AEW Dynamite #044 [S03E18] (3.17.25)

Live from the Resch Center | Green Bay, WI | Crowd Size: 11,000

SEGMENT ONE

As Dynamite comes onto the air, the camera follows behind a man walking through the locker room. As the camera pans up, we see that the man is WWE’s R-Truth! R-Truth struts through the locker room, nodding in approval as he looks around.

R-Truth: [grinning, arms crossed, talking to himself] Mm-hmm. Yeah. I knew it. I knew they was gon’ do somethin’ big. Told Triple H—TOLD ‘IM—this place needed a makeover. Look at this, man! Whole vibe changed. Feels… [pauses, narrows eyes] …kinda different, but I ain’t mad at it.

He rubs his chin, scanning the room like a man trying to figure out why his childhood home suddenly smells like someone else’s cooking.

R-Truth: [nodding, convinced] Yep. This got Trips’ fingerprints all over it. Knew he was gon’ shake things up after I told him the vending machine needed Funyuns. I knew it.

He claps his hands together, and then starts wandering around the locker room, peaking into doors and occasionally stopping to tap on walls like he’s testing the structural integrity of the “remodel.”

R-Truth: Alright now, lemme find ‘im… big meeting tonight, might even be gettin’ me a title shot against The Rock… big things poppin’!

As he turns the corner, he nearly bumps into a familiar face—or at least, a familiar blur of intensity. The Ultimate Warrior stands before him, shaking, snorting, and possibly summoning the spirits of ancient space gods.

R-Truth: [eyes widening] Ohhhh snap! FLEX FULLER?!

Warrior’s breath heaves like a malfunctioning steam engine. His eyes bulge as he looks at Truth like he’s about to headbutt the cosmos.

Ultimate Warrior: [intensely, through gritted teeth] THE BLOOD OF THE COSMIC CONSTELLATIONS HAS POURED INTO THE WATERS OF ETERNITY, AND I HAVE BEEN REBORN IN THE THUNDER OF THE GODS!

R-Truth: [nodding sagely] Right, right. You speakin’ facts. Straight facts. You always was deep like that, Flex. You seen Trips?

Warrior lets out a deep, guttural roar and sprints off at full speed, knocking over a chair and a water cooler on his way out.

R-Truth: [watching him go, hands on his hips] I missed that dude!

Truth shakes his head, then keeps moving. A few more wrong turns and he finds himself face-to-face with two more familiar faces—Cobra Kai’s Johnny Lawrence and Miguel Diaz. Truth’s face lights up like Christmas morning.

R-Truth: [grinning, pointing at them] HEY!!! Look who’s back in the WWE, man! I been wonderin’ what happened to y’all!

Miguel Diaz looks at him, confused.

Miguel Diaz: What? This is AEW.

R-Truth: [laughs] Right, right, I hear ya, I hear ya. Playin’ that whole “we jumped ship” game, huh? I got you. So y’all full-time back in WWE now, or this part of that talent exchange thing everyone talkin’ about?

Johnny Lawrence: We haven’t been in WWE since last summer. And besides, the talent exchange doesn’t even start ‘til next month!

R-Truth: [clicking his tongue, shaking his head] Man, y’all ain’t gotta kayfabe me. I been in this business too long. Look, it’s cool. I get it. Trips’ be actin’ real funny towards TV stars lately. Y’all was just on the wrong show! Shoulda done Yellowstone! They woulda kept y’all!

Miguel: Dude, how are you not getting this?

R-Truth: I been in this business long enough to know that when people start DENYIN’, that’s when they LYIN’.

Miguel mouths that he hates this place as he and Lawrence leave, getting ready for their match later this evening. Truth shrugs and keeps on his mission of finding HHH. Finally, he turns a corner and comes face-to-face with The Hurricane, hands on his hips, cape flowing majestically despite the lack of wind indoors.

R-Truth: [relieved] Now I KNOW I’m in WWE! Ain’t no way Hurricane done switched sides!

The Hurricane: [looking confused] Truth… this is AEW.

R-Truth: [grinning] Heh, that’s a good one. You almost had me, man. But I know this is WWE, cause I’m here for my meetin’ with Triple H. Big things poppin’!

The Hurricane: I’m tellin’ you, man, HHH ain’t here. You are in AEW.

R-Truth: [scoffs] April Fools Day comin’ early this year? Ain’t no way. I’ve seen the people, I’ve seen the arena. This is WWE!

Hurricane just shrugs, then dramatically leaps off down the hallway, cape flapping as he vanishes into the night.

