I'm Dan Ripley

[pancho]

Overload comes back from a break with XWA newcomer Dan Ripley in the center of the ring. With a mic in hand, Ripley stands with a smug smirk on his face. Giving a cheeky grin, He speaks into the mic to the masses.

Allow me to formally introduce myself. I'm Dan Ripley. And ladies and gentlemen...I'm better then you.

This gets the crowd's juices going, as boos quickly follow.

Tony: I've heard tons about this kid. Dare I say he might be the most smug, arrogant, cocky human being on the XWA roster, and THAT'S saying something, Willy.

Willy: You call it cocky, I call it "Swag". Look at him, the boy's got the total package.

Tony: He's also not wrestled a match in XWA. To come out and immediately say you're better then everyone? He's definitely not looking to be popular.

I know, I know. You don't believe it. But denial isn't going to help you, people. It simply won't. I'm better then each and every one of you, and I can prove it. Let me run it down for you. I was All-State right here in New York in High School Basketball four years in a row. I was recruited Top Class to play ball at Seton Hall University. Freshmen year at The Hall, I tried out for the wrestling team as a walk on, and made 1st string. As a collegiate athlete, I was a Division 1-A All American in Basketball AND Greco-Roman Wrestling. I won the NCAA National Championship in the Light Heavyweight Division my Junior year. I had professional scouts from all over the NBA frothing at the mouth for me to declare eligibility for the draft after my senior year...but I didn't. I graduated at the top of my class with a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology Management. So instead of going into the NBA, I went on to work for Conde-Nast Publications, where I flew up the corporate ranks. In two years time, I was head of my own department, where we oversaw ventures that made more money then all of you people will see in you lifetimes...combined.

Brazenly pacing the ring, Ripley continues to lay it on.

While working for Conde-Nast, I started my own Marketing Firm. A Firm that's net worth as of 2008 is now 240 Million Dollars. And on top of all of that, I decided just for kicks that I wanted to try my hand at Pro Wrestling. Just as a...hobby. And as it turns out, I was better then most in that as well. One year into my career as a Pro Wrestler, and look where I am? XWA. The grandest wrestling organization in dare I say the world. It took me one year to be ready for the big leagues. One...year. You've got some guys here in XWA who've been doing this all of their lives and still haven't amounted to jack in this business. I'm doing this for kicks, and I'll probably achieve more this year then most of the so called "athletes" backstage will their whole god damn lives. There's your proof, ladies and gents. There it is, in crystal clear black & white. There's good...there's great...there's Dan Ripley. End of story.

He was definitely "winning over" the fans with his display.

This brings me to my opponent for this evening, Mr. Cody Black. He falls right into the category of one of those guys who's "paid his dues". But in all truth, what do you really have to show for your career, eh Cody? A few nagging old injuries. A few scars. Maybe a couple busted marriages. A title run here and there, but...what legacy do you have behind you? But not just you, I ask that to pretty much anyone in XWA who fits the bill. What are you going to be remembered as? A lot of you won't be remembered at all, let's face it. You all work so diligently to stay afloat in the ocean that is XWA, but c'mon. Most of you are gonna end up drowning like soooooooooo many other *ahem* "superstars" who ended up at the bottom of the sea. Cody, you're no different. You might be a veteran. You might have been one hell of a champion, and still have a few runs left in you. But I deal in fact, not fantasy. And going by the numbers, you matched up against me isn't looking so hot. Let's take into account your last three XWA matches. You went head to head with one of the most fearsome men in the sport, Bryan Jasta three times. And you lost to Bryan Jasta...three times.

And tonight, you're matched up against me. A man who's cut from the same mold as Jasta as far as skill sets go. The difference being, I'm not only more agile then him...I'm younger then him. I am without a doubt the most physically gifted athlete on XWA payroll. I defy anyone...and I do mean anyone...to try and dispute that fact. No, you people haven't seen me wrestle...in XWA. But I'm sure a lot of you have seen me compete elsewhere, as well as the many vids of my indy matches all over the net. So you, Cody Black...you have the honor and distinguished privilege to the 1st stepping stone to my meteoric rise to the top of XWA. I've won on every level I've competed. And given the talent pool in XWA, or shall I say lack there of...I don't see that changing...any...time...soon.

