 is Jester Smiles to have to be caught up in all of this “choose sides” drama. Ever since Ultimate Survival at Reckoning Day, I’ve wanted nothing more than a chance to go one on one with Eric. That night he proved to me what kind of a man he really is. That night, Masters, Eric “Jester” Smiles earned my respect.
There is a pop from the fans out at ringside.
Eryk Masters: So then when it comes to the Master of the Mat finals it sounds like you’re happy about who will be standing across the ring from you?
Trevor Worrens: Honestly, yeah. Because I told myself from day one that if I reached the finals of another tournament in my young career that I’d want my opponent to be just as competitive, just as spirited as the late Ray Willmott. See I didn’t respect the kind of man Willmott was, and looking back I should have. So not only does the Master of the Mat Finals match mean another shot at the SHOOT Project World Heavyweight Championship, but it means another chance for me to go in there and compete. To shake hands with my opponent no matter the out come.
To give these fans a truly intense match up that has nothing to do with personal feelings.
Masters nods his head in understanding.
Eryk Masters: And you don’t feel anyone else could give you the match you’re hoping to have with Jester Smiles at the Pay Per View?
Again Worrens laughs, shaking his head slightly this time.
Trevor Worrens: You’re just going to goad me right into this aren’t you? Fine, I’ll bite for the sake of biting. Yeah, given how many people in SHOOT Project have been up in arms lately over this that and the other thing, I don’t believe they’d all be focused on the matter at hand. I’d say Eric is almost right there along with them as I swear he has Defiler on the brain almost twenty-four hours a day, but the only difference is, Masters, that I KNOW Smiles wants to compete against me just as much as I want to compete against him. So I know for a fact that come August Thirty First, Eric will give me his complete and undivided attention. Because he knows for a fact, that he’ll have mine.
Masters again nods.
Eryk Masters: I asked Jester this earlier, so I’ll ask you the same, when it comes down to it… what do you think your chances of winning the final match, and in turn the Master of the Mat tournament?
Worrens ponders the question for a moment, a pretty confident smile on his face.
Trevor Worrens: As I’ve said before, Masters, my track record since SHOOT Project re-opened pretty much speaks for itself. I won the World Heavyweight Championship tournament, and so really there’s no saying I won’t be able to win the Master of the Mat tournament. I went through a lot tougher competition this time around, and without a doubt Eric is going to pose the biggest challenge yet, but that will only serve to push me to dig down deeper and fight that much harder.
On August Thirty First, whoever deserves to win the Master of the Mat tournament, will prove it in that ring. No drama, no personal conflict. Just wrestling.
Worrens stops for a moment then looks to Masters.
Trevor Worrens: But if you’re asking me directly do I think I’m the one who will win… It’d be pretty lame of me to say no, wouldn’t it?
With that Worrens walks off, leaving Eryk Masters on his own.
Eryk Masters: The Laws of Survival Champion ready for a fight and…
Masters stops as he looks off camera and eventually Abigail Chase comes into view.
Abigail Chase: Eryk, have you seen Chris anywhere?
Masters immediately puts the microphone down and pushes off camera with Abigail.
Eryk Masters: You aren’t supposed to be here tonight… you know that.
Abigail Chase: I just…
The focus cuts away from the gorilla position somewhat abruptly.
The camera shot returns to the ring area and within moments, the lights darken as the beating drums of Audioslave's "Cochise" choreographs a strobe light effect over the arena. The opening riff, reminiscent of a helicopter flying overhead, builds up the anticipation when it finally leads into the entrance of Ron Barker. However, he isn't alone. Just like last week, there are three men in suits carrying dark leather briefcases.
Dave Dymond: Well, here it is folks. The moment Ron Barker has been waiting for... it's time to reveal his new tag team partner and with the clues he's been dropping over the last few weeks, it's as if Hell is about to be unleashed on SHOOT Project.
Other Guy: You're not kidding, Dave. HantaKira is a BEAST and with that railroad spike of his, it's gonna get messy up in here!
Ron Barker continues smirking as he makes his way up the ring steps, entourage in tow and looks smugly over the first few rows. As he enters the ring and extends his arms, the crowd boos intensely as he smiles wide. Ron Barker grabs the microphone from Samantha Coil and begins to speak, not waiting for the crowd to die down.
Ron Barker: For the last two weeks now, I’ve come out here promising a new tag team partner. I’ve made it known that I’ve bought the contract of one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time… a verifiable fiend inside this squared circle under the right conditions. If there’s one thing Ron Barker is, it’s a man of his word so let’s not waste anymore time!
Ron Barker: Now then, if I could have the cameraman backstage show our viewing audience at home the backstage area... I am ready to make my announcement!
Dave Dymond: I don't quite know what Ron Barker is up to... but that is, in fact, the backstage area.
Other Guy: Thank you, Captain Obvious.
On the video screens in the arena, and on television at home, the camera shot changes to the backstage area. We see a long hallway, and at the end of this hall we see a small gathering of people, standing in a circle talking.
Dave Dymond: Oh no... It can't be...
Diamond Del Carver.
Other Guy: OH SHI~!
The man once known as "The Hardcore Outlaw" has not been seen or heard from in SHOOT Project in five months, since his retirement at the hands of Corazon. Carver looks the same as he always has... short gray hair, eye patch over his blind left eye, and he is dressed in jeans and a "True Japan Pro Wrestling" T-shirt. At the sight of Diamond Del Carver, the fans in the arena erupt into deafening cheers, which elicits a look of disgust from Ron Barker.
The cameraman comes up directly behind Carver... and in the ring Ron Barker starts to speak. The shot switches to a "split screen" with one half showing Ron Barker in the ring with his three lackeys, and the other showing Diamond Del Carver backstage.
Ron Barker: Oh Carver? CARVER! Pay attention you dumb hillbilly, I’m talking to you!
Dave Dymond: This has to be some kind of sick joke! There's no way Ron Barker could have Diamond Del Carver's contract!
Other Guy: I wouldn't be so sure about that, Dave. Xan was out here last week signing away. You don't know who he was signing over.
Diamond Del Carver slowly turns and looks into the camera. We can see that he is holding a cup of coffee, and has been just talking and catching up with people backstage, until Ron Barker interrupted.
Ron Barker: I know what you’re probably wondering right now, Carver. Why did Jason Johnson send me that telegram in Japan, asking me to come all the way here tonight? Well, I can answer that question for you. Jason Johnson didn’t send you any telegram... it was me.
At this announcement, both Diamond Del Carver glare into the camera in anger, obviously upset by the deception.
Ron Barker: And now you want to know why I tricked you into coming here. Well don’t hurt yourself trying to figure it out, old man. I’ll explain. I did it because I have THESE!
One of the three men in suits hands Ron Barker and handful of papers, and Barker holds them high up in the air.
Ron Barker: These are letters, emails, and faxes. All written by YOU, Carver. Written over the past five months, to Jason Johnson, and to Corazon. Letters from you literally BEGGING for reinstatement into SHOOT Project. Allow me to read from one of them. Let me show the world how pathetic you've become!
Ron Barker starts to read from one of the letters...
"Boss, over the past couple of months I have discovered that without being a Professional Wrestler, I am nothing. I am working as a trainer in the True Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo, but because of my loss to Corazon I am not legally allowed to compete in Japan, or anywhere else.