Post by Jman2k3 on Jun 10, 2018 2:37:08 GMT
Joe Hoffman: The beginning of 2016 has not been one that former two time HOW world champion Scott Stevens will care to remember.
The High Octane Vision comes to life…
VIDEO: Last Monday’s HOW #368- Scott Stevens vs. Darin Zion vs. David Black
Stevens posts Black in the corner and then turns to Zion. He goes for a powerbomb, Zion tries to counter into a hurricanrana, and Stevens tries to counter the counter into a Death Valley Driver. Zion flips out of danger. Stevens decks Zion with a right hand, lifts him back up, and posts him in the opposite corner from where Black is. Then Stevens turns to Black and takes off across the ring, crushing him against the ring post.
Joe Hoffman: STINGER SPLASH!
Benny Newell: That should take care of Black.
Joe Hoffman: But he’s not going for the pin!
Benny Newell: STEVENS!
Stevens races across the ring again towards Zion in the opposite corner. He launches himself…Zion moves at the last second…and Stevens hits the ring post.
Joe Hoffman: HE MISSED!
Joe Hoffman: Zion went on to win the match and as a result he faces Reggie Rivid in the first match of a best of five series to determine the new number one contender for Brian Hollywood’s World Title later on tonight.
Benny Newell (sings): Have youuuu heard about the Lonesome Looooo-serrrrrr…
Joe Hoffman: Meanwhile, Ray McAvay returns to the ring after a couple weeks off after he defeated Darin Zion for the ICON title at March to Glory. It’s Ray McAvay teaming up with Scott Stevens tonight against newcomers John Ojeda and Gary Altus.
Ojeda and Altus warm up as they are already in the ring.
Benny Newell: Already getting the jobber entrance, eh?
Joe Hoffman: Certainly, Ojeda and Altus’s HOW career got off to a less than auspicious start last time out at Monday Night Mayhem when they lost to Julliet Brooks and Bobby Dean.
Benny Newell: Or as I call them- Beauty and the Blimp.
Joe Hoffman: Well, it’s not going to get any easier tonight. Let’s go to the ring and Bryan McVay.
Bryan McVay raises the microphone to announce the contestants in the next match.
Bryan McVay: Ladies and gentlemen. The following tag team match is scheduled for one fall! Already in the ring, please welcome the team of John Ojeda and Gary Altus!
Ojeda and Altus go to opposite sides and taunt the fans- who don’t seem very interested in being taunted.
Bryan McVay: And their opponents…
(Tonight, it’s an acapella rendition of Les Miserables’s ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’)
♫ “Do you hear the people sing? – Singing the song of angry men?”
The camera pans up to the Les Miserables section of the Quicken Loans Arena. Ray McAvay’s manager ‘No Frills’ Chris Escondido stands up from his seat.
♫ “It is the music of the people. – Who will not be slaves again!”
Also rising from their seats are General DeBauchery, who looks like a bizarre combination of the AWA’s Colonel DeBeers and Lt. Aldo from Inglorious Basterds, sporting a black captain’s hat right out of World War II, smoking a cigar and grinning obnoxiously, Al Cahall, sporting six pack abs…oh…that’s a six pack in front of his abs and the man smoking a cigarette in violation of several Cleveland city ordinances…the one, the only, Nic Koteen.
♫ “When the beating of your heart – Echoes the beating of the drums – There is a life about to start – When tomorrow comes.”
Escondido taps McAvay and he jumps up and starts edging towards the aisle along with his tag team partner tonight Scott Stevens who’s also sitting with the Les Miserables tonight.
Joe Hoffman: Scott Stevens and Ray McAvay have had their moments in the past but tonight they are united and clearly on the same team.
Benny Newell: Stevens must trust McAvay or else he wouldn’t be sitting in the Les Miserables section.
Escondido follows. Then General DeBauchery, Cahall, and Koteen. Before McAvay, Stevens, and Escondido start to descend down the steps towards the rail separating the stands from the floor of the Best Arena, both Stevens and McAvay turn around and gesture to the Les Miserables to join them.
♫ “Will you join in our crusade? – Who will be strong and stand with me? – Somewhere beyond the barricade – Is the world you long to see.”
The Les Miserables rise up from their seats and line up behind him and Escondido as the pair start their way down towards the ring.
♫ “Then join in the fight – That will give you the right to be free!”
The camera also picks out McAvay’s adult entertainer friends Stormy and Starbrite out of the group. Stormy is the one with brown hair; Starbrite is the new girl who’s replacing Dark. She is instantly noticeable due to her bright red hair that’s sprinkled with sparkles. Both ladies sport the brand new ‘Racks for Ray’ t-shirts as they march along with the other Les Miserables as McAvay, Stevens, and the procession head down to the ring.
♫ “Do you hear the people sing? – Singing the song of angry men. – It is the music of the people. – Who will not be slaves again!”
McAvay, Stevens, and Escondido, and the rest reach the bottom of the steps.
♫ “When the beating of your heart – Echoes the beating of the drums – There is a life about to start – When tomorrow comes.”
One by one, McAvay, Stevens, and Escondido, along with the Les Miserables, climb through the railing down to the floor and march towards the ring as red lasers and spotlights light up the area and the angelic voice of Lauryn Hill serenades the live crowd.
