27 May 2007 the truth will be known

[The One]

"XVI Sold Out" is read outside of the Alltel Arena in Central Arkansas for an XVI event. The bright neon red sign scrolls through wih the card for the XVI Payperview Highway to Hell. Fans line up around a barricade as it is marked off for staff entry only but these fans are dedicated enough to bare the cold hard drops of rain as they can catch a peak and perhaps a quick smile from their favorite superstars. Prozac and Ritalin have entered as have the Unholy Legion. Superstar after superstar pulls up and enters the arena prepared to make the show great, and also prepared to win their match at this pay per view and be on a strong ground for the XVI's biggest Pay Per View next month. With less than twelve hours to go the arena is already nearing capacity. A faint echo is heard as the echo soon becomes a blasting bass beating out of the back of a Chrystler 300 C. The rain hits off of the mirror tinted windshield as the car parks next to the curb. The music cuts off as the lights fade out and the drivers door opens and the XVI Champion steps out. He is wearing a baggy grey sweat suit with a grey bandanna and wheat timberland boots. Szaban gets out and smiles at the crowd of fans behind the barricade. Szaban looks around as the rain darkens the spots it lands on, as the champ lets the rain fall on to his face he strokes his rough face as it has obviously been a week or so since the last time he had shaved. Szaban reaches back into the vehicle and pulls out the infamous black duffel bag and the famous XVI World Championship belt. Szaban steps back from the car and closes the door as he turns the alarm on. Szaban then proceeds over to the awaiting fans

Szaban~
What's going on everyone? We ready for tonight? Ready for the greatest match of all time to take place?

Szaban grins as the people all start talking over one another and Szaban begins to sign whatever they hand him

Girl fan~
Szaban are you going to beat Jihad tonight?

he continues to sign a XVI Szaban action figure as he slips the fan a very discrete wink.

Szaban~
Jihad has what it takes to be a great Champion, but he does not really know what it is like to be put down one, two, three and until then you can never know why being the best is so great. Jihad is going to take me to limits I never expected to go to before but at the end of the day Szaban is still going to be your champion.

Once again Szaban smiles at the girl as he moves down the line and signs a plastic XVI World Title replica. As a little boy of about seven years old steps up to question the champ.

Boy Fan~
Szaban my brother Tommy says that you are afraid of Jihad and that you would have a better chance of living by running away. You are never scared are you?

Szaban allows for a slight laugh to escape as he hands back a poster to an adoring fan. And then adjusts his focus to the little boy.

Szaban~
Afraid? yeah Szaban get's scared from time to time. And Jihad is a very frightening person, I mean he is the Devil. But if we do not stand up and face our fears then we are cowards aren't we? Plus when you are afraid of something that you are standing up against you try a lot harder. Jihad knows I am a little bit afraid of what he is capable, but I am also confident in what I can do, and I will never run or back down from something.

Szaban pats the child on the head as they share a smile. The little boy lights up as he looks over his shoulder and smiles at his older brother Tommy. Szaban finishes signing everything that was offered to him then he picks his bag back up.

Szaban~
Well I will see you guys inside. Let's go dry up get warm. I am going to go get ready for this match, are you guys going to cheer for me?

The crowd of fans screams 'YEAH!' as Szaban smirks at them and walks to the back entry door.

::Commercials::
Pirates Of The Caribbean Preview
Quizno's
Corona
Jack Link beef jerkey messing with Sasquatch!
Sprint


-- XVI REWIND -- CONTRACT SIGNING --
Makaveli is seen with a smirk on his face. Jihad enters the ring as Makaveli gets up and asks Jihad to sit down. Jihad stares at Makaveli, as he sits down. He grabs the black ink pen and signs the contract. Szaban is in awe. He's speechless. Makaveli, smiling, suddenly changes his mood when he sees that Szaban is not phased from the twist that has just happened to him. Makaveli begins to taunt him, but Szaban doesn't react. He walks over to his side and gives him a slap! Szaban's face is turned, but slowly turns it back towards Makaveli. Makaveli seems to regret the slap he just gave Szaban. Out of nowhere, Makaveli begins to give out cheap shots to Szaban. Both men are now brawling as Jihad gets up and grabs Makaveli and pulls him aside. Szaban stops the brawl as both Jihad and Szaban give a stare down. The crowd could feel the electricity from these two... They're just waiting for both men to go at it. Szaban moves his lips, "I'll see you at Highway To Hell."


