Author's Note: There is something about indie pro wrestling shows that gives us a range of emotions. The action, the storytelling, the ring psychology, the chemistry between two wrestlers, and the wrestling styles and spots we can't stop talking about. Think of what just happened at All In, it was fantastic. When it comes to creative control in the indie scene, anything is possible.
If only the Belfast Pro Wrestling Open became real, then fans would tune in to watch. But anyway, I had so much fun making Becky a badass here that you have to see for yourself. The speech I've made for her is heavily inspired by Shawn Michaels's biblical monologue in his Wrestlemania 25 promo. Enjoy!
CH 9: Belfast
August 4, 4:30pm. King's Hall. Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Belfast Pro Wrestling Open begins….
The interior of the iconic venue was a sight to behold. The lower floor was surrounded by dark green chairs, each with the symbol of a golden crown emblazoned with Celtic knots on the top part of the chair. For the ring, the ropes and mat were decked out in black and white while all 4 sides were dark green. In the middle and on the sides, the logo Belfast Pro Wrestling Open is presented in bold white letters.
Behind the ring was a giant titantron against the backdrop of a black stage curtain and alongside the titantron on both its left and right sides, two giant yet intricate medieval banners were shown. Each had a medieval-like drawing of an Irish wolfhound, standing on their hind legs in similar fashion to heraldic lions featured on numerous royal crests. On the top-seated balconies, several side banners of sponsors promoting the show were put on display for the audience to see. Cameras were installed on the balconies too and cameramen on the lower floor were already checking their equipment for any tweaks or adjustments at hand.
Fans and families were packing into King's Hall by the hundreds and it doesn't seem like one certain seat is left empty. Men and women. Young and old. Old School fans and New School fans. All united into this one space where a chapter in pro wrestling has yet to begin.
The lights on the venue's roof started dimming gradually. Pumped up, the crowd clapped and cheered across the arena. Everything was pitch black, except for a few doors outside that had little light in their crevices.
The room became silent for a few seconds until the giant titantron turned on. Past flashbacks of Fit Finlay in his prime and of his family was accompanied by little dialogue from Finlay in the beginning. Then, an epic promo set to Kid Comet's remix of "Believer" by Imagine Dragons sets the tone of the show in motion. The various footage of wrestling superstars today showed previous events that lead up to the day of the Open. The promo culminated into a dramatic crescendo of drums near the end, followed by the show's logo.
The room becomes dark again and the fans' excitement became heard among the pitch-black atmosphere. That is until a spotlight on Finlay, now standing proud in the center of the ring, only heightens their enthusiasm.
Finlay raises his head to the audience before him. The crowd were on their feet and started chanting, "Finlay! Finlay! Finlay! Finlay!"
He smiled. With a clipped mic on his gray vest, he spoke to the crowd:
"It all started...with a childhood dream. A dream to become the greatest wrestler in all of Ireland. When I became one, I've fought battles no one couldn't imagine and the blood, sweat, and tears that comes with it made me stronger in mind and heart. Defending the honor of Irish wrestling couldn't be more ingrained in my family blood than ever.
But now that I'm retired from in-ring competition and training the next generation of warriors….something's been missing. A piece of a chapter that I've yet to talk about. And the question was this: how can I give back to my hometown in the grandest sense? Well…
…..I'm back. And I've brought the party to you. Where I'm from, you stand your ground and play your risks. That's how stories are told. In fact….this particular story has a new historic chapter. One featuring the new kids on the block. And it all begins here…
…..right. Now!"
When Finlay said this, he raised one fist in the air and the lights in the entire room lit up. The applauses and cheers were thunderous. Finlay walked around the ring still with his fist in the air as the cameras follow him. Then the fans began to loudly chant, "Belfast! Belfast! Belfast! Belfast! Belfast! Belfast!"
"DO YOU WANT ACTION?", Finlay shouted.
"Yeah!", the fans shouted.
"DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE BEST?"
"Yeah!"
"Ladies and gentlemen…..THIS. IS. BELFAST!"
The fans continue cheering as Finlay left the ring. After Finlay disappeared behind the curtain for 10 seconds, Tyler Bate's entrance theme starts to play. Tyler comes out of the curtain and on stage in his white and blue ring attire, fitting for the occasion. He casually bows, then walks down the mid-stage steps until the bell rung three times. An announcer recites:
"The following contest is from the Men's category, scheduled for one fall!"
"One fall!", all the fans said in unison.
"Introducing first, making his way to the ring…..from Dudley, England, weighing 175 pounds...Tyler Bate!"
Surrounded by cheers, Tyler heads over to the ring. But before he enters it, he turns towards his fans and lightly waves. The fans happily wave back.
The muscular strong boy goes to his corner to wait for his opponent. As Tyler moves back and forth and stretching his arms, the fans start to chant, "Too Sweet (woop woop)! Too Sweet (woop woop)! Too Sweet (woop woop)! Too Sweet (woop woop)!"
