time: tuesday, late night

day: march fourth

place: bailey's bay, bermuda; local tavern.

(I feel the rush and burning sensation of a shot of irish whiskey run through me. I close my eyes. Images of Corey Lazarus and what happened at Rampage flutter my mind. I can't shake it. I can't stop it. It's all I think about. I feel like my mind is splitting in half; I want revenge on Corey...I want to destroy him. However, why can't I just leave it alone? Why can't I just let my sister and him be together? I mean, if Enika's happy, that's what counts. Right?)

(Wrong. What am I thinking? Corey is an abomination. He doesn't deserve her. He deserves to be pummeled into oblivion. The bartender refills my shot glass. I nod my head and put a ten dollar bill on the bar.)

(I bought this bar out about three months ago. I used to come in here with Dustin and Joe when they were in town. It was our "spot", so to speak. So, I eventually bought it. I've fired and hired new bartenders and workers since then. I'm thinking about adding a kitchen. People love a good meal when they're drinking.)

(I've improved the place, adding drink specials, fixing it up, and doing what I can to make this a more lively spot than what it was before. I think people around here like it. I still stick to the Bermuda tradition: rum, and lots of it.)

(I take down another shot. While most people here love rum, I surmise myself with the whiskey. Warren is to my left, his first time in a bar actually. He never went to bars when he turned twenty one. He never felt the need. But, hey, I own the place. He's got to at least one time. He just wanted a beer, so I got him a good beer. Landshark Lager. Can't beat it. I feature it over the weekends here at a discounted price. It's not too busy here on Tuesday nights. Just a few regulars that I've already said hello to and a couple of people I haven't seen in here before, but overall...it's not busy. Once the summer comes around, it'll be busy every night.)

VIRUS: Warren...you know you'd be an excellent bar manager. I could let you run this place full time and give you a nice salary. It'd be safer...and guaranteed.

WARREN: I like wrestling, Matt.

(A surge of pain comes through my midsection. My ribs are still wrapped, a little bit. It's not as visible through my shirt as it was yesterday. The bartender, Paulie, offers to pour me another shot. I decline. I tell him to give me a beer instead. He opens up a Landshark Lager and puts it by me. I throw another ten dollar bill down. He doesn't want to take it, but I insist.)

VIRUS: I know you do, Oddy. But it's dangerous. Look what happened to me.

WARREN: I won't be starting wars with people, Matt. Okay?!

VIRUS: Alright, I deserved that.

(I take a drink.)

VIRUS: Just think about it, will you?

WARREN: Sure Matt, sure.

(Warren takes a hit off his cigarette. I look at him funny.)

VIRUS: I didn't hear you light up...or know you smoked, for that matter.

WARREN: Nasty habit you pick up working shit jobs.

VIRUS: I can imagine.

WARREN: Can you?

VIRUS: Not really.

(I can't help that he ran away. He could've had everything, but he chose nothing. Another drink.)

VIRUS: I got some business to take care of, so, I'm going to take up that booth in the corner. Paulie? Get Warren anything he wants.

(I walk away from the bar and Paulie nods. He walks over to Warren and they start talking. I take my beer to the corner booth and place my video camera on the table, facing me. I yell at Paulie to turn the lights up a little bit and he does. I've got this note sheet in front of me, out of the view of the camera. I took some notes on my opponents' promos and for video editing purposes. You'll see. I hit record.)

VIRUS: Jamie, who are you to counsel me on what I do? You're going the wrong way with this. Don't put yourself in the enemy camp, we've got a match to win this week.

I do know what you're talking about, and I don't plan to have anything like that happen again.

Unless, of course, you know something I don't.

(I look into the camera...searching for answers. He can't possibly know.)

VIRUS: Here for all the wrong reasons? I don't think so. I'm here for family, and yes, for sport. I don't think those are wrong reasons at all. You look at Corey Lazarus and the history he's had with my family and the Kelsers, and it's not good. He doesn't deserve Enika and I wouldn't be a good brother if I didn't intervene.

I'm protecting Enika. That's what I'm "getting out of this."

(A look of suspicion leaves my face as it turns into a look of disgust. Mia...nobody will touch her. I promise.)

