Unstoppable #10

The crowd is excited as the cameras tour the arena. Quickly, the atmosphere changes to oppressive booing, the song “Ephemeral” by Insomnium playing loudly over the PA system as Travis Rech walks out of the back. Rech is shown dressed as a security guard, the audience confused but still jeering while Robert Garland walks out in a judge’s outfit. The black robe touches the ground as Garland poses for the crowd while raising a gavel up high in the air. Garland wears an arrogant smile while Travis Rech heads down the ramp and toward the ring. After a short while, Garland’s smile disappears as his usual scowl takes over, Robert Garland now heading down the ramp as well as Rech is already in the ring and setting up a wood grained podium.

Smith: What’s this idiot doing now?!

Bradford: Obviously Smith, the judge of character here in The MSW is making a statement! I’m sure everyone is interested in what he has to say! Just listen to how fired up this crowd is!

Smith: We are obviously hearing a different reaction Bradford! After everything he’s been doing recently, you really think these fans are trying to honor him?! Don’t make me laugh! This is obviously some sort of scheme, just like the way he’s been acting while tagging with Frank Washington! Garland is unstable, and this should be enough evidence of that claim!

Garland heads over to the steps and walks up and onto the apron. Rech starts to yell for the crowd to calm down, the MSW faithful still yelling and jeering as Garland once again shifts back to an odd smile and steps between the ropes. Garland places himself behind the podium and raises his arms high again, before slamming the gavel onto the podium furiously and Travis Rech talking into a microphone.


Travis Rech: ORDA! ORDA IN THA COURT!


Travis Rech: Judge Garland will be presiding over this courtroom ta review tha case of Frank Washington vs. Tha People! An’ ya betta damn well be respectful ta tha Figurehead of Justice here in Tha MSW!

The crowd continues to boo as Garland remains quiet and Rech places the microphone on the podium. Garland waits patiently for the audience to die down, the crowd continuing before Garland finally speaks up.

Robert Garland: Thank you Bailiff Rech. You always have the best interest of this courtroom in mind, and it upsets me that this jury just doesn’t understand that we’re only here to look out for them!...


Robert Garland: Yes… They just don’t get it! Like I’ve been saying since my arrival, you sheep are all falling for every lie that this company and a very certain individual present to you… However… I’ve come to the conclusion that the only person to blame for your attitude is… Myself. You see, I’ve been on this microphone these past few months and I’ve been tellin’ you how horrible Frank Washington is… But now, I’m out here to show you the evidence to my claims! That’s right… This is my chance to prove to you all that I’ve been speakin’ the truth… And it’s also my chance to warn Frank’s upcomin’ opponents of Johnny B. and Yugo Phailous.

Garland laughs to himself as Rech stands at attention, the fans cursing The Badger and remaining irate as Garland once again slams the gavel down.


Travis Rech: AH SAID ORDA! ORDA IN THA COURT, YA MISCREANTS! Judge Garland will find ya all in contempt if’n ya’ll keep this up!


Robert Garland: Once again, thank you Bailiff Rech. You are truly a credit to this mission of justice. Now, as I was sayin’… People have been constantly asking me why I’ve been actin’ the way I have recently. “Garland, why are you helpin’ Frank win these matches?” “Garland, why did you pull Frank over Deacon Cash for the cover?” “Garland, why are you wantin’ the two of you to keep progressing in this tournament?” “Is it for championship glory?” “Are you blinded by your personal win loss record?” “Are you just tryin’ to get in Frank’s head?” ...Yes. Yes!.. Yes!… And more I will say yes!