Truth watches him go, then folds his arms and nods to himself, convinced.

R-Truth: Ain’t no way in hell this ain’t the WWE locker room.


We see the door open to the High Minded locker room fly open, as Lady Love stomps in, with Midget Hogan practically skipping behind her just to keep up. The locker room is dark, and it’s clear they’re in the middle of an ongoing argument as they enter.

Midget Hogan: [at full volume] I’m not gonna call him my “baby boy!”

Lady Love: [defensively] But he’s my son!

Midget Hogan: I get that, but he’s not a baby! He’s 21 years old! That ain’t a baby! Hell, we’re not even talking about a toddler! This is a fully grown man with a fuckin’ credit score!

Lady Love: [placing a hand over her chest] Oh, so now you care about credit scores? Last time I checked, you thought FICO was the name of a luchador!

Before Midget Hogan can fire back, the lights suddenly come on as Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Matt Riddle stand in a semi-circle, all holding baby shower decorations. A large, misspelled banner reads: “WELCOME, BABBY!”

High Minded: [in unison, with the exception of Nash who claps slowly] SURPRISE!

Confetti blasts from a cannon, covering Lady Love and Midget Hogan in a shower of pink, blue, and inexplicably, green glitter.

Midget Hogan: [sputtering, brushing the glitter off his head] What the hell is this?

Hulk Hogan: It’s a baby shower, brother!

Randy Savage: [pointing a finger at Lady Love] We heard ya talkin’ about meetin’ yer kid, yeah, so we figured—celebration time, ooooh yeah!

Kevin Nash:[arms crossed, smirking] Figured we’d help you two parents ease into this new chapter of your lives.

Scott Hall: [tilting his head, toothpick hanging from his mouth] Not every day you find out you got a full-grown kid, chica. You get one shot to make a good impression. And if that don’t work? Eh, just throw money at ‘im.

Lady Love gasps, genuinely touched, while Midget Hogan is rubbing his temples like he’s about to have an aneurysm.

Lady Love: [sniffling, clasping her hands together] You guys… this is the sweetest, dumbest, most beautiful thing anyone has ever done for me.

Matt Riddle: Yeah, bro. Like, families come in all shapes and sizes, ya know? Like, my pet lizard is technically my son, and we have a great relationship.

Midget Hogan: [throwing his hands up] This ain’t even the same thing!!!

Scott Hall hands Lady Love a massive present wrapped in what appears to be an old nWo t-shirt. She tears it open to reveal a comically oversized “World’s Best Mom” coffee mug and a tiny “World’s Smallest Dad” keychain for Midget Hogan. The locker room bursts into laughter as Midget Hogan glares at the keychain like it just insulted his mother.

Hulk Hogan: [putting an arm around Midget Hogan] Brother, come on, lighten up! Family ain’t about size, dude—it’s about love!

Kevin Nash: [chuckling, though his demeanor slightly shifts] Yeah, besides… somebody’s gotta teach the kid the ropes, right?

There’s a brief pause, the laughter dying down just slightly as Nash stares off for a moment, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. Lady Love notices, tilting her head, but Nash quickly masks it by clapping his hands together.

Kevin Nash: [grinning again] Anyway, enjoy the party, big momma.

Lady Love beams, but the momentary shift in Nash’s demeanor lingers. As the celebration resumes, Nash steps back, quietly observing, his smirk turning slightly colder as he watches Lady Love bask in the moment. The scene fades with Midget Hogan finally giving in, stuffing cake in his mouth as Lady Love holds up the “World’s Best Mom” mug like a championship belt.


The pyro explodes as Arn Anderson and Kevin Kelly welcome us to the 44th episode of Dynamite, the 18th installment of the third season of All Elite Wrestling. Anderson says the wrestling world is still buzzing from last week’s announcement of the one of a kind partnership between WWE and AEW, and Kelly notes he’s just been informed that WWE CEO HHH has announced the introduction of a championship belt that will be defended between the brands at the top of tonight’s Monday Night Raw! Kelly says he’s scrambling to learn more, and says details will be forthcoming. Anderson says the talent exchange, set to begin next month, has caused some confusion as we’ve already seen tonight, as WWE superstar R-Truth arrived, mistaking the locker room for WWE! Kelly says that we’re about to kick things off with a match announced this past weekend, as the Forgotten Brandon Lee returns to singles action against the Best Bout Machine, the Cleaner, Kenny Omega for a spot in the Massacre 6 match at Genesis: Chapter 2! Anderson notes that Splinter announced Will Ospreay and MJF have secured their spots after their hellacious battle last week.

