Who's gonna' Show?

[SouthernBoy]

{{...FADE-IN: Sunrise over Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. The camera pans down the street giving the viewer somewhat of an idea of what occurred here last night. Beads of all shapes, sizes and colors litter the street along with beer cans, party cups, and even a few braziers, but no people. Yes, the biggest free party in the world wound down last night, but, for the first time in a long time, Shane Southern was not among the party-goers.

The camera pans down to see Southern jogging out from around the corner onto Bourbon street. He is wearing gray sweats, soaked with sweat down the front and back. He finishes his jog in front of his Bourbon Street apartment and begins to stretch. He looks up as he hears a voice off to the side coming from Pat O’Brien’s Bar. Shane waives in that direction and motions for the man to come over. Into the picture comes an old, black man. He's wearing a janitor outfit with the nametag 'JACKSON' on it. Shane finishes up his stretching and shakes the old man's hand...}}

SHANE SOUTHERN: " How's it goin' Jackson? "

JACKSON: " Oh' not too bad sonny? What yoo doin' up sa' early n' ash Wen'dey? "

SHANE SOUTHERN: " Trainin' my man, trainin'. "

JACKSON: " Fer' what? "

SHANE SOUTHERN: " Match in San Deigo inna' few days 'gainst Cameron Cruise. "

JACKSON: " Figured you'd be passed out n' bed like da' rest of 'em. "

SHANE SOUTHERN: " Usually that'd be tha' case Jackson, but I've gotta' new focus now. Bein' a success in tha' CSWA is gonna' bee'a lil' bit harder than I thought. "

JACKSON: " Yoo can handle it son. Good luck n' God speed. Gotta' start cleanin' up tha' place. "

{{...Southern shakes his hand and smiles his crooked smile. He then stretches a few more times, and takes a seat on the curb...He looks from side to side and appears to be pondering his next words...}}

SHANE SOUTHERN: " Looks like we meet again Cruise. I know we briefly got intra'duced in Greensboro, but I'm SO lookin' forward ta' gettin' ta' know ya' a little better n' San Jose. {{...smiles...}} You've been here a while Cruise, and you've been in some great matches...I've seen 'em. You n' me...we can put on a great wrestlin' match provided yer noggin' {{...points to his head...}} is in tha' right place, n' MY noggin' ain't gettin' dented witha' steel chair. I know ya' got some sorta' personal vendeta 'gainst Sight, n' that's fine, you can go after him n' whoever else ya' want to...'cause I really ain't interested inna' feud with ya'...I don't like ya...I don't hate ya'...Hell, I just wanna' wrestle ya'. "

" You got tha' hell beat outta' you at Anniversary, so why not come ta' ON TIME witha' fire in yer eyes...come down with that intensity I've seen in those tapes, 'cause there's nothin' I like better than a challenge. I want ta' take that Greensboro title and defend it. NOT ta' make IT somethin' people 'round here respect, but ta' make tha' DEFENDER of that title some-BODY people respect. "

" I've heard from some guys 'round here that guys like us don't got what it takes ta' be Main Eventers. In tha' short time I been here, I can sorta' see where they're comin' from. Yeah, I don't have tha' charisma of Troy Windam, I don't have tha' humor of Eddy Love, I don't have tha' story-tellin' ability of Eli Flair. I don't have tha' "you've already earned it, so you've got it for life" status of guys like Guns, Hornet and Mike Randalls. All I am issa' guy lookin' ta' be tha' best. In mah' mind, ya' do that in tha' ring, and ya' do EVERY DAMN TIME. "

" Which guy are you Cruise? Are you tha' guy who thinks he's already earned it, or tha' guy that no matter WHAT happened in his last match, he goes out n' tries ta' earn it AGAIN in his next match? Have you given up 'cause of what happened at Anniversary, or is tha' fire still lit? It's a dog-eat-dog world in tha' CSWA, n' if you ain't ready fer me at ON TIME, I'm gonna' chew ya' up n' spit ya' out. "

{{...Southern gets up from the curb, walks to the door of his apartment and opens it. As he walks inside, we hear him speak from the hallway...}}

" PARTY'S OVER. "

{{..FADE OUT..}}

 

[TSiegel]

What it all comes down to.

(Fadein, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Cameron Cruise is walking down the bikepath of a sunny, windy park, clad in blue jeans, and a black pull-over-hooded jacket, and Anarchy shades. Hands jammed in his pockets, he sits down on a nearby park bench, stretching his legs. Sitting back, he takes in the cold morning air and relaxes into a comfortable slouching position.)

CC: So this is the new Greensboro Champion, huh? A Southern boy who holds a respected title thats been held by the likes of Hornet...Evan Aho...probably at least *one* of the Windhams, and others.

I see what your sayin' here, Old Yeller, and I gotta tell ya:

What a load of CRAP.

That's right, kid. I said *crap*, knowing that before Anniversary, all I heard about you was that you were this *great* wrestler, who deserved everything thus far that you earned.

