The scene opens to a visage of the EWC Vice President and commissioner, “The F’N Boss” TJ Hicks. He appears to be signing some papers when he gets a call on his cell phone. He picks it up and throws it on his desk. He then ignores it for a while. But it persistently rings and finally he picks it up and answers…
The Boss: Hello?
A raspy voice calls over the line.
Voice: Do you know where I am?
The Boss: Not directly. Who the hell is this?
Voice: The one man who’s going to throw Crusher his ass at Harsh Winter!
The Boss: Bad Ass? That you?
Bad Ass: No. It’s Vince McMahon. Of course it’s me.
The Boss: You seem to be in a good mood.
Bad Ass: Why shouldn’t I be? We handed the SI their asses at Fury didn’t we?
The Boss: And in turn they fought back after the match.
Bad Ass: And they call us the heels. Ha! Look, I’m making a few minor preparations. I wanna be ready when going into Harsh Winter. You do know this is the real deal, right? After that night, one of us is never coming back…
The Boss: What are you saying? What are you doing?
Bad Ass: Just checking some stuff out. Don’t worry.
The line becomes a silent pause as a mindless drift of silence floats between them. Hicks then begins to fidget around on his desk before stopping and continuing over the phone.
The Boss: You know I don’t like it when you say that…
Bad Ass: I don’t like to say it either… Even inside this building, I can feel the moon hanging pale over the sky, haunting me. Telling me that it’s all coming to a halt. This whole joy ride we’ve lived up until now… The Money… The Fame… All of it at the price of selling out. It’s going to collide around us like a bad car accident.
The Boss: …
Bad Ass: Nick saw it ahead of time and bailed out. And who paid the ultimate price? Jay Cee. Was it fair? No. But that’s the life we live right now, and I’m not apologizing for anything. I want this… Crusher and the Bad Ass stepping toe to toe in a struggle to survive. I need this… Crusher sees it too. We think alike; we react alike. And why? Because we’re only good at one thing…
The Boss: And what’s that?
Bad Ass: Beating the hell out of one another and everyone around us. He stepped up, however. He dropped that side of him that enjoyed taking everyone around him out. He’s gained control and lives to win now. I’ve not learned how to do that…
The Boss: Look, if you’re having second thoughts… Or if you want my help…
Bad Ass: No! I told you I want this! And I want to do it myself! If I don’t make it, well, then it’s my own damned fault. I don’t want to pretend that I beat Crusher by myself should I win. Pretend that I drove him from his home, by myself.
The Boss: It’s your home too…
Bad Ass: For how long? Look at my track record… I join, I fight, I have an incredible streak in the first run. Then I get suspended for drug use. Not only that, but I lose Lizzy in the long run to the damned thing I was addicted to! I come back, aligning myself against you. I get injured and leave again. I come back and stand by you for what…a month? Than I’m off running with the Dangerous Alliance who eventually try and reform the OCWF and drop me on my ass. Then I’m gone again. I make one last come back…a stand at most. And what do I do? I stand beside the man with the dollar and find happiness fighting the only man to get as brutal as myself. One man who could look me in the eyes and defy me with every glare. But I’ve enjoyed it…
The Boss: Hey, we’ve had some great times! And we will continue to have them, do you hear me? The guns, the breaking and entering, the stalking… Hanging with the Weapons for crying out loud! And your ever vigilante crusade to rebel against everything and destroy anything you get your hands on! Not to mention you’ve been the EWC hardcore champion. A several time EWC tag-team champion. A former EWC International champion. And number one contender to the world title several times. And need I remind you why you never won the title?
Bad Ass: …
The Boss: Because you never wanted it! You always laughed in the face of the champion whoever it was, and slapped them silly before turning your back on the belt and the champion. Hell. You only joined the Seventh Heaven to get at Crusher, everyone knows that… Look. I’ve got some work to do. Why don’t you finish what you’re doing and meet me down at the local bowling alley, whadda ya say?
Bad Ass: Sounds good. See ya soon.
The Boss: You better!
