Once More With Feeling (Romeo)

[Sushi-X]

Devil’s Night was well underway when the all-too familiar voice of DMX blared over the loudspeakers with Papa Roach’s “Getting Away With Murder” as its background music. An eclectic mix for the XWA No Limits Champion Sushi-X as he enters the arena floor through the curtain after a short fireworks burst.

Tony: Listen to them, Travis! Here’s the XWA No Limits Champion!

Travis: I give the man credit, he’s been a fighting champion, he’s been taking on and turning back all comers from all over the world, but you know as well as I do he shouldn’t be champion right now! He shouldn’t even have that mask on right now!

Tony: I get what you’re saying, but it was the discretion of the referee to count the pinfall.

Travis: It was a Last Man Standing Match, Tony! Both men agreed to it; you saw it! Sushi-X always talks about honor and doing the right thing, and if he were an honorable man, he would give his championship and his mask to Romeo right now!

Tony: Was the referee aware of the situation? What’s Sushi supposed to do in that situation, tell him not to count the fall?

Travis: YES! THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE’S SUPPOSED TO DO!

Tony: I’m sure that’s your opinion, and you’re sticking to it…

Just as Tony was about to finish his point, the champion walked by the announcer’s table to shake his and Travis’ hand, as he was accustomed to do before heading to the ring.

See that? Still the champ!

Travis: Just like Sushi-X to brag about being No Limits Champion.

Tony: I’m sure Romeo would have done the same thing if he had won the title at Ring Rage. But nonetheless, a lot of controversy from that event, and we saw the second ever Inferno Match in XWA history. The first involved the man standing in the ring right now. Let’s hear from the champion!

What’s good, Detroit!

The crowd at The Palace stood and cheered as the masked ninja held up his No Limits Championship belt.

For those of you that missed Ring Rage, first off, shame on you. It was a hell of a show, and once again, the red show carried it…no offense to the fine people at Takedown.

Tony: You can tell he’s Overload through and through. He’s definitely made a name for himself here.

You know, everybody knows that Brian “The Dragon” Yang is the longest reigning No Limits Champion in XWA history. Hell, when he first won this, it was under another name…the X-Gen title. I know this is hard to believe, but one year ago, way over on the other side of the pond, I won this belt by beating Yang. And I’ve been champion ever since!

Tony: He’s been a fighting champion, a great champion! You have to admit that, Travis!

Travis: I still say he shouldn’t be champion right now.

BY may wanna watch out, because I’m coming for that record. But let’s talk about more important matters… like Ring Rage. I know there’s a lot of controversy surrounding the match and all that. And I know somebody here didn’t see it. Guys in the truck, do whatever it is you guys do.

The video plays of the conclusion of the Sushi-X-Romeo Davis title match. Surely enough, there was the referee counting the pinfall and ringing the bell. And surely enough, there was the referee raising the hand of Sushi-X as he hands him his No Limits Championship belt. The crowd cheers as the video finishes playing on the big screen.

Now, now, I know there was a stipulation to the match that both of us agreed upon. And that stipulation was that if I lost, I would unmask, right here in this ring. And if Romeo lost, he would have to shave his head bald. I call your attention once again…to the big screen.

The video playing now is the XWA exclusive clip of Romeo Davis having his head shaved bald. Still, something was amiss. It was a last man standing match, but the referee at the time didn’t seem to know.

Romeo, I understand your anger. It was a Last Man Standing match. Maybe the referee didn’t know or didn’t care. You and I both know these refs have the interest of safety to be concerned about. Because if either one of us were to miss significant time, that’s money lost. That’s food off somebody’s table in XWA management, and we don’t want that right?

Travis: Just like Sushi-X to make light of a serious situation.

Tony: He’s just having a little fun, but he is right.

Look, once, I was in a flaming tables match with Jonny Punch, and I lost that match even though the table was never set on fire. It happens. It’s a vicious circle.


A moment later, Sushi-X’s eyes turn to a more serious demeanor.

But back to that video… you said you weren’t done with me. You said you had a surprise for me tonight. Well, that’s good, because I have a surprise for you. Get your bald ass out here!

The Detroit crowd cheered as he awaited the man he’d been feuding with for more than half the season: Romeo Davis.

[Romeo Davis]

No one had to wait very long before Romeo’s theme music begins to play throughout the arena. The fans immediately begin to boo at the man who truly has changed. He appears onstage showing off that he has indeed gone bald. Laughter can be heard as Romeo walks down the ramp. This doesn’t faze him as his eyes didn’t leave from Sushi-X’s since he emerged from backstage. He slides into the ring under the bottom rope and immediate grabs the microphone from ringside.

