9. Vince McMahon's office
Vince McMahon is sitting by his table with a microphone on it. He has a sad look on his face as he picks it up and swings it around a bit. Vince then speaks into it. His voice can be heard throughout the backstage area via the speakers.
VINCE : Hello everyone, this is Vince McMahon. I have some sad news today. As a result of Kane's brutal beating on Rob Van Dam, RVD will no longer be able to compete in the tournament and that means Kane will receive a bye into the next round. Thank you very much.
At that moment, the Ultimo Dragon walks in.
VINCE : Excuse me, can I help you ?
ULTIMO : Hai. Tounameto de resuru o suru koto desu.
VINCE : I'm sorry, I'm going to need a translation on that.
ULTIMO : Um, Watashi, Ultimo Dragon, Kane tonight.
VINCE : Who taught you English ? Tazz ?
ULTIMO : Ultimo Dragon versus Kane tonight, tournament.
VINCE : You want to face Kane in the tournament in place of Rob Van Dam ?
ULTIMO : Hai.
VINCE : I'm sorry but that's not allowed. I mean I might consider it if I knew who you were but I'm not going to let any old no name jobber into the tournament. Who do you think I am ? Vince Russo ?
ULTIMO : Please.
VINCE : I'm sorry, now get outta my office before I call security.
ULTIMO : Please.
VINCE : Security, get this man outta here !
Several security guards then come, grab Ultimo Dragon by the arms and drag him away. Vince McMahon then straightens his tie looking as smug as ever.
10. BACKSTAGE
'The Fallen Angel' Chris Daniels is walking around backstage. He seems to be looking for something or someone as he searches around everywhere but nobody's there. Then all of a sudden he finds Raven sitting in the corner on his own. Daniels approaches him tentatively.
DANIELS : Raven, just the kind of person I'm looking for. I have something I want to ask you.
RAVEN : I have something I want to ask you too.
DANIELS : Go on.
RAVEN : Why are you standing there wasting the precious time you have ? You're wasting the gifts that God gave you. I see a darkness in you, a darkness that plagues me and has been plaguing me all my life.
DANIELS : Whoa man, I just wanted to ask you if you'll team up with me. You see I've got this great idea for a faction, 'The Prophecy', right ? And I just wanted to see if you were interested in being the first member of the prophecy because if we team up, we can wipe out all the others in this tournament no sweat. That's all, none of this darkness shit or plaguing shit, what's up with that ?
RAVEN : I have no interest in joining anyone. I sit alone, I eat alone, I breathe alone. I don't need anyone else. Society has turned their back on me and now they will be punished.
DANIELS : Yes, yes, yes, the whole society stinks thing. That was so 1995, Raven, it's like so totally dated. I'm a part of the new era here and it begins with this tournament when The Prophecy will take what is rightfully theres as King of the World. We will change the face of professional wrestling and change it for good.
RAVEN : You think you can change the world, huh ? You think you're some kind of superhero now saving wrestling. Your Prophecy will become infected just like anything else and crumble from within.
A gush of wind. The Hurricane comes flying in.
HURRICANE : Did I hear the need for a superhero ?
Long pause.
DANIELS : Um, no.
HURRICANE : Who the hell are you ? If I need someone to carry my towel to the ring I'll ask, okay.
DANIELS : Forget you.
Chris Daniels walks off.
HURRICANE : So, Citizen Raven are you ready for our match tonight ?
RAVEN : I think the question is 'are you ready' ?
HURRICANE : True superheros are always ready, yoi never know when you may be called out to duty. Saving damsels in distress, getting cats out of trees, winning tournaments. It's all in a day's work for The Hurricane.
RAVEN : So you're another one who thinks he's a superhero. Well supeheros only represent what is wrong with our society. Everything people want to be you are, they throw their lost hopes and promises into people like you and get nothing in return. You're like a giant cancer eating away our lives, everything that we once stood for is now only in you. So like a false prophet, I will be sending you straight to hell and as for our match tonight, well let's just say that I'm the cure to that cancer.
Raven gets up out of the corner and walks off. The Hurricane has a bemused look on his face.
11. BACKSTAGE
Kurt Angle is stretching out in his dressing room ready for his match. All of a sudden John Cena walks in and slams the door behind him. Kurt looks up. They square off.
KURT : Oh hi, John. How ya doin' ?
CENA : Listen here, punk. I got something I wanna say to you.
KURT : Spit it out, John.