VIRUS: Well, damn. Looks like I woke everybody up, except Deacon Frost. He doesn't matter because not even him can stop what's coming and he's twice the size of any of you. We're gonna take things a different route this time because I just want to make sure how stupid McNasty and Wilkie are when it comes to speaking. Sure, they might be some decent wrestling talent, but...come on guys.

Alex, when you cut a promo, please take Mark's dick out of your mouth next time. I couldn't understand you.

(I snicker...might be the whiskey getting to me, but I just can't help myself.)

VIRUS: Jesus...I wanted you guys to tell me why you think you even belong in this match, not go all Brokeback Mountain on me. Nobody wants to see, or even think about that. We'll start with McNugget.

Due to my younger brother showing me some cool things about video editing, in this video package I have made I have edited in video clips from other people's. So, yeah, to get the full affect of what I wish to share with you, I thought this would be the best way. Now, Mark?

(The video switches to a clip of Mark McNasty's latest promo.)

McNasty: You want to tell me and Wilkie to show what we can do as a team? You mean like when we beat Phoenix and the guy your sister is fighting for the PWA title, Project X? Or, if that's not good enough for you, how about when we beat Kyle Stevenson and Corey Lazarus: the guy who has been handing you your butt lately.

VIRUS: Now, I want you to explain to me why a win over Phoenix and Project X matter? Because it was some fluke of a tag victory? Give me a break, kid. Everybody and their mother has a win or two over those guys. I got one over P-X and his reject of a partner at the time Rod Tidwell by myself! I defended the UHWA Tag Team titles successfully, by myself, against them. So...please, your little win there doesn't mean shit.

Kyle Stevenson? The man is one more loss away from having the worst career ever outside of Iron Nick Swifkicky.

And Corey Lazarus...please, don't get me started on him right now. I don't want to upset poor little you again because I devoted so much time to Corey in my last promo and not enough for you.

I'm willing to bet you remember Corey getting the win over you just over two weeks ago. But Matt, if you are so confident in your ability to beat Corey, why go the route you did? Why the DQ? Were you afraid that you couldn't beat him straight up? Did you feel some sickness growing deep in your soul because you knew Laz had your number?

I'll tell you something, I almost lost my water when I heard that one. I was happily chugging some water after a hard workout and then you just HAD to start getting ridiculous. I laughed so hard. McNugget, if you were even paying attention to what was going on between Corey and I, you knew it wasn't about winning the match. You would know that there is hatred and violence between us. You would know that I allowed Corey to move on in a tournament that I don't care about because all I wanted to do was make him bleed.

I made the mistake of turning my back on him, yes, but it wasn't about winning. When you grow up and actually have an important career, you'll understand that it's not always about winning. Corey and I have unfinished business, and after Friday night I'll be one step closer to "closing the deal". You mean nothing, Mark. You're simply in my way and I plan on removing you violently.

(Another swig of the beer. It's about half way gone now.)

Matt, you say that nothing will phase you. We can say ANYTHING, and you'll just shrug it off. Well, that's fine with me. If you don't mind listening, then I have no problem ranting about the fact that you and your sister couldn't hold on to the tag titles.

VIRUS: Two pieces of gold that you and your fuckbuddy Wilkie will never hold. Next.

I also have no problem reminding you that me and Wilkie still have our titles that we won even before you had your PWA tag title.

You got those titles handed to you. You didn't earn them. See...I actually had to fight Icetank and Kirlia Gardevoir to call myself a champion. I didn't have them handed to me.

Then how about I mention how you lost to Corey Lazarus while I've beaten him twice?

Eh, no. Corey Lazarus has never pinned me to the mat or made me tap out. He never will. I allowed Corey to move on. So while you were mentioning that, I was too busy laughing at you.

(I take my beer down to about a shot or two left of it. I want to finish it, but I'll savor it.)

VIRUS: That's enough of McNugget. Let's move on. I managed to catch some of what you were saying, Alex. Why the hell would I bring your girlfriend or family members into this? I mean, as far as I know, that could be just some hooker you paid to have act as your girlfriend. I don't know, and quite frankly, I don't care. You can talk about my sister all you want. She's a big girl, she can handle verbal attacks from someone as moronic as yourself.

But you didn't make the mistake Potato did and call her a bitch. Potato? Pardon me, I meant Pohatu. I was watching Jamie's promo earlier.

(The camera cuts to a clip of Alex Wilkie's promo.)

Do you honestly think that having a singles title doesn’t matter in a tag match?

