We are in the back of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena at the University of Iowa, our second stop of an Iowa double header.  Rick Clark, Jerry Kent and Ron Grayson of Simply the Best are standing around, anxious looks on their faces.  Terry Sky is there, too.

    There is more silence amongst the three.  Kent takes a seat on a nearby stack of folded tables.  Grayson takes a look out a door.  Rick Clark continues to pace.

CLARK:  Kid doesn't return any calls, now he can't be bothered to show up.

GRAYSON:  Rick, he's probably got a good reason.

CLARK:  Would have been nice if he had mentioned it to us.  Dammit, Cody, would you show up already?

KENT:  Probably worried about Scorpion.

CLARK:  We talk to him first, then Scorp gets his chance.  That's the deal.

KENT:  Stupid deals.

SKY:  You don't know the half of it.

CLARK:  Shut up, Terry.

    StB continue to wait.  When Cody Simmons shows up, you can bet there'll be Hell to pay.
 

    Another week, another question to be answered.  Welcome to Monday Night Massacre.
    Last week was a blockbuster.  Scorpion revealed what fed his deep hatred of Mike Haggar.  Scorpion is Marc Belger, the son of a New York crime lord that Mike Haggar admitted to killing many years ago in a vigilante operation.  The Counterstrike began to crumble, with Jack Slade and Alexander "The Grater" facing off in a parking lot brawl which left both badly injured, but still walking.  In a masterful set-up, Scorpion was about to destroy Mike Haggar in front of a world wide audience.
    And then Cody Simmons showed up.
    Cody knocked out the SMWA Commissioner, Jack McCullough, who was guarding Jessica Haggar.  He freed Jessica from her restraints.  Then, he broke the treaty between Major Force and Simply the Best.  He saved Mike Haggar from a vicious beating.
    We know Cody has a history with Mike Haggar.  Last we knew, they still didn't get along.  So, the question is why?  Why did Cody Simmons help Mike Haggar?

    Out came Major Force, looking for answers.  Scorpion led the pack, walking to the ring with a purpose.  Behind him stood Saul Masters, who stood alongside Ghost.  Ghost, usually stone-faced, appeared a little angry this week.  Bringing up the rear were Kodiak Marmoset, the dejected and tired looking SMWA Commissioner, Jack McCullough, sporting a black eye, incidentally, and the monstrous Skarzz, the man who served as the decoy for Scorpion's near perfect trap.
    A trap ruined by Cody Simmons.
    Major Force climbed into the ring, looking as fearsome as ever.  Scorpion demanded the microphone from our ring announcer.  He didn't even wait for the music to turn out before he started talking.

SCORPION:  Last week, I had Mike Haggar.  He was mine to do with as I pleased.  He was finished.  Last week would have been the last time that Mike Haggar would have been seen in a wrestling ring... or anywhere else, for that matter.  It would have been.  If it weren't for Cody Simmons.

    The Hawkeye crowd erupted into cheers.  Within seconds, a chant of "Cody" actually started up!  The Streetfighting Stud had thrown a major wrench into Scorpion's plan, and you could tell Scorpion wasn't liking it.

SCORPION:  Cody, you're an insignificant little pissant to me.  Still, I'll give credit where credit is due.  You foiled a perfect plan, but you haven't stopped me.  Every perfect plan should have a backup, and I have one.  You'll all see what it is soon enough.  Now, Simmons, I know you're not here.  And I promised Simply the Best earlier that they could speak to you before I do.  After all, they are a family of sorts, aren't they?  You give them an explanation.  Tell them why you betrayed our truce.  Tell them why you risked the peace between the two of us.  And when you're done with that, you come out here and you let me know why.  Tell me, Cody.  Why did you condemn yourself along with the man you saved?  Why did you have to be so stupid?  I don't know what kind of history you and Mike Haggar have together, and while I'm interested, it's not all that important to me.  Why not?  Because you are nothing to me.  NOTHING!!!

    Scorpion was starting to lose it.  He paused a second as another "Cody" chant started up.  He seemed to be on the verge of loosing it, but he stayed composed enough to keep going.

SCORPION:  Tonight, my backup plan begins where the old plan ended.  Counterstrike...

    The crowd perked up again, cheering at the sound of the anti-Force stable.  Scorpion, in a rare moment, lost his composure.

SCORPION:  You IDIOTS!  You're cheering a murderer and his friends!  You know what happened to the Counterstrike last week?  Grater is walking around with broken ribs.  Jack Slade cracked his face open and he hurt his arm again.  Mike Haggar is a battered mess.  You think we're stopping there?  No chance!  Tonight, if any of you three can still stand, you're going to face off against us!  Not in a regular match.  Not in a regular ring.  In a cage!  I don't want anybody to interrupt while Major Force tears you apart!  Then, if anything's left, crawl your way to Showdown.  Then it will all be over.

    The fans were still booing Scorpion, who was slowly composing himself.  He gave a long, knowing glance to the SMWA Commissioner, the blackmailed Jack McCullough.  Slowly, Scorp brought the mic up once again.

SCORPION:  Now, last week, the Commissioner of the SMWA was assaulted by a wrestler.  Cody Simmons went an put his hands on the highest ranking man here.  I've been told, Jack, that you'd like to say something about that.  Please.  Do.

