Shu

💀 NO MERCY WRESTLING LEGENDS 💀

“How many overall participants will there be?” Brent asked.

“There will be twelve starting participants for each division.” Mark said smoothly, his eyes again moving to the camera. “The tournament will be bracketed with six matches to begin, each subsequent round seeing more of the competition eliminated until finally only two remain.”

“And those two will then need to give it their all to win and become the first ever champion of their division!” Brent excitedly added.

“Yes.” Mark smiled and nodded.

“How will the bracketing be done?” Brent asked quickly.

“By the voting total.”

“Ah… how do you mean, Mister Trenton?”

“The top twelve picks from each division will have a spot in the tournament. And the initial pairings will be done like this; number one against number twelve, number two against number eleven, number three against number ten…”

“I see,” Brent interjected with a nod, “like many professional sporting franchises during playoffs. To… weed out the lower ranked teams early on so ideally the better teams will be matched up for the climax of the playoffs.

What exactly was the reasoning for doing it like this, if I may ask.”

Mark shifted in his seat as he answered, “Well, aside from the reason you just stated, management was also having a difficult time deciding on who to fairly match against who. We were also worried that it could cause fans of certain wrestlers to feel… ‘duped’. Or lead to suspicion that we were attempting to ‘fix’ matches and navigate our own choice for champion to the finish.”

Fiona would immediately get a text from Kendra. Jeez, are things really THIS contentious in the upper office? followed by a skull emoji.

💀 NO MERCY WRESTLING LEGENDS 💀

“It’s so good to have you, Mister Trenton.”

“Thank you.” Mark said with a short nod and a smile.

“So,” Brent began, “a tournament to decide the first ever NMW men and women’s champions. Whose idea was it?”

“Our GM, Mister Deguara, and myself both decided on this.” Mark replied. “Firstly, we thought there was no better way to connect with our rapidly growing fanbase than to give them a say - of sorts - in who their first reigning champions would be.”

“And… secondly?” Brent asked after a notable pause.

“Secondly was that Antonio and I just could not agree on who is the most deserving to be given title shots.”

Both men laughed as Fiona received a responding text from Kendra saying that she was watching followed by an “awkward” in all caps.

“So, you say the fans will be the ones deciding… what does that mean?” Brent asked, looking to the camera for emphasis as he finished his question.

Mark followed Brent’s gaze and said in a smooth tone, “Well, as of the very moment that this segment began two polls can be found on the front page of No Mercy Wrestling’s official website. The fans will cast their votes and the top candidates from the men and women’s rosters will have a spot in the tournament. And the opportunity to win the title.”

“Wow!” Brent beamed, eyes still on the camera, “Alright then, everyone better get to voting! When do the polls close?”

“Monday at midnight.”

💀 NO MERCY WRESTLING LEGENDS 💀

---

“Hello, No Mercy Wrestling universe.”

In a dimly lit room, NMW assistant commentator Brent Christi sat snugly in a black leather chair, looking straight into a camera positioned several feet in front of him. He was dressed down from his usual flamboyant style, wearing a solid black three piece suit with matching black loafers and a crimson necktie to add some radiance to an otherwise brooding appearance. Brent’s gelled hair was slicked down against his head and glistened in the overhead lighting. His whiskers were neatly trimmed and his face was plastered with a pearly smile that could be printed on a toothpaste box. Brent’s legs were crossed and resting on his left thigh was a clipboard with a few visibly ruffled pages attached.

“Thank you for being with us this Saturday afternoon,” Brent held his gaze on the camera as he shifted in place, the chair leather rustling under his weight, “last night we concluded the first month of No Mercy Wrestling. It brings me glee to say that the NMW fanbase has already grown exponentially, and the hype we see among our fans has both management and the performers so motivated! The past few weeks have given us some great matches, unveiled a number of old and new faces, and had plenty of memorable moments. And we already have some exciting rivalries bubbling up backstage. Well, believe me when I say NMW is just getting started. Intense action in the ring and eye-bulging debuts are just the tip of this proverbial iceberg. It’s been quite a journey already and it is only going to get more exciting.”

“Coming into the month of August we already have several new sign-ons that I think will have the stands shaking,” Brent said, tapping his right index finger against clipboard, “and our executive and creative staff have been putting in the brain time to make sure they implement these new talents in the best ways.”

