You’re gonna do what?

”Are you sure about this?”

Dickie Watson, Aidens best friend in tag team partner razors an eyebrow as the four mentioned Mr Reynolds popped his arms over his chest with a Maps spread out between them. He not slowly his arms folded over his chest as his eyes dart from side to side. He is deep in thought coming up with a plan and movements as he stares at a two-dimensional representation of the Toledo Zoo. He leaves forward his hands flat on the table as he keeps tracing the lines with his eyes coming up with a foolproof plan.

He reaches out pointing at the entrance before tracing a line down a pathway around a maintenance hub and across the African exhibit to the back of the zoo where the Australian exhibit is held. Knowing that that’s where he will find his target. Sitting in the center of the exhibit is a small plastic Tasmanian devil. Aiden smiles slowly and looks up at Dickie. Who takes a deep breath and throws his arms in the air before nodding back at his friend ”Alright, I guess we’re going to steal a Tasmanian devil then…”

Aiden just smiles again, Dickie groans and stands back. ”Just need a few things from you….”

”…What?”

Aiden pulls out a list opening it up delicately. He clears his throat and starts to itemize off the things that he needs. ”A pickup truck, a 10 m length of heavy-duty nylon rope. A banana, a can of compressed air, two South African whooping cranes, and a sock filled with chicken fat.”

Dickie blinked a few times like his brain was trying to process what he just heard. ”Why?”

”What do you mean why?”

Dickie took a deep breath and shook his head snatching the list from Aiden ”South African whooping cranes? A sock filled with chicken fat? A banana? Why?” Aiden narrowed his eyebrows and took a deep breath before leaning forward with a groan.

”The cranes are so I can release them and have security running after them thinking that they have escaped. And the sock? Well, mate, have you ever been hit with a sock filled with chicken fat? The size and the girth of it will make sure to knock whoever I hit completely out but also won’t leave any lasting damage. I’m not a monster. It’s essentially an all-natural slapjack”

Dickie nodded and raised an eyebrow ”And the banana?”

”A snack…. potassium is very important.”

Dickie just deadpans him. Aiden keeps studying the map and scratches the back of his neck. Suddenly the door swings open and Kallie walks in ”Hey Aiden I made tacoritos and I wanted to know if Dickie was staying….” She looks up, raising an eyebrow as the two men stare at her looking guilty. Aiden slowly slides the map onto the table as Kallie raises an eyebrow ”What are you two doing?”

Aiden looked at Dickie. Dickie looked back at Aiden. Dickie then swallowed and tapped Aiden on the shoulder ”So, I’d love to stay for dinner but I need to get home. Have fun, Aiden.”

”Hey, Dickie!…dude what the hell?”

Dickie gave a small nod to Kallie and smiled before leaving the room. Kallie raised an eyebrow looked at her husband and folded her arms over her chest. She looked him up and down and waited. Waited for some kind of explanation or reason. ”Well?”

Aiden swallowed hard and put the map down on the table. Kallie stepped forward and looked down at it before raising an eyebrow and looking at Aiden. ”So uh, I was thinking about getting a friend for Willow and also a bodyguard for Dax”

”A bodyguard? What kind of bodyguard….”

”A Tasmanian devil…”

Kallie slowly turned and looked at her husband. Her face was pale and emotionless as she stared at him. She shook her head and cleared her throat. ”A what?” She paused. Aiden took a deep breath Kallie continued. ”You want to go and steal a Tasmanian devil? And you want that Tasmanian devil to be a pet and bodyguard for our son?”

”Well, when you say it like that it sounds stupid.” Kallie folded her arms over her chest. The two stared at each other and after a few moments, Aiden swallowed and nodded as he came to a realization. ”Yeah I get it. I’ll just throw this map away and forget about it.”

”Good…. come get dinner”

A war with a family….

”So many people thought that Connor Murphy was going to be the roulette champion now. Going into blaze of glory all I heard was that Connor was finally going to start living up to that expectation and potential that we’d always seen in him. But after that Iron Man match when the dust settled, I was the one holding the roulette championship above my head. Not Connor Murphy. Me…”

Aiden took a deep breath and slowly smiled before continuing. Is Sandy dark blonde hair waving slightly down over his eyes

”Blaze of Glory is the biggest show that this company has. Well, one of the biggest shows. Truth be told this company turns out huge events like most places wish they could. And now we’re going on this Viking-era tour and going all through Scandinavia. The people are thirsty and hungry to see some real wrestling from the guys and girls at this company. And again I have come out of one of the major events still holding a championship and still going about my life. I’m not the greatest, I failed when I tried to prove that…”

“Finn Whelan beat me. But I have been going about my work in the roulette division. I have now defended this championship twice, and I have shown the world that I’m not a fluke. I’m a two-time roulette champion and the more time I spend here the more confident on getting. And now the rest of us are all standing back and watching the blast from the past tournament”

“And I’ve accepted the fact that right now the company probably isn’t going to have a lot for me.”

“Everyone is going to be watching this tournament to see who the winners are going to be. The winners get to select what championships they go for and then we’re going to have challenges for those titles. And I’m under no illusions that on the men’s side, they’re probably going to have a winner that’s going to go after whoever the world heavyweight champion is. On the women’s side, they’re probably going to do the same. So, well this tournament is happening. I’m just spinning my wheels. But in spinning my wheels I get to reignite a beautiful weed feud that I’ve got going on that I didn’t even realize I had going on until this week.”

Aiden slowly smiles and shrugs.

”Vincent Lyons eh? You know he and I have never faced each other. But the family? The family I know quite well. See, everyone in this company knows that I’ve had my wars with Eddie. Eddie and I have gone at it over the roulette championship and we’ve traded wins and losses. Everyone knows that I quite like Eddie. I respect him, I think that he is possibly one of if not The greatest and yet underutilized talent that this company has and he should be in that main event scene going for that world championship. Because he is good enough to hold it.”

“But, Eddie and I have beaten the hell out of each other. And in another company. PWS Legacy. I recently faced Alexander Lyons. Another member of the family. So then I come back to this company and I face Vincent. Three male members of the Lyons family all of them coming after little old Me. It seems like I’m in a war with the same family and despite the fact not all the family members say to eye the truth is that this is entertaining Me more than anyone else can imagine.”

“So, what does Vincent bring to the table that the other members of his family don’t?”

“Nothing..”

“I wish I could tell you all that Vincent was some kind of secret weapon in the Lyons family and the Lyons den. But the truth is we’ve seen the best of that family and that gym. Eddie and Victoria. At least in this company. Unfortunately, the best out of that gym isn’t even a member of the family and her name is Cleo. Maybe one day she’ll bring her talents over to this company. But until then we are left with Eddie who is a challenger for the world championship Victoria who has been ruling the women’s roulette division and now Vincent.”

Aiden gets to his feet and folds his arms over his chest.

”And Vincent‘s biggest claim of fame? Holding championships in that dumpster fire of a company WWH. Yeah, a lot of us in SCW were in that company. Alex, our current world champion is a form of world champion in WWE. Alicia also ruled to that company. Hell, I held a championship from that company too but when that company started to become a raging fire and a piece of shit we all left and was smart enough to just wipe our hands of it. But you Vincent? Without your time in that crappy ass company, you would have nothing.”

“So here you are in SCW ready to follow in your family’s footsteps. It’s just too bad that if I wanted a real challenge for your family, I would’ve challenged your twin sister. She’s the one who is currently at the top of a division. She is the one who is holding a championship. Eddie held this championship the roulette championship. He’s challenging for the world championship and being up there in the main event. You walked in and failed going for the Internet championship. Kevin Carter made you look like a joke. But now you get a non-title match against me..”

“Look mate, coming from that family, I know that you’ve got talent. I know that you could become a star here. But I’m sick and tired of being overlooked. And that is exactly what is going to happen when I’m facing you. People are gonna forget that I’m the roulette champion, people are gonna forget that I’ve done everything I can to make this title mean something. And all they’re going to do is look at your last name and think that we have another star on our hands. So to counter that disrespect, I’m gonna do everything I can in our match to show you that you have stepped up in competition. That those championships you held in that dumpster fire of a company mean nothing when you are in the fires of SCW.”

“Bring it Vinnie… cause I’m gonna bury you”

Opportunities

The start of a career is always the hardest part. It doesn’t matter what kind of career it is. Anything where you are starting from the bottom and starting from scratch means that you have to work hard to get your name out there. Even if that is something like being in an office, or working retail, working in the service industry, or any type of management or business, all of it leads to having a chance to reinvent yourself and put your best foot forward. The old saying is to respect the hustle.

Everyone, everyone on earth who has some sort of job or career has had to start at this point. Some people end up having advantages, like getting a job in the family business or having a friend who gets your foot in the door. But you still need to learn how to do the job and still need to have some form of Work ethic. And that is what Aiden Reynolds did. He had a work ethic. From training and learning his craft to going out and grinding and working he had done everything he could to get his name out there. Well, not everything.

He had only worked in Australia.

Contrary to popular belief while Australia is a bustling nation with first-world problems and technologies. It isn’t exactly the most popular place for professional wrestling. There are companies, independent companies that host events all around the country every weekend. But while this is what Aiden wanted to do with his life and his career. It wasn’t what he was able to do to pay the bills. During the week he was working construction jobs, working as a bricklayer on job sites. And on the weekend he would drive all around the country or fly around the country to make dates to get better in the ring and get his name out there.

This was one such night. An independent show in the western suburbs of Sydney Australia, Aiden had just finished a match. The crowd was in all of his natural athleticism and a charisma that he had slowly been working on to set himself apart from every single other name on the card. He stepped backstage a few familiar faces giving him a high-five and a pat on the back. He grabbed the towel moving through the backstage area to the locker room rooms. He bent down and grabbed his bag, pulling it to the side and wiping himself down with a towel to get rid of the sweat.

