30 for 30: Gravedigger wins War XVI - Part 1
Sept 21, 2017 12:59:31 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2017 12:59:31 GMT -5
The Memory Remains
War XVI
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan
October 1, 2017
The opening words of “The Memory Remains” by Metallica start playing as the scene fades in.
“Fortune, fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane
But the memory remains”
The scene is in the ring which is currently making a vibrating motion and two sets of boots can be seen as two men struggle.The ring apron tells us that this is at War XVI. The song audio fades out and the scene audio fades in as one of the men hits the mat and appears unconscious. It’s WCF Legend Gravedigger.
Freddy Whoa: He just laid Gravedigger out! This has to be it!
Zach Davis: The referee slides into position.
1...2...NO! Gravedigger kicks out, knocking the man on top of him out of the way, his identity kept secret from us.
Freddy Whoa: WHOA!! Gravedigger kicks out AGAIN!
Zach Davis: Gravedigger just won’t give up! He’s damned determined to win War!
The commentators’ audio fades out as the Metallica song can be heard again. Gravedigger gets up and the two men start fighting it out again.
“Fortune, fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane...
Fortune, fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane...”
The song audio fades out again as it continues. The commentators can be heard once more as one of the two men’s boots disappear from view only for him to land stomach first on the mat as the other set of boots goes flying past him.
Zach Davis: Gravedigger hits it! GRAVE MARKER!
Freddy Whoa: He’s got him! Up on his shoulder….DEATH DRIVER!! THIS COULD BE IT!
Gravedigger is seen covering his opponent for the pin.
1...2...3!!
Zach Davis: GRAVEDIGGER DID IT!! TWO TIME WAR WINNER!
Freddy Whoa: WHOA!!! FOURTEEN YEARS FOLKS SINCE GRAVEDIGGER LAST WON WAR!
The crowd goes nuts as Kyle Steel grabs a microphone at ringside. The man Gravedigger just pinned rolls out of the ring right as the camera switches to Gravedigger, causing us to just miss who it was. Gravedigger is on his knees, sweat pouring from his face. He winces, breathing hard, looking out at the crowd.
Kyle Steel: THE WINNER OF WAR SIXTEEN….GRAAAAAAAVVVEEDIIIGGGERRRRRR!
“Change” by Deftones hits the speakers as Gravedigger slowly gets to his feet, the crowd still going nuts. Gravedigger climbs up onto the second turnbuckle pad, raising his arms in the air, roaring out, his muscles flexing.
Zach Davis: GRAVEDIGGER IS NOW ONLY THE SECOND MAN TO WIN WAR MORE THAN ONCE, ONLY LOGAN HAS MORE WINS!
Freddy Whoa: THIS SOUND IS DEAFENING!
Gravedigger finally lowers his arms and stops his yell as his eyes rest on the One logo going by on an electronic banner up on the side of the arena in the nosebleeds. The scene fades to black with one last line from the Metallica song.
“But the memory remains...”
====================
The scene fades back into a shot of a studio with a man seated in a chair. The camera cuts to a shot of his upper half, his blue track suit standing out. The following words fade in on the bottom left of the screen:
Jayson Stasiak
Former Manager of Gravedigger, Former Owner of PSWF
ESPN Studios - Los Angeles
June 25th, 2035
Jayson Stasiak: October 1, 2017 was a special night. Twas the night of War XVI. Just like with all of his other matches that year, I was there backstage for Gravedigger since 2017 was the 15 year anniversary for Gravedigger as a member of the WCF roster. He’d been in War many times throughout his career, but there was just this feeling in the air that the night was going to be special. I’m not just saying that as my memory of what happened, that’s what it was actually like that night. It had been a slow build up all year for that one big moment for Gravedigger. The year had started out slow with those losses to Joey Flash, David Sanchez, and Wade Moor, then just barely losing in the Trios Tournament and being top 5 in Ultimate Showdown.
Gravedigger was just on that edge, right there at it, but at War XVI, he jumped. He flew. It--
Jayson’s voice trails off as his eyes get a little watery. He brushes away a tear.
Jayson Stasiak: Sorry, it was just beautiful to watch Gravedigger finally reach that pinnacle that one last time in his career.