    Scorpion put the microphone in front of the SMWA Commissioner.  McCullough slowly began to speak.

MCCULLOUGH:  As a result...  As...  As a result of...  Dammit, I'm not doing this.

    Scorpion's head perked up.  Whatever McCullough was supposed to be saying, he wasn't.  He was openly defying Scorpion.  Scorpion quickly spoke.

SCORPION:  I'm going to give you this microphone, and you'll have thirty seconds to explain yourself.

    Before Scorpion could even hand the mic back, it was snatched away by McCullough.  The commish was finally showing some backbone and the crowd was loving it!

MCCULLOUGH:  Do you even realize what you made me do last week???  I was holding an innocent girl hostage!  For God's sakes, I forced her onto a chair and handcuffed her!  You think I'm happy about that?  You think I'm going to keep doing that for you?  Screw you, Belger.  I'm out of here.

    McCullough tossed the mic on the ground and went to leave the ring.  Kodiak Marmoset made the grab for him, but McCullough turned around and decked him!  Skarzz went after McCullough, grabbing him by the collar.  Skarzz had his fist cocked, ready to strike, when Saul Masters stepped in the way.  Kodiak got up and made a move, but Scorpion waved him off.  Scorpion picked up the microphone.

SCORPION:  Back, Skarzz.  Jack, if you leave this ring...

    Scorpion reached in to his jacket and pulled out a brown manilla envelope!  McCullough's face turned red with rage.

SCORPION:  ...it would be suicide.  Don't you think.

MCCULLOUGH:  Go ahead!  Show them!  I'm not going to be your puppet anymore!

SCORPION:  Don't insult my intelligence, Jack.  We both know I can live with you walking out of this ring.  Can you accept what will happen if I open this envelope.  Let him go, Skarzz.

    Skarzz released the Commissioner as Scorpion handed him the microphone.

SCORPION:  The choice is yours... Commissioner.

    McCullough grabbed the microphone and looked long and hard at the envelope.  Whatever was inside of it, it was something important.  McCullough took a long, hard look at Scorpion and then spoke.

MCCULLOUGH:  Damn you...  As a result of his attack on the SMWA Commissioner last week, Cody Simmons has been stripped of all three of his Title belts.

    McCullough tossed the mic on the ground again, obviously disgusted with himself.
    Cody's been stripped of his belts?  So, he's no long the Toughman Champion... But now he and Ron Grayson are no longer the Tag Team Champions, and Simply the Best no longer hold the War Titles!

    Well, you knew that wouldn't sit well with a few folks, didn't you?
    Jerry Kent, Rick Clark and Ron Grayson made their way to the ring, looking pissed as hell.  Terry Sky, presumably, was still watching for Cody Simmons in the back.
    Kent had his own microphone and that angry look on his face.  He didn't wait long before laying in to Scorp.

KENT:  You know, usually I can smell a conspiracy from a mile away, but right now, all I'm smelling is a lot of BS!!!

    That got a rise out of the crowd.  The truce is on the brink, here.
    Scorpion reacted calmly to Kent's outburst.  It wasn't like he hadn't expected it.

SCORPION:  I'm glad all of you came out.  Jerry, there's no conspiracy here.  First, though, Ghost has something to say.

    Scorpion put the mic in front of Ghost.  The Pale Rider slowly spoke.

GHOST:  I apologize for Saturday.  I was overzealous and...

KENT:  Yeah, yeah, apology accepted, I was an idiot, too, we talked about this crap in the back, didn't we?  What we didn't talk about was you taking gold away from StB, Scorpion.

SCORPION:  Jerry, it's being taken away from Cody Simmons, not Simply the Best.

KENT:  Cody is a part of Simply the Best, Scorp!

SCORPION:  And he broke our truce, and this can be considered his punishment if all goes well.  In the meantime, I'll offer you three a chance to regain all of the gold you've lost.  At Showdown, that six man tag match you were to have against Highland Hell?  It's been cancelled.

GRAYSON:  What?

KENT:  Wanna explain that one, Scorp?

SCORPION:  Absolutely.  At Showdown, the War Titles will be back up for grabs.  However, instead of just Simply the Best fighting for them, Highland Hell will also get their chance.  As will The Eastern Powers and Rasta, along with Doomsday and the All-Americans.  It will be a Four Way Crash at Showdown.

    Well, there's a major booking change.  Four Way Crash for the War Titles at Showdown?  Wow!  The only person that didn't look impressed was Ron Grayson.

GRAYSON:  Yeah, great.  What about me, huh?  You stripped ME of the tag titles, too.

SCORPION:  Already taken care of.  Tonight, Grayson, you'll have your chance to regain them.  And, Jerry, since you had to put up with some unfortunate occurrences on Saturday, you can fight alongside him.  We'll preview Showdown tonight.  You and Grayson against the Eastern Powers, Highland Hell and The All-Americans for the belts.  Tonight.

    Wow!  Another big match-up!  Still, the only people who didn't look impressed were Simply the Best.
    Rick Clark was madly gesturing for the microphone.  Kent gave it to him.

