Post by Stasis on Apr 25, 2010 9:23:16 GMT -5
Prologue
The Thy WWE Draft, unquestionably it is one of the most important nights of the entire year. It defines a superstars path for the next year and can put them on a path to greatness or a road to ruin. For many superstars it is the chance to win their brand a pick in the draft, to prove themselves on a big stage or even to finally get that enemy from the other brand that has been niggling at them for the past months. For Undertaker it is non of these, The Phenom has entered the draft to prove that he truly is the best, he has been pitted against Smackdown’s best in the World Heavyweight Champion. A victory over him will give Undertaker the rights to the title that he is indubitably the best greatest superstar on the entire roster. For Undertaker it has been an arduous path, he has been under intense scrutiny from the crowd who have been counting on him slipping up for the past few months. They have invested their hopes and dreams in Stone Cold, Hulk Hogan, The Miz and even Kane who isn’t on their list of favoured people. Yet The Undertaker has lasted on and enters the Draft as the television World Wrestling Empire Champion and he will do anything to win yet again and crown himself with the self established title, “The Greatest Ever”.
Irreversible Doom
The weekly broadcast of WWE Raw returns from a particularly dull and uneventful ad break which was likely used as a toilet break or a chance to get snacks at home. However, in the arena the break served not as a chance for refreshments but as a tension builder as the titantron made a home for many vignettes for the WWE Draft, including exciting matches such as champion versus champion in The Phenom Undertaker squaring off against the “Young Lion” Dolph Ziggler, who has made it apparent in his words and his gesticulation that he is hungry for the win. However, the WWE fans are seing a very changed Dolph Ziggler. While Dolph is hungry for the win, he has matured under the guiding hand of Kurt Angle and looks to have become much more humbled than ever before, if not a bit timid. But under the guidance of Kurt Angle, Ziggler looks to be a fine prospect for Eric Bischoff and Smackdown. Ziggler knows above all else that his name is already a house hold name through his current status as Smackdown’s World Heavyweight Champion and by the way in which he has earned that title, but a victory over “The Demon from Death Valley” will prove his unconditional dominion over the entire industry, propelling his name to an elite level of respect and rank around the world as well as amongst his peers. Dolph has been running on reputation bestowed upon him by Kurt Angle, who relinquished control of the World Heavyweight Championship to him as he felt he was more apt for the job. However, the only way for the hype to be given substance will be if Ziggler can slay a giant in The Undertaker. Similar thoughts cross the minds of many, causing the tension within the arena to build with each passing moment in anticipation of one of the most crucial moments in the wrestling year, set to commence before the fans very eyes. Each and every fan in the building is well aware that the Thy WWE Draft is one of the most significant events of the year and more often than not, the Thy WWE Draft is filled with shock and awe. The Draft will make or break many up and coming stars and while it can shift the balance between to brands when a megastar changes brands affect the superstars on a personal basis, it can also change the entire Thy WWE evolving it into a new, more capricious and vivacious product than ever before. The show technicians are slowly building the crowd up and generating enthusiasm by playing a short video package containing graphics for every match, which the fans are responding to with dynamism. While Thy WWE fans are running wild for every match on a Draft card which has packed in the big matches, it is evident many are looking forward to the champion versus champion match the most, where the best of Raw takes on the very best of Smackdown. It will prove who has the right to claim the undeniable title, “The Best in the entire WWE” and it will prove if The Undertaker will deserve to stay atop his superficial pedestal he has placed himself upon, high and above the rest of the Raw roster. He has made it clear that in his tainted belief, it places him above anyone else in the entire corporation, Dolph Ziggler and even Vince McMahon included. While many fans have turned out to see champion versus champion, they have been disgruntled at the departure of their beloved Kurt Angle, who brought good times and success to his fans who soaked him in their adulation. These fans are crestfallen and believe that Dolph Ziggler doesn’t hold a candle to their former hero and that Smackdown is doomed to swallow defeat at the hands of Raw and Undertaker. However, there are many who have seen the good side in Angle’s exodus from the World Wrestling Empire. Undertaker had brought a dark shadow over the business ever since the seventh bell of his infernal return to the business and he has wrapped the fans in denotative tendrils of darkness and iniquity. With these tools The Phenom has sapped the vigour from the crowd by laying every opponent he has faced for the title to waste every time, leaving the Raw fans drained and without hope. But as Vince McMahon made the immensely popular pairing of Undertaker versus Kurt Angle in the Draft, the fans dared to hope that the face of Smackdown could finally end the unbeaten run of the Undertaker and force him to relinquish his dominion over Raw and the entire World Wrestling Empire. With this, Undertaker’s dark shadow would recede from the business and the age of Kurt Angle would instigate a drastic alteration to the industry. But the fans who shared in this reassuring thought have descended to the depths of melancholy due to Kurt Angle’s abrupt retirement and a new champion in Dolph Ziggler who is yet to even compete in a match on Smackdown, let alone The Thy WWE Draft. Yet even amongst the doubters, a grain of optimism, a seed of belief has been sown in Dolph Ziggler, they share the marginal view that if Angle could beat Undertaker and he feels Ziggler is even better than the Olympic dynamo, Dolph is a shoe-in to capture the title of the best there is and to bring a vital pick to Smackdown. For this very reason, there are thousands of fans clad in Dolph Ziggler merchandise brandishing signs that praise Dolph Ziggler and build momentum while others possess signs fashioned for no other purpose but to take a scathing dig at Undertaker. As the camera whirls around the jam packed arena it is evident Vince McMahon has used his usual genius to cram a few more seats in and hike up the attendance which in turn maximizes his profits in gate revenue and merchandise sales. While McMahon’s work is there to be admired, the camera captures a less mature member of World Wrestling Empire’s colossal fan base is frantically waving a sign questioning Undertaker’s sexual orientation. The seasoned camera crew quickly steer clear of the fan who has nothing short of delight written on his face and move towards the announcer’s table to meet the formidable duo of Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler for their regulatory greeting. The team aren’t short of subject matter to discuss while the viewers mull over their words, fortified by experience. As the camera pans inward as to get a better view of Lawler and Ross, King rubs his hands together eagerly with a mischievous look about him which says he is going to put through JR through his usual tribulation tonight on the WWE Draft. Jim Ross opens his hands so his palms face upward and greets the viewers while Jerry Lawler retains the twinkle in his eye as he throws a few stray glances at the Smackdown commentators, who are seated mere feet away from him. However, his announcing partner seems and probably is completely oblivious to the competitive aspect of things as he introduces the viewers at home to the WWE Draft.
Jim Ross
Hello everybody and welcome to a very special edition of Monday Night Raw, or should I say the Thy WWE Draft! This is the night when dreams are made and when they are broken. The World Wrestling Empire Draft is the one night Smackdown overlaps into Raw and we see the two brands battle it out for bragging rights and the chance to win their general manager picks for the draft itself. We could see career shattering results and career defining drafts, all in this very special broadcast of the Thy WWE Draft.
Jerry Lawler
Can you hear it JR? These fans are running wild in the stands for this draft, they know tonight is a big night, on the same level as Bad Blood or the Elimination Chamber, this is the night that defines careers! This crowd are going wild for their favourite brand JR and even the fans are at war with each other! Actually, you know what Ross? I suppose that puts us commentators in direct competition with those Smackdown commentators, huh? Well JR, I don’t know about you and Tenay, but I am one hundred percent sure I can bring more to the table than, uh……Tazz
Jim Ross manages to resist the strong urge to bury his head in his hands at the adolescent display from his partner and merely stares into the camera as though King never said a word. Instead of acknowledging the prattle which has become nothing short of unremitting from King, Ross decides instead to take the reigns and get back to the task at hand. As he does so, the fans are waving incessantly behind the duo and are making various hand gestures and a few rows back there is a rare Undertaker fan, holding up a sign that looks to have taken a long time to make, beckoning for the camera to take a look. Fortunately for the fan, his signis in plain view as the camera focuses on Jim Ross.
Jim Ross
You’re right there King, the entire industry is in competition with each other but the most important facet of this aggression and brutality is in the squared circle, not at the announcer’s desk. We are going to see seven matches, each contest will individually shape the year for this World Wrestling Empire roster. For every match that is won, the general manager of the opposing brand will gain a vital pick in the Thy WWE Draft. I can’t stress enough the potential change of this company once the night is over, we may even see The Undertaker jump ship to Smackdown is he fails to defeat Dolph Ziggler in our huge main event tonight.
Jerry Lawler
This is one of the biggest chances Dolph Ziggler is ever going to get. He has been injected with the reputation of Kurt Angle and has thousands of fans on his back coming up to his match with Undertaker. It’s up to him whether he lets it weigh him down or if he uses these fans to propel himself forward, otherwise Undertaker looks to be the favourite because we haven’t even witnessed a Dolph Ziggler match. But I suppose if Angle has dubbed him as “better than himself” then we should respect this young athlete. He looks to be hungry and he could bring his own era to the WWE if Undertaker isn’t careful in his match against him.
Jim Ross
That’s right, but “The Demon from Death Valley” is the only one with a real reputation in this match up. All we have is Kurt Angle’s hollow words to go on against Undertaker’s impressive unbeaten streak and the fact he has buried them alive for over twenty years. While I don’t like the man, I respect The Undertaker, he has been the most feared and respected force in this business for well over a decade and while he has been here in Thy WWE he has made a huge impact in only a few months. He created the Ministry and at one stage they held every title in the promotion, he has fought and beaten the best and has been champion since early February. I sure as hell don’t like the man, but Undertaker is a force to be reckoned with and I hope that Dolph Ziggler realises that. If he enters the ring and disses Undertaker, saying he can defeat him with relative ease it is not only going to go to his head, he is going to be talking himself into a Tombstone.
Jerry Lawler
Well JR, while I agree with you on some of your points about Undertaker, I’m looking for Dolph Ziggler to take this one. While I’m competing with the Smackdown commentators I’m not opposed to Ziggler and I like the look of this young talent. He has a good look to him and from what we saw earlier he was actually humbled in the presence of all these fans and he needed Kurt Angle to intervene for him. Ziggler knows he has to use all of his skill in the ring to take Undertaker down.
Jim Ross
While I do agree Ziggler’s lack of personality on the surface hasn’t gotten him off to quite the popular start Kurt expected him to with the fans, it is his in ring prowess that will decide things in the end, not how long he can run his mouth on the microphone. We saw that very point when Undertaker fought The Miz at Bad Blood, both men talked the talk but in the end it was Undertakr’s in ring dominance which decided it and it’s nights like that which have made Undertaker the favourite here tonight. But whether Undertaker is favourite or not, this is going to be a great match and it has the potential to be his greatest test yet. Since we haven’t yet seen Ziggler in the ring, he possesses unlimited potential and could prove problems beyond the threshold of even Kane, who was of the same blood as Undertaker. But ever since his decisive defeat, Kane and Paul Bearer are yet to resurface here in the WWE and Undertaker has gone on……..
