BATTLEGROUND PROMO #1

"THE REINCARNATION"

---The scene opens in the hood somewhere in Detroit, Michigan where there is kids playing in the streets and a lot of people smoking and many groups of guys hanging out seperately and Terry Chambers enters the scene walking in the road not giving a fuck about anything while cars are honking their horns for him to get out of the road and then Terry Chambers starts going insane as he hears voices in his head echoing "TERRY IS A SELLOUT...SELLOUT...SELLOUTTT", "TERRY CHAMBERS IS THE JOKE OF EAW", "TERRY CHAMBERS IS A SHELL OF HIS FORMER SELF...SELF...SELFFF" and Terry Chambers then throws himself against a brick wall acting mental and envisions once again his two second elimination at Grand Rampage then bangs his head on the brick wall and feels no pain and the cameraman asks for comments scared for his life and Terry turns around slowly and has a deep stare into the camera as his head is busted wide open then walks over to the cameraman and then throws the cameraman into the brick wall, he then picks up the camera and begins speaking---

Terry Chambers: Something you notice different about me? Tell me right now! Everybody over the past two months have told me repeatedly that I am am a joke and I don't belong in a place where I paved the way for most of the extremists who have been world champion already, and most importantly, people kept saying that I am not the same dominant force I was years ago when I was rising and on the horizon riding off my Pain for Pride 7 win! I guess Hollywood will do that to you! You see, over that time span I was just in denial because they were absolutely right! Because I kept losing match after match after match yet I kept denying it because I was rich and successful and had everything minus the EAW world title! Then came last Sunday night......a night where I not only shamed my family, the wrestling industry, but I also shamed myself when I was eliminated in two fucking seconds in the Grand Rampage match...TWO FUCKING SECONDS! Then I go in and I get thrown over again...then when I got backstage....it finally deemed on me that  I am not the Barbaric Carnivore and that I am not Gods Gift to Wrestling, then.......something awoke inside of me! Something that is extremely dangerous that can not only end careers, it can end lives within the snap of my fingers! And that is what led me here to the mean streets of Detroit and I am in the middle of the hood! You want to know why I am in the middle of the hood? Because right here is where I grew up and became the badass I was, beating kids up who were 10 years older than me who have been to jail and sent kids to the hospital if they wanted to mess with me, the point is this is the place where my path started to becoming a badass machine and when I left Detroit I took that intensity with me as I DOMINATED the wrestling world city by city, state by state, and country by country and even was on my way to becoming EAWs top draw before I sold out to Hollywood for the cash! That was the biggest mistake not only in my career but in my LIFE! I bought in to the Hollywood movie star lifestyle and it softened me up! And I thought I could come back and pick up where I left off but that was not the case as I lost match after match after match then got eliminated in two seconds at Grand Rampage! So I dropped my Hollywood personality and I am going to be more vicious than you have EVER seen me! People always asked me what happened to the Terry Chambers who was the dominating force back in the NEO days, is he ever coming back? Then somebody asked me again the other day and I threw him 25 yards up the sidewalk and I said loud and clear, "HE NEVER LEFT...HE WAS JUST SLEEPING!"

---Terry Chambers puts the camera down and the camera is facing torwards the sky and you can hear in the distance the cameraman crying for help as Terry is stomping on him and tossing him into the wall then Terry picks up the camera and zooms in on a unconscious bloody cameraman laying on the ground then Terry wipes some of his blood off the cameraman's forehead and smirs the blood all over his white tanktop as he chuckles then begins to speak into the camera again---

Terry Chambers: And speaking of NEO, I will go one on one with a old foe who was one of the victims of my rampage in NEO and EAW at that time this week on Battleground and he is none other than...The Nas! This guy hasn't changed one damn bit since the last time I seen him in the wrestling ring! The only good thing I can say about Nas is he is a tremendous trash talker, I mean I am talking about the best of the best, but guess what Nas.....I don't talk trash...Because I take out the trash this week on Battleground when I run right through you and make a example out of you to send a message that the REAL Terry Chambers is back and he is hungry...he is hungry to inflict pain on others.....he is hungry for success...he is hungry to be the very best! The last time I seen Nas, it was right here in the state of Michigan in Michigan stadium at the biggest show of them all, Pain for Pride 7 when I walked in with my Young Lions Cup pretty much on top of EAW as I was rising quickly, and i defeated not only him, but Monstro in a triple threat match! I destroyed him in that match and in the end I didn't even break a sweat as I pinned him one...two...three in the center of the ring and I stood tall with the Young Lions Cup in hand and had my first ever Pain for Pride moment...and I intend on having bigger and better moments than that while the Nas just looks to intend to see if his joke this week can top the one that he made last week! Nas said stepping into the ring with him will make my "monkey ass" famous...well I made him famous at Pain for Pride and this week on Battleground I will make him famous by him being known as the guy who was Terry Chambers first victim! Nas was the last opponent I had when I had any sort of relevance, and this week on Battleground, I start where I finished as I become relevant once again!

---Terry Chambers throws the camera as hard as he can down at the cameraman's face then walks off and you can hear the ambulance and police arriving on the scene as the camera dies and the scene fades to black---

---The camera pans around a room that is very dim lit, a lot of cobwebs all over the place, the camera pans over to Nemesis wearing some sloppy looking clothes which look to have blood stains all over them, he has red streaks incorporated into his facepain which appears to respresent the blood of each of his opponents in the battle royal---


JJ Silva you talk about over confidence like you are some kind of expert, you made some valid points yeah it is good to be confident, it may also be bad to be over confident. In my case I am not showing confidence I am not showing arrogance I am just telling the truth. You are just like the rest of the people in this industry, you think you know everything about everything single person you come across in this business. I don't talk trash JJ I speak the truth, when something comes out of my mouth you best fucking listen. People like you are the reason why this world is going to shit, why this industry is going to crumble under the feet of all the young talent, it won't crumble because of the talent either it will crumble because of the stupidity and do for me attitudes that exist today. Don't question my failures until you take a long hard look in the mirror, you aren't perfect kid you are far from perfect, I wish you could see it though but your brain is so god damn feeble you just overlook it time after time day after day, it's always the same thing with guys like you.


--- Nemesis holds his signature razor blade up to his face, he sticks his tongue out to lick the blade accidently cutting his tongue in the process a drop of blood falls to the floor, Nemesis follows it with his eyes as it splashes hitting the ground---


Everybody talks about it being their goal and or destiny to win this match and then the New Breed Championship. They want to be propelled into the spotlight, but what are they willing to give to earn the spot, what are they willing to sacrifice. You have to be willing to bleed because come Friday night whether you are willing or not, I am going to spill the blood of the young and the old in this match, even if that means I have to spill my own blood to get where I want, to get where I need to be. That is the difference between you and I JJ you say you have beaten former champions, you talked about my failures but why not my successes? Why only the failures pal? Why is everything so one sides with you there are two halves JJ every story has two halves. You need to be more truthful when it comes to some altercations JJ because you know the old saying keep your words soft and sweet but in this case there is no you may have to eat them, because I am going to hand feed you, I'll show you what a failure looks like, I'll show all of EAW what a failure looks like, spoiler alert they will see if every time somebody goes over the top rope I know for damn sure I won't be one of them.


---Nemesis spits his blood all over the floor as he continues to bleed out of the cut from the razor blade---


I bleed for my sacrifice to the higher ups, I will force the feeling of cold steel on your forehead JJ, I will make that pretty face look like something out of a horror film, trust me you will be a failure in more ways than one, don't call it confidence please just let the truth fill your head. Don't be afraid to let me inside your head I promise I won't hurt you until Friday JJ, just let me live in there you can fear me, you can feel whatever you must. Come Friday you and everybody involved in this match are going to reap what they sow, I can promise I won't be the one embarrassed on Friday night you can count on it.


---Nemesis throws his razor blade down on the floor a gentle metal clanging sound can be heard as the camera zooms out and fades to black---

(Christian has returned to his Toronto home after a busy tour overseas, followed by a trip to Indiana for the Grand Rampage. Locke is sitting at the bottom of his staircase, with a few suitcases packed to his right.)

