Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict. - William Ellery Channing

-Inside a production studio, Wallace Coleman sits in front of the camera, in a chair that's high backed, and looking quite comfortable. We all wish we had a chair like Wallace Coleman, it looks that good. He could probably launch a line of Wallace Coleman office furniture and... but, I digress. The set up is simple, Wallace Coleman, his oh so comfy chair, and a back drop complete with WWA logo, and video screen. The director gives Wallace the go-ahead and he launches right into the segment.-

Wallace Coleman: Hello fans, Wallace Coleman here once again. If you were tuned in not too long ago, you may have seen my interview with a tag team trying to get their foot in the door here in the WWA, a team known as the Elements of Opposition. And after a successful tryout, that door has been opened to them. The contract has been signed, all the formalities are over with. The Elements of Opposition are now full-fledged members of the WWA roster. We've got Ry and Tarin Ballard on the phone with us today. Gentleman, thanks for calling, and let me be the first to congratulate you on signing the contract.

-The audio feed is crystal clear, let's all give a shout out to the WWA's production budget.-

Voice of Ry Ballard: The first? Wally my man, our phone has been ringing off the hook since we inked the deal.

Voice of Tarin Ballard: Granny loves wrestling. She was excited for us.

V/O Ry: Always with the jokes.

Wallace Coleman: Regardless, congratulations. Being accepted into the WWA is no easy feat.

V/O Ry: You got in didn't you?

-Used to athletes taking shots like that, Wallace remains unruffled-

Wallace Coleman: Point taken. Still, we have some of the best talent in the world here in the WWA, and for management to sign you to a deal indicates that they think you can compete.

V/O Tarin: It really is flattering to be offered a spot on the roster. The talent here is definitely superb. But you have to keep in mind that management can make mistakes. They only have a limited number of sources they can look at before making a decision to offer a person a contract. Even then, they just never know who will succeed, and who will crack under the pressure. It's a gamble they take. History, not just of the WWA, but of any wrestling company, is filled with washouts.

Wallace Coleman: So you're saying that signing you to a contract was a mistake?

V/O Ry: You see what you get with all this politically correct crap? People start putting words and god only knows what else into your mouth. No, that's not what he was saying Wallace. What my brother, in his “I'm just so happy for everyone and everything and oh look there's a pretty pretty bunny and I don't want to upset anyone so they can be all as happy as me” sickeningly pathetic kind of way, is trying to say is that we belong here. We belong here because no one can touch us. If the rest of the WWA can come to terms with that quickly, we'll make this transition as painlessly as possible for them.

Wallace Coleman: Those are some bold words. But to be perfectly honest with you Ry, I've heard them before. So has everyone else. Countless times. Why should you be any different?

V/O Ry: I'll show you why I'm different you little piece of...

V/O Tarin: -cutting in- You're right Mr. Coleman. It has been said before. Why is this time any different? Well, I don't necessarily know if what Ry says is the truth, but that's the nature of the business, isn't it? Ask a group of people what characteristics make up someone who is “the best”, and you're going to get at least a handful of different answers. Who decides what is the best based on that? Is it the person who possesses a little of all those qualities? Or is it someone who possesses so much of one of them that it overshadows what they're lacking? You can argue for both...and argue for many other scenarios. What makes us different, is that I'm Tarin Ballard, and he's Ry Ballard. We're our own people, just like the teams before us, and after us are their own people. It's one of those paradoxes of the world... Everyone is unique, just like everyone else. In this business, it can be difficult to set yourself apart from the rest when the majority of the people there are all working towards the same goal. Someone says they want the title, that they want to be the best, it's not a big deal because a huge group of other people can say the same thing. They all like to think they have the truth, and it boils down to one thing: ego.

V/O Ry: Hey, if I have a big ego, it's because I'm compensating.

-Wallace's face tightens as he suppresses a laugh. He doesn't quite manage to succeed as a snort escapes. He coughs and composes himself again, but a small smirk remains. From the silence on the audio you just know that Tarin is giving his brother a look that says “Do you realize how that sounds?”-

V/O Ry: Oh grow up. I'm compensating for you, you jackass. I need to have double the ego because you have none... and for the record, I have nothing to compensate for elsewhere, my...

V/O Tarin: -cutting in again- So many people have essentially the same thought. The catch is that they're all thinking about it themselves, and they're all convinced that it's true. When you have that many people claiming their own truth, it's bound to get a little redundant. Still, we're individuals. If Guy A, Guy B, and Guy C all come before us claiming to be the best and then are gone within a few weeks, it will be the natural progression of things that when Guy D comes along and claims to be the best, everyone will just brush it off and assume he has the same fate. We forget that Guy D has nothing to do with the other three, and he's his own person.

Wallace Coleman: You make a good point Tarin, but the old saying “Talk is cheap” is an old saying for a reason.

V/O Tarin: Because it's true. But have you ever noticed that most of the guys saying that are also doing a lot of talking themselves? Not necessarily because they're hypocrites, granted, some are.

-There's another brief silence. We can't see them so we don't know if Tarin is giving his brother another look or if he's simply composing his thoughts in his head. That's really for you to decide.-

V/O Tarin: But because it's a necessary evil of the business. Everyone has to talk. It's the primary breeding ground for our competition. There are those people who believe that all of the action does or should take place in the ring. I desperately want to share that view, but we have to be realistic. This is sports entertainment. Guys sparring back and forth on the mic is fun, it makes things more interesting. Purists might say it takes away from the focus of wrestling, but I think it makes it better. It draws the fans in more. But you need to find a balance. Somewhere between the guys who are all talk and no action, and the guys who constantly tell people to “Shut up and prove it” is where you need to be to really succeed in this business. You can't be silent, but you need to know that there comes a time to just wrestle.

