(HORNET is sitting in the ubiquitous media room that we’ve seen over the years. There appears to have been an upgrade – plasma is in evidence. Hornet’s legs are propped up on the leather couch as he watches his latest purchase, Seasons 4-6 of “Seinfeld.” As he watches the red light come on the camera, he pauses the main TV and activates the six around it, which all play the same line from Kin Hiroshi.”)

KIN: “Why did it have to be Hornet?”

Is that like asking “Why me?” Kin? It seems to me that’s what you’ve been doing for the last two years. Since March 28, 2004 in fact. Right, Kin? Like a lot of people, you’d like to believe that I walk around the CSWA with my head in the sand; that somehow because of my paycheck I’m oblivious to what goes on.

Oh, and before I forget… thanks for the nice basket of muffins, Kin. Unfortunately, I’m just not a big fan of rum-raisin. But it’s the thought that counts.

I don’t believe that you’re a bug, Kin. I believe you’re misguided. I believe that you gave up on yourself for a while. I believe that you got so jaded that you believed basing your offense in a title match on a thumb-lock would be cute… that you thought you’d use the Greensboro Title as a stepping stone. And when Jean Rabesque beat you, I believe you got scared.

Not to be your therapist, Kin, but it’s alright to be scared. Sometimes fear is an early warning sign. And then sometimes we push through it and go on anyway. I did that quite a bit – pushing through the fear, pushing through the real emotion and dulling it with whatever was handy, whatever could take the edge off, whatever could make reality seem less pressing, less important. You know what I’m talking about, Kin? Yeah, I thought so… or at least that’s what I hear. Remember… no head in the sand here.

And so now the Muffin Man has a partner-in-crime in America’s Favorite Old Lush. Kevin Powers… the man who’s used every friendship he ever had to either get ahead and to make sure he wasn’t the one left behind. From Love to Radder to Miso to Apocalypse. And now he’s got his good friend Kin Hiroshi on the hook. How long until he decides to throw you back and go for something bigger?

Let’s be honest, Kin. I should be stepping into the ring against Steve Radder on that ship. There’s a man that made a comeback against all the odds, without the benefit of “Good God” or any of his old friends. He stepped in the ring and let his undersized talent do the talking for him. Until he ran into the Hiroshi-Powers Connection… or is this version the Power of Muffins instead of the Powers of Love?

I don’t doubt you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve, Kin. But I’ve been doing a little study here, Kin. And according to my media sources – nobody likes muffin stumps, they love the tops. So that makes my game plan pretty clear, doesn’t it? It sounds like a job for the Scorpion Deathlock. I know it’s been awhile, but I don’t think I’m too rusty to remember how to apply it. It’s like the facepaint… once you learn, you never forget. Pick up the legs. Right leg stepover to the outside. Tuck and wrap your legs. Cinch and pull. Step over with the left leg as you turn over. Squat. Pull as hard as I can.

If you thought Rabesque’s Figure 4 was something, then you’ll know just what to do when I start pulling. Slap that mat as hard as you can, Kin, and you might get another chance to challenge for the US Title. Otherwise… well, like I said, I’m a little rusty… I might get a little excited. And I’d hate to hear that telltale “pop,” as I’m sure you would.

I respect you as a wrestler, Kin. It’s your character I question. It’s whether you’re man enough to come into this ready and in the right mind to do this on your own. Otherwise, bring Powers and however many sleeves you need for those tricks. For now, I've gotta get back to studying some tape.

(Fadeout as "Seinfeld" begins playing again on the main screen.)