I recall when I first started out in the wrestling business, I had the chance to talk to a few wrestlers that were fortunate enough to make it to the big leagues in the 80’s. Not as big as EAW of course, but they were still able to make a presence in the industry nonetheless. Back then a naive bright-eyed Christian Locke looked up to those two numbskulls and I'm not sure why. All I know is a young me was eager to learn anything from those guys and he had about fifty questions prepared for them. Question number one was something like what’s the most challenging thing about wrestling? Their response was living out of a suitcase. They told me all about how they were constantly on the road and they were considered lucky if they got to see their wives and kids one day a week. They became homesick over time. One of them even decided to quit while he was still in his prime, holding a world title just a few months prior. He left the business behind because being a father and husband was more important to him. At the time it made me admire him even more because I thought he had his priorities in order. But now? If I could go back in time, I would punch him square in the face for making such a stupid mistake. He was a somebody! He was on top of the world and he traded all of that in for the opportunity to change diapers and to listen to his moody wife for the rest of his life? How absurd! Listen, my one and only love in this world is professional wrestling and I'm not going to let anybody stop me from that love. Kids? No thanks, I'd rather not take care of those little puke machines. A wife? The thought of marriage bores me, it really does. Let me put it like this, why settle for the same boring vanilla ice cream every night when there are plenty of other flavors out there? That's what I thought. I’m a fucking rockstar after all, so let me live like one. Now, in a few days I hit the road again, hence why I have my suitcases ready to go. However this time I won't have to make the miserable trip to the UK, THANK GOD, but instead I'll be in Denver, Colorado! Yay – said no one ever. I'm kidding Denver because believe it or not, I'm actually going out of my way to be there this Sunday because you see, Ashten Cross told me after the Grand Rampage that I deserved a week off and for the first time ever, I agree with him. I do deserve a week off. I have easily been the main attraction on Voltage these past few weeks, so let somebody else have the spotlight — but I know that's not the main reason. The main reason why Ashten didn't book me in a match this week has nothing to do with rest, but because he was hoping he wouldn't have to listen to me talk for a few days, or should I say, expose? It's no secret that him and I haven't exactly hit it off. What was it? My second week on Voltage, he basically tried to feed me to a legend? To the great Starr Stan himself! His best friend! A man he trusts so much, he hand picked him as his team leader at some EAW FPV. Really touching stuff you guys, it makes me want to shed a tear! I know there is Aren and Aria or Tarah and Mr. DEDEDE, but Ashten and Starr is clearly the best love story going today. Look at me! I was the man who ended Starr’s supposed undefeated streak since his return when I qualified for the Grand Rampage! Speaking of which, let's talk about it!  

It's true that I did not win the Grand Rampage and I'm not the kind of person that accepts moral victories because those are for suckers, they are for guys who can't actually win matches, so they try to convince themselves they don't totally suck by listing off the positives regarding their match in their hollow heads. With that said, I’ve noticed that so many of the men that participated in the Grand Rampage keep raving about their performances. So much so I bet even Terry Chambers and Kevin Hunter will somehow brag about their piss poor performances while they wear their rose tinted glasses. So you know what? Let me pat myself on the back for a second. Let me edit my highlights in this video, like so. 

(The video changes to a GR replay. There is no sound, except for Christian talking over it. Locke makes his entrance.)

Yeah so as soon as I make my way to the ring, one of the commentators just has to point out my size like its some huge disadvantage, like I had no chance against those so called “Titans” in the ring! Now would you look at this! I step between the ropes and the favorite to win the Grand Rampage, immediately sets his sights on me! I'm willing to bet he doesn't even know who I am. All he did was look at my physique and think to himself that he could just throw me over the top rope within seconds! Let's see how that plays out for him. 

(The audio from the GR match is on now)

“LUCIAN BLACK IS RIGHT THERE WITH MASSIVE FISTS TO THE SKULL ON THE LITTLE GUY! LUCIAN NOT GIVING A SINGLE CARE IN THE WORLD! HE STAYS ALL OVER CHRISTIAN LOCKE! But Christian Locke fights back, he starts kicking, and punching away at Lucian Black’s torso! And LUCIAN WHIPS LOCKE OFF THE ROPES! LOCKE COMES RUNNING BACK! AND LOCKE WITH A RUNNING SENTON CANNONBALL ONTO A STANDING LUCIAN BLACK! KNOCKING THEM BOTH DOWN!!!”

Don't touch me, man. 

“Locke gathers himself back to a vertical stance, and stomps away at Lucian! But Judas comes FROM BEHIND! AND TRIES TO LIFT LOCKE ONTO HIS SHOULDERS, BUT LOCKE SPINS OUT OF IT! AND AS HE DOES, HE HOOKS HIS ARMS AROUND JUDAS’ HEAD, PULLING HIM DOWN FOR AN ELEVATED DDT! JUDAS LANDS NOSE FIRST INTO THE CANVAS!”

Must I repeat myself? Don't touch me. 

“Locke hops back onto his feet, but is soon met with Tyler Parker! Tyler Parker with some right hands to the jaw, and Locke retaliates with a knife edge chop! BUT TYLER KNEES LOCKE IN THE STOMACH! AND TYLER PULLS HIM UP FOR THE DEPRAVITY! BUT LOCKE KNEES TYLER IN THE HEAD A COUPLE OF TIMES!”

DON’T – touch me!

“JJ SILVA INVOLVES HIMSELF WITH THE TWO FOR A DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE! BUT BOTH OF THE MEN LIFT JJ SILVA INTO THE AIR! AND DROP HIM STOMACH FLAT ON THE MAT FOR A DOUBLE TEAMED FLAPJACK!”

They never learn do they?

“And Y2Impact finds himself PULLING Christian Locke off The Heart Break Gal in the corner, and Locke turns around with A FOREARM TO THE HEAD!”

BITCH, DON’T TOUCH MEEEE!

“THE HEART BREAK GAL LOW BLOWS LOCKE FROM BEHIND! AND Y2IMPACT DELIVERS AN EVISCERATION TO CHRISTIAN LOCKE! AND HBG TOSSES CHRISTIAN LOCKE OVER THE TOP ROPE, AND OUT OF THE RING!”

Well, fuck. 

(The camera focuses on Christian in his home again.)

At the end of the day I think I did pretty well. I wasn't embarrassed like so many others. I went straight to the ring and I hit everybody in sight. I got the upper hand on so many elitists. Go back and watch the Grand Rampage if you have to. You saw it! It took two hall of famers, one of which went on to win the Grand Rampage later that night, to eliminate me. Not only that but the Heart Break Gal also needed to hit me with a low blow, which I'm not mad about because I'm a man that respects great strategy. She did whatever it took to eliminate as many elitists as possible, so I tip my hat to her. Now that the Grand Rampage is over with, I can move forward and focus on Voltage this week. Like I said I'm not in a match this Sunday, but if you listened to some of my fellow Voltage elitists these past few days, you would assume I was. I'm not even going to mention those two men by their names because that's free advertisement. When I say something, the people immediately latch onto it. If I'm seen eating a granola bar, they go to their computers and try to find that exact brand because people no longer want to be “Like Mike”, no they want be like me! Now one of those guys has a big ego. The only thing bigger than his ego is his freakishly large nose! That freak keeps running his mouth about me which I find kind of cute because a few weeks ago he kept calling me irrelevant. Yet, now he can't stop talking about me? That right there is called flawed logic, ladies and gentlemen. He too is obsessed with me, which I can't blame him for. Then his opponent this week asks who I am? No motherfucker, who are you? Oh this guy was in the EAW at one point? So he left? Just like everybody else, I didn't even notice. So for future reference, don't you ever say my name unless I give you permission to. This applies to the both of you.  Do…… You…… Understand……. Me?! Good! Even though I won't be in action this week, which is very sad I know, the people of Denver are probably demanding to get a refund as I speak, there is light at the end of the tunnel! There is good news! I can officially announce that this Sunday on Voltage, I will step between those ropes and speak my mind! About what? I didn't want to give spoilers at first, but screw it. I am going to make a list and tell you what's wrong with Voltage because since I've had so many matches on Voltage, like three or so, I think I'm the perfect candidate to conduct change! What needs to be done to make Voltage the best brand in EAW again? Hmm number one would easily have to be for Christian Locke to become the new Answers Champion of the worrrrrld! Ares has had the title long enough, don’t you think? As for the rest of the list?! Tune in this Sunday!!! Only on whatever channel it's on! 

