Wrestlestock 2022 - -|Early Access|- - Day 1
Jul 11, 2022 9:32:30 GMT -5
Jet Somers and Rogan MacLean like this
Post by UGWC Staff on Jul 11, 2022 9:32:30 GMT -5
The first pink rays of sunrise stretch across the desert pan, revealing a cluster of giant box-like shapes covered in thick, clean, gray canvas. The feed is coming from a drone hovering across the dawn toward the cluster, and as it approaches, it becomes apparent just how massive the box-like structures are. Before long, they’ve grown to the size of buildings, forming a canvas skyline across the desert’s expanse.
As the morning develops, and the harsh sun climbs over the horizon, the drone continues to circle the sprawling structures, occasionally passing over the top of it to demonstrate how much real estate it’s taking up in the Sonoran desert. Little by little, cars begin to trickle in from the northern distance. Soon the one- or two- at-a-time grows to an ever-thickening caravan. The vehicles are lining up to park several hundred yards away from the canvas-covered structures, and staff, security, officials, attendants, and media emerge, walking en masse toward the structure.
Soon after, the caravan becomes three cars abreast, and as this wave parks, the fans join the ever-growing crowd. Families, gaggles of friends, bikers, church groups, vendors, artisans, cooks, porters, etc. join the widening throng. The milling crowd starts to resemble a massive colony of ants around the structures, waiting to see what lies beneath.
From the west, three massive blimps drift toward the crowd. Even in the bright morning sun, the marquee screens on the side can be seen from the ground, hyping up the event. A cheer goes up as the airships close in on the structures. Forming a V, the middle one pulls ahead and drops a massive tow cable. Staff rushes in, hooking the cable to the side of the canvas, and the blimp ascends. Following the lead, the other two drop tow cables, and these are attached to massive steel towers which also begin to rise at an angle.
As the towers and canvas are lifted, the districts of Wrestlestockopolis are revealed a little at a time. There are the familiar, returning districts like Arizona Regional Wrestling, Captain 80’s Funtime Fantasy Land, The Devil’s District, The Astro Creeps Drive-In Movie Theatre, Desert Mobility Center, Hell on Heels, The New Frontier, The Engine of Chaos/Err Bear Cooperation District, and The Piercing Media District, as well as the UGWC Wrestlestock Main Stage. These are joined by new additions to the city, including Black Ice Climate Racing, Bronyland Ranch, The Johncast District, and Zion Wrestling.
A murmur of anticipation goes through the crowd as the blimps have been piloted so that the massive canvas is draped over the steel towers above Wrestlestockopolis, shading the city from the sun for most of the day.
From the direction of the main stage, the Consortium appears. Robert Ooley and Owen Peterson flank Holden Orson (who is riding a penny farthing, for some reason) ascend a platform at the edge of the city. Their images are also projected on the screens of the blimps which now circle the city.
Peterson: Welcome to Wrestlestock 2022 EARLY ACCESS!
The cheers shake the desert floor.
Somers: The UGWC fans are what makes this event what it is today, and it seems like every year is the most successful Wrestlestock to date. We wanted to once again show our appreciation by inviting you to enjoy the city freely, without having to affix yourself to a schedule. This year, we’ll be here for an entire week, so feel free to explore the districts over the next three days! Official UGWC programming will begin on Thursday, but there will be plenty of programming, competitions, matches, special appearances, and entertainment in this three day pre-show celebration!
An even louder response from the crowd, and they’re stamping and milling about, anxious to get in and get started.
Ooley: So try not to tear the damn place up before we get to the actual matches, window-lickers! Just because you idiots paid for three extra days in this wasteland doesn’t mean you can destroy it before Zion even gets here. Pick up your trash and get back to your tents by 10pm. I mean you especially!
He points Louis at the bikers threateningly, but the entire crowd just laughs.
Peterson: Are you ready to explore the city?
The crowd is pushing against security now, barely able to contain themselves.
Peterson: Come on in!!
Security suddenly drops the barriers, the crowd pours in from all sides, and Wrestlestock 2022 has officially begun!