The lights in the arena go out, plunging the crowd into darkness. There is a slow beat that seeps from the speakers. As the main music of The Devil's Rejects hits the speakers, red lights turn on focusing on the stage. Standing in the center of it is a figure wearing a long hooded coat alongside a woman standing off the side and to the back. Rex Kobra, ready for more violence, and his sister accompanying her high priest as she must. He stands for a moment on the stage, staring at the ring. He quickly throws his arms up and out to his sides, prompting a burst of flames to erupt on either side of him. As the flames die down, the rest of the lights turn on all red as well, bathing the entire arena in a reddish glow.
I am the bad one Distant and cruel one I am the dream that Keeps you running down
With distraction Violent reaction Scars of my actions Watch me running out
Rex starts down the ramp, his sister following along behind. His attention remaining fixed on the ring. Tonight was a chance for him to show Salem Croft the true power of The Cult. Salem had but a glimpse of his family but in their match, he was going to make sure he felt their power. The Copperhead. A man who knew that he belonged amongst The Cult of the Serpent, even if he did now know he knew. Salem's friend learned a dangerous lesson trying to play with The Kobra and tonight, he was going to make certain that Salem felt the same pain.
Hell doesn't want them Hell doesn't need them Hell doesn't love them The Devil's rejects
"Introducing first, accompanied by The Vipress Ramona Tyler...he is the leader and High Priest of The Cult of the Serpent, weighing in at 328 lbs...all the way from Salem, Oregon...The Defiler.....Rex Kooooooobra."
Yeah I am the knuckle Bow down and buckle Hold your breath Your world is running down
Live for the family Die with the family All is the family My gun is running out
Rex stops at the end of end of the ramp, and raises his arms to his sides. He can feel the power of the ring. His cathedral to drag people to new found faith. He had both disappointed and elated The Serpent in recent weeks. His first loss was a blow but the way he had let his cult make themselves known and make Erynys suffer for his blasphemy was glorious. And while he had lost to Emiko, there was something special about her. Lowering his arms, he makes his way to the steps and stomps up them. At the top, he moves to the middle of the apron and climbs into the ring by stepping over the top rope. In the ring, he moves to the center and drops to his knees. He then lowers his hood. He stares ahead of him, not focusing his gaze on the crowd but instead of the reddish glow of the lights. The red that will fuel him through the match to come.
Hell doesn't want them Hell doesn't need them Hell doesn't love them This world rejects them This world rejects them This world rejects them
Rex stands, removes his coat and aviator sunglasses, and hands them off to his sister who takes them and sets them on the steps in his corner. Then Rex stands still in the center of the ring, watching the ramp and waiting for The Serpent's next sacrifice.
The lights cut off across the arena following Rex's entrance, a palpable excitement running like lightning through the crowd as fans got ready for the show's opening match. The darkness was thick, the audience flashing cameras and using phone lights to try and get a glimpse of the stage during the pregnant pause, unable to see much further than themselves. Then, a voice boomed out loudly, accompanied by a large icon appearing on the titantron.
IT'S SHOOOOOWTIIIIIIME!
The fans got loud, music starting as the image appeared, a voice rapping while the fire and shadow danced on the stage with plumes of fireballs lifting three feet from the stage before vanishing again, making a sequence of flames that both showed off the empty stage and raised the temperature of the arena slightly.
Probably could've lived the whole life when you didn't even land as a blip on my radar Now that you've been in my sights, got a nice plot picked in the bed of my graveyard Everything I touch get killed, I'mma slide in the rink, And I'm splitting that face guard All I gotta do is wait for the right moment like, Wait, I feel a beat drop on the eighth bar...
As the beat drops, the flames suddenly rose in pillars that popped some fifteen feet high, pyro erupting like a volcano. Where the stage was empty before, a figure slowly lifted from under the stage like a demon, Salem literally rising to the occasion while the fans showed him love and showered him with cheers upon his arrival. Bare-chested, the Gypsy Savage had his various tribal tattoos on display from across his collarbone to his shoulders and down both arms, ending where his wrist tape began and wove around his forearms, fists, and fingers. Military style fatigues with snake patterns painted in black and gray went down to sturdy steel-toed boots of polished black leather. Salem, however, stood sternly on the stage surrounded by the fire, his eyes venomous and muscles rigid like a coiled snake prepared to strike.
Living for the fam, my soldiers Once in a lifetime life, twice over All these bitches thinking they hot, 'till I smolder All these bitches thinking they hot, when I'm solar All these bitches thinking they hot, when I'm colder Shaking off the rust to brush up my quota It ain't have to be this way, man, I told ya Heater from the head to toe, I'll bi-pole ya, oh no!
You can't even see the plan, I got it tinted You ain't seen the vision, and your people, I can see them squinting Me, I'm gifted, pull up with the heater 'cause the heater lift 'em Told you, I'm the coldest with the heater 'cause it leave 'em rigid See 'em limp acetaminophen, b***h, you gon' need a wicken Had to put your team into the negative to see the difference Everybody speak it like they did it, b***h, you need to zip it See the digits every time I speak, a sentence people listen
You gon' turn me back to the old me To a monster, I just wanted low key Old man s**t, I just wanted more peace Then you turn the piece on me that was OD Gotei Thirteen, that was all me How you gonna flex on me, I'm the OG Told me get on your level, that's a low leap Power rules everything, b***h, that's the motif
Salem started down the ramp, walking past the fire that continued bursting across the stage behind him, the eager crowd shouting and reaching for him. He took a moment as he descended to greet some of them, sharing fist-bumps and high-fives, but Salem felt a bit weary of his opponent for the evening and his concern cracked through slightly in his expression. Rex Kobra had been an old friend of his, however his recent behavior was creepy and disturbing, what with his new posse of cultists that seemed entranced by him and the dark sermons he shared with them. Now, not only was Salem the target of The Syndicate, but it appeared Rex, himself, was using their own trap as one of his own, intent on making Salem join his marauding flock of devotees. It wasn'ta prospectSalem celebrated, trying to focus on his point for being here instead - to win and do his part to get Savage Sons a tag title rematch at SummerSlam after Adrian interfered in the tag team finals. As the chorus played, "Showtime" circled the ringside area and continued sharing respect and love for his fans, appreciating their continued support.
