The Clincher (Invite)

[adam]

Vendetta returns from a video package highlighting the Global Title match, and the entrance theme of Adam Devlin cues over the PA system. The Tokyo Dome comes alive as the fan favorite emerges from backstage. The look on his face was expectedly uneasy after the results of last weeks 6 Man elimination match. A match that had implications on tonight's PPV.

Tony: Adam doesn't look to thrilled, and I can't say I blame him. Last week him, Osh Vaughn and Jaysone Jones were swept 3-0 in a 6 man elimination tag match made by XWA Administrative Director Marshall Dane.

Travis: A match that as we all know, had a unique stipulation attached to it. If Adam's team would have won, then they could have picked their opponents and their matches tonight. But as result of them losing, Overload GM Stan O'Malley is now forced to come out of retirement for one night, and actually compete in a match tonight against...well...we don't know yet. Marshall Dane has yet to name who he's going to put the GM in the ring against.

I don't like it one bit. O'Malley was a world champion in his day, yes. But he's been retired for 6 years now. He's not even stepped foot in a ring since his last match, a match I myself called. He's not even in fighting shape. This is Marshall Dane trying to make an example of Stan. It's obvious that Dane's got it out for both GMs. I almost shutter to imagine what he has planned for Mike Roach of Takedown.

Once inside of the ring, Adam calls for a mic.

Ladies and gents in the arena, and everyone watching at home. I stand before you tonight a humbled man. Last week, me, Osh Vaughn and Jayson Jones set out with a goal to achieve. And we failed to meet that goal. As result of that, a man who I respect and admire not only as a general manager, but as a mentor and a friend, Stan O'Malley, will be forced out of retirement to compete in this ring against someone of Marshall Dane's choosing. This doesn't sit well with me at all. Not because we lost. I've lost my fair share of high profile matches to know the feeling. What doesn't sit well with me is the idea that this assclown Dane thinks he can run up into things and call the shots just because he's XWA's 3rd in command. Now, I'll agree with him in some areas. Certain people on XWA payroll need a kick in the ass. Others need a reality check. But Overload has been the brand of XWA that has overshot it's expectation and for the most part, become the flagship of this company. That would have never happened without Stan O'Malley. He's done in one year what even Rodolphe Gallas and Carmella Blackheart couldn't do in the previous two. And how do you repay him? You force a guy who hasn't wrestled in six years to get back into the ring.

Adam paces the ring some as he continues.

Like I said last week, Dane. No one in XWA save for the big bosses knows you better then I do. I know what kind of man you are. I know that you're a spineless, manipulative sociopath who would let two starving hobos rip each other to shreds over a rotting piece of meat and try to sell it as "The New Bum Fights". All you see is the chance to make money at the expense of another man's physical well being. I know all to well what low you're willing to stoop to. But don't think for one second that your title and status in the XWA pecking order means you're safe from me, pal. I sent your ass packing when you had Mr. G's son Sabastien bankrolling you, and you two nearly ran this place into the ground. And I have every intention of doing it again. The mistake I made four years ago was not making sure you'd ever show your mug in this company again. A mistake I don't plan on making twice. You might be a shot caller now, Marshall. Head of the Board Of Directors and everything. But at the end of the day, you're still the spineless, gutless coward who has to hide behind status, or 7 footers to get his way.

Not much time would pass before Marshall Dane would make his appearance.

[dane]

Dane enters the arena with mic in hand. Perched atop the PPV stage, he responds in kind to Adam's comments.

If there's one thing we can always count on from you, Adam...it's your straight forward and honest nature. In a business full of puffery and blatant 1upsmanship, here you stand. A man who's not afraid to say exact what's on his mind. Not sugar coating or long, drawn out speeches. Even here in Japan, these fans adore and agree with you. Why? Because you've earned their respect. If ever there were a man in XWA who deserved the coveted title of "People's Champion", it'd be you. But unfortunately, as Brian Yang stated earlier this evening, it takes more then just having the people on your side to make it in this sport. You need something more. An edge. Something that makes you unique from the rest of the back. Something that you Adam, indeed have. Damn shame you don't have the will or resolve to realize it.

