Workshop Classroom
Class J sits in the spacious lecture hall with just them, Mr. Snow, and Paul Heyman. Class J has their eyes glued as Paul Heyman stands in the middle of the room.
"Now, when it comes to promos it is very important not to just ramble on and on and on and on about a whole bunch of nonsense. All you need is to have points in your promo and how you construct them is up to you. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what you or your opponent thinks of it, it's what the audience thinks. They're the true indicator on whether or not you cut either a really great promo or a really bad promo." Heyman explains as Apollo raises his hand.
"So is there like a time limit on doing a promo?" Apollo asked.
"Not necessarily. You don't wanna go on long and bore people. The name of the game is to get their attention, maintain it and have them feeling some kind of way. You have to make sure your body language, tone of voice, and the words you use and in the way you use them are efficient. In a promo you need what I like to call, an introduction, a heat spot, and a go home. Introduction is basically just introducing yourself to the audience and setting them up for what you wanna say. A heat spot is when you get a real and raw reaction from the crowd. It could be something as an unpopular opinion or even a fact that no one can deny. If you've held on to their attention up to this point you're doing good but the go home is the trickiest of them all. You wanna leave the audience believing everything you said was legit! The go home is basically wrapping everything up and ending it and it usually makes or breaks the promo itself. If you've been on fire on the mic but falter in the end it can make the promo seem bad and everyone leaves with this impression that you're not who you say you are." Heyman breaks down to Class J. "Now, it's my understanding that you all will be partaking in wargames and the promo is crucial. So, today I'll be seeing your promo skills up close but don't waste my time. Time is money.
"So, who wants to go first?" Mr. Snow said to Class J as they all looked uncertain just before Curt Hawkins stood up.
"I guess I'll go first." Curt said as he makes his way to the front standing in front of his peers. Heyman hands him a mic then goes to take a seat observing Curt stands there with a grin on his face. "So, what's up guys? Uhh my name is Curt Hawkins and I was the former Class J representative before Finn beat me for it but he probably deserves it more than me. So, tonight Class J and Class ME are going to war but it feels like that's been the case for a long time now, but Class J is not backing down because we ar-" Heyman stands up holding up his hand cutting Curt off.
"Ok, first I'll say probably the only positive I got from that was that you recognize that your classmate is great and that elevated him, but besides that, my God, kid, that was just awful. Your whole presentation is just not doing it for me. Your voice sounds flat and uninteresting and furthermore you put yourself down more than lifting yourself up. If you're gonna state accomplishments, don't ever use the words former or ex as it means that while you were that you're not it now. You just don't need a whole lot of work, you need a total repackage. Next!" Heyman shouts as Curt walks back to his seat deflated as he slumps down. Alicia springs up as she takes the mic staring at her classmates.
"Hellooooooooooo everybody! My name is Alicia Fox and I am in Class J! To everyone Class J is the low of the low. We're the misfits. The outcasts of the school we were. That is until a certain individual came and changed our lives forever. Now, here we are facing off against Class ME in wargames. Tonight, you all are expecting Class ME to just wipe the floor with us but I'm here to tell you that's not the case. What's going to happen is that we will not only win we will kill them! They purposely hurt my Finny when I wasn't around so tonight I want to make them suffer! I will do at nothing to make sure I have their blood on my hands tonight and no one will stop me from doing so!" Alicia coldly said as everyone in the room eyes widen feeling a bit frightened by her promo. Heyman cautiously stands up.
"Ok, well ummm that was interesting. Certainly better than the first one we saw. I loved your energy and intensity and you had a really good heat spot. But, I'd say scale it back just a tiny bit with the intensity." Heyman said treading carefully as Alicia gleefully makes her way back to her seat. "Next!" Rowan rose up as he goes to stand in front of the room just staring at everyone. Rowan holds the mic standing still in pure silence which confused everyone but Heyman.
"Umm Rowan, aren't you gonna say anything?" Curt asked.
"He doesn't need to say anything. Sometimes less is more and right now his stare is telling me a lot about him. Just by standing there doing nothing and glaring at us, he's told me more than most people have in a ten minute interview." Heyman praised. "However, while I definitely do admire it because he's just being real and honest, I'm not exactly sure it's the way to get over the people especially in this generation." Rowan simply walks back to his seat and sits down. Finn stands up next taking the mic just before taking a deep breath. Finn turns to everyone as he holds the mic up.
