they were doing very well for themselves.  A cross body by the Kid nearly resulted in a pinfall.  After a few more minutes of dominance, Wally nailed Spider with a lariat, taking him to the outside.  The Overcompensators did a double team number on the floor.  BC-2000 wasn't going to sit around and watch it.  He sprang off the ropes and hit a no-hands plancha that took OA down!
    The two teams continued their brawl outside, not noticing the count of the referee.  The inevitable result?

V.2 Raiders and Overcompensators Anonymous battled to a double countout in 0:10:50.
Rating: ** 1/2

    An impressive debut for the new Raiders, but you can bet they won't leave their issue with OA on a double count-out.
    Backstage, Terry Sky was filling up a water bottle.  We heard a Scottish voice.

SCOTSMAN:  Terry.  Over here!

SKY:  What do you want, Graeme?

SCOTSMAN:  Listen.  We don't have a partner at Showdown.  Ye don't like StB any more than me, so how about it.

KENT:  How about no, Scotsman?

    Jerry Kent had arrived.  He wasn't looking too happy.

SCOTSMAN:  Why don't you all back off, Kent?

KENT:  Go tell Angus his match is coming...  Terry?  I don't want to see that again?

    Back from commercials, Nick Jones was backstage with SMWA Commissioner Jack McCullough.

JONES:  I was told you wanted to see me, Mr. Commissioner.

MCCULLOUGH:  I have a few announcements, Jones.  First, at Showdown, we've picked a top contender for West Bronco's North American Title, and it's "Titan" Tim Redbury.  So those two will go at it.  So add that plus the Cruiserweight Battle Royal.  Now, tonight, we will see Mike Haggar vs Scorpion tonight, no question about it.  We're also going to see a parking lot death match... between...  between Alexander "The Grater" and Jack Slade.

JONES:  Grater and Slade?  What, Jack, is Major Force forcing you to put the nail in the Counterstrike coffin?

MCCULLOUGH:  Shut up, Jones...

    Well, before the break, we saw StB's indentured servant, Terry Sky, approached by the Flying Scotsman in an attempt to gain a partner for the impending StB vs Highland Hell match at Showdown.  Who knows what Sky's answer would have been if Jerry Kent didn't show up.  However, we know this much.  If the Scotsman is looking for a new partner, it means that Hamish MacTavish might not be back in time for Showdown.  That could spell big trouble for the Highlanders.
    Jerry Kent came out first, Terry Sky grudgingly in tow.  Kent turned around for a second and told Sky not to lag behind.  Sky shot a death glare back, but it's not like he can do anything about it.  One move against StB and he's out of here.  Instead, it was he that handed Jerry Kent the microphone as he entered the ring.

KENT:  I've got a message for  Highland Smell.  First of all, thanks for confirming what we had all thought... that Hamish MacTavish ISN'T coming back from the number that the boys did on him.  Second of all, just because Tricky Rick is taking the week off and the boys are cruising Chicago don't mean that you can chat with Terry.  His time is our time, and his time won't involve YOU!  And Terry?  You know better than anybody what'll happen if you so much look at Highland Hell the wrong way.  If you Scots want, go ask that fat bastard Jumbo to join your pork brigade, I don't really give a damn.  Enough of that, though.  Angus, get your fat highland ass to the ring right now, because this is Jerry Kent saying goodnight, God bless and let the ASS KICKIN' COMMENCE!!!

    The Highland Rock kicked up on the loudspeakers and Angus Wallace made his way to the ring, being accompanied by the lovely Monica and the slovenly Flying Scotsman.  Why do all the good looking girls go after guys like that?  Enough of that.  Angus Wallace danced his way to the ring, causing a lot of unfortunate women to spit up their soft drinks.  Angus jumped up onto the apron and began shaking his hips and knees at the crowd.  Jerry Kent took advantage of his distracted opponent, nailing him with a vicious lariat, knocking him to the floor.  The match was underway!