“Ready or not, here I come, you can’t hide – Gonna find you and take it slowly – Ready or not, here I come, you can’t hide – Gonna find you and make you want me”
The video screen lights up and a Texas flag flashes across the screen with the words, “Texas Born. Texas Bred. Texas Forever“ branded into the flag. The crowd reaction is mixed, but there are more cheers than boos, as “Ready or Not” by Fugees plays throughout the PA system. As the chorus begins to fade there is one final image that is displayed across the screen and that message reads in bold, capitalized letters…..S-C-O-T-T. S-T-E-V-E-N-S. as “Hellraiser” by Motorhead begins to play.
Bryan McVay: Making their way to the ring at this time representing the Great State of Texas, a TWO-time High Octane Wrestling World Champion, from Houston, Texas…HE IS…SCOTT! STEEEEEEE-VENNNNNNS! And from Salome, Texas…the CURRENT, TWO TIME, High Octane Wrestling ICON Champion! RAY! MCAVAY!
Walking down the aisle, Stevens fists bumps some of his fans while raising a fist at a few of the more vocal bashers. McAvay and Escondido confer and slap a few hands on the way to the ring. As Stevens finally gets to the ring, he climbs the nearest turnbuckle and stares out into the crowd. McAvay and Escondido follow.
Bryan McVay: Matt Boettcher will be the referee.
McAvay climbs into the ring while continuing to talk with Escondido.
Joe Hoffman: It looks like McAvay will start and I’m not sure- WATCH OUT!
Before Boettcher could do the post-match check, Ojeda and Altus rushed across the ring to Pearl Harbor McAvay and Stevens. Stevens sees Altus coming and ducks down, back body dropping Altus over the top rope and out of the ring. McAvay doesn’t respond quick enough and gets leveled by an Ojeda forearm shiver to the back. Ojeda keeps the attack going, laying the boots to McAvay over and over as Boettcher calls for the bell to officially start the match.
*DING-DING*
Ojeda continues to stomp away at McAvay. He pulls him to his feet and sets McAvay up for a ride to the ropes. Ojeda takes the arm and starts to sling McAvay who reverses and Irish Whips Ojeda himself into the ropes. McAvay bends down to back body drop him but Ojeda stops and kicks McAvay in the forehead.
Joe Hoffman: McAvay clearly telegraphed that move.
The kick stands McAvay up straight. Ojeda kicks him a second time, this time in the midsection, and McAvay folds up and topples to the mat.
Benny Newell: He’s just getting warmed up Hoffman.
Ojeda drops an elbow to the sterum. He goes for a second but McAvay rolls out of danger. McAvay jumps back up and tries for a neckbreaker but Ojeda pushes him away and smacks McAvay in the chest with a knife edge chop. McAvay tries to shoot the leg but Ojeda again evades and counters with a hammerlock on the arm while driving McAvay face first to the mat.
McAvay tries to roll out but Ojeda boots him in the back to ground him again.
Joe Hoffman: We all know Ray’s been dealing with some personal issues as his marriage to former LSD champion Dawn McGill hit a rough spot.
Ojeda drags McAvay to the corner and tags in Altus. Altus starts driving the boot down on McAvay’s back.
Benny Newell: Whatever’s going on at home, McAvay had better get it out of his mind and get it going quick. Ojeda and Altus lost to fucking Brooks and Bobby Dean.
McAvay rakes Altus’s eyes and tries to crawl back towards his corner. Altus wraps his arms around McAvay and lifts him up in the air, and sends him over.
Joe Hoffman: Belly to back suplex!
Escondido screams at McAvay to get his head in the match.
Benny Newell: Jesus Christ, come on Ray! You can’t let these Fisher Price action heroes win.
Joe Hoffman: You’re not the only one who’s upset with Ray. Escondido looks positively livid on the outside.
Altus pulls him back up and sets him up over his shoulder.
Joe Hoffman: Altus going for his Death Valley Driver.
Something out of the corner of Benny’s eye catches his attention.
Benny Newell: Who’s that?
Hoffman looks and sees the red-haired adult entertainer Starbrite climbing up to the top turnbuckle.
Joe Hoffman: That’s Starbrite. She’s Dark’s twenty-two year old replacement at Mullet John’s Strip Club and Beer Bait and Ammo Store.
Benny Newell: But why is she on the turnbuckle?
Starbrite shouts at Altus to get his attention. Then she turns around and exhibits remarkable flexibility when she bends back and down with her back parallel to the turnbuckle while keeping her feet under the top rope- or she’s put herself in the proverbial tree of woe. Hanging upside down on the turnbuckle allows her loose fitting ‘Racks for Ray’ t-shirt to slip down towards her breasts.
Benny Newell: Never mind. I totally get it now. TITTIES!
Altus drops McAvay and stares at Starbrite’s chest when the shirt falls down far enough to expose the bottom of her breasts.
Referee Matt Boettcher goes over to tell her to get out of the ring.
Benny Newell: Shut up Boettcher! Leave her alone and let gravity do its thing! MEGA-TITTIES!
To further entice Altus, Starbrite reaches up and begins to unfasten the button on her Daisy Duke shorts and teases slipping them off. Altus steps closer to get a better view.
Benny Newell: Holy fuck! Hoffman, I think I’m in love!
Benny looks down.
Benny Newell: And I’m going to need new pants.
Joe Hoffman: Bottom drawer. Left hand side.
Benny Newell: Gotcha.
*SLAP*
Benny Newell: What the?
Stevens shoots through the ropes and uncorks a wicked lariat that sending Altus down hard.
Joe Hoffman: McAvay was close enough to the corner and Stevens tagged himself in.
Benny Newell: Escondido told him to do it. Look…
Outside the ring, an angry and red-faced Escondido lights into McAvay.
