GREAT SCOTT vs. CORAL AVALON
The lights go out in Madison Square Garden.
Normally, it doesn’t take long for a spotlight to shine down upon a spot on the stage. That doesn’t happen here. Instead, the darkness lasts for a good while, until there’s light shining at a spot just off to the side of the entrance. Three red horizontal lines broke through the darkness, and they seemed to be looking around as though they were attached to a man’s head.
A voice came out from the darkness.
“RISE UP!”
The spotlight shines down on the man with the three red lights on his face. Some hardcore PRIME fans recognize the mask on sight. Others still murmur in confusion. The black man is noticeably plump for his 5’10” frame, but his black suit, black silken shirt, and blue tie make him look impressive and dignified. After a long pause, he reached up and slowly removed the mask from his face.
It has been fifteen long years since “the Codemaster” Allen Brown’s face – his actual one – was last seen on PRIME television. The Breaker of Kingdom Hearts. The Twilight Prince. The Tethe’allan Rattlesnake. The Hyrulian Hellraiser. He has a lot of nicknames. None of them matter right this second.
His smile is infectious. In truth, he hadn’t been in front of a crowd like this since Colossus IV. For that fleeting moment, he almost forgets what he’s here to do. But he never stopped entertaining people, even if he does it behind a webcam nowadays. (You can find him most nights on Twitch, by the way.) The Codemaster is never a man that’s shy in front of a microphone and a crowd that suddenly realizes who it is that’s speaking to them.
The Codemaster: BROTHERS! SISTERS! NON-BINARY SIBLINGS ALIKE! RISE UP!
Some fans actually stand up in their seats.
The Codemaster: FRIENDS, ONE AND ALL! RISE UP!
He walks, and as he does, he passes by a spotlight shining down on a second figure. Wearing a suit that matches Codemaster’s, the man is a hulking behemoth standing nearly seven feet tall. His hair is ashen grey, having aged past his prime by now. The man who’d once been the muscle of the Blue Rogues stands with a tall tower shield clasped to his arm. Robert Falk stands ready.
The Codemaster: RISE UP! For the man that clashed with a giant and lived to tell the tale!
He passes by the next figure. Far shorter than his younger brother, he wears the same suit he and Codemaster do. Age and stress haven’t been too kind to the features of the problematic loudmouth of the Blue Rogues. Neither does the muzzle that Lindsay Troy demanded he put on before he got anywhere near a camera. Regardless, he has his own tower shield. Scott Falk stands ready.
The Codemaster: RISE UP! For the man never afraid to make all of the enemies!
The next figure almost needs no introduction. For whatever reason, he’s here on stage in front of thousands of people. Like the Falk Brothers, it’d been many an age since this man stood in front of a stadium full of screaming fans. Unlike the Falk Brothers, he’s hardly obscure. Children throughout the building cheer wildly.
Because of all people, Beef from Mega Job, in his matching suit and shield… stands ready.
The Codemaster: RISE UP! For our director of fun!
The next figure also needs no introduction. Because where Beef goes, he follows. Children cheer even louder for him as he wears his suit and carrying his shield. El Janito from Mega Job stands ready.
The Codemaster: RISE UP! For the most resilient man you’ll ever meet!
The next figure is very short. He stands just under four feet tall, yet the sheer menace in his stance could make men cower and women swoon. And though his tower shield is taller than he is, Steve of Mega Job stands ready.
The Codemaster: RISE UP! For the hippest cat around!
The last figure is a woman. Her brown hair is a match for her half-brother’s, tied into a neat ponytail. She wears a suit that’s the same as the others, but with the added touch of a long red scarf around her neck. She, too, carries a shield at her arm. And while she might not be here on behalf of her nephew, Joe Fontaine, she is here to support her one-time allies in their time of need. Alexandria Malone stands ready.
The Codemaster: RISE UP! For the most undefeated woman in PRIME’s history!
All 1-0 of her.