Match # 1 | Massacrer 6 Qualifier | No Holds Barred
Kenny Omega vs. ‘The Forgotten’ Brandon Lee

As the bell sounds, both Omega and Lee charge at one another, throwing wild punches. Omega quickly lands a Yakuza kick, but Lee bounces right back, blasting Omega with a spinning heel kick. The two trade punches in the center of the ring. Lee ducks a swing and nails a standing Spanish Fly as the crowd pops for the veteran. Lee kips up looking to capitalize, but Omega rolls out of the ring to regain his composure.

Kevin Kelly: For months, we saw the vignettes of Brandon Lee, the Forgotten. He claimed that he would write the ending to his story, and the fans would never forget him again. He made his triumphant return at Elite Warfare with a valiant effort, but tonight he’s looking to secure a spot in the number one contenders match at Genesis: Chapter 2!

Arn Anderson: As much as I love seeing this revitalization of Lee’s career, I hope he’s not underestimating Kenny Omega. I’ve long believed that Omega is one or two wins away from going on the hottest streak of his career. That could start tonight with a win over the legend!

Lee doesn’t give Omega a second to breathe, sprinting and diving over the top rope with a twisting senton, crashing into Omega and sending both men sprawling over the barricade and into the crowd! Lee grabs a chair and hurls it at Omega, who barely dodges in time.

Arn Anderson: Omega’s one of the best technical performers in the industry, but when push comes to shove, he can brawl with the best of them.

Kevin Kelly: That’s right, Arn. And as Dynamite went onto the air, we learned that all of these qualifying matches over the next few weeks will be No Holds Barred!

Omega grabs a trash can lid and wallops Lee across the head. He drags Lee back to ringside and whips him into the steel steps. Omega steps back, lines him up, and charges with a knee strike, but Lee dodges! Omega collides knee-first with the steps, and Lee capitalizes, rolling back into the ring and launching himself out with a springboard moonsault to the floor!

Lee pulls out a table from under the ring and sets it up near the barricade. As he turns back, Omega clobbers him with a barbed wire broom! Lee drops to his knees, and Omega starts sweeping away at his back, grinding the barbed wire in as Lee writhes in pain. Omega lifts him up and delivers a snap dragon suplex on the floor!

Kevin Kelly: Kenny Omega is turning this match into a horror show! That’s how much this opportunity means to him!

Arn Anderson: Lee’s back is all tore up! You’ve gotta wonder if Lee’s rethinking this whole return of his!

Omega sets up a trashcan in the corner, drags Lee to the apron, and calls for a suplex through the table at ringside. He lifts, but Lee flips over and lands on his feet! He springboards back in with a cutter, dropping Omega face-first onto the apron!

Lee rolls Omega into the ring and pulls out a long chain. He wraps it around his fist and starts hammering away at Omega’s forehead before draping the chain over his neck and choking him out.

Kevin Kelly: Lee’s showing he’s willing to play dirty as well!

Arn Anderson: Hey, it’s not dirty if it’s No Holds Barred, Kevin! It’s called being smart, and taking advantage of the stipulation!

Omega struggles but manages to grab a can lid, smashing it over Lee’s head to break the hold. He stumbles back, then lunges forward with a V-Trigger, knocking Lee clean off his feet. Omega grabs a steel chair, sets it up in the center of the ring, and hoists Lee up for a powerbomb. But Lee counters! He hurricanranas Omega headfirst into the chair!

Omega rolls to the ramp, trying to shake the cobwebs. Lee follows, but Omega grabs a chair under the ring. He lunges at Lee, but Lee dodges, springboarding off the ropes and hitting a meteora on the ramp! Lee picks up the chair and grins, but before he can use it, Omega blindsides him with a V-Trigger!

Omega sets up for a suplex, but Lee fights back! He lands a knee strike, another, then a spinning roundhouse! He hoists Omega up and, in a shocking moment, backflips off the ramp with a Spanish Fly, sending both men crashing through the production tables off to the side! The crowd reacts appropriately with a “Holy Shit!” chant.

Officials rush in, carefully pulling them free. Omega crawls toward the ring, Lee barely stirring. Omega makes it in first, setting up for the One-Winged Angel as Lee slides in. He lifts him up, but Lee counters in mid-air, flipping through and hitting a poison rana.