David~
Tonight all questions will finally be answered.

Ed~
Seven years in the making is now spiraling to a what would be a crashing hault. Champion versus contender, The One versus the Devil, Good versus Evil, Szaban versus Jihad. This is what people have talked about for years and everytime one of them was prepared to fight the other was unavailable.

David~
But now we here in the XVI finally have the match on the verge of happening. We are within mere hours of the ultimate battle. Two men walk-in, two ledgends leave.

Ed~
Without a doubt, Szaban said his match with Corpse was his greatest. Then Jihad said Richards was his. Both men have defeated the others greatest match to this point, but now you have to think after all of this is over what will be said. How will these two look at one another. The greatest battle is coming and nobody is going to be able to stop a no-disqualification match between argueably the greatest match of all time.

The XVItron lights up and immediately the crowd reacts with approval as it shows Jack Daniel's knocking on Szaban's lockerroom door. Szaban opens the door with a pleasantly surprised look on his face. Szaban smiles as he steps through the door wearing nothing but a towel and stands in the hallway to the left of Jack. Whistles can be heard throughout the arena as female fans scream and cheer above all. Jack composes himself as he still is trying to make his name as a big time interviewer.

Szaban~
Jack Daniels the XVI's up and coming superstar interviewer how may I help you tonight?

Jack clears his throat as Szaban stands in the towel with his arms folded

Jack Daniels~
Szaban I am sure that you have heard this question time and time again. But I have got to ask you, how confident are you going into tonight especially when you were originally planning on facing the XVI President Makaveli?

Szaban smirks full of confidence and radiating charisma.

Szaban~
Jack you are right I have heard that question many times, and to tell you the truth I never get tired of it. You see I have been up and down this road many times. Makaveli is a coward and rightfully so I mean he, you, myself and the world all know that he can not nor will ever have what it takes to return to the ring, let alone beat Szaban. But the ruse he pulled when he backed out of the match with me and put The Ruler of All Jihad in my way was really just a favor. You see Makaveli backed out of our match so that right there is a win for me and everyone knows it. Now he as brought back in the one man who has managed to duck and dodge me for literally years. So now I am being given a chance to silence all three doubters out there and show the world that once again when the stakes are high. Szaban will rise to the occasion and he will be able to end all controversy about who is the greatest World Champion ever.

Jack intently listens to Szaban's statement as he thinks about his next question.

Jack~
You are obviously going to go into this match to put every ounce of your being, how concerned about your own wellbeing are you?

Szaban bites his bottom lip and slightly shrugs his shoulders.

Szaban~
I used to look at it like this, I fight and win today I will be standing tall tomorrow. Now I look at it like this, I put everything I have on the line and I may leave my body beaten and battered in the ring or on a stretcher but my spirit and this industry is better for the level of sacrifice we are willing to go to.

Jack nods his head at the response that he just received from a Champion

Jack~
Well Szaban I know that tonight you are a very busy man and that tonight is going to be a very busy night so I will let you get back to your affairs. Goodluck tonight and I look forward to seeing how things pan out for you.

Szaban and Jack exchange smiles as they shake hands then embrace with a quick shoulder tap. Jack walks away as Szaban walks back into his locker room. Where Rachel is sitting down on Szaban's black leather recliner that is always in any dressing room he has. Szaban looks at Rachel as she gives him a half smiled look.

Szaban~
Alright Champ I guess it is time for me to get dressed and get out there. Talk to the people directly.

Rachel rolls her eyes as she gets up off of the chair and walks towards Szaban.

Rachel~
I will never know why you care so much about talking directly to them, or why you play into their hands the way you do.

Szaban smiles as he shakes his head and pulls a white undershirt over his head and pulls it down as it tightly fits around his well defined abdominal and pec muscles.