CLARK:  What the Hell are you on, you snake?  We get chances, CHANCES, at titles, and we're supposed to what, forget that you're probably going to do to Cody what you did to Haggar and the crew?  Who in the Hell do you think you're talking to?  I don't know about you and your little band of mercs, but StB are friends.  We're damn good friends, and we're not selling each other out for your token shots at belts.  I know you're probably going to want to get the last word in here, so I'm going to warn the sound guy, get the music ready, because I'm not going to let you have it.  There's one deal we worked out with you that we're sticking to.  WE talk to Cody first.  We find out what was going on with him.  When we've figured that out, then we talk about titles.  Until then, you can take those crappy token chances you're giving us and book them up you ass!

    The crowd exploded as Rick Clark finished his diatribe!  Wow!  He had just stood up to Scorpion and then some!
    Scorpion didn't like being shown up.  He had a response.

SCORPION:  For your own good, I'll forget you said any of that.  What is it, Rick?  You're this devoted to standing behind a man who broke our deal?

CLARK:  I'm sticking behind a guy who's my partner, my friend and a member of Simply the Best!  If you don't like that, well then, I guess that makes me an asshole... AND DAMN PROUD OF IT!  Hit the music, boys.

    StB's theme blasted over the speakers as StB left the ring to a thunderous ovation.  Scorpion and Major Force stood in the ring, not quite sure what had happened.
    Clark had made one thing clear.  He was sticking behind his StB team-mate.  Cody had better have a good explanation, because it looks like a war is brewing.

    We went backstage to the Counterstrike dressing room.  More accurately, the dressing room of Mike Haggar, Jack Slade and Jessica Haggar.  Haggar was sporting a few bruises, but not as bad as the massive bruise Slade was sporting on his face.  He has a cracked orbital socket, and that's not something you mess with... unless you're Jack Slade.
    Alexander "The Grater"?  He was nowhere to be found.

SLADE:  Wow!  That was pretty intense.

HAGGAR:  Can't believe I'm saying this, but good for Rick Clark.

SLADE:  Yeah, well, before this gets too weird, I'm going to find Al and tell him we've got a match tonight.

JESSICA:  Whoa!  You're going looking for him?  After last week?

SLADE:  We need a third guy.

HAGGAR:  Jack...

SLADE:  Don't give me that.  Listen, I know how to talk to Grater, okay?  I'll find him and we'll work our stuff out.  You guys stay here, and if Cody lets anybody know what he was doing last week, be ready to tell me, okay?

    Jack Slade got out of the dressing room before the Haggars could object.  As the door slammed, Mike and Jessica slowly turned and glanced at one another.  They knew something about Cody, you could tell just by looking at them.  Question is, when will we know?

    Once again, we're near the back of the arena.  However, this time, only Simply the Best are there.  Terry Sky is nowhere to be found at the moment.  Suddenly, he returns.  Rick Clark explodes on him right away.

CLARK:  Didn't I tell you to stay put!

SKY:  Sorry.

CLARK:  How do we know he hasn't shown up, huh?  Where the Hell were you?

SKY:  Busy.

CLARK:  Busy.  That's cute.  Busy with what.

SKY:  Piss break.

CLARK:  I swear, you son-of-a-bitch, if we've missed him...

    The Dark Brand already has a shot at West Bronco's North American Title at Showdown.  However, that match was made last week, apparently, when Brand defeated arch-rival "Titan" Tim Redbury.  This match was signed long before that.  Still, for a man with an ego like The Brand's, it would be hard to see him passing up a shot at some more gold.
    Jackhammer came out first to the boos of the crowd.  He's not well liked and he doesn't try to be.  Less than a month into this Title reign, he's already saying history will recognize him as the greatest TV Champ ever.  He's even gone so far as to claim it is no longer THE TV Title, but HIS TV Title.  Strong words from a strong man, but can he back them up against the Brand.
    Joseph McAllister's music started up.  The camera's searched the crowd for the Brand, but oddly enough, that's not where he entered from.  He instead came out from the side of SlamVision, on the floor underneath the platform.  He was holding a mic in his hand and stopped in the aisle.  Marshall yelled at him to get into the ring, but the Brand had other things on his mind.

BRAND:  I hate to disappoint, but there will be no show tonight.  Jackhammer vs Brand would have been an epic, to be sure... but an epic on a small stage.  You see, Andrew, your belt interests me not.  I've never been one for TV or it's title.  In two weeks, I have something bigger, better.  A shot at the North American Title.  You just don't rank.  There will be no match tonight.

    Marshall was furious.  He climbed outside the ring and tore the mic away from the ring announcer.

MARSHALL:  You're saying MY TV Title is worthless?  You two-faced freak, you aren't walking away that easy.

    Marshall grabbed the hammer at the timekeepers table and rang the bell himself!  It looked like the match was underway!
    The Brand wasn't having it.  Slowly, he began to back into the dressing room... but he ran into something.  The Brand turned around into a CLAW SLAM FROM TITAN TIM!!!  ON THE PLATFORM!!!  DAMN!!!
    Marshall kept coming at the Brand.  He had seen what Titan had done and, as a thank you, clobbered Titan with a massive forearm!  Titan staggered back and Marshall took him down with a reverse clothesline!  He then picked up the limp Brand and carried him back to the ring.  Brand was put on Marshall's shoulder and dropped with the De-Facer!  The ref counted three!

Andrew Marshall pinned The Dark Brand with the De-Facer in 0:00:23.
Rating: *
(Andrew Marshall retained the SMWA Television Title.)