Joe Hoffman: Escondido is not happy at McAvay’s lackluster showing in the early part of the match.
Ojeda jumps the ropes and rejoins the fray. He runs at Stevens and the Texan drops him with an European Uppercut.
Joe Hoffman: Debbie Does Dallas.
Altus charges- Stevens nails him with a right hand sending him reeling off to the side. Ojeda back up. Stevens whips him into the corner and runs towards him. He jumps…
Joe Hoffman: STINGER SPLASH!
Benny Newell: At least he didn’t screw it up.
Altus rushes Stevens again. The Texan grabs an arm and slings Altus into the corner where he collides with Ojeda and drives him into the turnbuckle.
Joe Hoffman: STEVENS IS CLEANING HOUSE INSIDE THE RING!
Benny Newell: And Chris Escondido is verbally cleaning Ray McAvay’s clock outside the ring.
The camera cuts to ringside to zoom in on Escondido as he continues to dress down McAvay. He punctuates each point he makes by sticking his finger on Ray’s chest.
Benny Newell: I don’t blame him Hoffman. McAvay looked like his head was somewhere else out there.
Stevens nails Altus with a jumping calf kick and drives him back into the corner, crushing Ojeda a second time.
Joe Hoffman: HOUSTON SIDEKICK! And he got two for the price of one!
Ojeda rolls out of the ring and falls to the floor.
Joe Hoffman: Stevens looks much crisper in the ring tonight than he did against Darin Zion.
Benny Newell: That wouldn’t take much.
Stevens measures Altus and thrusts his foot forward, superkicking him in the face, sending him reeling back against the turnbuckle. His arms hook the top rope and that’s the only thing that keeps him standing.
Joe Hoffman: REMEMBER THE ALAMO!
Moving forward, Stevens lifts and fireman’s carries Altus before setting him over his shoulder. Stevens then walks to the middle of the ring and delivers a Death Valley Driver.
Joe Hoffman: HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!
Benny Newell: Do you have to go down the list of his moves like that?
Stevens climbs to the top rope. He balances himself and leaps.
Joe Hoffman: FIVE STAR FROGSPLASH!
Stevens lands squarely on Altus with enough force that he bounces off to the side. He hooks the legs.
ONE.
TWO.
Ojeda jumps into the ring and breaks the pinfall at the last second. Stevens bounces back up and nails Ojeda with a right hand that sends him stumbling back into the corner. Stevens drops the leg across Altus’s throat and then drags him up to his feet in a reverse facelock.
In the corner, Ojeda sees Starbrite close by on the ring apron cheering Stevens on. He reaches out and grabs her by throat.
Joe Hoffman: Wait a second! Ojeda’s got Starbrite by the throat.
Benny Newell: Don’t do it Ojeda!
Also realizing that Starbrite is in danger, Escondido pushes McAvay towards the ring.
Ojeda lifts her up off the ground- suddenly he doubles over in apparent excruciating pain.
Joe Hoffman: Wait a minute…what just happened?
Released from Ojeda’s grip, Starbrite drops down to the ring apron, her hand grasping the Big Bertha Driver she’d just blasted Ojeda in the balls with. McAvay brushes by her as he slides back into the ring and drops Ojeda with a neckbreaker.
Joe Hoffman: McAvay’s back in!
McAvay takes Ojeda by the back of his neck sends him back to the mat face first with a running bulldog.
Joe Hoffman: Shakin’ and stirred by McAvay!
Then, after holding Altus in the reverse facelock position for what seemed an eternity, Stevens finally drives him back of the headfirst to the mat.
Joe Hoffman: SCORPION DEATH DROP!
Ojeda staggers up to his feet. McAvay corrals him and puts his head between his knees. He lifts and slams Ojeda to the mat…
Joe Hoffman: McGILL BOMB!
Stevens grabs Altus by the back of the neck and drops.
Joe Hoffman: TOXIC STING!
Both men cover. Boettcher slides in and counts.
ONE.
TWO.
THREE!
*DING-DING-DING*
Bryan McVay: Your winner… SCOTT! STEEEEEEE-VENNNNNNS! AND RAY! MCAVAY!
Boettcher raises both Stevens and McAvay’s arms in victory and the Les Miserables at ringside celebrate..
Joe Hoffman: Well, an impressive performance from Scott Stevens tonight. He really came through when his team really needed the lift and bailed out the ICON champion Ray McAvay who appeared distracted and not quite himself tonight.
Benny Newell: Hoffman, all that matters is that Stevens and McAvay got the one, two, three over a couple of Fisher Price heroes. Oh…and the fact I met my future wife tonight.
Joe Hoffman: What…
Benny points toward Starbrite as she hangs upside down from the nearest corner ring post to the broadcast table and uses it as an impromptu stripper pole. Oh…and her loose fitting ‘Racks for Ray’ shirt slides down again giving Benny a premium view.
Joe Hoffman: …oh.
HOW’s intrepid blonde bombshell backstage interviewer Blair Moise climbs into the ring to interview McAvay.
Blair Moise: Ray, if I can have a word?
McAvay sighs. He nods and joins Blair in the middle of the ring. Escondido and the Les Miserables fall in behind them.
Blair Moise: You know, you’ve become a hard man to track down. Three weeks ago, you defeated Darin Zion to regain the ICON title-
The Les Miserables let out a loud cheer.
Blair Moise: …um…any thoughts on-
McAvay cuts her off and he’s not happy.
