Love will make you do crazy things…
 
I remember the first time I laid eyes on you. Your beautiful brown, luscious hair being caressed by the wind as you delivered your signature moves on your opponents at Pain4Pride. You defied all odds as you went against one of the best wrestlers this industry has to offer. After a hectic battle, you outsmarted your opponents. You stood tall as the warrior you are and you achieved your goal at capturing the Vixens title once more. You won, you perceived. You won my heart and you caught my attention. I was in complete awe as I saw you hold your title high at our company’s biggest event. The fireworks set off in back of you as if it were some sort of movie that I was watching. The scene was perfect. You were perfect. You are perfect. At least I think? No-wait, yes you’re perfect. ..But … but if you were perfect then you wouldn’t treat me this way!? No-wait, yes? No?!... Regardless, there you were. You established yourself as one of the greatest Vixens of all time. You stood there with pride and a bit of ambiguity running through your blood. As I watched you as a fan from afar, I thought to myself “I’d do absolutely anything for that beauty.” Who’d knew years later I’d be in that same predicament.
 
The feeling of rejection is one that I never want to feel ever in my life. Throughout my adolescence, I never loved anyone as much as I love HBG. Sure, I had some middle school crushes here and there, but I have yet to find someone that fills that void in my heart like HBG does. I have yet to find someone who understands me, who will risk everything in order for me to have the best experience possible just like her. But ever since Grand Rampage, things are different. The same spark that once ignited a huge, intense flame is lacking. The moment my eyes met with yours, there was an instant connection. Now, whenever I see your eyes all I see in them is anger, disgust and embarrassment. You see HBG, when we used to communicate back then you never belittled me or doubted my intelligence. I could come to you for guidance and advice. Now I don’t even dare to go your direction in order to avoid conflict. I could never in a million years sit here with a straight face and call you a “dumbass”. With all due respect, YOU’RE the one who insisted I went out with you during the Specialist Rampage, YOU’RE the one who would always ask me to be in your corner, YOU’RE the one who asked me to be in Hexa-Gun and YOU’RE the one who begged me to consider you as a candidate for the Triple Threat mainevent match. You know that I love you, HBG, and you know that my psychotic tendencies are far from gone. I can easily snap in a second, I can easily lose the screws that are loosely holding this fucked up brain together and unleash my real feelings towards you and Aria. You continue to berate me as if I don’t fucking know that what I did to you hurt you deeply. Do you have the slightest idea that I feel bad about how things went down on Grand Rampage? You don’t think I beat myself up for days, weeks on end about the results?! That it was primarily MY FAULT that you didn’t win?! I’ll take responsibility, I’ll own up to my mistakes but if there’s one thing I can ask from you, one sacred thing that you can give me is don’t turn your back on me, at least not right now. I’ve had people for months tell me that you’re no good. They’ve all said that you’re a manipulative snake who uses people until she doesn’t need them anymore Don’t let them be right, HBG. Don’t let your ego get in the way between something beautiful, something so grand that you can only come across once in your lifetime. If you want to turn your back on me, then so be it. I’m in no mood to deal with your fucking childish tendencies. Here I am trying to repair our god damn relationship and at the same time I’m trying to focus on our match in order for me to keep my title. Do me a favor and shut the fuck up. Seriously... Shut the fuck up, HBG.
 
And you know who else could shut the fuck up? Aria! Of course you’re over here blabbering about my business because that’s all you’re ever good at. You know that HBG is my weakness so you’re going to use it at your full extent in order to break me down. And for the most part, it’s working! And you’re right - without HBG I would’ve been nothing. I don’t have a massive ego like you two fucking broads so I can admit that her guidance has brought me to places I’ve never envisioned myself being placed before. She taught me things that can’t be learned from a textbook or any sort of shitty wrestling academy you may had attended. She showed me the ins and outs of this business and for that I couldn’t be any more grateful. But we all have our limits. I am smart enough to realize that HBG is being driven only by her jealousy and egomaniac-like nature. I did so much for her, I poured my heart out to her and I helped her the best I could in order to make her happy. But one mistake automatically rules me out? One mistake automatically throws me to the bottom of the totem pole?! Honestly, I’m not okay with that. I’m not okay with being treated like trash. If me fucking HBG over is the cause for her disliking me, then why doesn’t she show the same behavior towards Y2Impact? Isn’t he the reason why she didn’t win the actual Grand Rampage as well? The hypocrisy is blowing my fucking mind but that’s beyond the point. I’m sorry, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah! Aria. Well Aria, I don’t have much more to say to you. I mean, what else is there to say? Everything that’ll come out of my sacred mouth will just go in from one ear out the other. What’s the point of me wasting my breath if you’re going to oppose everything I say in the first place? You’re being a real pain in the ass right now, and quite frankly I could care less of your little from rags to riches story. You can go ahead and tell me how hard it was for you to get to this position but you have yet to realize that this has been planned out since the day you got here. You were destined to be in this spot, Aria. Just how I was and just how HBG was. We’re all destined to be in this position. We’re all destined to fight in the mainevent for the Vixens title. There wasn’t any luck involved, there wasn’t any factors involved as much as you’d like to say you wanted to. You were destined to beat Cameron, you were destined to gather a huge following. Everything happens for a reason and I hope you keep that in mind when I come out victorious. I hope you keep that in mind, Aria, because I know that once you go home on Saturday night empty handed as your boyfriend polishes his championship, it’s going to hit you – hard. You’ll come to terms with the fact that you are nothing compared to HBG and I. You’ll grasp the reality that you were never destined to have the gold strapped around your waist or walk into Pain for Pride as the defending champ. I know it’s hard for you but let’s be honest – compared to HBG and I, you don’t deserve to be in the lime light. You don’t deserve to have the spotlight on you considering how much of a mediocre year you’ve had. You should be honored that you have the opportunity to stand in the same ring as me. You should be kissing my feet right now instead of constantly shitting on me any opportunity you get. So ungrateful.
 

So fucking ungrateful. Throughout my six-month reign, I’ve made all of you look good. Anyone who considers themselves a Vixen – I made you look good with my impressive supremacy as Vixens Champion. And what do I get in return? A big slap in the face from people who I expected it from and from people who I never thought in a million years would act in that manner. The world is so fucked up, but I’ll pull through. My heart is broken but I’ll rise to the occasion. I’ll make it out alive, although I can’t say the same for you two…

(The camera pans to Christian who is staring towards the ground. His location is unknown. He is sitting at a table with a black cloth covering it. He has a few coins in his right hand that he keeps playing with. He continues to look down at the coins before he speaks.)

I wish I could say that it's going to be an honor to share a ring with the EAW legend, Starr Stan this Saturday live on FPV, I really do but the fact of the matter is I've already gone toe-to-toe with this so called legend and man, how did that match end again? Sorry my memory can be a bit foggy from time to time. Wait it's coming back to me, just give me a second — oh yeah that's right, I beat him by outsmarting him, which was quite easy by the way. It was like stealing candy from a baby! It was robbery in clear daylight! Now, right afterwards Starr called that victory of mine, a fluke, trying to take credit away from me and you know what, Starr?! How dare you! How dare you try to second guess me and my godly talent, in such a disgusting and half-assed manner! At the end of the day I beat you and the same result will occur at Triple Threat! Do you understand me, you crusty old senile man? No seriously, can you hear me? You may have to adjust your hearing aid. Oh no I'm being that kind of guy, aren't I? You know, the newcomers who come to a new professional wrestling federation and bad mouth the seasoned vets who helped build EAW from the ground up. Usually they'll tell those vets that they are washed up, when in reality they aren't. Look at some of those vets. Look at Y2Impact, he just won the Grand Rampage and he'll probably secure another title reign at Pain for Pride. Look at Mr. DDD, he was just world champ and now he is hellbent on smashing Xavier’s face in until it becomes a bloody pulp. The Heart Break Gal has the opportunity to win yet another Vixens Championship. The list goes on and on! But what about you Stan? What have you done in recent memory besides utter the words I quit and suit up as a failed team leader? Yet even with all those recent shortcomings of yours, EAW agrees to give you this little retirement tour of yours! Which I guess makes sense because Kobe had one of those this past year and he was god awful and even had to cover his whole body with various ice packs just so he could play the next game a few days later. Starr look at me — you wish the injuries you'll sustain this Saturday could be cured by ice, but they can't! 

(Christian puts one of the coins on his thumb and flips it in the air and checks to see if it's head or tails. He does this a few more times before he speaks again.)

