August Joyce is stood in front of a glass door that looks out over the skyline of Myrtle Beach. The balcony on the other side of that door is bathed in sunshine and a small table is seen, a class of ice water and a book sit on the table. August has obviously been enjoying a relaxing afternoon here. But relaxation is not on his mind right now, he has important business to attend to.
“There’s something rotten in the core of Peach State Wrestling.” Joyce begins. “Something that needs to be cut out and destroyed before it destroys the company I work for.”
He pauses for a moment, letting that thought sit with his viewers for a moment.
“That thing is Fox Industries.”
The name rolls off the tongue with a thick serving of revulsion.
“Kevin, at No Resolutions I made it perfectly clear that I will NEVER align myself with you or your company. Its people like you that are ruining Peach State for the rest of us and the fans; fans who pay your damn wages. Without those fans you wouldn’t be here; I wouldn’t be here. And bringing in ‘hired guns’ for one off matches to try and take out the People’s Choice is NOT going to endear yourself with the Peach State faithful. Trust me, they frickin’ LOVE me around here!”
August flashes a cheeky smile.
“Maybe that’s why it’s ME heading into Collision to face off against an opponent from FGA. Sorry, remind me, are any of your clients on that show? No, didn’t think so.”
“Collision is my first foray into a show against another company. Last time I represented Peach State outside of Georgia was in the Ultratitle Tournament and while I didn’t go all the way, I made a good show of myself. I showed the world what Peach State Wrestling is all about; great wrestling. And when we get to Collision the FGA stars and fans will be the next to realise just how good we are.”
Joyce looks focused, prepared. He speaks with a confidence that had escaped him until recently.
“Before I get too far into this let me just say that by no means do I think that the Frontier guys aren’t good; I know Blaine, Jared, Sean et al are all more than capable in the ring. There’s a group of talent there that has propelled Frontier to great heights. But are they good enough to take on the Peach State roster?” August shrugs. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
“With all due respect, there’s only one man on that Frontier roster that I really give a crap about at this moment in time. That man is Sean Fallon. A man who recently lost his first Frontier match; lost that previously untarnished record. He fought hard as hell but it wasn’t enough.” August smiles into the camera. “I’m glad he’s experienced that kind of defeat because when he steps through those ropes to face me he’s going to get the same outcome. He’s going to fight tooth and nail, go toe-to-toe with the People’s Choice; but he’s going to come up short.”
“Sean, it’s like I told Justice Young the other night, I plan on walking into YOUR stomping ground and get the great fans of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina chanting MY name.”
He closes his eyes and leans his head back as he chants his own name. “August Joyce… August Joyce… August Joyce… You better get used to that sound, Sean, because it’s going to be ringing in your ears this weekend. It’ll be in your head and you won’t be able to shake it. Your ‘home advantage’ will be wiped out from under you and the tide will have turned. And just when you’re worrying about that… BAM! You’ll be down for the three count faster than you can blink.”
“Fans of Peach State, fans of Frontier, you’re in for a treat at Collision as these two great companies serve up a cornucopia of great wrestling from a plethora of great wrestlers. But the match EVERYONE will be talking about will be the one featuring yours truly. The one featuring the demolition of Sean Fallon.”
Joyce smiles again, probably at the thought of wiping the floor with Fallon. Inside August knows that this isn’t going to be an easy match, not by a long shot. But his confidence is growing once again and on the outside there’s a certain poise, a bravado, that he’s not going to let drop.
“They say that there are no losers in wrestling, just winners and learners. I spent a lot of time learning, a LOT. And there are times, despite my years in the ring, where I can still learn. But it’s Fallon who will be learning from me; Fallon who will get himself a lesson in true professional wrestling. I’m a winner. And at Collision I’ll show the FGA just how much of a winner I really am.”
Joyce turns away from the camera and steps out onto the balcony, leaning on the railings and looking out at the beach as the camera fades to black.