    Before Marshall could even grab his title, he was attacked by a recovered Titan!  Titan charged into the ring, kicked Marshall in the face and then hit him with the Claw Slam!  The crowd cheered as Titan walked away from the two unconscious men in the ring.
    So, The Brand beat Titan to become the top contender for Bronco's belt.  Now Marshall has beaten the Brand, who was contending for the TV Title, and Titan has attacked them both.
    As if the night couldn't get any odder.

    Our cameras quickly cut backstage.  Cody Simmons had arrived!  He was walking around the back with StB in close pursuit.

CLARK:  Dammit, Cody, tell us!

CODY:  Rick, I told you, I can't.

CLARK:  Do you even know what happened tonight?

KENT:  You've been stripped of your belts, kid.  We've been stripped of our belts.

    Cody stopped for a second.  He turned around and looked at his stablemates, who desperately wanted to know what was going on.

CODY:  Sorry, guys.  I didn't mean for that to happen.

CLARK:  Look, Cody.  Scorp's busting everybody's chops on this.  He wants you in a bad way, and the only way you're going to avoid it is if you tell us what you were doing last week.

CODY:  Rick... Guys.  Listen... You're my buds.  I can't tell you just yet, okay.  I need to tell everybody about this.

GRAYSON:  Come on, Cody.  We're trying to back you up on this one, bud.

CODY:  Ron, don't.  You can't.

KENT:  StB stands together, kid.  We always have.

    There was an awkward pause from Cody.  The rest of StB was waiting with baited breath for him to give some kind of response.  Finally, Cody spoke.

CODY:  I can't drag you guys into this.

CLARK:  You're StB, bud.  You don't have a choice.

CODY:  Yeah, I do.  Sorry, guys, but I'm out.  I'm out of StB.  Listen, before you say anything, just let me get to the ring and explain.  You'll understand, okay?

    Cody paused for a moment before his stunned team-mates.  He then turned and headed for the ring.

    Backstage, Alexander "The Grater" was sitting near one of our TV monitors.  Behind him, Jack Slade appeared.  The Cruncher didn't exactly know how to approach this, so he tried to start it as simple as possible.

SLADE:  Al...

    Grater turned around quickly and then winced in pain.  The ribs were hurting, no question.

GRATER:  DAMN!  Get the Hell away, Slade.

SLADE:  Look, Al..

GRATER:  I aint comin' back to no blood feud, that's damn final.  Besides, you broke my damn ribs.

SLADE:  You broke my arm and my face.  Can we call it even?

GRATER:  Shut up.

    We could hear cheers coming from the arena crowd.  Cody Simmons had just appeared before tens of thousands of Hawkeyes.
    Jack Slade took notice.  Grater didn't.

GRATER:  I damn well told you, I'm handlin' Major Force MY way, and you can't do a damn thing about it.

SLADE:  Al, are you even looking at what's on TV?

GRATER:  I damn well don't care!

SLADE:  Yeah, don't lie.  Listen, I want to hear this.  I'm going to sit here and watch.  You do whatever you want.

GRATER:  Fine.  Just don't expect no damn conversation.

    The Carver-Hawkeye Arena was cheering like nobody's business, but Cody didn't seem to notice.  In fact, his solemn mood seemed to echo through the building.  The fans were glad to see him, but there was a certain anxiousness involved.  Everybody wanted to know why Cody had got himself involved last week.
    As the Streetfighting Stud climbed in to the ring with a microphone, a hush fell over the crowd.  Slowly, an anxious looking Simmons lifted the microphone to his mouth.  Scratching the back of his neck, looking obviously stressed, he began to address the crowd.

CODY:  Okay, so you're all waiting on this.

    There was some cheering from the crowd, but most remained silent.  They weren't looking for Cody to dally around this one.  He didn't.

CODY:  Well, if any of you remember, a while back, me and Mike Haggar kept arguing over something we both referred to as New York.  Screw Scorpion... I guess I should say Belger, though I never thought I would...  Screw Belger for letting it out.  Especially...  Especially what he let out.  What he let out was a lie.  Mike Haggar didn't kill anybody.

    Once again, the crowd burst into a short ovation.  Once again, they went quiet.  The story wasn't over yet.

CODY:  Now, I know Mike came out here last week and said he did.  I know he admitted to murder.  I can explain that.  We'll got back to New York those years ago.  Back to a time when me and the Haggars got along.  Me and Jessica were tight, tighter than anybody I ever knew.  Me and Mike?  Father and son, as close as you could get to it.  I worshiped the guy.  I looked up to him like I had never looked up to anybody else.  Not because he was mayor, or a police chief, or any of that.  I looked up to Mike because he is one of the greatest, truest, most selfless guys I've ever met, and I'll kick the crap out of anybody who says differently.  We had plans.  I was going to join the Police Academy.  Jessica and me... Well, we were never engaged, but we had talked about it.  Lots.  Things were looking up.  Then it happened.

    Cody took a moment to compose himself.  You could see the tears beginning to form in his eyes.  He choked through his first few words, but was able to continue.

CODY:  Mike... When Mike was Mayor, stopping crime was his thing.  It's what he did best, it's what he pushed.  And he pushed a few people the wrong way.  That's why he lost his mom and his wife.  I knew that.  I knew it hurt him, too, more than he would ever let on to me.  The guy was willing to put everything on the line to make things better for people.  That's what got him in trouble.