Being viewed as the bad guy, can be such a burden at times. Getting death threats from complete strangers, sucks. Getting booed out of the building, is so awful. Disrespecting my opponents as much as possible before our matches, makes me feel guilty. I wish I could sign autographs and kiss babies’ foreheads and hug the obese EAW fan base that smell like cool ranch Doritos, but I can't. At Triple Threat, I wish that no matter the outcome, I could just shake Starr’s hand and respectfully bow to him. I want to be liked, man. I want those positive vibes! But — the more I think about it, the more I realize that I don't care. You see I like to do things that make me happy and kicking Starr’s dentures down his throat makes me happy. And because I'll nearly end Starr’s life and use his head as a mop to soak up his spilled blood off the mat, I know his fans will be outraged that I broke him. They'll curse at me, but I hope they don't stop there. I hope they throw their trash into the ring because it's only fitting that human garbage, Starr Stan, will already be in there, so treat it as a landfill if you must. I briefly covered this already, but being the bad guy or good guy is something I've never thought about. Not even a second’s worth because you know why? You don't? Then let me tell you! I'm just going to be me throughout my career. I'm going to stay true to myself while everybody else continues to suffer from their bipolar disorder. You said it yourself Starr, you used to act like me. You used to think you were untouchable, that you were head and shoulders better than your peers, while I know for a fact that I am. You even stuck a knife in your friend’s back and twisted it. Now you're this savior, who rides in on his white horse with his armor shining bright, attempting to force the Hexa-Gun empire to crumble. So why the mood change? Why the different outlook on life? Is it because you're genuinely this nice person or is because you found out if you smiled more and did the honorable thing, that it would lead to higher merchandise sales and more action figures being made to match each one of your stupid patriotic singlet and you would get more public appearances and more posters with your face on them? I don't care about any of that because  I'm actually authentic! And that's what causes people to despise me. They wish they could be like me. They wish they could just spill their guts and tell the truth without fearing the consequences. They wish they could stick it to their boss, like I did when I beat Ashten’s precious Starr Stan in singles competition. YOU ALL WISH YOU COULD BE ME BUT YOU CAN’T BECAUSE I’M ONE OF ONE! THERE ARE NO DUPLICATES! But back to me being this so called awful person. Which I guess I can see if you believe everything that comes out of Starr’s mouth. Listen to his words! I've been annoying him! I've been a monkey on his back! I've made his life a living hell for the past month and half, or whatever the length of time has been. You see that? Wait you don't? So you're saying that I'm the only one who can see right through his bullshit? Oh, I'm not surprised because when it comes to your American hero, you are biased towards him. The fact is, Starr started all of this. I beat him and he couldn't take it. He couldn't let his ego take such a massive hit. So what did he do?! He cost me my match a week later against Liam Catterson. Yeah hi Liam. I remember the last time I mentioned your name, you freaked out and told my “irrelevant” ass to never say your name again which is funny to me because you continue to watch all of my videos, which I can't be upset over because I am must see and point blank, entertaining. But back to you Starr, you cost me that match and in a way, that was the shot heard around the world. I'm not going to lie, when you interfered in my match it angered me and tell me Starr, did you actually believe I wasn't going to retaliate? Do you think you're above karma? Because you're not and I did what I had to do. I ruined your little love fest with Eris. Awww I ruined a special moment but if you ask me, I saved your ass because I think it's clear to me that she would have won that match, but because of my presence alone, you got a no contest instead after you couldn't get the job done during the ten minute limit. Yet I'm the bad guy right? Standing up for myself and making a mockery out of you was only right. Sorry if any of you feel differently. Not even sure why you would, but oh well. I'll shut up for a second and let you cry over your spilled milk.

(Christian sits there quietly and sarcastically twiddles his thumbs. Next he scratches his head.) 

So just to be clear, if I choose not to respect you, I'm going to automatically lose? Is that it? That doesn't even make sense to me. I don't have to respect you Starr because I simply choose not to. I don't fear your cute little suplexes or ankle lock. Because I've felt those tickles before and I was still crowned the winner. Which reminds me, you're one of those guys who can't admit defeat. “Ha you didn't really beat me because I wasn't pinned and I didn't submit, derp!” No, I won and I know that it physically pains you to admit that. Because tell me, did the ring announcer not say afterwards, “Here is your winner, CHRRRRISTIAN LOCKE!” That's right, they  did and you'll hear that same line in a few days, well if you wake up. Lastly, you act if I'm this typical rookie that wants to use this match against a legend as a stepping stone for bigger and better things, but oh how wrong you are! If you knew anything about me, you would know that I don't care or worry about the future. All I care about is the present. Therefore, I don't care if beating you somehow gets me a future world title shot and I don't even care if I get a Pain for Pride match. All I want to do is — how do I say this nicely? Oh I know, all I want to do is beat the shit out of you and you can think I'm all talk when I say that with the upmost confidence, because after all, you did in fact say I'm just all talk, but tell me, how does that thought process not set you up for failure? You think I'm just a little chihuahua with a loud bark, but no bite. That's it right? You think I'm just a little pebble stuck in your shoe and all you would have to do is shake me out, but we both know that I'm a legit threat. Just like we both know that I'm not the true underdog here, you are and its because you have clearly lost a step. You want proof? Because I'll gladly provide you some. Fact, I hired an actor that looks like you to take on Terry last week and even though that actor got his ass handed to him, people still believe it was you, so much so that they didn't realize it until I revealed the actor’s identity this past Sunday. It's just sad at this point and that's why I want to help you out by ending this tour prematurely, because let's face it, each time time you compete in a match these days, or hell, even just show your face, your dignity goes down significantly. Enough is enough man. 

(Christian begins to laugh)

The funny part is you actually believe that you still have a little over a month left in EAW. Hell I'm sure you probably have a dream of facing your best friend Devan at Pain for Pride and you'll have your little moment afterwards, but I hate to break it to you, but it's not going to happen. Why? 

(Christian clears his throat)

Because after our match at Triple Threat, Starr Stan is no more. I'll make sure of it.

(Camera fades to black)

Tag Team Warfare

Tag… Team… Warfare

Let’s focus on that middle word there, team. One which consists of myself and Cameron Ella Ava. My feelings on Cam are clear, and I’m sure the same goes for her. Almost to this day three years ago I hoisted her over my shoulders and threatened to toss her off the Showdown stage if Demon didn’t  give me the match that I wanted at Pain For Pride VI. And after he reluctantly obliged, I threw her off anyway. Ever since then Cam and I have had… it’s been… well if you’re unaware, just search it up. BUT… I want to end that here, right now… I don’t want to call a truce because that would insinuate that there’s an issue or problem that needs to be resolved.

I have no problem, I have no issue.

As long as the past remains in the past, I can move on, from it all. I’m not gonna give you an apology, I’m not gonna say that I regret anything. I’ve always lived in the moment and whatever I did at whatever time was the right thing to do. And now, the right thing to do, is for you and I to work together to anchor this team. We have a common goal, as long as we stick to that there’s no reason we shouldn’t accomplish it. I have no reason not to trust you, and I give you my word that I can be trusted.

I give that same word to Drake and Jones, I give that same word to my opponents who maybe thought this would turn into a 5 on 4 or even a 6 on 4 match, and I give the same word to EAW, no funny business.

But I don’t give it to Y2Impact, at least not before I can say this. I don’t wanna be an instigator, I’m not trying to cause turmoil within the team, but I just can’t bring myself to trust you. And if I can’t trust you I’m not going to give you my trust. It doesn’t have to do with the fact that you would turn on us, or side with the other team, my perceived issue has to do with the effort you’re gonna put in on Saturday. You won the Grand Rampage, you have a golden ticket straight to the main event of Pain For Pride… as long as you can make it. Yes, I understand that the term “Warfare” in Tag Team Warfare is a bit exaggerated, it’s not legitimate warfare, the match isn’t even under extreme rules… but in addition to you there are gonna be nine other people in that match, it’s gonna be fast paced, there’s gonna be a lot of moving parts, there’s a lot of room for error and where there’s a lot of room for error there’s a lot of room for injury. Just like that you could have your main event taken away from you. One wrong step, one bad landing and POOF, it’s gone. It doesn’t even have to be by your own doing, YOU’RE A TARGET, with you out of the picture your spot at Pain For Pride is vacated and I’m sure Brian Daniels or Cyclone would LOVE to fill that void, two men who have been in your same exact spot, Brian just last year. Or Jamie O’Hara and Cubic Zirconia Cage former World Champions in their own right, trying to get back to prominence. Everyone in EAW is lined up with a dart, looking for the bullseye throw. I’m sure nothing of what I’m saying hasn’t already gone through your head, and maybe this is all paranoia on my part, but if I were in your position, I know what I would do, and that’s why I can’t trust you.

And now excuse me as I go into a very rough, awkward transition into talking about my opponents.

There’s Jamie and Phoenix, and to avoid having to put my foot into my mouth, I’m going to leave the two of you out of it for now. So that leaves Cubic Zirconia Cage, Brian Daniels and Cyclone. And even with you Brian, I don’t have much dirt on you, I don’t think our paths have ever crossed and if they did, it was too insignificant for me to remember. Of course there’s some stuff that I could bring up, backstage stuff that is, but that would be petty, and I don’t really want to be petty… and it’s not even worth mentioning because it’s all pretty well known. Cage… oh oh my Cage, I’m gonna get to you at a later time as well, because I have A LOT to say to you.