Suddenly, the lights turn off and the venue was once again filled with cheers within the pitch-black darkness. It didn't take long until Marty Scurll's Bullet Club entrance theme pops up. The eerie sound of piano playing and violins immersed the entire venue in its melancholic vibe. Then, a wicked laugh builds and simply the logo "Villain Club" appeared on the titantron and everyone chanted, "Woop woop!"
The curtain slightly opened in the center and from the shining light on stage, there stood Marty in his signature attire: a black plague doctor mask with inserted goggle eyes, a dark brooding coat with the words "Every Club Needs A Villain" at the back, and a black top hat. Carrying a black umbrella over his shoulder, Marty gradually walks down the stairs and to the ring.
"And his opponent...from Cambridge, England, weighing 183 pounds…he is 'The Villain', Marty Scurll!"
On one side of the ring, Marty slightly leans back on the ropes with his arms outstretched. He takes off his mask and his maniacal, bearded self sticks out his tongue to the fans. Marty enters into the ring, barking at Tyler to back off. In the center of the ring, he opens his umbrella with the Bullet Club logo to show off his immense bad boy persona. After that, he goes to his corner and takes off his coat to reveal his unique ring attire.
The two contenders locked eyes across from each other. Their referee made sure they keep distance from each other. It is then the referee gestures the bell-ringer to ring the bell three times.
Once the bell rung, Marty and Tyler charged at each other head-on…
Meanwhile backstage, 15 minutes later…..
Becky looks at her new ring attire customized for her. It is a blackish-green, one-piece sleeveless suit with a round collar embroidered with golden Celtic knots. The attire's sides also have two Celtic knot designs, matching the symbol of the crown. Additional wear are long black fingerless gloves, black kickpads with the words "Straight Fire" in gold letters, black MMA knee pads, and a long, deep olive green-hooded cloak.
The final touch….was a handmade Celtic circlet crown shaped in traditional golden knots in a way similar to the Belfast Pro Wrestling Open's crown logo.
Jordan Devlin looked at Becky's costume in confusion. "Are they really going to let you dress like that?", he said. "It looks like old-school '80s wrestling attire for a fairytale. Don't know if it matches the theme."
"Now Jordan, this doesn't look old school", Becky said. "I've already talked with my designer about this outfit matching with my new gimmick. It's called 'Queen of the Emerald Isle'."
"Queen of the Emerald Isle?", Jordan said sarcastically. "That's…..interesting. So what is the background info on your gimmick, anyway?"
Becky places her ring attire flat on the table and adds her gloves, kickpads, and kneepads to the side. Jordan casually folds his arms together, watching Becky put her stuff into place.
"The Queen of the Emerald Isle….is a queen who isn't afraid of everything", Becky said. "She fends off foreign invaders that tried to ruin the spoils of her land, her glory, and her reign….especially supernatural ones. Having fought monsters and beasts throughout her life, she doesn't take shit from nobody, giving the freedom to run riot and defend her honor with fearlessness instilled in her heart. The Irish queen is a one woman army, silencing naysayers and non-believers that she isn't worthy of being a warrior. Inspired by the tales of Queen Medb of Connacht, the Queen of the Emerald Isle possesses qualities of a true warrior queen: sensual, ambitious, clever, intelligent, and headstrong."
"But what does this have to do with your character's frustrations with Finn Bálor?", Jordan said.
Becky glances in Jordan's direction with a stern look. "Simple. A man by the name of Pierre de Coubertin long ago said that 'it's not about the triumph, but the struggle'. My story's about struggle. In other words: Becky. Is. Straight Fire. And straight fire is struggling to succeed without giving up. That is why the queen...must take down the demon."
A loud pop from outside causes Becky and Jordan to turn around. They may not see what's going on from the dressing room, but they knew Cody Rhodes, Chase Owens, and Adam Page just walked past the room earlier to help their pal Marty win the match.
Unfortunately….the Bullet Club had their asses handed to them when Tyler made the three men knock each other out "accidentally" and finish Marty off with his signature move, Tyler Driver '97.
"How's Fergal doing?", Becky said to Jordan, changing the conversation to a more lighter tone. Unbeknownst to the wrestlers, Cody and his comrades outside tend to Marty's aid by carrying him on their shoulders. You could hear Marty in the distance yelling, "My umbrella! That's the 30th one broken this week!"
"He's doing fine. His makeup artists are here and they're doing head-to-toe body painting on him right now", Jordan replies. "I saw the blueprint design on paper and everything, it looks awesome."
"I know, right?", Becky said. "I've heard it was going to be inspired by his previous demon appearance back when he faced Ryusuke Taguchi for the final time in New Japan. Feels like a lot of effort."
Jordan nods, then looks at his watch. "I'm sorry Rebecca, but I have an important meeting to go to", he said.
"The referee meeting, right?", Becky reminds him.
"Right. One of the head referees want to know if I got the gestures right and everything."
"Okay….see you later for the big finale."
"You too."
Jordan leaves the dressing room. Now alone, Becky can definitely focus on her additional MMA training, lines, and ring gear.
7:50pm. 10 minutes until the main event….
3 hours went by and the matches certainly built up tensions for what is yet to come. Each of the previous matches did not feel fast or slow, but they're done in such a natural pace that people didn't seem to notice any cracks or flaws. Each match has a part in the narrative, never failing to present the audience of what these competitors are capable of.
