An above the ring shot from Saturday night.

An above the ring shot from Saturday night. Shane is seen laying flat on his back. He's sprawled out, knocked cold by a chair shot from Nidia. In the same shot part of Travis's leg can be seen, as well as part of the referee's arm as he administers the standing 10 count. As the count goes up the shot begins zooming in on Shane's face. His eyes are shut, there's no expression on his face. Slowly, as the referee reaches 10, the shot fades to another one of Shane's face. Again, his eyes are shut, but instead of a blank expression he wears a smile. The canvas of the ring is replaced with the grass of a field. Steadily the shot pulls back. Shane is sprawled out in the field, similar to Saturday night. He's dressed in a Cleveland Indian's baseball jersey and a pair a skaters shorts with fire around the cuffs. On his feet are a pair Adidas basketball shoes.

Shane: Isn't it interesting the way people tend to find secutriy in groups. They feel that they can have more of an impact in life by aligning themselves with someone else. Something I notice about 'stables' is that all the members have the same insecurities. Meek individuals who need someone else to lead them to a goal. I wonder, Travis, who's leading you? and what are they leading you to?

A warm breeze blows across the field that Shane is laying in. All the grass around Shane starts flowing, like waves on an ocean.

Shane: Don't tell me you're the leader because you aren't. Don't say you're being led to a world title because you won't make it. It really seems convienent that two of your friends appear just a short while before you are set to defend your TV Title in a handicap ladder match. They've already said they're going to be in your corner. So lets see, where does that put everyone? There's Maven and Nidia on one side, there's you and the rest of Triple Threat on the other, and then there's me in the middle.

Shane pauses for a moment to sit up.

Shane: Some would look at this and say I'm at a disadvantage. Some would say that the odds are stacked agaist me. In some respects they are right. When I look at this match though I see myself with the same chance of winning as everyone else, maybe MY chances are even better. Why? Why would my chances of winning be better? I don't have the luxury of having someone in my corner to save me. That's why my chances are better! I'm not going to expect somebody to tip over the ladder to help me. I'm won't hope that someone is going to pull me out of the ring if things are looking bad. I'm in it, on my own, 'till the end. I'll know that I didn't win that TV Title because my partner or one of my friends decided to save me. I'll know that I won it because of my abilities, not someone elses.

Another gust of wind ripples through the grass again.

Shane: Something that most people don't understand is that life is like a card game. You don't win based purely on luck. You win by playing smart, by bluffing and by what you've got hidden up your sleeve. I've been in this game long enough to be able to make pretty good judgements about people. To me, Travis is playing on luck. I hate to use a cliche but his luck is quickly running out. Maven and Nidia, well they're doing better than Travis. They're playing smart, they know what their doing, they just don't have anything left to play. Their cards are already laid out. Me? Well....ask the right questions to the right people and you'll find out where I sit in this game.

Shane stands from his sitting position. For a third time a gust of wind pushes through the grassy field. It pushes at Shane's clothes, holding them tight to his body. Gradually the wind dies down.

Shane: One thing, about myslef, that I'm sure much of the lockerroom picked up on is when the announcers pointed out I wasn't a rookie. Like I said before, I'm only a rookie in the eyes of this federation. I've earned my bumps, bruises and scar tissue, just like everyone before me. I'm not looking to be a mysterious figure but don't, necessarily, want to be judged by my past accomplishments. I've got more to say and do before the ladder match taked place, this isn't the time and place for it though.

Shane turns and looks out into the expanse of the field. In far distance a line of trees marks the beginning of a small forest. Shane begins walking toward the line of trees. Everything begins fading to black just as another burst of wind blows through the field.