GONG[/size][/b]
At the sound of The Undertaker’s renowned gong, Jim Ross ceases to speak, as does his broadcast partner and they simply allow the sound of the rampant crowd descending into strident boos tell the story as they await the arrival of perhaps the most hated man on the roster, Undertaker. Every week he has stepped into the fray to a chorus of boos from a hostile crowd and every week he has left the arena to boos of more intensity, surpassing the boos of his original entrance as he dashes the hopes of thousands of people again and again. Undertaker is the Thy WWE’s dark spirit and he has become the face of all things dark and corrupt within the walls of the company. His reputation and awesome presence has been a profound part of the industry and even though thousands boo him, they would be lost without him. It is through his dark, tainted being that Undertaker evokes immeasurable amounts of emotions and vigour in the crowd. As the crowd boo, each and every soul in the building are aware of the crippling fact that Dolph Ziggler will be facing The Undertaker at his brutal best and he will also have the expectation and reputation of Undertaker weighing him down in his debut match. The boos are ever prevalent as the lights within the arena begin to flicker ever so slightly, while they dim. It is almost a metaphor for the eternal struggle of light and darkness, good and evil and as the sinister, execrable spirit of The Undertaker draws near, the lights and the good fortitude in the arena is beginning to dwindle and through his evil subsistence within the stadium, Undertaker proves all things before him are dated, even the goodness and the hopes of the crowd, who continue to boo him and fight Dolph’s corner. The gong sounds once more, but it is suddenly overshadowed by a loud clap of thunder which is followed by an even more abrupt distorted sound, similar to a warped transmission, not being picked up by a television. The crowd continue to boo, despite being perplexed by the arbitrary sequence of events, but the chaotic muddle of sounds persists as the lights drift in and out of focus, descending into darkness and working back into the light, giving the whole seen a chaotic and frenzied feeling. However, a swift and profound call of a raven screeches around the arena, signalling an end to the confusion. As all the sound ceases, so does the light in the arena, having deserted the thousands of fans who rolled out to enjoy the draft to fend for themselves against the Lord of Darkness, The Phenom, Undertaker. Just as the time spent in the pure darkness seems to become intolerable for the crowd, the titantron begins to flicker before lighting up. The gentle glow of the screen provides the only source of light in the vast arena and it bathes the faces of thousands as they stare up at the screen, half knowing and half not knowing what to expect.
Jim Ross
This is vintage stuff from The Undertaker here, he is renowned for these kind of games and mind tricks, he gives off the image that he is some sort of conjuror or has some sort of dark sorcery at his disposal. These fans are transfixed, as am I. We are all speculating as to what The Deadman has in store for us all.
The titantron progresses from a black screen to a star spangled sky, with a watchful crescent moon hanging beside the stars, like some sort of mediator among the smaller sparkling stars. The screen becomes momentarily muddled as the camera lens adjusts, but as the screen regains it’s smooth texture, the entire scene is set before the crowd. A crisp evening mist is creeping through the air in the dead of the night and gives a portentous feel to the environment. The mists drift above the ground, which is barely visible in the dark night with the fog gliding above. The entire situation is ominous; there is not a sound in the dead night, where seemingly ancient mists drift over undisturbed pastures as though the camera were travelling through some timeless, undisturbed mausoleum. All of a sudden, the calm and the quiet has vanished and the piercing squawk of a dilapidated gate, gradually overbearing it’s hinges which wince and moan to the indifferent night, which bears no remorse to the unwarranted in the harrowing, desolate environment. The atmosphere is very much a foreboding one as the gentle crunch of the camera man makes their way towards the shrill, whiny gate which has formed a rhythmic tempo with the crunch of the feet and the whine of the overbearing gate. As the camera progresses through the difficult terrain under the atramentous sky, the scenery makes it clear where the scene is set. There are a manifold of tombstones adorning a weathered walkway stretching as far as the naked eye can perceive through the shrouding mists, only made thicker and more awkward to see through due to the gentle, almost translucent light of the moon an stars, adorning the seemingly eternal night sky, keeping the dark, harrowing atmosphere over the graveyard. As the camera advances through the cemetery which screams ill omen at all the viewers at home, the crunch of small debris under the camera man’s feet seems to speed up as he continues on, almost becoming a frenzy of stamping and stepping but it soon becomes apparent there is someone else present. The crowd know of only one man who would enter the four walls of this seemingly ancient graveyard to become one with the dead, in their eternal slumber and some grin consciously while others prepare to boo profusely. All the sounds of labour are present as with each crunch of the turf, there is a barely audible grunt as a tall figure cloaked in black digs a grave. The figure is bent grips the shaft of a shovel with the gnarled fingers of death as it prepares the final resting place of yet another in the timeless place of death. As the dim, eerie light of the moon strikes the figure, it comes out as the outline of a man hunched over although the figure could easily be erroneously branded as a strange spectre in the haunting night. The camera rests there for what seems like an age, with the camera man to afraid to disturb the great black figure, which could easily be mistook for some sort of ghastly apparition in the environment of the cemetery, with the mists swirling about it’s feet. Shadowy figure straightens up to it’s full height and blocks the light of the moon, looking tall and elegant yet still terrible in the irksome atmosphere and the haunting moon looming above them in the dark sky. The shadowy spectre digs its shovel deep into the earth having finished its scrupulous labour. After a moment of waiting, the figure turns around very deliberately before beckoning the camera man to advance towards him. By the sound of his footsteps, it is evident the camera is using very deft, wary steps as he advances to the shadowy figure, who looms above him so he must tilt the camera upward to capture the demonic figure properly. As the camera stares the gravedigger right in the face, his features are indiscernible, the frayed hood is simply filled with the same darkness that surrounds the entire cemetery and indeed the wide expanse of barren terrain which claims ownership to the demented graveyard. The dark being slowly raises his hands and clasps his dark, worn hood and carefully lowers it to his stocky shoulders, unveiling his long, shaggy black hair and his piercing steel-blue eyes. Upon revealing himself The Undertaker stands tall with his hair draped down over his face, which is bowed slightly. The camera pans outward slightly and reveals more of the scene to the viewers at home and the crowd who are watching the titantron intently inside the vast arena. Only a few feet to the rear of The Undertaker beside two great mounds of earth is a tombstone with the epitaph already inscribed into it, the etching reads: “Here lies Dolph Ziggler, he will always be remembered………………for his demise”. The fresh open grave is menacing and implies things to come for Dolph Ziggler if he falls short in his endeavour to defeat Undertaker and end his unbeaten run. The camera returns to Undertaker’s pale, impassive face which matches the mood of the graveyard as he looks as though he is about to speak. The cemetery gate continues to creak and the occasional crunch is unnerving, it is as though all the dark things of the night are flocking to their lord and master to hear him speak. As he prepares to speak, Undertaker raises his hand into the air with his fingers curled and rigid, with his eyes rolled back as though he is summoning some sort of unearthly powers. Maintaining his pose, Undertaker begins to speak.
Undertaker
I call unto thee, creatures of the night, gather round and take heed of my words, for the feast begins soon………the feast of Dolph Ziggler! It doesn’t cease to amaze me that despite the fact Kurt Angle’s courage deserted him and he wouldn’t face me that you, Dolph Ziggler would take up the challenge. Of all the people who were in this corporation, Kurt Angle was the only person who could have called himself a legitimate athlete and the only other who could have contended with me inside my yard. Yet even he of all men forfeited the match as he knew of my prowess in the ring because I am yet to be beaten as the champion of my brand. He heard the tales of how I cripple my opponents psychologically and physically in a far more brutal fashion than he and his ankle lock ever did. So rather than doom himself to eternal torment by the hounds of hell and the agony of losing his soul to me he decided instead to give someone else whom he believed was more capable of defeating me the task. Kurt Angle had his intellect about him when he chose to forfeit the match, but you Dolph Ziggler clearly don’t have any of yours about you know. You accepted the task of defeating me one on one in the squared circle when it was something your mentor Kurt Angle knew he couldn’t achieve. You are slower, weaker, less sharp and frail in comparison to the former World Heavyweight Champion, but a shadow of what he was in his days here. You may believe you can defeat me purely because Anlgle told you so or because you are the best athlete on the Smackdown brand. But Ziggler, neither you nor Kurt Angle could ever expect what I have in store for you. No amount of training prepares you for an in ring bout with The Phenom, countless athletes will affirm that. When I am in the ring I am on another level to what a normal wrestler is capable of. When I am in the ring I open the gates of hell and every week I unleash the furies of my domain upon the mortal men that trifle in the affairs of The Reaper and each week they fall. You are a mortal Dolph and you are feeble or at least you will be once I drive your skull into the canvas and wait for the three count.
By now Undertaker has broken his trance like state and he is squarely facing the camera, gesticulating as he speaks his dark prophecies. The black sky filled with dimly lit stars and the haunting mood provide an eerie backdrop to the scene as Undertaker speaks, the type the fans have become accustomed to seeing when Undertaker is present. As Undertaker continues in his divination of Ziggler’s horrific fate, he takes a short step backward and to the right to open up the view to the tombstone he has prepared for Ziggler. The feeling among the audience and in the graveyard is once again portentous as the master of mind games changes the mood once again. As Undertaker’s robe sweeps though the air it kicks some of the mists that seem to inhabit the cemetery permanently. The tombstone stands solemnly at the far end of the cemetery with an area devoted to it so it stands alone, with an emphasis on the cold, haunting epitaph. The entire crowd begin to boo fervently at the sight of the epitaph, albeit the fact that their display of hatred and disdain for Undertaker is oblivious to The Phenom who continues on in his message for the supposedly doomed Dolph Ziggler, who is predestined to a horrible fate of eternal damnation at the hands of Thy WWE’s most feared and renowned star on the roster. Undertaker shifts his body squarely to the camera once more, blocking out the epitaph, satisfied that everyone has the message embossed in their minds as he persists in his promo.
Undertaker
So Dolph, I see it on the surface that you are confident, even cocky in the lead up to our contest, but I’d be a fool to believe you are. You aren’t so diverse in your approach to this contest Dolph, I’ve faced men like you before who were so utterly self-assured of their capabilities that they made it clear to the entire WWE Universe they thought they were going to defeat me one-on-one. Yet unbeknownst to the crowd they flaunted to, beneath the pompous, bombastic exterior, trepidation coursed through your veins, sapping your will and chilling your soul. For you see Dolph, to step into The Reaper’s yard is invariably to face one’s ultimate demise sooner than time intended, Dolph Ziggler and your manager has sacrificed you to me. Kurt Angle had such fear of me Dolph he replaced himself with you, rather than suffer the consequences of facing me in the ring. Do you really believe an unseasoned, brash youngster like you can best the most dominant force in the history of this entire industry one on one in the ring? You are a fool if you do Ziggler, but I see through the walls you have put up through apprehension of our match, I have perceived the innate fear you and all other men possess for me. I can see that you are regretting your decision to fill in for Kurt, Dolph. Whether he is in your corner or not won’t offer you some sort of relief or deliverance from me. Kurt Angle has spoken on your behalf as well as offer weak alibis for not facing me but Kurt Angle cannot fill in for you when you step into my yard. Whether you can envisage it or not, I will enter the ring with more intensity and more power than ever before. I will pour out all the wrath of The Undertaker upon thee and I will smite you down before the eyes of thousands in attendance, millions at home and your mentor, Kurt Angle. On this night, Dolph Ziggler shall rest in eternal peace by my hand! You really think you have escaped me don’t you Kurt? Your neck problems never seemed to have hindered you before the draft, despite the fact you lost to two opponents I saw Kurt Angle competing at his best. But your fate is sealed Kurt Angle, you will rest in peace by my hand if not at the draft, then at some time when you return the business, for my path rolls on. I will continue in my perpetual task of preying upon wayward souls, such as that of your replacement, Dolph Ziggler while you recuperate you’re your neck injury. It is impossible for you prevent our match from happening Kurt one day you shall return and on that day you will stand before the coming storm and embark upon the perilous journey that none have emerged from with their soul, that journey is the trip you take when you face against the inexorable, indomitable Undertaker! You know this and that very fact gnaws at your poise and self-belief, crippling you with doubt and fear. There is no escape from the tainted hand of The Undertaker and one day Angle, in the near or distant future my hand will grasp your throat and I will slam you into the canvas before delivering a swift but lethal tombstone. I will have your soul Kurt Angle, you cannot evade me forever and tonight, hope will fade. One day, you will rest in peace Kurt Angle however, tonight is about Dolph Ziggler. Angle may have given you a rigorous regime, he has probably put your body through so much that you think you can withstand a beating from me. But Dolph, how do you defend yourself against an attack from The Phenom where not only your body is under attack, but your fragile mind as well. Both before and during the match you will feel the weight of fear on yourself and my dark spirit slowly draining you of the will to go on. By the time you reach the ring, stand under the bright lights and look at the smiling faces of your fans, it will be too late. You will be corrupted; the shining lights will scorn you and burn you. The smiling faces of the fans will turn sour, all you will see is the melancholy you have evoked in them and the utter pain of defeat caused by you, Dolph. Then dread will grip you and as the lights go out and I enter the arena, you will accept death by me and your soul will be mine, Dolph! All of your training and preparation will be unavailing Dolph, for my overwhelming assault, fuelled with the wrath of hell itself and my dominant will shall break your feeble mind. It has been said before Dolph and I shall say it again, nothing can prepare you for a match with The Undertaker, it irrefutably a “once in a lifetime” experience, but not only for my utter dominance and seemingly boundless capabilities in the ring, no. Facing me is a once in a lifetime experience, for once I have concluded my throttling of you, I will extract your soul and condemn you to eternal damnation. Take pleasure in your vanities while you can Dolph Ziggler, for in the fires of hell, there is nothing of the sort but agony and despondency. Are you ready for the storm to come Dolph Ziggler? I am coming and in all my dark glory your resolve will be devoured, you physical form will be battered beyond repair and you shall be cast down into the fires of hell and damnation. I am coming soon Dolph Ziggler……….your time is short!
