Update on the Masked Shooter

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*** TERRY SCHNEIDER is behind the PWA News Desk. Onscreen in the upper left-handed corner is superimposed a video image of Ronnie Lassiter. ***





TERRY: “This is PWA News. I’m Terry Schneider with a special interview with Ronnie Lassiter. Ronnie, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be with us today.”





RONNIE: "For you and the Armada, Terry, anything."





TERRY: “Ronnie, you have had a relatively quiet season compared to your previous endeavors. Much of this season has been spent on Battery tagging with the Masked Shooter. There were many who were speculating that you could have made a run at the Sokolov Open Challenge. How do you feel your season is going so far, now that we are nearing PWA Undaunted?”





RONNIE: "I can see where this season is seen as 'quiet' for me, but really it hasn't. I mean, let's face it, two seasons ago I had really lost my center, lost my way, you might say, and last season there was a general ballyhoo about the new six-man tag team belts. I tried at that with the Wylds and my friend, Arson, but it really was more about me staying sharp while trying to figure out what my next step is.


"As for teaming up with the Masked Shooter again, besides it being a privilege and an honor, it really has been just what I needed to do. I am closer now than I ever have been to being championship material, inside and out, and I owe most of that to the Shooter."



TERRY: “Speaking of the Masked Shooter, he has been the center of attention for many lately. There were concerns over his health at the beginning of the season and those concerns have only grown considering the matches he has been in. Is there a further update on his health and well-being?”





RONNIE: "Ha! I need to be careful here! Some things aren't my business to talk about, but I'll give you what I can. Short answer is, yes, he's hurt, but he's not as hurt as some folks think, and yes, he's old, but he is older than he can act."




TERRY: “Handicapped wars against The Masked Saboteurs and deathmatches against Nakamura Yamasaki, that’s a punishingly brutal schedule for an athlete in his prime to handle, let alone a veteran of decades. With the obvious injuries he’s been dealing with, has the Masked Shooter begun reconsidering retirement?”





RONNIE: "Shooter will be the first to admit that the tag team of Years and Milage are his biggest opponents right now, but not the only ones. He was telling me last night about some of the burdens he's carrying … which ain't for me to detail. And, personally, and I think he knows it, he really led with his pride this year. There's a lot of folks who think he just doesn't want to retire, but that's never been the case.


"The Masked Shooter has fully intended to retire this season - just like Aldo Wyld did - but he wanted to retire on his terms. He failed to reckon with Mr. Black's reaction, as far as the booking is concerned, but having set himself up, really doesn't see how he can pull away from it, so … here we are."






TERRY: “And now The Masked Shooter has an upcoming barbed-wire match against his old nemesis, The Imperial Assassin. Injuries or not, Shooter must be chomping at the bit to have a go at the Assassin one more time.”





RONNIE: "That all depends on your perspective. In a way, yes, but remember that this ain't a comicbook, this is real life. There is serious bad blood between those two men, and in a match with those kinds of stipulations … if any match worries me, it is that one. The equaliser there is their ages and condition is comparable. Still … he and I have been working strategy for that one the past few days. Either way, it will be a career defining match for both of them."





TERRY: “Ronnie, thank you for joining us.”





RONNIE: "Thanks for having me, Terry."





TERRY: “That was Ronnie Lassiter giving us the latest news on The Masked Shooter. Stay tuned to PWA News for the latest updates on all matters in Prestige Wrestling Association.”