His fists slammed into the sparring mannequin with ferocious intensity. As each jab, hook, uppercut and cross connected, it was met with a verbal grunt and a spatter of sweat. Butch, despite the events of Road to Ruin just starting to disappear behind him and Wisdom and the dust starting to settle, knew it wasn't over. Despite the fact he hadn't heard a peep out of Michael James, despite becoming a 4-time HWA World Champion, he knew it wasn't over. Wisdom was stilling feeling the brunt of what happened at Road to Ruin that led to Butch getting his title match against Michael James in the first place and Butch knew she was still struggling to come to terms with it.

Butch slammed a rapid-fire jab-cross-hook-uppercut combination into his sparring dummy followed by a kickboxing combo consisting of a back-fist, roundhouse and spinning heel kick. Unbeknownst to Butch though, so caught up on his strenuous workout, he failed to notice his cell phone ringing next to his towel and water bottle.

Fifteen minutes later, Butch peels back the straps of his sparring gloves and stretches his fingers in and outwards after an hour straight punching. He stoops down and picks up his towel, matting his face and upper torso before taking a long drink from his water bottle. Butch proceeds to pick up his cell phone and sees a missed call and the name "HANS CELL" is displayed across his home screen. Butch's eyes widen in surprise at seeing the name of his best friend. He instantly hits "call back" and after a few moments of ringing, the familiar voice of former HWA World Champion and Butch's best friend, Hans von Richtoven can be heard.

(Hans): Hello?

(Butch): Guten tag schweinhund.

(Hans): Haha, guten tag bawbag.

(Butch): How was the honeymoon then? Sorry I missed your call, I was-

(Hans): -let me guess, pounding the living day lights out of a punchbag?

(Butch): You know me too well.

(Hans): After 10 years of friendship, I'd be surprised if I didn't. And to answer your question, the honeymoon was mind-blowing, if you ever get a chance to go New Zealand, don't pass it up!

(Butch): Did you do the Lord of the Rings tour?!

(Hans): To an extent, but I know it's not Vanessa's cup of tea so I didn't want to take too many liberties. Anyway, enough about me, this is the first time we've had anything resembling cell service so we've just found out what happened at Road to Ruin! How are you?

Butch exhales through his nose before he answers.

(Butch): We're getting there. Shevington's family have been obviously upset and Wisdom has been subjected to a lot of hate mail. Shevington seems to be in a stable enough condition in that it looks like she's past the worst of her injuries so hopefully we can get back to some sense of normality soon.

(Hans): I would say I can't believe Senester would stoop so low as to implement such a stipulation just to see how far you and Wisdom would go to get a shot at Michael James but there's literally nothing that man won't do.

(Butch): Believe me, every time he pulls something like this, the same thing goes through my head.

(Hans): At least you've got the World Championship again. A fourth time no less, you're surely on your way to the Hall of Fame?

Butch allows himself a light laugh at Hans' last comment.

(Butch): I doubt that very much, can you really see Senester agreeing to that. In all honesty, not that it doesn't mean a lot to me and believe me it does, I wasn't even thinking about the title in the build-up to the match. All I could think about was getting my hands on him.

(Hans): Well you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who wouldn't blame you. And Wisdom's holding up okay? That couldn't have been an easy decision to make to do what she did.

(Butch): She's putting on a brave face but I know inside she's struggling with trying to move on and still feeling guilt-ridden over what happened at Road to Ruin as well. She'll get there, things can't get much worse, can they?

(Hans): Careful, famous last words and all that. All joking aside, I'm sure you'll both get through this and be all the better for it.

(Butch): We always do, it's not always easy but we get there in the end. Anyway, you and Vanessa need to get out to Santa Barbara soon for us to get a proper catch-up, you guys haven't seen Evina in a while.

(Hans): Yeah definitely my friend. Once 'Nessa and I are settled we'll be out.

(Butch): Plus I've added some new training equipment to the gym I think you'll appreciate!

(Hans): Like I need anymore of an invitation! Anyway, I best be going, I just wanted to check in with you and make sure everything was okay.

(Butch): I appreciate that mate. Speak to you soon, take it easy and give my love to Vanessa.

(Hans): Will do and likewise to Wisdom. Laters.

Both Butch and Hans hang up their respective cells as Butch makes his way upstairs. He walks into the kitchen just as Wisdom is also hanging up her cell and he sees the look of shock on her face.

(Butch): What? What is it?

Wisdom doesn't say anything but just shows Butch the piece of paper. Butch's expression then quickly changes to match Wisdom's and the two exchange worried looks as the scene fades to black.