Everybody say they running the scene How you run it when you gunning for me Everytime I stand, they run for the seat I ain't come to you, you up here with me No games Youngin you don't want a run in with me, no way You should just stay in your lane We aren't the same Forgot that I come from the slums, forgot that I come from the streets Forgot that I come with them ones, forgot that I come with the heat Forgot that I run with the wolves, baby, that means that I run with the beasts Now you think you do it like me, can't nobody do it like me, no way
Once he'd finished his circle around the perimeter, Salem slithered under the bottom rope and popped to his feet opposite Rex, stretching his arms and wipinghis feet on the canvas while holding the top cable. It was now go-time for "Showtime", and as the ring announcer introduced him, Salem balled a fist and liftedit in the air valiantly, his fans helping herald him with their adulation.
"...and his opponent...standing at six-foot, three inches tall and weighing in at two-hundred thirty-five pounds! From Indianapolis, Indiana! He is 'The Copperhead'! 'The Gypsy Savage'! 'The Nap Town Nightmare'! He is..."SHOOOOWTIME" SALEM CROFT!"
The music dropped off slowly as his name was spoken, the crowd fired up morethan Salem'searlier entrance. These two men had never gone one on one before, Salem couldn't remember ever having a match period with the charismatic cult leader, in fact. There were going to be a lot of questions over how well they knew each other's styles, but for the second show in a row he was facing a fellow legend that he'd never traded blows with, and the audience was happy for the never-before-seen encounter! Waiting for the bell, Salem looked at Rex with focus and determination, knowing he'd have an unusual fight on his hands!
J.R.: "Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for joining us here at the WWFG this evening for Vengeance! Up next we have a first-ever match-up between two seasoned wrestlers with decades of experience between them! It's "Showtime" Salem Croft versus the enigmatic Rex Kobra!"
King: "It's a fight between "The Copperhead" and "The Kobra", J.R.! I never thought I'd see these snakes clash!"
J.R.: "Well, King, if Rex had his way, I think they'd be allies right now instead of adversaries, but Salem's goals don't include wearing robes, I feel!"
King: "You're right, J.R.! He better worry about winning this match, or he might need some new friends if he ever wants a shot at those tag titles again!"
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 10:57 pm
As the bell rang, Rex would move to the center of the ring and extend his hand in a show of sportsmanship. If Salem took the shake, Rex would attempt to grab him and Irish Whip him toward the ropes and try to drill him on the way back if that succeeded as well.
Salem was a bit weary to shake with Rex, expecting some type of sleight of hand - pun intended - but against his better judgment he reciprocated the friendly gesture. However, his concerns rang true as Kobra whipped him to the ropes, sending him running back into what was intended to be a nasty forearm! Ducking under it, Salem would run the ropes one more time, looking to gain even more speed and momentum to try and hammer his opponent with a clubbing lariat on the second return!
"Silly Salem! You knew better than to trust a snake!"
"Y'know, Salem's technically a snake too, King."
"That's why I don't trust him to know who to trust, J.R.!"
Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2023 10:26 am
Rex underestimated Salem and was taken down by the lariat. However, he started to sit up almost as soon as he hit the mat, laughter spilling out of his mouth.
Salem managed to drop Rex on the rebound, but as he reached the opposite ropes he hesitated at the sound of laughter! Turning back around to see Kobra already sitting up with delight, Salem was perplexed a second before leaning back into the cables for leverage and rushing forward to try and kick Rex back down across his collarbone!
Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2023 10:51 am
Rex took the kick and looked up at Salem. The blow hurt, pain blossoming along his collarbone but the laughter from Rex didn't stop. If anything, it just got louder.
Salem stopped next to Rex after connecting with the running kick, hearing the cult leader continue to laugh. Tensing his jaw a bit, Salem would look to strike with another snap shin kick at Rex's ribs, aiming to knock some wind out of his laughter!
Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2023 10:57 am
Rex was kicked. The wind was knocked out of him and though he wheezed and coughed, there still seemed to be laughter in his voice.
Once more, Salem slammed his leg into Rex, only to be greeted again with coughing laughter! Rushing to the ropes behind Kobra, "Showtime" sought to shut him up with a final kick to Rex's back!
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2023 3:38 pm
The kick connected. Rex arched his back and his chuckling continued. He started to slowly try to get up, all the while smiling like a rabid hyena.
"Yes, Salem," he said. "Let The Serpent's light course through you."
Salem leaned back against the ropes after yet another kick to Kobra, but the cultist just continued to cough and cackle! Perplexed by his opponent's behavior, Salem sought to put his fangs into the back of Rex's skull as he sat up, running forward to throw a hard knee into his head!
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2023 3:01 pm
Rex didn't see the knee coming and was taken down. The laughter stopped as he was left dazed but a wide grin still hung on his face. it was a bit lopsided now, however.
Salem connected with the hard knee, snapping Rex's head to the side as he was laid out on the mat! Turning to see Kobra and his dazed smile as he lay practically drooling on the canvas, "Showtime" would move to roll his opponent onto his back, hook a leg, and try to mount a cover, hoping to either secure a quick victory or make Rex exhaust himself more kicking out!
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