06-20-2013, 12:35 AM
[ .. Static .. ]
[ .. Fade up XWF logo .. ]
[ .. Fade out .. ]
The screen remains in total darkness as the by now familiar opening chords of "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons are heard. At twenty-eight seconds into the song, a white light begins to strobe in time with the techno beat, illuminating the picture just enough to see that we’re in what looks to be some kind of old school style boxing gym, complete with run down wrestling ring in the middle. We begin slowly moving forward, closing in on the ring when it becomes apparent there’s a man standing in the ring. Just as suddenly the strobe effect cuts, sending the screen back into darkness just before lyrics appear on the screen.
The lyrics fade away and the screen begins to lighten slowly, pitch black giving way to a dark shade of grey before the scene finally becomes clear, though the picture remains dull and muted. As the song continues, the picture continues slowly moving in, focusing on the as yet unknown figure. The man is clearly large, his muscular back bared showing his stature, his large arms hanging loosely at his sides, his fingertips just lightly grazing the black dress pants he’s wearing, his head dropped down causing his trapezius muscles to 'pop’. Just as the the picture lightened in color, it begins again to darken, giving way to more lyrics on the screen.
As the lyrics fade and are replaced again by the image of the man in the ring, the camera angle has begun to move around the ring in a counter clockwise direction, the man remaining out of focus slightly, his silver belt buckle seemingly the only thing really standing out against the dull and muted picture. The angle continues moving slowly and smoothly, the picture beginning to fade again just as we pass the straight on point, the man no longer visible as we reach his left side, lyrics again appearing on the screen.
The music suddenly cuts out and the picture, instead of fading slowly is suddenly almost blindingly bright as it comes back to a close up of the man inside the ring, his arms now raised, his elbows bent at chest level, his fingers pointed outward. In addition the man’s head is no longer hanging down, instead he’s staring straight ahead, his mouth open in an aggressive scream, his eyebrows arching downward casting his eyes into an almost evil looking stare. The picture lasts only long enough for you to focus on the man’s features for just a moment before it again blacks out and a series of words begin to appear on the screen, one line at a time, ending with them all on the screen before the message begins to fade.
[ .. Static .. ]
As the static cuts again and the scene begins fading back up from black, we see the form of the man we now know as Shawn Steele. He appears to be alone, sitting in a steel folding chair. He’s bent forward slightly, his head down, his hands in his short dirty blonde hair. As he sits silently, unmoving, we’re able to take in his surroundings. Or lack thereof. Besides the steel chair, and Shawn himself, the only other thing that appears to be in the room is the low hanging ceiling light, casting Shawn in light and the rest of the room in shadows. While remaining still, he begins to speak.
Shawn Steele: It's been a long time. A long time. This is where I spent my finest moments. The only place where I .. I guess you could say this is the only place where I was truly happy. You see, I enjoy hurting people. It's nothing personal. It's not that I want to ruin lives. It's not that I climb in here with the intent of making some child I've never met, some probably wonderful woman I've never met .. it's not that I've set out to ruin their lives. It's not that I want to see the child, or the woman crying hysterically at the bedside of their father. Their husband. It's just that .. It's that I just don’t care.
Shawn begins to shake his head slowly, his hands remaining on top of his head, effecting ruffling his short hair. He keeps his head down, but lights begin illuminating above him, showing that the steel chair he’s sitting upon is placed in the middle of the run down wrestling ring previously seen in the earlier video.
Shawn Steele: There’s something .. there’s something inside of me that makes me strive for violence. That’s why, all those years ago, I sought out my mentor. The man who could help me unleash .. unleash the violence that was inside of me, dying to get out. And he did. I learned so much .. I learned everything from Roddy. Maybe most importantly, he taught me that inside of this ring, it’s where I belonged. Where I belong. Inside of this ring, I could unleash my violence on the world .. .. legally. But more than that, Roddy taught me that it’s the competition that happens in this ring. That’s why I belong here. He understood me. He understood what I wanted to prove to the world. I wanted to prove to the world that I will not .. can not be stopped. And I did. I left a trail of bodies in my wake .. beaten and broken bodies. But then .. then I left myself behind. It wasn’t my choice, but my decisions forced me away from the ring. From my ring. From my home. But that desire has returned. That fire inside of me .. that fire to annihilate everyone in my path. Every. One. And that fire is burning hotter than ever before. And that’s why I’ve returned. Returned home. To the ring. The ring .. .. of the XWF. The X-Treme Wrestling Federation.
