Weak souls challenged

[Skull]

As the opening titles of the first episode of TNT after Red, White and Bruised finish rolling, the camera cuts to ringside where Colin “The Fuzz” Jennings and “Big” Al Mulligan welcome the fans to the broadcast.

Colin: Hello and welcome to the most explosive show of the week and boy is it gonna be a good one, Al.

Big Al: That’s right. [Al proceeds to run down the card but because I’m writing this before it has been posted I have no idea what matches the will be. I’m sure they’ll be good though.]

Colin: I can’t wait, but before all of that we are going to hear from Skull who will reveal the results of the poll that he set last week on GHW Live to decide his future.

At that, Freak-A-Holic by Egyptian Lover blasts out of the speakers and the Horrorland Hellion makes his way to the ring, high-fiving members of the crowd on the way. As he approaches the ring steps, he takes off his Justice System T-shirt and gives it to a young boy in the front row.

Colin: You have to give it up to Skull, he really respects the fans.

Big Al: It’s a shame I can’t respect him anymore. I was willing to look past the fact that he wears guyliner but when he started running around with the Justice League, that was the final straw.

Colin: It’s System! Not League, System.

The cheers get even louder as Skull climbs into the ring but they soon diminish as he takes a microphone and raises it up to his lips.

“Last week, I asked all of you to vote on while title you would like me to join the hunt for. Well you answered in your thousands there was an overwhelming majority. So it gives me great pleasure to announce that 47.6% of you said that....

Big Al: Oh, just get on with it.

Colin: He’s pausing for dramatic effect!

....You would love me to kick the snot out of the Psychotic Circus and give Chris Pyro a ride on the Coffin Cruise that he’ll never forget!”

The arena erupts into cheers at the prospect of seeing The Justice System take on The Psychotic Circus. Enjoying the moment, Skull lets them continue for a few more seconds before raising his hand for quiet.

“Jaggeroth and his boys are well overdue for their comeuppance and now that Darth has lost the KOTDM title, there is only one piece of Justice that needs to be served; to take those tag belts away from them. That’s as long as Chris is brave enough to come out and defend them against us.
Now Pyro, I’m sure Matt will be able to give you many more reasons to step in the ring with him, but allow me to give you a few incentives to step in the ring with me.”

Skull removes the necklace of shrunken heads from around his neck and holds up the severed plastic head of Jade Brooklyn’s action figure.

“I’ve taken your sister’s head, Pyro. I beat her at Red, White and Bruised and it was easy. It was easy because she, like you, is a weak soul. It must run in the family. You know I’m telling the truth, Pyro. You’ve been a weak soul since birth, because only a weak soul would be seduced by the dark side, only a weak soul would be cowardly enough to take another’s life. Only the light can strengthen your soul, Pyro. Only once justice has been served can you begin your rehabilitation. You've proved your cowardice by dismissing Matt’s ability rather than accepting his challenge. You say that the Justice System is flawed, that we’ll crumble, I say take a look around that hideout of yours. Where are all your members? Where’s Wolverina? Where’s Carson? Where’s Greenspark? Gone. They’ve left you, left your beloved leader. You’ve shown your own instability by constantly shuffling those belts around like a game of pass the parcel.
Let me ask you something, Pyro. Do you agree with Jaggeroth’s ideals? All of them? Are you, Darth and Seraphiel still prepared to blindly follow the ideals held by the Psycho King?
Be a man for once. Bring some honour back to those titles by defending them against The Justice System. I challenge you, no, I dare you to find a partner, come down to this ring right now, stand face to face with me and ANSWER ME.”


TBC by Chris Pyro/Matt Violence/The Circus/Vortigern or anyone else relevant.

[angelicninja]

As Skull stands in the ring, awaiting a response from the Angelic Ninja. The lights dim down as slow guitar humming can be heard as Returner (Instrumental) by Gackt begins to play. Pyro emerges from the backstage area in his usual garb, slate black eyes peering down the entry way to the Justice System member, with a mic in his left hand, he lifts it to his lips.

Pyro:
Why should I lower myself to fighting the Justice System? You guys fell to Highway Robbery, a team I defeated with relative ease. Who would be your tag team partner, Matt Violence? I've beaten his head in more times then I can count. Scally? He can't even beat a cry baby, let alone beat the only man here who knows what Honour is. You all live in the past, deeming me horrible for my past sins. Sins I have repented for many, many times before. If past sins are deemed acceptable today, then you are in no position to judge.