Now I won't lie, I admit, I thought for a minute: Hell, this might finally be a man, who deserves the credit he earns for once, unlike the scandilous, back-stabbing, blind punks who earn checks like me in this company.

Fast forward to Anniversary 2001: I just put "Now THAT's a Wicked Sight" Mike Plett through a table, and went back to finish what I started. Earning a shot at the world. I get in the ring, and you wanna throw down. No problem. But ya see, what NO ONE recognizes as the real reason why I got pissed, is that it took not one champion...but *TWO* to beat me, and even then, it wasn't a pin, it wasn't a submission.

Now, don't get me wrong, what's done is done, I got eliminated and I'm not going to face Evan Aho for the world. But the only thing that I have to put forth as my reasoning for getting pissed is this:

It took to champions to bring together a cheesy ending result at Anniversary. Note that I said cheesy, because not only did I take two of Sight's finisher's, the kid STILL couldn't get the job done.

Apocalypse...that's a different story. I don't understand him at all, because to me, it seems that ever since his boyfriend Powers announced his retirement, if he lost, hes been a bumbling idiot everywhere he goes. But thats okay though, Apocalypse will get his.

Back to the point.

I've been wrestling here for quite a while now. I've seen, heard, and practically been a PART of almost everything now, outside of the gold. Therefore, words have just been that. Words. Did I ask for the shot at Triple X? Nope. How about the number one contender's match at Anniversary? Ah-ah. Now I have a match which I never even ASKED for the title to be put up...coming San-Ho-Say.

Wonderful. Not exactly INCENTIVE...but hey, it give me something to replace that Mistle-toe at the X-mas party I had in December.

In San Jose, you said that you don't like me NOR hate me. Ya just wanna wrestle me. Hell, if all you wanted to do is wrestle, in your case, I don't see why you would even have to leave the house, 'specially with Mardi Gras and whatnot.

(Cruise stands for a second and slowly paces in front of the bench)

"I know ya' got some sorta' personal vendeta 'gainst Sight, n' that's fine, you can go after him n' whoever else ya' want to...'cause I really ain't interested inna' feud with ya'...I don't like ya...I don't hate ya'...Hell, I just wanna' wrestle ya'. "

Since do you *know me*? I mean, (bleep), you think you're Ed Harris or something? Were you in the movie 'THE TRUMAN SHOW'? You know me because you watched my tapes and seen my matches? Let me give rights to the gameset and say...'YOU DON'T KNOW JACK'! The fact of the matter is that Sight butted his nose in *my* business, something that I thought he would never do, and for your information, he's going to pay for it so much that if he manages to steal that belt from Evan, beating him will feel even better than what Randalls probably felt when he locked The Deacon in his finisher.

(Cruise, realizing that he's raised his voice, collects himself and sits down again)

You wanna challenge. You wanna prove to the world, that that belt is still worth something, and that people like you can still Main-event.

You, just like the other mindless, nasty, bastards in the lockerroom, still don't get it.

The belt is *STILL* worth something, and has always been. Ya ask me, it's the WRESTLER that has something to prove to the boss HIMSELF, to main-event, not to the opponent. Hell, if such proves the case, you might be like our good champion Evan, and be higher on the card than that bastard Hornet.

(Cruise runs his hands through his hair and brings his jacket closer to protect against the cold.)

You wanna know if I had a fire still lit in the furnace.

You wanna know if I can still bring a man to his limits and endure.

You wanna know if I have what it takes to feel everything you got and throw it right back.

(Cruise smirks sarcastically and looks down at himself silently for about a minute and sighs.)

Some people say that Anniversaries are a time to reflect and some say that Anniversaries are a time to enjoy what you have in life.

Well Shane, in San Jose, California, on CSWA On Time. I'm going to get there abit earlier than usual, so that I can both, reflect on what I've done thus far, and then enjoy writing you a REALITY CHECK, that everyone knows you just....can't....cash.

(Cruise slowly gets up, straightens himself up, and walks down the bikepath as we fade.)

 

[SouthernBoy]

Huh?

{{...FADE-IN: Shane Southern sits on his Bourbon Street Apartment balcony, his feet proped up on the railing. Next to him in the chair are two suitcases, the CSWA Greensboro Title is draped over both of them. Shane takes a bite of a beignet, then brushes off the powdered sugar from his brand new CSWA "Party's Over" T-shirt. Shane pulls off his Oakley sunglasses and sets them on his lap...}}

SHANE SOUTHERN: " Well ain't we a bitter little bee there Cameron? Looks like somebody woke up on tha' wrong side offa' ass-kickin' after Anniversary. Ya' know, I tried ta' come here n' be civil. I tried ta' come out n' say all that "best man win" crap that people expect ta' hear from me....but it looks like whatever it is that got shoved up yer ASS at Anniversary is still leavin' a bad taste in yer mouth. "

" So I tell ya' what Cameron. You can just forget me bein NICE ta' ya at Anniversary {{...smiles...}} yeah you ruined that. Now, looks like insteada' just wrestlin' ya' and seein' who's got tha' better skills, well...looks like I'm just gonna' hafta' kick yer ASS n' be done with it. Your fault Cameron, not mine. "

