C-CUBE: Semantics. I got what I wanted. What exactly is your connection to Mr. Fischetti?

KINKY: He works for my dad. And that's all Dino says I can say.

C-CUBE: Regardless, my methods are unimportant. The point is that the ends were what I wanted.

ROMAN: That's your philosophy, is it? How about this, then: your boys and you against my boys and me. Anything goes. You win, you can tell us the names of your new friends anytime you like, but if we win, you tell us tonight, right after the match!

The crowd pops.

C-CUBE: Intriguing proposal. But it seems to me the reward system is slightly skewed in your favor. In other words, what do WE get if WE win?

ROMAN: You walk away with your asses intact.

C-CUBE: Yes, well, I'm afraid that just won't cut it. You're good, but not that good.

ROMAN: Fine. You win, you can name ... you can name any special referee you want for the match at Blood & Gold. Anyone.

Loud boos.

TETE: My God! That may turn out to be a huge error! Roman may be underestimating the Servants of Shiva!

C-CUBE: Unexpectedly generous, Steven, and unexpectedly shrewd. How can I turn down the chance at such a prize? Perhaps you'll learn yet. Very well. I'll see you in the ring. All of us will.

The Servants of Shiva exit up the ramp and the Roman Empire goes through the crowd, Dino's arm around Kinky.

TETE: Good lord, what an exciting night!

FLOYD: I'll say! Did you see that Kinky Magenta?

TETE: I meant the match, Floyd.

FLOYD: And I meant Kinky! What a great name!

COMMERCIAL

TETE: We're back with what looks like it's gonna be a great match! Candyman versus Dino Fischetti, but Dino, in proposing this match a couple of weeks ago, threw in some nasty stipulations! This is a submission match, folks; harsh and grueling if I know Dino!

FLOYD: Don't forget about the cage, though! I dunno if Dino made the thing himself or what, but they're putting a sealed steel cell down around the ring right now... this could be bad.

TETE: Well, these two certainly didn't get off to a good start; last time they had a match, Dino and his tag partner beat the hell out of Candyman with their trademark weapons and left him to bleed. There can't be any love lost here!

FLOYD: Nope. 'Specially because if Candyman wins, he gets a title shot.

P.O.D.'s "Southtown" hits, throbbing across the arena and almost muting the crowd's pop. A blanket of smoke curls across the stage and down the ramp as Dino appears under the Abbotron, sporting his wraparound shades and ankle-length black coat. He stalks his way down to the ring amid the smoke from his entrance, dragging on a cigarette and letting his own smoke seep out around his vicious grin. Slipping into the cage, he brushes past the nervous-looking ref with disdain, slides into the ring, and leans against a turnbuckle. Cigarette still in his mouth, he stares up at the ramp as his music fades out.

The lights dim then, and Aqua's "Lollipop" bursts out to a huge pop from the crowd. Mr Mint appears silhouetted under the Abbotron, and holds the pose for a moment. As the vocals kick in, he takes several running steps down the ramp, tossing candy to the audience, and does a perfect backflip which lands him with a gloved hand extended towards the entrance. Candyman appears on-cue in a twisting flare of red and white spotlights, arms extended, basking in the crowd's approval. As the male vocals hit, he walks his casual way down the ramp, million-dollar smile beaming to the audience.

The lights come up as "Lollipop" fades, showing a very pissed-off looking Dino still leaning against his turnbuckle, and Candyman standing resolute at the bottom of the ramp, extending his hand for a mike.

TETE: What's this? Candyman's got something to say before the match.

FLOYD: It's okay with me. I've still got some suckers left.

Candyman clears his throat for attention, and looks uncharacteristically grim for a moment.

CANDYMAN: Okay, Dino... here we go. This'll be a match to remember. But before we start, I want to hear it from your mouth. Right here, in the full view of fans, announcers, and officials, give me a promise of no interference.

The crowd goes nuts as Dino, suprised, rolls his eyes and beckons for a mike from an assistant standing outside the cage. The man tosses it in, and Dino grabs it out of the air with a grimace and spits his cigarette butt out.

DINO: Yeah, yeah, sure. I made the [beep]in' cell myself, Candy[beep]. No interference, I swear. Okay? Now get yer froofy little candy-coated [beep] in here and let's do this.

Dino hurls the mike out through the cell, and Candyman, triumphant smile on his face, hands his off as well and steps into the cell, Mr Mint looking after him. The old man sighs, moves up, and shuts the door to the cage, turning key in the lock and dropping the key into his suit pocket. He moves to sit in the front row, welcomed by the audience, as Candyman and Dino face off.

TETE: Well, Dino's in it neck-deep now.

FLOYD: Papa, any guy who'll staple a dead rat to a banner is nasty enough to take on this pretty-boy. Oog, why did I have to go and remember that? There goes my appetite...

The bell rings, and Dino's already halfway across the ring, launching a barrage of heavy punches Candyman's way. Candyman actualy catches a hard slug across the jaw as he dodges, flinging his legs across Dino's in a trip that sends him flying into the ropes. Candyman is on him in a flash, slamming his head into the mat once... twice... three times before Dino throws him off and gets up, looking furious.

