Strains of classical music hit, and Richard Pennyworth the Third makes his slow way to the ring, wearing a bespoke suit and with the PWA Heavyweight Championship over his right shoulder. He panders to the crowd a bit while walking down the aisle, allowing a couple of selfies to be taken with him, shaking a couple hands, and even kissing a baby on the forehead. He steps into the ring with a satisfied smirk, taking a microphone from a waiting techie before making a gallant bow to the crowd. He listens to the conflicting choruses of boos and cheers for some time before raising the microphone to speak.

PENNYWORTH: You know, this is your time you’re wasting. I didn’t have to schlep all the way to San Diego for Assault this week, but I did it for you folks.

This time, there doesn’t seem to be any conflict, as boos rain down on the champion. He rolls his eyes and shakes his head before starting to speak again.

PENNYWORTH: That’s right. I’m here for the PWA Armada. But more importantly, I’m here because of this belt, the PWA Heavyweight Championship. I left New York before the markets closed to come out here and ensure that all of you would be able to witness your Heavyweight Champion. Now, I don’t have a match this week. I’m not on the card. But I am here to address all of you, to talk to you about this belt. About its past, and its future.

He waits patiently as the boos slowly dwindle, until the crowd has calmed down a bit.

PENNYWORTH: Thank you. Now, as I was saying, my appearance here this week is all about this belt here. The prestigious PWA Heavyweight Championship. And yes, I hear a few jokers out there laughing about the prestige of a belt that’s had three champions in its history, but it’s true. But its legacy is just beginning. This is my sovereign duty as your champion, to ensure the legacy of this belt, to ensure its prestige. To ensure that those that challenge for the right to wear this belt are deserving of its legacy.

PENNYWORTH: Which brings me to Fury. Brian Fury, Tiger Fury? Who can remember these days. Regardless, on the last Assault, we had a match to see if Fury deserved a shot at my belt. To see if he was a competitor of the caliber deserving of the prestige of being my first title defense. And what happened?

PENNYWORTH: The Union happened. Honestly, I thought those guys were through. I thought I’d taught Akira Wyld a lesson, and that they’d never bother me again. But, once again, they stuck their nose where it didn’t belong. The Union is not deserving of this belt, not a single man among them. So, I did what any good champion, what any champion deserving of the prestige of this belt would do. I got out. I took the belt to safety.

PENNYWORTH: But what did Brian Fury do? He stayed. He took on four men at once. Even after the pipsqueek Derrik Arzon came to ‘help’ him, Fury stayed in the ring. What’s more, now he’s acting in my reruns. I’ve spent the last two seasons in PWA taking on the Union and showing them that they aren’t needed. That their so-called support of the working man here in PWA is only making things worse. And I succeeded. The Union you see today is broken, a shadow of what it was when they started. But, Fury apparently sees the need to take them on.

PENNYWORTH: Which shows me, shows all of you, exactly what Brian Fury thinks of himself. He doesn’t see himself as worthy of this belt. He’d rather fight a group that has been broken down by yours truly than try to show me that he’s a worthy competitor. Which tells me all that I need to know. Brian Fury does not deserve this championship. He doesn’t deserve a shot at this belt. Because of that, because of Brian Fury’s actions and obvious mindset, he will not get a shot at this title. Sorry, Fury. I gave you a shot. You blew it.

PENNYWORTH: Which brings me to the future of this belt. Obviously, I need to find a challenger. Now, you all needn’t worry. I’m not going to pull a Kevin Starr and bring out a Mitch Garrison, or as much as I like him, a Lance Steamer. That’s not me. I’m a fighting champion, and I will be defending this belt against a worthy competitor. It just means I have to take my time to find that competitor. PWA Armada, this is for you. When I find a worthy competitor, you will be the first to know. Until then, know that this championship belt rests in appropriate hands.

Pennyworth’s music hits again as he hands the microphone off, and he walks back out of the arena to an audience booing him mercilessly. Before vanishing behind the curtain, he turns, and bows once more, then waves as he walks away.