SHAWN WARSTEIN vs. IVAN STANISLAV
Our scene fades from backstage
Nick Stuart: What a treat we have for you next. Ivan Stanislav is coming off a hard fought loss to Hayes Hanlon.
Richard Parker: And Shawn Warstein beat Buster Gloves up. Who cares?
“The Soviet National Anthem” by the Russian Red Army Choir erupts as Ivan Stanislav and Alexei Rulsan emerge from the backstage area.
Vince Howard: Coming down the aisle, hailing from Arkhangelsk, Russia, standing seven-feet one inches tall and weighing in at 400 lbs. IVVVVAAAAAAAAAAN STAAAAAAAANISLAAAAAAV!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Stanislav and Ruslan raise their arms, side by side, roar at the crowd, and pointedly make their way towards the ring. Stanislav points and jaws at several fans along the way, while Ruslan points and hawks at the greatness of the Russian Bear. Stanislav steps over the top rope and thunders into the ring. He raises his arms over his head and bellows at the camera.
Nick Stuart: Ivan looks impressive.
Richard Parker: And here comes Warstein. A winner.
Vince Howard: And his opponent from Chicago, Illinois, standing six-feet four inches tall and weighing 234 lbs… SHAAAAAAAAAAWN WAAAAAAAAAAAAAARSTEIN!
“Centuries Remix” by Fall Out Boy and Juicy J hits as Warstein walks out and looks around at the crowd. Once again the crowd boos, but this time the reactions are mixed. The hatred for the russian clearly outweighs the hatred for Shawn Warstein. Warstein smirks into the camera, and makes his way to the ring. Several fans reach out to touch him, but he dodges their hands on the way to the ring.
Nick Stuart: Timo checks over both competitors.
Richard Parker: I don’t trust him. I think he’s a communist like Stanislav.
Nick Stuart: He’s literally a millionaire.
Richard Parker: Communist in disguise.
DING DING
Warstein is patient off the bat, Stanislav charges across the ring and Warstein gets out of the way of the enormous bear. Stanislav turns around and heads back across the ring right at Warstein. Shawn once again steps to the side and Stanislav smacks the top turnbuckle and roars, he turns around pointing a figure at Warstein who simply smirks back at him.
Nick Stuart: Smart strategy by Warstein.
Richard Parker: Strategy of a winner.
Stanislav turns towards Timo and begins yelling at Timo and pointing towards Warstein. Shawn walks out of the corner to the middle of the ropes. Timo shrugs his shoulders at Stanislav and the enormous Russian charges once again. This time Warstein grabs the top rope and drops to the ground, letting Stanislav spill over the top rope to the outside. The seven footer lands on his feet, but Warstein is quick to follow him outside.
Richard Parker: See a winner! He’s already beating Ivan!
Warstein steps onto the apron and jumps off with a double axe handle, dropping his combined fists across the top of Stanislav’s head. Stanislav wobbles backwards, Warstein rips off a knife edge chop and Stanislav staggers.
ONE!
Warstein pulls back again and unloads a second knife edge chop to Ivan’s chest, and the big man staggers backwards up against the ring post.
TWO!
Warstein fires a right hand, then a second one.
THREE!
The big Russian still won’t fall, Warstein backs up to the barrier and charges in with a forearm.
FOUR!
Stanislav steps out of the way and Warstein crashes forearm first into the ring post.
FIVE!
Warstein walks away holding his arm while the big Russian bear holds his chest.
SIX!
Warstein turns around and Ivan smashes him with one of his huge right hands. Warstein hits the deck immediately and Stanislav smirks.
SEVEN!
The big man reaches down and drags Warstein to his feet, he lifts him up in the air with a two handed military press.
Richard Parker: Oh he’s really strong…
EIGHT!
Stanislav tosses Warstein back into the ring over the top rope.
Nick Stuart: What strength by Stanislav.
NINE!
Stanislav rolls under the bottom rope, but Warstein is already up and on his feet. Ivan starts to get up, but Warstein starts raining down right hands across Stanislav’s face. The big man powers through the pain and tries to continue to his feet.
Richard Parker: Things are looking a little rough for Warstein.
Nick Stuart: He’s fighting an actual giant.
Warstein unloads a kick to the kneeling big man’s midsection and then grabs his head, planting him to the canvas with a DDT. Warstein, now with some control, drops a closed fist from six-feet four inches in the air across Ivan’s forehead. Warstein jumps to his feet and drops another closed fist. He grabs Ivan and hooks the leg.