    Cody's words were becoming increasingly emotional, and the crowd was practically silent.  Cody was going somewhere with this, but where?

CODY:  Mike never listened to the threats.  That's why they took Jessica.  Belger's gang, the Mad Gear.  They kidnapped her, took her away and held her for ransom.  A lot of this was covered up and never made the news, so you'll have to bear with me, I'm sorry.  Scorp's dad...  Belger's gang pretty much made it clear that Mike would have to stop everything he was doing if he ever wanted to see his daughter again.  I talked to Mike when it happened, and he didn't buy it.  Those bastards had killed his wife and his mom, and they would have killed Jessica, too.  They would have if we didn't stop them.

    This is definitely going someplace.

CODY:  Mike led a group of guys.  A few Guardian Angels, me, my buddy Guy, a couple of loyal cops and family friends.  We shook down Mad Gear like nobody's business and, in the end, we found Jessica.  That maniac Belger was holding her hostage, threatening to kill her right in front of us.  A lot of it's still a blur...  I think I've tried to block a lot of it out, but I still remember what happened.  I remember the fighting.  I remember the blood.  I remember Jessica screaming.  I remember Belger falling out of that window.  I damn sure remember who did it.

    Oh man...

CODY:  Mike Haggar lied to you all last week, but he didn't do it to hurt you.  He did it to save me.  I was the one who killed Scorpion's dad!

    WHAT?  CODY?  OH MY GOD!!!  MIKE HAGGAR WAS TAKING THE FALL FOR CODY?  BUT WHY?  WHY ON EARTH WOULD HE DO THAT?

CODY:  Unfortunately, a mess like that is hard to cover up.  Mike had some enemies in the political offices.  They knew something was up.  A deal was struck.  Mike would confess to killing Belger.  He was going to take the fall for me.  All he had to do was confess, and they'd cover it up... so long as he stepped down.  Mike Haggar gave up being Mayor for me and Jessica.  I talked to him after that and he told me why he had done it.  He told me "Cody, you've got a future.  You and Jessica have a future.  This is my mess."  So what did I do?  Like a jackass, I got scared.  I left.  Mike Haggar took the fall for me and I left.  I left the love of my life because I couldn't stand up to what I had done.  You know what Mike did?  He never changed the story.  One single bit.  I had walked out on him and walked away from his daughter, and he still took the fall for me.  I heard Scorpion last week.  Well, Scorp, you've been after the wrong guy all this time.  It was me, Scorpion.  I did it.  I'm not screwing with Mike Haggar's life anymore!

SCORPION:  YOU DAMNED LIAR!!!

    Oh boy.
    Scorpion stepped into the arena with a microphone.  Whatever Cody was selling, he wasn't buying it.

SCORPION:  He put you up to this, didn't he?  Mike Haggar told you to say this.  He was running short on friends, so he came running back to you, you LYING SON OF A BITCH!!!  How DARE you come out here and say this.

CODY:  It's the truth.

SCORPION:  IT'S A LIE!!!  You're trying to tell me that I haven't been chasing down Mike Haggar all these years?  That I've been chasing down a street punk!  I can't believe you'd even THINK I'd believe this!

CODY:  You're delusional, Scorpion.

SCORPION:  And you're a LIAR!  You ruined everything for me last week, and now you try to change the score?  I don't think so!  The way I see it, we're already taking out your master tonight in a cage.  Why not make it two?  I'll put you in that cage with me, only me, and I'll show you what I think of your story.

CODY:  Fine, I don't care anymore.  If that's what it takes to put things right...

SCORPION:  It will put an end to you and your lies, Simmons!  You were right to leave Simply the Best.  They wouldn't want any of what I'm going to do to you!

    With that, Scorpion's music started back up.  He furiously walked to the back.
    Backstage, we saw Mike Haggar and Jessica embracing, tears in both their eyes.  Something about Cody's story had struck a chord with them, that's to be sure.
    Is Cody telling the truth?  Or is Mike Haggar putting him up to this?  If Cody is telling the truth, how on earth is he going to convince The Scorpion.

    We were once again backstage with Mike and Jessica Haggar.  Only, this time, Jessica was up and trying to get out the door.  Mike was stopping her.

JESSICA:  Dad, come on.  I mean, this...

HAGGAR:  I know, Jess, but I'm not going to have you running around looking for him.  If he wants to come to us, he'll come to us.

JESSICA:  It took him this long, dad.  I doubt he'll search us out to say "I'm sorry".

HAGGAR:  So you want to push it?  Jess...

    The door to the dressing room suddenly pushed open.  Into the dressing room walked a fairly angry looking Jack Slade... and right behind him was Alexander "The Grater".  Jessica and Mike Haggar both were in disbelief.

HAGGAR:  Al.

GRATER:  Yeah, I'm back.  Get your damn jaws off the floor.

HAGGAR:  What did you say to him, Jack?

GRATER:  Does it damn well matter?  I'm here!  We'll leave it at that!

    We went to another part of the locker room area.  This time, it was StB we saw, all sitting around a television, stunned.

CLARK:  That...  Wow.

GRAYSON:  He's kidding... Right?

KENT:  Don't look at me, kid.

