It was good to be back home in the states..course when word got out that I had to go back to Vegas for my title match, my brother just had to come with me and Geoff. Geoff was my image consultant after all so I understood him being with me for this event..but my brother just had to tag along because he loves Vegas. We rode in the car under the bright lights of the various buildings.
Charles Hawkins: I can't believe we're here! Viva Las Vegas!
Griffin Hawkins: Jeez man, you're like a little kid...
Charles Hawkins: How can you not be excited to be in Sin City?
Griffin Hawkins: Probably because I've been here...many times...
Charles Hawkins: You're crazy fro not taking advantage of all the places here...the slots, the strip clubs, it's like an adult version of Candyland!
Geoff Matthens: If you can just relax for a minute, you need to remember why we're really here. Well..why you're here. Griffin has a title rematch and we can't let anything distract us.
Griffin Hawkins: Damn right...we're gonna find a gym, we're gonna train and I'm gonna be ready for the match.
Charles Hawkins: Work Work Work...is that all you care about Griff? You used to be fun! When was the last time you took time out to yourself to relax?
Griffin Hawkins: Look, after I win, we'll have plenty of time to hit the slots. For now, it's time to focus.
Course in looking for a gym, it got pretty crowded. The traffic was backed up for a quite a way.
Before I could say anything..we both were interrupted by the sound of a door slamming shut. We both looked to where Charles was originally sitting..only to see he was no longer there.
Griffin Hawkins: ....Ah damn it....
Chances are he made off into the Casino. This was gonna be a long night...
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As soon as we got inside, I noticed the whole place lit up like it's the fourth of July. I looked around for Charles, but I couldn't find him.
Griffin Hawkins: He's gotta be here somewhere..
Geoff Matthens: He's here, just follow the sounds of chips being laid down..or quarters going into slot machines....how many games does he play anyway?
Griffin Hawkins: Just about all of them..dude's an equal opportunity gambler.
Geoff Matthens: Christ..it's gonna be harder to find than a needle in a haystack. Let's just keep our eyes open.
Griffin Hawkins: Man..this blows. I just wanted to go to a gym and train..and now I gotta babysit my brother and keep him from going off the rails. At this rate, I'm gonna lose the title because I came unprepared.
Geoff Matthens: Unprepared? You've already beaten him for the title..I'd say you got the advantage..you studied him well and you won, what is it you're worried about?
Griffin Hawkins: You don't get it...at this point he is desperate. He's been doing a lot of talking about how he represents that belt and whatnot..and now that he's lost it..he's willing to do everything to get it back.
Geoff Matthens: Well you don't have to go to the gym to prepare..look around you, you can prepare here.
Griffin Hawkins: I fail to figure out how a game of blackjack has to do with the match at hand...
Geoff Matthens: Look, I may not have been in the ring like you have, but even I know this is a mental game. Right now you got the mental advantage..but you can't allow it
to make you too over confident.
He motions to a man playing a game of roulette.
Geoff Matthens: See that guy there? There's one like that in every casino. They don't quit while they're ahead. Look at all the money he has.
Griffin Hawkins: But Lady Luck could be on his side.
Geoff Matthens: Just watch...
We look on as the man tells him the number is...18. He lost. We watch as he dejectedly walks away.
Geoff Matthens: See? At any given moment, your luck could run out. Sure, you're champion now, but if you're not careful, you could lose it back to Travis just as quick as you won it
We make our way over to the slot machines.
Geoff Matthens: Your favorite and mine..the slots. Once you win some..you can't stop and you're determined to play more, even if you lose.
We see the woman put the Quarter in....Jackpot, she wins! The sirens go off as people are cheering her on.
Griffin Hawkins: She...won?
Geoff Matthens: She won because she took a chance..just like you did against Levitt. No matter what happens, keep fighting until you're the last man standing.
We then hear the sounds of Charles..over at the craps table, shaking the dice.
Charles Hawkins: Come on..baby needs a new pair of shoes!
We both grab him.
Griffin Hawkins: Okay Diamond Joe, it's time for us to get out of here.
Charles Hawkins: What?! Come on, I'm on a roll!
