The fans explode as Kyojin makes his way out of the curtain. He looks around with a smile on his face as he loosely holds the ICW World Championship at his side. He throws it up in the air as it is met by another roar from the pumped crowd. He begins to make his way down the ramp, giving some fans high fives as he goes, before he reaches the bottom of the ramp and walks around to the steel stairs. He makes his way up and grabs a microphone from the top of it. Kyojin climbs into the ring and begins to speak immediately.
Kyojin: Well this has been a rollercoaster few weeks, wouldn’t you all agree?
The fans pop in agreement.
Kyojin: Firstly, I became ICW World Champion on the final night of that company’s tenure, making it so that I will forever go down as the final ICW World Champion, and this beautiful belt will forever be in my possession.
Then we came around to another new company, SRW. I remember it like it was yesterday. After weeks of extensive negotiating, I finally accepted the contract offer from SRW, and became an official SRW superstar. Then before the first show, which I actually opened, was broadcast, some of the guys from behind the scenes jumped ship, declaring SRW to be a minefield filled with deadly explosives, and they weren’t sinking with it.
That’s totally understandable, but because of them SRW died. Now those guys backstage actually created this fed with the help of somebody from ICW. And i’ve heard rumours all week about some things, but again, if ICW is living on in IWA- why am I not the World Champion already?
The fans pop for Kyojin.
Kyojin: I’m not saying hand it to me, quite the opposite. I want to earn it. And tonight, my chance to do so begins. I have to face guys like Mr. Smyth, who until Glory Days- was irrelevant to everybody. And even then, when he got some screen time, he didn’t get the job done.
Tonight, that’s my opponent. A guy who wrote off my chances at Glory Days and I felt like kicking him in the head then, instead, I get to do it tonight.
The fans pop louder.
Kyojin: Smyth is a good talent, don’t get me wrong, but he isn’t there yet. He isn’t up to the level I am. Tonight, when I walk back down to this ring and face him, I’ll prove to the entire world that he isn’t ready for that kind of exposure.
In fact, tonight, I may just show Mr. Smyth that the business mind he claims to have may be blinded by his own selfish desires. Tonight I’m going-
Mr. Smyth stands at the top of the ramp with a bewildered look on his face, as the crowd boos. Smyth walks down to the ring briefcase in hand, throwing the occasional look of disgust at various members of the audience as he passes them by. Smyth gets into the ring and is handed a mic by the stagehand.
Mr. Smyth: Before I address some of the things you have said, let me be the first to congratulate you on your championship win. Seriously...
Smyth offers out a hand to Kyojin. Kyojin hesitates, but accepts the handshake.
...it’s about time you achieved something in your life.
Kyojin snatches his hand back as the crowd boos.
But let’s talk business. Some of what you have said was considerably ignorant. You seemingly have a twisted view on what we spoke about at Glory Days, so allow me the opportunity to put that right. I didn’t write you off. I told you that I would not begrudge you a win. Now don’t get me wrong, before his injury, Antonyo Angelo was my pick – and I know you have your theories as to why that is – but when he was taken out of the picture, I gave you and Darius a fifty-fifty chance. The only thing I knew for certain was that Van Hooligan X wasn’t walking out champion, but is that me writing you off? I don’t think so. One could argue that I actually endorsed you.
And you’ve disappointed me as well, Kyojin. For you to resort to calling me irrelevant and assuming that I won’t be a challenge for you just shows that you’re not the man I thought you are. I was looking forward to an intellectual exchange between the two of us. That’s what I expected of you. For months I’ve been talking to people who are boring and resort to ignorant phrases like that, but I was hoping for so much more from you. Maybe your creativity is starting to drain somewhat. Maybe – just maybe – Kyojin is getting stale.
Crowd boos, with a small section chanting ‘No!’ ‘No!’ ‘No!’
You are right about something: we certainly have had a turbulent time on the indie scene. In fact, the wrestling industry in itself seems to be on a massive freefall. ICW closed because of some in-fighting and poor business decisions. SRW was built on poor decisions, poor hiring and a lack of teamwork. I could see from a mile off that it wasn’t going to work, hence why my contract stated that all payments owed to me were to be paid in advanced. I did absolutely nothing, and I got a lot of money for it.
Crowd chants ‘Arsehole!’ ‘Arsehole!’ ‘Arsehole!’ as Mr. Smyth turns to them.
Look, he may be a lot of things, but Kyojin is not an arsehole.
Crowd boos as Mr. Smyth chuckles to himself.
But now here we are – IWA. You and I have been bounced back-and-forth quite a bit over these last few weeks, but this seems to be a stable environment for now. I’m intrigued about your delusions of grandeur though. Regardless of what you say, you clearly believe that you are the rightful world champion and the fact that you say that I am not on your level further enforces that. Here’s the thing – it’s a new company, which means it’s a level playing field. You, me, Darius, Ryder, Jackson Smith – everybody is currently on the same level. Over the next few weeks and months, a hierarchy will be established, but don’t you dare think that belt right there gives you an advantage over anybody else. I’m sure Smokey has in his head a plan of who he wants where, but this is an amazing opportunity to change his mind.
Tonight is the proving ground. You and I will go one-on-one for the first time ever, and if I am honest, I am looking forward to it. I did say to you back at Glory Days that if you were to be victorious, then I would like to take a shot at you. Unfortunately, it won’t be for that title you have there, but our match is the next best thing – round one in a tournament for the IWA World Title.
Smyth steps closer to Kyojin.
Remember what I told you about expectations? How everybody expects everything from you and how nobody expects anything from me? Well the pressure is back on you tonight. Will you be crushed under the weight of expectation? I have a theory on that if you want to hear it, and...
Kyojin: Are you done? Because this got boring a long time ago.
The fans pop loudly for the interruption as Smyth looks angry.
Kyojin: No I’m being serious, time and time again, you walk out to this ring- and whether it’s on ICW, IWA, TWE, anything you come out with is always the same thing- you talk about me getting stale, trust me when I say that your talking got stale the minute you stepped foot into this ring, into any ring.
And didn’t we have this conversation before? ‘Oh Kyojin, you’re not going to do anything, you don’t stand a chance against Darius and Van Hooligan X’- well I got news for you Smyth, I stood my chance, I took my chance and I became a World Champion.
As for you, well, you were thwarted by yourself. You seem to think that we all believe you when you come out here complaining about being overlooked and underappreciated when really, I think it’s all a ploy to try and take the pressure off. I get that it works, but if we can all see right through you, sure that just puts the pressure right back on.
So what happened to you at Glory Days? I get you said that you weren’t going to deliver, you weren’t going to win- but we could all see it when you got into that ring- how much you wanted it. And when you left with nothing- well I have to say I’m not surprised. You never deserved a damn thing in ICW, you don’t deserve a damn thing in IWA and tonight, I’m going to be the one that proves that.
The fans pop loudly.


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