“UH-OH! UH-OH!�?/FONT>
The PA system sounds and the lights in the arena cut to black as the sound of rhythmic bongo drums fill the building.
“THE CHAMP IS HERE!�?/FONT>
Trunks: Uh�?/FONT>
The bongo drums sound again.
“THE CHAMP IS HERE!�?/FONT>
Bongo drums.
“THE CHAMP IS HERE!�?/FONT>
Bongos one more time.
“THE CHAMP IS HERE! IS HERE!�?/FONT>
And a spotlight hits the stage�?revealing Ryan Cain shadowboxing sideways in the entryway. “The Champ is Here�?by Jadakiss takes full swing as Will Smith portraying Muhammad Ali continues yelling “THE CHAMP IS HERE!�?
Trunks: He would.
Joey: He’s a showman. Of *course* he would.
Trunks: You sure do have a knack for that.
Joey: For what?
Trunks: Jumping on bandwagons.
So anyway, Ryan turns to face the arena as the fans are, needless to say, in a frenzy, and he starts to make his way toward the ring. CJ is trailing close behind him, carrying her brother’s W2K Championship Belt over her shoulder.
Trunks: Is that Juno McGuff?
Joey: If I’m not mistaken, Trunks, this is the first time Ryan has ever brought his sister, CJ, to the ring with him.
Trunks: He’ll inevitably regret that.
The lights start to come back to the arena as Ryan bobs down the aisle, bouncing up and down with his fists pumping above his head. He goes from one side of the ramp to the other, slapping hands with all the fans at ringside as he approaches the ring. Finally, he reaches the end of the aisle and slides up onto the apron, standing up straight before sitting down on the middle rope and pushing the top rope up, opening them for CJ, who climbs up the stairs before stepping through. Ryan steps in after her before smoothly taking the Title Belt off her shoulder, raising it above his head, and jumping up and down while spinning in circles. The flashbulbs are going off all over the building as the lights come back to normal in the arena. Finally, the music cuts and Ryan drops the belt onto his shoulder before removing a microphone from his pocket.
Ryan: So I was sitting around this week doing pretty much nothing �?you know, a lot like the rest of W2K’s roster �?and I realized that I, Ryan Cain�?never had any kind of public celebration in honor of *my* W2K Championship victory and subsequent reign as Champion. What an injustice, right? I mean, seriously? Winning the W2K Title had been a long time coming for me, and when it finally happened�?I’d like to think it immediately became a milestone, not just in my professional wrestling career�?but in the history of Wrestling 2000!
The fans are eating this up�?but at this point in his stint in the wrestling ring, Ryan could probably punt a kitten and the fans would eat that shit up. Not that he would punt a kitten.
Ryan: I mean, it’s really interesting to think about. When this Title Belt�?/FONT>
He glances down at his shoulder.
Ryan: �?was moved from the waist of Nic E. Dangerously and fastened snuggly to my own�?in that single moment, it traveled from one end of the wrestling spectrum�?/FONT>
Ryan giddily trots over to one side of the ring.
Ryan: �?*aaaalllll* the way�?/FONT>
He raises his free hand above his head and points across the ring, stretching his arm out and rapidly shuffling his feet until he’s on the other side of the ring.
Ryan: �?to the other. When I pinned that bastard’s shoulders to the canvas for the loooong, dramatic count of three�?the power of the Championship was immediately transferred from one radical extreme all the way to the opposite extreme. I mean, come on�?does it really get any bigger than that? From Nic E. Dangerously to Ryan Cain. From the Paradigm to the Showstealer. From the Smelly Vagina to the Tragic Hero. He doesn’t have as many nicknames as I do�?so I had to make some up. But anyway, the significance here is, in that single moment�?I became W2K Champion�?and he *truly* became King Nothing. The darkness looming over the company was forced straight the hell out of here, and it was replaced by a day for rejoicing. A new light was shi-�?/FONT>
Suddenly, the sound of hissing static fills the arena and Ryan’s head drops in annoyance, almost like he expected something like this.
Ryan: �?ning.
And he looks toward the screen above the entryway, where the visualization of the static noise is found. It goes on momentarily, much like what happened when his promo was interrupted earlier in the week.
Ryan: Ladies and gentlemen�?/FONT>
The static starts to dissipate a bit.
Ryan: �?the biggest asshole this side of Gotham City�?/FONT>
He lifts his hand toward the screen, making a gesture of introduction.
Ryan: �?Exodus.
And now the face of Exodus fills the screen, his piercing eyes glaring at Ryan.
Ryan: Shocking.
Exodus: Ryan Cain.