Dropping his hands from his hair, Shawn keeps his torso bent forward but lifts his head to stare straight ahead at the camera, his top lip curled into a slight snarl, the rage evident in his eyes.
Shawn Steele: And so far, I’m disappointed. When I made the choice to return to the ring, this was the place I chose. For the X-Treme, in the X-Treme Wrestling Federation. And this is what I get? A Ten Person Battle Royal? This is what you give me? I came here to do damage. To climb into that ring of yours and be pushed. Pushed to the limits of human pain and suffering. And to push those limits. But I can’t do this in some Elimination Battle Royal. What’s the worst I can do? Toss a bunch of guys I’ve never heard of over the top rope? Fine. Then that’s what I’ll do. This time. But next time .. next time I expect to be given the opportunity that I was expecting when I signed my contract. The opportunity to inflict pain. And suffering. If it takes me proving my dominance .. my superiority on Monday night by running through a fourth of the entire Madness roster. If that’s what it takes for me to get my name noticed by the powers that be here, then so be it. And it shall be done.
Standing from the chair now, Shawn turns his back to the camera, slowly walking around the chair and moving to the ring ropes behind the chair, pressing his palms against the top rope before he wraps his fingers around it, pressing against the rope as he leans forward, his back still to the camera as he speaks again.
Shawn Steele: Don't get me wrong. I see the challenge .. I see the challenge in facing nine other athletes in my debut. And I live for the challenge. Yeah, I want the challenge of hurting someone so badly they beg the referee to end the bout. But a challenge is a challenge, and in a ring filled with ten XWF superstars .. anything can happen. Am I going to win? I never go into a fight that I don't expect to walk out the victor. But I don't make promises. I don't make guarantees. When you get ten of us inside of that ring, the only goal to be the last one in the ring .. anything can happen. Anything. But what separates from the rest .. ..
Pausing, he leans his head to the right, and then to the left, an audible popping noise easily heard as he pops his neck just before he releases the ropes, rolling his shoulders forward before turning around.
Shawn Steele: What separates me, is the fact that I do research. When I'm scheduled to step into the ring with someone, I get to know them. I get to know them better than they know themselves. You've seen some of the guys in this match .. MY match, you've seen them talk about this Monday night's Madness. But what's clear, is that they don't even known who they're going to be in the ring with. They may know one or two of us, and some of them even have a history together. But when you step inside of this ring, you can not take anyone lightly. And that's the mistake they're making. The mistake all of them are making. Except .. for me.
Shawn moves forward, stepping back around the chair before he walks up to the ropes closest to the camera, repeating the same process as he wraps his hands around the top rope, leaning forward and staring down into the camera.
Shawn Steele: Kim Kommando .. No. You don't belong in here Kim. Look, I've got nothing against female competitors. But you're going to get hurt inside of these ropes. You need to just jump your tiny little ass right out of this fucking ring before someone launches you into the fourth row. I don't even know who thought it was a good idea to put you in the ring. Someone needs to have their head examined. Speaking of mental illness .. Jonathon Thomas Cross. JTC. Clearly Mr. Cross is not all there. But that has it's strengths. To be honest, I kind of like this guy. He's .. violent. And I can understand where he's coming from. I saw what happened with his wife and kids in that hotel room. I'm all for crossing lines, but if you're going to cross the line, you'd better have the balls to back it up. And Andrew Morrison .. well I kind of like this guy too. I'll be honest, I sought out ‘Rowdy' Roddy Piper because I was a fan. And I still am. I can appreciate guys like ‘The Texas Tornado'. When I saw him in that hotel room .. I can admit that I jumped to the conclusion that he was over his head. Trying to make himself seem like the proverbial “monster in the closet". But even I can make mistakes. And this was one. This guy reminds me of myself. Maybe a little less restrained, but he's a step above, none the less. Don't be surprised if it comes down to Shawn Steele and Andrew Morrison standing nose to nose in that ring on Monday night. But if that happens .. Andy .. I hope among your mysterious powers is the ability to fly.