Ray McAvay: Blair, first off…I want to apologize to all these folks here tonight at the Quicken Loans Arena…I want to apologize to Scott Stevens and I want to apologize to Chris Escondido. My performance tonight was a trainwreck. It was inexcusable and unacceptable. I pride myself on the fact that when I’m told to wrestle and when the bell rings, I go out there and I give it one hundred percent every time. Tonight, I didn’t and it pisses me off.
Blair Moise: Ray, it’s understandable. You have some things going on at home and-
Ray McAvay: No excuses Blair. My mind was definitely elsewhere tonight and it’s not right. It’s not fair to you all who paid good money to come here to see a great show and you don’t get my best effort. I let you down.
Blair Moise: Back to the ICON title. After you lost the belt to Zion on March 4th, were attacked by Ryan McKenna and Bobby Dean, and defeated McKenna at March to Glory, you said this the night before you won back the ICON title from Darin Zion. ‘I’ve going to put together a story about a man who’s going through a little adversity right now. He’s living apart from his wife and things are a little tense right now…okay…they’re really tense right now. But he’s going to fight through the adversity with the same ferocity and single-minded focus he fought through after he was attacked by a friend a week before March to Glory and came back to defeat him at March to Glory. He will rise up, feed on the energy and power of the Les Miserables and the crowd on hand to put on the performance of his life tomorrow night at what could be the final Friday Night Chaos at the Best Arena. He will do this not because he’s angry. He will not do this because Lee Best sent him to the ring to rain on Darin Zion’s parade. He’ll do it because he wants to tell a story…a story about a man who got knocked on his ass three weeks ago, lost the ICON title, was attacked after the match, battled and avenged the attack, and fought hard and won the ICON belt back.’
Ray McAvay: Blair, that’s exactly how I felt. I got knocked on my ass. I lost the ICON title. I got taken out by McKenna and Dean. I knew I had to fight back. I knew I had to avenge the attack. I knew I had to get back to work and fight hard. I wasn’t entitled to win that belt back. I wasn’t owed the ICON title belt. I had to put the work in and get myself back into a position where I earn it back. It was difficult. Yes, my marriage is trouble at the moment and there were days where my mind was not one hundred percent committed to the task. But thanks to Chris Escondido, thanks to the support of the fans and the Les Miserables, I pushed through and I did it. Regardless of what’s going on between Dawn and myself at the moment, this is my profession and it is my responsibility to go out to the ring every night and put on the best possible show for the fans. I owe it to them. I owe it to the Les Miserables. And that’s what pisses me off about tonight.
Blair Moise: Speaking of the Les Miserables, last Monday night, a video played on Monday Night Mayhem showing you and the Les Miserables marching in front of Hollywood Enterprises headquarters.
VIDEO: Last Monday’s HOW #368-
[…Outside the office of Hollywood Enterprises in Los Angeles, California, McAvay, Escondido, Dark, Stormy, General DeBauchery et al and two hundred peoples lead the Les Miserables procession down the street, striding forcefully with their heads up, a look of determination locked in while others march holding up torches and pitchforks while others hold up their cell phones to light up the evening. Large signs with ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Ray McAvay’ written on them are held up and swing back and forth as the holders of the sign walk down the street.]
Ray McAvay: Yes. We taped that a couple weeks ago. In a world where there are different rules for people who are rich and powerful, Brian Hollywood is the poster child for corporate CEO’s with an overblown sense of entitlement.
The Les Miserables pull out newspapers and begin to read them.
Blair Moise: What are they doing?
Ray McAvay: Oh. They’re not going to give Brian Hollywood the satisfaction of booing him so the Les Miserables simply ignore anything related to him. Right?
Silence.
Ray McAvay: Right. Here’s the thing, Brian Hollywood represents everything that’s gone wrong in corporate America and its warped sense of entitlement. He thinks because he’s a big shot CEO that he’s entitled to stuff. He thinks he’s entitled to be the world and LSD champion. He thinks because he has money and power, and now two title belts, HOW fans should be kissing his ass and licking his boots because ‘he’s the champion HOW needs.’ He is so delusionally wrong and I am not impressed. First off, Brian Hollywood didn’t earn the world title. Reggie Rivid earned the world title. Scott Stevens earned the world title…twice. Scottywood earned the world title. Jace Parker Davidson earned the world title. Brian Hollywood made a business deal and had the world title handed to him on a silver platter after he failed time after time after time to do it on his own. I’m not impressed. Hollywood walks around like a preening peacock acting as if he’s the cock of the walk of HOW and then as the world champion goes out and loses a two against one handicap match teamed with one of the War Games captains against Jace Parker Davidson. I’m not impressed. I am so thankful, so fortunate to be standing here being able to live out my own ‘Field of Dreams.’ I am so thankful that I get to come out here and make a living doing something that I love to do- wrestle. I am so thankful that I get to perform in front of fifteen thousand people every night. So many people don’t have that opportunity. Big corporations and big corporation CEO’s just like Brian Hollywood use their money not for the common good, not for the advancement of their employees, but to ‘win the game.’ Corporate executives rig the game in their favor at the expense of ordinary people just like Big Corporate Brian Hollywood rigged the game in his favor at the expense of Reggie Rivid and Darin Zion. Bigger isn’t necessarily better. Ray McAvay is beholden to no one except the people here at the Quicken Loans Arena and HOW fans all over the country. That’s why I am so disappointed in myself for the effort I put out tonight. I can do better and I will next time.
And with that final remark, McAvay walks away from Blair and exits the ring.
