[M-A-G]

Raw: December 31, 2040

It's the last show of the year! How are we going to close things out here tonight? The road to the Royal Rumble begins here!

TWENTY-MINUTE OPENING PROMO OF DOOM TIME!!! as the WWE Unified World Champion Wrakk makes his way out to the ring. He's in a bragging mood and it's only appropriate considering last night. "And with one fell swoop, I end 2040 at the top of the mountain, the same way I would have the year prior had I not been gone. I told you all that I was going to right a ton of wrongs and I haven't run into anyone who can stop me from doing that. In just a few short hours, the new year begins and it's going to be an open canvas. A whole new landscape is ripe for a new masterpiece of destruction that I will craft with my bare hands! Now I know that in 4 weeks, we're all going to witness 30 men battle it out at the Royal Rumble, looking to earn that shot at the main event at WrestleMania. Understand that what you're fighting for is the right to be laying at my feet as I stand over you in victory at the grandest stage of them all! You want to talk about a countdown? These next few months will be a countdown to that moment of glory and nothing is getting in the way of that!"

Cue somebody who is going to try to get in the way of that as the music of Orlando Kincaid hits. This is...random? We know he's coming off a win last night at Bragging Rights, but maybe he's got a good reason to interrupt the WWE Unified World Champion so let's have a listen to what's on his mind as he enters the ring and addresses Wrakk. "Sorry to intrude, but I'm sitting there in the back and I'm listening to what you got to say when it hit me that it's a whole lot of nothing and I really don't give a damn about any of it. Now before you go getting all offended and mad about your feelings getting hurt, understand that's not the end of it as far as why I'm out here. See, you got yourself a nice shiny prize in your hands in the form of that Unified World Title. And as much fun I'd have slugging it out with 29 other guys in that Royal Rumble to get the chance to have a crack at that title, I haven't had much room for patience in my life as of late."

Wrakk takes this opportunity to interrupt. "Woah, woah, woah, you've got to be kidding me if you're interrupting my time just to ask for a title shot. You haven't done a damn thing to earn one."

Orlando continues. "See, actually that's where you're wrong. As you'll recall, a couple of weeks ago I was in this ring and I whipped some ass and I earned myself a contract that let me make whatever match I wanted for Bragging Rights."

"Yeah, we know. You made that 3-on-3 match last night. So what? What's that got to do with anything?"

"Well, as you know, I made a promise to turn over a new leaf in my career and get laser focused on some gold. I told Ryan Pattillo that I expected a title shot after Bragging Rights. Now, he didn't win, but the point still stands. I wanted a shot so I took the steps necessary to get a shot. You see, that contract let me make whatever match I wanted, with whoever I wanted to have involved, and whatever stipulations I wanted. So that match I made last night came with a little bonus clause: if my team came out on top, which they did, then I have the right to be the number one contender to the Unified World Title! And seeing as how this is the last night of the year and I'm supposed to be doing some celebrating anyway, I want to celebrate by beating your ass for that championship RIGHT NOW!"

The crowd cheers in approval as Wrakk makes gestures indicating that he's not down with that idea. Lisa Benton decides to intervene by coming out onto the stage and addressing the situation. "Wrakk, I hate to break it to you, but Orlando does have a case as far as being the number one contender to your title. As per the powers granted to him by the contract he won a few weeks back, his match at Bragging Rights could be made as he saw fit, with any additional riders. Orlando, unfortunately this doesn't mean that you're going to get your title shot at any time you want. It's not a Money in the Bank contract. So, no, this title match you're asking for isn't going to happen right now. IT'S GOING TO BE TONIGHT'S MAIN EVENT!" The crowd erupts in approval again as Wrakk throws an angry fit while Orlando makes his exit with an evil grin aimed at the champion. Looks like Lisa is serious about ending 2040 with a bang! We could start the new year with a new champion!

To the back we go as Nathan Quinn is with the Southern Belles who have demanded this time in order to address Leah and Bonnie Beckham. Nathan wants to ask them if they feel proud over the fact that they stole the Women's Tag Team Titles from his clients last night. Hannah and Bobbi Jo are not to be trifled with and they are not to be insulted by the likes of the Perfections and their fluke win! Hannah adds her own take, calling the name "Perfections" a joke because Leah and Bonnie are the furthest thing you can imagine from perfect. "And you don't want to believe that now, you'll want to reconsider when you see what we do to their faces the next time we get a crack at them!"

