The crowd is still cheering, as Arch emerges from the arena backstage. He flips a wad of cash to Winston the prop guy and throws off his Santa costume. Eight midgets follow him closely and one of them asks, “Hey! Where’s our money?” His antler droops and one of the bells smacks him in the face. Arch turns around and smiles pulling another wad of cash from his coat. Walking over to a tall shelf he places the money on the very top of it. “There you go tater tot… Oh! And merry Christmas.” He chuckles walking away. The lead midget pulls off his antlers and throws them at Arch narrowly missing, yelling, “Yeah … go fuck yourself, you crazy bastard!”

Arch: “All that rage cooped up in a tiny package.” He shakes his head smiling.

Arch just laughs and continues on through the back doors toward the buildings exit. Out of the corner of his eye he sees a familiar face. Long, black, curly hair and green eyes, the lioness approaches her prey. Arch quickly turns and stops his pursuer in her stiletto heels. The two animals connect eyes and stare each other down, neither knowing which is to be hunter and who is to be prey.

Arch: Why Ms. Star! What brings you to the lion’s den?

Elizabeth Star adjusts her footing and smiles a little. She tilts her head in a flirty way looking up at the handsome man in front of her. (i) Why do I always fall for the criminally insane? She thinks to herself.

Star: You owe me a story.

Arch: Do I?

Star: Yes. In point of fact you owe me a hell of a lot more since I didn’t report your breaking and entering into the police. The fact alone that you knocked a security guard unconscious and handcuffed him naked to a toilet in the women’s bathroom is merit enough for an interview.

Arch: Tough! I don’t feel like talking and you were lucky I left on such peaceful terms anyway.

Arch turns around and starts to walk to the exit. Elizabeth’s smile turns to a frown as she follows Arch into the parking lot of the arena. She reaches out and grabs his arm pulling him to a halt. Spinning around in a dervish, Arch grabs both of her shoulders and growls at her. His blue eyes wide and angry, gritting through his teeth he says…

Arch: Why would someone as young and pretty as you have a death wish I wonder? Life not precious enough to you Ms. Star? Let me see if I can give you a better appreciation for it!

Star: Why are you here?

Elizabeth yells trying to pull away frantically from Arch’s icy grasp. Shuttering she looks into his eyes and immediately regrets coming down to the XPWA. Slowly Arch calms down, looking deep within her tear filled eyes. Letting her go he steps a few paces back and sits on a nearby car.

Arch: Where else would I go?

He almost sounds hurt as he answers. Looking to the ground he crosses his hands and shakes his head. Then quickly he looks up and puts on his normal smirking face.

Arch: Ask your bloody questions. Be quick about it, I’m hungry.

Star: Why… Are you here?

Arch: Many reasons, be more specific.

Star: Is it for you brother… Nemesis?

Arch: Yes and No.

Star: Do you want to reclaim your stardom in the XPWA that you gave up in the FWL & TDSW?

Arch: What stardom? People are fickle and fans are fickle. Battle is real and tangible; you remember them because the scars won’t let you forget. People forget who you were in time and choose another prize pony to bet on. The satisfaction you get from conquering or being conquered is unforgettable no matter what anyone says.

Star: Who are you? Really.

Arch: Why… My friends call me gentle Jack, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had any of those.

Star: Why wrestling? If you’re such a warrior join the army. There’s plenty of fighting that can be done in Iraq.

Arch: To kill only makes your adversaries dead. To beat them down and feel the loss within them is ecstatic. Every time they come back to fight you and you win you take a piece of them. Every time they beat you, you get stronger. Feeding off your need for retribution you become unstoppable. Besides it would be an unfair advantage for whichever side I joined.

Star: What about this Patrick Glenn guy?

Arch : What about him?

Star: Are you nervous about fighting him? Confident? Any emotion will do, there is no wrong answer.

Arch: Oh but there is! I fear him about as much as he fears me… for the time being. I’m confident that no matter what the outcome of our fight both of us will learn something about the other.

Star: Why the smart ass act all the time?

Arch: It makes me laugh… and I’ve never known when to shut my mouth. Although I think its time I started. Interview’s over.

Arch hops off the car and starts to walk away. Star, frustrated yells to him.

Star: We’re not through yet!

Arch: On the contrary my dear, I couldn’t be more done if you stuffed a fork in me.