Then… Cyclone. I still have a major bone to pick with you, two years ago you cost me the World Heavyweight Championship, and then you beat me at Pain For Pride. I could give you credit in saying you single handedly derailed my career. Cam likes to take credit in saying that she forced me to leave for a year, but after that loss at Pain For Pride, I think it’s quite clear that after that I just wasn’t the same beast. I had a few accolades after that, I was still a dominant force but there was something missing, the drive was missing. It’s as if I was operating on auto-pilot, I became very formulaic until I DECIDED to step away. I’m glad I have an opportunity to even the score, and you better believe I’m going to take full advantage of it.

I’ve got a little over a month left of my career, and I feel as if I’m sitting here swatting flies. No, more like one fly; Christian Locke. This retirement tour was supposed to be about the last stand of the legendary Starr Stan. “Last Match Ever” type fights. It seems as though that since I’ve announced my retirement all you want to do is try and ruffle my feathers. You’ve been trying to get under my skin for weeks now, and I’ll admit, it’s worked. What was supposed to be a goodbye match with my dear friend Eris LeCava turned into a shouting match with Christian Locke. What was supposed to be great, exciting matchups turned into a joke when you had a piss-poor actor fight “Two Second Terry” on Battle Ground on my behalf. The tour was never about stacking up wins before I walked out the door. I haven’t set my sights on any gold or accolades to pad my stats before I hang up the boots for good. It’s just been about enjoying my last two months of wrestling. It’s been about great matches. Speaking from myself, with disregard to management or the fans, I’ve been disappointed with not just my performance, but with the atmosphere in general over the past month. I returned to Voltage with a hot streak, yet to be pinned in months. In fact, I haven’t been pinned since Pain for Pride 8. My only true losses since then have come at the hands of my ELITE brothers; Brian Daniels by TKO and Devan Dubian by being forced to say “I Quit.” Being on the losing team at Fighting Spirit 2 didn’t change anything me. Whether I “saved” Voltage or not, I’ve known for a while that I had a timer set on my career. Fighting Hexa-gun was only a way to get back in the ring. Ashten Cross needed a leader, and I needed motivation. Losing to you, Christian, in a Grand Rampage qualifier didn’t change anything for me. I was still in the Grand Rampage despite losing that qualifier. Why? The same reason Ashten came running to find me in a dark night club while I was already practically in retirement. The same reason my face has been on posters and billboards for eight years. I am the definition of what this company strives for. For years I spilled blood for this company. The blood of my enemies, the blood of my brothers, and my own damn blood just to gain a step ahead. I’ve made my friends and foes bleed crimson red just to get my hands on championship gold. Christian you’ve “defeated” me, but you certainly have yet to prove you are better than me. You haven’t pinned me. You haven’t forced me to submit. Hell, only 2-3 guys in the world, in the history of EAW, have been able to do that. All you did was beat me on a count out. I applaud you for gaining a technical victory. I applaud you for sneaking into your first Grand Rampage. But all you’ve done for the past month, to be blunt, is annoy the shit out of me. I’m reading to roll on the retirement store but all you want to do is throw rocks at my tires. Listen, I know how these types of matches have gone over the course of my career. You come into the matchup thinking you are going to score the biggest victory of your career, because at this point, this is the biggest match in EAW thus far, whether you want to admit it or not. Whether you want to acknowledge my technical ability, achievements, or mindset is up to you. I know you’re attitude, hell I was there once myself. I thought everyone was shit compared to me. You’ve got to have confidence in yourself to get anywhere, but if you don’t respect your opponent’s ability, you’re just a fool who will be ill-prepared. If you don’t respect what your opponent can do in the ring, you’ll never be able to beat them. Maybe you’ll get a lucky count out victory. Maybe you’ll piss someone off so bad they interfere in your match to start beating your ass and give you a DQ victory. As far as I’m concerned, at this point in knowing you, Christian, you’re all talk. A good talker, but all talk none the less. You’re going to have to prove to me at Triple Threat you’re more than a cocky asshole. You’re more than dick who doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself. Because honestly, none of that matters. Your attitude will only direct the path you take to the top. Trust me, I’ve taken all the paths. When I became world champion for the first time, I was a lot like you. I thought I was better than everyone and no one deserved the world title for me. I got multiple shots at the title, and being the Olympic wrestler that I am, I thought it would be easy. I thought the title would fall right into my lap. It wasn’t after failing in multiple main event matches, that the title was literally handed to me because of a vacancy. I had got what I dreamed of but I didn’t have what it took to truly win a world championship. Fast forward over two years later, where it was more than just dreaming of being champion, it was plotting and scheming to do whatever it took to get the title. I stabbed my best friend and protégé Devan Dubian in the back, cracked the current champion John Alloy’s skull to force and impromptu title match, and pinned Dub (REAL MOTY S/O DARK DEMON) to win my second world title. Fast forward more years, and I returned to EAW after a long hiatus to win my third championship the “hero” way. I defeated all the bad guys, Dark Demon and his evil council, reigning champion Y2Impact, and I won an extreme elimination chamber despite multiple nagging head injuries. And when everyone thought I had nothing left to give, I had one more trick left up my sleeve to win my fourth world championship with the help of a debt to King Lannister at last year’s Reckless Wiring. Time after time in my career I’ve been told that I have nothing left to give to this company, that I don’t have what it takes anymore, and I’ve proved people wrong every time. This match isn’t about making you respect me, and I know you don’t care if I respect you or not, but if you can’t acknowledge and respect my ability in the ring, you’ve lost before you’ve even stepped in the ring. You’ve lost before I even get my hands on your ankle and make you tap. With your attitude, you’ve already tapped to me and you don’t even know it yet. So this isn’t about respect, it’s about getting you off my back so I can continue the culmination of my illustrious career.

The camera opens up to a sterile hospital room.  It sits spotless, almost painful to stare at in it's cleanliness.  The only thing contained within this hallowed single patient room besides a few blinking and beeping machines is a tented off hospital bed.  The oxygen tent seems out of place amidst the gleaming tools and almost unworldly technology that could pass for being never touched by man, but the tent itself is in shambles.  It's clear walls are painted with condensation, fogging the contents within.  The wall of fog grows and falls as the faintest of breathing overtakes the empty room.  The Pizza Boy steps into the doorway, dressed in his HBB leathers, sporting sunglasses, and holding the demeanor of a man inebriated as his head hangs and his eyes, even tinted by shades, try to adjust to the unnatural brightness of the room.  After gaining his bearings, he opens a nearby closet, pulls out a visitor's chair, and plops down and takes in the heaving and humming of machinery and life singing in unison, one worthless and dead without the other.

PB: One year.  I've had one year here in EAW, give or take a day.  In that time I've bled on both the outside and the inside.  I've had eye sockets broken, I've had joints dislocated, I've had my brains scrambled, and my bones shattered, but the worst pain of all was when I ruptured a lung after Mexican Samurai gave me an overextended swirly in a stadium urinal.  I spent days in a tent just like this one, forced to sit still while my head swam and my body fought for it's next painful breath.  I sat and stared at these four walls with nothing but a sheet of plastic and a glorified bicycle pump keeping me from dying.  Nobody came to visit, I mean, sure Tony and the gang came to visit and 'He' called, but nobody from EAW bothered to actually show up and keep me company.  Nobody cared if I lived or died, nobody was concerned with my future in the sport.  I'm the fluke that keeps on fluke'ing, the anomaly that's bound to be corrected by the universe.  Why not have the reaper's hand be the thing that pulled me from the business? 

Pizza Boy takes off his sunglasses and stares into the camera with fearless, unamused, tired eyes.

PB: And I came back from that, Judas.  I came back with my guts full of fire, my confused kidneys still processing 140 flavors of human urine, and my body still frail and starved for nutrients and air. Not only did I come back, but I kicked the shit out of Mexican Samurai when I did.  I'm not one to bow to a bully, no matter how...'powerful' or 'evil' he may be.  Whatever you've dished out to other men, I've taken from better men than you, bigger men too, even droves of men all at once.  There have been men who thought their blood was too good to bleed just like you, men who attacked me from behind and tried to put me down just as you're trying to put me down now.  Guess what happened to those men, Judas?

Pizza Boy cuts his eyes at the oxygen tent, then back to the camera.  His eyes widen, as if awaiting for an answer to his question to come from thin air.  When this doesn't happen, he slides his shades back on and rises to his feet and walks toward the door.  Just as he starts to exit, his hand shoots out to the side, grabbing the door frame.  He clutches it tight as his body seems to physically fight the urge to turn back around.  Without warning, Pizza Boy snaps back around and angrily charges the camera.