CENA : I got a rhyme even you can recoginze
No need to listen to all the hype and lies
I am the king, I'm the real deal
I did your mother, how'd that make you feel
Your mother ain't never had a thrill lke me
Last time I saw her she was pimpin for free
And your dad was watchin, jerkin his wrist
I said, shut yr face and kiss my fist
And tonight Kurt you're gonna recognize me
And like your mother I'll do it for free
You see this tournament's not about luck
Your oylimpic gold medals ? I don't give a ..
Long pause.
Kurt Angle goes very solemn, he can't believe what he's just heard.
KURT : How dare you bring my family into it ? My father passed away when I was very young and you have the nerve to stand there and make fun of him with your stupid rap crap. I have nothing to say to you right now but you're about to find out why I won an olympic gold medal in wrestling.
Chris Daniels then suddenly pops up in between them with a stupid grin on his face.
DANIELS : Hi, I don't know if this is a bad time, but I was wondering if you wanted to join The Prophecy ?
Kurt Angle gives a long, hard, cold stare.
DANIELS : Bad time, huh ? I'll speak to you about it later, okay ?
Chris Daniels crounches down, emabarrassed and tries to slither out of the ring unnoticed.
KURT : John, I used to respect you. I used think you were a great young up and coming superstar in WWE. Now you ain't nothing but a jacked up bitch. Tonight John, I'm gonna break your neck.
CENA : I'll see you in the ring as well, sucka. Word life.
12. ARENA
John Cena comes out looking as cocky and as confident as ever. Kurt Angle then comes out with an intese look on his face. He didn't take too kindly to Cena's words earlier and he's ready to take care of business. The bell rings. Angle charges at Cena and sens him crashing into the turnbuckle. Kurt repeatedly punches him and then chokes him. When the referee asks Kurt to back away, John Cena slides out of the ring.
Cena takes a breather on the outside while he thinks of a new strategy. He then gets back in slowly. Kurt now looks more focused and the intial aggressiveness in his style has now gone. Cena gets Angle in a headlock, but Angle rolls him off and stradles him on the floor in a rear waistlock. Cena then quickly gets to the ropes. John Cena stands up and looks a little shaken. Kurt Angle smiles, he now knows this strategy is better than charging in. But Cena takes Angle into another headlock. Angle grips Cena's arm and pushes it off from around his head and into a wristlock. Angle then pulls Cena into him with the arm he held and grabs his head on the way into a headlock. Kurt Angle then turns it into a headlock takedown. John Cena struggles to get out of it. Cena tries to grab the eyes, anything to get out of the headlock but it doesn't work. Cena jabs him a couple of times in the rips and that makes Kurt stand up with the headlock. Cena then tries Angle's tactic of pushing the arm off from around the head and now has angle in a wristlock. But almost in a flash Angle reverses the wristlock and puts Cena in a full nelson. John Cena quickly gets to the ropes and leaves the ring again to regroup.
John Cena crawls back in the ring but Angle gets him straight away in a rear waistlock. Cena though back elbows him in the face several times which breaks the hold. A thumb to the eye by Cena. John Cena then hits Angle with a suplex. Cover : 1-2-kickout. But Cena feels in control. He whips Angle off the ropes and hits him with a clothesline. 'This is it' he says as he picks Angle up in a fireman's carry. He goes for the FU, but Angle lands on his feet. He goes for a clothesline, but Cena ducks, Cena then with a sleeper on Angle.
Kurt Angle tries to get out of it but he is slowly fading. Kurt Angle falls to the mat and appears to be unconscious. The referee checks the arm : 1 - 2 - his arm stays up and now Angle with the momentum. He elbows Cena in the gut, and again. Whips Cena into the ropes, goes for clothesline but Cena catches Angle in another sleeper. Angle starts fading quickly this time but with one final burst of energy he manages to pick up John Cena and side suplex him. Both men are down. Angle gets to his feet first then Cena, slowly. Angle punches Cena several times and then hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. He drags him up and then hits another overhead belly-to-belly suplex. John Cena backs away into the corner, Kurt tries to follow him in but the referee stops him. Behind the referees back Cena sneakly wraps a chain and padlock round his fist and when Angle comes back in, Cena nails him with it. Angle is knocked out. John Cena throws the chain away and crawls over for the cover. Cover : 1 - 2 - 3. John Cena wins. John Cena stands up not believing what he's done leaving Kurt Angle a crumpled mess on the floor. He grabs his chain and padlock and smiles to himself as he leaves the ring.
