Truth
Adam lazarus


The camera opened up backstage and jutted around for several awkward moments before it finally settled into view. The lights were dim, but in the very feint light four figures could be made out: a young lady. A man in a cowboy hat. One tall man in a jacket. And a REALLY tall man with his arms folded.

The woman spoke up first.

“Hello my darlings!”

The tiara on her head lit up in several different shades of pink and purple and in the gaudy light, the form of “The Heiress” Sarah Winterton could be seen.

“What happened several weeks ago with Desiree was nothing short of a criminal act! The Starlet division is in complete shambles and I won’t stand for anything that’s happening here! The finals of the Starlet Title Tournament is some Las Vegas floozy by the name of Charlotte. The other is a certifiable rookie who LUCKED her way into a victory over me! Just because The Heiress has been conveniently left out of the proceedings…”

She got beat.

“…does NOT mean that my dream for a better Starlet world has died. In fact, my resolve has only grown quite stronger. The fans of jOlt cry out and yearn for a classy woman to lead this division into the future. Rest assured, jOlt… whoever wins that match will have my interest. I will not stop until The Starlet Title is mine!”

The Heiress flickered the lights out on her sparkly tiara. Up next was the man in the cowboy hat with the light up jacket.

“Ryan Gallway here and I’m ‘bout to FUCK THE COUNTDOWN UP WITH SOME TRUTH!

You couldn’t see it in the dark, but Ryan was snarling.

“The Crimson Order have been pains in our ASSES for weeks now. They’ve stalked us, left messages, tried to intimidate us by busting out some secret Ninja Magic and I’m sick of this. Heido and Takeshi, you two are bad dudes and thank your lucky FUCKING STARS that you and Eiji Kugasari got lucky on Warriors. But that proves nothing. You’ve won when the pressure’s off, but how are you going to do at Cataclysm when you step into the ring with THE BEST Tag Team Champions in the known fucking multiverse?! We took down The HOUSE, twin fat guy monsters. We’ve beaten Team VIAGRA, the used-to-be-until-we-fucked-them-up best tag team in jOlt history. What do you think we’re gonna do to you two fagbaskets?”

The taller man behind him lit up his jacket and smiled (again, you can’t see it. That part’s still dark). Frank Silver adjusted the Tag strap hanging over his shoulder.

“The Crimson Order, I’ll give credit where the credit is due… you are the first group to have actually beaten us – The Heirs of Wrestling – in a six man tag since we set foot in jOlt. And that’s a proud accomplishment. Ninja K trained you well and you should be proud of yourselves... but Ryan is right. You won a match and yeah, you have a little momentum on your side. But do you want to know why we’re so confident in our abilities?”

Ryan and Frank showed off their Tag Team Titles.

“THAT is why we’re confident in our abilities. Because when the pressure’s on, we come out in the clutch. THAT is what makes us a better team. Ninja K can’t teach you that.”

This wouldn’t be finished without the tallest figure in the group – “Midas” Mack Brody – flashing his light-up jacket in gold.

“And that brings me to you, the man himself -- Ninja K. You’re the Underground Champion because you stepped up and knocked Sylo off his perch, breaking that blue-haired glass ceiling. Then you announced that you wanted to challenge yourself so you opted to make this Open Season cage match with me and five other men to vie for a shot at your belt.”

Mack chuckled.

“What you don’t realize is that this won’t be a match. This will be me delivering five beatdowns to five pretenders who THINK they’re worthy of the Underground. The Underground as it is looks hideous… you think flaming tables, barbed wire, thumbtacks, blood, gore, violence and mayhem make the Underground? Nope. That’s UGLY. I don’t need any of that crap. I am the STRONGEST man in jOlt today and all I need are these guns and these broad shoulders to carry the newer, better-looking Underground with… and if not for all of that, it’s because we want some more fucking gold in our camp and we want that belt.”

The roving quartet of arrogance shared a laugh amongst themselves before Frank Silver spoke up again.

“jOlt… you think we were bad before? You've seen nothing yet.”

Lights... off.