The Codemaster stops, turns, and walks back the way he came. The spotlights start to go out, one-by-one, as he passes them by.
The Codemaster: To stand against the storm… RISE UP!
He passes by the members of Mega Job.
The Codemaster: To prove that we still belong… RISE UP!
He passes by the Falk Brothers.
The Codemaster: To let the Blue Rogues ride again, one last time… RISE UP!
And then he stops, right where he started. That’s when you realize that the podium isn’t quite a podium. It’s a stand for his own tower shield, which he lifts up and clasps to his arm.
Darkness.
For several agonizing seconds, there’s nothing but darkness, and silence if not for the murmurs of the crowd. And then the Codemaster breaks that “silence”.
The Codemaster: Now! LET US BEGIN! Together, we shall write the end to this wretched fairy tale! IN INK, BLACK AS DESPAIR!
Light.
The opening, calming notes of Monster Siren’s “Real Me”.
The entryway is flooded with light and smoke. Standing in the center of the stage is an honest-to-goodness phalanx formation, formed by the seven shields of the Blue Rogues. Linked together, the seven shields all made up a single design: the skull with only half of a shattered crown, the symbol of the Crownless King. With the camera viewing the shield wall from the bottom of the ramp to catch the full view of the shield wall, viewers at home couldn’t see behind the wall.
The Codemaster: RISE UP! FOR YOUR CROWNLESS KING ARRIVES!
The guitars of the song ramp up, and the shield wall breaks apart, moving into a circular formation around the man that’d stood behind the shields. He stands with his back to the audience, affording a full view of the back of the patchwork fur cloak he wears to the ring. When Coral Avalon turns, he’s greeted by raucous cheers from a New York crowd that hadn’t yet forgotten the last time he wrestled before them.
He’s taken aback.
Not just as the cheers of the crowd, but of the seven people in front of him, kneeling before the king. As though this part of the entrance isn’t planned.
Two more men step onto the stage behind Avalon. One very obviously carries a battle standard, the same kind that Avalon usually carries with him to the ring. That one is Sid Phillips, who is not here for powerbombs (much to his deep sorrow). The other one, obviously Joe Fontaine, brings with him a long object. A spear, which Avalon takes.
The Blue Rogues part, forming two lines on either side of Coral. Even Mega Job seems solemn in their solidarity towards Avalon as he makes his way to the ring.
Vince Howard: From Seattle, Washington! Weighing in at 214 pounds… he is the CROOOOOWNLESS KING! COOOOOOORAAAALLLL AVALOOOOOOOOON!!!
The large contingent surrounding Avalon fades back to the entrance as Avalon alone makes his way down to ringside. The battle standard, with the logo of PRIME, flew as he marches. When he reaches the ringside area, he stops in front of a pedestal placed at the entrance. Handing his standard off to a pink-haired fan in the front row, Avalon stands in front of the pedestal, taking his spear in both hands and driving it down into an opening within it.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Fireworks shoot out of all four ring posts, explosions all around. This actually startles referee Ashley Barlow a bit. Coral smiles guiltily at her as he leaves the spear in the pedestal and takes the battle standard from the fan at ringside. He accepts a kiss on the cheek from her, and I’m starting to think that’s not just a fan.
Avalon sets the flag in a lean against the post and steps into the ring. Once he’s inside, he finds the hard camera and poses with the usual “two fists together, pinkie and ring fingers out” hand signal for the old Crownless Kingdom.
“Born For Greatness” by Papa Roach begins to blast over the speakers.
GREAT SCOTT emerges from behind the curtain, and…pauses.
Richard Parker: Nick, I just think we ought’a take a moment. To recognize GREAT-ness.
Nick Stuart: To recog…I don’t…sure. Fine.
Richard Parker: Thanks.
Silence.
GREAT SCOTT looks out at the crowd, bangs fists off both his remarkable pecs, and stomps down to the ring. The crowd TURNS UP as GREAT BEAR emerges through the exitway behind his bro, rocking out to some EDM on his sweet Beats by Dre headphones.