13. BACKSTAGE
Jonathan Coachman is ready to conduct an interview with Raven. Raven hasn't moved very far from where he was before. Now, he's still sitting in the corner, but just by the entranceway. They watch as John Cena comes out.
CENA : Wooo, did you see that ? What a victory for John Cena ! I'm going all the way baby, all the way. Word life.
John Cena walks off and Jonathan Coachman now looks at Raven again who seems uninterested and unimpressed by John Cena's victory.
COACHMAN : Raven, you've got a big match coming up. The Hurricane will not be an easy opponent. What are your thoughts going into tonight's matchup ?
RAVEN : What are my thoughts ? I'm thinking that you should get the hell outta my face. The Hurricane, well, he already knows what I think of him and in that ring I'm going to let it be known to him physically.
COACHMAN : Alright, it looks as if Raven is ready. Let's get back to ringside.
14. ARENA
Raven and The Hurricane are already in the ring getting ready to square off. The bell sounds. Collar and elbow tie-up, Raven backs Hurricane into the corner and then chops him. Raven turns his back and walks off smugly. The Hurricane then hits Raven in the back with a dropkick. A huge clothesline and then the shining wizard. Cover : 1 - 2 - kickout ! The Hurricane then drags Raven up but Raven counters with a drop toe hold which sends the Hurricane's throat into the second rope. Raven then hits a neckbreaker. Drags Hurricane up and hits the Evenflow DDT. Cover : 1 - 2 - kickout ! Raven can't believe it. He tries the cover again. 1 - 2 - kickout ! Raven may of wished he hadn't underestimated superheros, especially not this one. Raven drags Hurricane up and is about to hit another one but Hurricane blocks it, grabs Raven by the throat and hits a chokeslam. Cover : 1 - 2 - 3. The Hurricane wins. After having his hand raised by the referee he flies off into the night sky. Raven looks up in disbelief, now maybe he'll believe in heroes.
15. SOMEWHERE UNKNOWN
A dark room only a flicker of candle light. There is a man on his own holding a framed photograph.
MAN : You're everything I wanted to be. Now, you're going to help me win this tournament, aren't you. It's going to be so sweet, just the two of us.
He looks at the photo and cries and then throws it on the floor, the frame smashes. The photograph falls out. It is of Stephanie McMahon.
Vince McMahon is sitting by his table with a microphone on it. He has a sad look on his face as he picks it up and swings it around a bit. Vince then speaks into it. His voice can be heard throughout the backstage area via the speakers.
VINCE : Hello everyone, this is Vince McMahon. I have some sad news today. As a result of Kane's brutal beating on Rob Van Dam, RVD will no longer be able to compete in the tournament and that means Kane will receive a bye into the next round. Thank you very much.
At that moment, the Ultimo Dragon walks in.
VINCE : Excuse me, can I help you ?
ULTIMO : Hai. Tounameto de resuru o suru koto desu.
VINCE : I'm sorry, I'm going to need a translation on that.
ULTIMO : Um, Watashi, Ultimo Dragon, Kane tonight.
VINCE : Who taught you English ? Tazz ?
ULTIMO : Ultimo Dragon versus Kane tonight, tournament.
VINCE : You want to face Kane in the tournament in place of Rob Van Dam ?
ULTIMO : Hai.
VINCE : I'm sorry but that's not allowed. I mean I might consider it if I knew who you were but I'm not going to let any old no name jobber into the tournament. Who do you think I am ? Vince Russo ?
ULTIMO : Please.
VINCE : I'm sorry, now get outta my office before I call security.
ULTIMO : Please.
VINCE : Security, get this man outta here !
Several security guards then come, grab Ultimo Dragon by the arms and drag him away. Vince McMahon then straightens his tie looking as smug as ever.
10. BACKSTAGE
'The Fallen Angel' Chris Daniels is walking around backstage. He seems to be looking for something or someone as he searches around everywhere but nobody's there. Then all of a sudden he finds Raven sitting in the corner on his own. Daniels approaches him tentatively.
DANIELS : Raven, just the kind of person I'm looking for. I have something I want to ask you.
RAVEN : I have something I want to ask you too.
DANIELS : Go on.
RAVEN : Why are you standing there wasting the precious time you have ? You're wasting the gifts that God gave you. I see a darkness in you, a darkness that plagues me and has been plaguing me all my life.