"Um, alright I'll just cut straight to it. Honestly, I think this is stupid. Why do I need to give a speech? All I wanna do is get in the ring and get my hands on that bastard, Seth. He broke my shoulder and I wanna return the favor to him. And, I wanna prove to him, the principal, everybody that I am elite!" Finn tosses the mic to Apollo as he storms back to his seat.
"Well, let me start off by saying that you have the fire and passion down. With that being said there's just something about you that's missing and I can't quite put my finger on it. You definitely look like you mean business but I can't say that I'm completely hooked. Alright, who's left." Heyman says as Apollo emerges up standing before his peers holding the microphone.
"I know what you all are thinking. "Those fools from Class J don't stand a chance. Why even bother?" We bother because we can. Far too long people have looked down on us and ridiculed us because the system set it up that way. And there was nothing we could do about it….. Until now. We would let a whole school determine our worth and potential but they don't get to tell us what we can or can't do. We control our own destiny and nobody else and that is what we set out to prove. Class ME tried a lot to take us down and at times they did. However, no matter how many times they pushed us down we never stayed down. We always get back up and tonight we're gonna go beyond and rise above them and everyone in this damn school!" Apollo expressed garnering an applause from Heyman.
"Nice. You my boy has the potential. You were okay but if you keep on sharping your skills you could become great." Heyman said much to the delight of Apollo. Heyman stood turning to face Class J. "Well, I don't know exactly who'll be facing but you should be confident you have one person to cut a good promo. I've seen my fair share of wargames and the first two matches are how can I put it? Easy going compared to that 3rd and final if it comes down to it. Word of advice? Mind your surroundings. See, you may seem as this esteemed professor but to a lot of people, including your teacher I'm one of the biggest slimeballs that can't be trusted. And, I can honestly say the same about Principal McMahon. We're cut from the same cloth. Do what you will with that information. Well, it looks like your time is up and hope I was able to help you out in anyway I could."
"Paul, I don't say this too often and it doesn't feel right but thanks" Mr. Snow said, extending his hand out to Heyman for a handshake.
"Surreal right? Well, what can I say? There's just something about unlocking untap potential in people that just seems to be my calling." Heyman stated with a smirk on his face.
"Alright, boys and girl let's head on out. Our next and final stop will be in Long Island to see an old friend." Mr. Snow said as Class J followed him out of the room.
Somewhere In Long Island
The RV comes to a halt in front of a large, deteriorating warehouse. Class J exits the RV while Mr. Snow is still behind the wheel.
"Alright, this is it. You kids go on in I'll catch up with you." Mr. Snow said.
"Mr. Snow, you sure this is the place? Looks deserted." Apollo said.
"We're at the right spot. Do not let looks deceive you. Now, I'm gonna go park the RV and see you when I get in." Mr. Snow said.
"And, what's this old friend of yours name again?" Finn asked curiously.
"His name is Mick." Mr. Snow said just before he shut the door and drove off leaving Class J puzzled as they make their way into the warehouse.
Warehouse
Class J walks through the warehouse eying a pathway with arrows pointing into a direction.
"I guess it's this way." Finn said as he followed the arrows flanked by his classmates. The path Class J walks on leads them to a boiler room. The class looks all around a bit nervous and timid.
"Ok, this definitely gives me the creeps." Curt expressed.
"Man, I don't know about this. It seems like Mr. Snow is tryna play some sort of prank on us." Apollo stated.
"Well, if he is then he needs to come out and say it out already! I don't like this!" Alicia cried just before Finn shushes them.
"Listen! Do you hear that?" Finn asked as the sound of someone whimpering was heard. Finn would follow the strange sounds which led him to somebody on the ground in a fetal position muttering to himself. Class J looked on cautiously.
"Who is that? Is that Mick?" Curt asked.
"Dude, I don't know but I got a bad feeling about this." Apollo said as Finn slowly approached the stranger. "Yo, Finn what are you doing?"
"Excuse me, are you Mick?" Finn asked just before the stranger got up and out of the shadows revealing himself wearing a mask as he glared at Class J.
"Let me ask you something? Have you ever felt pain?" The stranger asked to which Class J didn't have an answer for. "Do you know that there are over 700 pressure points in the human body? I discovered this at an early age and explored them all! And I found that underneath the tongue flesh is weak and the nerves run deep! When enough force is applied there is no escape!" The strange man lunges towards Finn forcing his fingers in his mouth while screaming.