Pyro makes his way towards the ring, keeping his eyes locked on the man in the ring.

Pyro:
As for the relationship with me and Jaggeroth, neither of us agree with the others ideals. His is about rampage and destruction, mine is about restoring honour. While neither of us agree with the others ideals, we respect the others. We both fight to empower the other. A day will come when him and me will oppose each other, but until that day comes we will fight standing side by side. Your system fails because there is no true justice. None of us in the Circus blindly follow Jaggeroth, he didn't recruit us because we would be blind sheep, much like you are with this Justice System. He recruited us because of our will to fight, our individual strength. I have a bad history with Seraphiel, but we are willing to put that away to fight to further our own goals.

Pyro reaches the ring and climbs into the ring and comes face to face with Skull.

Pyro:
You want a shot at these tag titles, you have to earn them. If Matt Violence is your partner, which I'm sure he will given the fact that he can't get over his lofty dream to fight on the same level as me, and beat me. Your chances at ever taking away these belts from me and whoever I end up choosing as my new partner, are non-existant. You will fall before the might of the Psychotic Circus, like the weak cockroaches you are.

[Jaggeroth]

Pyro and Skull share a stare down in the center of the ring, the Pure blood raises his mic only to be interrupted by...

Twin trials of fire run down the sides of the entrance ramp as the music hits, the house lights turn an unearthly red. Fog starts emitting from behind the entrance curtain, it fans out and starts its march down the ramp, covering up the area.
Strobe lights flicker on the stage revealing a single, monstrous figure standing at top of the entrance ramp, its long hair is flicked back as it starts it descent down the ramp. With fire raging at both side, the Time Killer breaks through. Jaggeroth looks around at the crowd as they vent the frustrations of the common man on him. The Time Killer gets on his knees as a spot light shines on him, the white light has a covering over it projecting a maroon pentagram which Jaggeroth kneels in the center of. A camera man gets in front of Jag as he bows to all that is evil and wrong. As the Psycho King raises his hands in the air again the lights completely go out except for the insignia of evil, a strong up flow of fire rises from both sides of the entrance ramp.

"O shit. Skull is all alone there in the ring..."


"Yes! I hope he destroys that smart talking Justice member!"



The Psycho King walks up the steel steps and crosses over the top rope into the ring. Pyro looks on his his leader walks over with his hand outstretched for the mic. Jaggeroth straightens up and prepares to deliver his sermon to the unwashed masses.


"Let me get this straight...You beat up a group of women, one of them being Kahlan, and you think that gives you the right to come out here and start demanding shots at MY tag team titles? No...no...no...See, Skull. I've had those things for well over a year, yes I've had over eight partners to defend them with, but they are my titles. I gave them to Pyro cause I knew he'd defend them with honor, and so I could go handle business elsewhere. You don't get to come out here and bad mouth the Circus because you think you're above us! Darth, Seraphiel, Pyro and I are the top of the food chain. You're little group is led around by someone who thinks he is the original innovator of violence around here, a self bestowed title we at the Circus take great offence to. The Psychotic Circus held the KotDM title and the tag titles since the day we formed, Red White and Bruised proved nothing. Soon enough we'll be back at the top of GHW, a dark day that will be remembered for years to come."

Jaggeroth struts around the ring like a caged lion at dinner time, his sight set on the PureBlood like a juicy cut of meat.

"Your little Super Friends group is nothing to us! You're led around by Matt, a man who has suffered at the hands of Chris so many times that he should know better by now. Scally, MEH! Logan Scott, yeah he really stands for truth, justice and the American way when he struts around the backstage area with all those walking boob jobs. Needless to say, you can do better boy. You look down on us, It doesn't matter what you had for dinner! The Circus was a group formed to help all, mainly those little outcasts of society. We banded together so everyone aligned with us would never be alone again on the battle field. When one of us falls, the rest stand and fight for him. If one of us sets his eyes on a goal, we help him...it's as simple as that. In fact, with Wolverina now gone and out of our hair for good, we have another opening. Skull, I think you know where I'm going with this..."

Jaggeroth drops the mic and turns his attention to the barricade near the announcer's booth. Seraphiel and Darth are seen jumping over and heading for the ring.