No sooner than when the piercing words leapt from Undertaker’s forked tongue had he raised his arms midway up his torso, curled his fingers inwards and rolled his eyes back into the back of his skull, in the same dark pose as before his promo. As Undertaker cocks his head forward, while still in the same posture, he seems to be drawing upon some sort of external power of divine proportions. As that very thought crosses the minds of thousands, the staunch air within graveyard seems to stir and the mists about the cemetery swirl into the air, climbing ever upward in a gust of air. Undertaker stays as he is and a great wind begins to blow over the graveyard which seems to have remained undisturbed for an eternity. The great haze about the graveyard rises and fogs up the camera, members of the crowd look to one another as the entire scene is made invisible. Only the roaring of the great wind and the whine of the old gate is audible to the crowd as well as a queer sound, resembling that of a bolt of lighting striking the earth or the static sound of a television being switched off. A perplexed, yet fascinated audience gaze up at the titantron not knowing what to expect of Undertaker, who has become renowned for his capricious actions which shock and rivet the audience time upon time again. Despite the thickness of the musty mist which is impairing the vision of the crowd, there is a warm orange light not far from the camera, colouring the mists in its gentle glow. With time the whistling of the wind ceases and the mists fall back to their resting place upon the barren earth, revealing a curious scene to the crowd, which seems to have only a supernatural vindication. The Undertaker has vanished from the graveyard, which could easily be interpreted as his domain and his tall, dark form has been switched with his own insignia, which is blazing vibrantly in the earth adjacent to the open grave, which threatens to be the final resting place of Dolph Ziggler. With Undertaker out of the picture, the booing has subsided into a silence. The crowd have been left with plenty of food for thought and are mulling over Undertaker’s intense words and his actions which, as usual, are nothing short of paranormal. With the ancient graveyard back to it’s normal deathly self, the picture begins to recede as the camera man backs away from the open grave toward the whining gate, the hinges of which threaten to buckle and release the gate to the ground following the gusts of wind Undertaker called upon. As the camera man passes back out of the gate, the graveyard stands looming over the crowd on the titantron before fading out into the same blackness which still resides within the arena. As the sound of the creaking gaten dwindles and dies off, the lights begin to flood the arena, as though Undertaker’s hold over the arena is being broken. As the lighting system is fully operational, the camera crew are swift to change to the camera directly in front of the announcer’s table where a flustered Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler sit. JR quickly adjusts his hat and Lawler leans into the desk as they realise it’s their queue to speak.
Jim Ross
As per usual, The Undertaker has put forward some intense words, fashioned only to break the spirit of this young athlete and personally I’m fearful for Ziggler. Undertaker has gotten into the minds of seasoned veterans and poisoned their will to go on, I can’t vouch for Ziggler’s mental resilience, especially as he is only beginning to get is start in the sport. But perhaps the mental toughness of Kurt Angle will transcend into Dolph Ziggler, all I can say is, he’ll need it going into a match with Undertaker because The Phenom cripples you both physically and mentally when you enter a contest against him. Do you think Dolph can keep his head going into this match, King?
Jerry Lawler
Well JR, I think he can. Not only does Dolph Ziggler exhibit signs of confidence, but he has Kurt Angle as a mentor and a manager at ringside for him tonight. There isn’t much reassurance that would come in better than that! In my opinion JR, assuming this kid is all Kurt Angle has cracked him up to be, I think Ziggler is in with a great chance not only to resist Undertaker’s mind games, but to actually beat The Deadman tonight and win Smackdown another pick in the Draft.
Jim Ross
That’s a very bold statement to make, King. Especially with the way Undertaker has been dominating Raw recently. We have seen the return of two legends in Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker defeated both of them fair and square. To say a youngster such as Dolp Ziggler can actually best the most dominant and respected force in this business is doubtful, even with someone as talented as Kurt Angle in his corner, directing him along the way. But how about that graveyard scene, King? There was an ominous feeling all throughout that segment, especially with the tombstone with Ziggler’s name etched into it. Dolph must be wondering how he is going to deal with this supernatural being, who is seemingly oblivious to pain itself? What’s it gonna take for Dolph to overcome Undertaker in this match, King?
Jerry Lawler
I’m not even sure, Ross! We haven’t really seen anything that can keep Undertaker down for an extended period of time, not a Kane tombstone or a Skull Crushing Finale, nothing! All I can hope it that this Zigzag is capable of getting Undertaker pinned because I think it’s the only way to end the era of Undertaker here in The World Wrestling Empire, JR.
Jim Ross
It’s true that the Raw brand has been Undertaker’s dominion here in the Thy WWE for quite some time and it may to an outside intervention or perhaps a straightedge intervention to end his era.
Jerry Lawler
Straightedge?
Jim Ross
That’s right King, there have been rumours going around that CM Punk is considering reforming the Straight Edge Society and going after Undertaker and his title, so if The Demon From Death Valley can emerge from this affair victorious he’ll have CM Punk to deal with. But a renewed S.E.S is only going to be precarious for everyone else on the roster. Who’ll be the next person to have their head shaved and pledge allegiance to CM Punk?
Jerry Lawler
I don’t know JR, but……
King can’t finish his sentence as the blare of a gong drowns his voice out and once again the arena falls under the shadow of The Undertaker. A deep blue light beams from above the titantron and cuts through swirling smoke which drifts this way and that upon the entrance ramp. Another gong reverberates and the beam of light broadens and intensifies, providing the entire arena with some means to see. Akin to the previous time Undertaker’s hold was over the arena the titantron bursts to life once more, like some sort of deja vu. The screen turns from black to a deep shade of blue, before the dimly lit graveyard where Undertaker just spoke to the crowd. The caption is of Undertaker with his hands raised either side of him, while the wind courses through his hair and he is hear saying:“Are you ready for the storm to come Dolph Ziggler? I am coming soon Dolph Ziggler………your time is short!” As Undertaker speaks those words forcefully, the calmness of the video is gone and the gentle toll of the gong is replaced with Undertaker’s normal organ theme, but played at a higher pitch and more upbeat as the video explodes into life. The video is now alternating between Undertaker in his signature post match pose, on one knee with his hand raised and of him chokeslamming helpless victims into the unforgiving canvas. A gong sounds as the song keeps it’s upbeat tempo and the caption switched from Undertaker delivering chokeslams to him performing tombstones on all the victims of his title reign so far. As the last man is driven to the canvas, the song grows quiet at the resounding hum of a gong. The video cuts to Undertaker at the end of Bad Blood so many months ago down upon one knee giving a dark salute to the World Wrestling Empire fans, mocking them as he had felled their hero. As this segment plays, another quote from Undertaker is heard:“I am the most revered, the most feared and the most respected force in the history of this business. The Undertaker is the most dominant force to ever set foot inside a WWE ring!” The camera conveniently zooms in for a close up of Undertaker in the same segment, he has his eyes rolled back in their sockets in his signature pose as his voice blares out over the speaker system once more:“Prepare yourself Dolph Ziggler. Prepare to…………Rest In Peace!”With that line the lights are returned to the arena in an abrupt fashion and the screen turns blank, signalling the end of the vignette. The fans have neglected the opportunity to boo and have instead decided to take in the vignette which was particularly well put together by the technical team. Wisps of smoke still swirl about the arena, but the bright lights cut through them, purging the smoke of its portentous aura. The spirit of many fans has wavered at the sight of the overwhelming darkness Dolph Ziggler must face tonight. The video clip has served as a cold reminder of what Undertaker is capable of and even though The Deadman’s words weren’t directed at the crowd, nor was the video, but they have been broken by his terrible aura and all hope has deserted them at time when it is needed most for themselves and for Dolph. However, Dolph Ziggler and indeed Kurt Angle fanatics can still be heard raising their voices high in chants for Dolph. But it is evident many have descended into misgiving and melancholy at Undertaker’s callous, crippling words. Despite the fans abhorrence for The Undertaker it is apparent to each one of them he is the favourite in this encounter and that it is more than likely that without Kurt Angle wielding a beacon of hope for them and Smackdown, Undertaker will triumph once more, continuing on in his dark era over Raw. The “Era of Shadow” or “Undertaker’s Era” as it has been dubbed has been like a shadow cast under the company, plunging it into darkness. Brave men have emerged time and time again, yet Undertaker has felled each one of them and laid them to rest, delivering their battered remnants to the “hounds of hell”. Undertaker has got on with his task of preying upon the wayward souls of the WWE solemnly for a large portion of his life; he has connected the fans with the unworldly time and time again. For twenty years Undertaker has buried his opposition alive, he has terrified countless wrestlers and to him, Dolph Ziggler is just another upstart, another wayward soul who is spearheaded by someone he desires to bury alive also, Kurt Angle. When all this is taken into perspective and once it is contemplated for any length of time, it seems unlikely that Dolph Ziggler will pose any sort of threat to the seemingly indomitable Undertaker. As Undertaker previously stated, this thought is gnawing at the fans belief in Dolph Ziggler and crippling them with doubt, despite the colourful signs and the “screw you Undertaker” attitude. Once more the viewers at home are entrusted to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler at the announcer’s table who look to have more to say regarding The Undertaker versus Dolph Ziggler following that clip although, Jerry Lawler normally has a lot to say regardless of the subject at hand.
Jim Ross
Ladies and gentlemen the spirit of The Undertaker is certainly in this arena tonight and I believe we are going to be seeing The Phenom at his brutal best here tonight, I hope Dolph is ready because on nights like this Undertaker pulls no punches and sure as hell doesn’t take any prisoners. The Undertaker we are going to see here tonight is the sort of Undertaker who defeated The Miz at Bad Blood or Kane at No Mercy. The Phenom is going to “open up the gates of hell” or in other words, he is entering this match and is going to win it regardless of the cost involved, hell or high water. Which means he has come for Ziggler’s soul and is putting everything on the line to obtain it and it’s gonna take one hell of a men to resist Undertaker, whether you’re Dolph Ziggler, Kurt Angle, CM Punk or even The Rock.
