[Jim "The Amp" Johnson and WarHead are sitting at the ringside announce table. Jay Phillips is standing in the middle of the ring.]
Jim "The Amp" Johnson: Alright fans, we've got Jay Phillips in the ring and he's going to be speaking with a very promising young wrestler tonight in Jacob Washington.
WarHead: That's my line, Jim, and you didn't even do it right. It goes AAAALLLLLLLLLLL RRRIIGGHHHTTT!!!! See? You have to put the emotion into it.
Jay Phillips: Fans, my guest at this time... Jacob Washington!
["Breathe Into Me" by The Red begins to play through the arena and he casually walks down to the ring to a mixed, though mostly negative, reaction from the crowd. He steps through the ropes and stands next to Jay.]
JP: Jacob, when Season Five began many called you the future face of this company. We've got a big six man Tables Ladders and Chairs match coming up after the tag team tournament to determine the number one contender for Bruno's title. You, Jacob Washington, are one of the participants in that match. What is your mindset going into the match?
Jacob Washington: Jay, plain and simple, I --
["Stain" by Full Devil Jacket begins to play, cutting off Jacob. Jacob smirks and shakes his head while he watches Johnny Young step out onto the stage. The crowd begins to cheer loudly. Johnny has a microphone in his hand and takes his time walking down to the ring.]
WarHead: Jacob Washington barely opened his mouth. I envision this not ending well at all.
Jim "The Amp" Johnson: I'd have to agree with you, WarHead. I don't know what Johnny's game plan is here but I hope he came ready to fight.
[Johnny steps into the ring. The music dies down.]
Johnny Young: Jacob, you and I haven't really gotten along since you came here. That's no secret. Hell, we've already brawled in this ring in a number one contenders match before. You know.... I kind of hate you. BUT, I also kind of like you an awful lot. I've been trying to figure out why.
JW: Well, it's probably jealousy. I walk in here, make a name for myself, live up to the hype, and am poised to run guys like you into obsolescence. That's why you hate me. You like me because I'm just so good you can't help but be impressed.
[Johnny nods and ponders Jacob's statement.]
JY: A good theory. Definitely a possibility. Now try mine out. A gifted wrestler with a lot of hype around him comes to the NRWL. In a roster where there's some old favorites and a lot of new faces, he manages to live up to that hype, exceed it even. In time, he gets his well deserved title shot and wins the big one. From there, he takes off and builds a great career. Becomes the face of the NRWL.
JW: So you're painting a picture of my future. Amazing. Did you get that from some magic 8 ball? None needed. You only need to watch me to see that the future you described is inevitable.
JY: Well, maybe. I don't know. The truth is, I could actually see that happening for you. Only thing is, I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about the story of a "Star Player". I'm talking about me. Awww yeeaahhh!
[The crowd bursts into cheers. Fans are chanting "Johnny! Johnny!"]
WarHead: I never thought about it, but he's right. I was there! People thought Johnny was going to be this huge deal. Ten years later, the proof is standing right in front of us.
Jim "The Amp" Johnson: The parallel is there, for sure.
JY: So, let me get this out of the way first. In that number one contenders match, it's every man for himself and if I were a betting man in Vegas, I'd be wise to put my money on The Star Player. But I am getting ahead of myself. Before we get to that match, we've got a tag team tournament coming up. I want in that tournament. More importantly, I want to win that tournament. I looked around and decided that the best fit for a tag team partner....... is you.
JW: Are you serious? So you come out here, interrupt me, tell me that you will win a number one contenders match that we are both in - you're wrong, by the way - and then tell me that you want me as your tag team partner? No way I'm carrying you to the finish line just to share some gold.
JY: Your cocky attitude reminds me of me. Your ability to work under the pressure of the hype machine reminds me of me. You've got the look of a champion, yeah, like me. Don't get me wrong, Jacob. I really do see you as a top guy in this company someday. Championship gold around your waist is a no brainer. It will happen. I'm just saying... it'll happen a lot sooner if you team up with me. Think about it. Put your attitude in check for just one moment and consider what I've done. I'm not asking you to like me. I'm asking you to listen to that growling inside. That hunger for some gold. Jacob, you and I can take this tournament.
[Jacob grinds his teeth, looks to the ring mat, and shakes his head. He smiles and looks up at Johnny. Then he walks right up to Johnny until they are nose-to-nose.]
JW: Ok. I'll bite. Let's do this. I don't feel too good about having a has been like you weighing me down but taking the tag titles and then going on to win the NRWL Championship from Bruno would be nice. I am hungry for gold. If I can get a double helping, why not?
JY: Well then. That's that. See you at the tournament. Partner. Aw. Yeah.
[Both men stare each other down. Finally, Johnny steps back, eyes up his partner, and then steps through the ropes and out of the ring. Jacob's music begins to play as he stands in the ring and watches Johnny walk back through the stage curtain.]
Jim "The Amp" Johnson: This could be quite a force in the tag team tournament. That's all dependent on if they can even function as a team.
WarHead: Fraust and I weren't always on the same page but we had a pretty good run with Nuclear Winter. With Johnny and Jacob, neither one of these guys is fond of the other but they have the same goal in mind. If they can somehow keep their focus, they really might win this whole thing. It's a big might, though.
Jim "The Amp" Johnson: No matter what happens, we won't know until the tournament!