"Hey! What's going on here!"

"Reinforcements have arrived!"


The entire Circus now stands, each with their back to a post as they stare down the Pure Blood. Skull looks around for a ways to escape, but he knows he's locked in tight. Each member of the Circus comes closer into the kill box, they don't look like they want to play any games right now.


"Don't think of this as a threat, it's only a guarantee that you or those dumb asses running through the backstage don't try anything funny. Now Skull...Will you join my group of merry men, or will you stand beside Matt Violence's foolish whims and fall with his useless ideals. The choice is yours, just don't make the wrong one...."


The Psychotic Circus waits for Skull to answer with ensuing bloodshed in their eyes if he so happens to choose and fight against them.


TBCB: The PureBlood.

[Skull]

Skull looks around at each of the four Circus members in turn. His heart seems to fall into his stomach with a thud as it dawns on him that he will be lucky to get out of this in one piece. The Pureblood’s eyes dart downward to the microphone held limply in his right hand then back up to the masked face of Jaggeroth. Seeing the hesitation, The Psycho King’s raspy voice barks into the microphone as all four men move an inch closer to Skull.

“Well?”

This order seems to bring Skull out of the clutches of fear and reignites the defiant streak in him. He looks Jaggeroth in the face but avoids his eyes and raises the microphone to his lips.

“I’ll NEVER join you!”

The fans in the arena, who had been hushed by the sudden threat, now jump to their feet and applaud the bravery of their hero.

Skull keeps his gaze fixed on the Psycho King’s face but instead of seeing anger in Jaggeroth’s face, he just nods knowingly before speaking again.

“That was the wrong answer, Skull. But because I see potential in you I’m going to give you a second chance to get it right.”

Skull instinctively lifts the microphone up again but Jaggeroth holds his hand up to silence him.

“Not yet. Allow me to reinforce my point. Look around you, Skull. These men don’t have to be your assailants; they can be your friends. We will welcome you into our midst, treat you as our equal. How long are you content to be Matt’s lapdog? You are better than him. I know it, you know it and he knows it. Join us and we can erase him from history and you will no longer be in his shadow. Where is Matt now? He has you out here doing his dirty work. Where is he to save you from us? He knows that he is no match for Me or Pyro, for any of us. Now make the right choice.”

Skull lifts the microphone up to his lips and opens his mouth but no sound comes out and he lowers it again, defeated. For the second time, he looks around at the four men surrounding him as he fights a battle in his head between his conscience and the words of The Psycho King.
Growing restless, Seraphiel shuffles on his feet and moves another inch toward the centre of the ring. His action is mirrored by Darth and Pyro either side of him. Only Jaggeroth remains motionless. After looking at his feet to avoid their stares, he finally lifts his head up to look at the Circus’ leader. For the first time their eyes meet and for a second that seems like an hour, they stare into eachother, almost as if they are communicating without words. This connection is broken just a quickly as it formed when Skull suddenly springs into action and makes a bolt for the ropes between Chris Pyro and Serphiel.
Predictably, he doesn’t make it to safety as the broad arms of the Sultan wrap themselves around his body and drag him back into the ring. Skull valiantly tries to break free of Seraphiel’s grip but a hard punch to the stomach from Chris Pyro soon ends his vain attempt at escape. Sera locks in a Full Nelson on the winded Hellion to hold him in place then Darth and Pyro move aside to allow their leader to come face to face with his prey. Jag raises his microphone but this time he has no intention of speaking into it. He moves his arm back, ready to strike The Pureblood with the amplification device in the first step of a systematic beat down, but before he can make contact the crowd erupt into cheers of joy, alerting the Circus to the presence of three men sprinting toward the ring.
Expecting this, Jaggeroth instructs the other members of the Circus to leave the ring and intercept the Justice System. Seraphiel throws Skull hard down to the canvas; once again knocking the air out of him then follows Darth and Pyro out of the ring at a jog. Now alone in the ring, Jaggeroth jump on top of Skull’s crumpled body and begins to pummel him with the microphone, slamming it into his face over and over again. Each shot from the still-live microphone is echoed through the PA system, ensuring that every thud of metal on skin and every groan from Skull is heard by the crowd.
On the outside of the ring, Matt Violence leads the charge to save his partner, followed closely behind by AJ Scally and Logan Scott. They continue sprint toward the ring where the three members of the Circus have now formed a human wall to stop them from reaching it. Matt doesn’t slow up for a second and plows straight into Pyro, fists flying and trying to punch any part of the Angelic Ninja that he can reach. Scally follows his lead and collides into Seraphiel, leaving Logan to duel with the Sith Lord.