Jayson stares off into the distance for a few seconds, thinking about something. He finally turns back to the camera.
Jayson Stasiak: Yeah, I need a minute.
Jayson reaches up and takes off the mic and puts it in the chair, walking off camera as the scene fades out.
Fuel
The scene fades into the parking lot of the Tokyo Dome as the following words fade into the bottom left corner of the screen:
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan
October 1, 2017
The sound of motorcycles can be heard in the distance and within seconds, motorcycles can be seen roaring off from the nearby highway and down into the parking lot. The sounds of “Fuel” by Metallica can be heard playing.
“Gimme fuel
Gimme fire
Gimme that which I desire
Ooh!”
Two dozen motorcycles ride down through the parking lot, with Gravedigger and Adrian on the lead bikes. They park off to the side where the Tokyo Dome attendants are directing them to park.
The parking lot grows quieter as each of the two dozen motorcycles are turned off and the men climb off their bikes. Most of the men gather in groups off to the side away from Gravedigger, while a few men join him and Adrian in a small group. The men have a conversation which can’t quite be heard as the WCF cameras get closer.
A couple of the men peel off and join the other bikers while a small group of four bikers follow Gravedigger and Adrian towards the Tokyo Dome itself. Adrian is speaking to Gravedigger as the cameras catch up with the group, the MS-13 bikers with them eyeballing the cameras with annoyance, muttering in Spanish to each other.
Adrian: --- need more men. We don’t need you getting jumped by Bishop before you guys are in the ring together tonight, if that even happens.
Gravedigger shoots a sideways glance at Adrian.
Gravedigger: What the fuck does that mean?
Adrian scoffs.
Adrian: Digger, it’s War. We don’t know what will happen. Bishop could get eliminated, you could get elim--
Gravedigger stops as does everyone else. Gravedigger steps to Adrian.
Gravedigger: I’m not getting eliminated, Adrian. That main event spot at One is mine.
Adrian: I know, but I’m just say---
Gravedigger: I know what the fuck you’re saying. Get that shit out of here today. This year, War is mine once again. That’s all I want to fucking hear today, you got it?
Adrian nods.
Adrian: Fine, you got it, boss.
The two men continue walking towards the arena in silence. Gravedigger opens the door and the rest of the bikers follow him and Adrian inside. Jayson Stasiak is standing nearby and looks up, grinning as he sees Gravedigger. Gravedigger returns the look as the two men walk up to each other. They hug briefly and Gravedigger holds onto Jayson’s arms as they pull away.
Gravedigger: Jayson, my old friend. Glad to see you here tonight.
Jayson scoffs and shrugs as Gravedigger lets go of his arms.
Jayson Stasiak: Where else would I be? I was here early in the year, at Trios, and Ultimate Showdown. Why not War as well?
Gravedigger chuckles. Jayson turns to Adrian.
Jayson Stasiak: Hey Adrian, how are you doing?
The two men shakes hands.
Adrian: Jayson. Doing good, hope you are as well.
Jayson nods and then turns back to Gravedigger. He puts his hand on Gravedigger’s shoulder, leading them down a hallway.
Jayson Stasiak: Let me show you to your locker room. One of Seth’s assistants showed me around earlier so I can give you the big tour.
Gravedigger nods.
Gravedigger: You hear from my family yet?
Jayson nods and clears his throat.
Jayson Stasiak: Yeah, your parents, Brian, and Chester are all here. They got in yesterday afternoon. I’ve got a car heading over there in a couple of hours to pick them up for your lunch with them later today.
Gravedigger: Excellent.
Jayson Stasiak gives a disagreeable look.
Jayson Stasiak: Well not so much, your mom is unhappy that they didn’t get to see you last night.
Gravedigger rolls his eyes.
Gravedigger: I had an appearance on TV that airs this morning, I couldn’t exactly blow them off and go meet up with my family.
Jayson shoots a look at Gravedigger. Gravedigger waves a hand dismissively.
Gravedigger: She’ll be fine.
Jayson puts a hand on his stomach.
Jayson Stasiak: Am I the only one with butterflies about tonight?
Gravedigger grunts.