PB: Listen to me, you arrogant son of a bitch; I don't care what you do to me, I don't care if you break every bone in my body, I don't care if you finish knocking what's left of my jello mold brain out of my skull through my ear, I will NOT stay down,  I will NOT give up, and I will NOT let you walk away with the only thing that this company's ever given to me, you pompous prick! All you're going to get is a lesson from the kid that nobody wants to retain at Triple Threat, and that lesson's going to be that even God has a bad day, even the Devil feels pain, and even Hell isn't big enough, torturous enough, or painful enough to keep me from slicing off a pound of your flesh with my pizza slicer.  Hehehehe, you think you know pain?! You think you know agony?! You think you know my threshold for an ass kicking? Well son, let me tell you right now that the world's been kicking my ass long before Barney M. Bailey got a load of me, and there's not a damn thing you can do to my anatomy that'll surprise me.  Everyone seems to think that I'm in over my head, that the odds are against me, that I'm not supposed to win this one, but the odds don't take into consideration that I am the anomalous boy who can't die, can't lose, can't be kept down for long, and that whatever spirit I've got left for you to break is calloused harder than a blind carpenter's thumb.

Pizza Boy snaps around and points to the oxygen tent like an impassioned attorney closing his argument.

PB: You may break me, Judas.  You may beat me within an inch of my life and take another centimeter for good measure, but I can promise you that if you do, I'll have somebody in a hospital bed next to me this time and that I'll have something to snuggle up with to keep me warm inside of that oxygen tent.  It wont be just your steaming blood on my flesh keeping me warm, oh no, it'll be the EAW National Championship STILL around my waist, because by god if you can't take it from me, some night shift nurse isn't going to either!

Pizza Boy turns and grabs the chair and tosses it into the oxygen tent, knocking over every blinking and humming machine in the process.  He stands, seething for a moment, his sunglasses skewed on his nose, before turning and storming out of the room.

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, I JUST CAN'T.

THESE SOB STORIES. THESE DIRECTIONLESS ARGUMENTS. THESE EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWNS. THESE OBVIOUS STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME GO "NO WAYYY". JUST PEOPLE TRYING TO ELICIT A REACTION. ARIA JAXON IS CRYING ABOUT HOW SHE WENT THE EXTRA MILE TO CARRY HER PRACTICALLY NONEXISTENT MOMENTUM INTO THIS MATCH. AND AT THE SAME TIME, MY DEAR ERIS IS BABBLING ABOUT IRRELEVANT TOPICS FOR HOURS AND SPENT THREE MINUTES ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE MAIN EVENT! THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME!

THATS IT! IM GONNA FUCKING DIE IN THIS MATCH OUT OF FEAR ALONE... I JUST KNOW IT!

SIKE!

I'm sorry. I just felt like we needed to open up the windows for a bit and let in a little sunshine, cause it seems like I'm speaking to a bunch of fucking babies and they need their daily dose of Vitamin D. What the fuck is wrong with you people? Did this match give you cancer? Did you suddenly develop a brain tumor? Are you about to kill yourselves? I know for certain that Eris is just being her emotional self wallowing in her depression. Bipolar women tend to be unpredictable with their moodswings after all, since their emotions take their own erratic twists and turns inside their tiny little heads, and half the time, I'm convinced even she doesn't know what she's saying so I'll give her a pass. I expected you to do the same, Aria. I expected you to cut her some slack and actually stop picking on her and talk about something else other than a crazy woman's devotion to her idol. I expected you to be mature about this as you have been completely composed with everything else, but what happened? You decided to follow suit and started acting out of line, like a fucking retard, and poor HBG is forced to sit through the same cringeworthy snoozefests that you've made everyone suffer through for nearly a year now... And the worst fucking part is, you think that it actually passes as entertainment! I hope you're proud of yourself, you stupid bitch. 

It's fine. I get it, really. Aria Jaxon is talking a certain tone so the fans can see how serious she is. So fucking serious that she chooses to spend her time stating her worthless opinions as opposed to actually backing up her intentions to win the Vixens Championship. You choose to spend more of your time talking about how I'm such a despicable being, and how badly I should think twice about opportunities that I apparently don't deserve, using whatever played-out bullshit that you can come up with in order to discredit me as an in-ring performer who has continuously dominated whether it be the Vixens Division or fighting off moronic Elitists, thinking somehow we're one in the same, that there's nothing out of the ordinary with what I do, when you have neglected to look at yourself in the goddamn mirror and actually tell me with a straight face that you're intelligent enough to speak of me given your credentials. And I get it. You need your sympathy. You need some pity. You need your Cinderella Story, something that says you're not just some one-hit-wonder who happened to impress the judges "that one time" in your Empress of Elite run, especially now that you've basically gone downhill, accomplishing fuck-all except making a hollow spectacle out of winning meaningless matches enough that people around you can be happy that you're finally doing something right. You need to sound convincing, you're trying to get the audience to eat up your words like fucking candy to make yourself seem like a favorite instead of an underdog, and I don't even know where to begin telling you that I felt the same way about a month ago when I found out a week before Grand Rampage that I'm scheduled in two matches, against fifty opponents, against almost the entire EAW roster. I knew I had to be serious. I knew I shouldn't fuck around because other than the fact that one wrong move and I could sprain my ankle or break my neck and disqualify myself from the next match, or worse, put my career in jeopardy, I also have to prove that all these words that I preach about dominance and greatness I have no struggle reinforcing with actions. And that's just the thing, Aria. I put my body on the line for a great performance and for the sake of winning Championships and making history. I go an extra mile, and risk my well-being, and my teammates, and my entire fucking dream of ruling over EAW and bringing back extreme wrestling, just to prove my greatness. I never wanted people to see me as "that one vixen who competes with the elitists", I want people to see me for what I really am -- someone who does as she pleases. Every mishap once the tables turn, I'm the one to suffer. Every loss and failure, I'm the one who takes responsibility, and let me tell you, Aria, I have been taking A LOT of responsibilities as of late, because of how many matches and opportunities I have wasted whether it be my own carelessness or courtesy of every other fucking imbecile costing me, but I rise up even better because I refuse to give my opponents the satisfaction of watching me walk away thinking it was because of them. Never will it happen. And you come here and act like you and everyone else know how it is to be me when in truth, you don't even know half of it. You don't know anything, and you absolutely have no right to say that you and I are going through the same motions. Because. Aria, who are you trying to fool? You're just a dumb vixen who keeps running around in her repulsive existence, provoking the likes of Cameron Ella Ava in order to give herself the fifteen minutes of fame that she has longed for since the beginning. It doesn't matter if you lose career-defining matches, you just take it up the ass and say "Good Game, Fam!" because like everyone else, you just play it safe and take the backseat. You have no reputation to uphold. You have no passion nor drive, no pride nor royalty, because you instead decided it would be a fantastic idea to waste time getting in fights with your dumbass pedophile boyfriend, rather than staking your reputation on the line and competing for the gold to earn your stripes instead of just letting everyone paint them on you.  Your so-called "struggles" and "troubles" are nothing compared to everything I've gone through. My ambitions always come first, making history is paramount, and that's one of many things that separates me from you. And just like before, I am risking everything for the sake of my end goal. And this time, I will succeed. 

Eris. Oh, Eris. Remember when we had fun sleepovers at your apartment? We would just sit in bed and play Cards Against Humanity by ourselves when it required four players. We just laughed and giggled the night away, because we're best friends who never get bored of each other. Remember when I used to put on your make-up and test different products on you? Remember when I let you borrow a few of my dresses and they looked so fabulous  I decided to let you keep some of them, even the ones worth thousands of dollars? Oh, the times when we were just messing around and talk about the people we hate. Oh, the inside jokes we had that the rest of our Hexa-gun comrades just stared at us for. You really love me, don't you?

But... here's the problem: If you really love me as much as you say, then why did you act so fucking reckless during the Specialist Rampage? Did you not care about me anymore Eris? Did you suddenly have a change of heart and decide to let one of Team Raging Lesbians win this over me? Why were you so fucking incompetent as a partner? Why didn't you just stay out of the fucking way when you saw how critical the situation was? If you didn't make a fucking mistake, if you weren't such a fucking dumbass, we'd be celebrating together now and spending time side by side as Champions who never gave a shit about the Vixens Division. And no matter how much you apologize, or how many times you've cried in the shower thinking about what a fucking idiot you are and how badly you fucked up, it doesn't take away the fact that you made me look like a complete fool for choosing to rely on you, for believing you would do anything for me. Now look at us -- we're fighting. We're not getting along. I can't stand you, and every time you hug me or act like everything is okay, I just fucking roll my eyes because you couldn't take the hint that I'm only sticking around to collect what you owe me. Every time someone mentions your name, I fucking cringe because I just can't stand hearing it, I see you for what you are now that I've become distanced, and it's only now that I realize that out of all the mistakes I've made in my career, befriending an unreliable, ungrateful little cunt with mental issues could be the worst yet, and just when I start hating myself for it.... (laughs) I then see you talk about being Champion. I hear words. Words that warn me to bring on my A-game, words coming out of your lying whore mouth about how you love me but that you love being a Champion more, but let me ask you -- how can emotional little Eris LeCava hit me in the face with a super man punch when all she can see at first glance was her inspiration to burst out of her shell and become a different person? How can naive little Eris know how to put me, a woman that she respects and love most, out of my misery knowing that all the moves, all the skills that she has just now learned, I have already mastered? How can loyal Eris find the courage to land a kick right to my beautiful jaw, when the idea of the Heart Break Gal hurting caused her so much pain that she was willing to put everything on the line just to be forgiven? If you intend to threaten and warn me once again about how you are never going to think twice about hurting me, then you never really were true to yourself when you said you love me. You would be proving every imbecile who hated your guts right -- that you're a fraud and you're just like every other vixen who stepped in the locker room who cause nothing but drama, who would do just about anything for attention. Integrity is what makes you stand out among the others, Eris... it's your key quality. The fact that you stick to your convictions and instead of wavering in your ideals, you stand firm... And now with each maneuver you connect on me, that integrity will slowly vanish until it becomes nothing. You'd be proving that you never did love me with each moment that you resist me. I know it seems like I'm not giving you a choice on the matter, but Eris, always remember that it's YOUR FUCKING FAULT that we're in this predicament to begin with, and it's still going to be your fault you won't be Champion any longer. I'll see to it.