Lee pulls himself up and climbs to the rope. He launches with a Phoenix Splash—right into Omega’s knees! Omega scrambles up, hoists him into the air, and looks for the One-Winged Angel, but Lee again fights out! He lands on his feet, spins Omega around, and cracks him with a rolling elbow!

Lee wastes no time—he sets up a steel chair in the center of the ring, drags Omega to the top rope, and positions him for something devastating. He hooks Omega’s arms and drops him onto the chair with the Spin to the End!

He covers Omega in the center of the ring…

1…

2…

3!!!

Arn Anderson: A career revitalizing performance for Brandon Lee! Omega threw everything at him, and Lee just kept coming. That’s a man who refuses to be forgotten!

The updated match graphic airs on the tron as Lee celebrates, showing himself, Ospreay, and MJF in three of the six spots for Genesis. Anderson says next week, the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes will meet the Ring General Gunther in a qualifying match!

Winner: ‘The Forgotten’ Brandon Lee
Match Time: 26:50

SEGMENT TWO

As we come back from commercial, we open with a vignette in a desolate oil field at dusk, somewhere in Texas. The wind howls, kicking dust as the sun bleeds into the horizon.

A lone wooden fence stretches across the barren land, and a rusted oil pump creeks rhythmically in the background. Hangman Adam Page stands near a flickering oil lantern atop an old barrel, a bottle of whiskey in hand. Dressed in a worn leather jacket and jeans, his face is shadowed beneath his cowboy hat, but his eyes burn with a quiet rage.

Hangman Adam Page: I came into this industry the same way I come into a fight—with my fists up and something to prove. And I didn’t step through some shiny Performance Center doors, I wasn’t handed a golden ticket. No, I walked through the gates of PWI, I clawed my way through the Ascendants class, looking for my shot, fighting for my moment. But those big breaks? They weren’t meant for guys like me.

Page pauses, taking a swig directly from the bottle. The fire light reflects in his eyes.

Hangman Adam Page: They were always saved for the MJFs, the Adam Coles of the world. The anointed ones. The ones with friends in the right places, the ones who played the game. And me? It didn’t matter how hard I fought under the MMouse Enterprises banner, how much blood I spilled, how many miles I put on the road—there was a ceiling. A goddamn ceiling made of bulletproof glass, one I wasn’t supposed to break through. So I left. I bet on myself. I came to AEW to tear that ceiling to the ground.

Hangman smirks to himself, as if he just recalled a joke.

Hangman Adam Page: But what happened? The same damn thing all over again. MJF shows up, Styles and Danielson try to hold me down, and suddenly, I’m right back where I started—fighting for my own survival.

He chuckles, throwing his arm around, gesturing to the emptiness around him.

Hangman Adam Page: But, take a look around. You don’t see AJ Styles in AEW anymore, do you? Nah, he took his ball, packed his bags, and ran to WWE where it’s safe. And my old friends? Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson? They’re clinging to the past, trying to stay relevant in a world that’s already moved on. And on April 6, I step into the ring with Logan Paul—the next corporate pet project, the poster boy for the ‘age of influence.’ The man who built his empire off clickbait, controversy, and clout.

Page steps forward, his voice steady but filled with venom.

Hangman Adam Page: [looking directly into the camera] Logan, I know what you are. You’re a brand, a walking, talking, money-making algorithm. You see AEW as just another empire to conquer, another belt to hang in your mansion like some kind of trophy. But this ain’t YouTube, and this ain’t a money fight. This is a war. And I ain’t stepping in that ring to make content, I’m stepping in to make history. Because I don’t care how many followers you have, I don’t care how many headlines you generate—on April 6, I’m putting you down. And when that final bell rings, when they raise my hand and put my title around my waist, you’re gonna learn real quick what Cowboy Shit really means.

Page steps up to the lantern, staring into the flame before blowing it out, leaving only the twilight sky behind him.

Hangman Adam Page: And Logan? You better pray you don’t get distracted. Because I know you got your hands full worrying about your old best friend turned worst enemy, MJF. But I promise you, the moment you let your guard down, the second you waste a breath thinking about him instead of me? I’ll take that title right out from under you before you even know what hit you. You think you’re walking into Genesis: Chapter 2 as the champion? You better worry about whether you’re walking out at all.


Match # 2 | Ladder War for a shot at the AEW Tag Team Championship
Cobra Kai (Lawrence & Diaz) vs. The Acclaimed (Caster & Bowens) vs. The Gunn Club (Austin & Colton Gunn) vs. A-Town Down Under (Theory & Waller)

As the introductions are made, the camera pushes in on a contract for a shot at the tag titles hanging high above the ring.