(With a big grin on his face, Christian waves to the camera and the scene fades away.)

 
First off, I’m gonna dial it back to what you had to say to start off with this week. I imagine you had this whole thing planned and then bam, another message from me came out that you scrambled to nit pick and pick apart. For one, you call me boring when you take everything so literally, in the feed and in any message that someone posts to you elsewhere, that you come across like someone who has no fun. People have been trying to call me boring for months, and then turning around and getting their ass whipped in the ring. Isn’t that funny. You might find some of my style boring, but it’s damn effective for taking out the trash. The same could be said about you, you know? You put up some pretty dull crap yourself. At the same time, at least it’s often confusing enough that it breaks anyone out of the doldrums for one very good reason: they have to rewind and listen to it again to make sure they heard that right. I’m still trying to get over what you told me during Grand Rampage week, that misuse of words that had you accidentally labeling me as unbeatable. I’m flattered baby girl, I really am. Maybe you were really just looking into the future and beyond that match to this one. Maybe you were just trying to let us all know what was going to happen when we met. Of course you weren’t though, I’m not totally deft. As hardcore as you butchered that line, you followed it with saying you were the only one in the Grand Rampage that could beat me. Turns out the only person who beat me is the lone person that has beat me since this year started. So there’s that. I guess you still have a long way to go to accomplish what you really want.
 
You keep talking about our past and the things that were between us. How you finally moved on and how it’s made you such a better person. That was a victory for me, though. I urged you to do that for so long. Because, you’ll deny this, but you were obsessive. You wanted to be everywhere I was. You wanted to be the personal road block between me and everything I wanted, because you wanted to make the road personally tough and personally rewarding for you. But that didn’t pan out for you in the end. And right as Tarah made her short absence from EAW, you decided that I was suddenly your new rival. We’ve been down this road before, and we’re just doing a big circle to come right back to it. I’m not done with you. We’re destined to fight over and over throughout our career because we’re among the best fighters on this planet. The best part of this match is how you’re just expecting to go so over. You talk about me being at my best and say you will beat me at that level. You faced me twice when I was far from my best. One time I took your title right out from under you. The next time I kept you from regaining it back. I’ve only gotten stronger since that point. Meanwhile, you’ve ridden the coattails of a man who’s attempted to take you under his wing and mold you into a champion fighter. His failure will be yours in the long run. And while you walk in here expecting to slap me for bringing up your well-known past or try to drop me to the floor with some maniacal smile on your face, I believe none of that will happen. In fact, I’m more than confident I will deal with everything you throw at me this week and still turn around and drop you on your flat ass to take this win. Nobody can stop you? Well, a lot of people have stopped you. Not gonna change now.
 
I’ve seen good things in you before Haruna. I’m not denying any of that. We were close friends. You were loyal and mostly kind. I saw you fight hard. You use to be much more challenging than you are now. You overcame the odds at the Specialist’s Scramble to become its first=ever champion. You got electrocuted all over the place or whatever, and there you were still dealing with all the interruptions and managing to win that match. But then it took two weeks — two freaking weeks — and you pulled some of the same shit that makes people look down on you at times. And within a month you were put on the shelf. That was not your fault. But you came back thinking you needed to be different and teach people lessons. It was admirable that you lasted as long as you did at Grand Rampage, and I understand why you broke into celebration when you did. There are few competitors in the world who wouldn’t have been as excited as you in that moment and also believe they had won. Unfortunately, what happened was a microcosm of your whole career here. That failure was sadly to be expected. And all along, the Haruna that people liked is out there somewhere just wandering around while the new Haruna with the tough girl act that nobody buys is trying to rewrite her own history. You should have never diverted off the path you were on before. You were still capable of great things before you changed into this.
 
Let’s talk about this GR match again, shall we. For someone who wants to talk about me dwelling on things. Listen my friend, I don’t know if you already forgot yourself pointing this out. But I wasn’t in that match too long. So honestly, I didn’t have the chance to even think about getting my hands on Steph. Also, let’s just point something out that’s painfully obvious. You have no friends in the Vixen’s division. Ok, there. I said it. As much as the match was an everyone for themselves deal, you know how this works. Or are you that deft? Here I can explain it for you. There is like alliances and stuff and they’r elike temporary, ok? And then eventually, thel can’t happen anymore and that’s when you have to buck up and toss your friend over the top rope, you got it? I didn’t spend much time trying to eliminate you. But you are holding some weird quasi grudge that only makes sense to you. My best advice to you is to grow up and stop acting like a child, get over this and just get back to fighting in the ring. I didn’t really care about you as much as you want to give yourself credit for. I was just fighting a match. I screwed up and I lost. You screwed up and you lost. Now we have to fight to decide which one of us is worthy of fighting the new champion in a real match.
 
Alright now to the present. Too afraid to be left behind? Did your boyfriend write that one for you? I wasn’t sure you were ever going to say something. And to be honest, it had been more than 24 hours since I said anything at all. But you’re right about one thing. I’m fired up for this match and I’m excited for the chance to beat you again and then get the shot I rightfully deserve for the Specialist’s title anyways. But let’s get on to how you have no imagination. Back to how you take everything so literally. I’m not framing the entire character of Veruca Salt around you, just one very important quality about her. While you aren’t the spoiled brat that gets everything she wants, you do feel entitled to things. There are things that you think you deserve over other Vixens for justifications that would only make sense to you. Not like how I deserve a title shot because I lost it without even being pinned, no, this is not the same as the defenses you would frame for yourself. But you took this all so literally. You had to remind everyone about how your family works for the 1,000th time. Let’s just be honest about us now, we’re not really friends anymore. Two people don’t talk about each other like we often do and still be friends. There’s plenty you say about me to turn around and question if I was a good friend. That ship between us sailed long ago. The trust issues you have with Vixens is your own problem though and these aren’t secrets. You created these stories yourself over a period of time by airing more of it than you’d like to admit. You’re damn right I complain about things. I’ll own up to it. I complained about the Iconomy, but I got the hell out and became a better fighter because of it. This goes back to our first title fight. These are the same things that I pointed out then that got you so upset. You are not a bad person because you whine or complain. We all do that. The difference is you’ve let it become something that holds you back. And you’ve never shown the propensity to change that. Then you have someone like me who accepts the negatives as something to grow from. They inspire me to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of before. That’s why I passed you in the first place, and it’s why I continue to be ahead of you to this day. You are competent and strong competitor, but I have the confidence that no matter what you are capable of doing in this match, I can recover and I can triumph. These one-on-one matches have become a bit of a specialty for me as of late. If you don’t believe me, just look down the long list of people that thought they had me beat, only to leave that ring in despair.
 
I appreciate the way you tried to take what I told you and make it bloody, I guess. But while I have confidence, I’m not really full of myself at all. I’ve all along said I’m not unbeatable, just that I present a tough challenge. Me holding the Specialist’s title for five months might be a record for that title, but it’s new, and Eris LeCava has been the Vixen’s Champion even longer. I’m not up floating high over everyone like a balloon or just waiting to get popped. I just have confidence in my abilities and what I’m capable of in that ring. Because every time I face someone, they tell me all about how they are bigger or stronger or faster or more talented. And I never just sit here and accept it. Why should I accept that I am the loser just because someone tells me that. I guess that makes me more like Charlie in the end. While other Vixens that came in with me were tasting success earlier, I had to rise from adversity and the bad situation I was in to rise to the point that I reached in the end. And I remain like Charlie, because even when I’ve lost something I’m still motivated to go for another shot at it. One bad moment wasn’t going to bury me like it often does to others. This is me rising to the occasion. Am I owed a title shot? Probably. But do I have a problem having to fight for it? Absolutely not.
 
