"A sweet friendship refreshes the soul."

Welcome back to Octane #22! We return from commercial break in the middle of the Fatal 5-Way for a Right of Passage Championship Medallion! The Ted, Amar’e Rivers and Tracy James are the only men left battling it out to make it to the Dark Carnival Premium Live Event.

The Ted lays Amar’e out with a Powerbomb into a Final Flash Knee Strike! The cover, Rivers has been eliminated! The Ted has cleared out the field here at Octane, and only one man remains in his way towards the Right of Passage Championship match at Dark Carnival!! And who could that man be, if not the “Cool Boy” Tracy James. This situation could not be more poetic. 8 months ago, these two were attending a huge football game together and getting into hijinxs before winning the Unified World Tag Team Championship. No one could have imagined everything that has occurred since THE Team began.

Our dear former Superb*wl MVP The Ted has gone through a complete one eighty since these two last teamed. A sequence of losses turned him into a desperate, desperate man, and he was last seen along with CMV Commentator Dashing DJ Urie (no, despite what he says, they’re not best friends) beating up celebrities. Ted has already eliminated every other man in this match, continuing his “revenge run” by having a performance similar to what he did 9 months ago at Regicide in the Tug of War match. One of those men who he eliminated was Crimson X, who made Ted tap out in the Purgatory Elimination Chamber. If that had never happened, Ted wouldn’t have become the man he is today. He wouldn’t have stopped talking to Tracy. Ted winning that Chamber match 3 months ago would have completely changed the course of history. He’s been chasing revenge ever since, and tonight he finally got it. But Ted’s quest to return to his former glory isn’t done quite yet. The only man standing in his way, the only man who can STOP him from gaining that medallion, is his former tag partner.

Ah, “Cool Boy” Tracy James. Much like his total best bud, he’s had a huge transformation over this last semester of CMV action. We can see that from his new nickname and the way he is dressed tonight. Tracy spent so much time trying to get Ted back on his side, attempting to help his BEST FRIEND fight off the two celebrities who bothered him. But to no avail. Ted wasn’t there for Tracy anymore. It took a long time to convince the former United States Champion to get this tag team started, but there was no one to make them come back to life. At the media scrum after Battle Scars 8, we even saw an extremely passionate THE Team fan pour his heart out in front of Ted, asking why the 6’6 wrestler would just leave his partner without any notice. The Ted simply stated that Tracy wouldn’t get serious in the way he did.

The Tracy James that Ted looks at right now is a different man, however. At least he appears to be. Always known for his constant metamorphosis, an alliance with Xander Slate and the rest of “The Company” has transformed Tracy into the “Cool Boy”. Fit with sunglasses, dyed facial hair and new wrestling gear, this could be the most confident form of Tracy since THE Team held those tag titles for 14 days. But why has he become this person? Is it just natural self evolution? Or is it to show Ted that he CAN be as cool as he is, as SERIOUS as he is? Does it matter, though? Whatever Tracy’s motive may be, everything has lined up tonight at Octane. James can stop the rampage Ted is on, he can end the sweep. He can conquer that medallion and show Ted that treating Tracy this way was the worst mistake he ever made. As much as people insult Tracy and call him names, he was the one who got the fall to win the Tag Titles. He is the one who OUTSMARTED former World Champion Bob Luger and beat him by countout. Tracy is more capable than people give him credit for. And stopping his former best friend, the man who broke his heart? This is his time to shine.

Both former members of THE Team lock eyes. Ted, inside the ring, while Tracy resides on the outside. Ted seems reluctant. The same look he had on his face when he saw Tracy come out talking to someone on his phone. Ted has been extremely rude to Tracy for so long, but he doesn’t want to hurt him. He might just have to. Tracy is motivated. He is ready. This is undoubtedly the biggest individual opportunity he has ever had. Getting to Dark Carnival and becoming the first ever Right of Passage Champion in spite of Ted’s quest, no, Ted’s NEED to be great once again. That’s the perfect way that this story can end. He could finally move on and get used to greatness along with Xander Slate and The Company. Tracy gets in the ring and they engage in a collar and elbow tie up.

The next minute of action is pretty balanced. Ted has the momentum on his side, Tracy has the passion for this match. Ted is holding back a little. He doesn’t want to hurt Tracy in the way he hurt the others in this match. Which is confusing considering how he’s hurt him emotionally in the past few months. Tracy doesn’t care if Ted shows him mercy. He’s battling in the best way the former Not-Anarchy Champion War Machine Rough Cool Boy can. An 110th Street Slam sets up for the Shellshocked. Ted is out. He gets back to his feet, and Tracy hoists the two-time United States Champion up on his shoulders. HE HITS IT! INTO THE COVER, TO PUT AWAY THE TED AND ADVANCE TO DARK CARNIVAL! ONE, TWO, THR- TED KICKS OUT!!

Tracy complains to the referee, but he stops. He thinks and doesn’t waste any more time. James goes to stomp down on Ted, but his opponent springs back to his feet and takes Tracy down with a spinning back elbow. Tracy is out cold. Ted looks down at him. It’s his moment. His time to win that medallion, to be the man he hasn’t been throughout this entire year. Ted doesn’t want to put away Tracy in the same way he took care of the others. He grabs Tracy’s left arm and stares his former tag partner in the eyes. Eyes that are completely lost right now. Ted looks focused. He turns Tracy onto his stomach while locking his legs around Tracy’s neck and back of the head- HELL’S GATE! THE TED LOCKS IN THE HELL’S GATE, A MOVE HE HAS NEVER RESORTED TO BEFORE!! TRACY STRUGGLES, HE WANTS TO SURVIVE, HE WANTS TO PROVE EVERYONE (MOSTLY TED) WRONG! TED SQUEEZES THE HOLD TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. THIS IS ALL OR NOTHING FOR BOTH THESE MEN. TRACY’S HAND WAVES AROUND- HE MIGHT BE STARTING TO FADE! TED PULLS TRACY BACK, AND HE HAS NO CHOICE! TRACY JAMES TAPS OUT!!! THE TED WINS THE FINAL MEDALLION AND BOOKS HIS TICKET TO DARK CARNIVAL!!!!!

Ted gets his arm raised up by the referee. He falls to one knee. Ted looks back at where Tracy should be. His former tag partner lays down on the outside, back to the barricade, speaking onto the phone we saw him enter with. Tracy doesn’t take his eyes off Ted. This was the night for Tracy to take his career onto the next level, but he couldn’t do it. Ted walks over to the side where Tracy is, without leaving the ring. He looks over at Tracy and starts to head to the apron, when James’ fellow The Company members arrive and help him backstage. Ted is left alone in the ring, with the fans cheering him on for once. He still looks somewhat conflicted. As we head into another commercial break, Ted is handed his medallion and asks for a microphone to address the live audience.