Gravedigger: Yeah, I got them, too. All these years and I still get them the day of a show, especially one like War.
Gravedigger glances at the cameras following them.
Gravedigger: What’s with all the cameras? There’s more than usual.
Jayson Stasiak: They’re for documentary purposes. You’re nearing the end of your career. You know Seth still wants to make money off of you after you finally retire. Whenever THAT will happen.
Gravedigger chuckles. The two men finally reach the locker rooms. Adrian puts up a hand, indicating for Gravedigger to stop as the MS-13 members walk in and check the place out. Gravedigger rolls his eyes.
The men walk back out and nod at Gravedigger. Gravedigger sighs and turns to Jayson.
Gravedigger: My gear is already in there, right?
Jayson nods.
Jayson Stasiak: Yeah, I put it in there a couple of hours ago.
Gravedigger: Good. Well, I’m going to go check it out and make sure everything is there. I’ll meet you at the lunch with my family. See you later, man.
Gravedigger and Jayson shakes hands and pull each other in for a bro hug. The scene fades out as Gravedigger walks into the locker room.
One
The scene opens up with a close up of Chester, showing only the upper half of his body. The following words appear on the screen.
Chester Burroughs
Gravedigger’s Brother
Former WCF Tag Team Champion
June 27th, 2035
Chester: So we arrived in Tokyo the night before War. I had traveled throughout the United States before, during, and after my stints in WCF with John [Gravedigger] and in Europe, too, but those places were nothing like Tokyo. It was a culture shock for our parents. They were not prepared haha. Brian had been there for business trips over the year so he kinda showed us around.
Yeah, mom was pretty annoyed with John that he wouldn’t meet up with us that night. Not for supper or even to hang out at the hotel. We had to explain to her about the talk show he had to do for WCF. She got over it though the moment she saw him.[/font]
Chester pauses, swallowing and shakes his head, smiling.
Chester: It was a great moment being there for War, watching my brother win a second War event. I mean, damn, it’s a nearly impossible feat to win it once, much less twice. What was it? Sixteen War events and only thirteen winners? That was out of over 1,000 wrestlers in WCF history!
John had said that one of his bucket list items before he retired the next year...that was 2018. The item was to main event One. It was one of his final bucket list items he experienced. Oh? We’re not talking about that? Oh ok, my bad. Yeah, so we all ate lunch and spent a couple of hours just talking to each other, having one of our first big family meals in years together. Usually John was booked somewhere or Brian was off on some business meeting so even on holidays it rarely ever worked out that we were all together.
So, John took us over to the arena and gave us a tour of the place and showed us our seats. We also got to meet some of the guys. I didn’t recognize like pretty much anyone there except for Torture and Corey Black. Oh and Seth of course.
Later, though, it was time for the War match itself. John wouldn’t even tell us what his number was. He wouldn’t tell us when he was coming out. At one point, dad had to quickly hobble to the bathroom and get back in case John came out. When he finally did though, wow.
Chester lets out a burst of air, shaking his head.
Chester: For a guy that was always as hated as my brother was throughout WCF history, it was amazing to hear the huge reaction he got from the crowd in attendance. Even in a city he’s not wrestled in that much, the roof practically exploded when he came out. Sure there was about half of it being boos, but the rest were huge cheers. Mom loved getting to participate in a Gravedigger chant during the match.
But the best moment of course was when he hit the Death Driver and made that final pin of the match, cementing his spot in the main event at One.
Chester glances off camera, holding his hand out indicating he knows not to go further with that subject.
Chester: That was such an emotional moment for our family, especially since that was one of his final matches in WCF. Plus looking back over his life, well it jus---
Chester pauses, tears welling up in his eyes a little. He wipes away at them and holds his hand out, shaking his head.
Chester: Nah, I’m good. Just give me a minute.
The scene fades out.
========================
The scene opens up to Gravedigger seated on a bench in the locker room as the following words appear in the lower left corner of the screen:
War XVI
October 1, 2017
Wrestlers are milling in and out, preparing for the upcoming War match which will be starting after the current match, the World title match. A TV is on nearby and some of the wrestlers are crowded around it, watching in anticipation for who they may face at One if they win War tonight.