Matt hangs up his cell phone and sets it aside. He’s standing under a metal construction when a man in some production clothing gives him a sign. Matt stands under the construction and waits as “Run Like Hell” by Kittie begins to play. He then steps out into a vivid color of light as fans all around him begin to yell at the top of their lungs. Wearing his leather jacket, denim jeans, white under shirt and bandana around his head; he walks to the ring with a look that could slice through the toughest metal. His goal lies centered in the middle of a black rind with red ropes and white lettering on the sides. And the crowd isn’t the only one to notice him either… To the left side of the ring, two commentators are nearly leaping out of their seats at his approach…
Jim Ross: Oh my God!!! That’s the Bad Ass! That’s the Bad Ass!
Jerry “The King” Lawler: I can’t believe it! Jericho said he had a surprise for the Rock, but this is unbelievable!!!
The Bad Ass slides into the WWF ring from the bottom as a staggering Rock turns around after a chair shot from the WWF Unified Champion, Chris Jericho; and walks straight into a diamond cutter from the Bad Ass as the referee signals for the bell.
Jim Ross: A “Blow It Out Your Ass” from the Bad Ass!!! That bastard has helped Chris Jericho retain his title!!!
Jerry “The King” Lawler: And the Rock didn’t even see it!
The fans don’t know whether to cheer the Bad Ass’ arrival or boo him for flooring their champion. But the cheers eventually turn to boos as he lifts the Rock into a full-nelson, leaning back and lifting him off the mat in a choking position. The “Covey-mission”… The Rock slips into unconsciousness as the bell is repeatedly sounded. Stone Cold suddenly comes running from the back as the Bad Ass and Chris Jericho bail from the ring and into the crowd…
The Bad Ass is seen sitting in what appears to be a luxurious office of sorts, sitting right across from Vince McMahon of course. And who should be sitting next to the Bad Ass but the people’s champion himself, The Rock. Holding his neck…
The Rock: Damn. Did you have to lock on so tight?
Vince McMahon: Now Dwayne, he’s not used to the way we do things. Remember, he’s from barbwire city. But seriously Mr. Covey, I think the fans really enjoyed your arrival tonight. You know they’re going to look forward to seeing more of you from here on. I mean you are “Bad Ass” Matt Covey after all, and the people have been crazy about you since you broke out!
The Rock: He’s right. I’ve not seen that kind of a pop for another super star’s arrival since Paul’s return.
Bad Ass: You mean Triple H, right?
The Rock: He prefers to be called Paul, just like I prefer Dwayne. I’m only the Rock inside the ring.
Bad Ass: Really?
Vince McMahon: Of course, just like you’re only the “Bad Ass” in the ring.
Vince and the Rock laugh together as Matt cocks an eyebrow. The two suddenly stop laughing…
Bad Ass: What the hell are you two talking about? I’m always a “Bad Ass”. I’ll always be a “Bad Ass”.
Vince McMahon swallows hard.
Vince McMahon: Okay. Whatever suits you. I guess. So when can we sign you? I mean after all, you are very good for business.
Bad Ass: I told you. I’ve got until February’s EWC pay-per-view “Harsh Winter”. And even then, it’s only if I lose. I mean, I’ve gotta find work afterwards should I lose, right? And you guys seem to be lacking in the ratings department, so we’ll see.
Vince McMahon: That’s good. Let me…
He is suddenly interupted by the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Ric enters the room with two fine young ladies on his arms.
Ric Flair: Well Vince. We’ve done it again, finished another spectacular night and these ladies want to congratulate us!
Matt turns around and gets to his feet in a defensive position.
Bad Ass: Why would he want to hang with you Flair? He hates you remember? You’ve given him nothing but hell since you bought out Shane and Stephanie’s stock…
Ric Flair cocks an eyebrow of his own and begins to laugh.
Ric Flair: He’s kidding, right Vince?
Vince McMahon: Don’t worry about it. Take the ladies to my personal limo and we’ll talk later.
Ric Flair leaves as Matt seats himself, unaware why everything’s feeling so weird… So backwards… So…fake.
