Empire Pro Aggression

[CUE UP: "Imperial March" - Rage Against the Machine. A video montage plays, featuring smoke-wreathed images of various wrestlers, some of them leaving blurred trails as they move.
CUT TO: Beast nailing the Absolution on Adam Benjamin.
CUT TO: Shawn Hart coming off the ropes with a Quebrada.
CUT TO: Felix Red standing victorious in the ring.
CUT TO: JA delivering the Karelin Driver to Ron Artest
CUT TO: Adam Benjamin delivering a Shining Wizard to Karl Brown.
CUT TO: Joey Melton, mugging for the crowd.
CUT TO: Lindsay Troy dropkicking Beast.
CUT TO: Ice Tre flailing away as he falls from a cage.
CUT TO: JA and Kin Hiroshi locking up in the middle of the ring.
CUT TO: Rocko Daymon, mugging with Caitlyn.
CUT TO: “Triple X” Sean Stevens on the second turnbuckle staring out into the crowd with the World Title raised overhead.
CUT TO: Dan Ryan sitting sedately in a chair, staring into the camera.
CUT TO: With a clash of metal, a logo slams across the screen, its edges flickering.]

[The lights dimmed, as the EPW logo on the EMPIRE-tron flashes and turns into dark clouds, with low rumbles of thunder, and loud bursts of lightning blasting through the entire arena, shocking some of the fans in the audience, while others -- mostly, the children in attendance -- attempt to cover their ears, in hopes of shielding themselves from the impact.

"I've been through it all ... the failures, the falls, I'm like Niagra.
But, I got right back up, like Viagra.
I am Agriculture...
... swagger so mean it might insult ya."

The EMPIRE-tron shifts from clouds to that of EPW Superstar, "XXX" Sean Stevens, in an unfamiliar almost vulnerable state -- filmed from the waist up, naked, chest bare, EPW World Heavyweight Championship draped over his shoulder.

Oh, father, will tonight be my last?
... and, if so, make sure my kid sees my cash.
I know, I'm solid like an elbow cast.
And, my future will be better than my past.

The voice pauses for about ten seconds, before the drum heavy battle cry "Love Me or Hate Me," by Lil Wayne begins playing over the PA system, as the 'Blue-Eyed Badass' steps through the curtain, EPW World Championship around his waist, dressed in faded blue jeans, and a white with black trim "Planet Earth's Champion" t-shirt. Walking from one side of the stage to the next, Sean took his World title from around his waist, raising it in the air, to a warm reception, before making his way down to the ring, as the chorus played in the background.
"You can love me or hate me...
... I swear it won't Make Me or Break Me."

Once inside of the ring, Sean walks to the nearest turnbuckle, climbs it, and looks into the crowd, pointing at the few signs of the fans there to support him. Suddenly, the music begins to fade, and Sean hops down, signalling for a microphone, as a small "Triple ECKS" chant starts up.

Sean paused, waiting for the cheers to die down, before lifting the mic up to his mouth and speaking in it.]

STEVENS: I bet there are a lot of people out there -- my enemies, specifically -- that are just waiting for another Sean Stevens 'I Told You So' speech. And, I'll be honest with you, ever since I beat Lindsay Troy and Joey Melton to become the EPW World Heavyweight Champion, I had been TRYING to write one. I wanted to tell everyone that doubted me, to kiss my ass with their tongues. I wanted to rub this -- MY world championship -- in their faces, and make them REGRET ever questioning my ability, my sanity, and my reasoning for coming back to wrestling. I wanted to express to each and every one of YOU -- the fans -- how much of a mistake you made choosing Ice Tre, JA, and all of the other fan favorites over a man that literally gave his blood, sweat, and tears so that you wouldn't feel cheated.

[Slight boos echoed.]

STEVENS: And, I tried ... but, then a day went, and I had nothing. I chalked it up to excitement ... to leftover nerves ... all the way down to jubilation. But, whatever it was, for whatever reason, that day turned into two days, and two days turned into a week, and I still couldn't DO it, I still had NOTHING. So I sat back, and I thought about it, I racked my brain, and came to the only conclusion that I could come to."

"At every single Aggression since I mangled Ice Tre's face, you people have booed me out of the building. At WrestleSTOCK, you people let it be known that I was NOT your choice for King of the Cage. Hell, Lindsay Troy even co-signed JA, by coming to ringside and doing commentary DURING one of his King of the Cage matches, because it was assumed that he'd be the guy to win it all and face her. But, then I beat him, and from there, I went to Russian Roulette, as somebody who was somewhat of an underdog. As somebody who MOST CERTAINLY wasn't an internet blog favorite, as somebody who wasn't a crowd favorite, and as somebody who quite possibly could make the case as one of the most UNPOPULAR people in that lockerroom. And, with all of that going against me ... I still did it.

[Cheers.]

STEVENS: I went in there, and did the unthinkable, the impossible, and I captured the most coveted World title in the game, and you people ... Cheered. I made no mystery of my return to the game. I made it crystal clear that I wanted to retire on top of the world, as champion. But, when you people started booing me, I made a silent vow that I'd stick around to make your lives a living hell for not appreciating what I was doing. But, you showed me something at Russian Roulette ... you showed me that despite the boos, and name calling, you RESPECT me."

"And, that's all I EVER wanted."

"So I might not go down in history as the greatest EPW Champion of all time. I might not be mentioned in the same breath as Dan Ryan, Lindsay Troy, or Joey Melton. But, like Frank Sinatra said, "I Did It My Way", and I really don't feel like I have reason to go on any further. To everybody I have hurt, or offended, I apologize -- from Rocko Daymon, to Joey Melton, to the King of the Streets, himself. And, to each and every one of you fans, I know there are those out there that love, and to the rest, maybe you'll love me after you look back on all of the incredible things that I've done, when you judge me by heart and not what's cool. Maybe you'll love me when I Fade To Black."

[Sean dropped the microphone to a stunned/silent response. He exited the ring, no music, no flash, or fanfare. As he stepped through the curtain, EPW Title in hand, he's rushed by a panicked looking Kenny Lombardo -- EPW reporter -- microphone in hand.]

LOMBARDO: TRIPLE X! SEAN! ...what is going on? Are you RETIRING from active competition?!

[Stevens paused, turning to face Lombardo, smiling peacefully.]

STEVENS: I'm on top, Kenny ... that's all I EVER wanted to be. There are a plethora of guys back there who would just LOVE to knock me down a notch. And, as much as I love the competition, I love being the best more, so why would I give them a chance?

[Lombardo stood there, dumbfounded, as Sean continued his trek outside of the arena, inside of a waiting Limo. He entered the limo, as the driver pulled off.]

[Cut back to the broadcast booth]

DT: Well this is a surprise.

DM: You think? The World Champion retires one week after winning the title??

DT: Well, retired or not….we still have a….[Thomas squints and seems thrown off by something] …hey, is there someone in the crowd over there?

[The camera swings around and we catch the glint of something metallic reflecting the arena lights. Rocko Daymon – in the aisles – with a…trashcan?]

MN: I see prostaff got his a position already.

DT: Rocko Daymon is in the crowd, and he’s just going back and forth mingling with fans – and he’s got a trash can with him.

DM: It may be time to call the men in the white suits.

DT: Well nevertheless, it’s time to get underway. Let’s go up to Tony Fatora for the first match of the evening.