time: mid evening, roughly seven o'clock.

day: tuesday, january twenty first, 'seven.

place: bailey's bay; engel's residence.

(Walking in from outside, I put my keys on the counter and grab a glass out of the cabinet. I step over to the freezer and grab my bottle of Hendrix gin. I pour a few shots of it, then drain it down. It went down smoother than I thought it would and then I take the bottle and glass over to the kitchen table. Still wearing jeans and my Favre jersey, I break out the videocamera. I put in a fresh tape and put the camera in its usual position. I pour out a few more shots into my glass and put the bottle out of the camera's view.)

(Wouldn't want anyone to see. To your average guy, it looks like a glass of water.)

(Average.)

(I grab the remote control and hit the record button on the camera.)

VIRUS: That was tastefully done, Jacob, but I didn't expect anything less from you. I'll admit DeSett was the better wrestler that night and deserved the win. Sure, I could say that my mind wasn't in the right place and I was too distracted on personal matters, which is why I wasn't able to get on IWL airwaves.

I could say that I had some family issues going on, which kept me away from training and kept my mind off my match against DeSett.

I could say a lot of things, but I won't -- I lost, simple as that. But even legends, the extreme of extreme wresters, lose from time to time. Because get this:

I never claimed to be perfect.

Only one person does that and I'm not him. I'm not that stupid.

(A sip of the ol' glass of...something.)

VIRUS: So you go ahead and show all the video clips of me getting beat and taken down by DeSett. That's fine. It doesn't mean a thing because I wasn't fighting you or fighting for a title. Some people say I had everything to lose in that match and DeSett had nothing to lose. I don't find that to be true. Haven't I proven many times I am who I say I am? I've been bluffing you?

I don't think so. I didn't have anything to gain in that match, is the truth. So what if I beat him? What would you have said, Jacob? That you actually feared me? That you actually think you might lose?

No, you wouldn't have. You're not the type. Your ego is clearly the dominant force behind your ridiculous mouth, not any actual thinking.

It's a good thing you mentioned the ol' Collins logic before I could. Makes you look better, I guess. But, just because you predicted me saying it, doesn't mean it isn't true.

Isn't that the case in our industry, Jacob? Anybody can win on any given night. It happens all the time.

Unfortunately, last week was one of those times. Can you expect that kind of show against you? Maybe, and I'm sure you will. That's fine, but I guarantee you it won't be that easy. I guaranatee you there will be ten times more bloodshed. I guarantee you this and that, Jacob, and I'll make due on my guarantees.

I never guaranteed anything to DeSett. He got off light. My mind wasn't focused on the match; my mistake.

But I assure you that won't happen with us. It's going to take the whole world to keep me down for the one two three, Jacob, so bring everything you got. And I do mean everything.

(I cough a little bit to clear my throat, followed by a crack of the neck. Relax.)

VIRUS: Guess what.

I'm still a legend.

I'm still more extreme than you can ever be. I don't care about anything else. All I care is about shutting you up and I'm going to do JUST that. I'll go thirty minutes, sixty minutes, ninety minutes against you. I'll go the whole night, fuck those other matches. I'll do whatever it takes to make you bleed and suffer, Jacob, because that's what being extreme is all about.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll finish you off with a pin. But I gotta be honest, I am looking for the knockout.

(I finish the rest of my...water...and put the glass off-camera.)

VIRUS: Go easy on me and see what happens. Or tempt yourself. Either way, it doesn't bother me. I'll bring everything I have and if you think you're going to get off light and end up fucking me up, well...I got a newsflash for you.

That shit just ain't happening. I will destroy you, Protean. Irregardless of last week or what you may think, I will break every bone in your body if I have to. I'll break your jaw so you can't run that mouth of yours. I'll break your back with anything I can so you can't even stand. Whatever it takes.

Expect anything and everything.

Giddy up.

(I give the camera a stern look and grab the remote control, hitting the stop button. I take the tape out of the video camera and place it on the counter to be mailed. I grab my glass and pour some more gin in it, taking down about half of it. I hear a car pull up. They must be home, finally. I've missed them.)

-fade-