Yes, you and I have a sordid past. And yes, I was one of the men who aided Sabastian Gallas in almost tearing XWA apart from the inside out back in 2007. But ask yourself this, Adam. How did I go from one of the men instrumental in XWA's implosion, to the head of the board of directors? You would figure after my actions of 2007 I'dve been banished and exiled. But I wasn't. In fact, it was Rodolphe Gallas himself who came to me with the offer. Why? *Heh heh* Quite simply because, the man is a businessman 1st and foremost. And the world of business is a lot like Pro Wrestling. The man who is your enemy one day, can be your strongest ally the next. Gallas realized that will my knowledge of the business as a manager and promoter, what I brought to the table was something XWA was in desperate need of. Someone in corporate who had a beat on the true pulse of the industry. Someone who wasn't going to cut corners for the sake of making everyone happy. What I do, Adam...is for the greater good of the whole. Not for the benefit of few. That's what you and so many others fail to realize.

Dane pauses briefly.

I moved into the roll of Administrative Director in 2008, and have sat behind the scenes doing my part to help make XWA the #1 Wrestling organization in the world. Not sports entertainment, wrestling. But when 2009's season concluded, I saw something that disturbed me. Something that disturbed the board as a whole. The 2009 season of XWA fiscally was the worst season we've had. I'd naturally expect you not to know the numbers, but XWA grossed almost 29% less revenue then it did in 2009 then compared to 2008. And compared to 2007, last season what a complete and utter failure. What that translates to my friend, is a steady decline in revenue the past 3 years. But Carmella Blackheart would lead you to believe that nothing is wrong. She's the one who infact pulled the trigger on splitting XWA up into brands. She's the one who in fact saw fit to hand the keys to what was once the flagship program of XWA, Takedown...to a ring announcer. And we see what dividends that's paid off.

To his credit, Stan O'Malley has done a stellar job here on Overload. While his methods are suspect in my opinion, the fact of the matter is that Overload has out grossed Takedown by 60% in the last two years. Yes, 60%...more then half. Takedown can't even keep it's talent pool...or shall I say talent puddle, active enough to make minor appearances, let alone generate enough interest to bring up it's ratings. Takedown in fact, is the direct cause of XWA's steady decline in revenue. But Ms. Blackheart and those on her end would lead you to believe that nothing is wrong. And Gallas? He's to busy tending to the affairs of Gallas Global Enterprises to stop and realize that the ship is sinking ever so slowly. Which is why in fact I stand before you today. I'm cleaning up Blackheart and Gallas' mess, one problem at a time. And when I'm done, I'll either have corrected the SS XWA's course, or I'll sink it to the depths and rebuild a better version of it.


Travis: At least, we find out the true reason behind Dane's actions. And when you think about it from an objective view, he's perfectly right on all fronts.

Tony: If you call anything Marshall Dane has done this season right, then I have no problem being wrong, Travis.

Travis: You just don't see the whole picture, Tony. I ended up out of a job for almost 9 months because of one of many failed ideas XWA management came up with. I personally applaud Dane's radical methods of change.

[adam]

Facing the direction of the stage, Adam raises his mic and retorts.

Forgive me if I seem like I don't give a rats ass, Dane. Cuz I don't. You can tell me about XWA's fiscal projections and revenue until you're blue in the face. Fact of the matter is, and I say this not just to you, but to Mr. Gallas, Ms. Blackheart, and everyone else in XWA from the board of directors to Marty the janitor back at XWA HQ in New York. What's made XWA as a whole lose a steps is people exactly like you. People that got into the ear of Mr. G and Carmella and fed then the same BS you've been spewing since the season began. The same BS that O'Dell, Primo and Jasta have been spewing. The same BS that Sylk's been spewing over on Takedown for god knows how long. You wanna know why year one was the best year we had? Because in year one, all that mattered was the wrestling. It wasn't about PPV buy rates or who's selling more merchandise. It was about the core members of the roster getting into this ring, and proving that we weren't entertainers, we were wrestlers. Competitors. We sweat and bled for this company, and the fans around the world appreciated it. There wasn't politics, there was wrestling. Which ironic since XWA's new slogan as of 2009 was "In the ring is the only place that matters." Apparently to people like you, it the wallet matters a bit more.

