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Atlanta, Georgia
The day was a bright one, with the clear skies overhead in the city of Atlanta. Only the lightest wisps of clouds could be seen overhead and even then, they were few and far between. It was warm, as was to be expected of this time of year, not quite summer and yet the warmth of the coming season was dawning on the land around. The vast number of trees on the estate were bright with green foliage and the grass that stretched as far as the eye could see was a tantalizing shade of turquoise, Just off of a bright green in itself.
No, in case one was wondering, this beginning is not set directly in the modern setting of May 2014, but Just a few months prior. A mere week after the passing of wrestling legend Mae Young, and right after the announcement had been made official: Austin Parker would step out of retirement and into the ring for the first time in thirteen years, to honor perhaps his closest friend in the sport, 'Hot Stuff' Mark Ward. From the moment the match was made official, Mark himself and Christian Underwood went into overdrive, beginning preparations to hype this event with all the resources at their disposal along with the aid of one Erik Staggs. This was but Just a beginning.
The camera opens at the gate of what looked to open up onto a large plot of land that stretched far across the grassy plain. The gate itself was fashioned out of mahogany wood, smoothed over entirely by hand and polished with an oil until it practically glowed and would not absorb water so that the finish and hard work put into its crafting would last. At the center of the gate where the two ends met, was a carved emblem depicting a horse and a Latin inscription that read, 'Angelus terram' or 'Land of Angel'.</color>
Pussy Willow: "It was a simple sign that spoke volumes on the love of a woman, a very specific one. You see, this gate led to the estate of former wrestling great and Hall of Famer Austin Parker and his family: his two children, Jacob and Kaitlyn, and his wife, Angel. The very woman he honored in such a way that 'believe' they know him might find uncharacteristic. Yet those that have come to know the man we are set to meet face-to-face soon enough would testify was only second nature to his character. The fence that stretched around all thirty-five acres of this ranch's land came with the sale, but the gate itself was hand crafted, a pet project from a husband to a wife of nearly twenty years of marriage."
"Even during the height of his popularity as the man known as 'Romeo', Austin Parker wasn't the most liked of individuals backstage for his brash words and penchant for flippantly speaking his mind. Many of those closest to him, from former wrestling peers such as the Phantasy Wrestling Alliance's most popular Superstar, Bandana, to his own teammates in the stable of Twisted Steel and Sex Appeal, would describe him as a 'jackass of the highest order'."</color>
Austin shook his head, answering the obvious.
He said, "Ah never denied it. When all is said an' done, ah can be an outright bastard when ah want to be. Sometimes ah jest say things, an' other times people ask me questions an' then get pissed off because they Didn't like what ah had to say."
Austin shrugged.
"Hey that's their problem, that's all ah hafta say. If you don't want to hear muh opinion, don't ask me for it."</color>
Pussy Willow: "Yet he was respected. Not simply because he was what many described as a prodigy during his earliest times in the sport, but because of the loyalty he displayed toward not Just friends, but family as well. Ask such renowned men like 'Hot Stuff' Mark Ward. Bo Dreamwolf. Jordan 'P.S.' Williams. If you dared go to Austin for assistance in training and/or honing your in-ring skills, you had best be prepared to deal with the consequences because there was never a harder edged trainer in the business. Austin would see you broken down to the barest degree, only so that he could build you right back up to where he felt you belonged. He refused to go easy on anybody - especially those he was closest to. If he liked you, he would work you even harder because he was determined to be damned certain that you would be ready for absolutely anything that the business might throw your way. And a sport such as professional wrestling was capable of absolutely anything."</color>
A picture filled the screen of a modern-day Austin standing at ringside with none other than 'Hot Stuff' Mark Ward and his own protege', Bo Dreamwolf.</color>
Pussy Willow: "And even outside of any form of training, Austin was one of the few that would sit and listen to you if you had troubles, and he would neither judge nor contribute to the rumor mill. He simply lent an ear to those who needed it, and at times, a shoulder to cry on when the harsh realities to the business thrust themselves into the lives of those around him."
"Austin also had no qualms at all at confronting a boss or promoter when they wanted him to do something that he absolutely did not want to do."</color>
Austin said, "Yeah there was the one time ah was workin' with Golden Glen an' the promoter at the time was plannin' for Moolah an' Mae to do a run in on me. The guy in charge wanted me to lay `em both out and give Moolah a piledriver."
"And what did you say?"
Austin shrugged.
