Never meet your heros.

[Spencer Watts]

*Akira Wyld is pacing away from the Union locker room with a look of angry confusion on his face. He stops for a moment and puts his hand on the wall. He grips his neck with his free hand and winces in pain, still hurting from the Akira-Lock Brian Fury put on him an hour earlier.*

WYLD: “My own damn move... screw you Fury. I hope you and Pennyworth kill each other.”

*Wyld takes a deep breath and calms himself. He looks back at the door to the Union locker room, and then the other way down the hall. He grimaces with soreness and pain and begins trudging down the hall again. Moments later, he comes upon Spencer Watts. Wyld arrives just in time to see Tiger Gold pat Watts on the shoulder and walk away in the opposite direction Wyld was coming from. He sees Watts nod after him, and then turn and begin walking in his direction. Wyld straightens himself up and marches at Watts.*

WYLD: “Watts! Hold up. You and me have business.”

*Spencer Watts looks up with a start and raises his hands warily in Wyld’s direction.*

WYLD: “So... I see you have your sights set on challenging for MY NWC World Title.”

*Watts scoffs under his breath and narrows his eyes at Wyld.*

WATTS: “YOUR title? You mean the title you refused to defend and had stripped from you? The title you had to forfeit because you couldn’t beat Damion Black?”

WYLD: “The Title I never lost? The title that was STOLEN from me in a match Black CHEATED in to win? Yeah, THAT title, Watts.”

WATTS: “You’re damn right I want an opportunity at that title Wyld. Just like every superstar in PWA, I want a chance to prove I’m the best.”

WYLD: “Prove you’re the best huh? Is losing to Damon Black part of your master plan to show the world how great you are?”

WATTS: “Didn’t mean to steal your thunder out there. Who woulda guessed that in 2019 a rookie like me would be losing to Damion Black and still manage to outshine a Wyld.”

*Wyld rolls his eyes and drags his fingers through his hair.*

WYLD: “Listen... I’m not here to shatter your illusions about Black. Time will take care of that. I’m here because you and I can help each other. You see... we have a mutual goal here. We BOTH want to be the next in line to challenge for the NWC Title. And I’m going to level with you... neither one of us is going to get that shot on our own.”

*Watts cocks his head and frowns at Wyld.*

WYLD: “After what the Union did to him last season, the LAST thing Damion Black wants is to give me another shot at that championship. It doesn’t matter if I deserve it or not. In his eyes, I’m too damn dangerous to trust with gold.”

*Wyld slaps Watts on the chest.*

WYLD: “Now you... for some damn reason he seems to think you have what it takes to be considered for a title shot. Black likes you. He recognizes what you’ve put yourself through in PWA over these last four seasons. But there’s a problem isn’t there? No matter how hard your try... no matter how many chances Black gives you to step up and seize that brass ring... you just CAN’T seem to get it done. One step forward, two steps back. Surprise challengers, underhanded cheating opponents... at the end of the day it doesn’t matter, unless you can score some high profile WINS in the ring.”

*Watts looks at the ground and makes a fist.*

WYLD: “So... I say we help each other out. You and me... next week at Assault... one-on-one. If I can put your shoulders to the mat in front of Black and the whole world. If I can beat his golden boy live on Assault, then Black will HAVE to give me a shot at the NWC championship.”

*Watts glares at Wyld, but Wyld puts up his hands in a supplicant gesture.*

WYLD: “BUT... but... if you can beat ME... If you can put down the only other man to have ever held the NWC Championship... the man who, by all rights, SHOULD be the number one contender... if you can do THAT... then the whole world will have to recognize you as the next rightful challenger to the throne. It’s foolproof logic. What do you say?”

*Watts nods and considers.*

WATTS: “Wyld... You know, you were one of the reasons I got into the sport… And now that I see you’re just pure talent packaged up in such a prick of a person, I’ll gladly put you down and take you out of the NWC title hunt.”

*Wyld smiles and holds his hand apart.*

WYLD: “Alright. You and me at Assault. And you know what? I’ll even do you one better. Just like I did for Fury. I guarantee that when we fight at Assault, the Union will no...”

*Watts holds up a finger, silencing Akira.*

WATTS: “You do what you gotta do to give off the illusion you know what honor is and I’ll show you and the rest of The Union why this cornfed country boy from Kentucky is call The Blueprint.”

*Watts steps back, pointing at Wyld... then turns to go, leaving Akira Wyld seething alone in the hallway. Fade to black.*