Respect? (Spoiler/Payne)

[Syrus The Entertainer]

Takes place immediately after the Gladiator Match...

The ref held Syrus' hand up in victory. There was no doubt on this night that Sykes had pulled out all the stops. He did bring his "A-Game", all the things that Payne had said for him to bring to the ring and despite being beaten soundly-it wasn't him who was beaten in the end this time around. The aches and pains of battle were starting to seep into his body even though the adrenaline was still pumping enough for him to not feel it too much...yet. The crowd of course wasn't too keen to the result of this particular match considering the history between the two men. It didn't phase Syrus too much though, not at least until Payne began to get back to his feet...

[Jon Payne]

As Jon came to, he slowly managed to get back onto his feet favoring his neck. The Dragon Sleeper...named after the legendary Yoshihiro Asai-The Ultimo Dragon. It was a bread an butter move for Payne, one that netting him quite a few victories in his career. It was a move to be respected, nothing to be taken lightly.

Jon poured it on against Syrus that night, not letting up for a second. On any other night in any other match he probably would have prevailed, but on this night it was Syrus Sykes that came through in the clutch, the same way Jon himself did the week before. There were no excuses to be made here-just as he himself said-victory again him was hard fought and always well earned, Only The Strong 2007 was no exception.

Motioning towards the center of the ring, Sykes stood not but a few feet away from him, standing poised and coiled, not knowing what to expect...well...possibly expecting an after match brawl of sorts. That of course wasn't Jon Payne's style. Slowly he nods and then proceeds to extend his hand out to Syrus in a surprising display of respect.

[Syrus The Entertainer]

This was an unlikely circumstance taking shape right now as Payne stood with his arm extended towards him. Eyes meeting squarely with is, it was pretty clear that it wasn't game or a trick being played here. Payne wasn't known for being that type of guy regardless...but what could be expected of Sykes in reaction to this. A man who came into the XWA on a blindside cheapshot?

Syrus looked around first, the fans cheering on at the mere fact that Payne would extend such respect to an opponent after waging a war they way that they did for about 17 or so minutes on this night. At that moment, on an international stage in the middle of the ring of one of if not the most popular wrestling promotion in the world, victorious against one of the best wrestlers in the world, Syrus began to realize what it was that Jon said earlier about there being a high standard to maintain in order to call yourself world-class.

On this night Syrus proved that he can reach that standard as well as anyone in the industry. More importantly on this night, as Jon Payne stood in the center of the ring showing respect after defeat, he realized that it really isn't all about winning that makes you great. It's the fight. The thrill of the battle and the love and RESPECT of the sport.

With all that rolling through his mind at that moment, Syrus grasped Jon's hand firm and shook it proudly to the cheer of the people of Italy...

BuZZ: Now that is unexpected. Payne extends his hand to a man who he has gone though battle after battle with, and he accepts it! Looks like we just might have had Syrus Sykes all wrong, Roachy.

Roach: Well that remains to be seen, but one thing is clear. Jon Payne is a man who loves a good fight and doesn't mind someone getting the better of him. He showed a lot of class with what he did, and Sykes shows just as much accepting the gesture. You have to believe that these fans certainly appreciate this display of good sportsmanship...

[Jon Payne]

It was at that moment that words were finally spoken...

You earned it tonight, Sykes. Be proud, but don't let it go to your head. You still need to even the score, remember that. One of these days I'll give you the chance.

It wouldn't be any time soon that they step in the ring against each other again, as announcements were made that would pretty much occupy Payne for next month, but there was no mistake in his mind that there were quite a few matches between them that were destined to happen down the road.

[Syrus The Entertainer]

I'm looking forward to it.

A simple enough response. The past three matches he's had in the XWA were more insightful than any he had in the indy circuit. If this was the level of competition to be expected here, it was going to be one helluva run.

Syrus loosened his grip of Payne's palm. The same crowd that had been booing him some 20 minutes earlier were now cheering-and he was pretty confident that they weren't just cheering for Jon Payne anymore. It felt good. As Jon gave a heads-up and made his way out of the ring, Syrus kinda soaked it in. It's kinda nice to be liked...

END