Jerry Lawler
Oh come on JR, don’t you think you’ve fallen into Undertaker’s spell? Every we he comes out here and prophesises and uses black magic or whatever you call it to brainwash these fans and to terrify his opponent. Weren’t you listening to Kurt Angle when he spoke to us earlier on tonight? He told us of the passion and the inspiration that came over him when he caught a glimpse of this young man in the ring.
Jim Ross
That’s right, King he saw Dolph Ziggler for what he was, a hero, a champion and that is why he retired from wrestling and relinquished the belt to him. Dolph may not have the swagger of The Miz, the microphone proficiency of The Rock or the looks of Rick Martel, but he does have something many superstars in this business lack, a heart. This match has somewhat of a fairytale backdrop to it with Undertaker as the unstoppable force here in WWE and Doph Ziggler has risen from being a nobody in the wrestling world to being mentored by Kurt Angle and facing Undertaker tonight! While the analogy has been true thus far, I can only wonder whether the fairytale will continue to be a stereotypical one, with the good of Dolph Ziggler overcoming Undertaker’s immeasurable darkness, or if thousands of fans will go home disappointed as the era of Undertaker rolls on. Who knows?
Jerry Lawler
Well JR, I’m not really one for analogies, I’d rather say what there is to say and watch what happens. Kurt Angle has injured his neck, he has replaced himself with someone he deems just as capable as he is and in my opinion, Kurt Angle had sufficient skills to best Undertaker. So if Angle could do it, Dolph Ziggler can do it, we’re gonna see the end of Undertaker’s era tonight, JR! When he is beaten Undertaker can’t talk bout how he is the best anymore, he’ll just recede back into whatever dark corner he surfaced from.
Jim Ross
Well each of us our entitled to our own opinion, King so I won’t hold that against you. Al I’ve done is state the facts and they are very much stacked in favour of Undertaker. But The Demon From Death Valley has…………..
GONG[/b][/size]
At the sound of Undertaker’s legendary gong, the crowd have immediately descended into boos, they feel certain that this time it really is Undertaker is entering the ring and this will be their last chance to tell him exactly what to think. The man who held the sign questioning Undertaker’s sexual orientation can be seen dancing in the aisles trying to get Undertaker to take a look at his less than flattering sign, which also bears a vulgar picture of The Deadman.
GONG[/b][/size]
Boos of epic proportions now flood the arena it they are perhaps the loudest Undertaker has ever received. It really is the most adored superstar in Kurt Angle standing up to the most loathed in Undertaker, even if Angle is only going to be present at ring side and it will be Dolph Ziggler participating in the match. Many Dolph Ziggler fans adorn the stands as Undertaker’s gong resounds in timed bursts. After his debut appearance (which didn’t go down too well with the fans) the World Wrestling Empire fanatics withdrew their Dolph Ziggler signs and stopped chanting his name whenever the titantron displayed a graphic of him and Undertaker. But it seems through the fact the hatred for Undertaker outweighs the uncertainty surrounding Dolph Ziggler that he has been redeemed amongst the capacity crowd. The fans begin to grow quiet as the last gongs sound and the arena lights fail before Undertaker’s graveyard symphony begins to play.
The cold, ominous sound of Undertaker’s gong has enveloped the arena is his presence. The crowds boos are drowned out as the theme plays loudly and smoke begins to pour out on to the stage. Undertaker’s renowned precursor, the gong continues to air about the arena as the live appearance of The Undertaker draws near. The same pale, blue light as before shines down vibrantly upon the stage, yet it still can’t reveal much of the scene to the audience, who are booing profusely in anticipation of the arrival of The Undertaker, the most hated man on the entire roster. Undertaker has stepped into an antagonistic atmosphere for the last three months and indeed for longer periods of time within his illustrious career and the boos of the fans won’t phase The Phenom, if anything they will boost The Undertaker. As the funeral dirge kicks in, Undertaker appears from behind the curtain garbed in his ministry coat with his head bowed. His strides are slow and deliberate as he approaches the gentle slope of the ramp. The camera trails to the rear of Undertaker who looms over the camera while it looks out into the stands which are crammed with diehard World Wrestling Empire fans, who are booing Undertaker with all they’ve got. The Phenom stands atop the entrance ramp with flames belching from the stage behind him, it is almost like his pedestal above the rest of the industry Undertaker often speaks of. Undertaker is slow and deliberate in raising his head up to meet the jeers and the hate filled eyes of thousands of people. After a moment of taking it all in, Undertaker shrugs off the boos of the crowd, completely impassive to their din and merely moves onward, with his piercing gaze fixated upon the ring. As Undertaker moves at his vintage rate down the ramp, kicking up smoke that rises, caught in the updraft the fans are leaning over the guard rail to tell The Phenom he sucks, yet The Reaper trundles onward, having separated himself from any emotion long ago when Kane’s face was scarred brutally in the fire that consumed his parents and his old life. Since then Undertaker has been a somber, lone force, going about his business of walking his own forlorn path. But for now, Undertaker’s path has led him to the bottom of the entrance ramp where he has rounded the barricade and stands at the foot of the steel steps, set to ascend them and return the lights to the arena. As Undertaker reaches the top of the entrance ramp, a gust of smoke pours out over him, shrouding Undertaker as he raises his arms to his sides and draws upon his otherworldly return light to the arena. There is a sound of thunder as light floods the arena and Undertaker’s classic theme which he has reverted to for but one night ceases to play and the harrowing dirge is replaced with the copious boos of the capacity crowd. Undertaker runs his hand against the fibrous ring robes as he advances along the apron before bending down carefully allowing his hair to drape down over his face as he enters the WWE ring. As Undertaker gets his hair out of his face he looks up to find an official already awaiting him with a microphone in hand. Undertaker snatches the microphone from the ring official’s hand and with a cock of the head he beckons for him to leave his ring, his yard. Undertaker faces the cameras which are pointing at him from his preferred stand to speak to. It was the very stand he stood facing as Paul Bearer groveled and cursed his luck following the demise of Kane. The boos are ever prevalent as Undertaker begins in his live message for Dolph Ziggler and his manager, Kurt Angle.
Undertaker
Every week I enter an arena filled with you people. Every week I am jeered and cussed at profusely, yet you never even comprehend that it doesn’t faze me in the slightest. I am a being of higher power than you an I am here to harvest the souls of those who have gone astray here in the World Wrestling Empire. Whether you concur with my methods or not is of no real concern to me, for on The Day of Reckoning all of your souls will be mine for it has been said before, “The spirit of the Undertaker lives through all mankind” and by The Undertaker’s hand, all of mankind shall rest in peace! But tonight isn’t about laying all of you to rest, but reaping the soul of Dolph Ziggler. I have been anticipating the World Wrestling Empire Draft or some sort of inter brand event for months. For months I have been searching for the chance to establish my dominion over this industry by defeating the very best of Smackdown and tonight is my chance to do so. The entire Raw roster lies below me and each week I have crushed them beneath my feet, but for the first time since my glorious return to the WWE, I feel I have a challenge before me, or at least I had one. Kurt Angle could have been my greatest foe to date, but a vertebrate injury has forced him out of in ring competition on Smackdown. So rather than relinquish the belt to Maven, The Rock, Chris Jericho or even his General Manager, Kurt Angle gave the belt to an unknown in Dolph Ziggler. Dolph may have “matured” and he may have flourished under you Angle but the fact remains that Dolph Ziggler is yet to have a competitive match and you have lined him up to face me, the most powerful and most dominating force in the entire World Wrestling Empire. You may have seen dexterity, grace and passion in Dolph Ziggler, but thanks to you Angle he will be lying in a grave by the end of the night, having been feasted upon by the creatures of the night, but by then he would have already been a corpse and his soul will be mine. In truth I am not here to make a loquacious statement, I am here to make another appearance to Dolph Ziggler, who’s will I can feel crumbling under my dark spirit which has poisoned his mind, I feel it now. The fact your fans have to boo my presence shows they are attacking me rather than cheer for you, they have doubt in you Dolph. They know you cannot defeat me and their boos do nothing to reassure themselves or to console you, they only strengthen me for I know you are weak and that qualm will cripple you in our contest. Prepare yourself for the end Dolph Ziggler, for after this night you shall…………….Rest In Peace!
With his signature phrase, Undertaker exits the ring swiftly and leaves the fans to drown in their doubts and for the hope to be slowly squeezed out of Ziggler. Undertaker’s tools are fear and doubt and he is a master works-man and tonight he has proved his proficiency with them tonight by stunning the crowd into a silence. Fans are no longer brandishing their colorful signs or chanting, instead they look up thoughtfully at the video package consisting of graphics for the matches and wonder if Thy WWE will ever be the same after this night. The camera crew come to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler for their final thoughts before the draft commences.
Jim Ross
Well there you have it folks, the final words of The Undertaker. He believes he is going o bury Dolph Ziggler alive tonight and that he will finally establish himself officially as the best of the best in this company. What’s your opinion after that, King?
Jerry Lawler
I’m not sure, JR I just don’t know what to think after that. Undertaker’s words are very convincing but so are Kurt Angle’s. I guess we are just going to have to let the athletes do the talking in the ring because right now my judgment is clouded. All I know right now is that the Raw announcing team are going to kick the Smackdown announcing teams ass! Actually JR, I’ve had an idea for a match.
Jim Ross
What’s the idea, King?
Jerry Lawler
General Manager versus General Manager! I want to see Bischoff and McMahon square off in a ring. McMahon can kick Eric’s ass in real life, just like he did in the ratings, haha!
Jim Ross
I doubt it King, but what we do know is that we are seeing The Undertaker against Dolph Ziggler with Kurt Angle at ringside for tonight’s main event on the World Wrestling Empire Draft! We’re going to take a short break but don’t go away, because the in ring action starts when the WWE Draft returns.
The camera zooms outward and as it does so the announcing duo converse a few words before the scene fades out into a World Wrestling Empire logo. To build the hype even more, a WWE Draft promo is shown prior to the add break, it’s centered around The Undertaker, Dolph Ziggler and Kurt Angle among other superstars and is a short clip of fast paced action ending in a WWE Draft logo. The Draft logo lingers in the viewers television sets for a moment before fading out into an ad break most likely used as a toilet break or a chance to get a snack for the people at home.
Epilogoue
As Undertaker makes his way down the staunch, dark corridors he looks up at the door which reads "Undertaker" with a star burning brightly through the dull scene in the corridor. Undertaker sneers at the sight of the golden star, he will never acknowledge himself as a true star until he has proved himself to be the best in the World Wrestling Empire. He knows if he is to do that he must enter the arena through the shadow and engulf Dolph Ziggler in his darkness and fell yet another of the fans heros before their despairing eyes. Undertaker pushed upon the door which glides soundlessly over the hardwood floor. Undertaker enters the dressing room which has been purged of all light less a small window, the sort that would be in a prison which is streaming a golden ray of the sun into the dressing room. As Undertaker goes through his strategy for the match he fiddles with the clasp in his grappling gloves and finds himself sliding them on and off as he determines how he will decimate the fans valiant warrior and extend "The Era of The Undertaker" into Smackdown as well. The light gushing through the open slit in the wall begins to falter as night arrives at the arena, this is Undertaker's time. As the light fades into the darkness, Undertaker ponders if fate is telling him something, is the light fading for Dolph? Will the evil of Undertaker triumph again? The light is suggesting metaphorically at least, that this is the case. Undertaker stands up from the bench and fastens his grappling gloves on for the last time, he straightens up at the door. He closes his eyes as he feels his power flow through him, Undertaker will be a tower of strength tonight and he will prove his dominion over the entire promotion in front of thousands tonight.......it's time. Undertaker pushes open the door and steps into the hallway, staring up at the whitewashed walls for a moment before he steps into the fray and beyond the curtain into the darkness........to claim another soul..........[/color]
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EORP
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The Thy WWE Draft, unquestionably it is one of the most important nights of the entire year. It defines a superstars path for the next year and can put them on a path to greatness or a road to ruin. For many superstars it is the chance to win their brand a pick in the draft, to prove themselves on a big stage or even to finally get that enemy from the other brand that has been niggling at them for the past months. For Undertaker it is non of these, The Phenom has entered the draft to prove that he truly is the best, he has been pitted against Smackdown’s best in the World Heavyweight Champion. A victory over him will give Undertaker the rights to the title that he is indubitably the best greatest superstar on the entire roster. For Undertaker it has been an arduous path, he has been under intense scrutiny from the crowd who have been counting on him slipping up for the past few months. They have invested their hopes and dreams in Stone Cold, Hulk Hogan, The Miz and even Kane who isn’t on their list of favoured people. Yet The Undertaker has lasted on and enters the Draft as the television World Wrestling Empire Champion and he will do anything to win yet again and crown himself with the self established title, “The Greatest Ever”.