VIRUS: Um, yes. What, do YOU honestly believe it does? You think there's some intimidation factor there because you've got gold and I don't? Give me a fucking break. The last thing that I am is intimidated by your always-on-the-low-card Grizzly Beer title. Congrats, Alex, way to associate yourself with people that will never see the main event.

A tag match only really means that two people are going at it, singles rules apply, you can just tap your partner's hand and rest for awhile… I don’t see any different from any other singles match I’ve been in, other than I get to beat on someone new once in awhile.

Is that truly your rationale for the tag team division? You fucking idiot. You've just been downgraded to "Grade F". A tag match is a separate environment from a singles match. In a singles match, when you go down to pin someone, you don't have to worry about another person coming in and jumping on your back, or peeling you off, to prevent you from winning. Unless, of course, you piss off the wrong people.

In tag matches, when you pin someone, your partner better be taking care of your other opponent and you're never going to get that three count. Do you see what I'm getting at here? It's not just having someone new to beat on once in awhile, which is almost the dumbest thing I've ever heard, it's having to worry about not only the man currently facing you, but his partner.

I could go on and on about how different tag and singles divisions are, because I'm an expert in both, but I'm going to assume you get the jist of it. If you don't, then tough shit.

Tag division is about teamwork, Wilkie. You expect me to care about how you and Mark are undefeated, then you rationalize the tag division as just being a singles division with extra opponents. You're clueless.

You have no idea what the tag division is all about. I'm surprised you two can survive in the ring on your own...but together, maybe you guys can actually pull enough intelligence and skill together to not get yourselves embarrassed this week.

Hell, I'll bet the big man who won't say a word will make a fool of you both.

(I pause for a moment and finish the last of my beer. I look off-camera. I yell at Paulie for another beer. Warren gives me a look from the bar.)

We’ve only had two matches, but hey, they were against some of PWA’s “Best” if I can say that, so who cares? I think you should Matthew, and why? Well, in a tag match, singles skills count as much as tag team skill.

VIRUS: I would venture to say that in a TAG TEAM MATCH, TAG skills count for more than SINGLES skills. Wouldn't you? Or are you just that fucking retarded?

Do you think that the Brothers Grimm have held the PWA Tag Team titles over a dozen times because they're such good singles wrestlers? No, they're a great team. I emphasize team.

Granted, Flynn and I have never tagged before, but we've been around long enough. I just can't wait until Rampage when "Grade A Nastyness" turns out to be "Grade A Bullshit."

(Paulie sets a fresh beer on the table. Matt hands him another ten dollar bill. We can hear Paulie say "Thank you" and Matt nods. The camera cuts to a clip of Pohatu's promo.)

Matt woke up from a coma a couple days ago and believes himself to be completely ring steady already. That’s just a crock of stupidity on his part, seeing as how it wasn’t only his brain that shut down during that coma. It was also his entire nervous system. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Engel crapped or pissed himself quite a few times while he was out.

VIRUS: Potato...erm...I mean Pohatu, you can just stick to calling me Matt for right now. But, when I embarrass you in the ring on Friday, then you can start calling me Mr. Engel. And who said I woke up from a coma a few days ago? Let's see, today's tuesday...and I woke up last Wednesday...that would make it almost a week. That's hardly a couple days, is it? Please, get your facts straight.

Crapping, pissing myself? Is this what you're throwing at me? You're making fun of my medical condition? Come on. You aren't better than that? The hospital released me because they knew I would be fine being on my own. Now, I don't think they would've released me if I had been crapping and pissing myself.

Once again, dude, get your facts straight.

What do I think of it? I think it’s just a crock of crap, that’s what I think of it. If I was any sort of stepping stone for him, it’d be a step downward. I’m just some new guy to the PWA, so what prestiege is there in Engel beating me?

Hey! You said something that actually doesn't sound ridiculous. There is no real prestige to beating you. There's no prestige to beating McNugget and Wilkie either. I could care less about your partner. I'm doing this because it's my job. I'm booked to compete and I will do that, but the real gold for me is getting my revenge on Corey Lazarus. That's all I care about.

You, and your fucking lightning, can take a hike.

This match is a stepping stone, leading me up toward my final goal: destroying Corey Lazarus. Don't any of you get that? When a man beats you so badly he puts you in a coma, you tend to take things a little too far. Walk a second in my shoes and then tell me I'm wrong. I fucking dare you.

