We come back from a commercial break to Otto Price once again standing in front of his podium.
Otto Price: Ladies and gentlemen… VITO… METRO… VALENTINO!!
“Life in the Fast Lane” hits and the audience absolutely erupts. Wearing his trademark aviators, a pair of slim black jeans, a “Welcome to the METROpolis!” t-shirt, and custom made “Classic Wrestling” Converse All-Stars, Vito emerges from the curtains to a wild reaction from the Classic Wrestling faithful. Acknowledging them all with a pumped up, “NOW THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ABOUT!”, Vito slaps hands with some nearby fans who have their arms outstretched, hoping to catch a high-five from Metro.
His music fades, but the fans are as hyped as ever.
“VITO! VITO! VITO!”
Laughing and humbly reciprocating the audience’s respect by motioning the “I’m not worthy!” gesture, Vito and Otto wait for several moments before diving into what’s on everyone’s minds.
Otto Price: Vito, earlier in the evening, The Real World’s Champion Al-
“BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Vito laughs and nods at their reaction. Looking quite pleased with their derision towards Alex Bruder, Vito motions for Otto to continue.
Otto Price: Earlier in the evening, Alex Bruder made some bold claims about your win on the last episode of Classic Wrestling. Vito, would you care to respond to all of that and perhaps set the record straight?
Vito smiles as the fans once again begin chanting his name. After about thirty seconds, Vito speaks.
Metro: If by “bold claims” you mean “outright lies and the behavior of a shook man”, then yes, I definitely would like to respond… and in kind. ‘Cause truth be told? I got a LOT to say to that punk.
The audience cheers a bit but they silence themselves pretty quickly as they all eagerly await Vito’s words.
Metro: He’s so full of crap that he’s gonna need to give Roto-Rooter a call so they can pump his guts and find the truth.
The crowd pops HARD.
Metro: Allow me to elaborate, Otto. Only a delusional, self-righteous liar like Alex Bruder would stand out here and pretend I didn’t beat the cogs and gears out of the walking excuse machine back in the “All Business” factory. Know what I’m sayin’?
The audience laughs at this metaphor. Vito smiles, knowing it was a “good one”.
Metro: For weeks I studied my butt off on ways to counter the Cobra Clutch. It’s a dangerous, dangerous move. I will give all the respect in the world to that submission hold and I can’t emphasize that enough, folks. Respect. Like so many others, it even put me down. So, with that said? How could a professional athlete that plays at the level we play at here in Classic Wrestling not figure out that if he got you near the turnbuckles, then you could shift your weight back onto him and roll through? Doesn’t take a quantum physics mathematician to figure this out. Even a knucklehead like Bruder should realize that. Marone!
Otto Price: So you’re saying what you did was legal? I’m not disagreeing, I’m just confirming this statement for the people watching at home.
Metro: Perfectly legal, Otto! Despite what that pathological liar is spewing out to all these good METROpolitans!
Another pop!
Metro: What I did was perfectly within the bounds of a tag team match. And also a one-on-one match. Or even yet, a forty-two on forty-freakin’-TWO match! Capisce, paisano? Now if I’d have kept my foot on the ropes for unfair leverage in order to keep his shoulders down? Then, of course, I’d most certainly be out here askin’ for a mea culpa from all these amazin’ people!
This time, a “METRO! METRO! METRO!” chant breaks out.
Metro: But that simply ain’t the case, Otto. The fact of the matter is Big Baby Bruder needs his diaper changed. (laughter from crowd) ‘Cause what he’s doin’, aside from just throwin’ a hissy fit and embarrassin’ himself, is provin’ me right ever since he scraped by me by the hair on his dopey lookin’ muttonchops. ‘Cause someone finally figured out a way to turn the tables on him with his own move. For that? He’s gonna have to put his rattler away, stop suckin’ on his wrinkly little thumb, and just come to terms with losin’ a wrestlin’ match as much as he needs to come to terms with his own vulnerabilities. With his own… mortality. And he needs to do this on his own, Otto. I’m not gonna hold his hand and show ‘im to the light– but I will make sure he’s lookin’ up at ‘em the next time he crosses me. Church, baby.
They explodes into cheers after that last line.
Otto Price: Sounds like you’re calling out Alex Bruder for his behavior, am I hearing this right?
Metro: That’s right, Otto! I’m callin’ out lyin’ that son of a gun ‘cause I’m sick of him twistin’ the narrative. Projectin’ these phantom cheap shots of mine with his own. That pre-match punch to the snoot I aimed for? I own that, and I’m not sorry about it one bit, either. He just about gave me a concussion a few weeks back with how he hit me… from behind, mind you… with a championship belt that’s soon to be in my possession. Do you have any idea what ten-pounds of gold feels like when it slaps you upside the back of the head, Otto?!
Otto: Thankfully, no. I do not.
