Voice: You know, there's an old saying that a lot of people have come to believe...

(You can see black and white, slow-motion footage of Tracer Bullet, or at that time, Trent LeBeaux, being kicked off of the JumboTron by Vik Ventressa as they battled on top of the ladder that was situated there. He plummets down to the stage, and in the slow motion, you can actually see the floor flux a bit upon his landing.)

Voice: ... they say that the third time is the charm...

(More slow-motion footage, this time from the 2002 Birthday Brawl. We can see Bullet and the eventual winner, Ian Tense, rolling off of the massive structure and falling to the floor. They land in a heap, no one knowing who has laid a hand upon the prize, until Ian Tense's hand is raised.)

Voice: ... so who am I to argue?

(We now see, still in black and white, Tracer himself in the present time. He is sitting in an easy chair, stroking a small cat.)

TB: At both previous years of this Brawl thing, I have come literally within inches of walking away as the World Champion. I came closer last year than I did the one before. And I'd like to keep this trend going by actually winning the damn thing this Sunday. But there are going to be quite a lot of people standing in my way.

(Tracer reaches down beside the chair to retrieve a book on origami and tosses it toward the camera.)

TB: Some threats...

(He goes again beside the chair and comes back up with a book on cults.)

TB: ... some not. But really, whether threatening or not, everyone in the match has earned their spot in it, one way or another. Actually, I should probably correct that statement. There is one who never earned anything they have received in this organization. One...

(Tracer taps the leatherette cover of the cult book.)

TB: ... of thirteen. Naturally, I am referring to Kash. I look so forward to getting a chance to finally expose him as the fraud he really is. He has cost me so much in the past year that I can't afford to not do everything in my power to completely destroy him. Of course, that would just be icing on the cake, seeing as there's absolutely no way he'll be able to retain his title once that night, let alone twice. The real question isn't whether or not Kash will lose that belt of his, but whether Enigma will retain in the big fight.

(Tracer pets the furry creature some more.)

TB: And I must say, I look quite forward to making him the shortest-reigning champion in WWA history. Lord knows I've beaten him enough times already. Doing it for the big prize would make things that much sweeter. There's only one problem with that... no matter how many times I have defeated Enigma in the past, he is not my only competition in this particular match. Oh no. Fiesta is well-represented, especially considering that the whole of X-Corp are entered into this thing. Harley, Somers, Chance, AND LeTrav. Personally, I find this to be a rather unfair advantage for them. Sure, Dave and Mal are both after the same thing, but it's not like they're going to prevent each other from reaching that goal until they actually make the final approach on the exit.

(Tracer shakes his head.)

TB: No, I can definitely see them aiding each other until the very end. And in this kind of match, a trustworthy ally is ridiculously effective. When you have over fifteen other men all dashing about cockroaches scurrying away after turning on the kitchen light, having someone watch your back is an invaluable tool.

(Tracer grins slightly.)

TB: The only problem there is that the person who is watching your back has the best vantage to stick a knife in it. And eventually, all alliances forged in this match will crumble in the flames of a thirst for glory. This will no doubt be the case for Mal and Dave at least, especially considering the hints of dissension that have already been bandied about recently. But I must say that discussing those two is a moot point, considering that they aren't going to stand in the way of my march toward a fourth World Title reign.

(The cat purrs contentedly.)

TB: There is, though, a reason that I brought up the X-Corp alliance. It's to provide a contrast to the next few people I will be discussing. You see, in addition to alliances, there are also heated rivalries going into this event. And unlike those alliances, which are sure to fall by the wayside given the opportunity at a title, rivals always know where they stand with each other. It's much easier to plan things out where a rival is concerned, rather than a friend. Take Grunge and Leviathan, for instance... these two have been at each other's throats for months now. They have been matched against each other time after time. They know each other better than probably anyone else knows them by now. And chances are that while Grunge will be looking to retain his current title, Leviathan will be looking to take it from him. He's been trying for quite some time now, and Sunday just might be his last chance. I do believe he's really going to make it count. But Ken is no doubt going to be expecting that, and be well prepared in advance. The question is, which of them is going to be better prepared? It will only take another two days to find out. And on that same night, I plan on getting some answers from one Damian Thorne.

(Tracer's eyes flash with a hatred so severe that I don't have a simile for it.)

TB: I know you're behind this, Thorne. In one way or another. True, it's not like you tried to hide it at all. So I'm foregoing any investigation, and taking retribution out of you immediately. You have violated the sanctity of my home... you have taken something that is very near and dear to both my wife and myself... in short, you have signed your own human rights waiver. I am justified in anything I could possibly do to you Sunday night, or in perpetuity thereafter. Enjoy your last few days of peace, Thorne. Because starting Sunday night, your life will become a living Hell. Hey, you should feel right at home, you making yourself out to be the antichrist and everything. So consider it a favor... and by the end of the night, you will be able to consider my debt repaid.

(Tracer smirks at the thought of Thorne finally collecting on his I.O.U.)

TB: Anyway, there are other people in this match besides Thorne. Granted, Damian is going to be my primary target, but I could feasibly get into an altercation with anyone. Our TV champion, The Psycho, for instance. Now, he's been able to accomplish something I was never able to. Granted, I shot right past the TV title on my way to the US, but that's beside the point. I never did hold that belt. So congratulations to our first EWA graduate to hold a WWA title. But I fear that your reign may not be long for the world. After all, if Shaman is in this match because he's the number one contender to your belt, what do you think he's going to go after? And as a fellow Franchise Player, I'm going to have to root for him in that pursuit. Go for the gold, big guy!

(Tracer raises a fist in the air as a show of support for the former champion of damn near everything.)

TB: Which brings me to my final two listed participants. Of course, by watching the Countdown to Birthday Brawl, we have all learned that there are two more entrants confirmed, which is one more than was called for. Oh well. No matter. I can handle anyone that may come at me. And that includes conspiracy theorist Bonafide, and rookie Matt Keith. I've got a free, brief bit of advice for both of you. To Mr. Curzon, I must tell you that unlike every other day where you think everyone is out to get you just due to massive paranoia, in this match... everyone IS out to get you. Finally, you're worry may pay off. To Matt... surely you must realize that everyone else in this match is a far cry from your typicaly dealings with Alex Knight. Still, I wish you luck. I've always been one to root for the underdog.

Tyler: And you were rooting for Shaman earlier?

TB: Well, underdogs and personal friends, you understand. On a completely unrelated note, I see that one of our recently-confirmed participants is one Masked Canuck. I have to admit, I'm stumped as to who this fellow might be.

Tyler: You're kidding, right?

TB: Not at all. Maybe I should call together a meeting of different races like Elrond did. But before I do that, I have to finish doing the Jumble in the local paper.

Tyler: You're really not helping his bid for anonymity.

TB: I haven't the slightest clue what you're referring to, Tyler. Either way, the other wild card spot that was announced has fallen to Deimos. Now, he's already proven that he can survive brutal environments like this virtually unscathed when he came out of the Halloween House of Pain as the... winner, kind of. And who's to say whether he would have been the undisputed winner if Thorne hadn't come in and whipped on both of the last two participants. Somehow, this leads me to believe that along with yours truly, Deimos is going to be targeting Thorne as well. Seems to me like Damian is making a lot of dangerous enemies lately.

Tyler: If you really think you're that dangerous.

TB: Oh, I can be when given the proper motivation.

Tyler: He said, holding a kitty in his lap.

TB: Look, Tyler. I don't really have time to put up with your crap. You understand.

Tyler: I understand you want me to fade, then.

TB: Indeed.

(And fade to black. Meow.)