Leaning back, Shawn rolls his shoulders again before exhaling in an exasperated sigh.
Shawn Steele: I see that Shady Robertson wants to make a statement. This could not be better. Because, Shady, you're looking at a guy who loves to make a statement. The statement that when you step foot into this ring with me, you're putting your wellbeing in my hands. And that's a very dangerous place. So I'm going to do you a favor Shady. Come Monday night, you look for me. I won't be hard to find. I tend to stand out in a crowd. So you find me and I'll help you make a statement. The statement of being the fastest elimination in XWF Battle Royal history. And after I've tossed that midget out of the arena, why not grab Swift Ion around his scrawny little neck and do the same to him. If I've failed to mention it yet Ion, I don't like arrogance. Arrogance is the downfall of cowards. And that's you. Arrogant coward. I hope you hang around in there Monday night long enough for me to get my hands on you. I look forward to our encounter.
Turning away from the camera for a moment, Shawn moves back and takes his original seat in the chair.
Shawn Steele: I'm worried that I'm going to get short changed in the match, even more so than having to take part in a Battle Royal. Some of these guys .. Some of these guys I don't really expect them to even show up. Joshua Micks? Steve Fitch? I hope you guys show up. Honestly I do. I'm looking to show Paul Heyman what I can do. So for this match, the more bodies I get to toss around, the better. The same goes for Lord Malichi. You talk a big game, but I haven't seen shit from you that makes me thing you're anything but some punk bitch playing fighter. Maybe you'll prove me wrong. But I doubt it. And in the same line of playing fighter, I have my suspicions that Heath Mason is just some little rich point, never been told no and is used to getting everything he wants. Maybe I'm wrong. I guess we'll all find out Monday night. Monday night. Madness. Welcome to The New Age, XWF. The Age of Shawn Steele. Enjoy it.
Shawn slowly leans back into the chair as the scene slowly fades out to the X-Treme Wrestling Federation logo.
[ .. Static .. ]
[ .. Fade up XWF logo .. ]
[ .. Fade out .. ]
[ .. Fade up XWF logo .. ]
[ .. Fade out .. ]
The screen remains in total darkness as the by now familiar opening chords of "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons are heard. At twenty-eight seconds into the song, a white light begins to strobe in time with the techno beat, illuminating the picture just enough to see that we’re in what looks to be some kind of old school style boxing gym, complete with run down wrestling ring in the middle. We begin slowly moving forward, closing in on the ring when it becomes apparent there’s a man standing in the ring. Just as suddenly the strobe effect cuts, sending the screen back into darkness just before lyrics appear on the screen.
"Welcome to the new age, to the new age ... Welcome to the new age, to the new age"
The lyrics fade away and the screen begins to lighten slowly, pitch black giving way to a dark shade of grey before the scene finally becomes clear, though the picture remains dull and muted. As the song continues, the picture continues slowly moving in, focusing on the as yet unknown figure. The man is clearly large, his muscular back bared showing his stature, his large arms hanging loosely at his sides, his fingertips just lightly grazing the black dress pants he’s wearing, his head dropped down causing his trapezius muscles to 'pop’. Just as the the picture lightened in color, it begins again to darken, giving way to more lyrics on the screen.
"I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus ... This is it, the apocalypse"
As the lyrics fade and are replaced again by the image of the man in the ring, the camera angle has begun to move around the ring in a counter clockwise direction, the man remaining out of focus slightly, his silver belt buckle seemingly the only thing really standing out against the dull and muted picture. The angle continues moving slowly and smoothly, the picture beginning to fade again just as we pass the straight on point, the man no longer visible as we reach his left side, lyrics again appearing on the screen.
"Welcome to the new age, to the new age ... Welcome to the new age, to the new age"
The music suddenly cuts out and the picture, instead of fading slowly is suddenly almost blindingly bright as it comes back to a close up of the man inside the ring, his arms now raised, his elbows bent at chest level, his fingers pointed outward. In addition the man’s head is no longer hanging down, instead he’s staring straight ahead, his mouth open in an aggressive scream, his eyebrows arching downward casting his eyes into an almost evil looking stare. The picture lasts only long enough for you to focus on the man’s features for just a moment before it again blacks out and a series of words begin to appear on the screen, one line at a time, ending with them all on the screen before the message begins to fade.
