Ten-Bell Salute – As the episode starts, Big Jim Kitchen (Duke Davis Roberts) stops Ace Spade (Alexander Ludwig) from fighting with a motorist. Backstage, Crystal Tyler (Kelli Berglund) and the others celebrate her title win which saved the DWL. Jack Spade (Stephen Amell) leaves Staci Spade (Alison Luff) a voice message apologizing for missing her rodeo gig. Ricky Rabies (Phil Brooks aka CM Punk) and Eddie Earl (Joel Murray) congratulate Jack on the success of the show. Constance Garrity (Missy Yager) offers a multiyear dear for the State Fair.
Charlie Gully (Mike O’Malley) and his crew discuss ways to get back at the DWL (Duffy Wrestling League). Gully describes Crystal winning the belt as the dumbest ending to a main event he’s ever seen. He and Paul (Brian Scannell) cut a quick promo mocking it and vows to get even with Jack.
Backstage, Wild Bill (Chris Bauer) attempts to take credit for Crystal’s success. Jack lets him know he is not fooled by his claims. Jack introduces Constance to Wild Bill and lets him know that she is interested in signing the DWL for a multiyear Fair contract.
Flashback – Jack and Ace discover Tom Spade’s (David James Elliott) body. Arriving seconds later Carol Spade (Alice Barrett), Jack, and Ace shield her from the body. The family and town attend the funeral and wake. After the ceremony, Rooster Robins (Allen Maldonado) suggests that Tom committed suicide because of CTE. Diego Cottonmouth (Robby Ramos) suspects it was financial. Willie Day (Mary McCormack) forces Crystal to take money for helping with the event.
Outside, Wild Bill apologizes to Carol for missing the funeral. She says she doesn’t want him here because he will overshadow Tom. She won’t need his money either because the Dome is closing. She changes her mind and asks for the cash he has on hand, agreeing to put it to good use.
Town Hall employee, Barbara Holt (Lauren Elder) apologizes to Stacie for her recent miscarriage and Tom’s recent death. Staci becomes upset when she learns that Mimi Brainard shared the news. Staci tells Barbara to tell Mimi to keep her mouth shut or she will shut it. In the parking lot, she encounters Ace, who asks if she is upset with Jack. She tells him that she and Jack don’t argue. He questions her claims. She assures him that Tom loved him a lot. He is concerned that he broke Tom’s heart. She doubts that to be true. He explains how Tom coached him in every sport and got him a football scholarship. She says that he was the one that got the scholarship, not Tom. He believes Tom kept him away from wrestling for fear that he might enjoy it.
Back inside, Crystal learns from Debbie (Marcia DeBonis) that the Dome will be closing. Crystal is shocked and Debbie reminds her that Tom was a big financial back in town.
In Tom’s office, Willie discovers an envelope addressed to Jack. He asks if she read it before stuffing it in his back pocket. He thanks her for helping keep his father’s dream alive all the years. She contributes that dream to killing him. He says that Tom killed himself before calling him a coward. Upset, she pleads with him to open the letter. He doesn’t want to hear anything Tom has to say. Rooster, Big Jim, And Diego interrupt to let them know they are leaving. Before doing so they ask Jack to give Tom a ten-bell salute. Jack believes Tom has used him last finisher. He also offers Diego Tom’s belt as a keepsake.
Jack And Staci’s House – Jack and Stacie discuss the Dome and ten-bell salute. He blames the closing of the Dome on Tom not listening to his ideas. The discussion leads to him getting more upset and telling her that Tom doesn’t deserve a tribute for tapping out. She suggests holding a final show while including the ten-bell salute for him and the guys. He doesn’t think it’s a good idea because it would be depressing. He admits that he will miss it.
Carol’s Home – Jack discusses the final show with Carol. She feels that suicide should not be celebrated. Growing upset with the depressing talk, Jack comforts her.
Dome – Jack tells everyone about a final card with the ten-bell salute, so they can leave the Dome with their heads held high. They discuss the show as Willie hands out the script. The wrestlers discuss and laugh about how Tom used to run the shows until Ace shows up. Once alone, Ace pleads with Jack to be included on the final card. Jack is hesitant because Tom made it clear his entire life that wrestling would be a distraction for Ace. Jack eventually agrees and starts training Ace.
Jack interrupts the locker room and gives a pep talk. Willie takes the spotlight in the ring and delivers an inspirational speech to the crowd before giving Tom his ten-bell salute. As the final bell rings out, a short silence follows until Crystal starts a King Spade chat. Watching Rooster and Big Jim’s dumpster match go down flawlessly, Ace grows anxious. So much so that Jack has to talk him down. Ace’s biggest fear is that Tom was right and wrestling wasn’t for him. Jack puts an end to those worries by saying that Tom’s suicide will forever throw his judgment into question.
Willie introduces Jack takes who thanks everyone for coming out. The fight starts and ends with Ace raising the crown. The fans follow with a King Spade chant. Back in the locker room, the two make an oath to keep the DWL open.
State Fair – In the present, Jack’s search for Ace continues with several unanswered calls. Bobby Pin (Trey Tucker) congratulates Crystal on the title win. Wishing her goodnight and walking away, she pulls him in for a kiss.
Carol watches Ace quickly load a box into her car and speeds off. Arriving at an empty house, Jack checks in with Stacie again. They both congratulate one another. He also tells her about Ace storming off after revealing he was behind the Kleenex debacle. His feeling toward Tom makes him regret naming their son Tom. After the conversation, he opens Tom’s letter which reads, “Jack, take care of Ace, Dad.”
As “Don’t Look Back” by Boston plays, Ace rides down the dark, lonely road with Tom’s crown.
Heels Review
Although the episode felt as if it was dragging along at times, I thought it was a good way to kick off the new season. Learning more about the characters and the DWL was extremely interesting. That said, I’m still up in the air about the majority of the episode being a giant flashback. Stacie’s miscarriage brings a new element to the series, but her and Jack’s squabble really irks me. I don’t see how the two can be so cordial yet she acts like she wants nothing to do with him. It just seems as if there should be some ill will there.
The fact that Tom so openly favored Ace over Jack is at times a bit unbelievable. All in all, I can’t deny this was a solid premiere and set the stage for what could be an exciting season. On a scale of 10, I would give the episode a 5.4.
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