(ICW logo.)
(Video of last week's Kane/Undertaker confrontation after Kane's match with Y2J, setting up the bro v. bro match tonight.)
UT: Kane...YOU PIECE OF SH*T! NEXT WEEK, YOU AND ME...BROTHER VERSUS BROTHER...IF ANYONE'S GOING TO BEAT YOU, IT'S GOING TO BE ME, AND I'M NOT GONNA' REST UNTIL YOU OR THAT DAMN DARK POWER IS DESTORYED! Whichever comes first...
(Taker and Kane glare, Paul Bearer squeals at Taker in rage...all in artistic, colored video effects. Go ICW-E! Fade out.)
(Explosion intro video and theme fire up the crowd in the SuperGreat Center in Butte, Montana! They're almost as hot as the fireworks blasting overhead, after last week's great show and with tonight's promise already heavy in the air!)
MM: The Undertaker! Kane! Brother against brother, tonight on Explosion! The sibling rivalry of these monsters of the industry continues in a BAD way, and Taker wants the unbeatable Big Red Machine stopped at ANY cost!
K: He said he won't rest until he DESTROYS Kane, Mark! I'm scared to think of the war these two are going to have...and what might happen if he doesn't finish the job this week!
MM: Very true, King, things could get ugly in this feud, so DON'T miss it, folks! Why watch football when you can watch a REAL sport like wrestling?
(HORSEMAN THEME!)
MM: Oh, DAMMIT! What are those jackasses doing out here?! They're not scheduled, they're interrupting the first match of our Explosion Tag Team Tournament, where the Hardy Boyz will face the Hype after beating the Horsemen, Benoit and Orton, last week to qualify! Folks, a great match that's going to be...but the Horsemen seem to think they OWN the place lately, so we'll have to humor them until someone does something.
K: They're the biggest stars on Explosion, Mark! They're incredible! No one can stop them from doing what they want!
MM: After our Chairman Adam showed some testicular fortitude last week against them, putting 3 Horsemen in big matches they ALL lost...I don't know if that's so true anymore!
K: Kiss-up!
====================================================
(Horsemen in the ring. Douglas stands, mic to his lips, silently. Looking around at the LOUDLY BOOING crowd. Benoit, RVD and Orton mill around, being heels.)
SD: You know, Adam...last week, that stunt you pulled was REAL cute. Putting me in a match against BOTH Paynes to get a title shot was totally unfair, and you better start taking me a little more seriously and gimmie that damn Prime Title shot against that scrawny piece of trash Kidman TONIGHT!
(Boo!)
SD: Shut the hell up, you trailer park rejects!
(BOO!)
SD: I was cheated! See, I deserve better than thi--
(ICON THEME! Out walks 03 w/Paynes to a good pop!)
03: Shane, Shane, Shane. Or should I say, "Shame, shame, shame!" Making demands of your boss like that. Well to quote a famous beer-drinkin', finger-flippin' Rattlesnake...EH EHH!!
(POP!)
03: You Horsemen are my PERSONAL BITCHES now, and I will NOT let you control anything around here. In fact, I'm taking your group down but not by force. I swear, somehow, I'll have you all BEGGING never to see eachother again! But you know, that's not why I came out here. I didn't come out to mock you, Shane. I came out to apologize to you. I was unfair last week, you're right. Being in a match against Lucifer and Daymian, here, was tough, I'll admit. So, I've decided...I'm giving you the title match against Kidman after all.
(BOO!)
(Horsemen rejoice!)
03: BUT...there will be one small stipulation, which shouldn't bother you after last week. It's much more bearable, much more fair.
SD: Name it, I'll kick that kid's ass and take that title no matter WHAT you try!
03: I admire your confidence, Douglas. So, let's see if you're still so inspiring when you take on Kidman for the Prime Title tonight, in THAT very ring...with SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE...RAVEN!!
(POP!!!!)
(Horsemen are pissed! Raven hates Douglas and Benoit...hell, everyone but himself, basically!)
