In the saddle (Invite)

[x]

Overload was on and line from the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Canada. There wasn't an empty seat in the area as the Canadian tour continued. After the opening pyro display, we go to Tony Gomez and Travis Rose at ringside.

Hello and welcome to XWA Overload! Tony Gomez joined of course by Travis Rose at ringside, and we've got one hell of a show in store for you tonight. We now know who will be competing for the XWA Global Title in The Crucibal at Ring Rage, and tonight...we hear from the reigning champion Lionel Xander on his thoughts of who he'll have to outlast to retain that title.

Fine choice of words, Tony. Because to win The Crucibal, you have to endure punishment unheard off. Unlike it's spiritual brother The Devil's Playgorund, The Crucibal has 4 competitors in the ring as opposed to 6, but all 4 men start in the ring at the same time, and the winner is the man who can withstand the brutality inflicted upon him and climb the cage. Without a doubt, the man or woman who wins The Crucibal will have earned the title they've challenged for.

Lionel Xander's theme hits the PA.

Looks like we won't have to wait to hear what the champ has to say.

Xander saunters out from backstage with the title in tow. A curiously confident grin was on his face. He makes his way down to the ring and is handed a mic upon entering it.

A lot of people have been asking me over the last week "Hey Lionel, what are you smiling about???" If you have to ask me that one, you've been living under a rock. I'm smiling because My title reign as XWA Global Champion isn't in danger of ending. In fact, I would have been more worried if I had to defend against Chet Dixon.

The long time XWA fans obviously got the reference.

Let me spell it out for those of you who haven't figured it out. One one side we'll have Jimmy Ames, who exacted his rematch clause to get his spot in the match. The same Jimmy Ames who I've beaten countless times in the past, including last week. On the other side we have Jonny Punch, XWA's resident drug addict, who'll probably be to tore up to even climb a turnbuckle let alone a steel cage. And last but not least we have Toa, who's all brawn without a doubt, but is probably gonna be more interested in putting Punch in a full body cast then winning the Global Title. *Heh heh heh* It almost seems unfair when you think of it. Me, the undisputed "King Of The Cage" against 3 other men who in their own respective ways, don't stand a chance of winning. That's why I'm smiling people. For as hard as XWA made it for me to become a champion, they're certainly not exactly throwing out the best challenge against me for my 1st of what's gonna be many, many maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaany title defenses.

Lionel's brash grandstanding would be halted, as the entrance theme of one of his 3 opponents at Ring Rage hits the PA.

[punch]

Into the arena comes XWA's village whino,
!!!JONNY PUNCH!!!

The crowd roars in cheer as he steps out onto the stage. A mic in one hand, his trusty kendo stick in the other. He walks down to the ring and slides under the bottom rope. Inside of the ring, he takes a long look at Xander before raising his mic to speak.

Yanno, it's one thing to be confident. It's a whole other thing to be plum outta' ya' damn mind. That's what I take you as when I hear you speak, Xander. Seriously, are you mental or something? You actually think you have even the smallest shred of a chance of walking out of Ring Rage still champ? Dude, let me bring you back down to Earth a lil' bit. Let's flashback to 2008. A lil' match you yourself came up with called "Xtreme Warfare". A match that if I recall, happened in a Steel Cage. You, m, Brian Yang before he became a douchebag, Pablo Reyes, and a couple thousand dollars of Home Depot goodies. There was no escaping the cage that night, the winner was declared by who could knock out the next guy. And as I recall...well, instead of tellin' ya', let me give you a visual reminder.

Classic XWA footage plays, highlighting the climax of the match. It shows Punch securing a table against the turnbuckle, and then putting Xander through it via a vertical suplex.

Brings back memories, doesn't it? It should. Because you did a hell of a lotta talkin' before that match, too. Didn't exactly end all that well for ya'. So here we are two years later. You're still a loud mouth, but you're a loud mouth who calls himself Global Champion. Finally, at long last, you're at the top of the heap. For now.

You and I have been in this company for about the same time. You've been posturing and pandering since day one about how you're XWA's best kept secret, and hell...in the last four years you've compiled a list of wins even more impressive then some of the big wigs runnin' around. There's no denying your talent, Xander. I'd go as far as sayin' you're one of the top 5 pound for pound competitors in the company. But if talkin' outta your ass had a championship, you'd be the New York Yankees of grandstandin'.

As he rests the Kendo stick on his shoulder, he adds.

So ya' beat Jimmy last week one on one. Big deal. I gave Osh Vaughn the old three peice and a biscuit last week to get me into the Crucibal. Problem is Toa came along for the ride. But the fact of the matter remains, you've got to be outta' your gord if you think any of us don't realize what's at stake. Kicking your ass is an added bonus. Kicking each others asses is an added perk. But winning the Global Title is the grand prize. And I like prizes.

