[ This promo follows on a little later from "The God That Failed" ]
After a stunner of a match at Judgement Day, the crowd were anticipating the next sequence in a series of a phenomenal match card.
A guitar riff cuts out the noise as the beginning to Black Flame rings out across the arena.
[Black Flame - Bury Tomorrow]
Here I stand, alone, with hate
Here I stand, too long, too late
All I know, is you will leave us all
Here I stand, alone, to fall
A flurry of fireworks shoot in an arc on either side of the stage, going back and forth several times before simmering down in to a low 'fizz' that keeps going.
Avari Fusion steps out on stage to a loud pop from the crowd. Wearing his signature jeans and flourishing blue jacket, he puts out his arms in an 'eagle' motion to another massive cheer from this crowd.
Oh my Brother, how could you?
Not look into the eyes of your fellow man
Who stood with you, through it all
And feel nothing in your heart but hate
Avari walked out to the edge of the stage, looking over the ramp and at the crowd left and right, who were still buzzing for the spectacle. He nodded his head as the announcer came over the PA.
"Making his way to the ring.. Avari! Fusion!"
Another loud pop came for Avari as he breathed in deep, and continued acknowledging the almost adoring crowd for one of their new fan favourites.
Red stain on the blade
All sense of worth has been washed away
Sacrifice was all in vain
Where's the sense of guilt? Where's the shame?
Reaching the ring, Avari slides under the bottom rope and rolls, standing up on his feet. He takes a walk to one of the corners and hops up on to the turnbuckle, raising a fist in the air to another pop from the crowd.
Lost soul in the unmarked grave
We have given a name
Black flame
In death we are all the same
Remain, black flame
He takes the time to go to each turnbuckle and repeat the process, soaking in the crowd as he does so.
Eventually the music dies down as Avari slows down a little, reaching over and taking a microphone from one of the stage hands. He looks out across the sold-out arena and waits just a second, before realising that they're not quite calming down. Eventually he just raises the microphone to his lips.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to tell you a story, is that okay with you?"
The ripping round of applause was a fine signal that they were more than happy with a story from Avari.
"I want to tell you a story that begins with a man who was already well known to the WWFG Universe. A man who divided opinion, conquered divisions, and stamped his mark on this landscape. I am, of course, speaking about a man named Nuke Fusion."
The crowd let off a massive cheer, followed closely by a chant going off in the back of 'Nuke! Nuke! Nuke!', to which Avari smiled and acknowledged with a raise of his hand - as he attempted to bring the crowd down a little so that he can continue.
"I've got to say, I just love your enthusiasm. Well, that man created an institution, and made it so that nearly a decade gone from this business .. he was remembered. His name was remembered, his face was remembered, his legacy thrived even in his absence."
Avari paused, soaking in the crowd. It was purely electric, the type of thing he'd been wanting and waiting for his whole life.
"So this legend returns to the business at WrestleMania, cuts a promo to the lauding of the attending fans, and then states that he's returning at Backlash .. well, Backlash rolls by and Nuke puts his best foot forward and offers multiple handshakes during the match, and fights it clean.
Of course, he's a changed man, it's not like he's the same guy he was before. A decade has passed, he's a family man, things have changed for him. But in his offering, he gets his forthrightness and sportsmanship thrown right back in his face."
Avari slows it down again as the crowd start to jeer, as they had done during both of Drako and Hiro's promos at Judgement Day as well.
"As we all know, Nuke is a warrior though, and doesn't back down from a challenge. In the end he fights and wins the match, although he has to use some underhanded tactics to take the win.
Here's the thing though, the big exclamation point that no one was prepared for. That big point is that your World Heavyweight Champion, the idol of many.. Drako Damone.."
A rapturous chorus of jeers rang out across the arena as Avari nodded his head in unison, turning on his heel to look out across the whole crowd.
"Damn straight. Drako and his goons, his so-called 'family members' team up to viciously and brutally not only beat Nuke. But they beat him so bad that your hero, The Uncrowned Champion, is now laying in a hospital bed."
Avari brings the microphone down a little as he says this, a hint of sadness and despair on his voice.