    Another camera shot took us to Scorpion, who was smashing everything he could find with his telescopic nightstick.  All the while, he was cursing two names.  One was Haggar.  The other was Cody.

    The V.2 Raiders, Ultimate Spider and BC-2000, made their tag team debut last week, facing these same Overcompensators.  In a decent encounter, both teams fought to a double countout.  That wouldn't do for either team, and they will face off again this week.
    They'll also be facing of at Showdown.  All four men will be a part of that big Cruiserweight Battle Royal to determine a new Cruiserweight Champion.  Only, then, teams will have nothing to do with the equation.

    The Overcompensators came out to a mixed reaction, which is par for the course.  People think the antics of The California Kid and Wally B are obnoxious or hilarious.  V.2 came out to quite the reception.  Spider has been popular ever since has shown up, and the recent Cruiserweight Title reign of BC-2000 has raised his stock through the roof.  We could be looking at the next great team in the SMWA.  First, though, they'd have to get past OA.

    Things weren't looking good for the Raiders when our match began.  BC-2000 found himself being double teamed right off the bat and Ultimate Spider was powerless to stop it, thanks to some clever referee manipulation by OA.  The Overcompensators were doing a number on BC, nearly pinning him early after a vicious back suplex/clothesline combination.  Foolishly, though, they went for the move again.  BC kicked Kid in the face and flipped over Wally B, making the escape and the tag to Spider!
    Spider took on both members of OA, taking them down with a variety of flying moves.  However, the burden of taking on two men quickly proved too much as the Kid was able to level Spider with a lariat to the back of the head.  OA started working on Spider like they had worked on BC.  The V.2 Raiders were hurting badly so far.
    Things looked a little better when Spider was able to make a hot tag to BC while he was facing Wally B.  Wally ran right in to a DDT by BC, which was followed by a missile dropkick from the Spider and a senton by BC for a near fall.  The Raiders were able to dominate for a while until that bitch payback showed up.  Wally made a hot tag to Cal, who came off the top rope and nearly decapitated Spider with a flying elbowsmash.  Things were back in the favour of OA.
    The match continued to move at a frantic pace, momentum only changing when teams made mistakes.  Kid took Spider down with a double underhook power bomb, but then missed a 450 splash.  Spider and BC went on a good tear, BC nailing Wally with a Tiger suplex and Spider following followed up with a flying elbowdrop.  However, an attempt at a springboard DDT backfired when Wally countered with a spike slam.  OA managed to nail Spider with the Overcompensator Decapitator.  BC-2000 barely made the save.  This was nuts!
    Spider finally managed to make an escape for the ring after taking down the Kid with an enzuigiri.  BC came in and nailed the Kid with a faceslam.  Wally B ran in and took him down with a lariat, but Spider brought himself back into the action, taking B down with a tackle.  A series of dropkicks sent Wally from the ring.  BC slammed Cal to the mat and Spider dropped on him with an Asai moonsault.  BC then signalled that it was all coming to an end.  He picked the Kid up into power bomb position and dropped him with the Time Bomb!
    1...
        2...
            3!!!

V.2 Raiders (Ultimate Spider and BC-2000) defeated Overcompensators Anonymous (Wally B and The California Kid) when BC-2000 pinned Cal Kid with the Time Bomb in 0:11:59.
Rating: *** 1/2

    V.2 Raiders win the rematch, and they win it in style!  This looks like a team to reckon with.
    We went backstage, where our own Nick Jones was waiting with the TV Champion, "Jackhammer" Andrew Marshall.

JONES:  I'm here with Andrew Marsh...

MARSHALL:  Shut up, Jones.  Titan, I don't know what you were doing getting in my business, but you made a big mistake when you hit me with that Claw Slam.  And Brand?  You come to the ring and tell me that MY Title isn't as important as Bronco's little piece of tin?  I could take that one if I wanted, and after beating you, it looks like I'm more qualified, too.  Either of you guys want a piece of me and MY Title, it'll be just one more victory for Andrew Marshall.

    The Marshall interview done, we once again find ourselves in the Counterstrike dressing room.  Things are slightly less emotional than they were before.

SLADE:  I still can't believe THAT was what New York was all about.

JESSICA:  Now you know why we couldn't tell you.

SLADE:  Actually, no, I still don't understand that.  You could have told me.

HAGGAR:  Jack...

SLADE:  Don't, Mike.

GRATER:  Ah, drop the damn subject.  How long ago was that crap?

    The room goes silent.  Everybody looks at Grater, who doesn't immediately remember what the "New York" situation did to the relationship of Jack Slade and Jessica Haggar.

GRATER:  Can y'all stop damn lookin' at me?

    There's a knock on the dressing room door, but it opens before any Counterstrike member can open it, Cody Simmons enters the room.  There is an awkward silence amongst everybody.  Slade, in particular, stiffens up.  He doesn't look too happy.

SLADE:  What are you doing here?

CODY:  Hi.  I just wanted to talk to Mike and Jessica.

    There was an odd pause.  It was as if Cody was asking Slade to leave.  Slade new it, but he didn't have any love lost for Simmons.  This was the man who crippled his friendship with Haggar so many months back.  There was an intense staredown between the two, and Jack finally stood up.

SLADE:  Al, how about we go outside.

GRATER:  Huh?

SLADE:  How about WE go and "TALK" outside...