"Ah told the guy to go f**k himself."</color>
Pussy Willow: "He acted harsh at almost all times but he was never too proud to admit when he was wrong. When Christian Underwood first broke into the business as the sport's first openly gay competitor, Austin was admittedly one of his most adamant detractors, always giving him a rough time both inside of the ring as well as backstage. Austin even defeated the then-rookie in a shockingly embarrassing twelve seconds and when Christian, unable to handle the humiliation, jumped him backstage, Austin sent the kid to the hospital from a violent thrashing. However, after a near year long hiatus to further his training under the tutelage of the Goldenboy Gene Banton, Christian returned to the ring and shocked everybody by pinning Austin's shoulders to the mat in a stunning upset. Backstage, Austin was the first to shake the kid's hand."
"However for all the respect he's garnered for his work ethic and loyalty to the few men and women he could call friends, it was the loyalty he showed his family that was a marvel to be witnessed. He was then, and is now, incredibly protective of his wife of whom he wed in the year 1995. They traveled together much of the time but when they had started a family and Angel remained at home in Atlanta, he never allowed the temptations of the road to overwhelm the love he had for his family. He would indulge in a few beers with the boys like most would, but he never did any form of drug, and he never indulged in recreational activities behind his wife's back. It is a rarity in professional wrestling for a marriage to remain monogamous when one of the party is on the road constantly and the other remains at home, but Austin's peers themselves can testify he had sent more than one 'ring rat' packing, and reduced a number of the aggressive ones to tears when they refused to take a hint. That was Just how much his wife meant to him, he was unwilling to risk anything. Even when the chances of her finding out were slim to nonexistent."</color>
The camera cut to a recording of one of Austin's many peers, and perhaps one of only a handful he could refer to as a trusted friend, that being Jordan 'P.S.' Williams.
Jordan said, "I'm no angel. I never professed to be. I've had my moments of weakness on the road and I've had to answer for them. More often than not, it was Austin and Angel who boxed my ears for what infidelities I indulged in. But Austin?"
Jordan shook his head.
"Austin never cheated, and I can say that honestly. It Didn't matter if we were on the road and away from our families for weeks at a time. Not once did the man ever take a 'rat' to his bed, and trust me when I say the man's had plenty of offers. He's Just got iron will and a love for his family that he'd not risk it. Though I imagine by now his eyesight must be dead on blind by now ... if you get my drift."
Jordan smirked as he made a pumping motion and laughed.</color>
Pussy Willow: "And when his two children would visit him backstage at whatever shows he was appearing on, witnesses would swear they were seeing a different man in the manner he acted around his daughter and son. It was all together clear he was and is, quite proud to be their father and would show them off to friends and coworker alike, even to this day when they were in their teenage years."</color>
A photograph filled the screen, showing Austin kneeling between his daughter, Kaitlyn, and his son, Jacob, his arms around them and they embracing their father lovingly with bright smiles on each of their faces.</color>
Pussy Willow: "This is but a small taste of the man many of us have come to know in the business as a multiple-time Champion in both the singles as well as tag team ranks. He has faced the top stars in every promotion he has worked in, including notables such as Jordan Williams, Christian Underwood, and yes, 'Hot Stuff' himself. Austin was known for his technical prowess once that bell would ring, where many credit him as being one of the best technical wrestlers the sport had ever seen. A man that could and would invent brand new holds on the spot to break an opponent down until they were rendered virtually defenseless."
"But for now, we are going to hopefully get to know more about the man himself, his past as well as his present. How he took that first step through the door, and the untimely end where a career was cut short well before its prime. Join me, if you will, in the history of Austin Parker."</color>
"Seriously, is all this really necessary?"
Austin spoke into the phone as he walked down the staircase of the estate that he and his family called home on this thirty-five plus acre ranch in his and Angel's hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. The day was not yet in full swing. His son and daughter had already left for school, driven by their mother who would be out for most of the start of the day, visiting family and taking care of a few odds and ends before it was time to pick the kids back up. An early start, and Austin was already complaining.
"You know, Ward, yer beginnin' to make me regret ever agreein' to this match."
"Oh stop your bitching." Mark chided him from the other end of the line, all the way in Las Vegas, the home base of Ward and Christian Underwood's 'baby', Sin City Wrestling. "What did you really expect was going to happen? You agree to the match and no exposure on your part until May and the match in Africa? It's Just a little expose'. No harm. No foul. No whining allowed."
"Seriously?" Austin frowned briefly into the phone as he entered the kitchen of the house and fished around inside of the refrigerator before he took out a bottled water and closed it behind him. "An interview is one thing but openin' muh home up for everyone to see is a bit much."
"It's not like people haven't gotten glimpses of it before in promos and interviews before." Mark pointed out. "So really, what's the harm?"