SD: (Calms.) Fine, you know what? That's okay. You can put Raven in the stripes, I don't care. I'll STILL beat Kidman. When I have his little punk ass laid out, unconscious in that ring...Raven will have NO CHOICE but to count the 3. So, screw you Adam! You made the biggest mistake of your career tonight...because come the end of Explosion...SHANE DOUGLAS WILL BE YOUR NEW EXPLOSION PRIME CHAMPION!!!
(Horseman theme! Adam laughs, shrugs it off and he and the Paynes head to the back.)
(Commercial.)
=====================================================
Tag Team Tournament, Round 1:
Hardy Boyz v. the Hype
----------------------------------
The Hardy Boyz. Jeff and Matt Hardy. The Hype. Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas. A MATCH FROM THE WRESTLING GODS opens the actual in-ring competition portion of our show tonight!
Incredible technical and aerial offense, defense, and everything in-between! Passion, energy, athleticism...this is a contender for Match of the Year!
In an effort to shorten the wrestling aspects in these shows unless it's important or a PPV, I'll go to the end.
Matt Hardy hits a Twist of Fate on a badly beaten, bloody-faced Charlie Haas, and goes for the pin, 1, 2...BROKEN UP BY BENJAMIN, who dives in for the save with his last ounce of strength. All men are sucking wind, but Jeff manages to bounce off the ropes and double drop-kick Benjamin to the ribs, out of the ring! He collapses, and Matt gets his bearings and covers Haas again for the 1, 2 -- nothing. Kick out.
Haas fighting back, gets to his feet, big second/third/fourth wind! He slams Matt hard to the mat (ha!) and goes for Hardy's foot to legs to lock in a finishing hold! Hardy manages to kick Haas off, get up, and hit Haas with a second Twist of Fate! 1, 2, 3! Hardys beat the Hype after a great, double-face team match, and they will advance to the final 6-Man Battle Royale Brawl in 3 weeks for the No. 1 Contendership and title shot against the Paynes at the next PPV! The teams give eachother props after the match, good sports.
=============================================================
(Adam and Erica are in his office, discussing some matters of importance.)
04: And next week, it's Flair and Michaels against...the Dudley Boys!
03: And those Horsemen aren't even involved. It's PERFECT!
04: Adam...I love when you take charge like that! You have them in the palm of your hand! Ha ha!!
03: Hey, it's my job, I'm kicking ass and no ones going to get the best of 03 anymore.
04: Keep it up...and you might have a lady Icon trying to get the "best" of you.
(Crowd pops a bit at the suggestiveness, then there's a moment of the Icon and Iconess staring at eachother until --CRASH!! Raven LITERALLY shatters the door to splinters, landing in a heap on the floor in front of Adam's desk!)
03: DAMMIT! (Adam runs to the door to look out.) WHO DID THIS?!!! DOUGLAS!! IF I FIND OUT THIS WAS YOU --
04: Relax, Adam. Let's take care of Raven for now, he needs help.
03: GET AN EMT IN HERE, NOW!!
(Raven is motionless, Adam is seething with rage, Erica is kneeling down and inspecting Raven.)
===================================================
(BREAK THE WALLS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
The Chris Jericho Show set is in the ring, desk patched with duct tape after Kane's rampage last week, but still an awesome set otherwise. Jericho walks to the ring to a big pop.
Y2J: Welcome to the Chris Jericho Show!
(POP!!)
Y2J: I, of course, am your super-sexy host who NEEDS no introduction -- but I'll do it anyway -- the HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT, CHRIS JERICHO!!
(POP!)
Y2J: Now, your ol' pal Y2J has a problem after last week. See, I'm still QUITE pissed-off about Kane breaking my new desk here last week. And Kane WILL get his for what he did, don't you worry! But tonight, I have something else on my agenda. See, I did almost beat Kane last week, and I'm feeling pretty confident after that strong showing. In fact, if anything, after that match, I'm even MORE confident!
(Pop.)
