Weapon Truly Alive? {Jason Cross}

[emily]

*Following the opening match up of the Battle zone PPV, the camera is seen panning into a scene backstage where APW reporter Emily Blake is standing with one of the men who has the daunting task of staking claims on the first reign as APW World Champion. The Living Weapon himself, Jason Cross. *

*Jason stood directly beside Ms. Blake, wearing sweat suit pants and his patented Living Weapon T-Shirt all the kids were wearing nowadays. He stood completely still with his arms folded and an intense look on his face awaiting the first question of this interview. On a night that was sure to prove historic for many reasons, Emily raised the microphone to her mouth after a smile into the camera*

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here backstage with one of the men who will step into the Battlezone tonight with 5 other members of the APW's roster to crown it's FIRST ever APW World Heavyweight Champion.

A man that has made great strides in the world of professional wrestling since first appearing in his previous employer's company just a little under a year ago. A man who has faced some of the best this season and has come out on top. A man who some say is THE man to carry APW into the limelight it so desperately seeks. The one and only, The Living Weapon, Jason Cross

*Emily then faces Jason as she raises the microphone up a bit so he could be heard once the first question was asked. From the look on his face, he seemed to not be in the interview mood but knew it was one of the requirements of being on the roster. She proceeded.*

Jason, the first take I would like to get from you for those in attendance and those at home watching is the fact that someone at such a young age as yourself and so young in your career as well, was chosen as one of the men deserving of becoming APW's first World Champion.

It must be like a roller coaster ride to be receiving such treatment and notoriety at this point in your career. I'd like to get your feelings and thoughts on that right now that you stand only a few short hours from stepping into the ring for probably the most important match of your career?

[Jason Cross]

The look on Jason's face says it all, this is the part of the job that he has never been to fond of but he knows it's something that he'll have to get used to especially if he manages to win the world title tonight, so he just does his best to grin and bear it as he answers Emily's question.

"To true that this is the most important match of my career, this is the first time any company I've worked for has given me a world title shot, and seeing as how I never ask for belt shots I always earn them I'll make the most of this opportunity tonight, because otherwise I have no idea when I could get a shot like this again. As far as my thoughts and feeling, this has taken some getting used to I mean I'm main eventing when I never got anything bigger than mid card matches before, so it's quite different having this kind of attention focused my way, but I'm getting used to it and learning to deal with even the parts of the job that I've never really been all that fond of. In the end though it will all be worth it when I walk out of that cage the first APW world champ."

Jason waits at this point seeing if Emily has any other questions knowing that these interviewers usually throw out something tough before they call it a wrap.

[emily]

I see Mr. Cross. Well my next question for you concerns the men you'll be stepping into the unforgiving structure with later on tonight. 3 of those men's identities have already been named being: "Ironman" Michael Taylor, Pornstar and Nathan "Canuckler" Michaels.

There are however TWO more to be inserted into the match who will enter at numbers 1 and 2 respectively. Of course by not knowing the identity of those two mystery men so to speak , you can't comment on them too much but as far as the 3 that are known to be participating in the match up, what is your personal opinion on the three gentlemen and also, are there any individuals you would like to see or think deserve to be in this match along with you gentlemen tonight?

[Jason Cross]

Jason looks toward thew camera and begins speaking again.

"What do I think of my three opponent well let me see lets start with Pornstar. Is this really the guy the Angel sisters want to be the banner carrier for their company, I mean hell you know he's going to take that belt and start showing it off in one of his movies or some such thing, is that really the kind of thing you want associated with your company and title I think not, so here's to hoping a miracle doesn't occur out there tonight, or things could get ugly around here. Next there is Nathan "Grand-Slam" Michaels. Now at least should I not win this we have a guy that can carry the belt and not embarrass the hell out of the company in the process, he's a top tier athlete and it's just to bad that we won't be seeing him compete in this match at full strength since he already has the tag title match to compete in before the main event, but hey it is an honor just to be in a match like this right." *Jason pauses for just a moment before continuing on.* "Now as for the third opponent "Ironman" Michael Taylor, how did this clown even get picked to be in this match, I mean sure he has won a few matches but other that that where has he been, I mean the guy typically shows up a night or two before the show cuts a half assed promo and then disappears for another week, this guy should plain and simply be pulled from the match and replaced by someone who actually knows how to speak up because it takes more than in ring skills to be world champ you actually have to know how to speak to. Now as for the two mystery opponents, which by the way hasn't this been done to death pretty much everywhere else. I have no clue who would be picked for something like this but and I can't believe I'm saying this I hope one of the two turns out to be Vegas, not only because I find it personally gratifying every time I see him in pain but should the worst come to worst and he wins at least we know with his mouth everyone will be lining up to knock this guy out. As for the other put in 187 sure he lost to me but he keeps people coming back for more and hey what can I say I think it would be fun to throw the little runt around again."