Kevin Kelly: Folks, this one isn’t gonna be pretty. It’s going to be a car wreck full of high impact crashes, and only one team is leaving here with a shot at the Street Sharks at Genesis: Chapter 2!

Arn Anderson: Acting Director of Operations Master Splinter set this match last week when Cobra Kai’s Johnny Lawrence demanded a rematch for the tag belts, and he announced we’d finally see the sons of Bad Ass Billy Gunn, Austin and Colton Gunn, debut after they were drafted this past summer. It’s no secret that ladder matches shorten careers, Kevin, and these boys are gonna feel this one tomorrow!

The fight starts in a frenzy, fists and bodies flying everywhere. Cobra Kai clears The Gunn Club, while The Acclaimed go after A-Town Down Under. The crowd erupts as Johnny Lawrence hip-tosses Austin Theory over the top rope, sending him crashing onto a ladder at ringside. Meanwhile, Miguel Diaz springboards into a Frankensteiner on Waller. The Acclaimed isolates Colton Gunn in the corner, delivering brutal knife-edge chops before Bowens hoists him up, allowing Caster to hit a dropkick off the second rope.

Outside, Theory and Waller regroup, dragging a ladder into the ring, but Lawrence baseball slides it into their midsections before setting it up himself. He begins to climb—only for Austin Gunn to yank him down and smash a forearm across his jaw. Miguel tries to help, but Colton launches him over the top rope, where he crashes into a pile of ladders.

Max Caster sets up a ladder in the corner, whipping Waller hard into it, sending the Aussie spiraling to the floor. Caster turns—BAM! Theory blasts him with a rolling thunder dropkick, planting him into the mat.

Outside, Johnny Lawrence and Miguel Diaz brawl with The Gunns near the barricade. Lawrence sets up a ladder bridge between the ring and guardrail, looking for something nasty, but Austin Gunn fights back, lifting him for a powerbomb. Lawrence flips out—BACK BODY DROP! Austin Gunn crashes through the steel, splintering the ladder into pieces!

Arn Anderson: Welcome to All Elite Wrestling, Austin Gunn! That boy’s gonna be spitting metal shavings for a week!

Inside the ring, Anthony Bowens and Grayson Waller duel on the ladder, trading blows ten feet in the air. Waller rakes Bowens’ eyes, then tries a sunset flip powerbomb—BUT BOWENS HANGS ON! Theory scrambles up the other side and yanks Bowens down, only to eat a superkick from Caster! Anderson notes of the four teams, all are former champions hungry to regain the gold except for the debuting Gunns.

The Gunn Club is back in, dragging a fresh ladder inside. Colton Gunn rams it into Bowens’ gut, then lifts it high—only for Miguel Diaz to springboard in with a dropkick, sending the ladder smashing back into Colton’s face! Lawrence follows up, grabbing Austin Gunn and delivering a brutal German suplex onto a lying ladder in the corner!

The Acclaimed dump The Gunns and set up for something big. Bowens hoists Theory onto his shoulders while Caster climbs—MIC DROP FROM THE LADDER! The elbow smashes into Theory’s chest, and he writhes in pain

Meanwhile, Waller positions a ladder across the ropes and tries to flapjack Miguel Diaz onto it—BUT DIAZ FLIPS OUT! ROUNDHOUSE KICK! Waller stumbles, and Lawrence capitalizes—SWEEP THE LEG! Waller crashes back-first onto the ladder

The Gunns and A-Town Down Under brawl near a ladder set up ringside. Colton whips Theory face-first into the steel, while Austin sets up a table outside. Waller stuns Colton with a stunner off the apron, sending him crashing through the table!

Inside, Johnny Lawrence ducks a clothesline from Caster and counters with a high-angle belly-to-back suplex onto a ladder. The crowd gasps as Caster crumbles. Lawrence grabs another ladder and starts climbing, but Bowens meets him at the top! The two slug it out high above the ring, but Waller springboards onto the ladder and sunset flips Bowens off of it!

Miguel Diaz, still feeling the effects of the ladder crush, somehow manages to get up and leaps onto the ladder, meeting Lawrence and Waller at the top. Theory yanks Waller off the ladder, but Miguel fights with Johnny. Suddenly, Austin Gunn shoves the ladder, sending both members of Cobra Kai crashing to the mat!

