-= An ICWL camera comes on inside what appears to be a library. Night has fallen on the outside world, and the library has a very dim glow, as the nights have been turned down low, and main source of lamination is coming from the old accountant style desk lamps that sit in the middle of every long table. The library appears to be deserted except for one lone figure sitting at a table in the middle of the library, the lone figure is surrounded by books, some of which are open, some of them in piles but all of them are spread out across the table. The figure is flipping through a rather thick book, as the camera man moves in close and it becomes clear that the figure is X-Rated. =-

X-Rated: “Hmmm…interesting.”

{suddenly X-Rated notices the camera. He closes the book in front of him.}

X-Rated: “Sorry I didn’t notice you guys, I have been here all night, doing research. See I have been here making sure I completely understand what I am up against this Sunday at Hostile Takeover. So this is what I have discovered so far.”

{X-Rated pulls out a piece of paper, she stares at then looks up in the camera.}

X-Rated: “Now, I have done some research on Bane. No, not that incest, hallway loving clown we see on TV. But I researched the significance of Bane in history. Now historically the word Bane has an English meaning of nemesis, the bringer of ruin, which dates all the way back to 1577; however, recently it means affliction, curse, evil, ill, plague, scourge or woe. The Word bane is derived from the old English word ‘bana’ which means Slyer, or more specifically, Murderer. Now I’m sure the Bane we all know would love to be associated with all of these things. I am sure Bane would love for as all to think of these words when we think of him. However, I knew that Bane would have to have an even deeper meaning, that there would be more to it then meets the eye, as nothing I have read, historic or otherwise, related to the Bane I know. That’s when I discovered Merriam-Webster. Now inside the covers of Merriam-Webster I discovered the true meaning of the word Bane. The meaning that sums up the Bane we all know extremely well….OBSOLETE! Now for the uneducated, which is most of the roster and over half of the fan base, Obsolete is defined as follows, no longer in use or no longer useful; of a kind or style no longer current; indistinct or imperfect as compared with a corresponding part in related organisms. Now if you ask me that sums up the Bane we all know and hate to a letter! See Bane, even Merriam-Webster knows you can’t measure up to the Only True Talent in the ICWL. I am the related organisms by which they refer.”

{X-Rated crumples up that paper and throws it off camera, he places the book that was in front of him off to the side on top of a already large pile.}

X-Rated: “Now, I could go on all day about what Bane is or isn’t, but I think for the most part we all already know. Many men have great respect for Bane, and dread the thoughts of having to actually step in the ring with him, I however, am not one of them. Bane has done nothing that I haven’t already, or couldn’t have done! Bane has strived to be at the top of his game, to be at the top of the ICWL, essentially Bane has strived to be me! From the moment I walked into the ICWL, from the moment I set foot in an ICWL ring I have been at the top of the ICWL. I just like Bane am a Former World Heavyweight Champion, in fact I am the longest reigning World Champion in ICWL History, something Bane hasn’t been able to replicate. Now please, I know what you are thinking, ‘Bane would have beaten my record had I not cost him the World Championship to Arsenic’. And as far as calendar days go you are right, I did prevent Bane from surpassing the mark that I set. But there was a reason, a very specific reason. See it’s easy to remain World Champion when you don’t have to defend it. That’s right, Bane had the reign he had because the ICWL closed it’s doors for well over a month. More then 30 days of Bane’s ‘near record breaking’ reign was spent sitting in on the couch. So why in the world would I just sit back and watch my record, a record I fought damn hard to obtain, be beaten by someone that didn’t have to?”

{X-Rated pulls out a book from another pile. He opens it up to an already marked page.}

X-Rated: “Now, This Sunday I will be stepping inside of a Hell in a Cell. A structure I have been inside many, many time before, as I’m sure so has he. So we both have a pretty good understanding on what we have in store. There will be blood; there will be pain, that’s to be expected, as it’s the nature of the beast. There is a reason it’s called Hell in a Cell. We have all used the word ‘hell’ when describing something that was unpleasant. But do any of us truly understand the meaning of hell? Traditionally, hell is a term used by many different religions, as an afterlife where the wicked, or unrighteous, are punished for all eternity. The depiction of hell varies depending on each religion. Some religions say hell is a fiery place; well others portray it as a cold and gloomy place. But regardless of the religion, hell has always been viewed as an unpleasant place, where mankind pays for their sins through suffering and pain for all eternity. And that pretty much sums up this match up on Sunday. One of us is going to pay, and have to live with that for all of eternity. One of us is going to have to life the remaining days of our lives knowing we weren’t good enough, that we weren’t tough enough. So the question we have to ask ourselves is a simple one, are we ready? Are we ready to face our fate? I know I am. I know that I am more then ready, I would say I’m eager to step inside the ominous structure one more time, and meet my destiny. To finally prove once and for all that I am, without question, the ONLY TRUE TALENT IN THE ICWL! Now, I have taken every challenge head on. I have proven myself, and my words time and time again. I have beaten some of the best the ICWL has ever had to offer. I have beaten stars like Shane Jenkins, Corey Phoenix, Anthrax, and countless others.”

X-Rated: “Bane, you don’t impress me, you don’t scare me, and you certainly don’t intimidate me. You can say what you like, and profess to all those that will listen, that you are better then the True Talent, that you will be the one to silence the True Talent. That you will stand up and be victorious where many have failed, but deep down inside you and I both know, that this Sunday, you may put up a valiant effort, but when it’s over and done, one of us will be walking out of the Hell in a Cell, and that is going to be The Only True Talent In the ICWL, Me!”

-= With that X-Rated slams the book closed in front of him, and stands up, glaring into the camera. Suddenly X-Rated walks away and out of the library, leaving the camera man sitting alone with the pile of books. =-