Vince Howard: From the Greater Metro Area of Great Falls, Montana! Weighing in at 276 pounds…he is the WORLD’S GREATEST SCOTT…GREAT SCOTT!
GREAT BEAR follows him down to the ring, totally lost in the moment.
Anyway, GREAT SCOTT climbs up into the ring and goes up on all four ring posts as Avalon hangs back and affords him the pageantry.
Referee Ashley Barlow claps her hands and backs away.
Nick Stuart: As usual, Barlow means business and I think we’re about to be underway!
Richard Parker: ‘Confessional Booth’ time…I love her podcast.
Nick Stuart: Avalon circling the edges as GREAT SCOTT starts to pay attention to where..sorry, what?
Richard Parker: The Bar-Lowdown…she’s really good. Just saying.
Nick Stuart: You never cease to amaze.
Avalon slides under the bottom rope and climbs to his feet. Barlows steps between him and GREAT SCOTT for a moment, calls for the bell, and steps away.
Nick Stuart: And we’re off!
SCOTT immediately lunges forward, and Avalon ducks under his arms, eyeing the ropes but instead stopping and turning back to SCOTT. SCOTT whips around, executing a picture-perfect ANGRY GLARING.
Nick Stuart: I know SCOTT isn’t always viewed as a mat technician, but his ANGRY GLARING is textbook-clean!
Richard Parker: No arguments there!
SCOTT charges again, and Avalon manages to duck under a second time, stopping quickly and launching a standing side kick between SCOTT’s shoulder blades before he has time to turn around. SCOTT stumbles into the corner, and Avalon dropkicks the back of his left leg, causing it to buckle. SCOTT drops to one knee.
Nick Stuart: Avalon wise to start working the legs early here…
Avalon backs up as SCOTT climbs back to his feet. As SCOTT turns around, Avalon launches in with a flying elbow…
…and SCOTT shoots forward, avoiding the blow and wrapping his arms around the Crownless King’s upper torso. The crowd noise gathers as SCOTT walks with Avalon out of the corner.
Nick Stuart: Uh-oh…
Richard Parker: The Saturday Night SLAM-Master is going to work!
Avalon tries to wriggle free, attempting awkward side-elbow strikes at SCOTT’s head, but SCOTT keeps his head down, takes a last step forward, and plants Avalon on the mat with a POWERSLAM!
Nick Stuart: Avalon has got to avoid GREAT SCOTT’s clutches if he’s going to come out ahead in this one.
SCOTT lifts Avalon off the mat and circles around behind him, locking his arms around Avalon’s waist. He goes to hoist Avalon for a GERMAN SUPLEX, but Avalon hooks his left leg behind SCOTT’s.
SCOTT tries again, but Avalon’s leg stays hooked.
A third try…and Avalon yanks SCOTT forward and down by the neck with a jawbreaker that pops SCOTT’s head up in a daze.
Nick Stuart: Avalon’s counters never cease to impress!
Richard: Yeah, love me a good counter, MORE SUPLEXES AND SLAMS, PLEASE!
Avalon steps forward with a European uppercut that keeps SCOTT in a daze, then steps back in the direction of the ropes. SCOTT shakes out the cobwebs and snarls at him, charging forward…
…and Avalon times a drop toe hold that sends him down neck-first onto the second rope. Avalon pops up, grabs the ropes, and springboards himself over the top, dropping down on the outside with an elbow across the back of SCOTT’s head before landing on a crouch on the ringside mat. The crowd roars its approval.
Nick Stuart: Avalon getting them on their feet with the acrobatics here!
Avalon charges with an elbow into the side of SCOTT’s head, and GREAT SCOTT falls back onto the mat. Avalon hops back up onto the mat and begins climbing the ropes. GREAT SCOTT rolls to his knees, still clutching his head, and slaps the mat in frustration.