Blair Moise: And there you have it. Let us cut elsewhere before our next commercial break.
The High Octane Vision comes to life…
VIDEO: Last Monday’s HOW #368- Scott Stevens vs. Darin Zion vs. David Black
Stevens posts Black in the corner and then turns to Zion. He goes for a powerbomb, Zion tries to counter into a hurricanrana, and Stevens tries to counter the counter into a Death Valley Driver. Zion flips out of danger. Stevens decks Zion with a right hand, lifts him back up, and posts him in the opposite corner from where Black is. Then Stevens turns to Black and takes off across the ring, crushing him against the ring post.
Joe Hoffman: STINGER SPLASH!
Benny Newell: That should take care of Black.
Joe Hoffman: But he’s not going for the pin!
Benny Newell: STEVENS!
Stevens races across the ring again towards Zion in the opposite corner. He launches himself…Zion moves at the last second…and Stevens hits the ring post.
Joe Hoffman: HE MISSED!
Joe Hoffman: Zion went on to win the match and as a result he faces Reggie Rivid in the first match of a best of five series to determine the new number one contender for Brian Hollywood’s World Title later on tonight.
Benny Newell (sings): Have youuuu heard about the Lonesome Looooo-serrrrrr…
Joe Hoffman: Meanwhile, Ray McAvay returns to the ring after a couple weeks off after he defeated Darin Zion for the ICON title at March to Glory. It’s Ray McAvay teaming up with Scott Stevens tonight against newcomers John Ojeda and Gary Altus.
Ojeda and Altus warm up as they are already in the ring.
Benny Newell: Already getting the jobber entrance, eh?
Joe Hoffman: Certainly, Ojeda and Altus’s HOW career got off to a less than auspicious start last time out at Monday Night Mayhem when they lost to Julliet Brooks and Bobby Dean.
Benny Newell: Or as I call them- Beauty and the Blimp.
Joe Hoffman: Well, it’s not going to get any easier tonight. Let’s go to the ring and Bryan McVay.
Bryan McVay raises the microphone to announce the contestants in the next match.
Bryan McVay: Ladies and gentlemen. The following tag team match is scheduled for one fall! Already in the ring, please welcome the team of John Ojeda and Gary Altus!
Ojeda and Altus go to opposite sides and taunt the fans- who don’t seem very interested in being taunted.
Bryan McVay: And their opponents…
(Tonight, it’s an acapella rendition of Les Miserables’s ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’)
♫ “Do you hear the people sing? – Singing the song of angry men?”
The camera pans up to the Les Miserables section of the Quicken Loans Arena. Ray McAvay’s manager ‘No Frills’ Chris Escondido stands up from his seat.
♫ “It is the music of the people. – Who will not be slaves again!”
Also rising from their seats are General DeBauchery, who looks like a bizarre combination of the AWA’s Colonel DeBeers and Lt. Aldo from Inglorious Basterds, sporting a black captain’s hat right out of World War II, smoking a cigar and grinning obnoxiously, Al Cahall, sporting six pack abs…oh…that’s a six pack in front of his abs and the man smoking a cigarette in violation of several Cleveland city ordinances…the one, the only, Nic Koteen.
♫ “When the beating of your heart – Echoes the beating of the drums – There is a life about to start – When tomorrow comes.”
Escondido taps McAvay and he jumps up and starts edging towards the aisle along with his tag team partner tonight Scott Stevens who’s also sitting with the Les Miserables tonight.
Joe Hoffman: Scott Stevens and Ray McAvay have had their moments in the past but tonight they are united and clearly on the same team.
Benny Newell: Stevens must trust McAvay or else he wouldn’t be sitting in the Les Miserables section.
Escondido follows. Then General DeBauchery, Cahall, and Koteen. Before McAvay, Stevens, and Escondido start to descend down the steps towards the rail separating the stands from the floor of the Best Arena, both Stevens and McAvay turn around and gesture to the Les Miserables to join them.
♫ “Will you join in our crusade? – Who will be strong and stand with me? – Somewhere beyond the barricade – Is the world you long to see.”
The Les Miserables rise up from their seats and line up behind him and Escondido as the pair start their way down towards the ring.
♫ “Then join in the fight – That will give you the right to be free!”
The camera also picks out McAvay’s adult entertainer friends Stormy and Starbrite out of the group. Stormy is the one with brown hair; Starbrite is the new girl who’s replacing Dark. She is instantly noticeable due to her bright red hair that’s sprinkled with sparkles. Both ladies sport the brand new ‘Racks for Ray’ t-shirts as they march along with the other Les Miserables as McAvay, Stevens, and the procession head down to the ring.
♫ “Do you hear the people sing? – Singing the song of angry men. – It is the music of the people. – Who will not be slaves again!”
McAvay, Stevens, and Escondido, and the rest reach the bottom of the steps.
♫ “When the beating of your heart – Echoes the beating of the drums – There is a life about to start – When tomorrow comes.”
One by one, McAvay, Stevens, and Escondido, along with the Les Miserables, climb through the railing down to the floor and march towards the ring as red lasers and spotlights light up the area and the angelic voice of Lauryn Hill serenades the live crowd.
“Ready or not, here I come, you can’t hide – Gonna find you and take it slowly – Ready or not, here I come, you can’t hide – Gonna find you and make you want me”
The video screen lights up and a Texas flag flashes across the screen with the words, “Texas Born. Texas Bred. Texas Forever“ branded into the flag. The crowd reaction is mixed, but there are more cheers than boos, as “Ready or Not” by Fugees plays throughout the PA system. As the chorus begins to fade there is one final image that is displayed across the screen and that message reads in bold, capitalized letters…..S-C-O-T-T. S-T-E-V-E-N-S. as “Hellraiser” by Motorhead begins to play.