Highlighted moments were captured on camera: Kay Lee Ray giving the middle finger to Toni Storm before countering Storm's top rope leg drop with Tiger Driver, the Coffey Brothers delivering incredible spinning spinebusters to Primate and Rampage with force, Neville and Ospreay trying to outdo one another featuring their signature aerial maneuvers, and Doug Williams lifting Phil Powers with one arm (after Phil attempted a gogoplata) and does a one-handed sitout powerbomb to break him off….
Becky sits in her dressing room, staring intently at the mirror. Fully dressed in her new ring gear and sporting a waterfall braid, the Superstar presents herself proudly, waiting time for her match to start. She crosses her left leg over her right and settled her folded hands on top of her left knee for support.
Looking at the mirror once again, she takes a deep breath and gives out this improvised monologue worthy of an Irish queen:
"People and loyal subjects….'tis an honor to be sitting in the same room as you all. Lend me your attention for a moment, if you will.
There's barely a time and place where I couldn't imagine facing something I've feared, which is why I address these questions: why do we run from fear? Why do we hide from fear? Why do we dismiss it? Is it from the unknown….or within ourselves?"
In another dressing room, the body-painted king of darkness puts on his "Bálor Club" armbands and started wrapping his hands in white tape.
"Fear is a manifestation of our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes towards something so unusual, so bizzare, and so peculiar that we're afraid to reach for the other side for answers. And this 'other side' is what society perceives it to be…..and what fear expects society to believe."
He begins to stretch his legs and his arms. After that, he slightly rolls his neck clockwise and counterclockwise bit by bit.
"If fear is the very instrument of our insecurities and vulnerabilities inside and out, do we confront it?"
The Demon King unleashes a silent scream in front of his mirror, arms outstretched.
"Sure. But battling it head-on?...Even better."
The door opens and the demon walks among the humans backstage, heading towards the curtains.
"Tonight, the Demon King is among us. And he's coming...to take my soul. I couldn't ask for a greater battle than facing this self-proclaimed ruler of the underworld. I'm willing to lay down my life on the line and for the crown.
The mentor and best friend I've admired for years has consumed back into the darkness. In order to save him….I must defeat the one shadow that's already possessing every fiber of his being: the demon itself. My heart burns with the desire to send this monster back from whence it came, back to the darkest corners of the devil's abyss.
What defines me is these darkest of times is how my bravery will set an example for the world to see. My bravery and passion to be the greatest weren't made by fire, but were forged in flames. I knew in my mind, my body, my heart and soul that it's my destiny to slay the Demon King."
Becky stood up from her chair.
"Tonight...I call upon the gods and goddesses of this great land to watch over me and guide me to victory as I enter the battlefield to face my toughest foe. The Demon King, born and bred to strike fear into the hearts of mortals, will no longer cause trouble as long as I'm here.
I don't bow down to monsters, they bow down to me. For I, the Queen of the Emerald Isle, shall conquer all fear and dethrone the king of darkness once and for all! Fada beo an banríon (Long live the queen)!"
"Becky….it's time", one of the backstage crew members inform her.
"I'm ready...", Becky said. She puts on her crown and green cloak, then leaves the dressing room. Every step she takes, her heart pounds bit by bit. This familiar feeling she's had throughout her whole journey, the feeling of nervousness and excitement. It's coming back to her again….
Becky reaches for the curtains and ever so slightly, she looks outside. Among the crowd, she sees her parents and Finn's parents sitting in the front row. Sheamus, Paul Tracey, and other prominent indie wrestlers were also sitting in the front row.
She hears footsteps approaching and turns around. There was Finn, all decked out in dark purple, black, and white paint. His face, chest, arms, shoulders, and upper thighs were decorated in purple with small intricate details to the muscles such as black shadowing on his abs, shoulders, and upper thighs. He has a black tribal spine down his back, engraved on its bones Irish Gaelic writing. Finn's beard is camouflaged with white sharp teeth and black circles encompass around his eyes. The man definitely looked like a menace straight out of mythical lore….
"In just 3 minutes, get ready 'cause we're going live on the air for the final match of the Belfast Pro Wrestling Open!", the announcer said. A loud cheer ensues from the crowd.
Becky and Finn get into their positions, with Finn standing in front where the curtains are yet to separate. He looks at Becky and gives a thumbs up. Becky, on the far side of the stage, does the same. Finn looks straight ahead of the curtain, then bows his head.
The lights from outside began to dim slowly, then growing with absolute adrenaline rushes in pitch-black darkness as Finn and Becky listen to the loud pop that's building within the audience.
Here. We. Go...
Demon King: Finn Bálor. Queen of the Emerald Isle: Becky Lynch. Two rivals. One ring. One main event of the century that will resonate forever in the minds of many. Oh...and Mauro Ranallo's on commentary. The final chapter of the series, Chapter 10: The Greatest, will leave you on the edge of your seat until the end. And promise me, the ending is even more shocking to comprehend than the entire match itself. Don't miss it!