Ripley lowers his mic. Just then, the entrance theme of Cody Black begins to play. With his nonchalant grin, Ripley turns in the direction of the stage in wait of "The King Of Rock".

[hc]

{{ACDC's Back In Black plays, and the fans give a rousing ovation for the long time fan favorite. Cody comes to the stage with a mic already in his possession, and quickly sounds off on the statements of Dan Ripley.}}

Just what this business needed, another cocky, head stuck up his ass pretty boy. You know, I lost count how many of you we have runnin' around XWA. Let's see, there's O'Dell, Robby Sylk & his new butt buddy Ryan X. Caliber, That Nathan Browne fella, Lionel Xander. Come to think of it, XWA's starting to become DOUCHEBAG central across the board. And that ain't sittin' to well with me. You come out here and run your mouth about how you're better then everyone, giving us your whole life story in a bottle, but the simple fact of the matter is you ain't impressin' me. You see, Danny-Boy, I've been doin' this for a long time. And in that long time, I've seen guys like you come and go. There's a saying we have for fellas like you. "The Flavor Of The Month". Sure, you come out and talk big your 1st night of work, and you might even have some marginal success like some of the other guys I've mentioned. But after a while, people start to simply not give a crap about what you say, because it's the same thing week after week. Let's take that Sylk fella for example? How many times has he actually came out to the ring and said something that basically wasn't 7 minutes of hot air and self-promotion?

{{Cody looks around to the crowd as if searching for an answer.}}

Or for that matter, Scott O'Dell. How many times has he opened his yap and not tooted his own horn? It's just like they say, you chumps are a dime a dozen. The problem is we have about $50 worth of you in XWA, which is about $48.50 to much if you ask me. And yea, I'll take one on the chin, Bryan Jasta kicked my ass. I take no shame in sayin' that on account that despite the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of him on a personal level, he's as good as they get in that ring, and about 1000 times better then you, or any of the rest of you loud mouth jokers. He doesn't talk about it, he does it. And he did it to me three times. But bet your ass I'm not going to take that lying down. I never do. Jasta is in the near future for me though, and you're the now. And believe me, Ripley, you have my full attention. As far as me here in XWA, I haven't exactly given my best. But even us old dogs hit our slumps. That's the way the game is. But tonight, in that very ring, I'm not only going to give a vintage Cody Black performance, but I'm going make you eat your words. Tonight, you're going to have two options...

...put up, or SHUT up.

[pancho]

Dan gives a confident grin as he responds.

Dime a dozen, eh? If I were going to compare myself to a coin, It'd be a Presidential Collector's Dollar Coin. Why? Because their rare, and one of a kind. You see Cody, I'd expect you to come out here and play the old "Dime a dozen" card. It's the only play you have. Because when you look at things from an actual objective point of view, you don't match up very well. You're a brawler. A rough and tumble street fighter with a few wrestling skills picked up along the years. Me? I'm a born and bread athlete. A young man who is genetically gifted in ALL areas. They say "You can't couch true talent". They couldn't be any more correct. You see, unlike some of the names you dropped...well...unlike like all but one of them, my credentials speak for themselves. I'm was a superstar athlete AWAY from wrestling long before I decided to make this what I do. Kinda makes me feel sorry for guys like you who have been at this for so long. You know, made this you life's dream. It took me a year to get up to speed enough to compete with anyone in this company. A year. And I'm not even anywhere close to my prime, whereas you're past yours. I don't have to put up or shut up tonight, my friend. All I need to do is come out to this ring, wait for them to ring the bell, and make you look like you're doing water ballet.

[hc]

{{Cody responds.}}

Yaknow, I've gotta hand it to ya. You just don't seem to quit. Kinda makes me think to myself that you must be an asshole 24/7. Dinner at the Ripley house must be a freakin' BLAST I tell ya. We're gonna see just how up to snuff you are, kid. Cuz from what it looks like, I'm gonna have to give you the ass kickin' your daddy shoulda gave you a long, LONG time ago. As a matter of fact, I'm done talkin'. The next conversation we have is gonna be my fists gettin' up close and personal with your jaw.

{{With that, Cody drops his mic. His music plays over the PA again, and after shooting Ripley a final stern glance, he returns backstage.}}