June 24th, 2013
Monday Night Madness
Shawn Steele
Welcome to The New Age
Monday Night Madness
Shawn Steele
Welcome to The New Age
[ .. Static .. ]
As the static cuts again and the scene begins fading back up from black, we see the form of the man we now know as Shawn Steele. He appears to be alone, sitting in a steel folding chair. He’s bent forward slightly, his head down, his hands in his short dirty blonde hair. As he sits silently, unmoving, we’re able to take in his surroundings. Or lack thereof. Besides the steel chair, and Shawn himself, the only other thing that appears to be in the room is the low hanging ceiling light, casting Shawn in light and the rest of the room in shadows. While remaining still, he begins to speak.
Shawn Steele: It's been a long time. A long time. This is where I spent my finest moments. The only place where I .. I guess you could say this is the only place where I was truly happy. You see, I enjoy hurting people. It's nothing personal. It's not that I want to ruin lives. It's not that I climb in here with the intent of making some child I've never met, some probably wonderful woman I've never met .. it's not that I've set out to ruin their lives. It's not that I want to see the child, or the woman crying hysterically at the bedside of their father. Their husband. It's just that .. It's that I just don’t care.
Shawn begins to shake his head slowly, his hands remaining on top of his head, effecting ruffling his short hair. He keeps his head down, but lights begin illuminating above him, showing that the steel chair he’s sitting upon is placed in the middle of the run down wrestling ring previously seen in the earlier video.
Shawn Steele: There’s something .. there’s something inside of me that makes me strive for violence. That’s why, all those years ago, I sought out my mentor. The man who could help me unleash .. unleash the violence that was inside of me, dying to get out. And he did. I learned so much .. I learned everything from Roddy. Maybe most importantly, he taught me that inside of this ring, it’s where I belonged. Where I belong. Inside of this ring, I could unleash my violence on the world .. .. legally. But more than that, Roddy taught me that it’s the competition that happens in this ring. That’s why I belong here. He understood me. He understood what I wanted to prove to the world. I wanted to prove to the world that I will not .. can not be stopped. And I did. I left a trail of bodies in my wake .. beaten and broken bodies. But then .. then I left myself behind. It wasn’t my choice, but my decisions forced me away from the ring. From my ring. From my home. But that desire has returned. That fire inside of me .. that fire to annihilate everyone in my path. Every. One. And that fire is burning hotter than ever before. And that’s why I’ve returned. Returned home. To the ring. The ring .. .. of the XWF. The X-Treme Wrestling Federation.
Dropping his hands from his hair, Shawn keeps his torso bent forward but lifts his head to stare straight ahead at the camera, his top lip curled into a slight snarl, the rage evident in his eyes.
Shawn Steele: And so far, I’m disappointed. When I made the choice to return to the ring, this was the place I chose. For the X-Treme, in the X-Treme Wrestling Federation. And this is what I get? A Ten Person Battle Royal? This is what you give me? I came here to do damage. To climb into that ring of yours and be pushed. Pushed to the limits of human pain and suffering. And to push those limits. But I can’t do this in some Elimination Battle Royal. What’s the worst I can do? Toss a bunch of guys I’ve never heard of over the top rope? Fine. Then that’s what I’ll do. This time. But next time .. next time I expect to be given the opportunity that I was expecting when I signed my contract. The opportunity to inflict pain. And suffering. If it takes me proving my dominance .. my superiority on Monday night by running through a fourth of the entire Madness roster. If that’s what it takes for me to get my name noticed by the powers that be here, then so be it. And it shall be done.
Standing from the chair now, Shawn turns his back to the camera, slowly walking around the chair and moving to the ring ropes behind the chair, pressing his palms against the top rope before he wraps his fingers around it, pressing against the rope as he leans forward, his back still to the camera as he speaks again.
Shawn Steele: Don't get me wrong. I see the challenge .. I see the challenge in facing nine other athletes in my debut. And I live for the challenge. Yeah, I want the challenge of hurting someone so badly they beg the referee to end the bout. But a challenge is a challenge, and in a ring filled with ten XWF superstars .. anything can happen. Am I going to win? I never go into a fight that I don't expect to walk out the victor. But I don't make promises. I don't make guarantees. When you get ten of us inside of that ring, the only goal to be the last one in the ring .. anything can happen. Anything. But what separates from the rest .. ..
