Dissention in the Ranks

Kayla Jones made big waves this past Friday on Fever. Not only through her actions did the Outsiders grow even larger and more powerful but also the elimination chamber match booked for Resurrection was changed in a way to affect this Outsiders/Illuminati war forever. The elimination chamber participants were announced: three of them would be Illuminati members and three of them would be members of the Outsiders. The winner would be the world heavyweight champion.

Two groups at war yet, at the same time, there will be one ultimate prize that can possibly drive a wedge between the groups forever. It doesn’t get much bigger than that and it doesn’t get much bigger than the world heavyweight championship at Resurrection.

But Resurrection is several weeks away and first and foremost The Illuminati still have a war with the Outsiders to deal with. The Outsiders have proven to be a much more formidable force than originally thought. The Outsiders stable have, thus far, managed to defeat the Illuminati in six-person tag team action as well as humiliate them at the end of Fever, driving them away from the ring while they proceeded to decimate Illuminati member Monoxide.

But now the Illuminati have been presented with an opportunity to gain a measure of revenge. On this upcoming edition of Fever the three Illuminati members participating in the Elimination Chamber Match, that being Joey Michaels, Monoxide, and the world heavyweight champion The Truth, will face off against the three Outsiders who will be in the elimination chamber match, that being Brandon Z’appel, Jake “The Heartthrob” Storm, and John Clayton.

Meagan Collins, the financial backer and manager of the Illuminati, realizes just how big this match is. Not only is it yet another battle in the Illuminati/Outsiders war, but it could be a preview of Resurrection. She can only hope that her team will work together and prove to the Outsiders that there is only one dominant super group in GDW right now and that is The Illuminati.

Keeping them together, however, is a whole different story, especially when you have three men with three different agendas. Monoxide is here in GDW only for the destruction of his step-sister Kayla Jones. Joey Michaels joined the Illuminati not because he bought into Meagan’s kool-aid or The Truth’s kool-aid but because Meagan promised him a shot at the world heavyweight championship, a shot he is going to get at Resurrection. And The Truth is here in GDW….well….to spread the Truth! Kill the beast! Yeah, all that fun stuff!

The scene opens inside of an empty gymnasium. The Truth and Monoxide are sparring on a blue wrestling mat while Meagan watches from afar. Seated next to her in a lawn chair is the self-proclaimed Franchise Player, Joey Michaels. Meagan wishes Joey were more active in this workout but what can she do?

Meagan: Good work guys! Keep it up!

Truth takes Monoxide down in a side headlock. Monoxide fights back up after twenty seconds and counters with a single leg takedown. Monoxide goes into a leg grapevine. Meagan immediately begins to clap.

Meagan: Great counter Oliv….errr I mean Monoxide!

Joey laughs as he proceeds to clap as well….a golf clap.

Joey: Yeah, good job gents!

Truth and Monoxide immediately stop sparring. They both stand up and glare angrily at Joey.

Monoxide: You should be over here practicing too, Michaels!

Truth: Yeah! Need I remind you how important this match is?

Joey rolls his eyes.

Joey: Tell me, Truth, how is this match important….at all!

Truth: The Outsiders are a group loyal to the beast and they are attempting to spread the beast’s message of evil. We must stop their pitiful rebellion before they have a chance to make any headway!

Joey laughs out loud again, causing Truth to look somewhat frustrated.

Truth: And just what is so funny?!

Joey: You! I can’t believe you actually believe the crap that comes out of your mouth!

Truth angrily approaches Joey Michaels.

Truth: Want to repeat that?

Joey stands up.

Joey: Yeah, I said that I can’t believe you actually believe the crap that comes out of your mouth. Listen, Truth, this match isn’t about your imaginary fight against this so-called beast or whatever. This match itself isn’t even the end-all, be-all. This match is merely a preview of the match that is ultimately what this match and this war with the Outsiders is all about…..

Joey points over to Truth’s gear which is lying in a corner next to Joey’s and Monoxide’s. Lying on top of it is the GDW world heavyweight championship belt.

Joey: ….the world heavyweight title. That is what this is about. That is the only reason I am here. I’m here because Meagan promised me a world title shot. I’m getting it at Resurrection and believe me, I do not intend to leave that chamber without that belt.

Truth is about to respond when Monoxide steps in front of him, interrupting.