With a cheeky grin, Punch waits for Xander's response.

[x]

Lionel chuckles to himself briefly before speaking his retort.

Ah the memories. I remember that night well. How can you forget being put through a table by a guy who wreaks of Jack Daniels. But a lot has changed since then my good man. A whole lot. As we stand in this ring right now, my greatest XWA achievement is winning this here Global Title. Yours on the other hand, come to think of it...what have you done here in XWA? You ran that Styles fella out, that was good. You beat that Vain kid into early retirement. Had a few scraps with Jonny Aces if I recall, and most recently...last year you helped put over that chump of a champion Sushi-X right before O'Malley gift wrapped him the No Limits Title. In other words, you've done bupkis compared to me. I've been in this ring with some of the best XWA, no...the world has to offer. You've been in the ring with 2nd rate losers and wash-outs. It's almost as if they hand you the jokers who are on their way out of the door, or the charity cases that they desperately need to make look good. Cuz' let's face it, anyone looks good when they're matched up against you. You've got maybe...what...3 actual wrestling moves in your arsenal? Any idiot can get in this ring, throw a few punches and swing a kendo stick. Reason why you haven't been able to crack into the next tier Punch, is because you're not good enough.

Xander needs to be careful. That's like poking the proverbial hornets nest.

It's only now, in 2010 that you've obviously laid off the sauce long enough to realize that your career is going no where fast. You've been in a couple Title matches. Hell, you were in the 1st Crucibal last year along side of me and Hayden representing Overload. How many pins did you get that night? I was one pinfall away from being XWA World Champ. I had control a majority of the match before Tryton lucked out and got two more pins before it was over to best my score. And who was one of the guys he pinned? Oh right...you. I think you've finally realized that the clock is ticking, buddy. 4 years in this company and all you have to show for is a co-loose screw award. So now, you're actually taking what's coming seriously. Damn shame it's not gonna make a difference. I'm XWA Global Champion, and it's going to stay that way. And there's nothing you, Toa or Ames can do about it.

It sounds to me like Xander's got some sort of plan cooked up. I'd love to know what it is, because outside of divine intervention, there's no way hey can actually believe he's coming out of Ring Rage still champion.

There in lies the problem that you, the fans, and even XWA management have had for years. Underestimating Lionel Xander. He's one of the smartest men in the game. Don't think for a second that he doesn't have a plan B or even a plan C.

Lionel waiits for Punch's reply.

[punch]

Punch readies his reply.

I was damn sure good enough to put your ass through at table. But I guess you'd just write that one off as a fluke, right? And yea, I'll give it to you in that I haven't faced the top level of XWA's talent pool. But it damn sure ain't because I'm not good enough. It's because they're all scared shitless to get in here and get their asses handed to 'em. You know which one of the top tier has had the brass to scrap with me? Syrus The Entertainer of all people. The last guy you'd even think was and is the only man with the stones to fight me in my domain. You're damn right, I'm not a wrestler. I'm a brawler. Always have been, always will be. I do it better then anyone in the game. If Vincent Fate, aka Riot is the "King of Hardcore", call me the MEGATRON of Hardcore. The only thing I've realized is that I shoulda' did this a long, long, loooooooooooooong time ago.

With permission

With a heaving swing, Punch introduces his Kendo stick to the skull of Xander. The cracking noise it made echoed into both men's mics, making the crowd let out a collective groan.

Rose: That was completely uncalled for!!! Jasta hit it on the nail last week, Punch is nothing short of a barbarian!

Punch leans over the fallen Xander and concludes by saying...

It's a good thing you're puttin' the "X" back into XWA, pally-boy. Cuz we're gonna see how "Xtreme" you can get. You and me, tonight...Xtreme Rules. And if you're lucky, I'll leave enough of you intact to limp your ass into Ring Rage.

He drops his mic. As his music cues up, he hoists the Kendo stick high into the air, met with a rawkus cheer from the fans.

[x]

Punch begins to leave the ring. As he does, the camera focuses in on Xander, who sits up clutching his head with a scowl on his face.

And I bet O'Malley's gonna let Punch get away with that. An unprovoked attack on the Global Champion. And worse still, an Xtreme Rules Match?

Don't get your panties in a bunch, Travis. Xander's got experience in Xtreme/Hardcore wrestling. If he's as good as he often touts himself to be, facing Punch in his yard should be no problem.

I'd expect you to say that. I personally hope Xander bends a chair over Punch's skull.

Xander reaches out and grabs hold of the Global Title, which had fallen next to him. As he does, Overload cuts to the 1st backstage segment of the night.