The flimsy, splintered, wooden door of the local tavern flies open and in steps the HCW Champion, Creature.  His stroll through the Dominican night led him to this interesting bar, where many of the poor, strong workers of Hispanola come to unwind and relax after a long, tedious day of labor.  The building is small and furnished poorly, with only a few circular tables placed randomly throughout the room accompanied by short, uncomfortable wooden stools and chairs with faded cushions.  The bar itself stretches from one wall to the other, and is manned by a single bartender, an African American man of British nationality.  There is a puny little dart board hanging on a wall, but other than that, the main recreation seems to be conversation over drinks.

    Creature glances around, and goes unnoticed by the others inside.  He moves further in, and spots a lone table in a dark corner on the opposite side of the room as the doorway.  Interested more in a reprieve from walking and less in conversation and alcohol, Creature pushes past several burly regulars and heads towards the table.  He reaches the round surface and takes a seat in one of the stout chairs, and leans back against the wall.

    The stench of cigarette smoke is abundant in the tavern, but Creature is oblivious to everything around him.  His mind is centered on his match right now, and more importantly, his five opponents.  Aside from CJ Sinn, he has issues and pasts with all of the competitors, and the fact that Sinn does not fit his standard of a Hardcore Champion is enough to create tension between the two.  Whether it takes place in the Dominican Republic or in Madison Square Garden, this week's Loaded should be explosive.  An All-Star Cup holder will be chosen from the singles champions of HCW, and Creature has become determined it will be him, as he believes it will truly solidify his status as the number one man in Hardcore Championship Wrestling today.

    No waiter is present to bother Creature.  If he wants to be served, he'll have to approach the bar and get a drink himself.  Of course that is fine, as Creature could care less about having a good time or generating a buzz- he wants the blood of his five opponents, and he wants the All-Star Cup.

Creature: I have done so much in HCW.  My accolades are numerous, and my resume` speaks volumes.  Yet the HCW President Kevin Gill has decided to put all of that aside, and create a new golden trophy, the All-Star Cup, which supposedly will name the best of the best in HCW.  I was skeptical of this in the beginning and I still am, but if it is gold, and it means I will be known as the best, then I must have it!  And Tecno, Sinn, Mei, Inphino, and Maniac will not be allowed to stand in my way.

    Creature begins to tap the fingers of his left hand on the table surface as he contemplates the match up.

Creature: With each passing day I grow more and more convinced that Tecno is completely insane.  He yells and screams and "Woohoos" about beating me and everyone else, but he rarely backs up his claims.  He may have HAD an impressive win streak at one time, but look what happened the first time he was faced with a true challenge.  He was crushed like a bug, with his only few moments of glory being given to him by...by...by the Soulz!

    Creature slams a closed fist down on the table in anger.

Creature: I hate the Soulz as much as I despise Inphino Blitz!  And tomorrow night, I will step into the ring with a card carrying member of the Lost Soulz, Maniac, and an arrogant supporter, Inphino Blitz.  I told myself earlier that everything I do to those two will be about vengeance, and I stand by that claim.  They have committed great crimes against me, some even together.  And that is why they will pay with every last drop of blood they have.  Inphino Blitz drove me to a shrink of all things, and Maniac tortured me in the Old Era of HCW.  Those things can never be forgiven, and every time I step into the ring with these men, it will be events like those which burn in the back of my mind.  Tomorrow night I will unleash upon Blitz and Maniac an all out assault fueled by rage and guided by skill, and by the sounding of the final bell, they will be reduced to quivering infidels whose only purpose in life is to worship me.  And even then, I will not be done with them.  I will always owe them, now and forever.

    After glancing down at the aged wood of the furniture in front of him, Creature snorts with disgust and crosses his arms in front of him.

Creature: And then there is Mei Blitz and CJ Sinn.  The Cruiserweight Champion, and an undefeated competitor.  Good for Mei.  Because in case she isn't already aware, I enjoy ending people's streaks, and tomorrow night will be no different.  In fact, tomorrow night, I will take great pleasure knowing that it will be me who ends her streak, be it by pin or submission.  It will be me who humiliates her in front of the world, even more so than when she was stripped of her top and her unimpressive breasts where flaunted for all to see.  It will be me who also teaches CJ Sinn the true meaning of hardcore.  Since he has won the championship, he has done nothing but nearly lose it.  That is no way for a Hardcore Champion to act.  So at Loaded, I will educate him in the art of extreme, and bash his skull in to make sure my lesson sticks.  Finally, when it is all over...I will be the owner of this new prize, and my cup will runneth over with gold.

     The HCW Champion scans his surroundings, and sighs.  He rises from his table and shoves his chair away, then begins to walk towards the door.

Creature: This place is pathetic.  I guess I will return to my horrendous hotel room.

    Upon exiting the tavern, Creature is greeted by a ringing sound coming from somewhere very close.  He quickly reaches into his jacket and withdraws a black Nokia cell phone.  Creature flips it open with a single flick of his wrist, and answers it.  The decision to acquire a cell phone came after Creature's unpleasant experience with his black Corvette while heading to Neveda.

Creature: Jack?  What's going on?  Where the hell are you?