" But while I got ya' here, let me address a fewa' tha' things ya' said in your little rant. You might wanna' tape this my friend, 'cause I wouldn't want ya' forgettin' tha' next time ya' step inta' that bar. First of all, you said, n' I QUOTE " What a load of Crap. That's right, kid. I said *crap*". Ok, maybe I'm missin' somethin' but what exactly was CRAP 'bout what I said. You wern't very specific. N' I just can't STAND somebody spoutin' off n' not really knowin' what tha' hell they're talkin' 'bout. 'Cause ya' see Cam, ever'thin' I've said thus far in tha' CSWA's been tha' Gods-honest truth. Ya' may not LIKE it, but thems tha' facts. I've never claimed ta' be mister perfect, but I HAVE earned tha' spot I got, I have EARNED tha' belt I'm carryin'...and I've EARNED tha' right ta' getta' little respect....if YOU don't think so, I'll just hafta' BEAT it outta' you at ON TIME. "

"Then ya' went on some tirad 'bout gettin' beat by TWO champions. So maybe, what we shoulda' done ta' make it FAIR for Mister Cruise was ta' have only ONE man atta' time beat tha' hell outta' him. Cruise, YOU were in tha' SAME situation as ever'body else out there. You LOST, just like me. But ya' don't here me blamin' that on tha' fact there was a former CSWA World Champion in tha' match, ya' don't here me sayin' CRAP like it was UNFAIR ta' make me wrestle against the Presidential champion AND the FORMER Presidential Champion. So we both got beat at Anniversary, but REAL men don't make excuses Cameron, they just pick themselves up, dust themselves off...and beat tha' holy hell outta' tha' next guy. That's tha' big differance between you n' me Cameron...besides tha' fact that I talk funny. {{...smiles..}} "

"Next you claimed somethin' to tha' effect of that if all I wanted ta' do was wrestle, why do I bother to leave my house. Ummm...Cam, I know you've taken a lotta' beatin's lately, but this is WRESTLING! I'm a WRESTLER. WHY else would I leave tha' house OTHER than ta' wrestle? Maybe I oughta' just attribute that little comment to tha' fact yer still hung-over n' leave it at that. "

" And finally, mercifully, you brought your "promo" to a close with a rant about the Truman show. Ya' know Cam, I never claimed ta' KNOW you....personally, after havin' ta' sit through that little outburst, I'm not sure I WANT to now. What I do claim ta' KNOW is that at ON TIME, you're gonna' take a left boot right up under yer chin, n' then your gonna' be countin' lights...but you'll only get ta' THREE my friend you'll only get ta' three. "

" Party's Over Cameron. "

{{...FADE OUT at Shane stands up, picks up the suitcases and walks into the apartment...}}

 

[TSiegel]

Pondering the inevitable.

(fadein, Jacksonville, North Carolina, Cruise's Garage. Cruise leans back, relaxing in his 1969 Chevy Camaro. With one arm thrown about the front seat, he runs a hand through his hair and hangs it outside the rolled-down window.)

CC: No, Shane, sorry pal. The Party's not over. As a matter of fact, the guests haven't even arrived yet. So, do me a favor, and down a few more beignets, because things between you and me...have just barely started.

You think that I'm a 'bitter-bumble-bee', because I didn't win at Anniversary, and you tried to start things out by being civil and nice. Hell, if you wanna be civil and nice, you probably shoulda asked to wrestle the 'English Gent'. I'm sure he'd more than oblige to offer you cup of tea and crumpets right before giving you a "Facedown" and sending you home to your mommy.

First it's skills, now it's a more direct approach. Now you *want* to kick my ass in San Jose. Don't tease me Shane.

People in hell need ice water. Midgets wanna be tall. Fatboys wanna be skinny. You wanna GET REAL.

As far as having a bitter taste in my mouth from Anniversary, you couldn't be more right. I've been bitter alot lately. You wanna reason why? Or maybe since you think I'm making excuses, you'd like a statement? Fine. You skip like a little school girl over to Hornet's place and you ask him. Yeah, I have a problem with him, but like I said before with Apocalypse: I'll deal with Hornet later.

No, Shane, don't tease me. I've been looking for some competition since....hell, since I beat Alex Wylde for the strap. I guess if you wanna throw Triple X and Sight in the mix, sure, they filled the need for a fix. Thing about them, is that sure, 'X' beat me in a straight match, but not for a title. Then there's Plett, hell, he can't even get the job done after putting me down.

(Cruise smirks and then begins to mock Shane)

'REAL men don't make excuses Cameron, they just pick themselves up, dust themselves off...and beat tha' holy hell outta' tha' next guy.'

As far as I'm concerned, I feel great, and it looks to me that the next guy....

(Cruise takes his sunglasses off the dashboard and puts them on, revving up the engine and hitting the garage door button to open it.)

...is you.

(Cruise revs the engine again and carefully backs out into the street, peeling out while the garage door closes behind him. Fade)