Bryan McVay: Making their way to the ring at this time representing the Great State of Texas, a TWO-time High Octane Wrestling World Champion, from Houston, Texas…HE IS…SCOTT! STEEEEEEE-VENNNNNNS! And from Salome, Texas…the CURRENT, TWO TIME, High Octane Wrestling ICON Champion! RAY! MCAVAY!
Walking down the aisle, Stevens fists bumps some of his fans while raising a fist at a few of the more vocal bashers. McAvay and Escondido confer and slap a few hands on the way to the ring. As Stevens finally gets to the ring, he climbs the nearest turnbuckle and stares out into the crowd. McAvay and Escondido follow.
Bryan McVay: Matt Boettcher will be the referee.
McAvay climbs into the ring while continuing to talk with Escondido.
Joe Hoffman: It looks like McAvay will start and I’m not sure- WATCH OUT!
Before Boettcher could do the post-match check, Ojeda and Altus rushed across the ring to Pearl Harbor McAvay and Stevens. Stevens sees Altus coming and ducks down, back body dropping Altus over the top rope and out of the ring. McAvay doesn’t respond quick enough and gets leveled by an Ojeda forearm shiver to the back. Ojeda keeps the attack going, laying the boots to McAvay over and over as Boettcher calls for the bell to officially start the match.
*DING-DING*
Ojeda continues to stomp away at McAvay. He pulls him to his feet and sets McAvay up for a ride to the ropes. Ojeda takes the arm and starts to sling McAvay who reverses and Irish Whips Ojeda himself into the ropes. McAvay bends down to back body drop him but Ojeda stops and kicks McAvay in the forehead.
Joe Hoffman: McAvay clearly telegraphed that move.
The kick stands McAvay up straight. Ojeda kicks him a second time, this time in the midsection, and McAvay folds up and topples to the mat.
Benny Newell: He’s just getting warmed up Hoffman.
Ojeda drops an elbow to the sterum. He goes for a second but McAvay rolls out of danger. McAvay jumps back up and tries for a neckbreaker but Ojeda pushes him away and smacks McAvay in the chest with a knife edge chop. McAvay tries to shoot the leg but Ojeda again evades and counters with a hammerlock on the arm while driving McAvay face first to the mat.
McAvay tries to roll out but Ojeda boots him in the back to ground him again.
Joe Hoffman: We all know Ray’s been dealing with some personal issues as his marriage to former LSD champion Dawn McGill hit a rough spot.
Ojeda drags McAvay to the corner and tags in Altus. Altus starts driving the boot down on McAvay’s back.
Benny Newell: Whatever’s going on at home, McAvay had better get it out of his mind and get it going quick. Ojeda and Altus lost to fucking Brooks and Bobby Dean.
McAvay rakes Altus’s eyes and tries to crawl back towards his corner. Altus wraps his arms around McAvay and lifts him up in the air, and sends him over.
Joe Hoffman: Belly to back suplex!
Escondido screams at McAvay to get his head in the match.
Benny Newell: Jesus Christ, come on Ray! You can’t let these Fisher Price action heroes win.
Joe Hoffman: You’re not the only one who’s upset with Ray. Escondido looks positively livid on the outside.
Altus pulls him back up and sets him up over his shoulder.
Joe Hoffman: Altus going for his Death Valley Driver.
Something out of the corner of Benny’s eye catches his attention.
Benny Newell: Who’s that?
Hoffman looks and sees the red-haired adult entertainer Starbrite climbing up to the top turnbuckle.
Joe Hoffman: That’s Starbrite. She’s Dark’s twenty-two year old replacement at Mullet John’s Strip Club and Beer Bait and Ammo Store.
Benny Newell: But why is she on the turnbuckle?
Starbrite shouts at Altus to get his attention. Then she turns around and exhibits remarkable flexibility when she bends back and down with her back parallel to the turnbuckle while keeping her feet under the top rope- or she’s put herself in the proverbial tree of woe. Hanging upside down on the turnbuckle allows her loose fitting ‘Racks for Ray’ t-shirt to slip down towards her breasts.
Benny Newell: Never mind. I totally get it now. TITTIES!
Altus drops McAvay and stares at Starbrite’s chest when the shirt falls down far enough to expose the bottom of her breasts.
Referee Matt Boettcher goes over to tell her to get out of the ring.
Benny Newell: Shut up Boettcher! Leave her alone and let gravity do its thing! MEGA-TITTIES!
To further entice Altus, Starbrite reaches up and begins to unfasten the button on her Daisy Duke shorts and teases slipping them off. Altus steps closer to get a better view.
Benny Newell: Holy fuck! Hoffman, I think I’m in love!
Benny looks down.
Benny Newell: And I’m going to need new pants.
Joe Hoffman: Bottom drawer. Left hand side.
Benny Newell: Gotcha.
*SLAP*
Benny Newell: What the?
Stevens shoots through the ropes and uncorks a wicked lariat that sending Altus down hard.
Joe Hoffman: McAvay was close enough to the corner and Stevens tagged himself in.
Benny Newell: Escondido told him to do it. Look…
Outside the ring, an angry and red-faced Escondido lights into McAvay.