I’ve never been someone who couldn’t live without another person. I congratulate you on your newfound independence. I have no reason to forget you because the reality is we’ll never stop fighting. The reality is that at this rate we will eventually be the rivals that you always wanted us to be. Here towards the end of your video you sort of lost touch with reality and mentioned supper and brain damage together in just a couple lines. So I will gloss over that with just a laugh and continue on to what we’re really trying to talk about here. As much as you can’t wait to kick my head in or whatever and make me forget about you, I just can’t see any of that happening when we meet up at Battleground. You can call me Violet and I’ll call you Veruca, but in this game there really is only one golden ticket between the two of us. It’s going to take more than name-calling to claim that ticket. You have all these wishes to make me bleed and make me hurt, but if all those wishes of yours were fishes, the world would be an ocean and we’d all drown. What I’m saying is you wish to do a lot of things that you don’t actually see through. I don’t wish to beat you, I’m going to beat you and I’m going to earn myself a shot at the Specialist’s title. My warpath is only in its infancy, and you’re the first person on the list. Right now you’re the only thing I’m worried about. This is only the beginning Haruna. You should just be happy you got a ticket to the first show.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to give a compliment to the new EAW Specialist Champion: Stephanie Matsuda. *Claps* Most people probably will forget this fun trivia, but Matsuda beat me 2 weeks ago before she became a champion. I’m not ashamed that I lost to Matsuda because she’s a passionate fighter who can back up everything she said with her skills. I’m not gonna lie that I didn’t give her my best, infact I did. Matsuda really beat me fair and square, she came out as a better wrestler that night and on top of that, she was able to win the Specialist Championship 1 week later at Grand Rampage. I’m not happy that I lost to Matsuda, I honestly think I can beat her when I meet her in the ring again. But I’m so damn proud of her that she was able to use her momentum to capture the Specialist belt. So, congratulations Matsuda, enjoy your fucking moment now. Cya later in weeks, months, years later when I’m finally able to pin your sexy ass in the middle of square ring.

Now, I hope you all didn’t forget this one, but I was able to beat the former EAW Pure Champion J.D. Damon in the same week before Matsuda beat me. So, I don’t think my lost to Matsuda will hurt my psychology for my next match. In fact, my winning againts J.D. Damon really fired me up for my upcoming match on Battleground againts Venom.

Venom, you have been in this company for a while, while you’re not as experienced as the guys like Y2Impact or Starr Stan, I still admire you that you can stick with this company for such a long time. You are really a tough guy because if you’re not, you’ll be out of EAW already and for that, my hat’s off to you.

I would love to praise you here all night long but the words on the street said you never really win a belt here. There’s nothing wrong with that because I know how tough and how rough this company is so don’t look down on yourself. Heh, I know you are a cocky arrogant son of a bitch jackass though, so I don’t think you’ll get discouraged so easily.

But here’s the thing Venom, I know you love drinking beer so much, and I’m a beer drinking guy myself. Just name any beers you want, be it Vodka, Tequila, or Cocktails, I love them all. But let me tell you this: that thing is holding yourself back, that thing is clouding your mind to think straight, that thing is slowing your steps on stairway success. Who can really go to a clear direction with a broken brain and a blurry vision Venom? You’re not a comic character, you’re just an ordinary human, it’s impossible for you to throw a benefit punch with a dizzy head.

However, I’m not a preacher, if you don’t listen to me and still want to be a drunken fool then so be it. Let’s see how confused you are when I pin you in the ring Venom. Just keep being a dummy I dare you, it will be really bad enough for you.

I will still recommended you to put down your beer though, because that’s what I always do when I’m facing any kind off opponents, including the smelly ones like you.

Now, I don’t have any schedule to wrestle for Voltage this week, but fuck that, I’m a loyal cat mothefucker. I will still come to the show and doing some cameos there. Just like 2 weeks ago, I’ll make 2 appearances on both Voltage and Battleground because everytime my face hit your TV screen, EAW will get positive reaction on IMDB’s site because Nobi is rating!

Well I’m out bitches.

People might consider you weird, but I know who you are. Your most ardent supporters might even call you erratic and a bit confused, but I know what you fight for. Your words go one ear and out the other for them, all they know is that you’re a vicious man despite being a fighter who seldom wins. but they root for you, not because what you are now, but what you could become one day. But who is the man who stands before me today? I can say that you’re someone who wishes to strip away all of his individuality and exist more as a collective being with people just like you all conforming to the state. I can also say that it would bring you joy to eat the same food as everybody, to have the same chance of death or survival as everybody and to take solace in the fact that since you can breathe, that the minute you were born you were deemed sufficient enough to serve that state so long as you passed their tests. However, none of that means anything if I don’t look at the root of the problem. While some might call you vicious, you’re concerned about the ones who don’t. While some people might try to not get in your way, you’re concerned about the ones who not only do, but laugh at the thought of you doing something to fend them off. You’re insecure about your ability to succeed and that’s fine by me, but that means you’re not ready to face someone like me, and possibly not even ready to be in EAW looking at your recent track record and having to resort to getting somebody out of the blue to guide you in the right direction. But there is no savior in this story Rhaegar; this man doesn’t uplift you, but reinforces your delusions which cripples you and while you might be able to fight, the man with the sound mind is the person who will always prevail in the end. You don’t intend on this being just another match, but I will tell you that it will be. You can stand silent next to your professor as he tries once again to convince the audience that you have changed, but all everybody will see is purely cosmetic. You are a man unsure he can win against men while you’re going against a man who knows he can win against gods.

But you’re not like him, right Orthaeus? Despite the humiliation he has endured, you still believe that because his wounds can heal, so can his resolve because just like his supporters, you don’t believe this is the end result for him. You invested your time in an environment you’re not used to for him to realize his potential, but if only you can see the look on your face when you come to the conclusion that maybe this is him at his best. You can make grandiose statements, but in your predicament you have to make promises that he will achieve something in order for people to turn heads like what happened when he first walked through the doors and screamed his name and his desires for all to hear. He’s become just another guy, another name added to somebody’s list of who they beat and there’s no promises that can overcome that, especially when we saw a newcomer walk in here and disrespect you and when the time came to extract your revenge, nothing happened because nothing can happen. I saw him in the Grand Rampage match and that could have been the turning point of his career, that could have been the night where everything changed for the better because he didn’t even have to win, but at least put on a good performance, but instead, left a man in broken spirits as his brother’s archrival tossed him out with ease. It’s fine that you don’t know me or why I am seen as a legend because just like it was easy for Liam, it’s going to be easy for me to step into the ring with your prize fighter because unlike you, I am used to the scenario that is laid out in front of me and that is facing wrestlers with their managers who sell dreams, only for those wrestlers to get a wakeup call when they realize those men use them to better chase their own. I don’t know, maybe one day you will be able to cause me to flinch a little when I see that I am facing you. Maybe one day you will be able to fix your fears of innate inferiority and you’re able to go toe to toe with men like me. But now isn’t the time and while your manager might feel confident, I know you’re not because in the end, you know to abandon all hope.

So you’re big on the ‘German Efficiency’, aren’t you Sheridan? You must be popular with the boys…
 
Sorry, that was unbecoming of me, but come on. It was either a sex joke or a World War 2 joke, and quite frankly if a Japanese person was to make THAT joke, it would bomb for sure…
 
…Get it? …Bomb? …Because of Hiroshi…You know what? Never mind. I’m not even going into the stereotypes here. The Asian doctor really has no right to…
 
Anyway, let’s go back to the beginning. At the Grand Rampage, I choked. I choked big time. I lasted a few eliminations, but I was done somewhere in the midway mark, before I could really make any sort of impact. I let the moment get to me, and I let myself down. Honestly, I came into the Grand Rampage knowing that the odds were stacked against me. I was just one fighter, as green as grass, trying to fight in a match that, quite frankly I should have done better at. I am known for my strikes and grapples, and I should have been strong enough to survive the initial onslaught, but I didn’t. Still, it’s as they say. But’s are for the porn rags. I can give all the explanations I want, all of the justifications in the world why I feel. In the end it all comes down to one thing. I just wasn’t good enough on that evening, and if I want to become someone who carries the Izumi name with pride, I’m going to need to be better.
 