First Match: The Love Connection vs. The Wolves of Wall Street
And thus begins the movement to get the Love Connection as part of the tag title scene as I've got the match already in mind for the Rumble PPV. Is it wrong of me to want to load a card when the show is already going to have 30 guys as it is? Anyways, this match is the goods, and you can probably attribute the high rating to Aphrodite's loveliness...and her ass. Outside of her, the charisma from this match up isn't much to write home about. What you can write about is Aphrodite's ass. Oh, I guess I already did that. Well, I'll do it again as she puts it to good use by showing it off to Emilio London as he's got Caleb Greene down. Emilio is understandably hypnotized and Coleman comes in to snap him out of it by drop kicking him in the face, leaving him open to Caleb's Greene With Envy from the top to give the faces the win. The Love Connection celebrates and it's only now that we notice that the Future Foundation and Vivian Merrick are on the stage glaring at them. More players in the game? ****1/2, 93% overall.

Second Match: Neil Quint vs. Clayton North
The announcers bring up the fact that Neil has been on an amazing streak since debuting, as he has yet to suffer a loss. Well, no doubt he's looking to continue that run here. I'd say it's a good 1-2-punch to open with a solid tag match AND a balls-to-the-wall cruiserweight match. Neil is going to need the win here considering what's in store for him down the road...not to give anything away or anything. Clayton's partner, Corey Mattis, is on the apron giving the ref a piece of his mind, so Neil catapults Clayton into him after escaping a power bomb attempt. The collision sends Corey off the apron and sets Clayton up for the Quint-essential Top Rope Maneuver from Neil to give him the win and keep the streak going. ****1/4, 89% overall.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favortie host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, The Lord of the Ladder and Conqueror of Fears, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Looks like he wants to celebrate his victory over Gavin Jones last night in that tremendous TLC Match. "Now I know that it's going to be hard for the remainder of the locker room to look back on 2040 with pride, seeing as hardly any of them accomplished even a fraction of what I was able to pull off. But we can't let that be a downer tonight! All they have to do is a little introspection and come out better than before, ready to make changes in their lives and make resolutions for the new year. Now, I understand resolutions can be difficult to stick to, and I clearly see that you people are the type who give up on them in the middle of February. But now I'm here to act as your inspiration to reach that better tomorrow and an amazing new year! Yes, much like how I reached for this Cruiserweight Title in my match last night, it's all about overcoming your fears and facing down challenges with a stern resolve! Last night, I conquered the crippling anxiety of heights and the savage brutality of Gavin's ego and now I stand here in victory, poised and ready for the new year, celebrating what once was and what will be! Plus, at the stroke of midnight, you had better believe that I am going to be smooching it up with the bestest and hottest girl around, the lovely Luscious! Yes, she is incredibly lucky to have a man as successful as I am at her side. I can't name someone in the WWE right now with a track record like mine, but if he exists, I'll slap him down, too. 2041 is going to be better than ever in the camp of Michael Hotbody! More wins! More accolades! More spectacle! You know what? I can't wait for midnight. I need to do some celebrating right now! Luscious, please come on out here. We're going to ring in the new year a bit early and I need those lips of yours to help. So come on out, babe!"

Luscious makes her way out, looking overjoyed and excited, and joins Hotbody in the ring. Hotbody continues his spiel. "Oh, baby, this is a moment. This is a moment that I'm going to remember for decades and decades. Now I get that the new year is going to have its own share of hurdles, but I stand here the Lord of the Ladder and the Conqueror of Fears! So 2041, I say do your worst because right now, I'm going to get me some of the best! Let's count it down, baby, from 10! 10...9...8...7..." Hotbody stops when he realizes that the crowd is counting along with him. "No, no, no, this is only for Luscious and me. You don't get to do the countdown with us. You have your own countdown later, OK? Your only job is to observe and learn from my example and status, OK? No counting! Where were we? Right...6...5...4...3...NO COUNTING ALONG!!! 2...1...LAY ONE ON ME, BABY!!!" The two smooch in a heated fashion as the crowd boos. It's actually a pretty lengthy kiss with no end in sight until the music of Jake Connelly hits, heralding the arrival of the man himself and his clients. Well, they are involved in the next scheduled match and Jake looks irritated. Luscious and Hotbody remain oblivious and it takes Jake tapping on Hotbody's shoulder to break things up. Ethan and Jake signal that it's time for Hotbody and Luscious to scram and the Cruiserweight Champion takes the hint as the circumstances are not in his favor and he bails with Luscious in tow, looking upset as we go to break.