Yes, I’m talking to you, Matt. Just because you came out of a coma a few days ago doesn’t mean I’m going to take it easy on you. In fact, if anything, it means I’m going to be trying to hit you that much harder.

Well, I can't doubt the kid's heart. He's got a mountain of it, but once again, he doesn't have his facts straight. We already touched on that earlier.

After dealing with that sister of yours, I’m already sick of your family. I suggest that if you ever see me in the ring with you, that you promptly turn around and go tag in Jamie. If you don’t...you’re going to end up right back in the hospital. Except this time...I can’t promise that you’ll ever wake up again.

What is it with you guys thinking that I'm intimidated? Because I spent the last week and some change in a hospital? I'm not going to turn around and tag in Jamie. I'm not going to run away because I may still be injured. The sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be. Nobody's running from you, Potato.

Okay, that was on purpose.

You won't put me in the hospital, dude. You may or may not get a good lick or two in on me, but that's about it. And if you think that's enough to send me back to ER, then you're sorely mistaken. You..you just don't stand a chance.

I at least hold something that’s influential right now, and that’s the Money in the Bank briefcase. Matt holds one half of the PWA tag team championship, each member of Grade A Nastiness holds a belt...but you have nothing at this point.

Sure, that wasn't aimed at me, but I just want to point out the stupidity in that. First of all, in case you weren't paying attention, your little Money in the Bank briefcase or the two titles that Alex and Mark have really have no influence at all in a TAG TEAM match. Talk to Sirus and Randall Moran about having influence in a tag team match. Talk to me and Enika about that. You see, Sirus and Randall -- who are the current PWA Tag Champs, fuckhead -- hold gold that has weight in our match. Enika and I hold gold that has weight in our match -- the AOWF Community Tag titles. You? You got jack and shit...and Jack just left town.

(What? I like Army of Darkness as much as the next guy. I take a drink.)

VIRUS: Mr. Potato Head, Jamie was the PWA Television Champion. But, even if he STILL was, both him and I would sit here and tell you that has no influence on a fucking tag match.

I've taken that point, and been trying to drive it home for a half hour now. The only two people in this whole match with real tag experience are Deacon and me. Deacon hasn't said a word, and I don't think he plans on doing so. That's fine, he can remain silent.

Stay out of my way at Rampage. My anger is flaring, and when my anger gets out of control, there’s only guarantee. Wilkie, you know it, and I’m pretty sure that the rest of you know it, too.

No, I don't. Please explain it to me. Are you Bruce Banner? Will you turn into The Hulk? Keep your anger in your pants and show up on Rampage ready to wrestle.

And lose. I'm done with you.

(Another drink.)

VIRUS: Did you think I was going to forget about you, Corey? I don't forget. You know that. I like your little rant about how illegal it would be to murder someone. I like how you mentioned that Enika would forsake you and with that you used it against me to try to convince people that I wanted you to kill me. You're full of shit.

Tell me, Corey, just how illegal it is to beat someone repeatedly with the very brass knuckles you have deemed illegal in the United States. Tell me that, Corey. Assault and battery, I'd say. Probably spend a nickel in a state prison somewhere getting cornholed night after night.

What I did to you? The PWA can handle that, legally. I wouldn't even be consulted. "Sports entertainment", they'd say. What you did to me? I make one phone call to my lawyer and you're behind bars. Dig?

Don't fucking lecture me on what's legal or not. Even you said it yourself you could have gotten off with an insanity or self-defense plea -- which I find to be complete bullshit, but apparently you think you know about the law -- so you not finishing the job has nothing to do with legal issues.

You're a fucking pussy. Fact number three.

And when I make you cry for mercy, you're going to regret not finishing the job. Fact number two.

Which brings me to fact number one, you should have finished the job.

They still stick, Corey.

(A smirk.)

VIRUS: Friday is only a few days away...and I hope you grow eyes in the back of your head. I'll tell you right now, I'm coming for you. You'll welcome it with open arms and then you'll realize you're on your back in a puddle of your own blood. Much like what you did to me, except you probably won't be able to make it to your match. The end for you is coming. Don't deny it, embrace it.

I do not forgive.

I do not forget.

The Year of the Hollywood will be covered in your own blood, Corey.

(fade.)