He looked up, noticing a well-dressed man in a suit. The man was talking to the local promoter nodding slowly as the two seemed to be talking about Aiden. He raised an eyebrow as the promoter put his hand up and told him to come over. Aiden got to his feet moving over to the two men ”Aiden, mate. This is Ken Mashima. He’s from the Tokyo sports Confederacy. He’s been out here scouting a few people and he seems to have been impressed by you.”

”Really?” Aidens eyes widened with surprise, he quickly composed himself realizing that looking like a deer in the headlights and looking shocked at what could potentially be a job opportunity was not the best way to go about things.

Max gave a small nod and lightly bowed to Aiden who bowed back. The promoter backed up and gave Aiden a small wink before letting the two men talk. Mashima folded his arms over his chest with a smirk on his face. He was an older man, still young enough to have his finger on the pulse of what people were looking for but old enough that he had seen many flash-in-the-pan names come and go. ”Excellent to meet you Mr. Reynolds.”

”Please feel free to call me Aiden.”

Mashima then nodded before continuing. ”Well, Aiden, I was sitting in my office in Tokyo, and one of our social media workers came to me and said that many fans from Australia had been tagging our company's Twitter and videos of you. Asking us when you were going to be coming over to Japan and doing some dates. Some of our Japanese van saw those videos and interest has peaked. In fact, you have become somewhat of a cult favorite.”

Aiden blinked a few times unsure of what to say and unsure of how to feel. He scratched the back of his head nervously with a small smile on his face. ”Wow, that’s news to me. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s great. It’s just kind of shocking. I didn’t know that some of the fans in Australia were so passionate about what I do that they were bothering your company about it. All the Japanese fans had taken an interest in Me. Truth be told I wasn’t sure how I was gonna get my foot in the door but I’ve always wanted to go to Japan” Aiden smiled, his enthusiasm was evident.

Mishima nodded slowly and reached into the pocket of his dark blue jacket, pulling out a small envelope. A red bow was tied around it with some gold Japanese lettering embroidered on it. Aiden raised an eyebrow wondering just what it was. ”This is an offer. It is for a limited run of dates for our company, you’ll be paid well your flights will of course be taken care of by us and we have set up a family who will sponsor you. It is only a short run of a month. As an introductory offer. To see if you can be a value to us and if that cult following can transfer into real popularity”

Aiden raised his eyebrows as he opened the envelope. Inside was both the offer in Japanese and in English. Aiden tried to hide it as his eyes almost popped out of his skull seeing how much he was going to get paid for The 15-date tour of Japan. ”Aye, this is amazing. Thank you, Mr. Mashima.” Aidens heart was beating out of his chest. Nationally just slowly smiled. There was a certain respect in his look but also an arrogance.

”Do not thank me yet Mr. Reynolds. Japan is a country where you sink or swim. And believe me, when I say this, we are going to throw you into the deep end. I hope for your sake you are able to swim laps. Because I do not want to see you drown.”

Aiden nodded slowly as Mashima offered his hand. Aiden took it giving it a firm shake as the well-dressed man turned and walked toward the promoter’s office. Aiden looked down at his contract offer. It was real money, a real opportunity. An opportunity to travel to another land and show what he had learned. To be a real professional wrestler. And he wasn’t going to waste it.

The Best

”Oi dickie! Where the fuck are you?”

Aiden Reynolds stomps through the hallway of the large area of the house he currently lives in. Looking around frantically for his best friend Dicky Watson, the younger brother of our current world champion and his opponent for this week Finn Whelan. Aiden turns the corner and finds Dickie sitting at the table a spoon in his hand as his wolfing down a bowl of lucky charms.

”Hey mate, I need your help. See I’m gonna be cutting a promo this week on your brother and I-“

”No…”

”No? What do you mean no?”

Dickie puts his phone down, putting the spoon into the bowl of his lucky charms before moving it to the side and clasping his hands together as he leans across the breakfast bench.

”Aiden, let me explain to you what is going to happen. I will help you cut this promo and then afterward I’m going to get angry and frustrating voicemails from Kayla. Asking me why I said the things that I said. Or why I helped you in any way shape or form. Now, Finn isn’t the one who will care in fact he’ll probably just laugh it off and shrug. But I don’t want to put up with Kayla‘s shrieking voice with her stupid British accent on my goddamn phone.”

Aiden nods slowly

”Fair….”

”I thought so. Last time I said anything negative toward him, she filled up my goddamn voicemail inbox. And then proceeded to start sending me voice messages through everything from ‎WhatsApp to telegram to Facebook Messenger and I really don’t have the time all the patience to deal with her bullshi-….wait… have you already started recording motherfucker?”

”Uh…yeah…”

”You…raging…dickhead…”

Dickie gets to his feet and shakes his head putting the bowl into the sink before walking off. Aiden blinks a few times holding the phone in front of him before realising he still recording and she’ll probably get on with it.

”Right, so, just in case anyone’s wondering I am still the rule at champion. I know, it’s been a while. After all, we ended 2024 and took some time off. I was able to beat Alexandra Raven, I was able to become the roulette champion and since then all I’ve really done is have a rather high-profile match against Daniel Morgan and lose. I’m not gonna make excuses, I’m not gonna sit here and say that I should have beaten Daniel and that it was a fluke or anything like that. You get enough of that from 90% of the other morons who were in this company. I’ll just simply say that Daniel is the better man and I still have a lot of improvement.”

“But still, in case anyone has any type of question about this, yes, losing sucks, and yes it has pissed me off. But Daniel Morgan is not someone who should ever be taken lightly. The guy is a great talent who could be so much more if he actually stuck around in this company. So hopefully he does. We need more people like him in the male division of SCW.”

“And now I get to do the whole New Year New Me thing. Even though it really isn’t. It’s a new year but it’s Me the same old Aiden Reynolds.”

“Now, I’m not going to say that I’m happy with how 2024 ended but I am happy with the year that I was able to carve out in this company. Two roulette championship wins and I was able to get in the ring with some of the best of the best. I was able to face guys like Ben Jordan and of course Daniel Morgan as well as Alexandra Raven and others. I’ve been able to climb the ladder in this company and make a name for myself. I’ve been able to spend time with my son and my beautiful wife as well as my best friend and watch some of the best professional wrestling on the planet from the comfort of the locker room.”

Aiden places his phone down and steps back, folding his arms over his chest before continuing.

”And now I get to have a champion versus champion match. I get to jump in the ring with Finn Whelan. And I’m not going to be like miles and jump him from behind and then play the victim. I get this match just because I’ve earned it. Funny how that happens isn’t it Miles? Sorry if I sound a little bitter but that dude was supposed to be friends with all of us. He was supposed to be our family and he goes and stabs a family member in the back. I’m a little bit pissed off with him, and I get it. Finn can be a bit of a prickly arsehole. And I don’t think that’s news to anyone. But he deserves more respect than that.”

“So, I’ll make damn sure I give Finn the proper respect in and out of the ring. And that’s something that I know exactly how to do because I’m one of the few people on this planet that does understand him. I know he’s not the type of guy who enjoys empty platitudes and people verbally jerking him off in public. But he is all about respect. And I do respect Finn Whelan. And how could you not? The dude has been almost unstoppable in this company. A former world champion and current world champion, a two-time mixed tag team champion, and someone who will be in the Hall of Fame someday. And again, this isn’t me jerking you off Finn this is legit.”

“I know for a fact that you already have had a hall of Fame-worthy career.”

“Now, the next question is, can I beat you? Truth is I don’t know. But if we dig a little deeper into that truth then I have to say no. And I get it that might be a little bit weird for someone to say. That I don’t believe I can beat you. But such is the paradox of professional wrestling. I know I’m not as good as you, I’m not as experienced, I’m not as dangerous, I’m not on your level. Yet. But I want to get there. And to get there I need to keep testing myself. I know it’s an old, kind of bullshit saying, but it isn’t about the amount of times you get knocked down. It’s about the amount of times you get back up again. And I keep getting up. Much to the frustration of a lot of people.”

He smiles and shrugs before grabbing a beer and popping it open and taking a sip.

”I’m going to do all I can to beat you. I’m going to give you my best. Not just because I want to be able to beat you but also because if I don’t give you my best I know I’m going to hear about it later. I’m ready for this match Finn, I’m ready to do everything I can to beat you and I’m ready to put my body on the line. And I know you’re going to do the same. No matter how you feel about me you know that I’m family. Family doesn’t always agree in family isn’t always kind to each other but the fact remains you and I are like family. Your younger brother is like a brother to me. Dickie and I have been tag team champions together and we have gone up and down these roads.”

“Shit, dickie is the godfather to my son. You have spent time with my son you’ve spent time with my wife and we’ve spent time together. I look at you as a brother. That’s why I would never disrespect you as Miles did I would always come to you directly and this match while I didn’t choose it I’m going to embrace it.”

“So, let’s do this brother. Give me your best cause I’ll be damn sure to give you the best.”

Ghosts of the past

Aiden was happy. And why wouldn’t he be? He had a beautiful wife, a beautiful son, friends and family. A career doing what he loved. He was making good money and was able to enjoy what he was doing as a profession. So many others don’t have that privilege. People work jobs they hate, they do jobs that are dangerous even more so than professional wrestling but don’t give the same amount of satisfaction. The truth is, Aiden was lucky.

But, like most people in the world, he had a past. A past we’ve covered the adventures of Aidan Reynolds and his life in Japan and what he dealt with. He had been betrayed by someone who he considered to be a brother, he lost a woman that he was in love with at the time. And as he traveled to America, he did everything that he could to try and rebuild that life. And what a rebuild job it was.

He trained at Wolfslair, a gym that had numerous world champions that had also had a small stint in SCW as a fraction. A faction that had become dominant in ways that so many people could never believe.

But what happens when that past comes back to haunt you?

Aidan was leaving the gym, stretching as he walked out and down the street ready to get his post-workout meal. Foot sub filled with roast beef bacon turkey ham and chicken. One that he filled with all sorts of other fresh veggies and fats and carbs. Because let’s face it, he’s a pig.

He looked at his phone his gym bag slung over his shoulder before a familiar voice made him stop in his tracks. A voice that he hadn’t heard in over six years. ”Aiden-san..”