Monoxide: Listen here, Joey! You had better keep your ego in check because this is bigger than you, me, and even The Truth! This is bigger than all of us! We must defeat The Outsiders. We must lay waste to Jake Storm, John Clayton, and Brandon Z’appel. Now you are either with us or you are against us.

Joey rolls his eyes.

Joey: Now where have I heard that before?

Monoxide: What do you mean?

Joey: Everyone in this match has an ego. Everyone in this match will be looking out for number one. Do you honestly think that Clayton, Z’appel, and Storm will be working as a unit? Perhaps on this coming Fever but when that chamber match begins they’ll be at each others’ throats because they realize, like I realize, that the world title trumps everything.

Monoxide rears back and slaps Joey.

Monoxide: You are off base, son! Listen and listen good, we need to beat The Outsiders this coming Fever. That is all you need to know.

Joey narrows his brow and balls his fist as if he is getting ready to strike. Monoxide notices this.

Monoxide: What? You want to hit me? Go ahead and do it….but you are only helping our opponents.

Joey: You know what? I’m not going to hit you. You aren’t worth the time or the effort.

Joey starts to walk away. Monoxide looks over at Meagan.

Monoxide: What’s wrong with him?!

Meagan: Hold on a moment. I’ll be back…

Meagan quickly walks over to catch up with Joey. She steps in front of him. Joey sighs with frustration.

Joey: Move, Collins.

Meagan: I can’t let you leave, Joey.

Joey: Who said anything about leaving? I’m just going to get some fresh air.

Joey leans over to whisper into her ear.

Joey: And for the record, once this chamber match is over with, I am done with you and your Illuminati freaks. Getting myself involved with this Illuminati/Outsiders war was a mistake.

Meagan: But what about Friday’s six-person tag?

Joey nods his head.

Joey: You can count on The Franchise Player to be at one hundred and ten percent.

Joey walks away. Meagan sighs as she walks back into the gym where Monoxide and Truth are waiting.

Monoxide: Well?

Meagan: He’s just going to get some fresh air.

Truth: Fresh air?! We have a six-person tag team match coming up and he wants to lounge around outside?! What is wrong with him?!

Monoxide: Calm down, Truth.

Monoxide turns his attention back towards Meagan.

Monoxide: Can we count on him to be there for us against Z’appel, Clayton, and Storm?

Meagan nods her head.

Meagan: Yes, he’ll be ready. And I am quite certain that everyone will be ready. The Outsiders will not know what hit them.

Forest Metaphors

You know what I can’t stand? I can’t stand a bunch of losers who are too big for their fucking pants! You know the type, the type who think they are big shit and then they’ll stand up to you like they are big shit. In the end those types end up the same way: flat on their back after being knocked down by the real big shits in this business….people like me! Oliver Hardy Jr.

But don’t you dare call me that. Select few can call me that you are not one of those select few. My name is Monoxide and I am the slayer of the evil. I have eliminated the one who destroyed my hopes and my dreams. I have crushed my step-sister Kayla Jones.

And yet despite the fact that I crushed her in one on one competition, she lives. And that is not something I want.

This brings us back to what I was speaking of earlier, the snot nosed punks, the losers in this business who think they are big shits who can stand up to people like me and my Illuminati brethren.

The Outsiders think that they can hang in there with the top dogs in GDW. Kayla Jones probably thinks that with the emergence of these new Outsiders that she has protection from my righteous wrath and fury. Both are wrong. Myself and the Talbot brothers will take out The Outsiders on Friday Night Fever. We will crush their little rebellion before it even begins.

And then, with Glory Braddock, Carrie Storm, and Jake Storm all taken out…..Kayla Jones will be left all alone. I can then proceed to finish what I started at Desperate Measures.

But it all begins with Friday Night Fever in the six man tag team match pitting me and my Illuminati brethren against The Outsiders. We can win. We must win.

The camera, the one that usually follows me wherever I go whenever I am busy doing promos, is currently following my as I walk in deep into the woods. I am dressed in blue jeans, cowboy boots, and a plain black shirt. I am walking with a purpose towards my destination somewhere in these woods. Where am I? No one knows. Why have I chosen this wooded forest for my promo? You will find out shortly.

Finally I find a clearing. A tent is already set up nearby a fire. Unless you are dense you probably have figured out that this is my tent where I have set up for the night.

I walk over towards the fire and lean my hands in to get them warm. Finally I turn around to face the camera. A cold emotionless stare is etched across my face.