Irreversible Doom
The weekly broadcast of WWE Raw returns from a particularly dull and uneventful ad break which was likely used as a toilet break or a chance to get snacks at home. However, in the arena the break served not as a chance for refreshments but as a tension builder as the titantron made a home for many vignettes for the WWE Draft, including exciting matches such as champion versus champion in The Phenom Undertaker squaring off against the “Young Lion” Dolph Ziggler, who has made it apparent in his words and his gesticulation that he is hungry for the win. However, the WWE fans are seing a very changed Dolph Ziggler. While Dolph is hungry for the win, he has matured under the guiding hand of Kurt Angle and looks to have become much more humbled than ever before, if not a bit timid. But under the guidance of Kurt Angle, Ziggler looks to be a fine prospect for Eric Bischoff and Smackdown. Ziggler knows above all else that his name is already a house hold name through his current status as Smackdown’s World Heavyweight Champion and by the way in which he has earned that title, but a victory over “The Demon from Death Valley” will prove his unconditional dominion over the entire industry, propelling his name to an elite level of respect and rank around the world as well as amongst his peers. Dolph has been running on reputation bestowed upon him by Kurt Angle, who relinquished control of the World Heavyweight Championship to him as he felt he was more apt for the job. However, the only way for the hype to be given substance will be if Ziggler can slay a giant in The Undertaker. Similar thoughts cross the minds of many, causing the tension within the arena to build with each passing moment in anticipation of one of the most crucial moments in the wrestling year, set to commence before the fans very eyes. Each and every fan in the building is well aware that the Thy WWE Draft is one of the most significant events of the year and more often than not, the Thy WWE Draft is filled with shock and awe. The Draft will make or break many up and coming stars and while it can shift the balance between to brands when a megastar changes brands affect the superstars on a personal basis, it can also change the entire Thy WWE evolving it into a new, more capricious and vivacious product than ever before. The show technicians are slowly building the crowd up and generating enthusiasm by playing a short video package containing graphics for every match, which the fans are responding to with dynamism. While Thy WWE fans are running wild for every match on a Draft card which has packed in the big matches, it is evident many are looking forward to the champion versus champion match the most, where the best of Raw takes on the very best of Smackdown. It will prove who has the right to claim the undeniable title, “The Best in the entire WWE” and it will prove if The Undertaker will deserve to stay atop his superficial pedestal he has placed himself upon, high and above the rest of the Raw roster. He has made it clear that in his tainted belief, it places him above anyone else in the entire corporation, Dolph Ziggler and even Vince McMahon included. While many fans have turned out to see champion versus champion, they have been disgruntled at the departure of their beloved Kurt Angle, who brought good times and success to his fans who soaked him in their adulation. These fans are crestfallen and believe that Dolph Ziggler doesn’t hold a candle to their former hero and that Smackdown is doomed to swallow defeat at the hands of Raw and Undertaker. However, there are many who have seen the good side in Angle’s exodus from the World Wrestling Empire. Undertaker had brought a dark shadow over the business ever since the seventh bell of his infernal return to the business and he has wrapped the fans in denotative tendrils of darkness and iniquity. With these tools The Phenom has sapped the vigour from the crowd by laying every opponent he has faced for the title to waste every time, leaving the Raw fans drained and without hope. But as Vince McMahon made the immensely popular pairing of Undertaker versus Kurt Angle in the Draft, the fans dared to hope that the face of Smackdown could finally end the unbeaten run of the Undertaker and force him to relinquish his dominion over Raw and the entire World Wrestling Empire. With this, Undertaker’s dark shadow would recede from the business and the age of Kurt Angle would instigate a drastic alteration to the industry. But the fans who shared in this reassuring thought have descended to the depths of melancholy due to Kurt Angle’s abrupt retirement and a new champion in Dolph Ziggler who is yet to even compete in a match on Smackdown, let alone The Thy WWE Draft. Yet even amongst the doubters, a grain of optimism, a seed of belief has been sown in Dolph Ziggler, they share the marginal view that if Angle could beat Undertaker and he feels Ziggler is even better than the Olympic dynamo, Dolph is a shoe-in to capture the title of the best there is and to bring a vital pick to Smackdown. For this very reason, there are thousands of fans clad in Dolph Ziggler merchandise brandishing signs that praise Dolph Ziggler and build momentum while others possess signs fashioned for no other purpose but to take a scathing dig at Undertaker. As the camera whirls around the jam packed arena it is evident Vince McMahon has used his usual genius to cram a few more seats in and hike up the attendance which in turn maximizes his profits in gate revenue and merchandise sales. While McMahon’s work is there to be admired, the camera captures a less mature member of World Wrestling Empire’s colossal fan base is frantically waving a sign questioning Undertaker’s sexual orientation. The seasoned camera crew quickly steer clear of the fan who has nothing short of delight written on his face and move towards the announcer’s table to meet the formidable duo of Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler for their regulatory greeting. The team aren’t short of subject matter to discuss while the viewers mull over their words, fortified by experience. As the camera pans inward as to get a better view of Lawler and Ross, King rubs his hands together eagerly with a mischievous look about him which says he is going to put through JR through his usual tribulation tonight on the WWE Draft. Jim Ross opens his hands so his palms face upward and greets the viewers while Jerry Lawler retains the twinkle in his eye as he throws a few stray glances at the Smackdown commentators, who are seated mere feet away from him. However, his announcing partner seems and probably is completely oblivious to the competitive aspect of things as he introduces the viewers at home to the WWE Draft.
Jim Ross
Hello everybody and welcome to a very special edition of Monday Night Raw, or should I say the Thy WWE Draft! This is the night when dreams are made and when they are broken. The World Wrestling Empire Draft is the one night Smackdown overlaps into Raw and we see the two brands battle it out for bragging rights and the chance to win their general manager picks for the draft itself. We could see career shattering results and career defining drafts, all in this very special broadcast of the Thy WWE Draft.
Jerry Lawler
Can you hear it JR? These fans are running wild in the stands for this draft, they know tonight is a big night, on the same level as Bad Blood or the Elimination Chamber, this is the night that defines careers! This crowd are going wild for their favourite brand JR and even the fans are at war with each other! Actually, you know what Ross? I suppose that puts us commentators in direct competition with those Smackdown commentators, huh? Well JR, I don’t know about you and Tenay, but I am one hundred percent sure I can bring more to the table than, uh……Tazz
Jim Ross manages to resist the strong urge to bury his head in his hands at the adolescent display from his partner and merely stares into the camera as though King never said a word. Instead of acknowledging the prattle which has become nothing short of unremitting from King, Ross decides instead to take the reigns and get back to the task at hand. As he does so, the fans are waving incessantly behind the duo and are making various hand gestures and a few rows back there is a rare Undertaker fan, holding up a sign that looks to have taken a long time to make, beckoning for the camera to take a look. Fortunately for the fan, his signis in plain view as the camera focuses on Jim Ross.
Jim Ross
You’re right there King, the entire industry is in competition with each other but the most important facet of this aggression and brutality is in the squared circle, not at the announcer’s desk. We are going to see seven matches, each contest will individually shape the year for this World Wrestling Empire roster. For every match that is won, the general manager of the opposing brand will gain a vital pick in the Thy WWE Draft. I can’t stress enough the potential change of this company once the night is over, we may even see The Undertaker jump ship to Smackdown is he fails to defeat Dolph Ziggler in our huge main event tonight.
Jerry Lawler
This is one of the biggest chances Dolph Ziggler is ever going to get. He has been injected with the reputation of Kurt Angle and has thousands of fans on his back coming up to his match with Undertaker. It’s up to him whether he lets it weigh him down or if he uses these fans to propel himself forward, otherwise Undertaker looks to be the favourite because we haven’t even witnessed a Dolph Ziggler match. But I suppose if Angle has dubbed him as “better than himself” then we should respect this young athlete. He looks to be hungry and he could bring his own era to the WWE if Undertaker isn’t careful in his match against him.
Jim Ross
That’s right, but “The Demon from Death Valley” is the only one with a real reputation in this match up. All we have is Kurt Angle’s hollow words to go on against Undertaker’s impressive unbeaten streak and the fact he has buried them alive for over twenty years. While I don’t like the man, I respect The Undertaker, he has been the most feared and respected force in this business for well over a decade and while he has been here in Thy WWE he has made a huge impact in only a few months. He created the Ministry and at one stage they held every title in the promotion, he has fought and beaten the best and has been champion since early February. I sure as hell don’t like the man, but Undertaker is a force to be reckoned with and I hope that Dolph Ziggler realises that. If he enters the ring and disses Undertaker, saying he can defeat him with relative ease it is not only going to go to his head, he is going to be talking himself into a Tombstone.
Jerry Lawler
Well JR, while I agree with you on some of your points about Undertaker, I’m looking for Dolph Ziggler to take this one. While I’m competing with the Smackdown commentators I’m not opposed to Ziggler and I like the look of this young talent. He has a good look to him and from what we saw earlier he was actually humbled in the presence of all these fans and he needed Kurt Angle to intervene for him. Ziggler knows he has to use all of his skill in the ring to take Undertaker down.
Jim Ross
While I do agree Ziggler’s lack of personality on the surface hasn’t gotten him off to quite the popular start Kurt expected him to with the fans, it is his in ring prowess that will decide things in the end, not how long he can run his mouth on the microphone. We saw that very point when Undertaker fought The Miz at Bad Blood, both men talked the talk but in the end it was Undertakr’s in ring dominance which decided it and it’s nights like that which have made Undertaker the favourite here tonight. But whether Undertaker is favourite or not, this is going to be a great match and it has the potential to be his greatest test yet. Since we haven’t yet seen Ziggler in the ring, he possesses unlimited potential and could prove problems beyond the threshold of even Kane, who was of the same blood as Undertaker. But ever since his decisive defeat, Kane and Paul Bearer are yet to resurface here in the WWE and Undertaker has gone on……..