Aiden turns slowly and blinks a few times. ”Hikaru?”

His heart left into his throat, it was her. Hikaru. His former boss's daughter. The woman who he had fallen deeply in love with, who had been wished away after their relationship was made public. The woman who was inadvertently the cause of his betrayals and fall from Grace. The woman who had unfortunately been the reason why he had to start over in a new land from nothing. And they are here she was standing in front of him.

”How?…why?”

He was speechless. Which, if you know him, is shocking in and of itself. He shook his head his mind drawing a blank with what he wanted to say. ”I moved here, to New York. And I heard this is where you lived. I guess I just wanted to see you.”

Aiden nodded slowly and stood back. ”Well… it’s good to see you. I’m glad that you’ve been doing well. I didn’t really hear much about you after you got forced away.”

Hikaru nodded moving closer ”I was forced to stay away. I studied, I laid low. But when I started working at a law firm a few years ago I jumped at the chance to transfer to their offices in America and last year I found out you live here too. I didn’t know if I should contact you or say hello because so much time had passed and…..I also know you are married…with a son..” 

Aiden chuckled and shook his head ”Yeah, I am married, happily, and my son is amazing. But regardless of the great things I have in my life I still would have appreciated knowing that you were alright.”  He shrugged trying to choose his words carefully so he wouldn’t come off as cold or distant or cruel. ”There was nothing to be afraid of. You and I had something and you’re a great person. But all I wanted to know was if you were safe and if you were happy. I went through a lot. Your father, that old man could hold a grudge.”

”He still can..” Hikaru's voice went low, she looked down and away as her eyes burned with anger. Before Aiden could ask she ground her teeth together ”When he found out you were married, he let me go, letting me get settled in and happy before sending me information on you. That you were wrestling again, you had friends and family, he thought it would hurt me, but I was happy for you….I was just mad he thought it was all about you”

Aidens eyes widened and he pushed out a deep breath ”Damn, I’m sorry he did that….apparently he really did hate the idea of us together…” Hikaru nodded and Aiden sighed heavily ”Why don’t you come over for dinner?”

”W-what?”

Aiden smiled and folded his arms over his chest ”Yeah, legit. Kallie is a sweetheart and she is nice to everyone and besides I told her about you, it’s not like you’re some dirty little secret I kept hidden….she felt bad that your dad would do that to you…and me…”

Hikaru nodded slowly, still unsure before clearing her throat ”I’d love to….you seem so happy Aiden and I would love to meet the woman who did that…” The two talked a little more, a weight being lifted off his shoulders before they separated, his heart seemed to feel better, healed, like he finally had closure on a part of his life that he never knew he needed

Tuff

Aiden took a deep breath, he was unsure where to begin, unsure what to say. He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. He focused forward knowing that he needed to begin to get his thoughts out there.

”Well finally. Finally a match without Bill Barnhart being involved.”

He was relieved, clearly. Not having to think of new things to say against a man who was at this point in his career a complete joke.

”Look, I’m not going to sit here and say that you should never have a return or repeat matches against people. Hell, you can even have a series of matches in a row. But when it is so one-sided, when I am clearly the better man out of the two we don’t need to keep revising it. I have done nothing but beat the shit out of Bill Barnhart for the better part of two months. I’d like to think at this point we have a definitive answer which one of us is better.”

“Spoiler alert it’s Me. I’m better. And now that that part of my career is hopefully behind me I can move on and look to bigger and better things. Namely getting an opportunity at the roulette championship. I kind of like the whole idea about the roulette championship.”

“I mean shit I shouldn’t.”

“See, I have what they call an addictive personality. I need to be very careful with things like alcohol and gambling. Don’t believe me? My Call of Duty addiction was once so bad that I ended up on Prestige 10 within a month of release. My old-school Call of Duty nerds will get that one. That’s the kind of addictive personality I have. I developed an addiction to monster energy that was so terrible that my piss turned the type of neon green that you would expect if someone was hanging around Chernobyl 24/7…”

“So, a championship based around a casino gambling game probably isn’t something that I should be too deeply involved in”

Aiden shrugged and continued.

”The title is fuelled by chaos. A roulette wheel with all the different stipulations on it. It gets spun and whatever it lands on. That’s what we get to do. And I get to fight it out against LJ Kasey and Eddie Lyons… and this should be one hell of a match. I mean LJ is desperate to prove himself and Eddie has a massive chip on his shoulder.”

“And I get it. “

“See in this match you have three young names who are on the cusp of being in the main event. With a few wins over some big names you could see myself Eddie or LJ for the world championship. It’s not completely out of the realm of possibility here. Shit, we just saw Felix the cat beat fucking Kris Ryans”

“So anything can happen”

“ The thing is the three of us have also faced each other and come close to trading wins. I’ve beaten Eddie, I’ve beaten LJ and they have both beaten me.”

Aiden sighs and lets out a small laugh under his breath.

”Now, LJ is a weird case. See we’ve had a lot of siblings in this business. From entire families to twins to triplets we seem to attract whole clans coming into the professional wrestling business. And LJ is coming in and following a brother who never quite reached the potential that we all thought he had. So LJ is in a weird position we’re not only does he want to prove that he is on his brother's level he wants to prove that he’s better than his brother and can live up to all of the promise that we have seen in him.”

“And there’s the problem. You see LJ, you have a huge upside in this business and can show us all how talented you are while also showing us all that you are better than your brother. But what if you don’t? What if you try to do everything that you can to win the roulette championship or earn a shot at the world championship and you just never quite get there?”

“What if you fail in every single way?”

“It’s an interesting question, isn’t it? You can say that you’ll come back and you can say that you will do everything you possibly can to reach those goals and those attainable dreams but in the end, you haven’t shown us anything. You haven’t shown us that you’re good enough to be a champion and you haven’t shown us that you’re good enough to break out from the pack. Eddie and I have both had glimpses of it. But you haven’t. You haven’t done anything to prove to us or anyone and to show us that you are indeed special. Because you’re not special LJ….. and I don’t want to be that guy. I don’t want to be a complete prick in this but you’ve honestly left me no choice and sometimes there needs to be a small amount of tough Love.”

He raises his eyebrows and takes a deep breath before continuing.

”And then there’s me old mate Eddie. A guy who I’ve gone to war with. And if you look at the three of us. If you look at LJ and you look at Eddie and you look at me then you’ve got to say Eddie is the front runner to break that glass ceiling and get to the main event scene before us. LJ is nowhere near ready, and many would argue that I am just scratching the surface but Eddie? Eddie is right there. Eddie is looking at that glass ceiling and has his fingerprints on it.”

“So, I have to ask, Eddie. Are you sure you want to be doing this? I know that you’re gonna come into this match and you’re going to give it everything that you possibly can because you don’t know any other way. But you should be fighting for a championship match against Finn. You should be trying to get your hands on that world championship because I unlike LJ‘s idiot brother. You’ve actually got a pin for victory over Finn.”

“So why are you fighting it out for a chance at the roulette championship? You’re fighting it out to get a shot against Alexandra Raven and no offense to Raven because he’s a great roulette champion but he has had infinite championship opportunities at the world title and he has failed and now he is basically banished to the land of the roulette wheel. But what about you?”

“You should be wanting more and fighting for more. And I know that’s exactly what you’re gonna do. Are you gonna do everything you can to win this match because that’s just the kind of man that you are and that’s something that I respect about you. Any position that you are putting you fight tooth and nail to be the man who has his hand raised at the end of the match. You’ll do everything you can to beat myself and LJ you’ll do everything you can if you beat us to beat Alexandra Raven and get that roulette championship back. But sometimes man, your pride and that will win can hurt you more than it can help you. And I’m gonna take advantage of that.”

“I gave LJ some tough Love before so I’m going to do the same thing for you. I’m gonna do everything I can to win this match. I’m gonna do everything I can to have my hand raised at the end of it so I’m the one who is going to go on to face Alexandra Raven. So I’m the one who’s going to go for the roulette championship. Because it’s the only way that you were gonna open your eyes and realize that you need to be climbing for something higher, you need to be going for the world championship and you need to fucking fight for Eddie so, I’m gonna do everything I can to free of this burden and I’m going to go after the roulette championship. And I’m going to do it by beating you and LJ on climax control.”

Square peg, round hole

Aiden was constantly walking on eggs. Eggshells as it were. Constantly trying to make sure that he wasn’t doing anything to annoy, piss off, or set off Florence. His living girlfriend. The tattoo artist that he had started dating. It was a whirlwind romance one based on lust and looks and less off of who they were as human beings. At first, Florence seemed to be supportive and kind but very slowly she started trying to change everything about Aiden.

She tried to change someone after being in a relationship with them. Everything she did was trying to make him more responsible or not as wild or change his thought process. And this entire situation, this whole toxic relationship was doing nothing but make Aiden miserable. It was something that had to be pointed out to him and shown directly to his face. And then a moment of friendship and caring Dickie Watson has slapped him in the face with the truth.

The day started like any other, Aiden would get up. He would roll out of bed after working a night shift as a bouncer. A job that Florence had thrust upon him. He made a protein shake chugging down through some laundry into the washing machine and then went to the gym. He would then come home eat and try and take a nap.

But then the problem would come home.

Florence would return angry after work due to there being a massive downturn as well as her clientele leaving her. ”I'm so sick of this shit…”

Aiden wanting to show empathy puts an open beer in front of Florence. Sitting down next to her with a small disarming smile. ”Aye I’m sorry love”

”Sorry? You could make things a lot easier if you’d just get a real job and stop wrestling Aiden…”

Aiden sits back his empathy leaving him. In his mind, all he could think was the same thing over and over again. Here she goes again ready to blow up over nothing. ”I do have a job and I’m also wrestling. I make money from both…”

Florence grunts and gets up pacing back and forth. ”Do you? I mean really Aiden. You could make so much more money from a regular job instead you’re bouncing so you can have your time at the gym and go do your wrestling matches. It’s time to grow the fuck up.”