We drag him away as he is begging us to let him stay and play. While he was gambling with his money, I was gambling with something much bigger.
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The cameras open up in everyone's favorite place...the casino. Everyone is playing games like Blackjack, hitting the slots, some playing Craps and Five Card Stud. I enter the room dressed in a long black sleeve shirt and matching dress pants. The Roulette Title is around my shoulder as I look around, dark sunglasses covering my eyes as I make my way through this busy room.
"Ah...Las Vegas...Sin City. The Entertainment Capital of the World. Many come here to try their chances. Some are successful...and others fail and go home empty handed. Last time I wrestled here, I was victorious..and now I come home with some gold around my shoulder. But some are coming into the City of Lights with nothing, yet they are willing to bet it all. Travis Levitt..the man I defeated for this title decided to exercise his rematch clause already and wants his title back. I'm a fighting champion..so I say..step on up to the table."
I begin to walk past the craps table as many are rolling dice.
"Travis..heh...last time we spoke, you said that I was an old relic..and that the business has passed me by. Well, how does it feel to lose to an alleged old relic? You said that I don't got what it takes to reach the next level and grab the brass ring. The belt I carry right now says otherwise. This Roulette Title is proof that I am still the fastest gun in the west..and if you need more proof, need I remind you who was it that tapped out in the middle of the ring when I slapped on Lucky 13? It was you."
If I knew anything, Travis was more desperate than ever.
"It seems that since you've lost the title Travis...nobody had really heard from you. Not even on social media..just radio silence. No interviews, no tweets. I even congratulated you for giving me the match of my life...but no replies. Why is that? I don't think you were embarrassed..you're not the type that refuses to show his face after one loss. But the question is...will you be there? Because I will be there."
I go over to the slot machines where a woman is putting her quarters in.
"When I came back to this company months ago...I bet everything on my comeback. I said from the beginning that I was coming back to pick up where I left off..and winning this Roulette Belt was further proof of that. I told you before Travis that this was just business..not personal. You stood in my way of reaching the top, and I had to do everything in my power to move past you and further stake my claim as the greatest athlete in Sin City Wrestling history. And now...you are the one chasing me. Are you bad enough to take what's mine? Come and prove it."
I readjust the belt on my shoulder as I walk towards the other games.
"Wanna know the most interesting part Travis? This could be any kind of match. That's the best part of this very belt..you never know in what kind of match we'll face off in. At London Brawling II we fought in a Submission Match where I made you tap out. Who's to say we won't get the same match? Or who knows...we may get a ladder match, a last man standing match, a steel cage match...or a street fight. Last time I was here in Vegas, I was kicking Steve Ramone's ass all over Sin City..who knows, we may get a sequel of that this Sunday! The possibilities are endless Travis. I suggest you be ready. Because if you blow this rematch, you'll have to go to the back of line while the next contender takes your spot."
I walk away from the table and come to what looks to be people playing Poker.
"Ah Poker..a game where you have to keep your wits about you. If you're not gonna play with a full deck, your chances of winning aren't worth Jack. See Travis, at London Brawling II, I was dealt a good hand...a winning hand. Could say it was a Royal Flush. And now you're back again...willing to bet the house on this important match. If you lose again...you'll leave Vegas a broken and beaten man. If you win, you'll right the wrong at the last event as a two time Roulette Champion. But the competitor in me just won't allow that to happen Travis. Because I won this title fair and square, and I will do anything to keep it. Don't consider it personal..but I have no alternative but to beat the holy fucking fuck out of you."
As expected, the poor guy loses. I continue on as I walk away from him.
"You were right about one thing Travis. The both of us got a huge chip on our shoulder, me especially. See, last time I was here, I had aspirations of becoming Sin City Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion..but as fate would have it, the company folded, dashing my dreams against the rocks. Now that I am back, I am resuming my mission to make it to the top of Sin City..and in my fourth match in the company, I captured my second title ever. You could say I am on a tear..."
I look closely at the camera.
"But in a city like this..everything can change. You can go from the biggest winner...to the biggest loser. You have a chance to win it all. Time will tell whether you win big...or crap out. Either way...the City of Sin...is gonna get rocked."
I walk away from the shot as the camera crew wrap things up.