    Kent jumped to the outside and tackled Wallace into the steel guardrail.  The Scotsman went to attack, but Kent nailed him with a big lariat.  Monica tried to push the Rebel.  Big mistake.  Kent turned around gave Monica a little shove on the shoulder, yelling at her to stay out of the match.  It was just the distraction Angus needed, as knee to the back sent Kent hard into the ring steps.  Wallace rolled Kent inside, and the beating got harsher.
    Angus had the definite power edge, and he used it to his advantage early.  Unfortunately for him, he didn't use it in any useful form.  Instead, he decided to bully Kent around.  Big mistake.  Kent managed to get back on top when an arrogant Wallace ducked too early for a backdrop.  Kent took him down with a Fisherman's Suplex for a two count.  The move didn't do much to stop Angus, though.  Wallace got up and levelled Kent with a hard knee.  The control again went to the Highlander, but he again refused to do anything major with it.  Kent came back this time with a vicious flying forearm, putting Wallace down on the ground.  This time, Kent wasn't going to be easily passed off.
    Kent hit Wallace with some solid mat wrestling, an obvious weakness of the highlander.  He nearly scored the duke with a bridging back suplex and had Wallace in a lot of pain in an abdominal stretch... with an assist from the ropes, of course.  The ref saw Kent on the ropes and kicked his arm away.  Wallace took Kent down with a hiptoss and then locked on a clawhold!  Kent was down on his knees, fading fast.  A low blow put him back in the driver's seat.  Kent's dominance continued, and he even managed, incredibly, to hold Wallace in a vertical suplex for about ten seconds.  A cover produced a close two count.
    The Flying Scotsman jumped up onto the apron.  Kent ran at him and nailed him with a lariat.  Wallace came from behind and hit the Scotsman with a knee.  He hooked him up in the For William, but Kent managed to flip out and land on his feet on the other side!  Wallace turned around, received a kick to the stomach and a Reb-Driver!  That was it!

Jerry Kent pinned Angus Wallace with the Reb-driver in 0:07:08.
Rating: ** 1/4

    The Scotsman charged in to the ring and levelled Kent as he was getting up.  Scots kept booting Kent on the ground, and Wallace eventually got up and joined him!
    In the meantime, Terry Sky was taking a LONG time coming to Kent's aid.  He walked up the ringsteps, checked the time on his watch, decided which foot he should step through the ropes first and then entered the ring.  Both Highland Hell members were felled by big superkicks, and the beating on Kent stopped.  The Highlanders swiftly made their way from the ring.
    Terry Sky looked back at the Scotsman.  Scots wasn't sure what was going on, but then Sky gave a definite signal.  He lifted his right hand to his ear, made like it was a phone and mouthed the words "Call Me".  Sounds like Terry Sky is interested.
    Jerry Kent quickly turned Sky around and got right in his face.  Kent obviously wasn't happy about the delay in his ass being saved.  Sky didn't respond with words, rather he nodded his head up and down idiotically, trying to prove to Kent that he understood what was going on.  Kent, not happy with Sky's grandstanding, cuffed him in the back of the head!
    Sky didn't make a move to attack.  He stood, staring at Kent, who was telling him to get to the back.  Sky mouthed something indecipherable to Kent, and then walked through the ropes.
    Terry Sky's turning out to be quite the servant.  Wonder how long it will be before Rick Clark cans him?

    Backstage, Jessica Haggar was talking to Jack Slade, who was digging through his gym bag for his wrestling gear.

JESSICA:  This isn't going to help.

SLADE:  Well, gee, Jess, it's not going to hurt anything either.

JESSICA:  Beating Grater up isn't going to get him back.

SLADE:  Asking nicely will?  Jess...

JESSICA:  What, Jack?

SLADE:  ...  Go check on your dad, okay?

JESSICA:  Don't fight Grater tonight.

    Jessica Haggar walked off, obviously stressed out by the events of the evening.  Jack Slade pulled a boot out of his bag.
    In the meantime, we switched cameras and saw Biff Slamkovich and King Rasta in a strategy session, Zangief standing behind them, listening in.  On another screen, we saw the All-Americans talking strategy, Doomsday looming large in the background.  The War of the Super Powers continues!

    We are in a dark basement somewhere.  The camera is shaking, obviously being adjusted by somebody.  The camera steadies, and Paul Milo walks in front of it, sitting down on a bench.  In his right hand is the beheaded body of Rokuru's toy mascot, Teddy.