Grow the fuck up

Those words echo throughout Aiden’s brain. That was the problem. She thought. He was a child who didn’t know what he was doing with his life. She wanted him to grow up to get a real job or whatever it was that most people did with their lives. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes before standing up and walking away. ”Really? Walking away?”

Aiden stopped. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself before turning around and putting his hands up. He had enough. Dickies words echoing through Aiden‘s brain along with every other comment that she had made him pointing out the fact that he was miserable had finally made him snap ”You no I’m a grown arse man right? You want to sit there and talk about how I need to grow up? I packed my shit and I have traveled the world since I was 18 years old.”

”But you still don’t take care of yourself-“

Aiden put his hand up before continuing ”I lived in Japan for three years. A country where I didn’t know the language and I didn’t know the culture and I didn’t know how to pay bills and I figured that out and navigated it. I have had a successful life and then I have moved here and you have made me feel guilty about pursuing my dreams and pursuing who I am and I’ve had enough Flo. it’s over I’m done.”

”Aiden.”

He shook his head, stepping back towards the bedroom door ”I said I’m done…we are done…” Aiden moved to the bedroom door closing it behind him. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders like he was finally free and he could finally breathe again and just be himself. Now is the hard part separating his and Florence’s lives. So he could finally begin his own. He pulled out his phone swiping it open before picking it up to his ear.

”Aye…mate I need a favour…”


Wild Card

”Well I’m sure what you are all thinking is that I have a lack of what I would like to call a co-star today. See most of the time I have someone I can bounce ideas off of. Someone that can help me talk shit. But right now, I don’t need anyone like that. You see. I need to get this runaway train back on the track. I’ve been swerving all over the place like a drunk on the road. And I need to stop.”

Aiden pauses his large arms folding over his chest as he stares straight ahead.

”I got in the ring with our world champion. I did everything I could to go toe to toe with him and in the end, he beat me. It was an expected result, right? The world champion to beat me? I get that. But I’d like to think that I was able to claw a little bit of respect from each and every one of you who thought that Finn was just going to destroy me and walk over me like I was nothing. I have done everything in my power to be taken seriously as a professional in this company and there are some people who still doubt me and think I’m just a fucking clown with an Australian accent. I’m sorry but that position has already been filled. Krystal Wolfe stand up and take a fucking bow.”

“So after losing to our world champion where does that leave me? Well, I got put in a wildcard match. The winner of this match gets an Internet championship match. I swear to God this company. It is a constant cycle of people being thrown in multi-man matches to get championship shots. There is no working up to anything. There is no hierarchy. There is no ladder that you climb where you can start from the beginning and work your way up through which division it is just a case of grabbing everyone that they can put them in a match throwing shit against the wall and seeing what sticks.”

“This might sound a little harsh but it’s true”

“I understand that this is how things have always been done in this company. And don’t get me wrong I like SinCity wrestling. It’s why I decided to sign a contract here. But at the end of the day, I would like some form of direction I would like to know what I’m fighting for and why and I would also like to know why I’m getting opportunities. Here I am in a match which is essentially a number one contenders match for the Internet championship and I’ve lost three fucking matches straight. I should not be in contention for anything.”

Aiden throws his hands in the air pacing back-and-forth clearly frustrated at what is going on right now.

”I don’t want any of my opponents to start getting excited. I’m not saying that any of them deserve to be in this match either. Justin Smith is a running joke in this company. He is the answer to a question. No one asked and the more I see him the more I question just why he has a contract. The dude turns up does the minimum amount of work every single time he’s booked and then sits and just shrugs like it doesn’t matter to him. He doesn’t care about his job so he’s a detriment to others. He turns up in tournaments like The Blast from the past people get matched up with him people who actually want to win the tournament and said they were handicapped by someone who is lazy and shouldn’t be here.”

“Justin pack your shit and leave. No one wants you here. No one wants people who treat professional wrestling like a joke and you treat professional wrestling like a joke. I might make jokes. I might be a smart arse but I’m not like you. When I step in a ring, I do so as a professional when you step in the ring you do so as a fucking jester.”

“But at least with Justin you look at him and you know that he understands he’s a joke. No one takes Justin Smith seriously not even himself. But then you’ve got someone like Bill Barnhart. A guy who tries to take himself seriously but everyone else hasn’t been lending on the job. Bill you constantly come out and say stupid bullshit that no one believes and then when we call you out on it you just ignore it. You keep saying you’re going to win all of these matches and do all of these things and when your promises don’t eventuate instead of taking a step back and looking at yourself and trying to bed yourself, you just stick your fucking head in the sand just like your  moron wife…”

“You are nothing but a fat waste of space with a bad goatee, stupid sunglasses, an ugly dog, and an even uglier wife.”

“Now that is Tweedledee and Tweedle dumb ass now I’m onto two guys who should be way better than they actually are. Unbreakable Eddie Lyons and LJ Kasey…”

Aiden pauses for a moment taking a deep breath before his eyes open and he continues.

”LJ buddy, you are starting to fall into the exact same trap that your brother is. You’re starting to be looked at as someone who is never going to live up to their potential. Honestly, it’s a trap that I’m stuck in. All I keep hearing is how I pushed Ben Jordan to his limit, or how good I did against Finn, or how awesome I did against Alexander Raven even though I lost all three of those matches. The word potential is an albatross that is hung around your neck when people don’t believe you’ll ever reach where you should. It’s something that has been used when it comes to your brother and now it’s been used with you as well.”

“I’m not going to allow myself to get trapped in the story of potential. I’m not gonna let myself get trapped by that word and neither should you. This is a chance for both of us to break out from that. The only thing is only one person can walk away with the Internet championship shot. So I don’t know mate, maybe it will be you, maybe it will be me, or maybe it will be Eddie.”

“I mean let’s face it. It’s gonna be one of us three the other two can’t win shit.”

“But week after week I have been showing Eddie Lyons respect. And I’m sorry Eddie but I only have so many verbal blowjobs in me before I start to get lockjaw. I like you mate I do, and I respect what you’re able to accomplish but how much can you really say about a man who should be fighting for the world title but instead is still stuck down here with us? And I’m serious. You should have moved on to challenge Finn. You should be the one going for that spot. You should be the one pushing to be in the main event but instead, you’re complacent and happy to be down here with us. Trying to put my career back together and trying to climb the ladder LJ is trying to get out of his brother's shadow and the other two nitwits are just here because they have nothing better to do. But you? You’ve become complacent with your position, complacent with being in the Internet or roulette championship pictures…”

“Everyone needs to grow and build themselves. That’s what I’m trying to do in this match. But you Eddie? You should be going for the world championship, LJ. You need to start thinking about being better than your brother and Justin Smith? Will meet you just need to fuck off no one cares. And Bill? Bill whenever you’re done giving your wife the worst three seconds of her day and you decide to roll off of her and join us in a match will be waiting to kick your head in. But until then, deuces, fuck you all, I’m out….”

Toxic

You know sometimes you can try and make a relationship work when you really shouldn’t.

It is a fatal floor in the human condition. We are social creatures and we want to be with people. Sometimes that leads us to trying to save relationships which should be left to wither and die. Yeah I know this is a really heavy premise to be opening up this with. Especially since this has to do with Aiden Reynolds. Are you sure you are viewing the right one?

Look, here were all about the laughter but when it comes to certain subjects you need to have a heavy hand. And the duality of a relationship is definitely something that needs to be looked at with respect. As humans we enjoy the company of others, but what happens if you get in a relationship with someone that just doesn’t fit with you? Your personalities clash you and are making each other more miserable than you would be if you were just alone?

Why would you not cut your losses and leave? It’s why we see people get divorced, that’s why we see people cheat on others. It’s not always about the power or the desire sometimes it’s just about needing someone who listens to you and understands when the person that you are supposed to be with doesn’t. don’t worry you’re not about to see Aiden become a cheating arsehole. That’s not his style. However, we do join Mr. Reynolds sitting at home, with his best friend Dickie Watson. A few years ago, obviously, before he was with his current wife.

Yes, buckle up. This is going to be a Florence story.

Aiden and Dicky smile and laugh as they sit near each other. Willow, the wombat that Aiden had stolen… I’m sorry I mean liberate from the zoo sniffs around the floor near him. She’s obviously looking for food as Aidan reaches up and grabs across off his sandwich, ripping it off and handing it to the wombat. She takes it from him and chews it while making grunting noises. Aidan scratches her behind the ear, dickie tilts his head and laughs to himself.

”I really don’t understand how you somehow got a wild animal to act like a fucking dog” Dickie chuckles, Aiden shakes his head and scratches Willow along the side, causing her to lean against the couch and look up at him with a loving glare.

”Mate. Wombats are smarter than dogs….” Dickie turned his head and looked down at Willow, then back at Aiden with an unbelieving smirk. ”I’m completely serious. When I was a kid there was one who lived near us in a burrow. I swear he knew when we were home and come ask for food…”

Dickie blinked a few times. Not sure what he should say or if he should even believe him. The door lock clicked and opened. Aiden took a deep breath and looked over his shoulder. Flo stepped in and sighed heavily throwing her bag on the table. ”What a horrible fucking day…” She stepped in looking over at Dickie and sitting down.

Dickie gave her a small nod and got to his feet. ”well I better jet….see you at the gym tomorrow..” Dickie stood up and offered fist bump. Aiden reciprocated and stood up as Dickie headed to the door.

As Dickie left Aiden grabbed a beer for Florence, opening it and putting it down in front of her. They sat next to each other and Aiden put his arm around her. ”Come on love…tell me about
your day…what was so bad about it?”

Flo sighed heavily and rubbed her feet. ”I had two clients who wanted cover up jobs. And they both complained about pain….who comes to a tattoo artist to cover up bad jobs and then complains about it?” she was frustrated, she was angry. But she had a point. Aiden gave a small smile and gave her a squeeze.

”Aye i’m sorry Love, that sounds horrible. But knowing you…you did a great job.”