"You know as well as anyone that ah'm not the most sociable sort, Ward." Austin stated. "The kids are in school an' Angel's off visitin' family an' shoppin', so ah'm left to fend for myself with this tart yer sendin' over."
"Be nice." Mark said, and not without a trace of directness behind his tone of voice. "That 'tart' as you call her is an employee of mine, and she can make you look good or like a complete fool. I'd think you'd want to come out of this looking as good as possible. Publicity speaking, I mean. Visually, I mean..."
"Smart ass." Austin grumbled as he took a drink of water from the bottle in his free hand and was forced to listen to Mark chuckle on the other end of the phone.
"Just play nice and try not to send her running back to our offices screaming, okay?" Mark said. "Speaking of which, are we going to get a look at that special 'project' that you've been working on as of late?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Austin frowned as he stood at the dining room table where Angel had left the morning paper intact for him, minus an ad for Macys, and Austin leafed through it until he fished out the sports section. "Ah haven't got any project goin' on."
"Oh bullshit." Mark laughed. "Even Bo's been asking who that is that you've had staying on the ranch and you've been working so damn hard. You're obviously keeping secrets and I'm curios. So fess up. Who is it?"
"Sorry Mark, ah think yer breakin' up." Austin held the phone up close to his lips where he made a hard static noise. "Ah think ah'm losin' you!"
"You smart ass mother fu-" And Austin clicked the phone off with his thumb and set it back down on the receiver against the wall.
He took another pull of his water as he sat at the table, and mumbled, "An' he says ah need to be nicer." And with that, he opened the sports section up and started to peruse the headlines.</color>
Pussy Willow: "As we first come through that gate, I think you can come to truly appreciate the majesty of this estate. On the drive up, you can see that on all sides of this ranch's land are trees of varying shapes and sizes, and even toward the utmost rear of the land is a small wooded area. On the far left of the drive you can see a small lake that I understand the family uses for fishing and swimming, and for the animals that roam this land to drink from. Oh, and speaking of animals..."</color>
Three adult horses, one chestnut colored stallion, two fillies -- one white and the other a matching chestnut like the male, and a timid colt of a tanned hue, were shown off in the field, surrounded by a penned fence.</color>
Pussy Willow: "Although a number of other animals call this place home, these beautiful creatures are the pride and joy of Austin Parker. Austin, a known animal lover, has always had a fondness for horses and swore that the day he could afford it, he'd raise his own. A testament to his success indeed! He's been raising horses for a number of years now, breeding them for sale and having won prizes for those he has kept for himself. Even fellow grapplers such as Jordan Williams has went to Austin when it came to the interest in purchasing a horse, such was his skill in knowing what to look for and demand."
"Oh but don't get us wrong! Even though the horses are the 'prizes' of the ranch, many other animals call the Parker homestead their own home. A small number of sheep roam a pen near the horses's own corral, and you'd lose track if you tried to count the number of cats that have free roam of this land."</color>
Austin was seated on the front steps that led up to his house and on his lap was a large, white Persian cat, curled up and her green eyes closed while she purred in soft contentment as Austin glided his fingers along the back of her neck.
Austin said, "This here is Granny. Ah have to admit that Angel an' ah forgot what her actual name was when we first adopted her as a kitten sixteen years ago, but after so much time and the fact she's basically the matriarch of the clan, 'Granny' jest seemed to come natural for what she'd be known as. She was the first cat Angel an' ah took in, an' she's the one who kicked off somethin' ah don't think ah ever see endin'. Every generation of cats we got came from her."
He shook his head and a light smile cracked his normally stoic demeanor as he scooped her up under her front paws and nuzzled her head. He then set her back down and the cat curled back up and flicked her tail in a haughty sense of entitled annoyance at her rest having been disturbed.
"Ah admit that ah'm shocked she's still with us, and feisty as ever. She rules this place, lemme tell ya. Every time a new kitten came along, she whooped it to let it grow up knowin' who was in charge. Hell, even our dog is smart enough to know not to screw around with her."</color>
A shot was shown of a German Shepard playfully running up to Granny in the tall grass. The dog barked at her and she reacted instinctively by swatting at it and giving chase as the dog took off running in play.</color>
Austin laughed, "Ah thought ah'd laugh myself hoarse the time the dog thought he'd take over the throne, so to speak, and barked at Granny here and she jest clawed the shit out of him and sent him runnin' into the damn house! Now the only time he goes near her is when he wants to play."</color>
Pussy Willow: "That very German Shepard that Austin affectionately named Maximus guards the land and home like an expert. As a matter of fact...."
The large canine was barking through a fence at the comely reporter and camera crew as they made their way up the drive toward the impressive sight of the Parker estate.</color>
Pussy Willow: "I think I had best phone ahead to let Mister Parker know that we're here."