Szaban~
I know who I am and what I can do. Matt does not need anyone, but Szaban.. Szaban is very greatful for each and every fan he has ever had and will continue to thank them and show his appreciation to them every single time I make my way to an arena. Tonight is a big night so I owe them tonight more than ever.

Szaban then has a confused look on his face as he looks around. Rachel walks past him and reaches underneath a dresser in the back corner of the room.

Rachel~
Is this what you were looking for?

As she pulls out Szaban's black duffle bag. She unzips it and pulls out Szaban's black leather wrestling boots and his spandex wrestling shorts. She tosses them towards Szaban who just winks back at her, she rolls her eyes as she tosses the bag down on the ground.

Szaban~
Now what would I do without you?

Rachel walks up to him and smiles as she seductively walks past him and to his wallet.

Rachel~
You would probably have a lot more money, child support is expensive isn't it?

Rachel takes all of the cash in Szaban's wallet out and puts it inside her shirt.

Szaban~
Well now that I got that cleared up.

Szaban had the towel dropped and his spandex up as he works on lacing his calf high wrestling boots up.

Szaban~
So are you going to be alright tonight? Do you want to meet up after I get backstage?

Rachel shakes her head as she makes her way towards the door.

Rachel~
Hey Champ, why don't you stop worrying about me and trust that I can handle myself. I am going to be just fine, remember you have your own match to worry about. And if I want to see you in a little while I will let you know.

Rachel opens the door and walks out of it leaving it half way open. Szaban sighs as he finishes lacing up his boots. He stands up grabbing his towel and drapes it around his neck. He walks to the small refridgerator and takes a bottle of Dasani water out of it and then walks out of his locker room closing the door behind him.

[The One]

A chorus of "Let's Go" followed by two booming claps generates a live and enormous energy from the amped crowd crowing more and more exciting as the night grows closer and closer to what has been promised to be nothing less than spectacular. A night where Champions will clash and titans will fall the emotion packed city in Arkansas brings it all to the forefront as they begin to scream and shout chanting and waving the signs of their chosen superstars. David and Ed have made their way back down to ringside as they are continuing with the XVI Highway to Hell Pay Per View Countdown. The crowd's anxiousness rivals an on-edged mob preparring to riot. The crowd grows and grows in volume as it is all broken and silented momentarily by the sound and the words of

T.
R.
U.
E.
C.
H.
A.
M.
P.

that appears across the XVItron, The crowd explodes into '"Szaban" chants as they are awaiting the entrance of the Champion of Champions Szaban


SZABAN

appears across the screen The crowd screams and cheers as the name apears on the XVItron, The arena is entire blacked out but then a lighter is lit then another one, and at first it seems one by one, but suddenly the entire arena is lit up by thousands of individual lighters. The beginning part of Eminem's "Till I Collapse"; blares throughout the PA system and the blue neon lights slowly illuminate the arena

'Cause sometimes you feel tired,
feel weak, and when you feel weak,
you feel like you wanna just give up.
But you gotta search within you,
you gotta find that inner strength
and just pull that shit out of you and get that motivation to not give up and not be a quitter,
no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse.

Ed~
Okay and here it goes, he said it outside, he said it last week, he told Jack Daniels and he told Rachel. Now Szaban is coming out here to tell the world what they are going to get out of this Championship match

David~
Finally we are going to see this. Honestly I do not think Szaban has a chance but then again when you think about it a heart can always squeez out one beat and I know Szaban is all heart and won't stop until there are no beats left in him.

The blue lights flicker as the crowd is growing more and more pro-Szaban.

Ed~
The match of the millenium, and the match of two lifetimes is coming. Szaban has done it all, but Jihad has taken everyone on.

David~
Like I said Szaban is impressive and you can not take away the heart he puts into what he does, but Jihad is just that great that even when he does not try he is still on top of most people's abilities.

Ed and David are now finding themselves caught up in the so-called dream matches hype and just rolling with it.

David~
That is true but even with Jihad's ability to do that, you have got to think that he is coming out in this one all out and not trying to underestimate Szaban

Ed~
That's true because underestimating any opponet would be costly but even more when you are talking about this man, SZABAN!!

