Can The Elite survive 'The Body Count' ? (o2 Bain)

[Μyster Controversy™]

'A Perfect Insanity' begins to roar out from the PA System. The crowd immeadiatly jumps to there feet and lets out a chorus of cheers & boo's. Brandon Payne comes out. Dressed in a casual grey suit and red tie, wearing sun glasses as well. Payne suffered another loss last week. It did give Bain a good fight, but hoped that he could hang on a bit longer this time around here at Solstice to pick up a big win.

Payne watched on from a far as Bain grew into a huge mega superstar in XWA. Payne wanted to see this for himself. Whether the now former World Champion was the real deal or just a 'flash in the pan', as the old saying goes.

Payne marches down the rampway in his usual matter. Not letting the crowd get to him. Whether he was cheered or boo'd. Whether you loved the man, or hated him. Everybody respected him and for what he stood for. He commanded that same respect from his opponents, young or old. Expect nothing less tonight here on Solstice.

Payne eventually enters the ring. Motioning for his music to cut off. As he does, he pulls a mic out from his jacket pocket. Raises to his lips and speaks.

In a twisted turn of events. I issued a challenge last week. Purposly not knowing what kind of situation I would be getting into next. I really wanted to see if anyone in the locker room had the stones to come out here and face me.

Low and behold, one man did come out here to accept my challenge. That man was none other then Ethan Bain !

Crowd lets out a roaring cheer.

Now, I have alot of respect for the big ape. Its True, Its True, as one might say. But being an old school veteran that I am. You could say that I wanted to see if he really lived up to the hype. Cause you see boys and girls. Ethan Bain is my meal ticket to the World Heavyweight Championship !

Crowd gives Payne a mixed reaction.

You see, if I were to beat Ethan Bain right here tonight or any other night quite frankly. That would almost insure a future World Title shot against the champ.

So Bain ! If your listening in the back. How about you come out here and lets do this thing one more time shall we ?

If I know how you will react. I'm sure you are not one to back down from a challenge, are you not ?

Lets just say if you have what it takes to hang with a Wrestling Elite !

Its not all about wins and losses. Its all about two things: Ratings and Benjamins ! Nobody pulls in more money or better ratings then yours truly.

So without any further ado. Bain, come on out and lets have some fun.

Payne lowers the mic.

[eb]

The menacing opening chord of Bain's theme plays over the PA, and the crowd comes to it's feet. Ethan emerges from backstage with purpose. He focuses in on Payne in the ring as he makes the long walk down to the ring. Not cutting his corners at the least, Ethan snatches up the mic near the steps before he bounds over the top rope and into the ring. He then brings the mic up to his lips for his response.

So let me get this straight. You wanna beat me to put yourself in a better position for the World Title, eh? Those are big words for someone who's made a career of makin' big talk. Even if ya' can't always back it up. Ya' gotta admire a guy who can get his ass kicked and still come back the next week and shoot off at the mouth. That's one of those intangibles I guess you here all of you old guys talkin' about. Well me? I don't do talkin'. I speak with actions. Always have, always will. And I already lost to one chump on his way to winning a title. Ain't happenin' again. Not on my watch. You talk about yourself being wrestling's elite and all that jazz. Well in case you mighta' missed the memo, My name's Ethan Bain, aka THE BIG TICKET. And they don't just call me that because of my sunny disposition. They call me The Big Ticket because I'm the biggest, baddest, bull in the business. If Dru Nedermeyer's The Archetype of the Big Man in this business, I'm the updated model.

Bain pauses. The crowd responds with a booming cheer. Ethan raises his mic one more time.

If I'm your meal ticket to the World Title, I'm afraid you just bit off more then you can chew.

The crowd was at a fever pitch. Ethan waits for the response of Payne.

[Μyster Controversy™]

Ohhhhh, the big ape can talk a pretty good game. Nice to see you showed up Bain. Gotta admit, your a fast one. You didn't keep me waiting very long. But then again, that is to be expected of you.