XWA's become a spectacle. Shock value is what matters most, not actual skill in this ring. Guys like Upper Echelon, and Sylk over on Takedown bitch and moan about not getting big paydays. Rookies like Dan Ripley, Scott Epic and Jeremy Pendleton walk in and think they're owed everything because they can be witty and resourceful on a mic. Meanwhile, the men who carried this company on their backs, who built this place with their sacrifice get spat on and passed up for guys who YOU can market to mass media. Well guess what, buddy? I'm sick of it. I'm sick of watching this company, a company I helped build, get flushed down the damn toilet because of corporate money whores like you, while Mr. G and Carmella sit by and watch. I'll agree with you on one thing, they have let XWA turn into a total mess. But the mess wasn't their creation alone. It took everyone wanting to put their hands in the cookie jar to do it. And now that there's not as many cookies as their were in the past, it's an issue now.

Adam takes a deep breath, knowing full well that his next words would turn heads, in positive and negative ways.

XWA management from top to bottom dropped the ball last year. I respect Mr. G and Carmella to the utmost, and I thank them for giving me and so many other the opportunity to become what we are today. But they got complacent. Once XWA's competitors started dropping like flies, they felt there was no need to keep pressing forward. The old "If it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality. And the stuff they did fix ended up become total busts. Glitter didn't even last a whole year. 30% of Takedown's roster is either on I.R. or haven't even shown up, and there's the ongoing mutiny happening here on Overload. Well tonight, on behalf all of my peers backstage, and anyone who just doesn't have the balls to say it, I'm issuing a challenge of my own...to XWA brass. Step it up! You want a resurrection of the glory days? Let's make it so that competition in this ring matters more then how many shirts a guy is selling does. These fans aren't stupid. They see what XWA is becoming. Just another wrestling company. When four years ago it was something more. How many times do the same mistakes need to be made?

He focuses his net words on Dane.

Mistakes like allowing you to do whatever the hell you want for the sake of boosting ratings. You wanna boost ratings, Dane? Let's see you put your money where your mouth is. Stan's gotta wrestle tonight. How about you knuckle up and do the same, eh? How many of you people would like to see that?

Cheers soon follow as the fans respond.

See Dane? Ratings. So how about it? Let's up the ante. Tonight, you let me team up with Stan, and you team up with whoever your hand picked goon is, and we double up in a Tag Team match. The way I see it, that's the perfect way to get some headlines, don'tcha think? You're good at serving up others for the sake of ratings. Let's see if you're willing to take a few shots on the chin for it yourself.

[dane]

You could see on Dane's face how much he held in contempt Adam's words. More so the conclusion of what he had to say. Never a fan of being put on the spot, Dane replies.

Is that what it's come down to? Challenging my manhood? HAAAA!!! If there's one thing I know better then anything, it's not to get baited in by someone like you. But then when I think about it, Why shouldn't I indulge? I mean, it's not as if I have to worry about getting hurt, or beaten by you for that matter. I'll tell you what. You want a Tag Match between you and Stan and me and a man of my choosing? Fine. Consider it done.

Travis: And the stakes get risen even higher!!!

Oh but wait...perhaps I should let you know who my partner will be. A man I have the utmost confidence in. A man I put all my faith in the ability of. And more importantly, a man you've yet to defeat one on one. That man of course, is...


Primo Valiante.

A grin crosses his face as the fans boo the mention of Primo's name.

How's that sound to you, Adam? Adequate enough?

[adam]

Adam smiles and responds.

Go right ahead and bring the Italian meatball with ya' if you want. Doesn't make a difference to me. At the end of the night, me and Stan are gonna be doing something I myself should have done 4 years ago. Put our foot up your ass. But don't take the ass kickin' we give you personally "boss". It's all business.

Adam's theme hits the PA soon after. With a satisfied grin on his face, he lowers his mic. The 1st part of the plan was complete. Stan O'Malley was no longer about to be fed to the wolves. But Adam knew that his words and actions this night would have consequences that go far beyond trying to protect his friend and makeshift mentor.