MILO:  This is the kind of silliness you people are getting with your Cruiserweights these days.  For a while, now, a grown man has been talking to a pile of fluff and stitches.  And you loved it.  It's ending now, people.  I've a legacy to uphold, and it's a legacy based on pure wrestling.  Not this crap.  At Showdown, I'm coming for the Cruiserweight Title.  Nobody's going to stop me.  Oh, wait a second.  What's that, Teddy?  What?  Oh, gee, I'm sorry, Rokuru.  He can't talk.  He has no head!

    Milo smiles and then tosses Teddy's body at the camera, knocking it over.

    King Rasta and Biff Slamkovich are no strangers to each other.  When the Doomsday Hunters feud was at its peak, Gunloc fell prey to an injury.  Rasta stepped forward as his replacement, and the two had several epic battles with the Philadelphia X-Treme Machine.  There was some tension when Gunloc returned and the Super Powers reformed, but Biff and Rasta remained good friends.
    Doomsday and Gunloc have a past, too.  As enemies.  Gunloc was up against Doomsday when the Green Monster did a number on Gunloc's shoulder.  Once Gunloc had recovered, he demanded a match with Doomsday.  In an unforgettable encounter, Gunloc shelved Doomsday after a horrific attack on his knee.  However, Gunloc and Hillsman wanted a closer, somebody to help them finally dispatch of Biff Slamkovich.  Doomsday, we suppose, is getting paid very well.  Money makes strange bedfellows.
    Doomsday and Gunloc were hated by the crowd as they made their way to the ring.  The reunified Rasta/Biff team received loads of cheers.  It only took seconds for this thing to turn into a brawl, and our tag team encounter was underway.

    Biff and Gunloc's intense fighting wasn't long for the ring.  They spilled outside, and Doomsday and King Rasta were left alone.  Rasta laid right in to the man who had nearly crippled him in December, hitting him with all the power he could muster.  Doomsday stood fast.  On the outside, Slamkovich had just rang Gunloc's head against a guardrail.  He stormed in to the ring and, with a little effective double teaming, Doomsday went down.  However, he didn't stay down long.  Gunloc recovered and pulled Biff to the outside.  Rasta went to hook Doomsday up for a suplex, but Doomsday blocked it and heaved Rasta up for the Armageddon!  Rasta Mon hit the mat hard, but before Doomsday could attempt the cover, Zangief jumped up onto the apron.  Doomsday charged at him but Zangief ducked.  Chad Hillsman was quickly over to do battle with his old foe.  The two cornermen soon found themselves removed from the match, brawling all the way to the back.
    In the meantime, Doomsday went to drop and elbow on Rasta.  Rasta rolled out of the way, but the affects of the Armageddon were still with him.  Doomsday tagged in to Gunloc and these two former enemies began laying into Rasta like it was nobody's business.  Whether it was the power of Doomsday or the all-around assault of Gunloc, Rasta was in tough.  Gunloc nearly put things away with a powerslam followed by a diving headbutt off the top ropes.  Somehow, Rasta managed to kick out.
    Gunloc and Doomsday continued their assault until Rasta was finally able to pull a counter.  Gunloc went for a high cross body, and Rasta caught him and spiked him to the mat with a front slam.  Quickly, the Rastafarian tagged out and the War of the Super Powers continued!
    Biff assaulted Gunloc with a variety of high-impact moves.  A big back suplex, a Frankensteiner, a flying dropkick.  All moves set Gunloc up for his own finisher, the Gut Crush!  Slamkovich connected with the move and went for the cover, but Doomsday was able to make a crucial save.  Gunloc then made a blind tag and Doomsday was in.  However, Biff didn't let himself get taken advantage of.  Doomsday missed a big lariat and fell victim to a backdrop driver.
    Meanwhile, in the back, it was yet another vicious brawl between Zangief and Chad Hillsman.  They fought through tables, with sound equipment, with whatever wasn't nailed down.  Finally, Hillsman got the edge, dumping Zangief through a table with the Stars and Bars.  Groggy and beaten badly, Hillsman made his way to the ring.
    Slamkovich was absolutely on fire.  Doomsday would get knocked down and, before he could even get up, Biff would cruelly stomp on his broken hand.  This furious-yet-focused Slamkovich was taking the Green Monster apart.
    However, things were about to get messy.  Chad Hillsman was coming back to the ring.  He jumped up onto the apron and distracted Slamkovich.  Doomsday, shaking his hand in obvious pain, made the tag to Gunloc.  Rasta ran on the apron and attacked Hillsman, knocking him off.  Zangief was coming out from the back.  Slamkovich turned around... RIGHT INTO A GUT CRUSH!!!  The referee made the count!
    1...
        2...
            3!!!