Big Ticket !? Well, I'm not so sure about that to be honest. Yeah, you did beat me last week. Whoopty freakin' do (laughs). Its not like I haven't lost before or anything. You see, you have to always come in prepared for the next week, and next after that, and so forth. Whether you win or lose the previous week. A warrior must always be prepared for battle.

As I alluded to earlier. Your not the Big Ticket. Your just the Meal Ticket. See, by defeating you. I'm almost a shoe in for being named the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. Yeah, you can say that I know how things work. I've been in the main event game for a long time now. Not so much here maybe, but in other area's around the wrestling world. Long enough to know how the system works so to speak. You knock off a couple of big named stars and sooner or later. Its only a matter of time before the bosses give you the chance of a lifetime.

But there is a big difference between you and I. You made a valid point. Most of my work is through the microphone. I can talk a big game, and sometimes back it up. You on the other hand let your fists do the work. Which is fine. To each his own as I say.

You've made a big impact here in the XWA. I won't stand here and degrade your accomplishments. You more then deserve your right just as much as I do to be in the running for the World Championship. But where I draw the line is when one like yourself chooses to disrespect me.

The fans give off a mixed reaction.

You come out here and look down upon me as some peasant or a peon ? True, I haven't had the best of luck winning matches recently. But my pride and my work ethic is my drive. Not the idiot fans or anything else. Wrestling is my life, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I live it, breath it, and smell it since day one of my career.

Until the day you, or anyone beats me until I can't survive no longer. That will always, ALWAYS be the same ever running constant that is my career as your Wrestling Elite !

One other thing, you comment about being an update of the biggest, baddest legend to date Dru Nedermeyer !?

*Pfft*

Don't make me laugh kid. Your no Dru Nedermeyer. Your close, and even perhaps on your way up to that status. But to me so silly as to say your the 'updated model' is quite ridiculous. I'd say starting with your World Title loss at the Independence Day PPV. Your model is starting to suffer a major malfunction.

Heh ! Don't worry, it will be more then pleasure to haul you off to the scrapyard once its all over. You can count on that one, 'Big Ticket'

*Sinister Laugh*

Payne lowers the mic.

[eb]

Ethan prepares a heady response.

Shows how much you pay attention, my man. You see, I can an earshot...and earshot away from coming out of ID08 still champion. All I had to do was beat one more guy, and it would have been either me and Robby Sylk, or me and your good ol' buddy Primo in the Ironman match to declare the champ. Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat close. But close doesn't do it in this business. But don't worry your lil' head. Because I'll be taking back the belt I was never pinned for come Devil's Night. The Devil's Playground may as well be renamed the "House Of BAIN" this year. Because the field hasn't even been decided yet, and I'm already the odds on favorite to win.

Bain stops to give a cheeky grin.

You're damn right I earned what I've got in XWA. I came into this company, into this business as a nobody. I was just another giant. But through beating the crap out of men the likes of Jared Caine, Evan Fate, Sylas Styles, Vikram, Lionel Xander, Scott O'Dell and now you...I've already staked my claim. There ain't a son of a bitch backstage man enough to call me a flash in the pan talent. It took me one year to do what many men in this business can't do their whole careers. Win a World Title. And I did it the same way I do everything else. MY way. Well, book's still out on that one. But I ain't no one's stepping stone. You may be thinking that a win over me will boost your status. And maybe it will. The question is "Can ya' do it?" Didn't work out for you so much last week. I guess we'll see if you have better luck the 2nd go around, won't we?

[Μyster Controversy™]

So you beat a few big name stars, go on a huge winning streak, and win the World title in less then a year ? Impressive I must say. But, on the other hand. Welcome to my world, Ethan Bain. I believe did something similar to that in my rookie year between 2006-2007 with TNB.

A little history lesson for ya. I debuted in February 2006 under the name Genesis.

A big pop from the crowd.

