Next Up (o2a)

[Vincent X. Toriano]

*Last week I had a great debut match against MG. From beginning until the end I put everything on the line because I knew I had to make a strong first impression in the I:W. So many people were watching how the new guy will perform. I hope that I lived up to their expectations or at least maybe surprised others. Tonight was a new night and I did not have a match lined up yet. This is perfect because it would be my first time addressing the fans and issuing a challenge.*

*I stand behind the curtain waiting for my theme song to play. I am dressed in my ring attire because my match could start right then and there if someone were to accept my challenge. My theme music begins to play and I step out onstage. Wow! I mean I stepped out before all the fans at Aggression, but this was different. The energy is amazing. I can hear the cheers in the background. It wasn’t as loud as when a veteran walks down to the ring, but it was cheers nonetheless. I walk down the ramp looking from side to side and giving high fives towards the end. I make my way up the steel steps onto the apron. I look behind me to the fans and to the side following that. I flip into the ring and taunt. The cheers become a little louder after this. I can’t help but to smile. I mount the turnbuckle across from me and taunt once more. After hopping down off the turnbuckle I receive a microphone. I look down at it. Oh boy…What do I say? I never really thought this one out too well. I slowly lift the microphone to my lips. The time is now.*

"What’s up everybody? *The crowd cheers.* I take that as everyone doing well! Alright I bet a bunch of you can tell that I’m a little nervous right now as I never talk in front of so many people. But yeah, I’m just going with the flow right now. For those who don’t know who I am, I’m Vincent Toriano, one of the newest additions to the I:W roster. At Aggression I had my first career match against MG. *The crowd boos at the sound of MG’s name.* I take it MG doesn’t have one of the best track records here huh? I think it was a great match and MG is a great competitor and I am glad I had the opportunity to wrestle against him."

*I lower the microphone for a moment. I am beginning to feel better after getting those first words out. I can still feel my stomach turning as this point though. It’s going to take some time for me to get fully used to speaking in front of large crowds. I was fine performing in front of the crowds, but speaking is a whole different story. I lift the microphone to my lips again.*

"That match is now the past and I’m looking forward to tonight. I do not have a match scheduled yet. There are so many wrestlers I want to get in the ring with. There are so many competitors in the I:W so it’s hard to choose. I’m pretty much going to leave that to the wrestlers backstage. Some have matches already, but I know for sure that there are some looking for one. So here I am issuing out an open challenge to anyone in the I:W. Who is willing to step into the ring with the new guy?"

*Now the worst part begins, the waiting game. I have no clue who will accept my challenge. I don’t know if anyone will accept my challenge. I few moments go by and I don’t hear anyone’s theme music. My heart begins to race. Suddenly a theme song begins to play. It was that of…*

[Kyle Nobbs]

Kyle Nobbs.

"Waiting" by Not Forgotten blasts through the sound system, and a few fans even remember hearing it. Kyle used to use it earlier on in his career, and it seems that now that he was back, it would be heard much more often. The man in question steps through the curtain to a massive chorus of cheers. Damn. It was good to be back.

His long brown hair is tied in a ponytail for now, and he is dressed ready to compete, in trunks and boots, and a black vest that shines in the light. He makes his way to the ring, and giving high fives and posturing to the crowd. These were his people, and he knew it. These were his family. They knew it.

He reaches the ring, and picks up a microphone from the steps before climbing up them, and entering the ring to face Vinnie.

"Congratulations my friend. You won your first match."

Kyle pauses for a moment, due to the crowd chanting "Welcome Back! Welcome Back!" He smiles and bows, letting it play out, but before it drags on too long he speaks again.

"Thank you all! Thank you. It's good to be back. But let's go back to the new guy, shall we?

Vincent X. Toriano. You put on a hell of a show at Aggression. You put up a hell of a fight, and you even won. I mean this truly, congratulations. It takes a lot of guts and determination to become something in this business, and I told you to your face days ago, I expect big things to come from you. MG is one of the top guys of this business, from what I hear. And you put him out in your first match.

But you're still jittery. Still tense. You need to relax holmes. You're speaking naturally, you're naturally gifted, it's obvious. And I know that you're still new to this whole thing, so you're still kinda nervous... What I say is, don't worry about it. Don't worry about any of it. Take it as it comes, you'll do fine. You're already doing fine, isn't he guys?"

He asks this last question to the crowd, who roars in approval. Vinny seems to be on their good side. Good.

"Yeah man, it seems to me that you just need to relax. So here's what I propose. How about I face you tonight? Just you and me. Nothing on the line but a handshake at the end of the night. Two guys just putting on a show. It'll be fun. What do you say?"

[Vincent X. Toriano]

*It felt great to have someone come down to the ring and accept my challenge. It made it even better that it was Kyle Nobbs who was the one to do so. Kyle was one of the people he had a chat with before the season started. He felt as though Kyle was a very kind person and he had been like that his whole life.*

"First Kyle, I would like to thank you for the kind words. It really does mean a lot to me. I worked hard throughout that match and came out with the victory. It just goes to show what happens when you work hard to get to where you want."

*I was truly proud of myself, but I can't be content with just that. I have to keep working. This was just the beginning.*

"I am excited to say that it will be awesome to have a match with you later tonight. I know all these fans love you because of the excitement you bring to the ring. I feel like the two of us can and will put on one hell of a show. I am honored to go up against you and in the end, no matter who the victor is, we'll shake hands as a job well done for the both of us. I tried to shake MG's hand at the end of our match and he slapped it away. I honestly don't care about that. I know for sure you are very different from him. We'll have a great match indeed."

[Kyle Nobbs]

Yeah. This kid was going places.

"Yeah Vinny, that's a good attitude to have. MG might tell you to 'get mean', but I'll tell you from experience. You'll have some big challenges and obstacles in the future. If you can stare them in the eye, confidently say 'Word, I got this' and head into the battle with a smile on your face, nothing in the world will bother you.

Good luck tonight."

Kyle nods once to Vinny, and smiles in his own right. His music plays again, and he exits the ring. It was a short exchange, but in truth there wasn't much more to be said. This was competition between two friendly folk, nothing more. No need for insults, no need for low blows, no need for cheap shots. Just good, old fashioned fun.