“And best of all,” Brent’s practiced grin stretched nearly to his ears, “the next few weeks will see the NMW reach a major milestone: the crowning of its first champions!”

“That’s right,” Brent added after a few seconds of pause, his tone rising higher, “a tournament of those chosen from the NMW men and women’s rosters that will culminate in No Mercy Wrestling’s first paid live event. Which will end with two new champions walking out of the arena! Everyone has been waiting and asking to see the metal, and to hear news of who gets a shot at it. Well, here with me to talk more about it is the No Mercy Wrestling CEO himself, Mark Trenton.”

The cameraman immediately reversed the zoom and panned outward, revealing CEO Mark Trenton who sat across from Brent in a matching chair. A simple brown three-legged table filled the space between the two well-dressed men topped with a small, ornamental light piece. Mark wore a navy blue suit over a white dress shirt and a red necktie and sported brown designer shoes on his feet. Like Brent, Mark sat cross-legged and had both arms laid against the leather rests on the sides of his seat. After giving Brent an acknowledging nod Mark turned his own bright smile to the camera.

💀 NO MERCY WRESTLING LEGENDS 💀

“Well, you definitely should get your head checked… and maybe also take an IQ test after all those shots to the skull,” Keysha snorted and bumped Fiona’s fist, “seriously though, I’m glad that we can squash our old beef. And even if the people upstairs don’t dig us actually working together we can still have each others’ backs. After all… there is a lot of improv in pro wrestling.”

Keysha looked at Gordon, “Right?”

Gordon chuckled nervously, “Well, yes… yes there is.”

“But,” the assistant producer quickly composed himself, “as I said I need to run this little idea past Diana and the others. So, I implore you, Keysha-…”

“I know, I know,” Keysha rolled her eyes, “I’ll be cool and keep it under wraps. Fiona anyway just made it clear that she isn’t promising anything. All I wanted was to be heard out.”

“Good,” Gordon made a rather exaggerated grin for emphasis, “now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have a show to help run.”

Gordon turned and hurried away, Keysha rolling her eyes again and then just as quickly flashing a smile at Fiona. “Thank you for listening. Let’s just say in the last few months I’ve learned a little humility and that it’s better to try and make allies whenever possible and not just look for fights wherever I go.”

💀 NO MERCY WRESTLING LEGENDS 💀

“No.” Keysha said flatly, quickly following up with, “I mean… not offhand. I figured it would be a long shot just to get you to hear me out to be honest. But the three of us can definitely come up with something.”

Gordon suddenly cleared his throat, an unpleasant and ragged noise, followed by an interjection, “Pardon me for the interruption, Keysha, but you do remember that all team-ups need to be approved upstairs?”

“I’m not suggesting us forming a team,” Keysha spread her arms defensively, “I am suggesting an alliance between myself and Fiona and Kendra. If just a temporary alliance.”

Gordon clasped his doughy hands together beneath his chin, a look of genuine consideration on his face. Seeing an opening Keysha continued, “Fiona’s rivalry with the Beatifics was one of the top stories back at NMWW. I guarantee that with some pizzazz added by the production team it could be a worthwhile pursuit. Add myself and Kendra and it could-…”

“Yeah, listen,” Gordon lowered his hands and interrupted a second time, “we have a very busy August ahead of us. I can’t promise anything, but I will bring this up to Diana.”

Keysha and Kendra both looked at Fiona in unison, their faces painted with looks of appeal.

💀 NO MERCY WRESTLING LEGENDS 💀

“Well,” Gordon started, “Keysha and I were having a… discussion about-…”

“About how fed I am with the Beatifics, particularly after my recent one-on-one against Aubrey, and how I want a rematch.” Keysha interrupted, her jaw tight.

“Yes, that.” Gordon nodded, “And I have explained to Keysha that a rematch between herself and Aubrey is just not a priority at this time.”

“And that was when I came along…” Kendra said coyly.

“Look,” Keysha looked back to Fiona, “you and I do have our history. To be honest, I can’t even remember all of it. But I like to think we both dislike the Beatifics more than we ever have disliked each other. I mean… we all remember what they did to you that time in Florida. With the weird… clown makeup… thing…”

“Was it Florida where that happened?” Kendra raised one brow quizzically.