Vince McMahon: Look Matt. Here at the WWF, nobody really hates anybody. We’re all good friends putting on the best show on television. Just like tonight, you and Jericho put on a great show with Dwayne and Steve.
The Rock grabs his neck.
The Rock: Well, some of us put on a show…
Bad Ass: Yeah! I was gonna rip Austin’s face off until Jericho grabbed me and ran!
Vince McMahon: Oh boy… Well now you know. So how many titles can I sign you up for?
Bad Ass: Excuse me?
Vince McMahon: Just kidding. We’ll talk about that later. But let me give you this WWF T-shirt and you give me a call in a couple of weeks, alright?
Matt takes the shirt and gets out of his seat, staring oddly at Vince and the Rock; both wearing identical smiles that read, “Slap me I’m stupid”. Matt just shook his head and turned, walking out of the room, only to watch Austin offer Jericho and Booker T a ride in his truck.
The Boss and Kaly are sitting at “Galaxy Quest”, a quaint little bowling alley in the town. They’re seated at a nice table with revolving chairs attached to it. On the table are small pictures that appear to be glowing from beneath a black light above. The bowling balls are glowing as well with bright neon colors, as vibrant lasers of color flash around from just above the lanes. And loud blasts of rock music tops the place off. Kaly is sucking down a glass of 7-UP and eating a pretzel as the Boss glances down at his watch.
The Boss: Where the hell is he? He knows better than to lie to me!
Kaly: Now when has he ever? He’ll show.
The Boss: You seem to have a re-newed since of faith in him. How come?
Kaly: He’s one of my friends too.
The Boss: You two don’t show it…
Kaly: He’s not the kind that does easily. You remember when Melchoir bit you all that while back? Well, until then I had never seen him show any sign of emotion, or any real kindness to anyone. You and I had been seeing one another for a little while and he didn’t really know me, yet he stayed with me, all just to see you. And when he wrecked his bike leaving that night, he showed me kindness while I took care of him. He tried to act tough and hide it, but it was there. He even seemed to enjoy Claudia…
The Boss: Of course he did. Come on, you’ve seen the hell she gives his cousin Ed.
Kaly: And then he went so far as to befriend Bradley, which isn’t easy to do.
The Boss: Really? When the hell did this happen?
Kaly: While you were out, silly. They talked a few times. From then on after you awoke, both men pretended not to show nothing for the other. Of course now Bradley hates the corporation.
The Boss: Doesn’t everyone?
Bad Ass finally comes stepping around the corner, his jacket zipped up and sits down long enough to take off his boots, and lace up his bowling shoes.
The Boss: Well, it’s about damn time! Where you been?
Bad Ass: You don’t wanna know…
The Boss: Fine. Well, take off your jacket, you’re the first one up.
Matt sighs and then stands, unzipping his jacket to reveal the black shirt with the WWF logo in the upper right hand corner. The Boss allows his straw to swirl around in the glass momentarily all the while staring in a dazed stupor. Kaly finally nudges TJ in the side playfully and he snaps too.
The Boss: Um…Okay.
Bad Ass: Is that all? “Okay”…
The Boss: Well, what do you want from me?
Bad Ass: A reason! God, any reason not to go! It’s…it’s…
Kaly: Fake?
Bad Ass: Oh you don’t know!!! You just don’t know!!! It’s fucking insane!!!
The Boss: All I can tell you is not to lose your damned match to Crusher.
Matt smiles.
Bad Ass: Like I would intentionally. Please… After seeing that shit, I’m going to whoop his all across that ring and throughout whatever damned matches he has planned for us!
Matt smiles and takes his bowling ball to the lane. He stands back and prepares to bowl when a ball comes sailing through the air, blasting him backwards into the stomach.
Crusher: Excuse me, but are you touching my ball?
Matt smiles and weakly gets back to his feet, running back at Crusher. Kaly’s jaw drops as she and TJ watch on.
Kaly: Aren’t you going to help him?
The Boss: Nope. He wouldn’t be happy if he couldn’t do it himself… More power to him I say.
The scene fades to black.