Prologue: The root of all evil?
An IWF.com exclusive video.
As the video begins to play it's obvious it's from an older cam corder. It is in black and white, static. Storming Raven is seen dressed in black, a gas can in his hand, and a pile of money by his side on the ground. A lit cigarette in his mouth.
“It has come to my attention, some people think I made the choice to join the Empire of Blood for money. This couldn't be further from the truth. We are a family. Bring us your weak, your down trodden, your poor, your beaten down. We're doing this for you. We are a band of brothers brought together to bring back the art of hardcore wrestling. To put our bodies on the line for the fans.”
He takes a long drawl from his cigarette and begins pouring the gas on the money.
“To prove it, I will show everyone right now that money is nothing more to me than paper. Anyone can get it if they want it bad enough.”
He flicks his cigarette on to the pile and the money goes up in flames.
“Money isn't everything my friends. Pain is the only thing that's real...”
The video fades out in it's place appears the blood red skull.
Scene one: Blood of my blood.
Storming Raven sits at a table in his locker room when there is a knock at the door. He chuckles wondering why she knocked.
“Come in sis.”
Bella starts to say something but then notices three glasses of what looks like blood.
“What the hell are you doing now, Stormy?”
I show her that famous grin.
“Elementary my dear sister. Blood, the very essence of life and spirit. Our people once believed if you consumed the blood of an animal you killed in a hunt, you took some of that animal's power. Before me is the blood of three animals.”
He points to one.
“Blood of the grizzly bear for strength.”
He points to the next.
“Blood of the fox, for cunning.”
He points to the last with a flourish.
“Blood of the peregrine falcon, which can fly up to two hundred miles per hour while diving, for what else? Speed.”
Bella crinkles her nose in disgust.
“So what are you going to do with it?”
Storming Raven grins and shakes his head.
“Oh I'm gonna spit it in my opponents' eyes...What do you think I'm going to do with it? I'm going to drink it.”
He proceeds to down each glass set before him. He shudders in glee and smiles.
“Sweeter than I expected.”
Bella just crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head.
“You're crazy bro.”
Storming Raven stands up and begins to stretch.
“You're just now figuring that out? Crazy like a fox, dear sister. I finally feel like my old self. You came back just in time, dear sister. There are big things on the horizon.”
Bella nods as if she's not exactly sure she believes her brother's words.
“Are you sure? How well do you know these guys?”
Storming Raven nods as he puts on the gloves, that were a gift from the Empire of Blood.
“I understand your concern and skepticism, I really do, but you need not worry. I've known these guys for quite a while actually. As well as many like them. Guys like Frank and Thor are the reason I am alive to be speaking with you today. I ran with guys like these on the streets. It was the only way to survive. Guys like us are a dying breed. Thor has money, yes, but unlike most people with money he knows there is more to life. Him and Frank both have the warrior spirit common with our people. This business has less and less room for guys like us. The guys who do whatever it takes to win. That treats each fight like it's our last. Well we're damn sure gonna make room for us, for those that came before us, and those who will come after. The Empire of Blood is much more than a wrestling stable, we're a family. Like all families we might not always get along but we're damn sure there for each other. Unlike everyone else who was once there for me.”
Bella nods once again.
“I think I understand.”
Storming Raven grins and playfully ruffles her hair,ducking a smack.
“Good, real good. Now to make the people understand.”
Storming Raven walks out of the locker room and Bella watches him go wondering what he's up to.
(Later that day.)
Storming Raven sits by a bon fire in a forest with Frank and Thor. A ceremonial knife and chalice sits beside him.
“I'm sure you both are wondering why I asked you to come here tonight. It occurred to me, we're not just a team. We're a family and we need to make it official.”
He looks slowly at Thor and Frank, deep in thought.
“That is why we need to perform the ancient blood brother ceremony of my people.”
Thor and Frank nod in understanding.
“It will combine our strengths and give us an edge over our competition, as well as connect us, on a more spiritual level”
Storming Raven picks up the chalice and knife. He makes a cut in the meaty part of the palm of his hand near his thumb, and squeezes it letting the blood drip in while chanting in the language of his people.
(Creator hear our call and acknowledge we three as brothers for ever more.)
He passes the knife and chalice to Frank and he follows Storming Raven's actions before passing them to Thor who follows suit as well. Thor then passes the chalice back to Storming Raven.
“I drink of my brothers as we become one.”
Thor and Frank repeat the words, as Storming Raven takes a drink from the chalice and passes it to Frank, who drinks and passes it to Thor.
“It is done. Now there isn't a force alive who can stop us. May the Creator bless us.”
Scene 2: If you want blood, you got it.
A house show in Cedar hills, Oregon. Some lame local talent is in the ring, but then the lights go out. When they come back on the local talent is covered in their own blood and Storming Raven stands in the ring with a microphone, in his tanned buckskin pants, and the red skull face paint.
“You're all welcome from being saved from that dreadfully boring match. Now on to business. This week management has put me in another pointless tag team match. What's more they have to insult me by putting on the other side of the ring Greyson Pierce and Wiener Schnitzel or whatever the hell his name is. One that wants to be a white version of myself the other, an Ultimate Warrior wannabe.”
He begins to pace around the ring.
“I know I've not had much luck lately, but this is a fast ball right down the middle of the plate. Hell I could most likely take both out myself. Let's review. Greyson Pierce, from Texas, like me. Experience in “underground street fighting” like me. Though that is where the comparison ends. His idea of “underground street fighting” probably amounts to backyard wrestling. There is no way he could have done the things I've done. The pain I've gone through and put others through. The blood I've spilled both mine and others, along with bones I've broken.
Then there is this Weiner Schnitzel, coming in looking like a reject of an extra from Clash of the titans. These new comers have absolutely no chance of beating just me, let alone when I am teamed with someone like Macho Messiah...Hey, is he Randy Savage come back to earth to save the wrestling masses? I sure as hell hope so, because if not and we lose....may whatever deity he believes in have mercy on his soul...”
The lights go out again, when they come back on Storming Raven is gone, left in the ring is a puddle of blood in the shape of the EoB's red skull.