SCENE BEGINS
(Fade into a darkened room, many obects dimly lit in the background. In the distance, one can see a full-scale professional wrestling ring, flanked by sets of workout and exercise equipment and machinery. It must be a gym. But standing closer to the camera is the darkened silhouette of a man.)
(A slow track in on the figure is followed by a cued spotlight. Immediately, the man is illuminated in a new light, giving the fans the first glimpse of a face that will be seen many times in the future of Empire Pro. Grinning is a solid man in a brown casual suit, arms proudly crossed over his chest. His tan skin and reddish brown hair seem flawless, in spite of his age, predicably in the forties. He looks exceedingly cocky, for some reason... or maybe that's just mistaken for immediate flamboyance. Perhaps too old to be a wrestler today, but anybody can tell he was a pro some time in the past.)
Man in Suit
For several years, professional wrestling has entertained millions of fans worldwide... from East Coast to West Coast... Canada to Brazil... London, England to Tokyo, Japan. And over the years, the industry has seen many men walk through its doors. We've seen champions... we've seen heroes and villains... and every man and woman who has done time in this sport has done everything in their power to entertain the fans.
And every now and then... there's always one person who stands out from the rest. The kind of wrestler, that... runs faster, hits harder, wins more triumphantly. In every aspect, he does things better. And for that reason, he gets remembered for all time.
People choose to call them... "Legends." And I, Terry "The Idol" Anderson, am one of those glorious men.
(He moves, walking to his left, and the camera crabs to keep him into the frame. An elaborate blue wall scrolls into the frame, well lit as Terry steps in front of it. He comes to a stop in front of a series of pictures, featuring a younger man who looks strikingly similar to the one standing in person in front of the camera.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
My career in this industry stretches back over twenty years. I made my foundings as a young punk, struggling in the lower ranks... and eventually, I built myself into the golden idol I was known for in my hey-dey, and still known as today.
But those days are far behind me. I've moved on to other things. No longer can I put my skills to use in the ring. But, I can hand off the torch. From one legend to another.
Why is why you're hear now, watching this. You are about to see the man who is my student... professional wrestling's own legend in the making... the man who will one day be standing on top of this industry, as I was twenty years ago.
And if you don't know him yet, then I don't know what rock you've been living under!
(He steps further to the left, coming across a larger portrait of another professional wrestler. The photo shows a man from the waist up. He stands proudly with both arms crossed over his chest, a confident and proud smile crossing his face. He is adorned in a dark blue singlet, and wears his long dark brown hair back behind his head.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Stephen Waltz... of Global Wrestling Evolution fame! Longest running GXW Television Champion--still holds the belt to this day!
(He moves on, coming to a similar picture, only taken at a later date. The man in the photo, presumably Waltz, now wears a black singlet, and holds GXW's Television Title over his shoulder. He still stands in the same pose, wearing the same smile, though he's face a different direction.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Might I add, that in the last year he has been involved in professional wrestling, he has been pinned... ZERO times! Not once! There is no man in this industry who can say he has TRULY defeated this man!
(He continues on, stepping up to a cardboard cut-out of the same professional wrestler, still standing in the same proud posture.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
I trained this guy from nothing into the powerful professional wrestler he is today. There isn't a man in this industry who can compare to him...
(Continues to the left, coming to another figure... but not a cardboard cutout. Now, we see Stephen Waltz, in full professional wrestling uniform, standing in his usual posture, arms crossed over the chest, and a big smile over his face.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
What can I say? He's damn well near invincible. And now, he's here in Empire Pro. It's only a matter of time before he repeats the same success here. The World Title... heh, it's only over the horizon.
(Waltz rolls his eyes, and speaks so suddenly that it makes Anderson bounce a bit.)
Stephen Waltz
Ah, Terry! I don't deserve this outrageous praise!
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Oh! Heh, kid... don't sneak up on me like that. You know it's bad for my heart.
(Waltz takes a step forward, eyeing the camera.)
Stephen Waltz
Terry... are you boring these people to death with your ongoing speeches over my greatness?
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Hey now... I'm just giving them an idea of what to expect!
Stephen Waltz
Ah, I see. But you do realize that in doing so, you ruin the element of surprise?
(Anderson shrugs.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Heh... I figured I'd give the other talents a heads up, so they know what to expect. The last thing we need are a bunch of lambs ready for the slaughter.
Stephen Waltz
That's true. I came here to Empire Pro looking for some decent competition. I've been bored lately in GXW... or rather, GWE. Whatever it's called now.
(He turns to the camera, putting his full focus onto the audience.)
Stephen Waltz
Fans of Empire Pro... I, Stephen Waltz, stand before you right here and now, with a promise that I will always give 100% in the ring, no matter who I fight, and no matter what's going behind the scenes. It's what I've always done, and it's what I always will do.
That's just the kind of professional wrestler I am. I hope you accept my presence here, because I eagerly look forward to competing at Aggression.
Now, I want to talk about my upcoming opponent, Tyrone Walker.
(He glances at Terry for a moment, who flashes him a thumbs up, then turns back to the camera.)
Stephen Waltz
Mr. Walker... I anticipate our upcoming match. I'm glad I can finally step outside the boundaries of GWE in order to go head to head against some new blood. The more opponents I fight, the more experience I get... and the better I become as a professional wrestler.
I watched your performance at Black Dawn, and needless to say, I was impressed. However, I get the feeling that your opponents that night weren't giving their all in that match. Now, I wasn't there in the ring... but watching that match, it seems to me that Derek Stoltz and Brien Cage weren't fighting at full force. Their performances just seemed lackadasial...
In all aspects, I would be as bold as to suggest that you got off easy at Black Dawn. The competition was no contest, because there wasn't a sufficient challenge involved in your match.
But you won't have to worry about being without that at Aggression, Tyrone. I can garuntee that I'll be a suitable challenge.
(He smiles a bit.)
Stephen Waltz
In fact... I would say that I'm a little more than you can handle.
Even looking past the fact that in the year I've been involved in professional wrestling, I've gone against countless other wrestlers... never been pinned in the ring... stand as the longest reigning Television Champion in GWE history, and STILL hold the belt TO THIS DAY... you can't deny, Tyrone, that I am a force to be reckoned with.
You have made your debut in Empire Pro... and it went off as a whimper. I won't make your mistake, however. My first match in this federation will be an explosion! So I hope you're prepared when Aggression rolls around, because I am ready more than anything to break out in this new federation, to make it my playground...
And you're going to be the first of many men who are beaten down in my wake!
(Waltz stands back with a final nod, crossing both arms over his chest. Terry Anderson steps forward with a grin.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
See you in Atlanta, Tyrone...
(Fade to black.)
SCENE ENDS