When it counts (Kaster)

[ames]

The elaborate pyro display comes to an end, and Overload was live from the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill. The fans come to their feet as the unmistakable theme of the National Champion Jimmy Ames hits the PA.

Tony: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to XWA Overload. And we kick off what's going to be a monumental night of action, with JIMMY AMES!!!

Jimmy, with the title belt around his waist...makes his way down the ramp. Usually quite jovial and high spirited, Jimmy's face this week told a story of focus and determination. Last week was fun & games, but this week, he knew what was at stake. This week, it was going to be him and the man who'd in recent months become his arch nemesis Kaster Troy in a one on one preview of their impending National Title match at Ring Rage. Jimmy enters the ring, and calls for a mic. With little hesitation, Jimmy addresses the Chapel Hill crowd.

Tonight's gonna be a big night for yours truly. I get Kaster Troy...in the ring...one on one. Last time he and I squared off mano e mano was in late April. A match I managed to pull out. But that was just one win. Kaster managed to beat me before that match three, count 'em, three times. So even though I beat him that night, it still doesn't change the fact that he's had my number. But that's where tonight comes into play.

Last week, that hot doggin' idiot Kelon J.A.H. cost us the match, because he wanted to have all the attention, and he got it all right. As well as a GTS right to the face by Yang. I didn't get nearly as much action as I was hoping to get. But again, that's where tonight comes into play. Kaster, you've beaten me three times, I've beaten you once. So the way it pans out is I have to beat you two more times to pull even. And low an behold, we've got two matches booked. One tonight, one at Ring Rage for the National Title. Notice the coincidence of it all?

This week, I don't have to worry about some good for nothin' chump who doesn't know how to tag in his partner gettin' his face rocked. This time, it's just you and me. And this time, I'm gonna do one better then what I did the last time you and me went head up against each other. You see, this for me is about more then just the National Title. It's about provin' something not to the fans, or the critics, or even to you. It's about provin' to myself that I've finally arrived. When the dust settles and the smoke clears...I'll either ha...

Before he could finish, the entrance theme of Kaster Troy hits the PA.

Willy: Looks like we ain't gonna have ta' wait to see some fireworks, tonight!

[kaster]

Kaster steps out from backstage with a mic already in tow. As he begins to speak, his theme music fades.

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. Have we not learned anything since our last "dance"? I would have at least figured that you would have learned one of the key rules to surviving in this brutal, unpredictable world we call Professional Wrestling. And that's "Leave nothing to chance." Words that I've lived by my entire career. Words that I thrive in every match I've ever wrestled by. Because when you leave nothing to chance, you leave little doubt as to what the outcome will be. Last week, Brian Yang and I did exactly that. We took that poor, poor Caribbean punk Kelon...and we beat the hell out of him. It wasn't the fact that he didn't tag you in. It was that fact that we didn't let him. He came out here and shot off at the mouth, and we...Yang and myself...shut him up. And might I say watching Yang hit the coupe de gras on Kelon was like watching Rembrandt paint a masterpiece. But just as easily as we dissected that waste of XWA payroll, it could have just as easily been you.

Kaster laughs to himself whilst the fans show their "appreciation" for him.

But that would have been no fun. Yang and I agreed backstage that we were both going to make short work of Kelon. But you? No, no, no...I wanted the pleasure of humbling you on my own terms. What is it you always say? "Serving up a slice of that ol' Humble Pie". Yea, that's it. Seems to me like you've never had a taste of your own home cooking. Or at least, not since the last time I force fed it to you. You talk about the fact that you need to beat me two more times to break even. What's to say you even can? It took you digging deeper then you've ever had your entire career to get the better of me. Can you do it again? Or even more so can you do it two times in a row? I'm not to convinced that you can. It's not everyday that a champion goes into a match the underdog, but...let's face facts here. That's exactly what you are. Even with you now holding the most prestigious title in XWA, all the pressure is on you. "Can he beat Kaster again?" "Can he defend the National Title successfully?"

Questions abound. And tonight, we start answering them...one...by one.

Kaster waits for the response of Jimmy.

[ames]

Jimmy readies himself for a response.

You know somethin', Kaster? I've gotten used to those people askin' those same questions. Because they've been askin' 'em for years. "Can he beat Testudo?" "Can he beat Evan Fate?" "Can he beat Lionel Xander?" "Can he beat Primo?" I've played the role of underdog since the day I broke off from O'Dell and Alston and became my own man. And since then? I've only become the most decorated champion in this entire company. But even despite that, you still have people out there who ask questions. People out there who still have their doubts on if I'm the real deal, or just real lucky. Well, ya' know what they say about luck...it's 30% necessity and 70% opportunity. And when opportunity comes a' knockin' at Jimmy Ames' door, I let 'em in with open arms.

The crowd shows their unwavering support for Jimmy.

Tonight? It's another opportunity for me to set the pace, and let the wrestling world that Jimmy Ames ain't goin' no where, and neither is the National Title. We're gonna raise the stakes tonight, Kaster. It's not gonna be just some tune-up or preview match. Nuh-uh...not a chance. Tonight's match is gonna hold some weight. It's gonna be just as important as when we get in this ring for the strap. Because tonight's gonna be a "Pick Your Stip" match. You and me, one on one...and the winner gets to choose what the stipulation for the title match is going to be. And I mean ANY match. Doesn't matter how depraved or unfair it is to the loser. Let's see how good your poker face is, Troy.

Willy: Pick yo' stip...thas' wassup.

Tony: But this can backfire on Jimmy, big time. If Kaster wins, I'm almost certain he'll pick the most onesided, underhanded, unfair match he can possibly think of in that sick, twisted brain of his.

[kaster]

Kaster gives an unexpected look of surprise from what Jimmy had just proposed before responding.

Now that's what I call throwing caution to the wind. So you have the much faith in yourself...that you're willing to pretty much throw your 1st run as National Champion down the tubes. Eh, so be it. We'll go by your terms, Ames. But...don't say that you weren't warned. Because not if, but when I win tonight...what I have in store for you will be a match you might not be able to walk out of the Time Warner Cable Arena on your own power to, let alone win.

Kaster lowers his mic. He awaits the final reply of Jimmy Ames.

[ames]

Jimmy speaks his response.

Is that right? I'd expect nothing less, seeing as you'd need to stack the deck against me anyway. Things change Kaster. I figured you would have realized that when I beat you. That I had changed up my strategy to something that you weren't ready for. But I guess I'll have to give you a friendly reminder tonight. Tonight and at Ring Rage, I make good doing what I said I was going to do. Ain't no force on Earth gonna take this title off my waist. Not you, not anyone. Jimmy Ames ain't in the show losin' business. He's in the show stealin' business. And brutha'...Business is'a BOOMIN'!!! And it's gonna go boom boom boom right upside yer melon. And why? Because it's what the people want. And I am...a man of the people.

Jimmy lowers his mic, and his theme music cues over the PA once more.

Tony: Kaster Troy. Jimmy Ames. The winner tonight chooses the stipulation for what's easily the most anticipated National Title match in recent memory. This one is going to be a match you'll kick yourself for missing, ladies and gentlemen. And it's our main event on a stacked Overload...live from the Dean Smith Center.

As the two men glare one another down in anticipation for what was certain to be a high stakes match, Overload goes to it's 1st break of the evening.