Chester appears in the doorway. Gravedigger looks up and grins. He stands up and walks over. The two men step out into the hallway as another wrestler steps into the lockerroom. This one is one of the newer wrestlers who stops in awe at seeing a legend such as Gravedigger. Gravedigger gives him the side eye and chuckles shaking his head as he walks up to Chester. The two men hug.
Gravedigger: Hey little brother, what are you doing back here?
Chester: Being a former WCF wrestler who left on good terms, Seth told security I was welcome to come back here at any time. Besides...
Chester’s voice trails off as he holds up some athletic tape.
Chester: We gotta tape up those bricks you call hands.
Gravedigger: Why?
Chester leads Gravedigger over to the side.
Chester: Dude, you’re going to be in what is practically a literal war zone with all those bodies and we both know you’re going to be brawling your way through most of it. We gotta tape up those bricks you call hands so they’re protected.
Gravedigger sighs and nods, holding up a hand. Chester rips the end of the tape and starts taping up one of his brother’s hands.
Gravedigger: She tried to come back here with you, didn’t she?
Chester laughs and nods.
Chester: Yeah, you know mom well. She was just so distraught and nervous about tonight’s match. She was convinced you are, too.
Gravedigger grins sheepishly.
Gravedigger: Yeah, man, my stomach is tied in knots right now. It’s like 2002 and 2003 all over again. It still is every fucking time.
Chester nods as he continues wrapping the athletic tape around Gravedigger’s left hand.
Chester: That’s because you were fucking born for this shit. You’re not like half these guys in that room there. They don’t have butterflies. They just enjoy getting in the ring and hitting someone, but that’s all it really is to them. They don’t get butterflies. In matches like tonight, they get eliminated. That’s it, then back to that weekly grind of doing enough to earn a paycheck until either the light turns on and they finally get it or until they get bored and move onto another company or quit wrestling altogether.
Gravedigger grunts in agreement.
Gravedigger: Yeah, I guess you’re right.
Chester: I know I’m right, I was them. I was never you. There was never really any butterflies after my first few matches in UFW back in the day. When we came here to WCF, you had the butterflies, I didn’t. You see where we both ended up in wrestling, right?
Gravedigger nods. Chester finishes with one of Gravedigger’s hands and moves onto the other one.
Chester: So, what’s the plan for tonight, big brother?
Gravedigger smirks.
Gravedigger: Bury them all.
Chester laughs.
Chester: Nice.
Gravedigger: I will go out there and do what I do best: survive. Odin may have the elimination record, but I’m the one who has been in the most War events. I know what it takes to stay in there as long as possible. The elimination game is a dangerous one. I am the true survivor here in WCF. Not Logan, not Corey Black. Me. I was here in the beginning and I am still here now, 15 years later. I am one of the biggest threats in this match and everyone knows it. They won’t say it in their promos. They’ll dismiss me, but tonight? Tonight, they’ll pay for it. Tonight is my time. Not because I deserve it like some of these little bitches like to run around saying. I earn my wins because I fight for them. Tonight, I fight to win War. Tonight, I fight to main event One. It’s honestly one of the only bucket list items i have left that is hard as fuck to accomplish, but that changes tonight. There’s that little war-related saying from those Fallout games you told me about once.
Chester finishes taping up Gravedigger’s right hand and looks at Gravedigger with a grin.
Chester: War never changes.
Gravedigger smirks.
Gravedigger: Neither do I.
Gravedigger playfully pops Chester on the cheek with one of his taped hands as the scene fades out.
=======================
It’s that time once again, ladies and gentlemen. WAR! Specifically War XVI. In the 16 events, I’ve been in 7 of them, likely one of the top three people for most War appearances. Unlike most of those people, I have actually won a War event, the fourth one in 2003.
But see, everyone knows that. I’ve rehashed that countless times over the years. What everyone doesn’t know, but will soon is that I’m going to be a two-time War winner by winning War XVI. October 1, 2017, mark your calendars as you watch me eliminate that final participant in the match and go on to main event One. It’s almost like it’s destiny.