Joe Hoffman: Escondido is not happy at McAvay’s lackluster showing in the early part of the match.
Ojeda jumps the ropes and rejoins the fray. He runs at Stevens and the Texan drops him with an European Uppercut.
Joe Hoffman: Debbie Does Dallas.
Altus charges- Stevens nails him with a right hand sending him reeling off to the side. Ojeda back up. Stevens whips him into the corner and runs towards him. He jumps…
Joe Hoffman: STINGER SPLASH!
Benny Newell: At least he didn’t screw it up.
Altus rushes Stevens again. The Texan grabs an arm and slings Altus into the corner where he collides with Ojeda and drives him into the turnbuckle.
Joe Hoffman: STEVENS IS CLEANING HOUSE INSIDE THE RING!
Benny Newell: And Chris Escondido is verbally cleaning Ray McAvay’s clock outside the ring.
The camera cuts to ringside to zoom in on Escondido as he continues to dress down McAvay. He punctuates each point he makes by sticking his finger on Ray’s chest.
Benny Newell: I don’t blame him Hoffman. McAvay looked like his head was somewhere else out there.
Stevens nails Altus with a jumping calf kick and drives him back into the corner, crushing Ojeda a second time.
Joe Hoffman: HOUSTON SIDEKICK! And he got two for the price of one!
Ojeda rolls out of the ring and falls to the floor.
Joe Hoffman: Stevens looks much crisper in the ring tonight than he did against Darin Zion.
Benny Newell: That wouldn’t take much.
Stevens measures Altus and thrusts his foot forward, superkicking him in the face, sending him reeling back against the turnbuckle. His arms hook the top rope and that’s the only thing that keeps him standing.
Joe Hoffman: REMEMBER THE ALAMO!
Moving forward, Stevens lifts and fireman’s carries Altus before setting him over his shoulder. Stevens then walks to the middle of the ring and delivers a Death Valley Driver.
Joe Hoffman: HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!
Benny Newell: Do you have to go down the list of his moves like that?
Stevens climbs to the top rope. He balances himself and leaps.
Joe Hoffman: FIVE STAR FROGSPLASH!
Stevens lands squarely on Altus with enough force that he bounces off to the side. He hooks the legs.
ONE.
TWO.
Ojeda jumps into the ring and breaks the pinfall at the last second. Stevens bounces back up and nails Ojeda with a right hand that sends him stumbling back into the corner. Stevens drops the leg across Altus’s throat and then drags him up to his feet in a reverse facelock.
In the corner, Ojeda sees Starbrite close by on the ring apron cheering Stevens on. He reaches out and grabs her by throat.
Joe Hoffman: Wait a second! Ojeda’s got Starbrite by the throat.
Benny Newell: Don’t do it Ojeda!
Also realizing that Starbrite is in danger, Escondido pushes McAvay towards the ring.
Ojeda lifts her up off the ground- suddenly he doubles over in apparent excruciating pain.
Joe Hoffman: Wait a minute…what just happened?
Released from Ojeda’s grip, Starbrite drops down to the ring apron, her hand grasping the Big Bertha Driver she’d just blasted Ojeda in the balls with. McAvay brushes by her as he slides back into the ring and drops Ojeda with a neckbreaker.
Joe Hoffman: McAvay’s back in!
McAvay takes Ojeda by the back of his neck sends him back to the mat face first with a running bulldog.
Joe Hoffman: Shakin’ and stirred by McAvay!
Then, after holding Altus in the reverse facelock position for what seemed an eternity, Stevens finally drives him back of the headfirst to the mat.
Joe Hoffman: SCORPION DEATH DROP!
Ojeda staggers up to his feet. McAvay corrals him and puts his head between his knees. He lifts and slams Ojeda to the mat…
Joe Hoffman: McGILL BOMB!
Stevens grabs Altus by the back of the neck and drops.
Joe Hoffman: TOXIC STING!
Both men cover. Boettcher slides in and counts.
ONE.
TWO.
THREE!
*DING-DING-DING*
Bryan McVay: Your winner… SCOTT! STEEEEEEE-VENNNNNNS! AND RAY! MCAVAY!
Boettcher raises both Stevens and McAvay’s arms in victory and the Les Miserables at ringside celebrate..
Joe Hoffman: Well, an impressive performance from Scott Stevens tonight. He really came through when his team really needed the lift and bailed out the ICON champion Ray McAvay who appeared distracted and not quite himself tonight.
Benny Newell: Hoffman, all that matters is that Stevens and McAvay got the one, two, three over a couple of Fisher Price heroes. Oh…and the fact I met my future wife tonight.
Joe Hoffman: What…
Benny points toward Starbrite as she hangs upside down from the nearest corner ring post to the broadcast table and uses it as an impromptu stripper pole. Oh…and her loose fitting ‘Racks for Ray’ shirt slides down again giving Benny a premium view.
Joe Hoffman: …oh.
HOW’s intrepid blonde bombshell backstage interviewer Blair Moise climbs into the ring to interview McAvay.
Blair Moise: Ray, if I can have a word?
McAvay sighs. He nods and joins Blair in the middle of the ring. Escondido and the Les Miserables fall in behind them.
Blair Moise: You know, you’ve become a hard man to track down. Three weeks ago, you defeated Darin Zion to regain the ICON title-
The Les Miserables let out a loud cheer.
Blair Moise: …um…any thoughts on-
McAvay cuts her off and he’s not happy.