GONG[/size][/b]
At the sound of The Undertaker’s renowned gong, Jim Ross ceases to speak, as does his broadcast partner and they simply allow the sound of the rampant crowd descending into strident boos tell the story as they await the arrival of perhaps the most hated man on the roster, Undertaker. Every week he has stepped into the fray to a chorus of boos from a hostile crowd and every week he has left the arena to boos of more intensity, surpassing the boos of his original entrance as he dashes the hopes of thousands of people again and again. Undertaker is the Thy WWE’s dark spirit and he has become the face of all things dark and corrupt within the walls of the company. His reputation and awesome presence has been a profound part of the industry and even though thousands boo him, they would be lost without him. It is through his dark, tainted being that Undertaker evokes immeasurable amounts of emotions and vigour in the crowd. As the crowd boo, each and every soul in the building are aware of the crippling fact that Dolph Ziggler will be facing The Undertaker at his brutal best and he will also have the expectation and reputation of Undertaker weighing him down in his debut match. The boos are ever prevalent as the lights within the arena begin to flicker ever so slightly, while they dim. It is almost a metaphor for the eternal struggle of light and darkness, good and evil and as the sinister, execrable spirit of The Undertaker draws near, the lights and the good fortitude in the arena is beginning to dwindle and through his evil subsistence within the stadium, Undertaker proves all things before him are dated, even the goodness and the hopes of the crowd, who continue to boo him and fight Dolph’s corner. The gong sounds once more, but it is suddenly overshadowed by a loud clap of thunder which is followed by an even more abrupt distorted sound, similar to a warped transmission, not being picked up by a television. The crowd continue to boo, despite being perplexed by the arbitrary sequence of events, but the chaotic muddle of sounds persists as the lights drift in and out of focus, descending into darkness and working back into the light, giving the whole seen a chaotic and frenzied feeling. However, a swift and profound call of a raven screeches around the arena, signalling an end to the confusion. As all the sound ceases, so does the light in the arena, having deserted the thousands of fans who rolled out to enjoy the draft to fend for themselves against the Lord of Darkness, The Phenom, Undertaker. Just as the time spent in the pure darkness seems to become intolerable for the crowd, the titantron begins to flicker before lighting up. The gentle glow of the screen provides the only source of light in the vast arena and it bathes the faces of thousands as they stare up at the screen, half knowing and half not knowing what to expect.
Jim Ross
This is vintage stuff from The Undertaker here, he is renowned for these kind of games and mind tricks, he gives off the image that he is some sort of conjuror or has some sort of dark sorcery at his disposal. These fans are transfixed, as am I. We are all speculating as to what The Deadman has in store for us all.
The titantron progresses from a black screen to a star spangled sky, with a watchful crescent moon hanging beside the stars, like some sort of mediator among the smaller sparkling stars. The screen becomes momentarily muddled as the camera lens adjusts, but as the screen regains it’s smooth texture, the entire scene is set before the crowd. A crisp evening mist is creeping through the air in the dead of the night and gives a portentous feel to the environment. The mists drift above the ground, which is barely visible in the dark night with the fog gliding above. The entire situation is ominous; there is not a sound in the dead night, where seemingly ancient mists drift over undisturbed pastures as though the camera were travelling through some timeless, undisturbed mausoleum. All of a sudden, the calm and the quiet has vanished and the piercing squawk of a dilapidated gate, gradually overbearing it’s hinges which wince and moan to the indifferent night, which bears no remorse to the unwarranted in the harrowing, desolate environment. The atmosphere is very much a foreboding one as the gentle crunch of the camera man makes their way towards the shrill, whiny gate which has formed a rhythmic tempo with the crunch of the feet and the whine of the overbearing gate. As the camera progresses through the difficult terrain under the atramentous sky, the scenery makes it clear where the scene is set. There are a manifold of tombstones adorning a weathered walkway stretching as far as the naked eye can perceive through the shrouding mists, only made thicker and more awkward to see through due to the gentle, almost translucent light of the moon an stars, adorning the seemingly eternal night sky, keeping the dark, harrowing atmosphere over the graveyard. As the camera advances through the cemetery which screams ill omen at all the viewers at home, the crunch of small debris under the camera man’s feet seems to speed up as he continues on, almost becoming a frenzy of stamping and stepping but it soon becomes apparent there is someone else present. The crowd know of only one man who would enter the four walls of this seemingly ancient graveyard to become one with the dead, in their eternal slumber and some grin consciously while others prepare to boo profusely. All the sounds of labour are present as with each crunch of the turf, there is a barely audible grunt as a tall figure cloaked in black digs a grave. The figure is bent grips the shaft of a shovel with the gnarled fingers of death as it prepares the final resting place of yet another in the timeless place of death. As the dim, eerie light of the moon strikes the figure, it comes out as the outline of a man hunched over although the figure could easily be erroneously branded as a strange spectre in the haunting night. The camera rests there for what seems like an age, with the camera man to afraid to disturb the great black figure, which could easily be mistook for some sort of ghastly apparition in the environment of the cemetery, with the mists swirling about it’s feet. Shadowy figure straightens up to it’s full height and blocks the light of the moon, looking tall and elegant yet still terrible in the irksome atmosphere and the haunting moon looming above them in the dark sky. The shadowy spectre digs its shovel deep into the earth having finished its scrupulous labour. After a moment of waiting, the figure turns around very deliberately before beckoning the camera man to advance towards him. By the sound of his footsteps, it is evident the camera is using very deft, wary steps as he advances to the shadowy figure, who looms above him so he must tilt the camera upward to capture the demonic figure properly. As the camera stares the gravedigger right in the face, his features are indiscernible, the frayed hood is simply filled with the same darkness that surrounds the entire cemetery and indeed the wide expanse of barren terrain which claims ownership to the demented graveyard. The dark being slowly raises his hands and clasps his dark, worn hood and carefully lowers it to his stocky shoulders, unveiling his long, shaggy black hair and his piercing steel-blue eyes. Upon revealing himself The Undertaker stands tall with his hair draped down over his face, which is bowed slightly. The camera pans outward slightly and reveals more of the scene to the viewers at home and the crowd who are watching the titantron intently inside the vast arena. Only a few feet to the rear of The Undertaker beside two great mounds of earth is a tombstone with the epitaph already inscribed into it, the etching reads: “Here lies Dolph Ziggler, he will always be remembered………………for his demise”. The fresh open grave is menacing and implies things to come for Dolph Ziggler if he falls short in his endeavour to defeat Undertaker and end his unbeaten run. The camera returns to Undertaker’s pale, impassive face which matches the mood of the graveyard as he looks as though he is about to speak. The cemetery gate continues to creak and the occasional crunch is unnerving, it is as though all the dark things of the night are flocking to their lord and master to hear him speak. As he prepares to speak, Undertaker raises his hand into the air with his fingers curled and rigid, with his eyes rolled back as though he is summoning some sort of unearthly powers. Maintaining his pose, Undertaker begins to speak.
Undertaker
I call unto thee, creatures of the night, gather round and take heed of my words, for the feast begins soon………the feast of Dolph Ziggler! It doesn’t cease to amaze me that despite the fact Kurt Angle’s courage deserted him and he wouldn’t face me that you, Dolph Ziggler would take up the challenge. Of all the people who were in this corporation, Kurt Angle was the only person who could have called himself a legitimate athlete and the only other who could have contended with me inside my yard. Yet even he of all men forfeited the match as he knew of my prowess in the ring because I am yet to be beaten as the champion of my brand. He heard the tales of how I cripple my opponents psychologically and physically in a far more brutal fashion than he and his ankle lock ever did. So rather than doom himself to eternal torment by the hounds of hell and the agony of losing his soul to me he decided instead to give someone else whom he believed was more capable of defeating me the task. Kurt Angle had his intellect about him when he chose to forfeit the match, but you Dolph Ziggler clearly don’t have any of yours about you know. You accepted the task of defeating me one on one in the squared circle when it was something your mentor Kurt Angle knew he couldn’t achieve. You are slower, weaker, less sharp and frail in comparison to the former World Heavyweight Champion, but a shadow of what he was in his days here. You may believe you can defeat me purely because Anlgle told you so or because you are the best athlete on the Smackdown brand. But Ziggler, neither you nor Kurt Angle could ever expect what I have in store for you. No amount of training prepares you for an in ring bout with The Phenom, countless athletes will affirm that. When I am in the ring I am on another level to what a normal wrestler is capable of. When I am in the ring I open the gates of hell and every week I unleash the furies of my domain upon the mortal men that trifle in the affairs of The Reaper and each week they fall. You are a mortal Dolph and you are feeble or at least you will be once I drive your skull into the canvas and wait for the three count.
By now Undertaker has broken his trance like state and he is squarely facing the camera, gesticulating as he speaks his dark prophecies. The black sky filled with dimly lit stars and the haunting mood provide an eerie backdrop to the scene as Undertaker speaks, the type the fans have become accustomed to seeing when Undertaker is present. As Undertaker continues in his divination of Ziggler’s horrific fate, he takes a short step backward and to the right to open up the view to the tombstone he has prepared for Ziggler. The feeling among the audience and in the graveyard is once again portentous as the master of mind games changes the mood once again. As Undertaker’s robe sweeps though the air it kicks some of the mists that seem to inhabit the cemetery permanently. The tombstone stands solemnly at the far end of the cemetery with an area devoted to it so it stands alone, with an emphasis on the cold, haunting epitaph. The entire crowd begin to boo fervently at the sight of the epitaph, albeit the fact that their display of hatred and disdain for Undertaker is oblivious to The Phenom who continues on in his message for the supposedly doomed Dolph Ziggler, who is predestined to a horrible fate of eternal damnation at the hands of Thy WWE’s most feared and renowned star on the roster. Undertaker shifts his body squarely to the camera once more, blocking out the epitaph, satisfied that everyone has the message embossed in their minds as he persists in his promo.
Undertaker
So Dolph, I see it on the surface that you are confident, even cocky in the lead up to our contest, but I’d be a fool to believe you are. You aren’t so diverse in your approach to this contest Dolph, I’ve faced men like you before who were so utterly self-assured of their capabilities that they made it clear to the entire WWE Universe they thought they were going to defeat me one-on-one. Yet unbeknownst to the crowd they flaunted to, beneath the pompous, bombastic exterior, trepidation coursed through your veins, sapping your will and chilling your soul. For you see Dolph, to step into The Reaper’s yard is invariably to face one’s ultimate demise sooner than time intended, Dolph Ziggler and your manager has sacrificed you to me. Kurt Angle had such fear of me Dolph he replaced himself with you, rather than suffer the consequences of facing me in the ring. Do you really believe an unseasoned, brash youngster like you can best the most dominant force in the history of this entire industry one on one in the ring? You are a fool if you do Ziggler, but I see through the walls you have put up through apprehension of our match, I have perceived the innate fear you and all other men possess for me. I can see that you are regretting your decision to fill in for Kurt, Dolph. Whether he is in your corner or not won’t offer you some sort of relief or deliverance from me. Kurt Angle has spoken on your behalf as well as offer weak alibis for not facing me but Kurt Angle cannot fill in for you when you step into my yard. Whether you can envisage it or not, I will enter the ring with more intensity and more power than ever before. I will pour out all the wrath of The Undertaker upon thee and I will smite you down before the eyes of thousands in attendance, millions at home and your mentor, Kurt Angle. On this night, Dolph Ziggler shall rest in eternal peace by my hand! You really think you have escaped me don’t you Kurt? Your neck problems never seemed to have hindered you before the draft, despite the fact you lost to two opponents I saw Kurt Angle competing at his best. But your fate is sealed Kurt Angle, you will rest in peace by my hand if not at the draft, then at some time when you return the business, for my path rolls on. I will continue in my perpetual task of preying upon wayward souls, such as that of your replacement, Dolph Ziggler while you recuperate you’re your neck injury. It is impossible for you prevent our match from happening Kurt one day you shall return and on that day you will stand before the coming storm and embark upon the perilous journey that none have emerged from with their soul, that journey is the trip you take when you face against the inexorable, indomitable Undertaker! You know this and that very fact gnaws at your poise and self-belief, crippling you with doubt and fear. There is no escape from the tainted hand of The Undertaker and one day Angle, in the near or distant future my hand will grasp your throat and I will slam you into the canvas before delivering a swift but lethal tombstone. I will have your soul Kurt Angle, you cannot evade me forever and tonight, hope will fade. One day, you will rest in peace Kurt Angle however, tonight is about Dolph Ziggler. Angle may have given you a rigorous regime, he has probably put your body through so much that you think you can withstand a beating from me. But Dolph, how do you defend yourself against an attack from The Phenom where not only your body is under attack, but your fragile mind as well. Both before and during the match you will feel the weight of fear on yourself and my dark spirit slowly draining you of the will to go on. By the time you reach the ring, stand under the bright lights and look at the smiling faces of your fans, it will be too late. You will be corrupted; the shining lights will scorn you and burn you. The smiling faces of the fans will turn sour, all you will see is the melancholy you have evoked in them and the utter pain of defeat caused by you, Dolph. Then dread will grip you and as the lights go out and I enter the arena, you will accept death by me and your soul will be mine, Dolph! All of your training and preparation will be unavailing Dolph, for my overwhelming assault, fuelled with the wrath of hell itself and my dominant will shall break your feeble mind. It has been said before Dolph and I shall say it again, nothing can prepare you for a match with The Undertaker, it irrefutably a “once in a lifetime” experience, but not only for my utter dominance and seemingly boundless capabilities in the ring, no. Facing me is a once in a lifetime experience, for once I have concluded my throttling of you, I will extract your soul and condemn you to eternal damnation. Take pleasure in your vanities while you can Dolph Ziggler, for in the fires of hell, there is nothing of the sort but agony and despondency. Are you ready for the storm to come Dolph Ziggler? I am coming and in all my dark glory your resolve will be devoured, you physical form will be battered beyond repair and you shall be cast down into the fires of hell and damnation. I am coming soon Dolph Ziggler……….your time is short!