She barely acknowledged him, just nodding slowly as she sat back and took a drink. Willow came trotting out of the bedroom looking up at them both tilting her head. She snorted, and then farted. ”Argh really?” she set up. Clearly angry at what just happened. Snatches the beer off the table and gets to her feet stomping towards the room.

”Hey..what’s wrong?”

She stopped before reaching the bedroom, pivoting on her heels to spin around and look back at him. ”Whats wrong?” she narrowed her eyes and stepped closer before folding her arms over her chest. ”I bust my ass, I have a bad day, and then I come home expecting that I’ll be able to relax only to be confronted with the little hairball that you stole from a fucking zoo….”

”Hey Willow is part of the-“

”Don’t you finish that sentence!” she pointed a finger right at Aidan, her eyes burning with anger. ”This is not how I wanted to spend my night…you can stay out here with her..I’m going to bed.” she stormed off going straight to the bedroom, she slammed the door behind her and Aidan looked down at Willow ”Argh it stinks in here!”

”Was it something you said?”

Grunt.

One is a match, two is a fued.

”Ya know, there is the old terminology. You win some you lose some. But in this business winning is how you get paid, losing set back your momentum. And everything that you need to do is laid down in front of you and so obvious.”

Aiden chuckles and shakes his head. It is obvious but not in the way that you think.

”Summer Xxtreme is one of the biggest shows of the year. And the ultimate X match that happens for the roulette championship is always a feature. I mean come on, ring roots suspended over a pool with the Roulette championship strapped across the centre. Four competitors all trying to get up there to get the championship down with the danger that you can be eliminated by falling into the pool. It is a marquee match, something that people look forward to every single time that SuperCard is announced.”

“I had a shot at reclaiming the roulette championship. The championship that I lost to Alexander Raven, but in the end I took a dip. I fell into the pool and I got eliminated. So that old adage, you win some, you lose some. It played in my head over and over again and while I’m not going to sit here and make excuses and try and cope like some other people do it would be foolish of me not to acknowledge the loss., That is a problem that a lot of people in this company and the wrestling world large have.”

“They can’t handle losing so they either throw a tantrum or they completely ignore it. But losses are lessons.”

“It’s something that is said a lot at Wolfslair. Every loss makes you stronger. Every loss allows you to examine it and see where you went wrong. No matter if it’s a one on one match, or if it is a multi man match where you can lose by falling into a pool. You can learn through every loss and every win. Ignoring them does nothing. In fact in the long run ignoring your losses and acting as if nothing happened, damages your career. It damages the way you look at the professional wrestling business. And I refuse to be one of those people. So after watching that match back over and over again, after looking at my match against Alexander Raven the one where he beat me for the roulette championship. I’ve learned more than I would have if I just moved on and tried to act like nothing happened.”

He shrugs and faults his arms over his chest. He takes a deep breath before continuing getting ready to focus onto his opponent

”But now it’s time for me to get ready for the proving grounds series. And lucky me, I get to face my old buddy Eddie Lyons. And after the last match hand I had everything that I said I standby. I stood here and I told the world how great Eddie is. I told you all how he was a great champion and I told you all that he is a tough son of a bitch who hit harder than a truck. Guess what, nothings changed.”

“Eddie is someone who I honestly believe could be a future world champion in Sin city wrestling. Here’s someone who should be fighting for the top championship. Hell, I’m sure so many of you would love to see Eddie Lyons go one on one with Finn Whelan.”

“Instead Eddie has to face me again.”

“Now, part of me wishes that I was still a roulette champion. See Eddie was a great champion and after I was able to beat him and take that title I kind of knew that he had a rematch in his back pocket. But this match isn’t going to be for that championship because I had to go and lose it, as you all know. I got my arse handed to me by Alexander Raven. so the rematch for the championship was never going to happen. And while some of the blame needs to be put on my shoulders for not being able to get past Raven, you know who really is to blame?”

Aiden looks forward directly into the camera with a scowle on his face

”Victoria Lyons.”

He lost to himself and looks away before refocusing and continuing

”Your cousin Eddie. Instead of just letting nature take its course and letting you and I get into the ring to have a rematch and allow you the chance to get the roulette title back she put me against Alexander Raven. And he’s the thing, while she was doing this to punish me for beating you, I have a feeling she was also doing it to punish you for losing to me. Think about it. Really think about it.”

“Why didn’t you get your rematch? Instead, you had to share it with me, Bill Barnhart and the guy who was holding the championship.”

“It just didn’t sit right with me.”

“But now you have a shot at it. It’s not for the roulette championship Eddie, but this is your chance to beat me one on one. You and I faced once and I was able to walk out the winner. But proving grounds is a concept that interests me. this is your chance to prove that you can beat me. Your chance to prove that you should’ve had your rematch against me to get that roulette title back. And this is my chance to prove that first overview wasn’t a fluke. It’s my chance to prove that I belong. But I can hang with the best that this company has to offer. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Open

It had been a few weeks. Aiden had tried everything to get into a mindset where he could enjoy himself. But the truth is after what happened in Japan it was hard for him to trust. And he wasn’t about to just trust everyone at the gym. His days were filled with working out, often by himself unless he was in the ring with the rookies. afterward, he would have a shower, get some food, and retire to the small loft at the back of the gym that he had called his home for the foreseeable past and future

It was a lonely existence. Many high-ranking members of the gym had tried to talk to him. From Austin James Mercer to Alicia Lukas, to Alex Jones himself. But none of them could get through. He seemed to enjoy being alone.

But he could see the looks he was getting. Everyone would stare, they would want to go up to talk to him but would be apprehensive. The normally upbeat and goofy Australian had turned into a loner. Someone who is quiet and reserved. Someone who would rather spend time by himself than laugh and enjoy others' company.

Alex and Austin stood in the corner, talking with Alex‘s wife Sonya. They looked over at him, he could feel their eyes on him. He knew they were talking about him. Aiden shook his head as Austin made his way over. The tall muscular American smiled and gave Aiden a nod. He moved his hand up moving his hair behind his ears, as this was back when Austin still had his long brown hair and had the demeanor of a happier man

”Hey Aiden.” Austin gave him a nod, Aiden did it back and Austin folded his arms over his chest. Aiden started taking his wrist wraps off as Austin seemed to think over what he wanted to say. ”How are you finding Wolfslair?”

Aiden looked over at Austin. He nodded slowly again and threw his wrist wraps in the small black gym bag at his feet. He put his hands on his hips and tried to act relaxed but in reality, he had no idea what to say, he had no idea if he wanted to admit he’s been finding it hard or if he just wanted to play lip service, so many things were going through his head, he wanted to joke around but he was also terrified to. Instead, all he was able to mutter was one single word. ”Fine”

Austin grumbled, while he wasn’t the same angry, rage-filled force of nature back then, he was still grumpy and easily irritable. He ground his teeth together and looked over at Alex and Alicia, who both used subtle body language to push Austin toward Aiden. ”You sure? You haven’t really talked to anyone. You seem to do the bare minimum when it comes to ring work and also do the bare minimum in communicating with everyone else….”

Aiden took a deep breath, he didn’t want to act like a dick, he also didn’t want to tell Austin everything. Why would he? Where exactly would Aiden be able to begin with all of this? He entered a relationship with the boss's daughter, a man who had ties to the Yakuza, he then had a best friend and tag team partner who backstabbed him and then had to leave Japan. Only to land here. How exactly do you condense that down into a relatable and understandable, dialogue? ”I’ll try harder mate.” It was a very straightforward answer, direct, to the point. But it wasn’t the answer that Austin was looking for.

The hulking former world champion and default locker room leader of the gym just under the owner. Alex shook his head. He moved around in front of Aiden, tilted his head looking down. ”Look, I don’t know what you think is going on here, Alex brought you in because he sees something in you, but your attitude isn’t winning you any friends.”

”Friends?” That word was going to set him off. Aiden hated it. The last time he considered anyone in this business a friend he felt that cruel sting of a knife right in the base of his back. He swallowed and shook his head before leaning down and picking up his bag.”I ain’t here to make friends mate. I’m here to train and get better, last I heard this was a gym, not a bloody social club.” he went to breeze past Austin, however, Austin was not going to let him off that easy.

”You’re right, it’s not.” Aiden stopped and looked over his shoulder. ”But your attitude has rubbed a lot the wrong way. I mean what? You think you’re above us all 'cause you flew straight in from Japan?”

”Nah that ain’t i-”

”Alex wrestled in Japan, so did Alicia, hell so did that skinny kid over in the corner. So this whole”better than you” attitude needs to stop.”

Aiden could see now. His silence and stand-off nature had made people think he was arrogant. Made people believe that he thought he was better than everyone else. He swallowed hard and shook his head, that wasn’t what he wanted, that wasn’t what he was trying to do. He turned and took a few more steps toward Austin throwing his hands in the air before scratching the back of his neck. ”I don’t think I’m better than anyone….never said I did…” He took a deep breath and stepped back toward Austin. ”So…what do I do?”

Austin smirked and laughed under his breath. ”Come out with us….have a meal…a few drinks…”

Aiden cleared his throat, he looked around the gym at all the different faces. Some he had gotten to know a little bit about, others. He didn’t even know where they were until today. It sounded like a good idea, going out for a meal and a couple of laughs. It was something that, he would’ve jumped at Thida before. Something he did with so many others when he was in Japan. But right now? He wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready to go out and do that, to put himself on the line like that. ”I’d like that mate, but…uh…not tonight yeah?”

Austin smiled and gave him a nod, something about the look in his eye that made him realize where Aiden was coming from ”Alright….so a rain check?”

”yeah…thanks.” Austin offered a fist bump, Aidan smiled and reciprocated before picking up his bag and heading towards the stairs. Austin went over and talked to Alex and Alicia. Alex nodded and smiled seemingly happy with The progress was made. Aiden needed to get out, he needed to feel fresh air and get away from this gym.