Colin: Finally, the Justice System is out here to even the odds. If only they can break through and make it into the ring where they can help Skull.

Big Al: Oh yeah, they’re here now but where were they when Skull was alone in the ring with four members of the Circus?

After brawling around the outside of the ring, Logan appears to have gain the upper hand over Darth and forces him up against the guard rail. The Ladies Man begins to rain down on his opponent with punches but before he can get into his swing Darth fires back with a stiff shot to the solar plexus that temporarily stuns Logan. The Sith then grabs Logan by the head and the trunks and throws him into the guard rail which dents on impact from the force of the throw. Logan doesn’t get up from the move and just lays on the concrete floor as DTG mercilessly stomps on him.
On the other side of the ring, Matt and Scally are teaming up to take on Chris Pyro and Seraphiel. After a short back and forth brawl, Matt catches Pyro off guard with a right fist to the jaw. The momentary distraction is enough to allow Matt to sidestep the Ninja and slide under the bottom rope to save Skull. In Matt’s absence, Scally is left to face both Pyro and his former Armata partner Seraphiel. The young Aussie fights gallantly, throwing punches at each of his opponents in turn but the numbers game soon catches up with him and when he can no longer put up a fight, Seraphiel throws him into the ring steps then proceeds to stomp a mudhole in him, just as Darth is doing to Logan on the other side of the ring.

In the ring itself, Matt charges over to Jaggeroth and kicks him hard in the ribcage, knocking him off of Skull. The Hellion lies defenceless in the centre of the ring, his face hidden behind a crimson mask.
Before Jaggeroth can get back up to his feet, Matt is over him, driving boots into his ribs, his face, his chest, any part of the Psycho King that is exposed. The Ultra-violent one then pulls Jaggeroth up to his feet with a hatred previously unseen from him. He spins the Time Killer around so that he is facing his back then applies a Full Nelson. The fans give a loud cheer as Matt prepares to perform the Ultra-Violent Suplex on the hated Circus leader. They never get the chance to see it, though, as Chris Pyro slides back into the ring behind Matt and clubs him in the back, forcing him to release the Nebraskan Nutjob.
Pyro spins Matt around then nails him in the midsection with his boot to stun him. From here, he crosses one of Matt’s legs over then lifts him up and drops him down with the Senbonzakura. The crowd groan as the Justice System’s last hope lies motionless on the canvas, once again fallen to his old nemesis. With Matt out of commission, Jaggeroth gets back up to his feet and looks down at Skull who is beginning to stir. Everybody in the arena knows what is about to happen before it happens. The Psycho King picks up his semi-conscious foe and lifts him up onto shoulders before planting him down to the mat with a Bile Driver.

Colin: This is brutal! Matt and Skull have both been laid out by The Circus. Someone needs to come out here now and stop them.

Big Al: I don’t think anyone in the locker room would be stupid enough to try and stop them now after what we’ve just witnessed.

Satisfied with the damage he has inflicted on Matt and Skull, Jaggeroth signals to Darth and Seraphiel to bring in the remaining members of the Justice System. From opposite sides of the ring, they roll the unconscious bodies of Logan Scott and AJ Scally then climb into the ring themselves.
Directing his followers into formation, Jaggeroth stands over the body of The Pureblood while next to him, Chris Pyro stands over Matt Violence. Either side of Jaggeroth and Pyro, but a few steps behind, Darth stands over Logan and Seraphiel stands over AJ, together forming a V shape as they tower over their fallen opponents.

Colin: This is sick! Just a sick, disgusting beatdown. And all because Skull refused to join the Psychotic Circus.

Big Al: You know, for a second, I really thought he was gonna join. It was just the look in his eyes. Then he made a run for it when he knew he couldn’t possibly escape.

Colin: Jaggeroth may have won the first battle, but this war between the Circus and the Justice System is certainly not over.

(EOT or TBCB The Circus/Vortigern if y'all have anything to add.)