DANIELS : Whoa man, I just wanted to ask you if you'll team up with me. You see I've got this great idea for a faction, 'The Prophecy', right ? And I just wanted to see if you were interested in being the first member of the prophecy because if we team up, we can wipe out all the others in this tournament no sweat. That's all, none of this darkness shit or plaguing shit, what's up with that ?
RAVEN : I have no interest in joining anyone. I sit alone, I eat alone, I breathe alone. I don't need anyone else. Society has turned their back on me and now they will be punished.
DANIELS : Yes, yes, yes, the whole society stinks thing. That was so 1995, Raven, it's like so totally dated. I'm a part of the new era here and it begins with this tournament when The Prophecy will take what is rightfully theres as King of the World. We will change the face of professional wrestling and change it for good.
RAVEN : You think you can change the world, huh ? You think you're some kind of superhero now saving wrestling. Your Prophecy will become infected just like anything else and crumble from within.
A gush of wind. The Hurricane comes flying in.
HURRICANE : Did I hear the need for a superhero ?
Long pause.
DANIELS : Um, no.
HURRICANE : Who the hell are you ? If I need someone to carry my towel to the ring I'll ask, okay.
DANIELS : Forget you.
Chris Daniels walks off.
HURRICANE : So, Citizen Raven are you ready for our match tonight ?
RAVEN : I think the question is 'are you ready' ?
HURRICANE : True superheros are always ready, yoi never know when you may be called out to duty. Saving damsels in distress, getting cats out of trees, winning tournaments. It's all in a day's work for The Hurricane.
RAVEN : So you're another one who thinks he's a superhero. Well supeheros only represent what is wrong with our society. Everything people want to be you are, they throw their lost hopes and promises into people like you and get nothing in return. You're like a giant cancer eating away our lives, everything that we once stood for is now only in you. So like a false prophet, I will be sending you straight to hell and as for our match tonight, well let's just say that I'm the cure to that cancer.
Raven gets up out of the corner and walks off. The Hurricane has a bemused look on his face.
11. BACKSTAGE
Kurt Angle is stretching out in his dressing room ready for his match. All of a sudden John Cena walks in and slams the door behind him. Kurt looks up. They square off.
KURT : Oh hi, John. How ya doin' ?
CENA : Listen here, punk. I got something I wanna say to you.
KURT : Spit it out, John.
CENA : I got a rhyme even you can recoginze
No need to listen to all the hype and lies
I am the king, I'm the real deal
I did your mother, how'd that make you feel
Your mother ain't never had a thrill lke me
Last time I saw her she was pimpin for free
And your dad was watchin, jerkin his wrist
I said, shut yr face and kiss my fist
And tonight Kurt you're gonna recognize me
And like your mother I'll do it for free
You see this tournament's not about luck
Your oylimpic gold medals ? I don't give a ..
Long pause.
Kurt Angle goes very solemn, he can't believe what he's just heard.
KURT : How dare you bring my family into it ? My father passed away when I was very young and you have the nerve to stand there and make fun of him with your stupid rap crap. I have nothing to say to you right now but you're about to find out why I won an olympic gold medal in wrestling.
Chris Daniels then suddenly pops up in between them with a stupid grin on his face.
DANIELS : Hi, I don't know if this is a bad time, but I was wondering if you wanted to join The Prophecy ?
Kurt Angle gives a long, hard, cold stare.
DANIELS : Bad time, huh ? I'll speak to you about it later, okay ?
Chris Daniels crounches down, emabarrassed and tries to slither out of the ring unnoticed.
KURT : John, I used to respect you. I used think you were a great young up and coming superstar in WWE. Now you ain't nothing but a jacked up bitch. Tonight John, I'm gonna break your neck.
CENA : I'll see you in the ring as well, sucka. Word life.
12. ARENA
John Cena comes out looking as cocky and as confident as ever. Kurt Angle then comes out with an intese look on his face. He didn't take too kindly to Cena's words earlier and he's ready to take care of business. The bell rings. Angle charges at Cena and sens him crashing into the turnbuckle. Kurt repeatedly punches him and then chokes him. When the referee asks Kurt to back away, John Cena slides out of the ring.