Moments later, Austin was seen stepping out onto his porch and letting out a shrill whistle with his thumb and forefinger between his lips. Maximum immediately halted barking, and with one last glance toward Pussy Willow and the crew, the dog bolted back toward the house.</color>
Pussy Willow: "I wish I had known about the dog. I would have asked the bosses to send Scott, instead."
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"An impressive sight, isn't it? It's not what Austin himself would refer to as a mansion or even a grand estate, but in his own words, it's a house he worked hard for to give his wife and children a nice home. 'Nice' he calls it. Personally speaking I find it quite captivating. There is Just something about the atmosphere with homes like this in a city such as Atlanta. Austin's estate compromises, as I said, a full thirty-five acres, and is roughly nine miles away from the heart of Atlanta itself. More so to give the family the privacy they desire and deserve from curious fans."</color>
Pussy Willow is now walking the estate, this time accompanied by Austin himself as he points out a few varying points of interest to her and those watching at home.
Austin said, "Ah guess you could say the place boasts over twenty-five hundred square feet. We got the manor house which you see dead center, takes up most of the space. Has a guest wing where friends an' family stay, an' if we have someone stayin' long, there's the separate guest cottage right to the left."
PW asked, "Would that be where this special secret of yours might be staying?"
Austin turned to the reporter and frowned. "Did Ward tell you to try an' get an idea on who might be stayin' here?"
PW could only look like a deer caught in headlights and shrug innocently. Austin huffed an exasperated sigh and moved to continue the tour.</color>
Pussy Willow: "Aside from the manor house, the guest cottage and the horses' stable, one other prominent feature happened to be eye catching, and that was the barn that was built clear off to the side of the field, roughly twenty yards away from the estate house. This barn was where the animals of the land would gather inside of at night, but it was also where a fully functional and professionally sized wrestling ring was set up. It is in there that Austin tells us he trained Bo Dreamwolf for the sport of wrestling, and his friends who stay over while in town lend him a certain indulgence."</color>
Austin stood at the ring apron of the squared circle and tugged on the bottom rope. Satisfied, he climbed inside of the ring where one of the cats was perched lazily on a top turnbuckle, watching with feigned disinterest.
Austin spoke to the camera, "There are plenty of times when fellas travelin' through stay over while on their way to a show. Mark's stayed here a few times. Bo. Now that Jordan an' his family moved, he crashes here when the mood hits him to visit home. Derrick an' Tony, they're probably our most frequent guests. Those guys always indulge me in a bit of horse play, ah guess you might say. Jest because I'm not an active professional, doesn't mean ah don't still want to keep in shape when ah can."</color>
A small video package showed Austin on a bench in the barn, bench pressing weights over his head. Several weights were seen stationed against the barn's walls, to help him and those very guests he spoke of to use when the mood hit them.
It then switched to an archived video from several months back when the aforementioned guests, Derrick (Chippendale) and Tony (Thunder) of TSSA fame, stayed. Derrick was inside of the ring with Austin in a sparring match while Tony looked on from ringside. The two locked up, collar and elbow, and Austin ensnared his friend in a side headlock and immediately hip tossed him over to the canvas.</color>
PW asked, "Do you suppose those occasional sparring matches will be of any help in your upcoming match with Mark?"
"Christ, I sure as Hell hope so!" Austin replied. "Otherwise ah'm gonna start to wonder what the hell's the point? The only worry ah got is that damned six sided ring they use. Ah don't think ah ever worked in one before so it's goin' to take some gettin' used to."</color>
Pussy Willow: The interior of the home was a treat to see, as it was quite spacious and you could tell decorated to suit the tastes of the family in a country fashion. Plants and flowers were the predominant extra decor, a preference of the lady of the house, with plenty of what Austin referred to as 'knick knacks'. Austin asked that we not do a full fledged tour of his home, for privacy issues, and to that we certainly understood. From what I gather of his past, he always did tend to want to keep his private life Just that: private. But he was very willing to show off what he called 'his room', his pride and joy."</color>
The camera descended slowly down into the home's large basement, with Austin himself in the lead and Ms. Willow right behind him. The inadvertent close up shot of her backside as they waked down the wooden staircase was Just an accident, I can assure you. Once they arrived at the base of the steps, PW took in what she saw and shook her head.
"Wow." Was about all she could manage to say, and the prideful smile on Austin's face spoke volumes on his pleasure for having impressed the young reporter.
