Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Abraham Lincoln

 

Across the Milwaukee skyline the sun is just beginning to set. Long shadows stretch across the landscape. Most of the office buildings are deserted, save for the janitors and cleaning crews. On the streets below most of the small stores are closed for the night. Traffic on the streets is slowing down. People are done for the night. With the dinner is slowly creeping by. Families are gathered round their tables, passing peas and roast beef, filling their plates and topping their drinks. As the sun continues to inch it's way behind the horizon a figure can be seen against it's dulling yellow glow. Atop the Bradley Center his shape is sharp in comparison to his surroundings, which appear to be slightly blurred or fuzzy. "Natural Wonder" Shane Jackson looks down on the cityscape watching as the long shadows begin fading into darkness.

Shane: You're the bigger man Phenix. You know what your silence is doing to me, and I applaud you. Not many people can get under my skin, you have. By saying nothing you've set up the impenetrable defense, I can't compete. The longer you keep your silence the harder it is for me to figure you out. I'm walking into our match blind, with no knowledge of who you are. You've got the upper hand, the ace.

Shane kicks a few pebbles over the side of the Bradley Center. He watches them tumble to the ground, bouncing in various directions as they hit.

Shane: In the last few days a lot of superstars have made it a point to mention me in some capacity. They either respect me or want to fight me. WrecX has me ranked on his hit list, wants to put me in the "rest home". One of the new boys, Phag Kneegrow, is already to planning to try and show me what "Natural Wonder" truly means. The illustrious President Carrig wants to prove to me he's improved since the last time I fought him. I'm sure there's more people I'm forgetting. I can't keep track of all my enemies anymore, the list just gets too long after a while. For everyone that wants me, that wants to make themselves famous by pinning me.......get in line you'll get your shot when your number's called. It's not like my whole existence revolves around fighting the next guy that calls my name, I have a life to.

A warms wind blows across the top of the Bradley Center. It whirls up a small storm of dust that whirls around Shane, covering his duster with soot and debris. After a moment the wind quietly dies down. As Shane brushes the dirt from the front of his coat a tattoo becomes visible on the back of his hand. It's the Cleveland Indian's logo. As the tattoo catches Shane's eye he slows his brushing motion so it's smiling face is clearer to him.

Shane: It's a rub on. One of those little 'add water' things that children are always fighting over cereal for. I found it in a store yesterday for 75 cents. It reminded me of home. You know that's the hardest thing about this business, being away from home, away from your family and friends. On the road all the time, doing Independent shows, being a guest on Regis & Kelly, all that stuff eventually takes it's toll. It doesn't help when there's fights in the lockeroom and everyone is jumping down everyone else's throats. Some guys try and maintain some control and help clean up the situations but there's others that just like to keep pressing the issues and keep the bad blood running. I know where I stand within the CWF, I know a lot of people look up to me and come to me for advice. There's been times I've had to take someone aside and point out that something they've said is causing tension among other wrestlers. It's their choice to listen to what I say and act on it. In the end. I can intervene with everyone I know, but it's up to them to make the difference.

As the sun disappears behind the last of the building Shane is plunged into darkness.