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The lights dim in the arena after the 5/8/22 show. There was a different aura in that air tonight. Maybe it was the fact it had been over a year since the Midnight Marauders International had set foot in CWF. Maybe it was the fact that posts typed on a large monitor, as opposed to a cell phone or laptop, make the promos look smaller and subconsciously impact the content of the segment. Irregardless, it was one of those nights as stagehands set up the hors d'oeuvres table behind the wooden podium in the center of the ring. On each side of the podium, encased in glass display cases with gold frames, the lineal WWFG Undisputed Tag Team Championships, retired in 2011, sit pretty and shining. Off in the corner of the ring there is a black velvet picture of the dearly departed Freakshow in a tan suit with that kind look in his eyes that so many had grown accustomed to. A familiar backbeat and electric guitar fill the arena:

I AM IRONMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN

Head turn towards the entrance ramp, being the post-show the only documentation of this event would be grainy cell phone footage as well as the half-truths and entendre that was so pervasive in the clicks driven, dirt sheet dominated environment of modern wrestling. Through the curtains emerges Vince Russo wearing a sports coat and silk shirt, a large ornate bowling trophy with a strip of masking tape over the nameplate with "Handicap World Championship," written onto it with a sharpie. Walking down from the ramp to the ringside area, the Creative Genius and most unfairly demonized man in documented human history hands the item up into the ring awkwardly for it to be placed in front of the podium at the exact right place to fulfill the compositional integrity of the shot even though this wasn't being filled. Everything in the scene was perfect, except one thing: A sign in the background being held by a fan with the words, "Where's Palmer?" Written in big block lettering. A vein throbs in Russos head as he leans over the ropes screaming away from the microphone:



Security quickly shuffles the man off to the side. As far as the rest of the fans were concerned, they had no idea what was going on. They didn't watch WWFG because they were casual fans, women and children unlike the typical basement dwellers who supported the lesser competition. For this reason, Russo was dressed in his Sunday best. He knew who was sitting in the CWF crowd, men on expensive dates, doctors, senators and people who got to the show on a Yacht. It was such a breath of fresh air, inhaling the clean and non-political air of the only real wrestling company on Gaiaonline.com, Russo speaks.

"Well well well... Back by POPULAR DEMAND bro, live and in color... The Midnight Marauders have finally returned to the CWF. You got just a TASTE of what we're capable of last year when our owner, may god rest his soul, made his first and final appearance in this very company. Since then, we've had to shake things up a little bit, bro. Changes in management, changes in direction. Bench players acting like starters, bro. And I after I got a little tip from a buddy of mine in Mexico, I had to call in a buddy of mine to squash a problem. A big, FAT problem."

The fans sit blank faced watching Russo talk. Many of they wished for some kind of video package or exposition recapping them on the events that Vince spoke of. It was almost as if what he was talking about happened in a completely different timeline over a year out from the 5/8/22 show and now he was traveling backwards in time to explain future events. Feeling exceptionally creative at this moment, Russo continues to vomit out diatribe on the internal politics of a faction that has only had one or two segments tops in the history of the company.

"You know, families fight, they argue, but at the end of the day? As long as you have a strong Authority calling the shots, everyone falls in line. And tonight? Well, we've got a lot of new members of the family to introduce to you tonight. We've got deals to be made, and hands to be shaken. But before we handle all that business, I want to bring out an old friend who for a little while seemed to be losing his way in the world. Bro... It brings a tear to my eye to say it.. I know things haven't always been smooth sailing with me and our first guest, but I'm glad to announce tonight that we're bringing him back into the fold. Yes, back into the fold with no dissent, no arguments bro, just pure, complete and utter obedience to the foundations laid by our forefather Freakshow. This man has been called many things. He's been called a burden, a turncoat, enhancement talent... He's been stabbed in the back, spit on and disrespected over and over again. And time and time again? He ALWAYS comes back because he ALWAYS knows whats BEST for him. And bro, if there is ONE THING that Vince Russo is known for, it's giving people a second chance. So that's what I'm going to do. Some of you may know this man as one of the TOP BRASS in Midnight Marauder, and now he will bring his vast, wealth of experience back to our organization as an unpaid intern. Kiddo, it's going to be a long road back to the top, but if anyone can do it I just KNOW it's you... CWF Universe... PLEASE welcome back my DEAR FRIEND...."

Over the PA system the sound of a drumroll starts building and building to a crescendo until finally dual cannons of confetti fire seemingly out of nowhere startling the old ladies. Letting the moment breath, Russo leans into his microphone screaming the name of the first guest to apathetic silence from the crowd:

"NICKY.... DELABONTE!!!!!"

Notoriously unable to read social cues, as many of us are, Russo goes in for a hug as Delabonte holds him the envelope before realizing too late that is not what he was going for and pulling back as he half-heartedly transitions into dapping the young man up. The past and the present of MMI middle management stands side to side, the energy nervous and tense as the creative genius leans over the shoulder of the new intern whispering something into his ear. Shuffling back to the podium, Russo leans into the microphone static crackling through the PA system as he speaks:

"Wow bro. Who would have ever thought we'd see the day? It's enough to make a grown man cry. We're going to see a LOT more of Delabonte in the weeks, months and even years to come. I mean this from the bottom of my heart, Nicky, you, are one hell of a guy. And speaking of which, that brings us to our next guest tonight. He is one half of the recipients of our award tonight--" Russo turns to the side, gesturing to one of the bowling trophy's.
"So ladies and gentlemen of the CWF universe, I'd like you all to get on your feet to the newest member of our family. He's one of the most decorated tag team wrestlers of all time... That's right, it's my close personal friend.... ROSARIO!!!!"