The crowd chants “fight forever” as a chaotic sequence breaks out. Austin and Colton Gunn set up two ladders in the ring, as both the Acclaimed and A-Town Down Under storm back in. Caster dropkicks Theory off the ladder, and Bowens nails Waller with The Arrival onto a steel ladder! Lawrence is back up, and catches Colton with a Crane Kick! Miguel springboards off the ropes, dropkicking a ladder into Austin Gunn’s face!

Kevin Kelly: There are bodies everywhere!

Just when it looks as if The Acclaimed have the match won as they set up a ladder in the middle of the ring, the audience erupts in confusion as Switchblade Jay White rushes through the crowd, sliding into the ring.

Arn Anderson: What the hell? What’s he doing here?

White blindsides Bowens with a Blade Runner! Caster charges at him, but White dodges and sends him face-first into a ladder. The boos rain down as White smirks and nods to The Gunn Club.

Kevin Kelly: This was a damn setup! Switchblade is helping the Gunns!

With the ring cleared, Austin Gunn scurries up the ladder as Jay White stands guard. Miguel Diaz desperately tries to intervene, but White cracks him with a steel chair! Austin Gunn grabs the contract! The Gunn Club win their AEW Tag Team title shot in their debut!

Kevin Kelly: Jay White just gifted The Gunn Club a shot at the AEW Tag Team Titles!

The crowd is livid as Jay White raises Austin and Colton’s hands in victory. The Acclaimed, Cobra Kai, and A-Town Down Under are left sprawled across the ring, robbed of their opportunity.

The Gunns and Jay White exit up the ramp, grinning ear to ear, while the rest of the teams are left in the wreckage of broken ladders and shattered dreams. Arn Anderson and Kevin Kelly thank us for tuning in, and say we’ll be back next week with Rhodes vs. Gunther, and Dominik Mysterio defending the Television Championship!

Winners: The Gunn Club (Austin & Colton Gunn)
Match Time: 18:22


As Dynamite seemingly fades to black, the AEW logo flickers, the screen distorting into a wall of static before revealing a grainy, black and white security camera feed.

The timestamp in the corner blinks erratically, as if the footage is unstable, struggling to exist.

The feed reveals a dark corridor, pipes hissing with steam, fluorescent bulbs flickering and barely illuminating two shadowy figures standing in the hall. As their positions shift, we see the men to be Danhausen and The Executioner!

The Executioner: [voice low, seething] Three months.

Danhausen says nothing.

The Executioner: Three months, and I’m still waiting! I did what you asked. I helped you take Zayn. I played my part, and now you play games!

Danhausen tilts his head slightly, his expression unreadable.

Danhausen: [calm, measured] Everything in time, Executioner. Not everything is as it appears. The wheels turn. The doors creak. The past whispers. You’ll see soon enough.

Executioner steps forward, closing the gap, his boots echoing in the corridor.

The Executioner: Enough of the riddles, Danhausen! You were supposed to take me to Benny Mouse. Yet, I’ve seen nothing. A few parlor tricks, some distorted audio… do you even know where he is? He needs to pay for what he did to Mickey. His own brother! My leader! BWM Inc. broke him. Drove him to madness! The defeats, the ratings, the pressure… it shattered his psyche and now he’s gone! Someone needs to answer for that!

Danhausen: Gone? Gone is such a funny word, no? The past is ashes, yet you keep chasing ghosts. Perhaps its time you serve another, instead?

Executioner snarls, punching a wall next to Danhausen’s head. Danhausen, for his part, does not even react to Executioner’s shift in demeanor.

The Executioner: The only thing I serve is justice! And if you do not take me to Benny soon, I will set Sami free!

Danhausen: A promise is a promise, yes? You will see Benny. But tread lightly, Executioner, or you may find yourself cursed. I’ve brought down Jeff Murrey, Sami Zayn, and Megan Mouse-Zayn. Do not test me.

The Executioner: [scoffs] I have an army of loyalists inside this company. At my word, your whole regime will crumble. You have til Genesis. Take me to Benny, or I burn this place to the ground!

Danhausen: What you chase is a shadow. Benny is not what he was, but, neither are you. Move with care, friend, because some reckonings turn men into monsters. I suggest you prepare yourself, because you will meet Benny. And when you do, I wonder if you’ll recognize what you’ve been chasing.

Executioner glares at him for a long moment, before turning sharply and disappearing down the corridor. His footsteps echo into nothingness. Danhausen stands alone, staring at the wall. Then, ever so slowly, he turns his gaze directly towards the security camera.

The feed distorts, his image warping, his eyes black pits of static. The screen shatters into darkness as the feed cuts suddenly.

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