”METEOR” by ART vs SCIENCE kicks into the arena and the crowd cheers loudly as ROBBIE REYES makes his way out from the back. Robbie’s forehead is covered with a large bandage from Endure and he seems to be walking more slowly than normal to the ring.

TED CEDAR :: “This young man put himself through hell at Endure but came out victorious over Shade in a King of Xtreme warm up.”
ADAM DENNIS :: “What a waste! This kid had a warm up and he’s not even in the tournament!
TED CEDAR :: “That’s true, Adam. Robbie Reyes was forced into an ambulance after his match at Endure and was given seven stitches in his forehead and as you can see is still sore and worn down from that hellacious match! But that wasn’t the end of Reyes night! After that we got our first real glimpse of what this “Leader” is all about when his men jumped Robbie after the match!”
ADAM DENNIS :: “Oh yeah! I love watching this! Play the video for us!

Quote :

The group, who was presumed to be The Order, slowly marched toward the squared circle. The six on the outside encircled the ring as the large figure entered the squared circle, forcing the fear to radiate from Robbie Reyes. The music came to a sudden halt and staredown ensued, though the figure’s face was still hidden under the shadow of the dim lights. He stood there silently for several moments before speaking.

Figure
”Robbie Reyes, you are a very talented young man and you did a fantastic job in that ring tonight. Now I’d like you to please exit the ring; The Order’s time is upon you and I, Leader, shall introduce to you my followers.”

Robbie Reyes firmly stood his ground as Leader was motionless. This continued for several moments before Leader back-paced a few steps toward the ropes.

Leader
”As you wish.”

Reyes was baffled at the development and was unaware of what course of action to take, though his fate was ultimately decided by a swift and devastating Spear which rammed Robbie from the side from one of the followers. The rest of The Order quickly entered the ring and formed a semicircle around Reyes’ mangled body as two of them lifted him up by his arms onto his knees. With excruciating agony painted across his visage, Reyes looked upward at Leader just as the large figure landed with an enormous Right Hook to the side of bloodied face. The calm, collected Leader seamlessly changed into a ruthless, almost-panicked individual as he barked at Reyes.

Sickeningly, Leader placed the flat side of the blade upon the battered flesh of the fallen XWA newcomer. Thankfully, he removed the blade from Reyes’ general vicinity and instead extended the knife toward another follower to his right. With a subtle motion on Leader’s part, the follower took the blade and proceeded to slice it across what appeared to be his forehead underneath the veil of his hood without hesitation! He placed the knife by his side with a sanguine fluid dripping from it as Leader reached into the shadow of the hood. He wiped three of his fingers across the presumably bloodied face of his follower and it reemerged with the crimson on it in surplus. He proceeded to wipe the blood upon Reyes’ sternum, recreating what appeared to be the Zibu Angelic symbol of creativity. Once finished with his masterpiece, he gave a slight wave with his hand and the two followers who had supported him released him, leaving Reyes nearly unconscious on his knees. Leader once again backed away, an action mimicked by his followers. However, he once again turned to his left, whereupon one of the followers immediately darted forward, soundly knocking Reyes out with a tremendous Running Knee Smash. An entire arena’s worth of fans could only gasp through their silence, a sentiment shared by the cameramen; Leader turned to the nearest camera and simply proclaimed:

”Scene.”

Robbie Reyes has arrived in the ring by the time the video finishes and he nods his head as the clip finishes up on the titantron.

ROBBIE REYES :: “So, at Endure I put myself through hell. I was beaten into a bloody pulp with a steel chair. I was treated like a chew toy for a psychopathic dog who wouldn’t stop coming. I was left a bleeding heap, even after I came away with the win… That was when what you saw happened. This so called “Order” jumped me, six on one. I’m known as The Numbers Man and I don’t like those odds for anyone in this business, even less for someone who had been bleeding like a stuck pig for the past twenty minutes! I don’t understand why this “Order” is targeting me and I don’t want to understand. The fact of the matter is that I was broken and beaten down by a group of mindless cronies while the Leader stood back and watched on. I don’t know what the obsession with myself is, but it’s a mistake. I’m the man who took a former XWA World Champion to his absolute limits in my debut! I’m the man who beat the current XWA Intercontinental Champion and have still not received a title shot! I’m the man who beat Shade in his sick and twisted ways in an Xtreme Rules match! I’m NOT a man to be laid out and pissed upon by some thugs who are play acting like they’re someone important. Not gonna happen. The fact of the matter is that I was bleeding, I was broken, I was battered, I was bruised but most importantly I was already beaten by the time those freaks got into the ring! So, you know what? This week, I don’t have a match! XWA Management decided to give me the night off so I’ve got nothing to worry about! Leader, or whatever you call yourself, I don’t care if you bring one guy, two guys, three guys, four, five , six, seven or eight guys! Hell, bring on out 300 of them and I’ll still stand and fight you all. You’re not going to break me and you’ve made a mistake in underestimating me. But for right now, I want YOU to come down to this ring and explain why you thought it was a good idea to poke the bear because now the bear’s pissed off!”

Robbie takes the microphone away from his mouth and throws his hands up in the air calling for Leader to come out and face him. He waits for a few moments and there’s no response. The crowd start to grow restless as Robbie stands in the ring and checks his wrist tape watch, tapping on his wrist and bringing it to his ear to feign listening to it.

ROBBIE REYES :: “Now, now, none of this stalling! You come out to this ring through that entrance way and face me like a real man, explain yourself and then take the beating that’s coming your way! I don’t care if I have to wait all night!”

Robbie drops the microphone and climbs down out of the ring, picking up a steel chair at ringside and sliding back in the ring to set it up when the lights suddenly go down in the arena and the two commentators are suddenly cut off by a harsh static sound…

TBC.