(The scene is a deserted playground at, for all you know, midnight. Some swings sway on their rusty chains in the cool night air, creaking forlornly, fondly remembering children's asses. Damn pedophile swingset. But we're not here to pass judgment on inanimate objects. No, we are here to see one man, a WWA superstar. This superstar is currently hanging by his knees from a pull-up bar, his long hair nearly dragging the ground beneath him. As the camera walks around to get a head-on shot of him, he strikes a match, sits up, and lights a small lantern that is hanging from the same bar. In the faint glow of the lantern, we can see the features of one Eddie van Dorn.)

EVD: About time you got here. But I guess I shouldn't really be surprised. It seems like WWA staff are always late in doing things. Particularly the booking staff.

(Eddie brings his head back so that he is hanging upside-down once more.)

EVD: Honestly, you'd think they could pay attention when a challenge is put forth and accepted. At least when I was being passed over for a shot at the Extreme title a couple years back, I was being ignored by the champion as well. Interestingly enough, the man that was champion when I first started clamoring for a shot at the belt is the very same man I will be facing Monday night...

(Eddie stretches his arms out lazily.)

EVD: This may as well be considered two years in the making, to be quite honest. And in terms of when the challenge was accepted, it's STILL been several months since this match SHOULD have happened. I guess I'm just not as big an attention-getter as I used to be. But really, what is there for me to do here anymore? One of my stablemates has the U.S. title, I haven't earned a shot at the World title, and frankly I could care less about the TV title. But just because it's not in my best interest to go on a title hunt at the moment, does that mean I'm to be glossed over in much the same way I was the first few months after my arrival? That's bullsh*t, and I don't care who knows it.

(Eddie swings himself up again, this time content with sitting on top of the bar.)

EVD: So what am I going to do to prevent that from happening? I'm going to beat Shaman Monday night, that's what I'm going to do. In order to avoid being ignored, which is what pissed me off so greatly my first few months here, I'm going to take out the big man... the veteran... the WWA's version of a hardcore icon. It's something I MUST do to avoid having my career stagnate.

(Eddie begins swinging his leg nonchalantly as he speaks.)

EVD: But just because I say I'm going to win this match doesn't mean that I'm not taking it seriously. I'm taking it very seriously. Shaman is a dangerous individual, and he's roughly twice my size. So naturally, I've been studying, I've been planning, and I've been working. So yes, I'm taking the match seriously. And just because I'm doing that doesn't mean I respect him, either. Nor does it mean that I don't. For those of you who I have just lost at the bakery, let me explain...

(Eddie hops down off of the bar and leans against one of its wooden support posts.)

EVD: To me, respect is a word that is tossed around much too loosely in this business nowadays. Everybody talks about how they respect their opponent, they respect their teammates, and blah blah blah. That's ridiculous. Respect isn't something to just be handed about willy-nilly. In my opinion, respect must be earned, and it must be earned the right way... in the ring. And before you say that's always where respect is earned, allow me to elaborate further. I can't hand my respect to someone just from WATCHING them in the ring... I only respect those who have proven themselves against me, personally. And as I have yet to have a one-on-one match with Shaman, I can't say that I either respect or disrespect him. But Monday night will tell the tale.

(Eddie picks the lantern off of the pull-up bar and begins walking to a different part of the playground, the camera following close behind.)

EVD: But I guess Shaman thinks that he will get respect by name-dropping. Silly man. Nik Segier is long gone, and from what I've seen, I wasn't really that impressed. You may be able to get under Bullet's skin by bringing up how you were able to beat his close friend and wife's brother-in-law, but it just doesn't matter to me. Nor does it impress me that you've beaten Kash. So your past accomplishments, no matter how recent, mean absolutely nothing to me. The only thing that matters is Monday. And while you're sitting around being insulted by slot machines, I'm watching... I'm working... and Monday night... I'm winning.

(Eddie sits the lantern down on a merry-go-round and climbs aboard himself.)

EVD: Just remember that even though I'm making the prediction of victory doesn't mean that you can't still earn my respect in the ring. You don't have to win matches to be given props. Granted, you get MORE, but that's beside the point. The point is that I have, indeed, got blood. And on Meltdown, I'm looking forward to spilling a little. I'm sure you can take care of that for me. Just like you will let your actions speak for you... that's the way you do it. And Monday night, I'm hoping to not only earn your respect, but also that you earn mine.

(Eddie begins to spin the merry-go round by pushing off the ground with his feet like you would ride a skateboard. As he begins to build up a good amount of speed, he stands up in the center of the small metallic structure and raises his hands to the sky.)

EVD: So says the Extreme Revolutionary.

(Fade to black as Eddie continues to spin.)