I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying of keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Well, that my dear jury is exactly what I am up to! You see, as long as this tag charade continues, I can watch Frank get destroyed in that ring while I obtain all the glory of the victory and he obtains just another bloody lip, messed up shoulder, damaged ligaments, bloody foreheads… You understand now, right? This is all just one big game between the two of us, that I am currently winnin’! And the best part of all of this? The best part? ...Well, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the best part is that I’ll be there when Frank finally drops this nice guy act with his back truly against the wall! I’ll be there, at Back To Basics, when Frank’s personal pride and ambitions drive him to reveal his true character and do everythin’ a rabid animal can do to survive and capture the MSW gold! That’s what I mean by warnin’ The Bonecrushing Phailous! That’s what I mean by Frank Washington bein’ just another bad guy!

You see, currently the other half of this tag team title match will be seeing me as the true threat… But, no… No, no, no. Johnny B.… Yugo… Frank Washington will stop at nothing to cheat his way to victory and I, Robert Garland, will be there at ringside laughin’ as his charade falls to pieces and that backstabbin’ snake puts his personal greed first! This is his true character! This is not only my judgement, but this is the truth behind this “hero” of the masses!


Smith: How many times will it take for Garland to realize that Frank is a changed man!? What will it take for this psychopath to understand?

Bradford: Please Smith! We all know the history between these two men! Robert Garland can’t forget the way he was treated, and a man who would treat someone like Washington did can never fully change!

Robert Garland: Of course, of course you people will continue to act this way. I knew swayin’ you with just this revelation wouldn't be enough… So, to help you further understand my points I will now begin with this evidence that I have previously mentioned… And I will leave you, The MSW jury, the MSW faithful, to decide the fate of this man Frank Washington.

The crowd aggressively shouts as Garland ignores them and tries to turn their eyes to the screen. Bailiff Rech does his best to quiet them down, yelling out statements such as: “Garland is truth!" "Garland is just!" "Garland is righteous!” After a few moments, the screen pulls up a slightly dated looking image. A magazine cover, with Frank on the front, is displayed for the audience to see:


The crowd mumbles in confusion as Garland displays the cover with pride. Garland smiles as the camera cuts back to him, standing at the podium and waiting to raise the microphone back to his mouth.

Robert Garland: And just look! The company itself was cheating and cutting corners when they put this magazine out there! Look at that lazy crop job! Can you be less subtle about yourselves?! Now, I know what you're gonna say to me... "But Garland, that picture's old!" "Frank's a changed man!" Well, you know what I SAY?! That anyone who will go that far to show that side of them and revel in it... That man will always be that very same person somewhere on the inside. Somewhere deep and down within them, where Frank is currently hidin' himself from all of you! That's right... And since we're talkin' about this very same character... How about I show you very recent footage of Frank Washington showing his true character?!

Once again, the cameras point to the screen, Garland signaling for footage to begin to roll, as a video plays of Frank Washington on his way to the MSW ring...


The crowd once again seems confused, as all Garland showed was Frank Washington entering the ring from the crowd. However, Robert Garland shows the very same smile as before, as he once again raises the microphone.

Robert Garland: I'm sure you all saw what I'm talkin' about, right!? That footage was from earlier tonight, and it was commandeered from one of you fans out there! You see, on his way to the ring tonight, for a dark match to please our local audience, Frank seemed to have gotten a little hot headed. What you didn't see, as the audience member was asked not to film it, was Frank punching one of you poor people as he entered the ringside area! That's right! He showed his true character... Tonight! This wasn't in the past! This wasn't "the old Frank Washington!" This was a cover up from the powers at be who are currently still working on protecting their playboy's image! You believe me yet!?


Garland, clearly upset, slams the gavel down violently as the audience starts to ignore him. With one final burst of energy, Garland brings the microphone back to his mouth as he and Travis Rech angrily address the audience.

Travis Rech: ORDA! Yer all sheep! Sheep!

Robert Garland: I'm tellin' you the truth! He's a bad guy, playin' off of you fools! You're gonna let him get away with all of this!? You're just gonna -

"Re-Education (Through Labor)" by Rise Against interrupts Garland mid-sentence as the crowd cheers, much to his dismay. Frank quickly emerges from the back with a microphone in hand, looking anything but pleased to see the dirty laundry being aired.

