Welcome to Gaia! ::

the lights dim slightly in the arena as the ever familiar chords of Down with the Sickness by Disturbed hits the PA. Smoke covers the stage completely

Can you feel that?

The fans look to the entrance as all along the ramp mechanical torches are raised. Lighters are lit all throughout the audience

Oh wah ah ah ah!

Flames burst up on the stage, illuminating the stage and Jarel, standing in the midst of the thick cloud of smoke that had hidden the stage from view. He's dressed in his usual jeans and a sleeveless shirt, complete with his gloves and a sleeveless black leather trenchcoat with a Dragon symbol on the back. The torches on the ramp shoot flames periodically in time with the beat of the music and the Dragon begins to make his way to the ring, with the smoke that had been on the stage moving down the ramp ahead of him to the ringside area

Drowning deep in my sea of loathing
Broken your servant I kneel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems what's left of my human side
Is slowly changing ... in me
(Will you give in to me?)

Jarel makes his way down the ramp slowly, not particularly in a rush to the ring, perhaps because of his match with Shadow just two nights ago.

Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes
Oh no, There is no turning back now
You've woken up the demon ... in me

Jarel stops at the end of the ramp, his eyes moving around the arena in his hometown, perhaps taking in the cheers, perhaps speculating, but there is something on the Dragon's mind.

Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up
Come on get down with the sickness
You ******** get up
Come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me

Jarel turns and walks up the stairs, then steps into the ring over the top rope. The lights remain dim and a spotlight shines down on him in the ring as he takes up a mic. For several seconds, he stands, looking out into the crowd before raising the mic to speak.

Nigel: We were told that this would be the final confrontation before Blaze of Glory for Jarel and Ken Armand. Last week, Jarel put Ken through a table.

Drogan: That was a strong message sent to the man determined to end the Dragon's career. Tonight it looks like the Dragon has something to say.

"The question has been asked by many, fans and peer alike, as to why I would agree to put my career on the line. Many are wondering will this be the swan song for me. Some suggest that I want an end and since Ken was the one to issue the challenge, that I am looking for an out. Perhaps after over 16 years in the business, some think I've done enough. That I've had enough. I am a man who's career has been engulfed in controversy. From screw jobs to screw job attempts, title reigns and title pursuits. Conflicts with management of several federations to complete and utter hatred of certain other so called veterans, pioneers, legends, icons. I am accustomed to speculation and accusations. It is a life I have lived for longer than some in the audience have been alive. Though there have been ups and downs, I want to make one thing perfectly clear."

Jarel turns his head to look into the camera.

"I'm not done yet."

Cheers from the audience, currently the hometown audience, break out.

"Technically, this isn't the first time I've put my career on the line. I've been in retirement matches. I've had young upstarts trying to make a name for themselves by slaying the Dragon for years. Ken Armand is no different than any of the many that have come before him. The likes of Nuke Fusion and Jack Arson have said the same things. That they thought it was time for me to step down. That I'm old and washed up. These things have become the norm. Every star in their twenties decides to pick a fight with the veterans older than them. It started in my thirties. All of a sudden forty is old. Never mind that some of the greatest of all time didn't hit their prime until their late thirties. Never mind the fact that some of those same legends and icons were wrestling well into their fifties and wrestling better than ever. To this young and arrogant generation, once you hit forty, you're old news. Perhaps its the fact that as we get older, we tend to think a bit more. We're more cautious in the ring. Our styles change to a safer style to preserve our health and careers. The youth perceive this as weakness when in reality it is something they should consider for themselves."

The Dragon begins to pace the ring slowly.

"But people like Ken Armand, they have this perceived notion of invincibility. It is one of the curses of youth. He feels like he can do anything. Climb any mountain, swim any sea, all those old adages. And while I will not take away from any man in the back's athletic prowess and fortitude, there are some who must be humbled."

Jarel stops, brushing his hair back from his face as he gathers his thoughts.

"It is odd to use such terminology when only a few short months ago, Shadow used them regarding me. I was accused of not knowing my own mortality. I know very well my own age, my own mortality, my limits and my overall ability. I am a man who has a nickname of the Dragon to represent the code by which I live. But I am also a man well aware of one key desire, my own personal sickness. This is the one which drives me, which has propelled me to the top for 16 years. That sickness, that disease, is the desire for destruction. Though I have tried my best to act with honor more often than not, I have a thirst to maim and destroy. That thirst gave me the added moniker of the godfather of hardcore. For sixteen years, I have carved my own brutal legacy into history. And if there is one thing I'm sure of, it's that no matter how my career ends, that legacy remains."

The Dragon lowers the mic as the cheers from the crowd come to him again. Slowly, he raises the mic again.

"This is not supposed to me standing here, telling you how I will save my career, how I will defy the will of Ken Armand and half the roster. This is not meant to be solely me standing here. Ken Armand, you talked the talk. Now it's time for you to come out here and look into the eyes of the Dragon."

the slap rings throughout the arena and forces Jarel's head to fly to the side and his hair to fall in his face. He turns his whole body, more surprised than hurt, and certainly pissed all the way off. Not bothering to move his hair, he turns and throws a big right at Ken's skull in retaliation

as Ken pops up, Jarel brushes his hair back out of his face with one hand so that he can clearly see when he throws another hard right. the eyes tell the story and the Dragon hates being slapped in the face

damn right it isn't in Ken's best interest. a now fired up Dragon looks to clothesline Ken over the top rope to the outside. He's not done with Ken yet, not by a long shot

Ken can get to his feet all he wants. Jarel isn't done with him. The Dragon steps out of the ring over the top rope and down to the floor. As Ken is standing, Jarel looks to grab him by the hair, then get a running start and toss him over the security barricade and into the crowd. It's time for the young upstart to learn exactly what he's in for

the crowd always gets into it when the wrestlers go out into the crowd, and Jarel is going to oblige them. He steps over the barricade into the crowd and reaches down to pull Ken to his feet, then looks to nail him with another right to drive him deeper into the crowd

Jarel follows Ken through the crowd, running forward to attempt to catch him with a forearm to the back of the head. He would then attempt to toss him into one of the wall dividers in the crowd

Since Ken is still standing, Jarel might as well administer a little more pain. The Dragon reaches forward to grab him by the throat. THere's no time like the present to truly cause some bodily harm, and he looks to chokeslam Ken right there on the pavement