"Till I Collapse" Explodes out of the speakers and the crowd manages to be heard roaring with cheers over the music

Ed~
Last time Szaban had a big match everyone was talking about Szaban's ring rust because he had been out of serious competition for more than two years but Jihad has now been out of competition period for almost three years, is this going to play a factor in this match

Szaban makes his way down the ramp to the chorus of cheers and chants

David~
Ring rust always hurts everyone; however Szaban needs to capitalize on it by keeping the match at a faster pace and this is really going to be a reverse in rolls for both of these men.

Szaban walks up the metal stairs and through the ropes. Szaban goes to all four turnbuckles as pyros explode behind him. Szaban stands in the middle of the ring looking all around as the fans are going wild and chanting his name. Szaban picks up the mic that is lying at his feet and raises his hand in the air. The crowd falls silent as Szaban looks over them one last time and he raises the mic to his mouth

Szaban~
Arkansas are you ready for history to be made?

The silent crowd burst into screaming chants and ear drum pounding chants. Szaban smirks as he signals for the to be quiet again.

Szaban~
All the words, all the games and all the gimmicks are going out of the window right now. Tonight two men get to shut up and put up.

Szaban licks his lips as he looks at his hand and then around the arena.

Szaban~
But I still have a little time that I get to jaw jack for.

Szaban smirks as he gets a small cheap pop out of the crowd

Szaban~
Jihad you had a lot of words to say over the past week. I had none, but now I do. And they really are simple. My words all revolve around one thing and it is something that you do not really understand and I know that, but it is the truth. Tonight the truth will be seen as you step toe to toe with the best that any wrestling company has to offer and you will fall flat on your face then rest on your back as you meet the man who is better than you, and he goes by the name Szaban.

The crowd pops and screams out Szaban pauses but resumes speaking fairly quick

Szaban~
The VnB has your back Jihad, you are their ruler and I understand that. But Sullivan take a look, look all around you wherever you are. Call Gordy over in Japan and ask him if he hears it. If he hears those that stand behind The One, that stand behind Szaban, those that stand by the TRUE CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS!!!!

The crowd cheers as Szaban looks around feeling the excitment building around him and the aura of the estatic crowd builds his ego just slightly

Szaban~
That's right Sullivan. Ask Trish she has seen it before. She has stood here and been witness to Planet Z and now tonight I welcome the ruler of all to meet The One who has no ruler, tonight I ask you Jihad. I ask you to come out here, stop the mediocre attempts at reverse pyshcology and face the only person in your existance that you have never been able to shake. The One person that you have never been able to syke out. The One person that has never backed down from you. Jihad I am standing here and I am telling you now that you are not going to be in the compound where people fear for their life, you are not going to be in the compound where you rule, you are going to be in the middle of a XVI ring where Szaban is the Ruler. You are leaving the comfort of three years not competing to facing the biggest challenge of your career. You need to get a good rest before this match, have yourself a great dream. But know this, that if you even ever dream about beating me you had better snap out of it and call me to apologize because Sullivan a lose to you is something I have thought about because I will look at all sides but tonight is not your night. I have come too far and done to much to drop this match to you. If you plan on beating me tonight I can gurantee you that neither one of us will walk out of this arena on our own power because as long as I have one breath my shoulder will not be on this canvis.

Szaban pauses as his face had started to get red. Szaban stops and looks around at the arena as his complexion turns back to the bronze color it is normally.

Szaban~
Jihad I respect you and I can not stand a single word that you say. As the Devil that you are I know you will have a homecourt advantage in this match, but I am more than prepared to go to hell and withstand the inferno that you plan on burying me under. Jihad you know deep inside that I can not let you win this match. You know deep down in that void of your chest that I am going to come out victorious. Jihad seven years, five feds and two previous attempts at a match this all comes to a point. This is all going to come to an end.