He threw on a T-shirt, sprayed himself with deodorant, and moving downstairs past the other students and members of the gym who were getting ready to leave, he made his way outside and started walking down the sidewalk. Not even looking where he was going. Staring at his feet is a shuffle along the concrete. Minutes passed by, and he couldn’t keep track of what street he was going down and then suddenly he felt a collision with someone else. ”Ahh shit sorry…”

He looked up, and standing in front of him was a woman. Long black hair with a few red streaks, full of tattoos, she clearly worked out but wasn’t a bodybuilder or wrestler of any kind. She shook her head and smiled. ”It’s ok these things happen…..my name is Florence…nice to meet you…” She smiled and offered her hand, Aidan couldn’t help himself. He smiled back and took his hand in hers, giving it a small shake.

”Aiden….nice to meet you…”

Queens Gambit

Aiden Reynolds, the new SCW Roulette champion. Who would have thought he would’ve won a championship so soon after entering the company? But here he was, holding the gold in his hands. He couldn’t help but smile but he also knew there was work to be done.

”Man, this is kind of nuts yeah? When I entered this company I had no idea what to expect. I joined the blast from the past because I thought it would be a bit of a laugh and I was interested to see how far I could make it. Not very far apparently. but, it also got my name out there. And that leverage and that knowledge led me into getting a championship match against Eddie Lyons…”

“Now, I stand by everything that I said about Eddie. He is an amazing professional wrestler, tough as nails, hits like a bloody truck. Eddie is the kind of guy that you want to have a match with because he brings out the best in you and that’s exactly what he did with Me. He brought out a side of me. I didn’t even know existed. when the dust settled I was the one who was holding the championship but I want you all to realize something, Eddie Lyons is one of the best in this fucking company.”

“And I can see Eddie challenging Finn for that world title”

“I get it. This is a little bit weird, right? Normally in this business, we like to badmouth our opponents. Rub salt in the wound when we beat them, but I’m not like that and I’ve never been like that. When I see a guy like Eddie Lyons, I realize that he thrives off of competition. he’s someone who needs respect and he is someone who deserves respect and that’s exactly what I’m going to give him. I would’ve given him respect if he beat me but it is also important when you beat someone to appreciate the fact that you have just beaten someone who would consider one of the best. If you keep verbally destroying people and running them into the ground then ultimately…..”

“Your victories mean nothin’”

Aiden laughs to himself and lets out a sigh of happiness. No matter what no one can take this away from him.

”Now, I want to be a fighting champion. And that means putting this championship on the line against anyone and everyone. Whenever I needed. Of course that doesn’t mean I thought that first show back I’d be defending it. But it appears as if our queen for a day had other plans. She wanted to punish me for beating her cousin. kind of weird isn’t it? Eddie is so respectful and ready to be the best company to offer and instead of giving him a chance to prove that and giving Eddie a shot at the world championship she decides to punish me for simply being better on the night.”

“Kinda weird.”

“Almost like Vicky doesn’t think her cousin can get the job done.”

“So, instead of helping her cousin out and giving him a championship match that he honestly deserves she instead gives a guy a championship opportunity who arguably doesn’t deserve it. All in aid of punishing me. It’s really vindictive. And honestly? I kind of dig it. After all, what’s the point in having power if you aren’t gonna use it? So I can’t understand that. But using one of your wishes on lil ol’ me? Ahh Vicky, I’m flattered.”

Aidan smiles, picking up a chocolate chip cookie and popping it into his mouth, crunching it up before beginning the next portion of his promo

”Now Alexander Rav-“

Before Aidan can continue Kallie Reznik his wife. Fellow wrestler and baby momma steps in.

”Aiden! Do not cut promos with your mouth full! You’ll choke!”

Then Dickie Watson, Aiden's best friend long-time tag partner, and younger brother of Finn Whrlan pops up.

”Still won’t choke as hard as Raven does in EVERY big opportunity…”

Kallie's eyes widen, Aiden swallows his cookie and clears his throat and Dickie smiles wide. Proud of himself. For being a little shit….

”Look, I wasn’t gonna say it….”

Aiden nods slowly and then looks up refocusing on his promo and his opponent.

”I ain’t gonna throw shit on Alexander. We all struggle ya know? We all go through hardship. We all have glass ceilings. And Raven has held this title before so it’s not like he ain’t a contender. It ain’t like he can’t beat me. In fact, I’d argue Birdy Boy is the favorite goin into this match. And I’ll explain why.”

“See, I know that I have been able to take SCW by storm. I know that I’ve been able to go toe to toe with guys like Ben Jordan and beat Eddie for this championship but at the same time, it’s not like I’ve been a dominant unstoppable force. I have my weaknesses. and I got eliminated very early in the blast from the past whereas Alex went all the way to the bloody final”

“Raven has been in main events, he fought for that world championship and he has been a champion here. Alexander Raven is not someone who anyone should ever underestimate. So all jokes aside about him choking more often than a porn star with a gag reflex, he is still dangerous. And he is someone who could beat me.”

“I’m not stupid. I completely understand this. I understand that I’m the underdog. And I’m fine with that. He has much more stock in this company than I do. He is someone that the fans know he is someone that a lot of you have marked as a man who will eventually be the world champion. And Me? I’m just a funny goofball.”

He shakes his head and laughs to himself again.

”But, one thing I will say is that it’s an honor to be going to war against a fellow Australian. I’ve been damn proud of what he and his wife of both been able to accomplish in this company. Not so much what Krystal Wolfe has done. I don’t think we’re going to want to claim her as an Australian. but the fact we are both from the same country is where the similarities end. Alexander Raven has someone who thrives on chaos, someone who is a deep thinker who waxes lyrical about literally everything that comes into his head.”

“He is a complex individual who always tries to analyze everything that he is doing and everything that his opponent is doing. He is a ring general who likes to sit there and watch tape and study before finally cutting a promo that makes everyone think because he likes to use big words very few of us. Me included.”

“Whereas I’m simple.”

“Shockingly simple someone would say. I just enjoy doing this job. I love professional wrestling. But for the longest time, the love of this business is all that kept me going. And I have to admit it wasn’t enough. There was a time when I wanted to walk away, a time when I wasn’t sure my heart would be in. But do you know it changed? Do you know what made me keep going, Alexander? Two things. My family and my desire.”

He looks over at his wife and child a smile coming across his face before he nods a dicky who stays uncharacteristically quiet

”My desire to be the best. My desire is to show everyone that I’m not a joke. But I’m not just a goofy guy who says funny things. But I am a real athlete and a real professional wrestler who is tough as names. I have gone toward pruning that by winning the roulette championship and now I have to keep going by beating you. See, if I lose this match against you raven I lose the championship and I have one of if not the shortest roulette championship reigns in history.”

“Do you know what that would do to me? Do you realize what that would do to my ego and my desire? Do you realize what it would do when it comes to how I view myself through the eyes of my family? Because that was the other reason why I do this. My wife, my kid, my friends. I want my son to grow up and look at me respect me and respect the career that I had and see that his father was not a failure. To see that his father did everything he could to prove that he was the best. That’s the kind of shit that drives me Raven. That’s the kind of shit that goes through my mind every single day whenever I’m in the gym whenever my muscles and joints are burning because I just need to do one more wrap. Whenever I’m in the ring with a guy who I know can beat the hell out of me.”

“When I hit the mat and that pain courses through me and most people will not get up. That is what drives me to get up. That is what drives me to keep trying to be the best. So you better bring everything that you have Alexander, you better bring all of that frustration and not being able to be the world champion and all that frustration of losing the blast from the past you better roll it up and you better bring it at me with everything you have because if you don’t? well if you don’t then you’re gonna fail again. And I won’t have the opponent that I deserve.”

Danger Date

Getting to know people was always hard for Aiden. I don’t mean learning people's names or seeing them on a day-to-day basis, I mean really knowing them. And letting them know him. Despite outward appearances, Aiden was more of an introvert than many people realized. I know hard to believe. After all, this is the same guy who would do a “shoey” and then a “nudie run” around a park.

And if those words don’t mean much to you then I don’t blame you. This is Australian slang and I’m not even sure I  know what it means.

But it was true Aiden didn’t let a lot of people in. He talked to everyone. He laughed with everyone. He joked with everyone but as far as letting people know who he was. The real him. Well, he could count those people on one hand. The reason was very simple. He was always unsure of himself. Unsure of the kind of man he wasn’t unsure of people would really like him if they knew him. So he put on the mask. The mask of a lovable goofball who is always cracking jokes and doing stupid things to get a rise out of people.

And for the most part, it worked.

Hayden would walk backstage and people would laugh. They would talk to him and smile. He became a very well-liked person and most people would say he was a valuable asset to a company. But deep inside he was scared. Scared that these people would get to know him and not like him. Scared that they would start to think that he was something he wasn’t. Or worse scared that they would find out he did have emotions and wasn’t just a goofball.

It was even worse when it came to dating. Well, Aiden was a good-looking man by most accounts, tall, well-built, Sandy blonde hair and a killer smile with dimples. Most women would love that combined with an Australian accent and the attitude that he had. But he wasn’t as outgoing as many people believed. In fact, he was scared around most women. He didn’t want to talk to them and make them think that he wasn’t interested. Or that he was. The opposite sex terrified him and that is something very sad when we all think about it.

Hell, even I think that’s sad and I just narrating this little bitch’s story.

But here he was, about to go on a date, another date, with a woman who really was something of a dream for him. Akari was like a Japanese princess. She was the daughter of what when he would consider the Emperor of wrestling in Japan. She was sweet, kind, beautiful, smart, funny, everything that he wanted.

But she was also forbidden fruit. A woman whose father could crush Aiden and his dreams and his career in the palm of his hand within seconds. That is something that would normally terrify Aiden, it would scare him away. But the connection they had was so strong and her story so sweet. Men never approached her, they were terrified too because of her father. And because of that she was lonely. They were both lonely.

And in each other, they found someone to laugh with, talk to, and enjoy spending time with. And how could that ever be wrong? But in the green scheme of things it was. Aiden was dating someone who was the daughter of the man who signed his paycheck, the man who could decide whether or not Aiden had a career in Japan or if he would be sent back home. And if rumors were to be believed, he could also decide whether or not Aiden lived or died.