[emily]

Wow Mr. Cross. I never thought those two names would be the ones out of your mouth when I first planned on asking that question. Interesting response indeed. Especially concerning the history you have with not only the Familia but particularly Mr. Vegas. Perhaps we'll get to see at least one of them compete in that match tonight. From the looks of your facial expression, I can tell which one you'd personally choose to get your hands on though. Moving on though.

With the fact that this IS such a big night and match for you Mr. Cross, the fans out there would like to know, what does this night mean to you on a personal level. Not just a career level but more of, what would it mean as far as personal gratification, coming out the victor tonight in the Battlezone matchup? I'm sure your lovely wife Sarah would be very proud. She herself has to be excited for you about the potential out come of you walking away from the match the first ever APW Heavyweight Champion?

[Jason Cross]

Jason looks thoughtful for a moment before speaking.

"What would winning mean for me on a personal level well it would quite simply be a dream come true when I started wrestling it was with one goal in mind and that was to someday be counted among the best of the best in this business. Now up to this point I've worked for four different companies even won some titles but never been offered a shot like this, so as I see it this could be my one chance to make that dream come true by becoming the first APW world champ and I'll be damned if I let anybody stop me from achieving that dream. Now as for Sarah, she knows how much I want to accomplish this right now and she is proud of me for getting this close to realizing my dream, and if that gleam I see in her eye means anything, and I know her well enough to know it does, then she no doubt already has something special in mind to celebrate after I win tonight."

[emily]

*The last answer from Jason put a smile on Emily's face as well as the camera man's.*

I'm quite sure she will Jason, I'm quite sure she will. Now for my final question I want to ask you. All the men involved in this match tonight believe that THEY should be the FIRST EVER APW World Heavyweight Champion. Now the question I want to ask you is, what makes them wrong about thinking that of themselves and this match and what makes you right about it. Why should Jason Cross BE the first APW World Heavyweight Champion?

[Jason Cross]

Jason looks back at the camera as he speaks.

"Well I can't say anything about the two mystery opponents, or even Nathan for that matter as he's been here trying to get people hyped for this match, still if I had to pick one reason why he shouldn't it would simply be because he already committed to the tag team tournament and if he did somehow win both, that would be one hell of a work load for him carrying two belts which means inevitably one of the two belts would begin to suffer from lack of exposure and that is something that should not happen to either. Pornstar well I think his ring name and former occupation say it all right there, I mean is this really the guy the Angel sisters would what as both the standard bearer and face of their company I don't think so. "Ironman" Michael Taylor, the biggest problem with this guy is that he is never here. I mean the matches to determine who would be in this were held a week ago and has he even said one word since then no. A mute just won't do for a world champ because a company can't have a guy like that as it's public face if he is never around to show it." *Pausing only momentarily to collect himself Jason looks back at Emily.* "Now as for why I believe I should be world champ it's as simple as this. I believe that I could carry that title well, make it something that the fans and owners of APW can be proud of, and in turn that I can be a champion that they can be proud of. The reason I believe this is because of the way I look at things like the APW world title. This isn't just something where any wrestler should be able to walk out there and start screaming into a mic about thinking he deserves a shot and get it, hell no . Title shots should always be earned not asked for that is why you never have and never will see me ask for a title shot, I'll either earn it or I just won't get it and with me as APW world champ thats exactly what will happen challengers will earn the shot they get, it will never be as easy as walking out to the ring and demanding that they get one, and believe me when I say that there are already people here that I would have in mind as my first title defense, now just to give you an example of how big that match could be imagine myself and Dru going at it one on one for what can easily be called the biggest prize in wrestling today and that is just one of the possibilities I have in mind."

Finished speaking Jason watches Emily while waiting for what comes next.

[emily]

*Quite the answer from Mr. Cross was it not? She realized that the man standing before her just might be the wildcard in the coming Battlezone Main Event and that he fully believed in his abilities to bring that championship back to the Cross household. A smile crosses her face as she realizes that there was nothing else she could ask the man and she'd best allow for him to prepare for his biggest match in his career.*

Thank you Mr. Cross. I wish you all the luck in your match tonight. I'm sure the fans can't wait.

FADE TO BLACK