So now comes my resolve. You see, the only way you can appropriately deal with failure is to dust yourself off and strive for victory. So, when I see my German colleague here, I need to play my Pot of Greed magic card, and take back what I just lost twofold. Now, honestly, as a person I am not sure what to make of Sheridan. She’s an odd duck to be sure, but there is nothing overly malicious about her. While it is refreshing that I no longer need to face someone who is overtly crazy, I know at the same time I am in for a tough fight. It is often said that the American style of wrestling is fairly unique, just because so much of it is about the glitz and glamour of the fight. The further south you go, the more than becomes true, but even though I am Canadian born and bred, sad to say I learned from my brother and some of his old friends more than anyone else. This brings up an interesting dynamic. Ms. Muller of course is known for her roughneck blue-collar beat-‘em-up European style, while I fight a mixture of roughneck Canadian underground brawling, and Japanese technical perfection. At a glance, there is nothing different between our styles of fighting. We hit hard, we throw people around the ring, we try to break bones to make them submit. Just the usual Saturday Night out, really. But the devil is in the details. While the Europeans are better brawlers, the Canadians and Japanese fight a bit smarter than that. Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face, but if you can avoid getting punched in the face you can out-plan everyone in the room. This is basically the delicate and tentative balance Sheridan and I will be duking out on Dynasty. It’d be like a dream match between Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali. We are both out for the same objectives, only I’ll be floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee, while Sheridan will be trying to punch my teeth down the back of my throat. From match start, I am behind the 8 ball here. One wrong move, and I lose. One wrong move, and I go right back to the bed I spent most of my childhood in.
 

Ultimately, what this all comes down to is a battle of training and discipline. I chose this style not because it’s easy, but because when it works and is executed to perfection, not a man or woman in the world can beat you. This isn’t South-of-the-Border razzamataz. This is going to be a battle of grit and resolve between two real fighters. Not Vixens, not just wrestlers, not even warriors. When German Efficiency meets my inherited style, I don’t care what you think about women as wrestlers, this is going to be a fight for the ages. And for me, it is one I need to win to prove that I am not just some broad people can overlook. I need to prove that I belong here, and if it is at Sherry’s expense, then that is her bad luck.

The camera opens up inside of Bow and Tye's Pizzeria, where Pizza Boy sits in the lobby with his feet up on the table as he downs a glass bottle of soda and flips through a menu.  Across from him in a high chair sits Bow and Tye's adopted daughter, making macaroni art, the noodles all over her, her little arms, and the floor around her.  PB looks up, double takes at the sight of the camera, smiles, and removes some unseen ear buds.

PB: Hi, didn't hear you come in.  I've just been sitting here looking after my former boss's daughter and reading over the new menu.  They're going all Italian hipster, getting rid of the pepperoni option.  Did you know it doesn't exist in Italy? Pepperoni, I mean.  It's the most Americanized ingredient ever.  It's pretty much just leftover sausage and meat paste thrown together...it's kind of like hot dogs.  Isn't it strange how everything in our culture seems to just be a delicious, hodgepodge, unhealthy mess? And it's all delicious.  Go figure.  Oh,is he still talking by the way? I quit listening when he started literally trying to sell me on snake oil.  Not that my banter about Italian cuisine or my connecting commentary on America's melting pot culture is much better, but then again you can stop listening just as I stopped listening to him.

The tiny girl at the end of the table starts humming and running her fingers over her lips and making all kinds of jibber jabber.  PB looks over the menu at her, smiling.

PB: That's exactly right, Angel Hair.  Jibberish is all that's coming out of anybodies mouth anymore.  Jibberish about salvation in the light, about warmth being the presence of God.  You know I hear Hell's pretty warm around this time of the year.  I mean, I haven't won the EAW World Title yet or anything, so I'm guessing it hasn't frozen over yet.  Speaking of...

PB kips out of his chair and walks over to little Angel Hair.  He moves a little loose macaroni off of her artwork and stares down at her masterpiece.

PB: Very nice!

Angel Hair smiles up at PB with a mouth full of elbow macaroni.  PB pulls her art work off of her tiny little booster table, revealing it to be the EAW National Championship, covered in glued on noodles vaguely in the shape of a pizza.

PB: I like the little red pinwheels.  Looks like pepperoni.  Huh...I knew this thing was good for something.

PB puts on the pimped out pasta strap and wears it proudly for the first time in weeks as little Angel Hair claps her tiny hands together in applause.

PB: What do you guys think? Seriously, I'm looking to hear anyone's opinion other than Nico's.  You can't shut the guy up.  God this and judgment that.  Trust this guy, but don't trust that guy, yadda yadda yadda.  Quite frankly I'm glad I met HBB and Barney.  They prepared me for charlatans like you.  Men claiming to know my best interests but only showing me a path of slings and arrows towards, what? Heaven? Whose heaven? Your heaven? What is our heaven but the judgment of others? It's like that old psych experiment of Theseus' Ship.  You're trying to add and subtract parts of your dogma to suit me, just so you can tan my ass in some perversely cultist way.  But how much will you change? How much can you change before this message of salvation disappears and all that's left is your sick and demented lust for flesh?  It's like snake oil.  Remove the snake and you get actual oil that might help you, because once the snake's gone, the con's gone.

PB pats Angel Hair on the head and makes his way toward the door.  He starts walking down his old workplace neighborhood, putting alien eyes on everything he passes that was once familiar.

PB: And maybe I am lost.  Maybe too much has changed in the past year for me to know the true way, or maybe I'm the only thing that's really changed and I'm the one to blame when I look around and see nothing that feels like home.  A path doesn't necessarily equal up to the right path, Nico.  I may not see things in the same rosey light, my brain might be a little bit hazy and my disposition a bit more bleak, but I don't think even the snot nosed rube that came into EAW oh so long ago without a thought in his head or a clue to as what he's doing there would fall for your predictably glib song and dance.  I know pain and I know what men like you who enjoy inflicting pain are willing to say, do, or sell to get that serotonin fix in.  Take away every part of the ship, and all you're left with is a man standing in the middle of the ocean, naked and ready to drown in his own perverse motives.  I know who you are, Nico.  There's nothing sacred in what you're trying to sell.  I'd go as far as to wager you bartered away the one last sacred thing in you to get a contract with this company.  Who needs a soul when all it brings is guilt?

PB stops at a crosswalk.  He looks around at the empty intersection, his eyes squinting as they try to acclimate to his new outside surroundings.  He suddenly shivers and brings his coat collar up over his ears as he starts to jaywalk across the empty road

PB: And yeah, my words are cold.  The truth is often sheen in ice and hard to swallow .  There's no buttery warmth in the world's native tongue, no philosophical dressing of ambiance, no campfire glow or smell.  There's just the stagnant and cold words of truth in black bold font on white parchment.  I've come to accept that, Nico.  I wish you would too.  Maybe the world's harsh nature is your salvation? A world that would commit a man like you, fill you with Vicodin, and vegetate those cruel intentions of yours.  Yeah...yeah, maybe there is such a thing as fate.  Maybe there is some unavoidable and depressing preset path that led you and I to one another, some brick wall lined trail to me for you to go down.  Maybe I'm meant to castrate you with my trusty pizza cutter, cut off your tongue, cut off your balls, and leave you as a testament in the world's good book of truths.  I leave you to ask 'how could this happen to me?' 'What god would allow this to happen?' 'Why me?'.  And the funny thing of it all is that there'd be no moral, no parable, no message to be learned other than sometimes the truth hurts.  Sometimes the world is cold, and sometimes you just can't avoid running into the wrong guy in the wrong time of his life in the wrong Bowery back alley, whose ready to destroy anything that steps in his path promising an eternal light.  That's the answer! That's the true takeaway from our existence.  The sermon of the world is simply this; 'All it takes is one bad day to reduce a man to his most primal and violent nature, and every day is a bad day for someone.'

Pizza Boy smiles as the wind tussles his hair.

PB: You're right, Nico.  That does make me feel warm inside.  Drink up, Nico.  You're going to need every ounce of venom in that snake oil to stomach even looking into the face of the one truth in this world.

PB points to his own smirking face, and then back at the camera.

PB: You say that pain is the one true path to God? I say that you're going to join him real soon.  I'll see you at Dynasty.  

PB begins crossing yet another intersection.  An oncoming bus barrels down on his unflinching form.  He holds out a hand, causing the bus to screech to a sudden halt as he continues along his skulking path to Dynasty, unconcerned at the idle threats of a New York bus driver.