He smiled awkwardly he moved his chopsticks around and told them getting noodles wrapped around them with a few pieces of pork before popping it into his mouth. Akari gave him an approving nod. ” You're getting better at that.

Aiden offered a small shrug and shook his head. ”Aye the amount of practice I’ve had to do is borderline insane.”

And he was right. Aiden had eaten every meal for the last two weeks which chopsticks. Even food that he didn’t need to. Just so he could practice for this date. The buffoon. ”I wouldn’t be offended if you ate with a fork…” She smiled, it was a kind smile that wasn’t filled with any type of condescending nature.

Aiden cleared his throat and shook his head. ”I know. Believe me, I do. I know that I can be myself around you. I haven’t questioned it. In fact, you’re probably the only person in this country who I can be myself around. I don’t get to know many people. It just doesn’t seem right. But with you it’s different.”

She blushed and looked down, twirling her noodles with one of the chopsticks. A small smile flashed on her pink sparkle-painted lips. ”I…feel the same way…” Aiden looked up, blinking a few times and tilting his head as Akari cleared her throat. ”I always have to act a certain way, be a certain way. Around my father, my mother, my friends. They all come from a world that is suffocating me….” She paused a moment and locked eyes with Aiden. The smile grew wider. ”With you I can breathe”

They both sat in silence. Feeling awkward about the conversation. Neither of them was particularly good at opening up and it showed. Surround them blissfully talked laughing in their own conversations and their own worlds. ”Well, that was heavy…”

”im sorry…”

”Nah don’t apologise love… he smiled, shooting her a happy-go-lucky grin. ”But I do have a question….” She looked up again, Aiden took a deep breath and sat back. He was dreading it but he has to ask. He had to know. ”Where is this goin'?”

Akari tilted her head and swallowed ”What do you mean?”

Aiden took a deep breath and leaned forward. His hands class went together as he balanced on his forearm and got close keeping his voice down. ”Look, I’m not the smartest guy around but I also ain’t dumb. What kind of future do we have if your father doesn’t know? Or approve?”

She bowed her head and pushed out a heavy breath. ”I’m not sure he would ever approve….to be honest I have been trying to not think about it…” Aidens demeanor changed. He sat back and looked down, avoiding eye contact as he went deep into thought. Akari realized it and moved her hand across the table, grabbing his. ”But I will fight for it….we will tell him…just…not now…” she smiled and Aiden was assured. It was a weight off his shoulders. But the weight of his shoulders couldn’t stop the dark cloud hanging over his head. He knew where this was going and it was not going to be good. But that’s a story for another time.

Blastin for a pastin

”Shit, was I drunk when I signed up for this? Because I don’t think I remember. I usually hate tournaments. You get a whole bunch of people together and expect them to go from match to match and it always ends up as a cluster. Of course, this tournament's even more of a cluster than normal. You take a man and a woman who have never met each other, or maybe they have an' just don’t like each other, and you place them together in a team, so they have to rely on each other. shit sounds like a chaotic idea to me. Truth Be Told kinda like it…..”

Aiden Reynolds, everyone’s favorite Aussie douchebag. Standing alone which for him is always an anomaly when it comes to cutting promos. See Aiden’s one of these people who likes to bounce ideas off of others. He likes to make sure everyone else sounds serious so he can say the most out-of-whack bullshit that will ever come out of someone’s mouth.

”Yeah it’s like…super cool…”

And just like that a wild Kallie appeared!!!.  She used super cute and it was super effective. Aiden blinked a few times and shook his head

”So, last time everyone saw me I was taken on that sexy piece of man beef Ben Jordan. The cockney king. And he and I had a great old tussle. Honestly, I can’t remember much about that match except for his piercing blue eyes and chisel jewel line that would make most 1950s leading men green with envy…”

Kallie made a face and slowly looked at Aiden.

”Should I be worried?”

Aiden scoffs and dismissively eaves his hand

”Nah, ya know I don’t swing that way. I can just appreciate some of the most subtle differences in the human form compared to different men. And Ben Jordan is a man amongst men. But I’m proud of the fact that I was able to step in the ring with him and I was able to take it to him in many different ways. He’s a former world champion and being able to say that I’ve been in the ring with him and he held my own. He’s a massive step forward when it comes to this company and my stock in it. Most people don’t really know the name Aiden Reynolds aside from one or two people who might have done their research.”

“The truth is, I’m not stupid. And I know that there are a lot of people who don’t even rate me when it comes to this tournament. Many probably didn’t think I was going to do too well against Ben. And I’d like to think I proved some people wrong. Shit, you know that most people think of me as just some goofy guy who smiles and makes inappropriate jokes.”

”You don’t really do a lot to display those myths. Besides some of it is actually true Aiden.”

”Oi, whose side are you on?”

Before Kallie can answer Aiden narrows his eyes and folds his arms over his chest

”Oi yeah nah I get it. You’re trying to play mind games with me. You think it’ll be easier for you and…what’s his name….Arsehole…”

”Artie!”

”Whatever…”

Kallie rolls her eyes and Aiden smirks with a wink

”The fact remains that you think it will be easier if you put me off my game. But it’s not gonna work. This tournament has a massive prize at the end of it. The winning team gets to not only etch their names in the history of this company but they also get to receive championship matches. Do you know how cool it would be just to simply jump to the head of the line and get to face Finn? Think about it. But then again if you want, you would have to face Kayla.”

“This tournament not only allows people to have a future in this company but also honors people of the past. I’m ready to do everything I can to win it. And as it gets closer, I’ve been looking at my partner and I can honestly say that I’m glad I’ve been put with a woman like Melissa.”

“I mean if I had me choice I’d rather team with you Kallie…”

“But, that isn’t how this works but Melissa or “lady goth” Is a beast in that ring. Former internet champion, a woman who has beaten our current world bombshells champion, and someone who looks like she is ready to take Egons head off..”

[color=hotpink”Eiley”[/color]

”Bless you…”

”No…her name is Eiley..”

”Yeah nah….no one gives a shit….without Oiley she’s nothing..”

”Ollie!”

”Yeah…that’s what I said…”

Kallie throws her hands in the air, exhausted.

”Either way Melissa is going to take her head clean off. I have complete and utter confidence in my partner. Especially considering who she will be facing in the match. However, what I’m not sure of is Me getting in the ring with Mark Cross. See he is also a former ECW world champion. Admittedly he isn't as good as say, Ben Jordan but he was definitely up there. He did everything he could to make his career something. but one thing I don’t like about Mark is that he seems to pop up, once in a while mainly for the blush and the past he shoots his shot comes back joins up, and does everything he can try and clawback his former  glory”

“Ya know what they call someone or something who randomly popped up at the most inopportune times? Herpes. Mark cross is like herpes.”

”OHMYGODAIDENYOUCAN’TSAYTHAT.”

Aiden smokes and shakes his head with a small shock. He can say that and he did say that. Callie hides her face as she chuckles trying not to laugh out loud.

”Look, I can respect Marky Mark’s accomplishments. I can sit here and know that he’s a tough bloke. I can also say that I understand being a former world champion gives you more leeway than most. The blast from the past is a strange concept because it encourages people who were in the company or from outside the company to come in and try and become world champion. And if I was Mark, I would want to try it as well. getting that form glory back. It’s one of those things that most dream about. If you have been a world champion and you take any time off, you are going to want to get it back.”

“But, what if Mark wins? Especially since he’s had success like it before. What if Mark Cross becomes the number-one contender for the championship? First thing he’s gonna have trouble beating Finn I know that for a fact but what if a miracle happens and Mark Cross becomes our world champion? What then? Are we going to have a world champion that actually turns up? Or is Mark going to take his ball and go home? That is what I worry about when it comes to this tournament. I don’t know what people's motivations are or what they plan to do.

“Will this be a new dawn for Mark Cross and his career in Sin City wrestling? Or is it going to be like his NFL career and fizzle out into nothing?”

“Cause me? I’m here for the long haul. I’m here to reignite my career after taking time off to be a Dad. I never left wrestling, I’m one of those people who likes to stick around in a company. Do everything I can before I leave. Hell, I stuck around in WW for a spell even after everyone told me that that company was a trash bag that was lit on fire thrown in the dumpster, and then dumped in a sewer. I still stayed.”

“Mark though? Mate, you are a great former well champion. You are someone who many could look up to because of your athletic acumen and the fact that you were a champion here. But aside from that what have you got going for you? You turn up every year for the blast from the past and hang around for a little while like a bad smell. While the rest of us work to make this company better and to keep making sure it rises to the heights that deserves to be sit back in your comfy little retirement chair and believe yourself to be untouchable. The problem with that mark is that the rest of us get pissed off over people like you.”

“Hell, I can respect someone coming into SCW from another company. A big name who is active everywhere else trying to come in to earn our world title. But a semi-retired opportunity chasing cuck? Nah mate…”

Aiden scoffs and shakes his head.

”I have held one world championship in my career. One. Numerous other smaller titles but that SCW world title would be the biggest prize. That is something I don’t have to tell you about. Do I mark? You are one of those names that has been able to hold that championship. Admittedly it wasn’t as long as some others. Admittedly you weren’t a particularly memorable champion. But you still got to hold it.”

“Your name is forever etched up there with men like Ben Jordan, Fenris, Alex Jones, Austin James Mercer, Jack Washington. And of course Finn Whelan. Your name is up there with them and you get to say that you held that championship. And you want it so bad that you are back here again to join the same tournament that you’ve been a part of before. The only problem mark, aside from the fact that your tag team partner is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine, is that you have to get in the ring with a new kind of star.”

“I’m in my physical prime. You look at the two of us and it’s quite clear that I’m the younger, faster, stronger, better wrestler. You’re out of practice and someone who only decides to come out of retirement when it suits him. I put in the work every single day.”

