[Chris Eco]

Ric Flair	Seth Rollins	Scott Hall	Sami Zayn	The Great Muta	Nigel McGuinness

Dusty Rhodes	Hideo Itami	Harley Race	Tajiri	Tyson Kidd	Low Ki

Jason Jordan	Chad Gable	Jack Swagger	Michael Hayes	Jimmy Garvin	Buddy Roberts

Sara Del Rey	Ember Moon	Kairi Hojo	Ruby Riot	Io Shirai	Angela Fong

Dick Murdoch	Dick Slater	David Hart Smith	Teddy Hart	Jim Neidhart	Steve Keirn

Nick Miller	Shane Thorne	Rich Brennan	Buddy Colt	Sarita Stock	Santana Garrett

Summer Rae	Nikki Bella	To Be Announced	To Be Announced	To Be Announced	To Be Announced

[Chris Eco]

[Chris Eco]

Dusty Rhodes comes out to a darkened, unmarked ring. The fans are chanting his name, though we can’t see them.

“DUS-TY RHODES! DUS-TY RHODES! DUS-TY RHODES!”

Dusty smiles and waits a moment before raising his mic to his lips. When he does, he’s a mile a minute.

Dusty: That’s right, daddeh! Dusty Rhodes! The American Dream! The Common Man! The Son of a Plumber!

. . . but you young kiddehs, you don’t know me by all that. You don’t know me as my elbow, or as my big ol’ hiney, you know me as the heart . . . and soooooul, daddeh . . . of N-X-T.

Big pop from the crowd. Dusty nods an acknowledgment.

Dusty: But see, before they called me the heart of N-X-T . . . they called me the heart of F-C-W. (Lighter pop.) Florida Championship Wrestling. You know why we called it that? It wasn’t just because we was in Florida, and we ran outta names, okay? 

The crowd laughs.

Dusty: No, it’s because a looooong time ago, before I was the heart of NXT or FCW . . . I was the MAN . . . in the C-W-F.

The older fans cheer as the younger fans just buzz.

Dusty: Championship Wrestling from Florida. Now, some of you young people might not know that name. Some of you might know it was a NWA territory. I know it as the place where Dusty Rhodes finally became the NWA champion, right here, in Tampa, Florida daddeh! 

Dusty: The place where I began to tangle it up for that championship with the newly dubbed Nature Boy, Ric Flair! 

Dusty: The place where a little baybeh White Ninja first came to the United States from Japan . . . before he became The Great Muta!

Dusty: The place where a big man with some big facial hair made his debut between his ropes, going by the name his mama gave him . . . Scott Hall.

Dusty: There is a legacy here in the Sunshine State. . . . and a story still being written. 

Dusty: And so, I had me a little idea. Old vs. New. CWF v. NXT. Dusty’s brothers vs. Dusty’s kids. A little competition, if you weeel.

Welcome . . . to the Florida Clash of Champions.

FADE

[Sportsguy]

This sounds fucking outstanding.

[Chris Eco]

Ric Flair comes out from behind the curtain to cheers from the audience. He is in 1980s shape and style. He walks up to Dusty Rhodes and there is a moment of tension . . . but Dusty smiles and defuses it, gesturing that the ring belongs to Flair for the moment as he exits. Ric regains his bearings and plays up to the fans, who cheer again. Ric smiles and looks after Dusty for a moment.



Flair: It's a little bit like Johnny Carson coming out, isn't it, Dream? The only difference is that no one has to hold up any card that says, "Hey, cheer for the man!"

Because when these people here see a guy come out from behind that curtain, he's wearing about thirty-five thousand dollars worth of jewelry, he's wearing about a thousand two-hundred worth of clothes, he's got ten million dollars in the bank, he lives in the biggest house, on the biggest hill, on the biggest side of town, he drives the biggest cars, that can only be financed at the biggest banks, then they know, crowned or uncrowned, they are looking at a Champion.

You know who needs those cue cards? Those so-called men who come out here looking like little boys! Wearing their t-shirts that they don't sell anywhere near where I buy my Brooks Brothers. Pouring water on their greasy hair that wouldn't be welcome anywhere near my stylist. Face covered in scruff because they can't afford the professional shave of a big-timer.



That's right, I'm talking about you, Seth Rollins. You go around calling yourself "The Man," and you're nothing but a boy. I should give you some crayons and a coloring book, because it's the only way you will ever draw a dime.