 
Cailin Dillon turns on a lamp and sits at a desk, opening her laptop and quickly turning on the camera. She hits record and gives it a wave. It’s an early morning but she doesn’t look sleepy. She has the fresh glow of an intense morning workout, and the gym clothes to show for it. Her hair looks tied back and messy. It’s all together a rare look at the former Specialist’s Champion.
 
Great friends and bitter enemies. That’s how this business works. You can be best friends with someone, a former friend turned rival or even their girlfriend. Eventually, it all comes to this one fact. If you want to be successful in this business, you have to beat everybody, no matter their relationship with you. So why does anyone look at me and think I could rise to the occasion and beat down an enemy, a friend, or even a lover? There’s no reason to think I can’t. There’s a reason I was a champion for as long as I was. And there’s a damn good reason it took a match where someone could win that title without having to even pin me, to make sure I wouldn’t be a champion anymore. But I’ll be truthful. This wasn’t expected. A few weeks ago, I assumed my time in the hunt for that title was over. I was given good reason to believe that. And then this, like some gift from the wrestling gods, plops down in my lap for me and gives me the chance I wanted. I always said the one thing that I was owed was a rematch. So it’s a fatal fourway, I could care less. This is the damn Specialist’s title after all, so why not a crazy ass special match. I was owed a rematch because I built this title from a laughing stock into something that people wanted. Our own current champion now sees herself as the gateway between the lower card and the upper card. When Haruna lost this title to me after a 14-day reign, no one was seeing it as anything other than a piece of metal that would be changing hands every few weeks. It had no real value. But Haruna still got the rematch immediately after she won. I thought I at least deserved the same. So here it is, then, the match I asked for nearly a month ago. The rematch. And I not only get the champion, but the other former champion and my new best friend. What a peachy change of circumstances this is. You all know my personal feelings for you, but also know this: I can be the biggest bitch you’ve ever seen when I get in that ring. I fight like I’m too damn stubborn to lose. And in matches like this, I routinely tap into reserves no one thought I even had. I can be an opponent like no other and I adapt like a chameleon. That’s why I was a champion for five months. The last month featured two costly distractions. Well there’s nothing distracting me now. I’m focused on you three like I’m a contract killer. This match will come down to one single moment when anything can happen. And in that moment, when everyone is scrambling, I’ll be the one that gets that pin. And that championship will be back where it belongs, right in my hands.
 
The funniest thing I might see all day will come from you Haruna. You don’t want to be a part of the drama you are being thrown into? You could not show up, that is an option, you know? But understand that you are a big piece of the drama in this match. This thing between you and Stephanie might never go away. And now after you show up with brass knuckles looking to hit me, and I pick them up, you’re acting like I have betrayed you in some grand way. And you’re mad that I called you a piece of shit. Well maybe you are. You always feel the need to break down someone else’s character when yours is somehow untouchable. Always with the same pathetic defense for everything you do. You always claim you have a good reason for the things you do and that somehow makes you different. If that is your real logic, then you are so naïve. Or you’re just too dumb to see the truth, blinded by that six-inch blindfold the Mexican Samurai hangs in front of your eyes. For someone who wants to talk about how much she’s disappointed in how I changed, you changed everything about yourself just to feud with Stephanie. Wah, wah, wah, our tag team didn’t work out and she left me to get hurt. And here you always talk about cleaning your hands of me. I swear I’ve heard you say you’ve moved on so many times, only to feel like we’re right back in this same place where you seem hesitant to go one way or the other. This is what you always wanted. You always wanted me to be your next Tarah Nova, the rival you’d fight with when the prizes were on the line. You wanted to hate me like you hate her, but you couldn’t, and even now you want to hate me just for being friends with her, and you’re struggling on that edge not knowing which way to take. Every time I imagine your thought process I just sense you walking up to this road with so many directions ahead. Most of them are the right way to go, but you consistently take the same two paths. You either head down the safe path that doesn’t get you anywhere, or you head down the wrong path. I can just see the big smile on your face still from our match at Battleground. You’re upset because you feel like I’m someone else all because I picked up a weapon you brought to the match. Well you won that time and got your precious shot at that title you want back. But you failed, again. Why should I expect anything different this time? Oh, that’s right, I shouldn’t. Please come try to shut me up like you’re always threatening to do. You’re great at making threats, I’m the one that delivers.
 
Stephanie, what can I really say about you? You truly have accomplished something special so far. You managed to survive that match at Grand Rampage and win after Haruna made a complete ass of herself in the ring. And then we all know how that first title defense went. Oh, I understand that you’re mad at that one apparently? Not sorry for what I did. I will never be sorry for anything I say or do because I live in the moment when it comes to that, not the past. That’s just that competitive nature inside of me. I do what I feel is right at that moment. It’s not so calculated or premeditated that we can sit here and act like I’m out to destroy your legacy as champion, but that legacy, to me personally, is very strange anyways. After everything I had proven with that title, I think you can agree it would mean something far different if you actually pinned me for it. Hell, even if I had been in the last three and you had managed to be the one to eliminate me. I was prepared to fight you then, I’m prepared to make you bleed now. You think Aria is the only one who has that ability? You think Eclipse is the only one who savors seeing that blood flow. After all, what’s that gold title without a little crimson flowing over it? Yes, you are the champion and I’m not taking that away from you, until this weekend I mean. But we continue to show the fragility of this baby of yours. I don’t know what you wanted Formation to be with the three of us, and maybe it’s my fault. You’re a champion now and Aria could be a champion by the end of this weekend. Do you really think I would just happily take that third seat in the back and skip around all giddy while you two hold all the gold? Am I supposed to just accept that my time has come and gone and I need to step into this role as your support unit? You know me too damn well to expect me to ever accept anything less than fighting at the top level. I’ve always been this competitive and it was part of the reason you grew so close to me in the first place. We are both willing to go to the ends of the earth to be the best in this business, but I’m always will to go that one step further and go past the threshold. There was a time when you might have grabbed my hand and jumped over that with me. Now I feel you trying to pull me back and make me stand in line. All I can picture is me turning and flipping you right on your back. When you and Aria fought to blood nothing changed between you, but why do I feel like it won’t be the same between us? When I fight you and take something so precious to you, I can already see that look of betrayal in your eyes. I wasn’t angry at you at Grand Rampage, I was angry at myself. I was angry at the circumstance. When you walked down the street and flashed that title at me like you were boasting… that pissed me off. That made me want to take that title right back, no matter your feelings about it.
 
How interesting that they would pit us against each other, am I right Tarah? You and I both understand what we’re capable of both together and against each other, but do these other two? Do they really? The bond that has grown between us has been incredible; I’d dare say we’ve become inseparable. But even Harley and Ivy had their differences. Let’s chalk this one up to fun. We’re just two maniacs bordering on psychotic and we have no issues with bringing a little unorganized chaos to the ring. I can only imagine what’s on your mind as you enter this one. You hate Haruna, Stephanie annoys the hell out of you, and then there’s me. And on top of it all, the chance to become the first person to have held both the Vixens and the Specialist’s titles. But then there’s what’s on the line with me. New goal, no self-limitations. I don’t care who the champion is or what title it is. Why would anyone ever place a cap on what they can accomplish. I’m not going to ever again. So even when I stand in that ring across from the great Tarah Nova, the woman that was the seemingly unbeatable champion when I walked into this company last summer, my confidence will be unwavering. After this match, even after we absolutely beat the hell out of each other, I know we will still be friends. That’s the only certainty in this match of so many uncertainties. Because you expect me to come in at my best and you’d be disappointed if I didn’t. And I feel the exact same way when it comes to you. But at least keep this in your mind Harls, when it comes to winning this match I am ever bit the Poison Ivy you have always coined me to be. If I have to poison this whole earth to get back to where I belong, I will. I’ve never gotten the chance to fight you like this, but I’ve been on your side time after time. I look forward to the chance to stand across from you and see who’s at their best this weekend. This match might only be in the pre-show, but I guarantee we can steal the show.
 