WCF, I’m not going to do like some of these fucking losers in WCF do. I’m not going to tell you it’s my time. I’m not going to tell you I deserve it. I’m not going to tell you that I earned the right to win the match. No, people who do that end up on the losing end of matches. No, I’m going to SHOW you at War why I’m the best motherfucker to walk out onto that ramp in WCF history. Logan and his three War wins can kiss my ass. Odin Balfore and his whole War Balfore schtick can kiss my ass.
You’re going to hear people this week dismiss me. They’re going to talk about how I still can’t win the big one again, I just can’t quite get those big wins anymore, but see here’s the thing: I’m still here. I haven’t run away like some of these guys who lose and then hightail it out of WCF. I’m in my 40s and just barely losing to guys half my age. But I’ve proven before here in my time in WCF that even against guys younger than me that I CAN still win. So while people like Ethan King and some of these other youngsters brag about how they’ve pinned me and defeated me, go back and watch the tapes. Watch as these guys who should be swatting me away like an annoying gnat have to pull out all the stops to beat a man ten and twenty years their senior.
Why am I claiming that I will win War XVI? What makes me stand out among people such as Steve Orbit, Odin Balfore, Ethan King, David Sanchez, Andre Holmes, Jayson Price, Jay Omega, Gonzo Murdock, or newcomers such as Luke Force, Very Big Security, and Trey Carter?
Well, with the exception of Jay Omega, I’ve actually won the damn thing before. I know what it takes to win War. I know what it takes to survive and advance to the final two men of War. I know what it takes to stand victorious over the field of War competitors. These other men and women in this match, they’re used to singles matches, tag matches, the occasional clusterfuck match, but War is the clusterfuck supreme. Nothing prepares you for that.
People are going to sit there and believe that they have a shot because they’ve been doing well for the past few months. But that doesn’t prepare you for War. Ask David Sanchez what happened two years ago after he eliminated me from War? He had his huge War moment but then it was quickly crushed by Billy, a joke of a wrestler who eliminated him. Sanchez wasn’t the same and didn’t even make a true comeback here in WCF until Final Destination.
With the exception of his Trios Tournament win, he’s not been the same ever since that Final Destination match. Hell, he just lost the Internet title to William the Behemoth. In case people have forgotten, I beat both William the Behemoth and that other fat motherfucker Ainsley in a handicap match. Could it be that my elimination of Sanchez in Ultimate Showdown was the catalyst for his eventual loss of the Internet title? Who knows? Oh and FUCK….YOU David Sanchez. All that relentless bragging for months on end about your wins over me and I denied you the world title at Ultimate Showdown. Let’s be honest, though, you’re not a world champion caliber wrestler anyway.
You’ll notice, I’m not going in some stupid, structured order like half these other idiots who will start at the bottom of the pile and end with the strongest competition. Do I look like some kind of fucking nerd? Let’s keep on with the Everest guys though and talk next about Ethan King. I’m already hearing it about Ethan King. He’s the one everyone is looking at to be the winner of War this year.
You know Ethan King is sitting there with that stupid fucking grin on his face that he gets when people are sucking his dick. The problem though, Ethan, is that the people sucking your dick have cold sores and you now have fucking herpes you stupid fuck. Ethan, you want to know why people with cold sores are sucking your dick about your chances of winning War? It’s because practically everyone else of any real mention is either in other matches or they’ve left the company. Then you have people like me and other veterans and legends who everyone thinks is just going to have a respectable showing, but they’re wrong. I’m going to win.
See, you’re a favorite because people like Joey Flash and Jared Holmes have left WCF. You’re a favorite because Stephen Singh, John Rabid, and Teo del Sol are better than you and are in the world title match. You’re a favorite because people like Jonny Fly are only here for a grudge match. The thing is, you’re going to get crushed by War veterans like myself, Odin Balfore, and Steve Orbit. David Sanchez is going to phone it in and Singh will probably not be a factor after a grueling world title match. It’s going to be you, alone. Something you haven’t experienced in months.
