An old boxing and wrestling gym is where the scene is set today, and after a hard day's workout and preparation for round two of the TEAM Invitational Tournament, Donovan Astros is sitting in the corner of the ring, sipping on a bottle of water. He doesn't look all that pleased with the situation... but given who he expected to face, how can you blame him?
ASTROS - Man, it's funny how things work out in this sort of tournament environment. I really expected to be facing Jake Phoenix here, to tear the house down with my partner in crime, to show the world what the Murder City Devils can really do in front of a worldwide audience. I got my part of the job done, but my demon brother... somehow, someway, he couldn't get there. And that changes things a lot. Because instead of going up against Jake Phoenix, a man I know like the back of my hand, a man I've beaten for the biggest prize in independent wrestling, a man who I've worked with for ten years... now I get something completely different.
Apologies to Monty Python.
ASTROS - MaX-Files, I don't know a lot about you, but I've done what I go and do every time I face the unknown. I don't cower from it, I research it. I find out what the hell I'm going up against. And Max... you're certainly a piece of work. You made your name in No Brand Wrestling, and that's fitting, because there's nothing special about you whatsoever. Somewhere along the line, you went nuts, Max Hopper, and Hell, your lack of sanity is available for the world to see on your MySpace. Congrats, MaX-Files, the whole world knows you're bat(BLEEP) insane. Things appear to have gone horribly wrong for you somewhere along the line, and really, I'm not sure how you got past Jake Phoenix.... hell, nobody's sure, since you turned the lights out in the arena and then did God knows what to him.
Astros shudders at the thought.
ASTROS - But somehow, somewhat, Hopper, you've gotten to this point, and now you're staring the face of greatness right in the eyes. Let me promise you this, MaX-Files, you're not gonna need your TRS-80 to figure this case out. Just watch some videotape. Look what I've done to Ravager, to Bruce Richards, to Troy Douglas, to Simply Beautiful, to damned near everyone that's stepped in my path. Bell rings. Match ends. Astros wins. And while once in a damned while you might be able to conquer a monster like Jake Phoenix, a man I've stepped in the ring against on three occasions and on his side in several more, and I know what it takes to beat him isn't gonna get it done to try and beat me!
Astros shrugs.
ASTROS - Sorry, Jake, you know you'd say the same thing deep down. I am the most driven wrestler in the game today, Max Hopper. None of your little skits or head games or anything you might wanna pull... none of that is going to change the mountain you have to climb in the Breslin Center. None of that is gonna help you conquer the greatest wrestler on God's green Earth, Max! So stick this in your computer and process it, pal... come this weekend, you're gonna be looking at the man moving on to the Target Center, the man moving on to his date with destiny, the man that will bring the Worldwide Astrocide to the Merritt Trophy!
Astros stands up and basks in his own greatness.
ASTROS - Max Hopper, Max Moon, Maxx Muscle, MaX-Files, whatever you wanna call yourself, call yourself the second victim of six on the path of the Worldwide Astrocide.