See, Seth Rollins, you've held the gold, you've been to the mountain top, you do maneuvers that even I couldn't do - and I'm the best there is. But brother, you don't know what it means to be a champion. You don't walk like one, you don't talk like one, and you've never made money like one. All you have, all you are, is a little show between those ropes. And when I'm done with you, you won't even have that. When I'm done with you, when I cut that six-foot-one frame all the way down to five-foot-nothing, you'll be stuck looking up at The Champion, The Man, The Wrestling Machine, The Nature Boy, WOOO!, Ric Flair.

And when I'm done, and I'm walking out the champion, boy, I tell you, I've never had on a pair of cowboy boots; I've never in my life wore blue jeans; I've never donned a funky cowboy hat. But when I walk out of my hotel room the next day, all the women of Tampa, Florida are gonna say -- now there goes the all-around cowboy.

That's what we're talking about, when we're talking about, The Man.

WOOOO!

FADE

(Original)

[Chris Eco]

"Big" Scott Hall is backstage with Nigel McGuinness.



Nigel: McGuinness here, the voice of the Clash of Champions. I'm standing here right now with Big Scott Hall, and Mr. Hall, I hear you have some words for one Sami Zayn?

Hall spits off camera, comes back on screen and smiles.

Hall: Yeah, I got a few words for Sami Zayn. This little twerp of a man, he thinks he's got any business playing with real men? Got your ribs sticking out, with some ginger pubes for chest hair, looking like a Newsie had a three way with a terrorist and a leprechaun . . .



Hall begins to snicker harder.

Nigel: Those are certainly some strong words--

Hall: Nah, nah, hold on a minute. I'm playing around too much. You wanna know something? I like Sami. I like his style, I think he's a cool dude, you know, the Arabic stuff, I dig it. Just one thing I don't like about him.

Nigel: And what's that?

Hall: He calls himself an underdog. As far as I'm concerned, when you walk through those ropes, you're playing with the big boys. And you gotta either think you're the best, or you gotta pack your bags. So I gotta ask - Sami - are you ready to play with the big boys or what? Cause I don't know right now.

Here's what I do know. I'm giving you an opportunity. Dream said I get to pick my match, so Clash of Champions One, Numero Uno, it's gonna be Scott Hall, it's gonna be Sami Zayn, it's gonna be a contract for a World Championship match, and it's gonna be a ladder.



Nigel: Why a ladder?

Hall: Man, I thought you were smart.

Nigel: Guess it's just the accent.

Hall: Why a ladder? Because if he can beat me in the match that I brought to Wrestlemania, if he can do what ol' Mr. Wrestlemania couldn't do on the grandest stage . . . then he's gonna know, I'm gonna know, the fans are gonna know . . . he's ready for the big time.

And if he's not? Well, then he can go take a hike, and Ric and Seth, whichever one wins, he can go ahead and keep the belt warm for me. Because the Bad Guy . . . my apologies, wrong era . . . the Big Man is coming for you.

FADE

[Road Warrior Shark]

Totally unrelated to the story, but the "Fresh From Florida" placeholder picture made me laugh

[Chris Eco]

My friend . . . you have been everywhere.         


   

And it is starting to feel . . . as though I have been everywhere too.

But though I have crossed your path . . . our eyes have never met.

Hideo: That ends now. 






Only on . . . 

[Chris Eco]

Dusty Rhodes is in his office with Nigel McGuinness.

Nigel: Now Dusty, I've been very honored to be named the "Voice of Clash of Champions." However, I was thinking we could begin to talk about my own wrestling--

The doorbell rings to the office.

Dusty: Hold that thought, behbeh, been waiting for a present.

Dusty opens the door—and the Hardliners (Dick Slater & Dick Murdoch) carry in a large wrapped present box.



Dusty: Lookee here, it’s my ol’ partnahs! Is this present from the two of you?

Murdoch: Nah, Dusty, it’s from ol’ William Regal.

Slater: Said he was sorry he couldn’t be here for this project, but that he thought this present might help. Said it fit into NXT on a tech-knee-cal-ity.

Dusty: Well, let’s open her up!

Nigel: Dusty, maybe we could finish our conversation first—

The doorbell rings to the office.

Dusty: Hold that thought, baybeh, someone’s ringing!

Slater gets the door and Tyson Kidd storms into the office.



