He leans against the side of the rink, looking at the few people who remain off camera. He smiles sincerely, but turns his icy stare and it catches you slightly off guard.

"What else do you want to hear? That I'm brighter, faster, wittier and even smarter?"

"Let's assume you had an opponent, and he never spoke or aired any form of promotional material. Anything you say stands, uncontested. Doesn't matter what shit you speak, it rides into the match."

"Then wake yourself, and realize you're up against me. Take a minute and think I've dissected your metaphors and corollaries. Some would say I've done so with relative ease. In making an argument for your cause, you want to stay away from words like "brighter" and "smarter" - because I've already shown you for the second-grade logic you possess."

"That leaves "faster" and "wittier". So fast you didn't realize what hit you until you watched the television playback. So fast I saw you and Protean coming a week away. That leaves you with "wittier"."

"And I don't see you joking your way out of the Shangri-La."

Something catches his attention from inside the rink. Someone motions for him to join, but he motions for them to be patient with his right hand.

"And actually, your last cut seemed pretty stale. The Sharks and the Jets was clever, but I could swear I've heard that somewhere else before."

"Maybe you're just boring when Drake isn't speaking through you. Its a lot harder to stir the pot when it's your own arm isn't it? You say that he won't even listen to your material. That you're going to break out of the mold. But your career is still being underwritten by the Charms. As your cut fades out, a not-so-subtle Liberty Wrestling banner fades in. And I give a shit about your turf war, your west-side story. But its ridiculous to try and separate yourself from them when every word you speak is their endorsement."

"Where does Aarya Ranvir the athlete begin and Aarya Ranvir the Liberty mouthpiece end?"

"You can't out-perform me when you're struggling to come into your own. And even if I'm wrong about you? I'm still the undefeated AOWF Television Champion. I'm still number one contender to your employer's belt. But you've already said as much, haven't you? Fact is, you've built my case for me. And you can tell me you're quicker. But I can show you that I am everything I say I am and more. I've been building the foundation since day one, and no one can tell me that I've come up short. Because there's nothing objective for you to point at to prove me wrong."

"I feel like I've been playing "keep away". But despite that, despite the fact you've run from yourself and been forthcoming with all of your faults... You can tell me that I'll be shocked and that I'm unprepared. That I'm not expecting what you can do."

"Go back to my first cut in this match. Remember the reason I challenged you. Its because you're a talented athlete, and I want to own a victory over you. Call it something to hold over your head if you ever manage to break away and make something of yourself. Regardless, all you can do right now is hope to fucking god that I expect you to wrestle like Nick Swifkicky. You can pray and beg and plead with the spirits that I'll consider you no kind of threat, and enter this ill-prepared."

"Because if I don't, you're royally fucked in every direction."

"I haven't missed or come up short even once. If you think I'm going to start inside that ring with you on Friday, then go ahead and put all your faith in this hail Mary strategy. Keep praying and hoping. But remember that I've been speaking truth and shutting you down every step of the way here. Don't forget that I've had nothing but foresight when it comes to you. Think about the gold around my waist, the gold you deserved to fight for but won't be - because I was quicker than you and your opponent."

"Remember how you were telling me to hit the casino and see how far my luck can take me? There's a "full circle" rimshot begging to be said, but I'll just leave it to your imagination. Goodbye, Aarya Ranvir. Goodnight."

He takes a step off the camera. You're fading away.