The basement in itself was not overly done up with anything such as large amounts of furniture or games like pinball or the like, but it was a large amount of open space, save for the very center where there was a large 'U' shaped black, leather sofa set up with a matching recliner set up on each side. A coffee table at the foot of the sofa had a few wrestling autobiography hardbacks on it, but aside from that, Just a single Universal remote. Directly opposite of the set up, against the wall was a large screen television, a forty-eight inch Plasma, stationed on a black, marble entertainment center. On both sides were large cabinets filled with DVD cases, and along the walls on every side of the basement were shelving units, also filled with DVDs. The only other form of decor here was a large refrigerator for drinks, a pantry for snacks, and a small bar in case Austin or a guest felt like a beer -- or two.
(And with guests like Mark and Jordan, it was usually more!)
There were two trophy cases where several of the highest prizes Austin won during his tenure in the sport as an active competitor were placed on display; the GCW World Heavyweight Championship belt as well as the PWA World Championship. In fact, the only other non-wrestling memorabilia that decorated this wrestling-related home theater were the three portraits hanging from the walls: one of Austin's daughter, one of his son, and one where he was posed alongside his wife.
Ms. Willow moved further into the basement and looked around, gazing at the multitude of DVD cases. Christ, there had to be literally hundreds. She shook her head and whispered, "Are you planning on opening up your own Redbox or something?" She quipped jokingly. "I've never seen so many movies!"
"Not movies." Austin pointed out. "Jest rasslin'. See?" Austin moved over and pointed out the titles on each case, and each was devoted to either a specific wrestler, a promotion, or even a feud that highlighted a career. "Most of what ah got is from Japan. Ah'd say about eighty percent. I got a hookup over there, Brandi Costantino, who keeps me well stocked with everythin' she can get her hands on. Dragon Gate an' New Japan are my favorites. The rest is from places like Ring of Honor, Dragon Gate USA, even a few from Mexico. Some old World Class an' AWA..."
"Nothing from WWE or TNA?" Willow asked innocently enough but the look on Austin's face was all the answer needed. Anyone that knew him, knew he abhorred the product of WWE and TNA alike.
Austin returned from the fridge with a bottled raspberry tea in each hand and passed them to Pussy Willow herself, and the cameraman standing behind them. Not the nicest man, true, but he was from the South and they knew how to treat a guest in those parts.
Austin stated, "Maybe if ah could get hold of the WWE's earliest stuff, back when it was WWWF, then maybe ah'd be interested, but that shit they promote now?" He shook his head. "Not a damn chance. An' TNA is even worse. They jest recycle what WWE did years ago, storylines an' worker both. The only thing TNA has got goin' for it is their Knockouts division, an' even that ain't sayin' much."
"How about SCW?" Willow asked coyly. "Got any of their shows?"
"Over there." Austin replied, jetting a thumb over to the far corner of the basement and a bookcase with numerous DVDs lining the polished, wooden shelves. "Ward sends them to me. Whether ah want `em or not."
"So, would this be your own personal oasis?" Pussy Willow asked as she removed the cap from her water and took a seat that Austin offered while the cameraman continued filming. She spoke, "I've heard of a lot of married guys having their own little man caves but this really takes it to an all new level."
"Well the kids have their own rooms, an' Angel usually calls the garden her private place." He bit his bottom lip and shrugged. "Seems only fair. besides, it was Angel who put the idea into muh head a fair few years back. She knows if ah'm not in the stable or workin' the yard, ah'll be down here havin' a marathon or somethin'."
"Or working with your special project outside." Pussy Willow offered up and Austin made a face.
"Nice try."
"Can't blame a girl for trying." She said. "It's why Mark pays me the big bust, er, bucks."
"Right." Austin rolled his eyes and he went on, "But ah digress. When one of the fellas in the business stops by, like Mark or Jordan, they'll almost straight away wanna come down here. Tony an' Derrick? Same thing. Bo, not so much. For someone in the business, he doesn't really watch a whole lot of it on television himself."</color>
Pussy Willow: "Do you mind if I ask how it was that you got into the business?"</color>
"Well it is an interview." Austin answered. "Ah imagine it'd be a pretty piss poor one at that if ya Didn't. But the answer is ah sorta fell into it after ah got outta the service."
"You were in the Marines."
Austin nodded, "For roughly about three years, an ah served about part of that time in Desert Storm in Iraq. Ah was mostly over there for cleanup towards the end. But ah did take a burn on my leg when some rebels still loyal threw a Molotov cocktail and ah caught a bit of the backlash. Did mostly superficial damage but since muh tour was almost over anyway, they sent me on home an' ah decided not to re-enlist."</color>
A small photograph filled the screen of a younger Austin Parker in his Marines uniform.</color>
"After ah got out," Austin continued. "Ah spent a good chunk of muh time tryin' to figure out what to do with myself. Considered goin' back to school but Christ, ah hated the thought. Didn't' like school when ah was a kid, ah figured ah'd hate it even more as an adult. But ah was workin' out at a gym one night with my girlfriend at the time, Rochelle Bauer, when a couple wrestlers struck up a conversation with us and asked if ah'd over considered gettin' into the sport. Talked it over with Rochelle a bit an' the next thing ah knew, ah was shoppin' around for rasslin' schools."
