One More Time [Payne]

[ejstone]

Austin was staggering to get back to his feet after the brutal beatdown he took from Payne in the ending moments of his match up. He makes his way up the ramp, and quickly ends up backstage where a staff member approaches him, adjusting the headset on his head.

“Harris... I think you are going to need to get that cut checked out... the blood is coming out pretty fast.”

Austin touches his forehead and shrugs.

“I’m fine, now get the hell out of my face.”

He pushes the staff member out of the way but staggers and leans up against a bench backstage. An EMT approaches him and sits him down.

“Mr. Harris, we’re going to need to check that cut out...”

Harris shrugs again.

“I said I’m fine damn it!”

The EMT’s refuse to let him go, as they tend to the cut on his forehead, cleaning it up, and having to run about two stitches through it above his left eye. They patch it up with a band-aid and Harris pushes them off of him.

“There, you happy now? You did your damn job, now get the hell out of my face.”

He is walking down the hallways, when Fabiola approaches him with a microphone.

“Austin... may I catch a few words with you after your match with Jon Payne tonight?”

Harris scratches his chin and crosses his arms.

“Alright, go ahead... but I don’t have all day.”

“Well, you two seemed to be going back and forth at each other throughout that match up... until the ending moments of the match where you took a load of hard shots to your head. How is your head? Have you suffered a concussion at all?”

“My heads fine... that’s for damn sure. Just cause Payne can kick like a damn ninja, doesn’t mean I’d suffer a concussion at the snap of a finger. Put it this way... I did what I said I’d do and that’s give it to Jon Payne... give him a run for his money... but I didn’t come out with the victory. Whoopidy-doo. I ain’t going to win em’ all that’s for sure... and as far as I’m concerned, anyone could of won that match because I was kicking Payne’s ass at moments in that match as well.”

“Well you did give it a go at some points... but aren’t you embarrassed now... with all your claims, still coming up short tonight?”

“Embarrassed? That’s not a word that exists for Austin Harris... Jon Payne... you got the best of me tonight, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m not done with you. You see, I know... that I can beat you... that is why, I want another shot at you Payne. One more time, Jon Payne and Austin Harris. It doesn’t matter when, it doesn’t matter where... I want another shot at you period. So all that’s needed from you now Payne... is to accept. I’ll be waiting... to see if you show.”

Harris crosses his arms as he stands waiting backstage. [/center]

[Jon Payne]

As Jon himself makes his way backstage one of the crewmembers informs him of an interview happening right at that point with his opponent for the night. Naturally he was expecting a call to be made for rematch, he just wasn't expecting for it to be right after the first match.

There stood Austin Harris with Fabiola, a bandage on his head waiting for a response. He had manage to here the tail end of Harris' interview, that's what he was going with.

Austin, I told you tonight was going to be your test. Contrary to what the outcome of our match might say, you passed. Flying colors even. You showed me that when the bell rings that you can and will bring it, but I forgot to tell you one thing earlier tonight. See, this was only just ONE test, Harris. There's a second one coming up for you.

You say that you know that you can beat me? Well my friend knowing you can beat someone and actually beating them are two different things. Test number two for you is exactly that. See it's one thing to hang with the big boys Austin, it's another thing to actually beat them at their own game. So I'm going to give you a chance to beat me at my own game.

March Madness 2008 is the time and the place. Austin Harris Vs. Jon Payne in MY game. A match that I have never lost. You and me inside of a 15 foot high Steel Cage. You wanna live forever Harris? You wanna make that power move? There's your chance right there, but like the saying goes...I can only show you the door, you're the one who has to open it.

[ejstone]

Austin unrolls his wrist tape, and throws it to the side with a smirk on his face as he see’s Payne answer his challenge. He crosses his arms as he nods, and speaks but a few words.

“I passed? So is this where I should start jumping up and down because I passed one of your “tests”?

I can’t really say I care about them, but meh they’ll give me something to gloat about when I pass them all...

March Madness 2008 it is... Harris/Payne II in a Steel Cage? Sounds good to me.”