Cena takes a breather on the outside while he thinks of a new strategy. He then gets back in slowly. Kurt now looks more focused and the intial aggressiveness in his style has now gone. Cena gets Angle in a headlock, but Angle rolls him off and stradles him on the floor in a rear waistlock. Cena then quickly gets to the ropes. John Cena stands up and looks a little shaken. Kurt Angle smiles, he now knows this strategy is better than charging in. But Cena takes Angle into another headlock. Angle grips Cena's arm and pushes it off from around his head and into a wristlock. Angle then pulls Cena into him with the arm he held and grabs his head on the way into a headlock. Kurt Angle then turns it into a headlock takedown. John Cena struggles to get out of it. Cena tries to grab the eyes, anything to get out of the headlock but it doesn't work. Cena jabs him a couple of times in the rips and that makes Kurt stand up with the headlock. Cena then tries Angle's tactic of pushing the arm off from around the head and now has angle in a wristlock. But almost in a flash Angle reverses the wristlock and puts Cena in a full nelson. John Cena quickly gets to the ropes and leaves the ring again to regroup.
John Cena crawls back in the ring but Angle gets him straight away in a rear waistlock. Cena though back elbows him in the face several times which breaks the hold. A thumb to the eye by Cena. John Cena then hits Angle with a suplex. Cover : 1-2-kickout. But Cena feels in control. He whips Angle off the ropes and hits him with a clothesline. 'This is it' he says as he picks Angle up in a fireman's carry. He goes for the FU, but Angle lands on his feet. He goes for a clothesline, but Cena ducks, Cena then with a sleeper on Angle.
Kurt Angle tries to get out of it but he is slowly fading. Kurt Angle falls to the mat and appears to be unconscious. The referee checks the arm : 1 - 2 - his arm stays up and now Angle with the momentum. He elbows Cena in the gut, and again. Whips Cena into the ropes, goes for clothesline but Cena catches Angle in another sleeper. Angle starts fading quickly this time but with one final burst of energy he manages to pick up John Cena and side suplex him. Both men are down. Angle gets to his feet first then Cena, slowly. Angle punches Cena several times and then hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. He drags him up and then hits another overhead belly-to-belly suplex. John Cena backs away into the corner, Kurt tries to follow him in but the referee stops him. Behind the referees back Cena sneakly wraps a chain and padlock round his fist and when Angle comes back in, Cena nails him with it. Angle is knocked out. John Cena throws the chain away and crawls over for the cover. Cover : 1 - 2 - 3. John Cena wins. John Cena stands up not believing what he's done leaving Kurt Angle a crumpled mess on the floor. He grabs his chain and padlock and smiles to himself as he leaves the ring.
13. BACKSTAGE
Jonathan Coachman is ready to conduct an interview with Raven. Raven hasn't moved very far from where he was before. Now, he's still sitting in the corner, but just by the entranceway. They watch as John Cena comes out.
CENA : Wooo, did you see that ? What a victory for John Cena ! I'm going all the way baby, all the way. Word life.
John Cena walks off and Jonathan Coachman now looks at Raven again who seems uninterested and unimpressed by John Cena's victory.
COACHMAN : Raven, you've got a big match coming up. The Hurricane will not be an easy opponent. What are your thoughts going into tonight's matchup ?
RAVEN : What are my thoughts ? I'm thinking that you should get the hell outta my face. The Hurricane, well, he already knows what I think of him and in that ring I'm going to let it be known to him physically.
COACHMAN : Alright, it looks as if Raven is ready. Let's get back to ringside.
14. ARENA
Raven and The Hurricane are already in the ring getting ready to square off. The bell sounds. Collar and elbow tie-up, Raven backs Hurricane into the corner and then chops him. Raven turns his back and walks off smugly. The Hurricane then hits Raven in the back with a dropkick. A huge clothesline and then the shining wizard. Cover : 1 - 2 - kickout ! The Hurricane then drags Raven up but Raven counters with a drop toe hold which sends the Hurricane's throat into the second rope. Raven then hits a neckbreaker. Drags Hurricane up and hits the Evenflow DDT. Cover : 1 - 2 - kickout ! Raven can't believe it. He tries the cover again. 1 - 2 - kickout ! Raven may of wished he hadn't underestimated superheros, especially not this one. Raven drags Hurricane up and is about to hit another one but Hurricane blocks it, grabs Raven by the throat and hits a chokeslam. Cover : 1 - 2 - 3. The Hurricane wins. After having his hand raised by the referee he flies off into the night sky. Raven looks up in disbelief, now maybe he'll believe in heroes.
15. SOMEWHERE UNKNOWN
A dark room only a flicker of candle light. There is a man on his own holding a framed photograph.
MAN : You're everything I wanted to be. Now, you're going to help me win this tournament, aren't you. It's going to be so sweet, just the two of us.
He looks at the photo and cries and then throws it on the floor, the frame smashes. The photograph falls out. It is of Stephanie McMahon.