Otto Price stands at his podium, waiting for the studio audience to calm down. He smiles as he brings his thin microphone to his lips.
Price: Please join me in giving a big Classic Wrestling welcome to two of the newest members of our roster, Ken Roddy and Joe Jitsu – The Black Belts!
“Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting” plays in the studio and the entrance curtain bursts forward as Ken and Joe leap through it with flying thrust kicks. They land, making dramatic martial arts poses, before hustling over to Otto Price at his podium. While that happens, the camera catches several children doing their own karate chops and clapping.
Price: Ken Roddy, Joe Jitsu, it is a pleasure to have you with me tonight, mere minutes from your debut match against one of the most accomplished teams in all of Classic Wrestling, The Foreign Legion. I know you need to keep your focus, but can you tell our fabulous fans what they can expect from The Black Belts tonight?
Joe pumps his fist and Ken leans in to answer.
Roddy: We’re so excited to get inside of a Classic Wrestling ring, and wrestle in front of this amazing audience…
Jitsu: The most amazing!
Roddy: …and what these fans can expect to see from us is a clean, well fought bout. We can’t control what Mushigahara and Lean Van Zandt are going to do, but as masters of the martial arts, Joe and I bring focus and discipline. It’s a contact sport, Otto, and we’re going to go all out once that bell rings. And in the end, we will fight with honor, and not bring disgrace to ourselves or the first man to introduce us to these ancient eastern ways, Master Spreeng.
Jitsu: You have to be true to yourself!
Joe looks so focused he might burst, while Ken Roddy looks as serene as could be.
Price: The Foreign Legion are two tough customers. You both look ready, but how sure are you that you have what it takes?
Ken and Joe clasp their hands together as if they were about to arm wrestle in the air, nod at each other and release their grips.
Roddy: We’ll find out soon enough, but mastering so many of the martial arts hasn’t merely sharpened us physically, but mentally as well. We know that this is a huge challenge in front of us, but we’ll tackle it with the same sort of laser focused minds that the fans of Classic Wrestling have come to expect from their heroes, and hope that one day soon we’ll be able to count ourselves in that group.
Price looks ready to follow up, when all three men turn back to the entrance curtain and a loud commotion. Running like the devil’s just behind him, Alex Bruder tears down the aisle, mere seconds ahead of a furious ‘Feral’ Freddy Kilgore. Bruder slides into the ring headfirst, scrambles to his feet and slides feet first out the other side as Kilgore gains ground. In a panic, he hops the railing separating the bleachers from the ringside area right next to Mikey Collins and his father, both again wearing face paint just like the Apex Predator’s. In one swift move, Bruder bats the child’s bag of popcorn in Kilgore’s direction, causing the salty snack to fly into his face. Having bought a few precious seconds, he sprints back and exits the studio, with Kilgore again trailing him.
Price: There’s some of the laser-like focus our fans have come to expect from our competitors.
Roddy: Is it always like this?
Price: Welcome to Classic Wrestling boys. Good luck!
“Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting” starts up again as Ken and Joe quickly head to the ring.