Roleplay #: Five [5] - Record: 02 - 01 - 01 - Next Match: [vs] MNM, The Basham Brothers and Benjamin & Haas
Steel Punishment: Tag Team Championship TLC match

All Pro-Wrestling's first Pay-Per-View since it's return looks like it will be a fantastic event, with some excellent matches that will surely go down in APW history set for Steel Punishment. At the top of the card, two phenomenal superstars, Rob Van Dam and Randy Orton, will battle it out for the APW's World Heavyweight Championship. The winner of that one will also know who his next major challenge will be as the No.1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Championship will also be decided in the Cage Chaos match, with Mr. Perfect, John Cena, JBL, Sting, Lance Storm and Scott  Steiner all looking for the win. The Television, European and X-Treme titles will also be up for grabs but the one we'll be focusing on is the Tag-Titles which will be decided in a TLC match between Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas, MNM, The Basham Brothers and The Natural Born Thrillers. The match looks amazing on paper and following some good performances of late, a draw with former World champion Carlito and  a win against Mark Henry, Mike Sanders is very confident of getting his hands on the gold.

The APW logo fades up and the camera shows the famous 'Hollywood' lettering on the Hollywood hills, it then zooms out to show the busy Hollywood district of Los Angeles. The shot then cuts to Mike Sanders and Mark Jindrak who are in the heart of the Hollywood area, they've managed to find a bench in a small green area and are sitting down watching the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.

'ABOVE AVERAGE' Mike Sanders: " Hollywood... they say it's where our best are on display, the town of the rich and famous, the town of celebrities. But, they usually forget to mention the kids on the street selling actor's houses maps, or the constantly, creeping traffic causing the smog that hangs over this town. People would much rather focus on the glitz and the glamour, ignoring the fact that those billboards promoting the latest contrived, over budget blockbuster are eclipsing the sun. You've got to look beyond the surface to see an ugly little town, not full of the rich and the famous but full of the desperate, those who seek stardom and fame. They're so desperate they'll happily dress up in a chicken suit or as a burger to promote some fast food restaurant, they're only doing it to earn some money as they live with false hope that they're going to get their big break one day. "

'NATURAL BORN THRILLER' Mark Jindrak:  " I actually had big hopes for Hollywood... I bought into the image of it as a place where the elites of stage, screen and film lived their rich and happy lives. But you're right Mike, that's not what you see when you walk down the street, you're more likely to see a fat German couple salivating over the names written into the pavement or a guy who's thrown his life away hoping his dreams would come true. Of course, the picture's on the TV don't ever tell you about the stench of this place either... and I'll say, it just reeks... but, I just can't tell what that awful smell is. "

'ABOVE AVERAGE' Mike Sanders: " It's the stench of desperation, Jindrak. So many people, desperate for their dreams to come true... but in truth, all their dreams are just waiting to be shattered. Yet, some of them don't see it that way... they think they've been in a commercial, or they got their picture taken for a poster and that makes them a star, the next big thing. Sadly, they're mistaken... they can even put on their fake designer clothes and walk and talk like they're somebody important but it's just another one of Hollywood's tricks. The people here are as below average as you'll ever find... but they don't want anybody to know that, they'll even have convinced themselves that they're a somebody, it's all about having that big ego. It's on a cloudless spring morning like this, that it really hits you... I could almost see the skyline if it wasn't for that thick shroud of egos hanging in the air... everyone here has to believe they are and has to see themselves, as a star. At Steel Punishment you and me will be steeping into the ring with two morons who perfectly represent the desperate masses of Hollywood who believe they've got fame and stardom at their fingertips... I'm talking about Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury. You can even throw in their manager, Melinda, another soon-to-be megastar I'm sure, and then you've got MNM... that little bit of Hollywood in the APW. "

'NATURAL BORN THRILLER' Mark Jindrak:  " Haha... and they're supposed to be a challenge, the two guys thrown into the mix at the last minute. I suppose winning tag-team gold might well actually gain them a bit of a reputation around here, maybe they'd actually be able to get to a couple of premiers then... but I don't think you or me are willing to let that happen. "

At that moment a couple of people stumble across the street in front of Mike Sanders and Mark Jindrak, one looks like a hooker, wearing a tiny skirt, knee high leather boots and large ridiculous jewellery. The other person is a man who looks in his mid 30's and is wearing torn clothing and looks slightly like a drug addict, his eyes are hidden though by large sunglasses.