"And you really lucked out as I understand it." Pussy Willow observed.
"Yeah, y'all might say that." Austin smiled, and pointed over toward the entertainment center where a single framed photograph held a place of honor, where Austin stood inside of a ring alongside wrestling legends the Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young.
Austin continued, "Those two beautiful gals right there are solely responsible for muh trainin'. Ah don't know why they agreed to train me, as up until then, they only trained women, but ah was a lucky man indeed when they took me under their wing an' put up with all muh bullshit to make me the man ah am today. Ah love `em dearly an' still can't fathom they're both gone. Ah thought those two gals would be around forever."
"And you debuted in the Phantasy Wrestling Alliance?"
Austin nodded, "Toward the end of 1993 ah think. The promoters saw me an' thought ah needed a gimmick of some sort so they cooked up a masked gig and called me..."</color>
The PWA's He-Man League
"And his opponent, the Handsome Stranger!" The video clip played and the ring announcer finished with the match introductions. The crowd applauded as the young man sporting a 'Zorro' mask, and wearing black spandex shorts and boots while 'Ravishing' Rochelle applauded from his corner.
His opponent, another young man by the name of Hurricane Poseidon, was also making his PWA debut, but had been competing for half a year. After nearly ten minutes, The 'Handsome Stranger' lifted his opponent and caught him in a slingshot suplex and covered him for the fateful count of three.</color>
Austin said, "It was basically a tryout match. Ah won, so they signed me. Poor kid ah wrestled went back to the indy circuit ah guess. Never did find out what happened to him. But that's the story of muh start in the sport of profession rasslin'."
"But not the entire story." Pussy Willow observed.
"Right." Austin nodded. "That same night, Rochelle told me she didn't like the business. Ah think it was she didn' like sharin' me with the fans who were askin' me for autographs an' pictures. Or the women fans, at least. She got all mad when ah told her ah wanted to stay involved an' she jest up an' left."
"She quit after one show?" PW asked.
"Basically." Austin nodded in confirmation. "Ah don't know what really crawled up her ass, but things couldn't have turned out better. Ah showed up for the next show, a lost sheep. Rochelle was the one who was actin' as muh manager an' ah didn't have a damn clue how to do that muhself. That's when Angel an' her boys at the time, Chippendale an' Thunder, approached me. Sat down with me to chat an before ah knew it, ah was offered a contract to join up with an established group. Ah never looked back because it got muh foot in the door proper, an' it helped me meet two good men an' the woman ah love to this very day."
"Well it certainly started a path to success when you signed with TSSA." PW observed. "You won a slew of PWA championships, most notably the only member of TSSA to win the PWA World Heavyweight Championship."
The camera filled with a shot of the PWA Championship belt in Austin's trophy case.
Austin continued, "After PWA closed down, we went on to join the IWA an' ah was proud that our success continued. During all this time, Tony an' Derrick taught me everything ah know about showmanship an' technical skill inside of the ring. They helped me get seasoned an' ah doubt ah'd ever have gotten halfway in this business if they hadn't approached me that day."
"Any regrets?" PW asked.
"Austin shook his head and chuckled, "Just that blasted 'Romeo' moniker an' that goddamned song that came with it!"
Pussy Willow asked, "When did you decide it was time for an about face?"
"Ah jest started growing frustrated." Austin answered. "Ah hit a wall or block somewhere an' couldn't get to where ah wanted to be. Had a series of title shots an' dropped each one. Then the last straw was when Golden Glen an' ah made it to the finals of a tournament to determine the ASFW World Champion. Ah lost, then ah lost it."</color>
ASFW
The video footage showed Golden Glen plant 'Romeo's' head into the canvas and he covered the popular wrestler for not only the win, but the ASFW World Championship. Romeo played the role of good sport, and raised Glen's hand in victory. He then took the title belt from Glen's hands to help the new champion adorn himself with the gold and jewel encrusted belt. Glen turned around and held his arms out to the sides -- and suddenly Romeo swung the belt hard into the back of the new champion's skull, laying him out! Glen went down like he was shot and the crowd was shocked into a hushed silence as Romeo threw the belt down to the mat and looked at the unconscious Golden Glen in disgust! He wiped his palm down his face and audibly cursed, then delivered a swift boot into Glen's ribs. Then again!