It’s been quite the surprise to find out I will be fighting for the Specialist’s title this week, but the booking gods are shining down on me. They won’t be disappointed for tabbing me as a challenger for the belt that I built into something no one knew it could ever be. I have old friends, my best friend and my girlfriend as opponents, but when we all step into that ring together everything will change. No amount of love or hate between any of us will be the difference in this match. Grand Rampage might have been a let down, and my match against Haruna on Battleground was a crazy clusterfuck. This will change everything. This will start to make everything make sense again. I will right the world at Triple Threat. And I will steal the show. They put this match on the pre-show? What a shame. I suggest all the fans get their asses in the seats early, because this match will be unforgettable. There’s a reason they call me Slaylin. I hope none of you have forgotten that. If you have, well, you’re about to get a lesson in exactly why I earned that nickname. Friends, enemies, EAW fans… I’m about to shake things up again. Don’t believe me? Allow me to prove you wrong at Triple Threat. Don’t make me tell you I told you so.
 
Cailin ends the recording and posts the video before opening a drawer at her desk and pulling out a key. She holds it and twirls it between her fingers for a moment before smiling. Cailin brings the key down to her pocket and stands up to leave. She turns off the desk lamp as the scene fades out.

It's funny, it honestly is. Who are you, Cameron Ella Ava? Some dumb bitch that decided to get caught up in the mix between Cerberus and Drake and Jones? You're supposedly the "best" vixen that this company has had to offer for recent date, but you're not even worthy of shining the boots of The Heart Break Gal. If we're talking about the greatest vixen in this company, I can admit that she's it. She's worked for her spot in this company, while you were fending off the likes of Scott Diamond. Scott Diamond? That's your highlight of YOUR career --- you defeated a broken man for a championship you never deserved, and you stole his Hall of Fame ring. And that's where Cameron Ella Ava began her "great" with elitists, and broke out of the vixens. That's the prime of Cameron Ella Ava, feeding off the weak, and cowering from the strongest vixen division this company has witnessed in YEARS. And your EAW Interwire Championship? That's as forgettable as your presence in this match. But that categorizes in the same way that you got a predictable victory over Scott Diamond; you conquered a broken man. Guess what? I'm not broken, I'm not fragile, and I'm not afraid to pierce your temple with one kick of the boot, and the rest after. I would rather cripple you, then you eliminate ANYONE from my team. Or maybe this bitterness you're feeling toward me winning the Tag Team Championships, was because of your deplorable performance in the Grand Rampage. Are you frustrated with yourself? You made an alliance with Dark Demon, and he tossed your ass out the first chance he got. I'm happy he did. I would despise to live in the world where Cameron Ella Ava would be going around, gloating about her marvelous Grand Rampage victory. We wouldn't hear the end of it; "I'm going to be the first woman to win the World Championship!" --- you're the least likely female on this roster to go that far. Aria Jaxon would be better off living up to that mantle. You throw this bitch a bone, and she'll drool all over it, and swallow it whole. I wouldn't put it past myself to forget each and every member that Drake and Jones have managed to recruit. The redeeming member of their team is easily Y2Impact, and not even one of the greatest elitists can save their lives. I'm honestly starting to mourn for the scraps that Drake and Jones had to muster up, they want to call this a "team"?

If this is what they have to offer, by all means... this will be a victory earned with ease. But don't forget that I don't scratch and claw for my victories. I don't deserve the positions I'm at, because Cameron believes there's all one big conspiracy --- where Brian Daniels, a man who was thought little of, now performs at the greatest level he's ever competed at. BUT... BUT. This is the same man who's blatantly afraid of some mafia gang, who's stolen his World Heavyweight Championship! Oh woe is me, the big bad Scott Oasis strikes fear in me, even though he begs, HE PLEADS FOR ANOTHER MAN'S SAFETY! Are you that deluded, Cameron? Are you THAT full of yourself? There's a time and place for everything, I've decided to move onto achieving other accomplishments, before I go extend the longest reign in history. That same reign that surpassed your "it's complicated" relationship; Dark Demon's. I have nothing to fear, I have no reason to tremble. You're a vivid joke, and I'm enjoying the view, while kicking back, and laughing at your pitiful attempt to poke fun at me. You can slander my name, you can slander my team, and you can slander my achievements, but this will get you nowhere. And what ices the cake, she questions our team as a unit --- not just Cerberus, but the entirety of it. I said it once, and I'll happily repeat myself. Your team is as dysfunctional as your thought process going into this match. You're aligning yourself with two misogynists, a man who've you committed theft against, and Y2Impact who wouldn't think twice about acknowledging your existence in your team, or in Elite Answers Wrestling as a whole. What makes your team so superior to ours? We all have our ups, and we've all experienced how low the down can be, but we've always managed to pick ourselves back up, and fight on. It doesn't take an EAW Championship to motivate Jamie O'Hara to wrestle better than you ever would. It doesn't take Diamond Cage to be a frenzied animal to be better than you. It doesn't take being the underdog like Phoenix Winterborn to be greater than you. And it certainly doesn't take reforming your entire career like Cyclone is... to surpass anything you've accomplished. In fact, this will be easily the most effortlessly fought war we've ever waged, and it's going to be bitter sweet to the poorly built wall to keep us out, crumble at our own hands.

The camera opens on Pizza Boy kneeling at a table of votive candles just inside a chapel's breezeway between the pulpit and the congregation hall.  Lain in front of him, at his knees, lies a fairly polished and pristine EAW National Championship that's so buffed and glistening that the light of the near hundred tiny beeswax candles reflects on it's face, making it look ethereal and sanctimonious for the first time in Pizza Boy's ill-fated reign.

PB: It looks like our destinies are set in stone, Judas.  We meet at Triple Threat 3 in an Extreme Rules Match, and personally I'd have it no other way.  I kind of feel bad for you though.  You think you're an infallible monster that can't be touched, especially by some pipsqueak delivery boy turned wrestler whose half your weight and size.  The sad reality is that none of that matters.  No matter how hard you train, no matter how far you go, no matter who you impress or what you accomplish, it all goes out the window when the rules don't apply, but you'll learn this the hard way wont you? You'll learn when I show you your own blood, when I chop you to your knees and slice into your forehead with my trusty pizza cutter.  It's all because the world's not a fair place, Judas.  It's not fair when someone dies young, leaving a family behind in their wake.  It's not fair when you try your hardest to impress someone, only for them to leave you high and dry.  It's not fair when a boy like me makes a man like you beg, but it's also not fair when a little guy like me gets jumped from behind every time he starts to get ahead in this world! Every roadblock, every abandonment, every setback that's been visited upon me is going to be taken out on you Judas.  Heh...and you think you got a taste on Dynasty? That's not even a modicum of what I deal with on a daily basis! I've had my bags thrown in the hallway, I've been carried out of locker rooms like a child! I've been forced to fight women, to fight fans, to fight anybody who'd be up for it because nobody wanted to face the little green kid who got suckered into a contract! THEY LIKE ATTACKING ME, ALRIGHT! BUT THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT A FAIR FIGHT!

Pizza Boy hops to his feet and flips the table of tiny tea candles to the floor, surprisingly not igniting anything in the process or extinguishing that many. He paces around, biting his hand as he walks the length of his EAW National Championship like a caged tiger.  He reaches down, snatching up the still speckling and spotless belt and holding it up with his thumb and middle finger, holding it out in front of him like a parent changing it's first child's diaper.

PB: I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS BURDEN, JUDAS!  I didn't ask for your or anybody else's attention, but apparently when destiny comes a' knockin', it can be a mugger waiting to take everything away from you and replace it with a ten pound cross to bear for a man who doesn't even return your calls!  Destiny's made me the used tissue to a prepubescent boy who still feels like he's got something to prove to his old lady.  He used me to rub one out and then he just...he just left.  You hear that? You're fighting His jizz rag! Aren't you proud? Aren't you honored? Aren't you special?!  Yeah, I don't want this belt, but you clearly do Judas and that's all that matters to me at this point.  If I can do anything to hurt you I will because apparently it's my destiny to do so.

PB walks across the fallen candles, cracking them under his feet and extinguishing their flames with the sole of his boot.  He picks one up, blows it out, closes his eyes for a moment, and then rekindles it with a match.  He puts it on the stain glass windowsill and turns back to the camera.

PB: I'll be praying for you, Judas.  I'll be praying because it's literally the least I can do.  I'll do it because it's the most hollow and heartless thing a person can do for someone in need, someone they don't know how to help, someone who has zero chance of making it out of their current situation mentally or physically intact.  It's the religious 'I'm sorry', you can say it all you want but it wont do anything to help.  I'll pray for you to a god whose went home with his leather chaps in his carry on and his wrestling boots left in the ring as the only proof that he ever existed.  He wont listen.  He never does, but considering you have no chance in hell of walking away from our encounter, I might as well try and put a word in for you with the nursing home resident you'll probably be splitting tapioca pudding with.