I was sitting at home, reading a copy Six Degrees of Separation when I heard a knock at the door. I turned down The Purple Rain album blasting from my stereo and walked towards the door carefully and peeked through the peephole, surprised at the sound of swift knocks on my door, followed by the sound of shuffling feet, then more swift knocks. I opened the door and saw a little girl. Her hair covered the left side of her face, though noticeable scar tissue gave way to signs of former burns. She shuffled her feet again, almost as if she was trying to hide the “Matsuda” shirt she was wearing, before she held up a small note, offering a slight smile. 

I raised my eyebrow Nas-style, but I thankful I turned the stereo down before the lyrics to ‘Darling Nikki’ came on. I took the note and patted the child on the head before scanning its contents.

“The dojo you frequent here. Meet me there. I won’t hurt you. Promise.” - E.

Dis ninja.

“Welp, I know who you belong to now. Geez, first Aria and now…” I sighed. 

I made myself a little more decent by putting on a pair of jeans and closed the door on the child. I entered the Hunter’s Mark Gym through the back entrance which is connected to the back of the apartment upstairs. I slowly walked inside, turning on the lights one by one.

I saw Eclipse sitting alone on the floor. His gaze was focused on the mirror in front of him as he rocked side to side looking to be thought. He had a small notepad in front of him, and he seemed to be drawing as he rocked himself before every motion stopped and he slowly leaned forward and backward, till he was facing me. Apparently this ninja had a thing for breaking into Black women's houses. 

“I hoped you’d show up. If for nothing else, probably because you could try and get revenge for what I did to Aria...I’m unarmed. No bag of gifts if that’s what you’re wondering.”

I crossed her arms. “Aria’s a big girl. She could take your creepy ass if she needed to. What makes me curious is how anyone who raised you didn’t tell you it was a bad idea breaking into a lady’s home. But, let’s cut to the chase. Why you here Eclipse?”

“Well...curiosity aside I’ll answer that first question. I was taught that, but being bound by laws and morals isn’t becoming of people. And I had to find someway to get through to Aren. Aria is his weakness, and I’ve seen to it that it will fester in his mind. As for why I’m here...believe it or not I’m here to help you.”

“Help me?" I asked, almost laughing. "Wow, you almost took my hitpoints on that one. I have ten pounds of gold upstairs that show I’m doing quite fine at the moment. But...humor me. What did you conjure in that strange little mind of yours?”

“Thoughts mostly. Thoughts like spiders dancing around in my brain. Sometimes they get too much and I have to act on them...like creating the Sanatorium for example. It began as a small whisper and grew and grew till I had to do it, you understand. So...these thoughts started shifting. They started shifting around the time that you started really fighting against Haruna. More than that, they began along the time that I saw you bleed. Something in your eyes changed Stephanie. You’ve hidden it lately, but I saw it again on Battleground. You changed your name, changed everything but even so...you tried to keep up this little facade. This little song and dance. So, I started thinking.” 

Eclipse smiled as he picked up the notepad, looking back down at it as he began drawing once more.

My eyebrow raised once more, but I didn’t move, feeling comfortable at the distance I kept between myself and the enigmatic figure before me. 

“I didn’t so much change but rather became myself. Stephanie Matsuda is who I am. It’s the name I was born with and the name I’m going to the grave with. Cloud...like any other nickname ‘Eclipse’ is an alias. Nothing less, nothing more.”

“Ah. So it seems. Yet...what is that side of you I keep noticing? That one that seems to enjoy the blood you spilled during that fight between you and Haruna? That side of you that tried attacking Mexican Samurai, and yes I know about it. Little eyes see a lot. That side of you? Is that all the same persona? The same as Cloud Matsuda? You’re hiding something.” 

He flipped the drawing over, scribbling on it on the other side.

“Hiding what? That I’m a big bad wolf? I’ve blown a few houses down throughout the years I’ll admit. But that anger you saw? It’s the same rage that cost me that match in Tokyo. It’s the same red hot temper that almost got me killed when I attacked Mexi. What saved me...what won me the Specialist Championship was honesty. At the end of the day rage is not what wins fights. It helps with aggression, but control of one’s emotions, clarity during The Fight is what matters. I beat Haruna last night because I was focused. She was nothing more than an opponent during the match.”

“Ah...and thus the hunter slain by the hunted.” Eclipse sighed, finishing his drawing and closing his notebook before glancing up at me, a smile cutting its way across his face. “Cute turn of phrase wouldn’t you agree?”

I placed my hands on my hips. “Irony has a way of rearing its ugly head every now and then. You could say eliminating Honda was poetic justice. Heh, now I’m sounding like Tarah..” I sighed, feeling a bit more relaxed than earlier.

“Irony. Funny way of describing that...but you know what I think is more ironic. The fact that the whole idea of Clarity, of keeping your head clear...that you can so easily throw that out the window when things start to shape before your eyes.” 

Eclipse flipped through his notebook, looking down at the pages before reaching between them and pulling out a small red envelope, flipping it open. He scoured through it before setting it down and leaning back. “How is Lauryn by the way? And...what was her name...Serenity?”

I tilted my head slightly, my eyes narrowing. No this ninja did not just threaten my sisters. 

“We were doing so well too. Having a discussion like two civilized adults and what not. I suggest you keep it that way.”

“Oh, but I am. I did ask a question after all. Was curious. What, did you think they were a secret? One is a child, and they are my eyes and ears, I am told everything. Out of the mouths of babes so the saying goes. And don’t worry, I haven’t done anything to hurt them or mentally torment them...I was curious. They are your...one true attachment to that clarity you speak of so much. They are your restraint, after all.” 

Eclipse leaned back again, looking back at the mirror as a smile cut its way across his face again. 

“Because...something in your eyes tells me you lost that clarity some time ago...and are just now getting it back.”

“Well since you seem to know everything about me, you should have an idea when that clarity was lost," I said, referencing my pre-EAW history. "To answer your question, the girls are doing quite fine. Assuming there’s no fuckery being planned.”

“Not unless you pull the switch yourself" He replied, his voice growing serious. "That clarity you are calling a strength, Stephanie. It’s a fucking crutch. It has nothing to do with the real strength you have, and you know it. What you are doing, is putting a collar on a dragon and hoping that the dragon won’t learn that it has the strength to fly off...and you are the dragon. You are holding yourself back.” 

He quickly lost his smile, his demeanor becoming much angrier and a lot more aggravated. 

“And what bothers me...is what happens when you finally lose control.”

I crossed my arms again, my demeanor matching that of my 'guest'. 

“Why are you so bothered by what I do?" I asked. "Matter of fact, maybe you can shed light on some things. You’re not the first to butt their head in my business. What makes me so special that I got to have a rogues gallery watching my every move?”

“Because The Joker of the rogues gallery as you like to call it, does have a heart, whether you believe it or not. Because, I used to call Cailin a sister...when we were in the Iconomy together. And that shadow in the back of your mind, clawing its way through those restraints...it has fangs. What that rage might do...and what it might do to you. Because that same anger, it has no allies. It will hurt everyone, and everything around you. It will make Aria bleed, it will make Aren break, and it will shatter Cailin and you will stand in the middle of the circle of bodies, and you will laugh.” 

He leaned back up to look at me, his eyes serious, with no sign of a joke in his voice. What was startling to me was that he didn’t seem happy saying it. 

“And because though you may think that will never happen...the thought that shows up in the back of your mind after every match that you bleed, and after every match that the clarity slips...the thought that you won’t come out of that rage lingers...doesn’t it?”

I scratched my arm, feeling vulnerable by Eclipse’s words. My gaze drifted away for a moment. 

“Speaking of Cai...have you seen her around?”

He glanced down, letting out a sigh before looking back up. “I haven’t. I haven’t spoken to her since she left the Iconomy though I try to keep tabs on her as much as I can...you’re worried about how she feels about you taking the title off of her?”

“Well I looked for her after the match, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. I mean we both agreed that we wouldn’t let our work get in the way of our personal lives...but…” I let out a sigh. “Comes with the territory I guess.”

“Yeah...Stephanie I’m not here to try and turn you over to my side nor am I here to make you afraid. You aren’t a target, nor do I feel me attacking you would get me anywhere. I’m here as a friend...or if anything else someone who understands your mindset.” He stood up, taking a few slow steps forward towards her.

