PERFORMANCE REVIEW

In a flash of light, the victorious but exhausted Spidey arrived back in the Garden, in front of the crowd that gave him a mixed reaction. While Spidey received from the approving Avengers fans, the Thunderbolt fans booed in disgust with how on how the Web-Head defeated Surge. Spidey, however, remained oblivious to the crowd's reaction as he remained tired as he walked the Avengers corner. Once the drained Spidey reunited teammates, he received a hug from the human-sized Wasp.

Though Wasp squeezed the young hero gently as to not aggravate his other injuries, she could still hear Spidey wince in pain, and thus pulled away from him and looked at him worried. "Pete, are okay?!" she asked him in almost sisterly concern.

"I've been through worse," Spidey replied, still feeling sore from both the claw marks on his chest and from enduring the electric-based attacks from his mentally unstable foe. "But hey, all part of the job when you're a superhero, right?"

While Wasp only gave Spidey a warm smile in response to his chipper demeanor, Luke seemed to be indifferent, being too focused on the well-being of Iron Fist and Ant-Man. The ever serious Ms. Marvel didn't seem too pleased with how Spidey performed in his match, and thus approached the Wall-Crawler to let him know that. "Yeah, one who should've remembered to be more mindful of surroundings when he misdirected that lunatics lightning blast into hitting a traffic light that nearly trampled a group of spectators."

This blunt statement caused the Wasp to give Ms. Marvel an annoyed look. "Way to be supportive, Carol!"

However, Spidey saw the painful truth in the Warbird's words and thus held up his hand to get his size-altering teammate's attention. "No, no, she's right," said the saddened Spidey. "I mean, we went through the plan back in the Mansion, so I should've noticed that traffic light post, and knew well enough to keep Electro from blasting it." As he continued, the Wall-Crawler hung his head in shame. "Which means I'm just as much to blame about that traffic light nearly crushing those people."

Even Iron Man did see Ms. Marvel's point in Spidey's mistake, the last thing he needed was for Spidey's confidence to be shattered and morale in his team to be low, especially since their off to a pretty good start. "But it didn't," said the Shell Head as he placed a reassuring right hand on Spidey's shoulder to get his attention. "All because you got in time. So as far as your performance review goes, I'd say you're around...A minus territory. You're doing fine but learn from the mistake you made and more mindful of where you are in your next match up. Got it?"

Though still disappointed that he 'lost a point' in regards to the street light post, Spidey was nonetheless happy to see that he was doing well in Iron Man and Wasp eyes. "You know it," Spidey replied with a nod, as well as a smile behind his mask.

Meanwhile, the announcer quickly took center stage once again to address the anxious crowd. "All right folks, let's keep the action going with our next match up!" said the excited announcer. "For up next, we have our lovely little lady with a big punch, the Wasp, taking on the Thunderbolts' web-slinger, the Scarlet Spider!"

Upon hearing her name, Wasp took one last look at her fellow Avengers. "Well, guys, that's my cue," she told her teammates, then turned attention to Spidey to try and give him some comfort in regards to fighting his best friend. "And don't worry, Pete, I'll try to bring Harry down without hurting him." She then held up her gloves, the two things that would be the key to her victory, at least according to Iron Man. "And hopefully, these babies will help me do just that."

"Thanks, Jan," said the grateful Spidey. "And good luck!" The Web-Head watched as Wasp gave him a small nod, then turned and walked over to the teleportation pads. As he watched the Wasp step on to the pad, Spidey still couldn't help but think this to himself, while being secretly worried at the same time. "Good luck in saving Harry...as well as avoiding that parasite attached to his body!"

Meanwhile, back in the Thunderbolts' corner, the Scarlet Spider bends his neck from side to side as a way to warming up before heading over to the teleportation pads. Before he went on his way to have his match, the symbiote covered teen felt the steel hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up and see the Iron Patriot himself.

"So far, you've been making me proud, son," said the Patriot with a pleased tone, but later changed it to a more stern one to give them this one last order. "Don't stop now."

The Scarlet Spider gave his armored father a nod of acknowledgement. "I don't plan on it, sir," he replied with a smile underneath his symbiote made mask, and now happy that he has his father's approval and respect, the Scarlet Spider turned and headed over to the center of the stage, where the Wasp was waiting. Once the Scarlet Spider was now on the platform, it activated, and both combatants vanished out of sigh. of to an unknown destination to start the second match of the Contest of Champions tournament.