Ryan: Exodus! Wow, didn’t expect to see you here! Well, there. Wherever you are. How are you, bud?
Exodus just smirks at Ryan’s patronizing tone.
Exodus: I suppose denial is just the way you cope with suffering, Ryan. I can see it in the fact that you stand there now, talking about a “new light�?that began shining brightly upon the world of W2K at the time of your winning the W2K Championship. You talk about that�?even though you should remember better than anyone else exactly what happened after you won that title. You should remember that, immediately�?there was a dark veil over the face of Wrestling 2000 thicker than any that had ever been present before. You should remember the news that was announced�?the beating that you felt. You should remember that Jeremy McMillion finally gave the explanation behind the mur-�?/FONT>
Ryan: Yeah, Exodus, yeah�?I remember. I remember McMillion explaining that he was behind the entire thing, that he had come up with the plan. And I remember that he said he had hired you to take care of the really dirty work. Oh, Exodus�?how could I forget? How could I *ever* forget how badass and influential you *really* are, oh dark figure of authority?
Suddenly, CJ grabs Ryan’s hand and takes the microphone away from him, boldly putting it to her mouth and glaring at the screen.
CJ: Yeah, you’re so badass, you killed a woman. Wow, dipsh**, great work. And now I’m your target, right? I’m the next step before you get to my brother, right? Well I can’t help but notice the fact that I’m standing right here in the middle of the arena�?and you’re up there in your dark closet, trying to convince us all that everything is a part of your bogus plan. Well why don’t you get it over with? Why don’t you come get me right now?
Ryan is looking a little uneasy at this�?and Exodus is just smirking.
CJ: If I had the chance, I’d kill your ass myself.
“HA!�?/FONT>
The abrupt, scathing scoff comes from a party that’s unaccounted for. Ryan and CJ look around the arena momentarily.
“HA! HA!�?/FONT>
And finally, Jeremy McMillion appears in the entryway on the stage, microphone held firm to his mouth.
Jerm: Wow, you know, it’s funny you say that, CJ.
Joey: Oh crap.
Trunks: This is going in a�?not-so-good looking direction.
Jerm: The thing is, in being associated with Exodus and his followers, and hearing them talk about the feelings they get when they do things like what Exodus did to your pure, beautiful mother�?it’s gotten to the point that I, myself, want to experience that feeling. I want to know that adrenaline rush. So, me being the real figure of authority that I am�?I came up with an idea. And since you’re just so gung ho on getting violent, CJ�?it really works out perfectly.
In the ring, Ryan is absolutely steaming�?but somehow, CJ doesn’t seem fazed at all. It almost seems at though she wants the Jerm to say what he’s about to say.
Jerm: This is how it’s going to be. later tonight with the fate of your brother's reign at Fade 2 Black on the line�?CJ Cain�?you’ll be facing�?me, Jeremy McMillion.
Joey: That�?wasn’t what I expected him to say.
Ryan’s silent anger and annoyance climbs to a whole new level.
Jerm: It’ll be no holds barred. You’ll be able to take out all your frustration, CJ. You’ll be able to beat me up with your dolls and all your make-up. It’ll be your chance to really get back at me for ruining your precious life. As long as I don’t bash your skull in with a chair first. Isn’t that just�?perfect? Oh, and your brother won’t be able to interrupt�?and neither will anyone else, because should *anyone* interfere in this match in your favor, you’ll be disqualified�?and the stipulation I’m about to announce will take effect.
Trunks: This just keeps getting�?/FONT>
Joey: �?worse.
Jerm: Here’s the deal, CJ�?my physically imposing opponent. If you win this match�?if you *somehow* manage to beat me, CJ Cain�?your brother, Ryan, will be defending his Championship later in the night against Exodus, as though that weren’t obvious. But, maybe you’ll just want to throw the match. Maybe you’ll just want to let me win, because�?if you *lose*�?after I pound your innocent face into oblivion�?you’ll get what is apparently your wish. Because YOU will be defending your brother’s W2K Title against Exodus at Fade to Black!
Joey: WHAT?!?
Trunks: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?
The Jerm just wears a big grin on his face as he lowers the microphone. In the ring, Ryan is absolutely livid as his belt is flung to the canvas of the ring and he leans heavily on the ropes, screaming his lungs out in the direction of the Jerm. Words like “bullshit�?and “motherfucker�?can be made out. McMillion just gives a taunting wave as he backs up, exiting the arena through the curtain�?and Exodus just laughs maniacally through closed lips before the screen goes black. Ryan continues screaming for a moment before he finally stops�?and turns back to look at CJ, who looks right back at him in total shock. And we fade.