Third Match: Hugo and Chet Morris vs. Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper
Back from break with this match getting underway. Chet and Hugo are seething over what happened to them last night and poor Ethan Lang has to suffer from their double-teaming brutality. Harper plays cheerleader on the apron, holding up the framed photo in hopes of inspiring the crowd and Ethan. Connelly isn't sure what to make of Harper's behavior. Anyway, Ethan still manages to fight back in a great showing and eventually makes the tag to Harper. Harper and Chet are legal as the former does his best to get his team back on track. Hugo gets the idea to go after Connelly on the outside. Ethan summons enough energy to dive through the ropes to intercept him, catching the ref's attention long enough for Chet to boot Harper in the nuts. Harper is down and at Chet's mercy, but LYLE MORRIS IS HERE!!! He runs in and tackles Chet again like he did last night, but the ref has turned back around at this point and sees the interference and calls for the bell. That's going to be a DQ win for Chet and Hugo, but that's a minute detail in all of this as Lyle continues to go to town on Chet's face. Hugo drags Chet out, bailing him out again. Lyle wants to pursue, but by this point, Harper has recovered and is upset as all hell over what Lyle did. He spins Lyle around so that they're face-to-face and Harper gives him a piece of his mind. Lyle really isn't in the mood for this shit and responds by slapping the taste out of Harper's mouth, knocking him down. Lyle takes his leave, no doubt in search of Chet. Well, that was a circus to say the least. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Fourth Match: Leah vs. Bobbi Jo
The feud MUST CONTINUE!!! Bobbi is naturally still upset over her team no longer being the champions and her actions here in this match reflect that. We get a hard-hitting affair from these two as we're likely to see more of this in the inevitable rematch down the line. They slug it out on the outside as the ref is delivering his count to the two women. After being knocked down on the ground, both women fight their way up. Leah starts to climb into the ring but Bobbi grabs her legs and tries to pull Leah. Leah clings on for dear life and it's a struggle. Ultimately, Leah kicks Bobbi away, sending her into the announce table. Leah rolls back into the ring and the ref continues his count to 10 as Bobbi is still on the outside and that's going to give the win to Leah. Like it was mentioned earlier, the feud will be continuing and Hannah McCormick decides to come in afterwards from behind Leah and deck her in the back of the head with her custom mic. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Once more to the back as Madison is on the phone, walking down a hallway. She eventually comes across Moses McKay who snatches the phone out of her hand and tells the person on the other end that she'll call back and hangs up. Madison tries taking the phone back but Moses keeps it away from her. He tells her that there are more important issues at hand. Like the fact that the Royal Effect should be the Tag Team Champions right now. "Now, I don't particularly care about what you were hashing out right now, but I am expecting you to answer me this. What exactly do you plan to do about this issue? You owe us."

Madison stands defiant. "I, and especially Blaine and Robbie, don't owe you a damn thing. You want another go at the titles? Go earn it! Now give me back my damn phone."

Moses merely sneers, then responds by grabbing Madison by the throat, threatening to shove the phone down her throat. Blaine Bellamey happens to come around the corner and sees what's happening and immediately jumps on Moses, tackling him to the ground. We got ourselves a fight on our hands! Eventually enough officials come in to separate the two as Moses makes his retreat and Blaine goes to Madison's aide. Looks like more tag team issues that need to be resolved.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time with Jason Sorola, no doubt because he wants to explain himself for what he did last night in the main event. "Now, enough time has passed since Bragging Rights to where I've heard all the talk and all the speculation. Everyone asking the question as to why I did what I did. The popular theory that's being floated around is that I'm just jealous. Jealous over what the rest of my former colleagues have managed to achieve without me. Well, you know what? So what if I am? I'm human! I have feelings, just like all of you! You can't sit there and try to act like you're above me! I can guarantee that every single one of you people has felt like I have! You're jealous of your co-workers who get the promotions you think you deserve! You're jealous of your neighbors; they've got a better house or a fancier car in their driveway! Some of you probably came here alone and are looking at all these couples and you're angry and jealous, wishing you had what they have! DON'T JUDGE ME!!! You don't have that right! Here's what separates me from the rest of you: I actually do deserve what I'm after. You don't deserve a promotion, you're probably terrible at your job and take home supplies and food from the break room! You don't deserve a better house, you'd probably just turn it into a hovel like you already live in! You don't deserve love, you're freaking pathetic! Me, on the other hand? I've always been the most talented, especially compared to the rest of the Hunters! So when I have to sit there in the back, the victim of circumstance, and I have to watch losers like Ryan Pattillo get an opportunity of a lifetime, one that he doesn't deserve, you think I was just going to hold my tongue and carry on like it doesn't bother me? Ryan, you were a terrible leader, and you turned into a terrible friend. Karma has made its way to the doorstep of all of you guys. It bit Gavin Jones in the ass when he tried to win the Cruiserweight Title, something that I was supposed to win for myself. It definitely came and bit Ryan in the ass when that Unified World Title got snatched from his hands. And I can assure you that there's more karma to come!"