Richard Parker: Well…
ONE!
Ivan tosses Warstein across the ring as a kick out. Ivan gets to his knees again, and Warstein runs over trying to throw right hands. Stanislav shoves Warstein across the ring back to the corner. Warstein looks shocked as the big man gets to his feet. Shawn storms back in with right hands and kicking Stanislav in the midsection. Stanislav once again shrugs him off and throws him across the ring. Stanislav finally gets to his feet.
Nick Stuart: Ivan looks upset.
Richard Parker: Very.
Ivan storms across the ring and Warstein manages to slip under his grasp. Warstein runs and hits the ropes and comes back with a clothesline. Stanislav is barely staggered and grabs Warstein by the throat. Warstein fights back, knocking the big man’s grip away and slipping around behind Stanislav with a hammerlock. Warstein dives for the knee of Stanislav with a chop block.
Richard Parker: THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! WINNING MAN SHAWN WARSTEIN!
Nick Stuart: Warstein is a smart wrestler, he’s proved that all over the world. Sure he’s struggled a little here in PRIME, but the man can go.
Ivan stumbles forward into the turnbuckle, Warstein looks shocked that the brute didn’t fall at least to a knee. Warstein jumps to his feet and follows Stanislav into the corner with a back elbow that sends the Soviet Bear right back into the corner. Stanislav leans against the ropes as Warstein unloads with shoulder shots to the big man’s midsection. Stanislav folds and Warstein backs off. Warstein runs into the corner as fast as he can, and jumps as high as he can…
Richard Parker: Oh shit.
Nick Stuart: STANISLAV CAUGHT WARSTEIN!
Warstein is scrambling mid air, kicking his feet and legs, but Stanislav’s grip is tight. Warstein tries to get free but Stanislav smiles as he lifts the smaller man up higher into the air. He lets go, letting Warstein fall out of the sky, and the enormous russian absolutely takes his head off with a lariat sending Warstein skidding across the canvas. Stanislav marches over, and walks across Warstein’s downed body. He hits the ropes, and drops a four hundred plus pound leg across Warstein’s neck.
Richard Parker: So, back in the motherland.
Nick Stuart: What?
Richard Parker: Well you know, mother Russia.
Nick Stuart: You’re a communist now?
Richard Parker: I’m a winner.
Ivan reaches down and pulls Warstein to his feet, Warstein is still wobbly from The Iron Curtain. Stanislav lifts him up, and throws him to the canvas with The Red Scare. Warstein thuds off the canvas. Stanislav marches over and pins Warstein, smiling ear to ear.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Richard Parker: Hurry up Nick, we gotta stand for this.
Alexei Ruslan slides into the ring behind Stanislav and smiles. The National Anthem of the Soviet Union hits and Alexei raises Ivan’s arm as high as he can, Stanislav does the rest.
Vince Howard: You’re winner by pinfall. Ivan STTTAAAAANISLAAAAAV!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The Soviet National Anthem plays to the loud jeers of the PRIMEates as Ivan leaves the ring victorious.
Nick Stuart: Tough break for Shawn Warstein here tonight. But, The Russian Bear was just too much.
Warstein gets to his feet, shaking his head and then…
The music cuts off abruptly as the lights blink out, plunging the arena into total darkness. A murmur winds its way through the crowd in the silence.
The Dark Horse
The Dark Horse
Always Wins…
The voice of Blues Saraceno brings an ominous feeling, no instrumental accompanying the lyrics just before the lights flicker and return to the arena.
Standing on the ring apron are Patience Montgomery, Decius Montgomery, and Isaac – each Family member on one side of the ring. The boos rain down heavily as The Patriarch himself stands in the ring, directly in front of Shawn Warstein.
Nick Stuart: What’s this? Jacob Mephisto and his Family are here!
Richard Parker: I don’t know what they want here, Nick, but it’s pretty obvious that Mephisto has some interest in Warstein.
Mephisto steps in closer, but Warstein doesn’t budge. Mephisto tilts his head to the side slightly, almost curiously. The All-Father slowly walks around Warstein, seemingly sizing him up.
Nick Stuart: This is just odd.
As Mephisto completes his revolution around his quarry, Shawn Warstein smiles. The Patriarch nods once. The lights go dark again for a few moments. When they come back on, Warstein is alone in the ring, a single, small, black stone sitting at his feet. He looks down at it for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and picking up the stone as we cut away.