Gunloc and Doomsday defeated Biff Slamkovich and King Rasta when Gunloc pinned Biff with the Gut Crush in 0:10:13.
Rating: **** 3/4

    The match was over, but the fight sure wasn't.  Zangief made it down to ringside and attacked Hillsman.  Gunloc continued to stomp on Slamkovich in the ring.  Doomsday made a move for Bobby the Monkey, causing Rasta to come over and attack him.  Three fights, three heated rivalries.  This one wasn't going to be cleared up any time soon, even with the fleet of officials running to the ring.

    Backstage, Jessica Haggar had once again found the Commissioner.

JESSICA:  You're not letting this happen.

MCCULLOUGH:  Dammit, Jessica, what choice do I have.

JESSICA:  Do you even... Did you hear anything Scorpion said?  Do you even realize what a slime you're working for?

MCCULLOUGH:  Jessica...

JESSICA:  Call off the match, McCullough!

    Suddenly, a voice was heard from down the hall.

SCORPION:  Which one, Jessica?  The little fight in the parking lot or the one where I obliterate daddy?

    The Scorpion was there, unmasked and smiling a sinister grin!  All that was standing between him and the daughter of the man he hates was the SMWA Commissioner.
    There was a lunge forward... MADE BY JESSICA!!!

JESSICA:  YOU GODDAMN MONSTER!  STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY!  SON OF A...

    Jack McCullough wrapped his arms around Jessica, keeping her from getting any closer to Scorpion, who was still smiling.  But there was a twitch above his eye.

MCCULLOUGH:  GET OUT OF HERE, JESS!

SCORPION:  I envy you, Jessica.  At least you'll be able to spend a little time with your father before he's snuffed out!

JESSICA:  DIE!  JUST DIE!!!

    The emotional exchange between Jessica Haggar and The Scorpion over, the fans were all wondering one thing.
    What is the Dark Brand doing out here right now?
    Brand wasn't in the ring.  Nor was he going there.  Instead, he stood on the opposite side of the arena from SlamVision.  Microphone in hand, the Brand had something to say.

BRAND:  I know that there's a certain drama unfolding in the back, but I won't be too long in taking your attention.  I heard that, at Showdown, Tim Rebury is going to be facing West Bronco for the North American Title.  Based on what?  That he beat me?  As I recall, I've defeated Titan, too, and I can more than do it again.  So, Tim, if you're here, I suggest you come out and we have a little discussion.

    The Brand was calling Titan Tim out!  And Titan didn't waste any time meeting the challenge.  He walked into the arena, microphone in hand.  Before he could speak, the Brand cut him off.

BRAND:  Ah-ah!  Redbury, you know that there's a taint against you.  A dark, dark taint.  See, I branded you.  I own you.  And there's no way I'm letting you fight for gold at Showdown.

    A perturbed Titan shot back.

TITAN:  So what in the bloody hell are you going to do about it, JOSEPH?  Hit me with your little glove?  Recite more Shakespeare?  I've already beaten you twice, and I don't have to beat you again.

BRAND:  You call the Saturday Night match a win?  We were fighting in front of a pathetic bunch of children.  That's no event.  Tonight, Tim, tonight is an event.  With all that has gone on, I think tonight would be the night to decide who takes on West Bronco.  So how about we clear things up.

TITAN:  If it will get you off my back for good, I'll do it.  I'll get my gear.  Five minutes.

    With that, Titan's music cued up and the big man went to the back.
    Titan Tim vs The Dark Brand!  The winner going on to Showdown to face West Bronco for the North American Title!  What an encounter that should be.
    In the back, Mike Haggar was talking to his daughter.

HAGGAR:  I can't believe you almost went after him.

JESSICA:  You've never lost your temper?

HAGGAR:  I've never been a young woman, either.

JESSICA:  I wasn't just going to stand there, dad.  I mean... his father...

HAGGAR:  Dammit, I know...  You're not coming to the ring tonight.

JESSICA:  What?

HAGGAR:  Scor... Belger would want that.  You have to stay back here.  Lock the door.

JESSICA:  Dad...

HAGGAR:  Don't argue, Jess....