With that declaration, the music of Michael Haywood hits, interrupting Jason's tirade. Michael, who is also a former teammate of Jason's, makes his way down to the ring defiantly and joins Jason to confront him over what he's saying. "Now, Jason, I hope you understand that I'm not about to fight the battles of Ryan or Gavin. They're big boys and they understood what was in store for them when it came time for us to go our separate ways. But here you, basically lumping me together with them and your tirade about them. Frustrations are frustrations, and we all deal with them in our own way. You seem to be choosing to deal with them by whining and taking joy in what you're calling 'karma'."

"Yeah, what about it, Michael?" Jason asks.

"Well, you know me, Jason. I like being forewarned and prepared. So, with you running down the list of people you think deserve your little karma or whatever, I just have to ask, is there any karma coming my way?" Michael asks while leaning in towards Jason in an aggressive fashion. "I mean, by all means, Jason, don't let me stand in your way of this indignation you've got going on here. Certainly I must've wronged you in some fashion. I just have to know. Am I due for some of that karma?"

Jason composes himself and responds with a demeaning tone. "Actually, you know something, Michael? You're not worth it. And you never were. I know what you're trying to do here. You want to goad me. Well, you can go puff your chest somewhere else. I've got better things to do." With that, Jason tucks his tail and rolls out of the ring, leaving Michael to continue to glare at him as he takes his leave. Surely Jason can't be scared, no?

Fifth Match: Clubber Harris and Seth Von Kamp vs. Zed Jones and Chris Collins
So many feuds that need to continue. We're told that there was some sort of interaction in the back with Luscious and Jake Connelly, but we don't have all the details right now. Nevertheless, this match is the goods, loaded with heat on both sides. No doubt we'll be getting another one-on-one round between Zed and Harris down the line. The match comes down to Harris and Collins as the legal men, while Zed and Seth fight on the outside. Luscious tries sneaking up behind Seth with the Intercontinental Title belt, but he turns around and catches her in the act. He starts going after her as she backs up. Zed goes on the attack, shoving Seth from behind, sending him into the ring post. The ref checks on Seth as Zed rolls back into the ring. Luscious slides the belt to Zed and he clobbers Harris in the back of the head as he's setting Collins up for Club Pain. Collins hits the Fall From Heaven and the ref turns to see the pin attempt and he counts the fall to award the win to the heels. What a brawl. ****1/2, 92% overall.

MAIN EVENT: WWE Unified World Title
Wrakk (c) vs. Orlando Kincaid
Let's end the year with some awesome shall we. Wrakk expresses his outrage over the situation, calling it unfair that he hasn't had time to prepare for something like this, not to mention that he doesn't think Kincaid has really earned this match. Orlando fires back, saying that there are three men out there that can point to the ass kicking they got last night as evidence that he damn sure deserves this match. Not to mention the ass kicking that Wrakk is going to get right now. Orlando says it's nothing personal. It's just a case of wrong place, wrong time for Wrakk. This is simply business. What's definitely personal and what's definitely something that gives Orlando pleasure, is beating the piss out of a sorry son of a bitch like Quinten McDaniels. Orlando hopes he's watching because this is a moment Orlando's going to throw in Quinten's face. With those pleasantries out of the way, this match certainly delivers, all things considered. I mean, there's no real history here, plus it's so weird when you consider Orlando was a heel not too long ago, and here he is, closing out the year IN THE MAIN EVENT FOR THE FUCKING TITLE. I guess one good angle is all he really needed. Well, it's fun all around. Of course, the fun just has to get ruined as Orlando has Wrakk in a vulnerable state and it looks like he's about to close in on a victory but Quinten McDaniels has to fuck it all up by running in and tackling Orlando from behind. The ref is going to call for the bell and Wrakk is going to retain, but the real story here is Quinten going to town on Orlando. Wrakk gets the hell out of here with his championship as Orlando continues to suffer an assault from McDaniels. Quinten ultimately decides to put an exclamation point on this attack by hoisting up Orlando and laying him out with the Great Depression. We go off the air as our final image of 2040 is Quinten McDaniels standing over a fallen Orlando Kincaid. What's next for these two? *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 91%

Up next: THE NEW YEAR BEGINS ON SUPERSTARS!!!