GRATER:  Okay, okay, I get it.  Ya don't have to draw me a damn picture...

    Grater and Slade left the dressing room and closed the door.  Jessica and Haggar both looked at Cody, expecting something.  The awkward silence was broken by Mike Haggar.

HAGGAR:  Cody...

CODY:  Wait a second, Mike.  Just let me talk.  I just...  I just wanted to say thanks for all that you've done.  Burying this whole thing, saving my ass...  I didn't deserve any of it.  Thanks.  That's all I have to say.

    Cody began to make a move towards the door.  Jessica got up to stop him.

JESSICA:  Cody, wait...

CODY:  Jess...  I gotta go.

    With that, Cody Simmons left the Counterstrike dressing room.  Grater quickly re-entered the room, Slade close behind, though he was yelling something down the hall.  His tone was nothing if not venomous.

SLADE:  Yeah, see ya later, Cody...  So, did he have anything important to say?

JESSICA:  You know, Jack, now is not the time, okay?

SLADE:  Sorry....  Not like anything I could say would make anything worse....

    When we come back, we see a clip of what just happened in the Counterstrike dressing room.  We also got another look at Slade's objectionable attitude.  Slade and Grater, during Cody's apology, had been outside the Counterstrike dressing room.  By a sheer stroke of luck, one of our cameramen was setting up in the back and he managed to catch this scene.
    Grater is leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, while Jack Slade is pacing back and forth, obviously agitated.

SLADE:  I can't believe he's in there!

GRATER:  He better damn well not be joining up.  I aint workin' with no damn murder crap.

SLADE:  He's not going to join up, Al.

GRATER:  How the Hell do you know that?

SLADE:  Because he isn't!

GRATER:  Hey!  You bite my head off like that again and I'll crack the rest of yer damn face!

SLADE:  Give it a rest, Al...

    At this point, Cody Simmons leaves the Counterstrike dressing room.  Grater walks back in and Slade calls after him.

SLADE:  Yeah, see ya later, Cody...

    It's pretty obvious that Jack Slade still has problems with Cody Simmons, even now.

    Paul Milo is not a popular man among the SMWA Cruiserweights.  Vowing to rid the division of all its silly characters and stupid gimmicks, Milo has pissed off a couple of Cruisers so far.  In fact, he's facing two of them right now.
    Milo bent Spoon Man's precious spoons recently after a match.  He also decapitated Rokuru's toy mascot, Teddy, and is holding the rest of Teddy's body hostage..  It's pretty obvious who the target will be in this match-up.
    In fact, it became even more obvious when the introductions took place.  Milo walked to the ring alone - and empty handed.  Presumably, Teddy was someplace safe in the back.  Rokuru, holding the head of Teddy, and Spoon Man walked out TOGETHER!!!
    We're going to see Deadline take on the Dark Storm in a handicap match later on tonight.  Looks like we're going to see pretty much the same thing here.

    The match started off with Spoon Man and Rokuru  double teaming Milo almost immediately, and Legacy was suffering.  No tag rules on this one, folks.  Some great teamwork by Roku and Spoon had him in trouble, and this looked to be a damn short triangle match.  However, Milo is nothing if not smart.  After blocking a back suplex from Spoon Man and countering with a bulldog, Milo took rokuru down with a drop toehold.  Realizing he had to isolate one man, Milo grabbed Spoon by the back of the neck and tossed him over the top ropes.  Milo turned to face Rokuru.  Roku let loose a Yakuza kick, which Milo barely ducked.  He used a T-Bone suplex to put Rokuru down.
    Spoon Man had hit hard on the outside, and that bough Milo a couple of minutes to work over his adversary.  If his goal was to make Rokuru look silly, he was succeeding.  Milo took him apart bit by bit with his incredible wrestling knowledge.  One second, he'd be twisting Rokuru into new shapes, the next minute he'd be dropping him right on top of his head.  However, Rokuru proved that he is nothing if not somewhat resilient.  He managed to catch Milo with an awesome DDT when Legacy ducked his head for a second.  Milo struggled up to his feet and ran at Rokuru, who avoided the charge with a back body drop, sending Milo over the top ropes.  Spoon Man had recovered and just barely avoided a crashing Milo.  He pointed angrily at Rokuru, but all was forgiven very soon when Spoon began laying the boots into Milo.
    Milo was brought back into the ring and Spoon Man led the attack for a while, allowing the battered Rokuru to rest up in the corner.  Nothing fancy about Spoon's offence, but it was getting the job done.  He almost had Milo after a flying lariat, and a back suplex nearly won it, too.  Spoon set Milo up for a DDT, but Legacy quickly countered with a Northern Lights suplex!  Rokuru got out of the corner and ran to break the pin attempt.  Milo and Spoon both got up, and Rokuru let a Yakuza kick fly.  Milo ducked once more, and this one hit Spoon Man square in the face!
    Rokuru, distraught at the fact that he had hit his temporary ally in the face, forgot about Milo, who rolled away to safety.  Spoon was helped to his feet by the Teddy Bear of Destruction... and belted him one when he got up!  Spoon wasn't too happy with Rokuru, and Rokuru wasn't about to be happy with Spoon anymore!  These two men started fighting in the middle of the ring, trading vicious lefts and rights.
    In one of the corners, Paul Milo was sitting with a devilish smirk.  Maybe he hadn't expected this, but he certainly was enjoying it.
    Rokuru nailed Spoon with a few big punches and took him down with a dropkick.  He then turned and looked at Milo, who was still smiling.  Rokuru picked Spoon up off the mat, pointed at the smiling Milo, and the double team beatdown began once more!  Rokuru and Spoon Man weren't going to be distracted by anything else from now on!  They were going right after Milo.
    Rokuru nailed Legacy with a Niagara Driver, and Spoon Man followed up with a series of elbowdrops.  Both men grabbed Milo's legs and hit a wishbone legsplitter, not just once, but twice.  Milo was hurting in a bad way, and the only question seemed to be when Spoon and Rokuru would pin Milo.
    Suddenly, a small voice could be heard over the arena PA.  "Help me!"  Rokuru and Spoon Man were both distracted for a moment.  "Help me!" the voice cried out again.  What on earth was going on?
    Suddenly, a picture was shown on the SlamVision screen.  The camera was focused on a dumpster in the back.  Leading up to the dumpster, we could see a trail of white stuff.  Was that... fluff?
    "Help me!"
    Rokuru yelled out "Teddy!" and darted from the ring!  Maybe this is where Paul Milo was keeping the rest of Teddy!  Spoon Man seemed confused, but he kept right on fighting.  He slammed Milo to the ground and then went up top for a Spoonsault!  However, he took a little too long.  Milo managed to get up and rock the ropes.  Spooner fell on the top and Milo quickly followed him up.  Spoon Man was taken down hard to the mat with the Top-Rope German Suplex, and that was all she wrote.