“And I have something even mortified for. I want to make sure that I can hold that championship and make sure my wife is proud of me, make sure my child grows up to know that his father was a world champion. I want that I need that, and I also want to get in the ring and test myself against Finn. so you’re the first hurdle. The first block in front of me. And if you think for one second that I’m gonna let some semi-retired old man coast on his name and get another shot of the championship that he doesn’t deserve? You’ve got another thing coming. you’re not a dragon you’re an earthworm and I’m about to stomp on you.”

Everything has a beginning.

Even for the life of a wrestler. Birth is a traumatic experience both for the mother and the child. A moment of muffled innocence. Unable to hear the outside world too clearly or see any kind of light. All changed in an instant as we are all brought kicking and screaming in to the world

Aiden Reynolds was no different .

The sudden rush of noise filling his ears. Talking, yelling, beeping of machines. The harsh neon lights from above burning, his eyes. And then the sound of his own voice. Realised for the first time as he screams. The first moments of life, and where we begin our story.

Pause

Wait, that is probably too far back. The real beginning of this story takes place many years later. In the country of Japan. We could go all the way back to birth, but then by the time we get to anything relevant will be here all day. And believe me none of us really have that much fucking time on our hands to go through the entirety of his backstory. And to be honest with you? Life wasn’t really that interesting until he became a professional wrestler. Do you really want to hear about the first time he lost a tooth? The first time he had to shave? His first love? Or the first time he noticed he had a hair on his nuts? Nope, I didn’t think so.

In that case, what was the starting point? His first match? The first time a promoter in Japan decided to book the cocky Australian?

No, the rest start, ironically is many years later. After he had established himself. Along with his British tag team partner. A journeyman by the name of Steve Morrison from Yorkshire England. They had been paired together and after a few years Aiden felt the two were as close as brothers. They shared a lot of many things. Professional wrestling, alternative, rock, music, fish, and chips, beer, and Japanese women. Apparently.

And on this particular night, Aidan was preparing to go out on a date. Looking at himself in the mirror, he tilted his head to the right, and then, to the left, making sure his hair was perfect. Making sure he was cleanly, shaved and ready to go.

”Oi princess, ya done pamparin ya self like a show pony?” Steve’s heavy Yorkshire accent broke through everything. Aidan getting annoyed and tilting his head towards the door before shaking it and continuing. There was no point in rising to Steve after all. But just like most Englishman, Steve was not about to let things lay where they were. And instead, he was about to poke the bear. ”Most birds don’t like it when ya spend more time in your looks than she will on heres. It’s messing with gender stereotypes innit?”

Aidan let out an angry sigh, turning and moving towards the door before pulling it open, and shaking his head, yelling back at his friend and tag team partner ”What would you know? Ya lonely limey fuck? You haven’t had a date in over a year…”

Aiden knew how to get under his friends skin. Steve popped up and walked over to the open bathroom door narrowing his eyes. He pointed his finger and shook his head looking as angry as he could. But couldn’t keep a straight face, noticing that Aiden was standing in the doorway wearing leopard print underwear.

And only leopard print underwear.

”What the fuck is wrong with ya?” Aiden laughed to himself and turned around, knowing he won the fight and feeling vindicated. He grabbed a white button up shirt, throwing it on with a pair of black slacks and a jacket. He walked out and smirked as Steve raised an eyebrow. ”Well well sunshine, don’t you look pretty and all dolled up?” Aiden slowly flipped him off before walking over to a small bench, picking up a watch and strapping it on.

”Well mate, don’t wait up eh?....”

He went to walk out, Steve spun around clearing his throat. ”Wait….” Aiden stopped, raising an eyebrow. ”Are ya sure about this? I mean really sure?”

Aiden took a deep breath, the mood shifted. It went from the normal, jovial, sarcastic mood to something more serious and in an instant, darker. Aiden swallowed and turned, folding his arms over his chest and shook his head. ”Mate, what’s the big deal? She’s an adult, I’m an adult. We want to spend time together. How is this in any way a fuckin nagative?” There was an awkward silence. Both men staring each other down. Steve stepped toward him and Aiden, as always, had the sudden urge to break the tension with a joke. Usually a dick joke…

”Have you ever heard the saying, don’t shit where you eat? Bruv, you just shat where you dine everynight.” Aiden groaned and took in a sharp breathe, clearly trying to hold back telling his friend and tag partner to fuck off. Like he wouldn’t do it anyway. ”The bosses daughter? C’mon.” Aiden just shook his head with a sigh. Steve seemed to get even more annoyed, stepping closer. ”She’s a fuckin Yakuza princess Aiden..”

Aiden ground his teeth together before finally answering, spitting venom through his words and taking it up a notch. ”So what? Legit mate, so fuckin what? She’s the bosses daughter and that makes her untouchable? She should be fuckin packed away and lonely?” He tutted throwing his hands in the air and showing frustration.

Steve groaned back and shook his head before trying to calm himself down. ”Of all the birds ya could have picked, ya pick her. The bosses daughter…..Aiden, bruv, this won’t end well. I can see you headin right toward a bloody brick wall and I can’t fuckin stop ya….but fuck it….have fun…and I hope you’re right…”

Aidan couldn’t help but shoot his friend, knowing smile. He gave Steve a small pat on the shoulder and turned walking out of the apartment. He was sure of himself thinking that he knew exactly what was going to happen. The problem with Aiden, being sure of himself is that he really is a Happy idiot. Full of optimism and happiness. He can never see the danger that in front of him. But this was just the first part of the story. The first part of a long and arduous journey.


Introductions

”Right, time to do this….” Aiden takes a deep breath, standing in his apartment, and by “his apartment” we mean the guest wing of Finn Whelans apartment. ”....Wait…something seems…off..”

Aiden looks around frantically, he moves from the main loungeroom to a bedroom, opening the door, and then closing it, repeating the process in the kitchen, the guestroom, the laundry, the bathroom. But…nothing? Aiden slowly comes back into frame. His feet shuffling as he turns and sits down on the couch.

”What’s wrong?”

Aiden sighed heavily and shook his head.

”Dickie ain’t here….without Dickie…without him I dunno if I can do this….I need him to…..translate my stupidity and keep me focused and bounce me ideas off…”

Kallie Reznik. Aidens wife and mother of his young son Dax sat across from him. Aiden sighed heavily and sadly.

”You could…like…bounce ideas off me…”

Aiden perked up and looked around.

”You…you’d be my Dickie?”

”I didn’t say tha-”

Before she could say anything else Aiden got up, grabbing a few things and then looking over and moving the camera to the side, a move Kallie noticed and her voice became a slight screech.

”You were recording the whole time?”

”….Yeah?”

It was a very matter-of-fact type answer. One that was said with all of the dry wet that the Australian had become known for.

”Aye….its not perfect but it’ll do”

The camera got moved back around. And sitting there was Kallie. Now complete with a dark emo hairstyle wig and a white bring me the horizon tank top. Looking like Gerad way of my chemical romance circa the Helena film clip.

”was this really necessary?

”Its as close as I can get ya to lookin like Dickie….admittedly a way hotter Dickie…”

”….Awwwww”

”But seriously, this is me first match in SCW and the first chance I have to make an impression…in the ring I mean, cause I think I already made an impression with Wally last week. My bad. But now it’s go time. It’s time for Aiden goddamn Reynolds to take the world by storm. And I’m gonna do it as a singles superstar. Not in a tag team like I have done for the majority of my career. See, I’m a former tag team champion in a few companies but a few years ago I stepped out of that shadow and captured me first singles world title. I’d had a few before but a world title? Nah that feelin can’t be beat.”

“So here I am, ready to mix it up with the best this company has to offer. Whether that be a bloke like Jack Washington, or Goth, or Alexander Pigeon, or even me old mate Miles “abs of steel and accent sex appeal” Kasey….I’ll face anyone…”

Kallie, aka “Dickie” gasped.

”Even Finn?”

”Yeah of course. You have to be willin to do whatever it takes. Go to war with whoever stands in ya way. And I don’t care who stands in my way. I want to make damn sure I am the first Australian champion in SCW….that matters…soz Krystal and Raven, but I’m going to be the first one of us to be in the hall of fame. And every single journey to the top starts somewhere and for me it begins with one match, one bloke, one name.”

“Justin Smith”

“Now I’m not the type of guy to come in and just talk a bunch of ahit. Well not mean shit anyway. See I have this great skill in life. I can say real douchey shit, yet still come off likeable.”

“But, I ain’t going to try and be a huge piece of shit Justin. Regardless of your abysmal record and the fact you seem to be lost in this business. I sure of who ya are or what Ilya doin. I mean shit son. Your promos are short, borin, devoid of character or any redeeming qualities. You have one win in SCW and that came off as a bloody fluke.”

Aiden pauses, looking over at Kallie. After a few moments where she doesn’t interject with anything Aiden swallows and continues.

”You are facin a guy who has everything to prove. See I went from a career highlight to a personal one. I stood back from this business. A business I love, so I could spend time raising my baby boy with the love of my life. And I wouldn’t trade that time for anything in the world. But n-“

Aidan stopped talking as he looks to his right. Kallie smiles and tears up a little, giving Aiden the heart hands. Aiden raises an eyebrow and sighs heavily being taken out of the moment. A lovely gesture for sure but not one conducive to an attitude that needed to be shown in the world of wrestling.

”But now I want to step back in the ring and claim my spot as one of the best to do this. And as much as I can be a bit of a joker, a bit weird. But, I’m also athletic, strong and I don’t give up. Unlike you. See, watching you fail and fumblefuck your way through a “career” here. One that you have lost the golden briefcase match, a match to Matty Mallow, to Rodrigo Alfonso and most recently Bill Barnhart…”

“Are ya havin a laugh mate? Really? Are you trying to get some kind of record? Now what huh? You going to ignore your losses? Bring up your one win against the bloody troll? Mate, you look like a homeless chain smoker who was featured in a bumfights DVD. Yet ya can’t do a damn thing to win. So go, have ya little conversation with Casey, get talked up and all ready. Ignore your losses and learn nothin from them. Then walk ya happy ass down to the ring and get another lesson. Cause in this life ya have one show at makin a first impression. And oh boy am I about to let the SCW faithful get a real first impression…”