“Anyway,” Keysha raised one hand, indicating she did not want to go on a tangent, “Kendra and I were talking and… lemme just say it would really be something if the three of us together were to finally put the Beatifics in their place. I mean really teach them a lesson and put them down in front of the whole NMW universe.”

💀 NO MERCY WRESTLING LEGENDS 💀

---

BACKSTAGE

“There she is!” Gordon McKinney’s voice carried down the tunnel, hoarse and shrill at the same time. The NMW assistant producer tottered toward Fiona, his thin-lipped mouth arched in a smile. Even from a distance in the hazily lit backstage area the pit stains around Gordon’s charcoal blazer were visible and his round face shined like a glazed bear claw on a bakery counter. Two women followed close behind him, one being Kendra dressed casual in a gray sweater and black dress pants and the other - of all people - was Keysha Wayne who was in her silvery ring gear. Gordon brushed past a crew member, narrowly avoiding falling into a set of sawhorses as he rushed to meet Fiona.

“That was a solid opening match!” he beamed as he, Kendra, and Keysha stopped in front of the leader of Defiant Dream.

“You held your own, Fiona.” Kendra smiled encouragingly as she handed her partner a blueberry Gatorade and a fresh ice pack. “Against a seasoned wrestler that has held a championship twice now. But… I doubt you want to hear that.”

“You did really good.” Keysha added with a smile herself, arms crossed as she made eye contact with her NMWW rival.

“I… uh… imagine this comes as a… surprise to you.” Kendra stammered with a sideways nod at Keysha who chuckled in response.

“Kendra, Keysha, and myself were just having a little chat before you departed the arena.” Gordon said.

“Well, we had also been talking before the show even started.” Keysha admitted in a low tone.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Gordon held out both hands to assure Fiona, “I think you’ll approve of what we were on about.”

💀 NO MERCY WRESTLING LEGENDS 💀

As Fiona swung Elina around Elina countered the Irish Whip, grabbing hold of Fiona’s wrist with both hands just before being released. Elina tugged and sent Fiona running past her toward the west side ropes.

“And a quick reversal by Elina on the Irish Whip…”

After the counter Elina made a fast break for the south side of the ring, she and Fiona bouncing off the west and south ropes in almost perfect synchronization.

“Oh, a crisscross incoming…” Brent’s voice spiked with excitement as both women met in the center of the ring. Elina jumped, reaching her arms out and grabbing ahold of Fiona’s head as she flew by. Fiona was wrenched off her feet, spun around in the air, and driven hard to the mat by Elina in a perfect running facebuster.

“A facebuster off the ropes!” Dan Rich jumped up out of seat followed by Brent and Rhonda.

“Oh, look, Elina’s not done!” Brent pointed as Elina pulled a dazed Fiona up by her elbows. Elina reached up and grabbed Fiona’s hair in two handfuls and dropped to the mat, curling her legs beneath her and snapping her knees upward. Fiona’s face was pounded against Elina’s kneecaps, the impact of the blow sent Fiona sprawling back onto the canvas - arms and legs spread out around her.

“Double knee facebreaker!”

The crowd amped itself up as Elina sat upright and walked on her knees over to Fiona, reaching down and pinning Fiona’s shoulders with both hands. The referee dropped for the count, the thousands of fans sounding off with the strikes of his palm.

”Cover!”

”One!… Two!… Three!…”

“That’s it!” Dan Rich yelled, his hat falling to the table as the Moody Center was rocked by an eruption of cheers, whistles, and applause. Dan and his two colleagues sat back down, a wry half-smile on Dan’s face as he put his hat back on. “Elina Zamora, The Sonoran Rose, on her NMW debut and first opener for the brand wins by pinfall against Fiona Chevalier! What a match!”

“Hey, Rhonda, better go fetch those beers on the break!” Brent shouted smugly past Dan’s shoulders.

“Oh, can it, Brent,” Rhonda waved her hand, “Fiona may have lost but she held her own against a former luchadora champion and she deserves some respect for that!”

“Well, she’s not getting any from Elina, I can tell you that.” Dan nodded to the ring as a smirking Elina reached her right hand down and tauntingly shoved Fiona’s head over to one side. The referee took Elina firmly by one arm and helped her stand, walking her to the center of the ring as she was declared the winner of the first match of the night.

this or that

IT/Pennywise

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Ban the User Above You

Banned for being a necromancer of Dol Guldur.