    The voice of the man Creature met with this past Saturday responds.  Creature smirks and listens intently.

Voice: It's not Jack.  You know who it is, and I have to ask you- are you prepared for your match this Thursday?

    Creature begins to walk in the direction of his hotel with his cell phone pressed firmly to his ear, which resides just beneath his mask.

Creature: Of course I'm ready.  Three of my five opponents I have defeated already.

Voice: And the two others?

    Creature smirks.

Creature: One is a woman and the other might as well be.  The All-Star Cup is mine.

    The HCW Champion and the Unofficial Grand Slam Champion frowns as he continues to saunter down the cracked sidewalk in the warm air of the Dominican night.  The period of cool air, even at night, did not last so long on the island of Hispanola, obviously due to its proximity to the equator.

Vocie: Don't get a head of yourself friend.  Tell me the names of your opponents.

    Creature furrows his dark brow from behind his mask.

Creature: You know damn well who-

Voice: (interrupting) Just name them for me.

    Creature snorts and shakes his head.

Creature: My match is against Tecno, Maniac, CJ Sinn, Mei Blitz, and Inphino Blitz.  All of my fellow singles champions in HCW.  Why do you care?

Voice: I want to make sure you do not underestimate any of them.

Creature: I didn't underestimate Tecno.

Voice: Tecno...tell me why you can beat Tecno.

    With the silhouette of the hotel in sight, Creature continues his pace and his conversation.

Creature: Why can I beat Tecno?  I'll tell you the fuck why.  Because he is a disgrace to HCW.  He barely deserves the Internet Title, and he shouldn't even be in the match, much like at Meltdown II.  Tecno is no where near my level, and I proved that when I dismantled the half pint at Meltdown II.  He is jolly, he is comedic, and he is not a threat.  Period.

Voice: I see.  How about CJ Sinn?

    Creature chuckles aloud.

Creature: The HCW Hardcore Champion.  He escaped Carnage, but only by a hair, and I'm sure The Show will prove to be quite the challenge.  He lost resoundingly to Inphino Blitz, and while I have yet to face him, I can tell by watching him he has no idea what being hardcore is all about.  I can beat him because I'm going to beat his face in wtih anything I can get my hands, as a true extreme legend would.

Voice: Fair enough.  Mei Blitz.  Why will she not challenge you?

    The sick and twisted Master of the Abyss stops dead in his tracks and stares down at the ground, in awe of the question.

Creature: Why will she not challenge me!?  Because she is a fucking woman!  I am Creature, I am the Prince of Wrestlers and the King of Men, no woman could ever harm me-

Voice: (interrupting) But she is undefeated.

Creature: Until tomorrow night, when I lock her into the Crossface Chickenwing so tight that her only option is to beg for mercy, and even then, I will have none.

Voice: Hmm...what about her husband?

    Creature grits his teeth and his eyes squint as his mind begins to errupt into a great furor.

Creature: Inphino Blitz...he will not save her.  He will be too busy wallowing on the mat, face first in his own puddle of blood.  At Unleashed, I let him feel my true wrath and he could do nothing to stop it.  Tomorrow night will be no different.  I'm out to prove a point, and the point is that I have no equal, especially not in that contemptible God damn Inphino Blitz!

    The is a moment of silence on the other end of the cell phone, and Creature lowers his head, taking deep breaths to calm himself.  As the voice resumes the conversation, Creature returns to his walk, now just meters away from the entrance to the parking lot of the hotel.

Voice: Finally...what about Maniac?  We both know very well that Maniac is not the type of opponent to simple shrug off.  He means business in the ring Creature, and you must be careful against him.

    As Creature passes through the entrance to the parking lot, walking up the ramp the limousine drove up earlier in the night, he nods.

Creature: I underestimate no one.  In the early days of my career, perhaps.  But not now.  You must realize that I have become savy, intelligent, experienced- I have become the best.  And at Loaded tomorrow night, I will prove it when I seize just another golden symbol of my success, the All-Star Cup.

Voice: Maniac has been on a rampage since Meltdown II.  He is outraged by his loss-

    Creature interrupts the man behind the voice on the phone as he enters the hotel and begins to move towards his room at the right of the corridor.

Creature: (interrupting) Maniac is indeed well prepared.  But so am I.  I will let nothing stop my tomorrow night.  I will not be denied.  The All-Star Cup will be mine, and then all who have opposed me will be silenced once and for all.

Voice: Creature....good luck.  And one more thing...

    With a loud crash, Creature slams and locks the door to his room behind him as he enters.  He leans back against the closed door as the man continues.

Voice: ...I will be there TOMORROW NIGHT!

    Creature's jaw drops with surprise and he throws his free hand into the air.

Creature: What?  You?  Tomorrow?

Voice: Do not get me wrong.  I will be there on business.  But please arrange for Jack to meet with me.  I wish to speak with you both tomorrow.

    The HCW Champion nods.

Creature: See you then.

    A CLICK! is heard as the man responsible for the voice hands up on his end, and Creature folds the phone bck up and slips it into his jacket.  With his arms crossed in front of his chest, Creature grins.

Creature: It won't be long now...