Dream Fulfilled

*Whenever matches or segments in the ring take place past or present, they are written in the present tense with dialogue done in a script-like format

Balducci: Welcome back to the Madhouse, match-up underway, World Television Championship on the line. The momentum has been shifting since the commercial break.

Simon tries to boot Zázrak in the face. The champion quickly catches the boot, spins him around and kicks him in the back of the knee forcing him to fall to a kneeling position before attempting to ground him with a headlock.

Simon lifts him up and performs a back suplex only for Zázrak to counter into an inverted headlock backbreaker on the way down,

Alvarez: Perfection!

Balducci: The champ going for a cover. Thompson kicks out!

Shamoon: With authority.

Simon shoves Zázrak off him with great force to the delight of the crowd.

He gets to his feet quickly, but Zázrak rolls out of the ring to avoid him. The Dream gives chase, but as soon as he is outside, Zázrak slides back into the ring. Simon goes back in and the champ runs out. This cat and mouse exchange repeats itself a few times,

Balducci: The champion looking to frustrate the challenger.

Shamoon: He might frustrate the audience while he's at it.

Alvarez: His priority is keeping the title. Nothing else matters.

Simon, having grown fed up chases Zázrak out of the ring only to get back in with frightening speed to catch the champ with a wicked clothesline that turns him inside out (hits him so hard he does a backflip)

Balducci: Oddio!

The crowd erupts and Simon briefly looks around, taking it all in.

Alvarez: Did you see how fast he ran?

Shamoon: Inhuman!

Simon picks the dazed champion off the floor and drapes him on the ropes in the corner.

He Irish whips him into the opposing corner and runs after him.

Balducci: Thompson with a full head of steam. Going for a splash in the corner.

Shamoon: Zázrak just barely getting out of the way.

Alvarez: And now he's lighting him up with the chops of justice!

Zázrak's chops leave bright red hand prints on Simon's chest. The challenger looks at him with a blank stare.

Shamoon: Justice denied.

Simon slowly walks forward as Zázrak continues chopping to no avail. The champ then punches him in the face which does little more than push it to the side. Simon looks at him again with a blank expression.

Zázrak looks around at the cheering crowd in disbelief, before throwing another punch. The result is the same.

Balducci: Now it's Zázrak's turn to be frustrated!

Shamoon: And the crowd is loving it. So am I.

Alvarez: You would.

Zázrak grits his teeth and swings with all his strength. Simon catches his fist and twists Zázrak's wrist. The champ screams in pain and the crowd erupts once again.

Balducci: Things just went from bad to worse for the Television Champion.

Shamoon: Hahaha. Oh, absolutely!

Balducci: Thompson's got him back in the corner and there's the thumbs up!

Shamoon: Here it comes... RAPID FIRE!!!

The crowd goes nuts as Simon unleashes a flurry of fast punches to Zázrak's stomach and face.

Alvarez: Hey ref, do something!

Balducci: Thompson needs to be careful not to get disqualified here.

Simon backs off at the referee's command all the way to the other corner. He quickly runs back and hits the jumping splash in the corner, crushing Zázrak against the turnbuckles. The champ, with visible bruises on his stomach and previously perfectly symmetrical face, begins to limply fall forward.

Simon runs to the ropes, bounces off them to build speed and catches him with a running neckbreaker.

Balducci: Thompson's in control! The champ's in trouble!

Shamoon: He better capitalise.

Simon quickly gets to his feet and drags  Zázrak to the centre of the ring before pinning him.

Balducci: Smart, but will it be enough? No, Zázrak gets the shoulder up at 2!

Alvarez: He's been champion for 9 months for a reason. It's going to take a lot more than some fast punches and neckbreaker to beat him.

Shamoon: I hate to say it but I agree. Thompson needs to end this fast before Zázrak turns the tables, somehow.

Simon stands up as Zázrak stirs. He grabs the Champ's head and places it between his legs. He raises his hand over his face and lowers it past his eyes, closing them.

Balducci: Thompson signalling the end.

Shamoon: Zázrak's about to get a one-way ticket to Dreamworld!

Balducci: Powerbomb incoming- NO! Zázrak counters!

Alvarez: Perfect DDT! Cover him, champ! Cover him!

Balducci: Thompson kicks out, but momentum is now firmly in Zázrak's corner.

Alvarez: All it took was a split second. Oh my god, look at him. Look what that seven-foot-freak did to his beautiful face.

Balducci: The nature of the sport.

Zázrak is seething at the welts on his body, but then he feels his black eye and is about to lose it.

Balducci: Oh boy.

Alvarez: Now he's going to punish him. Get him Champ!

Zázrak is about to continue the attack, but he stops and looks at the ref then at Simon who is starting to get to his feet. The two combatants make eye contact before Zázrak laughs and quickly slaps the referee who immediately calls for the bell.

