Balance (Pendleton)

[tryton]

The show couldn't be complete without an appearance from the World Champ, and with this...a season finale that was already full of intrigue leading into Only The Strong, anticipation mounted for how Tommy Tryton would react to his loss to #1 Contender Jeremy Pendleton III last week. As his music plays, Tryton heads to the ring already dressed in his ring gear, the World Title wrapped around his waist. Tryton climbs the ring steps, enters the ring, and calls for a mic.

Where I'm from, the great state of Minnesota, we don't make excuses. Especially when we get beat. We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, put up our fists, and get ready for the next fight. Pendleton? You got me last week. And you got me good. I bet it did wonders for that over inflated ego of yours. And I can imagine that when you come out here as I know a spotlight whore like yourself will, you'll have the whole "I'm superior, blah blah blah" speech ready. A continuation of the crap that came rollin' out of your mouth last week about me not being ready to be World Champion. Well Pendleton, fact of the matter is that I am World Champion. You beating me last week? Just showed that you can beat me. No one said ya' couldn't. I sure as hell didn't. But beating me isn't what matters. Beating me when the belt's on the line, that's what matters. So you could come out here and bust me open again like ya did last week for all it matters. Still doesn't mean a damn thing, because in one week's time, I'm walking out of Only The Strong STILL the World Champion.

The crowd cheers loudly for Tryton.

Matt: Lots of respect for the champ Tryton here in Europe.

Tryton continues.

I'm man enough to admit you beat me last week Pendleton. Right in the center of this ring. The question is, are you gonna be man enough to admit that I beat you here, tonight? Because that's what I'm gonna do. As you can plainly see, I've got my gear on, and I'm ready to go. So what's it gonna be, Pendleton? You gonna sit on your ass and enjoy your win over me, or are you gonna knuckle, lace 'em up, and grind it out with me one more time? And this time? The results are going to substantially different then the last round.

Matt: I do believe he's just called out Pendleton, partner.

Buzz: I think his brain's not working right. Might still be feeling the effects of getting dropped on his head. What makes him think he's gonna best Pendleton tonight?

Just as Buzz finishes, the entrance theme of the #1 Contender begins to play.

[Jeremy Pendelton III]

"Angry Chair" suddenly begins to play, and out from the back to an applause of pure disdain comes Jeremy Pendelton. He has that signature smirk on his face as he walks down to the ring. He too was also in his full ring attire.

Matt: And here comes an ever-confident #1 contender. As much as you hate to admit it, you have to give this man credit. He won a good match last week and pinned the World Champ.

Buzz: Yeah, and Tryton now thinks he's got the gumption to stand toe-to-toe with him again tonight. Looks like JP's got the same thing in mind.

As he walks up the stairs, a mic waits for him that he promptly takes up. Stepping through the ropes, he stands eye to eye with the champion, still smiling before he speaks.

You know Tryton, for a man who last week claimed to know so much and have been through so much, you really don't know much at all, do you? Especially when it comes to yours truly. Do yourself a favor and take whatever empty-headed misconceptions to have about Jeremy Pendelton III and and flush them. I'm not some wet behind the ears rookie who is going to stand here and gloat about one victory. What I am going to talk about though is the truth.

In that truth, I said that I was going to put you through a Crucible of my own. If you've done your research, you'd know that the USMC's Crucible isn't just one day. It's closer to three. 54 hours to test all of your skills, all of your training and all of your knowledge. What that means is that I'm not done. You can say all that you want to about "winning when it counts". That's what just about every champion uses as an excuse for themselves when they fall short when their title isn't on the line. For me, Only The Strong is not all that matters. Last week, and tonight, count all the same.

He smiles again.

Matt: This guy can come off as cocky one second, cold & calculating the next.

Just like OTS will count. Like I said before, I want to know what Tommy Tryton's caliber is. One match doesn't tell the story, my friend. That last week was only the first chapter. Tonight, you and I pick up right where we left off...and we see if you can back up all of the tough talk you're laying down right now.

Meanwhile, victory aside, everything that I said that I was going to do...I have.

He lowers his mic and waits for a response.

Buzz: This guy's got some kind of gameplan, doesn't he?

[tryton]

Tryton shakes his head as he paces about the ring. Whilst doing so, he responds.

There ya' go with that metaphorical mumbo-jumbo again. Ya' know, I think I'd rather be dealing with some flash in the pan cocky jackass, because at least I'd understand what the hell he was trying to say. You said you were gonna do a whole bunch of things last week. Beating me, is the only one you actually got done though. Because testing my pedigree? Seeing what I'm made of? *Hmmmp* You ain't seen nothin' yet, blondie. If last week was just the 1st chapter as you say, then I sure as hell can't wait to read what else is in the story. Cuz I know what the next chapter is gonna read. Tommy Tryton kicks Jeremy Pendleton's ass. Now that's has the makings of a New York Times Best Seller if I've ever heard it.

Tommy lowers his mic in wait of what Pendlton would say next.

[Jeremy Pendelton III]

I haven't seen anything yet?

Jeremy paused, a little puzzled at some of the words coming from the champ.

Well, well. What that means to me is that either you didn't put everything into last week's match, or you just plain underestimated me. In either case, that's a recipe for disaster. Let's hope for the sake of you retaining your title by any stretch of the imagination that you take the next two match a little more seriously. Because you already know, or at least you should at this point, just how serious I am.

[tryton]

Tommy raises his mic for a final reply.

Oh, I know exactly how serious you are, Pendleton. You wear how serious you like you do your tights. Last week, I might have took my eye off the ball a bit. Still riding the high of winning the title and all. That was my mistake. And you bein' the student of the game you are, you capitalized on it, pounced, and beat my ass. But in you doing that, you woke me up to realizing that in order to keep this belt on my waist, I need to raise my own bar to make sure that last week, never happens again. And if I have any say in the matter, it won't. Ya' see, there's this thing that tends to happen a lot to me. It's happened tons of times in my career. When I'm faced with a challenge that requires me to dig deeper then I normally have to, I tend to always pull out the stops, and rise above that challenge. Facing you is damn sure a challenge. I'd be ignorant not to acknowledge that. Which mean that just like every other time I face a challenge, I meet it head on, and I beat it with flying colors.

So we'll just see how I do with this one tonight, then again at Only The Strong.

Tryton's music hits the PA there after. As he lowers his mic, we hear from Goldman & Berman.

Matt: You get the feeling we're seeing the birth of what can easily be one of the most historic rivalries in XWA history here, Buzz.

Buzz: Wouldn't surprise me one bit. They're both a pair of blue chippers, not even remotely close to their prime, but on a collision course for the biggest prize in the sport. That's gotta say something about where both these men's careers are headed.

Matt: Pendleton took the 1st meeting last week. Round 2 happens tonight, and the final round at OTS will have the World Title on the line. One man will win the battle, and leave Europe champion, but I think the war between these two young men will be far from over.

Takedown then goes to commercial.