Sushi-X, we all know that I should be standin’ right here wit’ the No Limits title ‘round my waste and wit’ no mask on ya’ face. The simple fact that we had probably the dumbest referee here in the XWA, you stand over there wit’ the No Limits title and I stand here BALD! *The crowd erupts.* Shut up all of ya.’ But wit’ me bein’ the bigger better man, I abided by the stipulation of the match even though it wasn’t the match we both agreed on havin.’ I mean I hate the fact that I gotta be bald right now but it’s hair and it will grow back.

Romeo lowers the microphone and walks to one side of the ring then back to the center.

Before I say what I want the match ta’ be, what’s your surprise bro?

[Sushi-X]

Sushi-X thought about the news he was about to deliver to a clearly angry Romeo.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, bro! I'm the one with the belt here, I call the shots. You first. You said you had a surprise for me. right as you were getting... well... a little off the top. Listen. There's nothing to be ashamed about. There are a lot of successful people in the business that are bald.

But in all seriousness, how about telling all these people what YOUR surprise is first?

Travis: How could this man stand there and mock Romeo? Him and this crowd? I mean, the man's been stripped of his dignity out here!

The crowd cheers and there faint chants of "BALD! BALD! BALD! BALD!" through the arena. The chants would soon grow louder.

[Romeo Davis]

Romeo smiles before he raises the microphone to his lips.

I never really said that I had a surprise there bro. All I said was that I got a match and it really isn’t any kinda’ surprise ta’ anyone. People may think that I want a Pure Rules match which I made a livin’ of over on Takedown, but nah that ain’t it. Ya’ see Sushi-X I want this match to be the way it was supposed ta’ be at Ring Rage. This match is gonna be a Last Man Standin’ match. This way ya’ can’t use your lil’ roll up pin ta’ save ya’ ass in this match. I clearly was supposed ta’ be the winner of the match but that damn referee messed everything up. Tonight that ain’t gonna happen again. So bro, do ya’ accept the match or are ya’ gonna chicken your way outta this one?

[Sushi-X]

The ninja needed no more than a few seconds to think it over. The pause was for dramatic effect.

Lemme think about it... hell yeah I accept!

The Detroit crowd erupted in anticipation.

Tony: WOW! We will get our last man standing match after all!

Travis: It was the only decision he could make.

He waited for the crowd to simmer before he could drop his surprise.

On one condition.

You've been chasing this championship for the entire summer with no success. At some point, you either have to get it done or move on to somebody else. It happened to me with Bryan Yang last year, and I got it done. So tonight, you get it done or you move on. This will be your last shot at my No Limits title!

The crowd erupted at this surprising announcement.

Travis: This isn't right! He can't call the shots regarding titles! He's not management!

No more bitching or complaining about how you got close to that brass ring, and for some reason, someone kept you from grabbing it. We have a competent referee that knows the rules this time, and I'm sure someone can whip something together regarding the terms. So Romeo, yes... or... no?

The champion lowered his mic and awaited a response.

[Romeo Davis]

Romeo quickly lifts the microphone to his lips after Sushi-X lowers his microphone.

Hold up on that one bro! In my defense I never chased after the No Limits title. The first time I wanted a shot at the title was our match at Ring Rage. All I wanted ta’ do was get ya’ in the ring and tear ya’ from limb ta’ limb. Havin’ the title on the line is just a bonus ta’ me. But whatever it doesn’t matter to me. So be it that I lose the match tonight, which I won’t, I won’t challenge for that title again as long as ya’ got it Sushi-X. It don’t mean I won’t still come after ya.’ Are ya’ tryin’ ta’ use that as a defense against me bro? Well I’ll tell ya’ now that it ain’t gonna work. We don’t need any papers for this match. It’s already set in stone. Tonight once again Sushi-X will defend his No Limits title against yours truly in a LAST MAN STANDING match!

The crowd erupts after hearing the match named once again.

Travis: This will be a match that I look forward to. Romeo should be champion right now and now he will get his shot again with this time the match being what it really is supposed to be.

Tony: It will indeed be a Last Man Standing match. Maybe there will be a different outcome or maybe there won’t. I am still going back to saying that I want the old Romeo back but I don’t think that will happen.

Travis: Don’t we all Tony? He is a man on a mission right now though. He wants Sushi-X on his back staring up at the lights for the 10 count come later tonight. He wants Sushi-X to feel pain. These two were best friends and now they are the biggest enemies. As much as I would love to see these two wrestle side by side, I can’t wait for this match!

Sushi-X, don’t count on getting’ a pin this time around ‘cause it ain’t gonna happen. I may have lost my hair but I have not lost my wrestlin’ skill. I’ll see ya’ later tonight.

Romeo drops the microphone to the mat and stares into the eyes of Sushi-X. This man was his friend and he turned on his a couple months ago. To this day everyone is still wondering what possessed Romeo to do this but he hasn’t budged in telling anyone. Romeo exits the ring and proceeds to make his way up the ramp. He pushes the curtain aside and returns backstage.