Stepping Inside The Cage... [Promo/Payne]

[ejstone]

Well... there was nothing to hide. The match had been planned for just about two weeks now... Austin Harris vs Jon Payne, in the “second test” of Payne’s given to Harris. So the crowd in the Verizon Center sat quietly in their seats as the lights on the stage dimmed and a spotlight hit the stage as “Don’t You Wish You Where Me” blasts over the P.A. system and the crowd begin to boo. A few seconds pass by before Harris appears on stage in his white t-shirt and his wrestling attire. He smirks at the crowd as he holds a water bottle in his left hand and sips at it slowly while walking down the ramp. He shook his head at the fans as he rolled into the ring and was handed a microphone. He then began to speak.

“Well... here we are... XWA’s first 2008 Pay Per View... March Madness. Look at all you fans... boy, selling all of you tickets is like taking candy from a little baby it’s that easy! You are all here to see your favorite superstars do what they do best... Jon Payne must be one of them right? Well I’ve got news for you all... Tonight Jon Payne, will BOW at the feet of GREATNESS!

Just like that punk Alex Wyle did last week in the middle of this ring, when I nailed him with that cyclone. He was out... finished... over with... and Jon Payne, part two of your little test, will be a piece of cake for Austin Harris. I will definitely prove, that I can stand on my own on this level and succeed at the same time.

The sitting on the sidelines, watching opportunities pass me by, is just about over. The new and improved Austin Harris is ready to take things to the next step and tonight marks the END of Step 1... knocking off one of the best... Jon Payne inside of that structure hanging above us... the Steel cage! So Jon I hope you haven’t forgotten. If you’d like, feel free to come out here and state your case on the story...”

Harris crosses his arms as he paces around the ring, looking at the stage.

[Jon Payne]

Not but a few seconds after Harris finishes speaking does "Separate" by Bro-Kin begin to play. The fans in attendance come unglued as the lights turn a familiar green shade and the "matrix" coding begins to trickle down the jumbotron screen. Soonafter, Jon Payne steps out on the stage with a mic in his hands. Not yet dressed in his ring gear, Payne wears a long black coat over a sleek black suit. He looks on into the ring at Harris, seemingly ready to go and responds.

Anything I have to say? Anything I have to add on to this? State my case? Well, let me be the one to tell you that I haven't forgotten. I never forget a day like this. You see what hangs over you in that ring is practically my legacy. For the better part of three years, I've been untouchable in that structure. If you want a history lesson then we don't need to go back too far. Last year, I defeated The Colossus, the biggest and strongest in the whole XWA, inside of that cage. Before that, LXW. Three times I stepped in, three times I came out on top.

Some people say I'm custom made for this kind of match, but in truth, anyone can rage in the cage, you just have to have the right mindset. When that cage comes down, there are no DQs. There are no rope breaks. There are no count outs. You've got three options, climb over the top, pin or tapout. Simple. Pure. No excuses. That's been my game for as long as I can remember. My case is pretty easy to state...I'm going to go in there and do what I do. What I'm good at doing. What I'm better than the best at doing. Question is are you ready to face me at MY best?

[ejstone]

Harris paces around the ring as he scratches his chin. He then leans on the turnbuckle and crosses his arms as he smirks and raises the microphone to his lips, interrupted by the booing crowd shouting at him.

“Your legacy... right, right... That... that’s cool and all, but ya’ know... legacy or no legacy, it doesn’t matter to me... either way, coming into this steel cage, you are just like any other opponent. Last week, I made an example out of Alex Wyle... this week, I make an example out of you at our first pay per view. It doesn’t matter who you’ve beaten, or what you’ve done... all I care about, is winning and tonight... winning is EXACTLY what I will do. It’s MY TURN to climb that ladder of success and sit on the top for a while, and to get there I’ll have to start, by beating you... in a match you’re known for.

You may be custom to these types of matches... but really? It’s just like any other match type... difference is, you can bash your opponents head into the side of the cage as many times as you’d like. It’s that simple. So tonight, is the night... where I become known, for ending Jon Payne’s streak, inside that steel cage. PERIOD.”