Let’s move onto one of the newer guys. Luke “The Irresistible” Force. What the fuck is this hawt mess up in this motherfucker? Every fucking thing about you is a fucking ripoff and that’s coming from a guy called Gravedigger who used to run a faction called The Dark Side. I mean let’s start with your name. What the fuck kind of name is that? Is your tag team partner Darth Dark Side? You gonna rip off my faction name, huh? You call yourself “The Irresistible”. What the ABSOLUTE FUCK about you is Irresistible? Is it your irresistibility to rip someone off? You wear a fucking 7/11 shirt. Who the fuck gives a shit about 7/11? If you’re going to rip off someone’s fucking logo, why not rip off Apple? You could have worn a fucking Apple logo on your shirt and called yourself the Forbidden Fruit. Hey ladies, come take a bite of my apple and let’s sin together. But no, you stupid motherfucker, you chose a D-list convenience store instead. The absolute worst part about you is your sad attempts at rapping. It’s like you’re taking notes from fucking Will Smith. Bitch, if you’re Will Smith, I’m the fucking NWA. When you enter that ring, you ain’t gettin jiggy with it, nah nah nah nah nah nah, I can promise you that. It’s going to be more like Just the Two Of Us, but then only the one of us as I take your fat fucking head off with this massive right arm in the form of a Grave Marker.
Next fucking person. Very Big Security. Fuck you two. You’re both incredibly fat. I’ll kill you and take back the Internet title again. Next, let’s go with recent War Winner, Jay Omega. He won it in 2015 and almost won it again in 2016. First question: WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU BACK? No one gives an absolute fuck about you, dude. Yeah, you won War in 2015. Big fucking deal. Looking at the list of people who got eliminations in that match, it’s no fucking surprise you won the damn thing. Looking back, I just wish I had prepared more and taken the match seriously and I could be standing here going for my third War win instead of my second. I mean here we go with the annual War showing by Jay Omega. He shows up just in time for War but then just like last year, he’s going to tuck tail and run as soon as he is eliminated. This stupid fuck probably heads straight towards his Delorean or whatever the fuck he flies in and zooms away into space. Seriously though, I’m trying to figure it out. What’s so fucking special about Jay Omega? I mean the guy obviously doesn’t give a shit about WCF, its fans or the sport in general. Why else would you run away after losing the world title? Why not get a rematch and try to win it back? That’s what I don’t get with a lot of these motherfuckers who win the world title. They win it, mark it off in their little book and then say peace out when they lose it. Well, Jay, get out your little book, mark off being in War XVI ahead of time and be prepared to fuck off as soon as you get eliminated. Don’t let the fucking door hit you on the way out, bitch!
Bishop. Not Kevin, I’m talking about the OG Bishop. The one that’s been here on and off since 2003. The one whose ass I just beat in the Hell in a Cell, defending my People’s Title in the process. How are those lumps healing up? You get the point yet? Do we need to up the ante? Do we need to have an electrified steel cage match? Do we need to resurrect the Euthanasia Chamber? Or did you get the memo this time? Bishop, you CAN’T beat me! It cannot be done. It will never be done! This People’s title I wear? If you want it, you’re going to have to wait until I’m bored with it and drop it to someone else. I was the leader of The Dark Side and have always been the leader over you because that’s the kind of man I am. I am a leader, you are a follower. You ride coattails, but these coattails are being ripped out from under you, putting you on your back where you fucking belong! If you come at me at War, I will rip your fucking head off with a Grave Marker and put you out of action FOR GOOD!
Kyle Kemp, you just can’t get it together can you? I almost feel sorry for you, but then I actually don’t. Like I said months ago before our tag team match, you’re one of those guys who needs a superior talent’s coattails to ride on to become successful. It makes me look back to when you were a member of #beachkrew and I have to ask why? Because you were a dick to people? I mean clearly you never brought any real talent to the group or even to your tag team you had with Mikey eXtreme. I mean you recently lost to Teo del Sol who is now headlining War with John Rabid and Stephen Singh for the world title. Dude, that could have been you! But it’s not is it? War? Please dude, you have got to be kidding me if you think you have a shot at winning War either. You’re clearly just one of those guys that is just here for the paycheck. The thing about you is that your gimmick is this brash and cocky guy who says he’s the best, but with how much you’ve been jobbing this year, you’re going to have to either hang up the boots, retool your gimmick, or something! You gotta make a change or get the fuck outta here!
