time: tuesday afternoon

day: may sixth

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

(Darkness turns to light. I'm standing in the middle of my ring in the basement, but not in workout clothes. I'm in a suit, but you don't know why. You don't care. Maybe a wedding, maybe a funeral. Like I said, you don't care. I hit record on the camera.)

VIRUS: You know, I can't remember the last time you actually won a match, Phoenix. I really can't. Maybe you can tell me just how long ago it was. Did you win last week? No, Kindred made you look like a fool. Did you win the Elimination Chamber match? Nope... you certainly didn't. I just can't go farther back, because I simply don't care. You're not the recipe to success, dumbass. Hell, the last time that just you and Project X teamed up as a regular tag team, you lost to Grade A Nastyness. The only reason I know that is because that's all that fuckstick McNasty talks about.

(I take a moment, and retract my eyes from the camera.)

 VIRUS: God he's annoying, but hey, he's not the issue right now. The issue is that you think you and that gigantic retard are the strongest team in the PWA. Why? Because you've both sampled singles gold? Not this again. I've already explained this to Wilkie, what you get done in the singles division doesn't have any bearing on how well you can perform in the tag division. It's a completely different ballgame, and I would expect a "veteran" like you to know that. But you seem to know jack and shit.

You said it yourself, you and PX are going after gold you've never had before. You haven't won a match together as a regular tag team, and you expect this to be a cakewalk.

You're a moron.

But hey, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Since you think you've never held the PWA Tag Title, I'll let you in on a little secret. You have, all of six years ago with The Prisoner. But I don't blame you for not remembering it. It was so long ago, and it really doesn't even fucking matter. Other than that, you have no real tag team experience, Phoenix. You're an amateur when it comes to this part of the game, so let the pros do what they have to do. Kyle and I will happily move on to High Stakes and take on whatever bullshit team wins in the other match and we'll destroy them too. What does it even mean? I have no clue. I assume it makes us number one contenders to the tag titles.

Rinse. Repeat.

I've been down this road before, many times. I've captured many different tag team titles, and I've never had a good partner. I've been the one always doing the hard work and prep, and dominating the match. But, I must say, out of all the shit partners I've had, Enika stands out. Then again, she's an Engel too.

You awake now, Phoenix?

Idiot.

(I return my eyes to the camera, a grim look on my face.)

 VIRUS: You know, I'd love to go around and pretend like I'm asking for people to sing your praises, but quite frankly I have better things to do with my time. And, I would imagine, nobody would have anything to say. What's there to say about a man who hasn't had a win in... forever? What's there to say about a man who hides behind a fucking mask, and gets his ass kicked week in and week out?

What's there to say about a man who makes promises he never keeps? You're pathetic. Nobody would sing your praises, because there ain't nothing to sing about. Me and Kyle on the other hand... hey, at least we actually have a win as a tag team.

But there is one reason why I'm looking forward to this match. It's not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it's that Project X will finally be across the ring from me again.

Hey there.. did you think I'd forget about you? I still haven't forgotten what you did to Enika, either. So, please prepare yourself to not be able to walk out of Rampage. You're going to be stretchered out, and I'm going to make sure it happens. I'm sure Kyle won't have any problem handling his number one fan. I can't remember the last time we met in the ring, X. Was it all those years ago in the UHWA? I believe so. We haven't gone against each other since, and for good reason, too. I embarrassed you then, when you were nothing, and I'd hate to embarrass you now when you think you're a dominate force here in the PWA.

Speaking of embarrassment, how about your reign as World Champion? You beat... Gabe Shelley? That's it, if I'm not mistaken. That's all you beat to defend the World Title, X, and that speaks volumes about how weak that title reign was. My younger brother tore Gabe Shelley to shreds. Just imagine if he would've gotten that shot against you, and not Gabe. Tsk tsk.

But hey, you did have one of the better matches of your career against Raizzor at Who's The Man, despite losing. I'll give ya that. And you've main evented the last three pay-per-views, I'll give you that too. Oh, and you got one over on Demise, always a plus.

You still chokeslammed Enika from thirty feet up, and now that I've got you in the ring, I'm going to beat an apology out of you and I won't stop until you apologize or go unconscious. I'll take unconsciousness as a sorry, I'm a fair man.

(My grim look turns to a sadistic smile.)

 VIRUS: Just think for one second that I can't do it. I dare you to underestimate me, and I dare you to defy me. I promise you, X, that I'm going to make you bleed. I'm going to make you pay. Win or lose, you're fucked. It's not going to be like the UHWA where I out-wrestle you and let you off the hook with a simple loss. No, I'm going to punish you. I'll do everything within my power to make you understand, and I'll do everything I can to win. Despite my thirst for revenge, it wouldn't be fair to my partner if I tried to be a one-man wrecking crew.

But.. if I slip up, and drag you out of the ring and beat the shit out of you, so be it. I'm sure Kyle would understand. It's not like he'd be facing the best wrestler ever in that ring. It's only the Phoenix.

Only.

So you two ladies bring everything you got, because I'd hate for you both to walk into this match thinking it's going to be an easy win and then get embarrassed by Kyle and yours truly. That's not what we want. We want competition, and we want a hard-fought match. We're not looking to get the easy or cheap win like you two fucktards are. Give us your A game, and you just might survive.

I do not forgive.

I do not forget.

Bang bang, bitches.

(fade.)