PB stands silently in effigy with his head bowed, before shaking his head, as if trying to get water out of his ear, blowing out the candle and storming off past the cameraman, mumbling under his breath.

PB: ...Hell, what's the point...

The camera lingers on the snuffed out candle for a moment longer as it's black smoke turns lighter by the moment and it's amber wick turns from orange, to glowing brown, and back to black again.

I can feel the pit of my stomach burn as I twist and turn at night. Sleepless nights have turned into agonizing mornings. Mornings that have become eternal. The clock says a minute has barely passed by but I swear I’ve been laying in this bed for years. I feel like I fell into a trap that makes everything go into slow motion. I can feel my body deteriorate in this bed as the clock ticks away. I sometimes wonder whether I know what’s truly best for me. I’m torn between allowing the love of my life finally achieve her goal of becoming a four time Vixens Champion or to defend my title successfully and go on to Pain for Pride as the champ. All of my life I’ve been dreaming of that day – walking into one of the biggest events of our business as one of the key Vixens people paid to see, as the Vixen everyone envied. As the Vixen who had one of the most prestigious titles wrapped around her waist. I want to be that Vixen – actually no, I AM that Vixen. I’ve held this title for six months, half a year. For six months, 27 weeks, 189 days I successfully put my name into the record books. No one can deny that I’ve had a monumental first year in EAW. I came into this company with the outer exterior of a newby but I had the heart and mind of a veteran.  Years of studying how this business works gave me the advantage. A lot of other Vixens sign up so they can have a taste of what it feels like to be someone important in life for fifteen minutes. They come into the wrestling business blind sighted – without a clue in the world as to what the hell they’re getting themselves into. I knew exactly what I signed up for, I knew what was coming. I knew that I had to go through pain in order to experience joy. Others don’t realize that you have to make so many god damn sacrifices when kicking ass is part of your occupation. Months without seeing your loved ones, nights of excruciating pain due to various injuries, the list just goes on and on. But now that I think about it, none of that mattered to me. This company, this title – this is my LIFE. I live, breathe, eat sleep wrestling! I’ll be the first to admit that I’m nothing without EAW and I will go into obscurity I lose my title. All the hard work that I’ve done will be for nothing and I am NOT ready for that to happen.
 
 I knew that I was going to achieve success in EAW despite the other talented individuals in our roster. My wrestling skills, my talent is what gave me the drive - it’s what motivated me to continue forward. And someone else who gave me the motivation to go forward in life is … The Heart Break Gal. HBG has done so much for me. I don’t know how many times I have to say this but if it wasn’t for HBG, I wouldn’t be here right now. I probably would’ve lost my title due to me having some sort of panic attack and vacating the title all together in my second week as champion. Even though it’s been a very heated debate – Hexa-Gun was the greatest thing that had ever happened to me. It showed me how to be a real wrestler. It showed me how to deal with people who just won’t get out of your way. It showed me how to stand my ground even though the entire world is against you. It taught me to be fearless and relentless. It taught me how to be a champion. A REAL champion. Not some pathetic excuse for one like Maddie, or any other irrelevant parasite that has held this title before me. I am a better, wiser person than I was six months ago and it’s all due to one glorious, beautiful woman.
 
I can hear their clean, crisp voices already. Insulting me, berating me, doubting my intelligence. Doubting my state of mind. People have the right to voice their opinions, but they don’t have the right to constantly criticize my every move. I was bombarded with calls from my manager, my family members and even former roommates when they heard what I told HRDO on Dynasty. HBG being added to the Triple Threat match was the best thing that could ever happen. People don’t understand that if I do lose on that sacred night, someone equal if not better will have that title secured safely. Someone like Aria Jaxon doesn’t deserve to have her big meaty claws all over my title. I don’t even know why she was granted to be in this match in the first place. Aria, I hope you know that I meant every single word I said on Dynasty. You shouldn’t be in this match because I can’t see why you’d even qualify as a candidate. What have you done that’s been so prestigious? The beginning of your career was very hot and heavy I’ll give you that but after your loss to Maddie, of all people, you went downhill. You had a meaningless feud with Cameron Ella Ava, big whoop. You tried to follow in HBG’s footsteps by interjecting yourself into the inter-gender tag team scene with what’s his name and even failed at that. You couldn’t make yourself relevant among management so you had to rely on the brainless fans to bring you up constantly. EAW management knows that you’re a dollar sign molded as a person. You bring big money to events with your huge following and there’s no denying that. So why not put you in the main event? This is already a huge match to begin with so adding Ms. Jaxon to the mix just granted the higher ups an all-expense paid trip to the Bahamas. How does it feel, Aria? How does it feel that your ass kissing just bought you a free ride to the big times? How does it feel knowing that your talent had absolutely nothing to do with it? How does it feel knowing that without your fans you’re literally nothing? Must sting, doesn’t it?
 
Even though we’re vastly different, I see a similarity between you and I, Aria. You see, in the first few months of my career I had the EAW Universe eating from the palm of my hand. I had people dress up like me at live events, hundreds of signs were plastered all over the audience that were specially directed towards me. The fans brought me to new highs and I will admit – they gave me that extra push I needed in order to get into the Vixens title scene. But here’s where the difference comes into play. The moment I joined Hexa-Gun the entire following that I had turned their backs on me. I saw my merchandise destroyed on social media. I saw insults that have stuck with me to this day. It changed my life completely. It changed my perspective on everything. Even though I was public enemy number one, I still managed and came out on top. I didn’t need THEIR help, it showed me that I didn’t need anyone. The only person I had to rely on was myself. You don’t have that option, Aria. The moment EAW turns their back on you, you’ll disintegrate into nothing. You’ll fall into obscurity and it won’t be your fault, really! That’s just what happens when they try to make untalented models into wrestlers. You just have to be born with this certain trait that makes you not look like a fucking moron in the ring. And not to mention, not make you sound like a moron on the mic. As I said before, no need to beat yourself up about it, Aria! You can always turn into trashy reality television if this whole wrestling thing doesn’t work out. Hooray for options, right?
 
As for my lovely Heart Break Gal, you know that I would do anything in the world for you. I will take a bullet for you, HBG! That’s how much I care for you. Although, I have to let you know that I was serious when I said that it was going to be a fair game at Triple Threat. If there’s one thing that I love more than you, it’s being champion. I love having the vixens title in my possession. I love being the woman every new Vixen looks up to. This match is so important to me that I even added that stipulation as the cherry on top of this glorious ice cream sundae. I’m serious about winning and I’m also serious about our relationship. I’m sure you can understand, right? Of course you can. You’re a wise, intelligent being. You know that we have to make sacrifices in life in order to get what we want. I’m willing to put everything in the line…
 

Despite my troubles, despite my worries – the world carries on moving forward. Mornings turns into afternoons, afternoons turn into nights and the cycle continues. My reign isn’t going to stop this Saturday. I came out victorious in the previous triple threat match I was in. This match will be no different. Bring you’re A-game, ladies. You’re gonna need it.

If you want to take a look at the biggest perennial loser in EAW then take a step forward and look at Lucian Black, the man who has had shot after shot and continues to fall short with the best of them; being known as the measuring stick of failure within our company. Vegetables only have a certain amount of shelf life before they have to be thrown away and replaced by a new batch of fresh greens, so how long is Lucian Black's shelf life before he finally realizes that he is nothing more than a pile of waste that is taking up the spot of better, younger talent such as myself? What did you get for single-handedly saving Dynasty from the reigns of Zack Crash besides never getting the opportunity to be the representative that the brand needs? You've had how many chances to be a leader in a time in which the Dynasty roster is at its weakest and you've failed to live up to the expectations of so many that see you as one of the top elitist in the company. I would never do anything like that in the eyes of the Millennials who watch me week in and week out dominate the very best competition. When I'm expected to win, I do it dominant fashion and when I'm expected to lose, I overcome the odds and surprise everyone with my tenacity and heart. I'm pretty much the anti-Lucian.

I don't hate you, and I don't like you. I never would have thought that we would be randomly put together in a match against one another, because we are on such a different path towards Pain For Pride.  The sky is the limit for me, but who knows exactly what you will be doing... I mean... weren't you the outright favorite to win Pain For Pride? It wasn't surprising that you would completely choke and end up losing once again in an event that you were heavily favored to win. It's no longer surprising, it's just sad and I'm sure that all the fans are sick of the payoff that is never going to happen, but it isn't because you are overlooked... it's because you are just not good enough to carry that world championship and lead EAW into a new era.  No, even people like you don't deserve to carry the torch that has been destined to me since the day that I stepped foot into the arena. How could you do so much within this company while achieving so little? I've done more in my nearly one year with the company than you have done within how many?  

