Johnny Askin’s holding a microphone. What a way to open a show. If only it were some kind of April Fool’s joke, right?

Askin: Good evening fans, and welcome to this week’s special April Fool’s addition of W2K RAGE. Now, most of you must know by now that, in tonight’s Main Event, two very unlikely teams are scheduled to go head to head. In the six-man tag team match at the end of the night, we’ll see Tyler Hayden, W2K Impact Champion, Dante Cross, and number-one contender for the W2K Championship, Ryan Cain, all team up to take on Phantom, Sef Kinsley, and current W2K Champion, Nic E. Dangerously. I thought it’d be interesting to get the members of both teams together in the same place for the first time since the match was made, just to get an idea of what we can expect from them when the time for the match arrives. Now, you’d probably think they’d turn this whole thing down�?but management likes me, so they’re obligated.

He gives an asshole grin.

Askin: Now, I’m here to start the show with the first team I mentioned, made up of Ryan Cain, Dante Cross, and Tyler Hayden.

The camera pulls back to show Haywire and Dante standing on either side of Askin, not looking too happy to be a part of this�?and Ryan Cain not too far behind Haywire, but seeming kind of distant from everyone at the same time while he just kind of looks down at the floor, chewing on his thumbnail and totally lacking his usual “flair.�?/P>

Askin: So, guys, like I said, you three make up a very “unlikely team,�?as I’ve already said, especially after what happened last week with Ryan and Haywire battling it out, only to have their efforts rendered futile by interference from you, Dante.

Askin nods toward Dante.

Askin: You’ve said that you don’t even expect these two to begin *trying* to coexist with you. That’s a pretty pessimistic attitude, especially considering the competitive nature shared by all three of you. Can I get everyone’s feelings in regard to the match as it grows so near?

Before Askin can even give a moment for someone to decide to go first, Dante just butts in.

Dante: Yeah, you’re right, Askin. I said that I don’t expect either of these two to have my back for even a second. I don’t expect them to help me, and I sure as hell don’t expect them to be standing on the apron when I instinctively look for the tag. If it doesn’t end up as a five-on-one situation, I definitely expect a three-on-one, at best. This isn’t a situation where I’m going to stand here and guarantee victory. It’s not a night after which I expect to have conquered all the adversity. But I can guarantee this: I can guarantee the fact that I’ll still be breathing at the end of the night. I can guarantee the fact that, when the night’s over, I’ll already be moving on to plan my next step. This is a six-man tag match that’s not meant to accomplish anything but a level of entertainment that can only be achieved by the act of throwing a team that’s *this* awkward together. No one cares who wins. It’s not going to decide anything. If nothing else, it’s the only way anyone involved could ever get the better of me.

A scoff comes in reply to that statement; scathingly subtle. Dante Cross looks past Askin now and right at Haywire, who’s rubbing his chin with a little smirk.

Dante: What are you smiling at?

Askin moves the microphone over to Tyler Hayden.

Askin: Haywire, what do you have to add?

Dante: Yeah, enlighten us.

Haywire: The time allotted for this interview wouldn’t be nearly sufficient to “enlighten�?the likes of you, Dante. But as far as tonight, maybe I’ll be there when you turn around to make that tag�?and maybe I won’t. I disagree with the level of predictability you’ve densely applied to my character. I really don’t think you know what you’re talking about, but I can’t stand here and pretend that I know what’s going to happen in the ring later on tonight. I’ll make my decision when I get there, and no matter what I do�?I can take satisfaction in the knowledge that, until that point, your fate rests in my hands. I can twist it and I can turn it in any way I choose. Maybe I care about this match more than I care about prematurely taking revenge over you right now - revenge that’s inevitable anyway. And�?maybe I don’t. If nothing else, at least you can take comfort in the thought that, no matter what, I can’t beat you by pinning my own partner to win the match.

Haywire winks at Dante and Dante just shakes his head in annoyance. Leaning back a bit, Askin looks at Ryan Cain, who hasn’t spoken or really moved since this whole thing started.

Askin: And what do you have to say, Ryan?

Ryan just glances up at Askin in a fleeting manner before looking back down again and just kinda shaking his head.

Askin: Ryan, you don’t want me to tell management you refused to comply, do you?

Again, Haywire just smirks.

Haywire: Did you already forget what he did to you last week, Askin? Have all the times he’s knocked you out just blurred into one big awful memory? How’s the head, by the way?

Dante: Screw it, he‘s a Debbie Downer. The “Tragic Hero�?has other things to worry about, and since he doesn’t have any “adversity�?to overcome, he doesn’t have a damn thing to say.

Suddenly, Ryan shoves past Haywire and Askin both and gets right in Dante’s face. He’s breathing heavily and his eyes are wide.

Ryan: You really think you’re that important, Dante? You make all these ignorant assumptions without ever hearing a word from my mouth- you don’t F***ING know me! You don’t know a damn thing about me. You’ve got all this talent, all this ability - you’ve had so much experience in wrestling, but your *real* ability is still locked up as untapped potential�?because you’re just like everyone else. You’re just like Christian Michaels and William Rodney Mercy and PowerTrip and Seifer�?and Jacob Mitchell. You’ve established yourself as a great wrestler, you’ve won Heavyweight Titles�?but you haven’t done *shit* to separate yourself from the rest of them. And you talk trash on me for the things that make me different? Well while you’re busy putting on a less-than-memorable show in the mid-card at Palooza, I’ll be getting ready to become W2K Champion, because I did what you couldn’t and won Anarchy. You don’t know me, Dante. You think I’m just gonna ditch you and give up my first opportunity to really start breaking down Nic E. Dangerously? That should be your first clue. Take some notes from Haywire, Dante�?do something to make yourself really stand out�?then- *then*, maybe I’ll consider you as important as you consider yourself. Until then, I’ll focus on my personal issues that go far beyond you interfering in a stupid f***ing wrestling match.

Ryan finishes, but the stare-down continues for several moments with the two men standing face to face�?until Ryan just turns abruptly and walks away. There’s a momentary awkward silence�?until Haywire takes a couple steps backwards, holding up his fingers in Dante’s direction like a gun.

Haywire: Bang.