Romeo had completely lost it as he dropped down to his knees, grabbed a handful of the back of Glen's head and threw repeated violent punches around into his face! The bell continued to ring and the referee tried to separate them but Romeo threw the official down to the canvas! The bell sounded again as the ASFW President, Jerry Sabel, ran out and he tried to talk some sense into the man but Romeo jumped to his feet and swung his arm, nearly decapitating Sabel with a clothesline! The crowd now were finding their voices, booing the man viciously as he grabbed Jerry Sabel and locked him into an STF! This heinous act brought Jerry's VP, Samantha DeFuria, racing to the ring! She climbed inside and ever the hellcat, broke the attack up by grabbing Romeo and raking her sharp nails across his eyes!
This, however, was only a temporary reprieve. As she checked on Sabel, Austin suddenly grabbed her by the hair and laid her out with the Falcon's Arrow! The crowd now booed him even more with the physical assault on not just a boss, but a woman as well!</color>
Pussy Willow: Wow.</color>
Austin nodded, "Yeah. That was about when I dumped that asinine 'Romeo' moniker and pretty much flipped everyone off and started doin' muh own thing. Oh Angel was still muh wife an' manager an' Derrick an' Tony were still muh boys, but ah was finished tryin' to be someone ah wasn't just to hear a few extra cheers. It got to the point ah didn't give a damn who was put in front of me. Get in muh face an' ah'd lay yer ass out."</color>
ASFW
In a match against Christian Underwood, the young Christian had brought his own mother to ringside with him as a celebration of his birthday which was that very day. Any inkling that Austin would take it easy on him due to this was grossly misjudged. Austin beat Christian without mercy and reduced him to a bloody mess, even sinking so low as to hold his gory face by the hair and force his own mother to look at her beloved son in such a condition. Austin locked in the STF and the result was a foregone conclusion as the referee called for the bell, but Austin did not let go of the hold -- and would not. He kept the agonizing hold locked on Christian as his mother begged through tears for him to release her son!
When that failed, Martha Underwood climbed into the ring herself, and in an act of desperation, grabbed two handfuls of Austin's hair and dragged him off of her son! Austin stood upright and looked down at the clearly intimidated older woman in a fury. She took a hasty step back when suddenly Austin grabbed her! She cried out and he took her down to the canvas and locked her in a Crippler Crossface! The crowd booed in a fury and even the commentators screamed at him to release her! Martha cried in pain as Austin increased the pressure and held it despite the referee's orders until suddenly, Christian's husband, Scott Schreiner,bolted out from the back and darted inside of the ring, chasing Austin out! Paramedics were soon on the scene, tending to the bloodied Christian, but more importantly, the seriously hurt Martha Underwood as Austin watched on with a sick smile on his face.</color>
"Yeah." Austin shook his head. "Not one of my finer moments."
"Well," Pussy willow admitted with a trace of disdain in her voice. "I can see why Christian has such anger for you."
"You're bein' too kind." Austin replied. "The kid flat out hates me, and ... personally ah don't blame him. That was a long time ago and ah can't help lookin' back on doin' that an' regretting it. Ah'm surprised he hasn't killed me yet because truth be told, it's what ah would have done had some son of a bitch laid a hand to my mother."
"Indeed." Pussy Willow said, and she took a deep breath before she continued. "But if we can move on, it wasn't long after that you won a sixteen man tournament to claim the GCW World heavyweight Championship and held it for over three months before you lost it, to of all people..."
"'Hot Stuff" Mark Ward." Austin finished. "Yeah. Truth be told, ah don't think ah ever really have gotten a win over that man. Don't make the mistake of thinkin' his daddy watched over him an' gave him whatever the Hell he wanted, either. Mark earned that title shot, an' ah'd like to think it took everything in him to walk away with it."
Pussy Willow said, "But it was a few months later that you got a rematch in Tokyo, Japan."
Austin nodded, "Yeah, an' he an' ah both wanted it to be somethin' massive an' we settled on an Explodin' Barbed Wire Deathmatch. Sometimes ah jest wish ah could turn the clock around an' have had it somethin' else. Anythin' else, but that, because that was actually the last time ah was ever inside of a ring as a rassler. Ah don't like thinkin' much on it, truth be told. Hell, ah haven't ever watched that match, even after all these years. Ah jest can't bring muhself to do it. That match took away everythin' ah ever was, and coulda been."
"Do you blame Mark?"