Ray McAvay: Blair, first off…I want to apologize to all these folks here tonight at the Quicken Loans Arena…I want to apologize to Scott Stevens and I want to apologize to Chris Escondido. My performance tonight was a trainwreck. It was inexcusable and unacceptable. I pride myself on the fact that when I’m told to wrestle and when the bell rings, I go out there and I give it one hundred percent every time. Tonight, I didn’t and it pisses me off.
Blair Moise: Ray, it’s understandable. You have some things going on at home and-
Ray McAvay: No excuses Blair. My mind was definitely elsewhere tonight and it’s not right. It’s not fair to you all who paid good money to come here to see a great show and you don’t get my best effort. I let you down.
Blair Moise: Back to the ICON title. After you lost the belt to Zion on March 4th, were attacked by Ryan McKenna and Bobby Dean, and defeated McKenna at March to Glory, you said this the night before you won back the ICON title from Darin Zion. ‘I’ve going to put together a story about a man who’s going through a little adversity right now. He’s living apart from his wife and things are a little tense right now…okay…they’re really tense right now. But he’s going to fight through the adversity with the same ferocity and single-minded focus he fought through after he was attacked by a friend a week before March to Glory and came back to defeat him at March to Glory. He will rise up, feed on the energy and power of the Les Miserables and the crowd on hand to put on the performance of his life tomorrow night at what could be the final Friday Night Chaos at the Best Arena. He will do this not because he’s angry. He will not do this because Lee Best sent him to the ring to rain on Darin Zion’s parade. He’ll do it because he wants to tell a story…a story about a man who got knocked on his ass three weeks ago, lost the ICON title, was attacked after the match, battled and avenged the attack, and fought hard and won the ICON belt back.’
Ray McAvay: Blair, that’s exactly how I felt. I got knocked on my ass. I lost the ICON title. I got taken out by McKenna and Dean. I knew I had to fight back. I knew I had to avenge the attack. I knew I had to get back to work and fight hard. I wasn’t entitled to win that belt back. I wasn’t owed the ICON title belt. I had to put the work in and get myself back into a position where I earn it back. It was difficult. Yes, my marriage is trouble at the moment and there were days where my mind was not one hundred percent committed to the task. But thanks to Chris Escondido, thanks to the support of the fans and the Les Miserables, I pushed through and I did it. Regardless of what’s going on between Dawn and myself at the moment, this is my profession and it is my responsibility to go out to the ring every night and put on the best possible show for the fans. I owe it to them. I owe it to the Les Miserables. And that’s what pisses me off about tonight.
Blair Moise: Speaking of the Les Miserables, last Monday night, a video played on Monday Night Mayhem showing you and the Les Miserables marching in front of Hollywood Enterprises headquarters.
VIDEO: Last Monday’s HOW #368-
[…Outside the office of Hollywood Enterprises in Los Angeles, California, McAvay, Escondido, Dark, Stormy, General DeBauchery et al and two hundred peoples lead the Les Miserables procession down the street, striding forcefully with their heads up, a look of determination locked in while others march holding up torches and pitchforks while others hold up their cell phones to light up the evening. Large signs with ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Ray McAvay’ written on them are held up and swing back and forth as the holders of the sign walk down the street.]
Ray McAvay: Yes. We taped that a couple weeks ago. In a world where there are different rules for people who are rich and powerful, Brian Hollywood is the poster child for corporate CEO’s with an overblown sense of entitlement.
The Les Miserables pull out newspapers and begin to read them.
Blair Moise: What are they doing?
Ray McAvay: Oh. They’re not going to give Brian Hollywood the satisfaction of booing him so the Les Miserables simply ignore anything related to him. Right?
Silence.
Ray McAvay: Right. Here’s the thing, Brian Hollywood represents everything that’s gone wrong in corporate America and its warped sense of entitlement. He thinks because he’s a big shot CEO that he’s entitled to stuff. He thinks he’s entitled to be the world and LSD champion. He thinks because he has money and power, and now two title belts, HOW fans should be kissing his ass and licking his boots because ‘he’s the champion HOW needs.’ He is so delusionally wrong and I am not impressed. First off, Brian Hollywood didn’t earn the world title. Reggie Rivid earned the world title. Scott Stevens earned the world title…twice. Scottywood earned the world title. Jace Parker Davidson earned the world title. Brian Hollywood made a business deal and had the world title handed to him on a silver platter after he failed time after time after time to do it on his own. I’m not impressed. Hollywood walks around like a preening peacock acting as if he’s the cock of the walk of HOW and then as the world champion goes out and loses a two against one handicap match teamed with one of the War Games captains against Jace Parker Davidson. I’m not impressed. I am so thankful, so fortunate to be standing here being able to live out my own ‘Field of Dreams.’ I am so thankful that I get to come out here and make a living doing something that I love to do- wrestle. I am so thankful that I get to perform in front of fifteen thousand people every night. So many people don’t have that opportunity. Big corporations and big corporation CEO’s just like Brian Hollywood use their money not for the common good, not for the advancement of their employees, but to ‘win the game.’ Corporate executives rig the game in their favor at the expense of ordinary people just like Big Corporate Brian Hollywood rigged the game in his favor at the expense of Reggie Rivid and Darin Zion. Bigger isn’t necessarily better. Ray McAvay is beholden to no one except the people here at the Quicken Loans Arena and HOW fans all over the country. That’s why I am so disappointed in myself for the effort I put out tonight. I can do better and I will next time.
And with that final remark, McAvay walks away from Blair and exits the ring.
Blair Moise: And there you have it. Let us cut elsewhere before our next commercial break.