An Interesting Announcement and a Not-So Perfect Reflection

The scene opens up inside the dark but luxurious confines of Dark Horse Towers in Los Angeles, California. Butch Parker can be seen exiting a large steel door with the words "Restricted Area – Authorised Personnel Only" flashing in red above it. Butch turns and enters a code into a keypad on the wall adjoining to it, a temporary ringing sound emitting from it, indicating the door is now locked. He swivels around, his face looking solemn, almost regretful. He stands idle for a moment, a very loud exhalation shooting from his nostrils before he makes his way towards his room.

Upon arrival around five minutes later, Butch collapses into a reclining black leather chair behind a plush wooden desk. He then notices a piece of paper, folded in half on the desk, with his name written on it. Butch picks it up, unfolding and reading the recognisable scrawl of Minvera:

"Hey sweetheart, I noticed something on HWA.com that might interest you, watch Logan Neilson's promo.

Lots of love,

Minerva"


A look of curiosity crosses Butch's face as he switches on the widescreen monitor atop the desk, and begins to browse through the various goings-on on the HWA's website.

He spies TNT's latest questionable activities and although he might not agree with their ethics and morals, he was pleased to see people other than himself that held malcontent for Eddie's reign as World Champion. He continues to watch as Eddie's message plays regarding Senester as his choice of opponent and he shakes his head with an ironic smile as he names Talon as the special guest referee. Senester's video message plays soon after and Butch watches with keen interest the words of wisdom that he speaks. Butch then comes to Logan Neilson's response to Toya McNeil's message confirming that Ronnie has chosen him for his opponent at Havoc. As soon as Logan announces that he has chosen Butch himself to be the guest referee, Butch raises a single eyebrow and lounges back in his chair, clasping his hands together as he prepares to respond.

(Butch): Ah Logan Neilson, I was beginning to wonder when our paths would cross again. I must admit, you have been very quiet since our last *clears throat* encounter. I do hope your face is healing up nicely, I trust I didn't hurt you too badly; you looked quite bad when Talon and all your buddies came in to save, lucky boy I'd say.

And now, our beloved and obviously multi-talented All-Star Champion, the one and only, Ronnie McNeil has decided to choose you for a shot at the belt. A big step up from the Spotlight Division, I'm sure you would agree but a step too big for you? Hmmm, we will see, I mean you did just lose to Ricky Evans last week, and I know my recent winning streak isn't anything to boast about, but still…Ricky Evans? The new whipping boy of TNT. Then again, you are of course a budding talent in this industry and have already turned so many heads since arriving, some for the right reasons, some, some not so…

Butch refers back to the time not long after Logan debuted, when he showed a romantic interest in Butch's sister Diana, and since then, the bad blood between the two of them has just gotten worse over the past year.

(Butch): And now you have given me the power of authority in a match of some significance, quite a bold step Logan. A man who hasn't really had time for you even when things were slightly more amicable between the two of them being the one to decide whether or not to be impartial, to call the match right down the middle. Although that being said, your opponent and I aren't on the best of terms either.

So, am I going to call this match down the middle? Am I going to be fair? Will I choose to f**k over either you or Ronnie? All very good questions, Logan, but unfortunately, I'm not really in a decisive mood right about now, so I guess we'll just have to see what sort of mood I am in come Havoc, won't we?

Butch smiles smugly, maintaining his relaxed demeanour before adopting a much more serious tone and expression to match.

(Butch): But don't think I'm going to just let you choosing me as a referee be the end of this little spat that has grown between us Logan. You and I have some much unfinished business to take care of and you can bet your last can of Irn-Bru; it will be sooner rather than later.

Just then, when Butch is just about to finish up, he notices a new video message on the HWA website, more specifically from the former World Champion, Talon Wilkinson. Butch watches and listens to what Talon has to say and smiles despite himself before speaking again.

(Butch): There are Talon! You finally raise your head from underneath the dark surface of yesterday. I'd ask where you've been hiding but I really don't care to be perfectly frank.

You haven't changed one iota though, have you Talon? Still acting like you're the top of the pile, king of the hill, when in reality, these days, you're little more than a poster boy for the fans. Your name gets added to the main events to some extra spice to the dish. You think you carried this company on your back; you're more misguided than I took you for Talon. You may have had the intestinal fortitude to carry a dump of a fed like the RWF but do you really think you were the sole reason for the HWA's success over the past 2 years? There were other people around the same time as you Talon that had enjoyed great success aswell, which also helped elevate this company's status into the stratosphere. I may not be on speaking terms with most of them anymore but superstars like Dante's Inferno and AC James even me during my second reign as World Champion.

You're a flash in the pan Talon, even Senester has grown tired of you. You had the chance to become an HWA legend after you won Ring Master and then the World Title, you had the chance to carry that success onwards but you failed miserably. You allowed your friendship with Eddie to be destroyed by your undoing; and you played into Senester's hands every time he provoked you.

And now you come back, acting like you've never been gone, spewing verbal diarrhoea about respect to those have earned yours in and out of the ring, about taking out garbage like Senester and I. Spare us all the stuck-record syndrome bullshit Talon. You drone on about despising the glory hogs that only care about being in the limelight – does your hypocrisy know no bounds? Over the past 2 years, whether it was holding a title or crying over your dead brother then miraculously cheering up to publicly party the night away with Eddie and Lady Gaga all the way to something as trivial as a contract renewal, you've always made it public and aimed to be in the public eye, yet you condemn those for seeking the spotlight when you're not there?

Butch shakes his head disparagingly.

(Butch): There was a time when I used to respect you Talon, a long time ago, before you became as cynical and transparent as every fan that comes to Havoc every week. But we'll see if you can redeem yourself in the months to come. When everyone finally learns the truth of things, we'll see just how much respect you have and how far your hypocrisy really goes.

Before Butch can continue, he is interrupted by the buzzing of the intercom on the desk and a female voice emanates outward into the room.

(Voice): Mr Parker, sorry to interrupt you sir but Lord Senester has requested your presence in the North Tower.

Butch presses a button on the intercom to reply.

(Butch): Thank you; inform him I am on my way.

He redirects his attention back to the camera.

(Butch): Well, I'd love to stay and blab on about your misery and failures Talon but as you just heard, I have more matters to be dealing with, see you around.

Butch stands up from his desk and swiftly leaves his room as the scene fades to black.