~The arena goes dark and silent. Suddenly, Splinter by Sevendust begins to play over the PA system, the video begins to play over the X-tron and the crowd erupts in applause. Flashbulbs pop as Playboy steps out onto the stage, wearing his suit, sunglasses and his Tag Team championship belt on his shoulder. He pauses for a few seconds on the stage to appreciate the crowd response~
*
Reggie: “Looks like Playboy is out here on his own tonight.”
*
Brandon: “Yes, Reggie. I would think that Cryl and Seraphim have other issues to take care of.”
*
Reggie: “Playboy must not be too happy that Cryl and Seraphim have to face each other later tonight.”
*
~Playboy walks down the ramp, up the ring steps and into the ring. He poses, holding the championship belt up in the air, to the crowd on every side of the ring. He steps to the corner closest to the ring announcer’s seat and gets passed a microphone, after which he proceeds to the center of the ring as the music and video stop. The crowd applauds louder, causing him to pause a few more seconds. He waves his free hand down to calm the crowd and begins to speak~
*
Playboy: “First off, I’d like to apologize for Cryl's absence out here right now. He and Seraphim are in a situation that they are working on resolving right now. But the reason why I'm out here is that lately…there has been an awful lot of namedropping. A majority of it, directed to…your tag team champions.”
*
~The crowd cheers as Playboy smiles to the hard camera pointing the index finger on his free hand to his face~
*
Playboy: “It’s understandable. In this business…jealousy runs rampant, and many people can’t help but feel jealous that guys like myself and Cryl have accomplished more in our time than they can ever hope to.”
*
~Playboy paces around the ring~
*
Playboy: “Now, the Thorn brothers…”
*
~The crowd applauds as Playboy pauses~
*
Playboy: “…they have been doing quite a lot of that name-dropping the last few shows. Or, as Pitbull called it, ‘calling us out’. “
*
~Playboy chuckles~
*
Playboy: “First off, ‘calling people out’, Pitbull, might have worked in whatever little school yard you guys came from, but doesn’t really mean a damn thing in this world. If you want something here, you’re not going to get it handed to you because you say you want it and shoot off your mouth. You come…and you try to take it.”
*
~Playboy continues to pace around~
*
Playboy: “I’ve said it before…talk is cheap. Now last Wednesday, on XFW, I guess Pitbull’s boys have finally dropped and he challenged us to a tag match that night. However, it seems that Pitbull has forgotten…we don’t make the matches here…management does. It takes a lot of balls to challenge someone to a match that night when they know management has already determined whether that will or will not happen.”
*
~Playboy proceeds to the ropes on the side of the ring closest to the hard camera~
*
Playboy: “Now…it seems that, amidst all of this name-dropping, the Thorn Brothers have picked up a little mouthpiece along the way…namely…Danny Young. Bwahahahahahahaha.”
*
~Playboy doubles over laughing, and the crowd enjoys a chuckle. After a few seconds, he regains his composure and looks directly into the camera~
*
Playboy: “You hear that, boys?”
*
~Playboy pauses and puts a hand to his ear, as if to listen for something~
*
Playboy: “That’s the sound of your credibility going down the crapper.”
*
~Playboy returns to leaning on the ropes~
*
Playboy: “Danny Young…I guess that we should be flattered, since now we have yet another coat-tail rider name-dropping to get involved in something that you’re not good enough to be involved in, and with people who you will never, in your entire career, be good enough to compete with, all in an attempt to make a name for yourself. If the Thorns think they need you, I guess they’re a little less confident than they want everyone to believe. It’s all about the company you keep, boys. That’s all there is to say about that little cockroach.”
*
~The crowd applauds, and Playboy resumes walking around the ring~
*
Playboy: “Now, Thorn brothers…it takes an awful lot of balls to say you want a match where you have nothing to lose. After all, in a tag team title match, you get to win the tag team titles, right? But what happens…when you lose? Usually, nothing.”
*
~The crowd murmurs a bit~
*
Playboy: “Now don’t get me wrong…The Blood Brothers have absolutely no interest in holding your little boy belts. But, if you’re as confident as you want all these people here, and all the fans watching at home, to believe…then why don’t you put something on the line too?”
*
~Playboy pauses to put his hand to his chin~
*
Playboy: “Hmm…how about…”
*
~Playboy looks to the roof to continue thinking, then points his finger up to his head as if to come up with an idea~
*
Playboy: “…how about…if you win…”
*
~Playboy lifts his tag team belt in the air~
*
Playboy: “…you guys, of course, become X-Force Entertainment Tag Team Champions!”
*
~The crowd applauds the prospect of a match between the Blood Brothers and the DAS. Playboy returns the belt to his shoulder~
*
Playboy: “But, if you lose...”
*
~The crowd quiets to listen~
*
Playboy: “…whatever championship or championships either one of you hold…”
*
~Playboy pauses and the crowd gets a little antsy~
*
Playboy: “…are vacated. Management can crown new title holders for your belts in any way they see fit.”
*
~The crowd erupts in applause~
*
Playboy: “Go ahead, Thorns, show everyone in X-Force world how confident you guys are. March right into the GM’s office, either one will do, and sign your names on that dotted line. They both have a copy of our contracts. We won’t be hiding behind the door to scare you, just walk in, print your name with your crayons, and walk out and management can make that match happen whenever they want. They know we can do this any time, any place. Want to kick us in the face? The ball is in your court, Thorns. You know what you need to do.”
*
~The crowd applauds again as Playboy drops the mic and Splinter begins to play over the PA system. He exits the ring and proceeds up the ramp, high-fiving fans along the way. When he reaches the stage, he turns and lifts the tag team championship up in the air and the crowd increases their applause. After a few more flashbulbs, Playboy turns and proceeds through the curtain~
*