Monoxide: Welcome to a dense forest. Welcome to the woods. Fathers often take their sons out here to “make men out of them”, to camp. They call this “roughing it.” The funny thing is my dad never got a chance to take me camping. I never got to experience the close bond that a father and a son experience when they are out on this type of adventure. Do you want to know why my father never took me camping?

Quickly, before the cameraman can react I shove my face into the camera lenses and I begin to yell with an angry rage.

Monoxide: ITS BECAUSE MY FUCKING STEP-SISTER, THAT WHORE KAYLA JONES, BUTCHERED AND MURDERED HIM BEFORE HE HAD THE FUCKING CHANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I quickly back away from the camera. The camera shakes a little bit, because, of course, the cameraman is a little shaken up by what I just did. I take a few deep breaths before I gaze back into the camera and begin to speak again.

Monoxide: But this forest represents more than just that one metaphor. Pay close attention while I explain how this fits into the upcoming six man tag team match pitting myself, Jason Talbot, and Steven Talbot against the upstart Outsiders.

I laugh sadistically.

Monoxide: Trees symbolize life and the soul. What Glory Braddock, Carrie Storm, and her idiot brother need to realize is that I have no fucking soul! MY SOUL DIED WHEN MY DADDY DIED! So I won’t hesitate to eliminate the three of you if it means accomplishing my ultimate goal. The fact is, you three are merely obstacles in our way, in The Illuminati’s way.

I make my way over to a log by the fire and I sit down on it. The camera follows me as I continue speaking.

Monoxide: Some trees change with the seasons and others stand up to harsh conditions. Trees beautify the earth and some provide food for both humans and animals, such as fruit, nuts and berries. Birds nest in trees and other animals hide within their branches for safety. The meaning of trees in your dream depends on a multitude of factors. Dreaming of budding trees in the spring may herald a new cycle or rebirth, including death. Death….that is a feeling that my father felt and one that The Outsiders will soon feel. DEATH TO THE OUTSIDERS! DEATH TO THEIR STUPID REBELLION!

A sly grin spreads across my face. I nod my head.

Monoxide: Oh yeah, and there’s more! Summer indicates the development of self-reliance and strength to surviving rough conditions in your life. The changing and falling leaves of autumn symbolize shedding what is no longer needed so that changes can occur. Change, my friends. Change is a word thrown around like a silly catchphrase but it is real. The Illuminati, we are bringing about real change to GDW and people like Glory and her pals, the Outsiders, they only want the status. The status quo will die along with your rebellion. Understand the meaning of the forest and you will understand this, Outsiders. You see, harvesting the work of the past is also represented. The bare trees of winter can symbolize a time of dormancy, to sort things out and rest before beginning something new. That something new is represented in The Illuminati and our reign in the Global Division of Wrestling.

I point my index finger directly into the camera.

Monoxide: Your reign will be a short lived one. You see, an uprooted tree symbolizes a feeling of being uprooted in waking or spiritual life. Are you losing your hold on the ground, Outsiders? Are you losing touch with reality? Because only a fucking lunatic would think that they stood a chance against the most dominant force ever to set foot in GDW!

I laugh.

Monoxide: There’s one last thing you should know about the symbols and metaphors of this great forest. A tree struck by lightning or in flames may represent a situation that is about to erupt, but this can also symbolize electrified energy or being “on fire” for a goal or desire. I am on fire for a goal! I have a desire burning deep down in my heart and my soul! My desire is to eliminate Kayla Jones and all like her! People like you, people like The Outsiders, YOU ARE STANDING IN MY WAY and on Friday Night Fever we will take you out! Ah but dreaming of a dead tree may symbolize that you are holding on to values or things from the past or a feeling that something is stagnant and not growing. You are going to be the dead tree, Outsiders. You are going to be that tree that is stagnant and that is going nowhere.

I AM A GOD-DAMNED FORCE OF NATURE MY FRIENDS AND YOU CANNOT STAND UP TO ME! I am Monoxide and on Friday Night Fever, Glory Braddock, Carrie Storm, and Jake Storm will learn the hard lessons of life. You three will learn the hard way that no one can stand up to the Illuminati and survive. You are welcome to try, but you will fail, just as everyone else before you as failed.

Failure is your destiny.

Ah but my destiny is bright. My future is bright. I know that I will accomplish my ultimate goal. And you cannot stop me.

No one can stop me..

Because I am Monoxide.

And I…am…God.