Champions.

[Stu]

*** The lights go up on the Champions' League in the center of the ring, all well-dressed, each bearing a mic, looking smug and dangerous. The fans begin their booing of the three, and a chant goes up of, "You lost! *clap*clap*clap* You lost! *clap*clap*clap*" The Champions are nonplussed. ***



Alex: "Question for you, Damion Black. Which team has wrestled two matches in the tournament?"

Damion: "That would some team by the name of The Champions League."

Alex: "You would be correct, as always, Mr. Black. And for you, Mr. Beckett, about this 'Champions League.' How many of these matches have this team won in the 3-Man Tag Team Tournament?"

Beckett: "The number you are looking for is 'both,' Alex." ***self-satisfied smirk***

Alex: "So, if I what I have heard is true, that would mean this Champions League is undefeated."

Damion: "Why are you stating the obvious as if you expected a different result?"

Alex: "It's simple, my friend. And if it has not been obvious before, it should be more obvious now. The Champions League lives up to its name because we are strategic. We play the long game. The cerebral game, if you will."

Damion: "Tactical."

Beckett: "Ruthless."

Alex: "Exactly. I mean it would RECKLESS for us not to have a plan at all times. And I know all of you cockroaches in this arena would LOVE that!"



***LOUD BOOS***



Alex: "You need to fumigate this place, Damion. The bottom line is, Reckless Love, I'm not sure what you thought would happen when you faced THE Champions League. But clearly you fell right into the trap we set."

***Damion looks out at the crowd and smirks.***

Damion: "Look at that, you can actually see the smoke coming out of their ears. Should we explain what exactly happened?

"Let's go back to Battery when the esteemed Captain Hollywood and my humble self competed against Reckless Love in a tag team match. Everyone saw me trapped in Titus' submission hold. Everyone saw me tapping away furiously, causing the Champions League to lose an inconsequential match. Everyone SPECULATED that I had sustained an injury. Yes, there was a huge bullseye painted on my neck. And what happened? Kevin Starr and Reckless Love targeted my neck the WHOLE match as my colleagues and I wore them down methodically. I have to say, it was so very satisfying to watch the confidence leave their eyes every time I kicked out, every time I broke a submission hold. The hope bled out of them like the sweat pouring out of their bodies as we drug our opponents kicking and screaming into the deep waters!"

Beckett: "I'll take issue with one part, Mr. Black, and that's with the word, 'lose.' You see … and I point this out for all of the ignorant, unwashed, inbred curs who are taking up space where our proper fans should be …"

***Jeers and booing increase. Beckett smiles, knowing he got the to do what he wanted. As it dies down, he continues.***

"This was ruthlessly tactical. We toyed with Witless Love. This was a match of no consequence in a time of long-range competition. Now, of course, there is something to be said of conditioning and intestinal fortitude. We have it in spades. Kevin Starr, is known for it, Mr. MacElroy, Mr. Watts, even. Unfortunately, Mr. Love seems to come up short there, which explains why Mrs. Love is so eager to grapple with other men in public-"

***another stretch of booing and shouting. Hollywood covers his mouth, laughing, and Black raises his eyebrows with a smirk. Beckett leers.***

"... but such ability does not come without testing. It is earned. That doesn't mean that one should push one's self so at all times. A cerebral … tactical … ruthless competitor will make his opponents do that, while preserving himself.

"And so it was in this case, for Damon Black play-acted his neck injury. We let them have a target, we let them have … hope … and then we allowed themselves to wear themselves into exhaustion and desperation for as long as WE wanted to. The tap? Damon was tired of playing, is all. We had complete control at all times. Go back and watch the footage. You will see.

"And why? Because, this match was INCONSEQUENTIAL. No problem, no worries, no loss. How cannot be a loss if we decided when it happened?

"In other words, the Champions' League is undefeated, unstained, and unconquerable!"

***moves to leave the ring, then stops***

"Oh, and, on a personal note, Mrs. Love, if you wish to aquaint yourself with a real man, who can go the distance as many times as you want, you know where my locker is. You know I specialize in making others submit."

***Furious uproar as they leave the ring, garbage raining down on them. Black leads the way up the aisle, as if nothing of consequence is happening. Hollywood follows, laughing and occasionally throwing things back. Beckett walks last, quietly reveling in his handiwork.***