I Bite Back

Reginald can be seen at a dog pound. It's obvious from the look of the facility that it is run illegally as the dogs are simply in small cages with a short chain tied around their necks.

Reginald Dampshaw III: Aren't dogs fascinating? Over generations, we've taken wild wolves, domesticated them and bred them into different shapes and sizes to fit our aesthetic eye. You can tell a lot about a person based on what kind of dog they have as pets. Some people even say that dogs and owner begin looking like each other. Yes, dogs truly are man’s best friend...or so the saying goes. You see, I never had dogs growing up. There were dogs around on the estate, but I had nothing to do with them. They rolled around in the mud and muck and barked at nothing. They had no logic. Just running on intuition. I think humans are weak, but dogs are useless. Humans need constant companionship and dogs will pathetically oblige. They were once majestic hunters and now they’re mere playthings and accessories for lonely and vain people. Me? I have no need for them. But, this one looks quite nice.

Reginald walks over to a cage with a large Doberman Pinscher inside. It’s shivering and growling as Reginald unlocks the cage door. Reginald goes to put a leash on the dog, but it snaps at him. Reginald gets taken aback before quickly putting a leash on the dog. Reginald pulls hard and fast on the leash, causing the dog to yelp in pain. Reginald hands the leash over to Demis.

Reginald Dampshaw III: Get this mongrel out of here.

Demis nods and picks up the dog and carries it to the limousine parked on the gravel road. He throws the dog in there, closes the trunk and quickly drives off. Reginald smirks and begins walking across the line of dog cages. He begins hearing a higher pitch bark that gets louder as he gets closer. He then stops and sees a chihuahua yapping and barking ferociously towards him. Reginald chuckles.

Reginald Dampshaw III: Well. Isn’t this perfect? Look at this little beast here. It doesn’t understand that it can be fit inside a teacup. It thinks it’s a giant of an animal and that it’s intimidating other dogs, but really, it’s just an annoying nuisance that no one takes seriously. Does that sound familiar? Well, let’s see what happens when it’s faced with someone bigger, stronger and far more dangerous.

Reginald suddenly grabs the cage and begins shaking it, screaming at the dog. The dog begins whimpering and as soon as Reginald stops shaking the cage, the dog’s tail is between its legs as it slowly retreats to the far corner of the cage, shivering in fear.

Reginald Dampshaw III: Pathetic.

Reginald takes one lest disgusted look down at the cage before beginning to walk away from the animals.

Reginald Dampshaw III: I do have to give you credit though Raoul. You have heart. During our contract signing at Chapter 18, I put you down not once. Not twice. But thrice. And each time? You kept getting up. I could hear the crowd come unglued each time you rose from the ashes as it were. You have heart. You’re a fighting competitor. But just like this chihuahua, your bark is worse than your bite. I told you that I could not wait for the things I’m going to get to do to you at Dreamworld. I have so many fun ideas and tricks up my sleeve. You see, there are things that can be changed at the drop of a hat. Time can be shifted, molded. People can be manipulated easily. But there are universal truths that are set in concrete and unmovable for everybody and everything. And there are three truths for you, Raoul. 1. Arata Asakura will never be your real friend. 2. You will amount to nothing here in Wrestleworld and 3. You will never….ever beat Reginald Dampshaw III.

Reginald laughs but stops as he hears the chihuahua begin growling again. He shoots a quick glance at the dog who suddenly runs back into the corner.

Reginald Dampshaw III: But let me get one thing off my chest. Why am I wrestling you at Dreamworld? Why is Arata wrestling Jacob Senn for the Shogun Championship? Did I beat Arata for the Shogun Championship at Kingdom Come? No, I didn’t. I have admitted that a thousand times over now. Anytime it has been me vs. Arata one on one, anywhere, he’s found a way to sneak a win over me but...but...he was also beaten by Jacob Senn. Jacob Senn, a man who benefitted off THE BACK OF MY HARD WORK AND-no, that’s neither here nor there. Arata was beaten by Senn but...has Senn ever beaten me? No. So, thinking about this logically, why is a loser like Arata getting another chance to be Shogun Champion? Why am I, a man who’s never been beaten by Senn, a man who carried a tag team match while Senn did next to nothing being ignored for a championship opportunity? Because “Asakura Sr.” Pendragon knows that I would become champion and never listen to his ridiculous rules. It should be me vs. Senn and Arata and Raoul could be given a tag team match so they can collect a nice PPV paycheque. But I digress. That’s not what’s happening and I’m not going to complain. You see, I’m not like you, Raoul. I’m not going to whine and complain to Daddy Pendragon to get the matches I want. You cry and beg and grovel...like a dog. You’re living up to your moniker in more ways than one. You’ve asked for this match, so I will gladly oblige. But just ask yourself...is this really what you want? Do you really want to get in the ring one-on-one with me? We’ve faced off twice before, but the first time we had that little pest AJ Jenkyx as a nuisance and the 2nd time, you had Hana Nakajima to turn to and I had Jacob as a distraction. But just like I said to Hana before our singles match, there’s nowhere to turn to now. Arata and Hana are both busy during Dreamworld so they’re not going to come to your aid when I’m destroying you. You can’t tag out when you get overwhelmed. It’s just you….and me. You impress people with your heart and spirit, but what have you done, really? I’ve stood up to giants and smiled. I’ve stared directly into the sun and came out with eyes of fire. I wear this mask of flesh and bone but I am a billion different things at once. When I have a match that means nothing, I can easily just go through the motions. I can twist men up like a pretzel in my sleep. I can knock men out faster than the speed of light. But when there’s fun to be had like there is at Dreamworld? Well then, Raoul, any number of the things inside me could come out.

Reginald stares intently at the camera, never breaking eye contact.

Reginald Dampshaw III: I want you to think about this. Cast your mind back to the last time you were in an environment that was claustrophobic and loud to the point of it being unbearable. Maybe it was a Subway train in Tokyo, maybe it was in the middle of Times Square or maybe it was even one of Wrestleworld’s many sold out shows. Remember how you felt like you might burst due to the sheer noise. Maybe you went down an alleyway. Maybe you went to the locker room. You were able to get away and relax. Clear your mind. Now imagine that noise again but multiply that tenfold. The noise inside me never stops. Ever. The only time I can quiet it is tapping into something...feral. You wanted this match against Reginald Dampshaw III but who’s to say who you will actually get. I have some idea, but much like the coming match, it’s bound to be full of surprises.

Reginald laughs before kicking at the chihuahua cage and walking off camera.