'ABOVE AVERAGE' Mike Sanders: " There you go... you just need to look at those two who just walked past to see what happens to the young kids who arrive in Hollywood with all their hopes and dreams... ten years down the line they're selling sex or doing drugs... they've gotten nowhere. It's the future for so many of the desperate inhabitants of Hollywood... it's the future for Johnny Nitro, Joey Mercury and Melinda. Their only hope of fame is by becoming a wrestling success because, no matter how much they want to pretend, they aren't famous, they aren't celebrities... and they're not going to act, sing or dance their way to the top. Now unfortunately for them at Steel Punishment all hopes they have of wrestling success are going to evaporate and with those hopes will go all their chances of stardom. They simply aren't wrestlers, instead they are more concerned with being able to get into exclusive restaurants and parties... where as the Natural Born Thrillers just want to go out and wrestle, we want to take those titles not for any other reason but to prove to all the doubters that we are above average and the best tag-team in the APW. It's the opportunity we deserve, allowing us to establish ourselves and make sure that the APW recognises our talents... I can tell you right now that people are underestimating us, but soon they realise that we're not just another tag-team... we're Above Average. "

NATURAL BORN THRILLER' Mark Jindrak:  " It's true, when we pick up the tag-titles at Steel Punishment we'll not only have shattered the dreams of MNM but finally we should get the recognition we deserve. It seems obvious that MNM will be little problem at all but I'm a bit worried about part of the match, Mike... I'm not looking forward to the tables, ladders and chairs.  "

'ABOVE AVERAGE' Mike Sanders: " Haha... Come on Jindrak... scared of a little chair shot all of a sudden, are we? I know that people make assumptions that for some reason you can only win a TLC match if you're 'hardcore' or 'extreme'... but I say forget about that. Wrestling is what comes first, if you beat the other guys into the corner then there's no way they can put you through a table or hit you with a chair... instead the tables, ladders and chairs can be used to your advantage. It's like any other match except you've got a little more weaponry at your disposal, the best wrestlers, the Natural Born Thrillers, will still come out on top. And I ask you, do you really think clowns like Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, the Basham Brothers and MNM are masters of the TLC match... of course not.  You know I'll be particularly looking forward to getting my hands on some extra toys... I'm sure I can have lots of fun testing them out on Shelton Benjamin.  "

Mike Sanders' face lights up with a pretty sadistic looking grin as he cracks his knuckles and begins to speak again.

'ABOVE AVERAGE' Mike Sanders: " You guessed right, Jindrak. Benjamin has made some major mistakes, he's just been stirring up trouble for himself and he's going to get all that's coming to him at Steel Punishment. I'm remembering that he cost me my shot at Cage Chaos... I could be on my way to the World Heavyweight championship if it wasn't for him. He should really have understood that when I humiliated his idol Kurt Angle on the very first Breakdown it was a sign that Angle's little buddy wouldn't stand a chance... he didn't seem to get the message, but he'll understand after Steel Punishment.  Anyway, while I'm taking him out you can concentrate on the Bashams, I figure you should be able to handle both of them yourself. "

NATURAL BORN THRILLER' Mark Jindrak:  " You mean the big, ugly, bald guys, I think maybe I actually could... Haha. But, how did they get those two fools get the  tag-titles in the first place?  "

'ABOVE AVERAGE' Mike Sanders: " That's a very good question, and quite a mystery. I can't think why Mr. McMahon would give them the gold in the first place. It's not exactly good for business if The Bashams are you're top tag-team... but business should pick up once they're relieved of their reign. I'm not even sure if JBL knows what he's doing, carrying those two around with him. He probably thinks he needs a couple of bodyguards or some security, but I doubt the Bashams are going to offer much protection, he'd do just as well with a couple of cardboard cut-outs. I guess if anybody try's to sneak up on JBL he'll soon find out that security is pretty lax. I suppose the Bashams at least do what they're told, JBL's got them round a damn leach, I just hope he doesn't take advantage... at least that might explain why he keeps them around. As far as I can tell they'd make pretty lousy security, and if they can't even do that right then what use are they going to be in the ring. So, if they know what's best for them they'll stick it out as JBL's pathetic Secretaries of Defence, rather than getting in the ring. Although the term of Secretaries of Defence is a little misleading... I hope to God nobody asks the Bashams what our next move in Iraq should be or whether or not to invade Iran. Still, just remember, they were anointed champions, they've not been in an APW ring and when they actually step into the ring at Steel Punishment we're going to make them look like a laughing stock because the big bad bald guy routine has never worked and all they're going to do is embarrass themselves.  Not only will the Bashams suffer at Steel Punishment but Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin along with MNM are going to find themselves in trouble, they're going to be...

'ABOVE AVERAGE' Mike Sanders: " And you know what that means... Haha. "

The APW logo then fades up as Mike Sanders and Mark Jindrak get up from the bench and walk away, still not looking impressed by Hollywood as the picture cuts to static.

All-Pro Wrestling Achievements: Coming soon...

Below Average: Kurt Angle, Mark Henry.