From that month on. I came in, kicked ass, and took names. Beating the likes of The Avenger, Chris Lionheart, Shia Storm, just to a name few. Nearly one year to the day of my debut. I defeated Maniac to win my first World Championship !

Big pop from the crowd ensues

I was like Evolution. I only got better and better and better with age and time. More names were added to that list as time went on. Names such as XXL, Primo, Anthony 'Cabal' Xavier, Tha Infamous 187, Psycho, Bryan Colombain, list goes on and on.

Fact is, we both took almost the same path. Through radically different circumstances. So anything you say or do. Really doesn't hold any water, ya know. I've seen it all and have it done it all. All, but win the World Title here in XWA. The one thing that I've never had the opportunity to grab, but one day will conquer all to achieve.

As far as Devil's Playground goes, you can call that match anything you like. Fact of the matter is. If I am selected for that match just as you are. I'm sure will butt-heads again and I will do absolutely ANYTHING in my power to stop you and anyone else that stands in my way.

Mixed reaction from the crowd.

For the last couple of years. XWA has had young, talented World Heavyweight Champions carry the torch. When I capture the title in due time. I'm going to prove to you, to XWA, to the fans, and to everybody else sitting at home watching at home that us 'veterans' like myself, still got it !

A classic 'You Still Got It !' chant begins to break out from the crowd.

Now perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself. I think for right now. I'm not going to worry about Devil's Playground. Tonight, YOU are my only focus. You, Me, here tonight at Solstice. I'll do whatever it takes to beat you. That win-loss record of yours doesn't intimidate me.

Failure is not a part of my vocabulary. As long as there is breath in my body. I'll continue fighting the good fight !

[eb]

Bain gives an agreeable nod before speaking his final response.

Now there's something that you and I agree one, Payne. Wins and losses don't mean a damn thing. And they especially don't mean anything when you're me. All that matters is beatin' the tar outta the guy across the ring. And tonight, just like last week, you're that guy. There's gonna be no recourse, no retreat and no remorse for you in this ring. No quarter asked, no quarter given. And just like every man I've stepped in the ring with, and every man I ever will step in the ring with, you'll leave it win or lose knowing that you just went head to head with a Bull. And when you mess with a Bull, you get the horns.

[Μyster Controversy™]

Interesting... so, your going to beat the 'tar' out of me ? Will have to see about that. I went toe to toe with you and stood my ground about a week ago. I'll do the same again, and this time. I'll come out on the winning end. You don't intimidate me in the least. Your record is nothing to me, just like your little body count. Your just another over-hyped, muscle headed gorilla that needs to be put down to sleep.

I want you to act like a bull in this match. See nothing but red in your eyes as you charge towards me for the attack. As nothing but rage feels your heart and mind. That is when you will make the ultimate mistake. You'll be so blinded with your rage you won't be able to see straight. Thats when I'll go in for the kill and put you down to sleep for good.

Just remember one thing. No matter how powerful a 'bull' can be, he is still a bull. Nothing more then a mindless brute.

Takes more then brute strength to win a battle. You may have won the battle last week kido. But your FAR from winning the war !

[eb]

Ethan raises his mic for one final response.

War?*Heh heh heh* you have no idea what war is, my man. No idea at all. So you bring everything in your arsenal. Every trick in the book you've got. Every bit of heavy artillery you can muster. 'Cuz I'm bringing the Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombs tonight, and I'm gonna blow your ass off the map.

Ethan's theme plays over the PA as he lowers his mic. With a grin on his face, he backs up to the ropes and steps over them. Setting the mic on the apron, Ethan starts on his way backstage. It was going to be another tough night in the ring against a very game Brandon Payne. But Ethan liked tough nights.

[Μyster Controversy™]

Heh.. you bring every bomb or weapon of mass destruction you have. The only two weapons I need are right here..

*BP slams his fists together*

I'll see you later on tonight, you jakked up lil' bitch !

Payne drops the mic and makes his exit from the ring to the backstage area.

END