I took a step back, a bit surprised.

“Uh...I’m flattered, but you know I play for your team right?”

Eclipse shook his head. “Not that way I...look the fact of the matter is, you telling Cailin this, let alone Aria or Aren or anyone else would result in them either laughing it off and trying to joke it out of your system, or them being worried but not knowing what to do. So that’s why I’m offering my help. You can take it or leave it, but this is the only kindness I’m going to show. If you decline and you wake up with their blood on your hands, it isn’t my responsibility.” He stretched, moving past me with a look of calm in his eyes as he moved towards the door.

I did a half turn, my falling towards the floor. “I’ll admit. This little meeting intrigued me. Let’s see what you have to offer Mr. Eclipse.”

He stopped, glancing back to look at me before sighing and handing me the red envelope. I took a look inside and saw that it was a small note with the address of the Sanatorium’s home scrawled on it. Tucked further into the envelope was a folded up paper of the drawing that he had made. One of the entirety of the Formation, which etched underneath was the name Stephanie Matsuda written upon it. 

“Please...don’t call me Mr. Eclipse" He said. "It’s Eclipse, or it’s Diemos. I’m not above you in any way. First, you can give that picture to Cailin, and Aria, and Aren, and whatever. Say you drew it. They’ll believe you. Who would think I’d be nice enough to draw something? And as for the address...if you think that you can’t handle the rage anymore, come to us. We’ll help you. Whether you need to beat the anger out with your fists or with your words.” 

He never turned when he spoke to me, just continued his way outside. I had the feeling he was smiling to himself. 

I played with the envelope between her fingers. I took out my cell and saw there was no missed calls. I sighed, and made my way back upstairs. It's been several days and I haven't heard from Cailin. 

“Cai...where the hell are you?”


What's today, Thursday? Yeah it was on Monday I planned my little speech. I also happen to like my soapbox. You see Eris LeCow-va, you don't represent me. The only vixen you may represent is Haruna, who like you follows in a delusional man's footsteps. Impact may have won GR, but your little group is Hexa-done. I know bad joke, but had to say it one more time...for old times sake. Speaking of old time's sake, where's your monster Luzmala? You know, that walking insurance policy that was responsible for your win over me at King of Elite? Because you certainly didn't win by your talent! I'll admit you're good Eris, but but it takes more than a couple of well executed arm drags to take me down. I remembered your eyes in the last half of that match. You was worried that I was going to rain on parade and take away the one accomplishment you've achieved in your entire life. There are two kinds of champions in the world: those who make the title mean something and those who let the title make them. You are on the latter half of that my dear unlike your partner in crime. Heart Break Gal can draw dimes with or without a title. Her achievements expand beyond being a champ, as with Cameron Ella Ava. Could the same be said about you? If anything your championship run is defined by beating Maddie not once, not twice, but three times. In between all of that you managed to get over on me and you tapped out to the former Specialist Champion. Can you really call yourself unstoppable by beating the same person over and over while losing to a midcard title holder? I'll agree with you, the talent these days is fantastic, which is why your services are longer needed. Thank you for holding on to the title and thank Hexagun for protecting your entire run as champ, but Formation will take over from here.

Is Formation another Sexy Curry? Only time will tell. But the difference is that one of my team members is my best friend and the other is my ever so competitive girlfriend who wasn't pinned. I do feel bad that I won a title that she elevated on her own without having to actually beat her, but YOU had something to do with that if I recall. Actually the last half of the match went the way it did because of your interference...

(Pauses)

Yeah! You tried to hit me and laid out Claudia instead! Eris...your actions led to me being the SPECIALIST CHAMPION! Karma's a bitch isn't it!?

(Starts laughing)

Wait- ha! Let me gather myself for a moment- hahaha! This is rich! Heh! And the very woman you screwed over is your tag partner! And the other woman you screwed is in my corner! Ha! Oh man, Saturday is going to suck for you! Aw, man have a happy Cinco de Mayo bitch cause the rest of May is going to be awful for you! Haha! Oh man! I can't even finish the rest of this-hahaha! Laterz!

(walks away laughing)

---The scene opens up to a close up of a mouse trying to find its way through a maze to get the cheese at the end. The mouse is struggling to find its way through the maze it has looks of doubt at every turn as is back tracks as it continues to misjudge and rejudge its course. The mouse just about gets to the finish line as a hand grabs it by the tail and drags it back to the beginning, making it start all over, the camera pans up to reveal who the hand belongs to. It reveals Nemesis face paint and all laughing at the mouse as it squirms in his hand---


You know this mouse is a lot like the wrestling business, and when I say a lot I mean almost identical a lot of misjudging is involved with both. What do I mean by this? I mean sometimes somebody is judged to be the next star you know everybody wants to cheer for them but what are they really just another face just another cog in the machine, nobody wants to be different people are afraid to be different they fear difference, change may it be good or bad. This match is no different there is a lot of bright up and coming stars in this match. Stars like butcher who we got to see training and talking about eliminating people, saying I'm pageantry? What did he mean like I do beauty contests or something? I don't really know I guess its just the younger people and their slang these days I can't keep up with it you know from the selfies to all these other idiotic things you see daily on social media. It also seemed to me as if butcher really didn't know how to speak comprehensive English. I will say though the guy can train... but the true question is does he have the mind to handle my games, does he have the will to stick in the fight when it gets rough will his ass get tossed. What have I learned about Butcher? One he may or may not have previously in his life been a butcher... Two he loves the word eliminate... Three that is what I am going to do to him on dynasty eliminate him.


---Nemesis holds the mouse up to his face looking into its eyes as he blows kisses at the mouse, the mouse starts to squirm, trying to get away, Nemesis just keeps playing with the mouse in his hands, just like its a toy---


Levian Krown, I'd like to say he is different from the rest, i would like to say he isn't just another mouse in the maze called the wrestling industry, unfortunately if I said that I would be branding myself a liar. I know you are making your debut kid, I know the emotions are going to be flowing I know the testosterone is going to be high, you want to get out there and show the world what you can do. That is all well and good but there is one problem with that you said the same thing every other mouse in this business says when they come in, this is my debut blah blah blah don't make fun of me because I am new blah blah blah, nobody makes fun of anybody for being new here. I make fun of you because you are stupid, you have a lot to learn kid you might know the ring front, back, side, and side turnbuckle to turnbuckle. That is good I'm sure the ring crew can use some help putting the ring together before the show and taking it apart after the show you can know everything about the ring, however if you don't know or have what it takes to be inside of the ring, your ass better just sit down and watch kid. I am not about to let some new piece of shit ruin my chance to carve my name in the EAW history books. I guarantee you kid I am not like the villains that you see in the movies, this is not a story book kid this is real life, you are going to experience your mind turn, you are going to squirm inside of your own skin. This isn't a game to me Levian, Butcher, JJ Silva, Mikey Grey, Angelo Brando, Finnick Lionheart, Majestiq, Max Stryker, and Spencer Matthews this is my well being here, this may be my last shot in this business, I'm not about to let a bunch of kids take it away from me. I will say one thing about you guys though Levian and Butcher you guys might be young and dumb, but I will admit you guys have the balls to address somebody like me, a psycho like me there is so much I have done in my life that you kids can only dream about or watch on television. I have blood on my hands, I won't disclose from who that right now is none of your business not many people know the really dark side of me, I don't want to have to scare you children, just stay out of the way. Levian, Butcher, JJ Silva, Mikey Grey, Angelo Brando, Finnick Lionheart, Majestiq, Max Stryker, and Spencer Matthews I don't know who half of you are, that must be because you really are not that important here in EAW or you might just be starting out like young Levian and Butcher. They have excuses they are still young as far as I know they are the youngest in the match, not that I really care.