No sooner than when the piercing words leapt from Undertaker’s forked tongue had he raised his arms midway up his torso, curled his fingers inwards and rolled his eyes back into the back of his skull, in the same dark pose as before his promo. As Undertaker cocks his head forward, while still in the same posture, he seems to be drawing upon some sort of external power of divine proportions. As that very thought crosses the minds of thousands, the staunch air within graveyard seems to stir and the mists about the cemetery swirl into the air, climbing ever upward in a gust of air. Undertaker stays as he is and a great wind begins to blow over the graveyard which seems to have remained undisturbed for an eternity. The great haze about the graveyard rises and fogs up the camera, members of the crowd look to one another as the entire scene is made invisible. Only the roaring of the great wind and the whine of the old gate is audible to the crowd as well as a queer sound, resembling that of a bolt of lighting striking the earth or the static sound of a television being switched off. A perplexed, yet fascinated audience gaze up at the titantron not knowing what to expect of Undertaker, who has become renowned for his capricious actions which shock and rivet the audience time upon time again. Despite the thickness of the musty mist which is impairing the vision of the crowd, there is a warm orange light not far from the camera, colouring the mists in its gentle glow. With time the whistling of the wind ceases and the mists fall back to their resting place upon the barren earth, revealing a curious scene to the crowd, which seems to have only a supernatural vindication. The Undertaker has vanished from the graveyard, which could easily be interpreted as his domain and his tall, dark form has been switched with his own insignia, which is blazing vibrantly in the earth adjacent to the open grave, which threatens to be the final resting place of Dolph Ziggler. With Undertaker out of the picture, the booing has subsided into a silence. The crowd have been left with plenty of food for thought and are mulling over Undertaker’s intense words and his actions which, as usual, are nothing short of paranormal. With the ancient graveyard back to it’s normal deathly self, the picture begins to recede as the camera man backs away from the open grave toward the whining gate, the hinges of which threaten to buckle and release the gate to the ground following the gusts of wind Undertaker called upon. As the camera man passes back out of the gate, the graveyard stands looming over the crowd on the titantron before fading out into the same blackness which still resides within the arena. As the sound of the creaking gaten dwindles and dies off, the lights begin to flood the arena, as though Undertaker’s hold over the arena is being broken. As the lighting system is fully operational, the camera crew are swift to change to the camera directly in front of the announcer’s table where a flustered Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler sit. JR quickly adjusts his hat and Lawler leans into the desk as they realise it’s their queue to speak.
Jim Ross
As per usual, The Undertaker has put forward some intense words, fashioned only to break the spirit of this young athlete and personally I’m fearful for Ziggler. Undertaker has gotten into the minds of seasoned veterans and poisoned their will to go on, I can’t vouch for Ziggler’s mental resilience, especially as he is only beginning to get is start in the sport. But perhaps the mental toughness of Kurt Angle will transcend into Dolph Ziggler, all I can say is, he’ll need it going into a match with Undertaker because The Phenom cripples you both physically and mentally when you enter a contest against him. Do you think Dolph can keep his head going into this match, King?
Jerry Lawler
Well JR, I think he can. Not only does Dolph Ziggler exhibit signs of confidence, but he has Kurt Angle as a mentor and a manager at ringside for him tonight. There isn’t much reassurance that would come in better than that! In my opinion JR, assuming this kid is all Kurt Angle has cracked him up to be, I think Ziggler is in with a great chance not only to resist Undertaker’s mind games, but to actually beat The Deadman tonight and win Smackdown another pick in the Draft.
Jim Ross
That’s a very bold statement to make, King. Especially with the way Undertaker has been dominating Raw recently. We have seen the return of two legends in Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker defeated both of them fair and square. To say a youngster such as Dolp Ziggler can actually best the most dominant and respected force in this business is doubtful, even with someone as talented as Kurt Angle in his corner, directing him along the way. But how about that graveyard scene, King? There was an ominous feeling all throughout that segment, especially with the tombstone with Ziggler’s name etched into it. Dolph must be wondering how he is going to deal with this supernatural being, who is seemingly oblivious to pain itself? What’s it gonna take for Dolph to overcome Undertaker in this match, King?
Jerry Lawler
I’m not even sure, Ross! We haven’t really seen anything that can keep Undertaker down for an extended period of time, not a Kane tombstone or a Skull Crushing Finale, nothing! All I can hope it that this Zigzag is capable of getting Undertaker pinned because I think it’s the only way to end the era of Undertaker here in The World Wrestling Empire, JR.
Jim Ross
It’s true that the Raw brand has been Undertaker’s dominion here in the Thy WWE for quite some time and it may to an outside intervention or perhaps a straightedge intervention to end his era.
Jerry Lawler
Straightedge?
Jim Ross
That’s right King, there have been rumours going around that CM Punk is considering reforming the Straight Edge Society and going after Undertaker and his title, so if The Demon From Death Valley can emerge from this affair victorious he’ll have CM Punk to deal with. But a renewed S.E.S is only going to be precarious for everyone else on the roster. Who’ll be the next person to have their head shaved and pledge allegiance to CM Punk?
Jerry Lawler
I don’t know JR, but……
King can’t finish his sentence as the blare of a gong drowns his voice out and once again the arena falls under the shadow of The Undertaker. A deep blue light beams from above the titantron and cuts through swirling smoke which drifts this way and that upon the entrance ramp. Another gong reverberates and the beam of light broadens and intensifies, providing the entire arena with some means to see. Akin to the previous time Undertaker’s hold was over the arena the titantron bursts to life once more, like some sort of deja vu. The screen turns from black to a deep shade of blue, before the dimly lit graveyard where Undertaker just spoke to the crowd. The caption is of Undertaker with his hands raised either side of him, while the wind courses through his hair and he is hear saying:“Are you ready for the storm to come Dolph Ziggler? I am coming soon Dolph Ziggler………your time is short!” As Undertaker speaks those words forcefully, the calmness of the video is gone and the gentle toll of the gong is replaced with Undertaker’s normal organ theme, but played at a higher pitch and more upbeat as the video explodes into life. The video is now alternating between Undertaker in his signature post match pose, on one knee with his hand raised and of him chokeslamming helpless victims into the unforgiving canvas. A gong sounds as the song keeps it’s upbeat tempo and the caption switched from Undertaker delivering chokeslams to him performing tombstones on all the victims of his title reign so far. As the last man is driven to the canvas, the song grows quiet at the resounding hum of a gong. The video cuts to Undertaker at the end of Bad Blood so many months ago down upon one knee giving a dark salute to the World Wrestling Empire fans, mocking them as he had felled their hero. As this segment plays, another quote from Undertaker is heard:“I am the most revered, the most feared and the most respected force in the history of this business. The Undertaker is the most dominant force to ever set foot inside a WWE ring!” The camera conveniently zooms in for a close up of Undertaker in the same segment, he has his eyes rolled back in their sockets in his signature pose as his voice blares out over the speaker system once more:“Prepare yourself Dolph Ziggler. Prepare to…………Rest In Peace!”With that line the lights are returned to the arena in an abrupt fashion and the screen turns blank, signalling the end of the vignette. The fans have neglected the opportunity to boo and have instead decided to take in the vignette which was particularly well put together by the technical team. Wisps of smoke still swirl about the arena, but the bright lights cut through them, purging the smoke of its portentous aura. The spirit of many fans has wavered at the sight of the overwhelming darkness Dolph Ziggler must face tonight. The video clip has served as a cold reminder of what Undertaker is capable of and even though The Deadman’s words weren’t directed at the crowd, nor was the video, but they have been broken by his terrible aura and all hope has deserted them at time when it is needed most for themselves and for Dolph. However, Dolph Ziggler and indeed Kurt Angle fanatics can still be heard raising their voices high in chants for Dolph. But it is evident many have descended into misgiving and melancholy at Undertaker’s callous, crippling words. Despite the fans abhorrence for The Undertaker it is apparent to each one of them he is the favourite in this encounter and that it is more than likely that without Kurt Angle wielding a beacon of hope for them and Smackdown, Undertaker will triumph once more, continuing on in his dark era over Raw. The “Era of Shadow” or “Undertaker’s Era” as it has been dubbed has been like a shadow cast under the company, plunging it into darkness. Brave men have emerged time and time again, yet Undertaker has felled each one of them and laid them to rest, delivering their battered remnants to the “hounds of hell”. Undertaker has got on with his task of preying upon the wayward souls of the WWE solemnly for a large portion of his life; he has connected the fans with the unworldly time and time again. For twenty years Undertaker has buried his opposition alive, he has terrified countless wrestlers and to him, Dolph Ziggler is just another upstart, another wayward soul who is spearheaded by someone he desires to bury alive also, Kurt Angle. When all this is taken into perspective and once it is contemplated for any length of time, it seems unlikely that Dolph Ziggler will pose any sort of threat to the seemingly indomitable Undertaker. As Undertaker previously stated, this thought is gnawing at the fans belief in Dolph Ziggler and crippling them with doubt, despite the colourful signs and the “screw you Undertaker” attitude. Once more the viewers at home are entrusted to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler at the announcer’s table who look to have more to say regarding The Undertaker versus Dolph Ziggler following that clip although, Jerry Lawler normally has a lot to say regardless of the subject at hand.
Jim Ross
Ladies and gentlemen the spirit of The Undertaker is certainly in this arena tonight and I believe we are going to be seeing The Phenom at his brutal best here tonight, I hope Dolph is ready because on nights like this Undertaker pulls no punches and sure as hell doesn’t take any prisoners. The Undertaker we are going to see here tonight is the sort of Undertaker who defeated The Miz at Bad Blood or Kane at No Mercy. The Phenom is going to “open up the gates of hell” or in other words, he is entering this match and is going to win it regardless of the cost involved, hell or high water. Which means he has come for Ziggler’s soul and is putting everything on the line to obtain it and it’s gonna take one hell of a men to resist Undertaker, whether you’re Dolph Ziggler, Kurt Angle, CM Punk or even The Rock.
