Justice, Like Lightning! (Gavin Payne)

The gavel slams down. GUILTY. A bailiff leads off the handcuffed man at the witness stand, while the crowd murmurs, and the defense attorney hangs his head in shame. The man behind the prosecutor's bench turns, adjusting his cravat. Alone among the people at the court that day, he would be permitted a small smile at this turn of events, but there is none. Just doing his job, nothing more.

Gavin Payne: Guilt, and innocence. All men are faced with choices in their lives. The just, the righteous, the good... they choose to live quiet lives, unencumbered by sin. Those men, they never see me. I exist as only a concept to them, the arm of the law that ensures they are protected from the underworld. Would that all men were like that.

But no. The world is full of men who flout the law, the very strictures and codices that make our society the shining beacon of light it is. These criminals, these fools... they come face to face with me, one day or another. Their time is at hand.

I was raised to respect two things above all else: my father, and the law he served. I followed in his footsteps, and it brought me here.

Payne waves his hand around at the now-empty courtroom, gesturing towards the statue of Blind Justice poised behind the bench.

Gavin Payne: Day in, and day out, I am presented opportunities to mete out justice. To make the streets just a little bit safer. To find the truth, and ensure that the scum who sully our planet cannot sow more poisonous hatred. The drug dealer, who ruins lives and families in the name of rapacious capitalism? I put him away. The petty thief, who respects nobody, nothing, not even the sanctity of a man's home and person? He pays, in the end. The murderer, who takes from his victims that most precious gift? He cannot be allowed free. I see to it that he is not.

But I see the truth. The criminals I see convicted in this courtroom only come to me after they've perpetrated deeds foul enough to attract police attention, and then only if they're sloppy enough to get caught. There is no justice in a world where evil men walk free simply because they're good at what they do.

That, I cannot abide.

Payne steps from behind his desk, removes his cravat and jacket, and cracks his knuckles.

Gavin Payne: I know my true calling. Justice must be visited upon all who flaunt their crimes, and if the world will not bring these men to me, I must go to them. I must take action, where others will not.

This brings me to the CWA. I have been watching, waiting, for a chance to step into the ring, and I have been given a golden opportunity. JBL. CM Punk. Chris Jericho. Alpha. Christopher Daniels. AJ Styles. D2. Some noteworthy, honorable men have been given the opportunity to contend for the CWA Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately, there is no way for me to face one such man without making it to the finals... and that is exactly how I hoped it would be. Chris Jericho. My first opponent, and surely not my last. Arrogance, pride, self-importance... however you put it, you are foul. Loathsome. Unworthy of even my contempt. As of yet, putting out terrible music is no crime, so I have not had the chance to rid this world of you. That ends now. If you will not enter my world, all I can do is enter yours, and take you out of it.

Then, as if the heavens themselves had planned it, I get JBL or CM Punk. Layfield, you are exactly the type of person I came here to deal with. Money may get you fame. It may bring you power. It even grants you immunity, when your crimes are identified and brought into the light. However, it cannot keep you safe. The almighty dollar cannot persuade me. If you are given over to me, then you will know the true pain of avoiding your fate.

Punk... you interest me. On the surface, you are an upright, upstanding man. Were you truly who you purport to be, you and I could be the strongest of allies, and I believe you recognize that. However, your delusions are your downfall. Clean living does not grant a clean soul, and yours is twisted, at its core. No man, no one person, can ever grant salvation. Salvation comes only through a just life, serving the community and the ideals it upholds. I beg you now, end this charade, and return to reality. I do not wish violence to be the only answer, but if it is, then so shall it be. You cannot save others, as you claim, but you have the power to save yourself. Take action.

Payne bows his head slightly, closing his eyes for a moment. When he returns his focus to the camera, we see one thing in his eyes: determination.

Gavin Payne: In the end, I do not know what obstacles I must overcome to capture the CWA title. In all truthfulness, I care not. Should I win the title, I, perhaps alone among the competitors, will treat it with the respect it deserves. However, the title is, to me, a small matter beside my true calling. The championship will serve mainly to show that the CWA will not be overrun by the same scum I see in this court every day. I will provide a shining beacon of truth, and the righteous arm of justice will smite the wicked.

It is time. My legal training has taken me as far as it can. Now I must take action. Prepare yourselves, competitors of the CWA. Sentence has already been passed. I am coming, and I will take no prisoners. Court is now in session.

Payne slams his fist down like a gavel, as we...

FADE TO BLACK.

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