Pausing, he leans his head to the right, and then to the left, an audible popping noise easily heard as he pops his neck just before he releases the ropes, rolling his shoulders forward before turning around.
Shawn Steele: What separates me, is the fact that I do research. When I'm scheduled to step into the ring with someone, I get to know them. I get to know them better than they know themselves. You've seen some of the guys in this match .. MY match, you've seen them talk about this Monday night's Madness. But what's clear, is that they don't even known who they're going to be in the ring with. They may know one or two of us, and some of them even have a history together. But when you step inside of this ring, you can not take anyone lightly. And that's the mistake they're making. The mistake all of them are making. Except .. for me.
Shawn moves forward, stepping back around the chair before he walks up to the ropes closest to the camera, repeating the same process as he wraps his hands around the top rope, leaning forward and staring down into the camera.
Shawn Steele: Kim Kommando .. No. You don't belong in here Kim. Look, I've got nothing against female competitors. But you're going to get hurt inside of these ropes. You need to just jump your tiny little ass right out of this fucking ring before someone launches you into the fourth row. I don't even know who thought it was a good idea to put you in the ring. Someone needs to have their head examined. Speaking of mental illness .. Jonathon Thomas Cross. JTC. Clearly Mr. Cross is not all there. But that has it's strengths. To be honest, I kind of like this guy. He's .. violent. And I can understand where he's coming from. I saw what happened with his wife and kids in that hotel room. I'm all for crossing lines, but if you're going to cross the line, you'd better have the balls to back it up. And Andrew Morrison .. well I kind of like this guy too. I'll be honest, I sought out ‘Rowdy' Roddy Piper because I was a fan. And I still am. I can appreciate guys like ‘The Texas Tornado'. When I saw him in that hotel room .. I can admit that I jumped to the conclusion that he was over his head. Trying to make himself seem like the proverbial “monster in the closet". But even I can make mistakes. And this was one. This guy reminds me of myself. Maybe a little less restrained, but he's a step above, none the less. Don't be surprised if it comes down to Shawn Steele and Andrew Morrison standing nose to nose in that ring on Monday night. But if that happens .. Andy .. I hope among your mysterious powers is the ability to fly.
Leaning back, Shawn rolls his shoulders again before exhaling in an exasperated sigh.
Shawn Steele: I see that Shady Robertson wants to make a statement. This could not be better. Because, Shady, you're looking at a guy who loves to make a statement. The statement that when you step foot into this ring with me, you're putting your wellbeing in my hands. And that's a very dangerous place. So I'm going to do you a favor Shady. Come Monday night, you look for me. I won't be hard to find. I tend to stand out in a crowd. So you find me and I'll help you make a statement. The statement of being the fastest elimination in XWF Battle Royal history. And after I've tossed that midget out of the arena, why not grab Swift Ion around his scrawny little neck and do the same to him. If I've failed to mention it yet Ion, I don't like arrogance. Arrogance is the downfall of cowards. And that's you. Arrogant coward. I hope you hang around in there Monday night long enough for me to get my hands on you. I look forward to our encounter.
Turning away from the camera for a moment, Shawn moves back and takes his original seat in the chair.
Shawn Steele: I'm worried that I'm going to get short changed in the match, even more so than having to take part in a Battle Royal. Some of these guys .. Some of these guys I don't really expect them to even show up. Joshua Micks? Steve Fitch? I hope you guys show up. Honestly I do. I'm looking to show Paul Heyman what I can do. So for this match, the more bodies I get to toss around, the better. The same goes for Lord Malichi. You talk a big game, but I haven't seen shit from you that makes me thing you're anything but some punk bitch playing fighter. Maybe you'll prove me wrong. But I doubt it. And in the same line of playing fighter, I have my suspicions that Heath Mason is just some little rich point, never been told no and is used to getting everything he wants. Maybe I'm wrong. I guess we'll all find out Monday night. Monday night. Madness. Welcome to The New Age, XWF. The Age of Shawn Steele. Enjoy it.
Shawn slowly leans back into the chair as the scene slowly fades out to the X-Treme Wrestling Federation logo.
[ .. Static .. ]
[ .. Fade up XWF logo .. ]
[ .. Fade out .. ]