King: Is that possible? He's already so far up his own ass he sees out his nostrils!
MM: Oh, stop it.
Y2J: I'm not just confident...I'm a LIVING LEGEND!! And I know that if I can almost beat the most unbeatable man in this federation, whose arse I hope the Undertaker kicks BIG-TIME tonight...
(POP!)
Y2J: ...if I can do that, then I can beat ANYONE. And being a Living LEGEND, I think I have a challenge to issue to a member of the Four Horsemen, my former friend and groupmate, and this week's guest on the Chris Jericho Show...ROB VAN DAM!!
(POP?!! They like RVD, even as a Horseman.)
(Horseman them hits, RVD walks out to the stage alone, w/mic! He's much better on the stick than he was in WWE!)
RVD: Jericho...if you want a piece of ROB...VAN...DAM...you GOT IT! I'll take you on tonight, tomorrow night, next week...anytime! Hey, I may just tie a leg behind my back just to make it a little more FAIR!
(Mixed reaction. Heelish nature showing, but still liked.)
(ICON THEME! Adam's out!)
03: VAN DAM! I don't know who did that to Raven, but I can only assume it was on of you pathetic Horsemen! So YOU'RE going to pay for it!! That match is a great idea, but it needs a little something extra so Jericho can KICK YOUR HORSEMAN ASS A BIT BETTER!! Jericho, we have history, we've had heat in the past, and I think you'll agree that this match is a HUGE deal, right?!
Y2J: It's definitely HUGE, Adam! Chris Jericho winning any title is always big news!
(POP!)
03: Then kick his damn ass...IN A LADDER MATCH ------- RIGHT NOW!! RING THAT BELL!!!
(POP!!!!)
Mark: A LADDER MATCH!! TONIGHT?!!! My GOD, King! THIS IS AN AMAZING NIGHT!! ANOTHER HUGE BATTLE COMING TONIGHT ON EXPLOSION, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SEEING THIS!!
King: Explosion is great!! HA HA!!
Mark: That match when we return! STAY TUNED!! It's for the Legend Title, a LADDER MATCH, NEXT!
(Jericho is ready, smiling, RVD is protesting, though calmly. Adam goes backstage, brings out a ladder, and stands it up on the stage! Then he leaves to the Icon Theme and a pop, as RVD stares at Jericho in the ring!)
(Commercial.)
=================================================
Legend Title Ladder Match:
Rob Van Dam (c) v. Chris Jericho
------------------------------------------------
Great, violent, fast-paced match that goes a good 20+ minutes UNCUT, no breaks!
Awesome stuff, another classic tonight, and both men give it their all and get big pops all night. RVD chants, Y2J chants, bloodshed, ladder stunts, acrobatics...greatness, simply put.
At the end, Jericho applies the Liontamer...er...Walls of Jericho...on TOP of the ladder, and then lets go of a screaming Van Dam, dropping the Whole F'n Show to the mat 10 feet down and allowing Y2J to, after catching his balance on the wobbling ladder (broken from all the stunts and hits and falls), to grab the belt high above the ring and become the NEWWWWWWWWW Legend Champion!!
BIG pop from the fans, and an ecstatic Jericho celebrates with his new title as he heads to the back. Incredible moment!
In the ring...RVD looks up, pissed, and bangs the mat with his fist in frustration. Unusual behavior for the usually calm RVD...
(Commercial!)
=======================================================
Kane v. Taker
--------------------
Taker comes out on his bike after a big DEAD MAN WALKING gets the fans going! He's looking intense, ready to kick some ass!
Kane enters next, Paul Bearer close-by as always. (BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!)
The match is a big, ugly brawl, and the fans are solidly behind Taker the whole time! Taker is fighting to end Kane's tyranny, and Kane is fighting because he and Bearer are after the Prime Title. Both have a single goal...destruction of the opponent...their OWN BROTHER!
