GARY BLOOMFIELD: “Earlier today, PWA journalist Terry Schneider caught up with “The Hard Man” Robert MacElroy just before his workout session. We are going to show that interview now.”
* Backstage, in the gym room. ROBERT MACELROY is performing rapid burpies, warming up for a work-out, surrounded by free-weights, benches, and a wrestling ring. TERRY SCHNEIDER enters with a camera man. *
TERRY SCHNEIDER: “Mr. MacElroy, I hate to interrupt, but I was wondering if we could get a quick couple of questions in.”
ROBERT MACELROY: “One sec.” *finishes set* “Arright, Terry, have at it.”
TS: “Mr. MacElroy, as you have continued your quest for the PWA Heavyweight Championship, you have been evaded by the current champion, Kevin Starr. Your frustration with him is clear, but do you have a plan to get him into the ring for a sanctioned shot at the title?”
RM: “Aye’ve ‘ad a guid talk wi’ Mr. Black, an’ he maintains tha’ Aye’m tha top contaendurr, but says tha’ as long as Starr reagurrely defaends tha title, it matters nae against whom until … until tha naext pay-purr view whearrin, if he has nae yet faced me o’ tha squearre, he moost.”
TS: “So then, will you pursue him as aggressively as you have been?”
RM: “Wea’ll see. Aye’m willin’ tae weat fourr tha-”
* A back door opens, and in walks THE SHOOTER, wearing a shower robe and his ever-present mask *
RM: “Oi, Boss! You an’ Ronnie about ready tae starrt streachin’? I ‘ave a few things I wanted tae go o’rre, parrticulairrely tha-”
* THE SHOOTER suddenly whips a telescoping baton from within his robe and swings viciously at MAC’S right knee. MAC jumps backward and snatches up a nearby chair. *
RM: “F—–‘ ‘Ell, yearr nae – Who arre ye, ye f—–‘ weapon!?”
* As the two square off, in walk THE SHOOTER and RONNIE LASSITER from a different door, carrying their gym bags. Without hesitation, THE SHOOTER, the real one, slings his bag at the impostor, catching him in the back of the knees and sending him down, while MAC stands in front of SCHNEIDER protectively and LASSITER runs to the back door to cut off any escape. THE SHOOTER charges and grabs hold of the impostor’s mask, but the masked villain slips out of it easily, covering his face with the collar of the robe. Warding off THE SHOOTER with a swipe of his baton, he sprints for the unprotected door and escapes. *
RONNIE LASSITER: “The Hell was that, man?”
RM: “Bloody ‘Ell …”
* MAC starts toward the door, but THE SHOOTER stops him. *
THE SHOOTER: “Forget it, Mac! Forget it, he’s gone. Settle down.”
RM: “But-”
SH: * slaps MAC *: “‘I said ‘Forget him!’ He’s nothing, a toadie. You’ve got more important work to do, and losing your cool over a worthless little slime ain’t part of it! Now, get in that ring before I throw you in there. Ronnie, limber up.” * Turns to the camera. * “You, get out! we’re training in here, now move it or lose it. Interviews belong out there, not in here. Beat it!”
GARY: “After the attempted attack on MacElroy, owner Damion Black has announced that security will be strengthened backstage. The man who attempted to injure Robert MacElroy is still at large and while his identity is unknown, I can’t help but be reminded of Kevin Starr’s earlier words to MacElroy, when he said ‘You brought this on yourself.’ While we can’t say for certain that the attacker was Kevin Starr, it seems reasonable to assume he did have something to do with this attempt to keep MacElroy from pursing the PWA Heavyweight Championship. MacElroy has been training extensively with The Masked Shooter and Ronnie Lassiter and all three of these competitors have been making great strides in their respective careers, as evidenced by the match we just saw. Stay tuned, more action coming up after the break!”