Metro: Consider yourself lucky! ‘Cause I got to feel what it’s like twice. And with that said? There will not be a third time. ‘Cause, see, I was raised that if someone disrespects you and tries to take you out like he did to me? Then it’s war, baby. Eye for an eye and all that jazz. The only difference between us is I wasn’t afraid to get mine with my own hands, face to face. An ideology that this stunotz, Big Baby Bruder, clearly doesn’t practice in.
Vito removes his sunglasses and tucks the rims of his glasses inside the neck of his shirt. The intensity on his face is clear and growing.
Metro: So you know what, Otto? Triple B needs to come to terms with his own humanity. And quick. ‘Cause if he doesn’t? Well, I know a guy who actually respects that championship he takes for granted, the intelligence of all these good fans, and the sport of professional wrestling itself! And this guy, Otto? Oh marone! I happen to know that he’s more than willing to take that title off of him and show the world how a real man is supposed to act when he’s the Real World’s Champion!
As the fans sound off with excitement, Vito points towards the camera.
Metro: ‘Cause I put the CLASS in Classic, Bruder. You? Pssht. You’re just the ASS, son!
This time, the curtains part without music and Alex Bruder saunters out, once again in street clothes, and this time with the Real World’s Championship draped over his right shoulder. Vito is staring daggers at the champion, who seems more interested in some fans just a little to Metro’s right, but not so far away as to keep Valentino out of his field of vision. As he approaches Price and Valentino, he waits for the microphone to be moved to him.
Bruder: That’s a lot of flapping your gums to cover up the only true thing you said. The last time we fought, one on one, it didn’t matter how strong you were. You fought the Cobra Clutch that time, too, for all of the good it did you. In the end, one of us was left unconscious, and the other was on their way to being Classic Wrestling’s first and only Real World’s Champion.
Bruder shifts the title into his hands and holds it first up to the camera before holding it in front of Vito’s face.
Bruder: Now I’ve let you have a couple of good looks at it lately, but maybe Otto can help you read it this time. Do you see the words “Tag Team” anywhere on there? I don’t. You want to brag about jumping the champ and pinning him in a tag team match, who am I to tell you not to? Maybe you and Rush should ask Bobby Dean and his little buddy for a shot at their titles. But in the champ’s eyes, you’re at the back of the line for the greatest money maker in all of professional wrestling. You ain’t earned a shot, and I ain’t in the mood to give you one.
Alex returns the title to his shoulder, and starts to walk away… but Vito grabs Bruder’s arm and yanks it towards him! Metro gets right in the Champ’s face and the fans are all about it!
Metro: Nooooope. You don’t get to spew a bunch’a nonsense in my face and get to walk away yet again. Yeah, you put me out the first time we danced, I’ll give you that. I think I’ve given you that a few times, actually. BUT… that’s all I’m ever gonna give you again. ‘Cause I found a way out, and that scares the heck out of you, son. So it doesn’t matter if it was a tag team match or ANY kind of match. You put your best move on me and I.. got… OUT. And guess what, jerkface? I’ll find another way out the next time we meet, too! Speaking of which? When we do meet again? It’s gonna be for THAT.
He pats the belt roughly on Bruder’s shoulder. The fans roar with excitement as this confrontation gets more and more intense.
Metro: ‘Cause I’m challenging you. MAN…to… MAN. Right here and now. Alex Bruder, defending the Real World’s Championship, against the Real Man between us, Vito “Metro” Valentino. It’s time you stopped dancing around the issue here like a scared little baby and act the part of an actual champion. FACE ME, BRUDER. I… daaaaare you.
Vito inches even closer to Bruder’s face. Their noses are almost touching, they’re so close.
Metro: It’s time. It’s time to stop delaying the inevitable and defend the championship against the one person you know who can beat you for it! Or… hehe.. are you going to make everyone wait a couple of years before you decide to get off your sad little hide and be a fighting champion? Huh? What’s it gonna be, Bruder?
Alex steps in, and what space had been between the men, disappears as they’re chest to chest. A flustered Otto Price starts looking to either side to see if anyone’s ready to pull these two men apart.
Price: Gentlemen, please!
The microphone dips as the two men jaw jack, and if there were any words that were less tv friendly, none of them were caught. Otto gets an arm in between the two, which is enough to get them both to take a step back…for the moment. Bruder’s lips turn up at the corners.
Bruder: You’ve got it backwards, son. I’m not ducking you. I’m saving you the embarrassment of taking another loss. Now, ever since I won this title, I’ve heard a lot of men talking about wanting to be the champ, but you’re the only one to see that there’s only one path to being the Real World’s Champion, and that’s through me. You want your shot? Fine, you have it. “All Business” Alex Bruder versus Vito “Metro” Valentino at In Your (Haunted) House!
The crowd roars!
Bruder: But your little turnbuckle trick won’t work for you next time. And when I lock you in the Cobra Clutch for the third time…
Bruder pauses, relishing the anticipation.
Bruder: …well, there will be a lot of fans making a lot of noise. I might just not hear the official telling me to release it.
Holding the title over his head, Alex and Vito continue mouthing off at each other as Otto’s stage is flooded with officials, preventing any further conflict.