Taker, oddly, grabs Kane for a Chokeslam late in the match and Kane THUDS down to the mat hard. Taker folds up Kane's arms in the Rest in Peace pose, and gets a 1, 2...kick out! Taker keeps the offense going immediately, knowing not to give Kane an inch. He dominates for a while, whipping Kane to the corner and walking the ropes, Old School! Taker leaps off for the clothesline, but is CAUGHT by Kane's glove around the neck and slammed ROUGHLY due to the added momentum of the jump off the ropes!
Kane goes for the cover, 1, 2, 3! Crowd boos, Taker had it the whole time, but Kane, as usual, steals it in the end and comes out on top. What a damn heel! Bearer runs in afterwards, with a mic, yells at Taker and to the fans.
PB: YOU SEE THIS?!! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MESS WITH MY MONSTER, KANE! HE'S UNSTOPPABLE!!! AND NOW...Kane...your next mission is to GO AFTER THE PRIME TITL----
(KANE GRABS BEARER AROUND THE NECK AND GRABS THE MIC AS PAUL STARES AT HIM, EYES WIDE OPEN!!)
K: No more, Bearer. I got all I needed out of you. I'm UNSTOPPABLE, I'm a MONSTER...and I'll do what I WANT TO DO FROM NOW ON!! NO ONE CAN CONTROL ME, NO ONE CAN STOP ME...AND IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF EVIL!!!
(Bearer protest as best he can, shaking his fat head slightly, 19 sweaty chins quivering in fear!)
(Kane picks Bearer up and hits a VICIOUS Chokeslam on his former mentor, the man who helped him realize the Dark Power and got him to the top! What will stop Kane? Can anything?! He's now totally on his own and totally unpredictable...even MORE dangerous!! Kane leaves to his theme and a small pop for turning on Bearer, leaving the walrus and the Taker lying in the ring!)
===========================================
In the suite, the Benoit and Orton are pumping Shane up for his match against Kidman, next!
CB: Just get out there and get this thing DONE, man. Once we have that title, the whole federation...even those damn Icons will have no choice but to listen to us!
RO: Imagine the Four Horsemen with TWO titles, man, we'll be...wait. Hey, where's Rob? We don't have ANY titles right now, I forgot.
CB: Yeah, he never came back after his match.
(RVD enters, angry. He jumps at the other guys, up close and personal!)
RVD: WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU? HUH?!! I BUST MY ASS OUT THERE WEEKLY KEEPING YOU GUYS SAFE AND GIVING YOU EASY WINS, AND WHAT THE HELL DO I GET?! I BEAT THE HELL OUT OF RAVEN TONIGHT FOR YOU, DOUGLAS. THE ONE FREAKIN' TIME I NEED YOU, YOU LEAVE ME HANGING?! AND AGAINST CHRIS JERICHO, THE ONE MAN YOU SHOULD HAVE WANTED ME TO BEAT MOST, THE MAN WE KICKED OUT!! IS THE PRIME TITLE THE ONLY THING ON YOUR MINDS RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE I LOST THE LEGEND TITLE BECAUSE NONE OF YOU HAD MY BACK!
CB: Woah, woah! Cool down, Rob! No one meant for you to lose that title, okay? Look, you'll get it back soon, don't worry!
SD: We trusted you, Van Dam. We thought you'd be okay out there against Jericho.
RVD: Fine. You know what, Douglas? When you're out there with Kidman tonight, and you find out just how intense a fighter he REALLY is...instead of having your back...I'll be back here TRUSTING YOU.
(OOOOH!)
(RVD storms out.)
SD: (Laughs it off.) It'll blow over, forget him. Come on...we have to go take that gold home to Horseman Country! Ha ha...
(They Horsemen leave together, confident and smiling.)
============================================
(Ashley Britcher stands with Prime Champion Kidman backstage!)
AB: Now, Kidman, Raven was supposed to referee your match tonight, but it turns out Rob Van Dam beat him down earlier and he won't be able to do it. Any thoughts?