Dino rushes again, but veteran of many street fights, he only feints, then catching Candyman in mid-dodge, slamming him in the gut, and flipping him into a nasty inverted suplex. Candyman bounces, shakes his head ruefully, and is actually grinning as he rises to meet Dino's rush with a superkick that lays the larger man flat out. Candyman leaps off the ropes into an elbow drop, then snakes an arm around Dino's neck in a headlock, setting the crowd to roaring.

TETE: Wow... can this match be over so quickly?

FLOYD: Like the Great Masters would let it be. Look again.

TETE: The Great masters? Floyd, what on God's green earth are you talking about?

Dino growls, tensing himself up, and snaps his entire body, launching Candyman off in surprise. Dino coughs for a moment, then rises to face his opponent, both men moving with renewed respect for each other. Candyman rushes... and fakes, throwing himself in low under Dino's punch to catch the other man's legs and throw him to the mat. Candman goes for a leglock, but Dino reverses it with a wicked smile, putting Candyman under the pain now.

Candyman writhes for a moment, teeth gritted, then actually flexes his body in half and nails Dino right in the face with a double-fisted punch. Dino reels back, surprised and hurt enough to let the leglock go, and Candyman rolls to his feet with another grin. Dino approaches slowly, angrily, and Candyman backs away, knowing better now than to trade punches. Candyman glances behind him, and that's all the opportunity Dino needs; he leaps in and seizes Candyman, heaving him right over the ropes and into the wall of the cell.

Following him out, Dino grabs his dazed opponent and once more slams him into the wall of the cage, this time following him with a shoulder rush. Candyman takes the two blows in succession, ending pressed against the cage, in pain, Dino grinding him further into the metal bars.

FLOYD: Ow...

Candyman sets his arms against the cage and heaves, pushing Dino back only a few inches... but it's enough. He twists his legs out and around, whipping himself around Dino in the Sour Twist, and slamming him into the cage. Candyman grabs Dino's head and executes a neckbreaker, then leaps up to the edge of the ring and bounds into a legdrop. Dino tries to roll away, but it still barely catches him, and Candyman hits too much of the concrete floor.

Both men are left in pain, but Dino shakes it off first, and pounces on Candyman with a snarl. He lands heavy punches for a moment, then picks Candyman up and hurls him into the ring, following right after. He stomps on his prone opponent, then takes a step back and seems to be considering. Grasping Candyman's arm, he twists him into an arm bar and applies brutal pressure.

TETE: My god... this could be it! There's no place for Candyman to go.

FLOYD: Damnit, Papa! I don't like either one of them! How can one of 'em win?

TETE: Shut up, Floyd. You don't like anyone!

FLOYD: But... but... they're both mouthy bastards...

TETE: So why should that matter to you? Birds of a feather, and all that...

FLOYD: Err... But... Candyman gave me sweet stuff!! ::Yelling:: C'mon, pretty-boy! You can do it!

TETE: Floyd, what the hell are you doing!? Get down from the table!!!

The crowd responds, popping even louder for Candyman, drowning out Dino's upholders. Candyman, sweating and looking ready to give, looks up, hearing the roar, and begins to struggle again. Dino's eyes pop in disbelief, and he puts the bar on even harder. Candyman struggles, yells in pain, and finally surges up against the pressure, forcing Dino back, and rolls over, laying his knee into Dino's gut. The larger man hops backwards with the blow, and Candyman jumps up, favoring the wracked arm, and leaps into a dropkick, launching Dino back into the ropes. Candyman is somehow on his feet again, and lands a flying leg scissors against the disbelieving Dino.

Struggling atop the stunned Dino, Candyman flips him over, seizes both his arms, and wraps them into a vicious double arm bar that looks almost like a full nelson. Dino, almost folded in half, looks agonized.

TETE: Holy damn! Candyman's revenge... he calls that move the Candy Bar! Looks like hell!

FLOYD: Errr... I just... ummm...

Candyman grinds down, squeezing Dino's torso between his knees and pulling his arms together. The ref is down by Dino's head, waiting, and Dino is shaking his head like a bulldog, fighting hard against the enormous pressure from Candyman. The latter pulls hard on his last trademark move, applying everything he has in a last-ditch effort. Dino turns red, then almost purple, slamming his forehead into the mat to retain control.

TETE: He's gonna do it...

FLOYD: But... err...

Dino's head finally slumps down, and the ref jumps up, calling for the bell. Candyman literally falls off Dino, landing on his knees, exhausted, and leaving the other man lying facedown, arms splayed, breathing hard. The ref starts to raise Candyman's right arm, and he flinches and gives the ref his left, still on his knees. The crowd is popping like mad. Mr Mint rushes to unlock the cell, and Candyman staggers out, leaning on his manager as "Lollipop" hits again and he makes his way out, grinning now even through his exhaustion, and managing to wave at the fans.

TETE: What a match! That was insane! And... my god. Floyd?

FLOYD: I... err... what?

TETE: I think history has been made. You actually supported a wrestler.

FLOYD: No way. No... no, I didn't! That... err... wasn't me! Yeah! I just saw some Floyd-lookalike go running from -