Wake Dusk Up!

We return from the commercial break to find Matt Mills standing backstage, next to a coffin. A coffin that has a post-it on it. That post-it note says Dusk.

Matt Mills looks very sad, as if he didn’t notice earlier tonight Dusk is not actually dead. Instead, very much alive, even though he is standing next to a coffin with a post-it on it with the word ‘Dusk’ on it.

It’s made seventeen times more official because it has a post-it on it.

Matt Mills: Ladies and Gentlemen, it fills me with great sadness to be doing this next interview with the casket and corpse of former two-time Intense Champion, The Lost Soul, Dusk. Now–

Before Matt can continue though, a loud sound pierces the eardrums of everyone in the vicinity of it as well as our viewers at home. 

‘How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I’ve become so numb’

The haunting voice of Amy Lee fills the cavernous backstage hallways of the MGM-Grand Arena as Matt looks over, perplexed and confused at the sight he is seeing. Walking towards him is The Anglo Luchador, not only dressed for his upcoming match with Impulse, but wearing a tan trench coat over his outfit with a matching tan fedora on top of his head. Above his head, he is holding a classic black Casio boombox, which is emitting the audio waves we are pleased to be hearing.

‘Without a soul
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back… home’

Matt Mills: What are you doing?!

TAL: Quiet! The best part is coming up!

He then puts the boombox onto top of the casket, places both hands on the casket, and drops his head.

‘Wake me up!’

TAL then pounds his fists onto the casket. Behind him appears Misty and Noelle of the Jimmy Bonafide Dancers, apparently backing him up.

‘Wake me up inside!’

The Jimmy Bonafide Dancers, as their name suggests, dance and pantomime the words as The Anglo Luchador continues to will the corpse of Dusk to arise from the casket. Of course, since they’re the Jimmy Bonafide Dancers, they are terribly uncoordinated and keep whacking each other in the face with their hands.

‘I can’t wake up!’

This time it comes from both the boombox and a man that has appeared to the side of Matt Mills, looking rather perplexed.

This is the actual body of Dusk, very much not dead or even in the casket.

‘Wake me up inside!’

The JBDs continue their song and “dance” as TAL hits pause on the boombox and looks over to see Dusk standing right there.

The Anglo Luchador: Ay, Dios Mio! You’re not in the casket?

Dusk: No, no I’m not. 

TAL: Then, why am I out here trying to bring you back to life?

Dusk: Because deep, deep down, you care?

TAL shakes his head and then looks over to see the JBDs still dancing and pantomiming. 

TAL: Why are you still dancing and singing?! He’s clearly not in the casket. We do not need to bring him back to life!

TAL then looks back at Dusk. 

TAL: Glad to see you’re still alive! You need to make sure you take Phil and Hank out, otherwise they might come after me next.

Dusk chuckles.

Dusk: Got it.

TAL: Alright then. (TAL then sheds the trenchcoat) Time for me to go fight Impulse. Catch you later. 

Dusk nods as TAL exits the scene, with Misty and Noelle leaving also. He then looks over at Matt Mills.

Dusk: Mind telling me why you were about to interview my casket and ‘deceased’ corpse?

Matt simply shrugs his shoulders.

Matt Mills: What can I say? It made an appearance last week, I figured I would let it make an appearance again this week.

Dusk: Well, let’s not, okay? 

Matt nods his head.

Dusk: Alright, good. Now, do you have any questions for me?

Matt Mills: Sure, first and foremost, how are you feeling after the attack from Hank and the Glue Factory at Culture Shock?

Dusk’s hands move to his hips and he cocks his head to the side.

Dusk: Well, I can tell you I wasn’t happy about it. I can tell you that simply looking at my phone irritated my eyes. I can tell you I probably lost some weight vomiting into a trash can for about a week straight. All of that is gone now, the doctors have cleared me, but while the physical pain is gone, the mental frustration is still very much there. That’s why I decided to go see Phil Atken, face to face.

Dusk licks his lips.

Dusk: Of course, when it involves looking someone in the eye, Phil isn’t interested in that in the least bit. Instead, he ran. That’s fine, because eventually, I will get my hands on him. I will get my hands on Hank. And the pain they caused me at Culture Shock will pale in comparison to what I plan to do to them.

Dusk then turns his attention to the camera.

Dusk: I’m a former two-time Intense Champion. I know a little something about pain and how to not only take it, but to dish it right back out. Phil, Hank, you don’t want to face me in the ring like men? That’s fine, I’ll come find you and drag you out to that ring to do it then. Pick a show and I’ll be there. Hell, make it at Great American Nightmare and I’ll be your own personal nightmare.

Dusk motions for the camera to get closer.

Dusk: Matter-of-fact, I believe the fans get to decide who is in the Intense Championship match at GAN, correct Matt?

Matt simply nods his head.

Dusk: Good, good. So fans, you want to see your ol’ favorite Dusk at GAN against Phil and Hank? You can make it happen. Just vote us in for the Intense Championship match and I’ll give you a match you won’t soon forget. It’ll be like it was back in the days, the old days. Speaking of the old days…well, we’ll get to that, won’t we?

Beat.

Dusk: Teddy Palmer, you get the misfortune of having to square off against me tonight when all I feel inside is rage and pain. You’re going to have to be the one I settle on tonight to let all of that rage and pain out onto. Phil and Hank, they didn’t want to hang around, so I guess it falls to you. See you soon, bud.

Dusk then looks over at Matt Mills.

Dusk: Are we good?

Matt nods his head and Dusk walks off before Matt does the same, just in the opposite direction of Dusk. The camera rests upon the coffin, which after a few moments shakes violently before an ominous, mysterious voice (similar to the one heard at the end of ‘Thriller’) laughs maniacally before the feed cuts to Angelica Brooks.