An Open Challenge

[Μyster Controversy™]

Just shortly after a promo video is done rolling hyping up the Last Dance. Brandon Payne makes his way out to the arena, his music begins to play as he walks down the ramp. Dressed in his ring attire with his right knee heavily bandaged under his knee pad. Apparently, it would seem he had injured his knee during the Devil's Playground match and hasn't fully recovered yet.

BuZZ: Well it appears were about to be joined by Brandon Payne. Wonder what he has to say. With the look on his face, he appears not to be in a very good mood at all.

Roach: When is he not in a good mood, BuZZ .

BuZZ: Be that as it may, it would appear Payne has an injured knee. As I'm looking at our run sheet for tonight, he isn't scheduled to be on XGames.

Roach: I think Payne has lost it to be honest. What you see in the ring is a broken shell of a man who once prided himself as being an 'Elite' amongst the rest. Doesn't look much like an Elite anymore does he, BuZZ ?

BuZZ: Throughout 2008. Brandon Payne had many highs and lows for his career. When many in the locker room, myself included, who had doubts about Brandon Payne having enough gas left in the tank to excel to the top of the mountain. He proved that he's still got it. I believe he showed that over the last couple of months.

Roach: To me, all Payne has done is waste his time. He went into Only the Strong against XXL in a World Title match, He messed that up. Then recently became involved in the Devil's PLayground match, got his ass handed to him and...

BuZZ: Be that as it may, let me remind you it took 5 other guys to put Payne down at Devil's Playground. At OTS, he came wtihin' an eyelash of becoming the World Champion. Payne has more then earned my respect, and its a damn shame he hasn't earned yours.

Roach: How about you quit being mello-dramatic and lets hear what Payne has to say ?

As the ring announcers continue to bicker back and forth. Payne is in the ring with a mic in hand. Letting the cheers & jeers from the crowd soak in for a moment before raising the mic to his lips as he begins to speak:

Over the course of the last few days, there's been alot of different emotions going through me. While entering tonight's XGames event, I may not be coming in here as your World Champion as I had hoped. But rest assure to you fans who have supported me throughout my journey. The road to the World Championship is far from over.

As some of you can plainly see, I'm not at 100% tonight. As it appears have a slightly torn ligament in my knee due to the brutality of Devil's Playground. (Laughs) In a weird way, this is what happens to you when you go into that match #1. Remember this, it took 5... count em' 5 guys to put me down.

Fans begin to cheer.

But with my World Title woes aside, 2008 has been pretty good to me. Cause at the end of the day. Its not about what you do for yourself, its about what you do for those 3 little letters that rest above the XGames logo.... X-W-A.

Fans begin to cheer again.

In 2009, I plan on giving it another 110%, and I'm not settling for anything less then spectacular. When March rolls around, I'm going to be back at 100%. Faster, Stronger, Wiser, and an overall better Brandon Payne.

But before we can go to March, we've gotta get through the XGames right ?

Fans agree with Payne as he continues on with his promo.

I spoke with the doctor backstage, he tells me I shouldn't even consider going out asking for a match tonight at my condition.

Fans begin to boo loudly.

I gotta be honest, I looked that doctor in the eye and I said to him, point blank: "I guess you don't know me very well, do you ?".

Since when has Brandon Payne backed down from a fight or for a chance to get into one ? NEVER !

So for tonight, I throw out an open challenge to anyone behind that curtain that thinks they can hang with an Elite for one night only. No strings attached. Its very simple, you walk down to this ring, get your ass whipped, and head straight to the back. Its that simple.

Before Payne could continue, he is cut off by...

[n00b]

The war siren fires off as the drums kick in and finally 4 words are spoken loudly
GO BACK TO SLEEP

It's the music of Sylas Styles as he makes his first appearance back in XWA since his run with Pollox Troy for a few matches. Though instead of some big firework display and him coming straight to the ring, he stops short, at the top of the ramp in his street clothes, mic in hand, looking down the ramp way at Brandon Payne in the ring.

