Gladiators (Cade)

[primo]

Primo Valiante stands in the middle of the ring following a previous segment. With a mic in hand, he looks out to the crowd...the National Title draped over his shoulder. Mixed reaction comes from the crowd, as the western fans booed, yet the traditional fans gave respect to him for his work in Japan based Pro Wrestling NEO. Primo raises his mic and speaks.

1st and foremost, I'd like to announce that I will not be defending the National Title this night.

The expected boos follow, Undaunted, Primo continues.

There is something more important on my mind this night then this title. There are not many men in this business I would say I respect. And even fewer men I would call my equal. One of the few men that I would though, is the man known to all as Kris Cade.

Cheers for the mention of Cade's name.

Between 2007 and 2008, Cade and I partook in a series of the most memorable matches XWA has and perhaps will ever see. He and I competed in the 1st King's Road match on American soil. We've competed against each other here in Japan, in America and in Europe. Ours is and perhaps will be for all time one of the most storied rivalries in wrestling. But there comes a time for all rivalries to end. As of the XWA Draft, Kris Cade is now a Takedown competitor. And I of course being the National Champion am an Overload competitor. So under most circumstances, the chances of another contest between us would be minute at best. Or so it would seem. Tonight's PPV is an "Open Challenge" format. Any superstar may challenge anyone else, no matter what show they are on. Which proves beneficial for me. Because tonight, my challenge is to Kris Cade.

Buzz: Oh man, I've been waiting for these two to lock horns in the ring again for months!!!

As it stands, we're all knotted up in the head to head. I've defeated you in three matches, Kris...a Singles match, a Tag Team match and the 1st of our two King's Road Matches. And you have defeated me three times...a singles match, A Pure Rules match, and the 2nd King's Road match. And before we part ways seemingly for the foreseeable future, we end this in the one place it matters...in the ring. I issue this challenge not as National Champion. Not as a member of Upper Echelon. Not as one of the greatest in-ring competitors in the world. I issue this challenge...one Gladiator to another. Tonight, the better man between the two of us will be decided. And you have my word by penalty of me relinquishing this National Title that no member of Upper Echelon will interject in this, before, during or after the match is concluded. Tonight will be a simple equation. You against me, with no distractions. And the better man will be the one with his hand raised in victory.

Primo lowers his mic. Not but a few seconds later, Kris Cade's theme cues over the PA...

[cade]

Cade steps out from backstage met with the cheers of the fans. Before making his way down the ramp, he stops midway to look out to the crowd, then down to the ring where Primo, his oldest rival in XWA stood. Cade continues to the ring, ascends the steps and enters. The pitch of the crowd told the story of what anticipation had quickly built up. Standing in front of Primo for a moment, Cade extends his hand to Primo for the mic. Primo obliges by handing it to him.

I've never been one for the long, drawn out speeches. So I'll make this simple. You and I have history, there's no doubt about it. Like you said, we've beat the crap out of each other across three continents. We've wrestled some of the best matches XWA's ever seen against each other. And much to the chagrin of the wrestling world, I can stand in this ring and say that thus far in XWA I've never competed against a man your caliber, and I haven't competed against anyone of your caliber since. Will that change once tonight is done and I set my sights in full to Takedown? Who knows. But what I do know is that it takes a lot to earn my respect. We might never see eye to eye personally, but professionally, you've earned my respect. You earned that a long time ago.

So as far as your challenge tonight. You and me, one on one, one last time. To settle the score and finally put our rivalry to rest. You're on. If there's one thing I know, it's that you're a man of your word. Be that good or bad, that's another story. But tonight, if you manage to beat me, I'll shake your hand and call you the better man. The catch is if I beat you, you have to do the same thing. We got a deal or what, Primo?

Cade hands Primo back the mic.

[primo]

Taking back the mic, Primo wastes no time answering.

Consider it done. And may the best man win.

Primo lowers the mic. Staring Cade in the eye, Primo takes a few steps towards the ropes. Stepping through the middle ropes, he drops down to the arena floor and starts on his way up the ramp.

Tony: This is going to be my 1st time seeing these two go at it in person, seeing as the last time they did we didn't have jobs in XWA, Willy. I'm definitely excited.

Willy: You ain't the only one. How many times do we get to see two, count 'em TWO world class wrestlers go toe to toe?

Goldman: This will be my 1st time seeing these two head to head in person as well. And I'm definitely anticipating one hell of a fight. This has match of the night potential for sure.

[cade]

Cade looks on as Primo ascends the ramp. His 1st match back in XWA after so many months would be against the one man in all of XWA he could actually call his rival. And the stakes were simpler then any match they had fought in previously. This time, all that was at stake was pride. Cade wouldn't have it any other way.

The End.