Just Cause

After two TEDs but minimal resistance from the Work Ethic Titan, The Ted stands victorious in the BattleScars ring. The fans are yet to soak in the moment, instead drowning in the shock that would arise from a very hyped up dream match turning out to be a particularly uneven encounter, as Ted attempts to play up to them. Todd Dickens stands at ringside, clapping and cheering for his client, unlike many in the audience. Ted isn’t about to notice the crowd’s reaction though. He did the right thing tonight, his job’s done, he’s satisfied. The Seeker of Justice took out someone who was in his eyes an enemy; a leech taking energy from the company and those same fans that sit there tonight dumbfounded.

Ted leaves the ring and goes to reunite with Dickens, but the advisor stops him from going any further. He makes the 6’6” Ted lean in to be able to hear Todd, seemingly giving him more orders. Maybe he wants Ted to take the microphone and let these people know even more about the big plan to ‘save’ CMV. Or they’re just deciding on what luxuries to order so they can enjoy the rest of the show from the megastar’s private locker room. Whatever it may be, Todd is very fired up about it. Ted shoots up and looks through the ropes back at Luger, downed on the inside of the ring, attempting to scramble back into some form of consciousness with the help of the turnbuckles.

Suddenly, The Ted rushes over and pulls Bob out into the ringside area, causing the fans to explode in despair… Surely that match did enough? Bringing the multi-time world champion up to his feet with ease, Ted delivers a thunderous TEDBUSTER on the outside! Dickens slowly approaches the two, making sure to keep some distance so as to not get hit by Ted’s hurried fury. The storied speaker cheers his disciple (?) on as Ted clears the announce table, to Dashing’s horror. Cries of “why do you have to do this?” and “the match is over already!” don’t distract Ted from laying Luger flat on the table and climbing up alongside him.

Ted gets Bob back up once again and puts him in a loose headlock. We all know what’s coming his way by now. Ted and Dickens might see this as a means to an end; a way to get Luger out of action for an extended period and then purge CMV of that presence they consider so despicable, but it doesn’t seem like the audience shares that thought. As Ted prepares to put Bob through the desk, a man charges in with a takedown, tumbling onto the floor alongside the Seeker of Justice and raining onto him with punches! That… that’s Xander Slate!

Slate puts all his might into these strikes, as this fight against Ted isn’t simply a way to defend his KLIQ brother but also prove to himself that he still has what it takes here in CMV. He keeps going, utilizing that element of surprise from the initial run-in to his advantage as Ted simply doesn’t have a response! Dickens, stunned, takes a steel chair from the timekeeper and stands behind Slate, ready to strike. The OG Dirty Heel notices this and leaves Ted for a moment, LUNGING at Todd and causing the veteran to cower in fear! But that allows Ted to collect himself before hitting Xander below the belt and neutralizing his rival.

Ted reaches back to his feet and sees Slate down on the floor, before a smile slips across his face. He walked into this event ready to eliminate Luger from the company, and knowing he could do the same to Slate makes the man feel incredibly accomplished. He motions to the fans, who are still unresponsive to his oblivious attempts at flattery, before grabbing Xander and bringing him to his feet. He lays Slate on the apron and gestures at Dickens to hand him that chair, an appeal which he happily obliges. Ted swings at Xander, who moves out of the way at the last second! Ted’s attack crashes onto the apron, giving Slate an opening to hit The Seeker of Justice with a kick to the face!

Xander attempts to catch a breath, looking down at a stunned Ted, before trying to figure out how to get the better of this exchange. Security guards should’ve come out by now, but who knows if Dickens used some backstage connections to make sure no one interfered in The Ted’s business… Slate tries to get Ted up to his feet, aiming to hit that one final blow, but Ted responds suddenly with a punch to the cheek! Slate rapidly moves back and grabs his eye, stumbling onto the apron. Could Ted have snuck his thumb out and hit Slate in his most vulnerable area? The Ted smiles after noticing that fragility that was present this whole time, before he drives Slate down with yet another TED! Ted and Dickens seem satisfied at the mess that they’ve made, heading to the backstage area as the crew comes out to help the downed KLIQ members.