I won't pull a Lucian Black. Welcome to the New Millennium.

-------------------------------------------

Samurai: Where the hell is Haruna?

Alex paced back and forth in his gym as he waited impatiently, still pondering where Haruna Sakazaki was. The two were suppose to meet up to spar at 2:00 PM and it was now 3:15, Samurai had very little patience for people that were late but his mind also slipped into thoughts of jealousy as he contemplated what Haruna was up to.  It was 3:30 when Haruna Sakazaki walked into the building.

Samurai: Oh, so now you finally come?

Haruna was taken aback and rolled her eyes in Samurai's direction.

Haruna: Who you think you are? You are not my father, so why scold me as if I'm a kid? I don't have a curfew.

Samurai started to take off his gloves and threw them down onto the floor.

Samurai:  I've sat here and waited patiently for you for over an hour, and you expect me to be calm about this situation, considering that I sat on my ass doing nothing while you took your sweet ass time?

Haruna: You should have left...

Samurai: Left? LEFT? I'm trying to help you. I'm taking my time out of my busy schedule in order to help you train and I have to sit around and wait for the sweet, little princess to take her time?

Haruna got closer and got up to Samurai's face and pointed a finger right at Samurai.

Haruna: It my business what I do and not yours. I train with Sanitorium for my upcoming fight against Formation and it took a little bit longer than expected. So don't go around yell at me about show up late because I train extra hard.  

Samurai: Is my training not good enough!?  

Haruna: You expect me to only train with you?

Samurai: Those other people don't believe in you the same way I do!

Haruna: So now I can't do anything else?

Samurai: I...

Samurai didn't say anything as he stormed away, as Haruna stomped the mat and shrugged her shoulders as he cussed in Japanese.  Haruna grabbed her bags and picked them up and started heading to the front door, but as she was about to get to the front door, she suddenly felt a pair of arms reach from behind hold her from the waist. It was Samurai as he turned her around and sighed while patting her on the head.

Samurai: I'm sorry, I'm being a really big, jealous idiot.

Haruna: I know, baka!

Samurai: You should be able to train with who you want and when you want especially when it's an important match against the person who screwed you over on Dynasty.  I overreacted because I care about you so much that I want to be the most important person in your life.  

Haruna looked surprising and smirked.

Haruna: You are an important person or else I wouldn't come to train with you. Why do you think I would leave you and go learn with someone else?

Samurai impulsively grabbed the hands of Haruna and came in closer.

Samurai: Your important to me as well.

Alex and Haruna didn't say anything just staring into each other's eyes, as Samurai gave a little smile as they slowly came together inch by inch, noses almost touching.... heads tilting and eyes closing.... Alex could feel Haruna's shallow breathing on his neck as their lips drew only inches apart getting closer and closer and....

Suddenly Eclipse Deimos and The Sanatorium come walking in through the front door as Samurai and Haruna open their eyes and quickly adjust themselves.  

Haruna: Ehh~~!

Haruna pushes Samurai away from her face and Samurai quickly turns around to hide his embarrassment over the situation.

Haruna: *Ahem* Oh I forgot! I brought the Sanitorium in to help train you for your upcoming match against Lucian Black on Monday she said as she readjusted her composure.

Samurai: Oh...

Samurai looked down and turned around forcing a smile on his face.

Samurai: Cool....

Voicemails. Eclipse laughed softly to himself as he thought of the concept of them, his fingers sliding along the keypad as he dialed. A walmart brand tracfone. He preferred the feeling of genuine buttons to press, instead of just feeling a touchpad. Every here and there it was nice to just press the button down, feel its weight. He smirked as he heard the phone ring, listening to it go a few times before it sent him to voicemail. The little ditty that it played lightened his heart slightly as he heard it, glancing towards the screen before putting it on speaker. He hummed to himself setting the phone gently down on the table as he walked around it studying it before he heard the familiar call tone beep.


“Hello Formation. Aria, Stephanie, little sister Cailin. I’m so happy we get to talk like this. Oh, you can thank Aria for how I got this number by the by, great trick with home phones. It’s a shame I couldn’t meet you all in person because I do so dearly like the idea of doing so. I mean after all, you all are so precious to me. Each of you. Truly. It’s like an estranged family, all who hate the other half because of their....closeness. That tends to be the insult with everyone else, except for you. See, everyone else likes to point at us and mock us for our own unity. Our own brand of family is so foreign to them that they choose to degrade what makes us separate. What makes us unique in that regard. See, that’s the beauty of who we are. That’s the beauty of all of you as well honestly. No matter how different you each are, you all are very close to each other. Hell, Stephanie is dating my little sister, and dear sweet Aria you are like the adopted sibling who refuses to be a part of the family. I feel so close to you all. So close in fact that I can almost feel the anger that you all have against me over the phone. Hmm...this machine may time out my message. Let me keep going.


Ah, that’s better. Back to what I was saying, this whole idea of you all being together it reminds me of something. A song. I know you all don’t listen to the music that I listen too, but I wonder, do you all ever listen to Seether? They have an amazing song with the lead singer of Evanescence...and it reminded me of you all. Broken. Beautiful song. The lyrics of the chorus see...it reminds me of what is happening with your little family...and of what is going to happen to them after Battleground. Because I can smell the change in the wind. It’s coming. Stephanie’s hands are already soaked in blood...she’s already drifting. Do you understand, Formation? Tarah is the reason why she is starting to drift, and she will continue to drift until she falls into the darkness. Cloud, will become the raging typhoon that I know she is inside. And the blood on her hands, will be because of the darkness that you all try to deny. For...she is broken. Cailin. Your attempts to win her back have only driven a further wedge in between, and you have a poisonous snake whispering in your ear, telling you these things that you let seep inside of your mind with no concern. You don’t listen to them. You just ignore them. Tarah is poisoning you, sweet sister. She’s turning you away from the light that you shared. Broken. Aria. Try as you might to stem the tides of darkness, you will only succeed in falling further and further into it. You will only taste the defeat time after time, until all that is left is the darkness. Broken. That’s the truth. That’s the truth that I am trying to get you all to see. And in the end...with Tarah Nova, the vixen who seeks a throne that she sat upon unchallenged. A vixen who will do nothing to forge the unity with Formation, and will only tear it down because she believes her own venom is an antidote.

Sorry. It cut me off again. A shame about voice messages. Hmm...I’m missing someone. Haruna. The tsundere that is just as involved in this as we are. Rest assured I don’t care about her as much as I do about all of you. She is here for a blood feud, to destroy you all. I am here to save you. I hope that I can curb her rages but...well...I do believe that anger is very therapeutic. She is hurt beyond repair. She is broken. And I will not be the one to fix her, I have no interest in it. A man who has much more patience than I will do it. Me personally? I think that if she spills Stephanie’s blood that she will simply drift into a darkness that even I dare not tread. An uncontrolled one. One that is beyond my realm of thought. So...oh dear. This is going to cut me off again. This is much shorter than I thought it would be but here, let me break this all down for you. What I do on Battleground, is for your own good. I am here to help you. I am here to save you all, from yourself. Whether or not you take my hand, you will be saved. You are all...broken. Yet...I know the pieces fit. I made them fall away after all. Goodnight, little sisters. Sweet dreams.”

Ever since I received this belt that I hold proudly over my shoulder things have been quite skewed. I'm forced to fight my friends, I'm surrounded by enemies, and the devil's favorite son patiently awaits my breaking point. Sometimes I feel like an outsider in my own circle of companions...but trust and believe that won't stop us from getting the win on Monday. I stated over and over Haruna that I had nothing to do with what happened last night. Cailin acted out of her own accord with Tarah in tow. But oddly enough as much as I want to feel sorry for you...I don't. Honestly, why the hell should I!? You spat in Cailin's face. You screwed her out of a rematch. You disrespected Lauryn. You screwed me out of the Vixens Cup. And...you cost me the Vixens Championship. So tell me Haruna...

WHY THE *BEEP* SHOULD I GIVE A *BEEP* ABOUT YOUR TEARS!?

Why? Why!? I don't condone Cailin and Bucky's actions, but you get no sympathy from me Haruna, no  candy whatsoever. You made your bed of shit...lie in it. Lie in your filth you passive aggressive, flea bag ridden, poor excuse for a joshi! 

And before you start grinning like a Cheshire cat, keep in mind that you're on my shit list too Eclipse Diemos. You made the biggest mistake provoking Formation. You don't see it yet...but you will when I'm standing over you in the middle of the ring. Cailin can have Haruna...Tarah can take on Maddie...and Aria can slay Alexis. The only one I want is you Eclipse. This game of puppetry ends Monday night. I have a title reign to focus on and quite frankly your interference has become  distraction for me. The momentum of you losers was stopped the moment DEDEDE and friends put you all in your place. Poking at Aren won't do you any favors either. You want to rule as king Eclipse? Then prepare for war.

The battle lines have been drawn. See you jokers on Monday.