Now do not misquote me on this. It is coming to an end, but it is an end of a chapter, not the story. The one who falls after this match is going to be the one to write the next segment of this long drawnout showdown. I can not lie Jihad I was extremely excited when I heard your music hit as Makaveli backed out of our match. When I found out it was you I was thrilled and even honored. The first match that you would take in three years would be against me. And I know it has a little do with the fact that we have both been waiting too long for this and that you could not believe that a man that you hand selected to lead the VnB would fall victim to me, and as easily as he did. I beat Mental hoping that you would reignite that fire and hatred so that you'd step into the ring with me. For everything that has come to pass. The VnB, Trish, Fade, your pride that has been question because of the amount of time that has passed without us having a match against one another. Jihad this match is real and I am not the one that is having a dream about it, I am not the one having nightmares, my sleep is peaceful and I am not dellusional about what I am going to accomplish in this dream match.


Szaban lowers the mic as he catches his breath and takes a sip of his water.

Ed~
I can not wait any longer and I just thank God that we do not have to, because the final countdown has started for Highway to Hell and Arkansas has a bullseye right on the Alltel Arena

David~
Highway to Hell is only fitting seeing as how one of these superstars is named the Devil, and the other has accepted going to the deepest pits to do what is necessarry to win.

Szaban paces back and forth in the ring as the focus and determination to win this match for everyone is building inside of him. Szaban is feeling the weight of every single fan he has resting on his shoulders and for the first time in his career Szaban is thinking about all those eyes that will be hoping to witness this victory.

Ed~
All the time both men have had to get preparred you know there is nothing left for them to do except to win.

David~
Yeah winning is all there is to do but only one man can win

'Szaban' chants are faintly heard in the arena as they slowly grow to becoming the only thing heard in the arena

David~
Either way I will not be able to call the loser of this match a loser as Jihad said there will be the winner and there will be the one that did not come out on top

Ed~
The winner of this match is going to be able to forever hold bragging rights as the one who got the best of his nemisis and truly became the Champion of Champions!

Szaban stands tall in the ring as the chants finally bring out the cocky egotistical bastard Szaban that has always been there for them. Szaban walks over and sits on top of the turnbuckle as he raises his mic to his mouth.

Szaban~
Jihad you have one final chance. You have mere hours left as you hear the tick, tock, tick, tock and your ID, Ego, and Superego all tell you to run away. They all tell you that you tried your best with the attempts at scaring me and that if you step foot into this ring you will be stepping into this ring with every past member of the VnB, every VnB soldier, every VnB follower and you will bare their weight. You will feel the responsibility for every claim that you have ever made and you will feel what it is like to truly be on top of the world.


Szaban smirks as he licks his lips. The crowd growing more and more restless as they know what is on the verge of being said.

Szaban~
You will finally and truly be the Ruler of All those that have ever believed a single word that you made claim to. You will be able to honestly say that you are on top of everything and feel more phenomenal than any dream you have ever had, or thought you were capable of being.

Szaban grins as he feels the energy of the arena rising.

Szaban~
Jihad quite simply you are going to be graced by Szaban and be able to elevate to the highest point of your career that you never imagined possible but then...

Szaban pauses as he quickly licks his lips and clears his throat

Szaban~
I am going to take you and your entire VnB World and send you all crashing down as you will be DROPPED!

the crows explodes into chants of "Szaban", Szaban drops the mic as he raises his arms above his head. "It's A Fight" By 36 Mafia rocks the arena as the PPV is almost upon us. Szaban goes to the four turnbuckles and poses with the XVI World Title over his right shoulder.

Ed~
There he goes. Szaban is calm collective and most of all confident in what he has come here to do tonight.

Szaban exits the ring as he walks all around the ringside seats shaking their hands as the deafening chants pound through the airways.

David~
This is definitely going to be a match for the strong at heart. This is going to fall down to who wants this more, and who feels that they can not be stopped. Jihad is no doubt impressive, but Szaban has got what it takes to stand strong against him

Szaban is making his way up the ramp when he stops and looks over the wild mob. Szaban poses for them on the ramp and slips out a smirk. Szaban climbs down the side of the ramp and over the barricade. He makes his way through the crowd greeting and slapping hands with fans all around