"Tonight we have seen Hiro make a pledge to my father, Nuke Fusion. that he will be the one to avenge him and take down The Soaring Dragon. Best you believe that I wanted that opportunity. Best you believe that I would have left Drako laying on the canvas with my arm raised over him.
But, alas, I have a tournament to win. I have a destiny to fulfill, and a path to glory carved out in front of me and ready for me to walk it.
So I will say this, Hiro, if you're listening right now out back."
Nuke's son takes the time to walk right up towards the camera, his eyes fixed on the audience at home, and possibly Hiro.
"You say you love my father, you say that he was and is was one of your idols. Go out there and get the business done. Go out there and not only defeat Drako, but make a mockery of him. Put name on the family name of Damone, and make him regret his actions.
If you don't, you'd have been a failure. If you don't, your heroism would have all been for nothing. If you don't, your words would have meant nothing at all."
Avari really got up close to the camera this time.
His eyes were focused, his brow furrowed, there was intent in his face and in his words.
"Let's continue the story then, shall we?
After his great return, Nuke brought with him a prodigal son .. a literal son. That would be me.
Avari Fusion, 'The Man of the Hour', has come to WWFG with a destiny to fulfill. It is my destiny to not only win gold here, but also to win the adoration of all of you. To put on spectacles like many of you have never seen before, and to continue the legacy of the name .. Fusion."
Avari stepped away from the camera as the crowd cheered loudly. This was a new side of Avari though. Fierce, stern, unwavering in his words.
He played around with the microphone in his hands for a moment or two before he put it back towards his lips.
"Something was said earlier, and that something was mentioned by your World Heavyweight Champion. He mentioned how my father was a cruel and horrid person back in the day, asking why would anyone dare cheer a man like that.
It would seem to me that Drako and his goons have something of an inferiority complex. It would seem to me that he's been on top so long that he doesn't like being beaten in the squared circle.
It would also seem to me that Drako Damone has held on to a family grudge for a whole decade.
He complains that Nuke came back and stole the spotlight, that he came back and just walked in to the title picture. Can you all see where I'm going with this?
He complains because he's scared. He complains because he knows what Nuke Fusion is capable of, and what he can do in and out of the ring.
Of course he would be scared. A Hall of Famer in the prime of his life, a threat to the throne, a dagger waiting to bury itself in the side of the great dragon."
Avari chuckles to himself, a smile coming over him. He nods again with the cheers going on around the arena, knowing that they were following him, even in his long-winded rant.
"There is no one better in the ring than Nuke Fusion. There is no one better on the mic than Nuke Fusion. Until me.
Because if my father can't return to the ring to take out the Damones, then I will. God willing he will recover and take out the man who put him in hospital. But if God isn't watching, then I will release the demon inside to take down the dragon.
Drako Damone, you have made this personal. You have made this Damon against Fusion, when all you had to do was be a good sport and put on a spectactle.
You lost in a singles match with no Championship changing hands, and you still couldn't take the loss. But if you were thinking holding on to that gold was secured, think again.
I will come at you, I will come at your family. I will bring the demon inside, and I will come with weapons if I have to.
If Nuke isn't to return, or if he is to fail, I will be there. And once I win King of the Canvas, there won't even be a chance for you to run from me, you pathetic little b***h."
The heat and fire spitting from Avari's tongue in that last sentence was tangible, the crowd erupted in to a cheer louder than they had given anyone all night. They were with him, they wanted Drako to fall, and that last sentence resonated with every single person in this arena.
Avari drops the microphone as the camera pans out, the crowd on their feet. Black Flame hits the PA again as Fusion nods, the camera back to his face again. From the corner of his eye a single tear falls and lands on his cheek, bouncing a little before falling to the canvas.
He closed his eyes and soaked in the aura from the crowd, waiting for a few seconds in that bliss, in that moment.
Eventually he opened his eyes and took his leave out of the ring through the ropes, reaching over and giving high fives to as many audience members as he can. The cheering inside the arena was massive has he reached the stage and put his arms out to one last pop, before turning and walking back through to the staging area.