"Oh my god! Finny!" Alicia shouted as Finn struggles to break free from the strange man's grip. Rowan bullrushes at the strange man with a shoulder block causing him to break the hold on Finn. Apollo and Curt help Finn up, as they along with Alicia and Rowan high tail it out of the boiler room by running into a door that led to a stairway. Finn coughs trying to breathe.
"Ok, this is crazy! What the hell just happened?" Curt screamed.
"I don't know but we gotta get the hell up out of here right now! I'm about to call Mr. Snow an- Damn! I left my phone in the RV." Apollo said.
"Me too! Finn, are you alright?" Alicia said with concern.
"I'm fine! I'll be okay!" Finn stated as he was able to breathe properly now.
"So, we're stuck here? We can't go back, there's a lunatic in there!" Curt expressed.
"Seems like our only option is to go up." Finn said as he heads up the stairs with everyone following him. They reached the second floor coming to a stop in front of a door.
"Wait, let's just be careful. Ok, we have no idea what's in there especially after our last encounter." Apollo stated just before Finn slowly opens the door entering into a lively lit room full of people partying. Class J walks in confused as the scenery is a complete 180 from where they were a while ago. A man with women hooked on both his arms approaches Class J.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone now, no kiddo's allowed. I'm sorry babes but this Dude Love party is for the adults only if ya dig." The dude said.
"Dude Love party? Umm, we're actually looking for Mick. Do you happen to know him?" Finn asked which the guy lowers his glasses to get a real good look at Class J.
"How do you know that guy?" The guy asked.
"Ummm, we're from Class J and our teacher, Mr. Snow sent us here for us to train." Finn stated.
"Ohhhhhhh I gotcha now daddy-o! I know exactly who you are now. My man, Al Snow! Say, how's the old snowmaster doing? Man, me and him used to be a couple of wild, young cats in our day. Does he still have a mannequin head with him? He used to carry that thing around and spook the ladies! Whew, boy time sure does fly. The name's Love. Dude Love." Dude Love said.
"Well, I'm Finn, and this is Alicia, Apollo, Curt, and Rowan." Finn said.
"Say, what's the deal with the guy in the basement? Are you aware there's someone down there. Also, you sorta look like him a bit." Apollo said as he raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, don't mind him at all, kids. He's a friend of mines and kinda got some loose screws up there if you know what I mean. Just let him be with his pet rat, George and he won't harm ya." Dude Love said.
"But he did! He stuck his fingers into his mouth!" Curt explained.
"He must be really feisty today. Well, look here kiddos I got a party I'm throwing right now, but I'll send you in the direction of the man you're looking for. Follow me." Dude Love said as he guided Class J through the party to the other side of the room. "Alright, now all you gotta do is go through this door and head up those stairs straight to the top."
"Umm excuse me why can't we just use the elevator?' Alicia asked.
"That elevator is one psyched out machine, babygirl. See, it'll only go down on this floor, and on the first floor it'll only go up. So to get to this floor, you first gotta take the first floor to the top and then back down to here." Dude Love explained.
"That sounds really weird." Apollo said.
"Listen, when you reach the top, you'll have to enter a room and then make your way across the room. But, I'm just gonna give ya a heads up. It ain't gonna be easy, peazy, lemon squeezy. Jack don't play nice." Dude Love stated.
"What does that mean?" Finn asked curiously.
"You'll find out when you get up there. Now, love, peace, and souuuuuuul to ya kiddos! I gotta go and get my groove back!" Dude Love said giving Class J a thumbs up just before he went back to vibing with the party. Class J shrugs their shoulders as they walk out the door into the stairwell. Class J makes their way up the long stairs eventually reaching the top.
"I hope this Mick guy is here because this is all so freakin weird." Apollo stated.
"Only one way to find out." Finn said just before he bolts right in with everyone else. The room is dimly lit and seems empty. Class J slowly walks across the room just before stepping on something that made a noise.
"Is that… broken glass?" Curt pointed out.
"I have a bad feeling about this!" Alicia said just before the sound of laughter was heard that spooked Class J.
"Who is there? Better yet what is that?" Apollo cried out and then a lighter being flicked was seen and dropped on the floor liting up a huge circle of fire in the room. A man with a red flannel vest creeps up on Class J carrying a barbed wire wrapped 2x4.
"Who wants to die today? Bang! Bang!" The man said with a sinister smirk on his face.