"No." Austin shook his head. "Absolutely not."</color>
Global Championship Wrestling - Tokyo, Japan
The ring ropes had been removed and replaced by razor sharp barbed wire, laced with explosives that were triggered when one of the two men struck the wire. After nearly thirty minutes, the ring was singed and tainted with crimson stains, as were the two men inside of it!
Austin reversed an Irish whip and Mark hit the barbed wire and the shower of sparks from the explosion caused the fans to cry out and Mark fell to his knees, in agony from the shock and fresh cuts! Austin staggered up and grabbed him, but Mark continued to fight by sweeping his legs out from under him! It was then the fateful accident happened as Mark fell back in a catapult attempt, only Austin's head got tangled in the barbed wire as he fell over and hung himself! The crowd screamed! Austin's wife, Ms. Angel screamed and panicked! It was then that all 'kayfabe' was shattered as both men's seconds, TSSA as well as Jordan Williams and Billy James, rushed up onto the ring apron to extract the struggling Austin from the barbed wire! They succeeded, but the unfortunate damage had been done: Austin had done severe damage to his neck and back from not only the ill-timed maneuver, but the hanging and his struggling. He still bares the scars to this day from the barbed wire, and doctors deemed it a miracle his neck didn't get punctured.</color>
"I can understand why you wouldn't want to revisit such a memory." Pussy Willow said timidly. "Thank you for sharing it with us."
Austin just glanced away. "Seemed only right, at this point in time." He replied. "Ah've had people for years askin' me if ah hated Mark Ward, or if ah blamed him for costin' me muh career in the ring, an' ah'm sick of it. Mark might hate me for sayin' this, but deep down the guy is a class act. Know how ah know? Because when ah was told if ah got back in the ring, then ah'd risk bein' crippled, Mark was the first one to call me. The first one to offer his condolences, an' then he asked me to be his manager." Austin smiled. "Couldn't believe the guy had the balls, but ah did it. Mark knew muh career was over, so he did whatever the Hell he could to make sure ah got to stay in thee business that ah grew to love." He shook his head. "Ah'll never be able to thank him enough."
"Thank you, Austin'" Pussy Willow replied, and slowly the scene faded out.
And back into the Sahara Park Newlands, in Cape Town. The six-sided ring was at the ready, and Austin Parker slowly walked around the ringside area, staring into the ring as his hand gripped the bottom ropes.
"Ah never really thought this would ever happen again. Ah never thought ah'd get to see the day where ah set foot back inside of the ring and compete. Seems we've come Full Circle now, doesn't it? You were there for muh last match, whether it was intended or not. You were there for the final match of Chippendale an' Thunder... an' now here ah am. Right here in South Africa, for your final match."
"Ah never thought you'd ever want to retire from the ring. Ah could see the light in your eyes every time you stepped through those curtains an' heard the crowd, whether they cheered or booed, an' ah swear it light you up from the inside out. You were, are, a showman, Mark. You acted nonchalant but you fought like a mad man to bring the crowd to its feet an' send every single one of them home, happy. You might like to pretend it didn't matter to you if anyone cheered for you or enjoyed watchin' you compete, but you never fooled me. You ate it up. even if people were jeerin' ya, you loved every minute of it because you knew that meant you were doin' yer job an' doin' it DAMN well!"
"You lived for the ring an' more so, you lived for winnin'. Every time you wore a new belt around yer waist, ah thought ah was seein' a kid on Christmas mornin' with a shiny new toy. Ah watched all the hopes and dreams be fulfilled, an' then had the pleasure of seein' you fight like a wild man to keep that gold where it belonged. It's why ah admit ah don't understand why you came to this decision. Ah don't get why you decided you didn't need to do this anymore. But ah do understand, why when you opted to hang up yer boots, why you chose me to be the man to do it against. As much as it means to you to have me be your final opponent, ah can assure you Mark, that it means so very much more to me to be there inside of that ring, jest one more time."
"Ah won't pretend that this match will be a simple one, for either of us. There's no way in Hell you want to end up on the losin' side in your last match, an' ah can honestly say ah have no intention of goin' through Hell an' back again to get prepared for this, only to come out on the losin' side of things. Are we gonna bleed and sweat? Sure! Are we gonna hurt one another? Hell yes! Truth muh man, ah wouldn't have it any other way!"</color>
Austin turned around and gave the camera a most uncharacteristic smile.</color>
"Bottom line, neither of us are gonna take it easy on the other. Both of us will do whatever it takes to walk out of this ring the winner. The sport jest won't be the same without you, 'Hot Stuff'. Ah'm gonna beat you black an' blue before ah make you cry uncle, but ah promise to give you a send off nobody will ever forget."</color>
Austin winked, and then saluted not the camera, but Mark himself, and calmly walked off as the screen faded to black.</color>
