time: monday afternoon

day: october thirteenth

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

(Back in the States. I've just come in from a five mile run, not short of breath or even remotely tired. I'm more than prepared for this week. I have a seat on my patio, a note and my camera waiting for me. "Alexia and I are in town for the rest of the day, do what you have to do - Love, Mia". Things have been great lately, and I can honestly say that I'm truly focused. I hit record.)

Matthew Engel: "I don't doubt you're the future of this sport, Viktor. Where most men would sit here and tell you that you're absolutely nothing and your ignorance and inexperience will be your downfall, I'll sing a different tune and say that you're a prominent threat to my World Title reign. I recognize talent when I see it, but you'd have to be a damn fool to think I'd ever bow before you.

You're greater than me? And where's the evidence? Because you were lucky in one match? Because my tag partner refused to show up last week? 

Please. 

You're stepping into my world now, you're stepping into the limelight. You shouldn't be concerned with breaking my back and forcing me to bow, you should be concerned with how you're going to handle the most important match of your life. You should be concerned with the other man in the ring with us, and you should be concerned that I am not going to give up this title. You've still got a lot to learn yet, Vik."

(A brief silence.)

Matthew Engel: "I always put it all in the line, Viktor. Every week. The fact that I've got the World Title makes me even more dangerous because I'll go beyond any limit I thought I had to make sure I walk out still the World Champion. 

This Friday is going to be my first test and I'm perfectly fine with a burning steel cage. I'm perfectly fine with facing you, and I'm perfectly fine that the wild card himself, Scott Nash Strader, is now involved in our match. What else have you got, Robinson? Let's make it a battle royal for all I care, I'm still going to be your World Champion when it's all said and done. 

I want you to come at me believing you're the best the PWA has to offer. Please, come at me with all the ignorance, stupidity, and ego that you can muster. I've learned humility in a harsh way, and I fully expect to be carried out of the ring on Friday if I want to keep my World Title, but you? Do you HONESTLY believe that you're going to get away with all the threats you've thrown at me? Vik, I'm going to make you eat steel the whole fucking time. I'm going to break your arm over my knee, and then beat you with it. I'll scorch your body and make you scream for mercy.

Why? Because I fucking can, that's why."

(I itch my three-day beard. My blood is boiling.)

Matthew Engel: "You've gone far enough, Vik, with your bullshit threats and your claim to my World Title. 

I'm Matthew Engel, welcome to the end of the line."

(I let out a weak cough.)

Matthew Engel: "Scotty.. it seems I've got my work cut out for me. I have the all brawn and no brains Viktor wanting to break my back, and now I have you threatening me as well. However, I know that your threats are not empty like Vik's and have justification behind them. I haven't forgotten what I did to your family and neither should you. But, there are a few things that I'd like you and Vik to know.

I don't fucking care how pissed off or full of rage you two idiots are, you're stupid for thinking that I'm going to roll over in this match and let either one of you walk, or be carried out, away with my World Title.

The past is just that. Instead of looking behind you, you should be looking forward. That's what I'm doing, and I'm definitely looking forward to burning both of you and having my hands raised as World Champion once again.

All the adversity in the world isn't going to stop me from delivering my absolute best and throwing out the ol' playbook. This is a different side to me, this is a different style of wrestling. And if either of you think I don't have what it takes to survive in this match, then you're a couple of a morons who don't even deserve to step into the same ring with me. I have gone through hellacious matches throughout my career, and this is just another test that I am confident I will pass with flying fucking colors.

You can try to break me, you can make me bleed all over that ring, but you know that's not going to stop me. Nothing will stop me."

(My eyes are cold and filled with determination.)

Matthew Engel: "I'm not going to order any attacks. I'm not going to send out the troops. I don't get involved in that anymore, Scott. Haven't you been keeping up with current events? I'm no longer apart of the Masters. I'm walking a different path, and now I'm World Champion. Perhaps the Masters were dragging me down and causing me to be distracted. If you lose focus, then you get swept off your feet. But, I was taught some invaluable things that I will never forget, and I'll be showing them to you and Vik this Friday.

Feel special. The last Masters of Armageddon act of violence was on you. Let's all clap at Scott."

(I get a slow clap going, a disturbing grin across my face.)

Matthew Engel: "When have I not come prepared? Time and time again people always tell me to 'come prepared' as if they plan to surprise me with whatever. And time and time again, I feel disappointment because those very same people that tell me to 'come prepared' aren't prepared when I crash down on them with the best finisher you've ever seen.

So, allow me to turn the tables. You come prepared, Scott. You come prepared, Vik. Be prepared for the most important match of your lives, and don't forget your sunscreen because it's going to get awfully hot.

I do not forgive.

I do not forget.

'Cause I hunt you down without mercy."

(fade.)