Kidd: Dusty, let me lay some facts on you. Pound for pound, I’m the best wrestler in your company. Fact. I deserve a championship match. Fact. And yet all these flavors of the month—Seth, Sami, maybe even Hideo now—are getting to jump the line ahead of me. Fact. So these are the facts, and I want to know—what’s your solution?

Dusty: Baybeh, I know you are a very talented wrestler. And you deserve to be wrestling for gold. And you know, I was just talking with a great wrestler who I think might be eager for some competition.

Nigel McGuinness puffs out his chest.

Dusty: Looks like Nigel is thinkin’ the same way.

Nigel: I most certainly am.

Dusty: Jason Jordan!

Nigel immediately deflates.

Dusty: Love how that kid puffs out his chest like Nigel was doing. Anyway, Jason and Chad, American Alpha, great kids, aren’t they, Nigel?

Nigel: . . . Sure.

Dusty: So why don’t you go get a partner of your own, Tyson, Mistah Tag Team Specialist, and show me that you got what it takes to beat these Flavors of the Week.

Kidd: Dusty, I have what it takes to beat those amateurs--pardon the pun--myself. Fact. And by the way, what’s with the stupid box?

Kidd kicks a hole in the box—and out pops Tajiri, tackling Kidd down.



Kidd scrambles out from under him.

Dusty: Well, slap my hiney and call me Sally! Ol’ Steve Regal sent his assistant Tajiri!

Nigel grabs Tajiri by the shoulder.

Nigel: Now listen here, Tajiri, you will not attack our talent, and you will not interrupt me when I am trying to speak—

Tajiri spits green mist in Nigel’s face. Nigel runs off yelling while Dusty laughs.

Dusty: You gotta really lather the soap in there, Nigel! (Dusty slaps Tajiri on the back.) Oh Tajiri, we gonna have some fun. (Tajiri nods.)

FADE

[Chris Eco]

We’re setting up the ring in the old-school FCW Arena. Interested fans have already packed themselves in, looking for an early glimpse. American Alpha and TM-61are setting up additional chairs.

Brennan: This is the Florida Clash of Champions, and we welcome viewers to our live pre-event YouTube feed. I’m Rich Brennan, joined here at the announce booth by the CWF’s Buddy Colt and by NXT’s Nigel McGuinness!

Colt: That’s right, Rich, and believe it or not, it’s already standing room only in the FCW Arena! But our great—do I have to call them superstars?

Brennan: (pause) I am being told you do not.

Colt: Our great wrestlers are helping us fit more fans in right now!

McGuinness: Well, I don’t quite see why we need to pack people in like sardines. This isn’t Pro Wrestling Guerrilla! Besides, it’s already too hot in here!

Brennan: It is Florida in the summer—

McGuinness: Where’s my air conditioning?

Nigel’s complaining is cut off by cheers, as Sara Del Rey and Sarah Stock come down to the ring. They take a microphone each.

SDR: I know some of you might not know why the two of us are coming out here together. While Sarah and I did not make a habit of teaming in the ring—whether she was Dark Angel, Sarita or just plain Sarah—we have been a team for quite a while now outside the ring, as the two head trainers for female talent on NXT.

SS: Now, when this Clash of Champions was announced, Dusty came to us and said “Baybeh girls, now you know the CWF didn’t have no women’s revolution, because we didn’t have no women wrestling at all.” And we promised Dusty, the women of NXT could handle it all by ourselves. And more than that, we would handle it in the true spirit of NXT—by giving opportunities to women that have never stood on the grandest stage.

SDR: But you don’t want to hear about all that. You want to hear about the match you’re getting. So Sarah and I have decided that the new Women’s Championship will be decided in a one-on-one contest, with each of us choosing one competitor. Without further ado, I am choosing a woman who has been an absolute standout, making me both proud of her growth and frustrated that we never got that one on one match. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you . . . Ember Moon!

Ember Moon comes out atop the ramp to a big pop. She salutes Sara and Sarah, and awaits the announcement of her opponent.

SS: For my part, I wanted to make sure that we had the biggest first match possible. So while there will be time for many women to prove themselves, for now . . . Sara, I’m giving you that match. My choice is . . . Sara Del Rey!

Ember nods eagerly as the fans cheer. Sara is baffled.

SDR: You can’t do that! I mean, thank you—but also, we can’t do that! We’re supposed to be the trainers!

Sarah shrugs.

SS: If the CWF doesn’t have any women, someone has to play the old fart. Why not you?

Sarah Stock exits, leaving SDR and Ember to stare each other down.