Nick Stuart: GREAT SCOTT a little frustrated here as Avalon goes up top again…
Avalon is bathed in flashbulbs as he ascends to the top rope, balances for a moment, and springs off with a double-axehandle…
…only to be greeted by a SPEAR from GREAT SCOTT, driving him down into the mat as a collective “OOOOOHHHH!” emanates from the crowd.
SCOTT climbs to his feet, reaching down and lifting Avalon up before wrapping his arms around him and slinging him overhead with a BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX!
Richard Parker: If he hits a certain suplex quota, do we all get tacos or something? I thought I heard that somewhere…
Nick Stuart: If Coral Avalon takes any more mid-air spears to the gut, he certainly won’t be in a position to eat them!
Avalon rolls over slowly, wobbly as he tries to get to his feet near one of the ring corners. GREAT SCOTT takes a step back, then charges him…and Avalon barely dives to the side in time.
SCOTT manages to pump the brakes, bracing against both top ropes that meet the turnbuckle post. Avalon rolls back to his feet and the crowd cheers as they stare each other down in the ring.
Nick Stuart: They’ve gone back and forth here and the crowd is letting them know they’re into it!
Richard Parker: Was it pizza instead of tacos? Maybe it was free slices if he gets to a certain…
Nick Stuart: Rich!
Richard Parker: Right! Lotta back and forth here, Nick!
SCOTT and Avalon circle each other. SCOTT reaches out to lock up, and Avalon ducks under, attempting to catch him with a neckbreaker…but SCOTT worms out of it, turns, and drives a boot into Avalon’s gut.
Avalon doubles over, and SCOTT wastes no time hoisting the Crownless King up into the air and slamming him back down onto the mat.
Nick Stuart: GREAT SCOTT BOMB!!
Richard Parker: That counts as a suplex!!
SCOTT doesn’t let go of Avalon’s legs, instead pausing only a moment before lifting Avalon back off the mat and planting him a second time.
Nick Stuart: MAKE IT TWO! SCOTT sees an opening and now he’s got Avalon laid out!
GREAT SCOTT looks out at the crowd, gesturing with his arms, his voice audible above the din.
GREAT SCOTT: IT’S OVER, SORRY CARL.
Richard Parker: Carl’s in big trouble, Nick!
Nick Stuart: His name isn’t Carl!
SCOTT picks Avalon up, walks him to the corner, and begins pulling Avalon up the turnbuckles with him as the crowd gets worked into a frenzy.
Nick Stuart: We know where this is going!
Richard Parker: The SCOTTCANRANA is also technically a suplex!
Nick Stuart: LET IT GO, RICH!
SCOTT gets Avalon to the top. He takes a few quick shots, pauses to get positioned…then jumps up, legs wrapping around Avalon’s head as SCOTT flips him downward.
Nick Stuart: SCOTTCANRAN-
Avalon flips through it, landing on his feet behind SCOTT.
Nick Stuart: WAIT! REVERSAL!
Richard Parker: That’s impressive.
Avalon backs up and as SCOTT turns around, this time it’s Avalon who lunges with a Yakuza kick.
Nick Stuart: The Rhongomyniad!
Richard Parker: The what?
Avalon doesn’t miss a beat, dropping SCOTT with his sit-out double underhook piledriver.
Nick Stuart: Excalibur! AVALON WITH THE KING’S ARMAMENTS!
Avalon throws himself over SCOTT and Barlow slides in for the count.
One!
TWO!
THREE!!!
The crowd erupts as Avalon rolls off, pumping a fist in the air in excitement. Outside the ring, GREAT BEAR continues grooving with his Beats By Dre headphones, having missed the ending.
Vince Howard: Here is your winner by pinfall…COOOORRRAAAAAAAAAAAL AVALON!!!
Nick Stuart: Hard-fought contest here with SCOTT getting that opportunity to put it away…but Coral Avalon with the incredible counter and execution and a big win for the Crownless King!
Richard Parker: It was taco pizza. Fifteen suplexes and we all got taco pizza. Dammit.