Action. Reaction. (Black)

[pancho]

As Overload returns from a break, the Prudential Center PA fills with the sound of Dan Ripley's entrance theme. It was easy to tell that Ripley wasn't the the best of moods, and rightly so. He makes his walk down to ringside, smirking and jaw-jacking with the fans along the way. Sliding into the ring, Ripley walks over to the PA announcer girl and snatches the mic from her hand. The fans boo as Ripley shoos her out of the ring. The brash young superstar then begins.

Cody Black, I'm going to give it to you. You found a way to win last week. Despite the fact that I beat your Motley Crew ass from one end of the ring and back again, you found a way to win. Despite the fact that I split your head open like a melon, you found a way to win. Despite the fact that I am in every aspect of this sport superior to you, you found a way to win. They typically have an expression for that...

Dumb...luck.

The boos from the fans intensify as Ripley pours it on.

Last week, the better athlete didn't win. And I accept that it happens sometimes. The Chicago Bulls at there prime during the championship years went an NBA record 72-10. A feat that has never since even been come close to, but the fact remains that the greatest single season in NBA history still had 10 loses. Proof positive that the best of the best can still be beaten. And I know you Newark saps know a LOT about losing. At least my New York Knicks have a shot at making the Playoffs this year. What's your team's excuse?

The boos of the fans reach a deafening tone as Ripley lays in a low blow to the home town Nets.

I am the next dynasty in pro-wrestling. The next evolution of this business. Size, speed, technique, power AND conditioning. I am the perfect athlete. And the idea that I took my eye off the ball last week has made my stomach turn. But for every wrong there's always a right. And that leads us to tonight, Black. You...and me. I say you beating last week was the fluke to end all flukes. Wanna prove me wrong?

DO IT.

The challenge was set. Ripley stewed in the ring as he awaited the arrival of Cody Black.

[hc]

{{ACDC's Back In Black cues up, and the Newark fans cheer in respect and adoration for "The King Of Rock". As he steps out from backstage, a noticeable bandage adorned his head. As Cody makes his way to the ring, Tony & Willy weigh in.}}

Tony: Cody had to get 15 stitches to seal up that gash on his head Ripley left. But just like Ripely said, he found a way to win.

Willy: We like ta' call that "Gettin' it done". And Cody showed that he still can last week.

{{Cody stands in the ring mere feet from Ripley. Having retrieved the mic provided on the ring steps for him, Cody gets down to brass taxes.}}

If ya take a look at the two of us right now, you'd be hard pressed to figure out who the winner and who the loser was last week. I'll be the 1st one to admit it, Ripley. You beat the hell outta me last week. And as far as your claim as being the next next dynasty in pro-wrestling, you just might be. You have all the tools needed not just to become one of the best, but potentially the new benchmark in this business. To make your mark like say...a Scott O'Dell. Or a Brent Starr. Or a Jon Payne. Or a Dru Nedermeyer. You've got that kinda talent. But with all of that talent. All of the god given, physical gifts you have as an athlete, you're missing the one thing in wrestling that no one, and I mean no one is born with. And that's the will to fight on.

Cody begins pacing about the ring as he continues.

You think this is the 1st set of stitches I've ever got, kid? I've bled more buckets of blood in the last 11 years then every heart in the building has pumped combined. I've been flung through plate glass, put through flaming tables and powerbombed off of 20 foot high scaffolding. In 2003 I have my left tricep opened to the meat when I got drop toe holded into a line of Barbed Wire. But for every injury I've sustained, and for every ass kickin' I've taken in my career, I'm still standin'. I've seen men who have nothing close to your skill set last 20 years in the game, and guys who would run rings around you, me or anyone in this company bow out in less then a year. Why? Because they didn't have the stomach for it. It's not something you train in, it's something that you pick up over time. And I mean years. It's called knowing your limits. And you'll never know them until you're pushed to them. I still haven't found my plateau yet, which is why I can stand here, stitches in my skull...and say straight laced and to your face...

YOU SUCK!!!

{{That begets a supportive cheer from the fans.}}

Talent only gets you a quarter of the way, Ripley. And you've damn sure got talent. Hell, that's why they call you "The Talented" Dan Ripley. But what you have over me in talent, I have over you in damn near everything else. That's the reason I beat you last week, and that's the reason I'll beat you tonight as well. You're good, kid. REAL good. But you ain't great. Not yet. You've still got plenty to learn. And I'll be more the happy to give you another schoolin' tonight.

{{The fans were in full support of Cody. He could tell by the look on Ripley's face that his words hit a nerve. His response was going to be quite interesting.}}

[pancho]

Ripley was less the impressed by the words of Black. With his mic to his side, Ripley stands pondering what to do next. He nods, smirks and then...




CRACK!!!




Slaps Black clean across the face. The most blatant show of disrespect one man can show to another. Without a moments notice, he then beats a hasty withdrawal from the ring. The hissing and boos from fans were deafening at this point, but Ripley could care less. He backs up the ramp with an ear to ear smile.

Tony: I can't believe he's actually smiling after that! This kid is to damn bold for his own good. That's a 10 year veteran he just slapped in the face!

Willy: Dan Ripley don't respect anyone but himself. He's gonna have a lot of enemies in his career, that's fa' damn sure. And he just made it official that he don't care about tradition, sportsmanship or honor.

[hc]

{{Cody stands holding his jaw in the ring. Unexpected would be an understatement, but to the surprise of all, he wasn't in the least bit angered. Cody watches as the cocky young Ripley backs up the ramp, and he grins. All Ripley did was show exactly what Cody already knew. He was rattled. The blatant act of defiance shown mere seconds ago was a desperate move by a man trying to regain control of what he had lost control of a week ago. It was the same move Cody would have done years ago. The final shot would see Cody nodding with a smirk on his face as Overload cuts to it's next backstage segment.}}

{{The End}}