Smith: It's about time someone put a stop to this Kangaroo Court hearing!

Bradford: Kangaroo Court? Changed man or not these are crimes he has to answer for!

Frank Washington: You just don't get it do you? Time after time you come out here and you continue to demonize me based on my past while completely ignoring the man you've become today! I'm not going to make any excuses for that magazine cover from 2010... back then I was a different man, I was scum, a liar and a cheater back then.


Garland smirks as the crowd seemingly begins to sway towards his side.

Bradford: The truth is out!

Frank Washington: And no matter how much I wish I could go back in time and correct the mistakes in the past... I can't take any of it back. But show me ONE person that has never done a thing in their life they've regretted, just one! We've all made mistakes in our lives and done things that we're not proud of, but who are you to judge the man I am now? You're living every waking moment of every day in the past while you think you're walking on water! Can't you put the past behind you and bury this hatchet for heaven forbid a month for sake of the tournament!? Even in the middle of a tag title chase you have to find whatever little nugget you can to paint me a the villain with preposterous stories like attacking a fan?

Frank shakes his head in disgust.

Frank Washington: I've NEVER hit a fan! I may have busted a fair share of my opponents open in my day and I may have even broken a coffee pot over an attack hound -

Garland sneers as Frank references their now famous brawl at Best of the Best.

Frank Washington: But I've never attacked a member of the audience without provocation! Not only would MSW and myself get slapped with a fat lawsuit but I'm simply not lucky enough like Bryce Manning to get away with it; otherwise I wouldn't have to deal with you! Garland... I'm tired of you ducking my challenges, I'm tired of you demonizing and assassinating my reputation that I've worked hard to rebuild, and I'm tired of you trying to end my career. This ends now!

Suddenly, Frank drops the microphone and removes his red jacket. Garland does the same with his judges outfit as Frank dashes to the ring. Immediately, the two start throwing punches, Garland getting the upper hand at first until Frank takes over!


Frank Washington shoves Garland back, Garland being bounced off the ropes and Frank hitting a hard looking shoulder block! As Garland hits the mat, Frank yells out a war cry, the audience fully behind him as Garland is reeling... Frank gets in position for The G.O.A.T...


Smith: Frank Washington was in full control until Travis Rech got involved!

Bradford: He was only looking out for his client! Frank Washington was looking to end his career!

With Garland now back in control, Rech calls for him to get back to his feet and removes a pair a handcuffs from his pocket. Garland gets the idea, the audience fully against him as he stomps Washington over and over again before taking the cuffs and dragging him to the nearest corner. With Washington in pain, Garland handcuffs him to the turnbuckle and lets a few more stomps go before arrogantly "posing" for the audience. The crowd completely reject him, Garland getting the chair from Rech and smacking it onto the mat a few times until -

Smith: Wait a minute! That's Yugo and Bonecrusher!

Bradford: What are they doing out here?! This is just getting more and more hectic by the minute!

Bonecrusher and Phailous hit the ring quickly, Garland noticing them and ducking out in a hurry. Travis Rech exits with Garland, both men yelling at The Bonecrushing Phailous as they check on Frank Washington and keep Garland from re-entering the ring. In complete frustration, Garland finally backs off, calling for Rech as both men exit through the crowd in a huff of anger. Rech yells back as Garland keeps walking away, The Bonecrushing Phailous un-cuffing Washington and helping him to his feet. Washington eyes the both of them, The Bonecrushing Phailous nodding back and keeping their guard as Washington exits the ring. With the ring now clear, The Bonecrushing Phailous begin to pose for the fans who are cheering for them loudly...

Bradford: They had no business coming out here! We were finally about to see this rivalry come to an end tonight! And why would they help their future opponent at Back To Basics?!

Smith: Well ladies and gentlemen, what appropriate timing nonetheless! It seems that Johnny B. & Yugo Phailous Vs. Leo Banks & Ian Windermear is next!