V/O Ry: Next on WWA television, a round table discussion featuring some of the most profound thinkers in the world: Plato, Socrates, Aristotle...and Tarin Ballard. Be there when we pose the question: Why is there never a mute button around when you really need one? Seriously, can you edit that out? Millions of TV across the world going on mute at the same time has got to be bad for the environment or some crap like that. Jesus Tarin, the man was asking a simple question and you just ramble on and on and on and on and on and on and on and...

V/O Tarin: -sounding a bit annoyed- We get the point.

V/O Ry: On and on and on and on and on and on and ON! It wasn't even a question really. The man was telling us what everyone else in this place is going to be telling us in short order. Put up, or shut up. Am I right Wally?

Wallace Coleman: That's not entirely...

V/O Ry: Save it. That's exactly 'entirely'. You've heard the talk before, well I've heard that before. There's two things you need to know about the One Man Show... I never shut up... and I ALWAYS put up. My brother here did get one thing right. You shouldn't compare us to any one else out there past, present, or future, because we're one of a kind. There's going to be lots of people who have a problem with that, and me for telling it like it is, but I'm ok with that.

Wallace Coleman: You're definitely not going to make friends with that attitude. But to each their own. Before I let you go, there is a couple other things I'd like to touch on with you. Day of the Dead is coming up soon and on that card it's going to be Mr. Jevon White, one half of the current WWA tag team champions, teaming up with Pyro, who is one half of the team known as Kaos. White's partner David Black is on the shelf recovering from injury. In a rather unique situation they take on Cold Pain Enterprises, defending True Living Color's title belts. That match involves pretty much all of your primary competition at once, how are you looking at that situation?

V/O Tarin: Well, first of all, that's going to be a great match for the fans. There's so many dynamics at play here, you can't help be excited by the prospects. You would have to give the edge to Cold Pain Enterprises simply because Pyro and Jevon White aren't regular teammates. But you can't discount their desire. They're both fighting for something. White to keep the titles for his team, Pyro to ensure that his team gets a title shot down the road. Anything can happen really. It's going to be a fantastic show.

V/O Ry: Hey, idiot, he was asking what it meant for us, not them. I've got a five in my wallet, it's yours...buy a clue. Let me be the one to tell you exactly how we're looking at that situation Wally. It's prime time golden opportunity. That's what it is.

Wallace Coleman: Opportunity for what?

V/O Ry: To become WWA World Tag Team champions.

Wallace Coleman: Isn't it a little soon to be thinking of championship matches? You haven't even had your first match.

V/O Ry: Gee, that's not something I've ever heard before either. “Earn your spot.” “Climb the ladder.” “Wait your turn.” Been there, done that. Most of the time I've heard it from my own brother, Mr. Rogers here. And sometimes...I can admit... he has a point. Patience is a virtue. You wait a while, get some experience, climb the ladder, yadda yadda yadda. That's all well and good, SOME of the time. Look at the situation though. How many teams did you mention up there? Three. Well, two and a half. And it just so happens that the half is our “illustrious” champions themselves. Do you, or anyone else, REALLY expect us NOT to take advantage of an opportunity like that? Competition is thin. It always is when it compares to us, but even against ordinary circumstances, competition is thin. Tag team wrestling is a dying art. All across the world the truly great TEAMS are going extinct. Who better to step in and save it than a team like us? A team that can serve as the foundation of the division for years to come. We look at that match, and we see three teams trying to do what they're never going to be able to do. We see three teams trying to do what only we can do. Being the people that we are, we're going to introduce ourselves, and show them the error of their ways. It's really the only humane thing to do. While they fight amongst themselves, it's going to be child's play to walk right past them. Immediately. You may not like it. They may not like it, but the fact remains that the opportunity is there. And there is not a person in the locker room who would look at that opportunity and let it pass them by. TLC, CPE, and Kaos may whine about it, and tells us we don't deserve it, but each and every one of them know I'm telling the truth. We deserve it. We deserve it because we have the balls to TAKE it.

Wallace Coleman: Well, I guess that about wraps us up here. Based on the words of Ry Ballard, it sounds as though the tag team match at Day of the Dead has changed shape slightly. We had to know that the signing of a new team would alter the landscape of the division, but it remains to be seen how much. Ry, Tarin, thanks for your time.

V/O Tarin: Our pleasure Mr. Coleman.

-Tarin's voice is strained. As if he wants to say something but is holding himself back. Instead he lets out a light sigh.-

V/O Ry: Yeah, was about as fun as a root canal there Wally, thanks.

Wallace Coleman: At least THAT we can agree on Mr. Ballard. Until next time fans, I'm Wallace Coleman, and be sure to catch all your favorite athletes when WWA presents Day of the Dead.

-A simple fade to black ends the scene.-




After the interview, in the privacy of Tarin's hotel room.

Tarin: What the hell are you cooking up? This isn't how things are done Ry. We need to get acclimated first. We don't need the pressures of being champions right now. We don't even need the pressure of being contenders.

Ry: We're contenders by default any where we go. I'm just pushing the envelope. They're going to tell us to make a name for ourselves. Best way to do that is to go big. That's all I'm doing. Relax, I've got it covered.

Tarin: I don't like it, not one bit.

Ry: Fortunately that's not a prerequisite to the plan.

-Frustrated, Tarin gets up and walks away. At this moment, he doesn't care what Ry has planned, he just knows it isn't right.-