The setting is the Tyson James Training Facility. The camera scopes out Prototype Corey Payne working out on a worn-out, duct-taped heavy bag. He is wearing a black tank top with Tyson James Training Facility written in white on the front, and Champions Arent Born, Theyre Made written in white on the back, along with black Nike shorts and taped hands and feet. Payne is really going to town on the bag, so much that his uncle and the proprietor of this establishment, Tyson James, approaches Payne with a look of concern on his face.
James: Corey, ease up a little bit, OK? That bag is beat up enough. And pace yourself. Youve only been here for ten minutes.
Payne doesnt heed his uncles warning and intensifies the beatdown on the heavy bag, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks, dangerously rocking it as Tyson looks bewildered.
James: (in shock) Corey what in the blue hell are you doing?! I said ease up!
Jamess protest, however, was to no avail. Payne, in a crazed trance, strikes the bag so fast that his hands and feet are a blur. He hits it harder and harder. Payne winds up and roundhouse kicks the bag so hard it falls off its chain and collapses to the ground with a thud. James sees this and loses it. He grabs him by the arm and takes him to his office and sits him down in a chair. Like a scolded child, Payne obeys his uncles orders.
James: Sit there until you calm down!
Payne, breathing heavily, lowers his head and rests them in his hands. He looks around and surveys the office, filled with file cabinets and pictures from the past. Corey looks around until someone knocks on the door.
Payne: Come in.
WZCW interviewer Becky Serra opens the door and enters the office.
Becky: Your uncle said I could find you here.
Payne: Here for an interview, I suppose?
Becky: (looks at Payne uncomfortably, reading his mood) Umm
. yes.
Payne: (sighs) Go ahead. Ask away.
Becky: Last Meltdown, after you defeated The English Enigma Scott Hammond, Scott feigned an attitude of respect towards you and then he attacked you from behind. What are your thoughts?
Payne: What are my thoughts? (takes the mic from Becky) I think that Scott Hammond is a very good wrestler, but a cowardly human being. Me and Hammond had a great match. Some people have told me that we stole the show. I grew a great respect for Scott during the match. Thats why I offered him a hand in friendship. I was mildly surprised when he actually shook my hand like a man. Thinking that we had a mutual respect, I turned my back and started to walk away
..
That was my biggest mistake. I let my guard down and that little coward attacked me from behind. Somehow, I didnt see it coming. He acted just like my former best friend. He took advantage of me when I least expected it. He
Payne bites his tongue and appears as if he said too much about the subject. He looks down towards the ground.
Becky: Corey
(Prototype slowly looks back up) Does this have something to do with the picture that Ive heard about?
Payne: (quietly) Yes, it does.
Becky: (gets to eye level with Corey) I think you would feel a lot better if you talked about it.
Payne: (knowing he cannot bottle his feelings any longer) Youre right. (takes a deep breath) The picture was of me and my old best friend at my wedding. He was my best man.
Becky: Youre married?
Payne: (sighs) I was. She
. (takes another deep breath) passed away.
Becky: Im sorry.
Payne: Thank you
The reason I kept the picture was because it was a symbol of my old life. I try to forget about my past, thinking that if I ignore it, it will go away. But I couldnt throw away that picture because it symbolized how happy those times were. Because a year after that, my life changed drastically.
Becky: In what ways?
Payne: Well
a year later, my MMA career was over, my best friend assaulted me for reasons I still dont know and killed our friendship, my knee was torn apart, my dad, who was my idol, died of cancer, and my wife of one year died in a car crash, along with my unborn daughter. (looks at Beckys shocked expression) Yeah, it was bad. I wondered if life was even worth living
.
Then I was visited by my uncle Ty. He was concerned for my well-being. He helped me turn my life around. I am forever in his debt. He got me into wrestling as soon as I was healed. Wrestling has given me a new life. Hell, it is my life. That is why I am so passionate about it.
Becky: How does this relate to Scott Hammond?
Payne: When Scott attacked me, he reminded me how evil the world can be. I started to think about my past. It has made me very conflicted. (turns to Becky) Did my uncle tell you what I did to the heavy bag? (Becky nods) Thats a consequence of my confliction. But I decided something. I decided that I want to try to do my best to make sure that what happened to me will not happen to anyone else. And I dont want to be like this anymore. I want to remember the past and have it motivate me for the future. I dont want to shut down or go crazy. I want to use my aggression for something positive. For me, wrestling is positive. Becky, I suppose you have a question about my upcoming match at Ascension?
Becky: (clears her throat) Yes. In your Ascension debut, you will be facing Rafael De La Noche. Do you have a statement regarding this?
Payne: Rafael De La Noche is a very cocky, talented wrestler, yet one who I will beat. Rafael, I am very motivated. Probably more than I ever have for a match or a fight. I have a goal. That is to win the Lethal Lottery match, then go on to Kingdom Come and become the WZCW World Heavyweight Champion. And I am determined not to let anyone stand in my way. I won three matches in a row, and I want my upcoming match to be my fourth. No one will stop me from reaching my goal. Not Rafael, not Scott Hammond, not Everest, the rWo, Titus, Carmen Bratchny, Lars Reidar, William Teach, Chuck Myles, Jack Cohen, Murfish, Joseph Rios, Ashleigh FalKon, or the ghost of Joshua The Baptist himself. Because they will all
Feel The Pain!
With that, Payne gets up form his chair and leaves the room as the camera fades.