Triangle Match:
Paul Milo defeated Spoon Man and Rokuru when Milo pinned Spoon with the Top-Rope German Suplex in 0:05:49.
Rating: **

    Milo didn't even bother waiting for his hand to be raised.  His eyes focused on one corner of the ring.
    In his rush to find the rest of Teddy, Rokuru had left behind his head!!!
    Milo laughed as he grabbed the head and darted into the back.  We saw Rokuru appear on the SlamVision screen.  He ran to the dumpster and reached in.  After digging through all sorts of trash, Rokuru finally found what he was looking for!  He found Teddy's body!  He lifted the body up and hugged it, even though it was still covered in garbage.
    Suddenly, Paul Milo attacked Rokuru from behind.  He slammed Rokuru headfirst into an arena wall and the proceeded to kick the stuffing out of him.  Milo then made a grab for the rest of Teddy.  Rokuru, hurting from his trip to the wall, wouldn't let go.  He clutched on to Teddy's leg with his right hand, not wanting to let go.  Milo was persistent, though.  He tugged as hard as he could and Teddy's body ripped away.  Rokuru was left holding one of his legs.
    Milo kicked Rokuru in the face and then spat on him.

MILO:  I'll let you make a key chain out of the foot, Rokuru.  Something to remember him by.

    Milo walked off, holding Teddy's body and his head.  Rokuru was hurting on the ground.  The poor guy was crying, and you know it wasn't because Milo kicked him in the face.
    That Paul Milo is one mean guy.

    Our cameras took us to another part of the backstage area.  Cody Simmons was there, talking to his tag team partner, Ron Grayson.

GRAYSON:  Look, all you have to do is give the word.  We talked about it, and we'll back...

CODY:  Don't say it, Ron.  I know you guys would, but you can't, so you won't.

GRAYSON:  Come on, Cody.  We're partners, bud.

CODY:  Ron...  Look, the match is up next.  You and Jerry decide what you want to do, but I think you should go for it.  So, please, go for it.  Tell everybody I said hi.

    Nick Jones had another interview for us backstage.  With Scorpion.

JONES:  Scorpion, by now you've heard just about everything Cody Simmons has to say.  You've heard him disassociate himself from Simply the Best.  You heard his confession.  You heard his apology to Mike Haggar.  Has any of this changed your thoughts towards Mike Haggar?

SCORPION:  What I've heard, Jones, is a bunch of lies and damned lies!  You think Mike Haggar is above putting an idiot like Simmons up to this?  This is more manipulation by Haggar!  I won't believe for one second that my life has been spent chasing down a street punk!  I won't!  Simmons, you're VERY lucky you've disassociated yourself from Simply the Best, because once they see what I do to you tonight, they'll be very glad they're not associated with you anymore.  You're going to pay for this, Simmons.  And Haggar?  For even trying to shift the blame, I now promise you.  You'll pay more than you ever thought possible.  Consider it written in blood!

    We went back to the StB dressing room, with Ron Grayson and Jerry Kent standing nose to nose with each other.

KENT:  So we're going to do this.

GRAYSON:  Let's do it!

KENT:  Let's go, kid.

    Grayson and Kent walked out of the dressing room, shaking hands with Rick Clark on their way out.  Once they were gone, Rick turned to Terry Sky.

CLARK:  How about you go with them?

SKY:  What?  Come on, why?

CLARK:  The All-Americans have Doomsday, Eastern Powers got Rasta, Highland Hell has Monica.  Who do we have?

SKY:  How about you?

CLARK:  Am I the one who's holding my contract hostage?  Get out there.

    Sky looked like he was going to smack Clark right upside his smug face, but he thought better of it.  He got up and followed Kent and Cody.