Hm. Not a Good Way to Start... (Invite)

[obsessed]

Madness returns from a video vignette for an upcoming title bout, and Jon Pryor is already standing in the ring, "Save Yourself" fading from the soundwaves. He's dressed to compete, raising a microphone to his mouth.

"Well... the XWA debut sure as hell didn't go well, now did it?" The crowd responds, still unsure of their stance for the former sworn enemy of the XWA. "Not the first time that it's happened. I'd be foolish to entirely believe that it'd be the last, but hey... we can hope for better, right?

It's not like some smart assed punk hasn't come, run his mouth to me before, and gotten one over on me. But, unlike Brent Starr... I don't think a future tag team with Dan Ripley's in the cards. He got what he wanted, I just don't care, I'm here to earn my pay and figure out my place in the XWA. Which, you know... means I need to fight to get a check. And, I just happen to have an open dance card... so who do you have for me, XWA? Let's send someone on out here, sign the match, and have us a good, little singles match for the night, hm?"

[pancho]

Almost on cue, Dan Ripley's familiar theme hits the PA.

Matt: Oh boy. Something in the pit of my stomach told me this was going to happen, Buzz.

Buzz: Since when has Ripley been one to just let sleeping dogs lay, Matt? You oughta' know better then that.

At the top of the stage, Ripley stands with mic in tow. He gives his classic smirk before raising it to smirk.

Unfortunately for you Pryor, unlike just about everyone in this business...I'm a man of my word. When I say I'm going to do something, you can damn well bet I'm going to see it through until the end. And last time you and I chatted, I said I was going to make your life a living hell. I can't very well have you waltzin' off thinking just because I handed you your ass that I was done with you, can I? Not a chance. Like I said last week. I'm going to beat you physically and mentally. I'm not going to run you out of XWA...no no no no noooooo...that'd be to easy. I'm going to make you quit. Tuck your tail under your legs and scamper out of here with whatever little pride you have after I'm done with you. Ya' see, last week I did what I already knew I could do. Beat you...convincingly. But that's like Kobe Bryant beating someone who's just touched a Basketball for the 1st time. A no brainer. Beating you isn't gonna cut it. Humiliating you? Now that's where it's at.

Ripley paces the stage a bit as he continues.

It's real funny you talk about earning your pay also. Finding your place in XWA. I can tell you where your place is right here, right now. Under my boot. And I know someone who happens to agree with me. That's the XWA Administrative Director, Marshall Dane. See, he feels the same way I do. He feels you don't belong here. But his hands are tied, and he can't touch you technically because he had no part in your signing. But what he is able to do...he already has. A few hours ago, I had a conference call with Mr. Dane, who's over with the Overload staff in Japan, and he already took the time to book us a match. Thoughtful of him, eh? I know what's rolling around that beady lil' head of yours. "What can possibly happen now?" I'll tell ya' what happens now. After we're done here, you go backstage and try...and I do mean "try" to find someone who's gullible...or stupid enough to be your Tag Team partner tonight. Because tonight's match is going to be in fact...A Tag Team match. Who's might partner? Funny you should ask.

Lowering his mic with an evil grin, the entrance theme of Ripley's partner cues up.

[vikram]

The song was Slayer's "Here Comes The Pain". A song most XWA fans new all to well off.

Buzz: HERE COMES THE PAIN!!! Ladies and gentlemen, if you're new to watching XWA, the man you see there is VIKRAM, and he's the last thing anyone who's sane wants any part of.

Matt: And he also happens to to be Ripley's associate. One of the most destructive, violent men I've ever seen in the ring. Who the hell is going to agree to be Pryor's partner knowing they have to stand opposite of Ripley and that ogre?

Vikram stands beside Ripley with a blank, empty look in his eyes and a scowl on his face.

[pancho]

Patting Vikram on his massive shoulder, Ripley raises his mic again to speak.

Oh yea, I should let you know that by order of Mr. Dane as well...if you can't find a partner by bell time...the Tag Team match as proposed becomes a Handicap match. Not that either of us need the man advantage against you. But it'll be fun beatin' you within' an inch of your useless life any way. *Heh heh heh*

Matt: Ok, Jon Pryor is no saint. We all know that. But what's he done to deserve this? He's just trying to start over. Turn a new page in his career. But here he is, his 2nd match as an XWA superstar and he's going to have to find a partner out of a locker room of talent who'd probably rather watch him get destroyed then help him out, or have to face Ripley AND Vikram in a Handicap match. You tell me where that's fair, Buzz.

Buzz:It's not fair. But that's the business for ya'. Pryor said he wants to earn his keep? Well he's gonna get more then his due tonight. You're still relatively new here, Goldman. If you knew what this guy has said and tried to do to undermind XWA's status in other companies, you wouldn't be questioning what Ripley's doing, you'd be applauding it.

Matt: So because he was an enemy to XWA for years, it's okay to feed him to the wolves?

Buzz: If he can make it out of tonight in one piece, I'll give him all the praise for being a tenacious, resourceful, resilient athlete. But that's IF he survives tonight.

All wait for the response of Pryor to what had just been laid in front of him.

[obsessed]

Wow. This wasn't good. Jon ran his hand down his face, leaving it to cover his mouth before dropping his head. "You're... basically telling me that I should have brought a friend in with me... aren't you. I knew it... who in their right mind goes behind enemy lines willingly?"

He drops his hand down to his waist, staring at the ground trying to think. "Once again, we all come around to the full circle. Nothing's change, nothing's new. I got pretty much smacked last week, and this week, I'm once again at odds.

Whatever.

Ripley? I still don't see you as even fit to hold my jock because frankly? You couldn't handle it. You underestimate the size of my balls... Your little Wellness Violation of a partner there doesn't scare me. I'll see you later tonight... even in the extreme probability that I'm coming out here alone through the sea of haters to try to escape certain destruction."

Goldman: "This is suicide... and he even knows it."

Buzz: "Well, he eventually accepted defeat when XWA ran a semi truck over him before... maybe he's realized just what kinda marked man that he is. He's got some stones, I'll give him that, but just like I said all those times back in the day... He doesn't have any brains."