Hello... Mr. Elite! How's it going, how've you been? Doesn't matter actually. What does matter is here tonight, you have an open challenge laid out, for anyone, and here I am, in attendance, in the back, hanging with the boys and a few Diamonds, and I think to myself, "What would happen, what would truly happen, if the Elite fought the Legendary?".

Now I know this is something that's been in the works for, well a few years now since you ran your mouth about my exit from Atlanta, but that was back in Atlanta. No big deal, water under the bridge, bygones are bygones. I don't care much for the past, I'm more of a..nowadays kinda guy myself. So, in a sense, it makes more sense now.

Your a.. "Elite" wrestler, and I, am widely, and I do mean widely, as in world wide widely, considered Legendary, or a Titan, an Icon, or.. a god amongst men when it comes to combat, that is, when I'm focused and actually care to make something of the match. Too often, I lose interest in my opponent and just don't care to try. I'd rather give them my worst, then beat them with my best. But you my friend, you deserve the best, you deserve the very essence of my being and existence in this industry. If I was to come out here, and face you, and half ass it just to get by in the match, I'd be disgracing you, and your talent. Though, if I came out here later tonight, and gave you 100% of everything I have, then, and only then, is a win earned and deserved, which is something that hangs loosely in the balance amongst alot of these younger wrestlers here still.

He stops before going on a youth vs experience rant, and gets to the point

All that aside though, Brandon, Mr. Elite. You have a choice. Allow some fresh faced rookie to come out here and try to use you as a stepping stone, or face someone of the higher caliber, the highest caliber, and make an example of the match, and the simple fact that our match alone, with little to no buildup on tv, can mean more then a feud that's broiled for months even.

So the choice is yours.... what is your decision?

[Μyster Controversy™]

Payne with a smile on his face, Payne raises the mic to his lips as he replies to Sylas:

Well, I gotta say I wasn't expecting you, Sylas. Only because I haven't seen you around in a long time. I was almost beginning to think you had quietly retired. But nevertheless, its good to see you again my friend.

Your right on a lot of things. Yes, I am an Elite. Yes, you are a Legend in this business, bar none. And yes, we do have a history together. But like yourself, I hold no malice towards you whatsoever. To me, its all water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned. What happened between you and I is ancient history.

As far as tonight is concerned... I accept.

Fans begin to erupt into a feeding frenzy.. Sylas Styles vs Brandon Payne. Legend vs Elite, Icon vs Icon.

Bad knee or not, I'm going to give you 110% in this ring. I really do hope that you can give your best as you say you will, because thats what I expect out of a 'Legend' like you Styles, the very best that you can dish out.

Just for the record though. I'm not accepting this match just to get back at you for your victory over me several years ago. I'm accepting this because if I wanted to end 2008 on a high note. I'd end it, win, lose, or draw. Fighting one of the best in the game today. That's why I accepted, Sylas.

Observing your career over the years, and taking a retrospective look back at mine. As weird as it sounds, and as much as you may, or may not want to admit it. The way I see it, me and you are the same. We both strive to be the best in this industry, never wanting to half-ass the other guy in the ring, even if it was some punk rookie off the streets. Were both former World Champions, we both are TNB Alumni's, I'd could go on and on.

The only real significant difference we have is experience. You've been wrestling alot longer then the 3-4 years I've been at it. Clearly, you do have the experience advantage over me. But unfortunately, with experience comes age. And with age, your body loses its durability.

If anything, youth is my side tonight, with all due respect. Clearly, I'm not the same young, smart-mouthed, punk rookie you met years ago. I've changed alot, and have evolved my game to all new level. With each passing year, the better I become. 2009 will be no different.

In the same respect, I won't count a victory over you as a stepping stone. I got too much respect for this business as a whole to call anyone a stepping stone really. But by beating you tonight, I could truly say that I've beaten one of the best ever. That is my goal tonight. I'm not winning out of revenge, nor am I going to win this just to suit my own ego. I'm going to win this fight.... for the fans.

In my eyes, there the real winners. Them seeing a match between you and I is about as good of a main event caliber match as you can get.

Payne lowers the mic afterwords, as the fans begin to cheer loudly with anticipation and excitement for the match to come later on in the evening.