Shamoon: Are you serious?

Balducci: Oh come on!

Alvarez: ¡Brillanté!

The crowd reigns down a chorus of boos as Zázrak laughs. Simon droops his eyelids with his hands on his hips.

Lodestar: Ladies and gentlemen. You're winner by disqualification, Simon Thompson.

There's a weak, passionless cheer from the crowd. Simon shakes his head as Zázrak smirks.

Lodestar: However, still the PSW World Television Champion, Dennis Zázrak!

The crowd unloads with even more boos as the champ is handed his title. He raises it in the air.

Shamoon: This is pathetic. He knew he couldn't win, so weaselled his way out of-

Alvarez: Zázrak was in control the entire time.

Shamoon: So letting himself get punched at light speed was a strategic move?

Alvarez: Of course. He weathered the storm, shifted the momentum in his favour and continued his reign. That's all that matters and now he's just 10 minutes away from becoming the longest reigning Television Champion in PSW history.

Balducci: That may be true, but I don't see how he can be proud of that.

Zázrak turns his back to Simon and begins to leave as the crowd continues to boo and hiss. Simon frowns and looks down before following him.

Lodestar: Ladies and gentlemen, I have just received word from the Madhouse General Manager, Palesa Juwaiyra.

The crowd cheers at the GM's name being mentioned.

Lodestar: This match will continue!

Alvarez: What?!

The ever-energetic crowd erupts and Simon perks up. Zázrak is horrified.

Lodestar: And the match will be no disqualification or count outs!

Alvarez: This is an outrage! This abuse of power! This is-

Balducci: Psycho Style Wrestling!

The bell rings again and Zázrak charges with the title in his hand. Simon catches him by the throat.

Balducci: Zázrak going for a ride!

Alvarez: ¡No!

Balducci: Chokeslam by Thompson!

Shamoon: Pin him, Kid! Pin-

Simon gets Zázrak up and puts his head between his legs and performs the same eyes closing motion as before.

Balducci: Thompson going for the Dreamworld Express once more. He's got the champ on up!

Alvarez: Fight it, Dennis! Fight it!

Balducci: Thompson with the trunks in hand, lifting Zázrak up.

Shamoon: He's got to be 10 feet in the air!

Alvarez: FIGHT IT!

Time seems to slow, the crowd is ready absolutely explode. Zázrak finally comes to and realises the situation. All he can do is scream before being driven into the mat and knocked out.

Shamoon: Did you hear that impact?!

Balducci: Thompson going for the cover.

Referee: 1...

Alvarez: Kick out, Dennis!

Referee: 2!

Shamoon: Count to 50, he's out!

Referee: 3!!!

The roar of the crowd is deafening.

Balducci: THOMPSON IS CHAMPION! THOMPSON IS THE CHAMPION!

Shamoon: YES!

Alvarez: NO!

Lodestar: Ladies and gentlemen! You're winner by pinfall, Simon Thompson!

Simon is on his knees, crying tears of joy as the referee hands him the belt. He gets up to his feet and raises it over his head.

Balducci: That is one hell of an ovation!

Alvarez: Typical. A bully comes in, throws his weight around, takes something someone holds dear and people applaud him for it!

Shamoon: ... Um...

Balducci: Do... we need to talk?

Dominga: ... Maybe after the show.

Simon calls for a microphone. He speaks in between heavy breaths.

Simon: Thank you... Thank you so much... for that. I've... I've never gotten a reaction like that and... (Looks down) I definitely won't forget it.

He's about to continue but the crowd cuts him off.

Crowd: Thompson! Thompson! Thompson! Thompson!

He pauses, then points out at the stage.

Simon: Also a... thank you to Mrs Juwaiyra for her assistance.

Alvarez: So he admits to the collusion!

Shamoon: That's not what he said.

Simon: Now, I have 2 things to say.

He looks at a cameraman who has entered the ring. As he speaks Zázrak is helped out of the ring and taken to the back.

Simon: First... I want to dedicate this win... to my baby brother, Bruce. I don't tell you this as much as I should, but I love you and I'm going to keep this dream going for both of us. Second...

He points at the stage again.

Simon: ... I want to put... the entire PSW roster... on notice. The Monday Night Madhouse is now the Land of Dreams...

He raises the belt over his head.

Simon: ...and you can call me, King!

His music starts playing as the crowd goes wild one more time for him. He waves and fist pumps as he exits, even taking the time to high-five some fans.

Balducci: The new Television Champion with a bold proclamation! It'll be interesting to see who steps up to challenge it.

Alvarez: It won't last. Zázrak will get it back in no time.

Simon takes one final moment to pose for the crowd before turning around and walking past the sliding doors.