VOLUME 3
DUN DUN DUN
The sudden beating of drums queues the lights at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City.
DUN DUN DUN
And then, the familiar opening guitar from Rainbow’s “Since You Been Gone.” Except it’s an epic, orchestrated version. One you might find in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy 3 trailer. See it May 5th!
DUN DUN DUN
White flashbulbs match the drumbeats. Images hit the PRIME*View, various shots of past venues and shows compiled together. Most notably; Great American Nightmare, Colossus, and ReVival 22.
“I get the same old dreams, same time every night.
fall to the ground, and I wake up.”
As the lyrics reach the speakers, the familiar mustachioed hero of the ReVival, Hayes Hanlon, finds himself squared up with the Goat Bastard, Rezin, at Great American Nightmare ‘22, the screen showcasing various spots from the Five Star Title match.
“So I get out of bed, put on my shoes and in my head,
thoughts fly baaack, to the breakup.”
Most especially, the moment when Rezin hit the Event Horizon with Into the Void, and the three-count that followed.
“Since you been gone…”
The scenes flood in faster as the music’s pace quickens. Starting with Home Run Hayes catching Cancer Jiles with the Flash Point at ReVival 11.
“Since you been gone…”
Ultraviolence. Ivan Stanislav draped over Hanlon’s back while Hammerin’ Hayes forces himself to climb to the second rope, just before dropping the Russian Bear to the mat with the Super Massive.
“I’m out of my head, can’t take it.”
ReVival 16. Hayes and Jared Sykes, center ring and dropping to their knees after trading what seemed like dozens of overhead chops, falling against each other with red, beaten chests.
“Could I be wrong?”
ReVival 18, and clocking Ned Reform in the mouth with the Walk-Off before taking a lap around the ring with a fist pump ala Kirk Gibson.
“But since you been gone.”
Colossus ‘22. Delivering the Super Massive to Cancer Jiles, then quickly shifting to the Event Horizon being held up with the help of Nova and Brandon Youngblood, Universal Title tight in his grip.
“You cast your spell so break it.”
The lyrics give way to a beautiful symphony, bringing us to ReVival 22, and the chaos of the main event match. The battle between Hayes and Rezin. The interference of Ivan Stanislav and Alexei Ruslan.
And of course, Rezin’s Into the Void that stripped Hayes of gold for the second time.
“Ever since,
you been goooooooone!”
The music ends abruptly. The PRIME*View blips to black, along with all the lights. Leaving silence in Oklahoma.
Until the distorted guitar and the sirens of “Daggers” hit the speakers.
“WHEN MY BACK’S TO THE WAAALLLL!!!”
NOW FUCKING SING IT WITH ME.
I!!
WILL!!
CON!!
QUER!!
Everything explodes back to life. Quaking and shuddering white flashes throughout the arena. Thundering guitar riffs assaulting the eardrums. The PRIME*View flashing the hellacious event that was the Hell in a Cell. Hayes swinging a chair into a chair wrapped around Ivan’s neck. Hayes being thrown through the steel cage and left in a heap on the announce desk. Rezin clocking the Russian Bear with a Cloven Hoof kick. Ivan throwing Rezin through the top of the cage and onto the mat.
Home Run Hayes, crawling with everything he has left, to throw an arm over the Escape Artist’s chest.
And speaking of which.
Arriving on the ramp, is the Champ. Pressing the belt off his shoulder in one hand high over his head against the wall of white light. Eyes closed, held tilted to the sky. Breathing in the nuclear bomb of energy released by the Oklahoma crowd.
The Champ.
“I SEE THE MOUNTAIN AHEAD! I FEEL THE THUNDER ROAR!
I HEAR THE FURY WITHIN, AND LOUDER THAN BEFORE!
FEEDING THE VOICE IN MY HEAD, AND NOW IT’S FIGHTING BACK!”
I CAN’T GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN, NO I’M NOT TURNING BACK! THIS! TIIIIME!!
Two time.
IT’S EYE FOR AN EEEEYYYYYEEEE!!”
Hanlon’s dark eyes shoot open, and he beats his chest as he walks to one side of the ramp, dragging a thumb across his neck for the fans on the right.
“DRAW! THE! DAGGER!!
CUT OUT THE PAIN, TO FIND THE POW-ER!
With a pep in his step, he bounds to the other side, pulling that thumb across again for the fans on the left.
DRAW! THE! DAGGER!!
CUT OUT THE PAIN!!”
The Comeback Kid returns to the center, and with four thumps against his chest, he roars out the finish to the chorus, along with 18,000 PRIMEates.
I SAID SING IT WITH ME.
I!!
WILL!!
CON!!
QUER!!
He adjusts the Universal Title on his shoulder, and closes his eyes one more time, tilting his head back to breathe it all in. The lights. The noise. The rabid fans of Oklahoma.
The Gold.
The music breaks down, but there’s no march to the ring. The Event Horizon stays at the top. Eventually the light show relaxes, and the music fades. Leaving just the roar of the arena.
He breathes that in the most.
Finally, the eyes shoot open, and the grin behind the ‘stache grows. Home Run Hayes retrieves a microphone and brings it to his lips.
But Oklahoma doesn’t let him reach the first word.
RUUUAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
He laughs, and shakes his head before hoisting that big, gleaming belt off his shoulder one more time.
RUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Allowing time for the crowd to settle, he makes another attempt to speak.
Hayes Hanlon: You know, I really don’t have a lot to say right now. In fact, I feel pretty lucky to be standing after Culture Shock.
Another rise from the arena, harkening back to the absolute destruction and chaos that was the Hell in a Cell for the Universal Title.
Hayes Hanlon: So, I’ll just say this…
The Event Horizon pauses, and the crowd settles further, waiting for his words. After a moment, another sly grin creeps across his face.
Hayes Hanlon: It’s been a HELL of a year.
He turns drawing his arm to the PRIME*View, where an image of the Five Star Title slams to the bottom of the screen. Followed by the Universal Title to the upper left. And again, in the upper right.
Hayes Hanlon: LET’S HAVE ANOTHER ONE!!
RRRUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We Came as Romans return to the speakers to match the crowd’s thunder. The Universal Champion throws that belt in the air one more time, thumping his chest with the free hand, and backs away, returning to the Argyle position. The three gleaming belts remain on the PRIME*View among the heavy music and the noise, which continues to hammer the crowd.
And now?
Let’s turn the page.
THE ROAD TO TURMOIL STARTS NOW!!!