BK: Well, yeah, Ashley. The Horsemen are gonna' throw every dirty, double-team trick in the book at me tonight, I know that. But you know what? I'm one step ahead of them. I'll have a few buddies watching MY back out there, tonight...so don't worry about me. Worry about Shane Douglas. He's underestimated me all this time...I'm younger, faster, and better. His ass will be pinned before he knows what hit him!
(POP! Kidman's music hits!)
AB: There you have it! Sounds like you're up, good luck, champ!
(Kidman gets moving, and the camera follows him to the stage.)
===========================================
Prime Title Match:
Billy Kidman (c) v. Shane Douglas
-------------------------------------------------
Kidman, out first, feeling confident and ready to rumble! Good pop for our Prime champ, and the energy is building as people want Shane Douglas' ass whipped! Kidman waves for a mic.
BK: I said I'd have some buddies watching my back tonight...so let me introduce to you...TOMMY DREAMER AND TAZZ!!
Mark: WOAH!! The team that will face the Dudleys in 2 weeks in the Tag Team Tournament, two of the toughest, most respected champions in the company! He couldn't have found better backing, King!
K: Yeah, right, Mark...I think they should name their tag team the Has-Beens!
(HORSEMAN THEME!)
Match happens. RVD comes out to the stage early on and sits in a folding chair to watch! The fans love him.
Late in the match, Dudleys sneak up behind RVD, flip him out of his chair and start beating him down. The Orton and Benoit start to head for RVD to make the save, but are distracted when Dreamer and Tazz enter the ring begin to attack Douglas. Orton and Benoit look back and forth, not knowing who to help...but they soon decide Douglas is the more important victim here and jump in the ring to attack Tazz and Dreamer. Kidman and Douglas are both laid out, now, and the Horsemen and Kidman's back-watchers are in a vicious brawl outside the ring. RVD gets a HIDEOUS 3-D on the metal stage, and they celebrate to BOOOOOS!! In the ring, Douglas rolls over to drape his limp arm over Kidman for the 1, 2...KICK OUT!! Kidman and Douglas stagger up, go back and forth with punches, and Orton runs in to distract the ref while Benoit jumps in and locks the Crippler Crossface on Kidman! Kidman taps, taps, taps...but Benoit lets go and runs out.
Douglas takes hold of Kidman, nails the Pittsburgh Plunge...and it's all over...1, 2, 3! No sooner than Douglas gets the win than the Dudleys hit the ring, after the new Prime Champ!
They want revenge for RVD's attack on Raven! Benoit and Orton fight them, but the Dudleys (fresh men) get the best, teaming up for a 3-D on Benoit! Orton has managed to crawl over and shove Douglas out of the ring, but the Dudleys catch him and hit a HUGE 3-D, following it up with a D-Von head-drop to the Stud's nuts! Orton is in a world of hurt, and Benoit is barely conscious. Douglas gets to his feet, clutching the Prime Title, and walks backwards towards the ramp, arms raised in painful victory! However...
Behind him are Tommy Dreamer and Tazz!! They smile as Douglas turns around and a look of fear hits him. He's trapped between the violent Dudleys and the incredible Tazz and Dreamer!! RVD is up, and Douglas sees Van Dam watching from the stage. Douglas yells for help from his fellow Horseman...but RVD simply smiles and points to himself...R...V...D!!!!
The crowd cheers as Van Dam FLIPS OFF Douglas and sets up his chairs to sit and watch again, leaving the Prime Champion Horseman at the mercy of 4 former-ECW monsters, who pretty much all hated him there, too!
All 4, even though they're enemies, join in destroying Shane, and we fade out on a shot of Shane Douglas being murdered by Tazz, Dreamer, Bubba and D-Von, then to RVD laughing at the carnage from up in his perch!
Shane Douglas is the NEW Explosion Prime Champion, after all! However...the Horsemen have been massacred at the hands of some EC-dub alumni who, and, at least partially, by his fellow-Horseman, Rob Van Dam! What a night!! ABSURD!!!!!11
(Fade out.)