Jerry Lawler
Oh come on JR, don’t you think you’ve fallen into Undertaker’s spell? Every we he comes out here and prophesises and uses black magic or whatever you call it to brainwash these fans and to terrify his opponent. Weren’t you listening to Kurt Angle when he spoke to us earlier on tonight? He told us of the passion and the inspiration that came over him when he caught a glimpse of this young man in the ring.
Jim Ross
That’s right, King he saw Dolph Ziggler for what he was, a hero, a champion and that is why he retired from wrestling and relinquished the belt to him. Dolph may not have the swagger of The Miz, the microphone proficiency of The Rock or the looks of Rick Martel, but he does have something many superstars in this business lack, a heart. This match has somewhat of a fairytale backdrop to it with Undertaker as the unstoppable force here in WWE and Doph Ziggler has risen from being a nobody in the wrestling world to being mentored by Kurt Angle and facing Undertaker tonight! While the analogy has been true thus far, I can only wonder whether the fairytale will continue to be a stereotypical one, with the good of Dolph Ziggler overcoming Undertaker’s immeasurable darkness, or if thousands of fans will go home disappointed as the era of Undertaker rolls on. Who knows?
Jerry Lawler
Well JR, I’m not really one for analogies, I’d rather say what there is to say and watch what happens. Kurt Angle has injured his neck, he has replaced himself with someone he deems just as capable as he is and in my opinion, Kurt Angle had sufficient skills to best Undertaker. So if Angle could do it, Dolph Ziggler can do it, we’re gonna see the end of Undertaker’s era tonight, JR! When he is beaten Undertaker can’t talk bout how he is the best anymore, he’ll just recede back into whatever dark corner he surfaced from.
Jim Ross
Well each of us our entitled to our own opinion, King so I won’t hold that against you. Al I’ve done is state the facts and they are very much stacked in favour of Undertaker. But The Demon From Death Valley has…………..
GONG[/b][/size]
At the sound of Undertaker’s legendary gong, the crowd have immediately descended into boos, they feel certain that this time it really is Undertaker is entering the ring and this will be their last chance to tell him exactly what to think. The man who held the sign questioning Undertaker’s sexual orientation can be seen dancing in the aisles trying to get Undertaker to take a look at his less than flattering sign, which also bears a vulgar picture of The Deadman.
GONG[/b][/size]
Boos of epic proportions now flood the arena it they are perhaps the loudest Undertaker has ever received. It really is the most adored superstar in Kurt Angle standing up to the most loathed in Undertaker, even if Angle is only going to be present at ring side and it will be Dolph Ziggler participating in the match. Many Dolph Ziggler fans adorn the stands as Undertaker’s gong resounds in timed bursts. After his debut appearance (which didn’t go down too well with the fans) the World Wrestling Empire fanatics withdrew their Dolph Ziggler signs and stopped chanting his name whenever the titantron displayed a graphic of him and Undertaker. But it seems through the fact the hatred for Undertaker outweighs the uncertainty surrounding Dolph Ziggler that he has been redeemed amongst the capacity crowd. The fans begin to grow quiet as the last gongs sound and the arena lights fail before Undertaker’s graveyard symphony begins to play.
The cold, ominous sound of Undertaker’s gong has enveloped the arena is his presence. The crowds boos are drowned out as the theme plays loudly and smoke begins to pour out on to the stage. Undertaker’s renowned precursor, the gong continues to air about the arena as the live appearance of The Undertaker draws near. The same pale, blue light as before shines down vibrantly upon the stage, yet it still can’t reveal much of the scene to the audience, who are booing profusely in anticipation of the arrival of The Undertaker, the most hated man on the entire roster. Undertaker has stepped into an antagonistic atmosphere for the last three months and indeed for longer periods of time within his illustrious career and the boos of the fans won’t phase The Phenom, if anything they will boost The Undertaker. As the funeral dirge kicks in, Undertaker appears from behind the curtain garbed in his ministry coat with his head bowed. His strides are slow and deliberate as he approaches the gentle slope of the ramp. The camera trails to the rear of Undertaker who looms over the camera while it looks out into the stands which are crammed with diehard World Wrestling Empire fans, who are booing Undertaker with all they’ve got. The Phenom stands atop the entrance ramp with flames belching from the stage behind him, it is almost like his pedestal above the rest of the industry Undertaker often speaks of. Undertaker is slow and deliberate in raising his head up to meet the jeers and the hate filled eyes of thousands of people. After a moment of taking it all in, Undertaker shrugs off the boos of the crowd, completely impassive to their din and merely moves onward, with his piercing gaze fixated upon the ring. As Undertaker moves at his vintage rate down the ramp, kicking up smoke that rises, caught in the updraft the fans are leaning over the guard rail to tell The Phenom he sucks, yet The Reaper trundles onward, having separated himself from any emotion long ago when Kane’s face was scarred brutally in the fire that consumed his parents and his old life. Since then Undertaker has been a somber, lone force, going about his business of walking his own forlorn path. But for now, Undertaker’s path has led him to the bottom of the entrance ramp where he has rounded the barricade and stands at the foot of the steel steps, set to ascend them and return the lights to the arena. As Undertaker reaches the top of the entrance ramp, a gust of smoke pours out over him, shrouding Undertaker as he raises his arms to his sides and draws upon his otherworldly return light to the arena. There is a sound of thunder as light floods the arena and Undertaker’s classic theme which he has reverted to for but one night ceases to play and the harrowing dirge is replaced with the copious boos of the capacity crowd. Undertaker runs his hand against the fibrous ring robes as he advances along the apron before bending down carefully allowing his hair to drape down over his face as he enters the WWE ring. As Undertaker gets his hair out of his face he looks up to find an official already awaiting him with a microphone in hand. Undertaker snatches the microphone from the ring official’s hand and with a cock of the head he beckons for him to leave his ring, his yard. Undertaker faces the cameras which are pointing at him from his preferred stand to speak to. It was the very stand he stood facing as Paul Bearer groveled and cursed his luck following the demise of Kane. The boos are ever prevalent as Undertaker begins in his live message for Dolph Ziggler and his manager, Kurt Angle.
Undertaker
Every week I enter an arena filled with you people. Every week I am jeered and cussed at profusely, yet you never even comprehend that it doesn’t faze me in the slightest. I am a being of higher power than you an I am here to harvest the souls of those who have gone astray here in the World Wrestling Empire. Whether you concur with my methods or not is of no real concern to me, for on The Day of Reckoning all of your souls will be mine for it has been said before, “The spirit of the Undertaker lives through all mankind” and by The Undertaker’s hand, all of mankind shall rest in peace! But tonight isn’t about laying all of you to rest, but reaping the soul of Dolph Ziggler. I have been anticipating the World Wrestling Empire Draft or some sort of inter brand event for months. For months I have been searching for the chance to establish my dominion over this industry by defeating the very best of Smackdown and tonight is my chance to do so. The entire Raw roster lies below me and each week I have crushed them beneath my feet, but for the first time since my glorious return to the WWE, I feel I have a challenge before me, or at least I had one. Kurt Angle could have been my greatest foe to date, but a vertebrate injury has forced him out of in ring competition on Smackdown. So rather than relinquish the belt to Maven, The Rock, Chris Jericho or even his General Manager, Kurt Angle gave the belt to an unknown in Dolph Ziggler. Dolph may have “matured” and he may have flourished under you Angle but the fact remains that Dolph Ziggler is yet to have a competitive match and you have lined him up to face me, the most powerful and most dominating force in the entire World Wrestling Empire. You may have seen dexterity, grace and passion in Dolph Ziggler, but thanks to you Angle he will be lying in a grave by the end of the night, having been feasted upon by the creatures of the night, but by then he would have already been a corpse and his soul will be mine. In truth I am not here to make a loquacious statement, I am here to make another appearance to Dolph Ziggler, who’s will I can feel crumbling under my dark spirit which has poisoned his mind, I feel it now. The fact your fans have to boo my presence shows they are attacking me rather than cheer for you, they have doubt in you Dolph. They know you cannot defeat me and their boos do nothing to reassure themselves or to console you, they only strengthen me for I know you are weak and that qualm will cripple you in our contest. Prepare yourself for the end Dolph Ziggler, for after this night you shall…………….Rest In Peace!
With his signature phrase, Undertaker exits the ring swiftly and leaves the fans to drown in their doubts and for the hope to be slowly squeezed out of Ziggler. Undertaker’s tools are fear and doubt and he is a master works-man and tonight he has proved his proficiency with them tonight by stunning the crowd into a silence. Fans are no longer brandishing their colorful signs or chanting, instead they look up thoughtfully at the video package consisting of graphics for the matches and wonder if Thy WWE will ever be the same after this night. The camera crew come to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler for their final thoughts before the draft commences.
Jim Ross
Well there you have it folks, the final words of The Undertaker. He believes he is going o bury Dolph Ziggler alive tonight and that he will finally establish himself officially as the best of the best in this company. What’s your opinion after that, King?
Jerry Lawler
I’m not sure, JR I just don’t know what to think after that. Undertaker’s words are very convincing but so are Kurt Angle’s. I guess we are just going to have to let the athletes do the talking in the ring because right now my judgment is clouded. All I know right now is that the Raw announcing team are going to kick the Smackdown announcing teams ass! Actually JR, I’ve had an idea for a match.
Jim Ross
What’s the idea, King?
Jerry Lawler
General Manager versus General Manager! I want to see Bischoff and McMahon square off in a ring. McMahon can kick Eric’s ass in real life, just like he did in the ratings, haha!
Jim Ross
I doubt it King, but what we do know is that we are seeing The Undertaker against Dolph Ziggler with Kurt Angle at ringside for tonight’s main event on the World Wrestling Empire Draft! We’re going to take a short break but don’t go away, because the in ring action starts when the WWE Draft returns.
The camera zooms outward and as it does so the announcing duo converse a few words before the scene fades out into a World Wrestling Empire logo. To build the hype even more, a WWE Draft promo is shown prior to the add break, it’s centered around The Undertaker, Dolph Ziggler and Kurt Angle among other superstars and is a short clip of fast paced action ending in a WWE Draft logo. The Draft logo lingers in the viewers television sets for a moment before fading out into an ad break most likely used as a toilet break or a chance to get a snack for the people at home.
Epilogoue
As Undertaker makes his way down the staunch, dark corridors he looks up at the door which reads "Undertaker" with a star burning brightly through the dull scene in the corridor. Undertaker sneers at the sight of the golden star, he will never acknowledge himself as a true star until he has proved himself to be the best in the World Wrestling Empire. He knows if he is to do that he must enter the arena through the shadow and engulf Dolph Ziggler in his darkness and fell yet another of the fans heros before their despairing eyes. Undertaker pushed upon the door which glides soundlessly over the hardwood floor. Undertaker enters the dressing room which has been purged of all light less a small window, the sort that would be in a prison which is streaming a golden ray of the sun into the dressing room. As Undertaker goes through his strategy for the match he fiddles with the clasp in his grappling gloves and finds himself sliding them on and off as he determines how he will decimate the fans valiant warrior and extend "The Era of The Undertaker" into Smackdown as well. The light gushing through the open slit in the wall begins to falter as night arrives at the arena, this is Undertaker's time. As the light fades into the darkness, Undertaker ponders if fate is telling him something, is the light fading for Dolph? Will the evil of Undertaker triumph again? The light is suggesting metaphorically at least, that this is the case. Undertaker stands up from the bench and fastens his grappling gloves on for the last time, he straightens up at the door. He closes his eyes as he feels his power flow through him, Undertaker will be a tower of strength tonight and he will prove his dominion over the entire promotion in front of thousands tonight.......it's time. Undertaker pushes open the door and steps into the hallway, staring up at the whitewashed walls for a moment before he steps into the fray and beyond the curtain into the darkness........to claim another soul..........[/color]
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