---Nemesis returns the mouse to the maze, he waits patiently on the mouse to finish the maze, once the mouse finishes the maze Nemesis starts to speak again---


Now this mouse represents me, I will finish this match the rest of you won't I will be the last man standing in the ring, why? because I've been around the block more than a few times in my life sooner or later the mouse gets wiser. The older the mouse becomes the wiser it gets the more keen its senses become, you young guns can't fool me and you older veterans can't touch me. Also being that I am a clown I may or may not have a few tricks up my sleeve, a couple of rodents or critters in my pockets you  know just something to keep you on your toes some call it mind games, I just say welcome to my world everything is a game of the mind nothing is sane, you can't figure me out because just went you think you got me figured out I throw a wrench into the mix. Just remember you all are like young mice and my mind is the trap you are stuck in once you enter the trap, there is no way out, trust me I know I've been struggling to figure it out for years. I am like nothing any of you in this battle royal have ever faced before, take my advice just put yourself out of the misery before the trap snaps your neck.


---Nemesis replaces the cheese at the end of the maze with an old fashioned snapping mouse trap the mouse gets awfully closet to the trap as Nemesis begins to laugh, the camera zooms out and fades to black as the trap can be heard snapping with Nemesis still laughing screaming poor mousy---

Quote :

When I speak of this new chapter starting in my life, I don’t see much of you in it. Just a blip on the radar. It starts here with me knocking you off course and gaining the title shot I deserve. After all, I rightfully deserve a shot at the title I lost without even being pinned. 

Quote :

Cailin: What?

 

Tarah: Damn, that’s the response I get when I come to take you out to lunch?

 

Cailin: Is it lunch already? I wasn’t paying attention.

 
 
The scene opens on Cailin in a small gym with headphones on, going in on a heavy bag and ducking and dipping around it as she throws punch after punch from all angles. There’s an intensity in her motions as someone approaches slowly, not trying to get her attention. Cailin turns her head slightly, but turns back to land a few more heavy handed shots before hitting a spinning kick on the bag and whipping her headphones off as she looked at the visitor. It was Tarah Nova fresh out of her own training session.
 
Cailin: What?
 
Tarah: Damn, that’s the response I get when I come to take you out to lunch?
 
Cailin: Is it lunch already? I wasn’t paying attention. Besides, I’m not really hungry for food right now. I’ve got a lot on my mind so if you want to eat without me, just go ahead. The only thing that will satisfy my hunger is whipping Haruna’s ass all over that ring on Monday and then getting the rematch I deserve and taking the Specialist’s title back.
 
Tarah: Yeah but… after you take down Honda you have to… yeah. Have you talked to her by the way?
 
Cailin: Who?
 
Tarah: Steph…
 
Cailin: I’ve been pretty busy here, we’ll talk later on or something. Actually, I’ve got a great idea. I can see her at Showdown on Saturday and then after I beat Haruna we can chat about whatever she wants, as long as it involves me taking back what I didn’t even rightfully lose. No one even pinned me.
 
Tarah laughs and shakes her head. As Cailin looks at her with a confused expression.
 
Tarah: Easy there. You do deserve a rematch and you will earn it by beating Honda. No worries there. I have a feeling she won’t even know what hits her. And trust me, no one will enjoy that more than me. You and I both know you’re capable of beating anyone. Well almost anyone.
 
Cailin finally changes her expression, shaking her head and laughing.
 
Cailin: Alright, let’s just get some lunch then. I can put my warpath on pause for a few minutes…
 
 
It hasn’t been too hard to find inspiration this week. I’m always inspired when I know there’s another chance to climb between those ropes coming. But as I get ready for this match, those same tunes I usually go to when working out sound so much sweeter. Every word I’m saying is rolling off my tongue with more confidence than ever before. Some people would have you believe that I’m insecure about myself or them or someone else, but these are just fabrications they spun in their heads to help them believe I’ve fallen off. The truth is I never completely arrived. Being the Specialist Champion for five months didn’t mean I was the best in this business. Not yet. It was a sign of what is to come as my path continues to evolve. And so I remain inspired by so many things I see around me. I’m motivated by what I know is the next step for me. And I’m excited for the opportunity to put that on display against Haruna Sakazaki.
 
She will do her damndest this week to paint me out to be something far less than even she knows I really am. What she hated more than anything in her career wasn’t her missed opportunity at Pain for Pride last year. It was watching the hoards of Vixens that have checked in over the last year and quickly moved right past her up the food chain. It annoys her. As she looks for her own bit of inspiration this week, I hope she watches Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That way at least she can see somebody get their golden ticket. Because there is no happy ending for her in this match. There is no pot of gold sitting at the end of a rainbow just waiting to be collected by her. Any ticket she thought she could capture and cash in for a title shot, it never got printed. You’re trying to cash a check when you have insufficient funds. And your opponent this week has set her sights on making an example out of you if need be. This is just part of the warpath I speak of. We could talk about books all day and we could compare our own histories. But when our careers are said and done and someone goes into the library to find our books, they’ll find a thick journal featuring the storied career of Cailin Dillon in the reference section. They’ll find Haruna Sakazaki’s career in the kid’s fiction section.
 
As I told you before, your days as the pride of this division are long gone. They were spoiled almost as soon as you earned that nickname in the first place. At this point, EAW’s announcers are still using the phrase because they don’t have much else to say about you. This is Haruna and she… well… umm… pride of the vixens’ division! You see, EAW sent out new manuals for these guys on how to address everyone. They just forgot to include anything else about I guess. And listen, this isn’t me calling your forgettable, although I can see how you’d take it that way. I mean you have so much to be proud of. You almost won the Vixen’s title that time, and then you made it to the second round of the four-round Vixen’s Cup and then you almost got your hands on the Specialist’s title for a second time at Grand Rampage. Hell, you even celebrated the title win before the match was over. That might be the most memorable moment of the match, so you aren’t all that forgettable after all. But I’m not just trying to make a few memories and make sure people don’t forget me. I don’t want to do just enough to get by. That’s why you see me operate like I do Haruna. You can’t deny that I rise to the occasion every time. I’ve taken a few bumps in the road, yet I still lock down some of the most important Vixens moments already in 2016. I defeated the Vixen’s champion when our divisions top competitors squared off, and I beat the Heart Break Gal when she wanted a piece of this title. I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge and I’m always one who’s willing to challenge anyone, no matter their rank in this business. Whether someone has been here for a few days or for a few years, I’ll fight them if they want a fight.
 
That’s what brings us back to this. I’ve won the last two times we fought and I have no reason to believe this will be any different. And I’m not insecure about anything. I’m prepared. You say you’ve promised not to cheat unless you ‘need to,’ well good for you. It doesn’t change the way I get ready to face someone who puts brass in her gloves. I’m coming out with the gloves off and I don’t need metal to make you bleed. I don’t need to tweak that Longhorn Lock all that hard to make you give up and I don’t have to kick you in the teeth more than once to pin you and take this victory. This isn’t me downplaying you, but playing up what you and everyone should expect from me on Battlegound and going forward. I might be owed a rematch for the Specialist’s Championship, but I have no problem earning it if that’s what they want. And I have no issues with going right through you if that’s what upper management wants. You’ll hear me say this over and over to you Haruna. This isn’t personal between us. It’s not about anything in the past or you hating Stephanie for some ridiculous shit that happened in December. I’d suggest you get over it and get over yourself, but I’m not gonna hold my breath and wait for that to happen. By this moment of reading this, I hope you’ve gotten to the point where the Oompa Loompas are out parading around that girl who just wanted herself the goose the lays the golden egg, because for a long time that’s exactly how I’ve seen you. You’ve long been trying to take something you think you deserve and complaining about not getting what you want, when others were putting in the work it took and earning the opportunities that you were missing out. You are EAW’s Veruca Salt, the bad egg that’s constantly going on the wrong path. You dare deny it? Well allow me to prove it to the whole world once again when we meet on Battleground.
 
Now that I’m thinking about it, Veruca Salt is a perfect name to describe you as in the chapter I will call “Warpath.” Because I know after I beat you for the third straight time this Monday, you’ll be salty as all get out. They might not be giving me the immediate title shot I’m probably owed, but that’s where we differ. I’m going to earn my shot at regaining the Specialist’s title. There’s a war coming right to your front door, Haruna. I don’t think you’re remotely prepared for what I’m about to do to you. This is only the beginning of a new journey for me. It won’t end with the hardship you seek to instill. It will end with my triumph and your inevitable defeat. Because that’s how a fighting champion goes to battle, and I’m still every bit the champion fighter that I was last week.