time: monday evening

day: may twelfth

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

(Mia and Alexia are out shopping. What's new. I've got my feet up on the coffee table, my body sinking into my leather couch. My workout this morning wasn't as good as I wanted it to be... but you can't always get what you want. I mute the television for a moment and hit record on the camera. Might as well get this over with.)

VIRUS: I did what I set out to do, win or lose. I told everyone last week that I would destroy Project X, and I did. I gave him one of the worst beatdowns he's had in quite some time, and yeah... I got bruises and injuries to show for it. Maybe what I did wasn't exactly safe, but it got the job done. That's what matters.

See what happens when you fuck with our family, X? You bleed. It's as simple as that. And the more you keep doing it, the more you will bleed. You only have so much blood before.. well, you know. I don't have to spell it out for you. Let this be a lesson well taught.

As for the Phoenix...that guy is one step away from mental retardation. I love how he thinks that him and PX dominated the match... the greatest tag team ever. Right.

That's bullshit on so many levels.

Where the hell was your partner for most of the match? That's right, he was on the outside getting his ass kicked by yours truly. Kyle should have finished you off, but he couldn't get the job done. Story of his life, I suppose. I didn't care about winning or losing, I didn't care about getting a chance to get a shot at tag team gold. I've already tasted that, more times than you and PX ever will.

And... I guess because President Sommers thought that Kyle and I would be angry at each other for last week's mishap, he put us against each other for a shot at the Intercontinental title. How'd you put it on PWA Radio, Sommers logic? That's your only explanation for me getting a shot at a much more prestigious belt than the tag title. Right. The fact that I'm better than you has no bearing, I'm sure. You can whine about it all you want, it still doesn't change the fact that you're completely pathetic and way past your prime. You're a man that has gotten multiple chances to go after that World Title, and has come up way short every fucking time.

But what I get a good laugh out of is the fact that you think you and PX worked well as a team. What teamwork was there? Honestly. There was none, because like I said before, I was too busy destroying your shit-for-brains partner on the outside.

You're completely delusional. You don't have your facts straight, and guess what? You're going to lose at High Stakes. As much as I don't care for Deacon Frost, I really hope he breaks your jaw. At least we'd get a rest from your constant stupidity and outlandish claims of being the greatest wrestler ever.

Please.

(I move my eyes to the TV for a second, a clip on Sportscenter amused me. I return my eyes to the camera, colder than they were before.)

 VIRUS: Sorry Kyle, I had to clear the air on that, as I'm sure you'll have a few things to say to them as well. I guess Phoenix is like the really annoying kid at school that it's just better to ignore him and not let him bother you, rather than encourage him to keep being a nuisance. Oh well, I'll try to remember that for next time.

And I could care less about last Friday. Yeah, we lost, and that's never fun, but I got what I wanted. If you feel I abandoned you, that's fine. You're free to think whatever you want, but I warned you about it. I warned you that I would be focusing on PX, and I told you to handle Phoenix on your own. You didn't man up, and we lost the match. But, that's water under the bridge... and those two fucktards can have fun losing to the Deadpool next week.

But now it's you against me for a shot at that Intercontinental Title. Haven't you been down this road before? I think that it was you against Nightmare the week after Who's The Man!? to decide the number one contender for the Intercontinental title. Now, here you are wrestling for that chance again at a pay-per-view against me. The competition just keeps getting tougher and tougher, huh?

I mean... yeah, Nightmare is a talented wrestler, and he can talk about his eighteen month win streak all he wants. But, when you're wrestling people half your size with half the talent, I wouldn't expect you to lose. It's the same reason why I don't talk about my World Title win three years ago, because I beat two men that amounted to nothing in under a minute. That's embarrassing for me to talk about... but Nightmare likes to gloat about his win streak against people that... probably don't amount to anything.

I'm better than Nightmare, Kyle. I want you to realize that. You're going to have to bring anything and everything to win. You're going to have to be quicker, better, and make less mistakes than me. You're going to have to break me.

I don't see you doing that, I really don't. It's not because I don't think you can, it's because I think you don't have the confidence to step into the ring with superstars like myself. I mean, take last week for example. You froze with the Phoenix across the ring from you. That guy is a has-been... and he'll never amount to anything until he retires and maybe gets a hall of fame ballot. What makes you think you can stand toe to toe with me?

I'll be waiting for that answer.

(A smirk.)

 VIRUS: But hey, you're getting another chance Kyle. You're getting another chance to prove to everyone you're not the punchline of the PWA. You're getting another chance to prove to everyone why you should be main eventing, or close to it. You keep getting all these chances... and you've cashed in one time. You cashed in against Fire. But... that's about it.

I have yet to get much of anything when it comes to title shots. I stepped into the PWA and was given the tag title. I defended it, and then lost it to the Morans. Eh, sadder things have happened. Since then, not much has come my way, but do you think that's because people think I don't deserve it? I've been busy, with Corey Lazarus and the MoA.

But... I put Corey down. I sent the MoA's brightest star packing. I have no excuse now for not going after titles. I guess it'll have to start with the Intercontinental, and I'll eventually work my way up to the World Title. My third goal, an arm's length away.

And believe me when I tell you, I will get there. I will become World Champion, it's only a matter of time. I guess it's in my best interest to see Corey win that World Title this week. Think about it this way. He wins that World Title and by some miracle he manages to defend it at the next pay-per-view, the same pay-per-view that will see me fighting the Intercontinental Champion and winning, I'll tell him to lay the World Title on the line against me. You bet your ass I will, because I've beaten him. Mark McNasty can kiss my ass. He and Wilkie can enjoy trying to be the next Brothers Grimm for all I care, but if you're still following me here Kyle, would that not be a great match?

Title versus title... two men that have hated each other more than anybody. I mean... that would just be phenominal.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. The first step to that pipe dream is beating you this week. I mean, no offense, I've had it harder. But, that doesn't mean I will underestimate you. That doesn't mean I will take you for granted. No, I'm going to treat you like you're the toughest match of my life, because this is my destiny. I'm going to climb the few steps I have left to achieve ultimate glory.

I'll be sure to send you a postcard when I get there.

(A deep breath.)

 VIRUS: It all starts with you, Kyle. I've done my best to be as less condescending as possible, but I can't help but feel that you're a stepping stone. Obviously, there are people here that still have faith in you because they're still giving you chances to prove yourself. One of them isn't me, though, and it's nothing personal. I had faith in you last week, and you didn't come through. I'm sure I'll have faith in you next week, when you're facing whomever. But this week, all of my faith and my confidence lies within myself, because I'm going to need it. I have a feeling something big is about to happen this week... and I'm going to need all the stability, faith, and confidence in the world to get through it.

Whether it's our match, or something after it... something's going down. I can feel the calm before the storm. I still have plenty of enemies lurking about, men that would pay handsomely to see me destroyed.

Then again... what would a pay-per-view be without an Engel being tortured, beaten, and betrayed?

It seems like every big event has me, or someone in my family, getting something they don't deserve. You might disagree... but hey, I don't give a flying fuck.

I think I've said enough.

I do not forgive.

I do not forget.

Give it your all, Kyle. Leave nothing behind.

(fade.)